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"A Little Child Shall Lead Them," Ensign, June 2002, 2–7
First Presidency Message
A Little Child Shall Lead Them
During the Galilean ministry of our Lord and Savior, the disciples came unto Him, saying: "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
"And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,
"And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
"Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
"And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.
"But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea" (Matt. 18:1–6).
The Many Faces of Child Abuse
Some time ago, as I read the daily newspaper, my thoughts turned to this passage and the firm candor of the Savior's declaration. In one column of the newspaper I read of a custody battle between the mother and father of a child. Accusations were made, threats hurled, and anger displayed as parents moved here and there on the international scene with the child spirited away from one continent to another.
A second story told of a 12-year-old lad who was beaten and set on fire because he refused a neighborhood bully's order to take drugs.
Still a third report told of a father's sexual molestation of his small child.
A physician once revealed to me the large number of abused children who are being brought to the emergency rooms of local hospitals in your city and mine. In many cases guilty parents provide fanciful accounts of the child falling from his high chair or stumbling over a toy and striking his head. Altogether too frequently it is discovered that the parent was the abuser and the innocent child the victim. Shame on the perpetrators of such vile deeds. God will hold such strictly accountable for their actions.
Children Are Precious to the Lord
When we realize just how precious children are, we will not find it difficult to follow the pattern of the Master in our association with them. Not long ago, a sweet scene took place at the Salt Lake Temple. Children, who had been ever so tenderly cared for by faithful workers in the temple nursery, were now leaving in the arms of their mothers and fathers. One child turned to the lovely women who had been so kind to the children and, with a wave of her arm, spoke the feelings of her heart as she exclaimed, "Good night, angels."
The poet described a child so recently with its Heavenly Father as "a sweet new blossom of Humanity, fresh fallen from God's own home to flower on earth."1
Who among us has not praised God and marveled at His powers when an infant is held in one's arms? That tiny hand, so small yet so perfect, instantly becomes the topic of conversation. No one can resist placing his little finger in the clutching hand of an infant. A smile comes to the lips, a certain glow to the eyes, and one appreciates the tender feelings which prompted the poet to pen the lines:
Our birth is but a sleep and a forgetting:
The Soul that rises with us, our life's Star,
Hath had elsewhere its setting,
And cometh from afar;
Not in entire forgetfulness,
And not in utter nakedness,
But trailing clouds of glory do we come
From God, who is our home.2
When the disciples of Jesus attempted to restrain the children from approaching Him, He declared:
"Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.
"Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.
"And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them" (Mark 10:14–16).
What a magnificent pattern for us to follow.
We Can Bless the Lives of Children
Several years ago my heart burned warmly within me when the First Presidency approved the allocation of a substantial sum from some special fast-offering contributions to join with those funds from Rotary International that polio vaccine might be provided and the children living in Kenya immunized against this vicious crippler and killer of children.
I thank God for the work of our doctors who leave for a time their own private practices and journey to distant lands to minister to children. Cleft palates and other deformities which would leave a child impaired physically and damaged psychologically are skillfully repaired. Despair yields to hope. Gratitude replaces grief. These children can now look in the mirror and marvel at a miracle in their own lives.
In a meeting, I once told of a dentist in my ward who each year visited the Philippine Islands to work his skills without compensation to provide corrective dentistry for children. Smiles were restored, spirits lifted, and futures enhanced. I did not know that the daughter of this dentist was in the congregation to which I was speaking. At the conclusion of my remarks, she came forward and, with a broad smile of proper pride, said, "You have been speaking of my father. How I love him and what he is doing for children!"
In the faraway islands of the Pacific, hundreds who were near-blind now see because a missionary said to his physician brother-in-law, "Leave your wealthy clientele and the comforts of your palatial home and come to these special children of God who need your skills and need them now." The ophthalmologist responded without a backward glance. He has commented quietly that this visit was the best service he ever rendered and the peace which came to his heart the greatest blessing of his life.
Tears came easily to me when I read of a father who donated one of his own kidneys in the hope that his son might have a more abundant life. I have dropped to my knees at night and have added my prayer of faith in behalf of a mother in my community who journeyed to Chicago that she might provide part of her liver to her daughter in a delicate and potentially life-threatening surgery. She, who already had gone down into the valley of the shadow of death to bring forth this child into mortality, again put her hand in the hand of God and placed her own life in jeopardy for her child. Never a complaint, but ever a willing heart and a prayer of faith.
Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles once shared the pitiable plight of many orphan children in Romania—perhaps 30,000 in the city of Bucharest alone. He visited one such orphanage and arranged that the Church might provide vaccine, medical dressings, and other urgently needed supplies. Certain couples were identified and called to fill special missions to these children. I can think of no more Christlike service than to hold a motherless child in one's arms or to take a fatherless boy by the hand.
We need not be called to missionary service, however, in order to bless the lives of children. Our opportunities are limitless. They are everywhere to be found—sometimes very close to home.
How Children Bless Our Lives
Several years ago I received a letter from a woman who had emerged from a long period of Church inactivity. She was ever so anxious for her husband, who as yet was not a member of the Church, to share the joy she felt.
She wrote of a trip which she, her husband, and their three sons made from the family home to Grandmother's home in Idaho. While driving through Salt Lake City, they were attracted by the message which appeared on a billboard. The message invited them to visit Temple Square. Bob, the nonmember husband, made the suggestion that a visit would be pleasant. The family entered the visitors' center, and Father took two sons up a ramp that one called "the ramp to heaven." Mother and three-year-old Tyler were a bit behind the others, they having paused to appreciate the beautiful paintings which adorned the walls. As they walked toward the magnificent sculpture of Thorvaldsen's Christus, tiny Tyler bolted from his mother and ran to the base of the Christus, while exclaiming, "It's Jesus! It's Jesus!" As Mother attempted to restrain her son, Tyler looked back toward her and his father and said, "Don't worry. He likes children."
After departing the center and again making their way along the freeway toward Grandmother's, Dad asked Tyler what he liked best about their adventure on Temple Square. Tyler smiled up at him and said, "Jesus."
"How do you know that Jesus likes you, Tyler?"
Tyler, with a most serious expression on his face, looked up at his father's eyes and answered, "Dad, didn't you see His face?" Nothing else needed to be said.
As I read this account, I thought of the statement from the book of Isaiah, "And a little child shall lead them" (Isa. 11:6).
The words of a Primary hymn express the feelings of a child's heart:
Tell me the stories of Jesus I love to hear,
Things I would ask him to tell me if he were here.
Scenes by the wayside, tales of the sea,
Stories of Jesus, tell them to me.
Oh, let me hear how the children stood round his knee.
I shall imagine his blessings resting on me;
Words full of kindness, deeds full of grace,
All in the lovelight of Jesus' face.3
Blessing the Nephite Children
I know of no more touching passage in scripture than the account of the Savior blessing the children, as recorded in 3 Nephi. The Master spoke movingly to the vast multitude of men, women, and children. Then, responding to their faith and the desire that He tarry longer, He invited them to bring to Him their lame, their blind, and their sick, that He might heal them. With joy they accepted His invitation. The record reveals that "he did heal them every one" (3 Ne. 17:9). There followed His mighty prayer to His Father. The multitude bore record: "The eye hath never seen, neither hath the ear heard, before, so great and marvelous things as we saw and heard Jesus speak unto the Father" (3 Ne. 17:16).
Concluding this magnificent event, Jesus "wept, … and he took their little children, one by one, and blessed them, and prayed unto the Father for them. …
"And he spake unto the multitude, and said unto them: Behold your little ones.
"And as they looked to behold they cast their eyes towards heaven, and they saw the heavens open, and they saw angels descending out of heaven … ; and they came down and encircled those little ones … ; and the angels did minister unto them" (3 Ne. 17:21, 23–24).
Over and over in my mind I pondered the phrase, "Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein" (Mark 10:15).
Thomas Michael Wilson
One who fulfilled in his life this admonition of the Savior was a missionary, Thomas Michael Wilson. He is the son of Willie and Julia Wilson, Route 2, Box 12, Lafayette, Alabama. Elder Wilson completed his earthly mission on 13 January 1990. When he was but a teenager, and he and his family were not yet members of the Church, he was stricken with cancer, followed by painful radiation therapy, and then blessed remission. This illness caused his family to realize that not only is life precious but that it can also be short. The family began to look to religion to help them through this time of tribulation. Subsequently they were introduced to the Church and baptized. After accepting the gospel, young Brother Wilson yearned for the opportunity of being a missionary. A mission call came for him to serve in the Utah Salt Lake City Mission. What a privilege to represent the family and the Lord as a missionary!
Elder Wilson's missionary companions described his faith as like that of a child—unquestioning, undeviating, unyielding. He was an example to all. After 11 months, illness returned. Bone cancer now required the amputation of his arm and shoulder. Yet he persisted in his missionary labors.
Elder Wilson's courage and consuming desire to remain on his mission so touched his nonmember father that he investigated the teachings of the Church and also became a member.
An anonymous caller brought to my attention Elder Wilson's plight. She said she didn't want to leave her name and indicated she'd never before called a General Authority. However, she said, "You don't often meet someone of the caliber of Elder Wilson."
I learned that an investigator whom Elder Wilson had taught was baptized at the baptistry on Temple Square but then wanted to be confirmed by Elder Wilson, whom she respected so much. She, with a few others, journeyed to Elder Wilson's bedside in the hospital. There, with his remaining hand resting upon her head, Elder Wilson confirmed her a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Elder Wilson continued month after month his precious but painful service as a missionary. Blessings were given; prayers were offered. The spirit of his fellow missionaries soared. Their hearts were full. They lived closer to God.
Elder Wilson's physical condition deteriorated. The end drew near. He was to return home. He asked to serve but one additional month. What a month this was! Like a child trusting implicitly its parents, Elder Wilson put his trust in God. He whom Thomas Michael Wilson silently trusted opened the windows of heaven and abundantly blessed him. His parents, Willie and Julia Wilson, and his brother Tony came to Salt Lake City to help their son and brother home to Alabama. However, there was yet a prayed-for, a yearned-for, blessing to be bestowed. The family invited me to come with them to the Jordan River Utah Temple, where those sacred ordinances which bind families for eternity, as well as for time, were performed.
I said good-bye to the Wilson family. I can see Elder Wilson yet as he thanked me for being with him and his loved ones. He said, "It doesn't matter what happens to us in this life as long as we have the gospel of Jesus Christ and live it." What courage. What confidence. What love. The Wilson family made the long trek home to Lafayette, where Elder Thomas Michael Wilson slipped from here to eternity.
President Kevin K. Meadows, Elder Wilson's branch president, presided at the funeral services. The words of his subsequent letter to me I share with you: "On the day of the funeral, I took the family aside and expressed to them, President Monson, the sentiments you sent to me. I reminded them of what Elder Wilson had told you that day in the temple, that it did not matter whether he taught the gospel on this or the other side of the veil, so long as he could teach the gospel. I gave to them the inspiration you provided from the writings of President Joseph F. Smith [1838–1918]—that Elder Wilson had completed his earthly mission and that he, as all 'faithful elders of this dispensation, when they depart from mortal life, continue their labors in the preaching of the gospel of repentance and redemption, through the sacrifice of the Only Begotten Son of God, among those who are in darkness and under the bondage of sin in the great world of the spirits of the dead' [D&C 138:57]. The Spirit bore record that this was the case. Elder Thomas Michael Wilson was buried with his missionary name tag in place."
When Elder Wilson's mother and father visit that rural cemetery and place flowers of remembrance on the grave of their son, I feel certain they remember the day he was born, the pride they felt, and the genuine joy that was theirs. This tiny child became the mighty man who later brought to them the opportunity to achieve celestial glory. Perhaps on these pilgrimages, when emotions are close to the surface and tears cannot be restrained, they thank God for their missionary son, who never lost the faith of a child, and then ponder deep within their hearts the Master's words, "And a little child shall lead them" (Isa. 11:6).
Peace is their blessing. It will be our blessing, also, as we remember and follow the Prince of Peace.
Ideas for Home Teachers
After studying this message, prayerfully choose one or two statements or stories from President Monson that you feel will most benefit those you teach. Then think of a teaching method or activity for each statement or story that is appropriate for the ages and circumstances of family members. A few examples of how this may be done are provided below.
Suggestions for Teaching
Relate a personal experience of how children have blessed your life or how you have been able to bless the lives of children. Invite family members to do the same. Read aloud the story of Tyler and the many ways President Monson said people are blessing the lives of children. Discuss ways family members can bless the lives of the children that are closest to them.
Read together and discuss the meaning of the following: Matt. 18:1–6; Mark 10:14–16; 3 Ne. 17:21–24; Isa. 11:6–9. As you read together the story of Elder Wilson, ask family members to point out what Elder Wilson did to become a leader in his family. What can the children in a family do to help lead their families in righteousness?


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If you get a package of seeds delivered to your door that you didn't order, do not plant them, warns the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
READ ALSO: Another Asian giant 'murder hornet' found in Lower Mainland
According to a statement, the CIFA is investigating reports of people receiving unsolicited packages of seeds.
If you receive an unsolicited shipment of foreign seeds in the mail from China or Taiwan DO NOT plant or dispose of them. Call the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) at 519 691-1306 or 1 800 442-2342. Unsolicited seeds could be invasive & threaten our environment. ^kj pic.twitter.com/n5hvlFS1W8
— OPP Central Region (@OPP_CR) July 28, 2020
"Do not plant seeds from unknown origins," states the CFIA, adding that they could be for invasive plants or carry plant pests which could be harmful when introduced to Canada.
READ ALSO: Friends of North Saanich Parks strip one ton of invasive plants from greenspace
Invasive species can take over agricultural and natural areas, causing serious damage to plant resources.
If you receive a seed package that you didn't order, you're asked to contact your regional CFIA office immediately. Be sure to keep the seeds and the packaging, including the mailing label until a CFIA inspector contacts you with further instruction.
The CIFA has not indicated how widespread the distribution of the packets has been, although there are indications it could be across Canada.
Do you have a story tip? Email: email@example.com.
Follow us on on Twitter and Instagram, and like us on Facebook.

subset: commoncrawl


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35-year-old Liu Bolin, from Shandong, China, manages to camouflage himself in any surroundings, no matter how difficult they might be.
Liu works on a single photo for up to 10 hours at a time, to make sure he gets it just right, but he achieves the right effect: sometimes passers-by don't even realize he is there until he moves.
The talented Liu Bolin says his art is a protest against the actions of the Government, who shut down his art studio in 2005 and persecutes artists. It's about not fitting into modern society. Despite problems with Chinese authorities, Liu's works are appreciated at an international level.
Photos by CATERS NEWS and Liu Bolin
via Telegraph.co.uk


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- February 27, 2024
EAST COUNTY — Stephanie Covey doesn't exactly have a bedroom at home any more, but she doesn't mind.
Since she's been away at the University of Florida studying public relations, her room has been converted into storage space for packs of tuna, bags of lentils, books and any other non-perishable food items that a family in need may require.
"I moved out, and my room's the stock room now," she said with a chuckle.
Covey is the founder of Backpack Club Inc., a non-profit organization that is helping East County families one child — and one backpack — at a time.
Through donations and a team of volunteers, the organization provides children at Freedom Elementary School with a backpack filled with food, toiletries and other items. Qualifying children take the backpacks homes once each month, empty them and return them to be refilled.
Each child gets one backpack, so families with more than one child are getting more food.
Covey sets up donations and handles other logistics, while her mother, Sherri, brother, James, and his friends from Braden River High School pick up the donations each Saturday from the Publix at Lakewood Walk, sort through items and stuff them into backpacks for delivery.
"The volunteers at Braden River High School have been such a vital part of Backpack Club," Covey said. "It wouldn't happen without James and all his friends."
Covey first learned about the idea for a Backback Club two years ago while taking a sociology class. An article she read suggested that sending backpacks full of food home with needy children may help reduce some forms of poverty.
"I liked the idea," Covey said. "I called the guidance counselor at Freedom. I said if things ever got that bad, here was something I'd like to start. She said they needed it now."
Covey got to work and started Backpack Club Inc., last August. Initially, the program provided backpacks to about five children. But by the end of the school year, the number had grown to about 75.
"I knew the economy was rough, and people were struggling, but I didn't know there was such a great need," Covey said. "We found that the federal breakfast and lunch program helps them a lot, but (these children) aren't able to go home and get the nutrition they need to focus in school."
Freedom Elementary Guidance Counselor Sherri Brunner said the program has resulted in a new level of trust between participating families and the school and that children involved in the program have vested more into their education through improved attendance and doing their homework more frequently.
"It has been a real spirit-booster for the students and their families and our staff, as well," Brunner said of the club. "When you see things being done that really help and the kids enjoy it, and it's all done through the donations and goodwill of others — that's a beautiful thing."
Covey said she hopes to help even more children at Freedom this year — there are 210 on free or reduced-price lunches — and eventually would like to expand the program to other East County schools.
"If there's a child at that school that needs it, I want to provide them food," she said.
Covey now is organizing a Backpack Club at a primary school near her college.
For more information about Backpack Club, visit www.backpackclubinc.org.
Contact Pam McTeer at [email protected].


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The National Museum of Cambodia, founded in 1920, possesses one of the world's greatest collections of Khmer artefacts. They include sculpture, ceramics and ethnographic objects from the prehistoric, pre-Angkorian, Angkorian and post-Angkorian periods.
As an active member of the UNESCO/Japanese-Funds-in-Trust project "Revitalising World Heritage Site Museums in Cambodia, Laos and Viet Nam", the Museum will open the joint sub-regional exhibition dedicated to the interconnection of the World Heritage Sites (Angkor, Preah Vihear, Vat Phou, My Son, Thang Long Citadel and Ho Citadel) on 19 February 2013 and will host education programmes related to this exhibition until June 2013 for young people's appreciation of their history and heritage.
The exhibition of the National Museum will also present a particular aspect of Khmer culture which is still alive: Kbach. They are the ornamentation motifs of flower, vine, flame, lotus petals, bamboo-shoot or water-buffalo teeth, used to decorate objects and architectural elements throughout Cambodia, and people have long drawn these motifs from the environment and social life - from the Angkorian period to today.
The Khmer people have continued using this artistic legacy for the ornamentation of everyday objects, houses, monuments, in addition to public and religious buildings.
The Kbach is indeed accompanying the life of Khmer people from birth to death, at every important phase such as adulthood and marriage.


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Fisher's taxing year ends with shot at 6th title
A long, taxing year is coming to a familiar finish for Oklahoma City Thunder guard Derek Fisher.
It all started with him being front and center during the NBA lockout as the president of the players' union. It grew more complicated when the Los Angeles Lakers traded him away after he'd won five championships with the franchise.
Fisher signed on with Oklahoma City, and he's three wins away from achieving his ultimate goal of winning a sixth title. Only 13 players in NBA history have been a part of that many championship teams.
''What it would mean to win a championship means enough by itself without adding what has happened before now,'' Fisher said. ''I think for this particular team and group of guys, this particular organization, there's a lot of meaning that would come from us finding a way to win three more games. So, that's primarily my focus right now. And then for me personally, there are a number of things I just won't choose to reflect on or look into until after this is long done and I can step away from things for a minute.''
Fisher was heavily involved in the league's labor dispute, engaging in the conference room discussions that eventually were able to save a season that was in peril. His season took an unsettling turn when the Lakers unexpectedly traded him to Houston and he decided not to go.
Instead, he looked around to identify teams he thought gave him the best chance to win a title and he settled with the Thunder.
Even then, the turbulence wasn't over. The leadership of the NBA Players Association asked for Fisher to resign as president in April, and he refused while questioning the union's business practices under executive director Billy Hunter.
That dispute still looms as Fisher and the Thunder prepare to play Game 3 of the NBA Finals on Sunday night in Miami, with the series tied 1-1. Fisher doesn't expect any resolution until later this summer and he has done his best to keep his sights on the playoffs.
''All in all, for me, these are good problems to have. When you think about how tough it is for people every day, this is not hard at all to be able to try to figure out a way to be able to focus on playing basketball,'' Fisher said. ''I'm healthy. My family's healthy. So, at the end of the day, if these are the things that I have to deal with to be called tough days, I'll take it.''
While Fisher wasn't pleased with how the Lakers handled shipping him out, he made the best of the situation by joining the Thunder - who would eventually eliminate L.A. in the second round of the playoffs. Fisher spent all but three of his first 15 years in the league with the Lakers, winning a handful of championships.
Of the players to win at least six championships, nine - including all-time leaders Bill Russell (11) and Sam Jones (10) - played with the Celtics during their dynasty in the 1950s and `60s. The others are former Fisher teammate Robert Horry (7), Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (6), Michael Jordan (6) and Scottie Pippen (6).
''This is his eighth NBA Finals in 16 years. As a player you wish you can get there once,'' Thunder coach Scott Brooks said.
''A lot of players have never been there, and he has five championships.''
Fisher said he considers Horry - who won titles with the Lakers, Spurs and Rockets - in a ''stratosphere all alone.'' And he says he's not going to rub it in if he's able to win another title and surpass longtime teammate Kobe Bryant, who remains his friend.
''To me, it's kind of sacred ground,'' Fisher said. ''I'm not going there. Some people will but not me.''
Yet he still has something to prove.
Once he signed with Oklahoma City, he chose the jersey No. 37 - the same as his age - to highlight that his advancing years would not be a factor. Brooks says he's still making important contributions on and off the floor.
''I've never been around a player that communicates as well as he does with his teammates, never have. The guy has an incredible knack for saying the right things at the right times,'' he said. ''He's helping this team win this year, and he's going to help this team win many years with all the things that they've took from him this past two or three months.''
Whether Fisher will remain with Oklahoma City remains to be seen.
''I'm for sure enjoying my time here. I know for sure that I want to play beyond this year but from there, I haven't put a lot of pressure on myself about thinking about where that is and how that's going to happen,'' Fisher said. ''Next year is so far away until we figure out a way to win that trophy. Once you win it, of course, the first question out of somebody here will be, `Can you guys do it again? And what's going to happen?' That part comes after the job is done and right now we still have a big job ahead of us to try to figure out how to win three more games.''


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Posted 11 years ago
(1 item)
I received this car from my Aunt in Germany as a gift in 1954. It has adjustable seat, headlights with off/on switch, horn and really built nicely. Everything still works including the clear windshield. My son played with it and now on to my grandchildren if they ever happen!


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This article is more than 1 year old
Data traffic swelled by filth
Japan's 3G network is taking a pounding from porn-hungry users, who are eagerly slurping up capacity to the point that service providers have been obliged to impose limits on abusers of "unlimited" net access packages.
According to Bloomberg, DoCoMo and KDDI Corp are feeling the heat, especially around midnight when "heavy users" spikes slow the $74bn network. A typical customer is 32-year-old Tokyo travel agent Takeshi, who coughs ¥6,300($66) a month for an unlimited deal, "allowing him to download adult movies on his mobile phone".
He said: "A mobile is far handier than a computer for internet access - I seldom use a PC outside the office."
Around 91 million of Takeshi's fellow citizens now surf via the 3G network, and Japan's online pornography business is growing at a rate of up to 1,000 new customers a day on the biggest sites, with some punters coughing ¥10,000 ($105) to sign up.
One such smutmonger, Soft On Demand, has seen revenues from its mobile site leap 40 per cent in the year to March 2009 to around ¥15m ($157,392) per month.
Hirotaka Ishimori, head of the company's online division, said: "We see the mobile phone as potentially a huge market. Fixed-rate data plans, faster Internet access and sophisticated handsets are contributing to that growth."
The bottom line is that Japan's 3G providers will have to tackle the porn capacity menace, as customers increasingly enjoy the full benefits of the network. Yusuke Tsunoda, a telecoms analyst at Tokai Tokyo Securities Co, concluded: "Pornography will eventually open a debate about how carriers should modify their business model as data traffic swells. It may prompt even tighter access restrictions."
Bloomberg has more details on Japan's creaking 3G network here. ®


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Veteran photographer Kevin Kuster has accomplished what may be a mobile photography first by photographing 40 weddings in a single day with a smartphone. He also captured each bride and groom in a portrait using his DSLR.
A professional photographer for more than 20 years, Kuster recently reinvigorated his passion for the medium when he began shooting with his iPhone 4S. So it felt serendipitous when the charity Watts of Love approached him with a unique documentary photography project that seemed to perfectly "marry" Kuster's photographic abilities and his newfound mobile photography skills.
In mid-February Kuster accompanied Watts of Love volunteers as they carried out their mission to bring safe and sustainable solar-powered lighting to Ilin Island in the Philippines. In addition to documenting the charity's efforts, Kuster arrived to the island along with visiting Catholic priests. The first clergy visit to the island in years meant that there were dozens of couples awaiting a proper marriage ceremony. Kuster saw an opportunity well-suited to a more mobile camera, as we shared in our preview story earlier this month.
Two cameras are better than one
Kuster's mission with was to tell the story of the people of Ilin Island the best way he could—regardless of his photographic equipment.
Our last article about Kuster generated quite a few comments and spurred much debate over Kuster's hardware choices. In addition to his iPhone, the longtime photographer also brought along his DSLR, a Canon EOS 7D.
"It was never my intention to not bring my DSLR," he said. "My intention was to push my limitations of mobile photography. If I couldn't shoot the whole thing with my phone, I was going to switch.
"But, for 90% of it, the best way was to use the iPhone."
With more than 8,000 followers on Instagram, Kuster wanted to post photos to the social network every day so he could share his journey with as many people as he could. While it is certainly possible to post images remotely from a DSLR to Instagram, Kuster wanted to keep things more mobile.
However, Kuster did end up using his DSLR to capture the wedding portraits of each of the 40 couples who were wed. Originally, Kuster had hoped to use the Canon Pixma's Air Print capabilities to send photos directly from his iPhone to the printer. Once on the island, he discovered that printer model that had been donated could not accept images from his iPhone. This, combined with the quickness of using multiple SD cards that were sent to the printer, made his DSLR the best choice for the portraits.
A great adventure
Kuster's 36-hour journey started with a cab ride from his Chicago home and then a series of planes, automobiles and a boat brought him to Ilin Island, 47 square kilometres of land in the Philippines.
"Saying I didn't know what to expect would be an understatement," said Kuster, who after working all day taking photographs, would then stay up late chasing a cell phone signal in order to upload photos to his Instagram feed (@kevinkuster).
The spotty cellular service made posting photos a huge effort, but it forced Kuster to self-edit and choose only his favorite shots to upload. For Kuster -- a photographer who loves to shoot, edit and post photos on the spot -- the effort of fighting for a signal alone in the dark with nothing to look at but his images was very emotional.
Let there be light
By giving the islanders a clean, free lighting source, Watts of Love hopes to reduce their dependence on expensive and dangerous kerosene lamps.
"I have never in my life experienced darkness like I did there," described Kuster.
Low-light situations are a huge problem for mobile photography—the iPhone's smaller sensor can't accomplish the same the clean, high ISO images of large-sensor DSLRs in low-light situations. Overall, Kuster said he had few problems shooting with his smartphone at night and in one case, his iPhone saved him in the dark.
After dropping off a solar light at a home far away from where they were staying that night, the Watts of Love team ended up walking back as the sun went down. With only a couple of flashlights available, Kuster used his iPhone's LED flash to light his way for an hour and a half.
"It got so hot, I was afraid I was going to destroy my phone," he said.
Going to the chapel
The first visit by Catholic clergy to Ilin Island in years meant that there were dozens of couples awaiting a proper marriage.
For many islanders, marriage is too expensive: most do not have the money to travel to a priest, pay the license fee, buy the traditional marriage clothing or provide the culturally expected feast. When Kuster left for Ilin, he was expecting 50 couples to be married but due to travel and paperwork issues, only 40 couples ended up getting hitched.
Watts of Love partners, the Missionaries of Mother Mary of the Poor, bought each bride a dress and veil, and each groom a shirt, slacks, shoes, belts and socks. They also gave each couple their wedding rings.
During the ceremony, Kuster was granted access to shoot wherever he wanted. Because he was able to get as close as he needed, his iPhone's zoom limitations were irrelevant. With help from Watts of Love and Missionaries of Mother Mary of the Poor, Kuster took and printed portraits of the newlyweds while they waited.
The benefits of mobile photography
Kuster had many expectations of how shooting with mobile would define his experience with Watts of Love, but he encountered some surprises.
"One thing I didn't anticipate going around to these really poor people was that I was self conscious with my DSLR because everyone knew it was of value," said Kuster.
Things were different when he was using his iPhone: "It made me feel more comfortable because I wasn't holding this big, expensive piece of equipment in front of people who have nothing."
Another perk of using an iPhone is that it challenged Kuster photographically, forcing him to walk in and get close to his subjects instead of just using a telephoto.
Kuster's previous experience with mobile photography in the U.S. was that subjects were more relaxed and less posed in front of a smartphone instead of a DSLR. The same was true on the other side of the globe.
"People let their guard down," Kuster said. "They were all used to seeing phones. Some had one even if they couldn't charge it in their homes."
The limitations of mobile photography
Not every photographic situation on the island allowed for iPhone photography. One of the biggest components of Kuster's photographic mission ended up having to be shot on his DSLR: the wedding portraits.
Even though Kuster took environmental portraits of the couples before the wedding as well as candid shots during the ceremony, when it came to taking formal portraits of each couple and printing them as soon as possible, it ended up making the most sense to capture the photos on his DSLR and run the SD card to the Canon Pixma Printer he brought with him, alternating cards so one was always printing and shooting simultaneously.
Kuster also ran into major issues with lens flare. He was constantly trying to find new ways to block the sun from his shot.
The biggest disadvantage to mobile photography in a place without consistent electricity was the iPhone's limited battery life.
"I had battery in shirt pocket, and used Camera+," Kuster said. "I would use the volume trigger to fire with my left had. And with my right hand, I focused, exposed and shielded the lens flare."
Despite the iPhone's limitations, Kuster is firm in his commitment to mobile photography.
"Going back, I would have no hesitation just bringing an iPhone," he said. "I would just want a second iPhone as well. And a wrist strap. I wanted a wrist strap so bad!"
Next time
Kuster hopes that this was just the first of many trips with Watts of Love. Next time, he probably won't have a massive wedding to shoot, but he will be taking mobile photos no matter what.
"With mobile photography, I am never bored," said Kuster. "I always have the opportunity to shoot, create, edit and post. The power of mobile of photography is that it always has me keep looking, creating and sharing."
If any photographers or videographers (mobile or not) want to volunteer with Watts of Love, you can contact Kuster on his website.


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To the editor:
Dear school board member Patricia Hennig, I feel it important to inform you that Superintendent Morton Sherman had full support of the former school board when he embarked on establishing the Alexandria City Public Schools nonprofit foundation ("What's in a name?" January 17). We talked about it many times over the years, and we all supported such an endeavor.
As you will soon see in the coming months, the school funds are spent very quickly on staff salaries and benefits, with very little left over for programs and other basic needs for a system with a free and reduce-priced lunch population of almost 60 percent.
Let's be honest: The schools would benefit greatly from community contributions. Think about library books; costumes and sets for plays; afterschool programs; instruments for the music and band program; AVID; or other really important elements of the social, emotional and cognitive growth of ACPS' children that is simply not covered by tax dollars. If you do even a bit of homework, you will also find that a nonprofit foundation is often the hallmark of a thriving school system, one that is flush with business and community support.
Thank you for your service to ACPS, but I think you will find that there is growing support in Alexandria and the community for this type of philanthropy.
– Mimi Carter
Former school board member


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Open since December 2005, this atmospheric restaurant on two floors - informal ground floor bistro with a more elegant dining room above - is in the former stables of College Green House and there is nothing clichéd about it, giving an intriguing feeling that this away from it all place is a 'find'.
This unusual Belfast restaurants menus have always included local produce and have a pleasingly down to earth tone - casual bistro fare downstairs with more 'grown up' versions upstairs.
Ciarán Steele, who has been the Head Chef since 2008, describes his accomplished food as 'a modern day take on Irish traditional cooking'. Wholesome, well considered dishes that illustrate the style could include organic fillet of salmon with spaghetti 'Molly Malone', crispy seaweed and a soft herb relish and, perhaps, wild garlic marinated chicken breast with a bacon and smoked Oakwood boxty, asparagus and truffle oil.
And it is always a place well worth visiting: Molly's Yard is the site of Belfast's first (and Ireland's smallest) micro-brewery. And, although it is not currently in operation, an interesting drinks list remains a key attraction here - not surprisingly, as Molly's Yard is owned by Ireland's oldest independent brewery, Hilden Brewing Co, in nearby Lisburn.
Molly's Yard is the only restaurant in Belfast offering local craft beers Headless Dog, Molly's Chocolate Stout and Belfast Blonde on tap - and you will find some of the beers featuring on the menu too, notably in the moreish house bread, Molly's Chocolate Stout Wheaten Bread.


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Leeds United go for glory in Spurs cup tie
Many of the Whites' best displays have come in cup matches this season and they have already claimed the scalp of Premiership sides Everton and Southampton in the Capital One Cup to add to memorable FA Cup results against Arsenal, Spurs and Manchester United in recent years.
They were also leading at half-time against Chelsea in last month's Capital One Cup quarter-final before the European champions eventually exposed the limitations of Neil Warnock's men.
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdThe new owners are hoping for a repeat of the atmosphere that night and a similar big attendance. In many ways it will be the first real test of how fans are prepared to back the post Bates board as they have kept admission prices below that for many league games and have stated their desire to see a full house.
On the pitch, Leeds will have to play a few levels above their recent league displays if they are to have any chance against a Tottenham side going well in fourth in the Premier.
Spurs come into the tie on the back of an injury time goal that earned them a point against Manchester United. Former Leeds favourite Aaron Lennon is one of their players in prime form and they could also call on two who had loan spells at Elland Road in winger Andros Townsend and midfielder Jake Livermore.
They will face a United side that has now won its last six home games in the Npower Championship, although they were only narrow 1-0 winners over bottom club Bristol City last Saturday when Ross McCormack scored the only goal of the game in the second half.
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdLeeds have failed to fire on all cylinders in any of their last five league games, but they showed they were capable of raising their game for the cup in the second half of last week's third round replay when they came from behind to beat Birmingham 2-1 to earn their big date with Spurs.
Manager Warnock stuck with the defence that finished the tie at St Andrews and was particularly pleased with centre-back pairing Tom Lees and Lee Peltier, who look likely to continue their partnership now against Spurs, especially with Alan Tate sent back to Swansea with his loan spell at Elland Road over.
A change will be necessary in midfield after Everton refused United permission to field loan man Ross Barkley, even though it is possible the Merseyside club could be out of the competition before Leeds kick-off with their tie against Bolton taking place today.
Michael Tonge is the most likely candidate to step in after finding himself on the bench last Saturday, but Paul Green and Luke Varney offer further options as players capable of playing in wide positions.


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Fifth Harmony Rock 'TODAY' Crowd in New York City [VIDEO]
These Fifth Harmony ladies are really something. Yes, they are cute as buttons and they're songs are totally catchy, but these girls can seriously seriously carry a tune. They appeared on the 'TODAY' show this morning and performing on 'X Factor' was obviously great practice, because we sensed not even the slightest jitters from the girls.
They first performed 'Miss Movin' On' for hoard of Harmonizers gathered in Rockefeller Plaza. Their fanbase is already big, but this particular group of enthusiasts is seriously dedicated. New York City was scorching hot this morning! We definitely think 5H gave their fans a performance that was totally worthwhile standing in the oppressive heat this morning.
The ladies stuck around for a quick interview with Matt Lauer and Savannah Guthrie before their performance of 'Me & My Girls.'
When asked to describe their sudden success the girls said, "It's a whirlwind. There's no better word to describe it." Over a million views of their video for 'Miss Movin' On,' we'd definitely say this is a whirlwind!
Camilla explained that they are really excited about their original songs after performing covers for so long saying, "Now people are getting to hear our sound and kind of like what the album will be like. So it's cool to be performing out original songs."
The ladies are currently living in Los Angeles in two apartments with a couple of guardians that, according to the girls, keep them out of trouble. Phew! We don't need any more wild teen pop stars!


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Associated Press
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Residents of California's largely rural, agrarian and politically conservative far northern counties long ago got used to feeling ignored in the state Capitol and out of sync with major urban areas.
The idea of forming their own state has been a topic among local secession dreamers for more than a century. Residents in two counties will have a chance to voice that sentiment next week.
Voters in Del Norte and Tehama, with a combined population of about 91,000, will decide June 3 on an advisory measure that asks each county's board of supervisors to join a wider effort to form a 51st state named Jefferson.
Elected officials in Glenn, Modoc, Siskiyou and Yuba counties already voted to join the movement. Supervisors in Butte County will vote June 10, while local bodies in other northern counties are awaiting the June 3 ballot results before deciding what to do.
A similar but unrelated question on the primary ballot in Siskiyou County asks voters to rename that county the Republic of Jefferson.
There are 12 counties in northern California that share one state senator, compared with 18 senators representing Los Angeles County alone.
"Essentially, we have no representation whatsoever," said Aaron Funk of Crescent City, a coastal town in Del Norte County near the Oregon border.
The current county secession efforts are merely advisory, encouraging local officials to further study the idea. The steps involved in trying to become the country's 51st state are steep, first requiring approval from the state Legislature, then from Congress.
The counties that could opt in — as many as 16, according to supporters — make up more than a quarter of the state's land mass but only a small portion of its population.
The seven counties that have voted or will vote this month have a combined geographic area twice the size of New Hampshire, with about 467,000 residents.
The terrain spans some of California's most majestic coastal scenery to agriculture-dominated valleys, Mount Shasta and Redwood National Park. Some of its residents are also are among the state's poorest, and the population is far different from California as a whole.
While the state has no racial majority and Hispanics make up the largest ethnic group, residents in the far northern counties are overwhelmingly white.
Because the exact makeup of the proposed state of Jefferson is still unknown, it is hard to assess the potential economic impact. The state Department of Finance does not have a county-by-county comparison of what each contributes in state revenue versus what it receives.
But the loss of millions of dollars for everything from infrastructure to schools is among the biggest worries of residents who oppose the secession movement. The Del Norte County Board of Education, which receives 90 percent of its funding, or $32 million, from the state, voted to oppose the local initiative, known as Measure A.
If it passes, Kevin Hendrick said he worries that local officials will spend years studying how to create a new state rather than tackling concrete problems such as fixing a crumbling highway that is in danger of falling into the ocean.
"It's a lot of broad promises about things being better and representation being better," said Hendrick, who is leading the opposition in Del Norte. "But the more they talk, the less clear it becomes about how that's actually going to happen."
It is also unclear how the new state would pay for federally mandated education, social welfare, health care and other programs or a host of other services residents rely on. Proponents have said they would scrap thousands of regulations and state agencies, freeing Jefferson's leaders to spend how they want and attract more businesses.
"We have the water, forests, timber, we have the minerals. We have unspoiled agricultural land," said Funk, the secession proponent. "We would be the wealthy state if we were allowed to go back and use our natural resources ourselves."
Much of the land in what would become the state of Jefferson is federal, and that wouldn't change if the region became its own state.
A separate effort by Silicon Valley venture capitalist Tim Draper, borne out of the same belief that the state of 38 million has become ungovernable, would create "six Californias," including Jefferson. The state legislative analyst's office found Jefferson would rank near the bottom of the six economically.
Many state-of-Jefferson meetings are held in conjunction with tea party groups, who share similar concerns over what Siskiyou County Supervisor Marcia Armstrong calls "so many nanny laws" coming from Sacramento.
"We are very libertarian in view," she said, "and we believe that people would have freedom to make their own choices as long as they don't impose on other people's rights."


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So the two halves of Zero are upstream!
They're in different forests; there won't be anywhere official you can hg fclone
from and get a buildable Zero until the two forests get promoted. But upstream is upstream!
Thank you Tom Rodriguez, Tim Bell, Andrew Hughes, and everyone else who made this happen :D


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Bundle up and enjoy the chilly weather with Friday Night Fever.
University of Wyoming students are invited to join the fun from 8 p.m.-midnight, Friday, Feb. 17, at the Laramie Ice Arena located at 3510 East Garfield Street. This event is free to students with a valid UW ID card.
For more information on ice skating, contact Friday Night Fever at (307) 766-6340 or email email@example.com.


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Succulent School: 10 Hardy & Stylish Succulents For Home
It's no secret that we're into succulents. They're easy to take care of, cheap, easily propagate, don't need much water and come in tons of beautiful colors and textures. Looking for some fresh succulent inspiration? Want to expand your succulent knowledge and find a new love? Discover our favorite succulents for ground and container planting after the jump.
The beauty of succulents is that they can take full sun and can live in a container or in the ground. Normally if you want more of one that you have, you can break off a piece of it and either stick it into the ground or into a glass of water and it will sprout roots. Then you can plant it wherever you want.
1. Echevaria Gibbiflora or Blue Wave has distinct ruffles around the edges and varies from green with a bit of pink, to a lot of pink, depending on sun and water.
2. Sedum Adolphi or Golden Sedum will turn brighter orange the more sun it gets and propogates really easily. It's a nice contrast to the blues and greens that you typically see in succulents.
3. Echeveria Geranium or Hen and Chicks. A classic with a nice texture.
4. Euphorbia tirucalli or Fire Sticks
6. Aeonium sunburst have a great color palette and grow in a similar pattern to hen and chicks.
7. Kalanchoe thyrsiflora has great smooth rounded leaves with a tinge of red.
8. Donkey's Tail or Burro Tail is a 70's classic—does anyone have a mom or grandmother that didn't have one of these hanging in the kitchen? It's great hanging over the side of a pot with other succulents.
9. Senecio serpens or Blue Chalk Stick has shown up in a lot of xeriscape gardens as a fun blue accent that grows quickly and can cover a lot of space.
10. E. elegans or Mexican snowball creates a cute pink bunch of flowers that contrasts against its green base.
Re-edited from a post originally published on 6.10.08 – AB


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At PASS we hung out with Sean McCown and Jen McCown (of MidnightDBA) and chatted… and, despite our better judgement, it was recorded. ;-) These aren't overly technical but they are fun! Enjoy!!
And, our favorite "travel tip" from the video is to know your plane and check your seat on http://www.seatguru.com/. In fact, I have a few other travel tips and I'm overdue on a meme that Kevin Kline tagged me in so I'll post that shortly as well.


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William Shakespeare
Giovanni Fontana
Leicester Square, WC2
Fontana adapted William Kent's design, executed by Peter Scheemakers, for the Shakespeare memorial in Poets' Corner, Westminster Abbey. It is the only outdoor monument to Shakespeare in London, apart from a bronze bust in St Mary Aldermanbury in the city — and that is really a monument to John Heminges and Henry Condell, compilers of the First Folio (see Bollus and Asprey 38). Badly weathered, the sculpture serves as an alternative perch to the many birds attracted" by the trees around the square. On this occasion, a gull has dropped" by. The words, "There is no darkness but ignorance," come from Twelfth Night, Act 4, sc. ii, and are spoken" by the Clown to Malvolio


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This article is more than 1 year old
Real and MTV in joint bid to be crushed by iTunes
Microsoft left out in the cold
After struggling to keep pace with iTunes on their own, MTV and RealNetworks have decided they'd rather struggle as a team.
Today, during a conference call with reporters, the two companies announced plans to merge their online music services - Rhapsody and Urge - forming one big market also-ran under the Rhapsody name. They've also joined forces with Verizon Wireless, whose V Cast Music service will transmogrify into Rhapsody's new mobile arm.
"Today, we're really excited to announce that MTV Networks, RealNetworks, and Verizon Wireless are getting together to announce a new, integrated digital music experience that consumers can access through their PCs, portable music devices, and mobile phones," said Van Toffler, president of MTV Networks' music & logo group. "The new service combines the musical curating" - yes, that's what he said - "and programming of MTV Networks' critically-acclaimed Urge service with the best of Real's market-leading Rhapsody service."
Of course, "market-leading" is a bit of stretch. Research firm NPD has yet to update its numbers this year, but last it checked, Apple's iTunes controlled 67 per cent of the online music market, and The Reg is quite sure that Jobs and Co. retain an unassailable lead. Toffler is making the distinction between music download services like iTunes and subscription-based services like Rhapsody.
The new Rhapsody service will continue to use a subscription model - where users have access to its entire music catalog for a monthly fee - but as with the current service, users will also have the power to purchase songs outright - iTunes-style.
"Today, in the context of all our services, we do track-purchases," said John Stratton, chief marketing officer of Verizon, referring to Rhapsody, Urge, and V Cast. "So it's safe to say that our philosophy going forward would be to support multiple models of consumer engagement including purchase models." Please forgive his language. He's a marketing person.
Real and MTV will not say when the new service will launch, but in the meantime, Urge users will also have full access to the existing Rhapsody service, and MTV will toss Rhapsody subscribers a few Urge goodies. "We've launched some Urge-specific, sort-of-MTV-Network-brand-specific content for Rhapsody subscribers," said Real spokeswoman Rhonda Scott. "Today, we launched some content related to the upcoming Video Music Awards, and that's just the start of it." Eventually, Urge will shut down entirely.
Sometime before then, MTV and Real will form a new company, Rhapsody America, to oversee their new uber-music service. As Real boss Rob Glaser revealed in a second conference call, Real will own 51 per cent of the venture, with MTV chipping in $230 mil for its 49 per cent.
This joint outfit will then enter an exclusive partnership with Verizon, using V Cast Music as its sole means of delivering music to mobile phones. V CAST Music is an existing service, already available to Verizon mobile customers, but it will likely be re-jiggered so that it taps into the same music catalog as the new Rhapsody service.
"If you think about the assets, the services, that each of these companies bring to the table, what we're looking to do is very smoothly integrate those services, so as to enable you to have access to your music from any point - desktop or mobile device - instantly and intuitively," said marketing genius John Stratton.
Where does all this leave Microsoft? Out in the cold. At the moment, Redmond is still offering quick access to Urge through Windows Media Player 11, the desktop tool that made its debut with Windows Vista earlier this year. But MTV's Toffler was tight-lipped about Redmond's role in MTV's new venture. "We are in discussions with Microsoft now," he said. "And Urge will continue to be on WMP 11 until further notice."
Like the current Rhapsody service, the new Rhapsody will include DRM-free songs from the Universal Music Group, the world's largest record label. First announced earlier this month, a Real-Universal DRM-free "test" kicked in today, letting users download thousands of the label's songs without rights management restrictions. iTunes is already selling DRM-free music from another mega-label, EMI Group, and WalMart has just announced that its online store is offering DRM-free purchases from EMI and Universal.
Real has said that its Universal test will last for six months, so we're guessing that the new Rhapsody will arrive sometime before then. No word on pricing. And no word on whether Real and MTV are embarrassed they couldn't make a go of it on their own.
This just in: WalMart's brand new DRM-free songs can't be downloaded onto a Mac (much like the rest of WalMart's tunes). Some Apple people are rather angry about this, but we'd like to point out that Steve Jobs doesn't exactly play nicely with handheld music players other than the iPod and iPhone. ®


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Thank-giving Day Slaughter of Dolphins at Taiji
Saturday, 27 Nov, 2010
Report by Captain Paul Watson
Hi, this is Captain Paul Watson onboard the Sea Shepherd ship Steve Irwin in Australia. I just received a phone call from Scott West in Taiji, Japan.
It appears there is no respite for the defenseless dolphins driven into the Cove at Taiji this Thanksgiving weekend.
Some 25 dolphins were driven into the bay, confused and disoriented by fishermen banging pipes in the sea. The marine mammals were forced into the Cove and a net was closed behind them.
The killers began to move in with gutting knives and spears. The afternoon air has been shattered by the pitiful screams of dolphins being mortally wounded.
The thugs of Taiji have once again brought shame to the nation of Japan with their cruel and remorseless killing of these highly intelligent, socially complex sentient beings.
The world is sickened by this slaughter, yet Japan continues the atrocities uncaring of world opinion.
We must continue to call Japanese consulates and embassies. We must not let them think our outrage will go away.
The Cove Guardians on the ground are doing what they can to keep us aware of the horrors at Taiji. 17-year-old Elora West has spent nearly three months documenting the crimes of the Taiji butchers. And it is just as important for everyone who can do so to call the Japanese embassies and consulates to keep this campaign alive. Remember they have to log every protest call you make.
The dolphins need your help so please call today and say no to the slaughter of dolphins at Taiji
Please support our work to save dolphins
and ocean life around the globe!
WRITE: Send a letter, e-mail, and/or fax to the Prime Minister of Japan, the Minister of Fisheries, your local embassy or consulate and other Japanese officials to let them know that this barbaric slaughter is unacceptable.
Prime Minister Naoto Kan
Cabinet Office, Government of Japan
1-6-1 Nagata-cho
Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo. 100-8914 JAPAN
Website: http://www.kantei.go.jp/foreign/index-e.html
Online comment form #1: https://www.kantei.go.jp/foreign/forms/comment_ssl.html
Online comment form #2: https://form.cao.go.jp/kokusai/en_opinion-0001.html
Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
Masahiko Yamada
1-2-1 Kasumigaseki
Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo. 100-8950 JAPAN
Tel: +81-3-3502-8111
Fax: +81-3-3502-8220
Website: http://www.maff.go.jp/e/index.html
Contact form: https://www.contact.maff.go.jp/maff/form/114e.html
Ambassador Ichiro Fujisaki
2520 Massachusetts Ave., N.W.
Washington D.C. 20008-2869
Tel: (202) 238-6700
Fax: (202) 328-2187


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In the court—or, in this case, on the court of public opinion, the film version of The Hunger Games has already won. The young-adult novel's legion of fans, young and old, has largely embraced the casting and preview footage doled out by Lionsgate (ever after the Twilight studio), culminating in reportedly record-breaking ticket pre-sales.
Even those totally unfamiliar with Suzanne Collins' book may find Gary Ross' film somewhat less than suspenseful: the intensity has been found more in the publicity blitz (are you Team Gale or Team Peeta?) than in the film it promotes. But if The Hunger Games on screen doesn't exactly catch fire (as does its hero Katniss Everdeen), its savvy pop culture mash-up and the charge of teens in life-and-death peril remain intact.
In a retro-futuristic dystopia, the one-percenters long ago crushed the revolt of the ninety-nine-percenters. The rule of fear hinges largely on "the Hunger Games," an annual compulsory lottery (thank you, Shirley Jackson) that demands twelve to eighteen-year-old "tributes" to submit to a televised death match. Two weeks, twenty-four contestants, and only one victor allowed to walk away alive.
Two contestants come from each of twelve districts; when the District 12 lottery demands twelve-year-old Primrose Everdeen (Willow Shields), her sixteen-year-old sister Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) dramatically volunteers to take Prim's place. It's the first of many dramas—all, in some sense, manufactured—that characterize the Romanesque circus of the Games.
From their rural, grey, utter impoverishment, Katniss and male draw Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson) find themselves thrust into the colorful, unimaginable decadence of the Capitol, where privilege and ostentation go hand in hand. This world is embodied by flittering escort Effie Trinket (a zanily outfitted Elizabeth Banks) and maniacally happy TV host Caesar Flickerman (Stanley Tucci), but two of the adults show sympathy for the teens: personal stylist Cinna (Lenny Kravitz) and official mentor Haymitch Abernathy (Woody Harrelson), an alcoholic former champion.
Oddly, the early scenes laying this groundwork tend to be considerably more lively than the 74th Annual Games themselves, a sign of Ross' lack of experience as an action director and the film's squeamishness when it comes to depicting the story's gruesomely violent side. The battle scenes are blurs, shot on the choppy waves of shaky-cam and rendered yet more choppy by editors making the best of the footage (including Oscar-winning local hero Stephen Mirrione).
Happily, Collins' characters and universe are a darn sight more interesting than those of Stephenie Meyer's Twilight. Straight-arrow-shooting Katniss makes a compelling feminist hero, and Lawrence's emotionally resonant performance delivers. Though a bit hobbled by his character's relative ambiguity, Hutcherson sells Peeta's whip-smart media savvy and his romantic vulnerability. For, like Twilight, The Hunger Games incorporates a swoony romantic triangle amongst TV-anointed "star-crossed lovers" Katniss and Peeta, and Katniss' hulking hometown sweetheart Gale (Liam Hemsworth).
The Hunger Games is a little bit The Most Dangerous Game, a little bit Lord of the Flies, a little bit The Truman Show, and a whole lot Battle Royale, the Japanese novel-turned-film about teens forced to battle to the death. The latter film's boldness overshadows Ross' work, but The Hunger Games' striking production design goes a long way, and the story could be a conversation starter for families about the voyeurism and willing manipulation of the American viewing public.
[This review first appeared in Palo Alto Weekly.]
Lionsgate brings The Hunger Games to home video in a snazzy 2-Disc Blu-ray + Digital Copy special edition. A/V specs are excellent: the vibrant and clear image catches the eye with vivid color representation that's true to the heightened reality of the source material; the contrast can be inconsistent, with blacks not always as sharp as could be, but on the whole, this is a successful, pleasing hi-def transfer of a tricky, high-motion film. Certainly, one couldn't ask for more from the lossless DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 audio mix, which is capable of subtle dialogue and pindrop ambience, as well as blistering sonic assault when it's showtime or game time; music is full-bodied, and the LFE is playing with power, sending thrums and blasts through your home theater.
First, with Disc One, Lionsgate wants you to know that your Hunger Games set is, like, totally tricked out for all platforms. "Metabeam Smart Remote" (:31, HD) explains a smartphone app to expand one's interactive viewing experience, while text screens explain "BD Touch," a "second-screen" experience wedding BD Live and Metabeam and DTS-HD Master Audio Sound Check tests your audio setup.
Disc Two kicks off with the feature-length making-of documentary The World is Watching: Making The Hunger Games (2:02:00, HD), in eight parts. Everything you wanted to know about making The Hunger Games and weren't afraid to ask gets covered here: adapting Suzanne Collins' novel (and her participation), assembling the filmmaking team and cast, pre-production (including conditioning and training), production, post-production (especially editing with a rating in mind), marketing and the film's reception.
In Featurettes, you'll find "Game Maker: Suzanne Collins and the Hunger Games Phenomenon" (14:05, HD) with Scholastic Books' David Levithan; "Letters from the Rose Garden" (9:08, HD) with Hollywood liberal lion Donald Sutherland holding court about the film's political relevance and his own decision to participate; "Controlling the Games" (5:50, HD), about the Games Center element; "A Conversation with Gary Ross and Elvis Mitchell" (14:31, HD); "Preparing for the Games: A Director's Process" (3:00, HD), a brief explanation of going from pages to footage; and the complete "Propaganda Film" (1:34, HD).
Lastly, a Marketing Gallery serves up "Sneak Peek" (1:08, HD), "Theatrical Trailer" (2:39, HD) and "Second Trailer" (1:12, HD), as well as a Poster Gallery and a Photo Gallery.
Review gear: |
Panasonic Viera TC-P55VT30 55" Plasma 1080p 3D HDTV
Oppo BDP-93 Universal Network 3D Blu-ray Disc Player
Denon AVR2112CI Integrated Network A/V Surround Receiver
Pioneer SP-BS41-LR Bookshelf Speaker (2)
Pioneer SP-C21 Center Speaker
Pioneer SW-8 Subwoofer


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Frost & Sullivan Recognises Companies in Africa for Precedent-Setting, Best-In-Class Practices
Winners felicitated at the prestigious annual awards banquet held at Cape Town
CAPE TOWN, South Africa, Aug. 19, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Africa's top industry performers were acclaimed at Frost & Sullivan's influential Awards Banquet held in Cape Town last week, 14 August 2014. Thriving in the current business environment indicates an approach that is visionary, incorporating innovation and game-changing strategies. Frost & Sullivan's best practice awards, based on a rigorous selection methodology, highlight the achievements of market-leading companies that deliver excellence and best practices in their respective industries.
Delivering the welcome speech and keynote address, Hendrik Malan, Operations Director, Frost & Sullivan, Africa, noted, "The Frost & Sullivan Best Practice Awards Programme acknowledges exceptional industry achievements. The selected awardees have demonstrated innovation, competitiveness and leadership in meeting the particular demands of doing business in Africa."
Twenty three awardees were drawn from diverse sectors including information and communication, chemicals and materials, energy, transportation, healthcare and finance. The ICT sector was strongly represented with Mi-Fone, T-Systems, ZTE, Intersec, Global Voice Group, Skyvision, Mahindra Comviva, Djibouti Data Center, EOH Cloud Services, Xlink, IBM, Health Window, and Orange, among the awardees.
Recipients were honoured for enabling technology, technology innovation, customer value enhancement, competitive strategy leadership, outstanding entrepreneurial spirit, and vertical market penetration, among other categories.
Following is a complete list of award recipients:
- DHL Express – 2013 Sub-Saharan African Transport and Logistics Market Penetration Leadership Award
- ZTE – 2013 African ICT Green Power Solution Technology Leadership Award
- Intersec – 2014 African Big Data Solutions Customer Value Leadership Award
- Global Voice Group – 2014 Sub-Saharan African Telecommunications Management and Supervision Technology Innovation Award
- Skyvision – 2014 African ICT in Oil and Gas Vertical Market Penetration Leadership Award
- Mahindra Comviva – 2014 African Digital Music Customer Value Leadership Award
- Standard Bank – 2014 South African Small and Medium Enterprises Support Customer Value Leadership Award
- Djibouti Data Center – 2014 East African Data Center Enabling Technology Leadership Award
- T-Systems – 2014 South African IT Services Industry Company of the Year Award
- Barloworld Logistics – 2014 Southern African Sustainable Logistics Technology Leadership Award
- EOH Cloud Services – 2013 South African Cloud Computing Customer Value Enhancement Award
- Elegant Line Chemicals – 2013 South African Commodity Chemicals Entrepreneurial Company of the Year Award
- Xlink – 2014 South African Machine-to-Machine in Retail and Finance Technology Leadership Award
- Mi-Fone – 2014 Sub-Saharan Africa Mobile Phone Entrepreneurial Company of the Year Award
- IBM – 2014 Sub-Saharan African Big Data Solutions Competitive Strategy Leadership Award
- Musoni – 2014 African Mobile Microfinance Technology Leadership Award
- PTiP – 2014 South African Solar Photovoltaic Technology Innovation Leadership Award
- Health Window – 2014 South African Medical Adherence Management Customer Service Leadership Award
- Rex Investment – 2014 Tanzanian Solar Power Generation Industry Customer Value Leadership
- MicroClinic Technologies – 2014 Kenyan Healthcare Information Technology Customer Value Leadership Award
- Orange – 2013 African Telecommunications Company of the Year Award
- Sasol – 2014 African Chemicals and Materials Visionary Innovation Award
- Samsung – 2014 Kenyan Mobile Phones Competitive Strategy Innovation and Leadership Award
About Frost & Sullivan
Frost & Sullivan, the Growth Partnership Company, works in collaboration with clients to leverage visionary innovation that addresses the global challenges and related growth opportunities that will make or break today's market participants.
Our "Growth Partnership" supports clients by addressing these opportunities and incorporating two key elements driving visionary innovation: The Integrated Value Proposition and The Partnership Infrastructure.
- The Integrated Value Proposition provides support to our clients throughout all phases of their journey to visionary innovation including: research, analysis, strategy, vision, innovation and implementation.
- The Partnership Infrastructure is entirely unique as it constructs the foundation upon which visionary innovation becomes possible. This includes our 360 degree research, comprehensive industry coverage, career best practices as well as our global footprint of more than 40 offices.
For more than 50 years, we have been developing growth strategies for the global 1000, emerging businesses, the public sector and the investment community. Is your organization prepared for the next profound wave of industry convergence, disruptive technologies, increasing competitive intensity, Mega Trends, breakthrough best practices, changing customer dynamics and emerging economies?
Contact Us: Start the discussion
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Samantha James
Corporate Communications – Africa
E: [email protected]
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SOURCE Frost & Sullivan


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Christianity is a 'faded memory' for most young people
Most youngsters consider Christianity irrelevant to their lives but they are not as hostile towards religion as their parents' generation, researchers in the Church of England have found.
The researchers surveyed 300 young people from Generation Y - those born after 1982 - who had attended a Christian youth or community project. The five-year study looked at their faith in relation to Christianity and the impact of Christian youth and community work on their faith development.
It found that young people were more likely to put their faith in friends, their family or themselves than in God.
Sylvia Collins-Mayo, a sociologist of religion and one of the researchers behind the study, said: "For the majority, religion and spirituality was irrelevant for day-to-day living; our young people were not looking for answers to ultimate questions and showed little sign of 'pick and mix' spirituality."
She said that young people only sought a religious perspective on "rare occasions" and that when they did, they often 'made do' with a "very faded, inherited cultural memory of Christianity in the absence of anything else".
This tended to be in times of difficulty, for example after suffering a bereavement or illness in the family.
"In this respect they would sometimes pray in their bedrooms," she said. "What is salutary for the Church is that generally young people seemed quite content with this situation, happy to get by with what little they knew about the Christian faith."
The findings suggested that while Christian youth projects were an important source of support for young Christians, they had little impact on the faith of the non-churchgoers who took part in them.
Among the infrequent churchgoers, 28% said belonging to a Christian youth group had made them think more about the purpose of life. Thirty per cent said it had made them think more about God, 26% about Jesus, and 54% about what was right and wrong.
Infrequent churchgoers tended to be uncertain about the nature of God, with 23% saying they believed God was someone they could know personally, 22% saying they believed in some sort of higher power or life force but not a personal God, and 12% saying that they did not think there was any sort of God, higher power or life force. Forty-three per cent said they did not know what to think about God.
Collins-Mayo said: "The Christian youth and community projects were an important source of Christian faith support for the minority of young people who were already actively involved in Church.
"For the majority, however, the Christian dimension of the projects had little impact on them beyond keeping the plausibility of Christian belief and practices alive."
The results of the study have been published in a new book, The Faith of Generation Y. Collins-Mayo said that while Generation Y is largely unfamiliar with formal religion, it still takes a keen interest in ethical issues.
"The young people drew moral guidance from family as friends, but they also recognised the potential of religion, including Christianity, to provide them with guidelines for living," she said.
The researchers say that the common assumption that teenagers are alienated from their parents and hostile towards religion is a hangover from the Sixties and Seventies and no longer applicable to today's young people.
The book reads: "Generation Y have less cultural hang ups about the Church than did their predecessors … The challenge to the Church is to provide them with the opportunities to explore and to learn about a narrative of belief of which they know little."
The Faith of Generation Y is joint authored by Sylvia Collins-Mayo, West London priest Bob Mayo, and the director of the Midlands Centre for Youth Ministry, Sally Nash. It features a contribution from the Bishop of Coventry, the Rt Rev Christopher Cocksworth.
The Faith of Generation Y, priced £14.99 (ISBN 978 0 7151 4206 6), is available from bookshops or www.chpublishing.co.uk


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National Stone, Sand and Gravel Association (NSSGA) on Feb. 14 announced the Gold, Silver and Bronze winners of NSSGA's Safety, Environmental and Community Relations Excellence Awards, in addition to the association's top honor – The Stars of Excellence for operations that accumulate Gold Awards in Safety, Environmental or Community Relations during a five-year period.
The awards program recognizes aggregates operations throughout the United States and Canada for their extraordinary commitment to safety, for their superior performance as environmental stewards and for their community involvement and support activities that have enhanced the image of the aggregates industry during 2010-2011. The Stars of Excellence and all Gold Awards in each category will be presented at NSSGA's 2012 Annual Convention in Charlotte at the Westin Charlotte hotel on March 12.
Two Stars of Excellence
Pioneers Aggregates
DuPont, Wash.
Gold Award Winners
Safety Excellence Award Winners
Tilcon Connecticut Inc.,
an Oldcastle company |
Southington Sand & Gravel | Small | Southington, Conn. |
Martin Marietta Materials | Helotes Plant | Medium | San Antonio, Texas |
Martin Marietta Materials | New Braunfels Quarry | Large | New Braunfels, Texas |
Safety Sterling Award Winners
Iddings Quarry, Inc. | Small | Mifflinburg, Pa. |
Dalrymple Holding Corp. | Medium | Pine City, N.Y. |
Specialty Granules Inc. | Large | Hagerstown, Md. |
Arena Sand & Gravel | Lehigh Hanson | Garwood, Texas |
Ball Ground Quarry | Lafarge | Nelson, Ga. |
Bridgeport Quarry | Lehigh Hanson | Chico, Texas |
Center Hill Quarry | CEMEX | Center, Fla. |
Lacey's Spring Quarry | Rogers Group, Inc. | Lacey's Spring, Ala. |
Littleton Quarry | Aggregate Industries | Littleton, Mass. Gold |
Community Relations
Riverdale/Pompton Lakes Quarry | Tilcon New York Inc., Riverdale, N.J. and
an Oldcastle®company |
Riverdale and Pompton Lakes, N.J. |
Gator Sand Mine | CEMEX | Davenport, Fla. |
Pioneer Aggregates | CalPortland | DuPont, Wash. |
Searcy Quarry | Vulcan Materials Company | Judsonia, Ark. |
McCook Quarry | Vulcan Materials Company | McCook, Ill. |
SMI Ostrander Quarry | The Shelly Company, an Oldcastle® company | Ostrander, Ohio |
West Nyack Quarry | Tilcon New York Inc.,
an Oldcastle® company |
West Nyack, N.Y. |
"We are so pleased to be able to recognize CalPortland's Pioneer Aggregates with the National Stars of Excellence award, in addition to all our Gold Award winners," said NSSGA President and CEO Joy Wilson in a press release. "Every day, our members continue to show their commitment to the industry and their communities in promoting safe working conditions, recognizing the importance of environmental stewardship and maintaining outstanding community relations. These awards demonstrate their important contributions to a sustainable America."
"Our winners have every reason to be proud of their achievements," said NSSGA Chairman of the Board Dave Thomey, executive vice president, Maryland Materials Inc., in a written statement. "I congratulate each of these operations for their commitment to outstanding corporate citizenship and support of their communities. They remind us of the important role the aggregates industry plays in ensuring a greater quality of life in America."
NSSGA's National Stars of Excellence program began in 2001 and is presented to those operations earning two or more of any of the following gold awards over a five-year period:
Safety Excellence, Environmental Excellence and Excellence in Community Relations. Each operation is awarded a number of stars corresponding to the number of gold awards won. A Three-Star Award winner is NSSGA's Sustainability Award recipient – the highest award that can be achieved by an operation from the association.
The Sterling Safety Award was created in 1994 to recognize the companies that have the lowest total accident incidence rate for the previous year in their category among NSSGA member companies. The Safety Excellence Program was created in 1987 to promote safe working conditions and practices and to recognize, on an annual basis, individual operations with exemplary safety records among NSSGA member companies.
The Environmental Excellence Awards program was created in 1992 to provide national recognition for aggregate producers that meet and exceed technical, environmental and regulatory requirements.
Finally, the Excellence in Community Relations Program was created in 1989 to recognize aggregate producers whose community involvement and support activities have enhanced the public's perception of the aggregates industry in general and the public image of the individual producer's aggregate operation in particular.


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March 26, 2013 | The Wall Street Journal
Stopping an Undetectable Iranian Bomb
Washington and its allies must insist that Tehran verifiably stop increasing the number and quality of its centrifuges.
March 26, 2013 | The Wall Street Journal
Stopping an Undetectable Iranian Bomb
Washington and its allies must insist that Tehran verifiably stop increasing the number and quality of its centrifuges.
Co-authored by David Albright
Iran's nuclear program dominated last week's meeting between U.S. President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. A key challenge for both leaders: how to stop Iran's rapid advance toward "critical capability."
Critical capability means the point at which Iran could dash to produce enough weapons-grade uranium or separated plutonium for one bomb so quickly that the International Atomic Energy Agency or a Western intelligence service would be unable to detect the dash until it is over.
Mr. Obama has implicitly threatened to use force, if necessary, to prevent Iran from "obtaining" nuclear weapons. But once Tehran is perched at critical capability, it could use the threat of an undetectable breakout to enjoy many of the strategic benefits of having a bomb without crossing Mr. Obama's red line. Once Iran has produced sufficient fissile material—weapons-grade uranium or separated plutonium—it will be much more difficult for the West to stop Iran from completing the process of actually building nuclear weapons.
Producing fissile material is the most technically demanding step in building a nuclear bomb, and the hardest to hide. According to IAEA officials, Iran already knows enough to create the non-fissile parts of a basic nuclear bomb. With this knowledge, a country such as Iran could manufacture nuclear weapon components, or even assemble complete bombs, in small, secret facilities. That is one reason why U.S. intelligence was surprised by how quickly China, India, North Korea, Pakistan and the Soviet Union obtained nuclear weapons—and underestimated Iraq's progress in 1990 and overestimated it in 2002.
How short would Iran's fissile-material dash need to be so as to be undetectable? Currently, the IAEA inspects two Iranian enrichment facilities on average once a week, and a third facility every two weeks on average. With this rate of inspections, Iran would need to produce 25 kilograms of weapons-grade uranium (enough for one bomb) from its stockpiles of lower enriched uranium in less than one week. The window might be widened to two or three weeks if Tehran blocked one or two inspections on the pretext of an "accident" or a "protest."
This brings us to the critical component for a fissile-material dash: the quality and quantity of Iran's centrifuges. Tehran has in the last year installed about 5,000 additional IR-1 centrifuges, the biggest increase in years. It has also begun installing IR-2m centrifuges, which are reportedly three to five times as productive in enriching uranium as the currently standard IR-1 models. All of Iran's centrifuge installation- and uranium enrichment-related activity violates multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions, which since 2006 have required that "Iran shall without further delay suspend . . . all enrichment-related and reprocessing activities."
We estimate that Iran, on its current trajectory, will by mid-2014 be able to dash to fissile material in one to two weeks unless its production of 20%-enriched uranium is curtailed. If the number or efficiency of Iran's centrifuges unexpectedly increases, or if Tehran has a secret operational enrichment site, Tehran could reach critical capability before mid-2014. The date could be delayed, however, if Iran encounters unexpected difficulties in centrifuge operation or can no longer import centrifuge equipment and materials from China and elsewhere.
At nuclear talks in Kazakhstan in February, Western negotiators reportedly focused on persuading Iran to curtail its production of 20%-enriched uranium and to export some of its existing stock. These goals are important but insufficient. As Iran increases the quality and quantity of its spinning centrifuges to the point of critical capability, a moratorium on 20%-enriched uranium will matter less and less. It will become easier for Tehran—after using some pretext to renege on a 20% moratorium—to rapidly make up for lost time in accumulating enough 20% enriched uranium that, if further enriched to weapons-grade (or about 90% enriched), would be enough for a bomb. Once Tehran had enough 20% material for a bomb, it could produce enough weapons-grade uranium for that bomb in a week or two.
Given Iran's current course, the U.S. and its allies should immediately impose maximum pressure on Iran, including by intensifying economic sanctions and cracking down on Tehran's illicit imports of centrifuge equipment and materials. In addition to curtailing Iran's production and stockpile of 20%-enriched uranium, any interim deal must verifiably prohibit Iran from upgrading the type and increasing the number of its operational centrifuges. More frequent IAEA inspections at key Iranian sites are also essential.
Mr. Obama warned last fall that Iran could eventually achieve "breakout capacity, which means that we would not be able to intervene in time to stop their nuclear program." If Iran achieves breakout capacity, the United States, by President Obama's admission, would not have sufficient insight into Iran's progress to intervene "in time" to prevent it from completing the process of obtaining nuclear weapons.
Washington and its allies must insist now that Iran verifiably stop increasing the number and quality of its centrifuges. Anything short of that will leave Iran far too close to an undetectable breakout capacity.
Mr. Albright is president of the Institute for Science and International Security. Mr. Dubowitz is executive director of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. Mr. Kittrie is a law professor at Arizona State University.


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Sun, 01-Apr-2007 by Curtis "Ovid" Poe edit post
Here are the latest update from the Mango grant.
As a side note, we're working on a new process for getting grant information out even faster than we currently do (you might recall that we used to have none). If everyone signs off, this information should be much more timely.
Update 1
I finally got desperate enough to find a solution I could live with after rolling my own config file format. So, I managed to convert the admin/roles/users crud. I should have products done this evening, then I'll rework the cart/wishlists. I should have all of those working by the end of the week. Then I can concentrate on the things I've been avoiding, like the sales config and such.
Update 2
I'd like to say I'm making progress, but I'm really not. :-/ Apparently, it's the simply things that drain my soul.
I'm fighting forms and form validation, and nothing is making me happy. FormBuilder is good for making forms, but it's validation sucks.
FormValidator::Simple is great for validation messages, but defining profiles in YAML is ugly as sin and I found a great Tie:: bug in the process.
HTML::Widget makes me have seizure every time I look at it since it's all code based for form generation.
And they all suck at some level when trying to localize the form field labels and errors messages.
So, I've literally been wasting a couple week fighting over some combination of the three that I can tolerate while at the same time having minimal code in Catalyst.
If it weren't for all of that, I'd probably have all of the admin pages/CRUD done already.
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