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Economist Gary Becker dies at 83
Chicago, May 5, 2014
Gary Becker, whose work applying the principles of economics to a wide range of human behaviour won the Nobel Prize in 1992, has died at age 83, the University of Chicago said.
Becker, a student of free-market economist Milton Friedman, died on Saturday after a long illness, the university said on its website. It gave no more details.
Becker used economic analysis to study such subjects as crime, discrimination, addiction, population and the family, the university said.
"Gary was a transformational thinker of truly remarkable impact on the world and an extraordinary individual," University of Chicago President Robert Zimmer said in a statement.
Becker got his doctorate in economics at the University of Chicago in 1955 and published the book "The Economics of Discrimination" two years later. It looked at prejudice against minorities through the prism of economics.
His 1981 book "A Treatise on the Family" concluded that working women had fewer children in part because their time had become more valuable, the website said.
Becker's early career generated controversy, with other economists questioning the value of his analysis of social problems.
"For a long time, my type of work was either ignored or strongly disliked by most of the leading economists," Becker wrote in his autobiography. "I was considered way out and perhaps not really an economist."
In 2011, Becker said the US had little choice but to delay payment of retirement benefits given huge budget deficits. He called on the US Congress to consider raising the retirement age to 70 for people without disabilities.
Becker also served as an economic adviser to California Republican Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Becker was born in Pottsville, Pennsylvania, and received his undergraduate degree at Princeton University.
He worked as an assistant professor in economics at the University of Chicago before leaving to teach at Columbia University in New York. There, he studied labor economics among other subjects, according to the website. He returned to the University of Chicago in 1970.
He is survived by his wife, Guity Nashat Becker, daughters Catherine Becker and Judy Becker, sister Natalie Becker, stepsons Cyrus Claffey and Michael Claffey and four grandchildren, the website said. - Reuters


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Loose Sow Housing Gets Top Billing
Te 5,400-sq.-ft. display area was cosponsored by Deut sche Landwirtschafts-Gesellschaft (DLG), the German Agricultural Society, and Bauforderung Landwirtschaft (BFL), an organization representing agricultural and livestock building construction and optimization of livestock management conditions
January 19, 2011
EuroTier organizers set aside a special display area for technologies and equipment designed for loose sow housing.
Te 5,400-sq.-ft. display area was cosponsored by Deut sche Landwirtschafts-Gesellschaft (DLG), the German Agricultural Society, and Bauforderung Landwirtschaft (BFL), an organization representing agricultural and livestock building construction and optimization of livestock management conditions. DLG and BFL specialists staffed the display area to answer pork producers' questions.
Stall Ban Looms
A decision to ban gestations stalls in European Union (EU) countries was made in 2001, and dictates that gestating sows in commercial operations must be kept in groups from four weeks after service until one week before farrowing. Space allocations differ by group size and age of sows. Groups of 39 or fewer must have 17.8 sq. ft. (young sows) or 24.2 sq. ft. (old sows), while groups of 40 or more require 16.2 or 22.1 sq. ft., respectively.The Jan. 1, 2013 deadline to eliminate gestation stalls, , is now just two years away.
"Sows must be able to walk around or lie down in peace during their gestating phase, which entails farms implementing new types of housing systems that satisfactorily address these issues and which do not compromise feeding strategies," explained Vincent ter Beek in EuroTier Innovation 2010, a special publication distributed to attendees.
In April 2010, pork producers filed a plea to extend the deadline, noting the financial stresses in the industry have left many unprepared to invest in the technologies and renovations required to eliminate gestation stalls. Beek noted that pork producers in southern Europe, particularly, were not prepared for the conversion. However, producers in the northern countries — the Netherlands, Denmark, United Kingdom and Sweden — pressed to retain the deadline, noting the timeline must be met if the industry is to establish credibility with consumers.
As plans for EuroTier 2010 progressed, BFL approached Dirk Hesse, a member of the DLG Pig Committee and head of the farm technic department at the University of Giessen, to coordinate the loose sow housing display, which featured flooring, heating and ventilation, building construction and sow feeding options. Hesse invited a limited number of companies to display their products. Those that accepted paid a fee to be included.
A considerable portion of the space was devoted to electronic sow feeding (ESF) systems and free-access gestation stalls.
"There were tons of options directed at loose sow housing in the special display area and throughout the trade show floor," notes Ken Stalder, Extension swine specialist at Iowa State University.
"The free-access stall option requires more space, but less technology. The different free-access stalls were mostly differentiated by the mechanisms that operate the rear gates and rear-gate designs that would make A.I. or pregnancy testing easier," he observes.
"The ESF systems feature more technology and more diet control and require less room, but some computer capabilities are needed to operate them successfully. One of the more pressing issues with ESF systems is what will happen if the system breaks down or power is lost. The feed reservoirs with those systems are not very big. You have to have a back-up plan to ensure sows are fed," Stalder adds.
In general, companies displayed more sow housing options and greater sophistication than producers would normally see at U.S. trade shows. "Perhaps U.S. producers and distributors don't feel the urgency to make changes in sow housing just yet," Stalder notes.
Following is a brief description of the free-access stalls and ESF systems presented in the loose sow housing display area, including their Web sites for additional information. Not all are available in the United States, although most companies expressed interest in establishing U.S. distributors or partnerships. Also see DLG/BFL Web site, www.sauen-in-gruppen.de (click "translate" for English), for additional loose sow housing information.
Electronic Sow Feeding (ESF)
ESF systems feature computerized recognition and data recording on individual sows in a group setting. In all cases, sows are identified and gain access to their daily feed allotment via a transponder embedded in an ear tag or button. Computerized systems allow producers to allocate a specific amount of feed for each sow in the group, according to her needs and body condition. The various technologies are generally differentiated by the feeding mechanism.
Most ESF systems are designed with a series of doors that allow sows access to the feed hopper, where they can eat their daily feed allocation undisturbed. Another sow cannot enter the feeding area until the sow ahead of her exits the station. An on-farm Web application is recommended for most farms to make it easier to correct any programming errors, change a sow's daily feed allocation, and identify sows that failed to pass through the system within a 24-hour period. Generally, one ESF station can handle up to 60-65 sows.
The biggest challenge with ESF systems is training naïve sows and gilts to access the feeding space.
The following companies were included in the loose sow housing display area.
Big Dutchman, Germany/USA.
As a sow enters the CallMatic 2 ESF
feeding station, she passes through a light barrier and the rear door closes. An antenna placed over the feeding trough reads the sow's identification tag, which opens the lid and her daily ration is metered into the trough in small amounts. When a sow has finished eating, she exits the station and the trough lid closes. If she does not eat her full allocation for the day, she can return to eat it later. Sows that have eaten their daily allocation can enter the station, but are denied access to the trough until the next 24-hour feeding period. Options include dry feeding or computer-controlled liquid feeding, color marking and additional hoppers for feed supplements. Web site: www.bigdutchman.com.Nedap Agri, Netherlands. The company notes that over 3.5 million sows around the world receive their daily meals via the Nedap Velos ESF system. The Standalone model is designed for stable (static) groups. Mechanical or pneumatic entry gates are available. The Separation Unit model is designed for dynamic groups with multiple feeding stations, automatic identification check and sow marking capabilities. The Separation Unit routes sows away from the feeding station, discourages repeat visits and reduces confrontations with other sows. Both models are readily adaptable to existing facilities. Web site: www.nedap-agri.com.
PigTek, USA/Netherlands/Germany. The Mannebeck Intec Mac, PC-operated feeding system includes a Web-based interface that can be operated virtually anywhere. Sows are recognized via an ear tag transponder, which closes the door behind them and delivers a daily diet to a stainless steel trough. The system is described as plug-and-play ready, is expandable to fit any size herd, and provides information in real time. PigTek also displayed the Fitmix Mac feeding system, which meters a mash/paste-type feed through a nozzle directly to the sow's mouth, eliminating the feed trough. Fitmix offers economical, transponder-regulated feeding, saves space and can accommodate up to 120 sows in a stable group. Web site: www.mannebeck.com. Also see feature story on page 16.
Schauer, Austria. The Compident electronic sow feeding system can accommodate up to 80 sows per station. TIRIS transponders ensure reliable animal identification and pneumatic feed portion control. Wet feed is provided in a trough that swivels in for easy access and undisturbed feeding. The system is now available with scales to guide individual feeding according to the animal's condition. A Compident Trainee learning station is available for training up to 25 gilts weighing 175 lb. or more. The trainee model makes it easier to train gilts and sows using mechanical and programming measures. Web site: www.schauer.co.at.
Skiold, Denmark. This transponder-based technology was introduced to the Danish pig industry in 1983. Current software is designed for PDA hand-held and scan-capable devices to make data entry easier, while minimizing the chances for errors. The ESF system can serve 50 sows/station, operates with dry or wet feed, and can be encoded with up to nine different feeding curves. Web site: www.skiold.com.
Free-Access Gestation Stalls
Free-access stalls, considered a compromise between conventional gestation stalls and penning sows in groups, serves as a feeding station and provides safe harbor for sows in groups.
Sows soon learn to enter the stalls to eat or lay down. With some models, as sows enter, they push on a bar or paddle that automatically closes the rear gate behind them, allowing them to eat in peace. When the gate is closed, it is impossible for another sow to harass or force a sow to leave a stall.
When a sow is ready to leave, she simply backs against the rear gate to flip it open and reset the front bar. Sows can come and go as they please.
Many sows prefer the security of a stall, while others choose to lie in the open areas in solitude or with a small group of sows. When sows are initially mixed, the free-access stalls allow the more timid sows to duck into a stall and avoid the conflict.
A common feature of the free-access stalls is a locking mechanism to temporarily hold the sows for pregnancy checking, vaccination or treatment. Most free-access systems have a means of locking/unlocking the rear gates of a single stall or an entire row of stalls. Locking mechanisms differ — some controlled manually by a lever or latch, while others are more sophisticated, using a hydraulic or pneumatic system. The stalls are commonly installed in rows according to the producer's needs and group size.
Sows can be fed by hand or with drop feeders. Because sows don't always eat in the same stall, it is virtually impossible to feed individual sows according to body condition.
Acceptable group size may vary by country, but most free-access stall vendors recommend groups no larger than 20 sows. Stalls can be placed in pens of any shape or configuration, although L-shaped and T-shaped pens are common. Some producers provide bedding or rubber mats, while others prefer solid concrete or slotted floors.
These companies' free-access stalls were featured in the loose sow housing display area:
Big Dutchman, Germany/USA.
Features of the Easy-Lock model include a swinging rear gate, adjustable width (23.6 to 27.6 in.) and an optional insemination gate. The HD model features rugged construction, two widths (24.4 and 25.6 in.), an up-and-over rear gate that closes only when the sow reaches the feeding trough and a gate design to facilitate artificial insemination or pregnancy checking. Web site: www.bigdutchman.com.PigTek, USA/Netherlands/
Germany. Porcon-brand free-access stalls are available with several rear-gate designs. The Porcon Freedom stall is equipped with an auto-close feature when the sow enters the stall. Sows can be locked in and released singly or in groups. Porcon AI stalls feature a saloon-style door design, which allows the split rear gates to pivot inward and outward. The Swingfix Box stall features simple construction and easy access to the sow. Sows can be locked in or released individually or in groups. Web site: www.pigtek.net or www.mannebeck.com.Egebjerg International, Denmark. No pipes above the sows makes the Inn-O-Stall free-access stall more worker friendly, and the rear gate design makes it easy for workers to step into the stall area as needed, such as for artificial insemination. Stall gates can be locked individually or in groups from a central location. The raised stainless steel trough provides maximum resting area, allows for optimal boar contact for heat checking and makes cleaning passageways easier. Web site: www.egebjerg.com.
Duraumat Farm Equipment, Denmark. The Eco-Liberty System free-access stalls are available with two rear-gate options — Echo-B and Echo-D. Limited translated information available at: www.duraeumat.de.
En-Sta Farm Equipment, Denmark. Self-locking, free-access stalls can be locked or opened individually or in groups. The Easy-Insemination split rear gate allows the top section to be turned in or out for easy insemination, while the bottom portion of the gate prevents the sow from backing out of the stall. Additional rear gate designs are also available. Limited translated information available at: www.en-sta.de.
Rubber Mats for Sows
With over 40 years of experience in the development of rubber floor mats for dairy cattle, Kraiburg Elastik GmbH turned its considerable expertise to developing a comfortable lying surface for sows.
Early testing of the dairy mats soon revealed that the persistent rooting and chewing behavior of sows shredded and tore the mat edges. Now, after five years of development, the company has introduced the Porca Relax rubber mat series designed for the lying area in loose sow housing pen designs. A "bite-optimized" protective surface and an integrated, framed, rigid edge solved the rooting/biting challenge.
The universal (standard) ¾-in. thick mats are 4 x 6½ ft. and available in solid and laser-cut, slotted forms. Mat openings do not have to match the openings of the existing slotted floors, as the intention is simply for liquid drainage.
The company's stainless steel fastening system anchors the mats in solid concrete floors or secures them to slotted floors. When solid mats are installed, the company recommends a 2-4% slope to ensure moisture drainage. Mats can be cut-to-fit or custom-made.
In trials conducted by the Bavarian State Research Centre for Agriculture in Schwarzenau, Germany and the Education and Research Centre in Boxberg, Germany, researchers found that sows housed with the rubber mats had fewer abrasions to the joints and claw (foot) walls than their counterparts housed on concrete floors. Abrasions are commonly caused by sows rubbing the sides of their feet while lying down, getting up or moving their feet and legs while on their sides. More information is available at: www.kraiburg-agri.com. Wisconsin-based Agromatic (www.agromatic.net) is the U.S. distributor of the Kraiburg mats.
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text:
Suppose someone of your development team is presenting a sprint to the customer but he is having web connection problems such that a complete story cannot be presented. For the sake of the cleanness of the presentation, do you help your colleague suggesting possible solutions and try to fix it in the moment? Or is it kind of messy?
May be the customer (who is "part" of the team) will understand? Why?


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"When a Loved One Struggles with Same-Sex Attraction," Ensign, Sept. 1999, 51
When a Loved One Struggles with Same-Sex Attraction
Families and friends can reach out to those with homosexual difficulties by relying on accurate information and on guidance from the Lord's prophets. There is no struggle for which the Atonement is not sufficient.
Family members and friends often experience shock and confusion when they learn that a loved one struggles with homosexual attraction. How do they manage their conflicting feelings and balance love and compassion with the Lord's declaration that homosexual relations are sinful? Much of society has strayed from gospel truths on this issue. Many claim that homosexuality is biologically determined and that individuals are "born that way." What should family and friends know about homosexuality? How should they respond to those who struggle with same-sex attraction?
Much confusion can be avoided if we heed the words of the Lord's prophet. President Gordon B. Hinckley has provided a solid foundation in addressing this difficult issue. He has stated:
"Prophets of God have repeatedly taught through the ages that practices of homosexual relations, fornication, and adultery are grievous sins. Sexual relations outside the bonds of marriage are forbidden by the Lord. We affirm those teachings."1
In a conference address, President Hinckley provided further counsel on what our attitude should be toward those who experience homosexual attraction:
"We love them as sons and daughters of God. …
"We want to help these people, to strengthen them, to assist them with their problems and to help them with their difficulties. But we cannot stand idle if they indulge in immoral activity, if they try to uphold and defend and live in a so-called same-sex marriage situation. To permit such would be to make light of the very serious and sacred foundation of God-sanctioned marriage and its very purpose, the rearing of families."2
What Research Shows
In addition to having counsel from the Lord's prophet to provide guidance, it is helpful to have accurate information about homosexuality and its development. First, it is important to understand that homosexuality is not innate and unchangeable. Research has not proved that homosexuality is genetic. Even more important, many researchers whose studies have been used to support a biological model for homosexuality have determined that their work has been misinterpreted. What is clear is that homosexuality results from an interaction of social, biological, and psychological factors. These factors may include temperament, personality traits, sexual abuse, familial factors, and treatment by one's peers.3
Developmental factors aside, can individuals diminish homosexual attraction and make changes in their lives? Yes. There is substantial evidence, both historical and current, to indicate this is the case. Jeffrey Satinover, M.D., a former Fellow at Yale University and a graduate of MIT and Harvard, concludes:
"The fact that not all methods of treating those who struggle with homosexual attraction are successful, and that no method is successful for everyone, has been distorted by activists into the claim that no method is helpful for anyone. … The simple truth is that, like most methods in psychiatry and psychotherapy, the treatment of homosexuality has evolved out of eighty years of clinical experience, demonstrating approximately the same degree of success as, for example, the psychotherapy of depression."4
Other researchers note treatment success rates that exceed 50 percent, which is similar to the success rates for treating other difficulties.5
How to Reach Out
With accurate information coupled with the Lord's perspective, family and friends can reach out to those with homosexual difficulties and provide a source of hope and direction. Though homosexual attraction may not result from conscious choices, the divine gift of agency does provide us with choices in responding to such attraction. Helping a loved one understand and exercise agency can be valuable and empowering.
Perhaps the most important message you can convey is that there is no struggle for which the Atonement of Jesus Christ is not sufficient. Many individuals who have experienced homosexual difficulties have felt the blessings of the Atonement in their lives, and their burdens have been lifted through the Lord's grace. In Matthew 11:28–30 [Matt. 11:28–30] the Savior extends the invitation:
"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
"Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
"For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."
Understanding and applying the Lord's grace to our troubled lives can open the door to peace and joy. One man found it easier to understand grace as "perfect empathy"—that is, the knowledge that the Savior understands our struggles perfectly, diminishes our loneliness, and engenders hope.
Helpful Ideas
Other helpful guidelines for responding to those experiencing homosexual attraction include:
1. Moderate your response to the news of your loved one's homosexual struggles. Keep in mind that this is the same person you have always known: a child of God. Be grateful that this individual is willing to share his or her burden with you. Trials often provide opportunities for growth both for the individual and for you. Let it be understood that you value him or her and that this difficult journey will not have to be traveled alone.
Brother Brown (all names in examples have been changed) could hardly contain his feelings of devastation when Brian, his youngest son, revealed that he struggled with same-sex attraction. Not knowing how to respond, Brother Brown heeded the still, small voice that directed him to embrace his son. As he did so, Brian uttered, "Dad, I always wanted you to hug me."
One's perception of Heavenly Father is often influenced by one's earthly father. As Brother Brown hugged his son, Brian felt the love of both his earthly father and his Heavenly Father. Such contact provided tremendous support for him at a crucial moment.
2. Express your own feelings and testimony of change. Realize that your loved one may experience extreme pain because of the extensive changes that are required. These include changing one's thoughts and often one's friendships, leisure settings, work situation, or even clothing styles. President Ezra Taft Benson expressed his testimony of the Lord's method of change:
"The Lord works from the inside out. The world works from the outside in. The world would take people out of the slums. Christ takes the slums out of people, and then they take themselves out of the slums. The world would mold men by changing their environment. Christ changes men, who then change their environment. The world would shape human behavior, but Christ can change human nature. …
"Yes, Christ changes men, and changed men can change the world. Men changed for Christ will be captained by Christ. …
"… Men captained by Christ will be consumed in Christ."6
3. While maintaining a loving concern for the person, reiterate the Lord's position that homosexual relations are sinful, and don't lose sight of this gospel truth. The story of one young man highlights this point. At 27 years of age, Kent had never acted on his homosexual urgings, which had been present for several years. He decided to inform his parents about his feelings. They were visibly upset but voiced their support for him. Unfortunately, he viewed their support as approval to pursue homosexual relations. He contracted the AIDS virus. In retrospect, he wondered if it would have made a difference if his parents had taken a stronger stand. He stated, "I interpreted their love for me as their approval of homosexual relations."
4. Kindly encourage the individual to seek counsel from the bishop. Real healing comes from repentance and forgiveness; it comes from the Lord. A loving bishop can provide a needed bridge between the individual and the Lord.
Roger was a 40-year-old who had struggled with homosexual desires most of his life. A therapist at LDS Family Services had helped him sort out his feelings, many of which resulted from a childhood of horrific abuse. Roger achieved a sense of peace that he had never thought possible, but he still wondered if his Father in Heaven had really forgiven him. The bishop met with Roger regularly and gave him comforting blessings. Subsequent to one of the meetings with the bishop, Roger left the room, only to be recalled by the bishop. The bishop put his arm around Roger and said, "The Lord has told me to put my arm around you and to tell you that He loves you." Roger remembered feeling the Savior's love in a profound way. Later, Roger said, "I guess I knew that the Lord loved me, but today I felt His love." Roger's sense of peace was complete. Indeed, the bishop had helped bridge the gap between Roger and the Lord.
5. Avoid the temptation to try to take control of or fix the situation. Encourage. Be patient. Suffer long. Demonstrate love unfeigned. These actions and attitudes are profoundly more helpful than force. And besides, they represent the Lord's way.
6. Use professional resources. Not all individuals who have homosexual attraction need professional help. Those who do are best served when professional assistance is combined with a bishop's counseling. Such joint efforts often can provide immense support in the journey out of homosexuality. This is exemplified by a man who cited the following factors as important in his own healing process:
"The faith and prayers of those who love me."
"My obedience to the principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ."
"A therapist whose insight, persistence, and genuine care allowed me to begin to believe again."
"The mercy and blessings of God, who loves me, and who saw fit to reach down and help me back up."
Be choosy about the professionals you enlist. Many are proponents of the "you were born that way" philosophy. Ensure that the counseling is consistent with gospel principles and that the professional has expertise in helping those with same-sex attraction.
7. Keep the communication lines open. Telephone calls, letters, and personal contacts remind the individual of your love.
Jon had left his family because they would not accept his lifestyle. Nevertheless, family members, particularly his parents, made phone calls and wrote letters, which Jon kept but never read.
He reached a critical point one evening when he was feeling particularly homesick. As he pondered his trial, almost unknowingly he began opening the letters. He reported experiencing such an outpouring of love that he called his parents and asked if he could come home. His parents were overjoyed to hear from him again. This was the beginning of Jon's journey out of homosexuality and his return home.
8. Pray trustingly. One mother told of her nightly conversations with Heavenly Father when she learned of her daughter's struggle with lesbianism. She prayed fervently that her daughter would be protected. Sometime later, the daughter told of the many times she had felt a sense of protection and direction because of her mother's prayers. A mother's love and prayers made a tremendous difference.
9. If your loved one is not already married, do not encourage him or her to marry as a "cure" for homosexuality. President Hinckley wisely counseled, "Marriage should not be viewed as a therapeutic step to solve problems such as homosexual inclinations or practices, which first should clearly be overcome with a firm and fixed determination never to slip to such practices again."7 When homosexual difficulties have been fully resolved, heterosexual feelings can emerge, which may lead to happy, eternal marriage relationships.8
10. Never give up on a loved one—never! A precious promise noted by Elder Orson F. Whitney (1855–1931) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in the April 1929 general conference has provided comfort for many parents whose children contend with homosexuality and other difficulties:
"The Prophet Joseph Smith declared—and he never taught more comforting doctrine—that the eternal sealings of faithful parents and the divine promises made to them for valiant service in the Cause of Truth, would save not only themselves, but likewise their posterity. Though some of the sheep may wander, the eye of the Shepherd is upon them, and sooner or later they will feel the tentacles of Divine Providence reaching out after them and drawing them back to the fold. Either in this life or the life to come, they will return. They will have to pay their debt to justice; they will suffer for their sins; and may tread a thorny path; but if it leads them at last, like the penitent Prodigal, to a loving and forgiving father's heart and home, the painful experience will not have been in vain. Pray for your careless and disobedient children; hold on to them with your faith. Hope on, trust on, till you see the salvation of God.
"Who are these straying sheep—these wayward sons and daughters? They are children of the Covenant, heirs to the promises, and have received, if baptized, the gift of the Holy Ghost, which makes manifest the things of God. Could all that go for naught?"9
The Apostle Paul offers clear doctrine on the matter of homosexuality and provides hope through the Atonement of Jesus Christ:
"Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind … shall inherit the kingdom of God.
"And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God" (1 Cor. 6:9–11; emphasis added).
It is through the Lord's grace that true healing comes. The final verse of the beautiful hymn "Come, Listen to a Prophet's Voice" offers counsel:
Then heed the words of truth and light
That flow from fountains pure.
Yea, keep His law with all thy might
Till thine election's sure,
Till thou shalt hear the holy voice
Assure eternal reign,
While joy and cheer attend thy choice,
As one who shall obtain.10
For those who heed His words, the Lord makes a wonderful promise:
"And I will … ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions" (Mosiah 24:14).
Those who face such tremendous adversity can find much hope and comfort from the Psalmist, who declared, "Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning" (Ps. 30:5). Elder Richard G. Scott of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles offers an inspired view of the Lord's love and mercy:
"I cannot comprehend his power, his majesty, his perfections. But I do understand something of his love, his compassion, his mercy.
"There is no burden he cannot lift.
"There is no heart he cannot purify and fill with joy.
"There is no life he cannot cleanse and restore when one is obedient to his teachings."11
Help your loved one seek the Lord's help in this most difficult struggle. When people not only know of the Lord's love but feel it, their lives can be changed in lasting and powerful ways. The scriptures testify to us of the Lord. We need to open our hearts and let Him in. Our weaknesses and inadequacies need not stand in the way. There is no struggle for which the Atonement is not sufficient.


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By Philip Dorling
WikiLeaks publisher Julian Assange will run for the Senate in Victoria at the September 14 federal election as the lead candidate of a newly formed WikiLeaks Party.
Mr Assange's application for electoral enrolment in Victoria was handed to the Australian Electoral Commission in Melbourne yesterday by WikiLeaks supporters including his father, Sydney architect John Shipton, who has been active in the initial organisation of the party.
Mr Shipton said Mr Assange's enrolment was ''a first step'' in a political campaign that would focus on ''the democratic requirement of truthfulness from government''.
The party, not yet registered with the Australian Electoral Commission, has an initial 10-member national council comprised of close associates of Mr Assange and pro-WikiLeaks activists. Its constitution highlights the promotion of openness and transparency in government and business.
Mr Assange has nominated his mother's home in Mentone, in the federal electorate of Isaacs, as his address for eligible enrolment before his most recent trip overseas in June 2010.
Australian citizens living overseas can enrol to vote as an overseas elector, and consequently run as a Senate candidate if they left Australia within the past three years and intend to return within six years of their date of departure.
Mr Assange has indicated that if elected and unable to return to Australia to take up a seat in the Senate, a WikiLeaks Party nominee would fill the vacancy.
Opinion polls last year by UMR Research, the company the Labor Party uses for its internal polling, suggest that Mr Assange could be a competitive Senate candidate in Victoria.


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I never did physics in my life and this is really hard for me. I am currently trying to implement movement in the X and Y axis of a plane, in a video game I am making.
What I want to do is, given a starting angle and a velocity, and the value of gravity, calculate in different points of time the current angle and the displacement in X and Y.
So, lets say, my current velocity is 4 units / second
and my current angle is 30 degrees
and my gravity is 9.8 u/s
, I want to pass an argument in seconds and calculate the final angle, velocity, and the amount of X and Y the body moved.


text:
In the early 1970s, science-related issues emerged at the center of public debate and at the top of the U.S. political agenda: water and air pollution, energy and nuclear power, the future of the space program. And yet leaders in the U.S. science community, including some at AAAS, realized that Congress and other policy agencies lacked the scientific expertise that would be essential in addressing these issues.
To fill the need, they established the AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellowships, and in 1973, seven select scientists and engineers—the first class of Fellows—were dispatched to congressional offices. Over the next four decades, each new year brought a new and bigger class of Fellows. As the years have passed, alumni have risen to high-impact positions in Congress, the White House, the State Department, federal agencies, research universities, and non-governmental organizations.
In a new video from the AAAS Office of Public Programs, former Fellows recall the early years of the program, its growth and expanding influence, how the experience changed their careers, and how they've helped to shape U.S. and global science policy.
Alumni appearing in the video:
- Jessica Tuchman Mathews, president of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, a member of the inaugural class;
- U.S. Representative Rush Holt of New Jersey;
- Arati Prabhakar, director, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA);
- Kerri-Ann Jones, assistant U.S. secretary of state for oceans and international environmental and scientific affairs;
- E. William Colglazier, science and technology adviser to the U.S. Secretary of State;
- Gordon Day, president and CEO, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE);
- Wyoming State Senator Chris Rothfuss, who also holds a faculty appointment at the University of Wyoming; and
- Ellen Bergfeld, CEO of the Alliance of Crop, Soil and Environmental Science Societies and related U.S. agricultural organizations.
What emerges in the interviews is that the AAAS S&T Policy Fellowships have succeeded in their mission: By providing top-quality expertise, they have transformed the U.S. science policy apparatus, and the impact has extended around the world. But the policy experience has brought great benefits to U.S. science, as well.
Just as the Fellowships impart scientific expertise to the policy process, they also enrich the research enterprise "by bringing a political savvy back to the professions," said Congressman Holt. "And that's an unbeatable combination."
Fellowships Director Cynthia Robinson said the 40th anniversary will be celebrated with special events, including a speaker series, acknowledgements, new online resources, an art exhibit, and a commemoration.
Read more about the impact of former AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellows over four decades of work in Washington, D.C., and across the United States.
Learn about the special events planned to celebrate the Fellowships' 40th anniversary.


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Export 7 results:
Filters: First Letter Of Last Name is E and Author is Ebrahimi, Davoud [Clear All Filters]
Mesoscale simulation of clay aggregate formation and mechanical properties. 3rd International Symposium on Geomechanics from Micro to Macro. Geomechanics from Micro to Macro: Granular Matter(3):539-544.
2014. Springer Series in Geomechanics and Geoengineering Multiscale and Multiphysics Processes in Geomechanics SIMULATION OF HYDRATION AND ELASTIC PROPERTIES OF MONTMORILLONITE USING MOLECULAR DYNAMICS. International Workshop on Multiscale and Multiphysics Processes in Geomechanics. Springer Series in Geomechanics and Geoengineering:105-108.
2011. Atomic-scale modelling of elastic and failure properties of clays. Molecular Physics. 112(9-10):1294-1305.
2014. Effect of Polydispersity of Clay Platelets on the Aggregation And Mechanical Properties of Clay at the Mesoscale. Clays and Clay Minerals. 64(4 Special Issue: SI):425-437.
2016. Mesoscale properties of clay aggregates from potential of mean force representation of interactions between nanoplatelets. Journal of Chemical Physics . 140(15):ArticleNumber:154309.
2014. Methodology for Estimation of Nanoscale Hardness via Atomistic Simulations. Journal of Nanomechanics and Micromechanics. 7(4):ArticleNumber:UNSP04017011.
2017. Nanoscale Elastic Properties of Montmorillonite upon Water Adsorption. Langmuir. 28(49):16855–16863.


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Frangipani Flower
No doubt, if there is one flower which people remember after visiting Bali, is frangipani flower. This well-known flower is used to enhance women beauty by putting it into their hair over their ears. Dancers use it to adorn their headdress and men pray with it. Nowadays the flowers are also collected and dried before selling it to incense and aromatherapy oil manufacturers. The flowers bloom in their full potential from July to November. There is over 400 varieties of frangipani, 200 of which were imported from Thailand and Hawaii. They range from yellow to white and pink to red. Dajuma garden is mainly composed of yellow to white, which you can contemplate in a clear blue sky all day long during your stay.


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July 23, 2010
• I'm not quoted in the article, but my tip for avoiding burnout is to never wear pants at work.
• I haven't watched Survivor in years, but might have to start tuning in again just to see what happens to Jimmy Johnson's hair on the island.
• Not only did Anthony Slama throw a scoreless inning with two strikeouts in his long-awaited MLB debut, he did so while sporting a fantastic mustache/stirrup combination.
• This was a banner week for pictures of Official Fantasy Girl of AG.com Mila Kunis looking cute on the set of some movie she's filming. Incidentally, this is the exact look I imagine Kunis giving if ever told about the title she holds. I've seen the look before in girls. It's called "not amused."
• As fans at last night's Twins game learned, Orioles security is even worse than the Orioles.
• I'm sure going to jail is a pretty big wake-up call too, but when Robert Shapiro can no longer stomach being your lawyer it's probably time to reassess pretty much everything in your life.
• I took my quarterly trip to a movie theater to see Inception last weekend. It was right up my alley in every possible way, from the plot and cast to the basic concept of the entire film, yet I didn't quite love it. I loved the idea of the movie and movie-going experience, but merely really liked the actual movie. With that said, a week later I still haven't stopped thinking and talking about it. I'm giving serious thought to turning my Al Newman bobble-head doll into a "totem."
• I really enjoyed Inception director Christopher Nolan as a guest on Elvis Mitchell's podcast "The Treatment" and also checked out some of the other interviews in the extensive archive.
• Speaking of my tendency to learn about a podcast and then manically burn through its entire archive in days, my latest discovery is "WTF with Marc Maron." I'd heard Marc Maron do some stand-up comedy before and was aware of his stint as a radio host, but the podcast is great in a totally unexpected way. He does laid-back, long-form interviews with fellow comedians, with plenty of laughs mixed in with genuinely interesting conversations about all kinds of topics.
I've hand-picked episodes based on my interest in the guest, but they've all been so good I'm planning to devour the entire 92-show archive. My favorites so far are Maron's interviews with Chelsea Peretti, Dave Attell, Maria Bamford, Jim Jefferies, Jim Norton, Jen Kirkman, and Doug Stanhope. If you enjoy stand-up comedy, talk radio, and being a fly on the wall for some super-intimate conversations between interesting/weird people, it's basically a perfect show.
• Twins fans are never going to believe this, but umpire Phil Cuzzi screwed up another call.
• Why yes, someone did splice together Seinfeld clips into a trailer for an action/thriller movie:
Wayne Knight is definitely one of the most underrated villains in television history.
• I'm thrilled to say that, for the most part, local media members no longer write this brand of tripe about the Twins' bad players.
• Last month Detroit Free Press columnist Mitch Albom received the coveted Red Smith Award for lifetime achievement from the Associated Press Sports Editors and took the opportunity to lecture his fellow journalists on the morality of their profession, at which point Jason Whitlock, Tommy Craggs, and Dave Kindred all lit into Albom, the APSE, and the newspaper business for ... well, read this particularly eviscerating rant from Whitlock if you don't already know.
• Rotoworld contributor Glenn Colton was featured in the Wall Street Journal, but I'm mostly jealous to learn that he played in a fantasy baseball league with professional poker player and "The Scoop" co-host Adam Schoenfeld.
• I'll happily take the publicity, but this seems like an odd list in that AG.com probably gets like one percent as much traffic as the other "mega traffic" blogs listed.
• Paramedics in Columbus, Ohio own "18 stretchers that can move patients up to 650 pounds" and "those stretchers cost about $5,000 each." But guess what? Now "the city is considering buying even stronger equipment" for "when paramedics have to move patients weighing more than 650 pounds." The kicker? According to this very sad article, that "generally happens twice a month." As a longtime fatso I'm thinking about moving to Columbus so I can feel svelte.
• I finally got around to buying my plane ticket for the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) convention in Atlanta in a couple weeks. If any AG.com readers are going, let me know so I can add you to the list of people who can be counted on to buy me a beer.
• Thanks in part to Twins games and in part to what can only be described as the Phil Mackey Effect, the most recent ratings are pretty much dead even between local sports radio stations KFAN-1130 and ESPN-1500.
• Speaking of Mackey, he and Patrick Reusse interviewed David Kahn and the Timberwolves' general manager blamed Michael Beasley's problems in Miami on his being a "kid who smoked too much marijuana" and called Chris Webber "kind of a schmuck" for their recent on-air chat. I'm not sure if Webber has responded or not, but "takes one to know one" would work.
• I'm amused that a strip club opening several blocks from Target Field qualifies as news worth arguing about, as if men who go to baseball games (and men who play in baseball games) are something other than the exact target audience for such an establishment or just seeing the exterior of an adult-only business among other adult-only businesses will ruin children forever.
• Finally, all my contacts made before being expelled from Hebrew school are paying off.
• New(ish) blog to check out: Designated Sitter.
• Here are some highlights from my NBCSports.com blogging this week:
- Indians rookie catcher Carlos Santana is really, really good
- Ouch! Carl Crawford is day-to-day with a "testicular contusion"
- Ken Macha complains to MLB about Brewers being plunked
- Rocco Baldelli stops coaching to begin comeback at Single-A
- Oliver Perez as a "lefty-on-lefty specialist" might actually work
- Stephen Strasburg will beat you and yell stuff at your fans
- Mets manager Jerry Manuel is back on the hot seat again
- Astros reportedly reluctant to trade starter Brett Myers
- Phillies and Twins interested in Ben Sheets, but will A's trade him?
• Finally, in honor of Inception this week's AG.com-approved music video is Fiona Apple singing a live version of "Sleep to Dream":


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This weekend I'm back "outside" after winter, doing art in my parents covered terrace.
Hurray for spring, approaching slowly but surely, how I adore thee! Finally some good light for taking photos while cutting out my first stencils. There happens to be just "a few" photos in this post, I hope you don't mind.
With this post I'm joining crusade no 19 called Cut it out II! The street team is all about cutting your own stencils in April.
I've been drooling over stenciled pages in other artist's journals for years not but not until the crusade called me did I decide to sit down and do it. And just as when I carved my first stamp this felt difficult. First my old xacto knife was dull. I got it 15 years ago from Mattons when I was studying to become a Window Shop Decorator (dekoratör) in Stockholm. I guess we cut out stuff back then? I don't remember. Dad found me some spare blades in his workshop so I was lucky I could continue to cut out the letters I'd printed on card stock. But I didn't cut any whole sentences. I didn't enjoy it very much.
The sentences I printed was too long and the words too tiny I guess. Bleh for being a beginner at everything these days. I want to be experienced now! *whining like a child*
I cut out "I will" and the word "love" – then I got tired of cutting tiny words in the very idiotic font I used, at least for stencil cutting it was weird. Did you know there is a special font called stencil font? It's a font that is designed to be easy to cut out and not make those "islands" that fall out! Want to download a stencil font?
I found one on my laptop and there are even more fonts to download if you like the stencil style! Awesome!
I drew a bird free hand on my card stock and cut that out instead, just as a test. Next I will cut out some different hears perhaps? Or swirls if I can manage those!
I then painted a simple watercolor background in my hand bound art journal (oh how I love this one so much!) and gave my new stencil a test drive! I painted from the edges and out with acrylic paint (don't mix with water or it will drip underneath the edges). One white bird and one turquoise. It's not a revolutionary cool spread but to me it's awesome because it's something new. Something I haven't tested out before. It's a page that surprise me when I open it. It makes me think… "Hey, what's this? Did I do this one?"
I glued down some magazine papers I have in one of my many plastic sleeves with collage material, and also glued down the cut out bird piece. So three birds (doves I guess) in one spread. This is how the page looked when I had to close it up to set the table:
I love taking photos in the spring light we have on the terrace!
You can also join the crusade if you feel like cutting out a stencil this month! I want to have another try at this for sure.
Oh, by the way, did you see the banner I made for the Just be connected site? If you want a new banner I could make one for you too, for a small price. Contact me if you feel like letting spring into your blog header!
Have a great week!


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Report suicidal content: http://www.facebook.com/help/contact.php?show_form=suicidal_content
Facebook is launching a system that allows users to report friends who they think may be contemplating suicide.
The feature is being run in conjunction with Samaritans, which said several people had used it during a test phase.
Anyone worried about a friend can fill out a form, detailing their concerns, which is passed to the site's moderators.
It follows reports of several cases where Facebook users announced their intention to commit suicide online.
The reporting page asks for the address (URL) of the Facebook page where the messages are posted, the full name of the user and details of any networks they are members of.
Suicide-related alerts will be escalated to the highest level, for attention by Facebook's user operations team.
Police alert
"When a report is made, they then assess whether they need to call the police immediately or forward it on to us," said Samaritans' Nicola Peckett.Facebook said that it had always been its policy to notify police if a user was at risk of imminent bodily harm.
The system had been operating in a trial mode, without publicity for three months, during which it received several genuine reports and no hoaxes, according to Samaritans.
It is hoped that the new reporting mechanism will help prevent cases like that of Simone Back, who died on Christmas day after taking a drug overdose.
The charity worker from Brighton had written about her intention to kill herself on her Facebook page.
Several of her friends commented on the message, however no-one raised the alarm.
Samaritans said that the new system was not launched in relation to one specific case, but to raise awareness of the ways in which people could get help.


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The e-Commerce Template for Kids / Baby / Kinder related Online Shops
"Things for cuties" is a beatyfull and load speed + SEO optimized HTML template, perfect suitable for any babies, children and kids eCommerce website, selling candy, toys, clothing or fashion at their online shop. This HTML e-commerce template is part of a package. Matching PSD template (including more banners), stationery (including logo), newsletter templates, fully functional OpenCart version and a Zen Cart version are available at themeforest and graphicriver.
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- Fixed a display problem on google chrome browser at OSX
- Fixed some issues with the facebook like box, caused by internal facebook changes…
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- completely rewritten CSS and HTML files – now much smaller and better structured
- added 8 more pages, including some account pages
- Less and better organized jquery / js files
- Some more, smaller improvements
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- fixed a bug in firefox, caused ugly white block on top of some pages
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- removed some unused css definitions in all css files
- improved mobile version – better product box display
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- some minor bug fixes
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- Initial release
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Wednesday 12 October 2011
MLLA Vegan sausage rolls
I had decided to use what I had on hand rather than running out to the shops. I loved Adam's idea of using both firm and silken tofu when making scrambled tofu. I thought my (Blue Lotus) tofu might be soft enough to mash some and puree some. It was all crumble. Check out the food processor in picture below. Not soft enough to hold my mixture together. So I turned to my latest love - chia seeds. I soaked them a bit and added them to the mixture. Then I added enough water until it clumped together.
I will pause here to say that when I went vegetarian I was amazed at how much variety vegetables offered compared to meat. Similarly, in vegan cooking I love how there is an infinite variety of alternatives to eggs and milk. Overwhelming but so very useful. I was pleased that, having no eggs in the house, nor silken tofu, that I could still easily find ingredients to bind the mixture.
I also loved Shauna's idea of using grated carrot in her version of these sausage rolls. Before I discovered this combination of nuts, oats and binder to imitate meat, I always grated vegetables in my sausage rolls. So in went a couple of old carrots. She also added fresh herbs which I intend to try some time.
I make sausage rolls often. It is such a brilliant recipe. Great for entertaining. An easy weekend meal. Even Sylvia was nibbling on a couple. The recipe makes far more than the three of us can eat. Most of them are in the freezer. You never know when you will need some.
I am sending these sausage rolls to Suma of Veggie Platter for My Legume Love Affair #40, the legume event founded by Susan of The Well Seasoned Cook.
Previously on Green Gourmet Giraffe
This time last year: Quicklinks from my archives
This time two years ago: Chocolate cookies, bbq and mum's sponge
This time three years ago: Jamie Oliver: the Ministry and the Risotto
Vegan sausage rolls
Makes about 55 small sausage rolls
Adapted from Where's the Beef?
125g walnuts, finely chopped (not ground)*
2 smallish carrots, grated
1/2 cup dried breadcrumbs
1 onion, finely chopped*
250g medium-firm tofu, well mashed*
1 cup rolled oats
1 vegie stock cube
2 garlic cloves
2-3 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tbsp worcestershire sauce
2 tbsp chia seeds
ground pepper, to taste
To assemble:
4-5 frozen puff pastry sheets (~25cm square)
soy milk
sesame seeds
* I chopped these in the food processor, as advised by Cindy but I have done these by hand easily enough in the past.
Place chia seeds in 1/4 cup water and set aside while preparing other ingredients. Combine remaining filling ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Add the chia seed mixture. Check the consistency and add a few tablespoons water if needed. I added about 3-4 extra tablespoons of water. The mixture should come together into chunks but not be too moist. Check seasoning.
Thaw 3 to 4 sheets of ready-rolled puff pastry. Place the first sheet on a flat surface and cut it in half, into two rectangles. Spoon the filling down the centre third of each rectangle. Brush one long edge with soy milk and fold in the long edges so the one with soy milk overlaps the other edge.
Repeat with other pieces of puff pastry. Brush with soy milk and sprinkle with sesame seeds. Place sausage rolls seam down on a greased or baking-paper lined baking tray. Use a sharp knife to slash marks across the pastry. I make 5 marks to indicate where I will cut them when they are partially cooked. This is much easier than cutting the raw pastry and it stops the ends drying out.
Fill all the pastry and bake sausage rolls at 220C for 20 minutes. I cut up the sausage rolls at this point. The ones that you want to eat now should be returned to the oven for an additional 10 minutes or til golden brown.
Cool any rolls that you don't want to eat (on a wire rack). These can be frozen for later. The leftovers can go straight from the freezer into a 220 C oven to cook for 15 minutes.
Serve with tomato sauce.
On the Stereo:
So Long: Hollowmen
This post is part of Vegan Month of Food October 2011. Go to my Vegan MoFo list for more Vegan MoFo posts.
16 comments:
Well I'll have to give your version a try next time I'm out of silken tofu, they do look fantastic. I still make Cindy's recipe often as they are so popular and usually throw in a bit a chopped parsley if I have some around. Chia is something I am yet to try but I keep seeing recipes that use it everywhere, must get onto it!
ReplyDelete- Anonymous13 October 2011 at 01:39
Oh, these look wonderful! I can't wait to try them out! Thanks for the recipe!
ReplyDelete Thanks Hannah - I suspect if I said "chia sausage rolls", a trucker might hear - "cheers, sausage rolls" and reply "cheers love" :-)
Thanks Kari - I loved sausage rolls but vegan ones are just so much nicer than meaty ones - and they make so many that I often freeze them or else it would be dangerous to keep eating them
Thanks Jeni - hope you love them too
Thanks Mel - I am in love with chia seeds - they have only a slight crunch and go gluey in the same way as flax seeds so are a great egg substitute - we have firm tofu around the house far more than silken so this sort of recipe suits me
Thanks Genkikitty - hope you don't wait long to try them
Thanks Keira - this version is not that hard and it is far more like the sausage rolls I grew up with than a sausage in pastry
Thanks Ricki - I would love to see what you come up with instead of puff pastry - I think short crust pastry works too but puff pastry is convenient to buy (whereas I never buy short crust pastry because I tell myself I can make that)
Thanks Lisa - I have tried a version of these sausage rolls with a mashed potato gf pastry - it worked ok but the pastry was more difficult to use - I know my mum occasionally gets gf puff pastry for my sister but it isn't quite as good as regular - but with a bit of experimenting I am sure you could find a good pastry
Thanks Joanne - I highly recommend the recipe if you are missing sausages - it fulfills a need for comfort and nostalgia for me
Thanks for dropping by. I love hearing from you. Please share your thoughts and questions. Annoyingly the spammers are bombarding me so I have turned on the pesky captcha code (refresh to find an easy one if you don't like the first one)


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PHILIP ELLIOTT Wednesday, 28 August 2013 05:34 PM EDT
More than 33 million workers qualify to have their student loans forgiven because they work in schools, hospitals or city halls, but too few take advantage of the options because the programs are overly complicated and often confusing, the government's consumer advocate said Wednesday.
Roughly a quarter of the U.S. workforce could take advantage of federal rules that give favorable loan repayment options to those in public service fields, including the military, according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The agency recommended Congress review the loan forgiveness programs and encouraged employers to make sure their workers know they are available.
"Teachers, soldiers, firefighters, policeman — public sector careers invariably involve some effort, some inconvenience or some sacrifice. People give up higher incomes to serve their city, their state or their country," said Richard Cordray, director of the CFPB. "We believe that people who contribute part of their talents, part of the benefits of their education, to society as a whole should not be mired in debt because they stir themselves to the calling of public service."
Student loan debt has topped $1 billion, the consumer advocate estimates, and has been a drag on the economy as recent graduates are forced to choose between paying down their loans and buying a house or a car. That sends millions of dollars to lenders instead of keeping that cash in the local communities.
For many graduates, there are multiple programs in place to ease the financial burden of taking lower-paying jobs to help their communities. But the system is fraught with complications and competing options and a firm number of how many graduates could benefit is hard to come by.
"The data is quite weak in this area. We don't have a sense of how much money is left on the table," said Rohit Chopra, the CFPB's student loan ombudsman. "But we suspect it's a substantial sum."
The consumer advocacy bureau knows how many people qualify because they work under the broad umbrella of public service.
"We estimate that one in four working Americans has a job that meets the definition of public service under this program. Many of these teachers, health care workers and other public servants could be eligible to have their college loans wiped out after ten years," Cordray said.
The definition is broader than that, though. For instance, clerks at the state department of motor vehicles office, secretaries at city hall and accountants at non-profit arts groups also qualify for the loan forgiveness programs — positions not typically seen as public service jobs.
But the largest group of beneficiaries would be those in education — more than 6.8 million people.
The Education Department's statistics arm estimates the nation's schools will need 425,000 new teachers by the end of the decade. But college graduates aren't necessarily going to flock to the classroom without some incentives; the National Education Association pegs the starting salary of a teacher at less than $36,000.
"Public service employees — most especially teachers — never get into the teaching profession to get rich. They have a deep passion," said Jeffrey Bourne, the chairman of Virginia's Richmond School Board.
But it's tough to recruit teachers, he said, and loan forgiveness programs make it easier for new teachers to take lower starting salaries than their classmates as they start their careers. He said too few of those in his districts know about their options.
Similarly, the demand for nurses, police officers and social workers is expected to outstrip supply of these often lower-paid professionals.
"With high expectations and increasing budget pressures on cities, it's become more important than ever to attract, retain and reward outstanding individuals," said Peter Buttigieg, the mayor of South Bend, Ind., who has pledged to help his city's employees navigate the programs.
"You'll run into some people who think starting their career in a public sector job is a luxury they cannot afford because of their student loan debt," Buttigieg said. "The reality is that crushing student loan debt is making it more difficult for our employees to stay in public service."
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Compliance is not a pleasant film. I sat on the edge of my seat, infuriated to the point of moving the remote so I wouldn't throw it at the screen. "How the hell is this happening?!" I thought. The story would be an unbelievable house of lies and senseless players if it weren't true. Compliance is based on events that occurred in 2004 at a Mount Washington, Kentucky, McDonald's, where a prank caller convinced the assistant manager that he was a police officer investigating an employee for theft. Over the next several hours, the eighteen-year-old female employee was strip searched and assaulted in a series of bewildering confrontations that were all recorded by the restaurant's surveillance cameras. Director Craig Zobel adopts the events into a film that caused walkouts and shouting matches at the Sundance Film Festival. Compliance is brilliantly acted and sickeningly tense, and poses disturbing questions about our unthinking obedience to authority.
McDonald's is replaced by ChickWich, a lowbrow Chik-fil-A knockoff, in Compliance. Manager Sandra (Ann Dowd) learns $1,500 worth of food has spoiled because of some employee's negligence, and is berated by a company deliveryman. At work, Sandra tries to get her mostly lackadaisical teenage employees to shape up for the busy weekend-night rush, and warns that a Secret Shopper might be stopping by to rate the restaurant. Sandra suspects that Becky (Dreama Walker) or prankster Kevin (Philip Ettinger) is to blame for the spoiled food, and overhears Becky and assistant manager Marti (Ashlie Atkinson) making fun of her. During the dinner rush, the store receives a call from a man claiming to be a police officer. The man tells Sandra that a victim reported her money stolen by Becky at the restaurant. He claims to have surveillance footage to back this up, and asks Sandra to confront Becky. What happens over the next 80 minutes is unbelievable.
The film is most disturbing when one questions how easily we believe someone claiming to hold an authoritative position. By all accounts, Sandra is a decent boss, but she is already having a bad day before trouble phones the restaurant. Sandra's prior contact with police has likely been minimal, so she immediately agrees to assist the man. The voice first asks Sandra to search Becky's purse, and its commands eventually leave Becky naked and shaking. Compliance is increasingly shocking. Why does Sandra begin doing things that make no legal or common sense? Why does Becky put up little protest? The film constantly reminds viewers that outside Becky's backroom prison is a bustling restaurant. The film winds its vise so tightly that I almost forgot there was any world outside the stark stockroom.
Compliance did not make me happy. I wasn't excited or scared; I simply wanted its characters to wake up and the harrowing inquisition to end. That's why Zobel's film is so brilliant. By sticking very close to the actual events, he creates one of the most disturbing, memorable films in some time. What happens to Becky - and what really happened to Louise Ogborn - is disgusting. Becky is put through an increasingly degrading series of tasks, and the caller uses other employees and outsiders as part of his sick game. The culmination of this extended assault comes after Becky finally acquiesces to the torment. Lies about imprisonment, family members in peril, and freedom finally break Becky. The camera shies away from most of the nudity, and instead focuses on the reactions of others. This makes the drama all the more haunting.
The acting here is great across the board. Walker plays Becky with wide-eyed panic, and transformers her character from eye-rolling cashier to stricken doe as the film progresses. Dowd is tasked with making a woman that one might justifiably label idiotic or cruel a sympathetic character. Sandra is also a victim, and her decision to blindly "do the right thing" takes her down a wormhole of increasingly bad decisions. The actress does a nice job making Sandra as relatable as possible, and preserves at least a shred of her dignity. An interesting moment comes late in the film when a news reporter asks Sandra about the events. Sandra reveals that she honestly thought she was doing the right thing. Afterward, Sandra tries to make small talk with the reporter. He is disgusted and can barely hide his disdain.
The real prank caller used calling cards to phone over 70 restaurants across 30 states. Although the Kentucky incident was the most extreme, several other managers strip-searched and harassed their employees at the man's beck and call. Thirty-seven-year-old David Stewart was eventually arrested in connection with the calls but was acquitted of all charges due to a lack of evidence. The women who inspired Becky and Sandra's characters won civil suits against McDonald's on the grounds that the parent company failed to provide its employees with adequate training on dealing with hoaxes and prank calls.
Compliance raises many questions about authority and self-preservation, Middle America, low-paying jobs and compassion. That these events even occurred is almost unfathomable. The ChickWich employees are normal people who do unthinkable things because of a sadistic puppet master. Their actions recall the Holocaust and the Rwandan Genocide. Compliance begs for discussion, and is a film I won't soon forget. Its performances are strong, and it creates palpable, prolonged tension. I never want to watch it again.
The 2.40:1/1080p/AVC-encoded transfer is served up on a single-layer Blu-ray disc. The digitally shot image retains excellent detail throughout, even in the faux light of the dingy stockroom. Facial detail is strong, and the few wide shots are sharp and deep. Black levels are decent, though the digital image shows some expected crush. Colors are well saturated, and skin tones are accurate. There's a bit of noise and aliasing on occasion, but that's expected with digital photography.
The 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack nicely supports the largely dialogue-driven film. Speech is crystal clear throughout, without clipping or hiss, and there is a fair bit of directional dialogue. There aren't any big action effects, but ambient noise - like the chatter of a busy restaurant - surrounds the viewer. The film's haunting score is treated nicely, and it adds a lot to the project. English SDH and Spanish subtitles are available.
Viewers hoping for an in-depth look at the production or news piece about the real events will be disappointed with the disc's lightweight extras. In the Interview with Director Craig Zobel (10:09/HD), he reveals a bit about the real-life history and run-up to the film, but this interview is too short to provide much of interest. Behind the Scenes of Compliance (2:04/HD) offers brief interviews with the cast, and AXS TV: A Look at Compliance (3:46/HD) is another EPK puff piece. The disc also includes the film's theatrical trailer (2:18/HD).
Director Craig Zobel's Compliance is an intensely disturbing recreation of events that happened at a Kentucky McDonald's in 2004. A man phones the fast-food restaurant claiming to be a police officer, and convinces a manager to detain and strip-search an employee. The young woman's torment continues for hours, and she is subjected to an increasingly bizarre and degrading series of tasks. This film is unpleasant and inflammatory, but it is expertly crafted. Compliance raises questions about acquiescence to authority and human compassion and dignity, and features strong performances by Ann Dowd and Dreama Walker. Compliance is something I needed to see but will not willfully revisit. Rent It.
William lives in Burlington, North Carolina, and looks forward to a Friday-afternoon matinee.
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Tattooed owners of the world's oldest carpets get health check after 2,200 years. Picture: Dmitry Koshcheev
New technology has been used to obtain the secrets of two ancient mummy's excavated from their graves in the Altai Mountains in 1949.
The pair are seen as a local chieftain from the Pazyryk culture and his wife or concubine who was incarcerated alongside him, evidently with cannabis burning in the burial chamber.
Their remains - preserved because they were encased in ice for thousands of millennia in the valley of the River Bolshoy Ulagan - are held in the Hermitage Museum in St Petersburg.
This scan is the first of its kind for the world famous Hermitage. Picture: The State Hermitage Museum
Now the body of the curly-haired male, between 55 and 60 when he died, and the woman, some ten years younger, have been scanned to create tomograph images using a Siemens SOMATOM Emotion in 16 separate modes.
Multi-disciplinary analysis will be undertaken including radiologists, biological anthropologists, archaeologists and other scientists, with the results announced later.
This scan is the first of its kind for the world famous Hermitage. The aim is to establish the cause of death, and reconstruct the appearance of the ancient pair, and to study the techniques of mummification in more detail.
Their remains were preserved because they were encased in ice for thousands of millennia in the valley of the River Bolshoy Ulagan, Altai Mountains. Pictures: The Siberian Times, StanRadar, Sergey Rudenko
Most of the treasures of the grave were robbed in prehistoric times, but famously two carpets remained - which are the oldest in the world. They contain remarkable images - shown in these striking pictures - of life in the Pazyryk era in Siberia.
Inside the vast mound was a wooden burial chamber covered with logs. In the larch sarcophagus lay the two bodies, on which are intriguing tattoos.
Soviet archeologist Sergey Rudenko - who led the excavation - wrote after his discovery: 'Both the man and woman were of Caucasoid type.
Exhibition with the findings from the burial mound in Hermitage. Male body. Larch sarcophagus. Cahriot. Pictures: KunstWerk, Dmitry Koshcheev, The State Hermitage Museum
'Their hair was soft, the man's a little curly and dark. The woman's dark brown. Their faces were long and narrow, the man had a sharply protruding aquiline nose.
'The man's head, except for the back, was shaved. The woman's head was also shaved, except that on top was a pigtail.
'Both bodies were mummified, using the same method. The skulls were trepanned and the brain was removed. Through a slice in the abdomen, from the ribs to the groin, the intestines were removed.
Felt carpet was decorated with multi-colour applique including sewn figures more than 1 metre in height, carved from fine coloured felt. Pictures: Dmitry Koshcheev, The State Hermitage Museum
'In addition, through special sections of the chest, back, arms and legs were removed all the muscles of the body, so that remaining was only the skeleton and skin.'
The burial ritual then involved restoring the shape of the human form by stuffing the remains with horsehair. The cuts in the skin were also sewn with horsehair.
Archeologists found traces of an incense burner, sheep and goat skins, and shards of pots.
The world earliest pile-woven carpet. Pictures: The State Hermitage Museum
Guarding the burial chamber were nine horses - all geldings - with saddles and complete harnesses, decorated with wooden figurines of griffins, a lion or tiger, a saiga antelope, deer and felt.
Undisturbed lay two precious carpets, the most ancient ever found. One was made of felt - some 4.5 by 6.5 metres in size, probably originally a wall hanging.
It was decorated with multi-colour applique including sewn figures more than 1 metre in height, carved from fine coloured felt. The central scene shows a rider approach a throne on which is seated a goddess with a flowering branch in her hand.
Male tattoos: feline predator on the right shoulder, images of birds on his hands and ungulates on the leg. Pictures: Lyudmila Barkova
The other is the world earliest pile-woven carpet, some 183 by 200 centimetres in size. It is seen as having Iranian influence. Radiocarbon testing indicates it was woven in the 5th century BC.
Another precious find was a disassembled wooden chariot with large wheels, presumably used in the funeral rite.
The tattoos - with the images shown here - depict on the man's left shoulder a feline predator, probably a tiger, and on the right shoulder - a horse. On the forearm of the right hand is an Asiatic wild ass or horse and some predator with a striped tail. These figures cannot be seen in full because of the skin folds.
On his hands are images of birds, including a grouse of capercaillie. On the man's legs, below the knee, are tattooed groups of ungulates.
On woman's left forearm is a complicated - and unusual for this culture - scene with two tigers and a snow leopard attacking deer and moose. Pictures: Lyudmila Barkova
The images depict only real animals, seen as unusual for Pazyryk remains, when often fantastical creatures have been found in tattoos.
The woman has no tattoos on her shoulders, but many on her forearms. On her left arm is a predatory bird, killing a deer or moose. On her hand is a cock: she, too, only had real animals depicted on her skin.
On her left forearm is a complicated - and unusual for this culture - scene with two tigers and a snow leopard attacking deer and moose. Some experts believe the images indicate a Chinese influence.


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March 6, 2019
CONTACT: City Manager's Office
MARIETTA – In conjunction with the start of daylight savings time on Sunday, March 10, 2019, the Marietta Fire Department would like to remind residents to change the batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide alarms when changing clocks this weekend.
The Marietta Fire Department recommends changing the batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors twice a year when changing the time on your clocks.
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recommends replacing smoke alarms every 10 years, to clean your smoke alarm regularly (according to the manufacturer's instructions), and to have several smoke detectors in a home. This includes an alarm on every level and outside every bedroom, and inside bedrooms if people sleep with the door closed. It's also a good idea to install smoke alarms away from cooking vapors to avoid false alarms, according to the NFPA.
For more information please contact the Marietta Fire Department at 770-794-5466 or visit the website.


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Image courtesy Thirty Meter Telescope
Lick Observatory thanks Halls Valley Astronomical Group for their volunteer help at Summer Visitors Programs
Support Lick Observatory with your donation; receive perks and participate in special programs. [More information]
Friends of Lick Observatory is introducing the Saturday Stars program at the Observatory's Main Building on Mt. Hamilton. These events are planned for amateur astronomers and others with a keen interest in astronomy.
Sign Up on Lick Public Event Mailing List
Read Quarterly Newsletter: The Lick Observer
Greg's Garden: Help build a garden on Mt. Hamilton in memory of Lick employee Greg Sulger. [More information]
Picture Book of UC Observatory Facilities (pdf)
Download or print Lick Observatory Informational Brochure (pdf)
For hours see: Lick Observatory Visitor Center & Gift Shop Hours
More Visitor & Travel Information
Lick Observatory Gift Shop Catalog
For more information, contact Lick Observatory Gift Shop at 408-274-5061 or email@example.com.
Panoramas of Lick Observatory by Don Bain, retired Director of the Geography Computing Facility at UC Berkeley
Lick Observatory Photo Portfolio by Laurie Hatch, former Mt. Hamilton resident
HamCam "Best of" Gallery
Daily images from November 2006 hosted by Flickr


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Robert Higgs is Senior Fellow in Political Economy for The Independent Institute and editor of the Institutes quarterly journal The Independent Review. He received his Ph.D. in economics from the Johns Hopkins University, and he has taught at the University of Washington, Lafayette College, Seattle University, and the University of Economics in Prague. He is the author or editor of fifteen books, and the author of hundreds of articles for professional and popular journals, magazines, and websites. Much of his scholarly work has focused on the political economy of the warfare state.
Lara-Murphy Report (LMR): How did you discover
Austrian economics?
Bob Higgs (BH): I stumbled upon F. A. Hayeks 1945 article The Use of Knowledge in Society soon after I began my career as an economics professor at the University of Washington in 1968. I liked it, used it in my teaching, and cited it in my writing. This article led me to read more articles and books by Hayek, which ultimately led me to read Ludwig von Misess great book Human Action. My thinking was never the same afterward. During the past several decades, I have deepened my understanding of Austrian economics and, perhaps, made small contributions to it.
LMR: A main theme of your work is encapsulated in one of your book titles, Crisis and Leviathan. Can you summarize your viewpoint?
BH: In polities where the rulers are somewhat responsive to popular clamor and where the dominant ideology is something like progressivism or social democracy, a real or perceived national emergency gives rise to demands that the government do something to allay the perceived threat(s). Politicians respond eagerly in ways that enhance their own official powers and enlarge the size and scope of government. When the crisis wanes or disappears, opportunists who seek to promote their own interestsboth inside and outside the governmentuse their power or influence to retain some of the emergency powers and to prevent the size and scope of government from reverting to precrisis dimensions. So, given certain preconditions, crises give rise to a ratchet effect on the growth of the governments size, scope, and power, shifting the states growth trajectory to a permanently higher path.
LMR: In a talk at the Mises Institute you once said that the view of war depicted in the dark comedy Dr. Strangelove was very close to, but not quite, how things worked in the real world. Can you elaborate?
BH: Dr. Strangelove gives us a cast of characters most of whom in various ways seem more or less mad. But if one removes the slapstick, the films portrayal of the characters, their thinking, and their demonstrated values (or lack thereof) bears a strong resemblance to what one finds in the actual national-security state. In particular, one finds real decisionmakers who toy with death and destruction on an unimaginably horrible scale, yet run through their paces as if they were doing nothing more significant than playing a game of chess in the park.
Prominent among them are the men and (much less frequently) women whom Derek Leebaert calls emergency menthe clever, energetic, self-assured, well-schooled people who take advantage of the opportunities intrinsic to the American political system to trifle with enormous risk.[1] Emergency men, as Leebaert shows, are often synonymous with war hawks, [and] tend to prevail in policy arguments.[2] Despite their impressive credentials, seemingly relevant backgrounds, and important connections, these emergency men tend to be fools and wishful thinkers, more inclined to toss around slogans than to understand in detail the people and places they seek to move here and there on the global chessboard.
It is therefore not surprising that U.S. foreign policy for the past century has been for the most part a saga of senseless wars and squandered opportunities to promote real peace and prosperity for the mass of Americans and others. If one doubts that Dr. Strangeloves characters are anything like the real actors, one need only look into such top actors as General Thomas S. Power and General Curtis E. LeMay, or research what the war strategists at RAND were routinely cooking up, especially in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s.
LMR: Would you say that powerful people purposely cause wars for their own agendas, or do you think they simply steer events on the edges to enrich themselves when the opportunity presents itself?
BH: They do both, depending on their objectives and the current circumstances. In World War I, for example, powerful English and American parties, with critical help from Woodrow Wilsons closest adviser Colonel Edward M. House, took advantage of Wilsons delusions of grandeur to steer him toward plunging the United States into the European bloodbath. A generation later, Franklin D. Roosevelt worked relentlessly, along with a massive but covert British propaganda operation, to get the United States into the war against Germany. When the Germans declined to take the bait in the North Atlantic, the U.S. government undertook steadily strengthened economic warfare against Japan. This tactic eventually proved successful in provoking the Japanese to attack, thereby permitting Roosevelt to bring a united populace into the war against Germany through the back door. Of course, however the country goes to war, legions of opportunistsboth inside and outside the governmentinvariably leap into the fray to feather their own nests with power and pelf they could not acquire in normal peacetime conditions.
LMR: We understand that you are moving to Mexico from your current home in Louisiana. Can you share the reasons for this decision, and what youve learned in the process?
BH: My wife and I have several motives for emigrating to a remote village in Mexico. We love the Caribbean coast and the adjacent waters; we enjoy Mexicans and many aspects of Mexican culture; and we relish the idea of living in a tropical paradise amid marvelous creatures on the land and in the sea. However, we are also moving because the United States is now a police state and becomes almost daily a more dreadful and intolerable police state. Even if we supposed that we might be lucky enough to avoid the worst that this vile state inflicts on its many victims, we abhor what the country has become and look forward to distancing ourselves from it. Americans have sold their souls to the devil as politicians have manipulated their fears. Many more of them ought to have seen through this shameless and evil manipulation.
In making our arrangements to move, we have learned that things happen more slowly in Mexico, especially when legal services, government permits, document recordings, and so forth are involved. One needs to have a great deal of patience. We have also learned more about the specific area where we will live, and we look forward to taking advantage of the opportunities that await us there for a stimulating yet relaxed style of life.
LMR: Your latest book is Delusions of Power. What will long-time fans discover in this book that isnt in your earlier ones?
BH: Delusions of Power offers some new analyses of democracy and of the age-old problem of self-government. The point of view throughout the volume is more openly hostile to government as we know itthat is, government that lacks the explicit, voluntary, individual consent of every adult subject to itand more openly supportive of genuine self-government. Also on display are closer analyses of how rulers make decisions about war and peace and about how the various factors associated with the crisis and leviathan phenomenon operate and relate to one another.
I also offer more detailed scrutiny of historical topics such as Colonel Houses role in bringing the United States into World War I and in making U.S. policies during the war and afterward, especially at the Versailles peace conference. I explain the importance of U.S. economic warfare against Japan during the two years before the attack on Pearl Harbor. I present new data about and more penetrating analyses of the economic boom-bust cycle than I have offered in previous books, as well as more detailed analyses of the military-industrial-congressional complex. The book is also more up to date, including a full examination of the so-called Great Recession from which the United States has yet to recover fully. Reviews of eight recently published books round out the volume and show how my views compare with recently published scholarship on some of the most important topics considered in the book.
1. Derek Leebaert, Magic and Mayhem, 2010, p. 5.
2. Ibid., p. 159.