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"I'm not surprised at the conclusion that Al Haq's position paper on the submission by the Palestinian Authority of a declaration to the ICC is 'ultimately flawed and unconvincing' (and I say that not because I doubt the intellectual honesty of the drafter of the posting, but because I doubt he would have published the post had the conclusion been otherwise...)".
The assertion of the author of the post, that the position would not have been published had its conclusions been to the contrary is redundant. Apologies for having appeared facetious, but given the momentous human rights violations perpetrated against Palestinians living under foreign occupation, why would Al Haq waste its scarce time and resources arguing for further exclusion of the Palestinians from the protections offered by participation in the international legal framework?
Furthermore, the tone of the posting does not provide a bulwark for the several criticisms aired therein. It appears that the author is engaged in mirror politics. Take the assertion that Al Haq is 'taking the moral high ground' and labelling those who disagree with its reasoning or conclusions as 'enemies of the cause'. I'm not convinced that a position paper, whose goal is to encourage the extension of the rule of law to a people systematically excluded from recourse to justice, can be summarily dismissed on such grounds. To claim that Al Haq rejects those who may disagree with its reasoning or conclusions as 'enemies of the cause' is ludicrous. Al Haq has consistently sought to engage and debate with anyone who will listen, and there are many shades of opinion within the organisation. The author should consider providing examples to back up his accusation, or he should retract the statement.
In the many cases – ranging from decisions of the Israeli High Court to statements from the likes of NGOmonitor – in which staff of Al Haq are demonised as terrorists or subversives on the basis of secret evidence, hearsay, or prejudice, or are accused of engaging in anti-democratic 'lawfare', they will defend their principles and actions, and seek to condemn disreputable and hypocritical accusations. Al Haq does not condemn nor slander bona fide opinions or reasoning. As an organisation working in an environment where the brutality and violence of the occupation is all pervasive, Al Haq respect instead the principle of freedom of expression, and remain conscious that it may not always be correct.
As an example of the slander to which Palestinian and Israeli human rights activists are routinely subjected to I'd refer readers to the Rights & Democracy controversy which Prof Schabas has posted about at: http://humanrightsdoctorate.blogspot.com/2010/01/shawan-jabarin-and-canadas-rights-and.html
The immediate posting has also challenged and dismissed as incorrect the reference in para 20 of the Al Haq position paper, that the 'sole premise' for rejecting the PA declaration would be that Palestine is not a state. Perhaps the language used gives the impression that we are dismissing too lightly what on the face of it is an obvious and fundamental obstacle which automatically demands the rejection of the PA declaration.
Al Haq are attempting to encourage an expansive interpretation of the meaning of 'state' under the Rome Statute because we think a solid argument can be made to justify such a move. That is Al Haq's prerogative, since in spite of the author's assertion that the law is settled, a situation such as that raised by the Declaration is not explicitly provided for in the Statute, nor is there any consensus as to what constitutes a state for the purposes of international law. It is precisely in such a situation of ambiguity and controversy that all parties are entitled to submit their legal arguments and advocate a point of view. This is characteristic of the human rights movement, and of international legal scholarship as a whole. Al Haq are seeking to participate by making their arguments, encouraging debate, and fundamentally, with the genuine aim of remedying Palestinians exclusion from the rule of law. This is not something to apologise for, nor is there any attempt to disguise it.
Al Haq's paper, however, is not politics, even if acceptance of its premise obviously has political ramifications. It is engagement with the process of academic and practical legal debate and something which Palestinians are attempting through international fora such as the Human Rights Council and now through the ICC framework. Thus, as the conclusion of the position paper stresses, it is encouraging the OTP to accept the PA declaration as legitimate for the reasons suggested, arguing that a conservative reading of the text of the statute is contrary to the interests of justice and of pertinent developments in international law. The paper seeks to support this call on the basis that any such decision on jurisdiction as made by the OTP will be reviewed by the pre-trial chamber, and will subsequently be liable to be sent to the appeal chamber. This should answer the question as to 'Who is to decide what is best for whom?'
Fair arguments have been posted elsewhere rejecting arguments to the effect that for the Rome Statute, 'state' should not be interpreted more liberally than usual in international relations. These are welcome and will be engaged with critically. This posting by contrast deals with none of the substance of the argument. It has not dealt with the lack of definition of 'state' in international law or in the Statute. In criticising the 'linking' of 'situation' and 'state' the post misses the point, namely not that there is a direct analogy between the two, but that in the case of self-referrals and 'situations', the ICC process has demonstrated a willingness and ability to progressively interpret and apply the Statute where it is just and valid to do so.
The position paper explicitly restricts its analysis to article 12(3) since that is the provision under which the declaration has been made. It follows logically that if Palestine is considered a state for the purpose of 12(3), then so would it for 12(2), and since the PA issues the equivalent of passports to its nationals (the Palestinians who are living in the OPT other than East Jerusalem which Israel has claimed to annex), there should be no additional problem with either paras (a) or (c). The reasoning in limiting the discussion to 12(3) in the position paper was to accentuate the distinction between the fact that the PA have attempted to engage with a declaration as opposed to seeking to become a full state party to the Statute.
The posting also ignores the substance of the approach which the OTP has taken in determining the validity of the PA declaration, claiming to not understand how they are relevant. They are relevant since this has been the stated approach of the OTP in seeking to come to a decision as to accepting the declaration. Novel approach? Certainly, but one which is already in motion, and clearly, the fact that the Palestinian authorities have been recognised by the UN General Assembly as having jurisdiction over violations of the laws of war, and a duty to investigate and prosecute for violations, is relevant to the question as to whether the PA can consent to its jurisdiction being transferred to the ICC.
As the position paper highlighted at para 44: "The questions posed to the PA by the OTP should not be considered as the only possible grounds by which the Court can make a decision as to the validity of the PA's Declaration, but since they are the grounds that have been proposed, and on which proceedings are reliant, the necessity of their being answered in the positive is crucial for the PA application to succeed. That the OTP may decide subsequently not to investigate alleged crimes committed on Palestinian territory on grounds of complementarity or gravity is a matter for another day. That the Prosecutor may decide not to make any decision is also another matter."
The analysis of these questions as found in the position paper is something which has not been addressed by any journal article or any other report that I am aware of. It would be better if rather than dismissing Al Haq for being delusional about our 'political agenda', the substance of the issues were addressed in a rigorous and intellectual fashion.
The question is put: 'Does it mean that any country in the world that passes a law allowing to prosecute Palestinians and Israelis can make a declaration under 12(3) about gaza ? [sic]'. Al Haq's paper has not suggested, nor implied, that any country can make a 12(3) declaration about Gaza , nor is there any reason to draw such a conclusion from either our reasoning or our conclusions.
Following the issuance of an arrest warrant in the UK against Tzipi Livni, British FM David Miliband met with Israel's ambassador on 15 December and stated that legislation 'permitting judges to issue arrest warrants against foreign dignitaries without any prior knowledge or advice by a prosecutor must be reviewed and reformed', later confirming that the government 'is looking urgently at ways in which the UK system might be changed in order to avoid this sort of situation arising again.' British PM Gordon Brown also threw his weight behind moves to change the law, telephoning Livni to say he 'completely opposed' the issuance of the arrest warrant and that she was welcome in the UK at any time. The UK 's Attorney General, Baroness Scotland, spoke at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in January 2010 to assure Israeli officials of the steps being taken in the UK to ensure they are welcome, regardless of whether they may have committed war crimes or crimes against humanity. She reiterated that the British government is 'looking urgently at ways in which the UK system might be changed to avoid this situation arising again'.
I gave these examples since I'd submit that the posting, is misguided in accusing Al Haq of attempting, somehow illegitimately, to change the rules of international law. The irony here is that it is Israel which is actively pursuing a course which Palestinian human rights advocates are being accused of. The threat posed to the principles of distinction and of proportionality by Israeli attempts to reshape international humanitarian law to defend policies such as the Dahiye Doctrine has been identified by Justice Goldstone. Before the Human Rights Council, he considered Israeli application of the Dahiye Doctrine against Palestinians in Gaza . He noted that the UN Fact Finding Mission had closely examined pronouncements made by Israeli political and military leaders which stated in clear terms that they would hit at the entire Hamas infrastructure in Gaza: 'If "infrastructure" were to be understood in that way and become a justifiable military objective, it would completely subvert the whole purpose of IHL built up over the last 100 years and more. It would make civilians and civilian buildings justifiable targets. These attacks amounted to reprisals and collective punishment and constitute war crimes.'
Alas, the UN Security Council is unlikely to refer the situation in the occupied Palestinian territory to the ICC, but I'd suggest that this is not simply due to US intransigence but is also equally applicable to British, French, Russian, and Chinese opposition.
And to raise a final issue with the posting, the conclusion that human rights activists, 'of all people,' should agree with 'this concept of liberty that you can't impose something on someone against his will' is bizarre. Should human rights activists have opposed the referral of the Darfur situation to the ICC because Sudan has not ratified the Rome Statute? Should human rights activists oppose the prosecution of alleged Somali rapists on the basis that they did not consent to the Torture Victim Protection Act? (Communal Groups Back Somali in Bid To Block Israel Lawsuits http://www.forward.com/articles/122213/) Should human rights activists have opposed the CERD committee's expansion of the definition of racial discrimination to include descent-based discrimination in the caste system because India hadn't consented…?
Thanks for the invitation to post a response!
Response by Dov Jacobs
Thank you Michael for your strong rebuttal of my post and your participation in this interesting debate. And for being my first guest post! Because I am aware that my "aggressive" style can sometimes cloud the real substantial points I make, I would like to propose some clarifications.
You remind us in the beginning of your answer that you are acting in your personal capacity. So was I. I am not an activist of any cause nor try to defend a particular side and am not attempting an exercise in "mirror politics". I am an academic, and in this sense I acknowledge that I am indeed remote from certain realities in the field and in the political discourse. But this is my only fault. I would like to stress that I was not singling out Al Haq specifically. I can understand how you may have misperceived my harsh comments about the relation that HR activists have with the law and the possible blurred relationship between law and morals. But I was making these comments as an academic from a theory of law perspective, and despite the harsh rhetoric, I am making a real substantial point. I do not join the chorus of voices trying to label Al Haq as terrorist or slandering their leaders. That is not my fight. My comments were harsh but I really meant them to be taken in an academic context. Given the delicate political situation, I maybe should have made that point clearer.
In line with that, I was not trying to "discredit" Al Haq with my comments on politics. Again, I was not singling them out and, despite "my style" (I really must do something about that…), I was making a real political theory point about the "depoliticisation" of Human Rights from a conceptual point of view, and not trying to say that Al Haq's position was not to be considered. If not, I would definitely have phrased my post differently. I'm sorry I might have be misunderstood, and I know that the debate often falls in ad hominen slander, but please don't attribute to me the thoughts of others and allow me the same intellectual courtesy as I did when I actually engaged into a legal debate about the actual content of the Policy Paper.
Which brings me to my next point. Despite the harsh language, I find you a little disingenuine in saying that I don't confront the legal dimensions in my post and don't respond to the points raised "in a rigorous and intellectual fashion". On the contrary, I think that my analysis of the ICC Statute is very rigorous. In fact, that you are calling for a "progressive" interpretation of the Statute actually shows that you agree that the "rigorous" approach does not allow for what you claim… I do believe that 12(3) by referring to a "State which is not a Party to the Statute" clearly implies, a contrario that the State could become a Party. Hence, I believe that in order from an entity to be able to make a declaration under 12(3), one can't avoid an analysis of its Statehood under general international law. You are right, I don't engage in that part of the discussion because I couldn't deal with everything and this is a conclusion that I find more appealing from a legal point of view. However the Position Paper suggests that a different definition of State just for 12(3) is possible and I disagree with that. You cannot isolate an article from the rest of the treaty and before you propose a "novel" interpretation of a clause based on the supposed ambiguity of the article, you have to show efficiently that it is indeed a novel situation, which the language of the Article itself does not suggest.
Which brings me to my next point. Despite the harsh language, I find you a little disingenuine in saying that I don't confront the legal dimensions in my post and don't respond to the points raised "in a rigorous and intellectual fashion". On the contrary, I think that my analysis of the ICC Statute is very rigorous. In fact, that you are calling for a "progressive" interpretation of the Statute actually shows that you agree that the "rigorous" approach does not allow for what you claim… I do believe that 12(3) by referring to a "State which is not a Party to the Statute" clearly implies, a contrario that the State could become a Party. Hence, I believe that in order from an entity to be able to make a declaration under 12(3), one can't avoid an analysis of its Statehood under general international law. You are right, I don't engage in that part of the discussion because I couldn't deal with everything and this is a conclusion that I find more appealing from a legal point of view. However the Position Paper suggests that a different definition of State just for 12(3) is possible and I disagree with that. You cannot isolate an article from the rest of the treaty and before you propose a "novel" interpretation of a clause based on the supposed ambiguity of the article, you have to show efficiently that it is indeed a novel situation, which the language of the Article itself does not suggest.
On the criteria proposed by the OTP, it's not because they are proposed by the OTP that I should accept them at face value. The Prosecutor has shown time and again his sometimes inadequate grasp of the Statute. And more generally, as an academic I would be out of a job if I didn't question what the institutions I observe do. I maintain that there is a confusion in the scope of Article 12(3). It is not concerned with the transfer of criminal jurisdiction, which comes later in the process when dealing with complementarity. It is an acceptance that the ICC can exercise its own jurisdiction, which is entirely different. This is why I am still waiting for a convincing justification of questions 2 and 3 from the OTP in deciding to accept the declaration of the PA. In relation to that, you might have found my comment that any State with criminal jurisdiction over Palestinians and Israelis could make a declaration under 12(3) under these criteria a little facetious, but there is a real point there which you have not answered. I know that is not what you were suggesting in your Policy Paper, but in theory, if those are really relevant criterion to establish the capacity to make a declaration under 12(3), then why shouldn't they be able to? You might not have wanted to imply that, but anybody defending this position must seriously deal with the natural legal consequences of what they suggest. In this sense I don't see how I could not "draw such a conclusion" from your reasoning.
On the comparison with self-referrals and "situations", you claim that it shows that "the ICC process has demonstrated a willingness and ability to progressively interpret and apply the Statute where it is just and valid to do so". No, it doesn't. There's nothing progressive in applying the Statute as it stands, which is exactly what they did. The Statute doesn't say that the actual State where the crimes had been committed couldn't refer the case, so they allowed it. As for "situation", the word was explicitly chosen to allow some geographical flexibility, as opposed to the word "State", for example… Different words in the Statute for different purposes. I still don't believe anything can be drawn from this analogy. And while we're on the topic, the early case law of the Court actually shows on quite a few aspects that the judges are far more reticent in seeing loopholes everywhere, as the ad hoc judges were, and are much prone to applying the Statute as it stands. Except maybe on victim participation, but that can be explained by the drafter's lack of foresight in a new area when they expected that a single article 68(3) would solve everything, but that's a different issue.
You are right about Israel trying to change the rules to fit their interests. And I will disapprove of that in the same way. As I said earlier, I'm not trying to defend anybody's position and I'm sure nothing in my post suggests otherwise. But I don't accept the tu quoque argument. It's not because they do it, that you should do it too. In addition, it was totally irrelevant to raise the question in response to my post. You told me to deal with the substance, not the activists, and I perfectly accept your point. But you just proved that the two are sometimes hard to distinguish... I'm defending the law, and more importantly the respect for the legal process that the rules not be changed through making a moral argument (interests of justice, interests of peace, interests of victims). We all agree on the same fundamental human rights, and if they have to be protected, they don't necessarily have to be present in all documents and not all treaties are aimed at the protection of each of them.
On a conciliatory note, I think in fact that we don't disagree on the finding that there is a problem here. The ICC Statute is a "traditional" treaty that doesn't provide for situations such as the one we are faced with in the present case. What we disagree on is the methodology. I really do think, however frustrating it may be for both of us to see the inadequacies of international law, especially when it leads to such injustice, that it does not serve the long term legitimacy of international law (if one is attached to that) to try and "force" an legal interpretation on a text which does not contain it. As I said, there is a clear problem with the UN-system in the prevention and repression of international crimes, which relies too heavily on the Security Council, but that is not the ICC's fault.
On your final point, I actually think that the "power" given to the Security Council in the ICC Statute to refer cases is contrary to international law, because the Security Council draws its power from the UN Charter and no other treaty. In addition, by joining the UN, Soudan has actually consented to respecting Security Council resolutions. More generally, I agree that certain things need to change from a moral point of view, but we have to be very careful of the legal ramifications of what we suggest. If one argues that consent shouldn't always be required, I think that we have to be specially aware of what criteria we propose for that. It can't only be because we consider that the cause is right. If not, it can justify any interventionism based on each person's concept of rights. But let's keep this debate on universality Vs relativity of Human Rights for another time, shall we?


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subset: commoncrawl


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The 36-year-old son of Sylvester Stallone was found dead Friday, leaving the actor grief-stricken, his publicist said.
Authorities were investigating Sage Stallone's death, but details were not immediately available.
"Sylvester Stallone is devastated and grief-stricken over the sudden loss of his son," publicist Michelle Bega said in a statement. "His compassion and thoughts are with Sage's mother, Sasha."
Los Angeles police said they were dispatched to investigate a death at a home on Mulholland Terrace around 2:15 p.m. but could not confirm the person's identity or offer details.
Coroner's officials also said they were in the initial investigative stages.
"Sage was a very talented and wonderful young man, his loss will be felt forever," Bega said.
George Braunstein, an attorney who has represented Sage Stallone for 15 years, said a housekeeper found his body Friday afternoon. Friends and acquaintances had become concerned because they hadn't heard from Stallone in the past day, Braunstein said.
Sage Moonblood Stallone was the oldest of Sylvester Stallone's children and co-starred with his father in two films. He was the first of two sons Stallone had with first wife Sasha Czack.
Sage Stallone made his acting debut in 1990's "Rocky V" and also appeared with his father in 1996's "Daylight."
Also in 1996, Sage Stallone and veteran film editor Bob Murawski co-founded Grindhouse Releasing, a company dedicated to preserving and promoting the B-movies and exploitation films of the 1970s and 80s.
"He was very respectful of all the actors in all the movies," Braunstein said. "You couldn't mention a movie that he didn't know everything about."
Sage Stallone also directed the 2006 short "Vic," which screened at the Palm Springs Film Festival.
Braunstein said Stallone was planning on getting married for the first time, and had frequent requests to work on films.
"He was a full of life filmmaker with his whole future ahead of him," Braunstein said. "He was just very up and enthusiastic and positive.
"I think it was probably some sort of accident," he said of the death.
Braunstein said Sage Stallone greatly admired his father but was working hard to make his own name in the film industry.
"He was very proud of his father and proud to be his father's son," Braustein said.


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"I think people who are creative are the luckiest people on earth. I know that there are no shortcuts, but you must keep your faith in something Greater than You, and keep doing what you love. Do what you love, and you will find the way to get it out to the world."
― Judy Collins
Topic(s): Faith


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Picture of the Day: Sunset in Costa Rica
Angie Quesada has always been one of the Bullz-Eye favorites. Here's a great photo of Angie with an old boat in the background as the sun is setting in Costa Rica.
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Tags: Angie Quesada, Angie Quesada bikini bottom, beautiful Costa Rican woman, beautiful Latina, beautiful model, beautiful Tica, beautiful woman, beautiful women, bikini, bikini babes, bikini bottoms, bikini models, Bullz-Eye babes, Bullz-Eye girls, Bullz-Eye Models, Bullz-Eye original photography, Bullz-Eye pictorials, Bullz-Eye women, Chinese Latin model, Costa Rica, Costa Rica sunset, Costa Rican babe, Costa Rican model, daily babe, daily babe photo, daily model, daily photo, glamour models, gorgeous Latin women, hot babes, hot bikini body, hot chicks, hot Latin girl, hot Latin woman, hot Latina, hot models, Latin model, model from Costa Rica, models and boats, picture of the day, pretty women, sexy bikini girls, sexy Latin model, sexy Latina, sexy models, stunning Latina, Tica from Costa Rica, woman in bikini


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Mercedes Benz New York Fashion Week begins this Thursday, September 9th, 2010 and all shows will be held at its new location, Lincoln Center. While I am excited about the fabulous shows, among other things, I am equally excited, if not more, about the launch of the Fordham Law School Fashion Law Institute, the first in the world.
I could get into the significance of what this means for both the legal and fashion communities but thought it made more sense to have my fashion law colleague Professor Susan Scafidi, the brain behind this historical launch, help me out.
"Susan Scafidi is the first U.S. law professor to offer a course in fashion law (at Fordham La School) and the author of Who Owns Culture? Appropriation and Authenticity in American Law (2005). Her areas of expertise encompass property, intellectual property, cultural property, international law, trusts & estates, and legal history. Prior to teaching at Fordham, she was most recently a tenured member of both the law and history faculties at SMU and taught at a number of other law schools, including Yale and Georgetown.
After attending Duke University and the Yale Law School, she pursued graduate study in legal history at Berkeley and the University of Chicago and clerked for Judge Morris S. Arnold of the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. Professor Scafidi also writes a blog on law and fashion, in particular intellectual property, Counterfeit Chic."
The launch party takes place on September 8th, 2010 at Fordham Law School.
FASHIONENTLAW.com: Hi Susan. It was good to finally catch up with you after a long time. How are you?
SS: Running in heels! The upcoming launch of the Fashion Law Institute is incredibly exciting, but also terribly busy. Then again, style on the go is the fashion brief for most modern women — am I right?
FASHIONENTLAW.com: (Laughs) Definitely. We will get into that very soon. But first, you've done remarkably well. First, with your blog counterfeitchic and now the first ever Fashion Law Institute in the world, really. I am excited. CONGRATS!
SS: Thank you! Of course, none of this happens alone, and I've had tremendous support from the administration, faculty, and staff at Fordham, as well as throughout the legal and fashion communities!
FASHIONENTLAW.com: True. Share with my audience a little bit about your background?
SS: Nothing too glamorous, I'm afraid — law school and graduate work in history, but always with a few fashion magazines slipped in between the law books and medieval manuscripts, and an enduring professional interest in the unexplored legal questions and anomalies within the fashion industry.
FASHIONENTLAW.com: What led you to start your blog counterfeitchic.com?
SS: Frustration with the pace of book publishing — it takes months to go from manuscript to something that can be sent out with the holiday cards! After I wrote my first book, I realized that I wanted to share my ideas in a more immediate way, and nobody was exploring issues related to law and fashion. I also hoped to connect with a broader range of people than the few academics who read law journal articles, most of whom think of fashion as merely frivolous — and the blogosphere responded! That being said, I absolutely love books and will certainly explore that creative medium again.
FASHIONENTLAW.com: Now you've launched a successful blog. At what point, did you decide that there was a need for a fashion law center?
SS: It was an organic process and has been several years in the making. On the legal side, there was a tremendous response to the creation of a Fashion Law course, also a first; on the fashion side, there were so many emerging designers with questions. It only made sense to find a way to bring the two sides together and create a center that would provide both education and practical assistance — and the Fashion Law Institute was born.
FASHIONENTLAW.com: Before we go further and since I get asked this question a lot (smiles), what is fashion law?
SS: Defining a new field of law is a challenge, but I've always conceived of it as the legal issues that may arise at every point in the life of a garment, from the designer's original idea to the consumer's closet.
FASHIONENTLAW.com: I want to return and get into more details regarding the Fashion Law Institute. But, let's take a minute to talk about your work with the Design Piracy Act. Explain to us what the "fuss" is all about?
SS: Unlike aspiring writers, indie filmmakers, or starving artists, emerging designers have little to no intellectual property protection for their work under U.S. law, even though their counterparts in Europe and many other countries do. The result is that copyists can cherry-pick the best new designs, often even before they've been revealed to the public, and sell cheap knockoffs even before the real thing is in stores. Obviously this makes it tough for designers to recover their investments and continue what in many other fields we'd call their research and development for the next season.
The new Innovative Design Protection and Piracy Prevention Act (I know — it's a mouthful!) will when passed give designers a brief, 3-year term of protection for new and unique works — and force design pirates to offer variations rather than just slavish copies. No, this law won't make fast fashion go away; yes, it will mean that former copyists have to hire designers and offer consumers a greater range of inexpensive choices — a win-win for aspiring designers and fashionistas on a budget.
I've been keeping a file on this issue since 1996, when I was a junior prof, and working actively on the issue for the past 5 years with the Council of Fashion Designers of America, a good part of that time in negotiations over legislative language with the American Apparel and Footwear Association. Now that different parts of the industry have reached agreement on "narrowly tailored" language to protect both designers and manufacturers (not to mention everyone else, from retailers to home sewers), hopefully the bill will quickly become a law.
FASHIONENTLAW.com: Now let's return to the Fashion Law Institute at Fordham. What does this mean for fashion and legal communities?
SS: Fashion Law is now a recognized legal field, and both lawyers and designers have a centralized place to seek training and information. It's wonderful that Fordham Law School was willing to take a risk in first acknowledging Fashion Law and then giving the Fashion Law Institute a home — we've gone a bit beyond the usual range of academic tweeds and legal pinstripes!
FASHIONENTLAW.com: What exactly does the Law Institute offer for designers and other fashion business owners?
SS: Training on legal issues related to the fashion industry, a source of research and information, and a centralized place to seek assistance on specific matters, particularly for those designers who are just starting out and can't afford legal help.
FASHIONENTLAW.com: What about law students? Explain the curriculum?
SS: Law students will be able to take not only the basic Fashion Law course but also a range of specific advanced courses in the field, as well as participate in extracurricular activities and — when supervised by practicing attorneys — aid in providing pro bono legal services to designers.
FASHIONENTLAW.com: When you graduate from law school with a concentration in fashion law, what does this mean in terms of getting a job?
SS: Fashion houses, like other corporations, typically don't hire right out of law school — but law firms certainly do. And while designers and fashion houses have always consulted lawyers, a growing number of those law firms are realizing that it makes sense to have a special focus on fashion clients and their particular needs.
FASHIONENTLAW.com: You have the backing of one of the most powerful organizations in fashion, the CFDA. How where you able to get Diane Von Furstenberg and the CFDA on board?
SS: I'm tempted to say that great minds think alike! But, as is always the case in the design world, you'd have to ask Diane and CFDA executive director Steven Kolb about their "inspiration." I think that I can safely say we all believe that this is a great step forward for both law and fashion.
FASHIONENTLAW.com: I know the launch party is right around the corner. What are some of your planned activities?
SS: It's a law school event, so nothing too wild — essentially the morning version of a cocktail party, with a few brief speeches, a "business fabulous" dress code, and a lot of good wishes all around. With New York Fashion Week moving to Lincoln Center, right next to Fordham Law School, it's also a wonderful way to kick off the new season.
FASHIONENTLAW.com: Many thanks Susan. Bravo. Impressed. I know it's not easy. Thank you for just being the trailblazer you have always been.
SS: Right back at you, Uduak! It's wonderful that smart lawyers who love fashion can finally come out of the closet!
FASHIONENTLAW.com: (Laughs) You don't say!
FASHIONENTLAW blog, authored by Ms. Uduak, was first established in 2010. It is now incorporated, in 2021, as part of the FASHIONENTLAW LAW FIRM blog. The blog is for informational purposes only and provides legal commentary and analysis on the intersection of mainstream America pop culture and the law. It also provides updates on Ms. Uduak's speaking engagements and press activities. For inquiries on topics covered on this site, please get in touch with our firm. If you seek legal representation for your specific legal needs, please schedule a consultation.
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Would the PSB Alpha B1 loudspeaker be a good match for my rotel RA-1520 amp.
Right now I am leaning towards the B&W 685 (as I have listened to this setup with my amp) but am hesitant due to the cost of the 685.
I am currently running Boston Accoustics T-1030 that I bought new in the mid 1990's (I think it was like $1,200 Canadian at the time for the pair) and had recently refoamed. But they take up too much space in the office.


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'Twilight' Author Sued for Vampire Rip-Off
'Twilight' Author Sued for Vampire Rip-Off
The author of the "Twilight" series is being sued by a woman who claims the 4th installment is a rip-off of her work.
Jordan Scott claims in her lawsuit, filed today in federal court, that she began writing a novel "in the vampire genre" when she was just 15 -- back in 2003. The novel was published in 2006 and called "The Nocturne."
Scott claims the 4th installment of Stephenie Meyer's "Twilight" series lifted her work. She says Meyer's book -- "Breaking Dawn" is a "significant literary departure from [her] early books..." She says it seems the book is "written by a teenager." Yes, Scott was a teenager when she wrote "The Nocturne."
Scott claims the two books "show striking, articulable and substantial similarities in the ... plot lines, themes, dialogue, mood, setting, pace, characters, sequence of events, ideas and other similarities."
TMZ published a story about the specific plot similarities. Click here to read.
Scott is asking for damages, and that the court impound the "Breaking Dawn" books that are being sold.


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TEN FULLY-GROWN African bull elephants share their combined weight with this monolithic new
installation. Harboured in a small, smoothly-bell-shaped chamber, Seed has become the focus of education and inspiration at the Eden Project, in Cornwall.
The sculpture was lifted through ninety degrees and received via a small hole in the centre of the education building at Eden – with only a few inches to spare – displaying to the awestruck visitors, the 1,800 nodules which cover the granite surface. The sheer mass of this sculpture dwarfs the visitor within the chamber, who has as little as 250cm of space between the wall and Seed.
The phyllotaxis pattern which the nodules form, is based on numerical relationships in nature: the
Fibonacci series, a recognised mathematical sequence which forms the basis of plant growth and is most obvious in the structure of flowers and cones.
A project joining architects, engineers, quarrymen, computer experts and an artist with his team of technicians and stone carvers, in its fruition achieves a synergy of not only nature and
humanity, but also art and architecture, space and light. This sculpture will remain, perhaps when all else has changed beyond our recognition, a bigger, weightier stone henge, a marker of
humanity's awakening to a new relationship with Earth.
Read the full interview with Peter Randall-Page in the November/December issue of Resurgence.


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The organization that oversees Web addresses, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, announced Monday in Singapore that it will allow nearly any word in any language to be an Internet address suffix.
There are currently 23 possible endings for a Web address — including the familiar dot-com, dot-gov, dot-edu and, of course, dot-org.
ICANN's new ruling, which may shake that up, is "the most significant change to the Internet, really, since it was created," according to Peter Dengate Thrush, chairman of ICANN's board of directors.
"Once this is set up," he says,"the theory is, or the hope is, this is going to lead to innovation in ways we can't imagine."
The way it works is that organizations will pay $185,000 to apply for what is called a top-level domain name, as dot-com and dot-org are used now. So, in about a year-and-a-half, you might see dot-Starbucks or dot-Nike.
Dengate-Thrush says the fee is relatively modest because "It's not the price of a domain name. This is to create a registry that ... can sell and manage millions and even hundreds of millions of domain names. You're talking a reasonably serious business investment."
If I had $185,000, I'd spend it on something else.
But Esther Dyson, the former and founding chair of ICANN's board, does not see the value in this new naming system.
"I think it's kind of a useless market," she says, "and if I had $185,000, I'd spend it on something else."
Dyson says a new naming system is unnecessary, especially at this price.
"Nobody's creating new value here," Dyson says,"They're just selling words ... The trademark system is good enough."
Jeff Ernst, principal analyst at Forrester Research and an expert in marketing strategy, says the biggest brands are already looking to invest in new dot-names.
"Just about any big-brand company wants to have as much control over their Web presence as they can, and this gives them a way to do it without yielding to the dot-com primary," Ernst says.
What that means is that big brands see big opportunities. He gives an example of what a company like Canon could do. It could acquire dot-Canon, and even the generic dot-camera, and could create photo-sharing Web sites grouped within those domains.
"So not only is Canon now going to be dot-Canon," he says, "but Canon can now issue secondary domains to every one of its camera owners, and what they might very well do is embed a chip in their cameras that link that camera owner to their ID so that as they're taking photos they could just be automatically uploading photos to a photo-sharing site. I mean, that's just one possibility."
But Dyson says, "Canon.com works fine, as far as I'm concerned."
She says this is an expensive solution for the wrong problem.
"The real issue isn't even dot-com versus dot-camera in the long run," she says. "It's let's use Google."
Dengate-Thrush, the ICANN board's current chairman, insists what's best for consumers is choice. And, ultimately, there's no better way to see what consumers really want then by putting it up for sale.
Copyright 2020 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.


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Log in and registration
If you already have an account in our store, log in.
If you forgot the password use the reminder option »
No account? Register now!
Thanks to the registration, you can:
- control the status of order through the web browser
- do shopping in an easy way
- pay online again


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It's nice down here.
It's as quiet as quiet gets.
The steady hum of the hot water heater. The rattling of the pipes. The creaking of wooden floors beneath tiny, invisible footsteps.
I like that sound.
I like it because it keeps the moment alive.
Barely alive.
Fizzling away like the last pixel of digital snow on an old black and white television, sucked into one minuscule dot.
It's hard to write about my family these days.
I want to. Trust me I do.
I want you to know everything and nothing at the same time.
The conversations with my daughters hang in the air, waiting to be captured and bottled like fireflies. The words fall into place like Tetris pieces. They are the blogs that write themselves but never get written.
I don't want to fuck up the perfection, like a game of telephone. I don't want, "I love french toast" to become "I hate Donny Most".
Tonight when I was putting my 8 year old daughter to sleep, we laid in bed together talking about our favorite Aimee Mann songs.
She likes Aimee Mann.
She doesn't like her because of me. I just played her the CD. She figured the rest out on her own.
"Hey bud. Wait here for a sec. I want to play something for you."
"Dad. Where are you going?"
"Hang on. I'll be right back."
I ran downstairs to my old CD rack.
1000 CD's. Each of them covered in a thin film of dust.
Got it!
I dashed upstairs, popped in the CD and climbed back under the covers with her.
Nose to little, button nose.
"What did you put on Daddy?"
"Wait. Just listen..."
I know exactly how I felt when I heard this album for the first time, back in 1987.
It made my heart race. It gave me chills. It made me want to run as fast and as far as I could run.
But I couldn't move.
The music froze me. That's exactly what it did to me.
Now I'm laying next to my baby girl. Nose to little, button nose and it was her turn.
I wondered, "what will the music do to her?".
There aren't enough words in the dictionary for me to write about that...


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Mental Health Treatment Study
State(s) / Location(s) Involved
Bridgeport, CT; Chicago, IL; Norwich, CT; Peoria, IL; Manchester, NH; Spring Lake Park, MN; Framingham, MA; Mentor, OH; New York, NY; Indianapolis, IN; Bethesda, MD; Washington, DC; Kansas City, KS; Ft. Lauderdale, FL; Denver, CO; St. Petersburg, FL; Grants Pass, OR; Smyrna, GA; Vancouver, WA; Aiken, SC; Portland, OR; San Antonio, TX
Start / Enrollment Date
October 2006
The Mental Health Treatment Study (MHTS) evaluated the impact that better access to treatment and employment support services would have on outcomes such as medical recovery, functioning, employment, and benefit receipt for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) beneficiaries with a primary impairment of schizophrenia or affective disorder. We examined the advantages and disadvantages of providing these SSDI beneficiaries access to high quality services designed to improve their employment outcomes. The services included systematic medication management, the services of a nurse-care coordinator to coordinate participants' physical and mental health therapies, and the services of a supported employment specialist trained in the individual placement and support model. We also paid for out-of-pocket mental health expenses and other expenses necessary to help participants return to work.
Mental Health Treatment Study Final Report
Mental Health Treatment Study Appendices
Mental Health Treatment Study Supplemental Appendices
In September 2005, the contract for the Mental Health Treatment Study was awarded to Westat. Enrollment of participants began in October 2006. The study remained in the field for 4 years. We received the final report in 2011.


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Miami Heat Return to Finals; Top Indiana Pacers 117-92
Miami Heat eliminated the Indiana Pacers for the third straight year with a 117-92 romp in Game 6 of the East championship series to make the NBA finals.
- Associated Press
- Updated: September 11, 2014 12:28 PM IST
The Miami Heat became the third franchise in NBA history to reach the title series in four consecutive seasons, a rout of a conference-title finale getting them there again Friday night. LeBron James and Chris Bosh each scored 25 points, and Miami eliminated the Pacers for the third straight year with a 117-92 romp in Game 6 of the East championship series.
Dwyane Wade and Rashard Lewis each scored 13 points for Miami, which trailed 9-2 before ripping off 54 of the next 75 points to erase any doubt by halftime. The Heat set a franchise record with their 11th straight home postseason win, going back to the final two games of last season's NBA Finals, leading by 37 at one point.
Indiana led the East for much of the regular season, one where the Pacers were fueled by the memory of losing Game 7 of the East finals in Miami a year ago. So they spent this season with a clear goal: Toppling Miami as kings of the East.
The Pacers were two games better in the regular season.
They were two games worse in the postseason. Game 7, this time, would have been in Indianapolis. The Pacers just had no shot of making it happen, not on this night.
Until Friday, the Celtics and Lakers were the only teams in NBA history to reach the Finals in four straight years. The Heat have joined them, and their quest for a third straight title starts in either San Antonio or Oklahoma City on Thursday night.
The way they played in Game 6 made a prophet out of Bosh, who predicted Miami would play its best game of the season. The numbers suggested he was right, and then some.
Miami's largest lead at any point this season, before Game 6, was 36 points. Indiana's largest deficit of the season had been 35 points.
After a layup by James with 3:39 left in the third, the margin in this one was a whopping 37 - 86-49. James' night ended not long afterward.
There were the now-requisite Lance Stephenson events, adding intrigue to the first half. The Pacers' guard walked over to James and tapped him in the face in the opening minutes, stood over him after both got tangled under the basket, and got whistled for a flagrant foul for striking Norris Cole in the head in the second quarter.
It was the end of a memorable series for Stephenson, none of which really had anything to do with basketball. His string of newsworthy moments from these East finals started when he talked about the health of Wade's knees before the series and reached an apex in Game 5 when he blew into James' ear and walked into a Heat huddle.
The Heat were bothered by it all, but got the last laugh. Big Brother, again, reigned supreme in this rivalry. And when it was over, Stephenson went out and shook hands with plenty of Heat players, as did the rest of his teammates.
Pacers coach Frank Vogel was using the big brother-little brother analogy earlier in the series, telling the tale of how at some point in every sibling rivalry the younger one has to make a stand.
Indiana thought it would happen now.
The Heat, obviously, had other ideas.


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After announcing in December that it was dropping Microsoft's platform for Blackberry's QNX OS on its infotainment systems, Ford today said the first of the new systems will launch in 2016 models.
Ford said its new Sync 3 communications and entertainment system will first roll out in the 2016 Escape and Fiesta.
Both the new Escape SUV and compact hatchback Fiesta will be on sale this summer, and Sync 3 will migrate to all Ford vehicles in North America by the end of 2016.
The new system, which features all-new hardware and software, will have faster performance, conversational voice recognition, an intuitive smartphone-like touch screen and an easier-to-understand graphical interface, Ford said.
Tile-like icons dominate the interface, with a quick-access function tray along the bottom for a more straightforward user experience.
The new entertainment/communications system will also offer commands and smartphone-like gestures that including pinch-to-zoom and swipe, along with crisp, more modern graphics.
For example, phone contacts are searchable via a simple swipe of the finger to scroll through the alphabet. With One Box Search, users can look up points of interest or enter addresses in much the same way they use an Internet search engine.
With a simpler command structure, the new system will also minimize the number of steps needed to carry out commands, such as selecting music, making a call or searching for a destination.
Sync3 also includes a seamless integration of AppLink, Siri Eyes-Free capability, software updates via Wi-Fi and an enhanced, subscription-free 911 Assist.
The owner's Bluetooth-connected phone is used to dial 911 in the event of a significant accident - alerting first responders with vehicle location. With Sync 3, the car relays additional information - including if airbags deploy, whether the crash is front, side, rear or rollover, and the number of safety belts detected in use - to help emergency call-takers dispatch appropriate resources to the scene.
Why Ford dumped Windows
More than 12 million Sync-equipped vehicles on the road globally use the Windows Embedded Automotive operating system, which Ford has been using since 2007.
While Ford has declined to talk about why it made the switch from Windows, negative consumer and industry feedback likely played a significant role, according to analysts.
For example, Ford's Sync IVI system has never been recommended by Consumer Reports magazine.
By turning to the open-source QNX platform, Ford gets a full community of developers to support and update its software. QNX also supports the ubiquitous HTML5 markup language and other native user interface toolsets.
Before being purchased by Blackberry in 2010, QNX Software Systems was owned by audio and infotainment equipment company Harman International. It's been used in more than 200 different car models, so it has been well vetted.
Other new features in Sync 3 include a more seamless integration of AppLink, which allows BlackBerry, iPhone and Android-based devices to run approved applications using the car's steering wheel buttons, radio or voice commands.
The new telematics system also allows Siri-voice activation capability for the Apple iPhone. Drivers can seek Siri's help by holding down Sync's Push to Talk steering wheel button, much as they would on an iPhone to initiate a Siri session.
Software updates will also be available via Wi-Fi (also known as over the air). Once a vehicle is set up with credentials for a home Wi-Fi network accessible in a customer's driveway or garage, it can automatically download updates.
AppLink allows users to connect their smartphone to their vehicle and control compatible apps using voice commands or buttons on the vehicle display screen.
AppLink automatically discovers smartphone apps, including Spotify, Pandora, Glympse, NPR One and iHeart Auto and displays each app's unique graphics and branding. Music and news apps are automatically displayed along with other media sources just like AM/FM or SiriusXM.
"Customers continue to tell us they want this technology, and they want it to be fast and easy to use - like a smartphone. Sync 3 delivers on that request," Mark LaNeve, Ford's vice president of U.S. Marketing, Sales and Service, said in a statement.


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Do you know what's lurking behind your walls and beneath your floors in Ontario, CA?
A basic understanding of your plumbing system, and how it works, will help enhance your communication with plumbers and allow you to better maintain your system long term.
If you've ever noticed the pipes that poke up through your roof, those are your vent pipes. They help promote proper draining through the equalization of air pressure within your drainage system. It is basically acts like a straw that can control whether drainage is slow and choppy or smooth and quick.
For efficient drainage in Ontario, CA, pipes need to be sized and vented properly; if you have slow, stopped up or choppy drainage, call the plumbing professionals at Inland Empire Plumbing. We are the experts on healthy drainage, waste and vent systems.
Have you looked under your sink, to see what is going on down there? You may have noticed a goose-neck style pipe that is directly connected to the bottom of your sink. This is called a plumbing trap or "p-trap", named for its unique shape. While it may seem like it does nothing but leak and get plugged up, it actually serves a very important purpose:
The curved shape of the p-trap allows it to hold water that will act as a seal between you and the nasty sewer odors and bugs lurking in your drain system. Living in suburban city areas means that we are all connected to the same sewer system, so you can probably imagine how bad the smells can get. Those sewer odors and fumes can be seriously dangerous, as it is a methane gas, which is HIGHLY flammable and toxic.
If you notice a lingering sewer gas odor, it is important that you immediately ventilate the area and call the plumbing experts at Inland Empire Plumbing in Ontario, CA.
TIP: If you leave your home for extended periods of time, it would be in your best interest to have your house checked at least once a week, and have water run through all your household drains, to ensure that those traps keep a safe level of water in them. If the "seal" evaporates, then all those harmful gasses will be unleashed throughout your home. You can also have your pipes "winterized" by filling them filled with a non-evaporating product, like RV antifreeze.
Drainage is part of the plumbing puzzle, but another important piece is the distribution of your water supply. Water sources can either be a municipal water system or a private well, and for those who are connected to a public water system, they are provided a monthly water statement. Their water is supplied to a water meter that is usually near the street, and flow through a water main to your house, typically a 1" PVC pipe, depending on the volume that is required. Most of these systems will also require some sort of backflow prevention device to protect the public water supply in Ontario, CA.
When the main feed reaches your home, it flows through the main water cut-off valve. Some things to consider:
Inside your home, the water will branch off into a series of pipes in your water distribution system, in order to supply water to each of your plumbing fixtures and faucets. The hot water fixtures are supplied by a separate-but-similar distribution system, which comes from the water heater.
For underground piping, your supply lines should always have proper insulation as they run through the concrete slab, to avoid potential leaks from the corrosive elements of the concrete and wear-down of the pipes that results from irregular expansion and contraction.
Each of your home's fixtures needs to have their own cut-off valve (supply stopper), so if you experience a leak, it will be easier to isolate the individual element, rather than shut off the water to your entire house.
There is a lot more to your plumbing system, than just the fixtures you can "see". Water systems, drainage, waste and vents are all an important part of the system; most of which, you can't see without searching for them.
Your faucets and fixtures are the end result of all the plumbing efforts and design, and this is also the point in the process where you get to add your own personality to the mix. There are a variety of styles and finishes to complement anyone's personal tastes. While style is visually appealing, water conservation and product quality are the most important variables to consider. Keeping these things in mind while you decide your style will help improve the resale value of your home, while allowing you to enjoy the benefit of water-savings and peace of mind.
Regular care and maintenance will help keep your plumbing system operating in the best possible manner, and when you need assistance with your plumbing issues, trust the pros at Inland Empire Plumbing in Ontario, CA, to know what is best, and provide the best work for your "buck". Contact us anytime for a free estimate, and prompt, friendly service. We'll keep your system running, leaving nothing behind but your satisfied smile.
You will find it hard to find another plumbing and drain professional within the Ontario, CA area better equipped to handle your unexpected plumbing emergency. Disregarding the time of day or night, you will always speak with a live home comfort professional on the phone. And we are committed in our effort to respond to each and every repair required within one hour.


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Brüderkrankenhaus St. Josef
Improving indoor air quality in Paderborn
By selecting a M-iQ flight type dishwashing machine it became clear that the hospital could save thousands of euros on ventilation technology
Werner Sowa has worked for many years as the head of catering at the Brüderkrankenhaus St. Josef hospital in Paderborn. The Group responsible for the hospital recently approved a series of improvement projects, the first of which was to modernise the wash-up area in the hospital's kitchens. Each day Sowa's team produces 700 meals plus 120 packed meals, so there is plenty of washing up to do.
"We want top-class hygiene and a more economical dishwashing process, plus optimum indoor air quality with tangible improvements for our staff," says Sowa. That's why the kitchen manager also looked into the effects of dishwashing machines on kitchen ventilation. "Our market analysis showed us that the figures for exhaust air and the effects on room temperature caused by dishwashing machines vary enormously from one supplier to the next."
By selecting a M-iQ flight type dishwashing machine it became clear that the hospital could save thousands of euros on ventilation technology while significantly reducing energy use and improving indoor air quality.
The hospital chose a M-iQ flight type dishwasher from MEIKO, including the 'M-iQAirConcept' module which enhances ventilation and air quality. With the new dishwasher, the quantity of exhaust air has dropped from 1,800 m³ an hour to just 170 m³. And the temperature of the air emitted by the machine is now just 22°C instead of 35°C.
Heat recovery to enhance air qualitiy and energy efficiency


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- This event has passed.
Town Council Regular Meeting
February 13 @ 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
To view the agenda for this meeting, please click here. To join the Town Council meetings remotely follow the webinar link here. If you plan to make public comments at a meeting, please contact DiAnne Enoch, Town Clerk, at email@example.com or by phone at 336.584.3601.


text:
This canvas gallery wrap is made from a finely textured artist-grade cotton substrate which creates outstanding clarity and detail. Beautifully finished, taut corners give a clean and crisp look, and hard sealed backing with hanging hardware allows for an effortless install. With a lifelong color guarantee, you can be assured this artwork will live for generations.
.: Printed on a natural white, matte, ultra smooth, 100% cotton canvas with 400gsm
.: Closed Back
.: Solid Support Face
.: For Indoor Use
*Care instructions - If the canvas does gather any dust, you may wipe it off gently with a clean, damp cloth.


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Hey, so, we had a panel at Wondercon Sunday at Anaheim Arena (former home of the ABA's Anaheim Amigos, and yes, there really once was a basketball team called the Anaheim Amigos), and if you were there, you got to see a little preview of some of the stuff we have coming up at the Nerdist Channel, including video versions of some of our podcasts, and Paul Provenza and Troy Conrad were there to represent the Nerdist Channel version of Set List, the stand-up challenge where the comedians have to make up jokes on the fly about topics projected onto a screen onstage.
Also, Matt Bennett — co-star of Victorious — was there, and he made good on his backstage promise to get at least one Macklemore reference into the discussion, and he talked about the show he's doing for the Nerdist Channel, too, and the video above is about that, too. Matt will be dropping into the coolest companies in America to find out what it's like to work there, from tech businesses to comic book stores. It's coming soon, but this promo will give you an idea what it's like.
Oh, and you may know this already, but Nerdist Industries is working on movie projects and partnering to cross-promote with some great developing YouTube channels (like Hello Doctor Puppet), the return of Neil's Puppet Dreams and a nice big healthy dose of Fraggle Rock on the way, and more stuff about which all shall be revealed soon enough. And if you'd been at the panel, you'd have seen Chris hug a young lady dressed as Wario and come perilously close to tumbling off the stage by doing so (must have been how her mustache tickled him), and you'd know the curious case of the couple divided by their opinions on the Star Trek universe and whether the old and new versions are in separate timelines. You hadda be there.
Subscribe to the Nerdist Channel now because you'll want to know when the new stuff hits.


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A new project called the Unofficial Behringer Control Development Kit lets you tweak or completely replace the firmware on the popular devices. The proof of concept demo shows a custom message scrolling on the 4-character 7-segment display but you can do with the device is only limited by how well you can code for the ARM processor inside. Development takes place using the GNU ARM toolchain but don't worry, you don't have to crack the case open to program the chip. The BCR2000 and BCF2000 models supported by the project both run bootloaders that allow firmware updates via midi commands. There's even a recovery mode if you screw something up. Just make sure you have a direct midi connection for recovery, the USB port won't work for that purpose. If you need a shove to get you started there's a nice little example file in the repository.
[Thanks Bjonnh]


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6 New GMO Crops that May Soon Hit Your Dinner Table: Take Action!
Lisa Garber
Waking Times
Remember when the USDA gave Monsanto's new GMO crops the fast track to approval? Regardless of the numerous accounts of organ damage, pesticide-resistant weeds, and unintentionally mutated organisms like resistant insects, our own government is manipulating the game to let "biotech bullies" like Monsanto get speedier regulatory reviews. Consequently, the environment, livestock, and consumers will be exposed to even greater danger.
As stated in their press release, the Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack, envisions transforming the USDA "into a high-performing organization that focuses on its customers." We'd like to think that we, the consumers, are those customers. The likes of Monsanto, Dow, and Syngenta, however, would probably disagree.
Here's your chance to tell the USDA otherwise. The first two crops on this list have been on the old, slower-track approval process, which allows 60 days for the public to comment. The remaining four are new additions but are on the fast track, meaning we still only have until September 11th of 2012 to have our say before these seeds hit the soil and, maybe, your dinner table.
6 New GMO Crops to Act Against
- Dow 2,4-D and Glufosinate Tolerant Soybean – Since the US first began using GM crops, our herbicide usage has been boosted by 300 million pounds, despite claims by biotech behemoths that other plants like weeds would not grow resistant to glyphosate – commonly known as RoundUp. And now, we have "superweeds." Of course, biotech (and seemingly the USDA) doesn't care, and they plan on adding the 2,4-D herbicide and dicamba (see number 4) to the list. Take action here.
- Syngenta Corn Rootworm Resistant Corn – Plenty of nations have banned Syngenta's GM Bt crops—but not the US. This type of corn produces its own pesticides and kills all bugs, good or bad, which also means livestock can get sick from eating it. Research says that 80% of pregnant women have Bt toxins in their blood. Take action here.
- Okanagan Non-Browning Apple – Conventional apples are covered in pesticides. That's why we buy organic, but Okanagan has produced the first GM apple. Take action against genetically modified apples right here.
- Monsanto Dicamba Tolerant Soybean – Take action here.
- Dow 2,4-D, Dlyphosate and Glufosinate Tolerant Soybean – Take action here.
- Genective Glyphosate Tolerant Corn
GM foods are bad news for the earth and all of us who live on it. Have your voice heard while you can.
Additional Sources:
This article originally appeared at NaturalSociety.com, an excellent source for alternative health truth news.
~~ Help Waking Times to raise the vibration by sharing this article with the buttons below…


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Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has become deeply frustrated with the hold-up in Irish funds for the International Fund for Ireland (IFI) in the Republican controlled US House of Representatives amid clear indications that Ireland is being targeted by some Republicans on the right.
Clinton convened an unprecedented meeting between top State Department officials and the Irish Embassy and personnel from the Northern Ireland office in Washington last week after complaints were made about the holdup in IFI funding over St. Patrick's Day.
$15 million in funding for peace projects in Northern Ireland is being held up. TheIrish E3 immigration visa bill is also in limbo as Republicans continue to oppose it.
The atmosphere at the State Department / Government meeting was described as one of "deep frustration" as both sides battle with the reality of the post Ted Kennedy /Chris Dodd era when most Irish projects on Capitol Hill such as the IFI were usually passed through easily.
What has emerged from those meetings is a worrying sign that Ireland no longer carries the same clout in Washington in the post Kennedy/Dodd era and that Republican right wingers are seizing on the Irish funding issue to hold up State Department initiatives.
Some leading Irish and American figures in Washington are privately urging the Irish Government to step into the modern era and hire full time lobbyists on Capitol Hill like most other governments do to further their agenda.
"Some Republicans are using Ireland as the poster child for no overseas aid," said a leading Irish figure on Capitol Hill. "The Irish agenda is being targeted."
They say that diplomats alone are no longer able to carry the fight in the absence of a Kennedy or a Dodd on Irish issues. There are worrying signs of an Irish backlash.
Even the attack by Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, the powerful head of the House Foreign Relations Committee on the proposed Che Guevara statue in Galway where she has called on Taoiseach Enda Kenny to stop, has fueled fears that Ireland is being singled out.
The recent visit of former speaker Nancy Pelosi and a congressional delegation to Dublin has cemented links between Ireland and the Democrats but it is still a long shot that Democrats can regain control of the house in November's election.
Ros-Lehinten and Congressman Jason Chaffetz(R-Utah) are seen as the two main protagonists blocking the International Fund money.
Two Congressmen, Joe Crowley the Queens Democrat, and Peter King the Long Island Republican, released another letter last week seeking the IFI funding.
"For nearly two decades, the United States has been at the forefront of international efforts to promote peace in Northern Ireland.
"The United States has consistently demonstrated its commitment to peace in Northern Ireland through high-level negotiations, diplomacy and grassroots peace-building. While many Americans, including those active in the Irish-American community, are proud of the United States' role in these achievements so far, there is still much work to be done moving forward.
"Unfortunately, a very real increase in sectarian violence in the North has recently erupted, including more bombing incidents in recent years than at any time since 2002-2003. The surge in hostility may aim to derail what has been achieved throughout the peace process, or to take advantage of ongoing tensions and provocations.
"We understand that budgetary pressures on our own government call for careful decisions about funding. Yet, the IFI has already been out substantially in recent years – even as important matters there remain unresolved. The United States has a solid history of maintaining support for the IFI and deserves considerable credit. With so many Americans of Irish descent, our ties to Ireland are strong, and our interests are well-served by remaining deeply engaged in the peace process."
The letter concluded: "We respectfully request your continued support in providing $15 million for the IFI in the FY 2013 State and Foreign Operations Appropriations bill."


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Listmember45 on 26 Sep 2000 01:20:23 -0000 |
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[Nettime-bold] Barrons article on DNAP- Clinics for the Future !! |
Dnaprint (DNAP) is an emerging biotech company in this weeks Barrons.
1) CEO (Dr. Tony Frudakis) Lead scientist for
Corixa starts his own company a few months ago
2) Company is formed by a reverse merger of a pinksheet company
3) DNAP has already completed the accounting to get off the pinksheets and
should be listed on the OTCBB soon.
4) Dr. Frudakis was responsible for a patent that sold for $54,000,000 to Smith
Kline Beecham while he was at Corixa.
5) Corixa's stock has gone from 14 Cents a few years ago to 50 Dollars today.
6) According to the Barron's article, Dnaprint is in the late stages of forming
strategic alliances with major companies.
7) DNAP is trading at 23.5 cents as of Friday's close !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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images and logo's used to represent DNAPrint are registered trademarks of
DNAPrint. Barrons is a registered trademark of Dow Jones & Co., Inc..


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Earlier today, the Baltimore Orioles and Chicago White Sox tested the baseball equivalent of the old adage about what happens when a tree falls in the forest and no one is there to hear it.
Instead of a forest though, the two teams were in the nearly empty Oriole Park at Camden Yards for a Major League Baseball game in which the Orioles defeated the White Sox 8-2.
The National Anthem was still played, and a stretch was still made in the seventh inning complete with the John Denver song that has entertained Birdland for the better part of four decades; but something was definitely missing.
With only players, team officials, some scouts and members of the media allowed inside the Ballpark, the game marked the first time in MLB history that fans were locked out of the Ballpark when a game was going on.
While there were fans who gathered to watch the game from outside the gates, no ticketed fans were allowed through the turnstiles.
With no fans inside the Ballpark, home run balls and foul balls went uncaught. Parts of the Ballpark were so silent one could likely hear a pin drop. Orioles Skipper Buck Showalter noted after the game that it was so quiet that he could hear the bullpen phone ringing from the other end.
As strange as playing in an empty Ballpark is, today's game was merely one of many things to occur during a strange week for the Orioles who briefly told fans that they could not leave the Ballpark on Saturday night and then saw games on Monday and Tuesday completely cancelled.
The Orioles will also fly south this weekend for a "home" series at Tropicana Field against the Tampa Bay Rays after the Rays voiced concerns about visiting Baltimore for the scheduled series between division rivals.
The reason for all of the juggling of the schedule is non-baseball related.
Protests are occurring in the neighborhoods surrounding the Ballpark, which have led to the city of Baltimore imposing a 10 p.m. curfew.
Even with all of the efforts to shorten the pace of play, a regular MLB game could not be finished in time for fans to all get home before 10 p.m. Ironically though, the game in the empty Ballpark was finished in just a little over two hours, which might lead some to believe that the ultimate way to shorten the game is to lock the fans out all the time.
With police and National Guard troops trying to restore order within Baltimore to prevent future acts of violence and looting, the Ballpark will stay silent until it is deemed safe to once again play ball.
Part of the freedom Americans have is free speech and the ability to show displeasure with things in a way that very few other countries have.
But there are limits to the protection of free speech. Just as it is illegal to yell "fire" in a crowded theater when there is no fire, it is also illegal to burn buildings and other property as a form of protest.
The violence and destruction over the past few days takes away from those members of society who are trying to peacefully demonstrate and have their voices heard.
As is almost always the case, a small minority of protestors escalated things to the level of violence. So, any generalizations about the behavior of all of the protestors would be false. Sadly, the actions of the few far out shadow any peaceful message that the many may have been trying to share.
And while a baseball game being played in an empty Ballpark is likely something that will be forever mentioned as part of Baseball lore and may even warrant a small exhibit at the Baseball Hall of Fame, it is those few individuals who turned to violent protests that caused the community of Baltimore to lose the economic benefit from at least six baseball games.
Granted two of the cancelled games will be made up as a doubleheader later in the season, but the fact remains, the protests took money out of people's pockets.
Bars and restaurants near the Ballpark did not benefit from the game day crowds and the various vendors who sell peanuts and Cracker Jacks missed out on income from the games as well.
Hopefully the Orioles are able to come home to roost by the time of their next scheduled home game. However, Major League Baseball has made it very clear that fans will not be allowed inside the Ballpark while protests are still actively occurring on the streets of Baltimore.
While it is certainly unfortunate that games are being played without fans and Camden Yards, the safety of the thousands of fans had to be taken into account.
So, while it was a difficult decision to move out of Baltimore, it was likely the only decision MLB felt they could make.
When the dust settles it is the images of the burning police cars and looting that most people will remember more than any peaceful demonstration that may have occurred.
In previous times of despair, such as the aftermath of the Boston Marathon Bombing, baseball has served as a way to unite the community and help heal wounds.
Hopefully baseball in Baltimore can once again unite the community to focus on being one Baltimore cheering together for the men wearing the orange and black.
That is not to say that Esskay hot dogs, and crab cakes can solve all of societies problems. Nor is diminishing the rights of citizens to engage in peaceful demonstrations to stand up when they feel they are being wronged.
Regardless of whether one agrees with the protesters or not, one should agree that they have the right to demonstrate within the boundaries of the law.
It is when those protests fall outside the boundaries of the law that action, even the difficult action of locking fans out of a Ballpark, must be taken to ensure that innocent people are not harmed.
Now if you'll excuse me, I need to see what sporting event will be aired next without any fans.
Copyright 2015 R Anderson


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Perpetual Dysfunction: How Republicans Govern
President Obama is set to begin his second term at a moment when the question is not what great things our nation can achieve but whether our government, in Obama's words, can "stop lurching from crisis to crisis to crisis."President Obama is set to begin his second term at a moment when the question is not what great things our nation can achieve but whether our government, in Obama's words, can "stop lurching from crisis to crisis to crisis."
The jury is out, but continued dysfunction seems the most likely scenario. Obama's news conference on Monday — his last scheduled encounter with White House reporters before Inauguration Day — was a tutorial in low expectations.
Obama devoted his opening remarks to the latest unnecessary crisis: the threat by Republicans in Congress to refuse to raise the federal debt ceiling. Such action, or inaction, would be "a self-inflicted wound on the economy," Obama said.
That's an understatement. Failing to raise the debt ceiling would in fact be a catastrophe, putting the faith and credit of the U.S. government in doubt and destabilizing a global financial system in which the dollar is the benchmark currency.
Congress has a long history of playing politics with the debt ceiling — even Obama once voted against an increase when he was a senator — but there was always the understanding that in the end, the needed increase would be approved. It was unthinkable that the country would actually default on its obligations.
But nothing is unthinkable anymore. House Republicans are threatening to force a default unless the president agrees to further spending cuts. Obama vowed Monday that Republicans "will not collect a ransom in exchange for not crashing the American economy."
Obama flatly ruled out two scenarios that have been proposed as ways for him to raise the debt limit without approval by Congress — invoking an obscure clause in the 14th Amendment, or, more fancifully, minting a trillion-dollar platinum coin. "There are no magic tricks here," he said. "There are no loopholes. There are no easy outs."
But he did appear to leave one door slightly ajar. Raising the debt ceiling has nothing to do with future spending; it merely provides the funds for expenditures Congress has already approved. Obama noted that if Congress fails to act, it will have given him two conflicting orders: Spend a specific amount of money on specific programs, but do not obtain the funds to make this spending possible. Some scholars have suggested Obama just declare that the instruction to spend outweighs the instruction not to borrow, and then let the Supreme Court eventually sort things out.
Is your head about to explode? Mine is. We're not talking about how our leaders can best deal with some external threat. We're not talking about how they can move the nation toward some goal. We're talking about how they might, just might, be able to avoid choking the economic life out of the country.
This has been the pattern since Republicans won control of the House. Our elected representatives manufacture a crisis, then craft a "solution" that is nothing but a recipe for the next crisis.
Republican leaders have begun talking about a series of short-term increases in the debt limit, each increase approved only as agreement is reached on further spending cuts. Said an exasperated Obama: "I'm not going to have a monthly, or every-three-months, conversation about whether or not we pay our bills."
He's right, of course. It would be madness for Congress to continue to pick fights over spending that Congress itself has approved. Obama can veto any short-term debt limit increase Congress sends him, but then he would have to find some way to raise the ceiling unilaterally. If he's prepared to go that far, case closed. If not, I see no evidence that appealing to the House Republicans' sense of reason will produce anything but hoarseness and frustration.
The most positive development in recent weeks is that the financial markets seem to have become increasingly blase about the government's dysfunction. The consensus seems to be that we'll find some way to muddle through without committing an act of national self-asphyxiation.
But it's pretty pathetic when the most hopeful thing you can say about our government is that probably, in the end, our leaders won't do excessive damage to the country's well-being.
There's lots of important work to be done — minimizing gun violence, charting energy policy, implementing health care reform, tackling the immigration issue, trimming Pentagon spending. Instead, congressional Republicans are focused on brinksmanship that is at best pointless, at worst destructive.
"That's not a credible way to run this government," Obama said. As if we hadn't noticed.
Eugene Robinson's e-mail address is eugenerobinson(at)washpost.com.
© 2013, Washington Post Writers Group
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Big Horn Country Justice CourtP.O. Box 908Hardin, MT 59034
Show All Answers
Justice Court has appearances Monday through Friday at 9 am The issuing agency will write an appearance date on your ticket 10 days from when you were issued the ticket.'
Once all walk-in appearances are done, the court then begins arraignments for those in the custody of the Big Horn County Detention Facility
We are closed on all major holidays.
Some offenses are mandatory appearances before the judge. The judge will ask you to enter a plea. If you plead guilty, the judge will sentence you. You must explain to the judge why you are guilty. A guilty plea will not be accepted by the judge if your explanations do not support the guilty plea.
If you plead not guilty your case will be set for trial. The judge will advise you of your hearing dates. Non-Jury and jury trials are set about 4 months from your appearance. A no-contest plea can only be entered with the approval of the prosecution and the judge.
A jury trial in Justice Court consists of 6 residents of the county randomly selected. All 6 jurors must agree if you are guilty or not guilty. Upon conviction, court may assess jury costs and witness fees.
A non-jury is before the judge. The judge determines whether you are guilty or not guilty.
In both a jury and a non-jury trial, the verdict must be based upon a finding of guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
A pretrial between the prosecutor and defendant to discuss and consider matters related to the discovery of evidence procedure and pre-trial motions. Settlement of the case can be considered by the parties at the omnibus hearing.
If the charge you are faced with meets certain criteria, you may be appointed a public defender by the Office of the State Public Defender. When you appear in front of the judge and enter a not guilty plea, the judge will ask if you would like to apply for a public defender.
You may be required to pay for your representation by the public defender's office.
After the entry of a guilty plea or verdict, you may require a deferred sentence. You cannot condition a guilty plea upon receiving a deferred sentence. The granting of a deferred sentence is at the discretion of the judge. The judge will take into consideration: the offense you are charged with, driving history, whether or not the citation was the result of an accident involving damage to property or injury to a person, whether you have received a deferred sentence in the past. If you have a CDL (Commercial Driver License) a deferred sentence may not be granted.
Insurance companies have access to your driving record and make their own decisions on how traffic offenses will affect your rates. We have no input or control on what insurance companies will do.
Assessment, Course, and Treatment (ACT). It is a state-approved program required by Montana law for those convicted of Driving Under the Influence (DUI or DUI per se).
A first offense DUI or Per Se offender must have the approval of the court, be enrolled in ACT, and have a valid Montana driver license. You are required to pay a $200 reinstatement fee to the Records and Driver Control Bureau.
A person with 2 or more DUI offenses must wait 45/90 days respectively, have the court's approval, and apply directly to the Records and Driver Control Bureau. In addition to other strict conditions, the person is required to be in compliance with the court order and complete alcohol and drug treatment.
Contact Records and Driver Bureau for more information.
Records and Driver Control Bureau303 North RobertsHelena, MT 59601Phone: 406-444-3289
A person who is suspended for failure to appear, failure to pay fines, or failure to comply with the sentence is unable to get a work permit. You will need to contact the court that requested your driving privileges be suspended. If you aren't sure, call 406-444-3289
When the court sent a Fail to Pay, Fail to Appear, or Fail to Comply Notice for not making a payment on time, not appearing in court, or not complying with a requirement of your sentence, the notice warns of pending suspension if you do not pay your fine or see the judge by a prescribed date. The warning states, "All delinquent payments (etc.) must be made immediately or a warrant of arrest may be issued and your driver's license will be suspended." If you are suspended, you will be required to pay a $100 reinstatement fee to the Records and Driver Control Bureau before reinstatement.


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Operation Scheduled Departure
Thanks to another former student, Daniel, who has been working closely with Latino immigrants in Charlotte and is keeping me apprised of the latest federal government plan. First we had virtual fences, not we've got "self-deportation." If you turn yourself in, the government will deport you expeditiously. The government dubs it "Operation Scheduled Departure." What is the incentive to do so, you ask? There is none, which is why no one outside the government, no matter where they stand on the issue, thinks it will work. No one at ICE says whether the voluntary deportation would hurt people in the future if they sought to enter the U.S. legally.
Now we find out that Charlotte is one of the cities the program will be tested in.


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Ashtanga literally means '8 limbs' (ashta=eight, anga=limb) or the 'eight-fold path' and is the main work of the ancient yogi Patanjali, called the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali.
Click here for an Introduction to Patanjali's Yoga Sutras
The eight steps are a step-by-step guide to help us to live a balanced life of self-awareness through all the layers, or koshas, of our body and mind. They guide our values and morals, help us address our physical health as well as encouraging our spiritual self-study - and its all set out as a progressive pathway.
1. Yamas - the controls
The Yamas are the very first steps along the path of yoga and self-awareness. They help us to question; "how am I living?", "What are the choices I am making?". These "don't do's" address our ethical standards and behaviours. Think about these as; "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."
- Ahimsa: nonviolence
- Satya: truthfulness
- Asteya: non-stealing
- Brahmacharya: intelligent contact with the world via the senses
- Aparigraha: not coveting or wanting
2. Niyamas - the observances
These are the "do's" in life. They address our self-discipline and our spiritual practices. For example, have I got a consistent personal meditation practice, do I enjoy regular contemplative walks, attend yoga classes, say grace before a meal, attend church or temple services etc.
- Saucha: purity
- Tapas: regular spiritual practice
- Santosa: contentment
- Swadhyaya: self-study and of the sacred scriptures
- Isvara pranidhana: connecting to deepest part of yourself
3. Asana - postures
This is the one that is often perceived as 'going to a yoga class'. Asana means seat—and when we're sitting we are settled and stable. Movement is really important to help the flow of energy through the body and mind, crucial for any of the other limbs.
4. Pranayama - control of the breath
This fourth limb consists of techniques designed to gain control over the breath—creating a positive control of our life force. Pranayama is said to rejuvenate the body and help us live a healthy long life.
These first four stages of Patanjali's ashtanga yoga concentrate on refining our personalities, gaining mastery over the body, and developing an energetic awareness of ourselves, all of which prepares us for the second half of this journey, which deals with the senses, the mind, and attaining a higher state of consciousness.
5. Pratyahara - withdrawal of the senses
Pratyahara, supports us in giving the senses a rest! They are switched on all the time through everything we see, hear, smell and experience of the world. When we consciously draw in the senses we allow them to cleanse, purity and become more refined, so that we can then experience the world with even more beauty and awareness. This can help us especially with things like our habits. Take a step back and observe yourself from a bit of a distance.
6. Dharana - concentration
Having drawn our awareness inwards in pratyahara we can now start to become more aware of our mind. The first stage of meditation is called concentration. This is where we take time to focus on an object outside of ourselves, for example, a beautiful flower. Practise focusing on something that inspires beauty and reverence, for example looking at the sky can create a feeling of expansion and joy.
7. Dhyana - meditation
Meditation is when your mind begins to settle and becomes an uninterrupted flow of concentration. Dhyana is a state of being - of not thinking or engaging. The mind becomes quiet and focused inward. To help you get into this place, focus your awareness internally through awareness of the breath, your thoughts or even the feeling of stillness. All these bring your mind inward.
8. Samadhi - total alignment
Deep meditation as a consequence of the cumulative effort of dharana and dhyana can result in samadhi. This is the experience of bliss, lightness, alignment and total joy. This is the experience of total one-ness with who you truly are.


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Karen has a book out called Knitted Art, I've copied the following information from her website. I've not yet seen the book, however I'm very familiar with the work of both Debbie New and Kathryn Alexander so I look forward to reading the book.
The photo's in this posting are all of Karen's own amazing work. You can see more here on her own site.
As some knitters craft mittens and sweaters, others find themselves taking flight into the realm of art. Some become true fiber artists, creating exhibition-quality quilts and sweaters and shawls, yarn mobiles and sculptures and gigantic abstract installations. An exploration of art knitting, this book profiles eighteen of the most prominent and intriguing practitioners of this craft-turned-art. Karen Searle, herself a recognized fiber artist, examines the works and inspirations of each of these knit artists. Numerous photographs illustrate each profile, documenting these artists' work and at the same time offering inspiration to those who might transcend the purely practical aspect of knitting. Among the artists encountered here are such nationally known knitters as movement founder Katharine Cobey, Carolyn Halliday, Debbie New, Lisa Anne Auerbach, Lindsay Obermayer, Kathryn Alexander, and others.