text:
Obama canceled his trip to Indonesia, but many here think he has not fulfilled his promise of building bridges with the Muslim world.
JAKARTA, Indonesia — President Obama isn't here, but he's not forgotten.
Obama canceled a planned trip here because of budget strife in Washington, a visit that would've come Saturday nearly three years after he arrived here for the first time since he lived in this largely Muslim city as a boy.
In November 2010 he was treated as a great statesman, one who vowed to go further than his predecessors in solidifying relations with the Muslim world. But that was before he overlooked a military coup in Egypt, threatened to bomb Syria, and ramped up drone strikes in Pakistan and Yemen. The Pew Research Center's 2012 Global Attitudes survey found the approval of Obama's policies in Muslim-majority countries dropped from an average 34% to 15%.
"It's such a shame he hasn't changed America," said Bapak Effendi, Obama's former teacher. "Like other U.S. presidents before him, he seems to be acting like the world police.
"They want to disarm Syria, but America has all the same weapons. It's not really promoting world peace," he said.
Known to his classmates as "Barry," Obama attended two schools between the ages of 6 and 10 after he moved to Jakarta with his mother and Indonesian stepfather in 1967.
The first school was a Roman Catholic School, Santo Fransiskus Asisi; the second was Menteng Elementary School 1, where Obama was taught by Effendi for two years.
In 2010, Indonesians crowded around televisions all over the country to watch Air Force One touch down. Obama's visit to the mosque — the biggest in Southeast Asia — was interpreted as part of a push to improve America's relations with the Muslim world, Indonesia being the largest Muslim-majority nation in the world.
But his recent push for an intervention in Syria, perceived here to have been tempered by Russia, has seen his popularity plummet.
"Obama can mix with Christians and Muslims, and he's been better than George Bush," said Anas Dima, a taxi driver, emerging from 6 o'clock prayers at Jakarta's Istiqlal mosque.
"Now, though, I don't think he's very different. … I think he would bomb Syria if he could. It's only because of pressure from other countries that he's pulled back."
Running parallel to Indonesia's growing disillusionment with Obama's presidency is a broader awareness of the U.S.'s declining economic influence in the increasingly China-dominated Asia-Pacific region. China's President Xi Jinping did make the trip this week, and was talking trade and warm relations the entire time.
"I think that the U.S. is important to Indonesia of course, but increasingly more so is China. Most Indonesian exports are going to China," said Imanuel Reinaldo, a second year economics student at the University of Indonesia, where Obama gave a speech during his visit in 2010.
"Coal is especially important. I should know, my dad is a coal trader. We are the world's largest exporter of coal, and China is the largest importer."
Around Obama's childhood neighborhood of Menteng Dalem, central Jakarta, there was a general sense that Indonesia's economic interests lie predominantly in Asia.
"In the '80s and '90s we were very America-oriented," said Benny Hartanto, a teacher.
"Everything was, 'Wow, America's great, America's the best,' and so forth. Asia was not something we regarded as important, although Japanese products have dominated Indonesia, obviously," Hartanto said. "But we still considered the U.S. as the best of the best, at that time."
"But I guess after the Southeast Asian financial crisis (in 1998), everything shifted to Asia. Everything was Chinese products, (South) Korean products."
Effendi feels an enduring loyalty to his former pupil despite the fact that some of the decisions Obama has made are objected to by some of his fellow citizens.
"I never would have thought he'd end up the leader of a superpower," Effendi said. "When I see him on TV, I'm still proud of him. I feel touched."


text:
By CHARLES REYNOLDSPersonnel ManagerCW Mining Company
On Sept.15, 2003, a CW Mining Company employee falsified his safety/inspection checklist. When this came to management's attention, the employee was given a written warning. When the employee refused to acknowledge the written warning, the employee was given a three day suspension with the intent to discharge, for just cause, with the right to appeal. An employee became upset and called all employees off shift to protest. Some of the employees refused to participate in the protest and were threatened by the protesters. The Company called the sheriff. The employees were asked to return to work or go home. They were not fired. Some of the employees quit. They did not call or return to work. Some called and said they were afraid to return because of threats made by the protesters. There were no attacks by the Company. The only individual fired was the one that falsified his safety/inspection checklist.
CW Mining Company has a policy and procedure leaflet that covers all of these situations. Employees have full access to this leaflet.
Following is a response to the list of accusations made by the UMWA:
1. "Workers have been locked out because of union activity."
Fact- The company gate has not been locked except for security when mine is not operating. No employee has ever been locked out from his/her shift.
2."Workers are forced to work with injuries without access to worker's compensation."
Fact The Company complies with state laws and all employees are covered by worker's compensation.
3. "Bosses abuse and mistreat workers."
Fact- There has been no abuse of any employee.
4. "Workers are forced to work under unsafe conditions in violation of MSHA law."
Fact- The Company endeavors to maintain a safe workplace. As is this case, an employee may be disciplined for breaking safety rules, but never for reporting unsafe conditions, or refusing to work in them. The mine is regularly inspected by MSHA.
5. "Workers forced to use defective and unsafe machinery and man trips."
Fact- The Company requires the equipment operator to perform a pre-operational check prior to operating any equipment. Equipment is inspected regularly by the company and by MSHA. If any is defective, it is taken out of service and locked out until it can be fixed.
6. "Workers forced to work arbitrary shifts."
Fact- Shifts are posted ahead of time. Employees have advance notice of shifts.
7. "Workers do not have medical insurance to speak of and no retirement benefits."
Fact- The Company offers medical insurance to all employees.
8. "There is no bathhouse for the female workers."
Fact- Female workers have been offered alternative shower facilities. There are rest room facilities.
9. "Company does not provide necessary tools without discounting money from the worker's pay."
Fact- The Company issues tools without charge. Employees are charged for the tools that they lose or cannot account for.
10. "The company promotes safety violations by refusing to punish the bosses that break them."
Fact- Bosses are disciplined if they are found violating company policies and MSHA law, and in some cases, suspended from work without pay.
11. "Wages are unfair, ranging from $5.25 to $7.00 per hour."
Fact- The Company has incentive pay in addition to the actual base pay. The combined pay ranges from $5.50 to $20.00 per hour. The $5.50 is for the lowest level of unskilled worker with no previous mine experience. This lowest pay is for up to 90 days probationary employment, after which they are raised if they continue to work.
12. "Company does not provide adequate training for its employees."
Fact- All employees are given the standard MSHA safety training by an MSHA approved trainer before they are put to work. Those who speak only Spanish are trained by a Spanish speaking approved trainer. CW Mining Company has a 'ladder' of employee levels of skill and experience. An employee receives on-the-job training for the position in which he is seeking advancement. When an employee is ready to be advanced, he/she is given a 15, 30, and 60 day assessment for the advanced position. If they qualify, they are moved to a higher pay scale.
13. "All workers and Democratic minded people"
Fact- One of our employees carried a Company letter to a UMWA rally in Price, stating that they were not fired but needed to call or return within three days or the Company would have to assume they had quit. After reading the company statement, the UMWA rep. refused to allow it to be read. He stated to the employee that the company's statement would cause a division in the group of employees protesting.

subset: commoncrawl


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We were just drooling over the wonderful vintage images from the latest collaboration between Mister Freedom x Sugar Cane. This inspired collection takes its roots from men of the frontier period, which include Hopi, Apache and miners, dressed in all their ruggedness. The MFSC Spring 2012 Collection of blouses, britches, vests, shirts and pantaloons (in indigo and sand colored selvedge denim twill) are not replicas but "a combination of imported European fabric styles and detailing, adapted patterns and silhouettes from the late 1800's up to the 1930's." If you want to purchase pieces from this collaboration, you'll have to call. Their online shop is still in the works; which to us, only makes us covet the denim even more. Check out the gallery for the curated images.
[nggallery id=1121]
For more information, go to Mister Freedom online. To order, call John or Jordan at (323) 653-2014 or mail email@example.com or email@example.com to get yours while they last. Internationally shipping available.
—Kathy Ng Hassan
Tags: frontier fashion, Mister Freedom, Mister Freedom x Sugar Cane, vintage clothing


text:
Jaclyn LeBlanc >> See More Amateurs
Galleries in Full HD!
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Jaclyn is a very professional woman, working as an account executive for a large firm when she isn't posing for us. She loves spontanaety in her love life, and likes all the little rituals like christening new rooms whenever she moves. She likes to be challenged and is driv...
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text:
The last time Susanne Landgrebe heard from her son was June 24, when he said he was in Salt Lake City. He had plans to head north to Jackson, Montana via train.
"He would never, never do this. He has no mental problems. He has no behavioral problems. He has never done anything," said Susanne Landgrebe. "If someone sees him, he just needs to call and let his family know that he is OK."
If anyone has any information about Daniel Landgrebe they should contact their local law enforcement agency.
Read more: http://www.kcci.com/news/central-iowa/iowan-goes-missing-while-walking-across-usa/-/9357080/20850862/-/rsg8ghz/-/index.html#ixzz2YDs1aZkM


text:
Avant Browser  2012 B 27
* [Fix]Gecko:Saving a picture via the floating tool bar caused the Save as window to open behind Avant Browser
* [Fix]Trident:Searching numbers via the address bar didn't return search results.
* [Fix]Downloader: Got wrong file names for certain download links.
* [Fix]The problem regarding the rules for assigning rendering engine
* [Fix]Sometimes the Autofill didn't work in the new tab


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Thursday, May 24, 2012
Flowers Make Me Happy
Today a friend of mine stopped by with this cute arrangement. I love how the colors go so well with my table topper. The little girl reminds me of the Sun Bonnet Sue quilt pattern. I have been struggling with a health issue this week and she brought me some cheer. I know we don't normally discuss these subjects on our crafting blogs. Tomorrow I have some tests to see if I will need surgery so I humbly ask for your prayers for clear answers. I'm off to the greenhouse to stroll along the flowers and keep my mind distracted. Enjoy this blessed day!
Posted by Sewn With Grace at 11:56 AM 15 comments: Links to this post
Labels: flowers
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Coming Home
Hi Friends! I'm still stitching away on custom quilt orders. I got to work on one of my projects yesterday, a graduation gift for a friend of Maddie's. I finished the top yesterday. The pattern is "Coming Home" from the book, Simplify by Camille Roskelley. I have made this quilt before. It is a simple pattern that gives big results. I added more blocks and wider borders to make the quilt throw size, a 54" square. Today I hope to get it pinned for hand quilting. Hope you are having a good day, the sun is shining brightly here!
With joy,
Posted by Sewn With Grace at 4:25 PM 19 comments: Links to this post
Labels: Quilting
Monday, May 21, 2012
Saturday was prom.
Hair, makeup, dress, shoes, jewelry…
How do we slow down time?
In two weeks she'll officially be a senior.
Love my Maddie!
Giving Thanks,
Posted by Sewn With Grace at 12:19 PM 9 comments: Links to this post
Labels: Family
Sunday, May 20, 2012
Sunday Scripture
Source: ohhellofriendblog.com via Renee on Pinterest
Posted by Sewn With Grace at 12:00 AM 7 comments: Links to this post
Friday, May 18, 2012
Pretty Poppies
The poppies in my garden are so fleeting that I snapped a picture for you before the petals fall away. Such a fragile flower. Happy Friday, friends!
Posted by Sewn With Grace at 11:40 AM 13 comments: Links to this post
Labels: Gardening
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Fig Tree Fun
I treated myself on Mother's Day to a bit of sewing time in the afternoon, away from the custom quilt orders. I had purchased a charm pack of "California Girl" by Fig Tree Quilts and I wanted to make the 23 1/2 inch square table topper from the Summer 2012 of Quilts and More. It was fun and quick to put together. I finished the hand-quilting last night. There is something about the shade of blue in this fabric collection. It's just dreamy. See the blue with the pink flower and little white polka-dots? It is my favorite. I also love a pieced border.
My self-imposed, fabric lockdown for the year is a bit challenging at times. I know that fabric lines don't last long. Purchasing a charm pack gave me enough fabric and hardly any fabric left over. I am pleased to be working my way through my stash. On another note, do any of you know what this little cage is for? It came from a flea market and the top slides up a metal handle. I thought at first it was a bug catcher, but the bars are set too far apart for that. This one has me stumped!
Posted by Sewn With Grace at 5:45 PM 17 comments: Links to this post
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
And One More...
Early last week I got an itch to make a table runner for the future bride and groom. One they can put on their table or on their dresser as they see fit. I had some very pretty tan linen with the striped border and I sat down and began to play with fabrics from my stash. I have not make a Dresden before and rather enjoyed the process.
The future bride and groom have been sweethearts since middle school and I got the notion that maybe there's a tree somewhere with their initials on it. I also had to add some yo-yo's - for fun!
It was a fun project. I enjoyed all the hand quilting with pretty perle cotton. I did buy them some sheets as well because I have come to realize that people really do want things off their registry.
With joy,
Posted by Sewn With Grace at 12:09 AM 15 comments: Links to this post
Monday, May 14, 2012
Shower Gift
I attended the shower for the soon-to-be daughter-in-law of a very dear friend of mine on Saturday. As one of her gifts I found out the couples favorite scripture passage and stenciled it on to a pillow. I found the pillow at T.J. Maxx. Even though the fabric marker is permanent, I set it with a hot iron anyway, just to be sure. The inspiration for the project came from here.
"Teach me your way, O Lord,
and I will walk in your truth;
give me an undivided heart,
that I may fear your name.
I will praise you, O Lord my God,
with all my heart;
I will glorify your name forever."
Psalm 86:11-12
Wonderful scripture for starting out a marriage, wouldn't you agree?
Posted by Sewn With Grace at 11:36 AM 4 comments: Links to this post
Sunday, May 13, 2012
Sunday Scripture
Source: myblessedlife.net via Beverly on Pinterest
Posted by Sewn With Grace at 12:00 AM 5 comments: Links to this post
Friday, May 11, 2012
May Window
Looking back through my pictures caused me to realize that I forgot to show you the May window at the cafe that I completed last week.
I went with a vintage bridal theme using some dresses from my collection. I made tons of paper flowers to hang on the pretty eyelet paper lanterns as well as from ribbons and even on the sash of the bridal gown.
I stitched up some fabric cupcakes from one of the "Tilda" books that I have. The blue glass cake stand is very old and one of my recent finds.
I'm certainly having a good time decorating the window each month. Happy Friday!
Posted by Sewn With Grace at 12:00 AM 11 comments: Links to this post
Labels: GGC
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
In The Garden
It's my favorite time in Spring when "Josephine" Clemantis is in bloom. With each passing day another layer of beauty unfolds within each flower. Eventually, right before she leaves, those center clusters will open like the last chorus of a beautiful hymn.
The spring quilts have made their way out of storage and are gracing walls and backs of chairs. The colors are so soothing and reflect the garden so well.
The Virburnum is a good eight feet tall by my back door. Oh how I love this time of year!
Sweet joy,
Posted by Sewn With Grace at 10:46 AM 15 comments: Links to this post
Monday, May 7, 2012
Sitting Pretty
Oh, how I love little sewing ~ sewing child-sized things. This little chair is a redo for the cafe. It was dark red/pink before. I hope a little one takes a seat in it to eat a cupcake! Happy Monday!
Posted by Sewn With Grace at 12:00 AM 5 comments: Links to this post
Labels: Projects
Sunday, May 6, 2012
Sunday Scripture
Source: knowing-jesus.com via Renee on Pinterest
"Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves.
Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but
does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his
face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away
and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man
who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom,
and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard,
but doing it - he will be blessed in what he does."
James 1:22-25
Posted by Sewn With Grace at 9:18 AM 3 comments: Links to this post
Saturday, May 5, 2012
Giveaway Winner!
Source: vintagechildrensbooksmykidloves.com via Lori on Pinterest
Congratulations to Diane N. who said:
"One of my favorite gifts was the AccuQuilt
my husband got me for Christmas a couple years ago."
I have sent you an email, Diane.
Have a wonderful Saturday, friends!
With joy,
Posted by Sewn With Grace at 9:01 AM 4 comments: Links to this post
Friday, May 4, 2012
Last Day For Giveaway
Hi friends, sorry for my absence this week. It's been a busy time for me. Today is the last day to sign up for the giveaway. I'll announce the winner tomorrow. Have a great day!
Posted by Sewn With Grace at 9:25 AM 3 comments: Links to this post
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
May Giveaway
Today marks the 700th post here on Sewn With Grace. I cannot believe I've had that much to say and what's even more unbelievable is that you have read these posts and have come along side me on this blogging journey. I am humbled by this and grateful for the many friendships I have made. You have added much to my life and I've learned a great deal from all of you. It seems so very appropriate to have the monthly giveaway on this special day. Here are the items included in the giveaway:
2 1/2 yds. "A Stitch in Time" by Robert Kaufman (Button Fabric)
3/4 yd. "Wild Rose" by Blackbird Designs
1 yd. "Tangled Threads" by Red Rooster Fabrics (Blue Floral)
1/2 yd. "Tangled Threads" by Red Rooster Fabrics (Brown Floral)
1 yd. "Tangled Threads" by Red Rooster Fabrics (Words)
3/4 yd. "Tangled Threads" by Red Rooster Fabrics" (Images)
The Book, "Tangled Up In Thread" by Terri Degenkolb
To Enter:
Be a follower of Sewn With Grace
One Comment Only
What is a favorite gift you have received?
The giveaway will be open until Friday at midnight
and the winner chosen by random generator
and revealed on Saturday~
With love,
Posted by Sewn With Grace at 9:18 AM 62 comments: Links to this post
Labels: Giveaway
Monday, April 30, 2012
Crafty Weekend
This past weekend found me pushing pause on the quilt making and picking up a paintbrush for the Cafe. This little cupboard was the ugliest rust brown. Several coats of white breathed some new life into it.
The decals were made using vintage "Happy Birthday" wrapping paper. I lined the cupboards with scrapbook paper and some crochet trim from an old piece I had in my scraps.
The bottom half is lined with the vintage paper. I left the corner that gives the copyright of 1962, the year I was born.
The biggest project of the weekend was this cut out cupcake. I had fun using my jig saw and drill. It took a few hours to complete. I hope the little ones that visit the cafe will enjoy peeking through to get their picture taken. Tomorrow marks the 50th day of the cafe opening and we are celebrating with an icecream social. Everything is better with icecream (and sprinkles!).
Posted by Sewn With Grace at 10:16 AM 10 comments: Links to this post
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Sunday Scripture
"But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you,
then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve,
whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the river,
or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living.
But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD."
Joshua 24:15
With joy,
Posted by Sewn With Grace at 11:10 AM 8 comments: Links to this post
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Making Memories
It's that time of year when the t-shirt quilt orders start coming in. It's a fun quilt to make and let's me go on a little journey of a person's life. Most of them are for graduation but some are for those who have already graduated, like this one above. I have six custom quilt orders to complete. Five before the end of May. Time to put the pedal to the floor!
Posted by Sewn With Grace at 10:14 AM 13 comments: Links to this post
Labels: Quilting
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
This photo was taken last spring at the farm. This past Sunday I was there for a meeting with a client. What occurs every year is a spring gathering of local barn cats who come to the farm to have their babies. While taking a stroll around the grounds on Sunday I stooped to talk to Frannie who was weaving in and out of my legs. Frannie is a black cat and the only cat who belongs to the owners. I looked up to see pairs of eyes looking at me from inside the barns. Three different pairs of eyes. Looks like there's some kitties in hiding. Gosh, I hope those eyes were kitties…
With joy,
Posted by Sewn With Grace at 6:47 PM 7 comments: Links to this post
Labels: Friendship Farm
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text:
Skip to comments.Insurers limiting doctors, hospitals in health insurance market
Posted on 09/15/2013 7:53:03 AM PDT by Innovative
The doctor can't see you now.
Consumers may hear that a lot more often after getting health insurance under President Obama's Affordable Care Act.
To hold down premiums, major insurers in California have sharply limited the number of doctors and hospitals available to patients in the state's new health insurance market opening Oct. 1.
New data reveal the extent of those cuts in California, a crucial test bed for the federal healthcare law.
These diminished medical networks are fueling growing concerns that many patients will still struggle to get care despite the nation's biggest healthcare expansion in half a century.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
Single page view of the article:
The story also has specifics — do read it.
Print version even better.
Sounds just like the lottery system in Canada where having a doctor often times means you have to wait until someone else dies
It dawns on me also that not only will one not be able to get care but you still run the risk of being PENALIZED for not having the right kind of insurance or worse PENALIZED for having insurance that is too good
Obamacide offers no health insurance. However, it does offer way to steal.
Wellmont closing Lee Regional Medical Center (Obamacare in SWVA)
These diminished medical networks are fueling growing concerns that many patients will still struggle to get care despite the nation's biggest healthcare expansion in half a century.
Obamacare didn't expand healthcare, it expanded healthcare coverage. It did precisely nothing to increase the availability of medical care, it only increased the number of people who'd have someone else pay for it.
In other words, it increased demand without doing anything to increase supply.
Only an idiot wouldn't have expected price increases and shortages.
My insurance, once "good," is being accepted by less doctors now. It used to be a given you could see anyone- not anymore!
...it increased demand without doing anything to increase supply.
Only an idiot wouldn't have expected price increases and shortages.
You've got it right, jdege, but I believe this is worth adding: this legislation was designed to increase demand and shrink supply. The object of the scheme is twofold:
1.) Medical care becomes an increasingly scarce commodity.
2.) The feral government takes control of the distribution of this increasingly scarce commodity, which is to say: perverts it into a reward that can be granted or withheld at state preference.
Ultimately, we've let representatives of the Democratic [sic] party grow the feral government by a prodigious quantity and simultaneously turn medical care into a weapon to be used against us patriots.
So...tell me again how limiting the number of doctors and hospitals in the pool will keep down costs and assure availability of services to those presently without?
Sheesh, these dumbass socialists don't have a clue.
ACA is all about control. It has NOTHING to do with healthcare.
Noticing the "art" on the concrete structure in the right-hand area of the photo in the *L. A. Times* article ...
There might be a wee bit more money to take care of a person, if the money were not wasted on the piece of junk.
"ACA is all about control. It has NOTHING to do with healthcare."
See also article posted by upchuck :
Government Seeking Inclusion of Social and Behavioral Data in Health Records [more spying]
ObamaCare basics
In the name of managing health care costs, ObamaCare dramatically increases administrative costs.
Otherwise, there are REDUCTIONS of:
- access
- care
- choice of your physician
- choice of your specialist
- service
... though you are told you have "coverage," which is akin to the automobile "coverage" that is without substance.
And finally, there is the MASSIVE GOVERNMENT INTRUSION into the life of every living human being (and probably some dead ones, too), as the government now defines EVERYBODY to be a welfare recipient, who is subject (repeat *that) to inspections:
- in and of their lives
- in and of their persons
- in and of their property
Thus, your "social security" is complete and without quality.
All, except for those who have political power sufficient to evade their being forced into such servitude to The Great Lie.
How long before they start talking about getting the SWAT teams to physically force doctors into giving top quality care to everyone regardless of whether or not they can afford it?
But don't worry, every Planned Parenthood death clinic will be a preferred provider.
If insurers limit the physician supply in the exchanges, resulting in access problems and rationing, patients will simply stop signing up for the exchanges in the first place and simply pay the penalty/tax or forfeit any tax refund.
Only the very sick will sign up for anything because it will be a very bad deal for routine care and even chronic care. It will be difficult to force the healthy and those with less serious chronic conditions to pay a lot for poor access and poor/rationed care.
Regarding bad deals: That "Silver" plan the article touts has a 45 dollar co-pay for a doctor visit.
Ultimately, we've let representatives of the Democratic [sic] party grow the feral government by a prodigious quantity and simultaneously turn medical care into a weapon to be used against us patriots.
I'd worry about it more if mainstream medicine hadn't been so captured by agricultural and pharmaceutical interests that the treatment and advice it offers for chronic disease is actually worse than useless.
Don't get me wrong - if I break a leg I want a modern hospital. But for obesity, hypertension, diabetes, metabolic syndrome? Any and all of the chronic "diseases of civilization" that plague us - you'd be better off ignoring the doctors entirely.
"These diminished medical networks are fueling growing concerns that many patients will still struggle to get care despite the nation's biggest healthcare expansion in half a century."
This is an extreme example of careless writing, possibly even exceeding the worst of my own. The author should take up something he is qualified for after demonstrating such incompetence. THERE IS NO "healthcare" expansion, there is only an expansion of GOVERNMENT INTEFERENCE in healthcare. Healthcare cannot be expanded simply by writing a law, even a good one, let alone something as absurd and incomprehensible as the UNaffordable DON'T CARE A DAMN act.
Notice how the MSM blames the "insurers" instead of ObamaCare
Actually it didn't even do that. It cut healthcare coverage by taxing away plans that were "too good" or "not enough".
I see this as a great opportunity for the entrepreneurs among us. Sure, I'll have to plop down an extra $900 or so in taxes, but someone will still offer the insurance I WANT and am willing to PAY FOR, and others will continue to accept that insurance or cash in exchange for services.
This is the American way. Someone closes a door, so we find another door. Or go through the window. Or break down a wall. We will get through this, and it just might force us into a position where we actually fix the system.
Note I did not say 0bamacare will fix the system. However, it might bring about the circumstances that force the productive among us to fix the system in spite of 0bamacare.
I laugh when people talk about how we had such a health care crisis that Obamacare was an attempt to deal with it. Any problems we had were because of prior government meddling. I was born in 1944 and when I was a boy the doctor came to our house to see me when I was sick and my parents had no problem paying the bill even though we were far from well to do. When I reached adulthood I could drive to the same doctor's office, sign in, sit down and see the doctor within an hour, no appointment necessary. A person with no insurance who had to go to the hospital would have a more affordable bill than the copay for the same visit would be now even for those who have good insurance. The real problem with medical care is and has been govenment meddling and it is all done to force eventual adoption of "single payer" medicine. Once that is accomplished you will be better off in most instances to consult a shaman or "root doctor" than to go the emergency room. Once the government achieves that and the other major goal which is total control over the food supply then we will all be slaves.
You can go to a private, self-pay doctor and pay around $50-100 for a routine office visit as an existing patient (depends on the time spent, practice and complexity). Lower rates are possible because the doctor's office does not have to waste staff time submitting claims. More often than not, the private doctor will have non-electronic records, and you won't be asked how many guns you have. Check aapsonline.org if you're interested.
There is a lot waste in the administration these large plans.
Anthem, the ONLY provider for NH recently cut the in network hospitals able to provide OB-GYN to zero in northern NH.
If you're going to have a baby here, you'll now travel a hundred miles or more.
The pathetic thing is a large number of the hospital staff including doctors in the area are left wing extremists, backing zero and zerocare to the hilt.
"I see this as a great opportunity for the entrepreneurs among us."
Unfortunately what you are missing is that the Obamacare law doesn't allow deviation from the way they want to provide insurance and medical care.
Unlike Hillarycare from 1993, there is no penalty for a doctor seeing patients without going through the government program. Insurers are already offering plans that do not meet the 0bamacare guidelines and will continue to do so.
If nothing else, there will be a million little clinics over the border in Mexico and Canada to see Americans who can afford to travel for their choice in healthcare.
I say it again, this is a huge opportunity.
Don't get me wrong - if I break a leg I want a modern hospital. But for obesity, hypertension, diabetes, metabolic syndrome? Any and all of the chronic "diseases of civilization" that plague us - you'd be better off ignoring the doctors entirely.
I concur, jdege. The allopaths and homeopaths lost, and the surgeons won feral government recognition. There was room for all, but the surgeons helped themselves to the coercive power of government.
Defund this monster!! Kill it before it kills us!!
Go, Ted, GO!!
"Defund this monster!! Kill it before it kills us!!"
You can say that again, in all seriousness.
"Go, Ted, GO!!"
Sen. Ted Cruz: Obamacare is going to change what we see in movies
Sen. Ted Cruz is one of the big opponents of the Affordable Care Act.
Thursday night on Fox News, the Texas Senator called the fight to defund Obamacare the most important domestic fight we have had in years, while urging people to go on the national website DontFundIt.com and sign the national petition.
If the American People stand together, we can defund Obamacare, Cruz said to Sean Hannity on Fox news.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.


text:
Greenwood Village technology giant ViaWest recently broke ground on a 204,000-square-foot data center in Inverness' Douglas County Industrial Park.
The new building, which is expected to house 25 ViaWest employees and upward of an additional 100 third-party workers per week, will serve as a storage space for a multitude of servers and various computer equipment for their clients.
"We provide services to medium- to large-size enterprises specifically related to IT infrastructure services," said ViaWest CFO Mike Krza, adding that the company specializes in cloud service, colocation and management services.
Projected completion for the new building, the company's fifth in Colorado, is anticipated for March 2014. The building, to be located on a 10-acre site on the northeast corner of South Peoria Street and Compark Boulevard, will serve both local clients such as Hitachi and Arrow, as well as out-of-state companies.
"The out-of-state businesses are more focused on disaster recovery," Krza said. "This climate and the low occurrence of natural disasters in the region tend to attract folks from both coasts. It is a large attraction for them to put their disaster recovery here."
ViaWest currently has 330 employees spread across six different states with the senior management and back office staff all located in Greenwood Village. The 25 employees coming to Douglas County are expected to make an average of $60,000 annually, Krza said.
An official county welcome
The data company received a boost from Douglas County officials July 30 when the commissioners unanimously agreed to waive business personal property taxes for a 10-year time frame estimated to be close to $3 million, as well as another $200,000 in engineering, planning, zoning, building and permit fees.
"This is a continuation of our economic development efforts to help insure our financial viability in this county," said Commissioner Jack Hilbert. "Part of the reason we haven't had the huge drops, but have had actual gains, are programs like these.
"Some people say, why are you doing this? Well, the fact of the matter is, a very small investment up front generates a huge investment on the back end. Typically they don't amount to this amount (of money), but typically we don't have something that is as capital-intensive either. These are services that our (existing) clients will be using and also reasons why new clients will want to come here."
For more information on the company, please visit www.viawest.com.


text:
Report Bee Eyelet Flat
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text:
Monroe County Historical Society's
72nd Arts-Crafts Country Gifts Show
Great show for Spring and Easter Items
225 Outstanding Booths!
Saturday March 5, 2011
9 a..m.-4 p.m.
Sparta Senior High School
506 N. Black River St, Sparta, Wisconsin
Free Admission! Everyone Welcome! Food Served!
Excellent Parking – With Parker's
Handicapped Parking near Building (bring your card)
Garden items, country home decorating, many kinds of jewelry, homemade candy, soaps, lotions, sweatshirts, dips/mixes, wood, barnwood, benches, needlework variety, rugs, scrapbooking, and MUCH MORE! Wonderful Early "Think Spring" Shopping!
For reservations, visit the Franklin Victorian website or call 888-594-3822. The inn is located at 220 E. Franklin Street in Sparta, WI
View Larger Map


text:
Meet Michael Campbell. Back in 1995, at the age of 20, he was convicted for the attempted sexual assault of a 14-year-old girl. He has been arrested several times since, most recently for going within 500 feet of a playground or public pool.
I'm guessing people freak out and call the cops every time he goes anywhere, so he should really be careful about that whole playground thing.
At left, images from Campbell's 2003 arrest for theft. As you can see, the now 36-year-old man has been working hard to fit back into civilized society. [TSG]


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Micro Rocket Camp Stove
Shopping Info
|MSR Micro Rocket Camping Stove - The new Micro Rocket Stove from MSR is not just their smallest and lightest, it also delivers the best mix of weight, size, performance and price of any stove in its class. With its folding legs it fits easily inside an MSR Insulated Mug to pack exceptionally small. More compact than the original Pocket Rocket Stove, and at just 75 g (2.6oz.), it saves you 12 g (.4 oz.) of weight! MSR has also boosted the stability of the pot supports by locating them closer to the burner head, while maintaining a robust, wind-resistant flame with WindClip protection to push a persistent, solid flame. They also engineered the Micro Rocket to maintain top-notch efficiency and power so the hard-earned weight savings wasn't lost on carrying extra fuel. If you're on mission to reduce your load to the absolute minimum, this is your stove, the MSR Micro Rocket. Carry case and handheld piezo igniter included.
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Guys, this sucker is compact. What a nice little stove. Talk about saving some room in the ol' pack. The new MicroRocket comes with a separate piezoelectric ignition. Why? Sorry, MSR, but wouldn't I be better off just carrying a regular lighter? What's the point? Did I mention it's compact? Everything folds together just so. It literally fits in the palm of my hand. I'm liking the way the valve control handle folds around the base of the stove. Not too much looks new in terms of the burner head although the wind deflector is a bit more compact. Counter-intuitive as it may seem, they've managed to beef up the stove while dropping the weight and size.
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Saturday, September 11, 2010
Black Girl Lost? Is Proenza Schouler's Film "Act Da Fool" Pathology Porn?
Here is a little weekend thinking project for you.
Proenza Schouler's faux documentary/fashionista art film, Act Da Fool has been criticized as sexist, racist, and exploitative of black women. After viewing the short film, I am unsettled by its omnipresent white gaze--especially given the overpowering Whiteness that is the fashion industry. But, I am more offended as a cultural critic and fan because Act Da Fool seems to be no more than a failed effort at Avant-garde, hipster, film-making.
What do you think? Is Act Da Fool another example of pathology porn in the Age of Obama (i.e. the Precious syndrome) or is it cutting edge, radical film-making that gives "voice" to young black women?
Friday, September 10, 2010
A Little Closure on Steal Away Jordan: Some Reflections and Questions on Roleplaying, Racism, and Historical Memory
Our conversation on role-playing games, race, and historical memory was a pleasant surprise. I am always impressed by the range of folks that follow We Are Respectable Negroes and the breadth and intelligence of their comments. In my post on Steal Away Jordan I mentioned Bill the Lizard, one of my fellow travelers in the journey that is ghetto nerdness. Consequently, it is only fitting that he offers some closure--and provocative questions--for this topic.
I read Chauncey's post and the responses which followed with great interest.
I've long felt that role-playing games (and the communities that play them) are very deserving of serious study from cultural anthropologists, psychologists and sociologists.However, as someone who for many years was a hardcore gamer (playing AD&D, Pendragon, Cthulhu, Vampire, Star Wars, and many others), the suggestion that Follow the North Star or Steal Away Jordan can help us better learn the historical lessons of slavery (the worst shame on our nation next to the American Indian genocide) is interesting...to say the least. Like Chauncey, I too applaud the convictions, creativity, and effort of those who have created these games.
And I seriously question the morality of their endeavors.
To quote the old adage: "Just because you can, doesn't mean you should," and while both role-playing opportunities seem to be well-intentioned, my fear as a long time gamer, cultural critic, and anthropologist, is that these games have the potential to trivialize historical suffering and what were crimes against humanity.
I also had an Anthropology teacher in college who taught about the difficulties of cross-culture communication by separating the class into two groups and having each group develop it's own fake "culture" independent of the other. Once both groups were ready, the class then simulated "first contact", where (more often than not) both groups left the meeting with negative feelings about the "other" group. The implications of this exercise helped us understand the intricacies of culture and how important it is to be respectful of difference.
However, these exercises were very broad and not morally complicated. We were not, for example, role-playing human misery and/or suffering. This is an important distinction that separates my role-playing/learning experiences from those offered by Follow the North Star or Steal Away Jordan.
Of course, role-playing can help people deal with difficult topics. Moreover, in role-playing games, I don't necessarily have a problem with using historical settings as backdrops for larger narratives (provided these settings are integral to the story). Nevertheless, putting people or "player characters" into a "slave owner/slave" role with the sole purpose of "teaching" them about the unimaginable barbarism that was chattel slavery in the New World is, in total, quite irresponsible.
Some Thoughts and Questions on Gaming
A role-playing game is just that--a "game." It is designed for enjoyment first and for potential educational benefits second. For example, King Arthur: Pendragon taught me a great deal about medieval life and British mythology. But I can't forget the fact that I played Pendragon because it was fun. Hence the "game" aspect. Thus, to label Steal Away Jordan a role-playing game is problematic. How do you take enjoyment away from the misery of others, even if there is some purported educational value in the gaming experience?
I also have practical concerns about the limits of role-playing games. Primarily, a game master cannot force the players to view a role-playing game experience in the way they would like them to. Players have agency and will act according to their own motivations, moods, and agenda. These personal quirks often push players to "go off script" or "out of character." Game masters can only suggest the courses of action and then hope for the best. Ultimately, it's the player that determines the outcome within the framework provided.
In freestyle games (i.e. those without a game master) group rule is the norm. Is this setting the most appropriate place to seriously explore the antebellum South and the plight of enslaved African Americans?
How do you, the game master, make sure that the people playing your "game" really take away with them a sense of slavery's long-term impact?
How do you, the game master, make sure that they just don't reinforce their own misinterpretations of history? Or inject into their "character" their own 21st century political or cultural biases or outright prejudices?
How do you, the game master, re-enforce the seriousness of the issues without minimizing the real-life horrific events? Would the people you're role-playing, the people who really suffered 150+ years ago, understand what you're doing?
I ask again: is this really the best way to remember the suffering of millions of people and 400 years of bigotry and racial hatred?
When people are encouraged to take on roles that they normally would find morally challenging and stressful, very strange things can happen – especially when you're dealing with the interpretation of people's real-life pain.
Some echoes of the real world where role-playing has gone horribly wrong:
The Stanford Prison Experiment:
24 undergrads at Stanford were selected to play the roles of both guards and prisoners in a mock prison environment. Roles were assigned at random. After six days, the experiment was quickly stopped because the professor, Dr. Zimbardo lost control of it. The "guards" became sadistic and the prisoners began showing signs of severe emotional disturbance.
The Third Wave:
A high school class was learning about Nazi Germany. They didn't believe that the German people could have been complacent and allowed the Final Solution to take place. So the history teacher, Ron Jones, decided to show them what fascism was like by creating the fake "Third Wave" organization and pushing anti-democratic concepts in his class room. After only four days, the teacher abruptly ended the experiment because things were quickly slipping out of control. The students showed themselves to be far more malleable to extremism than Jones ever expected.
The Milgram Experiment:
Stanley Milgram, a professor at Yale University, set out to show people's willingness to obey an authority figure, even if that authority figure told them to do things that they would normally find morally reprehensible. One student was assigned the role of "teacher" and one of "learner". The "learner" was a plant, while the "teacher" thought the events were real. The "teacher" then used what he thought was electroshock to punish the "learner" for not correctly answering questions. In reality there were no electric shocks, but 65% of the "teachers" were able to administer what they thought was a 450-volt shock to the "learner" just because the facilitator told them to.
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Black is a Country: "Gypsies," Justice, and Brown Versus Board of Education
Last week I was watching the movie Drag Me to Hell with a friend. At some point I had a moment of clarity, turned to her and said, "damn, the Roma have it harder than black folks."
The film jarred loose a series of memories. When I was a teenager I clearly recall my Korean American war bride boss coming into the convenience store where I worked and warning me that I should be especially vigilant because "gypsies have been sighted all across Connecticut, and they are robbing Shell gas stations by swarming them like bees!" I also found a lost laugh recalling a colleague who traveled to Hungary and was robbed by a "Roma woman who pulled up her t-shirt to reveal mesmerizing, gigantic breasts which she then proceeded to squeeze such that milk was expelled." My friend--now blinded by Roma breast milk--was then robbed and left penniless in a remote village.
Consider for a moment: Gypies are constantly stereotyped, vilified, and reduced to the most foul caricatures of personhood. I would suggest that in the hierarchy of groups that are still permissible as targets of mass humor and stereotyping in America, they would rank somewhere above East and South Asians and below poor white people. In terms of socioeconomic status, "gypsies" (I hate that word) have likely earned their whiteness in America and been washed away into a sea of nondescript stock of Eastern European descent where they achieve (or not) just like any other group of plain ol' white folks. But even in the United States, the stigma of being a "gypsy" still remains. By contrast, in Europe the stigma against gypsies exists as naked hostility, hostility that is stark, harsh, and often violent.
For example, in Eastern Europe the Roma have been struggling against discrimination in their access to education and schooling. They have modeled their resistance on the groundbreaking legal decision Brown versus Board of Education which was one of the first nails in the coffin of Jim Crow. The Roma's use of Brown is inspirational. Despite its struggles with obsolescence in the present, the Roma's enlistment of Brown signals the historical weight of the NAACP as an organization. More broadly, the use of Brown v. Board, and their appropriating the language of The Civil Rights Movement (never forget that The Movement itself borrowed and was inspired by Gandhi's anti-colonial struggle) is an object lesson in how the Black Freedom Struggle has given so much to Americans of all colors, and has inspired people around the world.
Black Americans often don't claim that gift. Perhaps, it is because like Americans at large (and to paraphrase Gore Vidal) we don't have a memory past last Tuesday. Maybe it is a function of some odd mix of colorblindness, charity, and politeness that those in the know may claim the genius that is Black creativity in the arts, letters, and music, but for whatever reason these same members of the negro intelligentsia are often resistant to claiming our gifts to American democracy.
The Roma haven't forgotten. They know that Black is a country. And perhaps the wellspring that is blackness as "political race" will give them the strength to overcome the adversity and challenges facing them as a people.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Of Follow the North Star and Steal Away Jordan: Would You Play a Roleplaying Game Set During Slavery in the Antebellum South?
This ain't Darkon.
One of my favorite joys as a teenage ghetto nerd was playing hour upon hour of Dungeons and Dragons or Star Wars with my friends (most notably our guest blogger "Bill the Lizard"). In particular, I loved running an epic Star Wars campaign where through my machinations the players all ended up in a moral conundrum (one impossible to resolve) that would inevitably tempt one of them to embrace the dark side of The Force.
Ultimately, role playing games are an exercise in theater, friendship, and conviviality. At their root, they--at least for me--are about escaping reality and not engaging in the heavy day to day struggles of negotiating one's identity and its relationship to structurally embedded relationships of power.
To that point: Over the weekend I continued to meditate on the question of historical memory, tourism, and respect for our honored ancestors. During that time, I did a little more research and stumbled upon some interesting--and disturbing--finds. Apparently, the African Holocaust and slavery in the Americas is entertainment mated with education in some circles.
Some discoveries.
1. As seen in the leading video, Conner Prairie, an Indiana based living museum, offers a range of experiences for its visitors. One of these is "Follow the North Star" where visitors navigate The Underground Railroad to freedom. As Conner Praire's website notes: "This interactive glimpse into our shared past will affect you in ways that reading a book or watching a movie about it cannot." Be weary though as many dangers are afoot as Follow the North Star is not for everyone. "You should be prepared to take on the role of a runaway slave; you'll be walking outside on rough terrain in all kinds of weather, told to keep your eyes focused downward and spoken to in an abrupt manner."
I wonder if visitors can be whipped, branded, physically disfigured, manacled, or raped and defiled to complete the "historical" experience? Question: who would react more strongly to this live action role playing experience? Young "post-racial" black people or their white peers of the same generational cohort?
2. There is apparently a pen and paper role-playing game called Steal Away Jordan. In this game, you can play any number of "characters" in the antebellum United States. One can be a slave owner, a master, a runaway, a free person, etc. The only limit is your imagination and the boundaries imposed by your fellow players. But once more, I don't see how there is any pleasure to be had in reenacting such suffering (perhaps therapy, but joy and entertainment?).
For the curious, here is an in-depth interview with Julia Bond Ellingboe, the creator of the game.
As an example of my worry about how these types of "reenactments" can go oh so wrong because they trivialize the experience of what was then a heretofore unimaginable historical tragedy, see this post where a white gamer concludes following a session of Steal Away Jordan that:
This experience has always made me not accept the 400 years of oppression argument. As an individual there is no way society can stop you from achieving. The problem is you have to not give in to people who want you to stay where you are. That's difficult. Anyway... that yes masta moment has me reexamining some of my thoughts as that's the first time in my life I've ever felt wrong, like I'd done something racist.
3. Insert finger into throat and induce vomiting. I only have questions. Abolition News Network? A high school project gone wrong? Just all around poor taste? Is this people's exhibit number one of how a well-intentioned "diversity" training session can go very very wrong?
Thursday, September 2, 2010
When Stupid People don't Know that They are Stupid: Glenn Beck's Restoring Honor Rally and the Dunning-Kruger Effect
The masses are asses. We know this. But the level of ignorance displayed by the attendees at the "Restoring Honor" rally is shocking even by contemporary standards.
It is quite clear that Glenn Beck is a master propagandist with a chilling and Svengali-like power over the lemmings of the New Right. Beck-watching is compelling (to me at least) because his popularity is a barometer of the toxins in our political atmosphere. Moreover, I wonder if Beck's followers would be so slavish as to follow him off a cliff, and to what extremes would the tea party brigands go in their devotion to his cult of personality.
To point, here is a little armchair sociology to help put Beck and the New Right's devotees into a broader context:
The Dunning–Kruger effect is a cognitive bias in which an unskilled person makes poor decisions and reaches erroneous conclusions, but their incompetence denies them the metacognitive ability to realize their mistakes. The unskilled therefore suffer from illusory superiority, rating their own ability as above average, much higher than it actually is, while the highly skilled underrate their abilities, suffering from illusory inferiority. This leads to the situation in which less competent people rate their own ability higher than more competent people. It also explains why actual competence may weaken self-confidence: because competent individuals falsely assume that others have an equivalent understanding. "Thus, the miscalibration of the incompetent stems from an error about the self, whereas the miscalibration of the highly competent stems from an error about others."
The Dunning–Kruger effect was put forward by Justin Kruger and David Dunning. Similar notions have been expressed–albeit less scientifically–for some time. Dunning and Kruger themselves quote Charles Darwin ("Ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge") and Bertrand Russell ("One of the painful things about our time is that those who feel certainty are stupid, and those with any imagination and understanding are filled with doubt and indecision."
The Dunning–Kruger effect is not, however, concerned narrowly with high-order cognitive skills (much less their application in the political realm during a particular era, which is what Russell was talking about.Nor is it specifically limited to the observation that ignorance of a topic is conducive to overconfident assertions about it, which is what Darwin was saying. Indeed, Dunning et al. cite a study saying that 94% of college professors rank their work as "above average" (relative to their peers), to underscore that the highly intelligent and informed are hardly exempt. Rather, the effect is about paradoxical defects in perception of skill, in oneself and others, regardless of the particular skill and its intellectual demands, whether it is chess, playing golf or driving a car.
The hypothesized phenomenon was tested in a series of experiments performed by Justin Kruger and David Dunning, then both of Cornell University. Kruger and Dunning noted earlier studies suggesting that ignorance of standards of performance is behind a great deal of incompetence. This pattern was seen in studies of skills as diverse as reading comprehension, operating a motor vehicle, and playing chess or tennis.
Kruger and Dunning proposed that, for a given skill, incompetent people will:
1. tend to overestimate their own level of skill;
2. fail to recognize genuine skill in others;
3. fail to recognize the extremity of their inadequacy;
4. recognize and acknowledge their own previous lack of skill, if they can be trained to substantially improve.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Slave Cabin Sleepovers: Honoring The African Holocaust and Our Ancestors or Trivializing their Memory?
Would you sleep in a cabin once occupied by black slaves in the antebellum South? Is this honoring the memory of our many millions gone, or is it trivializing their suffering, freedom struggle, and triumph?
Yesterday was the informal beginning of my academic year. In a change of pace from last year, I was asked to participate in a program where first year students are oriented to the university and the "big city." My course: Race, Conflict, and Segregation. Yes, I am difficult. And yes, there is no better way of introducing young minds to college than some real talk about power, privilege, and the built environment.
Today we went to the local African American Museum of Culture and History. While black cultural politics and history is my broad area of "expertise," I have always found it hard to teach on this topic. As is common with folks asked to work in their depth, we are often more interested in complicating the narrative, while our students are still trying to get the broad strokes and basics. My solution today was to let my young charges wander about and to occasionally intervene when appropriate.
However, I did stake out some space for observation. I wanted to see how (and if) the cone of uncomfortable silence and discomfort would magically descend around the exhibit on The Middle Passage and The Transatlantic Slave Trade. Inevitably it appeared. Some White students looked at the manacles and chains curiously...like something alien that they could not comprehend (or was that unprocessed guilt in action?). Few of the Black students ventured close to this exhibit--perhaps for fear of feeling "marked" or "marginalized?" Of being reminded of their origins in The New World and the echoes of history in the present as they yearn for a post-racial future?
I wanted to intervene and talk about the millions killed. How America's rise to preeminent economic power was built on the African Holocaust and its human assets. Or to ask them about the diagram of the slaver, where black humanity was chained foot to foot, hand to hand, bodies smashed and abused, soiled and left for dead, whole human cargoes cast overboard for insurance money, trapped for months in the cacophonous cargo hold of a ship where Africans of many peoples entered and a new people--and modernity--emerged on the other side of the Atlantic. I wanted to explain how there was so much death that sharks learned to follow the slave trading routes to catch a quick meal at the cost of little effort expended. And how this crime against humanity still structures American history and our search for a more inclusive and perfect democracy.
I chose not to. Was this is a teachable moment never to be recaptured? What would you have said? How would the students have responded? What could I have said to do justice to the honored ancestors and their experience with the incomprehensible?
Civil War reenactor Joseph McGill has been trying to commune with the ancestors by sleeping in slave cabins throughout South Carolina. His mission is noble and ought to be admired. However, part of me is uncertain about his project. For example, I have always wanted to go on a tour of the underground railroad where one traces the actual routes used, sleeping in basements, navigating north to freedom over several weeks. I have also wanted to go to Goree Island in Senegal, where I would meditate in the slave fortresses where thousands upon thousands were imprisoned and died.
As powerful as the experience would be, I wouldn't have slave dogs on my heels and bounty hunters a step behind me. I wouldn't be trapped in the belly of a beast, exhausted and frightened beyond all belief, for I knew not what would happen to me tomorrow. What would you do? How does one balance a yearning to experience just a tiny bit of the unimaginable with a fear of reducing hallowed ground to a tourism destination?
Original, Historic Fabric Makes Hobcaw Barony Slave Cabin Stay Specialby National Trust for Historic Preservation on August 17th, 2010
Written by Joseph McGill, Jr.
Joe McGill at Hobcaw Barony.
My first slave cabin stay in Georgetown County, South Carolina was Hobcaw Barony. I had great anticipation for this stay because of the county's historical ties to the growing of rice. Many slaves were imported into the state of South Carolina because of their knowledge of growing rice.
Two media representatives made arrangements to spend the night with me on this visit. In the end only one – Eric Frasier from the Charlotte Observer - stayed. His role on this occasion was as a freelance writer exploring my desire to sleep in slave cabins.
I met George Chastain, executive director of Hobcaw Barony, at the Visitor's Center at 6:00 p.m. as scheduled. Representatives from the media were there also. After learning about the history of the plantation from George we all proceeded to the cabins. Once at the cabins the media proceeded to follow my every move as I toured each and every building.
The mosquitoes were fierce so I knew that I would be in for a long night. After dousing myself with insect repellent, I became more tolerant of the mosquitoes. When I inspected the cabin, I discovered something unique that the other four cabins that I had stayed in to date did not have – this cabin had most of its original historic fabric left. Hobcaw Barony's policy has been to maintain, not restore. It suddenly reminded me of my many visits to Drayton Hall in Charleston, SC. The cabin was one of several buildings in the village, which also contained a church, doctor's office and several other houses. These buildings – which had been lived in up until the 1950s – were an indication of how the plantation evolved from slavery to freedom.
Eric Frasier mentioned that getting to sleep would be a challenge for him, but once we got settled into the cabin we discovered a calm that would allow us to sleep. The mosquitoes did not bother us, maybe because of the insect repellent or the burning of the candles or both. Our biggest challenge was the humidity. That was the first time that I slept in a cabin with both doors left open. The next morning I proceeded to do my usual documenting through an audio visual recording. Eric did the same before we both packed up and went our separate ways.
In my conversation with George Chastain the previous evening, I mentioned to him that I was trying to make contact with the owner of Mansfield Plantation, which is also located in Georgetown County. He mentioned that Mansfield had an absentee owner but he would do all within his powers to help make that connection. He also mentioned that Mansfield is located on the Black River a fact that I had not previously known. The Black River runs through my hometown of Kingstree, SC. Because of that revelation, this project has now gotten personal.
Joseph McGill, Jr. is a program officer at the Southern Office of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Our First Ever Open Thread Sunday: Do Glenn Beck and the Restoring Honor Crowd Want a Fascist Coup in America?
I have much to say about Beck's "Restoring Honor" rally. But in re-watching some of the footage, I kept thinking about the rhetorical notes struck there. Am I alone in noticing that Saturday was Beck's dreamy, messianic Reichstag speech moment? Moreover, in watching the rally I kept thinking about how some have argued that fascism will not come to America from the top down. No, it will come from the bottom up in the guise of a failed populist politics. Today, I am again in agreement that those voices may have been more prescient and wise than known at the time.
Some questions for you all.
1. How do you feel about the God, plus country, plus patriotism and America is perfect meme (despite his quick and smart rhetorical evasions on the point) being pushed by Beck and company? Is this not frighteningly ahistorical and scary stuff?
2. Why the return--often very round about and through no small amount of triangulating, obfuscating reason--to the U.S. military as the basis of all that is good in this country throughout the rally? Even Palin tried to shoehorn the military into her obligatory mention of Dr. King and The Movement (she should ask some former African-American GI's about how they were treated upon return to the U.S. following World Wars One and Two for some context for her childish understanding of American history and politics).
3. What were the attendees thinking? Who and what are they defending? Why are they so aggrieved?
4. Dr. King fought for the powerless, the disenfranchised, and the oppressed. Who is Beck fighting for?
5. Formula: God-country-myth of national origin-Sarah Palin as fascist symbol/idol/idealized womanhood (a good Christian, mama grizzly bear who is subservient to the men in her life, yet still knows her proper role in the nuclear family)-Beck as messianic leader-the attendees as the chosen people soon to be dead enders = nascent fascist movement? Yes or no?
6. Inside history buff joke: What would General Smedley Butler say about Glenn Beck's adventures?
7. Final question: did anyone else notice Glenn Beck's bulletproof vest? How soon will Beck integrate this choice of attire into his martyrdom shtick?
Thursday, August 26, 2010
This Week in White Victimology: Glenn Beck Takes Back Dr. King and White Folks are Attacked on "Beat Whitey Night" at the Iowa State Fair
We do live in troubled times. I have been doing my best to help white folks adjust to the Age of Obama. I have confessed my shame at how the Age of Obama has ushered in an era of black privilege. I have empathized with the struggles of white folks as they face bullying from the New Black Panthers, being beaten up on school buses, faced with a Supreme Court that does not reflect them, and subject to discrimination in all things and in every area of life. I have hoped and prayed that a leader would emerge--a Sarah Palin, Rush Limbaugh, Newt Gingrich, or Pat Buchanan--to lead my white American brothers and sisters to the promised land as they face a frightening world where they will one day be only a plurality of the population in this country by the year 2050.
Perhaps Glenn Beck will reclaim The Civil Rights Movement from the evil progressives and empower white folk to advance themselves? We will not know until this weekend. To paraphrase Brother Cornel West, what to do about the here and now, a present when white folk are "unsafe, unprotected, unwanted, and subject to random violence?" In a moment that should shame us all (and be the headline of every newspaper), last weekend whites were apparently targeted at the Iowa State Fair by a group of young black people in a "game" called "beat whitey night."
I feel for you my white brothers and sisters. Because I empathize with your victimization, the lion must lay down with the sheep and share some of his wisdom. Black Americans and others have long ago learned to negotiate inequalities of power in order to survive in this country. As you learn to stand against power, here are some practical strategies and suggestions to help you in your time of greatest need.
1. Beware committing the crime of what was once called "reckless eyeballing." Be careful and perform in a way that those with power expect you to (you are not submitting, you will retaliate and resist in more subtle ways). In the most humiliating moments you may have to look at the ground, step off of the sidewalk to let non-whites pass, or submit to being called "boy, Auntie, or Uncle."
2. You may have to remove any evidence from your resume that you are White. Whiteness is a liability in the Age of Obama. Try to be as race neutral as possible.
3. When looking for a home you may not be shown property in certain neighborhoods regardless of your income or credit score. Do some research to find out which real estate agents will treat you fairly.
4. During Jim Crow, Black Americans were denied service at hotels, restaurants, and other places. In fact, it was very difficult to even drive through certain communities as blacks would be killed if they found themselves in a "sundown town." Black Americans tried to avoid these humiliations by referencing The Negro Motorist Green Book. This book detailed the places people of color could stay safely and be treated with dignity as they tried to exercise the most basic of human rights--to travel freely and safely within their own country. Perhaps some enterprising American--such as this Tea Party, Glenn Beck rally supporter--will offer a similar guide to help white folks?
5. Some leaders on the Right are suggesting that armed rebellion and resistance may be necessary to stop the tyranny of the Obama Administration and the federal government's denial of state's rights. I do not agree with the likes of Sarah Palin or such militia groups as The Oath Keepers that it is time to "reload," and that the New Right should confront the government with force. That would be foolish and irresponsible. However, there may come a time when White Americans will have to use non-violent resistance in order to restore their trampled rights and privileges.
History is the greatest of teachers. As many Americans know, the Freedom Riders and other civil rights demonstrators were met with violent resistance in the South (and parts of the North as well) that resulted in death and serious physical injury. Those who are going to fight for a return to a pre-Obama America and the glory days of Leave it to Beaver must be prepared to die for their beliefs. For example, those brave souls who marched with King and the movement were commonly subjected to:
- Verbal abuse
- Spitting on
- Kicking and stepping on
- Beatings with fists, chains, and police billy-clubs
- Dragging female protesters across a room by the hair
- Throwing manure, eggs, tomatoes, exploding firecrackers, rocks, & bricks at us
- Knocking sit-ins over and rolling them down a flight of stairs
- Chokings by police (the infamous "choke hold")
- Attacks with home-made flame-throwers (hairspray ignited with a cigarette lighter)
- Pouring hot tar over heads Cars attempting to run over pickets
- Stabbing with a knife
Ultimately, these are indeed perilous times. I hope this list is of help to those brave souls attending Glenn Beck's rally this weekend, joining the Tea Parties, and fighting the good fight in such places as Texas and Arizona, or picketing against the "Ground Zero Mosque." They only want to return America to greatness and restore her ideals for "real Americans." Never forget that those who drink at the fountain of white victimology are selfless and good. These honorable Americans only want to restore a shining city on the hill and take their rightful place in it.
Who would dare to disagree with the righteousness of such a noble cause?
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Glenn Beck Goes (Afrocentric) Again as He Reveals the Secret History of Slavery and the Civil Rights Movement
Cue up the dashiki and kufi.
Glenn Beck is "rediscovering" the lost histories of African Americans once more. At this rate, I do wonder if Beck is going to one day reveal that he is actually Brother Africa X from the Harlem bookstore and his whole career has been a scheme to bring lost Afrocentric histories to the wider world.
We know that Glenn Beck is a performer. His professorial shtick is just that--a con. Thus, when reasonable folk try to make sense of his skewed version of history they turn themselves inside out. But, in watching Beck's most recent lesson on the "secret" history of slavery and the Civil Rights movement in the United States (he covers 400 years of history in 2 hours by the way) I was dumbfounded, truly rendered confused and lost. Who could follow this mess? If one has studied the history of black people in America with any rigor, Beck's claims are specious, dishonest, and anti-historical (notice I did not say "ahistorical").
Because Beck is a master propagandist, he knows the power of the big lie...as well as the little one. To that end, he has mastered a very powerful rhetorical device that is front and center when Beck discusses history and politics. Beck makes a comment and inserts, "but you know this stuff already, so I am going to tell you the things you do not." That is the trick. It empowers those with little information and gives them a sense of confidence in the facts, "facts" which are impervious to intervention.
In regards to the history of black Americans (and the centrality of race to U.S. history more generally) large segments of the public are both woefully and willfully ignorant. Beck's core audience does not know the real history of the Black Freedom Struggle. They most certainly do not know about the long Civil Rights movement and its radical left-progressive roots. When many on the Right actually believe that Dr. King was a Republican in the vein of Reagan, and the GOP is the party of Civil Rights we have a problem. And the biggest elephant in the room, when it is still in dispute that the defense of slavery and white supremacy were at the core of the Civil War and the Confederacy's treason, we do not even have a common basis for the much discussed national conversation on race.
Ultimately, Glenn Beck offers a excised version of history that is structured to fit his ideological priors. It is the equivalent of reading a book and taking a quote out of context again, and again, and again. Why? Because you so desperately want that lie to be real for in the immortal words of George Costanza on Seinfeld, "it is not a lie if you believe it."
As Beck ramps up for his "taking back Dr. King's dream" rally this weekend, his abuse of history does bring some important questions to the forefront as we try to make sense of this long summer of Obama derangement syndrome and white racial resentment. What is history? Who owns it? What of our obligations to truth, be they moral, philosophical, and intellectual? What should we expect from our pundits and journalists?
Most importantly, how did we get in this mess to begin with?
Friday, August 20, 2010
Notes on Barack Obama's Post-racial America: Choking Game Kills Two Teens in Chicago Suburbs
Enter: America's newest moral panic.
Barack Obama this is all your fault. Every bit of nonsense, foolishness, and damn bad behavior by white folk of any age since the election is your fault. You have freed black folk to be stupid, and now your post-racial mess and all that hope and change stuff has caused white folk to lose their collective minds too.
So it seems that in Chicago ign't street pirates shoot each other for fun on the weekends. Apparently, in the suburbs there is a surplus of time and safety so young people have to go out of their way to find danger and death. Talk about a comment on race, privilege, and geography.
Back in the 1950s, kids would watch Superman and jump out of windows because they thought they could fly. Now, teenagers play the choking game. Cue up The Darwin Award. I feel for the parents, I truly do. But, as with David Carradine and many a teenage boy there is something else going on here. I would not be surprised if these girls (and others who have died playing this "game") were practicing auto-erotic asphyxiation. Not surprisingly, the pretend ignorance of the press, the police, and parents to this fact is an indication of how feigned prudery is still the norm among many in 21st America.
I would never have thought the obligatory "birds and bees" talk would include a moment where you tell your kids not to choke themselves as they masturbate. But times do indeed change and parents need to understand that their kids may have slightly different sexual norms and habits.
Are we getting that old?
The night before she died in her Northwest Side home, she had come home from a party, went into her room and an hour later came out and asked her mom if she could sleep with her. In the morning, her mother made pancakes for her. Rebekah took the dog out for its morning walk. When her mother left for work, each told the other, "I love you."
When Barbara Toia came home from work Tuesday afternoon, she found Rebekah hanging by her neck from a cloth belt attached to the top of her bedroom door. She was not breathing.
Her death -- and that of 14-year-old Angelena Ohanessian who died the same way two weeks earlier -- have prompted Chicago police to issue an alert to parents about the dangers of the "choking game."
Both girls, who didn't know each other, succumbed to the deadly game, they say. The point of the game is to induce a feeling of euphoria by temporarily depriving the brain of oxygen by applying pressure to the neck until the person passes out.
Teens have been finding information -- and instructions -- about the choking game for years on the Internet, where it is variously known as Passout, the Fainting Game and Good Kids High, among other names.
In 2008, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 82 deaths attributed to it and other strangulation activities from 1995-2007. Most victims -- unlike the two recent Chicago cases -- were boys 11 to 16 years old.
Barbara Toia said she had no clue her daughter was engaging in the dangerous activity.
"There were no signs," she said. "She asked for permission to do everything. She was a really responsible kid, no alcohol or drugs -- a mama's girl. She was so mature."
When Barbara Toia got home from work late Tuesday afternoon, she called out for Rebekah but didn't get an answer. She saw both the television and the computer on. She went up to her daughter's bedroom and found her.
"I found her hanging. . .not hanging in the air. . .she was on tippy toes."
"Hopefully my daughter's death is for a purpose," she continued, saying she wants to focus attention on the choking game and prompt parents to watch more closely for signs and seek help if necessary.
She said she plans on making herself available to other families when she is done with her own grieving.
Just this morning, Toia found something that indicated her daughter had been engaging in the choking game for some time. It was a jump rope her daughter had used to train for softball. But one of the handles had been removed to turn the rope into a noose.
A wake for Rebekah will be held from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. today at Cumberland Chapel, 8300 W. Lawrence Ave. in Norridge. A memorial service will be held 10 a.m. Saturday at South Park Church, 1330 Courtland Avenue in Park Ridge. Barbara Toia says everyone is welcome.
Tonight, a Chicago police detective is expected to show up at a barbecue in Oriole Park near the Toia home to talk about the dangers of the choking game.
Angelena was found hanging in her bedroom closet at her Northwest Side home on July 28 and died three days later. Police say she also had played the choking game.
"Angelena had told me about it, (that) some of the the kids had been playing this game," said her mother, Violette Ohanessian. "I said tell me about about the game, it sounds absolutely ridiculous to me.
"I was absolutely convinced there was no way my child would do this. She wouldn't do such a thing."
Her father found her with a noose around her neck in her bedroom and cut her down. Her mother, a nurse, administered CPR. Angelena, who would have been a freshman next term at Resurrection College Prep High School, was pronounced dead three days later at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge.
While Angelena was in the hospital, her father found video on her cell phone of some of her friends playing the game. "My daughter took video of other kids doing this," her mother said. "She knew about it and had been doing it with them," he mother said.
"And she made a very bad choice."
One police official said this morning that children may be playing the game because it's not illegal.
"They don't want to get in trouble," he said, "so they're trying to get a high. It's not new for kids trying to get that feeling, but it's got deadly consequences. This can become an addictive behavior."
Here are the warning signs listed in the Chicago police alert:
• Strange bruising or red marks around the neck.
• Bloodshot eyes.
• Bed sheets, belts, T-shirts, ties, or ropes tied in strange knots and/or found in unusual places.
• Visiting Web sites or chat rooms mentioning asphyxiation or the choking game.
• Curiosity about asphyxiation (asking questions like "how does it feel?" or "what happens if?").
• Locked or blocked bedroom or bathroom doors.
• Frequent, often severe headaches.
• Changes in attitude; becoming more aggressive.
• Wear marks on furniture (bunk beds or closet rods).
Police urged parents with questions to call Grand Central detectives at (312) 746-8282.
-- David Elsner, Pat Curry, Muriel Clair
Thursday, August 19, 2010
The Masses are Asses (Again): 24 Percent of Americans Believe that President Obama is a "Secret Muslim"
Once more, are the masses asses?
Despite what the Tea-Party Palin proud to be ignorant crowd would like to have you believe, this question isn't born of high foreheaded, look down the nose snobbery at "those people."
No, it is a simple acknowledgment that the American public--while smart at times in the aggregate--hold none too few absurd beliefs in private. Thus, the "news" that 24 percent of Americans believe that Obama is a "Muslim" should be taken in stride. Sure, the stakes are a bit higher than how many Americans believe that Elvis is still alive (7 percent by the way). And yes, it is true that the "Obama is a secret Muslim meme" does speak to the power of a very basic idea in the White American psyche that black folk, even in the 21st century, are somehow not "real" or "regular" Americans.
But for my two cents, the idea that Obama is a Muslim (as though that is a crime) is not half as disturbing as the data suggesting that a substantial percentage of Americans still believe that the failed war in Iraq was linked to 9/11 and Osama bin Laden. Ultimately, in the twenty-four news cycle, and the bloviating chorus of the Right-wing noise machine we see two publics. The first: the devotees of Fox, Limbaugh, Beck, et al. who live in their own echo chamber of mutually sustaining talking points and epistemic closure, a framing of the world that is increasingly immune to fact, correction, or intervention. The second: the rest of us who live in the reality based community. The struggle going forward is how to talk to one another about making America a better place, when the basic terms of the conversation seem impossible to agree on.
For some context, here are some other "strange" beliefs held by the American public:
41 percent believe in extra-sensory perception;
25 percent believe in astrology;
41 percent believe that Jesus will return by 2050;
48 percent believe in creationism;
6 percent believe that the moon landings did not take place.
In the immortal words of Forrest Gump, "stupid is as stupid does," and it seems that in the age of the New Right our political environment is more and more coloured by a toxic and contagious fog of willful stupidity.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Let's Play the Photo Caption Game: Black Beauty on Display in Barbados During Crop Over
This is just a bit of self-indulgence on my part, for why have a blog if you can't engage in a little humor at the expense of another party.
So, how would you caption the above photo taken by a friend of mine at the annual Crop Over festival in Barbados? I have a few things in mind...none of them kind.
For starters: "Just because you can do a thing, does not mean that you should."
Your thoughts?
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Walking Through the Looking Glass: Right Wing Bloggers Choose their 25 Worst Americans in History
Folks, we have indeed walked through the looking glass.
One of the repeated findings in the literature on American politics is that the American people are for the most part non-ideological and centrist in their political beliefs. Certainly, there are outliers of opinion and different publics reveal an intensity of opinion that is proportional to how much they care about a given issue. But, folks tend to congregate around the middle of the distribution and run away from candidates and issues that are too far to either extreme.
In the campaign preceding Barack Obama's election (and most certainly in the months that have followed) we have been witness to an increasingly polarized electorate. However, with the rise of conservative talk radio, Right wing epistemic closure, and the tin eared blaring by the conservative punditry, there are many elements whom are deeply invested in fueling the exaggerated divides between Red State and Blue State America.
Of course divisions in American politics have always been with us: see people's exhibit number one, the vicious smear campaign against former president Bill Clinton. But the noxious elements of white racial resentment and white victimology have added something else to the hostility faced by Barack Obama. For the Right, the sky certainly is falling...and there is no Chicken Little in waiting.
While hardly scientific, the recent survey by the website Right Wing News which asked 48 conservative bloggers to list the 25 worst Americans in history is quite revealing. Some of the picks are a function of recency (who ever heard of Saul Alinsky until Beck started braying about him?). Others are gimmes (Timothy McVeigh for example). But some are shocking (Jimmy Carter? A man who builds homes for poor people and has dedicated his life to service?).
Quite predictably, who is at the top of the list for worst Americans in history? Barack Obama.
For these conservatives, the President is apparently worse than Timothy McVeigh, Jefferson Davis, John Wilkes Booth, Lee Harvey Oswald, Governor Faubus, Joe McCarthy, George Wallace, Charles Manson, or Benedict Arnold? Wow.
While the data may tell us one thing, I am more and more convinced that the divides in our political culture are even more severe than is commonly known. If this survey, the rise of the New Right tea baggers, the Texas history revisionism, and anti-immigrant sentiment are taken in context, there are indeed two Americas in this country...Americas which are increasingly separate, hostile, and unequal.
Here are the results in their entirety.
23) Saul Alinsky (7)
23) Bill Clinton (7)
23) Hillary Clinton (7)
19) Michael Moore (7)
19) George Soros (8)
19) Alger Hiss (8)
19) Al Sharpton (8)
13) Al Gore (9)
13) Noam Chomsky (9)
13) Richard Nixon (9)
13) Jane Fonda (9)
13) Harry Reid (9)
13) Nancy Pelosi (9)
11) John Wilkes Booth (10)
11) Margaret Sanger (10)
9) Aldrich Ames (11)
9) Timothy McVeigh (11)
7) Ted Kennedy (14)
7) Lyndon Johnson (14)
5) Benedict Arnold (17)
5) Woodrow Wilson (17)
4) The Rosenbergs (19)
3) Franklin Delano Roosevelt (21)
2) Barack Obama (23)
1) Jimmy Carter (25)
Friday, August 13, 2010
Introducing the Seamstress of the KKK and her Klan Couture
Hood Fitting
Ms. Ruth personally sews one robe a day. She works 10 to 12 hours a day, seven days a week. She has 1 to 3 helpers at times. The person to be fitted measures themselves, fills out the tailoring chart, and mails in the order. It takes 4 to 6 weeks for delivery. Here she puts the final touches on a red Klan hood.
Hate still lives--and is flourishing if the data from the Southern Poverty Law Center is to be believed. Speaking to that point, Mother Jones magazine has a great photo essay on Ms. Ruth, the seamstress of the KKK (accompanied by a troubling series of interviews that you should certainly take the time to listen to).
Not a one dimensional monster, she seems like a kind, yet misguided person. Ms. Ruth loves animals (points for me on that virtue). But Ms. Ruth also hates people who look like me. Moreover in her eyes, the KKK is not a terrorist organization. No, it is a noble civil society organization that has been miscast by the media, liberals, and "outside agitators."
People are complicated. Few are truly, unrepentantly evil. But, can evil hide behind a kind face and the gentle words of someone like Ms. Ruth? Is she in fact a more dangerous bigot and hate monger than the foot soldiers of the KKK, the robes of whom Ms. Ruth so lovingly sews?
Just a thought.


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A collection of several sparse Fourier transform codes developed by faculty at MSU. Currently codes for three different prototype sparse FFTs are on this site:
1.) AAFFT, implemented by Mark Iwen in 2008. This code is easy to use, and documented well, but not implemented very efficiently. It is much slower than it should be.
2.) GFFT, implemented by Ben Segal and Mark Iwen. This code is less easy to use, and also not terribly efficient. But, the *algorithm* itself is significantly simpler and has "essentially no parameters". The code on the site demonstrates that it's faster than a slightly improved version of AAFFT, despite the fact it was implemented somewhat inefficiently.
3.) MSFFT, implemented by David Lawlor and Bosu Choi. This code is fastest of all, but is not terribly easy to use. The algorithm is robust to random noise, but requires a lot of parameter tuning.
Enjoy them at your own risk :),
Mark Iwen
P.S. Challenge: Improve any of these codes!
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DC Shoes Court Graffik SE Skate Sneaker - Mens
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Item # 261862
Specially designed for skaters, the DC® Court Graffik SE technical skate shoe is durable, artistically designed and is ready to face almost any trick, this sneaker will keep you going cool and casual all day, every day. The leather upper is ultra-heavy duty and is resistant to abrasions and scuffs, while the flexible tongue holder helps maintain and build strength.
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By: irmalyn
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September 30, 2012
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Saucony Grid Mayhem Lightweight Running Shoe - Mens
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Item # 291997
Raise some mayhem in the men's Mayhem running shoe from Saucony! With superior cushioning and impact absorption, this lightweight shoe will take you through your workouts with ease.
This men's running shoe is best for the neutral runner. What is pronation?
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