text:
Results 1 to 10 of 17
Thread: Monster QC Problem
03-20-2006, 01:54 PM #1Spammer - Banned
- Join Date
- Mar 2006
- Location
- San Francisco
- Posts
- 4
I bought a case of Monster Lo-Carb at Costco and one of the cans had a pop-top that was partially open. It was an obvious packaging QC problem.
See Bad Can
When I notified Monster Beverage company (I even sent a picture of the open can), they didn't even offer to replace the can. They just thanked me.
[ 03-20-2006, 02:24 PM: Message edited by: tweaty ]
IMO and just my two cents.
I would call back and ask to speak with a supervisor. I would say that in light my prior phone call and the picture of the can's top,the bare minimum you could do is replace the product.
Also mention that due the defective can, you tossed out the remainder of the case as your felt the product may not have been safe to drink.
Tell them that you have been a loyal customer. That you have no interest other than replacing the case.
Be a little forceful and sound like your outraged that they neglected to replace your defective case.
Just my opinion. [img]smile.gif[/img]
That isn't a packaging QC problem, that is a person dropping the case and the can popping the top on it. Then again since it is a lowcarb/ sugerfree it probably got too cold and the ice popped the top on it.
You should have taken the case back to costco, (I am sure they would have replaced the whole thing much like walmart exchanges stuff all the time) rather than call Monster about it. If you insist on calling Monster do as Zabe said , ask for a supervisor, tell him your story and the name of who you spoke with and on what day/time etc. and more than likely he will at least send you some coupons for some product.If what you did yesterday still looks big, you haven't done much today.
03-20-2006, 04:12 PM #4Spammer - Banned
- Join Date
- Mar 2006
- Location
- San Francisco
- Posts
- 4
From the plant to store, beverages get banged around constantly. If your theory holds true, consumers could expect to see a set percentage of open ones in any given case of soda or beer.
This can was in the middle of the case, btw.
03-20-2006, 06:03 PM #5Senior Member
- Join Date
- Jul 2004
- Location
- Jupiter, Florida, United States
- Posts
- 1,575
Presure is pressure. That can could have been in the middle of the skid being compressed by both the outside and the inside of the pallet.
I wouldn't get to worked up over it. Demanding a free one is a little out of the ordinary in my book. Accidents happen and Monster did not set out to intentionally do you harm. Furthermore, If this product was shrink wrapped you should have noticed the defect before you made the purchase. If you didn't notice it then you may have some culpibility in the damage. It could have happened on your way home, or when you put it in the shopping cart, or bringing it in the house. There are too many variables for you just to pin it on Monster.
Furthermore, like Saint said, you should have gone to Costco first before you went to Monster. Distribution agreements have built in shrinkage allowances for this type of problem. Costco is in a much better position to help you than Monster in this situation in my opinion.Whether you think can or think you can\'t, you\'re probably right!
I have had a few problems with some Coca Cola products in the past 2 years or so. I called customer service,I might say that Coca Cola has the friendliest customer service department I have ever dealt with. The first time I called, I asked them if I should go back to the store and deal with my problem there. Coke said no, they wanted to get my information first hand and then contact the store to evaluate the situation.
I actually saved Coke some work as they were able to get the production numbers and sell by date during my call. I have never had to request a replacement from Coke. Like I said, they want their customers to get a fair deal.
Coke does not want an upset customer returning to a busy store and try to deal with the store customer service people or manager. Why should their customer be inconvenienced?
[ 03-20-2006, 05:29 PM: Message edited by: Mr Zabe ]
03-20-2006, 07:04 PM #7Originally posted by tweaty:
From the plant to store, beverages get banged around constantly. If your theory holds true, consumers could expect to see a set percentage of open ones in any given case of soda or beer.
This can was in the middle of the case, btw.
Judging the situation by observing your picture it is very noticable that the can has been dropped, ran into, scraped up against something alot harder than the can. This alone could cause the can to burst open like it did. Once again this is not a packaging problem, this is a can that has had physical force of some type applied to it.If what you did yesterday still looks big, you haven't done much today.
03-20-2006, 07:18 PM #8Spammer - Banned
- Join Date
- Mar 2006
- Location
- San Francisco
- Posts
- 4
Physical force applied -- true enough. I still think it happened at the plant though. It wasn't a damaged case (I wouldn't have bought it) of cans. Like I said, the bad one was in the middle of the case.
Monster Bevs packages each case with a big label on top covering most of the cans -- you could not have seen a bad one in the middle. The only telltale sign was that I noticed a few of the cans were a bit sticky. By then I was nearly halfway through the case. No-go for Costco return; they've switched back to regular Monster again.
Mr Zabe, Coke definitely has it all over Hansens/Monster when it comes to customer service.
[ 03-20-2006, 06:41 PM: Message edited by: tweaty ]
It's crazy that you are out like $1.25 I wonder how many phone calls Monster gets in a day with people complaining about one bad can?
Believe it or not large companies like Coca Cola,
want to be bothered over a small problem. They want to know if a production lot had a problem or if a pallet was damaged in a store's back stock area. For the customer it is the principle of the matter.
I wonder if Monster's over all customer complaint rate would drop if they paid more attention to the minor product problems as called in by their customers.
Granted, I do agree there will always be a few people who abuse or cheat companies out of money or product, that's the cost of doing business. To punish good customers because of the sins of a few is not good for business.
Just my opinion as a loyal customer to the products I buy and buy often. [img]smile.gif[/img]
[ 03-20-2006, 10:56 PM: Message edited by: Mr Zabe ]


text:
The Six Pennies
by Henry E. Dudeney
Place six pennies on the table in two rows as
shown at the top left. The object is to turn these two rows into the
coin circle shown in the bottom right figure in only three moves.
A move consists of sliding one coin to a new position, where the moved
coin has to touch two other coins.
Step Through:

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Emmett's Sweet Sustainable Space
Name: Emmett (2.5)
Location: San Francisco, CA (Alamo Aquare)
Oh, it is such a tiny space! We wanted Emmett's room to really reflect our family, not just make "best use" of the space, so we took inspiration from our neighborhood, our experiences, our sustainability standards and went for it.
First, we started with a felt rug from a shop in our neighborhood - Peace Industry. We just chose our favorite. We had wanted a rug from there for quite some time, and it was a perfect choice for Emmett's room - thick lambswool made colorful with natural dyes.
Then we commissioned a mural from local artist Brian Barneclo. We had admired and dined beside his work at our corner restaurant, Nopa, for years. We agreed to and desired his independent vision, with a request that somehow our neighborhood be incorporated and the paint be non-toxic. It is bold and spectacular. The images are starting points for stories we make up with Emmett, and the characters within the mural continue to take on personalities.
Next we chose bamboo furniture from Kalon Studios: a crib and a custom dresser with a "changing trunk" on top that later becomes a reading bench. Books ended up on the floor lining one wall - some between old wooden bookends from Bryan's family, and others in a "reading nook" we made in the closet with low shelves, a blanket, and some pillows. The final touch was hanging paper flowers from our wedding on the old chandelier. A real mishmash of us, and we totally love it!
Thanks, Nicole and Bryan!
(Images: Nicole T.)


text:
September 14, 1923 - March 21, 2013
Warwick, NY
Irene E. Hirsch of Warwick, NY entered into heaven Thursday, March 21, 2013 at Middletown Park Manor, with her family at her side. She was 89 years old and born in the Bronx to the late William and Bessie Koch Wares on September 14, 1923.
Irene was predeceased by her loving husband, Raymond J. Hirsch, whom she missed so much; her brothers: James and Billy Wares; Sister, Grace Griffen and stepmother, Katherin Wares.
She is survived by her sons: Herbert Corbin of Warwick, and john Hirsch and wife, Jean of Pine Bush; grandchildren: Jonathan of Albany, NY, Connie and Mathew of Pine Bush, and Danielle Hirsch of Pine Island; brother, Kenneth of Maybrook; sister, Dorothy DeSisto and husband, Arthur of Woodbury, NY and many nieces and nephews.
The family would like to say Thanks to Park manor in Middletown for their excellent loving care that they gave to Mom and the support they gave to the family. God Bless You All!!!!
There will be no visitation and cremation and burial of ashes will be private and at the convenience of the family.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of William M. Gagan Funeral Home, Inc., Pine Bush, NY. www.wmgaganfuneralhome.com


text:
Jean Larson, PhD, CTRS, HTR
Dr. Jean Larson began her work for the University of Minnesota at the Arboretum in 1991, where she developed the Center for Therapeutic Horticulture and Recreation Services. In 2012, the program expanded to Nature-Based Therapeutic Services, which includes therapeutic horticulture, animal-assisted interactions, facilitated green exercise, and therapeutic landscapes. Jean has a Ph.D. in Education (emphasis in therapeutic recreation) with a minor in integrative medicine from the University of MN. She is also an Assistant Professor for the Center for Spirituality and Healing as part of the University of Minnesota Academic Health Center, where she teaches six courses: Introduction to Therapeutic Horticulture, Introduction to Therapeutic Landscape Design, Applications in Therapeutic Horticulture, Animals in Healthcare, Introduction to Nature-Based Therapeutics, and Horse as Teacher: Equine facilitated education and psychotherapy. She is a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist, a Registered Horticultural Therapist, and has a certificate in Disability Services and Adminstration, with a specialization in serving people with developmental disabilities, from the Institute of Community Integration.
Jean's work has taken her to Japan, England, Sweden, Norway, Taiwan and Israel. When not working for the University, Jean is at home enjoying her family farm north of the Twin Cities along with her husband, dogs, cats, goats, chickens and horses.


text:
Make Mom smile with Mother's Day flowers! Send mom one of the popular Mothers Day flowers including carnations, lilies, roses and tulips with Sunday delivery available! When May blooms, you know it's time to find the perfect flowers for Mom. Celebrate Mother's Day this year with a beautiful gift for mom! Enjoy a discount and 100% satisfaction guaranteed with all flowers for Mother's Day.
NEED HELP? Here Are Some of Our Most Popular Mother's Day Flowers :
"Excellent quality, price and service!Jack
"Best value with same day shipping.Bill
"Couldn't have asked for better service, fast and beautiful quality.Steve


text:
Note: Our events calendar is for non-commercial, Meaford-based community events only.
Beat the winter blues with the Library!
Pick up a bingo card and complete some or all of the squares.
there will be prizes for a line, an X or if your fill the entire card.
One card/win. Play as often as you like.


text:
Start a free conference call or online meeting today!
Host a meeting
Create a free account to meet anyone, anywhere, anytime. Free conference calls and free online meetings with HD audio, video and screen sharing.
Join a meeting
Did someone give you an access code to their conference call? Click Join Meeting below and enter the access code to join their online meeting room instantly.


text:
18 U.S. Code § 1702 - Obstruction of correspondence
Whoever takes any letter, postal card, or package out of any post office or any authorized depository for mail matter, or from any letter or mail carrier, or which has been in any post office or authorized depository, or in the custody of any letter or mail carrier, before it has been delivered to the person to whom it was directed, with design to obstruct the correspondence, or to pry into the business or secrets of another, or opens, secretes, embezzles, or destroys the same, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.
Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 317 (Mar. 4, 1909, ch. 321, § 194, 35 Stat. 1125; Feb. 25, 1925, ch. 318, 43 Stat. 977; Aug. 26, 1935, ch. 693, 49 Stat. 867; Aug. 7, 1939, ch. 557, 53 Stat. 1256).
Section 317 of said title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., was incorporated in this and section 1708 of this title.
Minor changes were made in phraseology.
1994—Pub. L. 103–322 substituted "fined under this title" for "fined not more than $2,000".
LII has no control over and does not endorse any external Internet site that contains links to or references LII.


text:
By Clive Bernath: Despite promoter Frank Warren stating that an all British showdown between Dereck Chisora and David Haye is 'Inevitable' I would not bank on the fight happening any time soon.
Warren, who promotes Chisora, confirmed Thursday that the Londoner had filed an appeal with the British Boxing Board of Control after receiving an indefinite ban for brawling with Haye last month. Chisora and Haye came to blows at the post fight press conference after Chisora had been out-pointed by Vitali Klitschko in Germany. Chisora's cause had not been helped by slapping Vitali at the weigh in and splitting water at Vitali's younger brother Wladimir Klitschko in the ring on fight night.
With the appeal now officially lodged Warren believes that if Chisora is successful in regaining his licence it makes sense for Haye and Chisora to settle their differences in the boxing ring.
"It's a natural fight, it doesn't matter what anyone says," Warren told Press Association Sport. "It's a bigger fight than either of them fighting Wladimir or Vitali Klitschko.
"There's lot for them to fight about - in a proper environment. I do see the fight happening. It's the proper forum for them to settle their differences."
On the surface and bearing in mind that tv cameras filmed the post fight brawl, the weigh in slap and the spitting incident, Warren still believes Chisora has grounds to appeal
"The appeal has gone in already," said Warren. The grounds for the appeal are that we're not satisfied with the way the hearing went. There was also no chance to review any evidence before the hearing. All I want to see is a fair hearing.
"Dereck Chisora will present his side of events and then we'll see what happens.
"A lot of stuff came out at the first hearing. For example we thought (BBBofC chairman) Charlie Giles was in charge but it turns out there was no steward from the BBBofC representing the British boxer's interests. Instead he was working for the WBC.
"We wanted him to give evidence at the hearing but he didn't. They said he was unavailable yet he was in the building and left by the back door.
"He didn't even put in a written report which is strange given what happened and that he was there."
A Chisora vs Haye fight in London would indeed prove to be a massive draw but there are many obstacles in the way before the two camps can even contemplate facing each in the ring.
Not only will Chisora have to be granted a boxing licence but Haye would have to give himself up to German police for questioning about his involvement in the brawl and he would also have to stand before the British Boxing Board of Control to re apply for his boxing licence. That in itself could prove a massive obstacle. And lastly, even if Haye and Chisora did manage to be re-licensed I very much doubt Haye would agree to the fight. Not unless he was offered a massive financial incentive and I'm not so sure a fight of this magnitude could generate enough cash for this fight to happen anytime soon which is shame because I actually think this could be a cracking domestic battle.
March 30, 2012
© 2000 - 2011 Knockout Entertainment Ltd & SecondsOut.com


text:
On Saturday, February 24th, the African-American Resource Room at the Frank E. Merriweather, Jr. Library was renamed and dedicated in honor of retired Buffalo and Erie County Public Library (B&ECPL) administrator William A. Miles in appreciation of his decades of leadership, imagination and commitment to the institution. Among the many other valuable contributions made during his 43-year Library career, in 1965, Mr. Miles instituted the African-American History Collection at the former North Jefferson Branch Library. This collection serves as the foundation for the new center now located at the Merriweather Library, which opened in April of 2006, and is the largest resource room in Western New York for information on African-American history and culture. In 1975, the Afro-American Historical Association of the Niagara Frontier began to incorporate microfilms of primary source material on the history of African-Americans in the Western New York area. In addition to the numerous books, microfilm and flat pictures, the collection recently acquired the microfiche Schomburg Clipping File, which contains more than 9,000 records that preserve and document important accomplishments in the African-American experience as well as other special electronic databases for African-American research.
"The first B&ECPL Director, Joseph Rounds, saw in Bill Miles the capacity to do things no one else could do at a time when libraries needed to shatter the old mold and become more sensitive and more responsive to the demands of diverse communities, said B&ECPL Director Michael C. Mahaney. Miles was the man for that job, and today the B&ECPL is better because of his unique contributions.
More than 175 people attended the dedication event, including public officials representing the City of Buffalo, County of Erie and New York State. Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown proclaimed February 24th William A. Miles Day in the City. In addition, Erie County Legislature Betty Jean Grant read from a proclamation declaring the 24th William A. Miles Day in Erie County.
During the program, Mr. Miles was also presented with the Joyce Allen Black History Award from Afro-American Historical Association representative Dr. Barbara Nevergold.
Bill is what I call a culture keeper, said his successor and long-time colleague at the Library Sharon Jordan Holley. He has always known his culture and has therefore, been extremely successful in preserving it for others.
More than 175 people attended the dedication event.
In 1959, Mr. Miles was appointed Junior Librarian with the B&ECPL. From there, he worked in various Buffalo branch libraries. In 1965, Mr. Miles was named Coordinator of the B&ECPLs Inner City Project. He was instrumental in establishing the Lookie Bookie traveling library. In 1973, Mr. Miles was appointed Assistant Deputy Director in the Department of Special Services (later Extension Services), where he was successful in obtaining millions of dollars in state and federal grants to benefit the B&ECPL and guided the delivery of library service to the residents of Buffalo and Erie County through its mobile libraries, urban services, institutional services and branch divisions. Mr. Miles concluded his career in 2002.
Both in my career and while working on community projects, I have always believed in having an idea file, remarked Miles. With this preparation and knowledge, you are ready to embrace challenges and take advantage of all opportunities.
Continuing Support
A fund to provide continuing support for the William A. Miles Center has been established. Donations may be sent to the Buffalo and Erie County Public Library, Development Office, 1 Lafayette Square, Buffalo, NY 14203-1887. Please make checks payable to B&ECPL. (Note: William A. Miles Center.) The Library has been granted official tax exempt status [section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code] from the United States Internal Revenue Service. Your tax-exempt donation is gratefully appreciated.


text:
Showing 1 - 2 of 2 speakers.
Innovation Expert and Author, The Medici Effect
Types: Author, Entrepreneur, Futurist, Male, Top Executives
Bio Info
Frans Johansson advocates looking to other cultures and disciplines—science, art, business, politics and fashion—for innovation inspiration.
Founder and CEO of FUBU; Star of ABC's Shark Tank; CEO of Shark Branding and New York Times Best-Selling Author
Types: Author, Entrepreneur, Male
Bio Info
Daymond John shares with audiences the philosophy and practices that help him to be successful in business and life.
Topics: Achievement - Business, Achievement - Personal, Branding, Business Growth/Strategy/Trends, Change: Managing/Leading It, Creativity, Fashion, Innovation, Inspiring Lives , Leadership, Marketing, Motivation, Negotiation, Overcoming Obstacles and Challenges, Peak Performance, Personal Growth, Workforce Issues
Showing 1 - 2 of 2 speakers.


text:
Understanding Chinese Pinyin: Syllabary(音节表)
>> Syllable Chart: A B C D E F G H J K L M N O P Q R S T W X Y Z
Please learn and practise it from right program.
Select from the button on the right of Syllable Chart table to listen the pronunciation (with the "tone movement") and see the video for that sound. If the button is not audible, it may be due to the low speed of network, the data may not transfer completed, please be patient and wait a few seconds to try again.
More Articles......


text:
SALEM — A group of citizens has been working behind the scenes for several months on creating a tax service district to fund the Oregon State University Extension Service in Marion County.
The group has received verbal support from county commissioners and city leaders and soon plans to seek county approval to place the initiative on the May 2015 ballot, according to Derek Godwin, administrator of the county's extension service.
By May of next year, the group hopes to start gathering the 15,500 valid signatures needed to place the initiative before voters, Godwin said.
Godwin said the county extension service advisory committee brought forward the idea to help stem what has been a steady erosion of services the county provides.
In the past three years alone, because of budget cuts, the county has lost a youth development position and extension agents serving dairy, berries, nursery crops, field crops and vegetable crops, Godwin said.
"What happens when we lose these positions is they don't get refilled," Godwin said.
"We're the largest agricultural county in the state, and yet we are losing that connection to our growers," he said.
"We don't have the kind of resources that the size of the county's agriculture warrants," said John Burt, former staff chair of the county extension service, who is involved in the effort to form the district.
Statewide, Godwin said, extension has lost 62 positions to retirement or displacement since 2004. The cuts came as expenses to man positions have grown and state funding for the OSU extension service has not kept pace.
"At the state, federal and county levels, every year the funding has either been flat or there have been cuts," said Burt, who retired in 2005.
Twenty-one of Oregon's 36 counties have formed tax service districts, including several in recent years, among them nearby Polk and Linn counties.
Forming a tax service district has several benefits, Godwin said, including removing a financial burden from the county.
The county currently provides extension about $350,000 annually in general fund support and $100,000 to $150,000 in in-kind support through free rent and use of other county facilities, Godwin said.
"This would provide a savings to the county that they could invest in their highest priorities," Godwin said.
The stable funding source a tax service district provides also serves to leverage more university support, Burt said.
"The university steers resources to where there is the most support," Burt said. "A stable funding source allows the university to look into the future and keep putting resources into the county."
Godwin said extension has identified several positions it would seek to fill if the ballot initiative is approved, including a field crops extension agent.
The county lost its lone field crops extension agent this summer when Tom Silberstein took a position in Klamath Falls.
"That is a huge hole, because there are so many acres in field crops in our county and so many people producing them," Godwin said.
The advisory committee also has identified a need in value-added and direct-marketing agriculture.
"We don't have anybody helping those folks," Godwin said.
The committee also hopes to hire staff to facilitate youth development programs, such as 4-H, and to support its healthy-family, healthy-communities initiative, which includes food nutrition and master gardener programs.
Godwin characterized the effort as still in its formative stages.
The group currently is looking to develop committees to steer the effort, including a leadership committee, a campaign committee and an outreach committee to develop a volunteer workforce to, among other activities, collect signatures.
"This is a small budget kind of affair," he said.
The current plan is to seek a tax rate of 5 cents per $1,000 assessed property, which would generate about $980,000 annually, Godwin said.
"We figured that 5 cents gives us enough to invest in these programs, but will not be a burden for people," Godwin said.
Under that rate, a home assessed at $200,000 would pay $10 per year.
The key to passing the initiative may be communication, Burt said.
"I think if people understand what it is all about, all the things that are involved, then I think people will be pretty supportive," Burt said. "Five cents (per $1,000 assessed value) is a pretty small amount, but it goes a long way."


text:
Watch The ::God Is Imaginary Videos On YouTube ::
0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.
Quote from: screwtape on September 09, 2008, 02:37:56 PMBS mechanical engineering - strenghts of materials discipline specifically (as opposed to fluids). Gears and pulleys instead of hydraulics and pneumatics? Weak lol
BS mechanical engineering - strenghts of materials discipline specifically (as opposed to fluids).
BS PhysicsMS MathematicsHobbies: Historical linguistics, music (especially guitar), early ChristianityTrade: Historical and sport fencing, photographyWhether I'm an expert at any of these is debatable (though knowledge of historical fencing is so unusual that I may very well be an expert).
BTECH (Chem) - it's a New Zealand thing.Fifteen years experience in the environmental engineering field as well as industrial waste clean ups and emergency response.
Wow.!!!. I always wanted to try fencing.
I have an extensive knowledge of human anatomy/physiology and pharmocology, the only relevant things that I would consider myself an expert on.
Quote from: rickymooston on September 25, 2008, 09:02:18 PMWow.!!!. I always wanted to try fencing.Fencing is really fun. There are lots of places that teach it around here, but I'm not sure of the situation where you live. I say give it a try if you can. Though I teach foil I'd recommend epee since it makes more intuitive sense.
Nobody teaches fencing where I live. I wish!Is the epee the big one?
Quote from: nihilanth on October 01, 2008, 02:38:21 PMNobody teaches fencing where I live. I wish!Is the epee the big one?Yes.


text:
furever_pit wrote:If the dog wants to eat, he needs to come inside.
I will use food as the reason to come in. He is going to be one fat dog.
FAB dogs wrote:Something about coming in he's equating with pain or fear?
The only thing I can think of is that when he started using the doggie door, he was hesitant coming in: He put his head in first, then when he started to put his paws in, it was as if he couldn't judge where the floor was. Like a problem with depth perception. He would switch feet a few times until he decided which one to put down first. The floor is tiled, but I have rubber backed rugs all over, so they don't slip on the tiles.


text:
Why Tensions Are Climbing Between Israel and the U.S.
Broken Peace Process, Iran Nuclear Talks Stir Resentment on Both Sides
U.S.-Israeli relations had been surviving a spring and summer of exceptional strains pretty well.
Until now, that is. Suddenly, serious stress fractures are opening up as the Israeli operation against Hamas in the Gaza Strip enters its third week—and they figure to get worse before they get better.
The clearest sign came Sunday, in the form...


text:
Hi everybody,
BEST demo days take place for Slovenia & Croatia & other Balcan countries between 9-13. April 09.
More info where we will be exactly depending on weather forecast.
You will be able to test most of Best Kiteboarding's 2009 gear & possible the first 09 Balance boards.
Everybody is welcome to join us!


text:
DREAMers Start Campaign addressing President Obama's Immigration FailuresPublished: May 31, 2012 8:30 am By: Julia Preston - NY Times
"Young [undocumented] immigrants, saying President Obama has done little to diminish the threat of deportations they face despite repeated promises, have started a campaign to press him to use executive powers to allow them to remain legally in the country.
The campaign is led by the United We Dream Network, the largest organization of young immigrants here illegally who would be eligible for legal status under a proposal in Congress known as the Dream Act."
Click here for more of this US immigration news update.


text:
Joyeux Noël: shopping spree at the french market
Bonjour madame! Bonjour monsieur! For a moment there it seemed as if we had somehow miraculously crossed borders into the domain of our fromage and baguette-toting neighbors to the west, but this past weekend our feet were firmly planted in Italy. How's that for a taste of international holiday flair? If you can't go to France then France comes to you, and it was a very good thing we checked out this french market in Segrate (Milan). Usually we head over to Trentino-Alto Adige for the mercatini di natale like the ones visited in Trento and Merano - both are beautiful places to visit at any time of the year but even more enchanting during winter holidays.
I'd say that the majority of the merchants could speak italian although there were a couple that only conversed in french. Better for us, because it isn't often that MotH gets to put his french to use and for me to hear it being spoken. The products on display ran the gamut from eclairs to foie gras, and vibrantly colorful spices to scented soaps. Love lokum? We do. Tablecloths from Provence? In every color and size imaginable. But the item that especially caught my attention were bags of Oignon de Roscoff. These pink onions from Brittany are said to be gentle in flavor and capable of extended storage in a cool, dark place for a couple of months. Photos of things that we did/did not resist all in a big set on Flickr. We had the car smelling of onions, garlic, lavender, cassoulet and cheese all the way home.


text:
|A few doors up blue Boulangerie Malineau has edibles a plenty like caneles waiting for the 4:30 snack bell to go off.
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Discover Paris by Metro
17 comments:
- Geri, NJ1:19 PM
Mon dieu; coincidence again ~ Popping a strawberry in while opening your post! While I love guides, I really like getting 'up close and personal' with your commentaries and pics on various neighborhoods that I always plan to visit but somehow cannot seem to fit in when I do go; to wit: Rue Cler, The Marais...I could go on...so next time I will go thru your posts laboriously, or you could just write a book!ReplyDelete
- Elaine1:59 PM
I wanted to say that it was in part to your morning e-mails and Vicki's French Essence that enticed me to really look forward to my Paris trip.ReplyDelete
Yes, I had been to Paris 3X before, but this time I was able to relax with my husband, and we enjoyed strolling around, walking through the park, all the way up the Champs E., taking a leisurely ride on the Bateau-bus, and people watching, taking in the scenery, and window shopping.
There was no wild frenzy to see all the museums, or, the tour Effiel, and I really enjoyed the city from an entirely different pint of view.
We met a lot of very very polite, happy, and respectful young children.
Most appreciated for your kind words Elaine,Delete
We just returned from a 3 week stay in the Marais. I just loved living there. One of my highlights was visiting the home of Victor Hugo (if you go, make sure you get the audio guide). He had the same mistress for 50 years and they shared 20,000 love letters.ReplyDelete
Dreamy location, too, overlooking the Place des Vosges.
Come to think of it, why DON'T you write a book, even a series of books?ReplyDelete
and do the shops close for their 4:30 gouter?Replies
They close for LUNCH.Delete
Usually 12:30 - 2:30
And I usually forget
Not all the shops do this but brocante on rue Saint-Paul are of another era
The English bookstore, Red Wheelbarrow, does not close btw.
Love to see all these cute little shops you take pictures of. I love your painting too. Fun post.ReplyDelete
- Anonymous11:51 PM
Last spring in Paris my friend and I had coffee and breakfast treats at Miss Manon's every morning day! It was a great beginning to every day . We are both going crazy seeing your post today! Yes, you made me salivate! & Yes, your book would be nice! Great ,actually!ReplyDelete
merci~ fan from rural Oregon
Just think! If you move to Paris then I won't need the Metro guide in English 'cause you'll know how to get EVERYWHERE and ANYWHERE...ReplyDelete
when I visit you.
Reminds me of the old South Jersey saying:
"The next best thing to moving to Paris is
having a friend who has moved to Paris."
Well I know where I'm going on Saturday.....merci beaucoup.ReplyDelete


text:
The Flagler Palm Coast Bulldogs may have been hoping for a big win Tuesday in its own Rip It baseball tournament but Seabreeze's Dale Tanguilig had other ideas.
PALM COAST — The Flagler Palm Coast Bulldogs may have been hoping for a big win Tuesday in its own Rip It baseball tournament but Seabreeze's Dale Tanguilig had other ideas.
Pitching a masterful game and supplying a good deal of the offensive support, Tanguilig owned FPC in an 8-0 win for the Sandcrabs. The win, coupled with a 3-1 victory in an earlier game against Vero Beach, gave Seabreeze a satisfying start to the four-day event.
As for FPC and its fans, who braved a fierce wind blowing in from left field, it was anything but satisfactory. Playing as the visiting team on its own diamond because of the tournament structure, the Bulldogs had trouble dealing with Tanguilig and his assortment of breaking and sinking pitches. They didn't do well in the field either.
FPC bounced back later in the afternoon by knocking off Escambia 5-4 behind a 3-hitter by freshman Nik Bitner.
"We played 14 innings of baseball yesterday and had 13 good innings," said Bulldogs coach Jordan Butler said. "It was a combination of things against Seabreeze. I think our kids just didn't have a good approach at the plate and that played into their hands. Don't take anything from Seabreeze — they have a great coaching staff and Dale pitched a heckuva a game."
Most of the damage occurred in the bottom of the first when Seabreeze sent 12 hitters to the plate and got the first six aboard and home in an assortment of ways.
Two FPC errors and two walks by FPC starter Jo Jo Bernard led to all six runs being unearned and of the Sandcrabs' four hits, two never left the infield. All of the runs were scored in bases-loaded situations, with two runners crossing the plate after two outs.
For all of his troubles in that inning, Bernhard pitched pretty well in the next four. Of the four base runners who reached on him, three were stranded in scoring position and a fourth was wiped out in a nicely turned 6-4-3 double play.
Seabreeze also touched FPC reliever Josh Febus for a two-out, two-run rally in the bottom of the sixth. FPC had few opportunities against Tanguilig, who set the first seven hitters out in succession until Nik Bitner and Cheech Tuccio hit back-to-back singles in the third. They were left on base after the next two batters struck out swinging.
Bernhard reached on an infield error with one out in the fourth and moved up on an infield single by Josh Breeding, but Tanguilig and the Sandcrabs got out of it on a double play. Happened again in the sixth when Lorenza Williams was hit by a pitch and Michael Ehman reached on a sharply hit ball muffed by a Sandcrabs infielder. Bernhard grounded into the 6-4-3 twin killing for the deciding outs.
FPC hitters struck out five times and two were caught looking at called third strikes. Tanguilig didn't walk a batter and only one putout was made by an outfielder.
FPC 5, Escambia 4
FPC's Nik Bitner pitched a complete game and struck out six while giving up four hits and one walk against Escambia. The Bulldogs plated what proved to be the winning run in the bottom of the fifth on a safety squeeze by Jo Jo Bernhard that scored Kiyan Lappke.
The Bulldogs were more patient at the plate against Gators' starter Hunter Wise. Although he gave up only three hits — two by FPC catcher Josh Breeding, who also hit a screaming line drive that glanced off an Escambia infielder for a two-base error — he also walked five and hit a batter.
FPC also moved runners along with bunts, including the Bernhard RBI, to keep the Gators' infielders off balance. Escambia got an early lead with single runs in the first and second innings, but the Bulldogs tied it 2-2 in the bottom half of the second. The teams traded single runs each in the fourth to keep it tied and Escambia went up 4-3 with a lone run in its half of the fifth before FPC staged a two-run game-winning rally in the bottom of the fifth.
Matanzas 7, St. Augustine 0
Tyler Stuart picked up a shutout win over St. Augustine Wednesday afternoon in almost the same fashion as the Matanzas lefthander did in a win over the Yellow Jackets earlier in the campaign.
The junior kept St. Augustine hitters off balance for six innings striking out five in a 7-0 win in the third game of the Rip It spring baseball tournament. It was the identical score Matanzas enjoyed in a Feb. 22 win at Pirate Field where Stuart picked up the win.
He got a lot of help from teammates and no small amount from St. Augustine, which committed seven errors. None of the runs scored by Matanzas was earned off three Yellow Jackets pitchers who were betrayed by the numerous physical mistakes.
Matanzas had eight hits and three walks in the game, including a two run single by John O'Keefe and run scoring singles by Josh Alvarado and Luke Spetsis. Alvarado had the only extra base hit in the game with a sixth inning double, but he was left stranded in that situation.
Matanzas coach Rob Roe said it was not who the Pirates played that made the difference, but how they prepared.
"We played pretty well. Tyler pitched effectively and we gave him enough offensive support," Roe said.
The Pirates jumped to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first, playing as the visitor under the tournament format. Sam Colasanti reached on a dropped fly ball and later scored on a passed ball. A walk to Jeremiah Wilson, followed by a single by Stuart and a throwing error on a pick off move, followed by a single by Spetsis scored the other two runs.
Chris Colaluca led off the second with a walk and moved up on a fielding error on a ball hit by O'Keefe. Back to back singles by Colasanti and Alvareado plated one run and loaded the bases. St. Augustine got a force out at home on a ball hit by Tyler Walls, but botched a try to double off Walls and Colasanti scored.
In the seventh, the Pirates had pinch hitter Kamaran Downs and Spencer Dennis reach on infield errors. Colaluci singled to load the bases, followed by a two run single to center by O'Keefe.
Stuart retired 13 of the first 14 Yellow Jackets he faced including a run of 12 in a row before Robert Kirby singled with one out in the fifth. The Yellow Jackets loaded the bases in that inning, but Stuart fanned Hunter Mitchell to get out of that inning.
In Tuesday action, Matanzas split two tournament games.
They won 4-3 in extra innings over Deltona banging out seven hits including a double for Alvarado, who picked up the win in relief in one inning of work. Wilson and Cameron Coale each had RBIs.
The result wasn't nearly as good in the nightcap of the doubleheader, a 7-3 loss to Riviera Beach Suncoast. Walls, Colasanti and Alvarado all had two hits with Alvarado and Wilson collecting RBIs.


text:
San Joaquin Delta College will owe an estimated $122 million to cover the cost of promised lifetime retiree health benefits - a sum greater than the college's entire budget in any given year.
San Joaquin Delta College will owe an estimated $122 million to cover the cost of promised lifetime retiree health benefits - a sum greater than the college's entire budget in any given year.
The question, then, is how to eat that elephant without siphoning too much money away from already diminished educational programs.
Trustees earlier this week heard a plan to address the problem by ramping up the amount of money the college sets aside each year in its retiree fund. Under the plan, by 2025 the annual cost of providing the benefits would plateau before eventually declining.
"I think this is a very sound strategy as a way to attack this thing," said Michael Hill, a financial consultant for Delta. "It's not beyond your reach as a district if you have the will and desire to do it."
Delta isn't alone in shouldering this burden. Many public employers granted lifetime employee health benefits in the 1970s and 80s, failing to understand how much that would cost and devising no plan to pay for it, Hill told trustees. Stockton's retiree health plan was a factor in the city's recent spiral toward bankruptcy.
Delta eliminated retiree health benefits for new hires in 2007, but it will be many years before the promises it made before 2007 will be fully kept.
Only now is the college considering some kind of long-term plan.
One idea heard on Tuesday night is to increase the amount of money dedicated to paying the benefits by $250,000 next year and about $150,000 each year after that.
Annual retiree costs would rise from about $4 million this year to just over $7 million in 2025 and would stay flat another two decades instead of soaring even higher, Hill said.
Such a plan would allow college officials to deal with the debt sooner rather than later, making sure that not all of the costs are simply passed on to future employees who don't benefit from the health benefits previously granted.
And, the mere act of putting a plan in place could help satisfy accreditation officials, who have said they'll be looking at liability issues in the future during that important peer-review process, Trustee Teresa Brown said.
Trustees could be asked in the coming months to approve a specific plan that would kick in starting in the fall.
Trustee Steve Castellanos cautioned there would be a "trade-off" as the money dedicated to paying off the college's liability will have to come from somewhere.
"To me it seems there's a lot of pressure in the community and on campus to restore programs, to put classes back in," he said. "Every additional dollar we put into this is a dollar that's not going to put into program restoration, I would imagine."
Contact reporter Alex Breitler at (209) 546-8295 or email@example.com. Visit his blog at recordnet.com/breitlerblog.


text:
About NIJ
What's New
All Topics A-Z
Contact Us
Text size:
Print this page
E-mail this page
This handbook is intended as a guide to recommended practices for the collection and preservation of evidence at fire/arson scenes.
Follow Agency Policies!Actions taken following these guides should be performed in accordance with department policies and procedures and federal and state laws.
Jurisdictional, logistical or legal conditions may preclude the use of particular procedures contained herein.
Fires are destructive, spreading as they grow and consuming the evidence of their initiation. Putting out fires and finding out how they started involves public officials and private groups — such as fire departments, emergency medical services and law enforcement. Law enforcement and fire service departments must always determine the cause of the fire, whether arson or accidental, in order to identify hazards and dangerous practices and prevent future fires. Many fires can be prevented through public education — for instance, educating people on safe practices for using room heaters or other gas and electric devices.
Not every portion of this document may be applicable to all fires. It is at the discretion of responding personnel (depending on their responsibilities, as well as the purpose and scope of their duties) to apply the procedures recommended in this Guide to a particular incident. Some of the procedures described in this Guide may not be performed in the sequence described or may be performed simultaneously.
Call in Help!For potentially devastating situations, such as biological weapons or radiological or chemical threats, contact the appropriate agencies.
Steps in this guide include:
Next section: Arriving at the Fire and/or Arson Scene.
[note 1] NIJ's Crime Scene guides were created by multidisciplinary technical working groups of content area experts from across the United States. Learn more about the Technical Working Group.
National Institute of Justice, 810 Seventh Street, NW, Washington, DC 20531


text:
Police arrested a man on Friday who they said was depressed and threatening workers inside the downtown LA building used by The Los Angeles Times.
The incident prompted police to set up a perimeter to search for the man, said Sgt. Mark Gibbens of the LAPD Central Station.
"All we know is we were on alert," VXI Global Solutions Call Center employee Rita Brown told NBC4. "All the doors were closed and locked, and we were asked to stay from windows and doors just to make sure that this person doesn't come in."
The man worked at the call center, which is on the third floor of the LA Times building.
Even though no weapons were found, police feared he had a gun.
"We were completely nervous," Brown said. "Tears were coming from our eyes because we didn't know."
Sources told NBC that a depressed individual set off the search by the LAPD. Officials later found a box of bullets.
"I guess he got in trouble for some cell phone thing, because you're not supposed to have your cell phone on the floor," employee Xavier Bettis told NBC4. "And when they released him from duty, he sent a text message saying he was going to come back with vengeance."
The company shares space in the building, located at Second and Spring streets, but is not associated with the newspaper.


text:
And now to something else new! I finished my midterm for my Computer Graphics (Kaledo) class yesterday, and presented it this morning. I don't think I did too bad. Our assignment was to pick an artist and design something inspired by their paintings. So of course I chose Mat Barber Kennedy (who else?) So Kaledo is this big program for fashiony people and it helps you create prints in repeat, and other cool stuff I haven't learned yet. And you can make these prints in multiple colors n such. It's pretty cool, but if you're used to the way Adobe does things (Photoshop/Illustrator) it takes some getting used to (very frustratingly so). So here's my 2 prints. One is a border print (as modeled by my croquis), and the other is a normal print repeat. Fun stuff.
I promise that soon I'll post pictures of non computer related stuff I've been making too. Sometime soon. Yes. Oh, and quite possibly some history of costume stuff I did. :)


text:
Hear how the provider of choice for the highest-profile, most-watched productions dramatically reduced rig time and maximized flexibility in their new fleet of UHD-ready outside broadcast trucks.
Featured Product:
Platinum™ IP3 28RU
Massimo Bertolotti, of Sky Italia, explains how Italy's largest Pay-TV operator is working with Imagine to make a managed transition to an all-IP infrastructure that minimizes disruption and preserves their existing workflow. View case study pdf ››
Featured Product:
Magellan™ SDN Orchestrator; Platinum™ IP3 28RU; Selenio™
Dega Broadcast Systems teams up with Imagine Communications to build production hub at International Broadcaster Center in Rio to bring 2016 Summer Games to millions of UK viewers.
Featured Product:
Platinum™ routers and multiviewers
Los Angeles-based TVG Network, the premier horse racing broadcaster in North America, describes how they made a fast, seamless transition from SD tape-based to HD file-based operations.
View case study pdf ››
Featured Products:
Nexio® Servers, Platinum™ IP3 router, Selenio™ media convergence platform


text:
Can the U.S. Negotiate Peace in Afghanistan?
A major contribution of the "inside experts" Afghanistan Study Group report (read here ; send to your reps in Congress here), released last week to spur Washington debate towards de-escalating the war at the next fork in the road is that its very first recommendation is this:
1. Emphasize power-sharing and political inclusion.
The U.S. should fast-track a peace process designed to decentralize power within Afghanistan and encourage a power-sharing balance among the principal parties.
Predictably, there appear to have been two principal objections so far to this proposal:
1. Oh my God. How dare you suggest that the U.S. should support a peace deal with the Afghan insurgency. You must be some kind of amoral monster.
2. Ho hum. Nothing new here. Everyone already knows this. Why do you tax our patience by stating the obvious as if it were a profound revelation? This is already Administration policy. Move along, nothing to see here.
It should go without saying that these two objections are, as a matter of logic, mutually exclusive. A real peace process leading to a new political dispensation in Afghanistan that ends the civil war could be the worst idea in human history, or it could be a commonplace that everyone already knows and is already Administration policy. But it cannot be both.
Anyone has been following this issue closely in the mainstream U.S. print media knows that while the first objection has little to do with life as we know it on Planet Earth, the second objection has, on the face of it, significant merit. It is a commonplace among knowledgeable people - including senior U.S. government officials, such as the commander of our military forces in Afghanistan - that the expected U.S. endgame in Afghanistan is not a military victory by U.S. forces, but a new political dispensation in Afghanistan that includes most of those now supporting the insurgency. Senior U.S. officials have repeatedly stated that it is U.S. policy to support a political settlement, including with leaders of the insurgency.
Indeed, if someone were to claim that "power sharing" in Afghanistan is a new idea, one could point to the October 2006 statement of then - Senate Majority Leader Republican Bill Frist that "people who call themselves Taliban" should be brought into the Afghan government.
Therefore, if someone nominates the Afghanistan Study Group for a brilliancy prize based on intellectual innovation for making this recommendation, I promise to be the first to object.
But the fact that this is a commonplace among knowledgeable people and the fact that this is already Administration policy - at least at the level of rhetoric - do not mean that insisting that the U.S. must aggressively promote national political reconciliation in Afghanistan is an irrelevant activity. On the contrary, making national political reconciliation the central political goal of U.S. policy in Afghanistan, around which all other policy is organized, as opposed to the mere rhetorical salute that exists today, is the central U.S. policy change needed to end the war and bring the troops home.
The fact that something is official policy at the level of rhetoric tells you nothing about what the U.S. government is actually doing to implement that policy. It tells you nothing about where implementing that policy stands in the list of priorities. It tells you nothing about what kind of trade-offs are being made between implementing that policy and implementing other policies.
How seriously the U.S. is pursuing national political reconciliation in Afghanistan is something that observers outside the government cannot completely ascertain directly. If US officials were in regular communication with Mullah Omar, are we sure that we would we know it? Recall that during the Madrid peace talks in 1991, while the Israeli delegation made a big show of "we will never negotiate with the PLO, we're just talking with some Palestinian leaders from the West Bank" and the Palestinian leaders they were talking to were saying, "We are the PLO, we don't go to the bathroom without permission from Tunis," the Israeli government was actually negotiating a deal with the PLO in Oslo.
But by watching policies that are implemented, we can form reasonable judgments about how vigorously a policy is being pursued, and where it stands in the list of priorities. Of each policy choice implemented, we can ask: what does this policy choice tell us about the government's priorities?
The key policy choices made by the Obama Administration in Afghanistan - with the important exception of the announcement of the July 2011 date to begin drawing down the current military escalation - have indicated that promoting national reconciliation in Afghanistan has not been high on the priority list.
In particular, if you go back to the publicized debate inside the Administration over the current military escalation, you'll find that one of the principal arguments made by Administration critics of the then-proposed military escalation was this: military escalation is likely to make national political reconciliation in Afghanistan more difficult. The fact that military escalation was chosen anyway indicates that promoting national political reconciliation was not a high priority. And, it seems clear that the subsequent history has borne out the critics: national political reconciliation in Afghanistan is probably more difficult today than it would have been a year ago, before the U.S. military escalation.
Last's year's military escalation decision is an accomplished fact. But we can learn from the experience, and work to put national political reconciliation in Afghanistan at the top of the U.S. priority list.
What currently feasible - they could be done this week - Administration policies would be consistent with making national political reconciliation a priority? Here are three.
1. The Obama Administration could signal its willingness to agree to a timetable for the withdrawal of all foreign forces from Afghanistan - similar to the agreement we now have with Iraq - as part of a peace deal.
There are many ways to signal. It doesn't have to be a formal announcement. A "senior Administration official" could tell a reporter that the Obama Administration is considering this. The British could say it, and the Obama Administration could ostentatiously say nothing. A senior Democratic Senator perceived to be close to the Administration on foreign policy could say it, and the Obama Administration could ostentatiously say nothing.
Obviously, a key objective of the insurgency is to drive foreign forces out of the country. By sending this signal, the Obama Administration would be saying, "You want us out? Fine. Negotiate with us, and we will leave faster."
Note that "the US should establish a timetable for military withdrawal" is already the position of the majority of Americans and 60% of the House Democratic Caucus. So by signaling its willingness to establish a timetable for full military withdrawal as part of a peace deal, the Obama Administration would simply be suggesting its willingness to agree as part of a negotiation to do that which a majority of Americans already want the U.S. to do even if there is no negotiation. 2. The Obama Administration could signal that it is willing to end "night raids" in Afghanistan if serious negotiations commence. Night raids - which indiscriminately kill civilians and violate the sanctity of the Afghan home - are arguably the policy of the U.S. military occupation most hated by Afghan public opinion and the Afghan government, which has long called for them to end, so offering to end them would be a powerful incentive to promote talks.
3. The Obama Administration could signal that it is willing to "downsize and eventually end military operations in southern Afghanistan" - as called for by the Afghanistan Study Group - to promote negotiations.
It's often stated that "negotiations are not an end in themselves." It's true that the point of negotiations is to produce agreements, not feel-good photo-ops. Nonetheless, it's important to note that negotiations often produce immediate benefits even while harder underlying issues remain unresolved. Sometimes they result in interim agreements, which may be informal. "While we are talking, you don't do X, and I won't do Y."
If we want a positive example, we need look no further than the current Israeli-Palestinian negotiations. This is a great example to draw from, because if you want to dump on the current Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, you have to take a number. So if even the widely derided Israeli-Palestinian negotiations are producing something positive, that's a powerful example.
The US is currently pressuring Israel and the Palestinian Authority to agree on some kind of compromise that would extend the current partial moratorium on Israeli settlement construction in the West Bank while negotiations continue. Press reports have suggested that an agreement is not beyond reach. Obviously, the US government is not opposed to interim agreements as a matter of principle.
What might a useful interim agreement with the Afghan insurgency include? Suppose it included a US agreement to end night raids, in exchange for insurgents' agreement to protect schools and aid workers. From the point of view of Afghan civilians, such an agreement would be a win-win: the US would agree to kill fewer Afghan civilians, in exchange for the insurgency agreeing to kill fewer Afghan civilians. If such an agreement could be achieved, what would be the moral argument for opposing it? Negotiations can bring other immediate benefits, even before they result in agreement.
Endless war reinforces the political power of leaders who make war. Negotiations reinforce the power of political actors. Negotiations surface issues: you have to say what you want, and what you are willing to accept. Right now, no-one, not even a U.S. government official, can clearly articulate what the U.S. really wants in Afghanistan, and what the U.S. is willing to accept. What exactly the Taliban want, or are willing to accept, besides driving out foreign forces, has also been the subject of fierce debate. Negotiations smoke people out. You have to say what you want, and what you are willing to accept.
And then, when true positions begin to be revealed, they become the subject of political debate and political pressure. If a sticking point in negotiations turns out to be that the U.S. will not end night raids, or agree to a timetable for the withdrawal of foreign forces, or agree to a reform of the Afghan constitution to reverse the current absurd and corruption-promoting centralization of power (how would it go over if the governor of your state were appointed by the President?) that will become clear, and expose the U.S. to political pressure. Similarly, if a sticking point in negotiations is that insurgent leaders won't agree to protect schools or aid workers, or agree to share power with the non-Pashtun minorities, everyone will see that the insurgent leaders are responsible for the breakdown is talks, exposing them to political pressure from elements of their Pashtun base who want to end the war.
Again, if you want a good example of this, look at the current Israeli-Palestinian negotiations. A few weeks ago, Israeli actors and academics made headlines around the world when they issued a statement saying that they would refuse to perform in or participate in conferences in Israeli settlements in the West Bank, so as not to legitimize the settlements. What was the political context in which the Israeli actors and academics undertook this bold and successful political action? It was the resumption of the peace talks, in which the settlements are a key sticking point. The resumption of peace talks gave Israeli actors and academics a political platform on which to say: "We Israelis don't want the settlements either."
And this, one reasonably suspects, is a key reason why militarists in every country often display a fanatical opposition to any negotiation. Even the beginning of an inauspicious negotiation moves the focus of attention from violence to politics, and creates opportunities for political movement. There is always the danger, from the point of view of those who oppose any compromise, that compromise might not be so impossible to achieve as they have been trying to make everyone believe, and that the beginning of a negotiation process might increase political pressure for compromise.
There is a need to stop when it no longer works. That is the only way to help save.


text:
6 indicted in death of Chinese man in detention
BEIJING (AP) — Chinese prosecutors have indicted six men in the death of a state industry executive who was allegedly dunked in ice water during questioning in a case that points to abuses during internal investigations by the Communist Party.
The indictment, details of which were widely published in Chinese media, describes how 42-year-old Yu Qiyi drowned after having his head repeatedly pushed into a bucket of ice water.
Yu was detained March 1 by agents from the party's corruption watchdog in the eastern province of Zhejiang and died 38 days later after being rushed to a hospital. While under questioning, he was held in a detention center run by the party's Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, a body that critics say operates without legal constraints and frequently coerces confessions from those under investigation.
The six men — five investigators from the commission and one local prosecutor — were charged with intentional harming in the Aug. 30 indictment, although Yu's widow Wu Qian said Thursday she believes there is enough evidence to charge them with murder.
"From the start, I'd hoped the case could be resolved under the law and the perpetrators held accountable and severely punished, but sometimes that's hard to do in China," Wu said in a phone interview.
Wu said at the time of his death Yu was emaciated, with bruises on his arms and thighs, dark welts on his buttocks and scrapes on his feet and shins. While that appeared to indicate that he was starved and beaten, the indictment made no mention of other forms of torture besides dunking.
It wasn't clear when the case would go to trial, and a man at the prosecutor's office in the Zhejiang city of Quzhou, where the indictment was issued, said he had no information about the case and refused to transfer the call to other departments. The man refused to give his name, as is common practice among Chinese bureaucrats.
Wu's Shanghai-based lawyer, Wu Pengbin, did not answer calls Thursday.
Well-known Beijing human rights lawyer Pu Zhiqiang, who has advised on the case, said there was little for Wu's legal team to do but watch the case proceed. He said Yu's death was not an isolated incident, but rather part of an institutionalized culture of torture within the party investigation system.
"The accused believe that they were performing their duties, and as far as I know torture is widely used in interrogation by party disciplinary officials across the country," Pu said. "They had to have authorization from their supervisors for what they did, and it is not fair for only them to get blamed."
Yu's death has drawn attention to the party's feared system of internal investigation under which suspects disappear into detention for weeks or months with little or no notice given to their families.
Defenders of the system say it allows investigators to prevent powerful officials from using their influence to block legal action against them.
Trained as an engineer, Yu did not seem to have that kind of power. A party member since 1998, he had been a rising figure in the state-owned Wenzhou Industry Investment Group and had been seconded to the Cabinet agency in Beijing that oversees China's biggest state-owned companies.
He was picked up by investigators upon arriving home from Beijing on March 1. Wu was never given formal notice of his detention, but learned from private sources that he was suspected of being a middleman in a corrupt land deal that eventually fell through.


text:
Description : Evaluates assigned patients and plans, implements and documents nursing care. Assists physicians during examinations and procedures.
Performs various patient tests and administers medications within the scope of practice of the registered nurse. Promotes patients' independence by establishing patient care goals and teaching patients and families to understand conditions, medications, and self-
care skills. Relies on experience and judgment to plan and accomplish goals. Performs a variety of tasks. A wide degree of creativity and latitude is expected.
Typically reports to a manager or head of a unit / department. Qualifications Requires an associate's degree and is certified as a registered nurse.
Familiar with standard concepts, practices, and procedures within a particular field. Job : Medical / Surgical Unit Organization : North Knoxville Medical Center Location : TN-
Powell Requisition ID : 1838964 This organization does not discriminate in any way to deprive any person of employment opportunities or otherwise adversely affect the status of any employee because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, genetic information, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, citizenship, veteran status, or military or uniformed services, in accordance with all applicable governmental laws and regulations.
In addition, the facility complies with all applicable federal, state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment.


text:
|View Poll Results: Higurashi Kai Episode 5 Rating
|Perfect 10
|9 out of 10 : Excellent
|8 out of 10 : Very Good
|7 out of 10 : Good
|6 out of 10 : Average
|5 out of 10 : Below Average
|4 out of 10 : Poor
|3 out of 10 : Bad
|2 out of 10 : Very Bad
|1 out of 10 : Painful
|Voters: 141. You may not vote on this poll
|Thread Tools
|2007-08-03, 03:40
|Link #23
Philosopher of theories
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Portugal
Age: 26
If you can answer those questions, I guess you'll pretty much have the answer for it. ^^ Credit Klashikari for her deductive powers. xD
|2007-08-03, 03:53
|Link #25
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2006
Higurashi at its finest.
This arc sort of reminds me of that French film Cache, where every answer revealed carries with it two new questions.
To me the most intriguing would be what happened to the twenty or so people who are unaccounted for?
|2007-08-03, 04:06
|Link #27
Junior Member
Join Date: May 2006
Age: 35
Episode 6 preview:
|2007-08-03, 04:07
|Link #28
阿賀野型3番艦、矢矧 Lv168
Graphic Designer
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Belgium, Brussels
Age: 32
Here is the link for the preview, credits to mathx.
it is official: Minagoroshi-hen will kick in next week, and the "auauauauau" mascot, Hanyuu, will be officially shown !
edit : some seconds too late i guess
|2007-08-03, 04:24
|Link #30
Philosopher of theories
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Portugal
Age: 26
About the 20 people that went missing, they're probably people that
And about the preview:
|2007-08-03, 04:52
|Link #33
Eat This!
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: The radioactive pits of Adelaide, Australia
Age: 49
|2007-08-03, 05:47
|Link #35
阿賀野型3番艦、矢矧 Lv168
Graphic Designer
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Belgium, Brussels
Age: 32
No, actually she cannot be considered as a "10 years old girl" with what is happening with her.
the problem is not only the past experiences, but her mind has lived many years.
it is safe to speculate that she is "way too old" for what she is supposed to be.
this is a common "problem" for the undying/immortal character in general: once they are stuck in this state, it isn't surprising for them to be that jaded.
Wisedom isn't something you can pull out with that mindset, and especially what hopelessness.
Granted, things might change. As you can see on the OP, Rika will probably draw out her determination. Her fighting spirit is anyway required (as an example : Tsumihoroboshi-hen, both her discussion with Rena, and her intervention with the "clock" with keiichi)
Last edited by Klashikari; 2007-08-03 at 06:07.
|2007-08-03, 05:54
|Link #36
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2006
This episode makes me want to catalogue every single instance those anonymous conspirators have appeared and analyze the significance.
Here's a rough start, let me know if you can think of any I'm missing..
The thugs who've kidnapped the minister's grandson seem to be the earliest (chronologically) incarnation of them.
-Presuming they're not taking their orders directly from the Hinamizawa Families, what motives do the "Disaster" culprits have in keeping the Dam from being constructed?
-Does this imply an allegiance between them and the resistance? What further could this entail?
Presuming it wasn't K1's delusions (which seems plausible considering they look exactly the same) he first encounters one in the near hit and run.
-K1 is the one approached by Takano in this arc, and subsequently loses it. Could this incident be baiting to exacerbate his condition?
-This also seems to imply K1 was being tailed in a similar manner to Rika in this arc. Considering that Rika was the one approached by Delicious in the most recent arc, it makes one wonder if the surveillance initially wasn't because of the planned evisceration at all?
-K1 later encounters a pack of Anonymouses in the woods, at which time he gets into an altercation. But he wakes up alive(!?) in his home. Why he was spared at this point is mysterious. It's also unclear if the troops who arrive with Irie are in cahoots with the conspirators. If so he must play some crucial part in the mystery. This seems more probable considering they have plants in the local hospital.
-One must also wonder if these troops deployment could have anything to do with the initial stages of enacting the "Disaster"?
I can't recall how they factored into the other arcs specifically, anyone recall?
|2007-08-03, 06:11
|Link #37
阿賀野型3番艦、矢矧 Lv168
Graphic Designer
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Belgium, Brussels
Age: 32
They are also present in Tsumihoroboshi, but they were rather "minor" in these arcs.
They are completely absent in Watanagashi/Meakashi. The reason behind is very likely linked why there isn't any disaster in the said chapters.
As for the "allegeance", considering what we know in Himatsubushi-hen, their expertise, and professional skills are hardly equal to the Sonozaki. Thus, considering what we know from Reunion and this episode, we can assume this isn't the "the sonozaki were plotting a bioweapon", considering these guys are likely linked with a bigger organization.
What is much more important to note is that they obliterated the Gosanke leaders in the school as well.
In conclusion, they are rather a third party, absolutely no in either "rika's friends" or "sonozaki leaders".
|2007-08-03, 07:03
|Link #38
User of the "Fast Draw"
Yeah right now we sit knowing at least who ended up killing Rika. But still that doesn't give us much since we don't know who they are working for. Plus what reason could they have for doing all of this? As we know they aren't just normal thugs, certainly they have a seriously high level of skill and influence. Of course the background of these guys will probably be explained later, but at the moment I just can't figure them out.
Things do seem quite strange with everyone in that school. Plus being in their casual clothing on top of it. Maybe everyone was called into some town meeting? Herded by these assassins into the school for easier disposal? Seems like I always end up with more questions than answers.
All I can do is feel terribly sorry for Rika. It'd be hard to imagine going through such horrible htings over and over again. Can't really blame her for being tired of it and not seeing the point in really giving an effort. While Keiichi did give her some will to fight since it was a while ago for her she needs another 'miracle'. At the moment she might have too much experience to get the will to struggle. She's seen so much and lost so many times it could be extremely difficult for her to get back into this.
|2007-08-03, 07:24
|Link #39
Join Date: Sep 2006
Edit: Just saw the Preview. It's finally time to reveal the rules (法則)! Hope they take some time to explain things slowly, otherwise it could get quite confusing... On the other hand, I can already see one of the "keys" (カギ) setting to get to work in the first episode. Isn't the pacing a bit too fast considering there are still at least 19 episodes left? I certainly don't want to see a 13 episode series for Kai...
Last edited by Garet Linegod; 2007-08-03 at 07:36.
|2007-08-03, 07:49
|Link #40
Junior Member
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Brussels, Belgium
Age: 41
In Tsumihoroboshi (at the end of ep 26) , we see Mion and Chie speaking about the forest service doing fumigations. They are supposed to stay indors with windows closed.That's when they were interrupted by Rena.
Maybe that "forest service" is some coverup for the conspirators to gather the inhabitants at some point. But i don't see why. Mion seems to have been killed where she lies so we could assume K1 and Shion were at school too when they were gassed. Wearing their casual clothes...
EDIT: And if they were gassed, it must be with a gas which doesn't leave traces when the bodies are autopsied. Suggest VAST means for the conspirators (or maybe the writers just didn't think about that "detail" )
|Thread Tools


text:
Men save woman from this burning car, then sue her
Three years ago, a pair of Ohio men saw a Hummer H3 burning at the bottom of an embankment after running off a road. Rushing to the truck, they pulled a woman from the flames. Now they're suing her for damages from the injuries they suffered saving her life.


text:
Bicycling takes me to the most interesting places. I learned about city clerks in my effort to interview city council candidates in northeast Missouri about their views on bicycling and walking.
In the past, I've been frustrated by local elections. It's so hard to find any information about the names, positions, and issues on the ballot. Just what does a county commissioner commission, anyway? (I now know that the county commissioners are the county-level equivalent of city council.)
Getting involved in advocacy for bicycling and walking, I've gotten to know local government employees. Last year, I wanted to write an article about what city council candidates think about bicycling and walking in Kirksville. I found the candidates' names in the newspaper but I wasn't sure how to contact them. I asked a friend in city government and she referred me to the city clerk, who promptly sent me names and phone numbers.
I loved having personal conversations with the city council candidates! I felt like a responsible and informed voter.
I repeated the project with this year's election, and I thought it would be nice to write a similar article for other communities' candidates because my blog their newspapers have picked up my blog. This time I knew to contact the city clerks, and I was surprised to learn that Kirksville does things a little differently than other cities.
The first week I was unsuccessful because I happened to pick the week of the city clerks' conference. I tried again the next week. The city clerks were all cooperative, returning my messages and responding to my emails with reasonable promptness.
One city clerk said, "Well, I've got their names, but let me see, I'll have to look for their phone numbers." She checked the water bill records to get their phone numbers. I thought it was funny that the candidates' contact information was not closer to hand!
Another city clerk said, "I'll have to check with legal whether I can give out the candidates' contact information." She was able to give me the emails of the candidates who were incumbents, but for the candidates who were not incumbents she could only send my message to them and ask them to contact me. Both did contact me, but I thought it was funny that someone could run for city council and not provide a public contact number or email.
Some city clerks gave me phone numbers instead of or in addition to email addresses. Phone calls worked the best.
A couple city clerks gave me only candidates' emails, and that was the least successful method of reaching the candidates. Emails can too easily be ignored. I did not get any interviews for Boonville because none of the 5 candidates responded to my email.
The city should facilitate the democratic process which is difficult enough at the local level without additional hurdles. I am pleased that Kirksville is so helpful, swiftly giving me candidates' phone numbers. Kirksville can also be proud of the Candidates' Forum that the Chamber hosts each year. I didn't realize that most communities don't have that either.


text:
Since 2006 Red Brick Art has been focues on creating an open art community in Ventura where anyone can enjoy great art and try their hand at creating something of their own. Red Brick provides a wide variety of fun workshops and Painting Parties for all skill levles, from those who have been painitng for years to those who haven't tried art since grade school.
There are new weekly Workshops for adults and children in all mediums including Pastels, Mosaics, Watercolors, Acrylics, Drawing, PhotoShop, Photography and more. Our Paint Parties are a casual larger class where you learn and play they make great Date Nights, Ladies Night Out, Corporate Bonding Events, Birthday Parties and Fun Singles Events, join a group class or host your own private class.
We hope you join the fun at our new location and find your creative side.
Red Brick Art is located at 4601 Telephone Rd #112 Ventura CA 93003


text:
There's a certain kind of a cabaret where the audience just basks in the almighty glow of the diva, awed just to be in her presence.
That's not really Emily Skinner's style, as she demonstrated Friday night on the opening weekend of the Orlando Cabaret Festival.
Skinner's sort of cabaret is more chummy, more "Hey, I'm going to tell you something that just popped into my head." Maybe she'll drop an F-bomb, maybe she'll get an earring tangled in her hair. Whatever, hey, we're all pals here, right?
Opening with a raucous take on the innuendo-heavy "Everybody's Girl" from Broadway musical "Steel Pier," Skinner set the tone right away: A big saucy wink to the audience as she barreled through lyrics like "You won't be disappointed… I'm also double-jointed."
It was also a good choice to demonstrate how her ringing voice can shockingly drop into the basement to great effect.
"That song probably just told you everything you need to know about me," Skinner cracked afterward. And she delivered more than one comic belter during the rest of her set — including the bawdy Mae West classic "Come Up and See Me Sometime."
But there is more to know about Skinner, who has starred on Broadway in "Side Show" and "Billy Elliot." For instance, her mother went into labor with her while watching "Hello, Dolly!"
Oh, wait: That was just one of the anecdotes cheerily shared during what Skinner called an "evening about tangents."
What's actually important for the audience to know is how easily she can switch between comic numbers — a Noel Coward jab at clueless American tourists is a treasure — to more heartfelt, serious singing.
She's just as mesmerizing when she sheds the vamping, stands stock still in the spotlight and delivers a sincere, simple "Send in the Clowns," her throaty laughter giving way to world-weariness.
Or, even moreso in the poignant "My Brother Lived in San Francisco," which showed that along with those thrilling low notes, she's equally at home in her upper range, with a hint of vibrato.
The only time the magic dims slightly is once or twice when things feel too predictable: fake-pointing at the audience during a song about men wearing toupees or some funny business with her pianist, quietly proficient John Fischer.
Skinner doesn't need stage tricks to complement her voice. Her natural charm does that perfectly well.
Emily Skinner
• What: Broadway actress performs at the Orlando Cabaret Festival
• Length: 1:20, no intermission
• Where: Mad Cow Theatre, 54 W. Church St., Orlando
• When: 8:15 p.m. Saturday, April 27; 3:15 p.m. Sunday, April 28
• Tickets: $35-$45
• Call: 407-297-8788
• Online: OrlandoCabaret.com


text:
|2008-01-15, 15:25
|Link #21
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2004
I majored in Philosophy and the opening post was pretty hard to understand, one of the reasons being that "metaphysical" is being used in the wrong way. I certainly have wrapped myself up in similar convoluted thoughts after chasing my own shadows so seeing this thread was a minor delight.. Now to engage in some discourse.
Using the word "assumption" is inappropriate to the situation because the language really makes it seem like it's unfair or unjustified. Taking a purely metaphysical (by your usage) or two-dimensional ethical approach does not really help flesh out the details. We need to know more about criminal psychology - are murderers repeat offenders? How often? Are there a sub-type of murderers that are repeat offenders and others who are not? How do we differentiate them?
Then there is the social aspect, how do we handle criminals? Do we jail them, and continue to feed them and provide them with accomodation? Do we rehabilitate those which can be rehabilitated? Should society bear the cost of feeding and housing its criminals? (Note that prison cells in the US are often full to the brim -- such that offenders scheduled to be jailed are sometimes let free.)
I guess I've come across as abit confusing, mainly because I think the original shape of your point was confusing as well.. I don't quite know where to start. But in all I would suppose that by isolating factors to just being metaphysical and ethical in this problem, it doesn't help to answer the questions that you have because bringing in other concepts like "selfish" and "assumption" far exceed the boundaries of the metaphysical and ethical into the social and so forth.
Your value system is also abit weird. Wouldn't killing every single sentient living thing in the world then be something that completely ruins the value system? Since value is relative and subjective; and in a universe without subjects there would be no value.. Oh well.
|2008-01-15, 15:55
|Link #22
Junior Member
The quantity of matter is constant, it is only it's relationship and expansion of space that stretches it. 6_6
My murderer didn't wish for the consequence, it was imposed on him. So he's stronger than the imposers but they outnumber him, i.e. democracy. :/ the rule of the common (often stupid) creatures who hold the majority ^__^
Eugenism isn't necessairily strength oriented.
I'm sorry if I couldn't satisfy your hunger for something intriguing, but it was just a thought I felt like projecting for some response. To correct myself in the process. And if you are as qualified as you say you are, this'll be more of a learning experience for me than it'll be a debate or a discussion. ^__^Touché
|2008-01-15, 16:31
|Link #23
I disagree with you all.
Join Date: Dec 2005
And do you believe matter is the only measure of value? That if I cut you in twain, in doesn't matter, because we'll still have two halves, equal to the whole?
Besides, you entirely fail to grasp the notions of choice, responsibility, and consequences. We, all of us, make choices hoping to get more good consequences than bad. If those choices include putting murderers in jail, hoping it'll be good for us, well, tough for the murderers, but they certainly can't come crying that they just chose to kill someone and since we all have free will, it's fine. By the same logic, imprisoning them is fine too.
|2008-01-15, 16:49
|Link #24
Junior Member
What you call 'choice' is a somewhat unjust decision nonetheless. When you put them in jail hoping it'll make your lives better/safer, you only end up retaliating, ruining 2 lives. Ethics aren't logical at all, so as I said.. 'metaphysically, we should be able to go around killing each other' and it wasn't an argument rather a discussion. You've only made it clear you side ethics and morality ^_^ But being the first one to actually entirely stick to the topic, I commend you.
I'm pretty sure you're still unclear, and so am I or I wouldn't post this for dicussion but rather as a definite article somewhere. It's a hypothesis for a hypothesis. ^__^''
|2008-01-15, 18:08
|Link #25
Soy Bean
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: OC California (nothing like the show)
Age: 29
While I do not agree with you on a person who does nothing with their life is worthless, this thread is still interesting.
|2008-01-15, 18:11
|Link #26
♪♫ Maya Iincho ♩♬
|2008-01-15, 18:18
|Link #27
Soy Bean
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: OC California (nothing like the show)
Age: 29
It is impossible to destroy/kill a 2 because it is not a physical item.
The essence of a human (their consciousness, spirit, soul, whatever you prefer) is also not a physical item and cannot be destroyed likewise.
Every person has some intrinsic value because of this.
Just my way of thinking about it, but it very easily could be the fact that I don't like the idea of death being the end of it all.
|2008-01-15, 20:40
|Link #29
Join Date: Mar 2006
So your life is predetermined, leading to what I said in my post that you quoted....
|2008-01-15, 21:00
|Link #30
An Intellectual Idiot
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: The Internet, ranging from the World of Warcraft------Deviantart----and much more!..My mostly WoW
Age: 26
|2008-01-15, 23:10
|Link #31
Feeling comfy
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Singapore
Age: 43
But dualism does not in any way suggest that life has no inherent, universal value of its own. It merely proposes the view that where there is life, there is death. Where there is beauty, there is ugliness. Where there is kindness, there is cruelty. One does not define the other. It merely is.
To put it another way, before you can truly live, you need to accept death. To understand beauty, you need to know what is ugly. So on and so forth. This by no means imply that your life is meaningless. Its merely a suggestion of how to live in acceptance of the Way (Tao).
Quoting from Wikipedia:
Metaphysics is the branch of philosophy that investigates principles of reality transcending those of any particular science.
In other words, metaphysics is what happens before physics. Its when philosophers try to think about the rules that existed prior to physical reality.
Epistemology, the philosophy of knowledge, is required for almost any discussion on metaphysics. Basically, epistemology is that branch of philosphy where we study what we can know.
There is one view that there are concepts that exist outside of our reality (absolute rules), and that we can know some of these concepts through rational thought alone. There is the opposing view that it is ultimately pointless to ask about these concepts, because it is humanly impossible for us to know these concepts. Thats because these phenomena lie outside of human experience (what we cannot verify through our physical senses, we cannot know).
What youve described about humans should be able to go around killing each other without consequences has nothing to do with metaphysics at all. Instead, youre talking about Ethics. Or, to put it more directly, youve merely expressed one out of many possible ethical systems, based on your subjective opinion that life is essentially meaningless (which I strongly disagree).
So, back to square one. What youve been wanting to discuss all along is really about Ethics, not Metaphysics. Youre looking for a way to think about meaning in life. And youve got yourself horribly confused in the process.
As Ive suggested earlier, read more. As someone else has already commented, youre chasing shadows.
Youre clearly someone who is interested in such matters of philosophy, but youll get nowhere by thinking in isolation other thinkers have explored the same issues youre thinking about, and theyve covered the ground in far greater detail than I can possibly explain. Youll make a lot more progress by doing further research on your own.
Good luck. I think you have potential, but you need to work at it. No one else can help clear up your thoughts for you.
|2008-01-15, 23:34
|Link #32
Junior Member
Uh.. your references are almost irrelevant to me, since I have never formally approached philosophy. If you feel everything I've said is a syncratic product of everything you've learned, you're mistken ^_^' I'll definitely look into it, even though this understanding is not my struggle to understand who I am but rather interest for more knowledge, it has countless benefits besides the ones you've pointed out x)
I suppose I'm content with the rest, but could you please explain the 'essence' of a 'life' and it's 'value' as you understand it? I originally thought of classifying it as epistemology myself but metaphysics seemed more plausible, an error in judgement I guess.
|2008-01-15, 23:51
|Link #33
Feeling comfy
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Singapore
Age: 43
I do suggest you try my references. You'll be surprised to find that you're ideas aren't actually very original. (Heck, none of us on Earth are truly that original -- if we can think of something, chances are, somebody else has already thought of it before, and quite possibly wrote about it far more eloquently than I can.)
"Life" is probably even harder to define. You have religious, medical or philosophical definitions to choose and adapt from. But one thing is for sure, "life" is not just the "absence of death", as you might have put it. To say that would almost be like saying a coin is defined by its two sides, heads and tails.
Well sure, every coin has two sides, but I suppose you can see from this analogy that this explanation alone does not define a coin. In the same way, "life" and "death" are simply two sides of an "existence". One does not define the other.
Within the context of this thread, I suppose I can describe "life" simply as the ability to "have experience". You don't have to be consciously aware of the experience -- as far as we know, only humans are self-aware, but that doesn't make animals or plants less "alive" than we are.
It follows that the collection of "experiences" is what gives life value. Every experience, however trivial, adds value to life, not least because every life approaches "existence" from a perspective that is uniquely its own. Your relationships with other people are a subset of these "experiences". You also have your memories, your own thoughts, your biological needs, and your sensory perceptions. Together, these are all a part of what makes you a unique individual.
Which is why, from a narrow point of view, it would be morally wrong to take a life. Because every life is a unique instance that may never occur again. It has inherent value of its own.
But, when it comes to ethical systems, we realise that there are endless exceptions to that moral proposition, "Thou shalt not kill." That is what makes moral philosophy interesting (or frustrating) to study.
Last edited by TinyRedLeaf; 2008-01-16 at 01:22. Reason: Extended to include my explanations of "life" and "value".
|2008-01-16, 02:40
|Link #34
Join Date: Mar 2006
Value is subjective. Is a man like Hitler considered "valuable"? He certainly was influential. Perhaps Einstein? What about suicide bombers? Nuns? What about your neighbor? His friends?
To quote one of my favorite anime: No matter where you are, everyone is connected.
To presume you have affect on others is ignoring their effect on you. One influences the other. Someone gets a flat tire. Creates a traffic jam. People stuck waiting get angry. Someone has a fit of road rage. Cuts someone off by speeding around other cars. The person he cuts off swerves. Hits the guardrail. His car is damaged. He files a report with the police. The police arrest the guy who had road rage. Man who has road rage has to go to anger management and pays a large fine. See where I'm going with this?
It's fate. You, personally, have free will to decide. But everything about the universe, the system you live in, ultimately influences everything you do. So you go left instead of right, events will just play out accordingly. Because you cannot see the future, you cannot understand the events leading to your decision until after you have made it.
So when it comes to value, again it's not up to you to decide your relevance to the world. How that value is measured ultimately comes down to personal belief. To some it holds none. To others it's more precious than anything else in the universe.
Simply by existing, you influence the events of everything else. Those events shape you and others, making things as they are now. To tug on the strings of that tapestry would cause the whole thing to unravel.
And yes, it is a fun thread. It's interesting to see others thoughts on this kind of thing.
|2008-01-16, 12:33
|Link #35
An Intellectual Idiot
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: The Internet, ranging from the World of Warcraft------Deviantart----and much more!..My mostly WoW
Age: 26
Hmmm..I see what you are saying. See, my belifs in all this completley contridict themselfs....I think this is because it allows me to think more on the subject rather then pass by it. I don't like the thought of there being fate because that says that I have no control over my life what so ever, so how I end up is because it was planed, not because I made it to be that way..but then I do not believe in coincidences....Useing your example "The flat tire." My mind makes me think that it could of just became flat at random, but then my mind then thinks "Why did it go flat?" Then I start to think that it didn't just randomply go flat, something had to make it happen....Which makes me think back in a turn of events that could have happend and why it happend, going towards you theory on how people are all connected. This then goes towards the thought of "Fate." It's just confusing me...I've been taught that I can make my life how I want it to be, and that "Fate" doesn't exsist, but then you read things like this, and understand more and more, and it's just going against what you were taught, which is why I have a problem understanding...Ok..not understanding...More like accepting...My mind process everything and thinks about it..and even when I feel there is no way to get around it, I always keep thinking of a way because I feel that it's not true....So "Fate" itself is not confusing, it's because of how I was taught and the fact my mind contridicts itself is what makes it confusing....
(I would like to know how old everyone in this tread is..I mean, most of the kids in my school would probably have no idea what we are talking about....So to see kids my age talking about this would be a step out of the stupidity and ignorince in my school )
|2008-01-16, 15:35
|Link #36
Junior Member
|2008-01-16, 16:03
|Link #37
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2004
I think it's great that you're starving for intellectual discourse.
Your reasoning isn't incompetent as much as it is unclear. Being able to build, test and express your case clearly is an intellectual asset. It takes time to hone in on that precision. You'll also find that most people of ALL age groups do not care much about these intellectual things, but that's a separate issue from possessing an elitist attitude about it. You have to be careful about it.
Lots of things to work though, I think you can definitely consider pursuing Psychology or Philosophy, and a sub-discipline within those that has a strong bent towards the social sciences. Just be aware that pursuing intellectual interests can severely diminish your future job prospects.. as it did mine when I gave up on a very promising start in Computer Science ; )
|2008-01-16, 16:48
|Link #38
Junior Member
Thank you for your sincere concerns : ) Phisolosphy is recreation as far as I'm concerned. My real 'strenghts' would be human biology and physics. And I'll (probably) pursue a career in Medicine. But as long as you enjoy what you do, I don't see it as much of a loss. Thanks for the encouragement and valuable advice x)
What ever got me interested in philosophy was to lay basics for any fiction/non-fiction writing I ever do, rather than the conventional shallow themes. A little metaphoria and philosophy really makes reading meaningful, and all I learn here will eventually be implemented to lay the framework of an (hopefully) intricate plot-line ^__^
|2008-01-16, 19:10
|Link #39
An Intellectual Idiot
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: The Internet, ranging from the World of Warcraft------Deviantart----and much more!..My mostly WoW
Age: 26
|2008-01-16, 21:23
|Link #40
Feeling comfy
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Singapore
Age: 43
If it's writing you intend to do, here's further advice. People respect intelligence, but they admire beauty. While they may praise clever people, they don't often find them very likeable.
There are many kinds of writing, but the most successful novels, poems, essays, biographies, autobiographies, etc, are not the ones that beat you over the head bragging about the "wisdom" they contain. The most successful ones are those which tell stories that remind us what it means to be human.
Good luck.
|free will, philosophy
|Thread Tools