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The American Experience during World War II
Michael C. C. Adams
On the eve of World War II many Americans were reluctant to see the United States embark on overseas involvements. Yet the Japanese attack on the U.S. Pacific fleet at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, seemingly united the nation in determination to achieve total victory in Asia and Europe. Underutilized industrial plants expanded to full capacity producing war materials for the United States and its allies. Unemployment was sucked up by the armed services and war work. Many Americans' standard of living improved, and the United States became the wealthiest nation in world history.
Over time, this proud record became magnified into the "Good War" myth that has distorted America's very real achievement. As the era of total victories receded and the United States went from leading creditor to debtor nation, the 1940s appeared as a golden age when everything worked better, people were united, and the United States saved the world for democracy (an exaggeration that ignored the huge contributions of America's allies, including the British Empire, the Soviet Union, and China). In fact, during World War II the United States experienced marked class, sex and gender, and racial tensions. Groups such as gays made some social progress, but the poor, especially many African Americans, were left behind. After being welcomed into the work force, women were pressured to go home when veterans returned looking for jobs in late 1945–1946, losing many of the gains they had made during the conflict. Wartime prosperity stunted the development of a welfare state; universal medical care and social security were cast as unnecessary. Combat had been a horrific experience, leaving many casualties with major physical or emotional wounds that took years to heal. Like all major global events, World War II was complex and nuanced, and it requires careful interpretation.
American Food, Cooking, and Nutrition, 1900–1945
Helen Zoe Veit
The first half of the 20th century saw extraordinary changes in the ways Americans produced, procured, cooked, and ate food. Exploding food production easily outstripped population growth in this era as intensive plant and animal breeding, the booming use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, and technological advances in farm equipment all resulted in dramatically greater yields on American farms. At the same time, a rapidly growing transportation network of refrigerated ships, railroads, and trucks hugely expanded the reach of different food crops and increased the variety of foods consumers across the country could buy, even as food imports from other countries soared. Meanwhile, new technologies, such as mechanical refrigeration, reliable industrial canning, and, by the end of the era, frozen foods, subtly encouraged Americans to eat less locally and seasonally than ever before. Yet as American food became more abundant and more affordable, diminishing want and suffering, it also contributed to new problems, especially rising body weights and mounting rates of cardiac disease.
American taste preferences themselves changed throughout the era as more people came to expect stronger flavors, grew accustomed to the taste of industrially processed foods, and sampled so-called "foreign" foods, which played an enormous role in defining 20th-century American cuisine. Food marketing exploded, and food companies invested ever greater sums in print and radio advertising and eye-catching packaging. At home, a range of appliances made cooking easier, and modern grocery stores and increasing car ownership made it possible for Americans to food shop less frequently. Home economics provided Americans, especially girls and women, with newly scientific and managerial approaches to cooking and home management, and Americans as a whole increasingly approached food through the lens of science. Virtually all areas related to food saw fundamental shifts in the first half of the 20th century, from agriculture to industrial processing, from nutrition science to weight-loss culture, from marketing to transportation, and from kitchen technology to cuisine. Not everything about food changed in this era, but the rapid pace of change probably exaggerated the transformations for the many Americans who experienced them.
American Labor and Working-Class History, 1900–1945
Jeffrey Helgeson
Early 20th century American labor and working-class history is a subfield of American social history that focuses attention on the complex lives of working people in a rapidly changing global political and economic system. Once focused closely on institutional dynamics in the workplace and electoral politics, labor history has expanded and refined its approach to include questions about the families, communities, identities, and cultures workers have developed over time. With a critical eye on the limits of liberal capitalism and democracy for workers' welfare, labor historians explore individual and collective struggles against exclusion from opportunity, as well as accommodation to political and economic contexts defined by rapid and volatile growth and deep inequality.
Particularly important are the ways that workers both defined and were defined by differences of race, gender, ethnicity, class, and place. Individual workers and organized groups of working Americans both transformed and were transformed by the main struggles of the industrial era, including conflicts over the place of former slaves and their descendants in the United States, mass immigration and migrations, technological change, new management and business models, the development of a consumer economy, the rise of a more active federal government, and the evolution of popular culture.
The period between 1896 and 1945 saw a crucial transition in the labor and working-class history of the United States. At its outset, Americans were working many more hours a day than the eight for which they had fought hard in the late 19th century. On average, Americans labored fifty-four to sixty-three hours per week in dangerous working conditions (approximately 35,000 workers died in accidents annually at the turn of the century). By 1920, half of all Americans lived in growing urban neighborhoods, and for many of them chronic unemployment, poverty, and deep social divides had become a regular part of life. Workers had little power in either the Democratic or Republican party. They faced a legal system that gave them no rights at work but the right to quit, judges who took the side of employers in the labor market by issuing thousands of injunctions against even nonviolent workers' organizing, and vigilantes and police forces that did not hesitate to repress dissent violently. The ranks of organized labor were shrinking in the years before the economy began to recover in 1897. Dreams of a more democratic alternative to wage labor and corporate-dominated capitalism had been all but destroyed. Workers struggled to find their place in an emerging consumer-oriented culture that assumed everyone ought to strive for the often unattainable, and not necessarily desirable, marks of middle-class respectability.
Yet American labor emerged from World War II with the main sectors of the industrial economy organized, with greater earning potential than any previous generation of American workers, and with unprecedented power as an organized interest group that could appeal to the federal government to promote its welfare. Though American workers as a whole had made no grand challenge to the nation's basic corporate-centered political economy in the preceding four and one-half decades, they entered the postwar world with a greater level of power, and a bigger share in the proceeds of a booming economy, than anyone could have imagined in 1896. The labor and working-class history of the United States between 1900 and 1945, then, is the story of how working-class individuals, families, and communities—members of an extremely diverse American working class—managed to carve out positions of political, economic, and cultural influence, even as they remained divided among themselves, dependent upon corporate power, and increasingly invested in a individualistic, competitive, acquisitive culture.
American Mass Culture, 1900–1945
Daniel Borus
The story of mass culture from 1900 to 1945 is the story of its growth and increasing centrality to American life. Sparked by the development of such new media as radios, phonographs, and cinema that required less literacy and formal education, and the commodification of leisure pursuits, mass culture extended its purview to nearly the entire nation by the end of the Second World War. In the process, it became one way in which immigrant and second-generation Americans could learn about the United States and stake a claim to participation in civic and social life. Mass culture characteristically consisted of artifacts that stressed pleasure, sensation, and glamor rather than, as previously been the case, eternal and ethereal beauty, moral propriety, and personal transcendence. It had the power to determine acceptable values and beliefs and define qualities and characteristics of social groups. The constant and graphic stimulation led many custodians of culture to worry about the kinds of stimulation that mass culture provided and about a breakdown in social morality that would surely follow. As a result, they formed regulatory agencies and watchdogs to monitor the mass culture available on the market. Other critics charged the regime of mass culture with inducing homogenization of belief and practice and contributing to passive acceptance of the status quo. The spread of mass culture did not terminate regional, class, or racial cultures; indeed, mass culture artifacts often borrowed them. Nor did marginalized groups accept stereotypical portrayals; rather, they worked to expand the possibilities of prevailing ones and to provide alternatives.
American Radio and Technological Transformation from Invention to Broadcasting, 1900–1945
Michael A. Krysko
Radio debuted as a wireless alternative to telegraphy in the late 19th century. At its inception, wireless technology could only transmit signals and was incapable of broadcasting actual voices. During the 1920s, however, it transformed into a medium primarily identified as one used for entertainment and informational broadcasting. The commercialization of American broadcasting, which included the establishment of national networks and reliance on advertising to generate revenue, became the so-called American system of broadcasting. This transformation demonstrates how technology is shaped by the dynamic forces of the society in which it is embedded. Broadcasting's aural attributes also engaged listeners in a way that distinguished it from other forms of mass media. Cognitive processes triggered by the disembodied voices and sounds emanating from radio's loudspeakers illustrate how listeners, grounded in particular social, cultural, economic, and political contexts, made sense of and understood the content with which they were engaged. Through the 1940s, difficulties in expanding the international radio presence of the United States further highlight the significance of surrounding contexts in shaping the technology and in promoting (or discouraging) listener engagement with programing content.
American Urban Planning Since 1850
Harold Platt
As places of dense habitation, cities have always required coordination and planning. City planning has involved the design and construction of large-scale infrastructure projects to provide basic necessities such as a water supply and drainage. By the 1850s, immigration and industrialization were fueling the rise of big cities, creating immense, collective problems of epidemics, slums, pollution, gridlock, and crime. From the 1850s to the 1900s, both local governments and utility companies responded to this explosive physical and demographic growth by constructing a "networked city" of modern technologies such as gaslight, telephones, and electricity. Building the urban environment also became a wellspring of innovation in science, medicine, and administration. In 1909–1910, a revolutionary idea—comprehensive city planning—opened a new era of professionalization and institutionalization in the planning departments of city halls and universities. Over the next thirty-five years, however, wars and depression limited their influence.
From 1945 to 1965, in contrast, represents the golden age of formal planning. During this unprecedented period of peace and prosperity, academically trained experts played central roles in the modernization of the inner cities and the sprawl of the suburbs. But the planners' clean-sweep approach to urban renewal and the massive destruction caused by highway construction provoked a revolt of the grassroots. Beginning in the Watts district of Los Angeles in 1965, mass uprisings escalated over the next three years into a national crisis of social disorder, racial and ethnic inequality, and environmental injustice. The postwar consensus of theory and practice was shattered, replaced by a fragmented profession ranging from defenders of top-down systems of computer-generated simulations to proponents of advocacy planning from the bottom up. Since the late 1980s, the ascendency of public-private partnerships in building the urban environment has favored the planners promoting systems approaches, who promise a future of high-tech "smart cities" under their complete control.
Angel Island Immigration Station
Judy Yung and Erika Lee
The Angel Island Immigration Station (1910–1940), located in San Francisco Bay, was one of twenty-four ports of entry established by the U.S. government to process and detain immigrants entering and leaving the country. Although popularly called the "Ellis Island of the West," the Angel Island station was in fact quite different from its counterpart in New York. Ellis Island was built in 1892 to welcome European immigrants and to enforce immigration laws that restricted but did not exclude European immigrants. In contrast, as the primary gateway for Chinese and other Asian immigrants, the Angel Island station was built in 1910 to better enforce discriminatory immigration policies that targeted Asians for exclusion. Chinese immigrants, in particular, were subjected to longer physical exams, interrogations, and detentions than any other immigrant group. Out of frustration, anger, and despair, many of them wrote and carved Chinese poems into the barrack walls. In 1940, a fire destroyed the administration building, and the immigration station was moved back to San Francisco. In 1963, the abandoned site became part of the state park system, and the remaining buildings were slated for demolition. Thanks to the collective efforts of Asian American activists and descendents of former detainees, the U.S. Immigration Station at Angel Island was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1997, and the immigration site, including the Chinese poetry on the barrack walls, was preserved and transformed into a museum of Pacific immigration for visitors.
Anna May Wong and Asian American Popular Culture
Shirley Lim
Anna May Wong (January 3, 1905–February 3, 1961) was the first Chinese American movie star and the first Asian American actress to gain international recognition. Wong broke the codes of yellowface in both American and European cinema to become one of the major global actresses of Asian descent between the world wars. She made close to sixty films that circulated around the world and in 1951 starred in her own television show, The Gallery of Madame Liu-Tsong, produced by the defunct Dumont Network. Examining Wong's career is particularly fruitful because of race's centrality to the motion pictures' construction of the modern American nation-state, as well as its significance within the global circulation of moving images.
Born near Los Angeles's Chinatown, Wong began acting in films at an early age. During the silent era, she starred in films such as The Toll of the Sea (1922), one of the first two-tone Technicolor films, and The Thief of Baghdad (1924). Frustrated by Hollywood roles, Wong left for Europe in the late 1920s, where she starred in several films and plays, including Piccadilly (1929) and A Circle of Chalk (1929) opposite Laurence Olivier. Wong traveled between the United States and Europe for film and stage work. In 1935 she protested Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's refusal to consider her for the leading role of O-Lan in the Academy Award–winning film The Good Earth (1937). Wong then paid her one and only visit to China. In the late 1930s, she starred in several B films such as King of Chinatown (1939), graced the cover of the mass-circulating American magazine Look, and traveled to Australia. In 1961, Wong died of Laennec's cirrhosis, a disease typically stemming from alcoholism. Yet, as her legacy shows, for a brief moment a glamorous Chinese American woman occupied a position of transnational importance.
Bracero Guest Worker Program
Ana Elizabeth Rosas
This is an advance summary of a forthcoming article in the Oxford Research Encyclopedia of American History. Please check back later for the full article.
On August 4, 1942, the Mexican and U.S. governments launched the bi-national guest worker program, most commonly known as the Bracero Program. An estimated five million Mexican men between the ages of 19 and 45 separated from their families for three-to-nine-month contract cycles at a time, in anticipation of earning the prevailing U.S. wage this program had promised them. They labored in U.S. agriculture, railroad construction, and forestry, with hardly any employment protections or rights in place to support themselves and the families they had left behind in Mexico. The inhumane configuration and implementation of this program prevented most of these men and their families from meeting such goals. Instead, the labor exploitation and alienation that characterized this guest worker program and their program participation paved the way for, at best, fragile family relationships. This program lasted twenty-two years and grew in its expanse, despite its negative consequences, Mexican men and their families could not afford to settle for being unemployed in Mexico, nor could they pass up U.S. employment opportunities of any sort. The Mexican and U.S. governments' persistently negligent management of the Bracero Program, coupled with their conveniently selective acknowledgement of the severity of the plight of Mexican women and men, consistently cornered Mexican men and their families to shoulder the full extent of the Bracero Program's exploitative conditions and terms.
The Car and the City
David Blanke
The relationship between the car and the city remains complex and involves numerous private and public forces, innovations in technology, global economic fluctuations, and shifting cultural attitudes that only rarely consider the efficiency of the automobile as a long-term solution to urban transit. The advantages of privacy, speed, ease of access, and personal enjoyment that led many to first embrace the automobile were soon shared and accentuated by transit planners as the surest means to realize the long-held ideals of urban beautification, efficiency, and accessible suburbanization. The remarkable gains in productivity provided by industrial capitalism brought these dreams within reach and individual car ownership became the norm for most American families by the middle of the 20th century. Ironically, the success in creating such a "car country" produced the conditions that again congested traffic, raised questions about the quality of urban (and now suburban) living, and further distanced the nation from alternative transit options. The "hidden costs" of postwar automotive dependency in the United States became more apparent in the late 1960s, leading to federal legislation compelling manufacturers and transit professionals to address the long-standing inefficiencies of the car. This most recent phase coincides with a broader reappraisal of life in the city and a growing recognition of the material limits to mass automobility.


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text: A look back at this week's top news stories, with "Power Lunch" panel. First up, CNBC's Eamon Javers has the latest details on information leaker, Edward Snowden. Kate Kelly reports SAC Capital investors pulled billion of dollars from the hedge fund and now the Justice Department is widening its investigation. And score one for the interns, as lawsuits surface over pay at Conde Nast, reports CNBC's Kayla Tausche.


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|2012-03-13, 14:37
|Link #621
Master of The Sword
Join Date: Dec 2005
I just don't see them going to reclaim their turf after WB's death. It was WB's name protecting those Island, with him gone, the deterrant was gone.
And after WB died, Jinbei went to Big Mom to get her to protect the Island. It seems up until that point, no one made any attempt to claim it as their own, least of all BB. If Marco & co wanted to protect the Island or could have, they would have.
|2012-03-14, 10:00
|Link #622
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
^Well, I guess whether or not Marco and the remaining commanders tried to defend their pops' territory depends on Blackbeard's strength around the time they started to take action. For instance, if he had already started gathering DF powers shortly after the time he had captured Bonney, then I could see how he would be a problem for the Whitebeard remnants even back then. However, it WOULD be strange for them to just stand by and twiddle their thumbs while their former turf gets stolen by a traitor. I mean, remember that it's not just the remaining commanders who could have taken him on, but the 43 NW crews that were allied with Whitebeard, as well. So all I can assume is that Teach gained a huge amount of power in a rather short amount of time is Marco and the rest were unable to reclaim any of their old turf during the skip.....
|2012-03-15, 13:44
|Link #623
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: U.S.
Also, a factor might play in that there are 40 pirate crews that even WB can't get them to officially join his crew, and only Allies, albeit being a really royal ones.
Either way, I doubt Marco has the charisma to united those crews completely. I also agree that those territories really are more protected by the name than anything else. I doubt even if WB still alive he can reclaim all troubled territory out right. He not Multiple Man. Besides Marco would have more issue to dealt with between the possible interference from BB and other Yonku to the new FA and his Marine.
Speaking of Bonney...
|2012-03-15, 15:59
|Link #624
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Heh, y'know thinking about it, it does seem kind of odd that Jimbei would take the time to tell Luffy about Blackbeard and the changes in the marines, but did not take the time to tell him the changes in the Shichibukai. But eh, whatever, just a minor point; oda's gotta keep some secrets from the readers or we would not have awesome surprises like what we got with the previous chapter.
|2012-03-16, 05:22
|Link #625
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: U.S.
That's an interesting point. The only thing I would point out is that it also depend on how Marine view the WB's crew.
WB's last words about OP might not allow them to offer the Shikibukai position to Marco and crew if they believe Marco and other command might know the truth behind OP.
|2012-03-24, 22:54
|Link #626
Join Date: Aug 2011
Just reading up on everyone's favourite clown and read this -
interesting... makes me think that because of the crew he now commands WG has thought him useful, possibly.
|2012-03-27, 16:29
|Link #628
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: U.S.
That's the scene with message bat which is seen in other Shikibukai appointment and the main recent why people believe he's a Shikibukai now.
|2012-03-28, 17:31
|Link #629
Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
|2012-03-29, 15:20
|Link #634
Buggy's poster does not have 'case closed' like the other Shichibukai.
Sorry to have popped your bubble
It's just a coincidence. Stop reading into everything, Jesus.
|2012-03-29, 15:33
|Link #635
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: 1431 Highland Drive
|2012-03-29, 16:19
|Link #636
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
When it comes down to it, those wanted posters don't reveal anything we didn't already know and that include Law's new status as that promotional was made AFTER his reveal.
In fact, many of the pictures they used for those wanted posters are not pics that Oda himself came up with for their wanted posters, but pictures that were just ripped out from the manga. Hell each of the supernova's even show of their pre-timeskip looks and not their updated looks like they did with Law. . Another thing I would note is the new pictures we see in the latest manga chapter which shows that starwhats except for Choppy, Franky and Robin have all gotten updated pictures; pictures that are not up on that wall. Hell, Moria is listed as "Cased closed" and yet we know that he was removed from his position and the WG claims he died; we understand he is not, but that's their official story; he should be either listed as "deceased" or his poster would have been reactivated if the public found out the truth of his survival. Frankly, that wall has A LOT of problems.
When it comes down to it, the poeple that put together that wall of wanted posters only knew what the manga or Oda told them.
In short, don't mistake a promotional item as "word of god".
Last edited by Slayerx; 2012-03-29 at 16:50.
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About Hubli
Hubli is a vibrant commercial town whereas Dharwad is known for music and literature. Hubli is about 190 km west of Goa and 405 km north of Bangalore.
Hubli-Dharwad has a bustling population of over 15 lakhs.
Hubli houses its textile manufacturing units and is an agricultural trade hub of Karnataka state.
It is extremely well connected by road, trains and air.
It takes pride in having Hospitals like KIMS and private specialty Hospitals with highly skilled doctors and surgeons. It attracts patients from all over the India.
It houses BVB College of Engineering & technology which attracts the best-in-class Industries and students.
With the new IIT Dharwad established , the growth of the twin cities is set to progress further and will attract more industries to the north Karnataka region.
Housing rental ranges from Rs. 2500 to 6000 for up to 1200 sq feet for a two bed room apartment. At present times, Hubli is experiencing a boom in the real estate market.
It offers people movie theaters ,shopping , religious places , satellite towns for investors.
Hubli has become one of fastest growing tier II cities in India.
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Watch The ::God Is Imaginary Videos On YouTube ::
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I have noticed that the two times I wrote about my and my wife's experiences with the "supernatural", not one person here has challenged me or remarked on them.I wonder what that means?
Nah, none of that stuff. For me it manifests mainly as fear of the dark. I get spooky feelings that *something* is behind me or waiting around a dark corner or creeping up just out of sight.
I love it--I would have thought all you (us) hardcore atheists would be strutting around all fearless in the face of a dark and spooky house. I was nervous to say that, yeah, I would be spooked in that situation even though I know ghosts don't exist.Glad to know that we (mostly) have some chinks in our armor.
This might be an opportune thread to repeat one of your stories.
Many years ago I was to take a plane to the UK but some feeling was strong in me not to take that plane. I did anyway and nothing happened.
My ex-wife and I went out one evening and I set the alarm. When we returned we went up to bed but I checked the second bedroom and found the bed there (a large heavy bed) had been rotated 90 degrees. The alarm showed no entry into the house while we were away. Twice the bed we slept in vibrated vigorously and there was no attachment that could have caused that. My ex-wife and I both experiened these shaking episodes when we in the bed.
And no, an old Cherokee did not tell me this story...
Quote from: neopagan on August 29, 2013, 07:11:52 AMAnd no, an old Cherokee did not tell me this story...Good thing, because if he found you told it, he might Sioux you!! HAW HAW HAW HAW
On the original post, I think you are making a minor error.What you are is a skeptic. So am I.Atheism, IMO, is just a subset of skepticism. Skeptical on the concept "A god or gods exist."Angels and Demons, as a concept, seem to be, at least in Western culture, dependent on a god or gods existence...and therefore are covered under atheism.Ghosts do not have the same level of cultural dependency.
Actually it doesn't. One could conceivably be all-powerful but not exceptionally intelligent.


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I've been away from the blog. A long end-of-year vacation was followed by a bout of bronchitis that kept me out of work for several days. Then, it was right back into court to cover the latest trial in the Catholic clergy sex-abuse scandal.
Guns and gun crimes continue dominating the news but two cases this month got my attention because the killers used the oldest weapon in the book. Before Cain brained Abel with the jawbone of an ass, there was the human fist and these two Philly cases showed just how easy it is to cross the line from assault to homicide.
The first case was the Jan. 4 guilty plea and sentencing of one of three men charged in the Jan. 14, 2012 killing of Kevin Kless during an early-morning altercation in Old City.
Police said Kless, 23, a bright, talented Center City insurance executive and freshly minted grad of Temple's Fox School of Business, and his girlfriend and another female friend were walking at Fourth and Chestnut after an evening of clubbing in Old City. At about 2:30 a.m. Kless tried to hail a cab and cursed loudly when the taxi kept going.
If Kless' curses were lost on the cabbie, they hit home with three men in a car behind the cab who thought the words were aimed at them. Two men left the car, surprised Kless and began hitting him. They finished, left Kless standing and went back to the car. Their companion, the driver, then walked up and punched Kless once in the head.
For Kless, it could have been nothing more than the start of a long night's journey into day. Instead, the single punch authorities say was thrown by 21-year-old Steven Ferguson, of Fox Chase, tore a blood vessel in his Kless' neck. Kless, say authorities, was essentially dead before he hit the ground.
Ferguson and Kenneth Enriquiz-Santiago, 20, of Juniata Park, are awaiting trial for third-degree murder. Enriquiz's cousin Felix Carrillo, 24, of Olney, who was just shy of a business degree from Philadelphia Community College, pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and was sentenced to two to five years in prison.
A week later and 23-year-old Gerard Shaffer Jr. was in front of a Philadelphia Common Pleas Court jury, sobbing his way through an effort to convince jurors that he did not mean to kill a 54-year-old alcoholic pedestrian during a road-rage confrontation between the pedestrian and Shaffer's father.
The incident that ended in Mark Wallace's death began about 7:30 p.m. on April 8, 2010. Witnesses testified that Wallace was crossing the intersection and walked in front of Shaffer Sr.'s gold Dodge Durango, stopped eastbound on Fairdale at the light.
Shaffer began honking his horn and swearing at Wallace to get out of the way; Wallace yelled back that "I have the right of way."
Witnesses said Shaffer Sr. parked the SUV, got out and pursued Wallace on foot north on Knights Road and confronted him at the entrance to a gas station. Wallace held his hands up and backed away, witnesses testified, repeating that he "had the right of way." Shaffer pushed Wallace in the chest and knocked him back several steps. Wallace approached and threw a punch and the pair started fighting.
Shaffer Jr. got out of the SUV and ran to the fight calling after his father. The younger Shaffer testified that he grabbed Wallace and they fell to the ground; Wallace apparently struck his head and became unconscious. Witnesses said Shaffer Jr. pushed his father out of the way, grabbed Wallace in a bear hug and flipped him over his shoulder and headfirst into the concrete.
Wallace, according to the autopsy, died of massive brain injuries.
On Jan. 14, the jury found Shaffer Jr. guilty of involuntary manslaughter rather than third-degree murder. He still faces up to five years in prison when he is sentenced on March 8. His father died of a heart attack before he could be tried.
Philadelphia police statistics say the homicides of Kevin Kless and Mark Wallace are among less than five-percent of all killings. No surprise: guns are the weapons used in the overwhelming majority of murders.
So what's the take-away from this? The human body, for all its resilience, is also incongruously fragile. If popular culture makes gunplay seem without consequence, fisticuffs seem positively benign. The reality is that guns are more efficient but the impact of a single punch – regardless of intent or provocation – can be just as deadly.


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Molster Administrator
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Hardcore mode is not a difficulty but a different mode that still plays through the difficulties and it meant as a challenge to players.
- Hardcore characters can not be played after dying once in the game.
- In Diablo III, when a hardcore character dies, it DOES lose all its gear.
- Hardcore mode is unlocked when a softcore character reaches level 10.
- Blizzard will never add a way to resurrect hardcore characters.
- The Hall of Heroes will be available to look at previously killed character stats.
- Players are able to keep up to ten dead characters in the Hall of Heroes.
- There is no difference in game play from normal and hardcore mode.
- The RMAH is not available for Hardcore characters, they do have access to the gold AH tho.
- Shared stash will not be shared between softcore and hardcore characters on the same account.
- Artisan progress will also not be shared between softcore and hardcore characters.


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Gianna wrote:I just had that moment when you hear a song and it takes you RIGHT BACK to a time, a place, a feeling...it was awesome. The song was "Roxanne" by The Police and it will forever take me back to working on the newspaper and yearbook in high school. The senior that I was SO IN LOVE WITH loved that song, and he used to blast it from his boom box (that's right...I just said boom box) from inside the darkroom while he was developing photos and screech right along with Sting. It was glorious.
What song takes YOU back and to where/when?
"Paradise by the Dashboard Lights" will always remind me of all those blissful days I spent riding around with my bestie in our cars when we were teenagers singing along at the top of our lungs.


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Body of Reynolds to lie in state
The body of former taoiseach Albert Reynolds will lie in state today in Dublin's Mansion House for members of the public to file past his coffin and pay their respects.
His remains will repose in the Oak Room of the Lord Mayor of Dublin's official residence on Dawson Street before a formal reception at the Sacred Heart Church in Donnybrook later in the evening.
Planning is continuing for the full State funeral on Monday, with Mass expected to start at midday. The service will be broadcast outside for those who cannot get a seat in the church.
A full state funeral will be held for former Taoiseach Albert Reynolds
Mourners arrived at locations throughout the country yesterday to sign books of condolence in memory of the late ex-leader.
In his former constituency Longford, people gathered to sign messages of sympathy in books at Dublin's GPO, Government Buildings and City Hall.
There were also sympathisers paying their respects to the ex-premier at Leinster House, Mansion House and Fianna Fail's headquarters on Lower Mount Street in the capital.
The Irish Tricolor flew at half mast over government buildings.
The businessman, showband promoter and politician was remembered as a courageous peacemaker after he died on Thursday, aged 81, following a long illness.
Sir John Major, who signed the 1993 Downing Street Declaration with Mr Reynolds that paved the way for the Good Friday Agreement and lasting peace, remembered Mr Reynolds as the leader who made things happen.
The ex-prime minister described him as a friend and a politician deserving of his place in history.
Mr Reynolds, who had been suffering from Alzheimer's disease, is survived by his wife Kathleen, two sons and five daughters.
Born in November 1932 in Rooskey, Co Roscommon, he was elected to the Irish parliament in 1977 and went on to become Taoiseach in February 1992.
Former US president Bill Clinton said Mr Reynolds worked hard and risked much to advance the peace process.
"His leadership alongside British prime minister John Major was instrumental in laying the foundation for the Good Friday Agreement, and our world owes him a profound debt of gratitude," he said.
"I will always be grateful for his encouragement, advice, and support in the peace process."
Mr Reynolds will be buried at Shanganagh Cemetery on the Old Bray Road in Shankill, Co Dublin.
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A way for the Carolina folks to get in touch.
Location: Anywhere, North Carolina
Members: 224
Latest Activity: Jan 25
Started by J S. Last reply by J S May 21, 2015. 3 Replies 0 Likes
Started by skepticmom. Last reply by shane brooks Jul 2, 2014. 9 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Heather. Last reply by Paul Martin May 7, 2013. 5 Replies 0 Likes
I expect everyone to be properly educated on the matter at hand before voting on amendments that affect such large groups of people, but that's obviously too much to ask for in the Bible Belt.
Nope. Most had no freaking clue. You really expect religious nuts to do a proper job of educating themselves?
I hope all of the bigots that voted for A1 realize that straight couples lost some marriage rights today, too.
The funny part is that once DOMA falls, the only people getting fucked will be those in a domestic partnership. Gay people will be able to go out of state and get married.
Why NC, why........ :(
Jules- Because it is! Yum!
I dunno, man. Half of the people in the urban areas of North Carolina are from out of state. You might get different results than you expect.
hello fellow carolinians, here i'm sure i can debate things i really care about, like why vinegar bases bbq is better than tomato
They passed the "moment of silence." I've already alerted FFRF.
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The Rebels practiced in full pads and held their first live session of fall camp on Tuesday.
The defense had dominated the previous competitions, Ole Miss head coach Hugh Freeze said, but the offense got the better of the defense in the live session, as sophomore tight end Evan Engram made a big-time catch on the last play to win it.
On a related note, freshman Sammie Epps has moved from tight end to the slot to add some size and physicality to the position. The 6-foot-5, 215-pounder joins sophomore Quincy Adebojeyjo, who moved inside to the slot in the spring, and freshman Markell Pack, who has mostly worked in the slot during fall camp.
"We have said all along that O-line, receiver and tight end are our depth issues, and as we get more into practice, you notice that we're a little thin in the slot, particularly with a bigger body that can do some of the things Laquon (Treadwell) did in our run game and screen game," Freeze said. "We decided for (Sammie's) freshman year to move him there. I don't know if he will remain there throughout his career. We'll see how his body develops."
"(Sammie) seems to be really trying to learn it," Adeboyejo said. "He's staying after and he's trying to get it. He's coming along. He will be pretty good. He's a big, strong guy, so he can make a lot of mismatches."
With Epps' move to the slot, senior Nick Parker and junior college transfer Jeremy Liggins are the primary backups at tight end. Parker saw action in 11 games with three starts at tight end, catching two passes for 11 yards and a touchdown, while Liggins has moved to tight end from quarterback.
"He's coming along nicely," said Freeze of Liggins. "He still makes mistakes mentally. Physically, he mixes it up a lot better than I anticipated. He's a physical blocker, which is something we really need. He's a threat doing other things when he's on the field for us too. We ran a little quarterback stuff with him yesterday, and he looked pretty good at that."
Adeboyejo Transitions to the Slot
Sophomore Quincy Adeboyjo moved from outside receiver, where he rotated with Donte Moncrief and Vince Sanders, among others, to the slot, where he looks to replace sophomore Laquon Treadwell, who moved to outside receiver.
From the slot position, Treadwell led the team with 72 catches and was second on the team with 608 receiving yards and five touchdowns. Adeboyejo caught just seven passes for 81 yards and a touchdown, but coaches and players have said he is poised for a breakout year and a similar uptick in production.
"He gives us a threat there who can do things with the ball in his hands that are a little different than what we have had," Freeze said. "He's quick-twitched and he can run. He has to continue to improve his ball-catching. He still has too many that are not natural catches for him that he should make. We'll continue to work at that."
The transition has gone well, Adeboyejo said, having also worked in the slot during spring practice. Coaches and players have also praised his route-running and ability to stretch the field vertically.
"Going from outside to inside, I know both of them," Adeboyejo said. "I still know most of the outside stuff. When I'm in there learning, just because I play slot, I don't just look at the slot. I try to look at all of the routes, so if I have to go outside one day, I would still know what I have to do."
"His route-running is really good," Freeze said. "He's one of our better ones at getting in and out of breaks and any kind of double moves. He's a strider too. If he gets in the open field, he's a guy who is tough to corral. We're excited about him."
Alford Ready to Contribute in Variety of Ways
Sophomore Anthony Alford does a little bit of everything.
When SiriusXM College Sports Nation Camp Tour visited Ole Miss on Monday, defensive coordinator Dave Wommack called Alford one of the best two or three athletes on the team.
A two-sport standout out of Petal High School, Alford was selected in the third round of the 2012 MLB Draft by the Toronto Blue Jays and signed a contract with the organization in June 2012 that allowed him to also keep playing football.
He started his college football career at Southern Miss, where he played in nine games with five starts at quarterback, as he led the Golden Eagles with 664 passing yards and rushed for 329 yards with eight total touchdowns.
After sitting out the 2013 season due to NCAA transfer rules, during which time he played a key role on the scout team imitating the likes of Johnny Manziel and Nick Marshall at quarterback, he entered fall camp as the backup Rover safety behind junior Trae Elston, in addition to taking snaps at quarterback and returning punts in special teams drills.
"I love him in a lot of ways," Freeze said. "He took some snaps (at quarterback) yesterday too. He looked explosive. He looked good at punt return this morning. Defensively, he's getting better and better."
"I think I can help with my athletic ability and my quarterback background," Alford said. "I know what's going on on that side of the ball. By playing on both sides of the ball, it helps me a lot with playing quarterback."
This past summer, he played summer ball in the Blue Jays organization, splitting time between the Bluefield Blue Jays (Rookie Ball) and Lansing Lugnuts (Class A). He hit a career-best .320 in 25 at-bats for the Lugnuts, before rejoining the Ole Miss football team.
"I had to get back in the groove because I fell behind a little bit being gone playing baseball during the summer, but I'm feeling good," Alford said.
Alford, who was ranked No. 6 among Blue Jays prospects by MLB.com entering the 2013 season, has three years remaining of football eligibility, and he's in no hurry to decide between the two sports.
"I feel like I haven't truly given football a shot," Alford said. "I don't truly know what I can do in football, so I won't know that for a year or two."
In the individual and team drills open to the media, the first-team offensive line consisted of sophomore Laremy Tunsil (LT), junior Aaron Morris (LG), sophomore Robert Conyers (C), junior Justin Bell (RG) and junior Fahn Cooper (RT).
Conyers also worked with the second-team offensive line at right tackle. He was joined on the team by redshirt freshman Davion Johnson (LT), junior Craig Frigo (LG), junior Ben Still (C) and redshirt freshman Daronte Bouldin (RG).
Junior Channing Ward, who switched back to defensive end from tight end, ran with the first-team defense in the team drill. He was joined by junior C.J. Johnson at the other defensive end spot and sophomore Robert Nkemdiche and junior Woodrow Hamilton at the defensive tackle spots.
At linebacker, senior Deterrian Shackelford and junior Denzel Nkemdiche ran with the first team, with junior Christian Russell and senior Keith Lewis the second team. Sophomore Tony Conner ran with the first team at Huskie, with junior Mike Hilton on the second team.
Among the freshman defensive backs, other than Kendarius Webster who continues to work with the cornerbacks, C.J. Moore worked with the safeties, while A.J. Moore and D.K. Buford worked with the Huskies. Senior Cliff Coleman, who has played both cornerback and Huskie, worked with the safeties.
Junior cornerback Carlos Davis, who Freeze earlier said was the leader at punt returner, fielded punts in special teams work, as did junior safety Trae Elston and Alford. In the same drill, A.J. Moore got a piece of a punt.
Freeze, on Denzel Nkemdiche: "I couldn't be more pleased with him and his attitude and leadership out there in practice thus far. He's always positive. He's kind of accepted what his punishment is, and he's gone through it very nicely."
Freeze, on the backup quarterbacks: "I'm disappointed, to be candid. They're not taking care of the ball well enough. Our timing is off. They seemed a little bit confused. I told (co-offensive coordinator) Dan (Werner) we have to get it cleared up mentally with them and get them playing faster. That's the way I feel after today's practice."
Alford, on being eligible to play after sitting out last season: "It's a lot different because it gives you something to look forward to. It makes me work harder because I'm actually motivated now than I was just going through the motions last year."
Alford, on missing playing quarterback: "I miss having the ball in my hand every play more than anything."
Alford, on the secondary: "I feel really confident. Like coach said, it's probably our first year having a true two-deep in the secondary at Huskie, Rover, free safety and corner. I'm really confident in knowing if one person goes down, we can bounce back and put someone else out there."
Adeboyejo, on Bo Wallace and adjusting to his stronger arm: "His arm is a lot stronger. Some balls we used to wait longer on, but now it's zipping in there. We have to get used to it. We do routes on air a lot. During the offseason, we did a lot of routes on air and we did a lot of 7-on-7. As we throw around with him a lot, it's getting easier and easier to get used to his balls zipping in a little faster than they had been."
Adeboyejo, on freshman wide receivers Markell Pack and Dayall Harris: "They're going to be really good. Markell is pretty fast. A lot of people say he's kind of like me. We both have dreads, so a lot of people think we look alike and run alike. Markell is going to be really good. Dayall, he's in the meeting room and he's asking coach question after question. He's really trying to learn it. That's a good thing coming in as a freshman trying to learn it off the bat."


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How and Why Exhibit
Achieve your business goals by exhibiting at the Nanotech Expo. The Nanotech Expo will showcase products and solutions in the following areas:
Who should exhibit?
NSTI Nanotech 2010 is the largest annual nano & small tech community meeting worldwide, and attracts the most targeted, influential and qualified attendees. Any company with a product or service associated with these technologies and solutions is encouraged to exhibit.
Nanotech 2010 is expected to sell out. Don't miss the most important event of the year by reserving your space today.
Price per 100 Square Feet:
- Before January 31, 2010: $3,000
- After January 31, 2010: $3,300
Each 100 square foot booth includes:
- Four (4) Booth Personnel passes
- Twenty-five (25) Expo Only passes
- 8' high backdrop and 3' high side drape (for in-line booths)
- Basic Signage
- Web listing with link to your company website
- Listing in the official Show Guide, including company description
Who will be attending?
More than 5,000 scientists, researchers, engineers, corporate business and technology executives, investors, industry leaders, Technology Transfer Offices (TTOs) and entrepreneurs who are the key drivers and buyers within Nanotech will join us in Anaheim. Attendees from more than 70 countries will attend the Nanotech Expo.
Reasons to exhibit at the Nanotech Expo:
- Sales: A business-focused community looking for leading products and solutions.
- Partnerships: Find distributors, re-sellers, financial partners and investors.
- Global Markets: Exposure to domestic and international markets enabled by nanotechnology.
- Product Awareness: Maximize visibility for your existing products and new product launches.
- Networking: Unparalleled opportunity to engage with other industry leaders.
- Media Coverage: Get your company noticed by over one hundred members of the press representing both industry and business media channels.
- Leadership: Nanotech Expo participants are viewed as leaders. Join them.
Contact us
If you are interested in exhibiting or sponsoring, please contact Denise Lee at +184.108.40.20601 or at .
Products and Solutions
Fabrication & Characterization
Electronics & Microsystems
Materials & Technology
Bio Analytical & Diagnostics


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60 Seconds With Lee Brice
After discussing his latest album, 'Hard 2 Love,' and the emotional toll being a touring artist can take on relationships, Lee Brice had a minute — literally, one minute — to talk about the truly important things in life.
We peppered him with questions about everything from which late night restaurant he's most likely to be found at after a show, to whether or not he's ever been arrested. The 'Woman Like You' singer was kind enough to oblige, giving open and honest answers… unless it meant getting him in further trouble with the law.
60 Seconds With Lee Brice
Question 1: Last book you read?
'The Plantation' (by Chris Kuzneski). I was bored for a few days so I picked up this old book and it was just about this family from Charleston.
Question 2: Did you ever get suspended or arrested in high school?
[laughs] Not in high school [laughs].
Question 3. What dream is harder to reach, the NFL or country music superstardom?
I guess it's probably hard to be a country guy because there's a lot of work and driving. Football, you gotta be talented, so I don't know. It's pretty hard. I didn't try the NFL, so I couldn't answer that. (Brice further explained he had a shot at the NFL before getting injured at Clemson University)
Question 4. Denny's, Waffle House, IHOP, White Castle or other?
Waffle House. Or Huddle House, if you're in the south.
Question 5. Topped, Smothered, Covered, Capped …
[laughs] All of the above.
Question 6. Who's the toughest woman in country music?
Well, probably Miranda [Lambert].
Or, believe it or not, maybe Martina McBride. [laughs] She's a little tough cookie. She looks all innocent and quiet and soft, but she's a tough cookie. She can handle the whiskey like the men can.
Question 8. What's the last album you bought?
Actually I just bought the Maroon 5 record that Mutt Lange produced ('Hands All Over'). It is so good.


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Designed by the renowned naval architect Andrzej Skrzat, the Delphia 24 One Design regatta yacht was developed as a joint venture between the Polish Regatta Association and Delphia Yachts boatyard. The objective was to develop a yacht that bridged the gap between high-performance swing keel and sport ballast boats designed for training and racing, that would also meet the requirements of recreational sailing. This result was a yacht that is extremely responsive to the helm yet its superior stability negates the requirement for trapeze wires.
This high performance yacht is made from the highest quality composite materials to ensure maximum performance and durability and its advanced hull structure gives it an ability to plane in strong winds. Its weighted daggerboard ensures stability for controlled sailing even in high winds.
The success of this yacht led to the creation of the Delphia 24 regatta society in 2006.


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Sandusky upset over PSU penalties
Jerry Sandusky is distraught over the NCAA penalties issued to Penn State's football program for the school's handling of his child sexual abuse scandal and maintains his innocence as he awaits sentencing, his defense lawyer said Wednesday.
Attorney Joe Amendola told The Associated Press in a phone interview that Sandusky told him that even if people believe he is guilty of the crimes for which he was convicted in June, it would be "ridiculous" to think Penn State administrators engaged in a cover-up.
The NCAA imposed a multi-year bowl ban on Penn State, invalidated 112 wins, fined the school $60 million and took away future scholarships. The university leadership said the alternative could have been a complete ban on playing games and has acquiesced to the penalties.
Sandusky was convicted in June of 45 counts of child sexual abuse, including attacks on boys inside athletics facilities at Penn State, where he played college football and became a successful defensive coach under Joe Paterno.
"He said, `To do what they're doing to Penn State is so unjust,"' Amendola said. "He loves the program and he loves the university."
Amendola said Sandusky has asked county jail officials to remove him from what is effectively solitary confinement.
"He continues to believe that the truth will come out at some point, and that he'll get another trial or another opportunity to establish his innocence," Amendola said.
A spokesman for the attorney general's office declined to comment.
Amendola said he expects sentencing will occur in September, although a date has not been set. Sandusky, who did not testify on his own behalf during the trial, has been writing a statement to read to Judge John Cleland at sentencing that will address all 10 sets of charges.
"Whether he winds up doing it despite what I tell him, is going to be up to him," Amendola said. "It's his life."
He said there may not be anything Sandusky can say to prevent an extended prison sentence, but Sandusky has "a fighting spirit" and is "cautiously optimistic."
Michael Boni, lawyer for the young man described in court documents as Victim 1, for which Sandusky was convicted of six counts, said the truth came out during the trial.
"We care, everybody should care, about what he presents at the sentencing hearing, because it's in all of our interests that he have as long a sentence as possible, hopefully life without parole," Boni said.
Amendola said work had begun on an appeal, which may not be filed until after sentencing. If Sandusky appeals to Cleland, rather than going directly to Superior Court, he would have 10 days to file, and Cleland then would have four months to rule, Amendola said.
Also Wednesday, Cleland struck from the record a filing made by Sandusky co-counsel Karl Rominger last month that challenged an order by the judge designed to figure out if lawyers were leaking information to the media. Cleland's order on Wednesday, citing rules of legal procedure, gave Rominger three weeks to file a new version.
Rominger had argued Cleland's demand for a sworn statement listing all material he obtained from prosecutors and gave to third parties would violate protections for attorney work products. A call seeking comment from Rominger was not immediately returned.
Also Wednesday, the NCAA announced it had picked George Mitchell, a former U.S. senator from Maine, to serve as Penn State's athletics integrity monitor for the coming five years, keeping tabs on the school's compliance with the sanctions and related matters.
Mitchell's duties will include making four progress reports each year to the NCAA, Big 10 and the university's trustees.


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Kori Bustard
(Ardeotis kori)
Facts about this animal
The Kori bustard is one of the largest flying birds, with a total length of 120-150 cm (males) and a wing length of up to 260 cm, and a weight of up to 18 kg.
The birds are mostly grey in colour, with a black crest on the head. Plumage is similar in the sexes with individual birds showing variation in banding patterns. In females the black on the crown and eye-stripe somewhat reduced.
Kori bustards have no hind toes or preening glands.
Kori bustards are generally silent, but when alarmed, both sexes produce a barking sound. They fly only when necessary because of their weight.
Kori bustards are omnivorous and the plant component of their food may consist of leaves, flowers, seeds, fruit, and pods. Animal prey includes a wide range of insects, other invertebrates, and small reptiles.
Did you know?
that the kori bustard is the heaviest flying bird in the world?
|Name (Scientific)
|Ardeotis kori
|Name (English)
|Kori Bustard
|Name (French)
|Outarde kori
|Name (German)
|Name (Spanish)
|Avutarda Kori
|Local names
|Afrikaans: Gompou
kiSwahili: Tandawala mkubwa
seTswana: Kgori
|CITES Status
|Appendix II
|CMS Status
|Not listed
Photo Copyright by
Frank Wouters
|Southern and western Africa
|Wide, open grasslands, and lightly wooded savanna
|Wild population
|The global population size has not been quantified, but the species is described as "frequen" in at least parts of its range (1996) (Red List IUCN 2011).
|Zoo population
|153 registered by the International Studbook, of which 89 reported to ISIS (2005)
In the Zoo
How this animal should be transported
For air transport, Container Note 17 of the IATA Live Animals Regulations should be followed.
Find this animal on ZooLex
Photo Copyright by
Winfried Buenken
Why do zoos keep this animal
The kori bustard is one of the largest and heaviest birds that can fly, and presenting them is of educational interest. With a view of building up a self-sustaining zoo population, an International Studbook has been established under the WAZA umbrella, and a coordinated conservation breeding programme is operated at the regional level by AZA.


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Diplomacy in Foreign Policy
Kenneth Weisbrode
Diplomacy's role in foreign policy is hampered by multiple understandings of what diplomacy is and does. A broad definition of diplomacy holds that it encompasses more than the promotion of peaceful international relations. Instead, it applies to the sum of those relations—peaceful, hostile, and everything in between. Thus, foreign relations—so long as they involve the interests, direction, and actions of a sovereign power—may be regarded as being synonymous with diplomatic relations, whereby foreign policy relates to the theory and practice of setting diplomatic priorities; planning for contingencies; advancing strategic, operational, and tactical diplomatic aims; and adjusting those aims to domestic and foreign constraints. This conception of diplomacy is functional: it emphasizes the roles of diplomats and recognizes that many other people perform these roles besides official envoys; and it illustrates that diplomatic settings—and the means, methods, and tools of diplomacy—undergo continuous change. The basic mediating purpose of diplomacy, however, has endured, as has much of its institutional apparatus—embassies, ambassadors, treaties, and so on. This is likely to remain the case so long as there are multiple polities in the world, all having to relate to one another.
Electoral Systems and Policy Outcomes
Stephanie J. Rickard
Policies as diverse as tariffs, exchange rates, and unemployment insurance vary across democratic countries. In an attempt to explain this cross-national variation, scholars have turned to the institutions that govern countries' elections. The institutions that regulate elections, also known as an electoral system, vary significantly across democracies. Can these varied electoral institutions explain the diversity of policies observed? This question remains unanswered. Despite a growing body of research, little consensus exists as to precisely how electoral institutions affect policy. Why is it so difficult to untangle the effects of electoral institutions on economic policy? One reason for the confusion may be the imprecise manner in which electoral institutions are often measured. Better measures of electoral systems may improve our understanding of their policy effects. Improved theories that clarify the causal mechanism(s) linking electoral systems to policy outcomes will also help to clarify the relationship between electoral systems and policies. To better understand the policy effects of electoral institutions, both theoretical and empirical work must take seriously contextual factors, such as geography, which likely mediate the effects of electoral institutions. Finally, different types of empirical evidence are needed to shed new light on the policy effects of electoral institutions. It is difficult to identify the effects of electoral systems in cross-national studies because of the many other factors that vary across countries. Examining within-country variations, such as changes in district magnitude, may provide useful new insights regarding the effects of electoral institutions on policy.
The Politics of Domestic Taxation
Lucy Barnes
All governments require revenue, and domestic taxes are the primary means for generating it. Yet both the size and shape of taxation vary significantly across countries and have been transformed over time. What explains variation in domestic taxation? To answer this question, recent scholarship on taxation has focused on the politics of taxation as a tool for redistribution. This has led to a wide body of research on the fiscal impact of taxation and on the introduction, evolution, and variation in direct and progressive tax regimes, particularly the income tax. Yet the focus on taxation as a redistributive tool yields a puzzle, as more progressive tax systems tend to be found where redistribution is in fact the lowest. Explanations of this paradox often center on the impossibility of high and progressive taxes on capital in the context of international economic integration. Not as well studied are taxes other than the taxation of income, and the deliberate politics of nonfiscal, regulatory, and incentive effects of different tax choices. Methodologically, problems of endogeneity are ubiquitous in the study of tax policy choices, but more sophisticated experimental work is well underway in research on individual preferences for taxation.
The Politics of Fires and Haze in Southeast Asia
Helena Varkkey
Transboundary haze pollution affects about half of the countries in Southeast Asia with varied intensities on an almost annual basis. Haze not only affects visibility, but also causes widespread health problems, transportation disruptions, and other socioeconomic issues. This haze, and the fires that cause it, has been a key topic for environmental politics research in the region since the late 1990s. This has largely been driven by one overarching objective: how to prevent haze from returning in the following years. However, conditions on the ground (mostly in Indonesia and in the larger Southeast Asian region) have been changing and evolving drastically. This has resulted in a very dynamic research agenda that has to keep up with these changes.
Within the context of environmental politics, fires and haze can be viewed through the broad lens of national interest. There is a strong link between the severity of haze and the burgeoning agribusiness sector in the region: that of oil palm in particular. Oil palm is a very important crop in the region, with Indonesia and Malaysia making up almost 90% of total global palm oil output. Hence, national and business interest theories have often been used as a framework for research in this area, with commercial oil palm plantations often being the unit of analysis. This includes research by this author, using the patronage politics framework. However, this has been called to question lately as these plantations face increasing market pressure to act more sustainably. A new group of actors that have since been highlighted are smallholders, either independent or in contract with larger plantations. There is potentially much to be uncovered with regard to the relationships between smallholders and commercial plantations, and how this affects patterns of fire use and global sustainability issues.
Related to this is the ever-evolving collection of local, regional, and national policies (and related enforcement issues) over land and fire use in Indonesia. One key area of contention is the use of peatlands. Fires on peat produce the thick, sooty smoke that travels across national boundaries, and are notoriously hard to put out. Political research in this area is heavily framed by a tough debate between the scientific community and socioeconomic concerns. While peatlands play an important role in the global climate change balance, at the same time, these peat areas face immense pressure for development fueled by the scarcity of land.
The regional context has also been an important theme for haze research. Haze primarily affects the Southern Southeast Asian subregion. And the major players of the palm oil sector also come from this region. The Indonesian palm oil sector is a vibrant combination of Malaysian, Singaporean, and local companies. And ASEAN has been the hub of cooperation and mitigation activities over haze. Hence, many scholars have searched for answers at the regional level. However, new national developments like Singapore's Transboundary Haze Pollution Act suggest that countries may be losing confidence with regional efforts, which may be an indicator for future directions for solutions as well.


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By Daniel Linskey
Catholic officials at St. Peter's Catholic Church in Gouyave, Grenada, honored the family of Olympic gold medalist Kirani James.
James, 19, won the 400-meter race in 43.94 seconds Aug. 6, beating the Dominican Republic's Luguelin Santos by more than half a second.
At the end of a simple Mass, parishioners and Father Sean Doggett, a member of the St. Patrick Missionary Society, presented flowers and a plaque to Kirani's mother, Annie James, on behalf of Bishop Vincent M. Darius and the Catholic community of Grenada.
"We are proud of your son and we are proud of you," said the plaque.
Before the presentation, Father Doggett said, "Behind every successful man is a woman, and the woman behind this young man of whom we are all so proud is his mother."
Kirani James' medal was Grenada's first in any Olympics.
Afterward, the athlete told the New York Times, "I think there are quite a few street parties going on … I just go out there and just try to do my best in terms of representing my country in a positive way. As long as I do that, they are going to be proud of me, and as long as they are proud of me I'm happy with that.


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UK Government Decontamination Service (GDS)
The UK Government Decontamination Service (GDS), is part of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). GDS helps the UK prepare for recovery following a deliberate act involving chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) materials, or an accidental release of hazardous materials (HazMat).
We provide guidance to the responsible authorities on the decontamination of buildings, infrastructure and open environment exposed to CBRN materials.
We also plan and arrange for decontamination operations to be available to the responsible authorities should the need arise.
CBRN emergency contact
For a chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear (CBRN) or major HazMat incident call the GDS on call officer on 0300 1000 316 (24/7availability).
When activating in an emergency, you will need to provide GDS with the following information:
- your name, organisation and contact details
- nature of incident
- location of incident
- support required from GDS
- if known, the locations of the Recovery Co-ordinating Group (RCG), the Science and Technical Advice Cell (STAC), and the Strategic Co-ordinating Group (SCG)
On request we will attend RCG, STAC and SCG.
If the above number is busy please call the Defra Duty Room on 0345 051 8486.
Our role
We're guided by theand are responsible for:
- providing advice, guidance and assistance on decontamination to responsible authorities in their contingency planning for, and response to, CBRN and HazMat incidents
- maintaining and building the GDS framework of specialist providers and ensuring that responsible authorities have access to these services
- advising central government on the national capability for the decontamination of buildings, infrastructure, transport and open environment
Who we are
There are 27 members of GDS staff based at MOD Stafford. Besides our regular office staff, GDS has an on-call team 24/7, 365 days a year, ready to provide advice and guidance following a CBRN or major HazMat incident.
Our priorities
Our priorities for 2016 to 2017 are to:
- set up an assurance programme for the GDS framework of specialist providers
- assess gaps in knowledge and commission research
- contribute to the the Cabinet Office's national risk assessment programme
- contribute to the science and technology programme of the government's counter-terrorism strategy
- contribute to Defra's CBRN programme of work
- take part in the UK's national and regional preparedness activities
Useful guides
We have published a detailed guide for contracting authorities who need to find approved specialist providers for decontamination services in relation to a CBRN or major HazMat incidents.
Related documents
Documents in current use include:
- Emergency preparedness – Cabinet Office
- Emergency Response and Recovery – Cabinet Office
- Protecting Against Terrorism– Cabinet Office, Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure and National security and intelligence
- Support for Recovery from Exceptional Emergencies – Department for Communities and Local Government
- The release of chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear (CBRN) substances or material: guidance for local authorities – Cabinet Office
Precautions to minimise effects of a chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear event on buildings and infrastructure - Department for Communities and Local Government
UK recovery handbook for radiation incidents (and associated publications)– Public Health England
- Nuclear emergency planning: consolidated guidance – Department of Energy and Climate Change
- Emergency responder interoperability: lexicon – Cabinet Office
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Telephone: +44 (0) 300 1000 315
Fax: +44 (0) 1785 21 6363
UK Government Decontamination Service
MOD Stafford


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Reading the forum on your cell phone? There's an easier way. We've enabled a Tapatalk app that makes browsing the forum a whole lot easier. Check it out in the iPhone or Android store if you don't own it already.
More like a little kid playing in a snowsuit in the middle of a busy road.
All this talk of The Cleft has me thinking about climbing it on Saturday.... Think this most recent snowfall will have any adverse effects? insight anyone?
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text: OL Na'Ty Rodgers of Pomfret, MD made his official visit to USC over the weekend. He did not commit and plans to wait until Signing Day before announcing. "It was a good visit, I had a good time," Rodgers said. "I got to meet a lot more people. It was an overall great visit. I hung out with Brandon Shell and pretty much the entire offensive line." Rodgers wrapped up the visit by meeting with Steve Spurrier. USC has been out front most of the time for Rodgers but he was less committal about that Sunday. "I'm not sure about a leader," he said. "I've got to get home and talk it over with my family." Rodgers said he's not sure about his visit plans next week between Florida and Florida State. He has also visited Maryland, Nebraska and Washington.


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Liveness: Performance of Ideology and Technology in the Changing Media Environment
Suk-Young Kim
"Liveness" is a crucial concept that traverses the boundaries of many academic disciplines; however, most prominently, performance studies, media studies, and music studies have been engaged in the ongoing debate regarding its shifting parameters. Not only does the concept navigate through multiple academic disciplines, but it also calls attention to the constantly morphing conditions of social interaction and community formation in an ever-digitizing world. Defined from a wide range of perspectives throughout history under specific sociocultural circumstances, the idea has brought critical scrutiny to the related questions of presence, disappearance, absence, and recurrence of the performing subject. At the same time, immediacy, temporality, and authenticity of human contact as well as human-to-nonhuman contact have also been interrogated under the rubric of liveness.
Interdisciplinary studies of liveness tend to inquire into three areas: ideology, technology, and ontology of performance, which are by no means fixed terrains but rather overlapping and corroborating regimes reflecting the transforming notions of liveness. As the medium of performance became more diversified and convergent over time, the notion of liveness accordingly became complicated. Liveness is no longer defined simply as "bodily co-presence of actors and spectators" (Erika Fischer-Lichte), but with historical specificity in mind and with an eye to the way "the idea of what counts culturally as live experience changes over time in relation to technological change" (Philip Auslander, "Digital Liveness: A Historic-Philosophical Perspective," PAJ: A Journal of Performance and Art 34, no. 3 [2012], 3).
There are no limitations to the performance genres and platforms that fall under the critical analysis of liveness: music, TV, stage plays, online media, live-action roleplay (LARP), and mixed-reality performance—"mixing of the real and virtual as well as their combination of live performance and interactivity" (Steve Benford and Gabriella Giannachi, Performing Mixed Reality [Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 2011], 1)—all wrestle with the ontological questions of what is live. On a more profound level, the derivative semantics of liveness, such as "live," "alive," and "life," point to the ontological dimension of the term as they collectively articulate the "ephemerality, mediation, reproduction, and representation" (Daniel Sack, After Live [Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press, 2015], 13) of human life.


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Everybody does something that "seemed like a good idea at the time," but later... maybe not so much.
Jimmy Kimmel cornered Ryan Gosling during his interview Wednesday, asking him if he had randomly handed strangers boxes of Girl Scout cookies from his car and then drove off.
"My friend Daniel and his wife, Diane... said that they were about to get on the freeway in Santa Monica, and you pulled up next to them--or somebody who looked like you--pulled up next to them and handed them several boxes of Girl Scout cookies and then drove off," Jimmy Kimmel said. "And as you drove off, Daniel said, 'I think that was Ryan Gosling,' and his wife said, 'Yeah, I think that was Ryan Gosling.'"
"So was that Ryan Gosling?" Kimmel asked.
"It seemed like a good idea at the time," Gosling said, looking a bit sheepish. "Look, I regret it."
"At the time I thought, this must be what Santa Clause feels like," he added. "And then I looked at this one person who's looking at me and I realized that through their eyes, I was not Santa Clause, I was just this creepy cookie guy."
Gosling said he still "has a bunch" of the cookies.
No word on whether he's a Thin Mint guy or a Samoas guy.


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Posted on Ok, Who was born on Feb. 29th that is blocked and can't respond to that thread ?
DISCLAIMER: Any posts on LJ are posted by individuals acting in their own right and do not necessarily reflect the views of LJ. LJ will not be held liable for the actions of any user.


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Fire safety chief raises concerns about vacancies
Vacancies in high-ranking positions in the Buffalo Fire Department are creating a safety issue for firefighters, according to the department's chief of health and safety.
Just a week after the Common Council approved $4.1 million in settlements with the families of two firefighters who perished in a 2009 fire, James LaMacchia, chief of health and safety, warned lawmakers that the department's large number of new firefighters are not receiving the supervision they need.
"My concern is that this is a liability issue, first and foremost, to the safety of our firefighters," he said. "Secondly, it's a huge liability to the city."
Fire Commissioner Garnell W. Whitfield Jr. disagreed that the lack of promotions is affecting health and safety.
"There are legitimate reasons why the promotions have not occurred," Whitfield said in a statement. "More importantly, there has been no impact on firefighter safety, as all shifts are being covered. We continue to review and monitor the situation and will take action as necessary."
LaMacchia stressed the importance of the kind of training that happens on the job, after the formal training is over, and said more than 140 new firefighters have been hired since 2009.
The department's 30 vacancies in supervisory positions have caused younger firefighters to assume more duties and prevented consistent leadership to address training needs on each shift, he said.
Firefighters who have trained for supervisory positions are waiting to be appointed, he said.
"It's like anything else, once you learn how to do something ... if you don't do it, you lose it," LaMacchia said. "They need to put those practices to work."
The department's chief of training, responsible for writing curriculum, has been vacant since last year, he said.
Federal workplace safety investigators wanted to know about the training records of the officers and firefighters involved following the 2009 fatal fire, he said.
The settlement with firefighters' families included the city's commitment to stronger safety practices. Though the department has made changes, the union representing firefighters is concerned that a requirement for an accountability officer, dedicated to knowing the whereabouts of each member of the crew at serious fires, has not been followed. Other positions unfilled include lieutenants and battalion chiefs.
"The absence of promotions at this point is pretty much unprecedented," said LaMacchia, a 27-year department veteran.
The city has not promoted firefighters to more-senior titles since August 2011, said Thomas P. Barrett, vice president of Buffalo Professional Firefighters Association.
Barrett, who appeared with LaMacchia at the Council's Civil Service Committee meeting this week, told lawmakers the city could save an estimated $200,000 in overtime costs by promoting firefighters to long-vacant senior titles.
The vacancies lead to an increase in overtime costs, as higher-ranking – and higher-earning – department members work more to cover shifts, Barrett said.
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Yamaha Introduces AW1600 and AW2400 Workstations
Yamaha\'s AW series continues with the introduction of the AW1600 and AW2400 workstations. Available in fall 2005, both units are fully backward-compatible with prior Yamaha workstations, and have everything you need to record your music anytime, anywhere in compact, road-worthy designs.
The mixing, routing and onboard effects found in both new models are based on the Yamaha \"0\" series digital consoles, so everything has the familiar feel of Yamaha.
The Yamaha AW1600 has been created for the home studio musician, adding many features to the AW16G while maintaining the same affordability. New features include eight combo inputs (all with Phantom power), USB 2.0 drag-and-drop capabilities for moving files onto you computer, 24-bit recording and a new Pitch Fix algorithm for correcting the pitch of vocal tracks. The 16-track design, Quick Loop Sample function, Hi-Z connection, Guitar and Mastering effects and sample pads have the familiar operation and user-friendly interface from the AW16G, while a powerful new SH3 CPU processor, generous 40 GB hard drive and unrestricted song limit provide endless possibilities for song creation and mix building.
The Yamaha AW2400 is a complete portable studio solution for anyone who is serious about recording and production. And, just like the AW4416, users can record, edit, mix and master without the need for external equipment. This new flagship of the AW line includes 24 simultaneous tracks of playback, motorized 100mm faders and the same expansion slot found on Yamahga digital mixng consoles for connecting the AW to professional studio gear. An updated 24-track recording system (each with up to eight associated virtual tracks) complete with sampling, editing, automation/snapshot and mastering capabilities, retains true 24-bit resolution, and records directly to the internal 40GB hard drive with no song size limitation. Editing is easy with ten user defined function keys and a large, 02R-sized LCD.
You can expand your system, create a live 16-track recording, or interface with external devices with a range of optional I/O interface cards from third-party developers and Yamaha--including the recently-released mLAN MY16 series cards. Upgrades continue with eight Phantom powered XLR and eight TRS inputs, Insertion inputs on Channels 1 and 2, four dedicated AUX outputs, an integrated Pitch Fix function, and seamless PC integration with USB 2.0 connectivity.
\"What sets the AW1600 and AW2400 apart from other stand-alone units is their new USB 2.0 capabilities,\" adds Billias. \"This allows you to drag and drop files to your computer to take advantage of the best of both worlds--stand-alone reliability, and computer software flexibility.\"


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SHENZHEN, China (AP) Organizers said Sunday that the HSBC Champions will become an official PGA Tour event next year.
They added that the total purse at the World Golf Championship event will increase to $8.5 million from the current $7 million.
The event is currently the only one of the four WGC events not fully recognized by the PGA Tour. A win is only considered a PGA Tour victory if the winner is a PGA Tour member, but the prize money is not counted toward the player's PGA Tour money list.
PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem said starting next year, the HSBC Champions will be elevated to the same status as the other three WGC events - the Accenture Match Play Championship, the Cadillac Championship and the Bridgestone Invitational. All three of those events are played in the United States.
FedEx Cup points will be awarded with the same 10 percent premium offered by the other WGC events and prize money will be counted as official money on the PGA Tour. The winner will receive a three-year exemption on the PGA Tour.
Organizers also announced that the tournament will return to Shanghai permanently in 2013 after being held this year at Missing Hill Golf Club in Shenzhen. All seven previous HSBC Champions tournaments had been held at Sheshan International Golf Club in Shanghai.


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Signs of trouble before meth priest's bust
BRIDGEPORT -- Looking back there were the usual warning signs, those nagging red flags. In Monsignor Kevin Wallin's case, there was the weight loss, the change in his usually meticulous appearance and his erratic behavior that concerned his parishioners and others, including church officials.
"He just didn't look right; he didn't seem the same," said Brian Wallace, spokesman for the Diocese of Bridgeport.
Then came the talk about inappropriate sexual behavior by Wallin, then pastor at St. Augustine's Church. "We became aware that he was acting out sexually -- with men -- in the church rectory," said Wallace.
The main concern was to rule out what Wallin, 61, was doing was criminal, in particular that he was doing anything inappropriate with children.
"We determined that wasn't the case," Wallace said. "There's a difference between sin and crime. We don't out people for their sins."
Since his sexual behavior was deemed "not fitting for a priest," Wallin was asked to, and did, resign in June 2011, just shortly after the concerns were brought to the attention of the Diocese, he said.
After Wallin left, a bag with "sex paraphernalia" was found in his room, Wallace said.
He said their main concern was to "protect the parish -- to make sure (Wallin's) behavior didn't hurt anyone." He added that, at that time, there was no indication of drug use by Wallin, or that he was cross-dressing.
The Diocese wouldn't learn about those allegations until after Wallin's arrest earlier this month on charges of participating in the conspiracy to sell crystal methamphetamine, as well as dealing the drug.
Ordained in 1984, Wallin, dubbed "Monsignor Meth," served in Bridgeport from that year until 1996, when he went to Danbury's St. Peter Church. In 2002, he returned to Bridgeport and remained until his resignation.
Despite attempts by the Diocese to get Wallin help at a mental health facility -- "basically an intervention" -- Wallace said he never completed any of the treatments.
"He said he wasn't ready or said he didn't need it," Wallace said. "You can't force someone with a problem to get help."
Wallin "hadn't come to terms" with his issues, Wallace said.
When a third attempt at intervention failed, Wallin was removed from his priestly duties.
"The bishop felt he had to take more drastic action," Wallace said, adding that soon after that, Wallin's life "began to spiral out of control."
That was in May 2012. That was also when the Diocese began to suspect there were other factors involved, he said. Although, he said, given what they know now, drugs might have been an issue.
Wallace said the Diocese hasn't had any official dealing with Wallin since that time, although he continues to receive a modest stipend.
"We don't want an indigent priest dependant on welfare," he said. "We take care of our own."
Federal investigators allege that Wallin was earning as much as $9,000 a week selling crystal meth.
Jamie Dance, chairwoman of the Diocese of Bridgeport chapter of the Voice of the Faithful, wonders why church officials weren't aware of Wallin's problems sooner.
"This is a man with a visible presence who was close to three bishops," she said. "Why didn't someone jump on this sooner?"
Dance said she's concerned about the health of the Diocese.
"But they seem to keep things private -- secretive," she said. When scandals, such as this, become public there's great damage to the church, she noted.
This includes the honest, good and trustworthy priests "who are left to explain another scandal" to their congregation, she said.
Wallace said they aren't sure "what provoked" the change in Wallin's behavior, nor will they likely ever know.
"He was very accomplished, very well liked, a successful priest," he said. "He did a lot of good for a lot of people."
He said there was never any problem with Wallin -- until his inappropriate behavior became an issue.
"People should think of this in terms of a family," Wallace said. "Most, or many families, have people with mental health issues or an addiction of some sort. It can tear a family apart."
He said it's agonizing to lose that person: "It's very similar here" with Wallin, he said.
Wallace said they're not downplaying the fact that the charges Wallin is facing are very serious ones.
"All I can say is that he's not the person people remember," he said.
Staff writer Amada Cuda contributed to this story.