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For profits, obviously. Divesting from fossil fuel would lose business and lower profits, so the thinking goes. But is this true? A study finds ethical banks are just as profitable as major banks. If a mainstream bank adopts sustainable banking principles can they realistically expect to maintain profits? I look into the study's methodology and see what a major bank can take away from the findings.
The report "The Power of Sustainability-Focused Banking 2015" (PDF) was prepared by the not-for-profit Global Alliance for Banking on Values. It compares the financial performances of 25 ethical banks to 30 major banks in the world over a ten year period from 2004 to 2014. The group of major banks—including Deutsche Bank, JPMorgan Chase, Bank of China, HSBC—are the largest and systemically important financial institutions in the world. The group of ethical banks—including from Canada Vancity, Affinity Credit Union, and Assiniboine Credit Union—are banks guided by the Triple Bottom Line approach on people, planet, and profit, maintain a high degree of transparency in their governance and reporting, and other principles of sustainable banking.
The study finds ethical banks are just as profitable as major banks. In the two main metrics used, the ten year average return on assets (RoA) of the ethical banks was 0.63% per year, beating the major banks' 0.52% per year. For the return on equity (RoE), the ethical banks' average was 8.4% per year, losing slightly to the major banks' 8.9% per year. The report also finds the ethical banks' performances are less volatile. The major banks had higher returns in the run-up to 2008 but suffered greatly during the stock market crash while the ethical banks sailed through 2008 unharmed.
So these findings show ethical banks have comparable profits to major banks. Should major banks adopt these sustainability principles then? We know Triple Bottom Line banking brings good to people and planet, and that may be good enough reasons for some to pursue it. But will it also bring good profits? If a mainstream bank were to adopt the sustainability banking principles as cited in the report—e.g. be radically transparent, actively use finance to do good, assist their clients to become more sustainable—could they realistically expect to maintain profits and returns to shareholders? I take a look at the study's methodology to see if the findings are fair and reasonable.
Are the study's metrics chosen fairly or cherry picked? According to "How to measure bank performance" (PDF) by European Central Bank, return on equity is the most common metric for bank performance. The limitation of RoE is that it's not risk sensitive. Given the ethical banks' RoE are similar to the major banks' while being less volatile, this bodes well for the ethical banks. Other metrics often used by academics include return on assets (which is the other main metric used in the report), cost to income ratio, economic value added, risk adjusted return on capital, total share return, price-earnings ratio, and price-to-book value. So it seems the two metrics used are chosen fairly. In fact, the performance of the ethical banks might look even better if the report compares risk-adjusted returns since the ethical banks' performances were less volatile.
What about the size difference? The ethical banks in the study are all small. Can they compete with the big banks? How does the size of a bank affect its profitability? I found a recent analysis by The Economist comparing RoE of banks of different sizes. The results are surprising: among small, mid, and large size banks, the mid-size ones are actually the most profitable. The average RoE of mid-size banks (assets between USD$50 billion and $1 trillion) was the highest at 9%. This compares to the RoE of small banks (assets less than $50 billion) at 6% and large banks (assets more than $1 trillion) at 5%. The Economist finds economy-of-scale only works up to a certain point. Beyond that the benefits are minimal. Once a bank grows beyond a certain size and deemed to be systemically important, the extra regulatory restrictions imposed can substantially increase the costs of doing business. (See Big Banks Chop Chop, The Economist.)
The ethical banks in the study have $4 billion of assets on average (i.e. very small) while the group of major banks has approximately $1.5 trillion on average (i.e. large). Putting these two groups into the Economist's analysis would suggest they both have comparable RoE based on their sizes. Therefore it doesn't seem the ethical banks in the study have a size advantage or disadvantage over the major banks.
Do sustainability banking principles apply equally well to commercial banking and investment banking? The ethical banks in the study are primarily commercial banks whereas the major banks in the study are a mix of commercial and investment banks. How does this affect their profitability comparison? Do investment banks bring in high profits from services like mergers and acquisitions, derivatives trading, and other complex financial products?
Contrary to common belief, investment banking is actually less profitable. A 2014 study by the Bank for International Settlements, a global forum for central banks, found between 2005 and 2013 the average RoE for investment banks are 8%, below the all-banks average of 10%. Could this have driven down the RoE figures for the major banks in the study slightly? Possibly. Beyond this I did not find any further information. Until more investment banks adopt the sustainability banking principles, we do not know how it applies to investment banking and affects profitability.
Summing up, the two groups of banks in the study do have differences in size and business model in addition to their approach to sustainability. So it's not a straight forward apple-to-apple comparison. But I didn't detect any bias and I think the conclusion is reasonable and fair. From the data available, triple-bottom-line banking does not lead to reduced profit.
But how is this possible? The last time I looked into sustainable business and shareholder return, I found the greenest companies consistently outperform markets. To quote: "Time and again, in Canada and worldwide, companies that do the most in combating climate change have delivered financial returns that outperformed the markets. Fund managers and investors take note. The notion that progressive green companies must give up returns for environmental good is just plain wrong. It's wrong when we look at the global market in the last four years: green leaders outperformed the market by 9.6%. It's wrong when we looked at it from 2005 to 2011: green leaders delivered twice the financial return. It's wrong in the Canadian market in the last four years: green leaders outperformed the market by 56%." (See: The Greenest Companies Consistently Outperform Markets)
How could green companies devoting resources to fight climate change deliver better financial returns than non-green ones? Is it because they use their sustainability information to make better decisions to cut costs and manage risks? Is it because their more engaged employees drastically lower turnover rate and brought big savings? (See:LoyaltyOne lower staff turnover rate by 12% and Employee Engagement Drives Sustainability Strategy.) I don't know why. I don't know the exact casual links. Other studies (e.g. Waddock, Orlitzky, Schmidt, Rynes) have also found that a company's social performance and financial performance are correlated. Whatever the reasons, being green and sustainable has not led to reduced corporate profits. In some cases, profits go up. Sometimes way up.
This article was originally published on Carbon49
Derek Wong is a recognized expert at ShareGreen by Walmart, panel judge for Earth Day Canada, and moderator at Carbon Economy Summit. His innovative approach to employee engagement has led to case studies. Reach him by email or LinkedIn.


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Over the last few years, social media has become an integral part of our relationship with journalism. Journalism is designed to help us to understand what is true and what isn't. The last year has challenged that design, notably with the vote surrounding Britain's departure from the European Union, as well as presidential elections in the United States.
At the core of a lot of the debate were emotional appeals for people to back the vote to leave the EU, and to elect the controversial real estate businessman Donald Trump as US president. Many of these appeals were on Facebook, Twitter and other social platforms, in the form of text, video, or other means, as well as in various national newspapers and other parts of media.
Along the way, web sites emerged at the top of our social feeds and circled its algorithms containing a plethora of articles that reached trending status in a matter of seconds.
There was one problem. None of the information in those articles were confirmed to be true, nor were efforts made to verify it as credible fact. The articles were done in the hope to make the case for a particular belief or cause.
Welcome to the post-truth era
Those appeals and the rise of such content were at the crux of the thinking that led the Oxford Dictionaries to name post-truth its international word of the year this past week. Along the way, it has raised questions about the role of journalism, and the goal at the centre of its profession – to help us understand the truth, in an age where anyone can be a journalist, and can curate content on any platform – anytime, anywhere.
'Post-truth' named word of the year by Oxford Dictionaries https://t.co/nIv8uRdeyC
— Guardian news (@guardiannews) November 15, 2016
Social media has been helpful and harmful at the same time for journalism. It has been helpful in engaging audiences and informing them in new ways about various subjects, from the politics surrounding the EU vote and its prospects in the Supreme Court, to the mansplaining hotline introduced in Sweden, and why people take offence to mansplaining.
Yet, recent events have indicated where social media has been harmful. As the focus of content shifts to purely how much attention it can get instead of public service value, it is helping to create content that is focused not on fact, but on emotional appeal, on quantity rather than quality.
Seek truth and report it
The Society of Professional Journalists in the United States, of which I am an active member, encourages journalists in its Code of Ethics to seek truth and report it. That also includes verifying the details of every fact, and having an honest relationship with those who seek information.
Journalists have an obligation to be truthful with our audience. We enter this profession not to achieve fame or fortune, but to know that the work we do, whether it is found on the front page of the Times, broadcast on the BBC, or located on a web site, can help people go through their lives.
Truth is at the core of this work, whether you're writing on a gig Craig David gave in Ibiza, if the Spurs are at the top of the Premier League, or how Jeremy Corbyn responded to Theresa May during a debate in Parliament.
We must ask questions to find out the truth, no matter how difficult, no matter the reaction of others, and then report it. If the questions are answered, we report the answer. If one decides not to respond, we report their non-response or declining comment.
If you're investigating a claim on social media, you don't take it at face value. You question it by talking to the source and getting their side of the story. You counterbalance it with a response from the other side. Just because it is social media doesn't mean the rules for journalists change – it's simply just another platform to work with.
Impartial, accurate journalism remains essential to the development of democracy. Without journalism, our notion of truth would be significantly questioned, and the full story would be undiscovered.
Social media may have brought new audiences to journalists and news organisations, but it is up to us to bring our best to produce quality, ethically responsible reporting to these platforms. Journalism is changing, and irrespective of platforms, audiences will want the truth, and won't wait for Facebook, Twitter and others to reign in the creators of fake news and help us emerge from the era of post-truth.
We have to do it ourselves through the only way we know how – by getting up and getting the story, not half of the story, not even three-quarters of the story, but the whole story, and doing the best we can along the way. We owe it not to ourselves, but to the people around us – be they peers, flatmates, partners, Mum, your best mate, or someone on the other side of the world.
For it is for them that we do the most important thing in journalism each and every day – seek truth and report it.

subset: commoncrawl


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Baltimore pharmacist M.L. Cooper was not only inventive with his window displays [link: /], he was also a literal inventor. In October 1950 he was granted US Patent No. 2,525,867 for his "integral grinding and mixing mortar with integral pestle," a design he had filed four years earlier.
As always, the patent language is detailed and complex, e.g., "Another object [of this invention] is to provide the mating mortar and pestle each with a vertical horizontally curved portion that enables them to apply equalized pressure against particles of a pasty or powdry [sic] substance when the stirring of the latter causes it to adhere to one or both of these vertical surfaces of the mortar and pestle." (The full description can be read here) Or, as the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia museum curators described it, "Because the inside bottom of this mortar is flat rather than curved, its pestle has a corresponding cylinder-shaped base, which assists the user in reaching and incorporating substances near the wall of the vessel." In essence, the mortar and pestle fit together like puzzle pieces, using right angles, to avoid empty spaces between them and maximize the grinding surface.
Cooper's design was not quite as revolutionary and universally-adopted as one might have hoped – the Cooper mortar did not become the next Bunsen burner, Petri dish or Mason jar. Nonetheless it was an effective and popular tool, and it has been cited in later inventions as diverse as a "rock and ore pulverizer or crusher device" and a "hand holdable baton . . . for crushing food material."
Post by JMM Collections Manager Joanna Church.


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British physicist and chemist, best known for his discoveries of electromagnetic induction and of the laws of electrolysis. His biggest breakthrough in electricity was his invention of the electric motor.
Born in 1791 to a poor family in London, Michael Faraday was extremely curious, questioning everything. He felt an urgent need to know more. At age 13, he became an errand boy for a bookbinding shop in London. He read every book that he bound, and decided that one day he would write a book of his own. He became interested in the concept of energy, specifically force. Because of his early reading and experiments with the idea of force, he was able to make important discoveries in electricity later in life. He eventually became a chemist and physicist.
Michael Faraday built two devices to produce what he called electromagnetic rotation: that is a continuous circular motion from the circular magnetic force around a wire. Ten years later, in 1831, he began his great series of experiments in which he discovered electromagnetic induction. These experiments form the basis of modern electromagnetic technology.In 1831, using his "induction ring", Michael Faraday made one of his greatest discoveries - electromagnetic induction: the "induction" or generation of electricity in a wire by means of the electromagnetic effect of a current in another wire. The induction ring was the first electric transformer.
In a second series of experiments in September he discovered magneto-electric induction: the production of a steady electric current. To do this, Faraday attached two wires through a sliding contact to a copper disc. By rotating the disc between the poles of a horseshoe magnet he obtained a continuous direct current. This was the first generator. From his experiments came devices that led to the modern electric motor, generator and transformer.
Michael Faraday continued his electrical experiments. In 1832, he proved that the electricity induced from a magnet, voltaic electricity produced by a battery, and static electricity were all the same. He also did significant work in electrochemistry, stating the First and Second Laws of Electrolysis. This laid the basis for electrochemistry, another great modern industry.


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ANIMAFEST PRO | ANIMAFEST SCANNER IIII - Simpozij o suvremenoj animaciji | PANEL 1: THE CHANGING ROLES OF FESTIVALS
Practice First, Theory Second. Reflecting on Academic Symposia as a Trend at Animation Festivals - Jürgen Hagler - Upper Austria University of Applied Sciences, Franziska Bruckner - ASIFA-Austria, AG Animation
6/06 UTO 12:10 - 12:40 Chilloutka, Ilica 15/1
At first there was practice, then festivals, and theory followed. Compared to the animation production, which is older than the medium film itself, festivals and theory in this area started with a delay. While animation programs where shown in film festivals like Cannes since the mid-1940s, the first animation festival in Annecy, France was founded in 1960, followed by several short-lived events in Romania, Italy and Tokyo and finally in 1972 by the second oldest festival up to date, Animafest Zagreb. Animation theory evolved in the late 1980s in the Anglo-American area with associations like the Society for Animation Studies, following its 'big sister' film studies. Expanding ever since as a research area, European animation studies in e.g. France, German-speaking countries, Poland or Croatia have been catching up in recent years by organizing theoretical conferences and publications.
A vivid synergy between practice, festivals and theory has always been a key factor for establishing a platform for the art form and culture of animation. However, in the past few years a trend could be observed towards a more intense interaction between animation festivals and theory. Animation festivals are hosting theoretical and scientific symposia or conferences, which are open for artist positions and insights into the industry.
At the beginning of the lecture a short reflection of the concept of Animafest Scanner itself is followed by an introduction of the Symposium Expanded Animation at the media festival Ars Electronica Linz. The talk will subsequently focus onthe multi-layered academic symposia at the Festival of Animated Film ITFS and the International Conference on Animation, Effects, VR, Games and Transmediain Stuttgart. These case studies will reveal the blurring boundaries between art, science, theory and industry, as well as the specificities of the interplay between artists, practitioners, scholars, curators and festival visitors in different formats.
Dr. Franziska Bruckner (Salzburg, 1981) studied theatre, film and media studies at the University of Vienna, as well as painting and animation at the University of Applied Arts Vienna. From 2009 to 2013 she was praedoc assistant at the department of theatre, film and media studies in Vienna and on the editorial board of the e-journal rezens.tfm. Since 2013 she works as lecturer of animation theory and practice at the University of Viennaand University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria. She is a co-coordinator of the AG Animation of the German-speaking Society ofMedia Studies and board member of ASIFA Austria. Her main research and publications focus on animation, experimental film, as well asrelations between fine arts and film.
Jürgen Hagler studied art education, experimental visual design and cultural studies at the University for Art and Design in Linz, Austria.He currently works as a professor of computer animation and animation studies in the Digital Media Department at the Hagenberg Campus of the University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria. Since 2014 he is the head of the research group Playful Interactive Environments with a focus on the investigation of new and natural playful forms of interaction and the use of playful mechanisms to encourage specific behavioural patterns.Since 2009 he is the curator of the Ars Electronica Animation Festival and initiator and organizer of the symposium Expanded Animation.


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Mark Dorf: Transposition
Mark Dorf is constantly challenging the viewer to reconsider the way we consume a photograph and the way we envisage the landscape. His new project, Transposition, recently opened at the Postmasters Gallery in New York and the work and installation are so unique that I asked Mark to write about his process, concepts, and installation. His essay follows.
Mark Dorf is a New York based artist whose creative practice employs a mixture of photography, digital media, and sculpture. In his most recent work, Dorf explores society's perceptions of and interactions with the digital domain, urban and architectural environments, and the "Natural Landscape". With an interest in technology and science, he scrutinizes and examines the influence of the information age in order to understand our curious habitation of the 21st century world.
Dorf has exhibited internationally including at Galerie Philine Cremer, Dusseldorf, DE, 2016; Division Gallery, Toronto, 2015; Postmasters Gallery, New York, 2015; Outlet Gallery, Brooklyn, 2015; The Lima Museum of Contemporary Art, Lima, 2014; Mobile World Centre, Barcelona, 2014; Harbor Gallery, New York, 2014; SCAD Museum of Art, Savannah, 2013; and Phoenix Gallery, New York, 2012. Dorf's work is included in the Fidelity Investments Collection, the Deutsche Bank Collection, and the permanent collection of the Savannah College of Art and Design.
Transposition by Mark Dorf
Transposition is a new body of work currently on view at Postmasters Gallery in New York City. The new works explore on the most basic level humanity's interaction between urban architectural environments, "Nature", and the technological landscape. Typically these three categories of thinking are seen as absolute separates – splintered understandings of our existence – when in reality all three of these modes of thinking are codependent, co productive, and all affecting. The compositions in Transposition represent the exchange of material and influence between these modes of thinking.
This series was originally birthed from a commission by the Fotograf Festival in Prague, CZ in the Fall of 2016 where I was asked to install and create new works for the festival inside of the Albertov Botanical Gardens. Working under the theme of the festival, "Nature/Culture", I was tired of this kind of binary thinking and instead looked to express the closeness of these two spaces through proximity based installations of digitally manipulated photographs and other objects such as plywood, glass, concrete, fake grass, fluorescent lights, and manipulated natural materials like bark and stone. All of the materials in the works are derivative of "Nature" in some way either through actual material, aesthetic, or function, but processed in a way that it is no longer representative of its original form.
Elements within the compositions point to these three modes of thinking – "Nature", architectural environments, and technological environments – but none are represented directly and absolutely. There is no landscape represented in the works, instead there is plywood, house plants, fake plants, fake rocks, fluorescent lights, bottled water, bark and images of botanical gardens shot in both the Bronx and Brooklyn; there is no architecture explicitly revealed in the works, instead there are psudo-architectural forms that are leaning against walls addressing the room in which the work itself is housed while simultaneously and literally holding up and supporting the other objects in the compositions on shelves attached to the forms; and there is no digital technology directly represented, instead there are images that are manipulated in order to reveal the malleability of the digital language itself expressing how easily it can shape and affect the way we think about archetypes and the subsequent effects of this fictional representation of reality which is believed to be true.
By bringing all of these components together within a conceptual framework, Transposition reveals an underlying vocabulary in our world that is not new, but is rarely addressed: one that does not seek an origin of material, or a return to "Nature", but rather one that sheds light on the constant exchange and transformation of material in our world. "Nature" is a fabricated idea made only to support our own self definition, a means of othering to create an evolved human identity that has risen above that of "Nature". Through erasure of these falsely defining categories, we are left only with a single identity of our planet, a definition that we so desperately need in our current day.
Posts on Lenscratch may not be reproduced without the permission of the Lenscratch staff and the photographer.
Xuan-Hui Ng In Coversation with Christophe PotworowskiNovember 29th, 2023
This is My Mom. Her Name is Denise. | Alayna N. Pernell in Conversation with Jasmine VeronicaNovember 26th, 2023
Native American Heritage Week: Michael NaminghaNovember 24th, 2023
Native American Heritage Week: Sarah Sense: HinushiNovember 23rd, 2023
Native American Heritage Week: Cara RomeroNovember 20th, 2023


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To become the innovative partner and delivering one stop shopping for a range of textile products.
To combine technology, innovation, experience, skills and responsibility to ensures customer satisfaction.
Discipline, Accurate and Effective.
Asietex is an integrated textile company engaged in the manufacture of textile products from yarn to fabrics. 85% of the fabrics topline comes from cotton/ rayon fabrics, the balance comes from polyester.
The factory equiped with a sophisticated machineries, a combination of Asian & European technology which has given us a competitive advantage and our workforce is well trained.
With these, we ensures the most effective and efficient use of resources. We are strongly competitive and proud to delivery a variety of high quality products to meet the demand of the global market.


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Santos v. Hutto (INMATE2)
Filing 6
ORDER that on or before 3/24/09 plaintiff shall forward to the Clerk of this Court the sum of $6.07 as an initial partial filing fee; granting 5 Application to Proceed Without Prepayment of Fees and Affidavit filed by Nedolandez L. Santos as further set out in order; Filing Fee due by 3/24/2009; furn: cashier; mailed/acct clerk at ECF. Signed by Honorable Terry F. Moorer on 3/3/09. (vma, )
Disclaimer: Justia Dockets & Filings provides public litigation records from the federal appellate and district courts. These filings and docket sheets should not be considered findings of fact or liability, nor do they necessarily reflect the view of Justia.


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Growing up, Christy Guinea was never an active kid and transformed into a self-confessed 'couch potato' as an adult until a fitness challenge in 2011 lit a fire in her belly. Since then, she has taken up mountain biking, road cycling, paddling, and running and competed in numerous local events including the Marathon at last year's Townsville Running Festival. Now Christy is facing her biggest challenge yet: Ironman 70.3 in Cairns next month [1.9km swim, 90km bike ride, 21.1km run]. And she's been drawing the support of friends (pictured) and spending plenty of time in the saddle to get ready.
"When I hear about a new sport, I do some research and see what the clubs are like, then give it a go. Unfortunately, I usually really enjoy these things and then need to buy the gear!"
Have you always been active? No, I used to be a couch potato! I never played sport as a child and was never a member of a sporting team. I started exercising in September 2011 when I did a fitness challenge and things have grown from there. Now I'm out and about every day doing something fun and active. Although I am training for an event at the moment, I think being active is important for health, stress relief and catching up with friends.
When did you start riding and how did you discover it? I started mountain biking in December 2012 when friend Sussanah D'arcy (main pic, far right) asked if anyone would like to join her on the 2013 Paluma Push. I had never even been on a bike trail but it seemed like it would be fun.
I started road cycling in October 2014 after Top Brand started their Wednesday morning ladies' rides. I had completed a couple of enticer triathlons in 2013 but they were done on my husband's hybrid bike and I had no idea about road rules or bunch riding. Again, I discovered this when a friend put a challenge out to compete in the Townsville Triathlon Festival. Generally, when I hear about a new sport, I do some research and see what the clubs are like, then give it a go. Unfortunately, I usually really enjoy these things and then need to buy the gear!
What do you enjoy about cycling? Ooh, that is a tough one; there are lots of great things:
- Seeing interesting places in Townsville and in North Queensland (I'm often away for work in Charters Towers and The Whitsundays and the roadie always get packed),
- Cycling is a great entry sport; especially if people have bad knees or aren't confident with running,
- The challenges – completing windy, hilly and generally tough courses and seeing how your strength changes with the more cycling you do. And finally…
- The coffee – I am all about training for breakfast and cycling and coffee go together.
Tell us about how you got into triathlons in 2013? A friend offered the challenge to do the Townsville Triathlon Festival. At that stage I really couldn't swim, didn't have a road bike and couldn't run for a full 5km. But, I do enjoy a challenge. I recruited a friend to run me through the rules of triathlon and help me with tricky things like transition. I did the Townsville Tri Club's Annandale event with a friend doing the swim leg for me then stepped up to the Saunders Beach Tri soon after where I managed the swim on my own. I got to the Townsville Tri Festival 2013, completed the enticer and promptly decided triathlons weren't for me – the swim was just too daunting at that stage. But now that's changed!
"I am less than six weeks out and feeling really confident about the ride and the run. The swim… this is my biggest challenge, but I try to remind myself that I am doing the training and I am certainly swimming a lot better than I was when I signed up"
What made you sign-up to Ironman? At the end of each year I make some 'New Year Fitness Goals'. In 2014, I spent hundreds of hours doing running training for the marathon as part of the Townsville Running Festival's Chosen Ones program and then the Melbourne Marathon Festival. When I finished the marathons, I was looking for a new challenge that would really push me. At the time, the registrations for Cairns were about to open. I had a chat with a couple of friends who had competed before and checked that six months was enough time for me to train (and learn to swim again). When they said, "You'll be right", I signed up.
How's your training going for Cairns? It's going well, and is helped by the fact that [Ironman and triathlon coach] Brendan Cochrane is training me for the event. I really believe that you need to get some good advice when you are doing long endurance events. I often have to adjust my schedule as I am out of town for work, but I always try to get a swim, run or ride in, wherever I am.
At this point I am less than six weeks out and feeling really confident about the ride and the run. The swim… this is my biggest challenge, but I try to remind myself that I am doing the training and I am certainly swimming a lot better than I was when I signed up (my first 25m swim with Brendan nearly killed me).
I am aiming to finish the event in the cut off (eight hours) – if I do that I will be really pleased with all of my training.
What local events have you been doing to get ready? I have competed in any triathlon-style events that have been on offer. Both of the tri clubs have run Aquathons/Duathlons that have really helped. I have competed in Adventurethon, which really pushed my legs as it was on the mountain bike, plus the Outer Limits trail runs and the Burdekin Sugar Rush Half Marathon and the Free Radicals Triathlon Club's ANZAC 100 [1km swim, 90km bike ride, 9km run]. There is always something to do in town that can get a group of us together to train.
What are you most looking forward to with Ironman? The sense of accomplishment at the end: I generally cry at the finish line of every event – I think the feeling of finishing overwhelms me. I also really love the camaraderie that comes with these events. I know a huge group of people who are competing at Cairns: It's really great to share the feeling of excitement, walk around the event expo and proudly wear the finisher's shirt afterwards.
What's your proudest achievement on wheels to-date? The ANZAC 100 on ANZAC weekend. It was my first triathlon in two years and it included a 90km bike ride to High Range and back. I had never ridden there before and the weather was really windy and cold (and I was in a wet tri-suit). There was a great group of girls riding together pushing through the headwinds and side winds to get back for the run. Although I had ridden 90kms before, I hadn't done a long distance in a triathlon event.
"I also really love an event that is for a cause – there is a little fundraising queen hidden inside of me!"
What other goals do you have on the horizon? My recurring goal is to try and improve my time from any of last year's events, so Running Festival, Adventurethon and OnaMission [Mission Beach]. My other big goal for the year is to complete the Townsville to Cairns Bike Ride (TCBR).
Why did you sign-up for this 358km charity ride? For the adventure: I have heard it can get tough out there riding through Tully and the range. I also really love an event that is for a cause – there is a little fundraising queen hidden inside of me!
Do you have any particularly memorable moments in the saddle? It would have to be the first time I had to do Castle Hill repeats: The looks, stares and comments from hill walkers as they realised I had done more than one lap. People are really supportive and will generally shout out some encouragement.
"It's a great situation when there is so much on offer in Townsville that I need to make a choice on most weekends about what event I do"
Any tips for women in particular with their riding? Cycling is not a male's sport! It is a great social sport to get into especially if you are just starting out with fitness. Join a group, learn the rules and recruit quasi coaches – I have heaps of people who I call 'coach' because they have helped me to learn and improve. And enjoy it… and don't forget your coffee money.
What gear would you recommend that beginners have starting out? What are the must-haves and what are the buy-laters? The essential item has to be knicks – bike pants just will not cut it. You can get a jersey later, but good cycling pants are essential. I also held off on getting clip in shoes, I used my converse canvas sneakers for months until I really felt confident enough on the bike to clip in. I also think that beginners should hold out on getting a new bike: I rode my husband's Hybrid for over a year before I decided to buy a bike. And then, I bought a mountain bike and a road bike. Make sure that you enjoy cycling before you outlay a stack of money.
What's your favourite thing to do on a weekend in Townsville? Go exploring on my bike with a group of friends. At the moment, I am only on the roadie but I usually rotate between road and mountain. My weekend always involves an early morning wake-up to get a good ride in but I always make time for coffee and breakfast after.
What other active things do you enjoy? I like lots of other things like kayaking, orienteering and running and it's a great situation when there is so much on offer in Townsville that I need to make a choice on most weekends about what event I do.
Tell us something that people don't know about you. I am generally a confident person but when I'm exercising I'm often plagued with doubts about my ability to keep going. I see a Sport Psychologist when I'm training for big events and she helps me train my mind to talk positively. It has probably been the biggest help for someone who doesn't have the competitive sporting drive that others may have. I can normally be spotted at events with messages written on my arms to keep my mind on track.
Last words? No matter how slow you are on the bike, if you're out there having fun, that's all that matters.
Get involved
One of the final sessions of the Women in Cycling Series is the Ladies' Come Try BMX Day in Ayr on Saturday (May 9). Adopt Christy's 'give it a go' attitude and grab some girlfriends to head down and check it out. After all, why should the kids have all the fun?


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On Saturday, April 12, members of the Austin Food Blogger Alliance celebrated the organization's third birthday with fellowship, friends and, of course, food.
AFBA Special Projects chair Addie Broyles organized the potluck at the Sustainable Food Center's new headquarters at 2921 E. 17th St., Bldg. C.
Read more about the potluck at Full and Content, Mary Makes Dinner and Relish Austin.
As you can imagine, there was a lot of great food. You can get the recipes at:
Best So Far Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe
Sriracha-Loquat Cocktail Meatballs
Sundried Tomato and Feta Quiche


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Make Money While the Sun Shines: The Beginner's Guide to Solar Panels
If you're like most of us, you don't think much about the sun, beyond whether it's going to shine on a particular day. You've probably never considered the fact it could save you money on your utility bills.
But it can save you money: nearly $20,000 over the next 10 to 20 years, depending on your state. All you need is a solar energy system.
You've probably heard solar panels are expensive — so had we. That's why we were surprised to discover you can actually to get solar panels on the cheap, or even for no money down at all.
Intrigued? Below, we answer all your questions about using solar panels.
How Much Do Solar Panels Cost?
If you're curious about solar — either for economical or environmental reasons — you may not have pulled the trigger because you're wary of the high upfront costs. After all, household solar photovoltaic (PV) systems cost an average of $23,000 to install. Eek!
Don't run away yet, though. That cost is before tax credits and other incentives, and doesn't take into account the possibility of "zero down" options through solar financing. Here's a great chart that breaks down your total cost, depending on the tax credits and rebates available in your state.
It's also worth noting that a PV system is a long term investment; it's not a new (and constantly-changing) technology like your iPhone.
"[Solar energy] was made commercially available in 1954, so it's been around for more than 60 years," explains Erica Johnson, director of community development for Sullivan Solar Power.
"It's a 'set it and forget it' technology. It's not going to need to be replaced in five years… It will be producing solar energy for 40 years."
With that in mind, here's what you need to know about the cost of going solar:
Solar Tax Credits
Thanks to a multitude of tax incentives at the federal, state and local levels, you can reduce your taxes by thousands of dollars just for installing solar panels. To learn what your state offers, search this database of renewable energy incentives.
It can get complicated quickly, though, so we recommend enlisting some solar experts to help you navigate the process and save the most money. (Start by entering your address in the search box on their site.)
As for the federal tax incentive, it's the same across the board: a credit worth 30% of the expenses you incur installing a solar energy system in your home. That means if you purchase a system that costs $20,000, you can reduce the amount you owe the IRS by $6,000.
The credit amount has no ceiling, but you must install your system by December 31, 2016. (In other words, now's the time to act!)
Buying Solar Panels
If you buy your system outright, it will likely cost you $10,000-15,000 upfront, after taking into account the tax credits and other incentives you'll receive.
Though that may sound like a huge cost, keep in mind it's a long-term investment. Over the next 20 years, you'll save an estimated $20,000-30,000, recouping your initial costs after six to 10 years. (We talk more about how solar panels save you money below.)
Solar Loans
If you can't afford to put down $10,000 or more to purchase your system outright (which is, um, most of us!), see if you qualify for a solar loan.
You generally won't have to put any money down and will start seeing savings immediately. And, unlike with solar leases, you'll still get to take advantage of tax credits or rebates.
Most people use home equity loans to finance their systems. These loans offer the lowest interest rates, and any interest you do pay is tax-deductible. Since these loans use your house as collateral, though, you're only eligible if you have enough equity; in other words, you may not qualify if you haven't paid off much of your mortgage.
Also, if you default on a home equity loan, the bank can foreclose on your house. So it's important to carefully consider your budget and ability to make payments before applying for one of these loans.
Another low-interest option is a Title 1 loan from the Federal Housing Administration. Though the interest isn't as low as with a home equity loan, the bank won't foreclose on your home if you miss payments. Also, these loans are typically approved more quickly than home equity loans.
If you don't own a house or are unable to get either of the secured loans mentioned above, you can opt for an unsecured loan (which doesn't use anything as collateral), or you can lease your system.
Solar Leases
Leasing a PV system is like leasing a car: Each month, you pay a rental fee to the solar energy company. This form of financing can be attractive because it doesn't require any money down and doesn't affect your credit.
It also includes maintenance — but because most systems come with a 25 to 30 year manufacturer's warranty and require few repairs, this isn't as valuable of a benefit as it sounds.
The big downside of leasing — besides the fact you aren't investing in something you'll eventually own — is that you can't get the federal tax credit. In the event you're not eligible for the federal tax credit for other reasons, though, this can actually be advantageous.
"If you can't take advantage of the tax credit, then leasing is the best option," explains Johnson.
"The company takes advantage of the tax credit and gives you a lower payment… but if you have a tax appetite [the ability to take advantage of the incentive], then owning the system is more economical."
The bottom line: Solar financing doesn't have to be expensive, but it is complicated.
"Do your research," urges Johnson. "Look at all the financing options… make the decision for yourself. There are [companies] that are only pushing their financing onto people, and it's really important [you] look at all that."
How Do Solar Panels Save Money?
Installing a solar energy system will undoubtedly save you money in the long run. Depending on your state, you could save up to $2,640 a year! Here's how.
Lower Utility Bills
The amount of energy solar panels produce depends on their efficiency, size and the amount of light they receive. (It doesn't have to be warm outside, however, for them to work; cold solar panels actually generate more energy.)
Many people completely eliminate their electric bills after going solar, while others vastly reduce them — a factor that depends entirely on your panels, location and electricity usage.
Software engineer Kevin Morland, who lives in Southern California, recently decided to sign a 20-year lease for a PV system. Even with a pool and a 2,100-square-foot house, his system will provide all of his electricity.
His monthly solar lease costs $105. Compared to his average electric bill of $175, Morland estimates he'll save more than $600 a year.
Protection Against Rising Utility Costs
The cost of electricity increased by 3.1% in 2014, which was the largest gain in six years.
Though the U.S. Energy Information Administration predicts that rate will slow, the cost of electricity will continue to rise with inflation — something you won't have to worry about if you have solar panels.
Non-Variable Bills
Another big bonus of solar panels? You won't have to guess how much your electric bill will be each month.
Fixed bills make it much easier to create and follow a budget, which will save you money in the long run.
Solar Renewable Energy Credits
In some states, public utility companies are required to produce a certain amount of electricity from solar sources — which means they'll pay you for the solar energy you produce.
(Though it might sound like you're selling your energy back to the grid, it's not; you can use all the electricity you generate.)
Even if you don't quite understand SRECs, here's what's important: In certain states, solar panels could do more than save you money — they could put some cash back into your pocket.
Higher Property Value
If you were house hunting and found one that already had solar panels — thereby eliminating your electricity bills — would you pay more for it? We sure would, and as it turns out, so would many others.
In California, for example, homes with PV systems sold for $17,000 more than homes without them, according to a 2011 study by the US Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.
Even better: 38 states have property tax exclusions for solar panels, which means even though the value of your house will increase, your property taxes will not. Win-win!
Should You Get Solar Panels?
Whether or not you should get solar panels is an individual decision that greatly depends on your location, current electricity bill and financial situation.
For someone who owns a house in an area with a lot of sunshine, generous tax credits and high electricity bills, it's a no-brainer. For everyone else, we still think it's worth careful consideration.
"Call and get estimates and have somebody look at [your] roof," suggests Johnson. Also, take a good look at your "electric bills to see whether solar is financially a good decision for [you]."
And lastly, be wary of scams, which appear to be rampant in the solar industry, and be sure to thoroughly review any contract before signing it.
To find a reputable solar energy provider, get recommendations from friends and neighbors, then check your potential contractor's reputation with the Better Business Bureau and on Yelp or Angie's List.
As we discovered in our research, solar panels probably aren't as expensive as you think, and could save you a lot of money in the long run.
Morland, for one, is excited about the money he'll save with his new solar energy system. "I'll probably go and pay off debt," he says. "Or pay off my boat, or my truck, or put the money in the bank."
If you could use some extra cash, get in touch with a solar expert to learn more about your options. We're betting your future self — and your planet — will thank you!
Susan Shain is always seeking adventure on a budget. Visit her blog at susanshain.com, or say hi on Twitter @susan_shain.


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San Francisco Transit System Target of Ransomware
It's really bad. The ticket machines were hacked.
Over the next couple of years, I believe we are going to see the downside of our headlong rush to put everything on the Internet.
Slashdot thread.
EDITED TO ADD (12/12): More from Brian Krebs.


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Why Do I Have to Sell Myself in My Resume?
Hiring managers get dozens, if not hundreds of resumes from possible candidates. Strong resumes that grab the reader's attention quickly and encourage them to read further improve a solid candidate being considered for the roles they want. Most of us don't like to brag or 'sell' ourselves, but today it's critical to insure you stand out from the crowd. If your resume doesn't stand out, you may never get the opportunity to be considered further.
So, how do you make your resume stand out?
Understanding the fundamentals of how people read and review resumes will give you a head start in creating a strong resume.
Hiring managers and recruiters frequently review dozens of resumes. Because resumes aren't the most interesting reading, most people want to review them as efficiently as they can to find the best candidate. As a result, if your resume is strong starting in the first half page of your resume, you'll encourage the reader to read on.
To make your resume compelling right from the start you want to make your resume easy to read, with enough white space on the resume so the reader doesn't feel overwhelmed as they begin to consider you as a candidate.
When you include a professional summary near the beginning, incorporating information that provides your business strengths, as well as your personal strengths you convey what you'll be like on the job and as a member of the team. Are you a strategic thinker, a good problem solver, creative? Make sure you include some positive statements about your personal strengths.
In the body of your resume highlight your accomplishments and contributions. Many people feel they did 'what was expected' on the job, and don't realize they made contributions such as a special project they took the lead on or the time they solved a problem implementing a process improvement or practice that improved outcomes. Think hard about even the smallest contributions you've made.
Historically resumes included statements that frequently started with…
Responsible for…
Use more compelling action verbs that catch attention. Start statements with an action verb since it's easier for the hiring manager to identify what your actual contribution was.
Let's consider a few accomplishments and contributions and compelling action verbs to highlight them.
Ex: You were the manager of a team. Try using verbs like cultivated, fostered, inspired, mentored, motivated, or aligned to highlight traits that differentiated you as a manager.
Ex: You worked in customer service. Try verbs such as advised, resolved, improved, or informed.
Ex: You met your goals, either revenue or a specific metric. Try adding verbs like surpassed, demonstrated, accomplished, or attained to differentiate your accomplishment.
Ex: You wrote documents or processes. You might want to use verbs like authored, composed, promoted, created, or reviewed.
Ex: You led a project team. Add verbs such as headed, organized, executed, or oversaw to catch the hiring manager's attention more quickly.
As you're considering what to include, focus on times when you increased revenue or saved the company time or money. Bottom line, accomplishments focused on savings or increased revenue are more significant.
Your resume and career history will make a bigger impact if you use dynamic action verbs to highlight your contributions and accomplishments. Verbs that are overused and anemic will diminish what you've done and may not get you to the next step. Using strong compelling words in your resume can compel the hiring manager to invite you to interview.
A strong resume is the beginning of a successful job search.
For more information about opportunities or next steps, check out our employment opportunities or contact us!


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As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you;
And you shall be comforted in Jerusalem.
(Isaiah 66:13)
WE ARE WATCHED OVER BY A GOD WHOSE LOVE FOR US IS THE UNIQUELY TENDER LOVE OF A MOTHER FOR HER CHILDREN. Within the Trinity of God's divine being there is to be found the perfect summation of all of the qualities that were divided between masculinity and femininity at our creation (Genesis 1:26,27). The complementary nature of men and women in our world is a reflection of the perfect communion that exists within the triune personality of God's own being. Thus none of the unique endowments of men and women are insignificant. Each has its counterpart in God's character, and each needs to be taken seriously in our own character and in our own interactions with others. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the matter of love. The familiar texts that speak of God as having a father's love are complemented by those that describe the divine love in motherly terms. The fatherliness of God's love is perfected by its motherliness.
If God loves us with a mother's love, this is more than a theoretical point. In day-to-day practice, we should not fail to have the same kind of love for one another. Even Paul, the strong soldier of the faith, understood the need for tender love. To the church in Thessalonica, he wrote, "But we were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children. So, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us" (1 Thessalonians 2:7,8).
A mother is able to touch her children with a special tenderness because she understands them in a special way. God's perfect love for us, of course, is possible because of an infallible understanding of our hearts, and we shall not be able to reach that level of empathy for one another. What we certainly can do, however, is to make a more conscious effort to understand the kinds of things a mother understands — and to love accordingly. If we seek God, we will seek to love as God loves. In our love and in our dealings with God's children, we will include not only the productiveness of a father, but the tenderness and insight of a mother.
"A mother understands what a child does not say" (Jewish Proverb).
Gary Henry — WordPoints.com + AreYouaChristian.com


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Michigan Public Workers Opting Out of Unions in Larger Numbers Since Right-To-Work Law
Since Michigan's right-to-work law went into effect in 2013, growing numbers of public employees have exercised their right to opt out of paying union dues and fees, according to data compiled by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy.
In June 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court established right-to-work for public employees across the nation, holding in Janus v. AFSCME that compelling these workers to pay union fees violates their First Amendment rights to freedom of speech and freedom of association.
Some of Michigan's government unions have seen the number of fee-paying employees fall 10 percent since right-to-work went into effect. Others, including the Michigan State Employees Association and the SEIU Local 517M, have seen declines of 20 percent or more. The number of workers paying fees to MSEA fell by 345, from 3,079 to 2,734. SEIU Local 517M decreased by 782 individuals, going from 3,532 to 2,750.
Before right-to-work, 96 percent of Michigan's public sector workforce paid fees to a union; that figure stands at 76 percent today.
Some larger public sector unions, such as UAW Local 6000, have seen a significant decrease in dues-paying employees in the workplaces they have organized. That union had 15,673 members in 2013, representing 91 percent of the covered workforce.
The number of individuals paying dues and fees dropped to 13,785 five years later, or 82 percent of the workers covered by the union's collective bargaining agreements.
Michigan's right-to-work law did not apply to public safety jobs, so police and fire unions have not seen a decline in membership.
The Michigan State Police Troopers Association even saw an increase in the number of public safety workers paying union dues, going from 1,374 to 1,702 members in a five-year span. Today, 99 percent of employees who are covered by its collective bargaining agreement are paying dues, up from 94 percent.
Unlike Michigan's 2013 right-to-work law, the Supreme Court's 2018 Janus ruling does apply to public safety workers, however, meaning they no longer have to pay union fees.
Given that Janus has been in effect for less than a year, it is unclear how public safety unions will fare going forward.
Tony Daunt, executive director of the Michigan Freedom Fund, said that decline in the number of fee-paying public sector employees covered by Michigan's right-to-work law demonstrates that unions do not always operate in the best interest of workers.
"Right-to-work is a fundamental and necessary protection of our First Amendment freedoms of speech and association," Daunt said. "Nobody should be forced to join, fund or otherwise support an organization against their will."
Looking beyond the effects of right-to-work laws on the public sector, Daunt said that they have led to "robust growth and economic opportunity" in the private sector, which compelling workers to pay fees to unions had inhibited.
"Despite the loud and cynical protestations from labor union officials, right-to-work laws are a positive for everyone involved," he said.
Officials from several Michigan unions did not return phone calls or emails.
Tyler Arnold reports on Virginia, Ohio and Michigan for Watchdog.org. He previously worked for the Cause of Action Institute. A previous version of this article appeared on the Watchdog.org website.
Truth and Accuracy
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All items listed are in stock and the pictures provided are of the exact item for sale. You can return anything for up to 30 days after you receive it UNLESS MARKED AS IS, then all sales are final. Please contact me first and let me fix the problem. We try our best to describe the item as specifically as possible but we deal with many different items and we may not know exactly what to look for or exactly what should be included. Warehouse Location: 83356 pallet under stairs.
The item "Johnson Level Tool Electronic Self-Leveling Rotary Laser Level 40-6535" is in sale since Monday, March 8, 2021. This item is in the category "Business & Industrial\Test, Measurement & Inspection\Levels & Surveying Equipment\Levels & Autolevels\Rotary Lasers".dak" and is located in Kansas City, Missouri. This item can be shipped to United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Denmark, Romania, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Czech republic, Finland, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Estonia, Australia, Greece, Portugal, Cyprus, Slovenia, Japan, Sweden, South Korea, Indonesia, Taiwan, South africa, Thailand, Belgium, France, Hong Kong, Ireland, Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Italy, Germany, Austria, Bahamas, Israel, Mexico, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Switzerland, Norway, Saudi arabia, Ukraine, United arab emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Croatia, Malaysia, Chile, Colombia, Costa rica, Panama, Trinidad and tobago, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, Antigua and barbuda, Aruba, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Saint kitts and nevis, Saint lucia, Montserrat, Turks and caicos islands, Barbados, Bangladesh, Bermuda, Brunei darussalam, Bolivia, Egypt, French guiana, Guernsey, Gibraltar, Guadeloupe, Iceland, Jersey, Jordan, Cambodia, Cayman islands, Liechtenstein, Sri lanka, Luxembourg, Monaco, Macao, Martinique, Maldives, Nicaragua, Oman, Pakistan, Paraguay, Reunion, Uruguay.


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The US-China Relationship Begins With Our Young People | Commentary
First Lady Michelle Obama recently traveled to China to promote educational exchange, and she called on young Americans — from every background, every walk of life — to study in China, learn Mandarin and forge friendships that will deepen cross-cultural understanding. Her message: Understanding China is a critical skill, one that all Americans must gain in order to compete, collaborate and succeed in the 21st century.
Speaking at Peking University's Stanford Center, Obama drew on her own experience. As a young woman from a working class family, so focused on simply getting into college and earning a degree, Obama never thought to study abroad. She observed: "Too many students may never have this chance, and some that do are hesitant to take it. They may feel like study abroad is only for wealthy students."
As the president of the 100,000 Strong Foundation, a nonpartisan nonprofit committed to strengthening US-China relations through study abroad, I couldn't agree more.
The foundation was launched in 2013 to carry out — over the long term — the 2009 vision of President Barack Obama's 100,000 Strong Initiative to dramatically increase the number and diversity of US students studying in China and learning Mandarin.
We have made great progress over the past three years: More than 68,000 Americans have studied in China since the initiative was launched, according to the Chinese Ministry of Education. We are proud of our role in boosting these numbers, which are now growing approximately 25 percent per year. Yet just as we increase these numbers, we also need to do more to ensure that Americans from diverse ethnic and economic backgrounds have access to these experiences.
That is why the 100,000 Strong Foundation is partnering with the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation to increase the number of African American students who are learning Mandarin and studying in China. Specifically, in November 2013, Chinese Vice Premier Liu Yandong announced that the Chinese government would provide scholarships for 400 African American high school and college students to visit China for short-term programs.
That is also why the foundation has selected a strong group of signature partners that represent all types of educational institutions and draw students from across the country. And it is why we have named more than 70 young Americans 100,000 Strong student ambassadors, to spread the word among their peers about the impact their China experience has had on their academic and professional futures. These students are our most powerful champions.
Two of these ambassadors — Philmon Haile of University of Washington and Jeffrey Wood of George Mason University — played important roles in the first lady's China trip. Philmon emigrated from Eritrea as a child, grew up in a low-income Seattle neighborhood and through the after-school program OneWorldNow! studied Mandarin and studied in China. Jeffrey comes from Washington, D.C., public schools and first traveled to China through Americans Promoting Study Abroad, a 100,000 Strong signature partner; in college, he has found ways — and scholarships — to go back to Asia, studying in both China and Japan. These two young men are our future leaders.
But why China?
China is the United States' most important bilateral relationship: It is our fastest-growing trade partner, with the second largest gross domestic product and the fastest-growing middle class. Whatever our international challenges — from terrorism to nuclear proliferation, financial instability and climate change — the United States cannot address them without working with China.
China is also vital to our economic future. Offering huge and growing markets for our goods and services, China is indispensable to American businesses and workers. As the first lady said, "Studying abroad isn't just a fun way to spend a semester; it is quickly becoming the key to success in our global economy." This "key to success" will allow students to both unlock their own futures and build America's future.
Chinese Vice Premier Liu Yandong agrees, saying in a USA Today opinion piece last fall: "I am convinced that with vigorous cooperation between governments and mutual understanding and friendship between our peoples, we will be able to build a new model of major-country relationships, inspiring generations to come."
Working with four-year and two-year colleges, high schools, and business and civic organizations of all kinds, we can help our students share in the opportunity to learn and understand China. The relationships they build today will pay dividends long into the future.
To paraphrase the first lady's challenge, our young people deserve this chance, they should not hesitate to take it and we must encourage them to do so.
Carola McGiffert is the president of the 100,000 Strong Foundation, a nonprofit organization seeking to strengthen US-China relations through Mandarin language learning and study abroad.


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A teenage boy, troubled and alone wanders the grassy hills looking for something. He settles on a slope and searches for some activity to amuse him. He begins to pick pieces of his body off and taste them. This seems like a good thing to do. So he removes his eye, his face and finally his own guts and eats them all in an orgy or extasy and gore.
Considered an early gross-out cult classic, this 4:50 minute short features the talents of director Eric Forsberg and young Charles Schneider. In Eric Forsberg's debut we follow a young teen as he heads for a quite grassy hill to relax. While enjoying the summer day, he begins to dig into his ear with a q-tip. Enjoying the experience, he continues until he pulls it out covered in blood. upon tasting the blood covered tip he begins a self inflicted sadomasochism voyage into self mutilation. At first he bits into his hand until pulling back a chunk. then enjoying the experience he takes things further by stabbing his leg and then gouging out his own eye. the short is surreal in the sense that the boy seems to be enjoying every bit of his defilement taking things as far as he can. The piece ends as he finally cuts his stomach open to reveal his intestines and then begins eating them.
"It Took Guts" which one might associate these days with the visceral nature of a zombie film ends up being more disturbing in its execution and dark humor. The short film which was shot using film stock feels visceral enough in its almost home spun movie presentation to really stand out as shocking. What stands out beyond the explicit gore is the "pleased expressionism" that actor Charles Schneider alludes during the whole ordeal. The short was known for being popular in the punk clubs of New York and Boston and continued to be played every weekend to the chants of attendees. Upon watch, I make slight comparison to the pacing of a violent NIN music video.
As of this review, the short was not available (as it was) but was available in this converted music video version.
It Took Guts (1979)


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Many scholars of Oregon tribal history have assumed, as have I, that Anson Dart, the Superintendent of Indian Affairs for Oregon from 1850 to 1852 was responsible for negotiating treaties with the western Oregon tribes. In fact, numerous histories of this time intimately describe these responsibilities, but this may not have been originally Dart's responsibility at all. I recently wrote an essay about Dart's orders. His orders were to manage whiskey trade, aid in the assimilation of the tribes, set up tribal jurisdictions, maintain the peace, and undermine Hudson's Bay Company among the tribes. In fact, there is no mention of the treaties, or the Treaty Commission in his orders of July 1850. The budget of $20,000 sent to him, also makes no mention of treaties or the Commission.
In comparison, there is a separate set of orders sent to the Willamette Treaty Commission; Governor John T. Gaines, Alonzo A. Skinner, and Beverly S. Allen, on October 25, 1850. Their orders are to buy the land by writing, negotiate treaties with the western Oregon tribes, and clear the title of the Indian lands for white settlement. The Commissioner of Indian Affairs explains the problem thus,
The inhabitants [settlers] complain that they have been there for several years & have been obliged to make settlements, improvements etc etc, & yet not one of them can claim a perfect title to any portion of the soil they occupy. It is indispensible that this question be settled in some form or other. The object of the Government is to extinguish the title of the Indians to all the lands lying west of the Cascade Mountains; and if possible to provide for the removal of the whole from the west to the east of the mountains: but should you fail in inducing the whole to remove, you will then induce as many as you can procure acquisitions of territory from, but no effort should be untried to procure the removal of the whole, thereby leaving the country free for settlement by the whites.
Specifically, they are told to use their own recognizance when offering payment for lands, but it is suggested that they offer a set amount of 10 cents per acre, at the most, and to treat with the tribes in the white settlements first.
It will probably be best for you to treat first with the Indians in the white settlements, particularly in the Willamette Valley- and to treat separately with each tribe: but of this you will be best able to judge. As to the quality of land to be acquired and the price, per acre, to be paid for it, it is impossible for this office to form even a conjecture. The Quality must of course depend on the number of treaties made, upon estimates of the rights of the Indians to the soil ceded by them. As to the price to be paid that will depend on the locality of the land with reference to its value to the United States, if it be possible to make such distinctions, but if not you will be governed by your own discretion. It is presumed the land to be ceded will not be found to be of any very great value, and in many cases it is presumed the consideration will be merely nominal, but in others where the land is of more value of course a greater sum will be allowed. The maximum price given for Indian lands has been ten cents per acre.
The orders above assume much. The land value of this time period is based on the value for agricultural usage. The Willamette Valley has very rich soils, some of the best in the world, plenty of water, and the commissioner likely knew this from reports of the early settlers. In the 1830s, Jason Lee, the Methodist minister, toured the east coast to attract settlers to Oregon, based on the richness of the land in the Willamette Valley. In addition, those in the US government had the benefit of reports from the Lewis and Clark expedition (1805-1806, published in 1810), from the William Slacum spy mission (1839), and from the Wilkes Expedition (1841), which revealed the wealth of the land, the richness of the resources, and the perfect climate of the Willamette Valley for farming. It is disingenuous for the US Government to have offered so little a price for the lands of Oregon. Even though these treaties failed, the ratified treaties of 1853-55, follow a similar set of orders, and after averaging the acres purchased with the money given, the tribes of Oregon are given about one cent an acre.
As well, the Commission suggests that in the terms of the treaties, that the annuities (annual amount paid to the tribes for selling their lands and their continued upkeep) be 5 percent per year, and that the whole of the annuity be paid in objects beneficial to the tribes, and not paid to them in money.
The objects provided for should be agricultural assistance, employment of blacksmiths & mechanics, and farmers to teach them how to cultivate the land, physicians; and above all ample provision for the purposes of education. After providing for these objects if any portion of the money remains it should be stipulated that it be paid in goods to be delivered to them annually, in there own country.
For their removal, they are all to be removed to an area east of the Cascade Range.
In effecting the removal of the Indians from the west it will be necessary to provide a new home for them, among their brethren on the East of the mountains. This of course must be done, and it is hoped it may be effected peaceably and at little cost to the United States.
The Commission is assigned a budget of $20,000. The budget given is separate from that given Anson Dart and is solely about treaty-making expenses. Governor Gaines is assigned to be the accountant for the Commission. They are to hire a secretary, interpreters, and use up to $5,000 for presents to the tribes.
The two sets of orders, those of Dart, and those of the Commission, have many overlapping areas. Dart is to keep the peace, while the Commission is to remove the tribes. Removal of the tribes later became the strategy for keeping the peace in Oregon.
Sometime in 1851, the duties of the Commission are assumed by Anson Dart as well. Dart's central purpose is to prepare for the administration of the tribes, before and after they are removed. Dart does not appear at the treaty negotiations of the Willamette Valley, but does attend the treaties of Tansey Point and Port Orford. Dart also is at the negotiations with the Clackamas tribe. He then personally takes the treaties to Washington, D.C., and we have assumed, he was shepherding them through Congress. But in March 1852 Dart writes a letter which severely undermines the legitimacy of the treaties, and blames the Commission for granting tribal demands for reservations in the Willamette Valley, in areas are already fully claimed (illegally) by settlers.
Without further information, at this time we can make a few assumptions as to why Dart took responsibility for the treaties.
One is monetary, that if he took the responsibility for treaties, he immediately has a budget of not $20K, but $40K, for his time in Oregon.
By taking the treaties and shepherding them through Congress, he gets the credit if they succeed. He was a political actor and wanted more assignments, and this would boost his career. This backfired on him because they fail, and he tries to blame the Commission, but instead, he bore the brunt of the blame politically and historically.
Perhaps the treaties were a mechanism for him to get out of Oregon and back to the East Coast? Some people did not like the frontier and worked to return to the comforts of civilization.
Finally, was he ordered to take responsibility for the treaties by the Commissioner of Indian Affairs?
Its clear from the two sets of orders that originally Anson Dart and the Willamette Treaty Commission were separately empowered by the United States in Oregon. That the Commissioners were not employees of Dart, nor subject to his orders. That Dart, at some point in 1851 takes the Treaties under his wing. — Further research has revealed that he did make the argument for his superiors in Washington, DC, that since the Commissioners were not official federal representatives, they cannot represent the nation in treaties. He wins that argument and gain the treaty making responsibilities in June 1851.
In September 1851, Anson Dart writes a report to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs that details his activities. In this report, he gives us a clue as to how he got the treaty-making duties.
It may perhaps be unnecessary to add, that owing to unavoidable causes I have been left almost alone to perform the duties and labors intended to have been divided amongst efficient agents and sub-agents, At the same time it should be remembered that very great additional labors have been added to the duties of my office by the provisions of the act of Congress of 27th February last (1851) which transfers to this department the authority to make treaties with the Indians Tribes west of the Cascade Mountains. (Anson Dart Letter of September 1851, RG75 M2 R11)
The above act referred to is interpreted as,
Thereafter by the act of February 27, 1851 (9 Stat. L., 586), the office of the commissioners referred to in the preceding finding were abrogated, and it was therein provided that all treaties with Indian tribes should thereafter be negotiated by officers and agents of the Indian department. Under the latter act the superintendent of Indian Affairs for the Territory of Oregon and two Indian agents were appointed for that purpose, and a copy of the instruction which had theretofore been furnished to the commissioners appointed under the prior act was furnished to them for their guidance and action in negotiating such treaties. (United States Congressional serial set, Issue 5071 p 3)
(answered in further research above) There are still questions as to why this occurred. The appointment follows the six treaties with the Kalapuyans and Molallans by the Willamette Treaty Commission. It may have been more legal to have Dart, an agent of the United States, in charge of the Willamette Treaty Commission, than the Commissioners. Dart here is a bit dramatic, as his son is working with him as his assistant, and he has at least five sub-agents positioned in the various districts, so not all duties are his alone
But, it is clear that the Commissioner of Indian Affairs learned the lesson of the divided responsibilities in Oregon, and when Joel Palmer is hired to replace Dart, he has the responsibilities laid out in both sets of orders. That formula worked better from 1853-1856.
A.S. Loughery Correspondence of 10 25 1850, in, Territorial Papers of the United States: for the Territory of Oregon, 1848-1859, NARA M1049, Reel 8, Microfilm in the Oregon State Library, Salem, Oregon


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Past and present members of the Firm have defended Egypt and several other States and international organizations before the International Court of Justice ("ICJ") or sat on the Court as Judges. Among the cases they have entertained, before or with the ICJ, are the Advisory Opinion on the WHO Premises in Alexandria (1980), the Libya-Chad Territorial Dispute Case (1994), the Advisory Opinion on the "Legality of the Treat or Use of Nuclear Weapons" (1996), Cameroon-Nigeria Maritime boundary Case (2002) and the Advisory Opinion on the "Wall" (2004).
The Firm deals extensively with Diplomatic and Consular privileges and immunities and advises many foreign embassies and consulates in Egypt on a regular basis on many different matters relating to their assets, premises and staff. It advised many missions in purchasing their new premises during all the stages from negotiating with the seller up to the registration of the property in the name of the foreign mission.
Among the foreign missions that ZH&P has extended its services to are the missions of the Australia, Austria, Canada, China, Denmark, Finland, India, Germany, Japan, Latvia, The Netherlands, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.


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I finally sucked it up and set up a water works section for L. As you may have noticed from my posts about painting, I HATE MESSES! Relinquishing control and allowing my child to potentially make a big mess is hard for me, but the benefits far outweigh my own personal issues, so I did it. I set up one shelf in the kitchen with water works and food prep. I bought some cheap plastic trays with high sides at the dollar store, so water would not spill off of them and they were easily wipeable. I filled a basket with washcloths and put it next to the water works shelf so L could dry up any spills she made. And then I let it go.
The first work on our water works shelf is water pouring. Simple, yet highly satisfying for a two-year-old! I took two small vases that were favors from a wedding we attended a few years ago. I filled one about halfway with water, then put the two vases on a tray. I dyed the water blue with food coloring so it was easily visible (the pics have two different colors of water in them… sorry!).
When L found the water works shelf, she put her hands on her cheeks and yelled, "Happy!" She's a pretty silly kid. As she carried the tray to the table, I told her, "Slowly!" Now every time she carries a water work she repeats, "Slowly. Slowly. Slowly." I showed her how to pour one into the other. Water pouring requires hand control and hand-eye coordination. The repetition of pouring the water from one container to the other builds concentration and focus. Even spills provide an opportunity for care of the environment, as L gets a washcloth to clean up her mess. This work also allows for a discussion of "empty" and "full." L often sits with this work for 20+ minutes at a time! It is definitely one of her favorites.


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Columbus Dispatch: Stimulator Device For Pain
Surgical Option Hopes To Decrease Pain & Need For Medications
There is no doubt, there is a serious opioid abuse problem around the world. For many, those pain pills are needed to control pain or for recovery following a surgery. There are occasions where people can get addicted, or others can get their hands on unused medications.
That's why many doctors are working hard to find ways to ease pain and decrease the amount of medication going home with patients.
This fall OhioHealth surgeon Dr. Chris Karas performed the first spinal cord stimulator implant surgery of a new device aimed at reducing pain and helping patients stay off of strong opioid medication, hopefully for good.
"It has been very difficult to treat long-term or lifelong pain in people in medicine, and the method that's been used for that most recently has been opiates, and we've found there have been a lot of unintended consequences," Karas told the Columbus Dispatch.
With the use of an X-Ray machine, Dr. Karas is able to insert the device through a small incision. That device is actually controlled by the patient and connected through wires and electrodes that allow the patient to turn up or down the device to treat pain to thousands of combinations along the spine.
Recovery takes about 10 days, and there is a trial period ahead of the surgery where the device can be tested to make sure the patient is a candidate for the surgery.
The first surgery happened in September, with many more getting the device in the device in the last few months.
The device has been FDA approved.
"Now patients can use it on their own," he said to Dispatch reporter JoAnne Viviano. "This is great because there are so many people we know who can use this device."
To read the entire story in the Columbus Dispatch, simply click the logo.


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Let the celebrating begin early…and let it not end until February 25th! Before digging into cooking the turkey and fixings…or before hitting the road for the Thanksgiving holiday there is a unique opportunity to add a unique Cajun flavor to the holidays. The Watauga County Arts Council is extending an invitation to kick off the holiday season with a Cajun-style dinner on Monday, November 21st at 6:30 pm in the beautiful, historical setting of Over Yonder, a quaint restaurant which is located at 3608 NC-194 in Sugar Grove, NC – in the historic Mast Farm Inn across from Valle Crucis Elementary School.
This unique event is called "Half-Way to Mardi Gras" and is the prelude event for the upcoming Mardi Gras celebration planned for Saturday, February 25th. At the "Half-Way to Mardi Gras", guests will not only enjoy an okra buffet station and a plated muffaletta sandwich complimented by a heaping bowl of shrimp, chicken, and sausage potlikker gumbo with rice, but they will also finish it off with a New Orleans Bread Pudding with bourbon sauce complimented by coffee, tea, or a beverage from the cash bar. The authentic cuisine is guaranteed by the fact that Over Yonder's Executive Chef and owner is Andrew Young, who hails from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Chef Young's skilled culinary touch is complimented by the background of the event organizer, Jonell Hager, who also hails from Louisiana. Together they have created a truly authentic menu that will please even the most persnickety Cajun taste buds!
Another highlight of the evening is the fact that the King or Queen of the 2017 Mardi Gras will be announced at this event so that they may reign in splendor at the Mardi Gras on February 25th. In the Mardi Gras tradition, Mardi Gras Krewes, local clubs that sponsor parades and Carnival events, hold elaborate Balls and parties where their King, Queen and other Royalty are announced for the year. On its surface, the election of Royalty may seem comical. However, being chosen is a very special honor and is taken very seriously by New Orleanians. Mardi Gras Royalty are elected because of their contributions and standing in the community. Being chosen to represent a Krewe as a King or Queen is an honor that announces to the community at large that these people have made our city a better place and we recognize their hard work and dedication.
In keeping with that tradition, the Watauga County Arts Council's Board of Directors has selected four nominees who have been instrumental in helping the Arts Council serve the community. A survey is available online at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/L7BTBKF and everyone is invited to vote (and vote often) for the individual they feel should reign over the upcoming Mardi Gras.
Nominees for the King or Queen of Mardi Gras are:
Marsha Holmes, who chairs the Arts Council's Gallery Committee. Marsha has been working with the Arts Council long before her service on the Board of Directors due to her position as an art teacher for the Project on Aging. Currently Marsha is a member of the WCAC's Advisory Council.
Mike Wise holds the record for the longest service to the Arts Council, having served on its Board of Directors periodically since the early 1980's and having held numerous positions including President, Treasurer, Grassroots Grants Panel chairman, and serving as an active member of the Finance Committee, a position he still holds along with also serving as a member of the WCAC's Advisory Council. The Arts Council recently voted to name one of the most-used rooms in the Blue Ridge ArtSpace after him.
Perry Yates, while not serving on any boards or committees of the Arts Council has been very instrumental in helping the Arts Council procure, renovate, and maintain their current facility, the Blue Ridge ArtSpace. Perry is a member of the Watauga County Board of Commissioners and was first introduced to the work of the Arts Council at the time they were pursuing permission to lease the facility. He was so impressed with the work of the Arts Council that he not only voted in favor of the lease, but he has been very generous in providing building materials to help the Arts Council renovate and maintain the building.
Shelby Lane is a passionate lover of the arts and an avid supporter of the Watauga County Arts Council. She has served as a past President, chaired several committees hosted fundraising events, and has been a faithful member of the Finance Committee for the last several years. She, too, is a member of the WCAC's Advisory Council.
Selection of the royal honoree is already underway online and votes may also be cast in person at the Blue Ridge ArtSpace at 377 Shadowline Drive in Boone. Tickets for the "Half-Way to Mardi Gras" event are $35/person and are available online at www.watauga-arts.org or by contacting the Arts Council at 828-264-1789. Due to space limitations, only thirty-eight tickets will be sold so guests are urged to purchase their tickets right away.


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Noproblem products QA Q: What are ION Bracelets/Necklaces? A: There are 2 types of electrical ion charges, Negative and Positive. Simply, Negative ions are good for your body and Positive ions are bad for your body. ION Bracelets/Necklaces...Read More
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"What seems to be conceivable from my point of view is an official lending, for example, for the period of one year — the centenary of the independence of 1918," Michael Hollmann told BNS.
"Separating the original document from its context and handing it over to Lithuania, however, would constitute a precedent with unforeseeable consequences for generally acknowledged basic principles of archival and historical work — not only in Germany, but worldwide," he said.
Liudas Mažylis, a professor at Vytautas Magnus University, found the Council of Lithuania's resolution proclaiming the restoration of an independent state of Lithuania with Vilnius as its capital, written by hand in Lithuanian and German and with 20 signatures on it, in Berlin's diplomatic archive in late March.
Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaitė has expressed her hope that Germany will hand the document over to Lithuania as a gift on the 100th anniversary of the restoration of its statehood.
Presided by Jonas Basanavičius, the Council of Lithuania signed the Act of Independence in Vilnius on Feb. 16, 1918. Historians believe that several original copies of the document were signed on that day, but the whereabouts of the others are unknown.
Shouldn't be Separated
Hollmann says that Germany "perfectly" understands that document is of high value to Lithuania.
"As far as I know, the colleagues of the Federal Foreign Office's Archives acknowledged and underlined that fact by quickly providing Lithuania with a reproduction of best quality," he told BNS.
However, the Federal Archives' president thinks that it would be a mistake to separate the document from the file.
"The document in question isn't the one declaration of independence, it hasn't been stolen or unlawfully removed. We talk about a letter directed to the government of the German Empire, informing the German government of the declaration of independence and asking for its recognition," Hollmann said.
"The letter regularly became part of the Foreign Office's registry, as any letter and its attachments would have, and is now an integral part of an entire file kept at the archives, which it should not be separated of," he added.
In the president's words, archivists are very reluctant to put a price tag on a single document.
"Archivists are very reluctant to evaluate single documents with a specific price. The value of archival holdings lies in its integrity and authenticity, and therefore the German Archival Law states clearly that archival material of the Federal Archives is inalienable. Every user of archival material might find a document of very high personal value to himself – but it is of course impossible to grant every user the right to possess the documents of specific value to him," he said.
Hollmann also doubts that the document could be permanently deposited in Lithuania.
"A permanent depositing of the document in Lithuania would in fact have the same character as an official transfer or handover. I doubt that such a solution would be compatible with German and international law," he said.
Journey of the Resolution
Jurgis Šaulys, one of the 20 signatories of the Council of Lithuania's resolution, handed the copy to Eckart von Bonin on the afternoon of Feb. 16, 1918. The German diplomat sent it to Chancellor Georg von Hertling in a letter on March 22. The document shortly afterwards reached the Foreign Office, were it was registered according to the usual administrative procedures of that time.
After World War Two, the Foreign Office's files were stored and archived by the Allies and were returned to the office in 1950. The 1918 Act of Independence has since been stored in the Federal Foreign Office's Political Archive.
Lithuanian diplomats admit that the document could only be handed over to Lithuania through Germany's political decision in a gesture of good will. Lithuania's expectations have already been voiced at the highest level — in Grybauskaitė's letter to the German president and during a conversation between the foreign ministers of the two countries. Diplomats have also discussed this issue with Chancellor Angela Merkel's advisors.
A facsimile of the 1918 Act of Independence handed by the German foreign minister to his Lithuanian counterpart is currently on display at the Martynas Mažvydas National Library in Vilnius.


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Sea Rabbit
I made this 20oz mug for my dad. :3 The rabbit's butt tattoo says "water." My pops lives on the Washington state coast, soI thought this would be perfect.
Terracotta and white slip, ^03.
© Sarah Alderete
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Science Fiction Books, Fantasy Books, Horror Books, Out Of Print Books & More
Science Fiction Books, Fantasy Books, Horror Books, Out Of Print Books & More
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Rare Book Display Case
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THE UNQUIET DREAMER: A Tribute to Harlan Ellison - signed slipcased edition, 200 copy limitation by Grassmann Preston, Ellison Harlan
THE TANELORN ARCHIVES: A Primary and Secondary Bibliography of the Works of Michael Moorcock 1949-1979. Signed, limited edition. by Bilyeu Richard (editor)
EMPEROR OF DREAMS - A Clark Ashton Smith Bibliography - SIGNED by Sidney-Fryer Donald, Smith Clark Ashton
CONAN THE BARBARIAN POCKET BOOK No.1 - Coming of Conan by Howard Robert E & Lee Stan (editor)