text:
Accessibility tools
Service tools
Language selector
Navigation path
Left navigation
Additional tools
Other available languages: none
European Commission
Brussels, 22 January 2014
Questions and answers on 2030 framework on climate and energy
The European Commission is today proposing a framework which provides predictable and certain energy and climate objectives applicable beyond 2020 and up to 2030. There are several reasons for proposing the framework now:
Between 1990 and 2012 the EU succeeded in cutting its GHG emissions by 18%, while GDP grew by 45%. The EU is on track to meet its 2020 target of reducing emissions by 20% below 1990 levels.
The 2020 target is split between the sectors covered by the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) and the sectors not covered by the ETS. For the sectors covered by the ETS, the EU-wide emissions cap has been set at a level that means emissions in 2020 will be 21% below 2005 levels. For non-ETS sectors each Member State has a national emissions target, ranging between 20% above and 20% below 2005 levels. In total these national targets add up to an EU-wide reduction target of around 10% below 2005 levels for the non-ETS sectors. The EU as a whole is on track to meet this target, but a number of Member States need to make additional efforts to meet their national targets.
As regards renewable energy, the EU has met its interim targets but more efforts will be needed from Member States to reach the 20% target in 2020. 12.7% of gross final energy consumption in 2011 was from renewable energy (compared to 8.5% in 2005). In aggregate, the EU 28 has met its interim target for 2011/2012, driven by Member States' efforts to make progress towards the national targets in the Renewable Energy Directive. However, as the trajectory grows steeper, more efforts will be needed from Member States in order to reach it2.
Regarding the 2020 target to make energy savings of 20% in the EU's primary energy consumption (compared to projections made in 2007), significant progress has been made, despite the fact that this target is not legally binding for Member States. After years of growth, primary energy consumption peaked in 2005/2006 (at 1,825 Mtoe) and has been slightly decreasing since 2007 (to reach 1,730 Mtoe in 2011)3, in part due to impacts from the economic crisis, but also due to lowered energy intensity. Nevertheless, the EU is likely to miss its indicative energy savings target.
The 2030 Framework provides predictable and certain energy and climate objectives applicable beyond 2020 up to 2030:
The average annual additional investments needed over the period 2011 to 2030 to meet the targets are projected to amount to 38 billion Euros for the EU as a whole, to a large extent compensated for by fuel savings. More than half of these investments are needed in the residential and tertiary sectors. The total cost of the energy system in 2030 is thus projected to increase by 0.15% if targets are met cost-effectively, with the average cost of the energy system over the period 2011 to 2030 projected to increase by 2 billion Euros per year; these costs are projected to shift from operational costs (fuel) to capital costs (investments).
The framework will have multiple economic and environmental benefits that will make the EU more sustainable. Not only GHG emissions but also air pollution will be cut, benefiting human health. For instance, cuts in particulate matter (PM2.5) concentrations compared to present policies would reduce health damage from air pollution in 2030 by around €5 to 11 billion and air pollution control costs by more than €2 billion.
The EU's energy efficiency would improve more than under current policies, helping to reduce costs, create jobs, enhance competitiveness and bring also energy security benefits linked in particular to lower fossil fuel use and imports. Compared to 2010, energy import volumes would decrease by at least 10% and those of natural gas by at least 9%, with benefits increasing with the use of higher levels of energy efficiency to achieve the targets.
In terms of employment, new growth sectors are expected to create opportunities in fields such as engineering, basic manufacturing, transport equipment, construction and business services. Overall job growth is expected to be positive if targets are achieved through ambitious energy efficiency policies that create jobs locally, for instance in the construction sector, and if revenues from carbon pricing, for instance through auctioning, are used to lower labour costs.
The proposed GHG reduction target would improve the functioning of the European carbon market and increase certainty for investors in the EU ETS about the efforts required within the EU. It would not allow for import of international credits after 2020.
The ETS currently has a large surplus of emission allowances which has built up primarily due to the economic crisis, resulting in emissions well below the ETS cap, as well as the inflow of a large amount of international credits which were allowed under the ETS directive to enter over the period 2008-2020 (with projects often being contested by many stakeholders on environmental grounds). This surplus, which is not expected to reduce soon, has led to a low carbon price which weakens the incentive for emission-saving investments, thus eroding the ETS's role in delivering long-term, cost-effective GHG reductions.
To address the surplus and make the ETS a more robust instrument for 'decarbonising' the EU economy, the Commission today presented a legislative proposal to create a market stability reserve in 2021 (see also MEMO/14/39).
To achieve the proposed 40% GHG reduction target it will also be necessary to change, after 2020, the annual linear reduction factor that determines the 'cap' on ETS emissions. A linear reduction factor of 2.2% per year would be needed from 2021, compared with 1.74% up to 2020.
The Commission continues to see the development of an international carbon market as a major way to reduce GHG emissions and address the risks of 'carbon leakage' (see Q7). The main tool in this regard is linking the European carbon market with other mature and robust carbon markets. This central objective is not affected by the objective of reaching the 40 % reduction target without international credits. To facilitate this, the Commission will continue to engage in technical dialogue and support capacity building in third countries.
Should the 2015 global climate agreement enable the EU to increase its GHG reduction target for 2030 to more than 40%, use of international credits within the EU may become relevant, in which case a decision would be needed on which credits to recognise.
'Carbon leakage' refers to the risk of companies moving production out of the EU to third countries where industry would not be subject to comparable carbon constraints. To prevent carbon leakage, energy-intensive sectors in the EU that are exposed to international competition receive ETS emission allowances for free according to a benchmark based on best available technologies. This system is serving as an effective safeguard: analysis for the Commission confirms that there is no evidence that carbon leakage has occurred due to the EU ETS.
The Commission therefore proposes to continue the system of free allocation after 2020 if other major economies do not take comparable climate action. The system would be improved so that it focuses on those sectors at most risk of carbon leakage.
The ETS Directive mandates the Commission to determine a new carbon leakage list in 2009 and every five years thereafter. Therefore, the current list expires at the end of this year and needs to be replaced by a new list valid for the period 2015 to 2019.
To comply with this legal obligation, while guaranteeing continuity on the composition of the list, the Commission intends to present a proposal to the EU Climate Change Committee which would maintain the current criteria and existing assumptions (including an assumed carbon price of €30).
The Impact Assessment published alongside the 2030 Energy and Climate Framework shows that the costs of a low carbon transition do not differ substantially from the costs that will be incurred in any event due to the need to renew an ageing energy system.
Energy system costs (largely investment costs, including investments in the transport sector, and fuel costs) are expected to rise from about 12.8% in 2010 to around 14% of GDP by 2030. There will, however, be a major shift away from expenditure on fuels towards innovative equipment with high added value that will stimulate investments and economic competitiveness.
Upward pressures on energy prices in the EU will continue, also driven by increasing fossil fuel prices determined in international markets. On the other hand, the gradual completion of the internal energy market will help to keep EU wholesale electricity and gas prices in check.
Renewable energy will continue to play a fundamental role in the transition towards a more competitive, secure and sustainable system: the Commission considers that the EU should set a European target for the share of renewable energy in final energy consumption of at least 27%.
Experience with the current 2020 framework nonetheless indicates the way to proceed: renewable energy policies are key to reduce the EU's trade deficit in energy commodities, EU exposure to supply disruption and to volatile fossil fuel prices – but they require market integration, high levels of investment, cost-efficiency and undistorted competition.
The sustainable development of renewable energy to the full benefit of EU citizens entails a rigorous enforcement of competition and state aid rules, as well as a fundamental transformation of the EU energy infrastructure. This includes more cross-border interconnections, storage potential and smart grids to manage demand in order to ensure a secure electricity supplies in a system with higher shares of intermittent renewable energy sources.
Unlike in the current framework the EU target for the share of renewable energy consumed in the EU would not be translated into national targets via EU legislation. This leaves greater flexibility for Member States and gives them the possibility to take advantage of the most cost-effective means of achieving a more sustainable, secure and competitive energy system. This increased flexibility will be combined with a strong European governance framework meant to ensure overall consistency with European targets and coherence with the wider principles of European energy policy.
Energy efficiency is a vital component of the future energy and climate framework. The proposals assume major improvements in energy efficiency, as demonstrated in the Energy Roadmap 2050. The EU will continue to promote energy efficiency across all its energy and economic policies.
It is essential that Member States do the same.
The current EU framework for energy efficiency policy will be analysed in greater detail in the assessment of progress made towards meeting the 2020 target provided for in the Energy Efficiency Directive, to be concluded later in 2014. Meanwhile energy efficiency legislation and standards agreed at the EU level are starting to bring important energy savings:
The future of EU transport development should be based on alternative, sustainable fuels as an integrated part of a more holistic approach to the transport sector.
The Commission has therefore not proposed new targets for the transport sector after 2020 (current targets: 10% renewable energy for the transport sector. The share of renewables in transport rose to 4.7% in 2010 from 1.2% in 2005).
Based on the lessons of the existing target and on the assessment of how to minimise indirect land-use change emissions, it is clear that first generation biofuels have a limited role in decarbonising the transport sector. A range of alternative renewable fuels and a mix of targeted policy measures building on the Transport White Paper are thus needed to address the challenges of the transport sector in a 2030 perspective and beyond.
The EU lacks common benchmarks to provide a factual base for potential policy responses. Therefore the Commission comes forward with a set of key indicators to assess progress over time. These indicators are:
The Commission will come forward with periodic reporting and, where appropriate, accompanying measures on these indicators.
Moreover, the attainment of the 2030 targets will be ensured by a new governance framework based on national plans for competitive, secure and sustainable energy that will have to be prepared by the Member States.
These plans should set out a clear approach to achieve domestic objectives, regarding: non-ETS GHG emissions, renewable energy, energy savings, energy security and other important choices such as nuclear energy, shale gas, carbon capture and storage, interconnections as well a transition towards less carbon intensive fuels. The explicit aim of these plans will be to create more investor certainty, greater transparency, enhance coherence, EU coordination and surveillance, including the assessment of such plans against Union level climate and energy objectives, and progress towards the objectives of the internal energy market.
To ensure consistency and compliance over time, the Commission proposes to monitor the preparation of Member State plans through an iterative process well before 2020.
In order to ensure the achievement of the targets, the Commission proposes to introduce a revision procedure of national plans in order to assess over time if these are sufficient to deliver the Union's climate and energy targets recommending corrective measures.
Countries have been invited to come forward by early next year with the GHG emission reductions they intend to contribute to the global agreement. The EU thus needs to decide its target in the coming months. A 40% reduction target would set a strong example to the international community.
The Commission sees no merit in proposing, in addition, a higher, conditional target ahead of the international negotiations. It would rather assess the possibility of increasing the proposed target in the light of other countries' contributions. Should the outcome of the negotiations warrant a more ambitious EU target, the additional effort could come from international credits.
The adoption of the Commission's Communication is a first important step of an extensive inter-institutional process. The European Council is expected to consider the 2030 framework at its spring meeting on 20-21 March.
The Commission is asking the Council and the European Parliament to endorse the framework's overall approach to future climate and energy policies, the EU-level target for renewable energy and the proposal to establish a new governance system. It also invites the two legislative bodies to adopt the proposed ETS market stability reserve and to agree by the end of this year that the EU should pledge a 2030 GHG reduction of 40% in early 2015 as part of the international negotiations on a new global climate agreement.
Such action would allow the EU to contribute constructively to the international negotiations and increase predictability for investors by creating greater clarity about the required level and type of efforts needed after 2020.
Before 2021, the 2030 GHG reduction target would need to be translated into national GHG targets for the non-ETS sectors and Member States would need to draw up their national plans for competitive, secure and sustainable energy for the period up to 2030. The Commission will provide more detailed guidance on how these plans will have to be formulated.
Energy efficiency must continue play a significant role in delivering the Union's climate and energy objectives and this will be the subject of a review of progress in energy efficiency which the Commission will conclude later in 2014.
Building on the experience developed with the Report on energy prices and costs, the Commission will come forward with periodic reporting on the new proposed indicators.
See also IP/14/54
in the context of necessary reductions by developed countries as a group
See the Commission Renewables Progress Report.
Primary energy consumption included non-energy uses which are not considered in the energy savings target for 2020. The figure excluding non-energy uses was 1706 Mtoe in 2006 and 1583 Mtoe in 2011.
COM(2011) 112. A Roadmap for moving to a competitive low carbon economy in 2050.
Side Bar


text:
As the prices for contemporary art continue to soar, the valuable heirlooms hanging on the wall at home are posing a new set of issues for collectors and estate planners alike. Too often these precious artworks aren't accounted for in the estate planning process, says Fiduciary Trust vice chairman Gail Cohen. "And that is the absolute worst scenario, because sometimes the works have appreciated so significantly they overwhelm the value of the [rest of the] estate," she says. With no proper plan in place, the death of a savvy collector could expose heirs to a staggering tax bill.
Artnet's C50 index, tracking the performance of works by leading contemporary artists from Warhol to Hirst, has nearly quadrupled this last decade. That means art collectors could be sitting on a massive windfall. Take out the party horns. But the flipside is that the combined federal and state estate tax exposure for a New York resident could come close to 60%. Not so good. Furthermore, that rate applies to estates exceeding the $5.3 million, and $10.7 million for a couple, when the markets are at a stage where a single, second-rate Warhol or de Kooning could easily put you over that gift-tax exclusion threshold. Heirs only have nine months to pay up. If they don't have the cash, they'll probably have to break up the collection, quickly selling off bits to pay the IRS tab.
To avoid this emotionally and literally taxing loss, a collector must, earlier on, choose to leave the artworks to his or her family, gift the collection to charity or sell the works outright. Assuming your children want your collection, you must decide whether to gift the collection during your lifetime or leave it to the family in your will. The answer to that is a numbers game that differs from state-to-state.
Imagine a piece of art is purchased for $1,000 twenty years ago and it is worth $14,000 today. If a collector is passing the artwork on in his or her will, upon his death, estate taxes would be paid on its fair market value, or $14,000. If the beneficiary were to sell the artwork, after squaring that tax bill with the government, they would then owe taxes only on any appreciation above $14,000.
In contrast, if the collector were to gift that piece in his lifetime, there would be no gift taxes levied. But when the heir sells the piece, capital gains taxes will be charged on the $13,000, plus any additional appreciation in value above $14,000.
Your child never plans to sell? In that case, gifting makes sense, since the painting will hang on the wall and the capital gains tax bill is avoided. But if a sale is being considered, Cohen advises clients take a deep look at the state-by-state differences in capital gains taxes and estate taxes. In a high income tax state like California, where the top capital gains rate for the sale of artwork is 44.1%, versus a federal estate tax of 40%, it usually makes more sense to leave the collection in your will, says Cohen. Conversely, in Florida, where there is no state capital gains tax,it often makes more sense to gift the work in your lifetime, since the federal estate tax could be saved this way. (It should be noted generally that the rate charged on federal capital gains taxes on collectibles is 31.8%, including the 3.8% Medicare surcharge, versus 23.8% for other securities.)
Another good strategy for passing down your art collection during your lifetime is to gift beneficiaries' interest, or partial interests, in the artwork until they own the painting outright. Annually an individual can gift $14,000 without being subject to gift tax, and $28,000 for a married couple, but do know, too, that the sums gifted annually do not count towards the lifetime gift tax exclusion.
Simple enough. But say you are splitting interest between multiple children, and your kids start grappling each other and squabbling over certain valuable pieces. If that sounds like a plausible outcome, you could create an LLC in which the children have ownership stakes in the art collection, while a manager oversees the actual decisions. "It's a great way to memorialize the collection, with the manager determining when items are sold, lent to a museum, or hung on one of the children's wall," Cohen says. Plus, this neutral arbiter can stave off any infighting.
One smart tax play, when passing on art, is to use grantor trusts. (For more, see our related story, "Protect IPO Windfalls With a Trust.") Another is donating the collection outright to charity. That allows for an immediate income tax deduction on the artwork's fair market value and avoids capital gains or estate taxes altogether. There are a few wrinkles, of course. Gifts must be made to public charities; donating your artwork to your private foundation only receives the deduction of your original cost basis. (So going back to our previous example, you would deduct $1,000 for what was originally paid for the work, not the $14,000 it's now worth.) And note the donation must be of "related use" to the receiving charity. Gifting a classic car to your alma mater wouldn't count; giving your Basquiat to MoMA would.
For folks interested in selling their collection, but who are also charitably inclined, a charitable remainder trust could be the best strategy. This structure allows the collector to get an immediate income tax deduction on the original cost of the work, and, when the painting in trust is sold, postpones the capital gains taxes to be paid. The added sweetener: The trust's assets are invested in a diversified portfolio that pays an annuity with a determined payout of, say, 5% a year, for the remainder of the benefactor's life (capital gains are paid on a portion of the payout). The assets remaining when the donor dies are then gifted to the charity.
So take stock of your entire collection, even the works collecting dust in your second homes and warehouses. Their collective value might not matter to you, but could soon be a major headache for your children.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Chester Brown has no problem paying for sex. Over a period of four years he visited more than 20 prostitutes and shelled out thousands of dollars for sex, some of which was great, some of which was just okay and much of which involved women he genuinely cared for. He never contracted a sexually transmitted infection, was never arrested and his close friends and family, who knew he was seeing prostitutes, never rejected him.
In Paying for It: A Comic Strip Memoir About Being a John, Brown, an award-winning cartoonist from Toronto, puts a human face on the often maligned and caricatured figure of the john. He writes with a degree of honesty and thoughtfulness one rarely finds when it comes to the subject of men who pay for sex, detailing both the mundane and more profound aspects of his experience, from searching classified ads and reading online reviews to discussing romantic love, which he personally rejects. He presents these ideas—ones that undoubtedly challenge many people's beliefs about the sanctity of sex, love and monogamy—in an easy-to-read comic-strip format that invites readers to think differently about prostitution.
Brown's story is an interesting one. Following the end of a serious relationship over a decade ago, he decides he never wants to have a girlfriend again. He soon realizes he has two competing wishes: the desire to have sex and the desire to not to have a girlfriend. "Maybe I should pay for sex," he eventually concludes.
For Brown, this is a pragmatic decision and one that carries no shame. He's not lonely or desperate. He's not self-loathing, nor does he have contempt for women. He's just a regular guy who wants a fulfilling sex life, but without all of the expectations and insecurities that often accompany romantic involvements.
The first prostitute he sees is Carla, whom he found through an escort ad. He's relieved to find she's beautiful—and not a cop. "This is too good to be true," Brown thinks to himself. He gives her money, they talk, she takes out a condom and they have sex. Could she tell he was nervous? Did she know it was his first time paying for sex? In the end none of those insecurities matter. "As I walked out of the brothel," he writes, "I felt exhilarated and transformed."
Chester Brown the john was born.
Brown, 51, describes himself as a typical john. He's somewhat introverted, a little shy and not likely to be mistaken for a chest-thumping alpha male. The image he paints of the average john, and the reasons why someone such as himself might choose to pay for sex, couldn't be more different than the stereotype of johns as callous and deeply flawed men with little regard for women and nothing better to do than assert their dominance.
"There's so much about sex in conventional relationships that's so complicated, particularly heterosexual relationships," Brown told me by phone last week. "I remember having this weird feeling with my first girlfriend, before we even had sex. Should I buy condoms just in case? If I bring them out will it look like I am over-planning?
"In prostitution there is no subtext. Everything is out there on the surface. We know what's going to happen. There isn't a mysterious part of the relationship, and there isn't the same degree of shame around sex."
Early in the book, Brown takes out his calculator and determines he can afford to see a prostitute once every three weeks, or 17 times a year, for the equivalent of $2,720 annually. Once Brown crosses over into the "paying for sex line"—as opposed to the "free sex line"—he, in many ways, becomes the epitome of a rational consumer who spends his money wisely in accordance with his needs. Much like people who shop for other kinds of experiences, he reads online reviews, writes his own and returns to see women whose company, and services, he enjoys.
"There is very little research on johns," says Barb Brents, a sociologist at UNLV who has studied the history of prostitution and legal brothels in Nevada. "While this book is a memoir, it goes a long way toward demystifying johns. There's no sneaking off. There's no shame. We get to see his thought process, his choices and his interactions."
Paying for It also shows that there's more to the economic exchange between a john and a prostitute than just sexual gratification. According to Brents: "A lot of what Brown writes about echoes what prostitutes have said about the men who see them, that it's not just about sex. They negotiate feelings and deal with each other as human beings."
The importance of the emotional intimacy between a prostitute and john is not lost on Brown. "As robotics advance," he tells me, "it's hard to imagine a sex robot being really appealing in the way that having sex with a human being is. And that's because of the emotional component. You are dealing with another person who has feelings and is willing to express them."
In 2004, Brown started seeing a prostitute named Denise on a regular basis. He's been seeing her monogamously for more than seven years now, and, although she no longer works as a prostitute, he still pays her for sex. "There's a level of genuine emotional engagement, and a willingness on her part to spend time with me that she isn't getting paid for," says Brown.
He tells me he prefers prostitution to getting married, summing it up best in the last panel on the last page of Paying for It: "Paying for sex isn't an empty experience, if you're paying the right person for sex."


text:
Mets and Nationals Rained Out
The game between the New York Mets and Washington Nationals scheduled for Thursday night was postponed because of rain.
The game never got started. No makeup date was immediately announced.
The postponement means the Nationals won't have to call up a starter for Saturday's game to take Stephen Strasburg's spot. Thursday's starter, Gio Gonzalez, will be moved back to Friday's series opener against Minnesota -- weather from Tropical Storm Andrea permitting -- and Nathan Karns gets pushed from Friday to Saturday.
Shaun Marcum, scheduled to start for the Mets, gets moved to Saturday's home game vs. Miami instead. Matt Harvey remains the starter for Friday's series opener against the Marlins, although heavy rain is also forecast for the New York area.
(Copyright 2013 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)


text:
As much as Desi and I love to travel, we rarely ever consider going back to places we've visited because there is so much more world left to see. But if there is one country I've been to that I would return to in a heartbeat, it would have to be Mexico.
There's something magical about our neighbor to the south, and I don't just mean the gorgeous but tourist-crammed beaches, mountains and valleys. There's the warmth of the people, the lure of its history and legend, and the food, oh, the food.
I think one of the reasons I love Mexican food as much as I do is because it reminds my tastebuds just a little bit of of their native favorite, Indian food.
Like Indians, Mexicans eat a lot of rice and beans, and they light it all up with plenty of heat. In fact, just thinking of all those gorgeous South American chili peppers makes my head spin and my mouth water. Habaneros, jalapenos, serranos, anaheims, poblanos…how can anything cooked with all that raging, fiery flavor be anything but delicious.
So for the month of March, as we shake off the last of the winter blues, I thought we'd live it up a bit with the brilliant cuisine of Mexico. There's plenty to cook up that's divinely vegan: salsas, guacamoles, tortillas, tamales, quesadillas, tacos, enchiladas, fajitas, flans, and so much more….your creativity is the limit.
I am going to throw open this event for guest hosts starting next month. The super-creative Priya of Akshayapaatram will host it in April, but for anyone who is interested in hosting it thereafter, just drop me an email at email@example.com. Let me know if there is any particular country/region you'd like to feature.
I had a truly wonderful response to the first month of IAVW, when we featured Italian cuisine. I am completely in awe of all the creativity you guys showed by cooking up vegan versions of your popular Italian favorites. I'll be posting that roundup in the coming week. And in case you want to send something in, there's still time until tomorrow!
Meanwhile, here are the guidelines for It's A Vegan World: Mexican.
The deadline is March 31, 2009.
These foods are no-nos in vegan cooking, so please leave them out: honey, butter, eggs, cheese, ghee, milk, yogurt (basically no milk-based products), gelatin, and, of course, no meats or fish. Vegan meat or cheese substitutes are fine.
The recipe should be cooked for this event, so please do not recycle old posts.
Link back to this announcement, and feel free to use the logo below.
Non-bloggers are also very welcome. Just send me your recipe and a picture.
As for bloggers, send me an email with your post to myveganworld[at]gmail.com. Include these details:
Your name
Blog name
Post url
I'll get the photograph from your post
Have a wonderful weekend, everyone, and don't forget to put on your thinking sombreros. It's time for some vegan Mexican enchantment!


text:
void Config_Container::setAttributes (
array $attributes
Attributes are stored in an array. They are used in some containers like PHP Array, XML, Apache. In IniFile or IniCommented containers, attributes are not used. See examples in getAttributes() method to have an idea of the attributes output. This method will replace existing attributes. Use updateAttributes() if you just want to change some of them.
Array of attributes
This function can not be called statically.


text:
Every day I come up with a new witty Threadless TypeTees Slogan in hopes of earning a Threadless Alumni Club Medal of Honor. At the end of every week I post a round up of that weeks slogans here on my blog. What can you do to help the cause? Vote! Just click on a slogan (preferably all of them) and then vote by click "I'd Wear It!" – it's that simple! If you want to see and vote for all of my slogans then just click here or on that photo of me with the Rockband guitar. Vote for me and I will bake you your own burrito if ever we meet in real life.
Week 5 (January 29, 2010 to February 4, 2010):
"The only chemistry I know is synthesized by Cupid's arrow."
I was listening to someone talk about biochemistry and this slogan popped up in my head! Would make a good Valentines Day TypeTee, Threadless staff **Wink, Wink**!
"CAPS LOCK: for moments when an exclamation point is not enough!"
Especially for those who like to write things like FTW! or WIN! – you know these people and you might even be one. Slogans FTW!
"65 is the original 140."
OK, you need to be both a web geek and a Threadless geek to get this one. Before Twitter made 140 characters an iconic cultural limitation, OMG Clothing (later to become TypeTees) made 65 characters the max you had to get your thought across. In my opinion, 65 is so much harder to do than 140.
"Geeks don't skip. They tab."
Skipping? Pfffftttt. Real geeks tab.
"Moderation is key. Now can I have more advice?"
People inherently want more, and more, and more. But the key, no matter what, is always moderation. Want more advice? Knew you would.
"Being green is as easy as finding a yellow and blue marker."
Step 1. Find yellow and green marker. Step 2. Color yourself with said markers until your entirely green. And there you go – BAM – GREEN! Now go worry about your carbon footprint.
"Optical zoom should be a default feature of the human eye."
Really, it should! If cameras can do it then why not the eyeball! Imagine if you could zoom in and out using your MIND. That would be insane. I want that!


text:
Accessibility tools
Service tools
Language selector
Navigation path
Left navigation
Additional tools
Other available languages: IT
European Commission
Brussels, 18 July 2013
EU and China together explore the benefits of green growth
Business opportunities from resource efficient production is the focus of today's visit to China by European Commission Vice-President Antonio Tajani, Commissioner for Industry and Entrepreneurship, and Janez Potočnik, Commissioner for Environment. Green growth is now high on the political agenda for the EU and China – both are interested in achieving sustainable growth while maintaining and improving the state of their respective environments. The global market for green goods and services is currently estimated at around €1 000 billion per annum, and this is expected to double by 2020. This year the European Union and China are celebrating the 10th anniversary of their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and "Green Growth" has been proposed both as a key topic for the upcoming EU-Summit and for this Mission for Growth.
The Chinese government is committed to support environmental protection and sustainable growth. In this respect, the EU's industry and its well-developed expertise on environmentally friendly products and services has a lot to offer. The participation of EU companies active in the "environmental" sectors in this 'Mission for Green Growth' proves there is considerable potential for business opportunities.
Vice-President Tajani and Commissioner Potočnik, accompanied by 59 European and national industry associations and companies, will discuss regulatory challenges in the Chinese market and articulate EU best practices in improving the business environment, in particular for SMEs.
The Mission's overall objective is to enhance European industry's growth and competitiveness by better exploiting the growth potential of non-EU countries - in this case the growing economy of China. It also aims to reinforce economic co-operation and helping EU companies to access the Chinese market. Three more specific objectives are as follows:
(1) Promoting sustainable and inclusive growth on both sides
During the visit, Vice President Tajani and Commissioner Potocnik will discuss with Chinese Vice-Premier MA Kai on how to step up cooperation on green growth.
By finding common ground and shared incentives, the European Commission and China are working together to improve industrial energy efficiency and decrease greenhouse gases, while gaining market share for environmentally friendly products and services. As part of this process, a specific working group was already established in 2010 with the Chinese Ministry of industry and technology cooperation. Its three main areas of collaboration are: sector-based energy efficiency actions in industry, product policy (notably eco-design) and sustainable industrial policy. It is hoped that this collaboration can be further developed.
Vice President Tajani will also sign a Joint Statement on tourism with the Vice-Chairman of the Chinese National Tourism administration. His objective is to start cooperation in this important area - relatively new to China - from which both sides will stand to gain from enhanced tourist flows.
Vice President Tajani will also meet with Minister Wan Gang, responsible for Science and Technology, to discuss cooperation in the field of space and possible future cooperation on clusters.
(2) Helping EU companies and in particular SMEs to operate in China
VP Tajani will also hold discussions with his counterparts, Minister Miao, responsible for Industry and Information Technology, and Minister Zhi Shuping, Responsible for the Administration for Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine. He will sign Joint Statements with them to reinforce the already fruitful cooperation between these administrations and the European Commission through existing regulatory dialogues. These dialogues promote cooperation and mutual understanding in industrial and SME policy and greater convergence of technical regulations, standards and conformity assessment'. The ultimate objective is to reduce costs for companies and increase productivity for businesses on both sides.
In October 2012 a web-based tool "CESIP", the China-Europe Standardisation Information Platform was launched. It gives businesses information about standards applicable to highly traded regulated products and so helps SMEs to internationalise. CESIP provides valuable, bi-lingual information to Chinese and European businesses on everything from technical regulations to market access requirements, including details on thousands of standards. During the visit Vice President Tajani and Minister Zhi Shuping will commit to further develop this platform.
During the visit, EU companies will have a first-hand demonstration of the EU services already available to help them operate in China - namely the China SME IPR Helpdesk and the EU SME Center - via presentations and one to one consultations. Cooperation on Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) will be strengthened through the new project "IP Key". This project follows previous similar successful projects that contribute to the development of the intellectual property system in China and to the mutual understanding in these matters.
(3) Promoting EU-China business contacts and opportunitie
A matchmaking event with local entrepreneurs will take place on 19 July 2013, in particular for companies operating in the air quality, water, waste, energy efficient and environmentally friendly technologies sectors. This is possible thanks to the support of the EU SME Centre and the Enterprise Europe Network - the world's largest business support network, providing provides free basic service to SME clients to support their expansion into new markets and to improve their competitive position. The Enterprise Europe Network has recently expanded its coverage in China. It now has five consortia covering Central, South East, North East, West, and East China.
European and Chinese companies are increasingly interested in the opportunities presented by these sectors. In May 2012 the signature of the EU/China Urbanisation Partnership helped provide business opportunities for relevant EU companies: those with the capacity to respond to the increased demand for sustainable technologies and products stemming from China's rapid urbanisation.
(4) Addressing the environmental challenges of the EU–China cooperation
The mission for green growth will also provide an opportunity to identify and address concrete environmental challenges in the context of the EU-China relations. In the frame of the 5th EU-China Policy Dialogue on Environment, Commissioner Potočnik and Zhou Shengxian, Minister of Environmental Protection, will exchange views on recent developments on environmental policies in China and in the EU.
The Commissioner and the Minister will also launch the EU China Environmental Sustainability Project. The purpose of this project is to support the Chinese authorities in their efforts of achieving environmental sustainability by reducing water and heavy metal pollution and implementing sustainable waste policies
The 4th EU-China Policy Dialogue on Environment, between Minister Zhou and Commissioner Potočnik was held in Brussels in February 2012. The key conclusion of that meeting was the agreement to continue promoting green growth domestically as well as internationally and to strengthen bilateral cooperation.
As the European Union and China cooperate on a number of environmental policy areas, Commissioner Potočnik will meet with counterparts from other ministries dealing with environmental matters, including the Ministry of Water Resources and the State Forestry Authority.
The Commissioner will also meet with representatives of EU funded environment and environmental NGOs based in Beijing.
The EU welcomes collaboration with China in the follow-up to Rio+20 and in joint efforts to attain a balanced, global transition to an inclusive Green Economy. Several new cooperation projects are about to be launched with China on environmental sustainability, sustainable urbanisation and on emissions trading.
Data on China
Surface Area: 9.327,5 103 sq. km
Population: 1354.0 million (2012)
GDP in 2012: € 8.227 billion (estimates after 2012)
Chinese GDP per capita in 2012: € 6.075,9 (estimates after 2012)
GDP by sector in 2011 (Value added, % of GDP): Industry (46,6%); Services (43,3%); Agriculture (10,0%)
EU exports in goods to China in 2012: € 143.8 billion
Chinese exports in goods to the EU in 2012: € 289.7 billion
EU commercial services exports to China in 2011: € 26.2 billion
Chinese commercial services exports to the EU in 2011: € 18.3 billion
The EU is China's biggest trading partner, with total trade of €433.6bil in 2012. China is the EU's second biggest trading partner (after the US). Europe is one of the top-five sources of FDI to China: €17.8 bn in 2011, but accounts for only 2.1% of the total EU FDI outflows. Although expanding, Chinese investment in Europe only accounted for €3.1bn in 2011, about 5% of Chinese total FDI stock abroad.
EU imports from China are dominated by industrial and consumer goods: machinery and equipment, footwear and clothing, furniture, lamps and toys. EU exports to China are concentrated on machinery and equipment, motor vehicles, aircraft, and chemicals.
Missions for Growth
This mission is part of the series of "Missions for Growth" to help European enterprises, in particular small and medium sized enterprises, to better profit from fast growing international markets. The Mission's overall objective is the enhancement of the growth and competitiveness of European industry by better exploiting growth potential in non-EU countries via the reinforcement of economic co-operation and reforms, helping EU companies to access the Chinese market, as well as deepening of bilateral policy co-operation in various policy fields.
Information for EU companies on business in China
More information on the Mission for Growth to China
Side Bar


text:
Four Wyoming couples file lawsuit seeking the freedom to marry
March 06, 2014
On March 5, the National Center for Lesbian Rights filed a new lawsuit in state court on behalf of Wyoming Equality and four same-sex couples seeking the freedom to marry or respect for marriages legally performed in other states. The case, Courage v. Wyoming, is one of nearly 50 cases currently making their way through the state and federal judicial system in the United States.
The plaintiffs include two same-sex couples who are legally married, two who wish to marry in Wyoming, and the state's largest organization dedicated to working toward equality for all LGBT people in the state, Wyoming Equality.
The couples include Cora Courage and Wyoma "Nonie" Proffit, who work as a Major in the Army Reserve and a part-time sheepherder, respectively, and married in Iowa in 2009; Carl Oleson and Rob Johnston, who have been together for 16 years and married four years ago in Canada; Anne Guzzo and Bonnie Robinson, who are unmarried but have been together for more than 4 years; and Ivan Williams and Chuck Killion, an attorney and real estate developer, respectively, from Cheyenne.
One of the plaintiffs, Anne Guzzo, explained yesterday:
I love Wyoming. This state has always been my home; even when I left for graduate school, I knew that I would come back. And as much as I love this state, it is frustrating to live in the "Equality State" and to be treated differently by the government because of who I love. It scares me that in times of crisis we will have to rely on the kindness of strangers to respect our relationship because the State of Wyoming will not let Bonnie and me share in the responsibilities and protections of marriage. I look forward to the day that we will be able to marry before our family and friends in the state we call home.
The new lawsuit joins a total of 50 active lawsuits in 27 states where same-sex couples have joined together to file lawsuits seeking the freedom to marry and urging their state to find that anti-marriage laws and constitutional amendments limiting the freedom to marry violate the United States Constitution. In six of these states - Oklahoma, Utah, Ohio, Nevada, Kentucky, and Texas - the lawsuit is at the Circuit Court of Appeals level.


text:
Research Country Contact (Personal Names, Addresses, Phone) Information (France)
Költségvetés $30-250 USD
The context of this work is in relation to the country of France.
Please refer to the attached document full requirements with examples and general requirements.
Data Requirements
- Personal Names
- Make sure to describe all forms a name can take in official and non official documentation
- List of First Names ordered by popularity using native character set (if possible 1000, more is better)
- List of Last Name ordered by popularity using native character set (if possible 1000, more is better)
- Pattern Logic (Country specific)
- Describe any rules regarding composite names (eg, names separated by hyphens), either first or last. How many composites are allowed?
- For example, German might have a "von" prefix for some last names as in "von Ludwig"
- For example, U.S: Middle name would consist of similar names as First name list
- Context
- Different way name, first name, given name, last name, family name, maiden name is referred to in the country language
- What is the official way to address someone?
- Mr, Mrs, etc.. (also list the typical shorten forms that are used if different)
- Is some form considered disrespectful, preferred, etc...
- List of characters used in names (Upper case, lower case, romanized, other cases)
- Mailing Addresses
- Format (Structure) of Address (all possible combinations)
- Context - Ways any part of the address is referred to in the country language
- Examples of Address Form formats (image of form (physical or online) + typed out version in language with English translation)
- Pattern
- Pattern Logic
- Postal Codes structure broken up with their area code
- A list of common street prefix or postfixes with their abbreviation (For example, Street, St, Str, Road, Rd, Way, Path)
- A list of all States, Cities and Towns in possible for address
- Country specific logic
- For example, In Germany the postfixes might be joined as part of the street name.
- "Hauptstraße", where "Haupt" = Main + "straße" = "Street"
- Germany has different spelling names of cities in English which are also commonly used and cannot be converted directly.
- Give a list of all "München" = "Munich"
- Common patterns, Addresses with:
- Apartments
- PO Box
- On the Road (km instead of street #)
- etc
- Telephone Number
- Format
- Country Code
- Trunk Code
- Area codes for all locations within the country with their descriptions, eg in 212 is one of New York's area codes
- Subscriber numbers
- Mobile operators, do they have different dialing prefixes?
- Minimum and Maximum number of digits in a phone number.
- All possibly dialing prefixes.
- For example, is there a different way to dial a mobile number inside the country vs outside.
- For example, in US, to dial a mobile or a regular number is the same. However both can be prefixed with '1', the US country code. In Australia, the number format for mobile numbers and land lines differ. So dialing from outside the country is also different for each one.
- All common ways to write a phone number down in both official and non official documentation. Provide references if possible.
- Context - Different ways phone number, phone or handphone (cellphone, mobile) is referred to in the country language (For example, German "Handy", "Telefon")
Hello, My name is Diane, I am French and I have been speaking english fluently since I m 16 years old. I studied in the US and I have an MBA in Marketing and Industrial Management. I teach french / english / spani Több
12 szabadúszó tett átlagosan $94 árajánlatot erre a munkára
Hello, I saw your job post that is related to my skills. Please refer to your PM. So I can create sample work right away before awarding the project and get back to you our Quotation if you will approve sample. I hav Több
*** Do You Like Getting the Results You Want? *** Need to Stay on Budget?*** Hi, I think you just found the right candidate here! I will make sure to deliver the best as per your Requirements. I am an experienced co Több
Expert here to do and complete this project professionally and quickly, I have done similar projects, I can do trial work before hire me sir , will wait for your reply, Thanks, Syed
I am providing different countries fresh database.
Hello Sir, I have reviewed your posting and thought it's under my expertise. We are here a team to serve you. I am eager to work on your project. Best Regards Parag
I want to discuss this project with you further, let me know the best suitable time for you to schedule the meeting, Feel free to message me at any time, i used to be online 14 hrs in a day on this website so probably Több
Dear Client, Greeting of the day ahead !!! Thanks for providing us opportunity to place bid over the project and communicate with you. I am a serious bidder here and i have already worked on a similar project befor Több
Hi, French is my first language. I have lived in France for six years. I am familiar with french names, adresses, phone numbers. Please contact me for further details. Kind regards, Konanseydou


text:
Hotel Guest Testimonials in Lake Tahoe
"Great Lake Tahoe Hotel, Great atmosphere, Great service,
Great vacation all around!"
"The 3 Peaks Resort and Beach Club is my favorite hotel in Lake Tahoe."
"Other hotels in Lake Tahoe can't hold a candle to this one."
"Welcome to Hotel Heaven in Lake Tahoe"
"I travel to Lake Tahoe twice a year, the 3 Peaks Hotel is a better hotel deal than other hotels in Lake Tahoe."
The 3 Peaks Resort & Beach Club is a top South Lake Tahoe hotel which offers non-smoking, classic cabin-style Tahoe hotel accommodations for a great Sierra mountain vacation experience. Beautiful Lake Tahoe scenery, large rooms and central location, are just a part of what makes the amenities at 3 Peaks Resort superior to that of most other South Lake Tahoe hotels and resorts.
Free Wireless Internet Access in all Rooms & Suites
Guests of the 3 Peaks Lake Tahoe hotel enjoy the convenience of being 2 blocks away from our private beach with affordable Tahoe hotel deals!
The 3 Peaks Resort & Beach Club Tahoe Hotel is located 2 blocks from the Heavenly Village Gondola and 3 blocks from the Lake Tahoe casinos with plenty of fine dining nearby. The location only adds to the value, making your stay at 3 Peaks Resort a top South Lake Tahoe hotel. The 3 Peaks Hotel & Resort is in walking distance to everything you'll need to make your vacation in Lake Tahoe, CA absolutely wonderful.
At our hotel we have large wooded grounds that stretch from Park Avenue on the West to Pine on the South and Manzanita on the North.
The 3 Peaks Resort & Beach Club has a fantastic choice of South Lake Tahoe hotel rooms and suites to make your stay a relaxing, comfortable, and memorable one. Furthermore, there is always something to do and see during your stay at the 3 Peaks Resort. Whether you are into skiing, snowboarding, hiking, biking, fishing, swimming or just relaxing, the 3 Peaks Lake Tahoe Hotel has something for everyone! That's what makes our hotel one of the best Lake Tahoe hotels. Make your hotel reservation online today and let us make your South Lake Tahoe California vacation one you will remember forever. See for yourself why 3 Peaks Resort & Beach club was voted one of the best Tahoe hotels!


text:
You have no items in your shopping basket.
Collection: masté, masté Collab'
Brand: Mark's Inc.
Dimensions: 7000mm x 20mm
Diameter: 35mm
Brand: Mark's Inc.
Dimensions: 7000mm x 20mm
Diameter: 35mm
Orange // Ingela, 1P - 7mRef: MST-MKT24-OR EAN: 4516278595309
The go-to decorative masking tape made from Japanese-style washi paper. It is easy to use and doesn't leave any glue trace. The huge variety of unique designs means there are endless possibilities at your fingertips: decorate stationery, letters and presents – or even walls and pieces of furniture!
You may also be interested in the following product(s)


text:
Rochester Hills MI 's Top Contractor For Commercial Renovations
Providing Commercial Remodeling & Renovations for Over 40 Years
Sterling Image Construction is your trusted contractor for all your commercial remodeling needs. We implement quality workmanship and ensure that you get an up-front estimate that is honest. We value our relationship with our clients and guarantee to keep you in the loop with costs during the entire project. Our contractors take pride in our accurate bids, honest project timeline, while providing a quality end result. We strive to creating the craftsmanship you deserve and can provide you that! We have experience with business both large and small. Our attention-to-detail goes beyond our competitors while keeping disruption and downtime at a minimum.
The Leading Commercial Renovations Contractor in Rochester Hills MI
At Sterling Image Construction we create functional designs for every project we work on while providing effective project management. Let us handle your commercial remodel, our technicians are equipped for any size business.Our technicians have the skills equipped for business of all sizes, let us complete your commercial remodel. We have experience in smaller-scale projects as well as larger ones. Our speciality is the transformation of your existing workspace in order for it to meet the needs of your evolving business. Our contractors craft resilient spaces all while keeping your strict budget and schedule in mind.
We handle all aspect of your remodel or renovation:
- Pre-construction consultations
- Collaborative design services
- Material acquisition
- Flooring and carpet installations
- Framing and drywall
- and more!
We've worked on projects in industries including: retail, industrial, municipal, medical, hospitality, and corporate office space. All of our craftsmen are passion about what they do. We've assembled an extraordinary team who have a combined 40 years of experience in commercial construction. We are prepared for any size project, give us the opportunity to bring your businesses dreams to life and give us a call today.
Commercial Construction Portfolio in Southeast Michigan
Take a look some of the projects we've completed in the Rochester Hills MI area.
Our work demonstrates our commitment to integrity, honesty, and passion for achieving our customers ideas while giving them exactly what they wanted for their business.


text:
The amount of outstanding Fannie Mae buyback requests at Bank of America (BAC) continues to pile up.
The bank faces more than $3 billion in Fannie Mae mortgage buyback requests aged at least 120 days as of March 31, triple the amount from three months prior, according to a financial filing from the GSE Wednesday.
Fannie and BofA severed some business ties in February when the two disagreed over outstanding claims. BofA can still deliver some refinance and Home Affordable Refinance Program loans to the GSE.
The bank claimed a new policy Fannie undertook to request buybacks based on mortgage insurance rescissions was not valid under a repurchase claims settlement worth $3 billion that was signed more than a year ago. The bank felt it conflicted with the settlement and told Fannie it didn't intend to make any repurchases under the new guidelines.
The more than $3 billion in outstanding claims represents 71% of the Fannie Mae aged claims. It dwarfs the $1.7 billion of outstanding requests at JPMorgan Chase (JPM), the next largest backlog, according to the filing.
"We're still unresolved," said Fannie Mae Chief Financial Officer Susan McFarland in an interview, adding BofA continues to make some payments on some of the $7 billion in total repurchase requests from Fannie.
A BofA spokesman said there were no new developments in the talks.
Fannie reported enough profit in the first quarter to avoid drawing bailouts from the Treasury Department. Fannie has not changed its estimate for what it might claw back from its total repurchase requests as a result of BofA. But the GSE said in its filing if the negotiations worsen, taxpayers could be on the hook.
"If we collect less than the amount we expect from Bank of America, we may be required to seek additional funds from Treasury under our senior preferred stock purchase agreement," according to the filing.


text:
Express. Home of the Daily and Sunday Express.
Rodgers sets sights on signings
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers switched his focus to the final day of summer transfer activity after watching his side scrape into the Europa League group stages.
The Reds survived a late scare in their qualifying round play-off against Hearts by securing a 2-1 aggregate success with a last-gasp Luis Suarez equaliser in the second leg at Anfield.
After a busy day that also saw £35million record signing Andy Carroll join West Ham on loan, Rodgers now wants to make squad additions before the transfer window closes, and said: "We need other players to come in and help the group. We hope over the next 24 hours that can happen."
One player Liverpool have been persistently linked with is Fulham's United States forward Clint Dempsey.
Rodgers was asked specifically about the American but said: "We have been linked with loads."
Other rumoured signings include Arsenal's Theo Walcott and Chelsea's Daniel Sturridge, while there has also been speculation suggesting the likes of Charlie Adam, Joe Cole, Jordan Henderson and Jay Spearing could leave.
Rodgers said: "There have been one or two enquiries but my concentration today was on the game. I will get an update later from Ian Ayre, our managing director, who has worked tirelessly over the course of this window to manage deals, in and out."
On the field, Rodgers' side were dominant against their Clydesdale Bank Premier League opponents but failed to make the most of their superiority.
Rodgers said: "We achieved the objective which was to get through. I thought the attitude and commitment of the players was excellent. We showed our spirit towards the end when we went behind.
"I thought we were wasteful. We created chances and could have put the game to bed a lot earlier, but the most important thing was to get through and we have done that."


text:
A Note from President Hollinger on the Newtown Tragedy
December 18, 2012
During this time of shock and grief over the tragedy in Newtown, we are aware that Gordon-Conwell has several alumni in the area, some are pastors, others serve in lay vocations. Please remember in prayer the people of Newtown and our graduates whose lives intersect with residents affected directly and others who have questions that are of an eternal nature. Together we can trust that God's overwhelming comfort will blanket the agony of people who have experienced great loss. Our great God is able to redeem situations even as unthinkable as the one that unraveled this past Friday.
"But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing." (II Cor 2:14-15)
Dennis P. Hollinger, Ph.D.
President &
Colman M. Mockler Distinguished Professor of Christian Ethics


text:
Good health is important to everyone. And our Healthcare Center is just the tool you need to make better informed decisions about your own care and coverage.
navigate the system—and we can help!
Review the basics of healthcare here:
To make smart choices, become knowledgeable about each aspect of your care:
Here we discuss some of the special healthcare options available to seniors:
Go out there and be your own best advocate. Enhance your medical care and save money doing it.
Everyone has unique healthcare needs; explore your circumstances below:
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
Review some key
of drug treatment:


text:
Motor Trend
AutoPacific and IntelliChoice Reveal 2011 Motorist Choice Awards
Automotive research groups AutoPacific and IntelliChoice have revealed the results of their 2011 Motorist Choice Awards. Based on survey data from 72,000 vehicle owners, the awards recognize vehicles with high consumer satisfaction ratings and lower-than-average ownerships costs. Awards are split across 15 vehicle categories and are split between "Popular" and "Premium" vehicle choices.The list of winners, in popular and premium…Read More


text:
She was born on April 12, 1948, in Guthrie, Okla., the daughter of Kenneth Jay and Gwendolyn Marie Querry. Marilyn attended elementary school in Palco and junior high in Plainville. Her family moved to Great Bend, where she graduated in 1966. In Great Bend, she met her high school sweetheart and on Aug. 9, 1969, she married Robert Eugene Becker, son of Winnis and Evelyn Becker of Great Bend. She graduated from Kansas State University in 1970, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Education. She began her teaching career in Abilene. In 1978, she and Bob moved to Ponca City, Okla., where she taught at Garfield and Liberty elementary schools. She retired from her teaching career in 2003 after 32 years of teaching.
She loved participating in her grandchildren's activities, as well as creating artistic pieces, taking digital photography, scrapbooking, singing, playing the piano and traveling. She cared for all her school kids and loved teaching with her fellow teachers.
Marilyn had accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as her personal savior. She was committed to participating in church activities. She was dedicated to reading, studying the Bible and sharing the Gospel with others.
She is survived by her husband, of the home; son Michael Becker and his wife Amy (Gorczyca); daughter Jaime Bagg (Becker) and husband Chad; sister Karen Demory and husband Gerald of Bentonville, Ark., sister Kim Sheets and husband Will of Perry, Okla.; six grandchildren, Jonah, Maegan, Canaan, Ethan, Gabriel and Chloe; as well as her nephews and niece, Breen and Brad Haywood, Jay and Brandan Sheets and Maranda Wilson (Sheets). She left one uncle, Ray Gambill, and his children Mark Gambill and Rayma Brandt, and cousin, Janet Calvin. She was preceded in death by her parents; mother-in-law, Evelyn Becker, and brother-in-law Gary Becker.
Anderson Funeral Home*
505 Thunderbird Road
P.O. Box 337
Tonkawa, OK 74653
Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, Feb. 28, 2010


text:
Automate with Fracta Software for Charpy & Izod Manual Pendulum Impact Testing (ASTM E23)
Product designs requiring impact energy values of up to 300 Ft-Lbs can be obtained using an SI Series manual impact tester. Specific models are capable of testing Charpy & Izod impact specimen applications to ASTM E23, EN10045-2, ISO-148 and GOST 9454-78 specifications. Many of these machines provide impact values using a mechanical dial that must be read by the machine operator. Fracta™ Software is now offered on new impact testers as an alternative to reading a dial and can also be adapted to your existing SI Series manual pendulum impact testing machine to automate your test results.
Fracta software provides a display option in either Ft-Lbs or Joules. The display screen also provides user inputs for up to 10 parameters that include details about the specimen material or test conditions. The software creates .CSV files that can be opened in Excel for further test data processing. Additionally, the software can be enabled for Test Inputs (specific specimen dimensions) used to calculate elasticity.
This versatile software includes a Calibration Display to provide pendulum information including: current, peak & latch angles, impact velocity, hammer length and weight, and friction. This screen also allows for periodic verification of the friction.
We recommend that you review your existing impact testing processes and consider the benefits of using Fracta Software to display the impact test information.
Motorized Pendulum Impact Testing System: MPX Systems
Instron® introduces the MPX Series of motorized pendulum impact testers that are ideal for testing metals to Charpy and Izod standards. Available in capacities from 300 to 900 J the MPX is safe, quick, and easy to operate. Fracta™ Software comes standard with the MPX, allowing for simple data acquisition and calculation of energy. The system also allows for easy upgrading to Impulse™ data acquisition software that uses load and velocity transducers to provide data collection, analysis, and reporting results. The MPX System is CE Compliant.
- 製品
- 3/1/2017


text:
Content Count15
Last visited
Everything posted by flatapex
RT @FlopFootballer: Argélico !Removed! Brazilian one cap wonder who once transferred to Benfica which inspired this headline from EuroSport. ht…
Help Is This A Scam ? What Do You Guys Think ?
flatapex replied to Ravi811's topic in Ford Focus ClubProb a link to a fake version of PayPal.
It's a total pain, my dad helps me out with these things, might have to leave the car with him one day when I am at work
Bought some today, rain has been very persistent so not been able to do a huge amount
I heard a rumour ford use ngk platinum plugs are these right?
I would say in my limited experience more like misfire, all but low revs are fine and it has plenty of power. My fiat did the low on power thing and it is nothing like that
Jerking At Low Revs- Plugs? Ht Leads?
flatapex posted a topic in Ford Focus ClubHi all hoping you can help me out with my 1.4 mk 1, it runs sweet at high revs, rev too low and it jerks. I have taken it to my dad (ex mechanic and mk2 owner) and within 5 mins of a drive round town he has concluded spark plugs or ht leads, a google search has suggested possible coil pack needed. I am taking it too my dad tomorrow to get it checked over in the light (if it's plugs I will fit platinum, leads are a maintenance item etc) Anyone any other suggestions of what it could be? Suffered the same thing?
Goodbye Everyone
flatapex replied to artscot79's topic in Ford Focus ClubWorld just beginning for me I had my new car delivered to my parents place, got my insurance transferred and today I am off to pick it up
Play Music Through Bluetooth
flatapex replied to Stonesafe's topic in Ford Fiesta ClubAgreed, streaming via bluetooth is not a great idea
Pet Transportation!
flatapex replied to b1g_dav3's topic in General Ford Related DiscussionsLizzie (Labrador) is transported in a focus with a dog guard which I think came from the local ford dealer
Car Names
flatapex replied to loggbook's topic in General Ford Related DiscussionsI need ideas for a name for mine y reg focus 1.4 cl with Ncb as letters on plate?
Today I find out if the dvla are based around logic- not holding out much hope
flatapex replied to Sharna's topic in Computing, Gaming and Geeky@flatapex I normally retweet or am sarcastic
Hi :)
flatapex replied to flatapex's topic in New Member IntroductionsIts had the oil sorted (I am buying the car from my mechanic who is also a friend of my dad's) my dad is also a former mechanic (and also former rally driver from the 70s- one of his cars back then was a mk2 escort) Its on 82k at the moment, also had a new clutch and cambelt in the last 12 months, bodywork is having every little imperfection sorted out in January (at my mechanic's expense) and it is in really nice condition. Hopefully it will be a loyal workhorse, my previous car was a fiat stilo which I owned for 8 1/2 years
Google Maps Is Back
flatapex replied to liam-20's topic in General ChatOooooh thanks mate Dont suppose anyone knows what ios version is needed? I have a 4 and will not upgrade to ios6 after if it made a pig's ear of my sister in laws phone (and being an ex device technician I was expected to be able to fix it)
Hi :)
flatapex posted a topic in New Member IntroductionsHi all my name is Andy (also known on here and twitter as flatapex) I will hopefully be driving my new focus from friday, it is currently at a local garage/bodyshop sat waiting to be insured/picked up/the last of the purchase paid. its a y reg focus 1.4 mk1, I come from a family of ford owners, my dad has a classic rochdale gt (1950's kit car with an engine from a ford popular) and a 1.6 focus mk2 and my mum has a fiesta on a 61 plate on motability, fiancee drives a fiat (same as i used to) but has owned a fiesta mk3 and a ka before.
FOC Age group Poll!
flatapex replied to Ahmet's topic in General Chat31 :)
Ho Ho Ho http://t.co/B4pAdCu3


text:
A Washington fundraising heavyweight set up federal and state super PACs on Monday to support U.S. Sen. David Vitter, a move that heightens speculation that Vitter is eyeing a bid for governor.
(Photo by Brett Duke, The Times-Picayune archive)
BATON ROUGE -- A Washington fundraising heavyweight set up federal and state super PACs on Monday to support U.S. Sen. David Vitter, a move that heightens speculation that Vitter is eyeing a bid for governor.
Charlie Spies told The Associated Press that Vitter supporters filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission and the state ethics office creating The Fund for Louisiana's Future, a pro-Vitter political action committee.
"The purpose of the super PAC is to support Sen. David Vitter and his conservative agenda for Louisiana," said Spies, chief lawyer for prior Vitter campaigns and co-founder of the pro-Mitt Romney super PAC Restore Our Future.
The federal super PAC could support a Vitter re-election bid in 2016, while a state political action committee could aid him if he decides to launch a gubernatorial campaign in 2015.
Republican Gov. Bobby Jindal can't by law run for a third consecutive term. Vitter has sidestepped questions about his interest in the governor's race, but hasn't squelched the speculation.
"The senator is 100 percent focused and energized by his work in the U.S. Senate. Future campaigns are not on his radar right now," Vitter spokesman Joel DiGrado said in an email.
Spies wouldn't say if he expects Vitter to run for governor.
"By filing with the Federal Election Commission and the state of Louisiana, we have the flexibility to support Sen. Vitter and his agenda in any scenario," he said.
Spies' pro-Romney super PAC raised more than $150 million to support the GOP presidential candidate. He wouldn't say who else was involved in the super PAC or describe plans for any fundraising.
Super PACs can raise and spend unlimited funds to help candidates at the federal level. Louisiana has caps that limit individual contributions to PACs to $100,000 for each election cycle.
"It's my understanding that this effort is in support of my conservative reform agenda. That's very flattering, and it's certainly important and helpful," Vitter said in a statement.
Statements of organization were not immediately available Monday from the FEC or the Louisiana Ethics Administration Program. A website for the PAC was created, but details on the site were said to be "coming soon."


text:
We are down to number four in Boris Becker's ten most memorable moments at Wimbledon and this one saw the beginning of a great rivalry.
Stefan Edberg and Boris Becker would eventually contest three separate men's singles finals at the All England Club, with the first of these taking place in 1988.
Rain is a topic never far from the lips when it comes to Wimbledon and this year it was especially disruptive.
So disruptive, in fact, that 1988 was the first men's singles final to be played over two days because of rain interruptions – thankfully the new Centre Court roof will mean that is never an issue again.
Becker arrived in SW19 with a point to prove that year after suffering a shock second round defeat in 1987 to Australian underdog Peter Doohan.
The German was obviously taken by a zeal to set the record straight, as he didn't drop a set until the semi-final with world number one Ivan Lendl.
Lendl was beaten in four, also over two days, after Becker had brushed aside defending champion Pat Cash in the round previous in straight sets.
Many felt Becker was ready to reclaim the crown he won in 1985 and 1986, but Edberg was hitting new heights this year.
The Swede volleyed to perfection throughout and his opponent just could not find an answer to it.
Becker took the first set but Edberg slowly got into his rhythm and, after dominating to take the second set on a tie-break, never looked like giving an inch.
After the presentation, Becker admitted he felt drained by having to play two such big matches on the way to the final and thought that may have had something to do with his performance.
'I'm a human being, and when you beat the defending champion and the No. 1 player, you say: 'What am I doing out here? I've done everything I had to do to win the tournament," he said.
It will have been hard to take for Becker, as his record in Wimbledon finals was immaculate before this meeting, but he was in his prime and nobody expected this to be the last time he was seen on Centre Court on the final Sunday.
Click here to see Boris Becker's previous memorable Wimbledon moment.


text:
(c) Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association, Deerfield MA. All rights reserved.
Contact us for information about using this image.
The Massachusetts State Senate Chamber remains unchanged today from the configuration it had in 1872. There are forty total senators, one of whom, the President, is elected by his peers. The senators were seated, then as now, in order of seniority. Above the President rose, then as now, a statue of George Washington. Prominent among this group is George Sheldon, (#12, Left), founder of the Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association.
top of page
Send an e-Postcard of this object
See Also...
"Union Republican Ticket"
Letter to George Sheldon regarding trolley
Home | Online Collection | Things
To Do | Turns
Exhibit | Classroom | Chronologies | My
About This Site | Site Index | Site Search | Feedback


text:
Third Special Session, 1965
H: 40-Bethea(m)
An Act
To create and establish the Alabama Academy of Honor; to prescribe its purposes and membership; to provide for election of members and officers and for the holding of meetings; and to appropriate funds for use of the Academy in carrying out its purposes.
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of Alabama:
Section 1. There is hereby created and established an organization which shall be known as the "Alabama Academy of Honor," hereinafter referred to as the "Academy." The purpose of the Academy shall be to bestow honor and recognition upon living Alabamians for their outstanding accomplishments and service.
Section 2. The Academy shall be composed of not more than 100 living members, and no more than ten of such members shall be elected to membership in any calendar year. Each person elected for membership shall be a distinguished citizen of Alabama who shall be chosen for accomplishment or service greatly benefiting the State, or for accomplishment or service reflecting great credit on the State. Each living Governor or former Governor of Alabama shall be a member of the Academy but shall not be counted in the total maximum membership nor in the ten members who may be elected annually. No more than twenty-five percent of the elected members at any time shall be from the political field.
Section 3. The initial ten members of the Academy shall be elected by a committee appointed for such purpose by the Governor within 60 days after the effective date of this Act. Such committee shall consist of two members from each congressional district within the State. When appointing the committee members, the Governor shall select citizens who are outstanding in the fields of business and industry, education and the fine arts, architecture and engineering, labor, agriculture, the medical and legal professions, government and potitics, and mass communications. Within 30 days after being appointed, the committee shall hold a meeting at a time and place designated by the Governor and shall elect the ten initial members of the Academy as herein provided. A majority of the committee members shall be necessary for the election of each Academy member. The committee shall serve until its purpose as herein prescribed shall have been carried out.
Thereafter, new members, not to exceed ten in any calendar year, shall be elected by the existing members of the Academy. A majority vote of the existing members shall be necessary for the election of each new member, and new members shall be chosen in order of the highest number of votes received. Nominations for new members shall be made by the Academy and in writing by citizens of the State.
Section 4. The Academy shall meet at least once annually to award new memberships, and shall hold such other meetings as necessary to carry out its purpose. The time and place of meetings shall be designated by the members. A majority of the members shall constitute a quorum for conducting business. The Academy may make rules and regulations necessary to carry out its purposes and functions as herein prescribed.
Section 5. The members of the Academy shall elect among themselves a chairman and shall fix his term of office. The chairman shall preside over meetings, direct the business of the Academy, and perform such other duties as may be prescribed or delegated to him by the Academy. The members shall appoint one of their number as secretary, who shall keep minutes of each meeting. The Governor's office shall provide such clerical assistance as may be needed by the Academy.
Section 6. The Academy shall receive an annual appropriation not to exceed $2,000, which shall be fixed by the Legislature during each regular session thereof. The appropriation provided shall be used by the Academy to pay for stationery, membership certificates, membership pins or plaques or the like, an annual banquet for members, and such other necessary or appropriate expenses incurred in carrying out the purpose of the Academy.
Section 7. There is hereby appropriated from the general fund in the state treasury $2,000 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1966, and $2,000 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1967, for the use of the Academy in carrying out the provisions and purposes herein prescribed.
Section 8. The provisions of this Act are severable. If any part of the Act is declared invalid or unconstitutional, such declaration shall not affect the part which remains.
Section 9. This Act shall become effective immediately upon its passage and approval by the Governor, or upon its otherwise becoming a law.
Approved October 29, 1965.
Time: 10:1-A.M.
I hereby certify that the foregoing copy of an Act of the Legislature of Alabama has been compared with the enrolled Act and it is a true and correct copy thereof.
Given under my hand this 29th day of October, 1965.
Clerk of the House


text:
FEDERAL CARTRIDGE CO Premium Centerfire Rifle Cartridges
Federal 270 Winchester 130 Grain Nosler Partition
Option for medium to large game. Vital-Shok is available in the world's finest big game bullets, from the unrivaled Speer Trophy Bonded Bear Claw and Nosler's latest offerings to Sierra and Barnes. Match that with world class brass, select powders and legendary primers and you get unmatched premium performance.
SPECIFICATIONS:Mfg Item Num: P270P Category: AMMO CENTERFIRE Caliber :270 WinchesterBullet Type :Nosler PartitionBullet Weight :130 GRMuzzle Energy :2705 ft lbsMuzzle Velocity :3060 fpsRounds/box :20 Rounds Per Box, 10 Boxes Per CaseGame Category :Fragmentation :Casing Material :Penetration Factor :


text:
Shirts & Hoodies No matter what you are looking for, we'll do our best to find it. Choose from current fashion styles or the everyday basics. We are experts in custom garments and private labeling. Hats & Leather Accessories Don't forget to include some of your fan's favorite accessories. The possibilities are endless from today's popular leather wrist bands to complete custom headwear. Glasses, Keychains & More Inexpensive products that will increase your tour profits. Consult our sales team for ideas. Putting It All Together Whatever your needs, Silver Wings is an all inclusive merchandiser that can bring continuity to your image.
Branding The heart of all marketing communication is the brand. It's what defines you and sets you apart. It is the graphic representation of what you want your audience to understand about you, in the blink of an eye. A brand done well can last a lifetime. While brainstorming, we may uncover other ideas that can be used in apparel or other manifestations. This phase is critical to an over-arching graphic campaign. Ideas germinate here and may be used at a later date. Web Site Design Your web site should be the hub of your online marketing ...


text:
Conquer your goals
Our powerful business travel command center helps CWT clients achieve their goals.
Learn to love data
Find new ways to get the most from your business travel program. CWT has more than 200 data scientists and analysts who crunch big data for breakfast to help you deliver new value—and more return on investment—to your organization.
Take care of this
Business travel disruptions happen. CWT has the tools you need to help keep your travelers safe and minimize risks to your organization.
Drive business travel savings
In the first year of use, our automated messaging tool delivers average savings of:
Work with the best people in the business
Get to know 18,000 travel professionals around the world, working to help your employees be successful in their travels.
Empower and Engage talent
Does your travel management company help your company's recruitment and retention efforts? We'll help you build a business travel program that helps contribute to your organization's success.


text:
The new All Weather Trail Cover protects the windshield and interior of your Jeep from the harsh effects of sun, wind and rain. Door opening protection flaps are a new feature. Adjustable straps are designed to provide a snug, tight fit. Fit over other Bestop accessories, and ensure affordable protection from the elements. Comes with its own stuff sack that keeps it neatly stored when not in use.
The only potential failing point I see is, The stretchy elastic straps that are permanently attached to the cover. I'm sure overtime they will become loose and I'll have to create some better straps. It's a heavy canvas and seems to be made very well. I had to use a black marking pen do identify left door right door and front so I'll know how to lay it out in a hurry. Monsoon season is around the corner-
This design is a joke! Does not fit tight around doors, so rain blows in. Not long enough, water runs down and into trunk area. WASTE OF MONEY. BUY 15 TARPS FOR THE PRICE OF THIS! I did not buy this from 4wd.com, nothing against them.
It keeps the weather out, could be slightly larger for a better fit.
I have a 1989 wrangler tub with no spare tire. Does this cover also cover the spare tire or just the cab?
Asked by Jon from Ludlow, VT on
This Bestop All Weather Full Door Coverage Trail Cover does not cover the spare tire. It covers only the cab. Thanks!
Answered by Craig R. from Ludlow, VT on
Your Jeep's top reflects personal style and protects against the elements of sun, rain, snow and mud and Bestop's soft tops are popular choices for replacing OEM soft tops. Whether it's a tough top that will be exposed to harsh elements or a refined one that you think fits your Jeep's style better, Bestop has the track record and the complete line to make your journey more memorable. A classic Supertop, Bikini or Halftop or Sunrider instantly transforms your 4x4, providing protection, ventilation, tinting and maintaining its shape through temperature fluctuations. Easy to attach and easy to get attached to, Bestop is the premium brand when it comes to Jeep tops. Shop Bestop Now
We Pay the Sales Tax - Bestop


text:
Books become classics for a reason – because they continue to speak to successive generations.Certainly that's true of Barbara Damrosch's "The Garden Primer," which was the one-volume "gardening bible" of the 1980s, especially for those living in cooler climates.
But gardening information doesn't remain static, since plants – and especially recommended varieties – change rapidly. So can best practices and advice. So Ms. Damrosch has completely revised her miniencyclopedia of gardening for a new generation.
As the "primer" part of the name implies, this is a fine one-stop reference to basic information about growing plants – from annuals to vegetables. Gardening novices will find it an excellent introduction to digging in the dirt – mostly because of Damrosch's pithy common sense. It's hard to resist the advice of someone who says, "Good gardening is very simple, really. You just have to learn to think like a plant."


text:
VMware Workstation 3.2 Review
OK. I have been a Vmware Workstation user for quite a while now. As always each new Vmware Workstation release offers new features and fixes bugs that plagued its predecessor. I use the hell out of this software and it has rarely let me down. Whether you use it for network administration, help desk, development, or just for fun you will definitely get your moneys worth!
VMware GSX Server 2.0 for Linux Review
My latest entree into the world of virtualized environments is the VMware GSX server. For someone who doesn't spend much time running multiple iterations of a particular application, I viewed this application as a solution looking for a problem. What I've learned in this exercise is that making a low-end server into a distributed application environment is quick and reliable using the GSX server.
VMware 3.0 Workstation Review
This release of Vmware's x86 virtual machine represents a major upgrade. The previous release was reviewed last year. This version adds several major improvements over the 2.x release:
VMware 2.0.3 Review
In today's world of Information Technology it is almost impossible to to work exclusively with only one operating system. That being the case the folks at VMware, Inc. dove in and developed VMware; a friendly, robust, and affordable Virtual Machine.


text:
Companies Targeted in Big Data Breach, and More
What's News: Computer systems of more than a dozen big companies were breached by hackers. Weiner loses ground after revelations. FAA tells U.S. Boeing 787 operators to check transmitters. George H.W. Bush shaves head. Joanne Po reports. Photo: AP
This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.
... start ... to think ... this is what's news I'm WS J live I'm Thailand Co chair prosecutors on sealing criminal charges against a group of hackers who allegedly breached the computer systems of more than a dozen companies ... including Nasdaq J C Penney in car for ... five men from the former Soviet Union had been charged in the data breach which resulted in hundreds of millions of dollars in losses ... by stealing personal data in credit card information ... new Jersey federal authorities say the case is the largest hacking and Peter preached scheme ever prosecuted in the United States ... investigation is continuing ... the Federal Aviation Administration issues of direct fifty US Boeing seven eighty seven operators for a move or inspect the aircraft's ... Emergency locator beacon ... that means directive only impacts United Continental's lead of six Dreamliners the FDA is move is in response to an Ethiopian Airlines fire at Heathrow earlier this month ... Boeing already issued non binding instructions to global seven eighty seven operators have inspect one of the transmitters last Friday ... new revelations about Anthony wiener sex recharge messages that emerged this week dramatically hurting his standing ... in the race for New York City mayor ... a new poll from the law Street Journal NBC foreign mass ... shows the former congressman's unfavorable BBT an all-time high of fifty five percent ... among registered Democrats twenty five percent support City Council Speaker Christine Quinn ... and sixteen percent support Mr wiener had some fourteen percentage points late in miscreants caper ... compared with a poll taken just several weeks ago which had Mr wiener at the front of the pack ... and he is here feel good story of the day former President George H W Bush ... she's since had to show solidarity for the sick child of the secret service agent ... accounts name is Pachter ... he's two years old and undergoing treatment for leukemia ... secret service agents also shave their heads in solidarity ... looking keep us in all the latest news about instructed and what's news I'm WS J last I'm Joann Co


text:
|START Conference Manager
The Google Online Marketing Challenge is a real-life, problem-based, and multidisciplinary educational endeavor of the kind that many educators say is needed to relate teaching to outside the classroom. However, such endeavors are not without risks. The session should appeal to professors that competed in the 2008 Challenge, any professors considering the 2009 Challenge, as well as other educators who might consider the inclusion of Google AdWords as a pedagogical tool in their curricula. The panel will also be of great interest to those information professionals and educators as a possible model for use in other domains besides sponsored search.
|START Conference Manager (V2.54.6)


text:
Views: 652
Well they have this very distended sense of what god is. I was forever being told whatever I thought was like it wasn't it was more like if you had inspiration in your life - that was god. If you perceived beuaty - that was god. If you acted kindly or were the recipient of a kind act - that was god, and the reason for kindness beauty, meaning was the 'divine light' that god had placed within everything.
Now if that makes one lick of sense to you have have more smarts than I do!
No, not more smarts, just more psychotropic substances in my system. That sounds all new agey and useless to me ...
But it also pisses me off. That's the sort of concept of God that is great for keeping people sucked in. It keeps them eternally thankful for everything good in their lives, because anything good they accomplish is God's work.
It makes people incapable of accepting credit for their own accomplishments, and I can see it being more effective than the threat of hell. The threat isn't even in the next world. The threat is the loss of all the things God has done for them in this world.
Well it's old-age-new-age, Quakers was founded in 1647.
In a strange way I think it's possibly one of the least offensive sects in Christendom, and yet you are hitting on exactly what I object too as well. It's all still nonsense that impoverishes us through faith.
Yeah, I know the Quakers are old. The oatmeal has been around for a long time.
They're definitely not fundamentalist, but they're still supporting something that stifles inquiry ... not like the Catholic church did in the middle ages, but just by making people think they have the answers.
I like to think that rational, reasoned responses will make a difference to some believers, since I was (at least nominally) a believer. Pascal's wager makes sense if you're raised in that environment and you've never heard anyone point out why it's kind of silly.
The thing that is worrisome about this person is the fear of hell is so ingrained emotionally that I don't know if reason can fight that battle. I got a little bored reading through all of it, and skimmed it down to the bottom where she really gives herself away. If reality has to go up against "agony for eternity" then there is going to be a lot of resistance, and all the more credit to her, as you say, for being willing and not hostile. People who are motivated by fear, though, really scare me.
"Pascal's wager makes sense if you're raised in that environment and you've never heard anyone point out why it's kind of silly."
Except she has had it's flaw(s) pointed out to her - and she said she continued to use it. That's why having pitched a few soft-balls I went pretty hard on that one by accusing her of being outright dishonest.
"the fear of hell is so ingrained emotionally that I don't know if reason can fight that battle"
No I suspect not, I'm not at all likely to change her mind, but such altruism while admirable isn't really my objective this time.
"I got a little bored reading through all of it"
Aww shame, you missed some good stuff. ;) Personally blame the internet for giving people short attention spans! :^P
I find it rather comical that she's believes in a spiritural war, Satan, the bible correlates with the fall of the world. I'm dying to see if she's into the rapture or prophecy or both.
Either way should be fun. But then I am a masochist.
We Can't Know - Countdown To Backpedaling
Click the 'what is this?' link in the middle.
© 2019 Atheist Nexus. All rights reserved. Admin: The Nexus Group. Powered by