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Defenders of Donald Trump say his "shithole countries" remark regarding people from Africa, Haiti and other nations was just Trump being Trump — the president may have used salty language, but it's really just his way of saying the United States should have a merit-based immigration system like Canada's.
A generous interpretation of Trump's comments are that immigrants from certain so-called "shithole" countries — African nations, Haiti and El Salvador — are not typically highly skilled or economically self-reliant, and if admitted would need to depend on the state.
In fact, Trump apologists — and the president himself — might be surprised by what the economic data says about immigrants who come to Canada from the "shithole" countries.
John Fredericks, who was Trump's campaign chair in Virginia, told CNN that immigrants from those countries "come into the United States and they do nothing to increase the prosperity of the American worker. They lower wages or go on welfare and extend our entitlement system …. Australia and Canada have a merit-based system. You know why they do that? Because they want to bring people into their country who are going to enhance the prosperity of their citizens."
Trump, himself tweeted a similar sentiment.
"I, as President, want people coming into our Country who are going to help us become strong and great again, people coming in through a system based on MERIT. No more Lotteries! #AMERICA FIRST"
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 14, 2018
The conclusion we are expected to make, it seems, is that if the United States was to adopt a purely merit-based system, immigrants would not come from these countries — they would come from countries like Norway, and immigrants from these Norway-like countries would not put pressure on blue-collar U.S. workers because they would be highly skilled and, more importantly, they wouldn't be a drain on the system because they would be economically self-reliant.
A merit-based system
Canada offers an opportunity to take a look at this hypothesis because our points-based immigration system screens immigrants on merit to a large degree. So when we screen immigrants on merit, who do we let in and how do they do?
The first thing to note is that Canada admits many immigrants from the "shithole" countries.
Data from the 2016 Census shows over the last five years there have been more than twice as many immigrants from Central America and the Caribbean (which includes Haiti and El Salvador) than there were from the U.S. There were also more immigrants from the African continent than from the U.S. and North and Western Europe combined.
Clearly a merit-based system does not mean we only admit people from the "Norways" of the world — and in fact, the census data shows only 230 people immigrated from Norway over the five-year period.
The next question is how do these immigrants fare?
To look more closely at this, I used individual 2011 Canadian census data (detailed 2016 data isn't yet available) to look at three groups: Canadians whose families have been here for three generations or longer; immigrants from the "Norways" of the world (Northern and Western Europe, including the U.K., Germany, and Scandanavia) and immigrants from Trump's "shithole" countries (Central America, the Caribbean, Africa).
I looked at the skill levels of the different groups, as measured by their education level, and then at their economic self-sufficiency: Employment, wages and how much they receive in transfers and employment benefits from the government.
Let's start with skill level.
Forty per cent of Canadians who have been here for three generations or longer have at least some post-secondary education, and 18 per cent have a bachelor's degree. By comparison, a much larger percentage of immigrants of either type (53 per cent) have some post-secondary, and 27 per cent of immigrants from "Shitholes" have a bachelor's degree. So by this standard measure of skill, immigrants from "Shitholes" have a slightly higher skill level than do immigrants from "Norways," and a much higher skill level on average than Canadians who have been here for generations.
What about self-sufficiency?
It is commonly argued that immigrants, particularly from poorer countries, are "expensive" because they receive a disproportionate amount of government transfers and unemployment benefits. The truth is, though Canadians who have been here for generations are more likely to be employed and earn (slightly) more on average than either immigrant group, immigrants from the "Shitholes" are far more likely to be employed than immigrants from the "Norways."
Fewer transfer payments
Perhaps more interestingly, immigrants from the "Shitholes" receive fewer transfer payments from all levels of government than "Norwegian" immigrants.
Finally, looking at employment insurance benefits alone, Canadians who have been here for generations receive more than either group.
What can we say about these numbers?
Firstly, immigrants from the "Shithole" countries are not typically low skill and in principle, should not be putting pressure on employment or wages of blue-collar workers in Canada. Then why is this such a common perception?
It's likely due to a different issue, that high-skilled immigrants are unable to get high-skill jobs for other reasons (discrimination in the labour market, an inability of employers to recognize or evaluate credentials, or even language issues) and then do end up competing with lower-skilled Canadian workers.
Secondly, immigrants from the "Shithole" countries are generally no more dependent on the state than other Canadians. Though they earn less than those from the "Norway" countries, they are more likely to be employed and they receive less total government transfer payments.
Many differences
As an economist, it's important to state that we shouldn't interpret these relationships between country of origin and economic outcomes as causal — workers from different countries are different for many reasons (demographics like age, as well as occupation, etc).
But that doesn't at all affect the main point — Trump's perception of the differences in the average immigrant from countries like Haiti and Norway is at the very least a consequence ignorance, or as many have suggested, racism.
One thing that can't be rationalized by the raw numbers here: The course of history and the current plight of many of the "shithole" countries is at least partly a consequence of U.S. foreign policies, that the position of relative economic superiority of the U.S. is partly an outcome of these policies, and that this above all might imply a moral obligation on the part of the U.S. when deciding who to let in and from where.
Arvind Magesan is an Associate Professor of Economics at the University of Calgary. This article was originally published on The Conversation. Find the original article here.


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Mug 25 cl
25 cl D. 9 cm H. 9 cm This large capacity cup is the perfect vessel for tea, coffee, hot chocolate or even soup. It can be safely carried from room to room. Also perfect at the office.Made in Limoges, France ⚑
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5 Dec 2012
Advent: a time of counter balance
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
For 5 December 2012, Wednesday of 1st week of Advent, based on Isaiah 25:6-10
On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wines, of rich food filled with marrow, of well-aged wines strained clear. And he will destroy on this mountain the shroud that is cast over all peoples, the sheet that is spread over all nations; he will swallow up death forever. Then the Lord God will wipe away the tears from all faces, and the disgrace of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the Lord has spoken.
It will be said on that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, so that he might save us. This is the Lord for whom we have waited; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation. For the hand of the Lord will rest on this mountain. The Moabites shall be trodden down in their place as straw is trodden down in a dung-pit.
Scripture passage from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright 1989, 1993, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.


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Dalenville Accent Cabinet
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Earthy yet elegant. Simple yet so sophisticated. Like a work of modern art, this accent cabinet is open to interpretation. A great character piece for a dining room, entryway or living area, this glass-front storage cabinet simply wows with ultra-clean lines, light wire-brushed effects and a tasteful touch of pewter-tone sheen.
Height | 37.13in | |
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Details | Made with wood, oak veneer and engineered wood, Antiqued gray finish with light wire-brushed effect, Glass panel door fronts, Metal hardware with antiqued pewter-tone finish, 4 doors with soft-close hinges, 2 shelves, Openings in back for electronics, Light assembly required; simply install shelves and attach handles | |
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Liquor Licence and Tobacco Violations
In late November of 2021, the Ontario government invoked the Liquor Licence and Control Act, 2019 (LLCA), to regulate the sale, service, and delivery of
Experience Unparalleled Criminal Defence with Mississauga's Premier Legal Services, Offering Expertise and Unwavering Dedication.
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You deserve a lawyer who is committed to advocating resolutely on your behalf and ensuring justice prevails. Stephen Jack is a criminal defence lawyer in Mississauga and is committed to achieving the best possible result for you while also ensuring you are treated fairly, and with the respect and dignity you deserve.
In late November of 2021, the Ontario government invoked the Liquor Licence and Control Act, 2019 (LLCA), to regulate the sale, service, and delivery of
Impaired driving is a leading criminal cause of death and injury in Ontario, efforts have been made to strengthen impaired driving and boating laws. These
Have you been charged with domestic assault? The scope of domestic assault includes all charges of assault between the accused and complainant involved in an
While there is no specific offence for domestic assault in the Criminal Code of Canada, assault charges that are domestic in nature are taken very
Stunt Driving and Racing Stunt Driving and Racing are very serious offenses and can have very serious consequences if you are convicted. Unlike Dangerous Driving
Vulnerable Sector Checks and Police Information Checks are being relied upon more and more by employers and volunteer organizations. While there are some police agencies
Copyright © 2023 Stephen Jack. All Rights Reserved. Website by RyanCameron


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It's NICE outside! Get off your computer and take your pup out to play! He or she will LOVE you for it. Plus, you'll feel much better after getting some fresh air and exercise. Don't have a dog? Then check out some more cute pictures of puppies playing!
Disclaimer: FIT Radio is not responsible for sudden puppy adoption urges.


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It can be difficult to find the exact location of the grave in a section, so we are pleased to let you know that you can now purchase a specific section map.
Please login or register to purchase a map.
A map of the layout of our larger cemeteries is available free of charge.


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Sermon Series: A Better Way
The book of Hebrews is a masterpiece of Christian apologetics. Each chapter uncovers a personal God who invites us into an intimate relationship with Him. In the pages of this unique New Testament book we encounter a loving Creator who has entered into the experience of the human race, emotionally, spiritually and physically. Explore this book and find a better way. #ABetterWay


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Brushed Denim Shirt...Distressed around the Edges
Lately I have been spending all my free time in my studio making Shirts! This is one of them, a Brushed Denim Shirt, featuring a Double-Pocket with Distressed Edges. The distressing on the pocket and all the top-stitched seams was done by rubbing them lightly with fine-grit sandpaper.
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It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with [[::Loaders|loaders]]. (Discuss) |
The Wheeled Loader or Loading Shovel as they commonly called in the UK.
Heavy equipment front loaders[]
A loader, also called a front loader, front end loader, bucket loader, scoop loader or shovel , is a type of tractor, usually wheeled, sometimes on crawlers, that uses a wide square tilting bucket on the end of movable arms to lift and move material.
The loader assembly may be a removable attachment or permanently mounted. Often the bucket can be replaced with other devices or tools—for example, many can mount forks to lift heavy pallets or shipping containers, and a hydraulically-opening "clamshell" bucket allows a loader to act as a light dozer or scraper. The bucket can also be augmented with devices like a bale grapple for handling large bales of hay or straw.
Large loaders, such as the John Deere 844J, Caterpillar 950H, Volvo L120E, Case 921E, Caterpillar 966H, or Hitachi ZW310 usually have only a front bucket and are called Front Loaders, whereas small loader tractors are often also equipped with a small backhoe and are called backhoe loaders or loader backhoes.
The largest loader in the world is LeTourneau L-2350. Currently these large loaders are in production in the Longview, Texas facility. The L-2350 uses a diesel-electric propulsion system similar to that used in a rail locomotive. Each rubber tired wheel is driven by its own independent electric motor.
Loaders are used mainly for uploading materials into trucks, laying pipe, clearing rubble, and digging. A loader is not the most efficient machine for digging as it cannot dig very deep below the level of its wheels, like a backhoe can. Their deep bucket can usually hold about 3-6 cubic meters (exact number varies with the model) of earth. The front loader's bucket capacity is much bigger than a bucket capacity of a backhoe loader. Loaders are not classified as earthmoving machinery, as their primary purpose is moving rather than excavating.
Unlike most bulldozers, most loaders are wheeled and not tracked, although track loaders are common. They are successful where sharp edged materials in construction debris would damage rubber wheels, or where the ground is soft and muddy. Wheels provide better mobility and speed and do not damage paved roads as much as tracks, but provide less traction.
In construction areas loaders are also used to transport building materials - such as bricks, pipe, metal bars, and digging tools - over short distances. Often fitted with pallet Forks to enable pallatized loads to be moved easily.
Loaders can also used for snow clearing, using their bucket, but usually using a snowplough attachment. They clear snow from streets, highways and parking lots. They sometimes load snow into dump trucks for transport.
High-tip buckets are suitable for light materials such as chip, peat and light gravel and when the bucket is emptied from a height.
Unlike backhoes or standard tractors fitted with a front bucket, many large loaders do not use automotive steering mechanisms. Instead, they steer by a hydraulically actuated pivot point set exactly between the front and rear axles. This is referred to as "articulated steering" and allows the front axle to be solid, allowing it to carry greater weight. Articulated steering provides better maneuverability for a given wheelbase. Since the front wheels and attachment rotate on the same axis, the operator is able to "steer" his load in an arc after positioning the machine, which can be useful. The tradeoff is that when the machine is "twisted" to one side and a heavy load is lifted high, it has a greater risk of turning over to the "wide" side.
Front loaders gained popularity during the last two decades, especially in urban engineering projects and small earthmoving works. Many construction plant manufacturers offer a wide range of loaders, the most notable are those of John Deere, Caterpillar, Case, Volvo, Komatsu and Liebherr.
The term "loader" is also used in the debris removal field to describe the boom on a grapple truck.
Compact front end loaders[]
Popular additions to compact utility tractors and farm tractors are Front End Loaders, also referred to as a FEL. Compact utility tractors, also called CUTs are small tractors, typically with 18 to 50 horsepower and used primarily for grounds maintenance and landscape chores. There are 2 primary designs of compact tractor FELs, the traditional dogleg designed style and the curved arm style.
John Deere Tractor manufactures a semi-curved loader design that does not feature the one piece curved arm, but also is not of the traditional two piece design. New Holland Ag introduced a compact loader with a one piece curved arm on its compact utility tractors, similar one piece curved arm loaders are now available on compact tractors on many brands including Case/Farmall, and some Montana and Kioti tractors. Kubota markets traditional loader designs on most of its compact tractors but now features a semi-curved loader design similar to the John Deere loader design on several of its small tractors.
While the Front End Loaders on CUT size tractors are capable of many tasks, given their relatively small size and low capacities when compared to commercial loaders, the compact loaders can be made more useful with some simple options. A row of "Teeth" are commonly added to the front edge of a loader bucket to aid with digging. Some loaders are equipped with a Quick Fit system, this system allows the bucket to be removed easily and other tools to be added in its place. Common additions would include a set of Pallet Forks for lifting pallets of goods or a Bale Spear for lifting hay or Straw bales.
Skid Loaders & Track Loaders[]
A skid loader is a small loader utilizing four wheels with hydraulic drive that directs power to either, or both, sides of the vehicle. Very similar in appearance and design is the track loader, which utilizes a continuous track on either side of the vehicle instead of the wheels. Since the expiration of Bobcat's patent on its quick-connect system, newer tractor models are standardizing on that popular format for front end attachments.
See also[]
- Backhoe Loader
- Bulldozer
- Mobile Crane
- Engineering vehicles
- Excavator
- Grader
- Skid Steer Loader
- Tractor
- Telescopic Handler or Teleporter
External links[]
- Loader Evaluations, Specs and Suppliers
- Loader Specifications and Comparisons
- Calculating the capacity of a loader's bucket
- Database covering all makes and models of farm tractors & tractor front loaders
- Directory of Loader Manufacturers
- Loader Simulation
- Benefits of Loader
This page uses some content from Wikipedia. The original article was at loader (equipment). The list of authors can be seen in the page history. As with Tractor & Construction Plant Wiki, the text of Wikipedia is available under the Creative Commons by Attribution License and/or GNU Free Documentation License. Please check page history for when the original article was copied to Wikia |


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The Lincoln Project, one of the best-known and best-funded organizations in the so-called Never Trump movement, has announced plans to launch an external investigation hours after new revelations raised questions about its handling of misconduct allegations against a co-founder.
The Associated Press reported earlier Thursday that the organization's leadership was informed in writing and in subsequent phone calls of at least 10 allegations of sexual harassment against co-founder John Weaver.
The revelations raised questions about the Lincoln Project's statement last month that it was "shocked" when accusations surfaced publicly this year. The organization announced Thursday night that its board had decided to retain "a best-in-class outside professional" to review Weaver's tenure.
The Lincoln Project was an organization formed by Republicans opposed to President Donald Trump. The group worked to defeat Trump in the 2020 election.
Before working with the Lincoln Project, Weaver worked closely with Ohio Gov. John Kasich during his 2016 bid to win the Republican presidential nomination.


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If you're a man, and you walk into a Victoria's Secret, you probably feel a little uncomfortable. There are just so many bras, and there is nothing that terrifies men more than bras.
But here's the thing: the employees know you feel awkward, and they've reportedly been trained to capitalize on it.
A former salesperson told Business Insider that she was specifically instructed to treat male and female customers differently. "The general feeling about men is that they would buy anything in order to get out of the store as quickly as possible," the worker said. "That means they would spend more money."
Women usually feel just fine — or even, at times, positively gleeful — within the confines of the store, so employees assume they're most focused on value and tend to tell them about special deals and promotions. Men, however, are much more likely to buy full-priced items because they're focused less on value and more on, you know, just getting the hell out of there.
Often, the former employee said, "Men would buy a couple of $50 bras without questioning us because they felt awkward."
In this sense, men were such great customers that salespeople would even fight over them like they were a big ol' bag of money. Awkward, uncomfortable money that feels weird around all the giant posters of boobs and just wants to get the hell outta there.


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Harvard Study Confirms Fluoride Reduces Children's IQ
A recently-published Harvard University meta-analysis funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has concluded that children who live in areas with highly fluoridated waterhave "significantly lower" IQ scores than those who live in low fluoride areas.
In a 32-page report that can be downloaded free of charge from Environmental Health Perspectives, the researchers said:
A recent report from the U.S. National Research Council (NRC 2006) concluded that adverse effects of high fluoride concentrations in drinking water may be of concern and that additional research is warranted. Fluoride may cause neurotoxicity in laboratory animals, including effects on learning and memory …
To summarize the available literature, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of published studies on increased fluoride exposure in drinking water and neurodevelopmental delays. We specifically targeted studies carried out in rural China that have not been widely disseminated, thus complementing the studies that have been included in previous reviews and risk assessment reports …
Findings from our meta-analyses of 27 studies published over 22 years suggest an inverse association between high fluoride exposure and children's intelligence … The results suggest that fluoride may be a developmental neurotoxicant that affects brain development at exposures much below those that can cause toxicity in adults …
Serum-fluoride concentrations associated with high intakes from drinking-water may exceed 1 mg/L, or 50 Smol/L, thus more than 1000-times the levels of some other neurotoxicants that cause neurodevelopmental damage. Supporting the plausibility of our findings, rats exposed to 1 ppm (50 Smol/L) of water-fluoride for one year showed morphological alterations in the brain and increased levels of aluminum in brain tissue compared with controls …
In conclusion, our results support the possibility of adverse effects of fluoride exposures on children's neurodevelopment. Future research should formally evaluate dose-response relations based on individual-level measures of exposure over time, including more precise prenatal exposure assessment and more extensive standardized measures of neurobehavioral performance, in addition to improving assessment and control of potential confounders.
Studies Have Repeatedly Linked Fluoride to Reduced IQ and Brain Damage
There are so many scientific studies showing the direct, toxic effects of fluoride on your body, it's truly remarkable that it's NOT considered a scientific consensus by now. Despite the evidence against it, fluoride is still added to 70 percent of U.S. public drinking water supplies.
It amazes me that the medical (and dental) communities are so stubbornly resistant to connect the dots when it comes to the skyrocketing increase of cognitive decline in adults and behavioral issues in children (ADD, ADHD, depression and learning disabilities of all kinds). In fact, there have been more than 23 human studies and 100 animal studies linking fluoride to brain damage. Fluoride can also increase manganese absorption, compounding problems, since manganese in drinking water has also been linked to lower IQ in children.
Reported effects of fluoride on your brain include:
• Reduction in nicotinic acetylcholine receptors
• Damage to your hippocampus
• Formation of beta-amyloid plaques (the classic brain abnormality in Alzheimer's disease)
• Reduction in lipid content
• Damage to purkinje cells
• Exacerbation of lesions induced by iodine deficiency
• Impaired antioxidant defense systems
• Increased uptake of aluminum
• Accumulation of fluoride in your pineal gland
Six Facts You Need to Know About Water Fluoridation
Harmful Effects Have Been Known for Half a Century
What is perhaps most surprising is that the harmful effects of fluoride have been known by conventional medical organizations for over half a century. For example, the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) stated in their Sept. 18, 1943 issue that fluorides are general protoplasmic poisons that change the permeability of the cell membrane by certain enzymes. And, an editorial published in the Journal of the American Dental Association on Oct. 1, 1944, stated:
Drinking water containing as little as 1.2 ppm fluoride will cause developmental disturbances. We cannot run the risk of producing such serious systemic disturbances. The potentialities for harm outweigh those for good.
Part of the problem is that it's an accumulative toxin that, over time, can lead to significant health problems that are not immediately linked to fluoride over-exposure. In a 2005 paper entitled "Fluoride — A Modern Toxic Waste," Lita Lee, Ph.D. writes:
Yiamouyiannis' book, Fluoride, The Aging Factor, documents the cumulative effect of tissue damage by fluoride, commonly seen as aging (collagen damage), skin rashes and acne, gastrointestinal disorders, and many other conditions, including osteoporosis. The U.S. Center for Disease Control and the Safe Water Foundation reported that 30,000 to 50,000 excess deaths occur in the United States each year in areas in which the water contains only one ppm fluoride …
Fluoride suppresses the immune system: Fluoride inhibits the movement of white blood cells by 70 percent, thereby decreasing their ability to reach their target. Yiamouyiannis cites 15 references in his pamphlet, Lifesavers Guide to Fluoridation, that document immunosuppressive effects of as little as 10 percent of the amount of fluoride used in fluoridated water … Immunosuppressive effects run the gamut, from a cold that won't go away to increased risk of cancer and other infectious diseases.
Studies have shown that fluoride toxicity can lead to a wide variety of health problems, including:
• Increased lead absorption
• Disrupts synthesis of collagen
• Hyperactivity and/or lethargy
• Muscle disorders
• Thyroid disease
• Arthritis
• Dementia
• Bone fractures
• Lowered thyroid function
• Bone cancer (osteosarcoma)
• Inactivates 62 enzymes and inhibits more than 100
• Inhibited formation of antibodies
• Genetic damage and cell death
• Increased tumor and cancer rate
• Disrupted immune system
• Damaged sperm and increased infertility
Suppressed Science: Fluoride Link to Cancer
Long-lost research linking fluoride to cancer has resurfaced in a Dutch film clip featuring Dr. Dean Burk, who in 1937 cofounded the U.S. National Cancer Institute (NCI) and headed its cytochemistry department for more than 30 years. In the taped interview, he equates water fluoridation to "public murder," referring to a study that had been done on the 10 largest U.S. cities with fluoridation compared to the 10 largest without it. The study demonstrated that deaths from cancer abruptly rose in as little as a year or two after fluoridation began. This and other studies linking fluoride to cancer were government-ordered but were quickly buried once fluoride was found to be linked to dramatic increases in cancer.


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Upload improvements - complex PDFs
We have made recently made some improvements to our upload process, to accommodate PDF uploads with more than 65,536 individual shapes in a single PDF. This is primarily caused by how PowerPoint renders high complexity backgrounds (i.e. complex patterns instead of a simple color or a bitmap / picture). We still recommend simple backgrounds for the best user experience, especially since extremely complex PDFs can still take 20-30 seconds per page to process.


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Instagram Gets Video As Facebook Challenges Vine
If you have Instagram, check your updates in the app store because there is a new feature that might surprise you. If you weren't aware, Facebook owns Instagram; and to challenge the explosion of the popular video app that Twitter brought to the table with Vine, they did what seemed most logical. They brought video to Instagram.
Instagram has over 100 million users, and now the ability to shoot and share short video clips with the app is here. Facebook is clearly playing catchup in a move that takes a shot at Vine, the uber-simple app that allows user to make six-second video clips that run in an animated GIF-style endless loop.
Everyone from teens to celebs to brands have gravitated toward Vine, racking up 13 million users in just four short months. To put things into perspective, it took Instagram a year to reach 10 million users. What this screams is that we're now living in a world where sharing photos of what we see and experience on a daily basis isn't enough.
So how will the new Instagram video update compare to Vine? Well, Instagram is pretty proud of their stability feature, claiming that you will be able to capture beautiful video footage, even on the move. They also boast impressive new filters, crafted specifically for video use. For anyone who isn't aware, one of the reasons Instagram is so popular is due to the app's ability to make otherwise boring photos seem way cooler than they really are.
Prepare for selfies and food pics to be taken to a whole new level.
Twitter may have been scooped by Facebook when the social media giant bought Instagram for $700 million right from under their nose, but shortly after that, they went on the hunt and discovered Vine, a mobile app that shares the same forced brevity guidelines as they do.
Twitter thinks about six seconds the way it does about 140 characters: From that forced brevity flows unbridled artistic expression.
Will this new video feature on Instagram throttle the rising popularity of Vine? Experts are saying the copycat move might actually backfire, and fuel Vine's popularity by introducing the concept of short-form videos to an even larger audience. If anything, this shows how quickly we as consumers are always looking to move on to the "next big thing."
Will video on Instagram be "the next big thing?" Only time (and our News Feeds) will tell.


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Seven in ten adult internet users (69%) have used the internet to watch or download video
Seven in ten adult internet users (69%)—or roughly half (52%) of all U.S. adults—have used the internet to watch or download video. Young adult internet users, 18-29 year-olds, continue to be the heaviest consumers of online video.
Since 2007, there have been dramatic increases in the numbers of Americans who watch the following kinds of videos online:
- Comedy or humorous videos, which have risen in viewership from 31% to 50% of adult internet users
- Educational videos, which have risen in viewership from 22% to 38% of adult internet users
- Movies or TV show videos, which have risen in viewership from 16% to 32% of adult internet users
- Political videos, which have risen in viewership from 15% to 30% of adult internet users
Viewership of other types of online video has also risen in the same timeframe. The spread of broadband, the increased use of social networking and status update sites like Facebook and Twitter, the popularity of video-sharing sites like YouTube, and the embrace of video features by untold numbers of websites, have all contributed to the surge in online video watching.
Among online video watchers, 8% have connected their computer to their television so they can watch online video on a television screen. This represents 5% of all internet users, which is slightly lower than the 8% of internet users who were watching online video on their television screens in an April 2009 Pew Internet survey. One in ten video watchers (10%), or 7% of all internet users, have paid to watch or download a video. In 2007, 4% of internet users had paid to access or download video online.
On the other side of the camera, 14% of internet users have uploaded a video to the internet so others can watch or download it. That figure is almost double the 8% of internet users who were uploading video in 2007. Women are now just as likely as men to upload and share videos, and social networking sites like Facebook are as popular as video-sharing sites like YouTube as locations for video uploading.
Among video uploaders, there is considerable variation in terms of who they share their videos with, who they believe is watching, and concerns about how their video may be used. One in three uploaders (31%) say they "always" place restrictions on who can access their videos, while 50% say they "never" do this. The remaining 19% fall somewhere in the middle.
Asked about their experiences in sharing videos online, uploaders have these views:
- 41% agree they have been surprised by the number of people who watch their videos
- 39% agree that no one other than their family or friends will watch the videos they post
- 35% agree they sometimes feel they should be more careful about the videos they post
- 28% agree that sharing videos online has helped them meet new people
These figures were gathered in a survey of 763 internet-using adults between June 18 and June 21, 2009. The margin of error is +/- 4.5 percentage points for results based on adult internet users.


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by Ralph E. Stone
June 14, 2012
In February this year, Indiana became the 23rd state to enact a right-to-work law, the only RTW law passed in the last decade. Republicans generally favor RTW laws while unions and Democrats do not. RTW laws are geographical too. RTW states are clustered in the Southeast, covering every state from Virginia to Florida and west to Texas, and then north through the Great Plains to the Dakotas and into the Rockies. The West Coast and Midwest-to-Northeast Rust Belt, both traditional union strongholds, have remained non-RTW states. RTW states generally vote Republican while non-RTW states generally vote Democrat.
RTW is also a potent political symbol, causing serious adverse financial consequences for unions. The Democratic Party receives significant support from organized labor, who supply a great deal of the money, grass roots political organization, and voting base in support of the party. Thus, RTW is not only an assault on unions, but also on the Democratic Party, who rely on labor for support.
Section 14(b) of the Taft-Hartley amendments to the Labor Management Relations Act, 29 U.S.C §141, permits a state to pass laws that prohibit unions from requiring a worker to pay dues, even when the worker is covered by a union-negotiated collective bargaining agreement. Thus, workers in RTW states have less incentive to join a union and to pay union dues and, as a result, unions have less clout vis-à-vis corporations. In other words, RTW laws prohibit union contracts at private sector workplaces from requiring employees to pay any dues or other fees to the union. In states without such laws, workers at unionized workplaces generally have to pay such dues or fees.
RTW laws tend to diminish union power and influence. Labor leaders say that allowing workers to opt out of paying any money to the union that represents them weakens unions' finances, bargaining clout, and political power.
According to Steven Greenhouse of the New York Times, Henry Farber, a labor economist at Princeton, said RTW laws, by allowing "free riders," shrink union treasuries. (RTW advocates say such employees have been forced into unions, but organized labor calls them "free riders"). One study found that the portion of free riders in RTW states ranged from 9 percent in Georgia to 39 percent in South Dakota.
Greenhouse cites another study by David T. Ellwood, the dean of the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard, and Glenn A. Fine, a former Justice Department official, who found that in the five years after states enacted RTW laws, the number of unionization drives dropped by 28 percent, and in the following five years by an added 12 percent. Organizing wins fell by 46 percent in the first five years and 30 percent the next five. Over all, they found, RTW laws, beyond other factors, caused union membership to drop 5 percent to 10 percent.
Proponents of RTW laws claim that states with such laws grow faster and their citizens are better off. But with their faster growing populations, RTW states had unemployment rates averaging 8 percent in April of 2011, just below the 8.2 percent average in non-RTW states.
In The Compensation Penalty of "Right-To-Work" Laws by the Economic Policy Institute, economists Elise Gould and Heidi Shierholz examined the differences in compensation between RTW and non-RTW states. (The Economic Policy Institute is a labor-backed research center). Controlling for the demographic and job characteristics of workers as well as state-level economic conditions and cost-of-living differences across states, they found that in 2009 wages were 3.2 percent lower in RTW states versus non-RTW – about $1,500 less annually for a full-time, year-round worker; the rate of employer-sponsored health insurance was 2.6 percentage points lower in RTW states compared with non-RTW states; the rate of employer-sponsored pensions was 4.8 percentage points lower in RTW states. And, in 2008, the rate of workplace deaths was 57 precent higher in RTW states than non-RTW states, while the 2009, poverty rate in RTW states averaged 15 percent, considerably above the 12.8 percent average for non-RTW states.
Gould and Shierholz concluded, "RTW legislation misleadingly sounds like a positive change in this weak economy, in reality the opportunity it gives workers is only that to work for lower wages and fewer benefits. For legislators dedicated to making policy on the basis of economic fact rather than ideological passion, our findings indicate that, contrary to the rhetoric of RTW proponents, the data show that workers in "right-to-work" states have lower compensation – both union and nonunion workers alike."
And according to Gordon Lafer, an economist at the University of Oregon's Labor Education and Research Center, there is no evidence that RTW laws have any positive impact on employment or bringing back manufacturing jobs. Commenting on Oklahoma's passage of a RTW law in 2001, Lafer, noted that rather than increasing job opportunities, the state saw companies relocate out of Oklahoma. In high-tech industries and those service industries "dependent on consumer spending in the local economy" the laws appear to have actually damaged growth. At the end of the decade, 50,000 fewer Oklahoma residents had jobs in manufacturing. Perhaps most damning, Lafer could find no evidence that the legislation had a positive impact on employment rates.
In May 8, 2011, Senator Jim DeMint (R. SC) introduced the National Right-to-Work Act (S-504), a bill to preserve and protect the free choice of individual employees to form, join, or assist labor organizations, or to refrain from such activities. S-504 has no chance of passage in the Senate and even if it did, President Obama would likely veto it. However, if the Republicans retake the White House and Senate, and retain the House, you can bet a National RTW Act will be high on the Republican to do list.
Why do we need unions anyway? Because they are essential for America. Unions are the only large-scale movement left in America that persistently acts as a countervailing balance against corporate power. They act in the economic interests of the working class. But the decline of unions over the past few decades has left corporations and the rich with essentially no powerful opposition.
You may take issue with a particular union's position on an issue, but remember unions are the only real organized check on the power of the business community in this country. RTW laws are anti-union, pro-business.


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Dylan Jones' new book Cameron on Cameron is a series of interviews with the Conservative leader. Yesterday we focused on highlights discussing the economy and taxation. Below are some highlights of Cameron's responses relating to other politicians.
George Osborne: "If you look at the two of us, I think I probably have a more rural outlook on life, having been brought up in the country, and George is more metropolitan. But the differences are differences of emphasis. We have a genuinely shared view of what was wrong with the Conservative Party and what is wrong with the country and what we'd like to put right."
Boris Johnson: "I knew him at school, so I remember this dishevelled, large, beefy rugby player… The fact that he speaks freely and openly is a great thing, because we've all got too controlled by fear of saying something politically incorrect, or whatever. And Boris has no fear about that."
Past Conservative Prime Ministers: "The Conservative Party's brilliance over centuries has been to change to reflect society. Disraeli understood the conservatism of the suburbs, Peel understand that there was a growing urban population and we had to repeal the corn laws, Salisbury understood the importance of patriotism, Churchill understood the importance of home ownership, Mrs Thatcher understood the importance of giving trade unions back to their members. It's always been about change."
Margaret Thatcher: "If you grew up under Thatcher, you either thought she was doing the wrong thing or she was doing the right thing and I thought she was doing the right thing… Just as Thatcher said own your council house, so we should be saying have more choice over the school your kids go to or the hospital you get treated at, or own shares in the firm you work for… I'm going to be as radical a social reformer as Mrs Thatcher was an economic reformer, and radical social reform is what this country needs right now."
Iain Duncan Smith: "I voted for him in the membership ballot, although Samantha favoured Clarke. No one really knew much about him really, and, as you say, it wasn't a very happy period, we weren't making any headway. However, Iain was making very strong points about social breakdown, which is something he's been working on every since and is doing work on that now for us – it's right at the heart of our plans."
Tony Blair: "Tony Blair was a great campaigner, he was a great party leader, but he didn't really know what he wanted to change in health, in education, in crime, in policing, when he first came in. By the end he was beginning to get an idea, but when he first came in I don't think he had a clue… What matters is that the things you do in the short term don't undermine what you have planned for the long term. And I think that was Blair's great failing."
George W. Bush: "He has thought about some of the most important issues of our time and has a very intelligent and conviction-driven view of them… I think if you look at what he's done in terms of AIDS in Africa it is truly remarkable… I remember going to an AIDS clinic where every last drug had been paid for by the US because of Bush's initiative… Bush has been a disaster on the environment."
John McCain: "I'm a huge fan of John McCain and think he would make a great President…"
Barack Obama: "[T]here is a lot more substance in what he says, in the answers he gives to questions, than perhaps the media give him credit for… I thought it was a terrific speech [denouncing Rev. Wright], but I suppose he didn't do enough, with respect to the pastor, to distance himself."


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About Faculty Senate
Powers of the Senate
The Senate shall act in lieu of the entire Faculty on all matters not reserved for direct action by the Faculty in the Bylaws (PDF), subject to review by the Faculty in meetings called in accordance with Article II, Section 8.
Actions in opposition to Senate decisions require ratification in accordance with Article II, Section 8.2. Actions of the Senate not referred to and overturned by the Faculty in this manner shall be deemed to have been approved by the Faculty.
Description of Membership
The composition of the Faculty Senate includes the faculty officers, statewide academic senators, chairs of standing committees, the president of Associate Students, the president of the Association of Retired Faculty, senators-at-large, and a number of Senators elected by the Colleges, Library, Student Affairs, and Athletics.
Routine Meeting Time
The Senate meets monthly on a Thursday from 2:00 – 4:30 p.m. The Calendar lists all of the meeting times. All Senate meetings will be held via Zoom until further notice.


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Canadian Aviation Pride
Fierté en aviation canadienne
Welcome to Canadian Aviation Pride, Canada's LGBTQ+ Aviation organization.
Please sign up here to join our mailing list
As an independent federally-incorporated Canadian not-for-profit organization, we reflect Canadian needs and values.
Aviation spans many different types of activities, and and so we use the term Aviation to include Pilots (Private and Commercial), Flight Attendants, Maintenance Engineers, Ground Crew, Dispatchers, Air Traffic Controllers, Military personnel, and also enthusiasts.
We are a diverse group of people - Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transsexual, Transgender, Intersex, Queer, Questioning, 2-Spirited and Allies - and so we use the broader term Pride as part of our name.
Our goal is to unite, celebrate and promote diversity in the industry for which we share a passion, and we try to provide support, resources, advocacy, networking, and development for anyone interested in being a part of our group.
Open events are scheduled throughout the year across Canada, whether you're a regular participant or just visiting. Our events are open to anyone who supports the LGBTQ+ community and who is keen about aviation.
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Do you consider yourself a Goddess? You should. The Goddess is the earth. We are all part of the earth. How has the main religion in the Western world, Christianity, shaped our beliefs about femininity? The bible tells us about how Eve was seduced by a snake and had to suffer for it. Almost every woman and man I know has been injured by this story. In today's blog Susan Scott shows us another side of Eve. Eve making a conscious choice. Eve walking hand in hand with Adam. Let's dive into our Goddess concept of Eve today to make us reconnect with our inner Goddess.
Mindfunda explores the Goddess in 4 blogs
The Goddess was hot in the seventies of last century. Marija Gimbutas put the Goddess back on the map. She inspired a lot of scientists, anthropologists and mythologists up to this day. But the attention for the Goddess seems to have faded away. Mindfunda want to invite you to reconnect with the Goddess. During the month of November Mindfunda will share 5 blogs:
The Goddess, 4 blogs to intergrate the Goddes in your life.
Eve as Goddess: a Guest blog written by Susan Scott, of the Garden of Eden.
Triple Goddess dreaming: an alliance with the moon.
The Goddess and the Earth: a Guest blog written by Trista Hendren
A review of "The Book of She" written by Sara Avant Stover.
< Jumped in from elsewhere? Start at part 1
Today's Guest blog is written by Susan Scott. Blogger on the Garden of Eden, author of In Praise of Lilith, Eve & The Serpent in the Garden of Eden & Other Stories.
Susan Scott is currently working on a book on ageing and becoming with Jungian analyst Susan Schwartz.
Eve as Goddess : Susan Scott
Susanne, thank you very much for inviting me to participate in this theme on Goddesses for mindfunda.com for November. It is an honour indeed!
Throughout the ages, stories with basic themes have recurred over and over, in widely disparate cultures, emerging from the goddess Venus from the sea of our unconscious
Joan D. Vinge
The myth of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden is a patriarchal one from around 4000 BC. It is not a very old myth, although it begins at the beginning of humanity on this earth as propounded by the creationists. It stems from the Iron Age onwards and replaced earlier myths which were matriarchal in kind, for example, the myths of Sophia, the consort of God; the Indian myth of Kali, or the Greek myths of the goddesses, Artemis, Aphrodite, Demeter and Persephone to name a few. These matriarchal myths had Mother Nature as her Supreme Goddess. They were replaced by the worship of the monotheistic Sun God Apollo who assumed ascendancy as the matriarchal goddesses began their descent. The cycle turned – replacing the mother goddess with the father god. No longer was there reverence for Nature and living within her cycles.
However we view the biblical creation story in the Old Testament, it remains deeply embedded in the contemporary psyche of men and women, and in the collective unconscious too. Its echo continues. It has lasting value as all good myths do when they illustrate similar dynamics irrespective of time and place.
In the beginning, Adam and Eve lived in the Garden of Eden where beauty, peace and order reigned supreme. All was at One, all was perfect.
Imagine: Eve languishing against the tree on which hung plump, delicious, glistening apples within arms' reach. She knew there was a prohibition that she could eat anything within the Garden, except for the fruit from that one tree. After Eve told the serpent that she may not eat of this tree, for fear of death, the serpent beguiled her with its words:
'You will not surely die. God knows, that as soon as you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be as God, knowing good and evil'. (Gen. 2:17).
What are we to make of Eve going against this patriarchal injunction, accepting the apple, ingesting its seeds and swallowing them and offering it to Adam? What are we to make of God's appearance and asking Adam why he disobeyed; and Adam then blaming Eve and Eve in turn blaming the serpent? Their subsequent exile from the Garden, covered in cloths and ivy leaves to cover their newly discovered nakedness, with shame as their dire companion? For Eve to suffer in childbirth …
Was she the original disobedient bad girl who deserved her reputation as being sinful and seductive when she offered the apple to Adam? Does she deserve the blame for her and Adam's expulsion? And for bringing death, sin and sorrow into the world? Was this to be an ongoing 'fault' in forthcoming generations of women? Is this to be the legacy of the Old Testament?
What was it about Eve that threatened the new patriarchal order?
For millennia onwards, not only in western culture, we've witnessed the repression of the feminine principle. The animosity toward women has been expressed from time immemorial. Even the converted Paul upheld the subjugation of women, referring back to God's word in Genesis:
'Let the women learn in silence with all subjection.
But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.
For Adam was first formed, then Eve.
And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression'. (1 Tim.2 10-14)
And the dogmatic St Augustine, brilliant in many ways, who referred to women as being vile and cursed, corruptible and filthy; her infant was infected with original sin from the moment of conception and was borne in faeces and urine; menstruation was close to the beasts; and that women have no souls …
The Mother of all Living (named so by Adam), once sacred, now degraded. Now also, the Mother of Suffering and Death.
The demonizing of women has caused a grave psychic wound to men and women. We're all damaged, Mother Nature too. The concept of 'sin' keeps us bound to a paternalistic, vengeful, guilt ridden and narrow view of life. It is far removed from the image of wholeness that is deserved. It is a long repressed wound which needs healing.
We go back to the Garden where all was quiescent, yet too tranquil, too stable and too domesticated. It's usually the best time for something to happen! There must have been a longing in Eve for change, away from this languor and passivity, dependence and homeostasis. The status quo. She'd been a child for too long. What did those seeming opposites of good and evil mean and why did they also appear to belong together? Two words, each holding great weight. And, after all, what would the knowledge of Good and Evil be if one were permanently in the Garden where all was 'good'? The serpent offered a way out.
Eve acted on her instinct and used her initiative. She acted unconsciously because at that moment consciousness was not yet in her purview. There must have been a sense within her of wanting to move from this complacent security where there was no room for growth.
Her act resulted in the rise rather than the fall of man. A rise into consciousness, lifting the veil from that uroboric childlike innocence. An awakening. A growing up – into a new world, where pain and pleasure, life and death, sunlight and shadow, love and power, saint and sinner, wildness and conformity, joy and sorrow, strengths and vulnerabilities, solar and lunar resided side by side. A world of opposites. A world of duality – where distinctions and discriminations are necessary. Yet, identification with one side of the polarity and repression of the other means immobility and stagnation and movement towards wholeness is prohibited. Our task in life when faced with a conflict is to hold the tension between the opposing forces until a transcending symbol reconciling the two appears. It does mean that the old 'pattern' or way of relating to life will die, yet we consciously allow that to happen for the new to emerge. We begin to see that those opposites are complementary to each other and not necessarily in conflict. They need each other. Eve's innocence in the Garden died yet allowed the discovery of the ever-present paradox in the new world, as we do too. Death endows life with meaning. We were not meant to be immortal.
Why else were we given the gift of free will? Yet, free will carries with it an enormous responsibility, so it is not so free after all. It sounds enticing, yet it is also a burden. It is a meaningful paradox illustrating being bound to the treadmill of Fate and Destiny by our freedom of choice –
Eve was a catalyst for growth for herself and Adam. She wanted more than just the taste of the apple. Those seeds had potential, activated by her swallowing and digesting them. Her knowledge of Good and Evil was an intuitive knowledge, embodied in experience, not rational knowledge. She opened up a new way of knowing. This is the mystery, the uncertainty and the wisdom of the unknown, which is the field of all possibilities. Hers was a beginning knowledge '…of the opposites, a knowledge necessary for higher consciousness'.*
Her breaking the rules meant that ego consciousness previously lacking, was given the opportunity to develop. We leave home eventually, making our way in the wider world. In my view, I think it's reasonable that God precipitated Adam and Eve's exile from Paradise. A loving parent knows that its child must leave the security of the nest eventually – and push them out if need be so that they stand on their own two feet – and experience first hand the challenges of the outside world. He knew that they would have to navigate their lives with all its ups and downs as they ventured forth; but that it would be of value to them as they entered a world of conflict and paradox, never a straightforward and easy task. They would experience community and responsibility, cooperation and the continued search for their spiritual identity in their alienation. Perhaps Adam and Eve also came to realize that both of them were guilty of laying the blame for taking the apple onto the other. Adam blamed Eve and Eve blamed the serpent. In other words, each denied their own role and blamed the other. It sounds familiar doesn't it. We still do it …
Wise choices are made only when the conflict or difficulties in our lives are made conscious, after differentiation and discrimination between the seeming opposites. Too often in our contemporary lives the difficulty seems insurmountable and we 'choose' not to confront it – we're not prepared to do the hard inner work.
We can thank her for her curiosity about the serpent's words offering her the tantalizing apple. She considered the offer very seriously before her acceptance. She wanted to share 'knowledge' with Adam. It was not an act of corruption but one of cooperation. She sensed the hidden world of human potential. Besides, she felt an intuitive kinship with the serpent who, according to legend, was Lilith, Adam's first wife. Lilith was the woman prior to Eve who was also exiled for exerting her standpoint and demanding fairness, banished this time to the Depths of The Red Sea. The first two woman, both exiled, both repressed, both wanting to be a help-meet to their partner and both prepared to do the hard work necessary in meeting the challenges in everyday life to proceed authentically on their journeys –
Incidentally, the literature invariably shows Goddesses in time past with the revered serpent alongside as a symbol of fertility and rebirth. In Hatha Yoga, the serpent (kundalini) energy lies at the base of the spine, coiled upon itself in a ring.
With certain breathing exercises the snake uncoils itself upwards, releasing energy into all the chakras until it reaches the third eye where awakening occurs. Hermes, the winged messenger and trickster has two entwined serpents, symbolizing good and evil, health and sickness at the top end of his staff. Worthy of consideration is that the staff is rigid, straight and unyielding related therefore to the masculine, whereas the serpent coiled around it is flexible and yielding thus representative of the feminine principle. This image of the staff and the serpent graphically illustrates the union of the opposites, masculine and feminine inter alia, contained therein.
We know that the serpent sheds its skin to be born anew. We individually need to shed skin when it becomes too tight and does not fit any longer. Society needs to shed skin when ideas are outdated or outmoded. We become too comfortable and complacent, afraid of change and thus do not shed our skin. The serpent can be likened to Hermes, the trickster and messenger, precipitating change. Perhaps God too …
Eve can be seen as an agent of change bringing an end to the status quo in the Garden. In a way, she sacrificed herself to bring about change. Though the price was high, she stepped out of the Garden, with Adam's arm around her, unaware of the blame that would be forever accorded her or the projections she would have to bear, not only from men but from women too who've accepted a fully submissive role, as in doormat. She's been a scapegoat for far too long and the doctrine has been far too pervasive. Women's voices continue to be silenced in many parts of the world, as we know.
Eve was to learn in the second Eden of the world's repression of her feminine principle. She would come to learn of man's repression of his own feminine principle (the anima) as she would of her own masculine principle (the animus). Men and women contain within themselves both male and female energies in varying degrees. Women can successfully use the male energies of e.g. assertiveness and ambition, reason and courage if they consciously don't sacrifice their feminine energies in the pursuit, but manage to keep the balance. Men too would benefit from being more in touch with their feminine side where qualities such as reflection, patience, openness to life, and the willingness to initiate and explore life's mysteries were not suppressed. Eros and Logos need each other and require emergence from the unconscious so that transcendence within the individual, and collectively too, can occur.
Women throughout the ages have defended Eve and thus allowed women's voices to be heard from their own experience and not from that of a patriarchal view. They've said No! to the projection of sin put upon them. Having to be patriarchy's scapegoat was something (and still is) unacceptable.
Abbess Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179) was benign to Eve, seeing in her the person who bestows divinity onto humanity, and seeing in her also the prefiguration of Mary. Pain in childbirth is not seen as inevitable or a curse; rather each time the mother gives birth, the hidden image of God is revealed in every child who is born.
Christine de Pizan (1365-1430) rehabilitates Eve in The Book of the City of Ladies, arguing for equal status, stating that Adam and Eve were made in God's image.
Sarah Joseph Hale (1788-1879) contends in her book Woman's Record that Adam needed assistance in cultivating his good qualities and 'left to himself, his love becomes lust; patriotism (becomes) policy; and religion, idolatry. He is naturally selfish in his affections, and selfishness is the sin of depravity'. She contends that Eve took the apple because of her 'higher faculties of the mind', her 'desire for knowledge and wisdom'. She also states that Adam ate with 'compliance', typical of a person with of a 'lower nature' and motives no higher than 'gratifying his sensuous inclinations'.
To this day, writers grapple with Eve, she is painted, poems are written of her. Analyses of the implications of her role are ongoing. A psychological approach to what she stands for is always needed. As Edward C. Whitmont (ref. below), and many others who look at her in depth, writes: 'Thus the dichotomy of the virgin and the whore, the good mother and the witch, continues to gnaw like an unresolved canker at the soul of modern man'.
Eve, mother of all living, mother of suffering and death – opposing poles of the archetype of the Great Mother. Is it possible that a woman can hold these polarities within her at the same time? Is this an archetypal image still felt deep in the collective unconscious?
It is our task, men and women alike, for us to venture into the wilderness, explore beyond boundaries, into the depths of our being, to find authentic meaning for ourselves and thus for the collective, this troubled world in which we now live.
Eve was such a woman. It is fitting that she appears in Genesis, the book of origins. Hers is a universal story, one in which we are accountable for our responsible use of free will. If we want to live less stressful, less fear-filled lives we have a moral responsibility to stand up against injustice in any shape or form, to ourselves, another, animal and Mother Nature. It begins with the individual. What is positively transformed on the micro level has positive effects on the macro level.
She offers us the chance of a new beginning, a new way of relating between men and women, a new way of relating to the earth, a way yet to be born when we come to the fullest expression of our adult selves. We too, like Adam and Eve, can walk together, arm in arm, bound perhaps by adversity and love, courage and trepidation as we continue on our journey.
"The psychological rule says that when an inner situation is not made conscious, it happens outside, as fate. That is to say, when the individual remains undivided and does not become conscious of his inner opposite, the world must perforce act out the conflict and be torn into opposing halves".
C.G. Jung
References include:
* Marion Woodman, Elinor Dickson: Dancing in the Flames: The Dark Goddess in the Transformation of Consciousness. Gill and Marcus 1996
Anne Baring & Jules Cashford: The Myth of the Goddess: Evolution of an Image Arkana, Penguin Books 1993 (first published by Viking in 1991)
Edward C. Whitmont: Return of the Goddess, Arkana edition 1987
Pamela Norris: The Story of Eve. Picador 1998
Naomi H. Rosenblatt & Joshua Horwitz: Wrestling with Angels, Dell Publishing 1995
And my own book: In Praise of Lilith, Eve and the Serpent in the Garden of Eden & Other Stories. Olympia Publishers 2009
What is Mindfunda about?
My name is Susanne van Doorn, I am a Dutch psychologist, blogger and author. I have been working with psychology, dreams and mythology ever since I finished my study in psychology at Tilburg University. I made this independant site to share insights, and recent scientific articles about the brain, dreams, and mythology for use in your personal life.
This posting is categorised as Mythofunda:
"Myths are public dreams, dreams are private myths" Joseph Campbell used to say. This part of Mindfunda shows you how your personal mythology can create peace in your life.
Read more about Mindfunda here, or visit our Courses Page.
(Ready for more free Mindfunda content on '#MYTHOLOGY'?
Chasing the Light
Odin Opens Up this Year's Christmas Celebration
The Good, The Bad and The Ugly
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US 51/CTH U/CTH K/Business 51 Interchange
« Return to Project SearchAyres designed the reconfiguration and reconstruction of the US 51/CTH U/CTH K/Business 51 interchange ramps and service roads to improve geometrics, safety, and access. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) North Central Region project in Wausau eliminates vertical clearance deficiencies at the CTH U overpass.
Ayres prepared construction plans for the reconstruction of US 51 from Bissell Street to Decator Drive and for CTH K/Business 51 from Campus Drive to the west ramp terminals. Services included preparing preliminary and final roadway plans for reconstruction of the interchange and a local road connection between Merrill Avenue and CTH K at Cassidy Drive.
Several geometric alternatives were evaluated to determine the alternative that was taken to final design. Ayres provided administration, agency and utility coordination, conceptual alternative analysis, design of the replacement of the structure carrying CTH U over Business 51, design of rehabilitation for the structures that carry US 51 over Business 51, and roadway and traffic analysis and design. Three concrete box culverts were extended to accommodate the new interchange configuration. Plans included special riprap layouts to address Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) concerns. Construction staging details were included to accommodate traffic staging and maintain water flow.
Landscape architecture services included a concept plan for the interchange, and sign structure design services were provided.
The project also included reconstructing about 1 mile of Marathon CTH U from a two-lane rural roadway to a four-lane divided urban roadway. This work included new storm sewer, sanitary and water utility adjustments, sidewalks, and on-street bicycle accommodations.
This project included complex staging plans over a two-year period. Staging items included temporary widening, lane shifts, temporary lanes, detour routes, and alternative routes. A Type 3 Transportation Management Plan (TMP) was submitted as part of this project. Staging was coordinated with local government, businesses, and other projects.
Some community opposition surfaced during development of the alternatives. Ayres worked with local officials, businesses, and property owners to improve the design to better meet their needs and expectations. By consulting with the stakeholders and keeping them informed, public buy-in was achieved. Other design challenges included public involvement, wetlands in the project area, and rock near one of the structures.
Deliverables included an environmental document; right-of-way plat; roadway and roundabout lighting plans; design study report; preliminary plan; structure plans; and final plans, specifications, and estimates.
- Mark Petersen, Supervisor - Transportation Services
- Bruce Ommen, President
- Dan Sydow, Manager - Structural Engineering
- Dave Pantzlaff, Director of Midwest Transportation Services
- Brian Lambert, Civil Engineer
- Jacob Jensen, Supervisor - Land Survey
- Arlen Beaudette, Project Manager - Structural Engineer
- Michael Stoffel, Civil Engineer
- Eric Sorensen, Vice President - Transportation Services
- Alexander Cowan, Project Manager - Traffic Engineer
Project Information
Client's NameWisconsin Department of Transportation, North Central Region
LocationWausau, WI
Primary ServiceRoadway Design
MarketState + Federal + Tribal


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- London
020 7251 4942 - Sutton
020 8642 6677 - Kingston upon Thames
020 8549 0264 - Staines upon Thames
01784 453154
Making Waivers of Dividends Work
When a company is set up, it is common to divide the shares in it in approximately equal proportions amongst the subscribers. Whether or not this proves to be the most effective way to split them in the long run depends on a variety of factors, of which the effect on the governance of the company is normally the most significant. However, one problem which sometimes results is that where dividends are paid in proportion to the shareholdings, this can lead to dividends being payable to a shareholder who does not need them or who would have to pay higher-rate tax on them.
When a shareholder does not wish to receive a dividend, this can be effected by the execution of a dividend waiver. The use of such waivers can be an effective tool in tax planning, so it is unsurprising that HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) are generally not keen on them. Unless a dividend waiver is executed in the right way, HMRC are likely to use anti-avoidance legislation to attack the scheme.
The essential steps are:
- The dividend waiver must be a formal election by the person entitled to receive the dividend. It must be done on paper in appropriate form and dated and witnessed;
- The waiver must be executed before the dividend is declared; and
- It is always better if there is a commercial reason for the dividend to be waived – this will normally be to allow the company to retain funds for some specific purpose.
It is unwise to use dividend waivers too frequently. HMRC will look more closely at arrangements which are repeated and the practical effect of which reduces the overall tax payable – for example, where the shareholder executing the waiver is a higher-rate taxpayer and the shareholder who receives the dividend is not.


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Brand: TIMMY
Color: Grey
- TIMMY hangers plastic 40 pack measures 16.3*8.4*0.5 inches suitable for hanging suits,silk and chiffon,pants, shirts and more.
- TIMMY clothes hangers made of premium quality plastic material,bendable 180-degree side to side without break.Hold up to 11 pounds,strong enough for hanging coat.
- TIMMY plastic hangers non slip with grey glue,prevent garment slipping or falling down easily and keep clothes in natural shape without shoulder bump.
- TIMMY hangers plastic not like velvet hangers or wooden hangers,the white plastic hangers perfect for all types of wet and dry clothes.Suitable for using in any occasion like balcony, bathroom, cabinet and more.
- If there are any problems with TIMMY white hangers,please feel free to contact our best customer service.Full refund back for any unsatisfied with this hangers.
Publisher: TIMMY
Details: Features:
Color:White & Grey
Dimension:16.3*8.4*0.5 inches,0.14 LB/each hanger
Quantity:40 Pack
Material:Premiun plastic
Load Capacity:11 pounds
Long life time:
TIMMY hangers plastic 40 pack are made of high quality plastic material that will last for many years.The white & grey color will make your closet neat and elevate your style.
Durable hangers:
This clothes hangers can hold up to 8 pounds,no worry about your regular clothes,suitable for adults shirts,suits,pants and more.
Non-slip design:
The hangers non slip pads design keep garment in natural shape without shoulder bump or crease.Cover with non-slip glue on twree side,this hangers can prevent your suits,silk and chiffon,pants falling down.
Extra hanging space:
Space saving slim design at 0.5 inch thick which allow you to optimally utilize your closet space.A secondary hang bar for ties,belt,scarves or other accessories with the intimate design of this felt hangers.
Special detail design:
With the special integrated clips you can hang skirt,silk and chiffon,pants, shirts.Perfect for any place in your home with this plastic hangers.
Package Dimensions: 14.8 x 13.7 x 7.0 inches


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Team sheds new light on solar water-splitting process
With the help of a new method called "dual-electrode photoelectrochemistry," University of Oregon scientists have provided new insight into how solar water-splitting cells work. An important and overlooked parameter, they report, is the ion-permeability of electrocatalysts used in water-splitting devices.
Their discovery could help replace a trial-and-error approach to paring electrocatalysts with semiconductors with an efficient method for using sunlight to separate hydrogen and oxygen from water to generate renewable energy, says Shannon W. Boettcher, professor of chemistry and head of the Solar Materials and Electrochemistry Laboratory in the UO's Materials Science Institute.
The research is described in a paper placed online Dec. 1 in advance of regular publication in the journal Nature Materials.
Solar water-splitting cells, which mimic photosynthesis, require at least two different types of materials: a semiconductor that absorbs sunlight and generates excited electrons and an electrocatalyst, typically a very thin film of a metal oxide that contains elements such as nickel, iron and oxygen, which serves to accelerate the rate at which electrons move on and off water molecules that are getting split into hydrogen and oxygen.
"We developed a new way to study the flow of electrons at the interface between semiconductors and electrocatalysts," Boettcher said. "We fabricated devices which have separate metal contacts to the semiconductor and electrocatalyst."
To do so, lead author Fuding Lin, a postdoctoral researcher, electrically contacted a single-crystal of semiconducting titanium dioxide and coated it with various electrocatalyst films. A film of gold only 10 nanometers thick was used to electrically contact the top of the electrocatalysts. Both contacts were used as probes to independently monitor and control the voltage and current at semiconductor-electrocatalyst junctions with a device known as a bipotentiostat. Lin focused on oxygen-evolution reaction—the most difficult and inefficient step in the water-splitting process.
"This experiment allowed us to watch charge accumulate in the catalyst and change the catalyst's voltage," Boettcher said. It turns out, Lin said, that a thin layer of ion-porous electrocatalyst material works best, because the properties of the interface with the semiconductor adapt during operation as the charges excited by sunlight flow from the semiconductor onto the catalyst.
The research was designed to understand how maximum energy might be extracted from excited electrons in a semiconductor when the electrons enter the catalyst, where a chemical reaction separates oxygen and hydrogen. To date, Lin said, researchers have been experimenting with materials for creating efficient and cost-effective devices, but minimizing the energy loss associated with the catalyst-semiconductor interface has been a major hurdle.
In the study, Lin compared the movement of electrons between semiconductors coated with porous nickel oxyhydroxide—a film previously shown by Boettcher's lab to yield excellent electrocatalytic efficiency for separating oxygen from water—with semiconductors modified with non-permeable films of iridium oxide.
"The ion porous material allows water and ions to permeate the catalyst material," Lin said. "When these catalysts are in solution the catalyst's energy can move up and down as its oxidation state changes."
Catalysts with non-porous structures in semiconductor-catalytic junctions don't show this behavior and typically don't work as well, said Boettcher, who also is a member of Oregon BEST (Oregon Built Environment & Sustainable Technologies Center), a state signature initiative.
Converting sunlight into energy and storing it for later use in an economically viable way is a major challenge in the quest to replace fossil fuels with renewable energy. Traditional solar photovoltaic cells absorb sunlight to form excited electrons that are funneled into wires as electricity but storing energy as electricity, for example in batteries, is expensive.
Details about how excited electrons move from semiconductors to catalysts have been poorly understood, Boettcher said. "This lack of understanding makes improving water-splitting devices difficult, as researchers have been relying on trial-and-error instead of rational design."
The system used in the study, Boettcher added, was not efficient. "That wasn't our goal," he said. "We wanted to understand what's happening at a basic level with well-defined materials. This will facilitate the design of systems that are more efficient using other materials."
"Researchers at the University of Oregon are reengineering the science, manufacturing and business processes related to critical products," said Kimberly Andrews Espy, vice president for research and innovation and dean of the UO Graduate School. "This important discovery by Dr. Boettcher and his team could lead to more efficient systems that help foster a sustainable future."
More information: Adaptive semiconductor/electrocatalyst junctions in water-splitting photoanodes, DOI: 10.1038/nmat3811
Journal information: Nature Materials
Provided by University of Oregon


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Greetings from Argentina. This post will try to cover a general view of where the form builder is right now and where it is going to be in the near future. You can get a current status view from the video below:
On this video you can see a great deal of how the form builder works today. It doesn't cover the jBPM console integration part or the automatic form generation option, but it allows you to see how users will experience working with the form builder. To download the project, you can find it in the following locations
Nightly builds
In the next few days, I'll start keeping a stable release on this other address as well:
Feel free to download, comment or join. That pretty much covers where the form builder is right now. As to where it is heading, here's an initial roadmap
jBPM Form Builder Roadmap
- Adding HTML5 templates: Current items work with pure GWT and HTML4 for Freemarker. The idea is to build a new renderer that will allow users to export to Freemarker as well, but allowing them to export using HTML5 instead of HTML4 to create the forms. The idea as well is to create as many menu options to properly cover HTML5 capabilities, such as audio and video tags, menus, fieldsets and so on.
- Adding new validations: Current validations cover basic concepts, like number or email validation. The idea is to expand and improve validation definitions, in order to allow both client side and server side validation to any level of complexity. Among new validations that are thought to be added, there will be regular expression validation, multi-field validations (applied directly to the form), and rules-based validation (in order to define a ruleflow-group specially to validate the correctness of input data)
- Adding script helpers to add dynamic ui components on client side: Script helpers are shown in the video above. They allow a user with very little knowledge of javascript to create scripting solutions for UI component's event handling. The idea is to create a new script helper to allow javascript to add a new visual component on a particular layout and layout position when an event happens.
- Cleaning up effects and form items library: Current implementations of form items (the UI components you drop on your form) and form effects (the actions available when you right click on a form item) are done in a way that could be made configurable with a proper refactor. The whole idea is to make it more easily extensible, minimizing the amount of code to be added to create a right click action for UI components, or a UI component itself.
- Adding tests for effects and form items library: Along with the previous item, some refactoring will be made to allow a better separation of display logic from actions logic, in order to create better test prepareness on the code side. Along with that, proper tests will be implemented for the form items and effects library.
- Adding server validation to the generated form's API: Extension of the form utility API used from jBPM console, to handle validations on server side.
- Adding server interpretation of complex objects to the generated form's API: Currently, all form submit responses are treated like a map of simple data. The idea is to create complex object associations to particular paths in the form definition, in order to create the proper objects on submit time. This will benefit both user task definitions and rule-based form validations.
- Adding template management for complex objects for the generated form's inputs: The previous item covers submit to server rendering of request data, from simple data types to complex data types. This item covers the other way around, for when a user task is given a complex type and needs to decompose it to make it available for form input data. It will allow the user to define paths within an object when defining form inputs.
- Improvement of properties edition panel to add better coverage of properties for form items: This comes in hand with item 4. Once a proper management of form item properties is done, there will be a need for a better way of editing such properties.
- Improvement on tree and edition panel visualization: Bug fixing and visual highlighting in the current form are two of the main things to be tackled by this bullet.
- Allow switching layouts once they're filled without losing content: Currently, once you define a layout and start adding content to it, the only way to change layouts is to create a new one and move all the content manually. This item is thought to be able to do that automatically.
- Adding script helpers to allow onEvent simple validations on client side: Along with validation library expansion and server validation API, this item is thought to allow some validations to happen on the client side, to be handled on particular events (i.e. like on the change of value of an input field)
- Pagination items: Create UI components that would allow to create very large forms within several pages, all part of the same form.
- Definition of a standard page layout for a given user or role: Most companies have a template structure for most of their forms (wether it has a logo on a particular place, a standard stylesheet, etc). The idea is to allow designers to define such page layout and force its use to either some people or a group of people within the company.
- Definition of standard UI visualization strategies for particular types of data: This is to aid the automatic form generation. The idea is to allow users to define, for example, the standard way to create visual content for Strings, Integers, Booleans and so on. It should cover complex data types as well.
- New translators and renderers for JSF, XUL, Android, IPhone and Swing: Among other technologies, this would be a nice subset to cover. The order of the technologies and the omission of any don't express any priority whatsoever.
- Adding effects to allow loading contents from an ajax script or from an array variable: This way, content from a form could be loaded from an external source from the client side.
- Importing of inputs from other external sources: Right now the only way to import inputs on the IO Data tab is to have them defined inside a BPMN2 process. The idea is to be able to take them from a server invocation, a user file, or any other way. This will also allow to define forms for other platforms different than the BPM engine.


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This week the Indexed Annuity Leadership Council (IALC) released The State of America's Workforce: The Reality of Retirement Readiness study and corresponding white paper, which found retirement readiness is influenced by two key factors: the industry you are in and your company size.
Based on findings from a national survey of more than 2,000 full-time working Americans, across white-, blue and gray-collar industries, we are shedding light on the current state of how American workers are approaching retirement planning and preparedness.
The study shows blue- and gray-collar workers are less prepared for their golden years than their white-collar counterparts. The numbers are bleaker for blue- and gray-collar workers in the Food Preparation and Serving, and Personal Care industries, as well as workers at smaller companies. However, two blue- and gray-collar industries, Engineering and Protective Services, are breaking workforce stereotypes when it comes to retirement readiness – outpacing all white-collar employees.
Key Themes from The State of America's Workforce Study:
Access matters.
Access to employer-sponsored plans correlates directly to retirement readiness. Fifty-nine percent of those prepared for retirement have access to a 401(k) plan, compared with 39 percent of unprepared workers. For the one in eight American workers who are not offered any type of retirement plan from their employer, the retirement income planning is a "do-it-yourself" endeavor. But with the "do-it-yourself" retirement reality comes empowerment. America's workforce has what it takes to guarantee a retirement that fits their needs, even without access to employer-sponsored plans.
Larger companies are better preparing employees for retirement.
The larger the company size, the more employees feel informed about retirement planning and very excited about their golden years. Unfortunately, workers at small companies are two times more likely than employees at larger companies to feel their employer is not helpful at all in retirement planning.
Information is key.
Overall, American workers are satisfied with the amount of information their employer provides about retirement options. But compared to workers who feel very ready for retirement, unprepared workers show disappointment with the retirement information provided by their employers and lower levels of access to employer-sponsored plans.
Need for guaranteed, lifetime income.
Our retirement research shows workers are, above all, looking for lifetime income (nearly 80 percent), when asked to identify essential needs for retirement planning More than three-quarters of worker plan to meet this need by relying on Social Security. Given the sustainability concerns of Social Security, it is important to consider adding savings vehicles to your financial portfolio, like fixed indexed annuities (FIAs), that provide guaranteed lifetime income, in addition to principal protection from market declines, and tax-deferred growth. However, currently only two percent of pre-retirees are taking advantage of this option.
Despite gaps in retirement readiness and employer assistance, today's retirement landscape offers a variety of savings options and planning resources for workers to create their own retirement freedom. Like never before, Americans have the power to take control of their financial planning, which is not only saving for retirement, but also securing retirement income to last the long haul. Financial resources such as online calculators and budgeting tools can help ensure an accurate, customized plan is in place with funds to last a lifetime.
Take a closer look at The State of America's Workforce study by downloading the corresponding white paper, which provides ideas for getting the American workforce ready for retirement.
Is Your Work Environment Setting You Up to Achieve Your Retirement Goals? New Study Tells All.


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Less than a year ago, when Comet Leonard was first discovered, it was still an incredibly dim and obscure chunk of rock traveling out near the orbit of Jupiter.
Now it has reached our neighborhood of the solar system on its journey toward the sun and is being billed as the brightest comet of the year.
Here's how to see it:
"The comet is in the early morning sky right at the moment, and that means getting up very early, probably around 5 a.m. or so and looking more or less to the northeast," Ed Krupp, an astronomer and the director of the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles, tells NPR.
For people in North America, the best time will probably be Monday morning — weather permitting — when the comet will be near Arcturus, low on the horizon. The star is in the constellation Boötes (the Herdsman). There's an easy way to find it: Follow the curve of the Big Dipper (in Ursa Major) out past the end of the handle. The next bright star you see will be Arcturus. A good memory aid is to remember that from the Dipper handle, you "arc to Arcturus."
"The comet will just be about half the width of a clenched fist to the left" of Arcturus, Krupp says. "You might spot it with the unaided eye, but more likely, you're going to need binoculars [or] a telescope."
Exactly how bright a comet will appear to observers on Earth can be difficult to determine, and often a matter of intense speculation among amateur and professional astronomers alike. Leonard is no different.
But for people who saw the Neowise comet in the summer of 2020, Leonard might be something of a disappointment, says Peter Veres, an astronomer at the Minor Planet Center at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics.
"I wouldn't say this comet will be spectacular if you compare it to Comet Neowise," Veres tells NPR.
He says Leonard might be visible with the naked eye, but "you will need to be in a dark environment, far from the city."
If you miss it in the morning, you'll get another chance in the evening later in the month, Krupp says.
"The optimum time [in the evening] probably is from the Dec. 17 on," he says.
This time, look for the planet Venus to the southwest. The planet is the brightest object in the sky after the sun and moon. The comet will be between Venus and the horizon.
After that, things get a bit more challenging for Northern Hemisphere observers. They will need to book a flight to somewhere in the Southern Hemisphere next month. Australia anyone?
But after Leonard leaves the southern skies behind, you'll be completely out of luck. With an orbital period of 80,000 years, the last people on Earth to have witnessed the comet were our distant ancestors — both Neanderthal and Homo sapiens.
And, we'll be the last humans to ever glimpse it from this vantage point. Because of the shape of Leonard's orbit, the comet is set to be kicked out of the solar system sometime after its Earthly flyby.
Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.


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- This event has passed.
Walking Group (Barwon River)
April 4 @ 10:00 am - 11:00 am
|Recurring Event (See all)
An event every week that begins at 10:00 am on Thursday, repeating indefinitely
Join our walking group every Thursday morning for a boost of exercise and fun walking around the Barwon River and other locales. Relax with a sit down and cuppa upon your return.
Please note: It is best if you ring before you turn up as one walk a month does not leave from the community centre.


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Summer is probably one of the most social times of year, other than that November/December holiday season. People are out and about, having cookouts and barbeques, and just getting together more often.
At most picnics, there's usually heavy pasta and potato salads, chips and other nibblies, and tons of other diet killers. The last thing you want to do is finish it off with a heavy dessert.
That's where this comes in. It's light, refreshing, and relatively low in calories and fat. It's also very tasty, and would work very well as a breakfast item too.
Tropical Apricot Mousse
1/2 c dried apricots
1/2 c pineapple juice
1 c soy yogurt (or plain yogurt)
2 bananas, peeled
2 ice cubes
In a small saucepan, add apricots and pineapple juice. Bring to a boil. Lower heat, cover, and simmer 10 minutes. Remove from heat and cool. Place apricots and juice into blender or food processor. Add remaining ingredients and puree until smooth. Chill for at least an hour before serving. Garnish with freshly cracked pepper if desired.