text:
Three Jewels
The Three Jewels (Skt. triratna; Tib. könchok sum; Wyl. dkon mchog gsum) are Buddha, Dharma and Sangha, the objects of refuge. The Tibetan könchok sum literally means the three 'rare and supreme' ones.
Alternative Translations
The Three Jewels, also called the Three Treasures, Three refuges, Precious Triad, or most commonly the Triple Gem (त्रिरत्न (Triratna)) (Pali: Tiratana), are the three things that Buddhists take Refuge in, and look toward for guidance, in the process known as taking refuge.
The Three Jewels are:
- Sanskrit, Pali: The Enlightened or Awakened One; Chn: 佛陀, Fótuó, Jpn: 仏, Butsu, Tib: sangs-rgyas, Mong: burqan
- Depending on one's interpretation, it can mean the historical Buddha (Shakyamuni) or the Buddha nature—the ideal or highest spiritual potential that exists within all beings;
- Sanskrit: The Teaching; Pali: Dharmam, Chn: 法, Fǎ, Jpn: Hō, Tib: chos, Mong: nom
- The teachings of The Buddha.
- Sanskrit, Pali: The Community; Chn: 僧, Sēng, Jpn: Sō, Tib: dge-'dun, Mong: quvara'
- The community of those who have attained Enlightenment, who may help a practicing Buddhist to do the same. Also used more broadly to refer to the community of practicing Buddhists, or the community of Buddhist monks and nuns.
Refuge formula
Taking refuge in the Three Jewels is central to Buddhist lay and monastic ordination ceremonies, as originated by Gautama, (The Buddha), according to the scriptures. The practice of taking Refuge on behalf of young or even unborn children is mentioned in the Majjhima Nikaya, recognized by most scholars as an early text.
Taking Refuge in The Three Jewels is generally considered to make one officially a Buddhist. Thus, in many Theravada Buddhist communities, the following Pali chant, the Vandana Ti-sarana is often recited by both monks and lay people:
The Burmese Pali version, which differs from traditional Pali pronunciation (to suit the Burmese language phonology), is as follows (in the Burmese script and IPA):
1ဒုတိယမ္ပိ dṵtḭjàɴpḭ and တတိယမ္ပိ (ta̰tḭjàɴpḭ) are prefixed to the chant when lay members seek the Refuge for the second and third times respectively.
The Cambodian version, or បទសរភញ្ញ (EN: Bot Sa-Rak-Phorgn), was written by Samdech Sangha Raja Jhotañano Chuon Nath with greater descriptions of the Three Jewels with Cambodian touch at the ending.
The Mahayana Chinese/Korean/Japanese version differs only slightly from the Theravada:
The prayer for taking Refuge in Tibetan Buddhism.
The Triple Gem is in the center of one of the major practices of mental "reflection" in Buddhism; the reflection on the true qualities of the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha. These qualities are called the Mirror of the Dharma in the Mahaparinibbana Sutta and help the practitioner attain the true "mind like a mirror".
In the commentary on the Apannaka Jataka Buddha declares:
- Disciples, nowhere between the lowest of hells below and the highest heaven above, nowhere in all the infinite worlds that stretch right and left, is there the equal, much less the superior, of a Buddha. Incalculable is the excellence which springs from obeying the Precepts and from other virtuous conduct.
- By Taking Refuge in the Triple Gem, one escapes from Rebirth in states of Suffering. In forsaking such a Refuge as this, you have certainly erred. In the past, too, men who foolishly mistook what was no Refuge for a real Refuge, met disaster.
The qualities of The Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha are frequently repeated in the ancient texts and are called "Mirror of the Dhamma" or "Dhamma Adassa".
- The Buddha
- "The Blessed One is an Arahant, perfectly enlightened, accomplished in true knowledge and conduct, fortunate, knower of the world, unsurpassed leader of persons to be tamed, teacher of devas and humans, the Enlightened One, the Blessed One."
In some traditions The Buddha as Refuge is taken to refer to the historical Buddha and also 'the full development of mind', in other words, the full development of one's highest potential, i.e. recognition of mind and the completion or full development of one's inherent qualities and activities.
- the Dharma
- "The Dhamma is well expounded by the Blessed One, directly visible, immediate (eternal or not subject to time), inviting one to come and see, applicable, to be personally experienced by the wise."
Refuge in the Dharma, in the Vajrayana, tradition includes reference not only to the words of The Buddha, but to the living experience of realization and teachings of fully realized practitioners. In Tibetan Buddhism, it includes both the Kangyur (the teaching of The Buddha) and the Tengyur (the commentaries by realized practitioners) and in an intangible way also includes the living transmission of those masters, which can also be very inspiring.
- "The Sangha of the Blessed One's disciples is practicing the good way, practicing the straight way, practicing the true way, practicing the proper way; that is, the four pairs of persons, the eight types of individuals - This Sangha of the Blessed One's disciples is worthy of gifts, worthy of hospitality, worthy of offerings, worthy of reverential salutation, the unsurpassed field of merit for the world."
In the Vajrayana, a more liberal definition of Sangha can include all practitioners who are actively using The Buddha's teachings to benefit themselves and/or others. It can be more strictly defined as the 'Realized Sangha' or 'Arya-Sangha',
in other words, practitioners and historical students of The Buddha who have fully realized the nature of their mind, also known as realized Boddhisatvas; and 'Ordinary Sangha', which can loosely mean practitioners and students of The Buddha who are using the same methods and working towards the same goal.
Tibetan Buddhism
In Tibetan Buddhism there are three Refuge formulations,
the Outer, Inner and Secret forms of the Three Jewels.
The 'Outer form is the 'Triple Gem', (Sanskrit:Triratna),
the 'Inner form' is the Three Roots and
the 'Secret form is the 'Three Bodies' or Trikaya of a Buddha.
These alternative Refuge formulations are employed by those undertaking Deity Yoga and other tantric practices within the Tibetan Buddhist Vajrayana tradition as a means of recognizing Buddha-nature.
<font=5>Tibetan Buddhist Refuge Formulations | |||
Outer or 'Three Jewels' |
| ||
Inner or 'Three Roots' | |||
| |||
| |||
blue hum |
white om | ||
The three gems are called this because of their treasured value to Buddhists, as well as their indestructible and unchanging nature.
The Three Gems when used in the process of taking refuge, become the Three refuges. In this form, the metaphors occur very frequently in the ancient Buddhist Texts, and here The Sangha is used more broadly to refer to either The Sangha of Bhikkhus, or The Sangha of Bhikkhunis.
Diamond Mind
Buddha's mind in his earth body or nirmanakaya is frequently associated with the greatest gem of all, the diamond, the hardest natural substance. In the Anguttara Nikaya(3:25), Buddha talks about the diamond mind which can cut through all delusion.
The expression Three Gems are found in the earliest Buddhist literature of the Pali Canon, besides other works there is one sutta in the Sutta-nipata, called the Ratana-Sutta which contains a series of verses on the Jewels in the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha.
In the Ratana-Sutta, all the qualities of The Sangha mentioned are attributes of The Buddha's enlightened disciples:
- One who is irascible and very irritable, displaying anger, hatred and sulkiness; such a one is said to be a person with a mind like an open sore.
- One who understands the Four Noble Truths correctly is said to have a mind like a flash of lightning.
- One who has destroyed the mind-intoxicating defilements and realized the liberation of mind and the liberation by knowledge is said to have a mind like a diamond
Jainism and Taoism
Jainism and Taoism also use "three jewels" metaphorically. When Buddhism was introduced into China, ratnatraya was translated as Three Treasures sanbao (Chinese: 三寶; pinyin: sānbǎo; Wade–Giles: san-pao; literally "three jewels/treasures"), a term that first occurred in the Tao Te Ching.
In his analysis of the Tao Te Ching, Victor H. Mair notes that the jewel metaphor was already widely used in Indian religious metaphor before the Tao Te Ching was written. In Jainism too,
For the Jains, the Three Jewels are a metaphor for describing conduct and knowledge:
- samyag-darśana (correct perception or insight)
- samyag-jñāna (correct knowledge)
- samyag-cāritra (correct conduct).
The Three Jewels are also symbolized by the Triratna, composed of (from bottom to top):
- A lotus flower within a circle.
- A diamond rod, or vajra.
- An ananda-chakra.
- A trident, or trisula, with three branches, representing the threefold jewels of Buddhism: Buddha, the Dharma and The Sangha.
On representations of the footprint of the Buddha, the Triratna is usually also surmounted by the Dharma wheel.
The Triratna can be found on frieze sculptures at Sanchi as the symbol crowning a flag standard (2nd century BCE), as a symbol of The Buddha installed on The Buddha's throne (2nd century BCE), as the crowning decorative symbol on the later gates at the Stupa in Sanchi (2nd century CE), or, very often on The Buddha footprint (starting from the 1st century CE).
The Triratna can be further reinforced by being surmounted with three Dharma wheels (one for each of the three jewels of Buddhism: the Buddha, the Dharma and The Sangha).
The Triratna symbol is also called nandipada, or "bull's hoof", by Hindus.
There are a number of examples of the Triratna symbol appearing on historical coins of Buddhist kingdoms in the Indian sub-continent. For example, the Triratna appears on the 1st century BCE coins of the Kingdom of Kuninda in the northern |Punjab. It also surmounts the depictions of stupas, on some the coins of the Indo-Parthian king Abdagases of the 1st century, CE and on the coins of some of the Kushan kings such as Vima Kadphises, also of the 1st century CE.
(Sanskrit: Rathatraya, Also: Three Precious Ones, Three Jewels Gems, Three Jewels Refuges)
- 1. The Buddha
- 2. The dharma (truth or teachings)
- 3. The sangha (monastic community)
The three essential components of Buddhism. They are the objects of veneration. Buddhists take refuge in them by pronouncing the threefold refuge formula, thus acknowledging themselves to be Buddhists. Sometimes referred to as the Teacher, the Teaching and the Taught.


text:
In collaboration with Auds and End Shop, Jules + Gem finally crafted a scent for men–although women may enjoy this one too, of course! Jules + Gem bring you the woodsy, masculine fragrance of The Loft Candle, complete with notes of cedar wood, neroli and balsam. When you light this candle, you'll instantly be transported to a place of refuge. Available in our amber glass jar.
These candles are hand-poured in Honolulu, Hawai'i with beeswax.
Contains:Beeswax, Phthalate-Free Fragrance Oil, Wood Wick.
Burn time:50 hours; do not burn for more than four hours at a time.
Instructions & candle safety:
For purchases to be shipped within Hawaii, we offer free shipping on orders above $50.
For purchases to be shipped within the United States, we offer free shipping on orders above $75.
For purchases to be shipped to Japan, Australia, or New Zealand, we offer free shipping on orders above $175.
All other international shipping is calculated based on carrier costs. Expedited shipping is an extra charge which is calculated based on carrier costs.
Shipping for corporate bulk orders to individual locations will be billed based on the final cost to each location, including costs for international locations, based on carrier costs. Shipping for bulk orders to one location will be billed on the flat cost to final location based on carrier cost. Shipping costs will be posted to your invoice or can be charged to your corporate FedEx account when provided in advance.
Shipping costs are non-refundable.
Can I substitute different items in a gift box?
Yes - by building your own gift set you can include whichever items you like in your gift box! Shop for the items you would like to fill your custom gift set with by adding items from the following categories to your cart:
Be sure to include your personalized note during the checkout process in the "Custom Gift Note/Special Instructions:" section. (20 words or less).
Head to checkout and be sure to check the "Make this Item a Gift for $5.00" box at checkout!
Can I add a note to a gift box?
Yes! Personalize any gift with a note by including your personalized note during the checkout process in the "Custom Gift Note/Special Instructions:" section. (20 words or less).
Can I add this product to a gift box?
Yes! We recommend you make your own gift set! Simply add the Hawaiian Gift Box to your cart and the products you select for your gift set will be beautifully boxed in our exclusive Mana Up gift box that includes our custom tissue paper, fun crinkle paper filler, accompanying maker stories, and personalized note.
Can someone walk me through the gift box process?
We're always happy to help guide you through your gifting experience. Give us a call at +1 (808) 425-4028 or email us at email@example.com and we'll assist you!
Can I subscribe to receive boxes monthly?
Yes! You can bring Hawai'i home with monthly deliveries of these fabulous beach subscription boxes! With each subscription box, gifts of Hawaiian products will be delivered to their door - filled with the newest products, exclusive picks, and limited-edition items made by Hawai'i's makers and artisans.
Jules + Gem Hawaii owner and founder Lana Gronwald was always fond of candles for as long as she can remember. Lana first tried her first hand at candle making after her husband purchased a candle kit for date night. The two followed the directions and molded their first candles but unfortunately, it didn't work out very well. According to her, they looked horrible and the fragrance was very faint. After that, they decided that maybe they were just meant to buy pre-made candles.
Then one day, Lana decided to go for a second attempt and surprisingly, it went well. After doing some research and through trial and error, she perfected her candles to what you see–and smell–today. For the local candle maker, the process is relaxing and the thought of her tropical-inspired candles burning in different places around the world makes her smile.
Born and raised in Hawai'i, Lana wanted her candles to be reflective of her island home. During the years she spent away from home, she always found herself longing to go back. She missed the ocean, the sand between her toes and most of all, the food! Growing up in the islands, food was always a part of every activity–eating guava and lilikoi right off the trails while hiking, cold pineapple and mango at the beach, and eating home-cooked meals with family. These flavors from Lana's childhood inspired the fragrances she chose to highlight in her candles and other scented home accessories. For kama'aina (Hawai'i residents) who leave Hawaii, she hopes that her candles bring them joy and evoke memories of being home.
Today, the Honolulu brand's Victoria Collection features its top fruit fragrances: Guava Nectar, Passion Fruit + Mint, Mango + Papaya, and also has a collection of floral fragrances including its White Gardenia, Pakalana and Puakenikeni. It continues to add new products to as well such as perfume rollers, reed diffusers, car fresheners and much more.
How they give back:
As a mom and woman with humble beginnings, owner Lana is wholeheartedly committed to giving back. She vigorously supports education, positive influence, and mentoring efforts for the youth of our community, actively mentoring other rising entrepreneurs. As an animal lover, she also supports many organizations that help find permanent homes for animals and rescue animals from abuse.
Additionally, the Jules + Gem Hawaii team consistently collaborates with its fellow Hawai'i-based brands, elevating the presence of other local businesses owners. Through its recent collaboration with Dolkii, they were able to support the Women's Fund of Hawaii as the proceeds from its Dolkii Paradise fragrance collection benefited the local foundation, which aims to promote innovative, grassroots programs that empower women and girls statewide. Previously, the brand has also donated to the Make-a-Wish Foundation, Hawaiian Humane Society, Big Brothers and Big Sisters, various public schools and Komen Hawaii.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Press Release
Eyes Wide Open for MASCARA in Chile
Exoplanet hunter sees first light at ESO's La Silla Observatory
19 July 2017
The MASCARA (Multi-site All-Sky CAmeRA) station at ESO's La Silla Observatory in Chile has achieved first light. This new facility will seek out transiting exoplanets as they pass in front of their bright parent stars and create a catalogue of targets for future exoplanet characterisation observations.
In June 2016, ESO reached an agreement with Leiden University to site a station of MASCARA at ESO's La Silla Observatory in Chile, taking advantage of the excellent observing conditions of the southern hemisphere skies. This station is now made its first successful test observations.
The MASCARA station in Chile is the second to begin operations; the first station is in the northern hemisphere on the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory, on the island of La Palma in the Canary Islands. Each station contains a battery of cameras in a temperature-controlled enclosure which will monitor almost the entire sky visible from its location [1].
"Stations are needed in both the northern and southern hemisphere to obtain all-sky coverage," says Ignas Snellen, of Leiden University and the MASCARA project lead. "With the second station at La Silla now in place, we can monitor almost all the brighter stars over the entire sky."
Built by Leiden University in the Netherlands, MASCARA is a planet-hunting instrument. Its very compact and low-cost design appears unassuming, but is innovative, flexible and highly reliable. Consisting of five digital cameras with off-the-shelf components, this small planet-hunter takes repeated measurements of the brightnesses of thousands of stars and uses software to hunt for the slight dimming of a star's light as a planet crosses the face of the star.
This exoplanet discovery method is called transit photometry. The planet's size and orbit can be directly determined through this method, and in very bright systems the planet's atmosphere can also be characterised by further observations with large telescopes such as ESO's Very Large Telescope.
The main purpose of MASCARA is to find exoplanets around the brightest stars in the sky, currently not probed either by space or ground-based surveys. The target population for MASCARA consists mostly of "hot Jupiters" — large worlds that are physically similar to Jupiter but orbit very close to their parent star, resulting in high surface temperatures and orbital periods of only a few hours. Dozens of hot Jupiters have been discovered with the radial velocity exoplanet detection method, as they exert a noticeably gravitational influence on their host stars.
"Not much can yet be learned from the planets discovered via the radial velocity method, as they require significantly better direct imaging techniques to separate the light of these cool, old planets from that of their host stars," comments Snellen. "In contrast, planets that transit their host stars can readily be characterised."
MASCARA also has the potential to discover super-Earths and Neptune-sized planets. The project is expected to provide a catalogue of the brightest nearby targets for future exoplanet characterisation observations, particularly for detailed planetary atmosphere observations.
[1] MASCARA can monitor stars down to about magnitude 8.4 — roughly ten times fainter than can be seen with the naked eye on a clear dark night. Due to its design, MASCARA is less sensitive to weather condition than other observing instruments, and so observations may be made even when the sky is partially cloudy, thus extending observation times.
More information
ESO is the foremost intergovernmental astronomy organisation in Europe and the world's most productive ground-based astronomical observatory by far. It is supported by 16 countries: Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Czechia, Denmark, France, Finland, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, along with the host state of Chile. ESO carries out an ambitious programme focused on the design, construction and operation of powerful ground-based observing facilities enabling astronomers to make important scientific discoveries. ESO also plays a leading role in promoting and organising cooperation in astronomical research. ESO operates three unique world-class observing sites in Chile: La Silla, Paranal and Chajnantor. At Paranal, ESO operates the Very Large Telescope and its world-leading Very Large Telescope Interferometer as well as two survey telescopes, VISTA working in the infrared and the visible-light VLT Survey Telescope. ESO is also a major partner in two facilities on Chajnantor, APEX and ALMA, the largest astronomical project in existence. And on Cerro Armazones, close to Paranal, ESO is building the 39-metre Extremely Large Telescope, the ELT, which will become "the world's biggest eye on the sky".
- Read more about MASCARA on the ESO website
- MASCARA website at Leiden University
- Agreement to site MASCARA station at La Silla
- Science paper on the design and operation of MASCARA
Ignas Snellen
Leiden Observatory
Postbus 9513, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Richard Hook
ESO Public Information Officer
Garching bei München, Germany
Tel: +49 89 3200 6655
Cell: +49 151 1537 3591
Email: email@example.com
About the Release
Release No.: | eso1722 |
Name: | MASCARA |
Type: | Unspecified : Technology : Observatory : Instrument |
Facility: | Multi-site All-Sky CAmeRA |


text:
Why not dip into some archives when you come to Washington, D.C., for the annual meeting in January? The nation's capital is home to an incredibly rich array of research repositories, headlined by the Library of Congress, the National Archives, and the Smithsonian Institution's many museum archives. Almost any historian is likely to find some material of value for his or her research in these repositories. Even if you only have half a day to spend in the archives, you can often uncover material of real value to your work. Far better, of course, if you can extend your stay in Washington a few additional days to do some research. That "eureka" movement of discovery awaits you in any of the following repositories. The list is not complete, of course, but is intended to suggest possibilities.
It is recommended that you contact institutions in advance to inquire as to rules of use, to schedule required appointments, to confirm listed hours, and/or to speak directly to a librarian, curator, or archivist about your research interests. Many repositories have finding aids, online catalogs, or other detailed information about their collections available through their web sites. These tools can be used to streamline research visits in advance.
Federal Libraries, Record Centers, and Museum Archives
The Library of Congress
101 Independence Ave. SE. Research rooms, exhibits, tours. General information 202-707-5000; Manuscript Division Reading Room 202-707-5387. Information on research centers www.loc.gov/rr/research‑centers.html; Guide for Researchers www.loc.gov/rr/. No appointments are necessary for reading room use, but providing advance notice of research intentions is recommended. Some research materials are stored offsite and must be ordered in advance. Subject matter specialists are available for consultation by appointment. Some collections may carry donor restrictions.
The Library of Congress is the national library of the United States and the research arm of Congress, as well as the copyright depository for the nation. It is the largest public research library in the world, with millions of books, recordings, films, photographs, maps, rare books, newspapers, foreign-language materials, and manuscripts. The Manuscript Division holds some 60 million items, including personal papers and organizational records. Strong in Americana, women's history, African American history, diplomacy, legal history, labor history, military history, history of science, and other fields. Specialized reading rooms include Performing Arts, Motion Pictures & Broadcasting, Geography & Maps, Prints & Photographs, Newspapers & Periodicals, the Law Library, the American Folklife Center, Rare Books & Special Collections, Genealogy, Science, Business, and Technology. Area studies reading rooms include: European, Hispanic, Asian, and Middle Eastern and African. Reading room hours vary, call or refer to www.loc.gov/visit/hours.html for information. Closed Sundays and Federal holidays.
The National Archives in Washington, D.C. (Archives I, NARA)
700 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. Research Rooms, exhibits, tours. Shuttle to College Park, Md. facility (Archives II). Information: 202-357-5400; Center for Legislative Archives: 202-357-5350; Genealogy Staff: 202-357-5400; Old Military Records: 202-357-5311; Old Civilian Records 202-357-5411. www.archives.gov/research.
The National Archives is the official repository of the federal records of the United States and holds materials of all types of governmental origin. The National Archives Building in Washington (Archives I) holds old civil and old military records including those of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Bureau of Land Management, Census Bureau, Coast Guard, Customs Service, U.S. Army Commands (1784–1821), U.S. Army Continental Commands (1821–1920), War Department, Veteran's Administration, and Washington-based components of the judicial branch. It also houses the Center for Legislative Archives, which provides onsite reference assistance to researchers regarding the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. The building features a microfilm and genealogical research room. Additional collections are located at the Archives II facility in Maryland. Open Mon.–Fri. 9 a.m.–5 p.m., with some extended hours.
The Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian's administrative umbrella covers over a dozen art, history, natural history, and science museums located on (or in the vicinity of) the National Mall, as well as the National Zoo in Woodley Park. Several of the many available archives or special collections are listed below. For a full list and further information, including information on the Smithsonian Archives, the Archives of American Gardens, the National Museum of the American Indian Archives, the National Anthropological Archives, and the Hirshhorn Museum, please consult www.nmnh.si.edu/naa/siasc/si_archives.htm.
Air and Space Museum Archives Division.Air & Space Museum, Independence Ave. & 4th St., S.W. Reference: 202-633-2320. www.nasm.si.edu/research/arch/. Manuscripts, photographs, motion picture film, technical drawings, and other materials on the history of aviation. Mon.–Fri, 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m. By appointment.
Archives of American Art.750 9th St., N.W., Suite 2200. Reference: 202-633-7950. www.aaa.si.edu. Letters, photographs, diaries, sketches, scrapbooks, business records, and other documentation that supports the study of the history of the visual arts in America. Microfilm reference room, Mon.–Fri., 9 a.m.–5 p.m., no appointment necessary. Oral history transcripts, Mon.–Fri., 9 a.m.–5 p.m, and Manuscript reading room, Mon.–Fri., 9:30 a.m.–12 p.m. and 1:00–4:30 p.m. By appointment.
Archives Center, National Museum of American History.12th St. & Constitution Ave., N.W. 202-633-3270. americanhistory.si.edu/archives. Topic areas represented include women's history, music, technology, popular culture, advertising and branding, invention, marketing, and entrepreneurial endeavors. Mon., Tues., Thurs., Fri. 10 a.m.–5 p.m.; Wed. 12 p.m.–5 p.m. The archives center will admit researchers by appointment while the museum is being renovated.
Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives, National Museum of African Art. 950 Independence Ave., SW, Room 2140. 202-633-4690. africa.si.edu/research/archives.html. The holdings are divided into two major categories: art photographs that show African works of art in museum and gallery settings and field photographs that depict life and art in Africa. Mon.–Fri., 10 a.m.–4 p.m. By appointment.
Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives.1050 Independence Ave., SW, Room 2062. 202-633-0533. www.asia.si.edu/visitor/archives.htm. A manuscript repository dedicated to furthering the study of Asian art and culture and turn-of-the century American art represented in the Freer Gallery of Art. Papers of preeminent art historians, archaeologists, artists, dealers, and collectors, rich in photographs. Tue.–Thurs., 10 a.m.–5 p.m. By appointment.
University Archives, Research Centers, and Special Collections
American University
Special Collections and University Archives, American University Library, 4400 Massachusetts Ave., N.W. 202-885-3256.www.library.american.edu/about/services/index.html
Archives chronicle more than one hundred years of the university's history, including paper documents, films, videos, sound recordings, photographic images, electronic files, and dissertations. Special Collections include rare books, playbills, manuscripts and personal papers.Open Mon.–Fri, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
Catholic University of America
Rare Books and Special Collections, 214 Mullen Library, Catholic University Campus, 620 Michigan Ave., NE. 202-319-5090. libraries.cua.edu/achrcua/archacc.html. Books and pamphlets range from medieval documents, including about 100 incunabula, to first editions of twentieth-century authors. Open Mon.–Fri., 10 a.m.–5 p.m., and by appointment.
The American Catholic History Research Center and University Archives, via 101 Life Cycle Institute, on the Catholic University campus. 202-319-5065. libraries.cua.edu/achrcua/index.html. Holds papers and records of Catholic leaders and organizations, and is a particular resource for the history of American Catholics in the labor movement (including papers of Terence Powderly, head of the Knights of Labor and John Mitchell, president of the United Mine Workers), as well as Catholic charities and educational endeavors. See online manuscript index. Open Mon.–Thurs., 9 a.m.–5 p.m., & Fri. 9 a.m.–12 p.m. By appointment.
Gallaudet University
Gallaudet University Archives, Gallaudet University Library, Merrill Learning Center, 800 Florida Ave., N.E. archives.gallaudet.edu. Holds 160 manuscript collections of Gallaudet administrators and faculty and other leaders in deaf education, as well as the papers of deaf individuals. Registers of all collections are available online. Open Mon.–Fri., 9 a.m.–5 p.m., during regular university terms.
Georgetown University
Georgetown University Library Special Collection Division. Fifth floor of Lauinger Library, 37th and N Sts. N.W. Basic information 202-687-7444; art collections, 202-687-1469; manuscripts & rare books, 202-687-7614. gulib.lausun.georgetown.edu/dept/speccoll. Includes archives, art, fine prints, manuscripts, rare books, and other special collections over a broad subject range, including the Americana library of John Gilmary Shea and the classical and scientific library of Thomas C. Levins, and the Bowen Collections of spying, intelligence, and covert operations. Open Mon.–Fri., 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
George Washington University
Special Collections and University Archives, Suite 704, Gelman Library, 2130 H St., N.W. 202-994-7549. www.gwu.edu/gelman/spec/ Holds across broad topic areas including American history, African-Americana, Washingtonia, Judaica and Hebraica, rare books and maps, business, theater, and university history. Recently acquired the papers of the Gay Men's Chorus of Washington, D.C. Mon. 10 a.m.–8 p.m.; Tues.–Fri., 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Howard University
Moorland Spingarn Research Center, Founders Library, Howard Pl. & Sixth St. NW. For info 202-806-7240; Library Division 202-806-4237; University Archives 202-806-7498; Manuscript Division 202-806-7480. www.founders.howard.edu/moorland‑spingarn/ One of the world's largest and most comprehensive repositories for the documentation of the history and culture of people of African descent in Africa, the Americas, and other parts of the world. Bound volumes, journals, periodicals, and newspapers; vertical files; manuscript and archival collections; audio tapes; artifacts; prints, photographs, and maps. Includes the Ralph J. Bunche Oral History Collection and the papers of Kelly Miller, Alain Locke, E. Franklin Frazier, and many others. Open Mon.–Fri., 9 a.m.–1 p.m. and 2–4:30 p.m. By appointment.
City Archives
District of Columbia Public Library
Washingtoniana Division, Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library, Rm. 307, 901 G St., N.W. 202-727-1213 dclibrary.org. The Washingtoniana Division, one of the finest local history collections of all the nation's libraries, was founded in 1905. Collections include materials on early Washington, neighborhood organizations, societies and clubs, education, Civil War records, slavery and emancipation, family history, politics, government, the performing arts, prints and photographs. Open Mon.–Thurs., 9:30 a.m.–9:00 p.m.; Fri & Sat 9:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
The Historical Society of Washington, D.C.
Kiplinger Research Library, 801 K St. NW. 202-383-1850. www.historydc.org/Do_Research/Open Tues., Wed. and Thurs., 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Worth noting for future use (because it has been closed indefinitely to facilitate shifting to new premises) is the Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections, Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage (see www.folklife.si.edu/center/archives.html for updated information). The Moses and Frances Asch collection of original recordings, business records, correspondence, and photographic material that came to the Smithsonian with the purchase of Folkways Records. Also houses the Rinzler Archives of written, audio, and visual records of projects and exhibits sponsored by the Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage. Global and world-ethnic emphasis.
—, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress, is a member of the Local Arrangements Committee.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. Attribution must provide author name, article title, Perspectives on History, date of publication, and a link to this page. This license applies only to the article, not to text or images used here by permission.


text:
THE GARDEN IS QUOTING RUDYARD KIPLING AT ME, invoking a list of "if's" as I survey what's left to gather before coming cold renders the remaining possibilities moot. Can I keep my head when all about me—every vegetable and herb, every apple—are losing theirs? Can I stay ahead of impending weather (and find just a bit more room in the freezer)? It's Mad Stash Week of Fall Fest, and that's the Kipling-esque question at hand: Can I keep my head?
"If you can force us to ripen," the few lingering tomatoes seem to say, "we dare you to do so." (Apparently they don't know I have my ripening tricks.) "If not," they add, "then give up already and make us into green tomato-apple mincemeat, or pickle us, won't you?"
"If instead of letting repeat frosts have their way," the parsley utters, "you know you'll be happier with me tucked safely in the freezer in those things you call your parsley logs."
"If you can figure out what to do with me," a particularly raggedy row of kale (apparently visited by a cabbage-worm convention) says in a shrill and challenging tone, and I think, Hey, don't get fresh with me!
Yes I can, dear kale, because once you're blended into a soup—perhaps a puree with sweet potatoes and sage and greens, or of white beans and pumpkin and greens—nobody will even know about the holes that once marked you.
Or maybe you will become stock—that's it, vegetable stock, the alchemical elixir wherein knobby carrots, gnawed-upon greens, and onions or garlic who refused to cure well enough to last the winter in storage all turn into liquid heaven. I'll make more stock to freeze. (I also add cabbage, a little ginger, some winter squash, kombu seaweed, daikon radish and turnip or parsnip if I have them all.)
"And what about us?" a tower of 'Scarlet Runner' beans shouts from across the garden, just as I think I am catching my breath. "What about us?"
The rest of you can wait, I say, grabbing just a handful of the big, fat green pods to use in my broth-to-be. You can wait because your beautiful purple and black mottled beans will be just fine dried right in place, even if I don't get to you for weeks.
If I can waste nothing—if I can just freeze the last peppers, and even some garlic;
Get the potatoes into storage in just the right spot, and the onions (top photo), too;
Do a last batch of pesto—and not just basil, but of other herbs, like sage and chives and cilantro;
Juice the last fallen apples (above) in the old Acme machine, and freeze it in wide-mouth jars—as good as any cider….
Yes, garden, yes—if I can do these things I'll feel like all is right in the world. Or at least in my corner of it.
Mad Stash Recipes from My Foodie Friends
- Alison at Food2: Break Out the Stash
- Nicole at Pinch My Salt: Spiced Pear Butter
- Kirsten at Food Network: Roasting Pumpkin Seeds
- Liz at Healthy Eats: Mad Squash Stash
- Michelle at Cooking Channel: Save Em' While You Can
- Caroline at the Wright Recipes: Brandied Apple Butter
- Cate at Sweetnicks: Arugula with Roasted Butternut Squash, Bleu Cheese and Apple Cider Vinaigrette
- Alana at Eating From the Ground Up: Chest Freezers and Why They're Fabulous
- Caron at San Diego Foodstuff: Cooking for One, and My Mad Freezer Stash
- Todd and Diane: Persimmon Overload, and Persimmon Fool Pudding
What's a Fall Fest?
FALL FEST IS A cross-blog recipe (and tip) swap–and you're invited to participate. Simply post your link or recipe or idea in the comments below my post, and also on the blogs of the other participants listed in the recipe links box just above.
Want more information on how it all works? Get the details (and the schedule for upcoming weeks, including our shift into Fall Fest after many weeks of Summer Fest, with a new logo but the same recipe-sharing routine). We're continuing right into the Thanksgiving holiday.


text:
Redwood Findlay Apartment Rentals
Rent the Apartment Home You Deserve
Redwood Findlay is where youll find the single-story apartment youve been looking for. Live in a two-bedroom, two-bathroom, pet-friendly apartment rental home with an attached garage Enjoy being surrounded by charming greenery, with all the amenities of Findlay just a stones throw away. Plus, you can get to the hustle and bustle of Toledo in under an hour. But more than that, you can feel at home in a neighborhood atmosphere where life is quiet and friendly. Wont you join us?
Youre going to love it here
We think youll love your new Redwood apartment home, so much that well guarantee it. If youre not satisfied in the first 30 days, well let you out of your leaseno questions asked. Want to know why were so confident youll be happy here? Take a look.


text:
This little horse can stand up on his own. And he's not just for Christmas. Use him to decorate your tree and then keep
him out all year long. He
makes a great gift for any horse lover attached to a package or wine bottle
gift. Make one or a whole herd. Alternate the tail and mane colors for
different horses.
You will need:
Wine corks
16-gauge wire
Awl or nail
Wire cutters
Needle nosed pliers
220 fine sandpaper
Scrap of felt or suede
X-acto or craft knife
Hot glue gun and glue sticks or thick tacky glue
Wiggle eyes
Heavy cardboard piece 3" x 2 ¼"
Worsted weight yarn in desired color
Gold cord
Marker or pencil
Turn a wine cork on its side and make a triangle
shape with marker or pencil. Use the
marks as a cutting guide and cut out the triangle wedge. Make a straight line down the side at the
point of the triangle and cut. You will
have two leg pieces. Repeat with a
second cork for a total of four legs. (See photo) Use a piece of fine sandpaper to smooth the
cut edges.
Make four dots with the marker on another wine
cork (body) for leg placement. Use the
awl or nail to make holes in the marked areas.
Prepare the legs for insertion. At an angle make a hole in the wedged area of
the leg. Cut a 1" piece of wire and
insert into the leg adding a dab of glue on the wire. Use the needle nosed pliers for easy
insertion. Repeat with other three legs.
Cut another wine cork in half for the neck. Make a hole in both of the wine cork half
ends. Using a 1" piece of wire, add a dab of glue and insert the wire into the
cork. Make a hole in the body with the
awl. Add a dab of glue on the wire of
the neck and insert into the body.
Make the head by making a hole in the side of
another wine cork and insert a 1" piece of wire.
To make the ears, use the X-Acto or craft knife
to cut a round side slice from a cork. From this cork circle cut out two
triangle shapes. Add some glue and
attach each triangle ear shape to the top back of the head. Add some glue on the wire of the head and apply to the neck.
For the tail, using the cardboard piece, cut a
3" piece of yarn and lay it across the top.
Wrap around the cardboard about10 times.
Use the top yarn to tie it in a knot and cut the bottom edges. Cut a piece of felt or suede 1 ½" x ½". Place the knotted tail on the body and glue
the felt or suede on top of the knot area.
Trim it up if necessary.
Use the same cardboard to make the mane.
Wrapping only 6 or seven times. Take it
off and braid the top inch and glue the braid to the horse's head down the
neck. Brush the longer pieces to the
side and trim if necessary. Glue on two
wiggle eyes and add a piece of gold cord for reins, which also doubles as a


text:
Self-Critique for Informative Speech
Within seven days of your informative speech, submit a two-page, typed self-critique of your speech to Turnitin on Canvas.
This assignment should be in essay format and is worth 10-points.
Late submissions will not be accepted.
Cover the following areas in your self-critique:
Describe how well you performed delivering this speech. Explain what worked well for you and what you would have done differently.
Was your introduction effective? Did you accomplish your purpose? (Attention getter, startling statement, use of a quotation, arousing curiosity, etc.)
Was your informative speech effective?
Describe your level of confidence while you were delivering this speech. Did you suffer from any speech anxiety? How did you cope with any speech anxiety?
Was your conclusion memorable? Did you do any of the following: review the main points of your speech, end with a quotation, and make a dramatic or memorable statement?
What did you like about your delivery? What areas of delivery do you need to improve?


text:
Flowers Delivery to Czech Republic
Sending and delivery of flowers, plants and flowers arrangements at home to Czech Republic: thanks to our network of associated florists and flowers shops, we take care of sending and delivering flowers and plants to Czech Republic and all over the world with same day delivery.
Would you like to give a gift to the beauty of your partner with flowers or to impress a girl you love so much? The flowers will be appreciated, in any case.
And if a woman gives flowers to a man? The gesture itself is synonymous of romance, a lot of attention to him, that would definitely appreciate. Will make him feel loved and at the center of attention.
How to send flowers remotely in Czech Republic?
Flowers delivery is an affectionate gesture that can brighten anyone's day, regardless of distance. There are many occasions that may give rise to the need to send flowers to another city. By following the simple steps proposed on our website it is possible to book and send a floral gift remotely, and have the guarantee that the flowers arrives on time and in perfect condition, bringing joy and happiness to your loved ones. Whether you're sending flowers for a birthday, anniversary, or just to say I'm thinking of you, a little planning and attention to detail can make all the difference.
How to order flowers for delivery to Czech Republic?
Delivering flowers, plants and gifts to Czech Republic with Wineflowers is super easy. In 4 simple steps you can send fresh flower bouquets and flowers arrangements directly to Czech Republic:
- Choose the product you like from our online catalog
- Select the delivery date
- Enter the details of the recipient
- Write the text of the card to be delivered with the flowers
What are the most popular types of flowers with delivery to Czech Republic?
Our customers usually choose the following types of flowers with home delivery to Czech Republic:
- Bouquet of fresh flowers
- Bunch of Roses
- Flowers Arrangements
- Flowering and Green Plants
- Funeral Flowers
How to send fresh flowers to Czech Republic and province?
We send and deliver flowers to home from the nearest flowers shops in Czech Republic, we have a network of florists selected by our standards of quality to ensure timely flowers delivery and always with the highest quality. Our Flowers florists are also present in the following cities (Czech Republic):
Brno, Ceska Lipa, Ceske Budejovice, Chomutov, Decin, Frydek Mistek, Havirov, Hradec Kralove, Jablonec nad Nisou, Jihlava, Karlovy Vary, Karvina, Kladno, Liberec, Mlada Boleslav, Most, Olomouc, Opava, Ostrava, Pardubice, Plzen, Prague, Prerov, Prostejov, Teplice, Usti nad Labem, Zlin,Send or deliver a bouquet of flowers of a certain color, it means entrusting a first message. Choose carefully the color...
Select the flowers to be sent, delivered as the occasion, visit our proposals to send and deliver flowers in ocasion of Spring/Easter, Anniversary, Birthday, Congratulations, I am sorry, New Baby, Love & Romance, Sympathy & Funerals, Thank You, International Womans day, Mother's Day, Christmas, Valentine's Day, Carnival, Father's Day
How long does it take for flowers to be delivered to Czech Republic?
Deliveries take place during the opening hours of our local florists Czech Republic, here you can find more details about our delivery times.
Can I request a same-day flowers delivery?
Same-day flower delivery is available every day from Monday to Saturday, for orders placed by 4pm on weekdays, and by 11am on Saturday. Our customer service is available 12 hours a day to help you with any gift or flowers delivery options. We will help you to find a gift idea with flowers, plants or baskets to celebrate the most significant moments in life: from advice on birthday gifts to floral arrangements for anniversaries, birthdays or for sad moments such as funerals in Czech Republic
Our network of associated florists and flowers shops on international scale, allows us to send and deliver flowers to the following countries:
Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bermuda, Bolivia, Bosnia And Herzegowina, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, England, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Korea South, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macau, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Northern Ireland, Norway, Oman, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States of America, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam,The exposed flowers are a design product handmade by a florist based on a range of fresh and quality flowers. In some cases, the flowers delivered could be slightly different in shape and colours from the image, in as much as every florist is characterized by its own creative sensibility, experience and use of seasonal products which are subject to natural changes. As a result, the picture and the number of flowers can only give an indication and cannot represent exactly the product delivered by our florist.


text:
Cherry Flavored Lassi Mix - 250 gms
What is Yogurt? Yogurt/Lassi is a semisolid sourish food prepared from milk fermented, often sweetened and flavored. Here are just a few benefits of the countless benefits: Helps balance Probiotics for healthy digestion. Known to reduce the risk of high blood pressure. Helps overall digestive health. May help reduce hunger and Boost immune system.
- Made from only the freshest and the best quality ingredients.
- Our other flavors include Strawberry Lassi, Rose Lassi, Mango Lassi, Watermelon Lassi, Banana Lassi, Orange Lassi, Pina Colada Lassi, Kiwi Lassi, Vanilla Lassi, Strawberry Lassi, Kokum Lassi, Green, Mango Lassi, Guava Lassi, Coconut Lassi, Black Currant lassi, Cardamom Lassi, Tulsi / Basil Lassi, Mint & Ginger Lassi, Chocolate Lassi, Almond Lassi, Tropical Mixed Fruit Lassi, Lychee Lassi, Blueberry Lassi, English Toffee Lassi, Honey & Dates, Pista Lassi, Ginger & Lemon Lassi, Grape Peach, Blackberry, Hazelnut, Cherry, Raspberry, Pineapple Lassi, Cardamom & Saffron Lassi.
- The Teaplanet,s versatile Lassi mixes are refreshing and rejuvenating beverage mix prepared by blending yogurt and other natural flavors of fruits and herbs.
- Ready to be mixed with water with ice cubes and serve immediately.
- Our Teaplanet's Lassi mixes are stored in a convenient, airlock resealable jars that are recyclable and helps you maintain its freshness for long time.
- This product has shelf life of 12 months. Store in a cool and dry place.
- The Teaplanets's Lassi mixes are handcrafted, taste tested and expertly blended in small batches to achieve best flavors making every sip worth and for very best lemonade drinking experience.
- Exceptional Consistency, Enhanced Taste, Highly Concentrated fruit to achieve best taste in your applications.
- Vegetarian - Halal - Kosher - No High Fructose Corn Syrup.
- Statements regarding dietary supplements are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or health condition.
Ingredients : Sugar, Dextrose, Creamer, Permitted Flavors, Yogurt Powder, Anti Caking Agent (E-551).
- Seal the bag after opening.
- Avoid excessive heat or moisture.
- Avoid constant exposure to light.
- Avoid Cross Contanimation.
Subscribe to our newsletter
Promotions, new products and sales. Directly to your inbox.


text:
Product description
Kumaş Bilgisi : Sendi kumaştan imal edilmiştir.
Beden Aralığı : 46-56 arasıdır.
Yıkama : 30 derecede sıktırmadan yıkanabilir.
Exchange and Return Conditions
Average 1 business day.
The products you buy from www.minvalwholesale.com are sent by Aras Cargo.
Your orders will be shipped within 1 business day. Your orders received on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays will be processed on the next business day.
Due to any problems that may occur, the specified period may be slightly exceeded due to busy periods during New Year's Eve, holidays and special days.
In case of any problem regarding delivery, our customer services will contact you via e-mail or phone.
For payments made via money order/EFT, the above-mentioned process will start after the payment reaches our account.
When your products are shipped, you will be informed via e-mail and SMS. After this stage, you can track the status of your cargo from the My Orders section or www.araskargo.com.
Estimated delivery times vary between 1-3 days to anywhere in Turkey. (Average time determined by private cargo companies) If there is no cargo branch in your location, it is called "mobile zone" and delivery is made on certain days of the week. (You can check out the mobile regions at www.araskargo.com.)
The cargo company is responsible for any damage that may occur during transportation. For this reason, when your order reaches you, we kindly request you to open your package in the presence of the cargo officer and make sure that the products inside are undamaged. In case of any damage to the product, ask the cargo officer to keep a report, do not receive the product and inform us as soon as possible by sending an e-mail to firstname.lastname@example.com or by calling +90 212 526 70 92.
Search engine listing preview


text:
From: firstname.lastname@example.com (Paulettec) Newsgroups: alt.religion.scientology Subject: Re Bad news: Bob Kaufman died Date: 1 Aug 1996 06:45:03 -0400 Message-ID: <firstname.lastname@example.com>
I am sorry to come here to a.r.s. today with bad news. Bob Kaufman, author of "Inside Scientology" died. He was 63 years old.
Bob was the first person courageous enough to reveal the upper level materials. For this, he was terribly harassed and his dreams of a concert piano career shattered. When he gave a recital at Carnegie Hall more than 20 years ago, the Scientologists found out in advance and called the ticket taker and told them to tell people he was ill and the concert was cancelled.
Almost everyone was turned away, and as Bob looked out at an almost empty audience, and realized what must have happened, he lost it and his fury crept into his music. Later, the Times review would complain that he played as if he was angry.
But Bob remained cheerful no matter what happened to him. And he had so many other wonderful qualities as well: he was absolutely brilliant, very funny, empathetic, quick, talented, versatile, kind, concerned, etc.
He was also an extraordinary friend to many anti-Scientologists, including myself, Monica, Nan McClean, John Atack, Roy Wallis (when he was alive), Margie Wakefield, and others.
Many of you out there helped make him happy without your realizing it. Once upon a time, there were happy days at a.r.s. -- actually less than a year ago--where critics, instead of atacking each other, freqently wrote funny songs and posted humorous parodies.
I would download whatever humor I could find from a.r.s. and the web pages, and I would sing often these songs to him, or read him the funny anti-Scientology posts that you all wrote. And that's how several of you really cheered him terrifically during his many surgical procedures, hospitalizations, setbacks, and chemo. So thank you all for him. He really loved it.
And those of us who had the opportunity to really know him loved him as well. He will be sorely missed.
Paulette Cooper
Subject: Monica's Memories of Bob Kaufman From: firstname.lastname@example.com (GEMMAMP1) Date: 1996/08/04 Message-Id: <firstname.lastname@example.com> Newsgroups: alt.religion.scientology
As was stated in an earlier post by Paulette Cooper Robert (Bob) Kaufman passed away on Monday, July 29, 1996. He was 63 years old. Bob was the author of the book *Inside Scientology* and was the first person to ever publicly reveal the OTIII materials, which he did in this book.
Bob was a man of many talents and a wonderful friend of mine. It's too bad he never got set up on the internet, because he would have had a lot to contribute to this newsgroup. In addition to his book, he wrote an excellent article about the E-Meter called Scientology Auditing and Its Offshoots. He also had a wonderful sense of humor and wrote a very funny book about gurus towards the end of his life, which was, unfortunately never published.
Aside from his writings on Scientology, Bob led a very rich life. He often told Paulette and myself that we were spending too much time on all this anti-cult stuff and that he felt people should go on with their lives, which he had done. Bob did get to give a wonderful piano recital last May where he performed to a packed audience. Paulette, Henri, Keith Spurgeon, Maureen and myself were among those in attendance. Immediately after this recital, he started planning another one, which, unfortunately never happened. Once a friend of Bob's who is a member of the Julliard String Quartet told me that the kind of musical talent that Bob has is very rare and he would be happy if he had just a fraction of the talent Bob has.
Bob was also a fighter against injustices in this world. Just a few weeks before he went into the hospital for the last time, he invited me out for a beer and showed me a legal case he was preparing where he was taking his landlord to court for failing to maintain the premises. He was trying to organize the passive tenants in his building to fight for their rights. He had meticulously organized his papers and evidence and had a very solid case prepared. He would have made a great lawyer. Bob was not one to stand by and let people take advantage.
Bob was also a very loyal friend and a very intelligent person to talk to. One thing I could always be sure of when we got together was that there would always be interesting conversation. He had dabbled in all kinds of mysticism, but towards the end of his life he proudly called himself a Skeptic and I believe that's how he'd like to be remembered.
I consider it a real privilege and pleasure to have been his friend and I will miss him greatly as will all of his many friends.
Monica Pignotti


text:
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Mellow Melon
I'm of the belief that watermelon is perfectly delicious just as it is, but if you're looking to jazz it up a little, try out this recipe. It may seem like a lot of flavors going on, but it comes together really nicely. This recipe also raises an age-old question of personal taste: do you salt your watermelon?
Paula's East Watermelon Dessert
Recipe courtesy of Paula Deen and the Food Network
1/4 cup pineapple juice
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup lime juice
2 tablespoons grey salt
1 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
1 (5-pound) watermelon
In a large bowl, add all ingredients together except for watermelon.
Remove the rind from the watermelon and cut into 1/2-inch slices and remove seeds. Cut the watermelon into cutes and place in individual bowls. Drizzle with the pineapple mixture and serve.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Keep it Cool
I recently came across this wooden cooler at World Market, and I think it's perfect for the person who does a lot of outdoor entertaining. It's made from acacia wood, and is sleeker and has more character than the bulky plastic version. Plus, you can leave it out yearlong. Could be a great Father's Day gift for the dad who's spending his summer outside.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Measure by Measure
Sometimes it's the little things that make me happy. I'm currently loving
the idea of these sunshine palette measuring bowls from Anthropologie. They're so bright and cheery, I think they'd make baking an even more pleasant
experience. Best of all, they're on sale for $7.95.
Monday, May 18, 2009
Summertime Blues
One of my favorite summer treats is blueberry cobbler. It's just so rustic and relaxed, the way summer meals should be. It also begs to be paired with vanilla ice cream, which is always a plus. This recipe is low effort, tasty, and I just love the addition of lemon zest. It gives it a little "hmmm." Try it and hopefully you'll be left with something resembling this.
Blueberry Cobbler
Recipe courtesy of Real Simple
2 pints blueberries
1/3 cup plus 1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 1/2 cups plus 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
6 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces
3/4 cup and 2 tablespoons of heavy cream
Heat oven to 375 degrees F. In a shallow 1 1/2-quart baking dish or a 9-inch deep-dish pie plate, toss the blueberries, 1/3 cup sugar, and 1 tablespoon flour. In a medium bowl, combine the baking powder, salt, lemon zest, and the remaining flour and sugar. Add the butter and blend with your fingers or 2 knives until coarse crumbs form. Add 3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons cream and mix until a shaggy dough forms. Drop mounds of dough over the blueberry mixture. Bake until the berries are bubbling and the top is golden, 35 to 40 minutes. Serves six.
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Garden Utensils
I landed on an Etsy shop today called Monkeys Always Look, which offers the cutest combination of kitchen and garden. What first caught my eye were these charming garden markers made from antique silverware. The pieces are made to order and can say whatever you like. You can even choose whether you want a spoon or a fork. The rest of the shop features a variety of succulents in containers like bowls, teacups and other vintage-looking dishes, making them perfect for a sunny windowsill in the kitchen.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Seaside Accessories
Jewelry is an easy way to incorporate summer into your wardrobe, and there are loads of beach and ocean-inspired pieces currently available. Banana Republic has a starfish-themed necklace, ring and earrings. At Anthropologie, you can adorn your finger with a sparkly sea turtle or yet another starfish. They also have the washed ashore necklace, which is a cluster of shells strung on silk. And over at Etsy, you can find a clam charm with a pearl inside and herds of seahorse pieces. If you can't get your body to the beach, bring the beach to your body.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Cocktail Cravings: Blissini
If you're having mom over for brunch today, offer her an antioxidant-packed cocktail. The blissini (how cute is that name?) contains pomegranate and orange juices and Italian sparkling wine. Substitute sparkling water if you like. It's girly, not too sweet and a great variation on the usual brunch beverages -- perfect for Mother's Day.
Recipe courtesy of Giada De Laurentiis and the Food Network
1 1/2 cups Prosecco, chilled
1 1/2 cups orange juice, chilled
1 1/2 cups pomegranate juice, chilled
Mint leaves, for garnish
Combine the Prosecco, orange juice, and pomegranate juice and pour into 6 Champagne glasses. Garnish with mint leaves and serve.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Winning Combinations for Mother's Day
So I'm a little late writing about Mother's Day gifts, but fear not, there's still time. In fact, Crate and Barrel has gone through the trouble of pairing different items and packaging them together, which makes shopping even easier or provides inspiration if you don't have a Crate and Barrel nearby. So don't just give mom a new teapot, pair it with her favorite flavor of tea and some fun utensils. Give your green-thumbed mama a new pair of gardening gloves, a flower pot and seeds of her favorite flower. If mom likes to knit, give her a tote bag filled with a couple skeins of yarn and a new set of needles. You get the idea. Piecing together a gift with different things can be a lot easier than trying to find that one perfect item, and mom will be so impressed.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with Enchiladas
I like to think of enchiladas as Mexican comfort food -- warm, gooey and a tasty combination of flavors. Cinco de Mayo gave me the perfect excuse to try my hand at the dish. It had just the right amount of spice and came together surprisingly fast. Happy Cinco de Mayo!
Chicken Enchiladas
Recipe courtesy of Tyler Florence and the Food Network
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 1/2 pounds skinless boneless chicken breast
Salt and pepper
2 teaspoons cumin powder
2 teaspoons garlic powder
1 teaspoon Mexican Spice Blend
1 red onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup frozen corn, thawed
5 canned whole green chiles, seeded and coarsely chopped
4 canned chipotle chiles, seeded and minced
1 (28-ounce) can stewed tomatoes
1/2 teaspoon all-purpose flour
8 corn tortillas
1 1/2 cups enchilada sauce, canned
1 cup shredded Cheddar and Jack cheeses
Garnish: chopped cilantro leaves, chopped scallions, sour cream, chopped tomatoes
Coat large saute pan with oil. Season chicken with salt and pepper. Brown chicken over medium heat, allow 7 minutes each side or until no longer pink. Sprinkle chicken with cumin, garlic powder and Mexican spices before turning. Remove chicken to a platter, allow to cool. Saute onion and garlic in chicken drippings until tender. Add corn and chiles. Stir well to combine. Add canned tomatoes, saute 1 minute. Pull chicken breasts apart by hand into shredded strips. Add shredded chicken to saute pan, combine with vegetables. Dust the mixture with flour to help set. Microwave tortillas on high for 30 seconds. This softens them and makes them more pliable. Coat the bottom of 2 (13 by 9-inch) pans with a ladle of enchilada sauce. Using a large shallow bowl, dip each tortilla in enchilada sauce to lightly coat. Spoon 1/4 cup chicken mixture in each tortilla. Fold over filling, place 8 enchiladas in each pan with seam side down. Top with remaining enchilada sauce and cheese. Bake for 15 minutes in a preheated 350 degree F oven until cheese melts. Garnish with cilantro, scallion, sour cream and chopped tomatoes before serving. Serve with Spanish rice and beans.
Friday, May 1, 2009
Derby on My Mind
Tomorrow marks the 135th Kentucky Derby, and though I've never attended the event, it encompasses everything I love: classic southern dishes like fried chicken and barbecue, a fancy drink, my favorite pie and a reason to dress up. One day I hope to make it to Churchill Downs, but for now I'll just have to imagine I'm there, mint julep in hand, wearing seersucker, some festive headwear and a lucky charm.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)


text:
Protect your IoT devices with these tips
The Internet of Things (IoT) creates new business opportunities. For instance, companies can use smart sensors to track and monitor inventory. However, hackers can still get their hands on IoT devices given the chance to breach your network. Here are some precautions you should take to protect your IoT devices.
Set passwords
Not many people know they can set passwords for IoT devices, making their gadgets easy to hack. You have to make sure to set new and strong passwords — preferably with a combination of upper- and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. Then, use a password manager to keep track of all your passwords.
Disable Universal Plug and Play (UPnP)
UPnP helps IoT gadgets discover and connect to other network devices. But this feature also serves as a gateway for hackers to infiltrate your devices and network. To prevent this, disable this feature.
Create a separate network
It's a good idea to keep your IoT devices connected to their own network that's separate from your main office network. This way, gadgets can connect to the internet but won't have access to mission-critical files.
You can also invest in device access management tools. These allow you to control which devices can access what data, and prevent unauthorized access.
Update your firmware
You need to keep your software up to date if you want to secure your devices against cyberattacks. Manufacturers are always releasing new patches for the latest vulnerabilities, so make it a habit to check and install IoT firmware updates regularly.
If you have several devices, use patch management software to automate patch distribution and schedule regular updates.
Unplug it
Simply disconnecting your devices or turning them off when not in use can significantly reduce your vulnerability to cyberattacks. It removes potential entry points into your network and minimizes the chances of unauthorized access to your network.
With the advent of IoT devices in homes and offices, hackers also developed more cunning ways to exploit them. Adopting the above mentioned security habits can prevent a variety of IoT attacks, but if you need to beef up your security, contact us today. We have robust security solutions to keep your hardware and systems safe.


text:
In a Maryland Jail, Teens Charged As Adults Face Isolation and Neglect
"Trays up!" the CO yells. It's about 5 am, and breakfast trays are here. I've been up since midnight, studying the workbooks that a friend sent to me. When everyone is asleep, and the TV is off, it's the quietest time, and I can really focus.
As I get my tray every morning, I ask myself, "How much longer?" It's been about 7-1/2 months on 23/1, and I continually thank God for my strength through this. While I am finishing my tray and putting it back on the port, I sit there and imagine a sunrise.
Where I'm located in the jail, there are no windows, no sunlight, and no fresh air. It's like my cell is a box inside of a bigger box. Since I've been here, I've only seen sunlight seven times, and those were my court dates.
I try not to dwell on what I don't have, because that will make the day extremely long.
–"Luke," age 17, held at Harford County Detention Center in Maryland since August 2013
Last month, Attorney General Eric Holder recorded a video message condemning the "excessive" use of solitary confinement in juvenile facilities. He made no mention, however, of the children held in isolation in adult jails and state prisons.
These young people, thought to number in the thousands across the country, are trapped in a kind of purgatory–facing charges in adult court and held in adult facilities, but kept in involuntary lockdown for "their own protection" from the adult prisoners who surround them.
This has been the experience of five teenagers held in a county jail in Bel Air, Maryland, a suburban community northeast of Baltimore that is perhaps best known as the birthplace of John Wilkes Booth. Over the last few weeks, Solitary Watch has interviewed these young men, the townspeople who have been trying to help them, and the sheriff who disputes their accounts.
Eileen Siple, 51, used to be a special education teacher but now stays at home to care for her disabled son. She told Solitary Watch that she has always lived a comfortable life. "If you had said to me three years ago that I'd be talking to all these kids in prison, I'd say you were crazy."
Then one day, about two and a half years ago, her daughter came home from school upset. A classmate at C. Milton Wright – the local high school in Bel Air – had been arrested in connection with his father's death, and she wanted to help support him.
Siple quickly grew close to the teenager, Robert Richardson. Siple understood that the boy had been charged with a serious crime, but she was shocked at the conditions in which he was being held at the Harford County Detention Center (HCDC).
In a recent letter to Solitary Watch, Richardson describes what he experienced for his first ten months at HCDC, when he was 16 years old. He is now in state prison at the Maryland Correctional Training Center in Hagerstown, serving an eighteen-year sentence, the result of a plea bargain on manslaughter and firearm offenses.
"From day to day, it's always the same," he wrote. "Isolation, 24 hours a day. The light stays on, the door stays closed, no human interaction. I felt like an animal. I was always in the same cage, naked save for a paper hospital gown."
During this period, Richardson says he was locked up alongside adults. "I could hear the others in the isolation ward, but I couldn't see them. The others were all mentally ill. They would scream all night long. I couldn't sleep, with the screams and the banging… And the smells…smells of urine and feces from the others. They wouldn't bathe. They would lie in bed and defecate on themselves or sling their waste
Eventually, Richardson was transferred from the isolation tier to a unit called T-Block. The unit is used primarily to hold recent adult arrestees while they are processed into general population, and through the small window on his door Richardson saw the many adults circulating on and off the block. But soon he realized that in addition to himself there were other teenage boys being held on the tier for weeks and months at a time, and he started to talk to them through his door and the pipes that ran through his small cell.
Before long, Eileen Siple was supporting these other boys, too. She provided Solitary Watch with the names of fifteen different young men allegedly held on T-Block, as well as written statements from five of them.
Boys Spend Months in Solitary Confinement
During the 1990s, amidst a national rise in the juvenile crime rate and an emerging paranoia about child "superpredators," states across the county made it easier to kids to be charged as adults. In Maryland, children 14 years or older automatically enter the adult system if they commit the most serious crimes, including first-degree murder or rape, as do sixteen and seventeen-year-olds charged with one of 33 crimes ranging from firearm offenses, to robbery, to manslaughter.
The Maryland law means that many teenagers, even those who are eventually found innocent or waived down into juvenile court, spend weeks or months in adult facilities awaiting transfer hearings or trials. In nine of Maryland's 23 counties, including Harford County – where HDRC is located – established guidelines call for kids facing charges in the adult system to be held in pre-trial solitary confinement.
Solitary is supposed to protect young people, and general population is admittedly known to be a patently unsafe place for minors. But the emotional and detailed accounts written by Richardson and the four other young men previously held on T-Block raise serious questions about whether juveniles are facing abuse in the name of their own safety.
The young men were charged with various offenses. Solitary Watch has changed several of their names for their protection. "Luke" was arrested a month after his 17th birthday on sex abuse charges related to a minor; he is still under 18 and currently in segregation. "Ryan," who is facing rape, incest, and sex abuse charges, was also arrested at 17, but has since turned 18 and is now being held in general population at HCDC pending trial. "Adam" was arrested at 16 on armed robbery and theft charges; he has since pled guilty and was sentenced to just over four years in prison. Will Downs was arrested at 17 on assault charges and eventually pled guilty, although he and his family maintain his innocence. He was released in April on time served, and was interviewed over the phone from his home.
In their accounts, the boys describe being held in 23-hour lockdown in small cells, for periods ranging from a few weeks to many months. In an account dated in late April 2014, Downs wrote: "T-Block was the worst month and a half of my life! On T-Block you are locked down 23 hours a day. You are in a 7 by 11 cell and I can almost touch the wall with my wingspan and if you are by yourself is even worse. I had no body to talk to relieve stress."
Some of the boys were forced to wear a smock, which they referred to as the "turtle," when they first arrived. One young man said he felt so cold during this time that he wrapped toilet paper around his feet. Ryan, then age 17, writes: "I was escorted to T Block, and they put me in a cell that was maybe 12' x 7', had a light that stayed on all of the time, a desk, a stool, a double bunk, a toilet, and a sink. They told me to strip down to my blue shorts (like boxers) and gave me a smock. The smock was like a sleeveless robe that fastened with Velcro and very heavy fabric."
As is standard policy for kids held in adult facilities, the boys were not able to mix freely with the adult population, so could not access any programming in the jail – including counseling, education or church. Even the boys' one-hour of recreation time was conducted indoors, so they would only see sunlight when they were taken to and from court hearings.
In a recent phone interview, Downs described what it was like to be on lockdown. "All the worst things go through your head when you're in there, because you feel like nothing's happening. Every day moves so slow, every day was like a week." He said that although some of the boys were bunked in pairs for periods of time, he was primarily held alone.
Ryan felt jealous of the many men passing through T-Block for processing. "We watched people come in and leave, all the time. It hurt so bad to watch these people leave, knowing that I couldn't even see the sun or feel a breeze or have anything to do with the outside."
The boys' accounts also describe being at the complete mercy of corrections officers. Downs recalls having "to beg [guards] for ice so you can have fresh water to drink", adding "if they have a bad day you are going have an even worse day."
According to Eileen Siple, the time in isolation took a significant psychological and physical toll on all of the boys. Of the four she communicates with regularly, one started hearing voices during his time in solitary, and was placed on a series of psychiatric medications; the other three were also prescribed either anti-anxiety medications or anti-depressants.
According to a 2012 report by Human Rights Watch and the American Civil Liberties Union, young people are particularly vulnerable to the stressors of "the box," in part because they haven't acquired the same coping mechanisms as adults. Moreover, the author notes, "because they are still developing, traumatic experiences like solitary confinement may have a profound effect on [kids'] chance to rehabilitate and grow." In 2007, the Campaign for Youth Justice, a Washington-based nonprofit that advocates for children to be kept in the juvenile justice system, found that kids held in adult prisons and jails are 36 times more likely to commit suicide than young people held in juvenile facilities.
The young men's accounts also detail the poor medical care they received while on T-Block. One of them describes not receiving needed heart medication for about two and half months, despite asking for it.
Local Sheriff Denies Accounts
Sheriff Jesse Bane has run the Harford County Detention Center since his election in 2006. In a series of phone calls, the Sheriff provided Solitary Watch with a different account of what happens to juveniles when held at the facility on adult charges. He said that young people are sent to the Behavioral Health Unit, which was originally built for prisoners with mental illness but now houses both populations.
"There is a recreation yard, a general dining area, a television, and they are free to roam the area where they're incarcerated." In a later conversation, he clarified that that adults and minors held at the BHU are strictly separated, and rotate the time they spend out of cell.
When specifically asked why there would be accounts from as recently as 2013 and 2014 of juveniles being held in long-term isolation at HCDC, Sheriff Bane reiterated that "you can't hold people in those conditions," adding that in an election year, you "get things like this that come up." (His post is up for re-election this fall.)
Sheriff Bane also said that kids are given psychological evaluations upon their arrival, and can be placed in isolation on the unit for days or weeks if medical personnel believe they pose a threat to themselves. Queried about the "turtle," Bane stated that young people who express suicidal ideation are asked to wear the garment since it cannot be torn, tied, or made into a noose.
When asked about accounts that young people held been held on a processing tier for adults, he told Solitary Watch, "I'm not sure that I know what you're talking about," stressing several times that the law requires "sight and sound" separation between children and adults.
In fact, although the decades-old federal Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act (JJDPA) requires "sight and sound" separation between children and adults, these protections do not currently apply to young people charged as adults.
The 2003 Regulations on the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) mandates separation, but there are no accountability mechanisms to enforce the standards in county facilities. In 2012, the Harford County Sheriff's Office was awarded $163,648 to better enable compliance with PREA, although it is unknown if the grant had any relation to how minors are held in the facility. (Bane's office declined to provide copies of the application; Solitary Watch has since filed a FOIA request to obtain additional information.)
When asked about T-Block, the Sheriff commented although some individuals are held on T-Block for no more than 24 hours pending classification, "that does not include juveniles." He also said, "You cannot keep a person indefinitely in a lockdown status in isolation because it adversely impacts their mental health and we are not going to do that."
Diane Tobin, the Deputy State's Attorney, declined to comment on any specifics but stated that young people at HCDC are held in accordance with federal law. Solitary Watch contacted the lawyers for all five boys who submitted statements; none returned calls or emails for comment.
In a phone interview, Solitary Watch asked Downs to respond to Sheriff Bane's assurances that there was "sight and sound separation" between juveniles and adults. "We could talk to the adults on T block, we would tell them to come to the door, and they would talk to us," he said.
Asked to reply to Sheriff Bane's assertion that juveniles are not held on T-Block, Downs said, "What? I was on T-Block the whole fucking time."
According to Eileen Siple, the move from T-Block to the BSU happened about six weeks ago. She told Solitary Watch that last month she was invited by the Sheriff to tour HCDC; at the BSU she saw two minors being held alone on the top tier, with adults with mental illness held below. Siple, who is in touch with one of the two boys, said that they only spend a few hours out of their cells each day.
Kara Aanenson is the Campaign Strategist for Just Kids, a Maryland advocacy organization that works with kids automatically charged as adults. When interviewed by Solitary Watch, Kara Aanenson also disputed the Sheriff's account that the kids have long been held at the BSU. She said that when she toured HCDC about a year ago, she personally saw young people being held on T-Block.
Use of Isolation Widespread
According to Aanenson, what happened to Richardson and the other boys at HCDC – however horrific – is far from an isolated instance of abuse. "It was shocking to me, but it's also a process that doesn't just happen in Harford County," she told Solitary Watch. "It happens to lots of kids in the state of Maryland."
An infographic recently published by Just Kids identifies the nine counties across Maryland, including Harford, which holds kids facing charges as adults in pre-trial solitary confinement. Eleven counties house these young people with the rest of the adult jail population, and the remaining three counties have dedicated juvenile units within adult facilities. Just Kids' research is based on established guidelines for handling minors as outlined in jail handbooks.
Nor are the numbers of youth admitted to adult facilities small. In 2011, 771 Maryland youth were admitted to adult facilities, according to a report produced by the state's Department of Juvenile Services. Sixty-eight of these children entered jails in one of the nine counties that hold young people charged as adults in solitary confinement.
Advocacy groups have endeavored to change the law. During the now-closed 2014 legislative session in Maryland, a coalition of groups pushed for the passage of Senate Bill 757 / House Bill 1294, which would have required youth facing adult charges to be held in juvenile detention centers pre-trial. The bill failed to even pass onto the state House or Senate floor, although there is hope it may make progress next term.
Colorado passed similar legislation in 2012. Across the county, over ten states have laws on the books either requiring or permitting that young people facing charges in the adult system be held in juvenile facilities.
For Will, Luke, and the other teenage boys held at HCDC, there were only two sure ways to escape solitary confinement. The first was turning 18.
"After 7 months in T Block, I finally turned 18," Ryan wrote. "They moved me to general population. It was like Heaven! Yes, it's still jail, but it's so much better than being locked down all day. I can walk around. I can talk to my family on the phone. I can see the sun through a window. It might sound like very little to some people, but to us, it's HUGE!"
Aside from aging out, the only other way the boys could get off the tier was pleading guilty to their offenses, since convicted minors can be held in general population. Eileen Siple told Solitary Watch that at least two of the teenagers entered a plea to escape the conditions on T-Block, although this could not be independently verified.
The combination of existing state law – which mandates charging certain kids as adults – plus county-specific policies and national legislation about how to house these youth, mean that many minors across Maryland endure conditions that are significantly worse than those faced by adults. "Just because of your age and your offense, you're getting punished for something you're just accused of doing, for lengthy periods of time," Aanenson said.
For many advocates, where kids are held pending trial is just one small part of the problem. The recently proposed legislation is a "first step in the right direction," Aanenson added. "But what we ultimately need to be doing is stopping youth from being tried as adults."
Aanenson's sentiment was echoed by Amy Fettig, the Senior Staff Counsel for the American Civil Liberties Union National Prison Project. "We think the best thing to do is send these kids back to the juvenile justice system. Sometimes that requires changing the state law." In 2013, the Maryland General Assembly created a task force to examine the issue of automatic transfer.
In the meantime, however, General Eric Holder's recent comments may simply be too little too late for the many young people across the county held in solitary confinement in adult facilities – trapped by a patchwork of local, state and federal laws that recognize their vulnerability as children while simultaneously prosecuting them as adults.
"They take your personality when they put you in segregation," Ryan said. "They have everything, mentally, physically, and emotionally. They say it helps us, but it makes everything even worse. I wish that upon nobody. This is what really happens behind closed doors."
Solitary Watch encourages comments and welcomes a range of ideas, opinions, debates, and respectful disagreement. We do not allow name-calling, bullying, cursing, or personal attacks of any kind. Any embedded links should be to information relevant to the conversation. Comments that violate these guidelines will be removed, and repeat offenders will be blocked. Thank you for your cooperation.


text:
Kazakhstan in legal move to ban opposition parties and media
Kazakhstan's President Nursultan Nazarbayev speaks to the media during a celebration to mark Kazakhstan People's Unity Day in Almaty (reuters_tickers)
ALMATY (Reuters) – The Central Asian state of Kazakhstan has moved to ban two opposition movements critical of President Nursultan Nazarbayev and to close dozens of opposition media outlets for "propagating extremism".
In a step the opposition denounced as an attack on dissent in the oil-exporting former Soviet republic, prosecutors linked their request to last month's jailing of Vladimir Kozlov, leader of the unregistered Alga! or "Forward!" party.
Kozlov was sentenced to seven-and-a-half years for trying to rally workers in a failed attempt to topple the government. After his trial, the United States accused Kazakhstan of using its justice system "to silence opposition voices".
Nazarbayev, 72, has run Central Asia's most successful economy and largest oil producer for more than two decades, but has tolerated little dissent as he has pursued market reforms and attracted more than $150 billion in foreign investment.
As well as leading Alga!, Kozlov, a fierce critic of Nazarbayev, was leader of the country's unofficial Halyk Maidany, or People's Front movement, which tried to unite groups with specific grievances against the government.
He was found guilty of colluding with fugitive anti-government billionaire Mukhtar Ablyazov and of orchestrating dissent among striking oilmen in the prelude to riots last December that killed 15 people and dented Kazakhstan's reputation for stability.
Nurdaulet Suindikov, a spokesman for the prosecutor-general's office, on Wednesday accused the two opposition movements Kozlov led and various media outlets of "propagating extremism".
"Kozlov's sentence established that the activity of the unregistered Alga! and Halyk Maidany movements, as well as the activity of a number of mass media outlets, was extremist," he said.
Suindikov said prosecutors in Kazakhstan's commercial capital, Almaty, had asked a court to ban the two movements as well as the media outlets.
Suindikov said prosecutors were seeking the closure of eight newspapers and 23 Internet sites that operated under the umbrella of the Respublika publisher, as well as the Vzglyad newspaper and its Internet sites.
Kazakhstan's marginalized opposition enjoys little support among voters. The country has never held an election that Western monitors have deemed fair, but Nazarbayev is popular in the country of 17 million for presiding over relative stability.
Oksana Makushina, deputy editor-in-chief of the Golos Respubliki newspaper – part of the Respublika group – said her publication would try to get round any court order.
"They may close the paper in legal form, but given the presence of the Internet, it is hard to do so in reality," she told Reuters. "We will continue fighting, unless we are put in a prison cell next to Kozlov."
Mikhail Sizov, another leader of the Alga! party, said he believed Kozlov's imprisonment for his part in the Zhanaozen riots was the beginning of a wider campaign to destroy the entire opposition movement in Kazakhstan.
"There is virtually an undeclared war going on between Mukhtar Ablyazov and Nursultan Nazarbayev," Sizov told Reuters.
The satellite TV channel K+ and the Internet portals run by Stan TV are among the media outlets targeted by prosecutors. State TV ran a documentary this week that identified Ablyazov as the financial backer of both channels.
Baurzhan Musirov, director of Almaty-based Stan Productions, which runs the Stan.KZ portal, denied it was financed by Ablyazov.
Ablyazov has been on the run since February, when he was sentenced to 22 months in prison for contempt of court in Britain, where he had earlier received political asylum. His whereabouts are unknown.
A theoretical physics graduate who built a fortune by snapping up banking and media assets in the 1990s after the Soviet Union collapsed, Ablyazov has said he fell out with Nazarbayev after campaigning for a change of government.
He has failed to appear in a vast fraud case being heard in Britain, where his former bank, state-owned BTA, has brought nine charges against Ablyazov and his allies. In the same case, BTA has frozen assets worth around $6 billion.
Kazakh political analyst Aidos Sarym said he believed the current campaign against the opposition was aimed at presenting Ablyazov as a "home-grown Bin Laden" or Kazakh version of the late al Qaeda leader.