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Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants
Trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants are serious crimes entailing multiple violations of human rights. Trafficking in persons is the deliberate exploitation of human beings and is considered as modern slavery, taking the form of forced labour, sexual exploitation, forced marriage, prostitution, forced begging, sale of organs, bonded labour or debt bondage and the unlawful recruitment and use of child soldiers. This is a phenomenon of global concern because it affects the majority of the countries in the world. Women, children and vulnerable people are especially exposed to traffickers, who mainly prey on the weaker members of societies, including economic and climate migrants, and asylum seekers.
Trafficking in persons is frequently associated with smuggling of migrants, even though differences exist between the two phenomena. Smuggling is always a transnational crime, defined as the illegal entry (in breach of national laws of immigration) of a migrant in exchange for a financial or other material benefit. However, migrants may be exploited during the travel or after having crossed a State's border. In this way migrants can become victims of trafficking against their will (although trafficking does not necessarily imply that the victim enters another state). Another difference is that while the profit of smuggling derives from the transportation of people, profits for trafficking come from the exploitation of victims. Trafficking victims are deprived of their dignity and fundamental rights, such as liberty, personal security and, in the most severe cases, their life. Moreover, trafficking in persons is also linked to other forms of organized crime and, according to the United Nations, it is considered to be the second largest source of illicit profit after the drugs trade.
Given the hidden nature of this modern form of slavery, exact figures about it are difficult to quantify. This makes the development of effective preventive and counter strategies more challenging. Countering trafficking in persons requires a coordinated and double-pronged effort - as states must operate on both the national and transnational levels - which addresses various different aspects of the problem. States have the responsibility to protect victims and their families from unscrupulous exploiters. States have a duty to establish effective mechanisms for the identification and assistance of victims and for the investigation and prosecution of perpetrators and corrupt facilitators. But states also have the responsibility to reduce the population's general vulnerability to trafficking and smuggling—vulnerability that is mainly generated by the lack of livelihood, lack of security and the presence of violence. Lastly, States should work to counter misinformation and put in place strategies to prevent and counter the wall of shame and silence around the phenomena by building communities' resilience and facilitating employment opportunities for victims.
Over the past decade, UNICRI has been strongly involved in the implementation of various applied-research and technical assistance projects in the field of counter-trafficking in persons and child exploitation. Several programmes have been carried out in the Czech Republic, Costa Rica, Germany, Italy, Nigeria, Poland, Thailand, the Philippines, and Ukraine. In addition, UNICRI has been working on the issue of trafficking in persons in peace support operation areas since 2002.
UNICRI aims to assist Member States to prevent and prosecute trafficking and smuggling related crimes, to identify and support victims and to reduce the vulnerability of at risk populations. Activities are carried out in close cooperation with governments, international organizations and civil society organizations. UNICRI seeks and encourages the proactive participation and involvement of local communities at all levels of interventions.
In order to enhance existing mechanisms and increase the transfer of knowledge and coordination among stakeholders, in 2016 UNICRI conducted an assessment of local and international initiatives to counter trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants. The objective of the research was to identify the activities implemented in North Africa (with specific focus on Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria and Egypt) and especially those activities focusing on the needs of women and unaccompanied minors. The results showed that whilst significant resources are invested to prevent and punish perpetrators, too little is being done to provide effective protection for potential victims of trafficking and for unaccompanied or separated minors, another vulnerable segment of the population who often rely on smugglers to facilitate their journey. The study also highlighted the need to increase regional partnership - among countries of origin, transit, and destination on both sides of the Mediterranean - and enhance information sharing on regional and national rapid response mechanisms which address the challenges posed by trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants. The findings were discussed in December 2016 during a meeting with government representatives from transit and receiving countries, national and international experts, representatives from the European Union, non-governmental organizations and representatives from Italy, Greece, Spain, France, Morocco, Tunisia and Egypt.
UNICRI's strategy on countering trafficking and smuggling aims at addressing:
- The need for an increased level of knowledge on the challenges connected to the current migration movements;
- The need to build institutional capacity of Member States to effectively prevent and respond to the related traditional and emerging crimes and relevant human rights violations;
- The need for more coordinated efforts among origin, transit and destination countries.
UNICRI's action on trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants falls under the overall UNICRI strategic roadmap contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals, and in particular to the advancement of Goal 16, dedicated to justice and institutional reforms. In this respect, UNICRI has been working to support Member States in establishing and maintaining peace and security, protecting human rights, preventing criminal offences, as well as assisting in the identification of those factors that may feed into radicalization and violent extremism.
In this perspective, trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants can be addressed by diminishing the windows of opportunity offered to organized crime groups by weak institutional capabilities, which allow them to freely operate and thrive on victims' exploitation. Reducing victimization and marginalization, supporting reforms to re-establish the rule of law and promoting access to justice for the most marginalized can be essential for countering organized crime. These steps are also key for creating the conditions for sustainable development, as they increase access to resources and opportunities, fight corruption, build government's trust, protect children and promote gender empowerment.
Promoting an understanding of the migration phenomena from a criminal justice perspective can also contribute to changing the narrative on migration. Such an approach could highlight the need to promote legal and effective channels for migrants, the contribution of migrants to the economic and demographic development of receiving countries, and the underlining risks to security, political stability and democracy of growing xenophobia and racism towards migrants and refugees.


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This week, Morning Edition explores the "nones" — Americans who say they don't identify with any religion. Demographers have given them this name because when asked to identify their religion, that's their answer: "none."
In October, the Pew Research Center released a study, 'Nones' on the Rise, that takes a closer look at the 46 million people who answered none to the religion question in 2012. According to Pew, one-fifth of American adults have no religious affiliation, a trend that has for years been on the rise. (A more recent Gallup poll shows the uptick in religious nones slowed a bit from 2011 to 2012.)
In a nutshell, the group:
- comprises atheists and agnostics as well as those who ally themselves with "nothing in particular"
- includes many who say they are spiritual or religious in some way and pray every day
- overwhelmingly says they are not looking to find an organized religion that would be right for them
- is socially liberal, with three-quarters favoring same-sex marriage and legal abortion
Perhaps most striking is that one-third of Americans under 30 have no religious affiliation. When comparing this with previous generations under 30, there's a new wrinkle, says Greg Smith, a senior research at Pew.
"Young people today are not only more religiously unaffiliated than their elders; they are also more religiously unaffiliated than previous generations of young people ever have been as far back as we can tell," Smith tells NPR Morning Edition co-host David Greene. "This really is something new."
But why?
According to Harvard professor Robert Putnam, who writes about religion, this young generation has been distancing itself from community institutions and from institutions in general.
"They're the same people who are also not joining the Elks Club or the Rotary Club," Putnam tells Greene. "I don't mean to be casting that as a critique of them, but this same younger generation is much less involved in many of the main institutions of our society than previous younger generations were."
The trend, Putnam says, is borne out of rebellion of sorts.
"It begins to jump at around 1990," he says. "These were the kids who were coming of age in the America of the culture wars, in the America in which religion publicly became associated with a particular brand of politics, and so I think the single most important reason for the rise of the unknowns is that combination of the younger people moving to the left on social issues and the most visible religious leaders moving to the right on that same issue."
And the rise of the nones has had a significant political impact. As NPR's Liz Halloran detailed last month, the voting nones helped give President Obama a second-term victory and have become, as Smith says in the story, a "very important, politically consequential group." Halloran writes:
So far, the trend has not translated to more nones in Congress, according to Pew. Only one member of the new Congress — Democrat Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona — identifies as a none. Democrat Pete Stark had been Congress' sole atheist, but he was defeated in November.
Still, religion still rules in America, as Putnam tells Greene.
"Even with these recent changes the American religious commitments are incredibly stronger than in most other advanced countries in the world," Putnam says. "The average American is slightly more religious than the average Iranian, so we are a very religious country even today."
Check back later, and we'll add audio to the top of this post when it is available. Click here to find a station to hear Monday's interview and the rest of Morning Edition's Losing Our Religion series.
Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.


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Information Possibly Outdated
The information presented on this page was originally released on August 11, 2017. It may not be outdated, but please search our site for more current information. If you plan to quote or reference this information in a publication, please check with the Extension specialist or author before proceeding.
Citizen scientists help local wildlife and communities
RAYMOND, Miss. -- Funding and manpower are cited as the most common limiting factors in conducting research, especially for wildlife and fisheries studies, which can cover huge areas, involve secretive animals and collect large quantities of information.
To combat these challenges, scientists have reached out to everyday citizens interested in science, the natural world and community service. These volunteer citizens receive specialized training for the particular research task at hand. In some cases, volunteers are recruited to assist on a project because they already possess a skill such as bird identification. Volunteers and natural resource professionals then work as a team to implement the project.
Citizen scientists contribute to science in many ways by collecting data, assisting in the field, leading educational programs and more.
A great example is the Christmas Bird Count run by the National Audubon Society. For more than 100 years, citizen birdwatchers have assembled in groups across the country on a day in December to count all birds seen in a given area. Results are compiled and submitted to a centralized database for bird researchers to analyze for population trends and other bird-related questions.
This type of citizen-science monitoring project enhances scientists' ability to keep tabs on wildlife populations and saves taxpayers money. Meanwhile, volunteers learn new skills, have fun outside and contribute to conserving wildlife and fish in their communities.
A more in-depth citizen science opportunity available to Mississippians is the Mississippi Master Naturalist Program. This adult volunteer certification program consists of a nine-week -- one day per week -- training program in various locations around the state. Natural resource professionals provide an introduction to Mississippi's natural environment, including ecology, mammals, fish, birds, plants and insects.
Training takes place in the classroom, the laboratory and the field. Field trips include visits to Mississippi's popular habitats like the Mississippi River, coastal estuaries, piney woods, bottomland forests and much more. Students learn field identification and sampling techniques and experience Mississippi's wild places firsthand.
After the nine-week course, participants volunteer at least 40 hours as citizen scientists in their communities over the next year to fulfill the final requirement of becoming a Certified Master Naturalist.
Past attendees have participated in bird and amphibian monitoring programs, analyzed museum records and specimens, assisted conservation organizations with wildlife habitat projects, conducted education activities, and led management projects such as nature trail repair and maintenance on public lands.
Becoming a Certified Master Naturalist or citizen science volunteer can be very rewarding. It is also crucial to conserving Mississippi's fish and wildlife for the future.
The next Master Naturalist Training program will begin Sept. 7. Registration is still open. For more information about the Mississippi Master Naturalist Program, call 228-546-1025 or go to the program's website http://masternaturalist.extension.msstate.edu/.
Editor's Note: Extension Outdoors is a column authored by several different experts in the Mississippi State University Extension Service.


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WATCH: Would you perform CPR on someone who'd had a heart attack?
The study also shows those who have been trained in CPR are three times more likely to perform it.
Simon Gillespie, British Heart Foundation CEO, said: "CPR may be the difference between life and death for hundreds of people every year in the South East who suffer a cardiac arrest.
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide Ad"Every second counts, and it simply isn't enough to hope that someone who knows CPR is present.
"We need everyone in the South East to learn this life-saving skill to give them the confidence to step in and give CPR when someone collapses after a cardiac arrest.
"That's why we are urging secondary schools across the UK to apply for our free training kits and help create a 'Nation of Lifesavers'."
The British Heart Foundation released its findings as a warning the lack of public knowledge of CPR could be costing lives.
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdAccording to its statistics, only 44 per cent of people would feel confident giving CPR to a stranger.
By contrast, 76 per cent of people would offer a stranger a seat on the bus, and 84 per cent would give directions to a stranger, the British Heart Foundation's survey showed.
The percentage of people able to identify the two signs of a cardiac arrest- someone is not breathing or not breathing normally, has collapsed or is unresponsive - was 21 per cent in the South East.
The main reasons for reluctance to step in were fear of causing more harm than good (49 per cent) and lacking the skills and knowledge to perform CPR (38 per cent).
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdThe charity warned the benefits of performing CPR far outweigh the risks, saying survival rates are almost zero if people collapse and get no support until paramedics arrive.
According to the British Heart Foundation, there are more than 30,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests every year in the UK.
A spokesperson for the charity said: "Devastatingly, less than one in 10 people survive. Every minute without CPR or defibrillation can reduce a person's chance of surviving a cardiac arrest by around ten per cent."
The British Heart Foundation's report says if survival rates matched those reported in Norway, where CPR is taught more widely, as many as 5,000 lives could be saved per year.
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdNew research from the University of Warwick finds those who have been trained in CPR are three times more likely to perform it.
The figures were released today on Restart a Heart Day on October 16, an annual day to increase awareness of the importance of CPR.
Together with the Resuscitation Council, St John Ambulance, British Red Cross, the NHS ambulance service and Fire & Rescue services, the British Heart Foundation worked to train more than 150,000 young people across the UK in CPR.
According to the British Heart Foundation, the event was the largest ever CPR training event of its kind.
To help the British Heart Foundation create a 'Nation of Lifesavers', or find out how you can teach CPR in your school, workplace or community group visit bhf.org.uk/cpr.


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The Vietri Forma Cloud Rectangular Platteris unique and authentic, like the earth from which it is born. Handformed in Veneto. Made in Italy.
CARE: Dishwasher safe - when using a non-citrus, non-abrasive detergent on the low heat setting, air dry cycle, and not overloading the dishwasher. Hand washing is recommended for over-sized items. Microwave safe - The temperature of stoneware items may vary after microwave use. We recommend using an oven mitt when removing from the microwave. Oven safe - Bakeware can be used in most conventional ovens. They are made of very dense clay and fired at extremely high temperatures, making them heat resistant to 400 °F. Do not use casserole lids in the oven. Freezer safe - Items can withstand freezing temperatures, but please allow them to return to room temperature before putting them into the oven.
Need help with choosing Dinnerware? View our helpful Dinnerware Resource Guide
As a Vietri Partner Store, Yvonne Estelle's carries a large in-stock selection of Vietri dinnerware. Can't come to our store? ... then call us at (847) 518-1232 and we'll be happy to assist you over the phone.
Like what you see? Want to see more?
♥ View our entire Vietri Collection


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Who could read this without crying? Imagine yourself in the place of any one of these dogs. Beloved dogs… suffering… restrained from running and playing and working… full of love and ready to give…
Dogs Rescue Prayer
Sent to me by Lynne Deal
Once I was a lonely dog,
Just looking for a home.
I had no place to go,
No one to call my own.
I wandered up and down the street,
In rain in heat and snow.
I ate what ever I could find,
I was always on the go.
My skin would itch, my feet were sore,
My body ached with pain.
And no one stopped to give a pat
Or a gently say my name.
I never saw a loving glance,
I was always on the run.
For people thought that hurting me
Was really lots of fun.
And then one day I heard a voice
So gentle, kind and sweet,
And arms so soft reached down to me
And took me off my feet.
"No one again will hurt you"
Was whispered in my ear.
"You'll have a home to call your own
Where you will know no fear."
"You will be dry,
you will be warm,
You'll have enough to eat"
"And rest assured that when you sleep,
Your dreams will all be sweet."
I was afraid I must admit,
I've lived so long in fear.
I can't remember when I let
A human come so near.
And as she tended to my wounds
And bathed and brushed my fur
She told me bout the Rescue Group
And what it meant to her.
She said, "We are a circle,
A line that never ends."
"And in the center there is YOU
Protected by new friends."
"And all around you are
The ones that check the pounds,
And those that share their home
After you've been found."
"And all the other folk
Are searching near and far.
To find the perfect home for you,
Where you can be a star."
She said, "There is a family,
That's waiting patiently,
And pretty soon we'll find them,
Just you wait and see."
"And then they'll join our circle
They'll help to make it grow,
So there'll be room for more like you,
Who have no place to go."
I waited very patiently,
The days they came and went.
Today's the day I thought,
My family will be sent.
Then just when I began to think
It wasn't meant to be,
There were people standing there
Just gazing down at me.
I knew them in a heartbeat,
I could tell they felt it too.
They said, "We have been waiting
For a special dog like you."
Now every night I say a prayer
To all the gods that be.
"Thank you for the life I live
And all you've given me.
But most of all protect the dogs
In the pound and on the street.
And send a Rescue Person
To lift them off their feet"
author, unknown
Woah Nellie, Jetta (Zondra), McQueen, McQueen, Stallone, Tim Tebow, McQueen
Woah Nellie, Jetta (Zondra), McQueen, McQueen, Stallone, Tim Tebow, McQueen


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Joe Vollan has a distinct and eerie style he calls doom folk art. His works describe tales of heartache and adventure. The bulk of his paintings take place in the city of Rusted Gallows, a post apocalyptic, rundown factory town populated by secret skeleton societies and strange but friendly creatures. The characters in his works demonstrate that there can be contentment and hope in an otherwise dilapidated world.
Get sneak previews and exclusive discounts on all new artwork.


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"Toward Diversity! FOSS4G Bigbang in Seoul!!"
Seoul (South Korea) selected to host the international conference for "Free & Open Source Software for Geospatial" (FOSS4G).
Monday, 19 May
The OSGeo Korean Chapter is pleased to announce that we have been selected to host the FOSS4G international conference. The conference will be hosted in Seoul in September, and is expected to attract the leading developers, users and business people in the open source geospatial community from Asia and all over the world.
Holding the FOSS4G conference, the biggest open source GIS event in the world, for the first time in the Asia will bring countless benefits to the region and provide geospatial communities, local businesses, and wider society with a great opportunity to learn about the potential of open source geospatial technologies.
Sanghee Shin, CEO at Gaia3D and Representative of OSGeo Korean Chapter explained his motivations for leading Seoul's bid to make Seoul the starting point of a FOSS4G big bang extending the FOSS4G throughout the region via this conference. He said, "When I tried to introduce Open Source GIS to South Korea in, no one was willing to listen to my opinions. However five years later, the Korean government has recently launched a bid for an Open Source GIS R&D project with a budget of USD 9.5m. This means that that Open Source GIS is set to become a key part of the GIS landscape in South Korea. I'm absolutely sure that FOSS4G will ignite and strengthen this trend."
The OSGeo Korean chapter has organised a FOSS4G Korea event each year since with attendance growing year on year. FOSS4G Korea events run alongside Smart Geo Expo, the biggest geospatial event in South Korea attracting many people from Government, universities, institutes and industry; these delegates also had the opportunity to attend the FOSS4G Korea conference.
In support of a successful FOSS4G conference, KSIS (Korea Spatial Information Society), the academic society with members of geospatial professional, researchers, students, and policy makers regarding geospatial field, will closely cooperate with OSGeo Korean Chapter. Additionally, KAOS-G (Koeran Alliance OpenSource for Geospatial), an alliance of open source GIS companies in South Korea has committed to actively helping OSGeo and KSIS deliver the FOSS4G event.
The Local Organising Committee (LOC) for FOSS4G looks forward to the FOSS4G Seoul conference increasing awareness and usage of Open Source GIS in South Korea, throughout Asia and of course to the rest of the world where it is already being used.
About OSGeo
The Open Source Geospatial Foundation has been created to support and build the highest-quality open source geospatial software. The foundation's goal is to encourage the use and collaborative development of community-led projects, data development and education.
About OSGeo Korean Chapter
The OSGeo Korean Chapter applies OSGeo principles locally. In particular, we focus on promotion and outreach in Korea.
About FOSS4G
FOSS4G is the annual international conference on Open Source geospatial software. From its beginning the FOSS4G conference has been the gathering of the spatial tribes and has a reputation of being a melting pot for great ideas in the spatial industry and a catalyst for many successful geospatial products, standards and protocols. In the conference will be hosted in Portland, USA, the conference was held in Nottingham, United Kingdom and was a huge success. FOSS4G Seoul will be the eleventh "formal" gathering of the Open Source geospatial community. will be a key year for South Korea and Asia, and FOSS4G will be the best place to see the Free and Open Source (FOSS) way to make an SDI work.


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Harrows Darts are well established as one of the most respected and high-profile brands in the darts world. The company started trading from a small shop in Enfield, North London back in 1973, and fast forward 50 years now has over 800 products and distributes to more than 100 countries around the world.
Now based in Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire, the brand boasts worldwide appeal amongst darts fans with their impressive range of high-quality products. The Harrows Pro Matchplay Dartboard is a popular choice for players as it features ultra thin wiring and is made of high density Sisal to strengthen its longevity during play.
In 1985, the Harrows brand drew worldwide headlines when they signed the five-time world champion Eric Bristow to their roster of players. The contract was signed live on national terrestrial television in the UK and at the time was regarded as the most lucrative darts player sponsorship deal of all time. 'The Crafty Cockney' pocketed a cool £250,000 as part of the deal which instantly increased the profile of Harrows. Several of the current top professional players are sponsored by Harrows including 2022 PDC World Cup of Darts winner Damon Heta and multiple time major finalist Dave Chisnall.
Since 1985, Harrows Darts has adopted the slogan "Darts Technology" – a line used to illustrate the brand's dedication to creating technically innovative products to help improve player performance. The Harrows Supergrip Darts are one example with this particular set of darts offering unrivalled grip for players that seek extra grip on the barrels.
Harrows Darts are manufactured in the company's purpose-built factories in Hoddesdon, with state of the art production equipment used as part of the precision machining and laser marking processes to make the darts.
The Harrows dart shirts range includes various eye-catching designs that have all been crafted from lightweight and breathable materials. Many of these shirts can also be personalized to have the text of your choice on the shirt!
Another best seller is our Harrows dart cases collection which includes top-of-the-range cases and wallets to help protect your darts. We also carry a wide range of Harrows dart flights and Harrows dart shafts to customize your darts set up.
You will often see Harrows Darts being used in the biggest tournaments on television with Damon Heta and Dave Chisnall two of the top professional players who are signed by the brand.
Dave Chisnall signed up with Harrows in 2019 and the partnership has helped him continue to be one of the leading players in the PDC. 'Chizzy' used his own signature darts from Harrows when he added to his haul of senior titles with victories in the 2022 Belgian Darts Open, 2023 Baltic Sea Darts Open, 2023 German Darts Championship and 2023 Dutch Darts Championship.
Damon Heta joined Harrows in 2020 and has gone on to become Australia's number one player and reach the top 16 in the PDC world rankings. 'The Heat' used his signature Harrows darts when he won the 2022 PDC World Cup of Darts alongside Simon Whitlock, and also when he claimed victory in the 2022 Gibraltar Darts Trophy.
Got a question about our collection of Harrows Darts products? Speak to our customer services team by using our contact us page. Our team of experts will be able to offer some guidance if you have any concerns about delivery or returns. Take a look at our entire darts range to browse through all of the darts brands we carry at Darts Corner.
The majority of orders leave us within 24 hours.
Items purchased over a weekend, UK bank holiday, or Friday after 3pm, will leave on Monday.
Personalized items take an additional 2-6 days to complete.
If you have chosen Fast Track, we take every effort to ensure your items leave the same day if ordered before 3pm (Monday-Friday), however this is not possible on weekends and Bank Holidays. Fast Track is NOT applicable to personalized items as these take an additional 2-6 days to complete.
We offer free shipping for mainland US orders over $85 and mainland Canadian Orders over $115 CAD. Orders will be sent using FedEx Economy (a 3–6 business day tracked service).
For orders that qualify for free shipping, customers can opt to pay an upgrade to have their orders sent using FedEx Priority (a 2-3 business day tracked service). This upgrade cost is $9.95 for US orders and $13.95 CAD for Canadian orders.
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All customers will receive a tracking number for orders once dispatched.
We do our utmost to complete all orders fully and may from time to time substitute an out of stock product with a similar item or duplicate items already purchased to avoid any delays in shipping. If the darts you have ordered are out of stock - we will notify you and give you an estimated time of when they are due in.
When we ship any orders to countries outside of the EU - we do not charge our local tax (VAT). However, you are liable to pay any local import duties when taking receipt of the delivery.
Orders that include personalized items will not be dispatched until the personalized items are finished, unless by prior arrangement. Personalized items can take an additional 2-6 days to complete, and occasionally slightly longer during the busy season (Oct-Feb).
Any personalized item(s) (flights, shafts, surrounds, clothing etc) cannot be returned for a refund or exchange unless faulty. This does not affect your statutory rights.
Any items which are returned for refund or exchange must be received back at our mail order department within 30 days of dispatch, in a new and unused condition and with original packing intact, along with any receipts.
We strongly recommend you use a recorded/insured shipping service as we regret that we cannot be held responsible for goods lost in transit. Please note that if you require goods to be sent out in exchange, we do make a further carriage charge, which will be communicated to you on exchange prior to being dispatched.
Any refund will be made in the tender type originally transacted.
We make every effort to ensure you receive your fabulous darts products in a pristine condition. However, on occasion some items do get damaged in transit or have a manufacturing defect.
If this happens to you, please get in touch with us and we will either refund you or replace your products free of charge. We may ask you to send photographic evidence to support any claims we may have against product manufacturers or service providers.
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Thursday, September 09, 2010
On blackness...
40 comments:
- libhom said...
I found out about your blog because a coworker heard you on NPR a while back. Your commenter sounds a bit out of touch.
- The Roving Reporter said...
That...was AWESOME! If she comes back and post some ridiculous comment again, you should go off on her ass.
You may not express yourself in "standard form," but who cares? It's your voice, your blog, and none of her damn business. I, for one, enjoy reading your ideas and the way you express them, so keep it up!
- Judy Jeute said...
Wow! And I thought I was the village idiot-ha! I got replaced very quickly, and not through ignorance, what a shame.
- Peterr said...
But how do you really feel, Shark-fu?
The "if you don't fit my vision of reality, you must be a fraud" mentality is a wonder to behold, isn't it? - 8:30 AM
- Tina Cooney said...
Well said! I cannot believe the idiocy of ignorant people these days. Not really black? This judgmental comment begs me to wonder: Is anyone "really" black these days? Everyone is putting on a show to "prove" how "black" they are. The truth is being a black snob or a white snob is a superficial act to make yourself feel special. These snobs show their self-delusional insecurity whenever they try to pigeon-hole someone.
I like to see a person cut through the crap and show me the real you. I see the Shark-Fu, no matter what race you are on this blog, and it's refreshing! I also love your newly coined term "assholia" I'm still laughing at your rant. Thanks for letting us get to know the authentic angryblackbitch!!
Tina Cooney - tweet @yoniyama - 8:33 AM
But Little Sister.... you like hockey! You can't be black!
(whoops of laughter) - 9:11 AM
- Brian said...
I love it. :)
You should rant more often. - 9:17 AM
- QueenBee said...
You know last month when you posted, "Pondering the outbreak of people making absolute statements about black people…" I thought, good post, but hell, black people think we're monolithic too. And these comments by blk bitch2 prove it. All my life, my realness/blackness has been questioned because I am not "down" with certain actions or thought processes.
I love the line, "but do not confuse your dislike of my blog with my somehow not being black." You might not like what I do or how I do it, but it does NOT take away from who I am...
I love your blog and look forward to reading it daily. Keep up the good work! - 9:24 AM
- Jonzee said...
Let the church say...amen!
- BreukelensFinest said...
i love how people still think there is a standard of blackness and that there is one specific mold for what it means to be black. its a shame that she has decided not to keep following because I'm sure if she did she would have her infantile notions of race checked
smfuckinh. keep duin wut u do.
missdeeplyrooted.blogspot.com - 9:51 AM
- Leslie said...
I think I am forever in love with this blog now
A black woman that does not sound like a black woman AT ALL... - 10:07 AM
Would you mind telling us exactly HOW a black woman sounds?
IMO, your comment is not that different from blackbitch2's comment.
- Curious black woman - 10:44 AM
- Jo Moore said...
I guess it's never too late to sat thank you.
Your honesty about your hockey jones has allowed me to finally kick open my closet door and loudly proclaim "I'M A BLACK WOMAN WHO LOVES HOCKEY!"
We ain't on the same side of the ice...because I'm a Blackhawks fan...But lawdy, lawdy...we free....free at last....thank gawd a mighty...free at last...."
btw....blkbitch2 can kiss the butterscotch off my ass, too.... - 10:51 AM
G'on wit yo black se'f!
I not only don't like Tyler Perry, I'm kinda meh, about Beyonce too. And many other things that would otherwise 'peg' me as black. Having grown up in upper middle class Silicon Valley as the only black kid in my class before High School, yeah. Believe it or not folks, all blacks do not have the same experience. Regardless of what you may think. I have been known to watch a little San Jose Sharks hockey myself! Need to get to the 'tank' this sesason!
So, Blkbitch2. You can suck it.
Leave Angry Black Bitch alone!!!
(Man there are a lot of us out there, huh??) - 11:07 AM
I am a white dude, but as a crippled-fag I have lots of black friends of all kinds. And let me say this. I hate anyone, regardless of color, who adheres to a stereotype. I have no patience for whiny cripples or effeminate, flouncy, disco-loving gays who insist everyone else in the community needs to be like them.
Moreover, Black people can do anything they want to do- there have been black doctors, black opera singers, black scientists and even a damn-well black President! Of course, they'll probably have to work twice as hard to get there, but that's a different kettle of fish. I make it my mission to crack open all stereotypes and I respect others who do the same. My fave professor in undergrad was an intelligent-as-hell black woman who had strong, correct diction, wore fabulous outfits, was fluent in Arabic, and married to an Italian.
So stick it to em Pam. If I may be so bold.. You Go Girl! Be yourself Shark-fu. We will always love you for who you are, not WHAT you are. I always say I am a man who is gay, not a gay man; my gayness is secondary to my personality and can be defined any damn well way I choose to define it, it's not my entire personality at ALL.
P.S. I miss Soul Food cooked by my black woman friends!! I cannot get any good soul food in this town... too full of honkies wanting to be all "healthy" and shit. I mean, I care about my health as much as the next person, but a meal of fried food every once in a while ain't gonna kill a bitch, ya feel me? LOL. - 11:19 AM
- Shark-Fu said...
Hey Mark - where do you live? I may have a suggestion or 2. Also, I've found some healthy soul food recipes...they still taste good as long as I don't concentrate on the fact that they are healthy (wink).
I get ever more tired of the weasel-words folks use when they want to say something vile but don't want to be held responsible for what they say. "Don't mean any disrespect" my fat cracker ass.
- Friðvin said...
oh you gave me a good smile today!
Especially the part about having your Black Card cut up.
I like the way you write because it's not unlike how I think when I'm just speaking in my head. (Or after a few drinks...out loud.) - 12:45 PM
oh well ..
I'm a black woman, who thinks beyonce is a marketing genius and a damn good entertainer, loves rap music, doesn't care for hockey at all, is a cyclist, loves soul food, is a geek by trade and soul + supports your right to enjoy hockey :)
but simply can't stand some of the comments here which seem to thumb their nostrils at what some black people are stereotypically aligned with... whilst complaining about being stereotyped.
It seems many of us buy into the exact same stereotypes which are being peddled by blackbitch2.
Beyonce would not be the international super star she is, if wasn't embraced by a lot of white people.. how does liking beyonce peg anyone as 'black'... what nonsense.
Geez, even angry black bitch didn't start denouncing any 'attributes' of blackness in order to elevate herself or her interests.
We are not as unique as we think, not liking beyonce doesn't add a notch to your 'I'm not stereotypically black'
I wish to God, some of us black folk would stop doing this.... - 1:26 PM
Hmph. I keep questioning the blackness of this hockey shit myself. But do I get a whole post? No.
*pouts* - 1:41 PM
- Shark-Fu said...
Just you wait, Ms. Delux! Once the season starts back up I'm gonna tackle that mess.
I keep telling you - hockey is for EVERYONE!! - 1:56 PM
Lawd-a-mercy I done made you mad!
*channels Florence from The Jeffersons* - 2:12 PM
- CeCe said...
I'm so sick of people judging how other people should be. Thanks for highlighting this and making a fuss about it!
How can black people be as misinformed as other races that we come in different shades, opinions, and vocabularies!!! - 2:52 PM
- Tezcatlipoca said...
Great Rant! Haven't gone off myself since my doc put me on bp meds. I cracked up at myself last week when I listened to the NPR link. Your voice was a bit different in pitch than what I had as a preconception. *gives self an NCIS Jethro head bop*
The puck gets dropped soon. Go Wings! ;p - 4:13 PM
I'm a black man from Compton who went to boarding school for high school then on to a small liberal arts college here in CA. I've battled this for years. I don't speak "black" and don't "think" black from what I've been told. The running joke has been that even though I'm from Compton my "Ghetto Card" is strictly honorary.
Just as black people come in a range of shades, so do our personalities, our likes, dislikes, manners of speech and interests. Other black people who attempt to pigeonhole us are as guilty as white people are shocked to meet "an articulate" black person.
Do you, as I'm sure you will continue to do, and let them do them. Least that's how I roll. . .. - 4:28 PM
Hi Shark-fu! I live in Madison, Wisconsin. If you have some tips for me, that'd be great.. I really need to score some soul food! Apparently we had some very good soulfood restaurants here a few years ago, but they all closed.. I am hunting for some though. Haha
- dinthebeast said...
When the subject at hand fails to fit my view, I always seem to have better luck trying to expand my view than trying to narrow the subject...
Just sayin'...
-Doug in Oakland - 1:30 AM
Dear Beautiful and Eloquent ABB,
Thank You for what you write, the way you write. You write YOU. And that's all that matters. - 4:15 AM
- Shark-Fu said...
Thanks to everyone for comments and for this discussion!
- Shark-Fu said...
I haven't eaten at these spots...but have you tried Doug's Soul Food Cafe?
I love Madison - Sister C-Money was born there! - 5:43 AM
Damn it felt good reading that righteous rant in response to the knucklehead who actually questioned your blackness (you know that is seriously weird).
So from one sistah who will never be put in a "how you s'pose to sound" box to another:
Brava! - 7:25 PM
- SouthlandDiva said...
Not black? Did she not SEE the pics C-Money posted on this very site when she blogged about y'all going to the Bon Jovi concert?(Saw him back in the day, early 90's, in here in Mississippi no less!)
To think, just when the universe provides her an opportunity to expand her perceptions, she resolutely slams the door!
Peace - 9:37 PM
- Museling said...
This white girl tips her stick straight hair to your afro. You go, girl.
- Jeffrey Ricker said...
I do love it when A Bitch leaves teeth marks. A fluff of my buzz cut for your rant.
- Jaelithe said...
I am here to testify: I have seen the Angry Bitch, and she is truly black. Also, really a woman.
(However, I regret to reveal that she is not, in fact, a bitch, at least, not in the derogatory sense of the term. Maybe in the Tina Fey "Bitches get shit done" sense, though. And she's not even angry all the time. She's really pleasant in person, actually. Sorry if I've ruined anyone's illusions, there.) - 9:37 AM
- EAMD said...
Well, I don't mean any disrespect, but are you really angry, and are you also really a bitch? Reading a few of your blogs, we don't always have the exact same opinion on everything. I don't mean to offend, but I am angry and a bitch, and I don't know how it can be possible that you are also angry and a bitch when my way of being angry and bitchy is the only way real angry bitches act (assholia?...really?).
I love what you write because it is you and wonderfully you, that is all, keep up the bitchitude!
-david- - 11:13 AM
I hadn't even noticed there was no pic until the lady said something. I then googled you and found an interview you gave with Weber Shandwick. You sound and look like my old colleague (google Billie Johnson at the University of Cincinnati.) I know it's said that all blacks look alike... No the hell we don't, but you two do. I'm impressed that you even bothered to respond. Those old black stereotypes still rearing their ugly ass heads! "How's is I'se spozed to sound ma'am?" You get much respect from me because, in addition to being a black feminist, outspoken and well reasoned, you can't stand Tyler Perry's misogynistic ass!( That is a post in and of itself!) Kudos sistuh.
- Kristin said...
Thank God for you and your words. I wish I could express myself the way you do when faced with assholias in person, but instead my brain is on overload just trying to keep my arms at my sides to resist from swinging.
I can't always read your blog in real time because my life is on ten, but I have days when I can slow down, and I tune in to regain my sanity as you offer clarity in a pool of mud, mental refuge in a world gone mad.
Rock on, fight on, and keep on fluffing your afro! Those who don't get you, chose to remain asleep.
Peace to you and ALL that you do! - 8:37 PM
The Gumdrop Stage of Grief ...
So many of you have shared condolences and support after the death of my beloved brother Bill from COVID-19. I wish I could thank you indiv...
I was slightly illish this weekend and took to my bed Saturday, but I did rally for Brother Rob Thurman's fantabulous cookie decorating part...
Okay, so most of you know that this bitch has some evil assed fibroids . Most of them were successfully murdered with full premeditation se...
So many of you have shared condolences and support after the death of my beloved brother Bill from COVID-19. I wish I could thank you indiv...


text:
Playing their second straight game without injured center Ryan Getzlaf, the Ducks' offense didn't suffer nearly as much as their defense in Dallas.
Loui Eriksson's hat trick, including a short-handed goal that opened the scoring, sent the Ducks to their third loss in their last four games. Eriksson's second goal was the back-breaker — draped by Sheldon Brookbank, he flung a one-handed shot weakly between the legs of Jonas Hiller that somehow eldued the Ducks' goalie at 6:19 of the second period.
Exactly 30 seconds after that goal tied it at 2, Stephane Robidas' point shot angled in off the stick of Ducks defenseman Nick Boynton, and the Stars would not trail again.
Saku Koivu scored twice, and Dan Sexton added a pair of assists, in a losing effort for the Ducks. Mike Brown scored his career-high fifth goal for the Ducks, who got 37 saves from Hiller.
Forward Todd Marchant left the game midway through the second period and did not return.


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Really excited to hear that I'm a Semi-Finalist in the renowned International Songwriting Competition with 'Courage' a song I wrote and performed beautifully by Breeze Redwine. It's judged by artists such as Bastille, Lorde, Donovan, Chris Cornell, Ziggy Marley, Tom Waits, Keane, Ryan Bingham and Rickie Lee Jones while previous winners include Passenger, Bastille, Kimbra and Vance Joy. Wow!
New videos, playing Sam Outlaw's 'Country Love Song'
'Doomsday' by Ryan Adams. Also my recent live review of his intimate Rough Trade gig has been added to Songwriting Magazine.
Also playing one of my favourite songs, Neil Young's lovely 'Tell Me Why' from the wonderful 'After the Goldrush'


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To put it simply, a vast swath of the Eurasian landmass (understood to be Europe and Asia together) is in political, military and economic disarray. Europe and China are struggling with the consequences of the 2008 crisis, which left not only economic but institutional challenges. Russia is undergoing a geopolitical crisis in Ukraine and an economic problem at home. The Arab world, from the Levant to Iran, from the Turkish border through the Arabian Peninsula, is embroiled in politically destabilizing warfare. The Western Hemisphere is relatively stable, as is the Asian Archipelago. But Eurasia is destabilizing in multiple dimensions.
We can do an infinite regression to try to understand the cause, but let's begin with the last systemic shift the world experienced: the end of the Cold War.
The Repercussions of the Soviet Collapse
The Cold War was a frozen conflict in one sense: The Soviet Union was contained in a line running from the North Cape of Norway to Pakistan. There was some movement, but relatively little. When the Soviet Union fell, two important things happened. First, a massive devolution occurred, freeing some formally independent states from domination by the Soviets and creating independent states within the former Soviet Union. As a result, a potentially unstable belt emerged between the Baltic and Black seas.
Meanwhile, along the southwestern border of the former Soviet Union, the demarcation line of the Cold War that generally cut through the Islamic world disappeared. Countries that were locked into place by the Cold War suddenly were able to move, and internal forces were set into motion that would, in due course, challenge the nation-states created after World War I and the fall of the Ottoman Empire that had been frozen by the Cold War.
Two emblematic events immediately occurred. In 1990, even before the collapse of the Soviet Union was complete, Iraq invaded Kuwait and seemed to threaten Saudi Arabia. This followed an extended war with Iran from which Iraq emerged in a more favourable position than Tehran, and Baghdad seemed to be claiming Kuwait as its prize. The United States mobilized not only its Cold War coalition, but also states from the former Soviet bloc and the Arab world, to reverse this. The unintended consequence was to focus at least some Sunnis both on the possibilities created by the end of the Cold War and on the American role as regional hegemon, which in turn led to 9/11 and is still being played out now, both to the south and north of the old Cold War dividing line.
The second event was the breakup of Yugoslavia and the Serbian-Croatian-Bosnian war that left about 100,000 people dead. It was a war of old grudges and new fears. It seemed to represent a unique situation that was not applicable to the rest of the region, but it in fact defined the new world system in two ways. First, Yugoslavia was the southern extension of the borderland between the Soviet Union and Western Europe. What happened in Yugoslavia raised questions that most people ignored, about what the long-term reality in this borderland would be. Second, among other things, the war centered on an east-west schism between Christians and Muslims, and the worst of the bloodletting occurred in this context. The United States and NATO interceded in Kosovo against Serbia despite Russian protests, and Moscow was ultimately sidelined from the peacekeeping mission that defused the war. The explosion in the Balkans foreshadowed much of what was to come later.
While Russia weakened and declined, the two ends of Eurasia flourished. The decade following the collapse of the Soviet Union and the reunification of Germany ushered in a period of significant prosperity that had two results. The European Union, created through the Maastricht Treaty the same year the Soviet Union disintegrated, expanded its influence eastward into the former Soviet sphere and southward, incorporating disparate states whose differences were hidden by the prosperous period. And China, after the end of the Japanese economic miracle, became the global low-wage, high-growth country, powered by the appetite for its exports in prosperous Europe and North America.
The forces at work in Eurasia were hidden. The fragility of peripheral nations in Europe relative to German economic power was not fully visible. The cyclical nature of China's growth, similar in many ways to the dynamics of Japan in the previous generation, was also invisible. The consequences of the end of the Cold War Islamic world, the forces that were unleashed beneath the surface and the fragility of the states that were containing them were hidden beneath the illusion of American power after the victory in Kuwait. Only in Russia was weakness visible, and one of two erroneous conclusions was reached: Either Russia was permanently impotent, or its misery would cause it to evolve into a liberal democracy. All seemed right with Eurasia.
Signs of Destabilization
The first indication of trouble was, of course, 9/11. It was the American attack that was critical. Drawing on the recollection of Desert Storm, it was assumed that American power could reshape the Islamic world at will. All power has limits, but the limits of American power were not visible until later in the 2000s. At that point two other events intervened. The first was the re-emergence of Russia as at least a regional power when it invaded Georgia in 2008. The other was, of course, the financial crisis. Both combined to define the current situation.
The financial crisis transformed Chinese behaviour. Although China was already reaching the end of its economic cycle, the decline in appetites for Chinese exports changed the dynamic of China's economy. Not only did the decline suppress growth, but Beijing's attempts to shift growth to domestic consumption created inflation that made its exports even less competitive. The result was a political crisis as the Chinese government became increasingly concerned about instability and therefore increasingly oppressive in an attempt to control the situation.
At the other end of Eurasia, the differences between the interests of Germany - Europe's major exporter - and those of Southern Europe's developing economies exposed the underlying contradiction in the European Union. Germany had to export. The weaker countries had to develop their economies. The two collided first in the sovereign debt crisis, and again in the austerity policies imposed on Southern Europe and the resulting economic crisis. As a result, Europe became increasingly fragmented.
In a reversal of roles, Russia took advantage of the fragmentation of Europe, using its status as a natural gas supplier to shape Europe's policies toward Russia. Russia was no longer the cripple of Europe but a significant regional power, influencing events not only on the Continent but also in the Middle East.
It was at this point that Russia encountered the United States. The United States has an elective relationship with the rest of the world. Except when a regional hegemon is trying to dominate Europe, the United States limits its global exposure. It exports relatively little, and almost half of what it does export goes to Canada and Mexico. But as Russia became more assertive, and particularly as it tried to recoup its losses after the fall of the Ukrainian government and the ensuing installation of a pro-Western government, the United States began to increase its focus on Ukraine and the borderlands between Europe and Russia.
At the same time that Washington felt it had to respond to Russia, the United States sought to minimize its exposure in the Middle East. Recognizing the limits of its power, the United States came to see the four indigenous powers in the region - Turkey, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Israel - as bearing the primary responsibility for regional stability and as counterbalances to each other's power.
The Current State of Play
This brings us to the contemporary world. There is general economic malaise around the globe. That malaise has forced China to control social forces by repression. It has created an existential crisis in Europe that goes far beyond Greece but is being acted out in a Greek-German relationship. The Russians have reached for regional power but have fallen short, for the moment. The nation-states of the Middle East are fraying, and the four major powers are manoeuvring in various ways to contain the situation.
The United States remains the world's leading power, but at the same time, the institutions that it used during the Cold War have become ineffective. Even though NATO is increasing deployments and training in Eastern Europe, it is a military alliance that lacks a substantial military. The International Monetary Fund has become, in many cases, the problem and not the solution to economic difficulties. The United States has avoided entanglement in the economic problems in Europe and China and has limited its exposure in the Middle East. Yet it is becoming more directly involved with Russia, with its primordial fear of a European hegemon aroused, however far-fetched the prospect.
After every systemic war, there is an illusion that the victorious coalition will continue to be cohesive and govern as effectively as it fought. After the Napoleonic Wars, the Congress of Vienna sought to meld the alliance against France into an entity that could manage the peace. After World War I, the Allies (absent the United States) created the League of Nations. After World War II, it was the United Nations. After the Cold War ended, it was assumed that the United Nations, NATO, IMF, World Bank and other multinational institutions could manage the global system. In each case, the victorious powers sought to use wartime alliance structures to manage the post-war world. In each case, they failed, because the thing that bound them together - the enemy - no longer existed. Therefore, the institutions became powerless and the illusion of unity dissolved.
This is what has happened here. The collapse of the Soviet Union put into motion processes that the Cold War institutions could not manage. The net assessment, therefore, is that the Cold War delayed the emergence of realities that were buried under its weight, and the prosperity of the 1990s hid the limits of Eurasia as a whole. What we are seeing now are fundamental re-emerging realities that were already there. Europe is a highly fragmented collection of nation-states. China contains its centrifugal forces through a powerful and repressive government in Beijing. Russia is neither an equal of the United States nor a helpless cripple to be ignored or tutored. And the map of the Middle East, created by the Ottomans and the Europeans, has hidden underlying forces that are rearing their heads.
The United States is, by far, the world's most powerful nation. That does not mean that the United States can - or has an interest to - solve the problems of the world, contain the forces that are at work or stand in front of those forces and compel them to stop. Even the toughest guy in the bar can't take on the entire bar and win.
A Net Assessment of the World is republished with permission of Stratfor
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6 Ways to Choose Video Games for Kids
Video games are the popular gifts for kids of today. As a parent, you need to ensure that the games your kids play are fun, affordable and safe. It's true that video games should not be the primary source of entertainment for your kids, but playing games every now and then won't hurt. Given below are some easy ways to choose the right game. Read on to know more.
1. Read Reviews
Reading reviews is one of the ways of looking for the right one. All you have to do is search for the game titles that interest you. These reviews are left by other parents. For instance, you can head to Common Sense Media. The reviews will give you a pretty good idea of how suitable a game would be for your kids.
2. Check The Rating
Make sure that the titles you choose are suitable for the game of your kid. Typically, ESRB rating system is used to rate the games. For instance, the rating may be either EC or AO. The important thing is to skip titles that are "M" rated. Actually, the problem is that these titles may contain unsuitable stuff, such as strong language, sexual content, and intense violence. Aside from this, these products may be too addictive for your children. For instance, games in the Call of Duty series may not be a good choice for minors. As for general rating, you should go for ones with above average ratings.
3. Go For Free Games
Maybe your son will look games that are based on his favorite TV shows. Mostly, these types of titles are free. So, money is not a problem but make sure you consider the ESRB rating. You can find them online on many websites. So, you don't have to go from one shop to another.
4. Know the Impact of Your Game
If you want to check the impact of a certain game on your kid, a good way of doing so is to sit with your kid at the PC. This way you can easily find out if it is child-friendly or educational. As soon as you get familiar with a particular title, you can give your kid the free access to it. However, don't let your children play the games all day long.
5. Your Kids' Interests
Do you children love sports? Maybe they are into art and enjoy their favorite morning cartoons. If you choose the right ones, it will help them develop their skills at that particular sport.
6. Game Time
You can let your kid play their favorite games, but make sure they don't spend all their time on a mobile or PC. They should do their schoolwork in time and perform other activities. As a general rule, around an hour of game play is enough for most kids.
If you are not into technology, choosing the right games can be a challenge for you. However, reading reviews can help you make the selection a lot easier. Hopefully, you will find this article helpful.


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Investigative Medicine Program
The Investigative Medicine Program is an innovative training program in clinical investigation for physicians that leads to a Ph.D. degree in Investigative Medicine awarded from the Yale Graduate school of Arts and Sciences.
The over-arching goal of the graduate program is to provide the training required to develop a broad knowledge base, analytical skill, creative thinking and the hands-on experience demanded of clinical researchers devoted to either laboratory-based or clinically-based patient-oriented investigation.
Admission to the Investigative Medicine Program is competitive, across multiple disciplines (clinical subspecialties), and with a choice of focus on either patient-oriented research, disease oriented research, or basic "translational" laboratory research.
Students are provided with individualized research training encompassing both formal coursework and practical experience, under the supervision and mentorship of a senior faculty member.
Students can undertake thesis work in a variety of disciplines. These include: evaluating risk factors and interventions for disease using modern concepts in quantitative methods and clinical study design; exploring the molecular basis for a disease from the laboratory standpoint; investigating the biochemical, physiologic and genetic basis for disease in the setting of a Clinical Research Center.
Requirements for the Ph.D. degree are completion of a didactic curriculum of required and elective courses, comprehensive examination, and a research project resulting in a dissertation – under the guidance of a Qualifying and Thesis Committee.
Students will be able to obtain a Ph.D. degree in a timeframe not substantially different from that required for research training in most medical subspecialties. It is expected that most students will complete the program in 3-4 years.


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As we get closer to its Feb. 26, 2013, launch date, more details are being released about BioShock Infinite. The most recent bit of news is the reveal of the box art. I posted the PlayStation 3 art on top because it's the most interesting. As we revealed at a previous E3, the game does still support PlayStation Move controls and as a benefit, players get the original BioShock for free.
Overall, I like the look of it. It reminds me a lot of Uncharted with the way Booker DeWitt, I assume that's him, holds a gun with his right hand the flames leaping out in front. It's funny but I never imagined him looking like that. I figured he'd be a guy with a mustache and bowler hat. He looks more like a dressed up cowboy. On the top left corner, you can see a zeppelin, which hints at Columbia. It's a striking, colorful cover. I dig it. What do you guys think?


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By Jacob Poushter
An important issue in the Muslim world is how women should dress in public. A recent survey from the University of Michigan's Institute for Social Research conducted in seven Muslim-majority countries (Tunisia, Egypt, Iraq, Lebanon, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey), finds that most people prefer that a woman completely cover her hair, but not necessarily her face. Only in Turkey and Lebanon do more than one-in-four think it is appropriate for a woman to not cover her head at all in public.
The survey treated the question of women's dress as a visual preference. Each respondent was given a card depicting six styles of women's headdress and asked to choose the woman most appropriately outfitted for a public place. Although no labels were included on the card, the styles ranged from a fully-hooded burqa (woman #1) and niqab (#2) to the less conservative hijab (women #4 and #5). There was also the option of a woman wearing no head covering of any type.
Overall, most respondents say woman #4, whose hair and ears are completely covered by a white hijab, is the most appropriately dressed for public. This includes 57% in Tunisia, 52% in Egypt, 46% in Turkey and 44% in Iraq. In Iraq and Egypt, woman #3, whose hair and ears are covered by a more conservative black hijab, is the second most popular choice.
In Pakistan, there is an even split (31% vs. 32%) between woman #3 and woman #2, who is wearing a niqab that exposes only her eyes, while nearly a quarter (24%) choose woman #4. In Saudi Arabia, a 63%-majority prefer woman #2, while an additional 11% say that the burqa worn by woman #1 is the most appropriate style of public dress for women.
In several countries, substantial minorities say it is acceptable for a woman to not cover her hair in public. Roughly a third (32%) of Turks take this view, as do 15% of Tunisians. Nearly half (49%) in Lebanon also agree that it is acceptable for a woman to appear in public without a head covering, although this may partly reflect the fact that the sample in Lebanon was 27% Christian. Demographic information, including results by gender, were not included in the public release of this survey.
Even as publics in many of the surveyed countries express a clear preference for women to dress conservatively, many also say women should be able to decide for themselves what to wear. This attitude is most prevalent in Tunisia (56%), Turkey (52%) and Lebanon (49%) – all countries where substantial percentages are open to women not covering their heads in public. But nearly as many in Saudi Arabia (47%) also say a women should be free to choose how she dresses. Smaller, but sizable percentages agree in Iraq (27%), Pakistan (22%) and Egypt (14%). What the survey leaves unanswered is whether respondents think social or cultural norms will guide women in their choice to wear more conservative or less conservative attire in public.
Source: Pew Research Center


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Planning to go visit my Mom in Syracuse for a week. Daughter and I are dieting and doing pretty well ( for a change)
Type: Posts; User: ornamentmaven
Planning to go visit my Mom in Syracuse for a week. Daughter and I are dieting and doing pretty well ( for a change)
Hope to get to Hallmark next week to pick up this years ornaments.
Well, Its May Day and its almost 80 here in northeaster Pa
Just me
Slowly emerging from the frozen tundra! I think our coldest day was -11. We are now in the low 30's and will be in the 50's tomorrow. Yay!
Hi everyone. Been busy these last few months. Had cataract surgery in October and November and had an extraordinarily LONG recuperation period - vision was very bad for several months! My daughter...
Hi Christmas friends. Had a very nice Christmas. Today is my mother-in-law's 90th birthday. We will be attending a party for her tomorrow!
Stomach virus - not feeling great. An old friend of mine, who is one of the biggest Christmas fans I know, ended up being admitted to the hospital on Christmas day - poor guy! (Tink - this is the guy...
Cloudy and chilly
Low 30's with a faint dusting of snow on the ground
Love your tree!
22 days!
Happy that decorating is done, but anxious about my eye sight since my surgery!
Rainy and dreary
Happy December Christmas friends
I am thrilled too!
I'm in and have already addressed cards to many of you
Snow has all melted, warmer now, but overcast
So happy to be back here
Hi Tia, Natali, Julie and everyone!
The Christmas Blessing - Last night
My two nutcrackers


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The 5-year-old boy who was tossed off a third-floor balcony at the Mall of America in Minnesota in April is now back at home.
An update on the family-run GoFundMe account says the boy -- who fell from nearly 40 feet -- completed his inpatient rehabilitation and will now enter "the next phase of recovery."
"(This) includes continued outpatient rehabilitation for multiple injuries and adjusting to life back at home and school," the update read.
The boy, who has not been publicly identified, was outside a café with his mother when 24-year-old Emmanuel Aranda came close to them, picked up the child and threw him over the railing.
Aranda told police he had come to the mall a day earlier intending to kill an adult, but that did not "work out," according to the criminal complaint. He returned a day later and chose the child.
Aranda pleaded guilty in May to attempted premediated first-degree murder and was sentenced to 19 years in prison.
The young boy was in critical condition after the April 12 incident and spent months in intensive care before moving to rehab.
"Thank you to all who prayed for us and loved us during the past 4 1/2 months," his family wrote this week. "You helped to give us hope and show us the Glory of God's great love here on earth even during the darkest of days."


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Create easily with Muffin Builder & Visual Composer
Don`t like text shortcodes? Need to build website really fast and without any problems? You have no idea about coding? Those are the main reasons why we created such amazing tool like Muffin Builder. New tool in based on latest Muffin Framework 2.0 what means is fast, light and got tons of options and possibilities. You will love it from the first meeting!
Except Muffin Builder, since version 4.0 we added Visual Composer with extremely useful front-end editor. Now you can build websites using both tools or choose one of them.


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Operational systems health monitoring application
ION system health monitoring from Apprion provides real-time analysis of the overall health of critical systems.
Apprion announced the release of the ION System Health Monitoring Application. ION System Health Monitoring provides real-time analysis and visualization of the health of any and all operational systems. ION System Health Monitoring provides unified visibility of the entire facility system including devices, machines, and all networks giving managers complete insight and knowledge about the health and status of their system and enables them to identify potential issues and take immediate action.
ION System Health Monitoring provides one unified view for simplicity, organization and visibility into all the information, activities and details of a facility's complex network systems. This one unified view gives your workforce one record with many views for better accountability, less complexity, and more impactful information. Key features include:
- Real-time, At-a-Glance, Unified Views – Real-time, at-a-glance views of the health of entire systems, sub-systems, and their components – machines, devices, networks, and software in one central console enables managers to proactively monitor and manage all components of your system.
- Unlimited, Personalized Views – Tap into the unique power of your workforce by giving them the view of the world they want, not the view that your systems think they should see.
- Advanced System Organization – Advanced, behind-the-scenes logistics organize and aggregate all relevant data about the systems, sub-systems, network and devices, event alarms and alerts – and more – for easy viewing, analysis and management in a consolidated command center.
- Monitor the Condition of Your Systems and the Conditions Your Systems are Monitoring – Includes status reporting, diagnostics and alert mechanisms on system components and instruments that are monitoring the status (temperature, pressure, tank levels, etc.) of key processes and devices.
- Quality and Thresh-hold Alerts and Alarms – Alerts based on configurable parameters, compound rules and thresholds for distinguishing among minor, major and critical alarms eliminate the tyranny of over-alarming, reduce the noise of too many, non-critical alarms and provide a more streamlined perspective of key system activities.
- Network Optimization – All system devices are consistently monitored and optimally utilized across remote facility-wide and geographically-distributed networks.
"There is no other application like ION System Health Monitoring on the market today. ION System Health monitoring goes beyond traditional equipment health and condition monitoring by providing a unified view of all the parts of your system and enabling you to monitor the condition of your systems and the conditions those systems are monitoring. It is a whole new and powerful approach to system monitoring," said Apprion CEO, Doug Donzelli.
ION System Health Monitoring is integrated with the Apprion IONosphere as part of Apprion's ION System. This integration allows real-time system health analytics to be combined with other ION applications such as ION Video, Mobility, and Communications to create an intelligent operations network.
Also see www.controleng.com/wireless.
– Edited by Amanda McLeman, Control Engineering, CFE Media, www.controleng.com
Do you have experience and expertise with the topics mentioned in this content? You should consider contributing to our CFE Media editorial team and getting the recognition you and your company deserve. Click here to start this process.


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SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany – The U.S. Air Force launched the final A-10 Thunderbolt II tactical sortie in Europe at Spangdahlem AB May 14, 2013.
The airframe belongs to the 52nd Fighter Wing's 81st Fighter Squadron, which inactivates in June.
"I'm proud to be a part of the last sortie," said Lt. Col. Jeff Hogan, 81st director of operations and a pilot from today's flight. "It's definitely a sad day for the (81st) as we end 20 years of A-10 operations here. I'm just proud to take part in this historic event."
The squadron's inactivation is due to the termination of the Continuing Resolution provision and the enacting of the 2013 National Defense Authorization Act, a plan which defines the budget and expenditures of the U.S. Department of Defense. The Air Force is reviewing and realigning its force structure since President Barack Obama announced the plan.
Flying hours across the Air Force are being reduced; however, pilots strive to maintain their proficiency by training at every opportunity.
In this sortie, the three pilots flew the A-10s to train with a new upgrade to their helmet. The Scorpion Helmet-Mounted Cueing System includes an eyepiece attachment that taps into the data relay and communications systems of the aircraft to project a color heads-up display. Pilots can then look out of their window, and the eyepiece will highlight friendly or enemy forces.
The route of their training took them over the skies of Fulda, a village in central Germany known for its strategic location in the 1980s.
The Fulda Gap was a route for a potential tank movement from Eastern Europe into the central Germany during the Cold War. NATO planners and coalition forces prepared defenses around the area in the case of an attack. The development of the A-10 as a close-air-support aircraft is in direct relation to anticipated enemy tank defenses along the route. When the tank movement never occurred and the Cold War ended, U.S. forces used the A-10 aircraft already stationed here for ground support in contingency operations worldwide.
"It's a difficult day, not for just the people in this squadron, but for anyone who's ever served with the 81st," said Lt. Col. Clinton Eichelberger, 81st commander. "Since we've been here, the world has changed, and the Air Force has changed with it. Today marks the day when we move forward. The people and aircraft are moving on to other units where they will continue to serve in today's theater of operations."
The aircraft are relocating to Moody Air Force Base, Ga., to help fulfill training requirements and force augmentation. The flight for the last four aircraft out of Germany is slated for May 17.
Date Taken: | 05.14.2013 |
Date Posted: | 05.14.2013 12:15 |
Story ID: | 106883 |
Location: | RHEINLAND-PFALZ, DE |
Web Views: | 907 |
Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Spangdahlem launches final A-10 sortie in Europe, by MSgt Daryl Knee, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.


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When Menno Haven first signed on, we were facing the likelihood of unknown, but projected substantial energy cost increases over the unforeseen future. The OnDemand energy program allowed us to lock in a most attractive rate for a specified period of time. As an added bonus, we have been completely satisfied with the customer service that has come along with this deal -- professional, courteous and very responsive!
Rodney Mason President and CEO, Menno Haven Retirement Communities
When I needed to cut costs at my business, I considered offering a health plan with lesser coverage. Then I looked into the ChamberChoice insurance program and was I surprised! Our business was able to save more than $50,000 and we got a better plan than we had. It was a win for the employees and the company. I couldn't be happier with the plan and the broker representing the ChamberChoice plan.
Rod Hocker President, Johnnie's Hotel and Restaurant Service Inc.
Scott Atherton Administrative Director, Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble
Andrew Pruden Owner, The Inn at Turkey Hill
Fred Fries Energy Coordinator, Dillon Floral Corporation
ChamberChoice© is managed by JRG Advisors, LLC. To find out more, visit jrgadvisors.net


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By closing this banner, browsing this page, clicking on a link or continuing browsing in another way, you consent to the use of cookies.


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Measurements of Intact PTH (iPTH) are used in the assessment of iPTH status in many clinical conditions, including the differential diagnosis of hyperparathyroidism or hypothyroidism. Intact PTH levels are also used to assess and manage other metabolic bone disorders, including osteoporosis and renal osteodystrophy.
- Enhances calcium absorption in the intestines by stimulating the renal synthesis of 1,25(OH)2vitamin D
- Increases the amount of calcium in the blood through the release of PTH and the removal of calcium from the bone
- Decreases the amount of calcium by releasing less PTH
Siemens Healthineers' iPTH assays utilize a high-quantum-yield molecule, which reduces non-specific binding, improves sensitivity and precision, requires smaller sample volume, and provides better onboard stability and longer shelf life for reagents.
- Preformed design minimizes biotin interference (biotin levels tested up to 1000 ng/mL), ensuring confidence in patient results
- Assay design with monoclonal antibodies and kitted calibrators ensure reduced lot-to-lot variation
- Minimal cross-reactivity increases accuracy in iPTH results, especially in patients undergoing biotin treatment
- Intra-operative claim to assess parathyroid excision provides important guidance to surgeons in assessing surgical procedures
Siemens Healthineers offers iPTH assays on the Atellica IM, ADVIA Centaur, and IMMULITE System


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Star Trek T-Shirts Emotions Indigo - Large
- Regular price
- Regular price
- Sale price
- Unit price
- per
Vendor : Eaglemoss
Product Type : T-Shirt
Sku : STMIN006L-Z74
Eaglemoss launched a line of merchandise based on Glenn Dakin's Wisdom of Spock series, which uses Vulcan logic to point out the ridiculousness of our world. Each T-shirt features one of Dakin's cartoons and a piece of Vulcan wisdom.
PLEASE NOTE: Due to the flash drop nature of our website, unless otherwise stated all orders can take up to 14 working days to dispatch.
Please Note: Discount's on Orders cannot be added retrospectively.
If an order containing a discount code is cancelled, we cannot reactivate that code.
Add to cart
Sold out
- Choosing a selection results in a full page refresh.


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Duracell Plus Power 9V Battery
Duracell Plus Power 9V Battery
Product Details
Brand: Duracell
Duracell Plus Power batteries provide reliable performance and long-lasting power in a broad range of everyday devices. They are ideal for powering remote controls, CD players, motorised toys, torches, toothbrushes etc.
Duralock technology preserves the battery power, guaranteeing that it stays powered for up to 10 years in storage.


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Deep penetrating, intensive, reparative products to prevent breakage, repair damage and enhance growth.
Formulated with certified organic Blueberry Extract, Aloe Leaf Juice, and Chamomile Extract clinically proven to REPAIR, PROTECT, RESTORE and GROW your curls.
Soften, detangle, moisturize, condition and hydrate your curls while repairing damage, protecting against breaking, and encouraging hair growth.


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*Withdraw means to drop all courses for the semester.
**Drop refers to dropping one or more, but not all, courses for the semester.
***The University charges a pro-rata withdrawal fee of $50.
Please note that the University imposes a 5:00 p.m. (Central Time) deadline on submission of cancel, drop, withdrawal, and change of status paperwork.


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The administration of a large number of servers can be quite tiresome without a central configuration management. This article gives a first introduction into the configuration management Puppet.
In our daily work at the Open Source Support Center we maintain a large number of servers. When it comes to the management of larger clusters or larger setups this means maintaining dozens of machines with an almost identical configuration and only slight variations, if any. Without central configuration management, making small changes to the configuration would mean repeating the same step on all machines. This is where Puppet comes into play.


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Petition of the Manufacturers of Candles, Waxlights, Lamps, Candlelights, Street Lamps, Snuffers, Extinguishers, and the Producers of Oil, Tallow, Resin, Alcohol, and, Generally, of Everything Connected with Lighting
To the Members of the Chamber of Deputies.
You are on the right road. You reject abstract theories, and have little consideration for cheapness and plenty. Your chief care is the interest of the producer. You desire to protect him from foreign competition and reserve the national market for national industry.
We are about to offer you an admirable opportunity of applying your — what shall we call it? — your theory? No; nothing is more deceptive than theory — your doctrine? your system? your principle? But you dislike doctrines, you abhor systems, and as for principles you deny that there are any in social economy. We shall say, then, your practice — your practice without theory and without principle.
We are suffering from the intolerable competition of a foreign rival, placed, it would seem, in a condition so far superior to ours for the production of light that he absolutely inundates our national market with it at a price fabulously reduced. The moment he shows himself, our trade leaves us — all consumers apply to him; and a branch of native industry, having countless ramifications, is all at once rendered completely stagnant. This rival, who is none other than the sun, wages war mercilessly against us, and we suspect that he has been raised up by perfidious Albion (good policy nowadays), inasmuch as he displays toward that haughty island a circumspection with which he dispenses in our case.
What we pray for is that it may please you to pass a law ordering the shutting up of all windows, skylights, dormer-windows, outside and inside shutters, curtains, blinds, bull's-eyes; in a word, of all openings, holes, chinks, clefts, and fissures, by or through which the light of the sun has been in use to enter houses, to the prejudice of the meritorious manufactures with which we flatter ourselves that we have accommodated our country — a country that, in gratitude, ought not to abandon us now to a strife so unequal.
We trust, gentlemen, that you will not regard this our request as a satire, or refuse it without at least first hearing the reasons which we have to urge in its support.
And, first, if you shut up as much as possible all access to natural light, and create a demand for artificial light, which of our French manufactures will not be encouraged by it?
If more tallow is consumed, then there must be more oxen and sheep; and, consequently, we shall behold the multiplication of meadows, meat, wool, hides, and above all, manure, which is the basis and foundation of all agricultural wealth.
If more oil is consumed, then we shall have an extended cultivation of the poppy, of the olive, and of rape. These rich and soil-exhausting plants will come at the right time to enable us to avail ourselves of the increased fertility that the rearing of additional cattle will impart to our lands.
Our heaths will be covered with resinous trees. Numerous swarms of bees will, on the mountains, gather perfumed treasures, now wasting their fragrance on the desert air, like the flowers from which they emanate. Thus, there is no branch of agriculture that shall not greatly develop.
The same remark applies to navigation. Thousands of vessels will proceed to the whale fishery; and in a short time, we shall possess a navy capable of maintaining the honor of France, and gratifying the patriotic aspirations of your petitioners, the undersigned candlemakers and others.
But what shall we say of the manufacture of articles de Paris?1 Henceforth, you will behold gildings, bronzes, crystals in candlesticks, in lamps, in lustres, in candelabra, shining forth in spacious showrooms, compared with which, those of the present day can be regarded but as mere shops.
No poor resinier from his heights on the seacoast, no coal miner from the depth of his sable gallery, but will rejoice in higher wages and increased prosperity.
Only have the goodness to reflect, gentlemen, and you will be convinced that there is perhaps no Frenchman, from the wealthy coalmaster to the humblest vendor of lucifer matches, whose lot will not be ameliorated by the success of this our petition.
We foresee your objections, gentlemen, but we know that you can oppose to us none but such as you have picked up from the effete works of the partisans of Free Trade. We defy you to utter a single word against us which will not instantly rebound against yourselves and your entire policy.
You will tell us that, if we gain by the protection we seek, the country will lose by it, because the consumer must bear the loss.
We answer:
You have ceased to have any right to invoke the interest of the consumer; for, whenever his interest is found opposed to that of the producer, you sacrifice the former. You have done so for the purpose of encouraging labor and increasing employment. For the same reason you should do so again.
You have yourselves obviated this objection. When you are told that the consumer is interested in the free importation of iron, coal, corn, textile fabrics — yes, you reply, but the producer is interested in their exclusion. Well, be it so; if consumers are interested in the free admission of natural light, the producers of artificial light are equally interested in its prohibition.
But, again, you may say that the producer and consumer are identical. If the manufacturer gains by protection, he will make the agriculturist also a gainer; and if agriculture prospers, it will open a vent to manufactures.
Very well! If you confer upon us the monopoly of furnishing light during the day, first of all we shall purchase quantities of tallow, coals, oils, resinous substances, wax, alcohol — besides silver, iron, bronze, crystal — to carry on our manufactures; and then we, and those who furnish us with such commodities, having become rich will consume a great deal and impart prosperity to all the other branches of our national industry.
If you urge that the light of the sun is a gratuitous gift of nature, and that to reject such gifts is to reject wealth itself under pretense of encouraging the means of acquiring it, we would caution you against giving a death-blow to your own policy.
Remember that hitherto you have always repelled foreign products, because they approximate more nearly than home products the character of gratuitous gifts. To comply with the exactions of other monopolists, you have only half a motive; and to repulse us simply because we stand on a stronger vantage-ground than others would be to adopt the equation + × + = − ; in other words, it would be to heap absurdity upon absurdity.
Nature and human labor cooperate in various proportions (depending on countries and climates) in the production of commodities. The part nature executes is always gratuitous; it is the part executed by human labor that constitutes value and is paid for.
If a Lisbon orange sells for half the price of a Paris orange, it is because natural, and consequently gratuitous, heat does for one what artificial, and therefore expensive, heat must do for the other.
When an orange comes to us from Portugal, we may conclude that it is furnished in part gratuitously, in part for an onerous consideration; in other words, it comes to us at half price as compared with those of Paris.
Now, it is precisely this semigratuity (pardon the word) that we contend should be excluded. You say, How can national labor sustain competition with foreign labor, when the former has all the work to do, and the latter only does one-half, the sun supplying the remainder?
But if this half, being gratuitous, determines you to exclude competition, how should the whole, being gratuitous, induce you to admit competition? If you were consistent, you would, while excluding as hurtful to native industry what is half gratuitous, exclude a fortiori and with double zeal that which is altogether gratuitous.
Once more, when products such as coal, iron, corn, or textile fabrics are sent us from abroad, and we can acquire them with less labor than if we made them ourselves, the difference is a free gift conferred upon us. The gift is more or less considerable in proportion as the difference is more or less great.
It amounts to a quarter, a half, or three-quarters of the value of the product, when the foreigner only asks us for three-fourths, a half, or a quarter of the price we should otherwise pay. It is as perfect and complete as it can be when the donor (like the sun in furnishing us with light) asks us for nothing.
The question, and we ask it formally, is this: Do you desire for our country the benefit of gratuitous consumption or the pretended advantages of onerous production? Make your choice, but be logical; for as long as you exclude, as you do, coal, iron, corn, foreign fabrics, in proportion as their price approximates to zero, what inconsistency it would be to admit the light of the sun, the price of which is already at zero during the entire day!
- 1Editor's Notes: Articles de Paris are objects specifically manufactured in Paris. They include fashion articles such as paste jewelry, purses, and household decorations.