text:
The economy is still bad and more and more people are struggling to pay for their prescription medications. In fact, millions of us are affected. Here tips on how to make your drug dollars go further.
1) Swallow your pride: Discard whatever lingering discomfort you may have about discussing price with either your doctor or your pharmacist. You will probably be pleasantly surprised with the result, since the one doctor who is not aware of cost as a major issue is probably practicing medicine under a rock. In a desert. Or possibly in Hollywood – either way, we're talking total fantasyland here. So how do you start this uncomfortable discussion, especially if it's never been an issue before? Think of cost as a side-effect (and a common, painful one too). Here's a tip – don't wait to ask about drug cost until after the prescription is written. Your doctor might be a little grumpy (and possibly resistant to changing the drug) because he/she will have to re-do the prescription(s). Instead, ask up front when the "you may need a medicine/change your dose/get refills" discussion starts.
2) Be bold. Don't be shy when it comes time to get your prescription filled. Pharmacies of all kinds are some of the last hold-outs of secretive pricing. If you don't ask up front (preferably by phone, calling numerous pharmacies) you may, like Doc Gurley, be standing at the Pick Up Your Prescription line with a million irritable people behind you as the pharmacy assistant leans forward and says, "That'll be $1,067.24." Calling, and/or asking in advance about the price will also save you the slight embarrassment of asking for your prescription back so you can take it somewhere else.
3) Can You Do The Splits? Taking a bigger dose pill and cutting it in half can save you some big bucks. However, this option is not safe or effective for all medicines. Any drug that is time-released, for example, is probably not a good choice for splitting, because it can destroy the time-release coating. Studies have also shown that, even with a pill splitter (anyone who's splitting pills should own one!), there can be variations in the size of pill fragments. For many drugs, a 20% difference in size after splitting may not be a big deal, but for some categories of drugs – like heart medicines and antibiotics, those differences can be sometimes dangerous. If you are thinking of splitting, be sure to ask your doctor about it – especially if you're splitting the last of your pills to make them go farther. It may be dangerous for you to do so, or there may be a better, cheaper way to address the issue. But for some pills, splitting is a real winner, cost-wise. It's so cost-saving, for example, that some systems automatically suggest the larger Viagra dose (plus pill-splitter) – thereby saving the patient approximately $10 a pop (so to speak). Bottom line: Ask your doctor before splitting willy-nilly. If it'll work for you, bingo!
4) Go generic: Numerous studies have confirmed the effectiveness of generics. Being a brand-snob can cost you, big-time. If the options are to a) skip your medicine, or b) go generic, it's time to give the generic options a whirl. The emerging categories of drugs where generics seem more variable are psych meds, and pain meds. In both cases, if you give the generics a try, and you don't feel like you're getting the same result, talk to your healthcare provider about dose-adjustments, which might improve the situation for you while still reducing costs.
Got some thoughts about prescriptions? Let us all know in the comments section. Are you a fan? You can follow Doc Gurley on Facebook. Doc Gurley is the only Harvard Medical School graduate, ever, to be awarded the coveted Shoney's Ten Step Pin for documented excellence in waitressing, and is a practicing board-certified internist. You can get more health posts at www.docgurley.com, or jump on the Twitter bandwagon and follow Doc Gurley. Also check out Doc Gurley's joyhabit and iwellth twitter feeds – so you can get topic-specific fun, effective, affordable tips on how to nurture your joy and grow your personal wellth.


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although my runner beans were late getting going the plants themselves look healthy enough, lots of flowers, but virutaly no beans have set. In the previously 5 years I haven't seen this problem, any ideas?
1 to 20 of 20 replies
1 to 20 of 20 replies
16 Aug 2013 10:22
although my runner beans were late getting going the plants themselves look healthy enough, lots of flowers, but virutaly no beans have set. In the previously 5 years I haven't seen this problem, any ideas?
16 Aug 2013 10:58
You will find that there are lots of people who have posted the same problem. Bumblebees breaking into the back of the flowers, rather than going in by the front door, generally seems to be the problem.
16 Aug 2013 11:27
Interesting thank you,
is there anything that can be done to avoid this? Are any varities more prone to this than others?
16 Aug 2013 13:18
If you grow white flowered variety of runner beans, they are pollinated by moths. I have both red and white, so if one lot doesn't work, the others should.
20 Aug 2013 10:27
All red I'm afraid
20 Aug 2013 11:03
I'd certainly recommend you try growing some of the self-fertile varieties of runner bean next year, like 'Moonlight' and 'Firestorm'. I think these varieties may have been bred by crossing runner beans with French beans, as these are often more self-fertile and don't require bee pollination. Certainly worth a try. I haven't grown any this year, but if anyone else reading this has tried either 'Moonlight' or 'Firestorm' perhaps they could let us all know how they got on.
20 Aug 2013 12:54
I've got moonlight and firestorm. (Offer from T&M) I prefer the white ones, the reds have a bit more string. Both are producing masses and I am giving away carrier bags full to anyone who wants them.
20 Aug 2013 13:06
thats why i dont grow runners every year people try to give me bags full usually large and stringy, i grow dwarfe french much nicer IMO
27 Aug 2013 13:57
well certainly a top tip for next year, I did actually manage to pick 6 beans yesterday Not much from 12 plants but better than none at I guess
27 Aug 2013 15:54
I've been watching Tree and other bees getting the nectar from our runner bean flowers by going 'round the back' rather than through the 'front door'. We're having a much poorer crop than even last year
27 Aug 2013 17:56
Deep envy
28 Aug 2013 06:48
OK - I won't feel quite so bad about mine then David
Think there'll be enough on ours for a meal this evening for the two of us .... fingers crossed.
28 Aug 2013 08:07
When I'm watering my climbing beans I also mist the flowers, think I read somewhere that this helps them to set. Might have dreamt it, but I've loads of beans on. But it won't stop bumblers breaking them.
Tell me if it's wrong, and I'll stop giving them a wash
28 Aug 2013 14:53
Here in Cheshire we have had a fantastic crop of Runner Beans variety "Butler" which has a red flower. We have grown them as last year, 8 plants grown from seed in an 18 inch terracotta pot - so much for the experts telling us to "double dig a trench and fill with rotted manure).
Fed with Tomato fertiliser weekly the pods have been 1 foot long and well filled with beans. They are now slowing down in growth but they really have been excellent.
28 Aug 2013 15:33
amuseingly I have grown Butler and White Lady successfully in the past, but this year I just bought some from my local DIY store but cant remember the variety, but I do recall that I hadn't grown it before
28 Aug 2013 17:19
11 Aug 2017 12:50
This year is the first time I have had no runner beans despite the plants looking really healthy. My neighbor who is a long time veg gardener tells me the reason is the birds that I feed have been feeding on the flowers I wonder if this is true as this year there seems to have been a record number of sparrows in my garden.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Ex-SAS soldier David Jones is once again a man with a mission: to infiltrate key airbases, harbors and secret government installations spread across Russia, Libya and into China. Set soon after the original Project IGI, this first-person shooter brings back key characters from the first game and places them in new situations and locations. Throughout three linked campaigns, Jones continues to rely on stealth, rather than firepower, to penetrate and destroy the enemy. Cunning and careful tactics are the name of the game.
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text:
Our Mission
UNDP Moldova:
"Climate change is global, but its effects are local; 2007 drought in Moldova just the beginning", says 2009/2010 National Human Development Report
Chişinău, 8 December 2009 - A catastrophic 2007 drought that caused approximately US $1 billion in losses could foreshadow "the future climate to come" in Moldova. This is just one of the findings of the 2009/2010 National Human Development Report. Launched in Chisinau, the report is a call for action at a time when it has becomes clear that, in fact, the cost of inaction –proceeding with business as usual- will be significant. The Report is part of global efforts related to the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 15), held on 7-18 December 2009 in Copenhagen.
The 2009/2010 National Human Development Report, "Climate Change in Moldova: Socio-Economic Impact and Policy Options for Adaptation", provides a comprehensive and in-depth analysis of the strong impact of climate variability and climate change, and extreme weather events on sectors vital to human development in Moldova: water resources, ecosystems, agriculture and energy, transport infrastructure and health.
The United Nations Development Programme Moldova Report makes clear that "Climate change is global, but its effects are local". The Report also examines how well the country's development agenda aligns with climate change realities, and with formulating integrated policy proposals.
"I look forward to this Report generating discussions around climate change impact on Moldova, the role of government and individuals in addressing it and the proposed policy recommendations. I hope that such national dialogue will help achieve greater progress of the country", states Ms. Kaarina Immonen, UNDP Resident Representative and UN Resident Coordinator in Moldova, in the Foreword to this National Report.
The 2009/2010 National Human Development Report, which also marks the 15th anniversary since the publication of the first NHDR in Moldova in 1995, was developed by a large team of experts and professionals. As part of a participatory process, national stakeholders and collaborators, international experts, and the UNDP were involved. The lead authors and coordinators of the Report are Alex Oprunenco and Valeriu Prohnitchi (Expert-Grup), while many other people and organizations in the country and abroad contributed to its development.
This study applies the human development perspective throughout its analysis, by trying to shed more light on the way climate change will affect Moldova's development trends and agenda and, ultimately, the hopes and opportunities of the Moldovan people.
In short, Moldova will face warmer and wetter winters but hotter and drier summers and autumns. Moldova can expect winters like in England and summers like in Greece or Spain. As the Report makes clear, , the 2007 summer drought can be seen as a warning sign to policy and decision-makers—one that makes clear that climate change and its impacts need to be considered today, not tomorrow.
In terms of water resources, climate change is likely to have manifold negative effects. On the one hand, climate change is likely to result in a higher frequency of excess water supply mostly in the form of flash-floods in the short term, on the other hand the frequency and severity of seasonal droughts will increase. However, estimates show that the available surface water resources will decrease by 16-20 percent by 2020 and the supply of quality water for all residents will be severely threatened. In response, the Report proposes to develop likely scenarios of water use under conditions of severe droughts and water shortage, to prioritize water usage and to establish strategic water reserves.
In an analysis of the vulnerability of ecosystems, the study predicts that climate change will lead to negative impacts on forests and aquatic species, particularly in the southern and eastern parts of Moldova. Currently, these are semi-arid regions, but, as the climate changes, they can become arid. That is why there is a need to implement proactive measures, including extension and better protection of protected areas to ensure biodiversity conservation. To improve the condition of agricultural ecosystems, which are essential for economic and human development in Moldova, there is also a need for promotion of ecological agricultural practices, improvement of soil fertility and efficient irrigation.
An economic assessment of the impact of climate vulnerability on wheat and corn suggests that net losses have so far exceeded net income. To adapt the agricultural sector of Moldova – the economic sector which is most vulnerable to climate variability and changing climatic conditions – it is recommended, inter alia, to use modern farming techniques, improve weather forecasting and prevent soil erosion. At the same time, reforms should be continued in order to adapt the agricultural system, implement an efficient farmers' training system and create a developed agricultural infrastructure (irrigation and hail protection).
The 2009-2010 National Report also makes clear that climate change can have a significant impact on the transport sector. Heat waves can destroy the asphalt pavement of the national roads and can cause deformation of railway lines and bridges. Therefore, construction of higher quality roads, resistant to climate effects would help increase the competitiveness of the sector and the road safety, which for many Moldovan communities means access or lack of access to labour and product markets. To minimize the impact of heavy trucks on roads, their movement should be restricted, for example, in summer afternoons.
In the energy sector of Moldova, vulnerabilities will be exacerbated by climate change, while most solutions proposed by experts should be implemented, even if climate change is not taken into account ("no regret" measures). Solutions include increased energy efficiency, technological modernisation, upgraded capacities, tariff incentives, and renewable energy sources.
As illustrated by the Report, health too can be affected by high temperatures or other environmental changes, including air and water pollution. Therefore, measures aimed at mitigating the adverse effects of climate change on human health need to be developed and implemented. Practical measures include: introducing early warning systems for extreme weather events, increasing health insurance coverage, implementing sanitation and water treatment projects, providing air conditioning systems, ventilation and medical kits on public transport, at work and in hospitals, examining patients to detect high blood pressure and diseases caused by weather conditions and promoting of public dialogue for a healthy lifestyle.
Finally, the discussion of the country's development policy in the National Report yields a worrying finding: Climate change is a recognized fact of global importance, but so far the national strategic framework lacks integrated climate change mitigation or adaptation measures. Therefore, there is a need for a policy framework at the national level to ensure that a qualitative, effective and coherent climate change adaptation process takes place. This can be achieved by elaborating a comprehensive National Climate Change Adaptation Programme, serving as an umbrella for the proposed strategies. The programme should further include an Action Plan for implementing adaptation measures and a Communication Strategy for public information, awareness and participation in the decision making process.
Under this framework, sector adaptation strategies have to be developed or existing sector strategies should be supplement with adaptation measures. This is important, as each sector needs a specific approach, but at the same time, all adaptation measures must be taken as a complex whole as needed to tackle a multifaceted and cross-cutting topic like climate change. In the process of reducing the climate change impact on human development in Moldova, the Report highlights the joint responsibility of all stakeholders - public authorities, private sector and civil society - and the need for individual behavioural changes to support the national climate change agenda.
For contact: Ludmila Tiganu, Communications Specialist, UNDP Moldova, e-mail: email@example.com or Nadja Vetters Portfolio Manager firstname.lastname@example.com Address: Str. 31 August 1989, 131, Chisinau, MD-2012, Republic of Moldova; Tel.: (373 22) 269 112, 220 045; Fax: (373 22) 220 041.
* * *
ABOUT THE NATIONAL HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT: The Moldova's 2009/2010 National Human Development Report, entitled "Climate Change in Moldova: Socio-Economic Impact and Policy Options for Adaptation", commissioned by UNDP, is intended for policy makers at national, regional and local level, civil society and academia, donors and agencies providing technical assistance and the broad public. The Report highlights the importance of individual behaviour change to support the national climate change agenda that does not imply major costs.
ABOUT HUMAN DEVELOPMENT INDEX: The Moldova's 2009/2010 National Human Development Report also includes the Human Development Index (HDI). HDI is a summary indicator of people's well-being, combining several measures of human development: a long and healthy life (measured by life expectancy at birth), a good level of education (measured by adult literacy rate, combined with total rate of enrolment in primary, secondary and tertiary education) and decent living conditions (measured by GDP per capita).
The current Human Development Index for Moldova is equal to 0.733. According to the Human Development Index, included in the 2009 Global Human Development Report, released in October 2009 and based on 2007 data, the Republic of Moldova was ranked 117th of a total of 182 countries covered by estimates.
ABOUT UNDP: UNDP is the UN's global development network, advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. We are on the ground in 166 countries, working with them on their own solutions to global and national development challenges. As they develop local capacity, they draw on the people of UNDP and our wide range of partners. For more information, please visit: www.undp.md and www.undp.org


text:
Published: October 25th, 2012 at 11:33 am ET
Follow-up to yesterday's report: [intlink id="all-15-recorded-quakes-hit-japan-today-fukushima-prefecture" type="post"]{{empty}}[/intlink]
Title: M 5.6 quake hits NE Japan, no injuries
Source: Kuwait News Agency
Date: Oct 25, 2011
[…] The quake registered lower 5 on the Japanese seismic intensity scale of 7 in the central part of Miyagi Prefecture, according to the agency. The agency defines an intensity of lower 5 as strong enough to make hanging objects swing violently and most unstable ornaments fall. The Japanese scale measures how much places were shaken on the surface while the Richter scale measures the energy of the quake itself. […] There were no reports about abnormalities at nuclear power plants in the region, according to the operator. […]
View the jolt on the Fukushima webcam here
Published: October 25th, 2012 at 11:33 am ET
Related Posts
- AP: Strong M6 quake hits Northeast Japan — Rated Upper 5 intensity on scale up to 7 — Tepco says no reports of problems at Fukushima Daiichi (MAP) August 4, 2013
- Quake hits just off Fukushima plant, felt along 500 kilometer stretch of Japan coast — Seismic intensity of 4 on scale up to 7 — Camera shakes for about 1 minute (VIDEO) April 13, 2014
- UPI: Quake rocks northeast Japan — Intensity 5- out of 7 on seismic scale — Mainichi: M5.4 quake jolts eastern Japan — Near Fukushima border, buildings rocked in Tokyo (MAP) December 30, 2013
- Powerful quake rocks Japan, 6- out of 7 on intensity scale — Officials warn of strong aftershocks, around 50 so far — Helicopters find "more extensive damage than earlier thought" — Major roads collapsed, buildings flattened — Witnesses: "Strongest ever felt… Shaking was enormous" (VIDEOS) November 23, 2014
- Fukushima nuke plant 'intact' after quake — 5 of 7 on Japan scale: "Strong enough to make hanging objects swing violently and most unstable ornaments fall" January 23, 2012


text: by Tiana Feng The Icy Shores are a Minneapolis-based indie rock band made up of singer/guitarist Nick Negarty, drummer/backing vocalist Nick Larsen and bassist Shane Stubblefield. Their latest album The Opposite of Your Heart was released on Catlick Records back in May. Their sound heads towards the pop punk side without it falling into a cliche. That is not to say that there are no hooks. You're almost guaranteed to join in on the "Shanananana"s in Almost There. Family Album shows off the Icy Shores ability to have a balance of how "hard" their music is. The Icy Shores- This Alarm[audio:http://groovebat.com/download/2mx.mp3] The Icy Shores- Almost Ready[audio:http://groovebat.com/download/2my.mp3] The Icy Shores- Family Album[audio:http://www.groovebat.com/2mz] Follow the Band/Buy The Album OFFICIAL WEBSITE|MYSPACE


text:
What does darby and joan mean?
Definitions for darby and joan
Here are all the possible meanings and translations of the word darby and joan.
Darby and Joan
Darby and Joan is a proverbial phrase for a married couple content to share a quiet life of mutual devotion.
The Nuttall Encyclopedia
Darby and Joan
a married couple celebrated for their mutual attachment.
Chaldean Numerology
The numerical value of darby and joan in Chaldean Numerology is: 7
Pythagorean Numerology
The numerical value of darby and joan in Pythagorean Numerology is: 1
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text:
Published on January 6th, 2010 | by Michael J Smith2
Richert To KUM
Keyed-Up Motorsports announced that it has hired Doug Richert as crew cheif for its No. 90 Sprint Cup entry for the 2010 season. Richert's first order of business is to hire a competitive pit crew. Richert served as crew chief for Robby Gordon Motorsports' No. 7 at the end of last season. No word on who will be Gordon's crew chief in 2010.


text:
A service where MOLPay acts as a trusted 3rd party that collects, holds, and disburses fund on behalf of Marketplace according to Buyer and Seller instruction.
It is an ideal solution for online companies that works as an online mall, department stores platform operator, or any C2C marketplace that deals with a huge number of customers or even those who want to focus on their business strategies instead of the complexity of a marketplace.
Buyer Benefits
Buyer can raise a dispute on any unsatisfied transactions through MOLPay Escrow API
Buyer is eligible for refund once dispute cannot be resolved through MOLPay Mass Payment API
Seller Benefits
During MOLPay settlement, sellers will get their funds through MOLPay Mass Payment service
Marketplace Benefits
Marketplace can easily provide escrow service through MOLPay Escrow API
Marketplace can use MOLPay Mass Payment for fund disbursement to seller and refund to buyer
Marketplace operator can focus more on the core business and marketing
How does MOLPay Escrow Payment works?
Marketplace operator to integrate MOLPay escrow API
Seller and buyer seal a deal and buyer pay using MOLPay
Seller ships the good(s) to buyer
Buyer has the option to raise a dispute through API
Marketplace needs to resolve the issue between seller and buyer
Once resolved, change the flag to all OKs
MOLPay will settle the funds based on marketplace instruction during settlement
If the dispute is not able to resolved, refund to buyer will be scheduled and executed


text: Zoey is a 4 month-old Samoyed puppy from southern Spain. She's very sweet, affectionate and loves learning new tricks--in both English and Spanish! Her favorite activities are chasing her best friend, Gizmo, napping on her back with her legs up in the air, being the center of attention and tasting everything in sight.Add to Favorites


text:
Separate names with a comma.
Discussion in 'The Lounge' started by Gunny, Sep 4, 2007.
16 ain't enough by rick ross
If you like real hip hop you will like this
That stupid fkin call me maybe song isn't so terrible now.
edit: OMG DW SIGHTING AT 0:52!
I'm 25 minutes in. I think I've now deciphered all the lyrics.
Redshift > Blueshift [singer from hopesfall went to nidus.. thus the similar song title, because you were wondering]


text:
Results 1 to 3 of 3
- 03-16-2012, 04:22 AM #1Senior Member
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Stuck on driver porting C's Pointer -> Java's Reference
Hi coffee fans,
I am using JNA to call functions from a C driver for a barcode scanner. The prototype functions in the .h file require Pointers (char*,bool*) and I cannot find a way to be able to pass them in Java. I know Java does not use Pointers, but References.
Is there any way that I could pass something that would act as a pointer? I've tried making objects and passing them in, but it does not work (unless I didn't do it right).
Any suggestions would be appreciated.
ThanksMeasuring programming progress by lines of code is like measuring aircraft building progress by weight.
Re: Stuck on driver porting C's Pointer -> Java's Reference
I have no experience in JNA/JNI, but once when I wanted to use, from Visual FoxPro, an ActiveX written in C that had similar requirements, I wrote a small C (actually, VC++) wrapper that could accept values and pass on their pointers to the wrapped ActiveX. You could try doing that.
dbIf you're forever cleaning cobwebs, it's time to get rid of the spiders.
- 03-17-2012, 08:30 PM #3Senior Member
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Re: Stuck on driver porting C's Pointer -> Java's Reference
Thanks for the help Darryl.
I would like to share how I have solved the problem just in case any one else happen to have the same problem.
So I have a C functionJava Code:
foo(bool* value);
What I have done is declare a class extending import com.sun.jna.ptr.PointerByReference:
Java Code:
public class BooleanByReference extends PointerByReference{ boolean value; }
Java Code:
public static void main (String[] args){ BooleanByReference br = new BooleanByReference(); foo(br); System.out.println(br); //Memory location }Measuring programming progress by lines of code is like measuring aircraft building progress by weight.
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text:
In May 1940, members of the newly formed Brownsville, Tennessee chapter of the NAACP attempted to register to vote for the upcoming presidential election. This voter registration drive provoked a backlash of social and economic reprisals against NAACP members, ultimately leading to the kidnap of Elisha Davis and brutal murder of Elbert Williams.
After midnight on June 16, 1940, a mob of approximately 60 white men, led by Night Marshal Tip Hunter, abducted Elisha Davis from his home. The mob took Davis to the nearby Fork Deer River Bottom where they threatened to kill him if he did not reveal the names of NAACP members and tell them about the group's plans. After Davis revealed the information, the mob told him to leave town and promised they would kill him if he ever returned. Davis immediately fled Brownsville. His family followed soon afterwards, leaving behind their land, possessions, livestock, and a thriving service station that Elisha had operated.
On the night of June 20 the mob returned, this time to the home of Elbert Williams, the secretary of the local NAACP chapter. The mob abducted Williams and locked him in jail with Elisha's brother, Thomas Davis. Night Marshal Tip Hunter released Thomas Davis later that night but continued to hold Williams. Elbert's wife, Annie Williams, searched in vain for her husband for three days until his body was found floating in the Hatchee River. Annie Williams identified the body, which showed visible signs of torture, as that of her husband. She then fled Brownsville for her own safety.
The NAACP mounted a national effort to redress the offences in Haywood County. Thurgood Marshall and Walter White traveled to Brownsville to conduct an investigation, gathering affidavits that revealed the identities of mob members. Meanwhile, the state of Tennessee conducted its own probe into the events, but this ended when a local grand jury failed to return any indictments. The Department of Justice ordered an FBI investigation due to pressure from the NAACP. However, the inquest revealed little by focusing on unsubstantiated claims that Communists infiltrated the NAACP. During the investigation FBI agents purportedly worked closely with Night Marshal Tip Hunter, who was likely present during many of their interviews. The FBI reported finding no witnesses to Williams' murder or Davis' kidnapping.
Elbert Williams lost his life and seven other NAACP members and their families fled Haywood County in 1940 because of the attacks on the voting rights campaign. Annie Williams began her life anew in New York. Elisha Davis fled first to Alamo and then to Jacksonville, Tennessee, where he reunited with Nann and their children. In October 1940, Elisha Davis and his family relocated permanently to Niles, Michigan where he remained until his death.


text:
TransitCenter: Bus Turnaround
Visit Site
Working with TransitCenter, Riders Alliance, the Tri-State Transportation Campaign, the NYPIRG Straphangers Campaign, and CARTO, NiJeL built busturnaround.nyc to help tell the story of the poor bus service 2.5 million New Yorkers experience every week day, and show clear ways to improve that service. The campaign has been highly successful in winning increased attention from our leaders and greater resources for high quality, fast and reliable bus service for all neighborhoods in New York City.
At NiJeL, we support strong, positive advances in the sustainability of people's lives and our planet through knowledge and information. At the local level, we work to improve our partner's communities and constituencies through data and technology, and we aim to democratize the tools and data needed to to make better social and environmental decisions. We're also always working to bridge the "data divide" and provide everyone the ability to tell their stories and visualize their impacts for advocacy and representation.
We achieve this vision by developing custom systems for data visualization, analysis, and participation for our partners, and teaching our partners to harness their data through "data therapy" to document their program impacts, build strong advocacy tools, and connect with their key audiences. It's also critically important to us that we build strong personal relationships with our partners to develop a technology roadmap for them that aligns with their current workflow and mission.
At the heart of everything we do at NiJeL are our core values of:


text:
- Title
Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee
Civil Aviation Safety Authority
- Database
Estimates Committees
- Date
- Source
- Committee Name
Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee
- Place
- Department
- Page
- Status
- Program
- Questioner
Gallacher, Sen Alex
Heffernan, Sen Bill
Eggleston, Sen Alan
Xenophon, Sen Nick
Fawcett, Sen David
- Reference
- Responder
Mr McCormick
Mr Anastasi
Mr Mrdak
Mr Cromarty
- Sub program
- System Id
Previous Fragment Next Fragment
Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee
(Senate-Tuesday, 14 February 2012)
Department of Infrastructure and Transport
Senator WILLIAMS
Ms O'Connell
Mr Mrdak
Mr Wilson
Mr Banham
Senator Carr
Senator JOYCE
Infrastructure Australia
Senator COLBECK
Mr Foulds
Mr Jaggers
Senator IAN MACDONALD
Senator RHIANNON
Mr Pittar
Mr Wilson
Mr Mrdak
Senator LUDLAM
Senator WILLIAMS
Mr Jaggars
Senator EDWARDS
Senator Carr
Senator HEFFERNAN
Mr Deegan
Senator BACK
Mr Sutton
Mr Wood
Ms O'Connell
Senator MILNE
Australian Maritime Safety Authority
Senator COLBECK
Mr Kinley
Dr Dolman
Mr Williamson
Mr Peachey
Mr Jaggers
Mr Wilson
Ms Ekelund
Mr Mrdak
Senator FAWCETT
Senator LUDLAM
Senator WILLIAMS
Senator EDWARDS
Senator Carr
Senator HEFFERNAN
Senator SIEWERT
Ms O'Connell
Senator McKENZIE
Office of Transport Security
Mr Dreezer
Senator HUMPHRIES
Senator BACK
Mr Retter
Mr Doherty
Mr Wilson
Senator McKENZIE
Senator WILLIAMS
Senator HEFFERNAN
Mr Mrdak
ACTING CHAIR (Senator Gallacher)
Senator FAWCETT
Senator Carr
Airservices Australia
Mr Mrdak
Senator IAN MACDONALD
Mr Russell
Senator BACK
Senator FAWCETT
Civil Aviation Safety Authority
Senator XENOPHON
Mr McCormick
Senator GALLACHER
Senator HEFFERNAN
Mr Cromarty
Mr Mrdak
Senator EGGLESTON
Mr Anastasi
Senator FAWCETT
Australian Transport Safety Bureau
Senator XENOPHON
Senator EDWARDS
Mr Dolan
Senator WILLIAMS
Senator HEFFERNAN
Mr Mrdak
Mr Brokenshire
Senator FAWCETT
- Department of Infrastructure and Transport
Office for the Arts
Ms Keele
Senator BRANDIS
Senator Arbib
Senator MILNE
Australia Council
Senator HUMPHRIES
Ms Keele
Senator Arbib
Senator MILNE
Office for the Arts
Senator HUMPHRIES
Ms Basser
Mr Arnott
Mr Eccles
Senator BERNARDI
Senator Arbib
Dr Arnott
Ms Beauchamp
Senator MILNE
National Gallery of Australia
Senator MILNE
Dr Radford
National Film and Sound Archive
Senator MILNE
Mr Vogt
National Library of Australia
Ms Schwirtlich
Senator MILNE
National Museum of Australia
Senator MILNE
Mr Sayers
Screen Australia
Mr Vogt
Dr Radford
Dr Harley
Ms Schwirtlich
Senator MILNE
Office for Sport
Mr Hollingsworth
Mr Arnott
Mr Eccles
Senator BERNARDI
Senator ARBIB
Mr Nance
Ms Beauchamp
Senator BUSHBY
- Office for the Arts
Civil Aviation Safety Authority
Civil Aviation Safety Authority
Senator GALLACHER: In the interests of time I have four questions. I am happy if they are taken on notice and you supply the answers in a written form. The Qantas CEO has given evidence to a former parliamentary committee in relation to the Qantas fleet being 11.2 years old. Clearly, there are 34 out of 146 aircraft in their fleet, being 737s, 767s and 747s, which are over 20 years old. I am familiar with the number of landings, take-offs and pressurisations in relation to the life of aircraft. My question to CASA is: do you have any safety concerns about the age of the Qantas fleet on the second or third busiest route in the world, Brisbane-Sydney-Melbourne?
Mr McCormick : No, we do not.
Senator GALLACHER: Do you have a policy on aircraft age, or do you leave it to the marketplace or the operators?
Mr McCormick : We have an aircraft policy which is continuing to be developed for ageing aircraft. It is primarily targeted at the general aviation market at the moment, but we do monitor the age of aircraft as they come up to their designed life.
Senator GALLACHER: What is the designed life for a wide-bodied aircraft? Is it 27 years?
Mr McCormick : I will take that on notice. It relates to cycles and hours of flying rather than actual years of age.
Senator GALLACHER: That goes back to my earlier point. But there is no policy on aircraft age for wide-bodied aircraft in Australia. You do not monitor that?
Mr McCormick : As far as a policy mandating a replacement, no, we do not have a policy.
Senator GALLACHER: Does CASA keep a log of reportable incidents or maintenance failures?
Mr McCormick : Yes, we do.
Senator GALLACHER: How do Qantas, Virgin and Jetstar compare on that log, allowing for the differing fleet sizes and ages?
Mr McCormick : I would have to take a comparison on notice, but I can give you the figures for Qantas if you like.
Senator GALLACHER: Thank you.
Mr McCormick : The basic issue is that we have what is called service difficulty reports. Service difficulty reports mean for any major maintenance difficulties that they encounter an airline or anybody else subject to that has to report that defect within 48 hours. In the case of Qantas, their service difficulty reports for October to December 2011 numbered 92.
Senator GALLACHER: Do you have the stats for Jetstar or Virgin?
Mr McCormick : Not as a comparison. We will take that on notice.
Senator HEFFERNAN: At Brisbane airport on 19 October 2011 a Virgin pilot suffered serious injuries when the force of the engines of a taxiing plane blew him over the rear stairs of a 737. What was the result of the investigation undertaken regarding this incident?
Mr McCormick : I think that would be a question for the ATSB.
Senator HEFFERNAN: If that is your judgment, righto. These may all be then. What about the Jetstar pilots who were down to 51 metres short on the final, well short of the airport?
Mr McCormick : The missed approach into Melbourne?
Senator HEFFERNAN: Yes.
Mr McCormick : There is an ATSB investigation on that. I do not know what the status of that report is. I do not have it in front of me.
Senator HEFFERNAN: It is thought that both pilots believed the other was monitoring the altitude. Does CASA recognise this as a major concern?
Mr McCormick : CASA monitors approved procedures. Not only do we look at their manuals, but we also do flight inspections on board the aircraft to see how the crew cooperate. We also observe simulated sessions where the crew are trained and relicensed. If we see deficiencies, we do broader—
Senator HEFFERNAN: What contingencies do you put in place to ensure such an elementary mistake—which is fairly elementary—is not made by other pilots in the future? Were they just relying on the autopilot? Do you know what—
Mr McCormick : Again, I do not think it is appropriate for me to speculate on the outcome.
Senator HEFFERNAN: Okay, it is still underway?
Mr McCormick : To my knowledge, yes.
Senator HEFFERNAN: Is the A380 matter, the cracked wings, a matter for you?
Mr McCormick : Yes, it is.
Senator HEFFERNAN: Is there a known risk of cracks in A380s internationally? If so, which airlines experience these cracks and what was the subsequent treatment?
Mr McCormick : There are two types of cracking described by the European Aviation Safety Agency. They are generally defined as type 1 and type 2. Type 1 cracks originate from holes that attach the ribbed feet to the wingskins, and that is a bracket at the end of the wing rib basically holding the covering of the wing on board. Those type 1 cracks were discovered in September 2011 on the Qantas A380 QFA, which is under repair in Singapore following the uncontained engine failure last year. EASA advised CASA on 6 January 2012 of the existence of type 1 cracks and provided an update on work by Airbus and EASA. CASA has requested additional information from EASA.
Type 2 cracks though occur in the vertical webs of the feet originating from the ribbed feet. That was initially reported after an inspection of an Emirates Airlines A380. It appeared to be fatigue related and thus they will be flight cycle dependent, depending on how many cycles the aircraft has done. More significant type 1 cracks may develop in other aircraft after a period of time in service.
Senator HEFFERNAN: According to my information of February, the Qantas A380 fleet was grounded after cracks were found in the wings of the planes. Current regulatory requirements in the EU require all A380s to be checked after 1,300 flights, yet no Qantas planes have achieved that many hours yet; have they?
Mr McCormick : I do not know whether any aircraft has achieved that yet, but the Qantas fleet in total will not achieve a 1,300 flight cycle until the end of February this year.
Senator HEFFERNAN: Was a check on the wing scheduled for the future? What time distance was this schedule for? Was there a forward plan?
Mr McCormick : For repairs or inspections?
Senator HEFFERNAN: Yes.
Mr McCormick : The inspections come with the air worthiness directive from EASA, the European Aviation Safety Agency, and we incorporate any ADs that they—
Senator HEFFERNAN: Is there a time and distance requirement in that for the inspections?
Mr McCormick : If I could—
Senator HEFFERNAN: You can take that on notice if you like.
Mr McCormick : I think we will take it on notice, yes.
Senator HEFFERNAN: The current EU is 1,300 flights. Given these cracks occurred well before this limit, does the agency see a need to review the limits imposed in Australia? If so—you may have to take this on notice—what would the new limit be? If not, why not? If not, could you provide the cost-benefit analysis decision? Who made the decision, the date on which it was made and who were the experts who were consulted?
Mr McCormick : I think it is fair to say that we are continuing to seek information from EASA and Airbus Industries, the manufacturer of the aircraft. Our experience has been that sometimes information is a little bit hard to come by, or is a bit slow in forthcoming, so we have requested more information. The investigation is ongoing and then we will review any directives that come out of EASA for applicability in Australia and whether it is appropriate for the Australian fleet. We do not have the ability to gather the fleet data.
Senator HEFFERNAN: We would be interested to be kept updated and I am sure the Australian public would, too. The local one, a Qantas plane on 3 February was forced to return to Canberra after it suffered an engine failure. I have to say it would have been quite an exciting thing to look out the window and see the engine stopped. Has there been a report into this incident? What have the findings been so far? Obviously, if it is ongoing, these questions would be premature. When will the report be made public?
Mr McCormick : Again, that is a question for the ATSB. But as to your earlier comments, Mr Mrdak was on that flight so he could perhaps enlighten you on what it is like to look out the window at the propeller.
CHAIR: Senator Heffernan, can you put the rest on notice, please?
Senator EGGLESTON: I would like to ask a question about a company called Polar Aviation based in Port Hedland. Are you aware of that company?
Mr McCormick : Yes, I am.
Senator EGGLESTON: I wish to make some inquiries about the cost of CASA's various legal cases against Polar Aviation. Polar Aviation is a small Port Hedland aviation company which I understand has been in dispute with CASA since 2004. This has led to a series of legal actions beginning with the Administrative Appeals Tribunal and then the Federal Court, all of which Polar Aviation has won and all of which cases have been appealed by CASA. I understand that now, eight years later, CASA is still appealing the decisions made about Polar Aviation. In fact, the managing director of Polar Aviation has said to me in a letter describing this process:
What followed was a relentless vendetta to close the company down. The court action that followed was defended in the AAT and the Federal Court and Polar Aviation has won on all occasions.
This case is now eight years old, as I said. All this man, Clark Butson, says he wants to do is:
… tell my story to a judge. All CASA wants to do is avoid that process at any cost. This case has real relevance and should be tested in a court. If CASA has nothing to fear why will they not bring it on?
What bothers me is that this is a small company. CASA represents the Commonwealth government and has used the financial resources of the Commonwealth government to try to shut down this very successful and respected airline in the Pilbara. I would like to have—and I ask for it to be provided on notice—a detailed summary of the costs incurred by CASA in the various legal actions against Polar Aviation.
Mr McCormick : I will ask the chief legal officer to actually give you some background. It is fair to say that Mr Butson is a bit delusional—
Senator EGGLESTON: I beg your pardon?
Mr McCormick : He is a bit delusional if that is what he thinks the outcome of the court cases has been so far.
Senator EGGLESTON: He has won them all so far. If that is a delusion, then perhaps we should go to the judges.
Mr McCormick : I have asked the chief legal officer, Mr Adam Anastasi, to fill you in.
Mr Anastasi : By way of background it is correct that in 2005 CASA cancelled Mr Butson's chief pilot approval and the air operator's certificate of Polar Aviation. There was a subsequent hearing of the AAT. In the course of that hearing the matters were resolved by consent between the parties and that resulted in the decision to cancel Mr Butson's chief pilot approval being affirmed and the decision to cancel Polar Aviation's air operator's certificate being set aside.
Subsequent to that, Polar Aviation and Mr Butson commenced legal proceedings against CASA and various of its officers in the Federal Court of Australia; that is, his action against CASA. In that regard, on 30 September 2011, the Federal Court dismissed his statement of claim in its entirety. Mr Butson and Polar Aviation have now appealed that judgment to the Full Court of the Federal Court of Australia and, as I said, that is his action against CASA. It is a claim for damages against CASA. The court has dismissed his claim—so I will stop there.
CASA can provide information concerning its legal costs in the tribunal proceedings. The current Federal Court litigation is one in which Comcover, as our insurer, has instructed external lawyers to represent CASA and its officer, so CASA is not paying legal fees in that regard. That is a matter for Comcover as to whom they instruct and on what basis. But in that regard, at least at this point in time, Polar Aviation has been ordered to pay CASA's legal costs.
Senator EGGLESTON: Is it not the case that Polar Aviation's operating licences were restored and the case against you was for damages, for loss of income and other factors? I am not so much interested in the legal issues, which of course at the moment are sub judice; I am very interested in the total cost of the legal cases which CASA has brought against this small company over the last eight years.
Mr Anastasi : CASA has brought no action against those persons or the company. On odd occasions it has been either Polar Aviation and Mr Butson's applications either to the tribunal or to the Federal Court. Obviously, when a party is aggrieved with an administrative decision of the authority they can seek review in the Administrative Appeals Tribunal. As I said, I am happy on notice to give you information about our legal costs in the tribunal proceedings. But in terms of the Federal Court proceedings, again commenced by those parties against CASA, we are not privy to Comcover's legal expenditure.
Senator EGGLESTON: Your story is not quite what I have heard. I think you are resisting the damages claim. I would seek leave to table this letter.
CHAIR: Do you have further questions on those?
Senator EGGLESTON: No, I will not. I may put further questions on notice.
CHAIR: Thank you.
Senator EGGLESTON: I will table the letter.
Senator XENOPHON: On 26 May and at the more recent estimates I raised issues of the question of disclosure of chairman's lounge membership for CASA personnel—CASA board members. I think CASA was looking at formulating a policy on that in relation to disclosure. I do not want to belabour the point but it has been dealt with now—has it? Is there a decision as to whether chairman's lounge membership, which is by invitation only for Qantas, is something that is a declarable interest or not? You were seeking legal advice on that.
Mr McCormick : Yes, I think we answered that on notice last time.
Senator XENOPHON: I apologise for that. If it has been answered on notice, I will not belabour the point.
Mr McCormick : It is question No. 120.
Senator XENOPHON: The issue of fatigue management systems has been raised in terms of implementing fatigue management standards. When are they likely to be fully implemented?
Mr McCormick : I am aware of the committee's deliberations on fatigue management standards at recent hearings. We are undertaking a workshop at the moment which has met twice since August 2011—which involves the industry, of course—developing the fatigue risk management guidelines and updates to CAO48 for the technical crew. At the completion of that work we will be conducting the development of the fatigue risk management rules or guidelines for cabin crew. I realise that the committee made a recommendation that we do the cabin crew first, but I think as I have told this committee at various other hearings we will do the technical crew first—
Senator XENOPHON: I understand that. In terms of the time line, what are we looking at before they are finalised?
Mr McCormick : I do not have an actual time line available. I will take that on notice and get back to you.
Senator XENOPHON: Would it be six months, 12 months—
Mr McCormick : No, it will be this year.
Senator XENOPHON: Has CASA studied any of the reported cases of aerotoxic syndrome—that is, breathing contaminated cabin air?
Mr McCormick : Yes, there is a report. There was a specialist, expert committee that has been meeting for some years. I think it might even go back to 2008. That report has been produced.
Senator XENOPHON: On notice, do these differ from domestic or international flights as to how these standards are enforced and are regular tests carried out? You may answer quickly now or on notice.
Mr McCormick : There was the expert panel on air quality, EPAAQ report. There was also a study done in the United Kingdom. The study in the United Kingdom could not find any link between gases in the aircraft and human disease. The report is quite lengthy. The recommendations are quite lengthy. Some of the recommendations could be quite difficult to implement. That report has been published—
Senator XENOPHON: If you could provide some further information on notice, that would be useful.
Mr McCormick : If you give us a specific question, certainly, yes.
Senator XENOPHON: Are any regular tests carried out of purity of air in aircraft? Are standards enforced? Is there a difference of standards between domestic or international flights?
Is the issue of any legal or policy distinctions between an international flight sector and a domestic flight sector something that is within your purview, or is that more a matter for Customs or Immigration?
Mr McCormick : In relation to air quality now?
Senator XENOPHON: No, going to tagged international flights.
Mr McCormick : Tagged international flights?
Senator XENOPHON: Yes. Does CASA have a role with that?
Mr McCormick : We have a role as to the fatigue side of it with the crew that are involved in those tagged flights, if that is what you mean. And the actual tags go to traffic rights and—
Senator XENOPHON: That is fine. If I could put that to Mr Mrdak. In relation to the Fair Work Ombudsman investigation which I think was triggered as a result of the ABC Lateline story last July, I think—the middle of last year—has CASA been kept apprised of that because allegations were made in respect of fatigue management for foreign based flight crew?
Mr McCormick : We continue to investigate fatigue issues for foreign based cabin crew.
Senator XENOPHON: Has there been any level of information exchange or cooperation with the Fair Work Ombudsman's office in relation to their investigation about foreign based flight crew and their duties and hours?
Mr McCormick : I will take it on notice but, generally speaking, we are looking at the Civil Aviation Act and how it is applied.
Senator XENOPHON: Mr Mrdak, is there a legal or policy distinction between an international flight sector and a domestic flight sector? The issue that has been raised is that you have foreign based cabin crew that fly on a tagged international flight. It is a domestic flight but it is tagged as an international flight. They are often paid—and I have modified my language after Mr Buchanan's evidence at this committee—about a third of what an Australian based flight crew would be paid. Do you have any policy criteria to determine that this is a genuine international or domestic flight when the information I have been given is that on some of those flights the overwhelming majority of passengers are domestic passengers and they leave from a domestic terminal and arrive at a domestic terminal?
Mr Mrdak : We certainly closely examine the operation of the aircraft as to whether they meet traffic rights available under various bilateral agreements. Let me take that on notice, if I may. If there is a further element we apply I will come back to you.
Senator XENOPHON: I should declare that I am asking this for self-interest but probably also the self-interest of some of my colleagues about full-body scanners. I always dealt with the Office of Transport Security, but this relates to the health effects of it. Europe has banned airport scanners over cancer fears. They are still investigating that. As someone who I think caught 150 flights last year, like most of my colleagues, can you tell me whether there has been a health assessment and a monitoring of the EU's approach to body scanners, whereas I understand that they are saying, 'Not yet, until we are satisfied that there are not any adverse health effects'?
Mr Mrdak : The European position deals with some existing technology, not the technology which is being introduced into Australia, which is the millimetre wave technology and, yes, there have been health assessments done. We are happy to provide you with some details on that in relation to it.
Senator XENOPHON: On notice, could you provide those? I think it is an issue of some concern—
Mr Mrdak : Certainly.
Senator XENOPHON: Could you distinguish it between Europe's body scanners and what is proposed here—
Mr Mrdak : Europe is very much focused on the technology which has been in place to this point. The technology which we are proposing to introduce, which is millimetre wave, does not raise those similar concerns.
Senator XENOPHON: It is different in terms of the exposure that you get now. There are only metal scanners at the moment—is that correct?
Mr Mrdak : We only have the metal detectors technology effectively. The intention is to introduce the body scanners. The intention is to introduce the body scanners to our international gateways from 1 July. That will be millimetre wave technology—
Senator XENOPHON: I have heard those who work as flight crew express some concerns to me, so if you could provide details of the health reports and any other papers relating to this—
Mr Mrdak : We have done work in that area in the lead-up to that. And after trials last year as well, so we will give you some information on that.
Senator XENOPHON: Thank you.
CHAIR: I notice your questioning to Mr McCormick in terms of membership of a Qantas lounge—
Senator XENOPHON: Chairman's lounge.
CHAIR: I just hope that nobody listening would think that Mr McCormick's integrity is on the line here as the director of aviation and safety because there could be perceived to be some favouritism of Qantas. I hope that is not the case.
Senator XENOPHON: Could I make that clear—
CHAIR: He is big enough and ugly enough to look after himself. You do not get a head like that from backing away from a blue.
Senator XENOPHON: Can I make that clear. That line of questioning arose from previous lines of questioning about what is a declarable interest in the same way that it is a declarable interest for members of parliament, and that was made very clear. There is no impugning of integrity. It is just an issue of: do you declare it because it is an invitation only lounge.
CHAIR: For that then I will retract my—
Senator XENOPHON: No, we were clarifying it.
CHAIR: Mr McCormick could probably have a piece of me when we leave.
Senator FAWCETT: Could you describe the nature of CASA's contribution to the National Airports Safeguarding Advisory Group?
Mr McCormick : I will ask Mr Cromarty to reply to that.
Mr Cromarty : I am the CASA representative on the NASAG. The nature of my contribution is to provide regulatory advice to the group.
Senator FAWCETT: That is not particularly informative. With the current policy and regulation, the only time public safety comes into account at the moment in Queensland is with their public safety areas. Almost everything else pertains to noise. Given that CASA is the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, are you advising the group about the relative safety record of the different spheres of aviation? For example, FAR's 25 transport category, versus 23, versus experimental such that they make deliberations about the level of developments and encroachment on airports—right through to regional airports. That group has a good understanding of the increased risk profile that community developments close to an airport face where you have low-time pilots with FAR 23, or lower, category aircraft operating.
Mr Cromarty : The regulation of developments near airports is a matter for the local councils and the state governments. CASA has no powers over those type of developments.
Senator FAWCETT: I am not asking if you have powers. This is a consultative group. It is an advisory group bringing together the different levels of government to get a comprehensive set of standards, or a framework, around airport approvals. It is quite clear in the white paper and in general experience that local government do not have expertise in aviation matters, particularly around safety. That is why CASA is involved. If CASA is not providing that input as to the relative safety of things like the James Reason model, and the fact if you remove different layers of protection you are actually increasing the risk, who is supposed to provide that kind of input to the process?
Mr Cromarty : We do provide that type of information to the group. The group is predominantly planning specialists and the group is producing advisory material for the benefit of the planning authorities and the state regulators so that they will be aware of such issues as you describe. That document has been released once for consultation and, as I understand it, is about to be released again. All I can tell you is that we have given our input where we can.
Senator FAWCETT: Which leads me back to my original question. Could you describe the nature of that input and the kinds of issues that you have been raising with people representing local or state planning authorities so that they understand the aviation side of the safety equation as opposed to just the planning around noise and things like that?
Mr McCormick : I think you will appreciate that the demarcation lines between state planning and perhaps planning done at a federal level is a very complex question. Our general input into all these matters when it comes to construction is whether they impinge on the obstacle clearance slopes or obstacle clearance planes and what the impact of that development will be. As to the actual planning approval and where the process goes apart from our regulatory input to that is not in our purview.
Senator FAWCETT: I understand that is the current system. I understand those are the current constraints. I also understand that the intent of the white paper and this group that has been set up is to develop a new framework, a new understanding between the levels of government such that there can be some translation of knowledge and expertise that will inform planning requirements. Do you think it is acceptable in the nature of the intent of this group for CASA and other departments to just sit back and go, 'It has always been thus and that is not our responsibility', or do you think you actually have an obligation to put forth the aviation safety case into the development of this new framework?
Mr McCormick : It is fair to say that CASA put forward a safety case and the safety issues by the strongest means possible whenever those issues arise. But we are not leading that development, nor are we leading that work. But we do not allow safety issues to go unrecognised, or unhighlighted, when they arise.
Senator XENOPHON: I might have a second round, not in a boxing or wrestling sense.
CHAIR: He just sorted me out and threatened me with everything so I had better give him a chance to get back in the good books.
Senator XENOPHON: You will withdraw that, won't you, Chair, because we know you are joking?
CHAIR: Okay.
Senator XENOPHON: Is that an okay that you have withdrawn that?
CHAIR: What we are talking about.
Senator XENOPHON: The Hansard says—I am not threatening him, just for the record. It is impossible. In relation to safety issues, if a cabin crew member or staff member of an airline has raised safety concerns, whether it be fatigue or other relates issues, and they feel that there has been retribution in relation to their conduct, whether it is directly by airline management or through a labour hire company, is that something that CASA would want to know about?
Mr McCormick : Yes.
Senator XENOPHON: Because the issue that has been put to me relates to issues of fatigue where people have made complaints about fatigue and through a labour hire company the allegation is they were told, 'Well, do you really want your contract renewed? We do not want to hear about these things', because that sort of behaviour will not bode well. If they are overseas based flight crew and they are no longer working for this airline, would CASA be interested in taking a statement from them? It is within your jurisdictional responsibilities.
Mr McCormick : That is the important point, the last part, that it is within our jurisdictional responsibilities. We have a head of power and obviously all risk comes under that, particularly the Civil Aviation Act; if we do not then a lot of workplace relations of course will fall to the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations—
Senator XENOPHON: Even though they are overseas based crew, if it is an aircraft that is flying within Australia, is that enough to trigger your jurisdictional responsibilities or your mandate?
Mr McCormick : Employment conditions, as far as they relate to pay and conditions—there is a line there where I have no authority to go—
Senator XENOPHON: No, not pay and conditions. But if they are saying, 'We are concerned about fatigue because we do not think we can safely operate the aircraft in the event of an incident', that would fall within the authority's—
Mr McCormick : It would fall within our authority regardless of the fact that they were overseas based or not from the fact that they were on board a VH registered aircraft in Australia—
Senator XENOPHON: If it is not VH registered, if it is an aircraft which is minority Australian-owned, would that make any difference? If it is not VH registered, do you have any jurisdiction?
Mr McCormick : Generally speaking, as I think we have discussed before, if the country of registration is a signatory to the ICAO convention then we accept that they are adopting the ICAO convention requirements of the annexe 6, for instance, in the case of the operations you speak of. However, we conduct our own surveillance of those operations, if necessary. Of course, our concern is the safety issues.
Senator XENOPHON: Finally, is there an agreement between the minority shareholder as to the way the airline would operate? In other words, the majority shareholder has certain standards and it is an Australian company, would that bring it within your jurisdiction?
Mr McCormick : Commercial arrangements will not fall in our jurisdiction unless there is a question of financial viability. As far as the operation of the crew goes, if they are operating under the air operator certificate that we issue, whether it is Australian or a foreign aircraft air operator's certificate then they naturally do fall under our jurisdiction.
CHAIR: I thank you and the officers of CASA very much. I call officers of the Australian Transport Safety Bureau to the table.


text:
There's a party going on over at the Loop 1604 headquarters of NuStar Energy LP.
The partnership today acquired two asphalt refineries from Citgo Asphalt Refining Co. for $450 million, along with inventory worth $360 million.
And San Antonio gains another Fortune 500 company, as the acquisition will vault NuStar onto the list for the first time.


text:
A couple years back (or maybe just a year), an "update" came out for WipEout HD on the PS3. The game cost $15 to buy, but the update added video advertisements to the loading screens of each race. Aside from being annoying, they drastically increased load times in order to force you to actually watch the ad. While not as bad as actually crippling the game as in this case, that event really soured me to the concept of digital distribution.
Really, the only company I trust with digital distribution these days is GOG, who don't use DRM in any of their games. Yeah, they pulled that weird "shutdown" stunt a while back, but to my mind it only proved their value--nobody was unable to play their games during the outage (except for those few people who hadn't gotten around to downloading them yet).
This is one reason why I rarely update anything on my Android tablet. I have a number of kids' games on there which never had many privileges when I installed them, so there's little security worry (plus it's only connected to my WLAN). What could "Draw by Numbers" possibly need to update to work better? The only "upgrade" I expect is them to remove pictures. My 3 year old is thrilled with the 10 or 20 different things she can draw on there, and that probably is limiting sales.
I only upgrade OS items now and disable the automatic upgrade checking for everything else. I'm sure I'll hear about why that's bad here. I think years of free and truly beneficial MS updates have confused a lot of us into thinking that an upgrade actually means what the word is defined to mean. Much like "gender" replaced "sex" I think the true meaning of the word "upgrade" is being replaced by something. Something not good.
There was something on Slashdot a few years ago about people buying a service,
Cable/DSS television.
then having to pay more to disable advertising
Premium channels.
HD was Steve Jobs fault. He was afraid that nobody would design an app for his 1024x768 screen when they had just redesigned the app for the iPhone's 960x640 screen. So what does he do? He locks out the 960x640 versions on the iPad, forcing a pixel doubled 480x320 screen even when the higher resolution version existed.
I wanted to throw a chair at him for that bit of assholishness.
A purchase is an investment in the credibility of the seller.
There are so many ways a seller can screw over a purchaser, that's why letters of credit were invented.
If you're purchasing something (effectively) that you have no idea how it works, from someone you don't know, and you give them (by update) the authority to make changes at will...well, to suggest that you are trusting is an understatement.
We've become so habituated to this model, we've forgotten that in the same way that Darwinism works by death, capitalism works by failure. For people to realize a seller can be identified as unscrupulous, a number of people have to get screwed.
This is the government's fault for not making this behavior a felony.
We need for this to be legal, it drives the entire economy.
It's the lack of daily violence that has allowed interpersonal interaction to get so out of control. No one is afraid to screw over their neighbor in any legal way because if you hit them for it you'll be the one to get in trouble with the law. Either we can build a byzantine legal code, or we can acknowledge the need to be able to push back against jerks.
"Well, if you can't believe what you read in a comic book, what *can* you believe?!" -- Bullwinkle J. Moose


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Car driver foils robbery, returns stolen safe to cops
Driver with pvt firm catches thieving duo in action after dropping client off in same building; caught in headlights, duo abandons safe containing cash and gold worth Rs 17 L
If it weren't for the timely arrival of an honest car driver at the scene of a robbery in progress, a cooperative milk collection centre office situated at a housing society off the Pune-Satara Road would have been poorer by Rs 17 lakh.
Rajesh Rathod, who works for a private firm as a driver happened to reach the Royal Arcade housing Society, where the Rajaram Milk Collection Co-operative Society office is, and noticed two unidentified persons wrestling with a heavy safe outside the building during the wee hours of yesterday. The thieves had broken into the office and as they were unable to open the safe, which contained cash and gold coins collectively worth Rs 17 lakh, they carried it away to try their luck far from the crime scene.
Their plan went awry and they were soon caught in the headlights of the car Rathod was driving. Sensing that their luck had run out, they abandoned the safe outside the building and fled. Rathod soon realised what had happened and he along with the building security guard loaded the heavy safe in his car.
Early yesterday morning, Rathod handed over the safe to officials of the Sahakarnagar police station. The manager of the co-operative society realised that there had been a robbery in the office yesterday and reached the police station to lodge a complaint, which coincided with Rathod's arrival to hand over the safe.
"One of my office boys went to open the office at 10.30 am and was greeted by a rude shock. He found lock on the main door of the office broken and partially ajar and immediately called me as he suspected that burglars had struck," said B S Patil, the manager of the Rajaram Milk Collection Co-operative Society.
He added that the safe contained cash worth Rs 13 lakh and some gold coins. "When we were taking Patil's statement, Rathod rushed into the police station with the safe and told us what had happened in the wee hours," said Inspector (Crime) Rajendra Todkar of Sahakarnagar police station.
Speaking to MiD DAY, Rathod said, "I work as a driver with a private contractor. I had gone to the railway station to pick up one of our clients and dropped him at the Royal Arcade where he resides. While leaving the premises at 3.30 am, I saw two persons with their faces covered with handkerchiefs struggling with a heavy box. The two men got scared when I shone the headlights of the car directly in the faces, and the left the box and ran away."
He added that he only realised that it was a safe when he got out of the car and investigated. "I then called up the person whom I had dropped off informing him about what had happened. He too told me to contact the police in the morning, after which I requested the security guard of the building to help to load the safe into the car and took it home.
Then I went to the police station and saw that a complaint was being registered at that time," Rathod said. A relieved Patil told this reporter that he would be rewarding Rathod for scaring away the burglars and for being honest.
Suspects detained
The Sahakarnagar police have detained two persons, associated with the milk co-operative, on the basis of suspicion. "We have detained them, but it is premature to comment on their suspected role. However, the positive thing is that the safe was recovered by Rathod, who then handed it over to the station," said Todkar.
Earlier incident
On September 14, 2011, four burglars sneaked into the Royal Arcade late at night and assaulted nine policemen with iron rods, when a team reached the area after someone called the control room to report suspicious activity on the ground floor. The nine cops, despite being armed, failed to stop the four unidentified persons. Four policemen sustained serious injuries during the scuffle and no suspects have been apprehended till date.


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NEW YORK (Sep. 30)
Irving M. Engel, honorary president of the American Jewish Committee, left today for West Germany to participate in a conference in Bad Godesberg, near Bonn, which will take up–among other issues–the question of education of German youth. The question was discussed several months ago by Dr. John Slawson, AJC executive vice president, with a number of West German government, educational and political leaders during a visit to Germany.
Mr. Engel is a member of a delegation of 24 leading Americans who will take part in the four-day conference with West Germany government future of American-German relations. Included in the delegation are John J. McCloy, former U.S. High Commissioner of Germany, Governor Robert D. Meyner of New Jersey, former U.S. Secretary of State Dean Acheson, Dr. James Conant, former U. S. Ambassador to Great Britain, a number of members of both houses of the U.S. Congress, and other prominent Americans.
Earlier this year, Zacharish Shuster, head of the European office of the American Jewish Committee, met with the then West German President Theodor Heuss on the subject of providing an education of Germany's youth to inculcate within them a spirit of respect for all men regardless of race and religion.
President Heuss gave his assurances to the Committee that he would call a conference of ministers of education to consider the problem of anti-Semitism in Germany as "one of the chief subjects of its deliberations." He further stated that the matter should be dealt with directly through the education of the German youth.


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London Classic Theatre production of Betrayal, by Harold Pinter, is to kick off the new season this week at Derby Theatre.
It can be seen there from September 5-7.
In betrayal, Emma is married to Robert, a publisher. But for seven years, she has been having an affair with Jerry, a literary agent and Robert's best friend.
Betrayal begins after the end of the affair, and pursues an intricate, gripping journey back to its very beginning.
In a brilliant device, time is turned upside down as the play charts significant events in reverse.
A ruthless exploration of the complexity of the human heart, Betrayal is Pinter's most accessible work, enthralling and provocatively layered.
Playwright, director, actor, poet and political activist, Harold Pinter was born on 10 October 1930 in East London. He wrote 29 plays including The Birthday Party, Old Times, The Homecoming and The Caretaker. In 2005, he was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature. He died on Christmas Eve 2008.
This production is to be directed by Michael Cabot.
Tickets to see it are £10.50-£23.50, concessions £10.50-£21.50.
For more information and to book tickets call the box office on 01332 59 39 39.


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Trojans top Eagles to gain semifinals
The New Prague Trojans upset the No. 2-seed New Ulm Eagles 1-0 in a penalty-kick shootout in their Section 2A quarterfinal match Thursday, Oct. 11, in New Ulm.
The upstart Trojans, who had never won more than three games in a season prior to this year, upped their record to 7-11 and advanced to the semifinals against Mankato West on Tuesday, Oct. 16 (see separate story).


text: So tell me...how do you actually draw the line? "Junk" implies that it is completely unnecessary...and in order to come to that conclusion, particularly for eukaryotes where more "junk" DNA exists, you need a crapload of genomic sequence data from a number of organisms...and these simply do not exist yet. "Ian A. York" wrote: > By no one's definition does "junk DNA" merely include everything that's > not coding DNA. It's utterly obvious that non-coding DNA can and has been > selected for in many ways. Junk DNA shows no sign of having been selected > in any way. -- --- Austin P. So (Hae Jin) I.I.S.G.P. Biotechnology Laboratory University of British Columbia E-mail: haejin at netinfo.ubc.ca http://www.interchange.ubc.ca/haejin/index.html (under construction)


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"Scott delivered an excellent presentation...in a way that people can connect with and understand." - Carol Swan, HomeStretch
Atlanta, GA (PRWEB) June 27, 2013
HomeStretch, a nonprofit organization that supports homeless working families in the Atlanta, Georgia community to become self-reliant with a stable home environment invited nationally recognized financial educator, author and Dave Ramsey certified coach Scott Noble to present to their families and community supporters.
Scott Noble works with the financially successful families through his registered trademark process, Wealth With No Regrets, yet has a passion to serve families at all income and net worth levels. Noble delivered a well-received presentation that was tailored to the unique needs of the audience based on his personal experience of building wealth from scratch the "old-fashioned" way - earn, give, save, and spend wisely only where it matters.
The engaging presentation provided valuable tips and practical, understandable advice for successful budgeting, saving, and overall money management - covering all the core aspects of reaching financial security and self-reliance.
"Scott delivered an excellent presentation to our families and provided them with some great practical information. It's clear that he really cares about people and cares about helping them in this area of their life. Talking about such an important area of life in a way that people can connect with and understand is invaluable! It fits so well with our mission," said Carol Swan, HomeStretch Program Director.
Real-world practical advice is the needed information for bridging the gap between where people are living with their money and where they want to be living with their money. There is too much technical lingo in the financial services industry which keeps people at all income levels from achieving the kind of financial independence they deserve.
Scott Noble, a registered CPA, has devoted much of his time to breaking down these barriers for the low income, high income and even high net worth individuals so people can live the life they dream and deserve to live.
For more information about Scott Noble, his presentation, or his Wealth With No Regrets planning process, call 678-278-9632, email scott(at)WealthWithNoRegrets(dot)com, or visit http://www.wealthwithnoregrets.com.
About Scott Noble: Scott Noble, CPA, PFS, nationally recognized speaker, financial educator, continuing education instructor, and presents to peers in the financial industry. He is the co-creator of, The Wealth With No Regrets process and co-author of, "The 7 Regrets Wealth Creates and How To Avoid Them".


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Themes and Meanings
(Comprehensive Guide to Short Stories, Critical Edition)
Belacqua Shuah, the prototype for many of Samuel Beckett's fictional heroes, makes his presence felt initially, in this the opening story of the author's first book of fiction, by means of a failure. He is unable to understand a passage from canto 2 of Dante's Paradiso. The story ends with another failure, Belacqua's misunderstanding of how a lobster is cooked. In the afternoon between these two incidents, typical scenes from what must be regarded as Belacqua's ordinary life are presented.
In contrast to the stupefaction that accompanies his failures, the demeanor to which Belacqua's afternoon activities give rise is intense, aggressive, fastidious, and perfectionist. By means of this contrast, the story satirically places activity above thought. Belacqua's round of time-killing appointments serves to distract him from the abyss of unknowing into which his mind, in its ignorance, can lead him. The vehemence and relish of Belacqua's encounters with the everyday are astutely and economically dramatized as overstatements. The air of triumph with which Belacqua concludes his business with the story's various, almost invariably anonymous tradesmen is misplaced and, in any case, ephemeral. The sense of completeness that attends these transactions is spurious, given that they occur between the twin inscrutabilities of Dante and the lobster. Thus, the story can be seen as a comedy of misperceptions and absurdly inflated responses, framed by what the mind cannot grasp (the passage from Dante) and by what it grasps so well that it cannot bear to contemplate (the fact that, to be cooked, lobsters must be boiled alive).
Dante and the lobster are extremes, in the presence of whose reality Belacqua becomes virtually speechless. As though to distract himself from the ineluctability of such extremes, Belacqua creates an extreme of his own, the story's celebrated Gorgonzola sandwich. The production of this concoction, which it is pleasant to imagine Belacqua uniquely capable of consuming, is a splendid comic set piece. In a way that Beckett's later work perfects, however, the sandwich ritual's excruciating humor has a directly conceptual, but obliquely narrational, bearing on the more distressing components of the story's framework. The tears that the preposterously spiced sandwich bring to Belacqua's eyes are tears of...
(The entire section is 969 words.)


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Now Australia's Biggest Toy Store
We won't be beaten by anyone. Guaranteed
Season 5 Shopkins are here, with Musical Miniatures, Sporty Allsorts, Tiny Toys and more! There are also cute little Shopkins charms for you to collect and wear on your arms! Don't forget to collect and connect the Petkins Backpacks.


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I've been using Annotum to design my articles, but I'm not happy with the look and feel of the theme. I could do with a sandbox theme really but I would need to use the CSS. At the moment I cannot afford to purchase the upgrade to use CSS. Plus, I prefer to write one article at a time and that might take many months to complete, and I like to see the article up and running once I have completed the article. Since I plan creating tons of articles, it would be costly for me to pay for the upgrade from the start just for the sake of one or two articles.
I have been thinking about using Notepad++ instead to create my website. This would mean I could fully customize how I would like the article to look. But does WP support this platform, and would it cost me?
The blog I need help with is mbukee.wordpress.com.


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Going to make this quick and simple.
I found and would like to try this:
But I'm having difficulty finding some of the ingredients.
Does anyone know where I can find Ocotillo Bark and Pilsatilla (google keeps correcting it to Pulsatilla)?
I'm sorry if this is the wrong place for this post.
Thank y'all in advance for your time and help.


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Re: Pickley in Iowa
In reply to:
Re: Pickley in Iowa
david dowd 3/30/06
I have to admit I haven't spent much time on him, since he was no blood relation, and my g-g-grandmother's third husband.They weren't married for very long either.
If I do find anything on him, or your Pickley women, I will come back to this posting and send you an email.
You don't know their married names?Or could they be a sister and sister-in-law?
More Replies:
Re: Pickley in Iowa
david dowd 3/30/06


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The Curse of Springtime Strikes Again
While I know better than to be superstitious, I somehow believe in the curse of Springtime. Here is the tale of the curse.
One of the premiere races of Tallahassee is the Springtime 10K. It is part of the larger Springtime Tallahassee events (or rather, the events are part of the 10K-we runners think we run the world). Every year I have had something bad happen right before or during the race. Some examples: one year I had a horrible sinus infection. Another year I pulled a muscle. First time. Ever. Yet another year I was kicking the kickstand of my Yamaha, slipped and fell-thus injuring my back.
So, what dire curse befell me this year? The worst ever. My skylight started leaking, so I (stupidly) went up to fix it. When I was coming down, the ladder just shot out from under me. I landed badly and did horrible things to my left knee. Weirdly, I took the main impact on my right leg-which was just fine. Of course, my left knee has been injured several times (including a few pre-Springtime injuries).
Fortunately, the X-rays (first time getting non-dental X-rays in my life) showed nothing broken. My knee is swollen up and the doctor prescribed some nifty pain killers. I did get the prescription filled, but will most likely do what I always do with pain meds-let it sit in the cabinet until it expires. Why do I even bother getting them filled? Well, I figure that if my pain tolerance should suddenly be overcome (normally it is set at "death", but perhaps something less than death can break it) I'd want some drugs on hand…so I can run through the pain.
I really shouldn't try running for a while, let alone racing. But, I am crazy as hell in regards to running. But, I'm a bit less crazy than I used to be-so if my knee isn't working Saturday, I won't be racing. That would make me…sad.
Now some philosophy: yeah, there really is no curse of Springtime. I just do stupid stuff and it really sticks out in my mind when I have a big race. I have bad stuff happen at other times, but don't attribute it to any curse.
But, it makes for a good story. Weirdly, it gets better each year-something bad always happens right before Springtime. Now, let me add a bit more-it almost always happens on a Thursday. Spooky stuff.
3 Responses
You know what they do to another type of running animal when it injures its leg…..I'll be over later to "help" you with that knee. 🙂
A Farside cartoon comes to mind about a horse hospital where all the doctors are walking around with shotguns and charts. Good times, good times.
Nice, dead person ligament. I can just imagine a bad C movie where the spirit of the person who had the ligament was still in it, except, they sucked at running. The movie shows you running in circles a lot.


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Purpose. Innovation. Value.
We provide social impact economy research, development, dialogue and consulting services focused on the integration of community capital, local investing, and social enterprise.
Our core purpose is to nurture a generative and collaborative ecosystem in the Great Lakes region.
What began in 2011 as an fireside idea in the mind of an anthropology-minded financial advisor, is now a growing organization that includes the imprint of dozens of professionals and thousands of individuals in Michigan, Wisconsin, Indiana, and Ohio. Together with your help, we are helping to build a better future for everyone.
Explore our site, check out our events, read some articles, consider our services, and join the conversation of how we might create a more resilient and sustainable future for us and the generations to come.
Subscribe to our newsletter here!
In partnership with MSU Regional Economic Innovation, we published a comprehensive co-learning plan to be used in the classroom, on the streets, and in the boardroom. Check out the REI project page for links to other inspiring ideas.
Angela and her team have launched this forward thinking project, Reconsider, to help people in our community in so many ways. This is the way of the future in America.- Stefan Graf Ypsilanti, MI
As an entrepreneur in Southeast Michigan I'm inspired and encouraged by Reconsider's insight and vision for connecting local people with bright ideas and socially-responsible visions.- Callan Loo CEO of Peaceful Crossings, LLC
We were so excited to learn about Reconsider and the things they are doing to help our community. This is an idea born into exactly the right time.- Kathy Graf Ypsilanti, MI
An innovative, new company with the experience, passion and values needed to help reorient our economy. I am SO ready to Reconsider!- Bryan Weinert Zero Waste Advocate, Recycle Ann Arbor
Seeing the edge of a steep cliff coming into view, Reconsider pulled away from the herd to pause, think, listen, and investigate a new path towards sound financial planning.- David Palmer Ypsilanti, MI


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Put an end to this
It seems that the Chair of Culturenet Cymru has now confused Simon Thomas, MP about the program (or, 'programme', as Mr Green calls it) that was written by the ex-IT Manager to fiddle the 100 Welsh Heroes votes.
Mr Green told Simon Thomas that a program did indeed exist but was for the purpose of entering postal votes. But in reality, the program dealt with percentage adjustments and could not be used in the way claimed by Mr Green.
When will Mr Green properly investigate the misuse of funds by Culturenet Cymru? We're told that he should talk to Culturenet's Acting Director, the Marketing Manager, and the 'Data/Web' Officer.


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Have you ever heard of the story of the 25 years rule of a man in an African family set….well I call it Karma and everything taught and said in it is totally true though I stand corrected…it goes like this…
Power is an underlying dimension of every family relationship and virtually every family activity, and its importance lies in the fact that having a sense of control over one's life is necessary for the health and happiness of humans, including children, adults, and the elderly.
In the lifetime of most African family settings, there are 3 Dispensations of Power.
The 1st is the first 25 years in the life of the family (father, mother, children) where power indisputably rest with the father. The 2nd is after the kids have grown & started working when the power shifts to the mother. The 3rd is when the kids move out of the family house or start their own families when the power moves to the children.
We'll start from the 1st Dispensation. Total dominance of the father. He is the Lion of the Tribe of his House. The boss. During this dispensation, the father rules with an iron fist. He barks orders & determines what does or does not happen.The father often mettes out corporal punishment to the recalcitrant children. They grow to fear him more than they love him. The father is the provider for the family & everyone is aware of that fact with all attendant consequences.
Then the 2nd Dispensation sets in. The children have finished school and have started working. Power shifts to the mother. When the children start earning their own money, for some reason, it's their mothers they decide to look after. They are closer to her. While the father was in charge, he was busy with the business of providing. He didn't have much time to be a friend to the children.
They spent more time with their mum and invariably grew closer to her. They also see their mum as co-victims of the father's tyranny. The mother takes Centre stage at this point. She is the first to know what's happening with the children & she has advantage. Should any of the daughters give birth, she is the one that goes for babysitting and the children spoil her with gifts. At this stage, the father is wishing for some bond with the children like they have with their mother but that boat has sailed. Because the mother doesn't rely much on the father for her needs at this stage, she is less likely to tolerate his lordship. Friction.
Then the 3rd and last dispensation. Power has shifted to the children. They are self-sufficient, live on their own & have own families. More often than not, whenever there is a quarrel between father & mother, the children side the mother. Years of joint-victimhood at play. Children have been known to come to the house to warn their father not to 'disturb' their mother. Next thing, extended visitations. Woe betide the father if his finances are precarious at this stage. You will be humble by force. The gang-up is real. This causes most men to fall ill & develop different complications. By the time the forces are arrayed against you, you will think well. Stroke, Hypertension, High-Blood Pressure. The man has a large family but no relationship with them in later life. Troubling thought.
The Moral, dear men, while the power lies with you, wield it with posterity in mind. It won't be with you forever. With the way you are treating your wife now, how will she treat you when power shifts to her? What relationship do you have with your family? Loving dad or despotic, tyrannical provider? Remember, the children always side with their mother. Aim to do enough to at least get a fair hearing in future moments of family strife. Invest wisely for the future so that you won't have to beg to be taken care of if despite your best efforts, you find yourself alone.No man is an Island.
Parenthood is not easy despite its joys. There is no manual on how it works. May God help us to make the best of a really tough job!
When it's your turn please rule right!


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Letters to the editor, June 9
Published 4:00 am, Saturday, June 9, 2012
The Wisconsin, San Diego and San Jose government employee reforms passed by voters in the June 5 election ("Cities' votes to rein in pensions pressure governor to act") were the start of a movement that will sweep the nation. People of all political philosophies and income levels realize the current pay rates and benefits of public employees simply cannot be sustained.
Howard Epstein, San Francisco
That sucking sound again
The recent election results from San Jose, San Diego and Wisconsin show that the inexorable forces of globalization have reached the last group of workers who thought they were immune.
Even though their jobs couldn't be sent overseas or taken by undocumented workers, the reduction in the living standards of the private-sector employees because of downward wage and benefit pressures from overseas competition has resulted in a lack of tax base to support previously promised wages and benefits.
Ross Perot's famous globalization vacuum, sucking good jobs out of the country, has just about cleaned out the middle class in America.
Craig Griffin, Berkeley
GOP helped smoke Prop. 29
A Chronicle editorial regarding the campaign to defeat Proposition 29 ("Prop. 29: Facts get smoked," June 7) hit the proverbial nail on the head. Big Tobacco is shameful for all of the reasons articulated. It is worth noting, however, that Big Tobacco was not the only big contributor to this shameful campaign. The California Republican Party kicked in more than $1.1 million to support the deceptions, half-truths and "disingenuous" claims.
Ray Signer, San Francisco
Look closely at the half-truths
In your editorial on Proposition 29, you say, "Big Tobacco mastered the art of deception."
They were just protecting the bottom line as expected. What bothers me is the high percentage of voters who lack the critical thinking that would allow them to see through the lies and half-truths that money can buy. That I see as a huge problem facing our democracy.
Paul Johnson, Oakland
Prop. 29: Not the answer?
Blaming the likely failure of Proposition 29 on "Big Tobacco's" high-dollar campaign against it is more than a little insulting to voters.
Could it be that voters are tired of endless new taxes and don't trust another bureaucratic solution to a complex problem?
Yes, we all share the cost of smoking, but perhaps Prop. 29 is not the best answer. We can do better than simplistic (and regressive) social engineering. Make smoking illegal or accept the consequences - anything else is hypocrisy.
Jonathan Bailey, Berkeley
A company or a country?
I read that Meg Whitman expects that a Hewlett-Packard company turnaround may take "as long as five years" ("Whitman to model HP's turnaround on Starbucks'," Business, June 7).
Meanwhile, her political mentor, Mitt Romney, charges that Barack Obama is unqualified to be president since he hasn't turned around the United States (a country) in less than four years.
Give me a break. Clearly competence (like beauty) is in the eye of the beholder.
Patricia Faust, Menlo Park
The Constitution rules
The letter writer who called the nullification of Proposition 8 by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit "the latest insult to all American voters," then cited the U.S. Constitution as "founded on the will of the people" should be reminded that the court's mandate under the Constitution is to nullify laws - such as Prop. 8 - that violate the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment - which violate the Constitution regardless of whether they reflect the will of the people.
Frank Hochfeld, Oakland
An insult?
Re: the letter "Prop. 8 decision an insult" (June 7).
Right on - we should go back to the "great democracy" of our Founding Fathers. Take the vote back from women. Take the vote back from people of color. Let's resume treating an African American as three-fifths of a person. That is the "great democracy" of our Founding Fathers, isn't it?
Larry Smyle, San Francisco
It protects all citizens
What I find more insulting than the U.S. Court of Appeals' decision on Proposition 8 is the biased voters who believe they can dictate which adults are allowed a legally recognized monogamous partnership and all the rights implied therein (such as "next of kin").
I find it insulting that we must remind voters that this is not a theocracy and that the First Amendment protects those who have a different belief system. The Constitution is meant to protect rights of all citizens, not just those of the majority opinion.
Gretchen Wilburn, Fremont


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hello all.i have just started learning java programming language.so i tr to write some little programmes.
i have an array of objects,its size is 0;i wanta to add new object in it from keyboard.
this is the little part of the code:
private Person[] arr = new Person[0];
public void addPerson(Person newMan) {
Person[] arr1 = new Person[arr.length + 1];
for (int i = 0; i < arr.length; i++) {
arr1[i] = arr[i];
}// end for
arr1[arr1.length - 1] = newMan;
arr = arr1;
}// end addPerson
it does not work well.after i register new person in it and then i want to print array size and members it says that the size is 0.can anyone help me?what can i do if i want to save the array objects in it