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Follow RFF News on your cell phone. Text follow rff to 40404 you will receive txt messages with RFF News
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I don't know if i'll be fire up for Survivor anymore or not.. after 19 seasons.. it's getting boring.
STUNNING piece of real estate. All the raw materials a developer dreams of; lots of elevated land with lots of character, a beautiful, pristine stretch of beach, fantastic panoramic views, secluded, tranquil surroundings, yet all still close to civilization and amenities! Situated at the end of the village proper , where it is quieter and less populated.AND it is located in an unspoilt and peaceful country with a unique culture and colourful people. What a winning mix! Samoa presently is very committed to developing tourism especially in the area of resorts and big hotels.Ideal for an exclusive & quiet hideaway for those who will pay for their privacy. Or a resort for all. Just think, your accommodation, your swimming pools, anything you build can have ocean views! All the elements are right here. Perfect property, perfect country!Enough land too for some moulding & landscaping to create a challenging golf course to lure those golfing tourists.The coastal, scenic drive from airport to Falelatai, where our property is located, is very pretty. You can see Savaii, Apolima and Manono. The village itself is picturesque & clean. The property lies just on the edge of Falelatai, with elevation, so you are looking down at the main village,THE BEACH, your own bay with 2 natural coves! A cute small one and a much bigger one. Sheltered, secluded & very private. The topography ensures that only guests will have access to the beach. Beach frontage stretches over ½ mile, beautiful white sand.Backdrop of coconut palms and bush on flat land before elevation of property. Much more sand can be exposed when bushes cleared.THE LAGOON, clear, clean, turquoise waters, well protected & safe for swimming, always warm and luxurious.THE REEF, tropical sealife for keen snorklers to explore.THE OCEAN, beyond the reef, an endless vision of emerald-blue, unpolluted and a vast arena for game fishing, diving or any water sports.The delicacy palolo (island cavier) rises on this beach. Only happens one or two days in Oct and Nov yearly, 7 days after the full moon. The palolo has to be quickly gathered because as soon as the sun is up and hot, it all starts to melt away. Tourists can witness first hand this phenomenon, even participate.THE LAND, has the highest elevations at the very back of the property. Helps to maintain security and privacy. Situated only about 280m from the main road.Refer plan, a stream serves as part of the back boundary.Elevation starts just behind the beach so all the main buildings would be on high ground, a real plus should there be storm surges.Fresh-water stream flows out to the sea.Property is extensive, covered with lush, virgin bush and forestry, sprinkled with coconut palms. One side gives lovely views of the ocean below and potentially Falelatai village, nestled peacefully on a plain with acres of coconut plantations.Different levels and slopes can be landscaped to allow for unobstructed views.Create a treasure of breath-taking ocean vistas.Of course, there will always be those cool, exhilarating sea breezes!IMAGINE waking every morning to spectacular views or in evenings gazing in awe at skies littered with stars sparkling like diamonds, as far as the eye can see.What better therapy for stress? Idyllic, serene surroundings. A touch of heaven!THE POTENTIAL HERE IS AWESOME!
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Gov. Dannel P. Malloy on Saturday declared a state of emergency for Connecticut, "due to the severe weather conditions predicted to affect the state" from Hurricane Sandy and an accompanying storm. Malloy's statement noted National Weather Service forecasts indicate "all or part of Connecticut will be directly affected by a combined tropical and winter super storm, including torrential rainfall, strong winds and potential coastal and inland flooding over a prolonged period of time." RELATED:See an updated slideshow on Sandy.
The declaration provides Malloy with emergency powers that include the ability to modify or suspend any state law, regulation or requirement. Malloy also now has the ability to order civil preparedness forces into action and designate vehicular and pedestrian routes and movements. "This storm needs to be taken seriously," Malloy said. "And just as the state is taking preparatory actions, I encourage the public and all of the state's utility companies to do the same." WTIC Fox 61 Meteorologist Dan Amarante said the latest estimate is the storm will make landfall in southern or central New Jersey sometime Monday evening. But regardless of where it comes ashore, "it's going to be bad," Amarante said. "This storm is huge, one of the biggest we've ever seen," he said. "The wind field (the size of the hurricane from one edge to the other) is 350 miles in diameter." The current forecast for Hurricane Sandy is that it will be more windy than wet, at least in terms of rainfall amounts, Amarante said. Along the immediate shoreline, in places like East Haven and Milford, winds will be at hurricane force, which means 74 mph or greater, Amarante said. Communities farther inland can expect winds of between 50 mph and 60 mph, he said. Between two inches and four inches of rain should hit the state, Amarante said, compared to the Washington, D.C., area, which is projected to get closer to eight inches. Storm surge from Long Island Sound -- water that gets pushed ashore by the wind -- could exceed levels that Shoreline communities saw during Tropical Storm Irene, he said. "The duration of this storm is what will probably make it worse," Amarante said, noting that some predictions have the storm battering the state for as long as 36 hours. Malloy said it is local officials, not state leaders, who determine whether mandatory evacuations are warranted. But Malloy urged officials in Shoreline communities to complete their evacuations during daylight hours Sunday, before the storm's arrival. "If you're along the ocean front, you should be listening to our words," Malloy said during a Saturday press conference. "We're talking about severe flooding, perhaps the worst we have seen in 70 years. Folks, this could be bad, really bad."Click here to view the latest storm reports and forecasts from the National Hurricane Center
. Also,view the storm as seen from space here on Nextgov.
By late Saturday afternoon, the towns of East Haven and Fairfield had ordered mandatory evacuations of flood-prone areas for today. Evacuation in East Haven is scheduled to begin at 8 a.m., while Fairfield's begins at noon. East Haven Mayor Joseph Maturo Jr. said East Haven High School, at 35 Wheelbarrow Lane, will be opened as a shelter for residents and their pets. It was not immediately clear when the shelter at the school will be opened. "Residents who relocate and take advantage of the shelter should remember to bring toiletries, bedding and important documents, including identification, with them," Maturo said in a written statement. Old Saybrook officials Saturday declared a state of emergency and are urging residents to voluntarily evacuate from homes south of Route 1 starting at 8:30 a.m. today. The town's shelter at Old Saybrook Senior High School, at 1111 Boston Post Road, will open at 5 p.m., town officials said. Orange Assistant Police Chief Anthony Cuozzo said the town is making sand bags available to residenst who are willing to come to at the Orange Highway Department at 308 Lambert Road. Area residents are preparing. Customers at R.W. Hine hardware store on Maple Avenue in Cheshire cleared shelves of gasoline cans, flashlights and D-size batteries Saturday, said Nick Cifarelli, an assistant manager. The store also took advance orders for 50 power generators that it expects to arrive in town today, Cifarelli said. "We also sold a lot of propane to people who want to use their gas grills in case their stoves and ovens don't work during the storm," he said. In order to help communities statewide in dealing with the storm, Malloy said 350 Connecticut National Guard members were doing drills around the state and that their numbers will increase to 400 by the time the storm hits. Get the latest storm updates even if the power goes out by following ushere on Facebook
,here on Twitter
, or via text alerts by texting the word TORNEWS to 22700. * Msg & Data Rates May Apply. Text HELP for help. Text STOP to cancel.Sign up for state emergency alerts here at CT Alerts.
A flood watch was declared Saturday in all of Fairfield, New Haven, Middlesex and New London counties for Monday and Tuesday. With what Malloy termed "extreme" coastal flooding expected by midnight Monday, The United Illuminating Co. Saturday began placing sandbags around seven of its substations. Crews from the Orange-based utility put more than 3,000 sandbags in place, said Michael West, UI's director of communications. West said UI has 700 full-time workers already on duty, preparing for the storm. When Hurricane Irene struck last year, he said, UI at the peak of that storm had only about 575 workers on duty. "We're not waiting to see what happens," West said. "It's a different dynamic." But even with the increased manpower, James Torgerson, president and chief executive officer of UI's corporate parent, UIL Holdings, said company officials expect between 50 percent and 70 percent of the utility's 325,000 customers to be without power as a result of the hurricane. And William Quinlan, senior vice president for emergency preparedness for the Connecticut Light & Power Co., said in a worst-case scenario, as many as 600,000 of the utility's 1.2 million customers could be left without power. CL&P has about 340 of its own linemen set to respond and 2,000 more are being sought from other states, including some being flown in from utilities on the West Coast. In all, CL&P will have about 5,000 people working at various levels to respond to storm-related outages. The New Haven area's only municipal electric utility, in Wallingford, is bringing in six line repair crews and a half-dozen tree trimming crews from outside the area in preparation for the storm, said George Adair, town public utilities director. In advance of the storm's arrival tonight into early Monday, the University of Hartford and Fairfield University Saturday cancelled classes for Monday and Tuesday. The University of Hartford went a step further and cancelled classes for Wednesday, as well. Among Connecticut public schools, East Haven, Old Saybrook and Middletown on Saturday announced cancellation of classes for part of next week. Schools in all three districts will be closed Monday and Tuesday. Middletown Mayor Dan Drew said the city's emergency shelter at Middletown High School, located at 200 LaRosa Lane, is tentatively scheduled to open at noon Monday. The city's Emergency Operations Center is opening this afternoon, he said. "We will be monitoring the (Connecticut) river, but our biggest concern is downed wires and trees as a consequence of the winds," Drew said. New Haven Register reporter Jennifer Swift and Jim Salemi of the Middletown Press contributed to this story.


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Snow in March in Seattle?3/15/2009 09:45:00 PM Edit This 0 Comments »
You bet. I couldn't believe it when Lexie and I woke up this morning and she said "look Mommy, snow!" And we are talking SNOW not just a little but big huge heavy flakes. At first I let her just go out on the deck in her boots (thank you Brooke) and jammies.
But it quickly became clear that we needed to bundle up and go out front, especially when she decided to throw snowballs at me while I was still in the house taking these pictures! By the time we got dress up to go out it had stopped snowing and within 5 minutes of being outside it had started to rain. After all we are in the Pacific Northwest. So Lexie and I built the quickest snowlady every. And here she is Princess SnowLady.
We were soaked within 15 minutes of going outside but Lexie had a ball. Now that the sun is out I'm glad we did it then since it looks like the snow will be gone before the sun sets. As you can see, Lexie insisted on kissing Princess SnowLady good-bye before we went in.
We came in to warm up with some hot coco & whipped cream (Lexie's favorite part) and she went right down for her nap. I just hope Princess SnowLady is still there when Lexie wakes up as it's really melting fast.
Later that same day
Well I'm afraid things didn't go well for the Princess and I'm talking about SnowLady not Princess Lexie Lou (which is how she introduces herself to everyone right now.) We went back outside just 3 hours after we made her and her whole face had melted off, one of her slippers had blown away and her apron was down around her ankles, so to speak.
Lexie insisted on putting her back together as best we could and kissed her good-bye once again. I told her that tomorrow she will probably just be a pair of wet slippers and a dirty apron. Tonight when I was tucking Lexie into bed she told me not to worry that Princess SnowLady will be fine. Who am I to argue with the all knowing Princess Lexie Lou?


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The tires lift off a rise in the trail and 12 inches of atmosphere separates the H1 Alpha from terra firma. As the vehicle touches down, the front right coil spring absorbs the initial impact before it bottoms out on the next whoop-de-do. The body rolls left, sending unsecured gear to the driver's side rear seat. I glance at my mentor to check for white knuckles. With an ear-to-ear grin, my instructor says, "Nice, now ease up for this next turn, it'll sneak up on you." I heed his advice. It's not often you get the chance to steer a Hummer on the kind of terrain for which it was built, and expert counseling is welcome.
The H1 was purpose-built for the U.S. military, with the design engineers who did it given the task of creating a vehicle in which function and utility were job one. What they came up with was a profile so unique and recognizable, that it captured the eyes of the world. But like so many sport utility vehicles, Hummers spend a lot of time on paved roads. So before you take one into something dicey, you should learn to handle it. Autopilot is not a factory option, and maneuvering through Mother Nature's gauntlet of surprises can be intimidating (we won't tell anyone).
The good-life news—whether you drive an H2, the new H3 or the new high-performance Duramax-powered H1 Alpha—is that Hummer-specific events and driving schools will take you to the next level.
Available only to Hummer owners, the AM General Hummer Academy should be your first line of defense. The academy offers three- to five-day courses at its South Bend, Indiana, facility (www.hummer.com or 574-258-6622). Instruction covers vehicle function, driving technique, navigation, GPS use, medical awareness and essential gear needed for an off-road safari. The academy provides everything: a vehicle, lodging and a tour of the Hummer plant. Program director Tim Bonadies says, "Driving a Hummer is a totally new experience; our goal is to teach proficiency behind the wheel."
The Hummer Club Inc. (www.thehummerclubinc.com) also offers HCI members regularly organized outings around the country. Local Hummer dealers provide quarterly off-road excursions for clients as well. This year, Rod Hall, the 17-time Baja 1000 champion and Hummer racing team owner, invites owners and dealers to an event billed as the Elko Hummer Roundup (September 27 to October 1, www.elkohummerroundup.com). The mountain-side mining town of Elko, Nevada, chosen for its Wild West flavor, will host four days of trail rides, workshops and cowboy cookouts.


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In advocating on behalf of children with exceptionalities, CEC examines policy issues, develops appropriate responses to those issues and influences local, state, provincial and federal legislation. CEC also monitors and makes recommendations for program regulations and funding. In addition, CEC maintains a network among its state units and special interest divisions for influencing policy.
As the recognized leader for special education professional standards, CEC develops standards, ethics and practices and guidelines to ensure that individuals with exceptionalities have access to well-prepared, career-oriented special educators.
Through the vision and dedication of more than 22,000 members, CEC sets the standard for high quality education for children and youth with exceptionalities. And, CEC is known as THE source for information, resources and professional development for special educators.
Join as a new member
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University and College Professors - Faculty members who plan to use CEC materials in their classroom (journal articles, resources, recorded webinars, etc.) can request a heavily reduced membership rate for students in their classes so they can have access to those materials. Learn more.
You'll find professional development offerings to meet the needs of all special educators – including those of you who are time-crunched, cost-conscious or in need of CEUs in order to meet state obligations. Please join us and invite others to engage the potential!
CEC publishes and distributes products designed to help practitioners work more effectively in the classroom. Learn more about CEC's publications and journals.
Special Education Topics includes information about the different exceptionality areas; international special education; hot topics in special education; and professional practice topics such as assessment, evidence-based practices and inclusion.
The disability terms and definitions are taken from the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
Disability Terms and Definitions
Autism means a developmental disability significantly affecting verbal and nonverbal communication and social interaction, generally evident before age three, that adversely affects a child's educational performance. Other characteristics often associated with autism are engagement in repetitive activities and stereotyped movements, resistance to environmental change or change in daily routines, and unusual responses to sensory experience. Autism does not apply if a child's education performance is adversely affected primarily because the child has an emotional disturbance.
Deaf-blindness means concomitant hearing and visual impairments, the combination of which causes such severe communication and other developmental and educational needs that they cannot be accommodated in special education programs solely for children with deafness or children with blindness.
Deafness means a hearing impairment that is so severe that the child is impaired in processing linguistic information through hearing, with or without amplification that adversely affects a child's educational performance.
Emotional Disturbance means a condition exhibiting one or more of the following characteristics over a long period of time and to a marked degree that adversely affects a child's educational performance:
Emotional disturbance includes schizophrenia. The term does not apply to children who are socially maladjusted, unless it is determined that they have an emotional disturbance.
Intellectual Disability means significantly sub-average general intellectual functioning, existing concurrently with deficits in adaptive behavior and manifested during the developmental period, that adversely affects a child's educational performance.
Hearing impairment means an impairment in hearing, whether permanent or fluctuating, that adversely affects a child's educational performance but that is not included under the definition of deafness in this section.
Multiple Disabilities means concomitant impairments (such as mental retardation-blindness or mental retardation-orthopedic impairment), the combination of which causes such severe educational needs that they cannot be accommodated in special education programs solely for one of the impairments. Multiple disabilities do not include deaf-blindness.
Orthopedic impairment means a severe orthopedic impairment that adversely affects a child's education performance. The term includes impairments caused by a congenital anomaly, impairments caused by disease (e.g., poliomyelitis, bone tuberculosis), and impairments from other causes (e.g., cerebral palsy, amputations, and fractures or burns that cause contractures).
Other health impairment means having limited strength, vitality, or alertness, including a heightened alertness to environmental stimuli, that results in limited alertness with respect to the education environment, that is due to chronic or acute health problems such as asthma, attention deficit disorder or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, diabetes, epilepsy, a heart condition, hemophilia, led poisoning, leukemia, nephritis, rheumatic fever, sickle cell anemia, and Tourette syndrome; and adversely affects a child's educational performance.
Specific learning disability means a disorder in one or more of the basic psychological processes involved in understanding or in using language, spoken or written that may manifest itself in the imperfect ability to listen, think, speak, read, write, spell or to do mathematical calculations, including conditions such as perceptual disabilities, brain injury, minimal brain dysfunction, dyslexia and developmental apahsia. Specific learning disability does not include learning problems that are primarily the result of visual, hearing, or motor disabilities, of mental retardation, of emotional disturbance, or of environmental, cultural, or economic disadvantage.
Speech or language impairment means a communication disorder such as stuttering, impaired articulation, a language impairment, or a voice impairment, that adversely affects a child's educational performance.
Traumatic brain injury means an acquired injury to the brain caused by an external physical force, resulting in total or partial functional disability or psychosocial impairment, or both, that adversely affects a child's educational performance. Traumatic brain injury applies to open or closed head injuries resulting in impairment in one or more areas, such as cognition; language; memory; attention; reasoning; abstract thinking; judgment; problem-solving; sensory, perceptual, and motor abilities; psychosocial behavior; physical functions; information processing; and speech. Traumatic brain injury does not apply to brain injuries that are congenital or degenerative, or to brain injuries induced by birth trauma.
Visual impairments including blindness means an impairment in vision that, even with correction, adversely affects a child's educational performance. The term includes both partial sight and blindness.
Developmental Delay Term and Definition
Developmental delay means, for a child aged 3-9 (or any subset of that range, including, ages 3 through 5), and may, at the discretion of the State and the local educational agency, include a child experiencing developmental delays, as defined by the State and as measured by appropriate diagnostic instruments and procedure, in 1 or more of the following areas: physical development; cognitive development; communication development; social or emotional development; or adaptive development; and who, by reason thereof, needs special education and related services.
Infant and Toddler with a Disability Term and Definition
Infant or toddler with a disability means an individual under 3 years of age who needs early intervention services because the individual is experiencing developmental delays, as measured by appropriate diagnostic instruments and procedure in 1 or more of the areas of cognitive development, physical development, communication development, social or emotional development, and adaptive development; or has a diagnosed physical or mental condition that has a high probability of resulting in developmental delays.
At-risk Infant or Toddler Term and Definition
At-risk infant or toddler means an individual under 3 years of age who would be at risk of experiencing a substantial developmental delay if early intervention services were not provided to the individual.
Gifted and Talented Term and Definition
Gifted and Talented means students, children, or youth who give evidence of high achievement capability in areas such as intellectual, creative, artistic, or leadership capacity, or in specific academic fields, and who need services or activities not ordinarily provided by the school in order to fully develop those capabilities.
Twice Exceptional Term and Definition
Twice Exceptional means a gifted and talented student with a co-occurring disability.


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Futures retreat after Dow close above 14,000
Stock futures are in retreat on the first day of trading after the Dow Jones industrial average struck a new post-meltdown high.
Dow Jones industrial futures are down 44 points to 13,886 after closing above 14,000 Friday. The broader S&P futures have lost 5 points to 1,501.70. Nasdaq futures are down 8 points to 2,748.50.
Markets have been on a five-week rally and for the year, major U.S. indexes are up between 5 percent and 7 percent.
The earnings season continues this week with technology and health companies prominently featured.
Humana reported a 3.5 percent drop in fourth-quarter net income before markets opened Monday as the health insurer absorbed higher claims payments.
Also Monday, the Commerce Department is expected to report stronger factory orders for December.


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Item #696142


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We see him now as a great mind, perhaps the most brilliant of all Supreme Court justices; as a crusader against oversized institutions; and as a luminously eloquent exponent of free speech and privacy—"the right to be let alone." But he was much more complicated: more conflicted, more interesting.Urofsky "gives us a book that is utterly fascinating."
The life of Brandeis, as explored in Urofsky's remarkable book, had innumerable passages that amaze....Professor Urofsky captures the sweep and the details of that life with what has to be called devotion. More than half the book is about Brandeis's pre-Court years—after all, he was fifty-nine when he was nominated—and one's fascination may flag during discussions of the New Haven Railroad or savings bank life insurance. But Urofsky aimed for completeness, and his achievement is remarkable.The full review is here (subscription required).
CRISIS AND COMMAND: The History of Executive Power From George Washington to George W. Bush by John Yoo and BOMB POWER: The Modern Presidency and the National Security State by Garry Wills are reviewed by Walter Isaacson in the New York Times. Yoo argues that "War acts on executive power as an accelerant...causing it to burn hotter, brighter and swifter," and Wills "argues much the same thing, adding that the advent of atomic weapons has made this concentration of power in the White House even greater." Isaacson writes: "Where the two authors disagree is on whether this trend should be celebrated or denounced." The reviewer thinks of both as "'advocacy history,' in which scholarly analysis and narrative are marshaled into the service of a political argument." Read the rest here.
Also reviewed in the NY Times is The Struggle to Create Post-Cold War Europe by Mary Elise Sarotte. The Conservative Turn: Lionel Trilling, Whittaker Chambers, and the Lessons of Anti-Communism by Michael Kimmage is taken up at the New Republic Book Blog.
THE DEAD HAND: The Untold Story of The Cold War Arms Race and Its Dangerous Legacy by David E. Hoffman is reviewed in the Washington Post.


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COMPONENTS OF NOISE IN SIGNAL DETECTION TASKS by Carlos Alexander Cabrera A Dissertation Presented to the FACULTY OF THE USC GRADUATE SCHOOL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY (NEUROSCIENCE) May 2012 Copyright 2012 Carlos Alexander Cabrera
Object Description
|Components of noise in signal detection tasks
|Cabrera, Carlos Alexander
|Author email
|Doctor of Philosophy
|Document type
|Degree program
|College of Letters, Arts And Sciences
|Date defended/completed
|Date submitted
|Date approved
|Restricted until
|Date published
|Advisor (committee member)
Lu, Zhong-Lin
Tjan, Bosco S.
Itti, Laurent
Wilcox, Rand R.
|Over the last century, researchers have contributed greatly to our knowledge of normative decision-making for a broad array of conditions and contexts. However,significant progress in our understanding of empirical decision outcomes has come less easily and still proves quite problematic in many respects. Among other sub-optimal behavior, human observers often exhibit response variability across identical trials, even when stimuli, task instructions, payoff structure, and other task relevant factors remain constant. Decision theories accounting for this response variability often invoke the assumption of internal noise; that is, random fluctuations perturbing information processing underlying human decision making. While these theories typically ascribe all internal noise to processes of representation, a great body of research suggests that some internal noise may be owing to decision processes as well. In the current dissertation, we construct a new framework capable of distinguishing measurements of noise owing to decision processes and those owing to encoding (representation) processes. The framework is comprised of two major components. The first component relies on a decision model utilizing multiple noisy, overlapping criteria boundaries at the decision stage and a decision protocol specifying rules for trial by trial response contingencies. The second component makes use of this model within the context of a multi-pass signal detection type task with external noise. ❧ We show both the applicability as well as the feasibility of this methodology with a simulation study within the Signal Detection Theory framework. More specifically, we demonstrate parameter recovery for a broad range of assumptions regarding the underlying representations at the decision stage. We then utilize this methodology in a simple visual contrast detection confidence rating task. These empirical results accord well with a number of previous studies suggesting the existence of non trivial decision noise in addition to representational noise. Finally, we consider how to resolve additional factors contributing to response variability in light of this novel methodology such as sequential dependencies.
|signal detection theory; internal noise; decision noise; decision criteria; double-pass; multi-pass; rating procedure
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|University of Southern California dissertations and theses
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|University of Southern California
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|Los Angeles, California
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|University of Southern California. Libraries
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|University of Southern California
|Cabrera, Carlos Alexander
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|The author retains rights to his/her dissertation, thesis or other graduate work according to U.S. copyright law. Electronic access is being provided by the USC Libraries in agreement with the author, as the original true and official version of the work, but does not grant the reader permission to use the work if the desired use is covered by copyright. It is the author, as rights holder, who must provide use permission if such use is covered by copyright. The original signature page accompanying the original submission of the work to the USC Libraries is retained by the USC Libraries and a copy of it may be obtained by authorized requesters contacting the repository e-mail address given.
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|COMPONENTS OF NOISE IN SIGNAL DETECTION TASKS by Carlos Alexander Cabrera A Dissertation Presented to the FACULTY OF THE USC GRADUATE SCHOOL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY (NEUROSCIENCE) May 2012 Copyright 2012 Carlos Alexander Cabrera


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Seven U.S. troops were killed Saturday in two separate incidents in Afghanistan, NBC News reported.
The U.S.-led coalition reported that five U.S. service members were killed by a roadside bomb in southern Afghanistan. Two other U.S. troops died after an Afghan National Army soldier turned his weapon on them in what is commonly referred to as a "green on blue" attack, The International Security Assistance Force said, according to NBC News.
For more coverage, visit NBCNews.com
U.S. & World
The renewed violence came as Afghan President Hamid Karzai acknowledged that his government has been receiving funds from CIA for more than a decade as part of regular monthly assistance from the U.S. government.
Karzai told reporters at a news conference that the CIA's station chief in Kabul has assured him that regular funding the U.S. intelligence agency gives his government will not be cut off.
The coalition did not disclose the location of the roadside bombing, however, Javeed Faisal, a spokesman for the governor of Kandahar province, said the coalition patrol hit the bomb in Maiwand district of the province, the spiritual birthplace of the Taliban. Capt. Luca Carniel, a spokesman for the coalition in Kabul, confirmed that all five were Americans.
Later, the coalition reported that the Afghan soldier turned his weapon on two U.S. troops, the latest of so-called insider attacks. Such attacks by members of the Afghan security forces against their colleagues or foreign troops threaten confidence in the Afghan forces as they work to take over responsibility from international troops.
Karzai had earlier confirmed that his government had received such payments following a story published in The New York Times that said the CIA had given the Afghan National Security Council tens of millions of dollars in monthly payments delivered in suitcases, backpacks and plastic shopping bags.
"The help and assistance from the U.S. is for our National Directorate of Security. That is state-to-state, government-to-government regular assistance," Karzai said. "So that is a government institution helping another government institution, and we appreciate all this assistance and help, all this assistance is very useful for us. We have spent it in different areas (and) solved lots of our problems."
Karzai would not say how much assistance his government had received because it was being used for intelligence work, but acknowledged it was in cash and that "all the money which we have spent, receipts have been sent back to the intelligence service of the United States monthly."
He claimed that much of the money was used to care for wounded employees of the NDS, Afghanistan's intelligence service, and operational expenses.
"It is an official government deal between the two governments. This is happening all over the world — such deals between governments — and in Afghanistan, which is a needy country, these sorts of deals are very important and useful," he said.
Karzai confirmed the payments during a news conference earlier this week in Helsinki, Finland. After Karzai's confirmation in Europe, White House spokesman Jay Carney declined to comment on the newspaper report, referring questions to the CIA, which declined to comment on Saturday.
In his gathering with reporters at the presidential palace, Karzai said he had met earlier in the day with the Kabul station chief of the CIA. "I told him because of all these rumors in the media, please do not cut all this money because we really need it," Karzai said. "We want to continue this sort of assistance and he promised that they are not going to cut this money."
He added that negotiations for a new bilateral security agreement with the United States had been delayed because of conditions that Afghanistan had placed on such a deal. The security agreement is to govern a U.S. military presence after 2014 when nearly all foreign combat troops are to have finished their withdrawal from Afghanistan. The talks, which started in late 2012, are set to last up to a year.
President Barack Obama has not said how many troops will remain, although there have been estimates ranging from 8,000 to 12,000. It is unlikely such an announcement will be made until the security agreement is signed. Those troops would help train Afghan forces and also carry out operations against al-Qaida and other militant groups.
Karzai said Afghanistan was ready to sign a deal as long as the American government in exchange for being able to stay on bases in the country agrees to terms of Afghan security, funding assistance and help with training and equipping Afghan security forces. It is thought that the contentious issue of providing U.S. troops immunity from Afghan law is a low priority for the Afghan government in the negotiations.
The Afghan government has not said how much rent it would want for three or four U.S. bases, but it is believed to be in the billions. Afghanistan is also thought to be seeking security guarantees to protect its porous borders, including the frontier with Pakistan that is the main infiltration route for insurgents who retain sanctuary in Pakistan's lawless tribal areas.
"The position of the United States about the security of Afghanistan and relations with neighboring countries, or whatever attacks are happening from the neighboring countries to Afghanistan, should be very clear," Karzai said. "So we are trying our best that the security of Afghanistan should be guaranteed, peace in Afghanistan should be guaranteed, a strengthening of the Afghan security forces should be guaranteed, as well the economy of Afghanistan should be guaranteed."
It was unclear how Karzai expected the United States or any of its allies to guarantee Afghanistan's borders against attack.
Relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan have been severely strained in recent months, especially over the delicate issue of the demarcation of their border.
Afghan and Pakistani forces engaged in a nearly five-hour exchange of fire last Tuesday along Afghanistan's eastern border. One Afghan border policeman was killed and two Pakistani soldiers were wounded in the fighting in eastern Nangarhar province.
The main problem is that Afghanistan does not recognize the disputed Durand Line, the 19th century demarcation between present-day Afghanistan and Pakistan, while Pakistan does.
"Since the Durand line has been imposed on Afghanistan, it was not acceptable to the Afghans and we cannot accept the Durand line," Karzai said. "No government in Afghanistan will accept the Durand Line."


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Photo: Paul Schiraldi / Paul Schiraldi Photography
As most people know, Game of Thrones, the epic HBO series that has a little bit of everything a fantasy fan could ask for (swordfights! beheadings! betrayals! giants! nakedness! battles! zombies! dragons!), is based on an as of yet incomplete series of novels by author George RR Martin known as A Song of Ice and Fire. But the wildly popular fantasy series isn't the only show on television with literary ties. Check out the gallery above to see which other TV shows — past, present and future — began as books.


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Lollar, Thomas W. (twl31)Skip to content Skip to main navigation
Lollar, Thomas
Fee Based Instructor
59 Macy
Educational Background
M.F.A., B.F.A., Western Michigan University.
Scholarly Interests
I am interested in maps and spend time in Rome every year researching ancient maps. I create clay interpretations.
Selected Publications
Previous Positions
American Academy in Rome: Visiting Artist 2004, 2005
Salzburg Seminar: Fellow 1995
Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts: Director / Curator of Visual Arts 1988-2010
National Ceramic Museum, Seoul, ROK: Guest speaker "American Ceramics" 2001
The New York Sun 2004,2006
Clay Times 2003
New York Times 1997
American Craft Museum
Cooper Hewitt Museum
Hudson River Museum
Hyatt Corporation
Smithsonian Museum of Design
Tiffany & Co.
Warner Brothers
American Academy in Rome
Thomas Lollar has been a professional ceramic artist for twenty years. His works are in the Permanent Collections of the Cooper Hewitt Museum/Smithsonian Institution, American Craft Museum and numerous public and private collections. Thomas is the Director of the Lincoln Center Art Program and is a panelist for the New York City Percent for Art Program. Thomas received his MA Degree in Ceramics from Western Michigan University.


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Arbor day, its purpose and observance.
Description: Discusses Arbor Day as a holiday that recognizes the importance of United States forests and discusses a citizen's duty to preserve them and foster new growth of trees.
Date: November 1936
Creator: United States. Forest Service.
Item Type: Refine your search to only Book
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department


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Shinobu is a Ninja Private School student who dreams of becoming a professional Ninja. She tries to fulfill the assignments given to her by her boss, Touryou, together with her insane assistant, Onsokumaru. Everyday is a challenge, and to fulfill her assignments, she comes to the normal Japanese world and encounters Kaede. In spite of Shinobu's incompatible requests, Kaede and Shinobu establish a stable friendship. But their friendship will be put to the test as the assignments escalate and as Kaede starts to realize the truth about Onsokumaru.
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Strengthening Transparency in the Oil Sector in Cameroon : Why Does it Matter? »
Journal Issue
Volume/Issue: 2006/2
Series: IMF Policy Discussion Papers
Author(s): Stéphane Cossé
Publisher: INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND
Publication Date: 01 March 2006
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5089/9781451972535.003
Keywords: Cameroon, Fiscal transparency, Governance, Oil producing countries, Oil sector, Transparency, African economies, EITI, oil revenue, public expenditure
There has been a growing recognition of the importance of transparency for economic growth and social development in oil producing countries. This paper analyzes transparency issues in Cameroon's oil sector. It sho...


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Seven dazzling days in South Korea
This itinerary is for the helpless Korea virgins (and despite Korea's burgeoning tourism, we know you're out there), not been-there-done-that backpackers in search of the obscure. But the adjective "dazzling" here is no meaningless tag. It's a nod to the process of aggressive elimination and selection that gave us the model itinerary for seven days of travel in South Korea.
It's not a comprehensive list -- being selective tends to make that difficult. But while you may not be seeing everything, what you're seeing will still be thrilling.
Good old Seoul
Incheon International Airport is the gateway to Seoul. Numerous taxis, airport limousine buses -- and now, a specialized railway line -- shuttle passengers to and fro, but the airport limousine buses offer the best value. Bus 6701 towards the Seoul City Hall from Gate 4B or 11A will take you straight to the Westin Chosun in downtown Seoul. The fare is ₩15,000.
As temptingly comfortable as the rooms may be, the surrounding attractions will make it worthwhile to shake out your air legs and walk off your post-plane bloat with a tour of the surrounding palaces.
Across the street from the Westin Chosun is Deoksugung, one of the five Joseon-era palaces in Seoul. Deoksugung's noteworthy features include an art museum and Western-influenced architecture. Admission is ₩1,000 (less than US$1)
Further north along the main road is the next stop, Gyeongbokgung, Seoul's largest and arguably grandest palace. It's certainly the oldest, dating back to 1394, a mere two years after the birth of the Joseon Dynasty.
The road you're walking along is Sejongno, named after Sejong the Great, the Joseon Dynasty king who invented Hangul, or written Korean.
The iconic statue looking down at the road and shaking his spear is Admiral Yi Sun-Shin.
And the anachronistic, palatial gateway up ahead is Gwanghwamun, through which you enter Gyeongbokgung.
Samgyetang, a traditional boiled chicken dish served at the nearby Tosokchon Samgyetang, makes a healthy and filling midday meal.
Gyeongbokgung, former seat of royal authority and site of inventions and assassinations, is now accessible to visitors for ₩3,000.
Formerly home to kings and consorts, it is now home to the National Folk Museum of Korea, easily spotted by its pointed pagoda-tipped roof. History buffs might find it worthwhile to tour the museum. Shutter-happy aesthetes in a hurry will find the lovely gardens, ponds, and pavilions enough.
If you exit Gyeongbokgung through the National Folk Museum entrance you will find yourself in the photogenic district of Samcheong-dong, poster child for the tasteful fusion of traditional and modern, and replete with endearing cafés and boutiques.
At the southern end of Samcheongdong is the ostentatiously traditional Bukchon Hanok Village, a 600-year-old neighborhood of winding alleys and cozily packed hanok, or traditional Korean-style residences with sloping eaves, tiled navy-blue roofs and latticed sliding doors.
Further south is Insadong, shamelessly touristy but not without its charms. Most of the attractions are gathered along one main pedestrian street strung with divergent alleyways, and consist of tea houses, art galleries, antique shops and souvenir shops.
More on CNNGo: Insadong: Art, nostalgia and boho
As with souvenir shops all around the world, Insadong's stores are also inundated with cheaply manufactured, pseudo-local goods, but there's still much that's salvageable: a notebook of hanji -- an improbably tough and stringy traditional Korean paper with the translucence of tissue paper -- for wordsmith friends, or celadon ceramics for your mother -- are much better than a logo-inscribed mug.
Once you've reached Gwanghwamun Station on Line 5, you've completed your circuit of historic Seoul for the day. A short walk will take you to City Hall Station on Line 2.
A few stations away from City Hall is the Gwangjang Market, your multi-stop, multi-shop market for a traditional Korean wardrobe. But it's better known for its street foods -- sundae, bindaetteok, mandu, perfect for dinner on the move. The Euljiro 4-ga stop on Line 2 will take you straight to Gwangjang Market.
Coming alive as Gwangjang Market shuts down for the day is the sprawling Dongdaemun Market nearby, a labyrinthine shopping district of nocturnal malls and hundreds of wholesale traders, retailers, and traditional markets.
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While many of the traders keep regular hours, closing around 6:30 p.m., others -- for example, Doota Mall -- keep less conventional hours, opening at night and closing at dawn.
Depending on your stamina or how interested you are in browsing through hundreds of stores and thousands of clothes, shoes, accessories and other miscellaneous items, Dongdaemun might either take 30 minutes or three hours.
Westin Chosun Hotel
87 Sogong-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul (서울특별시 중구 소공동 87번지); +82 2 771 0500; www.echosunhotel.com/Eseoul.action
Hyosundang (효선당)
49-14 Yulgok-no, Jongno-gu, Seoul (서울특별시 종로구 율곡로 49-14); +82 2 725 7979; eng.hyosundang.com
Tosokchon Samgyetang (토속촌 삼계탕)
85-1 Chebu-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul (서울특별시 종로구 제부동 85-1); +82 2 737 7444
Gwangjang Market (광장시장)
6-1 Yeji-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul (서울특별시 종로구 예지동 6-1); +82 2 2267 0291; kwangjangmarket.co.kr
More on CNNGo: 50 reasons why Seoul is the world's greatest city
Less Seoul, more Seorak
A walk through Changdeokgung, five minutes from Anguk Station, Exit 3, is a great way to start a Tuesday morning. Changdeokgung is a UNESCO World Heritage site famed for its appealing and decidedly East Asian architecture and landscaping.
Of course, for the casual traveler, UNESCO designations may not always be most trustworthy of indicators. Historically significant doesn't always mean a breathtaking experience. You can photograph yourself in front of that 3,000-year-old rock; at the end of the day it's still a rock. But the exquisitely preserved Changdeokgung does seem to have it all, artfully blending the natural and artificial not in a manicured, imposing way, but in an organic and subtle way.
Admission is ₩3,000. Add ₩8,000 for access to the Secret Garden, or Huwon, at the rear of the palace.
More on CNNGo: Architectural grandeur in the heart of Seoul
For lunch, Baesangmyeonjuga at the Finance Center in Gwanghwamun serves eel and galbi versions of bibimbap -- tasty and light.
Then, via the Seoul Express Bus Terminal in Gangnam, you can take a four-hour bus ride (with a short break halfway through) to Sokcho, coastal city in Gangwon-do.
A mere 500 meters from the Sokcho Express Bus Terminal lies Sokcho Beach, where you can while away the rest of the afternoon as you take in Seoraksan to the west.
Lodgings at the Kensington Stars Hotel, with its overtly British theme -- the bar's dubbed Abbey Road and the restaurant's called The Queen -- may not be the quaint mountain pagoda you were imagining for an excursion away from the city. But the view from the window, whatever the style of the window, will be spectacular.
Baesangmyeonjuga (배상면주가)
84 B1F, Taepyeong-ro 1-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul, Korea (서울특별시 중구 태평로1가 84 지하1층); +82 2 773 3238; 5:30 p.m.-11 p.m.; www.soolsool.co.kr
Seoul Express Bus Terminal (서울 고속버스 터미날)
19-4 Banpo 4 dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul (서울특별시 서초구 반포4동 19-4); +82 2 535 2591; www.kobus.co.kr
The Kensington Stars Hotel
106-1 Seorak-dong, Sokcho-si, Gangwon-do (강원도 속초시 설악동 106-1); +82 33 635 4001; www.kensington.co.kr
More on CNNGo: The crazy wonderland of Seoul's party motels
Take a hike. Or several.
Seoraksan may not be Korea's tallest mountain. Or even the second tallest. But its enduring popularity speaks of a better time, when first and biggest wasn't necessarily the best. Anyway, whatever it lacks in height it makes up for in beauty.
Depending on your level of self-perceived athleticism, you might feel either reluctant or ready to tackle a two- to four-hour hike up one of Seoraksan's numerous peaks. Alternatively, you can aim for one of the many waterfalls, or a temple.
If you're feeling particularly confident, the popular Ulsan Bawi course leads to the top of the Ulsan Bawi, a staggeringly enormous rock -- bawi literally means a huge rock or boulder. Although the distance from the bottom is a mere 3.8 kilometers, the trail is notoriously challenging due to the steep slope.
Another "express" bus ride from terminal to terminal and you will be in Seoul exhausted. But that's OK, because Seoul knows how to pamper tired bodies.
But if you're not ready to unwind just yet, Myeongdong Gyoja, in Myeongdong, serves some of Seoul's best kalguksu. Such is the popularity of the place that even on a weekday lunch hour the line, which starts at the restaurant at the second floor, stretches down past the stairway and winds down the street. Dodge the crowds by avoiding conventional meal times.
More on CNNGo: Best noodles in Seoul
Although Myeongdong is frequently touted as a "destination," and does enjoy a certain wild popularity with shoppers, immersing yourself too deeply in its jostling crowds might not be the best idea if you're suffering from exhaustion or if you regularly suffer from claustrophobia.
A quick gander around the perimeter and a glimpse of the huge waves of locals and tourists alike will convince you that the view is better from where you stand.
A bus from Myeongdong Station Exit Number 3 will take you to the top of Namsan, and the base of the N Seoul Tower, formerly Namsan Tower.
Admission is ₩9,000 -- perhaps a bit high, but then so is the tower, at 236.7 meters. From the top you can take in most of Seoul's cityscape; at night a glittering blanket of lights.
If you're just about ready to collapse at this point, a few hours in the heated saunas of the Dragon Hill Spa in Itaewon will leave you scrubbed and cleansed, Korean jjimjilbang style.
Myeongdong Gyoja (명동교자)
25-2 Myeong-dong 2 ga, Jung-gu, Seoul (서울특별시 중구 명동 2가 25-2); +82 2 776 5348; www.mdkj.co.kr (Korean)
N Seoul Tower
San 1-3, Yongsan-dong 2 ga, Yongsan-gu, Seoul (서울특별시 용산구 용산동2가 산1-3); +82 2 3455 9277; www.nseoultower.co.kr
Dragon Hill Spa
40-713 Hangang-no 3 ga, Yongsan-gu, Seoul (서울특별시 용산구 한강로 3가 40-713); +82 2 792 0001; www.dragonhillspa.co.kr
More on CNNGo: 3 best Seoul saunas
South Korea's southern belle
If the trip to Seoraksan in the north was all about nature, the southern part of your journey can be all about culture. And there's no better destination for culture than southern jewel Gyeongju, former seat of the Silla Dynasty, trove of East Asian Buddhist relics galore, and UNESCO World Heritage designation magnet.
Buddhism in some contexts means eschewing worldly riches, asceticism, and attaining nirvana. But Silla's Buddhism was of the kind that erected impressive temples and pagodas, and left behind ancient valuable statues.
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It's not a coincidence that the Silla Dynasty also inspired the name of one of Seoul's most luxurious hotels -- the Shilla Hotel. The Silla Dynasty, which lasted nearly a millennium, traditionally connotes wealth, luxury, and refinement.
The KTX, Korea's bullet train, speeds from Seoul to Gyeongju in just two hours.
The most obvious beginning for a Gyeongju adventure is Bulguksa, a huge Buddhist temple complex and another proud member of the UNESCO World Heritage club. The Seokguram Grotto, within Bulguksa, is also included on the list as a separate item.
In the mountains behind Bulguksa lies the Seokguram Grotto. Seokguram is not a naturally occurring cave, but another impressive example of cunning Silla craftsmanship. The entire cave-like structure, built into the hills above Bulguksa, was constructed with hundreds of stone blocks, no mortar involved.
In walking distance of the Gyeongju Express Bus Terminal, the venerable Pyeongyang Naengmyeon restaurant specializes in naengmyeon, a dish of chewy buckwheat noodles in either a cold, meaty broth or mixed with a spicy gochujang-based paste.
At the Gyeongju Bus Terminal, you can take City Bus No. 70 for ₩1,500 and get off at the entrance of Daeleungwon, or Tumuli Park.
Tumuli Park is actually an old burial ground.
The remains and relics of ancient Silla kings and queens, dating back centuries, are still protected inside grassy mounds. Some of the tombs have been opened up to the public; you can go inside and admire the riches of dead Silla royals.
Within walking distance is Anapji Pond, an artificial lotus pond dating back to 675. Back then Anapji Pond, and the lavish surrounding garden, dotted with dainty, picnic-sized pavilions, were the site of many a royal outing. Today it's far less exclusive, but no less lovely.
More on CNNGo: 50 beautiful places to visit in Korea
Hanok-styled hotel Ragung received considerable attention when it appeared in the popular 2009 Korean television drama series "Boys Over Flowers" as the house of an insanely wealthy kid (a K-Drama staple).
With admirable attention to detail in terms of architecture, bedding, furniture, and meals, Ragung prioritizes luxury above authenticity -- which is probably more true to the spirit of the Silla Dynasty anyway.
Pyeongyang Naengmyeon (평양냉면)
Nodong-dong, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do (경상북도 경주시 노동동 81-1); +82 54 772 2448
Ragung, at Shilla Millennium Park (신라 밀레니엄 파크 라궁)
55-12 Expo-ro, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do (경상북도 경주시 엑스포로 55-12); +82 54 778 2000; www.smpark.co.kr/eng
Jeju Island
This bean-shaped accessory off Korea's southern coast is more than a tropical getaway. In fact, despite the palm trees, Jejudo is far from tropical, as anyone who has ever visited during their windy winters might tell you.
Yet as a volcanic island province with a distinct cultural and ecological identity, Jeju Island does have an exotic getaway element.
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An early start from Gyeongju will get you to the nearest domestic airport in Ulsan in about two hours. From Ulsan, a connecting flight via Jeju Air (+82 1599 1500) will take you directly to Jeju Airport, Jeju-si, in less than an hour.
Public transportation on the island may be inexpensive, but it is poorly labeled and potentially confusing, particularly if you don't speak Korean. Renting your own car, or taking a taxi, right at the airport is ideal.
The Dragon's Head Rock, or Yongduam, is one such rock formation which supposedly resembles the head of a dragon. A 10-minute taxi ride from the airport, or a quick ride on a bus bound for Jeju-si Jungang-ro (get off at Yongdam Rotary and walk 10 minutes to the beach), and you can see for yourself.
Admittedly the rock may not look very dragon-like to some. But the convenient thing about dragons is that they don't actually exist, so a lot is permissible when claiming that anything resembles a dragon.
But poring over rock shapes will only take so long, and at the next stop, the UNESCO-recognized Manjanggul, you can puzzle over stalactites and stalagmites instead.
More on CNNGo: How to visit Jeju Island on a dime
To get to Manjanggul by bus you can board the Donghoe Line Intercity Bus at the Jeju Bus Terminal, which will take you as far as the parking lot near the Manjanggul Cave Entrance in about an hour. The actual cave is about 20 minutes' walk away.
Or you can save the hassle and hail a cab -- the trip will cost about ₩20,000.
Manjanggul, at 13 kilometers long, is the largest lava tube on Jeju Island -- although visitors are only permitted inside a fraction its full length. But it has more than size going for it. Not only is it home to the largest bat colony in Korea (bats are a symbol of good luck in Korean culture), it also houses the largest known lava column in the world (7.6 meters). Even without this superlative, however, Manjanggul's diverse ecological and mineral life and non-life are worth a look. A tour of the cave will take about ₩2,000 and forty minutes.
From Manjanggul Station you can take the Dongilju Bus to the Seongsan-ri Ipgu stop. From there it's less than a kilometer to Seongsan Ilchulbong, or Seongsan Sunrise Peak. The entire trip will take 90 minutes.
A ₩500 ferry for Udo leaves every hour from Seongsan, and the last ferry departs at 4:30 p.m.
To those who might question the point of going to see another island while on an island, comparing Udo to Jejudo would almost be like comparing the Moon to the Earth. Diminutive Udo has a lot to show -- large expanses of yellow rape flowers, beaches of volcanic rock, beaches of bleached-white coral, lighthouses, cliffs, and caves.
The easiest way to tour Udo is via bicycle or scooter. A bicycle will cost around ₩10,000 a day, while the scooter will cost about ₩20,000 per hour. Even on a bicycle, without pedaling like a madman, Udo is so tiny that it is still possible to circle the island in about three hours.
The Udo Ilchul Haeolle Garden near the center of the island serves pork barbeque, but with Jeju black pork, famous for not only its color but its supposedly chewier texture.
More on CNNGo: 5 Korean ways to eat a pig
Phoenix Island Resort is located on the green of Seopjikoji, with angular, modern buildings designed by world-renown architects Tadao Ando and Mario Botta -- whose architectural presence is already felt in Korea through landmarks like the Kyobo Building or the Leeum Samsung Museum.
The rooms start at ₩270,000 during off-peak season, including a complimentary breakfast.
Due to the grassy flatness of the area, everything within walking distance is pretty much visible. Most visitors stop by the "Seoldol," a prominent boulder and the white lighthouse at the edge of the cliff.
The front desk takes reservations for the next day's package tours to Hallasan up till 8 p.m.
Yongduam (용두암)
Yongdam 1-dong, Jeju-si, Jeju-do (제주특별자치도 제주시 용담1동); +82 64 728 2114
Manjanggul (만장굴)
41-3 Gimnyeong-ri, Gujwa-eup, Jeju-si, Jeju-do (제주특별자치도 제주시 구좌읍 김녕리 41-3); +82 64 4818
Udo Ilchul Haeolle Garden (우도 일출 해올레가든)
1344-5 Udo-myeon, Jeju-si, Jeju-do (제주특별자치도 제주시 우도면 1344-5); +82 64 782 0334
Phoenix Island Resort
127-2 Goseong-ri, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do(제주특별자치도 서귀포시 성산읍 고성리 127-2번지); +82 64 731 7000; www.phoenixisland.co.kr
More on CNNGo: The pensive moods of Jeju Island
Sunrises and volcanoes
Neighboring Seongsan Ilchulbong's supposed peak is, non-intuitively, concave -- an enormous crater sits at the top, and this gives the entire mountain a somewhat flattened shape.
But it does provide a stunning backdrop for a sunrise -- hence the name.
Admission is ₩2,000, and an hour should be sufficient to get you to the top; the walk is easy and well worth it.
The Phoenix Island Resort runs a day trip package to Hallasan, Jejudo's mother volcano -- now extinct. There are two ways to approach Hallasan, South Korea's highest peak. You can trek to the top, 1,950 meters above sea level, or hike the famous Ollegil, a trail of routes that wrap around the mountain.
The tours end at Seongpanak, one of Hallasan's many parasitic volcanoes. From Seongpanak you can either take Bus 5.16 to Hongrang-no Ipgu , and switch to Bus 300 to reach Jeju International Airport. The entire journey will take about an hour. A taxi will be quicker, and cost around ₩20,000.
More on CNNGo: 12 reasons to visit Korea in 2012
The last dinner in Jeju just might be the most expensive dinner you have in Korea -- the prices at the Eobu Hoetjip, near Jeju Airport and with a second-story view of the ocean, range from ₩120,000 to ₩180,000.
The "Eobu Special Course" starts at ₩140,000, but can "feed from two to four people," according to restaurant staff. Included in the menu is, of course, hoe, the Korean name for raw fish, a local porridge of abalones, or jeonbokjuk, and Jebu, a local whiskey.
If you have time before your flight, ten minutes' drive from the airport is Jeju Loveland, an outdoor theme park devoted to sex and sex education, with more than 100 sculptures, many humorous rather than sexy, devoted to depicting and celebrating eroticism. And, er, love. A gift shop sells sex toys and related paraphernalia. The park, a favorite with honeymoon couple, is only open to visitors aged 18 and above.
Back in Seoul Saturday night is coming to life, as salarymen cast away their ties, women kick off their heels for even taller heels, and -- it sometimes seems -- everyone gets really, really drunk.
There are many ways to get drunk, but Seoul's makgeolli bars aren't a bad place to start the evening. If you dig dancing, Seoul's favorite clubs such as Club Ellui, one of the largest clubs in Asia, can be found on both sides of the Han River.
Eobu Hoetjip (어부횟집)
2363 Yongdam 2-dong, Jeju-si, Jeju-do (제주특별자치도 제주시 용담2동 2363번지); +82 64 711 7742; jejueobu.co.kr (Korean)
Jeju Loveland
680-26 Yeon-dong, Jeju-si, Jeju-do (제주특별자치도 제주시 연동 680-26) + 82 64 712 6988; www.jejuloveland.com
Club Ellui
129 Cheongdam-dong Gangnam-gu (강남구 청담동 129); cafe.naver.com/ellui; VIP reservations: +82 10 9111 6205
More on CNNGo: Staff picks: Best bars in Seoul
Chungjinok in Jongno serves the perfect hangover cure: Hangover stew, or haejangguk.
For the morning, there is the exclusive, resplendent Korea Furniture Museum -- opulent, quiet, and controlled to ensure the preservation of their delicate Joseon-era furniture collection. In fact, it's so exclusive that they only accept visitors through reservation.
"We'll be taking reservations starting mid-March or so. Guests can make reservations through our website, or by calling," says Joshua Park, Director of Strategic Planning. "And of course, we'll be taking no more than 15 people or so at one time." Guided tours only.
More on CNNGo: Introducing the most beautiful museum in Seoul
SamcheongGak is an upscale dining and entertainment complex nestled into the pine forest by the Blue House, Korea's presidential residence. They run a regular, free shuttle from the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts.
Once limited to the politically connected, SamcheongGak is now open to the public.
And finally, a cruise along the Han River seems a symbolically appropriate way to end the week: the river has been by turns a patriotic symbol and a movie star ("The Host"), has caused wars and won wars for Korea's numerous kingdoms, and has watered the country before it was even a country. The prices depend on whether you opt for a round trip or a one-way, but start at ₩6,000 and reach up to ₩13,000. (Call for reservations at +82 2 785 0392, 3, 4).
Chungjin-ok (청진옥)
24 Jongno 1-ga, Seoul (청진옥, 서울특별시 종로1가 24 ); +82 2 735 1690
Korea Furniture Museum (한국 가구 박물관)
330-577 Seongbuk-dong, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul (서울특별시 성북구 성북동 330-577); +82 2 745 0181; www.kofum.com
Samcheonggak (삼청각)
330-115 Seongbuk-dong, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul (서울특별시 성북구 성북동 330-115); +82 2 765 3700; www.samcheonggak.or.kr
More on CNNGo: Seoul: 24 hours, 24 adventures


text: Benelli Super Vinci 12ga 26" Benelli Super Black Eagle 2 28" Benelli SBE 3 Waterfowl Performance Shop... BENELLI PERFORMANCE SHOP SUPERSPORT 20GA... Benelli Montefeltro Max 5 Shotgun (20 Ga... Guns Shotguns Benelli Shotguns Sporting Benelli Ethos Field ga Nickel Walnut | 1019 | 80 | Lc | 93.5926ms View Category Benelli Ethos Field 12ga 26" Nickel/Walnut #10461 For Sale from LL Cote Sport Center | Positive feedback: 87% View | Verified Seller | 545 Completed Sales View Sellers Items /UserImages/103173/959655400 13707678.jpg /UserImages/103173/959655400 13707679.jpg /UserImages/103173/959655400 13707680.jpg /UserImages/103173/959655400 13707681.jpg /UserImages/103173/959655400 13707682.jpg Description: You are bidding on a new Benelli Ethos shotgun in 12ga with a 26" barrel and 3" chamber. The Ethos is an elegant new semiautomatic 12-gauge shotgun that is the culmination of Benelli's latest innovations, refinements and design superiority, all centered around the core—Inertia Driven System. The new Progressive Comfort recoil system incorporates three sets of patented, interlocking flexible buffers that absorb recoil at different stages dependent on the strength of the shotshell's load. Five choke tubes are included with this firearm, Cylinder, Improved Cylinder, Modified, Improved Modified and Full. Displayed images are stock photos. Any questions please feel free to ask (our phone number is in the additional information tab above). MANUFACTURER: Benelli MODEL: Ethos Field CALIBER: 12ga FINISH: Blue/Nickel/Wood BARREL LENGTH: 26" ACTION: Semi-Auto CAPACITY: 4+1 Payment: • We accept all major credit cards, certified checks or money orders for payment. • Payment for all auctions must be received within 5 days of sale. • We charge no sales tax on any transaction. • A 3% processing fee will be charged for the use of a credit card. • If you would like to place a firearm on layaway we will require a 20% non-refundable down payment and minimum monthly payments of 16% of the total sale price. Shipping: • We will only ship inside the United States, no international shipments. • Shipments to Alaska and Hawaii pay actual shipping costs. Policy: • All firearm sales must be shipped to an FFL holder for transfer. The buyer of an auction must make arrangements with their FFL holder. Any transfer fees that the FFL holder charges are not included in the sale price. • The bidder of an auction must make sure that the item they are purchasing complies with their state laws. If an auction is returned due to a state law or to a failure to pass a background check, the buyer is responsible for all shipping fees and a 10% restocking fee will be charged. • The buyer of an auction has a 3 day inspection period, if the auction is to be returned the buyer will pay all shipping fees. • In store pickup is available for all auction sales. Please note that handgun sales must have a background check performed in the buyer's state of residence. Read More Condition: New In Box Brand: BENELLI Caliber: 12 Gauge Location: NH Trades Accepted: Call us at ext. 111 for arrangements. Read More Shipping Notes: Shipments to Alaska and Hawaii pay actual shipping costs. Read More Share Item Item #: 959655400 SKU: 10461 Stock No.: 10461 LL Cote Sport Center Seller Since: Dec. 2008 Identity Verified ( Errol, NH ) Trusted Seller This seller is an FFL City: Errol State: NH Price: SOLD (Price reflects 3% cash discount.) This Seller Accepts Online Payment Shipping: See Description (or FREE in-store pick up!) Accepted Payment Methods: Returns: 3 Days Your Recently Viewed Items


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Posted: Thu Nov 29, 2007 2:18 am
Post subject: carbon steel knives
I've seen some posts suggesting vintage carbon steel knives as an alternative to stainless steel. I thought it might be helpful to point out that carbon steel knives are still available new and at reasonable prices. See
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Posted: Sat Dec 01, 2007 10:56 pm
Post subject:
Try this:
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Joined: 05 Sep 2006
Posts: 5
Posted: Fri Dec 07, 2007 12:45 am
Post subject:
Anonymous wrote:
Try this:
I bought a set of Sabatier Carbon Steel Knives back in the early 70's. I still have them and they are a prized member of my kitchen. They hold a keen edge and the handles have never aged. The tangs go all the way to the end of the handle. They do need to be kept away from long term wetness, as they will corrode. Mine are corroded slightly, as I abused them in my youth. They will be with me forever and will, most likely, be handed down to my heirs.
I can only say, buy a wooden stand or a magnetic wall strip to keep them, and make sure the tips are protected, as they will bend if they are gouged into somthing like a counter top. Keep them clean and wash off the acid when you are through chopping vegetables. They will last a lifetime.
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Joined: 23 Apr 2008
Posts: 4
Location: Winnipeg, CA
Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2008 5:56 pm
Post subject:
Thank you!!!
I have spent YEARS hunting for a good set of carbon steel cleavers. This just made my day.
Excuse me while I place an order...
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Joined: 30 Jan 2008
Posts: 21
Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2008 12:33 am
Post subject:
vchan wrote:
Thank you!!!
I have spent YEARS hunting for a good set of carbon steel cleavers. This just made my day.
Excuse me while I place an order...
Years? Did you search using a bobsled? Most of us use google - takes about two seconds. LOL
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Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2008 1:18 am
Post subject:
What are the advantages of a carbon steel knife versus other types of steel?
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Joined: 30 Jan 2008
Posts: 21
Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2008 1:37 am
Post subject:
CookNewb wrote:
What are the advantages of a carbon steel knife versus other types of steel?
Very generally, nearly all carbon blades sharpen more easily and take a better (sharper) edge than most stainless steels. There are several stainless steels that are fantastic but are seldom found on run of the mill knives. Carbon blades require loving care, needing to be washed and dried immediately after use to prevent rust, and they also develope patina (discolor) over time. There are also in between semi-stainless steels like D2 and SKD. It's a matter of taste. I have some of each but don't have a preference. My knives run from very soft SS to very hard SS and carbon. I like them all for different reasons.
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Joined: 23 Apr 2008
Posts: 4
Location: Winnipeg, CA
Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2008 7:40 pm
Post subject:
well, the first two years of searching was strictly local and whatever chinese groceries I could find on rare trips to other cities.
The online searches when I finally broke down and started them gave me tons of results... and not alot of information on them, combined with websites that made me leary of ordering anything through them
This one however has the info I want (weights included with dimensions) and good pictures (it DOES look like my Da's cleaver). Finally, the prices are very good, the shipping isn't ridiculous, AND they ship outside the continental US.
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Joined: 30 Jul 2007
Posts: 89
Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2008 9:15 pm
Post subject:
Word of caution vchan, these cleavers will most likely arrive at your door as dull as butterknives.
But don't threat, after sharpening they will become a lot nicer. If you need advice about sharpening feel free to ask, I have quite a wealth of information on the subject.
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Joined: 24 Apr 2008
Posts: 39
Location: LA
Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2008 8:14 pm
Post subject:
I only like carbon steel, especially Takeda, and the other line of Japanese blacksmiths.
They do need care and feeding, as though they are alive and change over time.
They have held the best edges I've ever seen.
Many Japanese makers use Aogami Supersteel, Rockwell about 62.
Google "Japanese Chef's knives" and see what you get. I'll never go back to Henckles, Wusstoff, etc.
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Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2008 2:16 pm
Post subject:
vchan wrote:
well, the first two years of searching was strictly local and whatever chinese groceries I could find on rare trips to other cities.
The online searches when I finally broke down and started them gave me tons of results... and not alot of information on them, combined with websites that made me leary of ordering anything through them
This one however has the info I want (weights included with dimensions) and good pictures (it DOES look like my Da's cleaver). Finally, the prices are very good, the shipping isn't ridiculous, AND they ship outside the continental US.
The coolest Chinese cleavers are the CCK's and you really can't find an online source. Basically you find a little shop in Chinatown. There's one on Clement in SF.
Carbon Steel does not do well with acidic foods. Fruit,onions,peppers, are acidic and aside from cosmetic tarnish,they will rapidly spoil your fine edge by micro corrosion. Carbon knives can be your main Knives but I'd have a good Stainless for acidic food. No point getting a great edge then spoiling it cutting a couple of onions.
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Jim Cooley
Joined: 09 Oct 2008
Posts: 377
Location: Seattle
Posted: Thu Oct 09, 2008 6:58 pm
Post subject:
I've had a Japanese "Sakai" chef's knife for (gasp) 16 years and love it. Only place I've ever found them was in Honolulu at Shirokiya at the Ala Moana mall.
Soko Hardware in San Fran has some other nice brands, though.
Good tip about acidic foods. I recently discovered carbon steel loses its edge if it rusts even the tiniest bit. Duh! So now I dry my knife even if I'll need it again in just a few minutes.
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Joined: 26 Jan 2009
Posts: 4
Location: Diamondhead, MS
Posted: Mon Jan 26, 2009 10:10 pm
Post subject: Great Info
This lists about all of the materials to make knives out of...
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Joined: 26 Mar 2009
Posts: 1
Location: Ohio
Posted: Thu Mar 26, 2009 3:41 pm
Post subject:
Hello everyone, I found this forum searching for more info about Frank Richtig. I'm a knifemaker and am always very pleased to meet other people that enjoy quality tools. There is nothing wrong with carbon blades, they require care, but all knives do if you would like them to last, even stainless will rust and stain, its called stain"less" after all not stain proof. Knives should always be hand cleaned and put away dry in a way so as to protect the edge, never put them in a dishwasher. The link provided to a list of blade steels is nowhere near a "complete list" any steel with more than .6% carbon can be heat treated. For simple carbon steels in the 10xx family the last two numbers indicate the carbon content, for example 1095 is roughly .95% carbon with a little manganese for better hardenability since 1095 is a shallow hardening steel, and traces of phosphorous and sulfur. 1095 is an excellent choice for a smaller knife. The 521xx series the list mentions is a chromium bearing steel much better suited for large chopping blades, 1084 and 5160 would also be a great choice for large blades. The tool steels like A2,O1,D2, and L6 are all superb knife steels but also require a more exacting heat treat compared to simple carbon steels. The word stainless only implies that the steel has at least 12% chromium to resist corrosion there are many to choose from some are good for some blade types and some are good for others, the myths that stainless steels are not as good, hard to sharpen, don't hold edge, are mostly the fault of cheap knives made with inferior steel that isnt heat treated properly or some that aren't heat treated at all. The CPM stainless steels (Crucible Particle Metallurgy) are all excellent choices depending on the intended use. A properly made knife with good geometry and a proper heat treat will perform exactly as it should, there are steel choices in both categories that excel in their intended use, the choice between the two is exactly that, a choice, if you like carbon steel that produces a nice patina over time stick with carbon if you want a knife that stays shiny and is easy to clean stick with stainless. Sorry for the post being so long but as a knifemaker I hate seeing stainless get a bad rap because of cheap inferior KSO(knife shaped object) I like both carbon and stainless and the only advantage that either has over the other is stainless stains less. I would also like to note there are several custom knifemakers that make superb kitchen cutlery.
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Joined: 16 Jul 2009
Posts: 4
Posted: Thu Jul 16, 2009 3:07 pm
Post subject:
I'm looking into a couple of less expensive Japanese carbon steel knives.
Just wondering if you guys may know a certain brand better, or could give me some better history than that I have been finding online.
Another note, I am leaning more to the Kikuichi because i can get it from my local cutlery store.
Thanks very much.
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Last year my family wanted to get me an IPad. It seems that everyone has a tablet of one kind or another. Out of a purse comes a slim line tablet and finger starts sliding, pictures are taken, GPS service accomplished. So why was it that I did not want one, too? It was because the computer aspect in the tablets I knew about was not adequate for my needs. But, suddenly, things have changed. With the new line of Intel Ultra Convertibles choices abound.
Recently, I had the chance to see many of these new models in action. It is a hard choice with so many now available and each one looking more intriguing than the next. I found the new designs amazed me with what's possible with just one device. I would really like to "unwrap an Ultrabook" this holiday season, wouldn't you?
I visited Best Buy to see what could be purchased and Lenovo was prominently displayed in its various "Yoga" positions. The staff was very enthusiastic about it. I still plan to visit Office Depot, Office Max and Staples to check the other convertibles
The combination of the touch screen, which is an instinctive way for people to express themselves, learn and interact in combination with a computer powerful enough to manage complex programs is irresistible. Because of our instincts in using touch to understand the world, both older and younger users are finding a new love for computing because of the availability of touch-screen technology.
Other features that are very impressive include security in that Ultrabook systems are equipped with enhanced security features, including Intel® Anti-Theft technology that lets people automatically disable the system if it is lost or stolen3. Another feature is the ultra-fast start-up. Intel® Rapid Start Technology gets your system up and running faster from even the deepest sleep, saving time and battery life. The system wakes up almost instantly and gives users quick access to their data and applications. And I am really excited about the extended battery life. Ultrabook devices offer between 5 and 8 hours of battery life, even in the sleekest form factors, and last much longer when not in use than traditional notebooks. An Ultrabook is also enabled with features that help protect itself and its user. Ultrabook bios/firmware is enabled to expose hardware features for Intel® Anti-Theft Technology and Intel® Identity Protection Technology.
Just trying out some of the new Ultra Convertibles is a treat but even more fun to choose and use one. Look for these.
Lenovo Ideapad Yoga Ultrabook*
• Features 360-degree flip-and-fold design, use as a
notebook, tablet, stand or tent
• Only 0.67" (16.9mm)-thick and weighs 3.4 lbs. (1.54kg)
• 10-point multi-touch, 13.3" HD+ (1600 x 900)
screen with wide viewing angle
• Up to 8GB memory, up to 256GB SSD storage
• Estimated 8 hours battery life
• OS: Windows 8*, 3rd generation Intel® Core™ processor
• Starting at $1,099 USD
Asus Taichi Ultrabook*
• Two displays: touch screen on
the outside of the lid plays the
role of both Ultrabook and tablet
• Two screens can operate
independently and be used
simultaneously for a host of
innovative new applications
• Multi-touch and stylus support
• Full-size QWERTY backlit
keyboard and track pad
• Fast SSD storage and dual band
802.11n Wi-Fi
• Comes in 11.6" and 13.3" models
with double-sided LED-backlit
IPS/FHD display
• OS: Windows 8*, 3rd generation
Intel® Core™ processor
• Starting at $1,299 USD
Dell XPS Duo 12 Ultrabook*
• Ultrabook convertible with innovative flip hinge
design that allows an easy transition from
Ultrabook to tablet mode
• Full HD screen, providing 2x more pixels than
a standard HD display
• Thoughtful design, crafted from premium materials,
including machined aluminum, carbon fiber
and Corning® Gorilla® Glass*
• OS: Windows 8*, 3rd generation Intel® Core™ processor
• Starting at $1,199.99 USD
Toshiba Satellite U920T*/U925T Ultrabook*
• 12.5'' touch screen transforms from laptop to tablet
mode with five-finger touch input
• SSD with a 256 GB storage capacity
• Includes 2x USB 3.0, Sleep and Charge, HDMI®, SD™ Card
reader, audio combo jack (microphone in/headset out)
• Intel® Wireless Display technology for wireless streaming
of content to the large screen of a compatible TV
• Anti-finger coating on scratch resistant
Corning® Gorilla® Glass*
• Stereo speakers enhanced by SRS Premium Sound 3D
• OS: Windows 8*, 3rd generation Intel® Core™ processor
• Starting at $1,149.99 USD
Check out the new products that can twist (Flip, Turn or Spin) on laptops and tablets this Holiday Season. It is a great time to be a consumer.
Photos: Intel and B.Keer


text: Friendly Society Collar Description This is a collar from the Stuart M Samuel Lodge, Order of Achei Brith Friendly Society. Friendly societies played an important role in the lives of Jewish immigrants from the late 19th century and for much of the 20th century. In return for weekly contributions, members received payments to help them in times of illness and death. Some friendly societies also provided social events for their members. By 1901, there were 176 Jewish friendly societies in London. Some friendly societies had membership ceremonies and rituals. Collars like this were worn by the president and other senior members of the society. Themes Charity and Welfare London's East End Object ID 1984.111.180 Date 20th Century


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De abrew Surname Ancestry Results
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d'drusina d'duyn-gravenmoer d'e ddge ddobson ddufty ddwhirst ddy de abbendon de abila de abraham de abren de abrin de acellis de achery de acra dea deab deabanke deabasia deabell deabill deable deabne deaces deachar deack deacken deackens deackle deacle deacles deacock deacoke deacomb deacon deacon-turner deacons deaconsmith deacruz
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Even though Danish students have equal access to education, their choice of studies is still influenced by social class. Young people from working class backgrounds are motivated by studies with a clear job profile and high income, while prestige and studies with a strong identity appeal to young people of parents with university degrees when choosing which studies to pursue. This is what researchers from the University of Copenhagen conclude in a new study.
Students who have chosen to study medicine, architecture, economy and sociology often come from homes where the parents have completed higher education, whereas business studies and pharmacy often appeals to young people with a working class background. This is documented by a research team from the University of Copenhagen and Aalborg University in a new study.
"There is a connection between the studies chosen by young Danes and their social background. Even for the young people who have very good grades in their A-level exams, and who could successfully seek admission to a large variety of studies, the parents' level of education and social class play an important role in their choice," says Education Sociologist Jens Peter Thomsen, who is one of the researchers behind the study.
The study "The Educational Strategies of Danish University Students from Professional and Working-Class Backgrounds" is based on 60 interviews with Danish students from six different university level study programmes: Medicine, architecture, sociology, economy, pharmacy and business studies.
Young people of parents with university degrees choose a 24-hour culture
The young people bring with them the resources they get from their families. If you grow up in a home with parents who are doctors or architects with a strong professional identity, it is an obvious choice to follow the same path as your parents when you grow up.
"For young people whose parents are university educated, factors such as prestige and a strong sense of professional identity are important. They are attracted by an educational culture in which you are a student 24/7, and where leisure activities are tied to the identity that lies within your studies. These young people have also grown up with topical discussions around the dinner table which also prepares them for their lives as students," says Jens Peter Thomsen.
Young people from working class backgrounds choose '9 to 5' studies
When young people from working class homes with good grades in their A-level exams choose other paths than the prestigious studies, it is, among other things, due to the fact that they want a clearly defined aim of their studies.
"The young people who are first-generation university students often choose studies that are more '9 to 5' and less tied up to a sense of identity. They have lower academic expectations of themselves, and they choose studies with a clearly defined goal for their professional lives," in sectors where jobs are easily found.
They do not choose to study, e.g. sociology because it can be difficult to know what it might lead to jobwise, says the education sociologist.
Financial freedom does not erase the influence of the social background
The study shows that young people with a working class background do not experience their financial situation as an obstacle when choosing to pursue higher education. Welfare benefits in Denmark mean you do not have to pay tuition, and you also have the system with the Danish state educational grant (SU). This helps erase the class differences, but they still exist, emphasised Jens Peter Thomsen.
"In the US and in many other European countries you will find the same patterns in young people's choice of studies as in Denmark. Although the Danish welfare system creates more equality," the inequality still exists, he states, and he adds:
"The fact that social background plays such an important role, challenges our view that everyone has equal opportunities. We will end up witha very narrow view of society if positions of power and prestige are solely reserved for children of parents with a university degree," says Jens Peter Thomsen.
As an example he mentions that medical students from families of doctors may have a different view of the patient than a young person with a working class background, who also chooses to study medicine. If you are to change the pattern in young people's choice of studies, the institutions offering the study programmes will have to make an effort to recruit their students more broadly, says the researcher.
"Young people who come from a working class background, and have good grades, should be encouraged to take advantage of the full range of opportunities they have. But the effort to reach this goal must start early," says Jens Peter Thomsen.
The study "The Educational Strategies of Danish University Students from Professional and Working-Class Backgrounds" is newly published in the high ranking scientific journal, Comparative Education Review.
Education Sociologist Jens Peter Thomsen
Mobile: +45 61 30 84 82


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No Wonder Eminent Domain Mortgage Seizures Scare Wall Street
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Three California local governments may use their eminent domain powers to seize mortgages and restructure them to help distressed borrowers stay in their homes — much to the dismay of investors who hold the mortgages.July 6
After years of worrying about the bad lending decisions and illiquidity that started the crisis, we must face the structural problem prolonging the crisis and preventing the economy from recovering fully.August 1
Eminent domain catapulted last year from a topic for policy wonks to a mainstream issue in the wake of a U.S. Supreme Court decision, which allowed a Connecticut town to buy 15 residents' properties over their objections to raise more tax revenue. Now, banks are beginning to take a stand, though vastly differing opinions are dividing the industry.April 1
BB&T Corp. has long strived to be recognized as a company that applies a system of values to its business decisions.January 26
There is a great disturbance in the force.
Wall Street's political operatives — the American Bankers Association, American Securitization Forum, the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association, and the Financial Services Roundtable — wrote a panicked letter to the Supervisors of San Bernardino County in California to express "strong objection" to a proposal by a startup mortgage company. The letter conveys the unmistakable threat that Wall Street will sic its lawyers on the county and will "likely be reluctant to provide future funding to borrowers in these areas."
The proposal is that the county use eminent domain to buy underwater mortgages, almost half the mortgages in the county. The mortgage company, working with the county, would then negotiate new mortgages with the homeowners that they could afford. If the proposal worked as planned, the county would get relief from the foreclosure crisis, the mortgage company would make a profit, and the idea would spread to other counties and towns.
A legal challenge by Wall Street might be expensive to fight, but the arguments are pretty flimsy.
Eminent domain is commonly used to buy land for projects like roads and schools. Existing law allows the use of eminent domain to buy any kind of property, however, including even intangible property like trade secrets. There is no apparent reason that eminent domain could not be used to purchase mortgages.
The Constitution requires only that the county pay fair market value and that there be a public purpose. Deciding a fair price would not be hard. There are frequent auctions of mortgages with a sufficient number of informed, sophisticated buyers. The auctions are an almost perfect pricing mechanism. There would be comparable sales to determine almost any mortgage's fair market value.
Showing a public purpose would not be hard either. A public purpose can be cleaning up contaminated land, renewing a "blighted" neighborhood, or even stimulating economic growth by replacing residential neighborhoods with commercial development.
Wall Street argues that the county's purpose would not be to reduce the foreclosures that are wreaking economic havoc, but to enrich the mortgage company. But law professors, economists, community advocacy groups and politicians with no financial interests at stake have argued for just such an effort to address the foreclosure crisis. A program by a government agency not motivated by the pursuit of profit would be greatly preferable, but this proposal by the for-profit mortgage company obviously serves a public purpose.
The threat of a boycott is also hollow. A decade ago Wall Street bullied Georgia into gutting a state predatory lending law by refusing to buy Georgia mortgages. Wall Street has not bought mortgages since the collapse of the private securitization market five years ago, however. A threat of a boycott by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac would be credible, but the threat of a boycott by Wall Street is not.
Wall Street quickly persuaded some mortgage investors, such as pension funds and insurance companies, to oppose the proposal, but investors will do fine – maybe even better than they would otherwise. The program would likely target homeowners with second liens. Mortgage investors own most first mortgages, but the biggest banks own most second mortgages and home equity lines of credit.
About half of delinquent first mortgages also have second liens. Second liens are secured by the value of the home in excess of the amount of the first mortgage. Since the housing bubble burst, there often is no excess. At foreclosure, first mortgage holders are paid in full before second lien-holders are paid anything, and the holders of seconds usually come away empty-handed. Courts give firsts the same priority over seconds in bankruptcy.
Second liens have a ransom value in voluntary modifications, however. Unless the second lien-holder agrees to something different, the voluntary reduction of principal on a first mortgage is a gift of collateral to the second lien-holder and may still not get the homeowner above water. Second lien-holders sometimes offer to reduce the second by the same percentage that the first is voluntarily reduced, a far cry from the priority in foreclosure and bankruptcy. Mortgage servicers, the companies responsible for negotiating voluntary modifications of first mortgages owned by investors, frequently have a stunning conflict of interest. The four biggest banks - Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase, Citigroup and Wells Fargo - control two-thirds of all mortgage servicing, mostly of mortgages owned by investors. The same four banks hold $363 billion in second liens, very commonly on the same property as first mortgages they service.
So the real losers from the program would be the biggest banks, the holders of second liens, not investors in first mortgages. And even for the biggest banks, eminent domain would not cause losses but reveal losses.
The biggest banks have delayed recognizing losses on seconds for years while paying dividends and lavish executive bonuses. Involuntary sales of seconds at fair market value would end fictitious valuations and require an immediate accounting loss, making dividends and executive bonuses much harder to justify and perhaps even revealing some banks to be insolvent.
The biggest banks have used their political power in Washington to defeat any effort that would effectively reduce foreclosures, such as allowing judicial modification of mortgages in bankruptcy, allowing a federal agency to use eminent domain to buy mortgages, or providing teeth for the chronically ineffective Home Affordable Modification Program, because those efforts would also require the immediate recognition of losses on mortgages.
But Wall Street's power in Washington may be as useless in defeating a proposal in San Bernardino County as strategic nuclear weapons are in fighting an insurgency. No wonder Wall Street is panicked.
Brad Miller is a Democratic Congressman from North Carolina.


text:
Season Finale Sneak Peek!
Morgan (Shemar Moore), Hotch (Thomas Gibson) and Prentiss (Paget Brewster) try to restrain a distraught JJ (A.J. Cook) as the hostage situation inside a Washington, D.C. bank become more tense, on the two-hour season finale of CRIMINAL MINDS, Wednesday, May 16 (9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. Photo: Monty Brinton/CBS ©2012 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved. #GoodbyePrentiss


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