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Roach Extermination
& Treatment Pros!
Since 1972, we've been solving roach problems for residents in Riverside and throughout the greater Inland Empire. If you have roaches on your property, or you suspect that they may be present, don't try to take care of the problem on your own. Our professional cockroach extermination service is the only way to stop them, killing off the roaches and eliminating their eggs so that they cannot continue to thrive.
Professional Roach Exterminators Since 1972!
Roach infestation is a serious issue. Roaches are adaptable to almost any environment, including your home or business. Roaches pose a danger to the health of humans because they carry disease pathogens including salmonella, streptococcus, E. coli, hepatitis B, and cholera. When disease-carrying roaches come into contact with food or personal objects, contamination almost certainly occurs. Thus, it is imperative to hire a professional company to help solve your roach problem.
Although there are ways to treat a roach infestation on your own, these methods have limited effectiveness. These methods include: denying them the water and food they need to survive, fixing any leaks you have, and keeping food closed and sealed off. If you have a family, large residence, or even a mild infestation, following these procedures will only address the symptoms of the problem and not the root cause.
Nature's Survivalist Meets Effective Treatment
Roaches can enter your property many ways. For example, they may hide in a grocery bag or they may jump into a brief case at work. In addition, they are nocturnal insects; they may creep around at night, multiply and create a family without you knowing! Moreover, roaches can crawl into tiny cracks in pipes, and although they do seek food, they usually enter these pipes looking for warmth and moisture. Thus, you need a professional to find them at the source and take necessary steps to eradicate them thoroughly throughout the property.
Professional Cockroach Extermination
Our company is experienced in rooting out roaches. Established in 1972 and family owned, we bring a sense of care and quality to your roach control issue that only a small family owned business can. We start with a consultation with the purpose of completely understanding the extent of your infestation. We then brainstorm a plan and execute it. We even educate you on what to expect during our treatment process and offer practical tips on how to stop the reoccurrence of future roach issues. Our family will ensure that your family's property is safe and healthy once again.
The proper identification of a cockroach species is essential to successfully eliminating an infestation. A Structural Termite and Pest Control professional can quickly identify the type of infestation and provide an effective treatment solution. Request a free consultation online or call 951-383-3546


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Java Update Released
Sun Microsystems issued another update to fix security and stability problems with its Java software, but few users are likely to have noticed, as Sun currently isn't doing anything to alert people.
The latest update to version of Java most Microsoft Windows users have on their machines -- Java Runtime Environment (JRE, also called simply "Java Update" in the Windows Add/Remove programs list) -- is JRE 6 Update 6. However, both of the methods I normally use to tell whether I'm running the latest, patched version failed to tell me that there was a new version of Java available. Update 6 plugs at least one security vulnerability, along with at least a dozen other bugs.
I've found that the Java updater that ships with the software typically takes anywhere from two to four weeks after an update has been shipped to alert me that it is available. Sun's Java homepage is usually a bit faster on the uptake, but it also still tells me that I'm running the most current version with my install of Java 6 Update 5.
Note to Sun: When you ship an update that includes security fixes, alert your user base and update your Web site. Who is that user base? Just about anyone who owns a Windows computer. Sun estimates that Java is installed on more than 600 million computers worldwide.
Users who want to install this latest update now can grab it from this link here(the JRE is the 5th item listed). As always, remember to uninstall any older versions of Java you may have, either before or after updating, as Sun's Java installers still do not take care of this basic process for the user.
Brian Krebs
April 21, 2008; 1:25 PM ET
Categories: New Patches
Save & Share: Previous: When Monetizing ISP Traffic Goes Horribly Wrong
Next: A Shifting Definition of 'Severity'
"Just about anyone who owns a Windows computer. Sun estimates that Java is installed on more than 600 million computers worldwide."
Not mine. (been that way for over 4 years).
Wonder how many of those came that way from the OEM (ex. Dell, HP, etc.), not to mention all the other junk.
First thing I do with any new system is wipe it clean and install a fresh copy of the operating system sans any third party software.
I understand it may not be possible for many to forego Java, but at some point it is wise to evaluate the benefit/risk ratio and take a stand. Ditto on QuickTime and Adobe Reader.
Anyway, as always thanks for the heads up and the option to comment. :)
Posted by: TJ | April 21, 2008 1:55 PM | Report abuse
Aah! BSOD! First time ever under XP for me. Can I tell you how much I don't like using custom downloaders? Please let us know when the darn thing's available over HTTP (or FTP).
Posted by: Hemisphire | April 21, 2008 2:37 PM | Report abuse
I followed your advice and tried to update and download Java JRE 6, update 6, but the download only produced the older version 6, update 5, the same version I had before. There is no mention of JRE 6, update 6 on any of Java's websites, as far as I can tell. What did I do wrong?
Posted by: Anonymous | April 21, 2008 3:11 PM | Report abuse
Has Sun ever explained why it's so slack in this area? I'd think that even their own programmers would be annoyed that the company doesn't really try to do anything with their work.
Posted by: ugh | April 21, 2008 3:41 PM | Report abuse
Hemisphere, it is available via http, just click directly on the file name instead of the check box.
Posted by: Adrian | April 21, 2008 5:27 PM | Report abuse
So, which is worse - an installer that takes a week or two to detect new software, or an installer that pushes new applications from the vendor?
It's distressing (no offense, Brian...) that end-users essentially need to follow something like Security Fix to keep up to date with their software. How's the average user supposed to keep their computer from being a zombie? Vendor-supplied updaters tend to be a very weak area.
@Hemisphire: There is a direct link, although it's not obvious. Click the filename (the name ending in .exe) and you'll get a download window.
Posted by: Nathan | April 21, 2008 5:30 PM | Report abuse
"How's the average user supposed to keep their computer from being a zombie?"
Via a multi-layered defense (see list below) of which patching is only one part. The point is do not rely on just one defense. With multiple layers, if one is compromised, another protects, making it much more difficult for malware to get a foothold.
1. Use a non-admin (limited user) account
2. Use a firewall (preferably a hardware firewall at the perimeter and a software firewall on each computer)
3. Keep the system fully patched (includes ALL software)
4. Use Antivirus/Antimalware software that is configured to update itself DAILY
5. Practice safe computing
6. Routinely (at least monthly) backup your data to external media
7. Install ONLY required software using the latest versions, uninstall old or unused software (reduces system attack surface and minimizes patching)
8. Stay informed of computer security news (like this blog)
Posted by: TJ | April 21, 2008 6:21 PM | Report abuse
Secunia doesn't detect it either, and they always find everything. Maybe by tomorrow they'll have it figured out and send out the email reminder to update.
Posted by: Catester | April 21, 2008 8:10 PM | Report abuse
In XP, go to Control Panel and click on the Java icon and select the Update tab, then if "Check for Updates Automatically" is checked, click the Advanced button. It will show you how often your machine is configured to check for Java updates. I believe the default is Monthly...
Posted by: scottr | April 21, 2008 10:42 PM | Report abuse
Nice thing about Segunia beta is it already notified its users of the release.
Posted by: brucerealtor | April 22, 2008 1:52 AM | Report abuse
Sun continues to have issue with their Java updates. This has been an on-again off-again on-again problem for at least a couple years.
One thing that seems to [usually] work for me is to download the offline full exe, for example from
BEFORE installation of JRE, UNinstall previous JRE - any/all versions.
Posted by: Steve | April 22, 2008 9:36 AM | Report abuse
Brian K. wrote: "As always, remember to uninstall any older versions of Java you may have, either before or after updating, as Sun's Java installers still do not take care of this basic process for the user."
That was news to me and thus I just checked out the installed programs on my workstation. There were 9(nine!) different versions of the JRE installed. Thanks for the info.
That situation is rather vexing. Download the updated version or patch thinking that security risk X has been resolved only to find that the old and at-risk software is still installed. Huh?
Posted by: C.B. | April 23, 2008 10:06 AM | Report abuse
Could it be that Sun soft-pedals its updates at first, to give savvy users who regularly check for updates a chance to find bugs in them, then puts the word out to others about them after the new versions has been vetted? This seems wrong-headed, but possible.
Also, do many people need the "multi-language" version?
Posted by: Heron | April 23, 2008 5:45 PM | Report abuse
When I tried downloading JRE 6, update 6 via Firefox after deleting JRE 6, update 5, I got an error message about how the installer couldn't access a necessary file. I reinstalled JRE 6, update 5, using Internet Explorer. When I now try to download JRE 6, update 5, I get the following error message:
"General Error
A technical error occured while processing your request. Please contact the system administrator.
Thank you for your patience."
Is anyone else getting this error message?
In the past, I've deleted the previous version of JRE after installing the new one, and never had any trouble. Is it okay to sit tight and wait till the web version of Securia recognizes the new version of JRE, or should I try something else now?
Posted by: Heron | April 23, 2008 6:28 PM | Report abuse
I ran into a similar message. I kept hitting "retry" 4 or 5 times while I was thinking about what to do next and it ended up fixing itself.
Posted by: ugh | April 23, 2008 11:13 PM | Report abuse
Ugh, thanks. I was able to download update 6 this morning on the first try.
Posted by: Heron | April 24, 2008 9:02 AM | Report abuse
thank you
Posted by: akif | May 3, 2008 9:42 AM | Report abuse
The comments to this entry are closed.

subset: commoncrawl


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The Cable
Amid crises, Obama builds nonproliferation team
In many ways, nonproliferation is at the center of President Barack Obama's foreign policy vision, and his nonproliferation agenda connects the dots between the thrust of his policies towards Russia, Iran, and U.S. reengagement with the international community. In an April speech in Prague, Obama surprised many at the scope of his vision when he ...
In many ways, nonproliferation is at the center of President Barack Obama's foreign policy vision, and his nonproliferation agenda connects the dots between the thrust of his policies towards Russia, Iran, and U.S. reengagement with the international community. In an April speech in Prague, Obama surprised many at the scope of his vision when he announced "America's commitment to seek the peace and security of a world without nuclear weapons."
Advocating stark reductions in the U.S. and global nuclear arsenals, Obama expressed willingness to recommit to international arms reduction and verification treaties, and said that countries like Iran could have a peaceful nuclear energy program (while not tipping his hand whether that might allow as the result of negotiations Iranian enrichment on its own soil, something Iran insists it has a right to). "We will support Iran's right to peaceful nuclear energy with rigorous inspections," Obama said. "That is a path that the Islamic Republic can take. Or the government can choose increased isolation, international pressure, and a potential nuclear arms race in the region that will increase insecurity for all."
But the recent North Korea nuclear and missile tests, reports that Pakistan is seeking to grow its nuclear arsenal in the midst of a civil war with the Taliban, and uncertainty over whether Iran will respond to U.S. overtures have shown the gravity of the immediate nonproliferation crises interrupting his longer-term vision.
Even as the Obama administration's nonproliferation personnel have grown in number in recent weeks, one Washington nonproliferation hand notes, key holes remain in a team confronting challenges in North Korea, Iran, and beyond.
Until late last month, White House WMD czar Gary Samore, Assistant Secretary of State for Verification and Compliance Rose Gottemoeller, and vice presidential nonproliferation advisor Jon Wolfsthal were the only relevant political appointees in place to date. (UPDATE: Susan F. Burk, the president's choice to be his special representative for nuclear nonproliferation, was quietly confirmed on June 1st after being held up prior to the May recess.)
Long-time State Department nonproliferation hand Robert Einhorn was named last week as the special advisor to the secretary of state for nonproliferation and arms control. Einhorn, whose advisory position does not require Senate confirmation, has been in residence at the Center for Strategic and International Studies for the past eight years and headed up Clinton's nonproliferation advisory team during the presidential campaign. Einhorn's initial assignment is to shepherd the ongoing sensitive dialogue with Pakistan over the security of its nuclear weapons.
More hands are due to arrive. Tomorrow, Congresswoman Ellen Tauscher (D-CA) has her confirmation hearing to become under secretary of state for arms control and international security. (Here's Tauscher's prepared testimony).
Stephen Mull, a career Foreign Service officer, will be nominated as assistant secretary of state for international security and negotiation, Hill sources tell The Cable (Dan Poneman was the expected pick here until he was promoted to deputy secretary at the Energy Department).
Samore is also building his team at the NSC by bringing on two senior directors as his deputies. George Look, a longtime civil servant and arms control expert, is already in place and will head NSC efforts on the treaty-based nonproliferation agenda, including the upcoming 2010 NPT Review Conference. Laura Holgate is expected to join Samore's team shortly and will focus on WMD threat reduction efforts, including tying together various Defense, Energy, and State Department programs into a coordinated whole and flesh out the president's ambitious promise to secure all vulnerable nuclear materials over the next four years. Holgate, currently a vice president at the Sam Nunn-run Nuclear Threat Initiative, worked on these issues during the Clinton administration as a protégé of Ashton Carter, who is now under secretary of defense for acquisitions, technology, and missile defense.


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It's Directory Verification time again! For thirty years or more, the AOC has mailed out postcards to update and correct the Georgia Courts Directory. More recently the AOC Portal has allowed users to view and correct your information directly in the AOC database, saving staff time and the expense of sending postcards to those who have used the Portal. This year, especially, we encourage you to use the Portal since this will be the final year that Directory postcards are mailed to you.
Verify your information by May 15, 2012, to avoid a postcard in your mailbox!
Using the Portal is simple.
Visit https://myaocportal.georgiacourts.gov/to register for access to your Directory information, then log in with your username and password. Click the "Profile" button. Update both your Personal Information and Contact Information.
1. Under the "Personal Info" tab, click the "Edit" button to make changes.
Verify your name is displayed correctly and indicate your gender and race. Click the "Save" box.
2. Under the "Contact Info" tab, click the "Edit" button. Make any necessary changes or check the "No Changes Needed" box. Click the "Save" box.
If you have multiple roles (i.e., you serve as a judge of the probate court and as judge on for a municipal court), be sure to verify your information for each role.
By clicking the "No Changes Needed" box, you are indicating your information is correct; Click the "Save" box.
3. You must check the "Save" box to ensure your information is updated in the AOC database and the Georgia Courts Directory.
Your name, title, address, phone/fax numbers, and e-mail address will be published in the 2012-2013 Georgia Courts Directory. Any other information is strictly for research purposes and will not be available in any public format.
Email address
The AOC must have an e-mail address for you in our database in order for you to access the Portal. To update your email address, please contact Ann Batchan at firstname.lastname@example.com
For Portal technical assistance, contact Roger Watson at firstname.lastname@example.com
Postcards on the way
For those who opt not to use the Portal, you will receive a Directory Verification Postcard through the mail. Follow the simple instructions and return the postage-paid portion of the card. Verify your information by May 15, 2012, to avoid a postcard in your mailbox! And remember, this is the final year postcards will be mailed!


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Adult Activities
Kierland Commons and Scottsdale Quarter are the ultimate destinations for upscale retail outlets, boutiques and dining. Resort guests can simply show their room key to receive exclusive discounts and offers from many celebrated retailers.
Visit our Concierge and ask for "Key to Kierland" or "Key to the Quarter" to get the most current list of participating shopping destinations with discounts for Westin Kierland guests.
Cabanas are available at the Adventure Pool and Adult Pool.
For all cabana reservations, please call 480-624-1202. Cabana rental is based on availability. Rates and details subject to change.
Play day or night on our lighted hard tennis courts, Palmer Court and Emmons Court. Rental equipment is available for $25 in both adult and child sizes. Tennis court rental is available for $25 (or included in resort fee) or $40 for both equipment and court rental.
Tennis Lessons
Learn from our Tennis Professional, Bill Austin. Bill has taught tennis for over twenty years, and specializes in winning. He played number one singles and doubles for the University of South Carolina, played on the Middle States Junior Davis Cup Team and National USTA Senior Doubles Team Tennis Championship in 2010.
For information on reserving tennis courts or lessons, please call 480-624-1500 or email email@example.com. For lessons, Bill is available by the hour and half hour.
From 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, the Muddle Bar invites you to unwind and enjoy signature Muddle Drinks and select glasses of wine for $6 each (regularly $13 each) during "descansar" which means "to rest or relax" in Spanish.
While you're enjoying a drink at the Muddle Bar, experience live art in action with Resident Artist Nelson Garcia-Miranda. Watch him bring a whimsical display of expression to the canvas before your eyes.


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Review Summary
- Authentic yoga retreat and spiritual community on Paradise Island
- Spectacular white sandy beach is free of crowds
- Two vegetarian buffet-style meals served per day (included in price)
- Two mandatory yoga classes and meditations per day (included in the price)
- Rooms range from beachfront suites to tent space
- Thai yoga massage and therapeutic massages available
- 24-hour access to cold drinking water and hot water for tea
- Specialty courses and yoga teacher trainings available
- Boutique and bookstore on-site for snacks, clothes, and books
- Free Wi-Fi
- Not a typical vacation experience -- mandatory schedule!
- Rooms are basic and most have shared bathrooms/shower stalls
- No meat, cigarettes, or alcohol allowed on property (pro for many who come here)
- Arrival times are limited; pick-up is done only via boat
Bottom Line
Those looking for a relaxed vacation with some yoga thrown in should look elsewhere. This is a serious ashram by an established group (there are nine Sivananda Yoga Ashrams throughout the world) and the 5:30 a.m. wake-up bell proves it. Guests focus on postures, breathing, positive thinking, and meditation, and have some free time to take advantage of the beautiful beach setting. Seemingly a world away from neighboring mega-resort Atlantis, this five-and-a-half acre, mid-range oasis has a range of accommodations from tents to Beachfront Suites (most rooms have shared bathrooms, though). Two vegetarian meals are prepared daily right after each two-hour yoga class , while morning and evening satsangs (a mix of meditation, chanting, lectures, singing and dancing) help create a sense of community. Extra workshops and lectures are built into the daily schedule, and there's a wellbeing center for massage treatments and Ayurvedic body treatments.


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I feel butterflies in my stomach. I try to take very long breaths, but they do not seem to slow down the intensity of a sadness that I feel at this moment. I try my best to gulp and swallow the orange that seems to be forming without control in my throat. I make my best efforts to push back the salty water that's trying to gush down my eyes. Very soon, it'll stain my face and start running down my cheeks. People would ask 'What's wrong?' For which I have no answer or do not wish to answer. No, that should not happen. With one last effort, I sip a little water, use a tissue to wipe my eyes, and compose my face to something impassive, if not a smile…because that's the best I can manage. I am surrounded by a lot of people, but never have I felt so lonely. I do not want to talk or be talked to, if that can be managed.
I look at the people around me..they seem to be happy and content. If not, they aren't atleast experiencing this turmoil that I am going through.
'Why can't I be just like them?'
'Why do I have to feel the way I feel'?
Is this a feeling the world calls 'depression'?
Now, why am I depressed? Is it that my sweetheart doesn't love me back the way I love him? Or the vacant feeling in my life? Or am I in a place where I don't belong? Or a close friend betrayed me?
Or for no reason at all, but yet I feel terribly low?
If I even make an attempt to talk about it, I am afraid of people judging me and saying,
'No, you should not be thinking this way'
'You should be happy that you are blessed with so much. Not many people in this world are so lucky.'
'You must be kidding! I cannot believe it. Are you depressed for such a silly reason'?
'Heyyy, this is soo wrong! You are a very bad person'
I try to turn on the logical part of my brain and analyse: 'Maybe I am blessed better than many others. Maybe it's wrong and unethical to think this way at all. Maybe the reason is very very silly. Maybe I am really a bad bad person after all.'
As I am thinking these thoughts, this one thought finds pushes its way through full force and strikes me as a blow…'EVEN IF ALL THESE REASONS HAPPEN TO BE TRUE, STUPID, YOU STILL CANNOT STOP FEELING THE WAY YOU DO' Probably because I feel these emotions at my soul-level, and not my intellect-level?
I feel a surge of tears again, but this time, I excuse myself and just go from that place. I keep walking fast, faster, and running with tears blocking my vision. But this time, I make no effort to stop or control them. They must just flow. They seem to have a mind of their own. The sun is setting now, a sight I would have loved before, but not today. Not now. I lean against a tree that I find. And I weep, weep like I have never wept before. I am not embarrassed to cry now. I am hitting the tree with my fists, crying, swearing, talking to the trees and rocks that surround me. After what seemed to me like an eternity, I feel better than what I had felt in days. I look around and realize that it is dark. But am not afraid. I feel as if something soothing and heavenly is wrapping me, working on my insides. I immediately feel a kinship with the tree that I have been hitting for some time now. The rocks, the wind, the grass – they seem to talking to me..trying to say something to me..
Am I being made aware of the omnipresence of GOD?
I walk back home, feeling better, peaceful with that graceful feeling that seems to wrap me 🙂


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PLAB Book List to prepare for practicing medicine in UK
Download PDF of This Page (Size: 133K) ↧
PLAB Part I Books
- Oxford Handbook of Clinical Medicine. This book, as has been said by other reviews is the Bible for Clinical Medicine. It also articulates very well with the other books, it works very well with the book on A&E Medicine. - Buy from Amazon.in
- Oxford Handbook of Clinical Specialities. This handbook and the "Oxford Handbook of Clinical Medicine" between them cover the span of clinical medicine. This new edition has been redesigned and all sections have been completely updated and revised in collaboration with senior clinical readers and a panel of medical students. - Buy from Amazon.in
- Oxford Handbook of accident and emergency Medicine: This book is extremely useful in clinical life and PLAB part one emergencies section. Also useful if you plan to go into exciting field of accident and emergency medicine. (800 pages). The emergencies are covered to some extent on OHCM. Also after reading colourful OHCM this B & W book seems a bit dull but has detailed info. These books are essential for any person appearing for PLAB test. They provide a quick overview of clinical subjects. - Buy from Amazon.in
EMQ Books for PLAB Part IEMQ BOOKS for plab one Exam: Solve past EMQs then go for EMQ books.Simple rule: the more PLAB EMQs you solve the more you score. If not all do solve one book from each series[Pastest/Una coles/ Medic Byte]. Refer to OHCM / OHCS or reference books for any doubtful answers.
- PLAB: 1000 Extended Matching Questions - Buy from Amazon.in
- PLAB: Part 1, Vol. 1 - Buy from Amazon.in
- PLAB Part 1 in a Box - Buy from Amazon.in
- Get Through PLAB Part 1: 500 Single Best Answer Questions - Buy from Amazon.in
PLAB Part II Books
- OSCE Stations for Medical Finals Book 1 - Buy from Amazon.in
- OSCE Stations for Medical Finals Book 2 - Buy from Amazon.in
- Core Clinical Skills for OSCEs in Medicine: Paperback - 352 pages (7 August, 2000) : A book of over 80 OSCE "stations" grouped under the type of skill being tested, but also indexed by body system. The stations all have detailed answers, underlining the nature of the question, the aims of the examiners, and a commentary in how best to answer the question. The questions will cover how to take a history from a patient and how to present it to the examiner, communication skills, patient examination, interpretation of data, carrying out some basic practical procedures. New Book , Student Feedback limited. If you Find this book useful for your PLAB 2 exam. - Buy from Amazon.in
- MacLeod's Clinical Examination: The practice of medicine is constantly changing. Some diseases are controlled, or even eradicated, while others increase in frequency and significance. New diagnostic techniques are developed and therapeutic regimens introduced. There is an increasing awareness of the importance of preventative medicine within the community, and also of the special needs of patients, relatives and carers. The tenth edition of this book is designed to keep abreast with changes in medical practice.324 pages 10th Ed (4 May, 2000) This book is essential for all medical students, whether or not appearing for PLAB. This is one of the best clinical medicine books around. - Buy from Amazon.in


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Dear Ms. Lankes,
I have several concerns about your article published in today's Buffalo News. As someone involved in education policy at several levels I can tell you that two of the four main points contain misleading statements in your piece.
"Driving the replacement of reform-friendly members of the Board of Regents – including former Chancellor Merryl Tisch and former local representative Robert M. Bennett – and shifting the makeup of the group to one that predominantly favors NYSUT's agenda."
In third week of January 2016, NYS Allies for Public Education(NYSAPE) crafted a press release calling for parents to contact members of the Board of Regents and to support Betty Rosa for Chancellor. NYSAPE also encouraged parents to contact their legislators to advocate for several new Regents candidates as well. It would not be until around February 23rd that NYSUT put out a Member Action Center alert for teachers to contact their legislators. Parents were far out in front in their advocacy for the Board of Regents selections resulting in only Rosa submitting her name as a candidate for Chancellor, most likely due to public pressure led by parents. In the replacement of Regent Bennett a year ago, a similar parent-led pressure was far out in front of NYSUT.
"Fueling a parent-generated opt-out movement that led to 20 percent of New York students sitting out of standardized tests last year, the highest number in the country."
NYSUT President Karent Magee called for parents to opt out at the very end of March 2015, virtually at the midnight hour as the testing started in only two weeks. The vast majority of families had already made their decision to boycott the assessments by this date. NYSUT was late to the party and had little influence on the massive boycott. The term "fueling" is very misleading. In fact, NYSAPE leaders had been trying for months in 2015, and in 2014 as well, to get NYSUT leadership to support opt out. It was the families of NYS that "fueled" the opt out movement. To give NYSUT credit for playing a significant role in increasing the number of opt outs is inaccurate.
"Along with its 600,000 members, NYSUT had access to another key resource – parents. The teachers union and parents led a movement to opt students out of standardized tests.
The union encouraged parents to direct their anger to local state representatives, flooding them with emails, phone calls and letters to show their discontent at the polls."
Again, NYSAPE and parents using social media were far ahead of NYSUT, yet you portray the state-wide union as being the driving force behind the force for change in the Board of Regents that was clearly led by parents.
How am I aware of this information? I had a front row seat as a co-founder of NYSAPE and a union Executive Board Member of the Hamburg Teachers Association. Several times over the last year or so, I would share with my fellow Hamburg teachers action alerts from NYSAPE and then follow up weeks later with a similar action that was released by NYSUT. Many times NYSUT was absent from advocacy related to testing and Common Core while parents in Facebook groups around NYS were organizing their efforts. Many teacher union members complained on social media about the lack of advocacy on the part of NYSUT leadership to fight testing, Common Core and teacher evaluations.
Your article gives NYSUT far too much credit for the resistance to the Regents Reform Agenda put forth by former Commissioner John King and Regents Chancellor Merryl Tisch. You are correct that NYSUT did use its money to influence elections, similar to other employee unions, business associations and big-moneyed advocacy groups but the opt out movement and changes to the Board of Regents were driven by parents. There are Opt Out Facebook groups both state-wide and regionally that total over 50,000 members. These social media groups have been the driving force behind education advocacy that has been resisting to harmful education reform movement.
Sadly, in my opinion, this is another article that is part of the continued bashing of teachers and their unions by the Buffalo News. I also believe there is a concerted effort by state education officials, state and national "AstroTurf" groups, and some individuals locally here in WNY to paint the opt out movement as union controlled or influenced. A balanced article would have sought out one of the many opt out parents here in WNY to see who influenced their decision to boycott the state assessments and advocate for changes in Albany. As a parent, educator, and union member, I can tell you that opt out is a truly grassroots movement free of union influence.
Chris Cerrone


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The Ethical Challenge of New Technologies
On October 5, 2016 the Pell Center hosted an audience full of eager students and community members in the beautiful ballroom of the Young Building for a thought-provoking lecture on the complex ethical future of the world as emerging technologies continue to yield unexpected consequences. The talk featured Naval War College Provost Lewis M. Duncan. As a member of the Board of Directors for the Advancement of Science in Space, Duncan is well-versed on the impact of the hard sciences on human reality. His career as a professional in the research of experimental space physics has afforded him a firsthand look at the mind-boggling exponential growth
of technology within the last 40 years. As a self-proclaimed "pathological optimist," Duncan's lecture presented the technological future of the world with hope and excitement while simultaneously hinting at the consequences of some unforeseen problems that are inevitable within the next 50-100 years. Through an overview of six developing technological categories, Duncan encouraged the audience to look ahead and to consider a world of endless possibilities.
To top off the talk, Duncan began with a brief history of human-kind, discussing our development as a species within the last 13,000 years. He demonstrated through an analogy how patterns in human development and innovation have always been exponential. Duncan describes technological development like the common brain-teaser which asks participants to determine when a fish bowl that fills with marbles by powers of two becomes half-full. Duncan describes the technological development process from far away, showing how the bowl fills seemingly all at once as it is at one moment half-full and then, as the marbles double upon themselves, completely full in the following moment. In this way, he explains that it is a mistake to view technology along straight lines. Duncan asserts that, "technology is catalytic…it builds on itself" and that necessity may not be the mother of invention any longer. Today's technology is more decisive and divisive because scientific capability and competition encourages change instead of necessity.
According to Duncan, this is the case with the technology of the future. The beginnings of a technological revolution are already visible in six developmental categories: materials, nanotechnology, biotechnology, information technology, Neuroscience, robotics and artificial intelligence. Duncan says, "The world is changing faster than we are prepared for."
Duncan predicts that in the not-so-distant future, we will have the ability to stop cellular aging and death. Technological innovations will be giving human beings a run for their money. He says that sometime in the next 10-15 years, computers will be able to pass the Turing test. Meaning that, computers will be indistinguishable from human beings based on a process developed by scientist, Alan Turing, which measures intelligent behavior in computing machines. By the year 2040, computers will no longer need to be handheld. They will be so essential to the function of society that they will become embedded in our environment with the human brain functioning as more of a "peripheral device." Finally, in 2050, Duncan predicts that machines will reach a state of singularity, "they will no longer need us and will race past us in human intelligence." Duncan describes this point in human history as being similarly important to the moment when biological life first appeared on Earth.
This level of innovation seems amazing because it is likely that these machines will eliminate or reverse many of the world's trickiest human problems like death, starvation and climate change. However, in the process, it will create a number of complex ethical questions. If we are all able to live forever, how will the world's resources sustain us all? Will we be allowed to have children? If intelligent machines are able to replace every human job, how will we spend our time? Will there be a war in which the machines we created wipe out the human population? Will computers have culture?
Duncan leaves these questions with the audience, forcing us all to see beyond our myopia. The future is coming and it is coming quickly, we will need to reinvent ourselves in order to keep up.
– Hannah Lussier
No Fun and Games for Rio
On October 2, 2009 celebrations erupted on Rio de Janeiro's famed Copacabana beach as the International Olympic Committee confirmed the city's bid to host the 2016 Summer Olympics. For Brazil, having the privilege to host the most high profile sporting event in the world was the final endorsement the country needed to prove its hard-fought rise to the top. At the time, the Brazilian economy was booming under its highly popular President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and the state was heralded as a "new player on the global stage" as it became one of the top ten wealthiest nations in the world. Bolstered by oil revenues from the Petrobras company and the public support of 20 million citizens who were pulled from poverty by his extensive welfare reforms, President Lula exclaimed with confidence that, "All those people who thought we had no ability to govern this country will now learn that we can host the Olympics."
Time after time, hosting the Olympic Games has been said to improve the economic and infrastructural landscape of its host cities. Often, those cities up for an Olympic bid promote the event to its citizens in recognition of how the area will benefit from the increases in tourism and improvements in infrastructure that are associated with hosting the major sporting event. However, the sad fact is that historically, most host cities almost never profit from the games. In actuality, most do not break even and it has already been projected that Rio will be no exception.
And since Rio was announced as the host for the 2016 Games, the political and economic landscape in Brazil has changed drastically. President Lula was succeeded by Dilma Roussef who is now facing impeachment charges. The economy is falling into a recession. Mosquitoes are infecting citizens with the dangerous zika virus. Unemployment rates are rising, and civil unrest is becoming more commonplace. Meanwhile, the two things most promised to Rio's citizens by Olympic advocates seem far out of reach as infrastructure improvements go unfinished and tourists continue to shun tickets due to health and safety concerns.
At the time of the IOC's decision, the Brazilian oil giant Petrobras dominated the country's economy. Experts say that the company once controlled up to 10% of the country's overall GDP. More recently, however, economists are linking the Petrobras company to a projected 1% contraction of the Brazilian economy this year. Why? The wild success of the Petrobras company can be attributed to one of the biggest bribery scandals to ever shock the world.
After a man named Alberto Youssef revealed the scheme to a lawyer during a stint in jail, investigators cautiously looked into the issue that seemed far-fetched at best. Since then, investigators have confirmed Youssef's accusations, discovering the deep roots of a bribery ring with an estimated total of $3 billion of economic impact since 2004. The list of names provided to police by Youssef included many captains of industry as well as some highly-respected government officials and thus far, police have indicted 117 people, arrested 5 public officials and brought charges against 13 companies. They found that the elaborate scheme involved a cartel of construction and service companies who created an environment of artificial competition and awarded a small group of top Petrobras officials with bribes in order to keep the operation quiet. The bribe money was then further distributed to members of the Brazilian government.
Once high with pride, the Brazilian people now lament that their country's economic success was nothing short of fraudulent. The economic recession which has resulted is causing Brazilian nationals to lose their jobs and has put a strain on the ability for the government to pay its police force. In addition, the expense of hosting the Olympic Games has become a burden rather than a blessing. So, at a time when Brazil had most hoped to be sailing along calmly it is facing the rising waters of a perfect storm, and hosting the Olympics has become just another torrent pushing the country further and further backward.
Women of the Moment at the Moment
According to a recent business study by Morgan Stanley Capital International, companies with three or more women in leadership roles enjoyed a greater return on equity per year versus companies with less diversity. The study, and many others like it, shows that a diversification of ideas among groups increases the probability of managing and completing goals successfully. Studies like this one are of great value to our nation's future because they present a sort of reality check. Being that, increasing diversity can not only be profitable for businesses but can benefit any group in making big decisions. Despite the clear message of this research and its relevance to the composition of our country's legislature, it is still considered surprising that three strong female figures emerged into the political arena during the election cycle this year.
First, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee is Hillary Clinton, an obvious example of someone who believes in the integral role which women can play in politics. If nominated, she will be the very first woman to serve as the candidate for a major American political party. Next is Ivanka Trump, daughter and campaign surrogate to Donald Trump, who represents a less obvious but still pertinent example of female strength. As a mother, business owner and soon-to-be published author Trump has been a balancing force for her father's campaign and has gained recognition by the media for her impressive business acumen and poise. Lastly and slightly further outside of the limelight, is senior U.S. Senator from Massachusetts Elizabeth Warren who is a contender to be chosen as Hillary Clinton's running mate. Warren is a former lawyer as well as an expert on the financial pressures which burden the American middle-class. She has served in her current position since 2012.
The demonstrated willingness to hear the voices of these three powerful women is one small step forward in America's efforts to close its startlingly large gender gap. But, the gravity of this gap must be brought into the forefront of American consciousness in order for necessary change to occur. Therefore, in the space below, I have compiled a number of statistics on the status of women in business, politics and education. While reading the following, bear in mind that women in the United States make up 50.8% of the population at 157 million people.
Since women first began joining the workforce at high rates during the 1970s, women at work have contributed to almost one quarter of the American economy. In the year 2012, 10% more women than men decided to attend college and get a degree after graduating from high school. Therefore, while the number of educated and motivated women in this country seems to continue growing, the number of these women who work in a leadership capacity is almost stagnant. Consider that, in the last decade, the number of women in board positions for Fortune 500 companies has rarely shifted from around 17%. The record figure for the number of women CEOs in Fortune 500 businesses set in 2014 remained the same for the year 2015 at just 5%. The unfortunate reality is that women make up 45% of laborers within these companies but are simply not the ones being promoted. Women face even further injustice at the hands of the wage gap. According to the World Economic Forum, women around the world continue to be paid the same amount today as men were paid for the same work in the year 2006.
I argue that these gross inequalities are allowed to persist only because Americans are still failing to elect an adequate number of women to political office. Only 20% of House and Senate positions are filled by women and the United States has yet to elect a woman as president since George Washington was inaugurated in 1789. Circling back to the introduction, if Americans were to take note of the data gathered by MSCI and in turn were to elect more women leaders, then the country would likely gain the ability to make more balanced legislative choices. And with Hillary Clinton in a promising position to make history this year, the United States should be prepared to see some important and long overdue changes in its future.
Water Privatization: Not Just a Drop in the Bucket
When thinking about environmental scarcity it is common to think of the depletion of rain forests, the growth in the number of animals on the endangered species list and the deterioration of the ozone layer. However, it is rare, at least in the United States, to consider the scarcity of freshwater resources. The reality is that less than three percent of the world's water is fresh, and the ability to obtain and afford safe drinking water is a daily problem for at least one billion people around the world. In places like China and India, the population is rapidly increasing while natural water sources are becoming bankrupt due to overuse. The demand for water tripled worldwide between the years 1950 and 1990, and the United Nations expects this demand to exceed supply by more than thirty percent by the year 2040.
As a result of its high demand, the water supply and water sanitation industries have seen a massive increase in corporate interest in the last twenty years. Investors from companies like Suez and Vivendi Environment are looking to privatize water sources that were once publicly owned in order to turn a profit. In some cases, nations in the Global South have been encouraged by the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank to privatize their water sources in order to relieve governmental pressures and create revenue. For those nations who chose to accept this course of action, citizens often reacted unfavorably to the switch in light of price hikes and infrastructure changes that disproportionately affected the poorest communities. At this intersection of humanity and capitalism lies the difference between proponents and opponents of privatization.
The supporters of privatization argue that governments have failed at maintaining the infrastructure required for water safety due to their desire to please constituents by keeping water utility costs low. Finance experts like Johan Bastin view "water [as] the last infrastructure frontier for private investors" and believe that ceding public resources to multinational companies can be helpful for underdeveloped nations because a corporate influence is usually impersonal and requires increased fiscal responsibility as well as efficiency. The ideal is that companies will be able to improve water infrastructure and decrease water utility prices in the long run without having to worry as much about handling an initial consumer backlash. In addition, supporters of privatization point out that national economies are limited to the taxes paid by the public in order to fund public works projects while corporations can utilize investments from outside sources.
In contrast, the opponents of privatization argue that the claims made above are invalidated by the tendency of corporations to focus on profit rather than on how they are impacting human bodies. Meaning that, once money is being made, corporations will not stop increasing utility costs but will crave a continuous stream of profit on a commodity that is a necessary expense. In this kind of privatized system, opponents argue that citizens are forced to pay more than they should for a good that they have no choice to forgo. Circumstantially, in India, China and Bolivia (who each have years of experience with water privatization) there has been little evidence for improvements in water quality or pricing. Although these are just a few examples, it is clear that privatization is not a universal good but one that works best only in the most idyllic of situations.
Policy-makers have yet to find a solution to the problem of water access, affordability and sanitation despite the issue's urgency. However, the absence of a solution does not stem from a lack in effort. For example, the UN recently released a new set of Sustainable Development Goals that contain a target to "achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all" by the year 2030. The target states that the organization has made a commitment to researching and implementing policy which will work towards putting rights to water at the forefront of sustainability efforts. So, in recognition of the combination of depleting resources, financial burdens, ethical concerns, overall population increases and inevitable corporate greed that are always at play in water-related legislation I ask: how will the UN and the world choose to make this goal a reality?
Intersectionality and the Presidential Race
Intersectionality is a term which has existed for roughly 35 years, however, most people in the United States have not engaged with the concept outside of a classroom until recent memory. The term resurfaced recently as a reaction to the Flint Water Crisis and through its engagement in debate by the presidential campaigns of Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders. As a result, public discourse questioning the legitimacy of intersectional politics is mounting and has forced many to ask themselves, what is intersectionality?
The term's origin can be traced back to a time in the 1980s when black feminists realized that they were facing discrimination based not only on their race but also on their gender. One example of this that still persists today, is that black women were not only paid less than men but were also paid less than white women. Historically, the experiences of women of color have been unique, so when caught between the Civil Rights and Feminist movements, the black feminists rejected being forced to choose only one aspect of their identity. These women desired to be part of a movement which expressed their unique experiences with both sexism and racism. Coined by feminist scholar Kimberle Crenshaw, intersectionality was where they found their voice.
Intersectionality is an issue of advocacy. It points out that traditional advocacy groups and politicians were presenting a one-sided point of view that ignored the full scope of a constituent's issues. At its core, intersectionality seeks to represent the voices of those who have been historically underprivileged in a way which encourages societal unity through empathy and understanding. The most important aspect of intersectionality is expressed by its use of the Latin prefix "inter" meaning among or between, because intersectionality describes the ways in which discrimination can operate amongst and between several facets of identity.
Although still associated with feminism today, intersectionality has evolved as a tool which helps to advocate for not only those oppressed based on their race and gender but also those who experience hate based on their ability, economic class or sexual orientation. It is this type of discrimination which is being acknowledged by the campaigns of Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders. On both of their websites, Sanders and Clinton cite issues of racial justice, LGBT equality and women's rights as ones which they will address if they become president. In addition, both have expressed intersectional perspectives indirectly in their speeches on the Flint Water Crisis and also through the use of their twitter accounts. In a speech in Harlem in February, Hillary Clinton told the crowd that, "We face a complex set of economic, social, and political challenges. They are intersectional, they are reinforcing, and we have got to take them all on." In contrast, the three remaining Republican candidates Ted Cruz, John Kasich and Donald Trump have not acknowledged any of these issues as being relevant to their campaigns. In fact, none of the Republican candidates have expressed interest in intersectional politics at all, neither in their speeches nor on their websites.
Because intersectionality recognizes historically oppressed populations, more often than not, conservatives have argued against the legitimacy of intersectional politics on the grounds that it reinforces societal division. Among opponents it is easy to find articles which maintain that intersectionality creates a culture of victimhood or that it carves up society into disunited interest groups. But despite the movement's obvious focus on identity, opponents misunderstand history and demonstrate a certain level of ignorance to the reality of institutionalized hate. The truth is that those who have not experienced hate based on their identity have been privileged by a system which benefits them. They have not been victims, so they cannot understand a victim's point of view. Both Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders are reaching out to these groups in a way which demonstrates their recognition of the reality of our nation's history and their commitment to reversing the effects of years of discrimination through compassion. – Hannah Lussier
Flint Water Crisis
Citizens have been fighting for their right to clean drinking water in Flint, Michigan since officials announced a switch in the source of the city's water supply in late April of 2014. Residents of Flint immediately detected a difference in their tap water which was odorous, yellow in color and had improper taste. In response to complaints, officials sampled the water and found that it was contaminated by coliform bacteria. They issued multiple boil-water advisories in August and September of 2014, and insisted that the water was otherwise safe to drink. But, as the crisis in Flint has come to light in major media coverage after President Obama's declaration of a state of emergency on January 16, 2015, many have concluded that the water in Flint was never drinkable in the first place. Thousands of residents among Flint's majority black population have been experiencing high levels of lead in their tap water since the new source was introduced.
No level of lead contamination is safe but the levels found in Flint are through the roof. Analysis of the crisis is not necessary because the data speaks for itself. In some households, lead levels were found to be high enough to fall into the Environmental Protection Agency's category for toxic waste. The presence of lead in the water, according to the Lawyer Herald, has resulted in over 8,000 cases of lead poisoning in children under 6 years old as well as many more cases in the rest of the population. Lead poisoning has symptoms like seizures, memory loss, fatigue, high blood pressure, mood disorders and learning difficulty. The water is also the alleged cause of an increase in cases of Legionnaire's disease which is an illness caused by bacteria that infects the lungs.
The presence of lead and other contaminants in Flint's drinking water is an environmental injustice with a history which garners cause for outrage. What is happening in Flint has been happening for almost two years but has only recently reached media consciousness. The lack of attention given to the crisis before this point is a result of the fact that, up until October of 2015, government officials in Flint, as well as representatives of the state of Michigan, denied scientific claims that the water was unsafe.
The Governor of Michigan, Rick Snyder, has been the subject of a social media campaign, #arrestgovsnyder, which is seeking justice for those affected by the crisis. The hashtag is representative of the voices of Flint's people and puts forward a feeling of urgency. The desire for decisive action is so strong that a class action lawsuit against Flint and the State of Michigan has been filed under the sponsorship of 1700 households. According to the Washington Post, questions may soon be answered as the attorney general's office investigates Snyder and others on possible counts of "gross negligence" which could lead to criminal or civil actions in court. Charges as serious as manslaughter are being considered.
The attention which is being given to the Flint Water Crisis is necessary because issues in Flint are multi-fold. There are potential social, political and environmental justice implications at play in Flint over a right as fundamental as the access to clean water. What is happening in Flint should serve as an example that the United States is not free and never has been free of human rights violations. Many celebrities and even presidential candidates have weighed in, but what is important is that The Flint Water Crisis continues to provide a platform for voices which are seldom heard. The world needs to know about the people in Flint, MI because the crisis is part of a larger narrative. It begs us to ask ourselves: What is happening in my own backyard? – Hannah Lussier
The Legacy: What's Next for U.S. Policy in the Middle East?
On December 2, 2015, the Pell Center for International Relations and Public Policy hosted its final lecture of the fall semester titled "The Legacy: What's Next for U.S. Policy in the Middle East". The lecture featured two experts from the U.S. Naval War College, Hayat Alvi and Timothy Hoyt and attracted one of the year's largest crowds despite rainy weather outside. Moderated by Pell Center Executive Director Jim Ludes, the lecture was presented as an opportunity for the community to engage and further understand the complexities of, arguably, one of the most controversial issues America's foreign policy makers have ever faced. In a region plagued by civil war, religious extremism and general uncertainty, maintaining U.S. interests while remaining humanitarian has become an increasingly entangling task. The speakers began with a background and relevant history of events in the Middle East since the Arab Spring and then delved deeper in order to discuss the interests of the war's major players, the disconnects between them, and what we can do as a country moving forward.
First to speak was Hayat Alvi, professor of the Theater Security and National Security Decision-Making courses at the U.S. Naval War College. Dr. Alvi has been a part of the publication of multiple books on the subject of The Middle East, including a work in progress, Nonviolent Activism in Islam: The Message of Abul Kalam Azad. In many of the conflicts in the Middle East today, the major players are fundamentally disconnected as a result of their self-interest. Dr. Alvi argues that these disconnects come from confusion surrounding three main themes which have characterized this region since the Arab Spring, of which only one has clear divisions. The first theme is political disillusion, the next is the issue of borders and the last is the Sunni-Shia rivalry. According to Dr. Alvi, political disillusion is a direct result of the dissemination of ideas from the Arab Spring, while the deterioration of borders came afterwards and is more intimately connected to ISIS itself. When combining these two issues alone, it is plain to see that lines have been blurred to the point where it becomes impossible to decipher who is truly fighting whom. But, in reality, these two issues have origins in the relatively clear cut sectarian rivalry between the Sunni and Shia of Saudi Arabia and Iran.
These themes are what The United States is up against when it comes to the task of creating effective foreign policy because "there is no purely military solution to ISIS". For the most part, the war is ideological. All of the major players maintain their own interests and are attempting to design tactics which can reestablish order while simultaneously protecting alliances and investments. According to Dr. Alvi, the U.S. legacy of geopolitical entanglements in the Middle East come from things like the proxy battles of the Cold War, the protection of the Suez Canal, the sovereignty of Israel, as well as counterterrorism and democracy promotion. Having been connected to these things in the past, the U.S. has become attached to maintaining their legacy in the future. The major problem here is that the other actors in this region do not hold the same priorities that we hold. Dr. Alvi says that the key disconnects caused by American self interest in favor of total reality are: a plan to remove ISIS that ignores Assad, U.S. weapons falling into the wrong hands, American military presence without combat orders, and a lack of interest in the agendas of other regional influences. Dr. Alvi concludes that the United States may be capable of creating simpler policy conclusions, if it is able to grasp the fact that hanging onto our ideology is a contributing factor to negative outcomes.
Next, Dr. Alvi passed the discussion to her colleague Timothy Hoyt. Dr. Hoyt is an expert in International Relations, focused upon the topics of international security and military affairs which he teaches in his classes as well as discusses in his published work, including over 50 articles and chapters. Dr. Hoyt continued Dr. Alvi's analysis by stating that the "fundamental problem that will not go away easily is that almost all of the countries in the region have different priorities than we do". He continued his discussion with an analysis of the region's major influencers including Iraq, Turkey, Israel, and Russia. For the most part, Dr. Hoyt decides that among these nations, none are approaching the situation with the same goal in mind, especially from a military standpoint. The United States has a complex military history with nearly all of the countries involved, making progress difficult. Alliances with both Turkey and Israel, as well as a working relationship with Russia have caused a lot of instability. But, if what we desire is the opposite, we must come to a more uniform approach. Hoyt suggests, that we find a way to reduce the effects of the arms race and focus more on ideological warfare. If not, "it is possible that Islam has begun its 30 years war".
In closing, Alvi and Hoyt reiterated a common theme which is general uncertainty. The conflict in the Middle East is complex at every level and its principle actors' motivations are changing every day. So, grappling with policy to meet the region's needs has become a monumental task with no simple solution. Bringing the title of the night's discussion into focus, the legacy of this conflict is what has become the most troubling. After all, we can only guess where we are going based on where we have been. – Hannah Lussier
UN at 70: Taking Stock and Future Challenges
On October 28, 2015, the Pell Center and the Office for International Programs at Salve Regina University presented a lecture featuring two current United Nations employees in order to celebrate the 70th birthday of the organization through a discussion of its future goals and its effectiveness as an agency from its start up to the present day. The lecture attracted a highly engaged crowd which included members of Salve's own prospective model United Nations. Matthias Klettermayer and Jean Victor Nkolo spoke about the UN's sustainable development goals for 2030 as well as the history and future of the UN respectively.
Matthias Klettermayer, the Public Information Officer of the United Nations' Division for Sustainable Development, began the discussion by presenting the differences between the Millennium Development Goals, developed in 2000, and the Sustainable Development goals which will be in effect from now until 2030. According to Klettermayer, sustainable development is the process of meeting the needs of the present without compromising the needs of the future. Klettermayer described increases in the scope of issues, the focus on individuals and the participation of non-UN actors as the main differences in the development of today's SDGs in comparison with the older MDGs. Some of the SDG concerns are environmental, like global warming, while others are more social, like preventing the spread of Ebola, but all have a primary focus on universal improvements in the quality of life for individuals. In contrast, the MDGs have a more specific focus on averages. For example, one MDG focused on reducing the number of people living in extreme poverty by half. Although the goal was achieved, with the number of people in extreme poverty falling from 2 billion people in 1999 to 800 million people in 2015, its effects were not felt universally.
According to Klettermayer, the Sustainable Development Goals will be a more universal and focused attempt to "leave no one behind". The seventeen goals, which hope to promote positive changes on issues like gender equality, clean water, climate change, hunger and more, require the full cooperation of all of the UN's 193 member states in order to have the greatest impact. To simplify the SDGs for a general audience, Klettermayer marketed the goals as pertaining to what he calls the Five Ps: people, prosperity, planet, partnership and peace. In addition, he asked interested audience members to follow @SustDev on Twitter for more information.
Next, Jean Victor Nkolo, a twenty year employee of the UN who has participated in ten peacekeeping missions throughout his career, took a step back in order to highlight the origin of the UN and its past objectives. In addition, he explained some of the organization's successes as well as its failures in order to discuss the possible challenges it could face in the future. Nkolo said that, "the way the world looked in 1945 is not the way that the world looks today", but that the UN has gone largely unchanged within those 70 years. The UN was founded by victors of World War II and other states of merit who desired to end the atrocities of global war and create a more harmonious society. While the main objective of the UN remains, its membership and scope has changed. The UN still extends the power of the veto to its Security Council of permanent members (The United States, France, Russia, China and England) despite the fact that other nations like India and Brazil are becoming increasingly influential as a result of their recent growth and industrialization. Nkolo continued by saying that, it is important to remember that the UN has made a positive overall impact on the modern world despite its overly publicized failures. He believes that the next step for the UN will be deciding how best to reform its most long-standing institutions in order to keep up with modern demands.
The lecture ended with time for audience questions. Nkolo concluded the lecture by saying that"peace is like raising a child, it takes a village" because "we are all in this, and it does not concern the UN only". – Hannah Lussier
Forge New Pathways through Study Abroad
Out of the mere 30% of Americans who actually have passports, half of those who travel abroad never make it beyond North America. For a country with a significant portion of the world's wealth and vast demographic variety, these statistics are fairly unimpressive. They reveal that citizens of the United States have become so comfortable with their environment that they are afraid to leave. If Americans never experience true foreign travel, it is possible that we will fall behind in making the social connections required of employees entering the international workforce.
Some Americans may argue that going abroad is much more challenging than it is beneficial. Many people face factors like personal expense, while others are wary about cultural obstacles and language barriers. These are all relevant issues that can be intimidating, but confronting these obstacles can encourage personal growth in areas like creativity, compassion and open-mindedness. For example, within the field of applied cognitive psychology, studies have proven that those who go abroad have a higher capacity for creative thinking than peers who have not been abroad. In a world that relies on increasingly globalized methods of commerce, understanding diversity has become a skill that is highly valued by employers. As a result, colleges have begun to include a study abroad experience as a requirement for graduation.
To some college students, study abroad has a stigma. In nearly every case, it requires students to pay extra out-of-pocket expenses, gain proficiency in another language and leave the country for the first time. All of this can be daunting, but if students know the benefits they can gain from studying abroad the stigma disappears. According to Christine Lee, Tracy Linderholm and David Therriault's article On the Cognitive Benefits of Cultural Experience: Exploring the Relationship between Studying Abroad and Creative Thinking, "The ability to engage in cognitively complex tasks with regard to cultural information is becoming an increasingly valuable skill to acquire in today's globally connected society", therefore, talents gained while studying abroad have extensive practical applications. "Cognitive processes such as extending pre-existing concepts, considering diverse possibilities, synthesizing remote associations, and mentally manipulating ideas have been identified as important features of creative thought" that can be developed while studying abroad. The simple act of consciously exposing your brain to new ideas, new cultural concepts and a new language can cause dramatic differences in cognition. Engaging with novel concepts is a kind of brain exercise that strengthens creativity and helps us to make unforeseen mental connections.
If you have the opportunity to go abroad, take it! The experience can provide you with skills you might not ever obtain doing something else. So, extend the boundaries of your comfort zone. With proof that there is much more to gain than there is to lose, the decision is simple. – Hannah Lussier


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Call now for an Free Instant Phone Consultation and get your questions answered. +1(866)735-3582
Why Hire A Restaurant Designer?
Raymond Haldeman believes a spectacular design with WOW FACTOR must also be combined with efficient functional floor plan design to insure a comfortable and memorable experience for your clientele.
Many of today's designers, without having experienced the "day to day of bar, restaurant, nightclub and/or hotel operations," unwittingly sacrifice function for design because of their lack of exposure to the actual functional necessities of conducting daily business. Simply put, most designers have never operated a bar, restaurant, nightclub or hotel! This oversight can be costly to you the operator as it can detract from the efficiency of your operation and substantially marginalize the efforts by your professional staff to provide the ultimate experience for your guests.
Restaurant Designer Raymond Haldeman will use the wisdom of his 25 years of hands-on experience as an owner operator to help you compete with today's well financed corporate chains and include entrepreeurial essentials necessary for success into your design plan. This winning combination of WOW FACTOR AND EFFICIENT FUNCTION will maximize your brands appeal and enhance its reputation exponentially.
Call now for more and get answers about costs for your project. Raymond can also take on projects limited in scope, like laying out the space and creating a Floor Plan you can work from.
Call now for your Free Instant Phone Consultation with Raymond, and tell Raymond about your plans.
Raymond has been hired by investment groups, property owners, new entrepreneurs and seasoned professionals who desire to launch a hospitality venture and either don't know where to begin or know from experience the enormity of the undertaking and understand the value and benefit of having a professional with a seasoned perspective to guide them.
His reputation as a respected and trusted resource is supported by the abundance of accolades documented on this site, including national press and notable testimonials.
This is a question that has plagued many owners, and Raymond can evaluate your circumstances and assess your need for a rebranding. Sometimes issues are not addressed with branding a new concept and may be resolved with initiating nuanced changes that can be very effective. Implementation of gradual changes however is not always in the best interest of your business. Often and in particular when popularity is low, your business is better served by re-branding its image and changing its conceptin a short time-frame. This enables your business to make an immediate "about-face." In one day, bad Yelp reviews and public perception can disappear forever and you get another opportunity to make money with your existing establishment.
Restaurant Designer Raymond Haldeman will evaluate the most advantageous exploitive posture for you in your market, identify and highlight your strengths, and create and implement a fresh, new and powerful concept designed to serve the needs of your customers while showcasing best of what you have to offer. An inspiring design will accompany your rebrand and address your concerns, ideas and lessons learned. Powerful first impressions on new customers made possible by a professionally designedbranded concept will bring a substantial return on your investment and will be no match for a poorly designed or outdated image with weak or damaged brand recognition.
Although your business may be able to grow without a professional re-brand if poor management is addressed timely and powerfully, rebranding is a powerful and effective way of resetting the clock and should be considered seriously as a way forward.
Call Raymond Now
- Get Answers to Your Questions
- Free Advise
-Useful Guidance
The Restaurant Designer


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Get ready to meet some new MusicBox stars
Spring means our programs are wrapping up and all the kids are getting ready for their spring recitals. We can't wait to see the results of their hard work for the year and see them shine on stage.
We're also really excited to share our Volunteers of the Year with you. Every Chapter nominates an outstanding volunteer to be recognized for their commitment, dedication and enthusiasm. This year's nominees look amazing — every month, we'll showcase one here to tell you about the fantastic work they do for MusicBox!
We are so excited to welcome Courtney Allain as our new National Program Coordinator!! Courtney brings a wealth of experience working with children's programming in the not-for-profit sector. We'll tell you more about her later!


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Find Out If You're Eligible
Eligibility for services at RotaCare is based upon Federal Poverty Levels. Patients are financially eligible if your annual income is less than 200% of that level. They must be uninsured and ineligible for Medicare, Medicaid or any other type of health care program. Your medical needs must also be assessed. A final determination of financial and medical eligibility can only be made after completion of the intake process.
The Official Federal Poverty Levels can be found online at the United States Department of Health and Human Services:
https://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty-guidelines (external link - opens in new window)
RotaCare relies on the generous support of individuals, companies, and foundations.


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Fall is coming to a close and Winter is knocking at the door. Here's a video closing out our "Laguna Fall" series featuring a look at some of the best Camels waves ever caught.
Don't forget to check out our new Shirts and Sweatshirts on the "Support the Cause" page, they're going fast!


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4-H Youth Development Program
Since 4-H began more than 110 years ago, it has become the nation's largest youth development organization. The 4-H idea is simple: help young people and their families gain the skills needed to be proactive forces in their communities and develop ideas for a more innovative economy.
4-H opened the door for young people to learn leadership skills and revolutionized how youth connected to practical, hands-on learning experiences outside the classroom.
All Star County Ambassador Team
4-H Program
Whether youth participate in clubs, after school programs, day camps, or in other program settings, the 4-H Youth Development Program's mission and
goals remain the same... to help youth develop to their full potential! 4-H Youth Development is a non-formal educational youth program, conducted
by the University of California Cooperative Extension.
The purpose of 4-H Youth Development is to help diverse young people discover and develop their potential and grow into competent, contributing, and caring citizens. Learn by doing activities, youth-adult partnerships, and research-based educational programs help young people enhance their leadership abilities and develop a wide range of other life skills.
Led by research-driven programming from UC ANR, 4-H is a youth development organization for youth ages 5-19 that promotes hands-on, experiential learning. Youth members and adult volunteers from all backgrounds and locations in California are welcome. Members have the opportunity to participate in the 4-H program through community clubs, camps, events and conferences.
|4-H Pledge
|4-H Framework
|4-H Emblem, Motto and Creed
|4-H Outcomes and Impacts
|4-H History
|4-H Uniform
|4-H In The Media
|4-H Vision, Mission and Values
Agreement between 4-H, Grange and Future Farmers of America
Julie Katawicz
4-H Program Representative
Wednesday 8:30 am to 5:00 pm
Thursday 8:30 am to 5:00 pm
Call for an appointment
(831)637-5346 x 13


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Currently unavailable
Tao Workshop Meditation & Taoist Healing with Philip Permutt Friday July 6th Ware, Hertfordshire 7pm- 10pm
Special Taoist Meditation and Healing Workshop. Join Philip for this amazing life changing workshop! This is the style of meditation that Philip does himself everyday and it works. He'll also introduce you to some Taoist ideas about life and the universe. Learn about the 3 Tantiens, Taoist energy centres, Special Taoist healing meditations and traditional Taoist hands on healing designed to open the Energy Gates and release blockages.
Taoism a Chinese philosophy based on the writings of Lao-tzu and others. It teaches one to embrace wonder and the joy in living gracefully with style. It is about living in harmony with the Tao - the principle that is the source, pattern and substance of everything that exists. Yin yang, chi and wu wei are all Taoist concepts. Taoism is also known as Daoism.
ONLINE you can book right here or by phone The Crystal Healer 07808 730750
PLEASE NOTE FOR ONLINE BOOKINGS... The system will automatically add shipping to your payment use coupon code FREESHIP1 at the checkout to remove delivery charges.
July 6th
Wings of Light Wellbeing Centre
9 East Street
Tel: 01920 461517
Also at
June 6th Click here to book
The Crystal Healer
Suite F1
Unit 1
The Verulam Estate
224 London Road
St Albans
Tao Workshop Meditation & Taoist Healing with Philip Permutt, Special Taoist meditation Workshop, Special Taoist healing meditations, traditional Taoist meditation class, Philip Permutt, Daoism
Prices incl. VAT, local (UK) taxes, excludes delivery


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Food Lion began in 1957 as a Food Town based in North Carolina and has grown to become part of one of America's largest grocery companies, the Delhaize Group. Food Lion is focused on service and quality, value products, providing a range of goods and services to ensure customer needs are met.
Food Lion Customer Survey
Food Lion LLC supermarket stores are a great place to shop for groceries, fresh produce and bakery goods with weekly specials and Food Lion branded products where you can save even more. Do you shop at Food Lion? If yes, complete the customer satisfaction survey and tell Food Lion what you thought of your recent shopping experience.
talktofoodlion.com – Win $2000
For your chance to win the $2000 grand prize visit the Food Lion Survey sweepstakes at talktofoodlion.com. The survey is quick and easy to complete and you will only need the store location 4-digt number to enter. This will ensure your responses will make it back to the right Food Lion manager. Answer questions such as reason for visit, whether the employees were attentive & welcoming and store layout based on your most recent visit to a Food Lion store. Once completed you will be entered into the sweepstakes to win the $2000 prize.
About Food Lion Customer Survey
Website: talktofoodlion.com
Prize: $2000 check


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Other available options
This gold-plated timepiece offers the wearer a classic yet vintage look. The face is mounted against a contrast blue mother of pearl dial, offering a beautifully unusual finish. Roman numerals at the 12 and 6 hour marks accentuate the traditional nature of this watch. The intricate links in the bracelet make it fluid and extremely comfortable to wear.
Boasting a legacy of almost 150 years, the Wittnauer collection embodies confidence, sophistication and luxury.
- Brand
- Wittnauer
- Case material
- Yellow Gold plated
- Face colour
- Blue Mother of Pearl
- Face diameter
- 2.8 cm
- Face shape
- Round
- Model number
- Movement
- Quartz
- Strap style
- Bracelet
- Water resistant
- To 50m
Delivery & Returns
At Ernest Jones we provide the following range of delivery options:
- Free Standard Delivery available on orders over £100.
- Free Next Day Delivery available on selected orders over £499.
- Free Click & Collect to any Ernest Jones store in the UK.
For more Delivery Information click here.
Returns policy: you can return items to us by post or in store within 30 days for a full refund or exchange.*
*We cannot refund or exchange pierced jewellery, e.g. earrings, if they have been removed from the original sealed packaging due to hygiene reasons.
Help Centre
There are a number of different ways to contact us if you need help or advice with your purchase.
How to contact us


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BlackBerry has been given two awards for security. The Govies is an Government Security award given to companies with the best security provided in products to federal, state and local governments. The awards were in the category of Data Security and Access Control for BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 (BES10) and Secure Work Space for iOS and Android.
We've always known that when it comes to security, BlackBerry knows best and this is yet another proof of it. Companies and governments still use BlackBerry because they know it's the best solution for productivity and security.
You can read more about the awards in the BlackBerry blog.


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makes: 3 dozen
18.5 ounce box chocolate cake mix
⅓ cup vegetable oil
2 tablespoons water
1 egg
1 cup white chocolate chips
½ cup chopped pecans
Preheat oven to 350F.
Combine cake mix, oil, water, and egg.
Stir in chocolate chips and nuts.
Drop by the spoonful onto ungreased cookie sheet about 2 inches apart.
Bake 7-10 minutes.
Cool on cookie sheet 2 minutes then remove to wire rack to cool completely.


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Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Friday, November 12, 2010
also, SuperGirl
i think SuperGirl looks a little hopped up on something, nutty eyes and that, and the legs are maybe wonky, and i wasn't into the costume that was commissioned. but whatevah. ..
Posted by chris be at 11/12/2010 02:18:00 PM 6 comments:
Labels: SuperGirl
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Monday, November 8, 2010
hey bulldog
sketchin from SketchCharlotte last week at Showmars
Posted by chris be at 11/08/2010 01:11:00 PM 1 comment:
Labels: John Lennon, Ringo Starr, the Beatles
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)


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"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God (1 Corinthians 1:18).
In a world which so often believes that "might makes right", does the message of Jesus going to the cross, make sense to you? Many have a hard time understanding that if God is all powerful, why did He not just destroy Satan so that man would not be tempted to sin? For so many it seems foolish that God would have to send His Son to die on a cross so that man could be saved from his sin.
In his letter to the Corinthians, the apostle Paul addresses Christians there because they were acting foolish as they were fighting among themselves and being divisive among the church (1 Corinthians 1:10-13). They were acting like the world instead of acting as followers of Christ. In correcting them, Paul reminds them of how as Christians we are to think and act differently from the world. The Christians at Corinth needed to be reminded of the basic message of the cross because they were struggling with putting too much glory in their fellow man, such as elevated one man above another (1 Corinthians 1:12) based on their abilities or on their eloquence (cf. 1 Corinthians 2:1, 4-5).
Paul reminds them it was through the message of the cross that God would save men: "For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe" (1 Corinthians 1:21). However, to the world the message of the cross made no sense: "For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God" (1 Corinthians 1:22-24). The Jews had expected the Messiah to deliver them from Roman oppression. Jesus became a stumbling block to them when He told them He was not going to do this. For the Greeks it was foolishness to think of someone dying for another person's sins!
Why did God choose the cross of Jesus to save men instead of a plan that made more sense to men? "But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence" (1 Corinthians 1:27-29). God choose the cross to save men so that no man may glory in His Presence!
The message of Jesus being crucified on the cross is hard for the world to understand. Paul wrote, "For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called" (1 Corinthians 1:26). Again, he writes, "But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned" (1 Corinthians 2:14). Today, I embrace the message of the cross. I will resist thinking like the world which has a hard time understanding the cross. I will strive to spiritually discern the wonderful message of the cross as it glorifies God and tells of His wonderful love for me!
"For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, 'He catches the wise in their own craftiness'; and again, 'The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.' Therefore let no one boast in men. For all things are yours: whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or the world or life or death, or things present or things to come--all are yours. And you are Christ's, and Christ is God's" (1 Corinthians 3:19-23).


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Customers Urged to Prepare, Exercise Safety If Outages Occur
Weather forecasts are calling for strong winds and thunderstorms across large portions of upstate New York early evening. National Grid is preparing its storm response plans while urging customers to be safe and ready.
The company offers the following tips to help customers be prepared and stay safe:
Electricity & Generator Safety
- National Grid customers should call 1-800-867-5222 to report a power outage, or to report any downed wires.
- Customers are urged to stay away from all downed wires, and anything those wires might be touching like tree limbs or fencing.
- Generators used to supply power during an outage must be operated outdoors. Before operating a generator, be sure to disconnect from National Grid's system by shutting off the main breaker, located in the electric service panel. Failure to do this could endanger restoration crews, first responders and your neighbors.
- Customers who depend on electrically powered life support equipment, such as a respirator, should register as a life support customer by calling National Grid at 1-800-642-4272. (In a medical emergency, always dial 911.)
- Keep a number of working flashlights and an extra supply of batteries in your home. Also, make sure to keep mobile devices charged.
- Please drive carefully and use caution when driving near any repair crews working to restore power.
- Be sure to check on elderly family members, neighbors and others who may need assistance during an outage.
National Grid also advises staying tuned to local media for important announcements from emergency officials about possible evacuations or other emergency procedures. In most areas, information on storm shelter locations is available by calling 211.
Stay Connected
National Grid offers several ways to stay informed and safe – before, during and after a storm:
- For real-time power outage information, online outage reporting, and in-depth storm safety information, visit the Outage Central section of www.nationalgridus.com. Customers who create an online profile on our website can also sign up for email alerts.
- To receive text message alerts and updates from National Grid, text the word STORM to NGRID (64743).
- Online and text alert services can be started and stopped at the customer's request.
- Other ways to stay in touch:
- Visit our website: nationalgridus.com.
- Follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/nationalgridus
- Friend us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/nationalgrid
Click here for a video on how National Grid restores power after a major storm.
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To ensure safe usage of your iDevices Switch and to prevent damages not covered under the 1-Year Limited Warranty provided with your iDevices Switch, please follow the below guidelines.
- The iDevices Switch is designed for residential indoor dry location use only.
- Ambient operating conditions: 32º F to 104º F (0º C to 40º C), 0-90% humidity, non-condensing.
- Do not use the iDevices Switch in a humid environment such as a bathroom, sauna, indoor pool, etc.
- The accessories that are plugged into the iDevices Switch should not exceed the ratings on the packaging/product (max is 15 amps). For example, a lamp, fan, radio, crockpot, coffee maker, TV, etc.
- Air conditioners connected to Switch should not exceed 10 amps.
- Do not attempt to open, service, or otherwise modify the iDevices Switch or its internal components.
- Do not expose the iDevices Switch to any form of liquid. If cleaning is required, it must be done with cleaning wipes or solutions approved for use with electronics.
- Products are intended for use in the US and Canada only.