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Let's talk about raising taxes"The word 'revenue' hasn't been used once in two days" of testimony, observed Representative Leila Percy, a Phippsburg Democrat, at a mid-January Appropriations Committee session. Her committee — Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry — had been meeting with Appropriations to consider cuts to the Conservation Department. She made her observation to a forestry-industry representative who was protesting Baldacci's proposed reductions in state services the industry uses (reductions later reversed by the governor).
"Are you willing to be part of that conversation?" Percy asked Patrick Strauch, director of the Maine Forest Products Council. She meant: Are you willing to talk about tax hikes?
Percy had caught him in an ironic position: arguing for state spending to benefit his industry, though his industry is always in the front line of corporate interests that year after year knock down any change to the tax structure that might produce more revenue.
After a pause, Strauch replied grimly: "Sure."
The Appropriations Committee room resounded with laughter.
But for Maine's State House Democrats, "There hasn't been a turning moment" yet, says Christopher "Kit" St. John, director of the Maine Center for Economic Policy (MECEP), a liberal think tank in Augusta. Although Democrats have controlled both the governorship and the Maine Legislature for going on seven years, St. John has spent those years beating his head against the State House granite as he argued for progressive tax and spending policies.
To be sure, on social issues Democratic officeholders have remained relatively liberal; for example, they passed a gay-rights law. And Democratic activists have stayed economically liberal; for example, the 2008 Democratic state convention expressed support for "single-payer" (government) universal health insurance.
But the Democrats elected to the Legislature have expanded big-business tax breaks, voted to cut taxes on millionaires, and — repeatedly — slashed government programs. On these economic issues their leader is Governor John Baldacci, whom Colby College political scientist Sandy Maisel calls "a fairly conservative Democrat."
That may be putting it mildly, to look at the company he keeps: MECEP's counterpart think tank, Portland's right-wing Maine Heritage Policy Center, recently issued a press release praising Baldacci's approach to the current huge, recession-enhanced state budget shortfall: Once again he wants to deeply slash spending for state services without increasing taxes. Similarly, the president of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce, Dana Connors, commends the governor's program-cutting.
Baldacci just carved over $100 million from this fiscal year's budget, with the Legislature's agreement, and he wants to cut hundreds of millions of dollars a year more from state programs over the next two years. All these cuts would have a huge negative impact on education, corrections, and human services. The latter mean services for sick, poor, elderly, mentally ill, and developmentally disabled human beings.
Maine State Employee
I am a Maine State Employee and a Gov. Baldacci supporter. I am concerned about my future and employment in Maine. Clearly many people in Maine do not take responsibility of themselves or their families. I am well aware of this fact as I work with families considered in need of services. Between my supervision and listening and speaking with the Gov's mental health cabinet it is clear that they are on the right track denying services to irresponsible parents and the children they raise. Stand up Maine and thank Jim Breuer and all the people that surround him and the Govenor.
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Analysis and Plans, presents an assessment of 1997 survey data and a summary of improvements introduced, as a result of countries' participation in the 1997 Coordinated Portfolio Investment Survey, into national systems for collecting data on international (cross-border) portfolio investment The chapter reviews developments that occurred in international financial markets in the 1980s and 1990s, and the Godeaux Report assessment and recommendations about global data on international portfolio investment flows and stocks. The objectives set for the 1997 survey, the scope of survey results, and the process by which results have been assessed in the chapter. Since publication of the Godeaux Report, substantial expansion and evolution have occurred in exchange and over-the-counter markets for financial derivatives covering a range of financial risks. These markets now have the capacity, in effect, to change the currencies, maturities, and marketability of the financial instruments underlying associated derivative contracts. It is recommended that vigorous efforts should be made to secure the participation of more major investing countries in order to address the under-reporting of global portfolio investment assets and to confirm the reliability of the global data on portfolio investment liabilities.

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How Bush Confuses Virtue and ViciousnessNews Abroad
I don't think that leftists or progressives can reclaim religion and morality to argue against the immorality of a pre-emptive war and the existence of U.S. standing armies all over the world. It seems to me this would constitute entering into a word game that we cannot win or have long since lost. Instead, I think that we should chuck the terminology of religion and morality and start to argue for and demand ethical and efficient (competent) behavior on the part of the United States and its leaders. After all, the country prides itself on being competent and efficient, yet the blatant incompetence exhibited by the Bush administration over Katrina has increased suspicions among average Americans that the administration may be incompetently carrying out its operation in Iraq. The mishandling of the Dubai port deal is another example of incompetence. The most tragicomic example of personal competence, of course, came when Vice President Cheney mistook a fellow hunter for a bird.
As progressives we must also claim ethical behavior (and the demand for competency) as truly patriotic and not above the law as moral behavior and incompetency so often are. George W. Bush's belief in the "unitary executive theory" has led him to violate domestic law with NSA warrantless wiretaps, torture, "black hole" prisons, and to sign secret statements denying he is bound by certain legislation–all because he is Commander-in-Chief in time of war. The arrogant unilateralism of which rejecting the Kyoto Protocol on global warming and abrogating the ABM Treaty are but two examples clearly indicate that Bush also thinks he is above formal and customary international law.
Long before Bush endorsed unethical behavior in the name of fighting terrorism after September 11, the United States had adopted the unethical methods of the enemy to win the Cold War. I am not making a moral argument in arguing that the United States sold its soul as it conducted its foreign policy in the twentieth century, particularly after World War II. Morality is largely a personal guide for private behavior and it often involves self-sacrifice. Hence, the term has almost always been misused when applied to any country's foreign policy, despite numerous books and speeches on the subject promoting U.S. diplomacy in excessively moralistic overtones. Ideally even personal moral choice should not involve blind adherence to values considered absolute because this represents simple compliance or conformity. Instead, personal morality represents a conscious individual choice to believe in values that are relative and to act on them anyway because they are freely chosen.1 The reason that individual or personal moralistic absolutism is both dangerous and inappropriate when applied to the country's foreign relations is that it "exempts America from self-criticism or from addressing the grievances others have with respect to [U.S.] policies, [and] such [moralistic] sentiments imply a repudiation of dialogue and negotiation." Moralistic absolutism also leads to non-negotiable demands–the anathema of diplomacy which, even more than politics, is the art of compromise.
From the president on down most segments of American society -- government officials, religious groups, and mainstream media -- have egregiously misused the words moral and morality since September 11. Woodrow Wilson gave new life to this rhetorical device, and it flourished exponentially during the Cold War. Now it has now reached a crescendo level because of the war on terrorism. Regardless of the time period in which it is used, such careless public rhetoric does not recognize that if "there can be no compromise with the forces of evil, there can be no reasonable restraint on the forces of good."2
The careless yet incessant infusion of moralism into discussions about U.S. foreign policy also disguises the distinct possibility that in the course of carrying out covert and overt Cold War interventions based on an ever-widening perception of threats to its ubiquitous security interests, the United States began to lose its ethical and democratic compass.
I don't believe that a nation can adopt over time the tactics of the enemy in public or private and walk away ethically unscathed. To pretend that such tactics were not repeatedly and successfully implemented during the Cold War only compounds the conundrum in which the country finds itself now that it has declared a never-ending war against terrorism beginning with the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq. Because the United States all too often assumed the methods of enemy while professing to uphold Wilsonian democratic and humanitarian principles, it no longer seems to recognize any limits on its power as its leaders and media glory in the hitherto taboo topic of empire-building, all the while insisting that it is being forced to take up this imperial burden.3 This represents the worst use of Wilsonian rhetoric to mask naked imperialism.
Instead, national ethics consists of public rules and cultural standards governing the conduct of countries and is usually embodied in custom, law, and policy. At the global level ethics now consists of customary and formal international law as propounded by UN resolutions and covenants, the World Court, various war crimes tribunals and, most recently embodied in the International Criminal Court which the United State has refused to join. At the domestic level in the United States and many other Western nations it consists of common law jurisprudence, which Blackstone called "the principal and most perfect branch of ethics." For nations which purport to honor the rule of law and classical Enlightenment definitions of civilization this means there are recognized fair and equitable ways for countries to conduct themselves at home and abroad.
If the left would begin to advocate ethical behavior such an argument would put us back in the realm of international law and cooperation and place the focus on evaluating the results of the this second invasion of Iraq and previous wars in a way that morality and religion cannot. It would also allow us to re-evaluate and explain to average Americans past unethical behavior on the part of the United States (by which we won the Cold War) in the hope that we will not repeat such behavior. Instead of trying to take back morality and religion (and the flag according to a new book by Todd Gitlin), I think that we should talk about ethics and efficiency to counter the way in which Bush and his neo-con advisers have confounded virtue with viciousness and lack of veracity to cover their incompetence -- a feat unparalleled in the history of U.S. diplomacy.
1. Liah Greenfeld, "Is Nationalism Legitimate?" in Jocelyne Couture, et al., eds., Rethinking Nationalism, Canadian Journal of Philosophy, Supplementary Volume 22 (Calgary, Canada: University of Calgary Press, 1998), pp. 102-103; and Arthur Schlesinger, Jr., "The Necessary Amorality of Foreign Affairs," Harper's Magazine, August 1971, 72-77. It should be pointed out, however, that Schlesinger did not take this amoral stance on foreign affairs until Richard Nixon inherited the Vietnam war from JFK and LBJ–a war that Schlesinger had supported under the two Democratic presidents. In this article, Schlesinger quoted and agreed with Reinhold Niebuhr from Moral Man and Immoral Society when the latter wrote: ". . .unselfishness must remain the criterion of the highest morality." Then going on to quote both Hugh Cecil and Alexander Hamilton: ". . . [unselfishness] is inappropriate to the action of a state. No one has the right to be unselfish with other people's interests . . . .The rule of morality . . . is not precisely the same between nations as between individuals. The duty of making its own welfare the guide of its action is much stronger upon the former than upon the latter. Existing millions and for the most part future generations, are concerned in the present measures of a government; while the consequences of the private action of an individual ordinarily terminate with himself, or are circumscribed with a narrow compass."(p. 72) However, Alan Wolfe has pointed out that if a citizenry are ill-informed or misled by politicians, their private moral freedom can embrace moral authoritarianism as reflected in the current belief among many Americans that forgiveness can coexist with support for the death penalty and that life after birth need not be honored as much as life before birth or the afterlife. See Wolfe, Moral Freedom: The Impossible Idea That Defines the Way We Live Now (New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2001, 160-66.
2. Richard Falk, "The New Bush Doctrine," The Nation, July 15, 2002, pp. 10-11 (quotations).
3. Matthew Rothchild, "Empire's Apologists," The Progressive, March 2003, pp. 35-36; and Lewis H. Lapham, NOTEBOOK: "Light in the window," Harper's Magazine, March 2003, pp 7-9 [criticizing Michael Ignatieff's advocating less timidity and more use of power on the part of the United States if is to be a successful imperial power in "The Burden [of] The American Empire (Get Used to It)]," The New York Times Magazine, January 5, 2003, pp. 22-27; Niall Ferguson, "2011," The New York Times Magazine, December 2, 2001, pp 74-79; and Max Boot, The Savage Wars of Peace: Small War and the Rise of American Power (New York: Basic Books, 2002), pp. xiii-xx, 336-52.
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omar ibrahim baker - 10/19/2007
Whereas the USA is presently in a position , in purely military terms, to impose its will on the world it is evident from Iraq and Afghanistan, for now, and, possibly Venezuela and Bolivia in the near future, that it can not do so in a sustained manner that would reap any lasting benefits.
That is the American paradox: the limitations on brute, absolute ,material military power.
On the other hand and for many objective, mainly economical and technological and some humanitarian, reasons the USA is undoubtedly qualified to be the Preeminent world power.
Preeminence, however, demands genuine universal acceptance by the rest of the world community.
How to be Preeminent without being predominant is the American dilemma!
America does not have much time to resolve that dilemma for its present unrivalled and unchallenged military superiority will not last for ever; Russia will soon reemerge and China will soon assert its presence on the international scene!
omar ibrahim baker - 10/19/2007
"Now pay attention. You obviously need assistance, but I'm only going to write this down one more time."
Wow the Professor is really angry!
omar ibrahim baker - 10/19/2007
Mr Willis
Possibly more people die, drowning, trying to enter the EU which means nothing neither here nor there except that both of you have better employment opportunities than some of your neighbours.
Who is the "you" and why do you think that "we" are lost?
John Allan Wilson - 3/22/2006
Dude, take a decaf expresso next time you sit down at the keyboard. And try to keep the sarcasm down.
Lorraine Paul - 3/21/2006
Mr Willis, I would like to refer you to the sad events which occurred off the coast of Australia. Many people died trying to reach our shores. Even ore sadly those who did reach them were denied sanctuary by our mongrel government. They have been sidelined to 'detention centres' (read concentration camps) until their case is heard. Strangely, this can take years!!
I, and it appears those also not born in the US, am fed up with the ethnocentric assumptions of superiority expressed by those born in the US. Does this only apply to the white supremacists or is it endemic to all ethnicities of your sad country?
Arnold Shcherban - 3/18/2006
America did not "win" in Cold war.
The world lost a counterbalance to
its now unchecked and agressive
zeal for world dominance.
The right "screed" has recently basically acknowledged its own Big Lie they spread for decades before about the imminent and deadly threat posed by the greatest curse of all times - Evil Empire, by arguing that today's threat of Islmaic terrorism is much more dangerous and lethal. Servient Mid-Eastern regimes established (after killing directly or by proxy hundreds of thousands of innocent folks and the ones who resisted the US agression andbloody occupation of their countries), they will find (actually create) a new deadly, mythically evil enemy to scare American ignorant and religiously duped majority to loyally support the Pan-Americana strategy of the multinational corporations and subservient to them politicans and mass-media.
Arnold Shcherban - 3/18/2006
When an unborn jerks his hand inside mom's womb towards heavy-weight box world champion, the best the latter can do is to defend himself by knocking out the mother.
Arnold Shcherban - 3/18/2006
The "screed" is not anti-American, but just anti-Heuislerian, i.e. against corporate dictate in the US
internal and foreign policy!
Rob Willis - 3/17/2006
Cite your sources. Who and how many die trying to reach the "EU" (which, by the way, is suddenly awake to the concept that they have been asleep for far too long)?
And the "you" is "you". I have no idea what "we" you might claim membership to, I don't think in groupisms, except for those who want a free future for the earth, and those who don't.
Which one are "you"?
You have no argument other than theory. I have observable and confirmable reality. Historian, remember?
R. Willis
Rob Willis - 3/17/2006
Mr. Baker-
We are already, and will remain so. Why?
Name another country in the world that holds such fundamental promise and opportunity that people are willing to die trying to get in.
You are lost.
R. Willis
Bill Heuisler - 3/16/2006
Mr. Charles,
Now pay attention. You obviously need assistance, but I'm only going to write this down one more time.
Hoff says something that is clearly her opinion and not supported with facts. Your demand that I prove the opposite is clownish and illustrates confusion or inexperience. How does one prove the opposite of an opinion?
Illustrating ignorance is easier.
Pre-emption is defensive. Defending yourself is almost never illegal.
"Immoral" is the purview of priests, not righteous historians, and Hoff would certainly object if the word were turned against her.
Had you any experience in debate, or with our language, you might know that the term "immoral" is quite subjective. Were you not so deeply imbedded in Leftist dogma, you might remember there were 2 Congressional Authorizations for Use of Military Force against terror and against Iraq. Even the eminent Doctor Hoff might just dimly recall that the resumption of the Iraq war in 2003 was opposed by only around two dozen Representatives and Senators.
Ignorance of our form of government and of recent history is inexcusable on a history site. Inanities become farcical when mouthed by a so-called historian and then turn comical when defended by one of her naive fans.
Bill Heuisler
Charles Edward Heisler - 3/16/2006
Every time I reread and try to figure out your article I come up with a real head scratcher of a statement, ie.:"It would also allow us to re-evaluate and explain to average Americans past unethical behavior on the part of the United States (by which we won the Cold War) in the hope that we will not repeat such behavior"
Do you really think average Americans that lived thru the Cold War with all the real threat of a nuclear nightmare would respond to your argument that the War was won by unethical behavior--even assuming you could support the unethical claim?
I don't. Even if you could show this extraordinary convoluted reasoning to be deciferable by average Americans, I suspect they would, as I certainly do, think the end justified the means since so many people are now living in democratic countries that were formerly under the autocratic thumb of our Cold War enemies, that the likelihood of a mutually assured destruction has disappeared from the earth as two super powers no longer are facing off 24/7, fingers on the trigger.
I absolutely cannot imagine what you hope to gain with your progressive morality if this is the lesson you want to teach America unless it is a confused "WHAT?"!
Tell you what, why don't you run by me where the progressive morality was in the mid 70's while millions of Cambodians were being slaughtered and American progressives were standing around congratulating each other for having stopped the "Hawk War Mongers" of America in their quest to free the people of Southeast Asia. Since the progressives have been silent on their abandonment of Cambodia for thirty years it is time that they now step forward and explain to us that still are stunned by the genocide why that outcome was as equally moral as the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Vietnam. I need this lesson as it is something that the Progressive Left has left undone for so very long.
Douglas M. Charles - 3/16/2006
I'm still waiting, Master Heuisler, to hear you explain "the difference between pre-emptive and defensive - and that sometimes the two are the same."
Dr. Hoff writes that Bush's pre-emption was immoral. So show us how it was not (presumably).
Bill Heuisler - 3/15/2006
Mr. Charles,
My apologies for keeping you waiting for enlightenment, although you must admit your ignorance of English is really not my fault.
Pre-emption is striking first to avert a threat. When confronted with an armed threat law abiding citizens are within their rights to defend themselves, and do not have to wait to be shot before taking action. Get it? Defense doesn't require passivity
The 9/11 terrorist attack is not mentioned and the date is mentioned in passing in her third paragraph as a parameter for political rhetoric not as the single most galvanizing event in our history. And on HNN...
She suggests no response to terror at all and suggests the US won the Cold War by unethical means. Facts?
Your turn. Show me the historical or factual references Hoff uses in support of her claims of immoral acts by the US and then please tell me exactly what she means by our unethical winning of the Cold War.
Hoff wrote the article and used references from The Nation and the Progressive - like Mickey getting a reference from Minnie. But that still doesn't change the fact that she - and you - apparently think unsupported Left Wing opinions are valuable enough for a history site.
Bill Heuisler
Bill Heuisler - 3/15/2006
Mr. Charles,
My apologies for keeping you waiting for enlightenment, although you must admit your ignorance of English is really not my fault.
Pre-emption is striking first to avert a threat. When confronted with an armed threat law abiding citizens are within their rights to defend themselves, and do not have to wait to be shot before taking action. Get it? Defense doesn't require passivity
The 9/11 terrorist attack is not mentioned and the date is mentioned in passing in her third paragraph as a parameter for political rhetoric not as the single most galvanizing event in our history. And on HNN...
She suggests no response to terror at all and suggests the US won the Cold War by unethical means. Facts?
Your turn. Show me the historical or factual references Hoff uses in support of her claims of immoral acts by the US and then please tell me exactly what she means by our unethical winning of the Cold War.
Hoff wrote the article and used references from The Nation and the Progressive - like Mickey getting a reference from Minnie. But that still doesn't change the fact that she - and you - apparently think unsupported Left Wing opinions are valuable enough for a history site.
Bill Heuisler
Douglas M. Charles - 3/15/2006
Well? I'm waiting, Master Heuisler, to hear you explain "the difference between pre-emptive and defensive - and that sometimes the two are the same." Please enlighten us.
Also, explain to us how "She ignores 9/11 and . . . ignores history while giving the US no response to terror except abject surrender."
You make these statements, let them hang out there, and offer nothing to back them up. Well?
Bill Heuisler - 3/15/2006
The article begins, "I don't think that leftists or progressives can reclaim religion and morality to argue against the immorality of a pre-emptive war and the existence of U.S. standing armies all over the world. It seems to me this would constitute entering into a word game that we cannot win..." and fails at both grammar and colloquy.
"This," Mr. Becker, refers to what?
All those amputated assumptions look back on an ahistoric fairyland where leftists once proclaimed religion and morality; where the resumption of hostilities against a threatening dictator had become somehow immoral.
Kosovo nibbles. Evidence complains of wanton and excessive neglect. Fantasy may soothe the progressive brow, but not one Hoff argument, fact or statistic is offered in evidence of a political rant.
To allow her fecklessness to suffer a dignified death would affront even the appearance of dialectic. Also her comingling morality and ethics in a history context is neither scholarly nor intelligent.
Watching an adult attempt to reclaim the salad days of her anti-war youth without realizing she's out of her depth and trying too hard, is sad.
But watching an educator contort and writhe quasi-pedantically in badly reasoned jargon is simply pitiable.
Bill Heuisler
Carl Becker - 3/15/2006
Okay Charles, but many with a lengthy life haven't heard squat and it's not much of an argument when both sides can't provide evidence - so why make that statement to begin with.
Interesting you've used the word "watch" The Grapes of Wrath instead of "read". Maybe the intellectual distinction of a working stiff.
Charles Edward Heisler - 3/15/2006
No Carl, "it" only "implies" that I haven't heard any "working stiff" denigration from academics or rich men in my rather lengthy life--nothing more.
This whole nobility of the "working stiff" is, I think, a rather tired conceit that devolves from watching "The Grapes of Wrath" too many times but, what the hey, Carl, if you have counter evidence, I am intellectually prepared to be proven wrong!
Carl Becker - 3/15/2006
"I have never heard an academic or a rich man refer to working stiffs as stupid or worthless." Oh Charles, don't you realize this implies you have heard what ALL rich men and ALL working stiffs have ever said? A ridiculous statement and a true reflection on the validity everything else said.
Carl Becker - 3/15/2006
singing so nicely to each other here is cute and what else can one say - so why argue? You are right because you say so. Thank goodness all you right-wingers are all so smart and so deep. Where would this country be today without your keen insight into the human condition, your clarifying wisdom, high moral standards, and your compassion and intelligence that has brought all Americans together and brought peace to the world? You can rest assured and pat yourself on the back some more - you will be remembered for generations and you will become legends. Keep up the good work 'cause those Leftys are needin' a lesson in everything else under the sun. No one can run America as intelligently as you people can. Yes, "Thank goodness people like you and me see through the facade" , unlike the rest of those fools. Why, they're not even human any more to us.
Bill Heuisler - 3/15/2006
Mr. Charles,
Thank you for your obviously heartfelt compliment. Isn't it amazing how some Leftists just don't understand the English language?
Thank goodness people like you and me see through the facade of so-called scholarship to the bleak, angry ideologue who would rather smear a conservative President than defend the system and country that has given her wealth and prosperity.
Thanks again. Let's do lunch.
Bill Heuisler
Jason KEuter - 3/15/2006
Most posted articles don't have footnotes and references, but this one does, thus giving it a pseudo-scientific veneer -sort of like saying "Dr." Zinn and then proceeding on a tirade denouncing elitist rule.
As for the plea for competence, this is not the forte of leftists. Recall the crisis the Bolsheviks faced after killing off one too many bourgeois and their ressurection of bourgeois experts, who, it turned out, were not immiserating anybody but simply making things function. This lasted long enough to shore up the regime, which, once ensconsed in power, then liquidated the bourgeois and proceeded with an expert administration of a vicious regime.
I believe there are plenty of yankee doodle dandy conservatives working every day to pay taxes to support the universities and professorial chairs that make all this rhetoric against being yankee doodle dandy possible. Hence, radical leftism might best be thought of as an ideology of aristocratic disdain for the laboring classes who make it all happen but don't share the world view of those they hold on their shoulders.
Douglas M. Charles - 3/14/2006
"...is more to the point, Mr. Thomas.
This "scholar" cannot discern the difference between pre-emptive and defensive - and that sometimes the two are the same. She ignores 9/11 and, as you implied, ignores history while giving the US no response to terror except abject surrender."
Oh please do "enlighten" us. The "depth" of your analysis and position is striking.
Charles Edward Heisler - 3/14/2006
Oh Barry, all this with record low unemployment rates, a growing economy, masses enjoying middle class incomes and lifestyles.
This "to the barricades" speech is a tad old fashioned don't you think?
The only people who denigrate "working stiffs" are, in my experience, the "working stiffs" who somehow can't seem to accept their choice of employment.
I have never heard an academic or a rich man refer to working stiffs as stupid or worthless.
Barry James Sullivan - 3/14/2006
Both parties have been two sides of the same coin for as long as I can remember. While they stole the working American's wages or simply gave them away they also managed to burden those workers and their children with an unworkable debt.
Record home foreclosures, broken families and lost jobs are the legacy of both parties. Meanwhile we are forced sit to through the same tiring sermons from the same ugly people year in and out. What good does it do an honest man if your tactics succeed and new crime families assume power.
You should come down and listen to the working stiffs. They're really not all that bad or stupid, just a bit too trusting.
Bill Heuisler - 3/14/2006
...is more to the point, Mr. Thomas.
This "scholar" cannot discern the difference between pre-emptive and defensive - and that sometimes the two are the same. She ignores 9/11 and, as you implied, ignores history while giving the US no response to terror except abject surrender.
On a broader note to HNN:
This anti-American screed has become so common on campus that one wonders how so much unoriginal and abstruse thought can pose as the product of learned minds. Do these people read their own stuff? Do you? Or are you all too dull-witted and comfortable to recognize the surreal lack of historical scholarship? On HNN the recurrance of this spoiled pablum is dispiriting.
Bill Heuisler
Rob Willis - 3/14/2006
...is about compromise? I have always seen the art as one of polite but direct communication of the thoughts, aims, and goals of neighboring nations.
I would love to read the author's formula of diplomacy and compromise with nations who have stated loudly that their intention is to wipe entire regions off of the map of the world. Where do we start that dialog?
I, for one, am unwilling to trade my moral code for the sake of compromise.
R. Willis
Who has never read a more mechanical, wisdom-less screed in many years.
Frederick Thomas - 3/14/2006
...is surely an oxymoron.
"Progressives" in this country were responsible for US involvement in 2 world wars which the public wanted no part of, plus two large secondary wars, and several minor debacles such as Somalia and Haiti, all based upon misleading the American public. Progressives killed in the process about 900,000 American soldiers, while making the world safe for democracies, Stalin, and Hitler.
In the course of these adventures over a hundred million died in total, constitutions were overthrown, and progressives such as the author were butchered by their brother progressives, in the name of the dictatorship of the proletariat. Progressiveism is a lot more dangerous to the health that smoking.
The author refuses to acknowledge the lack of any substance in her position.
She just goes on and on like the Energizer Bunny, beating her drum endlessly while no one listens.
Charles Edward Heisler - 3/14/2006
As progressives we must also claim ethical behavior (and the demand for competency) as truly patriotic and not above the law as moral behavior and incompetency so often are.
And now, eight years after a complete lapse of "ethical behavior" by the "progressives" of this country in the fiasco of the Clinton scandals the Left wants to reclaim the moral ground from a President and Political party that is, at least, protecting Americans from terroism? Really?
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- Hawley's Use of Fake Patrick Henry Quote a Revealing Error
- Health Researchers Show Segregation 100 Years Ago Harmed Black Health, and Effects Continue Today
- Nelson Lichtenstein on a Half Century of Labor History
- Can America Handle a 250th Anniversary?
- New Research Shows British Industrialization Drew Ironworking Methods from Colonized and Enslaved Jamaicans
- The American Revolution Remains a Hotly Contested Symbolic Field
- Untangling Fact and Fiction in the Story of a Nazi-Era Brothel


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Research in the Physics Department of RWTH Aachen is focussed on condensed matter physics and particle physics. The first area ranges from application in information technology over method development to fundamental studies of quantum systems and includes solid state physics, nano science, quantum information and statistical physics. The second field studies fundamental questions regarding the nature of matter, its elementary constituents and their interaction. Groups in the Physics Department are involved in several international large scale projects and maintain numearouns collaborations with other groups at RWTH, in Germany, and worldwide.
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Story Highlights• State Department considers Mujahedeen-e-Khalq a terrorist group
• Group's camp in Iraq protected by coalition forces
• Mujahedeen-e-Khalq provides valuable intelligence on Iran
• Iraqi government demands group leave Iraqi soil
From Michael Ware
Adjust font size:
BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- An Iranian opposition group based in Iraq, labeled a terrorist organization by the United States, gets protection from the U.S. military despite Iraqi pressure to leave the country.
The U.S. considers the Mujahedeen-e-Khalq, or MEK, a source of valuable intelligence on Iran.
The group also is credited with helping expose Iran's secret nuclear program through spying on Tehran for decades.
Iranian officials tied the MEK to an explosion in February at a girls school in Zahedan, Iran. (Full story)
The U.S. State Department considers the MEK a terrorist organization -- meaning no American can deal with it; U.S. banks must freeze its assets; and any American giving support to its members is committing a crime.
The U.S. military, though, regularly escorts MEK supply runs between Baghdad and its base, Camp Ashraf.
"The trips for procurement of logistical needs also take place under the control and protection of the MPs," said Mojgan Parsaii, vice president of MEK and leader of Camp Ashraf.
That's because, according to U.S. documents, coalition forces regard MEK as protected people under the Geneva Conventions.
"The coalition remains deeply committed to the security and rights of the protected people of Ashraf," U.S. Maj. Gen. John D. Gardner wrote in March 2006.
The group also enjoys the protection of the International Committee of the Red Cross.
"The ICRC has made clear that the residents of Camp Ashraf must not be deported, expelled or repatriated," according to an ICRC letter.
Despite repeated requests, neither Iran's ambassador in Baghdad nor the U.S. military would comment on MEK, also known as Mojahedin Khalq Organization, or MKO.
The State Department said Friday the Geneva Conventions protections apply only to MEK residents of Camp Ashraf, and the organization as a whole and its members elsewhere are subject to prosecution for terrorist or criminal acts.
"We still regard them as a terrorist organization," former U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad said.
When the U.S. invaded Iraq in 2003, Green Berets arrived at Camp Ashraf to find gardens and monuments, along with more than 2,000 well-maintained tanks, armored personnel carriers, artillery, anti-aircraft guns and vehicles.
All 3,800 camp residents were questioned by Americans. No arrests were made, and the camp quickly surrendered under a cease-fire agreement -- an agreement that also guaranteed its safety.
"Everyone's entry to the camp and his departure are controlled by the U.S. military police force," Parsaii said.
The MEK denies it is a terrorist group. Both Iran and the Iraqi government, however, accuse the group of ongoing terrorist attacks, and the Shiite-dominated Iraqi government wants it out.
"We gave this organization a six-month deadline to leave Iraq, and we informed the Red Cross," said Shirwan al-Wa'eli, Iraq's national security minister. "And presumably, our friends the Americans will respect our decision and they will not stay on Iraqi land."
For now, however, the United States continues to protect MEK.
"There are counter-pressures, too," Khalilzad said. "There are people who say, 'No, they should be allowed to stay here.' And as you know, around the world there are people with different views toward them."
Members of the MEK rally at Camp Ashraf in Iraq in June 2006.
Interactive: Who's who in Iraq
Interactive: Sectarian divide
Timeline: Bloodiest days for civilians


text: Agricultural Weather and Drought Update – 8/31/12 Visit www.usda.gov/drought for the latest information regarding USDA's Drought Disaster response and assistance. Hurricane Isaac has grabbed most of the weather headlines in recent days, but drought remains deeply entrenched across nearly two-thirds of the continental United States. According to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor, dated August 28, drought covered 62.9% of the Lower 48 states, down only slightly from a peak of 63.9% on July 24. However, during the five-week period from July 24 to August 28, the portion of the country in exceptional drought (D4) increased from 2.4 to 6.0%. Brad Rippey, USDA Meteorologist, Office of the Chief Economist Posted in Conservation Aug 31, 2012 1 Response


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Guideline when the picture is dark
The picture is dark.
There may be something wrong with the settings or the product has defect.
How to fix
Non-Smart TV
Check if the lamp mode is 'Standard'. (The brightness differ depending on the lamp mode.)
If the projector provides a feature of 'White adjustment', set the value high.
(For the brighter video, change it to higher value. For the better image quality, change it to lower value. .)
Try to change the Picture Mode. You can find the optimal Picture Mode for each video. (Refer to the manual.)
※ How to adjust the picture color
① Lamp Mode (brightness)
* You can choose between Standard <->Power saving depending on the model.
Or you can choose Presentation <-> Standard <-> Power saving.
② White adjustment (if applicable)
* Depending on the OSD type and model, this feature may be provided.
③ Picture Mode
* There are Vivid / Standard / Movie / Sports / Game mode.
* There may be differences depending on the OSD type and model.


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Tim Bowman: Jazz at Freedom Park Charlotte, NC
Tim Bowman , jazz guitarist, began playing the guitar in his early days in church to formal training as an adult. He pulled from a multitude of influences and created a sound that infuses, gospel, blues, R&B, and jazz. Tim hit the jazz scene in 1996 and has been winning rave reviews. He performed at Freedom Park, Charlotte, NC July 19, 2014.Read More


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Continuing the legacy: Taylor Stricklin following in dad's tracks
Published 12:00 am Friday, March 8, 2013
Hut Stricklin is a name NASCAR fans are familiar with because at one time he was a top driver on that circuit. Starting out on short tracks in Alabama as a teenager, he began his career with NASCAR in 1978.
Some people think life as a race car driver is fun and glamorous. While that may be true, there's more to the story, as Hut shared one afternoon at his auto salvage dealership in Cleveland.
Growing up in Alabama, Hut saw his dad, Waymond Stricklin, run a used car parts store during the week, only to race cars and trucks at short tracks on the weekends. When Hut was 17, realizing his son had talent, Waymond began investing money in his racing efforts instead. This lasted for about five years until one day Waymond explained he couldn't sponsor racing anymore because of finances.
Thinking it was the worst thing that ever happened, Hut later saw it was the best thing. Needing sponsors, he began making contacts, touching base with anyone who possibly could help. Going back and forth between Alabama, North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, Florida, Mississippi and Virginia to race or hang out at races, Hut often stopped in Mooresville to talk to Roland Wlodyka, team manager for Rod Osterland. This visibility eventually led to his signing with Osterland's team. Dale Earnhardt had become rookie of the year when he signed with the same team 10 years prior. Hut became runner-up for rookie of the year after signing.
Racing just one year with the Osterland team, as luck would have it, in the right place at the right time, Hut got a ride with Bobby Allison's team, only to become the last member of what was considered the Alabama Gang. Robert Yates summed up Hut's career best by saying, "It seemed he was always signing with a team on their way out instead of on their way in." Other teams this held true for were Junior Johnson's Smokin' Joe's and McDonald's teams, Hill's Brothers' Coffee and Kenny Bernstein's Quaker State team.
Even though Hut's ride with each team lasted for only a year or two, he managed to stay in NASCAR for more than 20 years, with wins and championships along the way. Some of his special moments were winning NASCAR's Dash Series Championship in 1987, finishing fourth at Daytona in the Sprint Cup Series and being a stunt driver for Days of Thunder starring Tom Cruise. One of his most amazing feats was finishing 14th in Junie Donlavey's No. 90 car at the 2000 Brickyard in Indianapolis. What made this so amazing was Hut didn't have a crew chief and not only had to drive, but also make decisions usually given to the crew chief, such as when to pit stop.
Although Hut found racing to be fun for many years, providing him with opportunities he wouldn't have experienced otherwise, he knew it was time to quit when he didn't enjoy going to the track anymore. In 2002, after talking things over with his wife, Pam, Hut made the bold decision to quit racing and opened a salvage auto parts dealership, just like his dad.
The decision to leave racing was a little scary for Pam because NASCAR had been a way of life for her since she was a little girl. Donnie Allison was her dad and her uncle was Bobby Allison. To add to that family legacy, she was introduced to her future husband by her cousin, Davey Allison. Although apprehensive about the decision to leave racing, Pam wanted Hut to be happy and was willing to support his new adventure.
After buying property in Cleveland, it didn't take long for construction to begin. When Stricklin's Auto and Truck Parts opened in 2004, the goal was to buy and sell used car and truck parts, but over the years the business gradually expanded to include other lines such as service work and buying scrap metal and junk cars by the pound.
While I was talking with Hut at his shop several weeks ago, Taylor Stricklin, his son, walked in and joined the conversation. Knowing Taylor also loves racing, I asked how things were going. He said things were going good and that he was working hard to get his car ready for the first race of the season in March. Like his dad, he too started on the short track.
Wondering if Hut was helping with expenses, I asked the question, to which Taylor quickly replied, "No. I work for all of my money. In this economy, Dad can't afford to help me."
Hut then added, "It takes about $2,000 for Taylor to get on the track each week. It only took about half that much when I started."
The conversation then turned to what has changed the most about the industry. Taylor, with definite views about this topic said, "Years ago, there was more of a level playing field. When Dad started most drivers worked on their own cars, and if you showed up with a truck and trailer you were pretty much OK. Now when you go to the short tracks, most of the drivers have million-dollar trailers sitting in the infield. Although I have the talent and the Stricklin name, I don't have that kind of money. That's why I'm looking for sponsors."
Hopefully, it won't be long until Taylor finds sponsorship to continue the legacy both of his grandfathers started years ago in Alabama.
Rowan County and specifically Cleveland are lucky to have a celebrity and businessman like Hut Stricklin willing to invest money in the community. It's our turn now to show appreciation.
Dicy McCullough's books are available at local bookstores, Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble. Call her at 704-278-4377.


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By Judy Reed
The U.S. Geological Service and Japanese has determined that the magnitude of the earthquake that hit the east coast of Honshu, Japan at 12:46 a.m. (EST) on March 11, 2011 was a 9.0, making it the fourth largest in the world since 1900, and the largest in Japan since modern instrumental recordings began 130 years ago.
The quake generated a tsunami, which hit Japan within 25 minutes of the quake with waves up to 33 feet high. The waves quickly swept inland for several miles, carrying along mud, boats and debris, including burning homes. The tsunami generated warnings for 20 countries, including the western coast of the United States and Hawaii, but did not create widespread damage for other countries. Deaths and injuries are in the thousands in Japan, and they now have radiation leaking from four nuclear reactors.
Honshu, Japan is still receiving aftershocks, including one of 6.0 Wednesday.
Cedar Springs resident Yuko Roberts, who works at the Cedar Springs Library, came here from Japan in 1986. Here parents live here now, but she has relatives back in Japan.
"They all live a little south of Tokyo. Although they felt the initial earthquake (o/a M5) there, and had power outages for a couple of days, they had no damage to their houses," she said. "But people in Miyagi prefecture and other places where the M8.9 (now 9.0) earthquake hit are still suffering from more than 100 aftershocks (includes at least 3 new earthquakes). And the damages from the tsunami is way worse than the quake itself, not to mention nuclear power plant's explosions," she explained.
Yuko said that while she personally does not know anyone injured, her daughter's friend, who is a Japanese exchange student, has a friend who lost his friend. So her kids have started a fundraising project at their schools, Yuko set up a jar at the library. She is calling it Project Senbazuru (Thousand Cranes). "For every one dollar you donate, I will fold one paper crane, and when it reaches 1,000, I will send them to Japan with messages and prayers along with $1,000," explained Yuko.
She said she is looking into which charity might be the best organization to give the money to.
For a list of agencies supporting relief efforts in Japan, go to www.interaction.org/crisis-list/interaction-members-support-japan-earthquake-response.
Before donating, read an article from the Better Business Bureau on our business page about donating to charities (page 12).


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Many Nokia phones comes preinstalled with a built-in SIP client
Configuration Guide
BEFORE YOU BEGIN, please note the following:
On the Nokia some of VoIP settings are hidden by default, and you will need Nokia's new VoIP SIP application.
This application can be used to configure VoIP settings on your Nokia. You can create new VoIP profiles and modify the existing ones, and create and modify VoIP parameters and NAT/Firewall traversal settings and that are normally not visible on the device UI, such as codec settings and SIP domain-specific NAT/FW settings. It is also possible to save all the VoIP profile settings to a text file. It also enables VoIP over WCDMA which means you can make VoIP call over 3G Internet connection.
Using your PC you can download free Nokia SIP VoIP application from here (unzip please) or you can check Nokia web sitefor latest version.
Extract and install SIS file using Nokia PC Suite software on your PC.
Once installation is complete you will be able to see "SIP VoIP Settings" application under Applications menu on your Nokia, which you will need in STEP 5 of this configuration guide for better voice quallity or enabling VoIP over 3G Internet connection.
Here you can find Nokia N90 SIP settings for voip setup configuration guide with VoIPVoIP service.
Go to Tools / Settings / Connection / SIP settings. Create the following profile
Profile Name: anything
Profile: IETF Default
Access point: (your WLAN AP name)
Public user name: firstname.lastname@example.com (Instead of xxxxxxx account number example, use the account number assigned to you when signed up for the service)
Use Compression: No
Registration: "Always on"
Use Security: No
You do not need to enter Proxy Server settings
Proxy Server Address: none
Registrar Server: none
Realm: none
User Name: none
Enter the following for Registrar Server settings
Registrar Server: sip.yoursipdomain.com (When recorded your phone will show sip: sip. yoursipdomain.com)
Realm: your voip server realm (from the server global configuration) or domain name or IP address
User Name: xxxxxxxx (Instead of xxxxxxx account number example, use the account number assigned to you when signed up for the service. )
Password: Enter the password that you chose when you signed up for the service.
Transport Type: UDP
Port: 5060
Go to connection / Internet Tel. Settings
Create a new profile for the voip service, name it "xxx"
In Connectivity / Internet tel. / preferred profile
Choose " xxx "
For better voice quality or in order to be able to make VoIP calls over 3G internet connection you need to use Nokia SIP VoIP Application you installed.
Go to Applications on your phone and click on "SIP VoIP Settings" application. Choose VoIP services/the name of your xxx account Internet profile.
Click on "Profile Settings" and find "Allow VoIP over WCDMA" option and change it to "ON" This change allows VoIP over 3G connection on Nokia phones.
For better voice quality go to Codecs and delete all codecs except G729. There should be only G729 codec left under codecs setting
Reboot your phone. Once your phone is back on it will automatically register to the sip server.
Once it is registered you can start making calls.
Default call type: To switch between normal GSM calls or VOIP calls, navigate to Tools / Settings / Call / Default call type. Select Cellular to make normal calls to the phone number or Internet to use VoIP to call the number or address
Make Calls!
Download template


text:
- Shop Products
- >
- Floor Standing Speakers
- >
- Bryston Model T
Bryston Model T
**In Store Sales Only**
The Bryston Model T Passive Loudspeaker was built to be exceptionally high quality and affordable, while bringing superior design to the table. New driver designs, enclosure vibration analysis, crossover refinement, and anechoic chamber testing all went into creating an amazing product.
A "state of the art" audio system involves what some refer to as a "suspension of disbelief". This means the playback system transcends the recorded medium and transports you to a live venue. You forget it's a recording and believe you are there at the live performance. Our goal with the Bryston Model T loudspeaker is to provide our customers with a superior level of "disbelief".
- High levels of SPL without distortion or compression
- Unit to Unit matching
- Bryston internal crossovers, designed to integrate perfectly with Bryston Amplifiers
- Custom designed drivers with die-cast aluminum baskets, substantial magnet assemblies, and custom motor systems
- Wide dispersion design
- Engineered to prevent cabinet resonances
- Frequency Response: 25Hz to 20Khz (+/- 3dB)
- Impedance: 4 Ohms (nominal)
- Sensitivity: 89 dB SPL @ 1 meter with 1 watt (anechoic)
- Maximum SPL: 118 dB SPL @ 1 meter
- Recommended Power: 10 watts to 500 watts RMS
- Tweeter: Dual 1.0"
- Midrange: Dual 5.25"
- Woofer: Triple 8.0"
Available in numerous finishes, some at a surcharge - Please contact us for options


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A 2008 amendment to the Boston zoning code prohibits landlords from renting an apartment or single housing unit to more than four undergraduate students. But short of the signs requiring people to shower before entering a swimming pool, it would be tough to find a rule that has been so widely flouted.
This is serious business, however. A Globe Spotlight series in May exposed the netherworld of undergraduates who cram into poorly maintained apartments. It's a domain defined by broken locks, inflated rents, rodents, and firetrap attics similar to the one where Binland Lee, a Boston University senior, perished last year in an Allston blaze. And with less than two months remaining before the in-migration of Boston's college students, competition for these infernal spaces is heating up.
Boston Mayor Martin Walsh has vowed to enforce the no-more-than-four undergraduates rule. He has convinced universities to share the addresses of their off-campus students with city inspectors. That effort to identify overcrowded apartments should gain traction this fall. But if the Walsh administration expects to get ahead of the problem, it should start now. Landlords in Allston, Brighton, Mission Hill, and other student-rich neighborhoods are currently listing properties with five or more bedrooms. Local real estate agents, in turn, are showing the units to five or more undergraduate students. The city needs to attack the problem at its source.
Attorney Joanne D'Alcomo has seen the overcrowding problems caused by undergraduates living in her Brighton neighborhood. A litigator by trade, she is offering a summer action plan — pro bono — to the Walsh administration. The initial step would require city officials to compile a list of rental agencies that advertise units with more than four bedrooms. Next city officials would inform real estate agents of their responsibility to disclose the prohibition on renting to more than four undergraduates. A nice touch might be an official letter warning agents that failure to disclose is a deceptive act and exposes them to liability under the Massachusetts Consumer Protection Act. And knowing that rental agents and landlords can be a recalcitrant bunch, D'Alcomo would also encourage the attorney general's office to seek a preliminary injunction against offending real estate companies and landlords.
With such measures in place, landlords might think twice before cramming students into apartments and pushing rents through the roof. Families might find respite from the noise and chaotic conditions that often characterize crowded student areas. And most importantly, a tragedy like the one that took the life of Binland Lee might be avoided.
A review of Zillow, the real estate section of Boston.com, and similar rental listings shows dozens of dwellings with five or more bedrooms for rent. Some barely attempt to disguise their pitches to undergrads. One recent listing by Bean Town Realty Management, for example, described a three-unit, 15-bedroom property at 1789 Commonwealth Ave. in Brighton that is close to Boston College and "is often rented as an entire building." The combined monthly rent for the three units adds up to $11,400. Typical five- and six-bedroom dwellings in Allston-Brighton draw rents in the $4,500-$6,000 range.
"It's not the quality of the buildings that is driving up rents," said D'Alcomo. "It's greed and the landlord's ability to ignore the law because of City Hall's previous inaction and apparent indifference."
Visits to a half dozen real estate offices in Brighton this week yielded few opportunities to discuss the undergraduate overcrowding issue. Jason Schuster, the head of Proper Realty Group, was the only agent to share some information on his rental practices. He said his agency adopts a policy of "full disclosure" when dealing with large groups of undergraduates. Many of Schuster's counterparts up and down Commonwealth Avenue could best be described as uncommunicative.
Some universities exacerbate the problem by listing rental units with five or more bedrooms on their internal lists of off-campus housing. But that, too, may be changing. On Thursday, Boston College spokesman Jack Dunn said that BC's goal is to remove any listing with five or more bedrooms from the private lists. Greater efforts are also underway on local campuses to educate undergraduates about the no-more-than-four rule.
"No one can claim ignorance of this law," said BU spokesman Colin Riley.
Lawrence Harmon can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Calibax writes "Parallels recently released version 9 of Parallels Desktop, their popular hypervisor application for Mac. They also released a new product named Parallels Access that offers access to Windows applications from an iPad for $80 per year. Access has received less than stellar reviews. When a user upgrades Parallels Desktop, he is asked if he wants a free six-month subscription to Parallels Access. Even if he says no, the product is installed on his system and the application is started each time the system is rebooted. It is installed with ancillary files scattered around several directories in the system and Parallels has not supplied an uninstaller or listed the steps to fully uninstall the application, despite a number of requests. In other words, Parallels has decided it's a good idea to silently install a difficult to remove daemon application on the system, even if the user has explicitly stated they do not want it. They have not provided an uninstaller or a list of files installed or instructions on how to remove the application files. These are scattered to at least four Mac OS X OS system level directories." Read more of this story at Slashdot.
Read the original post:
Parallels Update Installs Unrelated Daemon Without Permission


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13.3-inch MacBook Air Apple M1 Chip with 8‑Core CPU and 7‑Core GPU - Silver
$999 $849Buy
The Refurb Store offers the entire range of Apple Products in refurbished form at unbeatable prices.
A refurbished Apple product is a product that has been little used in the past and that Apple has decided to resell because it's in excellent condition. The product undergoes a rigorous refurbishment process to make sure it's up to Apple's tough quality standards, after which there's virtually no difference between the refurbished product and the brand new one
The product is then put on sale in the "Special Deals" section of the online Apple Store. The price is considerably cheaper than it would be if the product were new, and Apple sells it under the same conditions:
- same technical specifications;
- same warranty (1 year);
- same service agreement.
So when you buy a reconditioned Apple product, you can be sure you're getting a good deal without any risk, because the product is delivered and guaranteed by Apple.
Refurbished products on offer in Apple Store's "Special Deals" section are in relatively short supply, and it's impossible to reserve them in advance: it's strictly first come, first served. Because Apple products are expensive, and because so many people are always looking for a bargain, it's difficult to get the product you want at the best price.
This is where Refurb Store comes in! Refurb Store overcomes this problem by automatically monitoring all the refurbished products that Apple has on offer. Refub Store allows you to choose the refurbished Apple product you're looking for and then alerts you as soon as the item is in stock.
Using Refurb Store you save money by buying the product you're looking for at the best price. Check out our video to find out more.
$999 $849Buy
$1,249 $1,059Buy
$1,299 $1,099Buy
$99 $85Buy
Convinced? Try our service for yourself!See the deals Create an alert
Install the Refurb Store mobile app and receive notification as soon as any products that match your alerts are available.
To receive notifications directly on your mobile phone:
- Download and install the Refurb Store app from either the App Store or the Android Store;
- Connect to the Refurb Store app with your email and password;
- Agree to receive notifications from the Refurb Store app on your phone.


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Dieting For Men
Why That Diet You're On Is Probably A Joke
Page 2 of 2
Does Anyone Really Know What They're Talking About?The same goes for the fitness types who want to prescribe precisely how many grams of fat, carbs and protein you should consume in order to see results. Please. For as unsure as we are about what prehistoric humans ate, we don't seem to be much clearer on what constitutes an effective diet for modern humans. According to whom you ask, body composition is either a simple matter of calories in/calories out, or it isn't. When there are so many competing ideologies, it's a good indicator that no one is entirely sure what they're talking about. With very little education in nutrition, I can tell you this: Eating muscles won't build muscles, eating fat doesn't necessarily make you fat, and eating carbs doesn't… turn you into a carb, I guess. The point is, without a better understanding of how we handle them, any broad-stroke prescription for macronutrients is ludicrous. Sure, maybe your doctor can tell when you aren't getting enough of something in your diet. The guy telling you to push through that last kettle bell swing (or whatever retarded cross-fit exercise people are doing now), however, cannot.
The reason anyone tries, of course, is for money. North Americans are a very fat people, and we're desperate for a cure. Anyone selling what seems like a clear path to health and fitness is bound to get a lot of attention. The thing is, there's no real secret to a lower body mass. It's a product of eating actual food (not too much of it — just ask Michael Pollan), and being moderately active. That's it, that's all there really is to it. The occasional trip to McDonalds or Chick-fil-A (a Southern purveyor of possibly the most delectable food in the world, for those of you unfamiliar) is not going to kill you. In the same vein, you can still be plenty fat if all you eat is an assload of salad. I fully acknowledge that a lot of effort and design goes into the psychologically addictive aspects of processed food, but the same can't be said for a pig (or cow, or chicken).
If you wanted some kind of takeaway from all of this, how about this? I just came up with it on the spot, which makes it as valuable as any other diet commandment ever uttered: The frequency with which you eat something should correspond to the ease with which you can kill it with your bare hands. I can pull grains and vegetables out of the ground with ease. Fruits are accessible given I have a ladder/wait for them to ripen and fall. A chicken's head is surprisingly easy to wrench off. I could almost certainly choke out a pig, given the time and need. A cow? Well, I'd really have to want that, but it's possible, I guess. It doesn't have to be free-range or even organic if you can't afford it. I don't know a single person who got fat eating a balanced, sensible diet, but I know plenty of fat-asses who claim to be vegetarian, low-carb, high-protein, or something else that has a title attached to it.
Unless you're a body builder or elite athlete, your diet is the means through which you fuel your body and nothing more. Don't overthink it.


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Office Communications Server 2007 R2 Backup and Restoration Guide
Topic Last Modified: 2009-11-20
This document provides backup and service restoration information for Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 R2. It includes detailed procedures for backing up and restoring service. You can use this document to establish your backup and restoration strategy, and to develop a backup and restoration plan and the specific procedures appropriate for your organization. Backup and restoration planning should be part of your complete planning effort for providing the appropriate level of service for Office Communications Server 2007 R2, as described in the Planning for Backup and Restoration section of the Office Communications Server 2007 R2 Planning Guide documentation.
You can download the Office Communications Server 2007 R2 Backup and Restoration Guide as a Word file from the Microsoft Download Center at https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=154160.
In This Section
- Introduction to Office Communications Server Backup and Restoration describes the basic backup and restoration concepts and principles for Office Communications Server 2007 R2 and describes how to use this guide most effectively.
- Preparing for Backup and Recovery provides information to help you determine your backup and restoration strategy and create a plan that clearly communicates backup methods for your organization, as well as requirements to be met in the event that service needs to be restored.
- Pool, Server, and Site Backup provides complete procedures for backing up the settings and data required to restore service to an Office Communications Server 2007 R2 deployment, in the event of the loss of one or more components.
- Restoration of Service provides complete procedures for restoring service by recovering or rebuilding systems, including data and settings, as required in the event of component failure, data corruption, a site disaster, or other event that makes one or more services unavailable to users. The procedures can be used to restore service by either recovering or rebuilding one or more databases, servers, pools, or sites, or by bringing a separate site online to provide service.
- Appendices: Backup and Restoration Worksheets provides worksheets to help you document your backup and restoration decisions and create your plan.


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OK, But First Coffee iPhone 6 / 6s Plus Case
OK, But First Coffee iPhone 6 / 6s Plus Case
Our case provides more than just protection to your phone but it will give you good experience to your hand and people's eyes. With stylish shield and lightweight profile make your phone comfort to hold for a long time. Accidental drop and scratches, just a small problem for our case. Over all of our case will provides you,
- Good protection to impact and drop,
- Good image, high printed image quality,
- Easy access to all buttons, functions, and ports.
Available in several phone case types will give you many choices to suit your needs, click this link, Phone Case Types for detailed specifications of our cell phone cases.
Tag : But First Coffee, Coffe Lover, iPhone 6 / 6s Plus Case, OKP.S : The image on this product is an image printed. While any brands or logos contained in the image are not authentic or not certified.
Let customers speak for us
Great case
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Creeper Glass Broken Green Samsung Galaxy A54 5G Case
Case us good the print is alot lite on the black color. But, still good
Item looks just as good in person as on website. Fast delivery considering coming from China. My son loves it!
love my new baby groot phone cover, it's a lot less bulky than my old cover. and it fits perfectly. great price also.
The phone case is exactly as pictured. Fits my phone perfectly. Luckily I have t dropped my phone yet so I do not k ow how it will protect but hoping it will!
Artistic the Great Wave off Kanagawa Google Pixel 7a Case
Wow. I had my doubts but this is a really nice and unique case for a great price. You won't find it on Amazon which keeps it unique. Feels sturdy and tight fit.
I'm a Rick and morty and joker fan, this case came within a week and it's absolutely amazing texture and look. 10/10 I'd recommend to anyone!! :)
RWBY All Characters Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra Case
Love it cameo. Good time 😁😁😁😁
Cleaning the stickers make it look real! Amazing purchase
The case has great quality and image quality!
I'm happy.


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January 7, 2011
What to Eat When You Have an Ulcer
If you have an ulcer, eating can often be a bit of a challenge. Ulcers can cause meal time to be painful if it's a gastric ulcer, or can result in pain hours after eating if it's an ulcer located in the duodenum. If you have one, you may be wondering what to eat when you have an ulcer. Here are a few tips and tricks that may make meal time a little less painful while your ulcer heals.
1. No matter what you eat, make sure you do so in small portions. Large meals will overwhelm your already sensitive stomach, and can even result in an overproduction of acid, which will exacerbate an existing ulcer. So, rather than eating a few large meals every day go for smaller more frequent ones. That helps your body's digestive system and makes the healing process go more smoothly.
2. Focus on easily digestible foods, like whole grain seedless breads, certain low acid fruits and vegetables, low fat dairy products (the fats found in milk and cheese can be hard to digest, causing excess acid in your stomach, so aim for low fat products), lean meats, fish and creamed nuts (like low fat peanut or almond butter).
3. Above all, focus on maintaining a balanced diet. Providing your body with the proper nutrition will help it heal much faster.
4. Avoid the following foods if you have an ulcer: Vegetables like onions and tomatoes, anything high in acid; breads that are high in fat like croissants; high acid fruits, like grapefruit, oranges, lemons, and citrus juices; whole milk products and creams; highly seasoned meats, poultry and fish; deli meats; sardines; fried foods; nuts; gravy; and high fat desserts, like cakes, cookies, pastries and donuts.
5. The important thing to remember when you're trying to let your ulcer heal is to avoid foods that upset your stomach regularly, or can cause heartburn. Things like spicy foods, alcohol, caffeine and garlic can all irritate the stomach and result in additional stomach acid your ulcer doesn?t need.
Here are a few things to add to your new dietary habits that may help your ulcer improve:
1. Reduce your stress level. If you know a meal is going to be painful, try to relax about it. Stressing over it will only make the pain worse. Stress signals your body to produce more stomach acid, which will irritate your ulcer. So, if you feel stress coming on in any situation whether it's the morning commute, something at work, or your kids at home stop and take a deep breath. Avoiding stress now can have a pretty major impact on pain later.
2. Stop smoking and focus on a healthy lifestyle. Smoking is known to increase stomach acid production. Smoking also slows the body's ability to heal. Eating healthy and exercising regularly will help your body heal faster.
Practicing all these techniques should help your ulcer heal normally so you can move on with your life.
Still want to know more? Well, stop wondering what to eat when you have an ulcer and head over to refluxremedy.com for more tips and tricks.


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The passions are the only advocates which always persuade. They are a natural art, the rules of which are infallible; and the simplest man with passion will be more persuasive than the most eloquent without.
- François de la Rochefoucauld
Got sent a couple of interesting YouTube videos that I might as well share:
Steve Carell as the world's most dedicated goalie
A video highlight of the town (city?) of Prince Rupert, which I have yet to visit (but will have to in order to build the airforce base)
The construction of a LEGO Star Destroyer. Note the girl has a nice rack when caught at the correct angle (best is around the 1:27 and 3:12 time indexes).
Still LEGO related, LEGO-constructed Babylon 5 ships engaged in combat.
A flyover of the Alberta badlands near Drumheller.
A 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air commerical. A 1955 commerical also available lists the Bel Air as the new "low-cost" vehicle from Chevrolet. Now a 1955 Bel Air will cost you $10,000-$50,000!
Lunatic Fringe -- Tom Cochrane and Jack Layton
You'll never watch the Smurfs the same again


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A Chilliwack RCMP officer has been charged after an elderly woman was struck by a police vehicle on Tyson Road a year ago.
Const. Yannick Leblanc faces one count of driving without due care and attention under the Motor Vehicle Act for the incident on March 30, 2018 while the officer was on duty.
Immediately after the woman was struck, the Independent Investigations Office of B.C. (IIOBC) was notified and started an investigation.
They began by seeking two specific "key witnesses." The IIOBC reported that two pedestrians were seen walking northbound on the west side of Tyson Road near Cumberland Avenue next to the Sardis Library at at the time of the collision.
After the elderly woman was struck, she was taken to Chilliwack General Hospital in serious condition, but soon after her medical status stabilized.
Following the IIOBC investigation, the Chief Civilian Director of the IIO determined the officer may have committed an offence and a report was submitted to the B.C. Prosecution Service (BCPS).
BREAKING: #Chilliwack RCMP charged with driving without due care and attention for on duty incident where pedestrian was struck May 30, 2018. Story to come...— Paul J. Henderson (@PeeJayAitch) March 27, 2019
On March 27, a charge was sworn in provincial court in Chilliwack, and Leblanc's first appearance on the matter is set for April 23.
"The charge was approved by an experienced Crown Counsel who is located in a different area of the province than the officer under investigation, and who has no prior or current connection with this officer," according to a BCPS press release.
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Tuesday, 16 November 2010
styling for xmas gift guide
There's a pattern emerging. The last shots from most of my shoots seem to be the ones that everyone likes the most. Can you guess what that was in this xmas gift guide, which I did with photographer Maree Homer, for real living? While you have a think, here are the last shots of the day for other shoots:
The "bookish bohemian" room in my very first shoot.
The "French industrial" space in outdoor settings.
The "clutter-free" bedroom in store-bought storage.
"Circus kids" in the nursery shoot.
Well, above, it was the "man" spread with the monkey tshirt (from Two Ruffians). I'm ashamed to tell you how quickly I threw that look together. We were losing light and I had to work fast. Besides, I knew what I wanted the shot to look like. It was just a matter of placing the products in the right place and doing a little bit of tweaking. (Originally I was only going to have photos on the right-hand side, but decided to add a few products at the last minute to give a bit more depth to that side of the page.)
The December issue of real living went on sale yesterday.
images courtesy of real living and maree homer
3 comments:
- Jill Seidner | Interior Design said...
Great styling! Love the images!
- 17 November 2010 at 06:53
Love the image with the circular shelves, any idea if those shelves are available to buy anywhere?
- 17 November 2010 at 07:39
- Jane said...
I love them all - and would be more than happy to receive a few for Christmas!
- 17 November 2010 at 17:51
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Cuomo aide says he slammed door shut before groping her
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — An aide who accused New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo of groping her at his official residence told a newspaper in her first public interview it was a frightening physical encounter in which the Democrat slammed a door and said "I don't care" when she warned someone might see what he was doing.
"It was almost like I felt like a piece of garbage to him. I felt degraded," she said.
The interview published by the Times Union of Albany on Wednesday adds new details to the most serious accusation against Cuomo, a Democrat who is being investigated after a series of women accused him of sexual harassment and other inappropriate behavior.
The woman, who still works in the governor's office, spoke to the newspaper on the condition of anonymity to protect her privacy, although her identity is known within the governor's circle.
The governor's lawyer, Rita Glavin, said in a statement that Cuomo "has repeatedly made clear that he never made inappropriate advances or inappropriately touched anyone."
The woman told the Times Union she had been summoned to the mansion on a weekday in November to help Cuomo with a problem with his iPhone. When she reached his office on the mansion's second floor, she said, he rose from his desk and began groping her.
"That wasn't just a hug," she said. "He went for it and I kind of like was, 'Oh, the door is right there.' ... I was mortified that a woman who works here is going to come in and see. ... I was terrified of that happening, because that's not who I am and that's not what I'm here for."
"I said to him, I said, 'You're going to get us in trouble,'" she recalled. "I didn't know what else to say. … It was pretty much like 'What are you doing?' That's when he slammed the door (shut). He said, 'I don't care.'"
He then came toward her again.
"He came right back and he pulled me close and all I remember is seeing his hand, his big hand," the woman said.
The governor had reached under her blouse and grasped one of her breasts over her bra, the woman told the Times Union.
"I don't remember actually saying the word 'Stop.' I think I said, 'You're crazy,'" she told the newspaper. "I do remember saying that, and that's when he ultimately stopped. ... Me saying 'You're crazy' — that was definitely not something that he wants to hear. It definitely was a hit to his ego. … And then it was almost like instantly he was done. … He turned around and walked back to his desk. He didn't say anything. I walked myself out to the front door and nothing was said."
A month later, the woman said, she was taking dictation for the governor at his Capitol office when he brought up what had happened at the mansion.
"Near the end of it, he looked up at me and he said, 'You know, by the way, you know people talk in the office and you can never tell anyone about anything we talk about or, you know, anything, right?'" she said. "I said, 'I understand.' He said, 'Well, you know, I could get in big trouble, you know that.' I said, 'I understand, governor.' And he said, 'OK.'"
The woman said she interpreted the governor's comments as a threat.
"I was a liability, and he knew that," she said.
Cuomo has brushed off widespread calls for his resignation and asked that people wait for the results of an investigation overseen by state Attorney General Letitia James, a fellow Democrat. The state Assembly is conducting a separate investigation into whether there are grounds to impeach the governor.
The new details from the interview set off a fresh round of calls for Cuomo's removal, with Democratic state Sen. Gustavo Rivera of New York City asking his fellow lawmakers on Twitter: "how much more lurid detail do you need to say clearly that @NYGovCuomo needs to resign or be impeached imminently?"
Glavin said the attorney general's review of this claim and others "must be thorough, fair and provide the truth."
The woman, the mother of a young child, told the Times Union she has lost significant weight, is emotionally fragile and is concerned about her job security.
The woman believes Cuomo had been grooming her for almost two years with a pattern of inappropriate behavior that began with tight hugs and kisses on the cheek, she told the newspaper. He asked probing and inappropriate questions, saying to her one time, "Oh, if you were single, the things that I would do to you," she said.
On New Year's Eve 2019, she said, she was sent to the mansion to help the governor, and he suggested taking a selfie.
"I was holding up the phone. I was nervous. As the phone is up I feel him, like, not just sliding his hands, he's like rubbing my butt cheek, but not saying anything," she said. "That was the first blatant move."
Several other women who worked for Cuomo have accused him of hitting on them, of subjecting them to inappropriate comments about their looks or questions about their dating lives.


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Healthcare Industry News: interferon beta-1a
News Release - March 21, 2014
Genzyme's Lemtrada(TM) Approved in Brazil for Treatment of Multiple SclerosisCAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(Healthcare Sales & Marketing Network)--Genzyme, a Sanofi company (EURONEXT: SAN and NYSE: SNY), announced today that Brazil's national health surveillance agency, ANVISA, has approved Lemtrada (alemtuzumab) for the treatment of patients with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS) to slow or reverse the accumulation of physical disability and reduce the frequency of clinical exacerbations.
Lemtrada is supported by a comprehensive and extensive clinical development program that involved nearly 1,500 patients and 5,400 patient-years of follow-up. The approval in Brazil follows the recent approvals of Lemtrada in Mexico, Canada, Australia and the European Union. Lemtrada is currently not approved in the United States. In December, Genzyme received a complete response letter from the FDA on its application for U.S. approval of Lemtrada and announced its intent to appeal this decision. Marketing applications for Lemtrada are also under review in other countries.
More than 2.3 million people worldwide have been diagnosed with MS, including approximately 30,000 people in Brazil.
Lemtrada 12 mg has a novel dosing and administration schedule of two annual treatment courses. The first treatment course of Lemtrada is administered via intravenous infusion on five consecutive days, and the second course is administered on three consecutive days, 12 months later.
The Lemtrada clinical development program included two randomized Phase III studies comparing treatment with Lemtrada to high-dose subcutaneous interferon beta-1a (Rebif®) in patients with RRMS who had active disease and were either new to treatment (CARE-MS I) or who had relapsed while on prior therapy (CARE-MS II), as well as an ongoing extension study. In CARE-MS I, Lemtrada was significantly more effective than interferon beta-1a at reducing annualized relapse rates; the difference observed in slowing disability progression did not reach statistical significance. In CARE-MS II, Lemtrada was significantly more effective than interferon beta-1a at reducing annualized relapse rates, and accumulation of disability was significantly slowed in patients given Lemtrada vs. interferon beta-1a.
The most common side effects of Lemtrada are infusion associated reactions, infections (upper respiratory tract and urinary tract), lymphopenia and leukopenia. Autoimmune conditions and serious infections can occur in patients receiving Lemtrada. A comprehensive risk management program incorporating education and monitoring will support early detection and management of these identified risks.
About Lemtrada™ (alemtuzumab)
Alemtuzumab is a monoclonal antibody that selectively targets CD52, a protein abundant on T and B cells. Treatment with alemtuzumab results in the depletion of circulating T and B cells thought to be responsible for the damaging inflammatory process in MS. Alemtuzumab has minimal impact on other immune cells. The acute anti-inflammatory effect of alemtuzumab is immediately followed by the onset of a distinctive pattern of T and B cell repopulation that continues over time, rebalancing the immune system in a way that potentially reduces MS disease activity.
Genzyme holds the worldwide rights to alemtuzumab and has primary responsibility for its development and commercialization in multiple sclerosis. Bayer HealthCare holds the right to co-promote alemtuzumab in MS in the United States. Upon commercialization, Bayer will receive contingent payments based on global sales revenue.
About Genzyme, a Sanofi Company
Genzyme has pioneered the development and delivery of transformative therapies for patients affected by rare and debilitating diseases for over 30 years. We accomplish our goals through world-class research and with the compassion and commitment of our employees. With a focus on rare diseases and multiple sclerosis, we are dedicated to making a positive impact on the lives of the patients and families we serve. That goal guides and inspires us every day. Genzyme's portfolio of transformative therapies, which are marketed in countries around the world, represents groundbreaking and life-saving advances in medicine. As a Sanofi company, Genzyme benefits from the reach and resources of one of the world's largest pharmaceutical companies, with a shared commitment to improving the lives of patients. Learn more at www.genzyme.com.
Genzyme® is a registered trademark and Lemtrada™ is a trademark of Genzyme Corporation. Rebif® is a registered trademark of EMD Serono, Inc.
About Sanofi
Sanofi, a global healthcare leader, discovers, develops and distributes therapeutic solutions focused on patients' needs. Sanofi has core strengths in the field of healthcare with seven growth platforms: diabetes solutions, human vaccines, innovative drugs, consumer healthcare, emerging markets, animal health and the new Genzyme. Sanofi is listed in Paris (SAN) and in New York (SNY).
Sanofi Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts. These statements include projections and estimates and their underlying assumptions, statements regarding plans, objectives, intentions and expectations with respect to future financial results, events, operations, services, product development and potential, and statements regarding future performance. Forward-looking statements are generally identified by the words "expects", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "plans" and similar expressions. Although Sanofi's management believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, investors are cautioned that forwardlooking information and statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and generally beyond the control of Sanofi, that could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied or projected by, the forward-looking information and statements. These risks and uncertainties include among other things, the uncertainties inherent in research and development, future clinical data and analysis, including post marketing, decisions by regulatory authorities, such as the FDA or the EMA, regarding whether and when to approve any drug, device or biological application that may be filed for any such product candidates as well as their decisions regarding labelling and other matters that could affect the availability or commercial potential of such product candidates, the absence of guarantee that the product candidates if approved will be commercially successful, the future approval and commercial success of therapeutic alternatives, the Group's ability to benefit from external growth opportunities, trends in exchange rates and prevailing interest rates, the impact of cost containment policies and subsequent changes thereto, the average number of shares outstanding as well as those discussed or identified in the public filings with the SEC and the AMF made by Sanofi, including those listed under "Risk Factors" and "Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" in Sanofi's annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2013. Other than as required by applicable law, Sanofi does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information or statements.
Source: Genzyme
Issuer of this News Release is solely responsible for its
Please address inquiries directly to the issuing company.


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The incredible shrinking pay raise: Wages can't keep up with inflation
Pay raises are getting smaller, but consumer prices continue to rise. If the trend in shrinking worker pay raises continues, it could mean stalled consumer spending and a halt to economic growth.
Earlier this year, some 20,000 salaried workers of Ford Motor Co., mainly in the United States and Canada, got their first hike in base pay in two years. It wasn't much: a raise of 2.7 percent, on average. But the Dearborn, Mich., automaker threw in some bonuses in 2011 and again this year.
These days, that looks downright generous.
The annual pay raise – something workers could once rely on – has become a lot more iffy in the aftermath of the Great Recession. Despite rising corporate profits, average wage hikes aren't keeping pace with inflation. Some new workers are being paid less than they would have been five years ago, by some estimates. Hourly earnings for production and nonsupervisory workers rose so little in the fiscal year ending in May that their growth rate tied a 47-year record low, government data show. Given the tight labor market, even those who have kept their jobs have had limited bargaining power on wages and benefit.
"It's a buyer's market for em-ployers," sums up Linda Barrington, managing director of Cornell University's Institute for Compensation Studies in New York.
If pay raises continue to shrink, the trend could crimp consumer spending and overall economic growth.
Consider the government's data on salaries: For the fiscal year that ended in March, wages and salaries grew an average 1.7 percent, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Employee Cost Index. During the same period, consumer prices rose 2.7 percent. And there is little relief in sight.
"We're expecting another economic slowdown in the US in the second half of this year," says Gad Levanon, macroeconomic research director at the Conference Board in New York. "With the unemployment rate declining slowly, if at all, there are still a lot of job seekers, and employers will still have the upper hand in wage determination. So I expect very low wage growth even through 2013," he says.
To be sure, workers in high-demand sectors, such as high technology or mining, can often command above-average raises, experts say. Also, current workers appear more likely to be getting a raise than new hires are. That may explain why separate private surveys – from WorldatWork, a global human resources organization based in Scottsdale, Ariz., and the Hay Group, a Philadelphia-based global management consultant – showed employers last year projecting budget increases for 2012 salaries at nearly twice the rate of the government's figures: a median 3 percent.
Even these raises are not dazzling by some historical standards. "In periods of expansion over the past decade, wage growth has been in the 3 to 5 percent range," reports Mr. Levanon. He is one of the authors of the conference board's report, "Feeling the pain: Wage growth in the United States during and after the Great Recession," published this spring.
Clearly, the wage picture hasn't thrilled employees, either. In a survey released in April, Glassdoor.com, an online jobs and career community based in Sausalito, Calif., found that less than half of respondents – 43 percent – were expecting a raise in the next 12 months, compared with more than 38 percent who weren't.
Less than 50 percent optimism "isn't good news," says Rusty Rueff, a director at Glassdoor.com, but it was the first time since 2008 that the optimists had outweighed the pessimists. When it comes to raises, employees "are still under water, but there might be a chance to put our head up soon," he adds.
So how can employees get a pay hike in these hard times? Part of the challenge, some experts say, is to prepare in advance of your performance review or request for a pay raise. Understand both the financial condition of your employer and how you've contributed to the organization. Then, proceed to ask in a confident manner for the pay hike you want.
To ease the sometimes tricky process, Salary.com, a career-management website based in Waltham, Mass., that offers salary information for various industries, provides several tips:
Don't be afraid to ask for a raise, especially during a performance review.
Provide a list of your accomplishments over the past year when broaching the subject of a raise, and show how this record of achievement relates to the amount of increased compensation you're seeking.
Be specific: Cite a dollar amount of base pay increase and bonus that you feel you deserve.
If you don't get the base pay hike you want, ask if you can make up the difference with some other concession, such as company stock or added vacation time. If the increase involves a bonus based on performance goals, ask if you can be re-reviewed, say, in six months.


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By CSISAC Paris,Published on
Page last updated on
Are you a brilliant and experienced community manager, people-motivator, public-interest advocate, while being a diplomat, knowledgeable and showing strong interest in policy related to the internet, telecommunications and information society?
If so, we are looking for just such a person to co-ordinate our activities. Civil Society Information Society Advisory Council (CSISAC) is an international alliance of privacy, digital rights, consumer organisations and academia. Its main purpose is to contribute constructively to the policy work of the OECD Committee that works on everything related to the information society.
The job of the liaison person is to be the contact point between the members and the relevant OECD committees and working parties, co-ordinate, inspire, engage and organise the members, as well as represent the alliance effectively and carry out essential administrative duties.
The position is part-time, for 2.5 days per week, though distributed unevenly during the year. It is on a contract/freelance basis and you can be based in Europe, ideally within easy distance of the OECD headquarters in Paris, but we will consider skilled candidates who are further afield. Further details can be found in the full job description, and further information about CSISAC can be found on CSISAC website
Please apply in writing, enclosing a CV with at least one reference who may be contacted and a cover letter of no more than one page, explaining how you meet the qualifications and skills outlined in the job description.
Deadline for applications is 31 December 2011. Apply by email to Meryem Marzouki (EDRI representative, CSISAC Steering Committee member: meryem[at]marzouki[dot]info). Shortlisted candidates will be provided with specific information on salary during their interview.


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Use the guide below to search homes for sale in Denver, CO. Each of these pages contains the active real estate listings for that area, updated every day. If you already know which communities you like, be sure to sign up for email alerts of new listings as soon as they hit the market -- it's fast, easy, automatic and FREE!
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