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As a Nordic welfare state, Denmark's immigration and integration policy was traditionally built on liberal humanitarian principles. The 1983 Alien's Act was one of the most liberal immigration laws in Europe and Denmark has a strong record of ratifying international treaties and agreements. Yet the perception that migration undermines the welfare state, especially if coupled with multicultural integration policies, has gained a strong foothold in Denmark (Brochmann 2014: 287). As a consequence, Denmark is today considered a hardliner when it comes to immigration policy. Since 2015, Danish immigration and integration policy has been tightened more than 85 times, and the country is today ranked number 27 out of 38 by the Migrant Integration Policy Index.
This said, access to the labour market is at the core of Denmark's integration policy, as active labour market policies have been a foundational characteristic of the Scandinavian welfare model (Pace 2017). This focus on employment as a path towards integration has meant that despite the difficulties in accessing the Danish labour market, following entrance, migrants have their fundamental rights protected in accordance with international labour conventions. In general, migrants are protected from abuse and exploitation, although exploitation of workers and social dumping is still possible, especially in sectors with low levels of unionisation, a high share of low-skilled workers and with geographically dispersed, small and mobile worksites. Denmark also has a strong legal and institutional framework that has curbed human trafficking and forced labour. Moreover, the focus on migrants' labour market integration today has led to the most celebrated aspect of Danish integration policy – namely, its work-training program (Basic Integration Education program or IGU) for refugees which has been implemented since 2016. Social partners, including the Danish Trade Union and the Danish Employers' Confederation, as well as the governmental authorities (that include municipalities) have agreed upon an integrated vocational training program that helps refugees find traineeships in Danish companies. The hope is that such programs will assist in improving refugees' Danish language skills, familiarize them with the Danish work environment and finally provide them with experience that would eventually lead them to permanent forms of employment. The program spans over a period of two years during which refugees are employed at Danish companies and receive traineeship wages. Simultaneously, refugees also take Danish language lessons. 500 refugees were employed through this program during the first six months of 2017.
Despite these positive developments with regard to migrants' integration into the Danish labour market, authors of the Danish WP2 National Report propose five policy recommendations:
First, initial fieldwork among members of the non-profit sector, academics and refugees indicate that there is the risk that the two-year work training program is being used by the private sector to simply employ 'cheap' labour. A placement of 'checks and balances' that ensure that companies that avail themselves of the IGU program permanently employ a significant percentage of the trainees is recommended. Ensuring that there is a stipulated percentage as opposed to a number would ensure that the company's commitment to permanently employing trainees is proportional to the extent that they use the IGU program.
Second, migration policy in general is contingent on its perceived impact on the sanctity of the Danish welfare state. This means that migration policy is determined not by the migrants' needs, interests and aspirations with regards to their material, cultural and political life in Denmark but on the 'needs' of the welfare state. The result is that migrants' integration becomes 'market driven', whereby the needs of the labour market (say, for instance, the labour needs of a specific sector of the economy) determine the manner in which migrants are integrated as opposed to 'leveraging' migrants' own educational background, employment experiences and career aspirations. With regard to refugees this often means that they are only employed in specific sectors (for example, hotel sector, cleaning services, restaurants and other service industries). Non-refugee migrants with 'fast track' visa programs are instituted only for specific sectors where there are gaps in the existent Danish labour market. Alongside researchers and highly paid professions, there is a 'Positive List' that includes specific positions within sectors of the economy. If an individual is offered a job that is included in the positive list his or her visa will be processed within one month (New to Denmark 2018). Here the authors recommend that there needs to also be a focus on profiling the skills, knowledge and experiences that migrants bring to Denmark. At the very outset of their integration training there should be a skills profiling exercise, especially of refugees and asylum seekers. Subsequently, their integration into the Danish labour market should account for their 'profile' and career goals in order to assist migrants in finding employment in sectors best suited to their individual skills and aspirations.
Third, a significant challenge in Danish migration policy (-making) is the frequency with which immigration law in Denmark has been changed and continues to change up to the time of writing. According to the Danish daily newspaper Information immigration laws were changed 68 times between 2002 and 2016. During the same period Danish permanent residency regulations were changed 10 times (Mortensen 2016). Such unpredictability is a significant bureaucratic challenge for migrants and renders legal paths of immigration and processes of integration ever-more incomprehensible and inaccessible. Additionally, frequent changes in immigration regulations also lead to uncertainty for employers and can possibly discourage them from employing migrants in the future, and may very well be one of the reasons why Denmark fares very poorly in comparison to the other Nordic countries in regard to attracting high skilled workers. It creates an uncertain, unpredicatable and alienating environment which scares off highly educated foreigners. The authors therefore recommend stability in migration policy making and possibly the inclusion of a moratorium period after the implementation of a law during which immigration regulations would not be altered. This moratorium period would allow policymakers to sufficiently assess the successes/failures of the recently implemented law and would also allow migrants to familiarize themselves with the most recent immigration laws and bureaucratic regulations.
Fourth, the global competition on attracting the best and the brightest has also affected Danish labour migration policies which aim at attracting high-skilled labour. Leaving limited room for low skilled labour migration, however, affects the possibilities for low-skilled migrants, and could potentially push immigrants into undocumented residence or to other entry routes, e.g. the one of asylum. Entry routes for low-skilled labour migration is therefore recommended.
Finally, reduction of potential workplaces has been an on-going strategy to further limit opportunities for migrants to work legally in Denmark. This strategy, the authors believe, may not necessarily help those already working illegally, as they might be pushed into even more unsafe and exploitative work environments. A potential solution could be schemes like the former Dutch "scheme" for the so-called "white illegals" who worked "white" and paid taxes although they didn't have a residency permit*, which could help bring people out of the shadow and into Danish society.
If you want to know more about Denmark's legal framework for the integration of migrants, refugees and asylum applicants into labour markets, please have a look here at Denmark Chapter in our WP2 Report (pp. 129-192).
Authors of the Denmark Chapter are Michelle Pace, Somdeep Sen and Liv Bjerre - Roskilde University.
*The Dutch "white illegals" were people who had come to the Netherlands before 1992 and thus had obtained a social security number with which they worked "white" and paid taxes, although they did not have a residency permit.


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(Adds remarks from sister)
By Dan Whitcomb
LOS ANGELES, June 20 (Reuters) - A UCLA professor charged in a lab fire that fatally burned a Pakistani research assistant was fined $10,000 and ordered to perform community service on Friday after accepting responsibility for laboratory conditions that led to the blaze, prosecutors said.
Chemistry professor Patrick Harran, 44, acknowledged as part of a so-called deferred prosecution agreement that he was responsible for safety in the lab and was the direct supervisor of Sheharbano "Sheri" Sangji, who was killed in the 2008 fire.
Sangji, a 23-year-old Pakistani citizen who was not wearing a protective lab coat, suffered burns over nearly half her body and died of her injuries 18 days later after being removed from life support.
As part of the deal, four criminal counts against Harran will be dismissed in five years if he pays the fine, completes 800 hours of community service at UCLA's hospital and teaches a summer chemistry course to inner-city high school graduates, according to a Los Angeles County District Attorney's spokesman.
During the court hearing, the victim's sister, Naveen Sangji described what she called the "horror" of her sibling's last days in a Los Angeles area burn center and the impact of her death on the family.
She told the court Harran pressured her sister to perform "large scale" experiments in a bid to win a Nobel prize and showed insensitivity to the family following the accident.
"Your honor, our family is haunted by our interactions with this unfeeling, unrepentant defendant," she said, according to a transcript of her remarks provided by prosecutors.
Prosecutors say the fire broke out when Sangji, a recent college graduate who had been working in Harran's lab for about 2-1/2 months, was working with tert-Butyllithium, a chemical that spontaneously ignites when exposed to air.
Sangji, who was unsupervised at the time, had been attempting to transfer a tiny quantity of the chemical when the syringe she was using came apart, spilling the substance and catching her polyester sweater on fire.
Prosecutors accused Harran, an award-winning chemist, of failing to properly train Sangji in handling such dangerous substances and said he did not require the use of protective equipment.
He was charged with violating state labor codes and could have faced a sentence of more than four years in prison if convicted at trial.
The University of California regents were charged along with Harran in 2011, but that case was dismissed after officials agreed to adopt a list of safety measures and establish a $500,000 scholarship in Sangji's name. (Reporting by Dan Whitcomb; Editing by Cynthia Johnston and Will Dunham)

subset: commoncrawl


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The Kai's Fire Mech is the entry's set of the 2013 Ninjago Sets. It has only hundred and two pieces, which most of all are for the Fire Mech and two nice mini-figures, Kay and a Stone Scout. Definitely is not of my favorites but surely looks a good addition as a complement for bigger sets.
The two mini-figures are simply great. The black Scout Soldier ,present on many other Ninjago sets is more of the same but surely has pretty nice details such has its printed body and of course its weapon, a crossbow. Kay on the other hand has a great helmet and perhaps one of the best printed torsos of Ninjago's mini-figures. Have a look at the details in the below pictures.
The main attraction, the Fire Mech, immediately made me remind all the bionicle or hero factory robots, perhaps thanks to all the round articulations. Both arms and legs are very flexible and easily can assume almost all the possible positions which is rather positive in terms of playability.
Just in the middle, we can see a small platform and some handles for Kay control the Mech. There are golden pieces everywhere including the right hand fingers which have enormous flexibility that allows not only to hold and enormous fire sword but also squeezing the Stone Scout and crushing him in a second. The left arm has a big weapon made with foue nice orange transparent pieces.
Globally if we specially attend to its cost, around ten dollars, I think that it might be considered a honest entry set. For the fans it might seen as a complement or an addition to the collection and for those who are not so familiar with the theme it is surely a good starting point without having to spend much money.
Please have a look at additional pictures on the below gallery:


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Utilities in many different countries benefit from the Ethernet based networking offered by IEC 61850 for load tap change controllers. Reinhausen is one of the first manufacturer with integrated IEC 61850 capability in their devices. Reinhausen reports on several succesful projects in multiple languages:
News in German, English, Spanish, Italien, and Russian
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Reinhausen reports about successful integration of IEC 61850
Posted by Karlheinz Schwarz at 6:39 AM
Labels: IEC 61850
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I believe that one of the best ways to truly immerse yourself in the culture of a city or a country is through their food — eat what the locals eat, and taste the produce of the land. I have never heard of the Japanese city of Okayama before I set foot there, but after exploring it for almost 3 days and tasting all their delicious food; I believe I can now say that I understand the city a little bit more. From the freshest of fruits, to the most tender of meats, and snacks that are synonymous to its local folk tale — Okayama has one of the best produce in the region, and my tummy was delightfully satisfied.
Okayama is the capital of the Okayama prefecture, located in the western part of the Japanese island of Honshu. It is midway between the cities of Osaka and Hiroshima; and via Shinkansen is about 45-minutes from Osaka, and 35-minutes from Hiroshima. The city is convenient to get to, and due to its location, is often used as a transit hub between the two more well-known cities.
If you're in the area, don't forget to visit Okayama. The city is worth exploring and is great for a proper stop for a day of two — it is home to one of Japan's top 3 gardens, beautiful castles and shrines, and of course, fantastic food. During my visit to Okayama in autumn, I had amazing experiences with the food in the region; and here is a list of all the delicious and amazing eats I had. When you're in Okayama, make sure you try them too!
1. White Peaches
In Okayama, it's all about peaches. Even their folk hero "Momotaro" actually means the "Peach boy" — and his likeness, as well as peaches, can be seen all over the city in pictures, statues and as decorations. Cultivation of peaches in Okayama began during the Meiji Period (late 19th century), when peaches were brought over from China. Ever since then, they have become one of Japan's biggest peach producers, producing some of the sweetest, juiciest and most succulent peaches in the country. White peaches are the most popular, and they are in season during the summer from late July to mid-August. During my visit in autumn, I was lucky enough to get my hands on some late season peaches — and boy, were they soft and absolutely delicious!
2. Fruit Parfait
Okayama is not only famed for their peaches; they are actually known as Japan's "Fruit Kingdom". The prefecture produces the best grapes, as well as other fruits like strawberries, blueberries, Asian pears and persimmons. During summer, one of Okayama's most popular activities is fruit-picking — just imagine plucking your own fruits from the trees and eating them on the spot! But if you're not into fruit-picking, or visiting during the off season; another way of enjoying Okayama's fruits is by having a fruit parfait. You can't visit Okayama and not have one, or more! I had my parfait at Brasserie Chaleureux in Okayama's AEON Mall — the fruits, and everything in that dessert was divine.
3. Kibi Dango
Kibi Dango is a millet dumping — sort of like the Japanese sweet Mochi made with glutinous rice, starch, syrup and sugar. It is most famous in Okayama because it is the local folk hero, Momotaro's favorite dumpling. Kibi Dango makes the perfect souvenir from Okayama as they can be found in the cutest packages (with pictures of Momotaro and his trusty animal friends), and comes in all sorts of flavors like peach, orange, sesame and green tea. It's a great snack too, and I couldn't help but buy them in all their flavors to be enjoyed back home.
4. Beef – Chiya
Many people don't know this, but Okayama has its very own brand of wagyu beef — it is called Chiya gyu (beef) and yes, it is melt-in-your-mouth perfect. Chiya beef originates from cattle bred in the highlands of Okayama prefecture, more specifically in the Chiya area of Niiimi City. The meat is tender and juicy, and I had the opportunity to taste this high-end beef at one of Okayama City's muslim-friendly restaurants, Megu. The restaurant offers set meals with Chiya beef, served in either the shabu shabu or sukiyaki style. I have never been so excited to dip the perfectly marbled meat into a vegetable-filled pot, and then taste it in all its glory. A Chiya beef meal set at Megu costs about JP¥6,500 (US$60), but it is worth every penny!
5. Demikatsu-don
Another specialty in Okayama that is not to be missed is the Demikatsu-don, and the best place to try it is at Ajitsukasa Nomura. The restaurant has been running for three generations with its own version of the dish, and the place gets pretty packed during meal times. Demikatsu-don is a rice bowl topped with cabbage and deep fried pork cutlets in a thick demi-glace sauce. At Ajitsukasa Nomura, the Demikatsu-don is ordered and paid at a machine at the entrance of the restaurant — and you can choose if you want a bowl with half rice (which I ordered for only JP¥550~US$5), full rice, or extra rice. The rich demi-glace sauce was to-die-for, and I would return here again in a heartbeat.
6. Ebi Meshi
The Ebi Meshi is yet another specialty dish of Okayama — it is rice cooked with demi-glace sauce and shrimp, which gives the rice a caramelised blackish color. I had my taste of this dish at Sun Restaurant within the Okayama Station; and they serve the Ebi Meshi in a couple of different styles — as a rice dish with egg shreds, omurice (wrapped in an omelette), or with a hamburger patty. I especially like this dish because it is simple, delicious, and costs about JP¥700-800 (US$6-7) per plate, which is pretty affordable. Oh, and apparently, you can only find the Ebi Meshi in Okayama!
7. Okayama Ramen
Okayama's ramen is actually not called Okayama Ramen; and neither is it the Chuuka Soba — which is the version of the noodles I am talking about here. However, Yamato is one of the most popular ramen shops in Okamaya and attracts a queue outside their small establishment, and they serve a hearty bowl of Chuuka Soba. Chuuka Soba means Chinese soba, which is a combination of Chinese-style noodles in a Japanese soba broth. I guess one of the reasons Yamato's Chuuka Soba is so good is because they use their own house sauce of ramen broth mixed with ketchup and some other secret ingredients, which makes the soup slightly thicker and fishier! A small bowl of Chuuka Soba here costs JP¥520 (US$4.5).
8. Sushi (and Barazushi)
There's no way I'd be in Japan and not have sushi! During my visit, I had the rare opportunity to learn how to make sushi from a sushi masterchef, Chef Yasuo Namba, who is the founder of Okayama's famous (and huge!) 42-year-old sushi restaurant, Kidoairaku. It was a joy watching him work his sushi magic, and the raw salmon, tuna, mackerel, squid and octopus I had in my bowl of sushi was sooooo fresh and soooo good! I had a taste of fugu (puffer fish) tempura too.
And if you're looking for something local, Okayama's style of sushi is called barazushi — a bed of rice covered with various sushi toppings, which are raw and cooked ingredients from the land and sea. The dish dates back to the Edo period, when the local feudal lord decreed that common folks could only eat out of one bowl. The ingenious people thus came up with barazushi, where they dumped all sorts of ingredients into that one bowl!
9. Chiffon Cake at Cafe Moni
Cafe Moni was packed with the local Japanese youngsters during my visit, and is another one of the local establishments in Okayama that has been awarded the muslim-friendly status. The cafe serves up one of the best chiffon cakes I've ever tasted! They have different flavors everyday; and during my visit, we ordered all three flavors off the menu — chocolate banana, cream cheese, and raisins. The chiffon cakes are served with a scoop of ice cream and cream, and was rich and spongy and oh so yummy. The cafe offers pretty good coffee, light meals and lunches too.
10. Fake Food Replicas
Now this isn't exactly food that can be eaten, but I'll count it as one of the most memorable food experiences I had while visiting Okayama — making fake food replicas. Japan is big on fake food replicas, where restaurants love teasing potential patrons with realistic food displays outside their shops. It takes a lot of skill to make fake food look like actual food, and I had a go at Ms Reiko Kojoh's studio, La Luce Dolce in Okayama's Hokan-cho. She runs fake food and candle making classes, and it was extremely fun spending a couple of hours learning from her. I made a fake fruit parfait using resin and paint — and I firmly believe that my masterpiece looks like the real deal!
*She Walks the World visited Okayama, Japan on the invitation of Okayama Tourism and JTB Malaysia. However, as always, all opinions and suggestions stated here are my own.
Categories: Asia, East Asia, Food Trails, Japan, Mynn's Lists


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Mint Chain Stitch Gown and Dupatta Set
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Inspired by Indian crafts, this kurta from SEW is a perfect combination of traditional fabric and modern cuts. Made from beautiful mint chain stitch embroidery cotton fabric, this kurta has round neck and quarter sleeves embossed with beautiful lace that makes it visually stunning, while the chhiffon dupatta outlined with lace and adds oodles of style. Pair it with silver jewellery and let the monotone of the set elevate your style quotient.
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With a headline like that, what could possibly go wrong?
In this article I present an idea that may help both sides of GamerGate survive the ordeal. Simply this: negative movements are counter-productive. Positive movements affect change.
What is GamerGate if not a negative reaction? You could say it's in favor of journalistic integrity, but it's more accurate to say that it's against journalistic deceit, despite the efforts of some GamerGate supporters to redefine the movement in positive terms. It can't escape its reactionary negative roots.
The other side suffers from the same problem. Those journalists and organizations identified by GamerGate as "Social Justice Warriors" mounted the attack over the past few years in articles and other media which condemn gamer culture and promote an "us vs. them" mentality more frequently than they promote diversity.
By now, everyone has picked a side. Bi-partisan discussion is rare. How do we solve this? By reframing everything in positive terms.
I turn to an example from outside the industry. I think Christianity is on the tail end of a decades-long struggle with the issue of LGBTQ individuals. Many Christians changed their interpretation of the Bible to allow for alternate sexualities and genders. No problem there. However, some Christians simply cannot read that into the Bible no matter how hard they try, and they cannot abandon their faith. For them, there are two options:
- Openly condemn, alienate, and otherwise crusade against the LGBTQ community. Essentially, become a bigot.
- Respectfully show the LGBTQ community what Christian love is supposed to look like without interfering with their lives. Yes, you can do this while still maintaining a belief that their sexual/gender orientation is sinful.
Just for a second, put yourself in the shoes of a hardcore, born-and-bred, farm-raised conservative Christian. You are deathly afraid of the "gay agenda", a scourge which will rampage across your home country and destroy everything you love. How hard would it be for you to choose option 2? Yet many Christians do this.
Of course you know the Christians who choose option 1. Westboro Baptist Church is the most horrific example. How effective were they? I haven't heard from them in years. They generated an immense amount of vitriol, probably without changing a single person's mind. More than anything, they damaged Christianity by driving LGBTQ individuals away from other, more welcoming churches.
The point is, negative movements don't work. They're actually counter-productive. Most Christians figured this out in the example I just gave. We in the gaming community have not figured this out yet.
The reason is, it's much easier to be against something than to be for something. The tiniest injustice on either side of GamerGate instantly mobilizes a massive social media army, because it's easy to get outraged and click "Retweet". Both sides of GamerGate exhibit the lowest form of slacktivism.
So, "wat do?"
If you are pro-GamerGate: I don't know if your movement can be salvaged, which is a shame. You've already tried to turn the focus toward positive things like integrity and respecting consumers, but GamerGate will always be a negative reaction against something at its core. Heck, #NotYourShield has a negative right there in the name. If you can, abandon ship and start a new campaign focused on the positive things you find important. Forget the half of the game industry that seems to hate you. Prove them wrong, not by posting a video showing how nice you are, but by forgetting the conflict and doing something positive that fulfills your goals, regardless of what people think. Maybe make a game!
If you are anti-GamerGate: Stop attacking; you're only throwing fuel on the fire. What does that mean in practical terms? This will sound incredibly controversial (steady… let me explain before you crucify me), but don't talk so much about harassment, prejudice, and the like. Instead focus on the great positive things women and other minorities are doing in this industry.
Charlie Brooker covers the topic of mass murders in a brilliant 2009 segment of Newswipe.
He quotes Dr. Park Dietz, the famous forensic psychiatrist:
We've had twenty years of mass murderers, throughout which I have repeatedly told CNN and our other media, "if you don't want to propagate more mass murders, don't start the story with sirens blaring.
Don't have photographs of the killer.
Don't make this 24/7 coverage.
Do everything you can not to make the body count the lead story, not to make the killer some kind of anti-hero.
Do localize this story to the affected community, and make it as boring as possible in every other market.
Because every time we have intense saturation coverage of a mass murder, we expect to see one or two more within a week."
I think it's not a huge stretch to extend this advice from mass murders to harassment. Of course we all need to be aware that it happens, but focusing on the harassment itself only invites further attacks. Instead, focus on how much these minorities have accomplished, and only mention harassment in passing. They should not be admired for being a minority who puts up with a lot of hatred. They want to be admired for what they do, period. And there's plenty to admire, so let's focus on that.
For further reading on the subject of antagonism, tribalism, and politics, I leave you with a wonderful in-depth article written by a libertarian-ish Jewish psychiatrist entitled I Can Tolerate Anything Except the Outgroup.


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Lofty Aspirations
When you have access to just about everything in the world of style and interior design, falling in love can be difficult. The sheer volume of merchandise, coupled with the insatiable hunger for the newest trends that drives the home furnishings market, could easily overwhelm an ordinary person. But Stacy Weiss is hardly ordinary. As the owner of Weisshouse, she has spent 30 years canvasing every part of the business, searching for the rare, the beautiful, the timeless and the cutting edge.
Along the way, she has lost her heart more than a few times. What's surprising is how faithful she remains to each love. "My home is kind of an extension of my store. It's the very curated end of my store. In the store things go in and out, but in my home, they generally stay. The rug I've had for 25 years, and the sofa is 15 years old. Here, things stay in the same place. I'm not big on rearranging," Weiss says with a laugh.
But with the children grown and gone, Weiss made the decision to sell her large Squirrel Hill home, forcing a major upheaval. "I was looking for something to renovate, a new project. That takes time, so I rented. I looked into this space and instantly fell in love with the high ceilings, the open spaces, and the fact that it was on one floor, something I was looking for after the kids left."
The airy loft in Shadyside had huge windows and a flood of natural light, which the white-washed brick walls enhanced. The downside, of course, was that Weiss was not able to make any structural changes in the two-bedroom, two-bath apartment. The bath fixtures were dated and the kitchen was small, so her design philosophy became centered on accentuating the positive. The size and layout meant the loft could accommodate her furniture, rugs and most important, a substantial art collection.
Weiss bought her first painting at the age of 6—a Lori Hornel purchased with the encouragement of her parents. Weiss's mother was a docent at the Carnegie Museum, and her father painted for pleasure. Summers were spent in Provincetown, where the thriving arts community included people such as Robert Motherwell. After majoring in psychology at Pitt, Weiss studied photography at Pittsburgh Filmmakers and went on to start the Blatant Image photo gallery in Oakland.
"What's so great about the high ceilings was that I could condense my art and cover a wall with it," Weiss says. "There are two things that honed my eye. One is photography—it makes the eye focus. The other is, as a child we would walk the beach in Provincetown looking for stones. We would scan and our eyes would hit on something. That's what I'm able to do at these shows—scan around and hit on something, the diamond in the rough. I'm a glorified picker."
Moving a house into an apartment required some downsizing, but it provided Weiss with the opportunity to see her possessions in a fresh way.
"Even in the store, when we do a floor move, people will say, 'Is that new?' No, it's been here, but in a new environment you definitely see things in new ways. My taste throughout the years has kind of remained the same, but it's always evolving. Being in this space made me edit because it's much smaller."
Her goal was to keep the eye on the main spaces rather than the finishes. The distractions are abundant, from a colorful Virgil Cantini wool rug to a kitschy Broyhill vanity, a Ralph Lauren Home Lucite chair prototype that was never produced, a Christo photo collage that was a wedding present, and numerous collections that are displayed as tableaux throughout the loft. Weiss particularly loves vintage pieces, such as the old leather chair and ottoman she inherited from her parents: "The patina on things and finding these one-of-a-kind, slightly beaten- up pieces from a different era." She laments the fact that many "vintage" pieces today are new, made in China. But, as a picker, she is constantly on the prowl for the truly unique, the whimsical or the quirky. Not bringing it home is less of a challenge than one might think.
"I have a lot at this stage, so I really have to bond with something. I love everything I buy for my store, so sometimes it's hard to part with something. If I don't like it visually, I don't buy it anymore. I've made a couple of mistakes like that. You have to be able to part with things. I've learned something else will always come along."
When it does, Weiss will be ready to find a space for it. She credits the strong and lively character of her loft to the juxtaposition of things, how they work together regardless of whether they're from the same era. Or, as she notes with great assurance: "If you like something, it's going to fit in."


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Hospital Errors May Not Improve, Even When Tracked
Little Rock, AR (Law Firm Newswire) April 23, 2013 – Sometimes the news is downright depressing. Hospital errors may not improve, even if they are tracked.
"You would think that if a hospital took the time to report medical errors that they would do something about the information they have in their hands at the end of the day. It seems they don't, which is depressing news to patients that may be victims of hospital errors," remarked Michael Smith, an Arkansas injury lawyer and Arkansas accident lawyer, practicing personal injury law in Arkansas.
This is not just a concern for a few hospitals across the U.S. in general. It has the potential to affect every hospital, in every state, including Arkansas's system of hospitals. Adverse medical events sound rather highfalutin, but the bottom line is they involve serious medical errors that either cause significant harm, or death. Nowhere is that made more clearly than in the spate of recent reports released in Minnesota and other states. "But look around, the state you live in has just as many worrisome statistics when it comes to medical malpractice," added Smith.
"Let's just take a quick look at what Minnesota found. They have been tracking medical negligence for nine years, and their conclusion is that hospitals continue to make the same mistakes at virtually the same rate. For instance, surgeons operated on the wrong person and the wrong site at least 53 times," Smith recounted. There were at least 73 very serious falls that resulted in six deaths. Those are eye-opening statistics, even in the face of process checks to reduce errors.
It seems that between September 2011 and October 2012 that their hospital system noted over 300 reportable hospital errors. Out of those mistakes, there was a death tally of 14 people and 89 seriously injured patients. "And the kicker? The errors were preventable," said Smith. This is frightening, as this kind of pattern of errors exists in just about every hospital across the U.S. which makes sense, as they are staffed by humans, and humans make mistakes. "Which is not to say that excuses them, but it points to a factor that cannot be controlled to any great degree when trying to reduce the number of medical errors."
Aside from the "human's make mistakes" sobriquet, it appears that a large number of medical professionals do not understand what is involved in a time-out process check. It is a process whereby the surgeon, before starting an operation, is required to mark the designated site with a felt pen and have the patient themselves sign their initials. While the pen is apparently being used, it seems the surgeons are signing the mark, not the patients. And the point of that would be what?
"Another time out is supposed to be called before the main surgical event, to double check all is well and everyone is on the same page and operating on the right location and person. However, with a surging group of people all dancing about the patient in the O.R., some things fall through the cracks," Smith pointed out.
The bottom line is that there is room for improvement in every hospital in the U.S. when it comes to medical negligence. "In the meantime, if you feel you have been the victim of a hospital error, talk to me. I can walk you through your legal rights and we can determine if you have a case," added Smith.
Learn more by contacting Arkansas personal injury lawyer Michael Smith at http://www.arkansaslawhelp.com.
Michael Smith
425 W. Capitol Av., Suite 3700
Little Rock, AR 72201
Call: 501.519.4357
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U.S. Oil, the petroleum and renewable energy distribution division of U.S. Venture, Inc. announced today that it has acquired a Milwaukee area terminal from Marathon Petroleum Corporation, based in Findlay, Ohio. The terminal, located at 9125 North 107th Street will add 530,000 barrels of capacity to the U.S. Oil network and will expand its distribution network to 20 terminals.
U.S. Oil owns and operates strategically-located terminals in Milwaukee, Green Bay, Chippewa Falls and Madison, Wisconsin; Cheboygan and Rogers City, Michigan; Bettendorf, Iowa; and Houston, Fort Worth and Bryan, Texas. This creates a north to south network served by the Explorer, Magellan and WestShore pipelines and also provides Great Lakes and Mississippi River barge access with multiple rail facilities. Plans are underway to upgrade technologies at the Milwaukee area facility.
This acquisition strengthens U.S. Oil's relationship with Marathon Petroleum Corporation and its customers. "With this acquisition we will continue to service our customers through distribution, wholesale, branded and logistics businesses," said Mike Koel, Vice President of Business Development for U.S. Oil. "We look forward to continuing the relationships already in place while expanding our customer base."
"US Oil has an excellent reputation in terminal operations and management. We expect the transition to go smoothly," said John S. Swearingen, Senior Vice President, Transportation and Logistics, Marathon Petroleum Corporation.
About U.S. Venture
For over 60 years, U.S. Venture, Inc. has been recognized as an innovative leader in the distribution of petroleum and renewable energy products, lubricants, and tires and parts for the automotive aftermarket. Guided by its company vision, "To be the very best value-adding distributor of products that vehicles consume in North America," they deliver unconventional, creative solutions that give their customers a competitive edge. Headquartered in Appleton, Wisconsin, the company's business divisions are U.S. Oil, U.S. AutoForce®, U.S. Lubricants and U.S. Gain.
About U.S. Oil
U.S. Oil is recognized by customers and partners for its value-adding approach in the distribution, marketing, trading and operations of fuel and renewable energy products in United States and Canada. For more information on U.S. Oil and business opportunities contact Mike Koel at 920-830-6261 or visit www.usoil.com About Marathon Petroleum Company
MPC is the nation's fourth-largest refiner, with a crude oil capacity of approximately 1.7 million barrelsper-calendar-day capacity in its seven-refinery system. Marathon brand gasoline is sold through more than 5,400 Marathon independently owned retail outlets across 19 states.


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CORPUS CHRISTI, TX – Is your basketball team interested in testing its skills this summer? The Corpus Christi Parks & Recreation Department is offering its Summer 2018 Youth Basketball Showcase Tournament Series for boys and girls at the Corpus Christi Gym (3202 Cabaniss Parkway) and Ben Garza Gym (1815 Howard Street). Bring your team and face off against other local basketball players!
THREE SUMMER TOURNAMENTS will be offered on June 16, July 21 and August 18 with a 3-game guarantee. The cost for each tournament is $150/team for grades 3-12.
REGISTRATION will be held Monday–Friday, 9am–4pm at the Sidbury House (1609 N. Chaparral Street). Registration for each tournament will close two weeks prior to each tournament date.
For more information, call the Athletics office at (361) 826-3275 or visit www.ccparkandrec.com (SPORTS).


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Need for Speed Carbon Review
Need for Speed Carbon continues the Need for Speed (NFS) series' tried and true formula of combining high-speed arcade street racing with the story of a young up and coming driver racing his way to the top. Now a "tried and true formula" can mean that you get more of a good thing or that the series is stuck in a rut. Even though Need For Speed Carbon only adds a handful of innovations to the franchise, overall the game is of the "more of a good thing" variety. Now it's up to you to decide whether or not that's a good thing for you. Good thing you've got me to let you know what's in store for you in Carbon…
NFS Carbon takes place in the fictional town Palmont City, which kind of looks like the city of Miami transplanted into the California foothills and given a Las Vegas makeover. There's a lot of city here for you to explore, from canyon backroads and sleepy residential streets to downtown grids and super highways. Illegal street racing is big in Palmont City with everyone except the cops and minivan crowd, and the racers have aligned themselves into gangs and divided up the city in an ongoing turf war. To beat the game, become the top racer in town, learn the secrets of your past, vindicate yourself to your friends, earn the respect of your rivals, etc., you'll need to takeover the entire city for your gang. Each territory features a few race events that you can enter. Win the majority of race events in a territory and it becomes yours. While you're out racing for territory so will your rivals and it is quite probable that you'll have to re-run some complete events to defend your territory. At times it can be annoying to be forced to re-run races that you've already beat, but at least the game doesn't bog you down with constant territory defense.
Take all of the territory from a gang and you'll face the gang's leader in a final duel for victory. These are three part races that force you to win a regular race in the city and then travel to one of the canyons outside of town. There you'll compete in two checkpoint races in which you must try to stay as close as possible to your rival followed by a race with the two of you switching roles. I found the leader races to be a little much and wish there weren't so many hoops to jump through to win.
You can just hop in your car and drive around exploring the city, pull up your map and set your GPS to guide you to your next event, or simply jump to the next race. There is an advantage to taking the time to drive around the city and between the events, though. First, since the races take place on the streets of the city (hence the name street racing) it gives you a chance to scout out the courses and look for shortcuts. Second, it's the only way to be challenged to random races by rivals and unlock some bonuses that can be used to upgrade your ride.
Once in a race you'll be able to take advantage of one of Need For Speed Carbon's new feature: wingmen. Wingmen provide support for you during races and come in one of three varieties: blockers, drafters, and scouts. Blockers will sacrifice themselves by crashing into one of your competitors when you order them to do so. Drafters provide draft for you to catch and use to slingshot yourself forward at high speed. Lastly, scouts will show you where all the shortcuts are for a race. Scouts are the least useful of the three as you'll be able to spot a lot of the shortcuts yourself and you'll often be moving to quickly to be able to make the cut to hit a shortcut by the time it's pointed out to you. The drafters don't help that much either as they essentially serve the role of a reserve of NOS and there simply aren't enough straightaways to take advantage of the speed boosts. Blockers' ability to take out your competition can prove useful in tight races, although they seem far better at taking out cars behind you then in front. Overall, the wingman concept is a nice idea; it's just that it doesn't add that much to the races here.


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Mark Lavorato
Mark Lavorato is a musician, photographer, and professional nomad. His freelance work has been published in over twenty-five magazines including Ascent, Orange Room Review, and Poetry Canada. Mark is also the author of two collections of poetry, Wayworn Wooden Floors and Blowing Grass Empire, and the novels Veracity, Believing Cedric, and Serafim and Claire. Mark currently resides in Montreal.


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Wednesday, April 7, 2010
A Humorous Threat from a Fiendish Marsupial
I have been removed as an LBRB contributor after Olmsted made a completely vacuous legal threat:"Remove accusations of hoax by aoa and apologize within 24 hours or I will pursue all available remedies." I wish to sue Dan Olmsted for libel for said threat, on the following grounds:
1. The reference to a "hoax by AoA" is itself a false accusation. I stated my opinion that AoA was reporting a story based on a forged document. I did not allege that any member of the AoA organization was responsible for a forgery. In fact, I suggested that the document's creator was "an English-speaking author from the UK rather than the US", which to my knowledge was not true of any of AoA's core members. When some misunderstood the article as a direct allegation against AoA, I promptly made revisions and comments to clarify my position.
2. My efforts included 2 comments posted at Olmsted's own article. The first stated in part that "I do not suspect you or anyone within your organization". The second, in response to a comment by Craig Willoughby, stated in full: "I proposed that the document was a forgery. I never speculated on the identity of the forger, beyond proposing that it was someone from the UK. To claim that I ever accused anyone within AoA of forgery is LIBEL against me." By AoA's stated policies, Olmsted is "moderator" of his own articles and had sole discretion to allow my comment to appear, or at least to make a statement of his own acknowledging its substance. These comments never appeared. This will serve to establish that, where Olmsted may be said to have begun with legitimate cause for complaint, he refused to acknowledge and when given the opportunity actively obstructed my efforts to resolve the issue in "good faith" and in a timely manner. (MySocratesNote: I never said it was David Brown, aka Evil Possum who made the allegation. Here is the actual comment in it's entirety, along with a link to the article:
"I think it is hysterical how some of the Oraccolytes are clinging to the idea that this is some elaborate hoax that AoA has concocted in order to discredit this poor man. I've even seen them go as far as accusing AoA of faking the original document.The pathetic! It Burns!!")
3. Olmsted made his original threat without presenting any argument against my conclusions, offering any evidence or argument for the document's authenticity, or even stating that he sincerely believed it to be authentic. He thus offered no reasonable grounds for me or LBRB to issue a correction, let alone "remove" the article from public view. Furthermore, his failure to comment directly on the issue of authenticity raises the question whether even he had full confidence in the "source" for his story.
4. A key article, written by Katherine Burgemeister and reposted at AoA under Olmsted's own byline, made so many allegations clearly contradicted by the disputed document and/or independent records (most notably that ""Thorsen vanished in March 2009", where the document said only that he "resigned his faculty position at Aarhus University" at that time, and even though I and others easily located ample documentation of his activities after that time) that it could credibly be argued to be a "hoax" (by its broadest usages including unintentional deception and self-deception, as in "`War of the Worlds' hoax") even if the document itself is accepted at face value.
5. Olmsted's failure to correct or qualify a single one of Burgemeister's unsubstantiated or clearly erroneous claims proves that at best he had not studied the document in any detail, and therefore was unqualified to make any comment on its authenticity. The only alternative is that he chose to repost Burgemeister's article uncritically, despite full knowledge that it contained many errors, and therefore is guilty (conceivably even more than Burgemeister) of knowingly promoting falsehood.
(MySoctatesNote: The previous statements are grounds for Libel? And, I do believe the story was corroberated by the CDC and several different news sources, wasn't it? Ah, but only David Brown has his story correct.)
6. Olmsted had personal motive to use a heavy-handed response to this article as a means to seek to limit the circulation of other works by me, including an LBRB post in which I showed that Olmsted exaggerated a vaccine inventor's income from a patent by 500% based mainly on documents which were clearly dated before that patent existed. Since my removal as an LBRB contributor, this work and others making well-substantiated complaints and criticisms against AoA have no longer been visible there, giving Olmsted something he had reason to desire but was in no position to achieve by honest and direct argument. (MySocratesNote: Oh, the horror!! Everyone is out to get him! Dan is teh bad ebil person who is trying to prevent the troof from coming out!!)
7. Writing is my sole source of actual and potential income. Making free contributions to others' sites is my sole means of promoting works from which I can receive income. By causing or contributing to my removal as a contributor to Left Brain/ Right Brain, Olmsted's substantially false complaint has significantly damaged my potential to support myself, and thus satisfies the definition of "libel". (MySocratesNote: And yet, he offers no real evidence of how Dan's complaint is false. He has failed to really offer any valid reason for libel. And if this is his sole means of income? Well, I'm sorry, but he needs to find a real job)
8. Olmsted and other AoA staff have on many previous occasions censored my comments, referenced my work inaccurately and without "credit", and referred to me pejoratively. I consider some of these prior instances sufficient to justify legal action in and of themselves, if the resources had been available. This will serve to establish that this complaint is only my most serious against Olmsted and his organization. Furthermore, I offer this as evidence that I cannot disregard Olmsted and his allies as a threat to my future livelihood: If I do not take action now to establish as a matter of undisputed, public record that Olmsted's complaint against me was spurious and that what he reported was in fact false on many levels, said complaint could be reused against me at a future time. (MySocratesNote: *Sniffle Sniffle* They're making fun of poor wittle David? Waaaaaaahhh!!!! Notice how he offers no evidence of said pejorative comments.)
At the present time, I have no fiscal resources to pursue such an action. I request donations and/or other assistance that others can offer this matter. I will freely forego such an action now or in the future if Age of Autism publishes a post making the following admissions:
i. Statements by Olmsted, Craig Willoughby and others to the effect that I had accused AoA of creating a forgery were in error. (MySocratesNote: Be specific now, David....where did I accuse you of making the claim that AoA made a forgery? Lawyers and judges like specifics)
ii. As of end March 2010, representatives of Aarhus University had neither confirmed nor denied the authenticity of the disputed document. (MySocratesNote: In the case of a criminal investigation, that is entirely in their right and best interests)
iii. The statement that Aarhus "appears only to have been made available today to the media" was unsubstantiated, as the full contents of the document were not carried by mainstream media prior to its distribution by the anti-vaccine movement. (MySocratesNote: Except from the Copenhagen Press....which is a media outlet)
iv. Statements that Thorsen "disappeared" on March 2009 or at any other time were in error, as the document stated only that he "resigned his faculty position at Aarhus University" at that time, and his regular appearances and communications (if not his exact, current place(s) of residence) can be documented from public information up to at least March 16, 2010. (MySocratesNote: No, they said he resigned his position at Aarhus University in March of 2009 (link here))
v. The initial identification of Thorsen as a suspect, prior to a confirming statement on March 10 from the US CDC, was based on descriptions of an unidentified suspect in the Danish media. Those who identified Thorsen on these grounds, without qualifying that the suspect was unnamed in primary sources, acted inappropriately. (MySocratesNote: How so? The statement was true, was it not?)
vi. The statement that Aarhus "`expressly prohibited' Dr Poul Thorsen from working for a second university, Emory" was unsubstantiated, as the relevant passage in the document refers to "double Full-time employment " as the subject of a dispute. It is reasonably clear that it is not being claimed that Thorsen was forbidden from being employed at all by Emory. It was also highly improbable, given that simultaneous employment at multiple institutions as "adjunct faculty" is a pervasive practice, and Aarhus openly records current employment of others such as Albert Gjedde, Martin Kussman and Henrik J. Andersen as "adjunct faculty". (MySocratesNote: Evidence?)
vii. The statement that "(t)he double role of Thorsen came to light after the university detected a shortfall in funding" was unsubstantiated and probably in error, as the document makes no statement to this effect. (MySocratesNote: So, the document was their only source of information about this? Wow)
viii. The statement that "(t)he revelation that Thorsen had a second secret job will raise fears of a hidden bias in the studies and undermine the scientific case for thiomersal" was in error. His employment at Emory was not secret, as he was openly listed among Emory faculty, and the Aarhus document makes no statement to the effect that his employment there was ever wholly unknown to the university. It did not constitute a "conflict of interest" related to vaccination, because Emory University does not manufacture vaccines. It was irrelevant to his paper on thimerosal, because that paper was published 5 years before he became an emory employee. (MySocratesNote: The Danish publication Politiken reported [in translation]: "'He is no longer employed at Emory. He was part time occupied at the department of epidemiological research from 2003 and from April 2008 to June 2009 as full time research professor' informs assistant vice director at Emory University Sarah E. Goodwin." When was the Thimerosal study done again? 2003?)
ix. The statement that Thorsen "continued to pass himself off as the head of the international project" is unsubstantiated, as the document only states that he "has continued to act in such a manner as to create the impression that he still retains a connection to Aarhus University after the termination of his employment by the university". The document's allegation appears to be itself in error (at least for the document's given date), as Thorsen's biography as of January 22, 2010 indicates that his employment at Aarhus ended in 2008.
x. The statement that Thorsen "was an author along with Kreesten Madsen of a key study that used data from Danish children to show that there was no link between mercury" was in error. This study was published in 2003, and had five additional coauthors. (MySocratesNote: Is AN AUTHOR. Doesn't that make him a co-author? So, how is this in error again?)
xi. Statements that Thorsen "absconded with $2 million" are unsubstantiated and probably in error, as the relevant document mentions only "advances" of an unspecified amount on grants for that total amount, makes no allegation that Thorsen took or spent any amount of money for his personal use, and makes no reference to a discrepancy between the money given and recorded spending on research that would justify such an allegation. (MySocratesNote: This claim by David is unsubstatiated. The CDC has confirmed the missing $2 million)
xii. The statement that data in an email by Dianne Simpson showed "a clear, linear relationship between the increase in vaccination rates (from 50.9% to 75.7%) and the number of autism cases per year (from 176 to 1182, a 6.7x increase) between 1980-1994..." These data actually show an exponential rise in autism diagnoses, compared to fluctuations and some linear increase in vaccination rates. The data also show the trend in autism diagnoses continuing if not accelerating in ca. 1990, as low-thimerosal or thimerosal-free DTaP vaccines became increasingly available. (MySocratesNote: Heh.....heh heh...BWAHHAHAHHAHAHA!!!!! Oh my....oh my goodness...stomach hurts!)
Now, I understand that, allegedly, David has Asperger's Syndrome (likely self diagnosed). Some of you may think that my criticism of this letter is cruel because of this. No, I am treating this letter with all of the scorn and derision it deserves because this is nothing but the petty foot stomping of a spoiled child. If he thinks that some of the things said about him by Olmsted and Handley were cruel, then he needs to pony up and offer examples.
36 comments:
It's duly noted that you deny accusing me of claiming Age of Autism committed a forgery. Now, I would prefer that you take this down. It has been my goal to convince AoA to retract their accusation against me without litigation being necessary, and having this complaint aired publicly does not serve my interests or theirs.ReplyDelete
There's no acknowledgement or denial of anything because I haven't accused you of a damned thing. Where or when, specifically, do you think I accused you of claiming that AoA committed the forgery, David? Because, if you are going to pursue this frivolous lawsuit, your lawyers are going to want specifics. Post links here to where I have said that David Brown, Evil Possum, LRBR, or anyone specific accused AoA of forging the letter from Aarhus. If you can do so, then I will offer you a formal apology.ReplyDelete
Now, the question of the day; are you going to remove MY name from this nonsense?
You maintain, credibly, that it was not your intent to accuse me. That does not mean someone else would not attempt to use your words to imply such a thing, which is exactly what I suspect AoA intends by allowing your comment to appear but blocking mine.ReplyDelete
Oh, good grief!ReplyDelete
Yes, David...they're all out to get you. They want nothing more than to discredit you in any way possible.
Paranoid much?
Now, are you going to remove my name from this nonsense or not?
they should change the name of their blog to Left brain right brain no brainReplyDelete
I'm NOT currently a contributor to Left Brain/ Right Brain. If I was, I would not be taking this matter nearly as seriously.ReplyDelete
David, you still have not answered my question.ReplyDelete
This is too funny! lol
You have resolved any cause for me to name you as a "defendant". But you have no cause to object if I cite your comment as an item of evidence. If you don't like this possibility, then tell Olmsted and Jake Crosby to acknowledge that I did NOT accuse a member of AoA of creating a forgery. If Olmsted had done that three weeks ago, the document here would not exist.ReplyDelete
Yes, I do have an objection because my comment had nothing to do with you. My comment was referring to someone over at Orac's hate-site (hence, the Oraccolyte reference). Perhaps you should include Dan Weber in your frivolous lawsuit; that's one of the people I was referring to that said that AoA created the forgery. There were also several people over at RI who said the same thing. The RFK article on HuffPo also had comments that suggested that your article was accusing AoA of forging the document. Why don't you include them in this ridiculous lawsuit while you're at it.ReplyDelete
But since you wish to continue with this idiocy, I don't think I will honor your request to have this article removed. You want to include me in this nonsense, despite the fact that I have nothing to do with it, so I have no reason to honor your request.
The problem with the reference to "Orac" is that I replied to Weber by clarifying that I did not believe AoA responsible for a forgery, and also that I didn't consider it in scholarly "good form" to speculate on a forger's identity. AoA has prevented any similar clarification from appearing at their site, which I consider to be serious misconduct.ReplyDelete
Also, I think you have effectively acknowledged some of my points, particularly as to the improbability of Aarhus University giving the document directly to the press.
David, it must be so difficult having that much paranoia, seeing conspiracies in everything, thinking everyone is out to get you. Do you honestly think that what you're doing is having even a remote impact? So, paranoia on top of an over-inflated sense of self importance. Please get some help.ReplyDelete
I responded to Olmsted's complaint/threat as nothing more or less than a malicious act by someone who might take similar actions in the future. Judging from Crosby's post, my only error was in supposing that Olmsted would be canny enough to withdraw or at least not repeat his accusation.ReplyDelete
The title of your article was "Another hoax spread through Age of Autism."ReplyDelete
First of all, just reading this title alone would be enough to give many readers the impression that you are accusing them of spreading a hoax. You may not have outright said, "they forged the document," but you DID say they are spreading a hoax. This was further reinforced in the very first line of your article where you accuse them of being dishonest. Dan's request for the removal of the article, if read correctly, is due to the fact that you claimed it was a hoax, not because of the forgery claim. And, as I pointed out before, there were several people on "your side of the fence" who believed what you wrote and propagated that the AoA article was a hoax and that they forged the document.
Dan was correct to request the removal, and he would have every right to sue you for Libel. He offered you and LBRB a way out. I suggest you take it and drop this silliness.
He "offered" nothing. Libel laws in American jurisdiction require seeking a private resolution before taking a matter to court. Also, he offered no evidence that the document was not a forgery, and in any event, the story he used as a source WAS a hoax. I can prove that the same author accused Madsen first, then hid this fact by rewriting the same article to implicate Thorsen.ReplyDelete
I believe his words were something on the line of "Remove reference of this being a hoax by AoA or I will pursue all available remedies." That is an offer to seek a private resolution (remove this story) before going to court (or I will pursue all available remedies).ReplyDelete
ANd I doubt your story is credible, especially considering how badly you flubbed your previous attempts, which has damaged your credibility. The author of your "proof" may have been originally mistaken, which if it is from the site I think it is, she put a note in to clarify this. The point is moot, however, since Thorsen IS being implicated and IS being investigated for these crimes.
I find your argument akin to saying a lynching is OK if the victim is actually guilty. Reporting a story while key details are unverified, without acknowledging where there is uncertainty, is irresponsible regardless of what further developments reveal. Furthermore, if Thorsen actually did commit the forgery, the outcry generated by AoA is only going to hinder his arrest and prosecution.ReplyDelete
The only thing I have to add is that Olmsted has been too cowardly to say or do anything against me openly, himself. He made his false accusation against me on a blog post he was trying to have removed. It appears that when he decided to make an issue of it again, for no reason better than a malicious cheap shot against people he had already bullied into giving him what he wanted, he had Jake Crosby do it for him. He did this despite being fully informed of my intentions if he so much as failed to acknowledge my position. Suggested lesson: AoA is abusive and exploitative even to their own people.
Yes, David. Dan Olmsted is teh eebil and is out to get the great David Brown and prevent him from his grand and heroic quest to get the troof out about Age of Autism. He's going out of his way to accuse you and discredit you, gathering his vast army of conspirators to chase you around the interwebz and speak out against you. Yes, Jake and I are at Dan's beck and call, 24-7, to attack you for no reason. Poor David Brown, so persecuted. Poor Evil Possum; so maligned.ReplyDelete
Doesn't matter that your story was wrong, but you reported on it anyway, thereby discrediting yourself. Hey...wasn't that what you accused AoA of?
Your delusional paranoia is reaching new heights. Get some help.
I have said nothing about "conspiracies". I don't believe in organized conspiracies being effective except for very limited ends.ReplyDelete
As for my "story", I openly reported what I did as part of an ongoing project, and I don't see AoA updating their initial story the way I have. I don't see that my original arguments regarding the document have been wholly disproven. Aarhus still isn't taking responsibility for writing it, whatever one chooses to make of that. More importantly, my model of its composition, as the work of multiple authors, could still be true if the document is authentic.
Ok, so let's see...ReplyDelete
You don't believe in conspiracies, yet you accuse Dan of secretly using members of AoA to attack you because you are trying to bring out the troof (tm) about AoA. Then, you accuse AoA of posting a story about Thorsen that is incorrect (which turns out was quite correct), repeatedly going on, ad nauseum, about how terrible they are for doing so, yet your story about Thorsen was riddled with errors that have been pointed out to you repeatedly, even by people on your side of the fence, and which many people used to accuse AoA of creating a hoax about Thorsen. Oh, but only your story is the correct story, despite the fact that AoA's story has been corroberated from multiple sources.
Yep...that about sums it up. Paranoia mixed with self delusion.
"I find your argument akin to saying a lynching is OK if the victim is actually guilty"ReplyDelete
You mean like how you and the rest of the Oraccolytes accused Dr. Wakefield of being guilty before he was "proven" guilty?
Ah, the irony...
Here;s the score sheet:ReplyDelete
I was wrong about Thorsen not being a suspect, and I now have information sufficient to convince me that I was wrong about the document being a forgery. I have made a post acknowledging these facts.
AoA was wrong when they said Thorsen was "missing" as of March 2009, wrong when they said he had worked at Emory secretly, wrong when they said Aarhus had prohibited him from working at Emory, and wrong when they said I accused THEM of forging a document. They also have no evidence to substantiate their claims that Thorsen was actually paid $2M, or that he "absconded" with that or any other amount in his personal possession. They refuse to acknowledge any of these facts.
Also, there was only one instance where I saw my work explicitly "used to accuse AoA of creating a hoax about Thorsen". I was unable to post a correction there, but I was satisfied my actual position was clear from other comments in the same context. The commenter at Orac, while causing me enough concern to make clarification, did not go so far.
You are wrong. We never alleged the time of Thorsen's disappearance was in March 2009, or anything beyond what was verifiable in official documentation. You're confusing his disappearance with his resignation from Aarhus.
We also never said he was "paid" $2 million, but was in fact supplied with a grant of $2 million that is missing along with him. Apparently, he turned it into a payment. Plus, he was discovered by Aarhus to have held a position at Emory that Aarhus expressly prohibited him from holding.
This is all verifiable in the document you now admit is real:
"and wrong when they said I accused THEM of forging a document."
That is also wrong, David. On another thread I saw you allege our GMC correspondent, Martin Walker, of forging the document.
Take some responsibility for your words, man, and get something right for a change before you go impulsively accusing others of spreading hoaxes like your own Leftbrain/Rightbrain post.
These were the exact words of Jane Burgemeister, Olmsted's source: "Thorsen vanished in March 2009. He is believed to be living and working in Atlanta." These were repeated verbatim in one of the AoA posts. AoA also headlined the claim that Thorsen "abscond(ed) with $2M", which fairly explicitly means that he a) was paid that full amount and b) took all of it for his personal use. Finally, I have been saying all along that claims that Thorsen was "prohibited" from holding ANY job at Emory represent a misunderstanding of Aarhus's complaint.ReplyDelete
As for Martin Walker, mentioning him was a mistake, but I did not intend it as an accusation. At the time, he seemed worth mentioning simply as an example of a British "anti-vaxxer" accused of fraud on unrelated grounds. I would not consider him an AoA "member", and as far as I know the standing accusations and criticisms against him (including a rebuke from Andrew Wakefield) go back to well before his contributions to AoA. I gave far more serious consideration to another, more notorious UK conspiracy theorist, but I never saw fit to name this person publicly.
You're attributing Burgemeister's quote to Olmstead? I don't get it.
Plus, you're actually trying to defend your broad based generalization and stereotype as valid journalism?
Conspiracy Theorist, Anti-vaxx? The only I see spouting conspiracy is you so far.
Good grief.
I am saying that Burgemeister was the source for Olmsted's initial post, and for subsequent AoA posts and crossposts. You said yourself that her words are clearly "confusing his disappearance with his resignation from Aarhus", but this is the source and original form of all reports of his "disappearance". By all indications, that whole aspect of the story is nothing more than an "urban legend".ReplyDelete
Attributing another person's quote, which we never cited specifically, much less repeated "verbatim" as you claim, to us? You truly have gone off the deep end. For that matter, she was not even our original source. In fact, her sources were exactly the same as ours: Aarhus University and The Copenhagen Post.ReplyDelete
You also don't understand the difference between a payment and a grant, the latter of which Thorsen received for specific research purposes. With both disappeared while Thorsen is under criminal investigation, it's a wrap that he absconded with the money.
To allege that a regular contributor forged a document posted on AoA which we used as a primary source is to allege that AoA was involved in the forging. And for a person who did not intend to accuse Martin Walker of falsifying a document that is actually real, you sure worded it that way, without any prior reason other than your conspiracy-mindset, as Walker has never been accused of fraud. He wrote an article about the GMC chairman's conflict of interest in GSK stock holdings which was published on the CryShame website. The GMC went ape-shit, the chairman refused to disclose his earnings and the defense council quickly rebuked Walker to avoid pissing off the panel. It had nothing to do with the accuracy of the piece.
Well, this has certainly been an interesting discussion. I appreciate all of you (yes, even you, David) for taking the time to comment here and discuss this.ReplyDelete
Sadly, though, I don't think that any of us will be able to persuade David to drop this nonsense. You see, he is a true believer, and nothing will change his mind that he is incorrect about Thorsen, and that AoA is teh eebil and is out to tarnish and destroy one little college kid's reputation.
Just remember, David, we're not laughing with you, we're laughing at you.
Jake (Crosby?),ReplyDelete
I stand corrected. Apparently, the line about him vanishing in March 2009 was only repeated at "Put Children First", which was linked to in Handley's March 6 post. Thus, AoA clearly acted to promote this claim.
As for Martin Walker, my admittedly unscholarly and unsporting mention of him was separate from my original article, and had nothing to do with the complaint/threat by Olmsted. The argument by which you are trying to turn a passing mention of him into an accusation against AoA is simply ludicrous. As I made perfectly clear, the methods by which I argued a forgery are not considered useful for tracing a document to a specific forger. Without that ability, the chances of implicating (or ruling out!) AoA were absolutely nill. Furthermore, since Walker was publicly described as a "liar for hire" well before he started contributing to AoA, it can be presumed that AoA knew and accepted that he would continue to attract criticism.
- AnonymousApril 21, 2010 at 8:16 AM
"As for Martin Walker, my admittedly unscholarly and unsporting mention of him was separate from my original article, and had nothing to do with the complaint/threat by Olmsted."ReplyDelete
Then why did you post it? You claim to be a journalist. Journalists with a reputation worth saving don't do the things you've done. You seem to be well on your way to becoming the next Geraldo. I hope you can live with that.
"The argument by which you are trying to turn a passing mention of him into an accusation against AoA is simply ludicrous."
I missed where he did that. Can you highlight the pertinant passages?
"As I made perfectly clear, the methods by which I argued a forgery are not considered useful for tracing a document to a specific forger."
Was the original as clear and well phrased at the one above? Because, well, I've seen better phrasing before.
"Without that ability, the chances of implicating (or ruling out!) AoA were absolutely nill."
I see what you did there. Not very sneaky, really.
"Furthermore, since Walker was publicly described as a "liar for hire" well before he started contributing to AoA, it can be presumed that AoA knew and accepted that he would continue to attract criticism."
You can presume until you're blue in the face. A presumption, however, does not equate to a truth. Where, exactly, was Walker described thusly? On websites that are provaccination or on nuetral sites? Second, you're making unfounded and unprovable accusations again. You're basically accusing AoA of hiring a shock jock for webhits. If you can prove it, great. If you can't... well. In the immortal words of the intarwebz, 'Pics or it didn't happen' and 'STFU, GTFO'.
"The argument by which you are trying to turn a passing mention of him into an accusation against AoA is simply ludicrous."ReplyDelete
But, David, that is precicely what you have done to me. You have turned a passing mention of someone claiming that AoA forged the documents into an accusation against me. Seriously, if you're going to engage in such hypocrisy, then you should wallow with the rest of the scum at RI unless you want such blatant mistakes and misrepresentations of the truth to be pointed out to you.
Something that I think will not be controversial: Aarhus should have been far more forthcoming with their information about the forgery. I am satisfied that the document posted at AoA was only intended to circulate within the staff of other institutions. I regard this as nothing more or less than an example of a pattern of medical institutions not reporting employee misconduct out of fear or litigation.ReplyDelete
Not controversial, and also irrelevant.ReplyDelete
My point is, by waiting almost two months to acknowledge the document as authentic, Aarhus has done all of us a diservice. This represents a pattern far beyond this case or issue. So why not move on to the bigger picture?ReplyDelete
So, now you're blaiming Aarhus? WTF?ReplyDelete
Look, Thorsen lied. He faked documents. He stole money. That's really the only issue here. The fact that you're getting bent out of shape about an inaccurate article that YOU wrote and that some people on all sides of the argument took the article to mean that you were accusing AoA of forging the document is secondary. The truth is that the language of your article and the tone certainly gave many readers the impression that this was the case, though I will acknowledge and concede that you never actually said it. You only implied.
I personally don't blame Mr. Olmsted for his response, and neither should you. You must take responsibility for what you wrote and the tone it was given in. Yes, it certainly seemed that you were accusing them of forging the document, and even the title of your article gave that impression. He dropped it when your article was removed, and he has moved on. You, apparently, have not.
I see plenty to blame Aarhus for: They created a document which could easily have triggered a lawsuit and compromised an ongoing police investigation, then were sloppy enough to let the document enter public circulation, and then delayed taking responsibility for it.ReplyDelete
With regard to Thorsen, I disagree very much with what you are saying. At this point, what evidence there is against him and even the specifics of what he is accused of is, for purposes of public discussion, unknown. I think it is most likely that direct responsibility lies with other parties, though, as I have said elsewhere, it is hard to imagine a scenario where Thorsen could be judged blameless.
As for Olmsted, he has done nothing to convince me that he has "moved on", and the antics of Jake Crosby could easily be considered evidence to the contrary.


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Being a Virgo born on September 18th, your sensitivity and reserve are among your most easily recognized personality traits. The spotlight is not your place of preference, as you are much more comfortable behind the scenes or in the background. While some may describe this inclination as shy, you just rather not be disturbed or bother others when engaged in tasks. Although you sometimes have trouble sharing your thoughts and feelings with others, you maintain very intimate and open relationships with your close friends and loved ones.
September 18 Horoscope
The Virgo's elemental pair is Earth and in fact, you are the only zodiac sign with a fixed connection to the element. You desire stability and may even be stubborn in your attempts to obtain it. Just as Earth provides solid ground to walk on, you search for the same reliability in all aspects of life. Earth's influence is directly linked to your practical and realistic expectations. As you continue to embrace Earth's elemental powers, you will work positively to achieving your goals. Be wary of Earth's negative influence, which include an excessive amount of caution and conservatism.
Mercury is your sign's planetary ruler, but you also receive planetary influence from Venus because you were born in the third Decan, or part, of your sign. Mercury's influence over your personality can be clearly seen in your sharp intellect, communication skills and cleverness. Likewise, Venus's influence becomes obvious when your love of beauty, sensitivity and sociability are considered. These two planets combine to make you far more sensitive and loving than the other Virgo Decans. In fact, you are so loving that it often leaves you at risk of being easily hurt. While this may be painful, do not let any setbacks weaken your ability to find beauty in all that you encounter.
Finding a career is never an easy task, but your natural abilities will give you several options to choose from. As a person who works with great dedication out of the spotlight, you would fit well in careers such as science, research, or finance. Likewise, your sharp mind would be well-suited for careers in education, administration, or writing. Your whit and creativity may be a perfect fit for lyrical expression, which was the case for Xzibit, who was also born on September 18th. In whichever path you choose, let the determination and discipline of Lance Armstrong, another of your celebrity birthday twins, inspire you.
The Sabian Symbol for your birthday is a boy with a censer serving near the priest at an alter. Regardless of your religious affiliations, there is a great benefit to practicing your spirituality. If you have been hesitating to revitalize your faith, make an effort to begin your spiritual journey.
Here are a few Virgo celebrities born on September 18 and their past or present romantic connections:
Lance Armstrong
(Virgo) and
Kate Hudson
Jada Pinkett Smith (Virgo) and Will Smith (Libra)
September 18 is associated with Birthday Number 9
September 18 is associated with Tarot Card 10 of Pentacles


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Dear Editor:
I read your recent article in the May 14 issue regarding House Bill 89 which would give more gun carry rights to people with gun permits and it almost made me ill. It is hard for me to understand how both Mayor Davis and Chief Billy Reynolds want Sonny Perdue to veto this bill. Please understand that I think both Mayor Davis and Chief Reynolds do a good job for Richmond Hill, it's just that I don't understand their reasoning regarding House Bill 89. I have been advised there are approximately 300,000 individuals in Georgia that have carry permits. These individuals go through a background check prior to the permit being issued. Most of the people I know that have carry permits are outstanding citizens in their community, pay taxes, attend church, are mostly conservative, have never been arrested and have never pulled a gun on anyone.
When I take my family to a restaurant on River Street in Savannah and leave that establishment at 10 p.m. I have major concerns about getting them all back to my car parked on Bay Street safely. When we make that walk I do not want any of my family robbed, beat up or shot. And if you think that is not happening I would suggest you pull your head out of the sand. I am no different than Chief Reynolds in the fact it is my responsibility to serve and protect my family as his is to serve and protect the general population. Why is it you want me to break the law in order to protect my children? It is not me you have to be concerned about. Remember, I am a law abiding citizen as are 99.99 percent of the remaining 299,999 permit holders!
John T. Wall


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Here are some questions/answers that we are frequently asked. If you have additional questions that aren't covered here, please feel free to give us a call at Muncy Veterinary Center.
1. What are the Hospital hours?
Our hospital is open Monday 8:00am to 7:00pm, Tuesday through Thursday from 8:00am to 6:00pm, and Friday 8:00 am til 3:00 pm.
2. Do I need to have an appointment?
Yes, patients are seen by appointment.
3. What forms of payment do you accept?
Cash and Check are preferred payment methods, but for your convenience we also accept Mastercard, Visa, Discover, American Express and Care Credit.
4. Can I make payments?
Payment is required at the time of service. Care credit is an affordable option for those needing to make payments. See link on our website to apply.
5. At what age can I have my pet spayed or neutered?
Spaying or neutering can be done at approximately 4-6 months of age. Your pet is given an exam prior to surgery to help determine whether your pet is healthy enough to undergo the surgical procedure.
6. What is the pre-anesthetic blood screening?
This is a blood test that is run here in the hospital prior to surgery. It tests the organ functions, blood counts and clotting function of your pet. The pre-anesthetic blood screening is done to assure safety during surgery and the ability to heal following surgery.
7. How long do the sutures stay in after my pet's surgery?
Procedures involving sutures require them to be removed 7-10 days following the surgery.
8. Is it a good idea to let my pet have at least one litter?
No, there is no advantage to letting your pet have one litter. However there are plenty of advantages to having you pet spayed or neutered. These advantages include decreasing the chances of breast tumors later in life, decreasing the chance of cystic ovaries and uterine infections later in life, decreasing the desire to roam the neighborhood, decreasing the incidence of prostate cancer later in life, helping prevent spraying and marking, and also decreases the surplus of unwanted puppies and kittens.
Find us On Facebook!
Muncy Veterinary Center
1804 John Brady Dr
Muncy, PA 17756
Mon - Thurs: 8:00am - 6:00pm
Friday: 8:00am - 3:00pm
Sat-Sun: CLOSED


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Or as I heard in my workout today…push to the point of failure.
Everything in me wanted to quit on every exercise we did.
Carrying a 15 pound medicine ball over my head while running stairs was a test of endurance…and my endurance definitely failed me.
It is a different way of thinking…one I have to get used to and embrace in my every day living.
I am learning that I often have the thoughts of how to conserve to ensure I don't empty out.
What would happen if I gave till I had no more more often?
What would I learn about God and His presence if I gave till I had no more?
What would I learn about my strength and character if I pushed myself to failure and believed that may be one of the best places to learn….
I believe I will be able to practice some of this in the next week at the Journey Seminar. Stay tuned…..you will likely read about it right here!


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The Westboro Baptist Church, everyone's favorite anti-gay zealots, were in for a big surprise over the weekend when their lawn became the epicenter of a drag event titled "Drag Down Bigotry."
As reported last month, Equality House planned to host the event and utilize it as a fundraiser for anti-bullying programs. The show occurred on Saturday and drew out an estimated 150 participants.
The Equality House is a project spearheaded by the nonprofit Planting Peace and involves the house across the street from the Westboro Baptist Church compound. Earlier this year, the organization bought the house and painted the outside with rainbow colors, branding the structure as the Equality House.
"Our first 'Drag Down Bigotry' event was a huge success and we are very pleased with how many people participated in and/or supported our efforts," Aaron Jackson, President of Planting Peace, told The Huffington Post. "This was another successful step towards silencing the hate from the WBC and bringing awareness to the high suicide rate amongst our LGBTQ youth."
Equality House has played host to a number of events in the past that sought to bring visibility to LGBT individuals and issues just feet from the Westboro Baptist Church's doorstep, including a gay wedding and a child's lemonade stand that raised thousands of dollars.
"The fact is that teenagers across the country are taking their lives every year at an alarming rate. Research into these cases indicates that almost every suicide is the result of feeling less than or not good enough, many of these in fact being LGBTQ youth," Amelia Markham, Director of Outreach said in a statement. "We want to use every opportunity we can to switch that message and preach love and inclusion instead of hate. The drag show was the perfect opportunity to declare that message and to raise funds for our anti-bullying initiative for schools in the area and eventually across the country."
To learn more about Planting Peace's latest project or to help support Equality House, visit the organization's website for more information.
A slideshow of images from "Drag Down Bigotry" is available below.


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Mongolia's transition to a free market economy in the early 1990s had a drastic impact on the country's literacy rate. Over the last 20 years, many children, especially those in rural areas, have not attended primary or secondary school at all. Enrollment figures nation-wide have steadily declined.
To combat this growing problem, the Government of Mongolia has introduced a number of strategies to improve the country's education system, including the World Bank-funded Rural Education and Development (READ) Project. READ is implemented by Mongolia's Ministry of Education, Culture and Science.
Mongolia's Rural Education and Development (READ) Project, formerly known as the Rural Education Support Project, was established in 2006.
READ's aim is to enhance the quality of education in rural primary school grades one through to five.
READ is made up of three components:
- Support for rural schools by increasing the amount of learning materials available to students and teachers. Teachers and their school networks are supported in the use of learning materials. Classroom libraries are also being established and reading is promoted through professional development, professional teacher networks, and a public reading campaign.
- The government's capacity to monitor student learning through participation in national and international assessments is being strengthened. The efficiency of education policy tools is also being improved.
- Financial and technical support are being provided for project management and the monitoring of projects.
So far, READ has been able to supply more than 3,520 rural primary school classrooms with new libraries and books and more than 4,500 primary school teachers have received training.
Within READ's first year alone, libraries were established in all rural schools in 11 aimags (provinces) and hundreds of teachers received training. The books included in classroom libraries were chosen through a competitive process, one that reviewed over 900 manuscripts
IDA Contribution
READ is fully-funded by IDA contributions through to February 2013. 75 percent of funding goes to primary education and 25 percent to public administration, law and justice (central government administration).
The Ministry of Education, Culture and Science, Mongolia.
Next Steps
In June 2008, additional IDA financing of USD$1 million was approved for READ.
The additional resources are helping to scale up READ activities in rural schools. Financing is supporting the distribution of learning materials (including customized children's laptop computers) to children in selected pilot rural primary schools. Funding is also being used for teacher and student training and evaluative reports.
These resources will also examine the role of information technology in improving the overall quality and effectiveness of education.
The Ministry of Education, Culture and Science, Mongolia is coordinating the use of these funds.


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What Great Engineers Do At The Beginning of Each Year
It is common for people to make New Year's resolutions. A new year brings hope, enthusiasm, and a desire to focus on becoming a better person. Great engineers, on the other hand, ensure that they concentrate more on new things and fill in gaps in their knowledge, rather than achieving a random task.
It's 2017 now, and we welcome you to the new year. If you are an engineer who is looking for ideas or inspiration on what to do in the new year, you have come to the right place. We will go through some of the cool things that great engineers do to improve themselves. So, why wait? Let's get started!
Pick up old projects
Do you remember the last project you worked on? Did that make you excited? Even with so much promise and passion, you may have left it for other commitments in your life. A new year is an excellent time to revive projects. Great engineers pick up old, dusty projects and get back work on them.
Great engineers also ensure that their old projects get wider attention. That's why many use LiveEdu's streaming platform to gain exposure. Not convinced? Read How sharing your project can help you to get a clear idea.
Work on the website
Great engineers open themselves up to the world. They know that a strong online presence is important for them to succeed and land some amazing projects to work on. That's why they invest their time in making their website look more professional.
Apart from the cosmetic change, they also update the website with new blog posts and projects they have been working on or plan to work on in the upcoming year.
Learn new technologies
Great engineers know that there is no end to learning, which is why they plan to learn new things pertinent to their field. For example, a computer engineer would focus on learning a new programming language or framework based on his/her requirements, or some other tool or technique that can help in his/her future endeavors.
Check out ImHeyo from France learning PHP.
Contribute to the community
Great engineers always understand the idea of community-driven growth. When each new year starts, they reflect upon their contributions over the past year and plan their new year so they give back to the community. When it comes to contributions, they either create full-fledged courses for beginners or hang out at StackOverflow, LiveEdu, and other big forums to answer queries by others.
Network More
A new year brings new opportunities, but only for those who take advantage of them. Great engineers know they have to do the hard work and network professionally. They don't rely on their current client base and always seek to expand their network. Attending meetings, conferences, and network groups is just one part. They know how to approach people and create a buzz around their name or the brand for which they are working.
The above list is in no way exhaustive, and many may differ. However, the aim of the article is to list the important things that great engineers can do at the beginning of a new year. A great engineer is always optimistic and sees the new year as a chance to expand and even become better. If you are a beginner reading this, you can pick up on what others do and make yourself more confident, productive, and employable in the field of engineering.
Do you have anything to add to the article? Comment below and let us know.
Source: https://educationecosystem.com/blog/engineer-tips/