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|Attractors at Weak Gravity
|Denef, Frederik
|Denef, Frederik. 1998. Attractors at weak gravity. Nuclear Physics B 547(1-2): 201-220.
|Full Text & Related Files:
Denef_AttractorsWeakGravity.pdf (274.9Kb; PDF)
|We study the attractor mechanism in low energy effective D=4, N=2 Yang-Mills theory weakly coupled to gravity, obtained from the effective action of type IIB string theory compactified on a Calabi-Yau manifold. Using special Kahler geometry, the general form of the leading gravitational correction is derived, and from this the attractor equations in the weak gravity limit. The effective Newton constant turns out to be spacetime-dependent due to QFT loop and nonperturbative effects. We discuss some properties of the attractor solutions, which are gravitationally corrected dyons, and their relation with the BPS spectrum of quantum Yang-Mills theory. Along the way, we obtain a satisfying description of Strominger's massless black holes, moving at the speed of light, free of pathologies encountered in some earlier proposals.
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About a month ago I sat in on a Social Marketing Optimization (SMO) Training Seminar. The obvious purpose of this seminar was to teach a company's employees the importance of SMO, which is how to get involved by setting up a Stumble Upon account, becoming a regular user of Stumble Upon, writing blog entries, posting comments to blogs, etc.
The trainer took a few minutes to explain that Social Marketing or Social Media is not a new convention, in fact all of us have and continue to participate in Social Marketing activities in our everyday lives; however, this participation traditionally may not have occurred on the web, but instead in our daily contacts with friends, neighbors, co-workers, storekeepers, etc. As the trainer explained this phenomena, if you need a recommendation for a plumber you might first call your trusted next door neighbor, before searching the web for plumbers in your neighborhood.
At the time I thought that this was a clever analogy, but it came to me later that a closer analogy to the anonymity of web SMO might be the traditional Service Station proprietor.
Do you remember the old-fashioned Service Station owner? I have fond memories of a particular Service Station owner ~~ my father, Joe, who owned a Service Station from about 1955 until 1963. When my father first leased the station it was a Wilshire Service Station located at the corner of 7th and E Avenue in National City, CA.
Looking back I now realize that Joe was an original and natural social marketer. How he came to own the service station is another story, but suffice it to say the service stations, as we knew them then, offered anyone, who ventured into the station, a wealth of assistance and information. And while my father had a good number of regular customers, for the most part the daily customers were strangers to my father. And yet these strangers, not unlike today's web social group members, depended on him for more than gasoline.
If the customer needed driving directions, no Mapquest, just ask Joe or one of the service station attendants. If you needed a local or state map, they were provided by the service station at no cost! Need a suggestion for a good restaurant, again no IPhone with Google maps, just ask Joe and he might send you to the El Juan Cafe for Mexican cuisine (still in business) or Keith's Family Restaurant (still operating) for home-made fried chicken. Looking for a particular church, Joe only had to point you across the street to St. Mary's Catholic or just down the street to St. Matthew's Episcopal. Need to know what was playing at the local movie theatre, Joe could tell you the current film and show times at the Bay Theater (built in 1944, the building is still there but for sale for $2.7m.)
And let's not forget that service stations in years past did not have mini-marts, but they did offer you a clean restroom, a soda machine, they could fix a tire, tune your car and if you needed a phone, just come on in and you were given the opportunity to use the business phone. No payphone on site and certainly no cell phones.
One of my favorite memories of Joe, as a social marketer, was him serving as an impromptu employment agency. Frequently local people would stop by looking for work and if Joe didn't have an opening, he would know which businesses in the neighborhood were looking for employees. Over the years, Joe employed many family friends, offering them part-time positions to help make ends meet. No Hot Jobs or Monster.com...just stop by and talk to Joe.
And there were even days when a complete stranger would come into the station, ask for a fill-up; however, when payment was requested suddenly they would indicate they had no money. These strangers would then barter with my father leaving a watch or something else of value promising to return later with cash to redeem their item. I don't know, you might call this a little credit union, pawn shop, or even pay day advance.
I like remembering my father and his service station. He took good care of his customers and he was always willing to provide recommendations, not unlike today's blogs, and other on-line social media and marketing vehicles.
Click here to learn more about:
the history of service stations or to enjoy photos of the Bay Theater.

subset: commoncrawl


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Chapter 102 - 104
A Bower in the Arsacides/Measurement of the Whale's Skeleton/The Fossil Whale
Ishmael wishes to set down a description of a whale's skeleton. He was able to study one from a baby Sperm Whale that was killed on a whaling expedition, and also from the remains of a full grown whale kept as a sort of church by a tribe in the Arsacides, whose ruler he befriended. He has the measurements tattooed onto his arm.
A Sperm Whale of the largest size is about eight-five to ninety feet in length, and weighs at least ninety tons. The whale loses about a fifth of its length in death, leaving its skeleton about seventy-two feet in length. The skull and the jaw comprise twenty feet, leaving fifty of plain backbone; attached to the backbone, for a little less than a third of its length, are the ribs. There are ten ribs on each side. The spine has forty or so vertebrae in it.
Fossil remains of the whale have been found in a wide variety of places, from the base of the Alps to the states of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama, indicating that the whale has been on earth for a long, long time.


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The Compassion House Foundation was founded in 1998 with the purpose of building a welcoming and comforting facility where women from out-of-town could reside while being treated for breast cancer.
With its first major campaign launched in 2001, the foundation received generous donations from the Edmonton community, donors across the province and
the Sorrentino's Restaurant Group, making it possible for the facility
to open its doors in September 2002. Since that time they have
provided support to over 525 women with breast cancer and their families.
Held at the Edmonton Shaw Conference Centre on October 11th of this year, the 16th annual Syncrude "Fashion for Compassion" fundraiser theme was "An Affair to Remember." The room was eloquently decorated with pure old Hollywood glitz and glamour. Hundreds of guests attended this sold out event raising $300,000 for the Sorrentino's Compassion House.
It was with great enthusiasm and excitement that Blu's was able to play an instrumental part in this Fashion for Compassion gala, as we had the pleasure of styling Lynn Mandel, Lorraine Mansbridge, Mode Models, and most importantly several very amazing cancer survivor women. We chose some of the most artistic, eloquent, unique and sought-after-designers for this special event, including designs by Lida Baday, Annette Gortz, Marie Saint Pierre and Eileen Fisher. Accessories were provided by Karyn Chopik and Hillberg & Berk.
This quote from the Edmonton Journal sums up the night, "The fashions were stunning. However, the real highlight was the people for whom the fundraiser is intended to support. Towards the end of the evening, a parade of breast cancer survivors had everyone on their feet and clapping as they walked the runway alongside local civic leaders such as Mayor Stephen Mandel." To see the full article, please view Stars of Fashion with Compassion are cancer survivors.
Photographs in this article are courtesy of Larry Wong with the Edmonton Journal, Mode Models, and Fred Katz Fine Art Photography.


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All Films.All Above Board.NOW INCLUDES TV SHOWS & TV LISTINGS
Drama based on real events, starring Greg Kinnear as college professor and part-time inventor Robert Kearns, who lives with his large family in 1960s Detroit, home to the US automobile industry. When Bob invents the windscreen wiper, he believes he has hit the jackpot, and proudly presents his innovative idea to the car manufacturers. However, the industry unceremoniously hijacks his idea and fails to acknowledge him as its originator. Despite the power and financial might of the automobile industry, Bob refuses to back down quietly and becomes obsessed with bringing some of America's largest corporations to justice.


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There Ain't Enough Auto Tune In The World: Celebrities Who Had No Business Making Music In The Studio
Achieving fame in sports, acting, television, or modeling is not a prerequisite for a music career. In fact, your expertise in those areas likely suggests that you will not be an equally dominant force behind the mic, yet many celebrities have tried — and failed — anyway. This list is about them. To be fair, not all of the songs recorded by these stars were complete flops… but so many of them were.
Serena Williams
This past May, a clip from a rap song recorded by tennis superstar Serena Williams was leaked. In the 1 minute and 10 second snippet, Serena boasts her on court tennis success and wealth, and shouts out her haters. The clip was taken from one of seven songs recorded by Serena last year at the in-home studio of Baltimore Ravens lineman Bryant McKinnie whom she later criticized for putting her on blast.
Memorable line: "I cook the track up like a frozen pizza"
Kim Kardashian
It must not have been easy for whoever managed Kim to keep a straight face while telling her it would be a good idea for her to release a song. She released a track in 2011 entitled "Jam (Turn It Up)." This four and a half minute pop track produced by the Dream incited mostly terrible reviews and ridicule.
Memorable line: "Imma burn it out tonight, it's going down by live via satellite."
Shaquille O'Neal is undeniably one of the best basketball players in the game. More debatable however, is the success of his rap career. From 1993 to 2006, Shaq recorded four studio albums, two compilation albums, two soundtracks, one unreleased album, and nine singles. His first two albums, Shaq Diesel (1993) and Shag Fu: Da Return (1994), were his most successful; achieving Platinum and Gold certification respectively. His subsequent musical work performed moderately well to horribly – some singles charted and many didn't.
Memorable line from "(I Know I Got) Skillz" off the Shaq Diesel album: "You don't like Shaq, frankly I don't give a damn. I know I got skillz man"
Kobe Bryant
Like Shaq, Kobe has tried his hand at rapping; but unlike Shaq, Kobe has yet to release a platinum selling album – or even record one. In 2000, two songs from Kobe's debut album – that were never released – surfaced. The first song, "K.O.B.E.", featured Tyra Banks and was performed by the duo live at an NBA event. The second song, "Thug Poet", was much less publicized – and for good reason. Ultimately, both singles were declared fails.
Memorable line from "K.O.B.E": "What I live for – basketball, beats and broads"
Kim Zolciak
"Don't Be Tardy For The Party" spent four whole days at number three on the iTunes dance chart in 2009 (before being removed by its producer for Kim's refusal to pay him) but certainly not because of Kim's vocal talent. The song's success was more the result of it's expert development by Kandi Burruss and other music industry professionals, and the constant exposure it received on the Real Housewives of Atlanta. In an attempt to strike gold twice, Kim later released a second single titled "Google Me." It was a flop.
Memorable line from "Don't Be Tardy for the Party": "Lookin' like a Covergirl covered in diamonds and pearls"
Eddie Murphy
We all know Eddie Murphy is an actor and comedian, but how many of us remember him in his singing days? There was the 1982 comedy album, Eddie Murphy, which included the songs "Boogie In Your Butt" and "Enough Is Enough;" and the 1985 album, How Could it Be, on which Eddie's two hit singles appeared: "Party All The Time" and "Put Your Mouth On Me."
In the early 90's, Eddie recorded a third album, Love's Alright, that failed to reach the top of the Billboard charts and received mostly bad reviews. Its two singles, "Whatzupwifu" and "I Was a King" featured Michael Jackson and Shabba Ranks, respectively.
Memorable line from "Party All The Time": "My girl wants to party all the time party all the time"
Paris Hilton
In 2006, Paris Hilton released her 11-track debut studio album entitled Paris. The album sold over 600,000 copies worldwide and sat on the Billboard chart at number 6 for a week. The first single "Stars Are Blind" was an international success – making the top ten chart in seventeen countries.
Critics' reviews were mixed, however: some thought the album was unexciting and dull-sounding, while others hailed it a musical success on par with albums released by Britney Spears and Jessica Simpson.
Memorable line from "Stars Are Blind": "Those other guys they all wanna take me for a ride. But when I walk they talk of suicide"
Ron Artest
Ron Artest is yet another basketball star who attempted to forge a rap career for no particular reason. Following the Lakers' 2010 championship win, Artest took to the music booth to record "Champion;" a bass heavy track infused with lyrics both rapped and sung. Critics had good and bad things to say about the basketball star's music debut – some found it to be original, while others found it to be a joke.
Memorable line: "My name is up in lights. My face is well known. You see us Super bowl dancing in the end zone"
Tyra Banks
In 2004, Tyra Banks recorded her first single titled "Shake Ya Body." The video featured the final six contestants from Cycle 2 of America's Next Top Model, and world premiered on the now shutdown UPN television network. The single received mostly moderate to terrible reviews, though in all honesty, it sounded no worse than anything else released around that time. Tyra abandoned her singing dreams soon after.
Memorable line: "Shake my body body. Move my body body"
Lindsay Lohan
Before Paris Hilton and way before Kim Kardashian, Lindsay Lohan recorded and released her debut studio album. Speak featured twelve singles; two of which ("Rumors" and "Over") achieved worldwide success, reaching the top of multiple charts. Album sales and chart performance were fairly impressive; the album sold one million copies in the US and peaked at #4 on the Billboard 200 chart for twenty weeks. Critical reviews, on the other hand, were mixed; the positive ones focused mainly on the album's production quality instead of Lindsay's vocal abilities.
Memorable line from "Rumors": "I'm tired of rumors starting. I'm sick of being followed"
Meghan Williams is a freelance writer living in Florida. Follow her on Twitter at @Meggsndbacon.


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References to the Philadelphia Experiment (admitted to be fiction by it's creator on his deathbed).
Originally posted by consolution
Are these two guys simply making up that story, flat-out lying or plainly fantasizing into the camera? A psychological face and body language reading could be interesting.
In 1988 , an elderly man named Alfred (Al) Bielek began giving interviews and lectures about his involvement in the Philadelphia Experiment. Or rather, the involvement of a Navy sailor named Edward Cameron. As Bielek has explained it, the U.S. government used alien technology to age-regress Cameron back to infancy, then placed him with the Bielek family of New York.
Whatever the hell was going on, Bielek was consciously unaware of his previous existence until January of 1988, when memories of his life came back to him during a late night showing of the movie The Philadelphia Experiment. He realized that as Edward Cameron, he had been on board the USS Eldridge with his brother Duncan when it dematerialized in 1943, and was transported into the distant future.
Al Bielek was "born" in 1927 (according to the forged birth certificate provided to him) and became an electronics engineer in California and Arizona, working for various military contractors. His first unusual life experience came in 1956, when he encountered a man he now identifies as Mark Hamill. The actor would have been about 5 years old at this point, but apparently this was a future Mark Hamill who was dropping in on 1956 for some reason.
The Cameron Boys Throughout the '70s and most of the '80s, Duncan Cameron and Al Bielek worked together at Montauk without realizing they had once been half-brothers, or that they had taken part in the Philadelphia Experiment (though Bielek admitted to a fascination with it). Bielek had no inkling that he had been age-regressed and adopted; Cameron had no clue that he was the reincarnation of his own dead brother, also named Duncan, born in Germany in 1917. Cameron says that in 1963, his soul was transplanted into the body it now occupies (which belonged to a child born to his parents in 1951). This "explains" why he is technically far too young to have served on the Eldridge during WWII. I wonder what happened to the soul of the child Duncan Cameron? That part hasn't been explained. Not that the explanation would make much sense.
By 1947 the Navy apparently had no further use for Edward Cameron. Von Neumann ordered that he be age-regressed to the age of one and placed in the care of Albertina and Arthur Bielek of New York in the year 1928. Meanwhile, Duncan Cameron had returned to the year 1983. The loss of his time lock caused him to age and die within days, despite the Navy's best efforts to save him. It was up to Al Bielek to convince "his" aging parents to have another child so that Duncan's soul, stored in a Navy facility, could be transplanted into the child. The new Duncan Cameron was born in 1951. In 1963, the old Duncan's soul was placed in the new Duncan's body. Both Cameron brothers lived out their new lives without any conscious awareness of their previous existence. Then, in 1988, the memories of Edward Cameron surfaced in Al Bielek's mind as he watched The Philadelphia Experiment on HBO.
Anyway, Daniel put out another one, take a peek.
The Cosmic Sector
Because of the reciprocal relation between space and time as motion, everything that we see in space has its temporal equivalent. If one were to move their consciousness out of the material, spatial sector and in to the cosmic, temporal sector, everything would appear inside-out.
However, if you were born in the realm of 3D time, you would claim that folks living here in the material sector had everything inside-out, upside-down and backwards, because your consciousness would be adjusted to viewing time as locations, and space as force fields. It is all a matter of perspective.
Extra-Dimensional Entities
Now we have the basics to understand extra-dimensional entities, the majority of which are entities with a presence in 3D time. This includes entities that are native born in the cosmic sector that have learned to access space, and entities in the material sector to have obtained conscious access to the realm of 3D time.
Consider a cosmic creature, a native-born temporal entity that has their physical structure in time, and therefore can only interact with 3D space as force —they are invisible to our normal, waking consciousness, yet since time changes space, we can still bump into things that aren't there and they can make things fly around the room without any observable cause. Ghosts, poltergeist and the like are all entities of this nature—entities with a structure in 3D time. And yes, we appear as ghosts to thecosmic life in 3D time, as we cross the barrier in the other direction!
Two other situations arise for extra-dimensional life, where an entity begins to consciously interact with the spirit complex, going "beyond space and time." When material sector life develops sufficient intelligence, that intelligence provides the modus operandi for free will to follow the silver cord across into the dimensions of equivalent space —the temporal dimensions. Use your mind to open thedoor to time .
When someone here in the material sector begins to access the temporal dimensions, we call it ascension . When a cosmic entity, living in 3D time, performs a similar growth of consciousness, then they are actually accessing their equivalent time dimensions giving them access to the 3D spatial dimensions. These cosmic entities that are crossing over from the 3D time to 3D space are the ones werefer to as ascended masters, angelic beings or advanced spirits.
Originally posted by fourthmeal
That's a lot of assumption for stuff you (and I) don't really know. A LOT of assumption.
Anyway, Daniel put out another one, take a peek.
Bielek admits he was working a day job in California for the duration of the Montauk Project. Lucky for him he had special access to every commuter's wet dream, a secret high-speed underground magnetic levitation train!
Originally posted by fourthmeal
That's a lot of assumption for stuff you (and I) don't really know. A LOT of assumption.
Originally posted by micpsi
In all these extraordinary claims by people on the internet, there is NEVER smoking gun proof of what they say that they did, they saw, etc, etc. So everyone has to make up his or her own mind. And that's why we have forums like ATS to debate the issues raised by these so-called "insiders" and others claiming some kind of deep knowledge or insight.
On the other hand, if you are tired of red herrings, bogus whistleblowers out to make a fast buck and Pied Pipers leading you on fruitless chases that lead nowhere, study the work presented here by someone who says nothing about himself because he is content to let the mathematical proof in his astounding research speak for itself:
The only issue is: are you up to being able to understand it all?
Originally posted by daskakik
reply to post by fourthmeal
Care to share what he shared with you because so far all you have mentioned is "compartmentalization", which is hardly proof of anything. All types of organized groups (terrorist, intelligence and criminal type) have been known to used compartmentalization to keep things secret.
I'm sure the government has carried out secret projects but the crap that the Montauk group has made up isn't one of them and if "Daniel" claims to have worked with them then he is as full of crap as they are and unless someone can actually come up with a working repeatable experiment everything is just a crackpot theory.
edit on 20-11-2012 by daskakik because: (no reason given)
Originally posted by fourthmeal
What gives you the cred to say that Montauk was fake? I've seen the argument, I consider it invalid.
I don't think we want another working experiment of Montauk. IF true, there have been enough temporal issues created on that project alone to last us a while. Some things are better off left to the past.
What I CAN say is that indeed craft do exist, that they were taken apart and reverse engineered bit by bit, and that our M.I.C. did what they could to use the parts off them and make their own, with technology that is STILL way ahead of our time as we have it today. This part and the existence of ET's in general (though not as portrayed in movies), which is all that my source was open to say. I explained it was all compartmentalized so you could understand that very few observers (like my source) could make out the big picture. Just working in a room and seeing something happen in another, and then told "nothing happened" and that was that. This is compartmentalization, nobody has the big picture or evidence of it, so all we have is fragments from different points of view.
Make sense?
Originally posted by fourthmeal
You realize that by calling a group of people "tinfoil hat brigade" you are labeling them, grouping them by a form of identity, so that you (the opposite group) can feel superior.
BTW, Daniel never said he saw the big picture. He said he too was compartmentalized, but he grouped up with others and they formed a big picture.
For my source's sake, he did not do this with others. He remained quiet all the way through his military career (which likely blossomed because of his ability to stay quiet, I imagine.) With what he saw and heard, he kept it all the way to old age, almost to his grave. It was explained to me by him that I was seeking answers so he wanted to give them to me, from at least his point of view.
Now related to my source vs. what Daniel put out there, all I have been saying is that for the parts that my source has told me, Daniel's info lines up. The rest is unknown to me, and may be true or may not be. That may be deliberate or it could be more of a perspective / opinion thing. Time will tell if Daniel and indeed all the "New Agers" are correct or not. Not a lot of time, either.
What I CAN say is that indeed craft do exist, that they were taken apart and reverse engineered bit by bit, and that our M.I.C. did what they could to use the parts off them and make their own, with technology that is STILL way ahead of our time as we have it today. This part and the existence of ET's in general (though not as portrayed in movies), which is all that my source was open to say.
Originally posted by fourthmeal
Whether you label yourself, or label others a name, it does not matter. Think about it, does a group really serve to identify who you really are? Of course not. You are an individual with your own unique thoughts.
Now, regarding my source, I just explained that. My quote a few posts above:
What I CAN say is that indeed craft do exist, that they were taken apart and reverse engineered bit by bit, and that our M.I.C. did what they could to use the parts off them and make their own, with technology that is STILL way ahead of our time as we have it today. This part and the existence of ET's in general (though not as portrayed in movies), which is all that my source was open to say.
Originally posted by fourthmeal
reply to post by daskakik
He also dealt with technology from their ships, whether or not the Montauk chair came from one is unknown.
I guess what I'm saying is, he confirmed for me before he passed away that we are not alone, that beings are with us here now, and that we have reverse-engineered their tech to our benefit.
So when other "insiders" perhaps more directly involved with these projects speak about the things my source did, I perk up because I know those to be true. The rest is details, and that's where the lies / deception could come in. Which is why I said before that I am really only paying attention to the information that is corroborating directly anyway.
When you consider that I *know* that ET beings and their craft exist, we must also assume that FTL travel exists. Since current mainstream science as known today cannot account for FTL travel or explain it, I have to look elsewhere.
Is Daniel full of BS? This gets back to the whole "resonation" thing. It rings true, or at least the parts I understand which admittedly I get lost in some of the concepts. No way it could all be true because nobody ever has the whole picture, but so far I haven't run across anything that screams B.S. to me.


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Easy black hairstyles include the basic ponytail, high bun, curls or a pixie (for easy styling). Adding different tones to the hair, such as blonde or light brown, can help add warmth to the face and give a hairstyle a unique twist.Continue Reading
Braided hairstyles are always popular when it comes to black hairstyles. Braids are easy to create and add a touch of glamour to any look. Alternatively, a sleek bob with the end slightly curled inwards is an easy hairstyle to replicate. The simple bob can also be made more unique by adding highlights of copper or auburn to the hair.Learn more about Hairstyles


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Differences Between Cocktail Dresses and Formal Dresses When it comes to a cocktail party, the most popular vision is nothing but a hot girl in a sexy cocktail dress with nice legs. It rocks, doesn't it? While we're talking about a formal event, it's another story. The invitation tells "A Black Tie Party" which means […]Continue reading
These handbags are all under US$ 200 and they look fantastic!The more importantly, they are all cruelty-free! 1 2 3 45678910 Matt & Nat Kintla Handbag Matt & Nat Elle Vintage Crossbody Bag London Fog Newbury Large Saddle Danielle Nicole Jett Tote Top Handle BagSam Edelman Carrington Shoulder BagSteve Madden Mgbonita Fringe Cross-body Obosoyo Waterproof Handbags […]Continue reading
Here's our first spring outfit for this year that I think anybody can pull off. It's casual, wearable, and very comfortable and chic. And the best part is…. All of these items below put together will cost you than USD150 !Look # 1 1 2 3 45 Women's Plaid Shirt from OCHENTAPlaid Shirt for women Available […]Continue reading
Summer is soon here! You worked out and got ready to show off some skin! Why not do it in a stylish way with these outfits we have put together for you! Check out the 2017 's summer trends for women below HOTAPEI Womens Ethnic Print Maxi Skirt Wrapped Beach Cover-up Dress (Amazon) FANCYINN Women […]Continue reading
The different types of bag are an essential item in a lady's wardrobe. There is an endless range of styles to easily complement an outfit. Here are four of the most used and popular bags: Baguette Buy this on Amazon.com The baguette bag has the appearance much like its namesake bread loaf. This is a […]Continue reading
A special item like a wedding, eternity, or championship ring is a cherished possession and deserves to be well-kept. There are plenty of things to do to take care of rings, which can range from the location it is stored to the chemicals to avoid using. Here are a few of tips to help take […]Continue reading
2017 jewelry trends will emphasize individuality. The costume jewelry will include jewelry sets in metal, Chinese adornments, Swarovski crystals with adornments, magical red cords, gold bracelets and many more interesting options of jewelry that are widespread. New jewelry trends this year is expected to be marked by variety. No worries, even the unusual and large […]Continue reading
2016 was a year of retro with 90s chokers, flared jeans from the 70s, and statement jackets that took us back to the 60s. If you thought that the New Year would mark the end of new takes on the old, think again, because some of that retro feel of 2016 will live on in […]Continue reading
A style of clothing for affluent women who jet-set to warm-weather climates post-Christmas, resort wear is in itself a fashion season. Spectacular destinations of the wealthy host champagne sipping water-side activities that require donning the best of the best. Because if you're someone, you're wearing someone. So what kind of apparel and swimwear is in store […]Continue reading
While we don't want to believe the summer is almost over, the cooler months are around the corner, it's time to be prepared for the colder days. What's better way to spend them than in style? Today we bring you the Fall/Winter 2015 Lookbook from EverEve that will get you ready to look stylish while staying […]Continue reading


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Actually time is all relative, But if we had more time i could explain everything to you. forever never comes around. These thoughts, like a trillion prayers, are repeated across an ocean of worlds, many cut short, none answered.
Angels Fall First is an objective-based FPS game fought both in space and on the ground. Featuring complex gameplay, from flying gigantic capital ships...
angels fall first sci-fi
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Transitioning with a Diagnosed Condition
What's Inside?
Today about 13 percent of college students have been diagnosed with a mental health condition. So if you are transitioning into college with depression, ADHD, an eating disorder or other emotional health issues, you aren't alone. You can still have an incredible college experience if you plan wisely and take steps to take care of yourself. Here are some tools and information to help you thrive at college with your diagnosed condition.
More Articles
- Classes and Coursework: Tips for Success
- Dealing with Setbacks
- Finding Help Off Campus
- Finding Help On Campus
- Getting Help
- How to Help a Friend
- Keep Stress in Check
- Medical Leave of Absence
- Mental Health Conditions: Privacy and Telling Others
- Preventing Suicide
- Six Tips for Taking Control of Your Emotional Health
- Staying Connected
- The Basics: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
- The Basics: Bipolar Disorder
- The Basics: Alcohol and Drug Dependence and Abuse
- The Basics: Anxiety Disorders
- The Basics: Depression
- The Basics: Eating Disorders
- The Basics: Schizophrenia
- The Basics: Self-Injury (Cutting)
- The Importance of Wellness Philosophy & Services
- The Negative Effects of Stress
- Three Important Guidelines for Transitioning with a Diagnosed Condition
- Transferring Treatment to College
- Types of Mental Health Professionals
- What Every Student Needs to Know
- Who Will Struggle with Mental Illness?
- Your First Counseling Appointment: Questions to Ask


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"Would Have Been 25 Years Old This Month
I did not see it coming. I suppose the signs were there all along — the struggles Aloha Airlines was having with its finances and more importantly, the fierce competition of an upstart in the marketplace. Aloha has been around for more than 60 years and has seen and weathered the good years for tourism and local traffic as well as the lean years, especially those following the first Gulf War. And when Gordon Bethune signed on to help out back in 2006 following their exit from bankruptcy #1, they had someone very seasoned to help the airline out for the long haul. But, these hard times take no prisoners and I am extremely saddened to know that members of AlohaPass have nowhere to turn, no awards to redeem and no benefits to show for their choice of Aloha over Hawaiian. AlohaPass would have been 25 years old this month (launched in May 1983). It wasn't all that long ago, late 2003, that AlohaPass spruced up their program for the first time in 20 years, dispatching with the dated Executive Club elite-level program in favor of the local flavor of the Ali'i Loyalty Rewards elite program. So, in honor of those who have the memories, both good and bad, we salute the passing of "The Aloha Airline."
As well, the loss of the ATA Travel Awards program, which had one of the lowest thresholds for earning award travel in the industry, is another one no one saw coming — especially considering the airline's partnership with Southwest Airlines. After teasing Rapid Rewards members with Hawaii and the allure of international expansion (Mexico is "international" if you were born in Sioux City like I was!) it will be interesting to watch what Southwest does now for its members. The reason I say that is if you look at the Freddie Award results elsewhere in this issue, you'll see that Southwest Rapid Rewards members voted last year's "Southwest Rapid Rewards Fly 2, Get 1 Free. Fly 4, Aloha Hawaii" promo, which featured Hawaii via the ATA partnership, as the winner of the Best Award category. One can't overlook that Hawaii was important enough for Southwest to craft a promo around the destination and for members to have voted its value so high. I think we've got to stay tuned.
Part of my job requires sniffing around for news. And after all these years, I've got a pretty good nose for it. When I was looking over the positioning and words used by Delta in describing the launch of their Pay With Miles program (and it turns out I was right in that it will include last seat availability!), I saw the use of some carefully crafted words — such as strategy. One thing I've learned well is how to play partners off each other to get at the latest news. So, when I heard that from Delta, I talked with American Express and pretended that I was aware of the other part of the strategy. Well, it worked and I've got it all figured out — a new credit card from Delta called Delta Reserve. You might remember if you read this column, I wrote about the premium credit card from Continental, the Presidential Plus World MasterCard, when it was launched back in 2006. (I'm waiting on the new super plastic from AAdvantage/Citibank.) So now, I know where all this is headed. The Delta Reserve card is not cheap — some $450 a year. But let's face it, it is cheaper than Centurion and the real Platinum card. What credit card is so cool that it's worth $450 a year? Well, it comes with an annual Delta Crown Room membership, which depending on your level of membership with Delta, currently sells for $350-450 (includes the initiation fee!), and the most desirable asset, earning EQMs based on credit card spend. Members spending $30,000 annually will be blessed with 15,000 EQMs. Spend another $30,000 annually and another 15,000 EQMs roll your way (a limit of 30,000 EQMs annually can be earned). Now, you'll have to trust my math, but 30,000 EQMs allows you to be a Silver Medallion member. You can go from any level to Silver, Silver to Gold and from Gold to Platinum — all with the swipe of your credit card. And that's not all, members can also gift 15,000 EQMs to others so now you know what to give (or to get) for the holidays. There's more to this card but it certainly will carry forth the new generation of premium cards for frequent flyers. Here's how I look at it. I'm paying roughly $9 a week to have the Crown Room available to me when I travel. Or I'm looking at the cost of nine day passes throughout the year to the Crown Room if and when I need that benefit — and with current industry delays — I will need it. Or I'm looking at the newest way for me to stay home during the holidays instead of making the mileage run that ensures my elite status for next year. Take your pick of reasons.
I was walking by an editor's desk when she was interviewing Rene Mizwicki, Director of Hyatt Gold Passport, for this month's 60 Seconds on page 20. I was very interested to hear the dialogue of how Hyatt came up with the name Yatt'it for their new social media Web site that I encourage you to read all about it. Very catchy and certainly not like your father's Hyatt.
And finally, our cover story last month might have seemed a little off the mark when everyone was saying that the merger between Delta and Northwest was not going to happen because of pilot concerns. We've been doing this long enough to go with our instinct which was that the story was not over, thus the article. Hope you found it useful as you may just need the information after all!


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it's your conflict, don't lose control
So online mediation and conflict engagement, it's what we do here. If you're reading this, it's likely that you're in the middle of a conflict. Fair enough?
It could be a conflict with your spouse or partner, you could be separated or still together. It could be with your landlord or tenant, your boss or employee, to do with a service or product that's been considered not up to scratch. Really it could be anything. Our online mediators are just a click away and are ready to help you engage more constructively in your conflict, wherever you are. We'll help empower you, give you the tools you need to handle your conflict more effectively, move things towards resolution and peace with minimum fuss and expense.
In short, it's your conflict. You know what's going on, what your interests and wishes are, and the same is true for the person or company with whom you're in conflict. Sure, you might be able to get someone to fight your corner for you, or to have a decision made in court that vindicates your position. But that conflict will still bubble underneath, permeating through your life, your family and work, festering and unresolved.
If, given the choice, you could genuinely resolve this conflict ruling your life right now, would you still want to feed it, grow it, or would you want to understand it, work out how to settle it down? We know it's hard, but if you both really want to give talking a go, if you feel given how things have been going you could do with some help, we're here for you. We won't judge you, we'll help you talk and listen to each other, in online mediation we'll help you take some control back and decide for yourselves how to move forward.
Does that make sense?
And remember to check our privacy policy!
online mediation on the horizon…
Right now, actually we're in the middle of something as well – we're building this site (yeah well spotted!), and over time you'll see some pretty innovative ways on the site to help you sort things out with minimum fuss. In time, amongst other things you'll have access to a fully automated pocketconflictcoach to help you get ripe for engagement in conflict, and be able to verify your identity online and make payment online for the services here, all to ensure your safety and security and that we comply with all them regulatory regulations flying around.
In the meantime, we appreciate that doesn't help you one little bit, so we're available to chat to you right now about how we can help mediate your issues online. Once you get in touch we'll WhatsApp you, so make sure you have that downloaded. We'll chat briefly for free about what issues you'd like to sort out, how we can help you. If we think we can assist, we'll talk through with you how best to engage with the person or company you're in conflict with and suggest to them how we can help you both work it all out.
That's when the exciting bit starts!
So click the WhatsApp button above, and we'll come back to you as quickly as we can to start you off on your journey towards some peace after conflict.


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Home Meals on Wheels
Meals on WheelsWe are the official distributors of Meals on Wheels in the Upper Hunter Region. We deliver healthy, delicious meals straight to your door.
Delivery of nutritious meals, social interaction and a friendly check of a client's wellbeing by Meals on Wheels volunteers can help people live the lives they choose.
TransCare as the official distributors of Meals on Wheels delivers a wide variety of delicious, nutritionally balanced meals and helps people to maintain an independent life at home. Meals are delivered frozen, ready to pack into your freezer or pop in the microwave.
Meals are made to suit a client's taste preferences and dietary requirements and come as main meals, mini meals, desserts or cakes. Most of our meals are low GI, low fat and are suitable for diabetics.
We can supply:
- Breakfasts
- Soups
- Main meals
- Mini meals
- Premium meals
- Desserts
- Finger food
Let us know if you have any dietary requirements, we can cater to all your special dietary needs, including:
- Gluten Free
- Low Potassium
- Puree
- Cut up
For more information or to place an order call 6545 3113.
Meals on Wheels Memoirs
In the videos below, some of TransCare's Meals on Wheels clients and volunteers talk about the service.
MOW Memoirs: Meet Meals on Wheel client Audrey and volunteers Sue & Denis.
MOW Memoirs: Meet Meals on Wheel client Colleen and volunteers Deb and Helen.


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Based on comments of ?KenBloom in WhateverHappenedToTesting
The goal of this idea is to come up with ways to delay riskier packages longer in unstable so that there is a higher chance of bugs being found before the package propagates to testing.
One Thought: Do not allow urgency=high or urgency=medium unless the package closes an RC bug that is already in testing. The testing propagation scripts should be augmented to figure out from the BTS which bugs are in testing and which are only in unstable. If there's no closes: #xxxx line for a bug that is in testing, then the urgency= line should be overridden by the testing scripts and treated as urgency=low.
Another Though: make it take longer for a package to propagate to testing (although this has its downsides).


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All of a sudden there is this big hoo ha about CPF money. The first whisper of unhappiness that I encountered about CPF was when I sold our previous home to a Singaporean lady married to a French man. She was trying to calculate how much of the CPF she could use. Interest rates at that time were low. She reasoned that the cost of borrowing from the bank would be lower than the cost of using her CPF.
I didn't quite understand, so I asked.
She explained that if she were to sell the apartment, she would have return the money to CPF with the interest those funds would have earned if they had sat inside the CPF. The interest accruing in CPF was MORE than the interest charged by bank lending.
I still didn't understand because CPF is her money. I shrugged and then forgot.
Growing Old With Dignity
Whatever it is, whispers I heard 3 years ago became rumbles. Recently, it has fairly exploded into a pyroclastic surge, like a constipated Mt Vesuvius suddenly letting loose. To me, the case is compelling for increasing the Minimum Sum. Life expectancy is getting longer. Inflation is scary. The pioneer generation certainly did not expect that inflation would destroy their buying power. They have withdrawn their CPF money years ago and the money is gone.
Since the money is gone, the government has to dip into its coffers to help the Pioneer Generation. The Pioneer Generation does not feel good either to be subsisting on government handouts. Theirs was a proud generation. I guess raising the Minimum Sum and delaying CPF draw down would help later generations stave off an old age fraught with the indignity of accepting handouts.
Hmmmm...there are worrisome rumours about Ponzi schemes and GIC losing our money. I wish there were clearer visibility into those numbers if only to put a stop to these rumours. A rumour that has not been addressed with facts will only cause more panic and even people like me, who have always had the rock solid belief that my CPF is my money... would begin to worry a little.
Not Everyone Can Manage Money
I was in secondary school when a classmate said to me, "We are spending $70,000 to renovate our house because my Dad just got out his CPF money." Back then, at the tender age of 16, I was already puzzled. Shouldn't you save that money in the bank so that you can use it when you are sick or need to buy food? Even then, it occurred to me that this respected elder, the Father of my friend, was not a wise steward of his wealth.
I even know people my age who manage wealth poorly. They end the month with nothing left over. Meanwhile, their grocery shopping comprises foie gras, sashimi grade salmon and abalone. I know a guy who drives a BMW but lives in a rented HDB room. Plenty enough people cannot manage money.
The Minimum Sum will be their lifeline eventually.
Cannot Count on CPF
There was a time when I felt good that I was accruing money in CPF for my retirement. One felt some sense of security. Even then, from the day I started work, I had explicit savings targets aimed at retirement. At that time, a colleague 10 years older than I, commented that I was over kiasu.
Presently, I am even MORE kiasu about the CPF. Looking at the minimum sum, I know it is not enough to see me through to age 80. I am also not sure whether what we have accumulated will be enough to fund a peaceful, stress free and dignified retirement. At the rate inflation is going, I have every intention to keep on working until I can really no longer work. I have no intention to rely on the CPF to fund my retirement. It really is sort of a useless scheme, come to think of it.
The Minimum Sum simply is not enough.
Maybe I am just insecure about money. My insecurity about bread and butter has always far outweighed any vanity I might have. I was so insecure about money that I did not dare to buy branded bags and shoes, no matter how much I wanted them. Now that I am old and fat, those vanities are gone. I don't want them anymore.
I want to retire in dignity, with a roof to stay under, enough food to eat and books to read. To achieve that, I am guessing that I have to rely on me... not the forced CPF savings. On top of that, I intend to pass on this sense of insecurity to my children by showing them THIS.


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Line an 8 by 4-inch loaf pan or 6-inch gratin dish with plastic wrap. To prepare the ganache, put the chocolate in a bowl. Bring the cream to a boil in a small saucepan and pour the hot cream over the chocolate. Let stand until the chocolate begins to melt, about 2 minutes, then whisk until smooth.
Pour the ganache into the loaf pan or gratin dish and refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour. When the mixture has set, unmold, and cut out 6 (1 1/2-inch) rounds (you can use a knife or a cookie cutter). Refrigerate until ready to use (up to 5 days).
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter a muffin pan and set aside.
To make the cakes, in the top of a double boiler, or in metal bowl suspended over a pot of simmering (not boiling) water, melt the chocolate. Whisk in the softened butter and turn off the heat. Let cool for 5 minutes, then whisk in the egg yolks, one at a time.
Sift together the almond and cake flours and fold the flours into the chocolate mixture.
Using an electric mixer, beat the egg whites to soft peaks. Sift in the confectioners' sugar and continue beating to stiff peaks. Fold 1/3 of the egg white mixture into the chocolate mixture, then gently fold in the remaining whites in two additions.
Scoop or pipe a 1/4-cup measure of cake batter into each muffin tin.
Place a ganache round in the center of each muffin cup, then spoon in enough batter to cover. Bake the cakes for 20 minutes, or until the tops are firm. Allow the cakes to rest for 1 minute before serving.
Check Out Our
Get a sneak-peek of the new Food Network recipe page and give us your feedback.See it Now!


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When it comes to real estate, most of us imagine a pretty cut and dry market and open and shut transactions. However, what you may be missing is that some of us more enterprising individuals can actually make money by buying property off the market. There are a couple of key ways to make some money off of your initial real estate investment, and here are some pointers to help you turn a profit in real estate.
For starters, you can actually use purchased property to rent out to others to make some extra money. If this is an appealing proposition to you, here's what you'll have to do. Assuming you've purchased a house, you can either rent the house as a whole or divide it into apartments to rent out to tenants. When you decide to become a landlord, you're taking on a big responsibility. You're going to have to make sure the building is in acceptable condition at all times, fixing anything and everything that falls below standard as it happens. You're also going have to replace appliances and locks, as well, if you're going to have happy tenants eager to pay up for the privilege to live on your property.
Another alternative is to "flip" houses. Many people buy sub par houses only to improve them and resell them at a profitable price increase. This is called flipping, and it makes you really work for the profits, but there is much money to be made. You're going to have to do a lot of the same work as a landlord, but starting from a worse place while also having to make repairs only once before making a one time, but very large, profit. In both cases, you're going to need a working knowledge of basic tools, power or manual, and how to make certain repairs. Obviously, you will also need tools from a retailer like Home Depot to make the repairs.


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Calgary house prices drop 6% in October while sales plummet 33%
About 20% more homes on sale compared to last year, sitting on the market 11% longer
October saw the largest decline in housing prices so far this year, according to the latest data from the Calgary Real Estate Board (CREB).
The average sale price for the month came in at $457,513 — down 6.1 per cent from October 2014.
In September, the average sale price was $457,658, down six per cent, year-over-year.
- Calgary vacancy rate nearly quadruples but average rents remain high
- Q&A: Max Fawcett on why renting a home is better than buying
- Pay-for-use fast lanes could solve Calgary's traffic woes
While median sale prices were flat in September, they did drop in October, falling 2.6 per cent to $419,000.
And the total number of home sales continues to be significantly lower than in 2014, with just 1,421 transactions in October. That's down 33.3 per cent.
Homes sold in October had been on the market for an average of 41 days, according to CREB data, up from 37 days in October 2014.
There were 5,572 active listings in October, up 20 per cent from the 4,643 listings in October 2014.
"Persistent weakness in the overall economy continued to impact housing demand in Calgary as October sales were nearly 16 per cent below long-term averages," CREB chief economist Ann-Marie Lurie said in a release.
"In addition, new listings did not decline enough to prevent inventory gains and, ultimately, price contractions."
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I have a question about the recipe "Minnesotan Lentils with Wild Rice and Caramelized Onions" from Xcskier20.
This recipe asks you to cook wild rice, brown rice and lentils but never mentions covering the pan. Is that correct? I hope to make it Friday evening.
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Agricultural productivity and per capita income in the ECA region have either decreased or stagnated due to low use of inputs and mechanisation, poor adoption and utilisation of innovations, and inadequate policies to drive agricultural development. The population growth rate is higher than the agricultural production growth rate resulting in declining food and nutrition security. The ECA region is also extremely vulnerable to effects of climate change and climate variability and there is a compelling need to develop and implement strategies for adaptation of agricultural production systems to the current climatic trends.
This broad theme not only addresses challenges created by climate change, and pests and diseases of livestock and crops but also provides the opportunity to build on possibilities provided by the sub-region's biodiversity and the techniques and options provided by biotechnology. It addresses both technical and enabling policies and institutions to transform the current subsistence oriented agriculture into vibrant market oriented agriculture. The theme will develop technologies and innovations for sustainable agricultural intensification to increase the overall system productivity.
The theme addresses issues of nutrition and food security with links to human health and its effects on agriculture/livelihoods. It also addresses issues of mechanisation; harvest processes; and postharvest handling, storage and processing. It is directly connected to Pillar IV of CAADP under Adaptive Management of Appropriate Germplasm and Policy for Sustainable Agriculture.
Priority sub-themes
1. Development and promotion of breeds, varieties and management practices for adaptation to climate change and variability: This is an area of concern given the current fluctuations in climate. There is need to develop and promote innovations to address and mitigate the effect of climate change. This will include: developing and upscaling TIMPs to cope with climate change (e.g. shorter maturing varieties, drought tolerant varieties, conservation agriculture, etc.); building farmers' capacity for adaptation and mitigation of their production systems to the changing environment including exploiting indigenous knowledge and building regional capacity for climate forecasting interpretation and use.
2. Management of diseases and pests of strategic crops, livestock and fisheries: This will include: Developing TIMPs to cope with pests and diseases of crops, livestock and fisheries; enhancing regional capacity for surveillance and control of pests and diseases; developing diagnostic tools and control packages for major diseases including the use of biotechnology and traditional tools; and building public–private partnership for pests and diseases control.
3. Promotion of enabling gender responsive policies and institutions for sustainable agriculture, food and nutrition: Harmonising appropriate policies supporting sustainable agriculture is necessary for agricultural transformation to take root. This theme will cover policy frameworks for mitigating and adapting to climate change, policies on genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and biosafety, intellectual property rights, seeds, standards, and genetic resources. The theme will also address the establishment of policy frameworks to halt transboundary spread of pests and diseases of crops, livestock and fisheries and policies to support sustainable agricultural intensification and value addition.
4. Post-harvest handling and processing of crop, livestock and fisheries resources: Only about 28% of the agricultural produce in the ECA region is processed. The main constraints include: limited technical skills base to run agro-processing facilities; poor maintenance of agro-processing facilities and equipment; and seasonality of production which is also unreliable due to climate variability resulting in surplus commodities at harvest times and collapse of prices and massive post-harvest losses followed by shortages (increasing food costs for consumers). Furthermore, limited utilisation of all sources of food (crops, livestock, fishery, aquatic, and marine resources, and forest products) leads to staple diets based on a very narrow selection of food sources. Other constraints include the long distances between centres of food production and the centres of consumption and the short stable shelf-life of most sources of food other than grains. Agro-processing and value addition would provide tremendous backward and forward linkages and multiplier effects, with respect to: increased access to markets that are distant in space and time; extension of the reach of food, also in space and time; creation of non-farm employment and income generation opportunities; reduction of post-harvest losses; and improvement of food quality and safety.
To mitigate and/or reduce the negative impacts of these factors, increased investment is required in value addition, processing and preservation to extend the shelf-life of the most perishable commodities. This has to be done without degrading the nutritional value, taste, and presentational characteristics of these commodities. Critical areas of intervention include: investment in agro-processing facilities for priority value chains; warehousing—because of the role it plays in bulking commodities and thus reducing transaction costs; establishment and/or expansion of centres of excellence dealing with agro-industries and agri-enterprises; establishment of extension services dealing with agro-industries and agri-enterprises; expansion and prioritisation of skills development in agro-industries and agribusiness; enhancement of regionally-shared support industries such as those dealing with manufacture of processing equipment; encouragement of strong synergies between agro-industries development and other programmes in agriculture and industries in general; and linkage of small and medium size agricultural producers to markets. The proposed investments require the development and scaling-up of TIMPs for value addition of strategic crops, livestock and fisheries; building of viable and effective public–private partnerships (PPP) for post-harvest handling and value addition; mainstreaming of nutrition into value addition and processing; crops, livestock and fisheries research and development processes; and building the regional capacity for value addition and processing of crops, livestock and fisheries resources.
5. Sustainable intensification of crop, livestock and fisheries systems: Sustainable agricultural intensification is defined as the production of more outputs with more efficient use of all inputs on a durable basis, while reducing environmental damage and building resilience, natural capital and the flow of environmental services. Sustainable intensification is implemented through three main approaches: ecological intensification, genetic intensification, and socio-economic intensification. Ecological intensification involves farming practices such as intercropping, integrated pest management, conservation farming and organic farming. Genetic intensification uses both conventional and modern biotechnological applications to avail improved crop varieties and animal breeds for higher yields, improved nutrition, tolerance to pests and diseases, resilience to climate change and efficient resource use. Socio-economic intensification involves creating enabling environments, building social and human capital and creating sustainable livelihoods. The ASARECA interventions will include: development of TIMPs to improve the productivity of crops, livestock and aquaculture, inland and marine fisheries systems; identification of national and regional opportunities to prioritise production; crop, livestock and fish integration to improve overall system productivity; building capacity for adoption of productivity enhancing technologies; enhancement of viable and sustainable seed systems; and enhancement of access and utilisation of nutritious and safe crops, livestock and fisheries products.
6. Conservation and utilisation of plant, animal and fish genetic resources: Climatic shocks and human activities are exacting immense pressure on biodiversity in ECA with negatives consequences on food security. This has resulted in unprecedented levels of species extinction and erosion of natural diversity (plant, animal and fisheries). This is likely to have a negative impact on human wealth, health and security. In 2008 the World Conservation Union21 estimated that 59% of the known plant species are currently threatened with extinction and likely to be subject to loss of genetic diversity. If left unchecked this may have a serious negative impact on humans and the environment. Through this sub-theme, projects that will promote conservation and use of the plant, animal and fisheries genetic resources will be developed and implemented.
7. Food and nutrition security for improved health: The ECA region has the highest proportion of undernourished people in the world (42.2%), almost double the average for sub Saharan Africa (26.8%). Although some countries are challenged with the double burden of malnutrition, undernourishment poses the greatest challenge in the region. Undernourishment directly and indirectly contributes up to 60% of child mortality in most countries in ECA. Micronutrient deficiencies (hidden hunger) affect most of the population in the region. It causes increased morbidity and mortality, impairs cognitive development and productivity due to frequent illness and disability, and therefore contributes to poverty. Overcoming food and nutrition insecurity is thus a precondition for ensuring a healthy population and sustainable development in ECA. Although increased food production is an underlying tenet to ensuring food security, there is a disparity between food production, food and nutritional security and health, especially amongst smallholder farmers who produce more than 80% of the food. Promoting food and nutrition security involves increasing production, access, and availability of quality nutritious foods to the consumers. This sub-theme will address increased availability and access to quality and safe nutritious foods for improved health.


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Catholic Charities, Buffalo New York
Immigration and Refugee Assistance Transitional Childcare
Catholic Charities (CC) Buffalo has created a transitional childcare facility to relieve the stress and anxiety of newly arrived refugee families caused by parents leaving their children to attend ESL classes. The transitional childcare program allows refugee families to become familiar with the concept of child care (structure and routines). The transitional childcare room is located in the middle of the center and has a window through which parents can observe their children without disrupting activities. All of the classes and the babysitting center observe the same break times throughout the day, granting parents and children several opportunities to see each other throughout the day, which eases the family's anxiety over their separation.
Supervised play and educational activities are provided on-site for 3-4 months for children of newly arrived refugee families. These activities take place while refugee parents attend ESL classes. By participating in these activities refugee children acclimate to being in a diverse group of children and build socialization skills. English becomes the common language of the children in the group, as there may be children from numerous countries in the program at any time. After six to eight weeks, the children are transitioned into daycare or Head Start. Even Start was also an initial partner, but lost funding to continue.
Educational materials and toys are used with the children.
Any refugee child (infants through 5 or 6 years of age) resettled by Catholic Charities Buffalo is eligible to participate in this program. Current populations include: Somali, Burmese, Bhutanese and Ethiopian.
Funds for the salary of the one full-time teacher/babysitter are paid out of New York State funds, and U.S. Department of State Reception and Placement administration funds.
One full-time teacher/babysitter and several volunteers run the program. The full-time employee is a former teacher with previous experience teaching in Ethiopia. She possesses teaching skills, cultural sensitivity and linguistic skills.
CC Buffalo uses observation as the primary evaluation mechanism. The program observes the adjustment and emotional levels of the parents and children enrolled and each child's progress in participating in the activities to determine their developmental progress.
Children enrolled in the Transitional Childcare program exhibit increased socialization skills and have the ability to perform the following skills prior to being enrolled into mainstream daycare or Head Start. Children learn how to:
After six to eight weeks all children are transferred into daycare or Head Start. Between 60-100 children are placed in mainstream childcare or Head Start each year.
The Resettlement Director has received positive feedback from mainstream daycare providers who have refugee children from other agencies, as well as from the Immigration and Refugee Assistance Transitional Childcare program, emphasizing the ease with which children from the CC Transitional Childcare program have entered into the routine of the daycare center. One daycare provider remarked that refugee children who have not participated in the Transitional Childcare center exhibit signs of separation anxiety and fear which tends to cause them to act out in disruptive behavior.
William Sukaly
Immigration and Refugee Assistance Department Director
Refugee Preventive Services
(716) 218-1400 ext. 2048
(716) 856-4494 ext. 332
This program began in 1989; it is still operating in 2011.


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Archive for February, 2009
World housing crash accelerates with more record falls in the US and UKWritten by admin on February 26, 2009 – 7:11 pm
House price data for the UK market compiled by Nationwide shows in the 12 months to February, shows house prices fell 17.6%. This, the 16th consecutive contraction is now the biggest fall since Nationwide started to collect data in 1952.
Meanwhile Standard and Poor's have released the latest update to the S&P/Case-Shiller 20 city composite index which shows in the 12 months to December, house prices in the US fell a record 18.5%. From the peak of the US housing bubble in quarter 2 '06, US house prices are now down 26.7%.
» British house prices in record fall – AAP, 26th February 2009.
» U.S. housing market bottom may be a year away: Case – Reuters, 26th February 2009.
Tags: Case-Shiller, Nationwide
Posted in United Kingdom Economy, United States Economy | 3 Comments »
Judge tears up $1m property contractWritten by admin on February 24, 2009 – 11:43 am
In what could be interesting legal precedent, the Sydney Morning Herald today has reports of two "property speculators" who has been given permission from a Supreme Court Judge to walk away from a contract and recover the deposit to purchase a terrace off the plan for $1.07 million.
The decision comes on the grounds that the Real Estate agent and promotional material made some predictions with no reasonable grounds that they would in fact come true.
The agency's advertisements promised that Green Square, a planned business centre next to Victoria Park, would become the "next city centre in Sydney"; they forecast a seminar which would advise how to buy "the hottest investment location in Sydney" and they promised a "one-year 5 per cent rental guarantee".
"According to Mr Zhang, he and Ms Liu were reluctantly persuaded to buy the Victoria Park terrace by being assured that the property market was continually rising; that the market doubled in value every seven years; and that in two years the terrace would definitely have increased in value," Justice White said.
Such claims are common hype in the RE industry and with the market now falling this could open the flood gates for buyers to walk away from contracts. The Real Estate Institute of NSW spokesperson, Julian Brophy said the Institute was reviewing the judgment and the implications it held.
» Judge tears up $1m property contract – The Sydney Morning Herald, 24th February 2009.
Tags: Hype, Property Speculators, Supreme Court
Posted in Australian Economy, Australian Housing | Comments Off on Judge tears up $1m property contract
Banks step up to prevent subprime frenzyWritten by admin on February 23, 2009 – 8:19 pm
As U.K. Prime Minister Gordon Brown calls for the return of traditional banking methods in Britain and the abolishing of 100% mortgages, Australian banks are scrambling to prevent Kevin Rudd's First Home Owners Boost turning into a subprime frenzy.
Today, the Commonwealth Bank of Australia announced the tightening of borrowing rules directed towards the surge of first home buyers in a frenzy to grab the government grant before it expires. The CBA will no require home buyers to have a 3 per cent deposit excluding any government grants.
The Australian reports :
The move is in response to growing industry concerns about the quality of loans to the fast-growing, first-home buyer market and is in anticipation of interest-rate hikes in coming years, due to the expected inflationary impact of the large, recent increase in household income.
This follows moves from the NAB in January cutting its maximum Loan to Value Ratio (LVR) to 95% and ANZ in November cutting its LVR to 90%.
With the prospects of new owners having negative equity in years to come, this goes a small way to bring back responsible lending, although we are still a long way from the days of once requiring a 20% deposit.
» Brown moves to end 100 per cent home loans – The Independent, February 23rd 2009.
» CBA tightens mortgages amid new deposit rules – The Australian, February 23rd 2009.
Posted in Australian Economy, Australian Housing | 1 Comment »
Perth housing crash worst than first thoughtWritten by admin on February 23, 2009 – 7:46 pm
New data from the Real Estate Institute of WA posts a worst picture of Perth's housing market than originally thought. On the 14th of January the Institute reported preliminary data showing the Perth medium house price closed the year at $418,000, down 11.44% from $472,000 the year prior.
It now appears the final December 2008 price is $412,500, making a 12 month decline of almost $60,000 or 12.61%. Falls accelerated in the December quarter, with the three months attributing 5.12% to the yearly decline.
The West Australian reports that REIWA president Rob Druitt said Perth had not seen four consecutive quarterly falls since 1982.
» Property slump worst since '82 – The West Australian, 21st February 2009.
Posted in Australian Economy, Australian Housing | Comments Off on Perth housing crash worst than first thought
Glenn Stevens says there is considerable pent-up demand for housing?Written by admin on February 20, 2009 – 7:39 pm
Mr Stevens told the House of Representative Standing Committee on Economics today that "there is considerable pent-up demand" for housing in Australia. If you didn't know who Glenn Stevens was, you would mistakenly think he is yet another Real Estate agent spruiking their bread and butter market.
But Mr Stevens is not a Real Estate agent, but rather Australia's Chief Banker.
In this address, he stated "Consumers have pulled back discretionary spending sharply, are more inclined to save and are looking to repay debt". This would come at no surprise given the size of household debt and the lack of household savings.
He focused on China, and made no reference to our largest trading partner, Japan who has just fallen into depression with annual GDP down 12.7%. "There are some tentative indications of a turn for the better in China, in some of the most recent data, although it is too soon to know yet whether that will continue." He believes Australia will continue from China's emergence and "there is no reason for any downturn to be a deep one". Perhaps all we need to do is find a way that global citizens can continue to spend more than the earn, so China can continue to produce goods to service that unsustainable demand.
Overall his assessment was upbeat, maybe too upbeat suggesting a new boom aka expansion. "So there are reasonable grounds at this stage, I think, to believe that the Australian economy will come through this difficult episode not unscathed but well placed to benefit from a renewed expansion."
» Opening Statement to House of Representatives Standing Committee on Economics – The RBA, 20th February 2009.
» Hansard Transcript – Commonwealth of Australia, House of Representatives, 20th February 2009.
Posted in Australian Economy, Australian Housing | 1 Comment »
Australia's largest trading partner enters depressionWritten by admin on February 18, 2009 – 7:50 pm
Japan has sunk into Depression with annual GDP falling 12.7% from December 2007 to December 2008. This is Japan's worse result in 35 years and has prompted economists to fear the worse for Australia's chances of staying out of recession.
"That in turn, I think, will make it very difficult for Australia to avoid a recession", said AMP Capital's chief economist Shane Oliver.
» Japan plunges into depression – The Age, 17th February 2009.
» Australian economy to sink with Japan: economist – The ABC, 17th February 2009.
Posted in Australian Economy | Comments Off on Australia's largest trading partner enters depression
Rate cuts BOOST home loan approvalsWritten by admin on February 11, 2009 – 8:30 pm
|The First Home Owners Boost and a rapid fall in interest rates have spurred on First Home Buyers.
The official cash rate has more than halved in 6 short months from 7.25% in August 2008 to 3.25% in February 2009 as the RBA struggles to keep Australia from plunging into debt fueled recession.
Data released by the ABS show housing loan approvals for December is up 6.4% with the highest portion of First Home Buyers since 2001 contributing to this result. 25.4% of loans were taken out by First Home Owners, up from 23.6% the month previous.
While the results do look positive, annual results show quite a slide. The number of loans is down 18.1 per cent for the year and the value of loans is down 11.4%.
The rapid fall in cash rates have also fueled Real Estate spruikers into trying to encourage first home buyers into a life of excessively high debt. They now argue that mortgage repayments are almost as cheap as rent.
While this is still a little stretch but none the less getting close, they have not factored in the effects of falling house prices.
Between December 2007 and October 2008, the Perth medium house price fell 10% or $46,000 from $472,000 to $426,000. At falls of $4,600 a month that's a lot of "free" rent money. Likewise between July 2008 and January 2009, the Melbourne medium house price fell 5% or $22,500 from $450,000 to $427,500. This works out to be falls of $3,750 a month.
This could just prove to be a beginning of a suckers housing rally. Time will tell what effect unemployment will have on the huge debt levels required today to purchase basic housing.
» 5609.0 – Housing Finance, Australia, Dec 2008 – The Australian Bureau of Statistics, 11th February 2009.
» Rate cuts boost home loan approvals – The Age, 11th February 2009.
» Housing lending shows policy impact – The Australian, 11th February 2009.
Posted in Australian Economy, Australian Housing | 1 Comment »
The Real Estate industry is increasingly misleading the public.Written by admin on February 5, 2009 – 7:54 pm
With the number of house sales falling of a clift, have you ever wondered what a Real Estate agent/professional does to fill in spare time before they receive their redundancy offers?
Yesterday quality newspaper, the Australian runs an article "Mum ready to go shopping for second home"
The article reports :
THE memory of her mortgage rate rocketing above 9 per cent last year is not enough to scare Kirsten Friedli away from the property game.
Following the Reserve Bank's decision yesterday to drop the cash rate 100 basis points to a 45-year-low of 3.25 per cent, Ms Friedli is ready to go shopping for her second home.
With $220,000 left to pay off a $350,000 home loan, Ms Friedli, 35, and her partner Matthew, 40, plan to take on another mortgage to buy an investment property.
Cool, so this Mum from Port Kembla thinks it is never a better time to buy property. But hang on, doesn't Real Estate Agents think it is never a better time to buy? Umm.
What does a google search yield us? Umm, she has a facebook profile.
Looks like Kirsten is from Wollongong – that's next to Port Kembla. Hey, she works for Dougmal Real Estate as Marketing Manager. She even features predominately in Owning a Dougmal Franchise.
But surely the industry isn't riddled with this misleading "advertising" dressed up as good news articles? Surely it's just a once off?
Today, The Sydney Morning Herald's Alex McDonald writes an article "Homebuyers hit the streets after interest rate cut"
It reads :
RANDWICK was the perfect place to take a punt on the housing market, said Albert Talarico. After buying a new family home there, Mr Talarico was now on the lookout for a second Randwick property as an investment.
He believed the housing market was close to bottoming out. "I don't think it's got much more to go down," he said. "There's a bit of oversupply in certain areas, but Randwick is one of those areas where, if you can get into the market, now is the time [to buy]."
Hey, we have another chap who has just brought a house and is now looking for an Investment. Again it's never a better time to buy, and the article never has a whiff that home buyer and investor to be, Mr Talarico could be an Real Estate Agent.
Yet, our friend – Google shows Albert Talarico is an agent with Lisa Steele Real Estate in Double Bay having over 11 years industry experience.
What is just as worrying as the misleading articles, is what will happen when Real Estate agents stop buying houses? It appears they are the only ones keeping the market afloat.
The next time you read an article in the paper about someone buying a house or investment property, be sure to run the new owner through Goggle to see if they are an agent. There is extremely good chances they are.
Posted in Australian Housing | 10 Comments »
Official figures show Australian house prices continues to fallWritten by admin on February 2, 2009 – 8:49 pm
The ABS released its official House Price Index today for the December 2008 quarter. The Weighted average of eight capital cities fell 0.8% for the quarter, taking the yearly fall to 3.3%.
On the positive, the figures were better than expected. Most economists surveyed expected a 1% fall.
The fall has also slowed for the last quarter suggesting Kevin Rudd's economic stimulus package providing more generous grants is having an effect. However, unless Rudd can continue to offer them indefinitely, it will appear as just a blip in a falling market.
» 6416.0 – House Price Indexes: Eight Capital Cities, Dec 2008 – ABS, 2nd February 2009.
» House prices fall for third consecutive quarter: ABS – The Australian, 2nd February 2009.
Posted in ABS House Price Indices, Australian Economy | 1 Comment »


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Stanford Looks To Make Maples Imposing
May 4, 2010
By Jake Curtis
Special to NCAA.com
The two letters "AL" that Stanford players wear on their jerseys tell the story of the Cardinal's improbable rise from the depths of college volleyball to its present status as the No. 1 seed in the NCAA men's volleyball tournament, which begins Thursday on the Stanford campus and will be televised on ESPN2 and ESPNU.
"What a great story that team has," said Pete Hanson, coach of No. 4 seeded Ohio State, which will play Stanford in a semifinal at 8 p.m. PT. "Three years ago, they were the worst team in the conference."
By contrast, Ohio State (22-7) and No. 3 seed Penn State (23-7) have been regulars in the four-team NCAA championship. No. 2 seed Cal State Northridge (23-9), which will face Penn State in the first semifinal (6 p.m. PT) is a relative newcomer to the event, but has not risen as far as Stanford (22-6).
Three years ago, Stanford was 3-25 and had hit rock bottom.
"It was very demoralizing and frustrating," said Stanford's All-American setter Kawika Shoji, a freshman in 2007. "It took its toll."
It was after that demoralizing season that long-time Stanford assistant coach Al Roderigues made the proclamation the team would embody for the next three seasons: "Worst to first."
The team improved as talented recruits were added to maturing players, and two years ago, Stanford officials decided it was time to bid to host the 2010 NCAA tournament.
"We knew we were going to be pretty good, but we didn't know how good," said Stanford coach John Kosty, whose first season as the Cardinal's head coach was that disastrous 2007 season. "But we figured if we were ever going to bring the NCAAs to northern California and if there was ever a chance we could be in it, this was going to be one of those times."
It was a perfect convergence for Stanford, which will host the NCAA tournament for the first time. Unfortunately, Roderigues had to watch from a hospital bed as the Cardinal made his mantra a reality, climbing to No. 1 in the American Volleyball Coaches rankings by midseason.
His 16-month battle with stomach cancer ended on March 19, but the Cardinal has stayed atop the rankings and Roderigues continues to be honored by the team.
Players say they wear Al Roderigues' first name on the shoulder of their jerseys to commemorate his spirit and optimism, not to mention his prescience. And the home floor and colorful Stanford student section may help the Cardinal's bid to make Roderigues' prediction a reality.
"It is absolutely an advantage," Shoji said of the home crowd. "I don't know any other place that has the repertoire of costumes."
The Stanford student section is known for its wild attire. Fans dress up as bowling pins, vegetables and Pac-Man, to name a few. They helped Stanford gain the conference's automatic berth when it beat Cal State Northridge, 3-0, in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation championship game on May 1.
Northridge showed enough to earn the lone at-large berth in the four-team tournament.
Ohio State earned its spot by beating Loyola-Illinois, 3-2, in the title match of the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association, and Penn State defeated Princeton, 3-0, in the finals of the Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association.
The NCAA tournament is old hat for the Nittany Lions, who earned a berth in the national semifinals for 12th consecutive year and for the 25th time overall. Penn State has a few players left from the 2008 team that won a national championship, including first-team All-American middle blocker Max Lipsitz, a senior who leads the nation with a .526 hitting percentage.
They will face a stiff challenge from Cal State Northridge, which won two of its three matches against Stanford this season. Both Stanford and Northridge play in the tough MPSF, which features the top nine teams in the most recent AVCA national rankings.
The Matadors' best national showing was in 1993, when they were NCAA runners-up, but they have a realistic chance for their first national title this season. Two Matador middle blockers – Kevin McKniff and Jacek Ratajczak – were named first-team All-Americans, and the 7-foot-2 Ratajczak is particularly imposing. They could be headed for a fourth match with Stanford, if both advance to Saturday's championship.
Ohio State is making its third straight appearance in the NCAA semifinals, but the Buckeyes have never won a national title and made it to the finals just once, in 2000. They depend on setter Steven Kehoe, the conference player of the year, and Shawn Sangrey, who ranks seventh nationally in kills per game at 4.75.
But the Buckeyes will be underdogs playing on the road against Stanford, which features three-first-team All-Americans – setter Shoji, his brother, sophomore libero Erik Shoji, and sophomore outside hitter Brad Lawson, who was named PMVF player of the year and is fourth nationally in kills per game at 4.84.
All three are from Hawaii, and Kawika Shoji notices the similarities between this Stanford team and the 1997 Cardinal, which captured Stanford's only national title. That team was also led by a setter (Stewart Chong) and outside hitter (Mike Lambert) from Hawaii.
Shoji is hoping that is an omen that Stanford can complete the journey from worst to first, just as Al Roderigues had predicted.


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In District 11, Ken Burnley is finally getting out of Dodge. Supple, competent and not exactly guileless, Burnley withstood dozens of challenges to his authority over the last 15 years. Almost at any time during his tenure, he could have chosen to take over a big-city district like Detroit's. He refused a dozen offers simply because D-11, with all its problems, is infinitely more manageable than, say, Detroit.
But given the public's evident disenchantment with his administration, it's clearly time to go.
Give Ken credit; the manner of his departure -- taking a bigger job for twice the money -- will be extraordinarily helpful to the district that he served for so many years.
And who would be the ideal successor to Ken, who leaves some pretty big shoes to fill? How about someone in their early 40s, from somewhere else (and therefore not tainted by this administration's credibility problems), a person of color, and a woman? Preferably, she would have advised George W. on education reform in Texas, and be a registered Democrat and former elementary school teacher as well.
Sound like an impossible list of attributes? It is -- that's why it's so hard to fill a job as thankless and difficult as that of D-11's superintendent.
Meanwhile, over at city hall, the ever-eccentric city manager, control freak extraordinaire Jim Mullen, may have stepped in doo-doo too deep for even Mayor Mary Lou to wipe off his shoes. First, in an inexplicable display of pique, he throws community activist and probable future City Council member Sallie Clark out of a media briefing. Not only did Mullen potentially violate state and city laws and ordinances regarding open meetings, he did so disrespectfully and deliberately: "You're not welcome here. ... You have to leave."
Since the mayor and several Council members both dislike and fear Sallie, Mullen probably thought it was safe to give her a kick in the butt.
But his latest maneuver, suppressing (even from Council!) the results of a $157,000 consultant's study of the impact of racism, sexism, homophobia, et al., upon the city workforce, just may make even the most somnolent members of Council take action.
In the interests of preserving harmony, building consensus and looking good to the voters, Council has cut Mullen a lot of slack over the past few years. Remember the $2.6 million the city blew on computer fixes that didn't work? The loony media policy designed to let the city operate in secret? Mullen's vitriolic remarks directed to his boss, Councilman Bill Guman? The cable TV franchise agreement that isn't? Past city managers have been canned for a lot less.
In the Tarot, the queen of spades is death. And in city politics, once the race card is played, someone's going down. The last time it appeared, then-city manager Dick Zickefoose quit, negotiated a fat severance payment, jumped in his RV and took off for parts unknown. Will history repeat itself? We'll see.
And as primary time approaches, we may be in for some fun. Will Chuck Brown be denied renomination for his seat on the County Commission by fierce campaigner Rich Brenner? Will Charlie Duke replace Lynn Hefley? Will Doug Bruce beat Ronnie May?
Think of it -- our new bosses might be Duncan Bremer in control of the County Commission and Duke and Bruce at the Statehouse -- the Duncster, the Dukester and the Dougster! Sounds good to me; I always liked the Three Stooges.
Meanwhile, having a morning cuppa joe at my favorite coffee shop, who should I see but my favorite Council member, deep in discussion with Economic Development Corporation boss Rocky Scott. He/she shot me an agonized glance, as if to say "Don't come over here and embarrass me!" I didn't, but it occurred to me that elected officials spend entirely too much time cultivating the movers and shakers. They need to be hanging out with regular people and taking time to learn things.
That's why it was disheartening to notice that not a single elected official attended James Howard Kuntsler's talk at Colorado College last Friday. Kuntsler is the author of The Geography of Nowhere. His subject? Urban design -- how we got into our present mess and how we can get out of it.
He's persuasive, funny, direct and biting. And even though the power structure was elsewhere, there were a hundred bright and attentive college kids hanging on his every word.
If we're lucky, maybe a few of them will stay in town and eventually replace a stooge or two.