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Adding a secondary toolchain
In OpenEmbedded-Core there is an included toolchain that is built up of GNU binutils, gcc, and eglibc. In addition related components such as gdb, cross-prelink, mklibs and others provider additional toolchain functionality. In this document we focus on explaining best practices for including an additional toolchain that is capable of assembling, compiling and linking code. This document does not cover replacing the existing toolchain or toolchain components with external elements.
Many companies have commercial / highly optimized toolchains for specific purposes, such as ICC from Intel, LLVM, ARM Ltd toolchains, etc.. In some cases, these highly optimized toolchains may result in better performance for some applications, however they are often not generally applicable as they can not compile all of the system software. So instead of replacing the included GNU toolchain, a mechanism for providing an alternative/secondary toolchain is desired.
Secondary Toolchains should be implemented in a layer
In order to facilitate re-use and make it easier to completely disable the secondary toolchain, a layer must be used to implement the secondary toolchain.
Secondary Toolchain must be generally compatible with GNU toolchain
The secondary toolchain must be generally compatible with the idea of sysroots, linking to the defined libc, and various GNU conventions. This compatibility may be implemented directly by the secondary toolchain or via a wrapper of some type.
Per recipe selection of toolchain usage
A mechanism is needed to activate this alternative toolchain on a per-recipe basis. Using variables it should be possible to specify on a per-recipe basis which toolchain should be used, leaving the default up to the user. (It's assumed if the user does not select a default, the system GNU toolchain will be defaulted.)
Even with the requirement to be generally compatible, we can not expect all of the possible recipes to build properly with the secondary toolchain. As a consequence of this, it will be necessary to implement a blacklist (or whitelist) of specific recipes that are known to work. This way only supported components can be build by the user, avoid numerous complaints and unresolvable defects.
The SDK generated by OpenEmbedded-Core also includes the included toolchain components. It would be useful to also provide support for the secondary toolchain within the SDK environment.
Bitbake variables
A set of common bitbake variables, defined in meta/conf/bitbake.conf, are used to define how to run the toolchain components and the proper arguments.
A number of key items may need to be changed, depending on the toolchain being provided. These items may include:
Each of the above items has a default definition within the meta/conf/bitbake.conf file. In addition, many of the components are based on specific tune variables such as:
Deciding which items need to be overridden is up to the author of the layer. It is expected that only a subset of the above referenced variables will need secondary toolchain specific versions for most implementations.
It is suggested that the secondary toolchain values be defined in a single configuration file. Within the example this is "conf/tc-example.conf". The standard name for the file should be 'conf/tc-<toolchain>.conf'.
In order to allow for the layer to selectively override the variables listed above, a standard override syntax is needed.
The standard override syntax will be 'toolchain-${TOOLCHAIN}'. This will allow us to specify multiple alternative and primary toolchain combinations as necessary.
Each of the toolchain related variables can then be overridden using the standard override syntax: _toolchain-<toolchain>, such as:
CC_toolchain-icc = "icc ${HOST_CC_ARCH}${TOOLCHAIN_OPTIONS}"
In order for an individual recipe to use the secondary toolchain, the user would define: TOOLCHAIN_pn-<recipe> = 'toolchain', such as:
TOOLCHAIN_pn-bash = "icc"
The OVERRIDE is implemented in the tc-secondary.bbclass in the example.
A standard blacklist/whitelist facility is to be implemented. This facility is independent of the existing blacklist class that is part of OpenEmbedded-Core.
Similar to the existing blacklist class, you will be able to define a blacklist, per toolchain type, such as:
TCBLACKLIST[pn] = "toolchain"
or alternatively create a whitelist facility using:
TCBLACKLIST = "toolchain" TCWHITELIST[pn] = "toolchain"
Using the second approach will allow you to blacklist all recipes, and only enable those known to work with the alternative toolchain.
The blacklist items should be defined within conf/tc-<toolchain>-blacklist.conf. The validation of the blacklist should use the standard tc-blacklist.bbclass implementation available within the example.
In order to make it easier to use the alternative toolchain within the SDK. An additional environment-* file should be created. The purpose of this file is to simply override the settings in the main environment file.
See the example section for an implementation that will create this file automatically.
Implementation Example
An example implementation has been created in the layer "meta-tc-example". The file format follows:
meta-tc-example/ meta-tc-example/bin meta-tc-example/bin/example-toolchain meta-tc-example/conf meta-tc-example/conf/layer.conf meta-tc-example/conf/tc-example.conf meta-tc-example/conf/tc-example-blacklist.conf meta-tc-example/classes meta-tc-example/classes/tc-secondary.bbclass meta-tc-example/classes/tc-blacklist.bbclass
The following example is available at: meta-tc-example.tar.bz2
# We have a conf and classes directory, append to BBPATH BBPATH .= ":${LAYERDIR}" BBFILE_COLLECTIONS += "tc-example" # If we have a recipes directory, add to BBFILES #BBFILES += "${LAYERDIR}/recipes-*/*/*.bb ${LAYERDIR}/*/recipes-*/*/*.bbappend" #BBFILE_COLLECTIONS += "tc-example" #BBFILE_PATTERN_tc-example := "^${LAYERDIR}/" #BBFILE_PRIORITY_tc-example = "5"
Above is standard layer configuration. Note, the commented out sections should be re-enabled if the secondary toolchain includes recipes and/or bbappend files.
PATH := "${PATH}:${LAYERDIR}/bin"
Add to the path a standard system path, a layer specific path. This is the way you can add a secondary toolchain to the path.
# Define the alternative toolchain SECONDARYTC = 'example' # Enable the secondary toolchain INHERIT += 'tc-secondary tc-blacklist'
Define the alternative toolchain name in SECONDARYTC. The inherit causes the tc-secondary.bbclass and tc-blacklist.bbclass to be loaded later. Eventually this class used SECONDARYTC to load in the secondary toolchain configuration files.
# Define default system toolchain (default to built-in) TOOLCHAIN = 'gnu'
Define a reasonable default such as gnu. The purpose of this default is to allow someone to specify the default or provide default override items for the built-in toolchain.
# Define a secondary toolchain called 'example' # the 'example' toolchain can be activated using: # # Per package (preferred): # TOOLCHAIN_pn-bash = 'example' # # Globally: # TOOLCHAIN = 'example' # TOOLCHAIN_pn-eglibc = 'gnu'
The above is an example of how to use the alternative toolchain.
# When the secondary toolchain is used, we add an automatic depend... DEPENDS_append_toolchain-example = " virtual/TOOLCHAIN-EXAMPLE" # ...the depend can be provided by a recipe or as an ASSUME_PROVIDED ASSUME_PROVIDED_append = " virtual/TOOLCHAIN-EXAMPLE"
Use the above as an example on how to add additional dependencies to specific packages. This can be used to trigger a recipe to build.
# Default values from bitbake.conf... # Variables with a '*' are things likely to need to be overridden: # # FULL_OPTIMIZATION = "-O2 -pipe ${DEBUG_FLAGS}" # DEBUG_OPTIMIZATION = "-O -fno-omit-frame-pointer ${DEBUG_FLAGS} -pipe" # SELECTED_OPTIMIZATION = "${@d.getVar(['FULL_OPTIMIZATION', 'DEBUG_OPTIMIZATION'][d.getVar('DEBUG_BUILD', True) == '1'], True)}" # # * TOOLCHAIN_OPTIONS = " --sysroot=${STAGING_DIR_TARGET}" # # * TARGET_CPPFLAGS = "" # * TARGET_CFLAGS = "${TARGET_CPPFLAGS} ${SELECTED_OPTIMIZATION}" # * TARGET CXXFLAGS = "${TARGET_CFLAGS} -fpermissive" # * TARGET_LDFLAGS = "-Wl,-O1 ${TARGET_LINK_HASH_STYLE}" # # TARGET_CC_ARCH = "${TUNE_CCARGS}" # TARGET_LD_ARCH = "${TUNE_LDARGS}" # TARGET_AS_ARCH = "${TUNE_ASARGS}" # # HOST_CC_ARCH = "${TARGET_CC_ARCH}" # HOST_LD_ARCH = "${TARGET_LD_ARCH}" # HOST_AS_ARCH = "${TARGET_AS_ARCH}" # # * CC = "${CCACHE}${HOST_PREFIX}gcc ${HOST_CC_ARCH}${TOOLCHAIN_OPTIONS}" # * CXX = "${CCACHE}${HOST_PREFIX}g++ ${HOST_CC_ARCH}${TOOLCHAIN_OPTIONS}" # * F77 = "${CCACHE}${HOST_PREFIX}g77 ${HOST_CC_ARCH}${TOOLCHAIN_OPTIONS}" # * CPP = "${HOST_PREFIX}gcc -E${TOOLCHAIN_OPTIONS} ${HOST_CC_ARCH}" # * LD = "${HOST_PREFIX}ld${TOOLCHAIN_OPTIONS} ${HOST_LD_ARCH}" # * CCLD = "${CC}" # AR = "${HOST_PREFIX}ar" # AS = "${HOST_PREFIX}as ${HOST_AS_ARCH}" # RANLIB = "${HOST_PREFIX}ranlib" # STRIP = "${HOST_PREFIX}strip" # OBJCOPY = "${HOST_PREFIX}objcopy" # OBJDUMP = "${HOST_PREFIX}objdump" # NM = "${HOST_PREFIX}nm" # Override values: CC_toolchain-example = "example-toolchain ${HOST_PREFIX}gcc ${HOST_CC_ARCH}${TOOLCHAIN_OPTIONS}" CXX_toolchain-example = "example-toolchain ${HOST_PREFIX}g++ ${HOST_CC_ARCH}${TOOLCHAIN_OPTIONS}" CPP_toolchain-example = "example-toolchain ${HOST_PREFIX}gcc -E${TOOLCHAIN_OPTIONS} ${HOST_CC_ARCH}" LD_toolchain-example = "example-toolchain ${HOST_PREFIX}ld${TOOLCHAIN_OPTIONS} ${HOST_LD_ARCH}"
The above implements the necessary overrides for the example toolchain.
Example configuration file that enables the blacklist and defines the defaults.
# Blacklist certain items... TCBLACKLIST[eglibc] = 'example' TCBLACKLIST[bash] = 'example' # # or # # Switch to a global blacklist and whitelist situation... # TCBLACKLIST = 'example' # TCWHITELIST[bash] = 'example'
This is the standard secondary toolchain class. It should be the same in all secondary toolchain layers.
# In order to add overrides, we need to do it later then in the layers.conf # the only standard way is using an inherit, which requires a bbclass # Add the necessary override TOOLCHAINOVERRIDES = ":toolchain-${TOOLCHAIN}" TOOLCHAINOVERRIDES[vardepsexclude] = "TOOLCHAIN" OVERRIDES .= "${TOOLCHAINOVERRIDES}" OVERRIDES[vardepsexclude] += "TOOLCHAINOVERRIDES" require conf/tc-${SECONDARYTC}.conf
The above code configures the basic overrides and loads the configuration file. There is one limitation to the above however. It will only load one secondary toolchain. A simple way around this is to rename the inherit and change to using something other then SECONDARYTC. This likely will not be a problem.
toolchain_create_sdk_env_script_alt () { set -x # Create environment setup script (secondary toolchain) orig_script=${1:-${SDK_OUTPUT}/${SDKPATH}/environment-setup-${REAL_MULTIMACH_TARGET_SYS}} script="$orig_script""-${SECONDARYTC}" rm -f $script touch $script echo ". $orig_script" | sed -e "s:${SDK_OUTPUT}::" >> $script if [ '${CC_toolchain-${SECONDARYTC}}' != '${''CC_toolchain-${SECONDARYTC}}' ]; then echo 'export CC="${CC_toolchain-${SECONDARYTC}}"' >> $script fi if [ '${CXX_toolchain-${SECONDARYTC}}' != '${''CXX_toolchain-${SECONDARYTC}}' ]; then echo 'export CXX="${CXX_toolchain-${SECONDARYTC}}"' >> $script fi if [ '${CPP_toolchain-${SECONDARYTC}}' != '${''CPP_toolchain-${SECONDARYTC}}' ]; then echo 'export CPP="${CPP_toolchain-${SECONDARYTC}}"' >> $script fi if [ '${AS_toolchain-${SECONDARYTC}}' != '${''AS_toolchain-${SECONDARYTC}}' ]; then echo 'export AS="${AS_toolchain-${SECONDARYTC}}"' >> $script fi if [ '${LD_toolchain-${SECONDARYTC}}' != '${''LD_toolchain-${SECONDARYTC}}' ]; then echo 'export LD="${LD_toolchain-${SECONDARYTC}}"' >> $script fi if [ '${RANLIB_toolchain-${SECONDARYTC}}' != '${''RANLIB_toolchain-${SECONDARYTC}}' ]; then echo 'export RANLIB="${RANLIB_toolchain-${SECONDARYTC}}"' >> $script fi if [ '${STRIP_toolchain-${SECONDARYTC}}' != '${''STRIP_toolchain-${SECONDARYTC}}' ]; then echo 'export STRIP="${STRIP_toolchain-${SECONDARYTC}}"' >> $script fi if [ '${OBJCOPY_toolchain-${SECONDARYTC}}' != '${''OBJCOPY_toolchain-${SECONDARYTC}}' ]; then echo 'export OBJCOPY="${OBJCOPY_toolchain-${SECONDARYTC}}"' >> $script fi if [ '${OBJDUMP_toolchain-${SECONDARYTC}}' != '${''OBJDUMP_toolchain-${SECONDARYTC}}' ]; then echo 'export OBJDUMP="${OBJDUMP_toolchain-${SECONDARYTC}}"' >> $script fi if [ '${NM_toolchain-${SECONDARYTC}}' != '${''NM_toolchain-${SECONDARYTC}}' ]; then echo 'export NM="${NM_toolchain-${SECONDARYTC}}"' >> $script fi if [ '${CFLAGS_toolchain-${SECONDARYTC}}' != '${''CFLAGS_toolchain-${SECONDARYTC}}' ]; then echo 'export CFLAGS="${CFLAGS_toolchain-${SECONDARYTC}}"' >> $script fi if [ '${CXXFLAGS_toolchain-${SECONDARYTC}}' != '${''CXXFLAGS_toolchain-${SECONDARYTC}}' ]; then echo 'export CXXFLAGS="${CXXFLAGS_toolchain-${SECONDARYTC}}"' >> $script fi if [ '${LDFLAGS_toolchain-${SECONDARYTC}}' != '${''LDFLAGS_toolchain-${SECONDARYTC}}' ]; then echo 'export LDFLAGS="${LDFLAGS_toolchain-${SECONDARYTC}}"' >> $script fi if [ '${CPPFLAGS_toolchain-${SECONDARYTC}}' != '${''CPPFLAGS_toolchain-${SECONDARYTC}}' ]; then echo 'export CPPFLAGS="${CPPFLAGS_toolchain-${SECONDARYTC}}"' >> $script fi # Fixup any sysroot references sed -i -e "s:${STAGING_DIR_TARGET}:${SDKTARGETSYSROOT}:g" $script # All environment scripts require OECORE_NATIVE_SYSROOT echo 'export OECORE_NATIVE_SYSROOT="${SDKPATHNATIVE}"' >> $script } populate_sdk_image_append() { toolchain_create_sdk_env_script_alt ${SDK_OUTPUT}/${SDKPATH}/environment-setup-${REAL_MULTIMACH_TARGET_SYS} }
The above code will add an additional environment-setup-*-<toolchain> file. This can be used to enable the right environment to use the alternative toolchain. Note, it does not add anything to the path so the user will still need to configure the path to the alternative toolchain. (The layer creator can always provide the necessary 'nativesdk' or similar package that provides the alternative toolchain as part of the SDK as well.)
This is the standard secondary toolchain blacklist class. It should be the same in all secondary toolchain layers.
# Implement blacklist/whitelist functionality for alternative toolchains # Based on the oe-core blacklist bclass # # To add a blacklisted package: # TCBLACKLIST[pn] = 'toolchain' # # To blacklist everything, and whitelist a package: # TCBLACKLIST = 'toolchain' # TCWHITELIST[pn] = 'toolchain' include conf/tc-${SECONDARYTC}-blacklist.conf python () { tc = d.getVar('TOOLCHAIN', True) pn = d.getVar('PN', True) blacklist = d.getVarFlag('TCBLACKLIST', pn, True) if blacklist and blacklist == tc: raise bb.parse.SkipPackage("Recipe '%s' is blacklisted for the '%s' toolchain" % (pn, tc)) blacklist = d.getVar('TCBLACKLIST', True) whitelist = d.getVarFlag('TCWHITELIST', pn, True) if blacklist and (not whitelist or whitelist != tc): raise bb.parse.SkipPackage("Recipe '%s' is blacklisted for the '%s' toolchain" % (pn, tc)) }
Further comments and information
For questions, comments or bug reports please contact the author at markDOThatleATwindriverDOTcom, also be sure to CC the openembedded-devel mailing list.

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BANKS Between 1940 and 1959, central banking business was the responsibility of the Commonwealth Bank. The Reserve Bank Act 1959 (Cwlth) established the Reserve Bank of Australia as the central bank, and from 1959 to 1998 the Reserve Bank was responsible for the supervision of commercial banks. From 1 July 1998, APRA assumed responsibility for bank supervision while the Reserve Bank retained responsibility for monetary policy and the maintenance of financial stability, including stability of the payments system. Banks are the largest deposit-taking and financial institutions in Australia. At the end of June 2005 there were 51 banks operating in Australia. All are authorised to operate by the Banking Act 1959 (Cwlth). Four major banks: the Australia and New Zealand Banking Group, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, National Australia Bank, and the Westpac Banking Corporation, account for over half the total assets of all banks. These four banks provide widespread banking services and an extensive retail branch network throughout Australia. The remaining banks provide similar banking services through limited branch networks often located in particular regions. At 30 June 2005, banking services were provided at 3,191 giroPost locations and 24,173 Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs) throughout Australia (table 26.36). The liabilities and financial assets of the Reserve Bank are set out in table 26.3. The liabilities and financial assets of the banks operating in Australia are shown in table 26.4.
OTHER DEPOSITORY CORPORATIONS In addition to banks, financial institutions such as building societies, credit unions and merchant banks play an important part in the Australian financial system. In the Australian financial accounts, other depository corporations are defined as those, apart from banks, with liabilities included in the Reserve Bank's definition of broad money. Non-bank institutions included in broad money are other authorised depository institutions (building societies and credit cooperatives), cash management trusts, and corporations registered under the Financial Statistics (Collection of Data) Act 2001 (Cwlth) which include money market corporations and finance companies. The Financial Corporations Act 1974 (Cwlth) ceased on 1 July 2002. Corporations previously subject to the Financial Corporations Act 1974 (Cwlth) were then required to report to APRA as Registered Financial Corporations. From 31 March 2003 the number of categories of other depository corporations reduced to five following changes to the Financial Statistics (Collection of Data) Act 2001 (Cwlth). Permanent building societies are usually organised as financial cooperatives. They are authorised to accept money on deposit. They provide finance principally in the form of housing loans to their members. Credit cooperatives, also known as credit unions, are similar to building societies. As their name implies, they are organised as financial cooperatives which borrow from and provide finance to their members. Money market corporations are similar to wholesale banks and for this reason they are often referred to as merchant or investment banks. They have substantial short-term borrowings which they use to fund business loans and investments in debt securities. Other registered financial corporations. This category covers what were pastoral finance companies, finance companies and general financiers categories. These corporations engage in a variety of borrowing and lending activity. Cash management trusts are investment funds which are open to the public. They invest the pooled monies of their unit holders mainly in money-market securities such as bills of exchange and bank certificates of deposit. As with other public unit trusts their operations are governed by a trust deed and their units are redeemable by the trustee on demand or within a short time. They are not subject to supervision by APRA or registered under the Financial Statistics (Collection of Data) Act 2001 (Cwlth). Table 26.5 shows the total assets of each category of non-bank deposit-taking institution.
LIFE INSURANCE CORPORATIONS Life insurance corporations offer termination insurance and investment policies. Termination insurance includes the payment of a sum of money on the death of the insured or on the insured receiving a permanent disability. Investment products include annuities and superannuation plans. The life insurance industry in Australia consists of 37 direct insurers, including six reinsurers. As with the banking industry, the life insurance industry is dominated by a few very large companies holding a majority of the industry's assets. Life insurance companies are supervised by the APRA under the Life Insurance Act 1995 (Cwlth). APRA also regulates friendly societies which offer services similar to life insurance corporations. Table 26.6 shows the financial assets and liabilities arising from both policyholder and shareholder investment in life insurance corporations and APRA regulated friendly societies.
PENSION FUNDS Pension funds have been established to provide retirement benefits for their members. Members make contributions during their employment and receive the benefits of this form of saving in retirement. There are two basic types of contribution - employer contributions in the form of the superannuation guarantee and voluntary contributions. In order to receive concessional taxation treatment, a pension fund must elect to be regulated under the Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993 (Cwlth) (SIS Act). These funds are supervised by either APRA or the ATO. Public sector funds, being funds sponsored by a government employer or government controlled business enterprise, are exempt from direct APRA supervision. The largest number of pension funds comprise self-managed superannuation funds. From 1 July 2000 the ATO assumed responsibility for regulating self-managed superannuation funds. Self-managed superannuation funds are superannuation funds that have less than five members and for which:
Corporate funds are funds sponsored by a single non-government employer, or group of employers. Industry funds generally have closed memberships restricted to the employees of a particular industry and are established under an agreement between the parties to an industrial award. Public sector funds are those funds sponsored by a public sector employer. Retail funds are pooled superannuation products sold through an intermediary to the general public. Funds with less than five members, but which do not qualify as self-managed superannuation funds, are known as small APRA funds. In addition to separately constituted funds, the SIS Act also provides for special accounts operated by financial institutions earmarked for superannuation contributions, known as Retirement Savings Accounts, that also qualify for concessional taxation under the supervision of APRA. The liabilities represented by these accounts are liabilities of the institutions concerned and are included with the relevant institution in this chapter (e.g. retirement savings accounts operated by banks are included in bank deposits in table 26.4). The number of pension funds is shown in table 26.7. The assets of pension funds are shown in table 26.8 and include unfunded pension claims by pension funds on the Australian Government where these have been formally recognised in accounting systems. The assets in the table do not include any provision for the pension liabilities of governments to public sector employees in respect of unfunded retirement benefits. At 30 June 2005 the ABS estimate for claims by households on governments for these outstanding liabilities was $147.7b.
OTHER INSURANCE CORPORATIONS This sector includes all corporations that provide insurance other than life insurance. Included are general, fire, accident, employer liability, household, health and consumer credit insurers. Private health insurers are regulated by the Private Health Insurance Administration Council under the National Health Act 1959 (Cwlth). At 30 June 2005 there were 40 private health insurers, including health benefit funds of friendly societies. Other private insurers are supervised by APRA under the Insurance Act 1973 (Cwlth). At 30 June 2004 there were 106 insurers authorised to conduct new or renewal general insurance supervised by APRA. There are ten separately constituted public sector insurance corporations with significant assets. Table 26.9 sets out the financial assets and liabilities of other insurance corporations at 30 June 2005 and the preceding two years.
CENTRAL BORROWING AUTHORITIES Central borrowing authorities are institutions established by the state governments and the Northern Territory Government primarily to provide finance for public corporations and quasi-corporations, and other units owned or controlled by those governments. They also arrange investment of the units' surplus funds. The central borrowing authorities borrow funds, mainly by issuing securities, and on-lend them to their public sector clientele. However, they also engage in other financial intermediation activity for investment purposes, and may engage in the financial management activities of the parent government. Table 26.10 shows the financial assets and liabilities held by the central borrowing authorities at 30 June of the most recent three years.
FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES NOT ELSEWHERE CLASSIFIED (n.e.c.) This subsector comprises all institutions that meet the definition of a financial enterprise and have not been included elsewhere. It includes: Common funds - are set up by trustee companies and are governed by state Trustee Acts. They allow the trustee companies to combine depositors' funds and other funds held in trust in an investment pool. They are categorised according to the main types of assets in the pool, for example, cash funds or equity funds. At 30 June 2005 eight trustee companies reported assets and liabilities data on behalf of a number of common funds included in this subsector. Public unit trusts - are investment funds open to the Australian public. Their operations are governed by a trust deed which is administered by a management company. Under the Managed Investments Act 1997 (Cwlth), the management company has become the single responsible entity for both investment strategy and custodial arrangements; the latter previously had been the responsibility of a trustee. These trusts allow their unit holders to dispose of their units relatively quickly. They may sell them back to the manager if the trust is unlisted, or sell them on the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX) if the trust is listed. Public unit trusts are categorised according to the main types of assets in the pool; for example, property or equity. Only those which invest primarily in financial assets - mortgages, fixed interest, futures or equity securities - are included here. At 30 June 2005 there were 612 unit trusts (of which 491 were equity trusts) included in this subsector. While public unit trusts are not subject to supervision by APRA or registered under the Financial Statistics (Collection of Data) Act 2001 (Cwlth), they are subject to the provisions of corporations law which includes having their prospectus registered with ASIC. Securitisers - issue short- and/or long-term debt securities which are backed by specific assets. The most common assets bought by securitisation trusts/companies are residential mortgages. These mortgages are originated by financial institutions such as banks and building societies or specialist mortgage managers. Other assets can also be used to back these securities, such as credit card receivables and financial leases. Securitisers generally pool the assets and use the income on them to pay interest to the holders of the asset-backed securities. At 30 June 2005 there were 144 securitisation vehicles included in this sub-sector. Cooperative housing societies - are similar to permanent building societies. In the past they were wound up after a set period, but now they too are continuing bodies. They raise money through loans from members (rather than deposits) and provide finance to members in the form of housing loans. Over recent years many cooperative housing societies have originated mortgages on behalf of securitisers. At 30 June 2005 there were 253 cooperative housing societies. Investment companies - are similar to equity trusts in that they invest in the shares of other companies. However, investors in investment companies hold share assets, not unit assets. Fund managers, insurance brokers and arrangers of hedging instruments - are classified as financial auxiliaries as they engage primarily in activities closely related to financial intermediation, but they themselves do not perform an intermediation role. Auxiliaries primarily act as agents for their clients (usually other financial entities) on a fee-for-service basis, and as such the financial asset remains on the balance sheet of the client, not the auxiliary. However, a small portion of the activities of auxiliaries is brought to account on their own balance sheet, and these amounts are included in table 26.11. At 30 June 2005 there were 65 fee-for-service fund managers. Economic development corporations - are owned by governments. As their name implies, these bodies are expected to finance infrastructure developments mainly in their home state or territory. Wholesale trusts - are investment funds that are only open to institutional investors - life insurance corporations, superannuation funds, retail trusts, corporate clients, high net worth individuals - due to high entry levels (e.g. $500,000 or above). They may issue a prospectus, but more commonly issue an information memorandum. Only those which invest in financial assets are included here.


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Best of 2013: Top TV moments of the year
When Harmon was fired, Happy Endings' David Guarascio and Moses Port were recruited to keep the sinking ship afloat. Replacing Harmon was a thankless job, but Jim Rash, who plays the flamboyant Dean Pelton, applauded their attempt to pick up where Harmon left off, even if they weren't quite able to reproduce his complex Harmon-ian logic. "Without somebody who has this sort of approach to make it so dense and deep with layers, it's difficult. It's a Herculean task that I certainly wouldn't want to take on. But I think we did our best, you know?" Rash said.
Community is a show that has lived on the bubble since it's inception in 2009. Now only one season away from its #sixseasonsandamovie goal, it'd be a shame for the series to limp to the finish line only to realize no one was left cheering them on. So while Rash and McHale understand fans' skepticism going into Season 5, it's comforting that they could barely contain their praise for the new episodes. "I think that this whole year was just sort of — it felt like a gift," Rash told reporters. "It felt like you were being handed material that was just, I would argue, some of the best of all the seasons. And I feel like the growth of this year for all the characters and for Community in general is pretty paramount. We really went very far as far as hitting big sort of epic episodes, but also really paying homage to these characters that we started with five years ago."
While Season 4 saw Guarascio and Port attempting to broaden the appeal of Community, Harmon's return reinstated the series as the carefully crafted niche comedy it once was. But cult appeal was never Harmon's intention. "Believe it or not, everything I ever put my name on is my 100 percent attempt to entertain everybody on the planet as possible," Harmon tells TVGuide.com. "I'm well aware that certain things will play for certain audiences more as I'm making them, but I never think in my head, 'Oh, I'm gonna make something that alienates my mother because I want to make 15-year-olds happy. I really try as hard as I can to entertain myself."
But while Harmon's exile and shocking return to Community became all anyone could talk about regarding Community, McHale says the priorities will soon shift back to the work itself. "When the material's so good you kind of forget about that stuff," he said. "And, you know, last year was kind of the crazy year, but now that Dan is back it's like the monarchy has been restored and things are as they should be. The sense of relief that I've had this year has been tremendous."
Even though Harmon is back at the helm, there are still changes ahead: The series is returning without Chevy Chase (Pierce) and with Donald Glover (Troy) only appearing in five of the season's 13 episodes. While fans are particularly bemoaning the loss of Glover, whose onscreen chemistry with Danny Pudi (Abed) is exactly what Tumblr is made for, McHale said the situation created "a wealth of great change" for the show. "I think it really speaks to the idea of the evolution of a series," he says. "The rules keep getting changed on us, but — which is very much like reality — people adjust."
To help combat the absence of two of the Greendale Seven, Community has enlisted an impressive roster of guest stars, including David Cross, Chris Elliott, Paul Williams, Gina Gershon, Brie Larson, and Jonathan Banks, who will appear regularly as Annie's criminology teacher, Professor Hickey. Though excessive guest stars could easily veer into stunt casting or overwhelm the series much in the same way gimmick themes derailed Season 4, Rash and McHale were quick to ease these worries. ""People start using guest stars to make up for storytelling. And all these guest stars only absolutely support and enhance it," McHale said. "I think it's the most creative guest stars of the last, I don't know, I'm going to go with the last 100 years of television."
While McHale might have exaggerated the last bit, judging by the first few episodes of the season, Harmon has found a way to organically weave in each of the new characters without it feeling desperate or contrived. Walton Goggins' appearance in Episode 4 is of particular note, as he plays a key role in what's sure to become one of Community's more emotional episodes yet.
With so many behind-the-scenes changes, the title of the fifth season premiere, "Repilot," had many people wondering just how different Community would be. Jumping forward in time to after everyone has graduated, the entire study group finds life to be far from what was expected, inspiring a new opportunity for a fresh start. "It'll be kind of getting back to basics," Harmon teased. With enough winking nods to the show's own mistakes ("When we met you were an eclectic anarchist. How did you become the group's airhead?" Jeff probes Britta), Community's premiere apologizes to fans for its uneven past and lays a hopeful track for the future. And while the cast shakeup and Jeff's new role does undoubtedly change the series' dynamic, Rash explained that the re-pilot is really about raising the stakes for the characters.
This is welcome news since Community, at its core, has always been character-driven. Even when the study group was singing their way through a stop-motion world or exploring the Darkest Timeline, it was motivated by a deeper emotional need surrounding the study group members' relationships with each other. The fourth season's biggest failure was its attempt to copy Harmon's use of surreal themes without the same emotional motivation. But with Community's creator back in charge, we can once again look forward to these episodes — including the much-anticipated Nic Cage tribute airing directly after the Season 5 premiere. This season will also feature takes on David Fincher, a Dungeons and Dragons follow-up and an homage to Logan's Run that might just take the show to another level.
"[It's] the most insane piece of television I've ever been a part of," McHale says. Who needs paintball?
Will you give Community another shot?
Community returns Jan. 2 at 8/7c on NBC.


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Chad Billingsley (0-0, -.--) vs. Big Z (0-0, -.--).
Comments: Oh, that crazy Nostradamus. I'm generally pretty wary of handing the floor over to him, as he can sometimes be a loose cannon. But he really insisted this time, and since he had good tidings to portend, I decided to let him have his say. Be warned though, he's been drinking pretty heavily and listening to The Beastie Boys almost constantly. But there you have it, straight from the mouth of everyone's favorite French prophet (who's apparently aligned with Anni-Frid) - Les Dodgers en quatre!


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UPDATED: Dec. 31, 2012, 7 p.m.
Hillary Clinton's doctors released a statement announcing that the Secretary of State experienced a blood clot "between the brain and the skull behind the right ear." In such cases, says Dr. Geoff Manley, professor of neurological surgery at the University of California, San Francisco, doctors turn to blood-thinning medications to ensure that blood flow out of the brain is not interrupted; such obstruction can cause permanent swelling and damage to brain tissue.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was hospitalized Sunday night for a blood clot that a State Department press release says is related to a concussion she suffered in early December. While the statement does not specify how life threatening the clot may be, the treatment she is receiving — blood-thinning drugs known as anticoagulants — provides some clues.
In general, following a concussion, during which the brain is rattled inside the skull, tiny blood vessels crisscrossing the surface of the brain can rupture and bleed, leading to clots as the body attempts to stem the flow of blood. Vessels that are nestled in the folds of brain tissue can also tear during a blow to the head and lead to clotting. But in both of these cases, says Dr. Lee Schwamm, vice chairman of the Department of Neurology and director of the Stroke Services at Massachusetts General Hospital, blood thinners would be the last treatment doctors would recommend since the drugs might increase the risk of additional bleeding and swelling in the brain.
That's not the case if the clot occurs in the space between the brain and the skull, says David Hovda, director of the UCLA Brain Injury Research Center. In those circumstances, doctors would be more concerned about ensuring that any clogged vessels are unobstructed so blood that has circulated through the brain and is on its way back to the heart is flowing freely. In older patients, this space is slightly more expansive than that among younger people since the brain tends to shrink gradually with age.
Schwamm, who has not treated Clinton but has treated patients with concussions and clots, says there are two other, relatively rare scenarios in which the concussion itself might lead to a need for blood thinners. Clinton apparently hit her head after a fall while dehydrated from a stomach virus, and if her head were twisted on impact, small tears, or dissections, might have shredded the arteries that feed blood to the brain, leading to clots. Blockages in these arteries can prevent the brain from receiving the oxygen-rich blood it needs, leading to a stroke, so doctors often use blood-thinning drugs to prevent clots from growing. The other possibility, Schwamm says, is that the clot formed in the veins that drain blood from the brain, so the danger of having that flow interrupted and backing up in the brain would also require treatment with anticoagulants.
But these types of clots are relatively rare, affecting less than 1 in 100,000 patients hospitalized for clot-related problems. More likely, says Schwamm, is that the concussion led more indirectly to the clot. Patients recovering from such a fall often stick to a period of bed rest and immobility that can trigger a clot outside of the brain. "If there is postconcussive syndrome, you have persistent headaches, dizziness, nausea and you feel poorly, so people end up lying in bed, which is a setup for a clot developing in the leg," says Schwamm.
Clinton apparently has a history of blood clots. She was treated for one that formed behind the right knee in 1998. Her extensive travel schedule — she is the most-traveled Secretary of State in U.S. history — may also put her at increased risk. Lengthy plane rides with limited mobility are known to increase the chances of clot formation, especially for those who may be predisposed to them, either due to their genetic makeup or medications they may be taking, such as oral contraceptives or hormone treatments that boost the risk of clots.
Clots that form anywhere in the body can be dangerous. After disintegrating, they send pieces of debris coursing through the circulatory system until they eventually reach small enough vessels, typically in the lungs, where they can block flow and cause an embolism. Depending on how large the clot is, the symptoms can range from shortness of breath to more severe pain in the chest.
That's why it's important for people who experience trauma to the head, including a fall, to seek immediate medical care, says Manley. "My prediction is that things are going be O.K. here [with Clinton]," he says. "But it's hard to predict. To me, this highlights two ongoing issues, which is that we haven't studied the problem of traumatic brain injury well enough to answer these questions. And people really need to be more aware of the seriousness of brain injury. We have made great progress with stroke, heart disease and cancer in making people aware that they need to seek out medical care. But they don't always seek care if they fall or slip and hit their head."
Blood-thinning drugs are the best treatment for counteracting the more serious consequences of clots since they essentially stop the blockages from getting any larger. That allows the body's own clot-busting mechanisms to liquefy the obstruction, dissolving it away over time. "Her chances of embolism if she is on an anticoagulant are very, very low," says Schwamm. "That treatment is quite effective." According to the State Department, doctors plan to monitor Clinton for another 48 hours in the hospital.


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1700-1799: New graphic forms
The 18th century witnessed, and participated in, the initial germination of the seeds of visualization which had been planted earlier. Map-makers began to try to show more than just geographical position on a map. As a results, new graphic forms (isolines and contours) were invented, and thematic mapping of physical quantities took root. Towards the end of this century, we see the first attempts at the thematic mapping of geologic, economic, and medical data.
Abstract graphs, and graphs of functions were introduced, along with the early beginnings of statistical theory (measurement error) and systematic collection of empirical data. As other (economic and political) data began to be collected, some novel visual forms were invented to portray them, so the data could "speak to the eyes".
As well, several technological innovations provided necessary nutrients. These facilitated the reproduction of data images (color printing, lithography), and other developments eased the task of creating them. Yet, most of these new graphic forms appeared in publications with limited circulation, unlikely to attract wide attention.
Contour maps showing curves of equal value (an isogonic map, lines of equal magnetic declination for the world, possibly the first contour map of a data-based variable)
Halley:1701 Abbott:1884First test of statistical significance based on deviation between observed data and a null hypothesis (used to show that the guiding hand of a devine being could be discerned in the nearly constant ratio of male to female births in London over 1629--1710)
Arbuthnot:1710 Bellhouse:1989Literal line graph, inspired by observation of nature (section of hyperbola, formed by capillary action of colored water between two glass plates)
Hauksbee:1712Experiments paving the way to the development of photography: Images obtained by action of light on a mixture of chalk, nitric acid, and silver salts
The normal distribution, derived as the limit of the binomial distribution
The normal distribution was first introduced by de Moivre in an article in 1733 (reprinted in the second edition of his The Doctrine of Chances, 1738). Laplacelater extended this in his book Analytical Theory of Probabilities.A further generalization, to the central limit theorem occurred later.
deMoivre:1733 deMoivre:1738 Laplace:1812Development of the use of polar coordinates for the representation of functions. Newton's Method of Fluxions was written about 1671, but not published until 1736. Jacob Bernoulli published a derivation of the idea in 1691 attributes the development of polar coordinates to Fontana, with no date.
1671 is probably too early; 1736--1755 would probably be more appropriate. There are earlier references to Hipparchus (190-120BC) regarding the use of polar coordinates in establishing stellar positions, and Abu Arrayhan Muhammad ibn Ahmad al-Biruni (1021) regarding the use of three rectangular coordinates to establish a point in space.
Smith:1925First use of the term "statistik.'' The word "statistics'' was first used by Zimmerman in 1787. (For the earlier use of "statist'', "statista'' and other terms, see cite{John:1883}.)
Achenwall:1748 Zimmerman:1787 Walker:1929Beginnings of the estimation of $m$ unknown quantities from $n$ emipirical equations (where $n > m$), taking account of the possibility of errors in the observations (later supplanted by the method of least squares)
Farebrother:1999 MarieBoscovich:1755 Mayer:1750Introduction of a notation which gives a name and address to every possible point in 3D space, $(x,y,z)$.
To find the true place of the body at each instant, one only needs to locate it at the same time in respect to the three fixed planes, each perpendicular to the others[p. 89].
Euler:1752"Carte chronologique'': An annotated timeline of history (from Creation) on a 54-foot scroll, including names and descriptive events, grouped thematically, with symbols denoting character (martyr, tyrant, heretic, noble, upright, etc.) and profession (painter, theologian, musician, monk, etc.)
Ferguson:1991 Wainer:1998Diagrams developed to represent color systems. In 1758, Mayer developed a system of constructing and naming many of the possible colours. Lambert extended this with a 3D pyramid indicating "depth'' (saturation).
Lambert wanted to extend the coverage of the system to include the concept of depth. He believed that the colour pyramid would be useful to textile merchants to decide if they stocked all the colours, and to dyers and printers as a source of inspiration.
Lambert:1772 Mayer:1758 Harris:1766Theory of measurement error as deviations from regular graphed line. (Lambert made the observation that "a diagram does incomparably better service here than a table.''cite[p. 204]{Tilling:1975}
Lambert:1765Historical timeline (life spans of 2,000 famous people, 1200 B.C. to 1750 A.D.), quantitative comparison by means of bars
Priestley:1765Repeated systematic application of graphical analysis (line graphs applied to empirical measurements)
Lambert was one of the first to use graphs to analyze experimental data, and to use graphical calculation, e.g., computing the slopes of curves to estimate rates of change.
Development of descriptive geometry, that leads to engineering drawing
Monge's work, Descriptive geometry, was the first consciously formulated exposition of the science of orthographic projection and descriptive geometry. Sylvestre Lacriux discovered the principles of projection independently about the same time as Monge. Jean Pierre Hackette added new material to Monge's descriptive geometry and published a book on this subject in 1822.
Taton:1950 Taton:1951Graphical analysis of periodic variation (in soil temperature), and the first semi-graphic display combining tabular and graphical formats
Lambert:1779 Hankins:1999Statistical map of production in Europe, possibly the first economic and thematic map (shows geographic distribution of 56 commodities produced in Europe)
Crome:1782Use of geometric, proportional figures (squares) to compare demographic quantities by superposition, an early "tableau graphique''
Fourcroy:1782 Palsky:1996Visualization of vibration patterns (by spreading a uniform layer of sand on a disk, and observing displacement when vibration is applied)
Chladni is known as the father of acoustics; he also invented the euphonium.
Chladni:1787Patenting and sale of printed graph paper, printed with a rectangular coordinate grid, attests to the growing use of Cartesian coordinates
Multi-number graphical calculation (proto-nomogram: contours applied to multiplication table, later rectified by Lalanne cite{Lalanne:1846})
Pouchet:1795Automatic recording of bivariate data (pressure vs. volume in steam engine) "Watt Indicator,'' (invention kept secret until 1822)
Invention of lithographic technique for printing of maps and diagrams ("At the time the effect of lithography ... was as great as has been the introduction [of the Xerox machine]'' cite[p. 57]{Robinson:1982}) (published in several translations, 1818--19)
Abbott:1884First maps of the incidence of disease (yellow fever), using dots and circles to show individual occurrences in waterfront areas of New York


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Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Dear Geraldine…
This is a response.
I woke up at 4 o'clock in the morning thinking about you, Geraldine.
I lay there listening to my sorta-beagles snore and wondered if you really think that Senator Obama is still in this race solely because he is a black man.
I don't know you, Geraldine, and I don't assume a person is decent simply because they hold a certain status in the Democratic Party and feminist history. This bitch has never met you, but I sure as shit know what it is like to have someone attribute my success to my being black.
It's the freakiest mind fuck out there to have someone treat what has been the source of oppression like it is the "it" benefit of 2008.
But you know that, don't you…Geraldine?
And it is a sadly powerful attack that dismisses all the hard work; the years spent biting your tongue, the ass whoopings you chose to hold back and the cussing outs that never happened even though not telling someone about themselves almost caused you physical pain.
Pause…sip water…continue.
"If Obama was a white man, he would not be in this position," Ferraro said. "And if he was a woman (of any color) he would not be in this position. He happens to be very lucky to be who he is. And the country is caught up in the concept."
Which I translate to mean that you, Geraldine, think Alan Keyes just had bad timing.
Let's get real, Geraldine. You don't give a flying shit whether you offend the hell out of some people as long as your message gets through to the right people. The kind of people who hear a quote like that and are thankful that someone said it…fucking cheer when they hear it then eagerly e-mail it to five friends…and can't believe you're catching hell for it.
Those people…
…who you need to fire up and are confident the tried and true fuel of 'gender trumps race' will get it done and bring in some money.
This trifling ass shit has left me unable to imagine a scenario where I cast the vote people risked their lives and died to achieve for me for a candidate who's campaign insults what I stand for and the principles I believe in.
Hey thanks.
This has been so fucking not nice.
And next time don't bother with the "and if he was a woman (of any color)" pander, okay?
I haven't been caught up in that unified sisterhood concept yet, honey...and your verbal malfunction didn't help with that shit one bit.
I'm not attacking you because you are white.
This is coming at you because you're wrong…
43 comments:
- Unknown said...
Amen. Just because she feels that she benefitted from tokenism back in the day does not mean that this is still the case. Yo, Geraldine - IT'S NOT FREAKING 1984. You've got a whole new generation of voters now who grew up during and after the major civil rights battles, and a bunch of Jim Crow-believing old folks have died off. Maybe, just maybe, we've grown up a bit as a nation??? Sheesh. I'm not a Reaganite in the slightest, but I'm just a teensy bit glad right now that she did not attain high office.
- Unknown said...
Thank you once again for your words.
I have struggled trying to find those words today as friends and co-workers wondered what I was sputtering about.
I am so stunned that Geraldine does not understand. I am shocked that friends don't get it.
I voted for her in the 1988 election, NOT because she had breasts like me, but because I thought she would have done a good job. How sad to know that I was better off without her. - 8:14 PM
I couldn't have said it better. She should be ashamed of herself. Part of me thinks she's still hurt over how bad she got spanked when it was her turn.
What's worse about this is that it won't stop. In a few more weeks, someone else from the Clinton campaign will walk this line again, and Senator Clinton will distance herself, and the message will get out anyway.
Here's an interesting quandary, Shark-fu. What's her next move? Does Senator Clinton think she'll be able to win back enough of the black folks and young people to beat McCain? If we as a community have to watch another (over?) qualified brother get torpedoed by an establishment player, we may not be willing to choose her for lack of a better choice. And these young folks can hold a grudge.
Defending with the reverse racism card is the rotten cherry on top of this vile sundae. Her comments were exactly what every Democrat has been afraid of. It's proof that the party may be shattered beyond repair, that defeat can still be savaged from the jaws of victory.
It's been a while since I've been this sad. - 8:16 PM
- Felipe Snark said...
Great response. Over at Politico they dug up a 1988 quote from Ferraro saying "If Jesse Jackson weren't black, he wouldn't be in the [presidential] race." Apparently it's nothing new for her.
you. are. f*&@in'. awesome.
thank you for saying so well EXACTLY what I was thinking. - 8:31 PM
Thank you for your on point words.
I sit here as stunned as I've ever been in my life.
(and that's saying something growing up in a somewhat scary part of Ohio.)
My father told me all I ever HAD to do in this life is stay black and die. Well--he was wrong.
It seems all I have to do is stay black, listen to a vile, bitter, hater spout racists bile and make sure it gets out to the wink, wink, nod, nod crowd, then die.
And there sits the the object of her supposedly protective rant saying---"I disagree . . . ." - 9:25 PM
Yep, HRC is playing her 'trump' card...get the hate message out, scare whitey, get the vote at any cost. Shaking head that it has to come to this! What I fear is that the voters will lose hope & walk away from all of the Dem mess & feel like their votes won't count to 'old establishment' ways..very sad.
- SagaciousHillbilly said...
I think it's obvious that Ms. Ferraro managed to slip away from her caregiver and find a microphone somewhere. Tsk, tsk, some home healthcare worker wasn't doing their job now, were they?
I am certain about one thing, Mr Obama will address this comment with class and insight and in the end he will get more votes because of how he handles all of these obstacles folks who are supposed to be on his side throw in his way.
He is overqualified and he will be able to bring even these nonbelievers into the fold. His comments will be clear, to the point, and yes, they will say fuck you but in a way that leaves them thinking wow, this guy is good. That is the problem with these folks, either they have watched him and said wow this guy is good and it has scared them to no end or they do not yet believe how truly impressive this individual is. Folks like him do not come along often. The Democrats are about to blow the chance of the century.
Just because Hillary's husband was in the whitehouse and she helped, because she did, this does not make her automatically more qualified for the job. Sometimes the most qualified person is the one who brings something different to the table. I think Mr. Obama's ability to bring people together and to be combative in a noncombative way, and get things done, is the "x" factor needed in this day and age. He seems to be a gifted listener as well as a gifted problem solver. I don't think amny presidents have had this quality. - 10:33 PM
I want to know why Hillary thinks I should vote for her when she sends her race baiting street soldiers out every chance she gets.
- more cowbell said...
*clap clap clap*
It's ridiculous. If it's such luck in a presidential election to be black, how come we haven't had a black president before?
What about the 43 white men before him? They got there just fine. The fact that Barack Obama can even get close to that office without the support of the system set up with the help of those early white presidents is amazing.
AND, I just now heard her response on the news: "racism works two ways, I think they're attacking me because I'm white." What?? Unbelievable.
Things like this are not helping Hillary, they're hurting the Democratic party, and if they don't stop this crap, the fracture is going to be on our side of the house, rather than the Red side. - 11:11 PM
- more cowbell said...
(oops - guess I should've clicked on your last link - i wouldn't have been shocked hearing Ferraro's response on Olbermann)
*Standing O!* (for you)
- Lesboprof said...
I am with you! The gf and I are so frustrated and horrified by the slew of old white "feminist" women who seem to be speaking their racism throughout Hillary's campaign. I am losing faith (and face) as a white feminist. I wonder if they have read Audre Lorde, remember what she had to say about all of the intersecting oppressions and privileges we negotiate.
I am disgusted that Ferraro has not moved on since 1988. This kind of race-baiting demeans us all... especially those of us who are Democrats and feminists. I mean, DAMN! - 11:49 PM
My response to Geraldine is the same as it is to every other woman who tries to make me feel guilty for not supporting Hillary.
Where the fuck were you when there WAS a qualified black woman running for president? Shit, Carol Moseley Braun had more experience than Hillary Clinton, aside from that whole marriage thing, and where was Geraldine?
As I pointed out to my friend earlier today, no, if Barack Obama were a white man with a white name, he wouldn't be in the same position he is.
Hasn't she looked at those exit polls from Ohio indicating that race was a factor--for Hillary's voters? If Obama was a white man, he'd have won this shit by now. - 11:52 PM
- Unknown said...
A-fucking-men Shark Fu..I have been fuming all day over this fuckwitted remark by a woman that I used to respect.
As a brown bitch..I certainly take exception to her lily-white remark.
She only furthers the division between white and minority.and between male and female..
God, I can't wait finish MY piece on this crappola ;p - 11:58 PM
- calugg said...
Look, Ferraro is a "nice white lady" from Long Island, which is one of the most virunetly racist places in the US.
They wear white gloves instead of white robes, and speak in all manner of code.
But it's still deadly.
Ferraro has been doing this dance a long time. I'm just delighted that Americans are CALLING her on her coded racist crap.
- Unknown said...
I was too pissed off to think straight when I heard that comment. And then went nuclear when I saw comments that defended her ("just saying what's true"). Thanks for having the right words.
(And PLEASE crosspost this at Shakesville. Some of the commentariat there need to hear this.) - 7:59 AM
- Maureen O'Danu said...
Thanks SO MUCH, Shark-Fu. I'm so pissed off I'm trembling. More and more of HIllary's supporters are saying and doing more and more things that make me fear I will not be able to vote for her if she wins the Democratic nomination.
Here's hoping I won't have to. - 9:04 AM
- Admiral Komack said...
"Here's an interesting quandary, Shark-fu. What's her next move? Does Senator Clinton think she'll be able to win back enough of the black folks and young people to beat McCain?"
-Late-breaking news flash:
Hillary doesn't fucking care!
She doesn't want the black vote, else she wouldn't be pulling the race card.
She wants the haters. - 10:15 AM
- Anonymiss said...
Gregory said...
Great response. Over at Politico they dug up a 1988 quote from Ferraro saying "If Jesse Jackson weren't black, he wouldn't be in the [presidential] race." Apparently it's nothing new for her.
Oh my. She seems to be quite the asshole. - 10:18 AM
- Anonymiss said...
Forgot to mention, props to you Shark-Fu for another well-written response to asinine comments from out-of-touch feminists.
Meanwhile, I heard yesterday on some tv news commentary that Obama winning by less than 15% in State X would be bad for him b/c it would mean he only won the black vote. Who's telling Hillary that she's in trouble b/c she can only win the white vote?
- gwoertendyke said...
precisely. thank you.
Hillary knows that there is NOTHING she can do or say to get the black vote (91% for Obama in Mississipi). She has to appeal to somebody if she wants to win.
- Margaret said...
This is so fucked up. I get angrier and angrier the more I think about it (and I've been stewing about it since I heard). I am so embarrassed that these people call themselves "feminists." They give feminists, and Democratic women, a bad name.
- billie said...
i guess i was shocked that geraldine and camp clinton had become out in the open with the race card. up to this point they had been using 'muslim' in place of 'black'- but meaning the same thing. winning is everything and if she can't win on merit- she will use the bigotry card. i don't buy into the american feminist bullshit anyway. to me- it looks like an upscale white yuppie coffee klatch. and i am a white female. obama has been sticking to the issues and they can't take it- so they are going for the base. that's the difference between 'experience' and actually having a finger on the pulse of the voters.
This is such a damned if you do, damned if you don't situation. If Mr. Obama wins the black vote that is down played if he loses it, it's
played up.
Farraro has errored and so has Hillary. The days of dragging out Willie Horton to win an election are gone. It is so obvious that she is part of the old guard that has kept this country bogged down in ignorance. Why continue to go for the hater vote? It really doen't help the nation to move forward. Doing what is best for the nation should be the goal first and foremost.
It is so disappointing to see people behave in such a way. And so disappointing to constantly see how little progress this nation has made in the area of race. What will it take? I mean really. Why are there these pockets of people working so hard to keep other's down? They need therepy. It is sad. They refuse to let go of their beleifs that are not based in fact but in myth. It's the same old statements whites make about affirmative action that the black person couldn't possibly be qualified based on their level of education, work ethic or knowledge. No, they would rather believe the balck person only got where they are because they are black. As if you can just sit there, be black and stuff falls into your lap. It is a demeaning and tired arguement.
What is happeneing to Mr. Obabma is what happens to all blacks who achieve within this nation. They are brought down a peg, attacked and bullied. This verbal intimidation is as harmful as the lychings that occurred in the past.
A moment of silence please as the civil rights clock rolls backwards. - 1:43 PM
- A.H. said...
You are right as rain. I can't believe how she's defending herself, claiming it wasn't a racist statement. She's disgusting and Clinton is disgusting for not getting rid of her. I'm sick of Clinton supporters trying to compete over who's more discriminated against. She's appealing to the lowest common denominator and thanks to here I think we're going to end up with another tired, shady old white man in the office--nothing's going to change.
- Fodder of Dreams said...
HRC is abandoning the black vote b/c she thinks she can win with the blue collar white (mostly Catholic) women's vote--like she did in Ohio. She knows that her base is racist so she's given 'em some white hope. She "offered" the VP to Obama to show her "fairness". She's in second place, but she's not giving up and she'll ruin the whole thing rather than lose graciously or quit. The right-wing haters were right about the Clintons; they're vile, arrogant liars who will do anything for power. Not that much different than our current regime.
You have hit it squarely Empty Head. But what a bad strategy it is. She will not win the election with such a strategy. If people were so opposed to Obama he would not have already taken so much of the popular vote. It is amazing she is not seeing this.
It is a desperate last gasp for air.
Who knew the Clinton's were such bad news? I am amazed! - 3:00 PM
- Amanda Marcotte said...
Have I told you lately how much I love you?
In all seriousness, it looks like Obama is going to win the nomination. At which point, Republicans will have the "even the Clintons said" card to play. Fucked up. - 4:39 PM
I don't think it's racism. No really, it's not. It's pure-D bafflement. I'm a little baffled myself...
(cracks knuckles, neck)
Let's all take a deep breath and place ourselves in those sensible pumps for just a minute, okay? You are a 60-year-old career politician, having started back in the day when "career politician" wasn't an epithet but recognition of a higher call to public service. All your life you have worked harder than anyone else – you're a bulldog and a policy wonk who has to know everything about every issue because that's how you survive. You've brought home the bacon and fried it up in the pan; then been humiliated into baking cookies on national TV to prove that you're not one of those feminists. After decades of taking the backseat to your more charismatic spouse - and standing by your man - it's time. Your kid's out of the house and you're in the Senate; the stars have finally aligned and it's… your… turn.
And it's sweet. You're ready. You know just how ugly things can get, but you've been through the fires. Interns and Ken Starr and vast right-wing conspiracies? Bring 'em on. You're ready for the Limbaughs, the Coulters, those Citizens United Not Timid shirts with your picture on 'em, and every other sling and arrow Outrageous Fortune will throw your way.
Then some kid with big ears and a funny name stands up, grabs the spotlight, and just won't sit down again.
It's bafflement, people. She's baffled.
Race is an issue (don't one single person out there DARE tell me it isn't – I'm from Detroit) just as much as gender, but Barack IS being treated more lightly than Hillary because we have been taught that polite people don't use certain words but women are still fair game. Where are the smart-ass "Not In God's Green Earth Republican" t-shirts? Does anyone really believe that if Barack is nominated an older woman will stand up at a McCain rally and ask "how do we defeat the Nigger?" (and if so, that McCain will chuckle and respond "good question"?) Pick your epithet. They're all wrong, but don't sit there and suggest they are any LESS wrong than what she's called in public every day.
Hillary is baffled, and she's not used to not knowing the answer. I'm baffled, and I don't know the answer either. I think she is going to lose the nomination, and that will break many hearts - including mine - as it gladdens others. For those who would rejoice in Barack's success, welcome. For those who would gloat in Hillary's downfall, shame on all of you. She is a mother, a wife, a daughter, a sitting senator of this country, a human being, and a child of God. Let's work together on this public forum that Little Sister ABB so graciously shares with us to lift up, not tear down. We are all in this together. - 5:28 PM
- Shark-Fu said...
Sister, I take no joy from this.
But the bafflement you speak of is rooted in a place of privilege that has led the same people who feel Obama has been given a pass to reveal through their words exactly what they feel he has been given a pass on - race.
I hold the left to a higher standard and I will not apologize for that. And I sure as hell hold candidates who seek to achieve my vote to the highest of standards.
This is not about who is getting more shit tossed at them. This is about who is tossing the shit, the message they have attached to it pre-toss and the back-to-back-to-back pattern of it.
I'm disgusted. I'm insulted. And I'm in no mood to suck it up and take one for the team.
That may change, but continued incidents of race-based bafflement will not assist in that one bit.
So no, there is no joy for me in this election except that the citizens are expressing themselves better than the candidates.
Mayhap I'll take comfort in the masses... - 6:52 PM
Drat, why do people that I once respected have to flame out so spectacularly?
Gov. Putz, the former bane of Wall Street crooks
now my fellow alumnae (years before), Gerry Ferraro.
And HRC - she should know how to rein in her erstwhile allies. And,she should know not to violate the 11th commandment, thou shalt not praise a Republican over a Democrat.
NancyP - 7:32 PM
- Unknown said...
Shark Fu, you have, in your comment here, vocalized what many of us think about this campaign.
Thank you for your insightful commentary.
Ferraro has resigned..but only so she can continue spewing her vile bullshit.
Pathetic..thy name is Geraldine Ferraro.
Not to mention, Pat the Idiot Buchanan is now standing up for her right to spew vile racist garbage on Dan Abrams show..god make it stop!!! - 8:09 PM
- cowboyangel said...
Bravo! Great post once again.
Sometimes, listening to Clinton's supporters justify this kind of crap really gets me down. I expect it from the Right, but from the Center Right? Sorry, I meant to say from supposed Liberals? But this has always been there, lurking underneath, hasn't it? It's just that the Clintons have turned over the rock to expose what's been buried below.
I hold the left to a higher standard and I will not apologize for that. And I sure as hell hold candidates who seek to achieve my vote to the highest of standards.
Yes. That's why all of this is so disturbing.
Thanks for taking it on so well. Thanks for giving me something to smile about. - 11:10 PM
No passes, no excuses - it's wrong wrong wrong. But what is driving me nuts is the glee I can feel oozing out of some people watching Hillary's implosion. It feels the same as the night I watched the results come in from the Carol Mosely Braun/Peter Fitzgerald senate race (good lord, has it been 8 years ago?) - Carol fought tooth and nail, built the best coalition she could, and lost to a stageful of suspender-popping, cigar-chomping balding old white men. The Dearly Beloved and I cried as Fitzgerald gloated through his acceptance speech.
This feels the same. I welcome Barack, but I abhore those who violently reject Hillary because, well, just because she's Hillary. Call it mysogeny, call it gender bias, call it schadenfeude. It's wrong by any name. - 9:31 AM
Well the reason the Alan Keyes excuse doesn't work is that he wasn't the "right" kind of black man, he was a Republican.
Hate to say it but GF is right, most people can't name a single accomplishment Obama can take credit for on the national stage, that's because he is inexperienced and not qualified.
He is qualified in many people's opinion based on hyperbole and personality and yes race, not his stances which are identical to Clinton's. - 8:44 PM
- Shark-Fu said...
Tempting though it is to dive into a qualification dance, that's not the purpose of this post.
Gerry stated that Obama is where he his because he is black...and, given her logic, Keyes should have caught on whether he was a Republican or not. Her argument is that it was all a matter of timing and the planets lining up and blah blah bullshit.
As to Gerry being right, well that's a very telling statement for you to make.
But this ain't therapy, you're not my patient and I'm not going to try to cure your ass.
Mercy. - 8:53 PM
Two points you missed.
1. Ferraro made the statement on a politcal discussion talk show that she is paid to do. She said it as a response to a question about her opinion and not on behalf of anyone on a campaign, It's her own separate opinion.
2. It was referenced as her belief that Obama does not qualify for President. He lacks experience and if it weren't for the black vote he would not have gotten this far on his credentials alone! Up until recently, Obama has not been questioned on what he will do for the African Americans or anyone else for that matter. Angry black bitches will just wait until he is safely in the whitehouse to ask what he stands for.
Then you will find out that it is not Obama that rules, but Pelosi, Dashel, Dodd and the remainder of the racists that will rule the whitehouse much the way that Cheney and Rumsfield ruled over Bush. Ferraro is not a racist but these above mentioned people may be. They want control of the whitehouse and Obama is their only route to controlling it.
Obama has been bought out and payback is a bitch. blink blink...
Oh and check out what Shirley Chisolm said about her experience of race and gender. She said it was tougher to win on her gender than it was her race!!! dum de dum
blink blink blink
Check your references and get rid of your short sightedness. Or just stay angry, uninformed and jumping to conclusions. After all the race card is a easy out if not downright lazy. - 11:30 PM
From experience I know that what Geraldine said is, at least for some voters, true. I wanted Obama to be my candidate. I really did. Early on I was excited about the possibity of an African American becoming president. All things being equal between Hillary and Obama, I'd voite for Obama. Why? Because I personally believe that, while prejudice of all sorts exist against women and people of color, a black president would represent a greater barrier conquered. Just my opinion. After researching the two candidates and their views, it turned out that Hillary was more on target in representing my views, and so that is who I have to support. While Geraldine's comments probably exaggerated the situation, she was NOT totally off base.
"Check your references and get rid of your short sightedness. Or just stay angry, uninformed and jumping to conclusions. After all the race card is a easy out if not downright lazy."
Wow! That wasn't condescending at all.
My long range vision shows me that Hillary Clinton is the queen of race baiting in this election. Her campaign is doing all the dirty work so that the republicans manage to keep their hands racially clean. She and her husband are every bit the opportunistic sharks that conservatives always knew them to be. And apparently, racism is not out of their bounds. But that's ok. When a white woman such as Geraldine Ferarro makes a racially insulting statement, basically busting Barack's campaign success as being nothing more than a case of affirmative action, let us all turn it around and blame any black voices of dissent, call them mentally lazy, and accuse them of playing the race card that the white woman actually dealt.
And while you're patting yourself on the back for being able to see Geraldine as a harbinger of truth, the concept of the "right kind of black" is racist... and still innacurate in your argument. Because Geraldine did not say Obama is where he is because he is black and a democrat. You made that distinction, not her. - 11:08 PM
The Gumdrop Stage of Grief ...
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text:
Egypt's preferable tyranny
| Thursday, July 11, 2013, 10:05 a.m.
WASHINGTON — Former Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi knows neither Thomas Jefferson's advice that "great innovations should not be forced on slender majorities" nor the description of Martin Van Buren as a politician who "rowed to his object with muffled oars." Having won just 52 percent of the vote, Morsi pursued his objective — putting Egypt irrevocably on a path away from secular politics and social modernity — noisily and imprudently.
It is difficult to welcome a military overthrow of democratic results. It is, however, more difficult to regret a prophylactic coup against the exploitation of democratic success to adopt measures inimical to the development of a democratic culture.
Tyranny comes in many flavors. Some are much worse than others because they are more comprehensive and potentially durable. The tyranny portended by Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood promised no separation of politics and religion, hence the impossibility of pluralism, and hostility to modernity that guaranteed economic incompetence. Theologized politics, wherein compromise is apostasy, points toward George Orwell's vision of totalitarianism — "a boot stamping on a human face — forever."
Military despotism might be merely for a while, although perhaps for quite a while: The 1952 Egyptian coup inaugurated six decades of military rule. Egypt's military tyranny is preferable to Morsi's because it is more mundane. Mussolini's fascism, being Italian, was tyranny tempered by anarchy; Egyptian military tyranny has been tempered by corruption because the military is thoroughly entangled with Egypt's economy. A famous description of Prussia — less a state with an army than an army with a state — fits Egypt, but greed might concentrate Egyptian military minds on the advantages of economic dynamism, which depends on liberalization.
What was optimistically and prematurely called the "Arab Spring" was centered in Tahrir Square in the capital of the most populous Arab nation. Western media, and hence Western publics, were mesmerized by young protesters wielding smartphones and coordinating through social media their uprising against the military dictatorship of Hosni Mubarak. Smartphones are luxury goods in a nation in which about 40 percent of the population lives on no more than $2 a day. In the short term, meaning for the foreseeable future, Egypt's best hope is for an authoritarianism amenable to amelioration.
Jeane Kirkpatrick came to Ronald Reagan's attention partly because he was a constant and serious reader whose fare included Commentary magazine. In its November 1979 issue, Reagan found Kirkpatrick's "Dictatorships & Double Standards." His future ambassador to the United Nations made an argument that is pertinent to America's deals with Egypt after the military coup:
Liberalism, the Carter administration's animating impulse, adhered to a "modernization paradigm" which taught that the U.S. interest was always in modernization. This meant, liberals thought, that popular movements espousing revolutionary aspirations were inherently preferable to traditional autocracies. This, said Kirkpatrick, "encourages support for all change that takes place in the name of 'the people.'" However, the liberalization of an autocracy is, Kirkpatrick believed, although neither certain nor easy, still more likely than the reform of an ideologically revolutionary regime. This is because of "systemic" differences between traditional and revolutionary autocracies that have a predictable effect on their degree of repressiveness. Generally speaking, traditional autocrats tolerate social inequities, brutality and poverty while revolutionary autocracies create them."
An Islamist regime wielded by the Muslim Brotherhood would be revolutionary, aiming for the total subordination of society to administered doctrine. A democratic origin of such a regime will not mitigate its nature.
The U.S. Constitution bristles with the language of proscription: Congress, although the expression of popular sovereignty, "shall make no law" doing this and that. The purpose of such provisions, the Supreme Court has said, is to place certain things "beyond the reach of majorities." Furthermore, the noblest career in the annals of democracy involved a principled recoil against democracy improperly elevated over all other values.
Abraham Lincoln rejected the argument of his rival Stephen Douglas, who favored "popular sovereignty in the territories." Douglas thought slavery should expand wherever a majority favored it. Lincoln understood that unless majority rule is circumscribed by the superior claims of natural rights, majority rule is merely the doctrine of "might makes right" adapted to the age of mass participation in politics. The idea that the strong have a right to unfettered rule if their strength is numerical is just the barbarism of "might makes right" prettified by initial adherence to democratic forms. Egypt's military despotism may be less dangerous than Morsi's because it lacks what Morsi's had, a democratic coloration, however superficial and evanescent.
George Will's email address is email@example.com.


text:
The dashboard lists some of the information associated with the Google services you use: your name, your email address, the number of contacts, the number of conversations in your Gmail inbox, your Google profile, the most recent entries from the web history etc. It's a long answer to the question: "What does Google know about me?".
More information about the new service in a YouTube video that was supposed to be "embargoed until 2am PT, November 5th".
Update: Google Dashboard is now available at http://www.google.com/dashboard.
{ Thanks, Tom. }


text:
March 7, 2003
H.E. Mikulas Dzurinda
Prime Minister
Republic of Slovakia
Bratislava, Slovakia
Dear Prime Minister Dzurinda:
We write regarding recent reports alleging that Romani women in Slovakia have been coerced to undergo sterilization procedures. We urge you to publicly condemn this practice, ensure its cessation, and take concrete steps to meaningfully improve the situation of the Romani minority.
As you may know, Charter '77 first reported on the practice of coerced sterilization in Czechoslovakia in 1978. Unfortunately, it is now clear that this practice in Slovakia did not end with the fall of communism.
Tragically, forced sterilization is among the horrific manifestations of the eugenics movement that gained currency in so many countries during the last century. As recently as 1995, then-Slovak Minister of Health, Lumomir Javorsky, made this chilling pledge at a public rally: "The government will do everything to ensure that more white children than Romani children are born." In recent years, Norway and Sweden have acknowledged that they carried out forced sterilizations until the 1970s; more than 30 states in my own country had such programs, and they were in place for the better part of the 20th century.
While the practice of coerced sterilization of Roma in Slovakia does not appear to have been directed by any arm of the current government, we believe your government has a responsibility to ensure its cessation. Just as you have played a leadership role in addressing many other human rights violations of the communist era and the Meciar regime, we hope you will play a strong role in ending human rights violations of the Romani minority. In particular, we recommend the following:
– Implement reforms of the health care system, including training for social and medical professionals and the improvement of legal protections against coerced or involuntary sterilization.
– Government officials at the highest level should speak out against calls to limit the birthrate of Roma.
– Government officials at the highest level should condemn racially motivated act of violence against Roma — such as the attack against Milan Daniel that has left him permanently disfigured or the six skinhead attacks against Roma in Poprad last year. Such acts must be aggressively prosecuted and the perpetrators punished.
– Adopt and implement comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation, consistent with Slovakia's commitment in the 1999 Istanbul OSCE Summit Document and its requirements under the European Union's race directive.
Mr. Prime Minister, we have great respect for the progress Slovakia has made in improving respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms since 1998. We welcome Slovakia's partnership with the United States on a broad range of issues and believe Slovakia can play a leadership role in the region. We bring these issues to your attention and urge you to address them with a goal of building our trans-Atlantic dialogue and contributing to the breadth and depth of U.S.-Slovak relations. We believe that Slovakia will be a stronger democracy, and therefore a stronger partner, when respect for the human rights of its most vulnerable minority is improved.
Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell, Co-Chairman
Rep. Christopher H. Smith, Co-Chairman
Rep. Steny H. Hoyer, Commissioner
Rep. Joseph R. Pitts, Commissioner
Rep. Benjamin L. Cardin, Commissioner
Rep. Louise McIntosh Slaughter, Commissioner
Rep. Robert B. Aderholt, Commissioner
Rep. Alcee L. Hastings, Commissioner
Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, Commissioner


text:
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