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Friday, December 18, 2009
Florentine Lace Cookies
The appearance of these cookies on my holiday tray began as a fondness for the person who introduced me to them. I'd never had them in Chicago, and when we moved east I was still of an age where I thought I knew everything. Yvonne, whom we met through an old-fashioned letter of introduction, was determined to show me how mistaken that notion was. She was French and charming and had an accent that would make the angels sing. She was also a natural born teacher. Her original mission was to teach me needle work, but when that didn't work as she planned, she took me into her kitchen. That visit led to a Christmas that would include our first Paris Brest, a Bouche de Noel and these lovely lacy Florentines. Contrary to popular belief, these cookies are not Italian. They've been traced to the kitchens of Louis XIV where they were made for visiting Medici princes who took them back with them when they returned to Florence. Of all the cookies I've prepared for the holidays, these are my favorites. I love the way they look and smell and taste. While we eat ours out of hand, it is not uncommon to see them drizzled with chocolate. I love chocolate but I don't think it adds anything to these cookies. If you try the recipe, or are a fan of Florentines, I'd love to know how you feel about using chocolate to finish them. If you've never made them, there is one truc you should be aware of. Even though you bake the cookies one tray at a time, the dough must be dropped on cookie sheets while it is still warm. Once it cools it will crumble and become unworkable. So, while you'll bake 6 cookies per sheet, you'll form all sheets as soon as the dough is cool enough to handle. I think you're going to love them. I have a cookie monster, now in his 7th decade, who lives in my house and shares my table. I have to hide these from him because, left to his own devices, he will eat them all in a day or two. These are really good, so instead of talking, let's preheat the oven and get to it.
Florentines...from the kitchen of One Perfect Bite
1/2 cup ground almonds (about 2-oz.)
5 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/4 cup firmly-packed light brown sugar
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
2 tablespoons light corn syrup
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
Pinch salt
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Position two oven racks in the middle and upper third of oven. Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper.
2) In a food processor, grind almonds finely; measure out 1/2 cup and set aside.
It is also possible to buy ground almonds for use in this recipe.
3) In a medium saucepan over low heat, heat the butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar, and corn syrup until the butter melts and the sugar dissolves, stirring often. Increase the heat to medium high and, stirring constantly, bring mixture JUST to a boil. Immediately remove pan from the heat and stir in flour and salt until incorporated. Stir in ground almonds and vanilla extract.
4) Drop batter using a teaspoon, 3-inches apart, on prepared cookie sheets (about 1/2 dozen cookies per cookie sheet). Prepare all your pans of cookies at this time even though you are only going to bake 1 or 2 sheets at a time.
5) Bake cookies until evenly light brown, approximately 8 to 10 minutes until cookies spread, become thin, and take on a deep golden color. If you are using 2 cookie sheets switch top to bottom and back to front at 5 minute mark to promote even baking. Cookies will begin to spread 6 minutes into baking time.
6) Line wire cooling racks with plastic wrap. When cookies are done baking, remove cookies from oven and, as soon as they're firm enough to lift off baking sheet (which will take just a few minutes), use a wide spatula to transfer them to prepared cooling racks to cool completely. Allowing cookies to cool slightly on cookie sheets will also cause them to flatten out more. NOTE: If cookies become too cold and hard to remove from baking sheet without shattering them, replace pan in the oven to soften the cookies again. Bake remaining cookies; batter will have firmed up a bit, but that is fine. Store flat cookies between sheets of parchment paper in a tin or plastic container with a tight-fitting lid. Yield: 25 to 30 cookies.
This recipe is being linked to:
Designs By Gollum - Foodie Friday
39 comments :
- Chef E said...
Beautiful cookies, and congrats on the baby! I have had these, a neighbor would make them around the holidays and have us over for drinks and French goodies...ah fond memories...
- December 18, 2009 at 3:01 AM
- Unknown said...
I like your florentine cookies, they look like our "tuiles" in France, we can find them with chocolate but I prefer the way you do it
- December 18, 2009 at 3:11 AM
- KathyB. said...
When I read your posts, as you talk about your recipe you really make me want to try it even if I wandered over thinking it( recipe ) would not be of any interest to me. Now I want to try this!And I probably will, if I say I will try a recipe I usually do get around to doing so.
BTW, have you ever watched the movie 'Babette's Feast'? For some reason this post brought that wonderful movie to mind....my husband and I watch it this time of year. - December 18, 2009 at 3:53 AM
- Maggie said...
Thanks for the recipe, I'll add it to my book. Every year I always intend to make Florentines but somehow they get left until the last minute and I run out of time.
Merry Christmas from Normandy
Maggie - December 18, 2009 at 5:12 AM
- Coralie Cederna Johnson said...
These look perfectly splendid, Mary! I have not made them but I would think chocolate would be just more taste than necessary. The Florentine Lace Cookies, I think, can "stand on their own"! Once again, a wonderful story and recipe! Thanks so much! Coralie
- December 18, 2009 at 6:31 AM
- Joanne said...
Oh my congrats on Connor! He looks adorable. His older brother must be so excited! :D
These cookies are my favorites as well. No chocolate. No anything. Just cookie. - December 18, 2009 at 6:35 AM
- Donna-FFW said...
These look perfect, a great, beautiful addition to any cookie tray, so delicately pretty!
- December 18, 2009 at 6:40 AM
- Martha said...
I love florentines but have never made them. Somehow you make them look so easy!
- December 18, 2009 at 7:43 AM
- My Little Space said...
Wow, these florentines look amazing! I'm saving this up too. Thank you so much!
- December 18, 2009 at 7:48 AM
- Arlene Delloro said...
Your Florentines are so uniform in size and shape! Wonderful! I have always drizzled my chocolate of choice--dark--but you're right that they stand on their own. Being of Italian heritage, I may not accept the Medici theft, lol.
- December 18, 2009 at 8:02 AM
- NKP said...
They look lovely! I have never tried them before, so lacy and delicate.
- December 18, 2009 at 9:14 AM
- Foley said...
Gorgeous looking cookie - I have read about these but have never tried them!
Maybe this should be the year - have to check to see how many cookie sheets I have!! ;)
Thanks for the tips!!
PS: Congrats on Connor - always nice to have a newborn this time of year!! - December 18, 2009 at 9:35 AM
- George Gaston said...
Mary, this is a wonderful cookie to add to the cookie collection. It would be a great side to a bowl of homemade ice cream or just the right sweetness for that picnic in the park. Many thanks for telling us about how you came upon this recipe...
- December 18, 2009 at 10:28 AM
- susan said...
Mary-I am always interested in your recipes, but more than that I love your "background stories". I made something similar a long time ago, and remember loving them. I AM the cookie monster at my house :)
- December 18, 2009 at 10:38 AM
- susan said...
ps--I just saw the picture of the baby!! What a Christmas blessing. As Melanie says in GWTW-"The happiest days are when babies come" Congratulastions to everyone!
- December 18, 2009 at 10:40 AM
- Cathy said...
Your florentines are perfect, Mary. This is a favorite in my family. You've reminded me that I must make some.
- December 18, 2009 at 10:47 AM
- Inspired by eRecipeCards said...
I made a similar recipe with pecans last week.
I topped with a thin layer of buttercream frosting and then some small raw pecan pieces. The mix worked very well. Am pretty sure that chocolate would not work as well. And visually, who wants a dark cookie - December 18, 2009 at 10:54 AM
- Karen said...
I've never made these and have never tasted one, but they look beautiful and yummy!
- December 18, 2009 at 11:06 AM
- Usha said...
These cookies look marvelous and so tempting !
- December 18, 2009 at 11:19 AM
- Katherine Roberts Aucoin said...
You have me sold on these cookies. I am really loving the alomond.
Connor is adorable congratulations! Joshua is a real cutie too! All of you must be on Cloud 9. - December 18, 2009 at 11:37 AM
- Dana Fallentine said...
- December 18, 2009 at 1:23 PM
- The Blonde Duck said...
Those are gorgeous!!!
- December 18, 2009 at 1:42 PM
- Mary Bergfeld said...
Dana, welcome to One Perfect Bite. I hope you'll stop by often.
- December 18, 2009 at 2:19 PM
- Sandra Evertson said...
Thank you for sharing this!
Happy Holidays!
Sandra - December 18, 2009 at 2:51 PM
- Foodiewife said...
What an interesting story! I never knew the origins of this cookie. I keep saying this, but it's true-- I'd love to make these. I've only had them chocolate dipped, but I believe you that it's not necessary.
Adding this to my "sinful recipe pile">
Happy Holidays. - December 18, 2009 at 3:14 PM
- Shellbelle said...
Mary, I so enjoyed your personal story behind these cookies, such a wonderful memory and it makes them extra special. I have such love in my heart for all those who have taught me to bake and cook over the years. You know your on that list now, your recipes are always my favorite new finds.
Congratulations on your new family member, Connor. My nephew and his wife just welcomed their firstborn on the 5th, a son, and he weighed in at 9 lbs. 2 oz. I love big babies, my son was 9 lbs. 13 oz. almost 40 years ago.
Merry Christmas Mary to you and yours. - December 18, 2009 at 3:20 PM
- Bill said...
Beautiful, as always! Just stopping by to wish you a wonderful Christmas. Congratulations on your family's wonderful holiday blessing.
Conner's a beautiful baby!
Happy Holidays!
Bill - December 18, 2009 at 4:15 PM
- Unknown said...
I can always depend on you for an extraordinary post:) I have a Connor as well...I'm sure you've been introduced to him:) Congrats. I hope you will link this post to Merry Merry Munchies.
- December 18, 2009 at 5:41 PM
- Claudia said...
I made a version of these yesterday. I always thought the Spanish and Italians fought over who inventeed them. Then, in march the French! Love it!
- December 18, 2009 at 6:59 PM
- Pam said...
I love these cookies - I haven't had them for much too long.
- December 18, 2009 at 8:29 PM
- Lyndas recipe box said...
I love the look of this cookie...I can see why your "cookie Monter" would love these, Mary!
- December 18, 2009 at 10:51 PM
- Deb in Hawaii said...
I love florentines although I will confess to loving them w/ chocolate and the rolled ones with the cream inside too.
- December 19, 2009 at 4:50 AM
- Katy ~ said...
Golden lace, so beautiful. Definitely without chocolate!
- December 19, 2009 at 6:45 AM
- Rattlebridge Farm said...
These look absolutely delicious!!
They are little works of art! - December 19, 2009 at 1:17 PM
- Elena said...
I've been checking out your cookies here ... mmmm, yum. If I were your neighbour I'd be popping in regularly for coffee and .... anything you've baked, lol.
Elena :) - December 21, 2009 at 1:52 AM
- Kilby Austin said...
Is there a way to leave out the corn syrup from this recipe? I would love to make them but don't have corn syrup.
- December 19, 2011 at 4:03 AM
- Mary Bergfeld said...
You could try using golden syrup or honey. I have never tested using either ofthem, so please take this only as a suggestion. Mary
- December 19, 2011 at 8:36 AM
- hawknitr13 said...
i love anything 'italian'!! making these would remind me of our trips to Florence!! thank you! ^)^linda
- April 4, 2012 at 11:31 AM
- Michele said...
A great recipe I can't wait to try out. I love Almond Lace Cookies and those brave enough to try them! I wish more would.
I came up with my own version of a Almond Lace Cookies, or as I sometimes call them, Broomstick cookies. While different from your own, I think mine is a unique take on the dish. I'm new to the Food Blog scene and would love some feedback from a pro like you. Check out my recipe if have time.
http://persnicketypanhandler.blogspot.com/2014/01/almond-lace-cookies.html - January 25, 2014 at 2:37 PM


text:
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Please check the size guide surely since the exchange and refund is not available for the orders shipped internationally.
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text:
Sara York is a writing machine. The woman produces book after book, and every single one of them a quality tale worthy of reader attention. In fact, it isn't unusual to find her stories located in one or more Top One Hundred bestselling categories on Amazon.com. With such a strong readership and following, it would be easy for Sara to settle into a comfort zone and focus on one style of writing or genre. But Sara is a writer not content to limit her interests.
in the southern U.S. with her family and dogs, Sara began her writing career as
Sara Thacker during her first pregnancy and a break from her job in statistics.
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Skhye" is an exciting story set on what should be an island paradise.
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Stalks" presents a unique situation all its own. Tired of being alone,
Detective Tony Santos's wife Marissa leaves him. What Tony couldn't have
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Somehow, Tony has to find a murderer while protecting the woman he loves who
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readers enjoy romance, suspense, humor, or dramatic thrillers, Sara York has a
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The obvious question: Why do you write in a variety of genres?
I think it's in part because of ADHD. Really. I think in multiple genres with
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Being so prolific, how do you keep your stories and characters fresh and
I hope they are fresh and original. I know some of my themes this year are a
bit more on the 'put the character through the wringer' type of stuff, but that
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I'm curious: Why did you change from Sara Thacker to Sara York, and did this
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It really was out of laziness. I'm switching my name slowly from Sara Thacker
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Mark Twain says it best—There is no such thing as a new idea. I hope that I
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Kentner is the author of the award-winning novel Whistle Pass. http://whistlepass.blogspot.com/


text:
By Erika B. Schlager, Counsel for International Law
From September 26 to October 7, 2011, the OSCE participating States met in Warsaw, Poland, for the annual Human Dimension Implementation Meeting (HDIM). The meeting was organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, according to an agenda approved by consensus of all 56 participating States.
The HDIM is Europe's largest annual human rights gathering and provides a venue for participating States and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to review the implementation of the full range of core human rights and fundamental freedoms (e.g., freedoms of speech, assembly and association; prevention of torture; right to a fair trial), as well as rule of law, free elections and democracy-building issues. National minorities, Roma, tolerance and non-discrimination are also on the agenda.
In accordance with OSCE procedures, the agenda included three specially selected topics, each of which was given a full day of review. In 2011, those subjects were: 1) "Democratic elections and electoral observation," 2) "Freedom of movement," and 3) "Enhancing implementation of OSCE commitments regarding Roma and Sinti."
U.S. Delegation
The U.S. Delegation was headed by Ambassador David Johnson. Other members of the delegation included Ambassador Ian Kelly, Head of the U.S. Mission to the OSCE; Ambassador Cynthia Efird, Senior State Department Advisor to the Helsinki Commission; Ambassador Suzan Johnson Cook, Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom; and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor Thomas Melia. Helsinki Commission staff participated in all aspects of the delegation's work.
Patrick Merloe, National Democratic Institute, Kathleen Newland, Migration Policy Institute, and Ethel Brooks, Rutgers University, served as Public Members of the delegation, addressing democratic elections, freedom of movement, and the situation of Romani people in the OSCE region respectively. Public Members have traditionally been included in U.S. delegations to OSCE human dimension meetings as a means of bringing special expertise to the U.S. delegations and to promote greater knowledge of the OSCE process in civil society.
Highlights of This Year's Meeting
The severe crackdown in Belarus which followed elections last December was a focus of attention throughout the two-week meeting, both in formal sessions and special side events. During the final session, the United States delivered a statement focused on the use of the Moscow Mechanism regarding Belarus — an OSCE tool used in exceptional circumstances to conduct fact-finding regarding extreme human rights concerns. The mechanism had been invoked in April by 14 participating States and a report was presented to the OSCE Permanent Council by the Mechanism Rapporteur, Professor Emmanuel Decaux, on May 28. NGOs also demonstrated throughout the meeting on behalf of Belarusian political prisoner Alex Bielatskiy.
The United States also raised issues which remain unresolved following the 2003 invocation of the Moscow Mechanism regarding Turkmenistan. In particular, Ambassador Johnson drew attention to the continued disappearance of Ambassador Batyr Berdiev, the former representative of Turkmenistan to the OSCE. Although Turkmenistan officials did not to participate in the HDIM, human rights groups concerned with Turkmenistan were present and members of the opposition-in-exile made a statement expressing their willingness to return to Turkmenistan and participate in the February 2012 presidential elections. They also called for the OSCE to conduct a full election observation mission for those elections.
In its opening statement, the United States observed that Kazakhstan had failed to fully implement the commitments on domestic reform it had made in 2007 in Madrid upon receiving the Chairmanship for 2010, that leading human rights activist Yevgeniy Zhovtis remained in prison as a result of a trial that lacked due process, that Kazakhstan had adopted measures in a one-party parliament giving the current president continued power and immunity from prosecution for life and had held a poorly-conducted snap presidential election following an attempt to push through a referendum to obviate future elections for the incumbent. Although Kazakhstan protested the U. S. characterization of 2010 as "a year of missed opportunities for reform," Kazakhstan's adoption of a new restrictive religion law during the course of the human dimension meeting illustrated the very point the United States was making.
In fact, of the topics restricted to three-hour sessions, the subject of religious liberties was the most oversubscribed, with Kazakhstan's new religion law generating particular criticism. As at previous meetings, the allocation of time during the meeting was highly problematic, with speaking time at some of the sessions limited to only one or two minutes to accommodate dozens desiring the floor, while other sessions ended early with time unused.
Other real-time developments during the HDIM also found their way into discussions. Following the outbreak of fighting on September 27 at a Kosovo border crossing with Serbia, Serbian representatives at the meeting engaged in a sharply worded exchange with Albanian officials. (Serbia's engagement at the meeting was of particular note in light of Belgrade's bid to serve as OSCE Chair-in-Office in 2014.) The outbreak of anti-Roma rioting in every major Bulgarian town or city during the HDIM underscored the urgency of addressing the chronic human rights problems affecting Roma as well as the acute and escalating crises.
Many participants also raised concern regarding continuing human rights abuses against ethnic Uzbeks in southern Kyrgyzstan in the wake of widespread violence last year and in advance of Kyrgyzstani elections in October. During the formal sessions, NGOs demonstrated on behalf of Kyrgyzstani political prisoner Azhimzhon Askarov.
The United States engaged fully in all aspects of the meeting, holding bilateral meetings with other OSCE participating States and extensive consultations with NGOs. The United States also organized two side events. The first focused on on the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. Professor Louise Teitz from the Hague Permanent Bureau (an intergovernmental organization that administers this and other Hague Conventions), and Corrin Ferber from the Department of State, made presentations, with additional comments provided by Consul General Linda Hoover, U.S. Embassy Warsaw. The second event focused on fundamental freedoms in the digital age. DAS Thomas Melia moderated the discussion, which included comments by the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Dunja Mijatovic; Agata Waclik-Wejman, policy counsel for Google; and Nataliya Radzina, a Belarusian journalist who faces a lengthy prison sentence in Belarus.
The Human Dimension Implementation Meeting served as an important forum for the United States to raise issues of concern, both formally and informally, and to hold extensive consultations with governments, OSCE officials, and representatives of civil society. That said, this year's HDIM was somewhat diminished relative to past meetings.
First, member states of the European Union appeared divided or preoccupied (or both). As a consequence, on a number of subjects – for example, the session that included migrant workers, refugees, and displaced persons — there was neither a coordinated European Union statement nor statements by individual EU member states speaking in their national capacity. This voice was missed.
Second, the level of participation on the part of governments as well as civil society was reduced. This may be in part due to economic factors. But it may also reflect other factors. Prior to the HDIM, for example, Belarus and Russia dragged out the adoption of an agenda until the last possible moment, making it especially hard for NGOs to plan their participation. In addition, OSCE has, in recent years, scheduled so many human dimension meetings throughout the year that it is difficult for government and non-governmental experts to cover them all. (In addition to the discussion of tolerance and non-discrimination at the HDIM, those issues have been or will be addressed at three different ad hoc meetings, as well as one of the Supplementary Human Dimension Implementation Meetings.) The Lithuanian Chairmanship also scheduled some meetings in Vienna during the HDIM, although the modalities call for all Vienna meetings to be suspended during the HDIM to facilitate participation by the representatives to the OSCE. Similarly, the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly fall meeting overlapped with the final sessions of the HDIM.
In fact, the modalities for the OSCE's human dimension activities were a dominant theme during the HDIM's closing session — presaging the opening of discussions in Vienna on that issue held immediately after the HDIM at the insistence of Belarus. While many governments, including the U.S., believe the way in which the OSCE organizes its human dimension activities could be improved, the discussions themselves risk being held hostage by those countries inimical to the OSCE's human rights work.


text:
Gury of Kazan
Our father among the saints Gury (+1563) was the first Archbishop of Kazan, and enlightener of Tatarstan's natives. He is commemorated by the church on December 5.
Gregory Grigoroevic Rugotin was born in Radonezh to a poor but aristocratic family[1]. He entered the service of Prince Ivan Penkov. After some years he was unjustly accused of having an affair with the wife of the prince, for which he was thrown into prison. It is said that after two years, he was miraculously released one day when his cell was filled with extraordinary light and the door was opened[2].
Upon leaving prison, he joined the monastery of St. Joseph of Volokolamsk, where he was tonsured with the name Gurias. In 1543, he became the abbot (hegumenos) of the monastery. After serving in this capacity until 1552, he left the position and lived for 2 years as a simple monk. He became abbot of the Selizharov Monastery in Tver[1] [3].
Bishop of Kazan
In July, 1555, he was chosen to be the first bishop of the new Diocese of Kazan, where he accomplished many missionary activities. He was successful in converting many inhabitants of the region to Orthodoxy, and took special care to build schools and look after the education of children in the Christian faith. Over the course of his eight years as bishop, he labored to build four monasteries, the Annunciation Cathedral of Kazan Kremlin, and many churches[2][4].
Partly due to ill health from his prison experience, in 1561 Gurius fell seriously ill. Over the next two years, he was unable to stand or walk, and needed to be carried into the church on feast days. Shortly before his death, he was tonsured into the Great Schema Gurius died on December 5, 1563 and was buried in the Holy Transfiguration Monastery[1].
His relics were found on October 4, 1595[2].
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 St. Gurias, Archbishop of Kazan. Russian Orthodox Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, Washington, DC.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Kazan bishops. Moscow Patriarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church
- ↑ http://eng.kazan.eparhia.ru/bishops/bishops/ Kazan bishops.] Moscow Patriarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church
- ↑ Walsh, Michael J. (July 30, 2007). A New Dictionary of Saints:East and West. Liturgical Press. ISBN 978-0814631867.
See also
Categories > Church History
Categories > Church History
Categories > Liturgics > Feasts
Categories > Liturgics > Feasts
Categories > People > Clergy > Bishops
Categories > People > Clergy > Bishops > Bishops by century > 16th-century bishops
Categories > People > Clergy > Bishops > Bishops by city > Bishops of Kazan
Categories > People > Saints > Russian Saints
Categories > People > Saints > Saints by century > 16th-century saints


text: In 1994, DC created a line of shoes specifically for skateboarders with a mission to make a significant change in skateboard shoe style and elevate skateboarding performance to the highest level. That mission grew to create a brand that forever changed the face of action sports. Today, DC stands as a global brand whose product line has expanded to include men's, women's and kids' skateboarding and lifestyle shoes, apparel, snowboards, snowboard boots, outerwear and accessories. As one of the cornerstones of its marketing strategy, DC has built a world-class team of professional skateboarding, snowboarding, and motocross athletes that exemplify and enhance DC's brand, develop its signature products, and support its promotional efforts. DC continues to stay true to its original mission—to be the most sought after skate driven action sports brand.


text:
This morning, the Norwegian Nobel Committee announced the winner of the 2012 Nobel Peace Prize and they chose the European Union.
THORBJORN JAGLAND: The European Union is currently undergoing grave economic difficulties and (unintelligible) social unrest. The Norwegian Nobel Committee wishes to focus on what it sees as the EU's most important result, the successful struggle for peace and reconciliation and for democracy and human rights.
HEADLEE: That was the chairman of the committee, Thorbjorn Jagland. We wanted to know more about this year's choice, so we called Kristian Berg Harpviken. He keeps a close watch on the selection process all year long. He's also the director of the Peace Research Institute Oslo. That's an independent research center that focuses on conflict resolution, dialog and reconciliation and he joins us from his office in Oslo, Norway.
KRISTIAN BERG HARPVIKEN: Thank you.
HEADLEE: So the European Union was not on your short list of candidates. It was not on - I don't think - many people's, that I read and, with all the protests earlier this year against President Vladimir Putin, I know that you thought this might be the year that the Nobel Peace Prize Committee focused on Russia.
How much of a surprise was this choice?
HARPVIKEN: Well, it was a surprise because I certainly didn't think that the EU would get the Peace Prize in 2012, given that the EU's (unintelligible) severe financial crisis, a crisis which the institutions of the EU hasn't proven particularly adept at handling.
But, of course, the EU is always one candidate on the table of the Nobel Peace Prize Committee and it is clear that the current chair of the committee, Thorbjorn Jagland, is also somebody who has always thought that there has been a severe neglect on the part of the Nobel Committee not to give the prize to the EU earlier.
HEADLEE: And, in some way, as you say, a lot of people have thought that, eventually, the European Union would get the prize just because there hasn't been a world war that involved a war between Germany and France in a long time. It's something the committee pointed out. So was this sort of a legacy prize more than anything else?
HARPVIKEN: Yes. The committee is very emphasizing the legacy of the EU in that it has prevented war from breaking out in Europe. It is not, to the same extent, emphasizing the current situation, which is characterized by crisis. The irony in that, of course, is that, in doing exactly that, the committee is also departing from what it has consequentially argued over the past three years under the same chair, namely, that the Nobel Peace Prize should, first and foremost, be oriented towards the person or the institution that has done the most for peace in the recent year, a formulation that is adapted directly from Nobel - that Alfred Nobel formulated back in the mid-1890s.
HEADLEE: So just a technical question for you. When you award it to an organization like this, the European Union, who takes the prize money? Where does it go?
HARPVIKEN: Well, in most cases, when an institution or organization receives the prize, it is shared between the entity and an individual. Not so in this case. That is something that will be up to the power holders within the EU top structure to negotiate amongst themselves.
HEADLEE: You know, I have to ask you. What kind of message is the committee sending with this choice? The choice of the European Union now, when there are riots in Greece, when there are protests in Spain, why pick the EU at this moment?
HARPVIKEN: Well, I think, first and foremost, because influential members on the committee are convinced that the EU is one of the most important peace projects in recent history and they wanted to use the occasion this year and, when there were no other obvious competing candidates, they're doing that, I'd say, despite of, rather than because of the EU being a particularly appropriate candidate in 2012.
HEADLEE: But is there also a possibility, just as with President Obama's selection in 2009, people accuse the committee of trying to get headlines? Is it also possible that the committee was trying to gain attention with this choice?
HARPVIKEN: I don't think that is the primary motive, although I'm convinced that this will gain the Nobel Peace Prize headlines. It's a bit different, though, in Norway and internationally. In Norway, this decision is deemed to stir considerable controversy, precisely because the issue of EU membership is so controversial in Norway, and many critics here see this already as the politicians on the Nobel Committee trying to use their platform there to affect Norwegian domestic politics.
Internationally, I think the reactions will be more mixed. But of course, in many countries, particularly those countries living with the impact of EU financial measures at the moment, the reaction will also be quite negative, I would assume.
HEADLEE: Yeah. I should mention that Norway is not a member of the European Union. That's Kristian Berg Harpviken, the director of Peace Research Institute Oslo. He follows the Nobel Peace Prize process very closely and he joined us from his office in Oslo, Norway.
Thank you so much, Kristian.
HARPVIKEN: Thank you.
(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC) Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.


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Update at 1 p.m. ET, May 1: Victims Identified:
The seven people killed in the crash Monday of a civilian 747 cargo plane taking off from Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan have been identified. The Associated Press says six were from Michigan. The seventh person was from Kentucky.
Our original post:
The final seconds of an American 747 civilian cargo jet's disastrous takeoff from Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan Monday — resulting in a crash that killed all seven crewmembers — were apparently captured by a dashboard camera. In the video, the aircraft is seen in a steep climb, until it fails to gain altitude and plummets into the earth.
The dashcam video shows the cargo jet, reportedly loaded with military vehicles, slowing in its ascent before making an excruciating turn toward the ground, where it burst into a fireball. The footage was posted at the LiveLeak website, which then had trouble with its servers. A copy was posted on YouTube. Warning: Some viewers may find the images disturbing.
Multiple aviation websites have also posted the video, including The Aviation Herald, which included this account:
"Several observers on the ground reported the National Air Cargo Boeing 747-400 had just lifted off and was climbing through approximately 1200 feet when it's nose sharply rose, the aircraft appeared to have stalled and came down erupting in a blaze... According to a listener on frequency the crew reported the aircraft stalled due to a possible load shift."
Others have suggested that a sudden powerful blast of wind may have disrupted the plane's climb.
In the video, the driver of the vehicle with the dashcam slows and reverses his direction as he sees the plane's nose turn back toward the earth. After the initial blast, he drives toward the crash site across open ground and around fencing, where thick black smoke rises from the wreckage.
At this point, we cannot say with absolute certainty that the haunting video is genuine. But the images agree with photographs and descriptions of the incident. In particular, a commenter named Scott wrote on the Loadstar website that he had witnessed the crash, saying that the plane "looked like it had flattened out to nearly level but had very little or no forward speed" at the point of impact. His description matches the footage.
The dashcam video includes a time stamp of 2013/02/01 — but that could have many explanations, including a lack of continuous power to the unit.
The AP has more information about the doomed flight, and its crew:
"The plane — owned by National Airlines, an Orlando, Florida-based subsidiary of National Air Cargo — was carrying vehicles and other cargo, according to National Air Cargo Vice President Shirley Kaufman. She said those killed were four pilots, two mechanics and a load master, who was responsible for making sure that the weight and balance of the cargo is appropriate. Five of the seven fatalities were from Michigan, said Kaufman."
In a statement, National Airlines said it will work with the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board and Afghan officials to determine why the jet crashed.
"This is a devastating loss for our family and we'll work diligently with authorities to find the cause," said National Airlines President Glen Joerger. "Most importantly, our thoughts and prayers are with our crewmembers and their families."
Copyright 2020 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.


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Wotan had taken away her immortality, but at least she still had her knitting needles.
I'm an opera fan, and while I don't listen to operatic music exclusively, I do find it highly suitable as a background for knitting.
A love of opera is much like a love of knitting: one feels compelled to spread the joy. To that end, I give you my off-the-cuff list of opera arias, duets, and scenes that pair well with certain types of knitting.
- For knitting 2x2 rib. "Largo al factotum" from Rossini's The Barber of Seville. It may only be true for continental knitters (of which I am one), but if you can get the alternation of your knitting and purling to fall in with the rhythm of Figaro's patter, you can build up a head of steam and finish your sweater or cuff ribbing in record time. Don't try to keep up with the final molto allegro, though. You'll put your eye out.
- For knitting something for your sweetheart. "Deh vieni, non tardar" from Mozart's Le Nozze di Figaro. My favorite aria from my favorite opera. Simple and calm, but filled with the buoyant feeling you get (at least, I hope you do) when you think of the person you love.
- For knitting lace. "Sul fil d'un soffio etesio," from Verdi's Falstaff. When it's properly performed, the texture of the music is pure gossamer.
- For ripping back a little. "Der Hölle Rache kocht in meinen Herzen," from Mozart's Die Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute). The first line of this notoriously difficult, fiendlishly angry aria translates to "A vengeful Hell pulses within my heart." Enough said.
- For ripping back a whole lot. "Ah, chi mi dice mai" from Mozart's Don Giovanni. Another vengeance aria. Includes the delicious and appropriate lines "I will destroy him. I will rip his heart out."
- For weaving in ends or sewing seams. "Dome epais" from Délibes's Lakmé. Awfully Enya for something written in the last century. If this won't keep you calm and balanced as your project nears completion, you need to switch to decaf.
- For dancing madly about the room with a really cool just-finished object. "Je suis Titania" from Thomas's Mignon, "Son vergin vezzosa" from Bellini's I Puritani, or "Je veux vivre" from Gounod's Romeo et Juliette. All sunny and frolicsome, to put it mildly. You get to be the queen of the fairies, a sprightly virgin, or a love-smacked Juliet Capulet. Take your pick.
- For lying down very still in the dark after completing your first Fair Isle or Aran sweater, an Orenburg lace shawl, or some other absolutely epochal project. Isolde's Liebestod from Wagner's Tristan und Isolde. "Liebestod" means "love-death" and the character in question is simultaneously dying of, and being transfigured by, love. This is for celebrating achievements bigger than a new hat or a shrug. This is for the projects that lift you up to the next level of knitting.
- For trying to collect yourself when the #$@%^! pattern just isn't working, or you just found a @$#%^ error five rows back. "A vos jeux, mes amis," from Thomas's Hamlet, "J'ai perdu mon Eurydice" from Gluck's Orphée et Eurydice, "When I am laid in earth," from Purcell's Dido and Aeneas, "E lucevan le stelle" from Puccini's Tosca, "Addio del passato" from Verdi's La Traviata. All mad scenes or pre-death arias. Have a good cry. You'll feel better.
- All-purpose. "Song to the Moon" from Dvorák's Rusalka, "Mi chiamano Mimì" from Puccini's La Bohème, "Depuis le jour" from Charpentier's Louise, "Gold is a fine thing," from Moore's The Ballad of Baby Doe, "Una furtiva lagrima" from Donizetti's L'Elisir d'amore (The Elixir of Love).
And of course, it would have been therapeutic for Cio-Cio San (aka Madama Butterfly) to have a hobby, instead of staring through that damned telescope all day watching for Pinkerton's ship. After completing her first sweater–a well-known booster of self-esteem–maybe she'd have grown a backbone and decided to cut her losses, take the kid, and marry that nice Prince Yamadori.
On the other hand, there are quite a few songs and arias that either reference or actually involve spinning. But that's another entry.
*If there are some I don't know of or have forgotten, I guarantee other opera buffs reading this will let me know. We're a garrulous bunch.


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Rule #1 - Be Patient - Rule #2 - Don't ask when, if you don't contribute - Rule #3 - You have coding skills - LinuxMCE's small brother is available: http://www.agocontrol.com
hi Darrensorry about your install, we know that many of you suffered when this release was made public. everything went good with testing inside but when was made public there was some differences in repositories. that was fixed but the damage is already done.we're not planning a release this week, hopefully 44 will go out by the end of next week.Dan
that .44 was not a public release, was for testing purpose.we're still testing .44


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(The awards were announced just after 3 p.m. ET.)
For "distinguished ... reporting on significant issues of local concern," reporter Sara Ganim and The Patriot News of Harrisburg, Pa., have won a 2012 Pulitzer Prize for uncovering the so-called Penn State scandal.
Other prize winners, which were just announced, include:
-- The Tuscaloosa News for its coverage of the tornado that devastated the city last spring.
-- The Philadelphia Inquirer for its investigative reporting on violence in that city's schools.
-- The Seattle Times (for reporting about a government program that "moved vulnerable patients from safer pain-control medication to methadone, a cheaper but more dangerous drug") and the Associated Press (its "spotlighting of the New York Police Department's clandestine spying program that monitored daily life in Muslim communities") for investigative reporting.
-- David Wood of The Huffington Post for his national reporting on the physical and emotional challenges faced by veterans of the Iraq and Afghan wars.
-- Jeffrey Gettleman of The New York Times for his international reporting from conflict zones in East Africa.
We'll add more in a moment.
Update at 3:25 p.m. ET. More Winners:
-- Explanatory Reporting: David Kocieniewski of The New York Times "for his lucid series that penetrated a legal thicket to explain how the nation's wealthiest citizens and corporations often exploited loopholes and avoided taxes."
-- Feature Writing: Eli Sanders of The Stranger, a Seattle (Wash.) weekly, "for his haunting story of a woman who survived a brutal attack that took the life of her partner."
-- Commentary: Mary Schmich of the Chicago Tribune.
-- Editorial cartooning: Matt Wuerker of Politico.
-- Breaking news photography: Massoud Hossaini of Agence France-Presse "for his heartbreaking image of a girl crying in fear after a suicide bomber's attack at a crowded shrine in Kabul."
-- Feature photography: Craig F. Walker of The Denver Post, "for his compassionate chronicle of an honorably discharged veteran."
-- Drama: Water by the Spoonful, by Quiara Alegría Hudes.
-- History: Malcolm X: A Life of Reinvention, by the late Manning Marable (Viking).
-- Biography: George F. Kennan: An American Life, by John Lewis Gaddis (The Penguin Press).
-- Poetry: Life on Mars by Tracy K. Smith (Graywolf Press).
-- General Nonfiction: The Swerve: How the World Became Modern, by Stephen Greenblatt (W.W. Norton and Company). Related post on Krulwich Wonders: Lucretius, Man Of Modern Mystery.
-- Music: Silent Night: Opera in Two Acts by Kevin Puts (Aperto Press).
No awards were made in the categories of editorial writing or fiction.
Our original post:
This year's Pulitzer Prizes are due to be announced at 3 p.m. ET.
We won't make the understandable mistake of The Daily Beast, which appears to have hit the publish button on its "draft" of the news a bit early — it lists the "Times" as winning every category.
But if you are wondering about the leading candidates for this year's awards, Poynter's Roy Harris rounds them up here.
We'll update this post with the news after the prizes are announced. The Pulitzer website is here.
Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.


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Jonathan Adler Menagerie Whale Bookend Set
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Elemental forms with subtle layers of pattern and decoration, finished with a soft satin matte glaze. The Jonathan Adler Menagerie Collection starts its journey in our Soho pottery studio where Jonathan and his team hand-sculpt the original model in clay. The prototype is then sent to our workshop in Peru where skilled artisans produce each piece in high-fired stoneware.
- 10.5"W x 7"H
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- Set of 2


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And it's time for sports. Today, the NBA playoffs begin, and several teams that normally steal the spotlight are nowhere in sight. Meanwhile, some old guys from San Antonio are again looking like contenders. We're joined by Howard Bryant of ESPN.com and ESPN The Magazine. He's at the studios of New England Public Radio. Good morning.
HOWARD BRYANT: Good morning, Wade. How are you?
GOODWYN: I'm fine, thanks. This year, the Los Angeles Lakers, the Boston Celtics, and the New York Knicks are all sitting out of the NBA playoffs. They're the three biggest markets in the country. What happened?
BRYANT: Well, I think what happened was the - well, the Celtics certainly are in a rebuilding mode. Everybody knew they weren't going to be a very good team this year. I think the Lakers, once you lose Kobe Bryant, he only played six games this year, and they lost Dwight Howard to free agency last year, then they weren't going to be that good either. And the Knicks, well, the Knicks are just one dysfunctional team, but luckily they've got Phil Jackson, he of the 11 championship rings, and maybe they can turn it around next year. But from a signature name standpoint, the NBA is missing three big teams for the first time in 67 years.
GOODWYN: I guess there's one main question about the playoffs. Can anybody beat the Miami Heat?
BRYANT: Well, that's been the conversation ever since LeBron James got there. Can anybody beat them four times? And I think that that's been - last year, the San Antonio Spurs were 20 seconds away from doing it, and even they didn't do it. So this year, the conversation is the same. The Spurs have been the best team over the course of the season, but LeBron James is the best player in the league, even though Kevin Durant from Oklahoma City is going to win the MVP, I think.
But to me, I'm just going to believe it when I see it, that somebody can take out. In the NBA, best player wins. So can you take out LeBron James? Because we haven't seen it for the last couple years. They're looking for three championships in a row.
GOODWYN: On a more somber note, this week two publications, ESPN The Magazine and Los Angeles Magazine, reported a story about a major league baseball outfielder. His name is Yasiel Puig.
BRYANT: Yasiel Puig.
GOODWYN: Yasiel Puig.
BRYANT: Yes. Try saying that three times fast.
GOODWYN: Yasiel Puig. And the story wasn't about his game, but his journey from Cuba to America to play for the Los Angeles Dodgers. And it sounded disturbing and complicated.
BRYANT: Yeah, it's, it is a complicated story. And I think people, as the story's begun to unfold, it's depressing. It's the story about how the Cuban ballplayers defect and their road to get away from their country and defect to play in the United States. And Yasiel Puig, a couple years ago, he signed for $42 million. And Scott Eden, the reporter for ESPN The Magazine, did a fantastic job on just explaining the different handlers that get involved. And one of the handlers happened to be part of a Mexican drug cartel.
And now Puig is also being sued by other people who want 15, 20 percent of his earnings to come here. And it's a very high cost in human lives, as well as what's taking place back in Cuba, as well. The number of people who are involved, who supposedly, according to the story - and we know that this has happened in the past - that the ballplayers allegedly told the Cuban government that they'd essentially snitched on them and sent some of these guys to prison to allow the baseball players to escape. It's a really, really sad story.
It's very complicated in terms of culpability. But the one thing that we do know is that when you're trying to defect from a place like Cuba and the desperation that's involved, there's a lot of money at stake - and these ballplayers are making ridiculous loads of money - and the desperation to get out is pretty high. Puig, this was his fourth attempt, I think, or his fourth or fifth attempt to escape. And so the stakes are very, very high. And now that he's here and he's a great, great player, and now there are a lot of people who also have their hands out.
And there's a lot of legal wrangling about who's responsible for some of those people who are now in Cuban prisons, as well. It's a fantastic story.
GOODWYN: Howard Bryant of ESPN.com and ESPN The Magazine. Howard, it was a pleasure.
BRYANT: My pleasure. Thank you. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.


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Want to see the vintage pattern gems my research turned up? Snap on your suspenders and follow me for a magical mystery tour of suspender skirts through the decades!
The Thirties
Lovely Etsy seller Wearing History had the above pattern for sale (sadly, it's now sold) with this fascinating bit of background:
The suspender skirt came in with swing and collegiate styles in the late 30s, and also the Tyrolean or alpine influence, which is why this pattern has the option for an attached apron made in a printed cotton after the folk style that came back. It has a high waistline and suspenders that button in place behind pointed tabs.Indeed, this is a style that lends itself to both a preppy-chic look as well as a Bavarian/folkloric vibe, and I found both of these styles in my research.
The Forties
On the more collegiate side of things, this darling pattern from the 40s is classic and clean with a gored skirt. Meet you on the quad, ladies!
The Fifties
The suspender skirt styles of the 50s seemed to skew a bit more juvenile, with the patterns being made only for little girls and teens, as far as I could tell. Emblematic of the decade, the skirts were either very full or very slim. Check out the adorable envelope art on the pattern above - how cute is the bit with the puppy?! Love!
Here's the slim skirted teen pattern from my collection that sparked my interest in the Jenny skirt.
The Sixties
It's a mod mod world, baby! Love the chic silhouette of this junior pattern from 1965.
The Seventies
The Bavarian influence comes back in the form of boho chic! There are so many things to say about this pattern below, and so little time.
The Eighties
The 80s never disappoint, do they? This pattern would create an . . . interesting bustline, don't you think?
The Nineties
The pattern illustrations below demonstrate Laura Ashley tendencies, but I actually love the look the gal in the front is working. Polka dots and statement glasses: you know I dig it!
Interesting to note that in the 80s and 90s, the suspender skirt moved away from the lederhosen/folksy look.
. . . and Today!
BurdaStyle brings the suspender skirt back in '10! I love that the saddle shoes and crisp button-down hint at the style's vintage-preppy roots.
Thanks for joining me on this exploration of suspender skirts of yore! The cool thing about this style is that it's easy to incorporate into any skirt pattern - just slap on a pair of suspender straps. What do you think? Will you be sewing any of these looks - vintage or contemporary?


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Left his insurance card and wallet at his girlfriend's.
Forgot to bring in his MRI reports ("Oh, yeah, I think they're in a box under my bed.")
Had to call his mother to ask what medications he takes.
Forgot to stop at his regular doctor's office to pick up his insurance authorization.
And is wearing a T-shirt that says "I believe in personal responsibility"


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WEST, Texas — The First Baptist Church in the tiny Texas town where a fertilizer plant exploded is still off-limits, so the Rev. John Crowder put folding chairs in a hay pasture and improvised a pulpit on a truck flatbed. At the elementary school, an official carted extra desks and chairs into the only public school campus that's left.
This was Sunday in West. Four days after the blast that killed 14 people and injured 200 others, residents prayed for comfort and got ready for the week ahead, some of them still waiting to find out when – or if – they will be able to go back home.
"We have lost our friends and neighbors. We lost the safety and comfort of our homes," said Crowder, raising his voice over the whirr of helicopters surveying the nearby rubble from overhead. "But as scary as this is, we don't have to be afraid."
The explosion at the West Fertilizer Co. rocketed shrapnel across several blocks and left what assistant state fire marshal Kelly Kirstner described Sunday as "a large crater." A section of the flat farming town near the crater, including Crowder's church, is still behind barricades.
One school campus was obliterated, and on the eve of 1,500 students returning to class for the first time since Wednesday's blast, Superintendent Marty Crawford said the high school and middle school could also be razed.
Nearly 70 federal and state investigators are still trying to determine what caused the fire that set off the explosion, Kirstner said. Authorities say there are no signs of criminal intent.
Robert Champion, the special agent in charge for the Dallas office of the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, said experts plan to enter the crater in the next few days and start digging in search of an explanation.
"It's a slow process, but we're getting there," Champion said.
Slow is the normal way of life in West. But the last several days for many of its 2,800 residents have melded into an anguishing and frustrating stretch of wait-and-hear – whether about the safety of family and friends, or the fate of their homes.
Six firefighters and four emergency medics were among the dead, and city officials announced that a memorial service would be held Thursday at Baylor University.
Professional organizations and family and friends on Sunday identified four of the first responders who died: brothers Doug and Robert Snokhous, who were both firefighters with the West Volunteer Fire Department; Jerry Chapman, a firefighter with the Abbott Volunteer Fire Department; and Kevin Sanders, who worked with West EMS and another area volunteer fire department.
At least one of the West volunteer firefighters who was killed, Joey Pustejovsky, was a member of St. Mary's Church of the Assumption that held a solemn first Mass since the blast.
Firefighters and emergency workers in bright yellow jackets kneeled in the pews as the Rev. Boniface Onjefu recalled driving toward the fire after the explosion rattled his house.
"I stopped at the nursing home," Onjefu said. "I noticed a lot of people trapped. I assisted. I prayed with some and held the hands of some that needed comfort. I saw him in the eyes of everyone."
Said Onjefu, "God heard our prayers and prevented another tank from exploding."
Edi Botello, a senior at West High School, is Catholic but stood in a roadside pasture with friend Chelsea Hayes for the First Baptist Church service that drew more than 100 people. "We needed this," Botello said.
They wore gray "(hash)prayforwest" shirts that have become ubiquitous in the town. On the night of the explosion, Botello asked his mother if Hayes, who lived close to the plant, could come over. He said his mom still wonders what might have been if she had said no.
"Every time I close my eyes, all I can think about is the explosion," Botello said. "People running around. People evacuating. There was one point I couldn't even talk. I just stuttered."
Wendy Castro, a clerk at a nearby Wal-Mart, was among the first allowed back into her home, which sits on the outmost edge of the barricaded area. Broken windows and screen doors twisted off hinges is about the worst damage in her neighborhood.
The streets look like a bad storm rumbled through, not the deadliest fertilizer plant explosion since 31 were killed in Toulouse, France, in 2001. Dozens of homes close to the blast – some of which were leveled – may not be accessible to owners for another week or more.
Among the scorched buildings in the shadow of the plant were the town's high school and intermediate school.
Crawford said the track team probably would have been at the high school when the plant erupted if they hadn't stopped to eat on their way back from a meet. On Sunday, he checked on volunteers furnishing three portable classrooms trucked to the elementary campus. Starting Monday, the school that usually has 350 students will be crowded with twice that.
Crawford noticed the proximity of the schools to the fertilizer plant when he came down from Dallas to interview for the superintendent job. "A red flag went up," he said. Teachers are practiced in emergency drills and there's an evacuation plan on paper in the district office.
Had the explosion happened hours earlier, Crawford is certain it would have made no difference.
"We would have tried our best," Crawford said. "But I couldn't see us being successful. I don't have to describe to you in graphic detail what would have happened."
Associated Press writer Nomaan Merchant in Dallas contributed to this report.
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Is Tanning Making Me Itch?
I've been itching quite a lot on the inside of my thighs, my bikini line area, stomach, and backside. I figured itching in the bikini area was just from shaving, but I've recently noticed little red bumps where it itches on my butt. Can this be happening because I've been tanning lately?
– Jessica*
Yes. Tanning booths and beds can cause people to develop a rash.
The itching and bumps you notice may be caused by too much UV light exposure. Your skin also could be sensitive to chemicals used to clean tanning beds or ingredients in cosmetics or lotions. Another less-than-pleasant possibility is you may have a skin infection from a bed that hasn't been cleaned properly. If your rash doesn't go away, if it's warm or tender, or if you have a fever, see a doctor.
Some medications can make skin more susceptible to UV light — a rash could be one sign of this. If you're taking any prescriptions (including birth control pills and acne treatments), avoid tanning and wear sun protection when you're outside.
The itching and redness is your skin's way of saying, "Stop, don't do this to me!" Just like exposure to the sun, tanning beds and booths can increase your risk of skin cancer, premature aging, and eye problems. Since a rash is probably not the kind of warm glow you're going for, find another way to get the look you want (like using a self-tanner or body makeup).
*Names have been changed to protect user privacy.
Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor.
© 1995-2024 KidsHealth ® All rights reserved. Images provided by iStock, Getty Images, Corbis, Veer, Science Photo Library, Science Source Images, Shutterstock, and Clipart.com


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Preface This address is a stenographic report of a talk made to the prisoners in the Chicago jail. Some of my good friends have insisted that while my theories are true, I should not have given them to the inmates of a jail.
Realizing the force of the suggestion that the truth should not be spoken to all people, I have caused these remarks to be printed on rather good paper and in a somewhat expensive form. In this way the truth does not become cheap and vulgar, and is only placed before those whose intelligence and affluence will prevent their being influenced by it.—Clarence Darrow
Crime and Criminals
If I looked at jails and crimes and prisoners in the way the ordinary person does, I should not speak on this subject to you. The reason I talk to you on the question of crime, its cause and cure, is because I really do not in the least believe in crime. There is no such thing as a crime as the word is generally understood. I do not believe there is any sort of distinction between the real moral condition of the people in and out of jail. One is just as good as the other. The people here can no more help being here than the people outside can avoid being outside. I do not believe that people are in jail because they deserve to be. They are in jail simply because they cannot avoid it on account of circumstances which are entirely beyond their control and for which they are in no way responsible.
I suppose a great many people on the outside would say I was doing you harm if they should hear what I say to you this afternoon, but you cannot be hurt a great deal anyway, so it will not matter. Good people outside would say that I was really teaching you things that were calculated to injure society, but its worth while now and then to hear something different from what you ordinarily get from preachers and the like. These will tell you that you should be good and then you will get rich and be happy. Of course we know that people do not get rich by being good, and that is the reason why so many of you people try to get rich some other way, only you do not understand how to do it quite as well as the fellow outside.
There are people who think that everything in this world is an accident. But really there is no such thing as an accident. A great many folks admit that many of the people in jail ought not to be there, and many who are outside ought to be in. I think none of them ought to be here. There ought to be no jails, and if it were not for the fact that the people on the outside are so grasping and heartless in their dealings with the people on the inside, there would be no such institution as jails.
I do not want you to believe that I think all you people here are angels. I do not think that. You are people of all kinds, all of you doing the best you can, and that is evidently not very well you are people of all kinds and conditions and under all circumstances. In one sense everybody is equally good and equally bad. We all do the best we can under the circumstances. But as to the exact things for which you are sent here, some of you are guilty and did the particular act because you needed the money. Some of you did it because you are in the habit of doing it, and some of you because you are born to it, and it comes to be as natural as it does, for instance, for me to be good.
Most of you probably have nothing against me, and most of you would treat me the same as any other person would; probably better than some of the people on the outside would treat me, because you think I believe in you and they know I do not believe in them. While you would not have the least thing against me in the world you might pick my pockets. I do not think all of you would, but I think some of you would. You would not have anything against me, but thats your profession, a few of you. Some of the rest of you, if my doors were unlocked, might come in if you saw anything you wanted not out of malice to me, but because that is your trade. There is no doubt there are quite a number of people in this jail who would pick my pockets. And still I know this, that when I get outside pretty nearly everybody picks my pocket. There may be some of you who would hold up a man on the street, if you did not happen to have something else to do, and needed the money; but when I want to light my house or my office the gas company holds me up. They charge me one dollar for something that is worth twenty-five cents, and still all these people are good people; they are pillars of society and support the churches, and they are respectable.
When I ride on the street cars, I am held up I pay five cents for a ride that is worth two and a half cents, simply because a body of men have bribed the city council and the legislature, so that all the rest of us have to pay tribute to them.
If I do not wish to fall into the clutches of the gas trust and choose to burn oil instead of gas, then good Mr. Rockefeller holds me up, and he uses a certain portion of his money to build universities and support churches which are engaged in telling us how to be good.
Some of you are here for obtaining property under false pretenses yet I pick up a great Sunday paper and read the advertisements of a merchant prince Shirt waists for 39 cents, marked down from $3.00.
When I read the advertisements in the paper I see they are all lies. When I want to get out and find a place to stand anywhere on the face of the earth, I find that it has all been taken up long ago before I came here, and before you came here, and somebody says, Get off, swim into the lake, fly into the air; go anywhere, but get off. That is because these people have the police and they have the jails and judges and the lawyers and the soldiers and all the rest of them to take care of the earth and drive everybody off that comes in their way.
A great many people will tell you that all this is true, but that it does not excuse you. These facts do not excuse some fellow who reaches into my pocket and takes out a five dollar bill; the fact that the gas company bribes the members of the legislature from year to year, and fixes the law, so that all you people are compelled to be fleeced whenever you deal with them; the fact that the street car companies and the gas companies have control of the streets and the fact that the landlords own all the earth, they say, has nothing to do with you.
Let us see whether there is any connection between the crimes of the respectable classes and your presence in the jail. Many of you people are in jail because you have really committed burglary. Many of you, because you have stolen something; in the meaning of the law, you have taken some other persons property. Some of you have entered a store and carried off a pair of shoes because you did not have the price. Possibly some of you have committed murder. I cannot tell what all of you did. There are a great many people here who have done some of these things who really do not know themselves why they did them. I think I know why you did them every one of you; you did these things because you were bound to do them. It looked to you at the time as if you had a chance to do them or not, as you saw fit, but still after all you had no choice. There may be people here who had some money in their pockets and who still went out and got some more money in a way society forbids. Now you may not yourselves see exactly why it was you did this thing, but if you look at the question deeply enough and carefully enough you would see that there were circumstances that drove you to do exactly the thing which you did. You could not help it any more than we outside can help taking the positions that we take. The reformers who tell you to be good and you will be happy, and the people on the outside who have property to protect they think that the only way to do it is by building jails and locking you up in cells on week days and praying for you Sundays.
I think that all of this has nothing whatever to do with right conduct. I think it is very easily seen what has to do with right conduct. Some so-called criminals and I will use this word because it is handy, it means nothing to me I speak of the criminals who get caught as distinguished from the criminals who catch them some of these so-called criminals are in jail for the first offenses, but nine-tenths of you are in jail because you did not have a good lawyer and of course you did not have a good lawyer because you did not have enough money to pay a good lawyer. There is no very great danger of a rich man going to jail.
Some of you may be here for the first time. If we would open the doors and let you out, and leave the laws as they are today, some of you would be back tomorrow. This is about as good a place as you can get anyway. There are many people here who are so in the habit of coming that they would not know where else to go. There are people who are born with the tendency to break into jail every chance they get, and they cannot avoid it. You cannot figure out your life and see why it was, but still there is a reason for it, and if we were all wise and knew all the facts we could figure it out.
In the first place, there are a good many more people who go to jail in the winter time than in summer. Why is this? Is it because people are more wicked in winter? No, it is because the coal trust begins to get in its grip in the winter. A few gentlemen take possession of the coal, and unless the people will pay $7 or $8 a ton for something that is worth $3, they will have to freeze. Then there is nothing to do but break into jail, and so there are many more in jail in the winter than in summer. It costs more for gas in the winter because the nights are longer, and people go to jail to save gas bills. The jails are electric lighted. You may not know it, but these economic laws are working all the time, whether we know it or do not know it.
There are more people go to jail in hard times than in good times few people comparatively go to jail except when they are hard up. They go to jail because they have no other place to go. They may not know why, but it is true all the same. People are not more wicked in hard times. That is not the reason. The fact is true all over the world that in hard times more people go to jail than in good times, and in winter more people go to jail than in summer. Of course it is pretty hard times for people who go to jail at any time. The people who go to jail are almost always poor people people who have no other place to live first and last. When times are hard then you find large numbers of people who go to jail who would not otherwise be in jail.
Long ago Mr. Buckle, who was a great philosopher and historian, collected facts and he showed that the number of people who are arrested increased just as the price of food increased. When they put up the price of gas ten cents a thousand I do not know who will go to jail, but I do know that a certain number of people will go. When the meat combine raises the price of beef I do not know who is going to jail, but I know that a large number of people are bound to go. Whenever the Standard Oil Company raises the price of oil, I know that a certain number of girls who are seamstresses, and who work after night long hours for somebody else, will be compelled to go out on the streets and ply another trade, and I know that Mr. Rockefeller and his associates are responsible and not the poor girls in the jails.
First and last, people are sent to jail because they are poor. Sometimes, as I say, you may not need money at the particular time, but you wish to have thrifty forehanded habits, and do not always wait until you are in absolute want. Some of you people are perhaps plying the trade, the profession, which is called burglary. No man in his right senses will go into a strange house in the dead of night and prowl around with a dark lantern through unfamiliar rooms and take chances of his life if he has plenty of the good things of the world in his own home. You would not take any such chances as that. If a man had clothes in his clothes-press and beefsteak in his pantry, and money in the bank, he would not navigate around nights in houses where he knows nothing about the premises whatever. It always requires experience and education for this profession, and people who fit themselves for it are no more to blame than I am for being a lawyer. A man would not hold up another man on the street if he had plenty of money in his own pocket. He might do it if he had one dollar or two dollars, but he wouldnt if he had as much money as Mr. Rockefeller has. Mr. Rockefeller has a great deal better hold-up game than that.
The more that is taken from the poor by the rich, who have the chance to take it, the more poor people there are who are compelled to resort to these means for a livelihood. They may not understand it, they may not think so at once, but after all they are driven into that line of employment.
There is a bill before the legislature of this State to punish kidnapping of children with death. We have wise members of the legislature. They know the gas trust when they see it and they always see it they can furnish light enough to be seen, and this legislature thinks it is going to stop kidnapping of children by making a law punishing kidnapers of children with death. I dont believe in kidnapping children, but the legislature is all wrong. Kidnapping children is not a crime, it is a profession. It has been developed with the times. It has been developed with our modern industrial conditions. There are many ways of making money many new ways that our ancestors knew nothing about. Our ancestors knew nothing about a billion dollar trust; and here comes some poor fellow who has no other trade and he discovers the profession of kidnapping children.
This crime is born, not because people are bad; people dont kidnap other peoples children because they want the children or because they are devilish, but because they see a chance to get some money out of it. You cannot cure this crime by passing a law punishing by death kidnapers of children. There is one way to cure it. There is one way to cure all these offenses, and that is to give the people a chance to live. There is no other way, and there never was any other way since the world began, and the world is so blind and stupid that it will not see. If every man and woman and child in the world had a chance to make a decent, fair, honest living, there would be no jails, and no lawyers and no courts. There might be some persons here or there with some peculiar formation of their brain, like Rockefeller, who would do these things simply to be doing them; but they would be very, very few, and those should be sent to a hospital and treated, and not sent to jail, and they would entirely disappear in the second generation, or at least in the third generation.
I am not talking pure theory. I will just give you two or three illustrations.
The English people once punished criminals by sending them away. They would load them on a ship and export them to Australia. England was owned by lords and nobles and rich people. They owned the whole earth over there, and the other people had to stay in the streets. They could not get a decent living. They used to take their criminals and send them to Australia I mean the class of criminals who got caught. When these criminals got over there, and nobody else had come, they had the whole continent to run over, and so they could raise sheep and furnish their own meat, which is easier than stealing it; these criminals then became decent, respectable people because they had a chance to live. They did not commit any crimes. They were just like the English people who sent them there, only better. And in the second generation the descendants of those criminals were as good and respectable a class of people as there were on the face of the earth, and then they began building churches and jails themselves.
A portion of this country was settled in the same way, landing prisoners down on the southern coast; but when they got here and had a whole continent to run over and plenty of chances to make a living, they became respectable citizens, making their own living just like any other citizen in the world; but finally these descendants of the English aristocracy, who sent the people over to Australia, found out they were getting rich, and so they went over to get possession of the earth as they always do, and they organized land syndicates and got control of the land and ores, and then they had just as many criminals in Australia as they did in England. It was not because the world had grown bad; it was because the earth had been taken away from the people.
Some of you people have lived in the country. Its prettier than it is here. And if you have ever lived on a farm you understand that if you put a lot of cattle in a field, when the pasture is short they will jump over the fence; but put them in a good field where there is plenty of pasture, and they will be law-abiding cattle to the end of time. The human animal is just like the rest of the animals, only a little more so. The same thing that governs in the one governs in the other.
Everybody makes his living along the lines of least resistance. A wise man who comes into a country early sees a great undeveloped land. For instance, our rich men twenty-five years ago saw that Chicago was small and knew a lot of people would come here and settle, and they readily saw that if they had all the land around here it would be worth a good deal, so they grabbed the land. You cannot be a landlord because somebody has got it all. You must find some other calling. In England and Ireland and Scotland less than five percent own all the land there is, and the people are bound to stay there on any kind of terms the landlords give. They must live the best they can, so they develop all these various professions burglary, picking pockets and the like.
Again, people find all sorts of ways of getting rich. These are diseases like everything else. You look at people getting rich, organizing trusts, and making a million dollars, and somebody gets the disease and he starts out. He catches it just as a man catches the mumps or the measles; he is not to blame, it is in the air. You will find men speculating beyond their means, because the mania of money-getting is taking possession of them. It is simply a disease; nothing more, nothing less. You cannot avoid catching it; but the fellows who have control of the earth have the advantage of you. See what the law is; when these men get control of things, they make the laws. They do not make the laws to protect anybody; courts are not instruments of justice; when your case gets into court it will make little difference whether you are guilty or innocent; but its better if you have a smart lawyer. And you cannot have a smart lawyer unless you have money. First and last its a question of money. Those men who own the earth make the laws to protect what they have. They fix up a sort of fence or pen around what they have, and they fix the law so the fellow on the outside cannot get in. The laws are really organized for the protection of the men who rule the world. They were never organized or enforced to do justice. We have no system for doing justice, not the slightest in the world.
Let me illustrate: Take the poorest person in this room. If the community had provided a system of doing justice the poorest person in this room would have as good a lawyer as the richest, would he not? When you went into court you would have just as long a trial, and just as fair a trial as the richest person in Chicago. Your case would not be tried in fifteen or twenty minutes, whereas it would take fifteen days to get through with a rich mans case.
Then if you were rich and were beaten your case would be taken to the Appellate Court. A poor man cannot take his case to the Appellate Court; he has not the price; and then to the Supreme Court, and if he were beaten there he might perhaps go to the United States Supreme Court. And he might die of old age before he got into jail. If you are poor, its a quick job. You are almost known to be guilty, else you would not be there. Why should anyone be in the criminal court if he were not guilty? He would not be there if he could be anywhere else. The officials have no time to look after these cases. The people who are on the outside, who are running banks and building churches and making jails, they have no time to examine 600 or 700 prisoners each year to see whether they are guilty or innocent. If the courts were organized to promote justice the people would elect somebody to defend all these criminals, somebody as smart as the prosecutor and give him as many detectives and as many assistants to help, and pay as much money to defend you as to prosecute you. We have a very able man for States Attorney, and he has many assistants, detectives and policemen without end, and judges to hear the cases everything handy.
Most of our criminal code consists in offenses against property. People are sent to jail because they have committed a crime against property. It is of very little consequence whether one hundred people more or less go to jail who ought not to go you must protect property, because in this world property is of more importance than anything else.
How is it done? These people who have property fix it so they can protect what they have. When somebody commits a crime it does not follow that he has done something that is morally wrong. The man on the outside who has committed no crime may have done something. For instance: to take all the coal in the United States and raise the price two dollars or three dollars when there is no need of it, and thus kills thousands of babies and send thousands of people to the poorhouse and tens of thousands to jail, as is done every year in the United States this is a greater crime than all the people in our jails ever committed, but the law does not punish it. Why? Because the fellows who control the earth make the laws. If you and I had the making of the laws, the first thing we would do would be to punish the fellow who gets control of the earth. Nature put this coal in the ground for me as well as for them and nature made the prairies up here to raise wheat for me as well as for them, and then the great railroad companies came along and fenced it up.
Most all of the crimes for which we are punished are property crimes. There are a few personal crimes, like murder but they are very few. The crimes committed are mostly against property. If this punishment is right the criminals must have a lot of property. How much money is there in this crowd? And yet you are all here for crimes against property. The people up and down the Lake Shore have not committed crime, still they have so much property they dont know what to do with it. It is perfectly plain why these people have not committed crimes against property; they make the laws and therefore do not need to break them. And in order for you to get some property you are obliged to break the rules of the game. I dont know but what some of you may have had a very nice chance to get rich by carrying the hod for one dollar a day, twelve hours. Instead of taking that nice, easy profession, you are a burglar. If you had been given a chance to be a banker you would rather follow that. Some of you may have had a chance to work as a switchman on a railroad where you know, according to statistics, that you cannot live and keep all your limbs more than seven years, and you get fifty dollars a month for taking your lives in your hands, and instead of taking that lucrative position you choose to be a sneak thief, or something like that. Some of you made that sort of choice. I dont know which I would take if I was reduced to this choice. I have an easier choice.
I will guarantee to take from this jail, or any jail in the world, five hundred men who have been the worst criminals and law breakers who ever got into jail, and I will go down to our lowest streets and take five hundred of the most hardened prostitutes, and go out somewhere where there is plenty of land, and will give them a chance to make a living, and they will be as good people as the average in the community.
There is a remedy for the sort of condition we see here. The world never finds it out, or when it does find it out it does not enforce it. You may pass a law punishing every person with death for burglary, and it will make no difference. Men will commit it just the same. In England there was a time when one hundred different offenses were punishable with death, and it made no difference. The English people strangely found out that so fast as they repealed the severe penalties and so fast as they did away with punishing men by death, crime decreased instead of increased; that the smaller the penalty the fewer the crimes.
Hanging men in our county jails does not prevent murder. It makes murderers.
And this has been the history of the world. Its easy to see how to do away with what we call crime. It is not so easy to do it. I will tell you how to do it. It can be done by giving the people a chance to live by destroying special privileges. So long as big criminals can get the coal fields, so long as the big criminals have control of the city council and get the public streets for street cars and gas rights, this is bound to send thousands of poor people to jail. So long as men are allowed to monopolize all the earth, and compel others to live on such terms as these men see fit to make, then you are bound to get into jail.
The only way in the world to abolish crime and criminals is to abolish the big ones and the little ones together. Make fair conditions of life. Give men a chance to live. Abolish the right of private ownership of land, abolish monopoly, make the world partners in production, partners in the good things of life. Nobody would steal if he could get something of his own some easier way. Nobody will commit burglary when he has a house full. No girl will go out on the streets when she has a comfortable place at home. The man who owns a sweatshop or a department store may not be to blame himself for the condition of his girls, but when he pays them five dollars, three dollars, and two dollars a week, I wonder where he thinks they will get the rest of their money to live. The only way to cure these conditions is by equality. There should be no jails. They do not accomplish what they pretend to accomplish. If you would wipe them out, there would be no more criminals than now. They terrorize nobody. They are a blot upon civilization, and a jail is an evidence of the lack of charity of the people on the outside who make the jails and fill them with the victims of their greed.
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