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~As I said in my last post. I got my braces off (yay no more braces!). I still have to wear retainer for a year though. However, I'm not complaning at all hehe :)
Sorry for the weird coloring. I was playing with the holga effect on my camera.
~Okay, that's it for now. No more teeth for you lolz!
~It's hot hot hot here in Colorado. I got some shiseido sunscreen that I'm in love with. This sunscreen is great for oily/acne skin. No greasy residue whatsoever
Shiseido Urban Environment Oil Free UV protector SPF 42
Duration throughout the day:★,★,★,★,★,
Texture: Very light (feel like you put nothing on) and it even out your skin tone =D
Package:★,★,★, -- Wish it was bigger lolz
Price:★, ★,★,($30)
~Overall, I am very pleased with this product!
~Next week is prom prom prom! Stay tuned for pictures =D
~XOXO Charlotte

subset: commoncrawl


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Here's an unusual risk of playing paintball: A British woman's breast implant reportedly exploded after she was hit in the chest by a paintball, which can travel at 190 mph.They have sports bras, maybe they need sports implants.
UK Paintball has now adjusted its policies accordingly. "We respectfully ask that any ladies with surgical breast implants notify our team at the time of booking," according to a statement on its website. "You will be given special information on the dangers of paintballing with enhanced boobs and asked to sign a disclaimer."
Just wait, it gets better: "You will also be issued with extra padding to protect your implants while paintballing," the statement says.
This, of course, happened within days of an FDA official reaffirming that silicone breast implants on the market were safe to use.
Saturday, September 03, 2011
Never Take Silicone Implants to a Paintball Fight
Posted by Rick Moore on 9/03/2011
2 comments:
Female fencers wear a plastic protector underneath their jackets. Some years ago, all they had were individual metal protectors that fitted into inside pockets of their jackets. They were referred to as "hubcaps".
There was a recent story about implants saving a woman's life by stopping a bullet. Money well-spent in that case.
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text:
A Mother's Tale
You might not understand this story unless you are a parent.
Last week my daughter, Debra traveled to San Diego for work. She called me the day before her trip and told she was flying to SD and then driving up to Los Angeles and then flying home. I wasn't sure about all the dates, she just called so I'd know she might not be online or available by phone. She didn't want me to worry. She knows I'm a worrier.
Friday, on the way home from work, I thought of something I wanted to tell Deb so I called her. I was surprised when a man answered the phone and said "how you'd like to wake up to that every day?" I thought I must have the wrong number but I had used the speed dial. I looked at the screen on the phone and it said "connected - Debra cell." I spoke into the phone, "hello.. hello?" I heard a response, "I can hardly hear you." So I hung up and tried again. The phone went immediately to Deb's voice mail. I redialed. Voicemail. Again. Voicemail.
At that point, I started to worry. And the crazy mother that lives in my head started coming up with possible scenarios. Perhaps Debra had lost her cell phone. But if she'd lost the phone, she'd probably call the phone company and have the phone disabled. Or she would have called me and told me the phone was missing. Unless she didn't know yet it was missing. Maybe that was it. But maybe it was worse than that. Maybe someone had abducted her on her trip from San Diego and now she was captive. I wasn't sure why her captor would answer the phone but obviously he had realized his mistake and had disabled the phone. After several attempts to call and only getting voicemail I left a message telling Debra that some man had answered her phone and I was worried so she should call me as soon as possible. Then there was nothing I could do but go home and wait. I realized I don't have her boyfriend's phone number but I did log on the computer hoping he was online. AIM indicated he'd been idle for 30 minutes. So I waited and worried and tried to decide just when I should phone the police and tell them my daughter had been abducted....
Finally after about a hour (20 hours in Mom time) Debra called. She'd been on a plane the entire time I'd been calling her. No one knows who the mystery man was. I had used speed dial to call and there were no other numbers in my phone log so I suppose the wires just got crossed. For now the hysterical mother that lives just below the surface of my normally rational being has gone back into hiding. But she'll be back. I'm sure of that. And if you're a parent you understand perfectly.


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I was using the Amazon cloud services and came across this new feature that they haven't publicized much yet. It's the AWS Hosted Public Data Sets. They basically host public datasets for free that any AWS EC2 instance can access. Right now they have some datasets provided by The US Census Bureau and the Bureau of Labor Statistics. An exciting one they'll be adding soon is the annotated human genome. If you have a large dataset in public domain, scroll to the bottom of this page to let Amazon know that you want to contribute. In fact, you can already publish your dataset to Amazon's EBS storage yourself and just make it public. The downside is that you'll have to pay for the hosting cost, which is strictly dependent on the size of your data but is generally cheap. You'll also have to promote the dataset's availability yourself, as it won't be listed on the Amazon's Web site.
What I wish to see in the short term is that various government agencies make their data available on Amazon. For example, the USPTO should release all its patent data. These data are already paid for by the tax payers and should be freely available to the public. If you know anyone working in government agencies, tell them to look into this Amazon service.
Of course, such dataset should also just be available openly on the Web, so users don't have to pay Amazon just to get access to the data. Storage is cheap and downloading over the Web is easy. I'm still amazed by some organizations that insist on sending their data on DVDs (yes… I'm thinking of the USPTO again…)
On a more philosophical level, I'm thinking about how Amazon's business has expanded from selling books to publishing books and now they're publishing data too.


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Justin Bieber named most overexposed celebrity
Image: 1 of 11
No one is going to argue with the fact that the past year has been a little rocky for Justin Bieber.
The spotlight has been pointed directly at the pop star, after his recent run-ins with fans, police and media alike.
But it hasn't just been Justin, as there are other celebrities that have had their fair share of overexposure.
Forbes' recently announced their list of most overexposed celebrities, and none should come as much of a surprise. Here are the top ten overexposed celebrities.(REUTERS)
Related Stories
Troubled pop star Justin Bieber has been named the most overexposed celebrity of 2014 in a new poll by editors at Forbes Magazine.
The Baby hitmaker tops the list of more than 6,600 celebrities, which has been put together using public opinion polling.
Bieber was cited as overexposed by 67% of the respondents, due in part to his recent legal troubles, including his DUI arrest in January.
Bieber's inclusion on this year's list is unusual, as it is usually dominated by U.S. reality TV stars, including Kim Kardashian, who placed second with a 61% rating.
Her sisters Kourtney and Khloe rank ninth and 10th, respectively, with their mother/manager Kris Jenner tying for sixth place with former Jersey Shore star Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi at 55%.
Coming in third is actress Lindsay Lohan with 59%, controversial singer Miley Cyrus in fourth with 57%, and child TV star Alana 'Honey Boo Boo' Thompson rounds out the top five at 56%.


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I'd like to announce two new goals that I am going to try to reach with this Kickstarter Project.
Please share this link: http://tinyurl.com/kickstarter-tff
Stretch Goal #1: reaching $10,000 AUD activates an extra chapter in the book: Reticules, pockets and purses.Once this goal is unlocked Aylwen will add an extra chapter for no extra charge for ALL BOOK BACKERS on reticules, pockets and purses and will include lots of colour photos, embroidery designs and patterns for making your own.
|Embroidered silk reticule to be included in extra chapter


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Sunday, May 27, 2012
Happy Dirtday!
Caterpillar Multi-Terrain Loader for him. Of course, my son wants it for himself even though he has loads of construction vehicles. :P I pulled out a Stampin' Up set called I Dig You to make a matching card. I've never used this set myself but my son has stamped with it many times. I used the awesome colours from colourQ challenge #138.
Numbers paper tape collection. I fussy cut the "2" and put it on the loader to represent the little boy's second birthday.
Large Bow Die in the same colours to coordinate with the card. The striped paper is from Echo Park's Little Boy Collection.
Sources for card: SU Pool Party; Gina K Designs pure luxury white cardstock; SU I Dig You; SU More Mustard, Pool Party & Crumb Cake inks; Memento Tuxedo Black ink; Cavallini & Co. Numbers paper tape; foam tape
Sources for rosette: SU Pool Party, More Mustard & Crumb Cake cardstock; Echo Park In the Clouds from Little Boy Collection; Lil' Inker Designs Large Bow Die; Spellbinders Nestabilities Standard Circles Large; Papertrey Ink By the Numbers die collection; foam tape
25 comments:
- Lynn said...
This is so, so adorable! I'm sure the birthday boy will love it!
- May 27, 2012 at 2:04 PM
- canadian_liner said...
What a great rosette that BOW DIE makes! You are so good at divergent thinking with your craft supplies! I just ordered the small version; hoping Canada Post delivers it soon!
- May 27, 2012 at 2:07 PM
- ~amy~ said...
the card and ribbon are PERFECT!!!!!
- May 27, 2012 at 2:21 PM
- Lindsey said...
I _would_ say I can't believe you would fussy-cut a number from paper tape... but I know you, so I do believe it. :D This set may be even cuter when you use it than when your son does! And using the Lil' Inker bow die that way just confirms that I need them. (How do you "shape" the bow so smoothly? My first attempt is far from perfect.)
- May 27, 2012 at 2:47 PM
- Anita Recksiedler said...
Oh no you just realized! Opps you have lots of stamping to do! :> I love this card it's perfect for a boy! :> And I so love that rosette for the gift! Awesome!
- May 27, 2012 at 2:52 PM
- Erin (Homemade Cards by Erin) said...
Fabulous card, that set would've gotten a lot of use in our dirt loving days, but now we're on to Hero Factories and superheroes...
- May 27, 2012 at 3:49 PM
- donna mikasa said...
Adorable card and I love how you fashioned the bow for the gift! Super cute idea.
- May 27, 2012 at 4:04 PM
- Larissa said...
OH wat a superfun card! And the rosette is so stinking cute!
- May 27, 2012 at 4:07 PM
- Jay Gee said...
The bow and card look fabulous together! The animals on the tractor are adorable :)
- May 27, 2012 at 4:17 PM
- Tracey said...
I love these colours!! Your card is super adorable and that bow is awesome!!
- May 27, 2012 at 4:51 PM
- Lisa said...
Love that big bow!! Super cute :) My Lil Inker list is growing.....
- May 27, 2012 at 5:27 PM
- missstamper said...
What an awesome card!
- May 27, 2012 at 6:18 PM
- Smilie girl said...
What a great card for a little boy. I'm sure he will have "heaps" of fun with his present too.
- May 27, 2012 at 7:28 PM
- Glenda J said...
These are so fun! Love the tape in the card and rosette is amazing!
- May 27, 2012 at 7:52 PM
- Jennifer said...
Absolutely adorable card!
- May 27, 2012 at 8:12 PM
- Lisa Arana said...
can i be you when i grow up? this is so adorable!!!
- May 27, 2012 at 9:51 PM
- Brenda said...
This is too adorable Emily! Love that bow you made too!
- May 27, 2012 at 10:28 PM
- alexandra s.m. said...
Oh Emily, this trio of creations is brilliant!
If I were the little boy, I don't think I would dare touch such a beautiful gift ;-)
Thank you so much for the continual inspiration ;-)
- May 27, 2012 at 10:59 PM
- Annette said...
this is absolutely adorable...love the sentiment...happy dirtday...how fun...love how you used the die cut bow to make that amazing bow...
- May 27, 2012 at 11:21 PM
- yyam said...
Awwww....this is adorable! Love the fussy-cut stamped elements....perfect for a little boy! :)
- May 28, 2012 at 3:16 AM
- onecraftymama said...
LOVE this card! Animals & construction together would have made my oldest die of delight as a wee one. And punny too...yep, love it :)
- May 28, 2012 at 8:06 AM
- Jenny said...
Your card and present are just perfect for a little guy...great pun too :0)
The rosette is awesome and who needs wrapping...children certainly aren't interested with the outside ;0)
Jenny x
- May 28, 2012 at 6:07 PM
- cassie said...
Wow- this is awesome!
- May 28, 2012 at 11:09 PM
- Bethany said...
So very cute and sweet! Such a great little scene you created on your card Emily!
- May 29, 2012 at 4:09 PM
- Jocelyn Olson said...
OMG, love the medallion bow!! Your card is sooooo cute! I love the dirt piles stamped off. You've always got to love a good punny sentiment, too.
- June 22, 2012 at 9:27 AM


text:
"What are you after? Gold? Fame? or Sand?", asked the wayfarer with a least caring, and a mocking attitude, but with thoughtfulness of something I couldn't apprehend. "Say it, because I don't know you, and we will never cross our paths again, and because you need to, you badly need to". Surprisingly to my own self, I wasn't offended by this, because somewhere down within, I knew I wanted to talk.
"Where are you going to? Which city? It is the South of Karachi you are in, if you go further down you will find nothing but Malir naddi and you might touch Korangi,..." I tried to continue but he cut me sharply, "Say it, you alteregoistic, two faced, dead man!". His eyes were dashing, they were as if piercing through my own, and while knowing everything still ordering me to answer his question.
I was, by now, dumbfound. Not by his reaction, but by my own vagueness. "I don't know...", I replied, and not knowing, I sat on the roadside on the construction material that was always there on the road coming in towards Nad-e-Ali from Malir Halt's traffic signal. By now, I started to have a headache which I sometimes used to get whenever I started to think closely about relationships.
"Technically, to Him we belong and to Him is our return..." were the words I could manage to gather and utter to intellectually answer his question, something that I always try to do, when I was interrupted by something - a hand brushed my hairs, a very affectionate hand, and I had my usual feeling of I-don't-deserve-to-be-visited-by-noble-people starting to grip my heart and feel low about myself when the words came; "You don't need to borrow thoughts to answer questions to fulfill a situation. It is OK to lose. Lose your other face, let go of it, it is not who you are. The questions are about YOU, they are not about an imaginary perfect person, unless you intend to become one, which I have invited you for a million times, but you forget..."
The next moment, the same wayfarer was walking with a huge book, reading it while walking in a certain speed if not too fast, as if he had to reach somewhere. "Where did you get such a big book? Why are you reading it while you walk? What is so important with it?" I asked while starting to walk with him. He was too busy, rather too pensive, and murmured, "There is an important message at the end of the book that I have to reach". I could see a lot of Armenian, Arabic, Persian, some text apparently about numerology, and then some images I remembered I saw in some books of Solid State Physics. There were poems I could sense of Hafez scribbled on the sides of the pages of that book, not random notes, specifically written on purpose.
Suddenly, I noticed the glistening page at the end of the book. As the wayfarer walked, the pages would flutter and I could glimpse some text written at the center of that page - I instantly realized what it was and thought to myself, "This is the message he is after! This is the crux of this masterpiece!", and started walking in excitement and sheer curiosity, trying not to show that I am trying to read the most important message of this book, the heart of this book, and then I read it - completely, and stopped:
ایک الف تیرے درکار
An alphabet should do for you
I felt the time passing by my sides, whilst my body standing at a certain point in time. He looked back for a moment and continued walking, and said in a sigh, "You have to walk. You cannot stop. You cannot jump to the last page without reading the book, as much as you can, as much you understand, you have to go through it to understand that last message."


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Been meaning to dust this blog off for awhile, if for no other reason than it would be fun, and decided to throw a new angle into it, an ongoing series called I'm Too Sexy For My Niche. Remember when you wrote that short story for that Eskimo steampunk vampire anthology (of course you don't, work with me, people) and all you got was a lousy rejection letter? Remember how you cried misera...um...held your chin up stoically, went all Jane Eyre, and yelled at the sky about stuff never happening again, "KHAAAAAAAN!", and other things that annoyed your neighbors at 3 in the morning? Too Sexy For My Niche is like that, except with less yelling. This will be a clearing house for stories I wrote for a specific anthology that got rejected, and I really doubt a second chance for the story is in the offing. I don't have many stories to add here, but I'm totally optimistic that I'll have other stories shot down in flames in the future.
This is a story that I wrote for a tribute anthology for Clive Barker's NIghtbreed that didn't make the cut. Enjoy.
Dream Home Heartache
Aaron Besson
The burnt orange glow through the plastic tarp over my window sings the song of this descending sun. Not a rare occurrence in a lifetime that ridicules the passage of history, but this one is special. This dusk heralds the sun's crowning as the final enemy.
Would that it could all have gone differently. The younger of the Tribes of the Moon scoff at this sentiment as trite, with no place in coming timesfor such maudlin wittering. Perhaps they're right, perhaps we're both wrong. I try to hold onto such sentimentality, if for no other reason than to pay remembrance to the fact that at one time, although we be monsters, we weren't always monstrous.
Countless adorations to the countless faces of Baphomet.
Through the tireless grace of Baphomet we had Midian, as we had many times before. As always, Midian fell, and our hearts and near-hearts brokewith none to blame except ourselves for thinking that this time, just maybe this time, it couldn't. Some may think hope is necessary for living. Some would be unforgivably wrong. Hope is a blade that will stab you in the back the moment you think it's safe in the sheath. Hope is the noose mistaken for an embrace the moment you forget what tightens around your neck. Hope is the mistaking of prophecy for a point of view. We made all these mistakes, again as before, and it is only then that we see clearly.
With the fall of Midian we spread far and wide, for Baphomet's enemies were forever, or at least then, ours as well. Yet these places were not homes. There was no song where we lived, what song moves you when your heart or near-heart must be hidden? Moses spent forty years in Midian. Some of us are old enough to remember it. Even with the songs he learned and took with him, our hearts and near-hearts cry in how little has changed since then.
Boone Who Became Cabal, our greatest betrayal and greatest promise, wandered as we did, except with purpose. No, the Tribes of the Moon had no purpose then. We had survival, quite a different thing altogether. We hadburrowed in earth's smaller places. We huddled in little hells, and waited. Oh, Baphomet, how we waited. Those That Remember repainted the prophecy on the walls of our refuges, and went a little madder at how much was still promised to occur. If they knew how it would turn out would they go even madder, sing in joy, or both? I'll have to remember to find one and ask them.
When Boone Who Became Cabal returned from his wanderings in the wilderness of Man's world, we again had hope sung to us, a baleful wisdom in his eyes. And like all hope as before, it came wrapped in terror-drenched swaddling clothes. Oh, Naturals, how I wish I could say it was entirely your fault. How I wish I could have heard his words and think, nay, believed"They brought this on themselves." That would make it easier, this slide down into the abyss of what you have always thought us to be.
Since Mankind had known of the Tribes of the Moon, they have called us an infection in their hatred and fear. Of all the curses and maledictions they heaped upon us, of all the accusations they threw at us in the night, why did it have to be that one that we finally listened to?
Boone Who Became Cabal spoke of the Promised Land that awaited us. He said he had learned the Naturals were right, that we were a plague and that this would be our salvation. He spoke of Baphomet as a virus and it was made known to us what that meant. He spoke of the Nightbreed as a contagion and it was made known to us what that meant. He spoke of Midian as a host and it was made known to us what that meant. His words flooded our hearts and near-hearts like a deluge of truth that drowned all hope, because hope was no longer needed to even grasp at. The days of being monsters yet not monstrous had ended.
Countless adorations to the countless faces of Baphomet.
We took up the blood and body of Baphomet, the tattered and frayed remains of our god, and quietly brought them to the cities of Man. Some of us had not seen cities in centuries, myself included. Newer Nightbreed would tell us of these glass and concrete citadels that reached high in adoration of the damned and accursed sun, like the needy fingers of titanic children. I never understood them, their words never made sense. After seeing cities, their words still do not make sense. "These are the ones that judge us infection?" I ask myself still, as if it makes us better.
Throughout these cities we became mist, we became animals, we became nothing at all, and cast the blood and body of Baphomet where they would touch and judge Man. Where we could not go, we were able to dupe men with love of money but hatred of foresight to go for us. We laughed at them as we slid further into the abyss of them being right.
So now Baphomet has been spread far and wide; in water, in food, in blood. The stones upon which Midian will be remade carve themselves out of deoxyribonucleic quarries. It has taken some time, but that is all some of us have left.
Right now, as this murdering sun sets, birthing roars mingle amongst screams and explosions in the streets below. The Berserkers are born first. From the lowliest to the highest of Man's castes, Baphomet's favor knows nothing but equality. They rampage and paint the sunset-dappled streets crimson. They are the purge of Baphomet, clearing the way for Midian. Those who survive, they too will be touched by Baphomet and will be welcomed into the Tribes of the Moon, for it will be their new birthright. There will be no more worthless hope, for Midian will be eternal, and the sun our final enemy.
Countless adorations to the countless faces of Baphomet.


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2013 Honorees
2013 Lewis Mumford Award Winners
Architects/ Designers/ Planners for Social Responsibility (ADPSR) is pleased to honor its 20th annual Lewis Mumford Awardees for outstanding contributions in areas that embrace ADPSR's mission of world peace, protection of the environment, and socially responsible development:
Peace: The International Coalition of Sites of Conscience, New York
Environment: The Foundation for a Green Future, Inc., Boston
Development: The Center for Urban Pedagogy, New York
The International Coalition of Sites of Conscience is a worldwide network of "Sites of Conscience", including historic sites that commemorate past struggles while continuing the work towards social justice. The Coalition has 17 Accredited Sites of Conscience and nearly 300 individual and institutional members around the world. The Coalition provides direct funding and technical assistance, organizes learning exchanges, conducts strategic advocacy, and provides local networks for sites and the Sites of Conscience movement. www.sitesofconscience.org/
The Foundation for a Green Future runs programs to educate our school children and our communities about the importance of bringing nature back into our cities. Their programs include the Boston GreenFest, the Turn Over the Page (TOP) Green Office Program, GreenRoof 2020, and the GreenPartners Curriculum. They also engage in social and economic education programs to create new jobs and to bring sustainability into the workplace. www.foundationforagreenfuture.org/
The Center for Urban Pedagogy (CUP) has worked for sixteen years to provide tools to facilitate civic engagement to the broad community on a variety of complex topics, such as zoning regulations and food access. With a special emphasis on social justice, CUP uses design and art to build bridges between "experts" in a field and the general public. www.welcometocup.org
The awards ceremony was part of the opening plenary at the Beyond Resilience: Actions for a Just Metropolis conference held June 7th, 2013, 7:00-9:00 pm, at Higgins Hall, 61 St. James Place, The Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, New York. www.justmetropolis.org
In 1992, ADPSR instituted an annual Lewis Mumford awards program to honor people and organizations whose work exemplifies social responsibility. The awards were named after Lewis Mumford (1895-1990) an American historian, sociologist, philosopher, and critic, noted for his study of cities and urban architecture. Lewis Mumford's writings continue to inspire and remind us that architecture, design, and planning must respond to human needs, harmonize with its surroundings, and reflect the aspirations and social context of our civilization.
For further information email email@example.com, www.adpsr.org/home/mumford_awards


text:
CHAPEL HILL -- Several North Carolina basketball players said it will take the entire team to replace what it will be missing from Marcus Ginyard (above) for the next couple of months — defense, rebounding, leadership.
But it will begin with senior Danny Green (right).
Coach Roy Williams said during Friday's practice-opening media day that Green is the leading contender to replace Ginyard, who had foot surgery earlier this month. Ginyard was on crutches and in a cast Friday, hopes to be in a walking boot Monday, and should return in December.
"If we had to play a game today, I'd start Danny,'' Williams said.
In Ginyard, he said, "you're losing your best defender, a guy who gets more little cheap baskets, offensive rebounds, steals than anyone else on your club. You guys as writers, and us as coaches, always like to talk about somebody that does all the little things, all the dirty work and that kind of thing, so you're missing somebody to do that early.
"But hopefully over the course of this time where he's rehabbing and getting healthy, he might be able to sit back and look and maybe even gain something out of it."
Green, one of the top sixth men in the country last season, has started only one game in his career. But he said he's ready to fill the starting role, if he's called upon. UNC opens the regular season Nov. 15 vs. Penn.
"It might be a little different; it's something I've never really done before,'' Green said. "It's just making an adjustment. I've been coming off the bench and giving a spark, and now I just have to, if I do start, adjust to playing right off the bat … and be ready to play right away."
LOOKING FOR ANOTHER YEAR: Senior guard Bobby Frasor said he is "still in the process" of applying for a fifth year of eligibility. He tore his ACL during the 12th game of last season, and was sidelined for the rest of the season.
"I just recently submitted my letter again, with my parents' letter, to the NCAA,'' he said. "I'm sure if I went to a D-II, D-III school, I would have another year in college. But since I'm at such a prime school, in the spotlight, I'm sure they're going to take special consideration with my case."
Under NCAA rules, a player who has participated in less than 30 percent of a team's regular season games is eligible for a medical redshirt. UNC played 31 regular-season games in 2007-08, so another season of eligibility may be a long shot.
THE NUMBERS GAME: Freshmen are not allowed to talk to the media before they play in a regular-season game, so UNC's new quartet shot baskets and watched the interviews Friday.
Forward Ed Davis will wear jersey No. 32; point guard Larry Drew II — who has "Drew II" on the back of his jersey — is No. 11; guard Justin Watts is No. 24; and forward Tyler Zeller is No. 44.
-- Robbi Pickeral
Friday, October 17, 2008
Notes from Tar Heels' media day
Posted by Observer Sports at 6:14 PM
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text:
Papi & Chloe from BEVERLY HILLS CHIHUAHUA
We keep seeing these woofers all over the TV--dey gets to walk around unleashed all the time, and beans take pikshurs of them. They even dress up in funny clothes like beans do!
Mom says dey have dere own movie where dey get into all kinds of adventures, and little beans seem to like it.
Dat's sweet.
Why don't we have a movie deal? We're cuter than dese woofers are!
We could call it, "Florida Furries"! We could invite Daisy, and the Island Cats, and all the Florida kittehs.
Think we could get them to pay in 'nip instead of green papers?
Thursday, March 5, 2009
These Woofers Are Famous
Papi & Chloe from BEVERLY HILLS CHIHUAHUA
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Wordless Wednesday: Spoiled
Sunday, March 1, 2009
We need dis: Cardboard Cat Chase Lounge for lyin' around and stuff!
Dis looks furry comfy for big furry kittehs like me, so I wants my beans to make it for me.
I thawt you all might like a speshul bed, too, so here's the link to the Cardboard Cat Chaise instrukshens that tell how to do it. It's from "Evil Mad Scientists Mad Laboratories", but I fink dey seem furry nice, since dey obviously know da right way to treat kittehs!
Now if we can just get Mom to stop being so lazy! She and the Dad person went on a cruise and she's way behind with our blog 'cause she's been so "relaxed" lately! Why do they need a vacation from US, anyway?!
Here's more proof we should have one of dese: Look, dis kitteh (on the left) even looks like me, only not so handsome (dat's me, on da right):


text:
Hmmm......let me get this hat positioned right...
|oops....do i see a tail?
Have a great EASY Sunday! I hope none of YOUR selfie photos get photobombed!
|oops....do i see a tail?
Holy CATS are you talented...Sleep Photography!
Now momma are gonna have to go find our hat.
I'm surprised my human hasn't brought home one of those hats!
To bad the first two photo´s was photobom´d ;-)
Happy Easy SUNday !
Wow, a selfie with a hat ! So cool ! Purrs
It's not easy MOL But you managed to pull it off!! ;)
MOL...you are genius !!!
You look so purrfect in that hat! And I love photobombed pictures best, don't you?
you are the best model for that green hat! have you chewed on that thingy? how is the taste? green?
happy sunday!
easy rider
Very cute :) Sorry you got photo bombed.
You look terrific with green!
Oh Raz you have me laughing as you were really teasing your sweet sister Allie by getting in her photos. Glad she finally got the photo that she was trying to get.
Those may not have been easy, but they sure were FUN! :)
MOL MOL Ellie you did 200% better than I would have done if my mom was trying to put a REAL hat on my head!!
Hugs madi Raz's gal!!
It took a lot of effort but you did a great job in the end.
omg I love you in that hat!
Calista Jo kept photobombing herself. You (like Allie) look excellent and beautiful in green. Now that your selfie is out of the way have a relaxing and easy Sunday. Sending love from all of us to all of you with special kisses and purrs for Allie from Mau. XOCK. Lily Olivia, Mauricio, Misty May, Giulietta, Fiona, Astrid, Lisbeth and Calista Jo
Excellent Selfies!!
~Annabelle, Boo, Ping & Jinx
Well done Ellie! The hat looks grand!
Hugs, Sammy
We are loving your festive selfies! We are sure that Mauricio will love them too!
Wow, real not photoshopped hat look purrfect!
That hat looks good on you. Good that photobomb disappeared in the end :D Pawkisses for a lovely Evening :) <3
Aaaaaw you look so purretty. And dat hat is fur st. pats matewial. Hav a blest Sunday.
Luv ya'
Dezi and Lexi
Ellie, you did pretty good with your St. Patty's selfie!
Selfies are no where near as easy as they look :)
You are very patient to get the just right St. Patrick's selfie
Tee Hee! Ellie yous makes us laughs!!!
You're ready for St. Patrick's day. You look very cute in your hat.


text:
Many people work from home. It is also a dream of millions of others who would like to do so, but don't know how to start. Those who work from home usually work for themselves. In other words, they run their own business.
This may not be for everyone. It means that you and you alone, are responsible for your income. If you don't work, guess what - you don't earn anything. On the other hand, if you find a way to make money by working at home, and you work hard, you will probably a lot more than you did in your old job. It really is up to you.
Getting started is the difficult bit. You need a plan, one that works. You need ideas, ones that are not glorified scams, but good, solid ideas that others are using to successfully work at home. Here are a few ideas that work, ideas that you can use too to work at home.
1. One of the easiest ways to work at home is to sell a service. What are you good at? Can you write well? You could write articles. Millions of webmasters need good articles. The pay isn't high, at least to start with, but you can earn as much as $30 for a 500 word article.
Don't expect to start out at this rate. You will almost certainly have to work up to it, and that may take a few months. But it can be done and it has been done. Try learning about search engine optimization, or SEO. Essential SEO can help you in that respect.
Once you feel you know what SEO writing entails, try contacting SEO companies find them through http://www.Google.com/ and offering your services as an SEO content writer. It's just a fancy name for an article writer who knows how to inject the necessary SEO elements into an article. You will find to your delight that SEO companies are happy to pay, and pay well, for results.
2. You could set up affiliate websites and promote other people's products. Go to an affiliate network like Commission Junction or ClickBank , sign up and choose a product to promote. Set up a small website using the free Squidoo platform or the Blogger platform.
Write an article pre-selling the product. Don't try to hard sell it here. Just write what you think the product is like. Include a few bad points, but not too many. That can make your review sound much more real and honest. Conclude your article by suggesting that the reader may like to check out the product for themselves, and include your affiliate link. You can learn more about being an affiliate from Affilorama: http://www.affilorama.com/.
Flipping websites is big business. Learn more at Website Flipping Advice and download their free report. You can build small websites and sell them for money. It can be a very lucrative business model, and easier than you may think. Websites like Flippa are dedicated to buying and selling websites. Take your time and browse through it and learn what sells and what doesn't. When you are ready, start flipping!


text:
There have been some upsides though. I recently went to the Phantasy Night Club to see one of my favorite bands from the 90's do a reunion show. The Phantasy in Lakewood, by the way, has not changed at all since I first went there at 16 or 17 years old to see old school punk shows.
The band I saw was a local, Cleveland Goth band called Lestat. Very cool because I -seriously - LOVED them back in the day. I still, to this day, have Lestat songs on my iPod. I even wrote about them in my first novel, North Coast Gothic: A Grim Fairy Tale.. They were a huge part of my early adulthood - and I am excited that they're back together and releasing a new CD in December.
Bonus: My friend Christine (who works here with me in Evil Corporate World and you may remember as one of the fine actresses from the awesome Cleveland-based independent film company -Bad Eye Films) is an old friend of the lead singer of Lestat. In fact, he too works here at Evil Corporate World in our IT department. She even managed an introduction via Facebook, so he and I have corresponded a few times.
Where am I going with all of this, and how does all of this coolness in Dr. Z's life match up with the seemingly grim title for this blog post?
Well - it's a perfect storm for Dr. Z to get all melancholy and moody.
First, it's fall. Autumn always gives me such a deliciously heady mix of emotions. It's my favorite time of year and I love everything about it... Halloween, falling leaves, pumpkin brews, clambakes, the return of my beloved Browns, warm days, cool nights... it's all there. But, it also makes me really, really nostalgic. It gets me thinking about high school, and college, and the fact that I'm one year older and farther away from the expectant excitement of childhood and trick or treating.
Add into that the fact that I'm back at school, and that I just saw one of my favorite bands from my singlehood and young adult life, and you can see where I'm at.
To make things worse, a week ago I had to order a new copy of The Cure's Disintegration. I finally replaced the CD I bought back in May of 1989 (a mere month before I graduated high school) because it had become unplayable. That CD sustained me through years of moodiness and is, in my mind the quintessential Cure CD. So, with a shiny new copy in my cold, undead hands it's been a week of Plainsong, and The Same Deep Water as You. If I'm not listening to that, I listening to my copies of Lestat's Grave Desires and Vision of Sorrows.
This will not end well, dear readers. Not well at all.
Don't worry about, Doctor Zombie, though. I'll pull on my black Converse Chuck Taylor high tops, buy some New Holland Brewery Ichabod Pumpkin Ale and suck it up. Incoherent rambling, pointless points aside, I'll pull it together. I promise!
I'm not really sure where this post was going, but it started with Lestat, and it should end with Lestat I guess. I just pulled up the manuscript for my first novel, North Coast Gothic to see what I'd written about them, and figured I'd excerpt it here. It, oddly enough, encapsulates how I'm feeling.
It's also an opportunity for me to plug my novel because that's what I do. Truthfully, I haven't sold a copy of North Coast Gothic in months and I fear that it's very dated and only appeals to Clevelanders, but I still have a warm spot for it in my undead, beating heart because it was my first novel. Honey Badger don't care!
Anyway... check it out and, if you get the chance, check out Lestat. You won't be sorry.
Excerpted from North Coast Gothic: A Grim Fairy Tale
"Lyds and I went to a concert a few weeks ago...
...The concert was a small show at the Cleveland Agora. The Agora is a rundown, decrepit old theatre that brought in only alternative bands and the occasional pro-wrestling gig. You've got to love the Agora for itself, though. It was small and intimate, and some of the greatest bands of all time have played there. I saw my first concert there. It was a double bill of the Violent Femmes and the Dead Kennedys, I think. In an age of stadium shows and $85 ticket prices, there's something wonderful about paying fifteen bucks for a show where you can drink with the band afterwards.
I had been feeling especially melancholy lately, and that's why I was at the concert. I looked around me and I realized what had been bothering me so much lately. I was feeling old. I was a few weeks away from my thirtieth birthday, and I was no longer a kid. So much had happened in the last year and I was feeling so horrible disconnected from who, or what, I was. A Goth couple stood in front of me and they were twenty if they were a day. He had a black t-shirt with the name of some band I'd never heard of before and a shaved head. His girlfriend was a beautiful girl with black lipstick, a tight ass under a black vinyl skirt, and a baggy sweater. She looked at me and smiled. I smiled back and she went back to talking to her boyfriend. The guy looked happy as hell, in that innocent way that everyone did at twenty. He could have been me ten years ago.
I felt myself growing angry. At what, I wasn't sure. Maybe it was the youth of those kids in front of me, or my impending birthday. I sat there glowering.
We had just finished listening to the opening band; a local group called Bath. They had a male and female singer who alternated songs. Their style, lyrics, and their whole set was pretty much unintelligible, but I liked their sound. I'd seen them one other time and had actually bought one of their tapes. They played for a while and, when they were done, I excused myself from my friends.
After a while, the lobby lights flicked and I returned to the theatre. I found Chris and Lyds near the stage and walked up. The lights dimmed and the band entered. We were there to see the band Lestat and they took the stage amidst machine-generated fog and red and black lighting.
The lights came up and the Agora was filled with moody music in a minor key. With no fanfare or preamble, the band's lead singer, Razz, came out and broke into song as the crowd went wild. I'd been listening to them for years and wryly wondered if half the kids there had been out of elementary school the first time I had seen Lestat.
I felt the dark music sweep over me and I lost myself in the swirling Gothic sounds. As I'd done the first time I saw them, I fell in love all over again with the band's guitarist; a black haired vampire named Susan. She stood in the corner, somberly wrapped up in the music her long, delicate fingers made. Meanwhile, Razz's deep voice sang of blood and redemption and I looked around me, sighing with a sense of melancholy. Suddenly, like an epiphany, I came to a dramatic realization.
As I stood there among the sea of black clad bodies and the haze of clove cigarettes, I saw myself. Here and there, I saw a pale faced Goth with wrinkles around their eyes, or one with a Robert Smith haircut and a bald spot, or a normal looking person singing word for word with Razz. I realized I wasn't alone.
As I've said before, Goth and Industrial culture is about nonconformity. But, more importantly, it's also about finding a niche for those who are similar to you. We Goths are alike in our souls and I wasn't the only one aging, or getting married, or having children. I had different priorities, yes. But I was still a Goth at heart. I did not have to give this up.
I didn't know what kind of father I'd be. I didn't know what kind of husband I'd be. I supposed I'd just have to be the best that I could. All the tragedy and all the curves of life were inconsequential. You deal with the shit as it comes along.
In the meantime, I listened and absorbed the throbbing beat of the music, the dark sound enveloping me. I embraced the music back, like one would embrace an old lover. It was like going home."


text:
Two Approaches to Providing HIV/AIDS Services in the Community to People Living With HIV/AIDS
|The safety and scientific validity of this study is the responsibility of the study sponsor and investigators. Listing a study does not mean it has been evaluated by the U.S. Federal Government. Read our disclaimer for details.
|ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00280449
Recruitment Status : Unknown
Verified November 2005 by McMaster University.
Recruitment status was: Not yet recruiting
First Posted : January 23, 2006
Last Update Posted : January 23, 2006
Hamilton Health Sciences Corporation
Information provided by:
McMaster University
|Tracking Information
|First Submitted Date ICMJE
|January 20, 2006
|First Posted Date ICMJE
|January 23, 2006
|Last Update Posted Date
|January 23, 2006
|Study Start Date ICMJE
|March 2006
|Primary Completion Date
|Not Provided
|Current Primary Outcome Measures ICMJE
|risk behavior, quality of life, health and social service utilization
|Original Primary Outcome Measures ICMJE
|Same as current
|Change History
|No Changes Posted
|Current Secondary Outcome Measures ICMJE
|depression, satisfaction
|Original Secondary Outcome Measures ICMJE
|Same as current
|Current Other Outcome Measures ICMJE
|Not Provided
|Original Other Outcome Measures ICMJE
|Not Provided
|Descriptive Information
|Brief Title ICMJE
|Two Approaches to Providing HIV/AIDS Services in the Community to People Living With HIV/AIDS
|Official Title ICMJE
|Two Approaches to Providing HIV/AIDS Services in the Community to People Living With HIV/AIDS (PHAs): The Comparative Impact on Quality of Life, Access to and Expenditures for All Health and Social Services
|Brief Summary
|This study will examine the effects of having a case manager help PHAs access and use health, social services and practical resources that are helpful to their needs as compared to the usual more PHA self-managed approach of deciding and using services as they see necessary. New and existing users of HIV/AIDS services in Wellington-Dufferin, Waterloo and Grey-Bruce Regions who consent to this study will be randomized to receive their usual self-directed supportive, educational, medical and medical care services when they seek assistance according to their needs or these usual services augmented by case management services. They will be measured before randomization and at 3, 6 and 12 months following service use for their satisfaction with HIV/AIDS services, compliance with HIV/AIDS medication, improvement in quality of life, psychological distress, risk behaviours and expenditures for the use of a range of publicly funded services.
|Detailed Description
|Not Provided
|Study Type ICMJE
|Study Phase
|Phase 1
|Study Design ICMJE
|Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Double
Primary Purpose: Treatment
|Condition ICMJE
|HIV Infection
|Intervention ICMJE
|Behavioral: strengths-based case managed proactive service model
|Study Arms
|Not Provided
|Publications *
|Not Provided
* Includes publications given by the data provider as well as publications identified by ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier (NCT Number) in Medline.
|Recruitment Information
|Recruitment Status ICMJE
|Unknown status
|Enrollment ICMJE
|Original Enrollment ICMJE
|Same as current
|Study Completion Date
|February 2007
|Primary Completion Date
|Not Provided
|Eligibility Criteria ICMJE
Inclusion Criteria:
Exclusion Criteria:
|18 Years to 65 Years (Adult, Older Adult)
|Accepts Healthy Volunteers
|Contacts ICMJE
|Contact information is only displayed when the study is recruiting subjects
|Listed Location Countries ICMJE
|Removed Location Countries
|Administrative Information
|NCT Number ICMJE
|Other Study ID Numbers ICMJE
|Has Data Monitoring Committee
|Not Provided
|U.S. FDA-regulated Product
|Not Provided
|IPD Sharing Statement
|Not Provided
|Responsible Party
|Not Provided
|Study Sponsor ICMJE
|Hamilton Health Sciences Corporation
|Collaborators ICMJE
|Not Provided
|Investigators ICMJE
|PRS Account
|McMaster University
|Verification Date
|November 2005
ICMJE Data element required by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors and the World Health Organization ICTRP


text:
*Contacting us:* Call or email the office – 020-7793-4005 or (firstname.lastname@example.com).
NO2ID has big tasks ahead, as you will see from reading this edition of the newsletter. But NO2ID only exists because of its supporters. "The most brilliantly organised campaign of recent times" (Henry Porter) could not be organised without all those people reading this who lend us a hand or a hand-out.
We don't know everyone who is involved – there are loads of people running their own mini-NO2ID campaigns by wearing a badge or tee-shirt and talking to those who ask about it. But all are making a vital contribution to changing public opinion.
We don't even know everyone who gives us money, the hundreds of people every month who make it possible for us to maintain the office, pay an office manager, support local groups, print the materials, and hold the briefings that inform the political and media arguments. There are regular standing orders and bank transfers that are untraceable, anonymous postal orders, and dozens and dozens of cheques.
We would like to thank you all individually, but we don't even know who you are and would always respect your privacy anyway. Unlike the government we don't 'need to know who people are'. Most things can be done perfectly well anonymously. Thank you.
Guy Herbert, General Secretary
*+ NO2ID's Company +*
What just happened?
+ Pilots to fight ID cards at Manchester Airport +
The British Airline Pilots' Association (BALPA) has stepped up its campaign against the ID scheme and in particular its compulsory nature. Pilots and other airside workers at Manchester Airport will have to apply for the card – or lose their jobs. BALPA General Secretary Jim McAuslan said: "Parliament was told by the Government that the scheme would be voluntary. But pilots are told that if they have no ID card they will not be allowed airside and if they cannot get airside they cannot fly, and they lose their jobs. This is intolerable". BALPA say they will resist the scheme "with every lawful means at our disposal" including legal action, fighting it in Parliament and seeking the support of the travelling public. The government has said that all pilots and airside workers will be required to have ID cards and the next airport to be targeted will be London City Airport. In a recent survey of BALPA members for every pilot in favour of the national ID scheme there were six against.
+ National Identity Cards Scheme Draft Orders laid before Parliament +
Four new Statutory Instruments under the Identity Cards Act 2006 were published last week. Statutory Instruments provide the detailed regulations which implement Acts of Parliament. One of the orders relates to designated documents – when an individual applies for a designated document that individual must apply at the same time to be entered in the National Identity Register and apply for an ID card. The order seeks to make a criminal conviction certificate (issued as part of a Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check) for those applying for an airside pass a designated document. This is the way in which the government will force airport staff on to the ID scheme. The other orders relate to fees, Information and Code of Practice on Penalties and Provision of Information without Consent. For more details see the report on SpyBlog at
+ Even UK security firm criticises Manchester ID scheme 'launch' +
UK security manufacturer TSSI has spoken out against the latest 'launch' of the government's ID scheme in Manchester – where residents over 16 with a UK passport will be able to apply for a card this autumn. John Barker, general manager of TSSI Systems Ltd said: "The scheme works on the assumption that people will apply on a voluntary basis although it is not entirely clear what the real benefits to members of the public are." On the issue of cost Barker added: "The estimated cost of the project to the Home Office is about £5bn, but Dr Whitley of the London School of Economics estimates that the last four years has already seen astronomical costs of between £10 and £20 billion. With spiraling costs it seems that the government has already bitten off more than it can chew." The government has tried to claim that much of the cost of the ID scheme is required to upgrade passports but as Dr Whitley recently told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "some of the costs that they have been claiming are required to satisfy international obligations for improving passports but they are not actually obligations on the UK government but rather they are political choices that have been made rather than international requirements".
+ The hidden costs of ID cards +
The government has claimed for some time that the price of an ID card will be £30. However the trial in Manchester reveals that the plastic card will cost £30 and biometric enrolment will cost another £30. Draft orders published under the ID card act now reveal that an ID card is £30 if the application accompanies an application to be entered in the National Identity Register, the database behind the scheme. But if they are not done together then the cost of an ID card is £30 and the cost of going on the database is yet another £30.
+ Photo ID to visit Orkney? +
One NO2ID supporter who recently travelled to Orkney by ferry was shocked when NorthLink Ferries said they require photo ID for all passengers over 16. When he wrote to Northlink they replied that it was because the ferry was going into international waters but one glance at the map showed this was rubbish. They then replied that it was for security and safety reasons. When travelling he asked again and they said it was because the vessel was over a certain size and EU regulations demanded it. Soon photo ID could be required for all such journeys – the government's CONTEST strategy lays out plans for "police powers to collect advance passenger data on some domestic air and sea journeys".
What's next?
*+ Volunteers needed for Mark Thomas gigs +*
*+ Communications Data consultation +*
*+ DNA Database consultation +*
To see if there's a group in your area check our list at www.no2id.net/localGroups/ Or, if you're interested in starting a group yourself, please contact Matty on email@example.com to discuss what's involved and what we have in place to support coordinators and their groups.
_*+ Alexandra Palace +*_
*+ 17th June – Alexandra Palace NO2ID 1st Meeting +*
If you are interested in the work of the Alexandra Palace group or are planning on attending the meeting please join the mailng list on:
_*+ Birmingham +*_
*+ 23rd May – Birmingham NO2ID Stall +*
*+ 26th May – Birmingham NO2ID Meeting (last Tuesday of month) +*
_*+ Cambridge +*_
*+ 30th May – NO2ID Stall in Ipswich*
*+ 1st June – Joint Amnesty/Oxfam/NO2ID European Election Hustings in Cambridge +*
*+ 6th June – NO2ID Stall at Cambridge Strawberry Fair +*
_*+ Camden and Islington +*_ ** *+ 2nd June – NO2ID Camden & Islington Meeting (1st Tuesday of month) +*
_*+ Canterbury +*_*
**+ 30th May – Joint action: Protest at Dover Interrogation Centre +*
_*+ Cheltenham +*_
The Cheltenham NO2ID group meet on the last Thursday of the month at 19.30 in The Swan, 37 High Street, Cheltenham, GL50 1DX. All welcome.
_*+ Dorking +*_
Preparations have begun for our Question Time public meeting on 9th September at Bourne Hall and as something of a first for a NO2ID group, we have a government minister coming along — Michael Wills MP, Minister of State for the Ministry of Justice. Also on the panel Chris Grayling Shadow Home Sec and our own Phil Booth.
*+ 23rd May – Street Stall in Kingston +*
*+ 2nd June – Dorking NO2ID Meeting (1st Tuesday of month)+*
_*+ Dover +*_
*+ 30th May – Joint action: Protest at Dover Interrogation Centre +*
_*+ Edinburgh + *_**** *+ 30th June – NO2ID Edinburgh Meeting +*
_*+ Epsom +*_
Come on Epsom group — things are hotting up. A government minister is coming along to your Question Time public meeting at Bourne Hall on 9th September 7.30pm. He is Michael Wills MP, Minister of State for the Ministry of Justice. Also on the panel Chris Grayling Shadow Home Sec and our own Phil Booth. Help needed to publicise this as widely as possible — we need to fill the hall. If you can help, email Geoff on email@example.com.
If anyone wants to get involved in the Epsom area, please email or phone NO2ID South East Regional Coordinator Geoff Cox on email@example.com or call 01306 631377.
** _*+ Glasgow +*_
*+ 2nd June – Glasgow NO2ID Meeting (reverting to 1st Tuesday of month) +*
_*+ Hammersmith & Fulham + *_ *+ 30th May – Hammersmith & Fulham NO2ID Street Stall +*
More information from Brian Mooney, 07976 414913.
_*+ Hebden Bridge +*_
***+ 28th May – Hebden Bridge NO2ID Meeting +*
_*+ Kensington and Chelsea +*_
*+ 24th May – Kensington & Chelsea NO2ID Street Stall, Portobello Green +*
*+ 13th June – Kensington & Chelsea NO2ID Street Stall, Constitution Group Conference +*
*+ 20th June – Kensington & Chelsea NO2ID Street Stall, TUC Conference Hall +*
*+ 21st June – Kensington & Chelsea NO2ID Street Stall, Earl?s Court +*
July date to be agreed but probably the 2nd Sunday in Portobello Road.
_*+ Kingston-Upon-Thames +*_
*+ 23rd May – Kingston NO2ID Street Stall +*
*+ 30th May – Kingston NO2ID Meeting +*
_*+ Leeds +*_
*+ 30th May – Leeds NO2ID Meeting +*
_*+ Manchester +*_
*+ 2-4th June – Manchester NO2ID at Mark Thomas gigs +*
*+ 13th June – Manchester NO2ID Street Stall +*
*+ 17th June – Manchester NO2ID Monthly Meeting +*
_*+ Newport +*_
*+ 15th June – Newport NO2ID 1st Meeting +*
_*+ Norwich +*_
*+ 13th June – Norwich NO2ID Street Stall +*
*+ 16th June – Norwich NO2ID Group Meeting +*
*+ 22nd June – Mark Thomas – It's The Stupid Economy Stall +*
If you are interested in the work of the Norwich group, please join their mailing list on:
_*+ Oxford +*_
*+ 25th June – Oxford NO2ID Public Meeting +*
See the website for more:
_*+ Redbridge +*_
*+ 24th May – Redbridge Green Fair +*
_**__*+ Sheffield +*_
*+ 30th May – Sheffield NO2ID Street Stall +*
*+ 6th June – Sheffield NO2ID at Peace in the Park, Ponderosa +*
** *+ 10th June – Sheffield NO2ID Meeting +*
_*+ York +*_
*+ 4th June – York NO2ID Meeting +*
"ID" in the news
*+ We must not get complacent – the government still wants ID cards – The Guardian 15/5/09 +*
*+ ID scheme will cost £400m annually – Kable 11/5/09 +*
*+ What did Manchester do to deserve the ID card trial? – The Telegraph 8/5/09 +*
*+ DVLA issues thousands of duplicate tax discs due to computer error – Daily Telegraph 7/5/09 +*
*+ Are passport fees paying for ID cards? – Computer Weekly 8/5/09 +*
*+ Ploughing on – The Economist 7/5/09 +*
*+ ID card scheme costing £125K a day – The Mirror 7/5/09 +*
*+ Introduction of ID cards is bloody-minded idiocy – The Mirror 7/5/09 +*
(Please send me any items of interest you encounter – Editor (firstname.lastname@example.com) )
Publication details: © NO2ID 2009 – This document may be freely redistributed in one-to-one communications or physical copies as long as it is reproduced in its entirety including this notice. It may not be mass-mailed without the prior permission of NO2ID.
NO2ID, Box 412, 19-21 Crawford Street, LONDON W1H 1PJ


text:
Friday, August 28, 2009
The term protection refers to a policy whereby domestic industries are to be protected from foreign competition. The aim is to impose restrictions on the import of low priced produces in order to encourage domestic industries producing high priced products. The domestic industries may be protected by imposing import duties which raise the price of foreign goods by more than the price of domestic goods. Or they may be protected by quotas or other non-tarrif restrictions which make imports of cheap foreign goods difficult or impossible. Or the domestic industries may be paid subsidies or bounties to enable them to compete with cheap foreign goods.
Arguments for Protection:
Haberler has divided the arguments for protection into two groups economic and non-economic. These are discussed as under.
A. Economic Arguments: The economic arguments given in favour of protection are:
1. Terms of Trade arguments: Terms of trade arguments is given to correct disequilibrium in the balance of payments of a country. It is argued that imposition of a tarrif on imports improves the rate at which the country's exports are exchanged for imports. This means that a tarrif improves its terms of trade because the foreign exporter is forced to pay some part of the import duty. The extent to which a country can improve its terms of trade by imposing import duty will depend upon relative demand and supply elasticities at home and abroad. A country which imports a large quantity of a particular commodity (i-e demand is less elastic) will be in a better position to impose a tarrif duty and improve its terms of trade them a country which imports a small quantity of a given commodity (i-e demand is elastic).
However there are certain adverse effects on the tarrif imposing country, first, the terms of trade may be improved but the volume to trade of the tarrif-imposing country is reduced. Second the imposition of tarrif increases the price of the imported commodity to the domestic consumer. Third it may lead to retaliation by the other country. Thus too high a tarrif leads to the reduction in consumer's satisfaction, mal allocation of domestic resources with the reduction in the volume of trade, and retaliatory tarrifs harm the economics of both the countries.
2. Bargaining argument: It is argued that the imposition of tarrif's is necessary to bargain in trade negotiations with other countries. Since international trade is based on reciprocal basis, tarrif is used as a weapon to persuade or dissuade the other country to lower its tarrif wall. Thus the fear of the tarrifs may induce countries to give reciprocal concession to each other. Cut the bargaining argument for protection is not sound on many counts. First tarrif as a weapon for bargaining may lead to retaliation on thee part of the other country, thereby harming both the countries. Second vested interest may be created in the country which may be so powerful that they may not allow reduction in tarrif and reciprocal bargaining. So the bargaining arguments for protection are fallacious one.
3. Anti-dumping argument: Protection is advocated against the practice of dumping. Dumping means selling a product in a foreign market at a lower price than in home market, after taking into account transport and other costs of transfer. Dumping aims at flooding a foreign market with low priced commodities. As a result the import competing firms are ruined. To protect such firms, a high tarrif is imposed. This will raise the price of the product in the importing country and removes the threat of dumping.
4. Diversification argument: Another argument advanced in support of protection is to diversify the domestic industries. It means that there should be a balanced growth of the economy so that all the sectors of the economy develop side by side. For this purpose agriculture and manufacturing industries should be protected from foreign competition. This is a valid argument for experience has shown that the countries which are not developed in balanced way are affected more by international economic disturbances. Therefore they should diversify and become self sufficient by protecting their industries. But it is not possible to diversify completely.
5. Infant industry argument: The infant industry argument is the oldest and the most accepted argument for protection. This argument "rests on the assumption that the country has a latent comparative in the industry or group of industries to be protected". It is therefore argued that if industries in their infancy are not protected from established foreign producers, they can not develop to enjoy the comparative advantage. For this they must attain optimum size so as to operate most efficiently and competitively and to produce at lower cost. Protection is also needed to facilitate the flow of resources into infant industries, even though consumers have to bear the burden of higher prices temporarily. Economic justification lies in that the social returns will exceed the private returns from investment in such industries. The argument runs that infant industries require time to undergo the process of learning by doing to become competitive in the long run. Therefore they should be protected.
6. Socially important or Key industries argument: Protection should be given to socially important industries such as agriculture, iron and steel, heavy electrical, machine making heavy chemicals etc. There is no dispute over this argument because the development of Key and other socially important industries under protective tarrifs is out of the principal aims of trade policy in a country.
7. Employment argument: A usual argument for protection is that it is a cure for unemployment. The imposition of a tarrif reduces imports and encourages employment directly in import competing industries. This in turn generates employment in other industries dependent upon this import-competing industry and may even spread to import substitution industries. According to Prof. Haberler unemployment in one single industry can be reduced by a tarrif on the competing imports provided the demand for its products is not completely elastic and its products compete with similar imported products. But this does not mean the total unemployment will be diminished. The critics argue that tarrif is not likely to reduce unemployment because a restriction of imports will lead to a reduction of exports. While unemployment may be reduced in import competing industries, it will increase in export industries. As pointed by Keynes "If a reduction of imports cause almost at once a more or less equal reduction of exports obviously a tarrif … would be completely futile for the purpose of augmenting employment". But Keynes gave two arguments to show that a protective tarrif might lead to increase in employment provided exports are maintained at the old level. First if the tarrif imposing country lends to foreign countries, its exports can be maintained at old level, and the increase in employment in the import competing industries will not be offset by reduction in employment in export industries – second exports can be maintained at the old level, if subsidies are given to export industries out of the reserve from import duties.
But critics do not agree with Keynes on the adoption of these methods. They argue that lending to other countries would divert capital resources from home investment which would reduce domestic investment, thereby reduction total employment in the country. On the other hand the grant of subsidies to export industries would lead to retaliation by other countries which would levy anti dumping duties. Thus it is not possible to increase employment by imposing protective tarrif.
8. Balance of Trade argument: The balance of trade argument is based on the notion that a country should impose tarrifs to have a surplus of exports over imports. Such a surplus brings bullion into the country. But this is not corrective view because if all countries follow the same rule, none would gain. Moreover, a surplus of exports over imports can not continue over the long run. An inflow of gold would raise prices and an outflow would lower prices. Thus in the long run, exports must equal imports. Moreover the balance of trade argument in this case is not valid these days because there are no free movements of gold among countries.
9. Pauper labour argument: It is argued that goods produced by workers getting high wages in one country can not compete with goods produced by low-wage workers in the other country. Therefore high wage domestic goods should be protected from low wage imported goods by imposing tarrifs.
This argument is based on two unrealistic assumptions. First, the prices of goods are determined by wage rates alone and second, labour is the only factor of production. But the fact is that goods are manufactured by a combination of factors. Labour is combined with land and capital. It is only in the labour intensive goods that low paid can have a cost advantage over high paid labour is therefore fallacious to argue that high wage country is at a disadvantage in the production of all types of commodities.
10. Keeping money at home argument: This is also one of the fallacious arguments for protection. This argument suns as follow "When we buy manufactured goods abroad we get the goods and foreigner gets the money. Where we buy manufactured goods at home we get both the goods and money". This argument is illogical because if every country were to follow this rule, there would be no international trade and benefits of it would not accuse to any country of the world. A country buys goods from another country because the latter offers them at lower prices than the domestic manufacturers. Buying goods produced by domestic manufacturers would therefore mean loss to the consumers. Moreover in international trade domestic currency can not be used for making payments to foreigners. Infact goods pay for good and payments if any are made in the international currency. Thus as pointed out by Beveridge this argument has no merits.
11. Expanding home market argument: This is a corollary to the above argument of keeping money at home. According to this argument protection should be given to new industries and the workers engaged in them would create a good market for other domestic products. This would expand the home market for all domestic products including agricultural commodities. This is again a fallacious argument because the home market would expand at the expense of foreign market for exports. When imports are restricted by the imposition of tarrif duties, exports also decline because the other countries would retaliate. Moreover domestic producers will charge higher prices for products of domestic industries and the consumers will be the losers.
12. Equalisation costs of production argument: Protection to domestic industries is advocated for equalising costs of production of domestic and foreign products. If for example, the domestic costs are higher than foreign costs by 25 percent an import duty of 25 percent should be imposed on foreign products. Thus costs of production of both domestic and foreign products are equalised and they can compete on equal terms. Such policy would lead to giving protection to the least efficient industries with highest costs of production. It thus "discriminates in favour of inefficiency producers against efficient ones, and against the general body of consumers".
B. Non Economic Arguments: There are two important non-economic arguments for protection which are described as under.
1. Defence argument: A country should adopt the policy of protection from the stand point of national defence. If a country is dependent on other countries for its requirements of agricultural and industrial products, it will be very harmful for its national interest in times of war. The argument runs that it is no use amassing wealth and becoming richer, if the country is not in a position to defend its freedom. As aptly put by Adam Smith "Defence is better than oputence". Therefore a country should be self sufficient as far as possible even if it involves an economic loss in the production of certain commodities which are needed for national defence. In particular protection for national defence refers to self sufficiency in arms and ammunitions and other related industries. But complete self sufficiency as an argument for national defence does not carry much force for it will lead to inefficiency in domestic industries and loss of the gains from international trade. Thus industries which are directly and indirectly needed for the manufacture of arms and ammunition and other war materials should be developed under protection.2. Preservation argument: Protection is advocated to preserve the special ethos of the nation and certain classes of the population or certain occupation. It is argued that these would tend to disappear under free trade and their preservation is desired on political and social grounds. This argument is put forth to safeguard the interests of the agriculturists. The imposition of agricultural duties on the import of farm products is beneficial for the farmers who would be assured fair prices for their products. They would thus become prosperous. The prosperity of peasantry is essential for it forms the back bone of every nation. Therefore agriculture should be protected from foreign competition at all costs to preserve the special ethos of the nation. Tags: International Relations
About : Raja CRN
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text: The Research and Advocacy Unit [RAU] is an independent, non-governmental organisation providing high-quality research for the purposes of relevant and current policy change in Zimbabwe. RAU's work to date has focused on three major areas that are important in the current crisis in Zimbabwe: Women, Displacements, and Governance. RAU works with a wide variety of Zimbabwean, regional, and international partners in connection with the above areas. RAU also provides independent analyses of important current issues in Zimbabwe, ranging from elections, the Global Political Agreement, legal matters, and transitional justice among others.


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Although the final frenzy, about the explosion of Outsourcing, "trend" is not a new phenomenon. The concept of U.S. companies outsource various functions at a low cost, high talent pool of labor available for more than 20 years.Until new, large companies dominate the outsourcing landscape, often involving key services players such as IBM (NYSE: IBM) and Accenture (NYSE : ACN) to projects.What new information technologies is the small and medium-sized companies are recognizing the value of outsourcing, not only for technology services, but also for the business processes. Researchers at Gartner Group estimates that 80 percent of U.S. companies have been involved in high-level discussions Outsourcing in 2004, with the greatest interest in the application and business process outsourcing. Also increase interest and demand is the use of offshore delivery centers in Outsourcing strategy.
Often used interchangeably with "offshoring," the term "outsourcing" is much more wide-reaching implications. Because offshoring usually refers to hire additional labor (usually from countries like India) on a per-head-count rate per hour, the practice of outsourcing beyond conception postulates staff expansion. Now outsourcing paradigm includes advanced global delivery models, management / leadership contingency with risk, and long-term service level agreements (SLA) that covers technology and business process services.Just as market definition and scope Outsourcing has evolved over the last decade, so too buying audience. Historically, IT executives become major buyers of outsourcing services, primarily due to the intensive nature of the initial technology outsourcing arrangements. While the CIO role is still important in the decision-making process, financial executives and business-line and the CEO are now pushing that focuses on the needs of the business process outsourcing solutions and because it has emerged as a new buyer.
Mid sized professional services firm Kanbay International Inc. (www.kanbay . com) expert in a particular niche market (eg financial services) are in a strong position to achieve this new day, mid-level market with global application management and business process outsourcing solutions. Kanbay urged a number of innovative strategies to differentiate themselves and ordered vertical Outsourcing market value "Increased outsourcing economy creates new management challenges - .. And opportunities While the leading players in the industry creates demand for global outsourcing solutions, many mid-tier firms that get into the game. This opens the market practically to successfully deliver a solution provider's customer segments, "said Shiraz Patel, president of Kanbay Managed Solutions Inc.How clientsPatel lead children to discover financial Kanbay provides clients with a choice of global services and leadership models are ripe for application management outsourcing (AMO ) and Business Process Outsourcing (BPO). He offers the following advice for IT services / software and professional services to companies who want to enter the outsourcing market. Kanbay has been successfully used in a number of places in their own marketing strategies:
1. Analysts look for an objective opinion. Meet at least quarterly with industry analysts such as Gartner, IDC and Aberdeen, covering Outsourcing and managed industry solutions company. To schedule an in-person visit to brief this group in the history of the company, your clients experience and vision. Also, analysts can help prove your marketing strategy, which serves as a third-party, unbiased consultants who in turn educate potential customers, partners and analysts investors.Many host conferences and publish newsletters and special reports on topics of outsourcing where you can participate.
2 . Participate in industry / educational forum. Outsourcing conference will allow companies like Kanbay to show their client success stories and achievements. This interactive format that peer-to-peer enables the business prospects in the same industry to meet common challenges, learn by example, and to meet customer outsourcing partners achievements.
3 rear. Host seminars and Webinars. In a market saturated with hundreds of seminars, company Kanbay sure you have the most success with a partial (two hours or less), highly targeted programs that demonstrate solutions geared to specific business challenges in the industry. Webinar also attractive to sponsors and clients alike because they are cost effective, does not require travel and contain similar content to live seminars.
4. To use the media. Media is a powerful and authoritative source to educate potential customers outsourcing trends and solutions. Consider contributing to publications that feature customer case studies, quotes industry experts and opinion articles published experts.
5 created by the outsourcing company. Check the partnership approach. Many small and medium-sized companies interested in the deep expertise and capabilities of the outsourcing company, but often find their service cost is too high. When targeting the market segment, Kanbay company to offer a composite model for the financial services industry, engaging with clients and managing risks, both greater outsourcer Kanbay partners - but the prices are competitive.


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Tour Our Home
Posted by The Burkes at 7:54 AM 1 comment:
Garrett Crawling
Here are some photos of Garrett getting up on to his knees to crawl to his Mommy. Don't mind daisy's bum in the photo.
Posted by The Burkes at 9:47 AM 4 comments:
Garrett Loves GusGus
Here is a video of Garrett playing with GusGus he also says Hi a couple times that's his new thing. Errrrr, I would put tons more videos up but blogger takes forever to download the videos from my camera. This one took an hour so I really hope you enjoy it!
Posted by The Burkes at 8:42 PM No comments:
He is in the paper
Posted by The Burkes at 6:47 PM 4 comments:
He looks more like me!!!
I just wanted to thank Ashley for putting this up on her page. And also to everyone who always says Garrett looks just like his Daddy well hahahahaha he looks 55% like me and 45% like his Daddy hahahahahaha some more!
Posted by The Burkes at 8:42 PM 1 comment:
Best Bee Costume Winner!!!
Garrett took FIRST place in the Best Bee Costume Contest at this years first annual Firestone Honey Festival. Our local news paper was there and took photos I put the link up and will keep you updated. http://www.metrowestfyi.com/farmerminer/
Posted by The Burkes at 3:09 PM 2 comments:
Meeting Family
On Wednesday I got to meet my Paternal Grandmother Donna and her Husband Leon we had lunch and talked for about two hours. I really enjoyed meeting them they both were very nice, warm hearted people. They are the first members on my biological fathers side of the family that I have met.
Posted by The Burkes at 11:49 AM No comments:
Some really cute pictures!
Here are a couple pictures of Garrett in his costume for the Firestone Honey Festival and one of him standing up showing his teeth
Posted by The Burkes at 3:01 PM 2 comments:
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Is Yoga a Religion? Should it be Allowed in Public Schools?
All over the U.S., Christians are having a hissyfit over Yoga being a religion. If Christians can't pray in school, then a bunch of moonbeam navel-gazing Hindus shouldn't be allowed to practice THEIR religion in schools either. But is Yoga a religion?
San Diego Superior Court Judge John S. Meyer has ruled that Yoga can be taught in the Encinitas, CA school system without violating the separation of church and state. The ruling was a defeat for a local Christian couple who had filed a suit to prevent Yoga from being taught, their reasoning being that teaching Yoga amounts to religious indoctrination.
And these two devout Christians — Stephen and Jennifer Sedlock — are absolutely right. Yoga IS a religion, and a very dangerous one at that. Did you know:
During the eleventh through thirteenth centuries, armies of vicious Yogis staged a series of bloody crusades in the Middle East. Between a million and two million people were killed during the Yoga Crusades.
A few centuries later, after the Church of Yoga had become more powerful than ever, Yogis waged a campaign of mass torture and slaughter of anyone who didn't practice Yoga. To this day, the Yoga Inquisition remains one of the darkest most brutal chapters in world history.
The American Colonies were not immune to the excesses of Yoga fanatics. In the late 1600s, Yogis staged a series of "trials." Drowning, hanging or being burned at the stake was the grisly fate of any infidel who wobbled a little during the headstand or couldn't hold the Lotus position properly.
But you don't have to go way back in history to witness Yoga's religious fanaticism and mass conformity. When the Supreme Court overturned the federal law against same-sex marriage, Yogis reacted with fire and brimstone, hatred and fury.
And so on.
Labels: is Yoga a religion, Yoga in schools


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The local fishwrap has a regular column called "Spout Off" that is published most days and a selection of them are posted in the online version. This morning I see this one and just had to comment:
To everyone who eats in a restaurant and doesn't know how to tip: Gas prices are high for us, too. We have bills, also, and tips are they way we keep from living off the system, so here is a tip for you: If you can't afford to tip, you can't afford to go out to eat. Stay home and cook. That way you will save your 2 percent tip and you will save gas.
Now, I don't know who this spouter is, nor do I really care. I do, however, care that this person decided it would appropriate to chide those of us who tip on the basis of the service given. Most people I know, tip well for good service and will reduce said tip if service is not so good.
Hey waitstaff, think about this. If your tip is small, how about taking a look at the service you have provided. We, as the customer do not care if you are having a bad day. We don't care if you have to pay $4.00/gal for gas, we really don't care if you have three kids and they all need braces. We do care that we get good service from a friendly server that puts a smile on his/her face. Being a waiter or waitress can be tough, but I have known some that have had bad days and still managed to provide the service expected by the customer and earned a good tip.
Here is a tip for you, provide better service to your customers, and you will see bigger tips. Provide sucky service and I can guarantee that you will drive customers to the competitor down the street. A restaurant can have the best food, but if the service sucks, you can bet that I, for one, will not be a repeat customer, but that is a post for another time.
Sarge, Out


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|Shark Girl Riding a Pic, Casey Riordan Millard
"Casey Riordan Millard graduated with a BFA from Ohio University, Athens, Ohio in 1994. She has exhibited her large-scale installations, ceramic works, paintings and drawings in galleries throughout the United States including the Fuller Craft Museum, Brocton, Massachusetts, Cincinnati Art Museum, John Michael Kohler Center for the Arts, Sheboygan, Wisconsin and Packer-Schopf Gallery, Chicago, Illinois. Her work is in the permanent collection of the Cincinnati Art Museum and has been featured in the publications Hi-Fructose Magazine, New American Paintings, Lark Studio Series Ceramic Sculptures, and Lark's 500 Ceramic Sculptures. In 2009 she received an Efroymson Contemporary Art Fellowship and in 2011 was a finalist in the Cincinnati Art Museum's Fourth Floor competition. Her work will be featured in October of 2012 at the UnMuseum in Cincinnati's Contemporary Arts Center. Currently, she lives and works in Cincinnati, Ohio."


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Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Was Bill Parcells' retirement Tony Romo's fault?
According to an advance copy of the transcript of Tuesday's Real Sports on HBO, Bill Parcells appears to be saying his retirement from coaching was because of Tony Romo's botched hold of a Dallas Cowboys field goal against the Seattle Seahawks two seasons ago, says the Sun-Sentinel. In his interview with Andrea Kramer, Parcells says: "All you got to do is kick a field goal, the most elementary of plays, and then you just don't do it. And so I don't want to go through that process again. Too much blood."
Posted by lineofscrimmage at 7/22/2008 02:55:00 AM
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I spent yesterday in Denver at the Denver Convention Center the host location for the Fire-Rescue International Conference http://s36.a2zinc.net/clients/iafc/fri12/Public/MainHall.aspx?ID=2716 with Chief Jeff Dill of the Palatine Rural Fire Protection District in suburban Chicago.
B/C Dill is a nationally recognized authority on behavioral health issues within the fire service. He established Counseling Services for Fire Fighters, LLC based on the tragic events that surrounded Hurricane Katrina. When speaking with firefighters who returned after serving the community of New Orleans, Jeff heard the pleas of firefighters who had a difficult time talking with counselors who did not have any firefighting experience. They became frustrated and never did seek the help they needed. You can listen to Jeff's last appearance on the Firefighter Netcast Show here: "Counseling For a Firefighter- By a Firefighter" In this program, Chief Dill tells us about a new resource coming to the aid of the fire service. Last month, Chief Dill announced the formation of Firefighter Behavioral Health Alliance (FBHA). The new 501(c) (3) organization was established to directly educate firefighters/ Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel and their families about behavioral health issues such as depression, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), anxiety and addictions, as well as firefighter suicides. FBHA's sole goal is to promote good mental health to the men and women of the fire service/EMS and their families, as well as make a significant difference in reducing the numbers of firefighters who are turning to suicide to ease their pain. FBHA Founder Jeff Dill holds a Master's Degree in Counseling, and is a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Illinois.
What an amazing and passionate man. Chief Dill has spent countless hours helping fire departments all over America in dealing with firefighter suicide and also comforting the families of those left behind.
Here are two dirty secrets of our storied institution the fire service. When one of us suicides out the event is treated like an off the job incident, in my opinion it rarely is, it is a line of duty death to me, but that isn't how we treat it.
Second the families of these brothers and sisters (yeah women firefighters off themselves too) are treated differently than a firefighter that dies an honorable death. They may get short term support from their department but they and the memory of their father, husband, wife, sister, or brother is quickly forgotten.
We don't like to talk about this fact of our way of life; it's scary to think about, so we step away quickly so we don't have to think about it.
Chief Dill had invited me to speak about my experience as a suicide survivor and firefighter. After I shared my story with an unfortunately tiny audience a Chief asked me if there was anything any of my co-workers could have done back then.
My answer was a solid yes! My crew knew I was suffering, they knew I was "Off" my game I displayed all the characteristics of someone on the brink. But here is the thing I know if one of them had pressed me, really asked how I was doing I would have cracked.
Now I'm not putting any blame on anyone (other than myself) it isn't their fault I tried to kill myself. What I am saying is this, if we are the brave souls we fancy ourselves to be, shouldn't we be brave enough to risk asking these questions of ourselves and our co-workers? Shouldn't one of the lives we try to save be one of our own? I know I questioned patients hard when they seemed to be a risk to themselves, hell I put hundreds on medical holds.
Yet I refused to ask the hard questions of brothers and sisters I suspected of being in danger. It would have been impolite to ask.
As I waited to speak with Chief Dill I tried to work the crowd on his behalf, try and stir up some interest and get a good crowd to come listen to Chief Dill. Well wasn't I surprised. There were two major reactions, one was to be polite, take my information and then quickly toss it in the trash. The other one shocked me.
I was sitting outside and struck up a conversation with two Chiefs from California. I gave them our little hand-out that has the warning signs of an impending suicide. They both read it, then one looked at the other and in unison they said the name of a firefighter and both laughed a bit.
I asked them, "So you both agree you have a guy with these warning signs?" both answered without hesitation yes. Then I asked what they planned to do about that. They sat there tongue tied with their eyes blinking. "Well we gotta get inside we're teaching a class. Thanks for the information." And with that they walked away.
Ask the hard questions you may save a brother or sister, or maybe yourself.
Below is a self-screening for suicide ideations for firefighters. Please circle either Y= Yes, or N=No. When you have completed screening please review your score at the end of the screening.
- Are you feeling like a burden to your family, friends, or Fire Company? Y N
- Do you feel the world would be a better place without you in it? Y N
- Have you started to isolate yourself from others in the firehouse? Y N
- Have you found yourself turning to alcohol or other addictive behaviors to make yourself feel better? Y N
- Have you or someone close to you notice that your sleeping patterns have changed? Y N
- Are you thinking, "What is the use" when going to the fire house or responding on calls? Y N
- Do you find yourself thinking about or performing unnecessary risks while at a fire scene or on an emergency incident? Y N
- Have you found an increased or new interest in risky activities outside the firehouse such as: sky-diving, reckless motorcycle riding or purchasing guns? Y N
- Are you displaying unexplained angry emotions or been disciplined recently for anger towards other firefighters? Officers? Or the Public within the last two months? Y N
10. Have you been told that "you have changed" by: Friends? Family? Fellow firefighters?
- Does your family have a history of a suicide? Y N
12. Do you have a history of feeling depressed?
13. Do you have feelings of hopelessness? Y N
14. Do you feel like killing yourself? Y N
15. Have you created plans to kill yourself? Y N
16. Have you recently attempted to kill yourself? Y N
Scoring: Total the amount of (Yes) circled.
If you circled question 15 or 16, then please seek help immediately from a trusted friend, chaplain, counselor, dial 911 or call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or 1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433.


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Yeah, I'm usually more into expensive gadgets, like high-end phones. However, now and then I come across a cheap, low-tech piece of electronic equipment that merits a little attention.
Behold the Philps AZ382!
Yes, this is the kind of device no one bothers to give a fancy name – like "iPod Nano" or "HTC Magic". No worries – at least you know very few of the 500 NOK (80 USD) you pay go into branding the unit!
What's so great about this sound system?
* It has a decent-quality FM radio and a large, reliable-looking antenna to go with it.
* There is a CD player there.
* You can put MP3 and WMA files on a memory stick and play them through the USB port in the front.
* It is small, and thus easy to place.
* It can run on batteries.
* Those speakers produce sound of mediocre quality, but they play pretty loud.
* And, best of all, there is a 3,5 mm mini-jack audio input port on the side! This means you can use those speakers to play from pretty much any audio source you have.
You get all this stuff for a very low price. Currently, this little utilitarian pebble of a low-fi system is playing news over FM in the mornings and podcasts and The Economist from my mobile phone when I'm working in the kitchen. The USB port works, but I haven't had any use for it, as I prefer the user interface on my phone. Navigating thousands of MP3s through a numerical display is not ideal, but if you populate a memory stick with good stuff and set the player to shuffle, you're good to go.
Apart from the less than fantastic MP3 user experience (which is really excusable when you consider the price), my only criticism is that the FM tuning dial is a bit too sensitive. In an area with lots of FM transmitters, finding the right one can be a bit tricky. Since the 3,5 mm jack is there, I've even sometimes just tuned my Nokia into the desired FM station and hooked that one up instead.
Overall, two thumbs up for the AZ382, my new everyday hero among sound systems and a fabulous example of a device achieving versatility through the use of standards!


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Current Job Opportunity
Readvertisement, Previous applicants will be considered and need not reapply.
June 11, 2015
Closing Date
Open Until Filled
Position Number
Position Title
Manager, Court Reporting Services
Job Location
Sixteenth Judicial Circuit Court, Key West, Florida
Salary Range
$4,828.56 - $9,724.72 (Monthly*)
Job Description
The essential function of the position within the organization is to manage and supervise court reporting services. The position is responsible for scheduling and supervising staff, training, recording and transcribing court proceedings, processing transcript requests, and performing related administrative functions, including reporting. The position works independently, reporting major activities through periodic meetings.
Education and Training Guidelines
Additional relevant experience may substitute for the recommended educational level on a year-for-year basis. Additional relevant education may substitute for the recommended experience on a year-for-year basis, excluding supervisory experience.
Bachelor's degree in law, paralegal, stenography, business management or a closely related field and five years of related experience, including working knowledge of courtroom procedures and at least two years of managerial experience.
May require certification through the National Court Reporters Association (NCRA), American Association of Electronic Reporters and Transcribers (AAERT) or the National Verbatim Reporter Association (NVRA).
Data Responsibility:
Synthesizes or integrates analysis of data or information to discover facts or develop knowledge or interpretations; modifies policies, procedures, or methodologies based on findings.
Negotiates or exchanges ideas, information, and opinions with others to formulate policies and programs, or arrive jointly at decisions, conclusions, or solutions; supervises or leads other by determining work procedures, assigning duties, maintaining harmonious relations and promoting efficiency.
Assets Responsibility:
Requires responsibility and opportunity for achieving moderate economies and/or preventing moderate losses through the management or handling of supplies of high value or moderate amounts of money.
Mathematical Requirements:
Uses practical application of fractions, percentages, ratios and proportions, measurements, or logarithms; may use algebraic solutions of equations and equalities, deductive geometry, and/or descriptive statistics.
Communications Requirements:
Reads scientific and technical journals, abstracts, financial reports, and legal documents; writes complex reports; makes presentations to professional groups.
Complexity of Work:
Performs work involving the application of logical principles and thinking to solve practical problems within or applying to a unit or division of the organization; requires continuous, close attention for accurate results and frequent exposure to unusual pressure.
Impact of Decisions:
Makes decisions with serious impact - affects most units in organization, and may affect citizens; probability of loss of life and/or damage are likely.
Equipment Usage:
Establishes policies for acquiring and handling of machines, tools, equipment or work aids involving extensive latitude for judgment regarding attainment of a standard or in selecting appropriate items, such as stenograph machines, laptops or recorders.
Safety of Others:
Requires some responsibility for safety and health of others and/or for occasional enforcement of the standards of public safety or health.
Special Comments
Requires valid certificate as a Registered Professional Reporter (RPR) or higher, e.g., Certified Real Time Reporter.
How to Apply
Submit a current and complete State of Florida application, resume, and verification of required education (i.e., copy of
high school diploma, copy of college degree or college transcript) to:
Sixteenth Judicial Circuit Court
Attn: Personnel
302 Fleming Street
Key West, Florida 33040
Phone: 305-295-3652; FAX: 305-292-3435
An application must be submitted for the position listing the appropriate class title and position number for which you are
applying. Your application must be received by 5:00 p.m. on the closing date.
The successful applicant will be subject to a criminal background check.
We are an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin, genetic information or disability.
We hire only U.S. citizens and lawfully authorized alien workers.
If you need an accommodation to participate in the application/selection process, please call the contact person at the number indicated for each respective position. Persons using a TDD may call the contact person through the Florida Relay Service 1-800-955-8771.