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Psychologists on how to help LGBT people: Don't fix what isn't broken
Filipino psychologists, counselors and researchers convene at a national conference in Clark, Pampanga for LGBT training and research exchange.
Filipino psychologists, counselors, and researchers from all over the country gathered for new LGBT training and research at the 53rd Annual Convention of the Psychological Association of the Philippines (PAP) held in Clark, Pampanga.
The need to focus on LGBT strengths instead of attempting to "fix" sexual orientation or gender identity of clients was highlighted in a training session led by Jelly Virata, a counseling psychologist in private practice. Ronald del Castillo, professor of public health and behavioral sciences at UP Manila, also emphasized the importance of being aware of anti-gay micro-aggressions, especially among mental health service providers.
Researchers from Manila, Quezon City, Legazpi, and Iloilo also presented locally conducted studies on a range of LGBT topics in the three-day conference attended by more than a thousand Filipino mental health professionals, counselors, and graduate students. Research topics included children of lesbian and gay parents, prison experiences of gay detainees, and suicide risk among LGBT Filipinos, in addition to a special session led by Ateneo de Manila University psychologists on the psychological impact of homophobic remarks made by Manny Pacquiao.
According to Bea Torre, co-coordinator of the PAP's LGBT Psychology Special Interest Group: "This is the seventh year for LGBT inclusion in our annual convention. We continue to strengthen the LGBT-affirmative voice within Philippine psychology."
Facial recognition software has a gender problem
A study found that facial analysis services performed consistently worse on transgender individuals, and were universally unable to classify non-binary genders.
With a brief glance at a single face, emerging facial recognition software can now categorize the gender of many men and women with remarkable accuracy.
But if that face belongs to a transgender person, such systems get it wrong more than one third of the time, according to new University of Colorado Boulder research.
"We found that facial analysis services performed consistently worse on transgender individuals, and were universally unable to classify non-binary genders," said lead author Morgan Klaus Scheuerman, a PhD student in the Information Science department. "While there are many different types of people out there, these systems have an extremely limited view of what gender looks like."
The study comes at a time when facial analysis technologies – which use hidden cameras to assess and characterize certain features about an individual – are becoming increasingly prevalent, embedded in everything from smartphone dating apps and digital kiosks at malls to airport security and law enforcement surveillance systems.
Previous research suggests they tend to be most accurate when assessing the gender of white men, but misidentify women of color as much as one-third of the time.
"We knew there were inherent biases in these systems around race and ethnicity and we suspected there would also be problems around gender," said senior author Jed Brubaker, an assistant professor of Information Science. "We set out to test this in the real world."
Researchers collected 2,450 images of faces from Instagram, each of which had been labeled by its owner with a hashtag indicating their gender identity. The pictures were then divided into seven groups of 350 images (#women, #man, #transwoman, #transman, #agender, #agenderqueer, #nonbinary) and analyzed by four of the largest providers of facial analysis services (IBM, Amazon, Microsoft and Clarifai).
Notably, Google was not included because it does not offer gender recognition services.
On average, the systems were most accurate with photos of cisgender women (those born female and identifying as female), getting their gender right 98.3% of the time. They categorized cisgender men accurately 97.6% of the time.
But trans men were wrongly identified as women up to 38% of the time.
And those who identified as agender, genderqueer or nonbinary – indicating that they identify as neither male or female – were mischaracterized 100 percent of the time.
"These systems don't know any other language but male or female, so for many gender identities it is not possible for them to be correct," says Brubaker.
The study also suggests that such services identify gender based on outdated stereotypes.
When Scheuerman, who is male and has long hair, submitted his own picture, half categorized him as female.
The researchers could not get access to the training data, or image inputs used to "teach" the system what male and female looks like, but previous research suggests they assess things like eye position, lip fullness, hair length and even clothing.
"These systems run the risk of reinforcing stereotypes of what you should look like if you want to be recognized as a man or a woman. And that impacts everyone," said Scheuerman.
The market for facial recognition services is projected to double by 2024, as tech developers work to improve human-robot interaction and more carefully target ads to shoppers. Already, Brubaker notes, people engage with facial recognition technology every day to gain access to their smartphones or log into their computers.
If it has a tendency to misgender certain, already vulnerable, populations that could have grave consequences.
For instance, a match-making app could set someone up on a date with the wrong gender, leading to a potentially dangerous situation. Or a mismatch between the gender a facial recognition program sees and the documentation a person carries could lead to problems getting through airport security, says Scheuerman.
He is most concerned that such systems reaffirm notions that transgender people don't fit in.
"People think of computer vision as futuristic, but there are lots of people who could be left out of this so-called future," he said.
The authors say they'd like to see tech companies move away from gender classification entirely and stick to more specific labels like "long hair" or "make-up" when assessing images.
"When you walk down the street you might look at someone and presume that you know what their gender is, but that is a really quaint idea from the '90s and it is not what the world is like anymore," said Brubaker. "As our vision and our cultural understanding of what gender is has evolved. The algorithms driving our technological future have not. That's deeply problematic."
Movie industry's prejudice against people with disabilities still strong
More than half of the films (58) evaluated in 2018 did not include a single character (even non-speaking role) with a disability, a four-year high. Furthermore, 83 films had no female characters with a disability. This is an increase from 2017 but on par with 2015.
Unlike in television, where disability representation has gone up in recent years, the percentage of characters with disabilities in the top 1,200 films has hit a four-year low. Just 1.6% of the 4,445 speaking characters analyzed have a disability, according to a study by the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism. Five of these films revolved around an underrepresented leading character with a disability and one showcased a leading character from the LGBT community.
"Including characters with disabilities does not happen by accident," said Lauren Appelbaum, who leads RespectAbility's Hollywood Inclusion efforts as the organization's VP of communications and author of The Hollywood Disability Inclusion Toolkit. "What we see on screen influences how we act in real life, but that is dependent on filmmakers choosing to include individuals with disabilities in diverse and accurate portrayals. Thus, when just fewer than two percent of films include speaking characters with disabilities, the disability community is pretty much erased on screen. When filmmakers choose to include characters with disabilities, they can help to remove the stigmas that currently exist about interacting with individuals with disabilities."
When the Annenberg study began tracking disability four years ago, it found 2.4% of speaking characters had disabilities, staying fairly consistent at 2.7% in 2016 and 2.5% in 2017. In each of those years, at least one film (two in 2015 and 2017) had proportional representation of characters with disabilities, compared to the US Census information. None of the films evaluated from 2018 featured proportional representation of characters with disabilities when compared to the US population.
"With more than a quarter of the US population identifying as having a disability, these numbers are dismal," Appelbaum added. "In fact, the difference between the percentage of speaking characters with disabilities and reality in the US population is the largest difference in the inclusion crisis in film, at 25.6 (27.2% of US population versus 1.6% of speaking characters)."
More than half of the films (58) evaluated in 2018 did not include a single character (even non-speaking role) with a disability, a four-year high. Furthermore, 83 films had no female characters with a disability. This is an increase from 2017 but on par with 2015.
"You're basically seeing the erasure of whole communities," said Marc Choueiti, program director at the Annenberg Inclusion Initiative and one of the study's authors.
"Entertainment contributes to our values and ideals," RespectAbility's president Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi added. "With just 1.6% of speaking characters having disabilities in film, compared to 25% of American adults having a disability, we will continue to work with entertainment leaders to promote positive, accurate, diverse and inclusive media portrayals on TV and in film. Disability impacts every gender, race, age and sexual orientation. We want the film industry to understand that accurate, authentic and diverse portrayals of disability benefit everyone."
Disability Affects All
Despite the fact that people of all races, ethnicities, genders, sexual orientations, etc., have disabilities, the films evaluated in this study do not show it.
Nearly three-quarters of the characters with disabilities were male (72.5%) and 27.5% were female. Most characters with disabilities were white (63.1%), while 36.9% were from underrepresented racial/ethnic groups. Just two characters with disabilities were LGB.
One statistic represents improvement, however. The percentage of underrepresented characters with disabilities increased 9.9% points compared to 2017. A corresponding decrease in white characters occurred. However, the numbers leave a lot of room for additional improvement.
"Once again, the predominant picture of characters with disabilities is one of a straight, white, male," the study reports. "These results have remained consistent across the four years of films examined, which means that for nearly half of a decade, audiences have seen persistent under and misrepresentation of individuals with disabilities in top movies."
Disabilities Represented
A total of nine films had a lead or co-lead character with a disability. These individuals experienced depression, dyslexia, disfigurement, blindness, heart conditions, HIV/AIDS or missing limbs. Five of these films centered on an underrepresented leading character with a disability, and one movie showcased the story of an LGBT leading character with a disability. In terms of ensemble casts, two films featured leading characters with disabilities, one male and one female, both of whom were white, and one was bisexual.
In terms of all characters with a speaking role, more than half of the characters (38) were shown to have a physical disability (55.1%), including mobility issues, amputation or severe disfigurement. Nearly one-third (30.4%) of characters have a cognitive disability, such as depression, anxiety or PTSD. And 27.5% of characters were shown with a communicative disability, such as blindness or deafness. As a character could experience a disability in more than one domain, the percentages do not total to 100%.
When looking behind the camera, there are no statistics for people with disabilities. Currently, no major production company tracks disability status for any of its employees, so the data does not yet exist.
Room for Improvement
While the statistics for characters with disabilities – as well as those who are LGBTQ – are lackluster, the overall numbers for women and people of color as leads increased in meaningful ways.
"The good news is companies are making more of an effort to be inclusive," said Stacy L. Smith, director of the USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative and one of the study's authors. "We're seeing movement. Of course, we always want it to be faster, but all of the activism and advocacy appears to be yielding results."
She added, "We're seeing that studios are recognizing that all that mythologizing about who can lead a film or carry a film was just that — mythologizing."
In the Scene
UP Repertory Company to focus on LGBTQIA stories in opening of 47th production season
UP Repertory Company opens its 47th production season with DADA: The Chika Minutes¸ a performance of LGBTQIA stories.
This November, the UP Repertory Company opens its 47th production season with DADA: The Chika Minutes¸ a performance of LGBTQIA stories.
DADA: The Chika Minutes is a documentary theater performance of various narratives from the LGBTQIA community, exploring documentary merged with the company's own art form, tula dula (a poem written in verse, acted out in mime). With 16 segments of a spectra of LGBTQIA narratives, DADA will be tackling the real life experiences of kids to OFWs to pageant queens to sex workers to community builders and activists.
"In this period of intense hate crimes, controversies and fake news about SOGIE, we bring the stories of the LGBTQIA you might have missed," UP Repertory Company stated.
With the dramaturgy of Ligaya Sinfuego, additional choreography by Michelle Alde, and choreography and direction by Jasper Villasis and Malvin Ramos.
DADA: The Chika Minutes will be staged this coming November 28 and 29 (7pm) and November 30 (3pm and 7pm) in UP Diliman.
For details on tickets and show venue, contact Hillary Guevara at 0906 626 0900.
New intervention may help ease young children's biases against gender-nonconforming peers
A study found that 8- and 9-year-olds can be influenced to be more positive toward their gender-nonconforming peers.
Worldwide, gender nonconformity is on the rise. Children who don't conform to their birth sex are often perceived less positively, which may harm their well-being. A new study of Chinese kindergarten- and elementary-school-age children looked at the development of biases against gender-nonconforming peers and tested an intervention to modify their biases. The study found that although children were indeed less positive toward gender-nonconforming peers than toward gender-conforming peers, showing children certain examples of gender-nonconforming peers reduced bias against them. These findings can inform efforts to reduce bias against gender nonconformity.
The study – titled "Child Development, Children's Appraisals of Gender Nonconformity: Developmental Pattern and Intervention" – was conducted by researchers at the University of Hong Kong, the University of Toronto Mississauga, and the Chinese University of Hong Kong. It is published in Child Development, a journal of the Society for Research in Child Development.
"Our study breaks new ground by showing that 8- and 9-year-olds can be influenced to be more positive toward their gender-nonconforming peers," notes Ivy Wong, assistant professor of psychology and gender development at the Chinese University of Hong Kong and the University of Hong Kong, who led the study. "The findings can help develop strategies to reduce bias against gender nonconformity; a bias which appears to place some children at risk of peer rejection."
Researchers tested 315 Hong Kong Chinese children in two studies. In the first study, 4-, 5-, 8-, and 9-year-olds watched vignettes about hypothetical boys and girls who were gender conforming and gender nonconforming in play, appearance, preferences for playmates, and activities. Afterwards, they were asked questions about their views of the children in the vignettes, took part in a behavioral task about sharing with the children in the vignettes, and ranked the children they had watched from most to least favorite.
The study found that the children as young as 4-years old gave less positive appraisals and shared less generously with peers who did not conform to stereotypical expressions of gender. This finding was stronger when the children watching the vignettes were older or the children in the videos were boys.
In the second study, 8- and 9-year-olds took part in an intervention before viewing the vignettes. They saw stories about boys and girls who were portrayed as defying gender expectations in playing with toys, engaging in activities, and wearing clothing. However, the hypothetical children were also portrayed as gender conforming and thus, similar to most children of their gender in certain ways (e.g., a boy who likes to wear pink also enjoys playing basketball, a girl who likes to play with action figures also likes to jump rope) and having some positive attributes (e.g., getting good grades at school). Another group of 8- and 9-year-olds was shown stories of zoo animals, which served as a control condition. Afterwards, both groups of participating children answered the same questions and took part in the same tests as in the first study.
This study found that showing 8- and 9-year-olds examples of gender-nonconforming peers who showed positive and gender-conforming characteristics–the latter of which likely increases perceived similarity to the participants, given that most children are gender normative by definition–reduced bias against gender nonconformity.
"Our study suggests that highlighting positive attributes of individuals and qualities that gender-conforming and nonconforming children share more broadly–without highlighting whether they are conforming or nonconforming–could be helpful," according to Doug VanderLaan, assistant professor of psychology at the University of Toronto Mississauga and co-corresponding author of the study. "For example, teachers could create opportunities for children to learn about how each person is special as an individual and ways that they are potentially similar."
The authors acknowledge several limitations to their study, including that it was conducted in a lab and used hypothetical children in the vignettes, and that it focused on short- and not long-term effects.
Taiwan holds first trans-specific Pride march
The trans community of Taiwan converged in the first-ever trans Pride march. The gathering aimed to spread awareness on issues that are specific to the trans community, including the need for the Taiwanese government to remove "sexual reassignment surgery" from the list of requirements for transgender people to change their gender markers.
TAIPEI, TAIWAN – As the country holds the 17th annual Taipei Pride parade, the transgender community of Taiwan converged in the first-ever trans Pride march. The gathering aimed to spread awareness on issues that are specific to the trans community, including the need for the Taiwanese government to remove "sexual reassignment surgery" from the list of requirements for trans people to change their gender markers.
The main event of Taipei Pride is themed "Together, Make Taiwan Better"; but to date – and akin to other LGBTQIA developments in Western countries – trans-specific issues continue to be relegated to the sidelines when discussing concerns of the LGBTQIA community, making trans-specific gatherings important.
The first trans march was held in San Francisco in 2004. And then, just as it is now, it continues to be a gathering pushing for the creation of a space for the diverse communities in the LGBTQIA community to unite and achieve the social justice and equality the LGBTQIA movement sought out in the beginning.
Pride, as a whole, has devolved into a corporate/money-earning stunt/parade; so that marches for trans and lesbians are now the more political versions.
As it is, the annual LGBTQIA Pride parade in Taiwan – first held in 2003 – attracts over 100,000 participants. Last year, 130,000 people joined the event, boosted by the passing of same-sex marriage legislation. It is the largest commercial Pride gathering in Asia, ahead of Tel Aviv Pride in Israel, which is the largest in the Middle East.
Taiwan LGBT Pride Community, the organizer of Taiwan LGBTQ Pride parade, holds the parade on the last Saturday of October.
Polyamorous families face stigma during pregnancy and birth
Polyamorous families experience marginalization during pregnancy and birth, but with open, nonjudgmental attitudes from health care providers and changes to hospital policies, this can be reduced.
Polyamorous families experience marginalization during pregnancy and birth, but with open, nonjudgmental attitudes from health care providers and changes to hospital policies, this can be reduced. This is according to new research – "The Polyamorous Childbearing and Birth Experiences Study (POLYBABES): a qualitative study of the health care experiences of polyamorous families during pregnancy and birth" – published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
As it is, in the US alone, an estimated one in five single Americans have engaged in consensual polyamory, or consensual nonmonogamy, and interest in these types of relationships seems to be increasing. People who identify as gay, lesbian or bisexual are more likely to be in consensual nonmonogamous relationships.
Few studies exist on the experiences of polyamorous families in health care, and it appears there are none on experiences during pregnancy and birth.
"[G]iven the high proportion of polyamorous individuals who are of child-bearing age and the substantial potential for stigma, it is important to investigate polyamorous individuals' experiences with reproductive care providers to better inform practice," writes Dr. Elizabeth Darling, a study author and assistant dean, midwifery, and an associate professor, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, with coauthors.
Several themes emerged in this qualitative study of 24 participants, including 11 women who gave birth within the last five years and 13 partners.
Key points:
- Participants deliberately planned families, choosing health care providers who they thought would be less discriminatory because of relationship status.
- More partners means more support, although some partners were not able to fully share this support because of discomfort in disclosing polyamorous relationships.
- People in polyamorous relationships often chose to disclose their status when it was medically relevant, and they received both positive and negative reactions from health care providers.
- Navigating the health system presented challenges, including administrative barriers, in which forms did not have enough space for additional partners, or newborn identification bracelets that could be issued for only two parents
To improve health care experiences for polyamorous families, the study participants suggested health care providers should acknowledge the partners' presence and roles, be open and nonjudgmental, adapt administrative forms and procedures, and advocate for patients and their families.
"Our findings align with recent reports that individuals engaging in consensual nonmonogamy face stigma with respect to accessing health care," write the authors. "Our results also suggest that polyamorous individuals face concerns similar to those of other gender and sexual minorities regarding administrative barriers and challenges with disclosure to health care providers."
The authors state that substantial work needs to be done to remove marginalization experienced by these families in the health care system.
"[R]educing providers' implicit biases toward sexual minority groups, and patients in consensually nonmonogamous relationships in particular, is vital to addressing health disparities," writes Dr. Sharon Flicker, Department of Psychology, California State University, Sacramento, California, in a related commentary.
"Health care providers have an opportunity to mitigate this stress by providing inclusive environments and sensitive health care."
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murietamike wrote:I appreciate the info. I'm not sure what you mean by adding the 3D tabs. Are you talking about adding them at a profile cutout in 2D? Wouldn't the ball nose take them out too?
murietamike wrote:Help again please. I logged into the vectric portal and I don't see where to download the 3D tabs. Also, where can I find the clip art I downloaded?
Thanks again
murietamike wrote:I logged in at this address https://portal.vectric.com/account and it gives me a welcome to V & CO. I don't see any clip art installers. I don't remember this page.
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Value Line is regarded as the best independent research available. More than just recommendations, Value Line provides the rationale behind its picks for greater understanding.
Most utility stocks are purchased with dividends as the primary investment consideration. Indeed, as of October 26, 2010, the average yield of the electric utility equities that Value Line covers was 4.4%, more than twice the 2.0% median yield of all dividend-paying stocks under our coverage. Most investors would also like to receive annual dividend increases. But there is a trade-off. The highest yielding utility issues typically provide little or no dividend growth, and the utilities with the best prospects for dividend growth usually have a high valuation (i.e., a below-average yield).
This is understandable. Nonutility companies that are growing the fastest usually command high price/earnings ratios, because investors are willing to pay a premium for the company's growth potential. For a utility, the equivalent of a high p/e ratio is a low yield. Imagine a scenario in which two utilities are each paying a $1.00-a-share annual dividend. One hasn't raised the dividend in many years and isn't likely to do so anytime soon, and the other is expected to continue its pattern of annual dividend growth. All else being equal, why wouldn't an investor pay more for the latter utility? As the stock price goes up, the yield goes down.
There are several examples of utility stocks that have high yields but little or no dividend growth potential or low yields but good dividend growth potential. (All yields are as of October 26, 2010.) Wisconsin Energy (WEC) has a yield of just 2.9%, one of the lowest of any electric utility equity, but the dividend is being boosted rapidly in order to raise the payout ratio, which is low for a utility. It helps that earnings are rising fast, too. Another fast grower with a low yield is Northeast Utilities (NU). If the company's proposed merger with NSTAR (NST) is approved by shareholders and regulators, NU shareholders will also benefit from a step-up in the dividend (to NSTAR's level) when the merger closes. On the other hand, Empire District Electric (EDE), FirstEnergy (FE), and UIL Holdings (UIL) have yields of 6.0% or higher. None of these companies has raised their dividend in 2010, and we aren't expecting an increase from any of these companies later this year or in 2011.
Some companies have above-average yields and dividend growth potential, but their yields are usually less than one percentage point above the utility mean. For example, Southern Company (SO) has a yield of 4.9% and a track record of dividend growth. One exception is Duke Energy (DUK), where the stock has a yield of 5.5%, Duke also provides historical dividend growth. The company's dividend growth rate has slowed, however, due to a high payout ratio. Progress Energy (PGN) also has a 5.5% yield, but, for the first time in many years, the board of directors did not raise the dividend in 2010. For now, we look for a dividend hike next year.
Other things besides dividend growth potential influence a stock's yield. Financial strength, regulatory or operating risks, and the prospects of nonutility subsidiaries (if any) also play a part, and investors need to consider these factors, too.There is no right answer to the question of which is more important — the current yield or dividend growth potential. Investors with a short-term focus ought to consider stocks with a high yield (as long as the dividend does not appear to be at risk of a cut), while those with a longer investment horizon might well fare better with stocks that offer good dividend growth potential.
At the time of this article's writing, the author did not have positions in any of the companies mentioned.


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Can Censorship Help Heal Rwanda?
Just eighteen years after genocide, this tiny East African nation is an international success story. Just don't mention ethnic groups or criticize the government.
Rwanda 2011
February 09, 2012
Also published in The Boston Globe
The architect's model, sprawling across a table the size of a swimming pool, shows gleaming towers, highways, and monuments, even a river where none now exists. If Pierre L'Enfant, the designer of Washington, D.C., had come back to life in the 21st century, this might be what he produced: a global capital for a small nation that imagines itself quite large in the world"‰"""‰as the Switzerland-like banking center of the 120 million-person East African Community.
Just 18 years removed from one of the bloodiest atrocities in African history"‰"""‰the murders of 800,000 people, mostly members of the minority Tutsi tribe at the hands of rival Hutus"‰"""‰Rwanda seems to be doing everything right. Its economy is growing faster than almost any on the continent. Its public health improves every year.
For American diplomats and aid workers who long despaired of ever seeing an African nation free of corruption, encouraging of women's aspirations, and embracing of global financial norms, today's Rwanda is a model for the continent and beyond. Its president, Paul Kagame, understands what so many African rulers do not: that a world of expertise awaits a leader who can engage with Western nations while protecting his own vision for the country. American diplomats and aid workers who have worked with Rwandan leaders are enthusiastic. "They're great partners, very progressive, incredibly effective," says Peter Drobac, a Brigham and Women's Hospital physician who is the Rwandan country director for aid group Partners in Health.
However, another reality of today's Rwanda is visible in a courthouse in central Kigali, where an opposition leader named Victoire Ingabire is on trial on multiple charges. The most problematic"‰"""‰including preaching a "genocide ideology""‰"""‰stem from her declaration, after visiting the country's genocide memorial, that it doesn't properly acknowledge Hutu deaths along with the larger number of Tutsi victims.
This was an inflammatory sentiment, certainly"‰"""‰somewhat, though not entirely, akin to asking that German civilian casualties be accorded equal status to Holocaust victims. But it was simply a statement, nonetheless. And Ingabire could face up to 25 years in prison just for expressing it.
For American enthusiasts of the Kagame regime, the Ingabire case and others like it point to a dilemma: Rwanda's remarkable reconciliation and success have gone hand in hand with severely curtailed freedom of speech. Though it leads Africa in many markers of development, Rwanda ranks among the least free countries for media, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists. Journalists operate in fear of prosecution for pointing to ethnic divisions, or even just for criticizing the government. Last year, Rwandan courts sentenced a newspaper editor to 17 years in prison for "disrespecting" Kagame by, among other things, depicting him with a swastika.
As much as these restrictions may disturb American diplomats, businesspeople, donors, and aid workers, Kagame and his supporters believe the country is succeeding not despite its deviation from the American playbook, but because of it. Rwanda's "genocide ideology" is so toxic it can't be rationalized, they believe; it must be buried like a corpse, consigned to memorials.
"If you have politics that concentrate on making people understand that they are different and they should be at each other because of their differences, instead of getting together in spite of their differences, that's exactly where the problem starts," Kagame declared in November, in an interview with journalists from the International Reporting Project.
Rwanda, then, presents a direct challenge to the idea that free speech is the best cure for traumatized nations. That principle"‰"""‰that differences should be aired, so that they can be overcome"‰"""‰is an article of faith in the United States, and this free "marketplace of ideas" is what we prescribe for sub-Saharan Africa as well as Iraq, Libya, Burma, and other hot spots. But much of global history points to a different narrative, one of heated political speech leading to conflict, war, and sometimes even genocide.
Discerning the proper limits of free speech in other cultures is crucial for the United States, which has such a great stake in supporting fledgling democracies. But how much of America's own experience is transferable? In Africa, Europe, and Asia, there is far less agreement on the inherent virtues of free expression. What is happening in Rwanda can be seen as a kind of test case for an alternative theory: that some ideas are simply too dangerous to go to market.
RWANDA IS A TINY, land-locked piece of East Africa, about 1,000 miles from the Indian Ocean. It is the "land of a thousand hills," with fertile bogs and palm trees, like a slice of volcanic island laid out on the African tundra. About the size of Massachusetts, it has twice as many people, ranking it among the most densely populated countries on earth.
In many ways, though, it's a country built on skulls. So many people were killed so quickly in the three months following the assassination of its then-president in April 1994, that pieces of their bodies became part of the Rwandan landscape.
The remains of 45,000 corpses, most of them hacked by machetes, rest in the bowels of the Nyamata Church, about 20 miles from the Rwanda capital of Kigali. Built cheaply of brick, the church was a place of worship for Catholics, mostly of the then-dominant Hutu tribe. In 1992, it was a place of refuge for Tutsis threatened by Hutu Power guerrillas; local Hutus wouldn't tolerate killings at their church. At the time of the genocide, just two years later, many thousands of Tutsis holed up in and around the church, only to have the gates opened to the murderers.
Today, the wooden pews are stacked with the rotting clothes of those who died, their bright colors faded to brown and gray. Across the cement floor is a simple statue of the Virgin Mary. At the altar table, under the questioning eyes of the Virgin, is a single machete. Directly underneath, in the basement, are rows and rows of skulls, and shelves lined with white bones.
Those who died in the genocide, at least 10 percent of the country's population at the time, weren't the only victims. Tutsi women and the Hutu brides of Tutsi men were systematically raped by Hutu neighbors. Many became pregnant, and they and their 17-year-old children are part of the tangled web of Rwandan victimization and guilt. The divide between victims and oppressors is complicated in other ways, too; the United Nations has pointed to atrocities committed by Tutsi guerrillas against Hutus who fled into Congo.
Once order was restored, top leaders of the provisional government were brought before an international tribunal. Some, including self-styled "journalists" who took to the radio airwaves to spread hatred of Tutsis, are in international jails. But a huge number of Rwandans participated in the genocide, and aren't facing prison; there are simply too many of them. Instead, villages have held trials and have sent those found guilty to work programs, mainly in Kigali. There, they can be seen sweeping parks and building roads, wearing blue jumpsuits and impassive faces.
They, along with the rest of Rwanda's citizens, are constrained by speech laws. Among the offenses punishable with long terms in prison are not only advancing a "genocide ideology," but also "divisionism" and showing disrespect for the president. In practice, any mention of Hutu and Tutsi political differences, or accounts of the genocide that differ from the official version, are risks for prosecution.
So far, this repressive code has served to buy the country time to heal its divisions, in Kagame's view. Eventually, he believes, continued development will allow for a loosening of restrictions on speech.
"It's something that people probably have to be patient about," Kagame explained in his interview with the International Reporting Project, in his dulcet tones.
THE PRESIDENT'S BESPECTACLED face, peaceful in its cerebral confidence, stares down from the walls of government buildings and luxury hotels. At 54, he does not look like a military man, though he has spent most of his life in service of the Rwandan Patriotic Front, the army of Tutsi exiles that tried to invade Rwanda in the early '90s, and then swept to power with international help in July, 1994, ending the genocide.
Though Tutsis and Hutus are often indistinguishable, Kagame's ultra-slender physique and straight nose mark him clearly as a Tutsi, one of thousands whose families fled Rwanda for Uganda in the '50s and '60s. These exiles, some educated in the West, are now the bulwark of Kagame's government"‰"""‰the bright, professional ministers who are engaging the global community.
The administration's goal, almost an obsessive one, is economic development. Its success can be measured in statistics: An average gross domestic product growth of about 7 percent over 10 years; child mortality rate cut in half in just five; the percentage of couples using birth control up from 10 percent to 45 percent; malarial infections cut in half; one of the lowest HIV infection rates in Africa"‰"""‰3 percent"‰"""‰with 90 percent of patients receiving antiretroviral treatment.
Businesspeople who come to Kigali expecting a nation in the bare aftermath of turmoil are invariably impressed. There is not a trace of Hutu and Tutsi separation, nor of dissention of any kind. This is the intended result of the clampdown on free expression.
On the streets of Kigali and in smaller towns dotting the countryside, there are few outward signs of a police state. But the regime's determination to stamp out tribal divisions is so well understood that people are loath to utter the words Hutu and Tutsi anywhere they might be overheard. "Talk crimes""‰"""‰divisionism, preaching the genocide ideology, showing disrespect for the president"‰"""‰are so open-ended and aggressively enforced that people censor themselves, perhaps even beyond what Kagame and his aides intended. To an outsider, in fact, the most noticeable thing about Rwandan politics is that there doesn't appear to be any.
THE IDEA THAT free speech and thriving civil societies go together is second nature to Americans. Free speech, especially in the political realm, is the closest thing to a secular religion in the United States. It's widely regarded as the greatest protection in the Constitution.
It's also a key facet of American foreign policy. "Rights must be more than the grudging consent of dictators," declared President George W. Bush in his second inaugural address. "They are secured by free dissent and the participation of the governed.'' James Madison regarded free speech as a God-given right. Oliver Wendell Holmes, the most admired of American jurists, spoke of the need to provide "freedom for the thought that we hate."
In fact, though, the United States is an outlier when it comes to free expression: Almost no other country offers the blanket of protection available through the First Amendment. Many European countries have prohibitions on various forms of hate speech, led by Germany, which seeks to stamp out anti-Semitism and anti-immigrant ideologies. For American foreign policy to place so much confidence in the marketplace of ideas does not sit well with everyone, particularly those who have witnessed the corrosive effects of hate speech.
Margaret H. Marshall, the retired chief justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, grew up in apartheid-era South Africa. What she saw there leads her to question whether all societies should follow the First Amendment model of unlimited free speech. That is an "anti-historical" belief, she says. In the United States, it has proven wise to protect even the most offensive views. But hateful speech has led to mass murder in other countries, from Nazi Germany to the killing fields of Cambodia to Rwandan radio broadcasts denouncing Tutsis.
In her view, nations seeking to move beyond genocide might be justified in restricting not only hate speech, but also some political expression, such as calls to overthrow the government and restore majority rule"‰"""‰which, in Rwanda's case, would mean a possible return of extremist Hutu power.
"To say that all speech in all circumstances is always acceptable is inconsistent with human experience," Marshall said in an interview. "You cannot say that the American version of free speech is correct for every society. We have much to learn from the experiences of other societies"‰"""‰not that I would change freedom of speech in the United States, but I would temper the view that all societies should always follow the American model."
RWANDA'S REJECTION OF the American model matters because the country's impressive advancement is gaining notice. A crackdown on corruption has spurred international investment. Thousands of Congolese carry their earnings across the border to secure them in reliable banks. To the north, south, and east, Rwanda has cultivated close ties to Kenya, Tanzania, Burundi, and Uganda. It's this larger East African Community on which Kagame pins his fondest hopes.
His dream is vivid in the plans for an emerald city of Kigali. It's vivid in the $635 million international airport he's building, and the $4.7 billion rail line connecting Kigali to cities in Tanzania and Burundi. It's vivid in the convention center, industrial park, and wholesale food market the Rwanda Development Board is shopping to global investors.
It's also vivid in the work ethic of the people. Rwanda functions more like an Asian country than a typical African one: Meetings start on time, university students are crisply focused on professional development, and local officials interact confidently with those from the international aid community.
And yet what's happening underneath is unknowable. Where exactly does hatred go? Can it be removed, as if by an eraser scrubbing it over, through successive development triumphs? Or must it be aired, expressed, and rejected in a theater of debate?
The answer lies somewhere behind those impassive stares of the men in blue jumpsuits, so industriously clearing the way for the new Kigali. Today, it is illegal for them to say what they think. But their answer will eventually become known.
Peter S. Canellos is the Globe's editorial page editor. He traveled to Rwanda with the International Reporting Project (IRP).
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STOCKTON - The huge turnout of recruits this week hungry for jobs as police officers in Stockton serves as ammunition for creditors seeking to convince a judge that the city is nowhere near eligible for bankruptcy protection.
STOCKTON - The huge turnout of recruits this week hungry for jobs as police officers in Stockton serves as ammunition for creditors seeking to convince a judge that the city is nowhere near eligible for bankruptcy protection.
That is one argument posed in court papers filed late Friday by Assured Guaranty Corp., a Wall Street creditor that stands to lose hundreds of millions of dollars in Stockton's bankruptcy case.
The creditor challenged the assertion by City Manager Bob Deis that Stockton can't touch its pension manager, the California Public Employees' Retirement System, out of a fear that such a shake-up would make it impossible to attract police recruits.
Attorneys for the bond insurer argued that the city this year, amid its turmoil and slashed wages, has hired 70 new officers. This week, 1,300 applicants swarmed to town for a physical fitness test.
Research shows, Assured says, that young employees don't think about pensions.
Rather, Deis maintains a "hands off" approach to CalPERS, which looms as a threat to the city's financial stability for years to come, attorney Jeffrey Bjork says in court papers, adding that Stockton hasn't cut enough to prove bankruptcy is the only option left.
"The law is clear," he said. "Chapter 9 is not a resort - it is the last resort."
The filing comes in a showdown brewing between Stockton and its capital market creditors, such as Assured, National Public Finance Guarantee Corp., Wells Fargo and Franklin Advisers Inc.
Stockton filed for bankruptcy June 28, but before it can restructure its finances under the Chapter 9 provisions, the city first has to prove that it is eligible. This entails proving that it is broke and that it first did everything possible to avoid bankruptcy.
That's where objections arise from the creditors who insured the massive debt Stockton incurred.
The creditors contend that Stockton did not negotiate with CalPERS before filing bankruptcy. Rather, city officials seek to make the capital market creditors pay the price of years of mismanagement and overspending inside City Hall.
Written objections to the bankruptcy had to be filed by Friday.
Stockton spokeswoman Connie Cochran said in a prepared statement that the city did not wish to argue its case in the media. City staff intends to study the creditors' arguments and do what is best for the health and safety of Stockton residents, she said.
Assured, in its 35-page objection, argues also that Stockton didn't attempt to raise money by selling off unused property or raise taxes.
The city conducted a poll after filing Chapter 9, which showed voters would support a tax hike and raise $18 million a year, court papers say.
"However, to date, no initiative has been put before the city's voters," Bjork said. "Worse yet, no tax increase has ever been considered."
The creditors commissioned four expert reports to be written, which form the basis of their arguments but were not part of the filing.
They found that the city continues to subsidize its sports and entertainment venues at $2.4 million, and the libraries cost the city nearly $4 million. The city is revamping its Community Development Department at a cost of $1 million, Assured said.
While managing Stockton's crisis, Deis fails to distinguish between the "nice to haves" and the "must haves," Assured argues.
Stockton continues to overpay its employes with the flawed comparison to other cities, such as Chula Vista, saying that the marketplace requires this to attract and maintain people with particular skills, the creditor said.
"Rather than implementing viable but politically unpopular long-term structural reform, the City Council continues to put Band-Aids on a much larger problem involving its cost of labor," Bjork said.
The tardiness of Stockton's financial reports and the revelation taken up at the year-end council meeting last week that Stockton has a $6 million positive balance proves that Stockton has no grasp on its finances, critics say.
"Although somewhat leaner than in years past," Bjork said, "the city's continued spending decisions do not reflect an organization committed to making the difficult choices needed to address its financial distress."
The question over Stockton's Chapter 9 eligibility is scheduled be taken up next before U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Christopher Klein at a hearing Feb. 26.
Contact reporter Scott Smith at (209) 546-8296 or firstname.lastname@example.com. Visit his blog at recordnet.com/smithblog.


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of course, there's always something to fall in love with: asexual perspectives on pop culture and much more.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Things Asexuals Like: Doctor Who
19 comments:
(*cough* It's a police box, not a phone box. Which makes your question even better - what on earth is a police box? :P)
I can't stand David Tennant and I don't think the current Who is especially asexy (Torchwood, as a Who spinoff, seems to be entirely about sex with a few aliens thrown in).
- July 8, 2009 at 9:50 PM
- Meah said...
The Doctor is epic. But will not be near so epic now that David Tennet is gone. Sorry. Although I have to say that it's beyond cheesy, so it's ok if you've never seen it.
- July 8, 2009 at 9:59 PM
- Isaac said...
The influence of this show might be restricted to AVENites in BBC broadcasting area. Was the show exported to other countries? The conclusion may be that Britons make much noise, since they are less than a quarter of AVEN population, according to Survey 2008.
- July 9, 2009 at 1:56 AM
As an asexual fan of Doctor Who, I'd like to point out that the character's name is not in fact Doctor Who - just The Doctor. Several of his actors did play him as asexual, though it seems like he's becoming more and more heterosexual in the recent series.
- July 9, 2009 at 5:43 AM
- Noskcaj Llahsram said...
the gays got Judy Garland, maybe we're getting David Tennant?
- July 9, 2009 at 9:17 AM
- Ily said...
Thanks for the edumacation! Doctor Who does broadcast on some channel in America, as I have glimpsed what appeared to be a teleporting phone booth (police box?!?) while channel surfing...
- July 9, 2009 at 11:42 AM
- Isaac said...
This increases the possible public to more than 70% of AVENites.
- July 9, 2009 at 2:07 PM
- Ily said...
Indeed...Here, we have BBC America on digital cable, and a lot of public TV stations play BBC shows (although usually older shows). And there's always DVDs...
- July 9, 2009 at 3:03 PM
- Isaac said...
Either your TV habits are radically different from ours, which could be true, or the only reasonable option (in order to increase the public of the show) among listed is openly broadcasting delayed seasons of the show.
- July 9, 2009 at 5:28 PM
- Janet S. said...
I can't believe we've never spoken about David Tennant! He's my hero and I love him to pieces!!
The Doctor is hard to explain... he's kinda asexual and also kind of celibate. In the recent episodes, he has fallen in love with one of his female companions. But he doesn't view sexual relationships as a high priority. Unfortunately, his flirtatious nature sends mixed signals to his companions.
We also know that The Doctor is 900 years old and afraid of loving a human girl, because she would grow old and die in a short time span. The Doctor used to have a family; wife and children. But they died during The Great Time War.
Overall, he's asexy because he prefers the heroic nomad life to a calm domesticated one.
- July 9, 2009 at 10:24 PM
- Lucas said...
ive heard of doctor who but it doesnt ever look interesting to watch so i havent seen it yet *shrug* whats the big deal?
- July 10, 2009 at 10:23 PM
- Ritchard said...
Someone here mentioned the Doctor becoming more "hetero". I don't think that's fair. There are implications that he doesn't have a gender preference romantically. But even if he isn't entirely asexual, his sex drive is apparently very very very low.
- July 12, 2009 at 10:17 AM
- Ritchard said...
Someone said the Doctor is becoming increasingly "hetero". I don't think that's true. He doesn't seem to have a romantic gender preference. Rose isn't sufficient to be able to tell. (He has had a male-male kiss here and there.)
I don't think the Doctor is entirely asexual, but his sex drive is so low, he may as well be!
- July 12, 2009 at 10:19 AM
I think the number of replies to this post says it all!!!
Yes, It is a police box - not a phone box - I did see a police box up in York recently (or was it Edinburgh??) Although I don't know if it was in working order or was just there for show?
I do think David Tennant is dishy (speaking as someone who doesn't experience Sexual or Romantic Attraction but I do have an opinion as to what I find pleasing to the eye).
However, for me the REAL Dr Who was Tom Baker. For every generation of Dr Who fans, there is the REAL Dr Who - normally the one they grew up with. There's about 12 months in age between me and David Tennant, and I am sure he considers Tom Baker to be his Dr Who too!
- July 13, 2009 at 11:53 AM
- Ily said...
Sounds like all the different James Bonds!
- July 13, 2009 at 12:28 PM
I´m a big fan of the classic Doctor Who from the 60s and 70s (especially of the great Patrick Troughton) but I haven´t seen a single episode with David Tennant. I just don´t care for the new ones or even the 80s episodes, the Who story somehow ends for me when Tom Baker left 1981.
The classic Doctor was indeed completely asexual, even between his male and female companions (someone remembers Zoe and Jamie from the 60s?) no sexual relationship existed. This was of course also because it was more or less considered as childrens program, but even the more adult and philosophical stories with Tom Baker always showed him as asexual. I liked that.
BTW, I´m from Germany so fans of the classic Doctor exist even outside of the UK ;-).
- July 16, 2009 at 1:15 AM
- Mackenzie said...
Yes, Tom Baker was Tennant's Doctor too. He said he's the reason he got into acting, in hopes that someday he could be the Doctor.
PBS in America used to show Tom Baker episodes at night in the 90s. Nowadays, both BBC America and SyFy show the new series.
- July 16, 2009 at 8:02 PM
- Shades of Gay said...
I've been watching Doctor Who since I was five. I grew up with Tom Baker but he's only my second favorite, sorry. I prefer Jon Pertwee and was very saddened by his death.
Anyway, back to the subject of the thread. I never gave the Doctor's orientation much thought, which is unsurprising since I'm asexual. I don't, however, think the fact that the Doctor fell in love with Rose is proof that he is no longer asexual. Love doesn't require sexual attraction, after all.
- February 8, 2010 at 8:20 PM
I love Doctor Who, but I don't like David Tennant much. My favourite Doctor is 9, but I also sort of like 1 too.
- July 14, 2010 at 7:55 AM


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Strongtowns.org Message Coming to the Lehigh Valley
Guest blogger, Ron Beitler, from Friends for the Protection of Lower Macungie, will blog today and tomorrow about the Strong Towns presentation being held tonight in Easton at Lafayette College and tomorrow at Lower Macungie Township Offices. To view location details, visit http://www.strongtowns.org/pennsylvania-tour/. This is his report:
On January 9th, Charles Marohn will bring the Strongtowns.org 'curbside chat' message to the Lehigh Valley. The chat is a presentation, followed by a community-specific discussion, about the financial health of our places.
The Strongtowns message is important because it transcends politics. Personally I get nervous when folks assume one particular party has 'ownership' over the smart growth issue. At it's core smart growth is a fiscally conservative philosophy. Some such as Kaid Benfield have went so far as to call the Strong Towns message a conservatives manifesto against sprawl.
While many associate "sprawling growth patterns as rooted in their effect on the landscape, the environment, and severely compromised populations left behind,(All very important messages!) Marohn is all about the money. As Thoughts on Building Strong Towns (Marohns book) makes quite clear, Chuck believes that sprawl is a Ponzi scheme and we the taxpayers are the ones left holding the empty bags." – Benfield NRDC Switchboard
The chat addresses the following fundamental issues:
- Why are our 'places' short on resources despite decades of robust growth? What went wrong?
- Why do we struggle at the local level just to maintain basic infrastructure?
- What do we do now that the economy has changed so dramatically?
The answer according to Marohn is in the way we've developed and the financial productivity of our places. The Strong Towns message takes the traditional smart growth narrative and looks at it from a fiscal sustainability standpoint. Marohn explains a growth Ponzi scheme in the following way:
Swapping long-term obligations for near-term cash works for a while, but as with any Ponzi scheme, it ultimately collapses under its own weight. We have grown in a pattern that is inefficient, making poor use of our resources and investments.
'Friends LMT', an East Penn smart growth advocacy group brought Marohn to the area a few months ago via webcast. I found the presentation eye-opening. I will definitely be attending the Lower Macungie Township visit to see Chuck in person. The message is relevant to a place like Lower Macungie that may be falling into the trappings of hyper growth for two decades and only now beginning to feel the effects of the second life cycle of developments.
What: Chuck Marohn Curbside Chat
Where: Lower Macungie Municipal Building
When: January 9th 8-9:30am
Free & Open to the public
Posted on January 8, 2013, in Uncategorized and tagged Easton, Lower Macungie Township, smart growth, sprawl, Strong Towns. Bookmark the permalink. 2 Comments.
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Ready to take the next step? Pledge to make your end-of-life plan one that is consistent with your values.


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A new device could add hope to those who live in semi-consciousness from brain injury. Like a pacemaker, this device manufactured by Medtronic Inc. is embedded under the skin near the chest. But its two electrodes journey to the brain instead of the heart. Buried into the area controlling consciousness, the electrodes can jump-start patients to a more awake state, lending support to the damaged nerves in the area.
One subject went from following voices with his eyes to speaking 16 words and drinking on his own. Eleven more patients will be tested in the pilot study, getting implanted with gadgets that, while sporting a decent battery life, have no MP3 or MP4 support. [extremetech (reuters) via ubergizmo]


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Agent Spotlight: Paula Parker
Paula B. Parker has 10 years experience in real estate and has worked in Summit County since 1981. She is a broker with Re/Max Properties of the Summit located on Main Street in downtown Frisco. Contact her at (970) 390-2458 or online at http://www.summitcomountainhomes.com.
Where did you grow up?
I grew up in Golden, but we had a second home at Copper, since … well … since dirt.
What do you love about Summit County?
What's not to love? It's breathtakingly beautiful; full of active, educated, like-minded people; a fantastic place to raise kids; a wonderful place to retire to; and all things in-between.
What do you enjoy doing when you're not working?
… and when is that, exactly? Just kidding – I'm a ski bum by birth, and a cyclist by marriage. I know folks are dismayed about the lack of snow this year, but it has made for a great extended road biking season, and that keeps my family happy!
How long have you worked in real estate?
I'm starting my 10th year at RE/MAX, but I was previously involved in the industry on the building side – but that's another story.
What is your specialty?
My specialty is in the numbers. With degrees in engineering and mathematics, I have an ability to understand statistics, trends, and help customers approach real estate transactions with a scientific rationale. This helps difficult decisions seem simple and clear cut. Likewise, customers feel comfortable and confident making those difficult decisions.
What is the most challenging/gratifying aspect of what you do?
If I have a weakness, it's with folks who are indecisive. I have a tendency to decide things quickly, based on facts or trends. I try to help buyers and sellers see that the decisions they need to make can be very rational, but a home is a very personal thing, and reality isn't always so clear cut. My favorite thing to do is to help a local buy a home; nothing makes me happier than to welcome a new local into the fold!
What is the most unique property you've listed or sold?
The listing I have featured this week, at 16 Montane Ct. in Whispering Pines Ranch is pretty unique – three bedrooms and three baths on three levels on a stand-out lot with an over-sized two-car garage. A much better value at $572,500 than any similar home you could find in Breck. A very livable home adjacent to open space and within walking distance to the award-winning Summit Cove Elementary, hiking, biking and four major ski resorts.
What are the top three things that separate you from your competitors?
Deep local knowledge, a math brain, patience.
What is one tip you have for someone looking to buy or sell a home?
Watch the numbers, and stay ahead of the trend. Now, for instance, is a very good time to buy something, even if it's not your dream home. Get on the path to your dream home by buying something now that will appreciate as we continue to recover.
What do you see in the future for real estate prices?
I'm cautiously optimistic that we will see some increasing prices in the spring and summer of 2013. This is based on the current trend; however, there is still a lot of "sleeping" inventory, or homes that sellers have been waiting to list. While we have very little inventory now, an influx of more may serve to hold prices down. Again, it is a very good time to buy, and will likely continue to be into 2013 either based on pricing or selection.
Why should someone choose you as their real estate broker?
Someone should choose me to help them, primarily because of my deep local knowledge of the community, but also, I think I'm the Realtor who is the most fun to be around. It's easy to get bogged down with the details of a lengthy and complicated transaction; I understand the details and can take care of them while still having fun!
I am a third generation Coloradan from a ski pioneering family. Fiercely dedicated to family first, I am a driven professional, but with overriding ski bum tendencies. I'm slightly bossy, or as my mother likes to say, "so confident, but in a good way!" Member of a top-producing office at RE/MAX Properties of the Summit in Frisco, where we care more about the people than the paycheck! Really, it's true. I have an abiding love of the community in which I live and I'm dedicated to doing my part to make it better.
Start a dialogue, stay on topic and be civil.
If you don't follow the rules, your comment may be deleted.


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Sold: Zaurus Sl-6000l & Extras
Sold: Zaurus Sl-6000l & Extras
Jan 21 2010, 03:29 PM
Post #1
Group: Members
Posts: 426
Joined: 10-February 04
From: Virginia, USA
Member No.: 1,794
I am putting my SL-6000L up for auction on eBay later tonight. This device has been well cared for and is in good condition. I will probably regret this, but I think I am ready to move on to something new.
I am the original owner, and all original packaging, and parts are included. The screen is outstanding with no dead pixels or scratches and is viewable in direct sunlight with backlight turned off. The screen is VGA, and can be rotated from portrait to landscape with the touch of a button. This was originally sold as "ruggedized" and supposedly can be dropped from 36" without breaking it. (I never had the guts to test this, although I read about a guy who dropped his off of a roof, and his screen cracked, but the Zaurus still worked otherwise.)
It has a voice recorder built in to record voice memos, and has built in WIFI, and the Opera web browser which works very well. It also has a Microsoft Office compatible Office Suite with Word processor, Spreadsheet, and Presentation software pre-installed. With the included USB adapter, and the right drivers, you can use a USB keyboard, mouse, and some external USB drives. Some external CD-Rom drives are said to work with it, although mine didn't. It has a text editor, media player, calculator, PIM apps, and an image viewer.
I have reset to a factory fresh install, and added the driver to support SD cards greater than 1 GB, and installed a console application, an improved text editor (zeditor), Sharp's camera software, IR keyboard drivers, Kismet, Quasar Media Player, and a file explorer app. I will include a 256 MB CF card with a nand backup of this setup. I also include a 256 MB CF card with the original Sharp ROM, in case you try some other ROM, and want to go back. I used this ROM to reinstall to factory state.
Also included are a 4 GB CF memory card, and a 2 GB SD memory card. On both memory cards are more apps that can be installed including software that I purchased from TKC (thekompany.com) and Masabi Software (Repton game). These programs are in the "download" folder on both cards. I will include howtos that I have gleaned since I have had this device.
I fabricated a metal and leather case that I use most of the time. It was designed to allow use of an IR keyboard with the screen rotated to landscape. It is homemade, but has been very useful to me. (You cannot use the CF camera with my case, as the case does not allow the camera to go down into the slot far enough.) The "Kickstand" snaps onto the case, and has Velcro on the back to use the external battery case along with keyboard and adds a couple hours of run time without A/C power.
A nice review of the SL-6000L can be read at:
Intel PXA255 Processor 400MHz
64 MB Flash ROM
4 inch semi transflective CGS color LCD w/ backlight
480 X 640 (VGA) resolution w/ 65,536 colors
Touch screen
SD (Secure Digital) slot
CF (Compact Flash) type 1 and 2 slot
Mini-USB host port
IrDA (Infrared) port
Built in slide-out keyboard
Speaker and headphone/microphone jack
Docking station and USB cable
A/C adapter and cord
Lithium-polymer battery
Quick Start Guide & Start up guide booklet
Original Sharp software/manuals CD
Clear swing up screen protector
Screen protector (film type already installed & a few spares)
Mini-USB to USB adapter (to use external USB devices) ($8.00 value)
Transcend 2 GB SD card ($15.00 value)
Drivers pre-installed for greater than 1 GB SD card
SD card is pre-formatted ext2 (applications can be installed to it)
PQI 4 GB CF card formatted FAT32 ($15.00 value)
Sharp CF digital camera CE-AG06 ($15.00 value)
Extra battery (holds a good charge) (Priceless)
Home made metal and leather case
Micro Innovations Infrared Keyboard ($35.00 Value)
External battery case (to be used with rechargeable batteries only)
CD with copies of drivers, applications, howtos, and backups
4 TKC softwares (Blocks, Trump, Mahjongg, & Painter ($22.00 value)
Masabi Software's Repton Game ($15.00 value)
2.5 mm retractable earphones (wiped w/ alcohol to sanitize) ($30.00 value)
small A/C adapter, and car charger kit ($30.00 value)
Dane-Elec 256 MB CF memory card w/ Factory ROM backup (Priceless)
SimpleTech 256 MB CF memory card w/ Nand backup including extra drivers (Priceless)
I had some issues with batteries. It would say that the "backup battery was extremely low", yet it worked fine, and kept time. Changing the battery seemed to fix this. Also, after reading in a Dell Axim forum to let the battery charge for 24 hours instead of 2 or 3 hours, I haven't had the "backup battery low" warning again from either battery.
|Lo-Fi Version
|Time is now: 21st November 2019 - 01:32 AM


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Leaving 5:30pm sharp from Old Fort Shopping Center east of Solomon's Fresh Market. Distance 18-24 miles depending on whether you choose to do a second loop. Recommended for strong riders (advanced) capable of 20mph + for 1-1.5 hours. There is also an intermediate level ride (18-22mph). See Spida once you are there!
Back to All Events
Earlier Event: July 14Enjoy! Cycling Club Thursday Morning Ride (East)
Later Event: July 15Enjoy! Cycling Club Friday Morning Ride (West)


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Local 32BJ SEIU Benefits Summary
Point Park University is pleased to offer you the following package:
- Health Coverage: UPMC Health Plan EPO and PPO and Highmark Community Blue HMO. (Please see contribution scale for coverages.) Eligible the 1st of the month following hire.
- Double Health Coverage Waiver Option: Employee can elect to waive health insurance and receive a portion of the premium that the University would have paid for coverage. (This amount is announced each year by the University.) A signed waiver and proof of other insurance coverage must be provided.
- Vision Coverage: Highmark Vision which provides for Exam, frames and lenses and/or contacts once every year. There is a very moderate employee contribution for this coverage. Eligible the 1st of the month following hire.
- Dental Coverage: United Concordia (DMO) & United Concordia Preferred (PPO) (Employee Paid Premium) Eligible the 1st of the month following hire.
- Life Insurance: Equal to annual salary, rounded up to nearest $1000 to a maximum of $100,000. (University Paid Premium) Eligible the 1st of the month following hire.
- Paid Sick Days: Accumulated at one (1) day per month in any calendar month in which the employee is paid for at least eleven (11) days; maximum of 75 days.
- Paid Vacation: Ten (10) prorated days. (Additional days added for years of service--see Union Contract.) Days are available for use after 90-day introductory day period.
- Holidays: Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Day after Thanksgiving, and Christmas Break (normally from Christmas Eve Day through and including New Year's Day), plus two floating holidays
- Personal Day: One (1) or two (2) days during the first year of employment, dependent upon hire date (see Contract): two (2) personal days granted per calendar year after first calendar year of employment.
- Tuition Remission: Undergraduate programs: Full tuition remission (fees included) after 90-day introductory period for employee, spouse and dependent children; Graduate Programs: Tuition remission (tuition only) up to 6 credits after 90-day introductory period for employee, 50% tuition remission for spouse and dependent children; Graduate remission taxable according to IRS Guidelines. University fees are included in tuition remission per contract. Also, tuition remission does not include classes through Community Classes, Pittsburgh Filmmakers, experiential learning credits or study abroad programs.
- College Exchange Programs for Dependent Children: The University participates in the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) and Tuition Exchange Inc. (TE) tuition exchange programs. Dependent children (under 25) of full-time faculty and staff may be eligible to participate in one or both of these programs. Each program has it's own unique requirements. Generally, if a dependent child is academically admitted in to the importing school and into an exchange program their tuition is covered by the program. Slots in each program are limited to one child per family in one of the above programs at one time. Please contact HR for each program's details and deadlines.
- Retirement Plan- Supplemental Retirement Annuity (SRA): Eligible the 1st of the month following hire. Does not include matching funds by the University. Contributions withheld monthly on a pre-tax basis, up to IRS legal limits. Employee may choose between two vendors; TIAA-CREF and Fidelity Investments.
- Retirement Plan- GRA Retirement Plan (GRA): Eligible after one year of employment. Employee contributes 2%, 3%, 4%, or 5% of gross monthly salary; University contributes one and a half times the monthly employee contribution up to 5%. Employee may choose between two vendors; TIAA-CREF and Fidelity Investments.
Employee will be automatically enrolled the month following 12 months of employment at the 5% contribution level with 7.5% University match in TIAA-CREF. We strongly encourage you to consult with a TIAA-CREF, Fidelity Investments, or other financial advisor to choose your investment options. Employee may choose to decline, or participate at a lower or higher contribution level by contacting Human Resources for corresponding form.
- Tax Free Bus Pass Program: A monthly bus pass can deducted on a pre-tax basis from your pay and the bus pass will be delivered with your paycheck. A form for this program is available during the New Hire Orientation.
- Flexible Spending Program: Salary Reduction Program for medical, dependent care, and qualified transportation/parking expenses. (Employee deductions on a pre-tax basis)
- Group Long Term Care Insurance through Genworth Life Insurance Company, brokered by AffinityLTC, LLC – Full Time Employees can enroll for this coverage at any time. Enrollment is subject to full medical underwriting. As an added feature, all New Full-Time Hires and those returning from a leave or sabbatical will have a 30-day opportunity to enroll with the reduced underwriting upon their start/return to work. For additional information about this benefit offering, please visit the following web site: www.genworth.com/groupltc Group ID: pointpark Access Code: groupltc You may also speak with a Program expert, by calling 800-416-3624.
- Employee Assistance Program: Free confidential counseling services for the employee and family members residing in household. Up to 6 visits per issue is covered by EAP solutions. www.eapsolutions.com Organization/company code: point
- Howard Hanna Gold Advantage: Home purchase and sale discount at 10% off of gross commission. Seller/Buyer must sign an exclusive listing contract with a Howard Hanna broker. Register for free benefit at www.hannagoldadvantage.com or call 1-800-656-7356 X244. See Howard Hanna website for more details.
- Pittsburgh Playhouse Discount: 20% discount on most performances. Call box office to reserve tickets at 412-621-4445. Also, visit www.pittsburghplayhouse.com for a performance schedule.
- PNC Bank-Workplace Banking: Employees are eligible for free checking accounts with no minimum balance, free PNC Bank VISA card with direct deposit from your monthly paycheck. There is a PNC ATM on campus. Contact your local PNC Bank Branch to set up your account and mention that you are an employee of the University.
- Liberty Mutual: As an employee of Point Park University, you qualify for a special group discount on your auto, home, and renter's insurance through Liberty Mutual's Auto and Home Insurance program. This unique program allows you to purchase high-quality auto, home and renters insurance at low group rates with a variety of convenient service and payment options. For a free, no-obligation quote, please contact at (412) 364-1130 ext. 54713 and customer service 1-800-208-3063.
- Direct Deposit of Paycheck into checking or savings account: to enroll, complete form and provide copy of voided check to the Payroll Department.
NOTE: This only represents a summary of the benefits package. A more detailed description appears in the Staff Handbook and in your union contract.


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« Pedagogy v. Content Expertise | Main | After the Debt Deal: It Gets Tougher From Here »
Duncan's "Backdoor Blueprint" Strategy
Hidy, all. It's me. I'm back from points south, west, north, and so forth. I want to thank our terrific line-up of guest bloggers for their outstanding work. Anyway, I was going to settle in with a few broad musings, but I'll hold that for a moment in light of ED's decision, teased Friday but embargoed until this morning, to test new heights of hubris when it comes to ESEA.
On Friday afternoon, in a hush-hush press call, Secretary Duncan and White House domestic policy honcho Melody Barnes told a handful of select national press more details about their scheme to offer conditional NCLB waivers. On the call, Duncan finally dropped his disingenuous (or ill-informed) insistence that NCLB reauthorization would happen this year. Like a forlorn groom finally conceding at dusk that his bride-to-be isn't showing for their noon wedding, he acknowledged that reauth isn't going to happen this year (as I've said before, it's not going to happen next year either). Second, Duncan and Barnes said they'd be allowing states to apply for waivers in return for pledging fealty to elements of the administration's NCLB "blueprint." Apparently, the Department will pen a request for proposals, including various blueprinty requirements, and then convene some kind of "peer review" process to judge them.
ED's press release explains, "The administration's proposal for fixing NCLB calls for college and career-ready standards, more great teachers and principals, robust use of data and a more flexible and targeted accountability system based on measuring annual student growth. Barnes and Duncan said that the final details on the ESEA flexibility package will reflect similar goals." I'm curious to see just what Duncan has in mind. Is he planning to condition regulatory relief on states agreeing to adopt the Common Core and associated assessments, or to require the use of value-added scores in teacher evaluation? If so, it's going to be an interesting fall.
Three thoughts:
First, this all represents a pretty novel theory of waiver authority, one which turns waivers into something more like a statutory bypass. What Duncan and Barnes seem to have in mind is not insisting that states demonstrate that they'll abide by the spirit of the law, or find other ways to comply with NCLB's requirements, but letting states ignore federal legislation in return for promising to do other stuff that they like. I'd think that Obama would want to tread real gingerly here, as a Romney or Perry administration could use this play to wreak havoc on health care or financial reform.
Second, maybe it's just me, but this whole plan for an RFP process and peer reviews sounds a lot more like a way to push desperate states to embrace the administration's agenda than a way to provide regulatory relief from a law "forcing districts into one-size-fits-all solutions that just don't work" (the Department of Ed's own words in its press release). In fact, the whole scheme sounds more like the framing of a back-door grant competition than anything else.
Third, let's remember that Duncan and Barnes are preparing to push states to embrace a blueprint that isn't the law of the land and that hasn't even been adopted by a single house of Congress--not even when the Democrats enjoyed two years of unified control. The administration's stance is more than a little ironic, given the President's repeated assurances that he's not interested in expanding Washington's footprint. Indeed, I remember candidate Obama's compelling critique of the Bush administration's creative efforts to expand executive authority, and his promise that things would be different in an Obama administration. Ah, well.
Oh, and just for good measure, in a gratuitous slap at House Republicans, the release quoted Barnes saying that the administration was forced to act because its "proposal to fix NCLB has been with Congress for 16 months" but had been sunk by "partisan politics in the House." The funny thing is that the "partisan" Republican majority in the House (which has held sway for eight months) has passed elements of reauthorization legislation while the (presumably nonpartisan) Senate hasn't passed anything. Ah, the vaunted Obama political operation at work. With this kind of velvet touch, it's hard to imagine why the GOP hasn't been more cooperative on the administration's edu-agenda.
For what it's worth, I see two ways this can play out. The happy version, if you're Duncan, is that hard-pressed states are thankful for any relief, and Congress is too distracted by fights over the gas tax, the FAA, the super-committee proposal, and next year's budget to pay attention. The alternative? Frustrated governors or irate Tea Partiers start to raise a fuss about this novel strategy for extending Uncle Sam's reach, and it becomes a talking point for Bachmann and Perry during the GOP primaries. As for which way things will go, your guess is as good as mine.


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The purpose of this study is to identify and describe the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome
Women who experience PMS symptoms will complete clinical interviews, self-rating scales, and
evaluations of mood and endocrine function. A subgroup of women with severe PMS (Premenstrual
Dysphoric Disorder or PMDD) will be offered additional research studies that focus on: 1)
identifying the endocrine changes that may be responsible for changes in mood and behavior
during the premenstrual period, 2) evaluating treatments for PMS symptoms, and/or 3)
identifying genetic factors in women with and without PMS. Women with recurrent brief
depression will also be recruited to serve as a comparison group.
The relevance of changes in ovarian steroids in the pathophysiology of menstrually-regulated
mood disorders (MRMD [the term Premenstrual Dysphoria (PMD) will be employed in the text
instead of MRMD] remains to be fully characterized. The purpose of this protocol is to allow
for the careful screening of patients and healthy volunteers for participation in research
protocols that examine the role of gonadal steroids in PMD and for the collection of natural
history data. Women in this protocol will undergo an evaluation which may include: a
psychiatric interview; a diagnostic interview; daily symptom rating scales; a medical
history; a physical exam; blood and urine laboratory evaluation; and a request for medical
records. The data collected may also be linked with data from other PMD protocols (e.g., DNA,
psychophysiology tests, treatment studies, etc.) for the purposes of better understanding the
diagnosis, pathophysiology, and treatment response of women with PMD. Upon conclusion of the
evaluation process, subjects will either be offered participation in a research protocol and
will sign the appropriate informed consent, or will be considered not appropriate for
participation in research and will be referred back into the community.
Finally, we wish to identify a group of women with recurrent brief depression, who will serve
as an additional control group for the patients with menstrual cycle-related mood disorders.
This protocol, then, serves as a screening and evaluation protocol to recruit subjects who
are characterized with standard measures in this protocol and then offered participation in
related studies.
The subjects of this study will be women who meet the following criteria:
- history within the last two years of at least six months with menstrually-related mood
or behavioral disturbances of at least moderate severity - that is, disturbances that
are distinct in appearance and associated with a notable degree of subjective
- a 30% increase in mean negative mood ratings (relative to the range of the scale
employed) in the premenstrual week compared with the week following the end of menses
in at least two of three cycles;
- age 18 to 50;
- not pregnant and in good medical health;
- regular menses.
Subjects who do not meet the criteria listed above but who do meet diagnostic criteria for
recurrent brief depression will also be studied. The criteria for recurrent brief
depression include the following:
- dysphoric mood or loss of interest or pleasure;
- duration less than two weeks;
- four of the following symptoms: poor appetite or significant weight loss (when not
dieting) or increased appetite or significant weight gain; insomnia or hypersomnia;
psychomotor agitation or retardation; loss of interest or pleasure in usual
activities, or decrease in sexual drive; loss of energy; fatigue; feelings of
worthlessness, self-reproach, or excessive or inappropriate guilt; diminished ability
to think or concentrate, slowed thinking, or indecisiveness;
- impairment in usual occupational activities;
- at least one-two episodes per month over one year.
Age-matched women without mood and behavioral disorders will be recruited.
Subjects should have no general medical illness that is primary (i.e., appears to be
causing the mood disorder);
Current alcohol or substance use or dependence (excluding nicotine) of sufficient magnitude
to require independent, concurrent treatment intervention (e.g., antabuse or opiate
treatment, but not including self-help groups).
Principal InvestigatorPeter J Schmidt, M.D.National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)Peter J Schmidt, M.D.Phone: (301) 496-6120Email: email@example.com
Bethesda, Maryland 20892United StatesFor more information at the NIH Clinical Center contact Office of Patient Recruitment (OPR)Phone: 800-411-1222Email: firstname.lastname@example.com Status: Recruiting
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ClinicalConnection.com does not conduct or endorse clinical trials. Please consult your physician before participating.
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Nothing can be more frustrating than missing an issue of CodeWatch - we know. But now you never have to go without it again. We've got you covered with this handy archive of past issues. So the next time someone in the office or on the jobsite starts talking about that great article they saw on Code installation basics in the May 7, 2004 issue, you'll know where to find it.
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Whether you are a rock and roll musician or a dedicated fan, you will appreciate each new issue of our magazines. Peruse our website to find the latest deals and discounts on select magazines. You're sure to find a magazine that is perfect for you!


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Feb. 2, 2005: "I'm here in Baltimore, and I'm going to win the crowd," slugger Sammy Sosa says after being traded to the Orioles. A seven-time All-Star outfielder, the 36-year-old Sosa disappoints, mustering only 14 home runs, 45 RBIs and a .221 batting average. He's gone in a year.
Jan. 28, 2001: Baltimore wins its first Super Bowl in 30 years as the Ravens smother the New York Giants, 34-7, for their 11th consecutive victory. "This is the best defense ever to play the game," defensive tackle Tony Siragusa says after the Ravens intercept four passes and force 11 New York punts, a Super Bowl record.
Feb. 1, 1984: Unaware that the Colts plan to leave town next month, Mayor William Donald Schaefer asks the Baltimore City Council to allow Sunday football games to start at 1 p.m. instead of 2, per Colts owner Robert Irsay's request.
Jan. 30, 1974: In a nationally televised preview of their Atlantic Coast Conference championship showdown, Maryland falls to North Carolina State, 86-80 in a packed Cole Field House. David Thompson scores 39 for the second-ranked Wolfpack, and Tom McMillen gets 28 points and 14 rebounds for the No. 6 Terps.
Jan. 31, 1968: Four players each from Morgan State and Maryland State (now UMES) are taken in the pro football drafts. Best of the lot are Morgan defensive end Carlton Dabney, a second-round pick of the Atlanta Falcons, and tackle Art Shell of Maryland State, a third-round selection of the Oakland Raiders.
Jan. 30, 1964: The Bullets win their sixth straight NBA game, 107-89 over the Los Angeles Lakers before a national television audience and a record Civic Center crowd of 12,145. Center Walt Bellamy (29 points, 29 rebounds) leads fourth-place Baltimore past the division-leading Lakers.
Jan. 27, 1953: Al Kaline scores 39 points, a city public school record, as Southern's basketball team turns back City College, 89-74, for its third league victory against one loss.
Jan. 29, 1943: A game-high 18 points by Jim Lacy Jr. leads Loyola past Mount St. Joseph, 40-28, in basketball at Evergreen.
Jan. 27, 1968: Matt Stover, former Ravens kicker and the NFL's all-time fifth-leading scorer.


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Former banker Ed Woodward takes on top role at Manchester United
FORMER investment banker Ed Woodward will take on the top executive role at Manchester United from July, working with manager Alex Ferguson to hire new players for the 19-times English soccer champions.
Woodward, who joined the club in 2005 after its takeover by the American Glazer family in a controversial £790m deal, replaces long-serving chief executive David Gill who is stepping down after a decade in the role, the club said on Wednesday.
Woodward will retain the title of executive vice chairman but take on the duties vacated by Gill, 55.
A 40-year-old Briton, Woodward worked with the Glazers on their takeover of the club when he was a banker with JP Morgan and then joined United where he helped to organise the club's successful commercial expansion.
He played a prominent role in United's $2.3 billion flotation on the New York Stock Exchange last August and has recently been hosting conference calls with investors when the club publishes its financial results every three months.
As part of United's reorganisation, commercial director Richard Arnold, who has done a series of sponsorship deals around the world, is promoted to the role of managing director.
United regularly attract crowds of 75,000 to their Old Trafford Stadium and claim to have more than 650 million followers across the globe - making them one of the world's most popular soccer clubs.
Fans and investors who have bought shares in the club will be keen to see how Woodward gets on with Ferguson, the Scot who has managed United since 1986 and led the club to 12 Premier League titles and two European Champions League triumphs.
Ferguson, 71, said he was sorry that Gill was leaving but welcomed the appointment of Woodward.
"He is a young man with the energy and drive to help keep United at the forefront of the game and to help us maintain our success on the field," he said in a statement.
Woodward's role will involve helping to agree transfer fees and wage packages for new additions to a squad that includes England forward Wayne Rooney and Netherlands striker Robin van Persie.
A vocal section of United supporters accused the Glazers of overloading the club with debt and harming its chances of competing with the top teams in Europe.
After a barren season in 2011-12, the signing of Van Persie from Arsenal last August for a fee put at 24 million pounds by local media has helped to silence the critics.
United lead the Premier League by 12 points and are well placed to reach the last eight of the Champions League after a 1-1 draw with fellow European heavyweights Real Madrid in Spain last week.
Gill, 55, joined United in February 1997 as finance director and has been chief executive since 2003. He will remain a club director.
He has been moving more into the politics of the game, having been appointed vice chairman of the English Football Association last year, and will seek a place on the executive committee of UEFA, European soccer's ruling body, in elections scheduled for May.
Online Editors