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It's right there in the photo: a spacious, tough, thoroughly modern, exceedingly capable sport/utility vehicle. You're forgiven if all you can see is a svelte station wagon. There's magic at work here.
For the first time since any of us can recall, an automaker has claimed the Motor Trend Sport/Utility of the Year title two years in a row. Last fall, deftly balancing efficiency and size, the all-new 2009 Subaru Forester went home with the Golden Calipers trophy. For 2010, fighting off several tough adversaries — and undoubtedly some unspoken but very real bias among our judges against repeat winners — Subaru's new, fourth-generation Outback scored a decisive 10-1 victory in the final voting.
Some vehicles arrive at our annual "Of the Year" competitions (car, sport/utility, truck) staking early claims to a win via bulging engine muscle, beguiling gizmos, fashion-runway sheetmetal. The Outback isn't one of those. In fact, it slipped nearly unnoticed through our early walkarounds; the pre-drives chatter seemed to focus elsewhere — the ZDX's spaceship lines, the Q5's comparison test-winning moves, the Lincoln's mighty yet efficient EcoBoost V-6. But then, one by one, our test drivers took the Outback into the field. And the buzz began to shift. Once again, it seemed, Subaru was successfully reshaping the very definition of "sport/utility vehicle" — melding the multi-mission prowess of true SUVs with the driving refinement, fuel-frugality, and easy access of wagons and sedans. Once again, our judges began taking extra notes.
In the U.S., the Legacy Outback wagon is now gone (it'll still be sold in Japan and elsewhere), replaced by this bigger, sleeker rig that drops the Legacy name altogether. The 2010 Outback platform is new, 2.8 inches longer in wheelbase, shoulders broader by two inches, front and rear overhangs nipped by two inches each to enhance off-road attacks. Though the overall package is shorter than its predecessor, interior room is up seven percent (thanks in part to a raised roof) — and rear-seat legroom climbs by a conspicuous four inches. "Roomy back seat — lots of legroom and headroom," writes senior editor Ron Kiino. "Huge cargo hold too. At 34.3/71.3 cubic feet (back seat up/down), it's got more cargo room than the Terrain and Equinox twins." Maximum cargo capacity, in fact, tops both a "classic SUV" like the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Toyota's big "it's-not-a-crossover-it's-a-car" Venza (see chart on page 4).
Which brings up some of that Subie magic. For instance, when not needed the roof-rack crossbars fold away into the side rails, vastly reducing wind noise — pure genius. And while most wagons and SUVs offer a roll-up tonneau cover for sheltering gear in back, in the Outback the tonneau hides away completely under the load floor (instead of, in the typical fashion, simply blocking the floor and, when you're trying to load luggage, making you yell exclamations that'll make the five-year-olds within earshot cry and send the nine-year-olds running to tattle).
More magic: With a newfound 8.7 inches of ground clearance, the 2010 Outback actually betters the SUV Grand Cherokee — yet the Subaru also offers a lower and more carlike step-in height. "A nice answer to the crossover solution of lowering an SUV to human size," notes Detroit editor Todd Lassa. "You feel it's 'car-ness' behind the wheel, with its long, level hood out front — yet it's nearly 66 inches tall."
While thirsty V-8s have long been the darlings of the traditional-SUV market, the Outback, weighing just 3655 pounds, manages adroitly with four- and six-cylinder offerings. The boxer four is an updated version of last year's 2.5-liter naturally aspirated mill, and now pairs with either a CVT or a new six-speed manual — a welcome addition for enthusiasts. With the CVT, the Outback wrings out 22/29 city/highway EPA mpg — a new Outback benchmark. Optional is a new, DOHC 3.6-liter boxer six that — using regular fuel instead of the premium required on the outgoing 3.0-liter — delivers 256 horsepower and 247 pound-feet of torque. "Loves to rev and feels smooth and refined all the way to redline," writes Kiino. The six mates to a standard five-speed automatic that now includes paddle shifters with "blipping logic" to match revs when downshifting.
Subaru ships the Outback in three distinct all-wheel-drive flavors. Base, manual-transmission models get a viscous-coupling locking center diff with 50/50 normal torque split and the ability to shift torque away from the slipping axle. Four-cylinder Outbacks with the CVT replace the viscous coupling with an electronically controlled continuously variable clutch. Finally, all six-cylinder editions utilize Subaru's Variable Torque Distribution system, combining a planetary center diff with an electronically managed hydraulic clutch to distribute power as needed (the split in "normal" driving is 45/55 front/rear).
With the exceptional ground clearance, the solid AWD systems afford a level of all-weather and off-road competence that's unusually high for a machine with such a carlike character. "Dynamically, it's one of the best SUVs out here," writes Lassa. Agrees technical editor Kim Reynolds: "Feels like it could trundle around the off-road loop all month without complaint, yet very pleasant on-road, too. Lovely steering feel upon turn-in. Good ride." Says senior editor Ed Loh: "Exceedingly comfortable for day-to-day driving. Lots of smooth travel in the suspension." No, the Outback doesn't flaunt the extreme approach or departure angles that enable a rig like the Grand Cherokee to scale boulders, but it's far better equipped than most so-called crossovers. You could drive it through all but the toughest trails in Moab. It'll also shrug off all but the deepest snow (no wonder Subaru appears to be the unofficial state car of Vermont).
So, yes, the Outback shines with bona-fide SUV prowess and versatility. Yet it does so without typical SUV penalties. Fuel economy with the six-cylinder, for instance, is 18/25 EPA mpg-compared with 15/20 for the V-6 Grand Cherokee 4WD. And while the purposeful 4Runner took dings for "slobbery" on-road handling, the Outback drew applause. "Fun to drive, really like a car," says Loh. Writes Kiino: "The ride is amazing-supple, quiet, and controlled, yet the handling doesn't suffer. Some roll and understeer, but overall the feeling is confidence-inspiring. Structure is very solid too."
Solid, also, is the Outback's value quotient. A manual-shifter, four-cylinder base car starts at just $23,690 — a cool $2K under the price of the similarly equipped vehicle it replaces. (For a $300 premium, Subaru also offers five four-cylinder models with a Partial Zero Emissions — PZEV — rating that meets California's most strict air standards.) A 3.6R Limited — with leather seats, 440-watt harmon/karmon audio, and dual-zone climate checks in at $31,690. Among the few extras are touchscreen navigation ($2000) and a power-glass moonroof ($995).
Loh offers a neat summary: "I'm particularly impressed by how Subaru's engineers got the big and the little things right. From the ground up, they've baked in features like high ground clearance, low curb weight, and a fuel-sipping CVT — plus details like the hideaway roof rack and tonneau cover. Subaru did its homework."
"Balance," in other words. That's the key to the Subaru Outback's victory. And maybe a little magic, too.
Subaru's Trusty Flat-4 Pairs Up with a New CVT
For the 2010 Outback, Subaru has made significant upgrades to its tried-and-true 2.5-liter flat-4. Peak horsepower and torque are now realized 400 rpm sooner than before, and fuel economy with an automatic, at 22/29, is superior to that of the 2009 model's 20/26. A chain-type continuously variable automatic dubbed Lineartronic replaces the old four-speed torque-converter unit and represents the world's first longitudinally mounted CVT for an all-wheel-drive production car.
Our $28,690 2.5i Limited tester (a base 2.5i with six-speed manual starts at $23,690) displayed smooth acceleration and, in true CVT fashion, a knack for instantly finding the engine's sweet spot. Plus, it features standard paddle shifters for rowing through six preset ratios. Compared with the 3.6, which hits 60 in 7.1 seconds and the quarter mile in 15.5 at 90.5 mph, the 2.5 CVT is leisurely, delivering 9.7 and 17.4 at 82.0, respectively. More important, though, the 170-horse Outback is competitive within its class. A Honda CR-V EX-L AWD needs 9.5 ticks to reach 60 and 17.2 at 79.0 to nab the quarter. Thus, the 2.5 CVT is more about A-to-B impeccability than stoplight-to-stoplight bragging rights, and is perfectly happy leaving the pink-slip battles to the 3.6R. – Ron Kiino
|2010 Subaru Outback 2.5i Limited
|Base/tested price
|2.5L/170-hp/170-lb-ft SOHC 16-valve flat-4
|Continuosly Variable Auto
|Curb weight (dist f/r)
|3562 lb (54/46%)
|Length x width x height
|188.2 x 71.7 x 63.9 in
|0-60 mph
|9.7 sec
|Quarter mile
|17.4 sec @ 82.0 mph
|EPA city/hwy econ
|22/29 mpg
|CO2 emissions
|0.79 lb/mile
The look says "Soccer Mom." The numbers say "Indiana Jones."
|Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo 4WD
|Subaru Outback 3.6R
|Toyota Venza AWD V6
|SOHC, 12-valve 3.7L V-6; 210 hp/235 lb-ft
|DOHC, 24-valve 3.6L flat-6; 256 hp/247 lb-ft
|DOHC, 24-valve 3.5L V-6; 268 hp/246 lb-ft
|EPA city/hwy fuel econ
|15/20 mpg
|18/25 mpg
|18/25 mpg
|5-sp auto
|5-sp auto
|6-sp auto
|109.5 in
|107.9 in
|109.3 in
|Track, front/rear
|62.0/62.0 in
|61.0/61.0 in
|64.2/64.2 in
|Length x width x height
|188.0 x 84.3 x 68.9 in
|188.2 x 71.7 x 65.7 in
|189.0 x 75.0 x 63.4 in
|Load-floor height
|33.4 in
|33.9 in
|27.2 in
|Step-in height
|20.2 in
|16.5 in
|15.3 in
|Ground clearance
|8.2 in
|8.7 in
|8.1 in
|Approach angle
|35.0 deg
|18.9 deg
|15.6 deg
|Departure angle
|27.5 deg
|22.2 deg
|17.4 deg
|Breakover angle
|21.3 deg
|19.5 deg
|Headroom, f/r
|39.7/39.3 in
|38.7/39.3 in
|39.6/39.3 in
|Legroom, f/r
|41.7/35.5 in
|43.0/37.8 in
|Shoulder room, f/r
|59.1/58.5 in
|56.3/56.1 in
|60.0/59.0 in
|Fuel-tank capacity
|21.1 gal
|18.5 gal
|17.7 gal
|Cargo room (rear seat up/down)
|34.5/67.4 cu ft
|34.3/71.3 cu ft
|34.4/70.1 cu ft
|Tow rating
|3500 lb
|3000 lb
|3500 lb
|Base price
|2010 Subaru Outback 3.6R Limited
|Drivetrain layout
|Front engine, AWD
|Engine type
|Flat-6, alum block/heads
|DOHC, 4 valves/cyl
|221.5 cu in/3630 cc
|Compression ratio
|Power (SAE net)
|256 hp @ 6000 rpm
|Torque (SAE net)
|247 lb-ft @ 4400 rpm
|Weight to power
|14.3 lb/hp
|5-speed automatic
|Axle/final-drive ratios
|Suspension, front; rear
|Struts, coil springs, anti-roll bar; multilink, coil springs, anti-roll bar
|Steering ratio
|Turns lock-to-lock
|Brakes, f;r
|12.4 vented disc; 11.4-in vented disc, ABS
|7.0 x 17-in, cast aluminum
|225/60R17 98T M+S Continental Conti Pro Contact
|107.9 in
|Track, f/r
|61.0/61.0 in
|Length x width x height
|188.2 x 71.7 x 63.9 in
|Ground clearance
|8.7 in
|Apprch/depart angle
|18.9/22.2 deg
|Turning circle
|36.8 ft
|Curb weight
|3655 lb
|Weight dist., f/r
|Towing capacity
|3000 lb
|Seating capacity
|Headroom, f/r
|38.7/39.3 in
|Legroom, f/r
|43.0/37.8 in
|Shoulder room, f/r
|56.3/56.1 in
|Cargo vol behind f/r
|71.3/34.3 cu ft
|Acceleration to mph </strong
|2.6 sec
|Passing, 45-65 mph
|3.5 sec
|Quarter mile
|15.5 sec @ 90.5 mph
|Braking, 60-0 mph
|131 ft
|Lateral acceleration
|0.74 g (avg)
|MT figure eight
|28.6 sec @ 0.28 g (avg)
|Top-gear revs @ 60 mph
|1950 rpm
|Base price
|Price as tested
|Stability/traction control
|Dual front, front side, f/r curtain
|Basic warranty
|3 yrs/36,000 miles
|Powertrain warranty
|5 yrs/50,000 miles
|Roadside assistance
|3 yrs/36,000 miles
|Fuel capacity
|18.5 gal
|EPA city/hwy econ
|18/25 mpg
|CO2 emissions
|0.94 lb/mile
|Recommended fuel
|Unleaded regular


text:
By completing your order, you understand that the products(s) you are purchasing are U.S. models and may have power / voltage requirements different from that of your country.
Prices shown in currencies other than US Dollars are estimates based on current exchange rates. We will charge your credit card in US Dollars on the day your order is shipped, and the conversion to your local currency will be done at the prevailing rate by your credit card issuer.
PSSL will not mark your parcel as a "gift", declare a value lower than the actual price paid, or otherwise prepare false customs information.
The Achromic Series feature a Bi-Amped, high efficiency fan cooled Class A/B switching power amp for the highs, and a Class D power amp for the low end. Each cabinet was carefully designed with components specifically chosen to provide high SPL levels while ensuring smooth coverage across all frequencies in a light weight package ranging from the A10 at 28.7 lbs. (13 kg) up to the A18S at 83.8 lbs. (38 kg).
Power Ranges from 1000 Watts for the A10 to 1200 Watts for the A12/A15. Designed to work for you, the full-range speakers feature a 35mm pole socket with two position options – zero or a 7.5-degree downward tilt for stand mounting but can also be flown via the built-in M10 fly points, wall mounted or used a main or floor monitor.
To provide enhanced bass response and extended low frequency coverage, the Achromic Series also includes two active DSP Controlled sub options with configurable output directivity. The cardioid output option allows you to better focus your low end in a ground stack configuration for tight clean bass.
Every model in the Achromic Series features an advanced easy to use Digital Signal Processor accessible via an LCD screen on the rear panel of the speaker. The built-in DSP allows you custom optimization to configure the speaker specifically for your needs: Music Type /Room/ mounting option/EQ/ and System configurations.Specificiations:
A pair of Frameworks GFW-SPK-2000 with a carry bag. The Frameworks GFW-SPK-2000 adjustable speaker stand is an aluminum frame with 81" maximum height, it can support up to 125 lbs.Features:

subset: commoncrawl


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Community/Homeless Courts
What Are Community Courts?
Community courts are an experiment in community-based justice. Like other collaborative justice courts, community courts aim to improve efficiency in judicial proceedings, match sanctions and services to offenders, and build bridges between public and private agencies that serve offenders.
Community courts focus on quality-of-life crimes and on cleaning up neighborhoods that are deteriorating from crime and neglect. The courts encourage community groups to identify neighborhood problems and become involved in developing solutions.
The Midtown Manhattan Court, which opened in New York City in 1993, was the first community court of its kind. It offers a wide array of services and programs in which participation can be included as part of the probation requirement. Often these are misdemeanor or infraction cases, such as quality-of-life violations, petty theft, prostitution, or drug-related charges that are disturbing to community members but are not appropriate for traditional court proceedings. View the video. (10 min)
Each community court is unique because it is developed in response to community priorities. For instance, another community court, the Red Hook Court in Brooklyn, focuses on family issues, while a community court in Harlem focuses on juvenile justice. All community courts include principles of community involvement, balanced and restorative justice, accountability, and linkage to treatment or other services.
The San Francisco Community Justice Center (CJC), handles a broad array of cases targeting those who are most at risk of re-offending and who have the greatest impact on public safety. Both non-voluntary and voluntary participants of the CJC have access to a large range of supportive services. Also operating at the CJC is a unique partnership with the District Attorney's office to host the Community Court panelists, a project of California Community Dispute Services. The panelists are comprised of a body of San Francisco residents who talk to CJC participants about the impact that their criminal behavior has had on the community.
Currently there are 26 community courts nationally, with more planned. Some community courts, such as the one in Orange County, integrate programs and services from a range of existing collaborative justice courts. The Orange County Community Court provides a one-stop location at which comprehensive services will be available to help offenders who are mentally ill, addicted or homeless.
Center for Court Innovation (New York State)
San Francisco Community Justice Center
Orange County Community Court
What Are Homeless Courts?
Homeless courts are special court sessions held in a local shelter or other community site designed for homeless citizens to resolve outstanding misdemeanor criminal warrants (principally "quality-of-life" infractions such as unauthorized removal of a shopping cart, disorderly conduct, public drunkenness, and sleeping on a sidewalk or on the beach).
Resolution of outstanding warrants not only meets a fundamental need of homeless people but also eases court case-processing backlogs and reduces vagrancy. Homeless people tend to be fearful of attending court, yet their outstanding warrants limit their reintegration into society, deterring them from using social services and impeding their access to employment. They are effectively blocked from obtaining driver's licenses, job applications, and rental agreements.
In 1989 the first homeless court was established as an outgrowth of San Diego's Veterans' Stand-Down Program. That program annually offers services to the homeless, the majority of whom are veterans. The San Diego Homeless Court meets monthly, alternately at Saint Vincent de Paul (San Diego's largest homeless shelter) and the Veterans Village of San Diego.
Los Angeles started its homeless court in November 2000. This court is designed on a model similar to the court in San Diego, with court sessions held at community facilities that serve the homeless, such as the Salvation Army. The court addresses quality-of-life offenses that have gone to warrant and provides sentencing, involving participation in treatment and community service, that can clear the offense. Courts in Alameda and Ventura Counties have also begun holding homeless court sessions. The Ventura Court's work was presented at the 2002 National Association for Court ManagementConference.
Special court sessions held in the community by the Ventura court address outstanding cases and unique problems of criminally accused homeless individuals. This approach reduces the need for numerous hearings, saving court time and costs. These courts combine plea bargaining with alternative sentencing that substitutes counseling, volunteer work, and participation in agency programs for the traditional fines, public work service, and custody. Defendants are given credit for having entered a shelter, done volunteer work, or enrolled in Alcoholics Anonymous or other self-help and education programs.
The San Diego Homeless Court received initial federal funding from the Bureau of Justice Assistance. The San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) conducted an evaluation that noted over 700 cases (for 266 participants) were resolved between October 1999 and February 2001.
Data collected from participant surveys suggest that individuals' participation in the homeless court program improved their attitudes toward law enforcement and increased their satisfaction with court processes, court staff, and the court system as a whole. View the SANDAG 2001 report, San Diego Homeless Court Program: A Process and Impact Evaluation.
Reaching Out to Homeless Courts
The Collaborative Justice Courts Project started the Homeless Court Outreach Initiative with collaborative justice courts to enable similar courts to benefit from the experiences of their peers. The initiative gathered like-minded practitioners at a 2003 forum to share their programs and case processing strategies.
Homeless Courts Outreach Initiative (PDF, 8 KB)


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The Contribution of Space Science to Astronomy
30 October 2009
The contribution of space science to astronomy In the context of IYA2009, COSPAR is organising a symposium entitled "The Contribution of Space Science to Astronomy". Open to the general public, this symposium is co-organised by UNESCO. It is one of the closing events of IYA2009 and will be held on 14 and 15 January 20010 at UNESCO headquarters in Paris.
More information: http://www.iap.fr/cospar-iya/index_en.html
Search IYA2009 Updates
National Nodes: 148
Organisational Nodes: 40
Organisational Associates:33
National Websites: 111
Cornerstone Projects: 12
Special Task Groups: 11
Special Projects:16
Official Products:8
Media Partners:22


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Duckworth Dominating
Since the All-Star break, the best starting pitcher in the International League has been Brandon Duckworth.
(Photos courtesy of Kelly O'Connor)
The 35-year-old veteran picked up his 4th win in the last 15 days on Friday night, as the PawSox beat Lehigh Valley 4-3.
"It has been a pretty good stretch, and hopefully we can keep it rolling," Duckworth said. "It's been great. It seems like everything has been going my way. Tonight was kind of a grind (3 ER in 5 IP) and I was able to get through everything. The bullpen came in and did a great job and I got great defensive help in the outfield."
It's no coincidence that Duckworth is 4-0 with a 1.93 since the All-Star break. Brandon was able to spend time at home in New Jersey with his wife Janeen, daughter Sophia, and twins Easton and Aliya who were born on June 2nd.
"They ended up being born six weeks early and my son was in intensive care for more than a month," Duckworth said. "We still have some things going on, but it's a lot less critical right now. That peace of mind helps out so much. It seems like it's been a crazy two months. I just feel more at ease. I know that everything is good at home, so now I can go out there and have fun."
Brandon got to see the twins again while the PawSox were in Allentown, PA.
"I was able to go home and see them since we had the 11:00 am game on Thursday and I live just over an hour away," Duckworth said. "Knowing that the kids are OK and my wife is OK puts my mind at ease and helps me focus."
Friday's win over the IronPigs pulled Pawtucket within two games of Lehigh Valley for first place in the IL North with 36 games to go. The PawSox lead the Wild Card race by a half-game over Gwinnett and two games over Scranton/WB.
"It's a lot of fun," Duckworth said. "It's a lot better than sitting here saying, 'I can't wait for the final month to be over so we can go home.' We want to win. There's something at stake and I think it gets everybody going a little bit."
Duckworth has pitched in 134 major league games over parts of 8 seasons with Philadelphia, Houston, and Kansas City, and hopes to add the Boston Red Sox to his big league resume before the season is finished.
"I want to finish strong and give the team a chance to win in each and every outing," Duckworth said. "Obviously, I'd like to pitch well enough to be under consideration to go up at the end of the year. I know I have what it takes to go up there and pitch. I've been there plenty of times before on teams that were going into the playoffs, so that's my goal."
If the next 37 days are like the last 15, it's not out of the question.
* * * * *
Lars Anderson had an RBI single and a pair of walks on Friday to extend his current hitting streak to 6 games (8-for-20, .400, 3 2B, 2 HR, 5 RBI).
"He's shortened his swing a lot and he is swinging the bat like he was earlier in the year and driving the ball all over the field," said PawSox hitting coach Chili Davis. "He just needs to stick with it. If he sticks with it, he'll become the hitter that he should be. I think that kid has huge potential. He's got a beautiful swing – one of the prettiest left-handed swings that you're going to see. He just needs to focus on doing the right things and not trying to force himself to be a certain type of hitter. He's in a situation here where he's hitting in a spot in the order where we want to see him drive in runs. Whether he hits 30 home runs or 10 home runs, he can drive in runs. He's not one of those left-handed hitters where you say, 'He doesn't hit left-handers.' He stays in there well against left-handed pitchers and he has the power to drive the ball from the left field line to the right field line. He needs to use the whole field. I like where he is right now, and I'd just like to see him stay there."
* * * * *
The PawSox open an 8-game homestand on Saturday as they host Louisville at 6:05. I have to miss the game for a family commitment, but I hope you'll join Steve Hyder and Steve McDonald for radio coverage beginning with the pre-game show at 5:50 on the PawSox radio network and pawsox.com.
I'd love to hear from you. The address is firstname.lastname@example.com.
If you Twitter, you can follow my tweets at http://twitter.com/Dan_Hoard
And I have finally joined Facebook. Just search for Dan Hoard and look for the photo of me with the handsome lad.


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Clean Rocket Fuel
Perjury was the case that they gave him. And he's innocent.
In May, 2007 I sat in a sports bar with my dad. Roger Clemens had just agreed to return to the New York Yankees days before, having spent three seasons with the Houston Astros, dipping in and out of retirement. I overheard another fan sitting at a nearby table, fawning over Clemens's comeback.
"He is THE greatest pitcher of our era," he said to his friend. "I'm so glad he's back."
Clemens went on to have a mediocre half-season for the Yanks, finishing 6-6 with a 4.18 ERA. He had to leave his only postseason start vs. Cleveland in the ALDS early with a groin injury.
Knowing Clemens's history – admitting his career was over, only for him to rejoin his team halfway through the year – I never expected his start vs. the Indians in the '07 ALDS to be his last game. I got the feeling that Clemens, even at 45 years old, would somehow find his way back to the majors in 2008.
That is, until the can of worms was opened on Dec. 13, 2007; the possible secret to his longevity revealed.
Clemens was named in the infamous Mitchell Report, a 409-page document which deeply explored steroid usage in Major League Baseball. The Rocket's name was mentioned 82 times. Upon the release of the report, and his name being linked with steroid usage, Clemens vehemently denied using performance-enhancing drugs, steroids, HGH, or any other illegal substance in order to gain an unfair advantage on the diamond.
The main whistleblower in the whole ordeal was Brian McNamee, a former personal strength coach of Clemens and his former teammate and friend, the recently hobbled Andy Pettitte. McNamee confessed that he personally injected Clemens with steroids, sparking a huge he said-she said case.
In a nutshell, McNamee claimed, "Yes, Roger took steroids. I know because I gave them to him." Clemens contended, "No, I didn't take them. Brian is lying."
Determined to tell his side of the story, Clemens appeared on 60 Minutes in January of 2007 to plead his case. In the interview, he stated that McNamee only injected him with Lidocaine (a pain reliever) and B-12 (or Vitamin B).
What particularly stood out to me in that interview was his response to Mike Wallace's question about the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Wallace inquired about what Clemens's chances of making the hall might be, given the steroid allegations.
"What makes you think I give a damn about the Hall of Fame?" Clemens answered, in clearly a frustrated tone.
That did it right there for me. That response alone wiped away a great deal of respect I once had for the Rocket. No player, no matter what, should ever speak that way about the Hall of Fame, because being a member of that exclusive club is an honor every player should "give a damn about."
The saga continued in February of 2008 when Clemens stood before congress and claimed he never used PEDs, steroids, or HGH. Being that Clemens swore under oath he never used steroids, if it came out that he was lying, he could have faced jail time – such is the punishment for lying under oath, or in judicial terminology, perjury.
The host of congressmen were divided during the hearing. In fact, I recall watching the coverage of the hearing and it seemed half of the committee believed Clemens and the other half sided with McNamee.
Talk about giving new meaning to the phrase, "a house divided."
Clemens was indicted in August 2010 and his trial began July 13 of last year. The case was declared a mistrial and as a result Clemens was retried.
This whole mess finally came to a head 11 days ago, Monday, June 18, when Clemens was found not guilty on six counts of lying to congress about using steroids, HGH, and performance-enhancing drugs.
Where was I when I learned of the Rocket's innocence?
Of all places, Yankee Stadium. I guess that's poetically just.
Perhaps in a way to celebrate his successful trial, Clemens attended a Boston Red Sox game recently. He sat in the Green Monster seats, protected by a group of security guards. Maybe it was the Rocket's way of attempting to endear himself back into the hearts of his baseball fans in Boston, where he started his career and flourished.
But it was for naught. Clemens was booed by the Fenway Faithful.
Clemens, to me, will now forever be a mystery. Now I have a barrage of questions that I'm not sure will ever be answered.
Should the fans, now knowing he technically didn't lie, forgive him and consider him one of the most elite pitchers in not only Yankee history, but baseball history?
Does the fact that he was found not guilty really prove he was innocent? Or in other words, did he get away with perjury?
If he really was telling the truth, is he the rightful "greatest pitcher of our era?"
Despite his asinine comments, is he worthy of the Hall of Fame now?
If he came back to Yankee Stadium and sat amongst the bleacher creatures, how would he be received by Yankee Universe in comparison to how Red Sox Nation reacted to his presence?
I don't know. And I might never know, for sure.


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News | March 27, 2014
Rosetta Sets Sights on Destination Comet
The Rosetta spacecraft has caught a first glimpse of its destination comet since waking up from deep-space hibernation on Jan. 20. The first images of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko were taken on March 20 and 21 by the Optical, Spectroscopic and Infrared Remote Imaging System (OSIRIS) wide-angle camera and narrow-angle camera. Rosetta is an international mission spearheaded by the European Space Agency with support and instruments provided by NASA.
The two images were taken at a distance of about three million miles (five million kilometers) and required a series of exposures of 60 to 300 seconds, taken with the wide-angle and narrow-angle camera. The imaging of 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko is part of six weeks of activities dedicated to preparing the spacecraft's science instruments for close-up study of the comet. Rosetta has been traveling through the solar system for 10 years, and will arrive at the comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko in August of this year.
Rosetta was reactivated Jan. 20 after a record 957 days in hibernation. The three U.S. instruments aboard Rosetta are the Microwave Instrument for the Rosetta Orbiter, Alice (an ultraviolet imaging spectrograph) and the Ion and Electron Sensor.
ESA member states and NASA contributed to the Rosetta mission. Airbus Defense and Space built the Rosetta spacecraft. JPL manages the US contribution of the Rosetta mission for NASA's Science Mission Directorate in Washington. JPL also built the Microwave Instrument for the Rosetta Orbiter and hosts its principal investigator, Samuel Gulkis. The Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio developed the Rosetta orbiter's Ion and Electron Sensor (IES) and hosts its principal investigator, James Burch. The Southwest Research Institute in Boulder, Colo., developed the Alice instrument and hosts its principal investigator, Alan Stern.
For information on the U.S. instruments on Rosetta, visit: http://rosetta.jpl.nasa.gov
More information about Rosetta, visit: http://www.esa.int/rosetta
For more information on the DSN, visit: http://deepspace.jpl.nasa.gov/dsn
News Media ContactDC Agle 818-393-9011
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.
Markus Bauer 011-31-71-565-6799
European Space Agency, Noordwijk, Netherlands


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Out of my price range but might need a loan for this smooth operator
More posts
- This is no slouch either. Yum. Could lay it down for a bit, but why wait? Nicely balanced, went well with a fruit tarte.
- A go-to favorite. Really does need to breathe for at least 1/2 hr. Fruit on the nose right from the beginning; amazing!
- Great wine. Cherry taste
- Less than 1,000 cases of this made. Fruity, something lightly acidic.
- Very good. Found on sale at Taylor's Wine and Bait ;)


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For the previous instalment, click here. So, what's been happening lately? Firstly, I decided to do some 'chasing'.
After mentioning the upcoming Kickstarter-sponsored book, The undead and theology, I got to thinking about something else I'm incredibly keen to see published: the papers presented at 'Vampire (&) science: a trans-disciplinary conference'. Why? Here's a list (pdf) of them. What a brilliant cornucopia!
The last I heard about it, the event's organiser—Clemens Ruthner—was shopping around academic publishers. Has any progress been made? I emailed him on Tuesday and got this response: 'Yes, we are discussing a publication entitled Vampire(&)Science, same title as the conference', adding 'I should know more after the summer. You can gladly post it' (Tuesday, 3 July 2012 6:58:25 PM). Sweeet!
Speaking of the Kickstarter project, it's coming along nicely. One of its editors, John W. Morehead, sent me the typeset manuscript on 26 July. It looks great. In fact, the book's cover was publicly unveiled today (left).
On the 27th and 28th, I submitted revisions for W. Scott Poole's chapter, 'The vampire that haunts Highgate: theological evil, Hammer horror, and the Highgate vampire panic in Britain, 1963–1974'. Some readers may recognise his name from a recently-published book called Monsters in America: our historical obsession with the hideous and the haunting (2011). It's one of many on my Amazon Wishlist.
The first part of the book concerns itself with vampires, consisting four essays by Vicky Gilpin ('Vampires and female spiritual transformation'), Joseph Laycock ('Crossing the spiritual wasteland in Priest'), Jarrod Longbons ('Vampires are people, too: personalism in the Buffyverse') and, of course, Poole.
If you're a zombie or 'other undead' fan, there's goodies for you, too.
A coupla reprints got caught up in my Amazonian trawlings for upcoming books; but there was one more I missed. It turns out David McNally's Marxist study, Monsters of the market: zombies, vampires, and global capitalism—mentioned here—has actually been published before.
BRILL, an academic publisher based in Amsterdam, released it last year. In hardback. I'm guessing the paperback reprint is intended for a broader audience, because the xii, 296 pp. hardback edition goes for €99.00 ($136). Yikes!
I was saddened to find out about the passing of my favourite photographer, Simon Marsden; but surprised to find out it happened several months ago.
|Palazzo Editions
Marsden's last book, Vampires: the twilight world—'Published to coincide with the film releases of The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn (Part I) and Brad Pitt's Vlad, about the life of the real Dracula' (left)—was released 6 October 2011.
I grew up with Marsden. The first book of his I read—ok, flicked through—was Phantoms of the Isles: further tales from the haunted realm (1990). Borrowed it from my local library. At the time, I was deeply into the supernatural—particularly ghosts.
That lead to his 1994 book, The journal of a ghost hunter, which, unlike Phantom, features some vampire content. With hindsight, story-teller's a better description for Marsden than 'ghost hunter'. Nonetheless, what an incredible legacy he's left us with. He sought out supposedly haunted locations for his shots; and other settings associated with horror and the supernatural. His main influence was Poe. The pictures themselves, are wonderfully broody and atmospheric. See for yourself via his archive. Simon Marsden, R.I.P.
The Royal Armouries in Leeds recently acquired a '19th century vampire-slaying kit'. I've written about such kits before—here, here and here. I've even interviewed the man primarily responsible for obtaining the world's largest collection of these supposedly 'antique' kits.
If you're not familiar with my position on these kits, here goes: they're fake. There's no contemporary evidence for their manufacture. Their back-stories are highly dubious. They often feature 19th century artefacts—like pistols, prayer books or Bibles—but other components are artificially aged. Despite this, they often sell for thousands at auction houses.
In this case, the Royal Armouries purchase is intriguing because it was apparently 'left to a Yorkshire woman in her uncle's will'. However, the article also notes:
"We've yet to establish a firm date for our kit," added [Curator, Jonathan] Ferguson.
"It's Victorian in the sense that it's made of Victorian components and intended to represent something from the mid-19th century.
"It's 20th century in terms of when it was actually put together, inspired by post-Dracula vampire fiction.
"We will be carrying out tests to confirm the facts, but we know it will attract a lot of interest from our visitors."
It's good to see some balance in the curator's comments, but it does make me wonder why the armoury bothered acquiring the kit, without validating its date first.
Speaking of which, I picked up a copy of Fortean Times (no. 288) on 13 July. The cover story was 'To kill a vampire' by Jonathan Ferguson—the guy mentioned in the previous article. His article details the history and prevalence of vampire killing kits. Certainly worth the cover price.
Considering the quality of the article, I was honoured to see I'd been cited four times in his list of references. Cheers, Jonathan!


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Mayor's Office
In the wake of the positive vote on the Lincoln Haymarket Arena, Mayor Chris Beutler today said the rest of the nation is already taking notice of the great business climate and quality of life in Lincoln. The Mayor handed out lists of high rankings by national organizations and cited three recent examples:
"These national rankings underscore that what I've been saying for quite some time now – that Lincoln is uniquely positioned to become a truly world-class City," Mayor Beutler said. "One of the keys is investment in the City core – the Antelope Valley Project, Innovation Campus, our downtown, and now the West Haymarket."
The Mayor made the remarks at a news conference at Turbine Flats, a center for small and start-up businesses at 2124 "Y" Street. One of its founders, Matthew Wegener, is on the leadership council of the Young Professionals Group, a supporter of the arena project. The Mayor noted a number of the rankings relate to younger workers, entrepreneurship and small businesses. And he said economic development professionals believe these kinds of national rankings do have an impact on attracting and retaining business and families.
"They do attract attention – attention that may cause someone to take a second look at our City especially in uncertain economic times," he said. "If they look a little deeper, they'll find out about our excellent education system. They'll learn that single-family building permits were up 40 percent in the first quarter of this year compared to last year – a great indicator that our economy is rebounding. The rankings also help give our City an identity beyond Husker football. And they confirm to City leaders and residents that we are on the right track."


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Last week we hosted three parties. Wheew. Three years ago, I would have said that I'd catered 3+ parties this week. The holidays used to be sooo much different then - I spent every night cooking and everyday shopping for ingredients. Then, the weekends were back-to-back parties. Loading and unloading my car and making my way to clients' homes in the ice and snow.
I loved my job during the holidays - everyone was so gracious and their guests were usually very kind. I was fortunate to spend festive evenings in bustling homes that were filled with holiday cheer. The only problem was that those home weren't filled with my festive friends and family (except when Mike was my happy helper).
This year we packed our holiday entertaining schedule to the max and hosted a family party (Emma's Birthday), an open house for everyone on our new street and a small dinner party. Tonight, I'm sharing photos from our small dinner party for 5 - us, our 2 guests and Emma.
As you can see, I reworked the floral arrangement from Emma's birthday party by adding clove studded oranges and red/orange amaryllis to the pink amaryllis, magnolia and cedar.
A photo of the simply set table just before dinner.
Light snacks with wine before dinner.
The evening's entertainment...
Goat Cheese & Roasted Beet Salad over greens with a Lemon Vinaigrette
A new dessert created from my old creme brulee recipe...
Milk Chocolate Creme Brulee (pre-caramelized top!)
Stay tuned for recipes and more photos from our holiday parties!


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Instagram: marshabrechtDid a little hike on this cool and foggy day. Gulf State Park at Gulf Shores AL has some great boardwalks.Too pretty to eat!We made an morning stop to beat the crowd at the World Famous Seafood & Gourmet Food Market in Pensacola FL. A must whenever we come to Florida. If it swims in the ocean they sell it here.Sunset on the Gulf of MexicoBeautiful day for a visit to Lookout Tower at Big Lagoon State Park, Pensacola, FL.In Saint Augustine FL. The 208' tall cross marks the approximate site where in 1565 the first parish Mass was held and where the first cross of Christianity was permanently planted in what is now the United States.In St. Augustine for a couple days.Fort Clinch served as military post during the Civil War, Spanish-American War and World War II. Is now a Florida State Park. We will stay at the campground here tonight.Boneyard Beach at Big Talbot Island State Park in Florida.In Florida now at Huguenot Memorial Park on the shore of the mouth of the St.John's river where we can watch the ships go in or out to the Atlantic Ocean. #travato #travatonation
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Tag Archives: St. Augustine Flea Market
St. Augustine, Day 2
It's Saturday, and the St. Augustine Flea Market beckoned. I don't know why, we never actually buy anything, we just like to walk around and look. You never know. Ok, I did buy some pecans. One of the places we … Continue reading
St. Augustine, FL
Right next to St. John's RV park where we are camped is St. Augustine Marketplace. We just walked over to have a look-see. On our way we noticed several Volkswagen cars and vans driving in so we followed them to a … Continue reading


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Using rolling forecasts and simplified planning for dynamic controlling
Kistler's CFO Roger Willi discusses how a unified corporate performance management solution has helped support a major corporate reorganization while simultaneously increasing control, fostering clear accountability and transparency, and providing more meaningful planning and management reports.
Kistler's CFO Roger Willi will discuss how the company uses CCH Tagetik's solution to empower entrepreneurial spirit and increase business adaptability in each of its three divisions, as well as address challenges such as frequent budget adjustments due to cyclical and market fluctuations and potential bottlenecks in capacity. He will also discuss how Kistler has implemented a massively simplified and dynamically structured planning process, complemented with rolling forecasts that provide flexible controlling guidance throughout each period.
Learn how a unified CPM solution can support complex business structures, insights for implementation success, and best practices for developing efficient and meaningful planning and forecasting.


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Clark story could hurt
One sure effect of the Hook's piece on the implementation of federally mandated School Choice at Charlottesville's George Rogers Clark Elementary is that its title "Stigmatized" is self-fulfilling for those readers whose only knowledge of the school comes from reading the Hook.
Reporter Lisa Provence's lead predictably begins with the Hook's editorial obsession with Belmont's property values before moving on to the unsubstantiated assertion that Clark's roster of students has already been depleted. Aside from a glaring lack of context on the complex issues surrounding the federal No Child Left Behind Act, critical readers will no doubt question the dubious decision to spotlight a parent whose children have never attended the school. But the story might also lead one to wonder where on earth Clark's students must come from. We feel our experience offers a relevant perspective on the subject.
When our eldest child started kindergarten, we implemented our own school choice- and chose Clark. Though we live within sight of the school, a quirk of the school division's boundaries required an application for out-of-zone transfer to the school. Three things guided this decision: our need for a walkable neighborhood school, our sense that immersion in a diverse student body would benefit our daughter, and our extremely positive impression of principal Art Stow and Clark's professional staff.
Three years on, this choice continues to reward us all- not the least our rising second grader, whose talents and interests have been deepened and enriched by the school's instructors and curriculum- including the citywide Quest program. By embracing our responsibility as parents to become actively involved in our daughter's education, we also enjoy unexpected blessings from participating in the Clark community and working with other parents to enhance the quality of family, civic, and academic life in Belmont.
Finally, the story gives no indication of the improvements Stow and his committed staff have made at Clark during the past six years, which have earned high praise from parents and administrators alike. The city's school division, school board, and parents are fiercely committed to helping them erase the "stigma" your story assigns to Clark. This subject is not as ripe a target for the flippant social stereotyping at which the Hook excels, but by failing to explore it more fully, you fail your readers and the community of which you, too, are a part.
Tish Riley and Kyle Copas


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God, Hope & Helping Others
Broccoli compound shown to help prevent lung damage in COPD patients
May 2, 2011 by Personal Liberty News Desk
In addition to being low in calories and high in a variety of nutrients, broccoli may have the added benefit of helping patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) fight off lung infections, according to researchers at Johns Hopkins University.
The sulforaphane found in the vegetable stimulates production of a molecule known as Nrf2, which helps produce free radical-neutralizing antioxidants in the body.
"This research may help explain the long-established link between diet and lung disease, and raises the potential for new approaches to treatment of this often-devastating disease," said study co-author Robert Wise.
The authors theorized that Nrf2 may help increase the amount of macrophages in the body, which are molecules that remove bacteria. They tested their hypothesis using sulforaphanes, because the compound has previously been shown to help produce Nfr2.
The sulforaphane treatment helped kill two types of bacteria that affect people with COPD and increased the macrophage's ability to uptake bacteria by 300 percent.
In a study of mice, the compound was shown to reduce lung inflammation; while in humans, sulforaphane supplements raised blood levels of antioxidants.
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The EU and the UN will co-chair the third conference on 'Supporting the future of Syria and the region', which will take place in Brussels on 12-14 March 2019.
The overarching objective of the three Syria Conferences has always been to support the Syrian people and further mobilise the international community behind the work to achieve a lasting political solution to the Syria crisis, in line with UN Security Council Resolution 2254.
As with the two previous editions, Brussels III will also address the most critical humanitarian and resilience issues affecting Syrians and communities hosting Syrian refugees, both inside the country and in the region. It will also reaffirm the international community's political and financial support for Syria's neighbours, notably Lebanon, Jordan, and Turkey, as well as Egypt and Iraq. Brussels III will be the main pledging event for Syria and the region in 2019.
The Conference will provide even greater space than previous editions for Syrian, regional and international NGOs and civil society organisations, as well as women's networks.


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Tzu-hsing upon perceiving the weighty import of what he propounded, "Please explain," he asked hastily, "the drift (of your argument)." To which Yü-ts'un
responded: "Of the human beings created by the operation of heaven and earth, if we exclude those who are gifted with extreme benevolence and extreme
viciousness, the rest, for the most part, present no striking diversity. If they be extremely benevolent, they fall in, at the time of their birth, with an era of
propitious fortune; while those extremely vicious correspond, at the time of their existence, with an era of calamity. When those who coexist with propitious fortune
come into life, the world is in order; when those who coexist with unpropitious fortune come into life, the world is in danger. Yao, Shun, Yü, Ch'eng T'ang, Wen
Wang, Wu Wang, Chou Kung, Chao Kung, Confucius, Mencius, T'ung Hu, Han Hsin, Chou Tzu, Ch'eng Tzu, Chu Tzu and Chang Tzu were ordained to see light
in an auspicious era. Whereas Ch'i Yu, Kung Kung, Chieh Wang, Chou Wang,
Shih Huang, Wang Mang, Tsao Ts'ao, Wen Wen, An Hu-shan, Ch'in Kuei and others were one and all destined to come into the world during a calamitous age.
Those endowed with extreme benevolence set the world in order; those possessed of extreme maliciousness turn the world into disorder. Purity,
intelligence, spirituality and subtlety constitute the vital spirit of right which pervades heaven and earth, and the persons gifted with benevolence are its
natural fruit. Malignity and perversity constitute the spirit of evil, which permeates heaven and earth, and malicious persons are affected by its influence. The days of perpetual happiness and eminent good fortune, and the era of perfect peace
and tranquility, which now prevail, are the offspring of the pure, intelligent, divine
and subtle spirit which ascends above, to the very Emperor, and below reaches the rustic and uncultured classes. Every one is
without exception under its influence. The superfluity of the subtle spirit expands far and wide, and finding nowhere to betake itself to, becomes, in due course,


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Yup, you're seeing right, a tutorial on "how to draw Luigi easy", step by step. Did you really think that I was going to do Mario and Yoshi but not Luigi. Luigi is the funny looking plumber who has that slippery like jumping style that used to get me so annoyed when I would play him as a character. Luigi is good with some things, but as far as jumping goes, I prefer to use Mario all day long. Again, this is going to be a super simple lesson to tackle, which means it's a great challenging task for those of you that are brand new to the whole drawing thing. I want to address to some folks that may be confused a bit with the new layout still. I received some questions as to where the search bar is located. To answer that question, it's at the top of the page, right next to the 'log-in' link along the blue bar under the banner. I hope this helps some of you locate the search bar. I know that it's a much easier way to look for tutorials on Dragoart then to search through all the categories we have. Anyways, back to Luigi. He will be drawn from the side or three fourths view which means it will be even easier to tackle this submission. I do think that you will enjoy it, if you don't just tell me what you would like to see. By the way, I will see about getting some anime lessons on the site as well. Tokyo Mew Mew was it? Have fun guys, I will be back shortly.
DragoArt members upload artwork and drawing tutorials! They are also allowed to leave comments on tutorials, profiles, etc. Many more features, as well; it's way better than just being a boring guest! Register Now!


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Neither former Property Assessor Parkey Strader, John Whitehead or Former Register of Deeds Steve Hall ever called the Sheriff's office when they laid someone off. This is Ballard's 2.0 version of "Promises Made, Promises Kept" during the campaign he promised more jobs to new cronies, political operatives and contributors. So he had to get rid of five today. But hold on there are promises of two, three or more tomorrow or in the near future.
So, while five people are no longer employed in the assessors office and the sheriff's department kept him safe during the day. Ballard is now safe working through the night in his basement with his farm on Farmville. Hopefully one of his farmville horses doesn't kick him while he is farming tonight.


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Week One Preparing For Love "Someday, after we have mastered the winds, the waves, the tides and gravity, we shall harness for God the energies of love. Then for the second time in the history of the world, man will have discovered fire." --Pierre Teilhard de Chardin Too often, we believe our private agonies are ours alone to bear, forgetting that we are part of a vast collective where the majority of our concerns are shared in one form or another by many other people. This week: *We will explore the impact that the culture around us is having on our collective ability to create loving and meaningful relationships *We will prepare ourselves for love by opening our hearts to those in our lives at a whole new level, exploring and expanding our capacity for healthy interdependence *We will cultivate a vision of love fulfilled to begin anchoring and designing our lives around the realization of love *We will begin taking specific actions that are consistent with, and supportive of, a future of love fulfilled LESSON 1 Expanding Our Capacity to Love and Be Loved "If you want to learn to love, then you must start the process of finding out what it is, what qualities make up a loving person and how these are developed. Each person has the potential for love. But potential is never realized without work." --Leo Buscaglia, Love One reason that so many of us do not have the love we are longing for is that we have not yet become the people we will need to be in order to attract and sustain that kind of love. Most of us have dramatically elevated our standards of what we want from a partner far beyond what our parents expected from romantic union. Yet we may not have evolved our level of maturity to the point where we can manifest and maintain the love that we are hoping to create. Romantic relationship today is a tentative and uncertain thing. No longer is getting married the safe and secure way to go. Whereas once upon a time people coupled up out of economic and social necessity, we now seek to form such unions in an attempt to create soulful and meaningful lives. Yet, much of the time, falling in love means that we end up standing by helplessly as we watch it all slip through our fingers. Why can't we seem to hold on to the glorious transcendence of love? Why can't we seem to harness passion, root it down, and make a home of it? Some would say that romantic love is an illusion. A trick of nature meant to entice us into procreation. In the aftermath of a devastating breakup, we find ourselves asking, was he or was he not my soul mate? Was it or was it not real love? The most beautiful moments of our lives become reduced to their lowest common denominator: hormones, lust, and those most dreaded of words--"It was just infatuation." Yet many understand, if only intuitively, that romantic love holds a promise that we have yet to fully comprehend. Instinctively, we know it holds a key to our expansion. Because romantic love has such a profound capacity to bring out the best--and the worst--in us, we are beginning to see it as our newest frontier for spiritual growth and development. Rather than calling us into seclusion, the spiritual path now beckons us deeper into the quality of our relationships. This premise is the very crux of the new term "spiritual partnership," which has recently emerged to describe the modern-day paradigm of marriage. What exactly is this new paradigm of marriage that everyone is speaking of? Well, if the concerns of the old paradigm were economic stability and morally sanctified sex, then the concerns of the new paradigm have to do with fulfilling our soul's destiny and actualizing our full potential. Spiritual partnership implies a goal of encouraging and supporting the unfolding of each other's soul's reasons for being here in the first place.
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SOUTH WAZIRISTAN, Pakistan: The Pakistani Taleban told the government there was no chance of peace in the country unless Pakistan changed its political and legal system and officially embrace Islamic law.
The government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif wants to find a negotiated settlement to years of fighting with the militants but talks broke down this month after a string of attacks.
In a rare face-to-face meeting with journalists on Friday in an undisclosed location in Waziristan, a lawless region on the Afghan border, main Taleban spokesman Shahidullah Shahid said there was still hope negotiations might resume.
"Despite recent bombings in North Waziristan and killing of our 74 men by the security forces during the peace talks, we are still serious about the talks," he said, wearing an AK-47 bandolier across his chest.
"If talks are to be held it would be only under Islamic law. We have made this clear to the government committee. We are fighting for the enforcement of Shariah and we are holding talks for the same purpose."
Pakistan is a conservative Muslim country and although its constitution is rooted in Islamic traditions, the legal system is based on English common law and the people are guaranteed their fundamental freedoms of speech and religion.
Sharif came to power last year on promises to persuade the Taleban to stop fighting, effectively proposing to legalize the banned group as a political entity. He previously tried to introduce Shariah in the late 1990s just before he was toppled in a military coup.
This year started with a surge of violence in Pakistan, with Taleban insurgents staging almost daily attacks and the army responding with force in the volatile tribal areas on the Afghan border where most militants are based.
On Saturday, nine militants were killed in helicopter gunship attacks targeting insurgent hideouts in the Hangu region, local military official said.
The Taleban organizers asked reporters not to identify the location of the meeting. The area appeared tense and gripped by fear, with many shops and houses damaged by recent shelling.
People at a local open air bazaar appeared too frightened to speak frankly to visiting journalists.
Many in Pakistan are weary of holding peace talks with a group which has killed more than 40,000 people since the start of its campaign against the Islamabad government in 2007.
With violence surging, many are puzzled by the continued insistence by both sides that peace can still be negotiated.
Pakistan's military, a powerful institution which has ruled the country for half of its entire history since 1947, publicly supports talks but in private senior officers express frustration, raising speculation that the armed forces are girding for tough action.
The last major military operation was in 2007 when the army flushed out Taleban insurgents from the deeply conservative valley of Swat, establishing a strong presence on the ground.
The Pakistani Taleban operate separately from Afghan insurgents but are similar in tactics and ideology.
The Taleban have a set of austere religious beliefs seen as mediaeval by liberal Pakistanis, including a ban on women education and vaccinations against polio.
Health workers are attacked regularly because the Taleban see vaccines as a Western plot to sterilize Muslims.
"Polio drops are not a vaccine against the disease," Azam Tariq, another Taleban official, told reporters alongside Shahid as he clutched prayer beads in his hands. "It is a campaign to damage Islam."


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Madeleine Thien
Madeleine Thien is the author of the story collection, Simple Recipes, and three novels, including Certainty and Dogs at the Perimeter. Her most recent book, Do Not Say We Have Nothing, was shortlisted for the 2016 Man Booker Prize, and won the Scotiabank Giller Prize and the Governor-General's Literary Award for Fiction. The novel was named to the New York Times Critics' Top Books of 2016 and longlisted for the Carnegie Medal for Fiction. Madeleine's work has been translated into twenty-five languages. The youngest daughter of Malaysian-Chinese immigrants to Canada, she lives in Montreal.


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There's so much to be done, and time is of the essence when dealing with HIV. Jairo Pedraza is not one to waste precious time. He works passionately, tirelessly, and globally to turn the tide against the disease. Body Positive was fortunate to get one hour worth of his precious moments to talk with him about the impact of HIV on Latin American communities.
Can you share some of your personal history? How did you get involved in the fight against AIDS?
Jairo Pedraza: First, I would like to clarify the different roles that I play. I was born in Colombia, and I've lived in the United States for over 14 years. I've been involved in the fight against the AIDS epidemic since the middle of 1985. As an immigrant, I saw the need for involvement through activism. I joined ACT UP in the late '80s, and from there I began to see the need for international work, especially from the grassroots perspective where we [ACT UP] saw a lot of movement between our countries and North America. If we were well organized in North America, it was clear that there was a lot of work that needed to be done back in our countries. We were interested in how those of us in the United States could play an active role in Latin America, how through our activities in the U.S. we could have a positive impact on HIV/AIDS in Latin American countries. I became involved in the Latino Caucus of ACT UP, a caucus group within the larger group of ACT UP. We did much work here in New York City, but also we moved to form a special caucus within the Latino caucus that we called ACT UP Americas.
ACT UP Americas was created with the intention of doing international work. We created a treatment newsletter called ACT UP Boletin that is still distributed today in Latin America. It focuses on current treatment issues. We also work with many gay groups in Latin America and help them to get some of their civil rights, such as the Comunidad Homosexual Argentina (CHA). We played a very important role in assisting them to get recognition by the jurisdiction powers in Argentina, so now they are a formal organization.
After my involvement began with ACT UP, I began working for Gay Men's Health Crisis (GMHC) in the Legal Department on the Immigrant Project. Through my work there, I got more involved with immigration issues, since the needs of our community were directly affected by immigration policies. Also, I got more involved in the international arena by attending conferences and becoming aware of the different groups formed internationally to deal with HIV/AIDS. I was attending a conference in Amsterdam when I became aware of the Global Network of People Living with HIV and AIDS (GNP), a grassroots network of people living with AIDS.
In 1995, I was elected to become the Northern Regional Representative of GNP's Board of Directors. GNP has several regional representatives. There are five regions as determined by the World Health Organization. At that time, each region had three representatives. When I say North America, I mean the United States and Canada (not including Mexico). Since then, I have taken a special interest in the lack of access to treatment in developing countries.
We now see the disparities between the North and the South, especially as it relates to health care and access. It reinforces the fact that people in the North have access to life while people in the South do not. In early 1997, I was appointed to be an alternate for the North American region on the Board of Directors of the United Nations AIDS Program (UNAIDS). In 1998, I was appointed as the North American Region board member when the alternate, who was Canadian, resigned. I also serve as Community Co-Chair of the NY Ryan White Title I HIV Planning Council.
As a person living with AIDS, I feel that the Latin American community certainly has had an impact here in the local NYC area, but I think that we have a lot to contribute to the international arena.
BP: Just to make sure that all our readers have the same understanding, could you please identify what countries constitute Latin America?
JP: The answer to this question is quite complicated. It's a difficult issue. I commend you for trying to address this and to clarify it for your readers. It's very difficult to address because it's political, geographical, and because how to identify or divide the regions has become part of a health care issue as well. From a political perspective, Latin America could be interpreted as any country below the U.S.A., but I want to focus the definition on my personal perspective, how it has been identified through my work, and hope that I can be clear regarding my interpretation. My perspective is specific to how GNP identifies the regions.
In GNP, Latin America is divided into two separate regions -- the Caribbean and Central and South America. Latin America comprises South America, which is divided into two portions -- the Cono Sur and region Andiana. Cono Sur is comprised of the countries in the south: Argentina, Chile, and Bolivia, and there's the region Andiana: Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela. Then, we have Central America, which also includes Mexico. Mexico and Puerto Rico are a big dilemma wherever they fall due to their relationship to the U.S.A.
Many times this question of what constitutes Latin America has been posed to individuals within their respective countries. To a large extent, Mexico has decided to be part of Latin America while Puerto Rico favors being a part of the Caribbean. Again, these issues are very delicate, very political. For instance, there is a U.S.A. government health-related initiative called the Tri-National Initiative, where Mexico is part of the North American region.
BP: A couple of things have come to mind based on some of the content of your personal history. You mentioned having worked for GMHC's Legal Department, and this brings to mind a Latina, named Ilka Tanya Payan, whom I was fortunate to have had an opportunity to work with at GMHC when I was on staff there from 1988 to 1992. She worked in the Legal Department. She was also a well-known actress in Latin American communities. I recall that Ilka publicly disclosed that she was HIV-positive, and it was a major step for her to do so as a woman, a Latina, and professionally as an actress. Is disclosure still a difficult issue for Latinas?
JP: First of all, you bring up a very moving part of my life. Ilka was my mentor. In fact, I cannot describe what Ilka meant to me. She is still very close to me in a variety of aspects. Ilka came out because of the reasons that you mentioned, but also, as a Dominican person, she wanted her coming out to make a statement that would reflect back to the issues being encountered in the Dominican Republic. She was trying to increase awareness about the fact that HIV knows no borders, that it affects all communities no matter where you come from. I think her coming out had an instrumental impact on communities here in the New York area, in the U.S., and back in the Dominican Republic.
Very few people know that after she came out here in the New York City area, she went back to the Dominican Republic and appeared on a national television program on which she told her story. She served as a powerful instrument to raise AIDS consciousness.
She was also invited by the United Nations to participate in a World AIDS Day with Liza Minnelli. Even today, she is very much missed. Also, she meant a lot to many immigrants whom she served. I don't know if many people are aware of this, but she was influential in using immigration regulations to provide many people living with AIDS access to treatment with voluntary departure. We're talking about early 1993. She was an early pioneer in advocating for undocumented people with HIV.
BP: The other point that came to mind concerns your special interest in the lack of treatment in developing countries. As you know, people around the world who are affected by HIV are mourning the deaths of Jonathan Mann, the founding director of the now defunct Global Programme on AIDS at the World Health Organization, and his wife, Mary Lou Clements-Mann, who was a respected HIV Vaccine researcher. [Editor's note: They died in the SwissAir 111 crash that on September 2, 1998]. Dr. Mann was a pioneer in believing that HIV prevention and treatment are human rights issues because the people who are primarily affected by HIV in the world just happen to be the people who are marginalized, discriminated against, who are stigmatized by the hierarchal "Third World" definition. At the 10th World AIDS Conference held in Vancouver, he raised a concern that the new protease inhibitors that were being highlighted at the conference were going to drive a wedge between the "haves and the have nots" in the world. Access to treatments is a human rights issue. Unfortunately, it looks like his forecast is correct.
JP: Definitely. The loss of Dr. Mann is a big loss for all of us, and especially those of us who are living with HIV and AIDS. It is a heartfelt loss that we feel very deeply, and I can assure you that if you speak to anyone in the HIV community where human rights have been continually violated, you will hear that he was a leader in standing up for our rights. His forecast (as you call it) was especially clear that as more developments occur in treatment, the gap between the haves and have nots will widen. We're talking about taking protease inhibitors with many other different drugs and the price of the drugs keeps increasing, so it's an economic issue that widens the gap. As each day passes, his diagnosis concerning the disparity between the North and the South gets stronger. It was ironic that in Geneva [the 12th World AIDS Conference in Geneva, Switzerland] the theme was "Bridging the Gap," but in reality, the gap is widening.
BP: Which Latin American country is being hit the hardest by HIV infections, and what factors contribute to its inability to implement successful prevention measures?
JP: It's difficult to say which country is hit the hardest because Latin America is unique with great differences between the different countries. If we look at cross-cutting issues, we can say that funding plays an important issue in prevention and access to treatments. Another one is big denial by communities that HIV affects them, and also the lack of government response to the epidemic at an early stage. Government response has been very minimal throughout the years, although lately it has improved. Another one is the church, which plays an important role in our region. There has been no progressive movement in the church, and this has been detrimental to our region. Then there's the stigmatization of HIV.
Homosexuals in Latin America have been most stigmatized by the epidemic, and this has sent many people underground, which makes prevention efforts much more difficult. In addressing your question, some regions do come to mind -- for instance, Honduras. Honduran women are affected by HIV and AIDS the hardest. In South America, in Argentina, we see a high infection rate among injecting drug users that is not particular to other countries. In some countries, street children are highly affected. Tourism is another issue. Infections get carried back and forth between borders, so this is a big concern. Machismo plays an important role as a prevention barrier, too.
BP: I understand that in some countries, like Colombia, there is a health system similar to Medicaid called Social Security, and that the system does not pay for some basics like viral load tests. I hear that only those people who are well off financially can afford viral load and T-cell count testing. Exactly what is the testing situation? How does the lack of availability impact people living with HIV? Is treatment compromised?
JP: Different countries have different health care systems. Most countries have a basic care system such as Social Security. The only problem with these systems is that not everyone can afford or qualify to participate in them. There are few people that have access to it, so that leaves a big margin of people who are without health care in these countries.
BP: How does a person get access to these systems?
JP: Many times it depends on employment -- if their work provides it. Those people who are not employed either do not have access, or they must meet certain requirements. Farmers, who live outside of the main cities, often are not able to meet the criteria. It's very complicated. I know that there are countries that have reportedly good and improved Social Security systems, like Brazil, Argentina, and Colombia, yet many people remain outside of these systems, specifically in the outer cities.
In regards to the testing issue, basic requirements to test for HIV status are offered widely today, but new developments (and this brings me back to our discussion about the lack of access to protease inhibitors and other new drugs) like testing for viral load and T-cell count to learn if a person has developed resistance, are not widely available. So even if a person has access to drugs like the protease inhibitors, they have no way of monitoring the effect of the drugs on their health. Setting up an infrastructure that includes access to treatment and monitoring is complicated and lacking in many countries.
BP: There is a program in Uganda, Africa called Traditional and Modern Health Practitioners Together Against AIDS (THETA) that combines Western medical treatments with traditional healing treatments (methods that are used by the indigenous health practitioners in the country) in one project [Editor's note: See the article titled "Traditional Healing in a Modern Epidemic."]. Traditional treatments would be things like herbs and spiritualism. Since access to Western treatments are scarce, are people in Latin America using traditional practitioners that prescribe therapies that are indigenous to their cultures?
JP: Yes. Different cultures apply different approaches to treat the manifestations of HIV. Those who have access to certain Western-developed medications will use them, but they will also use certain herbal treatments, use Santeria, do a combination of things. I am sure that in the Caribbean and in Brazil, where Santeria is practiced widely, they will use this resource in conjunction with Western medicine. In our culture, there is always a plant, an herb that we use to treat certain illnesses. In many situations, these are the only resources to which people have access. Therefore, I wouldn't be surprised if certain herbs are being used to treat Pneumocystis Carinii Pneumonia (PCP) or other lung-related ailments. This is a way of life for people who live outside the big cities, for people who live in rural areas. These practices are commonly used throughout Latin America. It is part of our culture to use multiple approaches. Even Latinos here in the local New York City area use several different approaches.
BP: Sometimes I suspect, or even hope, that indigenous practitioners have some secret recipes that they are using to help treat the manifestations of HIV, and perhaps even -- dare I say it -- have cured individuals of the virus. If so, the difficulty here is that shamanic and healing practices are often sacred and must be kept secret out of respect for the spiritual laws. I'm talking about things that have not been scientifically studied and therefore would not be given any credibility or support by Western medicine standards.
JP: It's hard to tell, because, as you said, these things are highly personal or secret, and are not widely accessible for many reasons. Many times, herbal treatments and others that you have mentioned have not been researched. Why? Because there is not much interest from the economic perspective. There aren't major financial gains to be made. These treatments are truly grassrooted. A good point about these practices is that an individual who participates in them is actually exercising his or her faith, own spiritual belief. Sometimes, this is lacking in people regarding their relationship to Western medications. If anything, we have a great deal of distrust toward Western medications. Overall, this faith situation plays an important role in regards to treatment approaches in our communities. Often, when people take Western-developed HIV medications they feel worse when they take them than they felt before. Experiencing side effects can increase and foment distrust. So, there are many reasons why we use different approaches.
BP: Are people from Latin American countries immigrating to countries that have better health care? The U.S. has one of the strictest immigration policies in the world against people with HIV, so it must be challenging to get into the U.S. Of course, when people are desperate they take desperate measures, especially when they are fighting for their lives. Where are people going to try to access quality care?
JP: Access to the U.S. is not just particularly difficult for HIV-positive people. Many countries have restrictions for economic reasons. For example, the U.S.A. practically has its doors open to Argentinians while Dominicans are limited on the amount of visas that can be issued to them. The lack of visas given to certain countries, coupled with HIV travel restrictions, complicates the problem. Even if you're HIV-negative, it's not simple to migrate to the United States. For one thing, you have to demonstrate financial solvency to be approved for a visa to come to the United States. Yet, if you are financially capable, then one might be questioned as to why they want to migrate to the U.S.
Yes, HIV restrictions do play an important role, and impede people from migrating here. There are different ongoing projects within the region that assist one country to another. There are government projects in countries like Chile that will assist other countries that have minimal access. There is also an emphasis on South-to-South cooperation. Beyond official government initiatives there are many grassroots efforts.
BP: What about clinical trials? This has been a controversial issue here in the U.S., particularly as it relates to for whom the trials have been designed, and who is being left out of the research loop. The civil rights issue reared in the past as the people who were being left out of the clinical trials tended to be women and people of color, and often when women were included, they had to be of child-bearing age. Luckily, the situation isn't as grave as it once used to be here. What's the situation in Latin American communities?
JP: Clinical trials could be very controversial. This is another difficult issue. Many of these trials are conducted by Western pharmaceutical companies; therefore, ethics becomes an issue. In recent times, many ethics that are applied in developed countries are not the same when trials are conducted in developing countries. Many activists have questioned these efforts and the ethics of pharmaceutical trials in developing countries. With that said, there are several clinical trials happening, but if we compare them with the amount of trials happening in North America, there are very few. Also, many pharmaceuticals have a monopoly on trials that are conducted in a country, so there is competition among companies in the pharmaceutical industry, and there are also countries that they find more appealing for some reason. I know that for many years countries such as Mexico and Brazil were a high priority, and were appealing to many companies.
Overall, as far as I know, there is not a tangible specific summary of what is happening where. There are several universities that are conducting trials. There are ones in Colombia, Brazil, and Mexico, and Argentina has had several, but the amount of trials are minimal. Also, there have been some vaccine trials. Cuba has been studying HIV vaccines for a while now. Cuba is the leader in vaccine research and in health care in Latin America. Lately, other countries, like Trinidad and Tobago, have been approached to establish clinical trial sites. What I am trying to say is that countries are targeted very specifically by certain individual pharmaceuticals, or whoever is conducting the trial.
There was a perinatal AZT trial occurring in the Dominican Republic, and the ethics controversy came into play, so it was removed from there. Another clinical trial issue concerns continuity -- can a person continue to use the drugs that were useful during the trial? In the perinatal trial we have talked about, women were offered treatment during their pregnancy, but what happens after she has delivered? Will she develop resistance to the drug since it was only given for a limited amount of time? So, there are many issues that arise from the clinical trial situation in developing countries where access is going to be limited.
BP: Yes, I remember reading about the perinatal trials, and reporting about them in Body Positive. In addition to the Dominican Republic, these trials were being conducted in many African countries like Uganda, Ethiopia, and Tanzania (to name a few), and Thailand. People were very upset that AZT was being withheld from the participants even though it was available. The justification for withholding treatment was that these women wouldn't normally have access to antiretroviral treatment anyway, so investigators were merely studying the normal tide of events if there were no study.
JP: Advocates and community grassroots groups must play an important role to diminish harm in a variety of ways that it can occur. This includes harm that can occur by removing a clinical trial from a country. There must be ground for negotiation when ethics are called into question. The same problems occurred in North America with certain groups being used and certain practices being employed, and activists played an important mediation role. The U.S. cannot just go into a country and take a paternalistic stance toward conducting trials. There has to be some negotiation, some neutral mediation process so that it is not some imperialistic power coming in to do what it wants to do and just leave. This clinical trials issue is complicated and must continue to be sensitively addressed.
BP: You mentioned Cuba. Is it surprising to you that Cuba has taken a leadership role in HIV prevention and treatment research? Most U.S. citizens would be surprised to learn that Cuba is a leader in these areas. In fact, most people view Cuba as being hostile and punitive toward people with HIV. What's the story?
JP: From the Cuban government aspect, HIV/AIDS is being addressed as a health care issue. The Cuban health care system is one of the best in the region. Cuba is a health care leader in Latin America regarding many different diseases, so the approach that they are taking toward HIV and AIDS reflects their standing in the health care area. The U.S. blockade that restricts industry from engaging in any business transactions with the Cuban government has a negative impact on its people, but they have the ability to conduct some innovative research because they don't have patent restrictions that are imposed in the U.S. There are different pluses and minuses. The people living with HIV and AIDS in Cuba have been hurt by the institutions and the government when the government supported the sanitarium scenario, but we're talking about several years ago. This is not the scenario today. Today, that scenario is not as strict.
I was in Cuba last year and learned that this is not a major concern anymore. People are concerned with access, and this is where the blockade begins to get intriguing. According to the government, they can't purchase drugs because of it. I wish that the blockade would be lifted, especially around medication. If it is lifted, then the government won't have an excuse to not purchase the drugs that people need. There are several initiatives where people in the U.S. are trying to make drugs available, like the U.S. Cuban Medical Project, where we provided $500,000 worth of medication. One or two pharmaceuticals tried to sell medications to Cuba, and they were fined by the U.S. government, so this sent a clear message to other pharmaceuticals not to do business with Cuba. Again, this situation inhibits access to treatment.
I have one last point that I would like to make, and this concerns grassroots, non-governmental organizational efforts in the Latin American region that merit great recognition for their initiatives in the face of significant lack of government support. These communities have organized and responded much quicker than their governments. We can take pride that there are many successful efforts in many Latin American countries. Most of these countries today have national groups representing people who are living with HIV and AIDS, they have held national meetings, and women's groups have formed. If there is anything good that we can say about AIDS, it is how this disease has helped people to mobilize as communities to respond to the pandemic. Because there are many initiatives about which we do not know, we underestimate the impact the people are having in developing countries where they are mobilized.
I feel fortunate to be able to know about and learn from their initiatives. We need to put more focus on how we, in the so-called developed world, can learn from these initiatives. For instance, in the U.S., we have failed in our prevention efforts in many communities. Yet, there are countries in Latin American that have had almost no funding, and have been more aggressive and more successful implementing and maintaining HIV prevention efforts. We have pockets of immigrants in the U.S. that come from some of these countries. Why aren't we going to these countries to solicit programmatic solutions to bring back to effectively serve the groups that we are failing to impact? We could use their help to employ cultural sensitivity measures, or translation services. These are a few of the applications that we could use here.
Photo by Lisa Stein


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Cricket is a game of frankly puzzling social contexts. A sport invented by farm labourers, adopted by the ruling classes and now the sport of Middle England. Yet regardless of its history, cricket still represents a major section of British sport, and its showpiece event is undoubtedly the Ashes. This year, the series begins on 8th July and is set to end in late August.
Played between England and Australia every other year, the historic event attracts thousands of cricket fans to various cricket grounds across the country. This year's series will be no different and so it is important to remember cricketing protocol.
Cricket has long been seen as a game for gentlemen and maintains the values of fair play and sportsmanship. This year is no different, with the Australian cricket board writing to every member of their squad forbidding the practise of 'sledging', whereby the fielding team uses verbal insults to put off the opposing batsmen.
This type of gamesmanship however can also periodically extend to the stands and supporters should be aware that abusive remarks, chants or banners directed at any player or fellow spectator is out of place in the modern game, and indeed, always has been.
However matters of cricketing etiquette usually stem from other areas, such as dress code, singing and the consumption of food and drink. In the terraces there is no set dress code and nowadays inventive and colourful dress in often encouraged. However, those attending a match in an executive box or from the confines of the exclusive pavilion, such as the one at Lords, are generally expected to wear at least a collared shirt and slacks, often with a jacket and tie.
As for singing and chanting, again the location is all-important. From inside the terraces, vocal support is encouraged (in moderation) so long as it is not whilst the bowler is making his run up, whereas within the pavilion applause is the most acceptable form of appreciation.
Unlike other sports such as football, cricket spectators are permitted to consume alcohol whilst watching the match. However, all beverages must be purchased at the ground and excessive consumption is prohibited and the club bar has the right to stop serving spectators who are believed to be rowdy.
Further advice on this event – or any other event in the Season – can be obtained on request from The English Manner (www.theenglishmanner.com).
James Hanson


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Lobato case outcome means schools will continue to struggle
By Frank Tapy
Guest Commentary
The Colorado Supreme Court decision to reverse a prior ruling for the plaintiff in the highly controversial Lobato public education funding case is like a Yankees-Red Sox baseball game: Regardless of the final outcome, a fan's response will be one of either remorse or jubilation.
A graphic example of this is a photo of the distraught Lobato plaintiff in The Denver Post, compared with the reaction of some state officials and pundits who were elated with the higher court's finding. But this is Colorado, not Congress, so why the polarity?
One factor, of course, was money. When speaking of public education woes, some say, "You can't just throw money at the problem." This familiar utterance comes from those who fail to consider that the purpose of school administrators is to apply any money "thrown their way" to provide the best education possible for students. The money tossing comment often appears in public with its stubborn cousin, "The present system isn't perfect and could probably use a few tweaks, like getting rid of all those incompetent teachers, but we can live with things as they are."
Read more…


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Tornadoes, Casualties, and Climate Change
By Tyler Fricker
Endorsed by:
Tornadoes are fascinating and violent storms. Understanding their behavior and effects is an important undertaking that can save lives. Given Tyler's foundation in climate change and storms, specifically tornadoes, this project has the potential to create results that have lasting impacts and add to the ongoing conversation of tornado climatology.
Kelsey Ellis
Assistant Professor
University of Tennessee
Tyler is currently my graduate student working on his PhD in Geography at Florida State University. He is proposing this important project that should go a long way toward understanding how many more deaths and injuries can be expected if tornadoes get stronger as the planet warms.
James Elsner
Professor & Chair, Department of Geography
Florida State University
Looks like the endorsement needs to be from people with significant credentials to gain public trust.


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I help plan technical events at the Wikimedia Foundation. I think we've improved in making them more welcoming and inclusive over the course of my time there. We just recently filled to capacity on registration for an upcoming event, and I thought I'd share a few things we've done:
- A friendly space policy
- Event info page shows photos of people of different genders, allows people to opt in to sharing their names/attendance
- Registration form doesn't ask for sex or gender; instead, it asks what kind of t-shirt we should provide (including a "None, thank you" option) and "If you need accommodation: would you prefer to share a room with a woman or with a man?" (options: "women's rooms", "men's rooms", "either will be fine")
- We'll aim to document as much of the event as possible in realtime text
- We're ensuring that at least one of the social events is not booze-oriented
- I'm working to ensure people can put whatever names they prefer on their badges, including handles/nicks for those who don't want to share their wallet names
- Free to attend, and we provide travel sponsorships to encourage participants from far away
- Hostel very near the venue
I failed at:
- childcare – just didn't put in the time to ensure we could provide this
- ensuring our venue is accessible to those with disabilities (I'm not sure, and didn't emphasize this as a key criterion when my contact in Berlin was scouting venues)
- clarifying many of the points above to prospective attendees
- and probably more
What have you done to make your geek events more welcoming?