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As per Roberta's request on another thread, here's some info on what's going on re Child Benefit. There was quite a bit about all this on the tv last night and here is a link which I've quite deliberately taken from the The Telegraph (it being a tory supporting newspaper - wouldn't want to be accused of any left wing biase would I? Perish the thought!).
Seems to be two issues here:
1. Should those paying higher rate income tax get child benefit?
2. How is it fair that under the present proposals a single person earning say, £50,000 should not be eligible for CB but a couple both earning £35,000 each would be eligible?
Will be interesting to see how this is resolved.
and this is from The Mail
Child Benefit, in my view, should be universally available to all mothers in recognition of the work they do in the home and in bringing up families. There is much evidence to show that some mothers, even in the wealthiest households, do not have equal , and in many cases, no access to resources and that child benefit is often their ONLY income. It has been shown empirically that the work involved in child rearing and in running a household is not shared equally with male partners and its only fair that women's contribution to the nation, and to individual children and male partners, is recognised and women are compensated in some small way for their WORK. Child benefit is a feminist issue and any attempt to prevent women accessing what is morally theirs for the benefit of their family is OUTRAGEOUS.
Libby that makes some sense, however I have a male friend that is bring up young children on his own and works full time.
Obviously not a feminist issue at all.
With repect 007 I disagree - its otally a feminist issue - am tired of having to express amazement and gratitude to the very few men bringing up children alone and working full time - big deal and bully for them - women have done this forever - often overlooked by census enumerators and policy makers (and we wont even mention employers!). It is unarguable that the vast vast majority of childrearing and housework is done by women and Child benefit, and access to it, should reflect that. You cannot airbrush out women's contribution (which is empirical, surely a male way of knowing!) with anecdotal stories about the odd male doing what women have always done.
I think it would be best to just scrap this benefit and increase the tax threshold to something that resembles the cost of living.
I would like to see :-
1) Increase the tax and NI threshold to 12K or what you would earn on the minimum wage working full time.
2) Merge NI and tax and have a fixed tax rate of say 45% for everyone.
3) Stop taking tax off people and then giving it back to them as tax credits.
... and you certainly can't dismiss men's contribution either. My husband took 4 years off to look after our son and he received the child benefit - are you saying he shouldn't be allowed to as he's a man? I don't ask for you to be amazed or grateful, that's just downright patronising. My husband still has an equal role in childcare as do the majority of his friends who have children - hey guess what we work as a team.
Am I correct in thinking that if a couple get child benefit then that is paid to the main child carer (usually, but not always, a woman) and that if the couple can also claim tax credit of some kind (working tax credit and child tax credit) then the main child carer also gets that tax credit paid to them?
Or is the tax credit somehow split between the two of them?
Whatever, what I'm getting at is this. That whilst I see the logical argument for stopping taking tax off people with one hand but giving it back to them with another in the form of tax credits, would it be the case that whilst such a system would see the main or sole earner having more money (because paying less tax) that extra money though would not necessarily find its way to the main child carer?
To give an example. I know a couple who have two children. The child benefit is paid to the mother. The father is the sole earner. The father's earnings are such that the couple can claim tax credits. They have often noted that what he pays in tax goes back to them, more or less, in tax credits.
What she gets from CB and the tax credit however is just enough for her to get by. But, if the tax the father pays were to be reduced because the tax credit system no longer existed will he give her his tax 'savings'? There is no guarantee of that, is there?
Congratulations to you and your husband Flo- and your friends - thats exactly how it should be but mostly isnt. I dont think anything I have suggested has dismissed men's contribution because I wasn't talking about men - I was referring to WOMEN and the money they (in my view, as I've already said) should receive to recognize their role as primary carers. You can give me anecdotes all day about how wonderful individual men are but THE EVIDENCE is that the vast majority of women undertake, and are expected to undertake, a greater role than their male partners in the private sphere (i.e. the home). (There is also much evidence to support the fact that for many many women the home is not a safe place for either them or their children. Its always seems a pity to me that there are smug women out there who choose not to recognize this and blame the victims but, hey ho, maybe this is another subject for another day).
@Lynne - i dont know about the tax system but if a woman is on income support her child benefit is deducted from her total weekly amount and, therefore, does not augment her income and, for her, is not a benefit of any value. that seems to me to be unjust and is another example of how the benefit system in this country does not prevent women and children from falling into poverty.
Thanks for letting me know about CB and how it is deducted from Income Support. I had no idea that happened.
Still, not to worry though, 'cos we all know she'll nontheless be living a life of luxury on all those other state hand outs she's no doubt getting. (I say that extremely sarcastically by the way).
Child benefit doesn't count as income with regard to other benefits.
Once again we seem to have moved away from the first post. The stopping of CB for those on higher tax. If I were lucky enough to earn enough to pay the higher rate I would not be poor, and therefore not need CB. If my wife, or partner, voluntarily choose to not work why should we complain, if other wives do work and pay tax receive CB.
As for those on low income there are other benefits that they can claim. At over 42K no one NEEDS child benefit from the taxes of others
So, if as you say that "at over 42k no-one needs child benefit from the taxes of others" because those earning that amount wouldn't be poor, then doesn't it follow that couples who between them earn that amount or more also don't need CB?
I'm not saying that's what I would advocate - just that it's how I see your argument could be developed.
Since couples ( married or otherwise) are no longer taxed as one unit as they used to be, there is no option but to use single persons tax levels. There has to be a cut off point somewhere. It is not possible to calculate a couples income with today´s tax system.
Mmmmm.....wouldn't be yet another government proposal would it that wasn't totally thought through before it was announced?
If the government is going to give child benefit to parents / guardians / carers then what has it got to do with their gender?
However I agree with SteveJ. Why tax people then give it back? Just seems silly to me.
thank you Lynne
Child benefit is one of the most powerful positive elements in the UK tax and benefits system and should be strengthened as much as possible. Child benefit is basically the same as a tax allowance in that if you up tax allowances by £100 then you are giving people £20 each. However, there are essential differences which mean that child benefit should be extended and tax allowances lowered:
1. Child benefit means less net tax is taken from us at the time of life we are having children (if we do) and more when we are not, which is a good idea given the UK's current ranking in international quality of childhood tables, and improves our quality of life that we're paying more when we can afford more. If a response to this point is 'why can't people pay for their own children' - then we have well established principles in that nobody seems to mind about everyone's tax paying for schools - and anyway we are paying, just in a phased way across life that's beneficial for everyone.
2. Child benefit goes to the main care giver in the family, which might not matter much in some families but in lots of situations it absolutely does.
3. Overall, child benefit reduces the huge discrepancy in income between women and men.
4. Child benefit, unlike tax allowances, of course goes also to those who earn less then the lower tax threshold - who need it most and whose children benefit most.
5. Lower tax thresholds to fund higher child benefit are good in they get more people paying tax but reducing child poverty at the same time. It's desirable for as many of the electorate as possible to have a vested interest in what the tax rate is, isn't it?
6. For those on income support, higher child benefit would mean less means tested support, as the overall total stays the same subject to cost of living rises. This also weakens the poverty trap, as anyone who got a job/better job which took them out of benefits still keeps the child benefit element.
7. Universal child benefit is very cheap to run as there is no bureaucratic means testing and no perverse results to deal with. The recent higher rate tax unfairness issue could be solved for example by dropping the higher rate tax threshold by a certain amount and give people the child benefit back. This would not be equal on an individual basis as it depends upon how many children or any, and so there would be winners and losers in a reasonably fair way, unlike the completely unfair current policy where two parents with a much higher income still get it etc.
All of these points make an overwhelming case for raising child benefits when we can and reducing tax thresholds when we need to. It would take a courageous government to take this to its logical conclusion and completely restructure tax and benefits in favour of this far more beneficial and effective model.
So in your words, it is a tax on childless couples
And given the problems being caused in this country (and the world) by overpopulation and general overcrowding, is it a good idea for the tax system to reward people for breeding? Should we not be considering disincentives to breed?
Just wondering where the "I don't have kids therefore why should I be taxed to help support someone else's kids" argument might logically lead.
What about "I don't have kids therefore why should I be taxed to help provide state schooling?" And a variation on that might be ""Although I have kids I am rich enough to pay for them to be privately educated and receive private health care. Therefore why should I pay tax to help pay for someone else, who is poorer than me, have their kids educated/health looked after?"
Just saying.......
Get rid of child benefit. Reduce the tax people pay.
With the extra money parents/guardians can spend it on their own children.
Far fairer on everyone.
If you want to bring kids into this world then be prepared to pay for them out your own pocket, don't expect others to subsidise you.
@burneside: are you saying that unless people have the wherewithall to pay privately for education, health and other costs associated with having children that they shouldn't have them? or are you just talking about cb?
I'm talking about child benefit, I don't see why people should be "rewarded" just for having kids.
Not sure what the "reward" is for having kids. Estimated life-time cost of having a child is these days probably around the £80-100,000 mark once you take into account things like the need for larger house, car, food, clothing, holidays etc etc. So anyone having a kid is not undertaking that decision lightly. The relationship of tax to child benefit is a difficulkt one because the cost of a child is basically a fixed cost (in a business model) whereas a cut in tax rate is a "marginal benefit" - so higher rate tax payers could probably cover the cost of a child through a cut in their tax rate whereas low-income families would not be able to.
Without kids the human race would die out, simple as that. So perhaps people should be penalised for NOT having kids!!!!
And don't forget the loss of earnings for the main chilld carer if s/he (but usually she) either stays at home full time or goes back to work part-time. And then from that drop in (paid) work there is the knock on effect in terms of pension entitlement. (and I'm not talking NI contributions/State Pension).
And don't forget the loss of earnings for the main chilld carer if s/he (but usually she) either stays at home full time or goes back to work part-time. And then from that drop in (paid) work there is the knock on effect in terms of pension entitlement. (and I'm not talking NI contributions/State Pension).
If people can't afford to have children, or are not prepared to put up with the financial hardship, then just don't have any. I don't see why the state should subsidise people who choose to have kids.
As I understand it the person who receives the CB also gets NI contributions credited to them which goes towards their state pension entitlement.
If we were to remove CB would you also argue that the main child carere should not have these NI contributions credited to them?
Some might say that once a child reaches school age, then the NI contributions should stop, as their argument would be that the CB recipient could be deemed as being available to work again? If they don't work after this time, then they might argue that the CB recipient shouldn't receive the NI contribution.
Burneside. I second that.
I know a couple who never wanted, they enjoy their life going places whenever they want, no ties or to contend with the 'like' of demanding teenager kids of today.
Perhaps pay those who dont have em! lol.
And should that couple ever get old and be in need of help from the state like needing medical treatment for example then who will be funding their 'free' medical treatment? Why, the taxes paid by those who were once children.
Just trying to make the point that if we don't have kids who then grow into adults then we could end up with not enough adults paying enough taxes to fund the needs of an ageing population - which is what I understand we have in this country.
Should we perhaps start another thread on the benefits that the elderly (let's say those of state retirement age) get and whether or not they should be entitled to them and why they are seemingly exempt the from welfare cuts unlike other age groups in this country?
Having paid over £250,000 income tax and over £90,000 NI during the 40-year working life of the average child-free couple, I would think that said couple would expect that they've paid enough direct taxes to fund their medical treatment in their old age. Having also paid over £101,000 VAT and over £64,000 Council Tax, this average child-free couple would perhaps be entitled to say that they've done their bit.
But, as I understand how the system works, it isn't how much any of us pay in over a life time that funds what we get in our old age but rather the tax receipts of those who are presently working/paying taxes .
So, all that money that you refer to above wasn't put to oneside for that couple's needs in retirement it was spent by the government (of whatever political hue) on other things at the time that the couple paid all those taxes.
And another aspect is this. If, as seems the case, that you are saying that they deserve whatever they are entitled to in old age because of what they paid as taxes when they were working, then what about those who didn't/couldn't pay as much in. Are we to have the deserving retired and undeserving retired a bit like the concept of the deserving and undeserving poor?
Not at all, I'm trying to look at it from all angles. The proposition I was alluding to was why should people who are available to get a job and therefore available to pay direct taxes like NI, have their NI paid for them, at the expense of those that dutifully pay their NI through their employee contribution? By the way, I do understand that it's an interesting subject that can cause a wide range of conflicting opinions, and find it pleasing that a discussion can be had about it on here.
I think I might start a separate thread about the elderly and benefits etc but I'll do so after tomorrow's budget just in case there is anything of direct relevance to the elderly in it.
Nobody mentioned the concept of deserving/undeserving retired until you did. Not sure it would enter most people's heads.
Just because nobody mentioned it doesn't mean that it hadn't entered other people's heads. But if, as you say it hadn't, then it may well have done so now.
"Are all the retired equally deserving or are some more deserving than others?"
Sounds like a good topic for debate to me. But really should go on a thread of its own don't you think?
Along with " Should those of state pension age be exempt from any benefit cuts?"
"Should all those of state pension age, irrespective of how rich they are, receive universal benefits given that CB is to now cease being a universal benefit for those who pay the higher rate of tax?"
Well now, there you go, three topics for debate concerning the retired (but to be debated on a different thread I think).
@Brazilnut -then don't participate.
I think this is one of the most interesting and best conducted threads I have seen on Dawlish.com with a wide variety of views presented constructively and without abuse.
@Don - agreed
@Lynne - issue of the retired/elderly is very similar and a separate thread would be interesting
There'll always be opposing views on child benefit and similar such state "benefits" because people all have different underlying perceptions about "self" and "society".
If we start from the premise that a couple who have children are actually providing a benefit to society then you get a different picture. Why are they providing? - because it's their children who will keep society going, who provide the future economy, who do the building, who produce the food, who care for the increasingly aging population etc. etc.
What is this worth?
Let's do some simple maths. Thanks Nelson for some starting figures. From Nelson's figures it looks like the average child-free couple is contributing about £400,000 in tax during their working life-time.
I don't know the equivalent figures for a couple with children but let's assume conservatively that that couple would be the same for half the working life-time (i.e. 20 years when they don't have children) and contribute only 50% of the tax (i.e. one salary) during the child-raising years. Then their tax contribution would be £300,000.
Meanwhile that same couple is contributing approx £100,000 per child (after tax) say (i.e. if we didn't have parents that would be the cost to the state of raising those children). So for the average 2-child family that would be £200,000
So a 2-child family is contributing £500,000 to society whereas a child-free couple is only contributing £400,000
So if we are going to treat everyone equitably then a child-free couple should be paying £100,000 more tax over its working lifetime - or about £2500 MORE tax per year - and that's a conservative estimate.
Not a good political message is it? So instead, the state provides a compensatory "benefit" for children - which for a 2-child couple is only about £1500 a year - or still £1000 LESS than the benefit a child-free couple notionally gets through their reduced contribution to society!!!
just to backtrack a bit - and just as a matter of interest, who do your childless friends think fly the airoplanes that take them places, clean the hotel rooms they stay in, serve in the restaurants they eat in, empty their dustbins, nurse them in hospital, and will eventually put them in their coffins and bury them are? i suggest these will be other people's children. personally i think if you don't want children don't have them but that shouldn't absolve you from sharing some of the responsibility for helping to pay for them and invest in the country's future. @Lynne has already mentioned the problems we will face in the future without enough 'children' to pay taxes to support an ageing population - but further to that is the the enormous problem we will have of not having enough people to do any work at all.
@neilh - great argument!
This country (and planet) is bursting at the seams, it's laughable that some people think we could have a problem with under-population in the future.
here in the uk we are not replacing our population so what is your solution then @burneside?
You are seriously saying the population of the UK is decreasing? I suggest you look at past census figures.
Libby didn't say the population is decreasing burneside, what she said was that the UK is not replacing its population. The population increase has little to do with number of births from people who were themselves in turn born in the UK.
Think about it in family generations - in my own family you don't have to go back many generations to see it as normal for there to be 6-8 and sometimes more children per family group and very few people had no children at all, in this generation in my own family (and I am one of four children, born to parents who had no siblings so that sort of evens out I guess) 2 of us have had 2 children each, 1 has had one child and the other has no children, so in my generation that is 4 children plus partners, 8 people, in the next generation down that is 5 children from those 8 people, a reduction!
The census figures of course have to take into account that people are living longer so there are more of those older generations around where there were more children born per family unit, plus net migration which is what is really increasing our population considerably. But in the great scheme of the universe, what happens in the UK is small potatoes compared to some other countries and their population increases.
Whichever way you look at it the population of the UK is increasing, some would say alarmingly, I don't think there is ever going to be a shortage of people to do the jobs that Libby mentioned.
@neilh. that was a well thought out response, however do not families with children receive more than just cb from state funds? i'm thinking of the additional costs from child healthcare and education as probably being the two greatest costs that child-free couples do not the burden the state with. by the way, i'm not advocating private education or healthcare!
@Nelson. agreed there are other benefits such as tax credit etc. however the figures i was playing with are conservative.
Let's go to the extreme for example and assume that the state, not parents, looked after all children. The cost of raising a child in residential care is let's say £30,000 - £40,000 a year (I'm guessing because I don't know that particular stat but I do know that's approx the cost for elderly care). So if the state were to raise children the pre-working life cost (say 18 years) would be of the order of £500,000 - £700,000 per child!! So the state is effectively saving £400-600,000 (or £22-26000 per annum) by treating parents as a "free" resource for the state and not paying them a salary. If we throw that into the equation as well then any additional "benefits" parents might receive is insignificant.
@burneside. if we ignore immigration then 3 things are happening to population in the uk (in common with most, if not all, developed countries):
1. Population is becoming increasingly elderly - and, in economic terms, non-productive or non-contributory;
2. Working (or "contributory") population is decreasing as a percentage of total population - and it's working population which is key to the economy of the country and to providing the services required to support the increasing elderly population
3. Birth rates are declining which in turn will exacerbate point (2)
These lead to a declining population which can not sustain itself unless the working-base population is maintained at an appropriate level (whatever that may be) - which means children!
I should say by the way that social economics is a minefield!!
You cannot ignore a major contribution to the rising UK population: immigration. That has a bearing on the rest of your response to me. I would also say that the elderly are not non-contribututors, my pensioner mother pays income tax and spends money in the town, how is that non-contributory?
@burneside - your mother is non contributory because she is non productive. social economics is not only a minefield (as neilh says) but also doesn't have a soul. and is your mother, without wishing to disregard/dismiss her past productive contribution (to society), nursing (for example) other people's parents - which is what would have to happen if we don't have enough 'children' to do this work? the less elderly would then have to look after the more elderly......
Immigration introduces a different dimension and if you are happy to accept immigrants to do much needed work, (and, sadly our history suggests not - just think about whats happened to the Caribbean communities - once welcomed and now regularly vilified and, more recently, the Polish communities in East Anglia who pick their produce, also regularly vilified by locals as 'taking our jobs' and other such, in my view, rubbish) - then OK, its a solution. However, this solution is likely to bring huge social problems in its wake...
@burneside. you're right, i have ignored immigration but becuase it just introduces a whole host of other social issues not directly related to the child benefit thread. just so that i'm clear though, is what you're saying that we shouldn't support our own children but rely on increased immigration instead to bail the country out of its future social economic crisis? it's a valid solution but would it be acceptable?
It's a shame child benefit wasn't cancelled in the budget. If you can't afford kids do not have them in the first place.
Overheard a girl about aged 18 last week, ..saying 'its ok I got a kid so I get everything paid its better than work!'
Just putting to oneside for the moment the social and economic reasons given above for why we need to have kids and thus, some would argue why we need to have CB, can you imagine the political furore if CB were to be cancelled en masse?
I am also intrigued to know how the "if you can't afford to have kids do not have them in the first place" policy would be enforced. Who would decide who should have kids and who should not|? Would we have enforced sterilisations, enforced abortions? And what about those children born to those whom it had been deemed (based on what criteria and by whom?) shouldn't have them. Would those kids be strangled at birth? Or would the state look after them? And if the state, just how much would that cost? (see one of neilh's postings above for an idea of how much that might be).
Oh yeah I forgot to mentionthis scenario. Let's say people have kids because it has been deemed that they can afford to have them.
What happens then if that family income drops to a level that they now can't afford to have them due to death of a partner, divorce, loss of job/business. You know, the type of thing that can, and does, happen to many of us.
What would happen then to these kids in a "you may only have kids if you can afford them" society?
the workhouse @Lynne??? since everything i have read on here leads me to think that you and i probably have similar views about these issues, there is no point in me taking up your baton and running with it ! however, it would be interesting to have a different point of view expressed to debate........anyone???
If, and it is a big if, CB was to be stopped it could not be done retrospectively. It could be announced tomorrow that it will cease for all new babbies in 9 months time.
As for one parent dying or loosing their job....we would still have a benefit system so what is the problem.
Not necessarily my view, but it adds to the discussion
"If you can't afford kids do not have them in the first place."
I did not mean people should be forced not to have kids. I was just saying only have kids if you can pay for them. Otherwise you're relaying on others to pay for YOUR kids.
We seem to be going round in circles. See my post above: "If we start from the premise that a couple who have children are actually providing a benefit to society then you get a different picture. Why are they providing? - because it's their children who will keep society going, who provide the future economy, who do the building, who produce the food, who care for the increasingly aging population etc. etc."
@Paul - it's today's kids who will be providing for you in the future.

subset: commoncrawl


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Experts say the country must now find ways to compete in a different global economy.
The total amount of deposits in Cambodia's 28 banking institutions recorded a jump in the first part of the year.
Dollarization attracts foreign investment, stabilizes the exchange rate and prevents devaluation of the riel.
Supporters say the investment agreements will increase free trade, transparency and competition and provide protections for investors.
Cambodia's total tax revenue for 2009 was $1 billion, a low figure compared to other countries.
The center, due to be established this year, will resolve such disputes within crossing the current court system.
The World Economic Forum's 2010 trade index report found that Cambodia slipped to No. 102 of 126 countries, down nine places from 2009.
Chevron, Bunge, ConocoPhillips, General Dynamics, General Electric, Johnson and Johnson, IBM, and JP Morgan will all take part.
Seeing Gulf Coast oil spill, environmental and other groups in Cambodia say the country needs to do more to safeguard its environment.
Cambodia is considering increasing formal diplomatic relations with Iran, including establishing an embassy in the capital Tehran.
The Economist Intelligence Unit estimated in April the riel would depreciate an average 1.3 percent in 2010 and 2011.
Officials say a lack of confidence from both local and foreign investors has stymied construction recovery.
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text:
Brigman Rees '15
HOMETOWN: Kittery, Maine
MAJORS: history, philosophy; oral communication/rhetoric
Brigman Rees always knew he wanted to be in the military. While he was in high school, at age 17, he enlisted in the National Guard.
But when the time came for him to graduate and determine life's next steps, he wanted to throw a Christian, liberal arts college education into the mix. And his search led him to Calvin, where he could take classes from a Christian perspective, run track and enroll in the military's Reserve Officer Training Corps—or ROTC, as it's better known.
Didn't know Calvin offered an ROTC program? Neither do a lot of people. Brigman hopes to change that.
"It's a challenge to do both [college and ROTC], but I love ROTC and I encourage people to give it a try—it has so much to offer," Brigman says. "The program is primarily class-based learning, but also gives you people skills and physical training. It's a good test to see how you can handle yourself during stressful times."
As a member of the Army ROTC at Calvin, Brigman is dually enrolled at Western Michigan University, which serves as the parent school for the military program. There, all cadets in the "Bronco Battalion" take leadership classes—one per semester—led by active Army instructors from all over the country. Each semester, they spend one weekend at historic Fort Custer for field training. Other weekends often involve volunteering for ROTC events or optional tactical training. And at least three times a week, the Calvin cadets meet at 6 a.m. for an hour of physical training.
That's on top of the work that Brigman and the other cadets put in as full-time students. But the academic excellence at Calvin makes it worth it, he says.
"I could have gone anywhere [for college], but I wanted the perspective of Christian thought displayed through history and philosophy, the two areas of study that I was interested in. And I was blown away by the quality of faculty in each department here.
"You have to know someone who can help you be the best, and my professors have definitely done that."
A junior this year, Brigman has worked his way up to the rank of platoon sergeant in the Bronco Battalion. This means he now leads the morning physical training sessions and watches out for the 21 other cadets at Calvin—a role he takes very seriously.
"We're a support structure—we take care of each other," he says. "I came out here with no friends, so I understand what it's like to be alone. So I make sure my door is always open to all the new freshmen."
That sense of community is one big benefit that Brigman has come to appreciate about his ROTC experience. Another benefit is the program's financial aid, which will enable him to complete his education at Calvin. ROTC offers scholarships, monthly stipends, and other forms of tuition assistance to those who are contracted with the program.
A contract involves an eight-year minimum commitment to some form of military service, which could deter some students who might otherwise benefit from the program. But Brigman is quick to point out that the contract doesn't need to be signed on the first day—or even during the first year.
"A lot of people write [ROTC] off as 'not for me,'" Brigman says, "but don't count it out. You have options, and you have time to make the big decisions. I would not have had the same experiences or learned the same lessons without this program."
And that military commitment doesn't have to be a full-time, active-duty role, either. After graduating from Calvin, Brigman plans to be commissioned as an officer in the Army National Guard, where he'll work one weekend per month and two weeks every summer for the National Guard, for the remainder of his commitment period.
Doing this will enable him to pursue what he'd like to do for a career: working with children at a nonprofit like the Boys and Girls Club—"encouraging kids to BE someone." It will mean a few years of working two jobs—but that's what his dual enrollment during college has prepared him to do.
"ROTC is supposed to teach you ways to adapt, and that's the key to college. If you don't adapt, you can't survive. I was just an average high school student, but at Calvin I was encouraged to stay on top of my grades. I've been able to do that as a result of the discipline that both ROTC and Calvin have given me. I was able to not only adapt, but excel."


text:
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Friday, May 21, 2010
A long musing on light reading
In fact after my last ruminations on the topic I did pre-order 61 Hours; the doorman in my building handed the box to me on Monday night around ten as I came in feeling very fatigued, and so it was an absolute gift to be able to flop down on the couch and devour it.
It is difficult for me to imagine a book I'd rather be reading than the brand new Jack Reacher novel (well, a new novel by Peter Temple would be at the very top of the list, and I was certainly unable to keep my hands off that Diana Wynne Jones book the other week) - there is a short list of writers whose books are especially dear to my heart, let's say, and Lee Child is certainly one of them. It is a delightful book! You know you have come home when Reacher picks up the book's first cup of coffee ("The coffee was an hour old, and it had suffered in terms of taste but gained in terms of strength"); it is a priceless mixture of familiarity and surprise.
One of the things I've always liked about this series is the way it plays around with the variations possible on a set of constraints - the constraints are tight, but it is actually very unusual to see (as one does with this series) the author switching between first- and third-person narration in different books, or successfully integrating the "prequel" mode (and I was happy to learn that there will almost certainly be a "prequel sequel").
By far the most striking thing about the book event itself is that it is perfectly calibrated to audiences. I've been thinking a lot recently about book publicity, more in its online incarnations than concerning the in-person version, but I feel that any author about to undertake a bout of publicity should go and see one of this handful of authors who really know how to pitch and work the crowd. Lee Child is one of the best I've ever seen at this (his writing is nothing like Neil Gaiman's, and they make very different choices about what sorts of project to prioritize, but I think of them as the two clear undoubted masters of the new world in which authors reach readers through the internet and through a sort of personal charisma that can be scaled up very effectively at quite large book events) - his manner and his verbal intelligence are also very well-suited to this sort of event, but it's the format he used that really struck me.
He said that he would offer up six facts about the novel and then turn things over to the audience for questions, and proceeded to do just that - an economical and appealing solution to the problem of what to do at a so-called 'reading' (I did actually 'read' when my first novel came out, but in retrospect it is a mistake, Q&A or some other play-within-constraint-type structure is really the way to go). The repertoire of questions that will be asked is obviously finite, so the answers to those are appealingly sharp, economical and funny; all in all, most interesting and edifying.
(I also note that the questions were much more coherent than the ones I hear at academic talks that are open to the public - abstraction is less likely to lead to readerly clarity than vivid concrete action!)
(Random fact, not one of the initial six: this novel was written in 79 working days - I think I am recalling the number correctly - but the Child doctrine is that unfortunately even if one works on every available day, days like Christmas will necessarily intervene, so that work time must be preciously guarded. There is no substantive rewriting or revising, only polishing; he says that he can tell as early as two or three words into a sentence that things are going wrong, and backtracks rather than going through the inefficient process of writing and then revising/cutting! I am a draft-writer myself, but the sense of the time-frame required to produce an initial draft fits with my sense from Invisible Things, though that then underwent 2 significant further revisions - but then that is what happens if the book is composed over eight months that also include a semester and a half of teaching. There were lots of funny moments/good laughs, but one of the ones I privately most enjoyed was the shudder - I think it is a mixture of awe and shock! - that greeted the revelation that a typical Childean working day begins when he gets up at 11!)
I got my copy inscribed for my nephew Jack (it is my understanding that Reacher is at least in part his namesake!), the youngest person in this picture. I also set to thinking hard about what I can do to get this next novel of mine out there, but even more about what sort of choices I need to make about the books I am writing.
The style book (which should go out shortly to publishers) and the ABCs of the novel book that I'll be working on this year are not novels, but neither are they academic books. I hope that they will both be interesting and intelligent books of interest to anyone who likes to think about how sentences and paragraphs and novels as a whole work. My life would be easier if I just stopped writing novels - but I have been writing a novel, one way or another, since I was about nine years old, and I think it may be a necessary part of my life!
What kind of novels to write, though? That's the tricky thing. I am temperamentally a "try everything once" person rather than a "find a good thing and stick to it." This comes with advantages, but also some significant downsides. With novel-writing in particular it is by far easier to find readers if you start doing a good thing and then keep on doing it.
If I could just choose, I would definitely be writing crime fiction of some sort; it's the genre I've been reading in most faithfully and most extensively for many years. I have absolutely no yen to be a 'literary' novelist and have to play the associated games, it is not appealing to me (if I were writing that sort of book, I would gravitate to the experimental small-press world rather than the higher-prestige end of it, because then you really and truly are pleasing yourself in your writing). I have been and always will be an enthusiastic reader of young-adult fantasy, and to a lesser extent non-fantastical young adult fiction more generally and non-young-adult fantastical fiction - but I don't think it's a good fit for me commercially, when it comes down to it.
The crime fiction community is smart and adult and welcoming, and so many good books are being written (Lee Child was mentioning his peer group - i.e. they were the new kids around the same tie - being Michael Connelly, Robert Crais, Dennis Lehane, Laura Lippman - the list speaks for itself); I guess my readerly identity is pretty strongly in crime fiction; and yet, as I have said several times recently, I just don't think I can write good crime novels!
I'm not a minimalist, I can't keep out the copious and wayward other stuff that creeps in, I don't know any criminals or any homicide detectives or any men or women of action, I don't truly have the journalist's skill set/set of interests (you see this differently in Lippman and in Peter Temple, or Sara Paretsky, but it is part of what makes much crime fiction so appealing).
I don't have the puzzle/game-like feel that makes Lee Child's books so successful or that Dick Francis worked so well in his best books. I am too lazy to look up the link, but Francis said in an interview that when he was about to start writing Enquiry, he cast about for what would be the very worst thing that could happen to a jockey, and it seemed to him that it would be losing his license - and you can see that the first sentence of the book is indeed "Yesterday I lost my license." There is an elegance and forcefulness to this sort of approach that I admire immensely but that is not at all congruent with my own temperamental and story-telling strengths!.
I do think that I could write some kind of thriller. Stieg Larsson's books are interesting to me partly because they strike me - I am not saying I could have international success, just that the mode is better suited to my strengths! - as much more the kind of thing I could write. They're a bit baggier and more rambling, they're set in a milieu of journalism and computer hacking and corporate private investigation that is much more what I could successfully research and bring to life, they are stuffed with research and integrate history as well as the present and altogether just give me (more than many other works of my favorite light reading do) the sense that I could pull off something like that.
I was thinking recently, after reading Dorothy Dunnett, that I should try my hand at full-on historical fiction, as it would play so much more to my strengths (I love doing research, I am knowledgeable about the past), but my ardor has slightly cooled for that idea, partly because of how much I enjoyed Tomalin's Pepys biography. Like, might as well write a true book if you are going to delve so deeply into the 1660s....
Anyway, that is quite enough rambling for now. I guess I grudgingly have to admit that yes, I will write more novels, and no, I am still not sure what sort of novel they will be; I am a slow learner in this respect, I have not yet discovered my vocation as a fiction-writer! But I do think that whatever it is, I should partly let my blog tell me; it is the steadiest and most continuous record of my day-to-day thoughts and interests that I have. Might spend some time later this summer looking back through the archive - perhaps it will tell me that I should be writing a high-concept series of thrillers with journalists, scenes set in research labs, Big Pharma scandal and genetic engineering - this is more the sort of thing I feel I can write about convincingly than people beating each other up in a bar!
(I mean, I could have one or two bar fights, but it would be a very poor use of my resources to write a book that was mainly set in that sort of milieu...)
5 comments:
The part of book signings that I enjoy are the (usual) talks by the authors first. I've taken my eldest daughter (she's now 22) to several of those and she has really enjoyed them. Tamora Pierce was a big favorite. Of course, Tamora Pierce has always been one of her favorite authors, so it's no surprise the signing was a hit! In fact, TP inspired my daughter to writer her own YA fantasy novel, back in the 7th grade. She still has it, naturally. The YA fantasy genre as a whole seems to be exploding -- you sure it's not a good fit for you? Take the Ganzfield series, by Kate Kaynak, which is coming out shortly -- the first book is "Minder." The author wrote an "intro to psych" paper on parapsychology -- and got a not great grade because the TA didn't believe that telepathy existed. So the author decided to create a world in which it does. I LOVE that kind of inspiration -- reminds me of my own child, I guess. It's just what she would do (and kind of did) -- she's looking forward to this series.ReplyDelete
I forgot! I'm on hold for the Reacher book -- but one thing that sort of bothers me about those is that he's just always the loner, goes from town to town, etc. I just think he needs to grow as a person, which he doesn't seem to do. But maybe I'm totally off base here ... it's been a while since I read one of the books.ReplyDelete
I guess I like the way he's always the same - I don't at all disagree with your observations! You may well be right, too, about the YA fantasy thing - I will see how it goes with this next book, but I must confess that sales were very disappointing on the first - really the problem is that I just kind of hate having to think about anything to do with publicity and marketing!ReplyDelete
First - that family picture is spectacular! I love how everyone is dressed and standing separate from each other or playing off each other. It's gorgeous.ReplyDelete
I am very intrigued by your thought process now and wish so very much that THE EXPLOSIONIST had been embraced on the scale that I felt it deserved. The one really bad thing about YA is that it rewards (in sales) those who follow the herd. I often feel like I am screaming in the wilderness about my favorites which are offbeat in one way or another; you would certainly be more welcomed in the adult field for being an individual.
Perhaps you should blend your love of crime and research for a historical crime novel? Have you read the Maisie Dobbs series by Jacqueline Winspear? It is as much ruminations on the post WWI era in England the solving of historic crimes/wrongs as anything else. There might be a dead body or two but the action of the death is not described so much as the aftermath; in other words describing bar fights is not necessary!
- Anonymous6/02/2010 6:00 PM
Wonder post - found it on Nephele's list of links this week. But I can so relate on this searching for a genre issue. I've tried several and what really pleases me is writing what it is I write - and not worry so much about the genre - which is both a good thing and a bad thing.ReplyDelete


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Petersburg Spartak Team Page
RICHMOND, Va. – Kirill Pishchalnikov. The name just brings a smile to anyone that has followed the Virginia Commonwealth University men's basketball program over the past three years.
The Maykop, Russia native was one of the hardest-working and toughest players to ever don a Rams uniform.
Now he'll show that same toughness and hard work at the professional level after signing a contract with the St. Petersburg Spartak in his home country.
"[Kirill] is a young player but has a tremendous desire to play," Spartak Head Coach Zvi Sherf said. "He's a strong, big body that will be beneficial to us in the long term."
In his three seasons with the Black & Gold, Pishchalnikov helped tally 75 wins, two Colonial Athletic Association regular season titles and one trip to the NCAA Tournament in 2009.
Overall, he played in 98 games for VCU, tallying 301 points, 319 rebounds and 47.5% from the field. He set career-highs with 15 points and 14 rebounds in a 2008 win against Western Michigan.
Spartak was established in 1935 and is a current member of the Russian PBL League. Players on this year's roster include former LA Laker Smush Parker, former UCLA standout Nikola Dragovic and former NCAA scoring leader Henry Domercant .
Pishchalnikov and his teammates open up the season this Saturday with a 7 p.m. contest against Efes Pilsen.


text: Korean Job Discussion Forums :: View topic - Summer only jobs Speak Korean Now! Korean Job Discussion Forums"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Teachers from Around the World!" FAQ Search Memberlist Usergroups Register Profile Log in to check your private messages Log in Summer only jobs Korean Job Discussion Forums Forum Index -> FAQ View previous topic :: View next topic Author Message JamesRainesJoined: 06 Mar 2003Location: Houston, Texas Posted: Thu Mar 06, 2003 2:03 pm Post subject: Summer only jobs I'm a grad student and would like to teach in Korea. Does any one know of any summer only contracts? Back to top Tiger BeerJoined: 07 Feb 2003 Posted: Fri Mar 07, 2003 5:16 am Post subject: Summer Camps There are Summer Camps. Sometimes they can be quite competitive. I worked one last summer, but I found that 70% had taught numerous times in Korea before, and of the remaining ones they had been teaching in other countries. However, nothing wrong with applying. I was also teaching at one of the better ones, so its possible to get a not-so-good one with much lower pay and less interest among those already in Korea.. try to keep an eye out on the esl board around late April or May.. thats usually when I see them advertise.. summer camps are usually around July/August.. hope this helps.. Back to top ZyzyferJoined: 29 Jan 2003Location: who, what, where, when, why, how? Posted: Fri Mar 07, 2003 4:24 pm Post subject: Hey Tiger Beer, are those summer camp things quite similar to the normal schooling(in a classroom and all), or do they spice things up with some field trips or something? Just curious what those camps entail... Back to top Tiger BeerJoined: 07 Feb 2003 Posted: Fri Mar 07, 2003 4:59 pm Post subject: Summer Camps Zyzyfer wrote: Hey Tiger Beer, are those summer camp things quite similar to the normal schooling(in a classroom and all), or do they spice things up with some field trips or something? Just curious what those camps entail... Mine was 4 weeks with a 1-day fieldtrip to a Korean temple site. It was going to be the beach, but it rained too much. Most of the classes are in a classroom, but they have them organized by hours. For example, 3 hours of textbook studies, lunch time, outdoor activitiy, reading hour, writing hour, TEFL hour, etc., singing or watching a movie, etc. We also had plays or skits that half of the classes would perform every Saturday. So alot of time the kids or adults (depending) were quite consumed with that. (Doing the artwork, costumes, creating lines, etc.) Its alot more easier than regular classrooms, as some hours kind of run by themselves. Generally though, there is alot of excitement the first week, but by the third week everyone wants to go home. The fourth week things pick up alot and alot more excitement, but the students lose their iniative and just want to have kind of party fun day. Each camp has different directors and different itinerarys, so its hard to be uniform about it. But I think most tend to try to generally just expose English to the students as much as possible with as many ways as possible. The field trip kind of turns into an all-korean-speaking day just because they are excited. Its hardly conducive to learning English on that day, but its a much-needed pyshcological break from the 4-week intensive English mindset of the camp. Probably 85% of the time you will be locked away in a classroom with the students trying to find more pores to let more English words seep through their heads.. Back to top Lost SeoulJoined: 10 Jan 2003 Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2003 6:28 am Post subject: Camps Here are some previous posts about summer and winter camps: ======================================= http://www.koreanesl.com/esl.htm Name Belinda Diers E-Mail Address belindagail#hotmail.com Title: Abuse of contract by ELITE CAMP winter school... As a South African who was recruited to work as an ESL teacher for (S. Korean) ELITE CAMP winter school, I feel that the following information needs to be emailed to relevant sources. 3 South Africans had bought expensive airoplane tickets to Korea for this winter camp. Our visas did eventually not come through - because of Elite Camp incompetence - and we were promised to be recompensated for the money involved (about $800 per person). Jane/Michelle from the camp promised that we would be reimbursed, but this has not happened. Jane disappeared, Elite Camp fax numbers did not work and we never heard from them again. Recently I have discovered that allegedly a Mrs Kim of Elite Camp is responsible for possibly trying to cover up this blatant abuse of contracts - not only with us but other foreign teachers. Another discovery is that members of the Elite Staff including Jane tried to protest that we were not paid out - and has left her job there in protest to Mrs Kim's alleged cover up. I feel that this information must be shared with 'interested parties'. It is known that Mrs Kim (and her helper, Indie) pleads not to be able to read or talk English when confronted with the kind of issues I am raising. If anyone has any further information about this instance - as well as others that are occurring in Korea, please email me. I would be most interested to hear from Mrs Kim. My next email will be to various S Korean newspapers and international agencies, Tefl/ESL sites that are being used by Elite, and the South African S Korean embassy. Belinda ========================= http://184.108.40.206/korea/index.cgi?read=135183 Re: MyungJi Summer English Camp Posted By: Sal Date: Friday, 12 July 2002, at 9:44 a.m. In Response To: Re: MyungJi Summer English Camp (meatball) Actually, they ripped me off. I worked the whole camp last year and they never paid me. I wouldn't do it. ======================================= http://www.eslcafe.com/korea/index.cgi?read=132710139365 CAMP Posted By: hippie Date: Wednesday, 21 August 2002, at 6:58 p.m. Does anybody know of an English camp teacher who has worked on a tourist visa who didn't get deported when the immigration guys busted the camp? As far as I know, Everyone on a tourist visa gets deported. Teachers who work at camps with E2's get fined and blacklisted. Does anybody have an experience or know anyone with an experience different than this? My advice: Before working at an English camp, make sure the boss has already given a "donation" to the immigration office. Back to top Display posts from previous: All Posts1 Day7 Days2 Weeks1 Month3 Months6 Months1 Year Oldest FirstNewest First Korean Job Discussion Forums Forum Index -> FAQ All times are GMT - 8 Hours Page 1 of 1 Jump to: Select a forum Forums:----------------FAQJob-related Discussion ForumGeneral Discussion ForumOff-Topic ForumTravel ForumCurrent Events ForumTechnology ForumBuy/Sell/Trade Forum You cannot post new topics in this forumYou cannot reply to topics in this forumYou cannot edit your posts in this forumYou cannot delete your posts in this forumYou cannot vote in polls in this forum This page is maintained by the one and only Dave Sperling. Contact Dave's ESL Cafe Copyright © 2018 Dave Sperling. All Rights Reserved. Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2002 phpBB Group TEFL International Supports Dave's ESL Cafe


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Via the unrepentant geeks at ComicAlliance.com comes a rather unique twist on Comic-Con fun.
They've faced down humans time and time again, but Fred Phelps and his minions from the Westboro Baptist Church were not ready for the cosplay action that awaited them today at Comic-Con. After all, who can win against a counter protest that includes robots, magical anime girls, Trekkies, Jedi and...kittens?
Does this mean we've officially seen it all? Read on, true believers!


text: Back Liver Transplantation in Children What is a liver transplant? A liver transplant is a surgical procedure performed to replace a diseased liver with a healthy liver from another person. The liver may come from a deceased organ donor or from a living donor. Family members or individuals who are unrelated but make a good match may be able to donate a portion of their liver. This type of transplant is called a living transplant. Individuals who donate a portion of their liver can live healthy lives with the remaining liver. An entire liver may be transplanted, or just a section because the liver is the only organ in the body able to regenerate. A transplanted portion of a liver can rebuild to normal capacity within weeks. Why is a liver transplant recommended? A liver transplant is recommended for children who have serious liver dysfunction and will not be able to live without having the liver replaced. The most common liver disease in children for which transplants are done is biliary atresia. Other conditions may include the following; Hepatitis Hemochromatosis Liver cancer Acute liver failure from an overdose of medication, such as acetaminophine Hereditary liver diseases How many children in the U.S. need liver transplants? Visit the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) website for statistics of patients awaiting a liver transplant, and the number of patients who underwent a transplant this year. Where do transplanted organs come from? The majority of livers that are transplanted come from organ donors who have died. Organ donors are adults or children who have become critically ill (often due to an accidental injury) and will not live as a result of their illness. Donors can come from any part of the U.S. This type of transplant is called a cadaveric transplant. A child receiving a transplant may either get a whole liver, or a segment of one. If an adult liver is available and is an appropriate match for two people on the waiting list, the donor liver can be divided into two segments and each part is transplanted. Living family members may also be able to donate a section of their liver. This type of transplant is called a living-related transplant. Children receiving a partial liver seem to do as well as those who receive a whole liver. Relatives who donate a portion of their liver can live healthy lives with the segment that remains. How are transplanted organs allocated? UNOS is responsible for transplant organ distribution in the U.S. UNOS oversees the allocation of many different types of transplants, including liver, kidney, pancreas, heart, lung, and cornea. UNOS receives data from hospitals and medical centers throughout the country regarding adults and children who need organ transplants. The medical team that currently follows your child is responsible for sending the data to UNOS, and updating it as your child's condition changes. Criteria have been developed to ensure that all people on the waiting list are judged fairly as to the severity of their illness and the urgency of receiving a transplant. Once UNOS receives the data from local hospitals, people waiting for a transplant are placed on a waiting list and given a "status" code. The people in most urgent need of a transplant are placed highest on the status list and are given first priority when a donor liver becomes available. When a donor organ becomes available, a computer searches all the people on the waiting list for a liver and sets aside those who are not good matches for the available liver. A new list is made from the remaining candidates. The person at the top of the specialized list is considered for the transplant. If he/she is not a good candidate, for whatever reason, the next person is considered, and so forth. Some reasons that people lower on the list might be considered before a person at the top include the size of the donor organ and the geographic distance between the donor and the recipient. How is my child placed on the waiting list for a new liver? An extensive evaluation must be completed before your child can be placed on the transplant list. Overall testing includes: Psychological and social evaluation. These tests are done on the child, if old enough, and the family. Blood tests Diagnostic tests Blood tests Blood tests are done to gather information that will help determine how urgent it is that your child is placed on the transplant list, as well as to ensure the child receives a donor organ that is a good match. These tests include those to analyze the general health of the body, including the child's heart, lung, and kidney function, the child's nutritional status, and the presence of infection. Blood tests will help improve the chances that the donor organ will not be rejected. These tests may include: Liver enzymes. Elevated levels of liver enzymes can alert physicians to liver damage or injury, since the enzymes leak from the liver into the bloodstream under these circumstances. Bilirubin. Bilirubin is produced by the liver and is excreted in the bile. Elevated levels of bilirubin often indicate an obstruction of bile flow or a defect in the processing of bile by the liver. Albumin, total protein, and globulin. Below-normal levels of proteins made by the liver are associated with many chronic liver disorders. Clotting studies, such as prothrombin time (PT) and partial thromboplastin time (PTT). These tests measure the time it takes for blood to clot and are often used prior to liver transplantation. Blood clotting requires vitamin K and proteins made by the liver. Liver cell damage and bile obstruction can both interfere with proper blood clotting. Other blood tests will help improve the chances that the donor organ will not be rejected. They may include: Your child's blood type. Each person has a specific blood type: type A+, A -, B+, B -, AB+, AB -, O+, or O -. When receiving a transfusion, the blood received must be a compatible type with your child's type of blood, or an allergic reaction will occur. The same allergic reaction will occur if the blood contained within a donor organ enters your child's body during a transplant. Allergic reactions can be avoided by matching the blood types of your child and the donor. Kidney, heart, and other vital organ function tests. Viral studies. These tests determine if your child has antibodies to viruses that may increase the likelihood of rejecting the donor organ, such as cytomegalovirus (CMV) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). Diagnostic tests The diagnostic tests that are performed are extensive, but necessary to understand the complete medical status of your child. The following are some of the other tests that may be performed, although many of the tests are decided on an individual basis: Abdominal ultrasound (also called sonography). This diagnostic imaging technique uses high-frequency sound waves and a computer to create images of blood vessels, tissues, and organs. Ultrasounds are used to view internal organs as they function and assess blood flow through various vessels. Liver biopsy. In this procedure, tissue samples are removed (with a needle or during surgery) from the liver for examination under a microscope. The transplant team will consider all information from interviews, your child's medical history, physical examination, and diagnostic tests in determining whether your child can be a candidate for liver transplantation. After the evaluation and your child has been accepted to have a liver transplant, your child will be placed on the UNOS list. Who makes up the liver transplant team? The group of specialists involved in the care of children who are undergoing a transplant procedure is often referred to as the "transplant team." Each individual works together to provide the best chance for a successful transplant. The liver transplant team consists of: Transplant surgeons. These are doctors who specialize in transplantation and who will be performing the surgery. The transplant surgeons coordinate all team members. They follow your child before the transplant and continue to follow your child after the transplant and after discharge from the hospital. Transplant nurse coordinator. This nurse organizes all aspects of care provided to your child before and after the transplant. The nurse coordinator will provide patient education and coordinate the diagnostic testing and follow-up care. Social workers. These are professionals who will provide support to your family and help your family deal with many issues that may arise, including lodging and transportation, finances, and legal issues. They can also help coordinate alternative means for school, so that your child does not get behind. Dietitians. Dietitians are professionals who will help your child meet his or her nutritional needs before and after the transplant. They will work closely with you and your family. Physical therapists. These professionals will help your child become strong and independent with movement and endurance after the transplantation. Pastoral care. Chaplains will provide spiritual care and support. Other team members. Several other team members will evaluate your child before transplantation and provide follow-up care, as needed. These include, but are not limited to, the following: Pharmacists Anesthesiologists Respiratory therapists Cardiologists Hematologists Urologists Nephrologists Infectious disease specialists Lab technicians Psychologists Child life specialists How long will it take to get a new liver? There is no definite answer to this question. Sometimes, children wait only a few days or weeks before receiving a donor organ. If no living-related donor is available, it may take months or years on the waiting list before a suitable donor organ is available. During this time, your child will have close follow-up with his or her doctor and the transplant team. Various support groups are also available to assist you during this waiting time. How are we notified when a liver is available? Each transplant team has its own specific guidelines regarding waiting on the transplant list and being notified when a donor organ is available. In most instances, you will notified by phone or pager that an organ is available. You will be told to come to the hospital immediately so your child can be prepared for the transplant. What is involved in liver transplant surgery? Once an organ becomes available to your child, you and your child will be immediately called to the hospital. This call can occur at any time, so you should always be prepared to go to the hospital, if needed. Once at the hospital, the child will have some more final blood work and tests to confirm the match of the organ. The child will then go to the operating room. The transplant surgery may require several hours, but will vary greatly depending on each individual case. During the surgery, a member of the transplant team will keep you informed on the progress of the transplant. What kind of care will my child receive after the transplant? After the surgery, your child will go to the intensive care unit (ICU) to be monitored closely. The length of time your child will spend in the ICU will vary based on your child's unique condition. After your child is stable, he or she will be sent to the special unit in the hospital that cares for liver transplant patients. Your child will continue to be monitored closely. You will be educated on all aspects of caring for your child during this time. This will include information about medications, activity, follow-up, diet, and any other specific instructions from your child's transplant team. What is rejection? Rejection is a normal reaction of the body to a foreign object. When a new liver is placed in a person's body, the body sees the transplanted organ as a threat and tries to attack it. The immune system makes antibodies to try to kill the new organ, not realizing that the transplanted liver is beneficial. To allow the organ to successfully live in a new body, medications must be given to trick the immune system into accepting the transplant and not thinking it is a foreign object. What are the symptoms of rejection? The following are the most common signs and symptoms of rejection. However, each child may experience symptoms differently. Symptoms may include: Fever Jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes) Dark urine Itching Abdominal swelling or tenderness Fatigue Irritability Headache Nausea The symptoms of rejection may resemble other medical conditions or problems. Your child's transplant team will instruct you on whom to call immediately if any of these symptoms occur. What is done to prevent rejection? Medications must be given for the rest of the child's life to fight rejection. Each child is unique, and each transplant team has preferences for different medications. The doses of these medications may change frequently, depending on your child's response. Because antirejection medications affect the immune system, children who receive a transplant will be at higher risk for infections. A balance must be maintained between preventing rejection and making your child very susceptible to infection. Blood tests to measure the amount of medication in the body are done periodically to make sure your child does not get too much or too little of the medications. White blood cells are also an important indicator of how much medication your child needs. What about infection? This risk of infection is especially great in the first few months after transplant because higher doses of antirejection medications are given during this time. Your child will most likely need to take medications to prevent other infections from occurring. Some of the infections your child will be especially susceptible to include oral yeast infection (thrush), herpes, and respiratory viruses. What is the long-term outlook for my child after a liver transplant? Living with a transplant is a lifelong process. Medications must be given that trick the immune system so it will not attack the transplanted organ. Other medications must be given to prevent side effects of the antirejection medications, such as infection. Frequent visits to and contact with the transplant team are essential. When the child becomes old enough, he or she will need to learn about antirejection medications, what they do, the signs of rejection, and everything else the parents have learned so he or she can eventually care for himself or herself independently. There is no good answer as to how long an individual can be expected to live after a liver transplant. Each child is unique and every transplant is different. Results continually improve as doctors and scientists learn more about how the body deals with transplanted organs and search for ways to improve transplantation.


text: I'm in New York this week for the Snyder/Redux launch party, and LeBook Connections. While I am looking forward to both events, I want to direct your attention to another get together for those of you in the area. The fine folks over at WTJ? have put together a great post about Snyder/Redux as well as an informal invite to anyone interested in grabbing a drink and saying hi. This will take place Tuesday, June 7th (today) and the address of the bar is at the end of the post on WTJ?. I hope to see you there.


text:
In SQLAlchemy Declarative, how do I set up default values for columns, such that transient or pending object instances will have those default values? A short example:
from sqlalchemy import Column, Integer, String
from sqlalchemy.ext.declarative import declarative_base
Base = declarative_base()
class A(Base):
__tablename__ = "A"
id = Column(Integer, primary_key=True)
word = Column(String, default="adefault")
a = A()
print a.word
Naively, I would expect the output from this to be
adefault. Of course, the output is actually
None. Even when adding to a session, it stays
None and only gets filled when I commit (or flush) the session, and re-read the instance value from the database.
Is there any way to set an attribute default without flushing the instance to the database? I tried investigating the
ColumnDefault documentation, and there doesn't seem to be an obvious way to inspect the type/python value, so as to manually set it in a custom declarative baseclass.


text:
Slimming Swimwear, Tankini Top Print
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At L.L.Bean, we believe every body is a beach body. Our Slimming Swimwear is designed to help you feel great about your figure – with all the comfort and coverage you need, plus guaranteed-to-flatter details that will have you feeling more confident than ever before.
Sun Protection That Won't Wear Off
Our high-performance fabric provides SPF 50+ sun protection, blocking 98% of the sun's harmful rays.
This fabric is recommended by The Skin Cancer
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text:
I can't tell you how many times I've had a developer tell me, "I used Spring on my last project and it worked really well," without being able to articulate what exactly they like about it or how it actually helped them. So far as I can tell, they like setter injection because it makes their code more flexible and testable, but that doesn't necessitate Spring. I guess for those who don't have the "dependency injection" mindset ingrained, using a framework that encourages (forces?) you to do the right thing helps. This encouragement doesn't outweigh the laundry list of negative impacts Spring has on your code though.It's worth a look - Spring is certainly the most visible IOC container out there, and some of the ideas behind IOC are becoming part of Java, Enterprise Edition, but critiques are certainly rare.
The Spring folks openly snub their noses at J2EE, but from what I can tell Spring isn't exactly lightweight and simple either. The Javadocs are unnecessarily overwhelming. Does all of this really belong in a user API? At least J2EE cleanly separates API from implementation. Spring advocates tout that Spring doesn't "touch" your code, i.e. you don't have to implement any Spring-specific interfaces (with the exception of life-cycle interfaces, etc.). News flash: the XML configuration is my code, and from what I can see it often ends up constituting a lot of code, all of which is Spring-specific.
Fortunately, simply adopting dependency injection design patterns gets you 90% of the way, further if you don't need encouragement to do the right thing. That's the approach I recommend. I certainly don't see myself adopting Spring anytime soon. I'm better off without it. If you do, go in with your eyes wide open. Be skeptical, critical. Just because someone has a popular Open Source framework, they have slick marketing, and they're supported by a big vendor (IBM pushed Struts on me for a number of years after all), it doesn't necessarily mean they know what's best for you or even that they know better than you.Is Spring really that good, that few can find actual substantiated flaws in its design? (Implementation issues are something else. Bug reports and inefficiencies in the framework get fixed over time, and don't normally affect most users.) The comments are also interesting, with both Spring users and Spring nonbelievers weighing in. What are the quantitative advantages or disadvantages of Spring for you?


text:
2nd Birth Anniversary
I thank HIM for HE knows when the time is right.
I thank HIM for bringing you to our lives,
And bring such a light and happy vibes.
May you grow up to be fulfilled and humble;
God-fearing and strong even when you stumble.
May HE give you the best of health,
so much love and many good friends!
Happy 2nd Birthday my bubbly and sweet Haley!
Mommy loves you and Ate Keanna a lot! Mwah!


text:
Please read these conditions of use carefully.
If you proceed to use the swimmingpoolchemicals.co.uk site, you are agreeing to these rules.
'Products' means the products described in any order made via the swimmingpoolchemicals website.
'Site' means the current live version of the Swimmingpoolchemicals website as maintained on the world wide web.
0 items


text:
Evading China's Great Firewall
Savvy Internet users have found a new way to dodge China's online censors. The WSJ's Paul Mozur tells us why the government is having a hard time keeping information out.
This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.
I ... the ... finding ways to get round China's top sent it to me now is reporter Paul Bonjour from Beijing ... all we hear more more stories and tiny sensors cracking down on ... the pianos which a lot of Chinese people are are starting to use ... how are they getting around to ... the Census ... boasting in with the VPN is is basically a an encrypted connection and has provided by a number of companies on him to let people attended been using that ... traditionally to get around the great firewall an evil creature ... you know insulated connection to a server outside of China ... now the problem is lately I'm especially given the power transition I let you know this month the last month ... on what's been happening Citron enchanting this ... aam insulin response one of the things people it been doing on these modifying something called the post file under this to say that I cute dresses that your computer ... Cemex S and in that way their of their allowing themselves to direct me I'd go to a global into cohort Facebook or to be stuck in a western states ... and avoiding high the Chinese unit blocks which we could come if you had this with ... you know woke up the name of the website itself and then find the IP address ... that makes sense to pay at Apple I was gonna say in a lot of companies that ... foreign companies who are inside China we all using BP Ends and ... certainly at the Wall Street Journal ... on ... sale when a bit when China blocks to the advances in fact everyone nor can they specifically target certain ones ... I mean it depends a big beacon to target different each and companies ... ALM so at first it was summer the ALM serve more marginal begins that went down aam in October and then slowly some of the bigger ones that you know ... that targets of it which Nokia go down which is a larger one ... in the family Astral which is another one that is performing very well aam ... write it the sort of during the power transition went down and then she posted the upbeat message on their screen ... you know telling people in China that this is a specific China problem and you know basically telling them how to fix that problem ... aam but it does affect everybody on the effects you yet I was missing with a friend of one point ... during the dinner an inch or is trying to do on the key work email and she just couldn't get on Geno Christina was blocked and her beak and spots and there is nothing to be done to the CIA to go home ... aam and call you know calling which was trying to do so ... that's the kind of level that was happening during the pelicans ... ok what do we have any idea how many people actually inside China actually using BP Ends Nenad ... I said this story before bed and a mine told me her seventy five year old ive father in Chengdu managed to get the VPN ... of soap how accessible our that ... yet I mean it's ... it's it's really anybody's guess is the whole point of the Dubuque in isit masks or you're coming from ... see you can really look at traffic aam readers and say oh there's this many people I certainly anecdotally it's it's probably in the millions on ... this it's not that hard you download some software you just click a button on a lot of them are some are free some are paid ... aam but you know somebody sets it up for you I it's not that hard at all really I am still alive if you you can talk to Chinese friends is minimal have Facebook and so had to get that so you know opera news computer whiz played around with my phone and I can get Facebook comments or they may not even know on how it works that they had a name and an even know what it's called ... on in this this other you know take the Everett about this that modifying the hosts file ... on it's it's interesting because it shows that you know even without an EP and there are ways that the people we know that that widespread freely by spring the four hundred thousand you know ... pj's come up when you search for yield modifying a host of the good the spoke ... on the Chinese in it so they are there other ways are widespread and people spread these things you know around message boards and chat functions ... I think it'll help each other get around this thing so it's definitely happening ... the numbers are just a probably millions they think ... that a sell out one thing that didn't occur to me after I read your report is now that we've had told everyone how the fences and getting around that that that people are getting around the fence is it easy for the center's Mount and to block what they're doing to get around ... yet what was I was rather concerned about this to an unknown talk me with big Eisenstadt Felix town sheriff who is are you know part of one of these groups that ... you know I'd spread this the sets of IP addresses on around the internet so that other people and do it ... you know he kind of laughed it off and said you know what to me these things are on in chat functions the scenes on microblogs these things are posted on aam you know message boards and ... independent websites all over the place so I'm you think of it actually bought people's access to these addresses as the updated would be extremely difficult the newbie you needed to get from the malty ... of many many different you know entry points in and it's it would really require a lot of sophistication to do that ... at the sickening they could be could probably Block icky addresses more quickly ... aam but again it's it's one of those things that it seems unlikely that there really in a ... crackdown that are done this given it's not that huge group of people doing it aam and ... you know welcome to the degree China Real Time who knows maybe that the judge of that I guess ... we'll find out the ... day ... he begged AmEx fall foliage or joining us from Beijing ... one that star a pink anti China Real Time on WS J dot com under for time thanks for watching


text:
Splinter Cell: Conviction Review
New mechanics like Mark and Execute allow Sam to move through the environment faster than ever before, dispatching enemies with brutal efficiency. Thus enters the unfortunate duality of Conviction--you feel like an ultimate badass, which makes the game too easy.
To its credit, the game's pacing is excellent. It moves along at breakneck speeds, encouraging single-sitting playthroughs. There just isn't any tension because the player is so deadly. The AI seems purposefully dumb to make the "Last Known Position" mechanic work--enemies will continually fire upon the last place they saw the player allowing you to flank. In many cases, getting seen is actually beneficial as it draws enemies to your last position.
Gadgets are barely necessary and one gadget that Sam acquires midway through the game allows you to spot enemies behind walls, marking them as targets to execute. There's no guess work and gadgets like the series-classic remote camera are next to useless in this new world of Sam Fisher and his wallhacking.
The main campaign is a bit on the short side, but is enjoyable and full of the franchise-required plot twists. Even on the hardest difficulty, the game is too easy. There are only two missions where getting spotted results in failure and these stealth portions don't even last for the entirety of these two levels.
A mini co-op campaign is included, which puts you and a buddy in the shoes of two spies, Archer and Kestrel, as they attempt to track down the EMPs that Sam will eventually be trying to recover in the main game. Both spies are as capable as Sam and better equipped. Co-op is satisfying, but the ease of the game transfers over. You can power through most missions without worrying about any coordination. Both Archer and Kestrel play exactly like Sam, which takes away some of meaning behind Sam's new predatory tactics.
The series' unique Spies vs. Mercenaries multiplayer component has been axed in favor of a few co-op modes and a single adversarial mode. All are fun, but are just more of the same gameplay. Weapons can be found and upgraded across all of the game modes, but you won't need anything more than a silenced pistol to get through the entire game.
At the end of the day, Splinter Cell: Conviction is a solid game. It's an enjoyable ride and the gameplay is extremely satisfying. While the change-of-pace from slow and methodical stealth to fast and predatory stealth was a necessary evolution, the lack of a challenge hurts the experience. Fans of the series will have fun, but probably miss the old-style of gameplay.
This review was conducted on the Xbox 360 version of the game. Splinter Cell: Conviction is available now in the US on the Xbox 360 (Europe: April 15th). The PC version will be released on April 27th.


text:
Mules - Black Leather Brass Horsebit Buckle
Turn heads for all the right reasons and prepare to be bombarded with compliments wearing this beautiful and modern looking mules slipper.
The horsebit mules slipper in black are entirely handmade with a combination of calf leather upper and horsebit buckle. The gold brass buckle expresses a classy touch of elegance to the wearer.
Get that edgy yet laid back look with this mules that will surely out-perform all your other black mules. Wear them with a black or blue skinny jeans.
- Upper: Calf Leather
- Lining: Sheep Skin Leather
- Outsole: Premium Natural Rubber
- Finishing: Hand Painted Patina
- Insole: Cushion
- Shoe-tree not included
We offer 30 Days Money Back Guarantee (full refund) if you decide that the shoes is not right for you. You can only exchange for another product or products which cost the same or higher within 30 days of receiving the goods provided it is unworn, unwashed and unaltered condition. To complete your return, we require a receipt or proof of purchase. Please try the shoes on soft surface upon receiving the shoes.
Calf leather is very absorbent so we suggest clients use the neutral color polish for calf leather products to prevent irreversible watermarks or staining. Light scratches on the leather can be buffed away using clean cloth or fingers to rejuvenate the natural oils on the leather. Over time and with exposure to light, this leather will gradually become darker in color. This effect is regarded as a natural feature of the material and is not a defect.
Suede is a very absorbent material and therefore marks easily. We recommend using a dedicated suede care kit products to keep the shoes in good condition. A good quality suede brush may be used to remove loose dirt but extra care must be taken, excessive use can cause permanent damage to the leather.
Block B3-56-G2 (Art Row), Solaris Dutamas, Jalan Dutamas 1, 50480, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Google Map / WAZE : Publika Solaris
Open Daily - 10am to 10pm
+603 - 2389 1419
+6011 - 6434 5359
Lot 2.2, Level 2 Podium, Etiqa Twins 11 Jalan Pinang, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. (5 Mins Walk From KLCC)
Google Map / WAZE: Etiqa Twins Jalan Pinang
Open Daily :-
Monday - Friday : 10am to 7pm
Saturday & Sunday : 10am to 10pm
+603 - 2181 2442
Level 3, Mens Footwear Department, Isetan, KLCC.
Open Daily - 10am to 10pm


text:
University of Alabama researchers, America's Warrior Partnership and the Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation have partnered on a four-year, $2.9 million study to explore risk factors that contribute to suicides, early mortality and self-harm among military veterans.
"Operation Deep Dive," funded by the Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation, aims to create better understanding of the risk-factors, particularly at the organizational and community level.
Karl Hamner, director of the Office of Evaluation for the College of Education, and David L. Albright, Hill Crest Foundation endowed chair in mental health and associate professor in the School of Social Work, are the principal investigators for UA on the study. America's Warrior Partnership is a nonprofit that helps other veteran-oriented nonprofits collaborate and coordinate to serve veterans, military personnel and their families. The Bristol-Myers Foundation is affiliated with the biopharmaceutical company dedicated to improving health outcomes of populations disproportionately affected by serious diseases and conditions.
Recent research has shown that neither PTSD nor combat exposure are good predictors of veterans and suicide, so researchers must cast a wider net, Hamner said.
"Previous research has focused primarily on individual-level risk factors, like prior suicide attempts, mood disorders, substance abuse and access to lethal means, but suicide is a complex phenomenon, and those factors don't paint the whole picture," Albright said.
The study focuses on veterans across the spectrum of service, gender and lifespan, utilizing data from America's Warrior Partnership and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, new data collected during the study, and data from the Department of Defense.
For instance, female veterans, who are 2.5 times more likely to commit suicide than civilian women, will be spotlighted in the study.
Both the Department of Defense and the VA will be vital in identifying veterans with varying medical histories, combat experiences and discharges from military services. America's Warrior Partnership will also help fill the gaps in identifying veterans who don't fit criteria for VA benefits, like National Guard or Reserve personnel who aren't activated, or anyone who has a dishonorable discharge, which could be for a variety of reasons.
"The scope of this study is timely and so needed that we really believe we can move the needle," Hamner said.
The first phase of the study is a five-year retrospective investigation of the Department of Defense service use and pattern of VA care utilization to examine the impact of less-than-honorable discharges on suicides and suspected suicides, and the differences in suicides between those who receive and do not receive VA services.
"Helping to identify the trends or predictors of veterans' suicide could help immensely in reducing suicide rates and provide much needed interventions for this community," said John Damonti, president of the Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation. "This project will take a deep dive to better understand what was happening at the community level to design better, more targeted intervention programs."
The second phase will incorporate these findings into a three-year study that will include input from medical examiners, mental health experts, veterans and family members, and the community to conduct a "sociocultural autopsy" of all new or suspected suicides in America's Warrior Partnership's seven partnership communities, as well as in comparison communities.
The results will explore how community context and engagement affect prevention of suicides in veterans and "why some former service members commit suicide, while others do not.
"The overarching goal of the study is to understand triggers of suicide in order to prevent potential suicides before they occur," said Jim Lorraine, president and CEO of America's Warrior Partnership. "With each organization bringing its own areas of expertise and data, we can make a difference in the lives of our nation's warriors, particularly the most vulnerable veterans."
Hamner and Albright are committee chairs for the Alabama Veterans Network, or AlaVetNet, which connects Alabama veterans to resources and services. Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey recently signed Executive Order 712, which tasks the group in helping reduce and eliminate the opioid crisis as well as reducing the high veteran suicide rate.


text:
- Ferrari news
Montezemolo denies Vettel rumours
- Drivers:
- Luca di Montezemolo
- |
- Sebastian Vettel
Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo and Red Bull have denied reports that Sebastian Vettel will join Ferrari at the end of 2013.
Felipe Massa is expected to sign a one-year deal to remain with Ferrari next season, with a BBC report stating that he is a stop-gap before Vettel joins the following season. While rumours that Vettel has a pre-contract agreement with Ferrari have been ongoing for a number of months, the fact that Ferrari allowed Sergio Perez to join McLaren only added to the speculation.
Vettel is under contract until the end of 2014, however, and although Helmut Marko has previously revealed there are performance-related clauses that would allow him to leave, a Red Bull spokesperson told ESPNF1: "Sebastian will for sure be with the team in 2014."
And Montezemolo says he wants a clear number one and number two driver line-up.
"I've always said that I don't want two roosters in the hen-house," Montezemolo told Italy's Rai radio. "I don't like that and it creates instability in the team.
"[I would] rather two drivers who race for Ferrari and not for themselves. I don't want problems and rivalries, which we didn't have between [Michael] Schumacher and [Eddie] Irvine, between Schumacher and [Rubens] Barrichello, between Alonso and Massa or Massa and Schumi or Massa and [Kimi] Raikkonen."
Montezemolo did admit, however, that it was likely Massa would be remaining with the team - a situation he described as "unthinkable" mid-way through the season.
"Undoubtedly, at half-season it was unthinkable to reconfirm Massa; now he's meeting our expectations, tomorrow we'll discuss it and then we'll take the decision. Massa performed very well in Monza and in Japan; it is a Massa reborn. I asked him to come to Maranello tomorrow and we'll discuss it at length, I think that he's always given a lot to Ferrari and that he built a good team spirit with Alonso. I put my stakes on him to gnaw points away from our adversaries".
Montezemolo added that he and Massa have always had "a perfect relationship, I must have talked to him 40 times this year.
"It's true that the features of the car we had at the beginning of the season were such that he couldn't drive it but I always sustained that we needed him to react and from Spa on he started to improve his performance; he knew he could count on the whole team's full support."