text: Opinion Adam and Eves gifts to the Jews &mdash freedom and a conscience Facebook Twitter Email SMS WhatsApp Share By J. Correspondent | September 9, 2004 The oldest and most primitive human dates back about 7 million years, according to a skull found by scientists in Central Africa. "That's so depressing," I say to my husband, Larry. "I can't believe that in 7 million years we haven't evolved any further than this." "This" being a world in which half the people live on less than $2 a day; in which 1 billion people go to bed hungry every night; in which 115 million children never go to school at all; and in which 27 million people live in some kind of slavery. "You're looking at this all wrong," Larry assures me. "Seven million years is an insignificant blip in the history of the cosmos." And, Jewish tradition tells me, the first 6,994,235 years hardly count. After all, it's not the birth of the prehominid that scientists have named "Toumai" that marks the beginning of our moral evolution, but rather the birth of Adam and Eve. We Jews recognize this milestone as Rosh Hashanah, the birthday of the world, which occurred 5765 years ago and which this year begins at sundown on Wednesday, Sept. 15. Also known as the Day of Judgment, Rosh Hashanah gives us an opportunity — well, actually, it obligates us — to commit to improving ourselves and our world. This concept of effecting personal and collective transformation is nothing short of revolutionary. As Thomas Cahill points out in his book "The Gifts of the Jews," we were the first ancient people to realize that we could actually make a difference. According to Cahill, ancient Jews recognized that "we are not doomed, not bound to some predetermined fate; we are free." Not free in the sense that my four sons envision — free from parental criticism, curfews and curbs on Internet use — but free in the sense of having the opportunity to partner with God to help eliminate poverty, hunger, illiteracy, slavery and other ills. But we haven't always used this freedom wisely. Fewer than 2,000 years after Adam and Eve's eviction from the Garden of Eden, mankind's egregious misbehavior led God to destroy everyone but Noah and his family. When we built and worshipped the Golden Calf while Moses was fetching the badly needed Ten Commandments, we came close to annihilation for a second time; only Moses' intervention saved us. And there have been other close calls as well. Yes, our moral progress is slow. We are stiff-necked. We whine and we moan. We look for the easy way out. And yet, once a year at Rosh Hashanah, we must fearlessly and aggressively assess our mistakes, misdeeds and misbehavior. We must make apologies and amends both to other people and to God, and vow to make positive changes. "I'm a teenager. You can't make me change," Jeremy, my 15-year-old son, says, proving that stubbornness is not just an ancient characteristic. "No, but you can make yourself change," I answer. And the consequences, I remind him, as the U'Netaneh Tokef prayer tells us, are nothing short of determining "who shall live and who shall die." And so we strive to make "Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes," as the David Bowie song goes. Changes that are probing, painful and substantive. Changes that are powerful enough to avert a decree of death. These changes come about in three ways: First, through tshuvah. Often translated as "repentance," this Hebrew term actually means "returning," referring to a return to God. It involves the difficult work of introspection, apology and amends that begins in the weeks leading up to Rosh Hashanah and ends with the blowing of the shofar signaling the end of Yom Kippur. Tshuvah, one midrash tells us, was so important that God created it before creating the world, knowing that our free will would invariably lead us astray, and understanding that we would need a way back. Second, change can occur through tefillah, or prayer. But, as Rabbi Ed Feinstein explains in his book "Tough Questions Jews Ask": "Real prayer, prayer that works doesn't change the world; it changes us. We can't ask God to change the world for us. We have to do that ourselves." Third, we can change through tzedakah. Though commonly translated as "charity," the Hebrew root of tzedakah means "justice," which is yet another route toward meaningful change. As God commands in Deuteronomy 16:20, "Justice, justice shall you pursue.' Larry and I ask our sons what they will be doing in the coming year to help repair the world. Zack, 20, will continue to write and edit for the Williams College newspaper, spending long hours every week helping to keep the students and staff informed and involved. Gabe, 17, will be co-organizing a program for Milken Community High School juniors and seniors to live and work for two days at the Union Rescue Mission in downtown Los Angeles. Jeremy will do at least 120 hours of volunteer work at Valley Presbyterian Hospital in Van Nuys, assisting in the emergency room and in pediatrics. And Danny, 13, is kicking off his campaign for president of the United States, with the goal of helping to eliminate poverty. To paraphrase Rabbi Tarfon in Pirke Avot, the Ethics of the Fathers, it is not our responsibility to finish the work, yet neither are we free to walk away from it. Which is maybe what happened 7 million years ago. Jane Ulman is a freelance writer in Encino and the mother of four sons. This column was distributed through JTA. J. Correspondent Also On J. Organic Epicure How a deli owner turned his life around through bagels and pastrami Local Voice White supremacists have no place at public meetings TV & Film Poor and working-class Jews are underrepresented in pop culture World Canadian salute to a Ukrainian Nazi didn't come from nowhere Subscribe to our Newsletter Enter Email Sign Up


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I've used Craigslist and know there're good deals available; we got one great deal. However, personal experience and friends' experience also highlights the importance of buyer caution.
Editor's Note: Congratulations to Bill G., @smanukonda, and Lori Hanisko for winning this week's contest!
Chances are you have heard of Craigslist and (more than likely) you have perused its for sale section, used it for an apartment search, or even used it to sell items. Personally, I have used Craigslist to successfully find an apartment as well as buy and sell everything from TV's to surfboards. However, I know there are many people out there who have gotten ripped off when using Craigslist.
Do you use Craigslist? Why or why not? What is the best deal you found on Craigslist? What about the worst? How do you avoid getting ripped off when using Craigslist?
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I've used Craigslist and know there're good deals available; we got one great deal. However, personal experience and friends' experience also highlights the importance of buyer caution.
Best Deal(s): all the odd jobs helping people relocate or helping with landscaping work has helped me earn some serious "windfall" cash to put toward an engagement ring for the lady :)
Worst Deal: I got scammed once while hunting for an apt to rent, someone wanted me to pay the security deposit on a home they didn't own. I searched for the home through a real estate agent, visited and learned it wasn't for rent and the REAL owner still lived there. My tip: the advice given on Craigslist is there for a reason, so just be careful.
I've bought two bird cages from craigslist in anticipation of the bird we'rewanting to buy soon.
I'm also selling my husband's car on there right now since we don't use it now that we live in a city with great public transit.
Yes I use Craigslist. I have only used it for baby items so far. The way I don't get ripped off is by extensively researching what I'm buying. There are two deals that jump out to me as really great finds. The first is my Bugaboo stroller. It retails for around 900$ Hubs and I found one for 300 on Craigslist. I LOVE this stroller. The only thing wrong with it is a little wear and tear. No biggie. The second deal was actually gotten for us by a friend. Babies-R-Us was having their trade in event. The jist is you trade in an old piece of baby equipment for a discount on a new one. This wonderful friend found us a free pack and play on Craigslist and we traded that in on a very nice discount for the car seat. We saved around 50$ for turning it in.
I use craigslist to find random things in the local area. I built a smoker and needed wood for the actual smoke. Hardware stores were selling the wood chips for $7-8 for a small bag. I found a guy on craigslist who was selling 50lb bags of wood for $10. yay internet
ALL THE TIME. We just got married, and instead of spending loads of money buying new furniture, we've been trying to find pieces on craigslist that we can tweak and make our own. Love it!
I have used it once, to sell something. The buyer was happy, and as the seller, I was happy, and it worked very well. I would only do it for something local, I think.
I use CL to buy and sell all the time. Whenever I have something we no longer need, I list it on CL. I recently bought a vintage sewing machine for our household for $20. It was a steal.
I used to use Craigslist for everything, like buying things, looking at real estate, posting a missed connection. ;) Now, I use it mainly for work. I posted for writers for a blog that I started, and I just posted for finding actors for a PSA video that I am creating for my non-profit. Craigslist still works for many things.
For the most part, I like Craig's List. I've successfully found an apartment to rent, sold a ton of stuff, bought a ton of stuff, and found and posted a job through Craig's List. It's also great because there's one for most major cities - I recently moved across the country and was able to get myself set-up without too much hassle, predominately because of Craig's List posts.
BUT, I've also run into a lot of scams and can say with confidence that if it sounds too good to be true, it is - which seems like an obvious thing to say, but sometimes those posts seem really normal and unscamlike. If anyone puts any pressure on you to fill out a form, give personal details or send money, you've been had.
Craig's List requires common sense and patience. If at any point you think "hey, wait a minute..." stop what you're doing and re-think.
I've used Craigslist to sell some. We also used it to find a few things when we moved in our apartment. We've been pretty lucky so far and haven't gotten ripped off. =
I always go to the free section of Craigslist. I'm usually looking for construction & landscape materials. The best deal I've found free is enough concrete blocks to build raised flowerbeds around the two trees in the back yard..It's filled with mostly free plants. If I had enough room in the house I'd take advantage of all the free beautiful furniture people are giving away for various reasons. I love the free section of Craigslist!!!
We have used Craigslist successfully to buy a refrigerator, curtains & rods and 2 mirrors from someone in our neighborhood who was moving.
On the other hand we traveled across town, a 30 minute drive, to look at a beige leather recliner. Photo looked good, seller assured us the chair was perfect - no rips, no stains. Got there and it had numerous cat scratches on the back (but it wouldn't show according to the seller), seams coming apart at the head (it's not ripped said the seller), and imbedded dirt in the creases of the seat and back (it's not stained, like I said). Listing was still up a month later.
I had that happen once when I was looking for a futon. I drove about 30 minutes to look at what seemed to be a nice futon based on the pictures only to get there and see that it was in really bad condition. It's amazing how just the right lighting and angles can make something look really nice even when it's complete junk!
I LOVE Craigslist. I have used it numerous times for both buying and selling items with no issue. The best thing I sold was the 8 foot Brunswick pool table I had taking up space in our bonus room. I was worried I'd have to help move it but the person who ended up buying it hired professional pool table movers to come and get it. They did all the work.
I just used Craigslist in KC two weeks ago and was very happy with the experience! I was looking for a certain type of lamp from the 70's and thought "no way am I going to find what I had in mind". Well, it took some patience, but sure enough someone posted EXACTLY what I was looking for.
The next week I thought I'd give it a try and sell something. I had a brand new stair stepper, so posted it for the same amount that I paid for the lamp...figured I'd come out a wash. Sure enough, in a couple of days it was sold!
Patience Willow....and the sale will go down.
We've used Craigslist to get free stuff and sell larger items. Our experience has been positive on both ends.
I usually enjoy craigslist though I've had some interesting experiences. When buying something I always start with an email asking if the item still is for sale. My biggest pet peeve is people not taking advertisements off of craigslist. I always work in cash and inspect the item first. I only bargain on-site if something is defective. Most of my bargaining is over email. I always show up on time to meet people because I really hate when others are late.
The weirdest sale I ever had on craigslist was to a guy who insisted on telling me that he was late because the police raided his house. He then asked if he could pay me $5 less now and send me the rest over mail. I agreed because I just wanted him gone. He ended up sending the money.
I had a nightmare experience on Craig's list once.
I had an old riding lawn tractor that required too much maintenance to get running. I figured I'd offer it up for free to the first taker who could haul it out of my backyard. I was surprised to see that as soon as I posted it I had about 20 replies in the first hour looking to get it. I never imagined that a non-working, 15-year old tractor would be in such demand.
I began to wonder if I shouldn't have asked for a small amount of cash in return. And then I noticed that the third e-mail response I got said "How about $100?" I figured this was perfect. This was one of the first responders and this person obviously realized it would be in high demand so was offering up a little sweetener to make sure they got the tractor. I replied back that $100 sounded good and after a few e-mails the pickup was set for tomorrow. The last e-mail I got back was "Great, make sure you have the cash ready tomorrow."
Um, what? I replied back that it was I who was getting the cash... at which time the respondent started to become threatening. I got replies back that basically said "No, you are paying me $100. I already got 3 big friends to come help me move it and we'll be there tomorrow morning. You'd better have the cash ready."
I tried to reason with this person... asking obvious questions like "Why would I pay you to take my mower when I have another 50+ looking to haul it out for free?" (and that was true, as I kept getting more and more e-mail responses to my posting).
This logic approach didn't work as the person kept threatening that I'd better have the cash ready. At this point I realized that this person is really just pulling a scam. The "How about $100" offer at the beginning was intentionally vague and was meant to pull me into this argument. Clearly this person is hoping that some bullying would work. It didn't. I returned his threats with some of my own and told him that my friends and myself would be ready for his crew the next day.
The next morning I got an e-mail stating that his friends had a conflict and I was lucky to be off the hook.
I have to believe that I'm not the only one who has gotten that scam along with some bullying. Hopefully nobody ended up offering the cash.
I ended up giving the mower away for free to the first person who had responded. That person was a landscaper who ran his own small business who was very pleasant, easy to work with and who was thrilled to get the mower. So I guess the story had a happy ending.
I've purchased a dog kennel, 12 Guinea Fowl, AKC registered Doberman, apartment sized dishwasher, Kitchen Aid stand mixer, assortments of Partylite Candles (twice) , Jack LaLane juicer, double Patio Doors, banana trees, 1998 Bonneville and a turkey fryer. Those are the items I can recall. I do not like rummaging through piles of junk at yard sales and Craigslist eliminates the need. I type in keywords and look at the item from the privacy of my own home. Like anything, use caution. But when utilized properly the savings and possibilities are endless.
Yes, I use craigslist quite a bit, both to buy and sell (personal stuff, not as a business model). It is great how easy it can be to find good deal, or get rid of stuff you don't use. But sometimes it is frustrating when selling because often people no-show and don't tell you. But, it sure beats driving around to tag sales.
I love Craigslist. After two years of being laid off, I found a temp job that I am still working 9 months later. I found a ton of free boxes for an upcoming move. Best of all, I found my best friend in the Platonic section.
I have searched Craigslist before, but have never purchased anything. There are lots of scams so buyer beware. I was apartment hunting and there were many fake postings. They would respond to inquiries asking for credit score and other information.
I've posted several things for sale and even for free. The only ones that were taken were the freebies. Maybe my metro area is too small but it could be that I'm asking too much. I don't like that my ad gets buried under other ads so quickly and reposting is necessary.
I cruise almost daily for local things in our neighborhood only. I am middle aged and married, we live in a fairly affluent neighborhood in Seattle and have met some interesting people on CL. Generally there's a fairly high entertainment factor even if we don't buy.
We have, after four years never been burned, and often encourage others to give it a go. A friend in Chicago brought up the fact that we love the chase and that CL takes time and that has to be factored into the price. Indeed. I have been stood up only twice, when I appeared as agreed and the seller wasn't there.
We answer ads early, if we are lukewarm about the price we contact the seller and leave our number to call if they haven't sold it in a week. We always research what the price should be on E-Bay or on line for the price new. Your ability to bargain and willingness to walk away is important too.
I put something on CL yesterday with a price that was double what I wanted to get for it thinking if I priced it too low I might not get calls, I got a call right away and hope to sell it tonight.
I just got done eating on our CL dining room table, slept on our CL bed, sat on our CL couch, drove in our CL car (sold and car and bought a car same day on CL), and walked out on our porch build with CL materials. We have a vacation rental that we book several times a year to people who found us on CL and we have hired many caregivers for my disabled relative that way too. Hired one just last week for another job. CL rocks!
If you are unsure, meet at a neutral place like a bank where there are plenty of cameras, we tested a vacuum cleaner at Staples office supply as the buyer was apprehensive about having us come to his home. Cash only. Don't be afraid to bargain but also be fair. I don't bargain with people who are expecting their first child or young people who obviously need the money more than we do.
Arrive on time, call if you aren't coming, and make it a win-win. I had someone tell me that when someone e-mails instead of calling she takes them less seriously and from that point onward always call. I mention I live in the same neighborhood and ask them to suggest the time we meet. Happy hunting!
I'll use it for things that I don't care too much about, like dorm room furniture or things like that. I've heard it's great for housing and apartment hunting though!
Yes I use Craigslist, I haven't purchased anything yet as I'm very picky and will not call after furniture that doesn't have a picture listed with it. However, I've sold a few things and all has been okay with that end of things.
I use it all the time! Mostly selling, occasional buying. Best deal I ever got was a $10 old printer that lasted me about 6 years.
I've used it once to buy, twice to sell. Haven't made money- more like 'well, at least I'm not totally screwed.' Took a while for the sales to go through. Mostly because I wanted to get *something* for the item. If I wanted to give it away, I'd have listed it under 'Free' or on freecycle.
I've used it for quite a few things. I've sold a few items but mostly tracked down oddities that I wouldn't be able to find on my own without lots of lost searching time. (I do an elaborate Halloween display every year for my neighborhood, and building supplies and things like store mannequins are some of my scores off of Craigslist)
I've had good success buying things off Craigslist, rain barrels, light fixtures, tools, an old buffet that I had refinished and now looks gorgeous in my diningroom. Where I haven't had much luck is in selling items. I think that side requires a *lot* of patience.
Absolutely! I used craigslist to find the phone that I'm posting this comment from, for 25% less than what i could find if for on ebay. :) The best way to avoid getting ripped off, in my opinion, is to always meet someone in a public place for inspection of products, if possible, before making any offers or decisions.
Also, Craigslist was MADE for haggling. Unless the post says 'price firm' (or even if it does), you can name your own price and see what happens. I got a very nice refrigerator for a grand total of $100, when it was listed for $140. Then, I turned around and sold my old one for $140!
I do use Craigslist and I scored big on two leather chairs for my new apartment. Jen was very sweet and held them until I was able to come get them, some five days later. I landed a job I found on Craigslist and I met a nice guy on there, too.
Of course, be careful when doing anything online, but trust your instincts, too.
I browse Craigslist often for items to use in various craft projects and for tickets to local concerts. The best deal I've found, however, is my current job. :) I was about to give up hope and found a promising ad. Two years later, I'm still going strong.
So far I have not been successful using Craignslist.
In my current job search, I have run into quite a few employment scams on Craigslist, including identity theft scams. My college-age daughter was nearly a scam victim when she replied to a Craigslist job posting for part time office work for a law firm. The firm actually existed, but the person who contacted her gave a phone number that was not connected to the firm. My daughter was smart to schedule the "interview" at a Starbucks. The guy never showed. I wonder what he was really up to.
I tried to sell a car on Craigslist. The only response I got was from somebody named "Svetlana" who wanted to engage in some hanky panky. I passed on that.
I have been looking for a Leclerc table loom on Craigslist, but when I find one offered I either don't get a reply from the seller or else I'm too late. Or not worthy; one poster wanted an essay on why I wanted the loom and she would pick the best one.
I am happy to see that others have had success. My friend found a good job on Craigslist. Maybe I won't give up on it just yet.
I used Craigslist to find my current apartment, which I've been living in for a year and a half. It was actually the first place I called. My landlady is super nice and the maintenance company is great. I love it =)
I have used Craigslist to find an apartment: success! To buy a used dryer: rip off! To buy numerous sizes and gender of children's clothing: mixed results. Also have purchased baby food: great deal! And a glider & ottoman: ok deal. So, I've really only been scammed once for $60 for the dryer. Not too bad results
I've bought and sold furniture on Craigslist during my last move. I'm happy to say I've never been scammed and I do try to be very, very careful, only dealing with people in my general area. I've also searched for (and continue to search) for jobs. Last year my daughter starting picking up promotional "gigs" on CL which led to pretty steady work during the festival season (summer and fall here in NJ). She's now moved into her first real apartment, so I will be searching CL for good deals on furniture and other things she needs. I think it's a great resource, but you do have to use caution and good sense.
I check it almost every day - I'm looking for 3 Full or Queen size beds for the kids. I have gotten one of the toddler beds there and the Thomas train table set there, and I have sold some strollers and other large Little Tykes things there.
I have used Craigslist to sell mostly. I had a city coupon book & sold the golf coupons from it. I had won carpet tiles at a sustainability fair & don't think I'd have been able to sell them otherwise. I rent so I had no need for them. But what do you know? My buyer was a landlord.
I have used Craigslist for buying and selling. None of my listings on there have sold but I have purchased many items on there. My hubby uses it often to find discounted items for his business (construction and bio-fuels). I have purchased homeschool curriculum on it at a fraction of the retail price.
My brother-in-law has great sucess with Craigslist. He buys and sells with great ease. He has purchased items, refurbished them, then sold them back for profit on Craigslist.
OH I forgot to share this in my earlier post. My husband and I were looking for a used dishwasher for a rental property. The guy who we bought it from on Craigslist said he could install it for an extra $50. Turns out he was an amazing handyman, who we hired to help us get the house in condition after a tenant trashed it. I don't know what we would do without him. He just installed a new stove for us. So, I guess you could say the handyman came with the dishwasher!
I love craigslist. Here's our latest success story http://www.frugalapolis.com/2011/03/another-craigslist-success-story.html
Yes, I use Craigslist all the time, for gigs, job searches, and selling and buying used stuff on the net. Even personals occasionally. It's a mixed bag, but mostly positive experiences.
Oh forgot to post best and worst deals - worst would be my apartment in Providence, RI, which I looked at and found out about a shooting at later before I moved in, thankfully. Best would be my selling my Wii balance board for $100 which I was no longer using!
I found my future wife on CL. We happened to meet by chance when I posted an ad on a rainy Friday night three years ago. I was new to the city and looking to meet some new friends. We ended up chatting online and things progressed from there -- we were married this past September!
So aside from the usual home furnishing dealings (all of which I've had no problems with), I'd say CL has been pretty good to me.
I've used Craigslist several times in the past. My most successful times have been when I sold all of the furniture in my old apartment. I made enought to pay off some of my debt. The most recent time is to find my current housemate. I was moving to a new city and wanted to find somewhere to live while I figured out the city. It turned out great! I like where I live and my housemate and I just renewed our lease.
I have sold a number of items over the last year or so. A down jacket, a fleece jacket, and an ipod speaker system. Love me some Craigslist!
I found my husband on craigslist! I know, what are the odds?! I posted an ad in the personals section, we emailed a bit, met up, and five years later are happily married.
I have used craigslist to sell things, and have the typical words of wisdom for buyers: meet in a public place, take someone with you, and listen to your gut. If something seems like a scam or a rip off, walk away.
Thankfully my husband wasn't a scam or a rip off! He just turned out to be an amazing and wonderful guy!
Craigslist is a wonderful concept. Too bad the craigslist for my area is about 99% spammers. I've listed items for sale and always always get about 10+ "replies" that sound suspiciously like spammers ("I'm interested in your item!") and very few legit replies. Ok, maybe that means nobody wants my stuff =) Anyways, another big minus is the tons of people who are selling fake LV, North Face, Chanel, etc on Craigslist. so anyway, no, I no longer use Craigslist.
My mom (a principal) found a really good teacher through craigslist. I've got a tutoring job and some furniture that way. Just be careful to meet in public places or with a companion.
I also once bought a hair iron through craigslist (with paypal) which turned out to be defective. After a couple of phone calls to paypal, I got most of my money back.
I was one of the first to get hit by the car scams. Thank goodness I didn't actually ship my car to Nigeria. I've found some great roommates, and also plenty of potential roommates that suggested "clothing optional" living situations. Currently, I'm using Craigslist to try to dig up sentimental items stolen from my grandmother's house. The site has it's pros and cons, but it is the best living newspaper to date.
I love Craigslist. I use it all the time. I do some buying, but mostly I sell stuff. If I have something I don't use, or has lost usefulness and sat around for a year. It will end up on Craigslist. I'm very careful about buying and selling. So luckily I haven't come across any bad deals.
I've no idea about Craigslist before, but I feel interested in it now. Anyway, I will have a try.
I use craigslist all the time, have gotten furniture and other assorted goods on there at wonderful prices, but i would have to say the best deal i got is my girlfriend of now 5 months. i know there are many horror stories about personal ads on CL but i was forced into doing it by a friend of mine after my 3 year relationship with my ex ended and i was doing nothing but sitting around. luckily my lovely new girl was on at just the right time and we have been together ever since.
Unfortunately, I live so far from a large city that there are few relevant, nearby Craigslist listings. I look forward to moving somewhere where I can make better use of it.
I have bought numerous household items on Craigslist, as well as
finding our beloved dog, whose previous owners had to give up. I have also sold
items on Craigslist.
I have had a few instances of potential buyers not showing up as
promised, but all in all, it has been successful.
I haven't been interested in using craigslist because of all the horror stories I have heard. I guess if you just use common sense then it would eliminate a lot of the potential bad sales. I am just not 100% sure that it is worth buying something expensive through craigslist.
I have bought furniture off of Craigslist, sold my washer and dryer there, found a couple of babysitters AND my current home.
Of course, during the rental searches, there were a couple of definite scams, but all in all it has been a positive experience.
I have sold a couple of things on Craig's List and also purchased from the list. The most enjoyable purchase was to find a local couple who sell fresh eggs for $1.50/dozen and they are less than 5 miles from my house! That's the beauty of shopping in your local area. If you don't like strangers coming to your house to view something you are selling on Craig's List, you might do what I did - I sold a set of car tires and arranged to meet the buyer at my rental house in town. It was more convenient for the buyer and I didn't have to give away my home address. Just think things through before you post something for sale. Use the email reply method to read inquiries and answer questions. The best part of using Craig's List is that it is FREE!
I have only really used it to find a desk and to find my current roomie on a cross-country move....I've attempted to find adoptable dogs on it, (as that's how I found one doggie from a family who didn't want to send their dog to a shelter first), but ended up finding the right little guy at a rescue :)
I like it...sometimes.
I've used Craigsilst to sell numerous items, mostly baby items we no longer need. I meet at a local place with people around instead of my my house though. Never know who is coming to purchase your item...
I haven't had a bad experience selling items on Craigslist (so far). I sold my car with 12 hours of listing it and sold my dad's pickup within 2 days. I check on various items throughout the week for things I am looking for to furnish our house (went from 1 bedroom to 4 bedroom). I figure it's better than using gas going to yard sales, second hand shops, etc. looking for pieces I can refurbish.
I have browsed the site, but never used it. Truth be told, with all the bad publicity surrounding Craigslist, I am skeptical that the posts are legitimate.
I stopped using craigslist soon after someone tried to rip me off for 3 grand for a car, soon after a local man was shot by people who found him on craigslist and tried to rob him.
I sell items on Craigslist to make extra money and declutter. Usually it will be something big or bulky that I don't want to sell on ebay because of high shipping costs.
I love Craigslist!! Whenever I have something we no longer need, I list it!
Everyone is right though, Buyer beware. I only sell things for cash, and only have someone come to my home daylight hours.
Yes, I use Craigslist to buy and sell. I like not having to fool around with shipping. However, I have had items sold out from under me after a deal had been struck. Usually, more money is offered. A deal isn't necessarily a deal until you have it in your possession I have found.
I use Craigslist occasionally. It helped me get my first motorcycle, which has served me well since.
My family loves craigslist! My father bought a pop up camper using craigslist, my brother bought a very nice $2k for around $1-1.5K, and I got a great deal on a bike. As long as you are a smart consumer, craigslist can be very helpful. Just remember, if the deal is too good to be true, don't buy!
I sure do. I'm listing half a dozen things this weekend. From furniture, tents, all the way down to laptop bag!

subset: commoncrawl


text:
08 December 2009
This is how it was preserved by the family...I guess I'll always have to wonder what it said inside...
4 comments:
it seems such a shame that it is just laying out in the weather in a ziplock bag, it would have been hard for me not to peek as well. Would it be possible to find out from the cemetery, a contact person for the deceased and permission asked to preserve the journal? Seems like such a waste of the poor young mans writing.ReplyDelete
I hadn't thought of that. All I could think about is why I shouldn't read it...ReplyDelete
Also the grave only had a picture of the boy and no marker. I am never in Windsor except for this day. I hopped over on my lunch break because I was looking at a job down the street. This is how I come across many of these cemeteries...ReplyDelete
This reminds me a lot of the homemade memorials I have seen in a couple of local cemeteries that allow this. I had even thought that some bottles left on a couple of graves were litter, but it turns out that families and friends sometimes have "21st birthday parties" - with champagne or whatever - for children who died before their 21st birthday.ReplyDelete


text:
No Way She'll Run For Senate In 2016, Michelle Obama Says
The New York Times' Frank Bruni floated the idea, saying he'd heard "a vague murmuring" about Michelle Obama running for the Senate from Illinois in 2016.
But , as Politico recounts, the first lady said she's "absolutely not" interested in a political career of her own. That's what she told USA Today this week as well.
Of course, another Democratic first lady — Hillary Rodham Clinton — once said to Larry King that "when we got toward the end of the White House years, and people started asking me to run for the Senate — and very knowledgeable, politically sophisticated people — I said 'no, that's absurd, that's ridiculous, I'm not going to do that.' "
Clinton was elected to the Senate from New York State in 2000.
Michelle Obama is making the rounds of media outlets to talk about her latest project, a book called American Grown. As Morning Edition reported, it's a diary of that garden through the seasons and a portrait of gardening in America, past and present.
On that topic, our friends at The Salt wonder " How Do Your Dinnertime Rules Compare To The Obamas'?"
For much more on the world of politics, check It's All Politics.
Copyright 2020 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.


text:
Escape The Room
- App Store Info
DescriptionI have a headache and feel powerless.
I try to open my eyes but strong light makes me close my eyes again.
I wait for a minute and barely manage to open my eyes.
I can see bright light.
I am in somebody's room and now get up on my hands.
The room is seen in detail. The blackish iron bars of the door are seen first.
I look around the room with the temples of my head pressed.
Somebody made the room neat. A sheet of memo is found.
"You waisted your time" "You are extremely guilty of it but I will give you a change."
"It is not difficult. You must show me your strong will for your life."
I don't know who made this trap but I walk up to the door.
The door is locked. It will not open.
*************** Features ****************
- 20 detailed rooms are provided with each stage.
- Thanks to various designs of tools used in the real life, the game player can enjoy realistic game play.
- The purpose of developing the game, Escape The Room
- The game, Escaping from the room, is the best escape i-phone game.
- Special designs are created especially for the game of escaping the room.
- Various games are played in the combination of over 50 kinds of items.
- There are about 20 various rooms.
- Continuous game play is possible thanks to hidden items.
- This game is good for the i-phone game as it is possible to play in a brief time.


text:
After weeks of public disagreement between Chicago Transit Authority officials and union leaders over a program that has given felons jobs cleaning rail cars, a transit agency spokesman said Wednesday night that workers from the program would be transferred into jobs cleaning buses.
CTA spokesman Brian Steele said he couldn't give details, citing an announcement planned for Thursday morning, but he confirmed that workers from the rail car servicer apprenticeship program would be moved into a CTA bus-cleaning program. Steele said he could not say how many workers would be transferred.
Steele's confirmation followed a news release announcing the plan from Robert Kelly, president of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 308, which represents rail workers.
The union and the agency accused one another of putting the rail car program in peril. Agency officials alleged union intransigence, while Kelly said he wanted the program to continue but with the workers — who were making $9.50 an hour without health care coverage — getting better pay and benefits.
About the transfer to the bus-cleaning program, Steele said the CTA has a "cooperative relationship" with bus employees' union representatives.
Founded in 2007, the rail car servicer apprenticeship program has served some 800 people, including those with nonviolent criminal convictions and domestic abuse victims, among others, Steele said.


text:
Queen Tatami Mat
Queen Tatami Mat
Sale Sold out
Regular price $599.95 USD
Regular priceUnit price per
Sale price
No Japanese home is without a Tatami Room, which is used for a variety of purposes (eating, sleeping, watching TV). The Tatami remind the Japanese of "home" and wherever there is tatami, there is "home".
Our Tatami Mats are constructed of Japanese Rush Grass with a double layer top for extra protection. The inside is a baked Dried Rice Straw Fill for strength and durability.
Each mat is sewn with a black fabric border and bound with twine. A moisture resistant barrier is included in the foundation of the mat.
80" long by 30" wide. 2" high, 70 pounds. For a queen shikifuton you will need two mats to make an 80" x 60" sleep surface.


text:
Moodle plugins directory: Faces
Blocks ::: block_faces
Maintained by Kyle Goslin, Daniel Mc Sweeney
Faces is a simple block that allows you to print or view a collection of user profile pictures for your moodle course. Its very useful for those of us who need to put a name to a face. Faces can be viewed/printed for the entire class or by group.
Latest release:
262 sites
26 downloads
59 fans
Current versions available: 2
It can be difficult to put a name to so many faces! Faces is a simple Moodle block that allows teachers to print out a collection of names and profile photos of those students who attend their classes.
Faces can print a collection of profile photos in grid format for the entire class or by group. It can be useful for use in the classroom or meetings when its useful to 'put a name to a face'
Its a quick and easy block to use and install. All feedback welcome
Development of this block is currently ongoing, so please feel free to make any suggestions.
Kyle Goslin (Lead maintainer)
Daniel Mc Sweeney
Please login to view contributors details and/or to contact them
Show comments
- Tue, Feb 24, 2015, 6:15 PMVery good block.
You can add the option to export to excel?
thanks a lot
- Wed, Feb 25, 2015, 1:32 AMHi ! Thanks for this.
I added an issue : https://github.com/Kylegoslin/moodle-block_faces/issues/1
Why don't you merge this plugin with Roster ? (and with attendance plugin by the way ? ^^)
- Wed, Feb 25, 2015, 3:45 PMHelo
I tried all. report_roster,mod_attendance and autoattendmod but when you export to excel the images are not.
- Sat, Jan 23, 2016, 7:39 PMErro version Moodle 3.0
Validating block_faces ... Erro
[Error] Plugin does not declare its component name [null] Ajuda com Plugin does not declare its component name
Installation aborted due to validation failure
- Fri, Jan 29, 2016, 3:08 AMHi
Please make it Moodle 3.0 ready. After that it will be very helpful.
What I'm looking for is an option to learn my student names just like with flashcards: Profile-Picture as question - lastname as answer. And not allways beginning with name a-z but shuffeld. Any hint how to do that? In Moodle? With export via Excel to a flashcard-App
- Tue, Feb 16, 2016, 1:18 PMHola, ¿cómo puedo corregir este error?
Erro version Moodle 3.0
Validating block_faces ... Erro
[Error] Plugin does not declare its component name [null]
Gracias al quien me pueda ayudar. El bloque se ve muy interesante.
- Sat, Apr 9, 2016, 5:53 AMin the archive file version add a line $plugin->component = 'block_faces';
- Thu, Apr 14, 2016, 10:20 PMInstalling through the Moodle interface, I first get "Unable to detect plugin type...". I selected manually to do "Block" as the type. At that point I get the following error.
Debugging output enabled
ZIP /data/web/ecampus/data/temp/tool_installaddon/4e0288a6-9118-4805-aee2-f51c8f194fa1/plugin.zip
Validating block_faces ... Error
[OK] Name of the plugin to be installed [faces] Help with Name of the plugin to be installed
[OK] Plugin version [2015052915]
[OK] Required Moodle version [2011070110.00]
[Error] Plugin does not declare its component name [null] Help with Plugin does not declare its component name
Installation aborted due to validation failure
- Mon, Feb 13, 2017, 8:21 PMAre there any plans for a M3.2 version?
Has anybody tested the current version (1.6) against Moodle 3.2?
- Fri, Mar 10, 2017, 6:40 PMI second the need for a M3.2 version.
- Tue, Mar 20, 2018, 9:23 PMKyle, Daniel,
Your plugin is highly appreciated. Any change for a 3.4 edition?
- Fri, Jun 29, 2018, 11:15 PMHi,
Any updates to 3.5?
- Tue, Nov 13, 2018, 9:45 PMWorks nice and smoothly in our 3.5. Compliments for Kyle for quick response on an issue!
- Mon, Feb 4, 2019, 11:51 PMThis looks like a useful plugin. We've used Roster but our faculty find it cumbersome. We had a homegrown "name quiz" solution that presented student photos in random order minus names for faculty quiz themselves. They loved this method of learning student names for their face-to-face courses, but we've moved away from this in favor of Roster. Any chance a change to your plugin along these lines is in the works? Thanks!
- Wed, Feb 16, 2022, 8:00 PMHi
The block is very convenient to make a "who is who" for groups on a course page. Thank you for making it!
We found a possible privacy issue Even when the block is not installed/active on a specific course page a member of that page can make a faces page when he copies the page id (XXX) to the faces URL
To make an overview of all the members of that page (even with separate groups) you can visit this url:
There is no difference whether the block is installed or not on page XXX. The use of the block anywhere on the site makes this possible.
Is there a way to prevent or fix this?
It would be more privacy friendly
if the block only showed faces on the pages it is installed
if the block only showed faces of the groups to which the user belongs
Please login to post comments


text:
CodeDragon is designed to work with Google Chrome and Firefox, and a few features of CodeDragon have been found not to work properly with other web browsers. To make sure you get the best experience when using CodeDragon, please download the latest version of Google Chrome or Firefox and try again. You can install Google Chrome for free here, and Firefox here.
Or, you can continue anyway.
0 comments, 0 likes, 34 views © May 23rd 2023.
No public projects found.


text:
Whether Africa will ever benefit from its natural resources is a question that is more relevant now than ever, as new discoveries of coal, oil and gas across East Africa look set to transform global energy markets and - people hope - the economies of those countries.
But can the likes of Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique and Uganda really turn their newfound riches into tangible wealth for ordinary people?
This month the BBC Africa Debate team will be in Ethiopia asking just that. Politicians, business representatives, activists and academics from across the continent will be taking part, as over 800 experts gather in Addis Ababa for the Eighth African Development Forum.
"On average, resource-rich countries have done even more poorly than countries without resources," according to Joseph Stiglitz, former chief economist at the World Bank and professor of economics at Columbia University, in the United States.
There are greater economic inequalities in resource-rich countries than elsewhere - as perhaps indicated by on-going miners' strikes in South Africa, considered one of the most unequal countries in the world - and too often there is also endemic corruption.
In Nigeria, the continent's biggest oil producer, at least $400bn (£250bn) of oil revenue has been stolen or misspent since independence in 1960, according to estimates by former World Bank vice-president for Africa, Oby Ezekwesili. That is 12 times the country's national budget for 2011. Meanwhile, 90% of people live on less than $2 per day.
There has been violence between Sudan and South Sudan over oil this year, and Malawi and Tanzania have yet to resolve their dispute over who owns the oil and gas in Lake Malawi.A different story?
Ghana started producing oil in December 2010 and there is further exploration all along the West African coastline. Only five of Africa's 54 countries are not either producing or looking for oil.
From Algeria to Angola - and from petroleum to platinum, iron ore to oceans - the scramble for Africa's resources has often caused problems rather than created prosperity.
Meanwhile, much of the profits from resource exploitation leave the continent entirely in the hands of foreign-owned companies which pay low rates of tax.
Few African countries process their own raw materials - rather, the value is added elsewhere, to the benefit of others.
Foreign-owned resource extraction companies are often criticised for providing little in the way of local employment and contribution to local economies.
But could there be a different story?
Diamond-rich Botswana has been praised as a country doing things right, experiencing relatively stable and transparent economic growth for decades.
It has also managed to retain some of the profits from processing its raw materials - something most African countries have failed to do.
A once poor European country, Norway, also proves it can be done - distributing its oil wealth so equally that it heads the United Nations Human Development Index (Nigeria comes in 156th place).
So why have so many African countries failed to turn natural riches into benefits for the masses? Who is to blame for the foreign exploitation, and whose responsibility is it to put things right? What about possible solutions - renegotiation of contracts, better transparency mechanisms, higher taxation, resource nationalism?
Should the likes of Mozambique and Ghana be celebrating their resource discoveries - and what do they need to do to make the most of them? Will Africa ever benefit from its natural riches?
Join the debate by leaving your comments here. You can also take part on Twitter - using #bbcafricadebate and #resourceafrica - or via BBC Africa's pages on Facebook or Google+
Tune in to the BBC World Service at 1900 GMT on Friday 26 October to listen to the Africa Debate broadcast from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.


text:
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text:
Sell Us Your Vehicle in Bethlehem, PA
Serving Bethlehem, Allentown, and Easton, PA
Attempting to sell your vehicle could prove to be a forgettable experience. The entire process often requires a great deal of time and effort. Furthermore, allowing strangers to test drive your vehicle can cause unnecessary anxiety. However, we promise to take the stress out of selling your vehicle.
We Buy Cars, Trucks, and SUVs
We specialize in buying all types of used vehicles. Whether you own an older model pickup truck or a family sedan, we promise to give you top dollar for your ride. You can even go online to use the dealership's appraisal tool. It only takes a few minutes for you to find out your vehicle's estimated worth. Nothing beats being able to do business from the comfort of your own home. After the vehicle is evaluated by one of our experienced appraisers at the dealership, you will be one step closer to making a sell.
The best part is that you don't have to actually trade in your vehicle for another ride. We will still give you cash for your vehicle. However, don't hesitate to check out our great selection of vehicles. The dealership's entire inventory can be found on our website.
Why Sell to Us?
Unlike other dealerships, we make selling your vehicle a simple affair. When you finally arrive at the facility, you won't be forced to wait around for hours. This is good news for the busy folks who don't have a lot of extra time to spare. Set up a date and time that suits your schedule the best. Our no-hassle policy makes everyone feel at ease. The staff will never pressure you to sell your vehicle. After receiving our offer, you can make a final decision in peace.
Our staff takes great pride in providing exceptional customer service. If you have any questions, we promise to give you a concise answer. Honesty always remains a top priority. Most importantly, you can always count on the dealership to give you a competitive offer.
Quick and Easy
You no longer have to deal with the frustrations that come along with selling a vehicle. We vow to make the process quick and easy. Don't waste your time trying to sell your vehicle privately. Remember, you are under no obligation to sell or trade in your ride.
Sell your current vehicle today and drive off in the late-model sedan, truck, or crossover you've always wanted. Get the best prices in town at our dealership, and save even more when you take advantage of our generous trade-in offers. Call us today or browse our online inventory page to find out about our current inventory specials.


text:
Orion Corporation presented promising Phase II data for new Alzheimer's disease drug at AAN Annual Meeting
A novel drug (ORM-12741) developed by Orion Corporation could improve cognitive and behavioral symptoms in patients with Alzheimer's disease. According to a Phase IIa study, presented yesterday at American Academy of Neurology's Annual Meeting in San Diego, ORM-12741 showed significant positive effects on episodic memory in patients with moderate Alzheimer's disease.
For the clinical Phase IIa trial, 100 people with moderate Alzheimer's disease and with behavioral symptoms were randomly given either 30 to 60 milligrams or 100 to 200 milligrams of ORM-12741 or matching placebo pill twice a day for three months as add-on therapy to a cholinesterase inhibitor drug. Additionally, use of memantine was allowed. These are the other Alzheimer drugs currently on the market. Neither the researchers nor the participants knew which treatment they were receiving.
Efficacy was assessed primarily with computerized tests from CDR System, from which standard composite scores were derived including Quality of Episodic Memory, Quality of Working Memory, Quality of Memory, Speed of Memory and Power of Attention. Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) was assessed to quantify the effects on behavioral and psychological symptoms.
After three months, researchers retested several aspects of the participants' memory and behavior. Those who took ORM-12741 tested higher on the tests of memory compared to those who received the placebo pill. At 3 months, the memory scores for those who received the placebo pill had worsened by 33%, whereas the scores improved by 4% for those who took ORM-12741. Clear and statistically significant positive treatment effects were noted for ORM-12741 on Quality of Episodic Memory (p=0.03) and Quality of Memory (p=0.0127) compared to the placebo group over the 12 week treatment period with no clear difference in efficacy between the two active dose groups. In addition, a positive trend was noted for both Quality of Working memory and NPI total score primarily for the low dose group. No significant differences were identified on the other CDR scores. ORM-12741 was generally well tolerated in the study
Professor Juha Rinne, the Principal Investigator of the ORM-12741 Proof of Concept study, commented:
"It is exciting to see clear effects demonstrated for the first time in patients with a molecule having a novel mode of action. It is encouraging to see that the effects are particularly clear in variables measuring episodic memory as defect in that is a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease. The results are giving promise for potential to a completely new treatment option to these patients."
Dr Reijo Salonen, Senior Vice President of R&D at Orion added:
"We are happy to see these promising results, especially given the challenges of demonstrating significant clinical improvement in this devastating disease. I am very proud of our scientists and clinicians, who are deeply committed to improving the lives of Alzheimer's patients, and who have worked diligently to discover this compound and design a study that enabled the potential benefits to be revealed."
Read the study poster at: http://www.orion.fi/congress-publications
About ORM-12741
ORM-12741 is a highly potent and selective alpha-2c adrenoceptor (AR) antagonist that has demonstrated efficacy in rodent models suggesting beneficial effects on cognition and behavioral symptoms in Alzheimer's disease, as well as good tolerability across seven phase I studies. It is the first drug to target a specific subtype of adrenergic receptors (alpha-2c) in the brain, which are believed to be involved in modulation of brain functions under stressful conditions.
About Orion
Orion is a globally operating Finnish company developing pharmaceuticals and diagnostic tests - a builder of well-being. Orion develops, manufactures and markets human and veterinary pharmaceuticals, active pharmaceutical ingredients and diagnostic tests. The company is continuously developing new drugs and treatment methods. Pharmaceutical R&D focuses on central nervous system drugs, oncology and critical care drugs, and Easyhaler® pulmonary drugs.
Orion's net sales in 2012 amounted to EUR 980 million and the Company had about 3,500 employees. Orion's A and B shares are listed on NASDAQ OMX Helsinki.
Contact person:
Reijo Salonen, Senior Vice President, Research and Development, Orion Corporation tel. +358 50 966 3647
Orion Corporation
Orionintie 1A, FI-02200 Espoo, Finland


text:
Prudent economic policy management and a strong policy framework have supported Colombia's remarkable economic performance in recent years and its resilience to adverse shocks, said the IMF in its regular assessment of Latin America's fourth largest economy.
"Overall, the economic outlook is promising and the authorities are actively addressing Colombia's challenges to preserve sustainable and inclusive growth," said the IMF's mission chief for Colombia, Valerie Cerra.
Growth easing but resilient
Colombia's growth moderated to below its estimated potential rate of 4½ percent in 2012, from nearly 6 percent the year before, the IMF said.
The slowdown accelerated in the second half of 2012, partly due to supply shocks and weaker external conditions. The IMF said the central bank reacted appropriately by cutting interest rates by 100 basis points.
"Despite the slowdown, economic performance has remained strong," added Cerra. Inflation fell to 2.4 percent at the end of the 2012, the unemployment rate declined to 9.2 percent in November (from rates above 16 percent a decade ago), and debt ratios remain low.
Colombia has been reaping the benefits of high commodity prices, strong macroeconomic credibility, and an improved security situation. Large inflows of foreign direct investment, especially to the hydrocarbon sector, have supported the external position and have been the principal source of recent exchange rate appreciation.
Favorable outlook, global risks
The outlook for 2013 is favorable. The country's economy is expected to grow broadly in line with potential growth and inflation is expected to remain low. Fiscal policy will be guided by the medium-term consolidation plans to lower the central government structural deficit to 1 percent of GDP by 2022.
While spillovers from the global turmoil have been limited so far, Colombia is vulnerable to a sharp worsening in the external environment.
The report noted that there is ample space to adjust policies if downside risks materialize. Monetary policy has room for further easing and the flexible exchange rate should continue to serve as a shock absorber.
"Nimble policies and a comfortable level of international reserves, reinforced by the IMF's Flexible Credit Line (FCL) arrangement, provide the country with buffers against such shocks," pointed out Cerra.
The FCL, created in 2009, provides an insurance against risks for the IMF's strongest performing members with a solid policy track record.
Ensuring inclusive growth
The IMF cautioned that the Colombian economy and public finances are becoming increasingly dependent on the volatile oil and mining sectors, and unemployment, income inequality, and labor informality remain high.
The authorities are taking steps to overcome these challenges, the report said. In December 2012, Congress approved a comprehensive tax reform, which will reduce nonwage labor costs and inequality, facilitate tax administration and compliance, and promote job creation in the formal sector. The government also intends to reform the public pension system to improve coverage and fairness.
The IMF also urged the authorities to consider a more ambitious fiscal consolidation plan, focused on increasing noncommodity revenues, which could help mitigate the appreciation pressures, build buffers against adverse commodity price shocks, and create fiscal space for improving public infrastructure.
Financial sector sound
As discussed in a companion report, the Financial System Stability Assessment, the health of the financial system remains sound. Banks appear resilient to a wide range of shocks, although they remain vulnerable to concentration risk.
Financial supervision is effective, but the IMF said it could be further strengthened through efforts to improve the risk-based approach to supervision, promote the de jure independence and legal protection of supervisors, strengthen the financial safety net, and extend supervisory and regulatory powers to holding companies of financial institutions.


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Smash the State
This side mission is available in Detroit, during the Anti-Aug Riots. This mission is tied to the achievement Lucky Guess.
Video Walkthrough
Mission Trigger
After speaking with Taggert and getting Dr. Sandoval's location, you will bump into Officer Nicky in the Convention Hall entrance. Note that if you disabled the cops at the entrance, Nicky will be spooked and will not offer you the side mission. In fact, you may have to take him down as well if he sees you moving the bodies.
Finding Jacob White
The miscreant that Nicky needs you to locate is one Jacob White, recently augmented and deranged. Locate the sewer manhole next to the Detroit Police Station and head downstairs.
Disarm the fragmentation mines and be aware of the three turrets in the main sewer hallway. You can locate the security hub near some heavy boxes and disable all three turrets -- of you can lift the turrets and throw them into the electrified water to destroy them.
Takedown Jake (and his lame Heavy Rifle) and locate the gas bomb by the ladder leading to the precinct's basement.
Save the game before attempting to hack the bomb's panel.
Lucky Guess
Save the game before attempting to hack the bomb's panel. If you are interested in netting Lucky Guess, the keycode for the bomb is 0000. Identity thieves must be overjoyed to see people haven't changed by 2027.
If you want to earn the experience points for hacking the bomb, feel free to reload the game before hacking the bomb and go from there.
Finalize with Nicky
Speak with Nicky at the convention hall entrance to complete the mission.


text:
Do you wish to purchase the ?
Xstamper Refill Ink (Black) - 20ml Bottle. Maintain optimal performance of your Xstamper and XstamperVX products. Use to uniformly re-ink the Xstamper Title, Jumbo, Specialty, N-Series Custom, C-Series Custom, VersaDaters, and SlideDater stamps. Each 20ml bottle has a twist cap that stops ink from leaking.


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AK Steel's Coshocton Works Recognized For Outstanding Safety Performance
20 Apr, 2012, 10:40 ET
WEST CHESTER, Ohio, April 20, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- AK Steel's (NYSE: AKS) Coshocton (Ohio) Works has been recognized for outstanding safety performance by the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation, Division of Safety and Hygiene. The recognition is part of a collaborative safety awareness program established by the Coshocton County Safety Council and Chamber of Commerce.
"It is an honor to be recognized by the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation, Division of Safety and Hygiene, an achievement that speaks volumes about our culture of safety at AK Steel," said James L. Wainscott, Chairman, President and CEO of AK Steel. "We congratulate all of our Coshocton Works employees for their outstanding safety performance."
AK Steel's Coshocton Works received a "Special Award for Safety" for operating 2,952,729 hours without a lost-time injury between February 20, 2008 and August 5, 2011.
AK Steel's corporate-wide safety performance was about 5.5 times better than the steel industry average for the full-year 2011.
AK Steel
AK Steel produces flat-rolled carbon, stainless and electrical steels, primarily for automotive, infrastructure and manufacturing, construction and electrical power generation and distribution markets. The company employs about 6,200 men and women in Middletown, Mansfield, Coshocton and Zanesville, Ohio; Butler, Pennsylvania; Ashland, Kentucky; Rockport, Indiana; and its corporate headquarters in West Chester, Ohio. Additional information about AK Steel is available on the company's web site at www.aksteel.com.
AK Tube LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of AK Steel, employs about 300 men and women in plants in Walbridge, Ohio and Columbus, Indiana. AK Tube produces carbon and stainless electric resistance welded (ERW) tubular steel products for truck, automotive and other markets. Additional information about AK Tube LLC is available on its web site at www.aktube.com.
AK Coal Resources, Inc., another wholly-owned subsidiary of AK Steel, owns or leases metallurgical coal reserves in Somerset County, Pennsylvania. AK Steel also owns 49.9% of Magnetation LLC, a joint venture headquartered in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, which produces iron ore concentrate from previously mined ore reserves.
SOURCE AK Steel


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Full Stache 8 is a full suspension 29+ trail bike with an oversized appetite for rugged backcountry riding. Sure-footed mid-fat tires, a 1x12 drivetrain, 130mm of front and rear travel, super short chainstays, and some ridiculously clever engineering make this 29+ trail bike the ideal rig for rugged singletrack and trail explorations into the unknown wild.
It's right for you if...
You believe mountain biking isn't about racing or showing off. It's about the experience of being out there in the rough, wonderful wild. For you, every ride is both a battle against nature and an appreciation of it. There's a whole lot of beauty in dirt, rocks, and roots. Trails don't need to be perfectly sculpted to be enjoyed.
The tech you get
An Alpha Platinum Aluminum frame with 130mm of travel, a Straight Shot down tube for extra stiffness in the rough, and a Knock Block steerer stop to protect against spinning bars. A SRAM GX Eagle 1x12 drivetrain with a huge gear range, a FOX Float rear shock with Trek's exclusive RE:aktiv damper, a 130mm RockShox Pike Select Plus fork with a plush DebonAir spring and Charger 2 RC damper that gives you more adjustment and control. Plus, aggressive 29x3.0" Bontrager XR4 Tubeless Ready mid-fat tires on beefy 40mm rims, and a Bontrager dropper post.
The final word
This is a new breed of performance backcountry trail bike. If you love seeking out the untamed trails in the wild and discovering new lines while ripping bikepacking adventures, Full Stache 8 is your dream ride. It's like that one friend who's always egging you on to go a little farther, because there's bound to be something epic right over the next ridge or at the bottom of the next valley.
Why you'll love it
- This bike was born for adventure in the wild outback, where capability isn't just something that's nice to have but an absolute essential
- Mid-fat tires are sure-footed on technical singletrack, tricky descents, and whatever trail you'll find where other riders dare not roam
- The shifter-style, underbar remote dropper post lever is super intuitive and easy to use
- 29x3.0" tires give you the flotation of a fat bike with the speed and momentum of a fast-rolling 29er
- Super short chainstays make Full Stache surprisingly agile, even with its 29+ wheels
Wider than standard yet narrower than fat, plus-size rims and tires hit the sweet spot in grip, stability, and speed, giving you more confidence on technical terrain. Compared to a standard tire you'll feel grip in places you wouldn't expect thanks to a bigger contact patch and greater rollover clearance. More air volume allows lower tire pressures which softens bumps and increases float on sand or snow. Whether you're a novice or an expert, the benefits of plus-size tires and rims will amplify your mountain biking fun.
A dropper seatpost allows you to quickly lower and raise your seat to give you an ideal riding position. Dropping your seat creates a lower center of gravity for better control and maneuverability on steep descents, while raising it puts you at normal riding height for efficient pedaling.
Construction can include either hydraulic- or cable-actuated systems and the post's travel can either be infinitely adjustable or stopped at set intervals, depending on the model.
Dropper seatposts come in standard lengths and diameters and vary by the amount of travel.
Pedals sold separately
|Alpha Platinum Aluminum, tapered head tube, Knock Block, Control Freak internal routing, downtube guard, magnesium rocker link, Mino Link, ABP, 130mm travel
|RockShox Pike Select+, DebonAir spring, Charger 2 RC damper, tapered steerer, 51mm offset, Maxle Stealth, 130mm travel
|Knock Block Integrated, cartridge bearing, 1-1/8'' top, 1.5'' bottom
|Rear Shock
|Fox Performance Float EVOL, RE:aktiv 3-position damper, tuned by Trek Suspension Lab, 210x52.5mm
Front: 15 x 110 Boost thru-axle
Rear: 12 x 148 Boost thru-axle
|SUNringle Duroc 40 SL, tubeless tape included, 28-hole, 40mm width, presta valve
Front: Bontrager alloy, sealed bearing, alloy axle, 6-bolt
Rear: Bontrager alloy, sealed bearing, 6-bolt, SRAM XD driver
|15g, stainless
|Bontrager XR4 Team Issue, Tubeless Ready, Inner Strength sidewalls, aramid bead, 120 tpi, 29 x 3.00''
|Truvativ Descendant 6k Eagle, DUB, steel ring, Boost, 175mm length
|Bottom Bracket
|SRAM DUB, 92mm, PressFit
|SRAM GX Eagle, 12 speed
|Rear Derailleur
|SRAM GX Eagle
|Cassette/Rear Cogs
|SRAM XG-1275 Eagle, 10-50, 12 speed
|SRAM GX Eagle, 12 speed
|Bontrager Line, alloy, 35mm, 27.5mm rise, 780mm width
|Bontrager XR Trail Elite, alloy lock-on
|Bontrager Line, 35mm, Knock Block, 0 degree, 60mm length
|SRAM Guide R hydraulic disc, 200mm front rotor, 180mm rear rotor
|Bontrager Arvada, hollow chromoly rails, 138mm width
|Seat Post
|Bontrager Line Dropper, 125mm travel, internal routing, 31.6mm
* Subject to change without notice.


text:
Hewlett-Packard says it is cutting another 11,000 to 16,000 jobs, above a target of 34,000 the company outlined in a multi-year restructuring plan in May 2012 and offered an outlook that was below expectations.
The company said in a release that the increased cuts come "as HP continues to reengineer the workforce to be more competitive and meet its objectives."
HP said it had 317,500 workers at the end of October, when it was partway into its restructuring.
HP's CEO, Meg Whitman, said in a statement that the company's turnaround "remains on track."
"We're gradually shaping HP into a more nimble, lower-cost, more customer- and partner-centric company that can successfully compete," she said.
The company also reported that net income in the three-month period ending April 30 rose 18 percent to $1.27 billion, or 66 cents per share.
Excluding special items such as restructuring charges, adjusted earnings were 88 cents per share, meeting the expectation of analysts polled by FactSet.
Revenue fell 1 percent to $27.31 billion, below the $27.43 billion analysts expected.
HP's quarterly results were unexpectedly released early, before markets closed. HP's stock dropped 74 cents, or 2.3 percent, to close at $31.78 and fell another 1.4 percent to $31.33 in after-hours
The company said it expects adjusted earnings of 86 cents to 90 cents per share in the current quarter, with the midpoint a penny below the 89 cents analysts are looking for. HP said full-year adjusted earnings will be between $3.63 and $3.75 per share. The midpoint is two cents below analysts' expectations of $3.71 per share.
Personal computer sales -- HP's largest source of revenue -- rose 7 percent to $8.2 billion as buoyant sales to businesses offset a slight consumer decline. Companies like Microsoft Corp. have shown a similar uptick as corporate clients upgrade computers due to the end of support for the nearly 13-year-old Windows XP operating system.
Printing revenue fell 4 percent to $5.8 billion. Enterprise group revenue fell 2 percent to $6.7 billion while enterprise services revenue fell 7 percent to $5.7 billion.


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Academy Award winners Dustin Hoffman (Rain Man) and Emma Thompson (Sense and Sensibility) reunite in Last Chance Harvey, a hopeful romance that celebrates new beginnings—at any age. The film is directed and written by Joel Hopkins (Jump Tomorrow). New Yorker Harvey Shine (Dustin Hoffman) is on the verge of losing his dead-end job as a jingle writer. Warned by his boss (Richard Schiff) that he has just one more chance to deliver, Harvey goes to London for a weekend to attend his daughter's (Liane Balaban) wedding but promises to be back on Monday morning to make an important meeting—or else. Harvey arrives in London only to learn his daughter has chosen to have her stepfather (James Brolin) walk her down the aisle instead of him. Doing his best to hide his devastation, he leaves the wedding before the reception in hopes of getting to the airport on time, but misses his plane anyway. When he calls his boss to explain, he is fired on the spot. Drowning his sorrows at the airport bar, Harvey strikes up a conversation with Kate (Emma Thompson), a slightly prickly, 40-something employee of the Office of National Statistics. Kate, whose life is limited to work, the occasional humiliating blind date and endless phone calls from her smothering mother (Eileen Atkins), is touched by Harvey, who finds himself energized by her intelligence and compassion. The growing connection between the pair inspires both as they unexpectedly transform one another's lives. (Source)
Find more trailers and clips on our homepage.


text:
SRD:Combat Manifestation
From D&D Wiki
|This material is published under the OGL 1.0a.
Combat Manifestation [Psionic]
You are adept at manifesting powers in combat.
You get a +4 bonus on Concentration checks made to manifest a power or use a psi-like ability while on the defensive or while you are grappling or pinned.
Back to Main Page → 3.5e Open Game Content → System Reference Document→ Feats


text:
Join OurStage to discover and listen to new music from great indie artists.
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Dail is well known for her Native American flute playing in the New England area. She is Native American and her heritage is Huron, Wyandotte and Micmac.. Her gifted Native American name is "Dragonfly". Gifted to her by 3 elders on 3 different occasions. She loves dragonflys so is very honored by this gifted name and deeply touched by it. Dail makes her living as a Nurse Practitioner. She has recently returned back to guitar and vocals and songwritting and is loving it!! Dail's flutes have a beautiful voice and speak well to what's in her heart, but her own voice makes her feelings more accurate and clear to the listener. Dail loves simple blues and jazz. Dail's vocal songs reflect winning or loosing lost at love or speak to how she feels about this world. She loves to start out with a few phrases of a song and then just start playing her guitar and see where it leads her. She plays her flutes this way too. All of Dail's Flute CDs are improvised at the recording studio never knowing what will happen until she starts playing and letting her flute take her on a journey. It is truely a remarkable experience. Dail is now spending a lot of time on new songs with her guitar with most of the influence being concentrated on folk style. A lot of work is ahead of her, but she is looking forward to it !! Most of Dail's CDs can be purchased on CD baby. You can also go to her web page freespirit-music.com to buy them. Well, she hopes you enjoy her music and as always, thanks for listening.


text:
These days, I am a bit skeptical about books in general. Especially new ones.
Don't get me wrong: I love books, and live literally surrounded by them. But in an age of perpetual information supersaturation, I have to wonder, every time a new book comes out, if the world really needed that extra weight of paper and text. Personally, I'd rather see good ideas expressed as fortune cookies than as tomes, but no one is going to make much money selling a fortune cookie, no matter how revolutionary its twenty-odd words may be.
So it's hard, for me, to find books that really justify themselves, and when my colleague John Baichtal asked me to review The Cult of LEGO, his recent survey of adult Lego fandom with BrickJournal founder Joe Meno, I was nervous. John's my pal, and though I would never, to be honest, publish a negative review of one of his books, I anticipated the very real possibility that I would have to tell him, after receiving and reading it, that I was "going to have to pass," or something just as awkward. I rehearsed a few diplomatic phrases: "It's just that I'm really, really picky about books, man."
As you will certainly have guessed by now, however, I didn't have to use them. The Cult of LEGO, I can report with some relief, is well worth its weight in words. If you are interested in the Lego subculture—and there are good reasons, I think, why everyone should be—John and Joe's book provides a concise, handy, visually-searchable index where (and this bit is key) there was none before. And if ever a subculture were in need of indexing, it was Lego fandom.
Adult Fans of Lego (AFoLs) were among the earliest Internet adopters, and some online Lego communities are about as old as online communities can be. The sheer number of sites dedicated to some aspect or another of the LEGO universe is enormous: There's Brickshelf, BrickLink, BrickArms, LUGNET, MOCpages, Peeron.com, LDraw.org, The Brothers Brick, From Bricks to Bothans, Mechahub, Classic-Pirates.com, Classic-Castle.com, and classic-space.com, just to list a few of the big-name sites. (And yes, I know I left out your personal favorite. Apologies!) Add to that the almost six thousand Lego-related Flickr groups, as well as the considerable and rapidly expanding official online presence of the Lego Group, itself, and, well…a person could spend months or even years trying to get a handle on all the different communities, memes, trends, and genres.
But now you don't have to, because John and Joe have done it for you. If you're standing at the edge of the Lego ocean and looking for the best place to jump in, you need look no further.
And, almost incidentally, really, The Cult of LEGO is a really good book, under all the traditional criteria for good books: well researched, well-written, well-organized, well-photographed. It's a pleasure to look at and to hold and to read. It would make a great gift or coffee table book (in case you another one of those), and if you've ever tinkered with Lego even a little bit, it's impossible to even glance through its 290 pages without being inspired by something you see.
The Cult of LEGO is on sale in the Maker Shed, this week, at 20% off the regular price. Just use coupon code "LEGOS" at checkout. Also, as a special reward for Shed shoppers, John has autographed two cases of books for us, and the first 28 buyers will receive one of these signed copies. Get 'em while they last!


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Tony Perkins to Pentagon: End 'Religious Hostility' in Military
Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, recently stated that in spite of recent comments from the Pentagon clarifying that it will not discriminate against evangelicals in the U.S. military, he believes that more must be done to ensure that the religious freedom of those in the armed forces is respectfully observed.
"While we appreciate the [Department of Defense's] public assurances, they mean nothing until the Pentagon and the Air Force take specific steps to roll back the climate of religious hostility in our military – and that includes disavowing extremists like Mikey Weinstein," Perkins wrote Thursday in a blog post on FRC's website.
"For too long, the [Department of Defense] has tested the limits of political correctness, turning a policy of religious neutrality into an excuse for religious hostility. It's time for the Pentagon to show the American people who it stands with: Mikey Weinstein or our brave men and women in uniform?" Perkins continued.
"If the latter, then it's time they ensured our troops can exercise the very rights they protect."
Perkins was referencing the April 23 meeting between Pentagon officials and Weinstein, president of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation.
The meeting, which involved other attendees besides Weinstein, reportedly had to do with tolerance and harassment issues within the military.
As The Christian Post previously reported, Weinstein has made incendiary remarks regarding Christianity, describing pro-family, traditional Christian groups as "fundamentalist Christian monsters," and has spoken out against what he has described as "virulent religious oppression" by conservative Christians within military ranks.
Shortly after this reported meeting between the Pentagon and Weinstein, Todd Starnes, correspondent for Fox News, wrote an article which included interviews with Weinstein and Pentagon spokesman Lt. Cmdr. Nate Christensen.
The structure of the interviews suggested that proselytization could result in punishment by court-martialing.
In response to these comments, the Family Research Council launched a petition addressed to Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, calling for the religious rights of those serving in the military to be protected.
The Pentagon then released a statement seeking to clarify the confusion which caused many to express alarm over the possible persecution of Christians in the military.
Department of Defense spokesman Lt. Cmdr. Nate Christensen clarified in his statement that aggressive proselytization continues to be barred in military ranks, but evangelism and the spreading of the Gospel is still permitted.
"The U.S. Department of Defense has never and will never single out a particular religious group for persecution or prosecution," Christensen said in a statement, as reported by The Tennessean.
"The Department makes reasonable accommodations for all religions and celebrates the religious diversity of our service members."
Christensen then sought to clarify the difference between evangelism and proselytization.
"Service members can share their faith (evangelize), but must not force unwanted, intrusive attempts to convert others of any faith or no faith to one's beliefs (proselytization)," the spokesman defined.
As the Air Force Law Review clarified in 2007, evangelism within the military is acceptable, but proselytization becomes unacceptable if it reaches an excessively aggressive point in which the listener feels threatened or becomes distracted form performing his or her duty.
The article by the AFLR states that if the "repeated, unwanted nature of the proselytizing ... affects the listener's morale and ability to do his job and thus interfere with mission accomplishment and unit effectiveness," then the religious speech becomes "unprotected."
Christensen confirmed this to The Tennessean: "If a service member harasses another member on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, or disability, then the commander takes action based on the gravity of the occurrence. Likewise, when religious harassment complaints are reported, commanders take action based on the gravity of the occurrence on a case-by-case basis."
Still, many conservative Christians, including Perkins and others, remain unconvinced that the military has maintained its openness toward religious freedom in recent years.
Many cite the 2011 repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and the recent controversy involving the labeling of evangelical Christianity and Catholicism as "religious extremism" in a U.S. Army Reserve Equal Opportunity training brief.
In the latter controversy, the Army argued that the brief was an "isolated incident" and the slide describing evangelicals and Catholics as "extremist" had been removed from the brief's powerpoint presentation.
The Pentagon's recent meeting with Weinstein doesn't do much to assuage the concern of Christians either.
"God help us now when someone with such visceral hatred of conservative Christians – literally tens of millions of Americans – who says sharing this gospel is 'spiritual rape' is helping develop policies for how to deal with Christians in the military," Ken Klukowski, director of the Center for Religious Liberty at Family Research Council, wrote on the conservative website Breitbart recently.


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Chromasun solar-enhanced solutions reduce energy costs and protect against future energy price rises.
- Joe Sugg Assistant VP of Operations, Santa Clara University "We don't know of anyone who has a solar panel that creates 200-degree hot water, other than Chromasun"
Jens Ove-Albertsen Head of Growth Capital, VKR Holding A/S "Solar driven air-conditioning systems can dramatically reduce peak grid demand and significantly improve building environmental performance. I believe Chromasun is THE company to watch in this space."


text:
It was a banner year for social media growth and adoption. We witnessed Facebook overtake Google in most weekly site traffic, while some surveys reported nearly 95% of companies using LinkedIn to help in recruiting efforts. In my outlook for last year, I cited that mobile would become a lifeline to those looking for their social media fixes, and indeed the use of social media through mobile devices increased in the triple digits.
I also outlined how "social media would look less social" or more accurately exclusive, and indeed, we've seen the re-launch of Facebook groups, which focus on niche interactivity, and more recently, the emergence of Path, billed as "the social network for intimate friends" which limits your network to only 50 people. The past year also saw some brands go full throttle on Foursquare's game-like geo-location platform, attempting to reward mayors and creating custom badges for the network's power users.
In other areas, such as social media policy, I was less accurate. Conversations around the topic did begin to take place, But a global survey indicated that only 29 percent of companies even have a social media policy. That's not as high as I expected.
So what could we see happening in 2011? I'll take a stab at six trends again. In no particular order:
It's The Integration Economy, Stupid. From Ford, to Dell, to Starbucks (client), to Jet Blue, and a host of other companies who have pioneered early uses of social media for business, 2011 will be the year these companies take a serious look at integrating social media, not only regionally but globally. Don't be surprised if the same companies that piloted programs such as Ford's "Fiesta Movement" and Starbuck's Foursquare programs also become the first companies to take on the huge challenge of integrating social media into all facets of business from global marketing to crisis management and beyond.
Tablet & Mobile Wars Create Ubiquitous Social Computing. As competition heats up in the form of cheaper, smarter phones and an assortment of tablets that may hit the market (a $35 Tablet in India?), technology consumers will come one step closer to being connected 24/7, and in more powerful ways than previously possible. Social networking will be on the go, out of the house, and out of the office. More competition, variety, power, and affordability in devices will fuel the increase of ubiquitous social computing.
Facebook Interrupts Location-Based Networking. If 2010 belonged to Foursquare and its playful, competitive and sometimes addicting ecosystem of badges, mayorships and specials, it's likely that Facebook will rain on Foursquare's parade in 2011. With tons of data and the architecture behind Facebook's response to Foursquare about to be rolled out globally, Facebook is well positioned to actually make location based services useful to business.
Average Participants Experience Social Media Schizophrenia. While social media schizophrenia (the overload of multiple social profiles) is nothing new to tech mavens, it will become something that more and more "average" users experience as they tweet, Facebook, G-mail, chat, Skype, BBM, SMS, and Tumble their way across the social web. While many mavens have adopted ways to manage and cope, average users may find themselves at the beginning of the curve in need of a 12-step social identity program. This may lead to increased demand from typical participants to have a more integrated and simplified social graph and an opportunity for platforms and companies alike to meet this demand.
Google Doesn't Beat Them, They Join Them. In 2010, Wired told us that Facebook could beat Google to win the net. But even at the end of 2010 after failed attempts to create their own networks such as Buzz, Google could prove that the best way to beat Facebook, Twitter, and the rest is to do what Google does best: Index them to pieces. Indeed, I've already noticed Google's algorithm has become smarter about Twitter data. I only have to type in a few words to locate old tweets. It's possible that by sticking to what Google does best, they may be able to take advantage of the social web by indexing any and all social data they can get their hands on. Expect the Googleplex to "strike back" in 2011, and perhaps demonstrate that they may figure out their role and relevancy on the social Web.
Social Functionality Makes Websites Fashionable Again. After several years of being told to "fish where the fish are," businesses realize that users expect social integration to existing Websites. Sites such as AMEX Open forum serve as a model for how networks such as Twitter can integrate with the Web experience. Websites will increasingly serve as "digital hubs" that integrate social activity from many platforms. For example, Apple's music social network, named Ping, recently integrated Twitter. While the integration has kinks, it demonstrates that even the most iconic of brands realizes that they do not exist in their own walled garden. They must integrate to be relevant in a socially connected world.
These are a few emerging trends that come to my mind. I'm interested to hear what you think as well, so please weigh in with your own thoughts. Where do you see social media going in 2011?


text: Christian worship joyfully ascribes all praise and honor, glory and power to the triune God. In worship the people of God acknowledge God present in the world and in their lives. As they respond to God's claim and redemptive action in Jesus Christ, believers are transformed and renewed. In worship the faithful offer themselves to God and are equipped for God's service in the world. (Directory for Worship, W-1.1001)


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Big Food to divulge chemical info
Food companies are trying to beat the federal government's push to make chemicals in food more transparent.
The Grocery Manufacturers Association, which represents America's biggest food companies, announced a major new initiative Wednesday that will give the Food and Drug Administration access to a large database of safety information for chemicals commonly used in processed foods, from Twinkies to almond milk.
Pressure has been building on FDA for years to look more closely at food chemicals, which are mostly self-approved by food companies relying on publicly available science and panels of industry-paid experts. But the agency hasn't gotten around to it.
The move makes GMA look good. But even the sharpest critics of how the food manufacturers uses food chemicals, whose safety assessments are often not shared with FDA, are welcoming the voluntary industry move. So is the agency.
( Also on POLITICO: A Whopper of a tax problem)
"It's certainly a step forward," said Tom Neltner, a health scientist for the Natural Resources Defense Council, who was briefed on the plan. Neltner has been among the most vocal critics of the current approach to determining the safety of food ingredients, publishing several studies on the issue in the past few years.
"It's good to see them acknowledge some of the problems with the system and take some positive steps forward," said Neltner. "We're glad to see them making that move."
Leon Bruner, chief science officer at GMA, said he views the initiative as "a big step forward for the industry."
"We're going to communicate to the world that we're taking the lead on this," he said.
Bruner believes it's the right time for the food industry to rethink how it approaches food chemicals in part because the entire food safety system is being redesigned under the Food Safety Modernization Act, a bipartisan law passed in late 2010 that aims to prevent foodborne illness outbreaks. Consumer concerns — increasingly amplified on social media and through petition platforms like Change.org — have also reached a fever pitch.
( Also on POLITICO: Gillibrand: Peers called me 'porky')
"We're acutely aware of that," Bruner said. "We want to make sure [consumers] don't have reason to be concerned."
"We always need to remember that our food supply is the safest in the world and this is just going to make it better," he said.
NRDC, which has upped its food workin the past year, said it will be watching closely to see how the effort is rolled out. "The proof will be in the pudding," according to Neltner.
The group believes FDA should be reviewing the safety of any new food chemical before it goes into food products in the market. As it is, companies can review current science and use the compounds under a Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) determination without agency approval. There are about 10,000 chemicals allowed in food products, 43 percent of which have been deemed generally recognized as safe, according to the Pew Charitable Trusts.
( Also on POLITICO: NFL players, Obama agree on pot)
GMA's effort doesn't mean FDA will be approving all food chemicals, but it will give regulators much more access to safety determinations, something NRDC strongly supports.
"We think FDA needs to review [new food chemicals] for safety and sign off in some way," Neltner said. Buthe is very pleased that GMA's board has committed to ensuring new safety determinations are shared with FDA — it's voluntary for a company to do so, and many companies don't.
"That's a big step," he said.
GMA's own database will focus primarily on new GRAS ingredients or new ingredient uses, but will also include some that are currently used in the market. Parts of the database will be made public, but the bulk of the information will only be accessible to FDA officials and GMA members.
The association said FDA officials have recently indicated the agency will soon be re-reviewing some ingredients that have been determined to be GRAS over the years, if there's new science that warrants another look.
"GMA members are committed to participating in and contributing to the re-review process," according to a new code of practice that top industry executives agreed to last week.
The FDA responded to GMA's announcement late Wednesday by saying it supports the push toward better science, but it still encourages companies to voluntarily send the agency their safety determinations, which are posted online.
"We are supportive of any initiative that promotes scientific rigor and transparency to independent GRAS determinations, and look forward to further dialogue with GMA and others in an open exchange of information on independent GRAS determinations to ensure the safety of ingredients added to food," the agency said in email.
The food industry will have a concerted focus on food ingredient safety in the coming years. GMA recently partnered with Michigan State University to launch an ingredient safety research center, and the association is also working on a new industry standard for how exactly food chemical safety determinations should be made.
The association hopes to have the new database up and running in 2015 and the new standard, which will be publicly available, out by the end of next year.