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Friday, July 29, 2011
Mayoral forum: Riddled with drivel
I'm OK now; thanks for asking.
I can only comment – not that you asked, nor do I care, but you know who you are – on the first 17 minutes of the muck.
The four candidates (the fifth couldn't raise the necessary coin to participate so he was barred, banned and censored) were asked about their vision.
Madeline Rogero talked about working to create jobs, removing blighted properties, whatever. She also said something about "wanting a sustainable Knoxville" and installing solar panels on city buildings. Now THAT I would like to see. Heh.
Joe Hultquist started out his vision speech with some kind of cliché'. Something like (I'm paraphrasing): "A leader is measure not so much by what he's said but what he's done." OK then, what have you done? He also said he "walked and prayed over the city I love." (For some reason that gives me the creeps.) Then he rambled about the nation "teetering on the brink of insolvency" and I tuned that part out because I'm tired of folks bringing national crap into the local realm. He also said he'd focus on four key areas: economic development, accountability, transparency and a high quality of life. None of that really says much. He did say he's working with a company in Switzerland (something to do with transportation). And by "working" I think he means that he's had two conversations with the business in the past 10 years.
Mark Padgett once again bragged about some minuscule business he started that he has over and over and over and over again failed to really get into detail about, and how all that will make him a leader of some 2,000 employees. He said now is not "the time to make a U-turn." Whatever the hell that means. I hope he wasn't talking to the dude riding the bicycle (the one carrying his "vote for me cause I started a business" sign) who almost crashed into a car on Gay Street. He also said he wants to recruit comparable businesses that already have a presence in Knoxville. HUH? Screw that, man. Go out and get businesses that we don't already have. Like a casino. A legal one. (Cause the Man with the Badge keeps busting up all the card games.)
Ivan Harmon also wants to create jobs and make Knoxville a place to raise families. He'd tap the resources of UT, the TVA, etc., etc. to do that. This observation for the highly obvious is truly remarkable. Come on. That's all you got? Oh yeah, he said he'd put a good team in place (that's actually a good idea because you wouldn't believe how many people wouldn't do this) if elected.
Bo Bennett said . . . . NOTHING. Click right smack here for a funny picture of Brian Moneyhun explaining why Bennett said nothing.
At some point, they got to pensions, since the city programs are expected to grow to as much as $30 million by 2019.
Pretty Boy Padge said he wanted an open and transparent process (lame); to honor the commitment made to the employees already on the program (no kidding dude – state law says you have to) and doesn't want reform on the backs of taxpayers. Seriously. Nice spin. The whole idea of reform is to NOT have it on the backs of taxpayers. Repeat the obvious. Be remarkable.
Ivan the Republican said he'd work with the task force committee that's already looking into the pension problem.
Rogero (who is my biggest fan) said she'd also let the task force do the job before drawing conclusions. Or something like that.
Sooooooo. In other words, neither of these three had the guts to publicly say how they feel about the city's pension plans.
Joe, however, did. He wants to start offering new employees a 401(k) plan. He even felt that the task force will "kick the can down the road so that the (pension problem) is not an issue right now." Ah, like Mickey said to Rocky in Rocky II: "Ya got the heart kid, but you ain't got the tools. So forget it." (No, Joe isn't going to pull off an upset.)
Finally, Bo said . . . . Oh yeah. He didn't get to say anything. Cause he wasn't invited.
There's my take on the first 17 minutes. I'm sure you all feel a little dumber now if you managed to get this far.
Have a good weekend.
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Mayoral fist bumpin' continues on
So far he's held constituent meetings in Fountain City (no one showed), Cedar Bluff (3.5 people appeared), South Knoxville (a whole bunch attended) and Hardin Valley (about 5 showed).
For the big spin and the upcoming schedule by the Spin Doc Michael Grider himself click right smack here.
There will be another meeting at the Corryton Senior Center, the Bearden Branch Library, the Burlington Branch Library and the Farragut Branch Library.
After consulting the Bat-map, it appears that the mayor has hosted or will host these fist-bumpin' sessions twice in the north; four times in the west; and one time each for the east and south.
Just saying.
"We can only do so many," Grider told me.
Then, he laughed and added: "Are you trying to start problems where there isn't one?"
Me: "Yeah."
Grider: "I'm going to sic Randy Neal on you."
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
More Knoxville mayoral race drivel
Only weirdos answer those things. Only weirdos talk to phone solicitors. Only weirdos . . . whatever.
Anyhoo, apparently Madeline Rogero, whose campaign is riddled with so much inner turmoil right now it's shaking like a junkie who lost his last fix (from what I'm hearing, anyway), says she's kicking ass by a 2-to-1 margin over Mark Padgett, who is campaigning on the fact that he can run a city of several thousand employees, since he can runs his own business which has a grand total of about two. (That's with a plus or minus 10-person margin.)
Here's the Rogero story right smack here.
In the meantime, "vote for me because I'm the best looking and I promise I'm not a Republican" Padgett's spin doc (Laura Braden) released another tired cliché from her camp, quoting Padgett as saying that his polling numbers put him only seven points behind Rogero.
Whatever. Seven, 7,000 or 7 million. You're behind. Coming in second just means you're the first loser.
By the way, here's another quote from Padgett's spin doc that says little or nothing: "I'm the only candidate with a plan to create jobs and economic growth, and the experience needed to move Knoxville forward."
I mean WTH does that mean? Does that mean the current governor - in his seven or eight or how many years as mayor moved us backward? Whatever. Don't answer that. Just give us some real examples, slick, instead of this Ragsdale-like drivel.
"I'm the only candidate with a plan" to blah, blah, blah.
Man, I'm going to laugh my ass off if Ivan Harmon wins this thing from his hospital bed and the $5 he's raised so far. (Laugh even harder if either Bo Bennett and Joe Hultquist wins. Heh.)
The nonpartisan primary election is Sept. 27.
Do yourself a favor and just write in my name.
Update: Rogero has a 2-1 lead over Ivan - not Padgett - according to her latest pollings. My bad.
Friday, July 22, 2011
Ivan Harmon heads to hospital
Ivan, left, should be back on the campaign trail this Tuesday. You might recall that toward the end of May, Harmon was in the hospital because of a blood clot it in his left leg. We wrote about it right smack here.
I don't have a dog in this mayoral race - I pick on all the candidates equally - but I do wish the guy well. And knowing Ivan, he'll be campaigning inside the hospital.
Here's the official press release right smack here.
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Jeff Roth new MPC commissioner
A panel, I might add, that the county has pretty much dismissed in recent months. You know, the Midway business park proposal. Or that Ridgetop/Hillside protection plan thing. (I'm not saying it's a bad panel, but it makes makes only recommendations.)
Anyhoo, Big Tim Burchett decided he wasn't going to reappoint Rachel Craig, who was serving out the remaining two years of City Councilman Nick Pavilis' term. Craig posted her thoughts on "that obscure liberal blog," which you can read right here. She's not mad about the mayor stiffing her. But, she – and a lot of folks – are upset that Burchett didn't appoint someone who lives south of the river.
We wrote a story about the issue (click right smack here) and county Commissioner Mike Brown stopped just short of calling the mayor a D-bag. The Metro Pulse wrote a story about it (click right smack here) and pretty much put a dunce cap on the mayor's head and sat him in the corner.
Of course it didn't help that, according to the story, the mayor admitted to getting a list of "potential South Knoxville replacements for Craig" and then "looked at the list but chose to ignore it."
Personally, I don't think he ignored the list. I bet he looked at it; thought what a great paper airplane it would make and then threw it at Dean "The Emperor" Rice's head.
But, here's what's been bothering me: So far, no one has bothered to call the mayor's pick – Jeff Roth. So, he doesn't live in south Knoxville anymore. But, doesn't anyone want to hear what he has to say? Apparently not.
Sooooooo, I got bored, like I often do when I eat horse tranquilizers, and I called the guy last night. He was out, but he got back to me early this morning and we talked about his appointment and ties to south Knoxville.
Let me say that first off, sometimes tone gets lost in the printed word. So, if some of his comments seem sarcastic, they weren't. The guy was funny, sincere and a tad humble. Also, this post isn't about taking a side or not on Burchett's appointment, but rather a chat with Roth. (And as a disclaimer, I live in South Knoxville and do think that in the past few years local government has treated it like a turd.)
"It's a little funny that there's so much controversy about this – I didn't realize being a volunteer would bring that out," said Roth, 47. "It's the MPC. We're not raising taxes or redistricting property lines. We're just a recommendation body."
Roth said he was born in Baptist Hospital and attended South Knoxville Elementary (and spent sixth grade at Galbraith Elementary School).
His parents divorced when he was five. When his mom later remarried, they did move out of South Knoxville. After high school, he joined the Army and then went to UT where he earned a degree in business administration and marketing.
Yes, he has lived in Karns since 1985, he said, but "I'm not completely out of touch with South Knoxville."
His uncle was the owner of Gravely Tractor, off John Sevier Highway, for more than 30 years. He has a cousin who teaches South Doyle (forgot to ask whether that was the middle or high school).
"I want to represent the whole county – that will be my goal," Roth said. "I certainly don't want to go into any situation with a biased opinion or predisposition about how I'll vote on a particular issue. I want to walk in with an open mind."
I asked why he'd want a thankless job like that.
He gave me the typical "I want to contribute and serve the community" answer.
"The bottom line is, I think, the reason Mayor Burchett appointed me is that he has faith in my ability to make decisions that are non-biased and based on what we hear in our meetings," he said. "I don't think geography has a lot to do with that. I feel Knox County is all one group of people, so I don't tend to make a distinction between people who live in one area or another. I'm looking forward to serving. I told Tim I'd do a good job and do the best I can and do what needs to be done up there."
I also asked him his thoughts on whether it's important – in his opinion – to have representatives (what are there? 15 on the MPC?) – from all parts of the county.
He responded: "Up until my appointment, I never gave it a whole lot of thought. The quick answer is 'no I don't think it's necessary.' It's set up so that the mayors make the appointments and I think you have to give those guys the benefit that they'll do a good job. I know several people on the commission and it's a good group, and I think we can make decisions based on education and not about being biased."
Roth owns Knoxville-based Quality Machine and Welding Co, Inc., which his grandfather founded in 1966 and his father took over 10 years later. He grew up in the business and said at one point it employed 130 people, but is down to 66, mostly because of the economy. (Not the best time to be in construction, I suppose.)
Finally, I asked him his thoughts on the ridgetop/hillside issue.
"I'm going to have to educate myself a little more about the details," he said. "Certainly, I'm not as familiar with the details (as other people are), but development is important in bringing businesses to Knoxville. My employees depend on us to do that – to have jobs. But having said that, we need to be cognizant of the communities, subdivisions, people and of the environment. We don't want to go paving paradise. But we also have to keep in mind that development is good for economic growth."
So, those are Roth's thoughts.
I'm not saying Burchett was right or wrong about not appointing someone from the south. (Remember, the glass is always half-empty. He was probably wrong.) But, maybe there's still some South Knoxville in the boy.
I mean at this point, everyone will be squarely focused on what decisions he makes because it will reflect on the mayor.
Roth is in the spotlight right now.
And so is South Knoxville.
And that might not be a bad thing.
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Mayor to host fist-bumpin' session
The 6 p.m. event will be held at the South Knoxville Senior Center on Martel Lane, an area of the city/county typically treated like a red-headed, booger-eatin' stepbrat. The mayor held a similar gathering on July 7th at the Fountain City Library Branch and no one attended. (So, does that count?). And another last week at the Cedar Bluff Branch Library and only 3 ½ folks showed up, if you count the kid.
The good spin doc – county communications manager Michael Grider – says the poor attendance must be because no one has any complaints, since they give residents – or as the press release calls them, "constituents" - a chance to "speak individually with Mayor Burchett about issues that are important to them."
Personally, I think it's because people fear the fist bump.
Math books to cost $3.4 million
The county commission - pretty much without blinking – yesterday agreed to let the school system take $2.9 million in coin out of its reserve funds to buy new textbooks.
(Yeah, I know the commission really doesn't have a lot of stroke over how the school spends its money. Whatever. Remember Carter? Sure as heck didn't let them issue bonds for that project, now did they?)
Anyhoo, I found a handy dandy letter that Lord McIntyre wrote to his disciples on July 1 that further detailed the issue. You can click here for the note.
But essentially, Jim McIntyre says the schools need the math textbooks and materials to "be aligned to the new curriculum and support high quality instruction under rigorous math standards" adopted by "the State of Tennessee."
Uh. OK.
I didn't know the philosophy of math changed all that much. I mean two plus two still equals four, doesn't it? Someone told me that maybe the fourth graders will learn some things fifth graders are learning. Not sure why they just can't give them the fifth grade books. Or visit a used book store. Oh well.
The textbooks – which we all know are nothing more than a racket (look what the snake oil folks charge college students) – cost between $50 to $70, the superintendent told commissioners yesterday. He wasn't sure how many they'd need. The actual price (because the school system had some extra scratch under the couch cushions) actually cost $3,423,300, according to that letter you should have clicked on a few paragraphs up.
That $2.9 million, though, comes from what is essentially the school system's rainy day fund.
Anyway, just for the sake of argument, let's pretend the books all cost $70. So, I take my $2 calculator and divide that big price tag by 70 and it comes to 48,900 (I'm using round numbers here, and I'm also not factoring int he fact that shipping will cost $97,000 - no kidding, so I don't want to hear any whining out of the post office).
I think we have 56,000 students, so that looks about right. I guess. If some books cost $50.
Oddly, though, McIntyre said these books will come with some fancy stuff that has something to do with getting online or whatever. (I got quit surfing the Internet when this guy talks.) He also said something like maybe we won't even need books in five years. Well, if that's the case, then . . . .
Soooooo, it cost the county $2 million to buy The Man with the Badge 65 squad cars, and it's going to cost $3.4 million for books. Nice.
In the meantime, the school system faces what county commissioners say is a $7 million shortfall, since federal stimulus money expired.
Commissioner Jeff Ownby reminded the good school folks of that.
(Probably doesn't matter. I imagine the school folks will find some way to lay off teachers, keep the administration, outsource custodians and then beg the county for more money in next year's budget, at which point the mayor and commissioners will acquiesce and give them whatever they want, but I digress.
"I don't mind buying the books – it's digging into the rainy day fund that concerns me," Ownby told me this morning. "We just bought math books six years ago. I don't know how out-of-date math can be. It's not like history."
He added: "Although we probably need them – with the shortfall – I wonder if spending the money right now is a wise decision when all they have in there (the reserve tank) is $15 million. I would rather find cuts somewhere else to find this money than dig into the reserves."
(Of course, Ownby must have forgotten that the county has about $37 million in its own reserve tank. Hint, hint.)
In the meantime, if we're only going to have these books for another five years, maybe we can build the Carter community a new school out of them. Cause, you know, those books would probably be in better shape than that busted up building that we're still waiting around to either renovate or rebuild.
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Property assessor finances released
So far, they're the only two to announce their intentions to run for the office. The primary will be next March.
Personally, I don't see anyone else jumping in that has a spoiler's chance, but you never know. I hate calling elections early, but the word - at this point - is that it's Ballard's race to lose.
But, I will tell you, this is going to be a dirty, mud-slinging race. These two do not like each other, and already I've been given a bunch of information about each of them that doesn't paint pretty pictures.
I've checked out some of the rumors and haven't found anything. I still have a list of things to go though. I'm not sure when I'll write an actually story on the race - remember, we've got some time - so, I'll probably throw everything that does pan out into one big story.
Then again, maybe they'll be nothing. Maybe this will be a clean race. I somehow doubt it, though. That's no disrespect to either men. But, again, they are not exactly pals.
In the meantime, the two released their latest finance reports. (I think I already said that, but whatever.)
Ballard has almost $54,300 cash on hand. You can check out his most recent report by clicking right smack here.
Whitehead has a little more than $24, 400 cash on hand. You can check out his most recent report by clicking right smack here.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Hey, how much ya got on you?
Click for the story right smack here.
I think the story has merit. But that's just me. (For the record, I make $5 a year. But the company picks up my Friday night tabs, so I call it even. I do this blog for free because I'm stupid.)
The reactions to the requests are great. Entertainment at the expense of others. But the BS'ing Carie got was even better. The "dog-ate-my-homework" kind of funny. Or sad. Or ridiculous. (Although many folks obliged and provided the info.)
Anyhoo, the story is good, but what's even better is the epilogue:
A bunch of damn hippies arguing about it.
Click here for that.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Burchett on land sale: hero or goat?
Knox County is on its way out of the mulch business, now that county Mayor Tim Burchett sold the Solway plant.
So, is he a hero or a goat?
(Damn, I just can't resist that quote. County Property Assessor Phil Ballard used it the other day, I blogged about it, and , yeah, I like Phil, but that quote? Hahahahaha. That was a good one. But I digress.)
Anyhoo, where was I? Oh yeah, earlier today, Natural Resources Recovery of Tennessee was the high bidder ($2 million in scratch) to buy the 160-acre Solway plant.
And people reacted.
Some loved the deal; some used it to attack the mayor.
Interestingly, I talked to a number of Burchett supporters who didn't like it, some opponents who did, and vice versa and all that.
In other words, it was a polarizing move.
Some thought (and rightly so) that the economy wasn't right to sell the land. But, they also felt that the county – besides the bad timing – didn't get enough for what it put into it. They didn't, however, mention NRRT and some of the controversies that have surrounded the company in the past.
The other school of thought is that the mayor did the right thing. And in fact – because he got $800,000 more than the land was appraised – he REALLY did the right thing.
Here's the deal:
The county, including the initial land purchase, has spent $4 million on the property during the past 12 years. That includes the upkeep, improvements, fixing sinkholes, whatever, that ran about $245,000 a year. The county received, on average, about $72,000 a year under the contract it had with NRRT.
So, it's easy to see why folks don't think it was a great move. But, as the county's financial minister – John Troyer – pointed out: That IS one heck of a reason to get rid of the property!
(On a side note, the county commission awhile back debated whether the property could be used for anything other than a recycling facility and felt it couldn't. But that's a different argument.)
Putting the property back on the tax roll at this point means about an extra $18,880 in coin that heads to the county coffers. That's not a lot when you compare it to the overall budget, which is somewhere just south of a zillion dollars.
But the plan is to use the money from the sale to buy the Carter community a new elementary school (this is also a different argument about whether it should be used for that), which will run close to $14 million. So, the top bid – that $2 million? – that is a lot if you want to purchase a new school.
So. Hero? Goat? Or just another dumb blog post?
(Heh. I know the answer to this one.)
Ballard: 'I'm the hero, not the goat'
Ballard says that's not the case.
"I'm the hero of this story – I'm not the goat," he told me last Friday when I asked him about it. "I saved jobs."
Here's the deal:
A state grant somewhere in the neighborhood of $433,429 that the department used to receive apparently expired. (It was some kind of reappraisal thing or something to pay for some folks who work in the field.) So, the administration told Ballard it'd pick up the bill. But, officials wanted something back.
So, Ballard was told to cut $70,000 from his budget. County Mayor Tim Burchett really didn't care where the cuts came from – he just wanted them made. Hey, that's a fair deal right? I give you $433K and you give me $70K. Doesn't make a whole hell of a lot of sense, but anyway.
Ballard's people met with the mayor's finance people and tell them that maybe the staff could reduce its hours from 37.5 to 30 hours per week, which would enable them to keep their benefits. (By the way, the whole idea of cutting hours was apparently based on county Commissioner Mike Brown's proposal that never got further than an email sent to the his fellow buds on the dais. But I digress.)
Now, Ballard says he held two meetings and asked for volunteers. He said six folks said they wanted to do it while another three said they "preferred to say but would cut their hours if it comes down to it." (I keep hearing there was a tenth person wholater refused.)
OK, in the meantime, Ballard says before that he say cut his auto allowance from $7,200 to $3,600 – about the same as the county commission's allowance (and if you recall, commissioners made a big rumble about reinstating all of the mayor's cuts, but really only reinstated their own gas money.)
Soooo, Ballard says The Big Dog (that's Mayor Burchett to you) without telling him cut his auto cut down to ZERO. And he didn't find out about that until Burchett publicly unveiled his proposed budget back in mid-May. (That mayor. Funny guy. Heh. Didn't tell Ballard he took away his allowance. Heh.)
Anyhoo, Ballard says he made the savings when he made the salary cuts. Now, human resources records show that if he reduced the salaries to 30 hours, then it would save $61,900. That's not the $70,000 that the mayor asked for, but whatever. Maybe there's some Social Security contributions or something thrown in.
(By the way, the nine people make between $28,000 and $48,000, as I recall, according to some documents that I don't have in front of me at the moment.)
Anyway, Ballard then goes and talks to the fine folks in the county's finance department and asks if he can reinstate his auto allowance. They tell him: "Sure."
So he does.
Truth be told, Burchett really doesn't have the power to cut his allowance. And Phil mentioned that many, many, many, many times in our conversation. But, I was curious why he didn't just file for mileage reimbursement, like almost all of the folks in the executive branch and some of the fee officers now do.
"It's hard to keep up with," Ballard told me. "And I didn't want to get into an argument about whether it's filled out correctly. Sometimes I'm at a store and someone asks me to come by and look at their property, and I didn't want to argue whether I was working or this was private thing or it was political or whatnot. Also, If I did reimbursement it would cost (the taxpayers) more because I drive around a lot – my office covers the entire county."
Then he said that Burchett's proposal to cut the $70,000 really meant the mayor wanted him to cut two jobs. (Burchett denies this.)
"I'm taking care of my people," Ballard said. "I saved jobs. This should make me a hero and not a goat."
The mayor, though said: "It's unfortunate that he chose to take that route when families across the country are cutting back.The government allow him to reimburse himself and (the method) is cleaner and shows where we travel and puts it all on record."
(Remember, Burchett hates the whole auto allowance thing. I wrote a kick-ass story about it right smack here.)
Ballard's says he technically took a pay cut when he cut his auto allowance in half.
I asked him if he had any savings left over after that, would maybe be spread it around to increase the employee hours, at least give an hour back if anyone wanted it.
He said he might.
Brian Hornback over at Shock and Awe had a post about the issue right here the other day. He's not buying anything that Ballard is selling. He thinks there's something else going on. He doesn't think Ballard is the hero.
He thinks he's the goat.
Me? I just like to throw this crap out there. See what sticks.
Monday, July 11, 2011
Hurley explores first grader options
Here's the latest on Lenoir City's Republican representative, pictured left. Click here for stupid human tricks.
(Go on, click the link for the story. I don't want to recap it here.)
Usually when I do something like this I chalk it up to the horse tranquilizers. Especially at 1 a.m.
So, uh, what's your excuse, Ms. Hurley?
"I wasn't thinking straight," she told the media.
Hmmmmmm. Heh. Hahahahahahahahaha. That happens, I suppose. Heh.
Then she added: "I don't understand why it's news, and I don't want to talk about the desk."
Uh, yeah it is news. It's called vandalism. (Now granted, it's not nearly has bad as half the crap politicans do. But they're usually getting away with it. And have better excuses. Sheesh.)
Oh well.
Next thing you know, she'll be wearing wrestling masks to UT football games.
Thursday, July 7, 2011
County bond debt really $1 billion
(I'd link to some of my previous posts about it, but, well, I'm too lazy. I encourage you to read the archives anyway.)
Anyhoo, the administration always reports it as $628.5 million. But, it's actually more. Try $1,057,700,000, according to a long-term debt obligation worksheet I asked the finance office to send over because I'm bored. Yeah, that's just over one BILLION dollars. If you include bonds issued for pension plans, capital projects, P-card reimbursements (OK, kidding on that last one), then the total principal comes to $691.2 million. Then throw in another $366.5 million in interest, and you're on the hook for some mega-coin.
Granted, this is scratch that will be paid off over the long-term. But they payments represent 10 percent of the county budget. (So, let's hope that county Mayor Tim Burchett keeps his campaign promise about not assuming more debt in the near future. Personally, I think he will, although he has an escape clause for Carter Elementary.
But, still, if I was running the show - and I'm not only because the News Sentinel pays me way to much money to quit and run for mayor (oh, and no one would vote for me anyway) - I wouldn't be selling the whole $628 million debt thing.
Hell, no. I'd be telling everyone we owe a BILLION.
But, that's just me. What do I know?
That's my free advice to the administration for today. Tomorrow, I'll figure out a way to kick them in the nads.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Burchett cuts judges' auto allowance
He's been going after the fee offices, the commission, the whoever, the whomever, the whatever in regards to the gas scratch. (He's left Lord McIntyre and his nine school board disciples alone, but don't think the mayor and his chief of staff, Dean Rice, aren't in their six floor offices of the Deathstar looking at the AJ Building through their binoculars, plotting ways to piss them off, too.)
Anyhoo, I got a copy of the travel allowances as of June 21, 2011 – the latest document I could get under the open records, since they haven't created any other stuff yet. I'm rambling, I know. But, as of now – since the new fiscal year started July 1 – the general sessions judges won't get a check for gas money, either.
Unless of course, they want to fill out reimbursement forms, which, I believe, is still about 51 cents a mile. (Do they actually drive anywhere other than to and from work?)
This cut affects judges Charles Cerny, Geoffrey Emery, Andrew Jackson, Patricia Long and Tony Stansberry. According to county records, the five judges each received $4,000.10 in annual allowance, which was broken down to $153.85 bi-weekly.
So, Mad Dog Tim fought against Sheriff Jimmy "J.J." Jones (that's the Man with the Badge to you, folks) when he wanted new squad cars (the mayor lost that one), and now he's taken the travel allowances away from judges.
Guess you could say he's fighting the man. Or not. Whatever.
Anyway, I just thought it was interesting.
Earlier in the year, I wrote an extensive story about the auto allowance coin county officials received. Click for the awesomeness right smack here.
It was a ton of scratch by the wway. Big Tim cut pretty much everyone under his executive office purview. (There were a couple of guys in the parks and recreation department who got a minimal amount because they live out of the county or something. I can't remember. I'm sure it made sense at the time. But I digress.)
Anyway, when the administration crafted this year's budget, officials cut out the allowances for a number of folks. As you might recall, the county commission – in all its glory and so-called efforts to help restore all the other cuts the mayor made, but didn't – reinstated their own gas money checks.
Although, on Friday, one of the county's finance gurus – Chris Caldwell – said that Commissioner Jeff Ownby won't accept his and will instead file for reimbursement.
(Commissioners by the way, get $3,600 annually, broken down to $150 bi-weekly.)
In the meantime, Property Assessor Phil Ballard will get almost $3,600 a year. Now, this is a funny one. Phil actually cut his before budget time from $7,200 annually down to $3,600.
The mayor went ahead and brought that bad boy down to ZERO. Then Phil turned around and put it back in. Heh.
Also, Clerk of Circuit Court Civil Sessions and Juvenile Court Cathy Quist will keep her $9,600 annual check (also broken down bi-weekly); Criminal Court Clerk Joy McCroskey will keep her annual $8,400 pay day and Register of Deeds Sherry Witt will continue pulling in her $9,100 allowance. (These folks are elected fee officers.)
In addition, Keith Stump with GIS will get about $4,300 annually, but all that mapping stuff is kind of split with the city and county and kind of strange and whatever, so I think the mayor just gives him a free pass. The same with MPC's head honcho Mark Donaldson, who also will get almost $4,300 annually.
So, there you have it. The new update on travel allowances.
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Joe Jarret to run for law director
The interim law director sent out the following spin, I mean release, this morning.:
"Incumbent Knox County Law Director Joe Jarret announced today that he's a candidate for Knox County law director on the 2012 ballot. A veteran who spent ten years on active duty military service, Jarret was appointed law director a year ago to replace Bill Lockett. He began serving Knox County in 2008 first as the chief deputy law director and then as the interim law director before being unanimously appointed by the county commission in June, 2010 to the position he now holds. He has been practicing public sector law for 21 years and has litigated cases before the Tennessee Supreme Court, lower Tennessee State Courts and federal courts. This is the third time in his legal career that he has served as a law director for a public entity. He is a federal and Tennessee mediator who teaches local government law to attorneys across the state of Tennessee. He also teaches graduate students at the University of Tennessee, Graduate School of Public Administration. Jarret has published over 85 articles in various professional journals and holds a bachelor's degree in criminal justice, a master's degree in public administration, and the juris doctor degree."
As reported in late June, former county Commissioner Richard "Bud" Armstrong also is running for the spot.
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Story of John Hancock's signature
Here's part of the excerpt:
It's a neat story about American brashness, but it isn't very accurate. The truth is a tad less dramatic. Snopes.com explains that Hancock, president of the Continental Congress, gave a super-sized signature not because he was itching for a fight with the king, but because, among other things, he happened to be the first person to sign the document.
Because Hancock was the first to sign, he did the sensible thing and put his name front and center. He was the leader of the Congress, after all. He didn't know his fellow patriots would sign their names on a smaller scale.
So, why are some of the other signatures high and to the left while others are down and to the right? The National Archives explains, "In accordance with prevailing custom, the other delegates began to sign at the right below the text, their signatures arranged according to the geographic location of the states they represented. New Hampshire, the northernmost state, began the list, and Georgia, the southernmost, ended it."
And it's worth remembering that signing one's name to the Declaration of Independence was no small thing. Those who signed the document were sure to be hanged for treason should they be caught."
You can find the rest of the story right smack here. Have a good one.
Friday, July 1, 2011
Pilot ends welfare for smokers
Anyhoo, I laid down 9 or 10 cases of beer on the counter, and ordered up some Marlboro Red 100s. (Hey, if you're going to smoke, do it right. Don't smoke those girly-girl menthol cigarettes. Unless you're a girl. Or work on the sixth-floor of the Deathstar. Heh.)
So, I don't get my lighter. (By the way, the purple ones lasted the longest.) I joke with the cheery cashier (they're all really nice at that place, so props to them), and ask her about my lighter. She says that they're no longer giving them out. Then she said it had something to do with someone complaining that they were considered political gifts or something. She wasn't very clear about it.
I get to thinking: You know that would make a funny story (or stupid blog post) if some jack-leg actually thought Gov. Big Bill was giving away lighters to get votes. (You know, cause the Haslams own all the gas on the planet.)
I mean, I've heard of dumber things, but still. Lighters? Naw.
Still, I couldn't resist putting in a call to Dave Smith; he's one of the governor's flacks. He's also about a useful as a two-legged chair on a ridgetop or hillside. (Had to throw in a local reference there for those I haven't yet bored to death here.) Anyway, this guy has never been very helpful, and he makes the county's spin doctor – Michael Grider – look like Michael Clayton.
(OK, that last reference wasn't really fair. I like Grider, but, man, I've been wanting to use that analogy on someone since forever. Good movie. Check it out. But I digress.)
Anyway, Smith of course doesn't return my call. So I call him again Wednesday. He finally gets back to me. I explain what happened and want to know whether someone considered the lighters a political gift. He tells me to call Pilot.
I'm like: "No, I'm calling you, man. It might have to do with the governor and gifts."
He rambles on like some kind of mental patient for awhile. I tell him: "Look man, I know you see the big guy around – he's probably up there in the mansion, strutting around. Go ask him."
Smith: "No. It has to do with Pilot. I have no idea."
Like I said: Useless.
So I call Cynthia Moxley. (Actually I had already called her earlier.) Moxley of Moxley Carmichael for those living under a rock are pretty good flacks. For flacks. They represent the News Sentinel, although if you asked me what they do for us, I'd answer with a blank stare. But, they also represent the Haslams or Pilot, or whatever.
So, I tell her the story. She laughs. Says either she or Alan Carmichael will check it out for me. (Oh yeah, at some point I called Big Jim, the patriarch of the Haslam family, but got his voice mail.)
So, Thursday evening Alan calls me back. He's finally gotten to the bottom of the story, although he wasn't very clear. But who cares. It's PR, rights?
He said the reason they stopped handing out lighters to anyone dumb enough to slap $15 in coin down for three packs of cancer sticks is because there's some state tobacco law that won't let you give away anything that would entice cigarette sales.
"It's a state prohibition against doing that and once they realized it, they said they can't do that," said Carmichael.
Me: "So, uh, you're telling me they were breaking the law then?"
Carmichael: Long, uneasy silence.
Me: "Heh."
Carmichael: "Let's just say they ceased doing that."
Oh well, whatever. I guess the moral of the story is that every once in awhile Dave Smith is right. Naw screw that. He's not right. And gas prices are still too high.


text:
Programming Languages:Objective-C Swift
Operating Systems:Mac Os Apps
Development Tools:Apple Xcode
Industry Experience
Social Media & Communication
Product Experience
application for insurance business, Booking app
Dec `18 – Present
6 months
Lead Developer
Apps for creating your own posters from your own photos with adding inscriptions, colorful styles and that you can then post in social networks like Instagram for both iOS and Android. Appfortype has 0.8 million downloads in App Store and 1.8 million of downloads in Google Play
Technologies Stack:Xcode Swift
Dec `18 – Jun `19
6 months
Dec `18 – Jun `19
6 months
iOS developer
A business social network app that allows a user to regisetr as an enterpreneur and find a partner for business, start up and aso to search friends on various interests
Technologies Stack:Swift
Dec `18 – Jun `19
6 months
Sleep Assistant App
Lead iOS developer
This app has a number of sounds that allow a user to relax and fall asleep under a sound of nature that he findst the most soothing
Technologies Stack:Swift
Senior iOS Developer
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/onlyfans/id1152935093 Full development and code review. The product is a social network app with the options of live streaming,messaging, photo and video uploads, Facebook integration and built-in photo and video recorder for quick and spontaneous shots and videos. Users can view and comment live streams from people they are following. Technologies used:Swift, Alamofire, ObjectMapper, MobileVLCKit, RTMP streaming, Fabric, Crashlytics, Twitter
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/onlyfans/id1152935093 A social network app with the options of live streaming,messaging, photo and video uploads, Facebook integration and built-in photo and video recorder for quick and spontaneous shots and videos. Users can view and comment live streams from people they are following. Technologies used:Swift, Alamofire, ObjectMapper, MobileVLCKit, RTMP streaming, Fabric, Crashlytics, Twitter
Technologies Stack:Twitter Xcode Swift Alamofire VLC Fabric SDK
LiveGenic ( https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/livegenic/id891429322)
iOS Developer
Coding and making the code review, pushing to the App store, maintenance of the product
Livegenic is an ultimate real-time video collaboration app for insurance, winner of 2015 SMA and 2015 ACORD Insurance Innovation Awards. Using this app, you can continue speaking with the claim professional over the phone, while enabling them to demonstrate what you are experiencing through a live video feed from the camera on your mobile device. https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/livegenic-pro/id959969013
Technologies Stack:Objective-C Xcode
application for insurance business
HelloCrowd (https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/hellocrowd/id936726622)
iOS Developer
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/hellocrowd/id936726622 App for any type of public event like conferences, summits etc. It is based on Firebase Realtime Database The features are: event feed, live polling, live messaging, list of attendees, speakers, sponsors, schedule. Event can be private with access restrictions for users or public available for everyone. App can be for only one event or for multiple events also. Technologies: Objective-C, Firebase (realtime database)
Technologies Stack:Objective-C Xcode Fabric SDK
Runny - Delivery Service (https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/runny-delivery-service/id1166863577)
iOS developer and Lead
App for marketplace for couriers' service. In fact is is a job-board and marketplace for courier services with booking calendar and slots of availabilities, Twilio and Goodhire integration.App that allow to hire runners for business and individual needs! Our runners can pick up or deliver packages, deliver lunch, stand in line, make a supply run, make dinner reservations, administrative tasks, set up meetings, make copies, filing, or grocery shop, or whatever you need completed.
Technologies Stack:Objective-C Xcode REST CoreLocation MapKit CocoaPods Core Animation
Booking app
AudioVeda https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ru.audioveda.app&hl=ru
iOS developer and a Lead
iOS development, code review, pushing to the App Store and further maintenance
This app is for the largest Russian-speaking web resource for people who are interested in vedas, psychology and spiritual self-development. You can listen to the audios with and without registration, have the history and favorites and also upload and download the files yourself. You can create your profile in the app without any need to register on Audioveda web portal
Technologies Stack:Xcode JSON Swift Alamofire CoreData RESTful API Fabric SDK Realm AVFoundation
Kharkov National University of Radioelectronics
Master of Computer Sciences

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Nigel Lambert
Nigel Lambert's pots are both decorative and useful. He began his love of pottery and paintings whilst at art college in Cornwall. His interest in the work of abstract painters, particularly Roger Hilton, Terry Frost, Patrick Heron and other artists from the Cornish peninsula, has influenced his work and the decorative marks he makes.
His work is approached not as a painter, but as a potter. Clay is the starting point. After the pots are thrown or pressed from flat sheets of clay, these are cut and re-formed into ovals and square forms. They are dipped in a white clay slip, dried and then glazed. This produces a flat white surface on which the blue oxides are painted, with new and old brushes, odd bits of sponge and fingers. Lines and motifs are often scratched through the blue, adding an extra depth of image. The pots are then fired in a 80cuf wood fired kiln to 1100c, the ash and flames imparting individual qualities to each piece.
Historic pots and potters have been a strong influence on Nigel's approach to ceramics. From the warm colours of old French and Spanish peasant ware, the fine brush work of Delft pottery; to more recent potters such as Michael Cardew, Peter Smith and American potter Jeff Oestrich. Nigel Lambert trained at Cornwall College and with Roger Cockram at his North Devon pottery. He established his first workshop in Bristol in 1987; this lasted until 1990 when he moved to the Forest of Dean, where he currently lives and works.
He has exhibited widely in England and Europe, and was elected a fellow of the Craft Potters' Association in 1990.
Artist's website:


text:
Providing a variety of design and manufacturing services for multiple market sectors, DCI has expertise in applications that range from industrial to transportation to wireless monitoring systems. In addition, the company is one of only a handful of US-based manufacturers of Liquid Crystal Displays (LCDs) and not only has the expertise to build these devices, but provides LCD design services as well. Partnering with a screen printing firm that could uphold DCI's strict quality principles while also delivering robust solutions for inspection and ease-of-use for set-up and product changeover was critical to the company's ambitious growth plans and long-term success.
�We evaluated several screen printing systems,� says Mike Morgan, DCI Chief Operating Officer. �The capability of DEK's Horizon 03i � particularly the HawkEye inspection technology � coupled with the staff's depth of knowledge and process expertise made our decision an easy one. Plus, with the Horizon platform's new scalability, future-proofing and ability to customize, we can modify the system to meet our manufacturing requirements as our business changes and grows.�
One of the primary screen printing equipment requirements for DCI was a technically advanced, yet easy-to-use, inspection system. DEK's Horizon 03i delivered with its award-winning HawkEye� 750 print verification technology. Offering assembly specialists unmatched value, the entire Horizon platform, which includes the Horizon 01i, Horizon 02i and Horizon 03i, provides numerous features as standard such as motorized stencil alignment, fast product changeover, 2.0 Cpk print process capability and 6-sigma production performance. With Horizon and its powerful Instinctiv V9 user interface, manufacturers also enjoy the flexibility of choice and can seamlessly integrate advanced options like speed enhancement, next-generation understencil cleaning technology and automatic board support when required, guaranteeing a future-proofed productivity advantage and an exceptional Return on Investment.
�It's no coincidence that DCI has been named to Fortune Small Business magazine's list of the fastest growing small companies for the past two consecutive years,� proudly states Jay Gillam, DCI's Vice-President of Business Development. �When your top priority is ensuring your customers receive outstanding service and superior quality products on time every time, business success is inevitable. Our addition of DEK's Horizon 03i is just one more example of this commitment.�
About DCI
DCI is an electronics services firm specializing in the design, manufacture and integration of custom electronic products, sub-assemblies and user interface solutions for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in numerous industries. With unique expertise to integrate specialized interface technologies, such as custom liquid crystal displays (LCDs), light emitting diode (LED) displays, custom backlights, and other operator interfaces, DCI delivers turnkey solutions for electronic product design and development. DCI's 25-year track record and highly automated electronic production processes enable the production of world-class quality assemblies for customers' most demanding applications.
About DEK
DEK is a global provider of advanced materials deposition technologies and support solutions including printing equipment platforms, stencils, precision screens and mass imaging processes used across a wide range of applications in electronics pre-placement subassembly, semiconductor wafer manufacture, and alternative energy component production. For more information, visit DEK at http://www.dek.com.


text:
The Moorings is personally supervised and run by its resident hosts Sam and Franca who believe that their well appointed rooms coupled with high standards of maintenance and cleanliness and that personal touch are what set the Moorings apart from larger hotels, which often lack the feel for what their customers want.
|All our rooms are well appointed, tastefully decorated and provide for your comfort:-
For your convenience Ironing facilities are provided on each landing and their is a payphone situated in the dining room for your use.
Start your day with a hearty breakfast selected from our extensive menu which is cooked to order and served in our pleasant dining room.
Breakfast is served from:-
07:30 - 08:45 Monday - Friday
08:00 - 09:00 Weekends and Bank Holidays.
Earlier cooked breakfast can be arranged upon request circumstances permitting.
Vegetarian or special dietry needs can be catered for if requested at time of booking.
|Sam and franca will offer you a warm welcome and would like to assure you that every effort will be made to make your stay as comfortable and pleasant as possible.


text:
Go to: http://greaterworksproductions.wordpress.com/2011/12/25/esther-auditions-2/
Esther The Musical is an open audition for all ages.
GREATER WORKS PRODUCTIONS in Long Island N.Y. is holding open auditionsfor their 2012 production of Esther the musical. Auditions will be held Thursday December 29th 7pm-9pm & Saturday January 7th 4pm-6pm at Little Pebbles School. (303 Ocean Avenue East Rockaway 11518)
Please prepare a brief song of a musical theatre style (No Pop Music) dance is a plus, bring your own music on CD, flash drive, I-pod or you may sing A-cappella. In addition, we are seeking male & female dancers with cartwheel and flip capability. Bring headshot and resume to audition if available. Rehearsals will be held twice a week in East Rockaway. Performances are April 20th , 21st , 27th and 28th, 2012 . For more info. or inquiries, please e-mail firstname.lastname@example.com


text:
Rogue Sport
Altima Sedan
Versa Sedan
370Z Coupe
370Z Roadster
Versa Note
Titan Crew Cab
Frontier Crew Cab
Titan XD Crew Cab
Frontier King Cab
Titan King Cab
Titan Single Cab
Titan XD Single Cab
Titan XD King Cab
NV Cargo Standard Roof
NV Passenger
NV200 Compact Cargo
NV Cargo High Roof
Deal of the Day
Up To
Incentives Available: Special Financing
Incentives Available: $2,000 Factory Rebate Or Special Financing
* Dealer retains all Nissan incentives. All vehicle prices are plus tax, title, plate and dealer fees. The advertised price does not include sales tax, vehicle registration fees, finance charges, documentation charges, and any other fees required by law. We attempt to update this inventory on a regular basis. However, there can be a delay between the sale of a vehicle and the update of the inventory. Pricing and availability may vary based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to options, specials, fees, and financing qualifications. The estimated selling price that appears after calculating dealer offers is for informational purposes only. You may not qualify for the offers, incentives, discounts, or financing. Dealer and Nissan offers, incentives, discounts, or financing are subject to expiration and other restrictions. See dealer for qualifications and complete details.All advertised vehicles are subject to actual dealer availability. Certain vehicles listed may not be available, or may have different prices. Prices exclude state tax, license, document preparation fee, smog fee, and finance charges, if applicable. Vehicle option and pricing are subject to change. Pricing and availability varies by dealership. Please check with your dealer for more information. Prices do not include dealer charges, such as advertising, that can vary by manufacturer or region, or costs for selling, preparing, displaying or financing the vehicle. Images displayed may not be representative of the actual trim level of a vehicle. Colors shown are the most accurate representations available. However, due to the limitations of web and monitor color display, we cannot guarantee that the colors depicted will exactly match the color of the car. Information provided is believed accurate but all specifications, pricing, and availability must be confirmed in writing (directly) with the dealer to be binding. Neither the Dealer nor Autofusion is responsible for any inaccuracies contained herein and by using this application you the customer acknowledge the foregoing and accept such terms. Price does not include dealer added options.
Bob Howard Nissan invites you to search our outstanding inventory of new Nissan cars,
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text:
Samsung have launched the Jelly Bean 4.3 update for the Snapdragon 600 quad core and the Exynos 5 Octa core version of the Samsung Galaxy S4 that comes with the model number GT-i9500. The official build is said to make the handset faster and it comes with several improvements along with optimisations.
The base firmware is I9500XXUEMJ5, and the Jelly Bean 4.3 update is now rolling out in Russia. Owners of the device are able to get the firmware through Kies along with OTA.
Firmware details
Model: GT-I9500
Country: Russia
Version: Android 4.3
Changelist: 1875800
Build date: 14 October
Product code: SER
If you are not in Russia you can follow the step by step guide to installing the update manually with the Odin tool.
As the I9500XXUEMJ5 build is an unbranded version of firmware, it can be installed on any unlocked GT-I9500 unit, irrespective of region and country.
1) Install USB Drivers for Samsung Galaxy S4 to connect the Android device with computer.
2) Enable USB Debugging Mode on phone to connect it with the computer and use Android SDK with it. [Press Menu>> Settings>> Applications. From there navigate and click on Development option then check USB Debugging Mode.]
3) As the tutorial is likely to wipe out all data of the phone, create a backup. If the device is having any custom recoveries such as CWM/TWRP installed then backup data using the recovery.
4) The Galaxy S4 should have battery charge above 80%.
5) The device should be factory unlocked and not locked to a particular carrier.
6) The phone will lose custom ROM with the installation of official firmware. Also, the custom recovery will be replaced by the stock recovery.
7) The device will no longer belong to a rooted version once official firmware is installed.
8) XXUEMJ5 Android 4.3 official firmware works only with Samsung Galaxy S4 GT-I9500. As flashing this on any incorrect variant might brick the device, verify the model number of Galaxy S4 by navigating to Settings>> About phone>> Model number.
Steps to install XXUEMJ5 Android 4.3 Jelly Bean on Samsung Galaxy S4 I9500
Step-1: Download I9500XXUEMJ5 Android 4.3 Jelly Bean (Alternative link ) official firmware for Galaxy S4 to computer. Extract the downloaded firmware file to get
Step-2: Download Odin3.09 . Extract Odin zip to get Odin v3.09.exe in it
Step-3: Double-click to open the Odin3 v3.09.exe file to start Odin
Step-4: Boot the Galaxy S4 in to Download Mode. To do so, first power off the phone and wait for five to six seconds after the display is off. Press and hold Volume Down, Power and Home buttons together until a warning screen appears. Then press the Volume Up button to continue to enter into Download Mode
Step-5: Connect the phone to computer using USB cable while it is in Download Mode. The successful connection will be indicated by an Added message in Odin
Note: If the Added message does not appear then follow these troubleshooting issues.
Verify USB driver is installed properly.
If the driver is installed, try to uninstall and then reinstall it again.
Try different USB port on the computer.
Reboot the phone and computer and then try again.
Step-6: Load the file, extracted from I9500XXUEMJ5, in Odin
Click the AP button in Odin and select I9500XXUEMJ5_I9500SEREMJ5_I9500XXUEMJ5_HOME.tar.md5 file
The Odin window might freeze and show 'Not responding' alert because of the large size of the AP file. There is nothing to worry, it will get back to normal.
Step-7: Under the Option section in Odin, verify Auto Reboot and F.Reset Time checkboxes are selected. All other boxes should be unchecked
Step-8: Double check everything and click the Start button in Odin to begin the installation
Step-9: A PASS message will appear when the flashing is completed and the phone will restart automatically. Once the home screen appear, unplug the USB cable form the phone
Note: Instead of a PASS message if FAIL message comes, disconnect the Galaxy S4 from the computer, close Odin, remove the battery of the phone and reinsert the battery in three to four seconds, open Odin and then repeat from step-3.
Samsung Galaxy S4 will automatically reboot and boot into I9500XXUEMJ5 Android 4.3 Jelly Bean official firmware.
Troubleshoot issue after flashing
After installation if the phone comes across issues such as Boot animation, bootloop, phone running slow or app force closing then perform a factory reset of the device using recovery to resolve the issues. To do so, first switch off the phone. Press and hold Home, Volume Up and Power buttons together until the phone turns on then release all three buttons. In recovery mode, use Volume keys to scroll between options and Power button to select the desired option. Navigate to Wipe data/Factory Reset and select it. Then select Yes to confirm the action on the next screen. Select Reboot system now to boot the phone. This should fix the bootloop issue of the Galaxy S4. It should be noted that performing data wiping will erase the internal data of the phone, therefore, backup data before proceeding.


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Keywords: Consumerism, Marketing, Overeating, Well-being, Existentialism
Kima Cargill is a professor of clinical psychology at the University of Washington Tacoma. Her research examines how overeating is influenced by living in an affluent consumer culture. Librarian Justin Wadland interviewed her about her research.
Justin Wadland: What aspects of your research are you most passionate about?
Kima Cargill: I'm most about passionate understanding how consumer culture has taken over our psyche in many ways without us ever realizing it. I want to uncover how consumer products, marketing, and advertising take over identity.
My work for the past several years looks into the ways consumer culture and the food industry have created the tremendous public health crisis of overeating. A lot of people think my work is about food, but it's not just that. I'm looking at how rampant consumerism affects us psychologically. More recently, I've been looking at how Psychology itself has been commercialized and made into a product that doesn't necessarily improve our well-being or live up to promises it makes to people. In a lot of ways, it's cheapened the discipline.
What impact has your research had on your daily life?
A lot of the time I tell people that I'm on a diet of spite. I get so angry when I learn about the tactics that food marketers — and the pharmaceutical companies, as well — use to get people to buy products. I'm so outraged that it makes me not want to give money to these companies. I think hard about where I put my dollar. We generally feel better when we spend money on experiences rather than consumer goods. My research makes me more careful about how I spend money.
What has been one of the unexpected outcomes of your research?
What has surprised me is that I wrote a book for an academic audience — and my talk at town hall was a synopsis of that book — and I've been surprised and touched by the random emails I've gotten from ordinary people who have read my book or watched the presentation. One person wrote this week that as a result of my work, the connection between the food and pharmaceutical industries finally clicked for him. The highest compliment is to have someone tell me I articulated something that they almost knew but hadn't quite arrived at on their own.
If you were going to recommend someone new to your work to read single book or article, what would it be? Why?
I'd recommend my book because it was a real departure from my previous publications. Everything before it was more esoteric and full of jargon for insiders in the discipline, and I decided to do something different and have my natural voice come through. It's more accessible and polemical, and it's very timely to call out the health risks of our consumer culture, especially in light of the Occupy Movement and the discussions about income inequality. It seems like there is much more global awareness of the effects of consumerism—even Pope Francis has made this central to his message.
Name one work—book, movie, song, anything—that has had a biggest influence on you.
This is not a model but an influence. One of the first articles I read in graduate school was "Why the Self is Empty" by Phillip Cushman. (By coincidence he lives out here and has taught for UW Tacoma.) That article really opened my eyes to the way our personal psychology develops within consumer culture, within what some people call the culture of narcissism. Also, it very honestly said the discipline of Psychology was complicit in the problem. That article had a profound effect on my understanding, and I think I cite that article in everything that I've written. I'd call it a seminal work for me, and I'd credit Dr. Cushman in my intellectual development.


text:
The Hopkins-Nanjing Center Opening Ceremony marked the official start of the 2015-16 academic year. This academic year will commemorate the HNC's 30th anniversary in June 2016. Vice President Yang, Chinese Co-Director He and American Co-Director Neil Kubler all welcomed the new cohort and gave their thoughts on the road ahead for the HNC.
|Vice-President Yang gives his remarks at the opening ceremony
Vice President Yang and Chinese Co-Director He remarked on the HNC's 30 years of contributions to improving mutual understanding between the US and China. American Co-Director, Neil Kubler, spoke to the change he has witnessed in China in becoming a more open society. He also echoed Co-Director He's sediments for the need for China and the US to learn from one another.
Co-Director Kubler called on the HNC students to make the most of their time at the HNC. He encouraged the new students to "be willing to take risks and engage in what some have called 'uncomfortable learning.' Believe me, you learn more if you try something new, than if you keep doing what you've done before. "
|The HNC cohort for the 2015-2016 year
We hope all of the new students have a smooth transition to the HNC and a great year!


text:
MACC: Err, Datuk Seri please have a seat. Please sit down, never mind, it's okay.
DS: Err, I would rather stand.
MACC: Why are you so jitery, we only want to ask you a few questions that's all.
DS: Go ahead, all the same, I would rather stand.
MACC: We are your friends DS, relax.
DS: Could you tell me how high up are we?
MACC: We are on the 9th floor, so about 90 feet, why?
DS: Nothing, could I stand over there please. I am afraid of heights so standing next to this glass wall gives me the creeps.
MACC: No problem Datuk, please sit anywhere you want.
DS: It's okay, I'll stand here next to this brick wall. Are you sure this wall is actually made of brick?
MACC: Don't worry Datuk, it's solid. So can we begin the questioning Datuk?
DS:Okay, ask what you want.
MACC: Do you know Takselamat Ali Money Changers?
DS: Nope, haven't heard of that guy from Seremban.
MACC: How do you know he is from Seremban?
DS: Okay, okay, yes I know him..
MACC: We have reports that say you used Takselamat to transfer 10 million ringgit to England.
DS: Yes, that is true, why I cannot send my own money overseas ka. It's my money so I should be allowed to do what I want with it.
MACC: Yes, we know you have the right to do what you want with your money but we are interested to know how you made so much money.
DS: What! You call 10 million a lot? Anyway, I earned the 10 million.
MACC: You have not been a state CEO that long DS, your salaries couldn't add up to that much.
DS: I know, but my wife sells goreng pisang in the evening and my children sell nasi lemak in school and in college. I also give English tuition when I am free.
MACC: DS, you expect me to believe your story?
DS: What time is it now?
MACC: 5.10pm.
DS: Hah, hah, it's past office hours, you can't question me anymore. Sorry got to go.
NO QUESTION AFTER OFFICE HOUR….bullshit!!!!Posted: February 20, 2010 in Uncategorized
MACC: Err, Datuk Seri please have a seat. Please sit down, never mind, it's okay.


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Vitamin D-3 information
Vitamin D-3 is a hormone that is naturally created by the skin with adequate sunlight (direct contact with the skin).The primary source of Vitamin D-3 is the sun. Vitamin D-3 is an important link to the sun's life sustaining benefits. Together their energy touches every aspect of the physiology. Vitamin D-3 in conjunction with the sun affects cellular development, cell growth, cellular functions, cell to cell communication, gene expression, immune function, energy metabolism, muscle strength and coordination, neurotransmitter production, some types of inflammatory response and bone development.
What you need to know about vitamin K2, D and calcium
7 signs you need to be getting more vitamin D
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Over 4,000 members work at CFIA. They perform a wide variety of jobs, including meat, poultry and produce inspection. They monitor and audit the federally regulated inspection programs of the food industry in Canada and enforce federal laws. Our members at the CFIA also run the offices, maintain the equipment and buildings, and carry out the administrative work of the CFIA. The unit falls under the Public Service Labour Relations Act.
December 3, 2014


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5198 Sassafras Dr 307, Fitchburg WI 53711 Sold for $168,900 on 03/05/2018
Features of 5198 Sassafras Dr 307, Fitchburg, WI 53711
- Condominiums
- Status: Sold
- County: Dane
- Bedrooms: 2
- Full Bathrooms: 2
- Est. Square Footage: 1,241
- Acreage: 0.0
- Elementary School: Leopold
- Middle School: Cherokee
- High School: West
- Property Taxes: $1,999
- Property Tax Year: 2016
- Listing Company: First Weber Inc
Property Description for 5198 Sassafras Dr 307, Fitchburg, WI 53711
5198 Sassafras Dr 307, Fitchburg, WI 53711 - Prairie Park condos at Swan Creek! Conveniently 10 min to downtown & 15 min to west Madison. 3rd floor condo w/patio, easy access to common areas & parks. Clean & open concept, white cabinets, appliances, laminate counters, in unit laundry & large closets. Will have new carpet & be professionally painted by closing. Master suite has walk-in closet & full bathroom. Convenient workout room & community room to host events or parties. Large dogs ok. Model units finished to showcase finishes. Additional parking & storage available to be purchased.
Room Dimensions for 5198 Sassafras Dr 307, Fitchburg, WI 53711
- Master BR: 16.0 x 13.0
- BR 2: 16.0 x 12.0
- Kitchen: 13.0 x 11.0
- Living Rm: 13.0 x 11.0
- Utility Rm: 0.0 x 0.0
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Interior Features
- Heating/Cooling: Central air, Forced air
- Water Waste: Municipal sewer Close to busline, Common Green Space, Elevator
Building and Construction
- Garden (apartment style)
- Exterior: Deck/Balcony, Patio
- Construction Type: E
Land Features
- Waterfront/Access: N
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|Mar 20 2018 12:48PM
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text: The Pedlar Small 237×320 Medium 473×640 Large 757×1024 Download TIFF Original 1775×2400 | (1.3 MB) Description "The Pedlar. By Holbein. From the Dance of Death." —D'Anvers, 1895 Keywords dance, death, holbein, painting, pedlar, skeleton Galleries Illustrations of Paintings Source: N. D'Anvers An Elementary History of Art (New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1895) 124


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Schoolgirls by Rick Elkins
If you want to understand the gap – chasm, really – between law and public morality in Jamaica, look no further than to any discussion about sexual arrangements between men and women. The specific forms – in this case, sexual liaisons between adult men and adolescent girls – provide a clear view of the muddy waters that Jamaican folks are wading in the minute they get up on a soapbox about this issue.
Consider the following conversation that emerged on in a FB group of 22,000+ Jamaicans over a 5-hour period on February 21, 2012. At the time of this writing on the same day, there was a total of 66 responses. Undoubtedly, there are more now.
A woman posed the following question: Do you think a big man should date a school girl?
If you're at all familiar with the social attitudes of Jamaicans, you should be able to predict the flow and content. But, here goes:
School girls should be focusing on their education. so no !
No man…….dat outta order
(M) like high skool girl or college? cause high skool a no
(W)Its high school girls…..those girls neva stay wit di man fi long
- y would a man inna him high age wah date pickney him daughter age?
cuz most of a dem jus disgustin, an some a di gal dem too licky- licky
W-e-l-l, let's see……hmmm…….#1. He's gett'n old and he wants to feel young,#2. Havin' a young girl arond boosts his "EGO" especially amongst his frenz.#3. Men have been doing this for centuries, and you can't change the genes of the species.#4. A womans biological clock starts tickin' as her age comes off the calender while a man at 75yrs of age can get an 18yr old girl pregnant .#5. Majority of men see nothing wrong with it.#6. When a woman goes out with a younger guy, ppl talk and stare and say that it's not right.#7. As much as us women hate to admit it, there is a double standard and there are things that men can do and we'll never be able to do it in a million yrs, and The list goes on and on of the things men do that us women are against but can't put a stop to….
(M) In Canada, usa, uk and many other countries you go to jail. It takes a community with good morals to raise a child correctly and teach that child wrong from right. Adults should be protecting the children of their community not exploiting them.
(M) Why not?
of couse not! [to man] pervert, tek wey uself!!
That's like unnuh man have friend and dem watch u daughter grow from baby then wah date one of her school friend ah nastiness dat man…….ppl morals gawn outta de window..de door all de toilet cah hole dem nasty morals…..kmrtwen my dawta was 15 , her dad come 2 me nd bawl murrrhhhhhdah she deh wid wah ole man !! nuh amt a cutliss an hoe an pikaxe stick gadda up fi go beat di man !! wen mi jump fi go talk 2 har , ongle fi fine di man a tremble unda di olda sista bed ( she had her own apt ) di ' ole ' man was 25 an fraid fi him loife ,mi decide fi talk 2 di fada an calm him dung ( inna my mind mi seh nuh rush dem , dem wi eventually leff ) well him neva tek mi advice so him sen threat an show up a di man house . fast fawud , mi a talk 2 har an mi hear di man vice an ax him if mi nay talk 2 him years earlier , him same 1 !! big weddin a plan , pa a gi har weh , mi a plan fi remine him bout it afta di 'i dos ' wen him unda him juice
- (M) when Satan take over a person heart and mind morals get left behind. No God fearing person live them nasty life. The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom.
[to M] I know hun..but ah still nastiness…
[to W].she was young yes but me ah talk dem man inna dem 40/50's ah ah run dung 15/16 yr old dem fe humble dem self
Why can't he date someone closer to his age?
Big ole hawd back ashy kin man dem need fi leave people gyal pickney alone.
Dem wah string up…dem ting deh sicken me tomach ….
dutty pervert dem an some a di gal dem juss as bad…pure slackness
Dis man muss a buy di young girl wha she want, dats why she deh wid him. Di man like di likkle girl cause she young an impressionable. Him nuh waan nobody him age cause him cyaan fool dem. A hope she have enough sense fi use protection an birth control so she nuh catch no diseases or go breed, cause as soon as dat happen the wutlis man a guh run leff har.
At this point, I honestly could not believe what I was reading. To me, the question was posed in a way as to seem no different from the "do you think it's ok to flush a sanitary napkin?" sort. Not a SINGLE person noted that there was a tiny not inconsequential matter of the legality of such. I'm no "law and order" type, but here, it seemed to me anyway, that one might at least hint at awareness that such sexual relations are regulated? Not so. Trying to contain my irritation, and 4 hours into the conversation, I decided to make an intervention of sorts:
ME: What you mean by "big man"? A man who is older than 21 years, or any man with money?That you are posing this AS a question, goes to the heart of why girls continue to be sexually exploited and ADULTS are not doing shit about it. What we think ought not to matter; there is a clear law that says that any person who has sexual relationships with a girl under SIXTEEN YEARS OLD is committing a criminal offense.See't deh – read it. http://bit.ly/wPb38XPage 10, Section 8 & 9. According to the law, when you see an adult man either courting or touching a child under 16 years old, you are watching criminalized behaviour in process. When you see a pregnant girl who is still in school, you are looking at someone who has been victimized sexually. She does NOT have the right to consent if she is under 16 years old, no matter if she wants to. The only male persons who can potentially get away with it are those who are under 23 years old. BUT they have to be able to prove that they believed she was at least 16 years old.You know what would put a serious dent in the amount of child sexual violence? Threatening these boys and men and letting them know they are going to go to jail if they even so much as look. Tek pickcha a dem an dem license plate and sen' it guh gi police. Si how fast dem tings stop…Wi need a "School Yard Crew" fi deal wid dem.
(M) Ladies and gentlemen a lot of these school girls are the one doing the chasing because financially they know they can get what they want. Are they dirty and immoral also? [to me]do you have any idea the amount of law suite that that scenario would create? So a 17 year old school girl is ok to deal with because it is not against the law
to [sic] intimate ,,casual is best for first date. That's my opinion
hell no,him mus go look him dam size
(M) As long as it is not illegal do what you do.No..But then again am old fashion & still living in the middle age..lol…
- but some of these school girls are very BRITE,and dem nuh want school bwoy a big man dem a look
- STOP BLAMING THE UNDERAGE KIDS !! ( Typical J'cans kmft )
I am a big woman and i don't believe that i should be in any arguement with no school girl over my man,so if my so call man decided that he is gonna get involve with a school girl,then he can go cause i CAN definately do without his sorry ASS…
(M) mi old fashion and is a man of principle….nau, go tek yu book…..and try spell you name lickle gal….
(M) I would not call it dating.
(M) Bigman nuffi dey wid pinkiney period..aldwo me lickle an love big oman lol lol…frm dem ena dem teens frm 11teen to 19 is lickle pickiney datm..a big man who is 40 add mus dey wid no girls in dem teens cos that teen could be his dauter or neice..
ME [to M] – what does anything of this have to do with "dirty" and "immoral"?? Maybe you are missing something: does the law say anywhere that the problem of statutory rape depends on who does the chasing?what scenario? The School Yard Crew? Girls 16 years old and older can consent to sex, yes.
(M) Looking for some clarity on the law. Is 17 ok by law? The scenario of taking pictures of men talking to school girls and using it to prosecute them.
- ME Unnu whe'h deh debate this missing the point: there is no room to negotiate who him can deh wid or not. If she's under 16, back the fuck off or go to jail. A unnu whe'h deh gwaan like seh dis is a matta of opinion a create di problem, an a mek it look like seh if HIM want to, is fi him biznis, an' ef SHE want to, is fi har bizniz. Not a baxide. Unnu need fi know what is what suh unnu can know what is *a matter of opinion* and what is *law*. If you think the law is not a good or just one, then that's another thing. But this isn't a moral issue; it's a legal one. Separate the two. [This comment got the highest number of "likes"]
- ME (to M) did you go read the statute? You need to do that. It says that no child under 16 years old can consent to sex. Anybody who engages in sexual intercourse or play with a child under 16 is liable to criminal charges. That's it. Laws don't tell you what TO do; they tell you what NOT to do, and the consequence of such.
(M) My question on the law pertains to a girl who is 17 not 16. [I couldn't tell whether he was being daft or what…]
ME (to M) And I answered it quite clearly. Once a girl is 16 years or older, she is presumed to be able to consent to sexual intercourse. In other words, YOU need to figure out what you want to know, and how the law speaks to that, or not
(M) Stop talking is riddles and answer the question. Is 17 the legal age of consent. A yes or no will suffice. [Riddles??? Ok, so he IS a little slow on the uptake it seems]
(M) [to ME] not unda my roof lol den again, wey me knw..(Take ten men wid dauter n ask dem the consent ? An den you tell me the ansa) den you take 10 man wey nuh ave nun n see wey dem sey..me caah guess dem ansa " dem nuh pardon nutten"…"16″ me lookin at how hard we afi go work fi sen R go high skool..NO sa tel him fi come ask me fi consent"fi R.."smiling evilously"
ME [to M] No. 16 years old is the legal age of consent.
(M) So then it is not a legal issue but a moral one. So any big man can date a school girl 16 or over and he cannot be prosecuted. Under 16 and it becomes a crime. Thanks.
ME [ to M] "What" is a moral issue?
(M) Dating a girl 16 and over.
ME [to M] – the law covers that. If she is under 16 years old and anyone above that negotiates sex with or for her, dem a deal inna criminal ting too. "Age of consent" means that she cannot consent and nobody else except the STATE can consent for her. Suh according to the law, di faada need fi guh aks di Prime Minister, or the Governor-General ef some odda man can have sex wid him 15 year old daughter.
ME [to M] ok. yes. That is, most people would find it more acceptable if she was dating someone her age or two years older, but not if she was in a sexual relationship with an adult. In fact, the law creates a moral "gray area" between 16 and 23 years old, where she might be able to consent to sex, but there is a question about whether someone over 23 years old should be involved with a 16 year old.
(M) Aal wen me read dem comments yaah enuh only mek me sharpen me cuban till it white fi jig saw up somebody…me sey "18"…an triple s ask sey if bigman fi date skool girls NO.NO.NO you knw hard the father or madda afi work and sacrifices n help frm plp fi dem reach dem age dey..an den dem ole rustykin ole man dey see dem n waah give dem argument.."0,0″ me naah go tek too good paah me heart lol
Me [to M] – so now you know exactly what to say without having to use that Cuban:1) under 16 years is against the law of the land, and which will get you jail time;
2) under 18 years is against the law of [M], and that will get you coffin time
- nope, nope…big is the operative word…while girls is the other…
Bwoy wat a way di man dem a look fi loophole inna di law fi date the likkle girls, KMT.
ME (to W) You see't tuh???? What a baxide deh pon di lan!
Whether us women like it or not. When the day arrives that our age is no longer on the calender, many of us will be pissed that the man you are with cheats/cheated or has left the relationship for a younger woman. Whether she be 16 or 25, you are now old and not as much fun anymore and he see's sup'm in her that you used to be. I think as women we shud enjoy our lives no matter what age we are. As for a man in his 40's or 50's wanting a girl 16,17,18,19,20.#1. He can impress her,#2. When he does something nice for her, the delight she shows makes him feel like a "GIANT." I hate to sound like a broken record…. No matter how much we women hate it and some of us will not admit it, but one day we are all gonna get old and your man will either leave you for/cheat on you with/keep/ admire or want a younger woman….. As a matter of fact men always want younger women.
- We simply need to start talking to our girls – AND boys, about what's out there, how to be alert and how valuable they are….creeps of all ages usually go after girls (esp.) that can be fooled, have low self esteem or are unloved/unvalued.
- Its di big ole perverts dem mek mi neva like guh a shop fi mi granny even when was 11 and 12 and reach puberty. You could just feel dem staring you down…waiting fi yuh turn 16 fi pounce. Nasty bugga dem.
To summarize:
most of the women expressed disgust at such relationships, recognised that girls are acting on and expressing sexual desire in ways that men took advantage of, acknowledged the transactional nature of such relationships, and ultimately concluded that this was just the way things have worked from time immemorial.
The few men who participated were of two minds: complete rejection of such relationships from their stances as fathers or potential lovers, with a minority seeking ways to justify [their own interest in] sexual liaisons with school-age girls.
The social scientist in me makes me want to parse the information in many ways: where do the participants in this conversation live? Ages? Age of first sexual experience? etc. But, this is a blog post.
What's striking, but perhaps unremarkable, is that at no point do the responses recognise the type of sexual relations as problematic for legal reasons. On the other hand, discussions about homosexual sex – and many of such have prevailed on the particular FB page – are often framed in both moral and legal terms i.e. many argue that sex between men is illegal because it is immoral, and even if it were to be made legal, it would still be immoral. No such luck on this topic. Heterosexual sex – even if it is between persons who are unequal in power and ability to give consent – is given broad latitude, no matter who it harms. And that kind of response – trying to come up with explanations for it and ignoring the broader context for such – is fairly typical of how Jamaicans approach this issue. An article in the Jamaica Gleaner from a couple years ago gives you a good idea of what this kind of argumentation looks like.
The other thing that stands out is how few responses and participants there were. On the buggery question, one could easily sees hundreds of responses within hours; that has happened several times in the past two months. In fact, even people who never respond often feel the need to put in their two cents, which is most likely to be a strong condemnation of such.
Even as I'm making distinction between the 'moral' and the 'legal', I'm also saying to myself, but how can I really justify drawing this difference so as to privilege the 'legal' when I don't believe that the 'legal' is pure in intent or application anyway? In the same group of statutes called the "Sexual Offenses Against the Person" Act, there is at least one other clause that I find both morally and legally problematic (i.e. the buggery law). While I do recognise that the buggery law is part of the legal framework, I certainly don't tell people to obey it, or encourage it to be taken seriously, the way I am doing in this conversation. I don't feel the same about the clause regarding statutory rape; this is a law that I think should be made to work. In this case, I feel that one law (buggery) actually sets out to harm people; the statutory rape law sets out to protect people. Some might argue that the buggery law is intended to "protect" people too, but there's nothing in the actual language and practice of the law that suggest how otherwise vulnerable persons might be harmed by the sexual behaviours under scrutiny.
My presumption is that children are vulnerable before entering the space of the law, while boys/men are being made vulnerable through applying this law. I think I need to write more about this. Clearly, there's something there that requires some teasing out, if only to explain why there is so little recognition and observance of *the fact of the law* that speaks directly to the sexual abuse of girls.
Comparing public and political responses to buggery and child abuse might be the best way to understand the gap that exists between public knowledge (i.e. everyday understandings of sexual practice), public policy (i.e. law) and social practice (what people are actually doing). The gap doesn't seem to be fixed. That is, people are not always ignoring the laws, nor are the laws always triumphing over 'commonsense' approaches. Instead, there's another factor at work: the gap changes based on cultural ideals. That is, specific sexual values have been normalized through cultural practice and become hegemonic; the laws only seems to matter to and for people to the extent that the statutes reinforce those values. When the law seems to go against those values, people simply ignore the law and defend the "culture".
This raises an important question: which sexual values and which cultural practices (regarding sexuality, but not only that) are at work through Jamaican law? At what point does cultural practice (re: sexuality) become institutionalized in law? Big questions, but there must be specific cases that can speak to these processes. I need to look into this more, if only to figure out what can be done to promote sexual values that do not cause harm or aim to disempower girls and women.
I also find it problematic that there's no recognition in the conversation – or in most of the other studies, columns, news articles etc. – that girls are experiencing normal sexual desires AND that those can be channeled in ways that don't hurt them.
The blaming of schoolgirls for participating in illicit sexual encounters with adult men presumes that girls should not have those desires to begin with, nor should they express them at all! The "tek up yuh book" approach to dealing with sexual desire, where education should become their focus instead of finding a love interest with whom to explore those desires is not exactly helpful, especially to those who are already alienated from their education. What exactly is there in the current educational scenario that is remotely engaging to the students? So, that's hardly helpful advice that all girls could connect to.
Arguing that girls are the problem does not exactly work against men's interests either. Men (especially those who do not have daughters) are probably just as likely to claim that they are powerless when confronted with their own sexual desires. Never mind that they invest time and energy in cultivating those desires – one just has to see how they behave around the bus stops and vicinities They must act on it or they may die, or something equally dramatic. So, telling men to redirect their adult desires towards someone their own age is only going to make them more anxious to exploit girls. Getting girls to stop seeing adult men as worthy objects of desire is not easy to do. And it has to be done in a way that men get the message before they become adults.
Similarly, getting adult women to see the problem as men's misdirected desires instead of focusing on girls as nubile temptresses is yet another part of the story that has to be addressed. Every time I hear about a fully grown sexually experienced woman fighting a high school girl over a man, I think of plantation slavery. Where else would such fights be seen as important to have??
This sense of competition between adult women and adolescent girls also says something about the predominance of cultural values about youth and aging in relation to femininity, and where girls & women see their "market value" declining as they get older and develop more sexual experience. In the Jamaican context, it's not makeup, cosmetic surgery, fancy clothes, economic status or even skin color that determines a woman's value; it's her ability to perform sexually and to satisfy her lover's sexual desires. It's how men perceive and project their desires onto her physical body. Men's desires are treated as a constant, pulsating social and metaphysical force that is literally carved into the landscape – just look how many go-go clubs exist, notice all the half-naked women painted on walls, plastered on the billboards, television and mobile phone screens, when men congregate in public, their collective visual field become something akin to a brothel or auction where women and girls are being tested or appraised for fitness. All females are required to respond, no matter what their age. If that's the context in which women and girls are operating in Jamaica, then what any individual girl/woman can deliver is immaterial.
The difficult truth is that girls and women can never win at a game where they are interchangeable and disposable. As long as they believe they can win, however, they will continue to engage in dubious acts of self-promotion to project the idea that their sexual performance is worth testing. But at the end of the day however, what women say about the tightness of their pumpum doesn't really matter; it's what men think and do with women's bodies that count. Jamaica might as well not have an age of consent. Men don't care one bit, and they haven't been made to care. And that's what needs to change.


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2. The Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort in Kakslauttanen, Finland
Believe it or not, these glass domes are hotel rooms! Tucked away in the stunning Finnish wilderness, The Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort offers a very unique experience. Putting up with freezing temperatures and going off the grid to get there is well worth it; the view from the "igloos" exposes you to one of the world's most beautiful natural sites.
Each heated igloo features beds that can be converted to reclining, cinema-style loungers, which is perfect for viewing the Northern Lights dancing across the sky.
© Zhang Xuan/xh/Xinhua Press/Corbis


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Public Actors in Private Markets: Toward a Developmental Finance State
73 Pages Posted: 4 Mar 2015 Last revised: 24 Feb 2016
Date Written: June 1, 2015
The nation's recent financial crisis brought into sharp relief fundamental questions concerning the social function and purpose of the financial system, including its relation to the "real" economy. This Article argues that, to answer these questions, we must recapture a distinctively American view of the proper relations among state, financial market, and development. This programmatic vision – captured in what we call a "developmental finance state" – is based on three key propositions: (1) that economic and social development is not an "end-state" but a continuing national policy priority; (2) that the modalities of finance are the most potent means of fueling development; and (3) that the state, as the most potent financial actor, both must and often does pursue its developmental goals by acting endogenously – i.e., as a direct participant in private financial markets. In addition to articulating and elaborating the concept of the developmental finance state, this Article identifies and analyzes the principal modalities through which the modern American developmental finance state operates today. Finally, the Article proposes three broad strategic extensions of the existing modalities, with a view to enabling the emergence of a more ambitiously proactive and effective developmental finance state – and thus rediscovering a truly public-minded finance.
Keywords: Assets, Banks, Crisis, Development, Development Finance, Employer of Last Resort, Fed, Federal Reserve, Finance, Financial Development, Financial Regulation, Golden Shares, Infrastructure, Infrastructure Banks, Infrastructure Finance, Labor Markets, Money, Open Market Operations, Regulation
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation
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