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U.S. Equal Employment
Opportunity Commission
18-Year-Old Forced to Quit Because of Boss's Sexual Touching and Advances, Federal Agency Charged
KANSAS CITY, Kan. – Cactus Grill, Inc., violated federal law when it allowed a manager to sexually harass an 18-year-old server at its restaurant in Leawood, Kan., the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) charged in a lawsuit filed today in federal court.
According to the EEOC's suit, an assistant manager at the restaurant asked the server for sex, touched her, and made unwelcome sexual advances toward her. The harassment was so intolerable that the server was forced to quit her job, amounting to an unlawful constructive discharge, the EEOC said.
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 protects workers from discrimination based upon gender, including sexual harassment. The EEOC filed this suit, Case No. ****, in U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas, after first attempting to reach a pre-litigation settlement. In addition to Cactus Grill, Inc., the suit names other related corporations as defendants.
"Sexual harassment in the workplace is always wrong, but harassment of teenage workers, who are often in their first 'real' job, is even more egregious," said James Neely, director of the EEOC's St. Louis District Office. "Employers must provide safe, harassment-free workplaces for all of their employees, including teenagers."
Barbara A. Seely, regional attorney of the EEOC's St. Louis District Office, added, "Training is key to preventing sexual harassment in the workplace, and it is especially crucial for employers with teenage employees. All employees must be trained that sexual harassment is unlawful and will not be tolerated. But all employees, and especially teenagers, must also be trained to recognize sexual harassment and to know what to do if it happens to them."
The EEOC St. Louis District Office is responsible for processing charges of discrimination, administrative enforcement, and the conduct of agency litigation in Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma and southern Illinois, with Area Offices in Kansas City and Oklahoma City.
The EEOC enforces federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination. Further information about the EEOC is available on its web site at www.eeoc.gov.


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Caddy Da Don
"Cut the Check" mixtape (download it free here)
Monarch Entertainment Group
Rating: *** (out of 4)
Note: Videos linked in this review contain explicit language and imagery.
When Baltimore rapper Caddy Da Don, born David Rice, was released from prison in 2009 after serving a 2 1/2-year sentence for money laundering, he didn't waste time re-establishing himself as one of the city's most promising MCs. Last year, his club-banger "Grindin' on Me" found a regular home on radio station 92Q. Now, a year later, he's releasing his anticipated new mixtape, "Cut the Check," hosted by Maybach Music Group's DJ Scream.
In hip-hop, timing matters. Caddy seems to acknowledge this when he raps, "Heard they say I sound Ross / in my city been boss" on "Trap Life." He possesses a booming voice similar to current mainstream hit-maker Rick Ross. It's Caddy's most obvious gift, so he smartly rides it throughout the 17-track tape, bending it for hardcore street anthems (the excellent "Out of Line") and potential crossover singles ("She Bad").
As a songwriter and lyricist, Caddy has the potential to do what few Baltimore rappers have done — break through the Charm City ceiling and enter the national hip-hop scene. (He's second to only Los, the local rapper signed to Diddy's Bad Boy Records, as the Baltimore rapper to put your money on.) But he's not there yet — "Cut the Check" has stretches of generic trap-music and missed opportunities, such as "Retarded," which features rapper-of-the-moment 2 Chainz.
Despite the missteps, "Cut the Check" has songs that showcase Caddy's versatility. "Extra" is a silly track, but it works because of its commitment to its concept ("Long driveway, house extra far"). The undeniable "Counting Up," featuring a glowing interlude from Ravens star Ray Rice, repeats the "Grindin' On Me" pop formula with Auto-Tune. "Dear Streets" showcases Caddy's introspective side over a soulful DJ Toomp beat. But there's always room for improvement: "Heavy," the tape's best song, finds the swaggering D.C. star Fat Trel outshining Caddy, stealing the spotlight with his ice-cold nihilism.
Local artists interested in having their latest albums/mixtapes reviewed should email email@example.com.

subset: commoncrawl


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The manner in which this past Saturday�s anniversary of the Korean War�s armistice was celebrated by the two sides � North Korea and South Korea � is but one indication of the challenges we face in ending this 60-year-old war.
The manner in which this past Saturday�s anniversary of the Korean War�s armistice was celebrated by the two sides � North Korea and South Korea � is but one indication of the challenges we face in ending this 60-year-old war.
We�ve been lulled into a belief the war is over when in fact the armistice signed on July 27, 1953, merely was a cessation of hostilities, a ceasefire and end of the killing we hoped would lead to peace.
Communist North Korea put together an elaborate celebration this past Saturday of its alleged (by only them) "win" in 1953 with a giant military parade, tens of thousands of flag-waving automatons and goose-stepping soldiers marching, tin-soldier like, in precise unison reminiscent of Nazi Germany, and a massive fireworks display.
Its democratic, and obviously more confident neighbor to the south settled for, according to the Washington Post, a reserved speech at a war memorial by South Korean President Park to memorialize the anniversary. Her speech, attended by only several thousand people, called for the end of hostilities between the two sides.
Humans fail too often to take a long view and settle instead for a near-sighted view of success, a view that is often wrong. Even if the Korean War had been a victory for the North, it sure was a short-lived one. In the 60 years since, South Korea has grown into one of the freest and economically vibrant democracies on earth. Its citizens enjoy one of the world�s best standards of living. Compare that success to North Korea, one of the poorest, saddest, most repressed nations in the world.
A nighttime satellite photo of the two Koreas shows the stark difference in standard of living. North Korea is clearly a failed, darkened pit compared to the bright beacon of its successful brother to the south.
The current border, oxymoronically called the "demilitarized zone" or DMZ, between the two sides is the most heavily defended border in the world. Seeing it and the North Korean troops defending it are to witness hate incarnate.
For 60 years, we�ve listened to the propaganda, lies, and threats emanating from North Korea, the backward, impoverished, little brother of its southern sibling. We�re all familiar with the Napoleon Syndrome, a psychological condition displayed usually in men who lack one physical attribute or another, generally stature. It�s also known as the Little Man�s Complex. The condition is characterized by overly-aggressive behavior that compensates for the subjects� lack of size or abilities. There isn�t a better example of the Little Man�s Complex than that displayed by North Korea.
So the North�s aggressive, domineering, even fanatical behavior displayed in the way it celebrated the 60th anniversary of the signing of the armistice on Saturday is one example of how difficult it will be to achieve peace between the countries. Another example is one I personally witnessed during a trip to Panmunjom and the so-called Truce Village along the demilitarized zone during 2011.
There at the Truce Village stand three simple wooden buildings � sheds really � painted in "United Nations Blue." It was the United Nations that came to the aid of South Korea when it was attacked by the North in 1950, and it was in these sheds that negotiations and the signing of the cease-fire occurred 60 years ago. The sheds were and still are designated T-1, T-2, and T-3. The "T" stands for temporary because the sheds were intended to be torn down after the armistice transitioned to a full peace treaty.
Peace never happened. Instead, Americans have been dying for 60 years since the signing of the armistice, including some 1,500 Americans who were killed in action. Some cease-fire.
The buildings straddle the borderline between North and South Korea. One can step across and into North Korea inside these sheds, an unsettling act knowing that you�re stepping into a crushing dictatorship. Thankfully you can step back across the border and into South Korea and freedom, the doors to the sheds guarded by handpicked South Korean soldiers skilled in marshal arts.
The sheds are simply furnished on the South Korean side with mementos such as small U.S. and South Korean flags and a polished conference table and chairs. On one of the conference tables is the outline of a bare foot indelibly impressed on the otherwise polished table top.
In Korea, like in many oriental and Middle Eastern countries, baring the bottoms of your feet � especially putting your feet on a table � is considered rude and disrespectful.
A South Korean described his northern brothers and sisters as "angry little children" and very difficult to deal with on a rational basis, unreasonable. "Little Napoleons" if you will.
The footprint left contemptibly by a North Korean "guest" on the conference table in T-2 is another reminder of the difficulties the world faces in dealing with the angry children of North Korea. While we discard the inevitability of war, it is difficult to see another way given the DMZ�s tinderbox tensions, the overheated political rhetoric, and the unprincipled and spoiled nature of North Korea�s leaders.
Barry Fetzer is a columnist for the Havelock News. He can be reached at email@example.com.


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The benching certainly was unpleasant, but after struggling for three-plus quarters Saturday, Phillip Sims understood.
Indeed, with his team trailing Maryland by two touchdowns midway through the fourth quarter, Virginia coach Mike London had little choice but to replace Sims with Michael Rocco at quarterback.
"I just didn't do a good job of getting the ball to my (teammates)," Sims said after the 27-20 defeat. "It comes down to me -- I'm the quarterback. I need to get the ball into their hands, and I wasn't doing it. Sometimes you're hit and miss, and I was a lot of miss today."
Most of Sims' misses occurred in the first half, when he was 5-of-17 with an interception that the Terps converted into a touchdown. Sims finished 13-of-28 for 139 yards, 20 on a third-quarter touchdown to E.J. Scott.
That was the lone touchdown Sims produced in his second start. Rocco, who started the season's first four games, was 5-of-11 for 79 yards and a score, bringing the Cavaliers within seven points late. But on Virginia's final possession, he went 0-for-4, including an overthrow of tailback Khalek Shepherd, who was wide open.
Who starts next week against Wake Forest? Who knows?
"That's not up to me," Sims said politely. "That's up to the coaches, and they decide what's best for the team. I have no say-so in anything that goes on as far as who starts, who plays, how much they play, anything like that. I just do what I'm told."
Maryland coach Randy Edsall offered this assessment of Rocco: "As I evaluate them, watching them on film, I think he is the best passer that they have. So it didn't surprise me that when they got into that situation where they had to throw the ball, that he would come in because, as I said, I think that he is the best pure passer of the two so I'll leave it at that."
The last thing any coach wants is a weekly referendum on the quarterbacks. So if I were London, I'd probably start Sims against Wake Forest.
But if that goes poorly, and with an open date the following week to re-evaluate, I wouldn't hesitate to go back to Rocco.
Some other notes, numbers and observations:
* Virginia kicker Ian Frye said Maryland's Stefon Diggs fooled the Cavaliers' coverage team on the opening kickoff by hesitating in the end zone before electing to disdain a touchback.
"The ball was 5 yards deep (in the end zone) I believe," Frye said, "and we had the feeling that he was going to take a knee. He kind of tricked us. We need to make sure that we don't slow down."
Diggs took the opening kickoff to the house, the first kick return for touchdown against Virginia since Southern Mississippi in 2009.
"We knew that Diggs was a special player, a dynamic player," London said. "Your job is to run down on the kickoffs and cover the kickoffs. Regardless of what you think someone is doing, that's what we're supposed to do, and obviously we didn't do it."
"I knew once I got the ball in the end zone that I was going to take it out regardless," Diggs said. "I hesitated a little at first because they were telling me to 'stay in, stay in.' But I was thinking, 'No we're going to take this one out.' Last game we had a shot but we didn't go for it. My front line guys did a good job, so I didn't want them to waste all their energy."
* Virginia's 168 rushing yards were the most against Maryland this season and more than double the Terps' 81-yard norm, stinginess that ranked seventh nationally.
* Maryland senior defensive tackle Joe Vellano played up to his All-American credentials with nine tackles and two sacks.
Virginia's best defenders were senior linebacker LaRoy Reynolds and true freshman end Eli Harold. Reynolds matched his career-high with 12 tackles, three for loss, while Harold had 1.5 sacks and three tackles for loss among his four stops.
* Virginia returns home next week to face Wake Forest. The Deacons (3-3, 1-3 ACC) were off Saturday and have dropped three consecutive conference games since a 28-27 home victory over North Carolina.
Wake lost 52-0 at Florida State, 34-27 to Duke and 19-14 last week at Maryland. The Deacons and Cavaliers have not met since 2008, and Wake's last trip to Charlottesville was 2007.
The Deacons were markedly better then, going a combined 28-12 from 2006-08. They have not enjoyed a winning season since.
I can be reached at 247-4636 or by e-mail at firstname.lastname@example.com. Follow me at twitter.com/DavidTeelatDP
Here's a link to my Daily Press print columns, including one on Saturday's game.


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1954: Duncan Williams, a Wisconsin civil engineer, conceives of the idea of an outdoor rink in California at a New Year's Eve party in Madison, Wis.
1955: Williams moves to California and leases land in Palo Alto. He builds The Winter Club. He utilized his engineering background to develop a system of refrigeration and brine to maintain an outdoor ice rink in Palo Alto's mild weather, making the rink the first of its kind west of the Sierras.
1956: Feb. 15, The Winter Club opens as a seasonal membership club. Phil Mitchell (current hockey coach) starts skating at The Winter Club.
1956: In February almost all of the ice is lost in a huge storm.
1957: The first skating show is held.
1965: The first "little rink," a teaching rink, is built. It has no roof or walls. It later became the indoor rink.
1981: The Icettes are formed and shows resume after being on hold for many years.
1983: Williams decides to close the rink and retire due to expiration of the lease with no option to renew.
1983: A group forms in an attempt to save the Winter Club.
1984: The Trust for Community Skating is formed and Community Skating, Inc. (CSI) becomes the management for the new nonprofit Winter Lodge (with Merre Jayne McFate as director) and puts Measures A and B on the ballot to save Winter Lodge.
1985: Measures A and B pass with 70 percent voter approval, resulting in a land swap, allowing the rink to remain in place. Land at the Palo Alto Municipal Golf Course is exchanged for the Winter Lodge site. Winter Lodge would continue to be used for ice skating as long as no city subsidy was required for its continuance other than the use of the Middlefield Road site or appropriate assistance in securing and making available an alternate site and facility.
1986: McFate retires. Linda Stebbins Jensen, a Palo Altan and former Ice Capades skater, is hired as executive director.
1986: The property is re-zoned to Public Facility. This is the final city hurdle to clear the future for outdoor ice skating in Palo Alto.
1987: Winter Lodge wins the Tall Tree Award for Outstanding Organization.
1991: The indoor, side rink is expanded to three times its original size.
1996: The Winter Lodge year-end show tops 200 skaters in its cast.
2001: Community Skating, Inc., acquires the lease for the tennis courts and surrounding property, with upgrades to be made to the courts. The tennis program is started.
2005: The outdoor fireplace is built in preparation for the Lodge's golden anniversary. Skaters are given the opportunity to buy an engraved brick and leave their personal mark on Winter Lodge history.
2006: Outside Magazine names Winter Lodge as one of the top 10 outdoor ice skating experiences in the U.S.
2006: Winter Lodge is ranked by the Ice Skating Institute as the No. 1 largest skating school in the U.S.
2006: Winter Club/Winter Lodge celebrates its 50th anniversary.
2009: Winter Lodge expands its "club house" to accommodate growing numbers of skaters.
2011: Founder Duncan Williams dies on April 11 at age 90.


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DIXON – Henry William Lawson is a mover and a shaker.
The first baby of the new year just couldn't wait to come into the world: Henry was born at 10:20 p.m. Tuesday at KSB Hospital, almost 2 weeks before his due date of Jan. 12. He was 6 pounds, 9 ounces and 19 inches long.
New mother Sabrina Rippy, 19, of Sterling, went into labor around 4 o'clock in the morning New Year's Day; she felt contractions, but she slept through them. Rippy got to the hospital at 1 o'clock in the afternoon; she got an epidural within a half-hour and then was dilated to 8 centimeters an hour later.
"It was so slow after that," Rippy said. "It stayed that way for 4 hours."
Rippy started pushing at 9:30 p.m.
"I knew once I started pushing, it wasn't going to take long," she said. "He was ready to come out. He moved the whole time. He just really wanted to come out."
Proud father Markus Lawson, 23, of Sterling, held his son close, just moments after his birth.
"I couldn't wait. It was an agonizing 9 months," Lawson said. "I had been talking to him for 9 months, but I think it worked: He came out crying, and I first got to hold him, and he hushed right up."
The couple, who have been together for more than a year, settled on a name ahead of time – but they weren't without their headaches. They knew his middle name would be William, just like his father. But they struggled with a first name. They finally settled on Henry – a name they "just liked" and happened to be the same as his paternal great-grandfather.
Henry is a bit of a miracle: Rippy was high risk early in her pregnancy; she suffered bleeding and severe morning sickness, which left her dehydrated. She was not expected to carry the baby to term.
But Henry hung on. Rippy had a much easier pregnancy – save for a couple "paranoia-related" hiccups – after the first trimester.
The couple are excited to be parents – nervous, but excited.
"We're so happy he's here," Rippy said.
They have big hopes and dreams for their little boy, who slept despite having visitors Wednesday afternoon. They hope he does well in school and goes out for sports, among other typical-kid experiences.
"Whatever he's going to do, we're going to be behind him," Lawson said.
Henry is the first grandchild for Rippy's parents, Amy and Antonio Hicks of Rock Falls, and the second for Lawson's parents, Grace and Gary Sodawasser of Sterling and Jeff Lawson of Dixon.


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A day in the life…
11 July 2007 at 20:19 Daniela 3 comments
Some of you out there may be wondering what a typical day is like "in the field." Yesterday was one of those days. I spent the morning driving around with Mario Cruz, one of Prisma´s loan officers.
We zig zag around town, dodging traffic in a 1982 Toyota Corolla disguised as a taxi. Esau, the husband of one of the loan officers, is driving us around town as he usually does. I'm more than happy to take the front seat today, as like most cars here, there are no seat belts in the back. (Although I'm not sure how much a seat belt would help in an accident given that most of the cars I've been in here feel as safe as a tin can on wheels!)
Our first stop is to meet Luz Arel Castillo. She runs an auto repair shop. We pull into the shop and I see Luz, the lone female among her four male employees and those at the used car lot next door. I'm sure I look a little surprised to see a woman running an auto repair shop. I asked her how she learned the business. It´s a typical story. Her husband passed away two years ago and she had to take over the business to feed her family. After asking her a few more questions, I finish my interview, and we hop in the car to visit the three other women who are in her lending group.
About 30 minutes later, we arrive in the "Santa Isabel" neighborhood of Tegucigalpa. The last 10 minutes consist of driving on bumpy dirt roads, dodging potholes and rocks at a whopping speed of about 5 miles/hour. Glenda Yamith Duron and Hortencia Diaz Castejon are cousins who share a small house with their respective families. Glenda is married with three children. Hortencia is a single mother also with three children. Each family shares one bedroom amongst the four or five of them. As we sit in the living room, I peer back into the rest of the house. I see a dark room with a dirt floor. It is meant to be the kitchen, but like many families here, they "pay as they go" to build their home, and haven't been able to afford the kitchen yet. Next door is Thelma Elizabeth Giron. She is also a single mother who lives with her two children. Her "house" consists of one room with two beds, a dresser, a small TV, a sink, and a hot plate. Two of these three women are the sole breadwinners for their family. They make a living by selling products from their home – shampoo, lotion, used clothing, etc. It's quite incredible to believe that with a $275 loan, these women are able to feed three to four people each. Their income varies week by week depending on how much they can sell. My guess is that on average, they each net no more than $15 a week. Sometimes this job can be depressing. But at the same time, it can be inspiring to see so many people who won't give up. In one form or another, so many people I meet face hardships and they continue to move forward.
Finally, it's on to the "Honduras" neighborhood to visit Maria Isabel Obando. I'm pretty impressed to see paved streets and sidewalks, and rows of neatly constructed homes. Maria eagerly invites us in. She starts talking a mile a minute in Spanish, and I'm trying to keep up with all that she is saying, politely nodding my head as if I understand it all! She tells me how much she enjoys working with Prisma because the loan officers give her such personalized attention. (This is something I hear a lot from Prisma clients). As our conversation continues, Maria invites us to stay for lunch. Mario and I look at each other – hmmm….free food? Actually, one of the perks of my job is that most of the clients are so grateful for their loans, that if you try to buy something from them, they usually want to give it to you for free! Some of the foods I've tasted made by Kiva borrowers include coconut cookies, corn on the cob, tortillas, and homemade bread. Hey, it's due diligence, right?
As we finish up our lunch, Maria tells us her neighbor is interested in a loan and she directs us to her business. We head down to the corner and find the potential client in her restaurant where she sells chicken and other local specialties. She wants a loan because she doesn't have the capital to grow her business. Judging by all the customers she has, we can see that her meals are in demand. Mario walks her through the requirements for obtaining a loan, and promises to return in a few days. Finally, it's back to the office. But we get stopped again. Another one of Mario's clients waves us down as we drive by. She has a cousin who wants to apply for a loan for her piñata business. Hmmm…we might see some new Kiva clients soon!
Entry filed under: Honduras, Prisma Microfinance.
3 Comments
picture pokerstars comments pokerstars
Prisma does a pretty solid job when they underwrite loans. They look at a number of factors, which Dr. Mau the CFO/COO of Prisma explains in good detail on his blog:
"She wants a loan because she doesn't have the capital to grow her business."
How does Prisma ascertain whether a potential client has a solid business plan and will use the money wisely? I know some entrepreneurs who may believe more capital is just what they need to grow the business, but sometimes it's better allocation of resources they need.
Just curious…


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News >> Browse Articles >> Fire & Rescue News
Supreme Court Reviews Familiar Firefighter Bias Issue
Stock Photo
Washington Post via YellowBrix
February 22, 2010
WASHINGTON, DC – Sometimes history seems to repeat itself at the Supreme Court, and apparently settled issues reemerge in slightly different forms.
And so there will be a feeling of deja vu at the court Monday morning when the justices turn their attention to an especially familiar-sounding issue: whether minority firefighter applicants in Chicago waited too long to sue when the city used test results in a way that hurt the chances of African-Americans.
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And the delay-in-filing question was at the heart of the court's divisive decision in May 2007 in Ledbetter v. Goodyear, which said Alabama factory worker Lilly Ledbetter waited too long to sue when she found out her employer paid her less than her male coworkers. In the loss, Ledbetter became a feminist heroine, her case became fodder for the 2008 presidential campaign; her name sits atop the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act 0f 2008, Congress's response to the ruling.
But it is not surprising that John Payton, president of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, would prefer that his case from Chicago not become known as "When Ricci Met Ledbetter."
"This is a tough case for reasons everybody knows," Payton said. Both Ricci and Ledbetter were decided against his interests as the court divided along its usual conservative- liberal ideological fault line.
The Chicago case starts with an entry-level firefighter test that drew 26,000 applicants, 45 percent of them white and 37 percent of them black. The city decided that scoring 65 on the test made an applicant "qualified" for the next step in securing a job.
But faced with a huge number of qualified applicants, the city created two groups: a "well-qualified" set of those who scored 89 or better, and a "qualified" group of those who scored 65 to 88. For years, the city limited its hiring to the "well-qualified" group, which was skewed racially — 76 percent were white and 11.5 percent were black. In all, 10 classes of applicants were drawn from the group, and the city hired some from the second group only after the first was exhausted.
Thousands of black applicants who were deemed "qualified" sued and won. A federal judge said the city's actions violated Title VII's prohibition of hiring practices that seem neutral but had a "disparate impact" on minorities. The judge also ruled that the city had known that the 89 cutoff score was "statistically meaningless" and that there was no proof that those who scored higher on the test made better applicants.


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Mauritius, island country in the Indian Ocean, located off the eastern coast of Africa. Physiographically, it is part of the Mascarene Islands. The capital is Port Louis.
Mauritius lies about 500 miles (800 km) east of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean. Its outlying territories are Rodrigues Island, situated about 340 miles (550 km) eastward, the Cargados Carajos Shoals, 250 miles (400 km) northeastward, and the Agalega Islands, 580 miles (930 km) northward from the main island. Mauritius also claims sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago (including Diego Garcia), some 1,250 miles (2,000 km) to the northeast, although this claim is disputed by Britain.
Relief and drainage
The island of Mauritius is volcanic in origin and is almost entirely surrounded by coral reefs. The northern part is a plain that rises to a central plateau, varying in elevation from about 900 to 2,400 feet (270 to 730 metres) above sea level. The plateau is bordered by small mountains that may have formed the rim of an ancient volcano; the highest point (2,717 feet [828 metres]) is Piton de la Petite Rivière Noire in the southwest. The two major rivers, the Grand River South East and the Black River, are the primary sources of hydroelectric power. Lake Vacoas, one of the main reservoirs, is the chief source of water.
Soils and climate
More than half of the country's area is arable, and it is almost entirely planted in sugarcane, the major export crop. Vegetables and tea for local consumption are also grown.
The climate is maritime subtropical, with fairly uniform temperature throughout the year. Mean temperatures vary from the mid-70s F (low to mid-20s C) at sea level to the upper 60s F (upper 10s C) on the high plateau. Two seasons are recognized: hot (December to April) and cool (June to September). Annual rainfall varies from around 35 inches (900 mm) on the west coast to 60 inches (1,525 mm) on the southeast coast and about 200 inches (5,080 mm) on the central plateau.
Plant and animal life
The vegetation includes some 600 indigenous species, even though little original forest is left. The fauna includes the samber (a long-tailed, dark brown deer), tenrec (a spiny insectivore), and mongoose, as well as a variety of birds and insects. The island was once home to the dodo, a flightless bird that was extinct by 1681. Efforts began in the late 20th century to save several other species of endemic birds that were close to extinction.
Ethnic groups, languages, and religion
Approximately two-thirds of the population is of Indo-Pakistani origin, most of whom are descendants of indentured labourers brought to work in the sugar industry during the 19th and early 20th centuries. About one-fourth of the population is Creole (of mixed French and African descent), and there are small numbers of people of Chinese and Franco-Mauritian descent.
Although English is the official language, it is spoken by a very small percentage of the population. Creole, a French-based patois, is spoken by about four-fifths of the population and is the lingua franca of the country. Bhojpuri, an Indo-Aryan language, is spoken by one-tenth of the population, and French is spoken by a small percentage. Other languages spoken on the island include Hindi, Chinese, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, and Urdu. Mauritians commonly speak two, three, or even more languages, and the educational system supports a wide range of language instruction.
Religious affiliation varies: about half of the population is Hindu, about one-third is Christian (the majority of whom are Roman Catholic), and—with the exception of a small group of Buddhists—the majority of the remainder are Muslims.
Settlement patterns
The population density in Mauritius is the highest of African countries and is among the highest in the world. Overpopulation became a serious problem after the eradication of falciparum malaria by the early 1950s led to a sharp increase in population. Driven by government policy, supported by all the Mauritian religious communities, and assisted by the rapid pace of economic growth, the rate of natural increase dropped rapidly in the last decades of the 20th century, and it is now below the world average. Emigration, primarily to Britain and France, also helped slow the annual growth rate.
The birth rate remains well below the world average, while the death rate is similar to the world average. Life expectancy—about 70 years for men and more than 75 years for women—is higher than the world average and is well above the average for African countries. About two-fifths of the country's population is younger than age 30.
Mauritius has a mixed developing economy based on manufactured exports, agriculture, tourism, and financial services. Government efforts to diversify the economy after 1980 have been successful, and the island is no longer as completely dependent on sugar production as it was throughout most of its history. The gross domestic product, among the highest of African countries, grew more rapidly than the population in the 1990s and 2000s.
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing
Although the significance of the agricultural sector has diminished with efforts to diversify the economy, it is still important. Sugar production, generating about one-sixth of export earnings, occupies about four-fifths of the total arable land. Tea and tobacco are also cash crops. Subsistence crops include potatoes, tomatoes, and bananas. The livestock population primarily consists of poultry, sheep, goats, pigs, and cattle.
Forests make up about one-fifth of the total land area of Mauritius. Rapid deforestation occurred during the colonial era, and non-native species were introduced to repopulate the forestland, including the slash pine (Pinus elliottii), which is predominant, Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica), and Moreton Bay pine (Araucaria cunninghamii). Eucalyptus trees and trees that belong to the beefwood (Casuarina) family are also present. Roundwood is the primary forest product, of which some two-fifths is used for fuel; sawn wood is also produced. Mauritius is unique among countries in the region in that it consumes more wood products than it produces and must import the difference.
Technical assistance from Japan and India is regenerating the fishing industry, which has grown in importance. Mauritius's waters contain many species of fish with commercial value, including tuna, snapper, and grouper. Aquaculture is practiced with such species as channel bass and sea bream.
Resources, power, and manufacturing
Mauritius has few viable mineral resources. Basalt and lime are mined. Electricity is largely generated from imported petroleum, with a small percentage derived from hydropower. Sugar plantations often use bagasse—the fibre that remains from sugarcane after sugar-bearing juice is extracted—as fuel to produce electricity.
There has been a steady increase in manufacturing since the 1970s. The Mauritius Export Processing Zone, which concentrates on labour-intensive processing of imported raw materials or semifinished goods for the export market, has successfully attracted foreign investment. Economically important manufactures include textiles, food processing, metal and metal products, and chemical products.
Finance and trade
Mauritius is home to many financial institutions, including a development bank, offshore banking facilities, and several commercial banks. The Bank of Mauritius is the central bank and issues the country's currency, the Mauritian rupee. The country's stock exchange is located in Port Louis.
Imports, largely of machinery and transport equipment, petroleum, and foodstuffs, outweigh exports of clothing and textiles, sugar, and fish and fish products. Important trading partners include the United Kingdom, France, the United States, South Africa, and China.
Services, labour, and taxation
Significant growth in tourism since the 1970s has made it a major earner of foreign exchange. Information and communication technology is becoming increasing important. In 2001 the government created the Information and Communication Technologies Authority to promote and oversee the burgeoning sector.
More than two-fifths of the labour force is employed in the areas of finance and services. Construction and manufacturing employ about one-third of the labour force, and about one-tenth is employed in the agricultural sector.
Taxation is an important source of funding in Mauritius, accounting for about nine-tenths of the government's revenue. About half of the total tax revenue is derived from taxes on goods and services. Trade taxes account for about one-fifth; corporate income tax, about one-eighth.
Transportation and telecommunications
Mauritius has a strong transportation infrastructure. The road system is well developed and in good repair, and almost all roadways are paved. Most of the country's shipping activity is conducted through port facilities at Port Louis, which has been cultivated as a free port to encourage its development as an international shipping hub. An international airport is located at Plaisance, and there are other airports located throughout the country. Air Mauritius, the national carrier, flies many international routes. The island does not have any rail service.
The country's telecommunications sector is well developed and among the best in the region. There has been rapid progress in this area owing to the country's growing information and communication technology industry. About three-fourths of the population has mobile phone service, and one-fourth has internet service.
Government and society
Constitutional framework
Mauritius became independent on March 12, 1968. Under the constitution adopted that year, the country was a constitutional monarchy with the British monarch as head of state. In 1991 a constitutional amendment was passed providing for a republican form of government, with a president as head of state; the amendment went into effect in 1992. Legislative power is vested in a National Assembly, elected every five years and consisting of 62 elected members and up to an additional 8 members drawn from the pool of candidates who were not elected but who may be appointed to broaden representation among minorities or underrepresented parties. Executive power is exercised by a Council of Ministers headed by a prime minister (appointed by the president), who assembles a government from members of the National Assembly. The president and vice president are elected by the National Assembly for a term of five years.
Local government and justice
For administrative purposes, the island of Mauritius is divided into districts. The outlying territories of Agalega, Cargados Carajos Shoals, and Rodrigues Island each have dependency status.
The Supreme Court is the highest judicial authority and includes courts of civil appeal and criminal appeal. There are also district courts.
Political process and security
The constitution provides for universal suffrage for citizens 18 years and older. The political process in Mauritius is open to participation by minorities and women. Minority representation is enhanced by the policy of appointing additional members to the National Assembly to achieve ethnic balance. Although women have held legislative seats and cabinet positions, their numbers have been few.
There are many political parties, but three large parties dominate Mauritian politics: the Mauritius Labour Party (MLP; Parti Travailliste [PTr]), the Mauritian Militant Movement (Mouvement Militant Mauricien; MMM), and the Militant Socialist Movement (Mouvement Socialiste Militant; MSM). The MLP and the MSM generally compete for the dominant Hindu vote, although they both have supporters in all communities. The MMM has its base in the minorities—the Creoles, Muslims, and non-Hindi-speaking Indian communities (especially the Tamils and Telugus)—although it too has prominent Hindu supporters. Coalitions among parties are frequent.
Mauritius does not maintain an active military force, although it does have a small paramilitary force that includes a coast guard unit. Despite some unrest, the country has, on the whole, seen political success: Since independence, Mauritius, unlike most African former colonies, has sustained an open, free, democratic, and highly competitive political system. Elections have been held on a regular basis with the losing parties giving way to the winners. Its limited military structure has meant that it has been spared the difficulty of military coups.
Health, welfare, and housing
Since independence Mauritius has developed a substantial social welfare system that provides free basic health services to the entire population. Care is provided through a network of hospitals, dispensaries, family-planning facilities, and social welfare centres. Old age pensions, family allowances, and other measures for social protection are also provided. Overcrowding is prevalent in urban areas, and the government provides loans to local authorities for urban housing schemes.
Education is compulsory between ages 5 and 16. Six years of primary education begins at age 5, which is followed by up to seven years of secondary education. Primary and secondary education are free. The University of Mauritius (1965) has faculties of agriculture, engineering, law and management, science, and social studies and humanities. Other institutions of higher education include the University of Technology, Mauritius (2000). Some students attend universities in India, France, and the United Kingdom. More than four-fifths of the population is literate.
Cultural life
Mauritius offers a rich mixture of the many cultures and traditions of its different peoples. The ethnic and religious diversity of Mauritius also means that there are many holidays and festivals scheduled throughout the year, including the Hindu festivals of Maha Shivaratree (see Mahā-śivarātrī) in February and March and Divali in late October and November; the Muslim festival of ʿĪd al-Fiṭr, marking the end of Ramadan; the Catholic observances in honour of Père Laval in September, All Saints' Day in November, and Christmas in December; the lively Chinese Spring Festival celebration; and the Tamil holiday of Thaipoosam Cavadee, usually held in January or February, which includes fire-walking ceremonies. The entire country observes Abolition of Slavery Day on February 1, Republic Day on March 12, Labour Day on May 1, and Arrival of Indentured Laborers Day on November 2.
The arts and cultural institutions
Interest in arts and letters and the sciences is promoted by voluntary associations, and the island has produced talented poets and novelists. Perhaps the best-known local writer is Dev Virahsawmy, a poet and playwright. Though he writes easily in both French and English, Virahsawmy is most renowned for his efforts to popularize the use of Creole. In addition to his own plays and poetry, he has also translated several of Shakespeare's plays into Creole, which have been performed in Mauritius.
Mauritius is known for the séga, a popular folk dance consisting of suggestive movements of the hips and arms to a rhythmic beat. The dance can be traced back to the 18th century, when it was performed by slaves.
Representational and abstract painting flourish, and there are art galleries in the major towns. The major national cultural institutions are the Palace Theatre in Rose Hill, the Port Louis Theatre, the Mauritius Institute, which includes a natural history museum and a historical museum, and the Mauritius Archives. There are both public and institutional libraries.
Also of cultural interest is Aapravasi Ghat, in Port Louis, and Le Morne Cultural Landscape, located on a peninsula on the southwest side of the island; both have been designated UNESCO World Heritage sites. Aapravasi Ghat was used as an immigration depot from 1849–1923 for indentured labourers arriving from India. Le Morne Cultural Landscape, comprising Le Morne Mountain and most of its foothills, was a place of refuge during the 18th and early 19th centuries for many escaped slaves, known as maroons. Another area of cultural significance is Grand Bassin Lake, where Hindus bring offerings during the Maha Shivaratree festival.
Sports and recreation
There is a very active sporting culture in Mauritius. Football (soccer), introduced by the British, claims the greatest number of participants and fans. At the highest level there is a national team that competes in the African Cup of Nations tournament. Locally, fans follow the teams in a football league that has been around for decades. The small Franco-Mauritian community avidly supports a highly organized and rather ritualized season of deer hunting. Mauritians from all communities make winter horse racing one of the most popular and highly attended sporting activities of the year. Individual Mauritians have competed at the highest international levels in both bridge and backgammon.
Since its independence, Mauritius has actively participated in both regional and international sporting events. The Indian Ocean Island Games have been hosted in Mauritius, as have international tournaments for boxing, judo, and women's volleyball. Mauritius made its Olympic debut at the 1984 Los Angeles Games.
Areas of recreational interest include Black River Gorges National Park, Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanical Gardens, Trou aux Cerfs (an extinct volcano that is now heavily forested), and the island's numerous beaches and casinos.
Media and publishing
The Mauritius Broadcasting Corporation transmits foreign radio and television broadcasts and also locally produced radio and television programs. Daily news service is provided in French, English, and Creole; additional programming takes place in a variety of other languages. School broadcasting constitutes an important part of the service. Most Mauritian households also receive French television programs from the French-governed island of Réunion. The press operates freely, and there are numerous daily and weekly publications in English, French, Chinese, and other languages.
Early history and colonial administration
Mauritius was long uninhabited, though it was probably known to Arab seafarers from the 10th century or earlier. It was visited by the Portuguese in the early 16th century, but they did not settle the island. The Dutch took possession of it from 1598 to 1710, called it Mauritius for the stadhouder (governor) Maurice of Nassau, and attempted to settle the island in 1638–58 and again in 1664–1710; abandoning their attempts, they left it to pirates. In 1721 the French East India Company occupied Mauritius, which was renamed Île de France. Settlement proceeded slowly over the next 40 years. In 1767 the French crown took over the island's administration from the French East India Company. The French authorities brought African slaves to the island and established sugar planting as the main industry, and the colony prospered.
At the beginning of the 19th century, when England and France were at war, privateers based on Île de France were a continual threat to British and Indian merchant vessels. In 1810 the British captured the island, and, upon restoration of peace in 1814, British sovereignty was confirmed by the Treaty of Paris. The name Mauritius was reinstated, but, in circumstances quite unique for a British colony, the customs, laws, and language remained French.
Pressure generated by the British abolitionist movement ended slavery there in 1835, and slaves were replaced by indentured labourers from India. The country's modern-day Indo-Pakistani population stems from this program of replacing slavery with indentured servitude (deemed Britain's "Great Experiment"); by the time it ended in the 1920s, almost a half million indentured labourers had come from India to work on the sugar plantations.
Mauritius prospered in the 1850s, but competition from beet sugar caused a decline. The malaria epidemic of 1866–68 drove shipping away from Port Louis, which further declined after the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869. During World War I, when sugar prices rose, the economy prospered, but the Great Depression of the 1930s changed the situation drastically, culminating in labour unrest in 1937. World War II did not improve the Mauritian economy, and after 1945 economic reforms were introduced. Political and administrative reforms were also initiated, which led to independence.
In 1965 Britain transferred one of Mauritius's outlying territories, the Chagos Archipelago (including the Diego Garcia atoll), to a newly created administrative unit, the British Indian Ocean Territory. In the following years the inhabitants of Chagos were resettled, most of them moving to Mauritius, and a joint British-U.S. military facility was constructed on Diego Garcia.
Mauritius became an independent state within the Commonwealth on March 12, 1968, with a governor-general on the island representing the British monarch as the head of state. In the first years of independence, Mauritius attempted to diversify its economy beyond the production of sugar but made limited progress. The combined effects, however, of Cyclone Claudette in late 1979, falling world sugar prices in the early 1980s, and political protest and social unrest generated by those who saw no economic future on the island led the government to initiate a vigorous and highly successful program of economic diversification. In 1991 the legislature voted to transition to a republican form of government, and on March 12, 1992, Mauritius became a republic, with a president as head of state.
As Mauritius approached the new millennium, the problems facing the country remained, for the most part, economic in nature. The poorer people in Mauritius—largely Creoles—did not share in the fruits of economic development in the late 20th century. This led to two large and unexpected outbursts of rioting and social unrest in 1999, the first real domestic disturbances since independence. Unemployment rose at the beginning of the 21st century, in part because of the detrimental effects of international trade on textile and sugar manufacturing. The government responded by focusing the country's economic strategies on the development of more lucrative sectors—information technology and business and financial services.Larry Wells Bowman The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
The sovereignty of the Chagos Archipelago had long been a point of disagreement between Britain, which administered the territory, and Mauritius, which maintained a claim to it. The archipelago was the subject of several court cases in the 21st century regarding the former inhabitants' right to return and a proposal for the creation of a protected marine reserve around it. (See also Diego Garcia; British Indian Ocean Territory.)
An uptick in piracy in the Indian Ocean in the early 21st century was a threat to the island's economy as well as international commerce. In 2010 the country deployed specially trained National Coast Guard commandos to help combat the threat of piracy. Mauritius also signed agreements with the European Union in 2011 and the United Kingdom in 2012 for the use of Mauritian courts to prosecute alleged pirates caught in the region by European military patrols. The first group of suspected pirates to be tried arrived in early 2013.
Meanwhile, National Assembly elections were held on May 5, 2010. The alliance led by incumbent Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam of the Mauritius Labour Party (MLP) was victorious, in part because of Ramgoolam's success in promoting stable economic development.
Ideological clashes between Ramgoolam and the country's president, Sir Anerood Jugnauth—a long-serving politician in the Militant Socialist Movement (MSM) who became president in 2003 and had also previously served as prime minister (1982–95; 2000–03)—surfaced in early 2012, and Jugnauth resigned from the presidency in March. He then led a coalition in opposition of the MLP, formed by the MSM and the main opposition party, the Mauritian Militant Movement (MMM).
Political partnerships were rearranged in 2014, with the alliance between the ruling MLP and the Mauritian Social Democratic Party (Parti Mauricien Social Démocrate; PMSD) breaking up and the MLP pursuing a new alliance with the MMM. The MLP-MMM alliance intended to pass constitutional reforms, which included provisions to increase the role of president and make that position directly elected, rather than one that was elected by the National Assembly. A new coalition, which included the PMSD and the MSM and was known as Lepep, was against such changes. The National Assembly was dissolved in October, and new elections were planned. When the polls were held on December 10, 2014, Lepep soundly defeated the MLP-MMM alliance, the former taking 47 of the 62 elected seats and the latter winning only 13. Ramgoolam lost his legislative seat and was succeeded by Jugnauth as prime minister later in December.


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KL553/RO102 leaves Amsterdam at 9.00pm and arrives in Bucharest at 6.15am, connecting through Cairo. (Brad/Victoria missed the flight leaving at 8.20pm.) That's five hours behind the (previously) trailing teams. If hours of operation and train schedules work to their favour, they may still be able to climb out of that ditch.
Next On The Amazing Race I'm Not Wearing That Girls Leotard! (Romania)Teams scour the Transylvanian countryside for buried coffins outside of Dracula's castle and a first place team falls to the back of the pack when their plane is forced to make an unexpected landing.
For whatever reasons, Brad/Victoria, team #5 ended up in Amsterdam.I "think" that all the teams have to drive the cars back to Munich International Airport. That is my base assumption at this point in time. I, like a few, thought Salzburg was a perfect place for a morning task before heading to Romania. Now I think they got an extended pit stop with Tammy/Victor release at Noon. Why noon? No reason, just sounds good to me. Other teams are released at same interval they arrived at Schloss Hellbrunn. I think that, the flight that Tammy/Victor where orginally on, returned to Frankfurt. It's Lufthanza's hub and maintainence base. That would explain why they showed up in Bucharest mixed into the other later teams that are split on either the late night FRA-OTP or MUC-OTP flights. I think it is entirely possible that Mel/Mike, team #2 and Amanda/Kris, team#3, and Luke/Margie, team#4 got on the same flight to Bucharest. I think, because of the clock, that they are actually doing the gynastics at 9 pm. We do not see Amanda/Kris at the gynastics, so they might not have been on the same flight. If they can complete the gymnastics and get to the train station before 9:30 pm, I think they can make the last night train to Brazov. I think the last train is at 9:30. If so, then there is good chance they are doing the detour in Brazov when other teams are still on the train to Brazov. They are probably held up by an HOH there, while other teams are held up by train schedule in early morning hours in Bucharest. Missing the flight connection in Amsterdam pretty much dooms Brad/Victoria, team #5, unless they can be helped by the time delays of the other teams for HOH or some other team has a drastic meltdown.
Here's the train schedule from bucharest to Brasov in the early morning http://www.infofer.ro/dep. 5:50 Bucurest Nord arr. Brasov 8:52 dur. 3:02 fast traindep. 6:13 Bucurest Nord arr. Brasov 10:56 dur. 4:43 dep. 7:30 Bucurest Nord arr. Brasov 10:37 dur. 3:07 dep. 8:30 Bucurest Nord arr. Brasov 11:38 dur 3:08 fast traindep. 8:45 Bucurest Nord arr. Brasov 11:47 dur. 3:02 fast traindep. 9:42 Bucurest Nord arr. Brasov 12:49 dur. 3:07 walkingpneumonia, my official train schedules are a bit different than yours, but mostly the same:dep. Bucharest Nord 0630 arr. Brasov 0922 dep. Bucharest Nord 0730 arr. Brasov 1019 dep. 0616 arr. 1051(note: nobody would want this) dep. Bucharest Nord 0830 arr. Brasov 1124 dep. Bucharest Nord 0942 1254 or 1130 1404 My 0616 is about the same as your 0613 departure and no sane racer would take either one since you can arrive earlier by waiting until the 0730 departure. The 730am, 830am and 942am departures are the same. I do not show any 550am or 845am departures and I do have a 630am deqaprture you do not show.Looks like a team that misses the first train needs to be careful they don't take the 6:13 which gets them there later despite leaving earlier...there must be a bus they could take that would be faster - but since we see Tammy in a train station I'll assume they take a train.
Brad and Victoria are in deep doo-doo.
1. How do you know that teams arrived on the train in Brasov 30 minutes early? The time for the better Bucharest to Brasov trips including that one is around 170 minutes. With scheduled arrival at 922am, how could they get that far ahead of schedule?
2. All other teams probably have the option of taking the 226am train back to Bucharest, but Tammy/Victor do not. They would not release from the pit stop until about 4am and that train would be halfway to Bucharest by then. My bet is that World Race Productions springs for a bus or two for the first group (all every Tammy/Victor, who would have their own bus) or they make sure plenty of taxis arrive around midnight to the Vila Panoramic.
3. I find SU152 OTP SVO, but I do not find any SU783 SVO KJA for the right time frame. I checked for Friday (Nov. 7) and for Thursday (Nov. 6) in case there is no Extended pit stop in Romania. It is possible that SU783 exists, but when I checked them directly on the Aeroflot website, they are not shown there for those days of the week.
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These sets are designed for standard rotation long water pumps. Performance sets require a 41" alternator belt and 33-1/2" PS 5-rib belt size. Increased water flow sets require a Dayco 6-rib, 42-1/2" alternator belt and 35" PS belt size for cars without AC. For cars with AC, a Dayco 6-rib 56" AC belt is required.
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We knew that Frank Darabont wouldn't be directing all six of the Walking Dead episodes for AMC, so who will take over? The answer could make or break this undead series.
Arrowinthehead is reporting a rumor that Michelle MacLaren, X-Files producer and sometime director of critical darling Breaking Bad, will be taking over after Darabont leaves the director's chair. AMC seems to be keeping the directorial duties in house — so if anybody else has to step in, we'd love to see someone from Mad Men take a spin.
Walking Dead is based on Robert Kirkman's comic book and tells the story of a group of post-apocalyptic survivors just trying to survive in a world filled with the undead. The season begins in October this year.


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Home Decorating Ideas to Get You Started
Moving into a new home or redecorating an existing space is an exciting journey, and you can do it all on your own by selecting statement pieces and decorative accents. Allow us at Pottery Barn to make the process even more delightful for you with our guide to getting started. To begin, consider what your personal style is and find products that coordinate with the theme. You can also choose several colors to serve as your inspiration for the makeover and create a balanced look throughout your entire home.
No matter which style you choose for a room, a mirror is sure to complement the space. If you have a small room, you can use a collection of mirrors to add depth and make the space appear larger. By selecting a variety of different mirrors, you can cover an entire wall and create an artistic display. Try selecting framed mirrors in your favorite colors to reflect your personality and create contrast. You can also add dimension to a larger room by placing a mirror on the main wall as a focal point for your decor. If you have a window in the room, consider adding a mirror to the opposing wall. By placing the mirror directly across from the window, you can amplify the amount of natural light in the room.
Pillows & Throws
If you're someone who loves switching up your decor frequently, consider selecting a collection of different pillows and throw blankets to have on hand. Switching out your couch accessories is a way to give the room a quick update without redecorating the entire space. Consider choosing a special set of pillows and blankets for each season. Imagine how cozy you'll feel when winter arrives, and you whip out your luxurious faux fur blankets and pillows for the couch. You'll love how you instantly give the room a wintry feel with a simple switch of a blanket. For warmer seasons like spring and summer, consider choosing solid pillows in your favorite hues to create a bold statement. Colors like tan and white are perfect neutral shades that work any time of year. When the leaves begin to fall, you can pull out the plaid, flannel blankets for chilly nights. You'll appreciate how easy it is to recreate the look of the room each time you change the pillows and blankets.
Candles & Candleholders
Brightening up any room is simple with candles and candleholders. You can use candles to add warmth and coziness at any time of year. Create a relaxing atmosphere with an array of different sized candles spread across your coffee table. Selecting a variety of shapes and sizes helps to create a beautiful tablescape. Planning for a holiday dinner? Consider placing several lanterns at the center of the table and filling them with decorative accents. You could add a candle to the main large lantern, and fill smaller lanterns on either side of that with greenery and decorative floral accents. Searching for a stunning party favor for your guests? Try selecting a few sets of glass votives and placing live succulents inside. You can then set a plant at each place setting with a name card for a unique party gift.
Complete Your Makeover
Once you decide which style is best for your home and your family, choosing the best accents pieces is easy. Remember that you can make the process simple by selecting one or two dominant colors for the room and selecting items that match that color scheme for a seamless look. You can use mirrors to make any room appear larger and candles to create a warm, inviting look. Find your inspiration and become your own interior decorator.


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11 Ways to Tell That Your Boyfriend or Girlfriend Might Be Seeing Other People
You might be totally infatuated with them. You might see stars swirling above their pretty little head every time you stare into those gorgeous eyes. You might trust them with every fiber of your heart and soul. That just gives them better access to your heart when they're ready to run it through a juicer.
Love is never perfect, even when it seems it can't get any better. Even if that was true, that means the only place it has to go is down (no pun intended). Here are some ways to tell if your relationship might be headed in that direction.
1. Their bedroom door has a "Now Serving Number" sign on it.
2. They go through more mattresses than Madonna did in the 80's.
3. They work for the Secret Service.
4. They keep losing their keys and strippers keep finding and returning them.
5. They sent their kids to college on the royalties that racked up from their 'Cheaters' appearances.
6. Keith Richards has had less diseases than them.
7. When you ask them what they did today, they immediately blurt back, "Not the (insert sports team name or sorority house here)!"
8. They take prescription medication to treat chronic rug burn.
9. They've got a "Scotchguard" guy on speed dial.
10. Instead of using firewood in the fireplace, they use motel receipts.
11. You tell them that you think you should see other people and they respond, "Way ahead of you."


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"It's all too common for middlemen in the trucking industry to push shippers to pay fuel surcharges, but only pass along a portion of those surcharges, or none at all, to the truckers who are actually transporting the goods and paying the fuel bill." --Todd Spencer, Executive Vice President, Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association.
It's no secret that fuel surcharges are an absolutely critical piece of the trucker's survival kit these days. Without some quick, turn-key financial mechanism for offsetting skyrocketing fuel prices, carriers and owner-operators would find themselves broke in a hurry.
Yet most shippers don't like fuel surcharges, largely because they feel - and there is some truth to this - that they are getting "double billed" for freight service. That's not to say shippers reject the whole concept of fuel surcharges, mind you - indeed, forward thinking companies like Wal Mart use them as incentives. For example, carriers that become certified under the Environmental Protection Agency's SmartWay program actually get a bigger fuel surcharge from the colossal retailer (talk about an incentive for going green!)
(Fuel costs are putting a huge dent in the wallets of big carriers and independents alike.)
On the whole, however, there is a kernel of truth in the shipper complaint about fuel surcharges. Look at some recent earnings reports and you'll see. For example, Werner Enterprises reported that revenues increased 2% to $512.8 million in first quarter of 2008 compared to the same period in 2007 ... but if you take out money gained from fuel surcharges, its revenues actually DECLINED 6% to $417 million in first quarter this year compared to the same period last year. That's almost a $100 million swing in revenues, based solely on fuel surcharges.
One complaint from small carriers and owner-operators - and this is very true - is that many brokers charge shippers a full fuel surcharge for moving freight ... yet then only pass through a small part of that to the truckers themselves. That's a nice way to make a tidy piece of change, but it sure leaves a hole in the trucker's wallet.
The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) has fought this kind of business tactic for years and has also lobbied hard (but unsuccessfully) for a mandatory fuel surcharge for trucking. That effort got torpedoed several years ago, but now OOIDA is taking a roundabout stab at it again by supporting legislation to pass through the entire surcharge to whomever pays the fuel bill. This makes some sense, but it's bound to encounter some heavy resistance, I think.
Called the "Truthful Reliable Understanding of Consumer Costs" or TRUCC Act, introduced into Congress by Senators Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), it requires that 100 % of fuel surcharges levied on shipping customers be passed through to whoever actually pays for the fuel to haul the shipper's goods - in most cases, that's truckers, says Todd Spencer, OOIDA's executive VP.
(Freight's gotta move -- and that requires trucks to burn fuel, no matter how you look at it.)
"This bill will go a long way toward helping truckers survive the brutal cost of fuel," he notes. "And it will provide needed assurance to shippers and ultimately consumers that higher shipping costs are actually because of higher fuel prices and not gouging by greedy middlemen."
He stresses that fuel surcharges have long been the primary mechanism for trucking companies to respond to increased fuel costs. With diesel prices consistently rising, shippers are paying more now in fuel surcharges to get their freight moved than they ever have before. "It's all too common for middlemen in the trucking industry to push shippers to pay fuel surcharges, but only pass along a portion of those surcharges, or none at all, to the truckers who are actually transporting the goods and paying the fuel bill," Spencer says.
The crux of the problem is that independent, small business truckers seldom deal directly with shipping customers as most of the freight they haul is acquired through third-party logistics companies or through larger trucking companies they are leased to as independent contractors. Mid-size trucking firms often have contracts with shippers for "front hauls," but depend entirely on brokers for "back hauls" and it's these small and mid-sized trucking firms that are being hit hard by diesel prices that now average $4.21 a gallon.
Now, the last time such legislation came up - OOIDA looked for not only a mandatory pass through but also a mandatory fuel surcharge for the entire trucking industry starting back in 2001 - it got heavy resistance from shippers and carriers, too. The American Trucking association resisted it, because the trade group said at the time that it had not been demonstrated that failure to pass through fuel surcharges to owner-operators truly exists, thus deserving Congressional intervention.
"To the extent that motor carriers are able and willing to negotiate with shippers for fuel surcharges and collect such surcharges, those surcharges are generally passed on to those responsible for paying for fuel - if such party is not the carrier itself," the ATA said back in 2005 right before the legislation got quashed. "Responsibility for payment of fuel costs is an item to be negotiated as part of the owner-operator lease between an owner-operator and a motor carrier. Due to the driver shortage, owner-operators are in a position where they have considerable bargaining leverage."
The ATA also said it didn't know of any statute or regulation that prohibits the ability of owner-operators to negotiate either a rate that covers the owner-operator's fuel expense or a fuel surcharge. "They are in the same position and have the same ability to ask," the group said.
Some 40 groups opposed the last fuel surcharge legislative effort, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Industrial Transportation League (NITL), the Transportation Intermediaries Association (TIA), the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), and I'd expect at least some of them to oppose this one.
One thing is for certain, though: fuel costs are turning this industry on its head. In 2003, the trucking industry paid $52 billion for fuel. This year, it's going to be north of $135 billion, according to projections from the ATA. Just 10 years ago, diesel hovered around 90 CENTS per gallon. Today it's over $4.21 and may go higher still. Fuel is now the number one cost - surpassing employee wages and benefits - at many carriers now and it looks like things may only get worse where fuel is concerned in the near future.


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More Details On Spanish Music Collection Society Corruption: Accused Of Stealing $550 Million From Artists
from the lovely-people dept
TorrentFreak has additional details as well, about the scheme that seems extremely questionable. Basically, the accusations are that SGAE hired some "consultants" to set up a supposedly independent subsidiary. The thing is, some of those consultants were relatives of SGAE execs:
The complaint alleges that SGAE operatives set up companies and used revenue destined for artists to generate profit for themselves and their families, and that money bound for artists living abroad was diverted to personal Swiss bank accounts.This all sheds additional light on SGAE's rather fanatical approach to increasing who it could collect the digital levy from. It sounds like they weren't necessarily looking for more money from artists, but potentially for themselves...
At the center of the storm is SDAE, the digital rights arm of SGAE. Although a notionally separate entity, SDAE is fully operated by SGAE. It appears that when SDAE was being set up, SGAE hired a for-profit company called Microgenesis as consultants.
Microgenesis describe themselves as "a team of specialists in engineering, consultancy and development, managed by individuals with established experience in the fields of intellectual property, as well as the culture and entertainment industries."
Microgenesis operated a number of companies which provided various services for SGAE and SDAE, some of them suspiciously registered at SGAE/SDAE's own office address. The problems only deepen when one learns who is behind Microgenesis.
Jose Luis Rodriguez Neri is Director General of SDAE and ex-director of SGAE. His wife, Maria Antonia Garcia Pombo, is the ex-president of Microgenesis. Partner-Chief Legal Officer of Microgenesis is Eva Garcia Pombo. She is Neri's sister-in-law.


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This article describes an approach designed to decrease math anxiety and teach students about the use of mathematical symbols simplifying radicals. A deck of cards is used in a demonstration, and a problem set using real life examples to master the... (View More) use of radicals is included. This resource is from PUMAS - Practical Uses of Math and Science - a collection of brief examples created by scientists and engineers showing how math and science topics taught in K-12 classes have real world applications. (View Less)
Materials Cost: 1 cent - $1 per group of students
In this activity, students build a model of an active galaxy. From this, they will learn about the geometry of the components of an active galaxy and develop an understanding that different viewing angles can lead to dramatically different... (View More) interpretations of a galaxy's appearance. The activity includes background information, glossary, essential questions, extension activities, transfer activities, adaptations for visually-impaired students, and an answer key. Additional materials needed to do this activity include a compass. This is activity one of three in the Active Galaxies education unit. (View Less)
Materials Cost: $5 - $10 per group of students


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No. 14 Butler nearly blows big lead, holds off George Washington 59-56
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WASHINGTON – No. 14 Butler nearly blew a 17-point lead Saturday, going the last 7½ minutes without a field goal, before holding on for a 59-56 victory over George Washington.
The Colonials cut the lead to one in the final minute and had several 3-point attempts in the final 10 seconds that could have sent the game into overtime. Joe McDonald had the final chance, but he was stripped as he went up for the shot just before time expired.
Rotnei Clark scored 14 points and Roosevelt Jones had 12 for the Bulldogs (20-4, 7-2 Atlantic 10), who broke a two-game road losing streak during their inaugural tour of unfamiliar hostile environments in the school's first season in the Atlantic 10.
Isaiah Armwood had 14 points and 11 rebounds for George Washington (11-11, 5-4), which sold out the Smith Center for the first time since 2006 and was hosting its highest ranked opponent since 2000. The Colonials, who start four true freshmen, shot 28 percent.


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9:00 am
Growing a Greener World "Growing Power - Will Allen's Story of Inspiration through a Garden" Milwaukee, WI. - In 1993, Growing Power was an organization with teens that needed a place to work. Will Allen (a 2008 MacArthur Foundation Fellow) was a farmer with land. D
9:30 am
Katie Brown Workshop "Garden Party" Katie creates a party in the garden with recipes like pasta- pea-parsley salad, poached salmon with dill and a watermelon drink.G
10:00 am
Burt Wolf: Taste of Freedom "Independence Day" Burt visits historic sites in Boston and discovers why the town of Gloucester, Massachusetts thinks its parade is horrible.G
10:30 am
Burt Wolf: Travels & Traditions "Chicago, Illinois" Chicago is famous for many things including talented chefs, specialty bakers and authentic ethnic foods. Burt untangles the history of Chicago, laughs at Second City's food joke, and visits the House of Blues. D
11:00 am
Burt Wolf: Travels & Traditions "Miami, Florida" Miami Florida is a sophisticated, subtropical city on the same latitude as the Sahara Desert. It has been described as the American city of the future. There's fun in the sun but there's also a major infusion of performing arts. D
11:30 am
Burt Wolf: Travels & Traditions "Immigrating to America, I" Burt has spent most of his life as a stranger reporting from strange lands and trying to understand what was going on. A few years ago he decided to look at his own country and try to discover the true history of our population. Each year the United States grants permanent residency to more immigrants than all the other nations of the world combined. D
12:00 pm
Ethics In America "Do Unto Others" Must we house the homeless or report a child abuser? A panel including Surgeon General C. Everett Koop, Faye Wattleton of Planned Parenthood, and Willard Gaylin of the Hastings Center discusses the question of community responsibility.G
1:00 pm
Mathematics Illuminated "Other Dimensions" The conventional notion of dimension consists of three degrees of freedom: length, width, and height, each of which is a quantity that can be measured independently of the others. Many mathematical objects, however, require more. D
1:30 pm
Mathematics Illuminated "The Beauty of Symmetry" In mathematics, symmetry has more than just a visual or geometric quality. Mathematicians comprehend symmetries as motions. D
2:00 pm
Invitation to World Literature "The Epic of Gilgamesh" The first known human story is that of Gilgamesh, king of Uruk. Images of artifacts from ancient Iraq mix with beautiful illustrations, dance, and costume to tell of the relations between gods and mortals, the search for friendship, love, and immortality. Featured cast members include Assyriologist Ben Foster, comic book illustrator Jim Starlin, and poet and playwright Yusef Komunyakaa. D
2:30 pm
Invitation to World Literature "My Name Is Red" Both an historical novel and a graphic murder mystery set among the miniaturists of the Ottaman court. With its focus on Istambul, a major crossroads of the world, it tells of the artistic/cultural contest between Europe and the East. Cast members include the book's Nobel-prize winning author, Orhan Pamuk, and its English translator, Erdag Goknar. D
3:00 pm
In Search of Shakespeare "The Duty of Poets" Shakespeare rises to fame. Plunged into mid-life crisis by the death of his son, he falls in love with a teenage nobleman, has an affair with a mysterious married woman and is charged with assault. The Globe Theatre is caught up in the rebellion against the Queen. Part 3 of 4G
4:00 pm
Learning Science Through Inquiry "Focus The Inquiry: Designing The Exploration" Students' open exploration leads to a range of interests and questions that lead in turn to deeper investigation. This program looks at the design process - how you can guide students to plan and begin their investigations.G
5:00 pm
Learning Math: Measurement "Video 1. What Does It Mean to Measure?" Explore what can be measured and what it means to measure. Identify measurable properties such as weight, surface area, and volume, and discuss which metric units are more appropriate for measuring these properties. Refine your use of precision instruments, and learn about alternate methods such as displacement. D
5:30 pm
Learning Math: Measurement "Video 2. Measurement Fundamentals" Investigate the difference between a count and a measure, and examine essential ideas such as unit iteration, partitioning, and the compensatory principle. Learn about the many uses of ratio in measurement and how scale models help us understand relative sizes. Investigate the constant of proportionality in isosceles right triangles, and learn about precision and accuracy in measurement. D
6:00 pm
Essential Pepin "Vegetable Bounty" Endive With Olives; Stewed Navy Beans; Gratin Of Leeks; Classic Ratatouille; Tomatoes Maison. D
6:30 pm
America's Test Kitchen from Cook's Illustrated "Sweet Endings" Host Christopher Kimball is in for a treat when test cook Bridget Lancaster uncovers the test kitchen's secrets to the ultimate Chewy Sugar Cookies. Then, gadget guru Lisa McManus reviews innovative mixing bowls to find out if any of them live up to the hype. And finally, test cook Yvonne Ruperti shows Chris how to make a foolproof Berry Fool at home. D
7:00 pm
Primal Grill with Steven Raichlen "Really Big Beef" Tackling the big cuts - brisket, prime rib and whole beef tenderloin - Steve makes bacon-crusted brisket, rosemary rib roast and ultimate cheesesteak.G
7:30 pm
Joanne Weir's Cooking Confidence "Asia Express" Joanne embraces teaching traditional recipes and then showing new ways to use them. She and her student Reggie make mayonnaise and create an Asian inspired meal of tuna burgers with wasabi mayonnaise and Thai cabbage and grapefruit slaw, leaving Reggie wondering if he will ever buy mayonnaise again. Recipes: Grilled Yellowtail Tuna Burgers with Wasabi Mayonnaise and Thai Cabbage and Grapefruit Slaw. D
8:00 pm
Ask This Old House "Preventing Ice Dams; Applying Closed-Cell Spray Foam Insulation in an Attic" General contractor Tom Silva explains to a homeowner how ice dams form and how to prevent them. He then works with an insulation contractor to apply closed-cell spray foam insulation in an attic. Then Tom, along with host Kevin O'Connor, landscape contractor Roger Cook, and plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, asks, "What Is It?" Afterward, Richard shares a tip about connecting gutter downspouts. D
8:30 pm
Rick Steves' Europe "Portugal's Heartland" Rick eats barnacles in an old fishing town, marches with pilgrims, and views riches of the country's Golden Age.G
9:00 pm
Equitrekking "Turkey's Coast, Cappadocia & Istanbul" Equitrekking host Darley Newman experiences life on Turkey's beautiful Mediterranean Coast - otherwise known as the Turquoise Rivera - by hiking the chilly waters of Saklikent Gorge and horseback riding through the abandoned Greek city of Kayakoy. Next, it's off to bustling Istanbul, where East meets West, to explore the Blue Mosque, Spice Market, Grand Bazaar, Topkapi Palace and the mighty Bosphorus. Finally, Darley returns to Cappadocia, to step back in time with the locals of these ancient villages. D
9:30 pm
Essential Pepin "Vegetable Bounty" Endive With Olives; Stewed Navy Beans; Gratin Of Leeks; Classic Ratatouille; Tomatoes Maison. D
10:00 pm
America's Test Kitchen from Cook's Illustrated "Sweet Endings" Host Christopher Kimball is in for a treat when test cook Bridget Lancaster uncovers the test kitchen's secrets to the ultimate Chewy Sugar Cookies. Then, gadget guru Lisa McManus reviews innovative mixing bowls to find out if any of them live up to the hype. And finally, test cook Yvonne Ruperti shows Chris how to make a foolproof Berry Fool at home. D
10:30 pm
Tommy Tang's Easy Thai Cooking "Quick Sticky Rice/E-Saan" Rice Croquettes with Som Tum Mango (Mango Salsa) and Spicy Red Bell Pepper Puree are prepared.G
11:00 pm
Mexico -- One Plate at a Time with Rick Bayless "Triple Torta-Thon" Over a breakfast of tortas - Mexican sandwiches filled, in this case, with Rick's quick Mexican scrambled eggs, beans, and avocados - Rick and his daughter, Lanie, plan an all-day torta marathon in Mexico City. Their quest beings at the city's charming Sunday flea market, Lagunilla, where they check out some simple, yet mouthwatering tortas, with a succulent filling of salt cod bacalao. Next stop: Don Polo, a gleaming 1950s-style chrome and neon diner, famous for its menu of griddled tortas. D
11:30 pm
Rick Steves' Europe "Portugal's Heartland" Rick eats barnacles in an old fishing town, marches with pilgrims, and views riches of the country's Golden Age.G


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The Reformation in Britain
Burning passion
Of Lovers and Whores: Jeremiah Burroughs on Hosea 2
Dave Bish
- Dave Bish is UCCF's South West Team Leader, and he blogs at www.thebluefish.org . View all resources by Dave Bish
This is Dave Bish's introduction to Puritan preacher Jeremiah Burroughs' classic exposition of Hosea 2, now available in book form and in modern English. It is available through Lulu publishers, and the introduction appears here by permission.
Introducing Jeremiah Burroughs
Jeremiah Burroughs (1600-1646) was a Puritan minister in Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, Tivetshall, Norfolk, Rotterdam in the Netherlands and at Stepney and St. Giles, Cripplegate, London. He was considered to be an excellent minister of Christ. He was an exemplary relationship builder and healer of divisions in the church.
This book is an edited extract from Burroughs epic work on Hosea. The complete work is almost 700 pages of small print and is taken from his preaching on this book[1]. Charles Spurgeon described that work as a treasure-house of experimental exposition. His writing has the feel of a commentary due to its detailed attention to the Biblical text, but is laced with prophetic preaching into the situations of his day. Reading him four hundred years later these may at times feel a little removed from our context but many of the lessons remain current and in any case Burroughs heart for his people, and for the relishing of Christ, remain clear and accessible.
Burroughs opens his preaching series on Hosea, which eventually extended through to Hosea 13:11 before his death saying: We might preface our work by labouring to raise your hearts to the consideration of the excellence of the Scriptures in general. Luther says it contains all good. Take away the Scripture, and you even take away the sun from the world. What is the world without the Scriptures, but hell itself? We have had indeed the word of God as the sun in the world, but oh how many mists have been before this sun! Seldom does the sun shines clearly to us. Since such a glorious sun has risen, it is distressing that there should be a misty day. Now the work to which we are called is, to dispel the mists and fogs from before this sun that it may shine more brightly before your eyes, and into your hearts.
Chrysostom in his twenty-ninth sermon upon Genesis, exhorting his auditors to get the Scriptures into their houses, and diligently to exercise themselves in them, tells them that by them the soul is raised, elevated, and brightened, as with the beam of the Sun of righteousness, and delivered from the snares of unclean thoughts. In the Scripture the great God of heaven has sent his mind to the children of me; he has made known the counsel of his will, and opened his very heart unto mankind.
From this conviction Burroughs turns to preach the word from the concise prophet, Hosea. To clear the mist and have the sunshine of the gospel penetrate the hearts of his listeners.
Introducing the prophecy of Hosea
The Bible speaks with much imagery and metaphor, but perhaps its richest speech to reveal the Triune God and his relationship with his people, is cast in the terms of the opening chapters of the Scriptures. Within two chapters of Genesis we have established the categories of parents and children as human beings (in addition to plants and animals) are commissioned to be fruitful and multiply, and we have the language of marriage as the man meets his bride.
The Son reveals his Father, and so sonship will be a persistent theme in the Scriptures, as the story searches through plotlines and genealogies for the coming of the promised Son who will crush evil beneath his wounded feet.
Alongside this great theme is that of marriage, or of Espousal Theology. It is not good for the man to be alone, and neither will it be good for the promised Son to be alone. A bride must be found for him, and so the story of the human race tells not just of sons born but of marriages formed. Abraham is thrust into crisis as his bride is threatened in Egypt. The longest narrative in Genesis tells of Abrahams servant sent to find a bride for my son.
Israel will be married to the LORD at the mountain with a marriage ceremony and feast in Exodus 24, before committing great adultery in Exodus 32. Theyll be led astray at Shittim through whoredom with foreign women and their gods, before spies enter the land at the home of another prostitute.
Great David will prove himself not to be the awaited Son as he commits adultery with Bathsheba. Solomons heart will prove similarly unfaithful, though he will write the most beautiful love poetry in his Song of Songs.
The nation follows their king and will be repeatedly characterised as a people of whoredom leading to their exile from the land.
In the years of exile, a foreign king will endure the adulterous moves of his bride Vashti. Though brides are their husbands glory she denies his glory and is exiled. Who can find an excellent wife? In the kings garden she hides her glory. Later this king will search the world for another bride, an adopted child. She will pass through a year of beautification to prepare her for her wedding night with the king.
When at last the promised Son comes he will speak of himself as a bridegroom, one who will soon depart to death. He whose death will save his bride and to whom the Spirit will be given to beautify her.
She will live waiting for her wedding day, the final day, gathering others to be part of his bride, the church, from all peoples of the world. And then the husband will come.
When Hosea is given the language of marriage and whoredom to preach to the people this is no innovation. This is no illustration. He is speaking in a language at the heart of reality. The Father has a Son and the Son is to have a bride. The marital relationship between Christ and his people is no shadow.
Christ is the bridegroom awaiting his wedding day. The great romantic comedy of the gospel awaits its final scene, yet as with any rom-com there is pain and crisis along the way. He is the great lover, but his beloved is a whore.
The crisis is found in the human heart which is shown not so much to be a rule-breaker but a seat of spiritual adultery.
As Paul writes to the Corinthians (2 Cor 11:1-3), they are like Eve, led astray from a pure devotion to Christ to whom theyre betrothed by the gospel that was preached to them. Humanity is like Adam (Hosea 6:7), faithless and unfaithful.
Burroughs writes: The people of Israel had gone whoring from God. Their idolatry is the sin of whoredom. The idolatry of the church is whoredom. One that commits adultery gives herself to another. When the people of God, being married to the Lord, commit idolatry, they commit adultery. Adultery breaks the marriage bond. Adultery is a besotting sin. Whoredom and new wine take away the heart. As Proverbs 22:14 says, the mouth of strange women is as a deep pit; he that is abhorred by the Lord shall fall into it.
In Hoseas day we find that the people have turned from their faithful Husband to give their hearts to the Baals. They have devoted themselves to Lords and Masters who offer some satisfaction but in truth are abusive and evil and dominating. The contrast between the LORD and the Baals could not be greater. Where the Baals demand worship, the LORD gives himself to his people. Where the Baals enslave their followers, the LORD liberates and loves his people.
She has strayed badly, so what can be done? Either the marriage will be over, or at great cost the jilted spouse will take back his wandering lover. Hosea tells a story that may also be told in the pages of Isaiah and Ezekiel and Jeremiah, the story of the LORDs great love for his unfaithful wife.
A story told in the poetic language of The Song of Songs and set in the typology of Ephesians 5. Christ came into the world and gave himself up to death, to win a bride for himself, to have her for himself and make her beautiful.
To portray this situation to the LORDs people Hosea is given a strange commission. The prophets are invited into the counsel of God to share in his purposes, and Hosea is granted the peculiar calling of marrying a prostitute. Some read this and doubt that a prophet would be given a calling. Even Burroughs suggests that this marriage was just a vision rather than truly being a marriage. It is hard to stomach! And yet if we were to ask Hosea, Why would the LORD ask you to marry a whore? he would surely reply My question is: why would the Lord give himself to a people as faithless as us?
The prophets message is scandalous, as scandalous as the love of the LORD for his people, as scandalous as the crucifixion of Christ.
Hoseas prophecy tells of the peoples unfaithfulness and the LORDs response. Hosea 2:14-20 captures the heart of The Gospel according to Hosea and so proves a good place to spend our time.
She has forgotten her Husband and gone after her lovers, how will he respond? In brief, we find that he comes to her at the height of her sin and seeks to woo her heart back to him. He speaks with the comfortable words of the gospel.
His tender words to her, surely echoing the liturgical Comfortable Words of martyred Archbishop Thomas Cranmer:
Hear what comfortable words our Saviour Christ says, to all who truly turn to him: Come to me all who are weary and heavy laden and I will refresh you.
God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
Hear what Paul says: This is a true saying, and worthy of acceptance by all, that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners.
Hear what John says: If anyone sins we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous one, he is the propitiation for our sins.
Christ the Husband draws her to come after him that she might know his great love, in all its height and depth and length and breadth. He whispers in her ears to win her heart. And so too the preacher walks in this Husbands footsteps to utter the same wooing words. The gospel restates this wronged Husbands commitment to be betrothed to a wretched people, his desire that in the end they would know the LORD and be known by him. His commitment to his people is: all that I have I share with you, all that I am I give to you.
The story of Hosea is humiliating but provides one of Scriptures most vivid portrayals of the unmatched love of the LORD for his people. It humiliates humanity by exposing our folly, but even more it tells of the LORDs humiliation. See him abandoned by her, and she his giving of himself to win her back. The crisis is devastating but the story holds out the happiest of endings.
The Father sent his Son into the world, in whom through faith we are adopted as sons as we become one flesh with the Son. How is that possible? Only through the marriage of faithless whores to Christ our husband whose name is Love. He gives us his name, he gives us his relationship with his Father, he gives us his Spirit, he gives up his life and he gives us himself.
This is a story of lovers and whores.
That's the introduction... now to read Burroughs on Hosea 2 in contemporary English, get a copy of Of Lovers and Whores from Lulu.com now!
[1] The complete work is available from Reformation Heritage Books under the title An Exposition of the Prophecy of Hosea by Jeremiah Burroughs.


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E-Commerce, Startups Help Coimbatore Garner Rich Rental Returns
Coimbatore is one of top 10 cities that offers low priced real estate investment projects. The city is witnessing major infrastructural developments along with the Coimbatore Salem Industrial Corridor. The infrastructural growth is essential to support the commercial sector of the city. The coming up of companies in Peelamedu, Saravanampatti and Avinashi Road would create a positive impact on the rental rates of apartments in Coimbatore. MakaaniQ lists top five localities where in you can invest for good rental returns.