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Elephant Care
The Los Angeles Zoo's elephant team plays a vital role in the health and welfare of our animals. The team has a total of over 65 years of combined experience working with animals here at the Zoo.
The design of the habitat makes taking care of the animals much easier than in the Zoo's former facility. First and foremost, the size of the habitat is much larger than the old enclosure. Other additions have been added for the well-being of the elephants including pools and waterfalls. These water features allow for bathing opportunities that the elephants can choose to initiate.
The habitat's varied topography provides great terrain for the animals, while over two feet of soft river sand provides a soft substrate for the animals to stand on. The elephant barn is equipped with elephant sized bedrooms and heated floors.
When animal care staff needs to interact with the elephants, they utilize protected contact. Protected contact does not allow Zoo staff to share the same physical space as the elephant, but rather utilizes safety barriers and positive reinforcement to manage the animals.
The Habitat
Elephants have long played an important role in the cultural, artistic, and religious heritage of many Asian cultures. For centuries, they have been revered in Thailand, India, China, and Cambodia. Elephants of Asia is designed to increase appreciation, amazement, and wonder for these great animals and to familiarize guests with the challenges Asian elephants face in the wild, including their shrinking natural habitat.
Saving elephants against this backdrop is an uphill struggle, and Elephants of Asia draws attention to their plight and encourages their protection by exposing guests to elephants and the excellent care they receive at the Los Angeles Zoo.
Elephant Plaza serves as the gateway to the new habitat. Life-size metal statues introduce guests to the natural history of Asian elephants. Graphics and sculptures compare and contrast Asian elephants and their African cousins. The gateway serves as the visitor's first view into the elephants' habitat with an overlook into the Deep Water Pool, a Gift from Patti & Stanley Silver, which can be used by the elephants for bathing.
In the Thailand area, the Wasserman Family Thai Pavilion educates visitors about the working and unemployed elephants of Thailand. Elephants in Thailand face the challenge of a changing economic climate, which was once heavily dependent upon the labor of elephants. Now these elephants have been replaced by construction equipment, leaving many former working elephants unemployed. The Thailand section of Elephants of Asia features a demonstration yard with a shade structure, an enrichment log where keepers can hide food items, and water-spray fountains. Within the Thai Pavilion, Zoo guests not only learn about the care that elephants receive at the Los Angeles Zoo but also have the opportunity to make a donation, with proceeds going toward in-house elephant program needs.
Behind the Thai Pavilion and located within the center of the exhibit is the Elephant Barn. Modeled after a Thai structure, the barn encompasses 16,600 square feet and provides infrastructure to support the Zoo's exceptional level of veterinary care and animal husbandry. A specialized ultrasound unit and walk-through articulated sling squeeze ensures keeper and animal safety as the animals undergo medical examinations. Overhead walkways in the elephant barn enable the keeper teams and behavioral researchers to observe the animals without intruding on their natural socialization. The barn is capable of holding up to eleven adult elephants of any age or herd composition including bulls, cows, calves, and aged animals.
The Clayton H. Winthrop Elephants of India Plaza, a gift from the MacDonald Family Foundation, focuses on the impact that fractured forests have on wild elephant populations. Scientists estimate that as many as 10-15,000 elephants live in India, more than any other country in Asia. Despite these numbers, elephants in India are only found in reserves, and their numbers are threatened by habitat loss and human-elephant conflict. The Zoo's India section features a waterfall that elephants can use to shower themselves. In addition, the rock wall of the waterfall features holes and crevices in which zoo keepers can place food for the elephants to discover and explore.
The Elephants of China, a Gift from the Ralph M. Parsons Foundation, addresses the decline of elephant populations in China. Despite being a huge nation, China's elephant population is estimated to be less than 250 individuals restricted to southern Yunnan. The Zoo's habitat highlights the unique, respectful relationship between elephants and the Dai people of China. The habitat features graphics detailing this relationship as well as a replica of a Dai well. Zoo patrons view the elephants from a boardwalk over a marsh with adjacent habitats for the sarus crane and the Chinese water deer, two additional species of Chinese wildlife. At nearly six feet tall, the sarus crane is the world's tallest flying bird. The Chinese water deer is a small antler-less deer that has long tusks stemming from the top of its jaw. This shy, solitary species is rarely displayed in zoos.
Guests journey to the Cardamom Mountains in the Fritz B. Burns Foundation Cambodian Pavilion. The pavilion offers sweeping views of the elephant habitat with a view of mountains and forests of Griffith Park in the background. The habitat includes several features dedicated to the elephants including the Elephant Lake, a Gift from the Winnick Family Foundation, an enrichment tree for feeding, and a forested exploration trail. The Cambodian Pavilion tells the story of the elephants that live in the Cardamom Mountains of Cambodia. These mountains are one of the last wild refuges for elephants in Cambodia. The Los Angeles Zoo has supported conservation efforts within the Cardamom Mountains for the past decade, contributing more than $50,000 toward the goal of addressing the human-elephant conflict within this region. Zoo visitors have the opportunity to directly contribute with proceeds going to various conservation projects in the Cardamom Mountains.
Elephant Care Demonstration
Daily (except Tuesdays and Thursdays) at 11 a.m.
Visit the Wasserman Family Thai Pavilion at the Elephants of Asia habitat to discover how we keep towering six-ton pachyderms happy and healthy at this fascinating demonstration presented by expert animal care and education staff.


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We've just released Alfred version 1.2, which brings an absolute boatload of new features and improvements.
It's now available to download by checking for updates in the app, from our website or from the Mac App Store. Both the free version and the Powerpack have received a lot of love in this release so read on for the full details of this fantastic release.
Fast access to your 1Password 1Click bookmarks
We couldn't live without 1Password so this new Powerpack integration is a marriage made in heaven!
Enable the 1Password bookmarks import in Alfred's Features preferences, then let Alfred bring up your list of password bookmarks when you type "1p" followed by your search term. Your default browser is launched, and you are logged straight into your 1Password stored site. It's completely safe as your browser still requires your 1Password master password if you aren't already authenticated.
The 1Password team also blogged about 1Click bookmarks in Alfred earlier this week.
Large type with ⌘-L
Whether you plan to use it to view phone numbers on your screen from a distance, share the solution to a maths equation or to tease classmates sitting behind you in class, large type is a useful addition to the Powerpack. Hit Cmd + L to show the typed text as Large Type on your screen.
Two new colour themes
A few weeks ago, we announced that two new themes – Dark & Smooth and Pistachio – will be added to the default themes in Alfred's core (free) version.
Clipboard Merge
Clipboard Merge allows you to merge a second item with the previously copied clipboard snippet. Once enabled, it's simple to use: Hold ⌘ and press C twice to merge the selected text with the previous history item. You'll hear a sound confirming the snippets have become one!
New hotkeys
We've added a few new handy hotkeys:
- New global hotkeys to take action on currently selected text in OS X
- New global hotkey option to paste the latest Clipboard History item as plain text without having to show Alfred first
- Global hotkeys can be assigned to Snippets for instant pasting, e.g. your favourite email signature
File search overhaul
This may sound like hocus pocus but I can assure you that you'll find that the improved file matching algorithm will help you find your files more easily than before.
If you're curious to see how Andrew has refined file matching, have a look at his Tumblr post outlining what has changed.
A boatload more…
Version 1.2 is a big release in terms of improvements and bug fixes as well, so have a look at the Change Log here for the full list of changes.
Thanks again to everyone who helped us test this release over the past few weeks! 🙂

subset: commoncrawl


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N. VENICE, FL – PGT, Inc. (NASDAQ: PGTI), the nation's leading manufacturer and supplier of residential impact-resistant windows and doors, announced this week that its Board of Directors has appointed Jeff Jackson, President and Chief Operation Officer, effective June 1, 2014. Mr. Jackson, 48, succeeds Rod Hershberger, 57, who will remain in his roles as Chairman of the PGT Industries Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
"I am proud and excited that Jeff will succeed me as PGT's President. This move supports our decision to make changes in the executive leadership team as part of our long-term organizational strategy and aligns us for the many significant growth opportunities ahead," said Rod Hershberger, CEO and Chairman of the Board of Directors. "In Jeff we have found a President of diverse ability that is deeply committed to our tradition of leadership and core values - customer intimacy, quality, family, community and integrity – all of which he has clearly demonstrated during his 9 year tenure with PGT. Jeff has played a pivotal role in successfully leading PGT through the worst housing downturn in our history and is now directing our team through the recovery ensuring steady and stable growth. He has extensive experience and an engaging leadership style that relies heavily on collaboration and partnership. I believe he is an excellent leader for our organization with grassroots sensibilities, and we are very pleased that he emerged from within PGT's own pool of talent."
Mr. Jackson, who currently serves as executive vice president and chief financial officer, joined PGT in November 2005 and helped lead the Company's IPO in 2006. Mr. Jackson is responsible for all aspects of the Company's operations from Supply Chain to Manufacturing and is PGT's Chief Financial Officer. Prior to joining PGT, he served in various Executive Management roles, including Division Chief Financial Officer, Vice President Corporate Controller, and Senior Vice President of Operations. Mr. Jackson earned a B.B.A. from the University of West Georgia and is a Certified Public Accountant in both Georgia and California.
"It is a great privilege to be asked to lead PGT at such an important time in the Company's history," said Jeff Jackson, Executive Vice President, CFO and President-elect. "My center of attention will be the continued execution of our strategic plan and to drive the organization's collective focus on customers and long-term shareholder value by maintaining a sharp concentration on customer intimacy, optimizing go-to-market strategies and accelerating advancements in operational capabilities. We have a thoughtful succession strategy in place, and I am confident our highly experienced and customer-intimate executive leadership team can execute our strategic plans successfully."
PGT pioneered the U. S. impact-resistant window and door industry, and today is the nation's leading manufacturer and supplier of residential impact-resistant windows and doors. Founded in 1980, the Company employs approximately 1,500 at its manufacturing, glass laminating and tempering plants in North Venice, Florida. Utilizing the latest designs and technology, PGT products are ideal for new construction and replacement projects serving residential, commercial, high-rise and institutional markets. PGT's product line includes PGT Aluminum and Vinyl Windows and Doors; PGT WinGuard and PGT PremierVue Impact-Resistant Windows and Doors; PGT Architectural Systems; and PGT Eze-Breeze Sliding Panels. PGT Industries is a wholly owned subsidiary of PGT, Inc. (NASDAQ: PGTI). For additional information visit pgtindustries.com.
Forward-looking Statements
In this press release, statements that are not reported financial results or other historical information are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements give current expectations or forecasts of future events and are not guarantees of future performance. They are based on management's expectations that involve a number of business risks and uncertainties, any of which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by the forward-looking statements. They use words such as "will," "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "project," "intend," "plan," "believe," and other words and terms of similar meaning in connection with any discussion of future operating or financial condition, performance and/or sales. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those implied by these forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: our ability to achieve the strategic and other objectives relating to the acquisition of Spartech Corporation, including any expected synergies; our ability to successfully integrate Spartech and achieve the expected results of the acquisition, including, without limitation, the acquisition being accretive; disruptions, uncertainty or volatility in the credit markets that could adversely impact the availability of credit already arranged and the availability and cost of credit in the future; the financial condition of our customers, including the ability of customers (especially those that may be highly leveraged and those with inadequate liquidity) to maintain their credit availability; the speed and extent of an economic recovery, including the recovery of the housing market; our ability to achieve new business gains; the effect on foreign operations of currency fluctuations, tariffs and other political, economic and regulatory risks; changes in polymer consumption growth rates where we conduct business; changes in global industry capacity or in the rate at which anticipated changes in industry capacity come online; fluctuations in raw material prices, quality and supply and in energy prices and supply; production outages or material costs associated with scheduled or unscheduled maintenance programs; unanticipated developments that could occur with respect to contingencies such as litigation and environmental matters; an inability to achieve or delays in achieving or achievement of less than the anticipated financial benefit from initiatives related to working capital reductions, cost reductions and employee productivity goals; an inability to raise or sustain prices for products or services; an inability to maintain appropriate relations with unions and employees; the inability to achieve expected results from our acquisition activities; our ability to continue to pay cash dividends; the amount and timing of repurchases of our common shares, if any; and other factors affecting our business beyond our control, including, without limitation, changes in the general economy, changes in interest rates and changes in the rate of inflation. The above list of factors is not exhaustive.We undertake no obligation to publicly update forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. You are advised to consult any further disclosures we make on related subjects in our reports on Form 10-Q, 8-K and 10-K that we provide to the Securities and Exchange Commission.


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Platform for sharing information related to announcement of pre and main result of UPSC civil services exam and state civil services.
Hello guys,
Where can i get my results for Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC)
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Female Health Worker written exam results.
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Let me know more details about Himachal Pradesh Subordinate Service Selection Board Youth Organizer
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I have written my Railway Recruitment Board Candigarh
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I want to know more details about the Staff Selection Commission SI To BSF through Spl Exam in CPO Result...
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I have successfully done my UPSC CDS Exam II 2011 Written exam
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When the result of Civil Service Exam, held in May 2011 is going to be published and where can one check the result for the same?
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Dear All,
My cousin has written his civil services exam. That is the UPSC exams. Currently he is looking for his results. All of...
Civil Services (Main) Examination, 2010 held by the Union Public Service Commission in October November, 2010 has declared or not ? let me know...
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New Steine4
10-11 New Steine, Brighton, East Sussex, BN2 1PB
Price FromView Rooms
- Very Good
- 87 guest reviews
"Team was very friendly and upgraded me to a small double-room free of charge...."
"Very friendly greeting, showed us to the room, which was nice and clean. Bed was very comfortable, with a duvet rather than a horrible sheet..."
"Stayed for one night slight damp smell in room shower no pressure windows didn't close properly and very noisy outside. Overall stay ok room..."
"Good points... Great location just a few minutes walk from the centre of Brighton and Pier. My window overlooked the grassy square which was..."
"We booked an Executive Deluxe Double for £119 and it was okay. The room was small and the walls are paper thin so you can hear everything go..."
About the hotel
The New Steine is an elegant and fashionable five-storey Georgian Townhouse in central Brighton. Following recent refurbishment, the New Steine has re-opened with a contemporary design that exudes warmth and style, with a hint of French influence. At exceptional value and as an alternative to expensive hotel accommodation in Brighton, it is suited to both business travellers and tourists alike.
Contemporary, with lasting appeal, a statement in design that exudes warmth and style, delicious French food, wines and drinks, impeccable service 24 hours and original art all around you - The New Steine is all these things, and more… From the moment you walk through the door you are pampered and welcomed like a true luxury hotel. Upon check-in your assistant walks you to your room and explains all the facilities your room has to offer. Throughout your stay staff are on hand to assist with any query you may have, and on check-out (after a hearty breakfast, of course), we will ensure you an efficient and memorable departure, wishing you a pleasant journey and hoping you return again soon. A personalised concierge service is at the guests' disposal 24 hours a day for all requirements and needs and each of the bedrooms has been designed to incorporate comfort with modern needs. The New Steine Bistro is our own restaurant, which caters for snacks throughout the day and evening meals, 5 days a week. Offering homemade French cuisine along with British fare, with either a full a la carte menu or daily 3 course special menu, it is the perfect place to enjoy exquisite food in a welcoming environment. We also have available for hire a selection of conference rooms with full facilities, with a capacity up to 55 people theatre style, which can be hired out on a room only basis, or on a selection of Day and 24 Hour delegate rates. *Please note that, as we are a small intimate venue, we are unable to accept children under the age of 3 years old within the breakfast room, restaurant or bar. However room service breakfast and dinner can be arranged at no additional charge.
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Facilities Show/hide
- Main
- Hotel Non-Smoking Throughout, 24 Hour Reception, Safety Deposit Box, Tea/Coffee making facilities in each room, Hairdryer in each room, Telephone In Each Room, 24 Hour Room Service, Limited room service for hot food, Concierge, Laundry/Valet Service, Wake Up Call Available, Doctor on call, Porter, Ground floor bedrooms
- Parking
- Airport Shuttle, Car Parking Available Offsite
- Business
- Wi-Fi Available, Meeting Facilities, In-room Broadband, Wi-Fi Available In Public Areas, Wi-Fi Available In Rooms, Business Centre, Secretary Service, Private dining services
- Dining
- Restaurant, Lounge Menu, Bar, Breakfast to go
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- Massage, [Channels] News, [Channels] Music, [Channels] Childrens
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- Pets are not allowed
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Our reviews are from genuine LateRooms.com customers. We verify that the customer has stayed before leaving a review.
Very Good
78% would recommend it to a friend
Customer service
Food quality
Room quality
Service with a smile
Team was very friendly and upgraded me to a small double-room free of charge....
Nice, typical Brighton hotel, well located
Very friendly greeting, showed us to the room, which was nice and clean.
Bed was very comfortable, with a duvet rather than a horrible sheet...
Read More Less


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deviantART is a popular photography/art website and the deviantART app brings it all to your Windows Phone. It not only pulls in the 240 million plus photos and pieces of art from deviantART but also allow you manage your deviantART inbox, favorites, gallery and other deviantART account features from your Windows Phone.
deviantART's main pages cover the newest deviations(images), a Me page that covers your account's gallery, notices, feedback and deviantWatch, and a search page that allows you to search by deviation, author or category. Individual Artists's pages, such as Dalantech, will display the gallery of images and the artist's favorites. Images can be saved to your Windows Phone and shared via Twitter.
From the three dot menu you will find two button controls, one to refresh the page and another to access the app's configuration. Configuration options include turning on/off mature content and the auto login feature and your search settings.
While deviantART isn't an official app for deviantART.com, it represents the website extremely well. Providing access to all the photographic art on deviantART is great but providing access to your deviantART.com account really makes this app shine. For the most part, the app ran smoothly but I did experience a few delays in connecting to deviantART.com. Nothing to drive you crazy but the delays were noticeable.
It would be nice to be able to share deviations through email, SMS or Facebook though. It would also be nice to have a home button somewhere to get you quickly to deviantART's main pages.
While there is slight room for improvement, deviantART is a very nice client app for your Windows Phone. deviantART is currently running $1.49 and you can find deviantART here at the Windows Phone Store. You do need a deviantART.com account (free) to use this app.


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"Private Practice" star Agnes Bruckner has signed up to play Playboy model Anna Nicole Smith in a new TV movie.
The actress will portray the reality TV star and former pin-up in a biopic for Lifetime.
The film will tell the story of how small-town Texas girl Vicky Lynn Hogan became blonde bombshell Smith, the model who famously married 89-year-old oil mogul J. Howard Marshall and went on to become a pop culture icon before her death in 2007.
The Anna Nicole Smith Story comes after Lifetime bosses hired Lindsay Lohan to play Hollywood legend Elizabeth Taylor in "Liz & Dick," which is scheduled to air in November.


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Dear Lifehacker,
This year has been a very difficult one for me. A close friend passed away and a few other people I know also lost loved ones. I never know what to say or how to act at times like these. What can I say when nothing seems appropriate or it all sounds like cliches?
Stumbling for Words
Dear Stumbling,
We're sorry to hear that. It's hard not to feel at a loss for words. When someone you care about or know is grieving, words don't seem to be enough. Expressing your care and support, though, could do a world of good for both the other person and yourself.
While there's really no "right" or "wrong" way to help someone grieve, some things might be better to say than others. I spoke with several mental health experts and those familiar with bereavement to find the best approach for this awkward and tough situation we unfortunately all experience.
What to Avoid Saying
Some phrases and words of advice, even if they're well-intentioned, could make others feel worse and magnify their grief. In general, try to avoid:
Comparing their loss to yours: When someone dies, it makes us think about our own experiences, but saying "I know just how you feel—when my mother/friend/dog died last year..." isn't comforting. Even though you're trying to help or connect by empathizing, it might feel insulting to the other person, like you're trying to minimize the pain he or she is feeling. Andrew Moore, a licensed professional counselor at the University of Oklahoma HSC, says that even if there are similarities to your experiences, their experience is still unique to them. Every death is also unique. A more appropriate response may be to acknowledge—without direction and empathy—that this is a difficult time, e.g., "This must be very difficult, and I can't truly understand what it must be like right now," offers clinical social worker Stuart Strauzer. Then give more comforting words or gestures of support (see below).
Talking about the afterlife or adding religious remarks: Unless you know and share the other person's beliefs, saying things like "he's in a better place now" or citing Bible verses could really be offensive or, at the very least, unmeaningful. Duke University Medical Center's Bereavement Services has a handout of helpful and less helpful phrases. In the less helpful section: "It was God's will" and "God never gives us more than we can handle."
Minimizing the person's pain or trying to "fix" the pain: Other unhelpful remarks include: "We all have to deal with loss," "Time heals all wounds," "Things always work out for the best," and—I can't believe people actually say this, but it's on the Duke handout—"You're young enough to have more children."
Telling them how to feel or how they will feel: Again, everyone processes the loss of a loved one differently. Saying "you shouldn't feel that way" could make the other person feel ashamed or guilty. Clinical psychologist Jeffrey DeGroat writes:
The process of grief is complicated and involves many feelings: sadness, anger, anxiety, and guilt, just to name a few. So, while you may be experiencing sadness, someone else may be experiencing anger. Rather than trying to tell this other person not to be angry, simply encourage them to discuss their thoughts and feelings, while also expressing your thoughts and feelings to them.
What You Can Say to Help
Be authentic in your expressions of compassion, says Moore, however simple they may be. What you say does not matter as much as how you say it. Here are a few good fallbacks:
"I'm so sorry for your loss." Yes, it's completely unoriginal, but that doesn't really matter here. If you knew the person who passed away, you could add in meaningful memories. When my previous boss died this year, I told his family, whom I was also close to, how he had been my mentor when I was just a kid out of college and one of my biggest supporters. I'm not sure if it helped them, but probably most families would appreciate your recognizing their loved one and their loss.
"I'll call you in a few days to see how you're doing." This and other offers to help ("Is there anything I can do for you?" or "I'm here for you if you need anything") simply remind the person that you care and will continue to do so.
"It's okay to be lost for a while. You don't have to have the answers right now." Samantha Light-Gallagher, whose husband was killed in the line of duty in 2010, says this was one of the many things people said that helped her at the time. I think it gave her permission to mourn and flounder if she needed to—and breathe.
What May or May Not Be Appropriate to Say
"How did he/she die?" We naturally want to find out if the death was unexpected or expected, Moore says, "so that we can unconsciously calculate the perceived risk of that happening to us"—and also because we're curious creatures. I think this might not be an appropriate question, even if it's normal, but it might depend on your relationship to the family.
"How are you?" This simple question gives the bereaved space to tell their story, says Moore. You have to be mindful when you use it, though. For people close to you who you think would like to talk about their situation and feelings, this would be great—provided you ask when you both have time to really talk (or, in your case, listen). Depending on the circumstances and your relationship with the other person too, this could be a terrible question. A few years ago when my friend passed away, I asked his mom how she was feeling—out of sheer not knowing what else to say—and the look on her face has haunted me ever since. That look—the one of a parent who just lost her child—is one I hope you never see.
Express Yourself in Other Ways
Although fumbling for something to say is better than ignoring the topic (Light-Gallagher says sometimes people would just look at her and not say a word, so she learned to start small talk to ease the tension), sometimes your presence is all that matters. If you're speechless, says Strauzer, sometimes that's exactly the right thing to say—nothing.
Acknowledge the loss and show your support in other ways. You could offer to bring dinner over one night or do grocery shopping, help with childcare, or other errands. A simple hug might do.
Finally, remember that everyone feels awkward during these situations; the most important thing you can do, still, is to express your sympathy and give the bereaved a chance to talk or ask for help if they need to. And because death has a "ripple effect" on the people around the deceased, be sure to take care of yourself too.
Special thanks to Andrew Moore, LPC of the University of Oklahoma HSC; Joanna Parker, MA, CT, LPC of Duke University Medical Center; Stuart Strauzer, LCSW; Jeffrey DeGroat, LP; and Samantha Light-Gallagher, author of Crazy Courage.


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I'm currently working some testing for a particular area of an application. I had to write some automated tests for a particular feature but due to the circumstances, this was not easy to do. When I asked one of the other testers about it, he mentioned that the same features exist in a sister application our company produces but isn't documented anywhere (end-user documentation or otherwise). He also said that the feature doesn't typically get tested at all in the sister application and isn't usually tested in the application I work on. Apparently this feature isn't heavily used but removing it would require a fair bit of work so the benefit-cost ratio doesn't work out.
All of this has left me with some questions. Other than "The documentation says so" or "We told the client it is", what usually makes a feature "supported" versus an unsupported feature?


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I need to buy a mortar. Should I get a stone (granite, marble, etc) or an iron one?
What pros and cons are there?
I need to buy a mortar. Should I get a stone (granite, marble, etc) or an iron one?
I bought a granite mortar. So far, it does what I expect and is easy enough to clean. – Niklas Apr 19 '11 at 18:51
Stone is a much worse heat conductor than iron. It warms much slower from vigorous pounding than iron, and actually cools whatever is being ground. This is often desirable, as you don't want to warm whatever you are grinding - some spices contain fats which are viscous or solid at room temperature, but get liquid somewhat above it, so they would be seeping their aroma and converting to a paste if warmed while ground.
Another argument for stone will be the smooth surface. Seasoned iron isn't as smooth as marble or granite can be polished, and if left unseasoned, you will need to remove rust from time to time (another problem of iron which harwig already pointed out), disturbing the surface. The mortar surface should be as smooth as possible.
Also, the stone will require no maintenance apart from washing. Iron will have to be kept from rusting, so you'll have to season it. The grinding action will probably slowly eat away the seasoning layer, so you'll have to reapply it periodically, which is lots of work (well, the complete stripping first is what makes it lots of work, seasoning not so much). But if you use your mortar as seldom as I do, this shouldn't be a problem.
On the other hand, iron's density is about 3 times higher than marble or granite, resulting in a much heavier pestle. While this means some more fatigue for you, it will result in a better grinding result.
Another problem with stone is that it can crack if you happen to drop it on the floor. Luckily, a mortar is not easily dislodged from the counter, and granite breaks nowhere as easily as earthenware, but the chance exists. If you get stone, don't go for the tulip-on-a-stem shapes. While it may be convenient to grip the stem, it is also a weak point.
You must also consider possible chemical reactions. Granite won't be a problem, but marble is acid sensitive. So making a pesto with lots of lemon juice is probably a bad idea in marble. It won't cause a comic-book like Chinese syndrome, but it will attack the surface, making it less smooth. Seasoned iron has some acid resistance, but strong acids are bad for it too.
To me, the "tradition" argument isn't very strong. People have used abacuses for thousands of years, but I prefer a TI-42 simulator when I have to make a calculation too complicated for my brain. Both iron and stone will work. And as harwig says, aesthetics are individual - not that I need much of that in kitchen implements.
Why is a smooth mortar preferable? Wouldn't a more coarse surface aid in grinding? – ESultanik Apr 11 '11 at 3:28
@ESultanik As I understand it, the point of using a mortar is that you don't want damage to the cells, you want your organic matter to break up along the cell borders (else you should use a system with a blade, like a blender). The best way to achieve that is to apply even force on a group of cells. Sharp edges of irregularities would crush cells instead. Also, coarse is harder to clean, and residues of the usually aromatic things put in a mortar will contaminate the next batch of (different) things to grind. Third, you can get finer particles with smooth, if somebody has the patience. – rumtscho♦ Apr 11 '11 at 9:03
That is interesting; I hadn't heard the cell damage argument before, but it does make sense. I wonder: Does it mostly apply to delicate, vegetal matter (e.g., when making a pesto), or does the cell damage argument also apply to spice grinding? – ESultanik Apr 11 '11 at 14:20
@ESultanik, it is important for chilles, because they thicken chillis through starch. If the starch granules get out of the cells, you don't get a thickened liquid, you get goo. For spices, it depends. Crushing releases the aromatic essential oils. You usually want to keep them in the cells as long as possible. But if you are going to use the spice immediately, breaking them up first may be better, because the eater doesn't have to chew through the small particles to release the aroma. But for that purpose, a grinder is better than a coarse mortar. – rumtscho♦ Apr 11 '11 at 18:48
I have never used an iron mortar before, so I can't speak directly about it. I would imagine that one of the cons would be oxidation / rust. Obviously you don't want to have rust ground up with whatever spices, herbs, etc that you're grinding. Proper maintenance could alleviate this issue though.
For me, stone mortars are more traditional. If people have been using rocks to grind things up for thousands of years, something's obviously working for them. Why fix it if it isn't broken?
Another thing to consider is the aesthetic quality of the mortar. I like the look of marble, but you should find one that fits your style.
I've been using a ceramic mortar for years. I tried a marble one that I was given, and it was poor compared to the one I have. I've used an iron one, and it was worse than the marble one.
One big tip with using a mortar - they work best if you only put a little material in at a time. If the mortar is a quarter full, that's too much stuff to grind easily. Work on a couple of teaspoons at a time and you get powder. More than that, and it is just a mess ...
I use a Coors ceramic mortar and pestle in the kitchen myself. Iron seems like a poor choice, what with rust and all. If you go with stone, pay particular attention to the fit between pestle and mortar. There are a lot of poorly made units out there that'll turn a one minute grinding task into a five minute chore.


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Hear the untold stories of enslaved people and learn about historical and contemporary slavery.
Historical and contemporary slavery.
A beautiful building housing one of the UK's finest collections of fine and decorative art.
Paintings, Wedgwood and Chinese ceramics.
Uncover objects from the Titanic, find out about life at sea and learn about the port of Liverpool.
The Titanic, life at sea and Liverpool's port.
This museum tells the story of Liverpool with diverse exhibits housed in a stunning building.
Liverpool's history and popular culture.
Explore a Victorian merchant's house with its period furniture and beautiful paintings.
Paintings, vintage fashion and furniture.
Beautiful paintings, sculpture and decorative art from the 13th century to the present day.
Paintings, sculpture and decorative art.
Discover treasures from around the world, explore outer space and meet live creatures!
World cultures, space and live creatures.
Also in this section…?
More than 120 photographs featuring famous faces from the world of show business were displayed in Shooting Stars, an exhibition celebrating the work of Liverpool Daily Post and Echo photographer, Stephen Shakeshaft.
Since the 1960s Stephen has captured hundreds of celebrities on camera. This exhibition brought together some of his most memorable portraits, from devastating divas Marlene Dietrich and Joan Collins, to Liverpool legends like comedian Ken Dodd and The Beatles' Lennon and McCartney.
Stephen's great achievements are reflected in the diversity of his work. The deliberate public poses created for the media are complimented by behind-the-scenes, off-guard shots, often revealing a more relaxed or private side of a performer or personality. It is credit to Stephen that he was often granted private access to the stars, making such a fascinating portfolio possible.
An award-winning shot of Princess Diana chatting with the 'girls' in the upholstery department at Ford's Halewood car plant, captures her famed aptitude for relating to people from all walks of life. Other pictures expose stars in the act of transforming from the ordinary person to extraordinary performer. Margi Clarke is caught putting on her stage make-up for panto, while elsewhere Ken Dodd transports his tickling sticks across a city centre car park, complete with stripy stockings and rolled-up trousers.
One of the most fascinating aspects of the exhibition is the changing fortunes of personalities he has encountered. Some have since been catapulted to super-stardom, like pop-princess Kylie Minogue, who was photographed on stage shortly after she left Australia soap opera, Neighbours.
Stephen Shakeshaft and Ken Dodd
'Local lad' Bernard Hill is pictured in one of his most famous and lasting roles as anti-hero Yosser Hughes, from Alan Bleasdale's hard-hitting drama, 'Boys from the Blackstuff'. The photograph epitomises an unhappier time for the city of Liverpool and is a lasting reminder of the huge impression that Alan Bleasdale's TV series made. Luckily both the city and Bernard Hill have enjoyed better fortunes since. The actor's portrayal of Theoden, King of Rohan in The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers was a world away from this shot on a building site and introduced him to a new audience.
In other instances, Shakeshaft captured history in the making, although quite by chance. He was assigned to shoot the Maharishi's course at Bangor University on the very the weekend that The Beatles went to study with him. This turned out to be a pivotal moment in Beatle history, as they learned of the death of manger Brain Epstein. Stephen was with Paul McCartney when he received the tragic news by telephone.
The exhibition was accompanied by quotes from Stephen explaining the background to each of the pictures, giving a wonderful insight into his techniques, the various personalities and how they came to be photographed.
Shooting Stars was sponsored by Hitchcock Wright & Partners
Photographs by Stephen Shakeshaft © Liverpool Daily Post & Echo. Images may not be reproduced without prior permission.
Find out about Stephen Shakeshaft's previous exhibition Soccer Shots.
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National Museums Liverpool
© Copyright 2019


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Rose to reopen, celebrating 50th anniversary, after major rebuild
Broad $1.7 million renovation project has been completed
The original building of the Rose Art Museum has undergone major renovations over the summer and early autumn. The $1.7 million project has been completed in time for next week's reopening and celebration of the museum's 50th anniversary. A wide range of changes were made to the main entrance and the immediately adjacent gallery to enhance the appearance of the building, make it more energy efficient and create a better physical environment for works of art. These included replacement of the front curtain wall with energy-efficient glass, creation of a vestibule area to better maintain stable interior temperatures, relocation of the reception desk, installation of a new heating, ventilation and air conditioning system, removal of the pond on the lower level, installation of new railing around the main staircase and installation of new ceilings, floors and LED lighting systems.
Categories: Arts


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One Skinny Elastic Headband with a Peachy Pink Shabby Bow. The ivory skinny elastic is 1/8″ wide and the bow is about 2 1/2″ by 1 1/2″. Bow is backed by soft felt so it won't be itchy on your child's head.
Skinny elastic headbands are soft and comfortable. Many babies don't even notice they are on so they are less likely to pull them off.
Super CUTE and Fun.
Pick your size (ages are approximate, so be sure to measure your child's head if unsure):
Newborn: 13 1/4″
3-6 months: 14 1/2″
6-12 months: 16″
child/teen: 17 1/2″
Adult: 18″
The elastic can also be made in a different color or it can be made into a hair clip by attaching to an alligator clip, just ask 🙂


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How to Use the Context
Inquiry Question
With the outbreak of hostilities in 1775, it became clear that New York was vital to military victory. If the British could defeat the Rebel forces in New York, they would control trade between the Atlantic Ocean and the Great Lakes and divide the colonies. They also would be able to feed their troops from the bounty of the Mohawk Valley, the "bread basket" of the Revolutionary War.
In 1777, the British conceived an ambitious plan for the conquest of New York. This plan called for a three prong attack into the heart of the colony with all three invading forces meeting in Albany. The first army, led by General John Burgoyne, was to invade New York moving south from Canada through the Lake ChamplainHudson River corridor to Albany. The second force, to be commanded by General William Howe, was to move north up the Hudson River Valley from New York City to Albany. The third and final British troops, commanded by General Barry St. Leger, were to move down Lake Ontario from Canada to Oswego, New York and hook eastward through the Mohawk Valley towards Albany.
This plan was dependent on coordination between the armies and the anticipated rallying to arms of the large Tory population the British believed existed in New York. Rebel leaders in New York prepared to defend the state and reinforced the Mohawk Valley. At the ravine of Oriskany in August 1777, the two sides clashed for control of New York.


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In a study published online today in Nature Genetics, Carlo Maley, Ph.D., a researcher at The Wistar Institute, and his colleagues report that precancerous tumors containing a population of highly diverse cells were more likely to evolve into cancer than those containing genetically similar cells. The finding suggests that, in at least some forms of cancer, the more genetically diverse a precancerous tumor is, the more likely that tumor is to progress to full-blown cancer. If so, genetic diversity might act as a biomarker for cancer risk among patients with precancerous tissues.
"Although researchers first defined cancer in evolutionary terms in the 1970s, few researchers have actually studied the disease this way," says Maley, lead author on the study and an assistant professor in the molecular and cellular oncogenesis program at Wistar. "We wanted to know: If we measured a precancerous tumor's genetic diversity at baseline, could we predict who would go on to get cancer?"
To find out, the scientists decided to analyze data on a precancerous condition called Barrett's esophagus, in which cells lining the lower esophagus change due to repeated exposure to stomach acid from reflux, a condition often referred to as heartburn. Doctors typically adopt a "wait and watch" approach to treating patients with Barrett's esophagus because the condition only rarely leads to cancer and is difficult to treat surgically.
In the study, Maley and colleagues analyzed precancerous tumor data from 268 patients, including multiple biopsies within each tumor. On average, these patients were followed for 4.4 years, during which time 37 developed cancerous tu mors. Overall, the database used in the study represents more than 32,000 distinct genotypes of different cells within the tumors.
Using computational techniques to analyze the data, the researchers calculated measures of diversity inside the tumors. Essentially, they counted cell varieties and measured the genetic difference, or divergence, between those varieties. "Simply put, we took ecology measures of species diversity and translated them into measures of cell diversity within tumors," Maley says. The found a striking correlation between increased diversity of tumor cells and progression to cancer. For every additional cell variety detected in a tumor, the patient was twice as likely to progress to cancer.
Maley suggests that genetically diverse tumors have a high probability of generating mutant cells that will flourish and spread, allowing the tumor to transform and grow. In the future, in addition to serving as a biomarker for cancer risk, he adds, measures of genetic diversity might help doctors assess the success of cancer prevention therapies.
In fact, he speculates, genetic diversity among tumor cells might help explain why therapy sometimes fails. If a tumor contains a diverse population of cells, some of those cells are more likely to resist treatment, Maley says. Adapting to and surviving chemotherapy, these resistant cells could breed, leading to a cancer relapse. He hopes to pursue this hypothesis in the future. "More immediately," he adds, "we intend to validate the new study with other cohorts and other types of tumors."


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The show isn't perfect. You have to get past the agonizingly slow pace, frustrating constant recaps and in-your-face product placement. But I've got to admit, the show inspires me. This season is the heaviest season ever, with many contestants starting at more than 300 lbs, and some close to 400. Yet, by the end of the season most of them will not only be half their size, but also fit and toned. They'll have learned healthy nutritious eating habits, not binge dieting. I've got to imagine that these skills help them to keep the weight off for life. I hope so.
I've never had to deal with that significant amount of weight to lose, but all dieters know that our own 20, 30, 40 or whatever pounds is a struggle. On the show, contestants train for 6-10 hours a day. Watching them spin 'til every inch of them is covered in sweat and lift weights until they cry (and they do) inspires me to get on my elliptical and work out for at least a measly 30 minutes. If they can do it, then so can I!
So I'll try not to be embarrassed that I enjoy watching The Biggest Loser. If it inspires me to lose weight and eat healthier, then win-win.
Paws for Reflection: This is so appropriate when it comes to exercising! "Success is 10 percent inspiration and 90 percent perspiration." --Thomas Edison


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"Normal vinyl removal techniques are not generally appropriate when removing frosted vinyl from glass. Applying heat can cause the glass to crack or shatter. Using a solution of water and dish soap, saturate the vinyl with a fine mist, then cover with bubble wrap or plastic for two hours to prevent drying. The mixture of soap and water will penetrate through the vinyl and make removal much easier, without using heat."
"Whether you use a torch or a heat gun on your wraps, heat is an important part of any wrap. Heat can be used to make pressure sensitive vinyl conformable around curves, rivets, and other irregular surfaces. Post heat is also a critical step when doing vehicle wraps to help "set" the vinyl. Direct heat should especially be applied to areas where the vinyl has been stretched. Slowly move the heat source across these areas until the Mastercool Infrared Temperature Gun reads no more than 200 degrees Fahrenheit (most manufacturers recommend not heating vinyl beyond 200 degrees), then move the heat source approximately one inch every two to three seconds. This technique relaxes the stress on the vinyl caused by stretching, which will help prevent lifting and tenting. Finally, heat is often used to remove a wrap, especially in cold environments. Heat allows the vinyl to come off faster and improves the ability to remove the adhesive with the vinyl instead of leaving adhesive on the surface which would require even more labor to remove."
WARNING: Do not use heat sources near gas tanks or flammable substance


text: 7.3 Procedures for the Conduct of Disciplinary Proceedings Complaints. Any person or entity may request charges be filed against a student for alleged violation of law, the Student Code of Conduct or University regulations or policies. An investigation may take place of the circumstances of the complaint. The complaint regarding a student's conduct must be submitted as follows: Filing a police report with the University Police Department or requesting that a report from another law enforcement agency be sent to the University Police Department and referral to the Dean of Students office; or providing a written and signed statement to the Dean of Students office. Written statements should include all information and evidence the person making the complaint can produce. Reports must be made to either law enforcement or the Dean of Students office within 6 months of the incident, or knowledge about the incident. No student may be charged with a violation to the Student Code of Conduct if the report is made past the 6-month period. This provision shall apply except in incidents involving patterns of behavior (i.e., stalking, sexual misconduct, domestic violence, etc.). These incidents must be reported within one (1) calendar year from the date of the incident or knowledge about the incident. Exceptions to this reporting timeline will be made in cases where the legal statute of limitations for the alleged violation has not passed. The Student Conduct Director in the Dean of Students office will determine if there are reasonable grounds to believe that the allegations of the complaint are true, and if true, would constitute a violation of the University's Code of Conduct. If it is determined by the Student Conduct Director that there are reasonable grounds a violation did occur, the student will be notified of charges. Notice of Charges. The notification of charges shall be in writing and include: the specific conduct code violations, a brief description of alleged offenses, the student's rights, and an invitation to attend an Initial Review with a Preliminary Action Officer.The Initial Review shall take place no sooner than three academic days, excluding holidays and weekends, from the date of Notice of Charges. In cases involving Sexual Misconduct or Sexual Violence, the Initial Review will be replaced by a Title IX investigation conducted by the Dean of Students.If a hold on registration is not already in effect, as an Emergency Measure, upon issuing the Notice of Charges the Student Conduct Director may place a Student Affairs hold on registration until final disposition of the complaint. Initial Review. After the Notice of Charges has been issued, an Initial Review may be scheduled. There are no witnesses called and it consists primarily of a discussion between the charged student and the Preliminary Action Officer in an effort to resolve the matter. The Preliminary Action Officer will have spoken to the Complainant prior to the Initial Review meeting. The Initial Review is not audio taped or recorded. At the conclusion of the Initial Review, the charged student may accept or deny responsibility for the student code of conduct violations on the Notice of Charges. If the charged student chooses to accept responsibility, or fails to attend the disciplinary conference, the Preliminary Action Officer will make recommendations to the Student Conduct Director regarding sanctions as are deemed appropriate or recommend dismissal of the case. This acceptance of responsibility or failure to appear shall constitute as the charged student's waiver of a formal hearing and right of appeal. The student retains the right only to appeal the severity of the sanction. The Student Conduct Director will review recommended sanctions or dismissal. The Student Conduct Director will communicate the final decision to the student. Brief written decisions (including findings of fact) will serve as records of Initial Review and will be communicated in writing within seven academic days of the Initial review. In cases involving Sexual Misconduct or Sexual Violence, a Title IX investigation will be conducted by the Dean of Students in lieu of the Initial Review process described above. This investigation will include meeting with the alleged victim, the accused student, and any witness. Upon the conclusion of this investigation, the Dean of Students will meet with the accused student to determine responsibility, forward to a formal hearing or dismiss the case. If the student accepts responsibility, the Dean of Students will assign sanctions deemed appropriate. The acceptance of responsibility shall constitute the charged student's waiver of a formal hearing and right of appeal. The student retains the right only to appeal the severity of the sanction. An advisor (including an attorney) may accompany the alleged victim and the accused student during the Initial Review meeting. However, the advisor may not participate in the meeting. Formal Disposition by Hearing: When a charged student denies responsibility and the case has not been previously dismissed, a hearing shall be scheduled no less than three days after the date of the Initial Review. A Formal Hearing is defined as any hearing before the Student Conduct Board or a University Hearing Officer. In cases of sexual violence, the Formal Hearing will be heard by the Student Conduct Board. The student may choose to have his/her hearing before the Student Conduct Board or a University Hearing Officer, except in cases of Sexual Misconduct or Sexual Violence which will proceed to a Student Conduct Board. If the student does not choose an option, the hearing shall be heard by a Hearing Officer. Notice of Hearing. The notification of hearing shall be in writing and include: The date, time, and location of the Student Conduct Board or Hearing Officer hearing. Reference to this regulation, of his/her rights and the hearing procedures. A reasonable date, time, and location for a Pre-Hearing Meeting, during which the student may review a potential witness list and all materials to be used by the University in his or her case, which shall be no less than three academic days prior to the hearing. If the student chooses to review the materials provided at the Pre-Hearing Meeting, the charged student shall allow the University to also review all of his or her materials and witnesses to be used in the case. Any materials or witnesses not provided at the Pre-Hearing Meeting by either the University or the student may not be used at any time thereafter during the student disciplinary proceedings. The charged student shall have the opportunity to challenge the impartiality of the Hearing Officer or Student Conduct Board member within three academic days of notification. In the event that a student has opted not to challenge the impartiality of a Hearing Officer or Student Conduct Board member prior to the allotted three academic days, the assigned Hearing Officer or Student Conduct Board member shall remain as scheduled. The student shall state in writing the basis for such challenge. A hearing officer so challenged maybe replaced by the Student Conduct Director for good cause.


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Welcome to Memphis Stage Rental: the #1 stage, riser, and runway company in Memphis & the Mid-South!
Our stages are so well maintained and look so good, they don't have to be covered! Try that elsewhere! Virtually ANY SIZE, small to L A R G E !!!
We build stages: Band Stages, Concert Stages, Children's Stages, Choir Risers, Modeling Runways, Review Stands, Entertainment Stages, Stage Extensions, Rounded Stages, Multi-tiered Stages, Special Design Stages, and Disabled Access Stages, Ramps, and Rails ! And more!
We can erect stages in most any size, from 4" tall up to 4' tall, 5' tall, even higher. across curbs, on slopes, over bushes, on gym floors...yet they stay flat and level! And yes, our stage feet are made of "no-mark" rubber and safe.
Do you need a multi-level design? No problem. Special Shapes? We can do that, too.
Call: 901.861.0500
or send us an email
We build stages throughout the city of Memphis and the Mid-South region; Arkansas, Mississippi, Missouri, Alabama, Texas, and even coast to coast! We also offer hydraulic portable stages, better know as mobile stages. Click here for more information about Mobile Stages.
If your're looking for staging accessories, such as stage skirting, stairs, carpeting, back-drops, click here. If you need more production, such as a sound system, lighting, power generator, or other services, click here for information on our production packages, where we can definitely save you some time, some headache, and some money!


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Let $V$ be a finite dimensional highest weight representation of a (semi)-simple Lie algebra. For each $n\ge 0$ take $a_n$ to be the dimension of the space of invariant tensors in $\otimes^n V$.
In certain cases there is a formula for $a_n$. For example, for $V$ the two dimensional representation of $sl(2)$ we get $a_n=0$ if $n$ is odd and for $n$ even we get the ubiquitous Catalan numbers. In general I don't expect a formula but the sequence does satisfy a linear recurrence relation with polynomial coefficients (known as D-finite).
For example, for the seven dimensional representation of $G_2$ this sequence starts:
1, 0, 1, 1, 4, 10, 35, 120, 455, 1792, 7413, 31780, 140833, 641928, 3000361, 14338702, 69902535, 346939792, 1750071307, 8958993507, 46484716684, 244187539270, 1297395375129, 6965930587924
for more background see http://www.oeis.org/A059710
This satisfies the recurrence
$(n+5)(n+6)a_n=2(n-1)(2n+5)a_{n-1}+(n-1)(19n+18)a_{n-2}+ 14(n-1)(n-2)a_{n-3}$
Question How does one find these recurrence relations?
Then I also have a more challenging follow-up question. The space of invariant tensors in $\otimes^n V$ also has an action of the symmetric group $S_n$ and so a Frobenius character which is a symmetric function of degree $n$.
Question How does one calculate these symmetric functions?
I know these can be calculated using plethysms individually. I am hoping for something along the lines of the first question.
Further remarks David's answer solves the problem theoretically but I want to make some remarks about the practicalities. This is in case anyone wants to experiment and also because I believe there is a more efficient method.
The $sl(2)$ example can easily be extended. For the $n$-dimensional representation $a_k$ is the coefficient of $ut^k$ in
For the case $n=3$ see http://www.oeis.org/A005043 and http://www.oeis.org/A099323
I am not aware of any references for $n\ge 4$. I don't know if these are algebraic.
The limitation of this method is that there is a sum over the Weyl group. This means it is impractical to implement this method for $E_8$. For the adjoint representation of $E_8$ the start of the sequence is
1 0 1 1 5 16 79 421 2674 19244 156612 1423028 14320350
(found using LiE)


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May 07, 2001
Los Angeles — UCLA Anderson has appointed two new members to its Board of Visitors. James B. Freedman, managing director of Barrington Associates, has more than 20 years of investment banking and corporate finance experience. Robert A. Eckert is chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Mattel, Inc., a worldwide leader in the design, manufacturing and marketing of family products with $5.5 billion in annual revenues.
"Mr. Freedman and Mr. Eckert will bring a wealth of experience and expertise to the school, and we are extremely grateful they have agreed to join us," said Bruce Willison, dean of UCLA Anderson. "The Board plays a vital role in advancing the school's strategic mission and outreach efforts. We look to board members for guidance on policy, programs and other key issues to help the school anticipate new developments in business education, while ensuring that our programs continue to meet the needs of today's marketplace."
James B. Freedman, who earned his MBA degree in 1978 with a concentration in finance from UCLA Anderson, is an expert on the financial aspects of corporate strategy. Since 1994, he has been listed in "Who's Who in Banking and Finance" in the Los Angeles Business Journal's annual poll of the 100 most influential individuals in the Los Angeles business community.
Since founding Barrington Associates in 1982, he has advised over 500 middle-market companies in the areas of corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, corporate valuation and strategic business decisions. Mr. Freedman has served as the principal financial advisor in numerous corporate finance and merger and acquisition transactions, ranging in value from $5 million to $400 million, including the acquisition of the Los Angeles Kings Hockey Team.
Prior to founding Barrington Associates, Mr. Freedman was vice president at The Foothill Group, Inc., where he headed corporate development as well as the commercial lending division for the California region. A frequent lecturer to industry and professional groups, Mr. Freedman is also active in community affairs and philanthropic endeavors. He is a member of the Board of Advisors of UCLA Anderson's Price Center for Entrepreneurial Studies, the Board of Directors of the UCLA Jonsson Cancer Center, and the Board of Directors of the Yosemite Fund.
Robert A. Eckert came to Mattel in May 2000 from Kraft Foods, Inc., the largest U.S.-based packaged food company in the world. A 23-year veteran of Kraft, he climbed up the ranks, holding a variety of marketing positions, then serving as a vice president, executive vice president, and general manager for various Kraft divisions. He most recently served as its president and chief executive officer, a position he had held since October 1997. In that role, he was responsible for overseeing all of Kraft's business units and for leading the company's policy decision-making board, the Operating Committee.
Mr. Eckert currently sits on the board of directors and executive committee for Metropolitan Family Services. He also serves as a member of the board of directors of the Grocery Manufacturers of America and as chairman of its Government Affairs Council. In addition, he is a member of the boards of trustees of the Ravinia Festival Association and The Art Institute of Chicago, and is a national trustee on the board of trustees of Lake Forest College.
The Board of Visitors of UCLA Anderson serves as the school's primary advisory body, and assists the Dean in establishing and maintaining a favorable climate for private giving to the school. It provides oversight of select functions at the school, addresses relevant issues, and provides counsel on critical issues.


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Model Information
Smart Entry & Push Button Start
Content may not apply to all models. See Related Information or consult your owner's manual for specific information about your vehicle.
Smart Entry & Push Button Start
Smart Entry with Push Button Start allows you to walk up to the Accord, unlock the doors, and start the engine without ever having to take the key out of your pocket. Sensing the remote, the Accord will unlock the door when you touch a front door handle.
Need more help? Contact your local Honda Dealer for assistance.


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Wash clothes with only cold water
41% of members are saving with this action!
Save up to 400 kg / 880 lbs CO2 and up to $60 per year!
Modern clothes washers and detergents often work just as well with cold water as with hot or warm. This can be used to your advantage to save energy. Some brands cold water detergent are slightly more expensive, giving the small cost associated with this.
Benefits and costs
|Annual CO2 Savings
|200 - 400 kg
|440 - 880 lbs
|Annual Cash Savings
|$20 - $60
|Initial Cost
|$10 - $40
|Time to pay for itself
|0.0 - 2.0 years
|CO2 saved per year per initial dollar invested
|5.00 - 40.00 kg
* These value ranges were taken from many sources including product documentation, published reports, and the reference material linked here.
If everyone did this ...
If every household in the US did this, it could save a collective 52,800,000 tons of CO2 per year!
This would be equivalent to:
- Taking 10,352,941 cars off the road for a year
- Producing 3,969,925 tons of Beef
Visit How Much CO2 Is That? for more information.
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How To Become More Sustainable
Very broadly, being sustainable is to live in such a way that can be maintained forever given the resources at hand. This usually means trying to consume only renewable resources, recycling everything that can be, and minimizing resource use generally.
Top 10 Easy Ideas For A Sustainable 2012
Just in time for spring to arrive, here is a list of the top 10 easiest, and impactful, ways to become more sustainable for 2012. A nice benefit of striving for sustainability is that it will also often save you money as well as improve quality of life.
Meat and Sustainability: The Facts
We don't tend to think much about where our food comes from anymore, and by extension how it is produced. Our food choices can have a significant impact on our total environmental footprint.
38 Small Sustainable Habits
Sustainability isn't just about the big things, like what vehicle you buy, it's also the small choices we make every day. Here's a quick list of 38 habits that are easy and have many benefits.
The Costs of Livestock Production
"If all the grain currently fed to livestock in the United States were consumed directly by people, the number of people who could be fed would be nearly 800 million"
Center for Energy Technology
Clean Tech showroom highlights the latest in natural gas equipment and technology to train and educate energy decision makers and energy users in commercial and industrial settings.
How Meat and Dairy are Hiking Your Carbon Footprint
"Many of the EWG's findings are pretty eye-opening — like some revealing facts about beef, which produces twice the emissions of pork, four times as much as chicken, and 13 times that of vegetable protein such as beans, lentils, and tofu."
Pay TV boxes hike electric bills, waste energy
"More than 80% of Americans subscribe to pay TV, and the 160 million set-top boxes installed in their homes cost $3 billion to operate largely because the boxes never go to sleep"
S.E.E.D. Starter: A Not-So Radical Idea for Rainwater Collection - world.ed
With water costs rising steadily and nearly 20 percent of the world without access to clean water, why is the concept of rainwater collection so hard to swallow? Michael Nolan breaks it all down in a way that even a politician can understand.


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This is my version of guacamole, a popular Central American uncooked fresh relish or dipping sauce that is now enjoyed in many regions of the world. It turned out to be a perfect accompaniment to mushroom quesadilla, served with Mexican black bean pasties. The remains were enjoyed with some blue corn tortilla chips. The final result is worth the attention devoted to the chopping board beforehand, even considering it was eagerly devoured in a fraction of the time.
|Recipe by Lisa Turner
Cuisine: Mexican
Published on June 5, 2008
This tangy, spicy and fresh-tasting classic Mexican dip will disappear in no time at all
This is my contribution to Weekend Herb blogging, hosted this week by Maninas.


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Victoria Justice Covers 'Some Nights' by Fun. [Video]
Victoria Justice is making a name for herself in pop just like her co-star Ariana Grande. While Grande covered diva classics by Whitney Houston, Justice kept it modern with a cover of 'Some Nights' by fun.
Justice does an acoustic rendition of the track with a band. The 'Victorious' starlet adds her own soprano inflections to the vocals, but for the most part remains loyal to frontman Nate Ruess' pronounced lyrical delivery.
She puts a twist on the closing of the song, and Justice was clearly excited throughout the recording of the video -- she smiles while she sings, and you can hear it in her voice! Fun indeed.
You can catch more of Victoria Justice this summer, when she hits the road with Big Time Rush on their joint Summer Break tour, kicking off on June 21 in L.A., and coming to the Bangor waterfront on July 24.


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Baglung, Nepal
You might be wondering how buses and social accountability are related. In Baglung, western region of Nepal, they are not just related - one is the direct result of the other.
Nepal, with its diverse topography has amazing landscapes for tourism but when it comes to accessible roads, it is one of the rural community's biggest concerns. In the hilly or mountainous regions, the problem is severe; the same can be said about the remote regions of Baglung where people were not getting any bus service from the centre to the upper faraway villages (up to Kalimati). As their only other option, they had jeeps (people carrier) as substitutes for public transportation.
"Now, it's become easier for us to go to the villages as the bus is cheaper – it's less than half the price of what we pay for jeeps. The jeeps cost us NRs. 150 to 200 (US$ 1.75 to $2.35) while the bus is just NRs. 40 (US$ 0.50). I am happy that the bus is in operation now but what is more exciting is - the bus service started as the direct result of the public hearing we had with the municipality last year," says Pingal Khadka GC, one of the PETS members set up by Deep Jyoti Youth Club in the municipality.
Under the Program for Accountability in Nepal (PRAN), Deepjyoti Youth Club (DYC) organised one of the most effective tools of Social Accountability: a public hearing in a remote village of Baglung. The turnover of more than 2,500 people from local communities not just made an arresting sight but yielded results in less than two weeks. During the summer last year, the citizens had the opportunity to ask questions to the municipal officers and one of the concerns was the bus service. The people were promised the service to start as soon as possible and it did. The commitment of the Local Development Officer (LDO) in front of the entire community made the bus service a reality.
PRAN is a program of the World Bank in Nepal, promoting the use of social accountability tools to make sure that the citizens can hold the government accountable. The public hearing is one of such tools that PRAN frequently uses in its programs. It has proved that public pressure, allied to an informed population, can make a considerable difference in the struggle of people for their rights and the accountability of the government. In the case of Baglung, the municipality was willing to change and made the decision to start the bus service for the local communities.
"We are all very pleased with the bus service. The service is only once daily. It goes from the main market centre of Baglung to Kudunle, Bhansa and Kalimati and returns later in the afternoon. It is so much easier to reach those villages up in the hills as it would take us hours to walk. I know it would be better if the service is at least twice daily," comments Pingal but also agrees that "it sure is a great beginning, born out of direct dialogue with those at the top!"
Join the Conversation
Great initiative and an extraordinary example of democracy. Hope this spreads all over the south-eastern part of Asia.
Agree to that! This is a very good example of democracy. Well, this is good for helping Nepal citizens.
It would be interesting to be there and see how the dynamics are. Is it the government coming to the people to distribute information and listen to comments, i.e. in the same way that would have happened under the Panchayat system. Or is it the people demanding effectiveness and efficiency from a government that is largely unaccountable?
If the World Bank were serious about local accountability, they would instead of these small activities, pressure the government to carry out local elections, elections that have not been held for over a decade.
Hi Oliver
Thanks for your reply. To answer your question, it is the people who are demanding the government to be effective and efficient. It's more of a demand driven process rather than a suppy focused initiative.
A very interesting site. I've enjoyed this article very much,thank you.
very interesting article. keep up the good work world bank


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You will soon be able to find this in my TPT store.
I am going to link this to:
What a great little book! My 4-almost-5 year old boy is going to love it - especially the cutting, and it will be the perfect thing to have to do when our new baby comes soon. Thanks!!
When do you think you will return to teaching?
I like this unit! Will be downloading it soon, I hope, to print!
I am planning to use it with a boy who has Down's Syndrome. Great vocabulary for him plus appropriate fine motor skills to develop!
Thank you!
Will you be making a D'Nealian version of this? I love, love, love everything you create...and it is so hard to find cute printables in that style. Just wondering...and wanted to say thanks.
These are fun and fabulous Michelle! Thanks!
These are so great Michelle!
I love that you share everything. I decided to pick you as one of my Top Ten Blogs. Thanks for all you do.
You are a Top Blog!
You are so creative and generous. Thank you for sharing your hard work and creativity.
I selected you as one of my Top Ten Blogs! You can check it out here http://pocketfullofkinders.blogspot.com/2011/09/my-blog-was-rated-top-10.html
and grab your button here http://www.teachingblogaddict.com/2011/05/top-10.html
Ms. Patterson
Pocket Full of Kinders
Love these! They are wonderful! Thank you for sharing! :)
Crayons and Curls
You are so talented at creating your printables! My preschooler has all his letters and sounds down and we are starting to blend words but he's having a hard time understanding how to separate the words in a sentence. This is going to be PERFECT to help him understand the concept since he has to cut out each word and then paste it. Thanks a million!!
Fonts licensed from LetteringDelights.com


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Welcome to APDA Web!
APDA Web is the official online presence of the American Parliamentary Debate Association. The American Parliamentary Debate Association is an intercollegiate debate association featuring membership from dozens of colleges and universities across the United States.
This website provides access to:
- Learn more about parliamentary debate and the American Parliamentary Debate Association, including its by-laws, current Executive Board members, and a brief history
- The schedule of APDA tournaments throughout the year
- Contact information for current APDA schools
- Results of previous APDA tournaments, including top teams and speakers for each event
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- A guide for learning the APDA format and joining APDA from an unaffiliated school.
Please e-mail email@example.com with any questions.


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Jay Rells & 2 Pistols (Feat. Duce The Privilege) - KNOCKOUT [Artist Submitted]
Jay Rells 2 Pistols and Duce the Privilege's new single "Knockout". Follow Jay Rells @FLRells #FlightLife #TheProgresss
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All photos and their sources can be found here
Hello lovelies! I must apologize for being such a bad blogger this week. I've been sewing away like a busy little bee. I did find in a moment to start a Pinterest. So if you want to see a mish mash of things that I like you can follow me here.
I hope you all have a wonderful weekend! Talk to you soon! :)


text: After talking with families who have been displaced by violence in the Central African Republic, WFP Executive Director Ertharin Cousin assured them they will not be forgotten. Cousin was speaking during a visit to the northwestern town of Bossangoa, where she saw first hand the scale of the hunger crisis and the suffering of its victims. "We need the world to work with us to help these people move forward," she said.


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Willis Hess "Willie" Davis, 83, Wabash, died at 9:48 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 9, at his home. He was born July 24, 1930 in Paintsville, Ky. to Proctor and Ora (Hess) Davis.
Willie married Deloris Estelle Williams in Paintsville, Ky. on July 16, 1955; she died Nov. 5, 1993. He was a US Army veteran serving during the Korean Conflict. He retired from General Tire in Wabash in 1992, and also worked at Wabash Materials. Willie was a member of the Wabash American Legion Post 15, the VFW Post 286, Marion Am Vets, member and Past President of the Wabash Eagles Lodge, and enjoyed bowling and golfing.
He is survived by four children, Donald (Elvira) Davis, LaFontaine, Ronald (Brenda) Davis, South Point, Ohio, Debra (James) Bidwell and Kimberly Campbell, both of Wabash; four sisters, Jane Cronan, Louisville, Ky., Betty Fawcett, Prestonsburg, Ky., Billie Williamson, Louisville, and Sue Cooper, St. Petersburg, Fla.; brother, Jim (Fran) Davis, Hurricane, W.V.; 11 grandchildren, and 19 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his grandson, Chad Bidwell and great grandson, Chadon Frazier.
Funeral services will be held at Grandstaff-Hentgen Funeral Service, 1241 Manchester Ave. Wabash on Monday, Oct. 14, at 11 a.m. with Pastor Tim Prater officiating. Burial will be in Johnson County Cemetery, Paintsville. Friends may call 9:30 a.m.– 11 a.m. at the funeral home. There will be a service at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Jones & Preston Funeral Home in Paintsville, Ky. with visitation from 10-11 a.m.
The memorial guest book for Willis may be signed at www.grandstaff-hentgen.com.


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The mathematics faculty is committed to ongoing scholarly activity that includes searching for new mathematical results, placing modern mathematics in its cultural and educational context, producing pedagogical materials of high quality, working with area K-12 educators, and consulting with area businesses and organizations.
The mathematics faculty serves the Winthrop community by providing counsel on mathematical
and statistical issues and serves the larger community through consulting and participation
in discipline-specific professional organizations.
Most undergraduate students will take a course offered by the Department that meets the Quantitative Skills General Education requirement, such as MATH 101, MATH 111, MATH 112, MATH 150, MATH 151, or MATH 201. An online Mathematics Placement Exam is available to all students (incoming, transfer, and current) to determine which course is best for each student.
The Department of Mathematics operates a Mathematics Tutorial Center where students enrolled in all mathematics courses may obtain individual assistance.
In addition, some courses will use tutoring software which is available for students
in BANC 173 and SIMS 114.
For information about the Mathematics Placement Exam, visit the Math Placement Exam webpage.
If you are interested in participating in undergraduate research in mathematics or an internship in mathematics, visit our Internships and Undergraduate Research page.


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FAIRFAX, Va., April 26 (UPI) -- U.S. cybersecurity and counter-terrorism expert Richard Clarke has become an executive adviser to SRA International Inc.
Clarke was an adviser on national security to several U.S. administrations.
"In addition to his invaluable public service keeping our country safe and secure, Dick has an incomparable vantage point when it comes to national and homeland security," said SRA President and Chief Executive Officer Bill Ballhaus.
"His insights will be a key asset for SRA clients and further strengthen our cybersecurity and counter-terrorism offerings."
In addition to his posts in government service, Clarke has written several books, including "Against All Enemies: Inside America's War on Terror," and "Cyber War: The Next Threat to National Security and What to Do about It."
"I'm pleased to be joining SRA, having long admired its ethic of Honesty and Service and focus on delivering value and thought leadership to government clients," Clarke said. "I've been impressed by the breadth and depth of SRA's cybersecurity team and look forward to contributing to their efforts."


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RALEIGH (AP) - The man who helped direct a nearly $2 million political and lobbying effort by consumer finance lenders is co-hosting a fundraiser for North Carolina House speaker Thom Tillis' fledgling U.S. Senate campaign.
The move comes less than a week after a bill increasing profits for the industry became law.
Tillis is to be in Greenville on Tuesday for a luncheon co-hosted by Time Investment Corp. president Royce Everette, who owns 19 consumer finance offices across the state.
Everette is among those who pushed a bill signed into law June 19 that raises the maximum interest rates on consumer finance loans marketed to low-income borrowers.
Tillis spokesman Paul Shumaker says he sees no problem with the Speaker raising money for his Senate campaign from donors with business pending before the Legislature.


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Our engaging, dynamic exhibits and programs are aligned with state and national standards so you can connect your field trip with your classroom curriculum.
Download the Guide to Standards-Aligned Exhibits & Programs.
This Town Hall Wall asks students to respond and deliberate: Should the Electoral College be abolished in favor of a popular vote for president?
Using the Town Hall Wall
With this format pioneered at the National Constitution Center, it is easy to turn your classroom into a town hall where constitutional issues are deliberated, following four simple steps:


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Bike rental controversy reawakens issues of religion and government in Israel
Residents of Tel Aviv have demanded the right to make use of the city's bicycle rental service, Tel-O-Fun, on Yom Kippur. Last Friday the Tel Aviv-Jaffa municipality responded, saying the service would provide bikes for Yom Kippur. It specified that the bikes must be rented before sundown on Yom Kippur Eve and could only be returned at the conclusion of this holy day, during the following night.
In response, Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz (Likud) threatened to cut off funding for the bicycle rental project, saying that the operating of the Tel-O-Fun project on Yom Kippur "is crossing a red line and breaking all the norms."
Upon reading this story, I immediately thought back to an observation I heard from television personality-turned-politician Yair Lapid, head of the Yesh Atid party. Yair, himself non-observant but a believer in God and very respectful to our heritage, pointed to the fact that the law prohibiting the public sale of leavened bread (hametz) on Passover is widely ignored by Israelis. The same applies to the laws regarding pork in this country, a law which many violate. However, everyone in Israel respects Yom Kippur and no one drives on that day. Why do people violate the bread rule on Passover and the laws regarding pork but refrain from driving on Yom Kippur?
Lapid suggested that the explanation is simple: there is no law prohibiting driving on Yom Kippur; It is simply a demonstration of respect. The moment there is a governmental law demanding religious observance, people feel coerced and have an instinct to violate it. No one wants to be forced into any specific practice in life.
And now, a government minister is trying to make receipt of government funding contingent on not making bikes available for use on Yom Kippur. Let me be very clear: Yom Kippur is the holiest day of the year, and my family and I fast and spend the entire day in synagogue. I would never ride a bike on this sacred day, and it saddens me that not all Jews were raised and educated to spend the day exclusively focused on the spiritual.
But what right do we have to force others to refrain from spending the day as they choose? This is especially the case when Yom Kippur is known as the day when secular Israelis avoid driving and instead ride their bikes. And it is even more disturbing when we consider that the Tel Aviv municipality is actually respecting the day by saying that it won't actively rent out the bikes on Yom Kippur. Do we really want the government to mandate whether people can or cannot have bikes to use on Yom Kippur?
Religious coercion of this kind clearly ignores the most basic sources in our tradition. The Bible implores us to "choose" the correct path in life. This notion of "choosing" – "behira," in Hebrew – is one of the most fundamental Jewish tenets. Throughout our history, there have always been religious people who sought to inspire fellow Jews who were less observant. As an educator, I certainly found myself in that role with my students, and as an author, all of my books seek to motivate our youth to be more spiritual.
But this was always based on the principle in "Ethics of the Fathers" of "develop many disciples," as opposed to "force your way on others." Pulling government funding for a service which enables people to ride bikes on Yom Kippur is "forcing your way on others" and this kind of religious coercion is simply not the Jewish way. As Rabbi Joseph Soloveitchik explained in the late 20th century, the term "religious coercion" is actually an oxymoron since no religious act can be coerced and maintain any religious significance for the one performing the act.
This obviously opens a door to the complicated issue of religion and state in Israel. On the one hand, the very concept of an official government rabbinate that governs life-cycle events or laws against public transportation on Shabbat seems to serve as a classic example of religious coercion. According to the sources quoted above, people should be free to choose to be religious or not without the government mixing into the issue at all. People should similarly be free to choose which rabbi and traditions they want as part of their religious observance, and not have these imposed on them by their government.
The hatred, strife, and polarization caused by these laws, and the fact that people circumvent the laws of marriage and divorce anyway, led then-Israeli chief rabbi Eliyahu Bakshi Doron to declare in a Techumin magazine interview in 2004 that there is no longer a place in Israel for the religion ministry and local religious councils. Simply put, there should be separation of religion from government.
On the other hand, Israel is a Jewish state. What makes it a Jewish state? Is it Jewish simply because a majority of its inhabitants are Jews? Don't there have to be other defining characteristics to make it a Jewish state? Isn't this the basis for the "status quo" arrangement in which marriage, divorce, and other life cycle events are under the auspices of the Chief Rabbinate and the Ministry of Religious Services? Isn't this the justification for the general attitude, expressed so clearly by Minister Katz, of using government funding as a mechanism to police religious issues, including withholding bicycle rentals on Yom Kippur?
As an Orthodox Jew who passionately believes in the truth of my way of life, I would love to see a country where all Jews experience life-cycle events and live the way I do. However, I must have the intellectual honesty to say that laws dictating that all life-cycle events in the country be done in a religious, Orthodox manner constitute religious coercion. Using the threat of pulling government funding to "preserve the sanctity of the day," while infringing on people's rights to spend the day as they choose is no different. And it must stop.
Many things can be done to secure the state's Jewish identity without coercion. Maintaining Shabbat as the official government day of rest certainly accomplishes that. The same goal is achieved with all government events being kosher, the Israeli army serving only kosher food, and the distribution of bibles to soldiers at IDF initiation ceremonies. Increasing the amount of Bible and heritage studies in the public school system would help define who we are and connect students to Judaism without forcing religious practice.
We could increase the Jewish nature of the country if leaders who believe in God would actually mention God. The United States of America is the prime example in the world of separation of church and state but that does not stop every president from concluding speeches with the words "May God Bless America." These simple words present no threat of religious coercion but are packed with meaning and define a country. We must do the same in Israel.
Finally, attempting to strengthen Judaism through legislation and threatening to cut funding actually has the reverse effect: it is destroying us as a nation. The Talmudic principle that forcing people to practice a certain way actually discourages them is on open display throughout our country. The laws and policies related to religious practice are leading thousands of young Israelis to turn their backs on any connection to Judaism and Israel. They want no part of a country which legislates how they should experience the most important moments of their lives, and have no desire to connect to rabbis who they feel are making unreasonable demands, especially in the marriage process.
Taking away their ability to rent a bike for Yom Kippur, the holy day which most secular Israelis already respect by refraining from driving, simply turns them away from recognizing this as a special and important religious/cultural day. I actually fear that it may lead to an extreme response of people specifically driving on Yom Kippur, since extremism on the religious side almost always breeds extremism on the secular side. In order to preserve the Jewish value that gives people free choice, to preserve Jewish unity, and to create an environment in which the masses embrace Judaism instead of detesting it, we must shy away from Katz's approach and go even further to separate religion and government in Israel.
The moment we return to this core value of non-coercion, Jews will be able to embrace their country and their Judaism, and we will see the most positive shifts in attitude toward Judaism emerge among Jews in Israel and throughout the world. Jewish organizations and individual voters should bolster and support courageous leaders and parties who seek to take on the establishment and separate religious services from government in Israel. Furthermore, laws must be in place to protect citizens from coercion within their communities.
It is time to put an end to religious coercion in Israel, especially on a government level, and to restore a Judaism where everyone is free to exercise their most basic human and Jewish right – choice.