text:
Unnerved by a febrile stock exchange and persistent rumblings of a potential dip in property prices, Hong Kong investors are seeking refuge in art and the lure of both financial and cultural rewards.
Hong Kong, already the world's third-largest auction hub, has seen a slew of big name galleries open their doors, including White Cube and the Gagosian, to tap the pockets of the region's new rich, and the studios of its ever-deepening talent pool of artists.
In turn, new investors, wealthy but not super-rich, are taking a punt on art, many for the first time.
For seed money of HK$180,000 (US$23,300), Levenza Toh bought a painting by Chinese contemporary artist Liu Chunhai (劉純海), which she hopes will rise in value by 20 percent each year — a strong return compared with last year's stock market slump of 25 percent.
The territory's bourse has rebounded so far this year after the eurozone-driven losses of last year, but Toh said her investment also brought an aesthetic bounty.
"If the painting loses value I still have something beautiful to pass on to my children," she said.
Art brokerage The Art Futures group said its client base has grown in step with Hong Kong's burgeoning reputation as the heart of Asia's art market.
Art investment has become a relative "safe haven" in stormy markets, said AFG's Jonathan Macey, adding that the fundamentals of artists' work can be analyzed in much the same way as a stock, with "mid-career" artists favored over total newcomers or top-priced favorites.
"It is also enjoyable for people in a way that buying property for purely investment purposes isn't," he said.
While Macey stresses art is not a "get-rich-quick" scheme, he says clients can expect gains of between 12 percent and 18 percent over a three-to-five year period.
In the interim they can lease their paintings to hang in company and hotel lobbies, providing a dividend of about 7 percent that outstrips most bank interest rates.
Eye-popping sales at Hong Kong's big auction houses underpin the city's surge to the heart of Asia's art scene.
Buyers are particularly enamored by Chinese contemporary art, reflecting China's rising economic and cultural power, with artists such as Liu Wei (劉煒), Luo Zhongli (羅中立) and Zhang Xiaogang (張曉剛) attracting multi-million US dollar price tags.
Last year, Christie's Asian arm in Hong Kong saw total sales of Chinese modern art reach about HK$650 million, out of total sales of HK$7.04 billion.
Not to be outdone, Sotheby's this month hosted an Asian contemporary art sale that sold HK$211 million worth of work — its -second-highest total for such a sale in Hong Kong. The money is also cascading into Hong Kong's galleries as the profile of art buyers shifts from the high-end collectors who dominated a decade or so ago — many of them European.
"We've seen collectors from Asia, Southeast Asia, Indonesia and Taiwan come into the market," said Nicole Schoeni of the Schoeni Art Gallery, who says her client base has widened over recent years from purely big European collectors.
"They are passionate about art. Investment is an added bonus of course, but they don't tend to 'flip' paintings every two or three months for profit," she said.
As with any investment, art buying carries a risks as markets fluctuate, but Schoeni said the future looks good for Asian art.
"Asia's getting richer and there's also great creativity coming from the region. On top of that people here tend to be hard working, positive and resilient ... the long-term is positive," she added.
PLANNED OUT: The government is lifting sale and export restrictions on 60% of the 20 million masks made daily, but people can still make purchases using their NHI cards Twenty thousand boxes of 50 masks each would be on sale at FamilyMart convenience stores starting tomorrow, Taiwan FamilyMart Co Ltd (全家便利商店) said yesterday. A box of 50 masks would cost NT$249 for those with FamilyMart memberships and NT$299 for those without, with no limits placed on how many boxes a person can buy, the company said. Convenience store chain operator Hi-Life International Co Ltd (萊爾富) said that it would also start selling masks from tomorrow. It has yet to announce details about prices and quantity. Hypermarket chain operator Carrefour Taiwan (家樂福) said that it would start selling packs of five
BOOSTING BUYING: A source said that the idea of pre-ordering vouchers online is being considered, but the preliminary plan is for people to buy them at post offices A stimulus voucher program to be rolled out next month to boost consumption would be available not only to Taiwanese, but also foreign nationals and Chinese spouses who hold residency permits, a source familiar with the matter said yesterday. The government is fine-tuning the details of the program, which involves issuing vouchers for in-store purchases to revive buying amid the COVID-19 pandemic. During a radio interview on Monday last week, National Development Council (NDC) Minister Kung Ming-hsin (龔明鑫) said that the plan is to allow anyone, regardless of age or income level, to buy NT$3,000 (US$99.89) worth of vouchers for
Taiwan High Speed Rail Corp (THSRC, 台灣高鐵) is expected to recover quickly from the effects of COVID-19, as life returns to normal and thanks to the government's domestic travel incentives, Yuanta Securities Investment Consulting Co (元大投顧) said in a note on Friday. THSRC's business might have bottomed out after revenue fell 49.83 percent year-on-year to NT$2.03 billion (US$67.59 million) in April, the lowest in nearly 10 years, while combined revenue in the first four months dropped 26.44 percent to NT$11.63 billion, as the COVID-19 outbreak reduced ridership, the investment consultancy said. "The worst should be over in April as domestic tourism
Delta Electronics Inc (台達電), the nation's leading power management solutions provider, has signed an agreement to acquire Canadian software firm Trihedral Engineering Ltd to bolster its smart production efforts, it said on Saturday. Delta said in a statement that it would acquire Trihedral for C$45 million (US$32.68 million) through its 100 percent-owned subsidiary Delta Electronics (Netherlands) BV. Trihedral specializes in supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) and industrial Internet of Things software, which would strengthen Delta's hardware offerings in fast-growing areas such as automation, artificial intelligence and data analytics, it said. "The collection, monitoring and analyzing of data are critical to Delta's two


text:
10. In the Woods – The Evil Dead (1981)
Question: If you found the recorded diary of a scholar who had been destroyed by demons he accidentally summoned up by reading an ancient incantation, would you play back the tape of him reading it? Apparently this never occurred to Ash and company, who elbow each other and giggle while the gates of hell open up in the forest outside their cabin.
9. Life's a Beach, and Then You Die – Jaws (1975)
Perhaps there's no stock horror movie character more infuriating than the cynical, shameless profiteer who blows everything to hell through his greed/pride. Take the mayor of Amity, for example, who sees fit to keep the beaches open for the holiday weekend despite repeated shark attacks. The result: instant smorgasbord!
8. Friends Don't Let Friends Drive Dumb – Night of the Living Dead (1968)
I don't care if there was a whole lovey-dovey scene right beforehand that was set up to make me feel sympathy for these two dolts. I can't feel sorry for people who decide to drive off into a crowd of zombies in a truck covered in flaming gasoline. When they finally decide to jump ship, the broad gets her stupid jacket stuck in the door. No wonder they end up as barbecue.
7. Curse, Shmurse! – The Mummy's Hand (1940)
in one of the most blatant acts of Eurocentric arrogance ever captured on film, archaeologist Steve Banning and his team scoff at the warning inscribed over the tomb of Kharis as they proceed to desecrate his resting place and incur his murderous wrath. Jeez, you'd think these guys had never seen a mummy movie. Oh wait, they're in one.
6. Military Intelligence? – 28 Weeks Later (2007)
With a new outbreak of the rage virus on the verge of exploding, the American peacekeeping forces come up with the bright idea of locking up the civilian population in a cramped little room with no light and no access to the outside. Once the raged-up Begby from Trainspotting shows up in their midst, it's all over but the shouting…
5. What Part of "Do Not Feed After Midnight"… – Gremlins (1984)
It was a simple set of rules, really. Yet in the course of 90 minutes, the characters in this movie manage to accidentally break every one…repeatedly. Of course, the worst of these infractions leads to a town full of havoc-wreaking green cretins. Alright, so Stripe messed around with the alarm clock, but come on now, wasn't anyone wearing a watch??
4. Brit Nitwit – Shaun of the Dead (2004)
We all may love Ed–he's perhaps the coolest buddy in buddy movie history. But which one of us wasn't cringing when the well-meaning lug turned on that blaring arcade game in the Winchester, instantly turning the once-cozy pub into a scene of mass zombie mayhem?
3. Who Let Out the Gas? – The Return of the Living Dead (1985)
When you think about it, the nuclear destruction of most of Kentucky could've been avoided if that idiot Frank hadn't been such a show-off and decided to whack that canister to show off how "sturdy" it was, releasing the dreaded trioxin compound–and a very hungry Tarman.
2. Walter Peck is an Ass – Ghostbusters (1984)
Rarely had such rage been built up in my little nine-year-old body as it was watching the EPA's most infamous agent order the NYPD to shut down the Ghostbuster's ecto-containment unit. Everyone in the audience and in the movie knew better, except Mr. Peck, and before you knew it, the Big Apple was up to its stem in free-floating, full-torso, vaporous apparitions.
and finally, the top "Doh!" moment in horror movie history…
1. Fritz Loses His Mind – Frankenstein (1931)
Yep, it's the granddaddy of all horror screw-ups. If you're anything like me, you've probably given at least a little thought to how things might've played out if Dr. Frankenstein's assistant had only managed to bring the right brain back to the lab. Why, the rest of the movie probably would've consisted of the doctor and his freakish creation playing backgammon and discussing Proust over a spot of tea. On second thought, maybe I'm kind of glad Fritz dropped that jar…

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Below are the charities we donated our blankets in November/December 2008.
1) Community Family Life Services URL: CFLSDC.org
2) Lutheran Social Services | URL: LSSNCA.org
3) N Street Village | URL: NStreetVillage.org
4) Polaris Project | URL: PolarisProject.org
Provides transitional housing for families. Happy to receive homemade blankets. Prefers variety of types, so clients can select what best suits them.
Contact: Robin Fender, Manager of Development, email@example.com or 202-347-0511 ext. 415.
Blankets donated: 31.
2) Lutheran Social Services | URL: LSSNCA.org
They have two primary groups in need of blankets. They will take as many as we are willing to give:
Refugees: Resettle about 250-300 refugees each year, so the blankets would be very useful for helping furnish their new apartments and making them feel more "homey." For this program, the blankets could be made of any material.
Teens & Young Adults with HIV/AIDS: Newly expanded program with teens and young adults with HIV/AIDS. The teens will be participating in weekend leadership retreats in a camp setting. Because of the setting, flannel is probably the best material.
Contact: Summer Parrish, Director of Development and Stewardship, email@example.com or 202-723-3000 ext. 199.
Blankets donated: 150.
3) N Street Village | URL: NStreetVillage.org
A shelter/refuge for adult women. Generally like twin-size blankets, but any size we want to make they will accept.
Contact: John Eskate, Community Outreach Coordinator, email@example.com or 202-939-2075.
Blankets donated: 34.
4) Polaris Project | URL: PolarisProject.org
Takes a comprehensive approach to combating human trafficking includes operating local and national crisis hotlines, conducting direct outreach and victim identification, providing social services and housing to victims, advocating for stronger state and national anti-trafficking legislation, and engaging community members in local and national grassroots efforts. Will accept any types of adult-size blankets but would also probably accept some children/infant blankets as well.Contact: Client Services & Transitional Housing 202-745-1001Blankets donated: 155


text:
Theres an exciting new project I have yet to talk about on the blog, WE HAVE BUILT A NEW HOUSE!!!!! By we I mean my family to be more exact. And after all the boring bits like building the actual house we have finally gotten to the exciting part of decorating. I want to start sharing with you the whole process, and this first post is all about my bathroom design. I would love to hear your thoughts, and if you have any ideas or think something isn`t looking quite right pleas leave me a comment and let me know, I really want as much input as possible. Well hopefully this is the first post of many I will be doing on the new house. In a couple of weeks I will be sharing a progress post which will include some photos as well, and maybe in a month or so I will do a final reveal post. I will also be doing a couple of posts on my bedroom design, as well as one on my connecting terrace, but if you enjoy them and want more on the rest of the house let me know and I will definitely do them.
Now a bit about the space I am working with; the bathroom isn`t very big (25o cm by 255 cm which I think is 8.2 ft by 8.4 ft. ) also because of it`s placement, it isn`t very bright especially in the mornings. So I wanted to go for a very light look with mostly white a bit of gray and chrome for the fixtures. I am also a shower person through and through and even though a bath tub would have fit in there I opted for a shower which did save some space, there are other bathrooms in the house that have tubs in case I do get the urge to take an actual bath.
Overall Look
The pictures above are a pretty good representation of the feel I am going for. It will be a very light neutral space, quite luxe as well as feminine. The color palette as I have mentioned above will be mostly white with gray touches. Stylistically I am doing a bit of play on modern and classic , for example the lines of the vanity I chose are extremely classic but I plan on painting it a modern gray with blue undertones to offset that, also for the wall tiles I chose a very modern geometric textured tile in a very large rectangle formate which will be balanced by the white marble tiles I am using on the floor.
I don`t have an exact photo of the tile I purchased but these examples should give you a pretty good insight. For the walls I went for a very modern looking tile, something I haven`t really seen before. The tiles have a very interesting texture, I call it, they are made up of little squares which come out at various different levels. The finish is a bit pearly which does wonders of bouncing the light and making the room brighter. I also liked the size of the tiles , they are quite a big rectangle ( 100 cm by 33.3 cm or 3.2ft by 1.1ft) which I think is very modern. I will be installing them with very small grooves which hopefully won`t even be visible. The flooring I knew from the beginning I wanted white marble tiles with gray veining, and as luck will have it I found exactly what I had in mind, well almost, I wanted a square shaped tile but the one I fell in love with was rectangle, but hey we can`t have it all !
Starting off with the vanity, I looked high and low for something similar to the ones I saw in the inspiration pictures but I didn`t find anything that matched up. Finally I stumbled upon this one, now before you start gaging listen to what I am thinking. I liked the lines of it, it`s all natural wood and it`s was quite affordable. Also I had in mind a very specific color I wanted, so my best option to achieve that would be to mix my own paint. The color I want to use is a cool gray with some blue undertones, something quite modern that will offset the style. Also those knobs need to go, Zara Home has some great ones I think I will be going for either the one I included above or a different glass ones.
For the mirror I knew I wanted something very classic and luxurious. I love the look of the mirrored frame on a mirror and this one is exactly what I dream of. The only drawback is the price so I might try and DIY this look on a cheaper mirror.
For the lighting fixtures I am not yet decided on what I want, so if you have any suggestions I would love to hear them. I really liked the look of this Moroccan inspired pendant light but I am not quite sure if it will go with the space.
Like I said if you have any opinions and ideas I would really like to hear from you. Starting from scratch a project like this is extremely exciting but also quite daunting and I find myself doubting every choice I make, so some feedback would really help. Thank you so much for stopping by and I am really excited about these posts and hopefully you enjoy them as well. I`ll see you again on Tuesday for a new beauty post!


text:
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Another Award!
Cher Green gave me this awesome award today! Thank you, Cher! Now I'm going to get really creative. I have to list 6 outrageous lies and one truth. Everyone needs to guess which one is the truth:
Here we go.
1. I graduated from Star Fleet academy with a degree in flying starship freighters.
2. I have enough midichlorines in my blood to be Anakin Skywalker's sister.
3. I bested Conan the Barbarian in a sword duel last spring while on a quest to capture all the jeweled thrones of the earth.
4. You can see me in Pirates of the Caribbean as the pirate standing next to the one with the glass eye. (Look for the blond hair)
5. Someday I'll run for President so that I can change all the names of the states to fantasy names like, "Rivendale".
6. Actually I was supposed to take the ring to be destroyed but I was too busy teaching flute, so Frodo filled in for me. Thank you Frodo.
7. Ever since I watched E.T. I've been afraid of the closet and I have to sleep with the door closed.
Now, which one is the truth? I know you'll have a hard time guessing, but take your time and think hard.
I bequeath this award to:
Cherie Reich
Lisa Rusczyk
Bethany Mattingly
M. Gray
Jess of All Trades
7 comments:
Lol, some great lies. Wasn't this fun though. I found the lies easier than the truth. :)
I'm going to go with #7
- February 21, 2010 at 11:42 AM
- Jess of All Trades said...
Aww thanks! ^_^ I'm pretty sure #4 is a boldface lie, because I've seen the out take of those clips, and never saw you. The rest I'd believe though. Anyone who can master the flute is Starfleet material.
- February 21, 2010 at 4:02 PM
- BK Mattingly said...
Well, I hope number 5 is true. It would be much more fun to say I'm going home to Rivendale tomorrow!! Thanks for the award! I don't know if I told you, but I'm doing your book review tomorrow :)
- February 21, 2010 at 10:27 PM
- Lisa Rusczyk said...
I like #5 too! Thanks for the award. :)
- February 22, 2010 at 8:51 AM
- Cherie Reich said...
Thanks for the reward! I'll have to go with the last one (#7) as the truth.
- February 22, 2010 at 8:59 AM
- Aubrie said...
Cher, thanks for the award!
Jess, You are right about #4! I wish.
Bethany, thanks you for the wonderful review! I'm still editing your book :) should be done soon.
Lisa and Cherie, you guys are welcome! Go and have some fun with your award!
- February 22, 2010 at 1:04 PM
- Diana Paz said...
I almost went with number four!!
So fun!
- February 22, 2010 at 3:24 PM


text:
News Detail
Palo Alto Municipal Golf Course Temporarily Closed
The City will soon commence the long-awaited Golf Course Reconfiguration Project to transform the Palo Alto Municipal Golf Course into a links-style course incorporating the native look and feel of the Palo Alto Baylands.
During the course closure, the Brad Lozares Golf Shop, driving range, practice area, and Bay Café will remain open for business.
Contained within the new course design will be:
· 55 acres of native Baylands vegetation and wetlands areas
· 40% reduction of managed turf areas
· 35% reduction of potable water use
· 10.5 acres will be added to the Baylands Athletic Center for future recreational use
· 7.4 acres will be converted into in-stream marshland terrace habitat within an expanded San Francisquito Creek for increased flood protection
Starting around July 12, the City will remove roughly 150 small non-native trees. In addition, the contractor will remove an additional 500 larger non-native trees. The trees are being removed as part of the Golf Course reconfiguration. On February 3, 2014, the Palo Alto City Council approved the Site and Design planning application, Park Improvement Ordinance, and Environmental Impact Report (EIR) authorizing the tree removals. The removal of the trees will be mitigated through the planting of 300 new trees on the reconfigured Golf Course, along with the planting of two acres of native bay ecosystem habitat in Byxbee Park, and the protection and monitoring of 500 naturally-occurring oak saplings in the Pearson Arastradero Preserve. The City will monitor the mitigation plantings for a period of 15 years to ensure their success.
Upon project completion, estimated for October 2017, the new course will have elevated scenic views of the Baylands and San Francisco Bay. For more information on the Golf Course Reconfiguration Project, visit the project webpage.
Last Updated: June 30, 2016


text:
The Lincoln Road Apple store wants to expand, but the Miami preservation board says, um, no. (Miami Herald)
Recoup, a Groupon-type program that allows consumers to shop for a cause, launches in Miami. The first deal? New Year's Eve at Cafeina for $20. (San Francisco Chronicle)
UK singer Craig David records his latest album in Miami, but not without hitting the beach. (Twitter)
Travel writer Lee Cobaj says Christmas shopping in Miami is more civilized than other places, ha. Thanks, Cobaj! (Passport To The Stars)
Photo: Via Apple.


text:
- Font:
- +
- -
EDINBORO, Pa. — On a wintry morning, in a college town not far from Lake Erie, a coup is brewing. "You're going to take over the country today, brothers and sisters," Werner Lange, an assistant professor of sociology, tells his Contemporary Social Problems class.
On this day, 20 undergraduates at Edinboro State University will take a crack at being the president of the United States and members of the Cabinet, at the whim of a computer game called Democracy. Its box asks them: "Do YOU have what it takes to run a country?"
President Mary Cornwell steps up first. She is brimming with conviction and decisiveness after consulting with her "Cabinet" of fellow students. Next is President Valerie Amick. Her strategy: Confer, listen ... then decide for herself. "You have to listen and negotiate," she acknowledges, "but we're also human beings and we think our decision is going to be the best."
They seem so sure of themselves, these suddenly anointed leaders in ski hats and hooded Steeler sweatshirts and Ugg boots, guzzling 20-ounce Dr Peppers before lunch. Just 26 minutes of power and they're ready to render decisions that would affect an entire nation.
What do you expect, though? To be an American in 2008 is to be born into a heritage of individual decisiveness — of rapid-fire answers and always implied, if hasty, certitude. The instant analysis of the on-air chattering class and the gut-reaction blogosphere demands nothing less.
The students understand this principle instinctively: Decisiveness is the starting premise. Not a single "I'm not sure" in this crowd. Only once does hesitation surface, from the mouth of President Mike Tripp. "One person," he says, "can't be responsible for everyone's decisions."
Sensible, but wishful thinking. Because in America, that's exactly how we cast our president — as the personification of national decision-making. "I'm the decider," George W. Bush famously said in 2006, and he was, in many ways, correct.
Decision 2008
Every four years, Americans by the millions delegate their decision-making upward. When we evaluate candidates, decisiveness is one of the words that bubbles up most frequently. Be it a John McCain, a Hillary Clinton or an Barack Obama, our new leader must render decisions on our behalf that are swift, strong and sure. But when we demand decisiveness in our leaders, what do we mean?
Is it about consistency? Certitude? About pushing the button and not looking back? Or is it about consultation and consensus, about input and weighing options? Can inaction be a strong and viable decision? Is "flip-flopping" just a politicized term used to unfairly denounce evolved thinking? Is there room in America for flexibility?
"You have to be creative and adaptable," says Lee Iacocca, the storied Chrysler chief who secured his place in American culture by projecting an aura of tough, enlightened decisiveness.
"Sometimes, you change your decisions," Iacocca says. "Because the world changes."
Other political news of note
Animated Boehner: 'There's nothing complex about the Keystone Pipeline!'
House Speaker John Boehner became animated Tuesday over the proposed Keystone Pipeline, castigating the Obama administration for not having approved the project yet.
- Budget deficits shrinking but set to grow after 2015
- Senate readies another volley on unemployment aid
- Obama faces Syria standstill
- Fluke files to run in California
- Animated Boehner: 'There's nothing complex about the Keystone Pipeline!'
"Once a decision was made," a former U.S. president wrote in his memoirs, "I did not worry about it afterward."
Stoic talk. Yet the guy who said it, Harry Truman, made perhaps the single most momentous decision in American history: to drop an atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima, killing more than 100,000 people.
That, friends, is decisiveness as America defines it. We are a society of decision-makers — or, at least, hungry to believe that we are. To conclude anything else would suggest the unimaginable: that we are a nation of bystanders.
We roll up our sleeves to get the job done and, in the process, often ignore process. We favor "Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead," and reject "Let me mull it over and I'll get back to you after I weigh the options." We are Lucy — square-jawed, decisive, prickly when challenged — and not good ol' wishy-washy Charlie Brown.
Yet from the very beginning, the United States was constructed to be, well, kinda, sorta indecisive.
A face for decisions
The founding fathers built into our national fabric a separation of powers — the president, Congress, the Supreme Court — to prevent the tyranny that other nations in the 18th century faced. That meant that no one expression of American decisiveness could squash others.
As we know now, it didn't turn out that way. A culture built around the individual requires a face for its decisions. The president, the most visible person in government, became that face.
George Washington refused to be crowned king because of the founders' fears that consolidating decision-making in one man could reproduce the very tyranny they had just shed. But as the decades of the 1800s passed, the presidency evolved into a command center for decisiveness.
One by one, big decisions started coming from the White House. From Thomas Jefferson (the Louisiana Purchase), James Monroe (the Monroe Doctrine) and Andrew Jackson (who used the oft-overlooked veto as an executive sledgehammer). Then, after a string of weak forgettables like John Tyler, Franklin Pierce and James Buchanan, came the man remembered as one of American history's most decisive leaders.
Quiet loner at civilization's edge
Abraham Lincoln's key decisions to save the Union — leading the North into the Civil War and issuing the Emancipation Proclamation — claimed so much power that opponents cried tyranny. But, Donald T. Phillips writes in "Lincoln on Leadership: Executive Strategies for Tough Times," "What would have been the consequences had Lincoln not been decisive? We can only shudder at the thought."
In the decades that followed, the glorification of the frontier experience elevated decisiveness even further. The image of the quiet loner at civilization's edge, making decisions on behalf of progress, became a potent one. "Our cultural mythology teaches us to look for decisiveness and people who have been engaged in certain kinds of adventure and conflict, and expects them to produce decisive results," says Richard Slotkin, a frontier historian and author of "Gunfighter Nation."
Video: Roosevelt's grandson on D-Day Not long afterward, Theodore Roosevelt unleashed his progressive policies in his decidedly non-shrinking violet way and created the 20th century image of a decisive president that echoes today. A generation later, his cousin Franklin steered the nation through the Depression and war and claimed policymaking initiatives with a sure-footedness that further cemented the decisive presidency.
Then came JFK. The vigorous vision of space-age leadership his aides sculpted included a smooth, modern, almost glib brand of decisiveness that was tempered by war, disciplined by a hard and bitter peace and enrobed with youthful optimism.
As John A. Barnes notes in "John F. Kennedy on Leadership," Kennedy extended his direct decision-making power into diplomacy and public relations. Whereas Dwight D. Eisenhower fashioned his presidency on the military bureaucracy he oversaw during World War II, his successor — a junior officer in that war — thought such bureaucracy impeded decisiveness. So Kennedy "moved the White House unquestionably to center stage in American life," Barnes wrote, "making it the center of national executive decision-making."
Hesitancy and the presidency
Then there's George W. Bush.
In the post-9/11 landscape, Bush's shoot-from-the-hip style — call it the imperial presidency, as his opponents have, or the CEO presidency — emphasizes decisiveness itself as a paramount trait, regardless of what the decisions might be. So even while the merits of an Iraq invasion are debated, Bush's stay-the-course message is presented as a position of strength. Any hint of indecisiveness — even the notion of considering multiple opinions before acting — is cast as weakness.
The very appearance of hesitation can sink a presidency, as evidenced by Jimmy Carter, who was perceived as too nice a guy for the White House. And it also can sink a presidential campaign.
Political strategist James Carville, writing in Time magazine in 2005, acknowledged Karl Rove's skill in helping Bush defeat John Kerry in 2004. Rove, Carville asserted, "made the last election one not about policies or positions or even about values or national security — he made it about decisiveness."
"Who else ever won the presidency on a message that basically says, `You may not like what I stand for, but I stand for something,'" Carville wrote.
That doesn't sit well with Kerry.
"In a president, people are looking for strength — strength of character, strength of purpose, strength of belief — and I value that," the Massachusetts senator says. "But unfortunately, it's been trivialized by the system, by the process in regrettable ways that don't do justice to the complexity of some of the choices we face or ... the complexity of the world we live in."
When it comes to decisiveness, Kerry says, "You can be strong and nuanced."
Fair point. Trouble is, as a society we value strength. But nuance? Not so much.
On March 28, 1899, the Los Angeles Times took Mayor Frederick Eaton to task over, of all things, his handling of the city's Library Board. "FLIP-FLOP," the paper trumpeted in capital letters. "The mayor executes another back somersault."
For more than a century, the term "flip-flop" has been deployed derisively in politics to indicate a particularly odious offshoot of indecisiveness. If you change your mind to suit the circumstances, the thinking goes, you're not only indecisive but sullied by the very act of mind-changing.
Presidentially, the act of flip-floppery predates the term. Jefferson opposed executive power; he even wanted to strip the federal government of its ability to borrow money. But he changed his tune when Napoleon decided to sell the Louisiana Territory. Nothing gave a president the power to buy land, but Jefferson went ahead anyway. He flip-flopped.
Lincoln, too: In the 1860 campaign, he promised he wouldn't interfere with slavery in states where it existed. We know what happened there. And Ronald Reagan, who ushered in the conservative revolution, was a Democrat for decades and headed one of the country's most prominent unions.
Flip-flops or evolved thinking? History already has made the judgments.
Certainly, flip-flopping can reflect political expedience. Yet the blanket condemnation of changing one's mind remains a major narrative of modern presidential politics.
Video: Miller attacks Kerry In 2004, Republican guns were trained on Kerry to cast his about-faces as character flaws. "His back-and-forth reflects a habit of indecision and sends a message of confusion," Vice President Dick Cheney said at the 2004 Republican National Convention. Hours later, Sen. Zell Miller of Georgia, a Democrat backing Bush, said Kerry would offer up a "yes-no-maybe bowl of mush." "Right now," Miller said, "the world just cannot afford an indecisive America."
Flip-flopper or opportunist?
Is that entirely fair, though? The message seems simplistic: that changing one's mind is an effective indicator of being unfit to lead.
While flip-flopping is often framed as indecisiveness, the word masks uglier innuendoes. Implied in the charge is that a flip-flopper doesn't know what he believes or, worse, is an opportunist.
"This actually gets at something that is fairly distinctively American — the peculiarly moral language of our politics," says Bruce Schulman, a Boston University history professor who studies decisiveness and the "flip-flop" in modern American politics. "It's not so much decisiveness that is prized as it is commitment to principle. That's what we think we like. Flip-flop is bad, such a danger for candidates today, because it's seen as evidence of a lack of principle."
Video: Romney tries to prove he's authentic That made it easy earlier this year for Mike Huckabee to highlight Mitt Romney's change of position on abortion as not only indecisive but amoral. "I think you can't just have a change of opinion on fundamental issues over and over and wait until you're running for president to do it," Huckabee said.
Indecision 2008
By that point, Romney had been defending himself for weeks. "I think people respect someone that acknowledges mistakes," he said. "And instead of trying to defend wrong decisions year after year after year, I'm a guy that's learned from my mistakes."
But if the electorate can't deal with even a whiff of "Indecision 2008," as Jon Stewart frames it on "The Daily Show," where does that leave our discourse? Fine to be a nation of action, but a continuous appearance of decisiveness, demanded to the nth degree in a live-news-conference, sound-bite world, undermines evolving thinking — and, indeed, permits very little thinking at all.
"The sense of `I know what needs to be done and I'm ready to go do it' is very important to voters," says Natalie Davis, a 1996 U.S. Senate candidate who is a political scientist at Birmingham-Southern College in Alabama.
"I don't think a candidate for president can say, `I haven't thought about that' or `We need to study that more,'" she says. "I don't think you can come before the voters and say, `You know, I don't know.'"
In other words, the appearance of decisiveness — no matter what the actual decision may be — always trumps saying nothing. "And," says Davis, "it is killing our politics."
We live today in an instantaneous culture that demands instantaneous decisions.
Americans cherish certainty and distinct outcomes. And if certainty is the goal, decisiveness is the prime tool and the president the prime mover.
"We think of ourselves as always being in a kind of crisis requiring decision," says Slotkin, the frontier historian. "Because we're the pre-eminent world power, every situation presents us with a choice to do something about it or to leave it alone."
That still doesn't quite explain why the affinity for decisive leadership is so deeply woven into our cultural fabric. Some possibilities:
- Order from chaos. Is it any wonder that, as Americans negotiate the jumble of a modern democracy, we crave strong decisions to make sense of the muddiness that is life? Bush's message of staying the course worked in part because, in ages of challenge, we look for decisive guidance.
- Ego. A love of strong decisions reflects our history as a society that believed, from the 17th-century days of the shining city on the hill, that it was mandated by God. When Manifest Destiny gives you the heaven-sent right to expand, strong decision-making seems a natural side effect.
- Backlash. Maybe democracy is inherently indecisive. We were founded on the fear that excessive power, consolidated in one man, produces tyranny. Is that why decisiveness is so vaunted — because we need, in our pluralism, suggestions of an absolute power that one person must never have?
Context and experience and thoughtfulness
We began with the premise that American decisiveness is a diffuse notion, difficult to define and even harder to identify in a leader. But what if it doesn't exist at all? Perhaps, as with so much else in American life, style and substance have merged. What if, when we evaluate a potential leader, it's really the appearance of decisiveness that we prize?
Anyone who stops to think for a moment (if that's still possible) realizes that "decisiveness" doesn't exist on its own because the right decisions don't emerge from thin air. As management courses teach today, any daily diet of sound decisions comes from context and experience and thoughtfulness. Nuance, even. When we elect a president, we choose not only for the decisions that lie ahead but for the wisdom of the ones the leader already has made, perhaps long ago.
The American narrative of frontier and individualism and destiny would have us believe that "decisiveness" is a product of the moment; in fact, it's almost all cumulative. And in the end, our perpetual tension between liberty and tyranny, between control and chaos, is effectively a two-century discussion on the nature of decision-making in America — one that renews itself every four years when the time to choose a president is at hand.
But with an assertion that big, that sprawling, it's tough to be sure. Let us mull it over; we'll get back to you after we weigh the options.
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


text:
Looking for local groups? You can find over 2,500 local community organisations in our directory.
This search only finds exact matches, so one key word, or two consecutive words, usually works best.
For search tips please see Search Help
Want to promote your group?
Register now
Organisations in category:
1 result found
The project works with local people in Denby Dale parish to promote landscape and nature conservation, environmental awareness, countryside recreation and access. Regular events and conservation tasks.
01484 861239


text:
we ship worldwide
next day dispatch on all orders
263 products
Sorry, there are no products in this collection.
Spend £25 or over and get free shipping anywhere in the world.
Return any unwanted item for any reason for a hassle free return.
We are based in the UK and we ship worldwide to your door.


text:
What Soldiers Think about Trump's Transgender Policy
by Ben Marquis | Conservative Tribune
Much to the consternation of LGBT advocates and the liberal media, President Donald Trump did away with a rather progressive rule regarding transgenderism imposed on the military by former President Barack Obama, and Trump did it, of course, via Twitter.
In the Twitter post, Trump announced that, henceforth, transgender individuals would no longer be permitted to serve in the U.S. military "in any capacity," which of course sparked massive outrage among his ideological opponents.
But the Independent Journal Review figured that, since this ban on transgender people in the military will pretty much only affect the military, maybe we should see what actual members of the military think about it instead of asking political advocates and talking heads in the liberal media. It was an eye-opening move.
"Only two things matter: Survivability and lethality," stated Army Sgt. Darian Browning, who served in the 82nd Airborne. "Anything other than that is a distraction. We have budget problems, also, already.
"The stated purpose of the Army is to 'fight and win the Nation's land wars,'" added Browning. "Any decisions or budget fixes should be centered around that and that alone."
"The military is a machine that doesn't breakdown for politics," said Marine Sgt. Sean Conner, Iraq veteran and MARSOC Raider. "I can assure you that the reasoning for this decision is for the benefit of the whole system."
"Considering less than 1 percent identify as transgender in the military, it would be a major burden, and the cost benefit analysis would be in the favor of not allowing this policy to go through," Conner continued. "The amount of change, cost and redirection would not outweigh the very small pros, if any."
"The military had it right before with Don't Ask Don't Tell, or else things get complicated real quick," he added. "The rules were there before Trump came around and for good reason. I empathize if they want to serve, but just do it without having to announce your sexual orientation — it's pretty simple."
Connor also noted that service members undergoing hormone therapy or sex-change operations are not permitted to work full duty or be deployed, sometimes up to two years, essentially rendering them a waste of time, training, resources and taxpayer money.
Marine Staff Sgt. Josh Ghering, a veteran of both Afghanistan and Iraq and a former drill instructor, seemed to agree with that last bit pointed out by Conner about transitioning troops being removed from the routine all others must endure.
"We need to be focused on how to improve our warfighting ability, period," he said.
"If transgendered individuals are being taken out for these procedures and treatments, they are not being trained properly," he continued. "Before we go to war, we train for over a year on ranges and with regimen after regimen. So then we take these individuals out of training to get their surgery. But what good are they if we are over in a war zone and they aren't able to contribute to the fight because they're going through therapy or recovering from said surgery?"
He added that "the military is not a social experiment. Its objective is to fight wars. That's where its sole focus should be."
"I believe that the infantry and combat arms should stay male. (male: being born with male genitalia)," stated wounded Iraq veteran and Army Sgt. Jay Strobino. "In the military, your roles, positions and tasks are very clear and outlined. And I have nothing against transgendered people or homosexuals, but it'll start confusing those roles."
"It's not the ability so much of the individual, because yes there are plenty of females that can out lift me, out run me and so on," explained Strobino. "But it's a lower average as a whole, just due to body limitations. And you can't have two sets of standards for the same group. It just won't work."
Strobino asserted that lowering standards to accommodate those with lesser abilities would be worse than having two sets of standards.
"If you're under the standard then you either train and improve, or you're not in combat arms," he said. "There's no middle ground."
However, while most of those questioned by the Independent Journal Review supported the policy change in principle, there was at least one who disagreed with it and another who generally supported the idea, but questioned the manner in which it was rolled out.
"I don't like that he just ran with it. He should have had a policy ready to go and Mattis should have rolled it out," stated Army sniper Gregory Diacogiannis, an Iraq War veteran.
"The military is here to destroy the enemy. It's not a social experiment. We shouldn't be using the military as a petri dish to push progressive ideas," he continued. "They are a killing machine. People are denied service for all kinds of reasons. Why should we treat people with gender dysphoria differently?"
Diacogiannis maintained that such individuals are in need of help and the military is not the place for them to receive such help, nor would it help the military, and noted that treating people differently or having differing sets of standards would be detrimental to overall morale.
"You will 'other' them because they will become a protected class. In combat everyone is equal, it doesn't matter if you are black, white, gay, straight, man, or woman," he explained. "But if you let other people live by a different standard you crush morale. Also, we are talking about 0.1 percent of the population not being able to serve."
Finally, the lone voice of disagreement found by IJR was Afghanistan veteran and Army Ranger Zac Oja, who stated, "I'm curious to see how this will be implemented. Will the openly transgendered individuals currently serving be forced out of the military? Will they be forced to 'identify' with what their birth certificate says for gender?
"This, in my opinion, is going to do nothing markedly positive but will open the flood gate to the left for open dissent against this new policy," he added.
Oja suggested that more time should have been given for further study of the costs/benefits of transgender service members openly serving in the military, in order to gain a better overall understanding of the matter.
"I will say that I have heard nothing but good things from dear friends that have served with openly transgender soldiers," added Oja.
The media most likely want nothing more than a division's worth of soldiers vehemently castigating the president and calling this latest policy shift nothing short of horrible, but that is not what they are going to find, at least not with this batch of troops.
To be sure, there will be a handful like Oja who may disagree with the premise, or others, like Diacogiannis who disliked the manner in which it was introduced, but by and large, most members of the military are sure to be at least quietly supportive of the change.
They know that the military is not the realm for progressive social engineering and tinkering, but instead is supposed to be a finely tuned killing machine that wastes no time or energy on anything else.
Via: Conservative Tribute | http://conservativetribune.com/6-soldiers-trump-trans-ban-answers/3/
CRTXNEWS. All rights reserved www.crtxnews.com


text:
In my personal experience, the term "oppression olympics" comes up every time somebody walks into a conversation about privilege or oppression and gets told that the conversation isn't about them. If it gets used in other contexts, I'm not surprised, but for the most part it's a term I've seen in the arsenal of people who really really hate the idea that in the broader perspective perhaps they might actually have some responsibility toward those others who suffer. Yet, rather than just recognize that in some contexts they are the ones with an advantage they should consider using for good, they recoil in horror and disgust at the idea that sometimes other people's experiences need to be talked about, and what they call this terrible circumstance is "playing oppression olympics."
In fact, I just saw someone refer to this as them being oppressed by the most disadvantaged in their culture because they're being silenced by, like, trans people of color. This isn't an isolated accusation either; it's puzzling how many people seem to be completely convinced that the poor, the disabled, people of color, trans people, and women have the power to oppress them (with, I guess, an ever-increasing ability to silence others the less cultural clout they have? idk). I have a fair number of privileges myself, but I have somehow managed not to, like, accuse people with very little social power of oppressing me by showing where I am in the broader system of "Let's help some people and screw others for totally goofy arbitrary reasons! Yesterday race determined our winners! Today gender will matter! Tomorrow we spin the wheel again! Wheeeeee!" It seems to me that in this case, it's not the oppressed people who have a problem with the idea that other people suffer too.
So who is actually saying, "STFU because there are starving kids in (country that racists consider full of savages) who would love your 'oppression' stfu stfu everybody stop talking?" Who are those people? Whose interests do they serve?
I mean, yes, there is a contingent of people who pull a Dear Muslima and say, "As long as anybody suffers more than you do, you have to shut up forever," but those people–in my actually rather extensive experience both as a newb on some issues and a Social Justice Warrior (tri-toooone!) on others–tend to be the ones who don't want privilege getting discussed and want to shut down all conversations of oppression rather than the ones who just want more-privileged people to stop kicking the less-privileged away from the table because they're stunned that they're not being discussed.
Everybody has room to talk about how stuff is crap for them. What's not cool is when people with Privilege A come into a conversation about Oppression A and say, "yeah yeah I'm real sorry for you and imma let you finish but reverse-A is the worst oppression of all time and if you disagree with me you're a silencing bigoted oppressor," which may not seem common but actually really really is.
'splaining (whitesplaining, mansplaining, etcetera, known more generally as privsplaining or condesplaining) is a thing privileged people often do as a result of a culturally-ingrained expectation that their opinion is inherently valuable regardless of actual expertise
Perhaps even more commonly, people with Privilege A will try to tell people with Oppression A what it's like to experience Oppression A and why it happens and what should be done about it, to the point of trying to argue down the people whose life experience is actually being discussed. In this latter case, yes, people get told to check their privilege.
If you're a white person in a white supremacist culture, and you wanna tell people of color what racism is like, how to tell when racism is happening, and how people experiencing racism ought to respond to it (for an example, look up white criticisms of the Black Panthers), you really do need to check your privilege, because that sense of innate expertise and self-importance is the only reason someone would think their opinion of someone else's life is more valid than that of the person themselves.
If you're a cis man in a misogynist culture, and you wanna tell non-guys what misogyny is like, how to tell when misogyny is happening, and how people experiencing misogyny ought to respond to it (for an example, watch cis men on the US news talking about legislating the reproductive options of uterus-havers), you really do need to check your privilege, because that sense of innate expertise and self-importance is the only reason someone would think their opinion of someone else's life is more valid than that of the person themselves.
If you're a cis person at all, in fact, and you wanna tell trans people what transphobia is like, how to tell when transphobia is happening, and how people experiencing transphobia ought to respond to it (for an example, see every cis person who demands trans people avoid referring generally to "cis people" negatively), you really do need to check your privilege, because that sense of innate expertise and self-importance is the only reason someone would think their opinion of someone else's life is more valid than that of the person themselves.
If you're an abled person, and you wanna tell disabled people what ableism is like, how to tell when ableism is happening, and how people experiencing ableism ought to respond to it, you really do need to check your privilege (for an example, see the many people without mental illness encouraging people with mental illness to just… will or pray themselves out of it somehow), because that sense of innate expertise and self-importance is the only reason someone would think their opinion of someone else's life is more valid than that of the person themselves.
Different people will be in a different position with these at different times, too! If you're an abled black person, people need to not whitesplain to you, but you need to not able-splain to disabled people. If you're a an old money rich trans person, cis people don't get to tell you what transphobia is like but you don't get to tell poor people what classism is like. For me personally, I have to try not to do this to trans people, to people of color, or people with disabilities, but dudes should try not to do it to me. See how that works? Nobody is the bad guy all the time; nobody is just Privileged or just Oppressed. It's not about sides. It is about context.
Or, to put it super succinctly, there's a great meme called Privilege Denying Dude. Look at this guy.
So basically, when people say "check your privilege," they mean that you (general "you") are seeming like this guy here. That is what they mean. Sure, like… (*pulls statistics from rectum*) 5-10% of the time they will be being unreasonable, unfair, and misreading you. Sadly, 90-95% of the time, you actually are being rude and hurtful and you just don't realize it. So just… do the same things you presumably always do when you hurt someone accidentally. Stop.
Really, that's all "check your privilege" actually means when it comes down to it. It means, "You are thoughtlessly hurting people right now because your privilege blindspot is acting up. Since we assume you give a crap whether you hurt people, this is your cue to stop doing it." Personally I think it's a little generous to act under the assumption that all people who are hurting people because of a blind spot actually do give a crap whether that's what they're doing, but this is politics and we have to err on the side of assuming the best about people or else they'll use that as their next excuse not to care whether we live or die, and also to actively derail conversations in which other people might be convinced to care about it.
Those are the people who'll say, "There are starving children/oppressed women/suppressed religious minorities in this country full of savages who are usually coincidentally not white, so shut up about all your problems forever," and considering that they're walking in to those conversations specifically to damage them, it's a little saddening to be confused for the people trying to shut us up so that they don't have to think too hard or feel weird about their own position and what responsibilities it might mean they ought to have.
I'm sure this is not the only way in which the term "oppression olympics" gets used, but for some reason this is how I am seeing it used a lot. Yes, equating or even in a lot of cases comparing oppressions is pretty tacky and gross and downright destructive, but in my corner of the internet, the people who are most likely to be accused of doing this are… well, what they're really doing is trying to keep a conversation off-topic without letting privsplainers derail the crap out of it.
Maybe my corner of the internet is atypical, but I keep seeing this over and over and it's getting tiresome.


text:
Main menu:
8.7 Revenue Tools
Level of expertise required for this Chapter: Intermediate; specifically for LUPMIS @ TCPD
Note: Chapters 8.4 - 8.6 describe databases, which are directly linked to the GIS and form part of the entire LUPMIS. They store data about permits, census, and revenue.
8.7.1 General
'Internally Generated Funds' (IGF) are payments for property and business tax. These revenue data are collected in the field and stored in the LUPMIS Revenue Database.
The entire procedure with a step-by-step guide can be viewed at the 'Procedure' button at the bottom of the menu.


text:
It is a Special Day. Please Read till the end of the this Article. Divine Smile in Newspaper.
Today on March 21st at 9.15 (GMT) there will be the live streaming from the City Hall in Rome at: www.ilmomentochecambieralatuavita.it
There will be a conference, with the announced presence of the Mayor and other 300 guests:
"21st of March 2013. 90 years after the birth of the Guru,
Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi".
The Lady who dedicated Her life to mankind, spreading for free all over the world Sahaja Yoga meditation.
Sahaja Yoga partner of UNESCO Center for Peace.
Yoga for personal wellness
Yoga for families
Yoga for Peace in the World
With the High Patronage of the Capital City Hall of Rome!"
** the event was announced in the main newspaper from Rome on the 1st page. Enjoy the surprise below and try to connect!
Links on the Importance of March 21st
(click) Washington DC Mayor's Proclamation: "March 21st is Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi Day!"
(click) March 21st – The Subtle Emergency
(click) VIDEOS: Age & Innocence
(click) Special "Happy Birthday!"
Thank you Mother for coming on Earth on this day to bless us with our spiritual enlightenment. Please bless all the seekers of Rome on this most auspicios day…
"In Sahaja Yoga, you have to know you have to be really dedicated and honest. You should enjoy your honesty, you should enjoy your love, you should enjoy your generosity, everything." It is just love.
Thank you Ioana for this Beautiful Post.
Whenever I count My Blessings. I Count You Always.Your are the Divine Mother.I Am Lucky to have You.
90 years ago today was a great day for human kind, thank you Shri Mataji and Happy Birthday!! Love to you!!
Happy Birthday Mother! Please shower your blessings on the collective to go ahead and do the divine work that you have entrusted upon them and put an end to the negativity that is continuing in various collectivity. Please help us in our spiritual growth and give us strength and courage to be on the divine path.
Nirmal Love to you, Mother!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOTHER.21st march is a day for big celebration for all the sahajayogis of the world.thank you so much mother for all your love and protection.thank u Ioana for posting this article ,it has added more colours of joy in this day of celebration.Jai shri mataji


text:
Fantastic Ideas Of Sliding Cabinet Door Hardware
Nowadays sliding cabinet door hardware are being implanted because they do not invade space when folding them to open them, which makes the spaces more usable, this is because physically it allows you to place a certain piece of furniture or decorative object in front of the line or rail through which the door slides, without hindering its opening. When designing a sliding door to divide spaces, you can start from any material that emphasizes the surrounding materials. Those designed in glass, or aluminum is the most resistant to changes in humidity in the environment, remaining unalterable to them.
Sliding cabinet door hardware that separates the master bedroom and the dressing room that is annexed to it. This constructive solution obviously requires that laterally to the hollow of the door there is a length of facing or partition to allow the lateral opening thereof. A great quality that the sliding doors have is to make the vision of the space more transparent, without having the obstacle of viewing the door leaf on the side where the turning of the door takes place, with this a better perception of the area that is available in a space.
The design of the sliding cabinet door hardware for a long time was projected sliding through lower rails that were embedded in the floor and a kind of stops or guides that were located in the lintel of the hollow of the top of the sheet. Currently experts have designed mechanisms with which the sliding door is hung from a metal profile in anchor U anchored in the hollow lintel, each sheet has two parts with bearings that allow sliding on the upper side of the metal profile in U and that in turn support those two pieces the own weight of the door. It has been finished with a vinyl sheet, which has a circular pattern and other linear rectangle geometries, so that the view of the kitchen space is translucent.
More reader came from this term: fantastic ideas of sliding cabinet door hardware.


text:
Salisbury, Md. – Registration is now open for Wicomico Recreation's 4x4 Sand Volleyball League for men and women ages 14 years and up. Two sessions will be held over the summer, each will consist of six regular season games and playoffs. Session I will run June 5–July 17, Session II will run July 31-Sept. 4. Games will be held at WinterPlace Park on Thursday evenings from 6-8 p.m.
The registration deadline for Session I is May 16, Session II is July 11. The program fee is $125 per team / per session.
For more information, contact Andy Kitzrow, Program Director at email@example.com or 410-548-4900 ext. 114.


text:
Amy Rappeport
COO, Founding Partner
As COO and a Founding Partner, Amy steers business operations at Redbird. She works hand in hand with her business partner, Susan Gates, to ensure the proper care and feeding of all Redbirds and their clients. Amy is driven to do whatever it takes to assure Redbird is a thriving enterprise, complete with an enviable culture and exceptional business practices.
Amy's career began in the media/marketing world with stints at ADWEEK, Esquire, New York Woman (where she served as Publisher) — as well as VP, Custom Publishing at American Express. In 2003, she officially launched Mind Over Media (now Redbird) with partner, Susan Gates. The through-line has always been to thrive inside the ever-evolving world of content creation, and to run a business that delivers value every single day. Amy graduated with a B.S. in communication studies/journalism from Northwestern University.


text:
Question: how to convert high school teachers to libertarianism
Walter E. Block
Walter, I am a public high school history teacher who up until 7 years ago was a lifelong Democratic Party voting liberal. Sad to say, I even voted for Obama in 08. It was around that time I accidentally caught Ron Paul on C-Span giving a speech in the House of Representatives opposing Bush's foreign policy in the Middle East. I was blown away. I couldn't believe there were politicians like him out there. Over the next few years I read several of Ron's books, got turned on to Lew Rockwell's site and the rest is history. I am now a full blown anarcho-capitalist. I am also now known as the "crazy conspiracy theory" history teacher as well. I have reevaluated and rewritten my classroom lessons and presentations on all things related to US history, economics and government to flavor them with what I have learned these past few years. I think my tenth graders are the only kids their age in the state of Connecticut who understand how the Federal Reserve actually works. All this in defiance to the demands being placed on us by forced government mandated curriculum and evaluations that punish one for practicing teacher centered learning.
My question to you is what can I do to help win over some of my teaching colleagues to libertarianism? I have become versed enough to begin to hold my own in heated debates about the non-aggression theory and the concepts of limited government but nothing seems to get through to most of these folks. I know it took me until I was 53 to have the scales removed from my eyes, but you must have a few tricks up your sleeve to share with a fellow educator that I can use to open some minds to be more receptive to the only philosophy that will bring back our liberties. Thanks for your time, W
Dear W: Thanks for your very important question. In my view, there is no one guaranteed right way to convert the heathen to the one true faith. As an Austrian economist, I take a subjectivist stance: in this case, people are very different, and what will work for some, will not work for others. And, also, we libertarians are also very different. My thought is that the best technique for you might not be the same for me. I am very struck by an analysis of the techniques used by the two people most successful in converting masses of people to liberty: Ron Paul and Ayn Rand stand head and shoulders above anyone else, in my opinion. (Murray Rothbard, Mr. Libertarian, undoubtedly converted many more top intellectuals to the anarcho-capitalist banner, but, probably, most of your colleagues do not fit that bill.) And yet Ron's and Ayn's techniques were very different. I think we can characterize the latter as a "take no prisoners" kind of mentor, whereas the former, in Murray Rothbard's oft-used expression, is a "sweetie-pie."
So far, I realize, I have given you exactly zero in the form of any specific suggestions. Let metry to rectify matters. One technique is sometimes called "cross-dressing." When trying to convert a leftie to libertarianism, emphasize, lead with, examples where we and they more or less agree: legalizing drugs, sexual acts between consenting adults, anti-imperialism, corporate welfare, etc. When targeting a conservative, go front and center with economics, where we are closer to them. For example, free trade, minimum wage, rent control, unions, welfare. Another technique: try to grow to about 6'4", weigh about, oh, 190, and work out in gyms. Or, for women, try to become more beautiful. I'm only half kidding here. Attractiveness of the person doing this sort of thing cannot but help in the process. Another is, join Toastmasters, and practice, practice, practice interacting with people. Then there is the ability to memorize lots of jokes.
As you can see, I'm "reaching" here. There might be some benefit for some people in these musings of mine, since your self-appointed task is surely a crucial one. We have to win the "hearts and minds" of the people, and, bless you, for trying this on a retail basis in your high school. By the way, off the point, please do consider sending some of your students to study with me at Loyola. We've got lots of free enterprise professors, well, relatively.
One more suggestion. Give them something to read. It would have to be short. Not Human Action nor Man, Economy and State (on the other hand, the two books that started my own conversion were the Hazlitt and the Rand; the latter is not a short book). Try these:
Hazlitt, Henry. 2008 [1946]. Economics in One Lesson. Auburn, AL: Mises Institute;
Rothbard, Murray N. 1963, 1985, 1990 What Has Government Done to Our Money? Auburn, AL.: Mises Institute
Rothbard, Murray N. 1996. "Economic Depressions: Their Cause and Cure."
Rothbard, Murray N. 1994. The Case Against the Fed. Auburn, AL: The Ludwig von Mises Institute
Intro to libertarianism:
Albright, Logan. 2013. "Libertarianism in One Sentence." November 22;
Block, Walter E. 2008 [1976]. Defending the Undefendable. Auburn, AL: The Mises Institute;
Huebert, Jacob. 2010. Libertarianism Today. Santa Barbara, CA: Praeger;
Rand, Ayn. 1957. Atlas Shrugged, New York: Random House.
Rockwell, Jr., Llewellyn H. 2014A. Against the State: An Anarcho-Capitalist Manifesto.
Rockwell, Jr., Llewellyn H. 2014B. "What Libertarianism Is, and Isn't." March 31;
Rothbard, Murray N. 1998 [1982] The Ethics of Liberty, New York: New York University Press. http://www.mises.org/rothbard/ethics/ethics.asp
Rothbard, Murray N. 1973. For a New Liberty, Macmillan, New York;
By the way, I supported my man Barack Obama in 2008. I thought McCain was way more likely to nuke some innocent people than our present President. Even now, I can't say that I regret this decision of mine.
10:43 pm on July 14, 2015


text:
Monday, February 9, 2009
BUCHAREST, Romania: Romanian border police have found a grenade and 10 bullets hidden on a train heading to Vienna from the Romanian capital.
Border police say in a statement that the grenade and ammunition were wrapped in plastic and silver foil, and placed in the ceiling of a toilet, near the water tank.
The train was halted early Monday for five hours at the border with Hungary while police conducted a routine search and interviewed passengers and train staff.
Border police chief Ioan Handra says an investigation is under way. He told Mediafax news agency the police have no suspects.


text:
U of C plans to freeze executive pay after provincial budget cuts
More from Dylan Robertson, Calgary HeraldPublished on: April 21, 2015
Last Updated: April 21, 2015 9:08 AM MDT
University of Calgary President Elizabeth Cannon speaks to the audience at the budget town hall on Monday in Science Theatres 148.
Riley Brandt / University of CalgarySHAREADJUSTCOMMENTPRINT
The University of Calgary has announced a plan to freeze executive pay and dip into reserves to balance its books in the face of provincial cuts. But a looming shortfall could impact ongoing labour negotiations.
"Instead of looking at a fiscal cliff, we've created a slower ramp," said Dru Marshall, the university's provost and academic vice-president.
Marshall told a Monday town hall that the university already set its tuition fee in December for next year, which accounts for just 18 per cent of revenues.
For now, the university is freezing its executives' salaries — from deans and academic directors to top administrators — instead of a two per cent raise, and dipping into its accumulated surpluses to balance this year's budget.
"The University of Calgary is in good financial shape, and so we have the ability to take time to make strategic decisions on what the future of the university will look like," Marshall said.
In last month's provincial budget, the government reduced its Campus Alberta grant. That leaves colleges and universities with 1.4 per cent less funding for the school year starting in September, and another 2.7 per cent cut scheduled a year later.
Marshall said that would normally mean cuts of just $6 million and $11 million, but inflation compounds the anticipated shortfall to between $37 million and $47 million during the 2016-17 year.
"We believe post-secondary education is really important, and that it is actually an economic diversifier, and something the government should be looking at very carefully," Marshall said.
Advanced Education Minister Don Scott said he is planning on "a very substantive consultation process" with post-secondary institutions after the election to revamp their funding models.
"I don't want the post-secondary system to be feeling the ups and downs of oil. We need a long-term, sustainable plan going forward, and that's what I'm committed to doing."
For now, the University of Calgary plans to expand its enrolment by almost five per cent, citing a large number of "turn-aways" — qualified applicants who can't get into a school because of jam-packed classes.
The university estimates its enrolment of 30,537 students will gradually expand to 32,028 by the 2017-18 year.
Meanwhile, the university is already in negotiations with the faculty union, whose contract ends July 1, as well as AUPE local 52, which represents support staff, whose contracts ended March 31.
"We thought that was really important to set a tone at the top, given our current financial situation. And what I can say is we're in negotiations with our academic staff and with our AUPE staff, and those conversations continue apace," Marshall said.
"The conversations and the consultation are a really important part of the process, and we'll sort of see what happens."
Sandra Hoenle, president of the faculty association, said contrary to public perception, salaries have risen four per cent over the past five years, compared with a nine per cent inflation rate.
"We are beginning to fear that the prospect of a brain drain is looming," said Hoenle, noting that American universities are starting to recover from the 2008 economic crisis.
"We are potentially at our most vulnerable in terms of losing some of our best and brightest academic colleagues," said Hoenle, whose union told the Herald last month that staff have survived on a "starvation diet" for years, with large classes, overcrowded labs, outdated technology and deferred maintenance.
Meanwhile, Kevin Barry, chair of AUPE local 52, says his union will ask for a three per cent increase for each of the next three years, but negotiations are focusing on non-financial issues.
The budget for the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology Polytechnic is still under board review. A SAIT spokesperson said to expect an update in late May. Mount Royal University did not respond to a request for comment.


text:
Lake Ford helped make these videos
We are still working to obtain content for your car, however the video above is believed to have similar characteristics as your car.
A check engine light can indicate a broad spectrum of problems with your 2013 Kia Sorento. In some cases you need to pull over immediately to prevent damage while in others you merely need to tighten you gas cap next time you stop in order to reset the service engine soon light. The video above shows how to locate the on board diagnostics (OBD) plug on your 2013 Sorento, how to read the trouble codes and how to reset or clear the check engine light using a scanner on your Sorento.
Intermittent Check Engine Light: If the check engine light on your 2013 Sorento is intermittent, try to take note of the conditions when this happens. For example, does it happen when you accelerating, driving on the highway or does it appear at low speeds? This will help your mechanic evaluate the issue. Steady Check Engine Light: If your check engine light is on every time you operate your Sorento, you need to have it checked as soon as possible, especially if you notice performance problems or unusual noises. Flashing Check Engine Light: If your check engine light is flashing, stop driving your Sorento and have it towed to your nearest mechanic - you probably have a very serious problem with your car and you risk ruining your engine by driving it. If you are unsure about what your diagnostic trouble codes mean; have your Sorento diagnosed by a professional automotive technician.
On many cars, the high beam bulb runs at reduced power during the day - check 'em and change 'em!2013 Kia Sorento LX 2.4L 4 Cyl. Sport Utility (4 Door)
Odd electrical problems that come out of nowhere can often signify a blown engine fuse - check and change yours here!2013 Kia Sorento LX 2.4L 4 Cyl. Sport Utility (4 Door)
You love your kids right? See how to properly secure their car seat.2010 Hyundai Santa Fe SE 3.5L V6
A/C blowing hot air?2013 Kia Sorento LX 2.4L 4 Cyl. Sport Utility (4 Door)
Leaking coolant is usually a sign that your water pump needs to be replaced. This video shows you how to quickly plug it2013 Kia Sorento LX 2.4L 4 Cyl. Sport Utility (4 Door)


text:
Attention ]
Free Scott Speicher
Get Involved! Visit the
Free Scott Speicher Website
Where is
Army PFC
Bowe Bergdahl
Where is
Army Sergeant
Ahmed Altaie
[ Hot News
On February 17, 1988,
one month and a half after taking command of UN Observer
Group Lebanon, Lieutenant Colonel Rich Higgins was
captured by Hezbollah terrorists. At some unknown later
date, his captors murdered him! During his time in
captivity, he was interrogated and tortured, and at one
point his captors announced to the world that they
intended to try Colonel Higgins for war crimes since he
had served in Vietnam.
18 months later, Colonel Higgins' lifeless body was
broadcast on television screens around the world,
hanging by the neck. It wasn't until December 1991,
that his remains were recovered – dumped on a street
in Beirut.
Although captured and held by armed enemies of the
United States while on Military Assignment with U.N.
Forces, Colonel Higgins was never designated a Prisoner
of War.
Your Military Personnel desperately need your support
and your assistance in ensuring that this does not ever
happen again. Our men and women in uniform face a new
reality in armed conflict, namely fighting terrorism.
One stark reality of war is that troops can be captured
– they can be taken as a prisoner, such as what became
of Colonel Higgins.
Currently, Uniformed Service Personnel who are
kidnapped, abducted, or otherwise taken prisoner by
terrorist factions, are not considered prisoners of war
by our own Government; instead they are considered
hostages, captives, or detainees.
There is an effort currently under way to change this
law. It is called Operation Higgins in memory of Colonel
Rich Higgins, USMC, and is a non-partisan effort to
change the law to support our military personnel. We
propose that any member of our armed forces, who is
taken prisoner by these terrorist be provided all
protections under international law(s) and be granted PW
status – not hostage, captive, or detainee.
You can do your part by writing, calling, or visiting
your elected officials and inform them that you would
support a bill that would protect future American POWs.
Encourage your elected officials to support federal
legislation that will protect their own sons and
daughters who may be called upon to defend our nation.
Additionally, you can log onto our website at http://www.operationhiggins.org
and download a printable petition that you can sign and
circulate yourselves.
The time to get involved and let your voice be heard is
Mike Blades
1/10/04: If you live in the
Adams/York/Lancaster and wish to assist in putting
together a local event to raise awareness about
Operation Higgins, please contact me ASAP! I don't
currently have anything planned, but would like to get
something going!!! My email address is email@example.com
Notable Books ]
Click Icon For All Books
Copyright [2010]
[Pennsylvania's POW/MIAs]. All rights reserved.
[ Home ]
[ H.Res 111 ] [
Penns POW/MIAs ] [ Notable Books ]
[ In Other Words... ] [ Ceremony & Song ]
[ Sign Guestbook ] [ View Guestbook ] [ Web Rings ]


text:
BY DARREN JOHNSTONE at Tynecastle
Hearts 1-2 Celtic
Leigh Griffiths inspired Celtic to a 2-1 League Cup victory over Hearts at Tynecastle after scoring one and setting up the other.
There had been little between the teams in this quarter-final contest that brought the first and third placed Premiership sides together but Griffiths conjured up a superb solo goal in the 71st minute – taking his tally for the campaign to 12.
That lead was increased nine minutes later when Griffiths set up substitute Tom Rogic.
Hearts offered late hope that they could salvage something from the game when substitute Arnaud Djoum headed in a corner, but the visitors held on.
Celtic did all this without the influential Scott Brown after their skipper picked up a knee injury in the warm-up and was replaced by James Forrest.
Winger Gary Mackay-Steven also had to remove himself from the substitutes bench before kick off due to a groin strain.
When the action got under way, it was Celtic that enjoyed prolonged spells of possession but they struggled to create any openings of note.
Stuart Armstrong was presented with a chance to get a shot away in the 22nd minute after he was found by Jozo Simunovic but the midfielder's low right-footed effort was deflected just wide.
Hoops playmaker Kris Commons then fizzed a left-footed effort over Neil Alexnander's
But Hearts grew into the tie as the minutes ticked towards half-time. Osman Sow did not have much service in attack but the Swede looked lively in the 27th minute when he spun away from Simunovic before knocking a tame left-footed shot wide.
Jambos left-back Jordan McGhee then twice cut in from the left in quick successive but each time his right-footed efforts failed to find the target.
Celtic ended the half knowing they should have been ahead. James Forrest got himself into a dangerous position inside the box and his low cross was completely fluffed by Armstrong six yards out.
Within seconds of coming on in the 59th minute Rogic came close to finding the net but his shot flew just over the bar.
At the opposite end, Sow thought he had score after poking Juanma's knock down past Craig Gordon but his joy was interrupted by the sight of the assistant referee's signal for offside.
The second half was a tense affair, with both teams giving little away. Griffiths tried to get involved with a couple of efforts that missed the target.
But the former Hibs marksman lapped up the acclaim of the 1,500 Celtic fans in the 71st minute when he showed great close-ball control to jink past McGhee and Igor Rossi before caressing an close range effort beyond Neil Alexander.
The Scotland internationalist played a central role in Celtic's second in the 82nd minute too.
The forward held off the challenge of Morgaro Gomis in the box and his low cross was flicked into the net by Rogic.
Hearts pulled one back when substitute Djoum headed in Jamie Walker's corner but it was too little, too late.


text:
Small Business And Liability Insurance
27/12/2016 | business insurance | No Comments
Evaluate quotes for over 500 professions from beautician to builder. Because of their many insurance company partnerships, Trusted Selection impartial brokers can handle all your enterprise insurance wants with friendly and handy service in a single workplace, simplifying your enterprise insurance policies, and even finding you discounts Discover a local independent agent online to get personal help today.
After a relatively uneventful week 1, ultimately the inexperience of these replacements started to indicate by in week 2. Games slowed down, clear fouls were missed, unhealthy calls have been made, guidelines were ignored or forgotten and there was this general feeling that the replacement refs were shedding management of games.
If you have workers, contractors, casual workers or short-term employees, you're required by regulation to take out employers' liability insurance It's going to cover claims from staff who've been injured or grow to be seriously unwell because of working for you.
Property insurance coverage insurance policies come in two primary types: (1) all-danger policies protecting a wide-range of incidents and perils besides these noted in the coverage; (2) peril-particular insurance policies that cowl losses from only those perils listed in the policy.
Our commercial business insurance coverage supplies an expert stage of canopy to guard each aspect of your corporation, from the premises to the people who give you the results you want, and any legal matters which will arise from your day-to-day operations.business, insurance, liability, small


text:
Chief Minister Secretariat
U.P. Vidhan Sabha Secretariat
State Information Department
UTI Amc
Regional Science City
ITI - Mankapur – Gonda
MCS Marketing
Education For All
Directorate Information
DTRTI - Income Tax Training Institute
PHD Chamber
Sugar corporation
Remote Sensing
© Copyright 2014 Yash Foods. All rights reserved.
Designed & Developed by MARG
Software Solutions
Best viewed at 1024 x 768 Resolutions | Internet Explorer 8.0-Later Versions


text:
(Her Secret Fantasy, continued by Dbone...)
Over the next few days you find out Rachel really has become famous. You are out at the local cafe having lunch with her. She is sitting across from you eating when a couple of guys recognise her from her videos.
"That's her," one says.
"Are you sure?" the other replies. "I can't tell without the cum on her face."
"Definitely. Watch this."
Without another word this guy walks over to Rachel, pulls out his cock and stuffs it in her mouth in the middle of the busy cafe. Rachel makes no effort to stop him and when the other guy sees that you don't object he approaches too. He starts groping and stripping your girlfriend right there in front of you while she sucks and slurps his friend's dick. Soon they have her naked and are spit roasting her over the table. Her tits bounce as the two strangers ram her from each end. Initially the other customers are shocked but a lot of them recognise her too and soon they are crowding around waiting for their turn. You watch as she gets gang banged again in broad daylight by total strangers.
This happens again when you go to the local supermarket the next day. Rachel ends up getting stripped and ravaged in the frozen food section. It even starts to happen in the street. Pretty soon you get used to both men and women randomly approaching you and using your slut girlfriend like she is public property. Groping her tits without permission, fingering her, fucking her holes.
Eventually Rachel stops bothering to wear clothes at all. She just walks around completely naked, letting anyone use her however they want. Her dad and his friends visit regularly and fuck her cunt and ass hard. They often borrow her for a few days at a time. Your friends strip her when they see her, spread her cunt and ram her hard. Rachel's life is now entirely about fucking. Your girlfriend truly is the town slut.
The End


text:
Tim Radford, jornalista do conceituado The Guardian, escreveu os 25 mandamentos do jornalista. Entre os quais se encontra este:
2. You are not writing to impress the scientist you have just interviewed, nor the professor who got you through your degree, nor the editor who foolishly turned you down, or the rather dishy person you just met at a party and told you were a writer. Or even your mother. You are writing to impress someone hanging from a strap in the tube between Parson's Green and Putney, who will stop reading in a fifth of a second, given a chance.


text:
Adventure Earth Centre
The Adventure Earth Centre focuses on building a healthy & sustainable future for our youth, our community & the earth.
Youth Advocate Program
This program helps prevent youth from engaging in gang-related activities, as well as anti-social and criminal behaviours.
Ages: 9-15
Youth Leadership Program
Learn leadership skills, spend time with other youth though social activities, work with children in day camps and give back to the community during the summer.
Ages: 13+
Youth Live Program
A life skill and job experience program helps give youth the skills they need to obtain meaningful employment.
Ages: 16-24
Power House Youth Centre
The Power House Youth Centre serves as a place for youth to gather, learn, and connect with others. Join us for drop-in programs at the Power House! Music, karaoke, Nintendo Switch, Coffee Houses, workshops, games, and so much more. The Power House is located at 1606 Bell Road, Halifax.
The Den Youth Centre
The Den is a safe and inclusive drop-in space for youth located in the lower level of the Acadia Centre at 636 Sackville Drive.
Girls United Program
Girls United provides young girls a series of learning modules that will help build self-reliance and resilience. Our strategy is to use a wide range of learning activities and strong positive relationships to support girls who have experienced or have been exposed to gender specific risks.
Ages: 12-14
Youth Services Plan
This is a plan that helps the municipality improve youth services over the next three years. We want to thank the Youth Team and the 1400 youth who submitted information for this plan!


text:
PRESS RELEASE – Cradley Heath Students in Jeans for Genes Raise over £800.
Students at Ormiston Forge Academy have swapped their uniforms for jeans on Jeans for Genes Day today and raised a huge amount of money for a genetic disorder charity.
The academy in Cradley Heath also extracted DNA during the day and students who participated have gone into a draw to win a necklace with DNA inside. Students and staff who wore jeans donated money to do so, resulting in a grand total of £811.
Jeans for Genes Day raises money for Genetic Disorders UK, the charity that aims to transform the lives of children with genetic disorders. Genetic disorders affect 1 in 25 children in the UK – that's more than 30,000 babies born each year. Their associated health problems mean that genetic disorders are the biggest cause of death of children aged 14 and under.
Jeans for Genes Day invites everyone across the UK, from nurseries and schools to companies, to wear their jeans for the day in return for a donation. Funds raised provide vital care and support for thousands of children with genetic disorders.
Principal Andrew Burns said, "Once again our students have responded positively to a very worthy call. The donation buckets filled up quickly this morning and the Forge family looked smart and proud. They have every right to be. At Forge we work and play hard and it is this attitude that makes the academy a great place to study and work."


text:
Football FanCast
columnist Steven Woodgate looks at the sad state of affairs at
Southampton FC and cannot understand why they appointed Mark Wotte to get them
out of this current mess.
Hurry, Hurry, everything must go. The players, the coaches,
the board, the chefs, the stewards, the car park attendants, the grounds men,
the sweepers, the kids, the balls, the kits, the training ground, the reverses,
the specialist academy, must go.
Southampton Football
Club are in dire straits and the recent resignation of Head Coach Jan
Poortvleit has certainly helped their cause for playing League One football.
Stability is everything and continuity is pinnacle. The
Dutchman's departure came as no surprise in this trigger-happy age but that
fact he walked is bemusing. It's properly a matter of jumping before initially
being pushed.
He took over from Nigel Pearson in the summer, and was
introduced by idiotic chairman Rupert Lowe, as a new wave of continental
coaching that would use the excellent academy that Southampton can boost, too
fast track these youngsters to the first team.
To an extent Poortvliet did that, no big fancy or
experienced loan players were brought in, he used the youth and still managed
some notable performances. Two particular games against high flying Reading
were the high points where the Royals were completely outplayed. However, the
solitary win at home, a 2-0 win over Norwich City, is the only highlight at St
Mary's this season.
The club lie second from bottom and will have a difficult
task on their hands. Financially, they make the British economy look secure, administration
is a certainty and they are at the point of no return.
Any decent player will be sold instantly in an attempt to
balance books, the likes of Andrew Surman, Adam Lallana and David McGoldrick
will be flying out the door without a choice. Hurry, Hurry, everything must go.
Michael Wilde and Lowe will have their work cut out; they
will feel the full brunt of Saints fans as the protest is proposed to be before
the next home game against Swansea City. These fans have every right to be
disgruntled and the incompetent running can only infuriate the club.
In a silly step, they have installed Poortlviet assistant
Mark Wotte as the man to save them for the doldrums of League One.
Fair enough, cut costing
measures are in place but they need a proper manager, with a proper know how to
save them from this mess.


text:
5 Ways to Avoid a Social Engineering Claim
Unique ID: 8351a6ee-185e-485b-87b1-5844c2730020
Yesteryears' con artists (who operate in the physical space) are quickly being replaced by social engineers (who operate in the cyber space). Regardless of the medium, the end result is the same – victims are fooled by persons claiming to be someone else. A scheme by someone posing to be an employee, company executive, client, vendor or trusted advisor may expose your staffing organization to substantial economic losses.
Social Engineering Claim Example
To put this in perspective, an $80M revenue staffing organization was contacted via phone and email by a social engineer. On each contact, the social engineer obtained additional pieces of information. The social engineer used this information to build credibility as he connected with other employees within the organization. Eventually, the social engineer was able to pose as the organization's CFO. From there, he directed the controller to wire funds to pay invoices of a new vendor. The fraudulent vendor's account numbers directed funds to an unknown source. Three fraudulent invoices were paid before the legitimate vendor followed up for payment. The organization then realized the email requests from the CFO to the controller were actually from the social engineer. The net loss to the staffing organization was over $56K.
How to Avoid Becoming a Victim
- Establish a company policy to never provide personal information, or information about your organization, unless you're certain of the requester's identity.
- Don't disclose personal or financial information in email.
- Pay attention to a website's URL. Malicious websites often look identical to legitimate sites, but the URL may use a variation of spelling.
- Contact the source if you're unsure whether an email request is legitimate.
- Verify your commercial crime insurance policy includes coverage for social engineering – client impersonation, employee impersonation and vendor or supplier impersonation.
As the face of today's con artist continues to evolve, so too should your business practices. To learn more about how to protect your organization and avoid a social engineering claim, contact a member of the 'A' Team.
Related Resources
- Hand It Over: The Scary Truth about Social Engineering
- Hacktivism: A Growing Threat
- Don't Get Burned by a Cyber Attack
- Cyber Liability E-Book
Related Pages
Jeff Friedrich