text:
Lately The Huffington Post has been posting some great blogs on communication by psychologist Robert Leahy (@AICTCognitive).
It's funny how most of us are so bad at communication yet we think we are so good at it and there is "nothing new under the sun" to say on this topic. So untrue!
For example I am paid to communicate. And yet I have learned that I can sometimes be vague when I communicate verbally. That is a big deal!
I've also learned that there are times when it is more efficient for me to communicate in person (brainstorming sessions can't be done by email) while other times writing is much better (strong opinions are good in blogs, but sometimes off-putting in person).
Obviously understanding where and how you communicate best has a major impact on your personal brand. Although the proliferation of social media encourages us to think that everyone is interested in our every little thought, the opposite is actually true. Sometimes the more you say, the less people want to hear you.
I got a dose of this one when I started blogging more frequently, and participating in discussion groups more. It was the Law of Diminishing Returns. I noticed that people were less interested in what I had to say. Whereas they continue to comment voraciously on bloggers who post relatively infrequently (to me) - say once a week or so.
In any case, the first Leahy post that caught my attention offered 7 reasons "Why Men Don't Listen to Women." A "grabber" headline so I read it. What an original and convincing argument. While usually these kinds of articles put the onus on women to be less emotional, Leahy explains why men have trouble with emotionality, period. His explanation is convincing: It makes them uncomfortable both psychologically (power dynamics) and physically (literally, emotional conflict causes their pulse rates to rise and "they find this unbearable.")
What a helpful article to read. Because it's not about being "right" or "wrong" about how you communicate. It is about understanding your audience and making sure that you have a fighting chance, given their predispositions. What matters isn't gender, of course - anyone can have "male" or "female" characteristics when it comes to communicating. And the setting doesn't matter either - home or work. You can be the best speaker in the world, you can be completely "on target," but if you're very passionate and emotional and your audience is moved by facts, figures and a monotone, you will be out of luck. And vice versa.
Similarly, the other post I recently read by Leahy, "How To Talk So That Your Partner Will Listen," had much good advice for all contexts. If you don't have time to read the whole thing (it's well-written and worth the time, if you have it), here is the "Cliff's Notes" version. Some of this is new, some of it is old but sound. Taken together it's a good mini-workshop on personal communication effectiveness. Here goes:
#1 - Preparation: Based on your knowledge of the person you're trying to talk to, when are they most receptive to listening to the kind of thing you want to talk about?
#2 - Say it the Twitter way: Don't go into a whole "shpiel" (Yiddish for lengthy diatribe). Get to the point fast.
#3 - Stop, stop: In the middle of what you're saying, ask for some kind of reaction before you continue
#4 - Balance, be objective: Don't make things more extreme than they are - "if you make too many things sound awful you will lose your credibility"
#5 - Be positive toward the listener: No matter how strongly you feel, no matter how just your cause, no matter how wrong the other person may seem - do not criticize them at all. Just talk about what you would like to see changed, and thank them in a realistic way (it has to be true) for the good that they do.
#6 - Clarify what you want from them: Generally if your audience is higher-level than you they will think you want problem-solving. Lower-level and they think you want to vent. Is that true? Maybe not. State what you want from the outset - support, suggestions, or help in solving a problem.
#7 - Expect another opinion even if you're just venting: The listener is not your robot. They are a thinking person. So expect them to offer you their own perspective, not just to agree with you. If you don't want input you can talk to a pillow, or the wall.
#8 - Be respectful of the advice you get: Similar to the above, but it's about your attitude when they start spouting. Maybe you just wanted to vent but you got advice instead. And you really don't like the advice or don't think the person is qualified to give it. Doesn't matter. If you want them to listen next time, be grateful.
#9 - Be constructive: Even if you just want to be heard, people like it when you come in with a possible solution rather than just griping. You don't want to end up with a Pavlovian situation where the very sight of you is associated with negativity.
#10 - Thank the listener: You've taken up their time, and their time is precious: They get paid X number of dollars an hour. Be grateful and tell them so.
Better communication, better brand, better chance of success. And a more harmonious world, too.
Don't you think?


text:
May 2, 2012
Sanofi reports good results in phase 3 study of 4-strain flu vaccine in kids
Sanofi Pasteur has announced that its quadrivalent (four-strain) flu vaccine (QIV) compared well with standard trivalent inactivated vaccines (TIVs) for safety and immunogenicity in children 6 months through 8 years old. The QIV contains two influenza B strains, one from each of the two major B lineages, Victoria and Yamagata, which vary unpredictably in prevalence from year to year. Sanofi reported the preliminary results of its randomized, observer-blinded, multicenter study at the Pediatric Academic Societies annual meeting yesterday in Boston. The trial involved more than 4,300 children who were assigned in a ratio of 4:1:1 to receive either the QIV, the 2010-11 seasonal TIV, containing a Victoria lineage B strain, or a TIV containing a Yamagata B strain. All four strains in the QIV met the non-inferiority criteria for antibody responses in comparison with the two TIV vaccines. These findings held true for the overall study group and for the age subgroups 6 through 35 months and 3 through 8 years, the company said. In addition, the QIV met superiority criteria for each B strain when compared with the TIV that did not contain the corresponding B strain. Further, the safety profiles of the QIV and TIVs "did not materially differ," the company said.
May 1 Sanofi press release
Study: H1N1 vaccine did not increase risk of fetal death
Vaccination against pandemic 2009 H1N1 flu (pH1N1) did not raise the risk of miscarriage or stillbirth, a Danish study of 54,585 pregnant women revealed. Writing in BMJ today, researchers said they analyzed data for 54,585 women who gave birth from November 2009 to September 2010, of whom 7,062 (12.9%) received the pH1N1 vaccine. All told, 1,818 pregnancies ended with fetal deaths—1,678 miscarriages and 140 stillbirths. The investigators found that receiving the pH1N1 vaccine did not increase the risk of fetal death (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.79; 95% confidence interval, 0.53-1.16). An accompanying editorial said the study "provides even clearer evidence that the benefits of immunisation against influenza outweigh the risks for pregnant women" but added that the authors' exclusion of women of less than 7 weeks' gestation and inclusion of a small number of women immunized in the first trimester were study weaknesses.
May 2 BMJ abstract
May 2 BMJ editorial
BARDA extends Pfenex anthrax vaccine contract
Pfenex Inc., a biotechnology company based in San Diego, announced yesterday that the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) has exercised an option to extend the company's contract to develop a recombinant protective antigen (rpA)–based anthrax vaccine. The company's platform involves the production of anthrax vaccine rPA from Pseudomonas fluorescens, according to a Pfenex press release. The company said that, during the contract's base period, researchers showed that a strongly immunogenic, stable, and protective form of rPA could be expressed and recovered from highly efficient fermentation of a strain of P fluorescens engineered to produce rPA. Pfenex CEO Bertrand Liang said BARDA's contract extension will allow the company to develop a process capable of meeting Strategic National Stockpile goals for production, shelf life, and administration. BARDA awarded the original contract, worth up to $18.8 million, in July 2010. It was one of eight contracts awarded in a BARDA push to modernize and speed the development of countermeasures against natural and manmade threats.
May 1 Pfenex press release
FAO confirms spread of novel FMD strain to Gaza Strip
A novel strain of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) has been detected in cattle in the Gaza Strip, confirming fears of the spread of the new variant, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said today. The FMD strain is new to the area, and animals haven't acquired any resistance to it, the agency said. The FAO added that vaccines against the novel SAT2 virus are in short supply. In February the SAT2 variant was found in Egypt and Libya, and it was confirmed in the neighboring Gaza Strip area on Apr 19. Juan Lubroth, DVM, PhD, the FAO's chief veterinary officer, said in a statement that the disease threatens Gulf countries, and perhaps southern and eastern Europe and beyond. He said limiting animal movement is the top priority for preventing the spread of the virus, along with heightened surveillance and quick outbreak detection and response. The FAO said the virus has also been detected in Bahrain, but only at a quarantine center. Israel has targeted herds along its southern border for vaccination to create a protective buffer zone, and the Gaza Strip will receive 20,000 doses to protect its cattle, with 40,000 doses as soon as possible targeting sheep and goats. The FAO and its partners are negotiating with producers and vaccine banks to find more vaccine sources.
May 2 FAO press release

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Leverhulme Centre for Advanced Biological Modelling
University of Sheffield
Intermediate complexity models of plant metabolism and growth
Colin Osborne (Dept. of Animal and Plant Sciences), Nick Monk (School of Mathematics and Statistics), Richard Clayton (Dept. of Computer Science)
Project Outline
Improving crop photosynthesis is a major international research priority, which aims to deliver transformative improvements in yields. However, the translation of greater carbon-fixation into improved yield depends crucially on whole-plant processes of carbon export, allocation and utilization. Although the molecular basis and interactions of these processes are well characterized, we currently have no way of quantifying when and how strongly each controls growth. Flux balance models simulate the relevant metabolic processes but are applied at the tissue scale, while crop production models simulate whole-plant growth and yield but lack the necessary molecular mechanisms. The PhD project will bridge this important knowledge gap by developing an entirely new class of intermediate complexity models (ICMs) to investigate metabolic processes and interactions at the whole plant scale. The modelling challenge for the student will be to identify the metabolic components with the greatest influence on whole-plant physiology. A two-pronged approach will initially be used, first testing a priori hypotheses about the key metabolic pools, fluxes and feedbacks that influence growth, and secondly through sensitivity analysis of the flux balance models using emulators. Our goal is to devise ICMs providing novel mechanistic insights into the plant-scale limitations and controls on crop production, as modified by genotype and environment.
The Centre for Advanced Biological Modeling (CABM) will harness cutting edge mathematical and computing skills to address major problems in biology. Biology at the University of Sheffield is defined by its strength in combining approaches across time-scales from ecological to evolutionary, and has been the subject of significant recent investment. Exploiting this breadth of research excellence, the CABM will extend cutting edge research in basic biology at Sheffield by harnessing the latest mathematical and computational techniques. Its legacy will be a cohort of research scientists at the cutting edge of biological modeling with the skills to tackle major societal problems.
We welcome applications from students with backgrounds and training in physics, maths or computer science or those with advanced numerical skills from a biology background (e.g. through masters-level training). Students may be UK or international. The PhD is fully funded for fees and bursary, and will start in September 2015.
Further Details
For further details and questions about the project, email Colin at email@example.com. Applications should be made via the university postgraduate system http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/postgraduate/research/apply, and will be considered as they arrive. The deadline for applications is 13th Feb 2015.


text:
Add To Cart
Add To Cart
Abeka Grade K4 Manuscript Essential Parent Kit
(Just select Standard shipping at checkout.)
Product Description▼▲
Keep your homeschool on-track and organized with the Abeka K4 Grade Parent Kit (Manuscript Edition). Containing the lesson/curriculum plans as well as other supplemental helps, this package provides homeschoolers with the material needed to grade and teach the sold-separately student materials.
The K4 Phonics, Reading, Writing & Numbers Curriculum/Lesson Plans ties together the disparate elements of the curriculum; easy to follow, each lesson is divided by the subject being taught. Notes on preparation, including what materials to gather, are included, along with step by step procedures and instruction for each element.
The K4 Manuscript Writing Curriculum/Lesson Plans guides parents through teaching manuscript writing instruction with an emphasis on a good writing position. Each lesson includes the pages or resources to use plus a step-by-step lesson with warm up/review, instruction for a specific letter or emphasis, and application of the instruction.
Note that this package only contains teacher elements; all student books are sold-separately.
This kit includes:
- Letter Picture Flashcards
- Blend Practice Cards
- Learning Games
- Phonics Charts & Games
- Numbers Charts & Games
- K4 Phonics, Reading, Writing & Numbers Curriculum/Lesson Plans, 354 pages, softcover, spiralbound.
- Numbers Concept Flashcards 1-20
- K4 Manuscript Writing Curriculum/Lesson Plans, 104 pages, spiralbound softcover.
Product Information▼▲
Abeka Grade K4 Manuscript Essential Parent Kit
Format: Other
Vendor: Abeka
Publication Date: 2015
|Weight: 8 pounds 8 ounces
Stock No: WW246816
Related Products
Abeka ABC-123: K4 Phonics and NumbersAbeka / Trade Paperback$19.455 Stars Out Of 5 3 Reviews
Abeka Homeschool K4 Phonics, Reading, Writing & Numbers Curriculum Lesson PlansAbeka / Spiral Bound$53.75
Abeka K4-K5 Homeschool Phonics Charts and GamesAbeka / Other$14.45
Abeka Basic Phonics Sounds--CD Grades K4-2Abeka / Compact disc$18.555 Stars Out Of 5 1 Reviews
Ask a Question▼▲
Find Related Products▼▲
- Homeschool >> Curriculum >> Abeka >> Early Learning
- Homeschool >> Curriculum >> Early Learning >> Kindergarten Curriculum
- Homeschool >> Subjects >> Early Learning
- Homeschool >> Subjects >> Handwriting & Penmanship >> Abeka
- Homeschool >> Subjects >> Handwriting & Penmanship >> Manuscript
Author/Artist Review▼▲
We offer thousands of quality curricula, workbooks, and references to meet your homeschooling needs. To assist you in your choices, we have included the following symbol next to those materials that specifically reflect a Christian worldview.
If you have any questions about specific products, our knowledgeable Homeschool Specialists will be glad to help you. Just call us at 1-800-CHRISTIAN.


text:
The article,We turn your dark into light courtesy of our brilliant sun, solar street light, solar power generation. Birmingham Lights Streets with Low Energy LED, published 16th September in Lighting.co.An emergency light is a battery-backed lighting device that comes on automatically when a building experiences a power outage.uk, reveals that the move is part of the council's $2.7 billion efforts to upgrade the city's road networks. Currently with more than 95,000 street lights, most of which are high pressure sodium, mercury vapour and low pressure sodium, CO2 emissions are expected to be significantly reduced.A solar lamp is a portable light fixture composed of an LED lamp, a photovoltaic solar panel, and a rechargeable battery. Stela LED street lights are set to be installed in residential areas, whilst traffic routes are to be replaced with Indal WRTL's Airtrace 2 Luminaire. Working in conjunction with public service providers,Soli-lite is a premier supplier of exceptional quality solar led light and other solar outdoor lighting products. Amey, Birmingham City Council aims to replace half the city's street lights over the course of the next five years.
Having been involved within the LED industry for a number of years, the team at LED Strip Lights co. are well informed of the energy saving benefits of light emitting diodes. From colour changing LED strip light controllers to commercial LED strip lights, LED Strip Lights co. is best known for providing customers with a variety of cost-effective lighting solutions. A representative from the firm shares their thoughts on the Birmingham LED switchover.
"More and more cities and towns across the UK are making the transitions to LEDs. As well as making considerable savings over time, they also help councils to meet targets when it comes to being environmentally friendly. The same goes for all LED lighting. Those who swap the traditional incandescent bulbs in their home for energy efficient LEDS not only save on their energy bills but can enjoy a better quality of light."
LED Strip Lights co. is a leading LED company based in the UK. With a rapidly expanding collection of lights, the company provides both domestic and commercial LED lighting solutions, including LED transformers and drivers and strip light controllers. Using the latest LED technology, customers can make significant energy savings.A plywood train is sitting in Perth's CBD, part of a council protest against state government plans to run the real thing down the middle of the city's shopping malls.How solar panel cells work and where to buy solar kits for home use.
The $100,000, 42-metre-long scale model of the dual light-rail line popped up overnight.And in an inflammatory move, Perth Lord Mayor Lisa Scaffidi says the model will stay in place for a week to illustrate the inconvenience and potential danger of the plan.
"Once our malls are lost they are lost forever, and we want a city that is welcoming to people," Ms Scaffidi said."We don't want people to be be conscious of having to dodge trams, and we don't want the city to lose the special unique elements that give it its character."
The Max Light Rail scheme was one of the centrepieces of the state government's election promises.
But funding problems have emerged, on top of the Lord Mayor's opposition to the positioning of the CBD part of the plan.She'd rather see it run down St Georges Terrace or William Street.
Transport Minister Troy Buswell has fiercely argued for light rail through the city's shopping malls, saying the council is "strangling" the development of Perth.The federal government has promised far less funding for the light rail plan than the WA government had hoped, while the coalition has refused to contribute cash to urban rail altogether.
Read the full story at www.soli-lite.com!


text:
Part of Yosemite's appeal is the accessibility of its grand vistas and enormous cliffs. You don't have to hike for miles to be sprayed by the mist of a waterfall that is hundreds of feet high. Short paved paths lead to many amazing sites making them both stroller and wheelchair-friendly.
The Rock 'n Roll Yosemite camp run by Access Leisure visited the park for the 8th straight year. From May 14 – 17 participants explored Yosemite Valley by hand cycle and exposed themselves to the thrill of rock climbing during an Adaptive Rock Climbing Session organized by Mark Wellman of No Limits, and with the help of Yosemite Mountaineering School climbing guides.


text:
The Toms Shoes name may be synonymous with its philanthropic efforts (think: each time the brand sells a pair of shoes, it gives a new pair of shoes to an impoverished child, and when the brand sells a pair of eyewear, part of the profit is used to save or restore the eyesight for people in developing countries). However, according to a new lawsuit, the brand is also a bit of a copycat. New York City-based designer Mara Hoffman filed suit against the popular footwear brand, as well as retailer Journeys, in New York federal court, claiming they copied one of her original prints. According to Hoffman's lawsuit, "Toms Shoes and Journeys regularly and systematically sell products, as well as infringing products," including one bearing an exact (and I mean EXACT!) replica of her well-known "Tee Pees" print.
Chances are, both you and Toms are familiar with Hoffman's garments and swimwear. They come in the form of an arguably easily-recognizable aesthetic heavily focused on colorful, original prints; something Hoffman has been pioneering since she launched her brand in 2008. In fact, her brand and its colorful wares have become something of a favorite to fashion industry insiders and celebrities alike. They have recently been spotted on everyone from the Kardashians and model Gigi Hadid to Beyoncé and actress Jessica Alba – that's some major press! As such, it will be hard for Toms – or any other brand – to argue that Hoffman's prints were not either on its radar or easily discoverable with a quick Google search.
Now back to the lawsuit. In her complaint, Hoffman alleges: "Toms Shoes and Journeys have infringed Mara Hoffman's copyrighted 'Tee Pees' design by manufacturing, importing, displaying, distributing, selling, offering for sale, promoting and advertising children's backpacks which exploit, use or otherwise incorporate a substantially similar design unlawfully taken from Mara Hoffman's copyrighted work." Moreover, Hoffman claims her brand "has been and is likely to continue to be injured" unless the two defendants are ordered to cease all sales and marketing of the designs bearing her copyright.
While this appears to be a pretty straight forward copyright infringement lawsuit, it is an interesting one because it shows one of the limited ways in which copyright laws can be used to curtail copying in fashion. While few garments and accessories in their entirety are actually protectable via copyright law in the U.S. (as clothing and many accessories are utilitarian in nature and very few meet the separability requirement for useful articles), the patterns and prints on garments and accessories are protectable under the umbrella of copyright law as Pictorial, Graphic or Sculptural Works ("PGS"). Thus, the original print on Hoffman's garments is protectable and so, Toms cannot copy it and put it on its own goods.
The only remaining element here is whether the prints used by Hoffman and Toms are "substantially similar" — the requisite standard necessary for copyright infringement. This seems like a pretty straightforward inquiry here since the print Toms used appears to be EXACTLY THE SAME as Hoffman's "Tee Pees" print – right down to the use of the same colors.
Unfortunately, this isn't Hoffman's first time fighting to protect her original creations from unauthorized replication. Her colorful prints have proven a popular source of "inspiration" for fast fashion retailers. She has filed lawsuits against Forever 21 and Charlotte Russe in recent years for their blatant copying of her prints.


text:
A big maiden speech from Green MP Golriz Ghahraman, with strong references to immigration and patriotism and refugees.
She talks of hardships involving war that most of us who have always lived in New Zealand have very fortunately not had to experience or suffer.
My parents.
Both strong, Iranian feminists. You lost everything. You lost your friends, your family, your professions and your language, because you weren't willing to raise a little girl in oppression.
Thank you.
Closing comments:
Mr Speaker.
I stand here as a child of revolutionaries, as a child asylum seeker, as a international human rights lawyer, as an activist, and as a Green, and my standing here proves New Zealand is a place where a nine-year-old asylum seeker, a refugee, a girl from the Middle East can grow up to one day enter Parliament.
It proves the strength and the goodness of New Zealand's values.
We all should be grateful and proud that Golriz can become an MP in New Zealand, and speak openly and passionately about her past and about her passion to bring about positive change.
Full draft transcript:
Mr Speaker, I congratulate you, and I look forward to your guidance in this House. I acknowledge also that we stand on land that was neve ceded, so I have acknowledged tangata whenua.
I begin by acknowledging what a breathtaking honour it is to sit among this Green caucus. It's a dream. I also acknowledge those who've sat among you before now, in particular Catherine Delahunty and Keith Locke—you spoke to injustice wherever it happened, and, to someone like me, that meant a lot. Mojo Mathers, you taught me and us all that we are far more than our labels. And Metiria Turei, for baring your scars to highlight the pain of others, I thank you.
But today I also want to acknowledge those who tell me every day that I don't belong here, that I should go home where I came from, that I should have been left to die, or that I have no right to criticise any politician in the country or take part in public life, because this isn't my home. Some of them call for rifles to be loaded—it gets frightening.
I'm numb to it because that actually is the reality for those of us in this country from minority backgrounds if we do stand up and become visible. I want it noted that it's also the consequence every time someone in this House scapegoats migrants, every time a TV presenter is allowed to ask the Prime Minister when our Governor General is going to look like a Kiwi and sound like a Kiwi and that Prime Minister just laughs, every time we call refugees "the leftovers from terrorist nations" for our political gain. We feel it on the streets; we can't shed our skin.
Patriotism that seeks to quash dissent and divide us is archaic. It's dangerous for our democracy. We can't tolerate that. It's antithetical to our culture. I love this country, but a love of this country—patriotism—means expecting the very best for her. It means fighting for the country we know is possible. So I criticise leaders who fall short, I protest, and I fight for equality and justice, because that is what loves looks like in public—that's Dr Cornel West; that's not me. So today I stand here proud and determined because today is about democracy and equality—values that New Zealand embodies, stands up for so boldly.
I am a child of revolutionaries. My parents faced tanks for democracy, at gunpoint fought for human rights. They faced torture to take back their country's resource from imperialists, from dictators, and from corrupt corporate interests and put it back in the hands of the people. The Iranian revolution was one of the biggest popular revolutions in modern history. Everyone was out on the street—students, communists, socialists, and Islamists—fighting against inequality.
But their revolution was hijacked, and ultimately my life was shaped by one of the most repressive regimes in modern history. Everyone knew someone that disappeared into a torture chamber for speaking out; everyone knew a woman flogged for disregarding Islamic dress—and that wasn't our culture, even for those of us who were Muslim. Everyone feared their phones being tapped; that was my childhood.
But it was also just the backdrop to a bloody eight year war we fought against Saddam Hussein's Iraq. I remember the bombs and the sirens, running to a basement and just waiting, but mostly I remember kids my age who stopped talking from the shell shock. I still don't know what happened to them. Then scarcity set in, because America was on Saddam's side and we were sanctioned. We had to use coupons to buy food. Years later, we realised that the West had backed both sides of that war—sold weapons to both sides.
That is what refugees are made of.
I feel a kinship with first nations people, with tangata whenua, because we too have been alienated from our land and our resources by imperialism—by wars that we did not profit from. We share the same degradation and prejudice; I want us to work closer together. Migrants, refugees, Pasifika people, tangata whenua—we have far more that unites us than that which divides us. I want Te Tiriti o Waitangi to be a living constitutional document in this country, leading policy, even on immigration.
My mum was a child psychologist, but she never worked because she didn't believe in taking religious exams, especially in a mental health field. My dad was an agricultural engineer who worked on research trying to extract energy from plant sources—Green to the core. So let's remember that our values exist in all cultures. The Middle East, just like the West, has fierce feminism, environmentalism, Government selling us off to multinationals, and—yes—religious fundamentalism. I want us to amplify the voices in all cultures who speak of democracy and equality above those who would silence them.
When that repression got too scary, my family and I fled. We landed in Auckland Airport and the fear was palpable. I can still feel it now. I was nine years old. We didn't know what would happen if we were sent back, but we weren't; we were welcomed here. That warm welcome is my first memory of my homeland. New Zealand recognised our rights and our humanity; that's what that was, though I didn't know it then. My second memory is that this country was so green. Those two vivid first impressions are going to lead my work in this House.
I became a lawyer—I never intended to do that, but I wanted to make human rights enforceable. The criminal justice system leads on human rights in our system. The most frightening thing that I've seen in about 15 years of being a lawyer all over the world is the sight of a 13-year-old child sitting behind a very large table awaiting his trial for murder at the Auckland High Court. I was part of his defence team. He'd thrown a rock over an overbridge, tragically taking another young life. He was tried as an adult because our system requires it. He suffered from mental illness, as do most people that come through our justice system. He was brown. He was from South Auckland. His family was so poor that they shifted houses every so often just so that they could have electricity for a while. He didn't have a lot of schooling, because of that, and his Child Youth and Family file was the stuff of nightmares. Our most vulnerable.
The front lines of our justice system is where I learnt about unchecked prejudice. That's what turned me into a human rights lawyer, and I focused on children's rights. But it was living in Africa, working on genocide trials for the UN, where I learnt how prejudice turns to atrocity. It starts with dehumanising language in the media. It starts by politicians scapegoating groups, as groups, for social ills—I think that every time I see it happen here. I saw it in Rwanda and Yugoslavia, and when I prosecuted the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia—holding politicians and armies to account for abusing their power, and giving voice to women and minorities, because we are always most viciously attacked by abusers. These experiences have instilled in me a commitment to human rights that I first got as someone who has seen the world without them.
Human rights are universal. We don't have fewer rights because of our religion, because of where we were born, or because of who we love. We don't have fewer rights because we had our children out of wedlock, or because we've been charged with a crime. We don't have human rights because we are good, but because we are human—there is no such thing as the deserving poor or the good refugee.
Human rights are indivisible. We have a bundle of rights. We can't realise one without the others—you can't say we have a democracy or free speech unless we also have the right to education, and we don't have the right to education unless the kids we are teaching have food and homes. For too long, for about 10 years now in New Zealand, our very democracy has been undermined because too many of our rights—our economic, our social, and our cultural rights—have been breached. I want to entrench those.
Finally—and of most interest to this House—human rights are enforceable against Governments. These are our obligations. This our mandate to govern. We can't privatise them away. They are not charity—people don't have to beg.
I want New Zealand to get back to a culture of expecting this from us, and none of that is inseparable from the environment. Protection of people's rights and nature's rights are intrinsically linked. Just ask the people of the Pacific—our neighbours—whose homelands are being drowned out because of waste pollution consumption that they have not participated in or benefited from.
One of the greatest threats to both human and nature's rights right now is subjugation of our democracy to corporate interests. A rampant market on a finite planet cannot exist. New Zealand must lead by example on this, as we have done before. We've stood up against status quo interests on the world stage, and I want us to be that righteous little nation again.
I never intended to run as the first ever refugee MP, but I quickly realised that my face and my story meant so much to so many, so my fear of tokenism dissipated. I had such an outpouring of support from all over New Zealand and the world—even Trump's America—and I remembered getting notes and emails from my female interns, mostly of minority background, back in the UN, telling me what it meant to them to have someone like them forging that path. Some of them are carrying that mantle right now. I realised then that it was important for that process to have a former victim of governance by repression and mass murder stand up in those courtrooms, which are normally dominated by Western men.
So this is a victory for a nine-year-old asylum seeker. But it's also a victory for everyone who has ever felt out of place, who has been excluded, or who has been told that she has limits to her dreams.
For getting me here, I thank the voters. You've humbled me for ever. You voted for diversity and fairness and nature this election when you voted Green.
I thank our Green activists and our staff, especially our Auckland staff. You worked harder and harder as things got harder this election. You will inspire me for ever. To my campaign team—especially Ron and Daniel, who are up there—and my second, political family, the Chalmers clan, I'm so happy you are here. Your support is life affirming to me.
My parents, both strong Iranian feminists—you lost everything. You lost your friends, your family, your professions, and your language because you weren't willing to raise a little girl in oppression—thank you.
And to maybe the most political person I know, although a very large, loud white boy—my partner. Thank you for stopping me mid-rant—it seems like a lifetime ago now—when I was lamenting the loss of activism in politics and some of my favourite MPs. I was saying, "Who's going to be the candidate that will stand up to the GCSB? Who's going to be the candidate who will be the new Keith Locke?", and you said, "You will be that candidate."—and I was. We're both political, we are both adventurers, but you are also patient. I thank you for that, and for love, but mostly courage, on that day and every day.
I stand here as a child of revolutionaries, as a child asylum seeker, as a international human rights lawyer, as an activist, and as a Green, and my standing here proves New Zealand is a place where a nine-year-old asylum seeker, a refugee, a girl from the Middle East can grow up to one day enter Parliament. It proves the strength and the goodness of New Zealand's values.
[Authorised Te Reo text to be inserted by the Hansard Office.]


text:
Wedding planner in Florence, for a stylish day you will never forget
Why don't you commit yourself to our wedding planner in Florence to best organize your wedding? We wish to take care of you and support you with our creativity defining every single detail and realizing what you have always dreamt for your wedding.
Is the ceremony at the Sala Rossa di Palazzo Vecchio? the Brunelleschi is the ideal location at only one hundred meters from the city hall.
Our expert Chef will help you create a tasty buffet or a splendid banquet. The whole staff will think about the most detailed aspects, from the halls decoration to the mise-en-place, from the welcome cocktail to the cake slicing, all coordinated by the wedding planner.
Special fares for the accomodation of the guests who decide to sleep at our hotel and for the "just-married" couple a magic night in one of our Junior Suites and a bottle of exquisite Metodo Champenois and fresh fruit with our compliments.
Contact us at email@example.com


text:
1045 Upper James St
Hamilton, ON L9C 3A6
Phone: 905-318-9636
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Hours of Operation
Sunday: 10:00 – 6:00
Monday: 10:00 – 8:00
Tuesday: 10:00 – 8:00
Wednesday: 10:00 –8:00
Thursday: 10:00 – 8:00
Friday: 10:00 – 8:00
Saturday: 10:00 – 6:00
Big B Hamilton is our flagship location and has been the Golden Horseshoe's premier comic book store since 1996. At Big B Hamilton we have it all: Old Comics, New Comics, Graphic Novels, Vintage Toys, New Toys, Statues, Super-Hero Apparel, CCGs, Board Games, Video Games, and of course our famous $1.99 bargain basement.
In 2008 Big B Hamilton was honoured with the Harry Kremer/Joe Shuster Award for the best comic book store in Canada. We were the 3rd national recipient (and 1st in Ontario) of this prestigious award that is only ever handed out once to any individual store. It's an honour that we try to live up to every day.


text:
The Floyd Mayweather-Conor McGregor main event Saturday night in Las Vegas was temporarily delayed because of pay-per-view outages across the country before both fighters entered the ring shortly after midnight ET.
"Due to the overwhelming demand, capacity of cable systems around the country are being overwhelmed. They are shutting down and rebooting some of these cable systems," Showtime executive vice president Stephen Espinoza told ESPN's Sal Paolantonio.
In a text message to Paolantonio shortly before midnight ET, Espinoza said, "We are a go. Enough systems have rebooted to end the delay." Mayweather beat McGregor by 10th-round TKO just before 1 a.m. ET.
Speaking after the fight, Mayweather said PPV servers in Florida and California crashed, leading to the outages.
"We wanted to make sure everything was in the right place [for fans]," the undefeated boxing champion said of the decision to delay the start so that fans would be able to watch.
It was unclear how many people were affected by the outages. Among the cable carriers affected were Xfinity, Atlantic Broadband and Frontier.
Some cable carriers told customers that if the reboot was successful and they did receive a feed, it would be in standard definition and at a cost of $89.95, or $10 less than the $99.95 for high definition.
UFC officials and WME/IMG did not immediately reply to ESPN's repeated requests for comment.
Similar issues caused a delay in Mayweather's fight with Manny Pacquiao in 2015.
McGregor seemed unfazed by the delay, with UFC president Dana White telling ESPN's Brett Okamoto that the UFC star was calm as he waited it out.
Mayweather was said to be the same.
"Floyd is relaxed," boyhood friend Rod Carswell said in a text message to Paolantonio.
Added Mayweather spokesman Kelly Swanson: "If we have to wait, we wait."
Information from ESPN's Darren Rovell was used in this report.


text:
Are you expecting to get a divorce in West Palm Beach or Delray Beach? Often referred to as a dissolution of marriage, this is perhaps the easiest part of the separation process. The actual divorce itself will not involve matters regarding money or children, as these will be separate matters which will be dealt with by your divorce attorney. Unlike in other states or cities, in Florida and Delray Beach, divorce is simply a status change which won't directly impact other issues.
If you have been served with a petition for dissolution of marriage, or are considering divorce attorney in Delray Beach, you should know that there are long-term solutions to immediate practical problems regarding who lives where, custody and visitation of the children, as well as child support. You should choose to work with Sinatra Legal, a seasoned family divorce lawyer in Delray Beach who can provide you with legal advice you'll need to end the issues during your divorce settlement effectively.
For a dependable family divorce lawyer advice that addresses both your short-term needs and your long-range goals for your divorce settlement, contact Sinatra Legal in Delray Beach.
Some couples in Delray Beach choose not to seek divorce attorneys for their divorce settlement, which is not recommended. Should you be facing any difficulties relating to distribution or alimony, do not complete your divorce without first consulting a divorce attorney in Delray Beach. It's your decision whether or not to pick a do-it-yourself divorce settlement in Delray Beach, but do not hesitate to call should you find yourself with more questions than solutions.
Whether our team in Delray Beach is facilitating a peaceful resolution, or working through high conflict litigation, we arrive prepared and ready to pursue the challenge ahead to serve our clients best. The Law Office of Taryn G. Sinatra, Esq.is here for you. Ms. Sinatra reopened her family law practice and handled all marital and family attorney matters, from simple matters, high net worth, complex family law litigation matters, and appellate matters in Delray Beach. Ms. Sinatra is also a Florida Bar Board Certified divorce attorney, a recognition earned by less than 2% of divorce lawyers in the State of Florida and Delray Beach. Call the expert family divorce lawyers in Delray Beach today!


text:
Tag Archives: New year 2020 Packages
New Year Dubai Packages 2020 eve Parties
The new year 2020 is coming with most of the blessings of love. It is one of the best Occasion to visit or celebrate New Year 2020 In Dubai Because Tourist wants to spend their New Year in Dubai. The delightful environment is exceptional to celebrate New year's Eve. Families take a turn to Dubai for enjoying this particular time with their Love ones. New Year's Holidays such as last dates or upcoming year 2020 starting dates are Awesome time for Happiness of New Year 2020. Around the world, this time is celebrated, or everyone is excited about this upcoming time. Share greetings or wishes of the new year with blessings that the forthcoming year is fulfilled with happiness for everyone. Mostly Friends make a plan to go to different countries at this time. Spend their time on new place start parties watching movies at this wonderful time. The whole scenario is looking very well in the form of Parties.
Dubai is the shining star of the United Arab Emirates and one of the premier holiday destinations. This incredible city is known for its unequaled luxuries and extravagant accommodations. You can count on New Year Eve 2020 in Dubai being spectacular, even outshining Sydney, Australia's New Year Eve events. There is so much to do for everyone during Dubai New Year that it has been one of the most happening year-end destinations in the world. Each year, Dubai organizes one of the most beautiful New Year events, you never able to see anywhere. I am 100 % Sure that, you would have an amazing experience by spending your New Year Eve celebration in Dubai.
Enjoy New Year Eve Events in Dubai, New Year Eve Party in Dubai and New Year Eve Firework in Dubai. If you haven't done it already, it's time to start planning for the best New Year's celebration ever and book your flight and accommodations, readying yourself for Dubai New Year's Eve.


text:
Ask The Herbalist
My Account
About Us
Contact Us
View Cart
Herbs For Horses
ALL Horse Products
Anemia, Circulation
Allergies, Cough & Skin
Bleeders - EIPH
Calming Blends
Digestion, Colic & Ulcer Support
Eye Care - Equine Recurrent Uveitis
Garlic Blends
Hoof Care
Immune Support
Injuries, Broken Bones, Wounds
Kidney, Urinary
Liniments, First Aid
Muscle, Ligament, Tendon
Nervous System, Equilibrium
Nutrional Support
Parasite, Wormer
Performance Horse Support
Herbs For People
Herbs For Pets
Herbs For Pets
> Comfrey Compound Salve P37 | For Animals
Comfrey Compound Salve P37 | For Animals
Reward Points
16 points will be rewarded to you when you buy this item.
Comfrey Compound Salve P37 | For Animals
1 Review(s)
Your Price:
Product ID:
Choose Quantity Options
PE Comfrey Compound Salve
4 oz
8 oz
Add to Cart
Write a Review
Email a friend
Quantity Options:
4 oz & 8 oz
Customer Reviews
Additional Information
Herbal Pet Healing Salve a Pet First Aid Kit Essential
Are you searching for a powerful all-round healing salve for your pet first aid kit?
Our Comfrey Compound Healing Salve is an outstanding, all natural, non-toxic blend of locally grown, fresh herbs for pets traditionally known for their healing properties. Soothing emollient action accents the benefits of this effective and useful salve. This product may be beneficial for:
Promoting rapid healing of cuts, sores, rashes, scrapes, broken bones
Reducing proud flesh build-up
Preventing scar tissue
Reducing bruising of skin and bones
Reducing inflammation and relieving pain
Fighting bacteria and infection
Alleviating thin skin problems associated with aging
Repelling troublesome insects and alleviating itching from insect bites
Comfrey is a treasured herb that strengthens the body and has been used for almost "everything" with no adverse side effects. Fresh, raw Aloe Vera Leaf, grown in house, allows for a rich, creamy texture that applies easily to the skin. Neem oil, derived from the neem tree and called "the village pharmacy" by East Indians, has been used for thousands of years to increase the effectiveness of the salve and naturally repels insects. Local, all natural, raw honey, used extensively in ancient medicine, is an incredible antiseptic with powerful healing attributes to promote healing of cuts, cure ailments and diseases, and correct health disorders of many kinds. Wild crafted sage is high in minerals and traditionally known for having anti biotic, anti septic, anti inflammatory, healing properties.
: Comfrey Leaf, Wild Crafted Sage, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Goldenseal, Raw Aloe Vera Leaf, Echinacea, Goldenseal, Shea Butter, Neem Oil, Evening Primrose Oil, Apricot Oil, Cocoa Butter, Local Raw Honey, Beeswax
Suggested Use
: EXTERNAL USE ONLY. Apply topically to affected area as needed. May be used under bandages or used as a sweat.
great for healing!
I have used comfry salve for my dogs scrapes, bruises and small cuts to promote healing and comfort and it has worked amazing. I have even tried it on my own bumps and bruises with great results. I highly recommend this for your first aid kits, and medicine cabinet, its always good to be prepared for small "boo-boo's"
Did you find this helpful?
1 of 1
Found Helpful
Reviewed by:
Stefani V
from calgary AB.
on 10/26/2015
Order Herbs for Pets
online or give us a call (208) 756-1641 if you prefer to order by phone. You can leave all of your shipping information on our secure line, including your credit card number, or you can speak to our staff between 9 am and 2 pm, weekdays.
Orders are shipped within 24 hours, except for custom blend orders or for other considerations. These orders are normally shipped within 2 to 3 days. USPS shipping with most orders.
Thank you for choosing Herbs of the World where we strongly promote natural Herbal Support traditionally used, as told in herbal folklore. Each of our Natural Herbal Formulas are freshly made, not mass produced, and are of the highest quality certified organic herbs, (except Chinese Herbs) blended with care!
*Not intended to diagnose, prescribe or treat any medical condition, nutritional or health system.
*If your dog, cat or small animal needs a Veterinarian, please see one.
Dealer Inquiries Welcome
Pet herbs not for sale in California retail outlets. Herbs of the World herbal products for pets
are sold internationally at Veterinarian Clinics, Retail Businesses and Vet Supply.
*Earn money from your website, or blog.. just add our
affiliate link
to your web page, and earn a percentage whenever someone follows your link to our website and makes a purchase.
Related Items
Prime Pet P11 | Dog & Cat Herbs for Good Health
Your Price:
Diatomaceous Earth P15 Food Grade | Dog & Cat Parasite Control
Your Price:
Give er to My Liver P27 | Pet Liver Support
Your Price:
Recently Viewed Items
Quick View


text:
New #1
Jump Lists Not working for Word 2016 or Excel 2016
so jump lists via my taskbar and windows 10, I'm not having much joy :-(
I've just got a new desktop (Jan 2016) with windows 10 pre-loaded and I installed office 2010 - jump lists didn't work - so I thought I'll uninstall and install office 2016 64bit - jump lists still don't work arrggggg!
But they work for IE and notepad and file explorer but not for firefox or photoshop elements.
I've tried deleting the files from:
and rebooting but to no avail
any ideas anyone????
I really need jump lists working for Excel & Word.


text:
Partners in Success
Our clients are our partners, and we believe that only by helping them achieve their goals and dreams will we achieve ours. Every client has unique needs and we offer a personalized and engaging approach to learning about yours and building a plan to help you meet them. We take time to educate our clients about investing and financial planning so that they understand the decisions they're making and the strategies we're suggesting.
We invest in what makes a difference for clients, not just what attracts them. Rather than spend on a fancy office, we invest in high quality research and analytical software in order to build better portfolios, and use technology to give you access to your accounts and reports anytime you want.the strategy we're recommending. By knowing what to expect, we hope you'll find it easier to stick to your plan in times of high emotion and uncertainty in the markets.
Learn about How We Invest, the Services we offer, or the benefits of working with a Fee-Only Advisor.


text: How to Predict Inflation and DeflationAuthor: Marc ProsserLast Updated: October 30, 2013 What causes inflationary pressure?Excessive Growth Of The Money SupplyEconomic ExpansionExternal ShocksWhat causes deflationary Pressure? The opposite of each of the inflation factors above plus:Productivity IncreasesA Rising DollarHow do you measure these factors? Excessive Growth Of The Money SupplyImagine that you could magically double the amount of cash that people had access. What do you think would happen? (Think about what happens when a college student receives their first credit card.) If the amount of cash suddenly doubled, people would dramatically increase their spending. While the demand for goods and services would increase in this scenario, the supply of these goods and services might take a while to catch up with demand. In the short-run if demand increases and supply remains steady, then economics 101 dictates that prices should rise.The Federal Reserve has a number of tools that can expand or restrict the money supply. The Fed Funds rate and open market operations (buying and selling treasuries) are really just ways of influencing the money supply. In theory, if the money supply is increasing faster than real GDP growth (the amount of goods and services being produced) it should be inflationary. Conversely, if the money supply is growing slower than the GDP, that should be deflationary.There are two main measures of the money supply in the United States, M1 and M2.M1 = Cash (as in US paper currency and coins), Checking Accounts, & Travelers Checks M2 = M1 + Savings Accounts, CDs under $100K, Retail Money Market Funds & AccountsAs of June, 2012. M1 was $2.3 Trillion and M2 was $9.9 trillion. Economic ExpansionEconomic expansion increases the demand for goods, services and labor. As companies are growing, they need to hire more workers and buy more supplies (which could be cement for a construction company or software licences for an accounting firm). In this circumstance, the unemployment rate should drop and existing workers will start demanding higher wages. Thus economic expansion is inflationary in two ways: Demand increases from new workers spending money andPrice increases on everything from cement to software licenses, as a result of the rising productions costs to create goods (hire labor and material costs) and greater demand enabling companies to raise prices.When looking at economic expansion, there tends to be a heavy focus on the labor market. The following economic indicators are heavily scrutinized: Unemployment Rate and Non-Farm Payrolls.Unemployment Rate – This is the Number Of People Looking For Work / (Number Of People Looking For Work + People With Jobs) Most economists consider a good unemployment rate 6%.Non-Farm Payrolls – Whereas the unemployment rate is a relative number (a percentage), non-farm payrolls is an absolute number, which measures jobs creation and losses. Many prefer non-farm payrolls to the unemployment rate, because the unemployment rate can drop when the economy is very bad. The unemployment rate does not include adults that give up on trying to find a job, which often occurs after several months of applying for jobs without success. Usually, a monthly non-farm payrolls number between +150,000 to +250,000 is considered a sign of a nicely growing economy. External ShocksThere is one key input which is vital for the US and global economy, whose price is very volatile. The volatility in the price sometimes has little to do with demand, but the supply or perceived future supply. The input is oil, which is vital for everything from transportation, heating, and manufacturing. Unfortunately, the supply of oil can fluctuate greatly with the political situation in the Middle East, Russia and Africa. For example, there is currently worry about Iran shutting down the supply of oil out of the Middle East. An Israeli attack on Iran's nuclear program or a NATO intervention in Syria could well be a trigger of this type of action. Increased fear of such an event could easily drive oil prices over a $150 or even higher which would in turn add a few percentage points to inflation.There are several measures of oil prices, including West Texas Intermediate (WTI) and Brent Crude, which trade at different prices. These are actually different types of oil (different thickness, levels of impurities) that get delivered to buyers are different locations. If you want to track oil prices, I would pick one to follow. Causes of DeflationAny factor that leads to inflation, can also lead to deflation. A tightening of the money supply, a slowing economy and receding fears about a middle east conflict would all be deflationary. However, there are some factors that are currently having a strong deflationary impact which I would like to explore. Productivity IncreasesAlan Greenspan, the former Chairman of the Federal Reserve, credited the benign inflationary environment during the first decade of the the 21st century, to gains in the productivity of America's workers. What took 40 hours for a worker to accomplish in 2000, might have only taken 30 hours to finish in 2010. As a result, the cost of producing an item or providing a service was reduced, because the amount of labor needed has decreased over time. This decrease in the amount of labor often compensated for increases in the cost of labor, enabling companies to absorb an increased cost of labor without passing it on to customers in the form of higher prices.Productivity is not often reported on by the financial press. However, the Bureau of Labor Statistics does publish a productivity statistic which measures the economic value of the goods American workers produce (adjusted for inflation) by the number of hours Americans worked which you can find here. A Rising US DollarThe US imports around $200 billion of goods per month. If the costs of those goods goes down, then US inflation will also go down. A rising dollar makes the costs of imported goods cheaper. In 2010, the Euro / US dollar exchange rate was over 1.40. One euro could be exchange for $1.40. More recently, the rate is trading around $1.25. Over the last couple years, the euro has lost over 10% of its value against the US dollar. Put another way, European goods are now 10% cheaper for US buyers. A stronger dollar has been a factor in keeping US inflation rates low.


text:
Billings, Montana – Montana Conservation Voters (MCV) and the League of Conservation Voters (LCV) Action Fund, which work to elect candidates who will support sound environmental policies, announced today their endorsement of Senator Jon Tester for re-election to the U.S. Senate from Montana.
"Senator Tester is one of the strongest voices in the U.S. Senate for keeping public lands in public hands, protecting our clean air and water, helping grow the outdoor recreation economy, and preserving lands for future generations to explore," said LCV Action Fund Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Tiernan Sittenfeld. "As the only working farmer in the Senate, he knows firsthand the effects of climate change and the threat it poses to Montanans' way of life. We are excited to endorse Senator Tester for re-election."
"Senator Tester's work as an advocate for Montana's clean air, clean water, and wild lands has been critical to protecting our outdoor way of life," said Clayton Elliott, Executive Director of MCV. "His focus on building coalitions to reach collaborative solutions for protecting wildlife habitats, expanding clean energy opportunities, and safeguarding our clean water has been so important. We need Senator Tester's leadership in the Senate and that is why MCV is proud to endorse him for re-election."
"I am proud to have MCV's endorsement. I will continue to relentlessly defend our public lands from outside attacks on our Montana way of life so that our kids and grandkids have the same access to Montana's beauty, clean water, and public lands that we enjoy today," said Senator Jon Tester.
Since his election in 2006, Tester has demonstrated leadership on clean energy and conservation issues. A member of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee, and a former Vice Chairman of the Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus, Tester has consistently stood up for Montanans' right to a clean and healthful environment. He has pushed commonsense measures to advance renewable energy in rural communities and spoken passionately about the need to address climate change.
Among his legislative accomplishments and priorities are:
- Passage of the North Fork Preservation Act protecting 383,000 acres of land west of Glacier National Park.
- Passage of the Rocky Mountain Front Heritage Act adding 67,000 acres to the Bob Marshall Complex.
- Senate passage of the East Rosebud Wild & Scenic Rivers Act protecting 20 miles of the East Rosebud by designation as a wild and scenic river.
- A collaborative effort on the Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Act to protect 79,000 acres in the Blackfoot and Clearwater watersheds.
- Introduction of the Yellowstone Gateway Protection Act to ensure critical wildlife habitat and lands are safe from harmful mining pollution in the Paradise Valley and Yellowstone National Park.
- Passage of the Crow and Blackfeet Water Compacts fulfilling treaty rights and giving certainty to water users. He has also introduced the Confederated Salish & Kootenai Water Compact.
- Using his leadership to advocate for full funding and permanent re-authorization of the Land and Water Conservation Fund.
Tester has earned a strong 86 percent lifetime score on LCV's National Environmental Scorecard.
Tester is featured on LCV Action Fund's GiveGreen website, the only website devoted exclusively to raising money for environmental champions for federal office. Last cycle, LCV Action Fund raised more contributions to candidates through GiveGreen than ever before – over $8.3 million for state and federal candidates.
About LCV Action Fund
The League of Conservation Voters Action Fund (LCVAF), the connected federal political action committee (PAC) of the League of Conservation Voters, works to elect candidates who will implement sound environmental laws and policies, and defeat those who stand in the way of progress. Since the 1994 election cycle, LCVAF has helped elect and re-elect 74 U.S. senators and 331 members of the U.S. House of Representatives. In the 2015-2016 election cycle, LCVAF endorsed over 100 candidates and, since 2009, has raised and contributed more than $17.6 million dollars via GiveGreen. Over the last several years, our efforts have also helped elevate climate change and clean energy as critical issues in key elections.
About MCV
Montana Conservation Voters is a statewide membership organization serving as the political voice of Montana's conservation and environmental community. Today, MCV shines a spotlight on the votes and actions of elected officials – from the Courthouse to Congress – affecting clean air and water, open spaces, wildlife, and public health. Through its affiliated political action committee, MCV supports candidates who stand up for conservation values.
Paid for by the League of Conservation Voters Action Fund and Montana Conservation Voters Congressional Action Fund and authorized by Montanans for Tester.


text:
A union is an organisation that supports employees in the workplace by acting as an advocate for them collectively (and with the consent of the employee, individually). Unions bargain for collective employment agreements with employers and help employees with information and advice about work-related issues. You have to pay a fee to be a union member.
There are unions for different kinds of workplaces and jobs so if you're thinking about joining or setting up a union, you should find out about the ones that cover the type of work you do. For more information about unions, visit NZCTU. (external link)
A registered union has to: have at least 15 members, become an incorporated society and register as a union.
The Register of unions (external link) provides industry coverage data on all registered unions.
The Companies Office (external link) website can help you with union registration.
As an employee, you have the right to choose whether or not to become a union member. No-one (employers, managers, colleagues, union members or union officials) can threaten, or put (directly or indirectly) undue pressure on you:
- to be or not to be a union member, or
- to not act on behalf of other employees, or
- to leave your job because you are or aren't a union member.
A contract, agreement or other arrangement can't:
- require anyone to be or not to be a union member or a member of a particular union
- give a person, just because they are or aren't a union member or a member of a particular union, any preference:
- for getting or keeping employment
- relating to terms or conditions of employment
- benefits
- opportunities for training, promotion or transfer.
An employer can't discriminate against an employee in their employment because they're involved in union activities. Union activities include:
- being an officer, management committee member, delegate, representative or official of a union
- being a collective bargaining negotiator or representative
- participating in a lawful strike
- being involved in forming a union
- submitting a personal grievance
- being involved in making or supporting a claim for some benefit of an employment agreement
- applying for or taking employment relations education leave.
Discrimination has more information that can help you determine your legal rights.
Cost to join a union
Each union sets its own fees, so membership fees can vary from one union to another. Usually the fee for union membership is deducted from your pay and passed on to the relevant union directly by the employer.
Deductions has more information about union-related deductions.
Union members can go to at least two union meetings (which can be up to 2 hours long each), every calendar year. If a meeting is during an employee's normal working hours, the employer has to pay them their ordinary pay while attending the meeting (but not if the employee wouldn't normally be working then). If an employment agreement has more than the minimum, for example, it states that each meeting can be up to 4 hours long, then the provisions in the employment agreement apply.
Notice of union meetings
- The union and employer should act in good faith to try to agree on a meeting time that works for both of them, thinking about the employer's operational requirements.
- The union must give the employer at least 14 days' notice of the date and time of a union meeting.
- The union must make arrangements with the employer to maintain the employer's business during union meetings (which may include enough union members not attending the meeting so the employer's operations can continue).
- After the meeting, the union must give the employer a list of members who attended and confirm how long the meeting was.
- The employees must be back at work as soon as practical after the meeting, and the employer doesn't have to pay a union member who attends a meeting for any period longer than 2 hours in respect of the meeting.
Both the employer and the union should deal with union visits in good faith.
A union representative may enter a workplace in relation to employment of the union's members, this includes:
- representing union members by participating in bargaining, carrying out recruitment, discussing matters with members and providing information about the union to employees in a workplace
- supporting compliance with employment law, collective agreements and dealing with matters concerning the health and safety of members
- dealing with matters relating to a proposed or current individual employment agreements, or the terms and conditions of such agreements, with the authority of an employee
Recent law changes that came into effect in late 2018, add an additional purpose for which a union representative may enter a workplace. This is to assist a non-union employee with matters relating to health and safety if that employee has requested their assistance. This change aims to reflect the important role that union representatives play in providing advice and support in relation to health and safety matters in the workplace, both to members and non-members.
A union representative must still:
- access a workplace at reasonable times and in a reasonable way, having regard to the normal business operations in the workplace
- comply with any reasonable procedures relating to health and safety or security
- provide an employer with the purpose of their entry and give evidence of their identity.
Where a union representative cannot find the employer or an employer representative, they are required to leave a written statement outlining their identity, union, date and time of entry and their purpose for entry.
There are limited circumstances where a union representative can be denied access to a workplace. This includes where entry may prejudice the security or defence of New Zealand or the investigation or detection of offenses, or where an employer has a certificate of exemption based on religious grounds.
A union representative can only talk to an employee for a reasonable amount of time and the employer can't deduct anything from the employee's pay for the time they're talking to the union representative. An employee's discussion with a union representative in this situation is not a union meeting.
A union representative wanting to come into a workplace must come at reasonable times when any employee is employed to work.
Since recent law changes came into effect in late 2018, a union representative does not need to obtain consent from an employer before entering a workplace if there is either:
- a collective agreement is in force that covers work done by employees at that workplace; or
- a collective agreement is being bargained for that covers work done by employees at that workplace.
Where either of the above doesn't apply then the previous rules still apply — union representatives must obtain the consent of an employer or representative of an employer before entering any workplace.
An employer cannot unreasonably withhold consent for a request to enter, and must respond to the request by the working day after the date of the request. Consent is treated as having been obtained if an employer does not respond to a request within two working days after the date of the request.
Where consent is not required, the current conditions on entry still apply. They will only be able to enter for certain purposes, during business hours and must follow health, safety and security procedures. On arrival, a union representative will need to make a reasonable attempt to find the employer or, if they are unable to, they will need to provide a written statement with the date, time and reason for their visit.
Conduct of union representatives in the workplace
Union officials must act in a reasonable way in the workplace. Union representatives must:
- act reasonably, having regard to normal business operations
- comply with any existing reasonable health, safety and security procedures
- notify the employer or occupier of the reason for coming in, provide evidence of their identity and authority to represent the union. If the employer or occupier isn't there or can't be found (despite reasonable efforts), the union representative must leave a written notice saying who they are, the union they represent, date, time and purpose of entry. (Evidence of identity will often be required for all visitors anyway for security and health and safety requirements).
Employment relations education leave
Some members may be entitled to paid leave to attend approved employment relations education courses.
Tools and Resources
Subscribe to our email newsletter
Receive news and updates each month from Employment New Zealand.


text:
Senate panel OKs death penalty for repeat child sex offenders
AUSTIN — A Senate panel approved a bill allowing the death penalty for repeat child sex offenders Tuesday but said major work remains on the proposal.
Senate Bill 5, the "Jessica's Law" urged by Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, now advances to the full Senate. The law is named for Jessica Lunsford of Florida, a 9-year-old girl who was abducted, raped and killed.
The Senate Criminal Justice Committee vote was 5-1 with one member abstaining.
Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott joined Dewhurst at the hearing in supporting the bill, which calls for a minimum 25-year sentence for violent child sex offenses and life without parole or death for second offenses.
Abbott brushed off concerns that the U.S. Supreme Court might find the death penalty unconstitutional for crimes that do not end in death.
Noting that the court barred the death penalty in a rape case 30 years ago, Abbott said he sees a "greater chance" the high court may allow the death penalty for repeat, felony sexual assault against children.
"I would proudly and personally go up to the United States Supreme Court and defend the constitutionality of this case, this legislation, which I think is the right legislation for the state of Texas,"said Abbott.
He also termed "ludicrous" the notion that a sex offender who rapes a child would kill the child in order to keep him or her from testifying in a capital trial.
"They're just not operating in that frame of mind," he said.
Committee Chairman Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston, agreed to the vote on the condition the bill by Sen. Bob Deuell, R-Greenville, will undergo major revisions before reaching the Senate floor.
One provision that Deuell said will likely be added is a new offense called "ongoing sexual assault" of a child or children, which prosecutors support.
A bill by Sen. Florence Shapiro, R-Plano, addressing that issue will be heard by the committee next week, Whitmire said.
Prosecutors and others who testified against the measure fear that families will be reluctant to turn in friends or relatives, who reportedly commit nine out of 10 sexual offenses against children.


text:
I can remember the moment I saw light. I saw how it touched the sides of buildings, created shadows on bodies and faces. The second I saw light it was all I could see. It was like I had been blind and a crucial segment of my vision was restored. It was in this moment I knew I could actually be a photographer.
Before this momentous occasion I'd been photographing for several years. Granted, it had been when I was still a hobbyist, creating images for fun with the hopes of making it something more. Yet it was still further along in my photographic adventures than I would like to admit, which makes me wonder how many professional photographers out there are still "blind" and haven't really had the chance to get to know light.
You see, when you can see light you start to learn it., and in the process of learning it you get to know and understand it. You understand what it does when diffused, reflected, or re-routed. You can tame it, color it, block it and intensify it. You realize that the only difference between "natural light" and "strobes" is that one of them requires electricity. You can tackle anything, anywhere, with any light.
If you can't see light or you don't know how to use light you can still make gorgeous photographs, but you're limited. You may end up compensating by pushing the "fill light" slider to the far right to balance out your exposure when you back-lit your subject. You may call yourself a "natural light" portrait photographer and keep your clients in the confines of "that shady spot on the side of the building", or only go out on cloudy days. Now, don't get me wrong, I think natural, God-given sunlight is absolutely gorgeous and is beautiful when tamed within the realms of a camera and lens. When I shoot food I prefer to use diffused sunlight to back-light my images—it's cheap, easy and the results are fabulous. But I don't use it as a crutch, I use it because I like it.
Here's the thing—once you can see light, you can manipulate light. If you understand where light is falling, where it's wrapping around your subject, how it's reflecting or how strong it is, then you can work with any light. It doesn't whether it's sunlight, strobes and flashes, or maybe you're short on electrical outlets and you feel like lighting a scene with your car's headlights. Light is light, and photography needs light to create an image. So … doesn't it make sense that we all get to know it the best we can?


text:
South Drive Baguio Manor, Quadruple Room is the same as ZEN Rooms South Drive Baguio USD 29.38 per night 34 South Drive, Baguio, Baguio , Philippines 34 South Drive, Baguio, Baguio , Philippines
Available Add-ons
The ZEN Comfort Guarantee
- Free Fast WiFi
- Hot Shower
- Spotless Bed
- 24/7 Care
- Low rates
- 24h Front Desk
- Baggage Storage
- Cable TV Channel
- Flat Screen TV
- Hotel Restaurant
- Meeting Room
- Non Smoking Room
- Parking
- Private Bathroom
- Shampoo
- Shared Lounge / TV Area
- Telephone in Room
- Window in The Room
- Room Size: 26m2
This hotel has been audited within the last 3 weeks
Located in Baguio City, the Summer Capital of The Philippines, known for the cool weather and lush gardens, South Drive Baguio Manor is perfect for business & leisure travelers. This hotel is in an accessible location and guarantees that guests can relax during their stay. It offers rooms with an overlooking view of the city while indulging a hot drink and the cool breeze, a free parking space and hotel restaurant for the guests to enjoy.
There is no shortage of things to do or food to try within the vicinity of South Drive Baguio Manor. Within short distance from the property are attractions and restaurants travelers can enjoy.
Riomando's Eatery (140 m)
Bonuan Restaurant (210 m)
Korean Palace (300 m)
Quantum Amusement (2.6 km)
SM Baguio City (2.5 km)
Baguio Museum (2.8 km)
Business & Facilities
7 Eleven (1.4 km)
Metrobank ATM (1.4 km)
Caltex (1.9 km)
South Drive Baguio Manor is close to major transportation hubs. It is a 2 hour and 45-minute drive to Clark International Airport and 11-minute drive to Genesis Transport Services Inc.
Comfortable stay is guaranteed with quality rooms & great service at affordable prices.
ZEN ROOMS: travel more, pay less!
Check-in time is 14:00. In case of early check-in, PHP 200 fee per hour will be charged, payable upon check in
One child under 10 years old below can stay for free using existing beds.
Extra mattress can be provided at PHP 500. Subject to availability at the time of check in.
Free private parking is available on the site! Subject to availability at the time of check in.
Only cash payment available if you choose to pay at the hotel.
Please present valid Photo ID upon check-in. (Please note failure to do so may result in not being able to check-in).
Please note that all Special Requests are subject to availability and additional charges may apply.


text:
Apologies for the confusion regarding your username.
Can you clarify what you mean by 2 mimicked pre-existed voices in a reversed manner, please? Do you mean they're talking in reverse and I need to play it backwards? Apologies if I'm being thick in this regard.
The questions I was asking was in relation to the Pendle Witches. My wife and I used to live close to the site of where the Pendle Witches used to congregate before they went on trial. As my wife and I are very interested in the paranormal, we set out to do an EVP session at the site of what remains of the Pendle Witches house. My wife filmed me asking questions and I used my iPhone to do the audio recording. Whilst my wife was filming, the fully-charged video camera switched itself off and we lost all the footage of me asking the questions. Footage taken before that survived and it was fine recording the aftermath. The battery was still fully charged when we turned the camera back on. My wife had her back close to the house, as in an inch or so, and at one point her head snapped back and she said "Ow!". She said that something tugged violently on her ponytail. After hearing the EVP upon playback, my wife said that she didn't want to try it again, she was little spooked by it.
Anyway, I was asking for the Pendle Witches by name, if they were innocent or guilty of the so-called accusations. When I asked if they could do anything to show that they were there/here, that's when the camera turned off. We've been experiencing the activity since then.
P.S. This really is a great forum and everyone here is a credit to it.
Edited to provide a little more info.
Edited by sherinator, 24 July 2016 - 01:21 PM.


text:
...for a Nazi. Children don't fall into patterns of hate. They learn them. As Denis Leary puts it, "You know what my two year old hates? Naps. That's all."
And yet, somewhere along the way, this man turned into a monster. The sad thing is, in this country we'll never find out why. We don't want to know, I'm guessing, because that knowledge would force us to take a closer look at those around us and realize, there but for the grace of God goes yet another monster.
He has a stepmother. His dad is at least once divorced (from the stepmother). It doesn't sound like a stable "biblical" marriage, as conservatives are wont to put it. Indeed, conservatives are backpedaling as quickly as possible from this tragedy, despite the fact that skinheads, when they actually are religious, tend to be synonymous with a particularly brutish and nasty strain of Christianity called Christian Identity. CI turns Revelations into a race war, much like people like Robertson and other evangelicals have turned the book into a struggle against Islam.
Had it been the other way, an Indian shooter in a Catholic church, say, you can bet conservatives would be screaming bloody murder.
The gun shop where Wade Page purchased his gun says he didn't stand out. He probably wouldn't. Indeed, his photos suggest more of a computer nerd than a killer.
But here's the thing: he likely drifted along a loner in life. His family had fallen apart, his father likely abandoned the boy in search of his own needs, his mother and stepmother probably identified him with his dad and left him alone. We can make some educated guesses at how his father was to live with, but for libel's sake I will not.
He was a kid, trying to raise himself, without the cultural counterpoint of adult involvement, just exploitation. He was probably a weapon in the family struggles.
When he identified with the neo-Nazi movement, he found a focus for the rage that almost certainly had to be bubbling up behind his calm exterior. As he became more confident in himself, that rage likely expressed itself more overtly. For instance, he was not discharged from the army, just not asked to re-enlist. He was found drunk on duty and went AWOL at least once. These are signs of acting out an internal drama (and possibly re-living his family life.)
Playing in a band satisfied some of his darker urges. Any artist will tell you that in their art they find release. For Page, release was in the form of a relief valve, a way to express his rage through music. And it gave him the one thing he could never find anyplace else: approval.
See, he wasn't an introvert. No introvert gets up on stage and spews anything, much less hate. No, I think he had resigned himself to the fact that he was never going to find love and approval from people, so when the chance to do just that presented itself, he leaped at it.
We'll never truly understand what has happened here, however. What final frustration pushed him over the edge, what was the nail in the coffin of six people and Page.
The shame of it is, as the first Clinton administration demonstrated, that rage is building in segments of society and can only burst out in other places. For that, there are no atheists or Christians or skinheads to blame.
There is only ourselves.


text:
25-year-old App Still at Core of Corporate Computing
Put your party hats on: this year marks the 25th anniversary of the invention of the digital spreadsheet, a program that most technophiles consider part of the holy triumvirate of software (along with the word processor and the database) that helped usher in the Computer Age.
To commemorate the spreadsheet's longevity, Bill Jelen, a.k.a. "Mr. Excel," has published a kitschy pop-up book, The Spreadsheet at 25: The Evolution of the Invention that Changed the World (Holy Macro! Books, 2005). Jelen runs a popular Web site (www.mrexcel.com) that provides assistance to Excel users, answering as many as 30,000 questions each year.
While the book misses some important pointssuch as how the digital spreadsheet facilitated the leveraged buyout craze of the 1980sit does offer a general history of the development of the software, and highlights some of the more creative ways it's been put to use, including flight training, creating birthday cards, even designing quilts.
"That was the most off-the-wall use of the program I have ever seen," says Jelen.
While plenty of bells and whistles have been added over the years, the basic premise of rows, columns and A1 notation has remained virtually unchanged since computer programmers Dan Bricklin and Bob Frankston created the first digital spreadsheet software, VisiCalc, in late 1979.
By 2004, Microsoft Corp. held 90 percent of the market share for digital spreadsheets with Microsoft Excel, with only a handful of competitors (such as Lotus 1-2-3, StarOffice Calc and Quattro Pro) in tow.
Perhaps the most amazing thing about the spreadsheet, however, is its remarkable staying powerand with relatively little updating. This, despite all the new-fangled business-intelligence programs that promise more accurate demand forecasting, just-in-time inventory scheduling and scenario planning.
"I think one of the reasons for its continued success is that Excel is so broad," Jelen says. "No matter what industry you're in, you can build useful models in Excel."
This article was originally published on 10-05-2005
IT Solutions Builder TOP IT RESOURCES TO MOVE YOUR BUSINESS FORWARD
Which topic are you interested in?
Data Storage
IT Management
What is your company size?
What is your job title?
What is your job function?
Searching our resource database to find your matches...


text:
Want to Join CHEC? Click Here!
Fill out the form below and click the Continue button at the bottom.
New CHEC Members Only - (Those who are not renewing an existing CHEC Membership in June/July); Please begin application for CHEC membership by thoroughly reading through this website, including the CHEC Bylaws. Next fill out this form completely. By submitting an application to CHEC, you are affirming that you reside in the state of Texas, and homeschool in Texas, per CHEC Bylaws. A full year's membership in CHEC begins June 1st and runs through the end of July the following year. However, new members can join at any time during the year. Membership fees are $30 per family and are non-transferable, non-refundable and are not pro-rated. All membership dues payments are made via this website. CHEC no longer collects dues by mail. Members who join during the school year (August 1 - May 31) should know that their membership will expire the end of July, unless renewed. Questions about membership? Please contact the CHEC Treasurer at email@example.com. Thank you for supporting homeschooling in the Crossroads area!


text:
For some intrepid people, November is the month when they take part in NaNoWriMo. Not me. (Though one year I might give it a go.)
Instead, I take part in something called NaNoSweMo. Instead of trying to write a 50,000 word novel in the month of November, some of us try to knit a 50,000 stitch sweater instead. There's a group on Ravelry specially set up for NaKniSweMo, with prizes available for those who achieve the feat of completing their project in the month of November.
I've done it in several previous years, making my Petals In Ice, an O w l s and a Braid Hills. (Though I didn't try to formally enter the O w l s as it's nowhere near the 50k stitch count.) The observant amongst you will have noticed that three of those patterns are written by the wonderful Kate Davies, who is one of my favourite designers. She creates some wonderfully wearable designs, that are steeped in textile history and her native Scotland.
This year's NaKniSweMo will be another of her gorgeous patterns.
Epistrophy is a fitted cardigan with a colourwork yoke. It's knitted in the round and steeked, in the traditional manner. For those of you who don't know, steeking involves cutting your knitting (after reinforcing the area you're intending to cut, of course). It enables you to knit colourwork designs such as fair isle in the round. This is normally easier, as it means you can work colourwork on knit rounds, rather than having to do it while purling back across a flat row. But colourwork and steeking is going to be quite a challenge to complete in just a single month.
The yarn I'm using is Sublime Extra Fine Merino Wool DK. The main colour will be the purple shown in the picture, with the colourwork yoke in white. Ravelry tells me that I bought the purple yarn over five years ago in Abakhan during a weekend away on Chester. So it's about time I got round to using it!
After day 1, I've finished the rib on the body, and I've started the stocking stitch section. I've nearly finished the first 50g ball of yarn, so I'm well ahead of schedule. I'll post a few updates on progress as I go.
Wish me luck!


text:
Hi all! Emily here today with a couple of holiday projects for you in what appear to be my signature holiday colors this year… pinks and greens!
My first project is a non-traditional tag made with some stamped die cuts and some ink blending. I first die cut the tag base and scalloped circle from white card stock. I then blended some deep pink ink along the bottom edge of the scalloped circle. I then heat embossed the sentiment (from Holiday Flourishes) in silver and set the scalloped circle aside. I turned my attention to the holly and flourish die cuts. I used the same deep pink (Sweet Gelato from Wplus9) for the berries, and Simply Chartreuse and Ripe Avocado from Papertrey Ink for the leaves. The flourishes were stamped with silver Delicata ink. I arranged the greenery and flourishes in a cluster along the edge of the blended portion of the scalloped tag. A white bow added a bit of a feminine flair, and a few Glass Slippers sequins added a touch of sparkle!
My next project uses my favorite watercolors… my Zig Clean Color markers. I started by taking a panel of watercolor paper and heat embossing the clusters of berries and holly leaves using white pearl embossing powder. I added a few flourishes to each cluster, concentrating most of the weight on the bottom left corner. I then took my Zig Clean color markers and blended a few shades of pink and a few shades of green to create some shading on the holly leaves. I know real holly leaves and berries are much more subdued (aka NOT neon haha), but I took artistic license. Forgive me!
I created a color wash with some Old Paper Distress Ink to wash around the holly clusters in order to bring out the white flourishes on the white paper. I added some little dots to the center of the berries to add some dimension to this otherwise-flat card. The final step was to heat emboss the sentiment from Holiday Lyrics in silver. I matted the watercolored panel on some silver glitter paper, then mounted them on a deep pink card base. Nice and flat, easy for mailing.
I hope these cards tickled your fancy! I'm loving non-traditional colors this year. I hope you are, too! Have a fantastic Wednesday, friends!


text:
Select your country
For products, support & sales
Markets & Solutions
Our leading technologies
Discover Bostik
Company, news and careers
Contact Us
IA Corporate Form
Industrial Contact Form
First Name *
Last Name *
Company or Organization
Email Address *
Phone Number
Address 1
Address 2
State or Province
Country *
Type of Request *
Technical Inquiry
Marketing Inquiry
Other Inquiry
Choose One
How can we help you? *
Opt in to receive smart news from Bostik?
Sign me up!
No Thanks.


text:
By Representative Dean Fisher
We quickly shifted gears this past week, spending much more time in caucus meetings reviewing bills and then debating them on the floor. We debated and passed over 40 bills this week. Many of the bills are non-controversial, taking but a few minutes to discuss and vote on them. Roughly 90% of the bills we pass are bi-partisan. Occasionally one of these bills unexpectedly turns out to be controversial and debate can go on for hours, usually well into the evening. One such bill was House file 594 – "Limitations Regarding the Withdrawal of Life Support for a Minor". This bill simply states that a court may not order withdrawal of life support from a child against the parent's wishes. This bill is in response to the Alfie Evans case in the United Kingdom wherein the courts refused to let Alfie's parents take their child to another country for treatment, instead forcing life support to be removed against the parent's wishes. That decision belonged to the parents, not a judge. House Democrats resisted this bill by attempting to amend it with language that would retain the courts ability to interfere. We debated this bill for several hours on Monday night, ultimately passing it with narrow bipartisan support of 58 to 36.
Tuesday we debated and passed Senate File 519, the Ag Trespass Bill. Agriculture is the backbone of Iowa's economy and as such it encompasses far more economic activity than farming. Agriculture supports our small businesses, manufacturers, financial services, and much more. It is therefore critical that we do all we can to protect our agricultural economy from hostile individuals, organizations, and foreign agents who wish to do it harm. Extremist activists bent on damaging a facility or creating biosecurity damage, or foreign agents wishing to steal intellectual property such as patented seed strains, are among the threats we must guard against. This legislation makes it illegal for a person to gain employment under false premises. The bill now goes to the governor for signature in a ceremony Thursday afternoon.
Wednesday we debated and passed House Joint Resolution 13/Senate Joint Resolution 18, a resolution to amend the Iowa Constitution to add a Right To Keep and Bear Arms. The text of the proposed amendment is simple and easy to understand, "The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. The Sovereign state of Iowa affirms and recognizes this right to be a fundamental, individual right. Any and all restrictions of this right shall be subject to strict scrutiny." Iowa is one of only six states that do not yet have such a guarantee of our right to keep and bear arms. The bill passed the House 53 to 46 with 1 absent on a strict party line vote. All Republicans vote YES, all Democrats voted NO on protecting our right to keep and bear arms.
Thursday we debated House File 661/Senate File 274, the Campus Free Speech bill. This bill seeks to guarantee freedom of speech on our public university and community college campuses by prohibiting unconstitutional limitations from being arbitrarily imposed by college leadership. This has been an issue nationwide on college campuses, including here in Iowa. When a student enrolls in a publicly funded college they do not give up their freedom of speech. Indeed, the college setting should be a place where the full range of ideas can be heard and debated as part of the learning experience. This bill guarantees that student organizations cannot be denied benefits and access based on that organization's viewpoints or beliefs. For example, a student led Jewish organization cannot be denied because they require their leaders to be people practicing the Jewish faith. The same applies to all other faith based groups. Democrats arguing against this bill asserted that "diversity" means that persons that have no adherence whatsoever to the basic tenets of the group should be allowed to be leaders in these groups, a bizarre twist on the concept of diversity. It would make no sense to allow leaders of the Chess Club be persons with little knowledge of chess, it would make no sense to allow the leaders of the Photography Club to be persons with little knowledge of photography, and it would make no sense to allow the leaders of a Christian Club to be persons who don't adhere to that religion's beliefs and practices. This bill passed the House 52 to 44 and now goes to the governor for consideration.
On Friday, March 8, the Iowa Supreme Court handed down a decision that Iowa's Medicaid program must pay for Gender Reassignment Surgery. This is a ridiculous reading of Iowa Civil Rights law that will cost Iowa's taxpayers lots of money. At issue in the case were two men that believe they are women who qualify for Medicaid as low income persons. The court cited the fact that "Gender Identity" is a protected class of citizen under Iowa's Civil Rights Act, a classification that was added in 2007 when Democrats controlled the House, Senate, and Governors office. Iowa Medicaid law stated explicitly that Gender Reassignment surgery would NOT be covered by Medicaid, the Supreme Court's decision over rode that law. Gender Reassignment surgery costs roughly $100,000, so the state's Medicaid system, already strained with ever-increasing costs, is immediately required to spend an additional $200,000 for these two. Surely many more such persons will be demanding these surgeries as well. This will also impact our prisons and other facilities, it will be difficult to house persons that have had their gender physically changed in either a men's or women's prison. The House Republicans are reviewing this decision and considering the best way to fight this insane ruling.
As always, I can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com and at 641-750-3594.