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subset: commoncrawl


text:
Anyone keeping tabs on Sheryl Crow these days? A month or two ago, she proposed to the world that, following a toilet visit, you should use a maximum of one sheet of paper to clean up. Jonathan Davis just went one better.
Korn announced yesterday that they are to be touring this Summer using vehicles that operate on domestically-produced biodiesel fuels.
Says lead singer Jonathan of their brainwave: "We all have children, and I just worry about my kids' kids," he goes on, "[I worry about whether] they will have a place to live [and I hope] that they won't have to live underground. I think it's time we really did start trying to do something about getting rid of oil in general. We have the means to fuel cars in different ways. We have the technology to do it. We're doing our part to set the wheels in motion."
The name of this fuel? Korntastic. No, really.
Oh, and they've got a new album out.


text:
Double L is a full-service feed store and so much more.
We carry all the top ranching, wildlife, pet, gardening supplies, plus the area's largest selection of tack and horse care products (see the links for details on our great products and services).
We also believe in giving our customers great service. That is why we spend time helping you find what you need. Then we carry out your order and place it in your car or truck – even if it's a one-pound bag of birdseed.
Nobody leaves our store less than totally satisfied!
We have worked in the local feed business since 1988. Our employees and suppliers have stayed with us just as long. We understand what you need to manage a successful ranch. After all, we are ranchers, too.
So if you've never stopped in, come see us. If you are already a customer, come back real soon!


text:
Every year, Reuters publishes a list of its best photography, and you'll recognise plenty of the 95 iconic images that capture this year's biggest news stories. One keen Redditor, though, wanted to know more—so analyzed the EXIF data of all the images to find out how they were captured.
The result, put together by hallbuzz, is a sorted pool of data which reveals which cameras, lenses, and settings were used by the Reuters photographers to snap the best images of the year. Fortunately Peta Pixel points out that another user, mathiasa, took the data and turned it into a bunch of charts. Let's take a look.
Prime lenses
Zoom lenses
Shutter speed
All of which suggests that the most likely kit choice for a photograph that made the list would be a Canon 1D Mark IV with a 16-35mm lens attached, using settings of 1/320 shutter speed, f/2.8, and ISO 200. So now you know what to use to snap images like a Reuters photographer.[Reuters and Reddit via Peta Pixel]


text:
Approximant consonant
|Manners of articulation
Approximants are speech sounds that involve the articulators approaching each other but not narrowly enough[1] nor with enough articulatory precision[2] to create turbulent airflow. Therefore, approximants fall between fricatives, which do produce a turbulent airstream, and vowels, which produce no turbulence.[3] This class of sounds includes lateral approximants like [l] (as in less), non-lateral approximants like [ɹ] (as in rest), and semivowels like [j] and [w] (as in yes and west, respectively).[3]
Before Peter Ladefoged coined the term "approximant" in the 1960s,[4] the term "frictionless continuant" referred to non-lateral approximants.
Some approximants resemble vowels in acoustic and articulatory properties and the terms semivowel and glide are often used for these non-syllabic vowel-like segments. The correlation between semivowels and vowels is strong enough that cross-language differences between semivowels correspond with the differences between their related vowels.[5]
Vowels and their corresponding semivowels alternate in many languages depending on the phonological environment, or for grammatical reasons, as is the case with Indo-European ablaut. Similarly, languages often avoid configurations where a semivowel precedes its corresponding vowel.[6] A number of phoneticians distinguish between semivowels and approximants by their location in a syllable. Although he uses the terms interchangeably, Montreuil (2004:104) remarks that, for example, the final glides of English par and buy differ from French par ('through') and baille ('tub') in that, in the latter pair, the approximants appear in the syllable coda, whereas, in the former, they appear in the syllable nucleus. This means that opaque (if not minimal) contrasts can occur in languages like Italian (with the i-like sound of piede 'foot', appearing in the nucleus: [ˈpi̯eˑde], and that of piano 'slow', appearing in the syllable onset: [ˈpjaˑno])[7] and Spanish (with a near minimal pair being abyecto [aβˈjekto] 'abject' and abierto [aˈβi̯erto] 'opened').[8]
Approximant-vowel correspondences[9][10] Vowel Corresponding
Place of
Example i j** Palatal Spanish amplío ('I extend') vs. ampliamos ('we extend') y ɥ Labiopalatal French aigu ('sharp') vs. aiguille ('needle') ɯ ɰ** Velar Korean 쓰다 sseuda [s͈ɯda] ('to wear') vs. 씌우다 ssuiuda [s͈ɰiuda] ('to make s.o. wear') u w Labiovelar Spanish actúo ('I act') vs. actuamos ('we act') ɚ ɻ Retroflex* English waiter vs. waitress ɑ ʕ̞ Pharyngeal [example needed]
- ^* Because of the articulatory complexities of the American English rhotic, there is some variation in its phonetic description. A transcription with the IPA character for an alveolar approximant ([ɹ]) is common, though the sound is more postalveolar. Actual retroflexion may occur as well and both occur as variations of the same sound.[11] However, Catford (1988:161f) makes a distinction between the vowels of American English (which he calls "rhotacized") and vowels with "retroflexion" such as those that appear in Badaga; Trask (1996:310), on the other hand, labels both as r-colored and notes that both have a lowered third formant.[12]
- ^** Because the vowels [i ɯ] are articulated with spread lips, spreading is implied for their approximant analogues, [j ɰ]. However, these sounds generally have little or no lip-spreading. The fricative letters with a lowering diacritic, ⟨ʝ˕ ɣ˕⟩, may therefore be justified for a neutral articulation between spread [j ɰ] and rounded [ɥ w].[13]
In articulation and often diachronically, palatal approximants correspond to front vowels, velar approximants to back vowels, and labialized approximants to rounded vowels. In American English, the rhotic approximant corresponds to the rhotic vowel. This can create alternations (as shown in the above table).
In addition to alternations, glides can be inserted to the left or the right of their corresponding vowels when they occur next to a hiatus.[14] For example, in Ukrainian, medial /i/ triggers the formation of an inserted [j] that acts as a syllable onset so that when the affix /-ist/ is added to футбол ('football') to make футболіст 'football player', it is pronounced [futbo̞ˈlist], but маоїст ('Maoist'), with the same affix, is pronounced [mao̞ˈjist] with a glide.[15] Dutch has a similar process that extends to mid vowels:[16]
- bioscoop → [bijɔskoːp] ('cinema')
- zee + en → [zeːjə(n)] ('seas')
- fluor → [flyɥɔr] ('fluor')
- reu + en → [røɥə(n)] ('male dogs')
- Rwanda → [ruʋandɐ] ('Rwanda')[17]
- Boaz → [boʋas] ('Boaz')[17]
Similarly, vowels can be inserted next to their corresponding glide in certain phonetic environments. Sievers' law describes this behaviour for Germanic.
Non-high semivowels also occur. In colloquial Nepali speech, a process of glide-formation occurs, where one of two adjacent vowels becomes non-syllabic; the process includes mid vowels so that [dʱo̯a] ('cause to wish') features a non-syllabic mid vowel.[18] Spanish features a similar process and even nonsyllabic /a/ can occur so that ahorita ('right away') is pronounced [a̯o̞ˈɾita].[19] It is not often clear, however, whether such sequences involve a semivowel (a consonant) or a diphthong (a vowel), and in many cases, it may not be a meaningful distinction.
Although many languages have central vowels [ɨ, ʉ], which lie between back/velar [ɯ, u] and front/palatal [i, y], there are few cases of a corresponding approximant [ ȷ̈]. One is in the Korean diphthong [ ȷ̈i] or [ɨ̯i][20] though it is more frequently analyzed as velar (as in the table above), and Mapudungun may be another, with three high vowel sounds, /i/, /u/, /ɨ/ and three corresponding consonants, /j/, and /w/, and a third one is often described as a voiced unrounded velar fricative; some texts note a correspondence between this approximant and /ɨ/ that is parallel to /j/–/i/ and /w/–/u/. An example is liq /ˈliɣ/ ([ˈliɨ̯]?) ('white').[21]
Approximants versus fricatives
In addition to less turbulence, approximants also differ from fricatives in the precision required to produce them.[22] When emphasized, approximants may be slightly fricated (that is, the airstream may become slightly turbulent), which is reminiscent of fricatives. For example, the Spanish word ayuda ('help') features a palatal approximant that is pronounced as a fricative in emphatic speech.[23] Spanish can be analyzed as having a meaningful distinction between fricative, approximant, and intermediate /ʝ ʝ˕ j/.[24] However, such frication is generally slight and intermittent, unlike the strong turbulence of fricative consonants.
Because voicelessness has comparatively reduced resistance to air flow from the lungs, the increased air flow creates more turbulence, making acoustic distinctions between voiceless approximants (which are extremely rare cross-linguistically[25]) and voiceless fricatives difficult.[26] This is why, for example, the voiceless labialized velar approximant [w̥] (also transcribed with the special letter ⟨ʍ⟩) has traditionally been labeled a fricative, and no language is known to contrast it with a voiceless labialized velar fricative [xʷ].[27] Similarly, Standard Tibetan has a voiceless lateral approximant, [l̥], and Welsh has a voiceless lateral fricative [ɬ], but the distinction is not always clear from descriptions of these languages. Again, no language is known to contrast the two.[27] Iaai is reported to have an unusually large number of voiceless approximants, with /l̥ ɥ̊ w̥/.
For places of articulation further back in the mouth, languages do not contrast voiced fricatives and approximants. Therefore the IPA allows the symbols for the voiced fricatives to double for the approximants, with or without a lowering diacritic.
Occasionally, the glottal "fricatives" are called approximants, since [h] typically has no more frication than voiceless approximants, but they are often phonations of the glottis without any accompanying manner or place of articulation.
Central approximants
- bilabial approximant [β̞] (usually transcribed ⟨β⟩)
- labiodental approximant [ʋ]
- dental approximant [ð̞] (usually transcribed ⟨ð⟩)
- alveolar approximant [ɹ]
- retroflex approximant [ɻ ] (a consonantal [ɚ])
- palatal approximant [j] (a consonantal [i])
- velar approximant [ɰ] (a consonantal [ɯ])
- uvular approximant [ʁ̞] (usually transcribed ⟨ʁ⟩)
- pharyngeal approximant [ʕ̞] (a consonantal [ɑ]; usually transcribed ⟨ʕ⟩)
- breathy-voiced glottal approximant [ɦ]
- creaky-voiced glottal approximant [ʔ̞]
Lateral approximants
In lateral approximants, the center of tongue makes solid contact with the roof of the mouth. However, the defining location is the side of the tongue, which only approaches the teeth.
- voiceless alveolar lateral approximant [l̥]
- voiced alveolar lateral approximant [l]
- retroflex lateral approximant [ɭ]
- voiceless palatal lateral approximant [ʎ̥]
- voiced palatal lateral approximant [ʎ]
- velar lateral approximant [ʟ]
- uvular lateral approximant [ʟ̠]
Coarticulated approximants with dedicated IPA symbols
- labialized velar approximant [w] (a consonantal [u])
- labialized palatal approximant [ɥ] or [jʷ] (a consonantal [y])
Voiceless approximants
Voiceless approximants are rarely distinguished from voiceless fricatives. Iaai has an unusually large number of them, with /l̥ ɥ̊ w̥/ contrasting with /l ɥ w/ (as well as a large number of voiceless nasals). Attested voiceless approximants are:[28]
- voiceless alveolar lateral approximant [l̥]
- voiceless velar lateral approximant [ʟ̥]
- voiceless labiodental approximant [ʋ̥]
- voiceless alveolar approximant [ɹ̥]
- voiceless palatal approximant [j̊]
- voiceless labialized palatal approximant [ɥ̊] or [j̊ʷ]
- voiceless velar approximant [ɰ̊]
- voiceless labialized velar approximant [ʍ] or [w̥]
- voiceless glottal approximant [h]
- voiceless nasal glottal approximant [h̃]
Nasal approximants
(Not to be confused with 'nasal continuant', which is a synonym for nasal occlusive)
Examples are:
- nasal palatal approximant [j̃]
- nasal labio-velar approximant [w̃]
- voiceless nasal glottal approximant [h̃]
In Portuguese, the nasal glides [j̃] and [w̃] historically became /ɲ/ and /m/ in some words. In Bini, the nasalized allophones of the approximants /j/ and /w/ are nasal occlusives, [ɲ] and [ŋʷ].
What are transcribed as nasal approximants may include non-syllabic elements of nasal vowels/diphthongs.
See also
|Look up approximant in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
- ↑ Ladefoged (1975:277)
- ↑ Martínez-Celdrán (2004:201), citing Ladefoged & Maddieson (1996)
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Martínez-Celdrán (2004:201)
- ↑ Martínez-Celdrán (2004:201), pointing to Ladefoged (1964:25)
- ↑ Ladefoged & Maddieson (1996:323), citing Maddieson & Emmorey (1985)
- ↑ Rubach (2002:680), citing Kawasaki (1982)
- ↑ Montreuil (2004:104)
- ↑ Saporta (1956:288)
- ↑ Martínez-Celdrán (2004:202)
- ↑ Ladefoged & Maddieson (1996:323)
- ↑ Hallé, Best & Levitt (1999:283) citing Delattre & Freeman (1968), Zawadzki & Kuehn (1980), and Boyce & Espy-Wilson (1997)
- ↑ Both cited in Hamann (2003:25–26)
- ↑ John Esling (2010) "Phonetic Notation", in Hardcastle, Laver & Gibbon (eds) The Handbook of Phonetic Sciences, 2nd ed., p 699.
- ↑ Rubach (2002:672)
- ↑ Rubach (2002:675–676)
- ↑ Rubach (2002:677–678)
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 There is dialectal and allophonic variation in the realization of /ʋ/. For speakers who realize it as [ʋ], Rubach (2002:683) postulates an additional rule that changes any occurrence of [w] from glide insertion into [ʋ].
- ↑ Ladefoged & Maddieson (1996:323–324)
- ↑ Martínez-Celdrán, Fernández-Planas & Carrera-Sabaté (2003:256–257)
- ↑ Ahn & Iverson (2006)
- ↑ Listen to a recording
- ↑ Boersma (1997:12)
- ↑ Martínez-Celdrán (2004:204)
- ↑ Martínez-Celdrán, E. (2004) Problems in the classification of approximants. Journal of the International Phonetic Association, 34, 201–10.
- ↑ Blevins (2006:13)
- ↑ Ohala (1995:8)
- ↑ 27.0 27.1 Ladefoged & Maddieson (1996:326)
- ↑ Bickford & Floyd (2006), augmented by sources at individual articles for the glottal approximants
- Blevins, Juliette (2006), "New perspectives on English sound patterns: "natural" and "unnatural" in evolutionary phonology", Journal of English Linguistics, 34: 6–25, doi:10.1177/0075424206287585<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- Boersma, Paul (1997), "Sound change in functional phonology", Functional Phonology: Formalizing the Interactions Between Articulatory and Perceptual Drives, The Hague: Holland Academic Graphics<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- Boyce, S.; Espy-Wilson, C. (1997), "Coarticulatory stability in American English /r/", Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 101 (6): 3741–3753, Bibcode:1997ASAJ..101.3741B, doi:10.1121/1.418333, PMID 9193061<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- Delattre, P.; Freeman, D.C. (1968), "A dialect study of American R's by x-ray motion picture", Linguistics, 44: 29–68<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- Hallé, Pierre A.; Best, Catherine T.; Levitt, Andrea; Andrea (1999), "Phonetic vs. phonological influences on French listeners' perception of American English approximants", Journal of Phonetics, 27 (3): 281–306, doi:10.1006/jpho.1999.0097<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- Hamann, Silke (2003), The Phonetics and Phonology of Retroflexes, Utrecht, ISBN 90-76864-39-X<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- Kawasaki, Haruko (1982), An acoustical basis for universal constraints on sound sequences (doctoral dissertation), University of California, Berkeley<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- Ladefoged, Peter (1964), A Phonetic Study of West African Languages, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- Ladefoged, Peter (1975), A Course in Phonetics, New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- Ladefoged, Peter; Maddieson, Ian (1996). The Sounds of the World's Languages. Oxford: Blackwell. ISBN 0-631-19814-8.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- Maddieson, Ian; Emmorey, Karen (1985), "Relationship between semivowels and vowels: Cross-linguistic investigations of acoustic difference and", Phonetica, 42 (4): 163–174, doi:10.1159/000261748, PMID 3842771<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- Martínez-Celdrán, Eugenio (2004), "Problems in the classification of approximants", Journal of the International Phonetic Association, 34 (2): 201–210, doi:10.1017/S0025100304001732<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- Martínez-Celdrán, Eugenio; Fernández-Planas, Ana Ma.; Carrera-Sabaté, Josefina (2003), "Castilian Spanish", Journal of the International Phonetic Association, 33 (2): 255–259, doi:10.1017/S0025100303001373<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- Montreuil, Jean-Pierre (2004), "From velar codas to high nuclei: phonetic and structural change in OT", Probus, 16: 91–111, doi:10.1515/prbs.2004.005<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- Rubach, Jerzy (2002), "Against subsegmental glides", Linguistic Inquiry, 33 (4): 672–687, doi:10.1162/ling.2002.33.4.672<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- Ohala, John (1995), "Phonetic explanations for sound patterns: Implications for grammars of competence", Proceedings of the 16th International Congress of Phonetic Sciences, 2, Stockholm, pp. 52–59<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- Saporta, Sol (1956), "A Note on Spanish Semivowels", Language, 32 (2): 287–290, doi:10.2307/411006, JSTOR 411006<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- Trask, Robert L. (1996), A Dictionary of Phonetics and Phonology, London: Routledge<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- Zawadski, P.A.; Kuehn, D.P. (1980), "A cineradiographic study of static and dynamic aspects of American English /r/", Phonetica, 37 (4): 253–266, doi:10.1159/000259995, PMID 7443796<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>


text:
Title: The Mormon People: The Making of an American Faith
Author: Matthew Bowman
Publisher: Random House
Genre: History
Year: 2012
Pages: 352
Binding: Hardcover
Price: $26.00
Hallelujah! The world needed an accessible, neutral, brief, birth-to-present history of Mormonism, and it needed it right now. Matthew Bowman has written that book. Including every relevant moment from the boy Joseph's leg operation to Twilight, and from suffragist Emmeline Wells to Broadway's Elder Price, all in a slim 253 pages (plus several appendices), Bowman works a space-packing miracle reminiscent of Dr. Who's TARDIS or Mary Poppins' carpet bag. Opinion makers in the media, politics, and academia who want to join the conversation about Mormons will be well prepared by this brisk and rigorous overview, and I imagine many keeping a heavily Post-It-noted copy near at hand in the coming months and years. Bowman's work shines most brightly in its detailed rendering of the uniquely fertile soil for religious innovation in the time and place of young Joseph Smith's America, and its painstakingly balanced study of the early origins of the church. Interested outsiders will also find, in Chapter 8, an excellent portrait of daily life for "an active, committed Mormon family" today, including the rhythms of weekly meetings and activities, and private devotional life such as Family Home Evening.
[Read more…]


text:
What's New
Release Version: 1.1
Release Date: June 18, 2011
Release Notes:
- Add Rating Manager Module
- Remove unused classes
App Description
One Day Sale - 50% OFF Price
Can you Ace the Chimp?!?!
Don't let the "insulting" chimp get on your nerves!
A reward code for a valuable prize will be waiting for you to claim after successfully beating the last "Boss Chimp" Level. Instructions to redeem this prize will be provided.
Inspiration of the game is from a "limited-hold memory task" on two chimps, Inoue and Matsuzawa, from Kyoto University in Japan. Numbers are displayed on a screen, and the test is to remember the numbers in order and touch them. Results showed that the chimps were much faster and more accurate than people:
Simply touch the numbers in order within the time limit. The quicker you complete a level, the higher the scores and ratings you will get.
On certain levels, you can earn power-ups when you get a NEW high score and 3 banana rating. As a strategy, use the power-ups wisely. They will come handy in the "Boss Chimp" levels.
The "Boss Chimp" levels at the end of each episode are tricky since it's based on the quick reaction time as well as figuring out the ways to beat it. (Hint: Try remembering the sequence orders and patters - impossible to beat otherwise).
Simple to Learn, Impossible to Master.
1) Add more time to the limit - an extra second might help solve the level.
2) Shows the hidden pieces - unflip the numbers that are hidden.
3) Solve two pieces - automatically remove two game pieces from the sequence to ease the level.
1) To gain power-ups, achieve 3 banana rating and high scores.
2) Replay levels and get NEW high score with 3 banana rating to gain more power-ups.
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1) 5 Themed Chimp-packed Episodes
2) 150 total levels to solve
3) Funny insults from the chimp
4) High Scores and Banana Rating on each level
App Changes
- June 29, 2011 Price increase: FREE! -> $0.99


text:
Photo: 'New Deal' in Art History
Saturday Morning
Obama 'Labor Walks,'
Beaver County Style,
& Kucinich's 'New Deal'
By Randy Shannon
4th CD Progressive Democrats of America
Nearly 100 blue-collar union workers rose early this Saturday morning, Oct. 4, 2008 and headed for the IBEW hall in Vanport, Beaver County. Their union jackets and T-Shirts told the story: they were steelworkers, electrical workers, hospital workers and other trades, and their buttons, signs and bumper stickers on their pickups all had a common message: Vote for Barack Obama, Defeat John McCain.
This was organized labor moving into action, and it was impressive. As soon as you walked in the door, a half-dozen teams were working assembling hundreds of yard signs for Obama-Biden. The young Obama campaigners, stressed with doing last-minute voter registration, had been out of them for weeks. Now the problem was solved.
Don Siegel, International Vice President of the IBEW took the floor and addressed these union activists from the AFL-CIO and CTW locals in Beaver County who had gathered at Local 712 for the 'Saturday Labor Walk.'
His message was clear and educational. We heard that union members have to approach this election in a determined, no-nonsense manner, just like organizing on the job or fighting for a union contract. This is about our livelihood, wages, and healthcare benefits. We can't make progress at the bargaining table if we don't work to elect politicians that support us. This year's election is more important than ever because of the economy and Labor is backing the Democratic Party candidates, starting with the Obama-Biden ticket.
Frank Snyder, National AFL-CIO State Director for PA, also took the floor. He said that last Saturday morning nearly 1,100 union volunteers were knocking on doors in Pennsylvania. The goal for today was to mobilize 2,000 union activists. Union door-knocking is now going on a 6 day schedule in October.
Union members in Pennsylvania are going to receive several pieces of mail including a letter from their local union, phones calls, contacts on the job, and home visits to discuss the economic importance of electing Obama President. Snyder pointed out that Beaver County was key to Obama winning in Pennsylvania. He also pointed out that electing a Democratic Legislature was important for the 2010 redistricting of Congressional seats in PA. He also showed poll results that indicate that labor will probably knock out Republican Congressman Phil English in the Erie 3rd CD.
Snyder was also forthright on what some see as a touchy subject: racism. 'There's no ignoring it,' he said. We know it's out there, and we wish it wasn't. We're not going to solve this problem in the next 30 days, that's for sure. But we can meet it squarely, insisting that some of those holding prejudice think very hard, set it aside, and vote their interests. Just patiently and clearly explain, over and over, they need to vote their interests," as he patted his wallet pocket.
Our door to door walk was in the mostly white College Hill neighborhood of Beaver Falls next to conservative Geneva College. Most of the people we talked to were quite certain they were going to vote straight Democrat this election. Some said they supported Obama and their voting age kids do too. The results today were encouraging. If this union campaign keeps up, McCain will have to abandon Pennsylvania as he did in Michigan, another state where organized labor has hit the bricks.
Some real momentum is building in the labor movement around this election. It appears that the national leadership of the AFL-CIO sees a disaster ahead for working people if McCain is elected and implements his slash and burn agenda. Today's turnout shows that the AFL-CIO leadership is working the phones.
I'm actually feeling confident enough to think about where this train is going after the Democratic Party sweeps this election. Watching the criminal financial elite bully the Congress into giving them our tax money, one can't help but wonder where the political leadership is going to come from to confront this new power grab by the banks.
Its not surprising that a former mayor who fearlessly stopped the Cleveland banks from taking over the local electric power company has stepped up to the plate. His plan is one that will actually change the way things are going, not just address the ongoing symptoms.
Cong. Dennis Kucinich's recovery plan addresses the root causes of this financial and economic crisis. And it incorporates elements of important legislation currently pending in Congress. HR 676, Medicare for All, is the first point. The second point is HR 6800 which provides a fully paid prescription drug benefit under Medicare. This should be passed next week.
Progressive Democrats of America, founded by Kucinich, Conyers, Tom Hayden, and others should study and promote this plan as our agenda for the first four years of the Obama administration. On the 75th Anniversary of the first New Deal this program is today's New Deal. Progressives should organize a New Deal campaign to put this agenda before the public and work with local unions and community organizations to publicize this program. We should support the efforts of Congressman Kucinich and other progressive Congresspersons to make this program our negotiating position in the coming struggle for influence in the new Obama administration. If some of the momentum being unleashed today can continue rolling into the New Year, the door to real change may not swing shut again.
The New Deal
Kucinich's Main Street Recovery Plan
1. Health Care for All: Insurance companies make money not providing health care. As the co-author of HR 676, a universal, single-payer, not-for-profit health care system, Medicare for All, I understand millions of Americans want health care that is accessible and affordable.
Medicare for All will help businesses large and small, create jobs as well as save the jobs of thousands of people including those of doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers who are currently leaving medicine because it is run by the insurance companies. $1 in every 3 dollars of the $2.4 trillion spent annually in America for health care goes to the insurance companies. If we take that money ($800 billion in unproductive wasteful spending) and put it directly into care, we will have enough money to cover everyone. We are already paying for Medicare for all, but not receiving it. HR 676 changes that!
2. Prescription Drug Benefit for Seniors: HR 6800 is the MEDS Act, which provides a fully paid prescription drug benefit, under Medicare, for all seniors. I wrote this bill to help alleviate the economic pressure that comes from the high cost of prescription drugs. We can pay for it by letting the government negotiate drug prices with the pharmaceutical companies as well as by permitting re-importation.
3. Stop the Oil Companies' Price Gouging: As you know, I was the first one to step up to challenge of the corrupt price gouging and market speculation of the oil companies by proposing a windfall profits tax, on oil and natural gas companies, with revenues put into tax credits for the purchase of fuel-efficient American-made cars. However, it may be that nationalization is the only way to put an end to the oil companies' sharp practices.
4. Protecting the American Homestead: As Chairman of the Domestic Policy Oversight Subcommittee, I am working to protect your basic right to have a roof over your head, whether as an owner or renter. I have investigated and helped to expose the manipulation of mortgage markets, and I am crafting a new federal policy so that neighborhoods with the highest number of foreclosures get the most help.
5. Jobs for All: Congressman LaTourette and I have co-authored the bi-partisan New Deal-type jobs program, HR 3400, "Rebuilding America's Infrastructure." It will create millions of good-paying new jobs rebuilding our roads, bridges, water systems and sewer systems.
6. American Manufacturing Policy: I am drafting the American Manufacturing Policy Act, which for the first time, will state that the maintenance of U.S. steel, automotive, and aerospace industries are vital to our national economic security and must be maintained through integrated public-private cooperation, new trade policies, and investment.
7. Works Green Administration: I am also drafting plans for a green New Deal jobs program, in which the government creates millions of jobs by incentivizing the design, engineering, manufacturing, distribution and maintenance of millions of wind and solar micro-technologies for millions of homes and businesses, dramatically lowering energy costs and reducing our dependence on oil.
8. Fair Trade: The U.S. has lost millions of good-paying jobs, and more jobs have been out-sourced. As you know, I have helped to lead the way in opposition to trade giveaways. I strongly urge repeal of NAFTA. We must include workers' rights, human rights and environmental quality principles in all trade pacts. We must also protect the Great Lakes' water resources from the reach of multi-national corporations.
9. Education for All: I know families need help with the rising cost of day care. That is why I introduced HR 4060, a universal pre-kindergarten program to ensure that all children ages 3-5 have access to full-day, quality day care.
10. Protecting Pensions: I am working to change bankruptcy laws so pensioners' claims will be first, ahead of banks, and that corporate executives who misuse workers' pension funds are subject to criminal penalties. I want to fully fund the Pension Benefit Guarantee Board.
11. Social Security: From my first moments in Congress, I have exposed Wall Street's efforts to privatize Social Security and attacked it in the Democratic Caucus when it was being proposed. Can you imagine where seniors would be today if Social Security had been turned over to the stock market? Social Security is solid through 2032 without any changes.
12. Protect Bank Deposits: I will work to make sure the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) has sufficient funds to provide for insurance of deposits up to $200,000 at all banks and savings and loans. This is an urgent matter since so many banks are said to be vulnerable.
13. Protect Investors: Bring back strong regulation to Wall Street. As Chairman of the Domestic Policy Subcommittee, I challenged the Wall Street hedge fund speculators as a threat to small investors. I intend to keep active watch over the machinations on Wall Street.
14. Strength through Peace: You'll remember when I led the effort against the ill-conceived Iraq war, which has now cost more than 4,100 US soldiers' lives, cost U.S. taxpayers between $3 trillion and $5 trillion, and resulted in the deaths of more than a million Iraqis. We must bring our troops home and end the war. We must engage in diplomacy. We must reduce the military budget, and we must stop outrageous cost overruns by the likes of Halliburton.
15. Safety in America: I am proud of my work for peace. In July 2001, I introduced a bill, which today is HR 808, that for the first time creates a comprehensive plan to deal with the issues of violence in American society, particularly domestic violence, spousal abuse, child abuse, gang violence, gun violence, racial violence, and violence against gays by establishing a Cabinet-level Department of Peace and Restorative Justice. This proposal has sparked a national movement and when implemented will save tax payers millions of dollars.
16. Monetary Policy: It is long past the time that we looked at the implications of our debt based monetary system, the privatization of money created by the 1913 Federal Reserve Act, the banks fractional reserve system and our debt-based economic system. Unless we have dramatic reform of monetary policy, the entire economic system will continue to accelerate wealth upwards. I am currently working on drafting legislation for an 'American Monetary Act' to address these and other issues in order to protect the economic wellbeing of America.


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Nowhere tells more starkly of the duality in our relationship towards the natural environment than Taranaki: the dichotomy of the "productive" and "scenic" landscape.
Taranaki is known throughout the world for the almost perfectly conical mountain which rises up through what are otherwise the flattest of plains. This mountain and the region was made famous by its being used as the backdrop for the film, "The Last Samurai". Indeed, New Zealand was chosen to shoot the movie due to the mountain's remarkable resemblance to Japan's Mount Fuji – also a perfectly conical mountain that stands alone on the plains of central Japan. Continue reading


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Friday, October 14, 2011
23 comments:
Gorgeous photos! xReplyDelete
simply fabulous soup and presentationReplyDelete
This soup is such a pretty color and I bet it tastes wonderful too! Great pictures!ReplyDelete
Beautiful colors!ReplyDelete
- AnonymousOctober 14, 2011 at 10:14 AM
Oh wow, the color alone is lovely! Very nice!ReplyDelete
So funny because I came across this right as I was eating a bowl of roasted tomato soup! With wonderful tomatoes from our garden. Your version looks deicious too.ReplyDelete
I love the simplicity of your soup. I think you really show the beauty of the tomatoes themselves and their transformation. With those nicely grilled cheese sandwiches on the side, I see a perfect lunch in front of me! :)ReplyDelete
haha yay our new Aesop!!ReplyDelete
the title is so apt and am loving your pics. yes, roasted, grilled vegs enhance the flavor surprisingly!!
a pro at pouts...i like that!
I think I could eat this every day for lunch for a year and not tire of the combo one bit! Gorgeous photos~ReplyDelete
Heirloom tomatoes make all the difference in the world!ReplyDelete
OMG girl this is exactly what I am craving right now!! For real, I am going to go make this with my non-heirloom but still wonderful vine-ripe tomatoes. Thanks :)ReplyDelete
Sounds and looks heavenly! Love your photos too.ReplyDelete
Heavenly dish! Simply satisfying...I can't help but smile while reading your blog.My childhood memories flashback and suddenly I am tempted to try this out...Thanks!ReplyDelete
simple but wonderful! Love the color of the soup, Karen, and paired with that crusty, cheesy sandwich? Yum.ReplyDelete
This is fantastic! and I loooove the fact that you roast the tomatoes....mmmmm!ReplyDelete
i really like your food pictures and want to invite you to try out tastingspot.com. it's for anyone that just wants another place to submit photos and share it will other foodies. It's still in beta version, but would love for you to start adding some photos and help get it going.ReplyDelete
Perfect food to roll into fall with! Looks delicious!ReplyDelete
Tomato soup is one of my favorites. Especially if it is homemade. This looks so good. Can you come cook for me?ReplyDelete
I love tomato soup - especially is there's a grilled cheese to go along with it =)ReplyDelete
Looks so delicious. A simple but comforting meal for a cool Autumn evening. And those ham & gruyere sandwiches add an upscale element to this traditional dish!ReplyDelete
Hi Karen, Your Roasted Heirloom Tomato Soup recipe has been selected to be featured in a Recipe Guessing Game. Please share the following link with your friends and fans. To play, go here: http://knapkins.com/guess_games/140?source=blog Congrats again!! :)ReplyDelete
wow deliciousReplyDelete
Grace will speak for you.ReplyDelete
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Even more recent news, my book Catwoods, Stories and Studies of Our Feline Companions, won both a Certificate of Excellence and a MUSE Medallion in the Cat Writers' Association contest!
July 2019. Latest news, I now have a book out and I'm now a Professional Member of the Cat Writers' Association! WooHoo!
I am a writer fascinated by the natural world and animals. I'm especially taken with the household cat, felis silvestris catus. I feel that humans can grow in compassion towards all when they have direct contact with nature and its creatures.
I was also a visual artist until I became ill with a rare chronic neuropathic disease in 1992. Because of the limitations of the illness, I write and update this blog at a slower than usual pace. This is also true of publishing and answering comments, and commenting on the the websites of others.
I'm slowly learning photography and photo editing late in life because I can no longer do painting and mixed media. I'm having lots of fun with it; I'm not very skilled but I'm always happy when anyone likes my pictures.
I live in Alabama with my husband and our animals. There's a cat in my life who has been missing since the 2011 tornadoes. We have kept up the search and the hope of finding him, but he would now be getting up in age.
I'm a lifelong wilderness advocate. I am liberal. I live in a like-minded community in the southeast US; liberal southerners do indeed exist! I do mention political matters on occasion but my health is too fragile to discuss them in depth. If you've stated political and/or environmental views that differ from mine, I will still follow and "like" your posts about cats and other topics of interest to me if they include no politics. If you include a political statement I disagree with in a post, I won't like that particular post; but I'll be back for another post if it's devoid of views I don't agree with. Though I'm here for cats and nature and art and science, I'll "like" posts on politics and environment that I do agree with.
The US southeast where I live is a place full of creative activity, with many artists, musicians, actors, and especially writers. I've written a book. My husband has written a book. My father-in-law wrote a book. Just about everyone I know is writing and/or creating something. The same goes for a zillion folks around here that I don't know.
I've been using the screen name 'catwoods' on several websites including this one, since 2007, partly because it's the literal translation of felis silvestris and partly because I live in a forest, with cats. Now it's also the name of my cat book, which can be purchased through Amazon and other online sources (see upper right hand corner). I've changed my username here back to my own name to see how that goes.
Y'all come on out to my imaginary porch where the party never ends and the house cats are watching the screen, meowing at me to get their stories told!
My book, Catwoods: Stories and Studies of Our Feline Companions is out after many years of work! It was published in July of 2019. It's available on Amazon (see clickable cover at upper right), Ernest and Hadley Booksellers, and Borgo Publishing. Here are the links:
~ Leah


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By Mark Sherman
Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) - Surely but slowly, the Supreme Court is entering the 21st century. The court made new legal filings available online Monday, years behind the rest of the federal court system.
Can livestreamed audio of arguments and even televised sessions be far behind? Yes, they can.
But advocates of court openness will take what they can get for now, especially because the Supreme Court will not charge for documents. The federal courts' PACER system does charge fees.
"Though the Supreme Court has moved glacially to join the rest of the judiciary in permitting online filing, that's better than not at all, and the institution should be commended for creating an e-filing system that, unlike PACER, will be free and easily accessible to the public," said Gabe Roth, executive director of Fix the Court.
Over the years, the justices have at times shown a glancing familiarity with technology. Some carry computer tablets with high court briefs loaded on them. But notes between justices are routinely sent on paper, definitely not by email.
Chief Justice John Roberts himself noted a few years back that the court stuck with pneumatic tubes to transmit newly released opinions from the courtroom to reporters waiting one floor below until 1971, long after their heyday.
Roberts said that it's appropriate for courts "to be late to the harvest of American ingenuity" because their primary role is to resolve disputes fairly.
Many Supreme Court legal briefs already are available online and for free from several sources. Scotusblog.com obtains and posts many of them, along with opinions. The Justice Department has an easily accessible archive of its extensive high court filings on its website, and the American Bar Association posts briefs in the 70 to 80 cases the court agrees to hear each term.
But the public may not know to look elsewhere. When the justices issued their highly anticipated decision upholding President Barack Obama's health care overhaul in 2012, the court's website was overwhelmed.
It, too, has recently been overhauled to make it friendlier to the public.
The Supreme Court updates come amid criticism of the PACER system as outmoded and unfair. "The PACER system used by the lower federal courts is hopelessly outdated and cumbersome. And, to add insult to injury, the PACER system charges people fees to access court records that should be made freely available," said Deepak Gupta, the lead attorney in a class-action lawsuit challenging PACER fees.
The judiciary says the fees provide the only money to pay for the system.
The cost to users was just one among several reasons the court opted not to join the PACER system, court spokeswoman Kathy Arberg said.
"The court elected to design its system in-house so that it would have the capability to customize and continuously update to meet the distinctive needs of the court and counsel," Arberg said.
Until now, lawyers have not been required to submit their filings to the court electronically. Now those documents should appear quickly on the court's website. People who can't afford to pay court costs will be allowed to file paper copies, which Supreme Court employees will scan and post online.
Not everything is changing. Lawyers still will be required to submit up to 40 paper copies of every brief, and the court's color-coding system to distinguish types of briefs also will remain.
There's no timetable for electronic filings to supplant paper as the official court record.
And there's also no expectation that the justices will drop their prohibition on cameras in the courtroom anytime soon.
Justice Sonia Sotomayor, who once sounded open to cameras, recently told a New York audience that cameras might detract from the robust exchanges during arguments.
The Supreme Court also refuses to livestream audio of its arguments, even as the federal appeals court just down Capitol Hill recently has allowed live audio access to its hearings. The high court posts transcripts within hours of arguments, but doesn't release the audio for days.
Published: Tue, Nov 14, 2017


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Tagged: APRIL FOOLS!!!
Crazy Game and Strange Ideas
- 17-10 Padres
It was a crazy game! Shawn Hill started and gave up nine runs in the first two innings. It looks like he's going to be in the rotation, but I'm not sure if I really want him there. Luke Gregerson threw two solid innings, which is good. Heath Bell came into the ninth to save the game. He got a couple outs, but he allowed a single and stolen base. With the tying run at third, I think he got a full count on the last batter of the game. The hitter took a called strike to end the game. Heath was obviously not the best, but he got out of the inning.
The hitters did pretty well. They were behind badly, but they were able to get a few runs. Eliezar Alfonso and Brian Giles each hit a homer. Adrian Gonzalez had three hits. Jody Gerut had two hits. Some of the younger guys were really good. There was this one hitter on the other team, the Phillies, who was huge! He looked like he belongs in the next division. He just killed us. But our hitters did very well. They were able to get seven runs in the bottom of the sixth, though that fell seven runs short. Oh well. But it was a pretty cool game!
I mean, you win some, and you lose some. It was great to get that win after a great weekend, but we severed a five game winning streak! Let's just hope we can get back on track as the season starts and goes on!
So, I was doing a little research on the Padres' new owner, Jeff Moorad. Apparently he has a lot of new plans for the Padres. Very interesting…Petco Park is certainly going to be very different with him in control. First of, he loved carousels when he was a kid. As a result, he thinks the Friar Faithful would like to have some carousels around the park.
Of course, you would have to pay to go on one of these.
His menu improvements seem like they would be pretty drastic as well. He's been in Arizona for a while, so I think he's picked up some weird ideas from there. For example, he thinks that San Diego fans would appreciate special food like THIS
and THIS
But the best part is that Moorad believes that this guy needs to be back in a Padres uniform next year:
Now that makes me like Moorad, no matter what weird ideas he has!!
Today we are the playing the White Sox…probably. Chris Young might be starting. Who knows if the game will start at 1:05? Maybe we will win!
I hope you all have a great day! Haha!
(photo credits: rundles.co.uk, flatrock.org.nz, covemountainkennels.com, imagecache2.allposters.com)


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Aluminium Offshore Delivers Gina Krog Helideck
Aluminium Offshore Reaffirms Strong NCS Position
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More on XE Enhanced Safety™ Helideck by Aluminium Offshore – a patented, passive fire-retarding system
Since Our First XE Enhanced Safety™ Helideck was Installed, 1 July 1988


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This blog was originally published by The Guardian on 26th July 2012 and is an update of a previous post on this blog.
• For advice on e-safety in schools, click here
The use of social media in education continues to be something of a hot topic with arguments both for and against.
So I carried out a small survey of 27 teaching professionals in order to create a baseline of understanding into the use (or not) of social networking in schools, and also any concerns over some of the e-safety risks. The full survey results can be found here.
There are many uses of social media in education – below are just a few of the ways they can be effectively used.
• Using Facebook as a 'broadcast' account. This is a one-way communication from the school to parents, an information portal if you like. This is a great use of social media for many reasons including: quick, easy, cheap, most parents will have an account, saves on "lost" letters on the way home and also saves on printing costs.
• An increasing number of educational institutions are using Facebook pages for promotional reasons. This is another way for schools and universities to market themselves.
• Schools are beginning to use Facebook groups to communicate with students. This is a very powerful tool for sharing information and collaborating with students from a safe distance. Facebook groups do not require members to be friends with each other. Members of the groups can exchange files, links, information, polls and videos very quickly. Anytime someone contributes the group its members will receive a notification. If you have the Facebook smartphone app these can be pushed to your device.
• Facebook pages can also be used to create a central page for students and teachers to share information.
University of Gloucestershire – This is a Facebook Page from my old university. It has a nice cover images and has a lots of links, articles, videos and photos shared on the wall, most of which are generating some discussion. Plenty for current students to get their teeth into. Plus, useful for future students to see what the university has on.
Cambridge University – Another good example. Like the University of Gloucestershire it's very active with plenty to read and comment on. The Page has plenty of "likes" which points students and other member of the community to relevant Facebook Pages.
• Twitter, like Facebook, is also being used as a broadcast account. This often links to an RSS feed from the website that automatically tweets a news article when it is published on the website. This is great for parents on the move
• Teachers have been setting up subject or class Twitter accounts that students can follow. The teacher then tweets information related to their class. Some even set homework via Twitter.
Risca Community Comprehensive – A great example of an active school Twitter feed. Varied and informative tweets for parents, staff and students. It is also great to see staff twitter accounts being retweeted. Lots of photos tweeted as well as plenty of tweets from the Head.
Clevedon School – Another great example of an active feed. Plenty of information and photos tweeted. Lots of useful tweets letting everyone in the school community what has been going on.
iClevedon – This is an account from the Clevedon again. This time rather than a whole school feed it is about the school iPad program. This allows more specific information regarding a subject can be communicated.
• Pinterest is becoming popular as a virtual pinboard. It is great for sharing web resources that students will find interesting or relevant.
Teaching Central Channel http://pinterest.com/teachingchannel/?d – These are both American boards but they are populated with some very useful "pins". It shows how Pinterest boards can be used and how great they can be for teachers.
Matt Britland – These are my Pinterest boards which I have just started populating. They are aimed at students and teachers. I have tried to split them into categories that students and teachers would find useful. When it comes to September I may create a different board for each of my schemes of work too.
We should not shy away from using social media in education but it is clear from the survey that many senior managers are worried about abuse.
However, if you have experts in your school they can provide a safe and secure framework for its use; they can create training materials and guidelines that teachers and staff can follow to ensure everyone knows what they can and cannot do.
The great thing is that many people know how to use Facebook already, and Twitter is so straightforward it would not take long for people to learn it. If there is no expert in school, seek advice, either from another school or from external expert.
I think it's important to embrace social media as it is the primary way that young people communicate, alongside text messaging and instant messaging. Much of the time we force students down the route of email. Do we do that because it is easier for us? In my experience of using Facebook groups with students they pick up communications far quicker than email.
It is obviously not always appropriate to use social media, the important thing to remember is to use it where it seems fit. You do not have to ignore email or your VLE altogether. Ask your students. Would they like to have some way of communicating via social media? If so, what is best for them and the school?
Another issue that was raised in our survey was the fact that using social networks can encroach on students and staff members personal space. I can completely understand this and is one of the many reasons for not using a personal profile for Twitter, Facebook or whichever social network you choose. Having this second, professional profile gives the staff member some space.
The same cannot be said for the student, as in general they do use their personal account. That being said, the students I have spoken to don't see this as a problem so long as the teacher is not too "loud". Twitter could be used to simply share useful links related to teaching and learning. It can be very unobtrusive.
As mentioned in the bullet points above the social networks could be used as broadcast accounts. This is perhaps the "safer" option, especially if all communication is outwards to the rest of the world rather than used to respond to questions. Twitter is especially good for this as it can be linked to the school RSS feed. This is a huge time saver and reduces the need to keep tweeting news.
However, the Twitter account can still be used for bespoke tweets by the head or nominated member of staff managing the feed. If you are clear in the profile that it is for broadcasting information only, it will not look rude if you do not reply to tweets.
Schools also worry about inappropriate use not only by students, but staff as well. Most schools filter social networks which leads to the question that promoting the use of social networks is hypocritical when we do not allow them in school. You could argue that this is true. My personal feeling is that we need to teach both students and staff appropriate use; by banning them in school we are not teaching anyone anything. I am a realist and understand that most schools will not suddenly unfilter Facebook or Twitter for students.
However, many students are using smartphones to check their favourite network so filtering them in school makes little difference. In fact, by filtering we have even less opportunity to monitor whether they are being used appropriately.


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Journey through tropical lowland rainforests, rolling tea plantation-covered mountains and discover pristine white-sand beaches in the east of the island. Delve into the country's fascinating history with stays in ex Colonial residences and tours of world heritage sites Galle and Sigiriya Rock. This breath-taking tour captures the very best this enchanting and beguiling country has to offer.
Depart London on your scheduled, overnight flight to Colombo International Airport.
On arrival you will be transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure.
Depart the capital to travel down to the South of the island to visit the colonial town of Galle, without a doubt Sri Lanka's foremost urban attraction. Your guided city tour will explore Galle Fort, a walled town built by the Dutch in the 18th Century, and now a world heritage site. Inside the walls, you will find the old Colonial traders' houses transformed into a lovely mix of boutique art galleries, shops, and bohemian cafes, infused with the scents of spices and the tropics. After enjoying lunch in Galle you will travel to the Sinharaja Forest Reserve, the last major undisturbed area of rainforest in Sri Lanka, where you will spend the next two nights at the award-winning Rainforest Eco Lodge. Each of the architecturally designed 16 chalets has its own living room and private deck to enjoy the breathtaking views of the forest canopy, rice paddies, and tea gardens. Enjoy a gentle and relaxing introductory walk around the tea estate and surrounding grounds.
Enjoy an early morning walk around the forest on a bird and butterfly trail discovering many species of flora and fauna endemic to the forest. After a well-deserved breakfast, there will be further opportunity to explore this UNESCO heritage recognised rainforest on a guided walk. Dinner will be prepared with ingredients from the lodge's own gardens.
Today your group will leave the tropical lowlands of Sinharaja and travel up into Sri Lanka's mountainous interior to Nuwara Eliya, the city of light. En route visit the inspirational Elephant Transit Home in Udawalawe, which is a rehabilitation project for orphaned elephants so that they can be released back into their natural environment. On arrival in Nuwara Eliya enjoy a visit to a tea estate and factory nestled up in the hills to see the entire manufacturing process.
This morning enjoy a tour of Nuwara Eliya passing British red post boxes, pretty Victoria Park, the 18 hole golf course and the pink bricked Victorian post office. The group will then travel to Passikudah via the small village of Mahiyangana. On arrival in Passikudah check into your hotel for your next two nights. The largely undiscovered east of the island boasts the best beaches in Sri Lanka, with pristine white sands and turquoise shallow waters.
Enjoy a full day at leisure relaxing on the beautiful Passikudah beach. Dive and snorkeling enthusiasts may choose to explore the healthy coral gardens teeming with colourful fish whilst others may take this opportunity to recharge their batteries lounging with a good book.
Depart early this morning to visit the stunning Sigiriya Rock fortress, a world heritage site dating back to the fifth century. Climb up steps carved into the rock face to the summit or enjoy the spectacular views of ancient citadel and jungle from the lily-pad-covered moats that surround the rock. Journey to Innamaluwa where you will visit a spice garden and enjoy a relaxing foot massage. After, proceed to Marawila for your overnight stay, stopping in Dambulla for lunch on the way. Please note: Photography is prohibited in parts of the Sigiriya Rock Fortress. Prohibited areas will be clearly signposted.
After breakfast transfer to Colombo airport for your flight back to the UK.
A visa is required for entry into Sri Lanka. We work closely with The Travel Visa Company who will be able to arrange your visa for you on your behalf. Please call them on 01270 250 590 and quote "Mercury Holidays". The cost of the visa is from £63. The visas take around 10 working days to issue and are only valid for 3 months from the date of issue. Therefore, we recommend that you apply for your visa 8 weeks before travel, however, please be aware that your passport will be required for the application so make sure that you will not need it during this time. Alternatively, you can visit The High Commission of Sri Lanka at 13 Hyde Park Gardens, London, W2 2LU.
Please note: If you have chosen to add the 'Kerala Beach Stay' or 'Highlights of Kerala' extension to the end of your tour, you will need to obtain an Indian visa prior to your UK departure. The Travel Visa Company offers a service which takes can take up to 15 working days at busy times. The cost is approximately £134. Alternatively, you can apply for your own visa. You can apply in person or by post to the Indian Embassy in London: 142-148 Goswell Road, London, EC1V 7DU. There are also regional centres elsewhere in the UK. Full details on the process can be found on the Indian Embassy website www.in.vfsglobal.co.uk.
We strongly recommend that you and all members of your party are suitably insured as soon as you book your holiday. It is a condition of booking that you must have suitable travel insurance. It is important that you purchase travel insurance that suitably covers your participation in whatever activities you may undertake at the time that you make your booking. To assist you with this, we have arranged travel insurance in partnership with Holiday Extras. To arrange your travel insurance with Holiday Extras, please call 0800 781 4237 and quote 'WK830' for preferential rates. Please ensure you provide us with the name of your insurer, policy number and their 24-hour emergency contact number as soon as possible. Mercury Holidays will not be liable for any costs incurred by you due to your failure to take out suitable travel insurance from the date of booking.
If booking more than 10 weeks before departure a deposit of €300pp will need to be paid at the time of booking with the full amount payable at 10 weeks prior to departure. The deposit applies to adults and children. If you are within 10 weeks of travel then the full balance of the holiday will be payable.
Your flight is to Colombo Airport is with Sri Lankan Airlines (UL), departing from London Heathrow Terminal 3. Each passenger is entitled to 30kg of hold luggage and hand luggage that you are permitted to carry one item of hand baggage (max 5kg - 56x36x23cm) in addition to one small personal item on-board the aircraft. Weight restrictions will be finalized on your final documentation. Should you wish to take additional luggage you will need to pay extra at check-in. Check-in should be at least 3 hours before departure.
IMPORTANT: Please note that final flight details will be confirmed on your final documentation which will be sent to you approximately 10 days before departure.
It is your responsibility to check any health and vaccination requirements applicable to your booked arrangements. We can only provide general information about this. Health and hygiene facilities and disease risks vary from country to country. You should take health advice about your own needs as early as possible and in good time before your departure. Sources of information include; www.fco.gov.uk, http://travelhealthpro.org.uk/, www.hpa.org.uk, your General Practitioner or a specialist clinic.
This tour is accessible to most people with an average level of fitness and normal mobility. It involves full days of sightseeing, often on foot, and includes some climbing of stairs and getting on and off coaches. Please note there are approximately 1,300 steps to Sigiriya Rock Fortress. This tour is not suitable for anyone with walking difficulties.
The minimum number of travellers in your group will be 6, and the maximum will be 12. If in the unlikely event there are less than 6 people booked on your tour date, we will endeavour to reduce any disruption to your holiday and try to operate your tour with lower passenger numbers. If we are not able to operate your departure date then you may be asked to change to a different date and a full refund will be made available to you should this alternative not be suitable.
This is a fully escorted tour, meaning that you will be met on arrival by your national guide who will remain with you for the duration of your trip. You will also be joined by a local guide in each of the cities which you visit, ensuring that you have first-hand knowledge at all times.
The currency in Sri Lanka is the Sri Lankan Rupee (LKR). The Rupee is a closed currency and officially you are not allowed to take any cash out of Sri Lanka. US Dollars and GBP are also widely accepted in these destinations, should you wish to keep an alternative currency on you. Therefore, it is very important that you budget carefully.
You will need to take money with you to cover any personal purchases such as souvenirs, laundry, drinks and snacks. Approximately £200 will be sufficient for the duration of the tour, depending on how much of a bargain-hunter you are! It is customary to tip your guide and driver, this is at your discretion but we recommend you allow approximately £56pp for the duration of your tour, this will be collected by your guide at the end of your tour for your convenience. We would recommend approximately £4-5 per person, per day for the driver and guide and £4 per person, per day for the national guides. It is asked that if you do not tip in the local currency, please do not give coins as these are difficult to exchange.
|Depart UK
|Arrive UK
|2023 Dates
|23 May 2023
|31 May 2023
|20 Jun 2023
|28 Jun 2023
|29 Aug 2023
|06 Sep 2023
|12 Sep 2023
|20 Sep 2023
|10 Oct 2023
|18 Oct 2023
|07 Nov 2023
|15 Nov 2023
|21 Nov 2023
|29 Nov 2023
|2024 Dates
|16 Jan 2024
|24 Jan 2024
|20 Feb 2024
|28 Feb 2024
|19 Mar 2024
|27 Mar 2024
|23 Apr 2024
|01 May 2024
|07 May 2024
|15 May 2024
|21 May 2024
|29 May 2024
|18 Jun 2024
|26 Jun 2024
|27 Aug 2024
|04 Sep 2024
|10 Sep 2024
|18 Sep 2024
|08 Oct 2024
|16 Oct 2024
|05 Nov 2024
|13 Nov 2024
|19 Nov 2024
|27 Nov 2024
We have limited number of rooms with no supplement available on selected dates. However, if you are happy to share with another passenger of the same gender, then let us know at the time of booking and we will endeavour to find you a travelling partner. Alternatively, please ask about our single supplement prices in order to book your own twin room.
Private Tours are also available at a supplement, please speak to reservations for more details.
Sri Lankan Rupee
10-14 hours
Sinhala, Tamil, English
Weather and Climate
Please familiarise yourself with the climate charts below.
Cant wait to go and do it again
All excellent, I wish we could of stayed 2 nights in each Hotel, to experience the facilities, on the one night only stops , we arrived in the dark and off after breakfast!
All hotels were of a very good standard
All Sri Lanka hotels were very good
The eco lodge in the rainforest was lovely but needed refurbishment...but we were told they were in the progress of doing that ..it diidnt take anything away from the holiday
On the whole, hotels were of a good quality.
Good mix of hotels
All very good
All lovely hotels and big rooms with good food and views
Excellent service by guide and driver who got us to our destinations safely. We were well looked after and the food was plentiful. All the accommodation was of a high standard and the staff we always helpful and polite.
All hotels were excellent.
A great tour with a very good guide who looked after us excellently.
Our guide was knowledgeable, helpful and always put the customer first. The itinerary was well balanced and we were informed daily what was in store and how to prepare for the day. An excellent tour covering a variety of different experiences and culture, covering such contrasting areas in such a short time.
Excellent! Excellent tour leader, very informative & really thorough. Lovely hotels, especially Mount Lavinia and the food was excellent throughout.
The turyya hotel has good facilities an excellent executive chief Shane. There does not seem any structure in the ding room.during our stay there was a large party of Chinese people then all went wrong ie no tables cleared only Chinese food available the new food and beverage manager did not seem interested when we spoke to her.all other restaurants empty as not available on all inclusive spa not open.reception staff good. Maybe a discount could be made available on other restaurants to help with congestion in main restaurant.
Call our experts 1800 804 006
Explore this fascinating city at your own pace. Colombo is the commercial capital of the island. Its streets are alive with colourful shops and markets, while temples and mosques reflect its multicultural heritage.
Extend your stay with an extension to the wonderful beach resort of Kalutara on the north west coast of the country. Indulge in a calming massage or relax by the beach before returning to the UK. Choose a hotel from our handpicked options or speak to our reservations team about our entire range of hotels available.
Why not continue your trip beyond Sri Lanka with a mini tour of the beautiful Indian state of Kerala from 549pp. This 4 night extension includes a tour of Cochin, one of India's major ports and trading centres and an overnight trip on an authentic Keralan Houseboat.
Indulge yourself with a fabulous extension to the Maldives. Arriving at Male airport you will be transferred to your hotel by speed boat for four nights of pure bliss. Enjoy spectacular views of the bluest seas from all directions whilst you unwind and relax on this island of paradise.


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Filed under: Capitalism, Freedom, Health Care | Tags: Congress, Economy, Health Insurance, Huge Deficits
In 2006, the State of Massachusetts adopted a health care plan that required every resident to get health insurance and required every business to provide it. Otherwise, residents and employers would be fined. This was the nation's first state universal health insurance program. It was to be the test ground to see how universal health coverage by the government would work here in the United States. It was to be the model that could be replicated around the country.
Within weeks of the deadline to have everyone signed up, the state hadn't accurately budgeted for the program. 95 percent of doctors weren't accepting new patients. Many doctors were leaving the state. Rationing of services, reductions in benefits and growing waits for care began. To keep the program solvent, Massachusetts cut payments to doctors and hospitals, reduced choices for patients, and was looking at increasing out-of-pocket expenses for patients.
By February of 2008, the state was asking the Federal government for help. Only two years old, and already in trouble.
With the national health care debate now heating up, the obvious question is 'what can we learn from the Massachusetts experiment? The state treasurer says "Whatever you do, don't do what we did."
State treasurer Tim Cahill offered some startling statistics:
- The program has so far cost 30 percent more than anticipated. It already has a $9 billion shortfall projected over the nest two years.
- Costs have risen 41 percent since the program's inception, well outpacing the rise in healthcare costs nationwide, which stands at 18 percent.
- We thought the program would mean that fewer people would go to hospitals, the highest costs that insurance plans have to pay. That wasn't true.
- A Harvard study shows that 60 percent of residents are unhappy with the plan. The unhappiest are those making $25,000 to $50,000 –those whom it should be helping the most.
- To cut costs, the program has kicked out 30,000 legal immigrants.
Costs for Commonwealth Care (the subsidized program) soared from $158 million in the first year to $630 million in 2007, then doubled in 2009 to $1.3 billion. Enrollment is now at 181,000 up from 165,000 in the early spring, and is expected to reach 212,000 next year.
Government managed health care has consistently failed. The Indian Health Service — jokes say that if you get sick, do it before June, for that's when they run out of money. The VA has improved some, but much care is still substandard according to those who rely on it. Hawaii flirted briefly with universal children's insurance, and quickly dropped it as it was proving far too expensive. In 1994 Tennessee implemented managed care in its Medicaid program, with a system called TennCare. They thought they would use the anticipated savings from Medicaid to fund and expand coverage for children and the uninsured. It nearly bankrupted the state, reduced the quality of care and collapsed from it own deficiencies.
A government cannot promise to insure everyone, offer free care, increase the quality of care and reduce costs. It cannot happen. It is a fantasy.
Fantasies work fine in the movies and in novels, but indulging in fantasy in real life can have real-life consequences.
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(CNN) - A top appointee of Chris Christie apparently told another official that he informed the New Jersey governor about the now-infamous traffic tie ups near the George Washington Bridge in Fort Lee last year as they were occurring, according to a review of the matter by outside lawyers hired by the governor's office.
But details of the internal investigation released on Thursday said Christie "does not recall" any conversation with David Wildstein, then an executive of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, at a public event last September, and it all wouldn't have "registered" anyway because the governor "knew nothing about this decision in advance."
[twitter-follow screen_name='politicalticker']
Christie has maintained repeatedly that he knew nothing of the gridlock created by selected lane closures to the nation's busiest bridge until after they occurred and only from media reports.
And he has denied any knowledge the tie ups were allegedly ordered to punish the Democratic mayor of Fort Lee for not endorsing the governor's reelection.
Although the review introduced new details and magnified allegations against key players, it did not offer any clarity on why the lanes were closed beyond "some ulterior motive to target (Fort Lee Mayor Mark Sokolich)."
Still, Christie's team said some things are now better understood.
"We are confident that, based on our thorough review, we have a clear understanding of what happened here, even if the participants' precise motives remain to be determined," the review said.
The scandal, under investigation by a state legislative committee and the U.S. Attorney's office over concern Christie appointees abused their authority, has called into question the governor's forceful governing style.
The report examined the claim that Christie had created a "culture" of bullying adversaries and found it "unsubstantiated."
The multiple investigations have also cast a cloud over any potential presidential campaign he may launch for 2016. Christie said on Wednesday night that the saga, which has engulfed a number of key officials he appointed since taking office in 2009, has not altered his thinking about a possible White House run.
Christie said in an interview for ABC's "World News" on Thursday that he couldn't believe it when he first heard about the traffic jam allegations and that he felt "taken advantage of" by his aides.
"I said, 'This can't possibly be true because who would do something like that?' Sometimes people do inexplicably stupid things," Christie said, adding that "none of it made any sense to me and to some extent still does not."
Team of lawyers
A team of lawyers from the firm Gibson Dunn led by Randy Mastro, a former deputy New York City mayor, examined more than 250,000 documents, including emails and text messages as part of the investigation, according to their review, which Mastro detailed publicly.
As previously reported, the internal investigation found no evidence linking Christie to the tie ups that occurred when certain access lanes dedicated to the bridge were closed without warning over a work week.
The findings concluded that Wildstein carried it out, an allegation suggested in emails released publicly around the legislative investigation in January.
"David Wildstein is the person who originated this idea and orchestrated it," Mastro said at his law office.
The review also singled out Bridget Kelly, a former Christie deputy chief of staff who sent the infamous email to Wildstein weeks before the tie ups: "Time for some traffic problems in Fort Lee."
Mastro said the investigation concluded no one in Christie's office other than her "knew of this idea in advance, played any role in the decision or the implementation of it."
A key passage involved a dinner in December between Wildstein and Christie spokesman Michael Drewniak who "passed along" Wildstein's claims to "others in the governor's office" that Wildstein had suggested that he mentioned the traffic jams to Christie at a public event while they were going on.
The review said Christie did not recall the reference, did not know about the issue in advance, and would not have considered "another traffic issue" at one of the notoriously congested bridges or tunnels linking New York and New Jersey "to be memorable."
Wildstein, Kelly, and a number of others have been subpoenaed as part of the state legislative investigation.
Wildstein has refused to testify before legislative investigators. Kelly is fighting her subpoena in court.
Unable to speak with key players
Investigators conducting the internal review were not able to speak with Wildstein, Kelly or other prominent figures in the scandal.
The review also found that Christie campaign manager Bill Stepien and Port Authority Executive Director Bill Baroni, another Christie appointee, knew of the plan to close the lanes in advance, but there was no evidence uncovered that the two men knew why.
The report also found that Stepien and Kelly had a personal relationship that ended by early August with the two not on speaking terms.
"That might explain," Mastro said, "a lack of communication between the two of them during the critical period when this lane realignment decision was made."
He went on to say that it was not meant imply anything regarding an ulterior motive for the lane closings.
The review alleged Kelly and Wildstein covered up the motive by telling members of the Christie administration that the gridlock was part of a traffic study, a claim that Democrats have questioned.
Lawyers for Wildstein and Kelly could not immediately be reached for comment.
Kevin Marino, the attorney for Stepien, said the internal review "only confirms" that Stepien, who managed Christie's two successful gubernatorial campaigns, "had no involvement whatsoever in the planning, execution or concealment of the lane closures."
He called the revelation of a personal relationship between Stepien and Kelly was offensive.
"The only reason it can possibly be in there is to create a headline. So let's just inject something that's salacious. It's just pathetic!" Marino said. "It's totally improper. It has no relevancy to this report whatsoever."
Not the final word
State Assemblyman John Wisniewski and Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg, Democrats leading the legislative investigation, issued a strongly worded statement about the internal probe.
"Lawyers hired by and paid by the Christie administration itself to investigate the governor's office who then say the governor and most of his office did nothing wrong will not be the final word on this matter," they said.
"The people of New Jersey need a full accounting of what happened. This review has deficiencies that raise questions about a lack of objectivity and thoroughness," they said. "We will continue to pursue our investigation wherever the facts lead. We want a full accounting of the lane closings and any related abuses of power and what can be done to ensure this doesn't happen again."
Christie, in the ABC interview said that the review was not conducted by his personal lawyers, but by outside attorneys hired by his office.
Mastro also defended the investigation he led.
"We are lawyers, former federal prosecutors, professionals doing an independent investigation. It serves no one's interest, not ours, not the governor's, not the governor's office, and not the constituency that the governor's office serves - the people of New Jersey, for us to have tried to do anything other than uncover the truth and report the truth because we're going to be judge on whether we got it right," he said.
Kelly was fired, while Wildstein, Stepien and Baroni have all left their jobs.
CNN's Chris Frates contributed to this report.
This is great, the Regan defense. Maybe Christie has Alzheimer's as well.
Yeah, he's presidential material all right!
If Christie had nothing to do with the bridge traffic jam, he, like any other reasonable person, would say "I had nothing to do with this"; the phrase "I don't recall" is used by liars being coached by lawyers.
Right, don't recall ever been told that your state closed a bridge for four full days and if I remember correctly an older woman died. Where were you? High or in outer space? Even if you were having your surgery done you would have known. I don't think it takes four days to get over surgery and as governor you need to be on top of your tiny state just a tad better.
@mcfx, the investigation that was done was in his favor because he hired the attorney to do the investigation. You really think he's going to say this guy is lying? I am waiting for the REAL investigation .
#1. " The review also found that Christie campaign manager Bill Stepien and Port Authority Executive Director Bill Baroni, another Christie appointee, knew of the plan to close the lanes in advance, but there was no evidence uncovered that the two men knew why."
#2. "The report also found that Stepien and Kelly had a personal relationship that ended by early August with the two not on speaking terms."
#3. "That might explain," Mastro said, "a lack of communication between the two of them during the critical period when this lane realignment decision was made."
So, we remain with the question who actually ordered the lanes closed (or Christie speak ... realignment)?
"We are confident that, based on our thorough review, we have a clear understanding of what happened here, even if the participants' precise motives remain to be determined," the review said."
Yeah. Whatever, Chris Christie. Just whatever.
Republicans report that after they complete the Obama Birth Certificate senate hearings, they will re-open hearings into the Monica Lewinsky scandel.
After that, they'll re-open hearings about Bengazi and why the GOP voted to deny the Presidents request for more security budgets.
Report prepared by the man Christie hired.
And the GOP says it's impartial.
But hey, let's get back to asking the same questions over and over about Benghazi and then saying they still have serious questions. Fox News last month had a poll that basically says that tactic isn't working (Hillary is still leading the pack by a lot), so they have two more years to double down and yell louder.
Just like Hillary!
"Liar Liar! Republican on fire!"
Christie doesn`t recall. See everybody, Christie is innocent of this sinful scandal. lol
Christie says "he did not know" or "did not hear" about "the bridge thing" and he is a liar . . . but . . . Obama "did not hear" or "did not know" or "read about" anything about (1) Benghazi, (2) NSA issues, and (3) IRS Targeting but most of you believe HIM? His people are investigating too. And that's alright ???? How can you believe one man and not another? Same thing if you ask me. People like me see right through you. PARTISANS !!!
It depends on what your definition of "recall" is....
Get a Clue
Malory Archer
Why should I be compelled to subsidize other peoples' poor lifestyle decisions?
What if you have an accident? Who is going to pay for YOUR poor decision to stick the rest of US with your medical expenses?
I am, that is why I have LTD insurance as well as medical insurance, the poster was talking about....oh nevermind you liberals are clueless partisans as always, it is like talking to a brick wall...
Clueless, you really need to take a few reading comprhension classes before you embarrass yourself again. You HAVE insurance, so clearly my question wasn't directed at you, and you knew that, but just like the other knee-jerk, hate-filled partisan whiners here, you attempted to belittle me, but in the process only made yourself look foolish. Joe whined that he doesn't want insurance, hence my question "Who is going to pay for YOUR poor decision to stick the rest of US with your medical expenses?" But just like all clueless partisan rethugs, as always, dealing with your ilk really IS like talking to a brick wall...
WOW he really is channeling Reagan!!!! right out of Iran/Contra
Let's just hope that this guy's political career is over.
In California, ALL our legislators are guilty of deliberately causing traffic jams across the entire state. They gave all our infrastructure money to government employee unions, leaving nothing to pay for the actual work that needs to be done. When you think about it, isn't that WORSE?
Just another corrupt Republican governor above the law, attacking education, unions, rewarding big state contracts to friends, great guy, just swell. Wake up, read hub 4643, Republicans in Michigan are going yo make it illegal to picket, 10,000 a day for the union, and 1,000 per pickitter, per day, to be awarded to the company being pickitted, that's the gop plan.
Ha, Sorry Krispy, your Hired attornies dont have the final say. The DA and the FBI investigations continue. Krispy is toast for should I say, I smell bacon!!
Christie investigated Christie and found Christie innocent.
Funny how they came to these conclusions while interviewing NONE of the major players in the scandal to begin with. Wonder when Christie is going on vacation with the investigator again!!!
All of America say you, Christie on the bridge with Wildstein during the lane closures. Christie is a big fat Liar !!
He's not going to be President & those in his circle know the culture and why this happened.
Ms. Kelly was PROUD of her work against the People of New Jersey.
That's Michigan house bill ( hb).4643, disgusting, Snyder can't sign this fast enough for the Koch brothers, what a traitor, I doubt he'll be here next hear, he's told some doosies that's for sure, he spared the police and firefighters unions, so they will be featuring them in campaign ads I'm sure, he even added state troopers after the budget was going to have their numbers reduced, all BS all the time from these clowns.
Yeah right and Santa Claus wears green on Christmas....
I guess living in Florida, I knew about the lane closures long before Krispy, says a lot about the Tampa Trib, USA Today, and our local media.


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about usThe Sisters' Story
Any time is pie time, morning noon or night. This is the motto of the Georgetown Pie Sisters. Alli, Bear and Cat Blakely created the Pie Sisters of Georgetown in the fall of 2010. The three tall sisters from Great Falls, VA have been baking pie for as long as they can remember. Homemade pies are and have always been a staple in their family tradition. They grew up canning peaches and putting up fresh fruit pies, like their mother, which always brought family and friends together.
After living in different cities and pursuing separate careers, a bit of soul searching brought them back to doing what they love most, baking.
Each of the sisters lend their own distinctive talent and touch making their product truly unique. They pride themselves on their presentation and delicious pies. The sisters are excited to share their pies with you and hope to become part of your tradition.
or come visit us in georgetown
3423 M St. NW Washington, DC 20007


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In the latest move to clear paths to legal residency for illegal immigrants, the Obama administration on Wednesday ruled that thousands of foreign spouses and children can stay with their U.S. citizen relatives while applying for green cards.
The policy "reduces long periods of separation between U.S. citizens and their immediate relatives," Alejandro Mayorkas, director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, said Wednesday in a conference call.
Until now, thousands of illegal immigrant spouses, parents and children of U.S. citizens had to return to their native countries to apply for permanent U.S. residency, risking months or years of separation from their families.
The new rule allows them to apply for a waiver in the United States instead. More than 20,000 apply annually for the family waiver, which requires U.S. citizens to show they will suffer "extreme hardship" if their immigrant relative is barred from returning.
The numbers seeking such relief are expected to rise now that families no longer have to risk long separations.
"Most of my clients weren't willing to take the risk of not being able to come back," said Bay Area immigration attorney Randall Caudle.
Weighing the separation risk against the risk of being undocumented, they "stayed here … without legal status of any kind," Caudle said.
The new policy will relieve many families, said California immigration lawyer Maria Rivera.
"The whole purpose of this is to prevent the separation of families," Rivera said. "I think the government is aware of the hardship on the families, the children, the spouses."
The Obama administration announced the proposed change early last year, but sought months of public comments before making it final in a rule to be published Thursday in the Federal Register. The policy will take effect on March 4.
Knowing that a change was coming, Rivera advised many of her clients to wait until it took effect before they sought permanent residency.
For years, thousands of Mexican immigrant spouses and children of U.S. citizens have had to travel across the Texas border to the violence-wracked city of Ciudad Juárez for interviews at the U.S. Consulate there, the only American office in Mexico processing such requests for permanent residency.
But leaving the United States after coming here illegally triggered a 10-year or 3-year bar on returning, meaning the family members would also have to apply for special permission to waive the bar. Three quarters of immigrants seeking the waivers are from Mexico.
Those seeking permanent residency will still have to travel to Juárez for an interview, but no longer will they have to wait for many months in Mexico as the U.S. government evaluates their requests.
The policy shift is the latest in a series of executive changes made by the Obama administration as it seeks broader immigration reforms in the new Congress, including a path to citizenship for nearly all the nation's 11 million illegal immigrants.
More than 300,000 young illegal immigrants have applied since August for new work permits granted to college students and other law-abiding young adults and teenagers brought to the country as children.
And on Dec. 21, the same day it announced it deported a record 409,000 people last year, the Obama administration directed federal immigration agents to stop detaining illegal immigrants arrested by police for minor crimes and infractions.


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Ferdinand I
Ferdinand I, 1345–83, king of Portugal (1367–83), son and successor of Peter I. His ambitions and his private life plunged the realm into disaster, although during his reign agricultural reform was achieved and Portuguese commercial power grew. Ferdinand's desire for the throne of Castile involved him in three wars with Castile. The first (1369–71) ended with Ferdinand's promise to marry Leonor, daughter of Henry II of Castile. Instead he fell in love with a Portuguese noblewoman, Leonor Teles, and after securing a dubious annulment of her earlier marriage, made her his queen. Ferdinand then allied (1372) himself with John of Gaunt and waged new war against Henry II, which led to a Castilian siege of Lisbon (1373) and a humiliating peace. After John I succeeded to the throne of Castile, Ferdinand, under the influence of his wife and her lover (the conde de Ourém), resumed the English alliance and engaged (1381–82) in a third humiliating war with Castile. It was concluded by the marriage of John with Ferdinand's daughter and heiress, Beatrice. Portugal would thus have gone to Castile on Ferdinand's death, but a national revolution gave the throne to Ferdinand's half-brother, John I.
The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2023, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.
See more Encyclopedia articles on: Spanish and Portuguese History: Biographies


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RealCloud is your personal space where we store your photos and videos. You get 2GB free storage space just by signing up, and an extra 5GB if you turn auto-backup on for any of your devices.
Or you can get 100 GB storage and much more with a Premium account.
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Add videos of any format to your collection in the RealCloud and they will be automatically converted to several different formats, ready to play on any device, no matter the make, size or connection.
The RealTimes app on mobile, desktop or web connects to your personal RealCloud. That means you will always be able to access and enjoy your photos and videos no matter if you're at home, on holiday or on the bus.


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Jennifer on the Greenbelt.
Someone recently asked me how to source models for personal photo projects. There are a number of ways. You could be rich and offer people lots of money to pose for you, or you could actively participate in things you are genuinely interested in and, over time, become friends with the people around you. Then you can ask your friends to pose for you.
Jennifer is a triathlete. Our intersection is swimming. Over time she became a close friend of our family and, for a while, looked after Ben from time to time. Asking her to go to the Greenbelt for a photo session was as natural as asking a good friend out for coffee. The more genuine and authentic the relationship the more fun you will have, and the more interesting your photographs might be.
One of the original Craftsy Photo Classes and
still one of the best!
I met Lance a couple of weeks ago in Denver
and found him to be really fun and knowledgeable
this class reflects what he teaches in hands-on
workshops in Ireland and Iceland, as well as
cool places around the U.S.
How to make what we shoot into a cohesive
train of visual thought.