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Monday after work I cooked a fabulous dinner from a cookbook I've had for awhile but haven't had a chance to use much.... Super Natural Ever Day by Heidi Swanson.
I love making frittatas, but her recipe for an asparagus, goat cheese, potato frittata involves a slightly different method for cooking. All I can say is that I'll be making this again soon! Full of such flavor, so good! And it has been a perfect leftover lunch yesterday and today.
After dinner, I went for a swim! Go me! I've moved from every other day swimming or PT (physical therapy) to trying to do it daily as long as my knee feels good. This could also be where the exhaustion is coming in because between swimming and PT, I haven't had a rest day since last Wednesday until today. But each day my knee is getting stronger.
I even made it to knit nite after PT yesterday! So good to see my friends. I'm trying to finish up a secret design, but then I'll get back to this pretty...
Plucky Feet, colorway Honey Wilkes, design....something new....
Speaking of knitting, there are some fun knitalongs going on that I'm excited about.
- If you haven't already joined the Plucky Knitter's Designers KAL, there is still plenty of time. I'm one of the featured designers, but so is my friend (and model!) Thayer Preece and I'm hoping to cast on her Joo-Yun hat pattern soon with some Plucky Sport.
- The Hazel Knits Group on Ravelry is having an IGK KAL for May and June! Perfect excuse to use my pretty Hazel Knits yarns from Stitches!
- Mad May (a month for celebrating the wonderful yarns of Madelinetosh) is starting next week! If you remember, last year I designed Summer Wind for Mad May and wow, has that pattern sold like hotcakes! Be sure to check out the special MadMay Sales thread for an IGK discount code :)
Now to finish that design so I can cast something new on!
Anyone else already tired this week and counting down the days til the weekend?
Happy Knitting!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits


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Since we last blogged about bedbugs, they've been cropping up all over. It's estimated that the buggers have increased by up to 500% in the last few years and here in New York City, where our offices are located, we have more than our share. In her recent post, my colleague Christina Peterson, told you how to spot these nocturnal critters and what steps to take to try to avoid them. But, if you've already been bitten, should you be concerned about your health and how do you safely treat the bites?
The good news is that bed bugs don't pose serious health risks. Unlike their cousins, mosquitoes, they don't transmit blood or bear disease-causing pathogens. Most of us will develop annoying lines or clusters of tiny red bumps. However, some people have highly allergic reactions to bed bug bites or even experience anaphylactic shock, just as some people do to bee stings.. If you're allergic to other insect bites, be extra careful to avoid bed bugs and seek medical attention immediately if you think you've been bit.
Bed bugs are night creatures that generally strike while we're sleeping and we don't see the tell tale signs until morning. If you wake up to itching and swelling here's what to do:
More From Good Housekeeping
- Avoid scratching! It will just make the bites look worse and possibly bleed and scab over.
- Apply a topical anti-itch cream containing cortisone like the Aveeno Active Naturals Anti-Itch cream to calm the skin.
- Calamine lotion in your medicine chest? Use it to ease the itching.
- If you experience swelling, apply an ice pack or a bag of frozen peas.
- Rub in an antiseptic like Neosporin and use a soap like Dial Antibacterial to minimize the risk of infection.
Remember, if you develop any unusual reactions or signs of an infection; see your doctor right away! For more bedbug information, see our video.

subset: commoncrawl


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Savings Incentive Programs for Homes
When you help us save energy, we help you save money with Demand Response programs.
What is Demand Response?
Demand Response (DR) programs can help you save energy and money. DR programs provide incentives for reducing electricity use when demand for electricity is high. You can choose from a variety of DR programs through SCE and independent third parties who provide DR services. Learn how Demand Response programs contribute to a clean energy future, and the impact these programs can make during emergency situations.
Here's How It Works
1. Demand for energy goes up.
2. We call a DR "event" to lower electricity levels.
3. You get a notification to reduce your usage or we lower it for you.
4. You receive compensation for helping us!
Why should I sign up?
You'll be compensated for participating in these programs, whether through bill credits, a reduced rate, or other types of payment. You may also be eligible to receive extra incentives for allowing DR-enabling technology to be installed in your home.
On top of that, you're also making a difference by helping us put less stress on the environment and the energy grid.
How will I get notified?
There are a variety of ways that you can receive notifications about a DR event, including:
- Mobile app alerts
- Text messages
- Phone calls
Use of Circuit Breakers During DR Events
Since safety is SCE's number one priority, SCE will never advise its customers to participate in Demand Response events by turning on and off electricity at their circuit breakers. Most residential circuit breakers are not designed to work as on/off switches during DR events, and improper and frequent use may lead to hazardous conditions or damage to your electronic equipment and appliances. SCE does not recommend this practice for demand response. If you do flip your circuit breaker on or off for any reason, SCE recommends you exercise the appropriate precautions which include, but are not limited to:
- Wearing and using protective gear to protect against arc flashing;
- Turning equipment off before turning the circuits back on to avoid damage or excessive wear;
- Checking with the panel manufacturer to confirm whether the panel is designed for this type of use; and
- Ensuring circuits do not support medical devices, smoke detectors, fire alarms, and other critical or safety-related equipment and devices.
SCE Demand Response Programs
Smart Energy Program
This program is a year-round, event-based program that offers bill credits to eligible customers who own a qualifying smart thermostat and enroll through one of our authorized service providers. During a DR Event, your thermostat may be automatically adjusted to temporarily limit A/C usage. In exchange, you could qualify for a one-time $75 sign-up bonus plus up to $40 annually. You can override events at any time, but overriding events may impact your continued participation in the program.
Summer Discount Plan
The Summer Discount Plan is a year-round, event-based program that allows SCE to turn or cycle off customers' air conditioners. In return, customers have the opportunity to earn bill credits on their summer season bills. There's no cost to enroll or participate in this program.
Power Saver Rewards Program
The Power Saver Rewards program rewards you for voluntarily reducing your energy use during Power Saver Rewards events, which are called when the electricity grid is stressed. You will earn $2 for each kilowatt-hour (kWh) of energy you save. The more you save, the more you earn! A typical customer who lowers energy usage during eight events over an annual season could earn $40 in bill credits.* Power Saver Rewards events can occur any time from 4 to 9 p.m. on hot summer days between May 1 and October 31.
Third Party Demand Response Programs
These third parties provide additional DR services that can help you manage and lower your home's energy usage.
SCE displays links to websites or electronic services sponsored by third parties. SCE is not responsible for the content or operation of third-party websites or electronic services reached by virtue of such links or content, and the presence of such links or content does not imply SCE endorses or is affiliated with such third-party websites, services or third parties, or any services or products they offer. The third parties, and not SCE, are solely responsible for any advertisements, opinions, advice, statements, services, offers, data, information, content, or other materials that such third parties express or make available, including the description of third party services on this SCE page.


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Black Panther Reflective Cuff Beanie
$ 20.00
T'Challa, the Black Panther, may not need knit beanies when he is visiting his African home nation of Wakanda, but he definitely would rock this Black Panther Reflective Cuff Beanie while in the Northern hemisphere. The black cuff is knit from reflective yarn for nighttime safety, and embroidered with a blue Black Panther mask. The blue crown of the beanie is knit with black-and-white stripes and the Black Panther name, and topped off with a jaunty blue-black-and-white pompom.
- Embroidery Front Art
- Cuff Reflective Yarn


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(CNN) - While President Barack Obama's attempts to increase the nation's minimum wage through legislation have stalled in Congress, the White House announced plans on Tuesday to use the president's executive powers to partially address the problem.
Just hours before the President is scheduled to deliver his fifth State of the Union address, the White House revealed that Obama will issue an executive order to increase the minimum wage for new federal contract workers.
[twitter-follow screen_name='politicalticker'][twitter-follow screen_name='AdamATCNN']
The action will cover all workers employed under future government contracts, ensuring that none is paid less than $10.10 an hour. In a fact sheet announcing the action, the White House highlighted several occupations that will be helped by the move, including kitchen and laundry workers on military bases, as well as janitors at federal buildings and construction workers at government building sites.
"The President has embraced the idea in the past that he can use his authority as President and the powers available to the President to advance his agenda on behalf of the American people," White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said at his briefing on Monday. "What we have said is that he views 2014 as a year of action and that he has tasked his team to come up with new ways in which we can - he can - advance that agenda."
An administration official confirmed the action will only apply to new contracts, and the White House believes contractors will have time to factor the new wage requirements into future bids.
Included in Tuesday's announcement was a call for Congress to pass an increase in the minimum wage nationwide and an endorsement of a proposal put forward by two senior Democrats, Sen. Tom Harkin of Iowa and Rep. George Miller of California. The proposal would raise the minimum wage for all workers in stages, ultimately reaching $10.10 an hour, while also indexing the wage floor to inflation going forward.
Tuesday morning, House Speaker John Boehner pushed back against the executive action by the President.
"This idea that he's just going to go it alone, I have to remind him we do have a constitution. And the Congress writes the laws, and the President's job is to execute the laws faithfully. And if he tries to ignore this he's going to run into a brick wall," the top Republican in the House told reporters.
"Were just not going to sit here and let the President trample all over us," Boehner added.
The White House says the President has the authority to make the move.
Cecilia Muñoz, director of the White House Domestic Policy Council, said in an interview Tuesday with CNN Senior White House Correspondent Jim Acosta that the President "clearly has the authority" to raise the minimum wage for federal contract workers.
Obama has made wages and economic inequality a central theme of his second term in office, raising the issue repeatedly, including during a call for an extension of emergency unemployment benefits in his first public event of 2014.
"America is getting stronger, and we've made progress," the President said. "And the economy is growing, and we've got to do more to make sure that all Americans share in that growth. We've got to help our businesses create more jobs. We've got to make sure those jobs offer the wages and benefits that let families rebuild a little security. In other words, we've got to make sure that this recovery leaves nobody behind. And we've got a lot of work to do on that front."
Two national polls conducted in the past two weeks both indicate widespread support for raising the minimum wage to $10.10 an hour. Seventy-two percent of those questioned in a CBS News survey and 73% of those questioned in a Pew Research Center poll said they favor the move. Both surveys indicated a partisan divide, with around nine in ten Democrats and seven in ten independents in support of raising the minimum wage to $10.10 an hour, and Republicans divided.
CNN's Jim Acosta, Brianna Keilar, Dana Bash and Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report.
I can tell you he is full of crap. My wife works in the laundry room of a federal goverment contractor and she makes $22.35/hr. This is all smoke and mirrors as no worker makes just minimum wage in the contract sector.
Eh Obama – its that time again to make sure people like you. And keep your fingers crossed that they will vote for you once again.
The people whining that the taxpayers will have to pay for this are missing the point. People making less than $10 an hour are likely on assistance and that is paid for by the taxpayer. So you already pay for these people. Raiding their pay will allow some to get off of assistance, lowering the impact on taxes.
The same people that are posting here against raising the minimum wage, whining that it will cost taxpayer money, are the same people that wanted the government shut down, costing billions of dollars. They're also the same people that support trillions for the military to fight wars for oil.
Sure....money for the rich, the corporations and the military, but nothing for the poor citizens of this country. That's about as un-American as it gets. Shame on all of you.
Informed 0- You need to get informed. Your wife is not the only one that works for federal contractors. Some do make minimum wage. Obviously, not your wife. Tell her she gets paid too much and to give it back. I love it when people accept what the government gives to them, but wants to deny others.
So he didn't raise the minimum wage for anyone else aside from government contractors?
Nobody makes minimum wage in the contract sector for the gov't. This is smoke and mirrors.
It's a completely symbolic, pointless move.....that the media will lap up.
Let us elect real working class. productive and qualified citizens to public offices who will work to make our economy productive and locally owned and controlled, then there will be real jobs that produce real wealth and livable wages. the one percenters have off-shored and closed fifty thousand factories, out-sourced tens of millions of jobs, encouraged and protected thirty million Mexican immigration law breakers and given them American jobs. They have brought in hundreds of thousands of foreign HB1 workers instead of training and hiring US citizens including our veterans. So in addition to getting rid of the cadre of career polticans who are owned by these traitor one percenters let us rid our Republic and communities of the one percent.
why does bainer react like its his money?
Median income 1968 – $8632/year~$4.15/hour. Minimum wage 1968 – $1.60/hour~$3328/year. Ratio-2.59 minimum wage to median wage. Median income 2013 – $51,017. Minimum wage should be $9.47/hour based on simple ratio to median income. Also, 1968 @ $1.60 is the cherry picked highest minimum wage in history when adjusted for inflation. When adjusted for inflation minimum wage should be $6.77 adjusted for 1990…and no that isn't the cherry picked lowest point in history.
CEO pay to typical worker pay is on average 354 times greater in the S&P500. Raising the minimum wage does very little to this ratio. Typical worker pay (median income) to minimum wage is 3.38 times greater. Raising the minimum wage reduced this to 2.43. The middle class lost nearly 30% of it's gains against entry level unskilled kids. CEOs are still making >800x minimum wage. This increase does nothing to that income inequality. It serves only to create more poor people
How About Raising The Minimum Wage For All Workers, Not Just Government Contractors! Cost Of Living Has Increased For Years Yet Minimum Wage Stays The Same! Why Not ???
How About We Take The Money Out Of Politics And Then Have A True, Honest, Election For The People And By The People!
as a amall business owner i dont oppose raising minimum wages as long as he stop raising my taxes
I agree, give people a chance to live. Obama Four more years..... I know who ever want to response.... Hillory Clinton is our first female next President..... Why not. Get her done America, lets get back what we deserve a chance... Fight for what's right don't argue the facts, their facts that's wrong. BELIEVE.........
It would be great to have minimum wages for all raised, not all Republicans are rich I'm Republican and I work my butt off 13-14 hrs a day labor work for 8.50 so my fellow Republicans support this Change
Minimum wage is not the issue, not having good paying jobs is the issue. Not only high tech jobs for college grads but good paying bust your butt jobs that you can get from projects like keystone.
When minimum wage goes up this will help a lot of parents who receive child support. There are a lot of dead beat parents that love to pay the bare minimum...so let's see how they like this. Although ,the president needs to give to all people and not just a select few. Is he scared that some republicans or tea party members might get a little of the increase....news alert...all the republicans and tea party folks I know WORK for what they get...how bout them apples
Every time minimum wage is increased, the cost of goods and services increase. Small businesses get impacted the most, so they have too make a choice. Do I keep my employees or get rid of some to afford the increase? I'm not making any extra money to pay them, so how do I handle it? The individuals that work hard and make between 10 and 20 dollars an hour will have to figure out how to feed their kids, or figure out how to keep current on their bills, because they're paying more for most everything you buy at the store. Reason? Prices have to be increased on products too pay employees. So now we have more people struggling. How does that make any sense? Not a good idea right now. It will do nothing more than stall any progress we have made in this economy. You make minimum wage increases when an economy is doing great, which ours is not. You think you're hurting now?


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Search Buddhist Channel
30,000 hear Dalai Lama at University at Buffalo
By JAY REY AND JAY TOKASZ, Buffalo News, Sept 20, 2006
'Warmheartedness' is key, spiritual leader tells crowd
Buffalo, NY (USA) -- Dalai Lama mania hit the Buffalo area Tuesday, as thousands descended on the University at Buffalo North Campus in Amherst to hear a "simple monk" deliver a message about the power of human compassion.
<< Derek Gee/Buffalo News
Some audience members abandoned their stadium seats to gather at a giant video screen on the field for a closed-circuit take at Tuesday's address of the 14th Dalai Lama to a sold-out University at Buffalo Stadium.
It is, he said, essential for those searching for meaning and success in life.
"I think warmheartedness is the key," he said. "That gives you deeper satisfaction and more happiness."
Ultimately, hearts filled with "unbiased" compassion leave little room for hypocrisy, injustice and exploitation, leading to greater social change throughout the world, said the 1989 Nobel Peace Prize laureate.
"This century should be a century of dialogue," he said, "not a century of violence."
The crowd applauded.
The 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, opened UB's Distinguished Speakers Series with a bang, addressing an estimated 30,000 in UB Stadium, considered the largest single event in the university's history.
The university canceled classes on the North Campus. Vendors sold beaded necklaces and Buddhism books. People took off from work, and their children skipped school. Security on campus was tight.
"What's going on here?" asked one woman, as a large crowd formed around an escort vehicle.
"We heard it's the Dalai Lama," responded another.
While the local Buddhist community is relatively small, the spiritual leader captivated Western New York enough to pack a football stadium and bring another 6,000 to fill Alumni Arena for an interfaith service Monday afternoon.
Besides UB students, staff and faculty, the visit by the exiled Tibetan leader also drew several thousand from across the border, the Rochester and Syracuse areas, and from as far away as the states of Washington and Florida, university officials said.
In a world filled with daily fears and anxieties, people were curious about this man filled with inner peace.
"I really don't know that much about Buddhism, but he's a world iconic figure and here he is in Buffalo," said Sharon Nisengard, 32, of Buffalo. "I would say his name brought me more than anything."
For those who came to hear him speak because they were curious about who he is, and what he had to say, that's OK, the Dalai Lama told the crowd.
But early on he warned those who came expecting to see him perform miracles and see healing powers.
"That," he said, "I think is nonsense."
"I'm nothing," he added. "Just one of you."
Instead, the Dalai Lama over and over again stressed "warmheartedness" as the theme of his address, "Promoting Peace Across Borders Through Education."
He appealed to educators to help students from kindergarten through college develop compassionate hearts.
And he stressed that theme in marital relationships, too.
"We need more patience, more reconciliation from both sides. Particularly those who have children," he said to couples. "Think more compassionately, at least toward your children."
The day began early.
Eager to beat traffic or drop in on any number of lectures being offered, curious spectators began arriving on campus by 9 a.m. Tuesday.
Some of the educational events surrounding the Dalai Lama's visit drew long lines, including a ceremony marking the deconstruction of a sand painting that Tibetan monks had created over the prior three days. A talk by Lama Surya Das, a UB alumnus who has studied with the Dalai Lama and is well-known among practitioners of Tibetan Buddhism in the West, was filled to capacity.
Some groups on campus had a more intimate encounter with the famous monk and his trademark good humor.
"I was curious to see what kind of aura and personality he has," said Thomas Szyperski, one of 300 faculty members who met with the Dalai Lama for about an hour in the morning. "He's a very calm person, a very friendly person, a lot of humor."
The Dalai Lama took about eight questions from the faculty, on a range of issues from "why are we on this earth?" to world overpopulation, said Szyperski.
"His replies were quite lengthy," the chemistry professor said.
A group of about 175 Asian students also met for an hour with the Tibetan leader.
"He's really special," said Chris Lee, a native of Taiwan and a graduate student in business. "He's not allowed to go to Taiwan now, so this is probably our only chance to see him."
The Dalai Lama was introduced by UB President John B. Simpson on stage at about 3 p.m., when he received an honorary doctorate in humane letters by State University of New York Chancellor John Ryan.
Wearing a red robe and visor to keep out the sun and wind, the Dalai Lama sat on stage with his translator at his side for those moments when he was looking for the right word. With state, local and university officials sitting behind him, the Dalai Lama spoke for more than an hour, before fielding questions submitted earlier.
During his speech, the Dalai Lama also addressed those who heard what he had to say and didn't like it.
"Then forget it," he cracked. "No problem."


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'Upscale pub food' rounds out beer offerings
Name: Rockford Brewing Company
Address: 200 Prairie St., Rockford
Opened: Three years ago plans began to form for the Prairie Street Brewhouse development, which houses the Rockford Brewing Company. The restaurant there just opened a couple weeks ago for a soft launch.
Manager: Cindy Flagler
Phone/website: 815-277-9427; facebook.com/rockfordbrewingco
Hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday; 11 a.m. to midnight Thursday; 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday
Wheelchair accessible: Yes
Most popular items: The menu is so new it's hard to pinpoint widespread favorites at this point. But some of the most popular dishes so far are the cheese curds, the pub pretzel and the turkey club. Manager Cindy Flagler said the restaurant is aiming for an "upscale pub food" menu — stuff that won't be served up in a basket but will appeal to a broad base of customers. The kitchen ties beer into almost every menu item from the cheese and burger sauces to the soups, entrees and desserts.
We ate: I had dinner at the Rockford Brewing Co. with my husband, Brian Wallheimer, the rrstar.com's digital editor. We've visited the bar several times but wanted to check out the new food offerings along with some brews.
Brian and I started with a couple pints — Saison and Dunkel, both tasty. The Saison is a Belgian style with pear, apricot and clove flavors; the Dunkel is smooth, malty and sweet. We also ordered a couple items from the "Sharables" portion of the menu: the Poutine ($10) and the Giant Pub Pretzel ($8). The poutine is crisp Yukon Gold fries topped with Screw City Light braised pork belly, cheese curds and herbed bacon gravy — not a dish for anyone on a diet. It was delicious, especially the melt-in-your-mouth cheese curds. The pretzel was indeed giant and came with three sauces: a jalapeño-thyme cream cheese, Nikolob beer cheese fondue and whole grain amber lager honey mustard. Brian called the fondue "possibly the best cheese sauce I've ever had." I was an even bigger fan of the sweet mustard sauce and the creamy jalapeño dip. And the pretzel was perfect, crisp and salty on the outside and soft and dense on the inside.
With little room left for more, Brian and I split the Turkey Club ($9). The unique sandwich prompted one customer to say "it creates a whole new category for club sandwiches," according to our waitress. It was sourdough bread piled with smoked turkey, cherrywood bacon, spring mix, fried egg, cheddar and cranberry-chipotle mayo. The sandwich offered a kick from the chipotle mayo balanced with crunch from the lettuce and richness from the egg. Delicious.
The beer-infused offerings carried over to the dessert menu. We ordered the Chocolate Porter Fudge Brownie ($6). The brownie was huge, more than enough for two people to share. It was rich and dense, served with vanilla ice cream, chocolate beer sauce and a raspberry drizzle. A perfect way to round out the meal, paired with a pint of the Irish Stout.
Ahh moment: I was really impressed with the variety on the menu, which went well beyond traditional pub fare. There's vegan and veggie offerings, cheddar ale soup, salads, fish and chips, pork chop and much more.
Hmm moment: As a byproduct of its own success, the Rockford Brewing Co. ran out of several types of its beer over the past week as customers poured in to check out the new menu. There were still about a dozen brews to choose from and RBC Vice President Reed Sjostrom dropped off a new beer menu at our table during dinner that included the newest brew on site: Peacock Pale Ale. We tried a sample and loved it. A great summer drink.
Next time, I'll: Try the Gado Gado. It's almond crusted tofu, sauteed vegetables, coconut jasmine rice and a sweet chili peanut sauce. Sounds awesome and not something you'd find at many other pubs. The menu will be expanding in the coming months, too, so I might find a number of new must-try dishes.
Dorothy Schneider: 815-987-1244; email@example.com; @dotschneider


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I just love making pie crustsfrom scratch. But a lot of friends tell me that it's too intimidating or too hard. It really isn't! I think the challenge is that there are a lot of variables in perfecting pie crust and you have to understand what they are. At the core of it is learning to cook by touch. Here's what you should look for:
When you start, make sure all of your ingredients are cold. They should feel closer to freezer cold than fridge cold. You can even freeze your food processor bowl and blade.
Pulse in the butter until the mixture feels like sand. You should still have a few pea-sized clumps remaining that feel like little pebbles.
More From Good Housekeeping
Now, here's the tricky part. You want to add the ice water just a little at a time. The amount you add depends on the humidity of your kitchen and a host of other factors. You don't want to add too much because that will make the crust tough. So, start adding a tablespoon at a time, pulsing well after each addition. When the sandy crumbs start to get a little bigger, squeeze a walnut-sized amount between your fingers. If the crumbs hold together, your crust is ready. If they crack and fall apart, pulse a few more times to see if they'll hold. If they still don't hold, then add more water.
You can then gently press those crumbs together into a flat, even disk before refrigerating.
Once you get the feel for it, you'll love making homemade crusts too. (Of course, if you're not up to it, check out our picks for best premade pie crusts.) To see how we put together our Thanksgiving pies, come on a tour of the Good Housekeeping Research Institute.


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1. Gasoline Engine
The three-cylinder, 1.0-liter turbocharged internal-combustion engine turns on as needed to power the electric generator. In other E-Flex cars, diesel engines or hydrogen fuel cells could be used.
2. Generator
More From Popular Mechanics
The 53-kw generator, powered by the engine, can recharge the battery in about 30 minutes and, under certain driving conditions, send current directly to the motor.
3. Electric Motor
The 120-kw electric motor produces 160 hp. The car's top speed is 120 mph.
4. Charge Ports
Ports on each side of the car allow a driver to recharge the batteries from a 110-volt outlet in about 6.5 hours.
5. Battery Pack
A 16-kwh li-ion battery pack provides enough power for up to 40 miles of driving before the generator is required.
6. Fuel Tanks
Two tanks hold a combined total of 12 gal. of gasoline or E85 (a mix of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline).
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Adaptive assistive technologies for people with disabilities
''Assistive technologies'' (AT) have developed rapidly in recent years, allowing people with motor disabilities to live more independent and comfortable lives. Now assistive technology systems that can open a door, turn on a light or connect to the internet at the blink of an eye, a head movement or even a thought, are being made more flexible and customisable for individual users - thanks to the work of EU-funded researchers.
An estimated 2.6 million people in Europe have mobility problems affecting their upper limbs, and around 1.3 million of them require assistive technologies, or the help of human carers, to be able to perform everyday tasks. Across developed countries, the figure rises to 2.5 million. They include people suffering from a range of diseases, including multiple sclerosis and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, as well as varying degrees of paralysis, among them locked-in syndrome in which a person may only be able to move their eyes.
While many people already make use of assistive technologies -an umbrella term that includes assistive, adaptive and rehabilitative devices for people with disabilities -in most cases the systems and applications are designed to perform one specific function or assist someone with a specific form of disability.
''What I would call the "old" AT-market is dominated by isolated applications and devices, each addressing a specific disability or focusing on a specific ability of the user. This is in principle good, since it means that each device can be brilliantly optimised in its functionality,'' explains Stefan Parker, a project coordinator and researcher at KI-I in Austria. ''The trouble is that in most actual use cases these devices only manage to take advantage of a part of the user''s abilities or, in other cases, are not properly adaptable to the user''s needs, leaving him or her with a device that is merely semi-optimal for their use case.''
The problem is that disabilities cannot be categorised. Every person is different and even two people suffering from the same disease will often have very different degrees and types of impairment, or a combination of different disabilities at the same time. And an individual sufferer will usually need systems to be adjusted, or new devices to be used, as their symptoms evolveover time.
In order to address the issue, a consortium of research institutes, universities and private companies from seven countries have developed an affordable and scalable platform to implement AT in a much more personalised and flexible way. Their system, developed over two years in the ''Assistive technology rapid integration and construction set'' (ASTERICS) project with the support of EUR 2.65 million in funding from the European Commission, has already gone into commercial production.And on-going research is set to enhance it further.
Assistive systems, centred on the user
''The AT market is currently subject to great change. On the one hand, mobile devices like smart phones and tablet PCs are conquering the world, and this has a great influence on the AT market. On the other hand, more user-centred and more flexible approaches towards AT are being generated - ASTERICSbeing the first and therefore most important,''says Mr Parker, who helped coordinate the project.
Unlike traditional AT systems, the ASTERICSplatform can be configured to meet the specific needs of individual users. It is possible to choose from a wide variety of sensors, from simple switches or webcams to advanced ''brain-computer interfaces'' (BCI), for interaction with the system depending on the requirements and abilities of each person.
The input data, no matter how it is generated, is processed by the ''ASTERICSRuntime Environment'' (ARE). The software can easily be installed on a Windows-based machine and uses so-called ''models'', configured for each user, to process and execute user commands on any device in order to use their smart phone or computer,and to control their air conditioning or open a window in their home.
The models are built and configured via a dedicated configuration programme, the ''ASTERICSConfiguration Suite'' (ACS) in which, through a graphical interface, it is possible to combine several plug-ins for input, signal processing and output and connect them via data-channels and event-channels. Once completed, a model is simply uploaded to the ARE, where several models can be stored, so the user can have different options for different use cases.
There are also extension modules for the connection of sensors, which can be connected either to the platform or to any other computer via a standard USB cable, along with a HID actuator - a small USB-interface that acts like a standard wireless plug-and-play device, emulating mouse, keyboard or joystick.
''The approach results in a completely user-centred on-site development of AT - the user no longer needs to adapt to the device, it''s the other way round. This goes so far that users can even make small adaptations themselves, or their carer can make them for them, to react to changes in the daily situation,'' Mr Parker notes. ''Also the system can be adapted every time a user''s condition changes for better or worse - usersno longer need to buy a new device every time their condition changes - or use the old one despite having a hard time doing so - they can continue to use the system they are accustomed to and like, but with a new means of input or just with refined settings.''
People suffering from motor disabilities, as well as specialised carers and AT experts, were consulted by the ASTERICSteam throughout the design and development process, and prototype platforms received overwhelmingly positive feedback in trials.
''ASTERICSwas really appreciated by users and during the course of the user tests we were able to give possibilities to people that they wouldn''t have had without the system. Some users have continued to use the ASTERICSsystem since the user tests and are very happy with it,'' Mr Parker says.
Crucially, the system is relatively cheap to install, and can make use of users'' existing devices, such as the webcam on their laptop, to reduce costs further. Mr Parker estimates that most people would need to spend around EUR 500, excluding the cost of buying a laptop or home PC, for a suitable set up, though it could run to several thousand euro if more expensive equipment such as a brain-computer interface is required.
IMA, a project partner based in the Czech Republic, is currently producing commercial hardware, including input/output modules for use with the system, while Harpo in Poland, another partner, is the prime distributor of the complete system and provides adaptation and customisation services.
The team''s goal now is to continue their research and launch a follow-up project to extendthe system to mobile devices such as smart phones and tablets.
Provided by CORDIS


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More information to fill the lists for cancelled shows of 2012 and renewed shows of 2012. And this one was coming sooner or later, but official confirmation is always welcome to sooth the fans.
Showtime renews The Borgias for season three. As episode five of THE BORGIAS' second season debuts this coming Sunday on SHOWTIME, the network has ordered a third season of Vatican intrigue and Renaissance drama, with ten episodes to premiere in 2013. Production is slated to begin this summer in Budapest, Hungary, starring Jeremy Irons in his Golden Globe® Award-nominated role. The announcement was made today by David Nevins, President of Entertainment, Showtime Networks Inc.
THE BORGIAS stars Oscar®-winner Irons as Pope Alexander VI, the cunning, manipulative patriarch of the infamous Italian Renaissance family who builds an empire by bribing, buying and muscling his way into the papacy. In addition to Irons, season two also stars François Arnaud, Holliday Grainger, Joanne Whalley, Lotte Verbeek, David Oakes, and Colm Feore. As the series continues to unfold, the greatest existential threat to Alexander's Papacy may not come from foreign adversaries or ambitious political operatives, but may linger within his most trusted inner circle – his family. The cunning Cesare engages his dark side; the profligate Juan turns murderous and ostracized by his family; and the increasingly independent Lucrezia refuses to be a pawn in her family's continued quest for power. The second season is executive produced by Neil Jordan, Jack Rapke, Justin Falvey, David Leland, John Weber, Sheila Hockin and James Flynn. It is a Canadian-Irish-Hungarian Treaty co-production. Last year, the series earned Emmy® Awards for Outstanding Costumes and Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music.
For season three, Academy Award®-winner and Emmy nominee Neil Jordan (The Crying Game, Interview with the Vampire), will continue to serve as creator, executive producer, and will serve as writer and director of select episodes.
Season two of THE BORGIAS currently airs on Sundays at 10 p.m. ET/PT, and will finale on Sunday, June 17th at 10 p.m. ET/PT.
What do you think? Are you happy that The Borgias got renewed? Let me know in the comments section.
Also, remember to follow me on Twitter for more scoop about shows getting renewed as The Borgias did.


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Charles Bernard Childs
Quick Info
Wandsworth, London, England
Edinburgh, Scotland
BiographyBernard Childs's father was Charles Alfred Childs (born in Kingston, Surrey about 1865) who was a commercial clerk. His mother was Emily G Childs (born in Kingston about 1866). In 1911, Charles Bernard Childs, our mathematician, was studying at The College, Hadham Road, Bishop's Stortford.
Childs studied at the University of Birmingham, graduating with a B.Sc. in 1920. A quick calculation shows that he was twenty-five years old when he graduated and this was because he began his studies at Birmingham a few years after leaving secondary school. He remained at Birmingham undertaking research for a doctorate in Natural Philosophy and this was awarded in 1922 for his thesis The thermomagnetic properties of carbon steels at temperatures round the Curie point.
Childs was appointed as an Assistant Lecturer in Natural Philosophy at Edinburgh University in 1922. He was promoted to lecturer in 1924. In 1956 he became a Senior lecturer and remained in this position until his death five years later.
Shortly after arriving in Edinburgh as an Assistant, Bernard Childs joined the Edinburgh Mathematical Society in March 1923. He was elected to the Royal Society of Edinburgh on 5 March 1956, his proposers being Norman Feather, Robert Schlapp, James Paton, Thomas R Bolam.
An obituary, written by Norman Feather, appears in the Royal Society of Edinburgh Year Book 1957, pages 10-12.
We give a version of this obituary at THIS LINK.
Finally we note that Childs had many interests other than his subject. Feather writes [1]:-
He was founder Chairman of the Scottish Community Drama Association from 1926 to 1930, when he was appointed to the office of Vice-President which he held for the remainder of his life. Parallel to this interest, with a touch of science intruding, was his interest in the cinema: he held successively the offices of Vice-Chairman (1948 - 51), Chairman (1951 - 54) and Secretary (1954 - 56) of the British Universities' Film Council. Over a longer period he was an office-bearer of the Edinburgh Association of University Teachers (Secretary, 1933 - 35 and 1951 - 53; Vice-President, 1953 - 56).
References (show)
- N Feather, Charles Bernard Childs, B.Sc., Ph.D. (Birm.), F.Inst.P., Royal Society of Edinburgh Year Book 1957, 10-12.
Additional Resources (show)
Other pages about Bernard Childs:
Cross-references (show)
Written by J J O'Connor and E F Robertson
Last Update November 2007
Last Update November 2007


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As we noted in our first impressions, Nintendo's (NTDOY) Wii U is charting new ground with its wireless GamePad and touchscreen controls that engage gamers in the living room like never before. But before you can even set up the Wii U, a mandatory firmware update is required upon power up. Gamers everywhere were frustrated to learn that the firmware update, which is pegged anywhere between 1GB and 5GB, takes hours to download and could even "brick" new consoles if the power was cut off. In an email conversation with IGN, Nintendo's global president and CEO Satoru Iwata said was "very sorry" that Wii U owners were experiencing network issues and that other services such as Nintendo TVii weren't available at launch. Iwata said he believes "users should be able to use all the functions of a console video game machine as soon as they open the box."
Gone are the days when electronics are sold as finished products with set features out of the box. It has become normal for today's connected electronics to require frequent firmware updates and patches to fix compatibility with other gadgets and to add new features. At what point should consumers stop tolerating devices that don't work immediately after unboxing? The way we see it, the answer might be "never," as it's hard to argue against the fact that new software updates breathe new life into aging consoles.
Iwata also explained that the Wii U's "Miiverse" online service isn't meant to replicate existing services such as Xbox LIVE.
"We have not thought that offering the same features that already exist within other online communities would be the best proposal for very experienced game players," Iwata told IGN.
Nintendo fans can read more Nintendo nuggets over at IGN's feature that includes mention of a new 3D Super Mario and Zelda game.


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First, an apology.
My offline existence has led me to neglect Action For Autism recently. This at a time when my blog has never been more popular. But I have no illusions about the reason. It is all down to Jenny McCarthy. I wrote a couple of short pieces about her and Google did the rest. As a result many parents who are favourably inclined towards biomedical interventions for autism have boosted my stats. And many of them have left critical comments that merit a reply. But not all of these are attached to the Jenny McCarthy posts. So I am trying to deal with them all in one blog post.
When reading the comments I noticed a number of common themes. Liz summed up a lot of these themes in an insightful comment:
I agree that the DANs and their system is sorely lacking (understatement).
You say that a physician should act as a consultant to their patients and advise them on available options. That would be ideal, but very difficult to find such a person. In my experience, I haven't found many physicians who actually do this. They barely get to know my child, don't care to listen much to my concerns, and prescribe a one size fits all pharmaceutical drug for everything- not knowing to do anything else.
Unfortunately, there are lots of clowns out there practicing so called medicine. If conventional medicine had physicians who can do more than just Rx drugs, who knew about nutrition, who recognized signs of developmental delays, who analyzed each individual patient's needs , were open to listen to parents, were competent, etc., perhaps so many parents wouldn't be turning to alternative methods. Pharma has done some good, but lets not forget how much damage it's also done. DAN has barely scratched the surface in catching up to the damage pharma has done.
Conventional medicine has no solutions and don't seem to care to look for any. This is what makes parents go elsewhere.
The ironic thing here is that an actress (bimbo and not so famous), who doesn't understand sponsored links, can use her mommy instincts and get her child to a place these PhD holders couldn't!
(and so have many other unqualified parents)
What does that say for conventional medicine?
Shame on them!
There are four main ideas here.
Conventional doctors do not have any answers to autism beyond their prescription pad, which is not very effective.
Consequently they claim that there are no answers to autism.
Parents are not impressed by this and look elsewhere.
They find their own answers and their children make progress.
These are very important points. When you get diagnosis for your child you do not immediately google "Autism" and look up your nearest DAN doctor. You ask your regular physician about what happens next and for many people the answer is not satisfactory.
Michael Fitzpatrick is a doctor and also the parent of an autistic child. In his book, MMR and Autism: what parents need to know, he quotes from the Oxford Handbook of Clinical Specialities, a popular reference with British junior doctors.
This neurodevelopmenal disoder is, if severe, the antithesis of all that defines mental health.
Prevalence: up to 90/10,000 of those <16yrs old – estimates vary considerably. Sex ratio M/F = 3.
Treatment: this is not effective. Behaviour therapy may be tried. A good teacher is more helpful than a good doctor.
70% remain severely handicapped. 50% will develop usful speech. 20% will develop seizures in adolescence. 15% will lead an independent life.
Apply for benefits (disability allowance if in UK)."
Fitzpatrick goes on to write,
"Its summary of medical wisdom on autism conveys with brutal economy the simple facts that doctors do not know what causes autism and have no treatment for it. Furthermore, the prognosis is grim: apply for benefits."
Our knowledge and understanding has moved on in the 10 years since this edition of the Oxford Handbook was published. Though I doubt that this has had a major impact on the medical profession. Autism remains a rare condition when compared to childhood complaints like asthma and eczema. It is also rare in comparison to psychiatric disorders in children. So there is little imperative on doctors to update their knowledge when there are other more pressing claims upon their time.
NO HOPE or FALSE HOPE?
Still, I am surprised and disheartened by parents commenting that their doctor told them there was "no hope" for their child. Do doctors really say this to parents? Or do they say something like "there is no cure but …" by which time the parent has stopped listening, their distress on hearing the diagnosis compounded by their despair on hearing that there is no cure? Their hopes are dashed in the doctor's office and they go away believing that nothing can be done. Only later, when they come across websites that proclaim that autism is treatable, do they regain their hope and become converts to the cause of biomedical intervention.
CAUSE and EFFECT
Defeat Autism Now makes all sorts of claims about the causes of autism. But they cannot point to any well designed scientific studies that demonstrate causation. Instead they rely on patient testimonials, or more accurately, the parents of patients testimonials. "Recovered" or "recovering" kids are displayed at conferences and video evidence is posted on the web. This is not scientific proof. It is advertising. I am not saying these kids have not improved. I see kids improve all the time in the school where I work. I saw my own son improve. I am saying that, in the absence of properly controlled scientific studies, claims for particlar treatment protocols cannot be verified
Sometimes improvements are dramatic. Children seem indistinguishable from their peers, as well they might in a supportive environment where staff follow the advice of the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services.
Psychological treatment programmes can help parents/carers in modifying children's behaviour, enabling them to cope with specific difficulties and ensuring optimal schooling. Helpful advice to parents is that it is more effective to change the environment around the autistic child than to attempt to change the child.
This is helpful advice to schools as well. We do well to remember that autistic spectrum disorders are developmental disorders. These children are not frozen in time. They grow and develop, though not always in the ways we might expect. Creating an environment that plays to their strengths is likely to be more productive than constantly reminds them of their weaknesses. As I wrote elsewhere:
We all had a favourite subject at school that we were good at and something else we really struggled with. Imagine being told that you had to drop your best subject and have double lessons in your worst subject.That is not so far from the experience of lots of autistic children whose interests and talents are sidelined while we concentrate on their difficulties. This can send all the wrong messages to our kids. They learn about their limitations but rarely get the chance to achieve. So they put up barriers to protect what is left of their self esteem.
COMMONSENSE versus SCIENCE
There are still parents who will insist that they know the treatment worked. This happened with Secretin. Victoria Beck reported a dramatic improvement in her son's autism after he was given Secretin to test pancreatic function. Secretin was enthusiastically espoused by DAN. The late Bernard Rimland claimed:
The use of secretin appears to be the most promising treatment yet discovered for the treatment of autism.
Rimland was so convinced that he and Beck secured the patent for using secretin to treat autism and sold it on for a reported $1 million USD to Repligen Corp. There was nothing wrong with this deal. They were paid in shares in Repligen which they made over to the Autism Research Institute. The CEO of Repligen had a double interest in Secretin. He was not just another businessman looking for a profit. He was also the parent of two autistic children. He wanted it to work and he was ready to pay handsomely to make it work. Unfortunately his company's research, rigourously conducted to satisfy the US regulatory bodies, "failed to meet the study's dual primary endpoints." That has not stopped other, less scrupulous individals from continuing to promote secretin and even homeopathic secretin as a cure for autism.
Chelation is another remedy favoured by DAN practitioners. But autistic kids do not like taking strange medicines by mouth or being strapped down for a slow intravenous infusion. So some enterprising doctors have formulated skin creams containing chelators like Transdermal DMSA. There are glowing testimonials for TD DMSA on the web. But DMSA is water soluble and so it is extremely unlikely that it could ever pass through the skin. Think about it. Our skin is a barrier that acts to keeps the water in. Without it we would dehydrate and die. It also keeps the water out. We do not absorb water like a sponge when we bathe or shower. So how does the DMSA pass through our skin? It does not. And so there is no way for it to have any effect on our bodies at all.
When people think something works, where there is no scientific reason for it to work, we call it the placebo effect. That does not mean they were conned or are trying to con the rest of us. Placebo affect means people get better because they think they will get better. You can call it faith healing or the power of positive thinking. It is a real effect and one of the reasons why the gold standard of medical research is the double blind study in which a control group is given a placebo and nobody, neither the researchers nor the patients, knows which is which until after they have evaluated the results. The experimental group must not only show benefit, they must also show a significant benefit over and above the group on the placebo.
But how does this explain improvements in autistic children who are given placebos? They may be completely oblivious to what is going on. First there is an important effect noted by researchers into regressive autism, the distressing condition where children develop normally and then lose previously acquired skills or fail to progress thereafter. From a previous blog.
Much of the evidence for regression comes from parental reports. And it is not always clear whether they are reporting regression or failure to meet expected milestones. It is also necessary to exercise caution when dealing with parental evidence. Aitken knows this. It is in the same study by Taylor et al.
" A review of each record showed that in 13 children the history given by the parents had changed after the extensive publicity about MMR vaccine and autism. Before the publicity the parents often reported concerns early in their child's life, usually before their first birthday; the current history for the same children recorded symptoms as developing only after MMR vaccination, in some cases shortly after."
(Taylor, Miller, Lingam, Andrews, Simmons & Stowe 2002. page 395)
We reinvent our memories in the light of experience. Memory is not a transcript of history. It is a constantly changing attempt to interpret that history with the benefit of hindsight. So parental accounts may not be the most reliable evidence without external corroboration.
Secondly, children are very sensitive to the emotional state of their parents or other primary caregivers. You can get a vicious circle where totally stressed out parents unwittingly add to their child's stress. The child then freaks, adding to their parent's stress, et cetera, et cetera. Then someone offers the parents a way forward. They feel empowered. They are less stressed. They approach their child with a more positive outlook. They are consistent in their dealings with their child. The child senses all this and benefits from the change in his parents. We have placebo by proxy. The parents think the therapy changed their child when, in fact, it was their belief in the therapy that changed them and then their child changed in response to the change in themselves. The therapy did not cause the change directly. It was the catalyst for change.
JENNY and I.
Most parents are not au fait with the scientific method or the history of autism. And why should they be? They have been thrust into a difficult situation and may not be enjoying the best of support from professional agencies. This makes them vulnerable. They are looking for a way out of this mess. They turn on the TV and see Jenny McCarthy spreading her message of hope. Who would not be sold in those cicumstances? Then Google brings them here and they read me bad mouthing Jenny. Outrage!
Listen up. McCarthy is only spread all over the media because she previously spread herself all over the pages of Playboy. Why should the opinions on autism of a young and buxom, B list celeb and wannabe film star be more credible than those of an overweight, middle-aged guy like myself? Last year McCarthy was an indigo mother with a crystal child. Her kid was the next stage in evolution. Then he became some kind of toxic disaster zone and now he is cured. Oh, and it was the vaccines what done it! This from a woman who had her son circumcised because she wanted him to have a "pretty penis." Excuse my cynicism, please.
YOU and I
I have tried to address general criticisms of my position rather than go for a point by point rebuttal or engage in personal arguments. If anyone thinks that I have ducked their question or ignored their point of view, please feel free to repost it in the comments to this post and I promise to respond.


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Care for horses & livestock/farm animals
Care for cats, dogs & other companion animals
Founded in 1884, the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania – Penn Vet – is one of the world's premier veterinary schools.
Penn Vet is the only veterinary school in the United States that was a direct outgrowth of the University's School of Medicine.
A pioneer since its inception, Penn Vet has led the way in such areas as infectious disease research, germ cell biology, animal transgenesis, comparative oncology, and comparative medical genetics.
Penn Vet has also successfully integrated scholarship and research with all aspects of veterinary medical education. The School's strength in basic sciences, immunology, and mathematical modeling are valuable assets for developing strategies to rapidly detect and control the spread of new infections, and improving and developing vaccines that effectively protect animals.
Learn more about:
From images to archives, from Bellwethers to books to a seminal talk by Dr. Benjamin Rush on the veterinary profession, you can find it on the Penn Vet History Resources webpages.


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The Seattle area and I just went through a four day snow/ice storm event. The City of Seattle's emergency operations center (EOC) was activated and coordinated the City government's response. That response received high marks from the public and media for a variety of reasons (see Seattle Times editorial here), including the leadership of Mayor Michael McGinn.
I was able to personally observe that response and lead the technology support of it. Information technology materially contributed to the improved response, nevertheless I see a number of further potential enhancements using technology. And that's the purpose of this blog entry.
GIS GIS GIS (Maps)
Every city, county and state is all about geography and maps. Maps are the way we deploy resources (think "snowplows"). Maps are the way we understand what's happening in our jurisdiction. Everyone who has lived and traveled inside a city can look on a map and instantly visualize locations – what the "West Seattle bridge" or any other street, infrastructure or geographical feature (think "hill") looks like.
For this storm, we have some great mapping tools in place, especially a map which showed which streets had been recently plowed and de-iced. This map used GPS technology attached to the snowplow trucks. That same map had links to over 162 real-time traffic cameras so people could see the street conditions and traffic. (Other cities, like Chicago, have similar maps.)
Another useful map is the electrical utility's system status map, which shows the exact locations of electrical system outages, the number of outages, the number of customers affected and the estimated restoration times. This is really useful if you are a customer who is affected – at least you know we've received your problem and a crew will be on the way.
What could we do better? We could put GPS on every City government vehicle and with every City crew and display all that information on a map. That way we'd immediately know the location of all our resources. If there was a significant problem – let's say a downed tree blocking a road or trapping people – we could immediately dispatch the closest resources. In that case we'd typically dispatch a transportation department tree-clearing crew. But that crew might have to travel across the City when a parks department crew with the proper equipment might be a block away.
This same sort of map could show a variety of other information – the location of police and fire units, which streets are closed due to steep hills and ice, where flooding is occurring, blocked storm drains, as well as water system and electrical outages. This "common operating picture", across departments, would be enormously useful – as just one example, the fire department needs water to fight fires, and it needs good routes to get its apparatus to the fire and perhaps it would need a snowplow to clear a street as well.
Obviously we wouldn't want to show all of this information to the public – criminals would have a field day if they knew the location of police units! But a filtered view certainly could be presented to show the City government in action.
Perceptions and Citizen Contact
A lot of media descended on Seattle this week. Partly that was due to the uniqueness of the storm – it doesn't snow much in this City. And perhaps it was a slow news week in the world. A lot of news crews filmed inside the EOC. The Mayor and other key department spokespeople were readily available with information.
This is quite important – the television, radio and print/blog media are really important in advising the public on actions they should take ("public transit to commute today, don't drive") and actions they should avoid ("don't use a charcoal grill to cook when you are without power"). Our joint information center (JIC) was a great success.
Mayor McGinn's family even contributed to this – his 11 year old son filmed him in a public service announcement about how to clear a storm drain of snow and ice which is now posted on the Seattle Channel.
What could we do better? We need better video conferencing technology, so the Mayor and senior leaders can be reached quickly by news media without sending a crew to the EOC. This video conferencing would also be quite useful in coordinating action plans between departments with leaders in different locations.
In a larger, regional, disaster, such capability would allow the governor, mayors and county executives to rapidly and easily talk to each other to coordinate their work. It is much easier for anyone to communicate if they can see the visual cues of others on the call.
Also, Seattle, like many cities, is a place of many languages and nationalities. We need to have translators available to get communications out in the languages our residents speak. This might include a volunteer-staffed translation team but at least could include recording and rapidly distributing written, video and audio/radio public service announcements in multiple languages.
Commuting; Telecommuting
In these emergencies, many people elect to use public transit – buses and trains for commuting. (I actually took my "boat" – the water taxi – to work twice this week.) Yet snowstorms are also the times when buses jackknife or get stuck in snowdrifts and going up hills.
In this emergency, the coordination between the transit agency ("Metro") and the City was quite improved, because we had people – liaisons – from each agency embedded with the other. This allowed snowplows to help keep bus routes clear and help clear streets near trapped buses.
And, with recent technology advances and sorta-broadband networks, many workers can now telecommute. Seattle had few outages of Internet service this week, although in suburban areas trees and snow brought down not just power lines, but telephone and cable lines as well causing more widespread Internet issues.
What could we do better? The easiest and most useful advance, I think, would be GPS on every bus and train and water taxi boat. That, combined with real-time mapping, would allow people to see the location of their rides right on their smartphones. If we deployed it right, such technology might also show how full the bus is and the locations of stuck buses. This sort of technology would be useful every day for public transit users – but is especially important during snow emergencies.
Another huge necessity – which I've advocated often and loudly – is very high speed fiber broadband networks. With fiber broadband – and Gigabit (a billion bits per second), two way, telecommuting and tele-education becomes really possible. Kids could continue their school day with video classes even when schools are closed, you could visit your doctor, and of course citizens would have access to all that emergency information and maps described above, real time and two-way. I could go on and on about this – and I have – read it here.
Crowdsourcing and Two-Way Communications, Cell Phones
This area is the most ripe for improved technology to "weather the storm".
In any emergency – even a minor disaster like a major fire or a pile-up collision – just obtaining and distributing information early and often will have a significant result in managing the problem.
On-duty at any time, the City of Seattle may have 200 firefighters, 350 police officers and several hundred to several thousand other employees. Yet we also have 600,000 people in the City, each one of which is a possible source of information.
How could we get many of them, for example, to tell us the snow and ice conditions in their neighborhoods? Or perhaps to tell us of problems such as clogged storm drains or stuck vehicles? The Seattle Times actually did this a bit, crowdsourcing snow depths from Facebook.
How can we "crowd source" such information? I'm not exactly sure. Perhaps we could use Facebook apps or Twitter (although not a lot of people use Twitter). Two-way text messages are possible.
Any one of these solutions would present a whole mass of data which needs to be processed, tagged for reliability, and then presented as useful analytics. Eventually, of course, there will be whole armies of remote sensors ("the Internet of things") to collect and report the information. Perhaps everyone's cell phone might eventually be a data collector (yes, yes, I'm well aware of privacy concerns).
In the meantime, we should have some way citizens can sign up for alerts about weather or other problems.
Many such systems exist, such as the GovDelivery-powered one used by King County Transportation. I'm not aware of such a system being used two-way, to crowd-source information from citizens.
There are also plenty of community-notification or "Reverse 911" systems on the market. The Federal government is developing CMAS, which would automatically alert every cell phone / mobile device in a certain geographical area about an impending problem or disaster.
Furthermore, during this Seattle snowstorm, many City of Seattle employees – including police and fire chiefs and department heads, used text messages on commercial cellular networks to communicate with their staff and field units. This continues a tradition of use of text messaging during emergency operations which first came to prominence during Hurricane Katrina.
All of these solutions depend, of course, on reliable cellular networks. We know during disasters commercial cellular networks can easily be overloaded (example: 2011 Hurricane Irene), calls dropped and cell sites can drop out of service as power outages occur and backup batteries at the sites run out of juice.
Yet, for people without power or land-line Internet, a smartphone with internet is a potential lifesaver and at least a link to the outside world. I'd like a way to easily collect this information – privately – from the carriers so emergency managers would know the geographies where mobile networks are impacted.
This leads me, of course, to my final point – that we need a nationwide public safety wireless broadband network. Such a network would be built using spectrum the Congress and the FCC have set aside for this purpose. It would only be used by public safety, although – as our Seattle snowstorm underscored, "public safety" must be used broadly to include utilities, transportation and public works – even building departments. And it would be high speed and resilient, with 4G wireless technology and backup generators, hardened cell sites.
These are a few of my thoughts on better management, through technology, of future snowstorms and other disasters, large and small, both daily and once-in-a-lifetime ones. What have I missed?


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To be checked against delivered speech
Communication from the Committee of Ministers presented by Jan Truszczynski, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Poland representing the Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers
Session de l'Assemblée parlementaire : 24 au 28 janvier 2005
Strasbourg, 26.01.2005
Mr President,
Honourable Members of the Parliamentary Assembly,
Mr Secretary General,
Ladies and Gentlemen
It is a great honour and pleasure for me to address the Parliamentary Assembly on behalf of the Polish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chair of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, on the occasion of the presentation of the activities of the Committee of Ministers since the last ordinary session of the Parliamentary Assembly.
First of all, I would like to congratulate you, Mr President, on your election at the head of the Parliamentary Assembly earlier this week. I wish you every success in this important responsibility and I am confident that you will have a constructive and trusting relationship with the Committee of Ministers.
An extensive report on the activities of the Committee of Ministers since last October is produced in the written Communication, which has been distributed. Let me focus on some issues of special importance for the Chair.
The Council of Europe has made a significant contribution to the consolidation of peace and the development of international cooperation thanks to its consistent endeavours for the protection of human rights and the furtherance of democracy and the rule of law. Poland also believes that the Council of Europe has a unique place in the political architecture of the continent. After the accession of Monaco last October the Council of Europe now encompasses almost the entire continent. Because Belarus has failed to fulfil Council of Europe fundamental standards, the accession process has been interrupted.
The Council of Europe has scored some remarkable achievements in the fifty years it has been consolidating democracy. It was the first European institution to open itself to new members after the 1989 breakthrough in Central and Eastern Europe. It will continue to upgrade its commitment to the stabilisation of democracy.
The current activities of the Council of Europe must take into account the changes occurring in Europe and the world, including the ongoing process of enlargement of the European Union. We need to establish a new pattern of cooperation between the Council of Europe and other international organisations through stronger synergy and the avoidance of duplication. This will contribute to the unity of the continent and the coherence of its political architecture.
The Polish Chairmanship is making every effort to maintain and intensify the impetus given to the Council by its predecessors, and most recently Norway. In order to ensure continuity in the work of the Council, the Polish priorities largely build on the Norwegian activities. We adopted the following priorities for our Presidency of the Council of Europe:
1. Strengthening of the Continent's unity after the enlargement of the European Union;
2. Strengthening of human rights;
3. Promoting the dialogue between cultures as a precondition for tolerance and resolution of conflicts;
4. Developing local democracy and trans-border co-operation;
5. Overcoming divisions of the past in Europe.
Strengthening of the Continent's unity after the enlargement of the European Union
Poland considers that the Council of Europe is best placed among all European organisations for building the democratic unity of a continent faced with a changing European architecture characterised by the continued process of enlargement of the European Union.
Poland, in its capacity as Chair, considers that it is a moral duty to contribute to the strengthening of the unity of the whole continent.
The Third Summit
The decision of the Committee of Ministers of 8 July 2004 on convening the Third Summit of the Council of Europe was a response to the need for further action on creating Europe without dividing lines.
As Chair of the Committee of Ministers and the host country, Poland is making every effort to ensure the political success of the Summit. By defining the Council of Europe's future goals and priorities in a new political mandate and Action Plan, the Summit should strengthen the ability of the Organisation to defend its core values and standards and to respond effectively to the challenges of the new century.
The Committee of Ministers is currently working on the agenda of the Summit. We all appreciate the initial draft document presented by France as a proposal for the future Action Plan of the Organisation, which served as food for thought and the inspiration for the ongoing work. So far we have received a number of contributions for the Summit documents from member states. The Committee of Ministers and its Chair appreciates in particular the very rich proposals being prepared by the Parliamentary Assembly through its numerous committees. We are expecting a fruitful debate during the present Session in order to adopt the Assembly's official contribution to the preparation of the Summit. The Committee of Ministers will study carefully all proposals made by the Assembly.
Allow me to refer for instance to the very interesting proposal to create a Commission on Democracy. The Polish government supports the idea. Two pillars of Council of Europe, namely human rights and the rule of law, have their practical instruments for monitoring and implementation. I refer to the Court, the Commissioner, the ECRI and CPT, as well as the Venice Commission monitoring the constitutional order. So far, there is no such instrument for the third pillar, mainly democracy. We therefore welcome the proposal to create a Commission on Democracy aimed at enhancing the functioning of democracy and democratic institutions in our societies.
We also received important contributions to the Summit agenda from the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities and the Secretary General - as well as interesting ideas from civil society organisations. It shows the growing commitment and interest for the Summit from our citizens.
The Committee of Ministers is now working on an integrated project for the agenda, focused on the core issues for the final debate of the Heads of State and Government during the Summit. To our understanding, the Summit will be a success for us all if it adopts crucial decisions for the future of our organisation and its role for further European integration.
From the previous and present debate we see an emerging consensus with regard to the main Summit idea: "Summit of European unity". Summit documents should reflect our determination to that idea – necessary for all of us –of the unity of Europe, in the richness and diversity of its historic and cultural heritage, as well as the moral and social values shared by the inhabitants of the continent and reflected in the triad of the Council's principles: human rights, the rule of law and pluralistic democracy.
Also we face the task of an institutional reform of Europe - the three main European organisations: the Council of Europe, the European Union and the OSCE - still operate in certain isolation. A definition of new principles of their complementarity is required.
We propose for inclusion in the agenda of the Summit, inter alia:
1. "A message on European values" – since European unity means "A Europe of shared values and common standards".
The full observance of European values is a goal yet to be attained by all the member states. Many legal instruments of the Council of Europe have reached only a low level of ratification.
In line with the discussions in the Committee of Ministers and the Assembly, we should consider "the renewal of membership commitments" – in the form of commitment at the Summit by all member states (in the political Declaration) to fully adopt a jointly determined - let us call it for instance - "code" of key conventions, with a specific timetable for their implementation into the domestic laws of the respective states. Without such a formal regulation, we face – in effect – a kind of "partial membership" in the Council of Europe.
2. European identity means dialogue:
The questions of "borders of Europe" and "European identity" could be addressed through the formula of dialogue between cultures and religions, i.e. the very important topic of inter-cultural dialogue. Such a dialogue has, in fact, been building European identity for centuries. An absence of such a dialogue would isolate Europe, stoking conflicts along the borders of the continent and also within our societies, endangering the security of citizens and the states of Europe.
In that context Poland sees the chance of finally overcoming the harmful division of Europe into "east" and "west". The expansion of the Council of Europe to encompass the entire continent, along with the broad integration processes in the framework of the OSCE and the European Union, can serve as the basis for the ultimate eradication of this anachronistic division.
The significance of inter-cultural dialogue is growing in Europe and around the world, in view of the historic challenge of the on-going process of European integration aimed at including countries that embrace the European vocation.
At the Third Summit in Warsaw these issues would find their practical reflection in the Declaration and decisions of the Summit.
To recapitulate – the proposal of the Polish Chair for the agenda and Summit decisions are focused on the following issues:
- the new institutional architecture of Europe – making it possible to undertake effective common actions;
- a community of European values, including their social dimension and intercultural dialogue in Europe and between Europe and its neighbours.
Summit scenario:
We propose that the Summit be a genuine meeting and a forum for an open and direct discussion between European Heads of State and Government.
At two relatively short sessions, they would take decisions on the cooperation of European institutions, and adopt the Political Declaration and the future Action Plan for the Organisation - both translated into practical decisions that we will undertake to implement.
It is the intention of Poland and the city of Warsaw to involve the citizens of Europe in the event, inviting them to a kind of festival – with meetings of young people, artists, NGO leaders etc.
Stabilising democracy
Mr President, Ladies and Gentlemen,
During its Chairmanship, Poland will spare no effort in strengthening the Council of Europe's fundamental values in regions where they are not fully established. We are convinced that respecting standards of the Council of Europe in the field of human rights, democracy and the rule of law is the best way to help in conflict prevention.
We welcome the positive outcome of the political crisis and the victory of democracy in Ukraine, confirming the European vocation of this country. The Committee of Ministers followed very closely developments in Ukraine. On this occasion and on behalf of the Committee of Ministers I would like to express my high appreciation of Ukrainian civil society which has clearly proved its attachment to the principles of democracy.
Poland, as Chair and as Ukraine's neighbour with a record of strong historical and cultural links with that country, decided to contribute to efforts in making the compromise possible. The involvement of the Polish Foreign Minister in his capacity as Chairman of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe served to highlight the engagement of the Council of Europe in the process of democratic changes in Ukraine. The involvement of the international community was also motivated by Ukraine's obligations to the Council of Europe and the OSCE. It made a significant contribution to ensuring the democratic conduct of elections in Ukraine – likely to mark the beginning of a genuine, accelerated democratisation in Ukraine.
The end of the political crisis in Ukraine should provide a new impetus for cooperation between the Council of Europe and this country. On 12 January I had an exchange of views with the Ministers' Deputies about the situation in Ukraine and the role of the Council of Europe in consolidating democratic developments in this country.
President Yushchenko sent us a clear message yesterday: Ukraine is expecting a real involvement of the Council of Europe and we should not disappoint Ukrainian society. The Council of Europe has declared itself entirely in support of democratic reforms in Ukraine and it should continue to play a key role in strengthening the standards of human rights, democracy and the rule of law in that country. In the realm of the reform of the country's legal system, we see the important role of the Venice Commission, which at this point is credited with many expert opinions and legal analyses on Ukraine. The Council of Europe can offer help with a view to improving the country's legislation, inter alia in the judicial field, guaranteeing media freedom or combating corruption. It would be necessary to offer support for the construction of local democracy in the country, and for more robust cross-border cooperation with Ukraine. We also appeal for the broadest-possible inclusion of Ukraine in Council of Europe programmes.
I should like to thank the Parliamentary Assembly for its contribution to the settlement of the political crisis, in particular for its role in the election observation in Ukraine. I welcome the Secretary General's visit to Ukraine on 13 December which also provided an opportunity to stress the importance of complying with European standards.
The Chair really appreciates that President Yushchenko chose this audience to present his priorities on how to reform the Ukrainian State and society to fulfil Council of Europe standards. I am impressed by the commitment and European vision of the new President. We will support the Ukrainian people in their endeavours for fuller European integration.
As a neighbour of Belarus, Poland is particularly concerned by the situation in that country. I would like to express our hope that Belarus will try to prove that it belongs to the family of European democracies in order to prevent its total isolation. At the same time, we shall avoid any gestures that could be interpreted as support for President Lukashenko and his attendants.
A region of major attention for the Committee of Ministers is also the Western Balkans, as indicated in the written Communication. The Communication reflects all major tendencies and activities we have witnessed in recent months and are of both interest and obligation to the Council of Europe. While noting with satisfaction the steadily growing stability and further consolidation in the region, the Chair is aware that progress is still needed, in particular in the most recent member states of that region, i.e. Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia and Montenegro.
This question has remained a focal point for the Committee of Ministers over the last months, within the context of the progressive integration of the countries concerned into European structures. We praise the contribution that the Council of Europe is making to that shared objective, and the added-value it brings to the international community aims in the Western Balkans. The Committee of Ministers has expressed its firm conviction that full and unconditional cooperation with the ICTY remains an important task and obligation for most of the states in the region. We perceive this cooperation as a visible sign of the progress toward European Union structures and the all-European family of nations.
The Committee of Ministers has also continued to pay particular attention to the situation developing in the three countries of the Southern Caucasus - a zone of tensions and unresolved conflicts. Those conflicts have negative implications for the democratic development and economic progress of the region and render humanitarian situations difficult, particularly as regards refugees and displaced people. Significant efforts, based on the same dual logic of assistance with reforms and monitoring the honouring of commitments, are being made for this region. Poland is deeply convinced that the Council of Europe has a substantial role to play in supporting democratic reforms and human rights in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia.
Co-operation with other international organisations
In order to build a Europe without divisions, it is essential to ensure harmonious cooperation between political organisations and structures operating on our continent. The new challenges currently facing Europe show a need for better coordination of activities pursued by the main European Organisations: the Council of Europe, the European Union and the OSCE. Therefore, we should strive to achieve a clear division of labour so that competencies do not overlap and greater synergy is created.
Poland continues the efforts undertaken by the preceding presidencies to improve the effectiveness of European cooperation. Regular consultations between the representatives of European organisations should enhance cooperation and result in synergy. That is – as I said – one of the tasks of the Third Summit.
The latest and broadest enlargement ever of the European Union necessitates redefining the Council of Europe's position in its relations with this Institution. This applies to such issues as the consolidation of joint Council of Europe-European Union programmes and the question of the European Union's accession to the European Convention on Human Rights. That discussion, which is also based on proposals made by the Parliamentary Assembly, should bear its fruits at the Third Summit. The exchange of views held by the Committee of Ministers on 12 January with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Luxembourg – the current Chair of the European Union – was a first important step in the process and the next stage will be the high-level "quadripartite" meeting to be held in Brussels in March.
Poland also attaches great importance to the Council's cooperation with the OSCE in all areas of mutual interest, in particular the strengthening of human rights, democratic values and the rule of law. Significant progress has been made with the appointment – further to a parallel decision of the Committee of Ministers and the Standing Committee of the OSCE – of a Coordination Group made up of members of the executive bodies of the two organisations. The Chair hopes that the appointment of this group will bring about tangible progress in cooperation between Council of Europe and OSCE and will be reflected in a joint document adopted by the Third Summit.
Convinced that the important analytical and legal expertise of the Council of Europe can serve as an inspiration for the whole international community, Poland will actively promote cooperation between the Council of Europe and the United Nations in order to increase the positive perception of our values in the global dimension. This issue requires our special attention, taking into account the Resolution adopted in December by the United Nations General Assembly on cooperation between the United Nations and the Council of Europe. We should make the best use of the possibility foreseen in the Resolution to launch a reflection process with a view to strengthening the relations between the two Organisations in light of the outcome of the Third Summit.
Terrorism is a global phenomenon, and no state – however powerful – can eradicate it on its own. The unity and determination of all Council of Europe member states create conditions for the effective response to it. The question of the Council of Europe's contribution to the international action against terrorism has been a permanent item on the agenda of the Committee of Ministers since September 2004. Poland has continued the efforts of the Norwegian Chairmanship in this respect and I am glad to announce that significant progress has been achieved with the preparation of a number of legal instruments for the suppression of terrorism.
Two important texts have already been sent to this Chamber and we are looking forward to your opinions on the draft Convention against money-laundering and the financing of terrorism and the draft Convention on the prevention of terrorism.
The Committee of Ministers will soon adopt the Guidelines on aid to and protection of victims of terrorism and the draft declaration on freedom of expression and information in the media in the context of the fight against terrorism.
The Deputies are also paying due attention to the implementation of existing instruments, notably the Protocol amending the European Convention on the Suppression of Terrorism. 17 member states of the Council of Europe declared their intention to ratify this Protocol in the first half of 2005. The total number of ratification would then reach 27.
In response to the call made by this Chamber to better coordinate efforts between international organisations in the fight against terrorism, the Deputies held meetings with Ambassador Bringeus, Chair of the OSCE working group on terrorism and with Mr Gijs de Vries, the European Union counter-terrorism coordinator, on 3 November and 13 January respectively.
A complete picture of activities carried our by the Committee of Ministers on this issue is reflected in the reply adopted by the Deputies, on 19 January to Recommendation 1677 on the challenge of terrorism in Council of Europe member states.
The role of international action against terrorism in improving security in Europe will be a main topic of the Third High-level Multilateral Meeting of the Ministers of the Interior, which will take place in Warsaw on 17–18 March this year. We are convinced that this conference will contribute significantly to the ongoing discussion on this matter.
Strengthening Human Rights
Strengthening human rights constitutes one of the main topics on the Committee of Ministers agenda and is also one of the priorities of the Polish chairmanship.
The Committee of Ministers attaches the highest importance to the speedy and efficient implementation of the decisions taken at the Ministerial Session in May 2004, so as to guarantee the long-term effectiveness of the control system of the European Court of Human Rights. In this context, a Treaty Event was organised on the occasion of the transfer of Chairmanship ceremony between Norway and Poland on 10 November. The essential purpose of the Treaty Event was to encourage the signature and ratification of Protocol 14. This goal has been achieved since no fewer than ten signatures and four ratifications were recorded on that occasion
In order to discuss methods of improving the efficiency of national systems and solving the problems identified in the case law of the Court, Poland will organise a seminar on effective remedies against the excessive length of judicial proceedings. In addition, the Second European Conference of Judges, to be organised in Cracow, will be devoted to the elaboration of models of cooperation between judges and the media in the context of enhancing legal awareness of society. Preparations are also under way for the Ministerial Conference of the European Ministers responsible for Mass Media, which will be organised in Kyiv in March this year.
Compliance with obligations and commitments by member states remains a fundamental requirement for the Council of Europe's credibility. In this matter, concerted efforts and cooperation is needed between the Parliamentary Assembly, the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe and the Committee of Ministers in areas of their respective competencies.
Poland, as Chair, also supports the work already under way on the drafting of a European convention on action against trafficking in human beings. A preliminary text has been submitted to the Assembly for consideration. The Convention should be a practical tool to facilitate international cooperation in this area. Its primary concern will be the protection of the fundamental rights of victims of trafficking and the effective prosecution of traffickers. The Chair is aware that a number of legal difficulties still need to be resolved. We hope that your opinion will provide a constructive input enabling the opening of the convention for signature at the Third Summit.
The Council of Europe can be proud of its convention system constituting the outcome of more than 50 years work and amounting to some 200 instruments. However, some of the conventions and protocols no longer fully correspond to today's requirements, and Poland therefore suggests a discussion on the possibility of reviewing the treaty basis of the Council of Europe in order to improve the effectiveness of its legal instruments and – as a result – of the Organisation itself.
Deepening the European co-operation
Culture and education constitute important areas of the Committee of Minister's activities to which Poland wishes to contribute. In the framework of the European Year of Citizenship through Education Poland intends to host a conference devoted to this subject.
Cultural cooperation is undoubtedly one of the pillars of the Council of Europe and an important role is played in that regard by the European Cultural Convention. Fifty years on, its heritage should be reviewed from the point of view of the new challenges of the 21st century. That question was tackled by the conference held in Wrocław on 10 December 2004 and the Wroclaw Declaration on 50 years of European Cultural Cooperation was adopted on that occasion.
Poland recognises social cohesion as one of the important areas of interest for the Council of Europe and appreciates the Revised Strategy for Social Cohesion introduced in July 2004. Poland will focus in particular on issues related to the social consequences of changes in the European labour market stemming from the globalisation process and the dissemination of new information technologies. Two conferences organised by us will offer an opportunity for debate on the development of the European labour market, as well as on the safety of the patient in health care systems.
Effective trans-border cooperation and steady development of local democracy, promoted in particular by the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council Europe, are among the key factors enhancing European unity and enabling the elimination of barriers, mistrust and harmful stereotypes. In order to encourage trans-frontier cooperation, Poland intends to organise a conference on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the European Outline Convention on Transfrontier Cooperation between Territorial Communities or Authorities. The Committee of Ministers is also continuing preparations for another important event – the Conference of European Ministers responsible for Local and Regional Government, to be held in Budapest in February.
Overcoming divisions of the past
The Chair is deeply convinced that, in order to achieve reconciliation in Europe, it is essential to overcome prejudice, negative stereotypes and resolve disputes rooted in the difficult experiences of the past. Fruitful, compromise-minded discussion seeking a common view of certain painful historic events is not easy but certainly possible. The Council of Europe is the proper forum for such a debate and the contribution of the Parliamentary Assembly in this regard will be highly appreciated.
Poland will support projects of the Council of Europe aimed at elaborating a common and objective view of history, in particular through education. In this connection, Poland will organise a seminar of European education Ministers "Teaching remembrance through cultural heritage" in Cracow on 5-7 May 2005.
Mr President,
Distinguished Members of the Parliamentary Assembly,
Thank you for your attention. Now I am ready to answer the questions you would wish to address to me.