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Table of Contents:
The European economy: 2004 Review
Outline of the Community (European Union) legislation about The European economy: 2004 Review
These categories group together and put in context the legislative and non-legislative initiatives which deal with the same topic.
Economic and monetary affairs > Stability and growth pact and economic policy coordination
The European economy: 2004 Review
Document or Iniciative
The EU Economy 2004 Review – Summary and main conclusions [COM(2004) 723 final – Not published in the Official Journal].
The communication reviews economic progress in the European Union in 2004. It influences the mid-term review of the Lisbon Strategy by analysing first macroeconomic developments in the euro area and then four major topics: convergence, employment, productivity and the environment.
Belated recovery of the economy and its resilience to economic shocks
The Commission notes that economic prospects brightened in 2004 against the background of a favourable international environment. Growth was driven mainly by exports, while domestic demand in the euro area gathered pace. However, the two main components of domestic demand, investment and private consumption, remained too unsteady to speak of a secure recovery.
In spite of the improvement in economic prospects, the rebound of the EU economy is belated and sluggish compared with the other major economies such as the United States. The Commission wonders about the euro area's economic resilience. Is it more sensitive than other regions to economic shocks? Are its economic structures less favourable to economic resurgence?
Analysis shows that, although adverse economic events have impacted on economic confidence indicators, their effects on industrial production were short-lived and not particularly deep. Rather, structural rigidities have been a more significant factor in the late cyclical adjustment in the euro area. These rigidities impact mainly on investment activity. Thus, the speed of the return to potential output will be determined by how much these rigidities continue to weigh on investment once the cyclical impact of a lack of demand and financial constraints holding back investment growth have worn off.
The slow price adjustments in the euro area stem from wage rigidities and imperfect competition.
Making the Union competitive by 2010
In the communication the Commission focuses on the four areas that hold the key to making the Union competitive by 2010. These are:
Convergence: On 1 May 2004 ten new Member States joined the Union. The Commission examines the conditions that will enhance their capacity to catch up economically and in terms of convergence since they start from income levels significantly below the EU average. Admittedly, the new Member States have already embarked on a major economic convergence process, but this has been entirely driven by investment and productivity. The Commission takes the view that the fairly low employment rates in those countries will have to be increased and domestic savings progressively mobilised in order to complement foreign direct investment. Macroeconomic stability will have to be further entrenched and public deficits reduced. To this end, domestic reforms must continue. The Commission considers that the EU's Structural Funds can help to foster convergence provided that there is more targeted geographical and thematic concentration.
Employment: For the Commission it is difficult to see how the employment objectives of the Lisbon Strategy, namely the increase in employment rates envisaged by 2010, can be achieved. This is partly because of the economic slowdown but also because progress on structural reforms has been slow and insufficient. The Commission does though note progress in some areas, such as improving female employment. It takes the view that the strategy is clear but reminds Member States that much remains to be done as regards reforms: wage differentiation, labour market regulations, improvement in education and training, etc. These reforms must be country-specific, taking into account the mix of labour market and social protection regulations.
Productivity: The EU economy must not only achieve a higher labour input but also enhance productivity growth. The productivity slowdown is structural, reflecting low productivity growth in mid-tech industries, the relatively small size of the EU's information and communication technologies (ICT) production industry, etc. In addition, the higher returns which can be earned outside Europe on the back of globalisation and increased international capital mobility may exert pressure on capital productivity within the EU. These developments could be part of the explanation as to why labour productivity growth has declined. The Commission notes that total factor productivity is determined by the competences of workers and the technological level of capital equipment. It would like to see the knowledge-based economy better entrenched in Europe and the gap with the United States closed. The US economy has shifted towards high-productivity growth industries such as the ICT-producing and ICT-using sectors. Thanks to its superior innovation system and the larger amount of resources allocated to research, the United States is in a better position to cope with the globalisation-induced competitive and technological pressures evident since the mid-1980s. Reforms which would allow new and innovative firms to develop and the process of internal integration to be pursued are particularly needed.
Environment: Protection of the environment and economic growth are often seen as competing aims, but the demand for environmental protection has risen along with economic growth. Environmental policy aims to place these resources under a common-property regime by providing for restrictions on activity which is hazardous or damaging to the environment. Public action, market forces and the growth of the service sector have triggered a reduction in the pollution intensity of economic activity in the EU. The Commission notes that the increase in environmental protection has not taken place because pollution has been exported through large-scale relocation. Environmental policies cause an adjustment of economic structures, for example by adapting the property-rights regimes for natural resources to take account of their increased scarcity and new scientific insights. They must also take account of the health risks to which the public is exposed.


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When someone says the term "battleground state," Mississippi is not one that comes to mind. But in 2012, that's exactly what Mississippi will be. The Republican-dominated state is the focus of Personhood USA's next attack, and this time it's about more than abortion.
Personhood USA has become well known over the last several years in the reproductive rights world for their work on attempting to pass "personhood" legislation to get embryos, zygotes, and fetsues recognized as full, social security card-carrying people. In most cases they put this personhood legislation to a vote in a normal election by adding an amendment or initiative to the ballot (which are called ballot measures). Just like we vote into office our elected officials, these amendments and initiatives are put to a vote.
A "normal" personhood ballot measure's goals are to do a couple of key things: First, it defines life as starting at conception, and second, it ensures that every single "person" or living thing– and remember life now starts at conception—has the same rights. This means that miscarriages can become the subject of murder investigations and most forms of in vitro fertilization (IVF) and stem cells research become illegal. Of course, this also makes abortion illegal. If a majority of voters approves this type of personhood ballot measure, it becomes law—it's important to note that this has not happened yet.
Every state has different laws regarding how initiatives and amendments can get on the ballot. Each state requires a different number of signatures from voters showing support for the measure. Some states don't even allow types of ballot measures, and Mississippi is one of those states.
Ballot measures in Mississippi may not be used to alter the state constitution's Bill of Rights, but Personhood USA's ballot initiative (officially named Initiative 26) would do exactly that. If approved it would alter the Bill of Rights and re-define the term person to include "every human being from the moment of fertilization, cloning, or the functional equivalent thereof."
The ACLU filed a lawsuit to have it struck from the ballot, but it was overturned by a local judge, Malcolm Harrison, in a political ruling. He was up for re-election and the measure had been receiving support in his district, so he overturned the lawsuit. Ironically, he lost the election, but the damage had already been done. The ACLU and Planned Parenthood have appealed to the Mississippi State Supreme Court to rule on this issue and are currently waiting for a verdict, but here's where it really gets tricky. Mississippi's Republican-run Supreme Court's verdict could mean a lot. Not only will their verdict set a precedent, but it will also affect another ballot measure.
Mississippi Eminent Domain Amendment (or Initiative 31) is a ballot measure that would restrict the government's ability to take private property and transfer it to a separate person or private business. If passed, it would amend the Mississippi Bill of Rights, the same docment that the Personhood ballot measure would impact. Initiative 31 is also the subject of a legal battle. This means that if the Republican-dominated court strikes down the Eminent Domain Amendment (which they are against) they will also be forced to strike down the Personhood Amendment (which they support).
This legal conundrum goes well beyond any issue of reproductive rights. If the measure is kept on the ballot, it will make a legal precedent that ballot measures may be used to alter the State Bill of Rights. This could have unheard of long term consequences with future ballot measures. Hopefully the court is able to look past their anti-abortion views and see that taking both initiatives off of the Mississippi ballot is the right thing to do for their state.

subset: commoncrawl


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4-Year-Old Urges: "Give a Chance 4 Peace"
So my friend T'chaka was visiting his sister and his four-year-old niece, Aurora, last December. Aurora began a stream-of-consciousness rant about the need for more peace in the world. Well, rant is maybe too strong a word -- it's more a complex set of observations about world history, politics, peace, money, and bedtime, as seen by a four-year-old. T'chaka captured Aurora's message on his phone, turning it into a song by singing along and playing improvised guitar. In the year since, T'chaka created an animated film to go along with the song. Check it out below.
Representative lyrics: "You're hurting the dirt / you're hurting the rain / you're hurting crabs / you're hurting crowds / you're hurting the whole wide world. ... Give a piece! A chance for peace, vote for Barack Obama...."
Give a Chance 4 Peace (8mins) from T'chaka Sikelianos on Vimeo.


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Importing water from the Missouri River to Colorado's semi-arid Front Range has emerged as an option western states are considering to deal with increasing overuse of the Colorado River.
That diversion is listed as a long-term possibility after review of more than 100 sometimes far-fetched ideas submitted to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. Among them: "Towing an iceberg wrapped in some type of plastic to California and capturing the meltwater"; tapping the Mississippi River; and "filling large nylon water bags" in Alaska for distribution down south.
Bureau of Reclamation officials on Tuesday said the "Missouri River Reuse Project" will be evaluated for feasibility following the release in coming weeks of a federal government study on water supply for the West.
"The state of Colorado has not taken a formal position on the pipeline or any of the options," Colorado Department of Natural Resources spokesman Todd Hartman said.
The Missouri diversion described in Bureau of Reclamation documents would require a pipeline across Kansas, with water used to fill surface reservoirs and recharge depleted aquifers along the way to metro Denver.
It would convey 600,000 acre-feet of water a year depending on Midwestern needs. An acre-foot has been regarded as enough water to sustain two families of four for a year.
"Water would likely be stored in Front Range reservoirs such as Rueter-Hess, Carter, Barr and Chatfield," a project summary said. "Colorado may choose to construct new reservoirs or enlarge existing reservoirs for the project."
Some water could also be directed to the headwaters of the Colorado River Basin through pipelines and tunnels when there is great need to relieve drought in the basin, the summary continued.
Beyond political hurdles, such a project would cost billions.
"The idea of constructing conveyances to move water resources between other basins and the Colorado has been raised before and was once again submitted as an idea in this process," Bureau of Reclamation public affairs chief Dan DuBray said in a statement. "Any proposal will be evaluated for feasibility, broad support and realistic funding potential before further consideration would be given."
The options for importing water reflect widening worries about future shortages. The Colorado River Basin, which spans Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah and Wyoming, is the source of water for 30 million people.
The government's three-year Colorado River Basin Water Supply and Demand Study has found that within 50 years, the annual water deficit will reach 3.5 million acre-feet.
Bureau of Reclamation officials said their primary purpose was to define current and future imbalances in water supply and demand.
They asked stakeholders and agencies across the seven basin states to submit ideas to prevent shortages. States have agreed to consider a Missouri River diversion. Other ideas are destined for an appendix.
Diverting surplus water from the Missouri and Mississippi rivers was floated in 2006 as western states began searching for ways to enable population growth.
Conservation groups dismissed most ideas for importing water as nonsense and called the Missouri project misguided.
"Huge pipelines aren't solutions to the fundamental problem that we are using more water than we can sustain. You can't build more water," said Drew Beckwith, water policy manager for Boulder-based Western Resource Advocates. "We need to work together on conservation and reuse strategies that can have an immediate positive impact. Even if a pipeline from the Missouri River was the perfect solution, how would we pay for it?"
Bruce Finley: 303-954-1700, twitter.com/finleybruce or email@example.com


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Images show how nickel, which enhances battery capacity, also appears to hinder charging rates
News Release
September 27, 2012
While manganese (blue) fills out this battery nanoparticle evenly, nickel (green) clumps in certain regions, interfering with the material's smooth operation.
RICHLAND, Wash. —
Anyone who owns an electronic device knows that lithium ion batteries could work better and last longer. Now, scientists examining battery materials on the nano-scale reveal how nickel forms a physical barrier that impedes the shuttling of lithium ions in the electrode, reducing how fast the materials charge and discharge. Published last week in Nano Letters, the research also suggests a way to improve the materials.
The researchers, led by the Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory's Chongmin Wang, created high-resolution 3D images of electrode materials made from lithium-nickel-manganese oxide layered nanoparticles, mapping the individual elements. These maps showed that nickel formed clumps at certain spots in the nanoparticles. A higher magnification view showed the nickel blocking the channels through which lithium ions normally travel when batteries are charged and discharged.
"We were surprised to see the nickel selectively segregate like it did. When the moving lithium ions hit the segregated nickel-rich layer, they essentially encounter a barrier that appears to slow them down," said Wang, a materials scientist based at EMSL, the Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory, a DOE user facility on PNNL's campus. "The block forms in the manufacturing process, and we'd like to find a way to prevent it."
Lithium ions are positively charged atoms that move between negative and positive electrodes when a battery is being charged or is in use. They essentially catch or release the negatively charged electrons, whose movement through a device such as a laptop forms the electric current.
In lithium-manganese oxide electrodes, the manganese and oxygen atoms form rows like a field of cornstalks. In the channels between the stalks, lithium ions zip towards the electrodes on either end, the direction depending on whether the battery is being used or being charged.
Researchers have known for a long time that adding nickel improves how much energy the electrode can hold, battery qualities known as capacity and voltage. But scientists haven't understood why the capacity falls after repeated usage — a situation consumers experience when a dying battery holds its charge for less and less time.
To find out, Wang, materials scientist Meng Gu and their collaborators used electron microscopy at EMSL and the National Center for Electron Microscopy at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory to view how the different atoms are arranged in the electrode materials produced by Argonne National Laboratory researchers. The electrodes were based on nanoparticles made with lithium, nickel, and manganese oxides.
First, the team took high-resolution images that clearly showed rows of atoms separated by channels filled with lithium ions. On the surface, they saw the accumulation of nickel at the ends of the rows, essentially blocking lithium from moving in and out.
To find out how the surface layer is distributed on and within the whole nanoparticle, the team used a technique called three-dimensional composition mapping. Using a nanoparticle about 200 nanometers in size, they took 50 images of the individual elements as they tilted the nanoparticle at various angles. The team reconstructed a three-dimensional map from the individual elemental maps, revealing spots of nickel on a background of lithium-manganese oxide.
The three-dimensional distribution of manganese, oxygen and lithium atoms along the surface and within the particle was relatively even. The nickel, however, parked itself in small areas on the surface. Internally, the nickel clumped on the edges of smaller regions called grains.
To explore why nickel aggregates on certain surfaces, the team calculated how easily nickel and lithium traveled through the channels. Nickel moved more easily up and down the channels than lithium. While nickel normally resides within the manganese oxide cornrows, sometimes it slips out into the channels. And when it does, this analysis showed that it flows much easier through the channels to the end of the field, where it accumulates and forms a block.
The researchers used a variety of methods to make the nanoparticles. Wang said that the longer the nanoparticles stayed at high temperature during fabrication, the more nickel segregated and the poorer the particles performed in charging and discharging tests. They plan on doing more closely controlled experiments to determine if a particular manufacturing method produces a better electrode.
This work was supported by PNNL's Chemical Imaging Initiative.
Reference: Meng Gu, Ilias Belharouak, Arda Genc, Zhiguo Wang, Dapeng Wang, Khalil Amine, Fei Gao, Guangwen Zhou, Suntharampillai Thevuthasan, Donald R. Baer, Ji-Guang Zhang, Nigel D. Browning, Jun Liu, and Chongmin Wang. Conflicting Roles of Ni in Controlling Cathode Performance in Li-ion Batteries, NanoLetters Sept. 17, 2012, doi: dx.doi.org/10.1021/nl302249v.
Tags: Energy, Fundamental Science, Batteries, Nanoscience
EMSL, the Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory, is a DOE Office of Science user facility. Located at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Richland, Wash., EMSL offers an open, collaborative environment for scientific discovery to researchers around the world. Its integrated computational and experimental resources enable researchers to realize important scientific insights and create new technologies. Follow EMSL on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory draws on signature capabilities in chemistry, earth sciences, and data analytics to advance scientific discovery and create solutions to the nation's toughest challenges in energy resiliency and national security. Founded in 1965, PNNL is operated by Battelle for the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Science. DOE's Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States and is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, visit PNNL's News Center. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter.


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At Røros Hotel we can cater for groups of 600 people, drive trucks into the conference hall, serve you dinner in a Sami turf hut or invite you on an adventure in the wilderness. There is virtually no limit to what you can experience here with us. We will help you with ideas, planning and implementation, and tailor the arrangement to your satisfaction.


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Kostelanetz, André
Kostelanetz, André än´drā kŏs˝təlä´nĭts [key], 1901–80, American pianist and conductor, b. St. Petersburg, Russia. After studying at the St. Petersburg Conservatory of Music, he emigrated to the United States in 1922 and became a citizen in 1928. As a conductor Kostelanetz concentrated on popular and semiclassical works and on simplified versions of famous symphonies. He became popular while appearing regularly on radio and made many records.
The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2023, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.
See more Encyclopedia articles on: Music: History, Composers, and Performers: Biographies


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Posted by Editor on 10/12/09
Report courtesy Rob Good
The racers in Ontario put on another great night of racing at the Forest City Velodrome on Saturday night (October 10th). There were two competitions going on at the same time, with the racers on the rivet during all of the evening's events.
The sprint tournament was split into "A" & "B" divisions, with the individual lap times in qualifying determining the division for each group. The racers were also racing on 86" gears to level the competition and make the racing much more competitive.
The "A" sprint competition had the biggest upset of the year, as 15 year old Kristofer Ovsenek (Invita Sport-FCV) outsprinted the 2009 Canadian Junior Sprint Champion Allan Leparskas (coachchris.ca) for the "A" sprint tournament. Ovsenek is spending the fall playing Volleyball in an effort to build strength for the winter season of track racing at the Forest City Velodrome. Kristofer's win was the first for the new junior team of Invita Sport-FCV.
During the competition in the early rounds the favourites moved on with many of the Cadets and Juniors making their way into the finals. In the end, in a very close sprint, Tomas Hums came over the top of Jason King on the home straight to win the Bronze medal.
The "B" tournament was just as competitive as the "A" group with the fastest qualifiers moving on to the finals. Taking his first victory of 2009 was Mike Renneboog (D'Ornellas) just nipping Vince DeJong (coachchris.ca) at the line to take the first place prize. The battle for Bronze came down to a very short sprint as tactics played a roll in the finish. Cadet racer Alex Cataford (Ottawa Bicycle Club) attacked local London racer Doug Devine with just over one lap to go to win by a bike length.
In addition to the sprints, many of the racers were competing in a five event Omnium. The women had a some solid competition and put on a great show. Some personal best times were achieved in the timed events in the afternoon with the mass start races spot lighted the evening's program. Krista Ruby (La Bicicletta/J. Linberg) dominated the competition, scoring a win in the three kilometre TT and finishing second in all the other events to take first prize. Florence Laplante- Lamarche (Saputo) and Emily Mackenzie-Picot had solid finishes to complete the Omnium in second and third places respectively.
On the men's side of the Omnium, the competition came down to three riders throwing bombs at one another in the points and scratch races during the evening session. Just one point separated Cadet Alex Cataford, Junior Ryan Aitcheson (Jet Fuel Coffee) and Senior Adam Thuss (Red Truck – Trek). During the points race all three riders attacked each other in an effort to score the most points and put the others in a world of hurt. Thuss came out on top scoring 28 points in the 80 lap feature. With 17 points Cataford was right on Thuss's back wheel during the entire event. Aitcheson who tried to lap the field at the half distance mark came up a little short and paid the price by blowing up and missing the crucial split and dropping to third.
The last event of the night, the men's scratch race, saw many of the sprinters wanting to get some extra racing in and filling out the field to a track busting 18 riders. The three favourites had to defend many attacks from the fresher riders who added a wild card to the event. Cataford had to beat Thuss by three spots to win the overall. The average speed of the race was 43.527 kph and with most of the riders dropping out from the constamt attacks the field was down to six riders in the end. With nine laps to go Aitcheson attacked over the top and immediately gained 1/2 a lap as Cataford and Thuss watched one another. It wasn't until the riders were within four laps of the finish that the field started to chase, a little too late as Jason King came along side of Aitcheson, however could not get around him, margin of victory for Aitcheson in the scratch race was .082 seconds (it's great to have electronic scoring). Thuss hung on for third, just edging out Cataford for the overall Omnium victory.
Gold – Adam Thuss
Silver – Alex Cataford
Bronze – Ryan Aitcheson
The next race at the Forest City Velodrome is Saturday, October 24th, with racing starting at 7:00 pm. All of the winter programs have started at the FCV. For updated Recreational and Racing information please go to the website: www.ForestCityVelodrome.ca.
|Return to Canadian Cyclist homepage | Back to Top


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A friendly tipster sent in this picture they say they snagged at a GameStop showing that the national retailer will be offering a $50 gift certificate with any purchase of a new Playstation 3.
The deal, we're told, kicks off on March 3.
If you're not in the mood to wait, Best Buy is currently offering a $50 gift card and a copy of either Guitar Hero: Aerosmith or Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock when you by the 80GB PS3 for $400.
While the GameStop still should be taken with a grain of salt, if true both deals bolster recent rumblings of a Playstation 3 price drop.
In his latest note to investors
"Recent channel checks indicate increased speculation for a PS3 price cut announcement from Sony in the next couple of days," wrote Hickey.
Could the Best Buy and GameStop deals be predictors for an upcoming $100 price drop?


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Child sexual exploitation charges have been laid against an Alberta man who police say has been involved with a number of junior hockey teams and who allegedly used various online personas to lure teenage boys.
The 34-year-old Grande Prairie resident was arrested Jan. 23 after he allegedly lured and attempted to sexually assault a boy from the community.
The Internet Child Exploitation Unit of the Alberta Law Enforcement Response Team (ALERT) says the man, who has also lived in Kelowna, British Columbia, often posed as a teenage girl on social media.
The ALERT team also says online conversations would progress from sexualized chats to sharing explicit photos and videos, and that attempts were made to meet with the boys.
According to West Kelowna Warriors' co-owner Mark Cheyne, Bruenig was a volunteer for the team, primarily on game days. Occasionally he served as a goal judge and also performed other tasks, but was mostly seen as a fan of the team.
Cheyne was not sure of the time frame, but estimates it's been at least eight years since Bruenig has attended Warriors' games.
"He didn't have access to the team dressing rooms," adds Cheyne.
Investigators are also working with other police agencies to investigate similar alleged offences in the Northwest Territories, northern B.C. and Australia.
Jonathan Karl Bruenig will appear in court on Feb. 12 to face charges that include child luring and making, possessing and distributing child pornography.
The Canadian Press, with files from the Kelowna Capital News.


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It's 2014. Odds are you made a resolution this year. Maybe you want to lose weight, get a new job or learn to cook. But how do your finances look? If you aren't thinking about retirement, education or just saving for a rainy day, 2014 is the time to start. If you are thinking about it, where do you stand? Regardless of your situation, I'd like to challenge you to do a few things to better your financial situation in 2014.
1. Plan. No matter where you are in life, it's important to have a plan. Start by setting goals. Do you want to buy a house, have children, send your children to college or retire by a certain age? A savings account is great, but without a solid roadmap it will be tough to achieve all those goals. Consider how you'll save for all these things. Will you use a state-backed 529 for college savings? Do you know what that is? And how much will you save? What can you afford? If you do nothing else this year, start by making a plan!
2. Automate. Did you know that 46 percent of American workers have less than $10,000 saved for retirement? Retirement planning is one of the most important things you can do for yourself. While starting earlier is better, it's never too late to start. One of the easiest ways to make sure you're saving is to automate – or to put your retirement savings on "cruise control." If your employer offers a 401(k), opt in! Psychologically, automating keeps you from having to "make a decision." If it's automatic, you won't notice it. But you'll certainly benefit from the savings later.
3. Rebalance. Things change, and they change often. If you already have an investment portfolio, you should be rebalancing it at least every year. Talk to your financial adviser about how your investments look. Re-evaluate your funds. Should you consider selling any of them? You should also make sure that your asset allocation isn't lopsided. If it is, it's important to rebalance your holdings to ensure that you're getting the best return on all your investments.
If your head is swimming, don't worry. This subject is tough to master on your own. So here is a fourth tip to consider – talk to a financial adviser. Find someone you trust who can take the time to navigate these financial questions for you. Then check back at the end of the year to see where you stand. Hopefully, in 2015, you'll be resolving to continue your success.
John Phillips is the chief investment officer at Red Door Wealth Management in Memphis.
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by The Daily News Publishing Co. Inc. - All Rights Reserved


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Shut The Door, Have A Suite: 'Mad Men' Steps It Up
[CAUTION: This is all about Sunday night's Mad Men. Obviously, if you haven't seen Sunday night's Mad Men and you still intend to, you might hold off.]
It's reductive to conclude that on far too many episodes of Mad Men, nothing happens. Of course something always happens: someone feels something, or learns something, or is locked in a continuous internal struggle with something. A dynamic continues to simmer, a memory comes to the surface, angels and demons battle for somebody's soul.
But it can feel a lot like nothing happens. It can feel like watching a lava lamp: it's an exploration of the line between mesmerizing and stultifying.
That's why, from time to time, it's great fun when all of a sudden, a lot of things happen, as they did in Sunday night's episode. At first, it looked like the episode would be about an SCDP public offering, and then it looked like it would be about Roger landing Chevy, and then it looked like it would be about Don losing Jaguar, and then it looked like it would be about Pete losing Vicks, and then all of a sudden it was about the merger of Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce and Cutler Gleason and Chaough. That's kind of interesting just because it's a merger, and then holy moly wait a second -- that means Peggy is working with/for/around Don again.
Oh, and also: Pete and his father-in-law caught each other with prostitutes, Megan tried to put the va-voom back in her marriage (which she knows is in trouble, even if she doesn't know exactly why), Ted kissed Peggy, and Joan finally exploded over both the anger she feels at Don's eternally distant know-it-all-ism and the fact that she was put in the position of sleeping with a client to get an account. And Pete fell down the stairs, which was really just a metaphorical free beer for everyone who doesn't like Pete.
Meanwhile, back in the real world, in a couple of weeks, Bobby Kennedy is going to be assassinated. This euphoria, it is temporary.
When Mad Men is slow, it's really slow. Then when it gets moving but good, it's like Ocean's Eleven, with the jazzy score and the jaunty angles and the wisecracking. The last episode so purely of this kind was the third season finale, "Shut The Door. Have A Seat." In fact, in a direct callback, early on, this episode — called "For Immediate Release," which has precisely as many meanings as your tolerance for double entendre will tolerate — included Roger, deep into agency intrigue, saying to Don, "Shut the door." We should have known. We should have known!
As much as we all love a good lingering shot of a pained face, as much as we love a tiny conversation that seems to mean nothing and yet means everything, there is something to be said for sometimes — just sometimes — getting on with it already. Let's let Joan's obvious resentments come out. Let's see Pete act like the pitiable little weasel you know he is on the inside. Let's put Don and Peggy in a room again, have them clasp hands again, have him stupidly think he's getting it right by saying something gentler to her when, in fact, he's taken her fate from her hands and swallowed the agency where she was finally making a name for herself.
None of this rapid development means abandoning the character work that's been done in the last several episodes or the last several seasons. None of it means these people have suddenly become simple. After all, "Shut The Door. Have A Seat." was only the beginning (of the end) of Lane Pryce. It's fun to think about seeing Don and Peggy in the together again, but Don is running over Peggy just as much as he was running over Joan when he ditched Herb and Jaguar without talking to her. It took getting away from Don to bring out the Don in Peggy — it should occur to him that she might not want back into a power structure he's operating. And Joan? Joan is angry, really angry, because she gave up far more than she meant to and got far less than she thought she would. And perhaps because he's the only one from whom she expects more, she blames Don.
Don is different, but he's always the same. Don in this mode is smiling, active, vibrant, charismatic ... and still really bad at thinking about how the things he does are going to affect other people. He's cheating on Megan but happy to accept her energetic efforts to please. He's stomping all over the women he works with, and while he can barely bring himself to enjoy the company of his kids (as he told Megan last week while looking like a haggard old man), he grins from ear to ear at the chance to make a new car commercial and put one over on a bunch of bigger agencies.
Mad Men sometimes seems to be a show that remains inside a single dynamic, studying it until another comes along that's potentially more interesting, like it's crawling through a series of dioramas. But when it's time to move to the next one, it happens all at once, the same way Peggy suddenly up and quit — and she stayed gone, and she didn't undo it or change her mind. Now, we're on to the next, where the old Don Draper is the new Don Draper, or maybe it's the other way around.
Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.


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Monday – Friday 8am – 4pm
We recommend calling ahead to confirm these hours during the beginning and end of the seasonal period. We create an extended schedule to coincide closely with the gardening season, to make sure our staff is available when demand for our soils is at its peak. If the weather begins to warm up in April, we may start extended hours earlier than listed below.


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Students in a writing seminar taught in the spring of 2008 by poet Julia Bloch were assigned to listen to recordings of several poems by Amiri Baraka archived in PennSound. One, "In Walked Bud", was not available to the students in print. Halfway through the discussion, a student, Michael, offered a reading of the poem that successfully associated Baraka's jazz-metrical scatting with the narrative of the speaker's physical movement (I caught his response verbatim):
"So I try to listen and see if the sound tells me the story. Why is this guy saying DO DO DEE [he imitates the scat]? And then I realize that it's the way he's walking into the scene that summer night. He's an African in the West with European harmonies. And then he says, 'In walked us.' Later the DO DO DEE comes back but it's changed by then. I heard it as a story and then [in a writing assignment] did a close reading based on the sound of the [scatting]. I never bothered to image how it would look as language on a page."
From there the discussion among the students was all about the form of the poem, very little directly about its social content. Bloch had not pointed out the lit-class anomaly: students assigned to write about a poem they had not seen as writing. She patiently waited for a student to do so. "We haven't even seen this written down," Amy had exclaimed (and her remark precipitated Michael's capable reading); then she threw up her arms and asked, "How do we read this poem?"
What more fundamental question could there be? The noise of Baraka instigated it. To those who worry, as the conservative Georges Duhamel once did in an anti-modernist tirade against the radio, that "people who really need education are beginning to prefer noise to books," such student response is a powerful rejoinder.
The book has long been a medium for arriving at the teacher's goal, which is to teach young people to understand form as an extension of content; "noise," as either separate from the book or parallel to it, can similarly be the medium.


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The Secret Beyond Matter
The Microworld Miracle
The human body's worst enemy, a virus uses any human cell as a shelter for itself, multiplies there, and sometimes leads to the death of the individual.
A virus consists of a protein sheath and inside the sheath, genetic codes, DNA and/or RNA, that containing the information to replicate itself. It has no functioning organelles exhibiting signs of life on their own, no way to produce energy or synthesize proteins. It therefore relies on the existence of a living cell that can perform these vital functions for it. That is why a virus can remain unchanged, in a state of suspended animation, for millions of years. No change or impairment takes place in its structure during that very long time. But upon encountering an organism, it immediately comes to life and goes into action. It now resembles a conscious entity, seemingly capable of planning, developing strategies and using intelligence. The sole reason for this extraordinary change is that Allah has given it life and inspired in it the need to take action. No other force, knowledge or technological mechanism can bring about this extraordinary conscious behavior.
A virus can remain in an inanimate state for a long time. The only things it needs to awaken are the warmth and moisture of a cell which it can enter and infect. Once it has entered a cell, it can sometimes reproduce itself 100 times in an hour and can sometimes alter its genetic structure so much as to kill 20 million human beings in a year. Viruses, despite wielding such powerful and lethal effects, are so small that 1018 of them (10 followed by 18 zeros) would only just fill a ping-pong ball. If one virus had been placed inside a ping-pong ball every second since the beginning of the universe, the ball would still only be half full today. Not all viruses are the same size, of course. Some are thousands of times larger than those just mentioned, but it would still take 30 million years for them to fill a ping-pong ball. Others are up to 80 times smaller, and would be unable to fill a ping-pong ball in 2 trillion years. of them (10 followed by 18 zeros) would only just fill a ping-pong ball. If one virus had been placed inside a ping-pong ball every second since the beginning of the universe, the ball would still only be half full today.
Not all viruses are the same size, of course. Some are thousands of times larger than those just mentioned, but it would still take 30 million years for them to fill a ping-pong ball. Others are up to 80 times smaller, and would be unable to fill a ping-pong ball in 2 trillion years. 64
When you examine the structure of viruses close up, you can see that they possess a perfect structure. The molecules making up the virus sheath give it a literally gemlike appearance. Each virus with its own unique geometrical shape gives rise to amazing patterns. Just as in all structures in nature, there are various rules and measurements in its construction, determined through so-called cubic symmetry. Various scientists spent years of research to solve the laws of these architectural structures. The viral forms that emerge as a result of these geometrical laws are icosahedrons. In a typical example, there will be 20 surfaces, each consisting of an equilateral triangle.
Different viruses have multi-faceted external shells by using different geometrical shapes, such as pentagons. Other viruses have tubular or cylindrical shapes, and to them, the laws of spiral symmetry apply.
It has taken science years to investigate viruses using x-ray analysis and other complex newly discovered methods. This organism, which affects all of life using its own techniques and leads to mass deaths of various plants and animals, basically consists of just a cell membrane and DNA. It was discovered only in the last century, and we have been seeking to unravel its secrets for the last 30 years. Until now, however, countless thousands of people have been subjected to the disease-causing effects of this microorganism. Viruses have used the same methods, acting with the same division of labor, for millions of years, unaware even of the existence of their human hosts. This is a manifestation of Allah's infinite knowledge.
How Does a Virus Install Itself in Human Beings?
A living virus can enter a cell and turn its inner workings to its own purposes. Before entering a cell, the virus determines whether the cell is suitable for it. If it is, the virus empties out itself into that cell. The cell generally detects nothing odd about this new DNA entering in and therefore does not recognize it as foreign and is therefore unable to declare war on this substance that it has failed to identify. The cell transports the virus's DNA to where the DNA should be in the cell, in other words directly toward the nucleus, where the virus combines with the cell's own DNA.
Following this, the cell begins to produce new viruses, believing itself to be manufacturing new proteins.
It is exceedingly difficult to distinguish this "new" DNA molecule concealed inside the cell, akin to looking for half a line piece of text in a 20-volume set of encyclopedias. For that reason, the cell keeps producing the virus without stopping.
The cell is an organism that performs delicate processes within a delicate balance. A different DNA included within that delicate structure would impair that entire order. It will continue to discharge its responsibilities to the letter, but the result will have a devastating impact on the entire body. If the importance of the impairments is only minor then the cells with the virus inside them add the virus's nucleus element to their own chromosomes and begin dividing in a different manner. This is uncontrolled cell multiplication, and the cells in question soon turn into cancer cells.65 This irregularity may sometimes lead to a person's death. Herpes viruses may settle in a human nerve cell and wait there quietly, giving no indication of their presence for days, or even years. These viruses wait for a moment when the immune system is weakened. When the body is unable to resist it, the viruses will go into action and migrate to the surface, where they initiate their activities inside skin cells.
The really surprising thing is the way that a structure such as the cell, which allows no foreign substance to enter it, can be used by the virus in this manner. The virus does not just settle in to make a home for itself, but also uses the cell's own mechanisms to reproduce. The seemingly conscious behavior exhibited here is still not understood by scientists.
Under the effect of the virus that has entered it, the cell is doomed, though it will expend the last of its energy until it dies and breaks down. The virus, which has now reproduced and grown much more numerous, spreads out to other cells.
This invasion takes place at breathtaking speed. Some viral epidemics have eliminated whole communities in a matter of days. One flu epidemic in 1918, for instance, killed 20 million people most of who died just a few hours after their symptoms first appeared. 66
We now need to think a little about this conscious event caused by a single virus. From where does the living thing we refer to as a virus, consisting of just an outer casing and DNA, receive instruction as to how and when to enter the cell? How is it able to come alive and reproduce after remaining dormant, being as inanimate as a stone? What allows it to survive the long years of dormancy? Moreover, how does a virus possess the knowledge of how to occupy the whole body by entering a cell in a human being's body? Where is this information maintained, and how does the virus make use of it? No virus can possess any intelligence. Allah created it to perform all these actions flawlessly. In one verse it is revealed:
In the alternation of night and day and what Allah has created in the heavens and the Earth, there are signs for people who guard against evil. (Surah Yunus, 6)
Viruses Come in Many Forms
Viruses possess a genetic structure, but have no capacity to make that genetic information work for themselves. On their own, they lack this essential property of life. This organism's genetic structure cannot even be regarded living in every sense of the word, yet it does however display an unbelievable variety. A virus possesses a genome of a rather large number of "letters." Another more interesting feature is that the genome of every virus in a matchless one-off.
Viruses possess various sequences of letters depending on their length. The hepatitis B virus, for example, consists of 3.200 nucleotides, or letters. The HIV virus has 10.000 nucleotides. Larger viruses such as the herpes viruses that cause cold sores, have around 100,000 nucleotides. Thanks to the information concealed in their DNA, the only organs these organisms possess, they can reproduce and survive by entering other cells. All these properties have been squeezed into their DNA.
Thanks to their superior abilities, viruses can also change their genetic qualities in a very short time. The very same disease can exhibit different symptoms and varying degrees of virulence, thanks to viruses' ability to change their genetic makeup. No vaccinations can be effective against such diseases because of these sudden changes.
The virus can enter a cell in its new form without its presence triggering the immune response that responded to its earlier form. Under normal conditions, vaccines—-the only precaution against viruses—stimulate the body to recognize viral strains that may infect it later, but are ineffective against a virus that has mutated itself. When a killed virus is introduced through vaccination, the immune system perceives it as hostile and produces antibodies to destroy it. However, vaccines are unable to recognize a new virus that produces the same disease but which has altered its genes. Indeed, a flu vaccine becomes obsolete the following year, because the influenza virus assumes a new form every year. This also applies to the HIV virus that leads to AIDS. However, the HIV virus mutates so fast that the antiviral medications eventually lose their effectiveness.
It is impossible not to see the superior and intelligent ability of the virus here. The virus's speed of reproduction and changing its own form is so rapid as to far exceed those of human technology. An average virus can produce 10.000 new particles a day. If you have one viral particle on Monday, you will have 10.000 on Tuesday and soon 10.000 times 10.000, and then 10.000 times 10.000 times 10.000—1.000 billion viral particles.
When the HIV virus, for example, enters the body, the immune system destroys more than half the invading particles by within five days. Yet just as many new particles emerge during that same time. When at least one is recognized by the defense system, the others will mutate into a different form, thus resisting the attacks and becoming the first generation of the new HIV population.
From the perspective of the theory of evolution, viruses pose yet another unanswered question. The virus occupies an imaginary place on the evolutionary tree. When and how did this organism emerge? There are no fossil remains. All the scenarios of evolution have is conjecture. Heading the list of questions that give evolutionists trouble the virus's complex structure. In fact, evolutionists often classify viruses as primitive single-celled organisms like bacteria, except bacteria and viruses possess very different structures. A great many species of bacteria possess spherical chromosomes that float freely within the cell, whereas the rod-shaped chromosomes of viruses (and of human beings) are protected in the nucleus. In these terms, viruses—especially ones of the pox group—are more similar to the eukaryotes than to the prokaryotes, of which bacteria are members. In addition, the DNA and RNA packets constituting the virus's structure are totally different from those of bacteria.
What power that gives rise to such differentiation and gives viruses their ability?
Those who seek to answer "Evolution!" will always be facing inconsistencies. They may claim that the difference stems from differently functioning evolutionary mechanisms and will continue to advance new theories. Though aware of this flawless Creation, they will continue to deny it. And the more numerous such questions will become, forcing Darwinists to continue desperately searching for new lies and coming up with new theories. Like all evolutionists before them, those who make these new claims will also waste their lives without finding any solution. And like all evolutionist claims ever been made, their claims will remain groundless and unsupported. A few will conclude that the "laws" that have been around since Darwin's era have achieved no explanations, and that it is illogical to fly in the face of the facts. But others will have no compunction about supporting a theory built on falsehoods.
There is absolutely no doubt that a virus, which manages to enter just one out of a human being's 100 trillion cells using incomparable methods, and which can cause the death of the individual and even of whole communities, despite being so miniscule in size, is a great miracle of Allah. They have been created so we may understand see the omniscience of Allah. Viruses have been brought into being so that we may witness how defenseless we are in the face of particles too small to be seen with the naked eye. Like all the works on Earth, this organism proclaims the might of its Creator.
That is the truth, whether people accept it or not. Allah reveals on this subject that:
[Hud said,] "I have put my trust in Allah, my Lord and your Lord. There is no creature He does not hold by the forelock. My Lord is on a Straight Path." (Surah Hud, 56)
64- Guy Murchie, The Seven Mysteries of Life, Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, 1978, sf. 159
65- Büyük Larousse Sözlük ve Ansiklopedisi, Cilt 23, Milliyet, İstanbul, 1986, sf. 12222
66- W.G.L., N.B. and R.G.W, What Accounts for Virulence?, Scientific American, Ocak 1999, sf. 64


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WISN 12 News goes On Assignment with MPD's anti-gang task force
Gang activity spreading into Milwaukee suburbs
Last month, five members of the La Familia gang were arrested in connection with a scheme to kill three Milwaukee police officers.
La Familia is just one of a dozen gangs operating on Milwaukee's south side, which is a big concern for the officers of Milwaukee Police Department's District 2.
WISN 12 News reporter Christina Palladino went on assignment with the anti-gang task force in District 2, which is headquartered in essentially the heart of the south side.
The police department estimates the dozen or so gangs operating there include hundreds of loosely affiliated groups.
Carlos Silva said he's cleaned up his life and left the streets behind.
"Two years ago, I decided I wanted to open my own little detailing business because I'm a seven-time felon. Who's going to hire somebody with seven felons?" Silva asked.
Silva focuses on cleaning one window, one wiper at a time. It's this type of steadiness that's slowly helped him transform his life.
"I was a gang member since I was 13 years old in the city of Milwaukee on the south side," Silva said. "I went to prison when I was 18 years old for a gang murder. Now, I'm here and doing what I'm supposed to be doing as a person and for my community. I've changed my life a lot."
However, Silva may be the exception.
"That's what our problem is; it's hard to get out of because they treat you like family," Milwaukee Police Detective Thomas Obregon said.
Obregon, of the Milwaukee Police Department's Intelligence Fusion Center, tracks the city's gangs.
"You have gang members who are grandfathers, fathers, uncles, brothers, cousins. They have all joined the gang just because their family members were in the gang," Obregon said.
Obregon knows the south side. He grew up there, worked the beat and now leads the efforts to get gangs off the streets in the 7.2 mile area that makes up District 2.
"Chicago is the main hub of drug trafficking for the cartels and we are 90 miles away from Chicago," Obregon said. "If you follow any of these members, like the Surenos, they are usually the muscle for these cartels and the drugs coming in."
WISN 12 News photojournalist John Kenney and Palladino were given exclusive access to go on patrol with Officers Gregory Borst and Matthew Tracy, who know all the important players in the gangs.
"They sell drugs to get money, buy guns, fight with rival gangs over drug territory. It's all related, and one big complex puzzle that's put together," Tracy said.
"We keep a mental log of who is who, who's related to who, the areas we focus on, addresses and stuff like that," Borst said.
On a cold Friday night they drove through quiet neighborhoods and alleys, stopping to look at graffiti tags.
"We can assume based on what we can see that 'SUR' means Surenos is really an umbrella term for a bunch of gangs in Milwaukee; the Clantones, Domingos Vario, the Mexican Posse," Borst said.
"When they put the taggings up, it's mostly because someone lives in the area, and they're trying to say this is our area, we run this place," Borst said.
Driving through certain south-side neighborhoods, the officers looked for targets -- anyone who can give them information.
"You stop someone, and they might tell you information that might break open a case," Tracy said.
The officers said gang-related crimes reach beyond the city limits.
"Gang members who are in Milwaukee, they do not just stay in Milwaukee. They frequently go out to the neighboring jurisdictions -- the Oak Creek, Franklin, Greenfield, Greendale, Waukesha," Borst said.
That's why the gang task force -- those on the street and working inside the Intelligence Fusion Center -- rely on the extra eyes and ears of citizens.
"They go out there and reach out on their own, and that's huge for us and the police department, that's huge for our city," Obregon said.
For the officers, the work is all about giving someone like Silva a second shot at success.
"I wanted a second chance of life; proving myself to my family, the community that I could learn from my past mistakes," Silva said.
For every gang member who leaves street life behind, the anti-gang squad has hundreds more to track.
Police told WISN 12 News that gang activity is spreading more and more into the suburbs.
They've made 84 gang related arrests in the last year. Officers credit citizen involvement and citizen tips for many of those arrests.


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Get The Look
My favourite, however fleeting, season is here, and with that comes out golden shadows, plum coloured blushers and berry red lipsticks. While the style of my makeup generally stays the same year round, it's the colours I change up with the changing seasons, so I thought today I'd share a tutorial oh how to achieve this autumnal look I have been wearing recently. Let get to it, shall we?!
Products used in order of appearance
Primer: Rimmel Stay Matte Primer
Eyeshadows: Teeez Cosmetics Spectrum of Stars in Vanilla Bunbeam, gold shade from NYX Beauty School Dropout palette, Teeez Cosmetics Spectrum of Stars in Sepia Shine, dark orange shade from NYX BSD palette and matte white shade from NYX BSD palette
Eyeliner: Revlon Color Stay Liquid Liner in Blackest Black
Mascara: Benefit Cosmetics Roller Lash
Bronzer: lighter brown shade NYX BSD palette
Blusher: Plum shade in NYX BSD palette
Highlighter: NYX Bright Idea Illuminating Stick in Chardonnay Shimmer
Lipstick: Teeez Cosmetics Sealed with a Kiss in Dash of Plum
1. Prime lids and sweep a gold shadow along the top and below your lid; this part doesn't have to look perfect, we are going to clean up the shadow with some blending later.2. Pack a shimmery orangey brown shade to your crease and the outer corner of your lid and then blend blend blend. This will create a subtle smokey eye. Finish it off with a matte white or cream shadow highlight underneath your brow and in the inner corner of your eye. 3. Line your upper lash line with a cat eye/winged style.4. Add mascara to your upper and lower lashes.
5. contour cheek bones, jawline, temples and forehead with a bronzer.
6. Sweep blusher along your cheek bones and apples.7. Smooth a shimmery highlight along your cheekbones.8. Apply a berry red shade to lips.And you're done! You have become a dreamy autumnal princess ❤
Do you think you'll try this look out? What autumnal looks have you been wearing this season? And of course, if you have any questions, do no hesitate to ask in the comments below.


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Butterfly Blue Hypnotherapy Tavistock
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Butterfly Blue Hypnotherapy Tavistock
7 Plymouth RdTavistock Devon PL19 8AUUnited Kingdom
About Tavistock
Tavistock ( TAV-iss-tok) is an ancient stannary and market town within West Devon, England. It is situated on the River Tavy from which its name derives. At the 2011 census the three electoral wards (North, South and South West) had a population of 13,028. It traces its recorded history back to at least 961 when Tavistock Abbey, whose ruins lie in the centre of the town, was founded. Its most famous son is Sir Francis Drake.
Neighborhoods in Tavistock, Devon
Ash, Barnstaple Cross, Barras Place, Bicton, Bittams, Bovis Homes - The Tors, Clampits, Clitters, Coleton, Combebow, Cornbrough, Cott, Crockett, Derriford, Devon Consuls
Things to do in Tavistock, Devon
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Sid Meier's Civilization
Created by legendary game designer Sid Meier, Civilization is one of the most influential and successful strategy franchises in video game history, having sold more than 51 million units worldwide. Explore a new land, research technology, conquer your enemies, and go head-to-head with history's most renowned leaders as you attempt to build the greatest civilization the world has ever known.
Civilization VI Base Game
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West files complaint against St. Lucie County, gets support from Georgia GOP leader
District 18 race still undeclared
Rep. Allen West is among a handful of plaintiffs who filed a complaint ordering the St. Lucie County Canvassing Board to recount all the early votes leading up to last week's election in the race for the 18th Congressional District seat.
Political newcomer Patrick Murphy claims he's the winner, but the last few days have been filled with confusion.
West asked for a specific three-day stretch of early ballots to be recounted, and St. Lucie County Elections Supervisor Gertrude Walker had her office conduct a recount of three different days of ballots. That recount brought West's vote total closer to Murphy, but not close enough to trigger the legally required automatic recount.
"This limited, partial re-feed -- not conducted pursuant to any statute -- uncovered significant errors in the initial tabulation of votes," West's office said in a release late Tuesday afternoon. "Nearly 1,000 votes disappeared from the count, and neither the Canvassing Board nor the Supervisor provided any explanation for this selective recount."
All the back-and-forth still hasn't produced an official winner, but it was enough to coax several dozen protesters to Walker's office in Port St. Lucie on Tuesday.
And Wednesday, representatives from the local office of the Rev. Al Sharpton's National Action Network will be in town to speak at a news conference about the situation, they said in a release issued late Tuesday afternoon.
And just to stir the pot even more, the Georgia Republican Party chairman said Tuesday she thinks West, an Atlanta native, should run in that state in case his defeat in Florida is confirmed.
West and Murphy were both in Washington on Tuesday.


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Job Growth Worries Spur Stimulus Hopes
NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- The July jobs report is likely to bring the Federal Reserve closer to another round of quantitative easing, according to central bank watchers.
The consensus estimate is for the creation of 100,000 jobs this month, according to Briefing.com. That would be up from June's total of 80,000 but still nowhere near robust.
"Based on the initial jobless claims data and some of the consumer sentiment data that we've already had for July, it doesn't seem like there was substantial improvement in the labor market in July, so I think this just pushes the Fed one step closer to doing more quantitative easing," said John Canally, an economist for LPL Financial.
"Early estimates suggest that the unemployment rate stays the same or it goes a little bit higher and I think under those circumstances the market would characterize that as not substantial improvement in the labor market and that would lead to the market beginning to price in more QE3 for the Fed," he said.
The Labor Department reported last Thursday that initial jobless claims fell by 35,000 to 353,000 in the week ended July 21. Economists surveyed by Thomson Reuters had forecast that initial jobless claims would fall to 380,000. The four-week moving average declined to 367,250, from 376,000, the lowest level since March.
Economists at Goldman Sachs said the latest improvement should probably be partly discounted given that claims data tends to be volatile around this time of year because of temporary shutdowns in the auto industry. They added that the four-week moving average remained roughly unchanged on a net basis since early April.
On Friday, the final July read on the University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index was released and came in at 72.3, slightly better than the consensus of 72, but still a decline from 73.2 in June.
John Burke, president of Burke Financial Strategies, said he does not think that employment growth will be going up any time soon given the large number of companies commenting about longer-term fiscal and budget restraints and European uncertainties. Although the part of Europe that's in recession right now is less than 10% of the world's gross domestic product, "there is somewhat of a domino effect" across the European nations.
"CEOs look at that and it worries them enough that they'll hold off on hiring until things look a little bit more certain; not only with Europe but with the U.S.'s upcoming fiscal cliff," he said.
"We have the Supreme Court's decision to uphold the Affordable Care Act ... also means higher business costs are in the pipeline, so it certainly hasn't been a friendly environment for business and for hiring," said Burke. "CEOs hate uncertainty."
LPL Financial's Canally agreed, saying that a turning point in favor of jobs growth won't occur until companies get more clarity on these issues, adding that a reacceleration in Chinese economic growth would also help companies build up the confidence required to spend and hire more.
It takes jobs growth of at least 150,000 a month just to keep up with the number of people who are coming into the labor force but Burke doubts July's nonfarm payrolls report will hit that level.
It's hard for Burke to imagine that the average per month jobs growth between now and the end of the year, when the fiscal cliff may or may not be resolved by the Congress, will exceed the monthly average of 75,000 jobs added in the April-June quarter. At this rate, according to Andrew Wilkinson, chief economic strategist at Miller Tabak, it would take five years to recover the still-missing five million jobs lost since Dec. 2007.
"I think right now if the jobs data stayed the way it was, it would be a matter of when, not if," the Fed will take action. "They're certainly going to take heat politically if they do it," this year, but then "the Fed has raised or lowered rates in every single election year since at least 1968," said Canally.
If the Federal Reserve feels that it is failing on either one or both of its dual mandate to promote both price stability and maximum employment, there will be a lot of internal debate on whether the central bank should take action in this presidential election year, he said.
"The question is do they want to do it literally right before the election," asked Canally.
"The FOMC meeting right before the elections is in October. They probably don't want to do that. So that would lead you to either Aug. 1 or Sept. 13 ... or wait until December."
The next Fed rate decision is due on Wednesday, but Fed officials won't be briefed on the July employment report until Thursday.
Jim O'Sullivan, chief U.S. economist at High Frequency Economics, believes a new round of asset purchases is much more likely to be announced after the Sept. 12-13 meeting than on Aug. 1 because of the importance of the jobs data.
O'Sullivan said officials could take the lesser step of extending their rates guidance on Aug. 1, while also signaling a growing likelihood that a new round of asset purchases is imminent.
While jobs situation remain tepid, Canally noted that it is nowhere near as bad as it was during the great recession.
At Capital Economics, economists are becoming more optimistic about the July report. The firm is in line with consensus, calling for 100,000 new jobs, and it was encouraged by recent evidence in the Fed's latest Beige Book of temporary employment turning into permanent positions.
"Firms like to test the water before committing to permanent workers," Capital Economics noted.
Last month, the Labor Department reported that U.S. employers added 80,000 new workers to their payrolls in June, below the consensus estimate of 90,000. It was the third straight month of sub-100,000 jobs growth, and the worst quarter for job growth in about two years.
The whisper number among traders was closer to 125,000. The unemployment rate remained unchanged at 8.2%. Nonfarm payroll employment for April was downwardly revised to 68,000 from 77,000 and the figure was upwardly revised in May to 77,000 from 69,000.
Economists caution that July's unemployment report may receive a small bump from auto-plant related seasonal distortions this summer.
-- Written by Andrea Tse in New York.
>To contact the writer of this article, click here: Andrea Tse.


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What would family reunions and church-basement get-togethers be without the humble coffee percolator? One of the earliest "modern" coffee-brewing tools, these were originally intended for small-scale home use and could be heated on a stove; though electric versions are more common in commercial environments today, millions of folks still rely on percolator technology to brew their morning cup.
Today I'll offer a little about the history of this type of coffee maker, its inventors, and innovations.
First, let's review how percolation works. In most variations of this technology, ground coffee is contained on a kind of perforated filter plate within the pot, suspended and kept dry above a bed of water. Connecting the water and the coffee grounds is a narrow tube that runs from just above the inside base of the pot to just slightly above the layer of ground coffee. When the water is heated (usually over an open flame, or on a stove top), it creates a steam-powered vacuum, and the water gets sucked up through the tube, sprayed over the grounds, and filtered through the perforation in the metal filter, back into the bottom chamber.
The water is continuously cycled through the grounds this way until removed from the heat source, when at last the finished brew drains down into the bottom holding tank, from which it can be dispensed or poured.
Who invented this seemingly alchemical way of brewing coffee? Though there's some dispute (Isn't there always?), the first true percolator is often credited to Illinois' native son and farmer Hanson Goodrich, who took out a patent for the pot in 1889. In his patent application, he describes a contraption that will create "a liquid which will be free of all grounds and impurities."
"traditional percolation also tends toward creating bitter and overextracted coffee"
What the percolator aimed to replace was the brewing technique called decoction, which is the act of simply boiling water with coffee grounds mixed into it. So while Goodrich's assessment of the resulting brew being "free of all grounds and impurities" is correct, traditional percolation also tends toward creating bitter and overextracted coffee, for a few reasons. For one thing, the high heat needed to create the steam pressure that encouraged the vacuum is hot enough to bring out astringent, almost metallic flavors in the coffee; for another, the already-extracted coffee continues to flow up through the grounds again and again throughout the process, dissolving more and more coffee material and oversaturating the water, causing bitterness and a noticeably dry mouth feel.
But hey—one small step for coffee, one giant leap for bean-kind, right? Percolation technology is the basis for many more sophisticated brew methods that have surfaced since the 1900s, such as moka pots and Japanese-style siphons.
Have you ever used a percolator?


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30 ml
This potent anti-age recovery treatment with 10 rare regenerating dry oils deeply rejuvenates and restores tired skin.
The carotene-bursting oils of Tomato, Rowanberry, Carrot seed, Cranberry seed, Raspberry and Strawberry Seeds reduce solar damage and reactivate skin's regeneration rhythms. Highly bioactive antioxidants of Black Currant seed, St.John's wort and Sea Buckthorn oils protect skin cells from evironmental stress while Rosehip oil provides nature's megadose of Pro-retinol A - the famous anti-aging agent.
These precious Arctic berry and red vegetable seed oils diminish signs of photo-aging, lines and wrinkles.
ESPECIALLY BENEFICIAL FOR those with mature and tired skin, lines and wrinkles, age spots, scars, dry skin, fragile skin.
Add a few drops in your moisturiser or use on its own morning and night.
*Please note that ingredient lists may change and slightly vary from time to time. You will always find the most up-to-date information on the actual product packaging.
What skin type is this product best for?
Age Recovery Organic facial oil is appropriate for all skin types. It is especially benefitial for those with mature and tired skin, lines and wrinkles, age spots, scars, dry skin, fragile skin.
When should I use this product in my daily skin care routine?
Apply a few drops straight on to skin after cleansing and toning, or mix into your favourite moisturizer. Use daily, twice a day or at night.
How much product should I apply?
Apply a few drops straight on to skin or mix into your moisturizer.
At what age should I start using this product?
When you start to notice the first signs of aging or when there are visible age damage to correct.


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Google adds 18 new languages for Drive, Docs, Sheets & Slides
Google announced today on its Google Drive Blog that it is adding a number of new languages for its Google Drive apps including Drive, Docs, Sheets, and Slides on both mobile and desktop. The new languages include:
Afrikaans, Amharic, Basque, Chinese (Hong Kong), Estonian, French (Canada), Galician, Icelandic, Khmer, Lao, Malaysian, Nepali, Persian, Sinhalese, Spanish (Latin America), Swahili, Urdu, Zulu
Google noted that the majority of the languages are also supported by the built-in spellchecker in Drive and users will also be able to switch back and forth between languages. You'll also be able to collaborate on Drive files in one language while collaborators use another.
The 18 new languages added today brings the total number of languages supported in Drive up to 65.
The new languages are available starting today through Drive on the web and through the iOS and Android apps.


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Sundown tonight marks the first night of Hanukkah, and we here at Ladies… would like to take the opportunity to recognize some of our favorite Hanukkah-celebrating sports hunks throughout the holiday. Night 1 hottie is after the jump.
I figured I would represent us Jewish Ladies… and start this off with a long time Ladies… favorite. O hai Brad Ausmus!
As of this season, the former Astros (and more recent Dodgers) catcher ranked ninth in major league history in career games as a catcher.
He's also a three time Gold Glove winner.
He also likes puppies.
He's also really freaking good looking.
Stay tuned for a new Hanukkah Hunk every night!


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Heathen peas
August 15, 2011
Due to lack of time and resources I decided that the dish of day should be a simple dish, why I settled for the sweet called heathen peas in "Ein Buch von guter spise".
- Heidenische erweiz Heathen peas
- Wilt du machen behemmische erweiz. so nim mandel kern und stoz die gar cleine. und mengez mit dritteil als vil honiges. und mit guten würtzen wol gemenget. so ers aller beste hat. die koste git man kalt oder warm.
How you want to make heathen peas. So take almond kernels and pound them very small. And mix it with a third as much honey. And with good spices well mixed. So it has the very best. One hands this out greedily, cold or warm.
- Though fairly simple, and only using a few ingredients there are still some questions to the actual preparation of them. Should only cold ingredients be mixed, should it be heated in some way or even caramelized? What spices ought to be used.
- In the recipe we can find a few hints as to the preparation. The first is in the name Heathen Peas would probably suggest a middle east inspiration, though I must admit that while I enjoy middle east food, I have not familiar enough with cooking it. So here I am up for some suggestions as to possible sweets to be inspired from.
- The second hint in the recipe is that it is handed out hot or cold. This would probably mean that even if the recipe do not say so the dish should be heated in some way. A possible interpretation of this could be the simple fact that in almost all medieval recipes you are assumed to have clearified your honey, that is boiling it and skimming of the proteins. This would give you a warm liquid honey to work with and would be enough to for some kind of sweets with the crushed almonds. However, the heating may also have referred to a caramelized dish.
- I started by dividing my almonds into two batches, one that I would roast beforehand and one that I let be as it was. (This is merely based on my personal taste, as I prefer roasted nuts to raw ones) Since there was no mentioning of and I could not really se a reason to- I did not blanch and peel the almonds for this dish. Usually this is mentioned specifically in most dishes using almonds. All the almonds were then pounded thoroughly in a mortar, this is one of the parts in this recipe that is explicitly mentioned even though the rest of the recipe may be a bit brief.
- In this dish the sprices are only mentioned as god spices, why the selection may be a bit difficult to make. To this one I chose to use the classical duo of ginger and cinnamon with and addition of long pepper. The longpepper has a nice aromatic taste that I find goes very well with honey, why I thought that it might have been a good addition to the sweet.
- The spices were mixed with the pounded nuts and to this mixture I added about a third honey. The batch of unroasted nuts where then divided in two parts. In order to be able to mix the honey properly with the nuts, and to reflect a possibly clearified honey I heated the mixture in a pan. The second half of the unroasted nuts were instead heated for a bit longer until the honey was caramelizing.
- The resulting mixture were then all rolled into small balls, even though the recipe do not state so, the name of the dish suggest that they should be made into small spheres. Though all were possible to shape it was the caramelized mixture that were most easily rolled – once it had cooled of a bit.
- Also when it came to the taste I would say that the caramelized balls were the most delicious. In all cases the combination of sweet and hot blended together rather nice. After the initial experience of something sweet and nutty the rather aromatic heat of long pepper and ginger sneaked up on my tastebuds. I was quite generous with both long pepper and ginger though hinting of the heat of medieval gingerbread in this sweet.
- While I found no actual difference between the roasted and the unroasted almonds, the caramelized mixture were the most pleasing from both a visual and culinary point of view, making it easier to both eat and serve. The nice sweet taste must have stood out during the 14th century, even though this cookbook uses a bit of sugar, so it is understandable that it was eaten greedily.


text: Ango Sara Tashker has been an organic farmer and residential practitioner at San Francisco Zen Center since 2002. From 2007 she has helped lead Green Gulch Farm's six-month Organic Farm and Garden Apprenticeship for people interested in integrating residential Zen Buddhist practice and hands-on training in organic farming and gardening. She loves that her every activity is the fertile ground of Zen practice: growing food, relating to community, being a mother, appreciating the breath and body. In fall 2011 she served as Shuso (Head Student) at Tassajara Zen Mountain Center with Abbots Myogen Steve Stücky and Sojun Mel Weitsman. She currently serves as Director of Green Gulch Farm.


text: Spa repair Greenville is usually done to fix some minor damages or replace worn out parts of the unit. It is estimated that a typical homeowner spends about $2,000 for a Greenville spa repair service. Some pay approximately $700 up to $3,500 for basic spa repairs. There are a lot of reasons why a spa can get damaged. That's why the cost of the repair may vary. If the problem with your spa revolves around the pump, you may expect to pay around $200 to $500 for the repair job. If the issue is because of the hydrotherapy jets, you may have to pay around $70 to $85 to get it repaired. Fixing a spa controller is estimated to be around $300 to $400.


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Holiday Entertaining on the Cheap
Brunches, potlucks are frugal ways to be festive
The cost of holiday entertaining can really add up—from having a festive dinner with friends to hosting the office holiday party. A New Year's Eve extravaganza can also be an expensive gathering.
I'm not convinced that how much we spend on entertaining—at the holidays or otherwise—always translates into how much fun we have or the quality of the memories we share. Sometimes simpler is better.
Given the current economic times, my wife and I are proposing potlucks and "progressive dinners" (where everyone hosts the group for just a single course of the meal) this year, so that a single household doesn't have to shoulder the whole financial burden.
We've also decided to have a New Year's Day brunches rather than the New Year's Eve parties we've thrown for years. Breakfast foods are generally less expensive fare and people won't expect alcohol to be served.
So this holiday season try out some new economically minded holiday-entertaining traditions. Some friends of ours held their first old-fashioned caroling party for the neighborhood last year—in lieu of the costly cocktail party they'd hosted for years. We all agreed that we had a blast, even though none of us got "blasted" on eggnog.
Have fun, but keep it frugal!
Jeff Yeager is the author of the book, "The Ultimate Cheapskate's Road Map to True Riches." His Web site is www.UltimateCheapskate.com.


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Community Justice Assistance Division
Training and Other Community Supervision Resources
Government Agencies
National Institute of Corrections
The National Institute of Corrections provides training, technical assistance, information services, and policy/program development assistance to federal, state, and local corrections agencies.
Correctional Management Institute of Texas
The Correctional Management Institute of Texas CMIT also provides technical assistance to criminal justice agencies and serves as a host to a number of conferences, training initiatives and meetings of agencies and professional organizations.
Interstate Commission for Adult Offender Supervision
The Interstate Commission for Adult Offender Supervision oversees the Interstate Compact for Adult Offender Supervision which regulates the transfer of adult parole and probation supervision across state boundaries. The commission's website includes the Interstate Compact Rules, Forms, and Trainings.
National Drug Court Institute
The National Drug Court Institute, a division of the National Association of Drug Court Professionals, provides education and research regarding drug courts.
American Probation and Parole Association
The American Probation and Parole Association provides training and technical assistance, clearinghouse services and advocacy for both probation and parole.
National Association of Drug Court Professionals
The National Association of Drug Court Professionals is a professional organization of drug court practitioners which provides research and educational materials regarding drug court.
Texas Association of Drug Court Professionals
The Texas Association of Drug Court Professionals promotes and advocates for the establishment and funding of drug courts in Texas through collaborative community efforts.
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Texas Corrections Association
The Texas Corrections Associations proves a forum for promoting quality correctional practices through professional growth, leadership, mentorship and education.
Private Vendors
eStrategy Solutions
eStrategy Solutions offers continuing education courses for Community Supervision Officers.


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To address major faculty shortages, schools of nursing are reexamining how they provide clinical undergraduate education in the hope of finding ways to use faculty resources more efficiently
To this end, researchers from the NYU College of Nursing (NYUCN), funded with a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's Evaluating Innovations in Nursing Education, have just completed a two-year evaluation of the use of hi-fidelity human patient simulation as a substitute for half of a student's hospital clinical experience in four medical-surgical nursing courses.
The main purpose of the evaluation was to document the impact of NYUCN's use of simulation on faculty capacity, faculty quality of work life, and student experience. The findings show that the NYUCN model increased faculty capacity by 60 percent, which has allowed the college to increase student enrollments in the face of severe faculty shortages without affecting the quality of clinical education. These findings are significant for the future of nursing education.
A 2011 survey of more than 87 percent of nursing schools by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing showed that more than 60,000 qualified applicants were turned away from baccalaureate nursing programs largely due to insufficient clinical teaching sites and lack of faculty.
"Using simulation to substitute for up to 50 percent of the hospital clinical experience for medical-surgical nursing students is an effective and efficient use of scarce faculty and clinical site resources," says Hila Richardson, principal investigator for the evaluation and professor at NYUCN. "This is significant as the nation faces a need for 1.2 million additional nurses to fill new positions and replace those retiring."
In a simulation setting—using a computerized patient simulator in a replica of a hospital room—students are given patient scenarios in which they are expected to provide the full range of nursing care appropriate for their level of education. Thus, students are allowed to implement the clinical decision-making and nursing care steps on their own, but without the risk of harm to patients. At the end of the session, which is often videotaped, the students debrief with the faculty member to reflect on what they learned and how they would perform differently.
In the evaluation—conducted by Lloyd Goldsamt and Janie Simmons of the National Demonstration and Research Institute—the NYUCN researchers found that faculty quality of work life and student confidence and competence are not adversely affected by the use of simulation, whether as an adjunct to or substitution for hospital-based clinical learning.
"The projected demand for nurses with increased education levels amidst a faculty and clinical teaching site shortage requires the nursing education community to embrace models that move beyond the traditional nurse clinical education of the past decades," explains Richardson. "The changes in the clinical teaching environments, the need for highly educated and technical nurses, the diversification of the workforce, and the work future nurses will do calls for the type of innovative clinical model that is used at NYUCN."


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The team game is very different tactically to the individual game, and it is rare that an international Grandmaster will play for his or her national side, or vice versa. Most teams designate players for attack (Setters and Runners - those who try to achieve the win) and defence (Backs - who prevent the opposing team from winning), although in the context of the game this system is flexible, and sometimes a team will designate a player to perform a specialist role such as Spooner. The best teams dominate through expert teamwork rather than individual flair, to the extent that many teams, such as the English side of the 1961 World Championships, won comfortably despite its members average individual world ranking of just 162. In the same event the Germans, a side including the World Grandmaster champion, number two and number four, went out in the first round to Bolivia.
The English, in fact, have been a dominating force throughout the history of the game, winning the bi-annual World Championships 42 times out of 59 (including the last 11 events). However, many other nations, particularly several African nations such as Egypt and the Sudan, are rapidly emerging as a powerful force. There are also many thriving domestic leagues, the most high-profile of which is the English National Championship. This features the famous Camden Mornington Crescent Club, without doubt the finest team in the world.


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