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FIFA needs to rethink Qatar 2022
By JESSE KIRSCH
College Contributor Network
Eighty-six degrees Fahrenheit: a temperature hot enough to force FIFA-mandated water breaks during the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. So what will be the response to 100-plus degrees in Qatar? Harsh play conditions, corruption allegations, and migrant workers' deaths give the 2022 FIFA World Cup unwanted publicity and could be a death sentence for the tournament.
FIFA President Sepp Blatter says the tournament cannot be played during the traditional months of June and July due to the heat. As a result, all governing bodies of soccer will meet to discuss alternate dates. Blatter and FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke repeatedly claim that November 2022 is the only viable alternative.
Then consider the United States. Although soccer's popularity in the U.S. is modest, interest peaks during the World Cup every four years. As the seventh richest country in the world, according to Forbes.com, the U.S. consumer class demands a certain respect. It's important to recognize that although the U.S. does not have the most loyal fan base, it does have one of the wealthiest.
November television views in America are simple: Football, football, and a hint of basketball. When the World Cup rolls over into December, you can forget any hope of strong soccer viewership - the NFL, NCAA, NBA, and NHL will dominate the ratings. Without high price tags for television commercials, networks will lose revenues, and, in turn, FIFA will miss out on a hefty portion of its tournament profits.
Additionally, European leagues are unhappy with the suggested change to their calendars. This autumn, for example, the English Premier League plays throughout November with a maximum "vacation" of 12 days between games. All of this could threaten the popularity and profitability of the proposed Qatar tournament.
Another option is keep the same summer dates but change the venues since the safety of players and fans could also be at risk with extreme temperatures. Qatari officials plan on building air-conditioned stadiums but the recent complaints about unbearable June weather in Qatar have shed light on the dark side of construction.
The International Trade Union Confederation claims an average of 20 Indian migrant workers died in Qatar per month in 2013. The ITUC also stated that 400 Nepalese migrant workers have died in Qatar since the nation received the 2022 FIFA World Cup bid in 2010. Yet another horrifying statistic is the ITUC's claim from its March 2014 report that at least 4,000 more migrant workers will die before kick-off in 2022.
Humanitarian groups have already started to make this a global issue. Whereas in 2010 all of the buzz was about a first-time Middle Eastern tournament host, most of the attention has now moved to worker mistreatment. In fact, on Sept. 4, two British researchers for the Global Network for Rights and Development went missing after alleged police harassment.
With nearly a decade until the anticipated 2022 kickoff, even more bad news could surface. I would not be surprised if by the 2018 cup there are hashtags such as #StopFIFA2022 pressuring politicians to take action.
There could even be a boycott. The 1980 Olympic boycott stands as possibly the most notable sports boycott of all time. In response to the USSR's invasion of Afghanistan, President Jimmy Carter announced Team USA's withdrawal from the upcoming Moscow games; many nations followed Carter. It's not unheard of and it's something Sepp Blatter needs to keep in mind.
I think the solution to this entire scandal is clear. FIFA should clear the air, find a new site for 2022 and put this in the past. Give Qatar another chance to make a bid, but make Qatar do it right.
Jesse Kirsch is a sophomore in the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University. The New Jersey native studies Broadcast Journalism and International Studies with a focus in Diplomacy. He loves the Yankees, Knicks, and Jets (even when they play terribly). Follow him on Twitter: @JesseRKirsch


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'Tis the season tanaholics long for—the time to show off their bronze goddess supremacy. Snooki and JWoww are not alone when it comes to the abuse of bronzers, self tanners, and spray tans. But orange streaks and sparkly cheeks are not a forgone conclusion for gals in search of some safe summer color without nuking their skin.
There are some tricks to knowing how and also how much bronzer to apply without crossing the fab to fake line. Choose a shade that is not too dark for you—about one shade deeper than your natural skin tone—and go lightly. Avoid coming to a complete stop at your jawline and leaving a visible line of demarcation. Apply bronzer where you would naturally tan (forehead, bridge of the nose, cheekbones, chest) and blend evenly, including the neck and decollete. P.S. Watch your hairline too.
Here are the BITB team's 6 BEST bronzers for this season – from luxe to less than you thought:
Guerlain Terracotta 4 Seasons Tailor-Made Bronzing Powder ($75) – Available in two palettes intended for brunettes or blondes, this bronzing powder quad has it all. Use the lighter tones for highlighting cheekbones and the deeper tones to contour.
Tom Ford Beauty Limited Edition Illuminating Cheek Blush ($58) – A perfect pearly stick of luminosity that adds a lovely soft afterglow; try Guilt for a subtle look and lighter skin types, or go bolder with Bronzed Amber. It's like an upscale variation on the classic Nars Multiples.
Laura Mercier Baked Blush Bronze Compact ($36) – Pink pearly bits are mixed into this baked powder that adds a touch of sheen wherever you want it and goes on evenly.
Clarins Instant Smooth Self Tanning ($35 at clarins.com) – A light, creamy whipped formula that goes on smoothly and suits fair blondes to brunettes with a natural looking sunkissed glow. Less is more with this one.
Clinique Up-Lighting Liquid Illuminator ($25) – We love this sheer liquid gold that comes in three great shades—Natural, Bronze and Blush—and is perfect for fair skin tones and anyone who wants a fresh hint of brightness.
L'Oreal Sublime Bronzeâ"¢ Luminous Bronzer ($11) – This fast drying lotion with self-tanner and vitamin E gives your complexion an instant boost that lasts.
NOTE: None of these contain sun protection, so make sure you use an SPF30 daily.

subset: commoncrawl


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General information
Hotel Ela
Registration, opening, plenary and sectional sessions: Hotel Ela (Fir-tree)***
Address: Samokov, Borovets resort, Hotel Ela
Hotel Ela (Fir-tree)*** at the Borovets winter resort
The Borovets winter resort is located at 1350 m above the sea level on the northern slopes of the Rila mountain, 70 km southeasterly from Sofia and 10 km from the town of Samokov. The climate of the resort is temperate, the winter is mild with loads of snow. The average temperature in January – the coldest month is minus 4,8 C°. Usually the ski season starts in the middle of December and closes in April.
Hotel Ela is located in the ideal centre of the Borovets winter resort. The hotel is situated close to the gondola lift station for Yastrebets and the Musala peak (2925 m) and 300 m from the drag lifts.
Visual information about the resort "Borovets" can be found at:
Address: Samokov, Borovets resort, Hotel Ela
In case you travel by car, you can use the GPS coordinates of Hotel Ela:
City Transport to Hotel Ela
From Sofia Airport by underground to Joliot-Curie station. The South coach station is located 50 m in the south of the underground station, under the bridge of Dragan Tsankov boulevard. The buses for Samokov depart every 30 minutes.
The travel duration is 1 hour approximately. Ticket price - 5.00 leva.
Minibuses depart every 30 minutes to the Borovets resort at the Samokov coach station, sector No.2. The travel duration is 10-12 minutes approximately. Ticket price - 1,30 leva. First bus departs for Borovets resort at 7.00 a.m., and the last one at 7.00 p.m. Taxi fare from Samokov coach station to Hotel Ela: 10-12 leva.
Hotel Ela is located 20 m from the last station, in reverse direction of arrival.
Hotel Rila – City of Sofia
A lodging for the night in Hotel Rila, Sofia is reserved for conference participants, who would like to sightsee Sofia, or the transport connections do not allow an immediate departure to the Borovets resort. The Hotel Rila is located at the exact centre of Sofia, very close to the Serdika underground station.
From Sofia Airport by underground to Serdika station. At 150 meters southeast is located Hotel Rila.
Address: Sofia, 6, Tsar Kaloyan St., Hotel Rila.
07.03.2022 (Monday) Registration of the participants.
08.03.2022 (Tuesday) Opening ceremony 10:00. Plenary session. Conference sessions. Poster session. Welcome party.
09.03.2022 (Wednesday) 09:00 Conference sessions. Closing of the Conference.
10.03.2022 (Thursday) Departure оf the participants.
In the lobby of the Hotel ELA - Borovets
07.03.2022 from 16:00 to 20:00 and
08.03.2022 from 08:00 to 10:00.
Visitors from the European Union coming to Bulgaria need an identity document.
Visitors from other countries require an entry visa.
Visitors are recommended to contact the Bulgarian Embassy (you can find them on: http://www.mfa.bg/) or Consulate in their own country for information on visa requirements. If an official letter of invitation is requested, please contact the Congress Secretariat in due time (before the registration deadline).
Bulgaria is in the Eastern European Time Zone (GMT+2)
Average air temperature in Borovets in the period 09-12 March, 2020 – minus 3,4 oC.
Snow cover out on the slopes in Borovets during the period: on 9 and 12.03.2019 - 180 cm
Check the weather in real time here: http://weather.bg/indexen.php
The official currency is the lev (plural: leva).
1 euro = 1.95583 lev
All major credit cards (e.g. VISA, MasterCard, Eurocard) are usually accepted in Bulgaria
Uniform European telephone number for emergency situations: 112


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Working to satisfy the needs of consumers with the offering of specialized products and services is essential when marketing to a specific group of consumers. These customer requirements may change over time, and the business products and services need to evolve as well. Migrating your product offerings to match the changing requirements will keep customers interested and engaged. It is much easier to keep an existing customer than to constantly find new ones.
Internet websites have made it easy and inexpensive to modify product catalogs, service offerings, pricing, etc. Gone are the days of hard-copy catalogs and price lists.
The internet has also made it very inexpensive to communicate these changes with prospective and existing customers. Email and social media can have extraordinary reach in an extremely cost-effective and timely manner.
Mass-market competitors can be a challenge. Carving a customer base in a niche market can be very advantageous.Read More


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After leaving our memorable tour of the convent and the good Sr. Fidelis, we passed several notable edifices towards our next destination.
First off, just opposite the Convent is the newly restored Court House. A section of the complex can be seen in the photo below.
We then passed the Anglican St. George's Church which was built in 1816, the very first Anglican Church in South East Asia. The founder, Rev. Robert Sparke Hutchings also went on to found my own alma mater, the Penang Free School. The cost of the building, 60 thousand Spanish dollars, is equal to the cost the British paid for Singapore. The traditional Georgian Palladium architecture makes it one of the unique buildings in Penang. The huge Grecian columns remind one of buildings such as the Parthenon in Athens.
Penang has a huge Chinese population, one of the largest concentrations in South East Asia. And as such, there are huge numbers of Buddhist temples. But the Kuan Yim Teng of temple of the Goddess of Mercy is unique because it's a fully functional temple, with devotees visiting it daily.
Constucted in the 1800's, it is the earliest Buddhist Temple in Penang and right down the road from St. George's and the former Assumption Cathedral.
Here's a glimpse of the inner sanctum housing the temple idols.
There's a courtyard further in which houses another set of idols. As you can see, the flow of people never ebbs.
From there, a hundred metres away, we visited a Mohammedan place of worship, the Kapitan Keling Mosque. Kapitan Keling is literally the Captain of the Indians-Muslims. The British, who had a policy of divide and rule, had separate leaders or ethnarchs for each community.
Also founded in the 1800's, this monumental building crowned by copper domes is the largest historic mosque in Penang. The Islamic Propagation Society is also housed here, in the minaret.
When we arrived, some people were praying, reading, etc. We were not allowed into the main prayer hall, but were allowed to access the surrounding corridors.
You can see the large ornately carved wooded pulpit or minbar and the mihrab or niche in the wall which indicates the kiblat or direction of Mecca towards which all Muslims pray. Of course it had earlier been towards Jerusalem but when the Jews could not be hoodwinked into accepting Muhammad, he changed the direction of prayer towards Mecca which the majority of his converts already held sacred. Anyway... moving on.
Here are the adventurers in a group pic in the mosque.
And here we are on the bus home. We were supposed to be back at five, but miscalculations and a very late bus taking a very indirect route caused us much delay.
All in all, it was a good trip and I hope you guys enjoyed it as much as we did.
1 hour ago


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The Gnu Public License has reached version 3. Generally, everyone seems indifferent or, in Jem Matzan's case, apathetic. (Links via hubertf) Everyone's more interested in the Jesusphone. While we're being mean about GPLv3… that's one ugly logo.
6 Replies to "GPL up to version 3"
What amazed me, is that the Novell-MS deal is in no way hindered with this deal. It's only relevant for >future
What amazed me, is that the Novell-MS deal is in no way hindered with this deal. It's only relevant for Future deals.
There's some discussion as well about TiVO in this /. -article
(sorry for posting twice; i had the word "future" between "smaller than" and "bigger than" signs… which caused the message to cut off for some reason)
Anyway, I agree with the logo… it looks like a bee which will sting you in the ass ;).
I don't know what's so amazing about that; the previous version had no revocation [because-we-came-up-with-something-new] clause, and including one would've been bad form and a big legal headache.
"This alternative is allowed only occasionally and noncommercially" is a nice tar pit; it's noble to try to keep this special case from being sausage-making ("it happens, but you don't want to watch"), I guess, so now everyone can worry about the meaning of 'occasionally' by jurisdiction… and ill-defined overreach can motivate a court to toss a license.
6e bumps up against 9's concept of "ancillary propagation;" they obviously wanted to draw a distinction between being a BitTorrent seed and BitTorrent client, but this seems ugly and open to judicial misinterpretation. It also invites the creation of precedent for an unpleasantly narrow legal definition of 'peer-to-peer,' though maybe all the RIAA and MPAA lawsuits already have; I would've preferred a specific term like 'decentralized file-sharing application' and an explicit definition. (Accordingly, one could also bake a definition of 'application' as 'use of a computer for specific means by use of specific object code or protocol'.)
3 throws in 'users' undefined, and speaks from an awkward vantage point; instead of the licensor directly declaring the work not to be such a mechanism, we get the broad 'No covered work shall be…' (Knee-jerk judicial response: "Oh yeah? Let's see the definition from the statute.") Similarly, some jurisdictions do not take kindly to contracts which attempt to restrict exercise of legal rights; this only, well:
Disclaim[s] any intention to [do specific things not permissible by the rest of the license anyway] as a means of enforcing … legal rights …
So it's toothless language that manages to include an inflammatory phrase. Awesome. Why not just state that the *licensor* (aka 'author,' 'copyright holder') promises to waive his rights to invoke anti-circumvention law, and let this promise propagate with each modification to the work? Right now it's defining a global whether or not it has permission, while defining a local for each individual work is sheltered under the author's right to apply terms to his creation. O_o
5b's second sentence is useless; a modified copy is logically not a verbatim copy.
5d: Intention is clear, language is flawed to the point of WTF. Someone forgot to define work as the specific changes added by the current licensor. In fact, the GPL's always had that little problem with defining who exactly is granting the contract, originally addressed by the suggestion to attribute copyright to the Free Software Foundation (since, in theory, anyone writing GPLware can claim agency with the FSF, except for the part where they forgot to explain that, so people applied the license while asserting personal copyright as well)… I think that idea fell off the back of the cart. Something like "All those whose names appear hereby grant you…" could solve that, if only they'd tried.
Wow, back up to point 2, which refers in singular to 'the term of copyright on the Program,' while all 'work' added to the Program originates with copyright from that work's author (in the US, though it can't hurt to at least be consistent with the law of the land this beast is assembled in). There's got to be a precedent for determining term on collaborative… um, "works"… Maybe they're purposefully vague to stay applicable internationally, but the sparks are going to fly within 120 years or so, or whenever some party decides to assert that the work's fallen into the public domain and a recent modifier begs to differ. *NIXes, like cockroaches, will still be around in 120 years, right? ;)
7e: The "official-mozilla-branding†clause, wherein the DMCA can't restrict your right to use what you've been handed, but trademark law still can. Great. What was once only implied by external statute is now codified. Nothing to complain about legally, but if going this far, codifying the Mozilla compromise (terms added to restrict trademarks permissible *if* the source code as conveyed can produce functioning object code not using them) would have been one less practical headache. Look forward to Cisco/Linksys, Novell, etc plastering their trademarks all over the place, maybe even some schmuck utilities to insert code that combines to display a trademark in as many disparate locations as possible. (Easy to clean out? What if it's put in with 1,000 time redundancy…?)
That's a lot of disorganized nitpicking, and the sun's coming up as I write this. Still, it goes to show that even I, entirely in favor of the license's intentions, find it a mindf*** to actually work with. The Creative Commons tangle is starting to look simple by comparison.
Lots of Lessig logic in this one (well-intentioned, well-reasoned to a point, but disjointed and overextended in the end), not so much Stallman (recursive, obscure, yet internally consistent). Maybe it's the hurd-of-lawyers effect at work; everyone gets their pet terms in, at which point it would be unconscionably rude for any one person to clean up (or pare down) the whole. After all, if you offend any large corporations who dared contribute, they might pack up and leave for a different bazaar.
Kill me, I used an emoticon again.
What a horrifying logo….
Comments are closed.


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text:
News and Announcements
2019 Alameda Little League Calendar
Player Evaluations
- Jan 12-13 - Player Evaluations; times by age to be posted
- Jan 26 - Player Evaluations Make-Up Date
Baseball Drafts
- Jan 29 - Majors Draft
- Jan 31 - AAA Draft
- Feb 5 - AA Draft
- Feb 7 - A Draft
- Feb 18 - Farm & T-Ball Managers Meeting and teams formed; Time and Location TBD
- March 1 - Sponsor/Volunteer Recognition Party
- Mar 2 - Umpire Training (please refer to the new website to register and for more information)
- Mar 14 - CPR Training - Location TBD. All managers are required to be certified, parents are also invited. FREE event.
- Mar 09 - Field Prep clinic immediately following Opending Day Festivities. Meet at the main equipment shed
Regular Season:
- Mar 09 - Opening Day Festivities - NOON to 1:30. Teams should arrive at 11:30 to set up for the parade. Ceremonies for the entire League and at least 1 game per baseball divisions A, AA, AAA, Majors
- Mar 09 - Photo Day- teams will be notified of times to report
- Mar 09 - Opening Day Games - 2:00pm on all fields; Majors play at 6:30pm
- Mar 10 - Full slate of games for Majors through A division
- Mar 17 - First games for Farm and T-Ball
- Mar TBD - Home Challenger Games begin (schedule will be posted on the Challenger page)
- Mar 31 - Apr 7 - AUSD Spring Break (no games)
- May TBD - Photo Day Make-Up at the fields
- May TBD - Majors Division Double Elimination Playoff Tournament Begins
- May 10 - A's Fireworks Game
- May 12 - Mother's Day Farm and T-Ball Rose Games
- May TBD - AA and AAA Divisions Single Elimination Playoff Tournaments Begin
- May TBD - A Division Playoff Tournament Begins
- Jun 01 - Championship Games @9:00AM
- Jun 01 - Closing Ceremonies @NOON on the Minors field
Pitching and Hitting from Popular Science
Ever wonder why a breaking ball breaks or a why a four seam fastball stays straight? Check out this article from Popular Science on how Trevor Bauer from the Cleveland Indians invented a new slider grip: The Physics of Pitching (Popular Science)
What exactly is the "Sweet Spot" on a bat?
Oakland A's Play Ball!
While the A's were closing in on a playoff spot, Major League Baseball reached out and the A's partnered to put on Oakland PLAY BALL event, September 29th. Kids from Alameda joined others from the general Oakland area to hear some inspirational words from Bip Roberts and receive instruction from Cal and Cal State East Bay players.
Press here to see some footage: www.playball.org
Who: Kids ages 5-14 as of Jan. 1, 2018
Cost: FREE
When: Saturday, September 29 from 10 am – 12 pm
Where: 426 45th St. Oakland, CA, 94609


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We should all exercise daily whether we are pregnant or not. Doctors say exercising is good for both the pregnant woman and baby. Pictured above is rapper Cardi B "twerking" while performing onstage during day 3 of Coachella music festival in Indio, CA. Cardi is reportedly 8 months pregnant.
Doctors say dancing is excellent cardio exercise for expectant mother and fetus. Dancing involves multiple muscle groups, increases glucose to the muscles, and gets the blood flowing so the fetus receives more oxygen and nutrition (that is, if the mother is on a healthy diet and is drug-free).
One of the more trendy exercises for pregnant women that was all the rage a few years ago was Zumba, a dance-based routine that allowed for adjustments for pregnant women.
Before you do any exercise routine you should always consult your doctor or nurse practitioner -- especially if you have a high-risk pregnancy (over age 32; gestational diabetes, etc.). Dancing or any cardio exercise is considered dangerous in high-risk pregnancies. Your doctor may suggest a low-energy exercise such as walking; low altitude hiking; low-impact aerobic classes; swimming; step aerobics, etc.
The following are tips from Whattoexpect.com for pregnant women who are considering exercising after consulting with your doctor or health practitioner.
The important things to remember are to pace yourself (don't overexert yourself); and watch your breathing (stop if you are out of breath while exercising)
Do drink plenty of water before, during, and after you exercise, and wear comfortable, breathable clothes. The music and moves in Zumba class might be sizzling, but overheating isn't good for you or your baby during pregnancy.
Don't dance so vigorously that you can't sing along to the music. If you're breathing so heavily in Zumba class that you can hardly harmonize or are unable to even chat with a classmate, you're working too hard -- and depriving the baby of oxygen. Slow down and reduce the intensity of those dance moves.
Do go low-impact, especially as your pregnancy progresses. Keeping one foot on the floor at all times (marching instead of jumping, stepping instead of leaping) is easier on your newly bulky body. Cutting back on arm movements will also help you keep your heart rate lower -- and keep you from overexerting yourself.
Don't forget that pregnancy affects your balance (that big belly again) and your joints (you can thank pregnancy hormones for relaxing your ligaments). So quick transitions, twists, and turns can be tricky. Take care with these types of moves and modify them if you need to.
Photos by Kevin Winter / Getty Images, Peathegee Inc / Getty Images


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Sign Up
www.mast-victims.org forum
General discussion
Microwaves cause anxiety? Among other things.
Posted: 17 Jan 2019 12:29
" Among radar workers exposed to 1418 GHz microwaves, the somatic symposium anxiety and insomnia, social dysfunction and severe depression were caused "
My gut feeling whenever I see kids/teens/adults using their phones, is that they look like they are suffering from something strange - It wasn't the content or the person on the phone because I would see them laughing or looking happy to what was on screen. It is like they have to bear with a force in order to use the device. That is my feeling everytime when I see people dealing with electronic devices and EMF's.
I have to be careful of looking silly, but that is how I privately feel with microwave energy. Anyway, I found some possible reassurance with the link I gave above;
Radar workers exhibiting anxiety and all the other similar nasty emotional stuff.
I also believe microwaves can induce a lala state of mind, like a artificial happiness or being put in a lull, that is blinding to important stimuli in the environment around them. But that is my observations, personal experience and theory, I can't back that one up. Well, I can somewhat:
It is possible bipolar like symptoms can arise. Manic phase of bipolar is things like: feelings of heightened energy, creativity, and euphoria, which in a roundabout way, backs up my little theory of it putting people in a lull or artificial happiness.
I personally conclude that microwave energy creates a little world on its own. I believe it is all long term though where it begins to rear its ugly head and become obvious. Though I also believe in short term being possibly obvious if given the attention. We already know that scientifically studies can show short term effects in our biology.
Nonetheless, the behavioral effects are an interesting possibility of microwaves, not just the physiological responses.
Its really disturbing. Seeing teenagers looking all lofty, lowly, fatigued or manic due to EMFs with their mobile messaging would be a real show stopper for mobiles. But in my experience and in my version of perspectives, I think it could be happening due to EMFs.
It is better to put that possibility out there rather than everyone be silent on the subject and possibly endure suffering for even longer.
Posted: 18 Jan 2019 00:30
Excellent insights as ever, jonnyc55.
Posted: 23 Jan 2019 17:09
Jonny I could not have put it as well.
You are right lala land could well be a good description. I think 'numb' could be another but depressed is probably what most people would understand.
I don't have any wireless in my house but I notice it when people come with their phones on. The family know to turn them off but sometimes they forget.
My symptoms are: slight headache, feelings of tiredness, anxiety, depressed and if crossed then I explode or walk out.
Have you noticed there is a lot more on the media these days about the harmful effects of mobile phones but they never say about the microwaves that make them work.
They give advise about screen time and social media, but the EMFs are not considered. So when all this advice does not make any difference they would just say it is not the mobiles that are the problem.
And with all the other wireless gadgets in the house - wifi, smart TV, games, ....... what difference would it make avoiding the phone?
I really cannot understand why intelligent people still cannot see that all that electricity and magnetism flying around would affect the nervous system, which works by electrical impulses.
Posted: 23 Jan 2019 17:47
They give advise about screen time and social media, but the EMFs are not considered. So when all this advice does not make any difference they would just say it is not the mobiles that are the problem.
All these years on, and they still make sure not to join the dots, or give the public the information to make the links themselves.
Posted: 26 Jan 2019 21:24
I really cannot understand why intelligent people still cannot see that all that electricity and magnetism flying around would affect the nervous system, which works by electrical impulses.
Exactly. Why are intelligent people ignoring this?
Posted: 26 Jan 2019 21:25
Excellent insights as ever, jonnyc55.EG.
Thanks eric.
Posted: 30 Jan 2019 14:02
"However, as Dr. Moskowitz has pointed out, a group of more than 200 scientists who study EMF radiation finds that these FCC guidelines are far from adequate to protect human health.
They are not alone, in fact, many groups and organizations believe that the SAR limit of 1.60 w/kg is not adequate, and may very well have been influenced by lobbyists from the telecommunication and electronics industries."
I thought this today, lobbyist have probably bribed FCC or/and ICNIRP to make guidelines most inline with profits. Hence why guidelines are at a point of making ill.
One day I feel that people will intuitively feel inverse to picking up wireless gadgets, their body will reject them or the gadgets will feel and look less palatable to the senses.
Posted: 2 Feb 2019 19:40
The trouble is, Jonny, that people get ill - headaches, anxiety, insomnia but they don't relate the 2; they put it down to work, life, etc.
I have just been listening to 'Internet of Things' on Radio 4 (while cooking!) and a man was saying how we always get worried about new techs and dismissing any dangers of microwaves, or any statistics that say mental illness is getting worse.
Posted: 3 Feb 2019 15:15
The trouble is, Jonny, that people get ill - headaches, anxiety, insomnia but they don't relate the 2; they put it down to work, life, etc.I have just been listening to 'Internet of Things' on Radio 4 (while cooking!) and a man was saying how we always get worried about new techs and dismissing any dangers of microwaves, or any statistics that say mental illness is getting worse.
People need to put their intuition before so called 'facts' more because these 'facts' if people care to look can be shown to be 'possible' or 'wrong' or 'variable'.
One week, wine is good for you the next it is bad. Even physics struggles to unify classical and quantum theory, or they simply can't.
Scientists question their work all the time.
We need to all be our own experts. Humans have played follow the leader for hundreds of years.
I personally stick to what my senses and intuition tells me over what science says, most of the time. My body usually knows the protocols better than a scientific article.
I know eating chicken will make me less fat over a chocolate bar without knowing those facts. Like how a animal can know if something is good to eat with smell or how a poison dart frog's bright colours warn of poison to predators, etc.
Science for me is like a bias confirmatory tool. But the truth I feel at times is that studies can sway to true and false in regards to the bigger picture or small picture. Variables are everywhere.
Posted: 9 Feb 2019 17:00
There are a lot of people with agendas and interests out there which influence what we hear and see. Do you think iPhone will allow the widespread knowledge that their phones cause illness? Look what Facebook are up to. These are huge companies buying anybody who might badmouth them. And researcher are not immune, they have mortgages to pay.
Look how Clegg was given a job after he said wonderful things about Facebook.
I am for using the scientific method but it seems it is used when it suits them and ignore results that they don't agree with.
Newspapers and other media would not say much about wireless techs because they get plenty of revenue from advertising.
So we are left in ignorance. The most they write about now is screen time. At least that is a start.
Anyway how are we to make a hypothesis if we are not allowed to make observations and use our intuition?
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2021 Member Fees
To Join Howick Athletic Club :
R100 joining fee (new members only)
R180 Club Fees
Athletics South Africa (ASA) Running Licence: To be advised
To join Howick Athletic Club as a social member:
R100 to join and thereafter R180 per annum.
Banking Details:
Howick Athletic Club
FNB Howick
Branch Code: 22072500
Account Number: 62513126830
Please send proof of payment to firstname.lastname@example.com and firstname.lastname@example.com (use initials and surname as reference).
HAC Secretary, Christine Bridgman attends the club most Thursdays and can provide you with the necessary membership and ASA forms. Forms can also be emailed:
Christine Bridgman: email@example.com / 084 686 9917
Contact Christine for kit requests and queries.


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Go cuckoo for coconut furniture and surfaces
When I first came across coconut as a furniture material several years ago, the idea absolutey intrigued me. Coconut shell and palm wood are normally industry by-products, typically either burned or thrown into landfills. But a number of manufacturers have taken up the challenge to transform these waste materials into usable surfaces. Nusa, Kirei, Omarno and Plyboo are just a few of the companies striving to create ecoconscious products out of coconut shell and palm wood, with adhesives that have low or no added urea formaldehyde and low VOC emissions. Rural farmers have gained a new source of revenue from previously unused waste, and the design-conscious public has gained an ecosmart product with an exotic flair.
Many of the products shown below qualify to achieve LEED points as per the U.S. Green Building Council.
When I was looking for a coffee table for my design studio in 2006, I came upon a company in California called Nusa, which specializes in furniture made from coconut. Seven years later I am still in love with my Nusa table (shown here), made from coconut husks and with a shiny mother-of-pearl inlay in the top. Its sleek Saarinen-inspired shape stands in beautiful contrast to the more unrefined coconut texture.
This beautiful but unexpected design is coconut turned into an unusual sculptural chandelier. It's made from palm wood and ground coconut shell beads.
The combination of shapes, the natural palette with the tactile softness of the white slipcovered chairs, and the oversize artwork on the wall emanate a wonderful sense of calm in this sophisticated dining room.
The cabinetry in this photo is made from palm plywood.
According to Plyboo's website, Durapalm plywood panels are made from reclaimed or retired plantation-grown sugar and coconut palm trees. Around 60 years of age, the trees have passed their fruit-bearing years. These exotic palm plywood panels can be cut and sanded using conventional woodworking equipment and are formaldehyde free.
This bedroom doesn't need a conventional headboard, thanks to the chocolate-colored coconut tile covering the wall in one bold gesture.
Kirei is one company that provides flexible palm panels. You can create a seamless continuous textured surface, go around curves and apply it on round columns. The mosaic tiles come in a wide array of different designs and colors. Coconut tile can incorporate convex and concave surfaces in both matte and glossy finishes.
The individual tiles are mounted on a mesh in a standard size of about 12 by 12 inches. They can be glued to the wall with regular construction adhesive and don't need grouting.
I love the idea of applying a coconut tile product onto the face of a slab cabinet door. If you are interested in this type of application, make sure to discuss it with a knowledgeable cabinetmaker. Although the general idea of gluing the tile to a straight substrate is rather easy, you will need to make sure to select the correct type of door hinge, as the finished door thickness will end up greater than the standard 3/4-inch-thick cabinet door.
The tiles range from $15 to $25 per sheet -- not cheap but relatively affordable.
The tactile qualities and the range of colors of coconut products come in make them a perfect way to introduce a sensual, organic flair to any room.
This home's flooring also showcases a Plyboo product. It is manufactured without added formaldehyde for better indoor air quality.
Palm tree wood is slightly stronger than oak, is dark to medium red mahogany in color, accepts stains and finishes like other woods and can be sanded and refinished. It is suitable for both commercial and residential applications.
The price is about $23 per square foot uninstalled.
Omarno makes smooth palm panels -- a rigid panel product similar to plywood. The downside of working with the product is that the panels can warp quite significantly, so adequate storage and skillful manufacturing are mandatory.
Due to the gaps between the indivudal husk pieces, the material doesn't quite lend itself for use as kitchen cabinetry -- grime could easily accumulate -- but it has a lot of potential for armoires, chairs and tables.
When I needed a custom table made for a rather oddly shaped banquette area in a house where I had used chocolate- and natural-colored bamboo for the kitchen cabinetry, coconut plywood panels -- with their different designs and dark and light brown colors -- came in handy. The panels responded in color and personality to the slightly exotic bamboo but added another layer.
Besides structural use, coconut and palm can also be beautifully decorative. Here a coconut palm leaf is used as a piece of sculpture. Unadorned, it's nature at its best.
- Select patio furniture to match your style, designer garden sheds or even a greenhouse to personalize your landscape
- Whether you like granite countertops or corian countertops, find thousands of kitchen designs to inspire you
- Filter by metro area and choose the right kitchen designer to help with your dream kitchen
Houzz is the leading online platform for home remodeling and design, providing people with everything they need to improve their homes from start to finish -- online or from a mobile device. From decorating a room to building a custom home, Houzz connects millions of homeowners, home design enthusiasts and home improvement professionals around the world. Ines Hanl is a contributor to Houzz.


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Rupee at 2-week high, gains 53 paise at Rs 71.84 in early trade on increased selling of dollars by exporters, banks
the rupee had gained 61 paise, notching up its best single-day gain since March 2017 to close at 72.37 against the US currency supported by heavy dollar selling by banks and weakness in the greenback in global markets.
Mumbai: The rupee continued its upward march on Thursday opening by another 53 paise to trade at over a two-week high of 71.84 against the US dollar in early trade Friday at the Interbank Foreign Exchange on increased selling of the American currency by exporters and banks.
Besides, the dollar's weakness against some currencies overseas on easing trade war concerns and a higher opening of the domestic equity market supported the rupee, forex dealers said.
On Wednesday, the rupee had gained 61 paise, notching up its best single-day gain since March 2017 to close at 72.37 against the US currency supported by heavy dollar selling by banks and weakness in the greenback in global markets.
Meanwhile, the benchmark BSE Sensex recovered by 231.40 points, or 0.62 per cent, to 37,352.62 in morning trade.
However, according to a Dun & Bradstreet economy forecast, the rupee is expected to remain under pressure in near-term as the downside risks to the currency are largely driven by the external factors and will take some time to subside.
According to its latest economy forecast, elevated crude oil prices, strengthening of dollar, geopolitical tensions and economic sanctions will continue to impart depreciation pressures on the rupee.
"Elevated risks and heightened geopolitical uncertainty, trade wars and economic sanctions along with reworking of trade treaties will continue to impact emerging market currencies, including India," Dun & Bradstreet India Lead Economist Arun Singh said in a research note.
At this time of global uncertainty along with tightening dollar liquidity in the global market, measures to attract foreign investors to support the rupee might have limited impact, at least, in the short-term.
The rupee has logged year-to-date losses of more than 13 percent against the strengthening US dollar after trade concerns and firming up crude oil prices. It has dropped close to 6 percent since August.
The rupee Wednesday rebounded by 61 paise to close at 72.37 against the US currency.
On the government's recent initiatives to support rupee, the report said the measures were "initial" and more is expected.
Singh further noted that "if the government undertakes measures like curbing non-essential imports it will be favourable for the domestic industry and the current account balance but at the same time it might send out protectionist signals".
D&B expects the rupee to be around 72.3 - 72.5 per dollar during September.
"The fact that rupee remains undervalued as per the 6-currency trade based REER (real effective exchange rate) index and there are adequate forex reserves to support rupee, the current level might not be the new normal for rupee," Singh added.
-- With PTI inputs
also read
Rupee tanks 90 paise to close at all-time low of 80.86 against US dollar
At the interbank foreign exchange market, the local currency opened at 80.27, then fell further to an all-time intra-day low of 80.95 against the American currency
Rupee falls 7 paise to close at 79.78 against US dollar
At the interbank foreign exchange market, the domestic currency opened at 79.80 per dollar. It hovered in a range of 79.71 to 79.85 during the session
Rupee falls 11 paise to 79.82 against US dollar in early trade
At the interbank foreign exchange market, the rupee opened at 79.80 against the greenback, then fell to 79.82, registering a decline of 11 paise over its last close


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Dear Editor,
In the Philosophy Now piece, 'Heidegger's Ways of Being', Andrew Royle claims that Martin Heidegger offered us a "direct refutation of Rene Descartes' solitary introspection". Is that really the case?
Descartes "global scepticism" was an epistemological exercise. It had little - or nothing - to do with ontology. It was about how Descartes – or about how we - could know, and then philosophically demonstrate, that (to use Andrew Royle's own words) "the world and other people actually exist". It wasn't even that Descartes didn't believe that the world and other people existed. Descartes' enterprise was about his knowledge of other people's existence. Indeed Descartes' initial scepticism is also what's called "methodological scepticism" (or "methodological doubt"). That is, it was supposed to be sure route to knowledge. It was a philosophical method which was designed to show us that knowledge of the world and other people is possible.
As for the Heideggerian grammar of the word 'I'.
Say, for argument's sake, that the use of the word 'I' also (as Royle puts it) "necessarily refers to... 'you' or an 'other'". How did Descartes know that all the people he'd experienced weren't also the simulations of an "evil demon"? Thus such simulations (or mental distortions) might have also grounded Descartes' use of the word 'I'.
To put that another way. If the Matrix and "brain-in-a-vat" (Hilary Putnam) scenarios are possible, then it's equally possible that the simulations we have of other people may ground our use of the word 'I'. Indeed one can even say that a Heideggerian notion of "social Being" (or Dasein) can exist alongside Cartesian scepticism – indeed even if the Matrix and brain-in-a-vat scenarios are possible. (Putnam, of course, argues that his own scenario isn't possible – and for loosely Heideggerian reasons!)
As for solipsism. To quote Arthur Royle himself:
"Although Heidegger's argument works to abate Descartes' solipsism... Whilst the 'I' (or 'ego') was indubitably alone for Descartes..."
In everyday-life terms, Descartes would have left his doubts well behind after he'd solved (or thought he'd solved) the "sceptical problem". (Just as Hume forgot his own scepticism when playing billiards.)
This means that Descartes most certainly wasn't a solipsist. (Though it can of course be said that he was a "methodological solipsist" for the duration of the Cogito.)
A genuine solipsist is someone who does indeed have an ontological position on what Royle calls the "I" or "ego". What's more, a solipsist feels the reality of his solipsism throughout his life. (Or at least he does so for as long as he's a solipsist or thinks about his philosophical predicament.) Descartes, on the other hand, took a journey from his radical scepticism to a sure knowledge (or so he believed) of the world and other people. Now that's very far from being solipsism.
Not only that: solipsism has ontological and ethical implications. However, that isn't really the case when it comes to Descartes' scepticism. Having said that, it's indeed the case that certain political and sociological theorists have interpreted Descartes' scepticism as a 17th-century philosophical expression of "bourgeois individualism". Yet even if that were true, Descartes never made this explicit. With Heidegger and solipsists, on the other hand, their ontological and ethical positions are indeed made explicit.
Paul Austin Murphy.


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Each bubble is a tweet. The color of the bubble indicates whether it is a tweet, a retweet, or a reply. The size of the bubble indicates the number of followers the tweeter has. The X-axis shows the timeline of tweets - oldest to the newest. The Y-axis shows the sentiment.
The word cloud shows the most frequently used words in the worldcup tweets, retweets and replies between 23 mins ago and 40 s ago. Larger words occur more frequently. Click on the word to see the tweets.


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Lights Out is one of those rare summer horror movies that isn't complete garbage. Mind you, it's predictable because it follows the jump-scare horror movie formula, utilizes lazy exposition to describe the origins of its monster, and occasionally veers into the melodramatic with its acting. But the story of Lights Out isn't just some "Oh, no! A scary ghost who only appears when it's dark at night!" Nope. It's a surprisingly deep representation of what it's like living with depression and how it hurts the people around you.
So here's the story…Martin (Gabriel Bateman) hasn't been sleeping at night because his mom Sophie (Maria Bello) stopped taking her anti-depressants and has been talking to a shadowy figure named Diana who only appears in the darkness. After his school notices he's been falling asleep in class, they call his sister Rebecca (Teresa Palmer) to come get him. Rebecca argues with Sophie about taking her medication and takes Martin from Sophie, causing Diana to start terrorizing them wherever they go. At some point, Rebecca and her boyfriend Bret (Alexander DiPersia) discover that Diana was a girl Sophie met while in a mental institution, and Diana latched onto Sophie in death. Together, Rebecca, Martin, and Bret try to figure out a way to fight back against Diana and return Sophie to the light.
Note that the movie points out that Sophie's medication is anti-depressants, not anti-psychotics. Yeah, Diana is a metaphor for depression. She's attached to Sophie, only appearing when Sophie doesn't take her medicine. She keeps Sophie in darkness, as well as away from her family. And she stops Sophie from taking her medicine and violently lashes out at Sophie's family whenever they try to help her fight her depression. Especially once you see the ending, I'm sure you'll agree that this is a pretty obvious Diana = Sophie's depression.
A depression metaphor might not sound like it's that scary, but the feeling of being stuck in the darkness with something that wants to hurt you will stick with you after you leave the movie, regardless of whether you suffer from depression or not. I told myself it wasn't scary, but then I didn't fall asleep until 2am. Damn dark corners!
Also, I promise that Diana will freak you out. The actress who plays her, Alicia Vela-Bailey, does a great job with the hunched-over, jumping-out-at-you creepiness. And the fact that they chose to never really show her face makes her that much scarier. It's a great tactic I wish more horror films would use (because your imagination can come up with things much scarier than makeup or CGI can). Her voice, however, is comically bad, which takes away from the scare factor. Thankfully, you don't hear it until the end.
This is a great start for director David F. Sandberg, whose career has consisted of short films up until this point (In fact, this movie is based on a short film he did called Lights Out). It helps that he has writer Eric Heisserer (A Nightmare on Elm Street and Final Destination 5) and producer James Wan (The Conjuring, Saw, Insidious) behind him, both of whom have been working in horror filmmaking for a while. I can't wait to see what Sandberg comes up with in the future.


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Given the amount of time Japanese artist Haroshi spends dismembering and carving up skateboards, one could be forgiven for thinking he had something against the sport. In fact nothing could be further from the truth; his creations are what one might call a labour of love.
Some elements of the pieces that make up his Virtual Reality collection are easily recognisable as skateboards (those being the ones shaped as skateboards), but look more closely at the beautifully smooth edgeless curves of the crafted figures, at the finely carved fragments – they too are constructed of former decks, stacked, reshaped and buffed up with painstaking skill. Haroshi adds little colour of his own, leaving it to the board edges, carefully selected and positioned, to provide that element.
Like more traditional Buddhist sculpture, his pieces often feature an object locked inside, visible only by x-ray. A skater from his youth, the self-taught Haroshi found inspiration for his art in a famous (if you're a skate fan) 1993 Rodney Mullins video of the same name. If you get your skates on you can catch Haroshi's collection at NYC's Jonathan LeVine Gallery until 9th February.


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During your 3rd semester, you have different options to earn the required 30 ECTS credits:
- You can do an internship in Denmark or abroad where you take part in the day-to-day operations in the business. During the internship, you will write a project about one or more of your tasks during the process
- You can do a semester at another educational institution abroad or in Denmark
- You can do a regular semester at AAU with courses and project work
- You can begin your Master's thesis, so your work is spread out over both your 3rd and 4th semester.
Aalborg University has collaboration agreements with universities around the world, and the Department of Energy Technology also has internship contacts.
Find out more about studying aborad and project-oriented study in an external organisation.


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2012 was a good year for REDD-Monitor with 231 new posts. On the busiest day, in November just before COP18 started, the site had 1,930 views. Here's a list of the top ten posts in terms of the number of views received.
For me, the highlight of the year was the series of interviews that I did with REDD actors in Indonesia, so I was pleased to see that three of the interviews made it to the top ten list. (I've actually massaged the data slightly to exclude posts with headlines that include name of a large conservation NGO and the word "scandal".)
Most visitors came from the US, with the UK, Indonesia, Australia and Germany following close behind. Incidentally, there were five times as many visits from Burma as from China.
To keep up-to-date with REDD-Monitor in 2013, you can subscribe to receive an email each time a new post appears. Or you can follow REDD-Monitor's RSS feed, or join the nearly 3,000 people following REDD-Monitor on Twitter, or like REDD-Monitor on Facebook.
- The Story of REDD: A real solution to deforestation? (May 2012)
An animated film about REDD, launched at the annual meeting of the Forest Movement Europe in May 2012. Seven NGOs were involved in producing the film: Amis de la Terre, ARA, Euronatura, FERN, Forest Peoples Programme, Iroko, Pro-Regenwald, Rainforest Foundation UK and Terra! "This film attempts to explain the key issues in a simple to understand way," says Wolfgang Kuhlmann of ARA, one of the seven NGOs that produced the film. "Global deforestation cannot be solved without addressing the over-consumption that drives deforestation," Kuhlmann adds.
- Celestial Green Ventures: 20 million hectares of REDD carbon offset projects in Brazil (March 2012)
Celestial Green Ventures is a carbon trading company based in Dublin, Ireland. In November 2011, the company claimed to have "the carbon credit rights to an area of land in excess of 20 million hectares of vulnerable rainforest in the Amazon region of Brazil." In March 2012, Brazil's National Indian Foundation, FUNAI, announced that Celestial Green Venture's contracts were not valid.
- Interview with Teguh Surya, WALHI: "We are against REDD. We are against carbon trading" (February 2012)
Teguh Surya explains why WALHI (Friends of the Earth Indonesia) is opposes REDD. He gives four reasons: 1, the problems with the UN definition of forests, which fails to differentiate between forests and industrial plantations; 2, REDD does not address over-consumption in the North; 3, leakage – without reducing demand, deforestation will simply move from one country to another; 4, the fact that carbon rights are unclear increases the danger that REDD could lead to land grabs.
- "This project has been a total failure," says Australian Senator Christine Milne about the Kalimantan Forests and Climate Partnership (June 2012)
When it was launched in 2007, Australia's Kalimantan Forest Carbon Partnership was supposed to be "practical climate change action that could deliver immediate and tangible benefits". But five years later, the project has little more to show for the A$30 million spent than 50,000 tree seedlings planted a tiny fraction of the target. In March 2012, Erik Olbrei and Stephen Howes, two academics at the Australian National University, put out a discussion paper discussing how the project has failed to meet its initial targets. There have also been questions in the Australian parliament about the project.
- Only 10% of global carbon emissions come from tropical deforestation (June 2012)
"How much carbon is emitted from tropical deforestation?" asks Daniel J. Zarin of the Climate and Land Use Alliance in the most recent issue of Science magazine. The answer may be considerably less than previously thought. A study, also in Science, based on satellite data finds that emissions from deforestation account for 10% of global carbon emissions.
- Interview with Kuntoro Mangkusubroto, head of Indonesia's REDD+ Task Force: "We are starting a new programme, a new paradigm, a new concept, a new way of seeing things" (September 2012)
A detailed interview with Kuntoro Mangkusubroto and Heru Prasetyo, from Indonesia's REDD+ Task Force and the UKP4 (Presidential Working Unit for Supervision and Management of Development), explain the progress so far on REDD in Indonesia. Particularly interesting are Kuntoro's views on carbon trading ("I don't know anything about that, because it's too far away") and Indigenous Peoples in Indonesia ("We don't accept the word indigenous. Indigenous applies in Brazil, where Indians are the indigenous people. Here, everybody is indigenous").
- Deforestation in Indonesia continues, despite the moratorium (May 2012)
Half-way through the two-year moratorium on new forestry concessions, the Jakarta Globe reported that Indonesia "may have lost a staggering five million hectares of forest", in the past year according to Greenpeace. In fact, the area was just excluded from the moratorium maps. Meanwhile, the Jakarta Post reported that 115 companies have carried out illegal mining operations on an area of almost 500,000 hectares and Greenomics reported on illegal activities in the palm oil sector, including by companies in which the Norwegian Pension Fund holds shares.
- Carvier Limited: "3 million units available!!" from Brazil – the ethical alternative to carbon credits? (June 2012)
A company called Carvier Limited is advertising 3 million "Sustainability Credit Units" from an area of forest in Brazil. Predictably enough, REDD-Monitor had a few questions for Carvier Limited. And, perhaps just as predictably, Carvier Limited has so far not responded. The company's website is "currently unavailable", but the company is still active, according to Companies House.
- Worldwide Commodity Partners Limited – another carbon credit boiler room? (July 2012)
Worldwide Commodity Partners Limited is a London-based commodity trading firm that is currently focussing on the carbon markets. Its website explains that "With carbon offsetting emerging as a rapidly growing market, an opportunity was clear." The company's office is a forwarding service. The company uses high pressure phone calls to sell carbon credits. World Finance rescinded an award for fastest growing broker to the company following a "reevaluation of the firm's presence in carbon market trading".
- Interview with Scott Poynton, TFT: "We help companies clean up their supply chains – that is the way we need to go to protect the world's forests" (August 2012)
Scott Poynton explains the history of his company TFT and how it works with companies to reduce deforestation. This is by far the longest interview on REDD-Monitor (just short of 15,000 words). It's also one of the most controversial (which is hardly surprising as TFT is working with one of Indonesia's most controversial companies, Sinar Mas). The interview got more comments than any other post in 2012.


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The National Center on Sexual Exploitation does not endorse or support the Human Trafficking Prevention Act (HTPA) also called the Children's Online Filtering Act.
It is not that the ideas in the proposed legislation are without merit, but the bill does not appear to be drafted with careful precision.
For example, Section 5, titled, "Duty to Hide Websites That Are Substantially Facilitating Human Trafficking Behind The Filter," requires that any business or individual that manufactures, distributes or sells a product that has access to the internet "shall render websites that are known to be facilitating the trafficking of persons inaccessible." "Known" to whom – to the manufacturer and the individual selling the device, or known by some generally accepted anti-trafficking or government agency (and what if there are two such agencies but they don't agree)? Since there is no list in existence and no software database of all websites "facilitating" trafficking, a manufacturer or individual seller would be in peril merely for manufacturing or selling. Also, what is meant by "facilitating?" NCOSE has charged that Amnesty International is "facilitating" trafficking of persons because of its pro-prostitution position. Must a manufacturer or seller make Amnesty's website inaccessible? If so, that raises serious First Amendment concerns.
It seems to us that the bill also is at odds with Supreme Court precedents. NCOSE President Emeritus, attorney Robert Peters, has reviewed a version of the bill (one prepared for the Arizona legislature) and has written the critique here raising legal concerns.
We also have two other matters that keep us from supporting the HTPA. In its current iteration under consideration in some states, the HTPA includes a resolution declaring that pornography is a public health crisis. It is a version of the resolution that the National Center on Sexual Exploitation originally drafted for the state of Utah. It is our judgment that the resolution should be considered independently from the HTPA and not added to the bill. That will prevent the resolution language from being tainted by any potential negative court scrutiny should the HTPA be passed by a state legislature. Here is the version of the resolution that we believe is a proper one for states to use.
The second matter relates to the author of the HTPA. The bill (sans resolution language) was developed by Chris Sevier, also known as Chris Severe. We have had a difficult relationship with Mr. Sevier over the last several years, to say the least. We cannot rely on his assertions that those groups and those legislators that he claims are supporters of HTPA are actually in support. That is because, in the past, Sevier has falsely represented that our organization and NCOSE President Patrick Trueman and NCOSE Executive Director Dawn Hawkins are in support of his work. We have demanded that Sevier stop using our names.
In 2015, the office of a United States Senator alerted us to the fact that Sevier was promoting a version of the HTPA at the U. S. Capitol and was representing to U. S. Senate offices that Patrick Trueman was an author of the bill. This was false. A key legal assistant with that senator's office also said that Sevier was visiting other senate offices claiming that his boss, the senator, was supporting the legislation, which was also false.
Several organizations have contacted us over the past couple years to complain that Sevier was also using their names without authorization and some of those organizations have complained that he was threatening them with legal sanctions when they refused to support him and his work.
In 2014, our general counsel had to write a cease and desist letter to Sevier demanding that he cease threatening our organization on various matters and reminding him that as a lawyer he is bound be definitive rules of professional responsibility.
In 2016 Sevier sued the state of Utah following the passage of the above-mentioned resolution developed by our office which declares pornography to be a public health crisis. The lawsuit was ostensibly over the issue of filters (a copy of the complaint is here). It included an extended footnote, part of which we are including here, which attacks NCOSE's President Patrick Trueman and Executive Director Dawn Hawkins in bizarre terms:
"PAT TRUMAN AND DAWN HAWKINS AT THE NCOSE ARE SEETHING FRAUDS WHO ENGAGE IN MISDIRECTIONS TO INCREASE DONATIONS BY FLOATINGSHAME SOLUTIONS TO PORNOGRAPHY AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING AT THE EXPENSE OF CONSTITUTIONAL ONES DUE TO AN EGOISM THAT MAKES THEIR ORGANIZATION A THREAT TO THE PUBLIC'S HEALTH: The sham victor of hollowness under SCR 9 is an understatement. The National Center Of Sexual Exploitation (sic) is fannying about the Country merely seeking donations to bankroll the lavish lifestyles of Pat Truman and Dawn Hawkins, who live in Washington DC, not Utah. Both Pat Truman and Dawn Hawkins are the poster children of absolute incompetency when it comes to fighting pornography and sex trafficking in a meaningful and valid way . . . ..
Citizen groups and legislators are free to make their own decisions on whether to work with Mr. Sevier. There are many postings that are easy to find with just a Google search of "Chris Sevier."
We hope that this posting clarifies our legal and personal positions regarding the bill and its author so that the many who have asked why we are not supporting the HTPA will understand.
(Arizona 2017 Version)


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Enrichment Activities
Each half term, on the date indicated in the newsletter, the sign up for Enrichment Activities for the next few weeks will take the following pattern:
Stage 1): Sign Up (Monday / Tuesday)
You will be able to sign up for the activities between 8.30a.m Monday and 4.30 p.m Tuesday.
Please return the signed sign up sheet.
Stage 2): Preliminary Offer (Wednesday/Thursday)
The school will offer families activities for their children via email and the school notice board. Once the appropriate money for the half-term has been received then the place is confirmed.
Stage 3): Confirmed Offer (Friday)
Who is attending which activity for the following half-term will be sent out via the school newsletter on Friday.
Clubs are allocated half-termly. If you are unable to secure a place one half-term, please reapply the following half-term. We try to ensure all children get a chance to try different clubs, over time.


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Puerto Rico desperate for federal help now
Disaster. Horror. Crisis.
Even those words fail to capture the devastation in Puerto Rico — where a week after Hurricane Maria ravaged the island, more than a million people lack drinking water and food, 97 percent still don't have power, and only a fraction of its 69 hospitals, many treating elderly patients, have fuel or power. At least 16 people have died, and the desperation threatens many more lives.
Maria destroyed the already-fragile power grid of an already-bankrupt power company. It leveled homes, split roads, cracked dams and knocked down other infrastructure, piling billions of dollars in damage on a U.S. territory buckling under the albatross of a $72-billion debt.
Getting help to the island is challenging, partly because airports and ports need to be secure. The one airport operating in San Juan is overwhelmed, and roads to transport supplies, including food, water and generators, are blocked. But more should have been done by now. The federal response has been woeful. Why can't the thousands of federal personnel on the ground break through the barriers? Where's the sense of urgency from the White House or Congress?
As cries for help rise from the island's 3.4 million inhabitants and their families stateside, as well as from residents of the U.S. Virgin Islands, we've heard little from President Donald Trump and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. We've seen even less action. Each day, the situation worsens, as medicines run out and conditions become unsanitary.
The state and New York City are sending supplies to Puerto Rico. Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, who has already visited the island, is sending engineers — and troopers and military police to prevent looting. Rep. Peter King, a member of the new Puerto Rico Economic Development and Prosperity Caucus, said Congress has to provide funding for the island as it would any state. Rep. Lee Zeldin advocated the appointment of a national incident commander to coordinate the federal response. They're both right. Once the money flows, the process will require extensive oversight and expertise to ensure funds and supplies go where they're needed. Beyond that, there's no reason why Congress shouldn't repeal the Jones Act, which forces Puerto Rico to accept only U.S.-flagged ships and U.S. crews. This makes imports far too expensive, and will hurt recovery efforts. Trump's explanation is troubling: "We have . . . a lot of people who work in the shipping industry that don't want the Jones Act lifted." This is no time to side with the powerful shipping industry over desperate U.S. citizens.
Amid the rubble, there could be a ray of hope. This is an opportunity to rebuild and strengthen Puerto Rico. Disaster-relief dollars could restore economic stability and propel growth. There's a chance to design a new power system, to look to natural gas or renewables instead of oil, and to reconstruct the island's infrastructure and delivery of public services. Island and federal officials also need to learn from this experience to be better prepared for future storms that will hit Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.
The people of Puerto Rico are our fellow citizens, our families, our people. How loud do their cries have to get before our leaders listen?


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We are huge fans of stuffed peppers recipes around here. In fact, we have an entire post dedicated to our Pinterest favorites.
Today, however, we are sharing with you a tried and true recipe from our Contributor Courtney Budzyn.
She is more than just a pretty face in the kitchen. She assures us that this is the best stuffed peppers recipe ever.
She's tried many and they always seem to lack flavor and are bland. She says that the secret is in the seasoning that she adds to the beef. It makes all the difference and packs a flavor punch.
Best Stuffed Peppers Ingredients
- 5 Large Red Bell Peppers
- 1 Cup Long Grain Rice, Cooked
- 1 Pound Ground Beef
- 1 Tablespoon Chili Powder
- 1 Teaspoon Garlic Powder
- 1 ½ Teaspoons Ground Cumin
- ½ Teaspoon Red Pepper Flakes
- ½ Teaspoon Dried Oregano
- ½ Teaspoon Paprika
- 1 Cup Tomato Sauce (Separated)
- 1 Large Onion, Diced
- 1 Cup Zucchini
- ¾ Cup Red Pepper, Chopped from tops of Peppers
- 1 Cup Mushrooms, Diced
- 5 Cloves Garlic, Minced
- 1/3 Cup Shredded Cheddar Cheese
- Mozzarella Cheese to Top
- Salt and Pepper to Taste
Best Stuffed Peppers Video Tutorial
Are you ready to join Courtney in the kitchen? We highly recommend viewing her easy to follow video tutorial.
She has excellent tips and tricks including the secret to her beef seasoning. Click Play above to view ^
Best Stuffed Peppers Recipe Instructions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
Prepare peppers by cutting off the tops, and removing the inner flesh and seeds. Be sure to remove all the white fleshy parts as they give off a bitter taste.
Reserve some of the tops and dice to add into the filling.
Place peppers into boiling salted water and cook for 3-4 minutes. Cook just until they are slightly tender. Remove to a plate and allow to cool.
Prepare rice as instructed on the back of your rice packaging. Use chicken stock instead of water for added flavor. Set aside.
In a large sauté pan, add ground beef, season with salt and pepper, and cook until brown breaking the meat up using a flat head spatula. Drain the excess fat.
Add all seasonings and ½ of the tomato sauce.
Stir and continue to cook just to warm through. Remove from the pan and side aside. In the same pan add onion, zucchini, and diced red pepper.
Season with salt and pepper. Cook until softened. About 5 minutes. Add mushrooms and garlic and cook just until the mushroom wilts down.
Finally add the remaining tomato sauce, ground beef, cooked rice, and cheddar cheese. Stir until completely combined.
Fill each pepper with the filling, packing it in using the back of a spoon.
Place peppers in a baking dish, cover with foil, and place into a 375 degree F oven for about 40 minutes. Remove the foil after the first 15 minutes.
In the last 5 minutes, remove and top peppers with mozzarella cheese. Set to broil for the last 3-5 minutes or until the cheese is fully melted and bubbly. Enjoy!


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Congratulations to Harry Le Grande, ACPA 2016 Diamond Honoree
Dear Division of Student Affairs,
It's with great pleasure I announce that our Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs, Harry Le Grande, was selected as a 2016 American College Personnel Association (ACPA) Diamond Honoree.
Those nominated for the Diamond Honoree Program are recognized for their outstanding and sustained contributions to higher education and to student affairs. As ACPA Foundation President, I personally can't think of anyone better suited for this Diamond Honoree recognition than VC Le Grande, who has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to student affairs for nearly 40 years.
You can read more about the members of the 2016 Diamond Honoree class and learn more about VC Le Grande's contributions to higher education, here.
ACPA is the leading comprehensive student affairs association that advances student affairs and engages students for a lifetime of learning and discovery. ACPA has nearly 7,500 members representing 1,200 private and public institutions from across the U.S. and around the world. The Diamond Honoree Program, established in 1999, is a way for those that care about students, and the research, scholarship, and programs that promote student development and success to help advance those efforts.
VC Le Grande will be formally recognized at the upcoming ACPA conference in Montreal, Canada, in March 2016. In the meantime, however, please congratulate him when you see him on campus for his well-deserved achievement.
Stephen C. Sutton, Ed.D.
Interim Associate Vice Chancellor
Residential & Student Service Programs
University of California, Berkeley


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Heaven Meets Earth
Acharei Mot-Kedoshim (Leviticus 16-20 )
This week's parsha declares that it's through keeping the statutes and ordinances of the Torah that a person comes "To live" (Leviticus 18:5). My thoughts below are based on Rashi's commentary to this verse.
I recently counseled a couple who were having marital issues. He wanted to keep kosher, and she didn't.
After she told me how arbitrary she thought kashrut was, I explained that even if there were no "spiritual" reasons to keeping kosher, it would still be worth it in order to have Shalom Bayis (peace in the house).
Needless to say, since keeping kosher often involves arguments over dishes, cakes, meals, and food in general, she was more than a little taken aback.
Let me first point out, I do believe there are deep spiritual reasons for kashrut, but to understand those reasons, we first have to understand what "spiritual" really means.
My Rabbi, Rav Noach Weinberg of blessed memory, would point out that people who come to Israel for the first time are often disappointed. I must confess that my first experience in Israel could have been described like this. "I just thought it would be more spiritual."
"So," Rabbi Weinberg used to say, "While you were here, did you see any Bafoofsticks?"
Obviously, we had no idea what a Bafoofstick is, and you can't know if you saw one unless you know what it is. The same is true with spirituality. People often expect that they are going to see something like multi-colored angels directing the plane down on its approach to Tel Aviv airport.
In an effort to explain what spirituality is, I present to you Spirituality 101:
"In the beginning God created the Heavens and the Earth." (Genesis 1:1)
This sentence, as simple as it seems, makes a very important point. Whatever Heaven is, it's not Earth. Earth is everything we have seen, touched and felt. Everything we have read in books or seen on T.V. Whatever you know of Earth (meaning, just about everything), Heaven is not.
Heaven is something completely different. It's not more Earth, it's not more physical stuff, it's not more of anything you have experienced here. It's something completely different.
With that, Rashi (Genesis 1:1 & 8) explains what the Heavens were made out of - a combination of fire and water.
Now that's a very odd mix. In fact, it doesn't really mix at all - they are physical opposites.
Since fire is the antithesis of water, when the two meet the reaction is invariably violent. Similarly, when spirituality meets physicality, the reaction is always disturbing.
This might sound strange since there is a general perception that a spiritual experience is synonymous with peace and tranquility. This is simply wrong!
That doesn't mean violence is spiritual. It just means that the process of introducing spirituality into our physical world creates intense pressure. When mixing heaven and earth, fire and water, or spirituality and physicality, there is an inevitable disruption of equilibrium.
Let me explain. At its essence, Earth is not meaningful. In the extreme, dirt is dirt. In and of itself, the dirt is of no value - its only value is in what you do with it.
Heaven is the opposite. It's the ultimate in value and purpose.
Infusing meaning into this physical world (Earth) is not an easy task. It's a challenging process of unraveling mistaken thinking, challenging dysfunctional behavior and realizing pointless goals. All of these things rarely happen without strong outside pressure. In other words, it's not easy or comfortable ... but it is definitely worth the effort.
And so we come back to our issue, how does keeping a kosher home create peace in that home?
Most people who keep kosher will tell you that the process and sometimes even the upkeep of a kosher home is one of the most contentious and difficult issues between husbands and wives.
They think they would be more happily married if both spouses kept the same thing, either kosher or not. I have heard it said many times, "We used to be happily married till he/she started to keep kosher."
Let's examine those words. The husband, who we will call Jim, is now keeping kosher. For Jim, kashrut somehow fulfills a need, which was obviously going unmet. Jim, although he seemed happy, was not as cheery as people might have thought.
Including Barbara, his wife.
Why didn't she see that Jim was missing something? Because they were not as happily married as both of them thought.
But let's take this a little further. Jim starts to keep kosher and Barbara starts to get upset with all these new rules - not that unusual. Jim (as is often the case) can't seem to explain to her how and why kashrut is important.
Why not? Up until then they seemed to be able to discuss most things amicably and to a good solution, but not kashrut. Why?
Their communication was great when they both agreed about everything. But now it's being tested. And their listening and communications skills are not as good as they thought they were. If they are going to resolve this, they are going to have to upgrade to a higher level of relating.
Are you starting to see how kashrut is forcing them to have a better relationship? Okay, let's take it even deeper.
Barbara is starting to get very defensive. She remembers her own father who would come home and order her around and she vowed she would never be treated that way again. So when Jim even hints at another "rule" she flies off the handle. Jim is not going to get anywhere with Barbara until he understands her inner struggles.
Why didn't both Jim and Barbara know about this latent issue? Because it was latent.
Kashrut brought it out, and now gives them the opportunity to create an even deeper relationship. Do you see how kashrut is forcing them to open up on a level they never would have before?
In fact, when you look at it, it's not kashrut at all that they are fighting about - it's really their lack of harmony that had allowed unresolved issues to become a source of strife in their marriage.
That's how kashrut creates peace in the home, shalom bayit - by opening up the lines of communication to resolve those issues.
Therefore, the process of building a Jewish home, with whatever level of kashrut they will both agree on, albeit contentious (as in fire and water) is a process of understanding each other, learning from each other, and getting closer to each other.
In other words, creating a more spiritual home is at first fiery, but that's how you make peace.
This is living.


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Virtual Tour Award Winner
Oliver Murray of Contemporary Photography has become the first Irish recipient of an international award for enhanced virtual tours. In September 2016 Irish Water, Ireland's national utility for water and wastewater services, attended the 85th National Ploughing Championships which is Europe's largest outdoor exhibition and agricultural trade show. The Irish Water stand focussed on the […]READ ARTICLE


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YouTube sensation, Todrick Hall, went back to his roots recently. If you didn't know, Todrick's path to fame began while performing in Hollywood Studios' popular Beauty and the Beast – Live on Stage production.
Todrick grew up watching Disney animated films and listening to classic Disney songs. This is how he developed his love for performing. "I went to Disney for my first time, as a cast member," he shared. "I couldn't believe how amazing it was; I was blown away. It was one of the best experiences I ever had."
Earlier this month, Disneyland Resort Entertainment cast members had the opportunity to attend a question-and-answer session with Todrick, presented by Entertainment's Cast Conservatory program, which provides Entertainment cast with enriching and inspirational opportunities to broaden their skills. Nearly 100 cast members gained insight into the world of social media marketing and learned tools to build their own personal brand.
Well known for his YouTube channel, with nearly three million subscribers, Todrick creates, choreographs, produces and stars in his music videos. He has performed on Broadway and "American Idol," choreographed for Beyoncé and Taylor Swift, and recently mentored the talented teenage stars of "Club Mickey Mouse," rounding out his experience in the entertainment industry.
"I think it's great that we can reach out and see the phenomenal talent that has started here and has gone on to do so many amazing things and bring it back to show us that this is possible," said Jonathan Wampler, guest talent coordinator for Disney Performing Arts. "I thought this was truly inspiring. People could go on YouTube and become stars, anything is possible—through Disney and following your dreams."
Todrick emphasized networking and challenging yourself. "I hope that each and every person that came to this class can take something away that ignites something inside of them to chase their dreams even more."
Let's start planning your visit to a Disney Destination! CLICK HERE , fill out the form below, or send an email for a FREE, no obligation quote with an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner. I offer rate monitoring to ensure you are receiving the best available rate offered by Disney and my services are 100% FREE!
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As an agent with MickeyTravels, I'll be on hand to help you with everything from finding your perfect package to nabbing those hard-to-get dining and FastPass reservations. I work with all Disney Destinations. Best of all, my services are absolutely FREE. Get in touch at 1.954.401.9577, via email at firstname.lastname@example.com, or follow along on Facebook.


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Maysville finds man-made chemicals in water
A special session will be held this week to discuss the high levels of a man-made chemical found in Maysville's well water.
According to a press release from the Town of Maysville, a special session will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday at Maysville Town Hall to discuss the PFAS detected in the town's water system. PFAS, or Per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a group of man-made chemicals that don't break down. The Centers for Disease Control is quoted in the release as saying the chemicals have been used in industry and consumer products around the world since the 1950s, including in nonstick cookware, water-repellent clothing, stain-resistant fabrics and carpets, cosmetics, firefighting foams, and other products that resist grease, water, and oil.
The well was tested by the N.C. Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances Testing Network (PFAST) following a raw water sample on May 7. The most recent results came from a sample taken on May 20 and showed both raw water and finished water had similar results.
"The combination of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) were detected at a level of 103 parts per trillion (ppt)," according to the release. "PFOS was detected at a concentration greater than 70 ppt. Perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS) was detected at a concentration of approximately 100 ppt. In response to receiving the PFAST Network results, the town collected raw and finished water samples which also showed PFOS and the combination of PFOA and PFOS above 70 ppt and PFHxS above 90 ppt."
A third water sample was taken by a separate water quality testing firm, Enthalpy Analytical, on May 24. Maysville is waiting on the results from this test.
Previously, Maysville water had not been tested for PFAS. Though the town tests finished water regularly, it had never tested for these type of chemicals. Although the water remains in compliance with all current federal and state regulations, the presence of PFAS was concerning, according to the release.
"We are not like Wilmington, with heavy industry that uses these chemicals in production, and we do not have a fire fighting training center that uses fire fighting foam so having the tests show a high level of PFAS raises concerns," Town Manager Schumata Brown is quoted as saying in the release.
The town's well was shuttered on Monday out of "an abundance of caution" and the town switched to Jones County Water.
While the well is shut down the town will work with experts identify the potential source, find solutions, and filter PFAS out of the water, according to the release. The town is also asking for funding to remediate the PFAS levels, and the N.C. House and N.C. Senate proposed budgets both include funding to support Maysville.
"The final budget is still being debated in the legislature's conference committee, so the potential funding level to assist the Town is still a matter of debate," according to the release.
Maysville draws its water from Castle-Hayne Aquifer at a depth of 300 feet, according to the release. The well produces around 70,000 gallons of fresh water daily for about 450 customers.
"We have consulted with water experts within the state to make sure we are doing the right thing for our community," Brown is quoted as saying.
Brown hopes to have experts at the special session on Thursday to outline steps the town should take.


text: Saint-Gobain ZirPro will be exhibiting at the IACE 2018 (International Advanced Ceramics Exhibition and Conference) in Shanghaï from March 25th to March 27th, 2018 . ZirPro will present its new range of Zirconia based Feedstock for Ceramic Injection Molding (CIM). ZirPro will share its booth with SUMITOMO, recognized leader in Injection Molding equipment. Live Injections Demos will be organized, please come and visit us !