tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71783439251518328192024-03-13T11:59:29.771-07:003dfellaswehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00159443022668573972noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7178343925151832819.post-76858713242102638052013-06-24T05:49:00.002-07:002013-06-24T05:49:30.530-07:003dfellas test post content<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
3dfellas test post content</div>
wehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00159443022668573972noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7178343925151832819.post-3447954834807985042013-05-29T22:40:00.000-07:002013-05-29T22:40:15.687-07:00Clark: ‘Red Dawn’ shows truth is stranger than fiction<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Whoever came up with the supermarket “impulse buy” had a sucker like me in mind.<br /><br />I can’t stand in a checkout line without grabbing a candy bar or a tube of lip balm or another box of mints from the goodies that have been put there to tempt the weak and simple-minded.<br /><br />That’s how I wound up owning a copy of “Red Dawn,” the documentary about Spokane being invaded by North Korea.<br /><br />It was in a box of “previously viewed” DVDs that was located suspiciously close to my checkout line.<br /><br />A few minutes later, I was $7.99 poorer and cursing my lack of willpower.<br /><br />See, I made a point of boycotting “Red Dawn” when it hit the theaters late last fall, and here’s why:<br /><br />While the movie is supposed to take place in Spokane, “Red Dawn” was actually filmed somewhere in Michigan.<br /><br />I take civic insults like that to heart.<br /><br />Then the other day I gave in. I decided that since I already own it, I might as well watch the damn thing.<br /><br />And I’m glad I did. Whoever made this even-worse remake of a bad ’80s movie (the original was set in Colorado) has completely misrepresented our Spokane way of doing things.<br /><br />Here are some observations I made while watching “Red Dawn” so that you can see just how screwed up this movie is.<br /><br />MOVIE – It opens with kids playing football for a local team whose mascot is the Wolverines.<br /><br />REALITY – It should’ve been the Cougars, but too many WSU players have been arrested to field a team.<br /><br />MOVIE – A massive blackout occurs when saboteurs cut the power.<br /><br />REALITY – An Avista spokesman promises to restore power just as soon as customers agree to the company’s latest outrageous rate hike.<br /><br />MOVIE – Spokane citizens wake up to the sight of thousands of North Korean paratroopers floating gently down from the sky.<br /><br />REALITY – The invasion turns out to be flying carpenter ants that have matured all at once due to unseasonably warm weather.<br /><br />MOVIE – Enemy aircraft meet almost no resistance.<br /><br />REALITY – Fairchild Air Force Base would surely mop up any invading aircraft. As long as that new casino doesn’t get built, that is. If that happens, we’re pretty much hosed.<br /><br />MOVIE – The young heroes try to find out what is happening by turning on a radio.<br /><br />REALITY – No matter what emergency it is, KXLY radio talk host Rick Rydell will blame liberals who are trying to grab our guns.<br /><br />MOVIE – North Korean military leaders turn the football field into a prison camp.<br /><br />REALITY – County Commissioner Todd Mielke quickly offers the Spokane County Raceway Park since it has more space and is rarely used.<br /><br />MOVIE – “North Korea?” says one of the actors in a confused tone. “It doesn’t make any sense.”<br /><br />REALITY – Actually, it makes more sense than going to Michigan to make a movie about Spokane.<br /><br />MOVIE – The freedom fighters set up camp in a dark dirty cave.<br /><br />REALITY – The Ridpath Hotel would be the perfect hideout since it looks like it’s already lost a war.<br /><br />MOVIE – The “Wolverine” heroes steal weapons and ammo off dead enemy soldiers.<br /><br />REALITY – In the event of war, I’m raiding Domini Sandwiches for pastrami and cheese.<br /><br />MOVIE – The middle section of “Red Dawn” is so slow that I actually doze off for 15 minutes.<br /><br />REALITY – I did the same thing once during a Council meeting.<br /><br />MOVIE – The Wolverines engage in rooftop gunbattles.<br /><br />REALITY – Any war in Spokane will be waged in the skywalks.<br /><br />MOVIE – Soundtrack features Creedence Clearwater Revival.<br /><br />REALITY – A Spokane movie without Bing Crosby is like “Celebrity Apprentice” without Donald Trump.<br /><br />MOVIE – Enemy forces take over the Spokane police station.<br /><br />REALITY – The Police Guild already owns the Spokane police station.<br /><br />MOVIE – With North Koreans finally on the run, the Wolverines vow to keep fighting for family, freedom and the American Way.<br /><br />REALITY – I say let the North Koreans take over if they’ll promise to get all the potholes filled.</div>
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Source <a href="http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2013/may/23/clark-red-dawn-shows-truth-is-stranger-than/">http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2013/may/23/clark-red-dawn-shows-truth-is-stranger-than/</a></div>
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wehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00159443022668573972noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7178343925151832819.post-26319065951779315172013-05-16T20:55:00.002-07:002013-05-16T20:55:55.295-07:00Rebellion on the rank over taxi split <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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THERE’S tension in the air among Warrnambool taxi operators after at least seven of them broke ranks to sign with an alternative Melbourne-based despatch system.<br /><br />As of Sunday there will be two separate booking numbers — the first major split among operators since 1985 when two former companies merged to form Warrnambool Radio Taxis.<br /><br />However, the breakaway group already promoting its new 13CAB number is yet to formally notify the longstanding parent company, which still has them on the membership list. <br /><br />“It’s a legally grey area,” Warrnambool Radio Taxis spokesman Andrew Watson told The Standard yesterday.<br /><br />“We are acutely aware many of our clients have been led to believe that recent developments could mean Warrnambool Radio Taxis and our contact number 131008 will cease operation.<br /><br />“I can categorically assure everyone in south-west Victoria that this is absolutely not the case.<br /><br />“We have a long and proud tradition in this region of providing people with a friendly, efficient transportation service for almost four decades and this will continue along with our number.”<br /><br />He said he was confident the company would retain a fleet of 12 vehicles, including three which were wheelchair accessible, plus about 40 drivers.<br /><br />“We will retain our operational base in Warrnambool and we are taking steps to ensure our service is not only maintained, but improved for our many clients,” Mr Watson said.<br /><br />It is understood some Warrnambool operators had been unhappy over glitches in their 131008 despatch system and sought out 13CAB which is part of the huge Black Cab Combined group.<br /><br />Last week 13CAB told The Standard eight Warrnambool taxi operators had signed up to its high-tech booking system and more were expected to follow.<br /><br />However, Mr Watson disputed that figure and said he anticipated only seven would defect.<br /><br />He predicted passengers could have to wait longer for cabs because the overall pool of vehicles had been split into two. <br /><br />“And there will have to be more driver shifts to cover the busy times,” he said.<br /><br />“There will be no price advantage for passengers because it’s a tightly regulated industry.<br /><br />“The only difference will be two phone numbers.”</div>
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Source <a href="http://www.standard.net.au/story/1507251/rebellion-on-the-rank-over-taxi-split/?cs=72">http://www.standard.net.au/story/1507251/rebellion-on-the-rank-over-taxi-split/?cs=72</a></div>
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wehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00159443022668573972noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7178343925151832819.post-88839513147975203132013-04-10T00:15:00.001-07:002013-04-10T00:15:30.798-07:00Health care tips to be shared<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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A presenter at the Aberdeen Area Senior Center Friday will share tips on how to improve clinic visits.<br /><br /> A student from the University of Mary will share information on health care. The public is invited to attend.<br /><br /> The program is called "Access to Healthcare, Health Communication and Health Information Technology." The presentation is at 10 a.m. in the Helen Schultz Activity Room at the Aberdeen Area Senior Center, 1303 Seventh Ave. S.E.</div>
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Source <a href="http://www.aberdeennews.com/news/aan-health-care-tips-to-be-shared-20130409,0,6757150.story">http://www.aberdeennews.com/news/aan-health-care-tips-to-be-shared-20130409,0,6757150.story</a></div>
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wehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00159443022668573972noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7178343925151832819.post-14235483782509849172013-03-20T01:00:00.000-07:002013-03-20T01:00:00.449-07:00Spring Health Tips From Dr. Marty Becker<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Although some sections of the country still are experiencing below-average frigid temperatures, I find it hard to believe that spring arrives in only four days.<br /><br />To help pet parents gear up for springtime, Dr. Marty Becker, “America’s Veterinarian” shared some of his timely tips and tricks for the upcoming seasonal transition. <br /><br />With spring shedding upon us,you might be already seeing an abundance of pet hair settling on furniture, carpets and floors. To deal with this spring shedding, brush your pet thoroughly to help get rid of the loose hair and finish by giving your pet a bath.<br /><br />Since animals have a different skin pH than humans, only use a shampoo made specifically for pets. Dr. Marty highly recommends the Furminator as an excellent grooming tool for cats. This easy to use accessory not only reduces up to 90 percent of pet shedding, it also helps kitties from producing those nasty and potentially dangerous trichobezoars (aka hairballs). Be sure to check out the included directions so your kitty’s experience with the Furminator is purrfect. Our own cats love it!<br /><br />During the winter months, pets tend to get less exercise and gain those extra pounds. Now that the weather is getting warmer, while pets don’t worry much about the upcoming “bikini season”, maintaining our pet’s optimum weight is essential to keep them healthy.<br /><br />Did you know that 52.5 percent of dogs, and 58.3 percent of cats in the United States are overweight? Since obesity in pets is the cause of many serious medical conditions, it’s a no brainer that Dr Marty encourages getting that excess weight off. Please consult with your veterinarian prior to putting your pet on exercise and weight reductions programs. And since pets age at a much faster rate than humans, Dr. Marty stresses the importance of pets having semi-annual veterinary wellness exams in order to nip in the bud any underlying medical problems.<br /><br />Providing your pet with excellent nutrition is the cornerstone of robust health. At the same time, to prevent weight gain and keeping it off, Dr. Marty recommends feeding pets smaller portions several times a day. Using food puzzles is an excellent way to give pets some exercise pets and to keep them from getting bored. However, most food puzzles for cats are configured to dispense dry food only, so for guardians who feed moist food, Dr. Marty suggests putting small amounts of their food on plastic container lids, hidden in different locations throughout the house.<br /><br />Maintaining healthy teeth and gums is crucial to keep pets in great condition. While many owners brush their pet’s teeth regularly, Dr. Marty also recommends the C.E.T. Oral Hygiene Chews for dogs and cats, which are available online.<br /><br />Speaking of nipping medical conditions in the bud, Dr. Marty strongly recommends year-round pet parasite control--no matter in what part of the country you reside. Indoor pets are at just as high a risk of becoming infested as those who live outdoors. Fleas, ticks and other “heinous hitchhikers” can enter homes on the pant legs or shoes of an unsuspecting human. They can gain access through an open screened in window, and hop right onto an unwary cat or dog. In fact, just one tiny mosquito carrying heartworm larvae can transmit this extremely dangerous parasite to your beloved furry companion.</div>
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Source <a href="http://www.petside.com/article/spring-health-tips-dr-marty-becker">http://www.petside.com/article/spring-health-tips-dr-marty-becker</a></div>
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wehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00159443022668573972noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7178343925151832819.post-71842236826893765052013-02-18T02:09:00.000-08:002013-02-18T02:09:07.371-08:00Top 4 Health Tips: Keep your fruits and veggies safe<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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An apple a day will keep the doctor away … but only if you clean it first. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say 23 percent of all food-borne illnesses are caused by contaminated vegetables. That's 2.2 million out of 9.6 million reported cases. And produce foods — which include vegetables, fruits and nuts — sicken 4.4 million people a year.<br /><br />Scary stuff. Here are ways from Women's Health magazine, published by Rodale, to help you take precautions to lower the number of harmful microbes that could be present.<br /><br />CHECK FOR BLEMISHES<br /><br />1 Fruits and vegetables with bruises, cuts and nicks have a greater risk of being contaminated with a food-borne illness. Make sure you inspect every surface of produce you intend to buy beforehand so that you don't contaminate other foods in your shopping cart.<br /><br />WASH BEFORE YOU EAT<br /><br />2 It's tempting to sneak a few grapes between shopping aisles, but hold off until you're home. Most of the harmful bacteria are on the outer skins of produce. For bananas and oranges, peeling the outer layers will leave you with safe food on the inside — just make sure your hands are clean. For other foods, a minute of thorough rinsing will reduce potentially dangerous bacteria.<br /><br />COOK AT A HIGH TEMPERATURE<br /><br />3 You may prefer your veggies raw, but washing them is only half the battle. Cook vegetables at 160 degrees Fahrenheit will kill most of the harmful microbes. Boiling and steaming will get the job done, but if you're grilling, heat the outer surfaces well.<br /><br />STORE SAFELY<br /><br />4 Don't let your food sit in your fridge uncovered. Store food in closed plastic containers or cover with plastic wrap and cool them in a temperature of at least 38 degrees. Vegetables last three or four days, so be sure to eat them in that time frame. Keep these closed foods away from raw meat on a separate shelf or compartment so juices won't drip on them.<br /><br />Source <a href="http://articles.mcall.com/2013-02-15/entertainment/mc-top-4-health-tips-lehigh-valley-0216-20130215_1_food-borne-safe-food-fruits-and-veggies">http://articles.mcall.com/2013-02-15/entertainment/mc-top-4-health-tips-lehigh-valley-0216-20130215_1_food-borne-safe-food-fruits-and-veggies</a></div>
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wehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00159443022668573972noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7178343925151832819.post-13978046640737545452013-01-28T22:30:00.001-08:002013-01-28T22:30:24.906-08:00Rebellion a topical shifting idea: Jeet Thayil <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Booker-nominated author Jeet Thayil, who was caught up in a controversy for reading out portions of Salman Rushdie's banned book during last year's Jaipur Literature Festival, today said there are people in every gathering who are quick to take offence.<br /><br />"It seems (that especially here) there is a contingent of people at every gathering looking at a sentence or a gesture to get offended. It is cheapening of the idea of rebellion," said Thayil addressing a session titled "A rebel state", at the the Lit Fest here.<br /><br />In the spirit of the theme of the session, when invited to read out from his debut book "Nacropolis", the Delhi-based poet and author chose to read out a section filled with a very common Hindi swear word. <br /><br />Issuing a disclaimer before he began to read, Thayil said, "My apologies to anyone who might feel offended. But this is being said by a character in my book."<br /><br />"It contains a word that is very commonly heard in Mumbai but is not very often employed in English literature," he said.<br /><br />As the audience applauded at the end of his reading, Thayil expressed his gratitude to the small gathering at the first session of the last day of the five-day festival.<br /><br />"Thanks for being a sport," he said.<br /><br />Thayil was in conversation with Marathi writer Bhalchandra Nemade who extended his support to the author, and said "there is ample scope for rebels like Jeet to exist".<br /><br />The discussion that centred around rebellion in literature.<br /><br />Nemade also argued that every rebellion is necessary in some way. "Every rebellion has a constructive value," he said.<br /><br />Thayil also pointed out the idea of rebellion changes over time.<br /><br />"The writers or poets who were once considered rebels are now thought of as part of the cannon. So rebellion is a topical shifting idea," he added.<br /><br />What remains to be seen, according to him, is how any writing considered rebellious now is perceived in the future.<br /><br />"We need to see how these books are read in the 30 to 50 years," Thayil said.<br /><br />At the the end of the session, Nemade had a message for the young generation to go much ahead of just rebellion in books. "A bit of revolution will clear the country forever. So, this would be my message to the younger generation."<br /><br />At the JLF 2012, Thayil was at the center of a row after he read passages from Salman Rushdie's banned book "Satanic Verses". The aftereffects were seen even this year when some groups voiced opposition to his inclusion in this year's festival and also when he bagged this year's DSC Prize for South Asian Literature. </div>
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Source <a href="http://www.business-standard.com/generalnews/news/rebelliontopical-shifting-idea-jeet-thayil/115551/">http://www.business-standard.com/generalnews/news/rebelliontopical-shifting-idea-jeet-thayil/115551/</a></div>
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wehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00159443022668573972noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7178343925151832819.post-57973049263481952652013-01-04T01:52:00.003-08:002013-01-04T01:52:40.015-08:00Kitty Seawall road best site for 1823 Slave Rebellion monument- Sculptor <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Amid controversy over government’s location of the1823 Slave Rebellion Monument, Sculptor Ivor Thom insisted that the Kitty Seawall Road is the best site.<br /><br />“The land space was there, place for parking and everything was there and more than , anything else, the viewing was very good,” he told a news conference.<br /><br />He said “we thought that that would have been the best place to put it” because it could be easily seen by persons traversing to and from East Coast Demerara from different directions.<br /><br />“I still think that…it is the best of all the areas that were suggested,” said Thom.<br /><br />A broad cross section of African Guyanese groups had planned to meet with Thom to urge him to make a public statement about the location. Those groups plan to ignore the government-built monument and go ahead with plans to build their monument on Parade Ground. They say that it was there slaves were tried, convicted and executed.<br /><br />However, Culture Minister Frank Anthony has said that a monument on Parade Ground would not be widely seen by Guyanese and it would obstruct the playing of football and other games there.<br /><br />The state-run Government Information Agency (GINA) said Thom explained the sequence of events that led to the selection of the current location, which he said fulfills the criterion.<br /><br />Thom outlined the circumstances regarding the site’s selection. He noted that while preparing his model for the monument he had Paradise, on the East Coast of Demerara, as a possible site however, after being awarded the contract he became aware that certain criterion had to be met regarding the monument’s location. This includes emotional and physical connection to the rebellion, ambience, adequate land space, accessibility, public view, parking and connection to African people.<br /><br />Currently the base for the monument is being completed and when that is done the monument will be unveiled.<br /><br />A number of areas were suggested and visited including the Victoria Law Court, Parade Ground, National Park, Success/Montrose, Château Margot, LBI, Old RDC office at Paradise, Melanie Damishana, Ann’s Grove, Belfield, Bachelor’s Adventure and Mahaica.<br /><br />Thom explained that points were awarded to the suggested areas on the site selection criteria, and based on that Paradise and LBI received the most points. However, LBI was ruled out since it is a predominantly East Indian community and does not tie in with the criterion which entails connection to African people.<br /><br />After reviewing the other areas, Melanie was identified since Paradise didn’t have the adequate land space. Thom noted that challenges arose with regards to locating the owner of the available land space in Melanie. Indications of its unavailability were clear after a basketball court was constructed on the said land.<br /><br />With regards to the protests, Thom stated that it was being peddled that Former President Bharat Jagdeo had turned the sod for the 1823 monument however, after visiting the archives it was found that the former President had turned the sod for an Emancipation monument, and not for the 1823 monument.<br /><br />Additionally, advertisements were issued in the newspapers seeking suggestions for the monument site and only one person responded with Parade Ground. It was found that there was not suitable for several reasons, one being that the monument had to be of a certain height and based on that its viewing would have posed as challenge.<br /><br />In this regard, it was decided that if there was no suitable place on the East Coast for the monument then it should be placed as close as possible to the ECD, hence the current site, at Carifesta and Vlissengen Roads, was viewed as the gateway to the ECD.<br /><br />Thom recalled that in 2007 one of the African groups in Guyana contacted him to design a monument based on the contributions made by Africans to Guyana and such was done. Thom brought a model/scale version to Guyana to show the group that said it was sexist because it only had a male figure. The necessary changes were made, and to this date the group has not made contact with Thom again.</div>
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Source <a href="http://www.demerarawaves.com/index.php/201301045252/Latest/kitty-seawall-road-best-site-for-1823-slave-rebellion-monument-sculptor.html">http://www.demerarawaves.com/index.php/201301045252/Latest/kitty-seawall-road-best-site-for-1823-slave-rebellion-monument-sculptor.html</a></div>
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wehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00159443022668573972noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7178343925151832819.post-14856522855007564912012-12-17T23:33:00.001-08:002012-12-17T23:33:22.900-08:00After a Decade of Hardship, State Spending Still Up<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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As Virginians ponder the amendments to Virginia’s two-year budget <a href="http://www.governor.virginia.gov/news/viewRelease.cfm?id=1559" target="_blank">proposed this morning</a>
by Governor Bob McDonnell, it is worth remembering the extent to which
state government spending has increased over the past 10 years despite
three years of hardship occasioned by the 2008 recession.</div>
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Over the last decade, Virginia’s operating budget increased by $15.4
billion (62%) — a 35% increase in general funds and an 86% increase in
non-general funds. When controlling for growth in population and
inflation, total budget growth was 18% over the ten-year period.</div>
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So says “<a href="http://leg2.state.va.us/dls/h&sdocs.nsf/fc86c2b17a1cf388852570f9006f1299/ca6bc66e108354828525795000617222/$FILE/HD19.pdf" target="_blank">The Review of State Spending: 2012 Update</a>”
released November by the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission
(JLARC). After adjustments, General Fund spending actually declined 1%
over the decade but non-general fund spending more than made up the
difference.</div>
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Nine of 196 programs — including health care, education and
transportation — accounted for 78% of the total budget growth over the
10-year period. Interesting… health care, education and transportation
are three of the most dysfunctional sectors of Virginia’s (and the
United States’) economy. All three sectors are exempt from market
discipline, and all three are resistant to fundamental re-thinking or
reform. While tinkering on the margins, Virginia’s political
establishment continues to pump more money into these broken
institutions.</div>
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Source <a href="http://www.baconsrebellion.com/2012/12/after-a-decade-of-hardship-state-spending-still-up.html" target="_blank">http://www.baconsrebellion.com/2012/12/after-a-decade-of-hardship-state-spending-still-up.html </a></div>
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wehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00159443022668573972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7178343925151832819.post-17708163339251951302012-12-06T02:50:00.001-08:002012-12-06T02:50:05.090-08:00ALMS: Rebellion Confirms Single P1 Entry For 2013<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span id="intelliTXT" name="intelliTxt">As first revealed in a <a href="http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/article/alms-rebellion-set-for-full-season-p1-attack/" target="_blank">SPEED.com exclusive last month</a>,
Rebellion Racing made its plans official Wednesday to enter the
American Le Mans Series, committing to a single full-season entry for
its Lola B12/60 Toyota.<br />
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The Anglo-Swiss squad, which took overall honors in October's Petit Le
Mans, will additionally field a second P1 class contender in the 2013
season-opening Twelve Hours of Sebring, with driver lineups for both
cars yet to be confirmed.<br />
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A parallel program in the FIA World Endurance Championship, where
Rebellion won this year's Endurance Trophy for Private LMP1 teams, is
also being evaluated, which could see the team's other two Lola-Toyotas
put into action in the global sports car championship.<br />
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"We want to build upon those results in 2013 and aim to add to our tally
of overall race wins," said team manager Bart Hayden. "The visibility
generated by overall wins is more in line with what our partners require
and desire. <br />
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"The WEC is a World Championship and we would like to find a way to
continue racing there too. Over the coming weeks, we will be striving to
put together a program to complement our presence in the ALMS.<br />
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"We are a team that has grown up with the Le Mans spirit since our
involvement in the GT class in the early 2000’s and we want to continue
racing in championships that mix the very best professional prototype
and GT teams. I will be particularly pleased if we can succeed in
finding a way to run cars in both the ALMS and the FIA WEC in 2013.”<br />
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On the driver front, SPEED.com has learned that 2012 European Le Mans
Series champion Mathias Beche has already signed with the team, with the
remainder of the lineup set to be confirmed in the coming weeks. <br />
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The official confirmation of Rebellion's presence in the premier
prototype ranks of the ALMS will see no fewer than three full-season
entries in 2013, joining at least one Dyson Racing Lola B12/60 and
reigning champions Muscle Milk Pickett Racing with its
soon-to-be-upgraded HPD ARX-03c.</span></div>
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<span id="intelliTXT" name="intelliTxt">Source <a href="http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/article/alms-rebellion-confirms-single-p1-entry-for-2013/" target="_blank">http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/article/alms-rebellion-confirms-single-p1-entry-for-2013/ </a></span></div>
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wehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00159443022668573972noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7178343925151832819.post-57006604703324563752012-11-22T23:38:00.002-08:002012-11-22T23:38:59.559-08:00White Ribbon Day: A white ribbon rebellion<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
BENDIGO men are saying no to violence against women.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
About
30 men stood on the steps of The Capital theatre yesterday morning,
united in their stance against violence as part of Bendigo’s White
Ribbon campaign.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The Bendigo Business Council hosted a White
Ribbon breakfast yesterday and a free community event will be held in
Hargreaves Mall tomorrow from noon.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Bendigo Police Inspector Mark Edwards spoke at the White Ribbon breakfast yesterday and said violence against </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
women took up a lot of police time.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“Crime is broken into two categories,” he said. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“We
have crime against property and crime against a person. If you look at
crime against person, which is stuff like assaults, robberies and all
that sort of stuff, 80 per cent of that category is assaults.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“Of
that 80 per cent, a third of it is family violence.” Inspector Edwards
said police had done a lot of work on repeat victims and offenders.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“We
try to link our victims into the right services, try to give them the
courage and the opportunity to make that break, and get out of the cycle
that they’re stuck in...So we’ll do things like, rather than wait for a
call-out to these addresses, we’ll go to these addresses to check up.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“We’ll just drop in to see how things are going and try to get a feel for the place.” </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Family violence adviser Sergeant Margaret Singe described the response to yesterday’s breakfast as “fantastic”.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“Particularly
because probably 50 per cent of the participants were men,” she said.
“And White Ribbon is all about men leading the charge. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“The breakfast was really the starting point in our White Ribbon activities. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“On
Friday we’ve got the community lunch, which goes from noon until 2pm in
the mall. And the yarn bombers have been down and decorated our area
for us. They’ve got white all around the area.”</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Sergeant Singe has her fingers crossed that as many people as possible will support the event.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“It’s free but there will be a cost for the barbecue lunch,” she said.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“We’ll also have some entertainment – performers who’ve both written songs specifically for Friday about White Ribbon.”</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Source <a href="http://www.bendigoadvertiser.com.au/story/1137489/white-ribbon-day-a-white-ribbon-rebellion/?cs=12" target="_blank">http://www.bendigoadvertiser.com.au/story/1137489/white-ribbon-day-a-white-ribbon-rebellion/?cs=12 </a></div>
</div>
wehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00159443022668573972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7178343925151832819.post-79278920832588334842012-11-11T22:43:00.001-08:002012-11-11T22:43:23.265-08:00Councillors urged to join rebellion against Pickles<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="attribute-short" style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Labour councillors up and down the country were called on to co-ordinate
for a dramatic fightback against government-imposed cuts to local
budgets today. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="attribute-long" style="text-align: justify;">
Grassroots Labour Representation Committee (LRC) activists have vowed to
bring together party-run councils to declare war against both Tory
minister Eric Pickles and cuts hawks within Labour itself at their
annual conference on Saturday.<br />
<br />
Communities and Local Government Secretary Mr Pickles is presiding over
massive cuts to council budgets, which the LRC warn disproportionately
hit the working class and Labour councils that represent them.<br />
<br />
A minority of Labour councillors who have refused to support cutbacks
were praised, including Lambeth's Kingsley Abrams who was suspended in
June for voting to oppose cuts to jobs and services.<br />
<br />
LRC activists warned against a right-wing mentality within Labour that
is helping to push through government-imposed cuts without a fight.<br />
<br />
And they stressed that one or two councils refusing to make cuts will
not be enough to defeat the government's ideologically-driven agenda,
stating that there should be "no local cuts in the name of the Labour
Party."<br />
<br />
Hull Labour councillor Gary Wareing said: "We have been trying hard to
develop a strategy to fight cuts imposed on the council by this Con-Dem
government.<br />
<br />
"We need an alternative. We need to bring together a coalition of
councillors and local community groups to say that what the Tories are
doing is not what we want in Hull."<br />
<br />
Labour MP John McDonnell said a date for the meeting of Labour councillors and councils will be made as soon as possible.<br />
<br />
It comes after three council leaders wrote to Mr Pickles on Friday
demanding that he come clean over what their budgets will look like for
2013/14, not due to be revealed until December.<br />
<br />
The leaders of Labour-run Southampton, Green controlled Brighton and
Hove and Liberal Democrat Portsmouth demanded to be told now so they can
budget properly.<br />
<br />
It will not be the first time Labour councillors have stood up to Tory-imposed central government cuts.
<br />
This year marks the 40th anniversary of Clay Cross dispute in 1972, when
11 Labour councillors stood up to Ted Heath's Housing Finance Act by
refusing to implement increased council housing rents.
<br />
</div>
<div class="attribute-long" style="text-align: justify;">
Source <a href="http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/news/content/view/full/125971" target="_blank">http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/news/content/view/full/125971 </a></div>
</div>
wehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00159443022668573972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7178343925151832819.post-46869646545730126092012-10-02T20:07:00.000-07:002012-10-02T20:07:06.924-07:00A tale of resistance & rewards<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong>Three years after the British took over Kodagu, a rebellion
against the rulers erupted in the region. Among the rebels was Guddemane
Appayya. C P Belliappa charts the chronology of events immediately
after the rebellion was quelled.<br /></strong>In 1837, three years
after the British take-over of Kodagu, a rebellion erupted against the
colonisers. This uprising is popularly known as ‘Amara Sulya da
Katakai’. The primary reason for this revolt by some of the peasants in
Sulya was their objection to the British collecting land tax in currency
instead of in kind as was the practice during the reign of the rajas.
There was also a rather mysterious individual named Kalyanaswamy who
proclaimed himself a descendant of the Haleri rajas and claimed the
throne of Kodagu. <br /><br />The rebellious peasants rallied round him.
Guddemane Appayya took command of the rebels. The entire uprising was
not well organised and there was a great deal of confusion. However, it
soon spread to Puttur and then right up to Mangalore, where some of the
establishments of the East India Company were ransacked. Emboldened by
their success, the rebels made a bid to attack Madikeri, the capital of
Kodagu.<br /><br />Three years of British administration had brought peace
and stability in Kodagu and a majority of the people did not want this
disturbed. Compared to the misrule of Chikka Veerarajendra, the
administration was streamlined and there was equitable law.
People-friendly policies were implemented in various fields. The alarmed
British enlisted the support of Kodavas to quell the rebellion. The two
dewans, Apparanda Bopanna and Chepudira Ponnappa, mustered the Kodavas,
and within days the insurgency was put down. The British did not want
any repetition of such revolts against their rule. Harsh punishments
were meted out to those who took part in the rebellion. Amongst those
executed were Kalyanaswamy and Guddemane Appayya.<br /><br />After this
operation was completed, a large amount of booty was collected from the
rebels. The British offered the spoils of war to the Kodavas for having
helped them. To the surprise of the British, Kodavas rejected sharing
the war booty. <br /><br /><strong>Awards for quelling rebellion</strong><br /><br />At
the time, Colonel Mark Cubbon who was posted in Bangalore was also the
Commissioner of Kodagu and Captain Le Hardy was the superintendent. It
was Colonel Mark Cubbon who recommended to the then governor-general
Lord Auckland that the gallant Kodavas should be suitably recognised for
their distinguished service in quelling the rebellion. On Mark Cubbon’s
recommendation, the following awards were presented: gold medals with
gold chains worth Rs 400 to the two dewans, 12 gold medals with chains
worth Rs 200 to subedhars and principal chiefs, 20 gold medals without
chains for parpatigars and others of equal rank, 10 gold medals worth Rs
50 for peasants who supported the British, 200 silver medals worth Rs
10 for lower ranks and peasants. <br /><br />Several bronze and copper
medals were presented to the foot-soldiers. All these medals were two
inches in diameter. They were cast in the same moulding with a Kodava
warrior on the obverse and a trophy of Kodava arms on the reverse.
Weights of the gold medals were adjusted by varying the thickness.<br /><br />In addition, there were grants of land, Pegu ponies, fowling pieces (guns), shawls, clothes, turbans, etc.<br /><br />But
there was a 70-year-old subedhar named Monnaiah (spelt Moonien by the
British) who rejected all that the British offered. He was crestfallen,
because during the operation, he had lost his prized sword which was a
gift from Dodda Veerarajendra. He wanted nothing other than replacement
of the sword! <br /><br />Mark Cubbon immediately acted on this request and
had an exact replica made and presented to the subedhar. I wonder if
this sword exists somewhere in one of the Kodava homes. Likewise, none
of the gold and silver medallions are with any of the Kodava families. <br /><br />However, I have one of the bronze medals, which was very kindly gifted to me by A Franklin, an avid art collector in Bangalore. <br /><br />Franklin
is also the proud owner of the autographed Bible that Queen Victoria
presented to her god daughter Princess Victoria Gowramma of Coorg in
1852. <br /><br />History has nevertheless come full circle. Recently an
imposing statue of Guddemane Appayya on horse-back has been installed at
the entrance to Madikeri town. He is recognised as one of the earliest
freedom fighters.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Source <a href="http://www.deccanherald.com/content/282299/a-tale-resistance-amp-rewards.html">http://www.deccanherald.com/content/282299/a-tale-resistance-amp-rewards.html</a><strong><br /></strong></div>
</div>
wehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00159443022668573972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7178343925151832819.post-11158121367628416522012-09-12T21:17:00.003-07:002012-09-12T21:17:43.984-07:00The Most Dysfunctional Board in the Country?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Talk about a crazy situation… After months of delay, the Washington,
D.C., City Council is scheduled October 2 to approve amendments to a
bi-state compact with Virginia that would expand the board of the
Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA), giving the Old
Dominion greater representation. The amendments were based upon
legislation passed by Congress and signed by President Obama at the
behest of Rep. Frank Wolf, Va-10.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Assuming the council acts as expected, it still will be behind the
curve. Frustrated by “appalling decisions” made by the MWAA board, Wolf
has submitted a new bill that would <em>shrink</em> the board and give
Virginia representatives an outright majority. The board, which worked
actively to block implementation of the previous changes is
“dysfunctional,” he says.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The current board lacks transparency and accountability, said Wolf in an August <a href="http://wolf.house.gov/press-releases/wolf-introduces-bill-to-give-virginia-majority-of-seats-on-mwaa-board/" target="_blank">press release</a>,
pointing to a series of “appalling” decisions over the past two years,
including a $200,000 confidential settlement with an unsuccessful
candidate to run the authority and sweetheart deals for former board
members and board staff. He also cited lavish travel by board members.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“MWAA used to have a well-functioning and highly successful board,”
Wolf said. “Now it has just dissolved into bitter acrimony. Board
members are subpoenaing each other. It is internecine warfare. This
cannot stand. It is time to give Virginia control.”</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Last week the MWAA board did adopt a new travel policy and hiring
policies, as the new chairman, Michael A. Curto, sought to re-establish
credibility with the authority’s stakeholders.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
After the MWAA board’s session last week, Curto stated:</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<blockquote>
As I started my tenure as chairman, I laid out three
priorities for the organization: increased cooperation with our
partners, especially the Commonwealth of Virginia, greater transparency
for management and board operations, and the timely and cost-effective
completion of the rail project. While it is true that the Authority has
made its share of mistakes, and there are a number of issues that have
yet to be adequately addressed, I think our harshest critics would also
acknowledge that we have made significant progress on those key
objectives.</blockquote>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
President and CEO Jack Potter reported last week that the Authority
was closing out all “sole source” professional services contracts that
had been exempted from competitive bidding. In effect, that meant firing
former director Mame Reiley, whom he had hired under a multi-year
contract for a $180,000-a-year job. Her contract still called for a
one-year severance.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The new travel policy would preclude any more junkets, such as one in
which then-board member Dennis Martire, a a senior executive with the
Laborers International Union of North America (LiUNA) charged MWAA for a
nine-day trip to Europe with his girlfriend on the pretext of attending
a 36-hour conference on by the Airports Council International.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
At least two other former board members – and a former staff member
of the board – have been beneficiaries of sweetheart deals, Wolf said,
citing exposes by the <em>Washington Examiner</em>. Last year the board awarded a $100,000 contract to a law firm where a board member’s wife works.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
In other questionable activities, the board paid $200,000 to an
individual who was “all but promised” – but never offered – the CEO
position. The deal was struck to avoid a potential lawsuit.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
One issue yet to hit the media involves the confiscation of a board
member’s papers left at his seat after a recent meeting, Wolf said. The
Congressman stated in the press release that “it was his understanding
that” a board member left the July session for a lunch meeting, fully
intending to return. The board meeting adjourned, however, before he
came back and board staff collected his things. “Instead of just putting
the documents in an envelope, the staff read through them and then
passed them onto the board secretary, who, I understand, also went
through them,” Wolf said. “Believing the documents could be pertinent to
litigation involving MWAA, the board secretary turned them over to the
authority’s general counsel. This incident has led to series of
subpoenas being issued to several board members and others, including me
and my chief of staff.”</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Another incident revolves around the attempted removal of a Virginia
board member — Martire, the labor executive — for cause by Governor
McDonnell, Wolf said. The board member has challenged his removal in
court and MWAA is paying his legal fees.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“I suspect MWAA will have to start paying the legal fees of other
board members who have now been subpoenaed in the case,” Wolf said.
“Knowing how fast legal fees can accumulate, I am deeply troubled by
these latest turn of events, especially considering taxpayers are
footing the bill.”</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The problems do not end here, Wolf said.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<blockquote>
The terms of all three of the federal appointments have
expired and finding replacements continues to drag on and on. The
District left an appointee on the board for nearly two years after his
term has expired, despite being under house arrest in the Ivory Coast
and attending only one meeting between 2009 and 2011. It was going to be
that member’s proxy vote to hire the unsuccessful CEO candidate who
received a $200,000 settlement. Board members also used to meet with the
former chairman the night before meetings to plot strategy for the next
day’s meetings, Wolf said.</blockquote>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“All this points to a board that is totally dysfunctional, fiscally irresponsible and tone deaf,” Wolf said.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
MWAA’s actions last week come too little and too late for Wolf. “The
Congressman’s new bill will “give Virginia complete control” over the
MWAA board, Daniel Scandling, Wolf’s chief of staff, told me.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Scandling acknowledged the political difficulties in persuading
Maryland and Washington to agree to an arrangement that would further
diminish their power on the board, but he noted that the bill enjoyed
bipartisan support among Virginia’s congressional delegation and has
been backed by leading business lobbies in Northern Virginia. “Never say
never.”</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
McDonnell spokesman Jeff Caldwell did not respond to two phone calls
and an email from Bacon’s Rebellion to address the Washington City
Council’s action, or lack of it, on the bi-state compact. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Source <a href="http://www.baconsrebellion.com/2012/09/the-most-dysfunctional-board-in-the-country.html" target="_blank">http://www.baconsrebellion.com/2012/09/the-most-dysfunctional-board-in-the-country.html </a></div>
</div>
wehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00159443022668573972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7178343925151832819.post-85572437515821656942012-07-30T03:21:00.000-07:002012-07-30T03:21:13.324-07:00Scottish independence: Labour dismisses rebellion<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
LABOUR chiefs say a rebellion among its grassroots members in favour
of independence lacks “any real support” within party ranks.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="KonaBody" style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
A website has been launched called Labour for
Independence, which is urging Scottish party leader Johann Lamont to
allow members a vote on the constitutional question, with a view to
shifting the party’s stance in favour of leaving the UK in the 2014
referendum.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Senior Labour figures say the website, launched by
party member Allan Grogan, has attracted plentiful backing from SNP
supporters. But the party insists that members are free to bring policy
suggestions before Labour conference.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
A posting by Mr Grogan on
the website states: “I’m pleased that we have given the pro-indy Labour
voters a home to voice their opinions. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“In the last month, we
have gained 24,000 Facebook viewers, created our own website, which
after one week has more than 2,000 hits.”</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
He also urges pro-independence Labour supports to turn out at a major rally planned for 22 September.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“We
need to show the Labour Party, the rest of the political parties and
the media watching, that there is a genuine demand from Labour voters
for independence,” he adds.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“In the coming months, we will look to
appeal to Ms Lamont and the heads of the Scottish Labour Party for a
membership vote on Labour’s stance.” </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Nationalists were quick to
seize on the move, with Christine McKelvie, who chairs Holyrood’s
external relations committee, urging the party hierarchy to listen to
its grassroots. membership.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“People of all parties and none are warming to the idea of an independent Scotland,” Ms McKelvie said.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“It
is only fair and democratic that grassroots Labour members should be
given the opportunity to discuss the merits of voting Yes to an
independent Scotland in 2014.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“Johann Lamont and the Labour Party
in Scotland leadership’s sponsored silence on Trident, abandonment of
free higher education and anti-independence pact with Tories is leaving
them looking very lost indeed. It is little wonder the people of
Scotland are looking elsewhere for politicians to reflect their views
and values.”</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Former Labour chancellor Alistair Darling is the man
leading Better Together, the official campaign for Scotland to stay in
the United Kingdom. Ms Lamont joined Tory leader Ruth Davidson and
Liberal Democrat chief Willie Rennie at the official launch earlier this
year.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Labour North East MSP Richard Baker, who is a member on the
Better Together board, yesterday played down the pro-independence move
within the party.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“Labour members have the right to bring policy
suggestions to conference where they can be debated,” he said. “However,
as we are focused on social justice in the widest sense, we believe
that we all achieve more together than apart. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“I also note that
the website has lots of support from SNP backers, but lacks any real
support from within our own ranks. Scottish Labour will fight to keep
Britain together, because we believe that we are stronger together.” </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
A
recent opinion poll on behalf of think-tank Reform Scotland, which is
behind the devo-plus campaign, found that almost three-quarters of
Labour voters wanted unionists to campaign for more powers for the
Scottish Parliament during the referendum campaign.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Source <a href="http://www.scotsman.com/news/scottish-independence-labour-dismisses-rebellion-1-2439472" target="_blank">http://www.scotsman.com/news/scottish-independence-labour-dismisses-rebellion-1-2439472 </a></div>
</div>
</div>wehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00159443022668573972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7178343925151832819.post-60805374692514019092012-07-03T03:01:00.000-07:002012-07-03T03:01:15.775-07:00Mississippi Tea Party Chairman Calls For Open Rebellion Against Federal Government After Obamacare Ruling<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Of all the right-wing meltdowns following yesterday’s decision by the
Supreme Court to uphold the individual mandate in the Affordable Care
Act, <a href="http://msteaparty.ning.com/?xg_source=msg_mes_network">this statement</a> put out by the chairman of the Mississippi Tea Party may take the cake: </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<blockquote>
When a gang of criminals subvert legitimate government
offices and seize all power to themselves without the real consent of
the governed their every act and edict is of itself illegal and is
outside the bounds of the Rule of Law. In such cases submission is
treason. Treason against the Constitution and the valid legitimate
government of the nation to which we have pledged our allegiance for
years. <strong>To resist by all means that are right in the eyes of God
is not rebellion or insurrection, it is patriotic resistance to
invasion. </strong><br />
May all of us fall on our faces before the Heavenly Judge, repent of
our sins, and humbly cry out to Him for mercy on our country. <strong>And,
may godly courageous leaders rise up in His wisdom and power to lead us
in displacing the criminal invaders from their seats and restore our
constitutional republic.</strong>
</blockquote>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Despite Nicholson’s repeated charge that the Obama administration is
guilty of high crimes, the only treason in play here is the suggestion
of an open revolt against the federal government. Nicholson’s hardly the
first Tea Partier to demand that people rise up in opposition to
President Obama, in fact he’s not even the first to do so this week.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Matthew Davis, an attorney and former Michigan Republican Party spokesman, <a href="http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/17151">wrote yesterday</a>
that citizens might be justified taking up armed rebellion. In an email
moments after the ruling with the subject line “Is Armed Rebellion Now
Justified?” Davis wrote “There are times government has to do things to
get what it wants and holds a gun to your head. I’m saying at some
point, we have to ask the question when do we turn that gun around and
say no and resist.”</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
While few comments go as far as either Nicholson or Davis’, Slate <a href="http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2012/06/republican_response_to_obamacare_decision_the_eight_stages_of_conservative_grief.html">compiled</a>
several other funny and over-the-top reactions from prominent
conservatives, like Sarah Palin who thanked God for firing up “the
troops,” or Breitbart.com’s Ben Shapiro, who <a href="https://twitter.com/benshapiro/status/218351714661703681">tweeted</a> that the decision “is the end of America as we know it. No exaggeration.” </div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
Source <a href="http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2012/06/29/509010/tea-party-obamacare-rebellio/?mobile=nc">http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2012/06/29/509010/tea-party-obamacare-rebellio/?mobile=nc</a></div>
</div>
wehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00159443022668573972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7178343925151832819.post-55940058511251910182012-06-13T20:06:00.003-07:002012-06-13T20:06:42.524-07:00U.S. Supporting Rwanda As It Destabilizes the Congo<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Jacques Bahati, a policy analyst at the Africa Faith; Emira Woods,
co-director of Foreign Policy; Maurice Carney, executive director of
Friends of the Congo</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Washington, D.C. - infoZine - BBC is reporting "The UN says it has
evidence that a rebellion in the Democratic Republic of Congo is being
fueled by recruits and support from neighboring Rwanda." Human Rights
Watch reports that "Rwandan army officials have provided weapons,
ammunition, and an estimated 200 to 300 recruits to support Ntaganda’s
mutiny in Rutshuru territory, eastern Congo." A leading Congolese
newspaper, Le Potentiel notes "The mutiny underway in the eastern DRC
receives support in manpower and logistics from Rwanda, in the face of
astonishing passivity from the international community (U.S., Britain,
EU, etc.)."<br />
<br />
<strong>Jacques Bahati</strong> ( <a href="mailto:bahati@afjn.org">bahati@afjn.org</a>
) , a policy analyst at the Africa Faith and Justice Network says “DRC
has been the playground of Rwanda since 1996 and this will never change
if serious reforms are not made. On a long list of problems needing
urgent solutions, DRC must address corruption in its leadership, army
reform and make a priority the grievances of all warring parties.” <span class="extlinks"><a href="http://www.afjn.org/">www.afjn.org</a> <span style="display: inline-block; height: 10px; overflow: hidden; position: relative; width: 10px;" title="external link">link<span class="sprite-external" style="background-color: white; height: 10px; left: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px; width: 10px;"> </span><span class="sprite-external" style="background-color: white; height: 10px; left: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px; width: 10px;"> </span><span class="sprite-external" style="background-color: white; height: 10px; left: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px; width: 10px;"> </span></span></span> </div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong>Emira Woods</strong> ( <a href="mailto:emira@ips-dc.org">emira@ips-dc.org</a>
) , co-director of Foreign Policy In Focus at the Institute for Policy
Studies, said today: "Rwanda's role in destabilizing the Congo has
contributed to the millions who have perished as result of the conflict
since 1996 and the 100,000 displaced persons since March of this year.
It is time that the United States, which provides significant funding to
the Rwandan government, uses its leverage to hold Rwanda accountable
for its destructive actions in the Congo." <span class="extlinks"><a href="http://www.ips-dc.org/staff/emira">www.ips-dc.org/staff/emira</a> <span style="display: inline-block; height: 10px; overflow: hidden; position: relative; width: 10px;" title="external link">link<span class="sprite-external" style="background-color: white; height: 10px; left: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px; width: 10px;"></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<strong>Maurice Carney</strong> ( <a href="mailto:info@friendsofthecongo.org">info@friendsofthecongo.org</a>
) , executive director of Friends of the Congo, said today: “The
Rwandan government has acted as a major destabilizing force in the east
of the Congo since 1996. However, as a staunch ally of the United States
and the United Kingdom, the Rwandan government has benefited
tremendously from the diplomatic cover and protection that accompanies
its relationship with such powerful nations." <span class="extlinks"><a href="http://friendsofthecongo.org/">http://friendsofthecongo.org</a></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="extlinks"> Source <a href="http://www.infozine.com/news/stories/op/storiesView/sid/52143/">http://www.infozine.com/news/stories/op/storiesView/sid/52143/</a><span style="display: inline-block; height: 10px; overflow: hidden; position: relative; width: 10px;" title="external link"><span class="sprite-external" style="background-color: white; height: 10px; left: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px; width: 10px;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
</div>wehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00159443022668573972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7178343925151832819.post-8868256155880364942011-11-29T22:33:00.000-08:002011-11-29T22:34:41.853-08:00WRAPUP 2-Watchdog leaves EU banks in dark on capital<div style="text-align: justify; font-family: trebuchet ms;">Europe's banking watchdog has delayed telling individual lenders how much capital they must raise to safeguard their survival until EU finance ministers can agree on broader plans to shore up confidence in the financial system.<br /><br />The delay is a blow to banks and investors keen to get to grips with how much cash is needed as the bank sector faces multiple risks that threaten to spill over to the real economy.<br /><br />The European Banking Authority (EBA) had planned to finalise by Wednesday how much cash banks need to meet a minimum 9 percent core capital -- a preliminary estimate had put it at 106 billion euros ($141.5 billion) for the 70 lenders under scrutiny.<br /><br />But European Union finance ministers (Ecofin) meeting to discuss the euro zone debt crisis need to help banks as part of a wider plan. If they agree on the bank measures, the EBA is likely to release details next week, a spokeswoman for the EBA said.<br /><br />The euro zone crisis has shown how closely banks are tied to the health of their country, which continues to hurt Greece's lenders. Some 13-14 billion euros of deposits left Greek banks in September-October, and the outflows continued in the first 10 days of November, the country's central bank chief said.<br /><br />Cyprus's largest lender, Bank of Cyprus also showed the risk of sovereign troubles spilling over borders, as it slumped to a loss after losing 1 billion euros on its holdings of Greek government bonds.<br /><br />Banks are under pressure from worries about sovereign health, capital and liquidity, analysts said.<br /><br />"For the funding markets to reopen, banks need a minimum of 160 billion euros (more capital) in a mild recession and 215 billion in a stress scenario," said Kian Abouhossein, analyst at JPMorgan.<br /><br />If the credit market doesn't reopen, he said banks could face a "systemic problem" as they need to refinance 680 billion euros of debt next year. "We see funding as one of the key challenges in 2012," he said.<br /><br />The European bank sector was down 0.1 percent by 1700 GMT, languishing not far from a more than 2-1/2 year low set last week.<br /><br />BROADER PACKAGE<br /><br />Banks across Europe are stepping up plans to shrink balance sheets in the face of these difficulties, prompting Portugal's banking regulator to warn its banks to shrink slowly to limit damage to its fragile economy.<br /><br />Germany's Commerzbank may shift bad assets from its loss-making property arm Eurohypo to the German state, sources close to the bank told Reuters.<br /><br />The move could allow it to avoid a potentially punitive fresh state-aid inquiry by the European Commission. It has been ordered by the Commission to sell Eurohypo by the end of 2014 as a condition for approving state aid in 2008/09.<br /><br />France's Societe Generale is selling property loans worth more than 600 million euros ($801 million) as it seeks to slash its exposure to the volatile sector and bolster its balance sheet, a person close to the situation said.<br /><br />Rivals BNP Paribas and Credit Agricole and banks in Italy, Spain, Germany, Britain and Ireland are also deleveraging aggressively to meet tougher capital rules and ease funding strains.<br /><br />That could put more pressure on sovereign debt or squeeze lending to the economy, according to a report prepared for the Ecofin meeting.<br /><br />"There are serious concerns about a possible inappropriate deleveraging by banks when implementing the measures that would prejudice an adequate supply of lending to the real economy or put excessive additional pressure on sovereign debt," officials wrote in the report seen by Reuters.<br /><br />Sweden's central bank told its lenders to adopt tougher global rules on liquidity ahead of the deadline, ratcheting up pressure on the sector just days after introducing tougher capital requirements than European rivals.<br /><br />The Riksbank said Swedish banks should speed up changes to short-term liquidity and the way they fund themselves in the longer term so that their assets and liabilities match better.<br /><br />The EBA said it had made progress in finalising its recapitalisation plan, but it was part of a broader package also including improving long-term funding and dealing with losses on Greece's debt. Funding appears to be the sticking point for policymakers.<br /><br />A public guarantee scheme was considered to support banks' access to term funding, but there were objections to a pooled guarantee and now national guarantees are on the cards.<br /><br />The EBA is also due to publish guidelines for banks that want to issue hybrid debt known as contingent capital to help fill any capital shortfall.<br /><br />Source <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/11/29/banks-europe-idUSL5E7MT23V20111129">http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/11/29/banks-europe-idUSL5E7MT23V20111129</a></div>wehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00159443022668573972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7178343925151832819.post-38253362926613205892011-10-03T23:39:00.000-07:002011-10-03T23:40:58.655-07:00Anti-capitalism rebellion in progress in US<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.monitor.co.ug/image/view/-/1246038/highRes/299124/-/maxw/600/-/p8qj6ez/-/ideas004pix.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 506px; height: 400px;" src="http://www.monitor.co.ug/image/view/-/1246038/highRes/299124/-/maxw/600/-/p8qj6ez/-/ideas004pix.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: trebuchet ms;">They are in a rebellious mood against their economic system as it is grinding to a halt. During the past week alone some $4 trillion of paper assets on the global stock exchanges went down the drain, because they were speculative ‘assets’ that had no real material (real economy) base.<br /><br />They were paper assets acting as parasites on the real economy. The meltdown of the bubble economy that begun in 2008 is now in full swing because despite the pumping in by the US government of large amounts of dollars into the economy through ‘stimulus packages’ the recession did not ebb. Instead it worsened into what is now being called a ‘double dip recession.’ The result has been that the US unemployment rate has continued to worsen. It is now standing at 9.1 per cent and as a result it is creating problems for Obama’s second term re-election hopes.<br /><br />Last week the Governor of the Federal Reserve abandoned all efforts of pumping more printed dollars into the economy to help ‘quick start’ the recovery with what the Federal Reserve has recently called “Operation Twist” after it abandoned the “Quantitative Easing” of printing more dollars as the appropriate response.<br /><br />In Europe, the Euro zone is in the grip of the Greek ‘sovereign debt’ crisis due to the worsening of the economic recovery in that zone. Many of these countries adopted stringent budgetary controls as a response to the meltdown, but these strategies have not produced any astounding results.<br /><br />In the case of the UK, these policies have led to serious social tensions that erupted in the city riots that threatened to burn Britain down. The Greek debt crisis has threatened the Euro Zone as a regional monetary system. Countries are pulling back into their national cocoons to run away from supporting Greece. Many members are insisting that the holders of the Greek state bonds should also contribute to solving the crisis. The Italian credit system has recently been downgraded from A+ to A. The other ‘PIGS’ countries (Portugal, Italy, Greece and Spain) are on the edge.<br /><br />In the meantime, the increasing inequality in the distribution of wealth all over the world, which is capitalism’s main weakness, has begun to have toll on the billionaire’s confidence. They are increasingly being looked upon as the real problem for the world economy because of their insatiable greed. The mood among the large numbers of unemployed is beginning to turn rowdy and rebellious. The recent British riots were a clear warning to the Western leaders of the upcoming upheavals. Now the anger is beginning to emerge in the US where there have been plans by the youth to occupy Wall Street, the headquarters of American financial capitalism.<br /><br />According to a recent article in the Guardian, the rebellion begun on Saturday September 17, when over 5,000 young Americans descended on to the financial district of lower Manhattan with signs, banners, drums, slogans and proceeded to walk towards what they called the “financial Gomorrah” of the nation as they vowed to “occupy Wall Street” and to “bring justice to the bankers.”<br /><br />Although the New York police thwarted their efforts temporarily, locking down the symbolic street with barricades and checkpoints, the protestors were undeterred. They walked around the area before holding a people’s assembly and setting up a semi-permanent protest encampment in a park on Liberty Street, a stone’s throw from Wall Street and a block from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.<br /><br />Three hundred of them spent the night in the streets and several hundred reinforcements arrived the next day to back them up. Using the social network, the protesters sent messages to the world that they were hungry and a nearby pizzeria received $2,800 in orders for delivery in a single hour. Emboldened by an outpouring of international solidarity, the protestors said they’d be there to greet the bankers when the stock market opened the following Monday. The police, according to the Guardian realised they could not stop them. The ABC News reported that even though the demonstrators did not have a permit for the protest they were nevertheless” digging in for a long-term occupation.”<br /><br />According to news reports, the campaign to “Occupy Wall Street” was inspired by the “People’s Assemblies of Spain,” which were in turn inspired by the “Arab Spring.” Although the concept “Occupy Wall Street” was floated in a double-page poster in the 97th issue of Adbusters magazine, it was nevertheless spearheaded, orchestrated and carried out by independent activists. It all started when Adbusters magazine asked its network of culture jammers to flood into lower Manhattan, set up tents, kitchens and peaceful barricades and occupy Wall Street for a few months. The idea caught on immediately on social networks and the unaffiliated activists seized the idea and built an open-source organising site.<br /><br />A few days later, a general assembly was held in New York City and 150 people showed up. These activists became the core organisers of the occupation. The mystique of Anonymous pushed the idea into the mainstream media with a video communiqué endorsing the action. This attracted 100,000 views resulting in a warning from the Department of Homeland Security addressed to the nation’s bankers about what was going on. But the ‘indignation’ was spreading in other cities. When, in August, the ‘indignados’ of Spain sent word that they would be holding a solidarity event in Madrid’s financial district, activists in Milan, Valencia, London, Lisbon, Athens, San Francisco, Madison, Amsterdam, Los Angeles, Israel and beyond vowed to do the same.<br /><br />There is thus a shared feeling on the streets around the world that the global economy is a ‘Ponzi scheme’ run by and for ‘Big Finance,’ meaning the billionaires who do not want to pay taxes. People everywhere are waking up to the realisation that there is something fundamentally wrong with a system in which speculative financial transactions add up, each day, to $1.3 trillion, which is 50 times more than the sum of all the production and commercial transactions. Meanwhile, according to a United Nations report, “in the 35 countries for which data exist, nearly 40 per cent of jobseekers have been without work for more than one year. A jobless Vietnam veteran protestor said the demonstration was “a worthy cause because people on Wall Street are blood-sucking warmongers”.<br /><br />The indignation was an expression of a feeling among the protestors that the standard solutions to the economic crisis proposed by leading politicians and mainstream economists such as stimulus packages, budget cuts, debt management, low interest rates, neo-Keynesian propping up of ‘demand’ though increased consumption were all false approaches that would not work.<br /><br />This is not just a concern of the Western unemployed youth, it is also increasingly becoming an issue among rural folk in Uganda in areas such as Buliisa where people’s lands are being grabbed by the oil speculators and Bugisu where the peasant farmers cooperators are determined to ‘walk naked’ to demand the restoration of their cooperative union. These rural folk have also decided to join hands with the New York and Madrid ‘indignados.’ This mood amongst the world’s poor is bound to reverberate for some time to come and who knows what is likely to come out of the protests - a World Revolution?<br /><br />Source <a href="http://www.monitor.co.ug/Magazines/ThoughtIdeas/-/689844/1245982/-/bms5nc/-/">http://www.monitor.co.ug/Magazines/ThoughtIdeas/-/689844/1245982/-/bms5nc/-/</a><br /></div>wehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00159443022668573972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7178343925151832819.post-23212572259592123692011-07-22T00:20:00.000-07:002011-07-22T00:34:06.953-07:00The rebellion continues<div style="text-align: justify; font-family: trebuchet ms;">Jeff Stone, the Riverside County supervisor who's become the latest to float a breakup of California, continues to press the idea --- creating a website complete with manifesto and even a Facebook page whose fans have already created the "South California" flag.<br /><br />If you can judge from our recent online poll, the sentiment for a divorce remains very strong in the north state as well. Only one problem: Under Stone's plan, South California's secession --- which would carve off some of the more conservative-leaning parts of the state --- would leave our equally conservative region lumped with the even more liberal remainder.<br /><br />Just to put it in perspective, voter registration in today's California is 44 percent Democratic, 31 percent Republican, which has given Democrats a complete lock on the state government.<br /><br />Without the counties of "South California," it would skew even more strongly --- 48 percent Democratic and just 20 percent Republican.<br /><br />For those many Shasta County conservatives who feel alienated from the state government and the values it embodies, this particular breakup plan would make things far, far worse.<br /><br />Source <a href="http://blogs.redding.com/bross/archives/2011/07/the-rebellion-c.html">http://blogs.redding.com/bross/archives/2011/07/the-rebellion-c.html</a></div>wehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00159443022668573972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7178343925151832819.post-57492991335446196292011-07-04T20:40:00.000-07:002011-07-04T20:41:38.102-07:00The social rebellion will burst into violence<div style="text-align: justify; font-family: trebuchet ms;">This protest is the start of a broader and much more serious social rebellion. It is an expression of terrible anger that will burst out in violence," the owner of a large consumer products factory told "Globes" today.<br /><br />He added, "Bibi is a nice guy, he has created a free economy, flourishing, but the partners to this prosperity are the owners and a very thin socio-economic layer of talented and young people in senior positions in high-tech, in industry and in the banks. 50% of the population have sub-normal salaries and are not part of the celebrations."<br /><br />He continued, "In the end it will be like a bomb hitting our heads. We cannot carry on with 10% of the population living and 50% of the population earning the minimum wage plus a little. A democratic state will be here for many years only if there is a very strong middle class. There cannot be a polarization of the rich when most of the population has their heads in the ground. I'm hurting."<br /><br />What's hurting you? You yourself belong to the top 10%.<br /><br />"I also want my children to be millionaires and I don't want them to be in a position where they will say to us. Hello hello bring us your money."<br /><br />How exactly?<br /><br />"They will impose a tax and take 20% of our property and that will go to the Treasury. I think there is such a possibility because the polarization will lead to revolution. There are many Israelis that are not going out onto the streets but they have good reason to do so. And in the end they will go out."<br /><br />The senior executive is harshly critical of the government. He said, "What sort of government do we have? What sort of idea was it to raise excise on fuel? It's OK to take excise on fuel but what's the point of putting up excise when the price of all fuels is going up? The government is putting up all prices all the time and without any limits."<br /><br />He added, "They are asking women to go out to work. And who will look after the kids? How can a young couple where both partners are working spend NIS 5,000 on two children per month? Why do we need such surpluses in the government coffers? To build more roads in the territories? While putting the age of compulsory kindergarten down to three, give something to ordinary citizens."<br /><br />Isn't industry contributing to the situation?<br /><br />It is not the role of industry to set the minimum wage. In my company there is no concept of the minimum wage, we pay 5% more than the minimum wage without thinking about it but I cannot speak about all industry. If a factory can't pay the minimum wage or more, it shows that that industry has a problem."<br /><br />If you sat in the government what would you do?<br /><br />I see the macroeconomic picture. Those in the government only see a picture where they need to air the opinion that it is possible to raise the minimum wage. The revolutions in the Arab countries are not happening because of Mubarak's corruptness but because of 40% unemployment among young people. If we want to prevent that we need to give to the population. I'm in favor of enlightened capitalism not greedy capitalism."<br /><br />Source <a href="http://www.globes.co.il/serveen/globes/docview.asp?did=1000660613">http://www.globes.co.il/serveen/globes/docview.asp?did=1000660613</a><br /></div>wehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00159443022668573972noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7178343925151832819.post-54860025406040392912011-04-19T20:55:00.000-07:002011-04-19T20:56:46.209-07:00Robot to Throw First Pitch at Phillies Game<div style="text-align: justify; font-family: trebuchet ms;">Has technology gone too far? Will it ever stop? How long will it be until humans are a second-class race, fighting a war of rebellion against our machine overlords? Google saves your chats, Facebook sells ads tailored to your personal information, and now we have the most frightening development yet: a robot will throw out the first pitch for tomorrow's game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Milwaukee Brewers.<br /><br />The robot's name is PhillieBot, and it was designed by (presumably evil) engineers at the University of Pennsylvania who obviously want to usher in the age of machine dominance over humanity. You can read all of the details here, but apparently the engineers used a Segway as the base of the robot, because building other machines is the only practical use a Segway serves. From there they attached a pneumatic tube to power the arm, which relies on software to direct velocity and accuracy of the pitch.<br /><br />Sound familiar? How long is it until we're fighting robots who have been sent to kill our mothers? I had previously thought that the greatest threat to humanity was the rise of the octopus rebellion, but it looks like we now have to worry about an army of killer pitching robots who will inevitably destroy us.<br /><br />Source <a href="http://www.ology.com/sports/skynet-approaches-robot-throw-first-pitch-phillies-game">http://www.ology.com/sports/skynet-approaches-robot-throw-first-pitch-phillies-game</a></div>wehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00159443022668573972noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7178343925151832819.post-3010151034173534002011-04-05T20:04:00.000-07:002011-04-05T20:06:14.966-07:00Rabih Mroue, the Lebanese artist starting a creative rebellion<div style="text-align: justify; font-family: trebuchet ms;">Theatre director, visual artist, actor, writer: there are many feathers to Rabih Mroue's cap.<br /><br />The Lebanese artist, whose performances, video works and installations deal with Lebanon's troubled history, is currently enjoying increasing visibility on the world's stage.<br /><br />With two exhibitions currently in Europe (one in London and one in Sweden), Mroue is gaining more and more admirers, though cinephiles may already know him from his role in 2008 film "Je Veux Voir," in which his character traverses Beirut's destroyed neighborhoods with French actress Catherine Deneuve, following the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah war.<br /><br />His exhibitions, which feature video work ruminating on his country's tumultuous past as well as his own personal history, also respond to recent events across the Arab world, with a window work in London entitled "The People are Demanding," also the title of the exhibition.<br /><br />"There is no particular precise thing (that triggered the new work), but what is happening in the region is really something big and one cannot ignore it," he said.<br />It's one of the conditions of being a human being -- to think, and to produce abstract ideas<br />--Rabih Mroue, artist<br /><br />"It is in a way a problematic word, 'people,'" the artist continued, speaking about the popular slogan "The People are Demanding," which was chanted during the mass demonstrations in Tunisia and Egypt that toppled their respective governments.<br /><br />He points out that in Arabic, the word "people" is always singular. "We say, "The people is demanding" and in this sense, it's as if you're reducing the people into one quantity," he said.<br /><br />The window display at London's Institute of International Visual Arts features numerous imagined demands that protesting individuals might make: the right to overthrow a government, the right to love, even the right to tweet -- all written across the window.<br /><br />"It's in a way a playful piece of work, which starts with a very serious demand and goes to the very basic needs of every human being," he said.<br /><br />Mroue adds that while he supports events across the Arab world, he is wary of Arab people being dissolved in one mass with a single view.<br /><br />Tensions like these are at the heart of Mroue's work, which often deals with complex issues such as the desire to remember traumatic events in his country's history, but also the desire to consign them to the past and move on.<br /><br />"For me, it's a question of, 'What should we remember? And what we should not remember?' What should we forget and what should we not forget, and who decides on these issues?" he said.<br /><br />He is referring to the amnesty declared in Lebanon following its painful civil war, which lasted from 1975 to 1990, and what he sees as the state's desire to foreground certain things from the past and eliminate others.<br /><br />"It's all about history -- about writing history -- because history in this sense erases something and highlights something else," Mroue said.<br />It's all about history, about writing history because history in this sense, erases something, and highlights something else<br />--Mroue<br /><br />"If one looks at Lebanese art and contemporary culture, without generalizing or essentializing, one would see that there is a certain kind of obsession for collecting images and traces of a lost life," said Cosmin Costinas, curator of Mroue's exhibitions at the Lunds Konsthall in Sweden, and in London.<br /><br />"I would interpret (Mroue's) work as a reaction to a certain kind of archival instinct, which you have in contemporary culture," said Costinas.<br /><br />Mroue began producing theatrical work in the early 1990s. He became central to a loose community of Beirut-based artists and intellectuals and soon found his work crossing over into the realms of visual and performance art.<br /><br />But Mroue says that both he and others are forced to navigate the thorny issue of censorship. His plays and performances have, in the past, been altered by the state's censors. One particular performance from 2007 was banned by the authorities, though later staged following a public outcry.<br /><br />"To use the words of the censorship department, they tell us: We don't censor you, we just play with the contrast, we make it less sharp, just make it more gentle, not so violent or provocative," he explained.<br /><br />He gets around the censors, he said, by only putting on performances for short periods, and not charging people to see them.<br /><br />Though it gets an easier reception in the West, Mroue's work doesn't shy away from potentially provocative subjects. One work in the London exhibition, entitled "Grandfather, Father and Son," features meticulously filed library index cards belonging to his intellectual grandfather, who was assassinated, aged 80, by Islamic fundamentalists.<br /><br />"It's one of the conditions of being a human being -- to think, and to produce abstract ideas," Mroue pointed out.<br /><br />"This is what distinguishes us from animals, that we are allowed to produce and to write about abstract ideas, about justice, injustice, mathematics," he continued.<br /><br />Having the courage to think about and articulate these abstract ideas is, he believes, an important form of resistance.<br /><br />Source <a href="http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/meast/04/05/lebanon.artist.mroue/">http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/meast/04/05/lebanon.artist.mroue/</a></div>wehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00159443022668573972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7178343925151832819.post-85312256584018042742011-03-23T20:36:00.000-07:002011-03-23T20:38:21.960-07:00Libya: arming rebellion 'would turn tide'<div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01855/libya-tank-afp_1855597c.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 460px; height: 287px;" src="http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01855/libya-tank-afp_1855597c.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">The Libyan rebel movement could legally be supplied with weapons from abroad in a move that would rapidly bring the conflict to an end, defence experts have said.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">The United Nations resolution that was made before that governing the no-fly zone prevented Col Muammar Gaddafi's government from obtaining arms but analysts say that it would still be possible to arm a provisional rebel government.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">There are growing doubts that the rebels will be able to prevail over Col Gaddafi's forces without outside intervention, and there are worries too that a costly and dangerous stalemate will follow a lack of decisive military action.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Brig Ben Barry, of the International Institute of Strategic Studies, said however that if a provisional council was recognised by the United Nations, it would be able to accept arms, and could quickly overthrow Gaddafi loyalists or persuade the Libyan ruler's inner circle to oust him.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">"If this went on for months and months then equipping the rebels would make a difference. The UN arms embargo only proscribes the current Libyan government so if another state recognised a provisional council as the new government it could then agree to requests for assistance including weapons and other military supplies.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">"If significant parts of the Libyan military capability were destroyed it could change the minds of those within the regime who might then view Gaddafi as more part of the problem rather than the solution."</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Lt Col Richard Williams, the former SAS commander, said that the first thing the rebels needed was a political leader "who can offer to pro-Gaddafi people something that will not terrify them".</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Prof Malcolm Chalmers of the Royal United Services Institute, said: "If we get into a stalemate over the coming months then I think arms supply would make a real difference. Rebels will be better organised to provide a sustained and sufficient back bone."</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">However British defence chiefs admit they are struggling to understand the rebel groups. "We are trying to understand what they want and what they are doing," said a military planner in the Ministry of Defence. "There's no cohesion and there are factions from Benghazi to Misurata and those in Benghazi are not necessarily the right people to talk to. I think stalemate is distinct possibility."</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Source </span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/libya/8401856/Libya-arming-rebellion-would-turn-tide.html">http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/libya/8401856/Libya-arming-rebellion-would-turn-tide.html</a></div>wehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00159443022668573972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7178343925151832819.post-74630126926374452972011-03-08T19:21:00.000-08:002011-03-08T19:26:00.637-08:00REBELLION IN LIBYA - HOW ABOUT WE SIT THIS ONE OUT?<div style="text-align: justify; font-family: trebuchet ms;">The Middle East is in an uproar. There’s always some sort of uproar in the Middle East, but this one is affecting a number of countries simultaneously and has already resulted in several suprises and personnel changes.<br /><br />Anti-government demonstrations have already led to the resignations of two dictators, Ben Ali in Tunisia and Hosni Mubarak in Egypt.<br /><br />In Libya, however, Muammar Khaddafi, the longest-ruling dictator of both the Middle East and Africa, is not giving up. A full-scale rebellion is going on in that country, as Khaddafi has no intention of leaving power. This guy is ready to go down fighting and has no qualms about killing plenty of his own countrymen.<br /><br />There is talk now about the U.S. getting involved. Should we intervene in Libya, helping the rebels to overthrow Khaddafi?<br /><br />It wouldn’t be the first time that U.S. troops have been involved in Libya. Remember the Marines’ hymn – “From the halls of Montezuma to the shores of Tripoli” In Tripoli, now Libya’s capital, U.S. Marines fought the Barbary pirates nearly two centuries ago.<br /><br />In 2011, though, we’d better think long and hard before jumping into the Libyan cauldron. In fact, it’s high time to re-evaluate our whole Middle Eastern policy and see if we need a course re-adjustment.<br /><br />In the first place, history should have showed us by now that just because a ruler is a dictator doesn’t mean his replacement will be any better. Remember that old Who song that says “Meet the new boss, same as the old boss.” The new boss might even be worse than the old boss.<br /><br />In Egypt, there are already ominous signs that the Muslim Brotherhood may be the eventual rulers of that nation. Would a Muslim Brotherhood government break Egypt’s peace treaty with Israel? Would Egypt’s Christian minority (comprising 10% of the population) be treated worse than it already is? How would a Muslim Brotherhood government affect the region’s balance of power?<br /><br />As for Libya, Muammar Khaddafi is an anti-American dictator. But do we really know what sort of government would replace him? No, we don’t. Do we know for a fact that it would be an improvement? No, we don’t. Among the rebels are elements of Al Qaeda. As for the rest, besides being against Khaddafi, what do they stand for?<br /><br />Do we really want to get mixed up in Libya, a country over which we have almost zero influence? How do we know what sort of new government we would be bringing into being?<br /><br />The Middle East is a complicated region. There are all sorts of rivalries. And behind it all is the Islamic steamroller – a totalitarian system incompatible with Western Civilization.<br /><br />I would suggest that we seriously consider staying out of this one. We already have troops in Europe and various Mideastern countries, especially Afghanistan and Iraq (where I served a tour of duty). And let’s not forget, our nation is heavily in debt.<br /><br />How about if we keep an eye on things and let the Libyans sort this one out?<br /><br />I would suggest that if anybody feels very strongly about aiding the Libyan rebel cause, that he go over there himself and offer the rebels his services.<br /><br />Source <a href="http://www.newswithviews.com/Wall/allan141.htm">http://www.newswithviews.com/Wall/allan141.htm</a></div>wehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00159443022668573972noreply@blogger.com0