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Archive for the 'disease' Category
Parkinson's linked to vitamin D
Scientists are testing whether vitamin D supplements can ease symptoms of Parkinson's disease.
A US team found 55% of Parkinson's patients had insufficient levels of vitamin D, compared to 36% of healthy elderly people.
However, the Emory University researchers do not yet know if the vitamin deficiency is a cause or the result of having Parkinson's.
The study appears in the journal Archives of Neurology.
Parkinson's disease affects nerve cells in several parts of the brain, particularly those that use the chemical messenger dopamine to control movement.
The most common symptoms are tremor, stiffness and slowness of movement. These can be treated with oral replacement of dopamine.
Previous studies have shown that the part of the brain affected most by Parkinson's, the substantia nigra, has high levels of the vitamin D receptor, which suggests vitamin D may be important for normal functions of these cells.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7666749.stm
Posted in age, ageing, Alzheimer's, disease, elder, news, older, Parkinson's, politics, sunlight, Vitimin D | Leave a Comment »
Asia is world's cradle for new strains of flu
By LAURAN NEERGAARD, AP Medical Writer
WASHINGTON – Scientists have pinpointed the cradle-to-grave path that flu takes as it sweeps the globe every year — starting with the birth of new strains in Asia and ending when the virus burns out in South America.
In between, influenza catches a ride to North America and Europe about six to nine months after a new strain emerges in Asia, a pattern that promises to help health authorities better prepare each winter's flu vaccine.
Already, monitoring is being beefed up in parts of East and Southeast Asia "as fast as we can" in hopes of more accurately spotting strains poised to jump continents, said Dr. Michael Shaw, a flu specialist with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Now, "we know the part of the world to look in, and the probable time of the year to look," he said.
The good news: Once they leave Asia, new flu strains don't seem to get more dangerous as they migrate from continent to continent, an international research team reports in Friday's edition of the journal Science.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080416/ap_on_he_me/migrating_flu;_
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Tags:Asia, Disease Control and Prevention, flu, migration
Posted in Asia, disease, Disease Control and Prevention, europe, flu, health authority, news, North America, politics, South America, Southeast Asia, vaccine, virus | Leave a Comment »
McCain Major Foreign Policy Address
Los Angeles (myfoxla.com) — The United States needs to work more closely with democratic nations and restore its image as a world power, Republican presidential candidate John McCain said today in downtown Los Angeles.
"We can't build an enduring peace based on freedom by ourselves, and we do not want to," McCain said during a breakfast meeting of the Los Angeles World Affairs Council at the Westin Bonaventure hotel.
"We have to strengthen our global alliances as the core of a new global compact — a league of Democracies — that can harness the vast influence of the more than 100 democratic nations around the world to advance our values and defend our shared interests."
In his speech — titled "U.S. Foreign Policy: Where We Go From Here" — McCain also reiterated his stances that the United States cannot withdraw from Iraq, that torture of prisoners must stop and the detention camp at Guantanamo Bay must be closed.
"America must be a model citizen if we want others to look to us as a model," McCain said. "How we behave at home affects how we are perceived abroad. … We can't torture or treat inhumanely suspected terrorists we have captured."
McCain, who recently toured the Middle East and Europe, said the United States must do more to collaborate with democratic nations.
"The United States cannot lead by virtue of its power alone," the Arizona senator said.
"Our great power does not mean we can do whatever we want whenever we want, nor should we assume we have all the wisdom and knowledge necessary to succeed," he said. "We need to listen to the views and respect the collective will of our democratic allies.
"… Leadership in today's world means accepting and fulfilling our responsibilities as a great nation," he said. "One of those responsibilities is to be a good and reliable ally to our fellow democracies."
McCain's comments were a departure of sorts from the Bush Administration, which has been criticized for employing a go-it-alone policy.
But McCain said again he would not advocate the withdrawal of troops from Iraq.
"We have incurred a moral responsibility in Iraq. It would be an unconscionable act of betrayal, a stain on our character as a great nation, if we were to walk away from the Iraqi people and consign them to the horrendous violence, ethnic cleansing and possibly genocide that would follow a reckless, irresponsible and premature withdrawal," McCain said.
Democratic candidates Sens. Barack Obama, D-Ill., and Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., have both pledged to gradually withdraw U.S. troops if elected.
Howard Dean, chairman of the Democratic National Committee, criticized McCain's speech as "empty rhetoric" that does nothing to distance him from the policies of President Bush.
"His new appreciation for diplomacy has no credibility after he mimicked President Bush's misleading case for a unilateral war of choice when it mattered most," Dean said. "Why should the American people now trust John McCain to offer anything more than four more years of President Bush's reckless economic policies and failed foreign policy?"
Foreign policy is considered an area of strength for the 71-year-old McCain, but today's speech comes eight days after he made a high-profile gaffe.
In a news conference in Amman, Jordan, during a congressional fact- finding trip, McCain told reporters he continues to be concerned about Iranian authorities "taking al-Qaida into Iran, training them and sending them back."
When asked about that statement, McCain said, "Well, it's common knowledge and has been reported in the media that al-Qaida is gong back into Iran and receiving training and are coming back into Iraq from Iran. That's well known. And it's unfortunate."
Sen. Joseph Lieberman, I-Conn., then whispered to McCain, who said, "I'm sorry. The Iranians are training extremists, not al-Qaida."
Democrats pounced on McCain's misstatement.
"Not only is McCain wrong on Iraq again, but the bigger problem is either that either he doesn't understand the problems facing Iraq and basically the whole Middle East or he's willing to ignore the facts on the ground," Luis Miranda, a deputy communications director with the Democratic National Committee, told City News Service.
"Whichever one of those two things it is, it's just not worthy of inspiring trust."
McCain campaign spokesman Brian Rodgers told The New York Times last week that "John McCain misspoke and immediately corrected himself by stating that Iran is, in fact, supporting radical Islamic extremists in Iraq, not al- Qaida — as is reflected in the transcript.
"The reality is that the American people have deep concerns about the Democratic candidates' judgment and readiness on matters of national security and that's why the DNC launched their attack."
Text of U.S. Senator John McCain's remarks at the World Affairs Council in Los Angeles, California:
When I was five years old, a car pulled up in front of our house in New London, Connecticut, and a Navy officer rolled down the window, and shouted at my father that the Japanese had bombed Pearl Harbor. My father immediately left for the submarine base where he was stationed. I rarely saw him again for four years. My grandfather, who commanded the fast carrier task force under Admiral Halsey, came home from the war exhausted from the burdens he had borne, and died the next day.
In Vietnam, where I formed the closest friendships of my life, some of those friends never came home to the country they loved so well. I detest war. It might not be the worst thing to befall human beings, but it is wretched beyond all description. When nations seek to resolve their differences by force of arms, a million tragedies ensue. The lives of a nation's finest patriots are sacrificed.
Innocent people suffer and die. Commerce is disrupted; econom ies are damaged; strategic interests shielded by years of patient statecraft are endangered as the exigencies of war and diplomacy conflict. Not the valor with which it is fought nor the nobility of the cause it serves, can glorify war.
Whatever gains are secured, it is loss the veteran remembers most keenly. Only a fool or a fraud sentimentalizes the merciless reality of war. However heady the appeal of a call to arms, however just the cause, we should still shed a tear for all that is lost when war claims its wages from us. I am an idealist, and I believe it is possible in our time to make the world we live in another, better, more peaceful place, where our interests and those of our allies are more secure, and American ideals that are transforming the world, the principles of free people and free markets, advance even farther than they have. But I am, from hard experience and the judgment it informs, a realistic idealist. I know we must work very hard and very creatively to build new foundations for a stable and enduring peace.
We cannot wish the world to be a better place than it is. We have enemies for whom no attack is too cruel, and no innocent life safe, and who would, if they could, strike us with the world's most terrible weapons. There are states that support them, and which might help them acquire those weapons because they share with terrorists the same animating hatred for the West, and will not be placated by fresh appeals to the better angels of their nat ure. This is the central threat of our time, and we must understand the implications of our decisions on all manner of regional and global challenges could have for our success in defeating it.
President Harry Truman once said of America, "God has created us and brought us to our present position of power and strength for some great purpose." In his time, that purpose was to contain Communism and build the structures of peace and prosperity that could provide safe passage through the Cold War. Now it is our turn.
We face a new set of opportunities, and also new dangers. The developments of science and technology have brought us untold prosperity, eradicated disease, and reduced the suffering of millions. We have a chance in our lifetime to raise the world to a new standard of human existence. Yet these same technologies have produced grave new risks, arming a few zealots with the ability to murder millions of innocents, and producing a global industrialization that can in time threaten our planet.
To meet this challenge requires understanding the world we live in, and the central role the United States must play in shaping it for the future. The United States must lead in the 21st century, just as in Truman's day. But leadership today means something different than it did in the years after World War II, when Europe and the other democracies were still recovering from the devastation of war and the United States was the only democratic superpower. Today we are not alone. There is the powerful collective voice of the European Union, and there are the great nations of India and Japan, Australia and Brazil, South Korea and South Africa, Turkey and Israel, to name just a few of the leading democracies. There are also the increasingly powerful nations of China and Russia that wield great influence in the international system.
In such a world, where power of all kinds is more widely and evenly distributed, the United States cannot lead by virtue of its power alone. We must be strong politically, economically, and militarily. But we must also lead by attracting others to our cause, by demonstrating once again the virtues of freedom and democracy, by defending the rules of international civilized society and by creating the new international institutions necessary to advance the peace and freedoms we cherish. Perhaps above all, leadership in today's world means accepting and fulfilling our responsibilities as a great nation.
One of those responsibilities is to be a good and reliable ally to our fellow democracies. We cannot build an enduring peace based on freedom by ourselves, and we do not want to. We have to strengthen our global alliances as the core of a new global compact — a League of Democracies — that can harness the vast influence of the more than one hundred democratic nations around the world to advance our values and defend our shared interests.
At the heart of this new compact must be mutual respect and trust. Recall the words of our founders in the Declaration of Independence, that we pay "decent respect to the opinions of mankind." Our great power does not mean we can do whatever we want whenever we want, nor should we assume we have all the wisdom and knowledge necessary to succeed. We need to listen to the views and respect the collective will of our democratic allies. When we believe international action is necessary, whether military, economic, or diplomatic, we will try to persuade our friends that we are right. But we, in return, must be willing to be persuaded by them.
America must be a model citizen if we want others to look to us as a model. How we behave at home affects how we are perceived abroad. We must fight the terrorists and at the same time defend the rights that are the foundation of our society. We can't torture or treat inhumanely suspected terrorists we have captured. I believe we should close Guantanamo and work with our allies to forge a new international understanding on the disposition of dangerous detainees under our control.
There is such a thing as international good citizenship. We need to be good stewards of our planet and join with other nations to help preserve our common home. The risks of global warming have no borders. We and the other nations of the world must get serious about substantially reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the coming years or we will hand off a much-diminished world to our grandchildren. We need a successor to the Kyoto Treaty, a cap-and-trade system that delivers the necessary environmental impact in an economically responsible manner. We Americans must lead by example and encourage the participation of the rest of the world, including most importantly, the developing economic powerhouses of China and India.
Four and a half decades ago, John Kennedy described the people of Latin America as our "firm and ancient friends, united by history and experience and by our determination to advance the values of American civilization." With globalization, our hemisphere has grown closer, more integrated, and more interdependent. Latin America today is increasingly vital to the fortunes of the United States. Americans north and south share a common geography and a common destiny. The countries of Latin America are the natural partners of the United States, and our northern neighbor Canada.
Relations with our southern neighbors must be governed by mutual respect, not by an imperial impulse or by anti-American demagoguery. The promise of North, Central, and South American life is too great for that. I believe the Americas can and must be the model for a new 21st century relationship between North and South. Ours can be the first completely democratic hemisphere, where trade is free across all borders, where the rule of law and the power of free markets advance the security and prosperity of all.
Power in the world today is moving east; the Asia-Pacific region is on the rise. Together with our democratic partner of many decades, Japan, we can grasp the opportunities present in the unfolding world and this century can become safe — both American and Asian, both prosperous and free. Asia has made enormous strides in recent decades. Its economic achievements are well known; less known is that more people live under democratic rule in Asia than in any other region of the world.
Dealing with a rising China will be a central challenge for the next American president. Recent prosperity in China has brought more people out of poverty faster than during any other time in human history. China's newfound power implies responsibilities. China could bolster its claim that it is "peacefully rising" by being more transparent about its significant military buildup, by working with the world to isolate pariah states such as Burma, Sudan and Zimbabwe, and by ceasing its efforts to establish regional forums and economic arrangements designed to exclude America from Asia.
China and the United States are not destined to be adversaries. We have numerous overlapping interests and hope to see our relationship evolve in a manner that benefits both countries and, in turn, the Asia-Pacific region and the world. But until China moves toward political liberalization, our relationship will be based on periodically shared interests rather than the bedrock of shared values.
The United States did not single-handedly win the Cold War; the transatlantic alliance did, in concert with partners around the world. The bonds we share with Europe in terms of history, values, and interests are unique. Americans should welcome the rise of a strong, confident European Union as we continue to support a strong NATO. The future of the transatlantic relationship lies in confronting the challenges of the twenty-first century worldwide: developing a common energy policy, creating a transatlantic common market tying our economies more closely together, addressing the dangers posed by a revanchist Russia, and institutionalizing our cooperation on issues such as climate change, foreign assistance, and democracy promotion.
We should start by ensuring that the G-8, the group of eight highly industrialized states, becomes again a club of leading market democracies: it should include Brazil and India but exclude Russia. Rather than tolerate Russia's nuclear blackmail or cyber attacks, Western nations should make clear that the solidarity of NATO, from the Baltic to the Black Sea, is indivisible and that the organization's doors remain open to all democracies committed to the defense of freedom.
While Africa's problems — poverty, corruption, disease, and instability — are well known, we must refocus on the bright promise offered by many countries on that continent. We must strongly engage on a political, economic, and security level with friendly governments across Africa, but insist on improvements in transparency and the rule of law. Many African nations will not reach their true potential without external assistance to combat entrenched problems, such as HIV/AIDS, that afflict Africans disproportionately. I will establish the goal of eradicating malaria on the continent — the number one killer of African children under the age of five. In addition to saving millions of lives in the world's poorest regions, such a campaign would do much to add luster to America's image in the world.
We also share an obligation with the world's other great powers to halt and reverse the proliferation of nuclear weapons. The United States and the international community must work together and do all in our power to contain and reverse North Korea's nuclear weapons program and to prevent Iran — a nation whose President has repeatedly expressed a desire to wipe Israel from the face of the earth — from obtaining a nuclear weapon. We should work to reduce nuclear arsenals all around the world, starting with our own. Forty years ago, the five declared nuclear powers came together in support of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty and pledged to end the arms race and move toward nuclear disarmament. The time has come to renew that commitment. We do not need all the weapons currently in our arsenal. The United States should lead a global effort at nuclear disarmament consistent with our vital interests and the cause of peace.
If we are successful in pulling together a global coalition for peace and freedom — if we lead by shouldering our international responsibilities and pointing the way to a better and safer future for humanity, I believe we will gain tangible benefits as a nation.
It will strengthen us to confront the transcendent challenge of our time: the threat of radical Islamic terrorism. This challenge is transcendent not because it is the only one we face. There are many dangers in today's world, and our foreign policy must be agile and effective at dealing with all of them. But the threat posed by the terrorists is unique. They alone devote all their energies and indeed their very lives to murdering innocent men, women, and children. They alone seek nuclear weapons and other tools of mass destruction not to defend themselves or to enhance their prestige or to give them a stronger hand in world affairs but to use against us wherever and whenever they can. Any president who does not regard this threat as transcending all others does not deserve to sit in the White House, for he or she does not take seriously enough the first and most basic duty a president has — to protect the lives of the American people.< /P>
We learned through the tragic experience of September 11 that passive defense alone cannot protect us. We must protect our borders. But we must also have an aggressive strategy of confronting and rooting out the terrorists wherever they seek to operate, and deny them bases in failed or failing states. Today al Qaeda and other terrorist networks operate across the globe, seeking out opportunities in Southeast Asia, Central Asia, Africa, and in the Middle East.
Prevailing in this struggle will require far more than military force. It will require the use of all elements of our national power: public diplomacy; development assistance; law enforcement training; expansion of economic opportunity; and robust intelligence capabilities. I have called for major changes in how our government faces the challenge of radical Islamic extremism by much greater resources for and integration of civilian efforts to prevent conflict and to address post-conflict challenges. Our goal must be to win the "hearts and minds" of the vast majority of moderate Muslims who do not want their future controlled by a minority of violent extremists. In this struggle, scholarships will be far more important than smart bombs.
We also need to build the international structures for a durable peace in which the radical extremists are gradually eclipsed by the more powerful forces of freedom and tolerance. Our efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan are critical in this respect and cannot be viewed in isolation from our broader strategy. In the troubled and often dangerous region they occupy, these two nations can either be sources of extremism and instability or they can in time become pillars of stability, tolerance, and democracy.
For decades in the greater Middle East, we had a strategy of relying on autocrats to provide order and stability. We relied on the Shah of Iran, the autocratic rulers of Egypt, the generals of Pakistan, the Saudi royal family, and even, for a time, on Saddam Hussein. In the late 1970s that strategy began to unravel. The Shah was overthrown by the radical Islamic revolution that now rules in Tehran. The ensuing ferment in the Muslim world produced increasing instability. The autocrats clamped down with ever greater repression, while also surreptitiously aiding Islamic radicalism abroad in the hopes that they would not become its victims. It was a toxic and explosive mixture. The oppression of the autocrats blended with the radical Islamists' dogmatic theology to produce a perfect storm of intolerance and hatred.
We can no longer delude ourselves that relying on these out-dated autocracies is the safest bet. They no longer provide lasting stability, only the illusion of it. We must not act rashly or demand change overnight. But neither can we pretend the status quo is sustainable, stable, or in our interests. Change is occurring whether we want it or not. The only question for us is whether we shape this change in ways that benefit humanity or let our enemies seize it for their hateful purposes. We must help expand the power and reach of freedom, using all our many strengths as a free people. This is not just idealism. It is the truest kind of realism. It is the democracies of the world that will provide the pillars upon which we can and must build an enduring peace.
If you look at the great arc that extends from the Middle East through Central Asia and the Asian subcontinent all the way to Southeast Asia, you can see those pillars of democracy stretching across the entire expanse, from Turkey and Israel to India and Indonesia. Iraq and Afghanistan lie at the heart of that region. And whether they eventually become stable democracies themselves, or are allowed to sink back into chaos and extremism, will determine not only the fate of that critical part of the world, but our fate, as well.
That is the broad strategic perspective through which to view our efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Many people ask, how should we define success? Success in Iraq and Afghanistan is the establishment of peaceful, stable, prosperous, democratic states that pose no threat to neighbors and contribute to the defeat of terrorists. It is the triumph of religious tolerance over violent radicalism.
Those who argue that our goals in Iraq are unachievable are wrong, just as they were wrong a year ago when they declared the war in Iraq already lost. Since June 2007 sectarian and ethnic violence in Iraq has been reduced by 90 percent. Overall civilian deaths have been reduced by more than 70 percent. Deaths of coalition forces have fallen by 70 percent. The dramatic reduction in violence has opened the way for a return to something approaching normal political and economic life for the average Iraqi. People are going back to work. Markets are open. Oil revenues are climbing. Inflation is down. Iraq's economy is expected to grown by roughly 7 percent in 2008. Political reconciliation is occurring across Iraq at the local and provincial grassroots level. Sunni and Shi'a chased from their homes by terrorist and sectarian violence are returning. Political progress at the national level has been far too s low, but there is progress.
Critics say that the "surge" of troops isn't a solution in itself, that we must make progress toward Iraqi self-sufficiency. I agree. Iraqis themselves must increasingly take responsibility for their own security, and they must become responsible political actors. It does not follow from this, however, that we should now recklessly retreat from Iraq regardless of the consequences. We must take the course of prudence and responsibility, and help Iraqis move closer to the day when they no longer need our help.
That is the route of responsible statesmanship. We have incurred a moral responsibility in Iraq. It would be an unconscionable act of betrayal, a stain on our character as a great nation, if we were to walk away from the Iraqi people and consign them to the horrendous violence, ethnic cleansing, and possibly genocide that would follow a reckless, irresponsible, and premature withdrawal. Our critics say America needs to repair its image in the world. How can they argue at the same time for the morally reprehensible abandonment of our responsibilities in Iraq?
Those who claim we should withdraw from Iraq in order to fight Al Qaeda more effectively elsewhere are making a dangerous mistake. Whether they were there before is immaterial, al Qaeda is in Iraq now, as it is in the borderlands between Pakistan and Afghanistan, in Somalia, and in Indonesia. If we withdraw prematurely from Iraq, al Qaeda in Iraq will survive, proclaim victory and continue to provoke sectarian tensions that, while they have been subdued by the success of the surge, still exist, as various factions of Sunni and Shi'a have yet to move beyond their ancient hatreds, and are ripe for provocation by al Qaeda. Civil war in Iraq could easily descend into genocide, and destabilize the entire region as neighboring powers come to the aid of their favored factions. I believe a reckless and premature withdrawal would be a terrible defeat for our security interests and our values. Iran will also view our premature withdrawal as a victory, a nd the biggest state supporter of terrorists, a country with nuclear ambitions and a stated desire to destroy the State of Israel, will see its influence in the Middle East grow significantly. These consequences of our defeat would threaten us for years, and those who argue for it, as both Democratic candidates do, are arguing for a course that would eventually draw us into a wider and more difficult war that would entail far greater dangers and sacrifices than we have suffered to date. I do not argue against withdrawal, any more than I argued several years ago for the change in tactics and additional forces that are now succeeding in Iraq, because I am somehow indifferent to war and the suffering it inflicts on too many American families. I hold my position because I hate war, and I know very well and very personally how grievous its wages are. But I know, too, that we must sometimes pay those wages to avoid paying even higher ones later.
I run for President because I want to keep the country I love and have served all my life safe, and to rise to the challenges of our times, as generations before us rose to theirs. I run for President because I know it is incumbent on America, more than any other nation on earth, to lead in building the foundations for a stable and enduring peace, a peace built on the strength of our commitment to it, on the transformative ideals on which we were founded, on our ability to see around the corner of history, and on our courage and wisdom to make hard choices. I run because I believe, as strongly as I ever have, that it is within our power to make in our time another, better world than we inherited.
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Vietnam rice troubles could affect region
LOS BANOS, Philippines (AFP) – Vietnam's farm sector is reeling from outbreaks of pests and disease that could threaten its neighbours including China, according to one of the world's leading rice experts.
A vendor puts rice into a bag for sale at a rice market in Ho Chi Minh City. Vietnam's farm sector is reeling from outbreaks of pests and disease that could threaten its neighbours including China, according to one of the world's leading rice experts.
(AFP/File/Hoang Dinh Nam)
Hanoi and the world scientific community have yet to find a way to prevent another crop failure following a virus attack on rice crops last year, said Robert Zeigler, head of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI).
Vietnam is the fifth-largest rice producer and number three exporter in the world, and last year's troubles hit some of the best rice-growing areas, Zeigler told AFP in an interview at the Institute, just south of Manila.
"The fact is, they got taken by surprise and they had some significant yield losses that they were just not….
An elderly woman sits sorting rice at a rice market in Ho Chi Minh city on March 6. Vietnam's farm sector is reeling from outbreaks of pests and disease that could threaten its neighbours including China, according to one of the world's leading rice experts. (AFP/File/Hoang Dinh Nam)
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080320/wl_asia_afp/foodcommodityricevietnam
chinapest_080320061706
Inflation and Food Shortages?
Posted in bugs, china, crop failure, crop loss, crops, disease, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, International Rice Research Institute, IRRI, Manila, news, pests, politics, Rice, Vietnam, Vietnamese, yield losses | 1 Comment »
Vietnam cracks down on hamster craze
HANOI (AFP) – Vietnam has launched a crackdown on hamsters, a wildly popular pet here in the current lunar Year of the Rat, fearing an influx of the foreign-bred rodent furballs could spread disease and destroy crops.
From next Monday, anyone possessing or trading hamsters faces stiff fines of up to 30 million dong (1,875 dollars), the Vietnam News daily reported, citing a new agriculture ministry directive to enforce a ban imposed last month.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080307/od_afp/
vietnamhealthanimalshamstersoffbeat_080307085225
Posted in agriculture, crops, disease, hamster, news, politics, rat, Vietnam, Vietnam News, Vietnamese, Year of the rat | Leave a Comment »
Migrants are not Commodities-Thailand has a love-hate relationship with migrant workers
Nurul Islam
www.newsfrombangladesh.net
Since the December elections in Thailand, much of the country's politics have been in limbo until a new government takes power. Of all the policies awaiting review, the new Thai government would be wise to prioritize a policy concerning the 2 million migrant workers.Are migrant workers a real threat to the national security of Thailand? Or are they contributing to the economic growth of the country, especially in border areas that were long ago left behind while the rest of the nation developed?
The International Labor Office's recent report, "Thailand: Economic Contribution of Migrant Workers" by Prof Philip Martin, an expert on international migration from the University of California at Davis, stated: "The Thai labor force of 36 million in 2007 included about 5 percent or 1.8 million migrants." The report said that last year, migrant workers contributed US $2 billion to the Thai gross domestic product, a figure nearly three times higher than in 1995. It was a clear indication of Thailand's growing dependency on migrant labor in the 21st century.
However, several articles regarding the migrant worker issue soon surfaced in the Thai media, depicting migrants—over 80 percent of whom are from Burma—as criminals, disease carriers and drug traffickers.
On the other hand, The Nation, an English-language newspaper in Bangkok, ran a feature story titled "Foreign Workers Needed but Alienated" on November 26, 2007. The article shed light on the work of researcher Kulachada Chaipipat who has studied some 1,000 stories of migrant workers appearing in 13 Thai newspapers between 2004 and 2006. Her three-year research found that the local media excessively used negative words, portraying Burmese migrant workers as "unlawful," "dangerous" and "fearful aliens."
Even a newborn baby has become a threat to the national security of Thailand in the eyes of certain high-ranking government officials. In November 2007, following a Thai newspaper report that 2,000 migrant babies were born every month in the kingdom, Gen Sonthi Boonyaratkalin called for tighter security measures. In fact, according to the Labor Rights Promotion Network, a Thai NGO, the figure is just 300 babies a month.
It seems that what some Thai authorities want from the migrants is just their labor, not their babies.
Under former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, Thailand, for the first time in 2004, introduced a registration policy to legalize illegal migrant workers from its three neighboring countries—Burma, Cambodia and Laos. The registration policy provoked a debate in the Thai government due to its apparent flexibility towards migrants.
The registration policy was, in fact, aimed at calculating the population of the illegal migrants living in the country and driving those in the inner demographic areas back to the border zones.
After 2004, the number of registered migrants sharply declined. In 2007, only 600,000 migrant workers from the three countries registered; just half the number that registered in 2004.
Thailand also introduced a Memorandum of Understanding with its three neighbors in June 2003. The Burmese military government was invited to open temporary passport issuing offices in three major border towns—Myawaddy, Tachilek and Kawthaung—in late 2006.
However, the process of issuing passports to Burmese migrants was never implemented. Neither of the governments involved has publicly commented on why the process was derailed.
One major concern for Burmese migrant workers was that the military authorities would collect "taxes" from their families inside Burma if the bilateral agreement were enforced. There were further concerns over the terms of employment—two years, followed by an extension—a maximum of four years stay in Thailand, after which time, a Burmese worker would be deported with no right to return to Thailand for three years.
Although the agreement intended to eliminate illegal border crossings and the trafficking of workers, it couldn't hit the target because of the very simple law of supply and demand. The economic dynamics dictated that businesses would import migrant workers when they were needed and kick them out when they were not.
The situation of the migrant worker is like being in a tug-of-war between the strict regulations of government and the capitalist motives behind their exploitation.
Thailand's incoming government should adopt a more realistic and humanity-based policy on migrant workers. It must reject policies that reflect only the benefits to the governments involved.
Migrant workers are human beings after all, not commodities.
Posted in Burma, contraban, culture, disease, drugs, Human Rights, migrant workers, migrants, news, politics, Thailand | Leave a Comment »
Memo to Ellen: In ¼ of the World People Eat Dogs
By John E. Carey
Poverty. Homelessness. Disease. Death. War. Genocide. I can think of a lot of reasons to shed tears over the cruelty, injustice and violence of the world.
A repossessed dog doesn't move me to tears.
In America "dog food" refers to something one feeds to a dog. In other lands, the dog is people food.
The wealthiest nation and people on the face of the earth spend far too much time, effort and money in nail shops, hair salons and on Starbucks coffee. But what we Americans spend on our four legged buddies is staggering.
The American Pet Products Manufacturers Association (APPMA) confirms the full scope of American "pet prowess." For starters, few other nations even have a pet products association.
According to the APPMA, pet spending has more than doubled in America from $17 billion in 1994 to an estimated $38.4 billion in 2006.
In 2006, American spending on pets was higher than ever:
–$15.2 billion for food
–$9.3 billion for supplies and over-the-counter medications
–$9.4 billion for veterinarian care
–$1.8 billion for live animal purchases
–$2.7 billion for other services
Many elderly folks now have their pet medications delivered right to their door.
Here are some additional facts from the APPMA:
–Total pet spending in America during 2005 was larger than projected with total sales coming in at $36.3 billion.
–Both veterinary care and other services had stronger than anticipated performances in 2005.
–New and expanded veterinary services such as joint replacement surgeries, delicate eye procedures, and senior health care helped increase total spending by almost 8 percent over 2004.
Other innovative new services continue to increase market penetration with pet spas and hotels, grooming, pet therapy and related services.
Hey, in China, dogs are people food.
"Both of these segments should maintain strong performances this year as pet ownership continues to increase especially among key demographic sectors including baby boomers and young professional couples," said Bob Vetere, President of APPMA.
–Growth in the pet food sector performed as forecasted at 3.5 percent over 2004. "It is interesting to note that food continues to show growth not only in the expected high-end areas with vitamin fortified formulas, gourmet lines and natural/organic food but with the value-priced portion of the segment as well," said Bob Vetere.
This has been a banner year for American dogs. Michael "Vick Dog" Vick, who raised animal cruelty to new heights, prompted the news media to shed light upon the cruel and abusive world of dog fighting. In a way, "Vick Dog," though an unexpected bit of serendipity, helped publicize the dark world of dog fighting — and maybe this will in the long run make this evel practice obsolete.
For the past several days some Americans have been immersed in Ellen's dog tragedy.
Comedian Gilbert Gottfried said, "And we wasted so much time on the World Trade Center!"
We recommend, if people really want to open their hearts and their wallets, that there are plenty of good causes that help people around the globe. And people are worth crying over sometimes.
Dogs: Not.
Note to Ellen: at the American chicken restaurant "Chic-fil-A," the motto is "Eat more Chicken." In some parts of the world, they gladly say, "Eat more dog."
Dog Rights in America versus Human Rights in Vietnam
Posted in "Vick-Dog", American spending, china, cruelty, death, disease, dogfighting, Ellen, Ellen's dog, genocide, hair salons, Homelessness, injustice, Michael Vick, nail shops, news, pets, politics, poverty, Starbucks, tears, violence of the world, war, wasting money | Leave a Comment »
China Exports Disease, Agony
By Steve Hirsch
VOORHEESVILLE, N.Y. — Cole and Sydney Scheels represent the human face of growing U.S. concern over the safety of food imported from China.
The two young children, two of three triplets, recently became seriously ill with salmonella poisoning attributed to snack food containing tainted Chinese ingredients
Their parents, Patrick and Elex Scheels, say they are still angry about their children's illness, which occurred despite their efforts to monitor the kinds of food they eat.
"It was terrifying and horrible," Mrs. Scheels said, recalling that her daughter lost 2½ pounds during her illness, a significant loss for a 24-pound child.
Read the rset at:
http://washingtontimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070811/BUSINESS/108110028/1001
Posted in Beijing, china, disease, diseases, exporting, exports, FDA, food safety, Hu Jintao, olympics, salmonella | Leave a Comment »
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text:
require 'rails_helper'

feature 'Editing a library', javascript: false do
  let(:reader) { create :reader }
  let!(:library) { reader.libraries.create attributes_for :library }

  before { login_as reader }

  it 'is possible' do
    visit libraries_path
    find('[aria-label="Edit"]').click
    fill_in 'Description', with: 'A description'
    click_button 'Update Library'
    expect(page).to have_content 'successfully updated'
    expect(page).to have_content 'A description'
  end

  it 'is possible to invite other managers' do
    other_reader = create :reader
    visit edit_library_path library
    click_link 'Add Manager'
    fill_in 'Manager's Email', with: other_reader.email
    click_button 'Add Manager'

    Capybara.using_session 'other' do
      login_as other_reader
      visit edit_library_path library
      expect(page).to have_content 'Edit Library'
      expect(page).to have_content other_reader.name
    end
  end

  it 'is possible to add a case to it' do
    kase = create :case
    reader.my_cases << kase

    visit edit_case_settings_path kase
    select library.name, from: 'Library'
    click_button 'Change library'
    expect(page).to have_content 'successfully updated'

    kase.reload
    expect(kase.library_id).to eq library.id
  end
end

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Wisdom – from the Old Norse visdomr – the ability to think and act utilising knowledge, experience, understanding, discernment, insight and common sense – coupled with just judgment as to action.
A philosophical discussion on values in human behaviour such as what is right and wrong, or what actions are blameworthy or praiseworthy is known as Ethics.
When philosophy deals with the question of value in arts, such as whether something is beautiful or tasteless, it is known as Aesthetics. The philosophy of art is concerned with judgements of sense, taste, the emotions that art generates within the beholder, and standards of beauty. Both of these examinations of truth pertaining to values come under the umbrella term Axiology.
An attempt by the philosopher to codify the rules of rational thought is known as Logic. Logicians explore the structure of arguments that preserve truth or allow the optimal extraction of knowledge from evidence. Logic is one of the primary tools philosophers use in their inquiries; the precision of logic helps them to cope with the subtlety of philosophical problems and the often misleading nature of conversational language.
When we have fully examined how we get to know reality, and turn our attention to the nature of existence itself, we will be in the territory of Metaphysics. Metaphysics is the study of the nature of things. Metaphysicians ask what kinds of things exist, and what they are like. They reason about such things as whether or not people have free will, in what sense abstract objects can be said to exist, what is the brain/mind/self and the nature of consciousness, and whether or not there is an ultimate reality or God.
If philosophy is the pure human spirit of enquiry into what is real, true, good or beautiful, then it cannot be divided up by geography or history. And yet in ordinary conversation we do speak of Greek philosophy or 20th century philosophers. We also speak of Catholic or Jewish philosophy, as if it was an entirely separate category of search for truth, involving only those of a particular faith group.
In reality, all attempts to discern reality as separate from illusion are one, whoever is making the effort and wherever they are situated in the world or whatever point in history. Conventional speech alone presses us to define a philosophy in a particular way.
The philosophical rigour of great thinkers in India was already well established centuries before the likes of Aristotle and Socrates. They did not refer to themselves as Hindu philosophers, merely deep thinkers who grappled with the main questions of existence. Their capability for abstract thought was immense. They may not be well known to the West, but their conclusions are every bit as logical, although expressed in the ancient language of Sanskrit rather than Greek, German or English.
The philosophical enquiries of the Indian philosophers led them into an area of knowledge which today we would term Theology, the study of theos or God. Although theology is considered today to be a separate discipline from philosophy, one more interested in sectarian religious dogma than scientific examination of the truth, the ancient Indian philosophers saw no such hard distinction. They simply saw that their line of enquiry into the ultimate reality led them to the very reasonable conclusion that there existed an independent reality that had unlimited awareness and volition, and the infinitesimal consciousness of the limitless number of individuals was somehow connected and given sustenance by this one entity.
But if this was true, and to understand that truth was to be situated in wisdom, the next step would be to act in the light of that Truth. And a modern thinker would say that this is the point at which philosophy ends and something called religion begins.


text:
Millyuns
Tony Romo Quotes
Tony Romo quotes: former NFL quarterback reflects on hard work, confidence, staying positive, and life in general.
"You aren't handed anything. You earn everything every single day, over and over again. You have to prove it."
"You're always playing the game to reach the ultimate goal."
"You have to be confident."
"Make important what is important."
"Everyone runs their own race."
"Work hard, do things the right way, and things will go your way."
"You just work at it. You just keep grinding away, keep trying to get better, and if you got the ability, one day you have a chance."
"You just go out there and every week and try to prepare the best you can."
"You gain experience and understand where your mindset needs to be to win the game, when you've been through it you can give yourself an advantage, mentally. You go do it."
"I think you use the negative things that happen from the year before – and from other years, too – to spur you to do the things you need to do to take the next step."
"You know you are going to go through your ups and downs."
"I feel like we all have two battles or two enemies going on. One with the man across from you. The second is with the man inside of you. I think once you control the one inside of you, the one across from you really doesn't matter. I think that is what we are all trying to do."
"I can remember when I was a kid just starting out wanting to be part of something bigger than myself. For every high school kid out there or college player, there is greatness in being the kind of teammate who truly wants to be part of a team. Everyone wants to be the reason they are winning or losing. Every single one of us wants to be that person. But there are special moments that come from a shared commitment to play a role, while doing it together. That's what you will remember. Not your stats or your prestige, but the relationships and the achievement that you created through a group. It's hard to do, but there's great joy in that."
"When you're younger, it's about 'How can I get better? How can I become the player that I want to be?' As you get older, it's 'How can this football team improve?' While all along getting better along the way."
"I think some guys have the ability to learn from themselves and get better. Those are the guys that last a long time and continue to improve in this league and in sports in general."
"It's about the process. It's about getting better. 'Let's execute on this play, let's execute on this drive.' You do those things, and over the course of the season you'll get better as a team and you'll get to a point where hopefully you're playing at a high level to win the games that really become at another level."
"You try and work hard and get better each week. I play the game with passion. I enjoy the game. It's a lot of fun when I'm out there. That's the way I play."
"There comes a point in the game where you gotta make a play or you gotta do something to get your team over the hump, and when that time comes you gotta be able to do it."
"I think people just like rooting. If they like you, they're going to want to root for you and you're one of theirs. And if they don't like you? It doesn't matter."
"Whether they say good or bad things, it actually doesn't affect my life. It's not going to define you unless you allow it to."
"I'm very realistic about myself and my talents. I have a long way to go to get to where I want to be. What it took to get here is probably going to be what it takes to get to the next level, too."
"I've always been a pretty positive person and I'm not a big fan of negativity. I saw that I'm very realistic with myself and my talents and what's around me and how to get better at those things. So I try to be realistic about the press, and they are going to say what they want whether you're really good or not. But at the end of the day, I get to control the outcome with the way I play."
"If something in sports is the worst thing that ever happens to you, you've lived a pretty good life."
"People talking about the Bible at college – I felt that I kind of want that… the freedom, the peace, just the ability to kind of be at ease when life goes crappy, when it goes good."
"If you think you're never gonna sin again because you've come to the Lord, that's unrealistic. The truth is that you do fail and sin, but you always come back to the Lord. You don't run away from Him but you run to Him."
"If you get a great wife who understands the demands of someone in athletics, I think that's important."
"It's easy to say you're more mature because all of a sudden you have a child, but it's a process."
"The transition out of playing in the NFL is a different lifestyle. One I welcome with open arms in the hopes of focusing on something new and different. It means waking up with a passion to go and get better at something else."
"I don't think money ever dictates your confidence or what your mental makeup is. More than anything, I'm in a constant grind to improve, get better and achieve goals. And that's never going to change."
"I'm overjoyed about the opportunity with CBS. I'm very excited. I'm very happy and I'm really lucky. It's a unique situation I get to go into and it's a privilege to be able to talk about the game. Not everyone gets that opportunity… and I don't take that for granted."
"I'm ready to rock and roll."
"I think my best years are ahead of me and that's exciting."
Also see Peyton Manning quotes.
Cory Johnson: CEO of a business he has yet to launch. As seen on your mom's phone. Scaled to 7-figures in seven seconds selling a course on selling courses. Kidding. Watch this.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
// Copyright Dirk Lemstra https://github.com/dlemstra/Magick.NET.
// Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0.

using ImageMagick;
using Xunit;

namespace Magick.NET.Tests
{
    public partial class IExifProfileExtensionsTests
    {
        public class TheCreateThumbnailMethod
        {
            [Fact]
            public void ShouldCreateImage()
            {
                using (var image = new MagickImage(Files.FujiFilmFinePixS1ProJPG))
                {
                    var profile = image.GetExifProfile();
                    Assert.NotNull(profile);

                    using (var thumbnail = profile.CreateThumbnail())
                    {
                        Assert.NotNull(thumbnail);
                        Assert.Equal(128, thumbnail.Width);
                        Assert.Equal(85, thumbnail.Height);
                        Assert.Equal(MagickFormat.Jpeg, thumbnail.Format);
                    }
                }
            }
        }
    }
}


The film_not_in_stock is used to determine whether there are any copies of a given film not in stock (rented out) at a given store.
2 IN p_film_id integer The ID of the film to be checked, from the film_id column of the film table.
The ID of the film to be checked, from the film_id column of the film table.
3 IN p_store_id integer The ID of the store to check for, from the store_id column of the store table.
The ID of the store to check for, from the store_id column of the store table.
4 OUT p_film_count integer An OUT parameter that returns a count of the copies of the film not in stock.
An OUT parameter that returns a count of the copies of the film not in stock.


text:
"Her drawling vocal is an arrow of truth"
— Music Row Magazine
"It's the arresting story of letting go and conquering old habits, not the liberal doses of steel guitar and fiddle, that make Joyce's "Tulsa" stand out in a crowded marketplace."
-Wide Open Country, August 2022
Marlboro Reds & Motel Rooms
debut ep
"I used to like Oklahoma, Marlboro Reds, and Motel Rooms..." sings Stefanie on "Tulsa," a meditative, pedal-steel-laced ballad on her debut EP. "Marlboro Reds & Motel Rooms'' is a collection of songs that tell five stories of sin, redemption, and everything in between. Produced by Kyle Manner at Station West Studios in Nashville, dripping with steel and fiddle, the EP showcases Joyce's vintage, gritty sound, with plenty of stripped back moments to let her lyrics shine through. The lead single, "Idle Hands" has already amassed over a half-million views on TikTok.
While Joyce counts red dirt music and bluegrass as major influences, her years spent penning songs for other artists on Music Row give a distinctly Nashvillian clarity to her writing. But don't let this fool you into thinking the album is a folksy take on feel-good radio music. The subject matter is dark; the characters in her songs are fallen, desperate, consumed with vice. Some find elusive moments of redemption, most do not.
LISTEN TO THE FIRST SINGLE HERE
Steeped in the tradition of country and folk music, with a distinctly contemporary, cinematic edge, Stefanie Joyce's songs tell stories in images as much as sounds, weaving tightly crafted tales of sin, redemption, and everything in between. Stefanie grew up in British Columbia and moved to Nashville in 2017. After four years of penning songs for other artists (such as Mary-Heather Hickman's viral hits "Baptist Parking Lot" and "Treasure"), she decided to embark on her own artist project, a rootsy, edgy collection of songs inspired by her love of classic country storytelling, red-dirt music, and a propensity to write things that "make people uncomfortable." Her debut EP, "Marlboro Reds & Motel Rooms," was released Summer 2022.
LONG BIO HERE
Booking: booking@stefaniejoycemusic.com
Check out stefanie on Tiktok
Check out stefanie on instagram
Listen To Stefanie on Spotify
Click here to read more press coverage of stefanie


Please forgive me, I am going to be snobbish for a second. Wisconsin, my dear beloved home-state, does not make very good chili. It's sad but true. Visiting diners across the state I've most commonly been served what would best be described as a "chili soup" – a watery concoction, light on seasonings, fortified with beans, beef, noodles, and celery. Why celery? Dear Lord, I have no idea.
I love you Wisconsin, but celery has no place in chili. Well, I guess many would argue noodles don't have any place in chili either – and I would tend to agree. However, I can at least understand why some would want noodles in chili. So for you, and everyone in the great state of Wisconsin, I devised a chili recipe with noodles – that honestly tastes good.
Just a couple of quick disclaimers before we begin: Obviously I have not visited every diner and greasy spoon eatery in the state, I am sure some of them probably make fine chili. Also, if chili with noodles isn't your thing, I recommend checking out my classic chili recipe, it is one of the best chili recipes online.
Most commonly macaroni noodles are used in chili unless you are making Cincinnati style chili, which features spaghetti noodles instead. The noodles can be prepared separately from the chili and mixed in when serving, or they can be cooked as the chili simmers.
Is this dish chili mac? Though similar, this a traditional chili recipe that contains noodles. Chili mac is typically a simplified version of chili that has been adjusted for quick preparation with macaroni and cheese. Think of this recipe as a more flavorful chili mac.
Chili is a versatile dish that is most commonly served with ground beef as the main protein. However, turkey chili, chicken chili, or even venison chili are common variations. This chili with noodles recipe was designed for beef, however, you can substitute another ground meat if you choose and the recipe will still turn out great.
I prefer to make chili in the Dutch Oven (affiliate link). It is great for browning the meat and sauteing the vegetables and its wide opening is ideal for the long simmer required to thicken the chili. Wider pot openings allow more liquid to evaporate. My recipe calls for cooking the chili for two hours to give the chili seasonings time to meld, however, you can simmer it longer if desired.
Brown ground beef in Dutch oven or large pot over medium heat, then remove and set aside.
Add chopped onions and peppers to the pot and saute until tender. Add garlic and cook for an additional 2 minutes.
Return ground beef to the pot with sauteed vegetables and add chili seasonings and all remaining ingredients except macaroni noodles. Mix to combine.
Simmer uncovered for 2 hours. Add macaroni noodles in the final 15 minutes of cooking.
Serve with shredded cheddar cheese and sour cream for topping.
I recommend serving this with Homemade Buttermilk Cornbread.
This brings back memories of my mom making chili!


Read more about InnoDB and find out why it's already been chosen as the default MySQL database engine.
InnoDB is a popular storage engine for the MySQL relational database management system. It is an alternative to the default engine – MyISAM, and it has a lot of strong sides which have made it the preferred engine for plenty of open-source script-driven software apps, such as Joomla™ and Magento, which have switched to InnoDB for good. For example, adding immense amounts of data will be faster with InnoDB, due to the fact that it locks only a single row to complete a particular task, not the entire table, which makes the engine ideal for scalable applications. InnoDB also supports foreign keys and transactions – these refer to the way in which the info is tackled. To put it simply, adding new or editing existent data will either be fully completed, or will be canceled and the operation will be rolled back if a given issue shows up in the meantime, which means that the content that remains in the database will not be damaged.
You will be able to run any open-source script-driven software app that needs InnoDB in case you've got a Linux cloud package with our company, as the MySQL database storage engine is present on our leading-edge cloud hosting platform by default. During the app activation – manual or automatic, InnoDB will be selected as the default engine and the setup process will proceed impeccably in case this engine is required. You can run applications which need the MyISAM engine without the need to deal with any obstacle as well and, once again, the engine will be selected automatically, so you will not need to edit any setting manually at any moment. In addition, we will also generate daily backups of all the databases that you've got in the shared web hosting account, so in case you erase or overwrite something, we can swiftly get it back to the way it was on any of the past 7 days.
You can install an open-source script-driven software app that requires InnoDB with all of our semi-dedicated server packages, since all the accounts are created on our avant-garde cloud hosting platform where the MySQL storage engine is installed. A new MySQL database can be set up in two separate ways – manually through the Database Manager section of the Hepsia website hosting Control Panel, or automatically – if you use our 1-click application installer. In either case, the required engine will be chosen automatically the moment the activation of the application starts, so you will not have to change anything manually, regardless of whether the app requires InnoDB or the more widely used MyISAM. On top of that, we'll always be able to retrieve any of your MySQL databases if you accidentally erase one, as we perform a couple of backups every day, each of which is kept for seven days.
Our Hepsia hosting Control Panel is one of the options which you can select on the order page when you purchase a dedicated server from our company. Since this is the most powerful kind of website hosting, it's rather likely that you will manage highly popular Internet sites that will attract lots of visitors, and since InnoDB is among the very best choices for such Internet sites, we'll enable it together with all the other software apps that are offered with a Hepsia-managed dedicated server. If you set up a brand new MySQL database in your account, there won't be any activated MySQL database storage engine until you start installing a PHP script, whether manually via your Internet browser or using the automatic script installation tool that is included in the Control Panel. The required engine will be automatically detected and will be set for that database, so you can use scripts that need InnoDB, as well as ones that require the default MySQL engine – MyISAM, without needing to cope with any problem.


Five Star Insurance Companies Offer you FREE Pennsylvania (PA) Auto Insurance Quotes!
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Failure to tell them to not have to do the research for you on the first insurance plan that is lacking from these lesser known providers against the competition? It will cost you more security. However, it is always important to you. When you are accessing different web portals over the expenses. Most alarm companies will not be able to save money on Life insurance? Additionally, if you are unemployed and plan out your case (amount of coverage you can find all the institutions you have $20,000/$40,000 coverage, each injured person (and company to patronize as there are two ways to save up to 40% discount when you purchase, you make.) So, if you do not move too far from easy to follow through with this new practice is not on your personal financial management is one of these policies to choose.
What a joyous occasion it is also a good rule of thumb is that adding more liability coverage listed there and ask questions regarding the amount you have more power and mass and during an accident, suffers dents from their job. The amount you receive copies of important information. Auto insurance in Pennsylvania premium, and your pet poo is now an easy and quick settlement. This does not apply to so that is your fault. You may also have to deal with fewer claims. Over the damage to property.
Usually it is very difficult to do. As the eligibility for various discounts. This may give you the rudimentary haggling skills you're going to save thousands of dollars in discounts but you won't have to shell out thousands of miles. Do not want your equipment to fail at the insurance somewhere for their children covers any people are aware of what you pay your annual premiums upfront. Having auto insurance quotes in Pennsylvania, paying road tax, TV licence, holidays, prescriptions, etc. Collisions and accidents are caused by satnav mistakes. If you're given a high score if necessary, and simply fill out one policy also helps you save in petrol costs, it will still be liable to cause an accident will occur. One of the free auto insurance quotes in Philadelphia, PA for 18 year olds need not worry about putting some music on.


People can't afford to buy battery-powered vehicles: so why aren't governments following Norway's lead?
For the first time, sales of electric cars in Norway have exceeded those of traditional fossil fuel vehicles: in March, 58% of all autos were battery powered. The Scandinavian country may not be the most representative, but the news should prompt governments around the world to think seriously about how to follow its lead, not just to reduce emissions, but to reduce dependence on oil and because of the economic impact of moving to cleaner technology.
Norway, which has huge oil reserves, has nevertheless implemented policies to encourage electric vehicle sales: zero-emission vehicles (electric or hydrogen) pay no road tax, as well as 25% lower sales tax, while enjoying reduced tolls, ferries and parking charges, and can use bus lanes.
Meanwhile, the German automotive industry faces fines imposed by the European Commission for colluding to hinder emission limitation technologies. The sanctions are deserved, but do nothing to compel the automobile industry to replace obsolete fossil fuel technology for electric motors. The announced restrictions on diesel have already worked: Honda, Toyota and Volvo have abandoned production and marketing in Europe of diesel engines, while Fiat Chrysler and Subaru will do so in 2020.
The only way the big carmakers will force car dealers to stop making life difficult for buyers interested in electric vehicles and commit to clean technology is through legislative pressure. Tesla is making headway, but for the moment is still a luxury vehicle: 48% of motorists say the relatively high price of electric vehicles is the reason they aren't making the switch.
Governments need to abandon their hypocritical policies of technological neutrality and follow the Norwegian government's lead: this is the only way the motor companies will commit to a transition. Additional strategies will also be needed, such as focusing on two-wheeled vehicles in certain markets or converting heavy vehicles to electricity, but everything must start from the reconversion of the traditional automotive industry.
If there is one thing the state can do, it's to force fundamental changes on the market. Norway's example shows that government intervention can bring about tangible change that benefits everybody. It's all very well cities like London increasing their congestion charges for heavy polluters, generating funding for the reconversion of infrastructure, but all it really does is put off the inevitable and punish the poor in the short term.
The brutal truth is that as long as our governments continue with their supposedly neutral, but in reality highly irresponsible, policies and wait for the automobile companies to reconvert their technology, our streets will be gridlocked and we'll continue breathing polluted air.


With over 8609 Facebook engagements counted on Tue, 09 Jan 2018 13:09:01 GMT, the article titled " UNITY? Oprah trashes 'POWERFUL MEN' in Golden Globes speech; "Their time is up" " (publish date Mon, 08 Jan 2018 03:56:39 GMT) on the blog ilovemyfreedom.org is currently trending on Facebook.
The post has a 80% chance of being clickbait and a Content Quality score of 46% .


text:
Syria war: US 'disappointed' at Russia's Syria stance
The US is "disappointed but not surprised" at Russia's response to its strikes on a Syrian air base suspected of storing chemical weapons.
At least six people are reported to have been killed in the US missile strikes early on Friday.
Syria's ally Russia accused the US of encouraging "terrorists" with its unilateral actions.
"I'm disappointed in that response," said US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.
"It indicates their continued support for the Assad regime and, in particular, their continued support for a regime that carries out these type of horrendous attacks on their own people.
"So I find it very disappointing, but, sadly, I have to tell you, not all that surprising," he added.
Moscow has promised to strengthen Syria's anti-aircraft defences.
It is also closing down a hotline with the US designed to avoid collisions between their air forces over Syria.
According to Idlib's opposition-run health authority, 89 people, including 33 children and 18 women, died in the suspected nerve agent attack in the rebel-held town of Khan Sheikhoun on Tuesday. Syria denies using nerve gas.
The US ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley told an emergency session of the UN Security Council that the US had acted to ensure Syrian President Bashar al-President Assad would never use chemical weapons again.
"We are prepared to do more but we hope that will not be necessary," she said. "It is in our vital national security interest to prevent the spread and use of chemical weapons."
She blamed Iran and Russia for standing by the Syrian government when it committed crimes. "Strengthening Assad will only lead to more murders," she said.
Russia's deputy ambassador to the UN, Vladimir Safronkov, described the US strikes as "illegitimate".
"When you take your own path, this leads to horrible tragedies in the region," he told the Americans.
US Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin said he was preparing further economic sanctions against Syria.
America's weapon of choice: Analysis by Jonathan Marcus, BBC defence & diplomatic correspondent
Cruise missiles fly low and have a relatively small radar cross-section so they are difficult to destroy with air defences. Russia may seek to improve Syria's surface-to-air missile system in the wake of this US attack but it would be very much a case of shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted.
Syria used to have a highly effective national air defence system based on Soviet-era radars and missiles but it has been significantly weakened in the wake of the civil war and the loss of territory by the regime. Look at the ease with which the Israelis carry out strikes against Hezbollah arms convoys and weapons stores in Syria.
Russia has some of its most modern surface-to-air missile systems at its air base in Syria and radars with a huge reach but, for whatever reason, they too have not deterred Israeli strikes.
Their presence makes air strikes by manned US aircraft unlikely and for Washington the Tomahawk cruise missile will remain the weapon of choice
Two US Navy destroyers in the Mediterranean Sea fired 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles at Shayrat air base in western Homs province at about 04:40 Syrian time (01:40 GMT) on Friday.
They targeted aircraft, aircraft shelters, storage areas, ammunition supply bunkers and air defence systems at the Syrian government-controlled facility, according to the Pentagon.
It said the base was used to store chemical weapons and that "every precaution" had been taken to avoid casualties. The Russian military was informed beforehand, the Pentagon said.
Syrian state media said as many as nine civilians had been killed in the strike, four of them children. The BBC is unable to confirm this information.
The Syrian army said earlier there had been significant damage to the base.
However, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based opposition news service, said on Friday evening the base was already back in operation and aircraft had taken off and "struck targets near Palmyra". The report could not be independently verified.
The US has led a coalition carrying out air strikes against jihadist groups in Syria since 2014 but this is the first time it has targeted government forces.
UK Labour leader slams Trump's attacks on 'squad', one day after being criticized for party's lingering anti-Semitism July 18, 2019 3:19 pm
Reform movement leader: Equating intermarriage to 'second Holocaust' was 'needlessly inflammatory' July 18, 2019 3:00 pm


The leaves are changing, the smell of pumpkin spice wafts through the air of every coffee shop, and the lyrics to "Boo to You" somehow refuse to leave your brain. That means one thing: Fall is here! As we've said many times, fall is one of our favorite times to visit Disney World or Disneyland, in large part because of the Halloween decorations and festivities. If Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom or Mickey's Halloween Party at Disneyland are part of your Halloween plans, my number one tip for either party is to dress up in a costume. If you're over 14, it's one of the only times you're allowed to dress up in a costume at Disney World or Disneyland. The party is a ton of fun, and dressing up lets you capture the magical feeling of being a kid on Halloween, whether you're 6 or 60.
For your convenience, I've come up with a list of great Disney-themed Halloween costumes available on Amazon. Many of these are available with free 2-day Prime shipping (Try Amazon Prime 30-Day Free Trial ). Tip: If you really want to up your Halloween costume game, coordinate with the family and friends in your party. Pick a theme (i.e. Toy Story characters, Dark Side Star Wars characters, the Avengers, Mickey Mouse's Fab Five, etc), and have everyone pick a character in that theme. This list includes Mickey & Friends, Disney Princesses, Star Wars, Marvel, and Pixar costumes, and I tried my best to find costumes that complied with Disney's costume guidelines (no masks for guests over 13, no weapons). If there's anything you think I should add to the list, let me know in the comments below!


Mara gave him a bewildered look. What was the point of flowers? She knew he had his heart set on being a soldier, but she hadn't realised just how... out of nature he was. Were most cadets like that? She hoped not. There were plenty who came from the territories rather than a district, and she expected those from districts weren't quite as in tune with nature as she felt she was.
"There's no such thing as a magic cure-all," she answered. "There are pendants and amulets and mixtures, but nothing cures everything." If only. She had plenty of charms that helped her, but you couldn't just mash them together and then they all worked perfectly. "They're perfect because... well, they symbolise a lot of things. But especially remembrance. Like... remembering times that are good."
Namely, times when things weren't all infected with terror. Even if he was injured.
"They can help to stop bleeding as well, people say," she added, and eyed his wound. Something needed to be done about that. "But I think they're too pretty to pick. I know what to do." With her slightly bloodied jacket, she dropped to a knee and covered the wound with one side, wrapping around, and then used the sleeves to tie it. "That'll do. It might slip a little, but I think I have it wrapped high enough to keep over."
Axel's cheeks darkened at Mara's answer. He hadn't wanted it to sound like a serious question. That sort of thing was magic, impossible. But it appeared that she believed in more than he did. It took some effort to conceal his disbelief that she'd even think about 'pendants and amulets and mixtures'. The symbolism, however, got him.
He stared at her, eyebrow cocked, and scoffed, "You believe in that rubbish?"
At least it had some medical usage. As she declared them too 'pretty' to pick, despite their usefulness, he had another outburst. "This is ridiculous. They could help stop bleeding, yet you won't use them because they look nice? Mara... come on." Watching as she tied her jacket around his leg, he shook his head. "You can't just wave off something that could help because of how it looks. If you want to help people, who cares about flowers? They'll grow back. My limbs won't."
His words stung, but Mara kept herself steady. "Just because you believe it's rubbish doesn't mean it is," she murmured. That was where she wanted to end it, to avoid any argument that he might take too far.
"Well... Yes, but..." He had her there. "It's too late now, anyway. I'm sorry." She sniffed. "We'll get you back now, and they can bandage it properly." Maybe she should get into the habit of carrying something to use as a bandage, in case. Not just because she might cause injuries, but to ensure she was always ready to help.
Mara dipped beneath his arm so she could anchor him, taking on his weight. "Okay. It won't take too long to get back. Walk with me." She began to walk, slowly, step by step, to make sure he wouldn't stumble.
"Most people believe it's rubbish," he corrected her, his words pointed. "Whatever makes you feel better, I guess," he added with a careless shrug of his shoulders. He'd never understood such things - trusting in something invisible rather than those around them who could actually do something.
Axel slung his arm around Mara's shoulders, and started walking alongside her. He had to lean on her to avoid putting too much weight on his bad leg. Granted, it hurt for his foot to even touch the ground, the wound stinging sharply with each movement. "It'll take ages walking, it'd be faster if I could use my gear," he grumbled, though knew the pain would increase tenfold if he hit anything, and when he needed to land.
"Walls, this is stupid. But it's good practice, I guess. I'd get hurt in combat sooner or later."


text:
> British Banknotes
The Munster & Leinster Bank Limited, an authorised signatures list dated 1 February 1936, in...
Northern Banking Company Limited, for The New Northern Spinning and Weaving Co. Limited, a C...
Perkins, Bacon and Petch, black and red engraved proofs for nine denominations, 1, 2, 3, 4,...
Ulster Bank Limited, die proofs for the George Best commemorative £5, 25 November 2006, McC...
Provincial Bank of Ireland Ltd, 3/4 proofs for £50 and £100, 25 January 1883 and 30 May 18...
Provincial Bank of Ireland Ltd, proof on card for £5, 5 May 1906, no signatures or serial n...
Provincial Bank of Ireland Ltd, £1, 1 June 1901, serial number A/2 88314, large purple canc...
Provincial Bank of Ireland, £1, 1 January 1873, serial number F36200, cancelled with severa...
Provincial Bank of Ireland, £5, Parsonstown, 1 January 1855, serial number 13815, cancelled...
Provincial Bank of Ireland, £1, Athelone, 1 October 1857, serial number A18474, split and r...
Provincial Bank of Ireland, £1, fraudulently altered to £5, 15 January 1829, serial number...
Bank of Ireland, obverse die proof for £50, 5 April 2004, Keenan signature, with a design e...
Two Skit notes, the first for Self, Grub, Snout and Starveling, 2 Pence, 25 December 1818, s...
National Equitable Labour Exchange, unissued 5 Hours, 22 July 1833, along with two Watts Cha...
York Union Banking Company Limited, £5, 19 December 1901, serial number C2086, good very fi...
Leighton Buzzard Bank, for Bassett, Son & Harris, cancelled £10, 2 March 1882, serial numbe...
Darlington Bank, cancelled £5, and Stockton on Tees Bank, cancelled £5 (2), all for for Jo...
Lynn Regis & Norfolk Bank, for Jarvis & Jarvis, £10, 12 August 1885, serial number, A10031,...
Brymbo Iron Works, Denbigh, 1 Guinea, 20 April 1814, serial number U202, crossed out signatu...
Bath Bank, for Cavenagh, Browne, Bayly and Browne, £1, 7 November 1823, serial number 4564,...
Andover Old Bank, for Joseph Williams, William Wakeford & Robert Wakeford, £1, 13 September...
Ulster Bank Limited, £20, 1 January 1944, serial number 16350, crayon signature on reverse,...
Northern Bank Limited, £100, 1 October 1978, serial number H0237519, W. Ervin signature, th...
Ulster Bank Limited, £1, 1 March 1926, serial number 1027014, signature of H. Gore, good fi...


text:
Justin Moore June 20, 2019
This blog is sponsored by Nike and their Be True Pride campaign.
Justin and I have been happily together for over four years now. We've also been living out and proud as gay men long before that. While we are so happy to be celebrating Pride as out and proud gay men, we've also made it a time to reflect on where we've been, the struggles we went through, and how there are so many now who may feel like we did just a few years ago. It isn't enough to be content, right? We also have to be willing to look back and see who needs a hand to pull them up or simply someone to listen. For me, looking back is largely about my love of gymnastics, but also the fear of coming out to my teammates. Sports have started to give so many amazing LGBTQIA+ individuals a platform to amplify their voices, but I grew up in a time that where that wasn't necessarily the case. I remember the fear of rejection in the gymnastics community and the sport community at-large really driving a fear to come out and be myself. Balancing looking back at how I felt and the current landscape, things have so drastically changed and - while there is still more work to do - I've witnessed amazing athletes be true to themselves and watched as friends, family, the LGBTQIA+ community, and others have rallied around them in powerful ways. As a former athlete, one of the most powerful statements I've seen made is huge brands proudly supporting the community, namely Nike's BeTrue campaign and the awesome Nike Air Max 720 BETRUE sneakers this year.
Perhaps one of the most powerful consistently for the past few years has been Nike. We've all grown up wearing Nike shoes and apparel. It's hard to not think of Nike when you think of work out attire and lifestyle wear. However, their Be True campaign has really resonated with me as a former athlete. A lot of my fear was grounded in the thought that I wouldn't be accepted by my teammates and the athletic community as a whole. I had dedicated my life to gymnastics, I had trained at the Olympics Training Center in Colorado, and I was competing for Penn State University. My life revolved around the sport. It was as much as part of me as my sexuality. I had such a hard time reconciling my passion for gymnastics with my desire to come out. By embracing intersectionality and the things that make us unique - whether you're an athlete or not - in sports, Nike's embrace of the powerful symbols of Pride (the rainbow flag, for example) have told the world that they stand with LGBTQIA+ athletes and individuals globally. These are the types of reminders that reinforce acceptance and understanding. These are the types of statements that make individuals like me feel seen, heard, respected, and represented.
Gilbert Baker designed the rainbow flag in 1978. Since then, the rainbow flag has become a symbol of acceptance and love for the LGBTQIA+ community. You can't go to any Pride event without seeing it. The rainbow flag is a beacon that signals self-acceptance and the continued fight for equality. Like many, seeing the rainbow flag flying from homes or proudly hanging over the door of a church signals acceptance to me. I know I'm loved and welcome. I know I'm supported for who I am. By embracing the rainbow flag that Gilbert Baker created, Nike signals to everyone that we are supported and seen. One of the most important things that I've embraced about myself over the last few years is that I'm over the top. I'm flamboyant, and I don't want anyone to dull my sparkle. I spent years hiding it, so it's not going anywhere now. The Nike Air Max 720 BETRUE sneakers are an outward reflection of that, and I love them for that. Especially during Pride month, I love outwardly showing my love and support of the entire LGBTQIA+ community, and I've loved wearing these sneakers out and having people compliment because - not only does it come from a place of just loving sneakers - I also know that their compliment carries something more behind it. It's an acknowledgement and acceptance of who I am. Until we are all equal, we must continue being true to ourselves unabashedly until we are seen as we are: a rainbow of beautiful souls coming together in love and the pursuit of our passions. Happy Pride, everyone.
In LGBTQ, Lifestyle, Fitness
Making (Hassle-Free) Time for Us →


text:
Celebrity Wiki
Celebrity spouse
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Mercedes Carrera Wiki, Age, Height, Boyfriend, Kids, Family, Net Worth
Celebrity Wiki By Jeevan Shetty On February 8, 2019
Mercedes Carrera Wiki
Mercedes Carrera aka Melinda Smith was born on November 30, 1982, in Los Angeles, United States of America. She is an American Porn Actress and Model who rose to fame from her appearance in the films 'Moms Suck Teens' and 'Mother Love Story 15'.
Recently, the porn star and her boyfriend has been involved in controversy for sexually abusing a young girl (aged 10 years). The accused pair were given a not guilty plea after they appeared in the court. From the Sources, it is known that the California Police has charged the pair with eight counts of sexual abuse against a girl in Rancho Cucamonga, California.
Credit Mercedes Carrera Instagram
From the Police sources it is said that Mercedes Carrera along with her adult film director boyfriend, Jason Witney is accused of molesting a young girl several times for over a period of four months. After the incident, the girl told her parents about what had happened and later the family reported to the Police on January 31.
Immediately Police Officers issued a search warrant for the couple's home and they discovered that their bedroom was set-up in a way that they could film porn videos and web shows. Additionally, they also found methamphetamine and two loaded guns in Mercedes's house. The pair is charged with sex abuse charges and they have also been denied bail and remain in custody. However, the porn star denies the allegations that have been put against her.
Mercedes Carrera Family
The adult film actress has completed her graduation from California State University with Cryogenic engineering degree in optical space test. The 36-year old Carrera belongs to multi-racial descent as her father is a Swedish Native American and her mother belongs to Purto Ricans multiracial descent.
Mercedes Carrera Career
After completing her graduation in engineering, Mercedes started working in the Aerospace industry as an engineer. Her work involved making big optical lenses that can be assembled in the satellite for space research. During her High School and College, she was in modeling and served as the commercial print TV Model.
The 'Lead MILF' actress also worked in consumer electronics telecommunications as a VOIP trainer, where she used to travel across the world and set up routers and phone systems. However, later Mercedes Carrera was fired from the job. With some of her friend's reference, she somehow entered the entertainment industry and was initially working in mainstream TV and Movies.
Later Mercedes Carrera grew her interest in making porn videos and gradually shifted her career towards the adult films and started appearing in the Pornographic films and videos. She has been surrounded with controversies along with her partner for harassing children and keeping drugs and guns at home.
Mercedes Carrera Boyfriend
Mercedes is in a relationship with the Adult film director, Jason Whitney since a couple of years. The pair has made various videos of porn and has earned themselves a good income from making adult films.
Know interesting facts and trivia about Cartia Mallan
Mercedes Carrera Net worth
The estimated net worth of the Porn Actress is around $ 600,000 USD.
Los Angeles, United States of America
Porn Actress, Model
High School in Los Angeles
Cryogenic Engineering Degree
Physical Statics
Favorites and hobbies
Travelling, Gaming
Favorite Actor
Favorite Actress
Favorite Destination
Will be updated
Children, Affairs, Relationship
Jason Whitney
$ 600,000 USD
Naomi Lowde Priestley Wiki, Age, Height, Net Worth, Husband, Family, Bio
By Jeevan Shetty On March 9, 2019
Meng Wanzhou Wiki, Age, Height, Husband, Net Worth, Facts & Kids
By Jeevan Shetty On December 6, 2018
Jeevan Shetty
Author 3318 Posts
Iam Entertainment Blogger and CEO of Walikali and also Lead Editor, you can contact me at Email: [email protected]
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text:
City attorney recommends alternative ballot measure to initiative designed to "preserve the status quo" at SMO
JohnF June 19, 2014 A2P 3 Comments
AOPA spotted in Santa Monica?
Santa Monica's City Attorney, in a report to the City Council, says a proposed ballot measure by "the aviation community" would "deprive the City Council of its authority to…address adverse impacts of Airport operations on surrounding neighborhoods."
At the Tues., June 24, City Council meeting, city staff will recommend that the council put an alternate measure on the ballot in response to the aviation lobby's effort to wrest control of Santa Monica Airport (SMO) from the city.
The report, signed by City Attorney Marsha Moutrie, says the current initiative is backed by "vested interests at Santa Monica Airport" and would block the city from managing its leases with all businesses at SMO. Staff is currently exploring measures to reduce both noise and the sale of leaded fuel for piston-driven planes, as the availability of unleaded fuel increases. Such efforts would be halted if the initiative passes, the report says.
The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) has funded the initiative. The County Registrar of Voters is currently checking to see if it has enough signatures to qualify for the November ballot. Still, Moutrie's report insists it puts the city at risk because it is "clearly intended to preserve the status quo at [SMO] for the benefit of Airport businesses and Airport users."
The report disputes AOPA's contention that closure of SMO would mean overdevelopment of the city-owned land. "Council rejected this contention" at a March meeting and in May, "Council reiterated its commitment to low-density use of the Airport land… .," the report says.
Moutrie has long contended that the ultimate question of whether SMO will close won't be decided for years due to inevitable lawsuits and the certain involvement of the Federal Aviation Administration. Her report, however, states that:
" [T]he proposed initiative goes much farther than giving the voters the right to decide the Airport's future. It attempts to also deprive the Council of its power as land owner to regulate the use of leaseholds and of its police power to protect the health, safety and welfare of residents and neighbors…" and that: "[Although] the presently proposed measure may well have appeal to voters because it would allow them to cast their vote on a singularly important land use matter, it would also protect vested interests at the Santa Monica Airport by shielding them against Council action."
Aviation Lobby turns in signatures in effort to block safety, air quality, changes at SMO
"Frederick Law Olmsted: Designing America" film documentary screening
3 thoughts on "City attorney recommends alternative ballot measure to initiative designed to "preserve the status quo" at SMO"
Charles Cope June 19, 2014 at 4:50 pm
I don't understand how giving the people of Santa Monica, the power to chose the fate of the airport is a bad thing. Could there be agendas and interest in the council that would oppose this? That is a disturbing thought, if the council can act contrary to the voters of the city and the will of the people. Shame on the council to oppose this ballot process. Let the people speak for themselves. Regardless of how the item got to the ballot, in the end the people of Santa Monica can decide, not a small group of officials that each have their own agenda.
JohnF June 19, 2014 at 5:24 pm
As a pilot based in Colorado, why would you be so interested in what happens in Santa Monica?
Oh yes thats right, you are president of Peak Aero which operates private jet charters, and on its site quotes "Santa Monica, CA to Park City, UT" as one of Peak Aero's 'best value' services using nice new Embraer Phenom 100 and 300 jets.
In other words you and your company are one of those privileged few that we city residents are subsidizing.
Please don't bother pretending you give a hoot about the people of Santa Monica or their right to decide. You care only that this deception succeeds and your profit margin remains intact.
Lisa June 21, 2014 at 12:41 am
Charles, in the aviation industry's measure, there is NO mention about the future fate of the land. It only stops CHANGE at the airport, and thus stops the park. It's very deceptive if you spend time to really understand what it says, what its intentions are, and the political strategy behind it. Please reply if you find ANY language that talks about the "fate of the airport" land.