UT-Austin engineering students are among the teams competing for a chance to turn Elon Musk's hyperloop from dream to reality.
512 Hyperloop team members John Sigmund and Eric Simmons work on their pod prototype.
Two Texas teams are heading to California to compete in this weekend's SpaceX hyperloop competition.
Four years ago, SpaceX founder Elon Musk published a white paper outlining a new concept in mass transit. The idea is to shuttle people around in pods, traveling at high speeds. Since Musk made his proposal, engineers have been working to perfect that technology, hoping to make the hyperloop a reality.
Tucked away on the UT-Austin campus is what used to be an old gym. The basketball nets are gone, and the place is now filled with workspaces for engineering students. One of these is home to the 512 hyperloop team. They're doing some final calculations and putting on some finishing touches.
"I think on the whole we're probably about three-fourths done. But we're an undergraduate team and we're really good at doing things at the last minute, so we're going to wrap it up here," says John Sigmon with 512 Hyperloop.
In true college student fashion, the team has finished its design in a matter of weeks. They're all set to compete this weekend.
Eric Simmons says the goal is to build the fastest pod. He is in charge of the pod's suspension system.
"Basically, the concept is that SpaceX is building a test track in front of their facility in LA, and we have to design a pod that will go on this test track, and we're trying to go fast as possible," Simmons says.
That's the whole point of the technology – speed. As in, Dallas to Austin in 25 minutes kind of speed.
Elon Musk introduced the hyperloop idea in 2013. He said he wanted to move people around in pods that traveled at high speeds inside sealed, depressurized tubes. Pods would levitate above the tracks.
There are essentially two ways to do levitation.
"Some teams are using air bearings, which are basically like an air hockey table effect. We specifically are using magnetic levitation," Simmons says.
He says most teams are going that route – using maglev technology. It's just easier and more feasible. The technology is already widely used by bullet trains, and Simmons says he thinks it would be easier to develop hyperloop on a larger scale, using maglev. Not that his team didn't try to use air bearings – at least, at first.
"I designed the old air bearing system too, and it was a disaster, because the air bearings require the track to be perfect, like perfectly flat," he says.
"I think there are only like four teams using air bearings because I think maglev is the more reliable technology," says Nichole Foster, with Guadaloop.
"Going in and saying I want to levitate something with air bearings is completely new, no one's ever done it before," Foster says.
The idea with air bearings is to float the pod over the track on a cushion of air. Right now, the technology is mainly used in moving heavy equipment at low speeds over short distances. But remember – the goal here is speed – lots of speed. The challenge for Guadaloop, is to take that existing concept and apply it to their pods.
James McGinnis is also with Guadaloop. He says the original plans in Musk's white paper included using air to move the pod, and that's something they wanted to stay true to. In addition, it could be cheaper to implement than outfitting tracks with magnets.
The goal for them is less about winning based on speed – even though that's technically the only criteria SpaceX is looking at during the competition. The Guadaloop team is more interested in developing the air bearing technology, even as a lot of engineers focus more on maglev.
"Sort of no one's gone fast on air bearings before, and we kind of want to be the first to show, even if we go a modest 100 miles an hour, lay enough of groundwork for people to revisit and say hey maybe we should take a closer look at air bearings and really develop out the technology," McGinnis says.
What exactly *is the prize for winning?
"We're not getting anything. But really it's a global competition, you have teams from all over the world, like truly all over the world coming. Really it's for the glory," says Eric Simmons from 512 Hyperloop.
Developing technology to zip people across the state in the fraction of the time required to drive, traffic-free? Yeah, that sounds pretty glorious.


So you wanted to be a trader, eh?
I'll tell ya, this business has more swings than a Hedonism vacation. One minute you're up half a million in soybeans and the next, boom, your kids don't go to college and they've repossessed your Bentley. It is very much every ounce of a bipolar stroller.
We often say the destination we arrive at pales in comparison to the path we take to get there. I had that thought Friday as I sheepishly peered over my right shoulder at my sixth screen (the one with the NDX 5-day chart) and reminded myself we were trading precisely where we were three days prior. At the risk of mushing myself, I also observed we were still below where I initiated the meat of my short-side risk.
That's not to be confused with my seventh screen, of course, the one with the NASDAQ Comp 5-year chart. According to that bad boy, we're still very much in the danger zone that is a confluence of resistance points coinciding with a precise 50% retracement of the entire technology decline from the 2007 top.
A "perfect world" would include some slippage (to put some distance between Thursday's close and Breakfast with Beeks) and a better-than-expected employment data. Why? Rallies phases typically end on good news, just as nadirs are made in the midst of bad news. A "pop" back into resistance could well lead to a "drop" thereafter.
The better part of Freaky Friday was spent with the tape at the highs and the bulls full of sighs but late day supply arrived into the weekend. And where, you ask, did technology stocks settle when the dust cleared? Like a moth to the flame burned by the fire, NASDAQ 2000.25.
I write this for myself as much as I do for ye faithful. I'm not sure what you're hearing but from my perch, brazen bulls and broken bears abound. That's not to say we can't continue to climb the magic beanstalk from here to eternity-we've seen stranger scenarios in our time together-but a little perspective goes a long way.
I will tell you that being short feels wrong and the best trades are typically the toughest fades. Sometimes right, sometimes wrong, always honest. My stops remain above and my chips are still on the table. Engine room, more steam!
Uber-Economist David Rosenberg notes that the majority of the payroll "beat" was a function of the bounce in auto production and a distortion from the federal census workers. I know "it is what it is" but as I have mad respect for David, I wanted to pass along his vibes.
You say Goldman (GS), I say "It feels like the insider sales window opened on Friday."
That warranted an asterisk as a trading tell (stock specific situation) until Bank America (BAC) flipped the downside switch. That's when things got heavy, man.
Some pundits on television are cheering for a higher dollar, to which I would say be careful for what you wish.
Sorta like how everyone was conditioned to think falling crude prices would be a positive?
Why am I reminded of the Minyan Mailbag on March 6th when, responding to a query asking how we could possibly be so bullish, we ended our reply by stating, "Alas, March ain't over yet, my friend. Stay tuned."
Do you wanna spend some QT with Minyan Dougie Kass and I as we "Roar for a Cure" on August 22nd in East Hampton? It's an awesome cause and it'll be a tremendous time. Bring the kids and share some smiles. The important stuff indeed.
Planes, Trains & Automobiles, Uncle Buck, The Breakfast Club, Vacation, Ferris Bueller or Sixteen Candles?
Zed's dead and ding dong, the witch may be dead too. But you know what's not dead? The recession. It's simply sleeping before the next phase manifests and the point of recognition permeates.
Remember that scene in Swingers when Mikey made "the call?" Every time I see that movie, I pray for him to change his behavior. I have that same sense as I watch folks trip over each other to buy stocks. That doesn't make me right, but it certainly makes me honest.
I finally saw The Hangover this weekend and, well, you can believe the hype (it's hysterical). I also spent the better part of my Sunday night at a muggy and sticky Yankee Stadium, which was of course worth it as I got back to the city on a broom.
Happy 40th Birthday Carter "Go Left, Young Man" Mansbach!
The Minyanville community reaches far and wide (122 countries at last count). Through those channels, I continue to pick up anecdotal data points such as this. I believe it speaks volumes through the lens of denial-migration-panic.
"Hi Todd, thanks for your great work and please know the efforts of the Professors are appreciated. I work as a wholesaler for a large mutual fund company (my clients are the largest investment advisers). Over the last three or four days, I've had four bearish advisers throw in the towel and declare a new bull market. They are looking for information regarding our most aggressive equity funds.
Just thought I'd share that with you. I've found these guys to be the last to the punch bowl, so to speak."
Now, can that continue to self-fulfill? You betcha, mister. Is that the type of feedback we typically see near a major cusp? Yes dear, it's reminiscent of the mindset the other way back in March.
I have no agenda other than provoking thought-you know how I'm positioned-so take it all with a grain of salt, a shake of pepper and a dose of perspective. No matter how you're positioned, it should be such that you're able to enjoy the important stuff in life.
Tomorrow is promised to nobody and we should never have regrets.


text:
August 4, 2008 - Vol.19, No. 45
Paul Normandin
Paul Normandin, Peter Karagianis, Ed Chertok, Ed Merski, Roger Webster, Dennis Denoncourt, Howard Bacon, and Carroll Stafford
Hon. Mem. Dick Breton
We were "honored" to have Honorary Member Dick Breton with us.
ATV Raffle:
This weekend, we visited the Chesire Fair. Selling tickets were: Larry Murphy, Roger and Pam Landry, Joe Collie, Kathy Calvin, Don and Sue Nelson, Brian Winslow, Jim Fortier, Denise Dow and her friend, Dee Dee. Patty Jean Calvin also helped out. Up next: the Lancaster Fair. Sign up sheets for the Lancaster Fair and the Rochester Fair were circulated. Check out the schedules below to see those that have signed up so far.
LANCASTER FAIR
For information on the Lancaster Fair, click here.
For directions to the Lancaster Fair, click here.
Date: WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 27th -MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 1st
xxx Set-Up: ______________________
19am- 3pm: Roger and Pam Landry
65pm-10pm:_______________and _______________
SATURDAY, AUGUST 30th
x19am- 3pm:_______________and _______________
63pm- 9pm: Kathy Calvin and _________________
19am- 3pm: Kathy Calvin and _______________
63pm- 9pm:_______________and _______________
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 1st
99am- 3pm:_______________and _______________
Breakdown:_______________and _______________
ROCHESTER FAIR
For information on the Rochester Fair, click here.
For directions to the Rochester Fair, click here.
Date: FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12th -SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 21st
XSet-Up by 6pm: ______________________
64pm-9pm:_______________and _______________
x19am- 3pm:Dick Metz and Howard Bacon
19am- 3pm:Dick Metz and Howard Bacon
63pm- 9pm:Kathy Calvin and ___________________
61pm- 5pm:_______________and ________________
Hey Kiwanis…THANKS!
We received a THANK YOU from the Laconia Public Library for our support of the Mr. Phil family show on June 30th. They said more than 100 people showed up and laughter filled the auditorium all afternoon. They look forward to our continued partnership with them.
How many Zebras have to die for Dianne to have a shirt?
Hey Kiwanis…THANKS again!
We received a BIG thank you card from the Boys & Girls Club of the Lakes Region for our donation of helmets. Kathy Calvin brought 60 helmets to them and fitted area children with them. Patty Jean Calvin also helped out. Roger Landry also reminds the club that there are helmets for sale at NAPA on Union Ave in Laconia.
Kathy Calvin holds a BIG card made by LITTLE kids.
Larry Murphy was given the name of someone who may be interested in joining the club…Dave Cooley from the Lodge in Belmont. Dave is going to be a guest speaker next month and Larry will be calling him to see if he'd like to come to meetings more often. Stay Tuned..
More Prospecting…
Carroll Stafford and Paul Normandin made a brief presentation on behalf of the Laconia Historical Society. They are looking for members and there is money on the line…if they increase their membership by 100 %, they could be eligible for a $25,000 gift from the Finley Foundation. To learn more go to the Laconia Historical Society web site by "clicking" here.
Paul keeps an eye on his dessert while Carroll and he speak about the Historical Society.
Ed Chertok won $18.
Ed has not been this happy since Prohibition ended.
In his day...that was a week's pay!
Fines:
Dick Breton, Larry Murphy, Ed Chertok, Peter Karagianis
All four were pinless.
Dennis Denoncourt
Food Pantry:
$18 was collected.
Carroll Stafford says he will match Happy Dollars with any one who donates to the Historical Society. Ed Chertok gave a happy dollar for winning the 50/50 and another Happy Dollar for the great gas mileage he experienced on his way back to Old Orchard Beach. Dennis Denoncourt gave a happy dollar for winning the free meal.
Apparently Ed's happy dollar makes Dianne happy, too.
Dianne is so happy...she should be president again.
Board Minutes from July 7th:
Kathy Calvin presented the minutes from the board meeting of July 7th. Some of the highlights were:
***We approved the minutes from the June meeting.
***The General Fund was approved.
***The Charity Fund was approved.
***A donation was made to the Boys and Girls of $240 to cover a summer camper for 3 weeks at a cost of $80 per week.
***A motion was made to pay Lakes Region Scholarship Foundation $2500 for Kiwanis Scholarships and $1000 for the Smith Family Scholarships.
***$5,000 was donated to Community Health and Hospice for their Young Families Program.
***Byse Insurance Agency was paid $500 for accident and theft coverage on the ATV.
$1000 was donated to the Laconia 4th of July Committee.
***We approved payments of $180 for the Lancaster Fair and $250 to the Stratham Fair and the Rochester Fair.
***A special board meeting was held on July 14th and a leave of absence was approved for Paul Cotton through September 29th.
...for the dogs...
...Collie photos that should have been clipped...
Bubba Soda is Joe's favorite thanks to the high sugar content.
Lt. Gov. Elect Joe Collie shows that size DOES matter.
Boards Meet and Food Pantry money collected
Monday, September 8th
Dave Hart from The Taylor Community (guest of Howard Bacon)
Dave Cooly from The Lodge at Belmont (guest of Larry Murphy)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
The Woodbrook Neighborhood Blog
Your source for "all things Woodbrook" – Charlottesville, VA – Since 2009
Comcast Service Outage a Problem for Some Residents
Posted on July 11, 2012 by Dan Gould
Some Woodbrook residents were without cable, Internet and telephone for almost four days last week.
A 90 hour Comcast service outage that began Friday July 29, 2012 at approximately 9:00 p.m. caused problems for some Woodbrook residents. The outage was triggered by a storm, known as a derecho, that swept through much of Virginia and its neighboring states.
To obtain a better understanding of the effect of the almost four day Comcast outage, we surveyed Woodbrook residents by email on Tuesday July 3, 2012 just moments after Comcast restored service to the neighborhood. Residents were asked to report on the services they lost; cable, Internet or telephone, and to comment on how the outage affected them.
34.1% of respondents said that they lost telephone service for over 90 hours.
Of the approximately 40 homes responding to our survey it's not surprising that 88.7% reported that they lost cable TV service. Comcast is the primary supplier of cable TV service in the neighborhood. In the remaining two service categories, 54.6% of respondents reported that they lost Internet service during the outage while 34.1% lost telephone service. Almost 80% of residents said they contacted Comcast about the outage with roughly a third of those reporting that Comcast was helpful when they called. Resident Lee Freudberg echoed the frustrations of many residents during the outage, "Comcast service has improved considerably over the years, but their responsiveness to this outage was virtually nil. I called at least once daily. If they had provided at least some explanation of what was going on, updates, etc., even if recorded, I would have been less frustrated," said Freudberg.
We also asked residents if they felt that their safety had been compromised during the outage, with 11.2% indicating they did, or roughly a third of residents that have their telephone service with the company. Keep in mind that temperatures were near the 100 degree mark during most of the outage. Resident Marlene Hopkins said "safety is a big issue, especially with the heat and when all three (phone, cable and Internet) are provided by Comcast." Jenny Mathews said, "I only really minded that the telephone didn't work. What about people who have no cell phone? This sort of thing makes me want to change telephone service."
For many residents, cell phones were only helpful for out-going calls.
While many residents used cell phones as a backup for lost telephone service, this solution was only helpful for out-going calls as many residents do not publish their cell phone numbers. Cristiane França who was out of the country at the time of the outage became concerned when she lost contact with her father who was house-sitting for her. "I sent emails that he could not check and called from out of the USA and could not get through because the phone was not working," said França. "He was also not able to contact anyone," she added. França eventually contacted her father through a neighbor. "About 4 days without being able to communicate with my father as well as him not being able to contact anyone else was very disturbing," she said. Another resident reported that "Expected calls from doctors and therapy centers were not received."
The loss of the Internet was of more concern to some. Clayton and Ann-Rodes Savage reported that they "have a home business that [they] could not access." Kathy Welch, who telecommutes, reported that she was "unable to work for two days."
Some residents are reconsidering their service arrangements.
The outage caused some residents to reconsider their service arrangements. Resident Denise Benson said, "The length of time we didn't have cable or Internet has made me seriously consider changing internet provider and canceling my cable." One neighbor, who asked to remain anonymous said, "At least we don't have Comcast for our Internet, so we were able to track news and weather updates through our Internet. We would have been totally "in the dark" (literally and figuratively) if we had everything through Comcast. We thought about switching Internet and phone over to Comcast recently, and we are so glad we did not."
Not all the responses to our survey were negative. Resident Susan Wilson's comment, "I am very grateful for all the Comcast and Dominion workers who labored under unbelievable conditions to restore our services in as timely a manner as possible," was echoed by several neighbors. Lynanne Wilson reported that, "Our phone (a good old plugin land line) was always available (Century Link) despite the power outage." Our own tests showed that Century Link kept their telephone and Internet service up and running during the entire power outage.
This entry was posted in Uncategorized by Dan Gould. Bookmark the permalink.
One thought on "Comcast Service Outage a Problem for Some Residents"
SafetyStore on July 11, 2012 at 7:41 pm said:
Centurylink had internet/DSL problems in other areas like Greene County.
For this incident, cellular WiFi and cell phones did work in most areas – but remember cell towers need power and send your communications through landlines once they come off the towers so they don't always work in outages.
We will continue to have outages several times a year because power and Comcast refuse to put these lines underground.
Having backup power like small UPS units ($40 for small to $129 for the larger ones) will power your cordless phones, wireless router and Comcast box when a pure power outages is preventing you from making a call for using your laptop to use the internet. These UPS units can also run things like lamps and small fans for many hours until the power returns, you use car power converters or generators. "Never run a generator in your house or garage – Please" they kill about a dozen people per year.


Detectives investigating the terrorist attack at Parsons Green on Friday, 15 September have made an arrest in connection with the investigation.
The 18-year-old man was arrested by Kent Police in the port area of Dover this morning, Saturday, 16 September, under section 41 of the Terrorism Act.
The man remains in custody at a local police station. He will be transferred to a south London police station in due course.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu, Senior National Co-ordinator for Counter Terrorism Policing, said: "We have made a significant arrest in our investigation this morning. Although we are pleased with the progress made, this investigation continues and the threat level remains at critical.
"The public should remain vigilant as our staff, officers and partners continue to work through this complex investigation. We are not, at this time, changing our protective security measures and the steps taken to free up extra armed officers remain in place.
Detectives from the Met's Counter Terrorism Command are continuing to urge anyone with information about the terrorist attack to contact police.
Thirty people are known to have been injured during the attack in which an improvised explosive device was detonated on a tube train at Parsons Green Underground Station at around 08:20hrs on Friday, 15 September.
The public has sent 77 images and videos to investigators via the UK Police Image Appeal website. Anyone with footage or images from the incident is urged to upload them at www.ukpoliceimageappeal.co.uk where they will be looked at by investigators.


text:
'This Is Lebanon' webpage shames employers accused of maid abuse
'Pay or become famous', online activists warn employers accused of mistreating domestic workers in Lebanon.
by Timour Azhari
The Facebook page of This Is Lebanon receives up to 20 cases a day, activists say [Screenshot/Facebook]
Beirut, Lebanon - "Write to us if you are a domestic worker, or know a domestic worker, who is being abused in Lebanon. We will try to help."
The words are translated into seven languages - the main ones spoken by migrant domestic workers who travel to the Mediterranean nation. They greet you at the top of This Is Lebanon's Facebook page.
Hundreds have responded since they began keeping records in June last year, the group says.
"We awake to more than 20 messages, from many different countries. They all want help for someone being abused in Lebanon," Dipendra Uprety, the group's founder, told Al Jazeera.
Uprety, a former migrant worker in Lebanon who once worked at Beirut's iconic Phoenicia Hotel, founded This Is Lebanon in 2017. He experienced directly the hardship endured by some migrant workers living in the country, of which there are estimated to be in excess of 250,000.
These low-income workers come to Lebanon generally seeking salaries to remit to their families back home. Many return broken - physically and mentally, rights groups say. Non-payment of fees, long working hours, forced confinement and no rest days are pervasive, and physical and sexual abuse is prevalent, according to Amnesty International.
Uprety himself spent six months in detention after his employer failed to renew his residency papers. Under the sponsorship system known as Kafala, workers are not allowed to resign, change employers or return home without the consent of their 'Kafeel' or legal sponsor. The system is in place in nations across the Levant and the Gulf.
Some countries have taken steps to roll it back, with Qatar last year allowing migrant workers to leave without the permission of their employers - though this did not affect domestic workers.
Uprety eventually got out of detention, with the help of a local church. He spent time working as a representative for the Nepalese consulate general in Lebanon, helping detained Nepalese workers. "I had dealt with over a thousand cases. I had a huge headache, we couldn't get them justice. But when we went to social media, we started seeing results," he said.
Uprety now runs the group from Canada, where he recently attained permanent protected status.
Confronting methods
This Is Lebanon's methods, however, are at times uncomfortable for those on the receiving end of the group's pressure. They directly intervene with employers when notified of abuse. Depending on its degree, they will publicly expose those accused.
Al Jazeera reviewed many cases This Is Lebanon has undertaken. In one example, the group contacted an employer - whose name has been retained - via phone. They shared a recording of the conversation with Al Jazeera:
Patricia (an admin on the This Is Lebanon Facebook page): "I'm calling you about your domestic worker ... as I understand she's been with you for two-and-a-half years, yes?"
Employer: "Yes."
Patricia: "When is she going home?"
Employer: "I don't know, she didn't tell me she wants to go home yet."
Patricia: "She wants to go home, we are talking to her family ... and you owe her eight months' salary."
Employer: "Yes, no problem I'm going to give it tom [tomorrow]- on Monday evening. Are you related to her?"
Patricia: "No, we're activists, 'Nashiteen.' ... and what about her Iqama [residency permit]?"
Employer: "Yes I will do it for her very soon."
Patricia: "Why haven't you done it?"
Employer: "Because I don't have money actually."
Patricia: "Well, if you don't have money you shouldn't have a maid."
Employer: "OK, Monday I'll pay her salary and then make it [the residency permit] after two weeks."
Patricia: "Ok, I will send you a message on WhatsApp. I'll talk to you on WhatsApp, thank you very much."
Employer: "You're welcome."
Patricia then speaks to him on WhatsApp:
In another example, the case went less smoothly.
The man stopped replying.
A separate screenshot shows the lengths This Is Lebanon is willing to go. After not responding for several days, the employer is sent a message containing a link to a video recorded by the sister of the domestic worker he employs.
This Is Lebanon often posts the results of cases on its page. Late last year, a video was posted of a domestic worker who This Is Lebanon apparently helped obtain $10,000 in outstanding salary and return home.
"I just want to say thank you for all you did for me when I was in Lebanon ... With your help I was able to get back my entire salary, so thank you from the bottom of my heart.
In the comments below the video, a domestic worker says she needs help. Her employer is only paying her a fraction of her salary. "What's your WhatsApp number?" This Is Lebanon comments.
That's how a large chunk of their cases begin. After facing abuse, Uprety says many helped by This Is Lebanon become part of its growing network.
'I love Lebanon... but hate the system'
"I went to Lebanon wanting to work. I did it for a couple of years, and some employers didn't pay me and harassed and mistreated me. I was beaten up by my employer," Sara, a former domestic worker, told Al Jazeera. "Then I had to run [away] from that place, because they wanted me to be deported, and I wasn't ready to go home."
Sara has since left Lebanon, and now lives in Canada, where she volunteers for the group.
But she says she doesn't enjoy being away. "I have no personal life. It always scares me if I want to go and have fun - what if I come back to the phone and there's something bad waiting for me, someone died or threw themselves from the balcony?" she said.
"I don't hate Lebanon, I love Lebanon and the Lebanese people. You have no idea how many Lebanese are involved to help change this bad image of the country," she said. "I love the country but I hate the system, I hate people who think they have power and can abuse us unpunished."
'This is blackmail'
Still, some employers say they have unjustly had their reputations ruined by the group.
Jean - not his real name - is one of them. He says his livelihood has been threatened by false accusations that he hasn't paid his maid, and was keeping her in Lebanon against her will. Upon his request, details of his case have been retained.
Jean said This Is Lebanon had tried to establish contact with the domestic worker he employs after she stopped talking to her family and ceased remitting money.
But he said the domestic worker had done so on her own volition, fearing that none would be left when she eventually returned to her country of origin.
He showed Al Jazeera videos of the domestic worker at a notary near Beirut, with a wad of money on the table in front of her, as she signed a statement:
Notary: "Did you want the money to go to [country of origin]?"
Domestic worker: "No."
Notary: "Why?"
Domestic worker: "I'll take them with me when I go."
Notary: "Do you want 'Mr.' to send money to [country of origin]?
Notary: "Are you happy to be with him?"
Domestic worker: "Yes."
Notary: "This is your money right?"
Notary: "This paper, you know what you're signing? You're saying 'Mr.' paid you and you don't want to send it."
Notary: "Ok, sign."
She proceeds to sign the document, which is written in Arabic.
Al Jazeera confirmed the details of the document, but did not speak directly to the domestic worker.
In a months-long public campaign, This Is Lebanon has called on Jean to return the domestic worker home.
"I'm sure that some people on this page are abusive, but I treat [my domestic worker] well," he said.
"This is not Lebanon. This is blackmail."
Asked how he was sure of the veracity of what he was posting, Uprety responded that This Is Lebanon achieves more justice than the Lebanese justice system ever has - even if mistakes are made. And Uprety rejected the claim that This Is Lebanon has ever falsely accused someone.
Lebanese Justice Minister Albert Serhan told Al Jazeera that he was still studying the efficacy of Lebanese courts on cases related to the Kafala system after recently being appointed to his post. He said he had confidence in their ability to hand down just verdicts, but said he would seek to amend laws where issues are found.
"I think there are plans for some changes. Hopefully, we will be doing that soon," Serhan said.
A 2010 study by Human Rights Watch (HRW) of over 100 legal cases involving domestic workers found "the justice system generally was inaccessible and unresponsive to their demands," Aya Majzoub, a Lebanese researcher at HRW, told Al Jazeera.
Majzoub said rulings were obtained in favour of domestic workers only when there was severe physical violence backed up by overwhelming medical evidence. "Anything short of that failed to get the attention of the police and prosecutors," she said.
That leaves a major gap for groups like This Is Lebanon to fill. Indeed, Sara says they are only growing, with round-the-clock shifts in Canada, lawyers working cases in Lebanon, and a network spanning the world.
"We deserve justice," she said. "Currently, there is no way for that in Lebanese courts."


Sam Abuelsamid from AutoBlog: The 2-Mode Hybrid version of the Saturn Vue had initially been scheduled to go into production in November of 2008. However, as General Motors careened toward financial apocalypse, many product programs were put on hold or canceled altogether. Among those was the new hybrid Vue, which was delayed at least twice before finally being terminated altogether in late spring.
IntelliChoice.com, the leading source for automotive ownership cost and value analysis, today announced its "Best Deals of the Month" for new cars for August 2009. To determine its picks, IntelliChoice analyzes monthly values for new cars and trucks based on the seven primary factors that determine a vehicle's long-term ownership costs: fuel economy, maintenance, repair, retained or resale value, licensing, state fees and taxes. Using these seven factors, IntelliChoice determines what it costs to own and operate new cars over five years.
Sam Abuelsamid from Autoblog: We had a chance for a quick drive of a development prototype for Buick's upcoming plug-in hybrid crossover this week at the GM proving ground. The prototype was still wearing its Saturn grille and badging as that was the original intent of the program. When Rick Wagoner announced in late 2006 that the company would develop a plug-in hybrid, it was intended to the be the Vue.
Did Buick's SUV Announcement Hint at New Powertrain Options for the 2011 Saturn Vue?
Last week General Motors announced Buick would begin selling a new compact crossover in 2010. Later in 2011, the vehicle will feature the company's state-of-the-art plug-in hybrid technology. The Buick will be launched with two of fuel-efficient direct-injected gasoline engines: Ecotec 2.4L direct-injected four-cylinder engine with an optional 3.0L direct-injected V6. GM says the 2.4L will deliver 30 miles per gallon or more on the highway, a modest statement since the redesigned and just released 2010 Chevrolet Equinox with the same powertrain earned a 32 mpg rating by the EPA.
Kevin Krolicki from Reuters: General Motors is on track to launch a plug-in sport-utility vehicle in 2011 despite scrapping its Saturn brand as part of a sweeping reorganization in bankruptcy, according to the automaker's product chief. "I can tell you that I won't lose one day in terms of customers being able to walk into dealerships and actually purchase a plug-in," GM Vice Chairman Tom Stephens said in an interview. Last year GM also announced plans for a plug-in version of its Saturn Vue SUV that would carry a lithium-ion battery pack rechargeable at a standard outlet, reducing the need for gas consumption from its 3.6-liter engine.
Earlier this month, Insure.com compiled a list of 300 vehicles and their associated insurance premiums. On the list of the 20 least expensive cars to insure was the Saturn Vue, ranking ninth. For those of you who don't own a Vue, you'll be happy to know that most Saturn models did well in their categories. The only exceptions were Saturn's hybrid models, which due to their electrified powertrains, are more expensive to replace in the event of a collision. Despite these higher premiums, Saturn hybrids still managed to rank in the middle of their respective classes.
Jorge Chapa from Inhabitat.com: Ohio State University recently took top honors in the 2009 EcoCAR Competition, which challenged students across the US and Canada to redesign a standard Saturn Vue into an ultra-efficient vehicle. Their winning EcoCAR utilizes a lithium battery and an ethanol-fueled engine to achieve an incredible 300% increase in fuel efficiency over its standard model counterpart! The vehicle took plenty of man hours, good design and well-honed math skills, but the end result proves that future-forward vehicles can be built with the technology of today.
Should Penske Contract with AFS Trinity to Electrify the Saturn Vue?
Warren Brown from the Washington Post: Small, independent car companies such as California-based Tesla Motors and AFS Trinity Power of Bellevue, Washington, have come up with electric models that give their gasoline counterparts a very fast run for the money. After driving an "extreme hybrid" AFS Trinity version of a Saturn Vue SUV, which beats all GM Saturn Vue models in fuel-economy and straight-line acceleration, here's suggesting that the Penske Group, Saturn's new owner, get in contact with AFS Trinity.
This modified blue '04 Saturn Ion Red Line will be auctioned by Barrett-Jackson in Scottsdale, Arizona later this week.
There are currently 7 users and 270 guests online.


text:
Pedro Montalvo Gómez (born 2 June 1968) is a Mexican politician from the Institutional Revolutionary Party. From 2006 to 2009 he served as Deputy of the LX Legislature of the Mexican Congress representing Veracruz, and previously served as municipal president of Omealca.

References

1968 births
Living people
Politicians from Veracruz
Institutional Revolutionary Party politicians
21st-century Mexican politicians
Municipal presidents in Veracruz
Deputies of the LX Legislature of Mexico
Members of the Chamber of Deputies (Mexico) for Veracruz

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
You are at:Home»Articles from Our Contributors»Year of Faith: St. Marianne Cope and German Potato Salad
Year of Faith: St. Marianne Cope and German Potato Salad
By Guest on	 June 6, 2013 Articles from Our Contributors
German Potato Salad in honor of St. Marianne Cope
This month's Year of Faith is listed on the USCCB Saints for the Year of Faith.
The month of June is dedicated to St Marianne Cope
Marianne Cope was born Barbara Koob in January 23, 1838 in West Germany. She was the oldest of 10 children born to Peter and Barbara Koob. The family moved to the United States a year after she was born. They became members of St. Joseph's Parish in Utica NY . That is where the children attended the Parish School.
Barbara knew she wanted to be a nun all her life, but because of family obligations it was delayed. When her father became ill, she went to work in a factory after finishing the 8th grade. In the summer of her 24th birthday, Barbara entered the Sisters of St. Francis in Syracuse. She received the name of Marianne and her religious habit in November of 1862. The next year she made her religious profession and began teaching.
She began a series of appointments which enabled her to participate in establishing the first two hospitals in the central New York area. Mother Marianne was down to earth and practical. Sometimes she was criticized for accepting outcast patients. Everyone who knew her loved her. when she was the provincial Mother in Syracuse, she got a letter from a catholic priest in the Hawaiian Islands. He was asking for her help to manage the hospitals and Schools and to manly work with Leprosy patients. She enthusiastically wrote him back and said that if she was chosen, it would be her privilege to take care of the poor islanders.
She and six other Sisters of St. Francis arrived in Honolulu in November 1883. Their main goal was to manage the Kaka'ako branch hospital on Oahu. This served as a receiving station for all the leprosy patients from all over the islands. In November 1885 they founded the Kalaupapa home to care for the children of the leaper patients.
In 1887 when a new government took charge, they decided once again to enforce their alienation policy. Mother Marianne stayed and helped take care of the sick.
She promised Father Francis that she and the other nuns would continue taking care of the sick. Especially the children at the boys home in Kalawao which he founded. He died a few months later.
Mother Marianne never made it back to New York. She died in Hawaii on August 9, 1918 of natural causes. She was buried at the Bishop Home.
I decided to make German Potato salad in honor of her German heritage.
2 pounds mixed colored potatoes
1/2 pound chopped bacon
2 tablespoons chives for garnish
Place potatoes in a medium pot. Add enough water to cover the pot by an inch or two. Add about a tablespoon of salt to the water. Bring the water to a boil over medium high heat. Cook 15-20 minutes or until potatoes are fork tender. Drain and dice into 1/2 inch pieces.
Cook the bacon in a large skillet over medium high heat until crisp. Place bacon on a paper towel to drain off the fat.
Remove most of bacon fat except 2-3 tablespoons. Add the onions and cook 4-5 minutes more. Whisk in vinegar, sugar, Dijon and salt. Add cooked potatoes and toss to coat. Top with bacon and garish with chives.
Copyright 2013 Veronica Gantley
We welcome guest contributors who graciously volunteer their writing for our readers. Please support our guest writers by visiting their sites, purchasing their work, and leaving comments to thank them for sharing their gifts here on CatholicMom.com. To inquire about serving as a guest contributor, contact editor@CatholicMom.com.


I began to take photos of newborn babies at the end of the year and I loved how the photographs turned out, as did their parents. I'm hoping that in 2017 I can carry on with my photography and maybe start out as a professional. Watch this space.
My thoughts for 2017? I have the big 4 0 birthday beginning of April and hubby and I are going to New York for four nights. I'm just a little bit excited for that adventure!! Eek!
I'm planning on decorating the dining room and possibly the living room, new flooring, new sofas and we need new windows ( the list is endless, but the pot of money is not!)… not sure it will all get done due to the expense 💰 But we'll see.
Photography, I hope to carry on where I've left off this year. I got a new lens for Christmas, so I'm practicing with that.
Let's see where the new year takes us!


For every 5 Oz Flannel Shirt search, NextDealAddict shows the most relevant products from top stores right on the first page of results, and delivers a visually compelling, efficient and complete online shopping experience from the browser, smartphone or tablet.
The perfect flannel shirt for cool days. Built with cotton flannel that is brushed on two sides for exceptional softness and comfort. Wear on its own or layers for extra warmth on cold winter days.
An outdoorsman's wardrobe is not complete without a great flannel. Our exclusive plaids are made from 100% cotton soft brushed flannel. Featuring double pleat back for ease of movement and contrasting corduroy lined collar and cuffs for a great look and lasting durability. Left chest pocket with pencil slot and button closure, and adjustable cuffs.
Never has there been a finer mountain-man shirt. Named after our friend and landlord, Bob and his Wyoming homestead family, he grazes livestock and miniature cutter horses right outside our office windows #MKlivin. 100% cotton flannel. Classic fit.
Casual fit, long sleeve button up shirt, stand collar, two chest pockets, curved hem. Fabric: 5oz 100% polyester flannel twill - multi colored plaid - wicking and UV protection.
Never has there been a finer mountain-man shirt. Named after our friend and landlord, Bob and his Wyoming homestead family, he grazes livestock and miniature and cutter horses right outside our office windows #MKlivin. Imported. 100% cotton flannel. Classic fit.
Customers who bought 5 Oz Flannel Shirt also bought Bronze Ashfield Bathroom Faucet, Amethyst Peridot Citrine Ring, Pinzon Bamboo - you may also be interested in these popular items.


The Midwest Market Days® trade show is conveniently located just 15 minutes from Chicago's O'Hare International Airport.
Buyers from independent retailers, mass merchants and wholesale distributors enjoy the concise, comfortable and casual buying atmosphere. We have assembled more than 50 industry-leading vendors into 3 accessible locations, simplifying the buying experience. View thousands of closeout and direct import general merchandise items across a wide variety of product categories.
At Midwest Market Days® each buyer is greeted personally by trade show staff.
Buyers are supplied a detailed exhibitor list, showroom floor plans and other show-related materials to make their experience easy and comfortable.
A continental breakfast and buffet lunch are served daily during each event – complimentary!
Midwest Market Days® provides a free shuttle service to ensure all buyers are able to get to and from the participating showrooms and their hotels without hassle.
We host 7 events a year. For details on individual events please see our Calendar of Events.
Midwest Market Day is a registered trademark of Regent Products Corp.


text:
Update 056: Volume 25, Number 1 (2011-1)
View Update Index
Update 2011-1
New round of 2011 doctor-prescribed suicide bills introduced in targeted states
Along with snow, rain, and freezing temperatures, the new year brought with it another round of new bills dealing with assisted suicide. Thus far, bills have been introduced or are in the pipeline to be introduced in Montana, Vermont, Hawaii, New Hampshire, and Connecticut.
When the Montana Supreme Court handed down its 2009 decision in Baxter v. Montana—finding that no Montana statute expressly makes doctor-assisted suicide illegal—the court was essentially telling the state's legislators that it would be up to them if they wanted to prohibit the practice or legalize it. To that end, two senators have drafted competing bills that were introduced in January.
Senator Anders Blewett (D-Great Falls) wants to make doctor-prescribed suicide legal. He is the main sponsor of SB 167, the "Montana Death with Dignity Act." As its name suggests, the bill is a virtual clone of the Oregon and Washington State assisted-suicide laws. Representative Dick Barrett (D–Missoula) will be introducing the House version of the bill at a later date.
Senator Greg Hinkle (R-Thompson Falls) wants death by prescription to be illegal in Montana and has sponsored two bills addressing the risks that assisted suicide poses for vulnerable citizens. SB 116 would protect the elderly from the abuse of being pressured or coerced into choosing assisted suicide so that others could benefit financially and other ways from their deaths. The bill explicitly prohibits aid-in-dying, assisted suicide, euthanasia, and mercy killing. The second bill, SB 169, sets minimum prison sentences and fines for a "suicide predator," defined as one "who purposely or knowingly causes the death of a second person by suicide or who purposely or knowingly aids or solicits another to commit suicide." [SB 169, Section 3(2)]
Last November, the prescribed-suicide advocacy organization Death with Dignity National Center (DWDNC) announced with great fanfare that Vermont would be the next state to legalize assisted suicide. According to DWDNC Executive Director Peg Sandeen, the group's research and polling indicated that the passage of a bill sometime in 2011 would be doable, now that Vermont has a new Democratic governor who is a staunch assisted-suicide supporter and the state legislature is overwhelmingly Democratic. [DWDNC Press Release, 11/3/10]
The DWDNC, in partnership with the local assisted-suicide group Patient Choices Vermont (PCVT), announced that a bill would be introduced by the end of January. However, as of January 31, no measure had been introduced. A draft version of an Oregon-style bill—titled the "Vermont Patient-Directed Dying Bill"—can be viewed on PC-VT's web site (http://patientchoices.org/?p=258).
If and when a bill is introduced, it won't be as easy as DWDNC says it will to pass the measure. Senate President John Campbell, a Democrat, has already said that he will not support the bill, and Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Sears, also a Democrat, has said publically that he has "grave concerns" about legalized assisted suicide. On the House side, there is also no guarantee of passage. A 2007 assisted-suicide bill was defeated by a margin of 82-63 in the House, and the vote did not follow party lines. [Burlington Free Press, 1/4/11; Bennington Banner, 1/6/11; Times Argus, 1/12/11]
Hawaii is one of the states that has been repeatedly targeted by right-to-die advocates. Since 1998, Hawaii has had 24 bills to legalize doctor-assisted suicide introduced in its legislature. All of those measures failed.
In January, death-by-prescription proponents introduced three bills. SB 803 and HB 1383—identical companion bills, both entitled "Death with Dignity"—were introduced on January 21 and 25, respectively. Both have passed their first reading, and SB 803 has been referred to the Senate's Judiciary & Labor Committee and the Health Committee. The third bill, HB 1165, is similar to the companion bills, but it is titled "Compassion in Passing." This measure appears to be on the fast-track. It was introduced, passed its first reading, and was referred to two House committees all in one day, January 26. But, after so many attempts to legalize assisted suicide over the years, Hawaii has a strong opposition coalition in place to counter all three bills.
Like Vermont and Hawaii, New Hampshire has been a repeated target for prescribed-suicide bills. The current bill, HB 513, is virtually identical to a measure that advocates introduced in 2009. That bill, HB 304, was overwhelming defeated in a House floor vote on January 13, 2010. The vote was 242-113 against passage.
Resurrected for the 2011 legislative session, HB 513 was introduced on January 6 and referred to the House Health, Human Services, and Elderly Affairs Committee. The deadline to vote it out of committee is March 10. The bill would allow people who are not state residents to qualify for assisted suicide as long as they are "regularly treated in a New Hampshire health care facility." [HB 513, §137-L:2 XII.]
Unlike bills introduced in other targeted states to legalize assisted suicide, Connecticut's Proposed Bill 356 would establish a "mandatory minimum term of imprisonment for the crime of assisted suicide" for anyone convicted of "intentionally causing or aiding another… to commit suicide." Two years of any sentence imposed "shall not be suspended or reduced by the court. [LCO No.2084]
Our name has changed, but not our mission
As you may have noticed in the above Update masthead, our name has officially changed from the International Task Force on Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide to the Patients Rights Council.
For those charged with fitting our old, awkwardly-long name into limited newspaper print space or on TV news screens to identify our spokespersons, the change to a shorter name is most welcomed. But that, of course, isn't the main reason for the change.
An organization's name should reflect the work or mission of that group. When we first opened our doors in 1987 as the International Anti-Euthanasia Task Force, the old 1930s euthanasia movement was in the process of being resurrected internationally by the World Federation of Right to Die Societies and nationally by two organizations, the Hemlock Society and the Society for the Right to Die. The stated goal of these groups was the legalization of euthanasia—the active termination of a patient's life by a third person, usually a doctor. At the time, our name reflected exactly who we were and what our position was (and still is): anti-euthanasia.
When American euthanasia groups figured out—after defeated initiative drives in California (1988 & 1992) and Washington State (1991)—that voters were not likely to legalize euthanasia in the foreseeable future, they decided to lessen their ambition and take "baby steps" toward their goal. The first baby step was to dump the word "euthanasia" and, instead, campaign for the legalization of "physician-assisted suicide"—meaning a willing doctor writes a prescription for a lethal drug overdose that a patient takes to commit suicide. The next step was to try their new strategy in Oregon, where they succeeded in passing their assisted-suicide initiative, the Oregon Death with Dignity Act, in 1994.
While internationally the battle was still about euthanasia, at home our efforts largely involved creating and disseminating documented information on assisted suicide: providing testimony, when asked, in state legislatures and in Washington D.C.; analyzing policy statements; writing articles; providing data and training in states targeted for assisted suicide measures; and appearing on TV and radio programs. We eventually decided to add "assisted suicide" to our name and became the International Task Force on Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide.
So, why change our name again? Because, while we staunchly oppose both euthanasia and assisted suicide as practices that abandon patients when they are most vulnerable, our broader focus is on protecting the rights of patients in all end-of-life situations, including cases involving the unwanted withholding of food and fluids from incompetent patients or the denial of wanted life-saving treatment deemed futile by providers. We created our state-specific Protective Medical Decisions Document to make sure that patients have an advance directive that will ensure their wishes and prohibit induced-death practices. We are about protecting patients' rights. We are the Patients Rights Council.
Assisted suicide advocacy: rhetoric or reality?
The arguments used by assisted-suicide advocates when they are campaigning to legalize death by prescription in targeted states is usually scripted and predictable. They claim that adult patients have the right to decide when, where, and how they will die. But not every patient has that right. The only patients who would qualify for "aid-in-dying" (advocates' term for assisted suicide) are terminally-ill patients with six months or less to live, who are of sound mind (capable) and able to take the lethal drugs on their own. Not to worry, they say, those restrictive safeguards against abuse would be in concrete if the state passed their measure to legalize doctor-prescribed suicide.
Yet, comments from the assisted-suicide advocacy group Compassion & Choices (C&C), regarding a recent case in Connecticut, indicate that the "concrete" safeguards that advocates talk about may be just that—talk.
The case involved the death of 82-year-old George Brodigan, an Alzheimer's patient whose condition deteriorated rapidly a couple of months before he died last September of an overdose of alcohol and an anti-depressant that had been prescribed to his son, Bruce Brodigan.
Bruce claimed that his father had said previously that he wanted to take his own life before he became totally incapacitated, so Bruce helped him. In Connecticut, however, assisted suicide is a felony, so the son was charged with second-degree manslaughter, tampering with evidence, making false statements, and interfering with the police. He allegedly followed procedures explained in the suicide manual Final Exit, something, police said, his father would not have been capable of given his dementia. According to the local police chief, "You've got a person who is a party here who has an interest in the outcome who is assisting the suicide." [Hartford Courant, 1/11/11; West Hartford Patch, 1/13/11 ]
When word of the Brodigan case hit the news, C&C issued a press release titled, "Prosecution of Son Shows Need for Rational End-of-Life Policy in Connecticut." "This gentleman should have been able to… find a peaceful, legal way out of the dilemma of advancing dementia," said C&C president Barbara Coombs Lee. "…George Brodigan and his family should have had better end-of-life options," she added. The press release then listed the 800 number for C&C's End-of-Life Consultation program that, according to the release, responds "to requests for information on a client's options for a peaceful, dignified death." [C&C Press Release, 1/11/11]
Nowhere in C&C's press release does it state that George had Alzheimer's and, therefore, was not capable of making a decision on death options. If advocates' claims are to be believed, that alone should have disqualified him from a C&C-style "peaceful, dignified death." Furthermore, the fact that he had Alzheimer's does not mean he was terminally-ill with a life-expectancy of six months or less—another disqualifying factor.
As the press release shows, C&C is adept at using vague language to advance its agenda. Coombs Lee never specifies what those "better end-of-life options" are or what a "rational end-of-life policy" would be—just that Connecticut badly needs one. Moreover, what could possibly be a "way out of the dilemma of advancing dementia" other than death? After all, there is currently no cure for dementia, but she doesn't say what the "way out" is. She was, however, careful to use the word "legal" to describe that "way out," giving the impression assisted suicide couldn't be it since the practice is currently illegal.
But, what if it were legal? Then, Coombs Lee has already set the stage for assisted suicide to be an integral part of the "rational end-of-life policy" that she says the state needs. Given C&C's history of repeated attempts to legalize the practice in Connecticut, don't count on it giving up any time soon.
And, as for the claims by assisted-suicide advocates that the restrictive safeguards of assisted-suicide laws will absolutely prevent the abuse of patients like George Brodigan, well, that's just rhetoric.
Final Exit Network in the news… again
Final Exit Network (FEN), a national group of volunteers who travel around the country to assist the suicides of its members, is heavily into self-promotion. Starting in January, 48 U.S. airports will be running public service announcements on monitors throughout their terminals pushing assisted suicide, promoting FEN membership, and asking for support.
In addition, an interview with FEN's president, Jerry Dincin, will play on over 4,000 American and European flights during January and February. In the interview, Dincin talks about FEN's "compassionate support" for members who want to die because of an "irreversible illness" that they feel is unbearable. [FEN Press Release, 1/3/11]
Meanwhile, FEN and four of its volunteers still face felony charges in Georgia for assisting the suicide of a man and holding his hands down so he couldn't remove the helium-filled, plastic bag over his head. In a counter maneuver, FEN's lawyers have charged in court that Georgia's assisted-suicide law is unconstitutional because it violates FEN's right of free speech under the First Amendment. Since the law is unconstitutional, the lawyers argued, FEN should not be prosecuted and the case should be dismissed. As yet, no ruling has been handed down. [Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 12/9/10]
Oregon releases skimpiest annual report yet on assisted-suicide deaths
Once again, the Oregon Public Health Division (OPHD) has released an annual assisted-suicide report that contains less information than the year before. The OPHD is required by Oregon's Death with Dignity law to gather data on doctor compliance with the law and issue a yearly statistical report on assisted-suicide practice and the deaths that occurred in a given year. But over the years, the reports have given the public less and less data to adequately assess doctor-prescribed suicide practice.
According to the most recent 2010 report, released on January 26, 2011, 59 doctors wrote 96 prescriptions for lethal drugs in 2010. Of the 96 patients who received those prescriptions, 59 died by taking the drugs. Six more patients—who had their drugs prescribed to them before 2010, but took them in 2010—also died, bringing the total reported assisted-suicide deaths for 2010 to 65. The total reported body count over the 13-year period since the assisted-suicide law took effect in 1997 has now reached 525.
The OPHD admits the 2010 report is incomplete. The data comes from doctors' reports and death certificates submitted to the OPHD on or before January 7, 2011. Since there is often a delay in receiving these documents, there were probably more assisted-suicide deaths in 2010 than the 65 reported, but the OPHD hasn't as yet received the requisite documents. The report states the OPHD simply does not know the status of 15 patients who received prescriptions in 2010.
Moreover, as a result of a mid-year "procedure revision," the 2010 report only has data on the "time of and circumstances surrounding death" for 32 of the 65 patients who reportedly died. That means the report is missing data on 33 patients at the most crucial time in the assisted-suicide process.
The report does reveal, however, that two patients did not die after taking the prescribed drugs. Both eventually regained consciousness and died of their underlying illnesses—one after five days, the other three months later.
As in previous reports, the referral rate in 2010 for psychiatric evaluations was extremely low. Only one patient out of the 65 reported to have died was referred for a consultation to determine whether the patient's death request was the result of "impaired judgment," depression, or outside influence.
One doctor seriously violated the law by not waiting the required 48 hours after getting the patient's written death request before writing the lethal drug prescription. He was referred to the Oregon Medical Board, but no non-compliant doctor has ever been penalized since the law took effect.
For a chart of deaths under Oregon's law, see the PDF version of this Update.
For Kevorkian, Killing Was a Path to Fame and Fortune
by Wesley J. Smith
I try not to get into personalities here. But Jack Kevorkian is an icon of all that I see going wrong with our culture. The man was not—and is not—about compassionate help for people who are suffering. His assisted-suicide campaign was always about him.
Why do I bring this up? Because a recent press release, heralding a talk Kevorkian gave at UCLA on January 15, described the convicted murderer this way:
Los Angeles, CA – Dr. Jack Kevorkian, one of America's most prominent physicians, and widely considered a leading expert on Euthanasia, will be the guest of honor at a lecture at University of California, Los Angeles's Royce Hall…. (Emphasis added.)
A "most prominent physician"? I guess that's why Michigan suspended his license to practice medicine in 1991 and California followed suit in 1993. But California didn't stop there. The state permanently revoked his license in 1994. At the time of the suspension, the California Attorney General's office issued a statement saying that Kevorkian is "fundamentally unfit to practice medicine"!
The press release on Kevorkian's UCLA speech also called him "a world renowned pathologist." He was no such thing during his medical career. He blazed no trails. He developed no new techniques. Until he began making headlines, he had made few ripples. In fact, when he could no longer find work as a pathologist, he applied for a job as a paramedic. He didn't get it.
What is amazing—and truly appalling—is that the facts about Kevorkian don't matter a whit anymore. But it's important to keep those facts about Kevorkian in the public sphere in case anybody wishes to restore sanity about those we laud in public life:
Kevorkian's goal was not the relief of suffering.
His ultimate goal was to receive a license to engage in human vivisection. Kevorkian explained this yearning in his 1991 book Prescription Medicide: The Goodness of Planned Death, where, on page 214, he admitted that assisting "suffering or doomed persons kill themselves" was "merely the first step, an early distasteful professional obligation." Instead of wanting to help the dying, Kevorkian candidly acknowledged, he was actually pursuing his own obsession. "What I find most satisfying is the prospect of making possible the performance of invaluable experiments or other beneficial medical acts under conditions that this first unpleasant step can help establish—in a word, obitiatry."
Before beginning his assisted suicide campaign, he traveled to prisons in America where executions were carried out, asking to experiment on prisoners as part of the execution process.
He even met with some prisoners seeking consent. He only turned to the ill and disabled when he had been thwarted from using the criminal justice system to satisfy his macabre obsessions.
The majority of Kevorkian's assisted suicides were not people with terminal illnesses.
Autopsies showed that at least five weren't even sick!
Some of his victims were coerced or clearly depressed.
For example, Judith Curren, age 42, may have been a victim of spousal abuse. A woman who reportedly abused prescription drugs, Curren had reported her husband to the police for violently abusing her—that was shortly before he flew her to Kevorkian to die in 1996. She had been diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome, but her autopsy detected no illnesses.
He is bigoted against people with disabilities.
He once called quadriplegics and paraplegics who were not suicidal "pathological," and exposed his sympathy for eugenics in a court document, asserting, "The voluntary self-elimination of individual mortally diseased and crippled lives taken collectively can only enhance the preservation of public health and welfare." (In fact, his preying on depressed people with disabilities was the primary reason that the disability rights community jumped into the fray staunchly opposing assisted suicide. The respected group Not Dead Yet held its first demonstration in front of Kevorkian's residence.)
He ripped out the kidneys of one of his assisted suicide victims—an ex-cop named Joseph Tushkowski—who was depressed over his quadriplegia.
Kevorkian's "surgery" job was so crude that the Oakland County Medical Examiner called it a "bizarre mutilation," something you'd see in a "slaughterhouse." The medical examiner also noted that Kevorkian simply lifted up Tushkowski's sweater, did his dirty work, and tied off the blood vessels with twine. Kevorkian later held a press conference offering Tushkowski's kidneys on a "first come, first served" basis to anyone who wanted them. There were no takers, and the media simply yawned.
Back in 1998, in the wake of the Tushkowski news, I wrote about the real Kevorkian in the Weekly Standard:
Jack Kevorkian is a quack, a ghoul, and a fiend. He is a quack because, though once trained as a pathologist, he has no training or expertise in diagnosing or treating depression, and he has not treated a living patient, at least not one who survived his "treatment," since his residency and military service in the 1950s. (His license to practice medicine was lifted in 1991.) Yet he purports to advise despairing sick and disabled people about their medical prognoses. He is a ghoul because he is obsessed utterly with death. Indeed, his "Dr. Death" moniker dates back to his medical school days, when he would haunt hospital wards at night, staring into dying people's eyes. He is a fiend because his fondest dream is to slice open living people. He may also be the world's most clever serial killer, as one media observer once put it, since his victims come to him. ["The Serial Killer as Folk Hero: Kevorkian Proceeds with His Plan," Weekly Standard, 7/6/98]
I also put Kevorkian into a wider societal context:
The ultimate horror of Jack Kevorkian lies not in the hollowed-out body of his latest victim, but in the hollowness he has exposed in the society that tolerates—and even celebrates—his increasingly gruesome killing spree. [Weekly Standard, 7/6/98]
And it has only gotten worse. Al Pacino played Kevorkian in a puff propaganda biopic for HBO in which none of the above facts about Kevorkian made it into the original script, much less the film. Yet, the movie, You Don't Know Jack, received an Emmy for best miniseries, and Pacino won one for best actor.
Few things better illustrate the degradation and degeneration of our culture than the elevation of Kevorkian in the media and popular culture to respectability and adulation.
Wesley J. Smith is a Patients Rights Council legal consultant, a Center for Bioethics and Culture special consultants, a senior fellow in the Discovery Institute's Center on Human Exceptionalism. He is the author of many books including Forced Exit, The Culture of Death, and co-author of Power over Pain.
Belgian doctors harvest organs after euthanasia
Euthanasia has been legal in Belgium since 2002. Now, a group of doctors from the University Hospitals of Antwerp, Leuven and Liège have gone beyond terminating patients' lives to also harvesting those patients' organs for transplantation.
Three of the doctors even put together a PowerPoint presentation—explaining the procedure in a font that is more reminiscent of a pre-schooler's bedtime story than a medical text—and showed it at a conference held by the Belgian Royal Medical Academy in Brussels last December.
According to the presentation, high quality organs can be procured from euthanized patients with neuromuscular disorders—about 20% of all euthanized patients in Belgium. In 2008, there were more than 700 euthanasia cases reported.
The obvious benefit to harvesting these organs, the doctors say, is to increase the number of available high-quality organs, thereby solving the organ shortage problems in Belgium and other countries willing to accept organs from euthanized patients.
Just as with claims that euthanasia can only occur under strict rules or guidelines, the Belgian doctors say that a strict protocol must be followed when organs are taken from euthanized patients. Included in the protocol are the requirements that there be a "strict separation" between the euthanasia request, the euthanasia procedure, and the organ procurement, as well as a written "informed consent" from the donor and his/her relatives. The euthanasia must be performed by a neurologist or psychiatrist and two hospital doctors, and the organ retrieval can occur only after three doctors have made a "clinical diagnosis of death." Finally, the involvement of doctors and nurses in these procedures must be on a voluntary basis. [Ysebaert et al., "Organ Donation after Euthanasia: Belgian Experience," 12/9/10. PowerPoint presentation available.
This expansion of Belgian euthanasia practice to include organ harvesting prompted Michael Cook, editor of MercatorNet and the bioethics newsletter BioEdge, to write, "This seems like the ultimate in utilitarian compassion: make paralyzed people feel useful by killing them for their organs." He added facetiously, "It's something to look forward to if euthanasia ever gets legalized." [MercatorNet, 1/24/11]
Labeling euthanasia a big problem in Belgium
In a country where it's legal, how can euthanasia practice be controlled if doctors there don't know when they have euthanized someone and, therefore, don't report it? The answer: It can't be controlled.
That is the finding of a Belgian study published in the European Journal of Public Health. Researchers found that the main reason why at least half of Belgium's euthanasia deaths are going unreported is that many cases are "not labeled as euthanasia by the physician involved in the decision." That is also the reason why cases go unreported in the Netherlands.
Seven years after Belgium euthanasia law took effect, there are still doctors who confuse euthanasia with other end-of-life treatment options, like the withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment or aggressive pain management. In the study, two out of 10 doctors failed to correctly label an obvious case as euthanasia, and three out of 10 were unaware of the reporting requirement. In addition to the confusion over definitions, some doctors are simply unwilling to report euthanasia cases to official committees. [Smets et al., European Journal of Public Health, 12/3/10]
Scotland, France, Israel reject euthanasia bills
Scottish Parliament Member Margo Macdonald was dealt an overwhelming defeat when her End of Life Assistance (Scotland) Bill was rejected by a vote of 85-16 on December 1, 2010.
The bill would have allowed both euthanasia and doctor-assisted suicide. Anyone who was 16 or older and was terminally ill or "permanently physically incapacitated" would have qualified for a doctor-prescribed death. If the bill had passed, it would have made Scotland the only jurisdiction in the U.K. where euthanasia and assisted suicide was legal. Macdonald, who has Parkinson's disease, has vowed to try again to legalize both practices if she is reelected.
Parliament's strong opposition to the bill centered primarily on concerns about the protection of vulnerable patients. Scottish Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon told those present, "I personally find myself particularly concerned and fundamentally concerned about the difficulty I think would always and inevitably be present in determining that someone choosing to end their life had not been subjected to undue influence." [BBC News, 12/1/10; Scotsman, 12/2/10; Herald Scotland; 12/2/10]
The French Senate also defeated a bill—by a vote of 170-142—that would have legalized euthanasia for those with terminal illnesses or incurable conditions that cause physical or mental pain. Shortly before the January vote, Prime Minister François Fillon voiced his strong opposition, calling the bill "very dangerous" for patients and caregivers. The National Academy of Medicine opposed the measure as well. [MercatorNet, 2/1/11; NCR, 1/27/11]
Similarly, the Israeli Knesset rejected a measure, titled "Death by Prescription," that would have allowed doctors to prescribe lethal drugs to terminally-ill, adult patients. In January, just 16 Knesset members voted for the bill, while 48 voted it down. [Ynet News, 1/19/11]
News briefs from home & abroad . . .
Prescribed-death advocates in Oregon often claim that their assisted-suicide law has been instrumental in improving the quality of health care throughout the state and making Oregon a national leader in patient-centered medical treatment. But, that's far from the truth if you consider that Oregon's Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program—required by Federal law to protect the rights of patients in long-term care facilities—is ranked dead last among all 52 U.S. states and territories.
In an average state, there is one ombudsman monitoring 2,220 beds. Oregon only has one for 6,692 beds. The situation is so bad that there are no ombudsmen regularly monitoring two-thirds of Oregon's adult-care homes and none at all in six counties. And, while other states pay their ombudsmen, Oregon's are unpaid. They are a group of 150 volunteers who work a minimum of 16 hours a month. According to one volunteer, VeAnna Morgan, "When people are too ill or too weak or too old to really stand up for their rights, it's helpful to have someone there who is watching and making sure they are getting good care." [Oregonian, 12/31/10]
The dire ombudsman situation begs the question: If no one is there to ensure that those stuck in long-term care facilities receive the care and treatment they need, what's to stop these vulnerable patients from requesting an assisted suicide just to end the loneliness and inadequate or abusive treatment?
The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has unanimously ruled that Switzerland's requirement that a lethal suicide drug can be only dispensed if there is a doctor's prescription does not violate any personal privacy rights guaranteed by Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights. The case, Haas v. Switzerland, was brought by Ernst Haas, a Swiss resident who has had a serious bipolar disorder for 20 years. He had unsuccessfully attempted suicide twice before and wanted a lethal dose of sodium pentobarbital to ensure a pain-free death. When no doctor would write the necessary prescription, he turned to government authorities to allow him to get the drug without a prescription. Again, he was unsuccessful. Haas then brought his case to the ECHR, charging that the Swiss government had violated his privacy rights. But the court ruled that privacy rights had to be balanced with the protection of the right to life, and the prescription requirement protected people from making hasty decisions and prevented abuse. Referring specifically to Switzerland's permissive assisted-suicide policy, the court said, "The risk inherent in a system which facilitated assisted suicide could not be underestimated." [Bloomberg, 1/20/11; humanrightseutrope.org, 1/20/11; SwissInfo, 1/20/11]
In February 2010, Britain's Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) issued guidelines for determining whether assisted-suicide cases will be prosecuted in England and Wales. Since that time, the DPP has decided not to prosecute well over 20 people suspected of aiding another's suicide, a crime punishable by up to 14 years in prison. Those opposed to legalizing assisted suicide have charged that the DPP has essentially changed the law, putting vulnerable people at risk. [Daily Mail, 12/15/10]
Those who want assisted suicide legalized aren't happy either—even though, at the time the guidelines were released, Sarah Wooton, executive director of the advocacy group Dignity in Dying, called them "a victory for common sense and compassion." What advocates want is to formally change the law so assisted suicide is no longer a punishable crime.
Lord Falconer, a longtime assisted-suicide supporter, has formed the Commission on Assisted Dying, to objectively determine, he said, whether the law should be changed and, if so, what would be the best way to do it. His commission consists of 12 members, nine of whom are on record favoring assisted-suicide legalization. The idea for the commission came from Dignity in Dying, and the commission is funded in part by novelist Terry Prachett, another avid supporter of legalization. The commission is currently hearing testimony from both assisted-suicide proponents and opponents. [British Medical Journal. 1/24/11; This is London, 1/19/11; Guardian, 11/30/10; pjsaunders.blogspot.com. 11/30/10]


We are two weirdos that met on a whim in Italy in autumn of 2014. Basically, "an Aussie mechanic meets Canadian photographer abroad and the rest is history" kind of deal.
Our lives together have been one adventure after another, taking us through long distance dating (the FURTHEST distance you could possibly go - Adelaide to Toronto), throughout Europe, to moving in together in Toronto, getting a puppy and continuing to travel and live life to it's fullest.
The "everyday" for us consists of jumping into crazy Reno projects, planning our next trip and chasing after our crazy Wheaten Terrier, Winnie.
Thanks for venturing over to our side of the web. We can't wait to have you join in the journey!
For photography work, click HERE.


text:
How hospitals can manage and protect their complex medical device landscape from attacks
A real-time understanding of the ecosystem is critical to increasing return on investment, improving operational efficiencies and keeping patient care safe.
According to a Deloitte study, approximately 68% of medical devices will be either connected or connectable to a health system network by 2025. Each of those devices simultaneously represents an opportunity for healthcare providers to transform the delivery of patient care as well as for attackers to infiltrate a health system's network, as any device is a potential entry point for hackers. To strike a balance between improving patient care and mitigating cyber risks, hospitals need solutions to help manage and protect their medical devices and refine their security position.
Effective cybersecurity mitigation strategies require transparency
Today's healthcare networks are increasingly complex. The information that security, biomed and clinical engineers need to make good device management and security decisions to optimise the environment is often time-consuming and elusive to get. General-purpose discovery solutions do not possess the medical expertise to accurately identify the granular device details hospitals need to make informed decisions around procurement, deployment, maintenance, security, and management. As a result, most health systems must rely on manual inventories, which are error-prone and typically incomplete, making it extremely difficult for a hospital to deliver on all safety, efficiency, and availability requirements.
As most medical and IoMT devices are closed systems requiring extensive knowledge of proprietary software, clinical workflows, and protocols to accurately identify and understand them, they remain a blackhole for most solutions. Very few vendors want to invest the time and resources it takes to understand the thousands of different device types, manufacturers, protocols, and operational parameters found in a clinical network. As a result, health systems rely on the most basic of information, like device type, IP addresses, and ports when making sophisticated asset management and security decisions.
Without the right clinical context, however, it is hard for health systems to confidently take action to improve the efficiency and security of their environment. It is difficult to understand if activity is abnormal and dangerous or critical to the ongoing operation of the device. For example, it is not uncommon for medical devices to receive communications from the device manufacturer, yet security best practices would dictate that downloading anything from an external IP address should be blocked. Without clinical context and awareness, any action taken to disrupt the external connection could end up doing more harm than good.
Medigate helps to simplify medical and IoT device management and protection
Medigate's dedicated medical device security and asset management platform addresses the aforementioned challenges. It enables providers to deliver secure, connected care by fusing the knowledge and understanding of medical workflows, device identities and protocols with the reality of today's cybersecurity threats. The company's expertise allows hospitals to safely operate all medical devices on their network. This enables the deployment of existing and new devices to patients, while ensuring privacy and safety. For its efforts around cybersecurity, Medigate won the 2020 Frost & Sullivan 'Enabling Technology Leadership Award for Medical Device Security'.
"We were able to target our resources and remediation programming knowing exactly what to look for. In fact, we've since found that Medigate's ability to provide device location and maintenance state is saving us about 40-man hours per week," reveals Federico Nuno, a biomed executive at California-based Torrance Memorial Medical Center.
For more information, please visit medigate.io.
Credit: iProov
UK COVID-19 immunity passports entering live testing phase
Sophie Porter
Digital healthcare training is key to successful EPR go-live
Creating sustainable healthcare solutions and addressing the 10/90 gap
UVM restoring access to EHR weeks after cyberattack
How healthcare organizations can enhance RPM security, resiliency
Saudi Vision 2030: Cybersecurity through the lens of patient safety
Cloud EHR vendor nTreatment reportedly left medical records unprotected
Hackers taking aim at crucial COVID-19 vaccine 'cold chain,' says IBM
Imprivata acquires FairWarning, bolstering its threat detection intelligence


SUBOTICA - Serbia's women's volleyball team successfully finished the first tournament of Group A of the European League after beating Romania 3-1 (27-25, 25-16, 22-25, 22-15) in Subotica on Sunday evening.
Previously, Serbia defeated Hungary and Spain.
The second tournament of Group A will be played in Budapest from June 8-10, and Serbia is to take on Romania in the first round on Friday.


text:
Flash Fiction: Champion
February 24, 2012 February 23, 2012 Amy Tupper 2 Comments
Drawing by Emily Tupper, age 8
A flash fiction response to a challenge issued by Chuck Wendig at terribleminds.com.
The assignment was to write flash fiction where a character makes a "drama sandwich," as I came to think of it. In other words, write a compelling story where a character makes a sandwich.
This is my second attempt. The first attempt turned out to be a more nuanced story with less drama, less conflict. Since that story does not technically meet the criteria, I will post it tomorrow.
Both stories take place in the world of my book Tenderfoot. Bon appetit!
There's a story I haven't told Jules. At the time it happened, I thought I might fill her in as things went along. Jules has this mistaken idea that I, Nick, don't like her boyfriend. She makes assumptions like this all the time. Like everything is black or white, yin or yang, oil or water. You would think that by now she would see all the nuanced shades of gray but she doesn't. Her thinking is stuck. The reality is, I like Andrew. How can you not like a guy who takes care of his girl?
I was impressed when Andrew walked Jules back to her dorm after some asshat trolling for college girls on Franklin Street tried to rough her up in a bar room full of people. Having seen it time and time again with these star-crossed lovers, I knew Andrew would stay with Jules as long as possible. That's how it's always been – two magnets circling until they come close enough in proximity and they snap together, just like that. What I didn't expect was for Andrew to come back after he safely saw her home. I thought they'd spend the whole night together. But once I realized he was down below on the street, I quickly grabbed a pair of boots and ran down the stairs. I caught up with him around the corner. He was easy to track – he practically glowed from the contact high. What worried me was the whiff of adrenalin that lingered on his trail. And I was right. When I catch sight of Andrew he's standing next to the asshat in a sandwich shop.
So there they are, predator and prey. Fascinated, I walk in and get a front row seat, which is to say, I join them in line for a sandwich. It's a shame the place didn't sell popcorn.
The troll shifts his weight from foot to foot as some college girl makes his sandwich on the other side of the counter. She pulls a long sub roll off of a tray behind her and places it on the cutting board. Then she picks up a knife. That's when Andrew steps into the troll's personal space. I watch out of the corner of my eye as the troll looks up. His eyes widen. The troll steps away to the side, and hastily aligns his body forward. I hide a grin. Andrew's watching the girl. When she has the sub cut open, she looks up. First at me, then Andrew, then the troll. I smile.
"What do you want on your sandwich? And do you want cheese with that?" She asks the troll. Her nametag says "Amanda." How Americans love their informal formalities. The troll was concentrating so hard on Andrew, he seems a bit startled when she speaks to him.
"Buffalo Chicken, with that cheese there." He points beyond the glass.
"The provolone?" She asks. The troll nods.
Amanda's busy now, taking a portion of chicken out of a fridge behind her so she can put it in the microwave. While that's heating up, she picks up a portion of pre-sliced cheese, discards the plastic paper around it and peels back the slices. As she lays the neat little triangles on the bread, Andrew turns to stare straight at the troll. The troll fidgets a bit. I don't think he's drunk enough to cushion the freight train that's coming.
"What would you like on it?" Amanda asks.
The troll mumbles his reply, clearly unnerved. Amanda's eyes shift from the troll to Andrew and back. She makes a good choice – she puts her head down and begins to sprinkle lettuce, onion, and green peppers onto the sub.
All at once several things happen: the microwave beeps, Andrew steps closer, and the troll returns his stare. They stand eye-to-eye. This is starting to get interesting.
Andrew's shoulders have risen a smidge and I notice his fencing hand is absolutely still. The only question is when he will use it. The girl pulls the chopped sauced chicken from the microwave and begins laying it across. She puts a hand on the bottle of mayo.
"Would you like anything else?" From the way her eyes shift between them, she realizes there really is a problem.
The troll narrows his to a squint at Andrew as he replies, "I'm good." And then he steps right up to him and says, "I'd like this to go." Amanda wastes no time. She wraps that sub up, bags it, and asks for his money lickety-split. As the troll hands her the money, he asks her, "When do you get off work? We could go get a drink." And he leers. Her eyelashes flutter as the poor thing looks down and makes some excuse. This is followed by the distinct sound of one of Andrew's knuckles popping. The troll cocks his head at Andrew with such a smirk that now I'm ready to deck the guy.
Moving right along, Amanda asks Andrew, "Can I help you?"
Ever so politely, Andrew replies, "No thank you, I got what I came for." The troll leaves, sandwich in hand, and Andrew follows him out. I didn't bother to follow them. There's only one way this will go down. By the time I leave the sandwich shop, chewing black forest ham on oat with mayo and black olive, Andrew's already hit him a couple of times and is delivering a lecture on treating women right in the alley around the corner.
I pause for a moment and watch. It's always heartwarming to see a champion in action.
Art of Writing, TENDERFOOTandrew, chuck wendig, drama sandwich, flash fiction, nick, terribleminds
← Flash Fiction: Management Tool
Flash Fiction: Drama Sandwich →
2 thoughts on "Flash Fiction: Champion"
louisesor says:
Good story!!!!!
Amy Tupper says:
Glad you enjoyed it. Reoccurring character Andrew has an anger management issue. It is fun to write about because it's like a volcano – there's this long slow steam before the top blows off and all hell breaks loose.


text:
Q: How to batch calculate vector layer road lengths in QGIS? I'm trying to calculate the road length for hundreds of layers, each one being a small road vector layer. I usually follow the process at
https://www.qgistutorials.com/en/docs/calculating_line_lengths.html
which is basically creating a new field in the Field Calculator, entering $length, and looking at the sum in Summary Statistics. Is there a way to rapidly do this for all layers so I get a list of layers and the length of each?

A: One solution amongst multiple possibilities. You need to select your layers and they need to be lines.
selected_layers = iface.layerTreeView().selectedLayers()

for layer in selected_layers:
    print(f"{layer.name()} : {sum([f.geometry().length() for f in layer.getFeatures()])}")

or to always get meters units by using ellipsoidal length (borrowed from Calculating elipsoidal length of line in PyQGIS)
import pandas as pd

selected_layers = iface.layerTreeView().selectedLayers()

d = QgsDistanceArea()
d.setEllipsoid('WGS84')

result = []
for layer in selected_layers:
    tot = 0
    for f in layer.getFeatures():
        m = d.measureLength(f.geometry())
        if m > 0:
            tot += m
    print(f"{layer.name()} : {tot}")
    result.append([{layer.name()}, f"{tot}"])

# To get a dataframe
df = pd.DataFrame(result, columns=['layer_name', 'tot'])
df.to_csv("your_layers_count.csv", index=False)

# For export to CSV without pandas deps, see https://stackoverflow.com/questions/14037540/writing-a-python-list-of-lists-to-a-csv-file

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Courtesy Chrysler Jeep Dodge RAM in Tampa provides a selection of Featured pre-owned vehicles, representing popular cars, trucks and SUVs at the best prices from the manufacturers you are looking for. Located 11 minutes east of downtown Tampa, our dealership in Tampa is proud to serve St Pete, Lakeland, Bradenton and Clearwater, FL. Can't find what your looking for in our specials? View our entire used car inventory and find the perfect car at a great price. If we don't have it in our inventory, use our CarFinder tool and Courtesy Chrysler Dodge Jeep RAM will help you find the vehicle you are looking for.Courtesy Chrysler Jeep Dodge RAM is also one of the highest rated used car dealerships in Florida by Google, Cars.com, and other auto review sites. Whether you are looking for a used car for sale with only one owner, clean CARFAX® Vehicle History Report, or a used vehicle that is like new with extremely low miles, don't wast your time digging through CraigsList™ or CarMax® inventory. Visit Courtesy Chrysler Jeep Dodge RAM today.
At Courtesy Chrysler Jeep Dodge RAM, we understand that a new car, truck or SUV might not fit into your life plans, right now...and that's fine. If there's two things we promise never to do, it's to pressure you into doing something you don't want to or send used car buyers home with a sub-par car. You will leave our used car lot with confidence you got the best used car at the best price. If a used car doesn't satisfy our harsh scrutiny, you'll never even see it on our lot. This guarantees you an immaculate collection of only the best gently used cars around. You will also find Certified Pre-Owned vehicle in our featured inventory, giving you the extra protect you won't find a other used car dealerships. Shop our entire inventory today or visit us in person. And if you can't find what you are looking for, just use our CarFinder tool and we will located the perfect vehicle. We also have other great online tools that will help you in your car-buying process like our car payment calculator, credit application and car valuation tool.
Browsing through CraigsList™, using buy her pay here lots or CarMax® can be a headache when it comes to car shopping. At Courtesy CDJR, a new & used car dealership in Tampa, we offer a huge inventory from some of today's top brands including Acura, Nissan, Honda, Kia, Chevrolet, GMC, Toyota, Chrysler, Jeep, Ford, Dodge, Mercedes, Lexus and more. Whether it is a car, truck or SUV we are sure that we have something for you. If you are looking to sell your car or trade it in for a new, used or certified pre-owned vehicle, let our team of professional appraisers offer you top dollar for your trade before you visit CarMax® or DriveTime®! Our process is quick, easy and offers many benefits to you as a customer. Let us help you save time in your purchasing or selling process.
At Courtesy Chrysler Jeep Dodge RAM (located at 9207 E Adamo Drive Tampa, Florida), we know our cars, SUVs and trucks inside and out. This means our team will not only help you find your next car, but we will help you find the best car for you at the best price. Our goal at Courtesy Chrysler Jeep Dodge RAM is to be forthright in how our customers are treated. No games or gimmicks. That is possible because we are a Certified TrueCar Used Hyundai Car Dealer! We offer a large selection of pre-owned vehicles for sale in our pre-owned and featured pre-owned inventory. You'll never feel pressured to purchase your next vehicle at Courtesy Chrysler Jeep Dodge RAM TrueCar promise.
**While every reasonable effort is made to ensure the accuracy of this data, we are not responsible for any errors or omissions contained on these pages. Please verify any information in question with a dealership sales representative. With appointment pricing may include available incentives.


text:
L'inscription araméenne de Laghman est une inscription sur rocher de la vallée de Laghmân, Afghanistan, écrite en langue araméenne par l'empereur indien Ashoka aux environs de 260 av. J.-C., et souvent catégorisée comme l'un des Édits mineurs sur rocher. Cette inscription a été publiée en 1970 par André Dupont-Sommer. L'araméen ayant été la langue officielle de l'empire achéménide, disparu en 320 av.J-C avec les conquêtes d'Alexandre le Grand, il semble que cette inscription s'adressait directement aux populations de cet ancien empire encore présentes dans le nord-ouest de l'Inde, ou bien aux populations frontalières dont l'araméen restait la langue d'usage.

La découverte de cette inscription fait suite à celle de plusieurs autres inscriptions en araméen ou en grec (ou les deux ensembles), écrites par Asoka. Les plus célèbres sont l'inscription bilingue de Kandahar, écrite en grec et en araméen, ou les Édits grecs d'Ashoka, aussi découverts à Kandahar. Auparavant, en 1915, Sir John Marshall découvrit une inscription en araméen à Taxila, en 1932 une autre inscription en araméen fut découverte dans la vallée de Laghman à Pul-i-Darunteh, l'Inscription araméenne de Lampaka, puis en 1963 une inscription "indo-araméenne" alternant langue indienne et en langue araméenne, mais utilisant uniquement les caractères araméens, les parties araméennes traduisant les parties indiennes transcrites dans l'alphabet araméen, découverte elle aussi à Kandahar, l'Inscription araméenne de Kandahar.

Le texte de l'inscription a été traduit comme suit:

La traduction est légèrement incomplète mais apporte quelques précieuses indications. Elle mentionne d'abord la propagation de règles morales, ce qu'Ashoka appellera le "dharma" dans ses Édits d'Ashoka, consistant en l'abandon de la vanité et au respect de la vie des animaux (ici, abandon de la pêche).

Ensuite, l'inscription mentionne la ville de Tadmor (Palmyre), destination de la grande route commerciale menant de l'Inde au bassin méditerranéen, située à 3800 km de là. La distance de la ville est donnée en arcs, une unité inconnue, mais qui pourrait représenter une journée de route d'un archer, de 15 à 20 kilomètres. D'autres distances ensuite sont données, ce qui permet d'interprêter l'inscription de Laghman comme une sorte de borne informative sur la grande route commerciale avec l'ouest.

Il s'agit de la plus ancienne des inscriptions d'Ashoka connues, avec l'inscription bilingue de Kandahar, toutes deux étant datées de l'an 10 du règne d'Ashoka.

Une autre inscription en araméen, quasi identique, a encore été découverte à proximité dans la vallée de Laghman, et publiée en 1974.

Voir aussi
 Liste des édits d'Ashoka
 Inscription bilingue de Kandahar
 Inscription de Kinéas
 Asoka - the Buddhist Emperor of India by Vincent Arthur Smith
Chapter 4: The Rock Edicts (this version)

Références

Site archéologique en Afghanistan
Inscription en araméen