b). these goods are quite important to Moroccan households, who are very price-sensitive to any changes.
Before that, I will just develop some basic microeconomics theory on Monopoly. The starting point is about how a company charges the 'market price', if it has any grip on it. We do assume that prices are exogenous to any market player; it seems that price-taking process, the core structure of market economics, is ignored by the companies, though they cling to the very idea of open markets. That's a contradiction in terms, since a true market economy is not rent-providing, or even profit-providing in market equilibrium.
As long as market price is above the marginal cost, the firm will produce till it reaches the optimal* quantity (which, in comparison to other market situation, is the highest) for a social equilibrium.
Clearly, the academic definition of a monopoly is quite revealing: there's nothing beneficial for a society from a monopoly –save perhaps for the monopolist themselves-, in that sense that they capture the consumers' surplus (the premium between the market price and their maximum reserve price), the captured surplus is therefore a rent, which is in turn spent as dividend –rather than investments as we are ld to believe in our 'national' economic model- to the wealthy.
There's of course a fine line between a 'Marshallian' pure economics and the actual and factual economics we are dealing with. In facts, absolute/pure monopolies do not exist. However, in a more refined economic theory, duopoly and strong-form oligopolies do replicate the same pricing methods, but in a two-times model. I am of course referring to the Cournot/Stackelberg models, for which we need to understand the academics underlying before we can go further: indeed, aggressive moves on prices at a particular market does not necessarily mean competition (and therefore, outcomes to the benefit of consumers) since the tides could change to a much less price-friendly market structure. Basically, the Cournot model starts with the 'best response' strategy each company draws up against their competitors, they end up producing with monopoly quantities (because of their respective strategies) each firm enjoys a captured portion of total demand, but cannot charge it with the full marginal revenue, so they end up charging the pure competition market price, namely their marginal cost.
The general assumption is that all competitors enjoy similar cost structures, and subsequently, the same marginal cost (save for the fixed cost) otherwise; the one with the lowest cost takes it all. Despite its simplistic assumptions, the model could, for the available data, provide interesting insights on how particular markets are doing, and how some companies are taking advantage of it.
The Stackelberg model is even more accurate; the dynamic dimension is more important, and in our case, suits perfectly the edible-oil market: there's a leader that has a first-move advantage, and can subsequently use an advantage it has –in it's cost structure that would be discussed later on- to fix a certain amount of production that would, in the long run, simply oust any serious competitor, and leave little of market shares to the smaller followers.
Let us just have a look at two sets of the main consumption goods for a Moroccan household, Edible oil and Milk derivatives.
Let us just focus on the Milk derivatives (it so happens egg-production is relatively out of line here) I can still remember the cooperative Jaouda struggling successfully against the other SNI/ONA-subsidy (come to thing of that, SNI/ONA are everywhere, quite disturbing !) How do we make up for this one? Is the market really 'competitive'? First off, Jaouda (or shall we say, the Copag) is a cooperative, it works with a different economic paradigm (they do try to maximize their profit, but their cost structure has an additional term that changes that changes somewhat the classic optimization scheme, anyway, I think this article is quite interesting to read) the fact is, Copag is treating the local farmers with a win-win co-partnership, which allows for a steadier rate of profits, though at any rate Copag is posing a serious threat to Centrale Laitière.
Of course, they are taking away market share bits, but it does certainly not affect Centrale Laitière profits as we can draw up from their financial statements (2009): They managed to get 1Billion MAD in terms of cash result, which enabled them to distribute dividends for a total amount 461 Million MAD (2009). [Again, that could provide money for 5 regional departments for the Education ministry investment' allowance] The idea of dismantling Central Laitière and selling it by bits to local cooperatives is, I believe the right move for a government to ensure a lower market price and a fairer distribution of wealth, instead of spending it all on dividends to the wealthy.I shall devote another piece on the oligopolistic structure of the Moroccan economy –or at least, for some of the essential goods- and the need for a genuine democratic government to crack down radically this intolerable rent-seeking economics. I would be quite interested to write something on the 'grima' system; it looks as though the whole economic structure moves in a bizarre and rather unhealthy paradigm, namely the permanent quest of comfortable and effortless rents, just like 'grima' seekers.
All in all, temporary nationalization is not the pristine and flawless strategy we might think of. It is only the governmental move to deal with private monopolies and oligopolies. The 'grima-seeking' mentality, on the other hand, cannot and will not be done away only by abolishing these rents: to abolish oligopolies means also to abolish the licenses-approval system as well.
In essence, the left-leaning chum would be anti-monopoly (private monopoly of course). Why ? Because it makes people pay more for fewer goods, and it uses its dominant position to lock the market away and setup some kind of rent economy.
Does it sound odd? I mean, for a radical to advocate market competition instead of an old-fashion planned, centralized, state-owned economy. Of course, if you keep cluttering your mind about it, one can never get to the bottom of it anyway.
I think even the radicals are not sure about it. The fact is, they entirely focused their struggles on the political issues (including personal choices, free speech, religion, sexual orientation and other individual choices) that they lost more or less sight of the economy.
Save for those with some economics-reading background economics, as I underlined before, is a weakness.
Morocco had got only two opportunities when left-leaning governments were in power. A. Ibrahim in 1959 had to supervise building up the economy from little, pre-colonial shamble (and it does count, though it provided the land with some invaluable assets) and in 1998, when A. Youssoufi started the so-called 'Alternance Consensuelle', with a finance minister with so narrow a margin, that he had to get on with it and basically to implement right-wing policies. In facts, save for some nationalization and planned economy, radical left-wing economics has little to provide. I came across some cooperative theories that can be of use, but they are not widely considered suitable for manifestos, but I believe it to be something the new left should promote.
I fear I'm losing your attention. Let me just sum up real quick my own stand –with a simplistic description for the moment-: market economy is not fundamentally evil, and when properly monitored (meaning that the government has a neutral role of umpire), could deliver a good deal of wealth to society, and thus preventing income gaps, poverty and the social problems that ensue.
Of course, that's just a utopia that might never be achieved. I should perhaps add that I still favor collective ownership, in the sense that employees should take over and be their respective own companies' shareholders; the idea that communism or socialism means all productive units (businesses and firms as it were) should be state-owned is a distorted opinion –based on a historical experience that didn't do justice to itself- of what 'collective ownership' means; Of course, I am not an expert in Marxist theory, but I seem to remember, that first, Marx didn't advocate for state-owned economy (and in facts, his views on government are quite interesting to study) and second, he started, late in his life, to take interest in the mathematical background he needed to make the dialectic more 'scientific-like'.
However, before such principles could be applied to the Moroccan context, there are so many roadblocks one has to do away with; the present system (what is considered to be the Makhzen) has its economic bastions too, and in the event of a constitutional reform, a democratic government, whatever its political stance, will face considerable resistance from occult economic lobbies.
The idea is that an 'honest' government (in the sense that they genuinely care about the public welfare) would be broken within weeks if they do not comply with what some powerful lobbies dictate as terms of appeasement. In that case, a hypothetical radical left-leaning government will have to deal with it in the most direct way, i.e. to nationalize –or any similar decision– these institutions. If I may add something else, the nationalizations or such as they would be described, are not definitive, nor part of a move to control a monopoly and turn it to the state benefit, for these institutions will be privatized afterwards into small pieces, none of which could recover –at least for a certain time- the monopoly position they had, with all the perks and the rents that ensue.
I already hear some reservations: why take on large companies, aren't the 'national champions' the key players of our global strategy? I refer to what seems to be the economic model adopted by the high spheres to ensure our economic development. It imitates, in a very amateurish way, the South Korean and Japanese models of large conglomerate of private monopolies on the national markets, and aggressive, rent-seeking entities in similar markets (Maroc Telecom in Mauretania for instance), the ultimate goal being a progressive accumulation of a rent that would be later on invested, and subsequently provide Morocco with the boost it need to develop itself. The strategy, however, has a major flaw: the rent is almost systematically paid as dividends to the shareholders. Ok, Châabi does invest in 'social responsibility' sectors –and those moves should be encouraged indeed– but there's a huge amount of profits that lies there, and it's just divided up between a tiny yet powerful mob of upper-class people. I think the following figures could give you indeed an idea of how it goes down.
Let us first enquire about what does the Moroccan household consumes, or rather, how do they affect their income.
The national statistics office produced a survey in 2001 in which 46% of the total average income (253.186 MAD yearly) is devoted to consumption goods.
Why do we have to bore ourselves with these figures? Well, the idea is to prove that, because of the important percentage devoted to consumption, the average household is very sensitive to price changes, and therefore, any monopoly on these products is indeed a rent provider, and therefore, should be disbanded.
And apparently, it appears to be the case. The average Moroccan household are quite sensitive to any price changes (which were quite in an upward trend, it should be pointed out). Without dipping into fancy theories, the sole fact that nearly half the annual income is devoted to consumption (just to maintain bodily functions going on, roughly speaking) gives a pretty good idea about how consumption might change function of price changes.
In essence, the profit margin these companies are making –for the consumption goods at least- are more part of a rent profit –sucked up from the consumers' surplus–.
In these conditions, a penalizing move against those companies is and has to be in the interest of the public. The good news is, cracking down on private monopolies can be a popular policy among small and middle-size businesses (as well as the final consumer). I will devoted another post to this issue, in more rigorous terms, that is.
Now, I know that's a bit unorthodox from a radical.
Anyway, what I wanted to talk about is the role the Central Bank should play in the Moroccan economic structure, as well as on the Financial Markets. It is not, so to speak, a 'bread and butter' issue (although, when you think about it, it is, in a sense) but I think, it should take place in the great Constitutional Change Morocco is in a dire need for.
To put it simply, the Central Bank (Bank Al Maghrib) should enjoy a total independence from the government body –namely, the Finance Office and the Treasury as well-. In ideal facts, the Governor is answerable only to the Parliament, which sets up a public committee, just like the Fed and the US Congress.
It might look simple, but it is not. Why do we need the Central Bank to be free from any interference from the Government's departments? Well basically, the idea is that, even though the majority coalition/party has a mandate from the people, they are bound to go for the 'eye-candy' policies (tax breaks, expanding investment) that are all targeted to some sub-populations, which does not always square with other important variables, such as interest rates, inflation, and ultimately, unemployment and economic growth. I am not saying governments are usually irresponsible (I am not referring to the Moroccan case only) but when unconstrained, they tend to make a mess out of the economy when they have a full mandate (I don't mean necessarily an absolute majority, but the institutional tools to achieve their objectives). In essence, an independent Central Bank eliminates the cheapest way for a government to finance its programs, i.e. by artificially creating money, monetary inflation as it were. Of course, it also eliminates a precious tool (interest rates or Dirham devaluation) when difficult conjecture allows for or even obliges the governments to do so, though the central bankers are usually aware of such fluctuations, and quit frankly, it is part of their job to forecast, anticipate and jugulate these cycles.
Without going too much on detail, a credible bank is able to deliver a minimal difference between the expected and actual inflation rate. No Central Bank uses such target, but it is useful to see how good it does in dealing with inflation.
2). the second equation links unemployment rate deviation to interest rates r.
3. is a 'trade-off' function. L is the liquidity loss variable the Bank has to compensate (and under optimization rules, minimize); α measures the inflation aversion. The function is a tradeoff in the sense that the k parameter is the probability for the Banker to cheat and deliver an unexpected inflation -and therefore minimize the Liquidity loss artificially–. The equations are all linked, with the bottom line being the Liquidity loss compensation. It underlines the important effects interest rates have on unemployment and inflation. The effects are intertemporal and involve a great deal of expectations and projections, all of which are function –to an extent- of the Central Bank's credibility and commitment to keep inflation low, and so the long-term interest rates.
This could of course provide a starting point of measuring how credible a Central Bank could be; In other terms: "a central bank's pronouncements are credible only if it attains a higher level of expected utility by following through on its promises rather than reneging. In other words, duplicity is to be expected unless truthfulness is in the central bank's self-interest. One way to induce the central bank to carry out its pledge to fight inflation is for the government to write an incentive-compatible contract for its central bank." The author proposed an additional term to the equation 4 (as a penalty in case they cheated for 'cheap' compensation) but there's another way to get it right; Furthermore, a credible Banker is such that his determination to stabilize long-term interest rates –and therefore inflation- is beyond reproach. The other important parameter (as it appears in the paper) was about 'independence', indeed, according to the finding, most Central Banks agreed strongly on this particular point, it ranked much better with respect to the next reason in line.
How are things in the real world, or shall we say, the Moroccan context?
The Central Bank (Bank Al Maghrib) has a long history, though with little if no power right from the start. A little bit of history perhaps: Bank Al Maghrib, formerly Bank Of Morocco, was instituted in June 1959 (A. Ibrahim Premiership and A. Bouabid as finance minister) by virtue of Dahir n° 1-59-233. In essence, the bank acts a great deal like a super-paymaster-enforcer for the finance minister, plus there's the business of blurred relation between the Civil service (theoretically answerable to the government), the Bank and the Monarchy (that got hold of virtually everything). Of course, that's 1959, many things changed since then.
The 2005 Dahir brought some new things (I can't find it in the Government Secretary's gazette, if anyone has got the link, thanks a lot), for instance, no Civil servant or private Bank representative could be member of the committee board and indeed, the Bank is from now on the guarantee of monetary stability as well as monitoring the markets. That's a good start, but it fails to address the relationship with the government. The latter still appoints 2/3 of the board.
Another thing: the Governor is virtually answerable to anybody –only perhaps to the only empowering authority, i.e. the King-. The present state of BAM is quite interesting, as it's a pure bureaucratic institution, theoretically close to the government but actually very autonomous. However, because only a Dahir gives or takes away its prerogatives, its independence is hindered by this opaque tie.
I've got this example to show that BAM is quite submissive, or rather, cannot prevent government actions, even when they are perceived to be harmful to the economy; In 2003, the Jettou government was in between two minds about devaluating the Dirham. The Bank, on the other hand, was adamant in its refusal (at the time, there was no real immediate benefit to do so, and in the long run, it makes the Balance of Payment deficit even worse.) Funnily enough, there was a time the Bank wasn't even aware there was devaluation. The government caved in for a lobby, period.
There was another row late 2009, when the Governor A. Jouahri refused to consider another devaluation.
Of course, there must be first a constitutional reform, so that the Bank would be of constitutional, rather than administrative legitimacy. The same bank, on the other hand, has to be answerable to Parliament, as the governor should give evidence to a public select committee (MPs, academics and members of government) and defend their decisions.
Again, I know this is a quite far-fetched policy for a left-wing radical, but I believe the economy has to be initially stabilized –through interest rates, unemployment and inflation- and then we can get on with our objective of cooperatives, public ownership and free information/innovation policies. Well, someone had to do the blue-sky thinking, shall we?
Much as I would love to take on the 'moral defenders', I cannot help but feel like like Markus Brickstocke ranting against Ann Windcombe: a mixture of readiness to engage the conservative freaks (I mean no disrespect) and a sentiment of sympathy towards the meek, the simple-minded and the fool…That's no intellectual-left-leaning arrogance: it's merely the expression of my anger over what I consider to be a scam the silent majority is implicitly following a self-fulfilling norm.
The Moroccan moral majority –so to speak- is quite plethoric –just like any public opinion in the world- but they do share, for the most part, some common features that are partly the result of an imposed ignorance. My attention has been drawn to the fact that I look up a bit too much contemporary or even ancient history to justify my own opinions, a method that is so obvious to me to understand the present world.
I still fail to understand, even after reading a bit about it, how the 'public opinion' quickly loses its memory, or, on the contrary, sticks to past facts, or what it was led to believe were past, definite facts. And in the case of the Moroccan conservative majority, the main argument used against any 'too modernist' speech is: "that's our identity", an explicit reference to traditions, and ergo, to a subconscious history. Perhaps that's why Moroccans cling to traditions but have difficulties coping with factual and –shall we say- scientific history.
The second term doesn't specifically encompass the sole Moroccan society, various studies in post-industrialized countries showed a steady rise in conservative values. Some even argued that the ideals of social progress and harmony are perhaps, out of date.
Now, let's turn to the traditional/moral/bigots brigade: what can we make out of it? Before I start discussing their way of defining the 'Moroccan Identity' I wanted to venture an explanation why we, Moroccans, have so much trouble with history, as the majority of us was taught to cling to the past, because 'it was much better then' The traditions could be, with some extrapolation, construed as 'Founding Myths'.
Timeline is quite out of touch here, as individuals, or rather, communities; tend to focus mainly on regenerating the 'moment', i.e. the founding myth time and again (no pun intended). In essence, there's no time, or rather, any notion of time. Did you notice how people are usually longing for the pure Islamic period of Andalusia, the Arabic Peninsula, the invincible Islamic Umma etc…?
History, on the other hand, has a healthy obsession of recording, archiving and noting the facts. And as the baldy man once said: 'Facts are stubborn'.
See how little information one has on how many Muslims had a Harem or Jaryates… Do we have precise statistics and facts? Of course not.
Do we subsequently derive from it that the ancient Muslim society was pure and perfect? Of Course not. So it remains what it is: a relative truth in a relative set of truths.
One thing though: Morocco is indeed a Muslim country, or, to be precise, a majority of Muslim people. The whole business of religion and its mix with politics in Morocco is so complicated, so self-centered that the standard battle cry of Attajdid or Nini is, if not simplistic, is just pushing for a dark political agenda. I mean come on, when was it Sharia-compliant for the sultan to display his enemies' heads on the walls of the Imperial cities? Or to enslave tribes for his army? Or to be self-serving with bayt al mal (the Islamic treasury office) ?
Let us turn now to the so-called national identity: I know, it's the favourite right-wing theme, almost fascist, one might think.
I would like to define my terms, as one could easily get confused; even in social sciences, the concept is rather an umbrella for many close yet different subjects: what's national identity? Red Fez and White Djellaba (considered to be our national accoutrement) are, to me for good reasons, complete alien items: the Fez is Turkish, and the Djellaba Arabic. I indulge only to the Burnous to be part wholly Moroccan, if not North African.
Anyway; according to Cote & Levine (1987), "In the Social Identity Theory, a person has not one, "personal self", but rather several selves that correspond to widening circles of group membership". In other terms, Social Identity –a wider set that includes national identity- sort of absolves individuals, and rather glorifies the community or the bund, not very democratic, one could see.
My point is, this so called national identity the Looney brigade boasts about, is basically a fear of change, my point exactly. The national identity, to sum up, is a concept waved about every time these people feel threatened when their Weltschauung is obsolete, and subsequently tend to distort the reality so that it could match their ideology. Regular anti-festival outcry every summer always summons the depravity our young people are being appealed to.
In a quite different, yet related matter, Smith (1993) talks about: "myths of national identity typically refer to territory or ancestry (or both) as the basis of political community, and these differences furnish important, if often neglected, sources of instability and conflict in many parts of the world. It is no accident that many of the most bitter […] conflicts derive from competing claims and conceptions of national identity" Something quite similar happens in Morocco, although not so violently; The dynamic opposition between rural and urban areas, between well-to-do families and upstart individuals, between the tribe and the nuclear family, between the makhzen and the ruled… all of them are distinct parts of our 'identity' and curiously enough, shunt.
It's all political you see, as the self-promoted opinion leaders define what they perceive as 'the right' Moroccan identity, effectively ejecting their political rivals out of the game. As part of the 'Umma' ideal, the identity theme is always drawn in the religious field, a tactic well-proved in the struggle between the secularist left and the monarchy during the lead years.
Let us now turn to the facts. The only credible survey I can reasonably base my opinions is the one carried out for the 50 years independence anniversary, particularly, the 'synthèse de l'enquête nationale sur les valeurs' report is quite fair and balanced. They noted that 'some are feeling nostalgic about a period of traditional values, and are feeling sorry for the present…' Strangely enough, the report weighs in more the 'traditional' part more than the 'islamic' one. Indeed, the ideal groom should be 'maâqul' (devoted, committed, whatever have you) for 38% of the female sample, and financially stable (24%) a religious man, on the other hand, attracts only 13% of the sample.
The most interesting thing is about the youthful population. The report notes that: '[young people] are trying to demark themselves from the social norms, indeed, the young sample is more in favour of a nuclear family (60%), late marriage (58%) and dialogue in child education (64%)'; Well that's good news !
One thing though: I am not considering the general set of value references as progressive or liberal. Far from it, but it just shows that the 'Moroccan values' don't belong to anyone, and if anything, there's a great leaning towards post-industrial society schemes. It looks as though Moroccans are perhaps more religious, but they care more about the ritual apparatus (Tozy) than the assumed spiritual underlying.
It just shows that values, rather than 'identity', values are part of a dynamic process and certainly not the sanctimonious speech that many take for granted. In essence, the transitory process the Moroccan society is getting through hopefully, -to a more tolerant and open-minded society- doesn't suit many lobbies.


text:
Iowa Center for Public Affairs Journalism (https://iowawatch.org/2011/01/29/residents-long-wait-for-vouchers-chance-to-own-a-home/)
Business & Consumer Affairs
Residents' Long Wait for Vouchers, Chance to Own a Home
By Emily Schettler | January 29, 2011
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Janet Smith has been on the waiting list for the Housing Choice Voucher program since moving to Iowa City in 2002. She has worked two jobs for the last four years to help move her and her family from a small apartment to their current duplex on First Avenue in southeast Iowa City. She is still on the waiting list for a voucher. Source: Press-Citizen
Deborah Case-Schutzman will be the first to tell you her home is crowded. She lives in a two-bedroom mobile home near Cedar Rapids with her six children and ex-husband. Right now, she said she feels there are no other options.
Case-Schutzman applied for a Housing Choice Voucher from the Iowa City Housing Authority in February 2009, but like more than 900 others in need of assistance, her wait could be several more years.
"Sometimes I think, 'God, I waited forever for this,'" she said about the time she's already been on the waiting list. "But we're not homeless, so we're not a priority."
Case-Schutzman used to live in Iowa City with other family members but moved to help care for her children. She would like to move out of the mobile home park and find another rental property but said finding something within her price range is a challenge.
"It's frustrating," she said. "It's just too darn expensive. I want to live in a good neighborhood where we don't have to worry about being harassed or mugged or that my kids are running with the wrong people. There isn't anything available in a decent neighborhood that's cheap."
Case-Schutzman, 38, said she works mostly from home, caring for her children and helping her ex-husband run his drywall and contracting company.
She said she is familiar with the stereotypes associated with assisted housing, but she said it's not fair to apply them to everyone.
"Everybody's different," she said. "I think there are some people that could try harder. I was just going over the books a few days ago. We've had months where we had $10,000 come through our hands, but there's always something to cover."
Of the more than 900 people on the waiting list for the housing authority's voucher program, about 330 list Iowa addresses. Only 200 of those list addresses within the Housing Authority's jurisdiction, which includes all of Johnson County and parts of Washington and Iowa counties.
Steve Rackis, executive director of the Housing Authority, said residency requirements are illegal, but his office does implement a residency preference.
Rackis also noted that preference cannot be based on how long an applicant has lived in the jurisdiction.
At the Iowa City Housing Authority, preference is given first to individuals displaced by government action or natural disaster, followed by families with minor children or elderly or disabled families who live within the jurisdiction and then by adult families within the jurisdiction.
Because of the high demand, those lower on the list — elderly or disabled families, families with minor children and adult families who do not live within the jurisdiction — will wait indefinitely for assistance, Rackis said.
Janet Smith of Iowa City first applied for a voucher in 2002. At the time, she was preparing to move here from Chicago to stay with her daughter.
"I just saw hope down here," Smith said. "In Chicago, it was so hard I couldn't make it. You know, when my daughter helped me out, she told me, 'I'll find you a place to stay.' I started looking for work, and it was a struggle, but then I got on my feet and kept on going."
Smith, 52, lived in an apartment on Lakeside Drive for several years before moving into the two-bedroom duplex she shares with her husband and two of her teenage grandchildren.
She has worked full time for the university in the Hillcrest Marketplace since 2006 and part time at Systems Unlimited since 2005.
Smith worked three jobs for about a year, but had to quit one of them after getting sick, she said.
Despite not having a job when she first arrived in Iowa City, the only financial assistance Smith said she has received is through her husband, who is on disability because of arthritis in his back.
Smith said her family has worked hard to get themselves to this point.
"Sometimes it was a challenge before I got with the university," she said. "I was taking out a lot of payday loans. I got in that cycle where I was living from payday loan to check. It got so hard. Now I just budget and make sure all my bills are paid."
Smith said she still has dreams of owning her own home and has considered programs that provide down payment assistance.
"I've always wanted a home, you know, because I have grandkids, and they live here," she said. "Sometimes it's a struggle, but, you know, I just pray and do the best that I can."
(This project was collaboration of the Iowa City Press-Citizen and IowaWatch.org, the non-profit news website of the Iowa Center for Public Affairs Journalism. The Press-Citizen's features editor and specialty publications manager, Tricia Brown, edited the project, and its photographer, Benjamin Roberts, took the photographs. IowaWatch Staff Writer Lauren Mills designed the IowaCenter's page layout)
Iowa County
Steve Rackis
Non-Residents Drawn to Iowa City Housing Vouchers
While only those who are legal residents of the Iowa City Housing Authority's jurisdiction are able to receive housing assistance, that doesn't stop out-of-state residents from applying to the program.
Legal Issues Delay Affordable Housing Project
Population Shifts, Budget Woes May Bring Consolidation of Local Governments

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Shimla Attractions
HIMANCHAL PRADESH
Top #12 places to visit Shimla-best Shimla attractions-Allseasonsz.com
SHIMLA TOURISM
AROUND SHIMLA
SHIMLA TRAVEL
SHIMLA HOTELS
State: Himanchal Pradesh
City: Shimla
Weather: -2 �C-28�C
Height : 7,467 FT
Best Time: Sep-June
Railwaly Station: Kalka
Airport: Jubbarhatti
Shimla Attractions/Tourist places/Local Sightseeing
Shimla is the capital city of the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh, located in northern India. It is bounded by Mandi and Shimla in the north, Kinnaur in the east, the state of Uttarakhand in the south-east, and Solan and Sirmaur to the south. The elevation of the city ranges from 300 to 2200 metres. Shimla is well known as a hub for India's tourism sector. It is among the top 10 preferred entrepreneurial locations in India.
In Shimla sighstseeing places for tourist attractions are many but the famous Shimla attractions are - Ridge,The Mall,St Mary's Church,Summer Hills,Ellerslie,Woodville,The Town Hall,The Shimla State Museum,Christ Church,Annandale,Himalayan Aviary or the Himalayan Bird Park ,Scandal Point.To know about the must see tourist places in Shimla -Himachal,use the information below-
Ridge #1
Ridge is located in the core of the fascinating Shimla and offers a large open space. The beautiful region is full of lush vegetation and panoramic scenic beauty. The Ridge joins the Scandal Point and leads to Lakkar Bazaar on the east side. It has become a popular destination for summer festival and local celebrations.
The Mall #2
The Mall at Shimla is the shopping centre of the capital city. The Mall Road stretching from Scandal Point to Oberoi Clark Hotel features establishments like restaurants, clubs, banks, bars, post offices and tourist centres.
St Mary's Church #3
St Mary's Church is located at Kotgarh, situated nearby Shimla. It was constructed in 18th century, exact date varies most records attribute it to 1843 while others claim it was constructed in 1872. However, being in the exquisite natural beauty and near the Himalayan Range makes it a place worthwhile to see.
Summer Hill #4
Summer Hills is a small hill located in Shimla. Locally known as Porter's Hill, Summer Hills is part of the seven-hill cluster forming this beautiful hill station.Besides being a tourist destination, it also houses the campus of the prestigious Himachal Pradesh University, established in 1975, which is spread across the green locales of Summer Hills.
Ellerslie #5
Ellerslie is the Himachal Pradesh Secretariat, which is also known as Raj Bhawan. It hosts assemblies of Vidhan Sabha. The Ellerslie building was designed by Lt. Col. H.E.S. Abbott over hundreds of years ago during the British Empire.
Woodville #6
Woodville is among the finest and oldest sites of Shimla built in 1865. Located in the east of the city, the mansion was the honoured residence of the Commander-in-Chief during the British regime. General Sir William Rose Mansfield was the first occupant of the bungalow.
Town Hall #7
The Town Hall is a renovated Municipal Corporation building of Shimla. Built during the British regime in 1910, the Town Hall exhibits architecture reminiscent of the pre-independence era, preserved in its original form.
Shimla State Museum #8
The Shimla State Museum was set up in 1974 to protect and preserve the hill-out and cultural wealth of Himachal Pradesh. Artefacts and art objects in the museum exhibit collections pertaining to art, archaeology and cultural anthropology of Himachal Pradesh.
Christ Church #9
Christ Church at the Ridge is the second oldest church in northern India constructed in 1846-1857. Designed by Colonel J. T. Boileau, the Church features a clock on the church tower that was put up in 1860. The porch along with the church was added in 1873.
Annandale #10
Annandale, a historic playground, is a favourite spot for cricket and the princely game of polo. Located at a distance of 4 kilometres from the Ridge, the playground and race-course is positioned in a deep wide valley of the suburban village called Kaithu. This village lies in the west region of Shimla.
Himalayan Bird Park #11
Himalayan Aviary or the Himalayan Bird Park is nearby the Vice regal lodge situated in Shimla at a height of over 2000 meters and a wonderful place for nature lovers. It has natural green pastures filled with rare plants and trees. Besides, it also has a huge collection of bird species like the Peafowl, Pheasants, Himalayan Monal (Himachal Pradesh State bird), Peacock, etc. It is best to visit the park in summer as it is gets snowed during the winter.
Scandal Point #12
Scandal Point is a popular tourist site located on the Mall Road, nearby Railway Building. The site is situated at the intersection of road to Ridge and the Mall. Scotland Church, historical Alfa restaurant and the beautiful view of the valleys are the highlighting features of the site.
There are plenty of Shimla tourist attractions,things to see in Shimla, and one can choose from range of activities available or things to do in Shimla which can be a walk in the green forests areas, adventure treks. If you are searching for Shimla attractions,sightseeing in Shimla,best places to visit Shimla,things to see in Shimla,tourist places in Shimla by list,tourism point Shimla,tourist attractions near Shimla, places worth visiting Shimla, Shimla holidays, Shimla tourist spots, see Shimla Himanch Pradesh, best attractions in Shimla, tourist attractions in Shimla, local sightseeing in Shimla, attractions in Shimla Himanch Pradesh,places for sightseeing in Shimla,Shimla peak, places of tourist interest in Shimla,what to see in Shimla,sightseeing around Shimla, list of famous tourist spots in Shimla Himanch Pradesh,Shimla sightseeing places your search ends at allseasonsz.com for the likings of all age groups. There are tourist places near by Shimla offering majestic views of Himalayan peaks.Allseasonsz.com Himanch Pradesh best travel agents required for making your Shimla trip memorable. Whether it is about sightseeing around Shimla, Shimla excursions, Shimla places to visit, tourist attractions around Shimla-Allseasonsz.com Himanch Pradesh is convenant to propose amazing Shimla Packages offers and deals for your tour.
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Summary of "Jane Austen and Empire" by Edward Said
Kathryn Lamoreux
In this chapter from Culture and Imperialism, Said explores a previously disregarded perspective on Jane Austen's Mansfield Park, illuminating the relationships depicted between manor home and plantation, country and city (1118-20). In the process, he demonstrates that a colonial ideology which allowed humanistic British values to exist alongside a devaluation of colonized cultures is evident in and even central to pre-imperialist novels generally not considered to have overtly colonial themes (1113, 1115). He is careful also to note that in pointing out these understated themes, he does not mean to dismiss Austen's work as insensitive and concerned merely with the superficial activities of a privileged class; rather, he believes that the appreciation of Austen's portrayal of British life must be coupled with an awareness of its geographical positioning and the political implications of that positioning (1124-5).
Said begins his argument by quoting V.G. Kiernan's statement that "empires must have a mould of ideas or conditioned reflexes to flow into" (qtd. in 1112). While Said denies as too simplistic the idea that absolutely every aspect of European and American culture is therefore designed to support and justify colonialism, he also asserts that ignoring such tendencies where they are present—which is very commonly—would be highly inaccurate (1112). Even those liberals who we might expect generally to support freedom saw no contradiction in denying it to non-European cultures abroad. In support of this idea, Said quotes John Stuart Mill's assertion that "The sacred duties which civilized nations owe to the independence and nationality of each other, are not binding towards those to whom nationality and independence are certain evil, or at best questionable good" (qtd. in 1112). A belief in "native backwardness" therefore justified disregarding abroad rights and values that were cherished at home in Europe (1112). However, rather than suggesting that pre-imperial literature, because it contains these ideologies, has a purely causal relationship to later imperialism, Said argues that it is important to "discern instead a counterpoint between overt patterns in British writing about Britain and representations of the world beyond the British Isles" (1113). In other words, we must take into account the importance of geography and its political implications (1113, 22).
Using Raymond Williams' The Country and the City as a springboard to discussing geographical considerations, Said continues by applying a geographically-informed reading to Mansfield Park. While Williams' book had discussed "the interplay between rural and urban places" from medieval to present day literature and had noted that the relationship between England and its colonies was important in literature "from at least the mid-nineteenth century," Said suggests that the importance of the colonies is reflected in British literature "with amazing insistence and frequency" far sooner than that (1113-4). Intense Anglo-French competition in the colonies could be seen in frequent references to overseas land in literature throughout the eighteenth century and helped to form a sense of "Englishness" in opposition to French interests abroad (1114-5). Applied to Mansfield Park, this historical background creates a more complex reading than William's suggestion that the novel is simply blind to class differences and that "[Austen] is concerned with the conduct of people who, in the complications of improvement, are repeatedly trying to make themselves into a class. But where only one class is seen, no classes are seen" (qtd. in 1115).
Complicating this picture, Said suggests that the first half of the novel "is concerned with a whole range of issues whose common denominator… is space" (1116). Most obviously, Mansfield Park is supported by income from Sir Thomas' plantation in Antigua, where he is away attending to business, but even at home, much of the action concerns decisions made about "where [Fanny] is to live, read, and work," and her cousins are largely occupied with improving their estates. Additionally, a conflict arises from the proposed performance of a French play, an activity that is put to a stop with the return of Sir Thomas, the household's "Crusoe setting things in order." A firm connection is therefore made between "domestic and international authority" (1116-7). Additionally, as seen later in the book, it is suggested that space is necessary for a free and accurate perspective when Fanny returns home and finds herself missing the size and sociability of Mansfield. If one does not have access to such a place by birth, one may—like Fanny— "earn the right to [it by] leav[ing] home as a kind of indentured servant or, to put the case in extreme terms, as a kind of transported commodity" (1118). According to Said, a parallel is drawn between Fanny's advancement through "small-scale movement in space" and the "more open colonial movements of Sir Thomas, her mentor, the man whose estate she inherits," with each being necessary to the other (1118-9).
Finally, Said turns to discussing the infrequency and lack of detail in Austen's references to the Caribbean, concluding that it reflects the idea of "the avowedly complete subordination of the colony to the metropolis," again quoting Mill to illustrate British attitudes to the colonies not as independent nations but as convenient farmland for British production of tropical crops (1120). In this way, Antigua is a bit like Fanny's native Portsmouth in that it serves to provide manors like Mansfield with material goods (1120). These goods, along with Fanny's service, are needed to maintain the lifestyle and values of the Bertrams at Mansfield Park (1121). In this way, the novel illustrates the way in which British values could be disregarded abroad, since that disregard was necessary to the exploitation which made the flourishing of those values possible at home (1123-4).
sneha on April 18, 2015:
You are doing wonderful job. It helped me i am answering my M.A final exam
so happy I found this on August 05, 2012:
Cramming for my English final - this was key. Thanks for posting!!
Words for Means of Transport in Portuguese With English Meanings
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text:
THE TRUTH ABOUT DRUGS
FOUNDATION FOR A
DRUG-FREE WORLD
LEADERS AND OFFICIALS
SPEAK ON DRUG-FREE WORLD
THEY SAID/THEY LIED
Best High
Love Lost
Stay up and Study
Sniffing
They Said – They Lied
REAL PEOPLE, REAL STORIES
The Truth About Marijuana
The Truth About Synthetic Drugs
The Truth About Ecstasy
The Truth About Crack
The Truth About Crystal Meth
The Truth About Cocaine
The Truth About Inhalants
The Truth About Heroin
The Truth About LSD
The Truth About Prescription Drugs
The Truth About Painkillers
» HOW WE HELP » THE TRUTH ABOUT DRUGS
RESULTS OF IMPLEMENTING
The most effective weapon in combating drugs and drug abuse is education. Churches of Scientology and their members have worked in concert with like-minded groups and individuals to bring about a significant change in the global drug problem.
Because of the effectiveness of the educational materials and the impact of the program's activities wherever it is implemented, the Truth About Drugs campaign commands the respect and support of teachers, health instructors, school counselors, police officers, community leaders, government officials, students and parents.
Statistics show the impact:
To date, more than
organizations, law enforcement and government agencies around the world use the Truth About Drugs curriculum and materials.
schools use the Truth About Drugs curriculum and materials.
The program's effectiveness is further demonstrated by the ever-increasing number of young people who use these materials and in turn share the truth about drugs with their friends and families.
In this manner, the global Truth About Drugs program is making measurable strides toward achieving a generation that will remain free from the ravages of drug abuse.
Some 1,200 organizations, law enforcement and government agencies in 180 countries have joined with Scientologists to combat drug abuse through the Church-supported Truth About Drugs education program. Following is a sampling of recognitions and statements from those who have experienced the results.
In response to the extensive drug prevention efforts spearheaded by Scientologists in Taiwan, the nation's Ministry of Interior presented the national Religious Excellence Award to the Church of Scientology.
By this letter, the Ministry of Primary, Secondary and Vocational Education of the Democratic Republic of the Congo is establishing a partnership with the Foundation for a Drug-Free World in order to implement the Truth About Drugs program across the whole country and especially in schools. We are counting on this partnership to prevent the usage and damaging effects of drugs in schools. —Minister of Primary, Secondary and Vocational Education, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Through this letter, I would like to express my sincere gratitude for the Truth About Drugs course imparted to members of the Coordination of School Safety Programs, which has been of great assistance to professionalize the workshops on drug prevention that are given in Mexico City schools. All of our members have demonstrated greater knowledge on the subject and have above all clarified many questions and uncertainties on how to give these workshops to students, parents and teachers.
I also want to thank you for the material that was given to us, which is a credit to the honorable foundation of which you are part. It is being utilized to reach people who benefit from these workshops in the different schools of Mexico. I thank you and look forward to continue working with you. I give you my kindest regards. —Underdirector, School Safety Unit, Mexico City, Mexico
After receiving and reviewing the materials, I decided to utilize The Truth About Drugs videos as part of my 8th grade student drug lessons. This year, the students viewed the marijuana, cocaine, heroin, LSD, prescription drugs and painkillers segments as well as the introduction and "The Final Word." The students were very interested in The Truth About Drugs videos and most classes would start with the students asking if we were viewing more videos on that day. The testimony of former drug users gives credibility to the message I try to instill in the students, in a way that a law enforcement officer alone never could. —Detective, Department of Police, New Jersey, U.S.
The program materials and DVD were astonishingly effective—the students and staff requested more time to view the program. The experience had such a profound effect that the police department has been invited by the local schools in the community to offer the Drug-Free World program. —Police Department Community Services Officer, U.S.
This is a major contribution, one of the major contributions that Scientology made, and nobody else even tried. —Vice President, Asian American Economic Development Enterprises, U.S.
I am a pastor of a church, a senator and a Pentecostal. When I have called Scientology to come and help and teach us lessons—teach our youth and give us some information—they come, they are there. —New York State Senator, U.S.
Truth About Drugs materials will cause an effect so great it will ripple out across America. This program is the answer to the global epidemic. I want it mandatory for school children across America to go through the Truth About Drugs curriculum. —President, International Faith-Based Coalition, U.S.
WE HAVE FOUND YOUR INFORMATION AND RESOURCES on the EFFECTS AND IMPACT OF DRUGS to be INVALUABLE and EASILY UNDERSTOOD
I write this letter in support of your organization whose booklets and DVDs we have been using and distributing for a number of years as we perform our duties in the community. We have found their information and resources on the effects and impact of drugs to be invaluable and easily understood, particularly by the youth in our community. —Maori Wardens Association, New Zealand
The Truth About Drugs campaign is essential to the deprived areas of our borough. You and your volunteers have the patience and time to come and distribute The Truth About Drugs booklets in my borough and help people. The Councillors and I are very proud of the work that The Truth About Drugs volunteers have done in cleaning up the area and distributing information booklets. I hope all the boroughs seeing what you have done will take advantage of what you have to offer. You are doing a marvelous job. People must congratulate you. —Ward Chair, England
This is a one-of-its-kind anti-drug initiative that offers hope and help to end the worldwide tragedy of drug abuse. —President, Police Clergy Council, U.S.
I just wanted to thank you once again for the entire program on The Truth About Drugs. I started each class period asking the students why people take drugs and they would shout out: to fit in, escape, relax, boredom, to feel grown up, rebel or just to experiment. They realized that a lot of what they hear on the streets about drugs are lies, and that is mostly thanks to your program. We loved it. —Teacher, U.S.
The videos and PSAs provide real-life reflections by students and young adults about their experiences with drugs. The quality of the video media and the content of the messages keep students engaged and interested. The free educational packet, which includes a curriculum manual, video and individual pamphlets on each of the drugs, makes implementing the lessons into a health unit an easy task. —District Resource Health/Physical Education, U.S.
I can say without a doubt that The Truth About Drugs curriculum used over the past year is the best and most inclusive I have ever used. The DVD itself, coupled with the pamphlets and lesson plans, has allowed me the opportunity to present drug information in a format that has literally grabbed the students' attention. I show many videos and DVDs during the semester and this DVD is the only one the students ask to see again. —Health Educator, U.S.
Thank you for offering this outstanding material to the school free of charge. I honestly cannot put a price on how effective this program has been and will be. —High School Health Education Teacher, U.S.
Supporting Global Human Rights Awareness
Drug-Free World Official Website
Drug-Free World Online Education
Drug-Free World iPad and iPhone Education Application
Supporting Effective Drug Education and Prevention Initiatives
Eradicating the Worldwide Drug Abuse Epidemic
The Truth About Drugs Multimedia Educational Materials
Reaching Millions With the Message "They Said, They Lied"
The Truth About Drugs Educational Film
Spreading the Truth About Drugs Global Message
This free DVD includes an introduction, the award-winning "They Said, They Lied" PSAs and a preview the Real People, Real Stories documentary.
The most effective weapon in the war on drugs is education. Reach young people with the truth about drugs.
Order a FREE Truth About Drugs Information Kit
Download or order a free copy of The Truth About Drugs booklet.
FREE DOWNLOAD »


We design, implement, and manage substance abuse testing programs.
Your employees are responsible for more than just the duties in their job description — They are trusted with the safety of their coworkers, clients and your good name. Drug and alcohol abusers put this trust in peril, as their behavior and impaired ability to function safely, can do irreparable harm to people, property and your brand reputation. Working with FSSolutions can protect your business from the damaging effects of substance abuse through a comprehensive drug and alcohol testing program. With a network of more than 15,000 collection sites nationwide, we make the process easy.


DETROIT – American shoppers passed on the malls and headed to the auto dealerships over Thanksgiving weekend. A lot of vehicle purchasers and specially 1st-time buyers make assumption that the quoted auto price tag is all what they want to consider an auto loan. Current auto loan customers can simply enroll in Online Banking with the info offered on your monthly statements. Soon after my husband decided the coil spring conversion kit was the proper option for my Envoy, it was time to uncover affordable parts. If your score increases significantly, you can typically save hundreds a month by refinancing your auto loan.
I have a 2002 Nissan Maxima, when driving 25 mph+ i hear a continual hum and the physique of the car vibrates. For 40 long years we have struggled to create an auto sector providing our local assemblers a market place where imports are produced prohibitively expensive forcing buyers to buy what they create. I have a Honda Accord 97 on Auto transmission and it has 205k km on it (Australian model but I assume it is almost identical to the US model). The broken body pieces are removed and then not replaced either due to their price or just simply because the owner decides that he likes the new look.
The loans are usually brief-term, and tend to carry a comparatively high interest rates. It just sounds like the disc blew apart or the stress plate let go, but I am pondering a lot more the disc because if it were the pressure plate, you would lose the pedal and most likely right here some metal components rolling about inside the bell housing. Waterloo has 125 professors engaged in automotive investigation, the most of any university-primarily based plan in Canada McMaster is second with much more than 75.
In the first two months of 2016, Model S sales are estimated at three,200, compared to the Leaf, 1,685 eGolf, 526 i3, 430 and 500e, 412. It appears like having a great relationship with the individual lender is more crucial than your credit history when it comes to auto loans. I personal a A3 1.8t AUM, and lately the temp gauge in the dashboard has started to show increasing temperature as well quickly.
Folks can travel quicker in automobiles and really feel a lot more comfy at the exact same time. Each lend to higher chance for the manufacturing sector such as automobiles. Being aware of absolutely nothing about auto repair, i thought it to be odd but knew i just added a quart of ATF & knew it had to be in there so i felt it was protected to drive it home (about 10-15 miles away) i stopped at the retailer by my property to get some items & when i began it up & drove away following the shop, it drove away completely fine.


Skrillex surprises fans with a "rocking" new single!
It was in 16th of January, Skrillex celebrated his 29th birthday, and decided to give away a new single to the fans. However, it was a much unexpected "gift", because the single, called "Make War", is a Rock, and not Electronic, music track, and it is not a solo release from him, but from a band he was part of, From First To Last.
The association of Sonny Moore with rock music is not a new thing. If you are a fan of the American artist since he released "Bangarang", for instance, you may not know his past in music. In his teenage years, Sonny was a big punk rock fan, and he went to lots of shows of that musical genre. In 2004 he entered From First To Last, a Florida-based alternative rock band, being their guitar player. "Heroine", the band's second studio album, reached Billboard's #25 in United States' charts. Then, he went solo, releasing his first EP "Gypsyhook" in 2009, still under his real name alias.
The Skrillex we know today only began to be made in late 2009, when he started performing and producing under today's artistic name, signed with Mau5trap and started touring with its boss, Deadmau5. From that time on, he gave us "Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites", and the rest is history!
Now, and 10 years after his last collaboration with From First To Last, we have "Make War". Sonny is the one who sings, was one of the ones who wrote the lyrics, and was a part of the song's production process. The band created a new Instagram account (@fftlast) and the ½ of Jack Ü is listed as one of its members. Do you like this side of Skrillex and his new track? Tell us!


text:
Ptychadena nana är en groddjursart som beskrevs av Perret 1980. Ptychadena nana ingår i släktet Ptychadena och familjen Ptychadenidae. IUCN kategoriserar arten globalt som otillräckligt studerad. Inga underarter finns listade i Catalogue of Life.

Källor

Externa länkar

Stjärtlösa groddjur
nana

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Q: Make a copy of the audio output into a file How to get the sound that I can hear in my headphones into a file or into a variable in my C/C++ program?
I'd like something like the framebuffer for images.
My main goal is sending sound to another computer, so I need read-write permissions also.
Anyone know how deal with it?

A: I made a test recording like so:
arecord -d 4 out.wav

You could use dd like this:
dd bs=1 if=out.wav | aplay

Or use a really choppy unbuffered stream with a while loop:
while read -n 2048 bytes; do
   printf "$bytes" | aplay
done < out.wav

You could then use netcat to redirect it to a socket or port.

*

*https://stackoverflow.com/questions/4739196/simple-socket-server-in-bash
The sound playing through the speakers may be buffered already in a file. I am not sure where that file would be located, but it might also be possible to tail -f or cat or pipe it to a different location with netcat or something similar.
For example using ALSA pcm:

*

*http://www.alsa-project.org/alsa-doc/alsa-lib/pcm.html

*http://www.alsa-project.org/alsa-doc/alsa-lib/_2test_2pcm_8c-example.html
Also consider taking a look at the source code for PulseAudio or using the real time transfer protocol (rtp) :

*

*https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/PulseAudio/Examples#PulseAudio_over_network

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange