Free food for Content Marketing
Free News Articles Home / Business Free News Articles Global Aid and Disaster Relief / NGO seeks solutions for UN's Goals by Awarding Everyday Heroes - and those who find them
NGO seeks solutions for UN's Goals by Awarding Everyday Heroes - and those who find them
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. -- The Global Action Network (GAN), an organization formed by activists, students, and researchers who seek new ways to reach the UN's 17 Sustainable Development Goals, has announced a new program which awards those who develop cutting edge solutions - and honors the finders by naming a prize after them.
"The whole idea is to accelerate progress towards the Goals," says Soani Gunawan, VP of Logistics for GAN. "The probability that you or I will win a Nobel Prize is tiny. But it's not hard for me to name a Prize AFTER you - if you build awareness of your chosen goal by highlighting those who are doing the best work in the field. And the fact that you can ALSO name another Prize after your friends and colleagues makes it quite likely you will stay involved."
The Network uses the UN's sub-classification of 230 Indicators, or sub-goals, which include specific things like improving education in the developing world, curing neglected tropical diseases, and reducing gender inequality.
Those who join GAN, many of whom are students and researchers from Oxford, Berkeley, Yale, Cambridge, Harvard, Princeton, and Stanford, are assigned one of the goals, usually one that matches one or more of their professional, academic, or personal interests or passions. Their basic duty is to set up several social media sites publicizing the latest developments within their chosen niche, and announce awards (named after themselves) to those who have demonstrated excellence.
The general expectation is that projects take an initial 3-4 hours to set up, followed by 15-30 minutes of monthly maintenance, which consists of updating social media sites and naming Award winners. In many cases Award namesakes submit their own work.
In addition to the crowdsourced prizes, there are also Awards for supreme achievement named after Einstein (Science), Florence Nightingale (Health), Frida Kahlo (Art and Culture), Mother Teresa (Compassion), Gandhi (Significance), Nelson Mandela (Justice), and Sojourner Truth (Freedom).
GAN founders were motivated by dissatisfaction with Governments, NGOs, Non-profits, and Corporations, which in their view have not done enough to reach the Goals.
"We want to inspire grass roots action, from the ground up," says GAN's Happiness Coordinator Amy Chang. "When people receive continuous gratification for their work, they tend to stay involved."
The idea of building simple to set up projects based on free web tools and smart phone apps was inherited from GAN's parent organization, The World Mind Network, which has six Nobel Laureates on its Board.
Participants can also initiate online think tanks, disaster relief projects, Fair Trade programs, and crowdsourced group psychology experiments within the platform.
"There's something special about the conversations we have," says Co-Founder and Program Director John Toomey. "We have fun, but we're part of a worldwide planetary improvement movement, so there's this inspirational undercurrent associated with being part of a mission."
Adds Chang, "It's hard, in this day and age, to cultivate heroes of the old type - those who rescue a village from a typhoon, or leave their normal lives to found an orphanage in Africa. But it's not difficult to empower people to become 'mini-Heroes' - individuals who can develop their humanitarian instincts by creating a project on their smart phone that has the potential to help the planet in a measurable and replicable way. And once someone gets a taste of this easily accessible heroism, it's not hard for them to see that there is little they cannot accomplish."
For information on the Global Action Network contact , or visit the website at
Related link:
This news story was published by the Neotrope® News Network - all rights reserved.
May 17th, 2019 by Global Action Network | Type: Standard
| Filed Under: Business, Free News Articles, Global Aid and Disaster Relief Tags: California Business, Global Action Network, Non-governmental organization, planetary improvement movement, San Francisco Business, United Nations
Gulftech Acquires ABL S.p.A. - Announces Expansion into Fresh Cut Produce Market July 15, 2019
XG Communities to provide small cell program solutions for the City of Federal Way, Washington July 15, 2019
EPIC Insurance Brokers Further Expands Southwest Operations into Arizona July 15, 2019
How to Keep Kids Safe from Mosquitoes and Ticks this Summer July 15, 2019
Van Wert City Schools expects to save more than $115,000 annually through partnership with Energy Optimizers, USA July 12, 2019
Archives Select Month July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 July 2006 June 2006 May 2006 April 2006 March 2006 February 2006 January 2006 December 2005 November 2005 October 2005 September 2005 August 2005 July 2005 June 2005 May 2005 April 2005 March 2005 February 2005 January 2005 December 2004
African American Interests
Alliances and Partnerships
Apple, Mac, iPod and iPhone
Boating, Marine and Maritime
Business and Social Networking
Corporate Social Responsibility - CSR
Defense and Military
Drugs and Pharmaceuticals
Elections and Politics
Employment, HR and Outsourcing
Energy, Oil and Gas
Facilities and Building Maintenance
Family, Parenting and Children
Fertility and IVF
Fine Art and Artists
Free News Articles
Free Press Release Content
Funding and Investment
Global Aid and Disaster Relief
Health, Diet and Fitness
Holistic and Spiritual
Hospitals and Nursing
HVAC Heating and Cooling
Internet and Websites
Jewelry and Diamond
Latino Interests
Management Changes
Medical and Health Products
Medical Business Services
Mining and Metals
Movies and Film Making
Music and Recording Industry
Networks and Encryption
NonProfit and Charities
Ophthalmology and Vision
Opinion and Commentary
Patent and Trademark
Plastics and Chemicals
Police, Fire and Rescue
Pop Culture and Cool Stuff
Private Practice and Medical Groups
Religion and Churches
Restaurant, Hotel and Hospitality
SaaS, CMS, and Web Software
Safety and Security Solutions
Senior Citizen Interests
Surgery and Neurotechnology
Telecommunications and VoIP
Trade Shows, Fairs and Expos
VAR and IT Consulting
Veterinary, Animals, Pets and Zoos
Water and Wastes
Web Development and Outsourcing
Web Hosting and ISPs
©2019 Free News Articles and NEOTROPE® | Powered By Neotrope® News Network - USA


Tag Archive: Gareth
I was Born Too Late
Rye smiled as they began listening to Melina's CD. "This is one of my favorites," she whispered. The group sat quietly until the song's end. "What'd you think," she asked finally.
"I liked it," Rye said. "The melody, the accompaniment and the lyrics... especially those."
"I think we've all felt that it would be great to go back in time and ask famous people how we can be better in one way or another," Michael added.
See now, when you told us the name of the piece, I was thinking it would be about being born in the wrong era, you know?" Gareth said. He tilted his head to one side as the others looked at him curiously. "I've often felt like I was born in the wrong era. I'm not sure which era I should have been born in though."
"I've often felt like I was born in another era," Rye commented.
"What... a past life?" Kevin said. He chuckled until he realized the boy was serious. "Right... well, all right then. Anyone else want popcorn?"
Tags: Gareth, Kevin, Melina, Rye
Howls Restrain'd by Decorum
If there was anything Gareth hated, it was waiting. The auditions seemed to take forever and more people were sent away than actually sang. What if he waited for all these hours, only to be sent away the moment he introduced himself?
He gritted his teeth as he listened to the woman ahead of him. She had a tolerable voice; nothing to write home about. She'd chosen a song that showed her voices strong points well enough, but he had a feeling that her lower registers could have been more sultry with the right song.
At least she was better than the man who'd been ahead of her. He'd chosen a song that didn't suit his range at all. The shrilling of the upper notes had hurt his ears enough that he'd sighed in relief when the bespectacled judge had held up a hand.
When it was finally his turn, Gareth bit back a snappish reply and introduced himself. If he took an extra moment to prepare himself to sing, the judges didn't seem to notice.
Tags: Gareth
This Place was in its Third Death
"We're going to live here?" Rye asked in shock. He turned to the manager. The man was joking. The real house the band mates would share was down the road, perhaps in the next town over.
The man looked down at the map then up at the decrepit building and nodded. "This is the place," he said with forced cheer.
"It's got a certain character," Michael said softly as he stepped up the creaking porch stairs. Rye expected the wood to give way under his feet but it held. "When we aren't writing or rehearsing we can work on fixing up the place. When it's done it'll be beautiful."
"And we'll be old men," Gareth muttered. "I'm sleeping downstairs. I don't want the floor to cave in under me while I'm out for the night."
"There's a basement," Kevin remarked, leading the way into the building.
"We're going to live here?" Rye repeated as he followed the older boys into the building. He cast a glance at his sister. What, exactly, had they gotten themselves into?
Tags: Gareth, Hector, Kevin, Michael, Rye
Where Were You When They Broke the News
"You told him he was too young to have personal tragedies?" Kevin asked in shock. He shook his head and swept off to talk to the youngest of their group.
Leigh smirked and shrugged. "I know we're very young and maybe it's the stage names that threw you but about two years ago our parents were killed in a home invasion robbery. We were in the house - in the safe room. We heard them get killed and there wasn't anything to do about it. I know you mean well but believe me when I say, yeah, we have personal tragedies." She stalked off toward the front porch.
Louisa set her hand on her boyfriend's shoulder and leaned in close. "I love you," she whispered.
Gareth closed his eyes, mumbling, "They might have told me. He might have mentioned when I said that." He sighed deeply before adding, "It's probably too upsetting to think about. I really didn't know. When I was fourteen everything was... perfect. The worst tragedy in my life was not having a date on Friday night."
Louisa nodded and smiled slightly. "Is it any wonder he has nightmares?" Gareth nodded and sighed again. She knew he would make it up to the boy, somehow.
Tags: Gareth, Kevin, Leigh, Louisa, Rileigh
We'll be Closer Than the Stars
"There are a lot of songs that talk about the stars," Rye pointed out, setting his pen aside. "I wonder why that is."
"Stars have a lot of symbolism," Gareth replied. "The have a longevity that people see as nearly eternal. They glow so they symbolize light, heat, warmth and fate. Then there are phrases and sayings that have to do with stars."
"Like star-crossed lovers," Mikyla pointed out.
"Written in the stars," Kevin added. "That's in a musical, actually. It's a beautiful song, so poignant."
"Why all the discussion about stars?" Melina asked as she entered the room.
"I'm writing a song and made reference to stars," Rye replied.
"Which ones?" Gareth asked.
"Well, I am a twin," Rye said with a beaming grin. He glanced at his sister, who sat on the porch, reading. "Did you know in the story of Castor and Pollux, only one was meant to be immortal. They were placed in the stars when the other died. His brother didn't want to be separated."
"That's so sweet," Mikyla said. "It's like how you feel about your sister." Rye smiled and nodded before returning to his writing.
Tags: Gareth, Kevin, Leigh, Melina, Mikyla, Rycroft, Rye


July 12, 2019 / 10:50 AM / 3 days ago
Miner BHP releases first tender for LNG shipment of iron ore
FILE PHOTO - Visitors to the BHP (formerly known as BHP Billiton) booth speak with representatives during the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) annual convention in Toronto, Ontario, Canada March 4, 2019. REUTERS/Chris Helgren
LONDON (Reuters) - BHP (BHP.AX) (BHPB.L) on Friday said it had released the world's first tender for LNG-fueled transport to carry up to 27 million tonnes, or about 10 percent, of its iron ore as it seeks to position itself at the forefront of responsible mining.
Apart from the quest to cut carbon emissions to curb global warming, the United Nations shipping agency is introducing tougher anti-pollution standards in the industry's biggest shake-up for decades.
BHP said ships fueled by LNG (liquefied natural gas) would eliminate NOx (nitrogen oxide) and SOx (sulfur oxide) emissions and, though not a zero-carbon solution, would bring a significant reduction in CO2 emissions until other options are available.
BHP, the world's biggest diversified miner, stands apart from others in the sector with its target of net zero emissions by the second half of the century, in line with U.N. carbon-cutting goals.
That is a huge challenge, especially if it includes emissions related to the group's vast amounts of coking coal and iron ore for steelmaking, as well as shipping of the material.
"We recognize we have a stewardship role, working with our customers, suppliers and others to influence emissions reductions across the full life cycle of our products," said Rashpal Bhatti, BHP's vice president for maritime and supply chain excellence.
BHP was "fully supportive" of the International Maritime Organization's decision to impose lower limits on sulfur levels in marine fuels, Bhatti added.
Reporting by Barbara Lewis; Editing by David Goodman


Renaissance NOT revolution - Part 2
Posted by ipz | Jul 27, 2016 | Debate | 1 |
In this second part, I hope to make a contribution to ideas on how a new Renaissance, post-Brexit, can take shape. As I touched upon in Part One, Britain was the home of freedom and - together arguably with French - more has been written about freedom in English than in any other language. The French went down a route of revolutionary Republicanism followed by reactionary Monarchism, one where the romantic idea of the middle-class intellectual anarchist plotting against "privilege" in the name of an underclass, then the more Germanic romantic idea of the expanding national consciousness appeared; with it, and later the Russian Communists, ideas of anarchism, and of course more social revolution, blossomed.
With Socialism came endless intellectualising about social change and countless self-appointed revolutionaries. The list is now virtually endless, and we add to it Geldof and any number of others who want to blame the English (and their Empire) for virtually everything (I have a good Irish friend who has publicly apologised on behalf of all Irish for Geldof's antics!). Luckily ordinary people, from every European country, generally always know when they are being conned. The difference is in their knowing that they can change something themselves, in a fair and democratic system. My father once said to me, recounting his experience as a Desert Rat (sadly his brother was killed in action during the war) "You will never ever meet as trustworthy and loyal a friend, as the English Tommy". I believe that to be absolutely true. What makes the Common Man virtuous? It is difficult to say. Perhaps as Sir Thomas More is quoted as saying in the play A Man for All Seasons, "If we lived in a state where virtue was profitable, common sense would make us saintly".
Some may be hoping that the team of newly re-constructed Tories will be virtuous, have more sense and a better connection to the people then did Mr Cameron. Boris, I feel, with his proud connections via his grandfather Ali Kemal to "freedom movements" that only succeeded at huge cost in life, is going to be central to whatever the Tories do. I like David Davis a lot. But is the "revolutionary myth" of progress towards the "ideal civic society" that the media brandish in our faces every day, going to blind them, as we have all been blinded, for the last 100+ years?
One thing I feel is sure; we have seen the failures of this revolutionary approach, and we do not need further "revolution". Just look at last week's scenes in Hyde Park and compare them with 50 years ago and 100 years ago. My grandfather was a Danish seaman who settled in Parsons Green as a baker and cake decorator. I'm sure he wandered among the large crowds in Hyde Park in the '10s and '20s and '30s, and saw that large crowds did not have to mean "violence" (though there was on the continent of Europe, of course).
We have seen large crowds at pop concerts (the sexual revolution of the 60s by and large was not violent, if anything, the opposite) so why do some large crowds become violent? Is it not because they are stirred to political revolution in the interests of an elite? Surely this has wrought the destruction of the civic society, not created it. In the 30s, early propagandists for crowd control (such as Edward Bernays) sought to control what, after the Depression, were thought to be dangerous signs of Revolution. This art has been elevated with the help of the Media and skilful coaching to what we now see in the so-called "Arab Spring", and in Barack Obama, someone whose "popularity" bypasses critical judgement on his actions and broken promises.
People are motivated not only by the need for a roof and food; they are motivated by ideas and how to get their own ideas heard. You don't need to be an unemployed lawyer to realise that the Palaces of Gold are now occupied not by the venerable land-owning gentry or Lords, but by a new oligarchy. It is surely wrong that the House of Lords now lacks even the teeth that it used to have in being the ONE independent voice still assuring balance in our rather corrupted system, that it merely rubber-stamps the directives of globalist planning (it is not often that I agree with the Guardian!). Since 1911, and more so since the 1999 reforms, it seems to be populated more by career appointees who cannot change a single thing for the people, and this is something which it must be able to do.
What we need is a Renaissance of British Constitutional Common Law, embodied in the Act of Settlement of 1701 and the Bill of Rights of 1689. Defended by the Monarch, Queen Elizabeth, who swore to govern according to the "laws and customs" of her peoples, and to adhere to Common Law in England and to such other laws as made up the body of our constitutional law, and that ensures that the people hold the power. We need an independent and proportionally-elected Second Chamber (which could I believe, as in the MEP elections, have a sizeable UKIP majority).
Our Common Law should always overrides laws that seek to negate it. It should take precedence over any laws imposed upon us by the EU, and the Queen is oath-bound to defend Common Law (and the "laws and customs" of Scotland and Northern Ireland also) against those of the EU - or anywhere else - that seek to negate our Common Law.
In addition, in swearing to uphold our "laws and customs", she swore in effect to uphold such constitutional laws as are embodied within the Bill of Rights, an Act of Parliament of 16thDecember 1689. The Bill of Rights declares that "No foreign prince, person, prelate, state, or potentate hath, or ought to have, any jurisdiction, power, superiority, pre-eminence, or authority, ecclesiastical or spiritual, within this realm". This is what defines us, and no amount of "gradual revolution" can change it. On the contrary, its principles can be reborn in the modern world.
This declaration of sovereignty, of power invested in the people, is the foundation of the democratic Renaissance and it is what inspired the rest of Europe, seeing the blossoming of industry and wealth and freedom in Britain, to follow suit. We must take care that it is not misdirected towards profiteering, nor subverted by geo-political ambitions, nor undermined by elitism, ideology, or snobbery. In a globalised world we must all agree to respect diversity elsewhere. What we must not do is follow the errors of romantics who mistake openness to revolutionary concepts and creeds for hospitality towards foreign ways that we have not chosen; where the Lower House has become too partisan, we need laws written and fully scrutinised by two chambers, the second, true "Lords of the People" - elected by the people by PR - having the power to commence and radically change things in their own name.
This surely, would herald the start of a Renaissance.
Photo by S∆M.I.∆M
PreviousHungary - Euroscepticism goes east
NextOn Leaving the EU: Immigration and Fish
ipz
I am a qualified coach/teacher and NLP specialist, as well as a writer, and work with high level business clients around the world, especially with presentation skills and problem-solving.
Faultlines
Why a Labour/SNP coalition could spell the end of Labour as a major party
Where to now ?
Thoughts on the April 2018 US UK French missile attack on Syria
peter on August 1, 2016 at 1:10 pm
I have started a petition calling for a review of the promise made by the Coalition Government, when all three of the main parties promised to take action on Lords reform in the 2010 general election, and following it the Coalition Agreement included a promise to "establish a committee to bring forward proposals for a wholly or mainly elected upper chamber on the basis of proportional representation".
This "promise" has never been acted on. The EU referendum has shown that there is a division between those who support the unelected supranational collective, and those who favour a return to people power. A PR House of Lords will return power to the People where the Commons are seen to be acting outside their manifesto pledge.
Indeed, we see endless cases of actions taken by successive governments that were not mandated by the People!
After the 1911 Parliament Act removing executive power from the Lords, and since 1949 with further laws to prevent the Lords using delaying tactics, and in 1999 (HoL Act), 2012 (Reform Bill, started by Clegg) and 2014 (Reform Act) the government of the day could determine to elect its own new peers and rebalance the voting balance in the Lords to better reflect its majority in the Commons.
The Commons became superior to the Lords not just by convention but by statute.
However this has led to supranational bodies such as the EU, UN and other International Treaties, being able to influence government at the level of Head of States and below, the Commons bends its ear to all sorts of pressure from abroad, and the lack of effective blocking powers from the Lords means that statutes can be passed without due review by the Commons OR the Lords.
This means that the original intention of the Bill of Rights 1689, viz. to ensure a correct balance of powers and the prevention of abuse of any one entity, Commons, Lords or the Monarch, so that the People were sovereign and free and their interests and ONLY their interests were carried out, is no longer upheld correctly and is reflected in the total disinterest and distrust in the political system that we see today.
Having a PR Lords, a "People's House", would be another positive step toward the Renaissance that this country needs.


Is Joppatowne, MD, new home community violating Fair Housing Act?
Posted on October 27, 2017 by deborahgoonan
Fair Housing complaint filed with HUD. Hartford County has stopped issuing building permits, and buyers cannot move in, pending outcome of lawsuit.
The latest controversy circulating on social media is a Fair Housing complaint involving River Run, a 55+ retirement community in Maryland.
It all started when a real estate agent filed a complaint with Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Gina Pimentel says that the developers of River Run are marketing and selling homes exclusively to members of a Muslim religious sect, excluding other potential buyers.
When Hartford County learned of the HUD complaint, and conducted its own investigation into the matter, its Council decided not to issue any more building permits until the legal matter is settled.
On the other hand, Faheem Younus, developer of River Run, has sued Hartford County for its refusal to issue permits, claiming that the County's actions are discriminatory against Muslims.
Which viewpoint is right under U.S. law?
Below are two recent reports on the controversy.
Maryland Retirement Community Sold Homes Only To Muslims
Religion Reporter
7:18 PM 10/24/2017
A housing development in Maryland is mired in contradicting legal grievances from city officials and residents after it marketed and sold homes only to Muslims.
A developer for River Run, a housing development along the Gunpowder river in Joppatowne, Md., filed a lawsuit against Hartford county officials in September, alleging that its refusal to continue issuing building permits for the project was discriminatory against Muslims. However, defendants allege that the developers conspired to create an exclusively Islamic community by selling only to Muslims, according to the Washington Post.

See also, from Washington Post
Maryland development under fire after selling homes only to Muslims
The River Run development is slated for about 35 wooded acres in Joppatowne, Md., a community of about 12,000 people 20 miles northeast of Baltimore. More than 56 homes were approved for the lot more than a decade ago, but the project fell into disrepair after just four homes were built when a previous developer folded.
Then, last year, 46-year-old Faheem Younus, an infectious-disease doctor and an immigrant from Pakistan, teamed up with a different developer to build a retirement community for older Ahmadiyya Muslims, adherents of a branch of Islam who preach tolerance and face repression from other Muslims around the world.
After a nationwide search, Younus settled on River Run. With a planned mosque and views of the river, the development offered what was advertised as a "peace village" for people 55 and older.
"This will be a community of 49 spacious brand new homes (Villas) for Ahmadi Muslims with a dedicated mosque within walking distance," read a website this year advertising the community. That language was later removed, replaced with an update that touted an "audio feed from the adjacent mosque" for the daily call to prayer  -  before that language also was removed.
The plan to market to Muslims proved successful, Younus said, and 22 units were sold within months after a lottery was held among Ahmadis who wished to buy them.
Some elected officials and residents, however, complained, saying the planned community violated fair-housing laws.
It would appear that Younus did advertise River Run as an exclusive community, and then sold nearly half of the housing units shortly thereafter. However, now the River Run developer claims that anyone is welcome to purchase a home in the community, including non-Muslims.
Yousun points out, in his defense, that the U.S. has plenty of Christian and Jewish communities, so why not an Islamic community?
Is it true that there are Christian and Jewish communities?
Yes, it is. For example, just a few miles from my house there is a senior community called Lutheran Village, operated by Diakon Senior Living Services. Here's a little excerpt from Diakon's website:
Diakon's senior living roots date back to 1940. Annually, Diakon serves thousands of people of all faiths, providing compassionate service, gracious hospitality and millions of dollars in charitable care.

As you can see, although Diakon has a Christian mission, the community is open to and serves people of any faith.
Searching online for Jewish communities, I found Monroe Village, another senior community in Central NJ, a division of Springpoint Senior Living. According to its website, Monroe Village is a diverse community originally founded by Presbyterian ministers.
Our mission began in 1916, when a group of Presbyterian ministers joined together to create housing and services for elders. They founded Presbyterian Homes of New Jersey, a nonprofit organization based on the values instilled by faith.
Their idea grew with the 20th century, expanding to new affordable housing and senior living communities across the state. In 2007, the organization decided to go beyond its Presbyterian affiliation, taking a new name that would embrace people of all backgrounds: PHS Senior Living. Three years later, in February 2010, the company made a more definitive move, changing its name once again, this time to Springpoint Senior Living.

The key here is that, even though many senior communities, especially non-profit groups, have been founded in the faith and traditions of one particular religious group, they technically welcome people of all faiths, so long as they are able and willing to pay for the lifestyle and future assisted living or health care services in the future.
It appears that many of these communities do not actually sell real property, but rather, operate as cooperatives providing a combination of community and personal services, as well as a place to live.
Nevertheless, HUD policy forbids housing discrimination on the basis of protected classes, among them, religious affiliation. That puts River Run in a gray zone, with regard to the Fair Housing Act.
The outcome of this legal case will have important implications for the rights of housing consumers as well as developers.
But looking at the big picture, don't deed restrictions, the basis for most association-governed common interest communities, also discriminate, albeit in less obvious ways?
For example, we often read about HOA, condo, and co-op association restrictions on holiday decor, display of religious symbols (even in private front yards), display of political signs, and so on. There are rules against parking certain types of vehicles - especially work vehicles commonly used by working class residents. And what about the restrictions against playing in the street, or leaving toys outside in plain view - do these not discriminate against families with children?
These are equally gray areas in terms of Constitutional law, meant to uphold Civil Rights and Civil Liberties in the U.S.
Self-sorting?
Also worth considering: is there anything wrong with people choosing to live among neighbors who share important core values?
For centuries, ethnic and religious cultures have tended to set up their own neighborhoods. Think of all the Little Italy, Chinatown, and Jewish enclaves in just about every major city in the U.S.
The point is, no matter how policymakers try to create diversity in communities, human nature draws people of similar cultures and values together.
And even if River Run is officially open to people of all faiths, it would not be surprising if nearly every future buyer turns out to be a member of the Ahmadiyya Muslim sect.
This entry was posted in Constitutional and Civil Rights and your HOA, Enforcement of Rules, Covenants & Deed Restrictions, Fair Housing Acts, Federal Housing Policy & Regulation, HOA Community Association Disputes & Legal Matters, Housing Policy / Real Estate News & Trends, Religious freedom by deborahgoonan. Bookmark the permalink.
← Previous Previous post: Dirty water and sewage backups: HOA Communities demand action from local governments
Next → Next post: Associa turns over audit for police investigation of one of its own managers


Herbaria and Art: Diversity
December 4, 2016 November 19, 2016 / Maura Flannery / Leave a comment
Alberto Baraya, a prominent contemporary artist in Columbia, has taken up this herbarium theme in a different way than any of the artists I discussed in the last three posts. He has a long-term project called the Herbarium of Artificial Plants (Herbario de Plantas Artificiales) which he began in 2002. He collects artificial plants - made with plastic, paper, fabric - and mounts them on herbarium sheets. He includes "dissected flowers," pasting them in the lower part of the sheet much as botanical illustrators include enlargements of flower features in their drawings. In addition, there is at least one small photo of where the plant was "collected." This is a colorful group of works because these plants don't loose their color, and in that sense remain more aesthetically pleasing than herbarium specimens do. There is something eerie about this: that the artificial remains more "real." Also, it is suggestive of invasive species, since plastic-leaved ficus trees, for example, are found in hotel lobbies the world over. Baraya's method of collection - often surreptitiously lifting plants from restaurants or waiting-rooms - is reminiscent of the collections made by colonials: no permission asked.
In a blog post on Columbian artists including Baraya, the art critic Tom Jeffreys notes that botanical illustration was one of the first independent threads in the development of modern Columbian art. This was largely through the work of the Spanish priest and botanist José Celestino Mutis who led a collecting expedition to Columbia and stayed there for the remainder of his life. His project, which lasted more than 30 years, resulted in sending thousands of specimens and illustrations being sent back to Spain (Bleichmar, 2011). Most of the art was done by native Columbians trained by European artists. Their work is strikingly beautiful and accurate, while definitely having a style of its own. Baraya's herbarium is in part a commentary on how botany has changed since the late 18th century when Mutis arrived in Columbia. The artificial has replaced the real, providing a poor substitute for the green world humans crave. The rich botanical environment that Mutis experienced has changed into a gaudy unreal show.
Disappearance of species is also one of the messages of Mark Dion's Herbarium, a portfolio of seven photogravures the size of herbarium sheets. To create this work, Dion mounted seaweed specimens on herbarium paper that had been stamped in purple ink: "Herbarium Henry Perrine." There is also a green stamp: "Marine Algae." Each sheet has a label attached with the heading: "Ex. Herb. H. Perrine, Indian Key, Florida," but aside from this the labels are blank, no information on the specimens is given. Much of Dion's oeuvre is a commentary on the history of natural history and of collecting. Here he is alluding to Henry Perrine, an early 19th-century plant collector who died in a raid on his Florida land which also destroyed his plant collection. Dion's work suggests what Perrine's collection might have looked like, but the blank labels also tell of what was lost.
While Dion's art references herbaria directly, often the relationship between plant specimen collections and art is more subtle. Paul Klee, for example, created a herbarium as reference material for his drawings. His specimens are definitely "unscientific." They are mounted on paper he has painted dark brown, several species per page, with no labels. Klee was interested in plants from an early age, doing botanical drawings at age ten. At one point, he writes in his journal that he looks forward to seeing his herbarium after being away on a trip: "It surprises me that these treasures of form have been apart from me for so long" (Baumgartner & Moe, 2008, p. 16). It is the forms, not the details, of plant structure that fascinated him, and this comes through in his art. Several hundred of his pieces relate to plant growth, including Botanical Theatre which he worked on for ten years.
Two 20th-century German artists took a more direct approach and actually used pressed plants in their works. Joseph Beuys did a series of what can only be called herbarium specimens: pressed plants pasted to paper with a penciled title, Ombelico di Venere, or the umbilical cord of Venus, the name of the attached species Cotyledon Umbilicus Veneris (now botanically designated Cotyledon rupestris) (Tempkin & Rose, 1993). In some of these, Beuys must have moved the plant after pressing it to the paper because there are stains where water from the plant was absorbed. This is not good herbarium technique but it adds to the texture of the piece and is reminiscent of some of Beuys's other works where he employed plant material such as moss to color the paper's surface. The use of plant material suggests life and regeneration, important themes in Beuys's post World War II work.
Anselm Kiefer, Beuys's student, uses a great deal of dried plant material in his art. The closest he comes to suggesting a herbarium, a bound herbarium, is For Paul Celan-Ukraine, a stack of lead-paged book sculptures with aluminum sunflowers sticking out from them. In earlier work, he pasted dried plants to painted canvases, in what Matthew Biro (2013) suggests is a form of biographical memorialization. In others pieces, Kiefer employed straw to suggest both death and new life emerging beneath this covering. For a very different setting, a vitrine, a pressed algal specimen sits amid gold-plated organs including a heart. Obviously the plant form is being used metaphorically, both in looking like an abstract ribcage and in implying that all life is related, that we are an amalgam of plant and animal material.
What is clear in the variety of examples and contexts I've explored here and in the last three posts is that pressed plants can have multiple layers of meaning, that they are important sources of inspiration for artists as well as sources of information for botanists. I come back to the first post in this series and Victoria Crowe's ideas of fragility and timelessness, the pairing of these seems to be the essence of what makes herbaria so attractive as symbols, combined with their aesthetic appeal. While I have mentioned a wide variety of artists here, there are many more I haven't cited, including Joanne Kaar's work with the herbarium of the Scottish baker-botanist Richard Dick, John Walsh's (2016) prose/herbarium piece The Arctic Plants of New York, and M.F. Cardamone's surreal takes on herbarium sheets. Fortunately, there are many artists working in this area.
Baumgartner, M., & Moe, O. H. (2008). In Paul Klee's Enchanted Garden. Ostfildern, Germany: Hatje Cantz.
Biro, M. (2013). Anselm Kiefer. New York, NY: Phaidon.
Bleichmar, D. (2011). Visible Empire: Botanical Expeditions and Visual Culture in the Hispanic Enlightenment. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press.
Tempkin, A., & Rose, B. (1993). Thinking Is Form: The Drawings of Joseph Beuys. Philadelphia, PA: Philadelphia Museum of Art.
Walsh, J. (2016). The Artic Plants of New York City. New York, NY: Granary.
Who Has a Herbarium?
April 19, 2015 / Maura Flannery / Leave a comment
I once did a presentation on "Guess Who Had a Herbarium?" This was in the early days of my herbarium infatuation, and I was fascinated by the number of non-biologists who collected plant specimens. Jean-Jacques Rousseau not only was very interested in plants, but also tutored others in how to create their own plant collections. Paul Klee kept an herbarium, though it was not very botanically correct: the plants were pasted onto black paper and were unlabeled. As a teenager, Emily Dickinson wrote to a friend and asked if she were collecting plants because "everyone is doing it." Johann Wolfgang von Goethe had a collection, which isn't so surprising because he wrote about plant morphology, and it is seems only fitting that Henry David Thoreau collected plants. Two of his specimens were found a few years ago at the University of Connecticut's George Stafford Torrey Herbarium stored unnoticed among their several hundred thousand specimens until the collection was digitized.
Since that original presentation, I've come across several more collectors, including John Stuart Mill, who had a herbarium of thousands of plants, and John Cage who collected mushrooms and even taught a mycology course at the New School.


New poll: Few deny Holocaust
Dated: July 8, 1994
NEW YORK  -  Americans have a shallow knowledge of the Nazi Holocaust but few doubt that it happened, according to an American Jewish Committee report correcting a misleading survey that caused alarm last year.
"Less than 2 % deny the Holocaust in a committed, consistent way," Tom W. Smith of the University of Chicago, author of the AJC report, said Thursday.
Smith, director of the General Social Survey of the National Opinion Research Center, analyzed more than a dozen surveys, including 2 Roper polls conducted for the AJC.
The first poll, taken in 1992 and released in March 1993, has been widely criticized by pollsters as a case study of how one badly worded question can produce highly publicized misinformation. Burns W. Roper, whose company was responsible, has publicly apologized.
The question required a cross-section of US adults to untangle a double negative: "Does it seem possible or does it seem impossible to you that the Nazi extermination of the Jews never happened?"
Twenty-two % said it was possible the Holocaust never happened and an additional 12 % said they didn't know. Many must have been confused, because later polls got different results by asking the question differently.
In March, Roper interviewed 991 adults in person and asked them: "Does it seem possible to you that the Nazi extermination of the Jews never happened, or do you feel certain that it happened?"
One percent said it was possible it never happened, 91 % said they were certain it happened and 8 % did not know.
Smith and AJC research director David Singer said the organization had acknowledged doubts about the 22 % Holocaust denial figure several months ago, but wanted to do a thorough analysis before making any statements.
Everett Ladd, editor of the Public Perspective, a polling journal at the University of Connecticut, expressed dismay Friday that the AJC could not correct its error more promptly.
"You don't need to have a study. That's disingenuous," Ladd said. If Holocaust denial was as high as 22 %, he said, that would mean the US population was so ill-informed "democracy would be untenable."
Smith said surveys indicate 19 in 20 Americans have heard of the Holocaust but their knowledge of it is "shallow, incomplete and imperfect."
Comparing 1992 and 1994 AJC-Roper surveys, he found a "modest overall gain in knowledge," including a 7-point increase in correct definitions of the Holocaust. Media attention to the openings of Holocaust museums and memorials in Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., and the movie "Schindler's List" probably contributed, Smith said.
Mainly, though, how much people know about the Holocaust depends on how much education they have. In the latest survey, the percentage who knew what the Holocaust was ranged from 55 % among those with less than a high school education to 92 % among those with advanced degrees.
Those who lack knowledge of the Holocaust are much more likely to have doubt or unsureness about whether it occurred, Smith said. Uncertainty or doubt rises to 69 % among those who cannot correctly answer even one of 5 factual questions about the Holocaust, Roper found.
"Uncertainty and doubt about the Holocaust is mostly a function of ignorance, not the absorption of the neo-Nazi party line," he said.
This entry was posted in Documents. Bookmark the permalink.
← A Jew who survived six gassings
6 million did not die in the gas chambers →


Posts Tagged 'horror'
Worth Peepin'?: "The Catcher"
Posted: February 5, 2010 by Brendan Wahl in Worth Peepin'? Movie Reviews
Tags: baseball, david heavener, horror, joe estevez, review, the catcher
Most of you right now are probably thinking to yourself, "Man, I'm hungry." But some of you may be wondering, "What in the hell is The Catcher? Is that the movie with acting god Freddie Prinze Jr.?" No, silly, that's Summer Catch. The Catcher is far, far, um, different from that film.
First of all, if you do not know who David Heavener is, you should probably look that man up on IMDB and watch every single one of his films as soon as you can. As it stands, I've seen Lethal Ninja, Massacre, and now The Catcher, a "masterpiece of cinema."
The plot is as follows: A former big-time baseball player in the minor leagues, David J. Walker (Heavener) is upset at his fellow teammates for bitching him out for losing their last game of the season. In one teammate's words, "I've been here six years and you screwed up my chance to get in the majors." Um, I'm pretty sure if you've been there for six years and still haven't moved up the ladder of success, one member of your team is not the one to blame.
Yes, that is the entire plot.
The film takes place inside a baseball stadium. ALL 76 minutes of it. Oh, I'm sorry. There's also a flashback scene at the beginning with Joe Estevez yelling at a small child for what feels like seven hours before said youngster cracks him over the head with a baseball bat and kills him.
I don't even know how someone thought this would come together to make any kind of coherent film. David Heavener does what he does, I guess. I've actually talked to the man over the phone before and he's a nice enough guy, but good Lord he needs to stay away from crap like this. The other actors in the film don't even deserve mentioning except maybe the great Joe Estevez.
Here's a guy who is Martin Sheen's brother, but apparently did not take any of the acting talent from his sibling at the same time. He yells, screams, and contorts his face throughout his small part in the film much to the delight of anyone without ears that has to sit through his wonderfully horrific performance.
That withstanding, this film is of the horror/slasher genre, so you'd at least expect some slick kills, right? Wrong. What we get is a handful of lame death scenes, some very crappy sound effects, and only ONE cool death. Let's just say that the killer sticks the baseball bat in an orifice that no one should ever have to experience discomfort in unless your name is Rip Taylor.
Not to mention that this film sports a terrible "twist" ending and some awful cinematography that would make Uwe Boll blush. I give this a:
and may God have mercy on whoever has had the discomfort of watching this drivel.
Worth Peepin'? If you can find it and if you enjoy the cinematic equivalent of getting slapped in the face with a hammer over and over again, yes.
Worth Peepin'? - "Legion"
Posted: January 26, 2010 by Brendan Wahl in Worth Peepin'? Movie Reviews
Tags: action, angels, dennis quaid, doug jones, God, horror, IMDB, legion, lucas black, paul bettany, religion, review, tyrese, visual effects, worth peepin
"I don't believe in God."  -  Bob (Dennis Quaid)
As I was looking through all of my archived reviews (a whopping total of three if you count The Tonight Show), I came to the conclusion that I am going to start looking like a movie fan-boy if I just constantly see what I want and shell out praise for classics of the past. Granted, Night of the Living Dead (1990) was by no means a classic, but it was still fairly enjoyable as was Youth in Revolt.
So I thought to myself, "Brendan...can I call you Brendan?" To which I responded, "No, that's Mr. Wahl to you." I then shuddered in fear at my own power over myself and responded, "I apologize, Mr. Wahl. Anyway, how are you going to write a negative review if all you do is watch good movies?" I then said, "Well, maybe I'll go see one at the theatre that could go either way." And as I was wheeled out of the pink-padded room, I thought that it would be a good idea to go see the film Legion.
I'll never live that one down.
So if you don't know the story, it basically comes down to this. I'll even give you the official plot summary right off IMDB.com.
"An out-of-the-way diner becomes the unlikely battleground for the survival of the human race. When God loses faith in humankind, he sends his legion of angels to bring on the Apocalypse. Humanity's only hope lies in a group of strangers trapped in a desert diner with the Archangel Michael."
Upon reading this I thought it might be entertaining like the movie Feast or perhaps like The Mist. With the R-rating I thought, well, at least if it sucks there will be some decent blood and gore. Well, here's the issue with that. This movie treats itself 110% seriously.
The first problem with the movie lies in the acting. When Tyrese delivers the best performance in a film, it's time to seriously stop and consider what we're witnessing here. Now I'm not saying that I expected Academy Award-winning performances or anything but almost everyone in the movie was chewing the scenery like it was beef jerky!
I never expected to dislike Dennis Quaid in a film, but he takes the cliche line, "I don't believe in God" and overplays it to the nth degree. We get it, you're an atheist which is ironic because the whole thing is about angels trying to attack and blah blah blah, you might reconsider your faith in the end, blah blah.
The other actors are nothing special either (as mentioned before, except for Tyrese). Lucas Black overdoes his southern drawl as much as he can to remind the audience that "gosh-darn it, he's a good ole boy! Yee-haw!" Paul Bettany plays the lead (I guess) and plays an unemotional angel like...well, an unemotional human. I usually like Bettany in most things, but I think his problem here was the opposite of everyone else's. He underplayed it too much.
Acting aside, the visual effects were pretty good for the most part with Doug Jones in particular (you might know him as Abe Sapien in Hellboy) looking really bad-ass as a crazy angel-possessed ice cream truck driver. Sometimes, the effects didn't work so much at all though. For instance, in a scene I'm sure everyone has seen in the trailer, an old woman enters the bar and it turns out she is also possessed by an angel and starts to crawl all over the ceiling. This is the most laughable scene in the film where it's supposed to be played for sheer shock value and scares. It just doesn't work.
I think that's all I can stomach in regards to this film so let's just pull this review train to a stop. I can say vehemently that this film is DEFINITELY NOT worth peepin'.
Note to Self: IMDB is not to be counted on for ratings. 5.9/10 for this mess? Yeesh.
Worth Peepin'? - "Night of the Living Dead (1990)"
Tags: cult, george a romero, gore, horror, night of the living dead, patricia tallman, remake, review, tom savini, tom towles, tony todd, william butler, worth peepin, zombies
Most everyone I know who is any kind of a zombie freak will say that Night of the Living Dead is one of their favourite films of that genre. There were tons of films featuring zombies that preceded the cult classic, but this was the first film to really treat them seriously and present it in a coherent story with flawed characters and solid craftsmanship.
Any zombie freak will probably also tell you that George A. Romero is one of their heroes, a zombie guru if you will. This is the man who took $114,000 and made one of the most influential films of the past fifty years, Night of the Living Dead, in 1968 with a small crew and a small group of talented yet unknown actors. From there, he went on to do Dawn of the Dead (probably my favourite of the series), Day of the Dead (an underrated gem), Land of the Dead, and Diary of the Dead.
With all this in mind, one can only imagine that when the headline popped up (it probably read something like this: "GEORGE A. ROMERO'S CULT CLASSIC SET TO BE SHAT ON"), people were none too happy about an all-time favourite being remade into a modern film. I had my doubts too before settling in to watch this film. Were they warranted?
Well, not really. The 1990 version of Night of the Living Dead was directed by horror makeup guru Tom Savini, who did a pretty admirable job in his directorial debut particularly with the moments he liked to refer to as 'chair-jumpers.' There's a good use of night scenes and moonlight to elicit the mood and Savini orchestrates these fairly well.
It's also a good thing that Romero himself came back on board to write the script again (this time by himself; the original was also co-written by John A. Russo) and it definitely shows as much of the dialogue has been lifted from the original film. I won't bother going into detail about all the little nods to the original film he throws in there, but suffice to say there's quite a few of them and they're fun to spot rather than being in-your-face like some remakes.
The story is pretty basic. A number of survivors set up shop in an abandoned farmhouse to escape the oncoming zombie invasion that's taken over a small area of land in Pittsburgh, PA among other locales. It pretty much follows the original film to a tee despite some minor changes which I won't bother going into detail about for fear of creating spoilers.
One thing about the original that was somewhat lacking was the character of Barbara. In the 1968 classic, she is relegated to not much more than a yelping banshee rather than a character that serves any kind of real purpose in the crux of the storyline. In this version, Barbara starts out like you remember her originally entering the first film, as a fragile woman helpless towards everything, but that all ends fairly abruptly. Barbara instead becomes an ass-kicking machine that tries to point out some of the stupid logic employed by the other survivors throughout the film. She almost acts as the cynical member of the audience watching the film and almost makes it easier to digest some of the actions of the characters. It doesn't hurt that actress Patricia Tallman plays her with a lot of humanity and really nails the part.
Tony Todd is someone else who deserves a mention as an actor who really nails the 'Ben' role to a tee. He has a lot of the same mannerisms and looks a lot like Ben too, but it doesn't stop there. Tony makes the character his own and imports a lot of humanity into him as well. Although one of the weaker points of this version of the film is that compared to the original incarnation of Ben, I don't care for this character nearly as much. This is probably intentional though as the real star of this version of Night of the Living Dead is Barbara rather than Ben. Besides that, there are no real downsides to his performance aside from one really strange "theatrical" moment near the beginning of the film where he seems to channel Charlton Heston and screams at the heavens.
The rest of the cast is fairly okay. Tom Towles chews the scenery as Harry Cooper a little too much for my liking and William Butler does alright as another one of the survivors.
Of course, you'd expect the directorial debut of a man like Tom Savini to be a film filled with blood and gore, but surprisingly the man holds back quite a bit. Even more surprisingly though, it actually helped more than it hurt in several scenes. In some scenes, however, it would've been nice to get a big gory pay-off, but the film doesn't show us diddly squat and it feels a little weak.
So what to give this film as a rating? Well, despite some of the problems with the acting (excluding Patricia Tallman and Tony Todd) and the lack of gore sometimes becoming a little distracting, I give this film a rating of:
If you're gonna watch either this or the original, watch the Romero classic. This one is still worth peepin' though as it does a decent job of attempting to recreate the magic from the original and bring in some new elements that don't feel too contrived for the most part.


URGENT CARE ASSOCIATION
About UCA
Urgent Care Services Corporation
College of Urgent Care Medicine
UCAPAC
Urgent Care Foundation
The People Behind UCA
UCA Blog
UCAccess Newsletter
Urgent Care Sections
UCA LinkedIn Group
Accreditation Process
Annual Compliance Review
Certification Criteria
UCMC
CUCMP
Convention & Expo
Corporate Support Partners
Current CSPs
Vendor Exhibits
Branded Resources
Member List Access
Webinar Sponsorship
Reports and Manuals
Find an Urgent Care
ResourcesCareer Center
Job Seekers, Welcome to Urgent Care Jobs
Organize and administers individualized age specific professional care to patients within an assigned unit of the hospital in support of medical care. Supports philosophy, objectives and the mission and vision of Saint Barnabas Medical Center and the Department of Nursing. Practices in accordance with the State Nurse Practice Act, American Nurses Association Standards of Practice, Code of Ethics for Nurses, Department of Health Regulations, JCAHO requirements and other regulatory agencies. Participates in patient teaching and discharge planning. Participates in Unit Performance Improvement evaluation activities.
OUR MISSION, VISION & VALUES:
Employees of Saint Barnabas Medical Center are committed to exemplifying the Standards of - Exceptional Communication, Compassionate Care, Outstanding Teamwork, Professional Integrity and Ownership & Accountability - creating an environment of C ompassionate C are, H ealthcare E xcellence and S uperior S ervice (CCHESS) for all that enter our facility. If you share the commitment, dedication and drive meet the CCHESS challenge, we welcome your application.
Since 1865, Saint Barnabas Medical Center (SBMC), located at 94 Old Short Hills Road in Livingston, is New Jersey's oldest nonprofit, nonsectarian hospital. The 597-bed institution is one of the largest health care providers in the state, treating more than 35,500 inpatients and over 84,000 Emergency Department patients each year. The Medical Center and the Saint Barnabas Ambulatory Care Center provide treatment and services for more than 300,000 outpatient visits annually.
The Medical Staff is comprised of more than 1,600 physicians in 100 medical and surgical specialties and there are over 3,400 employees. As a teaching institution, we have nine residency programs and one fellowship in Mammography and a shared Nephrology fellowship with Newark Beth Israel. There are a total of 154 residents and fellows.
Among Saint Barnabas' nationally recognized facilities are The Burn Center, the only certified burn treatment facility in the state; the Barnabas Health Care System Renal and Pancreas Transplant Division, one of the most active transplant programs in the country; The Saint Barnabas Heart Centers, a world-class cardiac surgery program in affiliation with Newark Beth Israel Medical Center; The Neurology and Neurosurgery Program which is the only program in New Jersey to be ranked by US News and World Report as a Top Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery. It is led by an unprecedented team of experts dedicated to diagnosing and treating disorders of the brain and nervous system; the Regional Perinatal Center, providing care for high-risk and critically ill infants in New Jersey's leading Level III, a 56-bed Neonatal Intensive Care Unit; comprehensive Pediatric Services including a dedicated intensive care unit; The Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence, designated by the American Society of Bariatric Surgery; a nationally accredited Chest Pain Center, The Center for Sleep Disorders; The Comprehensive Stroke Center at Saint Barnabas; extensive services in robotic and minimally-invasive surgery, The Institute for Reproductive Medicine and Science at Saint Barnabas, the widely recognized assisted reproductive technology program; and comprehensive cancer programs and services that includes one of the largest Radiation Oncology programs in northern New Jersey and a highly-specialized Gastrointestinal Cancer Center of Excellence.
SBMC is an equal opportunity employer.
28600 Bella Vista Pkwy, Suite 2010
Warrenville, IL 60555
D: 331-472-3739
E:
Message Title goes here
Message goes here...


The Institute of Sociological Studies (ISS) offers BA, MA, and doctorate programmes in both sociology and public and social policy, along with BA and MA in social anthropology. ISS graduates are educated in high-level analysis in social, political, economic, and cultural issue, alongside gaining valuable expertise in public opinion polls, market research, and anthropological investigation.
Department of Public and Social Policy
The Institute of Sociological Studies (ISS) offers the highest quality B.A., M.A., and PhD programs, taught in English, in Central or Eastern Europe, covering all fields of social sciences. Attending Charles University gives prospective students the opportunity of obtaining a degree from one of the oldest, largest, and most prestigious universities in the world.
Admission Exams
The Institute of Sociological Studies offers programmes in sociology, social policy, social anthropology and public policy at B.A., M.A. and postgraduate levels.
Academic research activities at the Institute of Sociological Studies include research projects of the Institute's staff, undergraduate and doctoral students.
Center of the Doctoral Studies (CDS)
Sociological Seminars
University Research Programme (PROGRES)
Life at Institute
Life at the Institute
Student organization, promotional items and all student activities at the Institute of Sociological Studies.
Miroslava - student organization of ISS
Sociological evenings
The Institute of Sociological Studies is located in the university campus building in Prague's Jinonice.
Institute of Sociological Studies
158 00 Prague 5 - Jinonice
Secretary: Denisa Sobotková
Institute members
Public and Social Policy
Master Studies -
Society, Communication and Media
Sociology in European Context
Public and Social Policy (PSP) is a two-year, English-language Master's degree programme, focusing on providing students with current relevant knowledge in the policy-making process and cultivating their analytical skills. It is taught at Charles University in Prague, Faculty of Social Sciences by members of the Institute of Sociological Studies (ISS).
In addition to theoretical knowledge about policy-making process, the programme offers deeper knowledge in concrete policy domains such as social policy, health policy, educational policy, employment policy or others. Special attention will be given to research methodology and policy analysis skills. The combination of knowledge regarding policy process and methodology skills can lead to unique skills and excellent professional employment as well as further careers in research.
PSP graduates acquire the knowledge and skills that enable them to effectively and efficiently perform analytical, conceptual, organizational, interactive and managing tasks in creating and implementing public and social policies within international context. By the same token, graduates will be able pursue an academic career in the Czech Republic or elsewhere in the world. In addition, graduates will be experts in concrete policy domains, such as health policy, educational policy, employment policy or others.
Course Structure and Study Requirements
Final State Examination
All the interesting stuff happening at the faculty and beyond. Follow us at the social networks!
Center of the Doctoral Studies
Dean's Office: Hollar building
Smetanovo nábřeží 6
110 01 Prague 1
Data box ID: piyj9b4
TIN: 00216208
VATIN: CZ00216208


Home / Science & Nature / Earth Science /
When will a volcano explode, ooze or lie silent?
In Earth Science, Q & A, Science & Nature / 29 September 2014
By Micaela Jemison
A Hawaiian lava field beneath a full moon. (Flickr photo by Bill Shupp)
Volcanoes are a source of fascination for many, attracting a steady stream of visitors worldwide. While the danger of sudden eruptions may add to the thrill, it is a genuine risk for tourists and nearby residents. But how can one know if a sleeping volcano is about to explode?
Forecasting volcanic eruptions has been thrown into the spotlight with the weekend tragedy on Japan's Mount Ontake, where more than 30 hikers are presumed dead after an eruption of toxic fumes and ash. Smithsonian Science asks research geologist emeritus and volcano expert Richard Fiske, from the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History, about the science of predicting explosions.
How do you predict a volcanic eruption?
Fiske: You can't predict the exact time when a volcano might erupt, but you can anticipate volcanic activity. There are two main ways scientists can detect potential volcanic activity using special instruments:
The first is an increase in small earthquakes in the region below a volcano. These earthquakes signal the movement of magma, which is lava or molten rock underground, within the volcano. Small earthquakes, undetectable to most people, occur below the surface of the volcano as the magma rises, breaking rocks within the volcano.
The second signal that scientists can detect is the inflation of the volcano. Many volcanoes inflate like a balloon before they erupt. The ground surface actually puffs up. This can't be seen with the naked eye, but with the right ground instruments and satellite imagery, scientists can detect this change in the ground.
Pu'u O'o Crater Lava pond, Hawaii (Photo by Greg Bishop)
Is it possible that a volcano can erupt with no previous signs?
Fiske: If a volcano is monitored instrumentally, it is very unlikely that any major eruption could occur without any previous earthquakes or inflation being recorded. But there is one type of volcanic eruption that can be near impossible for scientists to anticipate.
More minor eruptions can occur when groundwater gains access to the hot magma in the volcano, generating large amounts of steam. This steam can build up pressure and create a minor "phreatic" eruption, an outburst of steam, ash and rock unaccompanied by lava. This build up of steam can be constantly happening in the background, making it difficult for scientists to discern when such a minor eruption is imminent. This is what seems to have happened on Japan's Mount Ontake over the past weekend.
Mount Ontake, Japan. (Photo by Atsushi Ueda)
Are there other types of volcanic eruptions?
Fiske: The different types of eruptions taking place at volcanoes are largely controlled by the nature and volume of the lava. If the lava is sticky, then the gases build up in it and it tends to explode. In lava that is more fluid-like, like those found in volcanoes in Hawaii, most of the gases just bubble out of it and don't cause explosions. In these kinds of eruptions, the lava just flows out of the volcano, almost like syrup, into the surrounding landscape.
Lava entering the ocean in Hawaii. (Flickr photo by Bill Shupp)
There are many volcanoes in Japan. Why is that?
Fiske: Japan is a place where the tectonic plates of the Earth are converging and one plate is descending beneath the other plate. As that plate descends it stimulates melting of the Earth's crust and the resulting magma rises up to form a volcano. This process is called subduction.
This situation is also found in the United States, where volcanoes have formed in Alaska, Washington, Oregon and northern California. The volcanoes found in Japan and the U.S. belong to a group of volcanoes called the Ring of Fire. This group contains 452 volcanoes that are located in a ring around the Pacific Ocean. This group includes more than 75 percent of the world's active and dormant volcanoes. Most of these volcanoes erupt sticky lava, which contains gases that can explode with great force. That is why volcanoes in the Ring of Fire, including the volcanoes in Japan, are known to be very dangerous.
Kilauea's activity is nothing new, says a Smithsonian volcano expert A hot new island has just surfaced in the Red Sea. What's going on? Smithsonian scientists explain. Can we spot volcanoes on alien worlds? Astronomers say yes Q&A: Smithsonian volcanologist Richard Wunderman answers questions about the Aug. 23, East Coast earthquake
Tags: geology, rocks & minerals, volcanoes


By Julie Rovner  April 17, 2017
Photo shows the Internal Revenue Service's form 1095-A, which will be required of individual taxpayers in order to comply with the Affordable Health Care Act (Obamacare) starting with tax year 2014.
Your federal income taxes are due April 18 and, likely for several million people, so is a fine for failing to get health insurance.
Despite a lengthy debate, Congress has not yet acted on a bill to repeal portions of the Affordable Care Act. That means the law and almost all of its regulations remain in force, for now.
For the majority of tax filers, who had insurance through an employer or government program for 2016, all they have to do is check the box on Form 1040 that says they were covered for a full year. That's it.
Under a decision by the Trump administration, however, leaving that box blank will not get your tax return kicked back to you. The IRS under President Barack Obama also did not reject returns with the box left blank last year or the year before, but it had announced it would step up enforcement of what's known as the "individual mandate" for tax year 2016. That plan was canceled under Trump's executive order calling on federal agencies to "minimize the burden" of the health law.
This KHN story also ran on NPR. It can be republished for free (details).
Still, those who lacked insurance for more than three consecutive months, or who bought individual insurance and got federal help paying the premiums, need to do a little more work.
Those with no insurance or a lengthy gap may be required to pay what the federal government calls a "shared responsibility payment." It's a fine for not having coverage, on the theory that even those without insurance will eventually use the health care system at a cost they can't afford and someone else will have to pay that bill.
Many people without insurance, however, qualify for one of several dozen "exemptions" from the fine. Nearly 13 million tax filers claimed an exemption for 2015 taxes, according to the IRS. The most common were for people whose income was so low (less than $10,350 for an individual) that they are not required to file a tax return, Americans who lived abroad for most of the year and people for whom the cheapest available insurance was still unaffordable (costing more than 8 percent of their household income).
The fine for 2016 taxes is the greater of $695 per adult or 2.5 percent of household income. Fines for uncovered children are half the amount for adults. Fines are pro-rated by the number of months you or a family member was uninsured.
The maximum fine is $2,676; that is the national average cost of a "bronze" level insurance plan available on the health exchanges. But most people do not pay anywhere near that much. Last year, said the IRS, an estimated 6.5 million tax filers paid a fine that averaged $470.
If you bought your own insurance from the federal or a state health insurance exchange and you got a federal tax credit to help pay for that coverage, you also have to take a step before you can file your taxes.
People who got those tax credits must fill out a form that "reconciles" the amount of subsidies they received based on their income estimates with the amount they were entitled to according to their actual income reported to the IRS.
In 2016, 5.3 million taxpayers had to pay the government because they got too much in tax credits, compared with 2.4 million who got additional money back. But among those who underestimated their incomes and had to pay back some of those tax credits, 62 percent still received a net refund on their taxes.
Julie Rovner: , @jrovner
Insurance The Health Law Tax Penalties
Julie Rovner, Kaiser Health News


Alexander Mosaic facts for kids
The Alexander Mosaic
Mosaicist unknown
272 cm × 513 cm (8 ft 11 in × 16 ft 9 in)
National Archaeological Museum, Naples
The Alexander Mosaic is a Roman floor mosaic from the House of the Faun in Pompeii. It was made in 100 BC. It shows a battle between the armies of Alexander the Great and Darius III of Persia. It measures 2.72 x 5.13m (8 ft 11in x 16 ft 9in). The original is at the Naples National Archaeological Museum. The mosaic is based on a 3rd-century BC Hellenistic painting, by Philoxenos of Eretria.
Alexander and Darius
Modern copy
The mosaic shows a battle between Alexander and Darius. Alexander won the Battle of Issus. Alexander won again two years later at the Battle of Gaugamela. The work shows the Battle of Issus.
Detail showing Alexander
1893 Reconstruction of the mosaic depiction.
The two main figures are easy to see. Darius has a worried expression on his face. The Persian soldiers have a stern look.
The mosaic was found again on October 24, 1831 in Pompeii. It was moved to Naples in September 1843. It is in the Museo Archeologico Nazionale.
Modern reconstruction of the Alexander Mosaic.
In 2003 the International Center for the Study and Teaching of Mosaic (CISIM) in Ravenna, Italy, wanted to make a copy of the mosaic. The mosaic master Severo Bignami and his eight-person team took a large photograph of the mosaic. It took them 22 months to make a copy of the mosaic. The copy was put in the House of the Faun in 2005.
Close up of Alexander.
Close up of Darius.
Centre detail of the Mosaic.
Detail of the Persians on the right side of the Mosaic.
Detail of a fallen sword from the bottom right of the Mosaic.
Alexander Mosaic Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.


Seaton, Devon facts for kids
Seaton shown within Devon
SY239900
Shire county
List of places
DevonLua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'Module:mw' not found.
Seaton (/ˈsitən/) is a small seaside town in East Devon on the south coast of England. It faces onto Lyme Bay, to the west of the mouth of the River Axe with red cliffs to one side and white cliffs on the other. Axmouth and Beer are nearby. A sea wall provides access to the mostly shingle beach stretching for about a mile, and a small harbour.
Seaton sits on the 96-mile (155 km) long Dorset and East Devon Coast World Heritage Site, more commonly known as the Jurassic Coast. From here it is possible to visit rock strata dating from three geological periods in a 185 million-year 'geological walk through time'.
Seaton has an estimated population of 7,385, proven to be 8,413 at the 2011 Census, whilst the Seaton and Beer Urban Area that includes Colyton had an estimated population of 12,815 in 2012. The Seaton electoral ward had a population of 7,096 at the above census.
Twin town
A farming community existed here 4,000 years before the Romans arrived and there were Iron Age forts in the vicinity at Seaton Down, Hawkesdown Hill, Blackbury Camp and Berry Camp. During Roman times this was an important port although the town's Roman remains have been reburied to preserve them. In Saxon times Seaton was known as Fluta or Fleet, the Saxon word for creek. The town of Fleet was founded by Saxon Charter in 1005 AD. The first mention of Seaton was in a papal bull by Pope Eugenius in 1146.
Seaton was an important port for several centuries, supplying ships and sailors for Edward I's wars against Scotland and France. In the 14th century heavy storms caused a landslip which partially blocked the estuary, and the shingle bank started to build up. In 1868 the arrival of the railway reduced the use of the harbour.
In November 2013 builder Laurence Egerton, a metal detector enthusiast, unearthed the Seaton Down Hoard of copper-alloy coins. The hoard, of about 22,000 Roman coins, is believed to be one of the largest and best-preserved 4th-century collections ever found in Britain. A team of archaeologists carefully removed and cleaned the coins over the next 10 months.
Seaton was served by a branch line, opened in 1886, from Seaton Junction on the Salisbury to Exeter main line. The railway was successful and considerably assisted in the development of Seaton as a holiday destination. Seaton and Beer became the two most popular holiday destinations in East Devon. A Warners holiday camp opened in 1935 close to the station, encouraged by the ease of travel.
With the increase in car ownership in the 1960s, usage of the line declined, and with many other Devon branch lines, it closed in 1966. The nearest railway station now is at Axminster, seven miles away.
Part of the trackbed has been used to construct the Seaton Tramway to Colyton, a tourist attraction.
The sea front
In the 19th century Seaton developed as a holiday resort, which it remains to this day. Seaton lost its largest holiday camp at the beginning of 2009 when the site was purchased by Tesco who opened a major supermarket on the site in late 2011. However, Seaton still has many accommodation providers including guest houses, hotels, a camping site and a caravan park.
The church on the edge of town was built in the 14th century, with a squat tower dating from the 15th century. Seaton is also notable for having one of the world's first concrete bridges, built over the River Axe in 1877, by the Seaton and Beer Railway company. This is one of the earliest concrete bridges in Britain. Many of the town buildings are Victorian, including a notable collection of large houses at Seaton Hole, but the town also has notable buildings from the 1930s and later periods, as recognised by the Seaton Town Design Statement (2009).
There are 3,300 homes in the parish, of which approximately one third are of single-person occupancy. The majority of those persons are of pensionable age. Politically, Seaton is a civil parish and town, in the district of East Devon. The area to the east of the retail area to the River Axe (mainly floodplain) has been the subject of a regeneration plan formulated in 2003 and approved in detail in 2009, despite local opposition. As of early 2011, the level of the site has been raised above flood level using a million tons of sand brought in by sea. A large supermarket and filling station have been built on one half of this site: the other half is to be offered for residential development. A Jurrasic Coast Discovery Centre has also been erected nearby, being completed in 2016. A further residential development is planned along the riverside.
As befits a 'gateway town' to the world heritage site, the coastal cliffs either side of Seaton have long been of interest to geologists. To the East are the characteristically red-coloured cliffs of Triassic age rocks assigned to the Branscombe Mudstone Formation, capped by younger rocks (Cretaceous) of the Upper Greensand Formation and finally by chalk. The Seaton Fault, which is visible at Seaton Hole at the western end of the beach, is responsible for the presence of significant chalk cliffs extending to Beer Head. In common with much of this coast the cliffs in this area are prone to landslip and collapse, such movement restricting coastal development and presenting a hazard to those walking the coast.
The area around Seaton is rich in wildlife. The agricultural landscape supports areas of ancient woodland (often with displays of bluebells), important networks of hedges, unimproved grassland and springline mires.
Around Beer there are remnants of flower-rich chalk grassland, a rare habitat in Devon. The Axe Estuary, with its areas of grazing marsh, and the River Axe itself, are of international importance for their aquatic communities. To the east lies the Axmouth to Lyme Regis Undercliffs National Nature Reserve. This large area of coastal landslides and cliffs supports important woodland and grassland habitats and is of considerable significance for its geology, as witnessed by its inclusion in the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site.
Otters are present on the River Axe, and at the end of 2009 are being seen regularly on Seaton marshes/Colyford Common. Dormice are present throughout the area. To the west, near Beer, are man-made caves of importance for a diversity of hibernating bats, including the very rare Bechstein's bat. The Axe Estuary and its marshes are important for wintering wildfowl and waders, such as Eurasian curlew and common redshank, while in the summer butterflies and dragonflies abound.
The bird-watching and wildlife areas of the Axe Vale have been enhanced by the establishment of the Seaton Marshes Local Nature Reserve, work to establish it was carried out by the Axe Vale and District Conservation Society. In 2007, an Audouin's gull was seen here - the fourth British record of this bird.
The Seaton Tramway takes visitors across country to Colyford and Colyton. It runs alongside the estuary giving views of the nature reserve on one side and the estuary wildlife on the other.
At Beer, about two miles west of Seaton, is the Beer Heights Light Railway; along with numerous model railways this is part of Pecorama, a tourist attraction provided by the model railway manufacturer Peco.
On 26 March 2016 the Seaton Jurassic visitor centre opened in the town which tells the story of the Jurassic Coast.
Seaton has been twinned with the French town of Thury-Harcourt in Normandy since 1982.
Seaton, Devon Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.


" Children And Materials
Bernie Wohl & Morris Eisenstein At Summer Camp "
David Orr's Environment, Education & Democracy
One answer is that we were not paying attention when we might have helped to move our politics in a better direction. While we were writing brilliant articles and books, they were taking over school boards and city councils. While we were holding great conferences in beautiful places, they were taking over state legislatures and governor's offices. While we were doing science, they were doing politics taking over Congress, the Senate, the court system, and learning the arts of manipulation by television, radio, internet, and social media. While we were growing school gardens and talking about exciting possibilities for renewable energy and ecological agriculture, they were steadily forcing our politics to the right and taking over the party of Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, and Eisenhower.
While we were getting in touch with our inner selves, they were staffing up on K Street. While we were trying to make peace with capitalism, they were at Davos advancing the cause of neoliberalism and working to make the rich much richer and the poor that much poorer. While we were trying to be bi-partisan, they were doing zero-sum politics, that is to say heads they win tales we lose. While we were most often right about the issues, they were taking power. While we were trying to be reasonable, they were cultivating and exploiting resentment. While we were reading Aldo Leopold and Rachel Carson, they were marinating in the bizarre philosophy of Ayn Rand. And, perhaps most important, while we were doing our eco-thing, Richmond attorney and future Supreme Court Justice, Lewis Powell was drafting the memo to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce (1971) that became the battle plan for a massive corporate counter attack against environmentalism and progressive movements. In the fevered politics of those turbulent years, his memo sparked the creation the organizations charged with legitimizing and justifying the politics of a new era of Robber Barons.
Who are they? Whatever else they may be, they are not conservatives in the mold of Edmund Burke or Richard Weaver or even Barry Goldwater. Many are descendants of the far-right of American politics with roots in the South with its long history of opposition to the Federal government as a countervailing force to racial discrimination and unbridled corporate power.
Their agenda includes a hodge-podge of ideas such as "getting government off our backs" (but leaving predatory corporations there), ending Social Security, further enlarging the military, terminating a woman's right to choose, eliminating environmental protections, defunding social programs, ending restrictions on gun ownership, freedom from public obligations, and always more tax cuts for corporations and the wealthy. In other words, they don't like government regulations, taxes, uppity women, assertive minorities, national forests, public parks, the Postal Service, science, a fact-checking, investigative media, controls on gun ownership, and, of course, "liberals."
They include neo-Nazis, white supremacists, internet trolls, tea-partiers, climate change deniers, extreme evangelicals, FOX news true believers, Limbaugh "ditto-heads," Ayn Rand libertarians, free market ideologues, and some well-heeled people who really ought to know better. Disproportionately, they're angry white guys and their enablers who are aren't as angry but are adept opportunists who know how to make money from those who are. They are well-armed, noisy, and increasingly well-organized. They are inclined to the kind of self-righteousness that justifies means by the unquestioned self-anointed holiness of the ends.
They now control what remains of the Republican Party that once stood for the kind of conservatism that included a commitment to fiscal integrity, personal probity, a regard for facts, public decency, balanced budgets, common sense, and the kind of patriotism that could cost you something. Donald Trump gave voice to their inchoate rage and created a world-class model of a kakistocracy, an ancient Greek word that means government run by the worst, least qualified, and most unscrupulous. They are a minority but an intense, highly organized, and well-funded minority and sometimes that is all it takes to cause political havoc.
The political immune system necessary to counter ignorance, fanaticism, gullibility, fear, misogyny, racism, and violence, begins early on in classrooms where the young learn the basics tenants of democracy: honesty, fairness, empathy, non-violence, and collaboration. None of this comes easily or naturally.
The young must be educated to be citizens of a democracy and to know the costs of careless and indifferent citizenship. They must learn to see themselves as citizens of the community of life as well. As citizens of a democracy, they must understand the intimate relationship between democracy, human rights, dignity, justice, peace, and the human prospect and so must become knowledgeable about history, politics, the law and the workings of government.
As citizens in the ecological community, they must understand ecology, natural cycles, and the web of life. As citizens of human communities they must be learn to value of the wider community and the common good. In other words, they must learn the intimate and reciprocal relationship between politics and our ecological prospects.
"The point is that environmental education has been predominantly about everything but the politics that got us into our predicament and might yet be the path out of it. Our environmental education in particular has mostly excluded civics and the role of politics and governance in our predicament. Often we did so to avoid controversy and the charge of partisan bias. In doing so we were in effect supporting the status quo and the forces that prefer a passive and ecologically illiterate public; consumers not citizens. Alas, there is no way to be apolitical or non-political. In Dietrich Bonhoeffer's words, there is no such thing as "cheap grace."


JC students win Diamond Entrepreneur Challenge semi-finals
Seniors Sunny Lu and William Du traveled to Wilmington, Delaware, to compete in the semi-final round of the Diamond Challenge for High School Entrepreneurs against 11 other high school teams. The result was a first place finish as 6 judges selected their business plan and investment presentation over the other teams. The Diamond Challenge is in its second year and is supported by the Horn School of Entrepreneurship at the University of Delaware and Delaware Technical and Community College. These students as well as others competed throughout the State of Delaware over the last two weeks in semi-final competitions to qualify for the finals at the University of Delaware on April 28, 2014, for a first prize of $25,000 to start their new business.
The John Carroll students impressed the judges in three important areas: the feasibility of their Business Model, a well- constructed written business plan and a compelling presentation in front of serial entrepreneur investors. William Du and Sunny Lu are international students from China who came to John Carroll two years ago. Their goal was to experience all aspects of the high school program at John Carroll, and to strengthen their academic position to enter U.S. colleges after graduating.
Du has also kept an eye on business opportunities along the journey. His Entrepreneur Coach Larry Dukes states, "William approached me about the Diamond Challenge through his senior project advisor Mrs. Louise Geczy. He had several solid ideas that seemed viable and he had done extensive research to make his case. After reviewing several we settled on the current business plan because both students had lived the experience." Their company, Love Delivery, LLC, was conceived. At the center of the students' business model is the delivery of personal items and gift packages from home to international students studying in the U.S.
"Sunny Lu is my perfect business partner. She complements my thinking regarding the profitability by creating an emotional appeal. Mrs. Geczy and Sunny came up with the company name. Sunny understands exactly what the Chinese students in the U.S. and their families appreciate. She constructed a great set of gift packages and the components of a website to order them. We also allow the families to see the delivery video," commented Du. The judges approved and awarded Love Delivery the highest scores of the competition.
While several colleges offer gift packages to students during exams, for birthdays and for other special occasions, none cater to the ever-growing international population. Elated with the accomplishment of her students, John Carroll Principal Madelyn Ball commented, "This is what our international program is all about - our students learn about each other, understand how the world can be a better place and build solutions to make a difference. William and Sunny are examples of what it means to grow in several ways in line with our mission statement. We are proud of their success in this round and are confident that they will find success in their business."


When & How to Use APA Citation
I. What is APA Citation?
A citation is a quotation or an explicit reference to a source of information. When writing a paper of any kind, it is vital that you cite your sources accurately.
The APA is the American Psychological Association. Over time, they have developed a generally accepted style of writing papers and citing sources used throughout the scientific and social scientific worlds.
An APA Citation is a citation written in this style.
II. Examples of APA Citation
There are many manuals that detail how to use the APA Citation style. I have used one of these in researching this article. It is titled A Writer's Reference by Diana Hacker and Nancy Sommers. If I were to cite that book using the APA Citation method, it would look like this:
Hacker, D., & Sommers, N. (2011). A Writer's Reference (7th ed.). Boston, MA: Bedford/St. Martin's.
I have also used an online tutorial to learn more about using this citation format. Much of the information shared here is a summary of the information within this tutorial. Here is the reference to that tutorial in APA Citation format:
APA Format. (n.d.). APA Book Citation. Retrieved July 12, 2015, from
III. Types of APA Citation
APA Citations are used mainly for publishing research in the social and behavioral sciences. These fields include the social sciences, such as psychology, linguistics, sociology, economics and criminology, as well as fields such as business and nursing. This style of citation can be used for many different publications, such as:
theoretical articles
methodological articles and
case studies (American Psychological Association, 2015)
IV. The Importance of using APA Citation
APA (American Psychological Association) style and citations were developed by social and behavioral scientists in order to set a standard for scientific writing. When informative papers are formatted in a standard way, it allows readers to focus on ideas and research without being distracted by unfamiliar formatting and stylistic choices. It creates a system of publishing which is efficient in distributing ideas because less time is spend locating and navigating information. Familiar structure sets up easy and efficient searching and reading.
On a different, note, information and ideas are precious. To steal them is as serious a crime as stealing a car or anything else. The name for stealing someone else's ideas is "plagiarism" and it carries heavy penalties in the academic world. When you show the progression and development of your ideas through quotation and citation, you increase your reliability and credibility as an author and researcher. If your readers are able to trace and confirm where your ideas came from, they will be able to trust you and your work and then build upon it themselves.
V. APA Citation in Literature
APA Citation format is usually used for scientific writing. If you are writing or reading papers about literature, you will most likely use the MLA format (Modern Language Association), or the CMS format (Chicago Manual of Style).
VI. APA Citation in Popular Culture
Researchers come from all countries and cultures and speak all languages. Therefore, there is an incredible amount of information available in the world today, and just as much research about people, their behaviors, and society. Thankfully, there is also an incredible number or organizations attempting to keep all of that information in order and accessible. By developing a standard of style of documentation, the APA has made scientific writing simpler, easily accessible, and understandable by anyone, whether they are doing research in order to build on it, or just wanting to learn. By standardizing the way research is reported and distributed, the APA has made it easier for researchers to make their work available.
VII. Related Terms
MLA Citation: citations written in the style standardized by the Modern Language Association. This style is used in the humanities fields, such as literature and language arts. You can learn more about this style from their website: . You can also use a tool to help you create the citation such as:

CMS Citation: citations written in the style standardized by the Chicago Manual of Style. CMS style is also used in the humanities, but more commonly in the historical fields. You can learn more about this style from their website:
There are many other citations styles, each specific to its own field of research and study. APA, MLA and CMS are the three most commonly used in schools and universities.


When & How to Write a Thesis
How to Write a Thesis
In order to write a thesis statement, it is important to be aware of the essay's main goal and of the details which support that goal.
Think of an argument.
Support the argument with main points.
Create a sentence which introduces the argument and its supporting points.
For example, imagine you are writing an anti-smoking essay.
Smoking is bad for you and you should not do it.
Supporting Details
Smoking causes health problems like cancer and emphysema. It also harms people other than the smoker through secondhand smoke.
Because smoking causes harm to both the smoker and others, it should be avoided.
In this thesis statement, the writer clearly states the argument of the paper and its focus: harm caused to the smoker and people around the smoker.
For a second example, consider an essay about J.D. Salinger's novel The Catcher in the Rye.
The Catcher in the Rye examines a main theme of isolation.
Holden isolates himself by calling others phonies. Holden feels lonely and sad due to isolation. Holden feels isolated because he is not a child but he is not an adult.
In the novel The Catcher in the Rye, J.D. Salinger examines isolation through Holden's distrust of others, depression and loneliness, and a difficult stage of life.
In this example, the main theme of the novel is clearly expressed with numerous supporting points to be examined more in-depth throughout the essay.
When to Use a Thesis
Thesis statements can be used in formal essays, research papers, nonfiction pieces, narratives, and even pieces of fiction. Oftentimes, documentaries argue a main point in film similar to a thesis in writing. Thesis statements should be expressed early on in the composition, most often in the first paragraph, the introduction paragraph. Because thesis statements are very formal, they will not be found in creative writing such as short stories, poems, and songs.