I don't believe in monogamy. Not for myself. I won't promise anyone with whom I'm sexually or romantically intimate that, no matter how I feel in the future, or what kind of chemistry might arise between me and someone else, I won't act on it if it's sexual or romantic.
I promise to always be honest with my partners, because that's crucial to consent (that you always know what you're signed up to). I promise not to leave them in the lurch or betray them. I promise to respect them and nurture their self-esteem. But I don't promise them anything about my relationships with other people. No one has ever offered me a satisfactory reason for why I should. I can't rationalise it to myself.
That's my short answer if anyone asks me why I don't do monogamy: I can't rationalise it.
Monogamous people, blindsided with having to question their own hegemonic lifestyle for once, hate that answer. People who would never dream of criticising my other sexual choices (most controversial of which being to sleep with other women) will tell me that I'm being selfish, pretentious and naive: monogamy is human nature.
Alarm bells always ring for me when anyone mentions 'nature' in an argument. All kinds of oppressive shit is allowed to fly under the banner of being 'natural' - like traditional gender roles and heterosexism - but it's if something's 'unnatural' then it becomes synonymous with undesirable.
That's why I steer clear of the 'born this way' argument, whilst recognising that being able to do so betrays the relatively privileged position I'm in: there are too many people in the broad church of 'not-exactly-straight' who are only surviving on the clemency of a society which (just about) refrains from punishing people for what it thinks they 'can't help'.
I can help it: I could not sleep with other women and I've been in monogamous relationships. But my current sexual choices are valid regardless.
That doesn't mean every sexual choice is valid though. For example, I have no time for anyone who peddles 'child love' as a sexual orientation that should be tolerated because sexuality is 'immutable'.
Sexuality, no matter how supposedly immutable, is not above scrutiny and this is where my problem with the 'sex-positive' movement comes in.
My problem is not with most common definitions of that movement: any consensual sexual act may well be potentially positive (I struggle to think of a consensual activity that isn't).
But that doesn't mean it can't also be potentially negative.
I'm a sex realist: a lot of sex isn't positive (but also isn't rape: a quick example would be someone deciding to have sex - or a particular kind of sex, or sex with a particular person - out of curiosity and not, as it turns out, enjoying it: this can't just be me). Some people wouldn't find any sex positive: they're not 'missing out on an essential part of being human', or any of the other nonsense people come out with about sex.
And you know who particularly like to come out with that nonsense? Rape apologists. Rapists 'can't help themselves', their sexual urges are 'immutable', it's just 'human nature'.
No. We have to own our sexuality and take responsibility for whether we act on its urges. It is not above scrutiny. Our kinks and fetishes and fantasies do not necessarily get a free pass.
You could call this 'thought control' or 'mind policing' but we actually police our less benign thoughts all the time: if I'm babysitting and get inordinately annoyed with the baby, I remind myself that it's just a baby. If I catch myself resenting larger people for taking up 'too much space', I give myself a mental slap for being a body fascist. If I fantasised about raping someone, I wouldn't proclaim my 'right' to access porn about it.
There's a difference between fantasies about raping and fantasies about being raped, by the way, even if both fantasies could be aided by the same porn. A gun can also be used for harmless purposes, but I'm still glad we have gun control laws.
A lot of 'sex-positive', pro-porn, anything goes campaigners are vehement in their faith that people always keep their sexual fantasies about raping separate from the sex they actually have. But I don't buy the idea that what goes on inside your mind (also known as thought) has no effect on what you do. After all, a lot of rape does actually happen, and I imagine it's something rapists think about outside of when they're doing it.
'The misogyny's got to go somewhere' is another idea I don't buy (you know, the whole thing about rape porn being an 'outlet'). I think the misogyny's got to stop existing.
I'm not saying the government should start prescribing PC fantasies and banning any pornographic imagery that deviates therefrom (although I don't think anything less than universal access to unlimited porn would spell the end of sexual freedom either: I'm sure people without internet manage fine). But we should question why those most shrilly crying for no-holds-barred access to all the porn they want are loathe to scrutinise the kind of porn that is.
Nothing should be above scrutiny, not even sexuality.
Image of a red and white heart with a blue infinity sign (a symbol of polyamory) by Ratatosk, shared under a Creative Commons licence.
DALLAS ?? Dallas city attorneys have filed an injunction against NBA player Chris Bosh?s younger brother to get him to stop hosting illegal parties at his mother?s vacant Cedars area warehouse like the one that police allege?led to a chaotic outburst of fights and gunfire last weekend.?
The five-story structure at S. 1401 Ervay St. was to be the location of the so-called #NotANormalParty on Saturday night, which promoters promised would have a different party on each of the floors. There was the ?fun and wild party? on the first floor, complete with a bounce house, mud wrestling, mechanical bull ride and a wet T-shirt contest.?
The second floor would?ve been covered with foam. The third, coined the ?Trippy/iHate Bein Sober floor? apparently said attendees ?must take shot to enter.? Above that was the ?Rave/Glow Party? and then the anticlimactically named ?club? on the fifth floor.?
That planning was all for naught: Dallas police shut down the event as attendees lined Ervay. In a YouTube video, a man purporting to be the organizer bragged, ?We still had 1,006 people in line, waiting to pay to get in.??
Promoters tried to move the party to a salon in the 2500 block of Royal Lane in North Dallas, but the owner ordered everyone out when the mass of people arrived. Shortly after midnight, the scene grew chaotic ?? police say four people were shot at a McDonald's a block east and fights broke out at a nearby gas station.?
The city was already fed up with the parties there. The injunction, first obtained by The Dallas Morning News, was filed a day prior in a Dallas County District Court against Joel Bosh and his mother Freida Bosh. According to the city, ?the property is unsafe for human use or occupation because it has various health and safety violations.??
?Despite these dangerous conditions being present on the Property, Mr. Bosh continues to occupy the Property,? the document reads.?
Promoters have hosted parties at the warehouse since at least 2011, when someone threw a watch party during the NBA Finals that pitted the Dallas Mavericks against hometown boy Chris Bosh and his Miami Heat. On New Years Eve of 2012, a promotion group named 5 Star Lifestylin ENT held a two-story party there with, according to the Facebook event posting, a capacity of at least 500.?
The lawsuit alleges Joel Bosh is behind these: ?Mr. Bosh promotes or contracts with others to promote nightclub type special events on the Property,? it says.?
On January 25, 2011, city inspectors denied the venue a certificate of occupancy after it ?failed every category of safety code, including electrical, plumbing, mechanical and structural inspections.? The lawsuit says the city has issued ?numerous notices? and contacted the owner to ask them to stop.?
The lawsuit threatens to fine Freida and Joel Bosh $1,000 for each day there?s a party at 1401 S. Ervay going forward. The city says it?s tried to deliver the injunction to Bosh?s ?agent and representative? Larenzo Maxfield and hasn?t received a response.? This, ?despite two voicemails left on his cell phone.? News 8 has also left a voicemail with Maxfield seeking comment.?
Nevertheless, Dallas police have been called to the location 10 times since 2009. A sampling of police reports show a slew of assaults there. In the wee hours of January 1, a man allegedly punched his significant other in the face when she tried to block the exit, according to a police report. ?
Joel Bosh himself was brutally beaten on July 19, 2012 ?? a police report shows Bosh?s assailant hit him in the jaw and ribs while donning gloves ?possibly with metal knuckles on them.? The battered Bosh checked into the emergency room that night.?
But long before the building hosted events like 2012?s ?Twerk Fest,? 1401 S. Ervay St. was home to the Hughes Brothers Manufacturing Company, which produced sweet smelling ice cream cones.?
Now, the commercial property lies dormant; or the city says it should, anyway. Still, the county values the property at $2,286,880. Freida Bosh is listed as its sole owner.?She has not responded to a request for comment.?
[unable to retrieve full-text content]Very good of sports as being a form a recreation has resulted to the flourish of sports facilities worldwide. Sports ... To make the area more conducive to sports and safe for players and spectators alike, MUGA fencing is done.
Why does HTC CEO Peter Chou still have a job? That?s the only question that comes to mind when looking over HTC?s latest earnings report, which shows the company is hurtling toward a meltdown not seen in the mobile world since BlackBerry circa 2011. Despite making one of the year?s best smartphones in the HTC One, the company on Tuesday reported that its operating margin had fallen to just 1.5% in Q2 while warning that its operating margin could further erode to -8% in Q3.
[More from BGR: Microsoft?s Surface is officially a flop]
What made these results so devastating for HTC was that much of the blame for its erosion in margins can be placed on the HTC One, the smartphone that the company was counting on to be its savior in 2013. As ZDNet notes, the costs of producing the HTC One are so high that HTC really needed the device to be an enormous hit to make them worthwhile. But although the One has been a bigger success than HTC?s ill-fated 2012 flagship smartphone lineup, HTC isn?t releasing sales figures for the device, which suggests that it has come in well below the company?s expectations.
[More from BGR: Dell?s potential savior, a $100 Android computer the size of a USB stick, now shipping to testers]
Even if the One had met HTC?s expectations, it?s no sure bet that the company would be in much better shape. In retrospect, HTC?s decision to put all its eggs in the One basket looks like a disastrous miscalculation because the company chose to bet big on the high-end smartphone market just as all the growth in the industry had moved toward low-cost handsets sold in emerging markets.
IDG News?reports that HTC has somewhat recognized this problem and is vowing a ?new range of mid-tier products? to address it. This move is far too little, too late, however, because HTC?s competitors are well ahead of it when it comes to releasing low-cost smartphones. What?s more, ?mid-tier? products aren?t going to give HTC any kind of edge in key emerging markets.?Without a budget handset on par with Nokia?s Lumia 521 or Samsung?s assorted cheap Android phones, HTC looks like it has nowhere to go but down unless the One miraculously reaches Galaxy S4 sales levels over the next several months.
All of which brings us back to our original question: Why does Peter Chou still have a job? We?ve heard rumblings all year that the HTC One would be Chou?s last chance to prove himself before getting ousted by anxious shareholders. The results are now in: HTC?s strategy with the One has failed spectacularly. There is no longer any reason for Chou to stick around.
Ford is expanding its lineup of vehicles for buyers who want to run on clean natural gas to include its bestseller, the F-150 pickup.
The automaker says adding the 2014 F-150 will make it the only maker with a full-size pickup that can come prepped from the factory for natural gas, then sent to an outfitter. Until now, Ford?s natural-gas lineup has included the small Transit Connect and E Series vans, and the big Super Duty pickups and chassis cabs.
The lineup underscores how even though natural gas is a domestically produced fuel priced at a fraction of the cost of gasoline ? averaging $2.11 a gallon ? it?s still largely commercial buyers and fleets embracing it. Only Honda produces a natural-gas car, a version of the Civic, in limited numbers.
Ford officials note, however, that the F-150 with the modified 3.7-liter V-6 engine will be available in natural gas to anyone who wants to buy one. ?This is not restricted to commercial fleets only,? says Dick Cupka, a product development sustainability manager.
The natural-gas prep work to the engine at the factory adds $315 to the cost of the truck, which then goes to an outfitter who is likely to charge up to $9,500 more for the tanks and connections, Ford says. Many buyers opt to have the vehicle capable of running on either natural gas or gasoline.
Jon Coleman, a Ford fleet and sustainability manager, says the cost of conversion can pay for itself in fuel savings in two to three years. As a result, adding the F-150 is likely to boost fast-growing natural-gas vehicle sales.
They almost doubled every year for the past three years. Last year, they came in a little less than 12,000 vehicles. ?When you see growth like that you realize this is an emerging technology in a mature industry,? Coleman says.
Copyright ? 2013 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc.
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You just finished a delicious meal. You're itching to move on to the next spot to get more drinks. Or you're hoping to wrap up your meal so you can pay the sitter. Or maybe you just want to get the hell out of the restaurant just because. Whatever it is, you spend a snail's lifetime trying to flag down the waitress to get your bill. Another half life waiting for her to take your credit card. And a century and half for you to get it back so you can sign the damn thing. Taking care of the bill is the most annoying thing about eating out. OpenTable wants to change that.
Trent Thompson entered Ben Hill Griffin Stadium hours before Friday Night Lights began with the Gators firmly outside his list of top three schools.
While Georgia remained his leader when drills began at Florida Field, an afternoon spent around the UF coaching staff and junior Trenton Brown helped the Gators see a dramatic rise on the 2015 defensive tackle's board.
?They are going to be No. 2 right now,? said Thompson, a 6-foot-4, 292-pound Albany, Ga., native. ?They are just standing out. ... It feels just like home up here for some reason. I'm liking it a lot.?
After visiting Auburn, Georgia, Florida State and Tennessee this summer, Thompson chose not to participate in drills during Florida's recruiting showcase and instead was shadowed by Brown on the sidelines.
A 6-foot-8, 363-pound offensive lineman, Brown graduated in 2011 from Albany (Ga.) Westover High, where Thompson is currently playing. Brown, who was once a Georgia commitment, said he could see a similar recruitment process for Thompson.
?Same way that happened to me,? Brown said. ?I had Georgia and Florida, No. 1 and No. 2, and see how I ended up.?
During his visit to Gainesville, Thompson toured the Gators' weight room and locker room before meeting with members of the UF coaching staff. Among those making the strongest impression was first-year Florida defensive line coach Brad Lawing.
A former assistant coach at South Carolina, Lawing played a part in the development of Gamecocks junior defensive end Jadeveon Clowney, whose now-famous tackle and fumble recovery against Michigan in the 2013 Outback Bowl still resonates with Thompson.
?When he told me that he got Clowney, I was like, ?Wow,'? Thompson said. ?He was telling me some tips about that big hit against (Michigan). He told me that after Clowney tackles him, how he picks up the ball. He was telling me some pointers to do, and I was like, ?I'll probably need that.'?
Heading into his junior season at Westover, Thompson said he is waiting until next summer to commit to a school. Thompson is also planning to visit Florida again for a game this fall, though he is still unsure of the date.
Employers In The Gainesville, Florida Area Are Taking Steps To Comply With ObamaCare. ?Even with the employer mandate delayed until 2015, local employers are trying to plan ahead and in some cases have already taken action to account for the costs, insurance coverage and other requirements to comply with the Affordable Care Act.? (Anthony Clark, ?Local Companies Adjust To Costs Of Affordable Care Act,? Gainesville Sun , 7/27/13)
?Gator Domino?s Might Raise Prices On Pizza To Pay For The Patient Protection And Affordable Care Act.? (Anthony Clark, ?Local Companies Adjust To Costs Of Affordable Care Act,? Gainesville Sun , 7/27/13)
ObamaCare Will Cost Gator Domino?s $70,000 To $100,000 In Extra Costs. ?The extra year should clear up confusion about the employer mandate, said Freddie Wehbe, franchise owner of Gator Domino?s. After attending several local and corporate seminars and hearing from consultants, ?no one had the same answers,? he said. Wehbe said he spent about 40 hours trying to calculate his costs of paying for coverage or penalties, arriving at $70,000 to $100,000 a year, ?but there was no clear formula about exactly how it would work.? The company decided not to cut employee hours, but would have to raise prices, he said.? (Anthony Clark, ?Local Companies Adjust To Costs Of Affordable Care Act,? Gainesville Sun , 7/27/13)
?Santa Fe College Has Placed A Cap On The Hours Part-Time Employees Can Work And The Credit Hours Adjunct Faculty Can Teach To Limit Its Costs.? (Anthony Clark, ?Local Companies Adjust To Costs Of Affordable Care Act,? Gainesville Sun , 7/27/13)
The College?s Most Recent Budget Capped Part-Time Employee Hours At 27.5 And Limited Teaching To 12 Credit Hours A Semester For Adjuncts. ?At Santa Fe College, the board of trustees approved a budget at its June 18 meeting that includes a cap of 27.5 hours on part-time employees and a maximum of teaching 12 credit hours per term for adjunct faculty for the fiscal year that started July 1.? (Anthony Clark, ?Local Companies Adjust To Costs Of Affordable Care Act,? Gainesville Sun , 7/27/13)
?Crime Prevention Security Systems Is Already Paying 20 Percent More For Employee Health Insurance This Year And Might Consider Shifting Some Employees To Part Time If The Costs Go Up Too Much More.? (Anthony Clark, ?Local Companies Adjust To Costs Of Affordable Care Act,? Gainesville Sun , 7/27/13)
If Health Care Costs Continue To Rise For Crime Prevention Security Systems, The Company Plans To Shift Full-Time Employees To Part-Time. ?John Pastore is majority owner of both Crime Prevention Security Systems and Universal Security Monitoring, two companies that will count as one ? with about 60 total employees ? under a provision of the act designed to thwart attempts to avoid the employer mandate by splitting companies. The companies already provide health coverage to all employees. Insurance costs rose 20 percent this year and Pastore said if the costs go up too much more, they would look at moving some employees to part-time positions.? (Anthony Clark, ?Local Companies Adjust To Costs Of Affordable Care Act,? Gainesville Sun , 7/27/13)
?Axogen Inc. Will Have To Pay For An Additional Employee Just To Keep Up With The Act?s Reporting Requirements.? (Anthony Clark, ?Local Companies Adjust To Costs Of Affordable Care Act,? Gainesville Sun , 7/27/13)
ObamaCare Will Cost Axogen $80,000 To $100,000 In Extra Expenses. ??We estimate this additional work out of pocket, even at our size, will cost $80,000 to $100,000 a year in extra expenses, plus an additional employee, because we sell in the health care field,? Zaderej said.? (Anthony Clark, ?Local Companies Adjust To Costs Of Affordable Care Act,? Gainesville Sun , 7/27/13)
DETROIT (Reuters) - Thanks to rising interest rates and an injection of cash, Ford Motor Co could be in a position that would have been unthinkable only a few years ago - with a fully funded U.S. pension fund.
Ford, which went through a searing restructuring in 2006, but avoided the bankruptcy route of its rivals General Motors and Chrysler , could cut its U.S. pension shortfall by half or even more by the end of this year from $9.7 billion at the end of 2012, according to securities analysts and Reuters calculations.
And the gap could be eliminated by the end of 2014 provided interest rates rise as economists expect and the stock market remains robust. That may give Ford added resources to pay down debt, invest in its businesses, or boost dividend payments, analysts said.
"It is a true obligation of the company right now and it's taking quite a bit of capital," Ford Chief Financial Officer Bob Shanks said of the automaker's pension gap in an interview.
"Once we get it fully funded, de-risked and sort of put it in a box, it gives us the ability not to worry about it so much and take future cash flow and put it wherever we want," he said.
If Ford fully funds its U.S. pension plan by the end of next year that would be quicker than many analysts had expected. GM could be about one to two years behind Ford in closing its U.S. pension gap, said Guggenheim Securities LLC analyst Matt Stover.
But critical to this scenario is that interest rates used to calculate retiree pension obligations continue to rise. Ford would also have to be willing to contribute at least $1 billion in 2014 to close its U.S. pension gap, analysts said.
Eliminating the shortfall is "possible by the end of 2014 and it's going to be because interest rates climb," said Stover, who predicts Ford's U.S. pension plans will be underfunded by about $4 billion by the end of 2013.
Ford's U.S. pension obligation was $52 billion at the end of last year, while GM's was about $82 billion.
GM was the first of the U.S. automakers to establish a pension plan in 1950 as part of the "Treaty of Detroit," a contract negotiated by legendary United Auto Workers union leader Walter Reuther. Ford and Chrysler followed suit.
But by the mid-2000s, pensions and other retiree benefits became an ever-increasing liability that automakers said added as much as $2,000 to the cost of a vehicle and put them at a disadvantage against foreign rivals.
Since then, GM and Ford have both taken steps to "de-risk" their pension plans by closing off their plans to new participants, offering lump-sum buyouts and shifting to more conservative investments.
Last year, GM cut $29 billion, or one-fifth, of its global pension liability when it shifted management of white-collar pension plans for 118,000 salaried retirees to a unit of Prudential Financial Inc .
But underfunding remains an issue, partly because that shortfall is viewed by credit ratings agencies as debt.
Ford plans to inject $5 billion cash into its global pension plans this year to help reduce the underfunding - though some of that will go towards pension plans elsewhere in the world.
To put the underfunding and Ford's cash injection in context, the automaker spent $5.5 billion in 2012 on product development, building factories and other capital expenditures.
A $4 BILLION BOON
Companies calculate the present value of their future pension liabilities using a so-called discount rate, which is based on corporate bond rates. A higher rate means lower liabilities, meaning that a company doesn't have to set aside as much cash now to pay retirees in the future.
Based on the most optimistic scenario laid out by actuarial firm Milliman, higher rates alone could narrow Ford's pension gap by about $4 billion by the end of 2014. Stover said higher rates could close about half of Ford's U.S. pension shortfall.
"The auto companies have always been associated with having these big pension liabilities," Citi analyst Itay Michaeli said. "It becomes a frustration for investors to deal with more volatility on top of already volatile industry dynamics."
Closing the U.S. pension gap "takes an element that has arguably weighed on investor sentiment and just takes that issue away," Michaeli added.
The discount rate, which is based on corporate bond yields and is used to determine the present value of payments they make over the life of their plans, has risen this year to 4.74 percent in June from 3.96 percent in December, according to Milliman.
By the end of 2013, the discount rate could be as high as 5.04 percent, and by the end of 2014 it could be up to 5.64 percent, Milliman estimates.
A smaller pension gap would likely pave the way for Standard & Poor's to upgrade Ford's credit ratings upgrade to investment grade, Michaeli said. That would allow the automaker to fund the remaining U.S. pension gap with unsecured debt.
"By issuing debt, what you're doing is freeing up free cash flow," he said, adding that could be used to boost dividends, develop new vehicles or pay off debt.
For Ford, a one percentage point increase in the discount rate alone could lower its U.S. pension liability by $2.3 billion, Shanks said during Ford's second-quarter earnings call.
(Reporting by Deepa Seetharaman and Dan Burns; Editing by Martin Howell and Leslie Gevirtz)
[unable to retrieve full-text content]New animal research suggests greater risk for obesity and associated Type 2 diabetes in individuals that respond to stress in a passive manner and were born to mothers that were stressed during their pregnancy.
So-called "lad mags" are currently sold like this on the shelves of Britain's Co-op stores. The chain now threatens to drop sale of the magazines entirely if the publishers do not cover the sexy covers with a "modesty bag"
Come on, lads! Cover up the sexy mag covers, please...
One of Britain's largest magazine retailers has ordered magazines with overt sexual imagery to cover up their front covers with "modesty bags" or risk being withdrawn from sale.
So-called "lads' mags" - publications marketed primarily to men - such as Zoo, FHM, Nuts and Loaded have been a staple on supermarket shelves for years and have become synonymous with the sexual content and glamour model photos displayed on their front covers.
Supermarket chain the Co-operative gave an ultimatum to publishers on Monday, telling them to deliver the magazines in pre-sealed bags designed to obscure the front cover.
(Read More: No porn please, we're British)
If they do not comply by September 9 then the Co-operative has threatened to cease selling the magazine at the 4,000-plus stores it currently operates.
"As a community-based retailer we have listened to the concerns of our customers and members, many of whom say they object to their children being able to see overt sexual images in our stores," Steve Murrells, the chief executive of retail for The Co-operative Group, said in a press release.
"Whilst we have tried to mitigate the likelihood of young children seeing the images with a number of measures in-store, the most effective way of doing this is for these magazines to be put in individual, sealed modesty bags."
(Read more: Web-based challenges for the porn industry)
Several U.S. chains already cover up racy magazine covers. Ten years ago, Wal-Mart, halted sales of Maxim, Stuff and FHM men's magazines.
As an interim measure, the Co-operative has introduced opaque screens on shelves to reinforce its existing policy limiting the display of such material.
Jo Swinson, a junior minister at the government's equalities office, welcomed the move and hoped other retailers will follow suit.
"Many parents aren't comfortable with the way that sexualized imagery has become like wallpaper - everywhere from the bus stop to the corner shop," she said.
"Adults should be left to make their own decisions about what legal sexual images they look at, but the place for these is not next to the sweets at children's eye-level."
The decision by the retailer is in line with recommendations from a parliamentary review two years ago which recommended a clampdown on sexualized "wallpaper" surrounding children. However, the move goes against existing guidelines for retailers which say that men's lifestyle magazines should not be placed next to children's' magazines or be at a child's eye level.
(Read More: UK Bank Co-op Confirms Requires Additional Capital)
A spokesman for Bauer Media, the publisher of Zoo magazine told CNBC that it was aware of the Co-operative's request for sealed modesty bags, but supported the existing best-practice guidelines for the display of men's magazines.
"We are sensitive to the mood of the public, to that end we have responded accordingly and have changed ZOO magazine's cover imagery and phrasing," it said.
"We already have agreements in place with all major retailers, including Co-op, to ensure Zoo magazine is displayed appropriately and we work closely with all our retailers to ensure they are adhered to."
Villagers in central China have signed a binding "death pact" under which those killed, injured or arrested resisting eviction from their rural homes will be honoured or compensated.
Farmers from Chiyou village in Hunan province's Anhua county said they decided to draw up the agreement to die for their cause after discovering that "corrupt" officials were attempting to sell the land from under their feet.
Nearly 100 villagers ratified the crumpled A-4 document by stamping bright red thumbprints under its terms, the Beijing News reported.
"If they come and try to take our land, we will defend it with our lives," Liu Jinbao, a village representative and one of the document's signatories told The Daily Telegraph.
"We have been told that if we try to fight for the land they might employ some mafia-style techniques and beat us up. So we have signed the document, to present a more united front."
The pact's terms and conditions commit to providing "a grand burial" for any villager killed defending the land while those who are injured or jailed will have their medical fees covered and receive a monthly stipend of 6,000 yuan (?635).
Illegal land seizures have become increasingly common in a rapidly urbanising China, with local governments often selling villagers' lands to real estate developers without consultation.
Such seizures have triggered an upsurge in rural violence, as furious farmers fight back against gangs of thugs hired to evict them.
In one of the most shocking recent cases, Zhang Ruqiong, a 44-year-old farmer from Hubei province, was crushed to death by a cement mixer during March protests against forced evictions. After a public outcry, the driver was charged with murder.
Mr Liu said his village's troubles had started earlier this month when members of a local farming cooperative "illegally" agreed to sell the rights to around 35 square feet of land to a third party for around ?74,000.
Local farmers could not afford to lose their land, Mr Liu complained.
"We need our irrigation land. We need the land for food. We can't afford to eat now that the grain price is so high." Villagers hoped their situation could be resolved peacefully through petitioning the government but they anticipated violence, Mr Liu said.
"I hope someone from high-up would come and look into our case [but] I believe there will be conflict as we start fighting for our land."
Every well-read dieter knows that skipping breakfast could harm their attempts at weight loss, but the latest research suggests it may also be bad for the heart.
Researchers at Harvard School of Public Health in Boston, US, discovered that men who regularly skipped their morning meal had a higher risk of heart attack or fatal coronary heart disease than those who always had breakfast.
The findings are published in a prestigious medical journal and provide more weight for the argument that breakfast really is the most important meal of the day!
Harvard Scientists Focus On Breakfast
Harvard scientists discovered the importance of breakfast for heart health by looking at data on more than 26,000 men between the ages of 45 and 82, all of whom were tracked for 16 years. During that time, the men provided information on their dietary habits.
The researchers also took several other factors into account, such as the men?s activity levels, overall diet quality, sleep patterns, smoking status, alcohol intake, medical history, BMI and social factors. This enabled them to see whether any differences in heart health really were linked to their breakfast habits.
Breakfast Skippers Were More Prone To Heart Attacks!
The researchers discovered that men who regularly skipped breakfast were 27% more likely to have a heart attack or to die from coronary heart disease than those who didn?t! This is a major increase in risk that could be avoided, simply by making the time to have a healthy and nutritious meal each morning.
If you want more information on the study, you can read the scientists? report in the American Heart Association journal Circulation HERE. (((http://circ.ahajournals.org/content/128/4/337.abstract?sid=48352c3e-3dc8-490a-9e4f-d72e428bb35c )))
Findings Show Importance Of Overall Dietary Habits
The researchers believe their findings could have real implications for bringing down heart attack rates, since remembering to eat breakfast is something that people could easily be encouraged to do. Dr. Eric Simm, senior author and associate professor of epidemiology and nutrition at Harvard, said:
Our study group has spent decades studying the health effects of diet quality and composition, and now this new data also suggests overall dietary habits can be important to lower risk of coronary heart disease.
Another of the study?s authors, Dr. Leah Cahill, explained:
Skipping breakfast may lead to one or more risk factors, including obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes, which may in turn lead to a heart attack over time.
So What Constitutes A Healthy Breakfast?
The key message from the study is not to skip breakfast. But how do you go about ensuring your morning meal is healthy and nutritious?
According to Dr. Cahill, you should incorporate many types of healthy foods into your breakfast to ensure you start the day with adequate energy and a healthy balance of nutrients, including protein, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals.
Here are some examples of healthy breakfasts:
Whole grain cereal or oatmeal with low-fat milk, topped with nuts and chopped fruit
Island hotels give you luxury, entertainment, and relaxation in ways that many people have yet to experience. This helps you to find peace in your vacation, even when you're outside of the room. With many of the extra services offered, you will be able to do everything without stepping foot outside of the actual hotel. You will be able to be happy on your vacation and experience the luxuries that you were after from the beginning. On top of what is offered inside, you have some incredible views and locations all around you. This is the perfect place to stay as a tourist or visitor, regardless of why you are there.
Choosing island hotels over the mainland options, or even rental homes, is a great way to spend your vacation. You have something that is specifically for tourists and guests, helping you to improve your experience greatly. You will be able to relax and actually enjoy your time there, even before you step foot outside of the actual hotel. It is made to provide you with everything that you need to ensure that your stay is a quality one. You will actually want to stay inside at times, even when the weather is beautiful. It is a vacation on its own, and you do not need to go anywhere for it.
When you are staying with island hotels, you have access to incredible luxuries that most other options do not offer. A main reason for this is that you expect such amazing features and options when you are on vacation. You will be able to enjoy the beauty around you during a massage or a fancy dinner, or during one of the many other activities available through such a hotel. Luxury is not hard to find, not even in your own room. This is going to help you to relax and be at peace for every moment spent there.
Location is always an important deciding factor. When you are trying to find the perfect vacation spot, you are going to want to be in the middle of it all. For island hotels, this means water and shopping areas, along with other unique places. You should be close to it all, and that is not very difficult to find. They were created to give you access to some of the best spots around that location. These are often the places where people want to be and the reason that you are visiting there in the first place.
With everything offered, it is no wonder why island hotels are more popular than other options. You have convenience and luxury wrapped up in a beautiful package. No matter how long you are staying or what you want to do, this is likely going to be where you want to stay. You will be able to relax in and outside of the hotel with ease. This is going to help you greatly when trying to find peace of mind and entertainment on your vacation.
About the Author: If you're trying to find a place to stay among the many Mackinac Island hotels available, turn to the Mackinac Island Tourism Bureau and ask for their recommendations. To learn more about different locations and options, please visit http://www.mackinacisland.org.
South Sudan's president says he wants to form an inclusive government after firing his vice president and dismissing his entire cabinet last week.
Salva Kiir said Monday that he is consulting leaders of different political parties before announcing a new cabinet. On Saturday Kirr appointed his former government spokesman as his foreign minister, the only appointment made so far.
The recent government shake-up in Africa's newest country followed reports of a power struggle within the ruling SPLM party, especially between Kiir and former Vice President Riek Macher.
Both Macher and the dismissed leader of the ruling party, Pagan Amum, have expressed interest in running for president in South Sudan's 2015 election.
Kiir on Monday lashed out at his political opponents, saying that now "is not the time for campaigns."
29 JULY 2013 Newly-separated Denise Van Outen?has been spotted without her wedding ring for the first time, since the news that her split from actor Lee Mead was announced.
The Strictly Come Dancing star, whose marriage break-up had been announced just one day earlier, stepped out in a black and white patterned short dress in London, and wore a wide-brimmed black hat that partially concealed her face.
This was the first time Denise has been spotted since her spokesperson formally announced the couple's spilt.
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CLICK ON PHOTO FOR GALLERY
"Following continued speculation, Denise Van Outen and Lee Mead are sad to confirm they have decided to separate," said the formal statement. "The couple remain the best of friends, with their daughter Betsy as their number one priority."
Denise and Lee were last seen together earlier this month, taking three-year old Betsy on a family day out to the Tickety Toc launch party at Hamleys. The young couple were all smiles for the camera but it recently emerged that their conflicting work schedules had put a "massive strain" on their marriage.
There have been rumours surrounding the couple for months, not helped by the fact that Denise and Lee have not had the chance to see each other much. The mother-of-one was busy promoting Strictly Come Dancing and hosting her Magic FM radio show in the UK, while Lee was occupied with auditions in Los Angeles.
After a brief spell in the US, Lee returned to London in May but by then the distance had proved too much.
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Reports that their marriage might be in trouble were reinforced when Denise was photographed holidaying alone over Easter in Dubai, without Lee. She soon put the rumours to rest, revealing that their decision not to employ a nanny meant that she and Lee were forced to holiday separately.
In the past Denise has described their relationship as being "like passing ships in the night" because of their busy careers.
"To be honest, it is really difficult," she said. "We just haven't seen each other. I started on Strictly in September and we've been like passing ships in the night. I'm not going to lie, it's been a massive strain on the relationship."
The couple first met while filming the BBC talent show Any Dream Will Do in 2007 and married in April 2009. Their daughter Betsy was born on 1 May 2010.
Study predicts potential surge in medically-attended injuriesPublic release date: 29-Jul-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Dana Mortensen mortensen@email.chop.edu 732-299-0233 Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Injury researchers at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia urge review of health system-wide pediatric injury training, triaging and prevention efforts
New research from The Center for Injury Research and Prevention at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), signals that emergency and outpatient healthcare providers may need to prepare for higher demand for treatment among younger patients with mild and moderate injuries. As federal and state policies encouraging people to be covered by health insurance go into effect, researchers estimate the potential for more than 730,000 additional medically attended injuries annually, or a 6.1 percent increase if all currently uninsured children and young adults (ages 0-26) become insured. The estimates are based on 2008 injury data from the National Health Interview Survey. The study was published in this month's Clinical Pediatrics.
"In order to assist planning efforts by healthcare systems and policymakers, we aimed to examine the impact on trauma systems of increases in young people with health insurance" says Flaura Koplin Winston, MD, PhD, lead author and Scientific Director of the Center for Injury Research and Prevention at CHOP. "This study signals a need to prepare for potential large increases in demand for care of minor and moderate pediatric and young adult injuries in both emergency department and outpatient settings."
According to the study, a significant portion of the increase will come from currently uninsured young adults (18-26 year olds), who will now be able to remain on their parents insurance until age 26 or find affordable care through exchanges. Researchers found that the causes and nature of medically attended injuries differed between insured and uninsured young adults. The uninsured sought medical care for more serious injuries like fractures when compared to other types of injury. The insured sought medical care for a wider distribution of injuries-- with the most common being sprains and strains, as well as open wounds. Of interest, among children under age 18, 11 percent of medically attended injuries among insured kids were related to overexertion, but this injury mechanism did not cause uninsured children to seek care.
Winston and her colleagues based their estimates on recent injury care data and the assumption that those new to insurance would have a probability of medically attended injury that equals that of those who already have insurance. With these assumptions, they predict that each year as many as 510,553 additional children and young adults could be seen for injury treatment in outpatient settings, nearly 195,838 in Emergency Departments or admitted to hospital, with another 30,689 being attended to through phone- only encounters. Winston cautions that the actual health system utilization rates and sites of care may vary as newly insured people may access care differently from those who are already insured.
"Health care delivery systems across the US need to have sufficient numbers of general and pediatric healthcare providers who are trained in treating moderate trauma and injury and can staff urgent carecenters, health centers, primary care practices, call centers, and emergency departments," says Dr. Winston. "In keeping with the aims of the Affordable Care Act, the goal should be that all young patients who seek care for their injuries get the appropriate care at the right time and right place."
The study authors recommend several steps health care systems can take to manage the potential increase in patients and avoid both the expensive overuse of emergency services and the long-term effects on communities of inadequately treated injury:
Train medical students and residents with relevant course content on diagnosis and treatment of concussions, musculoskeletal injury, sports medicine and open wound care.
Expand programs such as Poison Control Centers and call centers, and remote medical command for triage and treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.
Prevent injuries to children by allocating federal and state resources to proven injury prevention strategies. They cost less than medical care needed to treat injuries.
Implement the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Action Plan for Childhood Injury Prevention.
Develop or expand proven off-the-job injury prevention strategies. The cost of insuring this new population of youth, the majority of whom currently live with an employed head of household, may fall to employers.
"Injury is the leading health risk for children and young adults. Proven prevention strategies and appropriate acute care will reduce fatalities and the long-term consequences that injury can have on quality of life," says Dr. Winston.
###
Dr. Winston's co-authors include Mark R. Zonfrillo, MD, MSCE of CHOP, J Felipe Garcia-Espana, PhD of Coriell Institute for Medical Research, and Ted R. Miller, PhD of the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation. The study was supported by National Science Foundation Center for Child Injury Prevention Studies, Pennsylvania Department of Health, and the Health Resources and Administration's Children's Safety Network.
About The Center for Injury Research and Prevention at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
The Center for Injury Research and Prevention at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia was established in 1998 to advance the safety and health of children, adolescents, and young adults through comprehensive research that encompasses before-the-injury prevention to after-the-injury healing. The Center's multidisciplinary research team, with expertise in Behavioral Sciences; Medicine; Engineering, Epidemiology and Biostatistics; Human Factors; Public Health; and Communication, translates rigorous scientific research into practical tools and guidelines for families, professionals, and policymakers to ensure research results extend to the real world. For more information on the Center and its research initiatives, visit injury.research.chop.edu.
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AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
Study predicts potential surge in medically-attended injuriesPublic release date: 29-Jul-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Dana Mortensen mortensen@email.chop.edu 732-299-0233 Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Injury researchers at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia urge review of health system-wide pediatric injury training, triaging and prevention efforts
New research from The Center for Injury Research and Prevention at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), signals that emergency and outpatient healthcare providers may need to prepare for higher demand for treatment among younger patients with mild and moderate injuries. As federal and state policies encouraging people to be covered by health insurance go into effect, researchers estimate the potential for more than 730,000 additional medically attended injuries annually, or a 6.1 percent increase if all currently uninsured children and young adults (ages 0-26) become insured. The estimates are based on 2008 injury data from the National Health Interview Survey. The study was published in this month's Clinical Pediatrics.
"In order to assist planning efforts by healthcare systems and policymakers, we aimed to examine the impact on trauma systems of increases in young people with health insurance" says Flaura Koplin Winston, MD, PhD, lead author and Scientific Director of the Center for Injury Research and Prevention at CHOP. "This study signals a need to prepare for potential large increases in demand for care of minor and moderate pediatric and young adult injuries in both emergency department and outpatient settings."
According to the study, a significant portion of the increase will come from currently uninsured young adults (18-26 year olds), who will now be able to remain on their parents insurance until age 26 or find affordable care through exchanges. Researchers found that the causes and nature of medically attended injuries differed between insured and uninsured young adults. The uninsured sought medical care for more serious injuries like fractures when compared to other types of injury. The insured sought medical care for a wider distribution of injuries-- with the most common being sprains and strains, as well as open wounds. Of interest, among children under age 18, 11 percent of medically attended injuries among insured kids were related to overexertion, but this injury mechanism did not cause uninsured children to seek care.
Winston and her colleagues based their estimates on recent injury care data and the assumption that those new to insurance would have a probability of medically attended injury that equals that of those who already have insurance. With these assumptions, they predict that each year as many as 510,553 additional children and young adults could be seen for injury treatment in outpatient settings, nearly 195,838 in Emergency Departments or admitted to hospital, with another 30,689 being attended to through phone- only encounters. Winston cautions that the actual health system utilization rates and sites of care may vary as newly insured people may access care differently from those who are already insured.
"Health care delivery systems across the US need to have sufficient numbers of general and pediatric healthcare providers who are trained in treating moderate trauma and injury and can staff urgent carecenters, health centers, primary care practices, call centers, and emergency departments," says Dr. Winston. "In keeping with the aims of the Affordable Care Act, the goal should be that all young patients who seek care for their injuries get the appropriate care at the right time and right place."
The study authors recommend several steps health care systems can take to manage the potential increase in patients and avoid both the expensive overuse of emergency services and the long-term effects on communities of inadequately treated injury:
Train medical students and residents with relevant course content on diagnosis and treatment of concussions, musculoskeletal injury, sports medicine and open wound care.
Expand programs such as Poison Control Centers and call centers, and remote medical command for triage and treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.
Prevent injuries to children by allocating federal and state resources to proven injury prevention strategies. They cost less than medical care needed to treat injuries.
Implement the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Action Plan for Childhood Injury Prevention.
Develop or expand proven off-the-job injury prevention strategies. The cost of insuring this new population of youth, the majority of whom currently live with an employed head of household, may fall to employers.
"Injury is the leading health risk for children and young adults. Proven prevention strategies and appropriate acute care will reduce fatalities and the long-term consequences that injury can have on quality of life," says Dr. Winston.
###
Dr. Winston's co-authors include Mark R. Zonfrillo, MD, MSCE of CHOP, J Felipe Garcia-Espana, PhD of Coriell Institute for Medical Research, and Ted R. Miller, PhD of the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation. The study was supported by National Science Foundation Center for Child Injury Prevention Studies, Pennsylvania Department of Health, and the Health Resources and Administration's Children's Safety Network.
About The Center for Injury Research and Prevention at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
The Center for Injury Research and Prevention at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia was established in 1998 to advance the safety and health of children, adolescents, and young adults through comprehensive research that encompasses before-the-injury prevention to after-the-injury healing. The Center's multidisciplinary research team, with expertise in Behavioral Sciences; Medicine; Engineering, Epidemiology and Biostatistics; Human Factors; Public Health; and Communication, translates rigorous scientific research into practical tools and guidelines for families, professionals, and policymakers to ensure research results extend to the real world. For more information on the Center and its research initiatives, visit injury.research.chop.edu.
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?
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
New York City apartments are small, so to make the most of my space, I'm mounting my 46-inch TV to the wall. One problem?which mount do I get? Is your TV wall mounted? Tell us which mount is your favorite. Do I go cheap? Any landmines to look out for? And go ahead regale us with any horror stories you may have of mounts falling off the wall and taking your TV crashing with it.
Vehicles with manual transmissions have been equipped with shift indicators (illuminated or audible) for decades. While some are used to improve performance, most are designed to encourage more fuel-efficient driving. Regardless of the original objective, nearly all drivers become desensitized or learn to ignore the illuminated lights and arrows after just a few short hours behind the wheel.
Enter Zachary Nelson, a recent MIT graduate and an engineer with Ford. Working at the automaker's Research and Innovation Center in Dearborn, Michigan, Nelson devised a haptic shift knob that vibrates when it's time to select another gear. "I wanted to create something that expands the car's capabilities and improves the experience for the driver," said Nelson. "I decided to use OpenXC to provide a new kind of feedback for the driver through the shift knob."
The process, greatly simplified, has the vehicle transmitting data wirelessly from its on-board diagnostics (OBD) port using a Bluetooth OpenXC adapter. The knob uses the innards of a Microsoft Xbox 360 controller for vibration. "I decided to have a little fun with it and installed an LED display on top that shows the gear position and colored lights that glow from inside at night similar to the ambient lighting in Mustang," adds Nelson.
Overall, it's a rather fascinating idea that you can check out in the video below. The software-driven haptic shift knob allows the driver to keep their eyes on the road, while the vibration can be set to alert one of many different parameters, including optimal fuel efficiency, quickest acceleration, maximum torque, redline shifting and so on, giving it many different uses.
SOUTHPORT, England (AP) ? Mark Wiebe of the United States beat Bernhard Langer on the fifth playoff hole Monday to win his first Senior British Open title.
Langer bogeyed his fifth attempt at the 18th hole on Royal Birkdale while Wiebe made par to claim the trophy. Storms delayed Sunday's fourth round and play was halted after two playoff holes because of darkness.
"I'm a little tired, I'll tell you that," Wiebe said. "I try to play the playoffs like I was playing the tournament. I just got a few extra holes in. .... I have never been in a playoff in a major championship either so I was a first-timer. I just tried to play the golf course as good as I could."
Langer, the two-time Masters champion, had an immediate chance to secure his second Senior British Open victory when play resumed at 8 a.m. but missed a 12-foot birdie putt.
Two holes later, Wiebe made a superb approach shot to set up a two-putt for par, while Langer failed to get up-and-down.
"I was surprised that Bernie missed his putt (on the third playoff hole) because he's a great putter, he's a great player," Wiebe said. "It just was my time."
Langer ? who won the tournament in 2010 ? held a three-shot lead going into the fourth round and was two strokes ahead with one hole to play, but finished with a double bogey. Wiebe, meanwhile, shot a 4-under 66 to match the German veteran at 9-under 271.
"Obviously not what I wanted. But the major mistake was again yesterday, the 72nd hole," Langer said. "In the playoff anybody can win. It comes down to one good shot or one bad shot. And that's what happened. Mark is a very deserving champion."
It was the first time in the 27-year history of the Senior British Open that the tournament finished on Monday.
Wiebe said it was strange to play in near darkness as the playoff started in failing light on Sunday.
"I have never done that so that was unusual but I think we would have both liked to have played because of our schedule," Wiebe said. "Obviously it was really dark at that second hole and mother nature always wins. I just figured that this is par for the course and we will go at it again at eight and here we are."
As reported by the Wall Street Journal, a Chinese worker's rights group has brought forth allegations of poor working conditions at Pegatron, a primary supplier to Apple and longtime electronics*manufacturing company. Specifically, the worker group accuses that the company has made numerous safety and workplace violations, including the unethical holding of worker pay and identification cards, as well as poor living conditions within the factory including tight living quarters and packed cafeterias.
Apple has replied to the allegations, stating the following:
Quote:
Apple is committed to providing safe and fair working conditions throughout our supply chain. We lead the industry with far-reaching and specialized audits, the most transparent reporting and educational programs that enrich the lives of workers who make our products. Apple is the first and only technology company to be admitted to the Fair Labor Association, and we are dedicated to protecting every worker in our supply chain.
As a part of our extensive Supplier Responsibility program, Apple has conducted 15 comprehensive audits at Pegatron facilities since 2007, covering more than 130,000 workers making Apple products including annual audits of Pegatron's final assembly locations and surprise audits at both RiTeng and AVY within the past 18 months.
Additionally, we have closely tracked working hours at all of these facilities. Our most recent survey in June found that Pegatron employees making Apple products worked 46 hours per week on average. Excessive overtime is not in anyone's best interest, and we work closely with our suppliers to prevent it. Apple surveys working hours for more than 1 million employees across our supply chain each month and we report the findings on our website.
Apple also confirmed that various labor brokers affiliated with Pegatron were withholding ID cards, and further committed to investigating claims against the company. Analysts estimate that Pegatron's Pudong district factory now produces one-third of the world's iPhone and iPads, with the company as a whole expanding its overall workforce from 50,000 workers in March to 70,000 presently.
The news comes after Apple announced last week that it was forming an academic advisory board for its Supplier Responsibility program, saying that it wanted to ensure "safe and ethical working conditions wherever its products are made." Apple has also published Supplier Responsibility Progress Reports every year since 2007, tracking the ethical progress of its suppliers in order to bring transparency to its product manufacturing process.
Article Link: Chinese Labor Group Alleges Poor Working Conditions at Apple Supplier Pegatron
ALMONTE, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - July 29, 2013) - The Government of Canada, the Government of Ontario and the Municipality of Mississippi Mills celebrated the official opening of 20 new affordable housing units at Country Street Residences - Phase 2 for low-income seniors and people with disabilities. The project received $2.38 million in funding from the federal and provincial governments. The construction of this project created up to 50 jobs in the Almonte area.
Gordon O'Connor, Member of Parliament for Carleton-Mississippi Mills, on behalf of the Honourable Candice Bergen, Minister of State for Social Development; the Honourable Linda Jeffrey, Ontario's Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing; Bill Dobson, Warden of Lanark County; and John Levi, Mayor of Mississippi Mills made the announcement today.
"Our government's investment in Almonte is a testament to our commitment to increasing the number of affordable housing options for all citizens. These apartments include modern conveniences for residents and provide easier access to local services," said MP O'Connor. "We remain focused on four priorities, as outlined by the Prime Minister, that Canadians care most about: their families, the safety of our streets and communities, their pride in being a citizen of this country, and of course, their personal financial security."
"Our government is committed to working with partners and donors to provide safe and affordable housing to those who need it most," said Minister Jeffrey. "Projects like Country Street Residences stimulate the local economy by creating jobs while at the same time offering residents a beautiful new home which will enhance the community of Almonte for many years to come."
"Some people say it is a privilege to live in a home but I think it is a right to have a place to live in a state of dignity if you need or want it," said Warden Dobson. "Thanks to the Mills Community Support Corporation for developing a healthy community."
"This is an important addition to our housing stock in Mississippi Mills," said Mayor Levi. "I would like to thank all three levels of government for their participation in this project. I hope the success of Country Street Residences encourages more development of this type of housing. This building provides a functional, bright and cheery environment for the residents."
Country Street Residences - Phase 2 is located at 411 Country Street in Almonte. The 20-unit complex, comprised of 15 one-bedroom and five two-bedroom apartments for low-income seniors and people with disabilities, is supported by $2.38 million in funding through the Canada-Ontario Affordable Housing Program. The joint federal and provincial funding is complemented by over $52,000 in municipal financial incentives from the County of Lanark.
The Government of Canada, through CMHC, will invest approximately $2 billion in housing this year. Of this amount, $1.7 billion will be spent in support of close to 594,000 households living in existing social housing. In Ontario, this represents an estimated 237,950 households. These investments are improving the quality of life for low-income Canadians and households living in existing social housing, including individuals who are homeless or at-risk of homelessness, seniors, persons with disabilities, recent immigrants and Aboriginal people.
Ontario continues to build new affordable housing and repair existing units for Ontarians with housing needs. Since 2003, Ontario's funding commitment of nearly $3 billion is the largest affordable housing initiative in the province's history. Ontario is supporting the creation of over 17,000 affordable rental housing units, making more than 263,000 repairs and improvements to social and affordable housing units, and providing rental down payment assistance to over 81,000 households in need. The province's Long-Term Affordable Housing Strategy sets a strong foundation for a more efficient, accessible affordable housing system in Ontario.
Affordable housing is a key component of Ontario's Poverty Reduction Strategy. To find out more about affordable housing in Ontario, visit www.ontario.ca/housing. For more information about the County of Lanark, visit www.lanarkcounty.ca.
To find out more about how the Government of Canada and Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation are working to build stronger homes and communities for all Canadians, call CMHC at 1-800-668-2642 or visit www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca.
I don't believe in monogamy. Not for myself. I won't promise anyone with whom I'm sexually or romantically intimate that, no matter how I feel in the future, or what kind of chemistry might arise between me and someone else, I won't act on it if it's sexual or romantic.
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Public release date: 29-Jul-2013
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As reported by the Wall Street Journal, a Chinese worker's rights group has brought forth allegations of poor working conditions at Pegatron, a primary supplier to Apple and longtime electronics*manufacturing company. Specifically, the worker group accuses that the company has made numerous safety and workplace violations, including the unethical holding of worker pay and identification cards, as well as poor living conditions within the factory including tight living quarters and packed cafeterias.