The Jeffrey And Tracey Info Emporium

Spyware has been compared to a nosy neighbor snooping around the block to find some gossip, however spyware has yet to gain the courtesy of a nosy neighbor because spyware fails to make itself known or ask for permission. Spyware gets into internet users’ computers without their knowledge while they surf the internet, open emails, click on ads and download freeware.

Avoiding it seems impossible at times, but there are tools that can remove current infections and help you avoid further spyware invasions.

A person with spyware on their computer has an individual or company monitoring and recording their every move online, including internet purchases, email messages, chats and more. The information spyware applications gather is done without your knowledge or permission so that companies can target you for advertisement purposes. Some forms of spyware are developed by individuals who enjoy seeing how far they can hack into someone’s computer.

Because spyware and hacker’s methods are constantly changing and evolving to be more stealth like, there is not one solution.

However, there are several solutions that can greatly reduce the threats of spyware. STOPzilla is a good spyware tool that has a pop up killer, active spyware blocker, active adware blocker, active cookie killer and an active hijack killer. A browser hijack occurs when your browser’s settings are changed without your authorization, including the start page, search
engine and your internet information is recorded and relayed to an intruder. STOPzilla can kill browser hijackers and it includes automatic updates to keep up with the changing spyware and hackware methods.

About the author:

Mitch Johnson is a successful freelance author that writes regularly for http://www.1st-in-spyware.com/, a site that focuses exclusively on spyware removal software, as well as tips on how to prevent spyware from popping up on your computer. This site articles on has spyware guard, http://www.easy-spyware-killer.info/as well as spyware scanner, http://www.easy-remove-spyware.info/

As global warming continues to escalate the concerns of today’s scientists, the federal government has been spending millions in research in an attempt to reduce greenhouse emissions, the substance that has been credited with the increase in planet temperature since the beginning of the 20th century.

Greenhouse gases—largely comprised of carbon dioxide— is a product of burning fossil fuels such as oil and coal. Automobiles, home heating systems, and factories are just 3 examples of large contributors to the greenhouse gas problem on our planet. The United States is the world’s largest emitter of greenhouse gases, according to a story published in the Reuters News Service.

The Bush administration has vowed to spend up to $90 million on programs designed to reduce greenhouse gases and power plant carbon emissions, in an effort to reverse the global warming trend.

A 40 page report produced by the Pew Center on Global Climate Change cited that reducing greenhouse gases by removing them from the air would be as cost effective as developing new energy technologies. It does not consider, however, the long-term effects of dwindling fossil fuel reserve.

Through a process called carbon sequestering, the study attempts to address the possibilities of using vast expanses of forest land to absorb and store carbon dioxide, eventually returning it to the ground in the form of harmless carbon at the end of the tree’s life cycle.

According to the Pew report, here is the size of the problem: the US Energy Department reports that the United States alone produces an approximate 5.8 billion tons of carbon dioxide annually. Removing just one-fifth of this annual emission would require nearly 148 million acres, or an area the size of Texas, and cost more than $7 billion each year to implement, according to the Pew report.

It is unclear from the source article as to whether this is in addition to the trees presently in the U.S., but seems to imply that it is.

The report listed several factors that could affect the success of carbon sequestration projects. Pressure from alternative uses of the land and development of technology that could measure the amount of carbon removed were two examples.

And finally, the Pew report stated that it was vital for the US government to persuade the private sector to become involved in the carbon sequestering technology in order to achieve success, due in large part to the funding and resources that would be needed. Some incentives included special payments and tax credits to participating entities.

Tom Clouser is a 38 year old farmer in Pennsylvania. In addition to farming, he and his father publish a monthly 16-page newspaper called “Trees ‘n’ Turf”, which targets subjects of interest to those in land use industries and activities. View their website at http://www.clouserfarm.net

Selfless Service

1LT Laura Walker walked into my classroom just over five years ago as a Yearling in CH101. She was intelligent, professional, and had a positive attitude that was infectious to the underclassmen. Laura branched engineers and I was happy to see that she chose Fort Lewis—a post that I myself was headed to. Laura was a top platoon leader in the Task Force and was hand-picked to become the Task Force’s Public Affairs Officer (PAO) where we worked together to showcase the great things that Soldiers were doing to support the Afghan government’s legitimacy. Laura always balanced mission with taking care of Soldiers and even as a staff officer made a point to push care packages to Soldiers who operated out of Forward Operating Bases (FOBs). Her memory in the Task Force is not forgotten and we continue to remember her dedication and devotion to taking of Soldiers. 1LT Laura Walker wrote this following piece a few days before her death and is a powerful tribute to her deep respect to the sacrifices that all Soldiers make.
- MAJ Jerry Farnsworth II, Executive Officer, Task Force Pacemaker, Kandahar, Afghanistan

The things that stay important to us…

It is not called a hardship tour for no reason. The things the American Soldier gives up in service of his country, whether in Iraq, Korea, or Afghanistan are unimaginable to the average citizen. When you ask for volunteers to leave their families and friends, the everyday comforts of home, their entire lives, for something that will be undeniably less comfortable, who raises their hand? What kind of person makes that sacrifice? And for God’s sake, why?

Though these are questions that have been asked in patriotic articles for years, when I really stop to think about it, it still amazes me. And I’m in the Army. I stare at these Soldiers, covered in dust. I watch them day after day as they consistently go without showers or hot food. They deserve so much more. How can they stand it? Sure, they complain. But they achieve so much with so little in a miserable, monotonous environment. What thanks do they get? What keeps them going?

It is incumbent upon us as leaders to spend every waking minute of every day trying to mitigate those circumstances. A year long deployment is taking a significant portion of someone’s life. We should never face that responsibility callously. If there is any opportunity to make a Soldier more comfortable- take it. If you can arrange better communication with their families- do it. If you can make their job easier by getting better equipment or tools- find the damn tools! That Soldier works so, so hard. How can we not work equally as hard to ensure their success? To make their efforts worthwhile, and even more so to ensure that Soldier has left his post better than he found it for his replacement? Clearly I am not suggesting that you prioritize a Soldier’s comfort over mission accomplishment. But every day ask yourself, am I doing absolutely everything within my power for this Soldier? They deserve no less.

The things that get us through the day at home should stay important to us here. Families, friends, personal comfort, leisure, and a support network; these things matter! I don’t care what mud wallowing, bark eating, pain-enduring faction of the combat arms you are affiliated with. The point is not that we can all endure that sort of life. The point is why on earth would you consciously impose it on someone who has volunteered to serve his country during a time of war?!? It is the duty of every single American citizen, and I don’t care how sanctimonious I sound, to put effort into providing the very best for our Soldiers.

1LT Laura M. Walker, USMA 2003
(posthumously)

About The Author

1LT Laura M. Walker was tragically killed in action on 18 August 2005, while conducting public affairs missions for Task Force Pacemaker, during Operation Enduring Freedom VI near Delak, Afghanistan. She graduated from the United States Military Academy in May of 2003, deployed to Iraq with the 555th Combat Engineer Group in February of 2004, returned to Fort Lewis in May of 2005, upon which she received her platoon, 1st Platoon, Bravo Company, 864th Engineer Combat Battalion (Heavy). She deployed with her platoon in March of 2005 and was chosen to be the Task Force Public Affairs Officer in July of 2005. 1LT Walker was the first female Soldier killed in action in Afghanistan.

Visit: http://www.west-point.org/users/usma2003/60262/ for a Memorial site that honors Laura M. Walker.

Abstract:

The assistive technology specialist is an expert in the
provision of assistive technology services to rehabilitation
consumers. Technology specialists traditionally work closely
with rehabilitation counselors, consumers, and therapists.
However, they are often times not as sensitive to the needs of
employers. Employers have unique needs and they appreciate
speaking with rehabilitation professionals who understand the
language of human resources and marketing.

It takes a multidisciplinary team within vocational
rehabilitation to fulfill the needs of both the consumer and the
employer. Rehabilitation counselors serve the needs of consumers
by helping them determine and setup the services they need.
Assistive technology specialists work directly with consumers
and technology to improve their functional abilities for
employment. Employer developers bridge the gap between the
rehabilitation world and the employers’ world to ensure the job
accommodation needs of the consumer are met and the employer’s
concerns are addressed. Alabama vocational rehabilitation
maintains an employer database, which shows many employers
return to vocational rehabilitation repeatedly for assistance in
hiring employees with disabilities, and to assist them in
accommodating current employees who have become disabled.

By using a multidisciplinary team with expertise in marketing,
assistive technology and accommodation services, and
rehabilitation counseling, we are able to link people with
disabilities and employers together to implement job
accommodations to create successful employment outcomes.

Keywords:

rehabilitation, assistive technology, job accommodations,
disability, employment, placement

Background

The goal of vocational rehabilitation is to assist eligible
people with disabilities to improve their opportunities for
employment. The employment rate for people with severe
disabilities in 1995 was only 26.1%. The employment rate for
people with disabilities decreased while employment for people
without disabilities increased during the economic expansion of
the late 1990s . People with severe disabilities often must turn
to a vocational rehabilitation counselor for assistance in
finding and maintaining employment. The counselor and consumer
work with a variety of different professionals to assist with
the rehabilitation process. The various service providers who
work with the consumer, such as vocational evaluators, rehab
teachers, therapists, interpreters, orientation and mobility
specialists, and assistive technologists are well trained in
providing for the needs of rehab consumers, but do not
necessarily have a very good understanding of the needs of
employers. The traditional method of vocational rehabilitation
does not address the concerns or needs of the employer in a
timely fashion. Applicants for VR services could wait up to 60
days before they are determined eligible. They may have to wait
even longer for funding and resources before they start to
receive services. Considering FMLA (Family Medical Leave Act)
only provides for 90 days of leave, many people loose their jobs
long before they start receiving services.

Employers have a business, company, or organization to run, and
work must get done. When hiring an employee with a disability,
the employer has concerns, such as safety, absenteeism,
insurance costs, costs of job accommodations or restructuring,
impact on other employees, previous bad experiences, and their
concern that the person can actually do the work. Employers also
have concerns when they have a current employee who has become
disabled. Common employer concerns with employees who are
disabled include: is the disability covered by the ADA, what are
the legal obligations under the ADA, should accommodations be
provided if the employee’s disability is not covered under the
ADA, and how will accommodating an employee affect co-workers.

Method

There are several important pieces that must be brought together
to effectively assist employees with disabilities in maintaining
their jobs.

The first piece is to have trained rehabilitation professionals
available to provide services. As in many agencies, vocational
rehabilitation in Alabama uses a multidisciplinary
organizational team, which includes employment developers,
assistive technologists, and rehabilitation counselors who work
with employers and employees with disabilities to identify and
address accommodations needs. The second piece is to provide
services in a timely fashion. The goal is to treat both the
person with the disability and the employer as a consumer of
services.

The rehabilitation counselor fills the traditional role of case
management, providing information, resources, counseling and
guidance. Counselors work closely with consumers to coordinate
the services necessary to assist them in finding and maintaining
employment. These services may include: vocational evaluation,
education or training, interpreter services, and purchasing
assistive technology and equipment.

The assistive technology specialist works directly with the
consumer and their co-workers or supervisor to evaluate and
recommend technology to improve their functional abilities
and/or modify the work environment.

The employer development coordinator assists consumers with job
readiness training and job seeking skills. They also work
directly with companies providing assistance with disability
management issues, such as consultations, disability awareness
training, consulting on ADA and other issues, job analysis, as
well as placing qualified people with disabilities in available
jobs. The employer development coordinator bridges the gap
between the rehabilitation world and the employers’ world to
assist consumers with job placement and retention services.

Timeliness is a major problem when providing services to
employers. Often, either the employee or the employer have
waited until the last minute to begin to address the situation.
The goal in a job retention case where the employee is in
immediate danger of losing their job is that one of the team
members be on the job site within 3 business days.

Vocational rehabilitation in Alabama has formalized job
retention services in a program called RAVE, Retaining A Valued
Employee. This program has a dual focus; first to assist workers
with disabilities in retaining their employment, and second to
assist employers in retaining their trained and experienced
employees whose jobs are in jeopardy due to disability.

Results

Using the RAVE approach, vocational rehabilitation has developed
a close partnership with many employers in Alabama and has
assisted them in accommodating and retaining employees.

For the 12 month period from the start of the third quarter in
2004 to the end of second quarter 2005 (July 1 - June 30), there
were 74 employer consultations concerning retaining a worker
with a disability. Of those consultations, 48 employees retained
employment in their position. This is an employment retention
rate of approximately 65%. The employees who were not able to
retain their positions received assistance in finding another
position within their organization, or finding work with a new
employer.

Vocational rehabilitation has maintained a very close
relationship with one large employer located in the Birmingham
area by providing many formal and informal services. During a 3
year test period, 129 employees with disabilities received job
accommodation assistance. Of those employees, 87 were able to
continue working in their current job. Employees who were not
able to retain employment in their current position were
provided with vocational testing, training, and job placement
services as needed.

Since the inception of this program, there has been
approximately a two-thirds retention rate for employees with
disabilities who are referred for job accommodation services.

Discussion

The system that has evolved in Alabama has been effective at
placing people with disabilities into employment, as well as
assisting those already employed in acquiring the accommodations
they need to maintain employment or be eligible for promotion.
The system treats both the consumer and the employer as a
customer, providing both with services to meet the needs of both
parties.

The RAVE program approach has allowed vocational rehabilitation
to build a partnership with employers that encourages them to
seek help with their disability management issues and in
providing job accommodations. Many companies that participate in
this program are also more willing to hire and work with
vocational rehabilitation to accommodate new employees with
disabilities.

Conclusion

A multidisciplinary team, which includes expertise in marketing,
assistive technology services, and rehabilitation counseling
that works with people with disabilities and employers together
to implement job accommodations in a timely fashion benefits
both parties and creates successful employment outcomes.

Research is needed on how to further bring businesses into the
rehabilitation process and to determine which services will
encourage them to repeatedly hire people with disabilities. A
survey is needed of small, medium, and large organizations in
the fields of consumer and business services, manufacturing,
government, education, and health care to determine what types
of services would be useful to them in hiring people with severe
disabilities. Additionally further study is needed to compare
the long term efficacy of assisting employees with disabilities
maintain their existing employment versus consumers in the
standard vocational rehabilitation process who are finding new
jobs. A comparison of the cost and time necessary to provide
services between people who are trying to retain employment and
people who are seeking employment would also help in determining
if a RAVE style program is worth implementing on a national
level.

References:

Hayward, Becky J. , Schmidt-Davis, Holly. “Longitudinal Study of
the Vocational Rehabilitation Services Program.” Disability
Research Institute May 2003.
<http://www.dri.uiuc.edu/data/vr1-051403.pdf>.

Kraus, Lewis E., Stoddard, Susan, and Gilmartin, David (1996).
“Chartbook on Disability in the United States, 1996. An InfoUse
Report.” Washington, DC: U.S. National Institute on Disability
and Rehabilitation Research.

Siewert, Sally. “A Study of Employers Perceived Needs and
Attitudes in Region IV.” 29 July 2002. Online PowerPoint.
VrRegion4.org. <http://vrregion4.org/>.

Stapleton, David., Burkhauser , Richard., Houtenville, Andrew.
“Has the Employment Rate of People with Disabilities Declined?”
Rehabilitation Research and Training Center for Economic
Research on Employment Policy for Persons with Disabilities
December 2004.
<http://www.ilr.cornell.edu/edi/publications/PB_EmpDecline.pdf>

Stoddard, S., Jans, L., Ripple, J. & Kraus, L. “Chartbook on
Work and Disability.” Access to Disability Data 1998.
<http://www.infouse.com/disabilitydata/workdisability/index.php>.

United States. Rehabilitation Services Administration.
“Achieving Successful Employment Outcomes With the Use of
Assistive Technology.” Menomonie, WI. May 1998.

Copyright 2006 Harrison Monarth

Conflict Management - Parisian Style (part 1)

The suburbs of Paris are in flames. For the last couple of
months civil war like conditions have reigned in the suburbs of
the French capital/metropolis. Arson attacks are rampant.
Thousands of cars and buses are being set ablaze. Also among the
targets were a synagogue, warehouses, auto dealerships, schools
and other public institutions. Even members of the local Police
and Fire department are being bombarded with crude firebombs,
rocks, bottles and other injury-causing items. The wave of
violence throughout many of Paris’ suburban areas was rooted in
the accidental electrocution-deaths of two North-African
teenagers, which prior to getting killed were chased by police.

As hundreds of protesters were arrested, French Prime Minister
Dominique de Villepin summoned his Interior Minister Nicolas
Sarcozy, as well as other cabinet members for a crisis
conference in the French Capital. But Sarcozy’s emerging
conflict-communication style has the rest of the world,
including his most ardent supporters, scratching their heads.

Fighting Fire with Gasoline

The world’s perception of the French government’s handling of
this national crisis is one of helplessness and paralysis. Their
struggle to find an effective solution is apparent to France’s
own citizens as well as a stunned global audience. Add to that
the minister of the interior’s inflammatory rhetoric, calling
the rioters “scum” on national television that needs to be
“cleansed out of the suburbs”. The resulting effect: The
so-labeled “scum” promptly reciprocated with increased violence,
rioting and arson attacks.

Battle-rhetoric and insults are becoming a signature style for
Nicolas Sarcozy, as he’s repeatedly labeled the rioting, mainly
Arab and North African, immigrant youths as “scum” and
“gangsters”.

Predictably, the aggressive tone and inflammatory rhetoric of
the 50-year old presidential candidate served only to further
ignite the aggression and violence that garnered world-wide
attention as arson attacks on vehicles and schools and
wide-spread rioting increased night after night in the suburbs
around Paris. The frustrations of thousands of young immigrants
continued to be fueled by the battle-declarations of Sarcozy, as
their actions suggest a battle of the wills with their primary
hate-figure in the conservative French Government.

“It is our job to eliminate this cancer and rid ourselves of
this scum,” rants a defiant Sarcozy. His plan, according to
insiders, is to “cleanse” the Parisian suburbs, counting on
support from French right-wing voters. Similar to his radical
political colleague, Jean Le Pen, Sarcozy is well aware of the
emotional push-buttons of the average French citizen, and their
attitude towards the “hooligans and rioters” from North Africa.

“Hostile rhetoric is often the cause of hostile actions, and
hostile actions often escalate into violence, conflict and
worse.”

UN Secretary General Kofi Anan in a Speech in Salzburg Austria,
April 2001 titled “Dialog Among Civilizations”

In the meantime, the French government, under the leadership of
Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin, is struggling to contain
the violence and rioting. Facing relentless onslaught, even law
enforcement officials are speaking out against the
counter-productive language of Interior Minister Sarcozy.

“The situation in the suburbs is at a boiling point, and we’re
in the middle of it 24/7, so the last thing we need is to pour
gasoline into the fire with comments like ‘cleansing the
cities’. It’s inappropriate and counterproductive,” says Francis
Masanet, Vice Secretary General of France’s Police Union.

Escalating Frustrations

While experts, politicians and sociologists debate the likely
reasons for the recent ongoing violence and riots, fingering
everything from failed integration policies to a rise in poverty
and unemployment in the suburbs, particularly among young
immigrants, many agree that the interior minister’s aggressive
rhetoric and inflammatory language sparked an already simmering
fire of unrest, igniting a wave of destruction from thousands of
desperate and frustrated young rioters, tainting the French
governments image as it struggled to maintain control amid the
escalating violence.

One Mayor in the French suburb of Rosny-sous-Bois likened the
situation to “Guerilla Warfare” and called for calm and
collective thinking and acting by citizens and police alike, to
start containing the furious rage that has cut a scorching path
through many of Paris’ suburban immigrant neighborhoods.

To be continued…

We can call this civil war like many are doing, but I feel it is more like Hatfields and McCoys and paybacks on Saddam stooges and hirelings. For more than thirty years Iraq has become a nation of traitors. Betrayals of the faith, tribe and families have become legion. To not punish such traitors, is to be one of them – same as in America, North and South.

Because vengeance tends to escalate in counter vengeance, we can only expect the violence to escalate, no matter who is watching. At what point one should call this vengeance civil war is a personal choice. Once they have settled most of the old scores, they can unite their full attention on the occupiers. Only then will there be unity government, though it will have no headquarters in Baghdad.

This is where things will really become confusing. In some cities American occupation will be preferred to Al Qaeda, as recently reported on 60 Minutes. In spite of her promises, Hillary will not be able to withdraw U.S. troops without turning the entire nation over to the same Al Qaeda George Bush invited to Iraq to do battle.

Until we are rid of Donald Rumsfeld, American troop strength will not increase so the Iraqi Freedom veterans can expect two more tours. By the time Hillary takes office they will surely be burned out and many will have had enough punishment. Once Iraqi veterans organize to oppose the war, recruiting will be very difficult and there might be fifty thousand troops left in Iraq to fight Al Qaeda and Iraqi insurgents. Then it will begin to look more like Vietnam and will be left to Al Qaeda. Peace with honor.

When Al Qaeda rules Iraq, it will quickly rule Sudan and Saudi Arabia after that. We will call it democracy and declare Iraqi Freedom - mission accomplished. I’m sure glad I don’t live there!

Ed Howes sought and found, knocked and entered. Now he sees things differently. To see more of what he sees, please visit http://www.justanotherview.com or do an author search here at Ezine Articles.

In all the finger pointing at the New Orleans’ Katrina debacle, the most cogent accusation was delivered by Lt. Gen. Russel Honore after taking charge of relief efforts.

Reporters peppered him about deaths, slow relief efforts, lawlessness and which government officials were responsible for failures.

Gen. Honore’s reply is a classic that should be writ on every journalist’s press pass: “Don’t get stuck on stupid!”

“We are moving forward, he said. “Please don’t confuse people. You are part of the public message, so help us get the message straight.”

The general had reason to be blunt. I was shocked to hear members of my profession depart from reporting to venting their feelings.

In the olden days, we called them “sob sisters.” Most newspapers had one, but they were relegated to tearjerkers about homeless orphans and spurned wives. Now, ugh, they have reappeared as “color commentators” on TV.

Katrina reporting seemed more soap opera than journalism. It has become the fashion for media idiots to stand out in a Cat-4 hurricane to tell us the wind is blowing. More depressing is post-storm reporting that for Katrina was an all-time fiasco.

Various media said 10,000 people might have been killed. In the four weeks since, the death total is reported by the New York Times to be 885. Terrible!

Yes, but. Louisiana Health Department figures for 2004 (latest available) give the Orleans Parish mortality rate for all causes as 840 residents – 28 per day.

One can extrapolate from official records, therefore, that Katrina is responsible for 45 more Orleanian deaths than usual.

Of course, reporters of Katrina’s aftermath were quoting “reliable sources ” – principally Gov. Kathleen Blanco, Mayor Ray Nagin and Police Superintendent Edwin P. Compass.

From them came such whoppers as armed mobs roaming the streets, murders, rapes of babies in the Superdome, widespread looting, abandonment of nursing home residents, and desertions of police, firemen and 911 operators.

In hindsight, we learn that there was some looting and two murders but no rapes of babies, shooting at rescue helicopters, or sharks swimming in flooded streets — as described by inexperienced reporters.

Real reporters verify important statements with a second source – and leave opinions to columnists back home.

The decline of journalism began with the advent of 24/7 cable news and website bloggers. It became entertainment.

For Katrina anchors, Fox News gave us Shepherd Smith and Geraldo Riviera. MSNBC gave us Chris Matthews

Smith became emotionally wrought about stranded evacuees afoot on I-10 elevated highway. He refused to cut away from his slot so he could hyperventilate about negligent rescues.

Riveria, ham actor of cable news, broke into uncontrollable sobs and hugs while interviewing a Black mother and child stranded in a flooded home.

Matthews, unabashed liberal, came unglued during a Katrina interview with Congressman Peter T. King. The latter insisted first-response duties were those of local authorities — rather than President Bush.

Rep. King committed truth: “You are distorting reality. That’s the problem. You and MSNBC have been carried away with this. You should all be ashamed of yourselves.”

This was an unsought answer. In a tantrum, Matthews abruptly cut off King’s camera and microphone.

Matthew Felling, of the center for Media and Public Affairs, notes that conditions in New Orleans were chaotic, and reporters accepted wild assertions from distraught sources.

“The fog of war, and gusts of a hurricane, cloud vital truths,” says Felling. “What we are seeing here is no different than the reports of museum looting after U.S. troops entered Baghdad.

“It’s not that different from election night 2000 when some journalists prematurely declared a winner. In all three cases, the public would have been served by a bit more patience and less feigned certainty.”

Social scientists call these “over-predicted events.” Just so. If journalism as a profession is to survive, the public will have to demand: “Just the facts, please!”

PARTING SHOTS

Sen. Robert Byrd says he wants six more years in the Senate – just as would any other 87-year-old.

* * *

Saudi Arabia says it is going to pump more oil to help out the United States. How about, instead, pumping in Saudi terrorists from Iraq?

Lindsey Williams is a Sun columnist who can be contacted at:

LinWms@earthlink.net

LinWms@lindseywilliams.org

Website: http://www.lindseywilliams.org

This week has once again proved that you can’t trust a liberal. A few Senate Democrats from Massachusetts are threatening to take the ball and go home. The only problem is that they don’t have a ball or a majority. Senators Kennedy and Kerry have obviously been on the phone with their true constituents, George Soros and his band of wackos. After Judge Samuel Alito faced them down and made fools of them in the hearings, these obstructionists are trying to filibuster his vote on the Senate floor. Granted no one expected these clowns to vote for the Judge, but just a few days ago liberals were opposed to a filibuster. Then comes the flopping, enter Dianne Feinstein of California, whom said a week ago that she was not for a filibuster. Now enter Hillary, who will now vote against cloture allowing for a filibuster.

What may be the most shocking thought of the day is that West Virginia Senator Robert Byrd will vote yes on the nomination. Two fellow Democrats have also vowed their support. In a perfect world that would get it done, and get the confirmation over with. But this isn’t a perfect world and I don’t trust liberals, especially the ones dressed as Republicans. At the end of the day this man will be the 110th Justice of the Supreme Court and these liberals will claim a non-existent victory.

But what is really happening here? A few different dynamics are at play. A recent poll showed that a majority of persons would not vote for Hillary Clinton for President. This gives Kerry the opportunity to get his foot back in the door for 2008. Undoubtedly, a reason for the sudden liberal shift. He now has to swing from far left to farther left to court the fascist vote. Now that we know what Kerry’s real motivation, what is Ted’s. The answer is quite simple. Who knows what this old fool is thinking. If it defies reasonable and logical thought it usually resides in Kennedy’s head. As he is a non player we will not waste anymore time on him. Then we have Feinstein, who is a slave to the ACLU and Moveon.org, and is likely getting pressure from the bankrollers of the Democratic party. And where does Hillary fit in to all of this? Her poor showing in polls has rattled her. As common sense would tell us maybe she would be better off coming up with real issues to confront. Instead she has ratcheted up the shrill rhetoric against anything Bush or conservative. People are not impressed or listening. She is losing her shot, but instead of trying to appeal to more normal people. She runs back to the people who love her. That is whom she works for, follow the money and you’ll see the real reasons for these acts of sedition.

© copyright 2006 glwhite op/eds

Gavin White is the Editor and Chief writer of Gavin White Op/Eds. He uses his vast political knowledge to bring a “Common Sense” approach to conservative thought. White also enjoys studying history and creating panic in the hearts of Liberals.

UK Water Rates

YOU CANNOT BE DISCONNECTED FOR WATER RATES DEBTS

Water companies can no longer disconnect your water supply if you are in arrears. The rules changed on 30th
June 1999. They also cannot install anything in your home that restricts the flow of water from the taps. If the water company threatens to disconnect you for being in arrears, complain to OFWAT, the body that regulates the water companies.

You can complain to OFWAT through your regional Watervoice customer service committee. See complaints section.

Warning: Some water companies are threatening to disconnect a property on the basis that “they think the property is empty”.

Make sure you keep in touch with the company as they may attempt to do this if no one has responded to their letters for some time. If you have a threat of disconnection to your supply, ring the water company and make sure they understand that you are still in the property and they cannot disconnect the supply.

HOW DO I DEAL WITH WATER RATES ARREARS?

You should carry on including your current water rates in the STEP 2 OUTGOINGS section of your personal budget. This is because water is an ongoing bill. If you have water rates arrears then they no longer need to be treated as a priority debt. You can make an offer of repayment that you can afford using your budget sheet along with your other credit debts in STEP 6. If you are on Income Support/Pension Credit/Job Seeker’s Allowance you can ask the Department of Work & Pensions (DWP) to deduct a sum to cover current water rates and a standard amount towards the arrears from your benefit each week.

If you do not agree a repayment arrangement then the water company can issue a County Court Claim against you to ask you to repay the money you owe. You can make an offer of payment by filling in the Reply Form to the Claim (N9a) and sending this back to your water company within the time limit. If the court agrees with your offer then you will be told to pay the debt off in instalments.

RIGHTS TO WATER METERS

From April 2000 you have the right to have a water meter put in so that you are charged on the basis of the water you actually use. You can swap back to the usual non-metered system within 12 months if you don’t like the water meter; e.g. your bills are higher than before. It may be cheaper to have a water meter put in if you don’t use much water e.g. you are single or out all day. Contact your water company, as some suppliers will advise you if your bills are likely to be cheaper if you move to a water meter.

HELP WITH HIGH BILLS

There are new rights to get some help with water bills if you are on a low income and on a water meter. You will only pay the average bill that the water company charges overall so if you use a lot of water then your bill will go down.

To qualify for help you must be on a water meter, and someone in the household must be on one of these benefits:

Income Support

Income Based Job Seeker’s Allowance

Pension Credit (from October 2003)

Working Tax Credit

Child Tax Credit (except families who receive the family element of Child Tax Credit only)

Housing Benefit

Council Tax Benefit

and

there are three or more children under 16 in the household,

or

someone in the household has a medical condition that means extra water use such as:

Flaky skin disease

Weeping skin disease, i.e. eczema, psoriasis, varicose ulcers

Incontinence

Abdominal stomas

Renal failure.

You can get an application form from your water company. You need to give proof of the benefit you are receiving and you will need to explain your medical condition in detail. You can stay on the scheme for a year and then have to re-apply.

COMPLAINTS

If you have a complaint about your water company you should speak or write to your water company first. Each water company should have a complaints procedure they can send you. Your water company should reply to your complaint within 10 working days.

If you are not happy with the outcome you can complain to OFWAT. Your regional customer service committee known as “Watervoice” will deal with your complaint. To find out which Watervoice Regional Office to complain to, contact:

OFWAT

Centre City Tower

7 Hill Street Birmingham B5 4UA

Tel: 0121 625 1300

www.ofwat.gov.uk

Watervoice

www.watervoice.org.uk

WATER TRUST FUNDS

A number of water companies operate charitable trust funds. Some offer help only with water and sewerage debt; others are prepared to help with other priority debts and even bankruptcy fees in certain situations. Others offer ‘restart schemes’. These operate on the basis of you entering into a regular payment scheme, and payments made are then matched by the trust fund. If you maintain the arrangement, the remaining debt may be written off. You will need to contact the trust fund to find out how to apply. You will usually have to fill in a form. You may need an advice agency to help you.

CHARITABLE TRUST FUNDS

South Staffordshire Water Trust Fund

www.south-staffs-water.co.uk (water company website only) Telephone: 01922 63 82 82

Only pay for water debts. You must show some commitment to pay £1.00 or more a week for 2 months. To apply you need a personal budget sheet completed by an adviser and a covering letter.

Anglian Water Trust Fund www.awtf.org.uk

PO Box 42, Peterborough, PE3 8XH. Email: admin@awtf.org.uk

As well as water and sewerage debts they may also pay bankruptcy fees and any other bills you are having difficulty paying.

Hartlepool Water, Tendring Hundred Water, Cambridge Water, Three Valleys Water, Essex & Suffolk Water are either owned by Anglian Water or contribute towards its trust fund and you can also apply to the Anglian fund if you are a customer of one of these companies.

EOS Foundation www.eosfoundation.org.uk

PO Box 42, Peterborough PE3 6XH

Telephone: 01733 330 732

eos@charisgrants.com

Will help with water debts and other essential bills. You will need to fill in an application form with proof of income. You must be a customer of Portsmouth Water, Tendering Hundred Water, Folkestone & Dover Water, Mid Kent Water, Bournemouth & West Hampshire Water, South East Water.

Severn Trent Water Trust Fund www.sttf.org.uk

Telephone: 0121 355 77 66

Email: office@sttf.org.uk

As well as water and sewerage debts they may also pay bankruptcy fees and any other bills you are having difficulty paying.

WATER COMPANIES OPERATING RESTART SCHEMES

(Trust fund matches your payments on your arrears) Yorkshire Water

Community Trust www.ywct.org.uk

Telephone: 0845 1 24 24 26

info@ywct.org.uk

Only assist with water or sewerage arrears that are no more than two years old and less than £1000. You must be in a multiple debt situation.

United Utilities www.unitedutilities.com

Telephone: 0845 746 11 00

“Arrears Allowance Scheme” only assists with water or sewerage charges and application forms have to be completed by local CAB on your behalf. A customer counsellor may also offer a home visit.

Thames Water www.thames-water.com (water company website only)

“Customer Assistance Scheme” only assists with water or sewerage charges and they prefer that you are referred by a local advice centre/NDL/CAB/Social Services/Age Concern
You may be visited in your home.

Welsh Water/Dwr Cymru

Telephone: 0800 052 0145

“Customer Assistance Fund” You must be referred by a money adviser and complete an application form. After you have made payments for 6 months, the fund pays half your water arrears. After another 6 months payments the rest of the arrears will be paid.

Bristol Water www.bristolwater.co.uk (water company website only) Apply in writing to:

BWBSL, 1 Clevedon Walk,, Nailsea, Bristol BS48 1WW.

You have to write to them to request to be considered for the restart scheme. You may then be visited in your home.

South West Water www.southwestwater.co.uk

Telephone: 0800 169 1133 (customer services)

“Special Assistance Scheme” helps with water charges only. Application forms from CAB’s and Age Concern. You have to provide evidence that you are trying to pay or stick to a repayment programme.

The author, Michael Sherriff, has written 100’s of articles relating to UK credit advice and rules of the UK finance industry. His UK best selling ebook “UK Credit Secrets” has been revised with the 2005 Edition now available. The most concise book ever written for repairing your credit history in the UK. Finally all the myths have been blown away and the truth revealed to the general public. Find out more at http://ukcreditsecrets.co.uk

Today, in many countries’ political realities, tribalist and
nationalist or globalist forces clash fiercely, undermining
chances of peace and democracy. This is particularly topical in
the Middle East, where efforts by established leaderships to
discourage armed conflict have reached a new phase, in which
both Hezbollah and Hamas, organizations labeled ‘terrorist’ by
the US, are nudged to start thinking about participation in
mainstream politics.

The number of countries in the world at the moment that are in
some form of transition is higher than some ten years ago, and
in some ways more efforts are made to resolve situations that
threaten stability. And the moves of all involved parties are
not without major-league risks.

By finally addressing security issues by making a clean
sweepthrough, the Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas is slowly
shifting into gear, starting the clampdown on Palestinian
insurgency that has long been called for. he has even told Hamas
fighters publicly to give up their arms, This was a first for
the president who until now has been anything but clear on
security issues. The Hamas leaders according to a report in the
London Asharq Al Awsat paper are reportedly planning to return
to Gaza after the Israelis have withdrawn.

The newspaper report detailed that the leaders are likely to
move their group’s political bureau to Gaza as soon as Israel
transfers control over the border crossings to the Palestinian
Authority. “When a militia turns into a political party, I
believe the issue of a need for arms becomes irrelevant,” Abbas
was quoted as saying. “There will be only one authority, one law
and one legal [armed force],” according to the recently elected
Palestinian leader, who played down the risks involved in the
operation, saying that this has happened many times before in
history.

Hamas leaders however deemed it necessary to reiterate that they
have no intention of disarming at all. “Our fingers will remain
on the rifle triggers until the removal of the occupation,”
Hamas spokesman Mushir al-Masri said, according to the Israeli
Al Haaretz paper. Even though Hamas has participated in the
elections recently, Masri doubted that this means the members
are actually going to function as such.

It is remarks like these that worry the international community
very much. US President George W. Bush has been said to be
waiting with inviting the Palestianian leader Abbas until he has
got something of substance to report. Perhaps an invitation will
finally be extended soon now. The Palestinian leader has
installed a hardliner as new intelligence chief. Tareq Abu
Rajab, who used to be deputy intelligence chief, is known to
have played an important role in a crackdown on the militant
group Hamas.

Hamas, which has participated in municipal elections already,
might see next July’s municipal elections turn out in its favor.
“Extrapolating from the present point in time, Hamas I believe
would gain between 30 and 50 percent in the elections to the
Palestinian Legislative Council in July. Fateh is in total
disarray and is searching for its lost identity”, said Matti
Steinberg, an Israeli former security advisor to two heads of
the Israel General Security Service. “Hamas could register
considerable gains in elections and possibly demand to play a
role in the next Palestinian Authority government”, according to
Yossi Alpher, a former senior advisor to Israeli Prime Minister
Ehud Barak. The gains that the ‘party to be’ is likely to win
are largely due to unhappiness of the Palestine population with
the Fateh party, which has lost its identity more or less due to
dysfunctioning of the PA.

This is echoed by Ghassan Khattib, the Palestinian Authority
minister of planning. “It is possible that Hamas, which so far
maintains a fundamentalist ideological and extreme political
position, will become a pragmatic movement if it has the chance
to be part of official politics, locally, regionally and
internationally. The rhetoric of Hamas now reminds many of
Fateh’s rhetoric when it was treated by the “legitimate powers”
as an “illegal terrorist group”. Fateh successfully worked out a
trade-off. It was recognized and included in the system in
return for playing politics within the parameters of
international legality”, he says.

Some view the moves of the radicalists to mainstream politics as
a positive transformation and it is surely to be hoped that the
organizations involved in the decades-long strife in the region
that are now close to becoming involved in mainstream politics,
will ultimately disarm. Yet their popularity might be evidencing
real hardship on the ground. Aside from what’s driving the
islamist vote, Israel’s reaction to a possible Hamas inclusion
into the PA might not be favorable and it might be unwilling to
negotiate with Hamas leaders. But then, this might not turn out
to be the case. Prime Minister Sharon who is said by some to
favor a peace process that is open ended might think he has a
better negotiating partner in a Hamas partipated PA.

It is also going to be interesting what is going to be happening
with Hizbollah in Lebanon. Hezbollah leaders have expressed
opposition to disarmament that’s as strong as the the
Palestinian Hamas leaders. So far, this issue, the groups’
status as terrorist and their unwillingness to recognize Israel
as a state has always deterred countries like the US to deal
with them as mature political entities. This is changing. Word
in the diplomatic corridors has it that the State Department
might acquiesce in Hizballah’s entry into Lebanese politics if
it abandons terrorism and severs its political and operational
ties with Syria. This US recognition of Hizballah could serve as
a precedent for US acceptance of a political role for Hamas.

So far it looks like every major move that the islamist groups
make by definition will continue to go accompanied with pledges
to hold onto arms. But one ought to bear in mind that often the
public rhetoric is different than any private action. The leader
of Hezbollah, Sheikh Hassan Nasrullah, recently reiterated that
his group will not give up their weapons. In an interview with
Reuters he said that his party will keep its weapons and will
not give it up, noting that this decision is because of the
continued Israeli occupation and the risks of occupation against
his country. He even snubbed the UN, saying that its Security
Council resolution demanding Hizbullah to hand over its weapons
is ‘meaningless’ and ‘of no value’.

Meanwhile, in Iraq Al Qaeda’s Jordanian-born leader Abu Musab
al-Zarqawi also recently publicly rejected a call from the new
Iraqi president for militants to lay down their arms. Calling
the new Iraqi leader President Jalal Talabani an agent of the US
and Jews, the rebels said they would continue their strife until
Sharia law was established in the country and never forgive the
leader for his “infidelity” and “spilling of the blood of
Muslims”. It is not clear whether the statement, posted on a
website used by Islamist militants is authentic. It is a smack
in the face however of Mr Talabani, who has been quite lenient
to those Iraqi’s who have taken to violence over the past few
years, saying a peaceful solution should be found with Iraqis
who were ‘led astray’ by terrorism. He even invited them in to
participate in the democratic process and offered some convicted
terrorists an amnesty.