Career Services Staff Knowledge Base
How do I get through the barrier of being overqualified for jobs or my wheelchair being a consideration? I have a college degree with a background in journalism, nonprofit advocacy work and customer service. I have been downsized from nonprofit in 2005 and was ill-matched for a payroll position in a corporate environment that overstressed me, so I resigned for my health. I am not ill, very independent and have a lot of qualifications, but realize that I may have to resort to entry level work to get my foot in the door. I'm very willing to do that. I've consulted professionals to polish my resume, have taken continuing education classes in Spanish and grant writing, and seek the consultation of rehabilitation services counselors, career counselors and staffing agencies. Still, I'm having trouble finding work beyond part-time at the local movie theater. I really want to keep my experience professional and my salary gainful beyond minimum wage. I've posted my resume on several job boards and continue to look every few days, if not daily, for work. What now?
What are the pros and cons of a career as a radiology technician for a 39yr. old introvert career changer? I'm thirty nine years old and very introverted (let's say practically anitsocial!) and work in Civil Service (N.Y. City municipal agency) as a Supervisor in the Records Management Unit. While it is back office and I only have to manage a staff of three, it is boring, tedious, and mindless work spent doing repetitive data entry, information research, answering telephone questions of employees about their personnel files; and living in one of the boroughs of N.Y.C. the salary sucks - $45,000.00 I couldn't even afford a studio apartment on that if I wasn't married! I can be charming and friendly if forced to, am fairly intelligent, very well spoken, and have been told by numerous people that I "write very well." Since receiving my Bachelor's Degree in 1991 I've not enrolled in any sort of academic program. I desperately need a career chage but am hampered by my solitary nature and fear of socializing. I also need to earn about $65K to feel financially secure. Advice?
Why do we let political correctness and stupidity ruin our emergency services? The military, the Police, the fire service, paramedics, nurses and doctors (and many many more). All of these do an amazing and difficult job day after day, protecting us and helping us when we need it the most. So why do we as a country treat them like crap and make it impossible to do their jobs? I am speaking from a student nurses perspective, low pay (none at all when training), constant bullying, bitching and abuse, highly stressful situations, etc. I am not even allowed to give a dying patient a hug any more or even be friendly in case I upset them because of political correctness. Male nurses are also often discriminated against by female patients and staff. (We always have to be chaperoned by a female member of staff when dealing with a patient, yet women don't have to be with men.) We can get kicked, punched, spit on and have our careers ended by a disciplinary even though we cannot do anything back. It has left many asking why we even bother to help? So why? Tell me?? Thankyou volleyballchick. I know there are a few proffessionals who ruin it for us. (i.e abuse in care homes.) But a few rotten apples cannot surely be the entire reason for it? What about other emergency services? Why are we all as a group so seemingly despised and disrespected for just trying to help? Hey Kingbeav, I know it's not exactly the same problem but I'm throwing this open to all emergency services, nursing is just my perspective. But you are totally right, a part of me does wish we could all (police, army fire brigade, nurses, etc), walk out and just let people see how they fend for themselves. Although I know we could never do that, maybe it would force things to change. Nightynightnurse, thankyou for your reply. I am not griping about that in particular, even though I think that it is a disgusting state of affairs that we have to have that protection in the first place I understand it is for our protection. My gripe is that nurses and all of the emergency service personel including police, paramedics, military etc are treated so badly and so undervalued. That is my gripe.
What is the best &/or worst experience you ever had with a mortuary? I'm considering taking my present career with a family owned mortuary to the next level. As an industry, we aren't very well thought of. However, usually the reason for that is the focus on the almighty dollar and not the service or attitude of the staff. Unfortunately there are several large corporations across the country that are buying up the family owned mortuaries and NOT changing the names to reflect the new corporate ownership. It gives family owned mortuaries, who truly care, a very bad name. Thank goodness for word of mouth advertising. I'll use your answers to take to our staff. We will incorporate the good experiences into our own services and make sure your bad experiences never happen with us. Thanks so much!
how would I send a letter to the president, state senators, governors requesting help 4 my AF son to reenlist? My son is a Senior Airman, weather forcaster in the Air Force. He is due for re-enlistment in October 06 and would like to continue his enlistment. He and his wife were recently blessed with twin daughters but because of the difficulty of multiple births he missed submitting part of his paperwork for re-enlistment by the required date and now is told that he may not be able to re-enlist. He has won numerous awards during his military service and just passed his test for Staff Sargeant. It would be a terrible waste to not allow such an fine young man to continue his military career. Any suggestions to help him with this process would be greatly appreciated.
Bad career decision? Almost yr ago after completing a master's degree and nat. certs, in a small rural area where I am a native, got career adv. opportunity to move from state public school to state university. Was promised a lot by university - perm, FT position. Once there, they made "mistakes" about salary quote, continue to switch my classification between EPA and SPA as it would be to my detriment. For ex, I am SPA-req. to work 40 hrs./wk but then told EPA -exempt from wage and hour law - req. to work 8 additional hrs per week b/c of another source of funding - lost state longevity service pay. Told I had a perm. FT staff position and got it in writing but now told everyone has to sign yearly contracts and if they lapse you can't report to work. Have interview to return to a public school admin position next wk but am near the point of a nervous breakdown after all the abuse and overwork I have suffered this year. Need state job to retire/benefits; I got inv. in a bad job situation.
If you could have your pick of any career, what would you choose to be? Here are just a few choices, and you may have others. 1. Pope 2. Chief of State (pick your country) 3. Chief of Staff of your preferred military service (CNO for the Navy types, Commandant for Marines.) 4. Famous Author 5. Movie Star 6. Rock Star 7. Network Television Anchor 8. Master Chef 9. Talk Radio Host 10. Railroad engineer 11. Airline pilot 12. Captain of a Cruise Ship 13. Medical Doctor 14. University Professor 15. Attorney 16. Anthropologist 17. Astronaut 18. Soldier (any rank) 19. Sailor (any rank) 20. Marine (any rank) 21. Airman (any rank) 22. Other Military (any rank) 23. Foreign Service 24. Social Worker 25. Construction Worker 26. Forest or Park Ranger 27. Policeman 28. Fireman 29. Newspaper editor, reporter or columnist (specify) 30. Lifetime Student Note that I have not listed any illegal occupations or careers. If you don't want to be the Pope but would like to be a clergy person that choice is open. So is just about every other. I have also not revealed MY choice. I'll save that for when I close this question. (It is on the list.) I really like Renaissance Man's answer. There are many others I like as well. To early to choose the best, but will try to do that tomorrow. Bijou, I admire your idealism. If I could grant your wish I would. I see some really cool ideas here and I like every answer so far.
when writing a resume... i need a little grammer help? do i just write everything like list all the duties or responsibilities at a job like a sentence etc " Assistant manager. Handled daily operations at fuel desk. Responsibilities include(d) (past tense?? or include); customer service, ordering and merchandising, human resource, training all hirers, (and ??) maintaining upkeep of store". or do i write "Assistant manager. Handled daily operations at fuel desk. Responsibilities included; customer service, ordering and merchandising, human resource, training all hirers, and maintaining upkeep of store." also do you have to have a career objective at 50 years old for a law office receptionist job? heres what she got " Full-time position with reputable firm, using proven communication skills to provide excellent service to staff and clients.
is this a good CV, from which is the best way to choice a career path. what sort of jobs am i suited too.? Russell Ham 77 Church Street, Highbridge Somerset, TA9 3HT Tel: 01278 784413, Mob: 07879 723123 E-Mail: rjhamuk@yahoo.co.uk I am a person that is committed to work efficiently, with the ability to work enthusiastically as part of a team and be organised at the same time. Computer Literate with a polite telephone manner. I am creative and quick at learning new skills and a challenge motivates me. I have excellent time keeping skills and a positive attitude. I have the confidence to perform well and pay attention to detail. My hardworking nature and my creative flair will prove that I have the enthusiasm to achieve the most success for the company I work for. 2006RSPCA Volunteer (P/T) General duties include: Preparing & Pricing items The items need to be prepared and cleaned properly for display purposes. The more attractive an item looks, the more likely it is to sell. Items also need to be priced fairly & reasonably for customer satisfaction. Serving Customers Customers should always be greeted politely when they enter the premises and when being served they should also be treated with fairness. If a customer is satisfied then they will return at a later date. Answering the telephone When dealing with a customer query, deal with the customer in a professional manner, by being flexible and confident towards the customer Operating the till Try to be quick and effective. If you have quite a few customers, smile and keep good eye contact. Tell the customer how much they owe, count up any change in your own time and thank the customer after serving Making entries into the collections & deliveries book Make sure everything is dated correctly. Put up to date orders in order folder for delivery (in date order). Make note of any cancellations. Ring any customers that are due to be seen Balancing the Books Make sure the till reading matches up with the reading in the sales book. Make sure that everything that has been sold, is in the sales book and total up the sales. Collections & Deliveries Deliver furniture to and from customer on a specific date. Phone customers to tell them to prepare for your arrival. Plan the journey. Make any prior arrangements. Counting the float Cleaning and tidying Washing up Checking the inventory 2003-2004Somerset Computers for Charity Volunteer/Student (P/T) Helping with hardware maintenance, repairing and recycling Collecting donations and training Assisting staff members Dealing with office duties 2003-2004Scope Volunteer (P/T) General duties include: Assisting in the running of the shop Advising customers Answering the telephone Serving customers 2002-2003 Somerset Computers for Charity Volunteer/Student (P/T) General duties include:- Assisting in the recycling of donated computers for charities and people in need Achievements: Computer Literate with qualifications gained in ECDL, Paint Shop Pro, Visual Basic EDUCATION/QUALIFACTIONS 2006 King Alfred’s School French 2005 Adult Learning & Leisure Computer Literacy and Information Technology (Clait Plus) Bookkeeping 2003-2004 Somerset Computers for Charity Volunteer/Student (P/T) European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL) qualification 1995-1998 ATA Burnham on Sea Subjects studied include: City & Guild’s Number Power, Word Power 1990 – 1995 King Alfred’s School Subjects studied include: English Language, English Literature, Maths. Geography, French, History Technology, Science Hobbies and Interests I enjoy meeting people, learning new skills, using the computer. I enjoy being sociable and having fun, getting satisfaction of time and effort well spent. I like helping others and providing a good service. I also enjoy putting my efforts to a good cause and am interested in antiques and I read books. Date of Birth: 31/10/7824/10/2006 References available on request
What kind of specific jobs accept my mlitary time towards their retirment? I am a Staff Sergeant in the US Army with 8 years in after this contract I'll have 10. Due to the a declined need in my job skill resulting in a total transistion of my job,I've decieded to get out of the military. I know many people will try to ask why I don't reclass, it's because I have only three options Warrent Officer (in my job field), Career recruiter (done that and it sucks), or get out and come back in. This is due to my time in service. also adding to that is the fact I have a one year old son and have done two deployements while in service (I'd kinda like to see him grow up and stay married). I'm trying to map out my future and start aiming towards positions I can fill in the civilian sector. I know that I can work a federal level and keep my time in service towards retirement but I'm wondering if there's other organizations out there that do the same thing. I think I would enjoy law enforcement but am trying to open up towards other options.
Hiring Managers Only please..answer this question...? I run the Career Services dept at a local college. I hv 2 help secure internships and job leads (or interviews if lucky) for my graduating students. If the additional info helps it is an AAS degree. Anyway, how do you prefer to be contaced. EMail, phone, in person. I do not like dropping by beucase I do not like it when people I am not expecting stop by and will not see them, I am too busy. WHat is the bast aproach. Hiring managers seem to think it is a sales call almost and others are very receptive and love the idea of having someone who can assit them in their staffing needs at no chage and little hassel. Interns are at no cost to the co. so some love it and some just wish no one would call or email. WHat is the aproach you would be most likeley to respond to? I know hiring mangers are very busy....also, do you think it would do any good to do mail outs? I used to screen my bosses mail when I was an assistant and he had me toss anythjing that he was not expecting. Thanks:)
Job Search Websites? What are some good websites to job search? I will soon have a 2 year degree in web development. Sites like career builder and hot jobs seem to just give me staffing services.
Who is teaching the next generation how to get a job? Should they be fired? I manage a staff of over 150 employees and take responsibility for recruiting, reviewing applications and conducting interview. Honestly I am getting fed up! Applicants between the age of 18 and about 27 who come prepared for an interview are few and far between. The average applicant comes in with an incomplete application, poor communication skills, no pen, dressed inappropriately, not willing to put in the grunt work and feel entitled to walk in as the king of the castle. Just today I conducted 5 interviews and only one applicant had a pen with him. Many are unable to maintain eye contact or answer a simple question without 10 seconds of ummms and ughhs. Did the career development services in high schools get shut down? Does anyone teach these kids how to fill out an application? How to dress? How to hold an intelligent and professional conversation? Do today’s high school teachers even teach the meaning of professionalism? Does anyone have an idea of what has happened to the future of American workers?
Should I give my 2 week notice or should i check out my new job first? Ok well I been with this company for 15 months but they still haven't hired me for the company I’m still as a temp. by a staffing services company so there for I’m tired of just working and not getting paid for holidays and not having benefits so then I went on putting my resume online so now I got offered this position that is willing to train and better opportunities will be offered in the future and its closer to my house not like this one its like 45 minutes away but IDK what to do because I don’t want to leave this job and go to the other one and what if I don’t understand it and its to hard that’s what I’m scared of for some reason. So then these are my questions should I stop being scared and go ahead and step up in my career? And also I still haven’t given my 2 week notice should I let them know already? But also I feel bad because my boss is caring and understanding IDK! And the job that’s being offered, they want me to start ASAP but they do understand that I’m going to school so they are willing to wait for me and could start working at nights for now so I’m thinking to work at my job in the mornings just in case its to hard I get to keep my job for now and nights at the other job just to check if I could handle the new one if I could I’ll let my other job go, I’m I doing wrong? What should I do give my 2 week notice? & How should I tell him? =\ please help me and answer me thank you so much!
Question for ex-soldiers...? We are looking for staff in the New Year and the jobs would be perfect for ex-soldiers-when you leave is their any kind of careers advice service etc given you for civilian life? Where would be a good place to advertise these jobs?
Please can you help? I've just graduated from Uni with a degree in archaeology although my prinicial areas of interest are history, conservation and religious studies. I am interested in a career within the prison service which does not involve being a guard or security staff. As there is a need for qualifications to become a prison psychologist etc etc, what else could I do? I have been told that prisons hire occupational therapists but that these tend to be people with practical skills, eg builders and plumbers. Any advice? I am in the UK
10 points--Can you please help with my grammar. English is my second language.? I am interested in applying for Associate Human Resources Officer, P-2 positions at The United Nations (Thailand). The skills that I have developed from work experience, academic background, and professional development training support my strong interest in the program. I have a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a minor in Geography. I completed my undergraduate degree in 3 years from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania (2003-2006). In addition to studying, I participated in many extracurricular activities: vice president of the Asian Club, mentor for students with disabilities, coordinator of an educational related trip to Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and hostess to important visitor such as the First Secretary of the Consulate General of Japan in New York. In 2005, I had a great opportunity to intern at the Royal Thai Embassy in Washington D.C. I was assigned to assist The Minister/Deputy Chief of Mission in Public and International Affairs. My primary duty was to verify official documents such as passport, visa, naturalization, and legalization. In the summer of 2006, I worked for Goodwill Industrial of the Chesapeake. My duties were to manage and organize floor sales, verify and process merchandises, assist customers, and mentor community service workers. At the present time, I am a full-time graduate student at Bowie State University pursuing a Master of Public Administration (Human Resource Management). I am also a graduate assistant in the department of Management, Marketing, and Public Administration. My responsibilities include organizing the department career and internship opportunities; managing graduate students’ official records and documents; conducting research for the MBA program coordinator; developing and updating department website; and broadcasting information and scheduling courses on the university databases. In addition, I attended many professional development training including the website development training, OSDBU Procurement Conference, and Faculty Research and Scholarship Training Series. I am currently a student member of Society for Human Resource Management. Outside of academic studies, I have been working as a part-time worker for Sodexho USA for over 3 years (2004-2007). I enjoy providing quality customer service to faculty, staff, students, and communities. I ranked highly among the team for excellence customer service. These experience have given me an opportunity to effectively practice my skills in organizing, planning, researching, decision-making, team and systematic working, and communication skills. I am a hard worker who is highly motivated and dedicated to accomplish tasks efficiently.
Can you please help with my resume. 10 points for your help. Thank you? OBJECTIVE A position of responsibility and growth potential in Human Resource Management EDUCATION Master of Public Administration Graduation: May 2008 (Human Resources Management) Bowie State University, Bowie, MD G.P.A. 3.71/4.0 (Received 100% tuition reimbursement) Bachelor of Arts in Political Science Graduation: May 2006 Edinboro University, Edinboro, PA G.P.A. 3.21/4.0 (Completed 4-year program in 3 years) WORK EXPERIENCE Graduate Assistant August 2006-Present Department of Management, Marketing, and Public Administration Bowie State University, Bowie, MD •Managing career/ internship/scholarship/ conferences opportunities •Managing graduate students’ official files and documents •Advising undergraduate students •Conducting research for MBA program coordinator •Developing and updating department website •Broadcasting information and scheduling courses on the university databases •Developing and updating the department catalog •Assisting the long-term projects with the department Part-time Worker August 2004-Present Edinboro University and Bowie State University Campus, Sodexho USA •Providing quality customer service to faculty, staffs, students, and communities •Providing quality catering, concession, and dining services Intern May-August, 2005 The Royal Thai Embassy, Washington, D.C. •Assisted the Minister/Deputy Chief of Mission (International Relations) •Verified official documents (passport, visa, naturalization, and legalization) PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TRAINING •Member of Society for Human Resource Management 2007-2008 •Website Development Training September, 2007 •OSDBU Procurement Conference April, 2007 •Faculty Research and Scholarship Training Series March, 2007 •Goodwill Industries of the Chesapeake June, 2006 SKILLS Microsoft Office Applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) PeopleSoft8 Lotus Notes Research (Collecting, Managing, and Analyzing data) Communication Skills (English and Thai) AWARDS Graduate Assistantship 2006-2008 SILVER Award 2005-2006 Julie Lieber International Scholarship 2004-2005 ASSE International Exchange Program Scholarship, United States, 2002-2003 Help with the grammar errors/ wordings/ formats. Thank you.
Please help me with my resume (grammar & format) 10 points. Thank you very much.? OBJECTIVE Program Assistant (5063) EDUCATION Master of Public Administration Graduation: May 2008 (Human Resources Management) Bowie State University, Bowie, MD G.P.A. 3.71/4.0 Bachelor of Arts in Political Science Graduation: May 2006 Edinboro University, Edinboro, PA G.P.A. 3.21/4.0 (Completed 4-year program in 3 years) WORK EXPERIENCE Graduate Assistant August 2006-Present Department of Management, Marketing, and Public Administration Bowie State University, Bowie, MD •Managing career/ internship/scholarship/ conferences opportunities •Organzing graduate students’ official files and documents •Advising undergraduate students •Developing and updating department website •Broadcasting information and scheduling courses on the university databases •Updating the department catalog •Conducting research for MBA program coordinator Part-time Worker August 2004-Present Edinboro University and Bowie State University Campus, Sodexho USA •Providing quality customer service to faculty, staffs, students, and communities •Providing quality catering, concession, and dining services Intern May-August, 2005 The Royal Thai Embassy, Washington, D.C. •Assisted the Minister/Deputy Chief of Mission (International Relations) •Verified official documents (passport, visa, naturalization, and legalization) PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TRAINING •Member of Society for Human Resource Management 2007-2008 •Website Development Training September, 2007 •OSDBU Procurement Conference April, 2007 •Faculty Research and Scholarship Training Series March, 2007 •Goodwill Industries of the Chesapeake June, 2006 SKILLS Microsoft Office Applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) PeopleSoft8 Lotus Notes Research (Collecting, Managing, and Analyzing data) Communication Skills (English and Thai) AWARDS Graduate Assistantship 2006-2008 SILVER Academic Award 2005-2006 Julie Lieber International Scholarship 2004-2005 ASSE International Exchange Program Scholarship, United States, 2002-2003
Can someone please give me advice on how to get a job or interview in Chicago:)? Hi everyone? I am having a hard time finding a job in Chicago. Can someone please help me with advice on how to get a job? I have been searching for a job more than 4 months ago and I still have not had any luck. So far I have tried Craiglist.com, monster.com, hotjobs.com and career builder.com. I have also submitted my resume and spoke to some people in the following agencies: Lakeshore Staffing, The Opportunity Group, The Esquire Staffing Group, Temp Time and Five Star Recruiting. But I have not had any luck. Does any one have any other suggestions or know of anyone that would be able to help me? I am looking for an Executive/Administrative Assistant position, Office Manager position, bilingual position, graphic design, Human resource or customer service position. Thank you all for taking the time to read my question, I am really grateful for your help.
look below this for my question thank you? hello on northern rail website on 1 of the vacancies say like if i work at leeds train station as an iss cleaner for nx ( national express ) and i dont have a proven record of customer service but nx staff and northern rail staff are ok as in they get along with me and i have regularly helped on the nx cip ( customer service point ) desk so i no like no from hands on experience but learning ect and being told things about train stations so really what the point of this question is is would i have a chance to like get to an interview part ect if i dont have a customer service proven record and just have a look at the website if you want here is the link http://www.northernrail.org/northern/careers/vacancies/106
Why do all of these high level officials question the events of 9/11? Current U.S. Senator states "The two questions that the congress will not ask . . . is why did 9/11 happen on George Bush's watch when he had clear warnings that it was going to happen? Why did they allow it to happen?" Current Republican Congressman states that "we see the [9/11] investigations that have been done so far as more or less cover-up and no real explanation of what went on" Current Democratic Congressman hints that we aren't being told the truth about 9/11 Former U.S. Republican Congressman and senior member of the House Armed Services Committee, and who served six years as the Chairman of the Military Research and Development Subcommittee, has shown that the U.S. tracked hijackers before 9/11, is open to hearing information about explosives in the Twin Towers, and is open to the possibility that 9/11 was an inside job Former Democratic Senator states that he supports a new 9/11 investigation and that we don't know the truth about 9/11 Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense under President Ronald Reagan said that the official story of 9/11 is "the dog that doesn't hunt" (if you suspect he is a closet liberal, take a look at his bio) Former director of the U.S. "Star Wars" space defense program in both Republican and Democratic administrations, who was a senior air force colonel who flew 101 combat missions, and who is a Catholic Archbishop stated that 9/11 was an inside job (he also said "If our government had merely done nothing, and allowed normal procedures to happen on that morning of 9/11, the twin towers would still be standing, and thousands of dead Americans would still be alive. [T]hat is treason") Former U.S. Army Air Defense Officer and NORAD Tac Director, decorated with the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star and the Soldiers Medal stated that "there is no way that an aircraft . . . would not be intercepted when they deviate from their flight plan, turn off their transponders, or stop communication with Air Traffic Control ... Attempts to obscure facts by calling them a 'conspiracy Theory' does not change the truth. It seems, 'Something is rotten in the State.'" Former 20-year Marine Corps infantry and intelligence officer, the second-ranking civilian in U.S. Marine Corps Intelligence, and former CIA clandestine services case officer stated that "9/11 was at a minimum allowed to happen as a pretext for war", and it was probably an inside job (see Customer Review dated October 7, 2006). Former high-ranking Reagan official and very influential conservative doubts the official story about 9/11 Former Two-Star general questions the attack on the Pentagon Former Air Force Colonel and key Pentagon official finds various aspects of 9/11 suspicious Former President of the U.S. Air Force Accident Investigation Board, who also served as Pentagon Weapons Requirement Officer and as a member of the Pentagon's Quadrennial Defense Review, and who was awarded Distinguish Flying Crosses for Heroism, four Air Medals, four Meritorious Service Medals, and nine Aerial Achievement Medals, is a member of a group which doubts the government's version of 9/11 Current U.S. Congresswoman, former senior CIA analyst, former Deputy Secretary for Intelligence and Warning under Nixon, Ford, and Carter, former US Ambassador and Chief of Mission to Iraq, former Deputy Director to the White House Task Force on Terrorism, and former US Department of State Foreign Service Officer (as well as a who's who of liberals and independents) jointly call for a new investigation into 9/11 Pentagon Papers whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg said that some of the claims concerning government involvement in 9/11 are credible, that "very serious questions have been raised about what they [U.S. government officials] knew beforehand and how much involvement there might have been", that engineering 9/11 would not be humanly or psychologically beyond the scope of the current administration, and that there's enough evidence to justify a new, "hard-hitting" investigation into 9/11 with subpoenas and testimony taken under oath Former FBI translator, who the Department of Justice's Inspector General and several senators have called extremely credible (free subscription required), said "If they were to do real investigations we would see several significant high level criminal prosecutions in this country. And that is something that they are not going to let out. And, believe me; they will do everything to cover this up". She also is leaning towards the conclusion that 9/11 was an inside job A 28-year career CIA official says 9/11 was an inside job A retired 27-year CIA analyst who prepared and presented Presidential Daily Briefs and served as a high-level analyst for several presidents stated that there are indications that Cheney ordered a stand down of the military on 9/11 Former FBI agent says "The FBI, rather than trying to prevent a terrorist attack, was merely gathering intelligence so they would know who to arrest when a terrorist attack occurred." Former air traffic controller, who knows the flight corridor which the two planes which hit the Twin Towers flew "like the back of my hand" and who handled two actual hijackings says that 9/11 could not have occurred as the government says, and that planes can be tracked on radar even when their transponders are turned off (also, listen to this interview) Former 6-year Inspector General, U.S. Department of Transportation and former Professor of Aviation, Dept. of Aerospace Engineering and Aviation says "the [9/11] commission is clearly not talking to everybody or not telling us everything .... Huge discrepancies persist in basic facts .... when we heard the carriers and governments alike saying, “Oh, no one could have foreseen this. No one knew that this was coming. No one knew that there was any risk like this in the world,” is absolutely false.... The Group Director on matters of national security in the U.S. Government Accountability Office said that President Bush did not respond to unprecedented warnings of the 9/11 disaster and conducted a massive cover-up instead of accepting responsibility Former ambassador to Iraq is not satisfied with the official story Numerous high-level legal scholars question the official version of 9/11. As do numerous military leaders. And many officials from allied governments have also questioned 9/11: Statement by former President of Italy Statements by former German Defense Minister and current member of British Parliament Statement by former Canadian Minister of Defense Statements of two former MI5 (British intelligence) agents (19 minutes into video) Statement of a high-ranking general and the former chief of NATO regarding bombs in the Twin Towers (in Danish) Statement by the commander-in-chief of the Russian Air Force; and see also statement of former chief of staff of the Russian armed forces
College Students? I just want to share these websites with all college students and graduates. You don't have to respond because I have a questions, but I will award extra ten points for the best feedback on the sites. Good luck and Best wishes! Just pass this information along. Helpful Arts & Science Links Art http://www.aiga.org - graphic design career professionals http://www.artistresource.org - artist resource http://www.artjob.org - art jobs http://www.artsource.com - digital media staffing http://www.asid.org - interior design http://careers.awn.com - animation world http://www.coroflot.com - industrial/product design http://www.creativecentral.com - jobs for creative professionals http://www.creativehotlist.com - creative hotlist http://www.gag.org/jobline/index.html - graphics artists guide http://www.guru.com - freelance talent http://www.idsa.org - industrial design Behavioral Science/Psychology/Sociology http://www.goodworksfirst.org http://www.hspeople.com http://www.idealist.org http://www.opportunitynocs.org http://www.psyccareers.com http://www.socialservice.com http://www.socialworker.com Biology/Marine Science/Chemistry/Health Science http://www.bio.com http://www.biologyjobs.com http://www.cen-chemjobs.org http://chemistryjobs.acs.org/search http://www.chemjobs.net http://www.coastal.edu/biology/student_jobs.html http://www.coreynahman.com/pharmaceutical_company_database.html http://www.mcb.harvard.edu/biolinks/biojobs.html http://www.medzilla.com http://www.science-jobs.org/listings.htm#biotech http://www.sciencejobs.com Computer Science/CIS/Networking http://www3.ca.com/career/default.asp http://www.computerwork.com http://www.dice.com http://www.jobcentre.acm.org/search.cfm English http://www.ala.org http://www.englishjobmaze.com http://www.iusb.edu/~sbcareer/careerinfolibrary.shtml http://www.libraryjobpostings.org http://www.magazine.org http://www.nationjob.com/media http://www.newslink.org/joblink.html http://www.tvjobs.com/index_a.htm http://www.writejobs.com History/Political Science/Justice Studies/Public Safety Administration http://www.911hotjobs.com http://www.aafs.org http://www.corrections.com http://www.firstgov.gov http://www.h-net.org/jobs/ http://www.lawEnforcementJobs.com http://www.lawjobs.com http://www.museumjobs.com http://www.policeemployment.com Mathematics http://www.acm.org/crc/ http://www.ams.org/careers/mcbb.html http://www.amstat.org/careers http://www.maa.org/pubs/employ.html http://www.siam.org/careers Physics http://www.aip.org/careersvc/ http://www.aps.org/jobs/index.cfm Religion http://www.christiananswers.net/q-eden/jobs.html http://www.christianet.com/christianjobs http://www.compassion.com http://www.churchjobsonline.com/job_bank.php http://www.churchstaffing.com http://www.jobleads.org http://www.ministryjobs.com http://www.ministrylist.com http://www.youthpastor.com/jobs/ Helpful Business Links Accounting/Finance http://www.accounting.com http://www.accountingjobs.com http://www.accountingnet.com http://www.bankjobs.com http://www.careerbank.com http://www.financialjobs.com http://www.jobsinthemoney.com http://www.nationjob.com/financial Management/Procurement/Purchasing/Logistics http://www.business.com http://www.buyingjobs.com http://www.hospitalityonline.com http://www.jobsinpurchasing.com http://www.jobsinlogistics.com http://www.jobsinmfg.com http://www.ludwig-recruit.com Marketing/Sales/Customer Services/Public Relations http://www.coreynahman.com/pharmaceutical_company_database.html http://www.iabc.com http://www.knowthis.com/careers/employment.htm http://www.marketingjobs.com http://www.marketingpower.com http://www.nationjobs.com/marketing http://www.prsa.org Human Resources/Personnel http://www.astd.org http://www.careersusa.com http://www.hr.com http://www.hrworld.com http://ihr.hrdpt.com http://www.jobs4hr.com http://www.nationjob.com/hr http://www.shrm.org/jobs Other Business http://www.entrepreneur.com http://www.indeed.com Helpful Educator Links Academic 360.com Alabama Department of Education American School Directory Project Connect - Teacher vacancies nationwide Career Network - Weekly listing of positions in academia Department of Defense - Teacher vacancies at military bases overseas Education America - Educational employment and resource network site Education World - Resource for educators, including job listings International Schools Services - Recruitment for American & International schools Current Job Postings - School district data and job search tips Jobs2Teach - Links to many education jobs worldwide including Alabama K-12Jobs - Educator jobs worldwide NationJob - Employment opportunities in the education field National Center for Education Statistics School Locator SchoolSpring.com - Employment source for educators School Staffing Company - The Education Career Company Tennessee Department of Education Jobs - Tennessee Department of Education TeacherJobs.com - Educational Placement Service TeachGeorgia.org - Georgia's official teacher recruiting web site Teachinflorida.com - Florida Dept of Education Teachingjobs.com - Matching teacher candidates with job openings JOB OUTLOOK BY OCCUPATIONS Fastest Growing National - U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics Largest Growth National - U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics State of Alabama - select occupation and click on Future Employment Outlook Additional State of Alabama - Go to occupation of interest, links arranged alphabetically. Alabama Metro Areas - Choose area, click on all occupations, click on desired occupation, click on Future Employment Outlook 2004-05 National Occupational Outlook Handbook - U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics Career Exploration Guide - Alabama Department of Industrial Relations Labor Market Information Division Alabama Occupational Projections (Table Form) - Alabama Department of Industrial Relations
Second Career as a Paralegal? I am currently taking a 45 week on-line Paralegal Certification program at my wife’s urgings who herself is an attorney. I’ve helped her on many occasions with document retrieval from those massive red weld files and gleaning information for her off of the web. However I do not know which field of law would be optimal for me to pursue I have a very technical and project management background and I’m interested to know what type of law or company a newly certified paralegal would be a shoo in. Physical Security 6 Years: Currently manage a staff of 16 Security Officers for payroll, training and discipline. Responsible for creating and keeping current all Post Orders, I perform investigations by correlating access records, recorded video / voice and personal interviews. Submit findings by way of written Incident Reports. Also created a number of MS Access databases to track parking infractions, unsecured laptops and key control. I also maintain all security surveillance equipment and software. Telecom 20+ Years: Managed contractors union & non union and equipment vendors. Submitted applications for collocation space and connectivity with the ILEC’s (Incumbent Local Exchange Carriers i.e. Verizon). Prepared Statements of Work, Requests for Proposals, Method of Procedures and Bill of Material documentation. Created and distributed Installation Standards, Procedures and Field Service Alerts, also created curriculum for MFS’s New York Training Center. Was the subject matter expert giving testimony before the Washington State Public Utilities and the FCC, challenging US West collocations policies. Lived and worked in Tokyo Japan as Operations Manager. I supported distributors in the Far East with sales, technical, installation and operational support. Serve as a Section Delegate for Local 827 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.
Some of you wanted to know how illegals affect us? personally???? Here is ONE example!!!!!!!!!!!!! Catastrophe in Care Hospitals are being crippled by the costs of treating migrants--and that could be just the start of an immigrant-related health crisis By LEO W. BANKS Leo W. Banks One of the many signs on the Naco Highway. Leo W. Banks "It's not unusual to have one UDA (undocumented alien) cost $5,000, and we know we're not going to get that back," says Josie Mincher, emergency room manager at Copper Queen Hospital. Leo W. Banks "Until we have comprehensive immigration reform, we need to bear the health-care costs for undocumented workers, whatever those costs are," says Rev. Tom Buechele. If you drive along Southern Arizona's border with Mexico long enough, you might see a lone illegal wandering the desert. Or maybe he's hunched at the roadside sipping water from his milk jug. What's he doing there, and where are his compatriots, the people he broke into the country with? The uninformed might ask those questions, but those who live with the daily invasion across our open borders can make a pretty good guess what's happening. The fellow got bounced from his group by the coyote-guide. Two transgressions will get an illegal cut loose with certainty: Either he can't pay, or he shows signs of tuberculosis. You think these coyotes are fools? They don't want some hollow-eyed lunger hacking and coughing blood on them. So it's adios, pal, and now you're America's problem. But they know that already. Every illegal realizes that if he makes it to an emergency room in Southern Arizona, or anywhere around the country for that matter, he can get treatment, free of charge. It's federal law, and has been for 20 years. In its evolution, the policy has become a kind of federal health insurance program for illegals, and its rising costs are eating up resources that could otherwise go to poor and uninsured American citizens. It has created a financial nightmare for border hospitals and contributed to cutbacks in services at Tucson hospitals. Is this an outrage? A scandal? Some think it's both. But going back to our active TB sufferer, here's something even worse: The guy can't get treatment anywhere, goes underground and takes a job at a restaurant in Tucson or L.A., and coughs his way to infecting scores of others. Talk about a Hobson's choice. But as with everything in the ongoing crisis of illegal immigration, the hard choices would largely evaporate if the federal government fulfilled its constitutional duty and took control of our border. The threat illegal immigration poses to American public health plays out every day at Arizona's hospitals. Until recently, the issue remained only marginally public, a problem medical people batted around among themselves, not with the media. Even today, several hospitals contacted for this story declined comment. The Copper Queen Hospital in Bisbee, one of the hardest hit, helped break that barrier when CEO Jim Dickson began returning reporters' calls, even though the subject, as he puts it, has become "like the third rail. You don't want to touch it." But his problem had grown severe. Dickson's uncompensated costs for treating illegals rose from $35,000 in 1999 to $450,000 in 2004. His total shortfall now sits at about $1.4 million, a hefty deficit for a 14-bed hospital. To make ends meet, he had to close, in June 2000, the Copper Queen's long-term care facility, and cut back on staff and hours, forcing some employees to take second jobs to survive. The hospital has seen a ray of light, however. In the first months of 2005, the Copper Queen has gone back into surplus, in part because more illegals are in Border Patrol custody when brought in to the hospital. That means the Border Patrol must reimburse the Queen for the cost. In the past, agents would drop injured illegals not in their custody at the ER and take off, sticking the hospital with bills that never got paid. Another reason for the decrease, says Dickson: the Minuteman Project. "It's been terrific for us in April," he says, cutting down on the number of people coming across and therefore the number requiring ER treatment. Dickson says the hospital wrote off about $6,000 in losses in April this year, compared to about $35,000 in April 2004. The central issue, though, remains in place--the hospital has had to scale back health services to American citizens to treat illegals. Bisbee isn't alone. The most comprehensive study on the subject found that 24 counties in four states bordering Mexico wracked up $190 million in unpaid emergency medical bills caring for illegals in the year 2000. The study, commissioned by the U.S.-Mexico Border Counties Coalition, found that California spent $79 million of that; Texas, $74 million; Arizona, $31 million; and New Mexico, $6 million. Bear in mind that these numbers, the best available, are from 2000. We can assume, with increasing rates of crossings since then, the costs are considerably higher today. Nor do the above figures take into account non-border counties. Treating illegals in Maricopa County costs as much as $50 million a year, according to an estimate used by Republican Sen. Jon Kyl. Nationally, American hospitals lose $1.45 billion a year. The Medicare reform bill passed in 2003 allocated $1 billion to reimburse states for federally mandated ER care given to illegals--about $45 million a year of that to come to Arizona over four years. But even that, some hospital staffers say, is little more than a Band-Aid on a huge problem. Ruth Kish, director of patient care services at Copper Queen, expects that under the repayment formula, her hospital will receive only 10 cents of every dollar they spend on illegals. "But every bit helps," says Kish. Another factor: The counties in the above-mentioned study spent an additional $13 million in 2000 on emergency transportation, such as helicopters and ambulances, to pick up illegals injured after sneaking across the line. The Bisbee Fire Department's ambulance responds to about one of these calls a day during the summer, says Chief Jack Earnest. Asked how many of these patients pay up, Earnest wasn't sure, and recommended contacting the billing office in Sierra Vista. The billing office knew exactly how often illegals pay their ambulance bills--never. But there's another category--Mexicans injured in Mexico who call American ambulances for help. By federal law, they have to respond, which makes Bisbee's Copper Queen the trauma center of choice for Sonora's northern frontier. The calls come from Naco, Sonora, the town across the line just south of Bisbee, where, in spite of widespread poverty, cell phones are popular, and everybody knows the Americans are bound by law to treat them. "When we get a call we go, and we don't ask where the person's from," says Earnest. Naco residents needing care go to the port of entry and declare an emergency to American officials. When they're waved through, they're transported to the Copper Queen's ER in Bisbee's ambulance, or they drive themselves in private cars. The policy is called Compassionate Entry, and it applies to hospitals up and down the line. The Copper Queen averages about five such cases a month. Some abuse the privilege, says ER Manager Josie Mincher. She's seen Compassionate Entries with bad sore throats and others who aren't sick at all. One pregnant girl landed in the ER recently complaining of morning sickness. Most are seriously sick, though, and the staff rushes to help, "because that's what we do," says Mincher. But it doesn't take much to blow the budget. "Just walking in the door is $400," says Mincher. "It's not unusual to have one UDA (undocumented alien) cost $5,000, and we know we're not going to get that back. We're playing with monopoly money here." Here's an example of how one patient can wrack up a huge bill: A young Mexican man had a bad auto accident across the line and was taken to Douglas' Southeast Arizona Medical Center with severe neurological problems. After being stabilized there, he was transferred to Barrow's Neurological Center in Phoenix. He spent a costly month there, courtesy of the Center, and was transferred--with a tracheotomy tube in his throat and supplies to clean it, also provided gratis by Barrow's--to a hospital in Hermosillo. That facility kept him less than a day before releasing him to his home in Naco. But for reasons no one can explain, the Hermosillo hospital kept his trach kit and cleaning supplies. As a result, he became septic--a bad infection--and came through the Naco port under Compassionate Entry to the Copper Queen. He spent three days there, then the staff sent him off, with more free supplies, to a clinic in Agua Prieta for continued care. How much did this fellow cost the American health care system? A figure of a quarter-million dollars would surprise no one. Cost to the Copper Queen? Almost $6,000, and they got none of it back. Northern Cochise Community Hospital is in Willcox, far enough from the border that it doesn't get patients crossing the line for health care. But that doesn't mean it escapes the invasion. CEO Chris Cronberg loses about $100,000 a year caring for illegals, mostly those injured in traffic accidents when their loaded vehicle flips while speeding north. "It's not make or break for us," says Cronberg. "But as a small hospital, we depend on cash, and those are dollars that aren't coming in, so it has an impact." The same is true at Sierra Vista Regional Health Center, according to Vice President Marie Wurth. She expects the hospital to lose $250,000 this year treating those who jump the line, get hurt doing it and don't pay their bills. The big squeeze is on in Tucson, too. Tucson Medical Center loses an estimated $4 million every year treating illegals. The corresponding figure at UMC, which includes some foreign nationals, was $3.5 million for fiscal 2004, a $2 million increase from the previous year. Part of that is attributable to UMC, in July 2003, becoming Tucson's only Level One trauma center, meaning it saw the most serious cases. Chief Financial Officer Kevin Burns says the hospital's re-payment rate for treating illegals is about 5 cents on the dollar. "It's very expensive for us and continues to grow," says Burns, who says many illegals, as well as uninsured Americans, use his ER like a primary care physician. "We hear anecdotally that people come here from across the border because they know they can get cared for, and if they present at the ER, they can get that care at no cost." The federal law that put the hospitals on the hook for the medical bills of illegals goes by the acronym EMTALA--Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act. It says that anybody who shows up in an ER must get screened, treated and stabilized, regardless of citizenship or ability to pay. But since its passage in 1985, the definition of emergency has evolved to include just about anything, and because Congress didn't fund the requirement, hospitals have had to eat the costs as word has spread that the federal goodie wagon is parked at the ER door. In cities with huge illegal populations, such as Los Angeles, the effects have been disastrous. In its spring 2005 issue, the Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons reported that between 1993 and 2003, 60 California hospitals closed because, for several reasons including EMTALA, half of their services became unpaid. Another 24 are near closing, says author Madeleine Pelner Cosman. She also writes that in 1983, before EMTALA, L.A. County put together a trauma network that was "one of America's finest emergency med response organizations." A mere 22 years later--again, in part because of EMTALA--Cosman says the system is coming apart, with most trauma hospitals having left the network, along with physicians, surgeons and others. The law has caused a similar situation in Tucson, on a smaller scale. "With EMTALA, the government created an unfunded national health insurance program, and it has caused real problems in this community," says Dr. Herb McReynolds, who works for a company that manages the ER department for St. Mary's Hospital, which treats a large number of illegals. Lawmakers wrote the legislation to prevent patient dumping--in which one hospital refuses to accept, say, an uninsured woman in labor, telling ambulance personnel to take her to the county hospital instead. It stopped that practice. But it has caused a big increase in the amount of un-reimbursed care that hospitals provide, and in McReynolds' words, "made physicians rethink their careers and lifestyles." "The price of it has come over time, because after so much uncompensated care, it forces physicians off our call list," says McReynolds. "Physicians have a practice to go to the next day and a family, and ask themselves, do I really want to be up at 2 a.m. providing care when I won't get comp, and I can still get sued?" Some docs have removed themselves from on-call lists by going to work at outpatient surgical centers not affiliated with a hospital. Others stay on call, but limit the amount of time they're available. A neurosurgeon might take call one day a week, and that satisfies the law. EMTALA says that you must provide a reasonable amount of coverage, without being strict or specific about how much that is. McReynolds says that EMTALA--in tandem with the malpractice crisis--has caused the loss of medical coverage at many hospitals around the country and in Tucson, including St. Mary's. "Several years ago we had five neurosurgeons on staff here, and now we have two," he says. "We had hand surgery coverage every day, and now we have it one week a month. We used to have full ob-gyn coverage, and now they've left and gone to TMC. We have no ob-gyn and one gynecologist on staff covering emergencies one day a week." With docs all over Tucson running for cover, trying to stay off call and away from ERs, the variety of emergency health care available to Tucsonans has seriously diminished. And here's the most maddening irony of all: The feds now reimburse American hospitals for treating non-paying illegals, but not for treating American citizens. Exception: Those eligible for care under Federal Emergency Services, a fairly restrictive program. For a year and a half now, UMC has approached non-paying illegals in a novel way--it actually reports them to immigration officials. "Some people find that cold, but we have a responsibility to protect this charitable asset (hospital)," says CFO Burns, adding that UMC's status as a public entity requires a different approach. "Our belief is that to the extent people have ability to pay, we expect them to." After triaging and stabilizing an ER patient, the hospital sets out to learn who that patient is, and how he or she plans to pay. To those who are uninsured and underinsured, the hospital offers the option of applying for its innovative Charity Care program. Under it, the hospital charges the patient the same rate it would receive for that service from Medicare, a possible reduction of up to 70 percent. Patients unable to pay at that discounted rate are eligible for further discounts that can tear up the bill entirely. To apply for Charity Care, the patient need only return to the hospital with a W-2 or other documents. Those who cooperate and return with the required documents don't get reported to the feds. But the hospital does report those who take the medical care and run. How many illegals cooperate with this generous offer? Ten percent. Burns says UMC began reporting the 90 percent who don't pay in November of 2003. So far, they've reported 565 persons. Why start reporting? "Maybe a bit of it was born of frustration because people use our resources and make no effort to work with us and pay," he says. "Even if part of the population doesn't pay, I still have to hire new people and buy and upgrade equipment, which costs $15-$20 million a year. When you have these strains on resources, from foreign citizens and as well as Medicaid patients, you have to manage cash flow very carefully." As with most issues related to the illegal invasion, those who live along the Mexican border, the scene of the crime, have the best view. Where health issues are concerned, it's not a pretty sight. Residents say they've come across ground dotted with discarded pills, syringes containing nobody knows what, and used needles. Some report riding horses along creek beds, popular pull-up areas for groups heading north, and finding 70 or 80 piles of human feces, some of it blackened and running with blood. It's as disgraceful as it is disgusting--and it raises a question: What happens when rain washes all this into the water supply? Is it a threat to spread diseases such as hepatitis? Some believe it might be. What happens when cows drink from these contaminated creeks? And what happens when this constant flow of Third World humanity goes north, fanning out all across Arizona and the country? What kind of diseases do they bring with them? ER workers like Mincher live with that question every day. "We protect ourselves best we can," she says, "but if somebody comes in with a contagious disease, I might as well buy the farm, because I don't know what it is. A lot of times, they don't know what they have either. If they came off a ranch in southern Mexico, they've had no immunizations, no health care, nothing." Most of what she sees at Copper Queen--around 75 percent--is orthopedic, falls suffered while jumping fences, for instance. Dehydration, too. Some of these are pregnant women nine months along, who, in Mincher's words, "are so desperate to have their babies born in the U.S., they'll do whatever it takes." She sees cardiac-related cases among illegals who've been given crack, methamphetamine or speed by their coyote so they can keep walking. But she's also treated illegals with active chicken pox, tuberculosis, all varieties of hepatitis and AIDS. The Web and print media are full of stories about the diseases illegals carry, and their effect on American health. But some writers make alarming claims with sketchy evidence at best. In the cases of two diseases, however--Chagas and tuberculosis--the evidence is clearer that they're indeed coming across our border. Chagas, a potentially fatal illness spread by contact with the feces of the reduviid bug, called the "kissing bug," is prevalent in South and Central America. Fifteen million people in that region are infected with the parasite, and 50,000 die of it every year, according to the World Health Organization. A person can be infected for 10 or 20 years or more before showing symptoms, making it particularly insidious. At its most severe, the disease can cause the heart to fail, and literally explode. In the United States? Louis Kirchhoff, of the University of Iowa Medical School, estimates that between 80,000 and 120,000 Latin Americans with Chagas live here. Matching prevalence studies and immigration numbers, Kirchhoff figures about 10 Chagas-infected persons entered every day from Mexico alone in the 1990s. The disease can be transmitted four ways, but for Americans, the most worrisome is the blood supply. In the United States overall, the chance of contracting Chagas from a blood transfusion is small, one in 25,000, according to David Leiby, a research scientist at the American Red Cross in Washington. But in cities with high populations from Latin America, the numbers fall to much riskier levels. In Miami, for example, the chance is one on 9,000. In L.A., 1 in 5,400. Researchers have confirmed seven cases of people contracting Chagas through blood transfusions--five in the U.S., two in Canada--and they say the number of unknown cases is probably much higher. "A rate of one in 5,400 is something we're concerned about," says Leiby, adding that the FDA is still a few years away from a useable blood-screening test. "Chagas is overlooked by the health care system in the United States. Our physicians aren't aware of it and wouldn't recognize it in most cases." Tuberculosis, which also shows up in high rates in Mexico, is migrating north as well. Many assume a place like Cochise County, right on the border and overrun by illegals, would have a high incidence of TB. But it doesn't, says Edith Sampson, of the Cochise County Health Department. "The immigrants only pass through here on the way to Atlanta, or whatever city they're going to," she says. Exactly the problem--which is a big reason why 53 percent of the TB in the United States in 2003 was among foreign-born persons, up from 29 percent in 1993, according to the Centers for Disease Control. In L.A., again because of its huge illegal population, the figure is closer to 80 percent. Only 15,000 Americans suffer from active TB, the only dangerous kind because it can be passed to someone else, usually by coughing and expelling the bacteria from the throat or lungs. That's a small number, but the New York Academy of Sciences estimates that each victim will "infect 10 or 20 or more people--in whom the disease will likely remain latent, creating the potential time-bomb effect." The State Health Department says that Arizona had 295 reported cases of active TB in 2003, a jump from the previous year. Why the increase? More of the disease was found among kids under 5 years old and prisoners. The latter were mostly Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainees--in other words, illegals. Sixty-eight percent of Arizona's foreign-born TB cases are from Mexico, says state health. Will TB return to the United States in a big way? It hasn't yet, says Lee Reichman, executive director of the New Jersey Medical School's National Tuberculosis Center. But he adds that with globalization--the ability to get around the world in 20 hours--and because "we can't stop people from getting in to this country, no matter how hard we try," the potential exists for a new epidemic. His particular concern is with multi-drug-resistant TB, fatal in 60 percent of cases. This strain requires a long regimen of costly drugs that illegals are unlikely to take, or have access to. Arizona has a small number of MDR-TB cases, and all of them in the past five years have been among foreign-born persons. "The reason you haven't heard about TB here is that good public health is working," says Reichman. "People who are symptomatic go to physicians, and the physicians don't ask questions. As soon as you have to ID yourself, or say we're going to send you back to Mexico, these people go into hiding and spread more TB. Any physician who cares about being a physician isn't going to ask those questions, because he took an oath to treat sick people." The Copper Queen's Rush Kish says that under Medicare reimbursement guides, her hospital cannot ask patients if they are in the country illegally. But how do you bill the feds to get money back for treating illegals if you can't ask if someone is illegal? Well, you play a little Orwellian word game, probing around the issue with a list of government-approved questions, then make educated assumptions. But the illegal holds the trump card, because he can refuse to answer every question. "We don't know yet what evidence Medicare will accept when we apply for reimbursement," says Kish. "But at least we can begin documenting the enormity of this problem." The question isn't whether those with genuine emergencies should get treatment. Of course they should. In Naco, residents have no access to ER care and many would die if they didn't get to the Copper Queen. The real question is: Who pays? Rev. Tom Buechele, pastor at St. John's Episcopal Church in Bisbee, thinks it's appropriate for the federal government to keep ponying up, as long as American companies "maintain their illegal trafficking in human labor." "Until we have comprehensive immigration reform, we need to bear the health-care costs for undocumented workers, whatever those costs are," says Buechele, who, for almost a year now, has been running a free monthly clinic in Naco, Arizona, catering to the poor and uninsured on both sides of the line. Although they talk a different language, politicians, even Republicans, promote policies that further Buechele's liberal vision. They boast to constituents that they've saved border hospitals by pushing through the Medicare reimbursement plan, which provides a relatively small amount of money over four years. But that's another Hobson's choice, which is to say no choice at all. What do you do, let hospitals go under? Kyl, who pushed to get the reimbursement money, says an emphatic no. "If we want those ERs to be there for us, then we'd better keep them in business," says the Arizona senator. "If our hospitals are required by federal law to treat anybody who comes into the ER, and the federal government has failed to control the border, then it's appropriate for the government to reimburse these hospitals." But some argue that the system as it stands now, with EMTALA firmly in place, is rigged to produce two results: The federal treasury will remain wide open to illegals, and that all but guarantees that more and more of them will bust the line to get here. After all, this is the end of the rainbow for them, where jobs await, education is free, health care is free. Who wouldn't come? And the more they come, the more American health suffers--from such diseases as Chagas and TB, further cutbacks in hospital services to American citizens, and even possible closures. Where's the compassion in that? Copper Queen ER nurse Josie Mincher, herself Hispanic, puts her health, and possibly her life, on the line to treat illegals. Listen to the emotion in her voice as she describes what that's like: "I go to work every day feeling like I'm on a torture wrack. My heartstrings get pulled in one direction by these sick people I want to help. Because I'm Hispanic, I know how they live. And I'm pulled in the other direction, too, thinking that if our hospitals aren't around, where do I take my own kids? "But we have to treat them because of EMTALA. It says that anybody who comes within 250 yards of an ER gets treatment. What would happen to Safeway if the law said anyone who comes within 250 yards of the store gets free food? They'd go out of business. Well, we're a business, too." Mincher's solution? "Send the bills to Mexico. If it affected them financially, they might do something about all these people coming across. My grandparents came here legally, and it took a long time and a lot of money. They respected the law. These people just walk across now. They weren't brought up the same way." Burns at UMC says he wants the U.S. and Mexican governments to work together to find a solution. But, as Kyl cautions, don't expect any breakthrough soon. Mexico benefits far too much from our illegal immigration nightmare--in jobs for its citizens and cash sent home--to step up with money to care for its own people. Until the border brought under control and the invasion stopped, we'll continue to pay the bills of people who illegally tiptoed across the line in the dead of night. This is an article from the Arizona Repuiblic newspaper, NOT something i "made up"!!!! If you don't believe me, LOOK IT UP FOR YOURSELF!!! It's on-line, if you look under Copper Queen hospital!!! And for those of you that can not take the time to READ this article, i can SEE why you are so UNINFORMED on this issue!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
What does this say about citizens rights? Pathetic? Advertisements Thursday, August 16, 2007Weather | Jobs | Cars | Real Estate | Apartments | Shopping | Classifieds | PressPix | Calendar | EZClassifieds Back Issues: Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Today Subscribe Now! Customer Service E-mail Alerts Contact Us Search the Jersey Shore: « what is this? SPONSORED By About the APP.com Search Bar Shop for a car. Look for a job. Find a local business. Locate an event. Find www.app.com stories from the past week as well as calendar events, classifieds, advertisements, Yellow Page listings, local Web sites and more – all in one search. STORY ARCHIVE FRONT PAGE NEWS NATION / WORLD SPORTS FISHING & BOATING OBITUARIES OPINION BUSINESS ENTERTAINMENT JERSEY LIFE COMMUNITIES FORUMS JERSEY SHORE TRAVEL TROUBLE SHOOTER MULTIMEDIA TECHNOLOGY PHOTOGRAPHY STAFF BLOGS PUBLICATIONS NJ Lottery JOB OPENINGS • Work for Us • Earn $800/mo. CONTESTS • Reader Rewards EDUCATION • Newspaper in Education Program MERCHANDISE • Newspaper Store MARKETPLACE • Fishing & Boating • Restaurants READERS' CHOICE • Best of 2006 ADVERTISING • Advertising Services LISTINGS • Straight from the Heart • Vacation Rentals • Submit Club/Bar Schedules • Bars, Bands & Clubs • Things to Do • Weddings • Engagements • Anniversaries • Celebrations • Dating • Births • In Remembrance and Thank You's GANNETT NJ NEWSPAPERS • Asbury Park Press • Gannett State Bureau • Courier News • Courier-Post • The Daily Journal • Daily Record • Home News Tribune • Ocean County Observer • Times Beacon Newspapers • Other Gannett Newspapers Advertisement Text Size:|| E-mail Print Subscribe E-mail Alerts Anti-alien protest in Lakewood called off Organizer cites safety concerns Posted by the Asbury Park Press on 08/16/07 BY ZACH PATBERG TOMS RIVER BUREAU LAKEWOOD — The organizer of a scheduled rally against illegal immigration has canceled the event, deciding there was not enough security to protect the crowd and speakers. Diane Reeves of Lakewood, who planned the protest for Aug. 25 at the town square on Clifton Avenue, pointed to rumors that such gangs as MS 13 and the Latin Kings, as well as some out-of-town militant groups, would disrupt the rally. That, coupled with the conflict that occurred at a similar protest last month in Morristown, convinced Reeves that the handful of officers Police Chief Robert Lawson promised to provide would not be enough protection. "I was nervous that if something happened, what were we supposed to do?" Reeves said. She and other rally supporters voiced resentment that the township had not agreed to assign more members of its 125-strong police force. They pointed to Morristown, which supplied a strong police presence at the protest over the same issue in late July. Five people were ar-rested and two were slightly injured at that event. "I was very upset when I heard," said Carmen Morales, vice chairwoman of the advocacy group You Don't Speak For Me, who was supposed to speak at the rally. "I feel Lakewood is like a sanctuary for illegal immigrants . . . and (the police) seem to protect them." Officials relieved Mayor Raymond Coles stressed that the Morristown rally was municipally sponsored, as opposed to the privately organized one in Lakewood. Lawson said he could not justify taking more officers off patrol duty, and the township could not afford the overtime. Beyond that, Coles and Lawson agreed with Reeves' decision to cancel. "I'm relieved," Lawson said. "Lakewood has a large number of undocumented residents . . . and now you're going to have a group in the center of town speaking out against illegal aliens. So it's possible there'd be friction between the two factions that could lead to confrontation." Coles said, "This is a very emotional, heated issue and bringing two very emotional groups together might cause problems." Estimates of the number of illegal immigrants in Lakewood range from 5,000 to 20,000. A 2006 estimate by the U.S. Census bureau put the township's population at almost 70,000. Lawson added that it was common for organizers to pay for off-duty police officers as protection at rallies. The Lakewood rally was expected to draw up to 500 people and was to have five speakers, including two family members of victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. Reeves, who has never organized a rally before, now plans to find an indoor venue in another town to hold the protest, saying that since the cancellation she has heard from angry supporters offering contributions toward the cost of a demonstration. "Look at the 100,000 illegals getting protection to march down the street everywhere else," she said. "But me, a citizen, has no right because of safety issues." Zach Patberg: (732) 557-5739 or zpatberg@app.com Text Size:|| E-mail Print Subscribe E-mail Alerts Related news from the Web Latest headlines by topic: • Immigration Reform Powered by Topix.net Advertisements -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ADVERTISING MGR- No ADVERTISING MGR- No. Jersey Media group ... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DRIVER delivery of auto glass DRIVER delivery of auto glass. 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Why do all of these high level officials question the events of 9/11? Current U.S. Senator states "The two questions that the congress will not ask . . . is why did 9/11 happen on George Bush's watch when he had clear warnings that it was going to happen? Why did they allow it to happen?" Current Republican Congressman states that "we see the [9/11] investigations that have been done so far as more or less cover-up and no real explanation of what went on" Current Democratic Congressman hints that we aren't being told the truth about 9/11 Former U.S. Republican Congressman and senior member of the House Armed Services Committee, and who served six years as the Chairman of the Military Research and Development Subcommittee, has shown that the U.S. tracked hijackers before 9/11, is open to hearing information about explosives in the Twin Towers, and is open to the possibility that 9/11 was an inside job Former Democratic Senator states that he supports a new 9/11 investigation and that we don't know the truth about 9/11 Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense under President Ronald Reagan said that the official story of 9/11 is "the dog that doesn't hunt" (if you suspect he is a closet liberal, take a look at his bio) Former director of the U.S. "Star Wars" space defense program in both Republican and Democratic administrations, who was a senior air force colonel who flew 101 combat missions, and who is a Catholic Archbishop stated that 9/11 was an inside job (he also said "If our government had merely done nothing, and allowed normal procedures to happen on that morning of 9/11, the twin towers would still be standing, and thousands of dead Americans would still be alive. [T]hat is treason") Former U.S. Army Air Defense Officer and NORAD Tac Director, decorated with the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star and the Soldiers Medal stated that "there is no way that an aircraft . . . would not be intercepted when they deviate from their flight plan, turn off their transponders, or stop communication with Air Traffic Control ... Attempts to obscure facts by calling them a 'conspiracy Theory' does not change the truth. It seems, 'Something is rotten in the State.'" Former 20-year Marine Corps infantry and intelligence officer, the second-ranking civilian in U.S. Marine Corps Intelligence, and former CIA clandestine services case officer stated that "9/11 was at a minimum allowed to happen as a pretext for war", and it was probably an inside job (see Customer Review dated October 7, 2006). Former high-ranking Reagan official and very influential conservative doubts the official story about 9/11 Former Two-Star general questions the attack on the Pentagon Former Air Force Colonel and key Pentagon official finds various aspects of 9/11 suspicious Former President of the U.S. Air Force Accident Investigation Board, who also served as Pentagon Weapons Requirement Officer and as a member of the Pentagon's Quadrennial Defense Review, and who was awarded Distinguish Flying Crosses for Heroism, four Air Medals, four Meritorious Service Medals, and nine Aerial Achievement Medals, is a member of a group which doubts the government's version of 9/11 Current U.S. Congresswoman, former senior CIA analyst, former Deputy Secretary for Intelligence and Warning under Nixon, Ford, and Carter, former US Ambassador and Chief of Mission to Iraq, former Deputy Director to the White House Task Force on Terrorism, and former US Department of State Foreign Service Officer (as well as a who's who of liberals and independents) jointly call for a new investigation into 9/11 Pentagon Papers whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg said that some of the claims concerning government involvement in 9/11 are credible, that "very serious questions have been raised about what they [U.S. government officials] knew beforehand and how much involvement there might have been", that engineering 9/11 would not be humanly or psychologically beyond the scope of the current administration, and that there's enough evidence to justify a new, "hard-hitting" investigation into 9/11 with subpoenas and testimony taken under oath Former FBI translator, who the Department of Justice's Inspector General and several senators have called extremely credible (free subscription required), said "If they were to do real investigations we would see several significant high level criminal prosecutions in this country. And that is something that they are not going to let out. And, believe me; they will do everything to cover this up". She also is leaning towards the conclusion that 9/11 was an inside job A 28-year career CIA official says 9/11 was an inside job A retired 27-year CIA analyst who prepared and presented Presidential Daily Briefs and served as a high-level analyst for several presidents stated that there are indications that Cheney ordered a stand down of the military on 9/11 Former FBI agent says "The FBI, rather than trying to prevent a terrorist attack, was merely gathering intelligence so they would know who to arrest when a terrorist attack occurred." Former air traffic controller, who knows the flight corridor which the two planes which hit the Twin Towers flew "like the back of my hand" and who handled two actual hijackings says that 9/11 could not have occurred as the government says, and that planes can be tracked on radar even when their transponders are turned off (also, listen to this interview) Former 6-year Inspector General, U.S. Department of Transportation and former Professor of Aviation, Dept. of Aerospace Engineering and Aviation says "the [9/11] commission is clearly not talking to everybody or not telling us everything .... Huge discrepancies persist in basic facts .... when we heard the carriers and governments alike saying, “Oh, no one could have foreseen this. No one knew that this was coming. No one knew that there was any risk like this in the world,” is absolutely false.... The Group Director on matters of national security in the U.S. Government Accountability Office said that President Bush did not respond to unprecedented warnings of the 9/11 disaster and conducted a massive cover-up instead of accepting responsibility Former ambassador to Iraq is not satisfied with the official story Numerous high-level legal scholars question the official version of 9/11. As do numerous military leaders. And many officials from allied governments have also questioned 9/11: Statement by former President of Italy Statements by former German Defense Minister and current member of British Parliament Statement by former Canadian Minister of Defense Statements of two former MI5 (British intelligence) agents (19 minutes into video) Statement of a high-ranking general and the former chief of NATO regarding bombs in the Twin Towers (in Danish) Statement by the commander-in-chief of the Russian Air Force; and see also statement of former chief of staff of the Russian armed forces
Is Michael Moore is a Sicko ?? Michael Moore Is a Sicko by Sumit Dahiya by Sumit Dahiya DIGG THIS I want to tell the story of a young man who was attending a Southern University, a few years ago. During his freshman year he was sick with appendicitis, which he misdiagnosed as regular stomach ache for a day. As the agony grew unbearable, he was taken to the regional hospital in an ambulance. That night the doctors operated on his appendix. The young man was feeling better the next day. As he prepared to leave, the hospital’s representative took care of the paperwork by the side of his bed. His Insurance Company took care of the medical bills in accordance with his Insurance contract. The next day the young man was back to school. The Insurance Company saved the student from potential bankruptcy who was living on limited means as a college student. The young man was none other than me. The year was 2002. To this day I praise my good fortune that I was insured. Had I not been insured, I would have gone broke and I would have never been able to make it through college. But, Michael Moore did not bother to find countless stories like mine to present a fair synopsis of the American health-care system. Biased, unfair, hateful, venomous and anti-free-market is how I would describe Michael Moore’s latest propaganda film Sicko. When I first heard about Michael Moore’s intention to make a film on health-care in America, I was expecting a sequel for Supersize Me, considering his not so healthy lifestyle. Later on I found out that the film was about the state of health-care in America. Mr. Moore was upset at the way the Government has turned health-care into a fiasco, while turning a blind eye towards his socialist co-ideologues in Congress and State Legislatures who have turned the environment for the health-care providers of America into a hostile one by the means of populist legislation and frivolous lawsuits. As a Libertarian leaning paleo-conservative, I have always known how the Government just destroys anything that it can get its hands on. If you let the Government dog-sit your cute little puppy, don't be surprised if it sucks the puppy's blood by the time you are back. That’s what successive Government regimes have done to America. They sucked the blood out of this idea that was supposed to promote life liberty and the pursuit of happiness. They started with the destruction of the constitution, followed by the destruction of the Republic. When there was nothing left to destroy at the Federal level, they stomped all over the States’ rights by refusing the Southern States their right to secede. The only institution that was left untouched all along; the Supreme Court of the land, was destroyed by being stuffed with partisan judges who have repeatedly stressed on their loyalty for their party rather than showing any loyalty for the constitution that they swore to defend. Destruction is what the Government is good at. Whether it is the destruction of civilization during wartime or it is the destruction of civil-rights during peace time, destruction of health-care in America is just another accomplishment of our Government. Michael Moore managed to find ten people across America who got "screwed" by their Insurance companies. Why should I be surprised considering the troll's leftist leanings that he could not find even one individual in this country of 300 million who owes a lot to the health-care providers and Insurance companies which were by his or her side during their tragic moments. While the commies in the movie hall felt angry about the "greedy corporations," I thought it was really stupid of the man who had his fingers chopped off on an electric saw for not having an Insurance policy. You buy a house to shelter your family. You buy food to keep your body functioning. You buy other good things to improve your life. So, what kind of dunce would trust the Government with his or her health, which is the most important thing in our lives? How about the chick who did not care about reading through the fine print of her Insurance policy, so that she knew that she may not have access to certain services through her insurer. So, why was she surprised when her Insurance company refused to reimburse her for the Ambulance ride to the hospital? When she signed on her Insurance contract that did not provide for an Ambulance service, the Insurance company was right to assume that their client was willing to take the responsibility of commuting to a hospital when in time of need. Otherwise, she was always free to choose an Insurance contract that did provide for Ambulance services. There was another sob story of an elderly couple who were bankrupted by the rising cost of their prescription drugs. They should have explored their other option. How about purchasing the prescriptions online? Last year I was smitten by steroids. Now, I place my hands on this holy computer that connects me to the world, that I have never consumed any quantity of any substance that was never approved by the goons at FDA. But, just out of curiosity, I looked into the possibilities of sourcing those magic pills that could give me a dynamite physique which would make the ladies go jelly in their knees. There are virtually thousands of online pharmacies that fill your prescriptions for a fraction of what you would pay at your local store. However, I do agree that Pharmaceuticals are an entirely different problem in America. A couple of years ago, I was listening to the Late Great Harry Browne’s radio interview with Marry Ruwart (download the show by right-clicking here and here). Miss Ruwart who has been in the Pharmaceuticals industry for a long time mentioned some of the Government-inflicted problems that the industry faces. While Mr. Moore was quick to mention that 18,000 people die in America every year because of no or little health-care coverage, he failed to mention that an even greater number of people die in America every year because the FDA either refuses to approve or takes a decade to approve badly needed drugs. This is on the top of the billions of dollars that the industry spends to research and develop life-saving drugs. One must not forget that it takes entire careers that span over several decades to develop a drug that saves thousands of lives around the world. While the Government literally throws our hard-earned tax money into the furnace by spending over a trillion dollars every year to develop weapon systems that cause mass-destruction and extinguish thousands of lives, we should have anything but disgust for the Pharmaceutical companies that spend billions of dollars every year to develop cures for illnesses that indiscriminately destroy human lives across the globe. They expend their own limited resources for their work in contradiction of our Government that extracts money from us at the point of a gun. If they fail, they don’t impose any cost on the society. If they succeed, the consumers are free to buy or avoid their products. That’s the beauty of free markets. I am not surprised that drugs are so expensive in America. The retail price of the drugs takes into account the decades it takes to develop the product and another decade it takes to get an FDA approval. It takes into account the cost of developing other drugs that never saw the light of the day because FDA disapproved them; as if the Government really cares whether we live or die. The cost takes into account the efforts of the company to be the first to come up with the drug. The costs further include the fact that there are investors who risk losing their hard-earned money by investing in a risky venture that does not guarantee profits. I wonder why the woman who went to Cuba with Michael Moore was so surprised when she found out that generic versions of American drugs cost a fraction of what they cost in America. The communist Government of Cuba does not have to worry about FDA regulation, billions of dollars in research and development costs and the risks that accompany investing the billions of dollars. The communist Government of Cuba also does not have to assume the liability of litigation that accompanies the risk of doing business in a free market. In the movie, Michael Moore interviewed Che Guevara’s daughter. That name sends a chill down my spine while I fall through a worm hole as I think of the thousands who were lined up against a wall and executed by the devil. The rape chambers and the gulags that were set up long before they inspired the tyrants in countries that had a desert or a patch of tropical forest, seem to be Michael Moore’s secret prescription for those who vote Republican or dare to disagree with him otherwise. One must wonder how Michael Moore managed to get hold of Che’s daughter in Cuba. Of millions of people in Cuba, Michael Moore managed to find the link to the person who is the perfect antithesis of life and liberty. While in Cuba, Michael Moore must have devoted considerable efforts to locate and get access to the communist elite. And, when he finally managed to get the access he used the supposed "luminaries" to bash the American way of life. I wonder if Michael Moore paid homage to Comrade Fidel, during his vacation in Cuba. The question is, what kind of ideologue would care to see communist mass-murderers or their descendants, and even caste them in an anti-free-market propaganda. At least Michael Moore was honest about openly expressing his communist-leaning sympathies by making us believe those damn commies in the Caribbean do it better than Americans. A few years ago, when a communist Ph.D. student who lived next door from me defended Michael Moore, I wasn’t a bit surprised. Michael Moore went to Canada, England, France and Cuba to contrast the charitable Governments of these countries with the "evil American health-care providers and Insurance companies." He went gaga over how the Canadians get all the pills and shots in their bottoms and don’t have to pay a penny for it. How about the wretched Americans living in Britain and France who get house visits by the doctor, the Government paid nannies and not to forget the paid maternity leaves? Only a person with an IQ equivalent to the room temperature could be scammed by Michael Moore into believing that there are these wonderful places on earth where people get all these nice things in a gift bag for free from the Government. I will repeat an old adage: "there is no such thing as a free lunch." The costs of sub-standard health-care services in these countries are socialized by their Government by literally taxing their citizens to death. In Canada, the taxes may not be as bad as Europe but the Government makes private health-care next to impossible by highly subsidizing socialized health-care and thus creating an uneven playing field. In Britain, the National Health Services is just one of the programs along with other frivolous Government spending that the taxpayers fund by shelling out every penny they earn for the first six months of a year (the tax holiday in Britain falls around mid-year). In France, health-care is just another Government sham along with the guaranteed employment, 35-hour work-week and guards against laying-off unproductive employees which motivates employers to discriminate between the usually reliable natives and the usually unreliable stereotypically lazy immigrants from Africa and other countries. Finally, do I need to believe the Castro-approved shooting locations for Michael Moore to conclude that Cuba provides world-class health-care, or is it that all I need to realize how screwed up of a place Cuba is when I hear of all those hundreds of thousands of Cubans in South Florida who risked their lives by swimming 90 miles to make it to America. It seems to me that the promise of a future in a society that has some sort of free-market leaning way of life is more powerful than the so-called "free health-care" of communist Cuba. The question that Michael Moore seeks to answer in his documentary is whether we should have a for-profit health-care system in America. The unequivocal answer is "yes." If we remove the incentive of profit from health-care in America, we will lose the edge that we hold over the rest of the world in terms of ground-breaking medical and pharmaceutical research and development. The lack of profit will lead the investors to move their investments elsewhere, where the Government does not poke its nose. In the absence of profits, and under the blessings of the Government, health-care which will get to be known as "public-health-care" will turn into just another bureaucratic hell hole like public education. Speaking of public education, Michael Moore must be so out of touch with reality living in his upscale condo somewhere in New York to claim that the Government is doing an excellent job at indoctrinating, oops! I meant educating our children. I wonder if Michael and his wife sent his stepdaughter to a public school in Bronx. If so, I admire this committed socialist. The state of public education in America is no secret for the rest of the world. How can you trust a corrupt institution like Government that lacks morality and principles to teach your children to grow up to be principled moralists? Besides, all you need to do to realize that the Government has diminished the intelligence and imagination our children is to have a peep in the places of high-end scientific research and development. You will feel as if though you are in Beijing of Bangalore. I admire the few American kids who manage to survive years of Government induced academic torture and still manage to make it to places that make this country proud. The point is that when we allow the Government to become the monopoly in areas such as education, police, fire department and road transport (to mention a few), we reject the prospects of a healthy competition which is required to provide the best services that money can buy. In the absence of competition, people get used to Government-provided sub-standard service. In a few years time we reach a stage that when a rational individual proposes the prospects of free and fair competition in areas where the Government holds a monopoly, the first thing to come out of people who seem to fill their Ritalin prescriptions on time is: "What about the roads, and who is going to provide the services of police and the fire department?" What are we going to do when armed gangs roam the streets like they did in New Orleans? We have reached a point in time, when it is a sin to even imagine what things would be like in the absence of Government monopolies and presence of a free-market-based competition. America has moved from being a Jeffersonian Republic to being a Hamiltonian State (see DiLorenzo), where the Government is nothing short of being a monarchy that Americans sanction every few years via the Diebold machines. It is not just about health-care. It is a problem with a much broader context. Government oversight and regulation has virtually seeped through every aspect of our lives. We are just short of having Government's cameras in our bedrooms. We are living in a state of emergency. While people like Michael Moore would like the Government to baby-sit us as long as it is not the Republicans, it is the duty of every concerned citizen to peacefully oppose the expansion of Government-led socialization. While Michael Moore's message may have been a compassionate one that urges us to take care of the weak and the vulnerable in our society, the repercussions of his suggestions of a socialized health-care sound ominous to just any rational individual. Instead of letting the Government assume any further control over our health-care system, we need to urge the Government to systematically de-socialize the way we take care of our health. We could start with the dismantling of the FDA so that pharmaceutical companies can speed up the provision of life-saving drugs. Next, we could dismantle the American Medical Association that regulates the number of doctors entering the industry every year. Then we may not need to import doctors from other countries that do not regulate their supply. Further we need to enforce the right of health-care institutions to hire non-union staff. If the hospital employees still volunteer to strike, the hospital’s administrators should have the right to suspend or fire the striking staff without notice and compensation. Finally, we need to have dedicated attorneys who tear to shreds the frivolous lawsuits that are filed against health-care providers causing their Insurance premiums to go up, which in turn inflate our medical and insurance bills. After all these efforts we could achieve a health-care system that can take care of the weak and the vulnerable in our society. If Michael Moore's intentions are genuine, then I am sure the consequences of a market-based health-care system will make him feel better. In the meantime he needs to lay-off that box of Twinkies. While the concept of markets may not mean anything to Michael Moore, people have spoken by the means of markets and have delivered their verdict against him. The movie opened at ninth spot on the US box office, and has been struggling to cover its production budget of nine million dollars. This is in stark contrast to his Republican bash-fest Fahrenheit 9/11, which made over 100 million dollars. After this debacle, I hope no rational investor would risk their money with the Twinkie-monster. In the mean time, I hope Fidel Castro appoints Michael Moore the minister of propaganda in Cuba. July 12, 2007 Sumit Dahiya
Is anyone familiar with Konstantin Stanislavski??? Can anyone take notes on this: BUILDING A CHARACTER Constantin Stanislavski CHAPTER FOURTEEN Toward an Ethics for the Theatre I “THE TIME has now come to speak of one more element,” Tortsov began today, “contributing to a creative dramatic state. It is produced by the atmosphere surrounding an actor on the stage and by the atmosphere in the auditorium. We call it ethics, discipline, and also the sense of joint enterprise in our theatre work. “All these things taken together create an artistic animation, an attitude of readiness to work together. It is a state which is favorable to creativeness. I do not know how else to describe it. “It is not the creative state itself but it is one of the main factors contributing to it. It prepares and facilitates that state. “I shall call it ethics in the theatre because it plays an important part in preparing us in advance for our work. Both the factor itself and what it produces in us and for us are significant because of the peculiarities of our profession. “A writer, a composer, a painter, a sculptor are not pressed for time. They can work when and where they find it convenient to do so. They have the free disposal of their time. “This is not the case with an actor. He has to be ready to produce at a fixed hour as advertised. How can he order himself to be inspired at a given time? It is far from simple. “He needs order, discipline, a code of ethics not only for the general circumstances of his work, but also and especially for his artistic and creative purposes. “The first condition towards the bringing about of this preliminary state is to follow the principle I have aimed at: Love art in yourself and not yourself in art. “The career of an actor,” Tortsov went on, “is a splendid one for those who are devoted to it and understand and see it in the true light.” “What if an actor does not do this ?“ one of the students asked. “That is unfortunate because it will cripple him as a human being. Unless the theatre can ennoble you, make you a better person, you should flee from it,” Tortsov replied. “Why?” we asked in chorus. “Because there are a lot of bacilli in the theatre, some are good and some are extremely harmful. The good bacilli will further the growth in you of a passion for what is fine, elevating, for great thoughts and feelings. They will help you to commune with the great geniuses such as Shakespeare, Pushkin, Gogol, Moliere. Their creations and traditions live in us. In the theatre you will also meet modern writers and representatives of all branches of art, science, of social science, of poetic thought. “This select company will teach you to understand art and the essential meaning at its core. That is the principal thing about art, therein lies its greatest fascination.” “Exactly in what?” I asked. “In coming to know, in working on, studying your art, its bases, methods and technique of creativeness,” explained Tortsov. “Also in the torments and joys of creation, which we all feel as a group. “And in the joys of accomplishment, which renew the spirit and lend it wings! “Even in the doubts and failures, for in them also lies a stimulus to new struggles, strength for new work and fresh discoveries. “There is too an esthetic satisfaction which is never altogether complete and it provokes and arouses new energy. “How much of life there is in all this!” “What about success ?“ I enquired rather shyly. “Success is transient, evanescent,” answered Tortsov. “The real passion lies in the poignant acquisition of knowledge about all the shadings and subtleties of the creative secrets. “Meantime do not forget the bad, the dangerous, corrupting bacilli of the theatre. It is not surprising that they thrive there; there are too many temptations in our theatre world. “An actor is on view every day before an audience of a thousand spectators from such and such an hour to such and such an hour. He is surrounded by the magnificent trappings of a production, set against the effective background of painted scenery, dressed often in rich and beautiful clothes. He speaks the soaring lines of geniuses, he makes picturesque gestures, graceful motions, produces impressions of startling beauty—which in large measure are brought about by artful means. Always being in the public eye, displaying his or her best aspects, receiving ovations, accepting extravagant praise, reading glowing criticisms—all these things and many more of the same order constitute immeasurable temptations. “These breed in an actor the sense of craving for constant, uninterrupted titillation of his personal vanity. But if he lives only on that and similar stimuli he is bound to sink low and become trivial. A serious minded person could not be entertained for long by such a life, yet a shallow one is enthralled, debauched, destroyed by it. That is why in our world of the theatre we must learn to hold ourselves well in check. We have to live by rigid discipline. “If we keep our theatre free from all types of evil we, by the same token, bring about conditions favorable to our own work in it. Remember this practical piece of advice: Never come into the theatre with mud on your feet. Leave your dust and dirt outside. Check your little worries, squabbles, petty difficulties with your outside clothing—all the things that ruin your life and draw your attention away from your art.” “Excuse me for pointing this out,” interrupted Grisha, “but no such theatre exists in the world.” “Unfortunately you are right,” admitted Tortsov. “People are so stupid and spineless that they still prefer to introduce petty, humdrum bickerings, spites and intrigues into the place supposedly reserved for creative art. “They do not seem to be able to clear their throats before they cross the threshold of the theatre, they come inside and spit on the clean floor. It is incomprehensible why they do this! “It is all the more reason why you should be the ones to discover the right, the high minded significance of the theatre and its art. From the very first steps you take in its service train yourselves to come into the theatre with clean feet. “Our illustrious forbears in acting have summed this attitude up in the following way: “A true priest is aware of the presence of the altar during every moment that he is conducting a service. It is exactly the same way that a true artist should react to the stage all the time he is in the theatre. An actor who is incapable of this feeling will never be a true artist!” 2 A great deal of discussion was caused in the theatre by a scandal in connection with one of the actors. He was severely reprimanded and warned that he would be dismissed if he repeated the intolerable offense. Grisha had as usual a lot to say on the subject: “I for one don’t think the management has any right to mix into an actor’s private life!” Whereupon some of the others asked Tortsov to explain his point of view to us. “Does it not seem irrational to you to tear down with one hand what you are trying to build up with the other? Yet many actors do that very thing. On the stage they make every effort to convey beautiful and artistic impressions and then, as soon as they step down from the boards, almost as though they had been intent on spoofing their spectators who a moment ago were admiring them, they do their best to disillusion them. I can never forget the bitter pain caused me in my youth by a famous visiting star. I shall not tell you his name because I do not want to dim his glory for you. “I was present at an unforgettable performance. The impression he made on me was so tremendous I did not feel I could go home alone. I felt the necessity to discuss my experience with someone. So a friend and I went together to a restaurant. When we were in the midst of an excited conversation who should come in but our genius. We could not restrain ourselves, we rushed up to him and unloosed the floodgates of our enthusiasm. The great man invited us to join him at supper in a private room and there before our very eyes he proceeded to drink himself into a bestial state. Under the gloss was hidden such human corruption, such revolting boastfulness, deceit, gossip—all the attributes of a vulgar showoff. On top of that he refused to pay his bill for the wine he had consumed. It took us a long, long time to pay off this unexpected debt. And all the pleasure we got out of it was the privilege of conducting our belching and roaring host to his hotel where they were most unwilling to receive him in that disreputable drunken state. “Mix together all the good and all the bad impressions which we received from that extraordinarily gifted man and try to determine what result you get.” “Something like the hiccoughs you get from drinking champagne,” suggested Paul brightly. “Well, mind you don’t have the same thing happen to you when you get to be famous actors,” said Tortsov. “It is only when an actor is behind closed doors at home, in his most intimate circle, that he can let go. For his part is not played out when the curtain goes down. He is still bound in his everyday life to be the standard bearer of what is fine. Otherwise he will only destroy what he is trying to build. Remember this from the very beginning of your term of service to art and prepare yourselves for this mission. Develop in yourselves the necessary self- control, the ethics and discipline of a public servant destined to carry out into the world a message that is fine, elevating and noble. “An actor, by the very nature of the art he serves, becomes a member of a large and complex organization—the theatre. Under its emblem and hallmark he represents it daily to thousands nf spectators. Millions read daily in the papers about his work and activity in the institution of which he is a part. His name is so closely bound up with that of his theatre that it is scarcely possible to distinguish between them. Next to his family name that of this theatre belongs to him. In the mind of the public his artistic and his personal life are inextricably linked together. Therefore if an actor from the Art Theatre, the Maly, or another, commits a reprehensible act, any crime, is involved in any scandal, no matter what alibi he may offer, no matter what denial or explanation may be printed in the papers, he will be unable to wipe away the stain, the shadow, he has laid on his whole company, his theatre. This, therefore, obligates an actor to conduct himself worthily outside the walls of his theatre and to protect his good name both on the boards and in his private life.” 3 “One of the measures calculated to insure order and a healthy atmosphere in the theatre is to reinforce the authority of the people, who for one reason or another, have been put in charge of the work. “Before they are chosen and appointed you may argue, wrangle, and protest against one candidacy or another but once that person has been elected to a post of leadership or management it is up to you to support him in every possible way. That is only fair from the point of view of the common good. And the weaker he is the more you should support him. For if he does not enjoy any authority the main motive force of the group will become paralyzed. What becomes of a collective if it is deprived of the leader who initiates, pushes, and directs the common work? We love to decry, discredit, humiliate those whom we have raised to high places, or if a gifted person climbs above us we are ready to use all our strength to beat him down and yell at him: How dare you presume to stand over us, you climber! How many talented and useful people have been destroyed that way. A few, in spite of all obstacles, have achieved general recognition and admiration. But on the whole the brazen ones, who usually succeed in bossing us, have all the luck. And we growl to ourselves and stand it because we find it hard to arrive at any Unanimity and we are afraid to overthrow those who terrorize us. “In theatres, with few exceptions, this is vividly exemplified. The struggle for priority among actors, regisseurs, jealousy of each other’s success, divisions caused by differences in salaries types of parts—all this is strongly developed in our line of work and constitutes its greatest evil. We cloak our ambition, jealousy, intrigues with all kinds of fine sounding phrases such as ‘enlightened competition,’ but all the time the atmosphere is filled with the poison gases of backstage back-biting. “Out of fear of all competition and because of its narrow-minded envy actors meet any newcomer in their midst with fixed bayonets. If he can stand the test he is lucky. Yet how many are terrified, lose all faith in themselves, and go under? “How close to animal psychology all this is! “Once when I was sitting on the balcony of a house in a small provincial town I had an opportunity to watch some dogs. They also have their own limits, lines of demarcation which they are keen to maintain. If an outsider dares to overstep a certain bo