Bibliografia patologii  życia akademickiego  ( w budowie)

Marian Mazur, Historia naturalna polskiego naukowca, PIW, Warszawa 1970

Co przeszkadza w eliminowaniu patologii w nauce?

CO SŁYCHAĆ POD DYWANEM ?

DROGI I BEZDROŻA NAUKI W POLSCE

Kraj kwitnącej fikcji

Mój jubileusz

Naganne praktyki pracowników nauki

NFA jako Watchdog

Nierzetelność naukowa

Spółka PLAGIAT.PL

Urodzaj na akademickie kodeksy etyczne

WHISTLEBLOWING NFA

Wróg etyczny

Zbyt dużo pytań

Slow to disclose funding when both candidates agreed to be transparent

We can see right through them!

July 12, 2008 0001 GMT

By Albert N. Milliron, Editor, Politisite.com

Many voters thought that this campaign for the Presidency would be different. Both Parties picked out of the main stream candidates hoping that the 2008 election would not be the status quo or politics as usual. Democrats picked Barack Obama because he talked about change. A change that declared there would be no negative campaigning. A Change that would get us out of Iraq in 2009. A change that would work across party lines to get real legislation passed in Washington. He was billed as a new kind of politician, one that had not been marred by years of touting the line in Washington.

John McCain was chosen because he was a Maverick, a man who would go against the grain and do what was unpopular in his party. He worked with Democrats on McCain-Feingold, McCain-Kennedy and others. Some times enraging his own party. He was once on John Kerry's short list for Vice-President, a dream ticket as it were.

During the Primaries, both candidates were living up to their rhetoric. Both refused to attack the other side and it appeared that those who longed for a fight where going to end in dis-satisfaction.

But Along came the General Election phase of the election.

Almost daily there is press releases, and within moments of one candidate making a statement, the other side is ready for the counter-punch. Both candidates are now being called flip-flopper's from the opposing side. The right is complaining that McCain is not Right enough. The Left is screaming in the Daily Kos or the Huffington Post that Obama is becoming a moderate.

It is the political dance that occurs every 4 years. Each side campaigns in the primaries to their base and then in the general election move toward the middle. It is like a marriage where each party has been separated but come back together for the kids. Both sides, the parents of the party are angry that they have gotten back together. Before long each candidate looks and talks like each other.

Those who hoped for Change and a Maverick are getting what we get each election season, Politicians.

Senators Barack Obama and John McCain have long been among the most outspoken critics of the influence of money in politics.

Yet records show that in their presidential campaigns, neither has lived up to his promise to fully disclose the identities of his top money collectors who bundle millions of dollars in campaign contributions.

[q url="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/11/us/politics/11bundlers.html?nl=pol&emc=pola1"]

Since November, Mr. Obama had added just two new names to a list of 326 fund-raisers who have bundled contributions of $50,000 or more for him, despite the campaign’s taking in more than $180 million during that time.

After receiving an inquiry from The New York Times, the campaign scrambled on Thursday evening to update its list of bundlers, adding 181 names, a jump of more than 50 percent, and increasing the amounts some were credited with raising. The number of bundlers who have collected $200,000 or more increased to 138 from 78.

Mr. Obama, in particular, has made transparency a cornerstone of his campaign, even introducing a bill in the Senate last year that would mandate that presidential candidates identify their bundlers. But Senator John McCain, the presumed Republican nominee, has also railed against the influence of money on politics and been lax on the issue of bundler disclosure as well.

With individual contributions limited to $2,300, bundlers fuel the fund-raising of presidential campaigns by collecting piles of checks from wealthy acquaintances in a practice that critics say gives them excessive influence. While Mr. Obama has collected unprecedented amounts in small donations over the Internet, he also has a formidable high-dollar fund-raising apparatus.

A number of members of Mr. Obama’s National Finance Committee, who have each committed to raising at least $250,000 for him, were not on the publicly available bundler list on the campaign’s Web site as of Thursday afternoon. Several of the missing members said in interviews that they began raising money for Mr. Obama in early to mid-2007 and already exceeded their $250,000 goal. More than two dozen were added to the list on Thursday evening.

The spotty disclosure records of Mr. Obama and Mr. McCain, despite repeated entreaties from watchdog groups, compare unfavorably with that of George W. Bush in his two runs for president.

“Obama was saying he was the most transparent, but it wasn’t even on par with Bush and Cheney,” said Alexander Cohen, senior researcher at Public Citizen, a nonpartisan watchdog group that recently sent letters to Mr. Obama and Mr. McCain with seven other organizations calling for them to disclose more information about their donors. Obama campaign officials acknowledged on Thursday that they had fallen behind on their plan to update their list quarterly and that they had not added any names since January. They said about 100 of the names added Thursday should have been put on at the end of this year’s first quarter.

“Keeping track of how much our bundlers have raised is not an exact science, and we will be vigilant in updating those names and figures,” Ben LaBolt, a campaign spokesman, said in a statement. Despite promising early on to disclose bundlers, it was only in April that the McCain campaign released a list of just over 100 top fund-raisers, who had brought in $100,000 or more. Since then, Mr. McCain has added only one name to his list of bundlers, who earn the title Trailblazer if they raise more than $100,000 and Innovator if they exceed $250,000.

It is unclear how many bundlers might be missing from Mr. McCain’s list. He has enjoyed a surge in fund-raising in recent months, after struggling much of last year, and absorbed many former fund-raisers for Mitt Romney, Rudolph W. Giuliani and other Republican rivals who were not on his initial list.

Brian Rogers, a spokesman for Mr. McCain, said on Thursday that staff members were in the process of updating their bundler list. He said he believed it was “reasonable” to expect the campaign would add to it “every couple months.”

“It’ll be updated in the next week or so,” Mr. Rogers said. “This is something Senator McCain believes in. He’s committed to being open and transparent.”

Highlighting his commitment to beating back special interests in politics, Mr. Obama makes a point of declining contributions from lobbyists and political action committees. And he often cites as his signal accomplishment in the Senate his role in the passage of another bill last year that required lobbyists to disclose their bundled donations, a law that has not yet gone into effect. He also posted a list of his top fund-raisers early last year.

At a debate in South Carolina last year, Mr. Obama boasted of his campaign’s level of disclosure and his efforts on the issue in the Senate.

[/q]

TSC said initial reports indicate American Spacelines flight 792 and Singapore Spacelines flight 533 almost collided Saturday at 10:36 a.m. Eastern Moon Time. Space traffic controllers said the planes actually were closer than is normally recommended, but still within the safe zone.

The American flight was carrying a tourist group heading to the principality of Moonaco, a lavish vacation destination.  The pilot of that flight was executing a routine "go around" — an aborted landing, usually ordered by the lunar control tower during periods of heavy meteor showers — while the Singapore plane had just entered orbit after launching from the moon’s northwest side. The closest proximity of the two aircraft has not yet been determined.  But American Spacelines insists that the incident does not meet the definition of a near orbital collision.

Eunice Spacey, executive director of the space travel watchdog group Orbital Safety Advocates (OSA), countered that TSC is too close to the spacelines and is therefore turning a blind eye to the gravity of the issue.

“The spacelines are constantly bribing TSC officials with Moon rocks, glass beads from lunar soil and other types of valuable gifts, so that those officials will look the other way when something goes wrong,” Spacey said.  

Spacey said the incident reinforces the need for the federal government to reassume control over the nation’s transportation industry. TSC bought the U.S. Department of Transportation in 2015 and operates it as a private company.

They seem to be dodging responsibility for QVC's ruthless, unfair and harmful business practices, and then, like an adult who has no control over his/her kids, turns a blind eye when QVC is not only overstepping the Time Share Industry Code of Conduct, but virtually ignores it.

Why could this be? Does TISA not understand that they represent a whole bunch of holiday clubs in South Africa? Is it impossible for them to comprehend that QVC is harming the image of the whole industry?  Do they refuse to take action because they are compromised; because one of their board members also serve on QVC's board of directors? It would make sense to protect a company from which you benefit. Perhaps it is comparable to South Africa's (Mbeki's) insane protection of Mugabe by way of vetoing any UN action against Zimbabwe. The whole world is crying out for action (the same on hellopeter), but the powers that be refuse to listen.

I sent my whole story to TISA, hoping that they would be able to help me. QVC has to answer to them, right? Wrong... They lie and deceive and TISA accepts their answer since it is my word against theirs.

Below you will find TISA's response to my initial letter in which I lodged the complaint.

Complaint: Kairos Vacation Club

 We acknowledge receipt of documentation regarding your complaint against Kairos Vacation Club.

 We have initiated the pertinent procedure and we will keep you informed of our progress within 21 days from the date of this letter.

TISA attempts to facilitate settlement of queries through mediation and we trust that we will be able to assist you in resolving the matter along these lines. We will accordingly investigate your query and the company’s responses, in our attempt to find a solution to the query you lodged.

 "We trust that we will assist you in resolving the matter along these lines"???

"... accordingly investigate your query and the company's response..."

This is absolute rubbish! Not once did I get the impression that TISA places the consumer first. The only thing they did, was forward me the QVC response with the instruction that they find the reply an adequate explanation as to why QVC is definitely not in the wrong and that, if I don't do anything, they consider the matter resolved - that after I told them that I want to nullify the contract!

They don't want to act and unfortunately the Ombudsman and other watchdog agencies are not allowed to since the Time Share Industry HAS a body to which it is supposed to answer. According to TISA's website:

My matter is clearly unresolved, but not once did they even offer to refer it to the Standards Council Committee. This should have been the logical step, not true? TISA doesn't want to act and seemingly we can't force them.

Hello everyone! You can call me The Watchdog. What I plan to do with this blog is to bring you, the everyday online consumer, reviews of products that I have personally purchased and frequently use, and then give you an honest first hand review of such products here on this blog. The reason I do this? I have been burned by scams and cheats online with their shady and backhanded products, like I'm sure many of you have as well.

So rest assured that the products I mention on The Watchdog Reports are 100% approved by yours truly and when you fork over money for that product, you're doing so safely. Nobody wants to waste even the first dollar these days with gas prices and the general cost of living on the rise, right?

Console Application

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Text;
using System.Threading;
namespace pr9
{
class Program
{
static void SayHello()
{
Console.WriteLine("Hello, ");
Thread.Sleep(15000); // Something goes wrong, here.
Console.WriteLine("World");
}
static void Main(string[] args)
{
Thread thread1 = new Thread(new ThreadStart(SayHello));
thread1.Start();
thread1.Join(10000);
if (thread1.IsAlive)
{
Console.WriteLine("Thread 1 timed out. I am killing it.");
thread1.Abort();
}
}
}
}


***********************************************************************************

Here are today's Quick Pickz!

Unlike Lotto and Powerball where you usually end up with ZIPPO...with these Quick Pickz you always get interesting, goofy, weird, valuable, far out, right on, totally off base, make you roll your eyes, scratch your head and shake your fist little snacks to tickle your basal ganglia.

Don't be timid. Dive in, swim around a bit and give us your $0.03. (Yep, even inflation has ravaged your infamous and time honored 2 cents! And you know what...no matter what anyone thinks you ARE worth it. No need to raise your hand - just speak up!)

***********************************************************************************

Dotcom Confidential
Online, where information roams free, companies have fought a tough battle to keep their trade secrets from appearing on leak sites. Guess who's winning?

The Secret Seven
The watchdog and leak sites corporate America doesn't want you to see.

Security you can't see
This is the BEST kind! But ultimately we are paying for it all.

Lost cameras "phone home" to catch thieves
Sweet!

Chameleon Shoes
It's true...shoe engineers are trying to alter an aspect of human apparel unchanged for centuries.

Word of the Day:
shebeen

Today's BONUS:
Run for the fallen
What these guys are doing is very cool! Check it out...

 ***********************************************************************************

If you enjoyed these Quick Pickz, then make sure you subscribe to my RSS Feed!

Thank you,

~ Rick Zwetsch ~

 Jacksonville, Texas:

Lon Morris College's  head golf coach  Barry Dean Griffin, age 38, has been arraigned in federal court for possession and distribution of child pornography. Coach Barry Griffin was arrested Monday, June 9, 2008 after surrendering to federal authorities in Tyler, Texas. According to the June 10, 2008 issue of the Tyler Paper, Lon Morris faculty member Barry Griffin :  "has been charged by complaint for allegedly possessing and distributing child pornography on May 30 in Cherokee County [Texas]. If convicted, he could face 5 to 20 years in prison for the distribution charge and up to 10 years in prison for the possession charge."

Monday's appearance by Griffin in front of Tyler, TX based US Magistrate Judge John Love was reported here first. He has not been formally indicted.

Lon Morris College coach Barry Dean Griffin

Barry Griffin is a junior college Kinesiology instructor and coach for Jacksonville, Texas based Lon Morris and has been since 2005. The Lon Morris men's golf team  took fourth place in a recently held NJCAA tournament in Huntsville, Alabama, with hotel accommodations arranged by the college. Griffin has also traveled out of state to Daytona, Florida where he accompanied the Lon Morris College girl's golf team , who took a 4th place prize at the women's NJCAA national championship games.

Similarly, the Jacksonville home of Rusk ISD drama coach Harold “Bo” Scallon was raided last year by federal authorities on a tip from the Longview, TX police department. The tip being that the High School teacher was distributing child pornography over the Internet. His personal laptop, school computer and hard drives were confiscated by the FBI. Scallon pleaded guilty on April 4, 2008 in federal court to possessing over 150 sadomasochistic images of minors. He taught for the Rusk Independent School District for nearly 30 years and with parents' blessings, participated in numerous overnight 'theater camps.' Due to a plea agreement, his child porn distribution charge was dropped by federal prosecutors, though he still faces decades in federal prison. Certainly the community and school administrators will rally around to petition for Mr. Scallon's early release and leniency prior to his sentencing date being reported. As they did with Alto, Texas postmaster Herbert Dominguez, prior to his federal sentencing for stealing $27,000 of United States Post Office material- but never reporting it.

Local Cherokee County, Texas media portray Rusk High School Theater class' Bo Scallon official retirement and contractual obligations to the school district as ending in April 2007, prior to the FBI raid. However, Harold "Bo" Scallon's continual employment with the Rusk ISD was apparent to the FBI because investigators seized his company computer from the Rusk High School and examined its hard drives. Forensics on his computers uncovered massive files storing violent and graphic depictions involving children.

mugshot of Rusk,TX teacher Harold "Bo" Scallon

The ongoing out-of-county reports of federal investigations compared to the nonexistent media coverage, nor local outcry, begs the question: Has Cherokee County, Texas always been a child molestation and child pornography refuge? Local offenders certainly do not have to worry about prison time if they cut deals with the Cherokee County District Attorney's office after falling in the hands of Elmer Beckworth .

View the locations of registered child molesters living steps from the Rusk Texas courthouse and Rusk Texas Jr.-Sr. High Schools mapped on a website called FamilyWatchdog .                                              

Found at: http://www.familywatchdog.us                                                                                                

Infant molesters (whose victims are as young as 1 to 6 years-old) all handed probation and local Adult Supervision by the Cherokee County district attorney's office -and not spending one day in prison.

 [known registered Rusk, TX sex offenders - courtesy of Family Watchdog]

As a footnote, Harold "Bo" Scallon was sentenced on Tuesday June 17, 2008 in the US District Courts to 6 1/2 years federal prison time for possessing Internet child pornography. He will remain under parole supervision for 5 years after completing his federal prison term. Had the Rusk ISD faculty member actually acted on his sick fantasies and molested a Jr. High student, then the Cherokee County district attorney would have offered Scallon a few months probation (just like Elmer Beckworth's office did for Chris Hennessy, a Rusk Texas patrol officer offered a paltry probation sentence of months instead of years for raping a Rusk ISD Jr. High girl in 2004).  Or Cherokee County prosecutors would simply ignore the problem like the community and Rusk school board has for the last 30 years of Harold "Bo" Scallon's teaching career.  The world may never know how many deals were struck to keep this guy's perverted pastimes out of the Rusk ISD school bulletin and news.

Also buried in the archives and the local School Board meeting minutes is a report of another Rusk ISD school teacher and former Jacksonville High School faculty member, Brian Basse sentenced to 3 years TDCJ time in 2007 for sexual contact with a student. Explicit Instant Messages and photos were recovered from his laptop computer by the FBI. Basse had been a Rusk Texas school teacher for 7 years, before relocating from the Jacksonville ISD. Brian Basse's 36 month sentence (which he may serve 80% of) was handed to him from the 2nd Judicial District Court in Rusk, TX.

And don't forget about Josh Allen music teacher at the Jacksonville Christian Academy and youth minister for the Tyler Street Baptist Church being sentenced in 2007 to 4 years for possession of child pornography- over 600 graphic and violent images. Tyler Street Baptist Church is a long time polling place for voters in Cherokee County's Precinct No. 15. The US District Court "noted that Allen has no past criminal history and that he had the support of his church - factors in issuing the relatively lenient sentence."   Great.     Gregg County Texas charged Josh Allen for his porn distribution into their county, since Cherokee County Texas failed to do so. A local investigation was not required from the source because, as Allen told Federal Judge Leonard Davis during his January 4, 2007 sentencing, local authorities believed the choir director still "had an opportunity to be part of the solution to the problem" of child porn being distributed via the Internet from Cherokee County, Texas. Allen received the same lack of media attention coupled with an outpouring of local support as did Jeffrey Scott Ray and Toby Lynn Barnett. Ray's residence in Nacogdoches, TX was raided by federal authorities in 2006 and his sentencing not reported; Jeffrey Ray Scott got 70 months in federal prison.  Toby Barnett was charged with possession of child porn and given 3 years probation in 2002 for "not having a prior criminal record," even though he had been convicted in Nacogdoches, TX for assault in 1996.

Just do a comparison on how the legal system operates 40 miles away in Smith County, Texas. For instance, the recent Wednesday June 18, 2008 sentencing of Daniel Wayne Tidwell, age 29 of Tyler, in the 241st District Court doling out 50 years state prison time. This is after Tidwell pleading guilty to the sexual assault of a 15 year-old girl. Daniel Tidwell did have prior felony convictions, but regardless was facing 5 years to life for the rape.

Don't forget the crack down on the Mineola Swinger's Club that has made national news, either. The third defendant out of a string of arrests, Patrick "Booger Red" Kelly , a foster parent, is on trial for drugging children 9 years-old and younger and forcing them to perform strip club-esque dances for patrons of Mineola, Texas' honky tonk. A version of what Cherokee County, Texas' counterfeit Christians have been doing for decades: exploiting children and getting away with it. Smith County CPS removed the children from the homes of participants beginning in 2004 when it became apparent drug use and sexual abuse was occurring in the "deeply religious community." Also awaiting trial are Dennis Boyd and Rebecca Pittman; and Jimmy Dale and Shelia Darlene Sones. Local swingers in the East Texas sex ring Jamie Pittman and Shauntel Loraine Mayo were convicted and sentenced to life in prison earlier in May, for their involvement in making children perform sex acts on stage.

An even better recent comparison would be the 2006 trial in Smith County of a preacher named Jefferson Marion Moore, age 58 at the time, also the Dogwood City Daycare and Preschool operator convicted of molesting a 6 year-old girl left in his care. He was a full time pastor for the Dogwood City Chapel, or "Brother Jeff" as they called him.  Jefferson Moore was convicted and sentenced to LIFE in prison for the rape he committed. Moore had been indicted on three counts of sexual assault of a minor involving a 6, 7 and 4  year-old. "Brother Jeff" Moore was also charged with retaliation after an altercation with Smith County prosecutors during courtroom deliberations and given 10 extra years. On the brighter side, the Tyler Paper reports in its June 25, 2008 edition that Jefferson Moore died of "natural causes" in his cellblock earlier this month after serving 2 years in prison. Dogwood City, Texas is a small unincorporated community on Lake Palestine and ideal retirement spot for district judges, located on the Cherokee County / Smith County border and 20 miles from downtown Jacksonville, Texas. No probation offers or lenient sentences for this child molester; the Smith County community certainly did not rally in support of the only preacher and licensed babysitter in their tiny town. Incidentally, the United States Supreme Court ruled on Wednesday June 25, 2008 that it is unconstitutional for states to execute child rapists. That will certainly keep Cherokee County's sexual predator population on a steady incline.

 Pastor Jefferson Moore (deceased), daycare owner and child molester

In April 2005, the Kilgore, Texas newspaper The Kilgore News Herald began an expose, aptly named "Child Pornography Big Problem in East Texas," on how pervasive the crime was becoming.

Next month, more East Texas child molesters off the streets and in federal prison, such as Franklin Albert Pearce of Wood County, Texas gets life for the sexual assault of a 6 year-old girl. William Allen Pipes of Gilmer, TX pleads guilty to distributing child porn and faces 10 years.

In local school news, the superintendent of Overton ISD Dr. Mark Stretcher, after "unexpectedly" resigning his post in January due to a "personal illness and pressure" and subsequently throwing the Overton, TX school district in disarray- why Dr. Stretcher has been charged with felony theft of public funds. Stretcher pleaded guilty to 'theft in office' on Friday June 27, 2008.  Beware Rusk County, Texas you are in a close second for most corrupt.

Para ver em maior formato clique [AQUI]

Um retrato daquilo e daqueles que contribuem para que Portugal seja aquilo que é hoje.

Contributo para o Echelon: 15kg, DUVDEVAN

In "Wehavethekaosinthegarden"

50 Years is Enough Network - US Network for Global Economic Justice.

Article 19 - Global Campaign for Free Expression.

Canadian Journalists for Free Expression

Common Frontiers Canada

Citizens for Lake Safety

Fight Back News

Colorado Campaign for Middle East Peace

Better World Links - Urgent Actions.

Association for Progressive Communications

Greenpeace International

Protest.net - A Calender of Protests, Meetings and Conferences.

Activist Cash - this sites watches activists and anti-consumer group. That's right they are watching you.

Essential Information - Encouraging Citizens to become active and engaged in their communities.

In the video, John McArthur succinctly exegetes the foundation of Matthew 7, especially in light of how “judge not lest you be judged” gets hurled around (almost like an expletive) in response to the light of truth shining on any darkness. 

As I’ve stated on many occasions, I blog in defense of the faith. I have no personal agenda - except to proclaim and defend the Gospel of Jesus Christ…even if when the Gospel is hijacked by perpetrators within the church.

 Look at the scriptural reference in context:

1“^(A)Do not judge so that you will not be judged.

 2“For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and ^(B)by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you.

 3“Why do you ^(C)look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?

 4“^(D)Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and behold, the log is in your own eye?

 5“You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.

Too me, the text clearly forbids hypocrisy. It is hypocritical for someone to condemn adultery if they’re tipping out on their spouse at the same time. Likewise, it’s hypocritical to claim the name of the Lord, yet live and teach the complete contrary.

2 Timothy 3:16 affirms the authority of God’s Word - and it’s proper use.

As long as the Word of God is used to refute false teachers and their false doctrine, then the only judgement going on is from God to His enemies.

Picture Credit (http://www.concurringopinions.com/archives/images/gag.jpg)

Grading Green: The Watchdogs CMOs Must Appease

Here's the URL for their donations page:

https://secure.walmartwatch.com/page/contribute/deborahshank?source=20071128deborahshankkicker

Check out the Wal-Mart Watch page to learn more about them.

If you have an insurance plan with your employer, you better check the terms carefully regarding subrogation rights.  Subrogation is what allowed Wal-Mart to sue the Shank family.

FYI, the conceptual underpinning behind subrogation was to prevent "unjust enrichment" but clearly it works better in theory than in practice.

Many people consider their cars to be their pride and joy so it’s not surprising that you’re going to want to ensure you’re leaving it in the best hands when you are trusting it with airport parking. A recent episode of Watchdog shook people’s faith in car valeting services available at airports. A tracking device secretly hidden in cars revealed that Pink Meet & Greet was a rogue company who were taking people for a ride, quite literally.

It was revealed that despite promises of safe and secure parking, people’s vehicles were in fact only in secure compounds for an average of two out of five days with this airport parking service. For the remaining time cars were passed between supermarket car parks and streets. Hardly the kind of service you expect for about £75 a week.  As if this wasn’t enough, cars were being driven at speeds of over 100 mph and there were reports of illegal substances and cds that didn’t belong to the owners being found in cars.

There is no need to write off companies that offer airport parking though. There are some that provide very good services, are reliable and reasonably priced. The best way to ensure you are getting value for money and are with a genuine company is to take following steps before committing to anything.

Make sure you thoroughly check out the company you are planning to use before committing to anything when looking for airport parking. If they are a genuine company they should be a member of the Independent Airport Park and Ride Association (IAPRA). This should give you a good indication that you will be leaving your vehicle in safe hands.

Opt for organisations who have been awarded the Safer Parking Award which is granted by the police after a detailed risk assessment. To check for registration visit www.saferparking.com

Watch out for companies such as Airport Car Parking Direct who claim to have the AA Gold Standard award for security. This scheme was terminated over five years ago so any company displaying the award should be reported.  

Image belongs to: Esteban De Sousa Seibane. Taken from: www.flickr.com

In December of 2007 I observed that one of our departmental libraries has (almost exclusively) recycle bins at their circulation desk. Because the vast majority of the waste circulation creates is paper-based, there was a need for only one general waste bin. Inspired, I did a bit of research and learned that the University at which I work and study invites staff to recycle (in theory, as we shall see): "if you know of a good spot which needs one [a recycling container], or if you need a container for your work area, let us know by contacting us at recycle@fm.pitt.edu or at 412-624-952." Feeling young, smitten with the environment, and encouraged, I sent them this concise and cordial e-mail on 21 December 2007.

Hello!
My name is [X] and I work at the [X] Library. I was reading our recycling website and noticed that we can request recycling bins for our workstations.
May I request two small, paper-only recycling bins to be kept behind the circulation desk at the [X] Library?

Thank you,
[Signature and standard contact info]

They never responded. Now, after a bit of proselytizing, I have converted someone with clout to my mission. I shouldn't have had to, but sometimes one's objectives must be achieved through proxies.

Also, by laying these cards on the table I realize that I'm opening myself up to being more easily identified by keyword searching. I figured this would happen eventually. Ah well. =\

:: Bibliography ::

Facilities Management. Facilities Management Recycling at the University of Pittsburgh. University of Pittsburgh. Last updated 7 January 2008. Accessed 4 February 2008. <http://www.facmgmt.pitt.edu/recycle.htm>.

Nieman Watchdog

Notice how the 'real' psychics get all condemning... :/

"... do you realise how dangerous it is to bombard vulnerable people with this claptrap?"