Sunday, March 31, 2013

I am a child of the alt-weekly world

"Gas prices are up, my grocery bill is up. I am a child of the alt-weekly world and I feel like it has played such an important role in journalism as we know it today.To contact the reporter on this story: Patrick Donahue in Brussels at In a poignant signal of a fast-changing media landscape, The Boston Phoenix sent out a short and simple tweet Thursday afternonon: “Thank you Boston."Mariaaah_xoxo added, "It's okay Justin, you don't have to worry. Hernandez was shot in the back and Carranza had minor injuries.Dorner hid out in the San Bernardino Mountains until Feb.The online edition of the Boston Phoenix, slated to appear March 22, will be its last, too.The debate intensified this month with Facebook executive Sheryl Sandberg's new book "Lean In" pushing women to take on leadership roles." Then let workers take a reporter began to mount guard, the whole process of applying for less than 20 minutes.”“I’m getting bombarded from all directions, and besides that, I’m devastated,” Kennedy wrote. The wannabe show creator said, “Vice President Joe Biden has a demonstrated ability to bring people together, whether at the negotiating table or at the neighborhood diner” and argued the White House should capture “the daily activities and interactions of the Vice President with elected officials, foreign dignitaries and everyday American families.India's foreign secretary of state had been summoned jan maathai Italian ambassador to India, roberto mancini and protest against Italy renege.The tax-free settlement covering the pickup and other property came quickly after the women's attorney, Glen Jonas, rejected Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck's offer of a replacement truck because the women would have had to pay taxes."Pipadias98 had more words of support for Bieber.Ther are four sink between washing the dishes, washing pool, pool cleaning and disinfecting pool respectively and rinse tank.

He thanked all who’ve worked for the

”He thanked all who’ve worked for the Phoenix over the decades _ Wholesale Costumes “our staff has been our soul, “ he averred _ and all the readers and advertisers who’ve supported the publication. * Related * Woodstock Institute finds gender bias in joint home loan, refinancing approvals Why you may want to put man's name first on mortgage application * Facebook's Sandberg says men need to mentor women more * Confusing career advice for women Op-Ed: Sandberg's "Lean In" offers confusing career advice for women * Number of working women far below aspirations -- KatamineAds by Google"It really came down to a financial decision," said Shah, 44, who lives in Maryland just outside Washington. "Just keep your head high @justinbieber and nothing can bring you down. In comparison, the number of married mothers who wanted full-time jobs remained flat. have called on the other 25 EU member states to scrap a European arms embargo on Syria after it expires at the end of May."But for others, working also means independence and professional satisfaction. Gordon, who will oversee the process, estimated the business had $1."ECONOMIC REALITIES"The recession, which hit more traditional male jobs such as those in construction, in many cases flipped the economic burden and turned mothers into breadwinners. Affected by the huangpu river upstream dead pig floating event 6 intake, raw water turbidity, color, odor and taste, visible to the naked eye, Sexy Halloween Costumes permanganate index, ammonia nitrogen, total number of colonies, total coliforms, fecal coliforms 9 indexes such as the overall stability; Nine waterworks 9 indicators meet the national effluent standard, total coliforms, heat-resistant coliform group was "not detected". Thank you for everything you have done.Dorner hid out in the San Bernardino Mountains until Feb.”In general, however, alternative newspapers in large markets, like Boston, are not flourishing at the level of their counterparts in smaller, less competitive cities, Shackelford added.“It was shocking to me; I was not expecting this at all,” said Tiffany Shackelford, executive director of the Association of Alternative Newsmedia in Washington.Italian media also criticized the Italian government does not keep your words.On Thursday (March 14), Justin Bieber took to Instagram to share something with his fans.

Thursday, March 28, 2013

I doubt that that's because that's what they really want

"Mariaaah_xoxo added, "It's okay Justin, you don't have to worry."I doubt that that's because that's what they really want, but that's what they really need to provide for their families," Parker said in an interview.The errant shooting in Torrance occurred just hours after Dorner shot and wounded a Los Angeles police officer in Riverside County and then ambushed two police officers in the city of Riverside, killing one and wounding the other."In the end, Bieber's message left fans elated that he spoke up for himself. You're running on empty," she said.Another gap - that between the ideal and the reality - shows when it comes to kids: just 16 percent of parents overall said it was ideal for mothers with young children to work full time. 12, when he tried to flee but law enforcement converged on him. But I'm sorry all this is happening. One woman who did that, former Lehman Brothers chief financial officer Erin Callan, lamented in the New York Times on Sunday never having taken the time to have children.”The city has agreed to give $40,000 to two women whose pickup was shot up by a Police Department protection detail that mistook their newspaper delivery vehicle for the truck driven by rogue ex-cop Christopher Dorner during his rampage, officials announced Thursday."ECONOMIC REALITIES"The recession, which hit more traditional male jobs such as those in construction, in many cases flipped the economic burden and turned mothers into breadwinners. At the time, Phoenix Editor Carly Carioli said, “It’s not a surprise this has been portrayed as the sky is falling, but that’s not what it feels like to us here.Pew's findings, based in part on its survey of 2,511 adults nationwide in late 2012, came amid renewed public debate about working mothers in the United States. Feb. State Department official Anne-Marie Slaughter, put working moms back in the spotlight with a magazine article last summer on "Why Women Still Can't Have It All.com, the Phoenix Media/Communication Corp.”In general, however, alternative newspapers in large markets, like Boston, are not flourishing at the level of their counterparts in smaller, less competitive cities, Shackelford added.”Shackelford said that despite the loss of a “storied brand” like the Boston Phoenix, the alternative news industry remains healthy.

Dish between officials say

“It was shocking to me; I was not expecting this at all,” said Tiffany Shackelford, executive director of the Association of Alternative Newsmedia in Washington.The debate intensified this month with Facebook executive Sheryl Sandberg's new book "Lean In" pushing women to take on leadership roles. They welcomed the surprise pregnancy, but it brought worries about child care and her job as a social worker if she took a long leave.In 2012, about half of single mothers said they would rather work full time, up from 26 percent at the start of the recession, Pew found. “It’s sad, but also not.Death fishermen selex dean, valentine's widow, DORA, said valentine, "that is the highest level of plot", "the Indian government should ensure that the two people back into the country, let them to stand trial in India".Speaking at a policy and security conference, Kochavi noted that the Syrian military has to date fired some 70 Scud and M-600 missiles, which carried conventional warheads filled with explosives, at populated areas across the country. A Pew Research Center Report released on Thursday found nearly one in three Americans mothers last year said they would prefer a full-time job, up from one in five in 2007. She added that European Union states must weigh the fact that weapons are already entering Syria “from other countries that take a different view of Assad."Pipadias98 had more words of support for Bieber.”With that terse dispatch, the ground-breaking, Boston alternative weekly, which only six months ago reinvented itself from tabloid newspaper into glossy magazine, put a final punctuation mark on its announcement that its current issue, dated March 15, will be its last. brushed off internal warnings and misled regulators and investors about the scope of losses on its "London whale" trades last year, according to a scathing Senate report.Mindich, in his statement to employees, said he was “extremely proud, as all of you should be, of the highest standards of journalism we have set and maintained throughout the decades in all of our areas of coverage and the important role we have played in driving political and socially progressive and responsible agendas; in covering the worlds of arts and entertainment, food and fashion – always with a critical view, while at the same time promoting their enormous importance in maintaining a healthy society; and in advocating for the recognition and acceptance of a wide range of lifestyles that are so valuable for a vibrant society. But today, he chased by reporters, one asking about the new policy, he mixed with a "will go on", a lot of people understand became "house prices will go down," into the title of the media. Still, that is about half the 32 hours now spent by mothers.Federal employee Leslie Shah went back to work just after her second child celebrated his first birthday, one of a growing number of American mothers who are choosing full-time work since the U. I will forever believe in you. have called on the other 25 EU member states to scrap a European arms embargo on Syria after it expires at the end of May.

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Removes one more venue for a certain kind of

The weekly’s closing, Orlean continued, “Cheap Dresses Online Removes one more venue for a certain kind of writing that I know was very important to me. We have so many judgmental people in this world.’s online radio station, will not continue in its present form, its fate to be decided shortly.The intelligence chief claimed that Iran and Hezbollah have increased their assistance to Assad, each dispatching 50,000 fighters to bolster Syrian military's operations over the past six months.Last spring, Phoenix Communications sold its interest in other media properties, notably the Spanish-language paper El Planeta and terrestrial radio station WFNX 101.Jonas said the women were still not doing well. You can always count on us (#beliebers), we will never let you down. brushed off internal warnings and misled regulators and investors about the scope of losses on its "London whale" trades last year, according to a scathing Senate report.said Germany would proceed “very cautiously” on calls by the U. I Wholesale Costumes will forever believe in you. I believe in u, thanks 4 all your creations.According to Kadzis, the switch from tabloid to glossy last October won favor with readers and local advertisers. Twerk4bieber__ shared, "I'm crying right now w/ a smile on my face. Everyone’s really proud. We have so many judgmental people in this world.

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Gordon first plans to pay any taxes

This edition is to write/filming of jinghua times practice groupsThis edition is to write/filming of jinghua times practice groups"Conscience" quality is the tagline yoshino's web site, but when a reporter to yoshino as candidates after several stores, only to find that several in-store tableware clean and surprising.Jonas said the women were still not doing well. This is xinmin network reporter today to get the latest information.This edition is to write/filming of jinghua times practice groupsThis edition is to write/filming of jinghua times practice groups"Conscience" quality is the tagline yoshino's web site, but when a reporter to yoshino as candidates after several stores, only to find that several in-store tableware clean and surprising.Margie Carranza and her 71-year-old mother, Emma Hernandez, were delivering papers around 5 a.”More American womenare feeling pressed to work a greater number of hours even as the country emerges from its economic doldrums. We went as hard as you could to the end. “My understanding was that the new format was successful and that the glossy was starting to attract national advertisers. Subsequently, Eva airways had scheduled another round-trip charter asked, "have a health certificate, please? Reporters before and after did not engage in work related to catering, she said, "today first mount guard, health certificate, please we can do back in a few days.”“For us, this is a very complicated question to consider, but Germany is ready, if there are other views by other member states, to discuss this again among the foreign ministers,” Merkel told reporters yesterday in Brussels during an EU summit.Pew's findings, based in part on its survey of 2,511 adults nationwide in late 2012, came amid renewed public debate about working mothers in the United States.The uproar stirred by the female executives opened wounds about privilege, choice and class divide. So stay tuned.“We’ll get paid for this week and if we’re owed vacation time, but no severance,” said staff writer Chris Faraone.Leng sary is referred to as the Khmer rouge "number three", served as deputy prime minister and foreign minister, announced in the 1990 s from the Khmer rouge, support the Cambodian government led by hun sen said.

Monday, March 25, 2013

that between the ideal and the reality

Another gap - that between the ideal and the reality - shows when it comes to kids: just 16 percent of parents overall said it was ideal for mothers with young children to work full time. Everyone does. “It’s sad, but also not. Affected by the huangpu river upstream dead pig floating event 6 intake, raw water turbidity, color, odor and taste, visible to the naked eye, permanganate index, ammonia nitrogen, total number of colonies, total coliforms, fecal coliforms 9 indexes such as the overall stability; Nine waterworks 9 indicators meet the national effluent standard, total coliforms, heat-resistant coliform group was "not detected". You have to know just how to stretch every paycheck."Sexy LingerieIn fact, his fans seem aware of the ups and downs Bieber has faced and may potentially face in the future, but they plan to be by his side regardless. You have to know just how to stretch every paycheck. 12, when he tried to flee but law enforcement converged on him.Gordon first plans to pay any taxes, employee wages, and fees related to the liquidation process and then distribute any remaining cash evenly to other creditors.Host: after listen carefully again, we confirm that, like YanSong puts it, he's talking about the policy."We will always be ur Beliebers through anything!" millyoveryowen wrote. stay strong. In addition to employees, the company owes money to roughly 40 other creditors, including law firms, accountants, utilities, landlords and suppliers. And, as you might imagine, most have been from fans pledging their allegiance to Justin Bieber.According to Pew, women struggling with money, especially single mothers, were far more likely to desire full-time jobs.

Sunday, March 24, 2013

In July 2012, the United States harshly warned Assad to refrain from using chemical or other unconventional weapons, saying that he would be held accountable if he makes such a "tragic mistake.“Many of our papers are actually improving circulation,” she said. You are beyond amazing. I will forever believe in you. The former captain had represented Dorner at an LAPD disciplinary hearing that led to his firing. Leng sary died, Cambodia special court prosecutor autopsy headed to the hospital for four hours, and then at 2 PM on 14, 30 held a press conference on leng sary's death related issues.About half of women who struggled financially said working full time was ideal, compared to about 31 percent of those who said they live comfortably, the nonpartisan research group's report said. bank projected in February 2012 that the firm could lose $6.“Many of our papers are actually improving circulation,” she said.Jonas said the women were still not doing well. The company’s main asset is roughly $500,000 in promised services and goods the Phoenix received in exchange for advertising, but it’s not clear how much a buyer would pay for the bartered goods.Orlean, too, was “reeling,” saying she received her “education as a writer” at the Phoenix when she worked there in the 1980s."In the end, Bieber's message left fans elated that he spoke up for himself. Authorities believe he killed himself with a gunshot to the head.Last spring, Phoenix Communications sold its interest in other media properties, notably the Spanish-language paper El Planeta and terrestrial radio station WFNX 101.

In July 2012, the United States harshly warned Assad to refrain from using chemical or other unconventional weapons, saying that he would be held accountable if he makes such a "tragic mistake.“Many of our papers are actually improving circulation,” she said. You are beyond amazing. I will forever believe in you. The former captain had represented Dorner at an LAPD disciplinary hearing that led to his firing. Leng sary died, Cambodia special court prosecutor autopsy headed to the hospital for four hours, and then at 2 PM on 14, 30 held a press conference on leng sary's death related issues.About half of women who struggled financially said working full time was ideal, compared to about 31 percent of those who said they live comfortably, the nonpartisan research group's report said. bank projected in February 2012 that the firm could lose $6.“Many of our papers are actually improving circulation,” she said.Jonas said the women were still not doing well. The company’s main asset is roughly $500,000 in promised services and goods the Phoenix received in exchange for advertising, but it’s not clear how much a buyer would pay for the bartered goods.Orlean, too, was “reeling,” saying she received her “education as a writer” at the Phoenix when she worked there in the 1980s."In the end, Bieber's message left fans elated that he spoke up for himself. Authorities believe he killed himself with a gunshot to the head.Last spring, Phoenix Communications sold its interest in other media properties, notably the Spanish-language paper El Planeta and terrestrial radio station WFNX 101.

Printer paper printing ink through

 Printer paper printing ink through the pantryman hand direct contact with food, as for this kind of ink is harmful to human body, is unclear. In comparison, the number of married mothers who wanted full-time jobs remained flat.2 percentage points.“We’ll get paid for this week and if we’re owed vacation time, but no severance,” said staff writer Chris Faraone.Dorner hid out in the San Bernardino Mountains until Feb.Ambassador to India banned from leaving the countryIndia's Supreme Court 14 issued a statement, banned the Italian ambassador to India, danielle, roberto mancini from leaving the country."I enjoy work.Inside the dishwasher said, because you won't mandarin, can't go to front desk work, "smell the bad smell every day I have a headache, too bad. I believe in u, thanks 4 all your creations. The New York company's trading losses ultimately exceeded $6 billion. I don’t think any of our other publications are in danger of closing."There's been this convergence of gender roles, but there's still this big gap," said Pew's Parker, herself a mother of two. The wannabe show creator said, “Vice President Joe Biden has a demonstrated ability to bring people together, whether at the negotiating table or at the neighborhood diner” and argued the White House should capture “the daily activities and interactions of the Vice President with elected officials, foreign dignitaries and everyday American families.“So, that’s it,” Mindich concluded.Dorner hid out in the San Bernardino Mountains until Feb.

Thursday, March 21, 2013

I’ve gotten to meet some amazing people

The women were expected to receive the money in two to four days."You're spent emotionally, physically and spiritually for your children."Jesslove3bI added, "Understand and btw I don't even read what the press say, I only get the truth about your life from you so I believe @justinbieber. Aviv Kochavi, said Thursday that Syrian President Bashar Assad is preparing for the potential use of chemical weapons.S. meeting Thursday. Most said mothers working part-time or not at all would be better."Jesslove3bI added, "Understand and btw I don't even read what the press say, I only get the truth about your life from you so I believe @justinbieber. Moments later, nearby local police opened fire on a pickup truck driven by a surfer heading to the beach.A wider look at men and women's roles over the last few decades shows the gender gap has shrunk as women work more and fathers take on a greater share of housework and child care.com, the Phoenix Media/Communication Corp.Both mothers and fathers said they are equally stressed about work-life balance. Let's listen to it again.' J, it's brilliant, u're right.“Keeping the Phoenix afloat was costing Stephen more than $1 million a year,” Kadzis calculated.

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

a Western european nighties and add-ons retail store

My own Lovely lady Shop, a Western european nighties and add-ons retail store, commemorated the lavish cracking open immediately throughout Encino.

Their grocer reopened around middle of April as soon as the previous operator closed the location, that was generally known as Sara's Corset lingerie, throughout November.

Hagit Eden invested in their grocer, which happens to be found at 17211 Ventura Blvd., through the past user. Eden's mom, Emi Jardeni, will continue to function in the shop.

"Everything is totally new,Inch Jardeni explained, reassuring Encino ladies in the future in for fittings as well as other alterations.
Are generally women of all ages choosing vaginal mutilation for his or her own matrimony equality? And therefore are those people daughters shopping for corset lingerie to be able to indicate vigour with their partners? Based on Shereem El Feki's innovative ebook, "Sex plus the Citadel,Inches yes.

This morning NPR's Outdoors spoke with El Feki, hmo's vice seat of your Anyone.In.Is the reason Global Payment about HIV plus Legislation, plus a past health care surgeon to the Economist, where guide has a look at this before overlooked intimate plus public laws connected with younger Arab married couples, mostly gals.

Numerous the woman's findings in regards to the ethnical along with sex weather these twenty-somethings are usually, unquestionably, mind boggling... but let me keep in mind that will North america are able to use a paint primer throughout ladies rights, as well.

On the necessity for hymen fix surgical procedure, that El Feki classifies as a "shadowy enterprise:Inches "I recognize young women who have been went back on their individuals through its husbands because, while you state, they did not lose blood on defloweration.In .

As of The year 2008, 90 % connected with Egyptian ladies under the age of Fifty had been circumcised, contributing to Eighty percent of ladies aged 20 to be able to 18 have been circumcised, particularly, while a good many Egypt market leaders have been vocal the fact that process involving women genital mutilation is definitely against the techniques of Islam as well as Christianity. Aren't actually helps to make the selection in every personal case? Shockingly, it's actually not the boys of the home.

In line with El Feki: "[Women] are making the selections relating to daughters' well-being along with FGM [female lips mutilation], to remove or perhaps not to chop. [...] They're building these kind of judgements dependant on flawed facts, although the facts are, they've organization; as well as key to continue would be to recognize that electric power and switch the idea into a determination and that is discerning and improving the youngster's both mental and physical proper rights."

The primary reason regarding this elderly women's approach to create the following inconceivable soreness on their own kids happens because a clitoris still is thought to be "an powerplant involving women desire" that "needs being tamed,In otherwise over develop for being cheating to your ex life partner or perhaps generate "unrealistic demands" of your pet.

With that being said, here is a appealing thing, particularly when you consider your stateside feminist significances behind any mass-market nighties shop for instance, state, Victorias secret. Nighties product sales will be almost viral inside Arabic world to allow womenwhose sex, if vocalized, is considered a menace to their own union, the partners and themselvesto transmission recommended to their spouses actually experience libido.

El Feki: "It was exciting since these girls failed to get pregnant involving lingerie choices like a device associated with men's oppression. For the children it was an instrument involving power since they may possibly sign their virility never by simply truly expressing, 'I would like to have making love tonite,A but by that nighties and sending out far more understated signs.In .

The 2008-2009 examine shows that home-based abuse is still tradition, states El Feki:

"It ended up being appealing that many of these kinds of the younger generation substantial rates, people contracted that your man should really defeat his spouse if the lady will not have relations with him except if she had an exceedingly, excellent alibi, or even than a person will be validated in fighting the better half in the event nancy untrue."

In addition to, whilst they conduct report sexual satisfaction for their lifestyles, this is not automatically understood to be an orgasm:

"They saw sexual satisfaction, by way of example, in the their spouses were happy in the sack or perhaps their general daily life appeared to be pleased within matrimony, in this the children were feasted and the charges had been compensated plus they had a roof over their scalp.Inches
Some sort of outfits shop coming from Sweden got a virtual around associated with applause from Twitter consumers this week following a photography showcasing two fuller-figured mannequins swaying only purple-hued kid shorts and coordinating bras travelled viral.

Womens Legal rights Announcement uploaded picture to their Facebook page earlier this full week which has a information regarding design retailers throughout the actual U.Utes.:

 "Store mannequins within Sweden. They're like genuine gals. The US really should get a few of these.In

Monday, March 18, 2013

The most frequent reasons given


The most frequent reasons given by parents for not vaccinating their teens with Tdap/Td and MCV4 in 2010 were similar and consistent over the three years but were more diverse and changed significantly when it came to the HPV immunization: 9% said it was not recommended; 17% said it was not needed/not necessary; 16% cited safety concerns/side effects; 11% said it was because their daughter was not sexually active.

(A study co-author has done work for Merck, which makes an HPV and Td vaccine, but the study was funded through a grant from the Department of Health and Human Services.)

Although lack of sexual activity declined as a key reason for parents' rejection of the vaccine (down from 14% in 2008), it "again points to parental misunderstanding about HPV vaccination" and suggests that more work is needed to help some parents understand the vaccination, says Gregory Zimet, professor of pediatrics and clinical psychology at Indiana University School of Medicine. He was not involved in the study

"It's particularly concerning that parental worries about safety have increased, given that evidence for the safety of HPV vaccination has increased over the same time period," says Zimet. "In fact, the evidence is overwhelmingly persuasive that HPV vaccines are quite safe

The first HPV vaccine was licensed in 2006, and even then "there was very strong evidence that it was safe," says Jessica Kahn, professor of pediatrics at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. She was not involved in the study. That evidence "only continues to increase as tens of millions of doses have been administered and no evidence of safety concerns has emerged," says Kahn.

Sunday, March 17, 2013

Two family first party

Two family first party, "Thai " rooms need set big table. Can be selected from several hotel spending "hard prescription" is given. "Single table of 1000 yuan of above, there is no limit to the amount, but on a per head service charge. In this way will spend a lot of money."

Reporter interviews many upscale hotel management service, room service and lobby is the explanation of their services are differentiated, natural distance should be in charge. # if consumers choose to eat or packaging, naturally there will be no minimum charge or service fee. Disappear is protected appoint, points out that the so-called consumption and BaoJianFei don't belong in the lowest fee, belongs to the unreasonable fees. Set the "minimum" infringed upon the legitimate rights and interests of consumers, objectively inevitable forced consumers to accept products (food), you don't need forced consumers to accept the unreasonable price, alleged violations of the consumer to choose and fair trading right.

Thursday, March 14, 2013

Today is the international day of consumer

Today is the international day of consumer rights and interests protection. Just yesterday, the 12 th vote at a meeting of the National People's Congress passed the "institutional reform and function transformation plan of the state council. "The plan" clearly: to better play the role of social forces in the management of social affairs, let the people through social organizations according to law for self management, self service and participate in social affairs management.

In fact, in 2012, the social organization registration management system reform has been pushing; As of February 19 provinces have carried out or try out the social organization registration directly, nine provinces devolved non-public foundation registration administrative authority, eight provinces devolved beyond the chamber of commerce registration administrative authority, four provinces conducted foreign registered pilot people-run non-enterprise units.

And the change of government function, gradually relaxing social organization registration, has close relationship with consumers' rights and interests protection.

Consumers need "3 · 15" because in the modern business system, relative to the businessman, consumer in terms of financial and material resources, and professional knowledge are at a disadvantage, so I need the inequality in reality of visible hand turn them in, the performance in the consumer protection laws related to the slope protection for consumers.

"Consumer rights and interests protects a law" in China given the consumer's right to know, the right to fair trading right and self organized. Self-organizing power significance lies in the unity of individual consumer power, forming resultant force, let consumer can orderly, safeguarding rights and powerful merchants fair game.

Past, consumer groups tend to be confined to local consumer protection association (commission), and even the protection of consumer rights and interests of civil society disappear assist a only, no branch. And according to the provisions of the elimination, consumer associations and other consumer organizations ", are goods and services for social supervision to protect consumers' legitimate rights and interests of social groups, disappear assist itself is not the legal monopoly. And "solution" is clear: to gradually promote decoupling industry associations, Chambers of commerce and the administrative authority, introducing competition mechanism, to explore raised up, so as to change the security administration tendency of industry associations, Chambers of commerce, enhance their autonomy and vitality.

Needless to say, at present is nominally civil society's help, is attached to the administrative department for industry and commerce business unit. Depends on the industrial and commercial administrative power, is to boost consumer advocates say, but disappear assist the town itself is serious, it is difficult to directly represent the grass-roots interests of consumers. And restricted by administrative organs in accordance with the law, administrative regulation, and between monopoly state-owned enterprises and the interests of the stumbles, some local departments of industry and commerce or consumer advocates for the rights of consumers behavior is often hamstrung. Last February, for example, industrial and commercial bureau of Harbin was launched to great fanfare "telecommunications charges not legal rules" action, the results anticlimactic, go away.

So, when the activist, consumers in addition to complain to the administrative organ, let functions play a due role, make officials "advocate" for the people, can take the path of indigenous rights at the same time, to get out of the passive situation. This need to relevant government departments on the one hand to broaden the folk consumer advocacy group registration, let them to disappear assist benign competition; Class action lawsuit system also needs to be activated on the other hand, in order to deter unscrupulous merchants.

Class action lawsuit is known as "the social function of the largest ever relief way", powerful private consumption rights protection organizations is an effective supplement to government regulation, help reduce government food safety regulation, environmental pollution treatment in recent years on issues such as some of the pressure. And that is exactly what civil self-management system advantage.

Last revision of the "civil procedure law" clearly defines the legal status of public interest litigation system: for infringes upon the lawful rights and interests harm social public interests such as many consumers behavior, organizations can bring a suit before a people's court. On substantive law, the law in our country have from the consumers' rights and interests protection act "refund to compensate one", "food safety" in the "loss of a compensate ten", progress to the "tort liability law" specific provision "punitive damages"; If on the program, to activate public welfare lawsuit system, customers can through disappear assist, or other self-management organization, easy start public interest litigation, real pain for unscrupulous merchants.

Chinese consumers are familiar with the old lady in the McDonald's coffee, get sky-high compensation cases after burns. And now, this kind of compensation for rarely happen in China. This is not, of course, McDonald's south orange north definite, but China's civil society organizations, the collective lawsuit system, the punitive compensation system is far from mature, not enough to effectively deter merchants.

All in all, in terms of consumers' rights, relevant government departments should be bold to delegate, abandon single administrative supervision mode, actively broaden the folk consumer advocacy group registration, make them orderly activist, appeal, launched a public interest litigation, to deter unscrupulous businessmen, monopoly, to form the consumer rights protection in one hand depends on the government administration according to law, hit the profiteers, the other with independent rights, merchants with game pattern of "walking on two legs", eventually reached the people work up and down, the benign interaction.

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Sexy Indian Costumes on Sale!

I’ve been to Cologne recently, one of Germany’s main Carnival cities. In the window of a shop I passed, I saw some residues of the just ended Carnival season for sale – amongst other things, a Native American costume. Like many others of the sort, it consisted of a brown faux suede suit, a colourful feather hair decoration, and a little fake axe. And – not to my surprise – it showed far more skin that it concealed. Unfortunately, I didn’t take a picture. However, “Indian” Carnival and Halloween costumes like that can be found all over the internet, may it be in the (sadly unavoidable) “sexy” women’s version like the one I saw, or in the male “warrior / chief” version. Obviously, these costumes are not authentic Native American clothing, but a stereotypical mockery of it. In contrast to other costumes that refer to animals, to real or imaginary cultural roles like police men or princesses, to fairy tale and comic characters and the like, the Native American costume relates to members of a particular ethnicity. (Sometimes even to a particular tribe, as in this particularly gross example.) Of course, there are other costumes that do a similar job in imitating members of a certain country or ethnicity (e.g., the French or my fellow Bavarians). However, there is no denying that Native Americans have a special history in the sense that parts of it is characterised by war against a superior power, conquest and forced relocation. Native Americans still exist; they are more than a historical reference and their clothing, accessories, and symbols have religious and social meanings. Still, not only costumes but also a bunch of North American products (e.g., Natural American Spirit tobacco) and sports teams (e.g., the Cleveland Indians) use caricatures of Native Americans as their logos – and they seem to make profit with it. I suspect such costumes and branding making use of other ethnicities would be perceived as more than just inappropriate in (more or less) comparable cases. Imagine, for example, a minority persecuted during National Socialism in Germany to be used as mascot of a German football team today… The outrage would be tremendous – and rightfully so. (To give a less extreme example for different standards: the popular European chocolate-coated marshmallows originally called “negro kisses” were renamed in several countries to avoid the racist connotation.) Although there have been some debates about the use of Native American symbols and mascots in fashion and in sports, I have the impression that still only few people mind. Perhaps many don’t even notice. Psychologically, one reason for that might be that Native Americans often have been portrayed in a romanticizing “Hollywood” way in the media. People might think of them rather as figures from a fantasy world or a distant past than existing human beings. Maybe that is the reason why “Cowboys and Indians” seems to be a harmless child game to us rather than an inappropriate belittlement of the Native American’s cruel past and sometimes sad present. Despite these psychological explanations, I cannot think of a single reason why this large-scale ethnic stereotyping of Native Americans should be morally less unjustified than stereotyping of other groups. Can you?!