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• Technology for Humanity

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copy; karl_g_jones for Babel, 02:50 PM. |

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Rome: Itrsquo;s beautiful and itrsquo;s not. Kinda like everything else in life.

ldquo;La prossima fermata è Roma Termini.rdquo;

I moved to Italy to live at the end of September last year. I lived in Brescia (a medium-sized city in Northern Italy) until March 1, when I moved to Siena.

(I am once again back in Brescia, but thatrsquo;s a story Irsquo;m going to save for another day.)

I picked up some vocabulary during those first five months in Italy, but it wasnrsquo;t until I started attending an Italian class for immigrants in Siena that I really started learning the language.

Now, finally!, I understand much of what is being said either to me or around me. The language no longer sounds foreign or like pretty sounds flowing forth from peoplersquo;s mouths. Although Irsquo;m more motivated to learn the languagendash;because it finally seems like an achievable goal to converse fluentlyndash;the glossy veneer of the nonsensical musical sounds has dulled. I donrsquo;t know, therersquo;s something about understanding when somebody complains about the weather (or conversely, the ease in which I can complain about it) that makes any language sound less romantic.

Shiny glossy veneers are so overrated. Donrsquo;t you think? I mean, a veneer is just a thin expensive sheet of wood (or metal) with layers upon layers of unusually toxic clear varnish. If it wasnrsquo;t for the common cheap material beneath (like pine or regular mild steel), the veneer would have nothing to attach itself to.

And Irsquo;ve always preferred the look of a dull, used or aged finish anywayhellip;and now that Irsquo;ve exhausted my analogy Irsquo;m finished with this post.

But one more thing before I go to bed on this hot summer night: it is nice to know that you can simply listen to the conductor to know when your next stop is and not have the nervous wondering of whether yoursquo;ve missed it or have yet to arrive.

Arrivederci a dopo.

~Janelle Renée

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copy; Janelle_Renee for Babel, 02:46 PM. |

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So touched by such inhuman treament to people because of their inability to defend themselves or provide proper accomodation for themselves,and even a source of livelihood was traumatic,hence,my decision to get the NGO (NATURAL TOUCH) started,with the aim to provide food and shelter for the hanicapped.Make sure there is a future for them and security of life for them.

Upon our inception,we had limited our intention to mostly the young ones and average aged.Although we could not provide accomodation for them but we  provide the basic needs which is food for them atleast once a day.

It is our aim to increase the feeding arrangement to twice a day and also build a home for them.It is our aim to accomodate at least 2000-5000 handicapped people of difiers ages in the home,and Animals too.


With support from other Organisations/Individauls that are touched just as we are.We will establish a school or a handicraft centre for them to study and become independent of their own in future.


Suffice to say here that most of them roam the street with torn cloths and look unkept,We also provide clothing where necessary and affordable to them.


Based on our inability to sustain the financial burden,we are looking forward to Groups or Individuals with similar passion as we have towards uplifting the living standard of these hadicapped and also thinking of ensuring their future.

We are planning of building a home for them in Calabar to accomodate the handicapped and also recruit personnels to take care of their cooking and tranining.


We look forward to support  from passionate groups and individuals.


Thanks,


Dennis

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copy; Naturaltouch for Babel, 02:38 AM. |

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Over the past week, Ewan Oglethorpe, Kristen Arnold, and Andrew Riedy from The Ohio State University have braved the cold weather and the corporate suits to testify on American Electric Powerrsquo;s proposed new electric rate plan.

AEP wants to raise rates 15% a year each of the next 3 years, for a total increase of over 52%! They want to do some good stuff, including investing $178 million in energy efficiency, but overall the plan is lacking. Students testified to demand:

• Third party administration of the new programs



• Spending across the service territory and customer classes so big business doesnrsquo;t get all the cuts, and



• Rate increases across customer classes so homeowners donrsquo;t get stuck with all the burden.

To get it straight, we oppose AEPrsquo;s plan. After recording record profits of over $1 billion last year and paying their CEO Michael Morris $19.7 million a year, they have no business asking for more. Theyrsquo;re also the worldrsquo;s seventh largest greenhouse gas polluter, with plans to move on up.

IF their plan gets approved by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, it damn well better at least charge everyone, benefit everyone, and be administered by a transparent third party like they do in other states. Go Ewan, Kristen, and Andrew!