On Thursday 26th of November a group of LGBTQ activists will be kissing against the Lithuanian government and their homophobic legislation through a public kiss-in in front of the parliament.

The public kissing is organized as a demonstration against the state homophobia which is violating the human rights of LGBTQ people in Lithuania. The event was organized by ANSO – Association of Nordic and Pol-Balt LGBTQ Student Organizations, in cooperation with Lithuanian LGBTQ activists.

Lithuania has long been known as one of the most homophobic and biphobic countries in Europe but the situation will get dramatically worse when the new legislation for The Law on the Protection of Minors against Detrimental Effect of Public Information comes into effect in March 2010.

Says Anthony Holm, Danish board member of ANSO and BLUS.

ANSO is this week organizing a 4 days long conference on LGBTQ issues in Vilnius to shed light on the Lithuanian situation and to show international support to local LGBTQ activists. ANSO is very concerned about the human rights situation in Lithuania and by organizing an event in Vilnius the organization hopes to draw attention to the homophobia and discrimination that LGBTQ people face with this new legislation.

With this demonstration we hope to attract the attention of our national governments to put pressure on their Lithuanian colleagues to reverse this legislation and protect the human rights of all people.

Explains Anthony Holm.

For more information, contact:

Anthony Holm:  anthony@blus.dk

See the video and pictures.

Silence Dogood here. As most of you know, the Friday after Thanksgiving has come to be known as Black Friday because it’s America’s biggest shopping day of the year, the day when merchants hope that consumer frenzy will take them out of the red and put them in the black for the year. Much of the nation has the Friday after Thanksgiving off (except for those luckless souls in retail sales), so they’re free to shop, and stores offer huge sales, deep discounts, and other enticements to lure people out to the malls, outlets, and other retail establishments.

Apparently, the marketing effort works beautifully. Long lines form at favored stores before dawn, with people waiting in the cold for hours so they won’t miss the hugely discounted gadgets, clothing, and etc. In previous years, people have been trampled and even killed in the stampede to get inside the stores and grab the precious whatever-the-hell-it-is before they’re all gone. Many people try to do all their Christmas shopping on Black Friday; others buy items they’ve been coveting but haven’t been able to afford.

Our local paper interviewed shoppers yesterday, ranging in age from the 20s through the 50s, to see what they had bought, and the results were rather dismaying to me: In every case, the shopper reported buying something on impulse, as opposed to something they needed or had wanted for a while, ”because the price was just too good to pass up.” Yikes.

Anyway, this herd-mentality consumerism proved to be too much for a Canadian man named Ted Dave, who in 1992 founded Buy Nothing Day as “a day for society to examine the issue of over-consumption.” (Thanks, Wikipedia, for the specifics.) In 2009, 65 countries worldwide participated in Buy Nothing Day, which is celebrated on Black Friday in America and the following Saturday in the rest of the world.

So, okay, what did I buy on Black Friday, our Buy Nothing Day? Yes, I did indeed buy something. I bought two tickets to the marvelous movie “Coco Before Chanel,” about, obviously, the early life of Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel. Not only did I want to see this gorgeous film, but I wanted to treat our Thanksgiving-week guest Sasha to the film. Sasha, a college freshman, is the son of my best friend, and the rest of his family is out of the country, so he came to stay with me and our friend Ben for the holiday. (And, I think, fell in love with our black German shepherd puppy Shiloh.)

If you’re wondering why on earth I’d think an 18-year-old college freshman would give a damn about a movie about Coco Chanel, here’s why: Sasha has already created his own clothing line, Anso, with men’s and women’s lines (Anso Mann and Anso Merie), models, logos, and a defining symbol. (It’s ([])., Anso period, because after Anso, there’s nothing else. Clever, yes?) Sasha tells me there’s an Anso site on Facebook, so you non-Luddites can go check it out.

Needless to say, Sasha loved the movie, which I also highly recommend to viewers of all ages who love beautiful scenery, fabulous French chateaux, gorgeous horses, and fantastic costumes, not to mention, of course, incredible acting. See it on the big screen if you can, since the amazing visuals demand larger-than-life viewing. Aaaahhh!!!

But to return to the point. I felt great about buying those tickets on Buy Nothing Day, supporting the fine arts, giving enormous pleasure—and possibly genuine inspiration—not just to myself but to someone I love. Did I have anything tangible to show for my Black Friday purchase? Nope. But to me, it was priceless.

          ‘Til next time,

                     Silence

Buenas noches a todos de nuevo.

Hace poco, mirando páginas e información, a ver que encontraba sobre el hospital de aviación, me llevé una grata sorpresa, sí, una sorpresa de esas que dices, ” ¡Curiosísimo!” y le das vueltas una y otra vez.

Pues resulta que Juan Negrín, el que fue el último presidente de la II República después de la guerra civil, (una vez ya en el exilio), visitó nuestro municipio, según un trozo de artículo que he encontrado por la red de redes, y este fragmento dice así:

En efecto, Juan Nergín iba mucho a comer con Mariano Ansó a un restaurante llamado La Torreta, en el que yo me alojaba

La Torreta, ese restaurante actual que está en El Vedat, al lado del salón El Pino, que es de color rojo y con una torre en el costado izquierdo.

Y como no !,  no podemos dejar de nombrar ni mucho menos a Mariano Ansó, que por lo visto también nos visitó. Mariano Ansó fue ministro de justicia en el segundo gobierno de Juan Negrín. Escribió un libro que se llama: “Yo fui ministro de Negrín”, ¿Curioso no, que hayamos sido visitados en varias ocasiones por dos miembros conocidísimos del Gobierno de la II República… yo me voy a quedar aquí  reflexionando.

Mientras os dejo el artículo donde lo he sacado.

http://www.cervantesvirtual.com/servlet/SirveObras/12715207571383744198846/210324_0031.pdf

Di seguito un’intervista registrata negli uffici di AdVit utilizzato allo Iab Forum di Milano. Si parla di Anso (Associazione nazionale della stampa on-line) di cui sono presidente, e di RomagnaOggi.it, il giornale on-line che ho fondato nel 2004.

ÚLTIMAS PLAZAS- Talleres de fin de semana:

El taller de fotografía de bosques en Siresa del 13,14 y 15 ya esta prácticamente completo, quedando a día de hoy ( 13 de octubre ) las dos últimas plazas. Este taller de otoño en colaboración con el Ayuntamiento de Zuera, completa las tres actividades de fin de semana para el otoño, siendo febrero de 2010 la próxima cita en Jaén, en el Parque Natural de Sierra Mágina para la siguiente actividad de fin de semana.

ÚLTIMAS PLAZAS- Intensivos de fotografía de un día:

Teruel 19 de octubre ( dos plazas disponibles)
Valencia 20 de octubre (última plaza disponible)
Lleida 26 de octubre (dos plazas disponibles)
Barcelona 27 de octubre (última plaza disponible)

Mercoledì 7 ottobre 2009 ho partecipato ad una importante tavola rotonda all’Igf (Internet governance conference) che si è svolto al Cnr di Pisa. Di seguito il comunicato stampa diffuso al termine dell’iniziativa dall’Anso (Associazione nazionale della stampa on-line) che ho l’onore di presiedere.

“Internet e nuove forme di impresa” è il titolo della tavola rotonda alla quale ANSO è stata invitata a portare il suo contributo, durante l’Internet Governance Forum che si è concluso mercoledì al CNR di Pisa. Il presidente ANSO, Marco Di Maio, è intervenuto dando voce all’esperienza degli editori locali online associati e, più in generale, manifestando ancora una volta l’esigenza che il Legislatore regolamenti e valorizzi l’informazione locale online.

A questo proposito, Di Maio si è riallacciato alle esperienze di innovazione su campi esterni al web portata da Gartner e Microsoft, due società leader, e ha sottolineato come l’informazione locale online rappresenti un elemento di straordinaria innovazione per il mondo dell’editoria. Ha introdotto quel concetto di “glocalità” che oggi è indispensabile per affrontare qualsiasi sfida che pone il futuro.

«Bisogna partire dalla propria comunità locale – spiega Di Maio – e lì costruire un forte radicamento, per poi diffondere una cultura dell’informazione che non sia legata solo al proprio territorio, ma che sappia allargare la visione agli attori che operano sul territorio stesso».

Alla luce dei numeri sviluppati da ANSO (2,5 milioni di lettori unici al mese, 25 milioni di pagine visitate e 40 testate giornalistiche registrare), durante l’intervento alla tavola rotonda, Marco Di Maio ha rimarcato la totale assenza di una legislazione che tenga in adeguato conto il mondo dell’informazione online, e ha ribadito l’esigenza di convocare quanto prima gli Stati Generali dell’Editoria. Secondo l’ANSO, è urgente una riforma del settore, che preveda non solo la regolamentazione del mondo dell’informazione online, ma anche una serie di norme che ne agevolino lo sviluppo e il consolidamento.

«L’informazione online va considerata al pari degli altri media – sottolinea il presidente ANSO – specialmente in un momento in cui si parla molto di libertà di informazione, che significa pluralismo. Escludere il mondo online dalla legislazione e dagli interventi a sostegno dei vari settori dell’editoria non sembra quindi andare incontro a quel principio di libertà d’informazione e di pluralismo a cui spesso si fa riferimento».

En menos de una semana se han terminado de completar las plazas del Taller de Fotografía en Irati del 30, 31 de octubre y 1 de noviembre en ISABA. De igual forma el siguiente fin de semana 6,7 y 8 de noviembre del Taller de Fotografía y Setas en Aragüés del Puerto ya esta también al completo. Por ello y como sabemos que sois muchos los que nos habéis solicitado información de estos talleres, únicamente animaros a la lista de espera, por si hay alguna cancelación de última hora o bien ir a lo seguro reservando en el último Taller de Fotografía de otoño del 13,14 y 15 de Noviembre en Siresa, para el que todavía quedan cuatro plazas y en el que esperamos poder vernos disfrutando de la fotografía de otoño.

Aquí os dejo un vídeo del promocional del Taller del 13,14 y 15 de noviembre en Siresa.

Como una de las épocas más interesantes de la fotografía de naturaleza y bosques en concreto se nos viene encima, aquí van algunos consejos de Chavi, colaborador habitual de Fotolocus, para el equipamiento y preparativos de la fotografía en Bosques.

“Desde primeros de octubre y hasta finales de noviembre se concentran las semanas en las que poco a poco los bosques se van transformando. Ocasiones para poder adentrarse en esos cambios multicolor empiezan a partir de los próximos días.

Alguno de los consejos para disfrutar a tope de nuestra jornada en los bosques son:

• Ir al monte equipado con ropa cómoda, con la que poder tirarnos al suelo, no olvidar chubasquero, móvil, agua y también ropa de abrigo, ya que las temperaturas ahora empiezan a cambiar de manera notable en el interior de los bosques.
• Llevar siempre trípode, éste se hace indispensable para poder captar con fidelidad los detalles ya que si deseamos tener una buena profundidad de campo deberemos cerrar nuestros diafragmas entre f/11 y f/22 y los tiempos de obturación serán en la mayoría de ocasiones lentos y por debajo de 1/60sec.
• Utilizar objetivos tanto angulares como teles para conseguir captar planos con amplitud y también seleccionar con el tele planos comprimidos y detalles.
• Llevar algún filtro polarizador y de densidad neutra ND4 para conseguir nuestros cauces y ríos espectaculares.
• Experimentar con el WB o Balance de blancos en nuestras tomas, probando en Automático siempre pero cambiando a Nublado para ver el realce de la temperatura de color.
• Llevar en mochila Silicatel (bolsas secantes) para evitar que la humedad del bosque se condense en nuestras mochilas estancas y por consiguiente entre humedad en el cuerpo de la cámara al guardarla.
• Llevar siempre baterías de sobra y cargadas durante la noche antes de la jornada
• Por último aprovechar tantas horas como nos sea posible, sin prisas, el interior de los bosques está tamizado por las hojas y disfrutaremos de buena luz difusa casi todo el día, si bien el amanecer y el atardecer nos muestran tonos y luces mucho más espectaculares.

¿Cuando ir?
Son un montón las agencias y fotógrafos que en estos meses organizan escapadas de fotografía en el bosque, pero algunas recomendaciones para este Octubre son en especial el Taller Fotográfico en los Pirineos Occidentales para el Puente del Pilar de EVADIUM, que al ser tres días intensos es como si fuéramos dos fines de semana comprimidos en un largo puente.

Para Noviembre Fotolocus organiza también varios talleres, uno en Aragüés del Puerto el 6,7 y 8 de noviembre combinando fotografía bosques y micogastronomía y a la semana siguiente el 13,14 y 15 de noviembre una nueva jornada en los Valles Occidentales Fotografiando el Bosque, en Siresa.”

Suerte y al bosque.

Nuestra próxima escapada programada para Agosto nos llevará a uno de los entornos únicos del Pirineo Aragonés, El Parque Natural de los Valles Occidentales. Un paraje que comprende tres valles llenos de bosques, natura y tradición.

Durante el fin de semana del 22 y 23 de agosto recorreremos de la mano de Chavinandez alguno de los rincones que han servido de inspiración para alguno de sus  reportajes y documentales de la zona, entre ellos; localizaciones de la selva de Oza, el bosque de Labati, o localidades como la de Hecho, Ansó y Aragüés del Puerto, todas ellas llenas de cultura y tradición.

La temática del taller, principalmente enmarcada en la fotografía de viajes, promete ser una nueva aventura para conocer de primera mano los secretos mejor guardados de esta bella y extensa área del Pirineo Aragonés. Gracias a Photolocus y la colaboración del Ayuntamiento de San Mateo de Gállego, el precio de este fin de semana completo es de 180€/persona.

Para más información del taller ir a la página del mismo. (dos últimas plazas disponibles)

client: anso
in brief: layout for a transgender inclusion booklet: information on gender/transgender issues.

(pdf booklet can be viewed here).

client: anso (association of nordic lgbtq student organizations)
in brief: illustration and layout design for a transgender-themed christmas card.

Lo tengo crudo, estoy hasta más arriba de los cataplines. No me fío del gobierno, no me fío de la oposición, no me fío de las elecciones, no me fío del capitalismo, no me fío del socialismo sin la o de obrero, no me fío de Obama ni de ZP, no me fío de los que se achantan ante las sectas, no me fío de los bancos y sus prácticas usureras, no me fío de los partidos políticos, no me fío del gobierno al dictado, no me fío de los programas sin ambición, no me fío de la historia ni de los cuenta cuentos, no me fío de las capadas comisiones de investigación, no me fío de los arrendadores del cielo, no me fío del libre mercado, no me fío de las ONGs, no me fío de los paraísos fiscales, no me fío de la monarquía ni de la anarquía, no me fío de los enemigos ni de los amigos, no me fío del sibilino Bertone ni del amén de Zp a su chantaje, no me fío de los sindicatos, no me fío ni un pelo de la política de hambrear a la clase obrera para salir de la crisis, no me fío de los lobos con piel de cordero, no me fío de la democracia que ilegaliza partidos políticos, no me fío de los cornudos y consentidores, no me fío de la acumulación capitalista ni del caos y miseria que genera, no me fío de los privilegios de la iglesia ni de mantener intactos los acuerdos del concordato, no me fío de las manos finas ni de las lenguas bastas, no me fío de los duros por cuatro pesetas, no me fío del fascismo europeo y su ley de retorno contra la inmigración, no me fío del rescate de los banqueros, no me fío de los criminales, no me fío de los que siempre ponen la otra mejilla, no me fío de los parientes ni de los vecinos, no me fío de los jueces ni de los abogados, no me fío de la santa madre iglesia ni del cristo que la fundó, no me fío de los milagros, no me fío de los que ladran ni de los ladrones, no me fío de los de la piel morena ni de los de la jeta blanca, no me fío del plan Bolonia, no me fío de la sanidad privada, no me fío de los sepulcros blanqueados, no me fío de quienes son capaces de producir daño con tal de mantener el poder sobre las vidas ajenas, no me fío de los cuervos blancos ni de las palomas prietas, no me fío de los calvos ni de los que llevan el pelo engominado, no me fío de los animales de dos patas, no me fío de las rebajas fiscales, no me fío del más allá, no me fío de la crisis ni de las recetas para salir de ella, no me fío de los ejecutivos que reciben los beneficios, no me fío de los que hacen cargar con el mochuelo de las pérdidas a los de siempre, no me fío de los genios del sector privado, no me fío de la moral católica, no me fío de los que regalaron la banca pública a sus amigos, no me fío de los que despilfarran el dinero de todos, no me fío de los charlatanes ni de los mansos y callados, no me fío de los fanáticos ni de los sumisos, no me fío de los falsimedios ni de sus campañas de propaganda, no me fío de los tontos del capirote, no me fío de la refundación del capitalismo, no me fío de los izquierdistas que temen la caída del capitalismo, no me fío de la insolvencia privada que terminará en bancarrota del Estado, no me fío de los estados mafiosos, no me fío de los que meten la mano en el caxón, no me fío de los parásitos de la sociedad civil, no me fío de las recetas de los empresarios para abaratar el despido, no me fío de los que amañan guerras mundiales para salir de la crisis, no me fío de las miserias de los gobiernos ante el chantaje vaticanista, no me fío de los que aparentan, no me fío de los que ponen el cazo, no me fío de los imperios orgullosos, no me fío de la propaganda sionista ni de su carta blanca contra los palestinos, no me fío del agua turbia de los gringos, no me fío de los amos del universo y no me fío del FMI ni del BM.

¿Me quedará por ventura, algo o alguien en quien fiar?

El libro de hoy es de Andre Gide “Las cavas del Vaticano”

Los fotos -en orden alfabético- pertenecen a una votación popular de los pueblos más hermosos de España.

ANSO

During the month of January ANSO (Association of Nordic and Baltic Student Organization) hosted a study session called “Loosening the Grip of Heteronormativity” in Strasbourg, France. With 28 participants from all over Europe representing many different NGO’s coming to learn the basics of heteronormativity; possible ways of challenging heteronormativity in Higher Education and learning more about the Council of Europe (COE) , in particular the Directorate of Youth and Sport (DYS).

The Prep-Team consisted of Monica Grzywnowicz (President of ANSO), Ann Kristin Fagerlund (Vice President), Vilma Gabrieliute (Board Member) and myself (Treasurer). Sabine Klocker was the Education Advisor assisting and steering the team.

The program included an Introduction to Heteronormativity; Intersectionality; Policy Making; Advocacy and Lobbying; Team Building; Organizational Fairs and a visit to the parliamentary hemicycle. The program took place over a duration of 1 week (23 January – 1 February) where  all the objectives have been achieved!

A long term goal of ANSO was to create a “Queer Survival Kit” which would act as a tool for LGBTQ people to counteract heteronormativity in Higher Education. This could be used by students; young people and even teachers. And during the past study session some concrete tools have been developed. Some of these include a Board-Game; ANSO Calendar; Open-source Website containing LGBTQ PHD’s and other papers; Brochures with Political Strategies and creating alliances with Student Unions and finally a practical game of identifying heteronormativity. All this was accomplished in just  a week! All the tools are currently in the funding (and improvement) stage and we are hoping to have the tools implemented A.S.A.P!

Some of the countries that participated are Romania; Georgia; Germany; Lithuania; Estonia; Denmark; Norway; Iceland; Sweden; Kyrgyzstan; Lebanon; Russia and many more. It was also not only people representing LGBTQ Organizations, but also Student Unions helping to achieve the goal of creating Gay-Straight alliances (GSA). Another goal was to have co-operation between LGBTQ organizations and the organizational fair allowed for just that. Participants could learn about what other organizations are doing in their own countries and how to possibly share resources and share realities.

All in all it was a very successful study session and hopefully participants will be able to multiply all the knowledge learnt and hopefully this study session will result in some very amazing co-operations. The ANSO team look forward to have feedback in some months from all the lovely participants.

Got a stain? From Shaw’s guide to carpet cleaning and stain removal:

Protect your carpet–step by-step
With the exceptional quality of Shaw’s carpet, your carpet could “ugly” out long before it “wears” out. Make sure it doesn’t with a comprehensive care program made up of four parts:
Preventive Maintenance – protect your investment before problems occur.
Vacuuming – the most important step in caring for your carpet.
Spot and Spill Removal – because, let’s face it, they just can’t always be avoided.
Overall Cleaning – because vacuuming doesn’t get everything.
No carpet is absolutely stain proof
Some carpets have stain resistant treatments that improve your ability to clean stains, but not prevent stains. Similarly, carpets with soil resistant treatments reduce the rate of soiling, but all carpets require regular care and maintenance. Click here to learn about Shaw’s own breakthrough in carpet soil and stain resistance technology, R2X.
Staining versus soiling
There is often confusion about the difference between soiling and staining carpet. The majority of stain complaints are actually soil related. For example, many sugar-based spills, such as soft drinks and coffee, leave a sugar residue after removal. This sticky residue readily attracts soil from ordinary shoe traffic, and the resulting discolored area appears to be a stain.

The same thing happens when spills are cleaned with a detergent solution and the area is not sufficiently rinsed with plain water, leaving a sticky detergent residue. It is important to rinse thoroughly with water and blot dry after removing any spill.

New flooring represents a substantial investment. The proper steps will make sure it stays attractive for years to come.
Preventative Maintenance
Place walk-off mats at all entrances
Walk-off mats should be used at the exterior of all entrances to absorb the soil and moisture. They can help trap the excessive dirt, sand, grit, and other substances such as oil, asphalt, or driveway sealer that would otherwise be tracked into the home. Mats should also be cleaned on a regular basis so they don’t become sources of soil themselves.
Use a quality pad
You should always use a quality pad under your carpet, particularly on stairs. A good carpet pad not only gives better resilience and comfort underfoot, it can extend the life of your carpet. Because some carpets carry warranties with specific density and thickness requirements, be sure and review your warranty before purchasing your pad. Click here to learn about Shaw’s Soft Foundations line of carpet cushion.
Occasionally move heavy furniture
Move heavy furniture occasionally to avoid excessive pile crushing. You should also use floor protectors designed for carpet under the legs of tables, chairs, and other furniture to help distribute the weight. Do not use chairs or appliances with rollers or casters without a chair pad designed specifically for carpet or damage can occur.
Protect carpet when moving furniture
When moving heavy wheeled furniture (pianos, buffets, etc.), prevent damage by placing a protective barrier of heavy cardboard or plywood between the wheels and the carpet.
Clean your area rugs
If you use area rugs on your carpet, be sure to clean them regularly. Clean and restore the pile of the carpet underneath as well. Also, be sure to check area rugs for colorfastness before placing them on carpet because the color in some rugs may bleed through. After cleaning your carpet, allow it to dry completely before replacing rugs.
Reduce periods of direct sunlight
Protect your carpet from prolonged periods of direct sunlight with blinds, shades, or awnings.
Vacuuming
The most important step in caring for your carpet is vacuuming.
Vacuum carpet thoroughly and frequently, particularly in high-traffic areas. Realize that walking on soiled carpet allows the soil particles to work their way below the surface of the pile where they are far more difficult to remove and can damage the carpet fibers. Frequent vacuuming removes these particles from the surface before problems occur.

For rooms with light traffic, vacuum the carpet traffic lanes twice weekly and the entire area once weekly. In areas with heavy traffic, vacuum the carpet traffic lanes daily and the entire area twice weekly. Up to three passes of the machine will suffice for light soiling, but five to seven passes are necessary for heavily soiled areas. Change the vacuuming direction occasionally to help stand the pile upright and reduce matting.
Check the quality of your vacuum
A good vacuum cleaner is vital to prolonging the beauty and life of your carpet. An inexpensive machine can remove surface dirt but will not effectively remove the hidden dirt and particles embedded in the pile.

To ensure that your vacuum will conform to the highest industry standards, make sure that your vacuum cleaner is certified through the Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) Vacuum Cleaner Indoor Air Quality Program. Visit ]www.carpet-rug.com for details and listings.
Select the best vacuum for your type of carpet
Shaw recommends using vacuums with a rotating brush or combination beater/brush bar that agitates the carpet pile and mechanically loosens soil for removal. Carpet with thick loop pile construction, particularly wool and wool-blend styles, may be sensitive to brushing or rubbing of the pile surface and may become fuzzy. For these products, Shaw recommends a suction-only vacuum or a vacuum with an adjustable brush lifted away from the carpet so it does not agitate the pile. A vacuum with a beater/brush bar can be tested for excessive fuzzing in an inconspicuous location before regular use.
Pay attention to vacuum bags
Replaceable paper vacuum bags do a better job of trapping small particles than cloth bags. With cloth bags, the particles pass back into the room. High efficiency vacuum bags, also called micro filtration bags, trap even smaller microscopic particles such as mold and mildew spores and dust mite byproducts, which are often found to be a source of allergies. All vacuum bags should be checked often and replaced when half full.
Check the belt and the setting
Make sure the belt is in good condition and that the brush or beater bar rotates when in contact with the carpet. To adjust the vacuum to the correct height setting for the carpet, raise the beater/brush bar to the highest setting and then lower it until it contacts the pile enough to slightly vibrate the carpet several inches away from the machine, but not low enough to cause significant slowing of the motor.
Change vacuuming directions
Change the vacuuming direction occasionally to help stand the pile upright and help reduce matting.
Spot and Spill Removal
Protect your carpet–step by-step
No carpet is stain proof, but since many are stain resistant, you have time to act. Look below to see if the specific spill you’re trying to remove is listed. If so, you’ll see instructions to help. If not, use the following general quidelines.
Remove as much of food spills as possible by scraping the carpet gently with a spoon or a dull knife.

Absorb wet spills as quickly as possible by blotting repeatedly with white paper or white cloth towels. Always blot; never rub or scrub abrasively, as a fuzzy area may result. When blotting, work from the outer edge in toward the center of the spot to avoid spreading the spill.

Remove the stain using one of the cleaning items from the checklist below.

Rinse the cleaned carpet area with water to remove detergent residue that may become sticky and cause rapid re-soiling.

Absorb any remaining moisture by placing several layers of white towels over the spot and weighing them down with a heavy object. This step is necessary even when the carpet doesn’t seem particularly damp.

What do you use to clean the spill? Be prepared with the following checklist.
You should use the following items for handling spills on your carpet. It’s important to use only the items listed, because many other household cleaners contain chemicals that may permanently damage your carpet.
White cloths or white paper towels
Detergent solution
Mix mild liquid detergent with water (no more than 1/4 teaspoon of detergent to 32 ounces of water). A clear, non-bleach liquid dishwashing detergent such as Dawn, Joy, or clear Ivory is recommended. Do not use detergents that are cloudy or creamy because they may leave a sticky residue.

Vinegar solution
Mix 1 part white vinegar to 1 part water.

Ammonia solution
Mix one tablespoon of ammonia to one cup of water. (Do not use on wool or wool-blend carpets.)

Non-oily nail polish remover
Chewing gum remover (freeze or solid type)
Spot Remover
Use spot removers designed specifically for grease, oil, or tar, such as Carbona or Energine.

Solution-dyed fibers can withstand bleach, but do you know if your carpet is solution-dyed?
Difficult stains on carpets made from polypropylene or other solution-dyed fibers may be removed with a mild bleach solution (one part chlorine bleach to five parts water). But be careful. If you aren’t absolutely certain your carpet is solution dyed, call Shaw’s Information Center at 1-800-441-Shaw.
Overall Cleaning
Vacuuming alone won’t protect your carpet
Even though vacuuming can remove most soil, it is also necessary to clean your carpet on a regular basis to remove the oily, sticky soil that vacuums don’t remove. These soils result from cooking vapors, air pollution, and tracked-in dirt from outside. The particles of oily soil deposited on carpet fibers can cause gradual but significant dulling of colors. The color isn’t lost, but is hidden under the film. If this type of soil is allowed to accumulate, it begins to attract and hold the dry soil.

If carpet is cleaned before it becomes too unsightly, the cleaning chore will be easier and more successful. Carpet in a typical household should be cleaned every 12 to 18 months, depending on the number of residents and amount of activity.

Choosing the proper cleaning system is important. Some systems may leave residues which accelerates re-soiling and defeats the whole purpose of cleaning. The recommendations below represent the best current knowledge and should help prolong the time between cleanings.
What about spot and stain removal?
Shaw’s R2X Stain and Soil Remover is the only carpet cleaning product with the endorsement consumers have trusted for more than 100 years: the Good Housekeeping Seal. Because of our patented process, it’s even easier to use than most spot cleaners. Learn more about R2X or order your bottle today.
What cleaning system should you use?
Shaw recommends the hot water extraction system. Research indicates that the hot water extraction system provides the best capability for cleaning. This system is commonly referred to as “steam cleaning,” although no steam is actually generated. The process consists of spraying a solution of water and detergent into the carpet pile and recovering the water and soil with a powerful vacuum into a holding tank. This can be done from a truck-mounted unit outside the home with only the hose and wand brought inside or by a portable system brought into the home.
Professional or do-it-yourself?
It is to your advantage to use professional carpet cleaners because their experience enables them to do a better job than you can do yourself. Their equipment has more extraction power than the rental units available to individuals, and the carpet should dry more quickly. True professionals also understand the equipment, know the proper cleaning agents for the situation at hand, and recognize the differences in fibers and carpet construction.
How do you locate a professional carpet cleaner?
One way to locate a professional carpet cleaner is to contact the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (11CRC) at 1-800-835-4624. This organization maintains a national directory of independent professional cleaners who are trained and certified in a variety of cleaning specialties. Call and explain that you have purchased a Shaw carpet, and be sure to ask for a cleaner near you who uses the “hot water extraction system.”

If you prefer tackling the job yourself, check these do-it-yourself guidelines before you begin.
Do-It-Yourself
If you decide to rent a steam cleaning machine and clean your carpet yourself, you’ll need to choose your equipment carefully. Most rental units available do not adequately clean and may actually damage the carpet. Check several cleaning systems before making a selection and consider the following:
Make sure the carpet will dry quickly
The cleaning equipment you select should have enough vacuum power to allow the carpet to dry within 6 to 12 hours after cleaning. Units that do not have the power to extract the cleaning solution from the carpet adequately may actually damage the carpet due to over wetting.
Do not over wet the carpet
Most problems in do-it-yourself cleaning are due to one of two problems, and this in one of them. Prolonged dampness may promote growth of mildew and bacteria in the carpet or cause separation of the backing. A carpet that is wet for more than 24 hours could experience these problems.
Do not use excessive detergent
This is the other problem most commonly experienced by do-it-yourselfers. You should use a cleaning solution with a pH less than 10, preferably near 9, and with a minimum of non sticky residue. The attraction between the detergent and the soil and oil particles is critical during the cleaning process. However, if it isn’t rinsed completely, the detergent residue continues to attract the particles after cleaning. Increasing the amount of cleaning solution beyond the recommended level does not increase cleaning performance, but makes the removal of detergent more difficult. Because buildup of detergent residue is the most common cause of accelerated re-soiling complaints, Shaw also recommends a clear water rinse after cleaning.
Know your warranty guidelines
Carpet with stain resistant treatments must be cleaned with products formulated for this purpose, or the stain resistance will be impaired and the warranty voided. Do not use cleaning or spotting solutions that contain bleaches or optical brighteners because they can discolor the carpet.
Do not use silicone-based anti-soil treatments
The only anti-soil products approved for use on Shaw carpets after the cleaning process are either DuPont Teflon® or 3M Scotchgard™.
Use fans to speed drying time
Reduce drying time by using several fans to move air across the carpet in combination with a dehumidifier or air conditioner to pull moisture out of the air. Carpet should be dry within 12 hours; even fewer hours is better.
Shaw Industries does not recommend Bonnet cleaning systems.
These systems employ a rotating bonnet of terry cloth or other absorbent material to agitate the carpet pile and absorb soil. A detergent solution is sprayed onto the pile and then worked with the bonnet attached to a rotary floor polisher. The Bonnet system has very limited capability for soil removal and leaves much of the detergent in the pile since it employs no real extraction. As a result, rapid re-soiling often occurs. Another disadvantage is that the spinning bonnet may distort the fibers of cut pile carpet, fuzz the pile, and leave distinct swirl marks.

R2X repels stains. Attracts customers.

R2X–it’s the industry’s most innovative carpet stain and soil repelling system and the product of years of research and testing. Shaw’s patented and exclusive R2X system* goes beyond conventional repellents that only protect the surface of the carpet. With R2X, carpets are armed with total fiber coverage, offering complete protection from the top to the bottom of the yarn. This total fiber coverage offers unprecedented protection against household spills and everyday soiling. With R2X, spills that reach the base of the yarn don’t penetrate and wick back to the top as they do with conventional solutions.

In testing, R2X demonstrated superior carpet stain resistance on two levels. First, it provides better initial protection. Second, it allows more time to react to a problem.

Another significant benefit of R2X is its effectiveness with polypropylene. Most polypropylene carpets have an inherent tendency to attract soil. Topical soil carpet treatments are only “skin deep,” and the limited protection they offer wears away after cleaning or normal wear and tear. In contrast, R2X continues to perform well even after repeated cleanings–with both nylon and polypropylene–when the performance of ordinary systems begins to diminish. And of course, Shaw’s warranty protection ensures customer satisfaction, time after time.
* U.S. Patent Nos. 5851595, 5520962.

Christopher Moline, LEED AP
Residential Group Manager
Commercial Carpets of America
703-370-0000
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American deaths in Afghanistan war reach 500

KABUL, Afghanistan – The deadliest three months for American forces in Afghanistan have pushed the U.S. death toll to at least 500, forcing a war long overshadowed by Iraq back into the headlines.

Larger, more sophisticated militant attacks have also caused a sharp rise in Afghan civilian deaths — at least 472 in the first seven months of the year, most in suicide bombings, according to an Associated Press count.

In all, at least 600 Afghan civilians were killed from January through July, a 30 percent increase from the same period last year, according to AP figures compiled from coalition and Afghan officials. That includes at least 128 killed by U.S. or NATO forces.

There are about 33,000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan, the highest since the war began, meaning more troops than ever are patrolling this country’s mountainous terrain and exposed to ambushes and roadside bombs.

The U.S. military suffered 65 deaths in May, June and July, by far the deadliest three-month period in Afghanistan since the war began in 2001. The previous deadliest three-month period was in the spring of 2005, with 45 U.S. deaths.

In July, more U.S. troops died in Afghanistan than in Iraq for the month, for the first time since the Iraq war started in 2003. In all, 92 U.S. troops have died in Afghanistan this year, a pace that would surpass last year’s death toll of 111.

The spike in violence is forcing U.S. leaders, including the presidential candidates, to call for still more troops here.

More than ever, the U.S. government recognizes the situation Afghanistan “is serious and needs to be dealt with,” said Seth Jones, an Afghanistan expert at the RAND Corp., a Washington-based think tank that often does studies for the Pentagon.

“I think it is an important step that … the gravity of the situation has been recognized and that there are some steps in place to turn the tide in Afghanistan,” he said. “Whether that is successful or not is of course an open question.”

Overall, at least 500 U.S. service members have died in Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Qatar and United Arab Emirates in support of the Afghan mission, according to an AP analysis based on Defense Department press releases.

“In terms of milestones, it’s important to point out that no casualty is more significant than any other,” said Pentagon spokesman Lt. Col. Mark Wright. “Each service member is equally precious, and each loss of life is equally tragic.”

The AP count is based on information from U.S., NATO or Afghan officials, often impossible to independently verify because of the remote or dangerous locations of the incidents.

The Defense Department count often lags by several days. The most recent Defense Department count, issued Saturday, showed 496 U.S. troop deaths in and around Afghanistan.

Counting coalition troops, Taliban militants and Afghan civilians, more than 3,000 people have died in violence this year, according to the AP count.

In the past, the Taliban appeared to try to minimize civilian casualties by launching its large-scale attacks primarily against U.S., NATO or Afghan troops.

But this year a February bombing at a dog fighting competition in Kandahar killed more than 100 people, mostly civilians. An attack on the Indian Embassy in Kabul last month killed more than 60.

Steven Simon, a senior fellow in Middle Eastern studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, said the recent attacks with high civilian death tolls reflect a migration of both tactics and fighters from Iraq to Afghanistan.

“The reported presence in Afghanistan of the head of al-Qaida in Iraq underscores the extent to which blowback from Iraq is being felt in Afghanistan,” Simon said in an e-mail. “At this point, al-Qaida’s leadership seems to be looking at the Afghan theater as the next big thing.”

Afghan and U.S. officials say a big reason for the spike in violence is because militaries use sanctuaries in neighboring Pakistan where they can arm and train fighters who launch attacks across the border on U.S. and Afghan forces. More al-Qaida fighters have been using the region to launch attacks than in previous years, U.S. officials say.

Gen. Mohammad Zahir Azimi, spokesman for the Afghan Defense Ministry, blamed the rise on violence principally on two factors: a peace agreement earlier this year between the Pakistan government and some militants in its tribal areas near the Afghan border, and support given by Pakistan’s intelligence agency to Taliban fighters.

Pakistan denies it is helping Taliban fighters or that it has entered into peace agreements with militants who launch attacks in Afghanistan.

Insurgent attacks have jumped by 50 percent in the first half of 2008, according to data from the Afghanistan NGO Safety Office, a Kabul-based group paid for by Western donors that advises relief groups on security.

In a report last week, ANSO said it logged 2,056 insurgent attacks in the first half of the year, a 52 percent increase from the same period last year.

The group said violence was up sharply in relatively peaceful northern and western Afghanistan and the region surrounding Kabul.

Both major presidential candidates, Democratic Sen. Barack Obama and Republican Sen. John McCain, have called for more troops to be sent to Afghanistan. President Bush has said more troops will be dedicated to the Afghan fight in 2009 but has not said how many.

U.S. military officials have said the Afghan effort needs three more brigades of troops, or about 10,500 forces.

Any new forces sent here can expect to face vicious attacks from an increasingly brazen Taliban force. Last month more than 200 militant fighters attacked a remote U.S. outpost in a dangerous and mountainous region of northeastern Afghanistan. Nine U.S. troops were killed and 15 wounded.

Even local Afghan civilians joined in on the attack, a sign the U.S. and NATO face steep challenges in their bid to win the population over to the side of the Afghan government.

“The size of the operation and the ability of the group to get support within the town was somewhat alarming, and it shows that there is clearly some concern with local Afghans, and that’s a concern because civilians are the center of gravity in a counterinsurgency,” said Jones. “The dangerous message is that there was involvement by the civilians.”

Si el Pirineu d’Aragó té un racó màgic, aquest és Zuriza. Ja el camí per arribar-hi, pujant tot el vall d’Ansó fins al lloc on neix el riu, és un espectacle difícilment oblidable. http://www.valledeanso.com/  El riu brama encaixat al costat de la carretera, travessant un estret que dura kilòmetres i més kilòmetres més enllà d’Ansó. La vegetació és un esclat de luxuria verda. A la tardor, una simfonia de colors. I quan sembla que no hi ha més enllà, que el vall acabarà en un cul de sac, allà, allà mateix, s’obre el circ glaciar de Zuriza. Hi ha un càmping i poc més. De fet aviat ja no hi haurà càmping. http://campingzuriza.valledeanso.com/  Muntanyes, rius, neu, natura… Zuriza. Podeu complementar la visita a Zuriza amb una ruta pels valls d’Aragó: Hecho i Ansó, o pel vall del Roncal, a Navarra. http://www.vallederoncal.es/   Nosaltres vàrem dormir a Isaba, al Roncal navarrès, a casa Lola, un hotelet familiar fantàstic que us recomanem molt de debó. I només a una vintena de kilòmetres de Zuriza. http://www.hostal-lola.com/ 

Si el Pirineo de Aragón tiene un rincón mágico, este es Zuriza. Ya el camino para llegar hasta allí, que va subiendo todo el valle de Ansó hasta el lugar dónde nace el río, es un espectáculo inolvidable. http://www.valledeanso.com/ El río berrea encajado junto a la carretera, atravesando un estrecho durante kilómetros más allá de Ansó. La vegetación es un estallido de lujuria verde. En otoño, una sinfonía de colores. Y cuando parece que no hay más allá, que el valle acabará en un muro, allá, allá mismo, se obre el circo glaciar de Zuriza. Hay un càmping y poco más. De hecho pronto ya no habrá càmping. http://campingzuriza.valledeanso.com/   Montañas, ríos, nieve, naturaleza… Zuriza. Podéis complementar la visita a Zuriza con una ruta por los valles de Aragón: Hecho y Ansó, o por el valle del Roncal, en Navarra. http://www.vallederoncal.es/ Nosotros dormimos en Isaba, en el Roncal navarro, en casa Lola, un hotelito familiar fantástico que os recomendamos de corazón. Esplendido. Y sólo a una veinte kilòmetros de Zuriza. http://www.hostal-lola.com/

Charraba o biernes pasau d’a imboluzión d’o PIR e una aragofobia crexién. Suposo que refirmar as cosas ye duro, y no charro de José Antonio Labordeta (os mitos, mitos i son, y prou!¡) (aparti d’a suya sensibilidat dual, aragonesa y ejpañola). A tristura d’o PIR plegó per l’ambién d’os conziertos d’o sabado. Sólo que bi eba un siñal nazional. Iste ye o país pos-aragonesista que tenemos agora mesmo, fa unas añadas en o mesmo PIR te trobabas asabelo de bandieras, chilos y chestos de compromís, asperanza. Agora: tot ye dezeuzión. Antiparti, o unico siñal presén en o conzierto, estié dispreziato per os miembros d’a colla Biella Nuei -gurús d’a mosica tradizional aragonesa que agora parixen jopar como fuinas d’as radizes que les fizon crexer-. Un siñal en o sulero, o corazón crebato. Como dize un amigo… ¿perqué os ababols d’Aragón son os más royos?

Pardal escribió:

Cabe decir que la linea seguida por los organizadores del evento años atrás se caracterizaba por una aragonesofobia recalcitrante. La editorial Pirineum capitaneaba la organización en relación con la “Mancomunidad de los Valles” (Jasa, Aragüés, Ansó y Hecho). La tal editorial radicada en la capital city de guiputxilandia desprecia sobremanera a los antropoides de la subetnia aragonesa y en otras ocasiones impidió la presencia de activistas por la lengua aragonesa porque era “mezclar el tocino con la velocidad”, palabras textuales del cipayo jacetano que gestiona en jaca la sucursal de la editorial.
Si el pirineismo tendía a licuar la identidad aragonesa la gestión del pIR de este año, encargada a una empresa desde la Comarca de la Jacetania, ha metido en el turmiz a Aragón y al pirineo, ya veremos lo que queda.

http://www.chobenalla.com/foro/viewtopic.php?t=4669

Ciertamente las sospechas sobre el PIR son profundas. Ya el año pasado presencié una anécdota españolista y un tanto antiaragonesa (Xenofobia española en Echo). Es la involución de un festival que podría haberse convertido en un referente nacional de las culturas minoritarias y minorizadas, y que a este paso se convertirá en un bastión de la hispanidad.  

La cicloturista de La Jacetania en memoria de Jose Antonio Casajus.

El pasado Sábado, 7 de Junio, y organizada por el Club Mayencos de Jaca, se desarrolló esta prueba con salida en Jaca para continuar por Puente la Reina, Berdún, Villareal de la Canal, Fago, Ansó, Hecho, Jasa, Aisa, Borau, Aratorés, Castiello de Jaca y meta en Jaca.

Alrededor de 600 ciclistas recorrieron nuestras calles y carreteras.

Aquí os muestro algunas imagenes de los participantes a su paso por Ansó.

Ciclista a la Llegada a Anso

Vaya Encerrona!!!

Dos Ciclistas

Para ver el recorrido, los resultadosy mas información clic AQUI.

Vista de Ansó

A que es una chulada de pueblo!!