Guardian Unlimited | Guardian daily comment | JK Galbraith: A cloud over civilisation

Guardian Unlimited | Guardian daily comment | JK Galbraith: A cloud over civilisationCorporate power is the driving force behind US foreign policy - and the slaughter in Iraq

DNC 2004 Weblogs: News Aggregator

Aggregated convention blogs. Site set up by Dave Winer
DNC 2004 Weblogs: News Aggregator
from David Weinberger

Good to find this all in one place.

“Where I am, death is not; where death is, I am not.”

One year ago, writer, Colin MacKay died by suicide on the 26th of July, 2003 which was his 52nd birthday. He wrote a book about the experience Called "Jacobs Ladder."
I have tried to read this book instilled with it's mixture of self pity, transcendence and denial. It's too easy to accept his reason s for choosing death.. This is the same man who wrote that pretty book "The Song of The Forest." Since'Jacobs Ladder' is real, it seems less pretty. More human. I have read no criticism of this work and I suspect that it may dwell beyond human judgement. The author neatly escapes criticism by assuming that his work is worthless, as in fact he sees his life. If you agree then there is little point in reading. The Authors Irony Bites in the way he suggests that we distance our selves from humanity when we commit violence, or ignore brutality.
I heard a comment once, that an artists role in society was to give hope to humanity. Matisse painted flowers in bright colors during the war. Well the tragedy of flowers is a subject too broad for me. Remember 'Rosebud?'

H.R.163 and S 89

The Draft issue, still unresolved, lingers in the background.  The bills are still under review by the  Senate Committee on Armed Services. According to  Congressman James C. Greenwood  The bill will never pass and does not have the support of the Whitehouse. Green wood claims the bill was created by Democrat  Charlie Rangel,  to make the administration look bad.  Democrat Pete Stark, has made a statement supporting the legislation.
According to Doug Casey, "Rangel.....is pushing HR 163 as a way of assuring that all young Americans have their rights equally abused. His bill is designed to head off a draft policy that typically includes deferments for women, college students, etc., leaving much of the heavy lifting to minorities. In both of the twin bills now working their way through government, the net would be so finely woven that almost no one would be able to dodge service."
One of the two pieces of legislation seems to be oriented towards filling Draft board positions, and the other towards setting up a national service conscription which could include non military service. Snopes.com, Has the skinny on the 'Draft Meme' Which has been circulating.

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Here is a copy of the HR 163 document, should you chose to ask your government representative about the situation.

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SUMMARY AS OF:
1/7/2003--Introduced.

Universal National Service Act of 2003 - Declares that it is the obligation of every U.S. citizen, and every other person residing in the United States, between the ages of 18 and 26 to perform a two-year period of national service, unless exempted, either as a member of an active or reserve component of the armed forces or in a civilian capacity that promotes national defense. Requires induction into national service by the President. Sets forth provisions governing: (1) induction deferments, postponements, and exemptions, including exemption of a conscientious objector from military service that includes combatant training; and (2) discharge following national service.

Amends the Military Selective Service Act to authorize the military registration of females.

H.R.163



To provide for the common defense by requiring that all young persons in the United States, including women, perform a period of military service or a period of civilian service in furtherance of the national defense and homeland security, and for other purposes.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

January 7, 2003

Mr. RANGEL (for himself, Mr. MCDERMOTT, Mr. CONYERS, Mr. LEWIS of Georgia, Mr. STARK, and Mr. ABERCROMBIE) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services

A BILL

To provide for the common defense by requiring that all young persons in the United States, including women, perform a period of military service or a period of civilian service in furtherance of the national defense and homeland security, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

(a) SHORT TITLE- This Act may be cited as the `Universal National Service Act of 2003'.

(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS- The table of contents for this Act is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.

Sec. 2. National service obligation.

Sec. 3. Two-year period of national service.

Sec. 4. Implementation by the President.

Sec. 5. Induction.

Sec. 6. Deferments and postponements.

Sec. 7. Induction exemptions.

Sec. 8. Conscientious objection.

Sec. 9. Discharge following national service.

Sec. 10. Registration of females under the Military Selective Service Act.

Sec. 11. Relation of Act to registration and induction authority of Military Selective Service Act.

Sec. 12. Definitions.

SEC. 2. NATIONAL SERVICE OBLIGATION.

(a) OBLIGATION FOR YOUNG PERSONS- It is the obligation of every citizen of the United States, and every other person residing in the United States, who is between the ages of 18 and 26 to perform a period of national service as prescribed in this Act unless exempted under the provisions of this Act.

(b) FORM OF NATIONAL SERVICE- National service under this Act shall be performed either--

(1) as a member of an active or reverse component of the uniformed services; or

(2) in a civilian capacity that, as determined by the President, promotes the national defense, including national or community service and homeland security.

(c) INDUCTION REQUIREMENTS- The President shall provide for the induction of persons covered by subsection (a) to perform national service under this Act.

(d) SELECTION FOR MILITARY SERVICE- Based upon the needs of the uniformed services, the President shall--

(1) determine the number of persons covered by subsection (a) whose service is to be performed as a member of an active or reverse component of the uniformed services; and

(2) select the individuals among those persons who are to be inducted for military service under this Act.

(e) CIVILIAN SERVICE- Persons covered by subsection (a) who are not selected for military service under subsection (d) shall perform their national service obligation under this Act in a civilian capacity pursuant to subsection (b)(2).

SEC. 3. TWO-YEAR PERIOD OF NATIONAL SERVICE.

(a) GENERAL RULE- Except as otherwise provided in this section, the period of national service performed by a person under this Act shall be two years.

(b) GROUNDS FOR EXTENSION- At the discretion of the President, the period of military service for a member of the uniformed services under this Act may be extended--

(1) with the consent of the member, for the purpose of furnishing hospitalization, medical, or surgical care for injury or illness incurred in line of duty; or

(2) for the purpose of requiring the member to compensate for any time lost to training for any cause.

(c) EARLY TERMINATION- The period of national service for a person under this Act shall be terminated before the end of such period under the following circumstances:

(1) The voluntary enlistment and active service of the person in an active or reverse component of the uniformed services for a period of at least two years, in which case the period of basic military training and education actually served by the person shall be counted toward the term of enlistment.

(2) The admission and service of the person as a cadet or midshipman at the United States Military Academy, the United States Naval Academy, the United States Air Force Academy, the Coast Guard Academy, or the United States Merchant Marine Academy.

(3) The enrollment and service of the person in an officer candidate program, if the person has signed an agreement to accept a Reserve commission in the appropriate service with an obligation to serve

on active duty if such a commission is offered upon completion of the program.

(4) Such other grounds as the President may establish.

SEC. 4. IMPLEMENTATION BY THE PRESIDENT.

(a) IN GENERAL- The President shall prescribe such regulations as are necessary to carry out this Act.

(b) MATTER TO BE COVERED BY REGULATIONS- Such regulations shall include specification of the following:

(1) The types of civilian service that may be performed for a person's national service obligation under this Act.

(2) Standards for satisfactory performance of civilian service and of penalties for failure to perform civilian service satisfactorily.

(3) The manner in which persons shall be selected for induction under this Act, including the manner in which those selected will be notified of such selection.

(4) All other administrative matters in connection with the induction of persons under this Act and the registration, examination, and classification of such persons.

(5) A means to determine questions or claims with respect to inclusion for, or exemption or deferment from induction under this Act, including questions of conscientious objection.

(6) Standards for compensation and benefits for persons performing their national service obligation under this Act through civilian service.

(7) Such other matters as the President determines necessary to carry out this Act.

(c) USE OF PRIOR ACT- To the extent determined appropriate by the President, the President may use for purposes of this Act the procedures provided in the Military Selective Service Act (50 U.S.C. App. 451 et seq.), including procedures for registration, selection, and induction.

SEC. 5. INDUCTION.

(a) IN GENERAL- Every person subject to induction for national service under this Act, except those whose training is deferred or postponed in accordance with this Act, shall be called and inducted by the President for such service at the time and place specified by the President.

(b) AGE LIMITS- A person may be inducted under this Act only if the person has attained the age of 18 and has not attained the age of 26.

(c) VOLUNTARY INDUCTION- A person subject to induction under this Act may volunteer for induction at a time other than the time at which the person is otherwise called for induction.

(d) EXAMINATION; CLASSIFICATION- Every person subject to induction under this Act shall, before induction, be physically and mentally examined and shall be classified as to fitness to perform national service. The President may apply different classification standards for fitness for military service and fitness for civilian service.

SEC. 6. DEFERMENTS AND POSTPONEMENTS.

(a) HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS- A person who is pursuing a standard course of study, on a full-time basis, in a secondary school or similar institution of learning shall be entitled to have induction under this Act postponed until the person--

(1) obtains a high school diploma;

(2) ceases to pursue satisfactorily such course of study; or

(3) attains the age of 20.

(b) HARDSHIP AND DISABILITY- Deferments from national service under this Act may be made for--

(1) extreme hardship; or

(2) physical or mental disability.

(c) TRAINING CAPACITY- The President may postpone or suspend the induction of persons for military service under this Act as necessary to limit the number of persons receiving basic military training and education to the maximum number that can be adequately trained.

(d) TERMINATION- No deferment or postponement of induction under this Act shall continue after the cause of such deferment or postponement ceases.

SEC. 7. INDUCTION EXEMPTIONS.

(a) QUALIFICATIONS- No person may be inducted for military service under this Act unless the person is acceptable to the Secretary concerned for training and meets the same health and physical qualifications applicable under section 505 of title 10, United States Code, to persons seeking original enlistment in a regular component of the Armed Forces.

(b) OTHER MILITARY SERVICE- No person shall be liable for induction under this Act who--

(1) is serving, or has served honorably for at least six months, in any component of the uniformed services on active duty; or

(2) is or becomes a cadet or midshipman at the United States Military Academy, the United States Naval Academy, the United States Air Force Academy, the Coast Guard Academy, the United States

Merchant Marine Academy, a midshipman of a Navy accredited State maritime academy, a member of the Senior Reserve Officers' Training Corps, or the naval aviation college program, so long as that person satisfactorily continues in and completes two years training therein.

SEC. 8. CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTION.

(a) CLAIMS AS CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTOR- Any person selected under this Act for induction into the uniformed services who claims, because of religious training and belief (as defined in section 6(j) of the Military Selective Service Act (50 U.S.C. 456(j))), exemption from combatant training included as part of that military service and whose claim is sustained under such procedures as the President may prescribe, shall, when inducted, participate in military service that does not include any combatant training component.

(b) TRANSFER TO CIVILIAN SERVICE- Any such person whose claim is sustained may, at the discretion of the President, be transferred to a national service program for performance of such person's national service obligation under this Act.

SEC. 9. DISCHARGE FOLLOWING NATIONAL SERVICE.

(a) DISCHARGE- Upon completion or termination of the obligation to perform national service under this Act, a person shall be discharged from the uniformed services or from civilian service, as the case may be, and shall not be subject to any further service under this Act.

(b) COORDINATION WITH OTHER AUTHORITIES- Nothing in this section shall limit or prohibit the call to active service in the uniformed services of any person who is a member of a regular or reserve component of the uniformed services.

SEC. 10. REGISTRATION OF FEMALES UNDER THE MILITARY SELECTIVE SERVICE ACT.

(a) REGISTRATION REQUIRED- Section 3(a) of the Military Selective Service Act (50 U.S.C. 453(a)) is amended--

(1) by striking `male' both places it appears;

(2) by inserting `or herself' after `himself'; and

(3) by striking `he' and inserting `the person'.

(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT- Section 16(a) of the Military Selective Service Act (50 U.S.C. App. 466(a)) is amended by striking `men' and inserting `persons'.

SEC. 11. RELATION OF ACT TO REGISTRATION AND INDUCTION AUTHORITY OF MILITARY SELECTIVE SERVICE ACT.

(a) REGISTRATION- Section 4 of the Military Selective Service Act (50 U.S.C. App. 454) is amended by inserting after subsection (g) the following new subsection:

`(h) This section does not apply with respect to the induction of persons into the Armed Forces pursuant to the Universal National Service Act of 2003.'.

(b) INDUCTION- Section 17(c) of the Military Selective Service Act (50 U.S.C. App. 467(c)) is amended by striking `now or hereafter' and all that follows through the period at the end and inserting `inducted pursuant to the Universal National Service Act of 2003.'.

SEC. 12. DEFINITIONS.

In this Act:

(1) The term `military service' means service performed as a member of an active or reverse component of the uniformed services.

(2) The term `Secretary concerned' means the Secretary of Defense with respect to the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps, the Secretary of Homeland Security with respect to the Coast Guard, the Secretary of Commerce, with respect to matters concerning the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Secretary of Health and Human Services, with respect to matters concerning the Public Health Service.

(3) The term `United States', when used in a geographical sense, means the several States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and Guam.

(4) The term `uniformed services' means the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, commissioned corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and commissioned corps of the Public Health Service.

At the arts center..........

Open studio: Casting

Khnum Showed up for the first time last week. He had a few fine African Egyptian motifs, Thin carved models carved from hard wax.He wasn't familiar with the whole casting cycle but he had done his homework. He just had the wrong sized flask. We showed him the size of the centrifuge and gave him a quick lesson in spruing and all the general guidelines of out short process.
Unfortunately Khnum is ambitions and he likes to move on with his work. (This is actually a good quality.) The pieces that he cast last week came out fine and he had already strung them up and done beadwork with lapis lazuli and hematite. This week he came in pretty late with another impressive intricate Egyptian carving. We had trouble finding a flask to fit it into, and when we did there was very little margin for error. I showed him that he would have to keep the model close to the button, and run sprues up from the sides of the button to Keep the piece inside the flask. I also warned him that Time was really short and he had to put the flask in by 6:00. Then I got involved in my own work because I might be able to finish a simple bracelet model for the oven. When Khnum had the flask prepared he had already exceeded the length of the flask, and he added another neat carving, so we had to tape the flask to extend the sides. At this point the piece wouldn't really fit the armature of the centrifuge, but he wanted to go ahead and invest.
Well another bummer in casting.
Now I know why some teachers become Authoritarian. If I were teaching the Class I would Have said "No," Make it fit and "You can't cast tonight." Especially considering the work he put into the model. Our workshop Operates on the Shaky Model of Teaching. We all have slightly different background in the work.Gloria has the most experience and the best technique, but because she is only a monitor, trying to work on her own waxes, she doesn't have much influence. Like the rest of us she can only Suggest.
There are good reasons for The Suggestion Model of teaching as opposed to the Authoritarian Model. Naturally talented artists , like Khnum, observe, and imitate. That is why natural realism and portraiture are important elements in our culture. We all model our behavior on others, even while we assert our individuality. A process or technique can be a means of producing 'Art,' but it can also be a goal in itself. The word 'Art' can represent an object or a process. Since the term can be used to designate methods and techniques

Ramble

I've been a lover of Mindless Link Propagation.
To me the web has always been a place of Spurious comments, and great gimmicks.
I know that deep at it's heart The web Hosts intellectual conversation of the highest degree, on subjects that range from Physics and Genetics to Healing and the nature of communities.
The Idea of community is a fragile one. Small towns once had a Quality that vanished with the construction of the interstate highway system. The highways filled those places with gestations and motels. Boom towns also generated bars, prostitution and all the crimes related to transience.
.........?

It's new!

Well, The most Obvious thing for a blogger to comment on is the new interface.

I learned a good deal about HTML from working on my blog.

This COMPOSE and Edit HTML option
set means that people can waste more time. Not writing. It might also
mean that people can make their point without learning too much HTML. But since I had to learn the hard way, I wonder if this helps.

Of Course It Helps!

Most code conscious bloggers use MT or another method which
allows them to control the content and materials from their own Hosted
account..
This will make it easier for Any one to "blog."
Not that we need more Blogs.

Better content would be nice.

Still my advice to my self would be ...

Run a text editor and type notes about what I/You read, Then clean them Up and publish them.

Make the links look good.

Remember "STYLE" is in your writing, not in the font you use.

Aljazeera.Net - Bush politicising science say experts

Aljazeera.Net : "Bush politicising science say experts"

The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) said in a report on Thursday that the administration's policies could take years to undo and in the meantime the best and the brightest would be frightened away from jobs in the National Institutes of Health and other government institutions.

Burningbird Political Games

Burningbird Political Games

Please Vote for Kerry and Edwards.

Shelly says this more better than I.

US Lawmakers Seek to Protect Rights of 'Mail Order Brides'

US Lawmakers Seek to Protect Rights of 'Mail Order Brides'
Read closely to see the undercurrent of slavery which thrives inthe USA.

Beatitudes - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Beatitudes - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called sons of God.

Blessed are they that have been persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are ye when [men] shall reproach you, and persecute you, and say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven.

jiveturky: The single greatest event of my life.

jiveturky: The single greatest event of my life.: "I got flipped off by George W. Bush."

CNN.com - Officials discuss how to delay Election Day - Jul 12, 2004

CNN.com - Officials discuss how to delay Election Day - Jul 12, 2004: "Officials discuss how to delay Election Day"

Cold Turkey -- In These Times

Cold Turkey -- In These Times An Article by Vonnegut

read and pass

This is a great Idea that I picked up from 'Halley Comment'

Goodbye

Alas there's not much to say. After nearly twelve years, my beloved friend Sweetie the iguana died. That was Saturday evening. We buried her under the carambola tree In the same place that I found her. Sweetie has lived here uncaged for all this time. She was probably about two when I brought her home in a shoe box. She measured about forty seven inches when she died. I am broken hearted. I have no real idea why she died. It was a shock. She lay just a few feet away from the wall where she basked in the sun. I went out to check on her because she occasionally runs off. Not finding her on the wall, I walked around to see if she had snuck off to nibble my neighors hibiscus flowers. instead she lay under the carambola, stretched out as though she were resting in the shade. I reached down to pick her up and she had no muscle tone. I saw her tongue protruded slightly and he eyes seemed to move a bit. But I knew she was gone. I desperately wanted to save her but I could see she was not moving. No breath, no heartbeat, the tough, which used to taste everything, no longer pink but a greyish white. I brought water to cool her down give her a drink but it was no use. The water dribbled out and her body grew cold as the sun went down. The next day I dug a trench about three feet deep, and we laid her to rest, wrapped two of my old favorite T-shirts, sprinkled her with dried patchoulli and lavender. We also buried a mango, her favorite food, and a bottle with some pictures Of each of us holding her. We also enclosed a personal message saying farewell. Masha picked some flowers and tossed them in and after we had closed the grave, Denny saluted her.
Iguanas are not the most affectionate animals. In the wild they are quick to bite and scratch in self defense. Even captive animals can be quite nasty. But they do have personalities which develop over time. Sweetie was always hand fed or allowed to graze in the garden, (she loved to eat young snow peas right off the vine,) She was rarely caged or confined. At times, she would even come to the door and scratch when she wanted to come in. In side she spent most of her life on the top of a wicker book case in the kitchen. Where she watched as we prepared meals or sat around talking. She was frequently petted, (although she only tolerated this,) and often held. She was part of our daily lives as much as a cat or dog would be. She was a special pet and we did call her Sweetie because of her sweet nature. Even the mailman liked her.
I like to think that i learned something from her but i can't put that into words right now. Life is full of lessons.

porno war?

War on pornography? they want to Shoot Naked Women?

I hope they use clean cameras. Dirty pictures give you Visual AIDS.

MSNBC - Saudi prince: Zionism to blame for terror attack

MSNBC - Saudi prince: Zionism to blame for terror attack: "Prince Nayef, the Saudi Interior Minister said, "Al-Qaida is backed by Israel and Zionism."

What is with these people? They speak from both sides of their mouths. Israel, And Bush are nearly as bad... or worse...

Drunk Men Work Here

Click Here for an Argument

David Hykes - Harmonic World/Harmonique Centre

David Hykes Released a record "Hearing Celestial Winds" in the early eighties, all commposed of human voice. not only does his choir harmonize, but they also use overtones to produce more than one note from the voice. The most startling of these is a whistling tone which is very melodic.
In 1999 after a class in ethnomusicology, i set out to practice what i had learned about the singing technique. "Ghengis Blues," a record about Richard Pena was also useful. It wasreally quite a shock when i first managed to coax a few overtones out of a sustained note.

A Declaration Calling for the Resignation or Removal of John Ashcroft - Center for American Progress

A Declaration Calling for the Resignation or Removal of John Ashcroft - Center for American Progress
Win or loose, It's not just Bush we want out.

The history of law enforcement by the present Attorney General is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States, to the detriment of both our liberty and our security. He has forfeited, through his disdain for the Constitution and the Rule of Law which he has sworn to uphold, any legitimate claim to exercise power over his fellow citizens. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

Read the Complete Document

Rangel Hollings selective service legislation

Terrorism seems to happen in countries that are unhappy with Our Presence there. (unless you count OK-City.)
Other wise national service might be a good idea, especially if it included the option of non-military service.

The Universal National Service Act of 2003
Introduced by Representative Rangel and Senator Hollings

The Rangel-Hollings legislation (H.R. 163 in the House and S.89 in the Senate) would re-institute a draft to compulsory military or alternative national service for men and women, aged 18 to 26, who are citizens or permanent residents of the United States of America.

The bill:


Defines "national service" as either military or civilian service as defined by the President that promotes national or homeland security.

Gives the President authority to establish the numbers of persons to be selected for military service and the means of selection.

Requires those not selected for military service to perform their national service obligation in a civilian capacity for the same duration as those selected for military service (two years in most cases).

Directs the President to prescribe the regulations necessary to carry out the Act, including:

types of civilian service eligible to meet the national service requirement;

means and manner of induction to service;

criteria for eligibility for service;

criteria for exemption from service;

all other administrative matters in connection with induction of persons under this Act and the registration, examination and classification of such persons.

Allows the President to use for the purposes of the Act the procedures provided in the Military Selective Service Act (50 U.S.C.App. 451 et seq.) including procedures for registration, selection, and induction but specifically requires the registration and selection for national service of women as well as men and seeks to strictly limit the grounds for exemption from national service to physical disability and consciencious objection.

Allows educational deferments for High School, but only until age 20.

Russo
Hollings, Rangel advocate draft

CALCUTTA, India - Washington Two senior Democratic members of Congress urged colleagues Monday to support their legislation to reinstate the military draft, but the idea seems unlikely to pass because the Pentagon opposes it.
John Conyers
CNN
GOoGlE
But do I care? I'm Too old and I have no Kids...

Short Play Contest

ATC Summer 2004 Short Play Contest: American Theatre Co-op - CA

Deadline: July 30, 04. The American Theatre Co-op's (ATC's) annual Short Play Contest is underway! The submission deadline is July 30, and winners will be announced on September 30. Two playwriting categories are available, and plays from 10 to 30 minutes in length are welcome. The top award includes distribution of the winning play to the ATC's network of more than 100 theatres across the U.S., from Off-Broadway to LA; national publicity for one year; and 12 months of free coverage in MY VITAE, the e-zine that delivers the resumes and script synopses of emerging playwrights to more than 500 theatres each month. Up to three winners will be selected; 10 finalists will also receive prizes. Application fee: $5 for non-members; free for ATC members. Applications are available by e-mail at AmericanTheatre@aol.com. Please review contest guidelines at www.AmericanTheatreCoop.com before applying.