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Most stray animals are taken to:Waukesha County Humane Animal Welfare Society (HAWS)701 Northview RoadWaukesha (262) 542-8851
There are other facilities you could call to see if they found your pet as well: Elmbrook Humane Society20950 Enterprise Avenue ~ Brookfield (262) 782-9261
Wisconsin Humane Society4500 West Wisconsin Avenue ~ Milwaukee (414) 264-6257
Milwaukee Area Domestic Animal Control Commission (MADACC)3839 West Burnham Street (414) 649-8640
If your business closes or moves out of the City of Pewaukee you must contact the Assessors' Office at (262) 691-6010 to file the necessary papers to delete your personal property account.
City Hall working hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday thru Friday. The Building Inspection Offices are available from 7:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday thru Friday.
**For all Fire Ambulance & Police Emergencies Dial 9-1-1 For Non-Emergency Calls please select one of the following: Reporting Electrical Power Outage: WE Energies (800) 662-4797 Reporting Gas Leak: WE Energies (800) 261-5325 Reporting Water Issues: (262) 691-0804 Humane Animal Office - Waukesha County (262) 896-8300 - after hours please use the Waukesha County Dispatch number. Waukesha County Department of Health & Human Services: (262) 548-7225 Waukesha County Dispatch (non-emergency) (262) 446-5070 Fire Department (non-emergency): (262) 523-4615 Sheriff's Department (non-emergency): (262) 691-0921 Sheriff's Department Dispatch: (262) 473-4700
140 Simmons - Village of Pewaukee (262) 691-3253
300 East Broadway - Waukesha (262) 650-5370
These are just a few tips for more comprehensive planning checklists and worksheets please visit the National Fire Protection Association website for Escape Planning.
Typically the Park/Recreation Department starts hiring for seasonal part-time employment for the summer in the recreation department and park maintenance department as early as March. Open positions will be posted on the City of Pewaukee's website under employment. If you are applying for a specialty instructor position, also include your resume or a summary of your skills and qualifications along with the application. Individuals interested in teaching classes or offering new programs through the department should contact the Recreation Supervisor.
We appreciate the watchful eyes of our residents to help us maintain the parks. We do not see every park every day so if you notice something regarding vandalism at one of the parks, please call our office at 262-691-7275 to report it. Or send us an email; be sure to let us know the park, exact location of the vandalism and what kind of vandalism it is (ie spray paint, broken equipment, etc.)
Full refunds will not be issued unless a program is cancelled by the Park/Recreation Department. Participants who request a refund not less than 1 week prior to the first day of the program will receive a 50% refund. Requests within 1 week of program start or after program start will not receive a refund except in the case of a medical reason document by a physician or if the individual's spot can be filled by an individual on a wait list.
We will send a receipt via email to all participants that provide an email address. If you would like a hard copy receipt, please provide a self-addressed, stamped envelope. We will not provide any further updates on regularly scheduled program information.
The Department strives to offer programs that the community wants and needs. However many of our programs are limited to what facility space we have available, whether or not we can find an instructor for the program and also what the current program trends are.
Pewaukee Parks and Recreation Department (the "Department") encourages individuals with disabilities to participate in recreational programming. To that end, the Department offers inclusive recreational programs and activities. The term "Inclusion" means that individuals with disabilities are "included" in our recreation programs. People with and without disabilities participate together in the same way, in the same place, and enjoy the same benefits. Our Department is pleased to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) regulations.
The Pewaukee Junior Guild may be able to help you afford Parks & Recreation programming for your children. Please inquire confidentially by emailing firstname.lastname@example.com.
Pewaukee Parks andRecreation may take photos of our programs for promotional purposes. If you donot wish to have your photo taken, please notify the photographer and ouroffice.
City of Pewaukee § 6.05 states: "No person under the age of 18 shall loiter, stand, walk, stroll, run, bike drive, congregate or play upon or within public rights-of-way, railroads, parks, public lands or buildings, or places of commercial, industrial or institutional use or activity after 11 PM and before 6 AM unless accompanied by a parent, legal guardian or other adult having custody, care, and control of such minor person; or unless the minor person not under such control is working or traveling between home and work or between home and supervised school, church, or civic function."
If you are in an accident you should call 9-1-1 for emergency assistance. For Non-emergency dispatch call 262-446-5070. Regarding Accident Reporting the Wisconsin DOT Department of Motor Vehicles advises: Any accident must be reported to law enforcement when it results in: * Injury or death of a person. * $1,000 or more total damage to property owned by any one person. * Damages of $200 or mort to government property (except motor vehicles). For details and forms please go to the WI DOT DMV Accident Reporting web page.
You can request a statement by calling the City of Pewaukee's Clerk / Treasurer's Office at (262) 691-0770.
You can also look it up online: http://tax.waukeshacounty.gov/ - be sure to check "Include Personal Property".
These are covers for water valves. These are "valve boxes" allow the Utility to access water valves that are located below ground. The valves are on the larger water mains that flow water to your houses water service lateral. If you find a cover missing, please contact the Utility office at 262.691.0804.


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Icy contenders weigh in
Posted on 5 February 2013 by Jason Box
Guest post by Jason Box from Meltfactor.org.
Dahl-Jensen et al. (2013)[i] suggest that the Greenland ice sheet was more stable than previously thought[ii], enduring ~6k years of temperatures 5-8 C above the most recent 1000 years during the Eemian interglacial 118-126k years before present, its loss at the time contributing an estimated 2 m (6.6 ft) of global sea level compared to a total of 4-8 m (13-26 ft)[iii], implying Antarctica was and will become the dominant source of sea level change. Consequently, environmental journalist Andrew Revkin writes: "The dramatic surface melting [in Greenland], while important to track and understand has little policy significance."
Given the non-trivial complexity of the issue and that Greenland has been contributing more than 2:1 that of Antarctica to global sea level in the recent 19 years (1992-2010)[iv], let's not consider Greenland of neglible policy relevance until that ratio is 1:1 if not reversed, say, 0.5:1. Greenland, currently the leading contender with surface melting dominating its mass budget[v], the positive feedback with surface melting and ice reflectivity doubling Greenland's surface melt since year 2000[vi]. Professor Richard Alley weighs in again: "We have high confidence that warming will shrink Greenland, by enough to matter a lot to coastal planners."
That's not to say that Antarctica couldn't take over from Greenland the position of number 1 global sea level contributor in the foreseeable future. Nor should one be surprised if it did, given that Antarctica contains a factor of 10 more ice than Greenland[vii],[viii]. And it is probable that the planetary energy imbalance[ix] caused by elevated greenhouse gasses, expressed primarily through massive oceanic heat uptake[x], is delivering enough erosive power to destabilize the 3.3 m of sea level[xi] in the marine-based West Antarctic ice sheet. Yet, for today, consider also that climate change if increasing Antarctic precipitation a few percent can tip its mass balance toward the positive, lessening its sea level contribution[xii] even while its glaciers retreat.
Irrespective of sea level forcing, through its ice mass budget Greenland plays an important role to North Atlantic climate through ocean thermohaline circulation, even being suggested as the Achilles heel of the global climate system[xiii]. I wouldn't tell our European friends Greenland's hardly policy-relevant when climate change offers higher amplitude extremes in precipitation if not also temperature, as North Atlantic climate shifts in partial response to changes in neighboring Greenland.
Key differences between the modern Anthropocene and the Eemian interglacial suggest anthropogenic climate change may drive a different cryosphere response than during the Eemian…
Today, greenhouse gas concentrations are rising beyond 120% to 250% of peak Eemian values[xiv],[xv], driving today's global warming and the aformentioned ocean heat content uptake that contrasts from the Eemian when warming was driven by northern latitudes receiving 30-50 Watts per sq. meter more solar energy, a more regionally-forced climate change. Anthropocene climate is forced an estimated 4/5 by by elevated greenhouse gasses and black carbon aerosols[xvi], the latter rising recently in significance after being more completely bounded[xvii]. Anthropogenic warming is clearly overwhelming the modern orbital cooling[xviii] and the decrease in solar output since the late 1970s[xix].
Because the Greenland ice sheet surface undergoes much more seasonal melting than the surface of the Antarctic ice sheet, in Greenland decanting a factor of 2 increase of meltwater runoff annually since 2000[xx], anthropogenic sources of light absorbing impurities provide a mechanism to multiply the cryospheric albedo feedback in ways presumably not occurring during the Eemian. Today, the combination of a.) land clearing by humans using fire, b.) industrial soot from fossil fuel combustion, and perhaps c.) larger fires the a legacy of fire suppression are in contrast to Eemian wildfire, that (as far as we know) did not include human factors. All me to here plug Dark Snow Project[xxi] that is currently soliciting donations to crowdfund a field and laboratory campaign designed to assess the impact of increasing wildfire on darkening the Greenland ice sheet.
Richard Alley: "While Antarctica is relatively unknown, Greenland is relatively known and therefore useful to guide policy even if the ice sheet becomes second most important to sea level, and to provide guidance to Antarctic colleagues [in surface melt studies]"
In the end, what matters to our concerns about the rate of sea level rise is the sum total volume change of all land ice. As long as glaciers and ice caps (GICs) (excluding the ice sheets) remain significant contenders (GICs lost mass at a rate of 148 ± 30 Gt per year from January 2003 to December 2010)[xxii], Antarctica lost 40% less during this period than GICs, and Greenland lost more than the two combined, we should stay focused on understanding the dynamics of all crysopheric systems in relation to the serious perturbation imposed by human activity. The Eemian has its own limits of utility in informing humanity of the trajectory we're on.
Works Cited
[i] Eemian interglacial reconstructed from a Greenland folded ice core, D. Dahl-Jensen, M.R. Albert, A. Aldahan, N. Azuma, D. Balslev-Clausen, M. Baumgartner, A. Berggren, M. Bigler, T. Binder, T. Blunier, J.C. Bourgeois, E.J. Brook, S.L. Buchardt, C. Buizert, E. Capron, J. Chappellaz, J. Chung, H.B. Clausen, I. Cvijanovic, S.M. Davies, P. Ditlevsen, O. Eicher, H. Fischer, D.A. Fisher, L.G. Fleet, G. Gfeller, V. Gkinis, S. Gogineni, K. Goto-Azuma, A. Grinsted, H. Gudlaugsdottir, M. Guillevic, S.B. Hansen, M. Hansson, M. Hirabayashi, S. Hong, S.D. Hur, P. Huybrechts, C.S. Hvidberg, Y. Iizuka, T. Jenk, S.J. Johnsen, T.R. Jones, J. Jouzel, N.B. Karlsson, K. Kawamura, K. Keegan, E. Kettner, S. Kipfstuhl, H.A. Kjær, M. Koutnik, T. Kuramoto, P. Köhler, T. Laepple, A. Landais, P.L. Langen, L.B. Larsen, D. Leuenberger, M. Leuenberger, C. Leuschen, J. Li, V. Lipenkov, P. Martinerie, O.J. Maselli, V. Masson-Delmotte, J.R. McConnell, H. Miller, O. Mini, A. Miyamoto, M. Montagnat-Rentier, R. Mulvaney, R. Muscheler, A.J. Orsi, J. Paden, C. Panton, F. Pattyn, J. Petit, K. Pol, T. Popp, G. Possnert, F. Prié, M. Prokopiou, A. Quiquet, S.O. Rasmussen, D. Raynaud, J. Ren, C. Reutenauer, C. Ritz, T. Röckmann, J.L. Rosen, M. Rubino, O. Rybak, D. Samyn, C.J. Sapart, A. Schilt, A.M.Z. Schmidt, J. Schwander, S. Schüpbach, I. Seierstad, J.P. Severinghaus, S. Sheldon, S.B. Simonsen, J. Sjolte, A.M. Solgaard, T. Sowers, P. Sperlich, H.C. Steen-Larsen, K. Steffen, J.P. Steffensen, D. Steinhage, T.F. Stocker, C. Stowasser, A.S. Sturevik, W.T. Sturges, A. Sveinbjörnsdottir, A. Svensson, J. Tison, J. Uetake, P. Vallelonga, R.S.W. van de Wal, G. van der Wel, B.H. Vaughn, B. Vinther, E. Waddington, A. Wegner, I. Weikusat, J.W.C. White, F. Wilhelms, M. Winstrup, E. Witrant, E.W. Wolff, C. Xiao, and J. Zheng, Nature, vol. 493, pp. 489-494, 2013.
[ii] Substantial contribution to sea-level rise during the last interglacial from the Greenland ice sheet, Kurt M. Cuffey* & Shawn J. Marshall, Nature 404, 591-594 (6 April 2000) | doi:10.1038/35007053
[iii] Kopp, R. E., Simons, F. J., Mitrovica, J. X., Maloof, A. C. & Oppenheimer, M. Probabilistic assessment of sea level during the last interglacial stage. Nature 462, 863–867 (2009). & Dutton, A. & Lambeck, K. Ice volume and sea level during the last interglacial. Science 337, 216–219 (2012).
[iv]A Reconciled Estimate of Ice-Sheet Mass Balance, Andrew Shepherd, Erik R. Ivins, Geruo A, Valentina R. Barletta, Mike J. Bentley,Srinivas Bettadpur, Kate H. Briggs, David H. Bromwich, René Forsberg, Natalia Galin,Martin Horwath, Stan Jacobs, Ian Joughin, Matt A. King, Jan T. M. Lenaerts, Jilu Li,Stefan R. M. Ligtenberg, Adrian Luckman, Scott B. Luthcke, Malcolm McMillan, Rakia Meister,Glenn Milne, Jeremie Mouginot, Alan Muir, Julien P. Nicolas, John Paden, Antony J. Payne,Hamish Pritchard, Eric Rignot, Helmut Rott, Louise Sandberg Sørensen, Ted A. Scambos,Bernd Scheuchl, Ernst J. O. Schrama, Ben Smith, Aud V. Sundal, Jan H. van Angelen,Willem J. van de Berg, Michiel R. van den Broeke, David G. Vaughan, Isabella Velicogna,John Wahr, Pippa L. Whitehouse, Duncan J. Wingham, Donghui Yi, Duncan Young, H. Jay Zwally, , Science, 338 (6111) 1183-1189, DOI: 10.1126/science.1228102,
[v] Partitioning recent Greenland mass loss, van den Broeke, M. R., J. Bamber, J. Ettema, E. Rignot, E. Schrama, W. J. van de Berg, E. van Meijgaard, I. Velicogna and B. Wouters, 2009: Science, 326, 984-986.
[vi] Greenland ice sheet albedo feedback: thermodynamics and atmospheric drivers, Box, J. E., Fettweis, X., Stroeve, J. C., Tedesco, M., Hall, D. K., and Steffen, K., The Cryosphere, 6, 821-839, doi:10.5194/tc-6-821-2012, 2012. open access
[vii] BEDMAP: A new ice thickness and subglacial topographic model of Antarctica, Lythe, M.B., D.G. Vaughan, and the BEDMAP Group, 2001: J. Geophys. Res., 106(B6), 11335–11351.
[viii] A new ice thickness and bedrock data set for the Greenland ice sheet, 1, Measurement, data reduction, and errors, Bamber, J. L., R. L. Layberry, S. P. Gogineni, J. Geophys. Res., 106(D24), 33773-33780, 2001.
[ix] Earth's Energy Imbalance and Implications, James Hansen, Makiko Sato, Pushker Kharecha, Karina Von Schuckmann, Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics (2011), Volume: 11, Issue: 24, Pages: 39
[x] Global ocean heat content 1955–2008 in light of recently revealed instrumentation problems, Levitus, S., J. I. Antonov, T. P. Boyer, R. A. Locarnini, H. E. Garcia, and A. V. Mishonov, 2009:, Geophys. Res. Lett., 36, L07608, doi:10.1029/2008GL037155.
[xi] Reassessment of the Potential Sea-Level Rise from a Collapse of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet, Jonathan L. Bamber, Riccardo E. M. Riva, Bert L. A. Vermeersen, Anne M. LeBrocq, Science 15 May 2009: Vol. 324 no. 5929 pp. 901-903 DOI: 10.1126/science.1169335
[xii] Snowfall-Driven Growth in East Antarctic Ice Sheet Mitigates Recent Sea-Level Rise, Curt H. Davis, Yonghong Li, Joseph R. McConnell, Markus M. Frey, Edward Hanna, SCIENCE, 308, 24 JUNE 2005
[xiii] Thermohaline Circulation, the Achilles Heel of Our Climate System: Will Man-Made CO2 Upset the Current Balance? Wallace S. Broecker, SCIENCE, 278, 28 NOVEMBER 1997
[xiv] Climate Change 2007: The Physical Science Basis, Contribution of Working Group I to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change ,Solomon, S., D. Qin, M. Manning, Z. Chen, M,. Marquis, K.B. Averyt, M. Tignor and H.L. Miller (eds.), IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change), 2007. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge United Kingdom and New York, NY, USA, 996 pp.
[xv] Recent Greenhouse Gas Concentrations, Blasing, T.J., DOI: 10.3334/CDIAC/atg.032 http://cdiac.ornl.gov/pns/current_ghg.html
[xvi] Climate Change 2007: The Physical Science Basis, Contribution of Working Group I to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change ,Solomon, S., D. Qin, M. Manning, Z. Chen, M,. Marquis, K.B. Averyt, M. Tignor and H.L. Miller (eds.), IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change), 2007. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge United Kingdom and New York, NY, USA, 996 pp.
[xvii] Bounding the role of black carbon in the climate system: A scientific assessment, T. C. Bond, S. J. Doherty, D. W. Fahey, P. M. Forster, T. Berntsen, B. J. DeAngelo, M. G. Flanner, S. Ghan, B. Kärcher, D. Koch, S. Kinne, Y. Kondo, P. K. Quinn, M. C. Sarofim, M. G. Schultz, M. Schulz, C. Venkataraman, H. Zhang, S. Zhang, N. Bellouin, S. K. Guttikunda, P. K. Hopke, M. Z. Jacobson, J. W. Kaiser, Z. Klimont, U. Lohmann, J. P. Schwarz, D. Shindell, T. Storelvmo, S. G. Warren and C. S. Zender, Accepted manuscript online: 15 JAN 2013 07:30AM EST | DOI: 10.1002/jgrd.50171
[xviii] Modeling the Climatic Response to Orbital Variations, J Imbrie, J Z Imbrie (1980). Science 207(4434): 943–953. doi:10.1126/science.207.4434.943.
[xix] http://www.pmodwrc.ch/pmod.php?topic=tsi/composite/SolarConstant & https://skepticalscience.com/print.php?r=8

subset: commoncrawl


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RELEASE DATE: 12/18/2013ATLANTA – It's the most wonderful time of the year for Ira Curry. The Stone Mountain woman purchased one of two winning jackpot tickets in Tuesday's $648 million Mega Millions drawing. She claimed her prize Wednesday morning at Georgia Lottery headquarters. "It's unreal," said Curry, 56. "It's like I'm still dreaming."Curry purchased her lucky ticket at Gateway Newstand, 3500 Lenox Road, Atlanta. A second jackpot ticket was sold in California. Curry selected the cash option, which amounts to $173,819,742.50 before taxes for each jackpot winner. Georgia state income tax of 6 percent and federal income tax of 25 percent are withheld from prizes of more than $5,000 at the time the prize is claimed. After final game sales were calculated, the jackpot increased from an advertised $636 million to $648 million. Curry was driving Tuesday morning when she heard the retailer location and one of the winning numbers on the radio. She asked her daughter to check her ticket and was stunned. "I was calm because it was unbelievable," she said. According to Curry, she hasn't had a chance to think about future plans. Winning numbers from the drawing were: 8-14-17-20-39 and the Mega Ball was 7.Curry said the numbers are a combination of family birthdays. She added that seven is the family's lucky number.Many other Georgia Lottery players around the state won big in Tuesday's drawing. Two $1 million tickets were sold in Columbus and Winder. Three $20,000 tickets were sold in Cave Spring, Decatur and Marietta. There were 26 $5,000 winners, 18 $2,000 winners, and more than 929,000 winners at other prize levels. Georgia students were also big winners. The Mega Millions roll, which began Oct. 4, yielded approximately $17.3 million for the Georgia Lottery-funded HOPE Scholarship and Pre-K programs, equating to approximately 6,075 HOPE awards and 1,651 Pre-K spots.As with all other Georgia Lottery games, proceeds from Mega Millions will benefit education in the state of Georgia. Since its first year, the Georgia Lottery Corp. has returned more than $14.9 billion to the state of Georgia for education. All Georgia Lottery profits go to pay for specific educational programs, including Georgia's HOPE Scholarship Program and Georgia's Pre-K Program. More than 1.6 million students have received HOPE, and more than 1.3 million 4-year-olds have attended the statewide, voluntary prekindergarten program.For more information on the Georgia Lottery Corp., please visit: www.galottery.com and www.lotterybenefitsgeorgians.com
Mega Millions media contacts


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'Invisible Bike Helmet' Keeps Hair Intact and Your Head Safe
Two women in Sweden have brought an air bag-equipped bike helmet to market.
Aug. 21, 2012 — -- How? That's going to be your first question after reading the headline of this article. How can a bike helmet be invisible and still protect our skulls?
Two women in Sweden -- Anna Haupt and Terese Alstin -- have invented the answer. Last year they debuted the Hövding, a bicycle helmet that remains invisible unless you need it, to solve the issues we all have with helmets. It is designed to inflate in a fraction of a second if you have an accident.
"It became mandatory for children to wear a helmet in Sweden and many people didn't use them," Haupt told ABC News. "We wanted to see if there was a way to change today's helmets and wanted people to wear them by free will, not by law."
"We found out people wanted something that was almost invisible that didn't destroy their hair or annoy them, something with the possibility to change the looks of the helmet like they can with mobile phone shells and wigs."
The Technology
The two women, who had backgrounds in industrial design, came up with the Hövding to solve the issue. The Hövding looks like a collar at first, worn around the neck. Inside it is an air bag, similar to the ones in your car. Shaped like a hood, the air bag is triggered when sensors (a combination of accelerometers and gyroscopes) pick up "abnormal movements of a bicyclist in an accident," the company's website says.
The air bag can inflate and surround your head in 0.1 seconds. A small gas inflator fills it with helium. It needs to be powered on, though -- there is a power button and when it's on, LEDs light up to tell you how much electricity you have to work the inflator. There's also a sound to tell you it is powered on in case you cannot see it around your neck. That means you also have to charge the invisible helmet; it uses a microUSB port and the company says a charge lasts about a month during normal use.
And that's not all the tech inside the collar. The helmet has a "black box," similar to ones on airplanes, to record the movements of the cyclist, and recognize the acceleration and angular velocity during an accident. The data is stored in the Hövding so the company can then see what sort of accident it was.
As with any wearable gadget, the women put effort into the design. It's obviously more invisible than current helmets, and there's an added bit to make it blend in even more. The collar has a removable liner so you can change it to match your shirt.
How Safe Is It?
Can an air bag be as safe as a regular helmet? The company claims its invention is even safer. "This helmet is so much better than others; the airbag and the helium gas is much softer inside than a traditional helmet," Haupt says. According to her, 20 people have been in real accidents with the helmet on in Sweden and other European countries, and it has worked perfectly.
While there hasn't been U.S. testing of the Hövding, Jonathan Adkins, the Deputy Executive Director of the Governors Highway Safety Association in the U.S., said he thinks the technology and product look promising and could solve one of the major issues surrounding helmets: the fact that not everyone wears them.
"We'd like to see more information about the durability of this technology. It is promising and we are hopeful that this could be a way of encouraging more people to wear helmets. I see far too many bikers without helmets," Adkins told ABC News.
Europe For Now, US One Day
The Hövding has been on sale in Sweden, Norway and Denmark on the Hövding website and also in physical retail locations. But it isn't cheap -- it costs 3,998 SEK (Swedish Krona), which is equal to about 499 Euros and $600 in U.S. dollars.


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- Has Ogilvie its own tartan?
- From where I can find Ogilvie Tartan Fabric?
- What accessories should I get with Ogilvie Tartan kilt?
Question: Has Ogilvie its own tartan?
Answer: The lands of Ogilvy are in Angus. The name derives from the Old Welsh, 'Ocel-fa' or 'high plain'. Angus was a kingdom in Pictish times ruled by a mormaer, one of the ancient Celtic nobles of Scotland who became the first earls. The Ogilvie of Airlie is one of the busier tartans, but it's beautiful nonetheless. The colors of Ogilvie Tartan Kilt are orange, muted blue, yellow, royal blue, white, and black.
We offer a huge selection of Kilts For Sale in 1400 different Tartans that will allow you to show off your Scottish heritage. So, you can enjoy your Kilts in beautiful designs & styles.
Question: From where I can find Ogilvie Tartan Fabric?
Answer: Mute blue & Royal blue tones with red background make this tartan very attractive. This tartan's pattern makes your attire more decent & elegant. Now you can enjoy your kilt, jackets and other wardrobes by this beautiful tartan fabric. Because we are offering Ogilvie Tartan Fabric at a very reasonable price. Just place your order as per the required yards and get it at your doorstep.
Question: What accessories should I get with Ogilvie Tartan kilt?
Answer: Carrying on the Scottish legacy of bravery, adventure, and pride, we offer a wide range of Scottish kilts, skirts, and other Kilt accessories. Stitched with love and dedication, customized to your comfort and desire, Scottish Kilts gives you the freedom to be a true representative of your Clan and proud Scots man.
With this mission, Scottish Kilt is striving to provide you with a huge range of accessories in all possible tartans, Now you may order/select perfect matching accessories with your desired tartan. Like you may have:
Matching Tartan Sporran
The Ogilvie Hunting Modern Sporran from Scottish Kilt provides you with an immense choice of style and occasion.
Matching Tartan Purse, Wallet & Handbags
The Ogilvie Hunting Modern Tartan Purse from Scottish Kilt are designed to hold all of your important financial necessities with plenty of space inside for credit cards, debit cards, identification cards, and more.
Matching Tartan Neck Tie & Bow Tie
The Ogilvie Hunting Tie from Scottish Kilt provides a stylish addition to any outfit. Our ties are available in a variety of tartans designs, meaning you're sure to find the perfect one for you.
Matching Tartan Fly Plaid
The Ogilvie Fly Plaid was a large piece of cloth that goes over the left shoulder of the wearer. It is a simple square of cloth, typically 46" X 46", with fringed edges and a box pleat sewn in one corner.
Fly Plaid Brooch
Both stylish, beautifully crafted and totally functional, the Fly Plaid Brooch found here will make your kilt stand out with a bit of unique, personalized flair.
Ogilvie Tartan Skirt
You can also order a custom-made Ogilvie Tartan Skirt for your love. At Scottish Kilt, we are dedicated to provide you the opportunity to adorn your country's heritage wherever you go, letting you be specific by choosing the style of tartan that represents best your family or region.
Matching Tartan Flashes
Ogilvie Hunting Modern Flashes which is perfect for any size of kilt hose.
Ogilvie Tartan Trouser or Trew
Take everything you love about tartan kilts and transform them into a more familiar pants style with the Ogilvie Tartan Trouser or Trew. These tartan trews fit like a pair of pants and come in your choice of tartan colors and patterns.
Matching Tartan Scarf
Ogilvie Hunting Modern Tartan Scarf differs in weight and color from season to season but its prices remained in the normal range without compromising on class and quality that is the hallmark of purely Scottish traditional Tartan Scarfs.


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[Editor's Note: This is the first in a new article series presented by iRunFar called On Adventure, a play on words from the climbing phrase "on belay." A climbing partner will say "ready to climb" when she/he is ready to begin climbing, and the supporting partner responds with "on belay," which means she/he has the climber on belay and is ready to play the supporting role. On Adventure will strive to support (read: document) the raddest running adventures undertaken by trail and ultrarunners.]
At about 4:00 pm on Saturday, February 2 NZST (that's 8:00 pm on Friday, February 1 MST in the US) and in just 53 days, Jez Bragg completed his lightning-fast tramp of New Zealand's 3,054-kilometer (just under 1,898-mile) long trail, the Te Araroa Trail.
Expedition Basics
Jez Bragg, a British ultramarathoner and a member of The North Face Global Athlete Team, brought stiff racing credentials to this adventure, including the ability to withstand the not-always-nice rigors of Mother Nature. His race resume includes a win at the 2010 Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc, the year the race was started, stopped due to horrific weather after the leaders had already run 20 miles, and restarted as a 100k the next day, as well as a third place at the 2009 Western States 100, a year that offered an inferno of heat. And Jez has always been a bit of a wanderer, embracing multi-day running and hiking outings in his British homeland. For the last several years, he's lived in the south of England and sea kayaked in the channel, too. This is all to say that Jez was physically and mentally primed for the primal challenge of a long-trail expedition.
The Te Araroa Trail extends from Cape Reinga, which is located at the north end of the New Zealand's North Island, to Bluff at the south end of the South Island. The trail is relatively new, made official in December of 2011, and it's composed of a combination of already-established trails, beaches, dirt roads, urban pathways, tarmac, a ton of marked-but-gnarly-cross-country terrain, and waterways.
As comparables for folks in North America and Europe, the Appalachian Trail rings in at 3,500 kilometers/2,175 miles in length, the Pacific Crest Trail at 4,264 kilometers/2,650 miles, and the Camino de Santiago at 791 kilometers/491 miles.
Jez's expedition, which began on December 12, has been exclusively self-powered. "Primarily, it is a top-to-bottom traverse under human power," explains Jez. "Yeah, I wanted to go as fast as I could, too, as it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to do something special."
This means that he's covered the trail's distance with only his feet and, where necessitated by the trail's passage down rivers and across lakes and oceans, kayaks. This included a 44-kilometer/27-mile, nine-hour kayak crossing of Cook Strait, the water body separating the North and South Islands that is known for its dangerous currents and unpredictable weather. No ferries, no side-stepping waterways, no nothing but him and his own legs and arms.
Like any expedition-length thru-hike, Jez spent a bit of time off the established route, mostly to meet up with his support crew in places where they couldn't reach the trail. So passionate was Jez about keeping his expedition exclusively him-powered that he either ran or rode a mountain bike on those diversions to and from the Te Araroa Trail.
Jez's primary crew members were his father-in-law, Mark Taylor, and good friend, Jamie Ashwell. During the last several weeks of the expedition, the team was joined by Gemma Bragg, Jez's newlywed wife, and Mark's wife/Gemma's mom, Hilary Taylor. Jez, Mark, and Jamie used a moderate-sized camper van as a crew vehicle, and Gemma and Hilary brought a second camper van into the mix when they arrived. Finally, a photo and video crew of three and their two vehicles accompanied the group, adding their hands to crewing on occasion.
The following video, shot around New Year's Day and a couple weeks into the expedition, captures its mood, explains logistics, and introduces Jez as well as crew members Mark and Jamie:
iRunFar has been following Jez's expedition since he took his first step south from Cape Reinga, and, in the last two weeks, we've interviewed Jez and his crew. Please enjoy this bird's-eye view into Jez Bragg's Te Araroa Trail expedition. In addition, Jez kept a meticulous and visually stunning journal of his journey over on his personal blog.
Planning the Te Araroa Trail Expedition
When Gemma and I speak, she says that it's a sunny, warm morning on the South Island of New Zealand. Jez has just up and left the camper van for his day afield. He has about nine or 10 days to his finish line, and Gemma's been a part of the crew for roughly the same amount of time. I ask, now that she's so deeply embedded in the experience, if she can remember when Jez first mentioned the expedition.
"I remember it well. We were just in the kitchen making dinner. As he often does, he pops these things into the conversation like they're normal. He said he was going to apply [to The North Face] for [support for] this expedition." She laughs gently, then continues, "That's his way of doing things. Like he was planting a seed. This makes me love him so!"
When I relay to Jez her story about that night, he can't recall it. Of course, he and I are speaking on the penultimate day of his Te Araroa Trail trip, and he's standing on an open mountaintop called Bald Hill, and he's caught first sight of his finishing point at Bluff. It's possible that he's distracted.
"When I learned about this trail, Te Araroa, about three years ago, it was not yet complete. I started following the trail's development news," begins Jez when I ask him about how this dream turned into reality. "In autumn 2011, they announced it would be opening in December. That coincided with the cycle for The North Face expedition funding. I thought, Alright, I'm going to apply for funding. That happened in December 2011. And here I am a little more than a year later with this incredible adventure. I'm a very lucky person."
Mark also recalls those planning days during our phone conversation. "When he said he was primed to do this trip, I was first amazed and impressed. I was then overcome with the desire to help him. I thought, Wow, that's just me. I'm really into running and cycling and kayaking. Jez and I have been on adventures together; well, he at half his speed to be with me. I was thinking, I can do that. I can be his crew. I dropped him an email straight away and said I wanted to help."
"When Mark put himself forward, I got excited and shook his hand off. He's a retired doctor, a very competent kayaker, and the most determined person imaginable. So that was the first piece of the puzzle," explains Jez about how logistics fell into place. "Then I asked my best man from my wedding and an old school friend, [Jamie,] if he fancied coming to New Zealand to look after me for a couple months."
Jamie's got a slightly different version of that story, which he tells with a laugh: "I'd just sold my business, a steel company, and had some time off. Jez asked me if I wanted to use some of it to crew him. He made it seem like loads of people would want this job, made me say yes right then or lose my chance. He knew I would never say no."
And, about crew member and wife, Gemma, Jez gushes. "She's incredibly supportive, to think we've only been married four months. She's just there by my side. I draw a lot of strength from her. 2012 was a disappointing year for my racing and health. I was dealing with a bowel disease, gluten-intolerance issues, and an Achilles problem. This translated into poor race performances." He goes quiet, as if it takes him a while to remember. Here he is, near the end of his big adventure, where he's been carried by an almost entirely healthy body. "Yeah, I didn't have much confidence when I started this. Gem's given me that."
Expedition Highs
I ask Mark about the highest highs of the Te Araroa Trail expedition, if he yet has the perspective to summarize some of them, if it's even possible to filter through 3,054 New Zealand-style kilometers worth of adventure.
"I am overwhelmed by the number of highs," Mark says immediately. "Foremost, though, is Jez's ability to recover, to handle the expedition's pure volume. He has his times where he gets down if he's had a rough day, or he's just exhausted. We sort of cajole him through those moments. But the rest of the time his power of recovery, mental and physical, is incredible. Like when he gets back at 3:00 am from a run. In a few hours of sleep and after a fry breakfast, he's off again."
Mark pauses, and I can hear the noises of the crew's camp life in the background. When he speaks next, his voice conveys a proudness so profound that his word choice doesn't really matter now. I get it: this is a proud papa-in-law. "Being Jez's partner on most of the water crossings. To do a bit of running and some cycling next to him. He's my son-in-law, so I knew him before. I let my daughter marry him. But now I know him so much more. He's a good man."
Gemma's answer to the same question is an explosion of thought. Fast and furious, she says, "We rode in a helicopter to crew Jez on this remote mountain crossing. How amazing it was to look down on him as he ran on a ridgeline! Getting to run with him. Cooking up food for him. Watching my husband do something big." Gemma continues, "It's silly, maybe. Maybe not, I even love doing his washing."
Jez says that he's kept the expedition as comfortable as possible by doing it British-style. "I've taken quite a British approach. I have my fried breakfast in the morning. I drink my tea. Everyone asks, 'What sports and recovery drinks are you taking?' None, I drink chocolate milk and eat potato chips and chocolate. I eat really substantial meals. Solid, hardy food has worked."
Another clear high for Jez was navigating under his own power the powerful waters of Cook Strait, which he did with Mark and an expert New Zealand kayaker and guide, Tim Taylor. "Adrenaline carried me across. I didn't have any moments where I was like, 'Holy shit, I'm 20k from land both ways and I'm in one of the world's most dangerous stretches of water.' I just focused on paddling against the crazy currents. I mean, I'm a runner with a scrawny upper body!"
There are more, many more, great moments.
"Sometimes I just sit down on a rock for five minutes to take in the remarkable wilderness of New Zealand. There have been so many days that I haven't seen anyone. I find that beyond belief. Some of these trails I reckon only see a pair of feet maybe once a week."
"It's pretty special, where I'm talking with you right now, on Bald Mountain. Seeing the south coast and Bluff for the first time."
It's as if asking Jez about his favorite parts of the last 50-some-odd days has created a movie reel of them playing in his head. I can tell, his mind is racing with memories.
"The best moment? I've got it now. It was at the end of the North Island and just before I arrived in Wellington. It was sunset, running along a ridgeline before I dropped back down to the camper van. I saw the South Island for the first time, Cook Strait the first time; it was the next day that I was to be paddling across there. It epitomized my journey. It felt like New Zealand through and through."
Expedition Challenges
While Jez and his crew have found a plethora of great days and moments, everyone agrees on the grandest challenge: the terrain. The terrain, the terrain, the terrain! Probably if Jez were writing the previous sentence, he'd add a couple expletives.
"Five days ago, Jez asked my dad and I to come into the mountains, to meet up with him on a remote section," explains Gemma. "I think he was lonely, tired. He said he wanted to see some familiar faces. The terrain was just awful. The grass was up to my shoulders. And there were these prickly bushes. The climbs and descents, just straight up and down the mountains. The whole thing was unrunable, really."
On the terrain, Jamie says, "The landscape is, on so many levels, ridiculous. The beauty. The difficulty. It's like running in a jungle half the time."
"The conditions underfoot are so tough. Much of the time there's no actual path. He's going across virgin country." Mark expounds, "We expected he'd be running eight or nine hours a day. Instead, he's had lots of very late finishes so that he can cover his desired distance each day. 10:00 pm, 1:00 am, 3:00 am."
Jez cannot agree more, "The point I really want to get across is just how rough the route is. It's much more a route than a trail. In so many sections, you're just following poles across rough ground; it's impossible to run."
There were also a couple very bad days in paradise during Jez's time on the South Island: Giardia. He thinks he got it from drinking unfiltered, unpurified water somewhere out there. It ravaged him with intestinal distress and lethargy.
Remembers Jez, "I got weaker by the day. And then after a very late finish one night, 2:00 or 3:00 am, I had a fever. I was in trouble. I was laid up horizontal in the back of the van for three days." Mark says he administered several different antibiotics, until his body started responding positively to one of them.
"It was difficult watching the clock tick by." Jez originally wanted to complete the Te Araroa Trail in under 50 days, and this setback would undoubtedly push his finishing time over the 50-day mark. But Jez wouldn't think of quitting, "I knew this [expedition] was still on. I'd had such a good run and good fortune. What a waste if I pulled the plug." After three days of rest, two short days on the trail, and a 40k day during which he felt like himself again, the game was back on.
Crew Perspective
When I think about crews for long-distance adventures like this, I imagine a ship at sea and the possibility of mutiny. You know the story, where a crew doesn't get behind the mission of the captain, so they overthrow him or her and navigate the ship off into the sunset on their own. This has happened on running expeditions, too; remember Running the Sahara? With all due respect to the guys who ran a long way, talk about misaligned runners and crews!
For something like the Te Araroa Trail expedition to fly, Jez and each member of his crew needed to be devoted to the singular goal of getting Jez to New Zealand's Bluff. I can say without hesitation: Jez's crew would go to moon for him.
Gemma's devotion is deep, so deep it makes my heart soar for the love that she and Jez so clearly share. "He's my soul mate. I completely believe in what he's doing. When you love someone, you'd do anything for them. When he gets up at 5:00 am, I don't find it hard getting up. I don't even question it."
"Jez is married to my Gemma now. He's family. To be able to do this for him is an amazing experience. I believe passionately in what he's doing," offers Mark during our interview with not a lick of prompting. "I'm absolutely committed to the project and to him."
Even if the crew is 100% committed to their cause, and even if it is Jez who is toiling on foot all day and sometimes all night, the crew is never, ever at rest. According to Mark, each day ends with the crew asking Jez what time he'll get up in the morning. Most days, he says he'll arise at 5:00 am or 5:30.
"And so we wake up then. We make tea; we're British, right? Jamie is the cook – nobody should trust me to do the cooking!" exclaims Mark. "Everything is done based on how Jez is feeling. Jamie cooks Jez whatever he wants. Jez will then tell us where and when he wants us to crew him. If he's in the lowlands, we meet him every 10k or so."
On the morning I interviewed Mark, Jez had already developed the crew plan. "Today, for instance, we'll be meeting him in about 11.5k where the trail is near the road. We'll have numerous stops like this throughout the day. Each time he turns up at the van, we have everything ready for him, a fridge full of cold drinks and lots of snacks for him to eat. He just grabs what he wants, inhales it, and then in 10 or 15 minutes, he's off again."
Mark continues, "Tonight, he'll go into the mountains. So, after about 35k today, we'll help him get his overnight kit together, sandwiches, satellite phone, sleeping bag, a camera, maybe. And then he'll head off, and give us a satellite phone call when he stops for the night at a hut."
There is no rest for the crew when Jez is in the bush for the night, "Tonight, we'll catch up on washing. I can't tell you how many times I've washed Jez's underpants." I laugh so hard and long that Mark has to stop talking to let me get it all out. It occurs to me that Jez and Mark have an uncommon father-in-law/son-in-law relationship. I tell him as much and then it's his turn for a long laugh. He continues, "We go to a campground so we can empty the camper van's toilet, fill its water, and clean it. We straighten up the camper van so that Jez can feel comfortable when he comes out of the hills."
Even though photographs show that Jez's face and body are changing – he's clearly lost some weight – Gemma says that Jez is eating a lot and often. "I've been cake baking. He loves fresh, homemade cakes. I make cakes and muffins that he can take in his bag. His favorite, chocolate and banana, is good running fuel. Mom and I make huge meals that are home cooked, like lasagna and chicken casserole."
"Of course this is difficult. Just as Jez has had rough patches, so have we," says Jamie as he describes what it's like to be Jez's crew. I understand that what he's describing, though, is a labor of love. Jez and Jamie have known each other since they were both preteens, and, together, they've been through – especially after this – it all.
"The best moment was when the film crew caught Jez stripping down for a shower. Jez realized he had an unintentional audience, and he made the best of it," reveals Jamie through laughter. "He was wearing this floppy knit hat, holding up only an Union Jack towel in front of his naked body, and it was long into the expedition so he was really skinny. I laughed so hard."
"It's hard to put into words the amount of effort and determination my crew has put in." The pace of Jez's words throughout our interview have been fast and direct – he's a man still on a mission – but, now, they come slowly, carefully. "They have had incredible emotional determination to get me through, my mood swings, my changes of mind. I tell them, 'I'm just going to do another 10k before we stop tonight,' all sorts of things. They've remained positive, patient, and effective, the perfect combination. This strong team effort has been so special."
As Gemma and I talk, I realize that she sees herself as part of her husband's crew to bear witness to the whole kit and caboodle, the highs, the lows, the changing of her husband, him living out a dream. "This kind of experience…" she says, then trails off. "Unless you're here…" Again, silence.
"You just have to be here to believe this is all happening like it is. You know, I'm not on the trail with him all the time, so I don't know everything. But I can feel his struggle and drive in my heart. This is changing him. He looks different, like you said. I think older. But he looks gorgeous. He still looks lovely to me. More of the change is happening on the inside. This experience is making stronger all of the qualities he already has."
What Now?
"Probably the first thing I'll do is get very, very emotional," says Jez when I ask him what he thinks will happen when he reaches the little nub of headland that is Bluff, the southern tip of New Zealand's South Island and the south end of the Te Araroa Trail. "Then drink champagne and enjoy the moment with my crew. I'll probably go have a very big feed-up and drink lots of cider after that." Jez is in the mood for a little celebration.
"And next, we're going on vacation!" explains Gemma. "I've managed to get us a week on an island. We've never done anything like this before. It has amazing snorkeling; you can go on boat trips. We'll have a week just relaxing and getting Jez's strength back up. It will be nice to have that time together, just the two of us."
She continues, "You know, we've been married just a little while. When we get back to England, we're going to buy our first home together. Oh, and I've got to feed him, too."
But, really. What exactly do you do after you've covered the north-south length of New Zealand on foot? When you've got a shorts tan that'll take months to recede, even in the British winter? When you've grown a bushy mountain-man beard but you're headed back to civilization? When you don't have to get up tomorrow morning and run a long way? When you end an adventure as a different version of yourself?
For Jez, the Te Araroa Trail expedition is about more than just running (and hiking, kayaking, and, sometimes, clawing and crawling) a long way. This expedition has served as a window into who he is and what he desires in life. "It's really simple. It's made me more open with my emotions – Gem says she's noticed this – but in a strange kind of way I also feel hardened and strong. I've spent 50 days thinking about the people, the relationships, and the life experiences that are the most important to me."
Update (February 25, 2013)
A second video on Jez's expedition has just been released. It's just beautiful. Please enjoy but beware of the intensity of inspiration you will afterwards feel:
Call for Comments (from Meghan)
- Feel free to leave your props for Jez in the comments below. Let's just say that he deserves them.
- Have you hiked, fastpacked, or run a long trail? If so, tell us about your adventures!
- Most people take time away for a weekend or a week's adventure, but several months? If you had the time, body, and the resources to do something like Jez's undertaking, would you?
[Editor's Note: Ryan Lindemulder, iRunFar's spring intern, assisted in the research for this story.]


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zucchini, basil and yoghurt frittata
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 leek, white part only, thinly sliced
- 4 cloves garlic, crushed
- 4 eggwhites
- 4 eggs
- 1 cup (280g) natural Greek-style (thick) yoghurt
- ⅓ cup chopped chives
- 600g zucchini (courgette), grated
- 3 cups basil leaves, roughly chopped, plus extra to serve
- 2 tablespoons capers, drained and rinsed
- sea salt and cracked black pepper
- ¼ cup (20g) finely grated parmesan, to serve
- Preheat oven to 200°C (400°F). Heat the oil in a 6-cup-capacity (1.5-litre) ovenproof frying pan over medium heat, add the leek and garlic and cook for 4–5 minutes or until softened. Set aside to cool slightly.
- Place the eggwhites, eggs, yoghurt and chive in a large bowl and whisk to combine. Add the zucchini, basil, capers, salt and pepper and stir to combine.
- Pour into the frying pan and cook in the oven for 30–40 minutes or until cooked through. Top with the parmesan and extra basil to serve. Serves 4–6
Photography: William Meppem


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Press releases Special Procedures
Israel must deliver on cease-fire agreement in the Gaza Strip – UN Special Rapporteur
"Israel must deliver"
05 December 2012
CAIRO (5 December 2012) – The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied by Israel since 1967, Richard Falk, called today on Israel to abide by and fully implement the cease fire agreement that ended the recent crisis with Gaza.
The human rights expert has just concluded a week-long mission to the region, with the initial purpose assessing the overall impact of Israel's prolonged occupation and blockade against the Gaza Strip, which is an integral part of Palestine. "However," he explained, "there arose an urgent need to investigate Israel's seemingly deliberate attacks against civilian targets during recent hostilities."
"We visited the sites of attacks and spoke with surviving family members. It is clear that some attacks killed and harmed civilians in a grossly disproportionate manner and thus appear to violate international law," Mr. Falk said. "There is a widespread feeling among Palestinians that Israel is above the law, and that it is likely to continue to have the benefits of impunity even when it flagrantly and repeatedly violates international human rights and humanitarian laws."
"Experience has shown that Israel fails to meet its international obligation to promptly and impartially investigate its own actions," he noted. "Experience has also shown that Israel is not likely to carry out its obligations under the cease fire agreement; indeed during our visit we heard Israeli warplanes flying directly overhead and received reports of Israeli military incursions into the Gaza Strip."
The Special Rapporteur called for sustained pressure from the international community, including both Governments and civil society, to secure Israel's full implementation of the cease fire agreement, noting that without such pressure it is extremely unlikely to hold. "Worldwide support for the recent General Assembly resolution that made Palestine a non-Member observer State should serve as a starting point for more concerted international protection of Palestinian rights," he said.
Mr. Falk stressed that talks to clarify how certain aspects of the cease fire agreement will be implemented, in particular with regard to access to maritime and agricultural resources, must be swiftly concluded.
"Every day Palestinian fishermen and farmers risk being shot at or detained by Israeli forces. Already since the agreement was reached, Israel has detained 13 fishermen, confiscated 4 fishing boats and sank another fishing boat," he said. "Such actions signal an Israeli intention to maintain its coercive style of occupation rather to explore whether implementing the ceasefire agreement might lead toward a more hopeful future."
"Palestinians and the international community are confronted with huge challenges to address underlying problems that have been severely aggravated by Israel's occupation and blockade," the independent expert said, underscoring the urgent need for access to clean water and sanitation, productive agricultural land, and new infrastructure.
"We received extensive briefs on what could be done if sufficient resources and political will are made available," he said. "One example is the construction of a desalinization plant to meet urgent water and agricultural needs, but in many such cases funding is not forthcoming as donors are reluctant to invest in infrastructure projects that Israel is likely to bomb in one of its periodic large-scale attacks against Gaza."
According to the Special Rapporteur, "unless these underlying problems are addressed soon, it appears that Gaza will be uninhabitable by 2020, as predicted by a recent UN report. Some of the experts with whom we spoke actually believe that 2016 is a more reasonable assessment. This indicates the gravity of the human rights crisis in the Gaza Strip."
During his visit to Cairo and the Gaza Strip, Mr. Falk met with governmental, inter-governmental and civil society representatives, as well as victims and witnesses. He received briefings from the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) and other UN agencies, which provided an in-depth picture of the magnitude of the challenges in Gaza and the difficulties of addressing such challenges in a situation of occupation and blockade. He expressed his special appreciation to the people of Gaza and the international civil servants with whom he spoke for their support and engagement.
Mr. Falk's next report to the Human Rights Council, which he intends to present in June 2013, will fully address the many concerns that were raised during the mission.
In 2008, the UN Human Rights Council designated Richard Falk (United States of America) as the fifth Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights on Palestinian territories occupied since 1967. The mandate was originally established in 1993 by the UN Commission on Human Rights. Learn more, log on to: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/countries/ps/mandate/index.htm
UN Human Rights – Occupied Palestinian Territories: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/countries/MENARegion/Pages/PSIndex.aspx
UN Human Rights – Israel: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Countries/MENARegion/Pages/ILIndex.aspx
For more information and media requests, please contact Kevin Turner (+41 79 201 0122 / [email protected]) or write to [email protected]
For media inquiries related to other UN independent experts:
Xabier Celaya, UN Human Rights – Media Unit (+ 41 22 917 9383 / [email protected])
UN Human Rights, follow us on social media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/unitednationshumanrights
Twitter: http://twitter.com/UNrightswire
Google+ gplus.to/unitednationshumanrights
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/UNOHCHR
Storify: http://storify.com/UNrightswire
Check the Universal Human Rights Index: http://uhri.ohchr.org/en


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A Church in Phoenix Opens Its Doors to Access Food
For families in Phoenix, Arizona, buying groceries through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly food stamps) and putting needed nutrition assistance on the kitchen table just got a little easiter. Thanks to Reverend Eve Nuñez, a new SNAP access location opened earlier this spring to assist Phoenix's Hispanic community apply for SNAP. Through the Help 4 Kidz organization and Love International Church, more than 700 families have already gotten help in putting food on the table.
At the ribbon cutting ceremony for the site in June, USDA Deputy Under Secretary for Food and Nutrition Services, Dr. Janey Thornton, joined Reverend Nuñez and other community leaders to celebrate the site's newly opened doors. The center now welcome Latinos and others with the food they need immediately and the help they need to buy it.
A young SNAP recipient eats at the Help 4 Kidz Café while his parents apply for SNAP with the help of a volunteer case manager.
The food assistance center provides pre-certification assistance for the SNAP program, as well as a meal for the children of parents who come in and connections with other federal programs. Earlier this year, Help 4 Kidz signed a contract with the Arizona Department of Economic Security to become an official SNAP satellite.
The grand opening is a milestone in Rev. Nuñez' work with USDA. Nuñez began working with the Partnerships Center through their anti-hunger initiative, "Porque Tuve Hambre y Me Diste de Comer/For I was Hungry and You Gave Me Food." She participated in USDA's first ever Latino Food and Nutrition Consultation in October 2010, where she joined other faith leaders from across the country to advise USDA on how best to reach the Latino community with nutrition assistance.
Nuñez later attended a meeting at the local St. Mary's Food Bank where she relayed her community's need for SNAP assistance to USDA and state officials. Following the meeting, United Way approached Nuñez with an offer to help her start the Help4Kidz SNAP satellite. Soon after, Nuñez attended the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference Board of Directors meeting, where she learned of First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move Faith and Communities challenge to feed kids over the summer. Nuñez rose to the challenge. By starting the summer feeding program, a Kids Café now serves meals to kids while they wait for their parents to finish the SNAP application process at the site. Now, USDA is assisting her in sharing her efforts with others. A regional USDA official said, "I am hoping that she will lay the groundwork for successful participation by other pastors in Los Angeles. Thank you for the opportunity to improve our outreach to the Latino faith community."
Reverend Nuñez's commitment to serving families threatened by hunger is inspired by the memory of her son, Frankie Nuñez, who passed away at age fifteen. Nuñez views the new SNAP service at Help4Kidz as a way of fulfilling her son's dream of feeding children. "Frankie would often ask me, 'Why can't we give food stamps?'" Nuñez recalls. Now, that's exactly what she is doing. Nuñez' example is a story of how we can truly feed our neighbors: "I am very grateful to USDA for taking the time to help me and for being persistent in providing me with the information I needed to make my son's dream of helping more families with food come true."


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Depending on the state your Daikin unit is in, certain controls of the unit are blocked. Functions that cannot be controlled are greyed out.
If installer mode is active on the unit's user interface, full control of the unit is blocked for safety reasons. Installer mode will automatically deactivate after some time. However, if this doesn't happen, ask your installer to deactivate installer mode for you.
When your unit is in error, all controls except [ON/OFF] are blocked due to safety reasons.
If, after being in error, the unit enters emergency mode (either automatically or manually after user confirmation, depending on settings), control blocks are lifted and full control is possible again. Mind that for the unit to enter emergency mode "manually", a manual action is required on the unit's user interface, so you need to be physically present with the unit.
If holiday mode is active for your unit, then all controls are also blocked. To regain control, try disabling holiday mode.
To check the current status of your units, tap the "bell" icon in one of their control screens.
Mind that some Daikin Altherma heat pump units are only partially compatible with the Daikin Residential Controller app. This can result in an inactive or greyed-out operation circle. For an overview of which functions are supported by which units, check the compatibility matrix in compatibilityMatrix.xlsx.


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Senior representatives from more than 90 governments met in Seoul recently to discuss cyber-space, including cyber-security and cyber-crime. It was the third in a series of international conferences that has followed a push from the UK government to bring a more international perspective to discussions about how to keep cyber-space open while addressing threats.
Cyber-crime does not operate in a world confined by national borders so an international response is our only option. We need to cooperate to protect devices and information infrastructures from malicious entities seeking to steal secrets, deny access to critical services and exploit our identities to commit crimes.
Vulnerable businesses
There is much work to be done. Weaknesses in infrastructures, policy and operations leave us vulnerable and threats to businesses and individuals are frequent and damaging. For example, a sophisticated malicious software recently infected a PC at a small British bakery, then managed to bypass all of the business's online banking security software and steal £20,000. There is no end to the news of malware, viruses and spam that affect online accounts and home computers.
Recent research indicates that four in five of the UK's largest quoted companies are unprepared for cyber attacks. The widely reported threats to systems within finance and banking are an uneasy reminder of our vulnerability – and a key priority of the Bank of England and other financial regulators. Even those companies that you might expect to see outsmarting cyber-criminals are not immune. Just a few weeks ago software company Adobe admitted that its system had been hacked and that data from nearly 3 million customers had been stolen. Now there are reports of ransomware attacks across companies in East London's hi-tech cluster of businesses.
Currently, too many decisions relating to cyber-security rely on inadequate evidence, inconsistent data, deficient reporting and varying rules across networks and systems. This inconsistency on data is apparent in UK government. Two years ago the UK Cabinet Office published a study by Detica, which estimated that cyber-crime costs the UK economy £27bn per year. It gave a breakdown by business sector and type of crime. This type of data is critical for governments, businesses and technology companies to plan appropriate security responses. However, a 2012 study undertaken by Professor Ross Anderson and colleagues for the Ministry of Defence calculated that a more realistic estimate would be closer to £12bn, distributed in significantly different ways to the Detica claims. This would suggest a different pattern of appropriate responses.
Defence beyond borders
A report to which I contributed, Now for the Long Term calls for the creation of an information exchange – CyberEx – to start tackling these issues. It could be funded by governments and businesses with an interest in collecting and analysing data on cyber-attacks to inform their own decisions about cyber-security. Each could share their own information and coordinate with others on responses to international threats. CyberEx could identify weaknesses in the global system, flag up suspicious Internet traffic and malicious software and help countries and businesses develop technical standards for their cyber-security efforts.
It could seek to minimise common vulnerabilities that enable the theft of sensitive information and the distribution of spam through systems, and work closely with international and domestic agencies to prevent common system attacks. The platform could also provide a useful mechanism for stakeholders to work together on responses to collective concerns, such as privacy protection. By providing an accessible, open platform for information exchange, CyberEx could help governments, businesses and individuals to better understand common threat patterns, identify preventative measures and minimise future attacks.
But you are only as strong as your weakest link, so CyberEx would also need to help developing countries improve their cyber infrastructure. For example, Professor Anderson's MoD study concluded that significant numbers of "stranded traveller" scams and Advance Fee Frauds originate in West Africa, particularly Nigeria.
We are at the start of conversations with interested parties on the potential for CyberEx, so the details of how and where the exchange would be hosted are still to be worked out. The report's recommendation is a starting point but it is an important one. It could move us closer to using an exchange platform to counter common but high-risk cyber threats. It is a conversation that must continue if we are to meet the challenges posed by increased societal dependence on information infrastructures.
Ian Brown receives funding from the UK Research Councils (currently EPSRC), the European Commission, and BT. He is on the advisory councils of the Open Rights Group, Privacy International and the Foundation for Information Policy Research.
This article was originally published at The Conversation. Read the original article.


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Acquired Myasthenia Gravis in Dogs and Cats
Acquired myasthenia gravis is characterized by failure of neuromuscular conduction due to reduction in the number of acetylcholine receptors at the neuromuscular junction. It is caused by the development of circulating antibodies directed against the acetylcholine receptors at the neuromuscular junction. It is fairly common in mature dogs, especially German Shepherds, Golden Retrievers, and Labrador Retrievers, but is uncommon in cats.
Three clinical forms exist in animals. The generalized form, which reportedly affects approximately 57% of dogs with acquired myasthenia gravis, and is characterized by exercise-induced stiffness, tremors, and weakness that resolve with rest. However, weakness is not always associated with exercise. Megaesophagus is common in the generalized form. Focal myasthenia gravis (approximately 43% of affected dogs) presents as facial, pharyngeal, or esophageal weakness without generalized weakness. Least common is fulminant myasthenia gravis, which presents as acute, flaccid paralysis and megaesophagus, and progresses rapidly to respiratory paralysis and is usually fatal.
Generalized weakness often resolves quickly after IV administration of edrophonium chloride (0.1–0.2 mg/kg), which is often used as a diagnostic test. Definitive diagnosis is based on detection of antibodies in serum. Treatment consists of anticholinesterase drugs, eg, pyridostigmine (1–3 mg/kg, PO, 2–3 times a day) or neostigmine (0.04 mg/kg, SC, 4 times a day). Immunosuppressive dosages of prednisone and other immunomodulating drugs are recommended in patients that do not respond to anticholinesterase treatment. Megaesophagus is managed with upright feeding and, in some cases, gastrostomy tube placement for feeding and hydration. Aspiration pneumonia is a frequent complication of megaesophagus and leads to death or euthanasia in ~50% of affected dogs. The prognosis is generally good for animals without pneumonia, and ~85% of dogs will undergo spontaneous remission, evident by detection of a decrease in antibody titer, usually within 6 months of initial diagnosis.
Acute Idiopathic Polyradiculoneuritis in Dogs and Cats
Acute idiopathic polyradiculoneuritis primarily affects the ventral nerve roots and peripheral nerves. It is common in dogs and rare in cats. An immune-mediated reaction to raccoon saliva, vaccination, bacteria, or other antigen is suspected. Clinical signs often develop 7–14 days after a raccoon bite or scratch (Coonhound paralysis). A similar syndrome can develop in dogs and cats within 1–2 weeks of vaccination. Raw chicken consumption is a risk factor in dogs, most likely caused by an immune response to contamination of chicken meat by Campylobacter spp.
Initially, there is a short-strided gait affecting the pelvic limbs that progresses within 1–2 days to flaccid tetraparesis or tetraplegia and, in some cases, to facial and laryngeal weakness. Occasionally, the thoracic limbs are initially affected. Death from respiratory paralysis can occur in severe cases. Spinal cord reflexes are weak to absent, and severe muscle atrophy is evident within 10–14 days. Pain perception is intact, and some dogs may appear hyperesthetic, showing signs of discomfort on palpation of the trunk or limbs. Mentation and appetite are not affected. Urination, defecation, and tail movement usually remain normal.
Analysis of CSF collected from the lumbar subarachnoid space shows increased protein concentration with a normal cell count. Electromyography shows denervation, and nerve conduction studies show marked dispersion and prolonged latency of F-waves, indicative of slowed conduction in the ventral roots. There is no effective treatment other than supportive care, and corticosteroids are not helpful. Most affected animals begin to improve spontaneously within 3 weeks, with complete recovery by 2–6 months. Animals with severe signs and marked muscle atrophy may recover incompletely. Relapses can occur, especially in hunting dogs that frequently encounter raccoons. Histopathologically, there is inflammation, demyelination, and varying degrees of axonal degeneration in the ventral nerve roots and peripheral nerves.
Chronic Relapsing Idiopathic Polyradiculoneuritis in Dogs and Cats
Chronic relapsing idiopathic polyradiculoneuritis is a rare disease associated with inflammation of the nerves and nerve roots. It affects mature dogs and cats. Exercise intolerance, ataxia, and weakness develop slowly over several months. Some cases have spontaneous temporary remissions. Spinal cord reflexes are decreased, and cranial nerves may be affected. In severe cases, decreased sensation is evident. Diagnosis is based on results of analysis of nerve biopsy specimens. There is nonsuppurative inflammation; axonal degeneration; and demyelination of nerves, nerve roots, and, in some cases, dorsal root ganglia on histologic examination. The cause is unknown, although immune-mediated mechanisms are suspected. Treatment with corticosteroids is helpful in some cases, but the disease tends to slowly wax and wane, gradually becoming more severe throughout months to years.
Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy in Dogs and Cats
Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy is a fairly common disorder in adult dogs and cats. The cause is unknown. Onset of tetraparesis with hyporeflexia is insidious and sometimes accompanied by cranial nerve dysfunction. Electromyography is usually normal, but nerve conduction velocities are slowed with temporal dispersion. Histologic evaluation of nerve biopsy specimens shows multifocal paranodal demyelination. Clinical signs usually improve with administration of corticosteroids (eg, prednisone 1–2 mg/kg per day), although signs may relapse when therapy is stopped.
Polyneuritis Equi
Neuritis of the cauda equina (polyneuritis equi) is characterized by inflammation of the sacrocaudal nerves and occasionally other nerves. It is seen in adult horses of all breeds in Europe and North America. The cause is unknown, although an immunologic reaction incited by a viral infection is possible. Affected horses have circulating antibodies against P2 myelin protein.
The most consistent clinical signs reflect involvement of the sacrocaudal nerves and include urinary and fecal incontinence, tail paralysis, perineal paresthesia or analgesia, atrophy of the gluteal muscles, mild pelvic limb ataxia, and, in male horses, penile paralysis. Affected horses may rub the tail. The thoracic limbs and cranial nerves may also be affected. Diagnosis can usually be based on clinical findings. CSF may be xanthochromic, with increased protein content and mononuclear pleocytosis. Sacral fracture should be excluded by rectal examination and radiography. There is no treatment, and the prognosis for recovery is poor. Histopathologically, there is granulomatous inflammation primarily affecting the extradural portions of the sacrocaudal nerves.
Protozoal Polyradiculoneuritis in Dogs
Protozoal polyradiculoneuritis occurs in dogs, especially puppies, and is caused by infection with Toxoplasma gondii Toxoplasmosis or Neospora caninum Neosporosis . Transplacental infection is most common, and multiple puppies in a litter can be affected. Affected puppies are healthy at birth but by 3–8 weeks develop paraparesis and a "bunny-hopping" gait, with weak or absent spinal reflexes. Throughout a period of several weeks, the pelvic limbs develop severe extensor rigidity and muscle atrophy. Without treatment, the disease can progress to the thoracic limbs, eventually leading to dysphagia and fatal respiratory paralysis.
Serum CK concentration is often increased. Analysis of CSF usually shows increased protein and leukocytes (neutrophils, mononuclear cells, and eosinophils). Serum or CSF antibodies or identification of the organism on muscle biopsy are helpful in diagnosis. Early treatment with clindamycin (15–20 mg/kg, IM, PO, twice a day) or trimethoprim/sulfadiazine (15 mg/kg, twice a day) and pyrimethamine (1 mg/kg per day) for 4–6 weeks may be effective. The prognosis is poor in dogs with pelvic limb rigidity.
Sensory Ganglioneuritis in Dogs
Sensory ganglioneuritis affects dogs of any breed, although Siberian Huskies are at increased risk. At 1–6 years of age, there is ataxia of all limbs with no paresis as well as dysphagia, regurgitation, and difficulty prehending food. Hyperesthesia and self-mutilation occur in some cases. There is decreased proprioceptive positioning, weak to absent patellar reflexes, and decreased to absent pain perception in the limbs and face. Diagnosis is based on clinical signs, electrodiagnostic testing that demonstrates slowed sensory nerve conduction, and biopsy of a mixed or sensory nerve that shows loss of myelinated axons and endoneural fibrosis. The cause is unknown, but loss of neurons in dorsal root ganglia with infiltration of lymphocytes and macrophages is seen at necropsy. There is no effective treatment; the disease typically progresses and leads to a decision of euthanasia.
Trigeminal Neuritis in Dogs and Cats
Idiopathic trigeminal neuropathy is common in dogs and uncommon in cats. It is characterized by acute onset of flaccid jaw paralysis. Affected animals cannot close the mouth and have difficulty eating and drinking. Horner syndrome, facial paresis, and decreased facial sensation are also possible. The cause is unknown. Histopathologically, there is bilateral nonsuppurative inflammation and demyelination in the motor branches of the trigeminal nerve. Affected animals usually recover spontaneously within 3–4 weeks. Fluid therapy and nutritional support may be necessary.


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Company history
City councillor Johann-Anton Kemper owner of the "Hotel zur Post", announced that he would open a company for the production of hinges together with his younger brother Eduard and by doing so creating new jobs.
In 1899 Gebr. Kemper bought the premises of Rüblinghauser Hütte. The company planned to set up a copper rolling mill for the production of bars, sheets and wires out of brass and phosphorous bronze.
In Rüblinghausen: Brass and phosphor bronze rolling mill and wire drawing plant
In Sassmicke: Copper hammer mill
In Olpe: Metal and phosphor bronze foundry and valve factory
In addition to the rolling mill, a complete copper mill with refining plant was built up in the Rüblinghauser Works.
Enlargement with an additional aluminium foundry
Establishment of continuous casting production for rolled products
Relocation of the company from the centre of Olpe to a new industrial estate in the valley of the Bigge - our today´s site.
Acquisition of the first finishing stand and thus entry into the electrical engineering sector for the Rolled Products Division
125th anniversary of Gebr. Kemper and foundation of the Kemper works choir
Foundation of the sales company KEMPER Armaturen AG (KAG) Schweiz
Foundation of the sales company KEMPER Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd.
Opening KEMPER Technikum
Foundation of the sales company KEMPER UK & Ireland Ltd., GB
Acquisition of software company DENDRIT, Dülmen (subsidiary)
Foundation of the sales company KEMPER AIP LLC, USA
Acquisition of the company Profiltech Stufenbandprofile, Keltern (subsidiary)
Foundation of KEMPER Asia Pacific Trading LLC, Singapore
150th anniversary of Gebr. Kemper and 25th anniversary of the Kemper works choir
Construction of the new valve factory Plant 4, Building Technology
New building (Plant 3) for the expansion of capacities in the Rolled Products Division
KEMPER - A well known partner worldwide
The activities of Kemper and its 700 employees nowadays are based on three business units which have always been decisive for the company´s success.
Gunmetal and stainless steel valves for sanitary engineering have an outstanding reputation in the sector. Cast products, whether as unfinished or finished products, were and today still are the company's backbone. With rolled belts made of copper and copper alloys along with special alloys, KEMPER is treading the path into the high-tech future for the automotive and electrical industry.


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Understanding Causes Of Wrist And Elbow Pain, And When To Get Help
In a typical day, you use your hands, wrists, and elbows extremely frequently. From vigorously brushing your teeth in the morning to switching the lights off before bed and during most other actions in between, these joints are very often in a state of movement. But over time, performing certain tasks on a repetitive basis can go on to damage some of these structures and lead to injury.
A repetitive strain injury is a potentially disabling condition that results from overuse of a body region or structure—usually the hand or wrist, and sometimes the elbow—after performing the same movement over and over. Repetitive motions, like typing on a computer, cutting hair, working on an assembly line, or even using a cellphone can all cause increase stress and fatigue of different structures, resulting in pain and other symptoms in these regions.
Common wrist and elbow conditions vs red flags
Carpal tunnel syndrome is by far the most common and well-known repetitive strain injury in these areas, as it affects up to 5% of the adult population. But there are several other repetitive strain injuries that can also affect the wrist or elbow. Below, we break down some of the most common conditions that can produce pain and limit movement in the wrist and elbow, all of which can be effectively treated by a physical therapist. This is followed by some key red flags to be aware of that may suggest a bigger issue is present:
- Carpal tunnel syndrome: a repetitive strain injury that is likely caused by tasks that involve repeated hand motions, awkward positioning of the hand or wrist, vibration, or excessive gripping; individuals who work in industries like manufacturing, food processing, and textiles are likely at the highest risk; over time, these movements can cause the median nerve within the carpal tunnel to be compressed, which leads to pain, tingling, weakness, and/or numbness in the hand or wrist
- Wrist tendinitis: a condition in which one or more tendons in the wrist becomes inflamed and irritated, which leads to pain and disability; tendinitis can occur at any age but is more common in adults; as tendons age, they become less elastic and can tolerate less stress, which makes it easier for them to become damaged
- De Quervain's tenosynovitis: this is a type of tendinitis that develops on the thumb side of the wrist; it causes pain and tenderness in the wrist or below the base of the thumb and often gets worse with repetitive hand or wrist movements; as with other types of tendinitis, tenosynovitis is more common after the age of 40
- Dupuytren's contracture: an abnormal thickening of tissue between the skin and tendons in the palm, which may limit the use of the fingers or eventually cause them to be pulled in towards the palm in a bent position; the causes of this condition are unknown, but it' more common in men over the age of 50
- Ulnar tunnel syndrome (Guyon's canal syndrome): this condition is similar to carpal tunnel syndrome, but it involves compression of the ulnar nerve, which leads to a tingling sensation in the ring and little fingers; it's particularly common in weightlifters and cyclists
- Golfer's elbow (medical epicondylitis): this condition results from repeated bending of the wrist, which damages the muscles and tendons in the elbow and eventually leads to inflammation; it's most common in golfers, but can occur from other sports and activities that strain the elbow, and the clearest indication is pain on the inside of the elbow that's most noticeable when performing any type of gripping activities
- Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis): a repetitive strain injury caused by repeatedly performing the same movements—in tennis, other racquet sports, or one's profession—over and over; common symptoms are pain and a burning sensation on the outside of the forearm and elbow that gets worse with activity, as well as weakened grip strength
Red flags
- Signs of infection or septic arthritis (eg, pus or fluid, redness, fever, blisters, worsening swelling)
- Constant pain, including pain at night
- Deep, intense pain
- Pain associated with unexplained weight loss and/or fever
- Suspected fracture or dislocation from severe trauma to the wrist or elbow
- Known or suspected cancer (eg, significant bone pain, which may be suggestive of a bone tumor)
- Persistent swelling and pain without any recent injury
- Severe muscle spasm
In our next post, we'll provide you with our top picks for exercises that can reduce your risk for developing wrist or elbow pain.
July 5, 2022
The information in the articles, posts, and newsfeed is intended for informational and educational purposes only and in no way should be taken to be the provision or practice of physical therapy, medical, or professional healthcare advice or services. The information should not be considered complete or exhaustive and should not be used for diagnostic or treatment purposes without first consulting with your physical therapist, occupational therapist, physician or other healthcare provider. The owners of this website accept no responsibility for the misuse of information contained within this website.


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05 May 2014
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is providing an additional $1.25 million to the U-MEDIA program in Ukraine, a project of Internews and its Ukrainian partner organizations aimed at supporting Ukrainian media outlets as they prepare for the Ukrainian presidential election on May 25.
Members of the media in Ukraine have faced serious challenges and dangers over the past several months, USAID said in announcing the grant on its website May 2. More than 500 journalists have been harassed, beaten or abducted since November 2013, and one journalist was killed. Media outlets have been attacked and news-gathering equipment has been seized or destroyed, USAID said.
"USAID supports a strong and independent media in Ukraine," said Paige Alexander, USAID assistant administrator for the Bureau for Europe and Eurasia. "This additional funding will help to protect vulnerable journalists while also advancing press freedoms and democratic governance in Ukraine."
USAID supports respect for universal values around the world as central to its mission to end extreme poverty and promote resilient, democratic societies. The agency's work is committed to increasing awareness, creating strong legal foundations for independent media and civil society, improving government responsiveness to constituents and supporting platforms for free and open communications.
USAID said these new funds will support a number of activities:
• Webinars on media rights and responsibilities will be conducted in preparation for the presidential and local election campaigns, and regional training seminars will be conducted on journalistic legal and professional standards during an election. Voter education public service announcements will be produced and distributed to media outlets across Ukraine.
• Joint public forums and town hall discussions will cover constitutional reform in the context of the presidential election, political processes between the expected rounds one and two of the election, analysis of candidate platforms, local election procedures, Ukrainian unity and implications of European Union integration.
• Assistance will be provided to 1st Ukrainian Channel and a local foundation to produce and broadcast debates between the presidential candidates, as well as post-debate webcasts.
• Cross-regional exchanges will link 45 journalists, editors and bloggers to increase information available to citizens about political reforms, economic and social issues, and the May 25 presidential elections. Small grants for content production will be provided to cover news events, and the creation of regional news and information Web portals and live webcasts.
• Physical and digital security training will be provided for journalists, including best practices for safe Internet and mobile communications use, as well as how to avoid or disengage from dangerous situations when covering civil unrest.
USAID said it is supporting the government of Ukraine as it implements constitutional and electoral reforms that fulfill its stated goal of becoming a fully inclusive and economically stable democracy. The U.S. government has invested $11.4 million to support a transparent and democratic election process in Ukraine. Programs support improvements to the electoral framework; voter education and civic participation; transparent and effective election administration; open and responsive political competition; effective oversight of election processes; election security and redress of infractions; and a diverse, balanced and policy-focused media environment.


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Me in my studio: Gaudi
Happy anniversary
2012 is the year that Italian producer Gaudi celebrates 30 years in the music industry. With 12 solo albums, more than 250 productions, 95 remixes (including Lamb, Trentemoller, Bob Marley, Simple Minds, The Orb, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Scissor Sisters, Fatboy Slim, Africa Bambaataa, Shpongle and more) and with tracks featured on about 120 compilations, this self-styled 'dub maestro' shows us round his Metatron Studio in London.
NEXT: Studio overview
Studio overview
"Let's start with a panoramic photo of myself and the studio equipment. In order to achieve depth and warmth in my dub/electronica productions, I am using pretty much all analogue equipment such as vintage modular synthesizers, analogue drum machines, tape echoes, spring reverbs, valve compressors, an analogue mixing desk and a lot of human touch, real instruments and tingz. This is all going into Logic, ready for some serious editing twists!"
"This gentleman is called the ARP2 600. Many producers use the virtual version by Arturia, which is not bad at all.The difference between the two is pretty straightforward: the Arturia version is not bad, but the original 1976 modular version is simply wicked! No comparison guys - another level, another planet!
"An incredible machine, very rare and quite pricey, but hey - if that's what you want you have to have it! It has a very distinguished 'sound personality' that's perfect for obscure, aggressive, obsessive, repetitive, hypnotic textures."
Minimoog and ARP Odyssey
"This legendary piece of technology is pretty much omnipresent in all my productions. This is THE synth: super flexible, good for punchy lead sounds, solid basslines, and also perfect for floaty velvety atmospheres, especially through tape echo or spring reverb… simply beautiful!
"The other synth, on top of the Minimoog, is the ARP Odyssey, another fabulous synthesizer! The majority of my sub frequencies come from this incredible and moody machine!
"A little curiosity: during one of my tours back in 1989, Air France broke my poor Arp Odyssey, and after being fixed it started to make weird noises and unusual sounds, sounds never heard before in the history of electronic music! And it still does it!
"It is very very difficult to control, as it has an uncontrollable and unpredictable personality. This is really a unique piece."
Tape echoes
"Top right in the picture we have the Roland RE-501 tape echo and chorus. It's simply phenomenal; the colour and the warmth that this machine can add to your sound is unbeatable!
At the top left we have the Korg Stage Echo. This one is just tape echo - that's what it does and it does it well. A completely different body compared to the Roland, this is very good for 'sound presence'. The RE-501 is more designed for dubby distant soundscapes.
"These are not just effect machines, these are musical instruments. Oh yes guys, I play my tape echoes, as if they were a piano, a guitar, a bass… for me the tape echo is one of the most creative instruments on Earth!
"Below the Korg you can see another incredible piece of technology: an original 1979 Roland SVC-350 vocoder. I use it quite often, and not only for vocals. It has a very warm sound."
Fender Rhodes
"My beautiful Fender Rhodes Eighty Eight. It doesn't really need any introduction, it is simply a perfect piece of equipment, something that you will never recreate virtually - that's it!
"It is so beautiful - sometimes I look at it and I feel happy! (Weirdo Mr Gaudi!) Seriously, it is so incredibly versatile. It can be super aggressive and crunchy, and it can also be the most lovely and ethereal sound on Earth (electronic pioneer Mr Eno understood the potential of this instrument and created incredible textures that actually defined a genre: ambient music).
"On top of it we have my secret love. Well, it is not that secret - it is always with me, in all my gigs, it is part of all my productions, it is in all my 12 albums! And every time it surprises me with new tricks, let's put it like that: the Korg MS20 is an instrument that has unlimited possibilities! For real!"
Roland classics
"This is a piece of history in electronic music: the Roland TB-303, simply sublime! Super active since the late '70s, I would describe it as the music chameleon as it has an extreme capacity to adapt her sound (yes it is a 'she') to any kind of music genres!
"On the left we have my analogue Dub Siren: one oscillator, Moog components, LFO… very basic, very authentic, always with me on tour!
"In the background you see my Theremin, (my favourite instrument ever) and on top of it you can vaguely recognise another legendary piece of equipment: the Roland TR-909 drum machine!
"I bought my first 909 in 1983. I didn't like at all and sold it and of course I lost big money (at the time it was big money for me). Then in 1986 I bought another second hand and I paid a fortune because the house music phenomenon exploded that year. Then I still didn't like, it never convinced me, so I sold it… then in 1990 I bought it again. I love it, but really and truly I do not use it so often."
Theremin and mixer
"This is my Theremin. I've played Theremin since 1991 - I love it! I still play it at all my gigs around the globe. It is an incredibly difficult instrument, so fascinating and trippy! Invented in 1920 by Russian Professor Leon Theremin, I use it in modern electronic and dub music. My 32-channel Soundcraft desk is underneath.
"Did you enjoy the visit to my studio? Cool - now go and buy my albums!"
Gaudi's Everlasting is available to buy now on Iboga Records.


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The story of slavery has been neglected by Hollywood since the advent of motion pictures. Despite its vestige as one of the greatest tragedies in American history, slavery has been recounted in only a handful of films to date, few of which received much critical attention or profitable returns.
Yet with the box office success of Quentin Tarantino's new film Django Unchained, which is estimated to have hit over $106 million in domestic earnings this weekend, some believe it could be ample time for the ghosts of America's past to finally rise to the surface.
"There's a difficulty to get movies made with African-American characters period, not just films that deal with slavery," George Tillman Jr., director of Men of Honor, Notorious, and Soul Food tells theGrio. "About 12 years ago, I remember a young filmmaker wanting to do a film about the Underground Railroad – he couldn't get it off the ground for nothing. He tried for three or four years. Hopefully, maybe down the line, Django Unchained has opened up the door so that we can be able to have more slave stories, and many different kinds of depictions."
While Tillman points out that Django Unchained doesn't necessarily tell a story of slavery, rather its focus lies on love, revenge, and just deserts, it does bring to light the cruel setting of the Antebellum South. The raw establishment of oppression and callousness in the movie offers a rare glimpse into the terrors of America's transgression, and is a sight not often portrayed on the big screen.
That, says Tillman, is significant.
"What I really loved is that it showed, for individuals who are not African-American, who are not minorities, you can see how slavery really works," he comments. "The plantations; the difference between working in the big house or working in the fields; the different levels of education among slaves – just seeing how it really was, I think [Tarantino] did a good job. But could he go further? Yes. Is there a lot more detail? Yes. How did we get there? How were we taken? There's still a lot more stories to be told, but I think with the success, maybe somebody who has just as much success as Tarantino would be able to do the same thing. And we can be able to expand from that."
Looking back, the scarcity of such films is particularly surprising considering the deep impact slavery as a cultural, social and political institution left in American history. A search on Wikipedia derives only 14 movies total chronicling American slavery, and that includes 2012's Lincoln, an almost comical stretch of the imagination. The list also cites Steve McQueen's forthcoming movie, Twelve Years a Slave, among the count, and that doesn't even have a release date yet. By comparison, there have been nearly 150 films made about the Holocaust, and at least 200 World War II films since 2000 alone.
Though all these tragedies deserve time in the spotlight, the immense devastation of slavery seems grossly disproportionate to the attention it has received in Hollywood. Termed by some the "African Holocaust," scholars believe at least 12 million Africans were captured and enslaved by white oppressors during this era, and that two out of every 10 of those captives died en route to America. Thus, 2.4 million lives were lost before they even made it to land. Furthermore, recent reports show that another 250,000 slaves were likely to have perished following their freedom due to sickness and starvation.
These stories remain to be seen in theaters, however, discounting the few that have made it to the box office – Amistad and Roots, namely. Screen Junkie's list of "5 Slavery Movies Everyone Should Watch" curiously includes Liam Neeson's thriller flick Taken, and the Charlton Heston classic, Ben-Hur. A similar breakdown on Ranker.com cites 15 well-made slave movies, listing Gone with the Wind, Huckleberry Finn, and Memoirs of a Geisha as among the best.
"Why don't they ever do anything about the passage of slavery from Africa?" Tillman questions. "You have to research to find out about it; it's just not out there. And is that fair? I don't think that's fair. There are a lot of great stories; a lot of great families; a lot of people who made it out of that; people who dealt with that; people who lost family through that. There aren't articles; there's not television."