text:
Mongolia Population: 3,031,3301 VISITOR FROM HERE!
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|The Mongols gained fame in the 13th century when under Chinggis KHAAN they established a huge Eurasian empire through conquest. After his death the empire was divided into several powerful Mongol states, but these broke apart in the 14th century. The Mongols eventually retired to their original steppe homelands and in the late 17th century came under Chinese rule. Mongolia won its independence in 1921 with Soviet backing and a communist regime was installed in 1924. The modern country of Mongolia, however, represents only part of the Mongols' historical homeland; today, more ethnic Mongolians live in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in the People's Republic of China than in Mongolia. Following a peaceful democratic revolution in 1990, the ex-communist Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party (MPRP) - which took the name Mongolian People's Party (MPP) in 2010 - has competed for political power with the Democratic Party (DP), the main opposition party, and several other smaller parties, including a new party formed by former President ENKHBAYAR, which confusingly adopted for itself the MPRP name. In its most recent Parliamentary elections in June 2016, Mongolians handed the MPP overwhelming control of Parliament, largely pushing out the DP, which had overseen a sharp decline in Mongolia's economy during its control of Parliament in the preceding years. President ELBEGDORJ, a DP member, will finish his second term as president in 2017, and is not eligible to run for reelection.
Landlocked; strategic location between China and Russia
|Northern Asia, between China and Russia
|Geographic coordinates:
| total: 1,564,116 sq km
land: 1,553,556 sq km
water: 10,560 sq km
Size comparison: slightly smaller than Alaska; more than twice the size of Texas
|Land Boundaries:
|total: 8,082 km border countries (2): China 4,630 km, Russia 3,452 km
|0 km (landlocked)
|Maritime claims:
|none (landlocked)
|desert; continental (large daily and seasonal temperature ranges)
|vast semidesert and desert plains, grassy steppe, mountains in west and southwest; Gobi Desert in south-central
|Elevation extremes:
|Natural resources:
|oil, coal, copper, molybdenum, tungsten, phosphates, tin, nickel, zinc, fluorspar, gold, silver, iron
|Land use:
| agricultural land: 73% arable land 0.4%; permanent crops 0%; permanent pasture 72.6% forest: 7%
other: 20% (2011 est.)
|Irrigated land:
|840 sq km (2012)
|Natural hazards:
|dust storms; grassland and forest fires; drought; "zud," which is harsh winter conditions
|Current Environment Issues:
|limited natural freshwater resources in some areas; the policies of former Communist regimes promoted rapid urbanization and industrial growth that had negative effects on the environment; the burning of soft coal in power plants and the lack of enforcement of environmental laws severely polluted the air in Ulaanbaatar; deforestation, overgrazing, and the converting of virgin land to agricultural production increased soil erosion from wind and rain; desertification and mining activities had a deleterious effect on the environment
|International Environment Agreements:
| party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
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| noun: Mongolian(s)
adjective: Mongolian
|Ethnic groups:
|Khalkh 81.9%, Kazak 3.8%, Dorvod 2.7%, Bayad 2.1%, Buryat-Bouriates 1.7%, Zakhchin 1.2%, Dariganga 1%, Uriankhai 1%, other 4.6% (2010 est.)
|Khalkha Mongol 90% (official), Turkic, Russian (1999)
|Buddhist 53%, Muslim 3%, Christian 2.2%, Shamanist 2.9%, other 0.4%, none 38.6% (2010 est.)
|3,031,330 (July 2016 est.)
|Age structure:
| 0-14 years: 26.92% (male 416,053/female 399,954)
15-24 years: 16.76% (male 256,897/female 251,160)
25-54 years: 45.45% (male 667,509/female 710,116)
55-64 years: 6.68% (male 92,781/female 109,768)
65 years and over: 4.19% (male 51,691/female 75,401) (2016 est.)
|Dependency ratios:
| total dependency ratio: 47.6%
youth dependency ratio: 41.7%
elderly dependency ratio: 6%
potential support ratio: 16.7% (2015 est.)
|Median age:
| total: 27.9 years
male: 27.1 years
female: 28.7 years (2016 est.)
|Population growth rate:
|1.25% (2016 est.)
|Birth rate:
|19.6 births/1,000 population (2016 est.)
|Death rate:
|6.3 deaths/1,000 population (2016 est.)
|Net migration rate:
|-0.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2016 est.)
| urban population: 72% of total population (2015)
rate of urbanization: 2.78% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
|Major urban areas - population:
|ULAANBAATAR (capital) 1.377 million (2015)
|Sex ratio:
| at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.85 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2016 est.)
|Mother's mean age at first birth:
|20.5 note: median age at first birth among women 20-24 (2008 est.)
|Maternal mortality rate:
|44 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)
|Infant mortality rate:
| total: 21.8 deaths/1,000 live births male: 24.9 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 18.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2016 est.)
|Life expectancy at birth:
| total population: 69.6 years male: 65.4 years
female: 74.1 years (2016 est.)
|Total fertility rate:
|2.13 children born/woman (2016 est.)
|Contraceptive prevalence rate:
|54.9% (2010)
|Health expenditures:
|4.7% of GDP (2014)
|Physicians density:
|2.84 physicians/1,000 population (2011)
|Hospital bed density:
|6.8 beds/1,000 population (2012)
|Drinking water source:
| improved:
urban: 66.4% of population
rural: 59.2% of population
total: 64.4% of population
urban: 33.6% of population
rural: 40.8% of population
total: 35.6% of population (2015 est.)
|Sanitation facility access:
| improved:
urban: 66.4% of population
rural: 42.6% of population
total: 59.7% of population
urban: 33.6% of population
rural: 57.4% of population
total: 40.3% of population (2015 est.)
|HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
|0.02% (2015 est.)
|HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
|400 (2015 est.)
|HIV/AIDS - deaths:
|fewer than 100 (2015 est.)
|Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
|15.7% (2014)
|Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
|1.6% (2013)
|Education expenditures:
|4.6% of GDP (2011)
| definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98.4%
male: 98.2%
female: 98.6% (2015 est.)
|School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
| total: 15 years male: 14 years
female: 15 years (2014)
|Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
| total: 16.6% male: 14.7%
female: 19.1% (2013 est.)
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|Country name:
| conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Mongolia
local long form: none
local short form: Mongol Uls
former: Outer Mongolia
etymology: the name means "Land of the Mongols" in Latin; the Mongolian name Mongol Uls translates as "Mongol State"
|Government type:
|semi-presidential republic
| name: Ulaanbaatar
geographic coordinates: 47 55 N, 106 55 E
time difference: UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Saturday in March; ends last Saturday in September
note: Mongolia has two time zones - Ulaanbaatar Time (8 hours in advance of UTC) and Hovd Time (7 hours in advance of UTC)
|Administrative divisions:
|21 provinces (aymguud, singular - aymag) and 1 municipality* (singular - hot); Arhangay, Bayanhongor, Bayan-Olgiy, Bulgan, Darhan-Uul, Dornod, Dornogovi, Dundgovi, Dzavhan (Zavkhan), Govi-Altay, Govisumber, Hentiy, Hovd, Hovsgol, Omnogovi, Orhon, Ovorhangay, Selenge, Suhbaatar, Tov, Ulaanbaatar*, Uvs
|11 July 1921 (from China)
|National holiday:
|Independence Day/Revolution Day, 11 July (1921)
|several previous; latest adopted 13 January 1992, effective 12 February 1992; amended 1999, 2001; legislation on amendments proposed in 2015 continued into 2016 (2016)
|Legal system:
|civil law system influenced by Soviet and Romano-Germanic legal systems; constitution ambiguous on judicial review of legislative acts
|18 years of age; universal
|Executive branch:
| chief of state: President Tsakhia ELBEGDORJ (since 18 June 2009)
head of government: Prime Minister Jargaltulga ERDENEBAT (since 7 July 2016); Deputy Prime Minister Ukhnaa KHURELSUKH (since 25 July 2016)
cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the prime minister in consultation with the president, confirmed by the State Great Hural (parliament) elections/appointments: presidential candidates nominated by political parties represented in the State Great Hural and directly elected by simple majority popular vote for a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 26 June 2013 (next to be held in June 2017); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually elected prime minister by the State Great Hural
election results: Tsakhia ELBEGDORJ reelected president; percent of vote - Tsakhia ELBEGDORJ (DP) 50.2%, Badmaanyambuu BAT-ERDENE (MPP) 42%, Natsag UDVAL (MPRP) 6.5%, other 1.3%
|Legislative branch:
| description: unicameral State Great Hural or Ulsyn Ikh Khural (76 seats; all members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by simple majority vote; members serve 4-year terms)
elections: last held on 29 June 2016 (next to be held in June 2020)
election results: MPP 65, DP 9, MPRP 1, independent 1
|Judicial branch:
| highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the Chief Justice and 24 judges organized into civil, criminal, and administrative chambers); Constitutional Court or Tsets (consists of a chairman and 8 members) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court chief justice and judges appointed by the president upon recommendation to the State Great Hural by the General Council of Courts, a 14-member body of judges and judicial officials; term of appointment is for life; chairman of the Constitutional Court elected from among its members; members appointed by the State Great Hural upon nominations - 3 each by the president, the State Great Hural, and the Supreme Court; term of appointment is 6 years; chairmanship limited to a single renewable 3-year term
subordinate courts: aimag (provincial) and capital city appellate courts; soum, inter-soum, and district courts; Administrative Cases Courts
|Political parties and leaders:
|Civil Will-Green Party or CWGP [Sanjaasuren OYUN, Sambuu DEMBEREL, Tserendorj GANKHUYAG] Democratic Party or DP [Zandaakhuu ENKHBOLD] Mongolian National Democratic Party or MNDP [Mendsaikhan ENKHSAIKHAN] Mongolian People's Party or MPP [Miyegombo ENKHBOLD] Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party or MPRP [Nambar ENKHBAYAR] New Labor Party or XYH [S. GANBAATAR]
|Political pressure groups and leaders:
|other: human rights groups; women's rights groups; disability rights groups
|International organization participation:
|ADB, ARF, CD, CICA, CP, EBRD, EITI (compliant country), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURSO, MONUSCO, NAM, OPCW, OSCE, SCO (observer), UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNMISS, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
|National symbol(s):
|soyombo emblem; national colors: red, blue, yellow
|National anthem:
| name: "Mongol ulsyn toriin duulal" (National Anthem of Mongolia)
lyrics/music: Tsendiin DAMDINSUREN/Bilegiin DAMDINSUREN and Luvsanjamts MURJORJ
note: music adopted 1950, lyrics adopted 2006; lyrics altered on numerous occasions
|Diplomatic representation in the US:
| chief of mission: Ambassador Bulgaa ALTANGEREL (since 8 January 2013)
chancery: 2833 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone: [1] (202) 333-7117
consulate(s) general: New York, San Francisco
|Diplomatic representation from the US:
| chief of mission: Ambassador Jennifer Zimdahl GALT (since 5 October 2015)
embassy: Denver Street
mailing address: PSC 461, Box 300, FPO AP 96521-0002; P.O. Box 341, Ulaanbaatar-14192
telephone: [976] 7007-6001
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Foreign direct investment in Mongolia's extractive industries – which are based on extensive deposits of copper, gold, coal, molybdenum, fluorspar, uranium, tin, and tungsten - has transformed Mongolia's landlocked economy from its traditional dependence on herding and agriculture. Exports now account for more than half of GDP. Mongolia depends on China for more than 60% of its external trade - China receives some 90% of Mongolia's exports and supplies Mongolia with more than one-third of its imports. Mongolia also relies on Russia for 90% of its energy supplies, leaving it vulnerable to price increases. Remittances from Mongolians working abroad, particularly in South Korea, are significant. Soviet assistance, at its height one-third of GDP, disappeared almost overnight in 1990 and 1991 at the time of the dismantlement of the USSR. The following decade saw Mongolia endure both deep recession, because of political inaction, and natural disasters, as well as strong economic growth, because of market reforms and extensive privatization of the formerly state-run economy. The country opened a fledgling stock exchange in 1991. Mongolia joined the WTO in 1997 and seeks to expand its participation in regional economic and trade regimes. Growth averaged nearly 9% per year in 2004-08 largely because of high copper prices globally and new gold production. By late 2008, Mongolia was hit by the global financial crisis and Mongolia's real economy contracted 1.3% in 2009. In early 2009, the IMF reached a $236 million Stand-by Arrangement with Mongolia and it emerged from the crisis with a stronger banking sector and better fiscal management. In October 2009, Mongolia passed long-awaited legislation on an investment agreement to develop the Oyu Tolgoi (OT) mine, among the world's largest untapped copper-gold deposits. However, a dispute with foreign investors developing OT called into question the attractiveness of Mongolia as a destination for foreign investment. This caused a severe drop in FDI, and a slowing economy, leading to the dismissal of Prime Minister ALTANKHUYAG in November 2014. The economy had grown more than 10% per year between 2011 and 2013 - largely on the strength of commodity exports and high government spending - before slowing to 7.8% in 2014 and 2.3% in 2015. The current government has made restoring investor trust and reviving the economy its top priority, but has failed to invigorate the economy in the face of the large drop off in foreign direct investment. Mongolia's economy faces near-term economic risks from the government's loose fiscal and monetary policies, from uncertainties in foreign demand for Mongolian exports, and on Mongolia's ability to access financing. The May 2015 agreement with Rio Tinto to restart the OT mine and the subsequent $4.4 billion finance package signing in December 2015 have served to increase investor confidence but are unlikely to overcome the downward economic pressures in the short term.
|GDP (purchasing power parity):
| GDP (purchasing power parity): $36.65 billion (2016 est.) $36.64 billion (2015 est.) $35.79 billion (2014 est.)
note: data are in 2016 dollars
|GDP (official exchange rate):
|GDP (official exchange rate): $11.16 billion (2015 est.)
|GDP - real growth rate:
|0% (2016 est.) 2.4% (2015 est.) 7.9% (2014 est.)
|GDP - per capita (PPP):
| GDP - per capita (PPP): $12,200 (2016 est.) $12,300 (2015 est.) $12,200 (2014 est.)
note: data are in 2016 dollars
|Gross national saving:
|21.2% of GDP (2016 est.) 21.1% of GDP (2015 est.) 23.4% of GDP (2014 est.)
|GDP - composition, by end use:
| household consumption: 57.6%
government consumption: 12.1%
investment in fixed capital: 19.9%
investment in inventories: 7.4%
exports of goods and services: 40.1%
imports of goods and services: -37.1% (2016 est.)
|GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
| household consumption: 57.6%
government consumption: 12.1%
investment in fixed capital: 19.9%
investment in inventories: 7.4%
exports of goods and services: 40.1%
imports of goods and services: -37.1% (2016 est.)
|Agriculture - products:
|wheat, barley, vegetables, forage crops; sheep, goats, cattle, camels, horses
|construction and construction materials; mining (coal, copper, molybdenum, fluorspar, tin, tungsten, gold); oil; food and beverages; processing of animal products, cashmere and natural fiber manufacturing
|Industrial production growth rate:
|4.9% (2016 est.)
|Labor force:
|1.164 million (2015 est.)
|Labor force - by occupation:
| agriculture: 28.6%
industry: 21%
services: 50.4% (2014)
|Unemployment rate:
|8.3% (2015 est.) 4.8% (2014 est.)
|Population below poverty line:
|21.6% (2014 est.)
|Household income or consumption by percentage share:
| lowest 10%: 3%
highest 10%: 28.4% (2008)
|Distribution of family income - Gini index:
|36.5 (2008) 32.8 (2002)
| revenues: $2.868 billion
expenditures: $4.035 billion (2016 est.)
|Taxes and other revenues:
|25.7% of GDP (2016 est.)
|Public debt:
|72% of GDP (31 September 2015 est.)
|Fiscal year:
|calendar year
|Inflation rate (consumer prices):
|Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.4% (2016 est.) 5.8% (2015 est.)
|Current account balance:
|-$1.241 billion (2016 est.) -$567 million (2015 est.)
|$4.319 billion (2016 est.) $4.619 billion (2015 est.)
|Exports - commodities:
|copper, apparel, livestock, animal products, cashmere, wool, hides, fluorspar, other nonferrous metals, coal, crude oil
|Exports - partners:
|China 84%, Switzerland 9% (2015)
|$3.003 billion (2016 est.) $3.512 billion (2015 est.)
|Imports - commodities:
|machinery and equipment, fuel, cars, food products, industrial consumer goods, chemicals, building materials, cigarettes and tobacco, appliances, soap and detergent
|Imports - partners:
|China 39.9%, Russia 28.4%, Japan 6.4%, South Korea 6.2% (2015)
|Debt - external:
|$18.67 billion (31 December 2016 est.) $18.16 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
|Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
|$17.62 billion (31 December 2016 est.) $16.89 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
|Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
|$379.4 million (31 December 2016 est.) $367.4 million (31 December 2015 est.)
|Market value of publicly traded shares:
|$632.6 million (31 December 2015 est.) $766.1 million (31 December 2014 est.) $1.095 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
|Exchange rates:
|togrog/tugriks (MNT) per US dollar - 2,011 (2016 est.) 1,970.3 (2015 est.) 1,970.3 (2014 est.) 1,817.9 (2013 est.) 1,357.6 (2012 est.)
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|Electricity - production:
|5.1 billion kWh (2014 est.)
|Electricity - consumption:
|5.6 billion kWh (2014 est.)
|Electricity - exports:
|33 million kWh (2014 est.)
|Electricity - imports:
|1.3 billion kWh (2014 est.)
|Electricity - installed generating capacity:
|1 million kW (2014 est.)
|Electricity - from fossil fuels:
|99.8% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
|Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
|0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
|Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
|0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
|Electricity - from other renewable sources:
|0.2% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
|Crude oil - production:
|23,180 bbl/day (2015 est.)
|Crude oil - exports:
|14,360 bbl/day (2013 est.)
|Crude oil - imports:
|0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
|Crude oil - proved reserves:
|NA bbl 0 bbl
|Refined petroleum products - production:
|0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
|Refined petroleum products - consumption:
|28,000 bbl/day (2014 est.)
|Refined petroleum products - exports:
|0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
|Refined petroleum products - imports:
|25,620 bbl/day (2013 est.)
|Natural gas - production:
|0 cu m (2013 est.)
|Natural gas - consumption:
|0 cu m (2013 est.)
|Natural gas - exports:
|0 cu m (2013 est.)
|Natural gas - imports:
|0 cu m (2013 est.)
|Natural gas - proved reserves:
|0 cu m (1 January 2014 es)
|Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
|14 million Mt (2013 est.)
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|Cellular Phones in use:
|total: 3.068 million subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 103 (July 2015 est.)
|Telephone system:
| general assessment: network is improving with international direct dialing available in many areas; a fiber-optic network has been installed that is improving broadband and communication services between major urban centers with multiple companies providing inter-city fiber-
domestic: very low fixed-line teledensity; there are multiple mobile-cellular providers and subscribership is increasing
international: country code - 976; satellite earth stations - 7 (2015)
|Broadcast media:
|following a law passed in 2005, Mongolia's state-run radio and TV provider converted to a public service provider; also available are private radio and TV broadcasters, as well as multi-channel satellite and cable TV providers; more than 100 radio station (2008)
|Internet country code:
|Internet users:
|total: 642,000 percent of population: 21.4% (July 2015 est.)
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|44 (2013)
|Airports (paved runways):
| total 15
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 10
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 (2013)
|Airports (unpaved runways):
| total 29
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 24
under 914 m: 1 (2013)
|1 (2013)
| total 1,815 km
broad gauge: 1,815 km 1.520-m gauge
note: national operator Ulannbaator Railway is jointly owned by the Mongolian Government and by the Russian State Railway (2016)
| total 49,249 km
paved: 4,800 km
unpaved: 44,449 km (2013)
|580 km (the only waterway in operation is Lake Hovsgol) (135 km); Selenge River (270 km) and Orhon River (175 km) are navigable but carry little traffic; lakes and rivers ice free from May to September) (2010)
|Merchant marine:
| total 57
by type: bulk carrier 21, cargo 25, chemical tanker 1, container 2, liquefied gas 2, passenger/cargo 2, roll on/roll off 3, vehicle carrier 1
foreign-owned: 44 (Indonesia 2, Japan 2, North Korea 1, Russia 2, Singapore 3, Ukraine 1, Vietnam 33) (2010)
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|Military branches:
|Mongolian Armed Forces (Mongol ulsyn zevsegt huchin): Mongolian Army, Mongolian Air Force (2016)
|Military service age and obligation:
|18-27 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; 1-year conscript service obligation in land or air forces or police for males only; after conscription, soldiers can contract into military service for 2 or 4 years; citizens can also voluntarily join the armed forces (2015)
|Military expenditures:
|0.98% of GDP (2015) 1.12% of GDP (2012) 0.99% of GDP (2011) 1.12% of GDP (2010)
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|Transnational Issues
|Disputes - International:
|^Back to Top
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Source: CIA - The World Factbook


text:
Last night's American Idol stood out for a reason that can't be making anyone at Fox too happy -- the show had fewer viewers in the coveted 18-49 demographic than Modern Family on ABC.
To put that in perspective, the show still won the night with 13.5 million viewers compared to Modern Family's 10.6 million viewers, according to TV By The Numbers. But it's still not a great sign for the show, especially considering Fox shelled out an estimated $54 million on judges and Ryan Seacrest this year with a large chunk of that going to new judges Mariah Carey and Nicki Minaj.
The show has been on a steady decline in rating but getting beat by Modern Family is a new low. Plus the show is no longer churning out major stars. My colleague Zack O'Malley Greenburg recently looked at the top-earning Idol contestants. While Scott McCreery, who won in 2011, ranked 4th with $4 million, the top of the list was dominated by winners from much earlier seasons like Kelly Clarkson ($8 million), Carrie Underwood ($5 million) and Daughtry ($5 million).
Despite the periodic influx of new judges, the show, which debuted in 2002, feels stale compared to competitors like The Voice. Fox really has two choices: Accept that the show is past its prime and be happy with lower (but still huge) ratings or go for a total revamp.
A revamp would risk alienating the slew of fans who have come to love the triumph and heartbreak of Idol.
If I was advising Fox, I'd suggest making small tweaks but cutting back on the expensive talent. Things like the Carey/Minaj fight are only interesting for so long. Find up-and-coming singers who really need the exposure and won't demand eight-figure salaries to appear on the show. It would freshen things up without upsetting the die-hard fans.
Follow me on Twitter at DorothyatForbes.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) - The Black Keys, Sheryl Crow and Public Enemy are among the musical acts scheduled to perform at the Beale Street Music Festival in May.
The eclectic list of performers was announced Tuesday on the website for Memphis in May, the month-long tourism event that includes the three-day music festival.
Other scheduled performers include Jerry Lee Lewis, Alice in Chains, Bassnectar, The Smashing Pumpkins, Daryl Hall & John Oates, Flaming Lips, Dwight Yoakam, The Roots, The Black Crowes, Patti Smith and ZZ Top.
The music festival takes place at Tom Lee Park, which sits alongside the Mississippi River. It runs from May 3 through May 5.
Memphis in May also features the World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest and the Sunset Symphony.
Memphis in May: http://www.memphisinmay.org


text:
The Edmonton Numismatic Society will be hosting the Edmonton Coin Show on Sat & Sun Nov 11 & 12.
It will be at the Howard Johnston Hotel at 15540 Stony Plain Road,
10:00 AM until 4:00 PM both days.
It is one of the biggest shows in Canada with dealers from across Canada.
If your in the area try to make a point of checking it out.
Edmonton Coin show Nov 11 & 12
Discuss about everything else here.
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text:
Today, May 22, is Buy a Musical Instrument Day and what could be better than Irish traditional music. Here we look at choosing your musical instrument and making a start on your musical career!
In this series, we'll look at the process of starting to play an instrument in the traditional Irish style that you can find in seisiúins around the world. This guide is written from a beginner's perspective, by a beginner, and doesn't cover in-depth topics for each instrument. If you have additional tips and tricks you think a beginner should consider, let us know in the comments below.
Picking your instrument is the most fundamental part of the entire process. If you don't enjoy your instrument, you won't practice, you won't seek out opportunities to play, and you'll abandon the hobby sooner or later.
Let's take a look at some of the options, from the most common to the least:
Pros: Widely available and there's a good chance you already have one, or a relative will. Basic tuition can be found almost anywhere, and the role in a trad group is mainly rhythm-based: perfect for those who don't seek the spotlight. And it's a versatile skill for many other genres of music.
Cons: The same things that some might consider good about the guitar might be problems for other musicians. While you can play melodies on the guitar (as any rock solo can show), it's just not the way it's used in trad. Guitarists will find themselves confined to a backing role.
Banjo / Mandolin
Pros: The banjo is pretty easy to find, being a staple in most forms of folk music. It plays the main notes of the tune, so it's perfect for playing alone as well as with others. The mandolin is tuned and structured the same way as the banjo, so the same skills can be used for both.
Cons: As a melody-based instrument, you'll be playing the main notes of a tune – what you'd hum to yourself – and speed will be essential when playing with others. The mandolin, while smaller and brighter-sounding (due to its pair of strings for every single string on the banjo) is also quieter.
Tin Whistle (feadóg stáin)
Pros: Cheap as can be, this was once called the penny whistle, and today will still cost very little. Only the very, very, best whistle makers in the world charge a few hundred dollars. The instrument is simple in form – six holes on a basic flute shape – and different notes are formed through covering different combinations of the holes. Whistles come in various keys, too, though D is the most common.
Cons: While covering the holes will get your note, don't be fooled by the instrument's simplicity – whistle players need to play fast. And that means rapidly changing combinations with perfect accuracy at high speed. In some ways, that's true of every instrument, but when you see a good player's fingers do the rapid dance needed, you're seeing the result of long hours of practice.
Pros: Easy to acquire, the fiddle is the same instrument like the violin. The difference is in the entirely different style. Fiddle playing is rapid and extremely expressive, with plenty of room for your own interpretation. A good fiddler with the ability to pick tunes up by ear is highly prized.
Cons: Fiddle playing is notoriously difficult to learn. The instrument has no frets – those little markers on a guitar that mark the notes and make it impossible to play the sounds in between notes (meaning it's easier to stay in tune). Novice fiddlers are quite likely to sound like a bag of cats to start with but the rewards are there for those with the passion and a fiddle adds a huge boost to any session.
Pros: The traditional Irish drum is one of the only dedicated rhythm instruments, and is recognizably Irish. It certainly looks the part anyway. It's distinctive and bodhráns feature at Irish sporting events, especially when you need to energize the crowd!
Cons: Outside of Ireland, they can be difficult to find, and it's not an "essential" part of a session.
Music Box (Concertina)
Pros: Not as expensive to begin with as some traditional instruments, it's likely to cost a few hundred for a starter model. It's a very versatile melodic instrument and is usually played with single clear notes rather than the chorus many people think of when they think of the accordion.
Cons: Concertinas are popular all over Europe, so if you're looking to play Irish music, you'll probably want to track down an Anglo-Concertina in the keys of C/G. For such a small box, it can be quite complicated to buy, so you'll want to do plenty of reading online at concertina.info's great FAQ, or ask questions online.
Uileann Pipes
Pros: A good uileann piper is rare and is usually a musician to be taken seriously. The instrument has a very distinctive sound and there's no chance of going unnoticed. It's arguably one of the most traditional instruments if you value heritage highly.
Cons: Prohibitively expensive and difficult to acquire. There are a very limited number of makers, and they're distinct from the Scottish bagpipes. The beginner's set – containing just the parts needed to get started playing, and pictured above – will need to be upgraded to a half- or full-set at some point. A full-set will likely cost several thousand.
Also, while good pipers make beautiful music, the sound isn't for everyone.
There are other instruments, notably the harp (or 'clársach', which is played in a different style), the bouzouki (think halfway between a guitar and a mandolin), the trad flute, or that old staple, the spoons. The instruments above, though, are the most common at any session.
In the next article, we'll take a look at the importance and process of finding a teacher for your chosen instrument. You can read more about Irish traditional instruments with this interesting infographic.
If you've any further advice, leave your thoughts in the comments section below.
* Originally published in September 2013.


text:
Mechanical Technician - Biomass Power Station
|Job Title:
|Mechanical Technician - Biomass Power Station
|Contract Type:
|Kingston Upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire
|Overtime + Benefits
|Contact Name:
|Daniel Grosvenor
|Contact Email:
|Job Published:
|January 14, 2019 16:49
Job Description
Mechanical Technician - Biomass Power Station
Competitive Salary + Benefits Package
Hull, East Yorkshire
About the client…
Our client is a Global Business, providing leading technologies in the Minerals, Metals, Energy and Water industries across the world. Committed to sustainability, they are looking for people to join them who share the same values as they do. Focused on creating leading technologies, they aspire for excellence and building success together and for their customers.
With over 100 years in operation, this is an exciting opportunity to join the Business as they expand into the UK market as they have been awarded numerous contracts in the United Kingdom for Operations & Maintenance of Energy from Waste Plants and have plans for more as a Technology provider.
The role...
We're currently recruiting a Mechanical Technician to join the Maintenance Department of a state of the art Biomass Power Station in Hull, East Yorkshire. This plant is part of a 3-plant development project across the UK designed to supply ~10MW of energy, using Gasification Technology/Advanced Thermal Treatment.
Role & Responsibilities
As Mechanical Technician, reporting to the Plant Manager, you will be responsible for:
- Fault finding and maintaining mechanical assets including pumps, gearboxes, valves, etc.
- Working in line with maintenance techniques and best practices
- To ensure compliance with the pressure regulations and lifting gear inspection requirements
- Assisting in plant developments and projects
- Supervising and setting to work on site contractors
- Maintaining accurate maintenance records on the site CMMS
- Assist in outage planning, scheduling and coordination
- To ensure the availability of plant spares
Knowledge, Skills and Experience
We are looking for someone with the following:
- A relevant technical qualification such as a C&G / NVQ / ONC / HNC in Mechanical Engineering or a similar discipline
- At least threes years of hands on maintenance experience with mechanical systems including pumps, compressors, gearboxes, cranes etc
- Practical knowledge of process plant and equipment gained in a heavy engineering environment such as power generation, petrochemical, steel works, CHP plant, paper mill etc. Royal Navy Marine Engineers will also be considered
- Involvement in plant mobilisation and commissioning is desirable but not essential
Package and benefits
What's on offer for you:
- A competitive starting salary with room for progression
- Benefits including pension, holidays and more
- An opportunity to join a new build Biomass site
How to Apply
To apply for this exciting opportunity simply send a copy of your up to date CV and covering letter to firstname.lastname@example.com or alternatively you can call 02392 288 286 and ask for Dan Grosvenor.
Astute Technical Recruitment Limited are acting as an employment agency in relation to this vacancy. We do not discriminate on the grounds of age, race, gender, disability, creed or sexual orientation and comply with all relevant UK legislation. We encourage applications from individuals from all backgrounds but candidates must be able to demonstrate their ability to work in the UK and Europe. We endeavour to get back to everyone, however, if you have not heard anything after 7 days, please consider your application unsuccessful.
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text:
Computer Science ColloquiumIm Rahmen des Informatik-Kolloquiums, das von den Instituten des Fachbereichs Informatik, der Österreichischen Gesellschaft für Informatik (ÖGI), der Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Datenverarbeitung (ADV) sowie der Österreichischen Computergesellschaft (OCG) abgehalten wird, spricht
Przemyslaw Musialski
Vienna University of Technologyüber das Thema:
Shape Optimization for Consumer-Level Digital FabricationZeit: Wed 13.12.2017, 15:30, 60 Minuten
Ort: Johannes Kepler University Linz, Science Park Building 3, Room 058
ZusammenfassungTraditionally, 3d modelling in computer graphics deals with the geometric and visual aspects of 3d shapes. On the other hand, due to the growing capabilities of personal digital fabrication technology and its spread into offices and homes, 3d models are increasingly entering the physical world. Therefore, the physical properties of 3d models come into focus. For example, 3dprinted models should be able to stand balanced in a desired pose without toppling over, or should posses certain properties, like a specific sound if vibrating or a minimal structural strength if exposed to external forces. It is thus desirable to have methods that allow the user to specify the intended physical properties of an object in addition to its 3d geometry, and which automatically take these properties into account when generating a specification for a 3d printer. In this talk I will give an introduction to such computational design problems and introduce a methodology for efficient non-linear shape optimization.
VortragenderPrzemyslaw Musialski is university assistant and principal investigator at the TU Wien (Vienna University of Technology), Institute of Discrete Mathematics and Geometry, and member of the Center for Geometry and Computational Design (GCD) where he heads the Computational Fabrication group.<br> He obtained the MSc degree (Diplom-Mediensystemwissenschaftler) in 2007 from the Bauhaus University Weimar and the PhD degree (Dr.techn.) in 2010 from the TU Wien. From 2007 to 2011 he was with VRVis Research Center in Vienna, and from 2011 till 2012 he was postdoctoral scholar at the Arizona State University. Since April 2012 he is with TU Wien.
Einladender: Univ.-Prof. Dr. Oliver Bimber, Institute of Computer Graphics
Liste aller Vorträge


text:
City Information - Dusseldorf
Dusseldorf, is one of the nicest towns in Germany.
It is a handsome and elegant, modern city on the banks of the Rhine River. Düsseldorf is a city where everything is close together: just near the wellknown shoppingstreet Königsallee is the Altstadt, the old quarter of the city.
With its 260 cosy pubs and home-brew taverns it is well known as "the longest bar in the world".
A little further on, you can find renewed proof that the citizens of Düsseldorf love to promenade: the traditional Kö has recently acquired a new companion promenade, which is even two kilometers long. Now that the new Rhine embankment tunnel has diverted the through traffic, the Altstadt has taken back its traditional place by the Rhine. While the traffic races along underground, strollers on the Rhine embankment promenade can admire the outlook over the Rhine and the art nouveau facades of Oberkassel. The view swings to the Rhine tower, which rises above the North Rhine-Westphalia government building. From a bird's-eye perspective you can see the city, the countryside, the industrialized river. You can enjoy a romantic view of the city by exploring it from one of the many white pleasure steamers´of the "Weisse Flotte" (the "white fleet").
A trip northwards will take you to Kaiserswerth, following Barbarossa's tracks to the medieval ruins of his castle, picturesque houses, idyllic places, in the typical Lower Rhine countryside.
Dusseldorf Map
Düsseldorf is the capital city of the German Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and (together with Cologne and the Ruhr Area) the economic center of Western Germany. Düsseldorf is located on the River Rhine and it is one of the main centers of the densely populated Rhine-Ruhr area.
Düsseldorf is not only widely known as a stronghold of the German advertising and fashion industries: in the last few years the city on the Rhine has become a top telecommunications center in Germany. There are 18 internet providers located in the capital of North-Rhine Westphalia. With two of the four big German providers of mobile frequencies, D2 Vodafone and E-Plus, Düsseldorf leads the German mobile phone market. This pioneer position is evidenced by the presence of many foreign trading centers in Düsseldorf such as NTT, Ericsson, Nokia and GTS.
Dusseldorf - Duesseldorf - DUS
568.855 people who live here
216.99 km² Fläche
Car sing.: D


text:
WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court on Monday questioned a monopoly on hospital services in southwestern Georgia.
The justices heard arguments in the federal government's claim that two private corporations used a public hospital authority to complete a deal that left one company as the owner of the only two hospitals in Albany, Ga. The Federal Trade Commission says the deal violates federal antitrust law.
The question at the high court is whether an exception in antitrust law for actions taken by a state or its agencies - in this case, the hospital authority - shields the transaction from federal concerns.
Lower federal courts allowed Albany's Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital to buy Palmyra Medical Center from Hospital Corporation of America for $195 million over the FTC's objection.
Both hospitals now are nominally owned by the Hospital Authority of Albany-Dougherty County, but run by the Phoebe Putney Health System under long-term leases. The money for the Palmyra purchase came from the health system, not the authority.
The court has long accepted that the some business deals that lead to monopolies that otherwise would raise antitrust concerns are allowable if they are done by states. But in such cases, the states have to explain clearly why competition is not in the public interest and they have to ensure a level of control and oversight of the monopolies.
Justice Elena Kagan was among several members of the court who pressed Seth Waxman, the Washington lawyer representing the Georgia hospitals, about whether Georgia clearly endorsed deals that leave one company in control of all the hospital beds in a city or county.
Waxman said the hospital authority, with a duty under state law to serve the poor, had only two ways to find additional needed bed space.
"It could have tried to convince the state to spend three times as much money to get half the number of beds," by building a new facility, Waxman said. Or, "it could buy the other hospital."
A decision is expected by June.


text: Often, we find it difficult to express our wishes to our near and dear ones in an appropriate manner. Now, with our theme cakes you can do so effortlessly without too much ado. We include themes that are close to someone's heart such as animals, cars, sports, movies and machines. You identify the theme and we will bake a cake for you and you can send the theme based cakes for birthdays as easily as saying theme based cakes.


text:
Results 97 to 107 of 107
December 9, 2010, 3:47 pm, Thu Dec 9 15:47:44 UTC 2010 #97Moderator
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Yes, Elle, it is sad...
To take two lives over an acre or two of ground. And a first cousin, yet!
Here are more details of the ongoing dispute, and the evidence reviewed by the Grand Jury:
December 9, 2010, 6:51 pm, Thu Dec 9 18:51:09 UTC 2010 #98
Thanks so much for the updates Lurker!!!It's probably too late to get justice for JonBenét. Maybe it always was. But knowing where things went wrong is the first step to not going there again. **-- Alan Prendergast-Dec 21, 2006--**
Bring all our Missing Home www.usearchut.org
Prayers for our military who are protecting our freedom.
December 9, 2010, 10:05 pm, Thu Dec 9 22:05:48 UTC 2010 #99FFJ Senior Member
To take two lives over an acre or two of ground. And a first cousin, yet!
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Here are more details of the ongoing dispute, and the evidence reviewed by the Grand Jury:
This had to be a murder of family hatred, Lurker. Why would an old guy in his 70's carry out such a horrendous murder on his cousin and husband? Too many guns around!elle: The RST can't handle the truth!
Just my opinion.
December 10, 2010, 8:35 am, Fri Dec 10 8:35:37 UTC 2010 #100Superior Cool Member
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Oh, my, Lurker!This post, unless it is a legal court document, may not be carried in part, or in its entirety to any other discussion forum or bulletin board without the express written consent of the party who wrote it. It is proprietary to the author and to www.forumsforjustice.org. Violators will be reported to their Internet Service Providers.
December 10, 2010, 8:59 am, Fri Dec 10 8:59:28 UTC 2010 #101Superior Cool Member
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The grand jury found that both victims were initially shot in the head with a 12-gauge shotgun blast in an ambush-style execution. After Carol Keeffe suffered the fatal shotgun wound, she was shot two more times, in the head, from close range, with a .22 caliber gun.
Her husband, David, was also shot in the head with a .22 caliber gun following the initial shotgun blast.
I don't recall reading about them being shot in the head with a .22 to boot. Talk about overkill.This post, unless it is a legal court document, may not be carried in part, or in its entirety to any other discussion forum or bulletin board without the express written consent of the party who wrote it. It is proprietary to the author and to www.forumsforjustice.org. Violators will be reported to their Internet Service Providers.
December 10, 2010, 11:10 am, Fri Dec 10 11:10:06 UTC 2010 #102FFJ Senior Member
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December 12, 2010, 4:04 pm, Sun Dec 12 16:04:51 UTC 2010 #103Moderator
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JC, Elle
Yes, indeed...vendetta and overkill. Carol's father did not have to give this punk ANYTHING! He was only a nephew. All these years, his rage over his first cousin's good fortune in inheriting 84 acres of prime hunting land simmered in his fevered mind until he decided to kill her and her husband.
The seven capital sins are what drive most murderers. This guy was consumed by envy and anger.
December 18, 2010, 11:59 am, Sat Dec 18 11:59:31 UTC 2010 #104
Yes, thanks for the update, Lurker.
I read some of the articles and watched the news video report. Here's what I find odd: LE had the weapons used to murder the victims, plus the bullet casings, all found in the old man's possession; they had bloody boot prints and the boots which matched them found on the alleged killer DeSisti's property; they had the motive--the feud over the land. Why did it take them this long to arrest this old killer? He sounds mean enough to kill again, especially knowing he might go down for this double murder.
Okay, here's a great article which outlines much more about the land dispute--which was over land in New York where the alleged killer lived, not in Pennsylvania where the victims lived and were slain. And the father of victim Carol Keeffe was not even dead at the time she was murdered--am I reading that right? So the "gift" of land was while he was still alive?
This article is fantastic, laying out the land dispute in detail, the issues and character of the alleged killer, and the evidence. I have copied some here for discussion, but if you really want to know the whole story, read the article in full. There are some aerial photos of the house/crime scene, as well, here: http://thedailyreview.com/news/arres...effe-1.1074879
Also, some "comments" in the comment section imply that a judge might have been the "hold-up" on the charges. As in, sounds very Ramsey to me....
Arrest made in homicide case of David and Carol Keeffe
By C.J. Marshall (Staff Writer)Published: December 9, 2010
A major development was reported Wednesday in the criminal homicide case of David and Carol Keeffe with the arrest of John J. DeSisti of Waverly.
According to the affidavit of probable cause filed with Magisterial District Justice Michael Shaw, DeSisti, 73, of 87 Shepard Road, has been charged by the Pennsylvania Attorney General's office with two counts of murder and one count of burglary. DeSisti was arraigned Wednesday afternoon before Judge Shaw, who ordered the defendant incarcerated in the Bradford County Correctional Facility.
David and Carol Keeffe were found dead in their home on Moore Road on Sayre Hill in Sayre on Sunday, Nov. 19, 2006.
The reports indicated that Carol Keeffe had been involved in a dispute with DeSisti, her cousin, concerning adjoining properties they own in New York. The properties were initially 84 acres of land owned by Michael DeSisti, Carol Keeffe's father and uncle of John DeSisti. Michael DeSisti gave seven acres of the property to John DeSisti, the paper said, and the remaining 77 acres to Carol Keeffe, which surrounded those owned by John DeSisti. John DeSisti built a house as well as several other structures adjacent to his residence on the land in question.
After receiving the seven acres, the information continued, John DeSisti purchased additional land which adjoined Carol Keeffe's property, but was prevented from having continuous access to those lots from his residence because of the location of the acreage owned by Carol Keeffe.
"John J. DeSisti has long been an extremely avid and experienced trapper and hunter," the information in the affidavit said. "As part of his trapping activities, he routinely shot animals in the head with a .22 caliber weapon, in order to kill the animals after they were caught in traps. He also frequently hunted small game and water fowl using shotguns, including 12-gauge shotguns, and was very proficient at shooting such game and fowl with shotguns. As a frequent visitor to the home of Michael DeSisti, John DeSisti was very familiar with the above described hill-top property, which included the murder site, and even occasionally hunted on that property."
For a number of years, the report continued, Carol Keeffe was involved in a dispute with John DeSisti over the land in question, contending that some of the John DeSisti's buildings had been constructed on her property. DeSisti in turn insisted that he owned the property the buildings were on.
"The dispute crystallized and intensified, in the weeks leading up to the murders, due to Carol Keeffe's having the land logged and surveyed," the report said.
On Dec. 11, 2006, the state police executed a search warrant at John DeSisti's residence. Among the items taken into custody included 12-gauge shotguns with ammunition, a .22 caliber revolver as well as ammunition, and two .22 caliber rifles, as well as several pairs of Cabela's Outfitters Series boots, size 10.5 EE.
Another piece of evidence obtained by the state police at the homicide scene was a bloody boot print. A state police footwear impression expert eventually was able to determine that the print was consistent with those made by Cabela's Outfitters Series boots, and that the size of the print indicated it was made by a size 10.5 EE. The report said that a more positive identification - based on characteristics such as knicks, cuts, or other damage - was not possible because the blood obscured such information.
The next phase of the case will be John DeSisti's preliminary hearing before Judge Shaw. However, the date of the hearing is unknown at this time.
Last edited by koldkase; December 18, 2010, 12:37 pm at Sat Dec 18 12:37:33 UTC 2010.
"University of Colorado Law Professor Paul Campos declared the letter a 'reckless exoneration.' He went on to state, 'Everyone knows that relative immunity from criminal conviction is something money can buy.
Apparently another thing it can buy is an apology for even being suspected of a crime you probably already would have been convicted of committing if you happened to be poor.'"
March 4, 2011, 1:35 am, Fri Mar 4 1:35:14 UTC 2011 #105
Googled up this update on the Keeffe murders. Looks like the crazy cousin is going to trial this summer:
Accused Slayer of Keeffes Faces Trial - by Wes Skillings - 2/17/2011
Special Prosecutor Patrick Blessington described it as a "compellingly circumstantial case" in his brief closing remarks Friday morning. Magisterial District Judge Tim Clark apparently agreed. After more than a full day and part of another morning of testimony, Clark ruled that there was sufficient evidence to bind John J. DeSisti, 72, over for trial for the murders of David and Carol Keeffe on Nov. 17, 2006, in the garage adjoining their remote Athens Township home.
The scheduled arraignment in the Bradford County Court of Common Pleas on first-degree murder charges filed against DeSisti, Carol Keeffe's first cousin, will be March 14 at 8:30 a.m. From there the case will move toward a trial date, with the option of a plea agreement in the interim. DeSisti's attorneys, Arthur Donato and Joshua Lock, indicated that they will take the case to trial, with Donato labeling crucial firearms and footwear evidence as "ambiguous."
"He's a hunter," said Blessington of DeSisti in his closing remarks. "This time he's hunting humans."
Particular attention was made in the case presented by the Commonwealth that DeSisti, an accomplished hunter, would allegedly "finish off" animals via shots to the head with a .22-caliber handgun or rifle after downing them with a shotgun or rifle as a hunter or as a trapper. This was exactly the way the Keeffes met their end, apparently minutes after pulling into their garage on that Friday in November—the day before they were to leave on a holiday excursion to Cape Cod. Their killer was waiting for them, with the sole intention of murder and no interest in any other crime on the premises.
According to Dr. Samuel Land, who performed the autopsy on Carol Keeffe in Allentown and who also testified on the autopsy results of David Keeffe, Carol Keeffe was struck with a shotgun blast to the top left of her head from a distance of a little more than four feet away. She was outside the vehicle she had just arrived in with her husband and in front of an interior door to the adjoining house.
It appears, according to Land's testimony, that Mrs. Keeffe dropped to the floor immediately from what was a fatal shot that Land described as "near total destruction of the major portions of the brain." However, the killer then used what appeared to be a .22-caliber handgun to fire two other shots to her head. There was a purse near her hand which contained about $1,200 in cash, apparently ruling out robbery as a motive. The murders have been described from the beginning as execution style.
Getting Out of Car
As for Mr. Keeffe, the autopsy indicated that he was still partially in the car, in the process of emerging with the door open, when a shotgun blast struck him in the left eye area of the head. That shot came from slightly above him. DeSisti was considerably shorter than Mr. Keeffe, and that may indicate Keeffe was not yet in a standing position outside the car when struck.
As was the case of his wife, the shotgun blast absorbed by Mr. Keeffe was fatal in itself, causing major destruction to the brain and skull. Dr. Land testified that he would have gone down immediately by the open door of the car. Then a .22-caliber handgun was literally put against the victim's temple and fired as he lay on the floor.
Much of the opening day's testimony Thursday brought out a feud over some land between the cousins, Carol Keeffe and John DeSisti, and that this was the apparent motive for DeSisti wanting her killed. The daughter, Melissa Keeffe, had testified that her mother was having the land surveyed and would be requiring DeSisti to remove buildings constructed on her land if warranted. DeSisti, testimony indicated, was well aware of the survey being conducted. Melissa Keeffe, an attorney in the law firm in which her father had been senior partner, said that her father had no involvement in the land disagreement.
There was a sand pit on the property belonging to Carol Keeffe that her father, Michael, had always said was very valuable and that its aggregates had been used in the construction of Route 17. It was John DeSisti allegedly changing the lock on that access that was the final straw that convinced Carol Keeffe to do the survey.
Logger Arlyn Stanton testified that he was with Michael DeSisti in the summer of 2006 when he realized his nephew, John, had changed the lock.
"They were both furious about it," said Stanton referring to both Carol and her father. He said that Carol also told him he should be careful in dealing with John because he was "big trouble."
Disagree on Survey
However, it appears Michael DeSisti did not agree with his daughter about having the land surveyed.
Housekeeper, Winifred Perry, who worked for Carol and David Keeffe, as well as for Michael and Ann DeSisti, was there when Carol had a conversation with her father on the phone not long before the murders. They were having a disagreement over the survey.
"She wanted it done and her father didn't want her to have it done," Perry testified. She said Carol started crying after talking to her father and stating she was moving ahead with the survey.
"He did not want her to have the land surveyed because he was afraid of what Johnny would do," Perry recalled, adding that Carol made a comment that "whatever Johnny gets he wants more."
This was the day before she was killed.
Melissa Keeffe testified about the land dispute between the two cousins in which John DeSisti had apparently encroached on some of the 77 acres near his home on Shepard Hill Road in Waverly, NY, that was surrounding his property and owned by Carol Keeffe.
Surveyor Michael Joyce was hired by Carol Keeffe to resolve the boundary issue "so she could pass it on to her heirs." Joyce added that, "She had reason to believe there may be some encroachments by Mr. (John) DeSisti."
Boots and Prints
As far as tying John DeSisti to the murder scene, bloody footprints match a unique pattern on Cabela's hunting boots he owned. In fact, he owned four or five pairs. Lt. Kevin Deskiewicz provided the expert testimony on footwear impressions and said that the buildup and viscosity of blood in the prints kept him from making a positive identification. However, he testified that John DeSisti's boots came the closest of numerous other tread designs it was compared to.
"It's the only boot that could have made that impression," Deskiewicz said.
Lock aggressively attacked the state police evidentiary expert's findings in his cross examination. He grilled Deskiewicz about whether he was certain the photos of the prints he examined were properly gathered at the evidence scene.
"You're asking me about things that happened at the crime scene I wasn't at," a frustrated Deskiewicz finally blurted out. Judge Clark eventually asked Lock to move on to other areas with his questioning.
The defense team also attacked firearms testimony that concluded all the shots were fired from the same weapon and that shotguns owned by John DeSisti could have fired those shots. They also compared shotgun shells in DeSisti's possession to the ones believed used in the murders, stating they were consistent. Unlike rifles and handguns, shotguns are almost impossible to positively link to a murder weapon via ballistics testing alone.
As it stands going into the trial that probably won't take place until summer, the evidence is almost all circumstantial. The motive for murder, a land dispute, will also have to be sold to a jury.
In a statement to the press on Friday, Melissa Keeffe said that her father "believed deeply in the criminal justice system" and that she and other family members share that belief.
"We trust the criminal justice system and we must allow the process to take its course," she stated. "We should always remember all victims of violence and today, in particular, we remember my parents, David and Carol Keeffe."
"University of Colorado Law Professor Paul Campos declared the letter a 'reckless exoneration.' He went on to state, 'Everyone knows that relative immunity from criminal conviction is something money can buy.
Apparently another thing it can buy is an apology for even being suspected of a crime you probably already would have been convicted of committing if you happened to be poor.'"
March 4, 2011, 6:25 pm, Fri Mar 4 18:25:12 UTC 2011 #106Moderator
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He'll Die in Jail.
Lock and Donato can knock themselves out trying to defend the nut. They will not succeed. The evidence is airtight--PA State Police made sure they dotted every "i" and crossed every "t" before arresting the vicious old creep.
Hope they lock him up in a cell with Richard Illes.
March 6, 2011, 11:56 am, Sun Mar 6 11:56:19 UTC 2011 #107
This creep obviously is one of those really terrifying, violent, unreasonable, unlawful sociopaths it's so unfortunate to deal with in life. I've met people who lived through hell dealing with someone like this. I even remember reading about a town full of people who got tired of being bullied, beaten, robbed, and threatened by a man like this that the gov't. didn't seem to be able to stop, so they shot and killed him in town one afternoon as a group and that was that. NO witnesses and everyone had an alibi. I really couldn't blame them, because he'd almost killed an old man and his wife when robbing them in a hardware store they owned in town. Yet he kept getting let out of jail by judges and slick lawyers. But he won't be menacing or stealing from anyone anymore.
I hope they do nail this man. What a monster.
"University of Colorado Law Professor Paul Campos declared the letter a 'reckless exoneration.' He went on to state, 'Everyone knows that relative immunity from criminal conviction is something money can buy.
Apparently another thing it can buy is an apology for even being suspected of a crime you probably already would have been convicted of committing if you happened to be poor.'"
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GOP also-rans stiff small businesses
Michele Bachmann used a fleet of golf carts to transport supporters around the grounds of Iowa State University en route to winning the Ames straw poll last August, in what proved to be the high point of her campaign for the GOP presidential nomination.
The guy who owns those golf carts is still waiting for his check.
Story Continued Below
He's not alone; Bachmann's camp owes $935,000 to vendors across the country.
Other Republican contenders such as Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum owe even more; their campaigns are $4.85 million and $1.69 million in the hole, respectively, according to their most recent federal campaign reports.
Unpaid Jon Huntsman vendors lawyered up earlier this year, and the former Utah governor responded by personally loaning money his campaign $1.54 million since March to clear most, but not all debts.
While it's common for presidential campaigns to take their time closing up shop, the small businesses left holding the bag are asking: Whatever happened to fiscal responsibility?
Like many candidates with leftover costs from the campaign trail, Bachmann has derided the accumulation of national debt.
"Sadly, we haven't reformed the bankrupt tax-and-spend policies that we decried [through] Ronald Reagan some decades ago," Bachmann said at a National Press Club speech in July 2011. "We have merely replaced them with a new and insidious scheme called borrow-and-spend."
Turf Cars owner Cal Campbell says the Bachmann campaign left the golf carts on campus with the keys inside. "When we went to pick them up, they were destroyed," he said. "One of the things you don't do when running for president is going around hanging small businesses."
In Sioux City, Iowa, Tom Kingsbury isn't expecting to see a dime of the nearly $2,000 the Gingrich campaign owes his company, Kingsbury Electronic Systems, for staging a campaign event.
"I know it's never going to come," said Kingsbury, who said he's outfitted presidential events with staging, sound and lighting equipment for decades.
Kingsbury — who calls himself a "moderate Republican" and supported Herman Cain in the primary — said he got annoyed when he would hear Gingrich talking about his plans to stay in the race through the convention. "You're riding on my $2,000," he said. He compared it to hearing a friend who owes you money say they were going to take some other friends out to dinner. "Why don't you take me out to dinner?" he said.
It's an issue that small business owners take personally, Kingsbury added. "They should be more respectful of small business people, because that money to me means something to my employees. It means a Christmas bonus or something."
Getting paid back by defunct campaigns can take a while.
Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, Dennis Kucinich, Pat Buchanan and Al Sharpton are among the presidential candidates that have yet to fully clear their books. The 2008 campaign of former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani is still on the hook for $1.5 million, not including another $1 million owed to Giuliani himself.
The defunct 2004 presidential campaign of former Sen. John Edwards (D-N.C.) this month reported owing $2,000 to H. Charles Kaffie of Corpus Christi, Texas . It's been so long that Kaffie can't recall Edwards even owing him money, or why. "But I'd sure love to have it back," he said. "Everyone wants a check for $2,000 coming their way."


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Brunswick Community College won the last three of its four baseball games played over the weekend against four different teams.
Catawba Valley Community College 8
After a nine-run lead in the fifth inning, the Dolphins held off a late rally by the Red Hawks on Sunday night to claim a 10-8 win.
BCC got an early lead, scoring on a double by Anthony Lombardo and a groundout in the second inning.
Brunswick Community College lost three baseball games to Pitt in the final games of the NJCAA Division II Region 10 regular season. BCC finishes second in the region (21-5) and Pitt first (22-2)
Pitt 14, BCC 4
The Brunswick Community College baseball team lost the lead late in a 14-4 defeat to Pitt Community College on Saturday afternoon. The game was tied at four with Pitt batting in the top of the seventh when Caleb Beatty singled off of McKinley Stanbery, driving in one run.
BOLIVIA — The Brunswick Community College baseball team remained in first place in the region after winning three games last weekend against Catawba Valley Community College.
BCC is 16-1 in the NJCAA Division II Region 10, 31-7 overall. Catawba is 9-9, 21-22. It entered the series in fourth place.
The Dolphins play a three-game series April 22-23 at Founders Field against Patrick Henry Community College, a team in third place as of April 14 (14-3, 26-15). Pitt is second (12-2, 25-7).
BCC beat Lenoir Community College 12-4 in eight innings in the first game of a doubleheader April 1.
The Brunswick Community College men's basketball team won its final regular season game, beating Clinton Community College 100-86 March 2.
For BCC, Bobby Stenborg scored 24 points, Daivon Gamble 18, Jaylon Wray 17 and Devin Hutchinson 11.
Stenborg, a sophomore, finished the regular season as the division leader in scoring, 20.3 points per game. He hit 60.1 percent of his shots, third highest in the division.
BCC is 17-13 overall. It finished 3-9 and tied for fifth in Region 10.
BOLIVIA — The BCC men's basketball team beat Denmark Tech 95-69 Saturday at the Dinah E. Gore Fitness & Aquatics Center gym. Demark dropped to 1-6 in the region, 3-10 overall.
For BCC, Bobby Stenborg scored 21 points, Saleik Edwards 19, Khaileel Dailey 13, Tanner Poole 12 and Jaylon Wray 10.
On Sunday, Caldwell beat BCC 90-79. Caldwell improved to 6-4, 20-7.
For BCC, Bobby Stenborg scored 23 points, Edwards 16 and Devin Hutchinson 13.
BCC is 2-7 in NJCAA Division I Region 10, 15-11 overall.
By Michael Paul
Sports Editor
BOLIVIA — The Brunswick Community College women's basketball team fell behind 28-13 but rallied to take a 54-53 lead before losing 63-62 to Patrick Henry Community College on Saturday.
For BCC (2-9 in NJCAA Division II Region 10, 10-9 overall), Lauren Jenkins scored 22 points in the game at the Dinah E. Gore Fitness & Aquatics Center gym.
Other BCC scorers: Briana Jones nine, Leilani Emile eight, Andrea Raynor seven, Lakita Basnight seven, Sydney Harrison five, Danielle Brisson four.
Staff Report
BOLIVIA — Wake Tech beat Brunswick Community College 63-53 in an NJCAA Region 10 Division II basketball game Jan. 14.
BCC, playing its first game since Dec. 17, is 1-3 in the region, 9-3 overall. Wake Tech is 3-1, 9-3.
BOLIVIA — The Brunswick Community College women's basketball team finished 3-0 in the Holiday Basketball Classic, improving to 9-2.
BCC, an NJCAA Division II team, opened the tourney by beating Division II Delaware Tech 63-49 Dec. 15 at the Dinah E. Gore Fitness & Aquatics Center gym.
For BCC, Lauren Jenkins scored 13 points and Briana Jones 11. Other Dolphin scorers: Amaris Houston 8, Jayda Malone 7, Corkie Aquafredda 7, Sydney Harrison 6, Danielle Brisson 5, Dellasia Freeman 3, Lakita Basnight 2, Leilani Emile 1.
BOLIVIA — The Brunswick Community College women's basketball team beat the University of Mount Olive JV 85-61 in the Lady Dolphins' home opener Nov. 15.
For BCC, Briana Jones scored 13 points and Lauren Jenkins 10 in the game at the Dinah E. Gore Fitness & Aquatics Center gym.
Twelve players scored for BCC. Other BCC scorers: Lakita Basnight 9, Aaliyah Vereen 8, Danielle Brisson 7, Leilani Emile 7, Andrea Raynor 7, Sydney Harrison 6, Corkie Aquafredda 6, Dellasia Freeman 6, Amaris Houston 4 and Kourtney Mitchell 2.
Copyright © 2019
The Brunswick Beacon is your source for local news, sports, events and information in Brunswick County, North Carolina and surrounding areas.


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11 Front Street, Sturgeon Falls, ON, Canada, P2B 3L3
Phone: (877) 753-5665 Fax: (705) 753-2488
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This Comfort Inn® hotel is ideally located on Hwy. 17, between the cities of Sudbury and North Bay, and is less than 1km from Hwy. 64 North. The hotel is a short drive from Lake Nipissing, Sturgeon River and the Sturgeon Falls Complex.
Downtown Sturgeon Falls, filled with hometown restaurants and local shops, is within walking distance.
The nearby Sturgeon River House museum hosts many exciting events year-round, including walking tours, cross-country skiing and sleigh rides. Local snowshoe tours and ice-fishing are easily accessible from this hotel, plus, the property is conveniently located near OFSC snowmobile trails. During the warmer months guests can enjoy local fishing, boating, canoeing and golfing.
All guest rooms at this 100% smoke free hotel come equipped with hair dryers, coffee makers, irons and ironing boards. All rooms contain microwaves, refrigerators and desks.
Business travellers will welcome additional conveniences like the on-site business centre and meeting rooms capable of accommodating 10 to 80 people. Local catering services are available.
Guests of this Sturgeon Falls hotel enjoy many amenities and features, including:
Your Morning Breakfast is full of hot and delicious options, making breakfast at the Comfort Inn the perfect way to start your day. Enjoy our free hot breakfast featuring eggs, meat, yogurt, fresh fruit, cereal and more, including your choice of hot waffle flavors.
Check-In Time: 15:00 Check-Out Time: 11:00 Guest Rooms: 60


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The first author to identify himself as "Pre Wrath" was CS Lovett in his book "The Latest Word on the Last Days" (1980). It was probably Lovett who actually invented the term 'Pre Wrath'. His view of Pre Wrath combined the Post Tribulational views of Dr. Samuel Tregallis with a Pre Wrath position because he placed the wrath of God only at the very closing phase of the final 7 years preceded by the rapture.
Dr, Tregallis, an able Greek scholar, had a much more basic view of dispensationalism than John Nelson Darby and he did not subscribe to Darby's Pre Tribulationism. His works were republished by the Sign Ministries of Bob Van Kampen who saw Tregallis as important in developing Pre Wrath in that the church would suffer tribulation, but it was Lovett who first set the precedent in modern terms of the Rapture being Post Tribulational, yet Pre Wrath in his book in 1980.
Others began to hold to a Rapture following the 6th seal claiming early Patristic history supported it. This included Stuart Traille who fell into apostasy and became a cult leader but who, like Lonnie Frisbee, Moe Berg and other figures who turned sour in the Jesus Movement, had a pervasive influence on saved hippies (it was at this time in the Jesus Movement that I was first exposed to and believed the rapture followed the 6th Seal in the early 1970s). The Jesus Movement of Chuck Smith that became Calvary Chapel however was staunchly Pre Tribulational.
Another very influential figure in the Jesus Movement at this time who was not Pre Tribulational was Dr. Walter Martin.
This trend in mainstream circles was spawned in considerable measure in the 1970s by Robert Gundry's book 'First the Anti Christ', (although Gundry himself favored a Post Tribulational view seeing the Great Tribulation as the full seven years). Gundry explored the implications of the eschatological writings of Hippolitus in particular.
Along this line in the nineteen eighties and nineties, Bob Van Kampen and Mar Rosenthal both claimed that they were not setting any new precedents and denied they were entering new territory. Marvin Rosenthal stated: "Pre Wrath is consistent with what is known of the beliefs of the early church" and Bob Van Kampen stated that "Pre Wrath simply expands on the position of the church fathers". Both claimed not be setting a new precedent, but influenced by Tregallis, Gundry and others, claimed they were only returning to what the early church believed. Others such as researcher Ed Tarkowski disputed this and saw Pre Wrath as breaking new turf suggesting that there is as much evidence from the early church that could just as well support a full seven year Post Tribulational position.
Much of the initial controversy surrounding Pre Wrath was not about the position itself but the effect of theocratic politics as Marv Rosenthal was a known figure within the world of Jewish missions and evangelism when nearly all Jewish mission agencies were solidly Pre Tribulational and Marvin Rosenthal dared to break ranks. It cost him his leadership position with an established evangelistic mission to the Jews.
Intra Seal is closely akin to Pre Wrath. Intra Seal is Post Tribulational but it does not view the entire seven years as the Great Tribulation. It varies from Pre Wrath however on the identity of the restrainer which Intra Seal sees as The Holy Spirit (akin to Pre Tribulationalism). In a sense, just as the original Pre Wrath of CS Lovett combined Pre Wrath with Post Tribulationalism, Intra Seal combines Pre Wrath with Pre Tribulationism concerning the identity of the Restrainer.
Patristic history cannot absolutely confirm Pre Wrath, Intra Seal, or Post Tribulastionism. It does however confirm that Pre Tribulationism was never the view of the early church.
Although Dr. Tregallis was Post Tribulational, as Bob Van Kampen asserted in his republishing the works of Samuel Tregallis, he nonetheless had a profound impact on the development of Pre Wrath. Van Kampen actually purchased the publishing rights for Tregallis' book.
The influence of Robert Gundry in academic and scholarly circles in the development of Pre Wrath and Intra Seal cannot be over stated, pointing back to the early church.
It was CS Lovett however who is the best demonstrable candidate to be called the father of modern Pre Wrath, and it was he who at least in published form, first coined the term.
Pre Wrath and Inter Seal became refined versions of what technically commenced, at least in modern terms, with CS Lovett.
Moriel gets questioned... and we respond...
We received these questions:
The first time I ever heard of you was watching THE DANIEL PROJECT on Netflix (probably 4 years ago). The second time I saw you was this week, on YouTube. It was a response to Dr James White. That was … "wow." I'm deliberately keeping this short because I want to get to the reason I'm reaching out to you, but I have to say, I also agree that Calvin was a brutal and bloody man who caused his beliefs to spread by the sword. I cannot see how any modern Christian can be a Calvinist not only because of how Calvin was, but because of the whole 'once saved, always saved, do as you like' pitch.
I also looked at your video on John McArthur, suggesting that he said we can take the mark of the beast and still go to heaven. Well, you handled that just as well. I actually shared both of those videos with a few communities I'm a member of.
Right now, I'm listening to a YouTube video on "what is apostasy," and you are sharing your beliefs, which isn't Pre, or Mid (kinda) and certainly isn't Post. You seem to have your own beliefs, but they You have a good amount of knowledge on stuff, and I'd like to ask you a few questions to get your feedback. Some are more essential to me, others not as much.
If you think making a video will be easier to answer, that would be fine ... just please don't mention my real name. My online alias is 'MessengerOfTruth" and has been for 15 years.
Little bit about me. I am a Christian. I was born into Christendom (raised by devout parents, disciple by God-fearing men who loved the Lord, read since I was a child, etc). Pentecostal: because retaining that which has been taught from the beginning is vital. Protestant: because I'm against that whore, Ba'al, who is the enemy of the Jews and Christians.
Now, for my questions. Some essential. Some not essential.
We agree on the Holy Spirit being the Restrainer, but slightly differently. I believe the Spirit is what the world calls our "conscious" – always telling us to avoid or not do evil. I believe this is why the world is plunged into utter lawlessness because the Restrainer is removed, worst even than the lawless days of Noah. He has also been the One who points to the Son, as I see in Psalm 2 (Father speaking, Son speaking, then Spirit saying to "Kiss [worship] the son," and since it's the Comforter who glorifies Jesus, He has always glorified the Son.
- You stated that it's not plausible for the Holy Spirit to be taken out. But here is my questions on that:
- the world is plunged into utter chaos. Lawlessness. The rider on the red horse isn't just war, but its global civil unrest. Men do not have a "conscious." Wouldn't this be a removal of the Holy Spirit who retrains men from doing evil?
- in Revelation, we read in the letters, "he that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the Churches." But later in Revelation, when Tribulation is going on in the earth, all we see is "he that hath and ear, let him hear." There is no more mention of the Holy Spirit or the Church. Isn't this significant?
- in Revelation, we are also told several times that mankind will not repent. But we know it's the Churches job not preach the Gospel, and the Spirits job to call men to repentance. But there is neither Gospel nor Repentance during the Tribulation period. In fact, it is an ANGEL who say to not take the mark nor worship the beast. An angel is doing the work of the Church and the Spirit. I ask myself "why?" … if the Church or the Spirit are on the earth. And why doesn't the angel say "repent" or "turn to Jesus"? The Gospel doesn't appear to be preached either.
- A question that no one has ever answer satisfactory when I ask, is, how did the souls of men get IN HEAVEN {before} the FIRST SEAL is even broken? My question is, if there is no Pre-Tribulation Rapture, how did the souls of men, and the 24 Elders (whom I believe to be the 12 Tribal patriarchs and the 12 Disciples, because the Messiah is the Cornerstone that bind BOTH Covenants), get in Heaven if they weren't Raptured.
- Do you see the first few seals as being wrath? I do. I see the first as religiosity. Godless religiosity. It just doesn't make sense to me why the first rider would be a man, but all other riders be things. That's just not consistent. Plus, I can see the religiosity of this world everywhere in the last 300 years until today. The red rider of war, civil unrest, lawlessness. If a man wants to rape a women, what will stop him? If a man hates another man and wants to kill him, what will stop him … IF the Restrainer who restrains men from evil is gone … and no one even repents … each being the activity of the Holy Spirit. Isn't this wrath? Then the high inflation. Desperate people do desperate things. And a loaf of bread for a days wage will make millions pretty desperate. Neighbors killing neighbors for a can of food. Fathers abandoning their families just to feed themselves. Women selling their bodies. Do you see wrath in this? Then of course, all the death. Do you see wrath in this? I see wrath in ALL the seals.
- Why does no one deal with what follows the last rider. Hell. Why does no one ask "why isn't Paradise or Heaven following death?" Perhaps its because all who die are going to … Hell? Else, why is Hell following and swallowing up all the dead? Why not Heaven? Why not heaven AND hell?
- Jesus said He will keep His people FROM the hour. My examination of the Greek word ek seems to suggest that its sort of an avoidance, to never experience, to be saved FROM in, not go through it, or be in it. But, it's the same Greek word when dealing with the Uncountable Number from all nations and tribes and tongues. Ek. The English translation seems to give an impression that they literally come out of the Tribulation, which makes no sense because an 'uncountable number" cannot come out of 6 billion. But the Greek seems to suggest that the number never even experiences the Tribulation. Saved FROM, not OUT OF.
I totally disagree with Post Tribbers. That is an insult to God, a misrepresentation of His Character, even spits on the testimony of Abraham, Job, and the deliverance of Noah and Lot.
I never had an issue with Mid-Tribbers.
I do not agree with Pre-Tribbers because they are younger than me, and they default to the "last trumpet" because they don't take the time to look at Jewish or Roman culture and the military cries (last trump), and they separate wrath from the Tribulation period.
But you sir, are neither Mid nor Pre-Wrather. You certainly are not that demonic Post-Tribbulation. I get that you are expressing your thoughts, not "absolute doctrinal facts". But I'm wondering how you view this basic questions.
- Do you know when the Pre-Wrath belief started? What I have read, several years back, was that it is less than 20 years old. I had heard of Pre, Mid and Post Tribulation believers since my early childhood, but never did I hear about Pre-Wrath until more recently. I am now in my mid-40s. New doesn't always mean wrong, but, this raises a measure of concern.
- What about the writings of men like Ieranues, Cyprian, and Ephriam, all of whom taught a Pre-Tribulation Rapture? Do you think their writings in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Centuries are valid, and that the belief resurfaced in the 1600s through people like William Cunninghame, Joseph Mede and others (when the Bible was written in English and men could read for themselves)? I know this did not start with John Darby because Darbys grandparents weren't even born.
- Do you believe that our belief on the Rapture is essential to Salvation? For instance, do you see Hebrews 3 & 4 as a warning to the Post-Tribulation people, and unbelievers, who refuse to believe in the deliverance of God, just as Israel refused to believe Joshua and Caleb and were not allowed into the Promised Land (below)? The author of Hebrews 3&4 seem to be warning us not to be of that same unbelief, denying the delivering messages of Joshua and Caleb, or else we also will be left out of the Promised Land (above)? The warning seems very clear. Do not fall into the unbelief of rejecting Gods deliverance, or that unbelief will turn out to be our liter rejection, just as it literally caused Israel to be left out.
Israel is your example.
Israel is your example.
Israel is your example.
That's in my head over and over again. And so I consider the goodness AND the severity of God, not His goodness only.
What do you think this all means?
and we respond...
Blessings and thank you for your e mail
Our view pre dates Pre Wrath in that Jacob Prasch, like various others, believed the rapture is between 6th & 7th seals etc. prior to the Pre Wrath position being crystallized by the books of Marvin Rosenthal and Robert Van Kampen. Our position is documented and explained at length in the Book "Harpazo" (available on Amazon, Kendal, from Moriel etc.). It is nothing more than what was later called Pre Wrath that in common with Pre Trib holds that The Holy Spirit is the Restrainer of 2 Thessalonians chapter 2, and certain other more minor differences to do with the timing of the ministry on the Two Witnesses in Revelation chapter 11. Intra Seal is a version of Pre Wrath and Pre Wrath has the same primary elements as Intra Seal. The two positions are in essence not only very similar or more accurately two variations of the same fundamental position although the Pneumatological differences are marked.
Moriel and Jacob Prasch reject the concept new or further doctrinal revelation (Revelation 22:18). The scripture simply teaches an ever clearer understanding however off what is already revealed in God's Word concerning The Last days (Daniel 12: 4), which is the very meaning off the Greek term 'Apocalypsis'.
We cannot dialogue by e mail about issues already elaborated on which are again published and explored in depth in 'Harpazo'.
The Holy Spirit is a Divine Person. He convicts of sin through the mechanism of conscience but He is not our conscience. One is a person, the other is not. With respect, as you have stated it, your position is very seriously wrong.
When conscience becomes dysfunctional, the Greek text of the New Testament describes this with a term that we normally translate as the conscience becoming "seared"; a phenomena that increases in the last days (1 Timothy 4:2). This is not the same thing as The Holy Spirit ceasing to restrain.
Moriel/ JJP


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Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon seems to really know how to push the Obama Administration's buttons. For at least the second time this year, Washington on Wednesday issued public complaints over Ya'alon's criticism of its handling of international affairs.
Speaking at a closed-door event at Tel Aviv University on Monday, Ya'alon said Israel could not rely on a "weak" United States to prevent Iran from attaining nuclear weapons. He said that image of weakness had only been bolstered by the Obama Administration's feeble handling of the crises in Syria and Ukraine.
Ya'alon continued by criticizing Washington for entering into negotiations with Iran, rather than standing firm on either sanctions or a military threat. He noted that the Iranian regime is far more wily, and had been consistently outmaneuvering the Americans in the ongoing nuclear talks.
In an episode that began to play out like a schoolyard tiff, US Secretary of State John Kerry, who was the direct target of Ya'alon's criticism in January, indignantly phoned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to complain over his defense minister's remarks.
State Department Spokeswoman Jen Psaki was also miffed when reporters asked her about Ya'alon's harsh comments. "It is certainly confusing to us why Defense Minister Ya'alon would continue his pattern of making comments that don't accurately represent the scope of our close partnership on a range of security issues and on the enduring partnership between the United States and Israel," she said.
A day later, Ya'alon was made to phone US Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel and apologize.
"In my statements, there was no antagonism or criticism or intent to harm the United States or [Israel's] relations with it," read a statement issued by Ya'alon's office after the make-up call.
"The strategic relationship between the two countries as well as the personal relationship and mutual interests are of utmost importance. I value the relationship at all levels, between Israel and the United States in general and the security establishment in particular," the statement continued.
A source in the Ministry of Defense later told Israel's Ynet news portal that Ya'alon loves America and fully appreciates Israel's relationship with it, but will never shy away from speaking his mind. The source charged that the Obama Administration is "out to get" Ya'alon because it doesn't like having to deal with Israeli officials who stand their ground.
Another Israeli political expert told The Times of Israel that Washington's reaction to Ya'alon's remarks is nothing short of "childish." He said the Obama Administration is already fully aware that Ya'alon is a man who "doesn't mince words," and more often than not is saying exactly what most other Israelis, including Netanyahu, are thinking.


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|2006-12-25, 04:28
|Link #101
Senior Member
@ Veritas:
If something doesn't meet your expectations, it could be *gasp* your own fault for setting your own expectations too high. Moreover, why go to the subject's forum and say "omg this sucks"? It's like going to the Bleach forum and saying "omg bleach is gay and it's all the same one piece and dbz powerup shit" - pointless. If you put it in that way, it's doubtful that anyone cares what you have to say.
|2006-12-25, 15:43
|Link #102
Now to finally get round to buying a new TV...
|2006-12-27, 11:38
|Link #105
Heh, I still need a HDTV too. Mine should be here either tomorrow or the day after, so pics will follow for anyone interested providing the camera has enough batteries in it.
As for the compression issues, after this many delays they better have fixed them.
|2006-12-28, 10:14
|Link #106
Okay, got it today and ... it's very small. I was expecting a huge box or something but it's about twice as thick as the Kanon v1 DVD I got with it and not even as tall. Still, better for storage I guess. The discs themselves are the same size as regular DVDs, and are all picture-labelled with some of the characters. Misuzu gets one, as does Kanna, Kano and Minagi, then there's a bigger image going across the back which is only half visible because the discs appear to be stuck to one side! Maybe I'm not trying hard enough. I tried to take pics but due to the lack of light they came out terrible and not worth uploading. I'll try again tomorrow.
Can't comment on video quality or anything, but the TV I was thinking of has gone down on price now so I'll probably get it in January, then it's just a case of waiting for the PS3 to go down in price then...
Photos! I apologise for how shoddy some of them came out, but it's getting dark stupidly early here lately and I don't exist in the mornings, so I've gotta make do with the flash. Which doesn't like shiny surfaces at all. Those ones above are like the best of 20 attempts at each. Kanna came out the worst because her side of the box is stuck down so I had to hold the other discs from falling on top of her.
Last edited by Varion; 2006-12-29 at 12:02.
|2007-01-16, 18:50
|Link #107
GFX; You request?
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Canada
Age: 27
w00t i got my AIR today and ran to my PS3 to start playing, I haven't seen the DVD version so I can really do a comparison but what is this compression issue on it, did they do it bad so they used lots of DVD's or does the image look jaggy? because this is what was on my PS3, the images were horrendously jaggy indicating the PS3 has no AA for Blu-Ray or Pony Canyon sucks but everything else: the color and the sound are really good.
|2007-01-20, 16:02
|Link #108
Junior Member
Join Date: Dec 2006
The upconverted Blu-Ray release suffers from aliasing, but boasts much improved compression. Fortunately, consumers seem happy enough with it, and it's probably the best retail release we'll get unless Pony Canyon remasters the DVDs (probably unlikely) or launches another HD version in the future.
On a related note, I'm hearing wonderful things about the new Kanon DVD, so it seems that the company has finally begun improving their product quality.
|2007-01-27, 06:59
|Link #109
wingéd prettygirl
Hm. Sounds like I was somewhat justified in finally deciding against the blu-ray version of Air, albeit it that finances were more the problem at the time then video quality. Ah well.
Oh, and yes - the first Kanon disk looks gorgeous on my plasma. Much better than I've been lead to believe the AIR disks do.
|2007-01-28, 21:22
|Link #110
Yeah, having seen both an Air DVD and a Kanon DVD on the same TV with the same player, I can't fault the first volume of Kanon.
I'm glad they sorted out the compression anyway, and if people are happy enough that's good. I still haven't got the stuff to watch my set.
|2007-01-29, 02:44
|Link #111
wingéd prettygirl
The bottom line here is that the AIR Blu-ray box might actually look pretty good; the general impression around the 'net seems to be so. Sadly though, this might only apply to people using a standalone Blu-ray player, *or* those with a 1080p television. Complainable? Oh yes - feel free to congratulate Sony; they're the ones who crippled PS3 Blu-ray.
|2007-02-07, 14:33
|Link #112
|2007-02-07, 16:28
|Link #113
Senior Member
|2007-02-08, 09:15
|Link #114
As for the blog entry though, you mentioned help with karaoke. I wouldn't bother unless you personally really like it, the kind of people who'd be interested in a HD release are the kind who either don't care about, or outright hate, karaoke dancing across the screen when they'd rather concentrate on the anime itself and the higher quality. As for subtitles, Triad don't care. Someone used their subs before (for the Nanoha DVD releases), and basically all they care about is that you don't do a horrible job. If you bother asking they'll likely ignore you or just repeat that they don't care. They prefer no karaoke too. I don't think Koi even have a contact address, or at least I've never seen one.
|2007-02-09, 08:24
|Link #116
wingéd prettygirl
@ Maniac
Yes, I'd be highly interested if you were to do this. I'm personally more of a fan of Koi's subtitles than I was of the Triad's, but then that's just personal opinion... and of course, if you're using a softsub I can just extract it, modify it, and remux it if I'm really that fanatical about it
As for karaoke, I can take it or leave it - but if you're putting it into the SSA stream, hey, that's fantastic right there. Many kudos for your sugestion, Maniac. My fingers are crossed. ^^
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