text:
The Silversea Differenceby Susan Milne
Ultra-luxury Silversea Cruises is known for its high levels of food and service, and for including all beverages and gratuities in the fare. But what is the real difference from other lines in the day-to-day onboard experience? I recently sailed aboard Silver Shadow to find out.
Arriving at Pier 35 in San Francisco ahead of schedule, we waited to board Silver Shadow for our Alaska cruise. (We hadn't selected early embarkation, which carries a $100 charge per person.) Tickets stated boarding would be at 2 p.m., but at 1:30 our color was called and we proceeded aboard.
Not far from check-in, a smiling, white-gloved steward assisted me with my hand luggage and escorted me up the gangway to a 'welcome aboard' glass of Philipponnat champagne. This was our first taste of the high level of service we would enjoy during the cruise. The 28,258-ton Silver Shadow, and sister ship Silver Whisper, carry an international crew of 295 and a maximum of 382 passengers – that's 1.29 passengers for each crew member at full capacity. Service is warm and friendly throughout the ship, and there is always a willingness to meet special requests. All our needs were efficiently handled by the attentive staff around the pool, in all restaurants and at designated hours in the lounges.
All accommodations aboard Silver Shadow are spacious and well-appointed, ranging from the one-room Vista Suite with picture window (287 sq. ft.) to the multi-room Grand Suites (1,286 to 1,435 sq. ft., depending on location).
The Veranda Suite is the lowest category with a balcony. It is one room with veranda measuring a total of 345 sq. ft. (including the 5-by-9 foot veranda). Apart from the enormous size, it differs from veranda staterooms on bigger ships in its many luxurious touches. The cabin's marble bathroom comes with twin sinks, separate bath and shower stall, telephone, Bulgari soap, shampoo, conditioner, shower gel and body lotion plus a supply of cotton balls and Q-tips. It also has a walk-in closet with plenty of hanging and drawer space, a shoe rack, belt rack, full-length mirror and safe. A lounge area includes a large wall unit with desk, a well-stocked bar and mini-fridge, mirror, TV/VCR, three-seat sofa, chair, table and side tables. A separate inlaid-wood vanity has special lighting and a large make-up mirror. Beds are equipped with duvet, down pillows and crisp linens.
One thing missing from the stateroom was a clock -- an indication that life aboard Silversea is about getting away from it all. However, room service will send one along if you like.
The accommodations are certainly comfortable and spacious enough to relax and enjoy all day, and many Silversea passengers do come onboard to live in their suite. A video library is available, and there are several movie and TV channels. The 24-hour room service menu is extensive and service is prompt. Lunch and dinner can be ordered from the Restaurant menu and served course by course in-suite. Suites without a separate dining room have a portable table for this purpose.
Should you require anything at any time, simply call the service number. Requests are met promptly.
For those who want special vintages, the reserve list features a variety of champagnes, wine, dessert wine and port from around the world ranging from $45 to $840 a bottle. There is no pressure to purchase from the reserve list when you dine in The Restaurant or the Terrace Café. Dinner in the intimate Le Champagne specialty restaurant, however, does not include complimentary wine; there is a charge for the suggested wines that accompany each course.
Silver Shadow carries a maximum of 382 passengers and has a passenger-space ratio of 74, one of the highest at sea. Lounges are never crowded, and the only line-up on our cruise was for the on-deck salmon bake luncheon – well worth the short wait. Passengers generally enjoy the camaraderie of smaller ships and dining with newfound friends. Several private cocktail parties were held by sociable passengers and the amiable maitre d' was happy to assist with arrangements and the sending of invitations.
Just as on bigger ships, the Silver Shadow's pool area is very popular for lounging and reading in the sun or unwinding in the Jacuzzis. There's plenty for more active passengers to do with the usual jogging track, ping pong and shuffleboard available. There's also a golf net for practicing your swing. As part of the SilverLinks 365 program, a golf pro gives lessons, holds putting contests onboard and escorts excursions to courses ashore.
The Mandara spa -- with Balinese, Asian and European treatments -- books up early. In-suite massage is also available and the ship has a full service beauty salon.
Evening entertainment is quiet with not a lot of variety. Pre or post-dinner cocktail parties, stage and musical shows in the show lounge highlight the evening events. Musicians perform in other lounges, and a disco operates in the late hours. The Humidor, which features Davidoff cigars, fine cognac and port, is a popular after-dinner spot.
The small casino has roulette, blackjack and slots. Shops are also small, including a tiny Silversea boutique with high-end jewelry and a general store with local souvenirs, jewelry, clothing and a few logo items.
The lack of commercialism onboard was refreshing. There are no promotional ads delivered to your suite and no daily change of shop merchandise or sidewalk sales. In fact, the shops closed twice a day on sea days – mid-day and early evening. The absence of a photo gallery and art auction, and the lack of pressure to shop, gamble or tip results in a very carefree onboard experience.
The Terrace Café on Deck 7 aft has a breakfast and lunch buffet but with such excellent service you don't have to leave the table if you don't want to. Breakfast items can also be ordered from the Restaurant menu so you are not limited to the buffet selections. Each evening in the Terrace, a seven-course set menu featuring cuisine from a different region is offered; reservations are required but there is no charge.
The intimate Le Champagne specialty restaurant offers a dining experience equivalent to a two-star Michelin restaurant. The set menu changes every two days. Reservations are required.
The Poolside Grille provides a casual lunch menu from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. while the lounges serve up morning coffee, mid-morning bouillon and afternoon tea.
Since its French cuisine is created in association with the renowned Relais & Chateaux–Relais Gourmands hotel and restaurant group, it is no wonder that Silversea's ships are often privately chartered for major world events like the Monte Carlo Grand Prix and the Russian President's tri-centennial celebrations in St. Petersburg. A preview lunch and dinner menu conveniently arrives in your suite each evening along with the daily program. Overall, the food was of high quality and superbly prepared; several dishes were the best I'd had at sea and only a few courses were disappointing during the cruise.
Silversea is a dressy line with three formal and four informal nights on a 10-night cruise; many passengers enjoying dressing to the nines. Those who would rather dress informally on formal nights may dine in the Terrace Café and use one designated lounge for cocktails and after-dinner drinks. You won't be permitted into the entertainment lounges and casino unless you're wearing formal attire, however. About 25 percent of passengers opt for this informal alternative on formal nights, with men donning a jacket instead of a tuxedo and women wearing pant suits instead of evening gowns.
Reflecting on my Silversea experience aboard the Silver Shadow, I realized this was the most relaxing and carefree cruise I had enjoyed in years, reminiscent of a bygone era of leisurely sea travel. The inclusive fare means you are free to relax and enjoy being pampered. And Silversea certainly knows how to pamper.


text:
Washington Redskins receiver Pierre Garcon was said to be leaning toward rest over surgery after playing the entire 2012 season with torn ligaments in his foot.
The Washington Examiner now confirms Garcon's foot will not require offseason surgery, barring a setback. The injury to Garcon's second toe is healing adequately enough that doctors believe more rest is the best course of action.
Robert Griffin III's No. 1 receiver is expected to be back to "100 percent" by the beginning of the 2013 season.
The Redskins were a different offense with Garcon on the field. As the only legitimate playmaker among the pass-catchers, Garcon piled up 40 receptions, 530 yards, and three touchdowns while playing through pain during the 7-2 stretch to close out the season. No other receiver surpassed 80 yards in a game.
With RG3 coming back from a destructive injury of his own, the onus will be on Garcon and the other receivers to carry more weight in an offense that will rely less on the pistol attack.Follow Chris Wesseling on Twitter @ChrisWesseling.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Papua New Guinea Population: 6,791,3177 VISITORS FROM HERE!
« Previous Country | Next Country » Back to Flag Counter Overview
|The eastern half of the island of New Guinea - second largest in the world - was divided between Germany (north) and the UK (south) in 1885. The latter area was transferred to Australia in 1902, which occupied the northern portion during World War I and continued to administer the combined areas until independence in 1975. A nine-year secessionist revolt on the island of Bougainville ended in 1997 after claiming some 20,000 lives. Since 2001, Bougainville has experienced autonomy. Under the terms of a peace accord, 2015 is the year that a five-year window opens for a referendum on the question of independence.
Shares island of New Guinea with Indonesia; generally east-west trending highlands break up New Guinea into diverse ecoregions; one of world's largest swamps along southwest coast
|Oceania, group of islands including the eastern half of the island of New Guinea between the Coral Sea and the South Pacific Ocean, east of Indonesia
|Geographic coordinates:
| total: 462,840 sq km
land: 452,860 sq km
water: 9,980 sq km
Size comparison: slightly larger than California
|Land Boundaries:
|total: 824 km border countries (1): Indonesia 824 km
|5,152 km
|Maritime claims:
| measured from claimed archipelagic baselines territorial sea: 12 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
|tropical; northwest monsoon (December to March), southeast monsoon (May to October); slight seasonal temperature variation
|mostly mountains with coastal lowlands and rolling foothills
|Elevation extremes:
|Natural resources:
|gold, copper, silver, natural gas, timber, oil, fisheries
|Land use:
| agricultural land: 2.6% arable land 0.7%; permanent crops 1.5%; permanent pasture 0.4% forest: 63.1%
other: 34.3% (2011 est.)
|Irrigated land:
|0 sq km (2012)
|Natural hazards:
|active volcanism; situated along the Pacific "Ring of Fire"; the country is subject to frequent and sometimes severe earthquakes; mud slides; tsunamis volcanism: severe volcanic activity; Ulawun (elev. 2,334 m), one of Papua New Guinea's potentially most dangerous volcanoes, has been deemed a Decade Volcano by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, worthy of study due to its explosive history and close proximity to human populations; Rabaul (elev. 688 m) destroyed the city of Rabaul in 1937 and 1994; Lamington erupted in 1951 killing 3,000 people; Manam's 2004 eruption forced the island's abandonment; other historically active volcanoes include Bam, Bagana, Garbuna, Karkar, Langila, Lolobau, Long Island, Pago, St. Andrew Strait, Victory, and Waiowa
|Current Environment Issues:
|rain forest subject to deforestation as a result of growing commercial demand for tropical timber; pollution from mining projects; severe drought
|International Environment Agreements:
| party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
|^Back to Top
| noun: Papua New Guinean(s)
adjective: Papua New Guinean
|Ethnic groups:
|Melanesian, Papuan, Negrito, Micronesian, Polynesian
|Tok Pisin (official), English (official), Hiri Motu (official), some 836 indigenous languages spoken (about 12% of the world's total); most languages have fewer than 1,000 speakers note: Tok Pisin, a creole language, is widely used and understood; English is spoken by 1%-2%; Hiri Motu is spoken by less than 2%
|Roman Catholic 27%, Protestant 69.4% (Evangelical Lutheran 19.5%, United Church 11.5%, Seventh-Day Adventist 10%, Pentecostal 8.6%, Evangelical Alliance 5.2%, Anglican 3.2%, Baptist 2.5%, other Protestant 8.9%), Baha'i 0.3%, indigenous beliefs and other 3.3% (2000 census)
|6,791,317 (July 2016 est.)
|Age structure:
| 0-14 years: 33.93% (male 1,173,034/female 1,131,387)
15-24 years: 19.86% (male 683,474/female 665,245)
25-54 years: 36.65% (male 1,281,641/female 1,207,658)
55-64 years: 5.39% (male 185,846/female 180,255)
65 years and over: 4.16% (male 143,851/female 138,926) (2016 est.)
|Dependency ratios:
| total dependency ratio: 67.1%
youth dependency ratio: 62.1%
elderly dependency ratio: 5%
potential support ratio: 19.9% (2015 est.)
|Median age:
| total: 22.9 years
male: 23 years
female: 22.8 years (2016 est.)
|Population growth rate:
|1.75% (2016 est.)
|Birth rate:
|24 births/1,000 population (2016 est.)
|Death rate:
|6.5 deaths/1,000 population (2016 est.)
|Net migration rate:
|0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2016 est.)
| urban population: 13% of total population (2015)
rate of urbanization: 2.12% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
|Major urban areas - population:
|PORT MORESBY (capital) 345,000 (2015)
|Sex ratio:
| at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.06 male(s)/female
total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2016 est.)
|Maternal mortality rate:
|215 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)
|Infant mortality rate:
| total: 37.4 deaths/1,000 live births male: 40.9 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 33.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2016 est.)
|Life expectancy at birth:
| total population: 67.2 years male: 65 years
female: 69.5 years (2016 est.)
|Total fertility rate:
|3.1 children born/woman (2016 est.)
|Contraceptive prevalence rate:
|32.4% (2006/07)
|Health expenditures:
|4.3% of GDP (2014)
|Physicians density:
|0.06 physicians/1,000 population (2008)
|Drinking water source:
| improved:
urban: 88% of population
rural: 32.8% of population
total: 40% of population
urban: 12% of population
rural: 67.2% of population
total: 60% of population (2015 est.)
|Sanitation facility access:
| improved:
urban: 56.4% of population
rural: 13.3% of population
total: 18.9% of population
urban: 43.6% of population
rural: 86.7% of population
total: 81.1% of population (2015 est.)
|HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
|0.79% (2015 est.)
|HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
|40,100 (2015 est.)
|HIV/AIDS - deaths:
|900 (2015 est.)
|Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
|25.5% (2014)
|Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
|27.9% (2011)
|Education expenditures:
| definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 64.2%
male: 65.6%
female: 62.8% (2015 est.)
|^Back to Top
|Country name:
| conventional long form: Independent State of Papua New Guinea
conventional short form: Papua New Guinea
local short form: Papuaniugini
former: Territory of Papua and New Guinea
abbreviation: PNG
etymology: the word "papua" derives from the Malay "papuah" describing the frizzy hair of the Melanesians; Spanish explorer Ynigo ORTIZ de RETEZ applied the term "Nueva Guinea" to the island of New Guinea in 1545 after noting the resemblance of the locals to the peoples of the Guinea coast of Africa
|Government type:
|parliamentary democracy (National Parliament) under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm
| name: Port Moresby
geographic coordinates: 9 27 S, 147 11 E
time difference: UTC+10 (15 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
|Administrative divisions:
|20 provinces, 1 autonomous region*, and 1 district**; Bougainville*, Central, Chimbu, Eastern Highlands, East New Britain, East Sepik, Enga, Gulf, Hela, Jiwaka, Madang, Manus, Milne Bay, Morobe, National Capital**, New Ireland, Northern, Southern Highlands, Western, Western Highlands, West New Britain, West Sepik
|16 September 1975 (from the Australian-administered UN trusteeship)
|National holiday:
|Independence Day, 16 September (1975)
|adopted 15 August 1975, effective at independence 16 September 1975; amended many times, last in 2013; note - in September 2015, the Supreme Court nullified the 2013 constitutional amendment that increased the grace period on motions of no confidence (2016)
|Legal system:
|mixed legal system of English common law and customary law
|18 years of age; universal
|Executive branch:
| chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor Michael OGIO (since 25 February 2011)
head of government: Prime Minister Peter Paire O'NEILL (since 2 August 2011); Deputy Prime Minister Leo DION (since 9 August 2012)
cabinet: National Executive Council appointed by the governor general on the recommendation of the prime minister elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general nominated by the National Parliament and appointed by the chief of state; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by the governor general pending the outcome of a National Parliament vote
election results: Peter Paire O'NEILL (PNC) elected prime minister; National Parliament vote - 94 to 12
|Legislative branch:
| description: unicameral National Parliament (111 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies - 91 local and 20 provincial - by majority preferential vote; members serve 5-year terms); note - the constitution allows up to 126 seats note: 14 other parties won 3 or fewer seats; association with political parties is fluid
elections: last held from 23 June 2012 to 27 July 2012 (next to be held in June 2017)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - People's National Congress Party 27, Triumph Heritage Empowerment Party 12, PNG Party 8, National Alliance Party 7, United Resources Party 7, People's Party 6, People's Progress Party 6, other 22, independent 16
|Judicial branch:
| highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice, deputy chief justice, and 28 judges); National Courts (13 courts located in the province capitals, with a total of 19 resident judges) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court chief justice appointed by the governor-general upon advice of the National Executive Council (cabinet) after consultation with the National Justice Administration Minister; deputy chief justice and other justices appointed by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission, a 5-member body to include the Supreme Court chief and deputy chief justices, the chief ombudsman, and a member of the National Parliament; full time citizen judges appointed for 10-year renewable terms; non-citizen judges initially appointed for 3-year renewable terms and after first renewal until age 70; appointment and tenure of National Court resident judges NA
subordinate courts: district, village, and juvenile courts
|Political parties and leaders:
|National Alliance Party or NA [Patrick PRUAITCHI] Papua New Guinea Party or PNGP [Beldan NAMAH] People's National Congress Party or PNC [Peter Paire O'NEILL] People's Party or PP (merged with PNC) People's Progress Party or PPP [Sir Julius CHAN] Triumph Heritage Empowerment Party or THE United Resources Party or URP [William DUMA] note: as of 13 March 2012, 41 political parties were registered
|Political pressure groups and leaders:
|Centre for Environment Law and Community Rights or Celcor [Damien ASE] Community Coalition Against Corruption National Council of Women Transparency International Papau New Guinea or TI PNG (chapter of Transparency International)
|International organization participation:
|ACP, ADB, AOSIS, APEC, ARF, ASEAN (observer), C, CD, CP, EITI (candidate country), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMISS, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
|National symbol(s):
|bird of paradise; national colors: red, black
|National anthem:
| name: "O Arise All You Sons"
lyrics/music: Thomas SHACKLADY
note: adopted 1975
|Diplomatic representation in the US:
| chief of mission: Ambassador Rupa Abraham MALINA (since 10 March 2014)
chancery: 1779 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Suite 805, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 745-3680
|Diplomatic representation from the US:
| chief of mission: Ambassador Catherine EBERT-GRAY (since 23 February 2016); note - also accredited to the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu
embassy: Douglas Street, Port Moresby, N.C.D.
mailing address: 4240 Port Moresby Place, US Department of State, Washington DC 20521-4240
telephone: [675] 321-1455
|^Back to Top
Papua New Guinea (PNG) is richly endowed with natural resources, but exploitation has been hampered by rugged terrain, land tenure issues, and the high cost of developing infrastructure. The economy has a small formal sector, focused mainly on the export of those natural resources, and an informal sector, employing the majority of the population. Agriculture provides a subsistence livelihood for 85% of the people. The global financial crisis had little impact because of continued foreign demand for PNG's commodities. Mineral deposits, including copper, gold, and oil, account for nearly two-thirds of export earnings. Natural gas reserves amount to an estimated 155 billion cubic meters. A consortium led by a major American oil company is constructing a liquefied natural gas (LNG) production facility that began exporting in April 2014. As the largest investment project in the country's history, it has the potential to double GDP in the near-term and triple Papua New Guinea's export revenue. An American-owned firm also opened PNG's first oil refinery in 2004 and is building a second LNG production facility. The government faces the challenge of ensuring transparency and accountability for revenues flowing from this and other large LNG projects. In 2011 and 2012, the National Parliament passed legislation that created an offshore Sovereign Wealth Fund to manage government surpluses from mineral, oil, and natural gas projects. In recent years, the government has opened up markets in telecommunications and air transport, making both more affordable to the people. Numerous challenges still face the government of Peter O'NEILL, including providing physical security for foreign investors, regaining investor confidence, restoring integrity to state institutions, promoting economic efficiency by privatizing moribund state institutions, and maintaining good relations with Australia, its former colonial ruler. Other socio-cultural challenges could upend the economy including chronic law and order and land tenure issues.
|GDP (purchasing power parity):
| GDP (purchasing power parity): $28.02 billion (2016 est.) $27.33 billion (2015 est.) $25.63 billion (2014 est.)
note: data are in 2016 dollars
|GDP (official exchange rate):
|GDP (official exchange rate): $19.92 billion (2015 est.)
|GDP - real growth rate:
|2.5% (2016 est.) 6.6% (2015 est.) 7.4% (2014 est.)
|GDP - per capita (PPP):
| GDP - per capita (PPP): $3,500 (2016 est.) $3,500 (2015 est.) $3,400 (2014 est.)
note: data are in 2016 dollars
|Gross national saving:
|38.1% of GDP (2016 est.) 24% of GDP (2015 est.) -11.7% of GDP (2014 est.)
|GDP - composition, by end use:
| household consumption: 49.4%
government consumption: 7.8%
investment in fixed capital: 9.9%
investment in inventories: 0.4%
exports of goods and services: 68.7%
imports of goods and services: -36.2% (2016 est.)
|GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
| household consumption: 49.4%
government consumption: 7.8%
investment in fixed capital: 9.9%
investment in inventories: 0.4%
exports of goods and services: 68.7%
imports of goods and services: -36.2% (2016 est.)
|Agriculture - products:
|coffee, cocoa, copra, palm kernels, tea, sugar, rubber, sweet potatoes, fruit, vegetables, vanilla; poultry, pork; shellfish
|copra crushing, palm oil processing, plywood production, wood chip production; mining (gold, silver, copper); crude oil and petroleum products; construction, tourism
|Industrial production growth rate:
|4.8% (2016 est.)
|Labor force:
|4.365 million (2016 est.)
|Labor force - by occupation:
| agriculture: 85%
industry: NA%
services: NA% (2005 est.)
|Unemployment rate:
|1.9% (2008 est.) 1.6% (2004)
|Population below poverty line:
|37% (2002 est.)
|Household income or consumption by percentage share:
| lowest 10%: 1.7%
highest 10%: 40.5% (1996)
|Distribution of family income - Gini index:
|50.9 (1996)
| revenues: $3.169 billion
expenditures: $4.295 billion (2016 est.)
|Taxes and other revenues:
|15.9% of GDP (2016 est.)
|Public debt:
|39.4% of GDP (2016 est.) 36.9% of GDP (2015 est.)
|Fiscal year:
|calendar year
|Inflation rate (consumer prices):
|Inflation rate (consumer prices): 6.3% (2016 est.) 6% (2015 est.)
|Current account balance:
|$1.484 billion (2016 est.) $2.134 billion (2015 est.)
|$7.886 billion (2016 est.) $8.377 billion (2015 est.)
|Exports - commodities:
|oil, gold, copper ore, logs, palm oil, coffee, cocoa, crayfish, prawns
|Exports - partners:
|Japan 17.4%, Australia 15.9%, China 12.1% (2015)
|$1.83 billion (2016 est.) $2.267 billion (2015 est.)
|Imports - commodities:
|machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food, fuels, chemicals
|Imports - partners:
|Australia 25.9%, China 20%, Singapore 12.6%, Malaysia 7.2%, US 4.2%, Indonesia 4.1%, South Korea 4% (2015)
|Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
|$1.629 billion (31 December 2016 est.) $1.738 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
|Debt - external:
|$22.04 billion (31 December 2016 est.) $20.41 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
|Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
|Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
|Market value of publicly traded shares:
|$10.71 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $8.999 billion (31 December 2011 est.) $9.742 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
|Exchange rates:
|kina (PGK) per US dollar - 3.156 (2016 est.) 2.7684 (2015 est.) 2.7684 (2014 est.) 2.4614 (2013 est.) 2.08 (2012 est.)
|^Back to Top
|Electricity - production:
|3.2 billion kWh (2014 est.)
|Electricity - consumption:
|3 billion kWh (2014 est.)
|Electricity - exports:
|0 kWh (2013 est.)
|Electricity - imports:
|0 kWh (2013 est.)
|Electricity - installed generating capacity:
|900,000 kW (2014 est.)
|Electricity - from fossil fuels:
|61.1% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
|Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
|0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
|Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
|30.9% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
|Electricity - from other renewable sources:
|8% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
|Crude oil - production:
|52,600 bbl/day (2015 est.)
|Crude oil - exports:
|25,400 bbl/day (2013 est.)
|Crude oil - imports:
|14,880 bbl/day (2013 est.)
|Crude oil - proved reserves:
|200 million bbl (1 January 2016 es)
|Refined petroleum products - production:
|28,340 bbl/day (2013 est.)
|Refined petroleum products - consumption:
|42,000 bbl/day (2014 est.)
|Refined petroleum products - exports:
|8,062 bbl/day (2013 est.)
|Refined petroleum products - imports:
|21,180 bbl/day (2013 est.)
|Natural gas - production:
|4.75 billion cu m (2014 est.)
|Natural gas - consumption:
|100 million cu m (2014 est.)
|Natural gas - exports:
|4.65 billion cu m (2014 est.)
|Natural gas - imports:
|0 cu m (2013 est.)
|Natural gas - proved reserves:
|151.3 billion cu m (1 January 2016 es)
|Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
|3.7 million Mt (2013 est.)
|^Back to Top
|Cellular Phones in use:
|total: 3.56 million subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 53 (July 2015 est.)
|Telephone system:
| general assessment: services are minimal; facilities provide radiotelephone and telegraph, coastal radio, aeronautical radio, and international radio communication services
domestic: access to telephone services is not widely available although combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity has increased to roughly 55 per 100 persons
international: country code - 675; submarine cables to Australia and Guam; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean); international radio communication service (2015)
|Broadcast media:
|2 TV stations, 1 commercial station operating since the late 1980s, and 1 state-run station launched in 2008; satellite and cable TV services are available; state-run National Broadcasting Corporation operates 3 radio networks with multiple repeaters and (2009)
|Internet country code:
|Internet users:
|total: 527,000 percent of population: 7.9% (July 2015 est.)
|^Back to Top
|561 (2013)
|Airports (paved runways):
| total 21
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 12
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 1 (2013)
|Airports (unpaved runways):
| total 540
1,524 to 2,437 m: 11
914 to 1,523 m: 53
under 914 m: 476 (2013)
|2 (2013)
|oil 264 km (2013)
| total 9,349 km
paved: 3,000 km
unpaved: 6,349 km (2011)
|11,000 km (2011)
|Merchant marine:
| total 31
by type: bulk carrier 7, cargo 22, petroleum tanker 2
foreign-owned: 8 (Germany 1, Malaysia 1, UAE 6) (2010)
|Ports and terminals:
|major seaport(s): Kimbe, Lae, Madang, Rabaul, Wewak LNG terminal(s) (export): Port Moresby
|^Back to Top
|Military branches:
|Papua New Guinea Defense Force (PNGDF; includes Maritime Operations Element, Air Operations Element) (2013)
|Military service age and obligation:
|16 years of age for voluntary military service (with parental consent); no conscription; graduation from grade 12 required (2013)
|Military expenditures:
|0.54% of GDP (2012) 0.6% of GDP (2011) 0.54% of GDP (2010)
|^Back to Top
|Transnational Issues
|Disputes - International:
|relies on assistance from Australia to keep out illegal cross-border activities from primarily Indonesia, including goods smuggling, illegal narcotics trafficking, and squatters and secessionists
|Refugees and internally displaced persons:
|refugees (country of origin): 9,368 (Indonesia) (2015) IDPs: 6,300 (natural disasters, tribal conflict, inter-communal violence, development projects) (2015)
|Illicit drugs:
|major consumer of cannabis
|^Back to Top
« Previous Country | Next Country » Back to Flag Counter Overview
Source: CIA - The World Factbook


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My daughter is getting married to a man whom I adore. His mother however, I cannot stand. Michael, can I tell her to stay out of our daughter's life? Or is it my son-in-law's place to tell her when enough is enough?
Dear Michael,
Have you ever heard that you can make beads out of flowers? Someone was telling me that they saved the flowers from their mother's funeral to make beads. I've heard that it's an old Catholic recipe; that nuns used to save flowers to make rosary beads. Do you know anything about this?Signed, Garden Club Member Dear Miss Gardener,
Do I look like a former nun to you? Or better yet, a priest? How the heck should I know? I do remember, when I was younger, my mother used to tell me about those same rosary beads made from flowers that the nuns had. There's gotta be a way to find out -- do a little research and see what you can find. There are step-by-step instructions available at http://crafts.lovetoknow.com/wiki/rose_petal_crafts. Good luck! And I'm hoping you'll make me a necklace.Love, your diva, Michael Dear Michael,
I'm a 40-year-old divorcee, and I'm not familiar with the modern dating scene. Back in November, a man asked me for my phone number. I gave it to him; it seemed honest enough. But, since then, we've had only two dates, which were very spread apart. The thing is, he calls me nearly every day. I don't get it. If he likes me, why aren't we going out? And if he doesn't like me, why is he wasting his time calling me every day? I know dating is different these days, but is it really supposed to be like this?Signed, Still Single Dear Single,
Girlfriend, I'm a little confused! Does he live far away? Is he married? Can you know for sure? I don't know any man who can wait that long! I suggest you find yourself a new boy.Love, your diva, Michael Dear Michael,
My daughter is getting married to a man whom I adore. His mother, however, I cannot stand! As frightful as marriage can be, I don't think this one has a prayer's chance, as his mom doesn't ever mind her own business. Michael, can I tell her to stay out of our daughter's life? Or is it my son-in-law's place to tell her when enough is enough?Signed, Mother-in-law to be Dear Mother-in-law,
I suspect that if you're complaining about his mother, then she's complaining about you. For the sake of your daughter, why don't you two get along for the few times you'll see each other? And no, it's not your place to tell her that she's the mother-in-law from hell.Love, your diva, Michael
Michael Serode is the owner/operator of Salon Serode in Pembroke, Mass., and your divine advice columnist. Send questions to firstname.lastname@example.com.


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National Parks on the West Coast
The West Coast is home to some of the world's most beautiful scenery and the National Parks in the area are a great way to explore this untouched beauty.
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With a total of 14 National Parks, The West Coast is proud to boast more of these protected areas than any other region in New Zealand. With varying features and sizes, the parks are a must-see for anyone visiting the South Island. Here are the best National Parks on The West Coast.
Paparoa National Park
This park has been made world famous by the ancient Pancake Rocks and Blowholes that attract thousands of visitors every year. Paparoa is also historically significant as the area was predominantly used by gold miners and travelers during early settlement. In fact, the Inland Park track that was constructed by the original miners can still be walked today. Paparoa offers an abundance of rare birdlife including the Westland Black Petral and the Great Spotted Kiwi and is a great place for all fitness abilities to visit.
Westland Tai Poutini National Park
If it's glaciers that your heart desires, look no further than Westland Tai Poutini National Park, which is the proud home of over 60 glaciers, including Fox and Franz Josef. The park extends west from the highest points of the Southern Alps, right down to the coast and is a mixture of varying conditions. Here you will see glorious snow-capped mountains, majestic glaciers, temperate rainforest, rivers, lakes and even the sea. This is the most popular National Park to visit with numerous walking tracks, mountain biking trails, daring ski slopes and even a gold fossicking area.
Arthur's Pass National Park
Right in the heart of the Southern Alps lies the majestic Arthur's Pass National Park. This region is particularly beautiful with contrasting Beech forest to the eastern side and Rainforest to the west. Directly through the middle of Arthur's Pass runs a historic railway and highway which is a must-see sight for many travelers. This is a great place to enjoy some of the many walking and mountain biking trails that wind through the diverse park.
Kahurangi National Park
The translated version of Kahurangi means 'treasured possession' which is the most appropriate name for this beautiful slice of New Zealand. Kahurangi National Park is New Zealand's youngest parks, created in 1996 and is also the second largest. This paradise is a great way to have some recreational fun with great spots for fishing, kayaking and hiking over the 570 km of walking tracks!
Mount Aspiring National Park
Possibly the most stunning Park on the West Coast is Mount Aspiring. It's remote, untouched wonder thrills many with stunning river valleys, high mountains and lush bush. There are many tours that take place around the Mount Aspiring National Park including, scenic flights, hiking tours, and climbing expeditions. Other recreational activities include jet boating, walking and fishing.
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Westwood Lodge
Westwood Lodge offers stylish accommodation in a delightful, quiet, landscaped native bush garden. Our luxurious Bed & Breakfast Lodge is the ideal place to unwind, relax and explore the Franz Josef Glacier and surrounding area.


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This is alignment-based hatha yoga. Each new 5-class sequential series will offer a variety of asanas with a focus on a new theme: one course may be about balance, another course may be about strength and yet another course might offer poses to help increase your flexibility. It is best to show up to each class in order to reap the benefits of practicing the asanas in the order in which they are offered, but if you must miss a class, you may make up for it with a drop in class. You must pre-register and pay in advance for each new series. Each 5-class sequential course $79. Buy two courses together and save with the 10-class pass!
Back to All Events
Earlier Event: April 1Drop-In
Later Event: April 6Group Yoga (PRIVATE)


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Guest Rooms
As you take a photo tour of our rooms, imagine yourself falling asleep in one of our guest rooms under a down comforter while the moon rises over Willapa Bay. See yourself enjoying a game of chess in front of the fireplace or reading a book in the quiet and solitude of the sun room. Breakfast is served in the dining room where you can view Willapa Bay and watch wild birds eat from feeders.
Nancy's Room
A warm room decorated in a soft yellow. Named after Ginger's Grandmother. Nancy's heirlooms and handmade linens decorate the house. A delightful room with a view of the fish pond and back garden. You'll enjoy the queen size bed and large private bath with shower.
$180.00 per night
Elsa's Room
Named in honor of the woman who helped restore this wonderful old house with her husband, Louie. Wake up in a king size brass bed overlooking Willapa Bay. A dressing room connecting the bedroom and bath provides privacy for that shy part of your soul. The lavender and white lace bath has a tub perfect for soaking by candlelight.
$180.00 per night
Charlie's Room
Named in remembrance of Charles Nelson Jr. Fall asleep in a queen size bed gazing at the moon shimmering over Willapa Bay. A private bath looks out on the legendary Indian 'Talking Tree'.
$180.00 per night


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Leeds United have three players up for the PFA fans player of the month award.
New team captain and January signing Richard Naylor along with previous winners Jermaine Beckford and Fabian Delph are all up for the award.
Delph will be hoping to make it a hat trick of wins after previously winning the award in November and January.
League One contenders
Neil Harris – Millwall
Richard Naylor – Leeds United
Fabian Delph – Leeds United
Jermaine Beckford – Leeds United
Matt Fryatt – Leicester City
Make sure you go to www.givemefootball.com/vote to cast your vote for one of the Leeds players.
Vital Leeds United!
Vital Leeds United is a fast growing Leeds United fan site, with the sole aim of becoming the #1 unofficial website for Leeds United fans everywhere.
The site is regularly updated with news and views regarding all the current events at Elland Road, alongside a fully interactive message forum and regularly looks at the clubs past. Vital Leeds offers everything that a Leeds United supporter could wish for. If you can think of something and suggest it, we`ll put it on the website!
With news and views, along with a forum, polls and article comments, everything you need in a fans site is right here!
You can even win prizes, by posting articles comments, posting on the message forum and voting on the polls.
Vital is also 100% interactive. Not only can you have your say on the articles and the forum but you can also suggest an article or a poll so you can air your views.
So why not join Vital today?
It's easy to register here and enjoy getting involved
Message Board
To visit the message board, click here.
Get involved
This website is your website and we are looking for people to help run the site. Do you go to most of the games and have an opinion? Why not write a match report? Perhaps you are a budding journalist or even just someone who is very opinionated? Well why not join our team? If this interests you please contact Vital leeds .


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The Boswell Sisters vs. The Andrews Sisters
Last blog, we took a long, almost invasive and menacing look at one of my favorite harmonizing groups, The Ravens. This time, let's meditate on two groups and the epic chaos that emerged from their earth-shattering battle for supremacy. Yes, we're going to focus on the blood-thirsty Boswell Sisters and those daughters of doomsday, The Andrews Sisters. (This blog is not for the squeamish and will include death, destruction, and delightfully catchy melodies.)
Many people are already familiar with The Andrews Sisters, and because you, dear reader, are a person, I am including you in this assessment. What these same many people often don't realize is that The Andrews Sisters actually based their act on another trio of singing siblings, The Boswell Sisters.
The Boswell Sisters were born in the first decade of the twentieth century and, in a show of musical savvy, they chose to be raised in New Orleans, the American music Mecca. By their teens, Martha, Connee, and Helvetia (they were given individual names to make communication in the house more efficient) began singing in movie theatres and on local radio shows, cultivating small celebrity and earning free popcorn.


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Emeritus Faculty Recommendation
This form is used to recommend retiring faculty for emeritus status. The title "emeritus" shall normally be conferred on each tenured faculty member upon retirement from the University. In special circumstances the President may withhold the awarding of Emeritus status for cause. The President may confer the title "emeritus" on any other retiring faculty member under special circumstances. For additional information about emeritus status, please refer to the Emeritus Faculty Status page.
Please note: Faculty participating in the Early Retirement Program (FERP) are considered to be regular members of the faculty and therefore are not yet eligible for emeritus status.
Please submit the completed form to the Office of the Provost, Attn: Melanie Schlitzkus.


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EventsWedding Belles
Date: Aug. 21, 2019
Time: 12:30 pm - 4:00 pm
Contact Name: Lisa Green
Contact Phone Number: 262-284-6850
Admission Fee: Yes
Location: Memories Ballroom
Four garden-club ladies meet a young girl who has come to their little Texas town to marry an infantryman before he ships off for World War II. The women impulsively decide to throw the girl an elaborate wedding, and their lives and friendships are thrown into turmoil as they race to accomplish the nuptials in one frenzied afternoon.
Tickets: $48 plus tax
Click here for more information »


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6 Solutions to upgrade Samsung Galaxy Tab A 10 1 Gtaxllte Sm T585m Stock firmware last version, supported android 5/10/4/6/7/8/9.
Free download Firmware APK on android version: Oreo, Lollipop, Q, Marshmallow, Pie, Lollipop, Nougat, KitKat.
|App Name:
|Last Update:
|31 May 2019
|Language pack:
|English, Bosnian (Latin), Tatar, Greek, Konkani, Khmer, Georgian, Albanian, Hausa (Latin), Serbian (Latin), Hebrew, Kiche, Cherokee (Cherokee), Uyghur , Bangla (India), Dutch, Finnish, Lithuanian, Norwegian (Bokmål), Armenian
|File Size:
|File Type:
|60 803
Supported android devices: Samsung Galaxy Tab A 10 1 Gtaxllte Sm T585m, Oppo R830, Elsys Etri02 Tai, Bqru Bq 7040g, Lge Lg X5 Mk6m F770s, Kzg Ke Zhi Guang Scope and many others.
All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction, in whole or in part is strictly prohibited.
It is not a rare event when people require to get USB drivers for Android phones that they use. USB drivers are very important because it enable connections between a gadget and your personal computer hence knowing how it can be done is very important. This article will tell you more about it. Quick Access Required Content What is USB driver? Features Download USB driver on Android How to download and install USB Driver Android phones? Watch Video Tutorial on Youtube How to update android firmware What is USB driver? Lots of people prefer to install different programs and applications on their mobile devices via use of a personal computer. For that reason, lots of programs and ...
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If your mobile device becomes older and dated it is crucial to make sure that its internal mechanisms and components stay up to date hence you will have to update android firmware on time. This is not a very complex procedure but in order to make sure that you do it correctly basic knowledge is required. Quick Access Required Content Features of update firmware Download android firmware How to install and update android firmware? Watch Video Tutorial on Youtube How to update android firmware Features of update firmware Before listing the range of features that users will benefit from, it is vital to define what firmware is. Firmware is virtually identical to software but its initial ...
Some features that our mobile devices contain are not needed very often, so it is vital to know how to stich them off hence knowing how to Frp bypass Google Account Verification on Android could be crucial. This process is not very complex but knowing the basics is very important, therefore in this article we will talk more about it. Quick Access Required Content What is FRP bypass? Feature Download FRP Bypass apk How to FRP bypass Google Account Verification on android? Watch Video Tutorial on Youtube How to frp bypass Google Account Verification on android What is FRP bypass? The abbreviation FRP stands for the term Factory Protection Settings. FRP bypass is often ...


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Rush-hour traffic jams are the result of a subsidy that encourages bigger cars and living further away from work
The Government really must be strapped for money. It's so short that to scrape in an extra $17 million or so of petty cash it's willing to break an election pledge and upset a group of core supporters.
On the election trail in 2005, National's then finance spokesman, John Key, thundered against the Labour Government's plans to expand the fringe benefit tax to include free staff carparks. He told the Auckland Rotary Club that National would overhaul the FBT and "cut the red tape and compliance costs that are choking our businesses and preventing them getting off first base".
He would not entertain suggestions of applying FBT to on-premises carparks. "National will restore common sense between Government and the private sector."
This week, the FBT Action Group, an unholy alliance of manufacturers, employers, property owners, a carpark conglomerate and Matt McCarten's low-paid worker union Unite began a campaign against just such an extension of the FBT.
"A discriminatory and inefficient piece of legislation," fulminated Property Council chief executive Connal Townsend.
Even the Labour Party has got in on the act, revenue spokesman David Cunliffe rushing out a statement headed "National's carpark compliance catastrophe". A catastrophe, he and his colleagues once planned to introduce.
There is discrimination, but not in the way Mr Townsend means. It is the existing scenario that is discriminatory, providing an untaxed $5000 or more perks to car-driving workers - many in company cars that are an additional perk - which their cycling, walking and public transport-using colleagues don't get.
A report by Booz and Co, "Company Cars and Fringe Benefit Tax", prepared for the New Zealand Transport Agency in February 2012, concluded: "Parking subsidies provide a significant untaxed benefit to employees who drive which is not provided to those who use other commuter modes. Many employees pay nothing for parking as it is provided by their employer. Any introduction of a price would have an impact on travel behaviour."
These subsidies are worth more to employees than their cash wage value, and do not only encourage recipients "to drive [rather] than use alternative modes of transport", but also encourage people to have bigger cars and live further away from their workplace, thus encouraging "automobile-dependent sprawl".
In other words, the discrimination in the tax laws favouring free employee car parking is helping cause the rush-hour traffic jams in Auckland and Wellington that Mr Townsend, wearing another hat, is so eager to jump up and down about, demanding billions of dollars more expenditure on new roads and harbour crossings.
A smarter right-wing Government would have latched on to the distortions the taxation system creates in the transport market, and painted the present move as a levelling of the playing field. Instead, it's making no friends by treating it purely as a simple tax-gathering exercise.
The Booz and Co report underlines how the free parking perk does not only deprives Inland Revenue of revenue: "Commercial public transport becomes more viable when users pay directly for parking", particularly in Auckland and Wellington's congested CBDs where parking costs are highest. Employer-provided free parking in downtown Auckland and Wellington, "provides a direct incentive to drive to the very destination that is most congested and best served by public transport".
The report averaged the annual cost of early-bird parking at 10 Auckland CBD parking buildings for 229 days as $2725, the actual range varying from $1832 to $4580. They compared that with public transport "after tax" costs of their colleagues who received no carpark privileges. Over the same period, the cost of train travel ranged from a one-stage train journey at $575 to a five-stage bus fare totalling $2622. A 12-month pass on both modes totalled $2700. In other words, the actual subsidy is around $5000.
The report authors would not have been surprised who is stirring up the present outcry. "Most opposition to reform is likely to come from those fleet providers, employers and employees who currently benefit from the current tax policy. Employers can reduce wage costs by substituting wages for company cars and parking. Employers have access to discounted vehicles."
Of course, from a transport planning viewpoint, taxing the carparking perk is not going to remove the existing discrimination in favour of car-users. The new tax will come to around $1000, depending on the tax scale of the employee. Presumably the employer will pay, but even if not, it's a lot cheaper than a public carpark - or public transport.
In Ireland, the law allows employers to provide public transport passes to employees in lieu of salary on a before-tax basis. In San Francisco, 43 per cent of passengers on Bart, the rapid transit system, work for employers offering a public transport benefit programme.
Before its absorption into the new Super City, Waitakere City was one of the few employers in Auckland to subsidise staff who caught public transport to work. When it moved to its new headquarters beside the railway line at Henderson in 2006, the council introduced a 50 per cent subsidy on train and bus fares for employees. Public transport use among the 650 employees jumped from 3 per cent to 12 per cent in a few months. The cost - subject to fringe benefit tax - was offset by the need to provide fewer carparks. Auckland Transport now occupies the building - but doesn't continue its predecessor's pioneering lead.


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Jobs and the Economy
Title I Allocations
Testing and Teaching
NAEP 2010: Geography
Safe and Healthy Students
Odds and Ends
Quote to Note
Upcoming Events
Jobs and the Economy
This week, in successive events, the Administration underscored the role that education plays in preparing American workers for jobs and boosting the economy. First, on July 18, President Obama and Secretary Duncan hosted an education roundtable with business leaders and partners to discuss expanding effective industry-led partnerships that are working to transform the American education system. "A world-class education is the single most important factor in determining not just whether our kids can compete for the best jobs but whether America can outcompete countries around the world," the President stated. "America's business leaders understand that when it comes to education, we need to up our game. That's why we're working together to put an outstanding education within reach for every child." The private sector is responding to the President's challenge with more than financial support. Corporations have made commitments that take advantage of their areas of expertise and the skills of their employees. Then, on July 19, Secretary Duncan was interviewed during The Atlantic's "The New Work Era" Summit. The summit, convening leading CEOs, journalists, and policymakers, was pegged to a report from McKinsey & Company that analyzes the skills crisis facing the U.S. job market. Asked if he agreed the nation focuses too much on college-readiness and not enough on career-readiness, the Secretary identified the issue one of the many "false dichotomies" that permeate education reform debates. "It's not either-or. It's and," he stressed. "The skills necessary to be successful in college and careers are almost identical today." Also, earlier, the Secretary met students participating in the Imagine Cup 2011 competition, sponsored by Microsoft, at the Lincoln Center in New York City. This year's theme was "Imagine a World Where Technology Helps Solve the Toughest Problems." Projects showcasedfrom software and video games to mobile apps and videoswere aimed at improving education, health care, and the environment.
Title I Allocations
To aid in some key calculations, the Department has published Fiscal Year 2011 Title I allocations by school district. Under No Child Left Behind, districts must spend up to 20% of their Title I, Part A allocation to cover school choice-related transportation costs and pay for supplemental educational services. Districts have some discretion to determine the allocation of funds between transportation and supplemental services, but all districts must spend at least a quarter (5%) of the 20% "reservation" on each activity if there is demand for both. Further, for supplemental services, districts are required to pay the lesser of the actual cost or an amount equal to the district's Title I, Part A allocation divided by poor students in the district, as determined by estimates produced by the Census Bureau.
Testing and Teaching
In the wake of new cheating allegations in districts, the Washington Post convened a roundtable on how best to approach teacher incentives in the education system, featuring opinion pieces by Secretary Duncan, Duke University behavioral economics professor Dan Ariely, Harvard Graduate School of Education professor Howard Gardner, and Washington Post columnist Steven Pearlstein. Below are some excerpts from the Secretary's submission:
"Recent news reports of widespread or suspected cheating on standardized tests in several school districts around the country have been taken by some as evidence that we must reduce reliance on testing to measure student growth and achievement. Others have gone even farther, claiming that cheating is an inevitable consequence of 'high-stakes testing' and that we should abandon testing altogether. To be sure, there are lessons to be learned from these jarring incidents, but the existence of cheating says nothing about the merits of testing. Instead, cheating reflects a willingness to lie at children's expense to avoid accountabilityan approach I reject entirely."
"Each of the instances [of cheating] is rooted in the pernicious notion that by resisting accountability, you can avoid it. To deny the importance of regular, comprehensive measurement of student growth and academic progress because of cheating is to embrace that twisted ethos, sending exactly the wrong message to students. Competing in a global economy is the ultimate high-stakes test for American students, and there are no shortcuts. Closing our eyes to the knowledge requirements of the 21st century economy will not make them go away."
"At the same time, it is important to remember that measuring student growth is a means to an end, and not an end in itself. Poorly designed tests do not advance the goal of providing every American child a high-quality, well-rounded education. They also don't tell you very much about the effectiveness of teachers. That's why the Department of Education has put $350 million toward developing a new generation of assessments and why we support teacher evaluations based on multiple measuresincluding principal observations, peer review, classroom work, student and parent feedback, and other locally developed measures."
NAEP 2010: Geography
According to the latest results from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), less than a third of the nation's students achieve at or above the Proficient level in geography. Although fourth-graders made gains in achievement since 2001, the Nation's Report Card: Geography 2010 shows that achievement by eighth-graders remained flat, and performance by twelfth-graders declined from 1994. There were a few bright spots: scores among lowest performers (bottom 10th percentile) were higher than in 1994 for all grades, and African-American and Hispanic students' scores increased in grades 4 and 8 and some achievement gaps narrowed. Yet, on the heels of NAEP report cards for civics and U.S. history, this report card for geography adds to a picture of stagnating and declining overall achievement among U.S. students in the social sciences.
Safe and Healthy Students
On July 8, the Federal Interagency Forum on Child and Family Statistics released "America's Children: Key National Indicators of Well-Being, 2011." This report continues a robust series of annual studies to the country on conditions affecting children and families in the U.S. across a range of basic domains: family and social environment, economic circumstances, health care, physical environment and safety, behavior, education, and health, with a special feature on adoption. The Department's National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a part of the Institute of Education Sciences (IES), contributes indicators to the report and supports its production with 21 other federal agencies.
Speaking of wellness, Secretary Duncan and Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius recently announced $95 million in grants to 278 school-based health center programs. Provided under the Affordable Care Act, the grants will help clinics expand and provide more health care services at schools nationwide. Recipients are currently serving approximately 790,000 patients. The awards will enable them to increase their capacity by over 50%, serving an additional 440,000 patients. School-based clinics improve the overall health and wellness of all children through health screenings, health promotion, and disease prevention activities and enable children with acute or chronic illnesses to attend school.
Yesterday (July 21), Secretary Duncan joined Attorney General Eric Holder to announce the launch of the Supportive School Discipline Initiative, a collaborative project between the two agencies that will address the "school-to-prison pipeline" and the disciplinary policies and practices that can push students out of school and into the justice system. The initiative aims to support good discipline practices to foster safe and productive learning environments in all classrooms. To implement the initiative, the agencies will coordinate with other organizations in the non-profit and philanthropic communities who are working to help ensure students succeed by dealing with inappropriate school discipline.
Also, the Administration has released the 2011 National Drug Control Strategy. The 2011 strategy is a recommitment to the two main goals established in the inaugural strategy: curtailing drug consumption and improving public health and safety by reducing the consequences of drug use. It also focuses efforts on three "signature initiatives"reducing prescription drug abuse, reducing drugged driving, and expanding community-based substance abuse preventionas well as on populations with unique challenges and significant needs in addressing substance abuse issuesactive duty military and veterans, women and their families, college and university students, and those within the criminal justice system.
Odds and Ends
On July 11, the Administration launched "Strong Cities, Strong Communities " (SC2), a new and customized pilot initiative to strengthen local capacity and spark economic growth within communities while ensuring taxpayer dollars are used wisely and efficiently. To accomplish this, federal agencies will supply experienced staff to work directly with six cities: Chester (Pennsylvania), Cleveland, Detroit, Fresno (California), Memphis, and New Orleans. These teams will go to work with local governments, the private sector, and other institutions to leverage federal funding and support the local work being done to encourage economic growth and community development.
Three more states (Indiana, North Dakota, and Wyoming) and the District of Columbia have been approved to receive fiscal 2010 funding to turn around their persistently lowest-achieving schools under the School Improvement Grants (SIG) program.
The Department received a notice of intent to apply from 36 states and the District of Columbia for the Race to the Top-Early Learning Challenge and from 1,326 districts and non-profit organizations for the 2011 Investing in Innovation grant competition. For both programs, a notice of intent to apply was optional. Entities may still submit applications if they have not notified the Department, and entities that submitted a notice may choose not to submit an application.
The Department's Office of Innovation and Improvement (OII) is actively seeking individuals to serve as peer reviewers for the 2011 Promise Neighborhoods grant competitions. All reviewers will need to dedicate roughly 50 hours of time for reading, scoring, and developing comments and discussing applications, over a three-week period in late September or early October, and will receive an honorarium for their time and effort. The deadline for application forms is August 8.
"Data on College Graduates in the First Year After College," a new report from NCES, describes the enrollment and employment experiences of a national sample of college graduates a year after their 2007-08 graduation.
Quote to Note
"Throughout her long and active life, Elizabeth Anne Ford distinguished herself through her courage and compassion. As our nation's First Lady, she was a powerful advocate for women's health and women's rights. After leaving the White House, Mrs. Ford helped reduce the social stigma surrounding addiction and inspired thousands to seek much-needed treatment. While her death is a cause for sadness, we know that organizations such as the Betty Ford Center will honor her legacy by giving countless Americans a new lease on life."
|President Barack Obama (7/8/11), in a statement on the passing of Betty Ford
Upcoming Events
Every other Thursday through August 25, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time, the Department is hosting "Summer Seminars at Six," a four-part summer information series for teachers. The next seminar, titled "Who's on First? State and Federal Roles and Responsibilities for Education," will be on July 28. A video and the presentation that accompanied the initial, July 14 seminar, titled "An ED 101 Primer," are available online.
On July 28, the Department's Equity and Excellence Commission will hold a meeting in Washington, D.C. The agenda for the Commission's third meeting will include discussion of proposed recommendations and the best structure for a report. Due to time constraints, there will not be a public comment period, but individuals wishing to provide comments may contact the Commission at firstname.lastname@example.com.
On August 10, also in Washington, D.C., the Department will host the third in a series of public meetings related to the Race to the Top Assessment (RTTA) grants. The meeting will convene representatives from both RTTA consortia and a panel of experts to discuss addressing the needs of English learners and students with disabilities as they work to develop next-generation assessment systems. The consortia are fully committed to ensuring the assessments are valid, reliable, and fair for all students.
Through September 15, the National Endowment for the Humanities invites applications for grants of up to $25,000 to support the development of an undergraduate course on an "enduring question." This course will encourage undergraduates and educators to grapple with a fundamental question addressed by the humanities and to join together in a sustained program of reading in order to encounter influential thinkers over the centuries and into the present day. Up to four faculty members in any discipline may develop the course, but each co-director must teach it separately.
Over the next two weeks, the Department will exhibit at the National Council of La Raza's Conference in Washington, D.C. (July 23-26), the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People's Convention in Los Angeles (July 23-28), and the National Urban League's Conference in Boston (July 27-30). If you are attending any of these events, please stop by the Department's booth.
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Skip to Content
UW Bothell IT offers digital file storage space to all faculty, staff and students. It's a great way to easily access all of your saved files from any device.
New, optional file storage/sharing and collaboration services from Microsoft are now available with no additional fee to University of Washington students, faculty, and staff.
UW OneDrive for Business offers 25 GB of file storage. UW Skype for Business offers online meetings, instant messaging, virtual whiteboards, and more. Both are HIPAA and FERPA compliant.
UW-IT has enabled this service for you. It will be activated when you log in for the first time. If you are satisfied with your current collaboration and file sharing tools, no action is necessary.
For details and to get started online, go to:
* UW OneDrive for Business: https://itconnect.uw.edu/wares/online-storage/onedrive/
* UW Skype for Business: http://uw.edu/itconnect/connect/conferencing/lync-online
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During activation, you will see the message: "We're almost ready." This one-time activation usually happens within a day but may take longer. You can close your browser, do other work, and return later without interrupting the process.
For additional support, please contact the UW-IT Service Center
via e-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com
via phone: 206-221-5000
All staff and faculty now have 5GB storage (as a minimum) in their U: drives! That's 5GB of online storage they can access from any internet-connected computer in the world. Learn how to access from a PC or a Mac!
The student U: drive is a great resource that allows you to access your saved documents from any computer up to 5 GB! This U: drive is now being hosted by the UW Seattle campus and that means a couple things for students who had already been using their student U: drive:
The first thing you will notice is that any UWB student who already had files saved in their UWB U: drive will have access to a new X: drive in addition to their U: drive.
This X: drive is where all of their previously saved files will be moved to.
Any UWB student who has not yet stored anything onto their OLD U: drive will not have an X: drive.
Any NEW students will only have the new U: drive.
For more information about your student U: drive please visit:
If you have any problems accessing your previously saved documents, please contact the UWB IT Helpdesk for assistance (email@example.com or 425.352.3456).
UW Bothell provides home drives (also called "U: Drive") on Bothell network-based file servers with a quota of 7GB. This quota represents the complete distribution of Network drive space to all the people who use this service. This means that there is no additional existing or planned capacity that allows us to expand quotas beyond this threshold.
A: We have a number of different local network options –
A: Yes, there are some UW approved services for just this purpose -
A: There are many other cloud-based solutions but when exploring these options, University employees should consider the following things:
Accessing the Network
Accessing File Server on a PC
Connecting to the UWB File Server on a Mac
We hope that one of the options above will meet your needs. If you have a need that falls outside of these options, please feel free to contact the IT Helpdesk and we will work with you to get you connected to a resource that will meet your workplace requirements. The UWB IT Helpdesk can be contacted by phone (425)352-3456 or e-mail firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Serving two million businesses and institutions in 150 countries, Grainger provides customers with the right products to keep their facilities up and running. As we grow, there's much to be done. We have a variety of exciting career opportunities available for skilled professionals, like you!
At Grainger you'll find all the right tools to build your career. Enjoy the stability of an established industry leader, without sacrificing the chance to learn, grow, advance, and make a difference. We offer an exciting and challenging environment that encourages independent thinking, problem solving, and growth.
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This past weekend we have all been shocked and hurt by the enormous tragedy that occurred at Sandy Hook Elementary. Words are inadequate to describe the hurt that has occurred in Newtown, Conn. Our children's safety and well-being is our number one concern, but we must also remember that no community is immune to such tragedies happening locally.
All of our districts have building and district emergency operations plans in place in collaboration with local and countywide first responders. This past fall, all the county school administrators and emergency personnel attended a training held by our sheriff's department, led by Sheriff Robert Craft. We have agreements in place to share counselors and resources if ever one district is hit hard by a particular crisis. There are some suggestions for parents at times like these:
- Limit your child's media viewing an online access to these events. Turn off the set at times and talk to your child, process with them what they are seeing and thinking.
- Assure your child that they have your love and support, at home and at school.
- Assure your child they are safe at school. As tragic as the event is at Sandy Hook, schools are still some of the safest places for children.
School safety and preparedness is more than just an educational responsibility. It is a community responsibility. All of us bear some responsibility to look after the well-being of our children in our community. We encourage you to communicate concerns to school officials or law enforcement officials when you see concerns. We hope and pray this kind of tragedy is never repeated, and we pray for all of those suffering loss in Newtown. It takes all of us to be vigilant and supportive to each other to prevent such events from occurring again.
John Fast, USD 411
Jerri Kemble, USD 397
Lee Leiker, USD 408
Steve Noble, USD 410
Ron Traxson, USD 398


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Post Radiation Treatment for Prostate Cancer
Dear OncoLink "Ask the Experts,"
I am one of thousands of prostate cancer patients who have undergone treatment. An ultrasound biopsy detected a prostate cancer with involvement in both lobes. After consulting with several MD's, I decided to undergo radiation therapy.
It has been 5 years since treatment and my PSA has slowly risen as high as 4.0 and is now 2.5.
Please direct me to post radiation treatments, in the event that my PSA does rise to levels requiring additional treatment.
Thank you.
John Han-Chih Chang, MD and Kenneth Blank, MD, Editorial Assistants for Oncolink, respond:
There are several treatment options for patients who have their prostate cancer return following radiotherapy. These options include surgery, cryotherapy, hormonal therapy and experimental approaches such as photodynamic therapy. With the exception of hormonal therapy, all of these treatments are local in nature, treating only the prostate. If the cancer has metastcized somewhere else in the body then hormonal therapy is recommended. Hormonal therapy eliminates the body's supply of testosterone, a hormone which, is necessary for most prostate cancer cells to survive. This can be accomplished with medications (called lutenizing hormone releasing hormone agonists) or by surgical removal of the testicles (orchiectomy).


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Zork III: The Dungeon Master (Atari ST)
Published by
Developed by
Also For
Critic Score
100 point score based on reviews from various critics.
User Score
5 point score based on user ratings.
Not an American user?
DescriptionIn the third game of the adventure game series Zork, you are once again a nameless adventurer, only this time you won't travel through a beautiful magical land, but are immediately cast into a deep dungeon. Like in a dream, you hear a mysterious voice telling you that you have passed all the tests but one. When consciousness returns to you, you find yourself on the endless spiral of stairs, with only your trusty lantern near you... will you be able to survive the horrors of the Dungeon?
Like its predecessors, Zork III: The Dungeon Master is a text adventure game. You read descriptions of rooms and then interact with the game by typing commands. As all early Zork games, it is very easy to get stuck in the game, so you'll have to reload several times in order to find the correct way.
Promo Images
There are no promo images for this game
Alternate Titles
- "Zork III: Le Maître Des Ténèbres" -- Canadian (French) title
- "Zork 3" -- Informal title
Part of the Following Group
User Reviews
There are no reviews for the Atari ST release of this game. You can use the links below to write your own review or read reviews for the other platforms of this game.
Critic Reviews
|Adventure Classic Gaming
|Jun 19, 2000
|3 out of 5
|Play Time
|Jul, 1991
|58 out of 100
|# Posts
|Last Post
|MSX: Neither Ireland nor Switzerland..it's...
|Trypticon (11039)
Jun 15, 2012
Trivia(From The New Zork Times Vol.3 No.2 Spring 1984)
Some statistics about Zork 3:
- Apparent number of rooms (those seen by the player): 105
- Number of rooms: 89 (The Royal Puzzle seems like 31 rooms, but internally it's actually just one room)
- Number of different ways to die: 30
- Number of words in vocabulary: 563
- Number of takeable objects: 23
Related Web Sites
- Infocom homepage (At this site you can find information on ALL of Infocom's interactive games, Infocom related articles, sample transcripts, InvisiClue hints, walkthroughs, maps and information on buying Infocom games today.)
- The Commodore Zone (All about the game, with introduction, images, related links and comments area.)
- The Infocom Gallery (High-quality scans of the grey box package and manual of Zork III.)
- Zork III at iFiction (Play Zork III through your web browser!)
Belboz (6582) added Zork III: The Dungeon Master (Atari ST) on Jan 27, 2003
Other platforms contributed by Brian Hirt (10056), Slik (943), Droog (522), Kabushi (229492), Martin Smith (66833), Pseudo_Intellectual (61506), Terok Nor (27763), Игги Друге (46396), LepricahnsGold (128994) and Belboz (6582)


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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
Hubert Renauld
Pathogens Sequencing Unit, The Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SA, UKüber das Thema:
Rules, rather than genesZeit: Mon 28.8.2006, 11:00, 60 Minuten
Ort: KG712
ZusammenfassungDespite the many genomic sequences and gene annotations available, how genetic information is structured in any genome remains poorly understood. Eukaryotic parasites subtelomeres provide a unique system to tackle this question, as they are crucial effectors of adjacent contingency genes (including virulence genes) in these organisms, and as subtelomeric-sequence assemblies are available for most of them. Yet their intrinsic features have undermined so far a comprehensive analysis. An intuitive approach will be outlined, based on the integration of dot-plot analyses, of softwares publicly available and of Perl scripts developed locally. Its application demonstrates how in-depth large-scale annotation of junk DNA may help understanding the mechanisms underlying plasticity and mosaicism at the chromosomal ends, the mechanisms of allelic exclusion and antigenic variation observed among virulence-related genes, and foster convergence between experimental, evolutionary and in silico studies. Lastly, to begin to uncover the implicit information of a genome, an empirical, linguistically informed approach was undertaken to describe and compare subtelomere architecture in lower eukaryotes. Although the design features of these domains are admittedly diverse, variation is restrained. This suggests the existence of universals of chromosome architecture similar to the universals of language proposed by Chomsky, and points to the possibility of using organism-neutral syntax and vocabularies to uncover principles of genome architecture.
Einladender: Prof. Sepp Hochreiter
Liste aller Vorträge


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ASA upholds customer complaint against eBuyer
Watchdog: Negative comments are also 'useful'
The Advertising Standards Agency has rapped eBuyer over a Wi-Fi internet radio promo that it concluded misled consumers.
The watchdog received a complaint claiming eBuyer was trying to create a favourable impression of the Foehn & Hirsch product by selecting 17 positive reviews and displaying them next to a four-and-a-half out of five star rating.
In response the etailer said the reviews had been sent in by customers and published by project managers and the current filters were pre-set to show the ratings which were "most useful".
However, the ASA upheld the customer complaint, saying that negative reviews could be as useful to shoppers, and noting the complainant had posted a less-than-glowing piece that was not used.
It added that most consumers would take the 17 reviews sitting alongside the rating as being representative of customers' overall opinions, "and that, by omitting negative reviews, eBuyer created a favourable impression that was likely to mislead consumers into purchasing the product".
"We noted they said four-and-a-half stars was an actual score but did not receive any information as to how this score was calculated. We concluded that the claim was materially misleading," said the ASA. ®


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**Requisition Number**
**Job Title**
Certified Nursing Assistant
Klondike Center - Genesis HealthCare
Job Description**
Genesis HealthCare is looking for remarkable Certified Nursing Assistants / CNAs. At Genesis HealthCare, you can really care for your patients - and your thoughts, opinions and expertise will always be respected. Our centers are state-of-the-art. Our benefits package is outstanding, as it includes a Clinical Career Path of opportunities. And our regular shifts help you balance your career and your personal life. Genesis HealthCare is one of the nation's largest skilled nursing care providers with more than 400 skilled nursing centers and assisted living residences in 28 states nationwide. Genesis also supplies rehabilitation therapy to over 1,500 healthcare providers in 46 states.
As a Certified Nursing Assistant / CNA at Genesis HealthCare, you will:
* Handle and serve residents in a manner conducive to their safety and comfort, under the direction of a licensed nurse
* Perform all duties in accordance with established methods, techniques and recognized standards
* Assist licensed nurses in admitting, admitting assessments, discharging, transferring and caring for the residents' personal belongings
* Perform ADLSs
* Coordinate scheduling for residents requiring OT, PT and ST
* Take and record weights, blood pressures, temperatures, pulse and respiration and give skin care treatments, as permitted by state regulation
* Apply simple clean dressings, slings, stockings and support bandages, under direction of the licensed nurse, by state regulation
* Provide direct care to the more acutely ill residents
* Obtain clean linens and supplies, clean utility rooms, kitchen areas and all other nursing areas, as assigned. Clean resident equipment - maintain clean resident conditions and report on resident status or family concerns to a licensed nurse
* Receive and escort visitors; collect charts, records and reports * Help to orient and mentor new nursing assistants
* Put resident service first: Ensure that residents and families receive the highest quality of service in a caring and compassionate atmosphere, which recognizes the individual's needs and rights
* Perform other duties as requested
Certified Nursing Assistant / CNA Requirements: - Minimum of a high school education or high school equivalency diploma preferred - Ability to read, write and understand the English language is mandatory - A minimum of 12 hours continuing education programs provided by the center to maintain certification - Successful completion of a state-approved CNA program As one of the nation-s largest long-term care and rehabilitation providers, we offer a generous and wide-ranging compensation package including: - Medical/dental/vision insurances - Company-paid life insurance- Voluntary insurance programs - 401(k) - Continuing Education Programs - Leadership Training Program - Pre-tax Flexible Spending Accounts - Extensive paid leave for holidays - Service awards - Generous Elder Care benefit for family members
Genesis HealthCare is an EO Employer- Veterans/Disabled and other protected categories


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A little old lady walks into the Bank of Canada with a bag of money. She insists that she must speak with the president of the bank.
She tells the bank president that she has accumulated several hundred thousand dollars over the years and would like to open a trust in the bank.
The president is curious, so he asks her, "Where did you get all this money?" The old lady replies, "I make bets."
The president then asks, "Bets? What kind of bets?"
The old woman says, "Well, for example, I'll bet you $25,000 that your balls are square."
"Ha!" laughs the president, "That's ridiculous -- you can never win that kind of bet!"
The old lady challenges, "So, would you like to take my bet?"
"Sure," says the president, "I'll bet $25,000 that my balls are not square!"
The little old lady says, "OK. I'll bring my lawyer with me tomorrow at 10 a.m. as a witness, and we'll see."
The next morning, the little old lady appears with her lawyer at the president's office. "OK," she says, "Time to drop your pants and settle this bet."
The president complies. The little old lady peers closely at his balls and asks if she could feel them. "Well, OK," says the bank president, "since there's so much money on the line."
Just then, the lawyer starts banging his head against the wall. The president asks the old lady, "What the hell's the matter with your lawyer?"
She replies, "I bet him $50,000 that at 10 a.m. today, I'd have the president of the Bank of Canada's balls in my hand."


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Letters | McConnell, beer at the zoo, Kentucky's health care rollout and the economy
McConnell's experience
At this stage in our federal government's leadership it is imperative that we elect knowledgeable, experienced people to represent our state. No one is perfect. Neither Sen. McConnell nor anyone else can please all of the people all of the time.
However, he has the knowledge, staff and experience needed to represent the interests of Kentucky. At this political juncture we do not need two junior senators representing us. There is too much at stake; just one example being the Obamacare debacle.
La Grange, Ky. 40031 –
Hollywood liberals
As a lifelong Republican, I believe I speak for many in the GOP who have had enough of Mitch McConnell. He's made a bundle during five terms and fresh new leadership is compelling and needed. But when I see the list of the narcissistic Hollywood liberals supporting Alison Grimes I want to gag! So for me at least my vote will go for stuffy old Mitch, enabling him to amass an even bigger personal fortune.
TOM McMULLEN
Louisville 40222 –
Beer at the zoo
My son and his wife take my granddaughter to the zoo. They enjoy the animals very much.
Why do they have to sell beer and liquor at the zoo where children are enjoying the animals? Money is all everybody thinks of now! I hope the zoo thinks of the children and not of selling beer and hard liquor!
Louisville 40291 –
No beer
Stay unique—no beer at the zoo. Kids will be the losers. Again, they have no vote. Another safe place gone.
Louisville 40041 –
Proud of Kentucky,
proud of Beshear
As a Kentucky native with homes both in Louisville and Rancho Mirage, California, I am very, very proud of Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear and his administration for the huge, successful rollout of the Affordable Care Act for Kentuckians.
Kentucky is a beautiful place but with a national reputation, perhaps, of being backward, uneducated and unhealthy.
Progress is everywhere in Kentucky with Gov. Beshear and Democratic Congressman John Yarmuth of Louisville leading the way, and the future looks bright.
One huge embarrassing blight for Kentucky and Kentuckians: lame, self-serving, ineffective, incompetent representation from Republican Senators Mitch McConnell and Rand Paul.
Louisville 40222 –
In recovery
I always chuckle a little when we say that our economy is in a "recovery."
It's akin to saying that someone who is dying of a terminal illness has gotten over a cold, and calling that a recovery.
After reading Wednesday's Courier-Journal article, "U.S. sees lopsided economic recovery," I feel my suspicion has been confirmed.
We have managed to create an economy that can somehow produce profits for U.S. companies without including the U.S. worker.
Troubling news indeed.
Louisville 40217 –


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Telza, the mother of Rabbi Moshe Rivkas.
(updated 30.03.2011)
My article "Ancestry of the Gaon of Vilna – Descent from King David" was published in "Avotaynu" Volume XXI, Number 3, Fall 2005.
Hebrew translation by Benyamin Pantelat
Further research provides a possible explanation for the confusion between Moshe Rivkas' father's identity as Naftali Tzvi Hersh Sofer of
Prague or Hersh Fass of Krakow.
I discussed the identity of Rabbi Moshe Rivkas' mother:
"Little is known about the Gaon's female ancestors. There are two versions as to the identity of Naftali Tzvi Hersh Sofer's wife. Shapira[1] refers to Naftali as Tzvi Hersh Fass and records his wife's name as Rivka, a daughter of Natan Mandel, son of Meir of
But Hersh Fass lived in Krakow, whereas the father of Moshe Rivkas, Naftali Tzvi Hersh lived in
where he held the position as Sofer (scribe) of the Kahal.i Hersh Fasi held a position as Parnes Umanhig (a community leader) in Prague Krakow. Kahana[2] lists the children of Hersh Fass but the name of Moshe Rivkas is not included. Naftali Tzvi Hersh Sofer died in in 1601, whereas Hersh Fass is recorded in the Pinkas Hakahal (a community register book) in 1632. Therefore it can be seen that Shapira has confused two individuals. A possible explanation for the confusion may be due to the fact that Fass ' son Leib was the father-in-law (by his first marriage) of Rabbi Gershon Ashkenazi of Nikolsberg and Prague (1615-1693, author of Avodat Hagershuni) who referred to Moshe Rivkas as his "Mekhutan" (meaning that their children were married) in Gershon's approbation to Rivkas' Be'er Hagolah" Vienna
Benymin Rivlin[3] identifies Moshe Rivkas' mother:
About Reb Naftali Hirsh Sofer of the Holy Community of Prague, son of Reb Petakhiah, related his son Reb Moshe Rivkas, in the above introduction [to his book Be'er Hagolah] that "he drew water and served before the rabbi the Gaon our teacher the Rabbi Reb Falk Katz of blessed memory in the Holy Community of Lvov, after his marriage, in the year 5356 and 5357 [1596 and 1597], and there edited the Shulkhan Arukh and wrote at the side some matters from the Shulkhan Arukh of the above rabbi the Gaon of blessed memory.
His wife was Mrs. Telza – of the root of the Gaon Reb Shaul Wahl, and apparently he was "His Honor Hirsh the son of the master the honorable Petakhiah Sofer, tender in years, Sofer son of Sofer, who passed away in Elul 5361 [1601] in Prague.
This reference to Telza, Moshe Rivkas' mother, appeared prior to Benyamin Rivlin's comment in 1971, in 1900 in Bentzion Eizenstadt's Dor Rabanav Vesofraf[4]
Rivlin refers to other relatives of Moshe Rivkas[5]:
c. According to Rabbi Moshe in Be'er Hagolah his relatives were the Rabbi Reb Yeshaya Horowitz, the author of Shnei Lukhot Habrit (43) and the Rabbi Mordekhai Krasnik of the holy community of Zeil (44.
d. The Rabbi the Gaon our teacher the Rabbi Reb Gershon Ashkenazi Av Beit Din of Nikolsberg and Vienna, who was among the approbants to the book of Reb Moshe, writes of him that he was his Mekhutan.
(43). Be'er Hagolah, Orakh Khaim 645, 7, 30 and see there Khoshen Mishpat 67, 68.
(44). Ibid, Orakh Khaim 586. 1. 5.
Questioned my relative the Rabbi Reb Mordekhai Krasnik P of the Holy Community K [an abbreviation which may mean Parnes of the Holy Community of Krakow][6]
Moshe Rivkas' father was clearly identified by Moshe Rivkas in his introduction to "Be'er Hagolah" as Naftali Hersh Sofer of
Prague who died in in 1601. Prague
Moshe Rivkas was then a young boy of five. His mother was a young widow aged about twenty one. It is reasonable to assume that she remarried.
Hersh Fass' first wife Rivka, daughter of Natan Mandel died in 1606. She was the mother of Leib Fass whose daughter married Gershon Ashkenazy (also know as Ulif and Fass, 1615-1693) who is referred to by Moshe Rivkas as "Mekhutani"[7]. In modern times this term indicates the relationship between the parents of a married couple. In the rabbinic literature it indicates any relationship by marriage.
Hersh Fass' second wife was "Teltzel"[8] who managed the considerable fortune left by her husband.
Details of Mordekhai Krasnik, referred to by Moshe Rivkas as "She'ar Besari" meaning a blood relative state that Rivkas lived in Krakow "among his relatives" before he settled in Vilna.
Since Fass' first wife died in1606, and since Moshe Rivkas' father's wife, also claimed to be Telza, was left a widow in 1601, it is possible that she moved to
Krakow where lived a relative Mordekhai Krasnik, and there became the second wife of Hersh Fass.
Thus the apparent contraditions in the sources as to the identity of Moshe Rivkas' father as either Nafatli Tzvi Sofer of
Prague or Hersh Fass of Krakow, arose from the possibility that Fass was Rivkas' step-father from his mother Telza's second marriage.
This also explains the term "mekhutan" used by Rivlas to refer to Gershon Ashkenazy who was a son-in-law to Rivkas' step-brother Leib Fass.
Additional Notes:
1) Eliyahu Landa's notes on the family of the Vilna Gaon do not mention the above relationships.
2) "Sefer Yukhsin" by Ch.Y.D Weiss (2007) confuses the relationships.
3) Gershon Ashkenazy in his book "Avodat Hagershuni" refers also to Rabbi Shabtai Hakohen the "Shakh" as "mekhutni". This may be explained by the fact that Ashkenazy's father-in-law Leib Fass had a sister who married Moshe Leizers, a nephew of Moshe Isserles, the "Rema", whose great-great-grand-daughter was the wife of the Shakh.
[1] Shapira, Yaakov Leib. Mishpakhot Atikot Beyisrael. Tel Aviv 1981.
[2] Kahana, S.Z. Anaf Etz Avot.
Krakow 1903.
[3] Rivlin, Benyamin. Reb Moshe Rivkas.
1971 Jerusalem
[4] Eizenstadt, Bentzion. Dor rabanav Vesofrav. Vilna 1900.
[5] Fishman-Maimon, Yehuda Leib. Sefer Hagra.
, 1954. Jerusalem
[6] Dembitzer, Chaim Natan,
Krakow 1893
[7] "Yeshurum" 1999, page 685 article by Betzalel Landau, originally published in "Hamodia" in Av 1964, "Rabbi Moshe Rivkas – author of "Be'er Hagolah",
[8] Dembitzer, Chaim Natan,
Krakow 1893.