text:
Sunday, 25 November 2012 10:03
HARARE - The Anglican Church is witnessing threats of fresh violence as
bishops aligned to the dethroned Nolbert Kunonga battle parishioners seeking
their eviction.
Three of Kunonga's bishops on Friday threatened to unleash violence on
bishops enforcing an order issued by the Supreme Court on Monday giving the
disgraced Anglican bishop five days to pack up and leave.
This came a day after Kunonga's followers allegedly poisoned a mango orchard
to fix members of the Anglican Church of the Province of Central Africa
(CPCA) at St Paul's Church in Chinhoyi.
Kunonga's bishops could face charges of contempt of court by resisting
eviction if they plod ahead with their defiance.
Precious Shumba, spokesperson of bishop Chad Gandiya — who has been given
control of all Anglican Church properties in Harare by the Supreme Court —
told the Daily News on Sunday that there were pockets of resistance from
Kunonga's bishops who were staunchly resisting eviction.
There was now a high risk of an outbreak of violence.
"Our church members are still facing resistance at Tafara's St Philip Parish
where some rogue elements led by one Mukariri, who is loyal to Kunonga, has
threatened to mobilise some youths and militias to harass our members and
bishops," Shumba said.
"He is refusing to move out of church properties and wants to start
violence. He is joined by Raymond Makiwa of St James parish in Mabvuku.
"At Guruve's St Philips Parish, there is a Morris Brown Gwendenge and his
wife Portia making the same threats. These are pockets of resistance we are
facing as members of the Anglican Church. They are the last kicks of a dying
horse," he said, adding the bishops were acting on instructions from their
dethroned master.
"We understand that they are taking instructions from their godfather
Kunonga, whom we understand is hiding somewhere and directing the operation
of violence against us," Shumba said.
Kunonga was unreachable for comment yesterday.
But the Harare Anglican spokesperson, who is also a director of Harare
Residents Trust, said they were not going to rush to throw Kunonga's
followers out into the streets as the dethroned bishop did culminating in
the five-year court battle.
"We are going to follow the due process of the law and first finish the
auditing of our properties to verify what was damaged, vandalised or stolen
before moving into these premises with an eviction order," Shumba said.
"We want to do it the legal way and next week, there will be a lot of
action as we are still cleaning our church premises and contacting the
police and engaging our lawyers to end this rank madness by Kunonga. We have
a Supreme Court judgment which shows that we are the legal custodians of
these properties."
Gandiya's faction regained control of 80 Anglican Church buildings, nine
secondary schools and 10 primary schools, learning centres and orphanages,
after the Supreme Court ruling last week which delivered a deadly blow to
The court ruling has brought some semblance of peace and tranquillity to
other Anglican parishes in Avondale, Cranborne, Mabelreign, Mufakose,
Budiriro and Norton where the midweek church services were conducted as
Kunonga bishops moved out, making way for Anglican members to take control
of their properties.
Yesterday, a crew from the Daily News on Sunday visited the Avondale Parish
and witnessed that peace had returned to the parish with women preparing for
their routine Saturday meeting.
Reverend Innocent Motsi of Avondale parish said Kunonga's sympathisers
were going to move out next week on Wednesday.
"They are operating on the basis that they are supposed to vacate the
premises on the 28th but tomorrow we will be holding our church service in
the morning," said Motsi. - Chengetai Zvauya and Gugulethu Nyazema
Sunday, 25 November 2012 10:01
HARARE - It was a partnership church leaders say was manufactured right in
the devil's chambers.
For five years, renegade Anglican bishop Nolbert Kunonga and the police
formed a powerful force that reduced the Anglicans in Zimbabwe to a
desperate lot until the Supreme Court ruling last week.
So vicious were Kunonga and the police that the global head of the Anglican
church, Rowan Williams, the archbishop of Canterbury, flew into Harare last
year to beg President Robert Mugabe to use his influence on the police.
The Daily News on Sunday relives the unholy alliance which resulted in women
and children harassed, churches closed and orphanages, schools and churches
run over.
Correspondence shows that Kunonga and police bosses were in constant touch.
He also took advantage of his close links to Mugabe to coerce the police
into his corner.
Following the onset of hostilities between Kunonga and the Church of the
Province of Central Africa (CPCA), police were roped in to massive effect.
In a letter dated October 30, 2008 to police commissioner-general Augustine
Chihuri in which Kunonga was giving a brief report on his takeover scheme,
the renegade bishop expressed gratitude for the help he was getting from the
force and appealed for more support.
"We give you a brief report province by province of what is happening in the
Church and appeal for more assistance.
"We applaud the assistance we are getting from the police. We could have
been dragged into chaos but the police were available to silence the Gandiya
faction movement at stations like Highfield St Paul," Kunonga wrote to
He provided advice to Chihuri on areas that required police attention and
how to deal with some police details reluctant to evict CPCA members without
a court order authorising them to do so.
"What we have observed is that the Dispol (district police) Assistant
Commissioner sends the directives but the police details under him seem to
be undermining the authority. They demand things which are not available at
the moment.
"Things like court orders cannot be obtained. The police details should take
orders from their seniors, which I believe will help diffuse the Mashonaland
West scenario," wrote Kunonga.
In Harare, police who had embarked on a brutal clampdown that forced CPCA
members to abandon churches and worship under trees and in rented school
classrooms. Kunonga advised Chihuri to use this as a template.
"What the police are doing in Harare, we appeal that the same position be
taken by the Propols (provincial police commanders) in the provinces of
Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland East and Mashonaland West.
"It is good that the pattern remains uniform. If we allow these people to
keep using our churches, then there is a loophole somewhere," wrote Kunonga.
In his letter, Kunonga also explicitly revealed his political inclination.
"However, we cannot run away from our stance that we support the ruling
party (Zanu PF) and we shall keep praying for peace and sanity under the
leadership of (President Robert Mugabe)," he said.
Police spokesperson Andrew Phiri early this year described this
communication as part of routine police-public cooperation.
When Williams came to Zimbabwe in October last year, he also exposed how the
link between police and Kunonga had turned the dispute into a grave matter.
In the dossier, Williams detailed how Kunonga's campaign had led to brutal
repression, murder and denial of basic freedoms of worship.
"Zimbabwean bishops have received personal death threats by phone, in person
and at gun point," he stated in the dossier.
"On February 18, 2011 Jessica Mandeya of Harare Diocese was murdered.
Her body was not discovered for two days until Sunday morning when friends
came to join her to walk to church.
"We have information which very strongly suggests that she was murdered
because she belongs to the Diocese of Harare CPCA.
"She had received threats to that effect in preceding weeks and days as she
consistently refused to join Kunonga's church," Williams told Mugabe.
He also accused the police and an unnamed minister of Home Affairs of
failing to take action when Anglican congregants were denied access to
pilgrimage cites like Bernard Mizeki (2010) and Arthur Shearly Cripps Shrine
(2011) in Marondera and Masvingo respectively.
There were also numerous reported cases of arrests and detentions without
charge of priests in Chivhu and other parishes.
Mugabe received reports from Williams of disruption in schools across the
country and health institutions coming to virtual standstill.
In one instance, Kunonga's sidekick Elson Jakazi of Manicaland, forced
administrators at St Peter's Mandeya clinic to deny medicine to malaria
prone Honde Valley where women, children and poor villagers were in dire
need of help, Williams alleged.
Training of priests and HIV/Aids workshops for caregivers came to a
standstill as well as relief services previously provided by the Anglican
Church as Kunonga and his rogue vigilante group wreaked havoc. - Staff
25/11/2012 00:00:00
by Roman Moyo
THE Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) says it has registered more
than 62,000 tobacco growers up from the 25,000 in the last season.
TIMB Chief Executive Officer Andrew Matibiri said with grower numbers
increasing, the focus was on now on improving the quality of the crop.
At least 80 percent of the registered growers are small scale farmers.
"Now that the number of farmers has increased we wish that farmer
organisations really work with the growers and that includes us to ensure
that farmers do not concentrate on the quantity of the crop but the
quality," said Matibiri.
Matibiri said so far, more than 19,000 hectares of land has been put under
Prices for the crop in the last season closed 34,2 percent firmer, averaging
US$3,69 per kg compared to US$2,75 last year.
The Medium-Term Plan (MTP) had forecasted tobacco output at 180 million kg
this year, which could not be achieved due to limited funding among other
Still, overall sales volumes for the season reached 144million kgs.
Tobacco production has continued to record steady recovery over the years
but officials say the industry needs US$200 million in fresh capital to
return to peak production levels of 237 million kg recorded in 2000.
By Richard Chidza, Staff Writer
Sunday, 25 November 2012 10:03
HARARE - Human rights watchdog, the Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP), has
reacted angrily to a proposed plan by President Robert Mugabe's Zanu PF to
place stickers on supporters' homes ahead of next year's watershed
In a statement, ZPP said Zanu PF is taking notes from the Nazi era when
Germany was under feared dictator and war monger Adolf Hitler.
"The Zimbabwe Peace Project learnt with shock that Zanu PF intends to mark
its members' houses with stickers.
ZPP finds this move rather objectionable.
"From history one would understand that during the Second World War, Jewish
homes and businesses — and then the people themselves were daubed with the
''Star of David'' and hated by their communities," ZPP said.
Addressing a Zanu PF inter-district meeting held at Masvingo Teachers'
College last week, Masvingo provincial party chairperson, Lovemore Matuke
reportedly said it was mandatory for every Zanu PF supporter to have a
sticker on their doors for "easy identification".
"You are supposed to have stickers at every household so that we identify
you. Our real supporters should have them wedged at their places. If you do
not have that sticker at your place, you will be skipped," Matuke is
reported as having said.
With elections looming and Zanu PF's political life hanging precariously in
the air, Matuke's comments are likely to evoke memories not only of
Gukurahundi but the 2008 atrocities that reportedly claimed the lives of at
least 300 opposition supporters.
"ZPP sees this as a direct move to harass and intimidate the electorate on
the eve of a very crucial election.
The Zanu PF party has in the past used freebies such as food and
agricultural inputs to lure voters.
"We realise that people's rights are going to be violated as a result of
this proposed Zanu PF identification process," ZPP said.
"There is no doubt those stickers would be used to identify people who do
not support Zanu PF, who would then be victimised during and after the
elections. The whole move is designed to instil fear in the hearts and minds
of the electorate and it violates the people's freedoms of association and
the rights to freely choose a political party of their choice."
ZPP called on all the parties in the fragile coalition government to
"strongly consider the lives and welfare of the people before, during and
after the elections in 2013".
Zanu PF spokesperson Rugare Gumbo was unavailable for comment as his phone
was unreachable.
A group of Middle East and Asian billionaires has given strong indications
that they intend to invest in the country's diamond sector following
projections that Zimbabwe has up to 1,8 million hectares of unexploited
diamond reserves.
Diamond experts have already hinted that Zimbabwe gems will double world
diamond supply by 2015 since Marange precious stones continue to attract
some of the biggest players in world diamond trade.
The billionaires include Dubai Multi-Commodities Centre (DMCC) executive
chairman Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, who has close links with the super-rich
Al Maktoum royal family of the United Arab Emirates as well as members of
India's "diamantries", who are a clique of the richest diamond dealers in
the world.
In an interview last week, ZMDC chairman Mr Godwills Masimirembwa confirmed
negotiations with the potential investors had already opened.
"We are indeed holding negotiations with the investors from the Emirates
although negotiations are still at an early stage," he said.
Mr Masimirembwa said the possibility of huge unexploited diamond reserves in
Marange is high.
"We estimate that there are up to 1,8 million hectares of unexploited
diamond reserves.
"This is why we need investment to tap this resource," he said.
Speaking on the sidelines of the Zimbabwe Diamond Conference 2012 held in
Victoria Falls recently, Ahmed Sultan Bin Sulayem revealed that his
organisation was keen on investing in a new concession in Marange.
"The DMCC is a coalition of several members and quite a number have
indicated that they want to invest in Zimbabwe's diamond sector.
"Talks are still at an early stage, but these investors are some of the
richest people in the mining sector.
"We are also willing to assist Zimbabwe in their trade of diamonds.
"That is why we are holding regular talks with the Zimbabwe authorities," he
Bin Sulayem said the sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe had scared away investors
from the Emirates.
"It is only that the issue of sanctions imposed on the diamond companies has
created logistical problems for some of our partners within DMCC.
"You know, investors are very sensitive about issues such as sanctions.
"Therefore, some members within DMCC are adopting a wait-and-see approach.
"However, we are facilitating the free trade of diamonds from Marange to the
Emirates because
Zimbabwe has become one of the major players in the diamond industry."
The Sulayem family has been one of Dubai's most prominent business families
since the early 20th century.
Media reports indicate the majority of the members of DMCC comprises
renowned companies dealing in gold, diamonds and other precious minerals.
Chairman of the Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) Mr Vipul
Shah said council members were targeting partnerships in diamond cutting and
GJPEC has over 6 500 members - Sunday Mail.
"There are high hopes in Mumbai where big players in the cutting and
polishing industry want to invest in Zimbabwe and also bring expertise to
the mining sector.
"Some of our members have already started holding talks with our Zimbabwe
counterparts," said Mr Shah.
Sunday, 25 November 2012 09:50
HARARE - Desperate Zimbabwean migrants working on South African farms are
faced with the dilemma of standing for their rights or risk losing their
jobs, reports have suggested.
Many Zimbabweans living and working in South Africa either sold all their
belongings or abandoned their life in Zimbabwe in search of greener
pastures, especially during the period between 2005 and 2008 when economic
hardships took toll at home.
At the same time, life in the neighbouring South Africa has been difficult
for Zimbabwean refugees as they experienced xenophobia, deportation, and
This resulted in most opting to work as seasonal workers on farms, mines,
part time jobs while other rowdy characters engaged in criminal activists.
The recent farm strikes, soon after the infamous Marikana mine strike, have
exposed the low wages earned by farm "helpers" as farmers have called them.
Though the South African government is pleading with the workers to postpone
the strike to give them time to review minimum wages, the strikers have
refused to back down.
According to reports, most farm workers in De Doorns (a settlement in the
Western Cape) are seasonal, that is, they work 5 to 6 months at 1 600 South
African rands per month.
The social network is now abuzz with people raising concern at the abuse of
Zimbabwean workers.
"I am worried about farm owners causing great tensions by using Zimbabwean
workers when strike tensions are high please be careful," reads one tweet.
Another reads: "Some farmers (don't know how many) do help their workers as
work is seasonal and they will be destitute without extra income."
"I am shocked that farm owners claim they can manage with half the workers
they employ. Just employing workers to help them?" the discussion went on.
Social analysts have said some Zimbabweans are destitute in neighbouring
countries as they are embarrassed to return home as failures.
Most pretend to their family and friends that they are living the good life
yet they depend on these seasonal jobs and piece jobs. - Bridget Mananavire
Zimbabwean churches have condemned widespread endemic corruption in the
country and described it as evil.
by Ashly Sibanda
This comes in the wake of the release of a report by Afrobarometer that puts
Zimbabwe among four African countries worst affected by fraud and
The churches made the statement after being selected by the Zimbabwe
Anti-Corruption Commission to lead this year's United Nations International
Anti Corruption Day commemorations slated for 9 December.
"The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission, in recognising the church as the
most significant moral influence in our nation, has requested the Church to
lead the Nation in the proceedings of this day.
"All Zimbabweans have become too familiar with corruption in almost every
sphere of life. Corruption has become particularly endemic in service
delivery. The Bible depicts and condemns this level of corruption," heads of
churches said in a joint statement.
The statement was signed by Goodwill Shana (President of the Evangelical
Fellowship of Zimbabwe), Ishmael Mukuwanda (Zimbabwe Council of Churches)
and Alexio Muchabaiwa (Vice President of the Catholic Bishops Conference).
'Corruption has been on the increase and the Church has not been salty
enough to stop it. As a result life has lost the flavour it should have for
many people especially the poor and vulnerable.
"The light of the Church must now shine to expose and dispel the darkness
and evil of corruption. The Church can do this by raising its voice and
outcry against the source of corruption.
"Churches are invited to raise their concerns against corruption in their
congregations," the church leaders added.
Corruption in the country is so widespread that surveys have cited the
nation as one of the most corrupt in the world.
Analysts say corruption was fuelled by the 2008 economic crisis which was
characterized by scarcity of most basic commodities as well as the temporary
suspension of the rule of law at the height of the land grab.
Sunday, 25 November 2012 11:57
Julie Masiga
Last week, it was widely reported that good, old Sir Bob, he of the
Zimbabwean presidency, had provided $20 million – yes, million – some of
which could be his own money, for use by his government, to serve his
Reporting for The Independent in Harare, Brian Chitemba covered the
president's gift to the Zimbabwean people in an article he named, 'Vote
buying: Zanu-PF's age old survival strategy'.
"As the next elections loom, Mugabe last week unveiled a $20 million farming
package for the 2012-13 summer cropping season in which Zanu PF supporters
are expected to receive seed maize, bags of ammonium nitrate fertiliser and
seed cotton, while Matabeleland farmers will get dipping chemicals and
livestock supplements," Chitemba wrote.
"Mugabe's critics were quick to question the source of the money given that
Zanu PF and the government are supposedly bankrupt," he added.
Yawn, right? Another day, another blow to the African electoral process?
Maybe. But whatever the case, Sir Bob sure knows how to make fraud fun. $20
million is nothing to scoff at. But where did the money come from? Some say
that the octogenarian shopped around a presidential 'begging bowl' to
collect mchango from his wealthy friends, and also asked for money from
donors that are friendly to Zimbabwe, e.g. China. How true that is, I don't
Others are not so forgiving. Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai went on a
predictable rampage, questioning the president's motives and the shadowy
sources of his 20 million dollar bounty. According to the Zimbabwe Mail, the
Prime Minister was scathing in his scepticism.
"Mugabe put $20 million on inputs. First of all, where did he get that
money? Secondly, I have never heard of a President who becomes a donor in
his country," Tsvangirai said, reportedly.
As I say, if anyone can give corruption a happy face, it has to be the grand
old man of Zimbabwean politics. When it comes to winning elections on a
platform constructed purely from cash, Mugabe clearly brings his 'A' game.
Obviously, Tsvangirai and his Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T) are not
happy, probably because they can't get their hands on the loot. To that
effect, he was extremely vocal about his displeasure.
"Stop playing with people's minds, this is diamond money. We are having
problems in Cabinet where the minister for mines says we sold diamonds worth
billions of dollars, but where is the money going? This country is so
wealthy, if only we had transparency," Tsvangirai raged.
"It's now an election and I want to tell you that when the inputs come, take
them, because it's diamond money that is being used," Tsvangirai is reported
to have told party supporters during a memorial service for victims of
politically-motivated violence. MDC-T has been part of the ruling coalition
since 2009.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch, State owned media were praising the gallant
efforts of their president.
"Thousands of peri-urban farmers from Hatcliffe, Harare, received farming
inputs from the Presidential Well-Wishers' Inputs Scheme launched in the
area recently. The scheme is meant to benefit vulnerable people like
orphans, widows and child-headed families," read a report in The Herald. I
guess for Zanu-PF and its tried and tested campaign methods, it is business
as usual.
Julie Masiga is Features Editor, The Citizen. firstname.lastname@example.com
For the second time this week we braved winter rain to gather outside the Zimbabwe Embassy. On Wednesday a valiant group (Arnold Magwanyata, Bridget Mupotsa, Cephas Maswoswa, Constance Matobela, Dennis Benton, Lindiwe Bare, Loveness Chikwanje, Michelle Dube, Molly Ngavaimbe, Nobuhle Mazula, Penina Mashiri, Rosemary Maponga, Sihle Sibanda) had gone to the Embassy to deliver a petition demanding transparency in Zimbabwe's diamond sales. It was part of 'Operation Take Back Zimbabwe' organized by the 21st Movement which has been holding monthly demonstrations by the diaspora since January.
Although Wednesday was a working day, the Embassy's front doors were firmly closed. As the Embassy has no post box we slipped our petition under the door. Our comrades in Washington DC had a similar experience. Den Moyo, Co-ordinator of the 21st Movement, wrote 'In the US we also had a successful demo at the Zimbabwe Embassy. Despite Ambassador Mapuranga's official Mercedes Benz being parked in front of the building, there was no response to our knocks on the door. We had to slide the petition under the door. We find it appalling that these diplomats are reneging on their duty to serve the Zimbabwean communities abroad.'
It is clear that Zimbabwe's embassies fear the diaspora. They are typical of diplomatic outposts of a rogue state led by an African 'Big Man' as the former UN Secretary-General Koffi Annan of Ghana described Mugabe this week. He said it was time Africa looked beyond the continent's colonial past. 'The support for the Big Man system – Robert Mugabe is an example – created a political culture that simply encourages autocrats and dictatorships' (see: Mugabe a dictator – Annan – http://www.zimbabwesituation.com/old/nov22_2012.html#Z17).
A 'Big Man' such as Mugabe needs big money to keep in power and this is why the Vigil and the rest of the Zimbabwean diaspora is demanding transparency in Zimbabwe's diamond revenues. The MDC-T MP Eddie Cross told a conference in Harare that if the diamond fields in Zimbabwe had been exploited on the lines proposed by the original company, as a joint venture with the government like in Botswana, Zimbabwe's economy would have been transformed. As much as five and a half billion dollars could have gone to the state in the past four years. 'In Botswana . . . the state receives two-thirds of gross sales. Education is free and the people do not pay personal taxes. Botswana has an income per capita today of nearly $9,000 and is rated a middle-income country. Zimbabwe has an income per capita of just $390 in 2012 and is rated one of the poorest countries in the world.'
Mr Cross cited the following points as indicating the colossal scale of diamond looting:
· A deficit on imports of nearly 50 per cent or in excess of $4 billion this year;
· Imports of $1,4 billion in motor vehicles in 2012;
· The construction of large, luxury homes in many parts of the country;
· Visible evidence of a high standard of living for a significant number of people whose positions do not justify such life styles;
· Significant expenditure by individuals and firms linked to Marange including luxury apartments and houses, even high rise buildings in South Africa;
· Substantial investments by certain individuals connected to the Marange operations in many areas of Zimbabwe, including the purchase of buildings and companies;
· The expenditure of perhaps $300 million via the President's Fund on free crop inputs, scholarships and bursaries;
· The purchase of two new long range Airbus Aircraft;
· Expenditures on military equipment and facilities that are not provided for in the State budget.
Mr Cross said that those who have benefitted so visibly from the illicit sales of Marange diamonds over the past 5 years should be required to pay compensation. (see: http://www.zimbabwesituation.com/old/nov24_2012.html#Z24 – Eddie Cross paper to Diamond Conference).
The Vigil is confident that Mines Minister Obert M'puffed-up will eventually have to explain how he acquired his enormous wealth. We were glad to see the detailed exposure of his financial dealings by Nehanda Radio (see: From Rags to Riches, the Obert Mpofu Story – http://nehandaradio.com/2012/11/16/from-rags-to-riches-the-obert-mpofu-story/). It sounds as if he will be joined in the dock by his MDC-T Mines deputy minister Gift Chimanikire (see: http://www.zimbabwesituation.com/old/nov23_2012.html#Z14 - MDC man backs Mpofu). Mr Chimanikire's boot-licking is not doing MDC-T a service, feeding the impression that it is part of the gravy train. We noted a report on Morgan Tsvangirai's rally in Buhera which said 'The vast difference between the villagers, desperately eking out a hand-to-mouth existence, and the lavish lifestyles of top MDC-T officials and ministers who rolled into Tsvangirai's home area of Humanikwa village – about 200km away from their posh houses in Harare – in top-of-the-range vehicles and swanky attire, was all too visible.' (See: Tsvangirai rally betrays widening affluence gap – http://www.zimbabwesituation.com/old/nov24a_2012.html#Z6).
Other points
· Mr M'puffed-up's largesse with diamonds knows no bounds. He has proposed buying off civil society organisations with a share of diamond revenue so they will stop criticizing him. 'One who pays the piper calls the tune,' he said (see: http://www.zimbabwesituation.com/old/nov23_2012.html#Z2 – Civil Society angered by Mpofu diamond 'bribe').
· Thanks to Arnold Magwanyata of Zimbabwe We Can for making placards for the Wednesday demo.
· As we sheltered from the rain under our green tarpaulin today, we were approached by a passer-by in a yellow floral caftan pulling a bright pink shopping trolley adorned with yellow flowers. She said she was a Catholic missionary who had travelled widely in Africa. She said how wonderful the people are and how totally corrupt the politicians.
· A CD of Vigil songs is to be launched next week. It features Co-ordinator Dumi Tutani and Zimbabwean musician Farai Marema.
For latest Vigil pictures check: http://www.flickr.com/photos/zimbabwevigil/. Please note: Vigil photos can only be downloaded from our Flickr website – they cannot be downloaded from the slideshow on the front page of the Zimvigil website.
FOR THE RECORD: 42 signed the register.
· Next Swaziland Vigil. Saturday 1st December from 10 am – 1 pm. Venue: Swazi High Commission, 20 Buckingham Gate, London SW1E 6LB. Please support our Swazi friends. Nearest stations: St James's Park and Victoria. www.swazilandvigil.co.uk.
· ROHR Conference and Election of Substantive ROHR UK Executive. Saturday 8th December. Further details as they become available.
· Film 'Robert Mugabe: Villain or Hero'. Saturday 15th December at 2 pm. Venue: British Film Institute, BFI Southbank, Belvedere Road, South Bank, London SE1 8XT. There will be a panel / audience discussion. For full details: http://tinyurl.com/mugabe-villain-or-hero.
· Zimbabwe Vigil Highlights 2011 can be viewed on this link: http://www.zimvigil.co.uk/the-vigil-diary/363-vigil-highlights-2011. Links to previous years' highlights are listed on 2011 Highlights page.
· The Restoration of Human Rights in Zimbabwe (ROHR) is the Vigil's partner organisation based in Zimbabwe. ROHR grew out of the need for the Vigil to have an organisation on the ground in Zimbabwe which reflected the Vigil's mission statement in a practical way. ROHR in the UK actively fundraises through membership subscriptions, events, sales etc to support the activities of ROHR in Zimbabwe. Please note that the official website of ROHR Zimbabwe is http://www.rohrzimbabwe.org/. Any other website claiming to be the official website of ROHR in no way represents the views and opinions of ROHR.
· ZBN News. The Vigil management team wishes to make it clear that the Zimbabwe Vigil is not responsible for Zimbabwe Broadcasting Network News (ZBN News). We are happy that they attend our activities and provide television coverage but we have no control over them. All enquiries about ZBN News should be addressed to ZBN News.
· The Zim Vigil band (Farai Marema and Dumi Tutani). To download the band's theme song Vigil Yedu visit: www.imusicafrica.com and to watch the video check: http://ourvigil.notlong.com. To watch other Zim Vigil band protest songs, check: http://Shungurudza.notlong.com and http://blooddiamonds.notlong.com.
· Vigil Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=8157345519&ref=ts.
· Vigil Myspace page: http://www.myspace.com/zimbabwevigil.
· To sponsor the Mike Campbell Foundation expedition 'Sailing across the Makgadikgadi Pans' which will raise money for the work of the Foundation, go to www.justgiving.com/Mike-Campbell-Foundation.
· Useful websites: www.zanupfcrime.com which reports on Zanu PF abuses and www.ipaidabribe.org.zw where people can report corruption in Zimbabwe.
Vigil co-ordinators
The Vigil, outside the Zimbabwe Embassy, 429 Strand, London, takes place every Saturday from 14.00 to 18.00 to protest against gross violations of human rights in Zimbabwe. The Vigil which started in October 2002 will continue until internationally-monitored, free and fair elections are held in Zimbabwe. http://www.zimvigil.co.uk.
November 25th, 2012
Today, 25th November, is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. These Fast Facts come from this report. Read more about the UNiTE to End Violence against Women campaign here.
A stone's throw from my luxury tent at "The Hide" safari camp near Harare, Zimbabwe, over two dozen elephants squirt water into their mouths and splash in the lake.
The night is so clear and moonless that the Milky Way looks painted in the heavens with whitewash and the Southern Cross hangs from above as in a celestial cathedral. Then, a male lion roars, cutting the air with its guttural voice. Sleep can wait until I return home. At this moment, the circle of life is chasing its tail right off my deck.
Unlike in many African countries, the wild animals in Zimbabwe are not held in by fences. The herds of wildebeest and kudu, impala and warthog, elephants and lions run free. They can often be seen munching on the golf course or roaming the lodges' back yards.
I have come to Zimbabwe partly for the animals, like nearly everyone who comes to Africa, and I found them at nearby Hwange National Park and this unique safari camp where guests can observe game from concealed "hides" by the animals' watering holes.
I've also come to see magnificent Victoria Falls, but while the cataract is a breathtaking sight to behold and shouldn't be missed, what I really want to learn about is the Zimbabwean people, for many consider them to be the friendliest on the continent. So to understand who they are today, I have to learn where they came from and so I pay a visit to Great Zimbabwe Monument, a World Heritage Site in Masvingo Province.
The Monument Complex
To access the ancient trail up to the rock fortress at the Great Zimbabwe ruins, one has to pass through the extremely narrow "Blood Passage." Long ago, to keep the riff raff out of the emperor's headquarters on the hilltop, a trick question was asked. If you weren't privy to the correct answer, a boulder was dropped on you from above, smashing your brains and bones to smithereens. Fortunately for us, our Zimbabwe historical guide, laughs; he's letting that part slide before we begin to ascend the stone steps.
There are three complexes to the Great Zimbabwe National Monument, the Hill Ruins, the Valley Ruins and the Great Enclosure, which the Shona people built back in 12-1500 AD. Over 150 sites of dry stone wall construction were made without mortar, encompassing huge granite boulders into the construction design. They built fires along the rock's crevasses and made the stone fracture into smaller pieces for use as stones in the construction. "Zimbabwe" means "house of stone" and it is the only country to glean its name from a cultural site.
The medieval palace perched on the acropolis was the "royal city"' The king of the Shona people lived here, who ruled all of south Africa at the time.
From these lofty heights, we can see into the Valley Ruins, where more than 25,000 people lived. This city was a great trading center, that once sent emissaries all the way to China. The Great Enclosure in the valley below is 200 meters in circumference and 7 meters in diameter. The king's wives lived within these walls, an entourage of more than 200, and ran a type of pre-marital school for young women. Here important lessons were shared on how to keep the King and Shona men, in general, happy. By 1450, the civilization had declined; the land could not support all the people and the colossal settlement was seemingly abandoned.
While we gaze out over the ancient settlement, we learn from our guide that the symbol of Zimbabwe is the fish eagle (hungwe) or osprey. This raptor knits the world of the sky together with the earth, as he dives into the rivers for his nourishment and rises back into the heavens.
The Zimbabwean People
As we descend the trail, I chat with my guide on what local foods would have been harvested back then, and also what he enjoys eating today.
"Mopane worms, I love them," he exclaims. The insect is really a caterpillar picked from the trees, their guts hand-squeezed out and then dried in the sun. "Throughout the year, we soak them, then stir fry them in oil. They are so very delicious. I eat them for supper 3 times a week but wish I could eat them every single day."
When I make a face, he's reminded that we Americans do not share their joy of insect eating, but he eggs me on by sharing his recipe for "Baked Baboon Head."
"You take the head, tie the jaw shut -- stuff tomatoes and chilies in its cavity, boil it and when the tomatoes ooze out the eyes, it's ready to eat!"
Once we walk through the Great Enclosure, we arrive at the Shona village where the local women dance with their gourds tied around their ankles. Loose seeds shake inside as they shuffle in the sandy dirt to the rhythm of the drummer. They come to my friends and take our hands, inviting us to join the circle and dance.
Tonight we are capping off our day of history by spending the night at the Great Zimbabwe Hotel (African Sun Hotels) located only minutes from the park. It was built as a replica of the national site, and as I walk its stone halls and community rooms, reminiscent of the stacked masonry at the Monument, it is a perfect fit for today's experience.
When I first told my friends and family I was coming to Zimbabwe, they asked if it was safe. But today the country is working hard to promote tourism. Disregarding politics, the people are focusing on sharing their land, their animals, their music and dance, their hearts with you. My guide and I laugh and share our lives over a dinner whose buffet does not contain mopane worms, I'm happy to say.


text:
This brilliant talk was both deeply challenging AND profoundly inspiring. After watching it this afternoon, I immediately started it again…trying to soak in the fire hose of insight. Two of her key thoughts:
ONE: "If you want to destroy something in this life, all you need to do is to surround it with thick walls. It will dry up inside… If we have no connection whatsoever with the worlds beyond the one we take for granted, then…our imagination might shrink. Our hearts might dwindle. And our humanness might wither if we stay for too long inside our cultural cocoons."
TWO: "Chekhov said, The solution to a problem and the correct way of posing the question are two completely separate things. And only the latter is an artist's responsibility. Identity politics divides us. Fiction (or any true art) connects. One is interested in sweeping generalizations. The other, in nuances. One draws boundaries. The other recognizes no frontiers. Identity politics is made of solid bricks. True art is flowing water." (Elif Shafak)

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Ashford 32" Table Loom 8-shaft
Weave beautiful patterns on this compact loom. Levers are on the castle top for comfortable weaving and are connected to the shafts by Texsolv cord. Castle & beater fold flat for storage & transport. Includes 10 dent stainless reed, 2 shuttles. The loom has a lacquer finish & rubber feet.
Please note that this item cannot be returned except in case of manufacturer defect.
This item may ship directly from the manufacturer separately from other items in your order. Spinning wheels and multi-shaft looms ship free! Valid on new orders for multi-shaft looms or spinning wheels with standard ground shipping in continental USA only. May not be combined with other offers. Most looms ship in 2 - 6 weeks, wheels in 1-2 weeks. More Info.


text:
The Entourage Rustic Mini-Jumbo QIT offers a full sound with a warm mid-range tone and of course the award winning craftsmanship and value Seagull is known for. Features include the beautiful Rustic Burst Custom Polished finish, Seagull Slim neck with slimmer nut width, cream double binding and select pressure tested solid cedar top. This model includes Godin Quantum IT electronics with built-in tuner.
|(: label :)
|(: measure | convert:unit :) inches mm
Convert inches mm to : inches mm


text:
Welcome to the new Crafty Games forums! - same great content, new forum smell. New Members: You must post 5 replies to existing threads before you can create new threads.
Looks technically sound (which isn't surprising, really), but I'm unfamiliar with the source material so I'm not sure which fighting style you're trying to replicate. Which is why I didn't comment originally.
Pommel Bash looks mechanically fine, but I can't get my head around what it's supposed to represent (and it seems a little odd to me - Pommel Bash seems like it should be an attack trick that stuns people temporarily, based on what I've seen in other games).
Pommel Bash is way too sterile a name for that .
For pommel bash, any thoughts on replacing the 1,2 or 3 miss with, say, Dex or Wis modifier?
Dirty Boxing would be a great name for an Unarmed version.


text:
AirBeam 1.1 released for iOS – Realtime HD Video Surveillance
Appologics today announced the release of AirBeam 1.1, a major update to their iOS video monitoring solution. AirBeam is a universal app for iPhone, iPod and iPad that streams high resolution video in realtime with up to 30 frames per second between multiple iDevices on a WiFi network. With AirBeam each device can be used either as a surveillance camera or as a remote monitor. AirBeam can run simultaneously on any number of devices, enabling flexible multi-camera and multi-monitor configurations.
AirBeam 1.1 introduces several new features:
* Adaptive video encoding now continuously measures the quality of the network connection and dynamically adapts the bitrate of the video stream.
* Adjustable video buffering further smoothens video playback and allows adjustable latency for Semenax e.g. audio lipsync
* Password protection allows to protect camera devices with a password to prevent unauthorized access in open WiFi environments
* Screen off on camera devices reduces battery consumption and allows longer run times
* Mac readiness makes AirBeam ready for monitoring on Mac OS computers. The Mac OS app is currently in beta state and will be released on the Mac AppStore soon
Device Requirements:
* Camera mode requires built-in camera (iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPod 4G, iPad2)
* iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad
* Requires iOS 4.2 or later
* Universal App
Pricing and Availability:
AirBeam 1.1 is $3.99 USD (or equivalent amount in other currencies) and available worldwide exclusively through the App Store in the Photography category.
The first dedicated iPad2 camera app – Camera Boost
Interealtime today announced the release of Camera Boost - the first dedicated iPad2 camera app. This is not a photo editor or a camera that 'develops' effects later. Apple's new A5 processor means that the image enhancements, filters and effects can now be viewed in realtime in the live camera view while shooting, taking some of the guesswork out of creative photography.
It's very easy to use. The live camera view is always on screen. As you select various enhancements and effects, you see the result immediately in the live view. Add as many as you want, tweaking and combining them to get the look you want.
The app features are as follows:
* Many live enhancements and effects, most are adjustable
* All effects previewed live on screen while you are shooting (full size and quality, full motion)
* Add as many effects as you like
* Incredible speed, even with many effects applied at once
* Zero processing time when you take a photo
* Full resolution photo size. Edges are not cut to fit the photo g postmessage propecia guest reply on screen like the iPad's built-in app
* Front and rear cameras supported
* Powerful 4x digital zoom
* Built-in photo album with image viewer
* Share photos to Facebook, Flickr, Email and the iPad photo library
* Uses the full power of the iPad2's new A5 processor
Image enhancements:
* Exposure - enhances shadows and dark areas in night-time shots
* Brightness
* Contrast
* Sharpen - enhances detail
* Soften - reduces sharp edges / image noise
Color effects:
* Saturation - make colors stronger or muted, even black and white
* Hue shift - shifts colors - warmer or cooler
* Select Color - black and white plus the selected color - see screenshots
* Colorize - colors entire photo with a single shade
Photo effects:
* Negative
* Color Negative
* Thermal - thermal imaging style false color effect
* Posterize - uses limited range of colors for a poster-like effect
Device Requirements:
* Compatible with iPad 2 Wi-Fi and iPad 2 Wi-Fi + 3G
* Requires iOS 4.3 or later
Pricing and Availability:
Camera Boost 1.0 is $2.99 USD (or equivalent amount in other currencies) and available worldwide exclusively through the App Store in the Photography category.
Review of the iPhone 3G mobile phone telescope
The Good
Allows to take pictures from a distance
The Bad
External solution (Apple should at least add a software zoom to the next iPhone)
Non professional quality pictures
Full Review
Many iPhone 3G owners are complaining about its camera. They complain that it doesn't have a zoom, and that it doesn't allow them to record video. We tested the Brando "telescope" for iPhone 3G that aims to solve the first problem.
The telescope is composed of a plastic case for the iPhone 3G and a lens that acts as a zoom. The lens is attached to the case (it is removable) and allows you to zoom.
As you can see in the pictures below, it seems to work pretty well. However, don't expect to take professional pictures with this zoom. It is more of a gadget than anything else. You might notice that the picture appears to be a bit convex if the lens is not screwed into the case properly.
Bottom line : Any geek looking for a gadget that will allow him or her to have a zoom on the iPhone 3G will probably be happy with the Brando telescope. However, do not expect professional-quality photographs from either the iPhone 3G camera or the $19 telescopic lens. For more information, check Brando's web site.
Rating (out of 10)
Ease of Use
Easy to use : put you iPhone in the plastic case and attach the lens.
quality of image
Not so professional (it's also the iPhone's fault...)


text:
Forgot your password? Enter the email address you signed up with and we will send you a link to create a new password.
Your password reset has been submitted to the address provided.
Not specified
Insurance services, namely, underwriting of casualty insurance, property insurance, general liability insurance, workers' compensation, commercial auto insurance, commercial umbrella coverage for mercantile and service, restaurant, construction, and real estate industries, and providing ancillary services thereto, namely, insurance administration and insurance claims adjustment; commercial insurance services, namely, liability, business interruption, and business property insurance and providing ancillary services thereto, namely, insurance administration and insurance claims adjustment; wholesale and retail insurance brokerages in the field of property and casualty insurance; insurance claims management services; insurance services, namely, reinsurance underwriting and brokerage services, insurance administration, insurance consultation, insurance risk management services, claims processing, management and adjustment services in the field of reinsurance; insurance claims services, namely, providing multi-line loss adjustment services
Business in New York, NY


text:
User Tag List
Results 1 to 1 of 1
April 24th, 2016 #1
All New Users and Potential New Users Please Read
Dear New Users,
Welcome to our AVIATION Forum.
Where we talk about AVIATION.
Note that this is not the "SEO Enhancement" Forum.
If you're really here just to post invisible links to another site, we know how to detect that.
All you have to do is do it a couple times, we'll catch you, and you'll be banned forever.
(and all your links will be deleted).
So please, take your links elsewhere. It will be a waste of your time and ours to post them here.
If you're really interested in aviation, then LET'S TALK FLYING!I intend to fly until my beard gets caught in the propeller. And since I don't plan on growing a beard, that may be a while. Ernest K. Gann, age 69
Daily Diatribe - (Carl's Blog)


text:
Earlier this week, I posted videos of Jeff Tweedy performing with Yo La Tengo on the third night of their Hanukkah residency in Hoboken, New Jersey. Four nights later, Tweedy's Wilco bandmate Nels Cline also joined YLT, in addition to openers Bonnie "Prince" Billy and the Cairo Gang (aka the Babblers), who took the stage for the night's final number: a cover of Lou Reed's "Heavenly Arms." On the fifth night, Mission of Burma opened with Bob Weston jamming along for all sets, including a cover of Jonathan Richman's "Astral Plane" alongside Roger Miller and WFMU charity auction winner Jason Koffman on vocals. For full details on the 8-night run go here. Videos of the two aforementioned songs are below (we'll add new notable clips as they surface):
YLT w/ Bonnie "Prince" Billy, Angel Olsen, and the Cairo Gang – "Heavenly Arms" (Lou Reed Cover)
YLT w/ Bob Weston, Roger Miller, and Jason Koffman – "Astral Plane" (Jonathan Richman Cover)


text:
The biggest jobs bills to pass this session of Congress – one with the potential of creating or saving two million jobs with no cost to taxpayers – passed the Senate this week with strong bipartisan support.
This bipartisan legislation, the Currency Exchange Rate Oversight Reform Act of 2011, which I introduced and cleared the Senate by a 63-35 vote, addresses one of the biggest challenges facing Ohio manufacturers – unfair competition with Chinese products that are flooding our markets and priced artificially low due to the Chinese government's undervaluation of its currency.
The problem is clear: some of our global competitors – like China – are not playing by the rules.
China's blatant currency manipulation – the act of undervaluing its currency, the yuan, to sell products at drastically low prices – drives American companies to go out-of-business -and continues to harm our economy.
In June, a report by the Economic Policy Institute showed that addressing foreign currency manipulation could support the creation of up to 2.25 million American jobs.
The bipartisan Currency Exchange Rate Oversight Reform Act of 2011 is a common sense solution that would ensure that tools, such as U.S. trade laws, may be used to counter the economic harm to U.S. manufacturers caused by currency manipulation. It would establish new objective criteria to identify misaligned or undervalued currencies.
This legislation would also trigger tough consequences for countries, like China, that fail to adopt appropriate policies to eliminate currency misalignment, in accordance with World Trade Organization (WTO) standards.
We know that Ohio workers and Ohio manufacturers can compete with anyone. But when a country purposefully manipulates its currency so that its exports are cheaper, that's not competing – that's cheating. The result? U.S. exports are more expensive and a deluge of cheap imports flood our markets, costing American manufacturing jobs.
A recent report shows that that the growing trade deficit with China has cost the United States more than 2.8 million jobs since 2001, including more than 1.9 million manufacturing jobs.
Ohio, alone, has lost more than 100,000 of those manufacturing jobs due to the U.S. – China trade deficit.
A manufacturing plant manager in northeast Ohio wrote to me about the affect of China's inflated currency on his business.
"When is the U.S. government going to stop this continued [bias] toward Chinese manufacturing instead of U.S. manufacturers?"
American doesn't need to cheat; our domestic manufacturers just need a chance to compete.
We've seen how Ohio jobs have been created when fair trade rules are enforced. For example, after the International Trade Commission (ITC) ruled in 2010 on behalf of Ohio seamless steel tube producers, Vallourec announced it would build a new facility in Youngstown – creating 700 jobs and more than 400 good-paying permanent jobs.
In September 2010, I submitted testimony to the ITC on behalf of coated paper manufacturers in Ohio – including SMART Papers in Hamilton – that have been hit hard by illegally subsidized imports. The ITC voted unanimously to apply duties on Chinese coated paper imports and some Ohio jobs were saved.
Currency manipulation is a form of subsidy and everyone knows it. That is why this new legislation is critically important to putting people back to work. It will call currency manipulation by its true name: illegal subsidy.
This bill would help level the playing field for our businesses and manufacturers – and that's one of the reasons why there is large bipartisan support for it.
The best way to move America's economy forward is to make sure that every American who wants to work has a job. And that's why the federal government has a responsibility to ensure that domestic manufacturers and small businesses can compete with the rest of the world.
This bill is not anti-China; but it is pro-America. To promote Ohio-made goods and protect Ohio jobs, we need a common-sense trade policy that rejects currency manipulation and puts Ohio workers first.
Workers and manufacturers have endured years of talking and no action. Now that the Senate has stood up for Ohio manufacturers and workers, it's time for the House to do the same.
Sherrod Brown is a United States Senator from Ohio.


text:
This website is best viewed in a browser that supports web standards.
Skip to content or, if you would rather, Skip to navigation.
2010-10-05TRENTON, MO | By: Wayman
The governor is highlighting renovation projects at the Trenton R-9 school district. Those projects used about 1.6 million dollars in interest free bonds from the state part of a $162,000,000 package for Missouri schools. The governor is expected to both tour the facilities and visit with teachers and students about the new additions.


text:
Best ever GCSE and A Level exam results for Gloucester Academy
Congratulations to Y11 and to Y13! We are proud of you all and delighted with all of your exam results this year. They represent the best results Gloucester Academy has ever achieved both at GCSE and at A level.


text:
AC Milan striker Ronaldo says he wants to play his way into a new contract.
"I'm going to try and impress this year to win the trust of the club," Ronaldo told Sky Sport Italia. "I want to earn things for myself and at the moment I haven't deserved an extension.
"If I manage to impress then I don't see there being problems in negotiations with the club at the end of the season, but I need to get stuck in as I don't want anything gifted to me."


text:
Oh no.
At the bottom of a thoughtful column on the hope Nerlens Noel has offered the previously down-and-out Sixers*–headlined, appropriately, "Nerlens Noel Offers Hope to Down Sixers"–Adam Caplan dropped this tasty nugget:
As he gets older, he knows he'll have to continually get stronger to bang with the East's big boys such as the Pacers' 7-foot-2, 280-pound center Roy Hibbert. Noel said he's already enlisted Hibbert, who has his own array of old-school post moves, to aid his low-post development.
*I'd quibble with this a little. People aren't excited about Nerlens Noel as much as Nerlens Noel is both a symbol and symptom of the thing they're really excited about: Sam Hinkie and the newer/smarter direction of the franchise. NBD, though.
While it's nice to know Noel is already ingratiating himself with the NBA's center fraternity (their parties blow, but when Shaq visits for homecoming it gets crazy), he probably could have picked a better low-post tutor.
Hibbert, while a difference-maker in general, is an atrocious offensive center–his .489 True Shooting Percentage ranked him 44th out of 54 qualifying centers last season–who's uniquely ineffective around the basket. In 2012, Hibbert shot 56.8 percent at the rim, a rate that dropped to 53.6 percent last season. The league average for a center is 66.9 percent.
So, by all means Nerlens, hang out with Roy. Pick his brain. Learn what you can. But when he starts talking offense, just excuse yourself. You've got enough problems there.


text:
North Oaks Baptist Church
Wednesday, February 21, 2018
We Preach from the Bible and Sing from the Hymnal
Purpose and Intent of North Oaks Baptist Church
North Oaks Baptist Church was brought into existence by the special provision of God for the express and peculiar purpose of presenting God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and glorifying Jesus Christ as God by:
I. Evangelizing The Lost
To provide everyone in this area with the opportunity of receiving Jesus Christ as Lord and effectively persuading him/her to do so. Matt. 28:19-20; John 1:12; Acts 1:8, 5:32, 20:31; Rom 10:1-13; II Cor 5:11; Prov. 11:30; Eze 3:17-19.
To disciple each person who receives Jesus Christ as Lord so that he/she may grow through the spiritual maturing process to become a soul winner and a discipler. II Tim 2:2; Phil 3:17, 4:9; Matt 28:19-20.
II. Equipping The Saints
To equip each believer in our body to perform the ministry that God has gifted and called him/her to do for His glory and to support each of these in the ministry as approved by the leadership of the church. Eph 4:12; Phil 4:13.
III. Edifying The Church
To build up this body by meeting each believer's needs by encouraging one another through:
A. Regularly joining together to worship our Lord and Savior through the proclamation of the Word, the praise of music, the prayers of the believers, the giving of tithes and offerings, and the observance of the ordinances. Heb 10:24-25; Mal 3:10.
B. Allowing God to express His love by using us, our resources, and circumstances to accomplish His purposes. Heb 10:24-25; I John 3:18; II Cor 4:6-11.
IV. Educating The Believers
Since the believer grows through the study of the Bible, God's inerrant Word, our people will be taught how to study, memorize, and meditate upon God's Holy Word so that each member will be enabled to discern and apply God's will to his/her own life. John 21:15-17; I Tim 2:15; I Tim 3:14; Joshua 1:8.
This statement of purpose will serve as a specific guide to the functions, organizations, and expenditures of North Oaks Baptist Church and the worthiness of each activity shall be measured by its relationship to this statement.


text:
Megan Fox Wallpapers - FREE
by z-team, Version: 1.7 , 483 KB
Package name: com.nzoric.meganfox , Last Update: 2012-03-27 21:03:53
30 ratings (4.000 average)
10,000-50,000 downloads
What's new in this version (1.7):
Brand new Megan Fox wallpapers!!!!
By downloading this app you will have access to beautiful Megan Fox pictures.
And the best is, you get it for free.
Download the app, select your favourite photo,set it as wallpaper and have Megan Fox always with you on your android!
thank you for rating and sharing!
In order to keep the app 100% free, you will receive the following –
Search shortcut icon on your home screen,
Search shortcut on your bookmarks and browser homepage.
This will help us bring you more cool apps like this in the future.
You can delete the search shortcuts easily (Drag & Drop to the garbage), this will not affect the application in any way.


text:
Patent application title: UPLINK TIME SYNCHRONIZATION IN A COMMUNICATION SYSTEM
Yehuda Y. Luz (Buffalo Grove, IL, US)
Gregory M. Agami (Arlington Heights, IL, US)
Vincent M. Sciascia (Huntley, IL, US)
IPC8 Class: AG06F1107FI
USPC Class:
Class name: Multiplex communications fault recovery
Publication date: 2011-10-13
Patent application number: 20110249550
Sign up to receive free email alerts when patent applications with chosen keywords are published SIGN UP
An apparatus and method for uplink time synchronization in a
communication system includes a first step 602 of receiving uplink data
from a user equipment. A next step 604 includes storing a time error of
the uplink data along with a time stamp. A next step 620 includes
integrating the time error to provide an accumulated time error. A next
step 606, 626 includes dumping the accumulated time error upon the time
stamps of the accumulated data meeting a timing condition. A next step
610 includes comparing the accumulated time error against a threshold. A
next step 616 includes scheduling a time advance with the user equipment
if the accumulated time error exceeds the threshold.
1. A method for uplink time synchronization in a communication system,
the method comprising the steps of: receiving uplink data from a user
equipment; storing a time error of the uplink data along with a time
stamp; integrating the time error in an accumulator to provide an
accumulated time error; dumping the accumulated time error upon the time
stamps of the accumulated data meeting a timing condition; comparing the
accumulated time error against a threshold; and scheduling a time advance
with the user equipment if the accumulated time error exceeds the
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the accumulated time error is: y M = n = 1 M { x ( n ) + W ( n ) F ( x ( n ) , x ( k - 1 ) ) } ##EQU00005## where x(n) is the time error of sample n, k is the last valid sample, M is the total number accumulated samples, W is a weighting function, and F is a filling function for missing data.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the integrating step includes removing invalid data using a weighting function.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein the weighting function is W ( n ) = { 0 ; if x ( n ) has a bad C R C 0 ; if x ( n ) is not scheduled n - k ; otherwise } ##EQU00006## where n is last sample and k is the last valid sample.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the integrating step includes filling in missing data.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein the filling function for missing data is F { x ( n ) , x ( k + 1 ) } = { [ x ( n ) + x ( k - 1 ) ] / 2 ; when 1 ≦ ( n - k ) ≦ T sp ( n - k - 1 ) x ( n ) ; when ( n - k ) > T sp x ( n ) ; otherwise } ##EQU00007## where n is last sample, k is the last valid sample, and Tsp is a maximum time window.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the comparing step includes normalizing the accumulated time error by the number of samples.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the threshold of the comparing step is chosen for different given UE configurations as: Th = { 1 / M ; M U - M I M O 2 / M ; S U - M I M O Rank 2 1 / M ; S U - M I M O Rank 1 1 / M ; S I M O } ##EQU00008## where M is the number of accumulated samples.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein in the dumping step the timing condition is the length of the time stamps of the accumulated data exceeding of a maximum time window.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein the accumulated time error is set to the number of uplink data samples times the time error of the last sample.
11. The method of claim 1, wherein in the dumping step the timing condition is the length of the time stamps of the accumulated data exceeding of a minimum time window.
12. An eNodeB operable for uplink synchronization of mobile stations in a communication system, the base station comprising: a transceiver operable to receive user equipment uplink data transmissions; and a processor coupled to the transceiver, the processor operable to store a time error of the uplink data along with a time stamp, integrate the time error in an accumulator to provide an accumulated time error, dump the accumulated time error upon the time stamps of the accumulated data meeting a timing condition, comparing the accumulated time error against a threshold, and scheduling a time advance to be sent by the transceiver to the user equipment if the accumulated time error exceeds the threshold.
[0001] This invention relates to wireless communication systems, in particular, to a mechanism for uplink time synchronization in a wireless communication system.
[0002] The Long Term Evolution (LTE) communication standard uses an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) protocol. In an OFDMA system, each user equipment (UE) is assigned a frequency sub-channel and a time slot in a physical channel for its communications with a base station, access point, or evolved NodeB (eNodeB). It is important in an OFDMA system to maintain both time and frequency synchronization. If frequency synchronization is lost then orthogonality between the various sub-carriers assigned to other UEs is also lost, which results in interference between UEs. If time error is present, system performance will be degraded due to received signal constellation rotation. Therefore, it is required in LTE that each UE maintains time and frequency synchronization with an eNodeB to which the UE is connected. In particular, all uplink signaling from UEs must be received at the eNodeB base station at the right time, within the boundaries of the cyclic prefix window (about five microseconds for LTE). This is particularly critical for multi-user multiple-input multiple-output (MU-MIMO) implementations of LTE.
[0003] To maintain uplink time synchronization, the eNodeB first needs to measure the delay of uplink signaling from each UE. Specifically, the eNodeB can measure a timing error or delay, from each UE, such as when the UE moves relative to its distance from the eNodeB, which will use up some of the UE's delay spread immunity designed into the cyclic prefix window. The actual timing measurement can be taken on an uplink reference signal channel, such as the Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH). Upon detecting an uplink timing error, the eNodeB can then send to each UE a correction message with a desired Time Advance.
[0004] A problem arises in that the PUSCH channel is unique per each UE, and is not always scheduled to carry data, and even when it does, the timing error measurement may be too noisy and unreliable. A regular low pass filter solution can remove noise. However, for high speed traffic such as video streaming, the PUSCH can be scheduled as often as every one millisecond sub-frame, but for low speed traffic such as PING, it may be active only once per one-thousand milliseconds. Therefore, PUSCH measurements can be unreliable, and using a regular low pass filter solution will fail to support both low and high speed data services. In addition, there can be residual synchronization errors in the physical channel after a Media Access Control (MAC) layer synchronization effort. This requires further timing compensation in the eNodeB. Moreover, although timing and frequency error estimate methods based on Cyclic Prefix (CP) correlation are well-known for OFDM signals, these techniques can not be applied to OFDMA systems, especially to an eNodeB receiver where multiple users have their own timing and frequency errors that cannot be separated from each other in PUSCH.
[0005] Accordingly, what is needed is a technique to correct the uplink timing error of multiple UEs. It would be of further benefit if this could be accomplished in a noisy environment. It would also be of further benefit if this could be accomplished using uplink timing measurements of unreliable PUSCH signals.
[0006] The invention is pointed out with particularity in the appended claims. However, other features of the invention will become more apparent and the invention will be best understood by referring to the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
[0007] FIG. 1 shows an overview block diagram of a wireless communication system supporting OFDMA, in accordance with the present invention;
[0008] FIG. 2 shows a graphical representation, for different communication devices, of uplink synchronization errors that can presently exist in a LTE communication system;
[0009] FIG. 3 shows a graphical representation of state machine operation for different user configurations, in accordance with the present invention;
[0010] FIG. 4 shows a graphical representation of simulated data traffic, in accordance with the present invention;
[0011] FIG. 5 illustrates simulation results demonstrating a time error improvement, in accordance with the present invention; and
[0012] FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating a method, in accordance with the present invention.
[0013] Skilled artisans will appreciate that common but well-understood elements that are useful or necessary in a commercially feasible embodiment are typically not depicted or described in order to facilitate a less obstructed view of these various embodiments of the present invention.
[0014] The present invention provides a framework to correct the uplink timing error of multiple UEs. The present invention also allows an eNodeB to reliable estimate the time advance adjustment even when the PUSCH channel is very noisy, and even if the user is switching between low and high speed data services. The present invention is applicable to Mixed MU-MIMO, single user (SU-MIMO) and single-input multiple-output (SIMO) implementations.
[0015] FIG. 1 is a block diagram depiction of an OFDMA wireless communication system, such as the Long Term Evolution (LTE), in accordance with the present invention. However, it should be recognized that the present invention is also applicable to other OFDMA systems such as the IEEE 802.16 WiMAX system. At present, standards bodies such as OMA (Open Mobile Alliance), 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project), 3GPP2 (3rd Generation Partnership Project 2) and IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) 802 are developing standards specifications for such wireless telecommunications systems. The communication system represents a system operable in a packet data access network that may be based on different wireless technologies. For example, the description that follows can apply to an access network that is IEEE 802.xx-based, employing wireless technologies such as IEEE's 802.11, 802.16, or 802.20, modified to implement embodiments of the present invention.
[0016] Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a block diagram of an eNodeB 100 adapted to support the inventive concepts of the preferred embodiments of the present invention. Those skilled in the art will recognize that FIG. 1 does not depict all of the network equipment necessary for system to operate but only those system components and logical entities particularly relevant to the description of embodiments herein. For example, an eNodeB, access point, or base station can comprise one or more devices such as wireless area network stations (which include access nodes (ANs), Media Access Controllers (MAC), AP controllers, and/or switches), base transceiver stations (BTSs), base site controllers (BSCs) (which include MAC service data units (SDUs)), packet control functions (PCFs), packet control units (PCUs), and/or radio network controllers (RNCs). However, none of these other devices are specifically shown in FIG. 1.
[0017] Instead, eNodeB 100 is depicted in FIG. 1 as comprising a processor 104 coupled to a transceiver 102. In general, components such as processors and transceivers are well-known. For example, eNodeB processing units are known to comprise basic components such as, but not limited to, microprocessors, microcontrollers, memory devices, application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), and/or logic circuitry. Such components are typically adapted to implement algorithms and/or protocols that have been expressed using high-level design languages or descriptions, expressed using computer instructions, expressed using messaging flow diagrams, and/or expressed using logic flow diagrams.
[0018] Thus, given an algorithm, a logic flow, a messaging/signaling flow, and/or a protocol specification, those skilled in the art are aware of the many design and development techniques available to implement an eNodeB processor that performs the given logic. Therefore, eNodeB 100 represents a known apparatus that has been adapted, in accordance with the description herein, to implement various embodiments of the present invention. Furthermore, those skilled in the art will recognize that aspects of the present invention may be implemented in and across various physical components and none are necessarily limited to single platform implementations. For example, the eNodeB aspect of the present invention may be implemented in any of the devices listed above or distributed across such components. Furthermore, the various components within the eNodeB 100 can be realised in discrete or integrated component form, with an ultimate structure therefore being merely based on general design considerations. It is within the contemplation of the invention that the operating requirements of the present invention can be implemented in software, firmware or hardware, with the function being implemented in a software processor (or a digital signal processor (DSP)) being merely a preferred option.
[0019] The eNodeB 100 uses a wireless interface for communication with multiple mobile stations or user equipment (UE 1 . . . UE n) 108, 112. Since, for the purpose of illustration, eNodeB 100 is LTE-based, wireless interfaces correspond to a forward link and a reverse link, respectively, each link comprising a group of channels and subchannels used in the implementation of various embodiments of the present invention.
[0020] User equipment (UE) or remote unit platforms are known to refer to a wide variety of consumer electronic platforms such as, but not limited to, mobile stations, subscriber equipment, mobile nodes, access terminals, terminal equipment, gaming devices, personal computers, and personal digital assistants, all referred to herein as UE. In particular, each UE 108, 110 comprises a processor coupled to a transceiver, antenna, a keypad, a speaker, a microphone, and a display, as are known in the art and therefore not shown.
[0021] UEs are known to comprise basic components such as, but not limited to, microprocessors, digital signal processors (DSPs), microcontrollers, memory devices, application-specific integrated circuits, and/or logic circuitry. Such UEs are typically adapted to implement algorithms and/or protocols that have been expressed using high-level design languages or descriptions, expressed using computer instructions, expressed using messaging/signaling flow diagrams, and/or expressed using logic flow diagrams. Thus, given an algorithm, a logic flow, a messaging/signaling flow, a call flow, and/or a protocol specification, those skilled in the art are aware of the many design and development techniques available to implement user equipment that performs the given logic.
[0022] Each UE 108, 110 provides respectively uplink signals 112 to the transceiver 102 of the eNodeB 100. Each of these uplink signals may present different time delay errors due to MS environmental changes, mobility, timing drift, etc. As these uplink signals 112 may all be transmitted on the same frequency PUSCH, they are not separable by the processor 104 of the eNodeB 100. In accordance with LTE, the uplink signals consist of a Cyclic Prefix (CP) followed by an N-sample block output from each UE processor.
[0023] FIG. 2 illustrates the aggregate uplink timing errors for uplink signals for various UEs, wherein each UE's signal arrives at the eNodeB with a different timing error. The time error for each UE can be estimated by its timing difference from a reference timeline at the eNodeB. During regular data communication, it is reasonable to assume that the uplink timing error is within the CP length. The role of the eNodeB is to monitor/update timing offset due to environmental changes of each MS. Based on the measured timing error, the eNodeB can instruct each UE to adjust its uplink transmit time accordingly. However, noise, data rate, and UE mobility introduce errors, as previously described above. Also as mentioned before, a filter such as an infinite impulse response low-pass filter is able to handle noise problems when presented with a substantially uniform rate of data. However, such filter is not able to handle discontinuous data such as PING data, where an expected signal from the UE is only noise most of the time, and the actual data comes very seldom and at long intervals. In this case, this filter does not generate enough signal energy at its output to determine timing errors.
[0024] In accordance with the present invention, the eNodeB processor implements a novel, Integrate & Dump state machine, using advanced time stamp techniques along with the following approach to accumulate time error:
y M = n = 1 M { x ( n ) + W ( n ) F ( x ( n ) , x ( k - 1 ) ) } ##EQU00001##
where yM is the output of the state machine that is dumped once the integration is performed over M programmable samples. The input sample data x(n) is the reference signal frequency error for user n within the PUSCH. Whenever the media access controller (MAC) scheduler is sending a new decode request to the PHYsical channel, the MAC will count it as the next x(n) sample. When the integration is done (n=M), the state machine will reset (dump) its results in preparation for the next integration cycle.
[0025] W(n) is a weighting function, which is optimized for code speed and memory space saving. Storing x(n) for M samples will take up a lot of memory space and a lot of time to scan all the values along the buffer. The W(n) function simply saves memory and time by only accumulating the valid data as:
W ( n ) = { 0 ; if x ( n ) has a bad C R C 0 ; if x ( n ) is not scheduled n - k ; otherwise } ##EQU00002##
It should be noted that a time stamp difference between x(n) and the previous x(n-1) is not constant since it may vary by the decision of the scheduler. When an x(n) is missing, due to lack of traffic or for a bad cyclic redundancy check (CRC) on the uplink, this will result a missing sample or hole in the integration. These holes (missing samples) can be estimated using an advanced filling function F {x(n),x(k-1)}, in accordance with the present invention. In particular, this function will interpolate the missing samples between k+1 and n-1, where k was the last valid sample the MAC registered, and the latest valid sample is filled by the function:
F { x ( n ) , x ( k + 1 ) } = { [ x ( n ) + x ( k - 1 ) ] / 2 ; when 1 ≦ ( n - k ) ≦ T sp ( n - k - 1 ) x ( n ) ; when ( n - k ) > T sp x ( n ) ; otherwise } ##EQU00003##
where Tsp is a programmable time stamp threshold which is determined empirically for best performance. In particular, when sampled data x(n) has a new good CRC, its time error measurement is stored along with a time stamp, Ts(n), in the eNodeB memory. When a new sample data is added, the age of the previous data is tested. If the old time stamp of the previous data is older than the current time stamp by Tsp the old data is discarded. In practice trials, Tsp was optimized to two seconds. In addition, if the old time stamp is larger than the current time stamp then this indicates a wraparound condition, and the old data is discarded (wraparound represents that the time gap was too long). If the old data was discarded, all of the previous data is also discarded. Otherwise, the accumulator adds the new value using the yM formula.
[0026] The accumulator adds M samples over a total time period of Tk, which must be slow enough to save overhead traffic over the air, but short enough to follow a user travelling at a 300 km/hour speed. Tk is determined empirically for best results. In trials, M=500 msec was used as the default. After Tk, and if needed, the eNodeB will send a time-advance correction message to that UE. Typically, each time-advance correction message will freeze the UE receiver operation to about 50 msec.
[0027] It is not desired to have a time-advance correction every 500 msec unless absolutely necessary. To prevent this, the accumulated signal yM is compared to an accumulation threshold, Th, which will eliminate unnecessary time-advance correction messages to only those cases where the accumulated signal was strong enough. The accumulation threshold is chosen for different UE configurations as:
Th = { 1 / M ; M U - M I M O 2 / M ; S U - M I M O Rank 2 1 / M ; S U - M I M O Rank 1 1 / M ; S I M O } ##EQU00004##
[0028] FIG. 3 illustrates the accumulated integration and dump function for four different user configurations; multi-user multiple-input multiple-output (MU-MIMO), single-user multiple-input multiple-output (SU-MIMO) of ranks 1 and 2, and single-input multiple-output (SIMO). For MU-MIMO, in one example (MU-MIMO User 1) the accumulated integration and dump always accumulated negative (or positive) values, and the dump is triggered when the accumulator crosses Threshold L2, and in another example (MU-MIMO User 2) the accumulated integration and dump can accumulated positive or negative values, and the dump is triggered when the accumulator crosses either of Threshold L2 or L3. For uplink SU-MIMO users of either Rank 1 or Rank 2 (SU-MIMO User 3), there will be twice as many measurements of either accumulated positive or negative values, and therefore a threshold twice as high is needed to trigger the dump when the accumulator crosses either of Threshold L1 or L4. For SIMO users (User 4) the accumulator will continue to integrate for a full total time period (Tk) before dumping, even after reaching Threshold L3.
[0029] Simulation data show that the present invention performs very well. In fact, it is superior in terms of estimating timing error than the prior art techniques. To evaluate performance of the proposed technique of the present invention, simulations have been conducted, using the data of FIG. 4, which at the top shows raw data of two widely spaced PING traffic events with only noise between, followed by full buffer traffic, with one instance of a bad (CRC) resulting in missing data. As shown at the bottom, the present invention provides filling of the noisy and missing areas, which are then filtered as described above. In the example shown, missing data is linearly interpolated as a single value between actual uplink data. However, it should be recognized that other more uniform filling functions could be used. The simulation was performed simulating different kinds of data traffic including full buffer traffic, video traffic, (internet) web traffic, and ping traffic, comparing the present invention against the prior art (CP correlation) technique.
[0030] FIG. 5 shows the simulation results for the data at the bottom of FIG. 4 using the various data traffic models. Based on the results, it can be seen that the proposed technique of the present invention works well in all conditions. In particular, the simulation results show that the prior art technique has an average timing error of more than 4.43 μs for web services when UE speed is more than 120 kph, and a timing error of more than 6.26 μs for ping traffic when UE speed is more than 30 kph. In contrast, the results for the present invention show that the timing error is below 1.36 μs in all cases, even at speeds of 200 kph. This demonstrates a better than three-time improvement in time error reduction over the prior art technique.
[0031] FIG. 6 shows a flowchart that illustrates a method for uplink time synchronization in a communication system, in accordance with the present invention. It is envisioned that this method is primarily performed in a network entity such as an eNodeB processor. A first step 600 includes an eNodeB transceiver receiving an uplink transmission from a UE. Preferably, this includes an eNodeB transceiver receiving a Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH) from each of a plurality of UEs, where a Media Access Controller (MAC) receives decoded uplink data from the physical channel 602.
[0032] A next step 604 includes the MAC performing a Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC) on the data to check for good data, wherein if the CRC fails, returning to step 600 to wait for more uplink data from that UE. Otherwise, a time error of the data is stored in the eNodeB memory, along with a time stamp, and sent on to be integrated over time. For example, time error can be estimated by comparing a timing of the uplink transmission against a baseline in the eNodeB.
[0033] A next step 606 includes checking that a time length between the first and last stored time stamps of the accumulated and integrated data does not exceed a maximum time window, Tsp. Upon reaching a maximum time window length or period, the method proceeds with the Dump function, as will be detailed below. Otherwise, the UL data, x(n), is added 620 to the integration accumulator.
[0034] A next step 622 includes checking if the last packet received in the previous subframe contains valid data (i.e. is not missing UL data or data had a bad CRC). If there is a problem with that last data then there will be a hole in the integration, in which case the method replaces 624 that last invalid data with interpolated data as previously described. Otherwise, the method checks 626 whether a time length between the first and last stored time stamps of the accumulated data exceeds a minimum time window or collection period, Tk. If not, more data is collected 600. If so, then the integration can be Dumped.
[0035] The Dump function occurs when the time stamps of the accumulated data either exceed a maximum time window Tsp 606 or exceed a minimum collection period Tk 626. In the former case, the method sets 608 the accumulator yM=M(x(n)), where M is the number of samples in the integration. In either case, the method then normalizes 610 the integrated time error by the number of samples, M. The normalized time error is then compared against a threshold Th. If this comparison results in an absolute time error less than the threshold, no time advance correction is needed and the accumulator and collection window can be reset 618. If the comparison results in a positive time error greater than a threshold Th, then the MAC SDU creates 612 a time advance of 1 and schedules 616 a time advance correction with the UE before resetting 618 the accumulator and collection window. If the comparison results in a negative time error less than a threshold -Th, then the MAC SDU creates 614 a time advance of -1 and schedules 616 a time advance correction with the UE before resetting 618 the accumulator and collection window. The UE corrects it uplink transmission timing in response to the scheduled time advance correction from the MAC SDU.
[0036] It should be noted that from the MAC Spec (3GPP TS 36.321, Sec. 5.2), there is defined a Timing Alignment Window in which the UE must receive a timing alignment command regardless of the circumstances of when UL data is sent. The present invention ignores this entirely and is valid if the timing alignment window is set to infinity. So in practice, the MAC starts a timer (shorter than the Timing Alignment Window to allow for the transmission of the TAC (Timing Alignment Command). If no timing alignment command is sent by the time the timer expires, the TAC is generated. This can be simply included into the present invention if the timer expiration is treated as a 0 error input which is sent directly to step 608, or it can be handled as a 0 error input.
[0037] It should also be noted that since the present invention has a relatively short well defined window on when the timing alignment command needs to be sent, it is not necessary to reset the accumulator as described above. Instead, the Timing Alignment Window can be defined to be the Tsp time. If a UL transmission is received between times >Tk and <Tsp and the normalized value is less than the threshold, where the current algorithm just resets the accumulator, an optional algorithm can just continue accumulating until the threshold Th is met or the Tsp is reached. If the Tsp is reached, the TAC can be sent regardless of the threshold (usually 0 since the threshold was not met previously).
[0038] Optionally, a confidence metric can be implemented where if enough data points are actually received (i.e. very few gaps), the actual normalized correction can be sent instead of the +1 or -1 limit that is described above. However, if there is low confidence (i.e. too many gaps), the +1 or -1 limit can be used as described above.
[0039] Advantageously, the present invention improves performance for both full buffer as well as sporadic data traffic services. In addition, the present invention supports high speed data and low speed data mixers when driving at high speeds (e.g. greater than 90 km/hour). The present invention provides a saving in time advance adjustments processing per user which translates into a savings in processing resources. The present invention provides better performance for uplink low data services (such as ping) when combined with high data rate services.
[0040] Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention is described with reference to base stations in a LTE wireless communication system, it will be appreciated that the inventive concepts hereinbefore described are equally applicable to any OFDMA wireless communication system where synchronization of communication units is an issue.
[0041] It will be understood that the terms and expressions used herein have the ordinary meaning as is accorded to such terms and expressions by persons skilled in the field of the invention as set forth above except where specific meanings have otherwise been set forth herein.
[0042] The sequences and methods shown and described herein can be carried out in a different order than those described. The particular sequences, functions, and operations depicted in the drawings are merely illustrative of one or more embodiments of the invention, and other implementations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. The drawings are intended to illustrate various implementations of the invention that can be understood and appropriately carried out by those of ordinary skill in the art. Any arrangement, which is calculated to achieve the same purpose, may be substituted for the specific embodiments shown.
[0043] The invention can be implemented in any suitable form including hardware, software, firmware or any combination of these. The invention may optionally be implemented partly as computer software running on one or more data processors and/or digital signal processors. The elements and components of an embodiment of the invention may be physically, functionally and logically implemented in any suitable way. Indeed the functionality may be implemented in a single unit, in a plurality of units or as part of other functional units. As such, the invention may be implemented in a single unit or may be physically and functionally distributed between different units and processors.
[0044] Although the present invention has been described in connection with some embodiments, it is not intended to be limited to the specific form set forth herein. Rather, the scope of the present invention is limited only by the accompanying claims. Additionally, although a feature may appear to be described in connection with particular embodiments, one skilled in the art would recognize that various features of the described embodiments may be combined in accordance with the invention. In the claims, the term comprising does not exclude the presence of other elements or steps.
[0045] Furthermore, although individually listed, a plurality of means, elements or method steps may be implemented by e.g. a single unit or processor. Additionally, although individual features may be included in different claims, these may possibly be advantageously combined, and the inclusion in different claims does not imply that a combination of features is not feasible and/or advantageous. Also the inclusion of a feature in one category of claims does not imply a limitation to this category but rather indicates that the feature is equally applicable to other claim categories as appropriate.
[0046] Furthermore, the order of features in the claims do not imply any specific order in which the features must be worked and in particular the order of individual steps in a method claim does not imply that the steps must be performed in this order. Rather, the steps may be performed in any suitable order. In addition, singular references do not exclude a plurality. Thus references to "a", "an", "first", "second" etc do not preclude a plurality.
Patent applications by Gregory M. Agami, Arlington Heights, IL US
Patent applications by Yehuda Y. Luz, Buffalo Grove, IL US
Patent applications by MOTOROLA, INC.
Patent applications in class FAULT RECOVERY
Patent applications in all subclasses FAULT RECOVERY
User Contributions:
Comment about this patent or add new information about this topic:


text: so i got all the enclosure recommendations from audiopipe themselves this is what i got after coming up with box plan designs from there specs lol. the sub is a audiopipe txx-bd15 not sure whether yet if ill be running more or not. but for one box alone here it is. seems wayy off to me. they say with external box dimensions at 17Hx17Wx16D with a 1.25Wx14.5Tx15L Port. ill get 2.5 cbft. and thats after sub and port displacement, i say ya right i know my mental math isnt that off. anyone with any experience with these subs?26541004


text:
The luxury beachfront condo rentals of Kaanapali Alii have become the preferred vacation address for couples and active families. The lavish space, privacy, and comforting sense of home has universal appeal and is simply unmatched by upscale hotel rooms. Guests enjoy the best of both worlds: the spaciousness and convenience of a residence that is unmatched by any hotel room with all the amenities of a refined resort hotel.
Elegantly furnished condos in four oceanfront towers range from 1,500 to 1,900 square feet and offer separate living and dining areas, fully-equipped kitchen, two full baths, central air conditioning, and a private oversized lanai.
Located on Ka'anapali Beach, America's Best Beach, the Ka'anapali Ali'i has been rated by USA Today as one of America's 10 Great Places to Gather the Family and Hawaii's Top Value by Travel & Leisure.
• Fully-equipped kitchen
• Living room/dining room
• Private lanai
• Full-size washer & dryer
• 2 full baths
• Central air conditioning
• Iron/ironing board
• In-room safes
• Hair dryers
• Daily maid service
• Concierge
• Bell service
• Room service
• Grocery delivery
• Daily complimentary in-room coffee
• Guest charging privileges at select restaurants
• 24-hour front desk/security
• Complimentary High speed internet
• Complimentary Ali'i Kids Club children's program (seasonal)
• Complimentary newspaper
• Complimentary tennis
• On-site tennis pro
• Dry cleaning
• Massage therapist, Fitness and Yoga classes (fees)
• Fax service (fee)
• No Resort fees
• Heated swimming pool
• Whirlpool spa
• Children's wading pool
• Poolside gas barbecues
• Beach cabanas (fee)
• Hospitality suite
• Beach activities center
• Sundry store
• Complimentary video library
• Complementary use of state-of-the-art 3,000 square foot fitness center
• Free parking
• One of America's 10 Great Places to Gather the Family
(USA Today)
• Hawai'i's Top Value (Travel & Leisure)


text:
Downtown FayettevillePosted by Carmen Ledford on Thursday Feb 26, 2015 Under Claire, Good Eats/Not So Good Eats, Homeschool, Kid's Corner, Travel
We have not officially done Cumberland County yet but we have been spending some time downtown working on Claire's history project. First, let me say if you have not been to the Cape Fear Regional Theater- check them out. We have been to several play there and we are NEVER disappointed. I have really been surprised with downtown and growing to really like it. They have some great restaurants, interesting history and it is relatively clean. Claire is still not over the condition of the Lafayette statue. Take another look at photo above. The first place we ate at was across the bridge from downtown at Riverside Grill which is attached to a bait shop. Claire got a hot dog and chili fries. I got a cheeseburger. The food was quick and good and we were pleased.
The next time we were in the area we ate at Circa 1800. It was opposite end of the spectrum from the grill. Claire and I split a salad and crab cakes. We also got bruschetta. It was all delicious. The service and atmosphere were great. We really loved this place and would go back for sure. The last place we have tried is The Sweet Palette. We took home mini cheesecakes, cake pops, and cupcakes. They were all delicious.


text: New South Roofing Inc Serving Wacissa, FL 23 Reviews | 16.97 Miles | Web Master Elite See Our: Job Photos,Reviews & Specialties Connect! Call Us Now! (Click to Show Phone) (850) 671-3311 Mention You Found UsOn GAF.com! Browse Job Photos & Reviews Visit Our Website Visit Us On Facebook New South Roofing, Inc. is a full-service roofing contractor that specializes in residential roofing. We currently possess over 50 years of combined roofing exp ... Read More


text:
The Learning Lane is a private pay center for children with autism. We also work with your Insurance Companies to get services covered. The Learning Lane's staff provides a broad continuum of direct services, information and support in the areas of behavior, basic learning, cognitive, self-help, motor, and language development.
Our Mission
The mission of our center is to make every child feel triumphant in some way every day by providing a positive childhood experience.
Our Vision
The Learning Lane's intent is to be recognized by their clients, staff and referral sources as an effective provider of services for children with autism. We hope to realize this intent by building an environment in which: services are consumer driven; the highest caliber of staff are retained; diversity is valued; expectations are high; rewards are evident; and outcomes are visible.
The Learning Lane's philosophy on Education
The Learning Lane is an Applied Behavior Analysis Center serving children ages from 1 to 7 years of age with autism. The Learning Lane recognizes that children with special needs and those with typical needs benefit immensely from shared growth and learning experiences. By learning and playing together, children learn about differences in abilities and talents, and background experiences that create the rich diversity of our society. Inclusion provides a challenging, enlightening, and motivating environment for all children. Our intake process is individualized to insure that each child is placed in an environment where they will learn and grow.
At The Learning Lane Clinic our children participate in small group instruction and intensive 1:1 teaching. At The Learning Lane at The Woodlands Young Learners and The Learning Lane at Linder, our clients receive a combination of inclusion services and 1:1 instruction.