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King James Bible (FAITH COMES BY HEARING) audio drama - Listen Book of Proverbs Chapter 1 mp3
1 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel; 2 To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding; 3 To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity; 4 To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion. 5 A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels: 6 To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings. 7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction. 8 My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother: 9 For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck. 10 My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not. 11 If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause: 12 Let us swallow them up alive as the grave; and whole, as those that go down into the pit: 13 We shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoil: 14 Cast in thy lot among us; let us all have one purse: 15 My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path: 16 For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood. 17 Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird. 18 And they lay wait for their own blood; they lurk privily for their own lives. 19 So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; which taketh away the life of the owners thereof. 20 Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets: 21 She crieth in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates: in the city she uttereth her words, saying, 22 How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge? 23 Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you. 24 Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; 25 But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: 26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; 27 When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. 28 Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: 29 For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD: 30 They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof. 31 Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices. 32 For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them. 33 But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil. |


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Last week's economic news was quiet in the housing sector, but retail sales and employment-related reports provided indications of less consumer spending and reduced consumer confidence.
On Monday, James Bullard, St. Louis Fed President, commented that inflation appears to be rising. Although not a voting member of the Fed's Open Market Committee (FOMC), inflation has been a topic of concern to the FOMC in recent years. Mr. Bullard had previously noted that inflation was stable.
His remarks set the stage for this week's FOMC meeting and press conference by Fed Chair Janet Yellen. Analysts expect the Fed to continue tapering its asset purchases as it winds down its quantitative easing program.
Labor related reports were mixed last week. Job openings in April rose to 4.46 million in April; this was the highest reading since September 2007 and exceeded the March reading of 4.17 million job openings in March.
More good news came from the U.S. Labor Department, which 4.71 million hires in April. This was the highest rate of hiring since June 2008 and represented a year-over-year increase of 6.00 percent. At the start of the recession at the end of 2007, about 5 million job openings were reported.
Mortgage Rates, New Jobless Claims Rise
Weekly jobless claims were reported at 317,000 as compared to expectations of 310,000 new jobless claims and the prior week's reading of 312,000 new jobless claims. The four-week rolling average of new jobless claims rose by 4,750 new claims for a total of 315,250 new jobless claims. The four-week gauge of jobless claims evens out weekly volatility and is viewed by analysts as a better indicator of labor market trends.
Mortgage rates were higher according to Freddie Mac. The average rate for a 30-year fixed rate mortgage rose by six basis points to 4.20 percent; discount points rose from 0.50 to 0.60 percent.
The average rate for a 15-year mortgage rose by eight basis points to 3.32 percent with discount points unchanged at 0.50 percent. The average rate for a 5/1 adjustable rate mortgage rose from last week's reading of 2.93 percent to 3.05 percent. Discount points were unchanged at 0.40 percent.
The Fed's quantitative easing program was implemented to control long-term interest rates, including mortgage rates. Gradual tapering of this program is allowing mortgage rates to rise. Other influences include investor concerns over recent decisions made by the European Central Bank.
Consumer sentiment slipped slightly for June according to the University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index. June's reading was 81.20 as compared to an expected reading of 82.80 and May's reading of 81.50.
What's Ahead
Next week's scheduled economic news includes the NAHB Housing Market Index for June and Housing Starts for May. These readings are important indicators for housing supplies, as a lack of builder confidence can translate to fewer housing starts. Housing markets were impacted by high demand for homes against low inventories of available homes during 2013 and into 2014.
Also noteworthy is the FOMC post-meeting statement and Fed Chair Janet Yellen's press conference. The FOMC sets the Federal Reserve's monetary policy and is expected to announce further tapering of the Fed's quantitative easing program. It will be interesting to learn the Fed's perspective on inflation, which has been stuck below the Fed's target level of two percent.
Friday's release of Leading Economic Indicators for May round out this week's economic reports.

subset: commoncrawl


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« Prev | Chapter 39 | Next » |
Ge 39:1-23. Joseph in Potiphar's House.
1. Potiphar—This name, Potiphar, signifies one "devoted to the sun," the local deity of On or Heliopolis, a circumstance which fixes the place of his residence in the Delta, the district of Egypt bordering on Canaan.
officer—literally, "prince of the Pharoah"—that is, in the service of government.
captain of the guard—The import of the original term has been variously interpreted, some considering it means "chief cook," others, "chief inspector of plantations"; but that which seems best founded is "chief of the executioners," the same as the captain of the watch, the zabut of modern Egypt [Wilkinson].
bought him … of the Ishmaelites—The age, appearance, and intelligence of the Hebrew slave would soon cause him to be picked up in the market. But the unseen, unfelt influence of the great Disposer drew the attention of Potiphar towards him, in order that in the house of one so closely connected with the court, he might receive that previous training which was necessary for the high office he was destined to fill, and in the school of adversity learn the lessons of practical wisdom that were to be of greatest utility and importance in his future career. Thus it is that when God has any important work to be done, He always prepares fitting agents to accomplish it.
2. he was in the house of his master—Those slaves who had been war captives were generally sent to labor in the field and subjected to hard treatment under the "stick" of taskmasters. But those who were bought with money were employed in domestic purposes, were kindly treated, and enjoyed as much liberty as the same class does in modern Egypt.
3. his master saw that the Lord was with him—Though changed in condition, Joseph was not changed in spirit; though stripped of the gaudy coat that had adorned his person, he had not lost the moral graces that distinguished his character; though separated from his father on earth, he still lived in communion with his Father in heaven; though in the house of an idolater, he continued a worshipper of the true God.
5. the Lord blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake, &c.—It might be—it probably was—that a special, a miraculous blessing was poured out on a youth who so faithfully and zealously served God amid all the disadvantages of his place. But it may be useful to remark that such a blessing usually follows in the ordinary course of things; and the most worldly, unprincipled masters always admire and respect religion in a servant when they see that profession supported by conscientious principle and a consistent life.
made him overseer in his house—We do not know in what capacity Joseph entered into the service of Potiphar; but the observant eye of his master soon discovered his superior qualities and made him his chief, his confidential servant (compare Eph 6:7; Col 3:23). The advancement of domestic slaves is not uncommon, and it is considered a great disgrace not to raise one who has been a year or two in the family. But this extraordinary advancement of Joseph was the doing of the Lord, though on the part of Potiphar it was the consequence of observing the astonishing prosperity that attended him in all that he did.
7. his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph—Egyptian women were not kept in the same secluded manner as females are in most Oriental countries now. They were treated in a manner more worthy of a civilized people—in fact, enjoyed much freedom both at home and abroad. Hence Potiphar's wife had constant opportunity of meeting Joseph. But the ancient women of Egypt were very loose in their morals. Intrigues and intemperance were vices very prevalent among them, as the monuments too plainly attest [Wilkinson]. Potiphar's wife was probably not worse than many of the same rank, and her infamous advances made to Joseph arose from her superiority of station.
9. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?—This remonstrance, when all inferior arguments had failed, embodied the true principle of moral purity—a principle always sufficient where it exists, and alone sufficient.
14. Then she called unto the men of her house—Disappointed and affronted, she vowed revenge and accused Joseph, first to the servants of the house, and on his return to her lord.
See, he hath brought in an Hebrew … to mock us—an affected and blind aspersion of her husband for keeping in his house an Hebrew, the very abomination of Egyptians.
20. Joseph's master took him, and put him into the prison—the roundhouse, from the form of its construction, usually attached to the dwelling of such an officer as Potiphar. It was partly a subterranean dungeon (Ge 41:14), though the brick-built walls rose considerably above the surface of the ground, and were surmounted by a vaulted roof somewhat in the form of an inverted bowl. Into such a dungeon Potiphar, in the first ebullition of rage, threw Joseph and ordered him to be subjected further to as great harshness of treatment (Ps 105:18) as he dared; for the power of masters over their slaves was very properly restrained by law, and the murder of a slave was a capital crime.
a place where the king's prisoners were bound—Though prisons seem to have been an inseparable appendage of the palaces, this was not a common jail—it was the receptacle of state criminals; and, therefore, it may be presumed that more than ordinary strictness and vigilance were exercised over the prisoners. In general, however, the Egyptian, like other Oriental prisons, were used solely for the purposes of detention. Accused persons were cast into them until the charges against them could be investigated; and though the jailer was responsible for the appearance of those placed under his custody, yet, provided they were produced when called, he was never interrogated as to the way in which he had kept them.
21-23. The Lord … gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison, &c.—It is highly probable, from the situation of this prison (Ge 40:3), that the keeper might have been previously acquainted with Joseph and have had access to know his innocence of the crime laid to his charge, as well as with all the high integrity of his character. That may partly account for his showing so much kindness and confidence to his prisoner. But there was a higher influence at work; for "the Lord was with Joseph, and that which he did, the Lord made it to prosper."
« Prev | Chapter 39 | Next » |


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Offset Printing: Friend to All
- Published: February 01, 2008, By Edited by Claudia Hine, Managing Editor
Boxes may not have changed too drastically over the years, but the way they are customized to promote, display, and advertise their contents has seen dramatic advances. Accurate Box Co. has stayed ahead of the technological curve for more than 60 years in order to provide customers with the very best in the design and printing of litho-laminated packaging.
Founded in 1944 by Henry E. Hirsh, Accurate Box still is a family-run business, and its dedication to customer service — a company goal from the earliest days — has been matched only by a dedication to environmental responsibility and employee safety and satisfaction. With a 279,000-sq-ft production facility and warehouse in Paterson, NJ, Accurate Box has the flexibility to implement high quality, six- and seven-color printing on KBA presses, die-cutting and laminating on Bobst equipment, as well as finishing, warehousing, and shipping functions for customers coast to coast.
"We are always looking for ways to improve our efficiencies, lead times, and the quality of our products, and that's why we seek relationships with vendors that have products and systems that can help us reach those goals," says Lisa Hirsh, a third-generation member of the founding family and now president of the company. "Having everything under our own roof and being able to control all processes from here makes a big difference to our customer base."
Those customers include a wide range of well-known snack and beverage brand manufacturers, in addition to sporting goods and other consumer products. The company can manufacture and print virtually any kind of litho-laminated box packaging — from handle-top boxes to dispenser boxes and everything in between. In addition, Accurate Box can design, manufacture, and print the countertop and floor displays in which those product boxes are marketed at the point of sale.
Investigating the Possibilities
With everything it needs under one roof, Accurate Box can design the artwork for brand packaging, make the plates that hold the designs, print the designs directly on the product boxes regardless of shape or size, and ship the boxes — in any quantity — to its customers' distribution centers, no matter where they are and no matter how fast they must get there. Furthermore, with a goal to use its printing capabilities as a competitive edge, Accurate Box does not shy away from investigating technological possibilities that still are largely untested in the packaging industry.
"We wanted to push the envelope, so we set out to provide our customers with graphic reproductions at 240-line screen," explains Joe Pagani, plant manager. "With Agfa's assistance, we made some adjustments and tweaked the system and ultimately reached that objective. Currently I don't know of any company producing litho-laminate cartons that can offer the print quality and detail found at 240-line screen. That makes us a little different from everyone else in this business."
Accurate Box added Agfa's :Amigo thermal platemaking system in the fall of 2006 and saw an immediate improvement in turnaround times. Equally important to Hirsh and her staff was the fact that :Amigo is a low-chemistry system. It's based on Agfa's ThermoFuse technology, which uses millions of individual, heat-sensitive thermoplastic pearls that are melted and fused together to form a bond to the substrate in the exposed areas. In the unexposed areas, the pearls are removed by a mild alkaline solution.
Surpassing Expectations
Pagani says the :Amigo system surpassed his expectations. "It's the finest offset plate I've ever used. By eliminating the need for an oven to bake plates, we save on energy and eliminate the pollution associated with it. We're already saving thousands of dollars per year. The plates have made us much more efficient by improving our throughput." In addition, Pagani notes, the team is able to get plates to press quickly because there is no need for cool-down time, and remakes due to flaws on the plates have virtually been eliminated.
"We have enjoyed a good relationship with Agfa. Platemaking is just one of the areas in which they excel and have the most expertise, and with their help. Accurate Box hopes to make even more improvements in the future," says Hirsh.
Continuous Improvement
With such a broad product line at Accurate Box, continuous improvement is both a goal and a necessity in order to maintain such high customer satisfaction. The company prides itself on providing the most comprehensive selection of packaging with accurate, brilliant color graphics reproduction at line screens of 175 dpi or better. It also offers a wide variety of materials, including strong, corrugated stock that provides the rigidity necessary to display products in the same packages in which they are shipped. Fast turnaround is always assured.
Digital files are accepted on disc or via ftp through the Accurate Box website, eliminating last-minute problems. In addition to Agfa's :Amigo platemaking solution featuring an Agfa VLF CtP system, Accurate Box uses Agfa's :Sherpa 62 digital printing system, which is designed to be compatible with a wide range of media substrates.
With the :Amigo system, Pagani says, "We print cleaner, sharper images, regardless of the stocks on which we're printing. At any given time, 20 to 25 orders in different stages of production are processing through the plant. They are all unique with respect to order quantity, colors, sizes, finishing requirements, and more. We have many goals, and our customers are all aware of one of our most important — to produce the highest quality products at the most attractive prices. That's why we're very enthusiastic about our [Agfa] platemaking system."
For over half a century Accurate Box says it consistently has reached its goals with every job that goes through the plant. That represents a lot of jobs — and an equally high number of satisfied customers.
Converter Info
Accurate Box Co. | 86 Fifth Ave., Paterson, NJ 07509 | 973-345-2000 | www.accuratebox.com
Supplier Info
Agfa | www.agfa.com
KBA | www.kba-usa.com
Bobst | www.bobstgroup.com


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Environmental assessment teams increasingly may be using a method to assess oil spill contamination in situations where it doesn't work well and are in danger of reaching false conclusions, a scientist at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution has warned In a letter published online April 30 in the Marine Pollution Bulletin, marine chemist Christopher Reddy issued what he called "a cautionary tale" about using the "pom-pom" method as a universal practice for assessing oil contamination in ocean- or river-bottom sediments. The method uses long strands of absorbent polypropylene swabs, which look like cheerleaders' pom-poms, dragged along bottom sediments. The method is in demand because it offers a rapid, low-cost way to locate large areas where oil has sunk to the sediments. But that doesn't mean it can effectively identify lesser amounts of oil that can have harmful impacts on ecosystems and public health, Reddy said. Reddy pointed to the spill of 58,000 gallons of heavy fuel oil after the M/V Cosco Busan struck the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge in November 2007. In late December, the pom-pom method was used to assess whether sediments dredged near the Port of Oakland could be safely used to help restore a tidal wetlands. "The problem may stem from an unfortunate misinterpretation of research following a spill of the M/T Athos I in the Delaware River in 2004," Reddy wrote. In that case, responders used a boat to drag several beams with pom-poms across sediments on the riverbed. Back on deck, personnel could see whether the pom-poms came up white and clean or black and oil-stained and could quickly determine the locations of large oil patches on the river floor. The information proved valuable for putting together the best emergency response and cleanup, Reddy said. "But the method was never intended to assess contamination at much lower, but still significant levels," Reddy wrote. "A great tool for the circumstances of the Delaware River oil spill does not translate to the conditions in San Francisco Bay." In the Port of Oakland, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers used the pom-pom method to look for evidence of tar balls that may have sunk to the sediments after the M/V Cosco Busan spill. Finding none, the Corps declared the dredged material safe and used it in the restoration project. "This approach is flawed," Reddy wrote. "It relies on the assumption that the lack of visible oil on the (pom-poms) … indicates a total lack of oil contamination in the sediment." Without any detailed testing to determine the pom-pom method's ability and sensitivity to attract oil under various conditions and circumstances, "it is not possible to determine that the (Port of Oakland) sediment was not contaminated with oil at unacceptable levels," Reddy said in an interview. "The absence of evidence is not evidence of absence." "Before this approach becomes standard practice for determining whether sediments have been contaminated at levels that may impact ecosystems, prudence dictates much more rigorous testing of the test itself," Reddy wrote in Marine Pollution Bulletin. "When considering analytical methods used following any oil spill, the selectivity and sensitivity should match the objectives and required information." In a reply to Reddy article in Marine Pollution Bulletin, Robert Lawrence, chief of dredged material management for the Army Corps's San Francisco District, acknowledged that Reddy is correct that "the (pom-pom) test is not meant to be looking for low levels of contaminants." "It's meant for gross contamination," Lawrence said. "The swabbing test needs to be tested further if it is to be incorporated as a be-all" used to assess various oil-spill situations. In the specific case of the Port of Oakland, Lawrence said, the spilled oil was light enough to float atop the water. Analysts for the Corps believed the oil would sink to the sediments only if it coagulated into larger, heavier tar balls, so that the probability of finding less-than-gross oil contamination was unlikely. Further, if oil had sunk to the sediments, the Corps's analysts thought it was too soon after the spill for the oil to break down and get into the sediments at lower levels, he said. The research was funded by the Richard and Rhoda Goldman Fund and the Coastal Ocean Institute at WHOI. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Copyright ©2007 Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, All Rights Reserved, Privacy Policy. |


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Ultravola regular colors
Ultravola regular colors
These designs pay homage to the iconic Japanese subculture, drawing inspiration from the dynamic worlds of manga, anime, and traditional arts. Infused with the spirit of craftsmanship that defines the essence of Japanese culture, these creations also serve as a celebration of the meticulous artistry behind Vola guitar crafting.
All designs by @nanographik
The unisex CVC jersey tee brings together the best of both worlds. The 60% cotton and 40%-polyester blend makes it super soft yet very durable. The shirt has a classic fit with a crewneck 1x1 baby rib collar, and it'll fit any fashion style out there.
.: 60% combed, ring-spun cotton, 40% polyester
.: Light fabric (4.3 oz/yd² (146 g/m²))
.: Classic fit
.: Tear-away label


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V Rae
Regular price
Shipping calculated at checkout.
Open edition print by V. Rae
Image size: 12" x 18"
Whether sailing Alaska coastal waters or snorkeling Hawaiian shores, V Rae chronicles natural life through bold portraits that leap from the canvas to your heart. Defying convention in a startling fusion of color and negative space, V paints Freestyle Expressions that transport each personal encounter through time and space, sharing with the world her seamless blend of art, nature and individual personality. Like Humpback whales, V migrates between Alaska, the Pacific Northwest and Hawaii each year painting from platforms frequented by her subjects.


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ABUTH School of Post Basic Midwifery Admission 2024/2025 | Overview of Nursing Programmes in Nigeria, ABUTH School of Post Basic Midwifery Admission Information, Courses, School Fees, Entry Requirements, Programs Duration & Past Questions PDF Download for 2024/2025 academic session.
This page gives full details about the ABUTH School of Post Basic Midwifery admission form 2024/2025, how to apply, admission entry requirements, past question pdf download, screening date, location, portal, programmes offered, contact address, school fees, and application deadline-closing date for the 2024/2025 intake.
ABUTH School of Post Basic Midwifery
Overview of Nursing Programmes in Nigeria:
In order to become a nurse in Nigeria, you should be aware of the fact that there are two routes generally followed to becoming a practicing nurse in Nigeria. The first is to either attend an accredited nursing school in Nigeria for a three-year duration or attend any university offering nursing as a course to earn a degree (duration of 5 years).
Be informed also that there is a regulatory body of nursing and midwifery in Nigeria and that body is the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) and they are in charge of renewing your license as a nurse and midwife in Nigeria.
The salaries that Nigerian nurses earn might not be that lucrative as their foreign counterparts. Many nursing schools in Nigeria provide nursing students with degrees and certifications ranging from Registered Nurse, Registered Midwife, Bachelor of Nursing Sciences to post-doctorate degrees as well.
ABUTH School of Post Basic Midwifery Admission Form 2024/2025
Applications are invited from suitably qualified applicants for admissions into the ABUTH School of Post Basic Midwifery programmes for the 2024/2025 academic year.
There are various programmes available at the ABUTH School of Post Basic Midwifery and therefore the admission application forms are released in different intakes for prospective students.
ABUTH School of Post Basic Midwifery Admission Requirements 2024/2025
To qualify for admission into the ABUTH School of Post Basic Midwifery, candidates must:
Posses 5 credits pass in the following relevant subjects: English Language, Mathematics, Biology, Physics, and Chemistry from a conventional secondary school in not more than two (2) sittings.
ABUTH School of Post Basic Midwifery Application Eligibility
The ABUTH School of Post Basic Midwifery admission application form/portal is open to all qualified applicants irrespective of color, race, ethnic identity, religion, gender, or national origin.
Both Indigenes and Non-Indigenes interested applicants can apply for the ABUTH School of Post Basic Midwifery Application Form 2024/2025 provided he/she meet the ABUTH School of Post Basic Midwifery admission entry requirements.
Application forms can be obtained from the admissions office or the official ABUTH School of Post Basic Midwifery website.
Note – Once the ABUTH School of Post Basic Midwifery Intake Application is closed, new applications will not be submitted. So register now while the applications are still ongoing.
Successful candidates will be invited for an interview.
For more information and inquiries concerning this college, kindly contact the admissions office.
ABUTH School of Post Basic Midwifery Past Questions And Answers for 2024/2025
The ABUTH School of Post Basic Midwifery past questions and answers is a book that gives you insight & prepares you on what to expect during the School of Nursing entrance examinations.
It exposes you to the School of Nursing type of questions and gives you tips and how to answer their questions. It is a PDF document (ebook), which is compatible with all devices (Computers and Mobile Phones) and printable too.
While preparing for the ABUTH School of Post Basic Midwifery Aptitude Test, studying with the up-to-date Past Questions and Answers is the right step in the right direction.
The pdf past questions and answers provide candidates with fast, easy, and reliable access to practice School of Nursing Questions with NO internet connection on their computers, smartphones, and tablets.
CLICK HERE to Download the School of Nursing authentic, comprehensive, current, legit, and affordable aptitude test past questions and answers papers in pdf.
ABUTH School of Post Basic Midwifery School Fees 2024/2025
The official ABUTH School of Post Basic Midwifery fees structure approved to be paid by each programmes student for the 2024/2025 academic session to be released by the management.
The following policies and procedures are applicable to all students who officially register for programmes at the ABUTH School of Post Basic Midwifery.
The Institute reserves the right to change fees without prior notice. However, fee changes are subject to approval by the Governing Council and we will update it ASAP.
To access the ABUTH School of Post Basic Midwifery School Fees Structure for the 2024/2025 academic year; please kindly visit the official website or campus admission office.
For full fee information, you can contact the financial aid department of the Same School of Nursing.
General Requirements For Studying Nursing In Nigeria
There are different categories of Nursing programs in Nigeria. schoolinfo.com.ng has published and highlighted the requirements for each of them.
Requirements for General Nursing & Midwifery Education
This is the first Nursing program available to all intending nurses in Nigeria. It takes a 3-year school program to achieve this. In the end, the student is awarded the title of Registered Nurse. The requirements include:
- SSCE certificate with a minimum of 5 credits that must include a science subject e.g (Biology, Chemistry and or Physics) and English language in not more than two sittings.
- Must be between 18-35 years before applying.
Requirements for Post Basic Nursing Education
Students who finish as Registered Nurse and wish to further on will go for the Post Basic Nursing Education. This, after successful graduation, qualifies you to be known as a "Registered Midwife" (RM). The requirements include:
- Must have obtained the qualification of "Registered Nurse".
- Must meet up with the academic qualification and requirements of the admitting nursing school in Nigeria.
- Undergo a schooling/training of 1 year.
It is recommended that you simply get a high GPA's in high school science since nursing largely depends on the application of scientific methodologies
Requirements For Post Basic Psychiatric Nursing Programme
Candidates who wish to apply for this must meet up with the following requirements. They include;
- Must be a registered nurse.
- Must meet up with the admission requirements of the admitting schools of psychiatric nursing in Nigeria.
- Finally, one must undergo 1-year full training/schooling.
Requirements For Bachelor Of Nursing Science
To obtain a bachelor of Nursing science, an applicant must meet up with the following criteria and requirements.
- Must have at least 5 credits in SSCE including in subjects as English, Mathematics, and other science subjects.
- Must undergo a 5-year schooling/training program.
- Afterward, the candidate must go for a compulsory 1-year internship program in a Registered Health care institution.
- Upon graduation, the certificates or award obtainable include: Registered Nurse, Registered Midwife, Registered Public Health Nurse, Registered Psychiatric Nurse, and B.Sc. in Nursing.
Requirements For Higher Degrees In Nursing
Nurses who wish to pursue a higher degree in nursing must meet with the following requirements. They include:
- Meeting the admitting school's entry requirements.
- Possible awards or certificates to be obtained include a Master's Degree (M.Sc.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.).
Requirements For Professional Nursing Programs
The requirements for this include:
- Must be a Registered Nurse/Midwife with at least one-year post-registration (working) experience.
- Must have a current practicing license.
- Also, the applicant must meet with admitting the school's requirements.
- The duration for this is 1 year. However, the Anesthetist Nursing program runs for a year and 6 months (18months).
- Obtainable certificate: certificate in nursing in the area of clinical specialization.
Please use the comment section for your queries (Suggestions, Contributions, and Questions) regarding the ABUTH School of Post Basic Midwifery.
Don't hesitate to like our social platforms in order to share, discuss & get the latest updates of the ABUTH School of Post Basic Midwifery.


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This will check if there are any empty directories, or newly emptied directories, in a list of directories. It will then delete all of those directories. It works with gnu find and OSX/BSD find.
Choosing your year and month. You only need the gnu date command and bash. desiredDay of the week is (1..7); 1 is Monday.
If you want desiredDay of week (0..6); 0 is Sunday
desiredDay=6; year=2012; month=5; n=0; while [ $(date -d "$year-$((month+1))-1 - $n day" "+%w") -ne $desiredDay ]; do n=$((n+1)); done; date -d "$year-$((month+1))-1 - $n day" "+%x"
Show Sample Output
This doesn't require any non-standard programs.
This command takes a few changes to get to the file format, but once you have that, you're good to go. Set your environment variables and then change the text "front" and "back" to whatever you're files start and end with. You'll end up with some easily sort-able files. Show Sample Output
commandlinefu.com is the place to record those command-line gems that you return to again and again. That way others can gain from your CLI wisdom and you from theirs too. All commands can be commented on, discussed and voted up or down.
Every new command is wrapped in a tweet and posted to Twitter. Following the stream is a great way of staying abreast of the latest commands. For the more discerning, there are Twitter accounts for commands that get a minimum of 3 and 10 votes - that way only the great commands get tweeted.
» http://twitter.com/commandlinefu
» http://twitter.com/commandlinefu3
» http://twitter.com/commandlinefu10
Use your favourite RSS aggregator to stay in touch with the latest commands. There are feeds mirroring the 3 Twitter streams as well as for virtually every other subset (users, tags, functions,…):
Subscribe to the feed for:


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DALLAS (AP) – Southwest Airlines is being fined $200,000 for advertising a fare sale too good to be true.
The U.S. Department of Transportation said Thursday that in TV ads last October the airline promised flights from Atlanta to New York, Chicago and Los Angeles for just $59 – but didn't make any seats available at that price.
The government said that Southwest's ads were deceptive and violated rules on advertising of airline fares.
Southwest was also required to pay an extra $100,000 that had been suspended after a similar offense last year.
The Transportation Department said airlines have long known that as part of rules governing fare advertising they must have a "reasonable number" of seats available at the advertised price. In October, Southwest ran ads on eight Atlanta stations in which the narrator told viewers, "Discover amazing low sale fares" of $59 "to places like New York, Los Angeles and Chicago."
The department said it checked and found that Southwest had no seats for $59 to those three cities on any of the travel dates listed in the ad.
Southwest said that it was all a mistake – that those three cities were never intended to be part of the Atlanta fare sale but wound up in the advertisement after a flawed review of the ad copy.
"As soon as we became aware of our mistake, we pulled all incorrect advertisements off the air," said spokesman Brad Hawkins.
The airline said that it honored the $59 fare to the three cities for consumers who called its reservations center and asked for that price.


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text:
By Jose L. Gomez del Prado:
The United Nation Human Rights Council, under the Universal Periodic Review, started in Geneva on November 5, 2010 to review the human rights record of the United States. The following is an edited version of the presentation given by Jose L. Gomez del Prado in Geneva on November 3, 2010 at a parallel meeting at the UN Palais des Nations on that occasion.
Private military and security companies (PMSC) are the modern reincarnation of a long lineage of private providers of physical force: corsairs, privateers and mercenaries. Mercenaries, which had practically disappeared during the 19th and 20th centuries, reappeared in the 1960s during the decolonization period, operating mainly in Africa and Asia. Under the United Nations, a convention was adopted which outlaws and criminalizes their activities. Additionally, Protocol I of the Geneva Conventions also contains a definition of mercenary.
These non-state entities of the 21st century operate in extremely blurred situations, where the frontiers are difficult to separate. The new security industry of private companies moves large quantities of weapons and military equipment. It provides services for military operations, recruiting former military as civilians to carry out passive or defensive security.
However, these individuals cannot be considered civilians, given that they often carry and use weapons, interrogate prisoners, load bombs, drive military trucks and fulfill other essential military functions. Those who are armed can easily switch from a passive-defensive to an active-offensive role and can commit human rights violations and even destabilize governments. They cannot be considered soldiers or supporting militias under international humanitarian law, either, since they are not part of the army or in the armed forces chain of command, and often belong to a large number of different nationalities.
PMSC personnel cannot usually be considered to be mercenaries, for the definition of mercenaries as stipulated in the international conventions dealing with this issue does not generally apply to the personnel of PMSCs, which are legally operating in foreign countries under contracts of legally registered companies.
Private military and security companies operate in a legal vacuum: they pose a threat to civilians and to international human rights law. The UN Human Rights Council has entrusted the UN Working Group on the use of mercenaries, principally via the following mandate:
To monitor and study the effects of the activities of private companies offering military assistance, consultancy and security services on the international market on the enjoyment of human Rights … and to prepare draft international basic principles that encourage respect for human rights on the part of those companies in their activities.
During the past five years, the Working Group has been studying emerging issues, manifestations and trends regarding private military and security companies. In our reports, we have informed the Human Rights Council and the General Assembly about these issues. Of particular importance are the reports of the Working Group to the last session of the Human Rights Council, held in September 2010, on the Mission to the United States of America, on the Mission to Afghanistan and the general report of the Working Group containing the draft of a possible Convention on Private Military and Security Companies for consideration and action by the Human Rights Council.
In the course of our research, since 2006, we have collected ample information which indicates the negative impact of the activities of "private contractors," "private soldiers" or "guns for hire," whatever denomination we may choose to name the individuals who are employed by private military and security companies as civilians but are also generally heavily armed. In the cluster of human rights violations allegedly perpetrated by employees of the companies the Working Group has examined, one can find: summary executions, acts of torture, cases of arbitrary detention, trafficking of persons and serious health damages caused by PMSC employee activities, as well as attempts against the right of self-determination. It also appears that PMSCs, in their search for profit, neglect security and do not provide their employees with their own basic rights and often put their staff in situations of danger and vulnerability.
Summary executions
On September 16, 2007 in Baghdad, employees of the US-based firm Blackwater [1] were involved in a shooting incident in Nisoor Square in which 17 civilians were killed and more than 20 other persons were wounded, including women and children. Local eyewitness accounts substantiate that the attack included the use of firearms from vehicles and rocket fire from a helicopter belonging to Blackwater.
There are also concerns about the activities and approach of PMSC personnel, their convoys of armored vehicles and their conduct in traffic – in particular, their use of lethal force. The Nisoor Square incident was neither the first of its kind, nor the first involving Blackwater.
According to a Congressional report on the behavior of Xe/Blackwater in Iraq, Xe/Blackwater guards were found to have been involved in nearly 200 escalation-of-force incidents that involved the firing of shots since 2005. Despite the terms of the contracts, which provided that the company could engage in defensive use of force only, the company reported that in over 80 percent of the shooting incidents, its forces fired the first shots.
In Najaf in April 2004 and on several other occasions, employees of this company took part in direct hostilities. In May 2007, another incident reportedly occurred in which guards belonging to the company and forces belonging to the Iraqi Ministry of the Interior allegedly exchanged gunfire in a sector of Baghdad.
On October 9, 2007 in central Baghdad, the shooting of employees of the PMSC Unity Resources Group (URG)[2], who were protecting a convoy, killed two Armenian women, Genevia Antranick and Mary Awanis, when their car came too close to a protected convoy. Antranick's family was offered no compensation and has begun court proceedings against URG in the United States.
URG was also involved in the shooting of 72-year-old Australian Kays Juma. Professor Juma was shot in March 2006 as he approached an intersection that was being blockaded for a convoy URG was protecting. Juma, a 25-year resident of Baghdad who drove through the city every day, allegedly sped up his vehicle as he approached the guards and did not heed warnings to stop, including hand signals, flares, warning shots into the body of his car and floodlights. The incident occurred at 10 AM.[3]
Two US-based corporations, CACI and L-3 Services (formerly Titan Corporation), were involved in the torture of Iraqi detainees at Abu Ghraib. CACI and L-3 Services were contracted by the US government and were responsible for interrogation and translation services, respectively, at Abu Ghraib prison and other facilities in Iraq.
Seventy-two Iraqi citizens who were formerly detained at military prisons in Iraq have sued L-3 and Adel Nakhla, a former L-3 employee who served as one of its translators there under the Alien Tort Statute. The plaintiffs allege having been tortured and physically and mentally abused during their detention and maintain that the defendants should be held liable in damages for their actions. They assert 20 causes of action, including: torture; cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment; assault and battery; and intentional infliction of emotional distress.[4]
Arbitrary detention
A number of reports indicate that private security guards have played central roles in some of the most sensitive activities of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), such as the arbitrary detention of and clandestine raids against alleged insurgents in Iraq and Afghanistan [5], CIA rendition flights [6], and joint covert operations.[7] Employees of PMSCs would have been involved in transporting detainees in rendition flights from "pick-up points" (such as Tuzla, Islamabad or Skopje) to drop-off points (such as Cairo, Rabat, Bucharest, Amman or Guantanamo) as well as in the construction, equipping and staffing of CIA "black sites."
Within this context, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) filed a lawsuit in May 2007 against Jeppesen DataPlan Inc., a subsidiary company of Boeing, on behalf of five persons who were kidnapped by the CIA and disappeared into US secret services prisons overseas. Jeppesen would have participated in the rendition by providing flight planning and logistical support. The five persons were tortured during their arbitrary detention.[8]
DynCorp International's 2009 annual report refers to four lawsuits on behalf of three Ecuadorian provinces and 3,266 plaintiffs concerning the spraying of narcotic plant crops along the Colombian border adjacent to Ecuador.[9]
From 1991, the US Department of State contracted DynCorp to supply services for this air-spraying program against narcotics in the Andean region. In accordance with the subscribed contract of January 30, 1998, DynCorp provides the essential logistics to the anti-drug Office of Activities of Colombia in conformity with three main objectives: eradication of cultivations of illicit drugs, training of the army and of personnel of the country and dismantling of illicit drug laboratories and illicit drug-trafficking networks.
A nongovernmental organization (NGO) report documented the consequences the spraying, which was carried out within the Plan Colombia framework, had on persons living in the frontier region.[10] One-third of the 47 women in the study exposed to the spraying showed cells with some genetic damage. The study established the relationship between Plan Colombia air fumigations and damage to genetic material. The study demonstrates that when the population is subjected to fumigations, "the risk of cellular damage can increase and that, once permanent, the cases of cancerous mutations and important embryonic alterations are increased, that prompt among other possibilities the rise in abortions in the area."
This example is particularly important given that Plan Colombia has served as the model for the arrangements that the US would apply later to Iraq and Afghanistan. Plan Colombia provides immunity to the employees of the contracted PMSC (DynCorp), just as Order 14 of the Coalition Provisional Authority did in Iraq.
The 2004 attempted coup d'etat perpetrated in Equatorial Guinea is a clear example of the link between the phenomenon of mercenaries and PMSCs as a means of violating the sovereignty of states. In this case, the mercenaries involved were mostly former directors and personnel of Executive Outcomes, a PMSC that became famous for its operations in Angola and Sierra Leone. The team of mercenaries also included security guards who were still employed by PMSCs, as was the case with two employees of the company Meteoric Tactical Systems – which provided security to diplomats of western embassies in Baghdad, including the ambassador of Switzerland – and a security guard who had previously worked for the PMSC Steele Foundation and had given protection to Haiti's President Aristide and escorted him to the plane that took him to exile.[11]
Trafficking in persons
In 2005, 105 Chileans were providing or undergoing military training in the former army base of Lepaterique in Honduras, where they were instructed in anti-guerrilla tactics, such as anticipating possible ambushes and deactivation and avoidance of explosives and mortars. The Chileans had entered Honduras as tourists and their presence in the country was illegal. They used high-caliber weapons, such as M-16 rifles and light machine guns. They had been contracted by a subsidiary of a company called Triple Canopy.
The Chileans were part of a group that also included 189 Hondurans recruited and trained in Honduras. Triple Canopy had been awarded a contract by the US Department of State. The contingent left the country by air from San Pedro Sula, Honduras in several groups, stopping over in Iceland and, upon reaching the Middle East, were smuggled into Iraq.[12]
The majority of the Chileans and Hondurans were engaged as security guards at fixed facilities in Iraq. They had been contracted by Your Solutions Honduras SRL, a local agent of Your Solutions Incorporated, registered in the US state of Illinois. Your Solutions had in turn been subcontracted by the Chicago-based Triple Canopy. Some of the Chileans are presently working in Baghdad, providing security to the Embassy of Australia under a contract with Unity Resources Group (URG).
Human rights violations committed by PMSCs against their employees
PMSCs often put their contracted private guards in vulnerable and dangerous situations, such as the one faced by the Blackwater "private contractors" killed in Fallujah in 2004. Their fate was allegedly due to the lack of the necessary safety means – which Blackwater was supposed to provide – in order to carry out their mission.
It should not be forgotten that this incident dramatically changed the course of the war and of the United States' occupation in Iraq. In fact, it may be considered the turning point in the occupation of Iraq. The incident led to an abortive US operation to recapture control of the city and the successful November 2004 recapture operation, known as Operation Phantom Fury, which resulted in the deaths of over 1,350 insurgent fighters. Approximately 95 American troops were killed and another 560 were wounded.
The US military first denied that it had used white phosphorus as an anti-personnel weapon in Fallujah, but later retracted that denial and admitted to using the incendiary in the city as an offensive weapon. Reports following the events of November 2004 have alleged war crimes and a massacre by US personnel, including indiscriminate violence against civilians and children. This point of view is presented in the 2005 documentary film, "Fallujah, the Hidden Massacre." In 2010, the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, a leading medical journal, published a study that shows that the rates of cancer, infant mortality and leukemia in Fallujah exceed those reported in Hiroshima and Nagasaki.[13]
The over 300,000 classified military documents made public by Wikileak's show that the "Use of Contractors Added to War's Chaos in Iraq," as has been widely reported by the international media recently.
The United States continues to rely heavily on private military and security contractors in conducting its military operations. The US used private security contractors to conduct narcotics intervention operations in Colombia in the 1990s and recently signed a supplemental agreement that authorizes it to deploy troops and contractors in seven Colombian military bases. During the conflict in the Balkans, the US used a private security contractor to train Croat troops to conduct operations against Serbian troops. Currently, most of the US's massive contracting of security functions to private firms takes place in the context of its operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
In 2009, the Department of Defense employed 218,000 private contractor personnel, while there were 195,000 uniformed personnel. According to the figures, about 8 percent of these contractors are armed security contractors, or about 20,000 armed guards. If one includes other theatres of operations, the figure rises to 242,657, a figure comprised of 54,387 United States citizens, 94,260 third-country nationals and 94,010 host-country nationals.
The State Department relies on about 2,000 private security contractors to provide US personnel and facilities with personal protection and guard services in Afghanistan, Iraq, Israel and Pakistan, and to provide aviation services in Iraq. The contracts for protective services were awarded in 2005 to three PMSCs: Triple Canopy, DynCorp International and the US Training Center, part of the Xe (then-Blackwater) group of companies. These three companies still hold the State Department protective services contracts today.
Lack of transparency
The information accessible to the public on the scope and type of US-PMSC contracts is scarce and opaque. The lack of transparency is particularly significant when contracting companies subcontract to others. Often, despite the US's extensive freedom of information rules, the contracts with PMSCs are not disclosed to the public, either because they contain confidential commercial information or based on the argument that non-disclosure is in the interest of national defense or foreign policy. The situation is particularly opaque when United States intelligence agencies contract PMSCs.
Lack of accountability
Despite their involvement in grave human rights violations, not a single PMSC or PMSC employee has been sanctioned.
In the course of litigation, several recurring legal arguments have been used in the defense of PMSCs and their personnel, including the government contractor defense, the political question doctrine and derivative immunity arguments. PMSCs are using the government contractor defense to argue that they were operating under the exclusive control of the government of the United States when the alleged acts were committed and therefore cannot be held liable for their actions.
It looks as though when acts questionable under international law are committed by agents of the government, they are considered human rights violations, but when these same acts are perpetrated by PMSCs, it is "business as usual."
Human rights violations perpetrated by private military and security companies are indications of the threat posed to the foundations of democracy when inherently public functions – such as the monopoly on the legitimate use of force – become privatized. In this connection, I cannot help but to refer to the final speech of former US president Dwight D. Eisenhower.
In 1961, Eisenhower warned the American public against the growing danger of a military-industrial complex:
[W]e must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist. We must never let the weight of this combination endanger our liberties or democratic processes. We should take nothing for granted. Only an alert and knowledgeable citizenry can compel the proper meshing of the huge industrial and military machinery of defense with our peaceful methods and goals, so that security and liberty may prosper together.
Fifty years later on September 8, 2001, Donald Rumsfeld, in his speech to the Department of Defense, warned the Pentagon military against:
an adversary that poses a threat, a serious threat, to the security of the United States of America. … Let's make no mistake: The modernization of the Department of Defense is … a matter of life and death, ultimately, every American's. … The adversary [is] the Pentagon bureaucracy. … That's why we're here today challenging us all to wage an all-out campaign to shift the Pentagon's resources from bureaucracy to the battlefield, from tail to the tooth. We know the adversary. We know the threat. And with the same firmness of purpose that any effort against a determined adversary demands, we must get at it and stay at it. Some might ask, how in the world could the Secretary of Defense attack the Pentagon in front of its people? To them I reply, I have no desire to attack the Pentagon; I want to liberate it. We need to save it from itself.
Rumsfeld should have been more specific and cited the shift of the Pentagon's resources from bureaucracy to the private sector. Indeed, that shift had been accelerated by the Bush administration: the number of persons employed by contracts that the Pentagon had outsourced was already four times more than at the Department of Defense.
It is not a military-industrial complex anymore, but, as Noam Chomsky has said, "just the industrial system operating under one or another pretext." Dana Priest and William M. Arkin's July 2010 article in the Washington Post, "Top Secret America: A hidden world, growing beyond control," shows the extent that "the top-secret world the government created in response to the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, has become so large, so unwieldy and so secretive, that no one knows how much money it costs, how many people it employs, how many programs exist within it or exactly how many agencies do the same work."
The investigation's findings include that some 1,271 government organizations and 1,931 private companies work on programs related to counterterrorism, homeland security and intelligence in about 10,000 locations across the United States, and that an estimated 854,000 people – nearly 1.5 times as many people as live in Washington, D.C. – hold top-secret security clearances. A number of private military and security companies are among the security and intelligence agencies mentioned in the Post's report.
The Working Group received information from several sources that up to 70 percent of the US intelligence budget is spent on contractors. These contracts are classified, and very little information is available to the public on the nature of the activities contractors carry out.
The privatization of war has created a structural dynamic that responds to the commercial logic of the industry.
A short look at the careers of the current managers of BAE Systems, as well as at their address books, confirms that we are no longer dealing with a normal corporation, but with a cartel that unites high-tech weaponry (BAE Systems, United Defense Industries, Lockheed Martin), speculative financiers (Lazard Freres, Goldman Sachs, Deutsche Bank) and raw material cartels (British Petroleum, Shell Oil) with on-the-ground, private military and security companies.[14]
The majority of private military and security companies have been created, or are managed by, former military members or ex-police-officers, for whom PMSCs are big business. Just to give an example, Military Professional Resources Incorporation (MPRI) was created by four former United States Army generals when they were due for retirement.[15] The same is true for Blackwater and its affiliate companies or subsidiaries, which employ former directors of the CIA.[16] Social scientists refer to this phenomenon as the revolving door syndrome.
The use of security contractors is expected to grow as American forces shrink. A July report by the Commission on Wartime Contracting, a panel established by Congress, estimated that the State Department alone would need more than double the number of contractors it had protecting the American Embassy and consulates in Iraq.
Without contractors: (1) the military engagement would have had to be smaller – a strategically problematic alternative; (2) the United States would have had to deploy its finite number of active personnel for even longer tours of duty – a politically dicey and short-sighted option; (3) the United States would have had to consider a civilian draft or boost retention and recruitment by raising military pay significantly – two politically untenable options; or (4) the need for greater commitments from other nations would have arisen and with it, the United States would have had to make more concessions to build and sustain a truly multinational effort. Thus, the tangible differences in the type of war waged, the effect on military personnel, and the need for coalition partners are greatly magnified when the government has the option to supplement its troops with contractors.[17]
The military cannot do without them. There are more contractors overall than actual members of the military serving in the worsening war in Afghanistan.
Conclusions of the Senate Armed Services Committee concerning the impact of private security contracting on US goals in Afghanistan[18]
Conclusion 1: The proliferation of private security personnel in Afghanistan is inconsistent with the counterinsurgency strategy. In May 2010, the U.S. Central Command's Armed Contractor Oversight Directorate reported that there were more than 26,000 private security contractor personnel operating in Afghanistan. Many of those private security personnel are associated with armed groups that operate outside government control.
Conclusion 2: Afghan warlords and strongmen operating as force providers to private security contractors have acted against U.S. and Afghan government interests. Warlords and strongmen associated with U.S.-funded security contractors have been linked to anti-Coalition activities, murder, bribery, and kidnapping. The Committee's examination of the U.S.-funded security contract with ArmorGroup at Shindand Airbase in Afghanistan revealed that ArmorGroup relied on a series of warlords to provide armed men to act as security guards at the Airbase.
Open-ended intergovernmental working group established by the HR Council
Because of their impact in the enjoyment of human rights, the Working Group on Mercenaries, in its 2010 reports to the UN Human Rights Council and General Assembly, has recommended a legally binding instrument to regulate and monitor PMSC's activities at the national and international level.
The motion to create an open-ended intergovernmental working group has been the object of lengthy negotiations in the Human Rights Council, led by South Africa, in order to accommodate the concerns of the Western Group, but primarily those of the United States and the United Kingdom; considerable pressure was also exerted in the capitals of African countries supporting the draft resolution. The text of the resolution was weakened in order to pass it by consensus, but, even so, the position of the Western States has been a "fin de non recevoir" – a complete demurral.
The resolution was adopted by a majority of 32 in favor, 12 against and 3 abstentions. Among the supporters of this initiative are four out of the five members of BRICS (Brazil, Russia, China and South Africa) in addition to the African Group, the Organization of the Islamic Conference and the Arab Group.
The adoption of this resolution opens an interesting process in the UN Human Rights Council in which civil society can participate in the elaboration of an international framework on the regulation, monitoring and oversight of the activities of private military and security companies. The new open-ended intergovernmental working group will be the forum for all stakeholders to receive inputs – not only the draft text of a possible convention and the elements elaborated by the UN Working Group on mercenaries, but also other initiatives, such as the proposal submitted to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, the Montreux Document and the international code of conduct being elaborated under the Swiss Initiative.
However, the negative vote of the delegations of the Western Group indicates that the interests of the new staggering security industry – its annual market revenue is estimated to be over USD one hundred billion – have been quite well-defended, as was the case on a number of other occasions. It also shows that Western governments will be absent from the start in a full, in-depth discussion of the issues raised by the activities of PMSCs.
We urge all states to support the process initiated by the Council by designating their representatives to the new open-ended intergovernmental working group, which will hold its first session in 2011, and to continue a process of discussions regarding a legally binding instrument.
The participation of the UK and the US, the main exporters of these activities (it is estimated that these two countries' firms control 70 percent of the security industry), as well as other Western countries where the new industry is expanding is of particular importance.
The Working Group also urges the United States Government to implement the recommendations we made, in particular, to:
- Support the US Congress's Stop Outsourcing Security (SOS) Act, which clearly defines the functions that are inherently governmental and that cannot be outsourced to the private sector.
- Rescind immunity to contractors carrying out activities in other countries under bilateral agreements.
- Carry out prompt and effective investigations of human rights violations committed by PMSCs and prosecute alleged perpetrators.
- Ensure that the oversight of private military and security contractors is not outsourced to PMSCs.
- Establish a specific system of federal licensing of PMSCs for their activities abroad.
- Set up a vetting procedure for awarding contracts to PMSCs.
- Ensure that United States criminal jurisdiction applies to private military and security companies contracted by the government to carry out activities abroad.
- Respond to pending communications from the Working Group.
1. Blackwater Worldwide abandoned its tarnished brand name in order to shake its reputation, which was battered by its criticized work in Iraq. Blackwater renamed its family of two-dozen businesses under the name "Xe." See Mike Baker, "Blackwater dumps tarnished brand name," AP News Break, February 13, 2009.
2. URG, an Australian private military and security company, uses a number of ex-military Chileans to provide security to the Australian Embassy in Baghdad. Recently, one of those "private guards" shot himself. ABC News, reported by La Tercera, Chile, September 16, 2010.
3. J. Mendes and S. Mitchell, "Who is Unity Resources Group?" ABC News Australia, September 16, 2010.
4. Case 8:08-cv-01696-PJM, Document 103, filed July 29, 2010. Defendants have filed motions to dismiss on a number of grounds. They argue that the suit must be dismissed in its entirety because they are immune under the laws of war, because the suit raises non-justiciable political questions and because they possess derivative sovereign immunity. They seek dismissal of the state law claims on the basis of government contractor immunity, premised on the notion that plaintiffs cannot proceed on state law claims, which arise out of combatant activities of the military. The United States District Court for the district of Maryland Greenbelt Division has decided to proceed with the case against L-3 Services, Inc. It has not accepted the motions to dismiss, allowing the case to go forward.
5. Mission to the United States of America, Report of the Working Group on the use of mercenaries, United Nations document, A/HRC/15/25/Add.3, paragraph 22.
6. James Risen and Mark Mazzetti, "Blackwater guards tied to secret C.I.A. raids", New York Times, December 10, 2009.
7. Adam Ciralsky, "Tycoon, contractor, soldier, spy", Vanity Fair, January 2010. See also Claim No. HQ08X02800 in the High Court of Justice, Queen's Bench Division, Binyam Mohamed v. Jeppesen UK Ltd, report of James Gavin Simpson, May 26, 2009.
8. ACLU Press Release: "UN Report Underscores Lack of Accountability and Oversight for Military and Security Contractors", New York, September 14, 2010.
9. The report also indicates that the DynCorp revenues were 1,966,993 USD in 2006 and 3,101,093 USD in 2009.
10 Mission to Ecuador, Report of the Working Group on the use of mercenaries, United Nations document, A/HRC/4/42/Add.2
11. A number of the persons involved in the attempted coup were arrested in Zimbabwe, others in Equatorial Guinea itself, where the coup was intended to overthrow the government and put another in its place in order to gain access to rich resources in oil. In 2004 and 2008, the trials of those arrested in connection with the coup attempt took place in Equatorial Guinea; defendants included British citizen Simon Mann and the South African Nick du Toit. The president of Equatorial Guinea pardoned all foreigners linked to the coup attempt in November 2009. A number of reports indicated that trials failed to comply with international human rights standards and that some of the accused had been subjected to torture and ill-treatment. The government of Equatorial Guinea has three ongoing trials in the United Kingdom, Spain and Lebanon against the persons who were behind the attempted coup.
12 Report of the Working Group on the use of mercenaries, Mission to Honduras, United Nations document A/HRC/4/42/Add.1.
13. Wikipedia
14. Mercenaries without borders by Karel Vereycken, September 21, 2007.
15. Including General Carl E. Vuono, Chief of the Army during the Gulf War and the invasion of Panama, General Crosbie E. Saint, former Commander in Chief of the US Army in Europe, and General Ron Griffith. The president of MPRI is General Bantant J. Craddock.
16. Such as Cofer Black, former chief of the Counter Terrorism Center; Enrique Prado, former chief of operations, and Rof Richter, second in command of the Clandestine Services of the company.
17. "Privatization's Pretensions", University of Chicago Law Review, Jon D. Michaels.
18. Inquiry into the role and oversight of private security contractors in Afghanistan, report together with additional views of the Committee on
Armed Services, United States Senate, September 28, 2010.
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Shelley Duvall's Faerie Tale Theatre
Every episode of Shelley Duvall's Faerie Tale Theatre can be found on Hulu. I had no idea this show existed until the other day, but it sounds like it was quite a program:
Faerie Tale Theatre brings to life twenty-six of the most magical fairy tales of all time. Directed by such masters of cinema as Tim Burton, Francis Ford Coppola and more, and star-powered by Robin Williams, Billy Crystal, Mick Jaggar, James Earl Jones, Howie Mandel, Christopher Reeve, Susan Sarandon and more, this collection is an unparalleled treasury of the best-loved tales of enchantment, adventure and wonder.
Here's the Tim Burton-directed Aladdin and His Wonderful Lamp and Rip Van Winkle directed by Francis Ford Coppola. (via andrea inspired)


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Dear Sir,
I love your theme, Fusion 3.1
I have been trying to find a way to make the first post on the blog have more than the standard excerpt amount. Possibly the full story for just the latest post. or a more in depth excerpt than it shows currently.
I have researched tons of possible php coding to do this but, what they say should be there to replace, is not, or not that I can find.
I am no programmer, but would love a feature to make " latest post full"
Thank you again for the wonderful theme.


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Question: I love having fresh-baked pies for the holidays, but making the pie crust is so time consuming. Can I freeze pie crust ahead of time with good results?
Answer: Yes, you can freeze pie crust or pie dough in advance with very good results. In fact, it's a great timesaving strategy for the hectic holiday season.
Your first option is to freeze the unbaked pie dough once you've prepared it. Wrap the pie dough tightly with plastic freezer wrap or heavy-duty aluminum foil or place the dough into a heavy-duty freezer bag. Thaw the frozen pie dough in the refrigerator (thawing will take a few hours) and then roll it out as usual.
A second option is to roll out the dough and then freeze the unbaked pie crust directly in the pie plate. To freeze, wrap the unbaked pie crust tightly with heavy-duty aluminum foil or plastic freezer wrap, or place in a freezer bag and seal tightly. There's no need to thaw the unbaked crust — you can bake it straight out of the freezer. You'll need to add about three minutes to the usual baking time.
For best results, use the frozen pie dough or frozen pie crusts within 3 months. You can also refrigerate unbaked pie dough or unbaked pie crust for up to 3 days. Keep tightly covered with aluminum foil or plastic wrap.
See Also:
Does Pumpkin Pie Have to be Refrigerated?
How Long Does Apple Pie Last, Baked or Unbaked?
10 Surprising Foods You Can Freeze


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William Caxton
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- Died:
- 1491, London
William Caxton (born c. 1422, Kent, England—died 1491, London) was the first English printer, who, as a translator and publisher, exerted an important influence on English literature.
In 1438 he was apprenticed to Robert Large, a rich mercer, who in the following year became lord mayor of London. Large died in 1441, and Caxton moved to Brugge, the centre of the European wool trade; during the next 30 years he became an increasingly prosperous and influential member of the English trading community in Flanders and Holland. In 1463 he took up duties as "Governor of the English Nation of Merchant Adventurers" in the Low Countries—a post of real authority over his fellow merchants. Sometime in 1470 he ceased to be governor and entered the service of Margaret, duchess of Burgundy, possibly as her financial adviser.
In that period Caxton's interests were turning to literature. In March 1469 he had begun to translate Raoul Le Fèvre's Recueil des histoires de Troye, which he laid aside and did not finish until September 19, 1471. In Cologne, where he lived from 1470 to the end of 1472, he learned printing. In the epilogue of Book III of the completed translation, entitled The Recuyell of the Historyes of Troye, he tells how his "pen became worn, his hand weary, his eye dimmed" with copying the book; so he "practised and learnt" at great personal cost how to print it. He set up a press in Brugge about 1474, and the Recuyell, the first book printed in English, was published there in 1475. Caxton's translation from the French of The Game and Playe of the Chesse (in which chess is treated as an allegory of life) was published in 1476. Caxton printed two or three other works in Brugge in French, but toward the end of 1476 he returned to England and established his press at Westminster. From then on he devoted himself to writing and printing. The first dated book printed in English, Dictes and Sayenges of the Phylosophers, appeared on November 18, 1477.
Although a pioneer of printing in England, Caxton showed no great typographical originality and produced no books of remarkable beauty. Kings, nobles, and rich merchants were Caxton's patrons and sometimes commissioned special books. His varied output—including books of chivalric romance, conduct, morality, history, and philosophy and an encyclopaedia, The Myrrour of the Worlde (1481), the first illustrated English book—shows that he catered also to a general public. The large number of service books and devotional works published by Caxton were the staple reading of most literate persons. He also printed nearly all the English literature available to him in his time: The Canterbury Tales (1478? and 1484?) and other poems by Geoffrey Chaucer, John Gower's Confessio amantis (1483), Sir Thomas Malory's Le Morte Darthur (1485), and much of John Lydgate. Caxton translated 24 books, some of them immensely long. By the time of his death, he had published about 100 items of various kinds.


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Our students work at
"Which language should I choose? Codecademy vs. $15,000 Bootcamps? How do I get started?" We've heard all your frustrations, and we're here to help.
Both Mattan and I agree that the first month of learning to code is the hardest month. That's why we created One Month! We're two self-taught programmers who know the confusion that comes with getting started. And so, we've created all of our courses from HTML, and JavaScript, to Python with the absolute beginner in mind!
Have questions? Kindly email email@example.com. Ask us anything. We're here to help you get started, and to have some fun along the way.
- Chris, teacher at One Month
Chris Castiglione - teaches Programming for Non-Programmers, Learn HTML, and Learn JavaScript here at One Month. He's an adjunct professor at Columbia University Business School and host of the Learn to Code Podcast
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Learn Python, HTML, JavaScript, and more. Invest in yourself, and upgrade your career.


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By Michael Liedtke and Matt O'Brien
Apple is indefinitely delaying plans to scan iPhones in the U.S. for images of child sexual abuse following an outcry from security and privacy experts who warned the technology could be exploited for other surveillance purposes by hackers and intrusive governments.
The postponement announced Friday comes a month after Apple revealed it was getting ready to roll out a tool to detect known images of child sexual abuse. The tool would work by scanning files before they're uploaded to its iCloud back-up storage system. It had also planned to introduce a separate tool to scan users' encrypted messages for sexually explicit content.
Apple insisted its technology had been developed in a way that would protect the privacy of iPhone owners in the U.S. But the Cupertino, California, company was swamped criticism from security experts, human rights groups and customers worried that the scanning technology would open a peephole exposing personal and sensitive information.
"Based on feedback from customers, advocacy groups, researchers, and others, we have decided to take additional time over the coming months to collect input and make improvements before releasing these critically important child safety features," Apple said in an update posted above its original photo-scanning plans.
Apple never set a specific date for when the scanning technology would roll out, beyond saying it would occur some time this year. The company is expected to unveil its next iPhone later this month, but it's unclear if it will use that event to further discuss its change in plans for scanning the devices in the U.S.
The intense backlash to the scanning technology was particularly bruising for a company that has made personal privacy a marketing mantra. Apple contends it is more trustworthy than other major technology companies such as Google and Facebook that vacuum up information about people's interests and location to help sell digital ads. Apple CEO Tim Cook is known to repeat the catchphrase "Privacy is a fundamental human right."
The photo scanning technology was "a really big about-face for Apple," said Cindy Cohn, executive director for the Electronic Frontier Foundation, one of the most vocal critics of the company's plans. "If you are going to take a stand for people's privacy, you can't be scanning their phones."
Cohn applauded Apple for taking more time to reassess its plans and urged the company to talk to a broader range of experts than it apparently did while drawing up its scanning blueprint in its typically secretive fashion.
Matthew Green, a top cryptography researcher at Johns Hopkins University and another outspoken critic of Apple, also supported the delay. He suggested the company talk to technical and policy communities and the general public before making such a big change that threatens the privacy of everyone's photo library.
"You need to build support before you launch something like this," Green said. "This was a big escalation from scanning almost nothing to scanning private files."
When Apple announced the scanning technology last month, Green warned that the system could be used to frame innocent people by sending them seemingly innocuous images designed to trigger matches for child pornography. That could fool Apple's algorithm and alert law enforcement.
Not long after Green and privacy advocates sounded warnings, a developer claimed to have found a way to reverse-engineer the matching tool, which works by recognizing the mathematical "fingerprints" that represent an image.
Apple traditionally has rejected government demands for data and access to devices that it believes are fishing expeditions or risk compromising the security of its customers or devices.
In a highly publicized act of defiance, Apple resisted an FBI demand in 2016 that the company crack the code protecting an iPhone used by one of the killers during a mass shooting in San Bernardino, California. It argued at the time that it would be opening a digital backdoor that could be exploited by hackers and other unauthorized parties to break into devices. In that instance, Apple was widely praised by civil rights and privacy groups.
O'Brien reported from Providence, Rhode Island. AP Business Writer Kelvin Chan contributed to this story from London.


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The University of Virginia Undergraduate Record is published online annually by UREG (Office of the University Registrar), P.O. Box 400203, Charlottesville, VA 22904-4203, (434) 924-4122, (434) 982-HEAR.
The University of Virginia is committed to equal opportunity and affirmative action. To fulfill this commitment, the University administers its programs, procedures and practices without regard to age, color, disability, marital status, national or ethnic origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, veteran status, family medical or genetic information and operates both affirmative action and equal opportunity programs consistent with resolutions of the Board of Visitors and with federal and state requirements, including the Governor's Executive Order on Equal Opportunity. The University's policies on "Preventing and Addressing Discrimination and Harassment" and "Preventing and Addressing Retaliation" implement this statement. The Office of Equal Opportunity Programs has complaint procedures to address alleged violations of these policies.
Disclaimer Clause The provisions of this Record are not to be regarded as an irrevocable contract between the student and the University. The University reserves the right to change any provision or requirement at any time within the student's term of residence.
Visit the University of Virginia online at www.virginia.edu.
Archive of Records online.
©Copyright 2012 by the Rector and Visitors of the University of Virginia


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How the Eagles' 'Those Shoes' Was Inspired by Jazz and Joe Walsh
Former Eagles member Don Felder recalled how he'd been inspired by a love for jazz and his appreciation of bandmate Joe Walsh when he wrote "Those Shoes" for 1979 album The Long Run.
He sat down with a very clear intention for the track, as he told Uncle Joe Benson on the Ultimate Classic Rock Nights radio show.
"I was always a big jazz fan; I love Miles Davis," Felder said. "He could play just a few notes and get so much soul in. When Joe joined the band, Joe had been using this talkbox, which he used on [solo track] 'Rocky Mountain Way.' I wanted to write a song that Joe and I could both play talkboxes on, that sounded like two trumpets playing the melody."
He remembered creating all the parts, including the talkbox sections, then he "put it on a reel with a bunch of other song ideas for The Long Run and turned it in." The response from his colleagues was positive: "Glenn [Frey] and Don [Henley] said, 'That's great – we gotta do that on this record.' We actually played that track live in the studio with dueling talkboxes… and no overdubs. I think the lead vocal's overdubs is about the only thing."
Eagles – 'Those Shoes'
Be sure to listen to Ultimate Classic Rock Nights on more than 50 stations across the U.S. from 7PM until midnight, Monday through Friday. You can see the list of radio stations where it airs here.


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As the most influential goddess of the sea in China , Mazu is at the centre of a host of beliefs and customs, including oral traditions, religious ceremonies and folk practices, throughout the country's coastal areas. Mazu is believed to have lived in the tenth century on Meizhou Island , where she dedicated herself to helping her fellow townspeople, and died attempting to rescue the survivors of a shipwreck. Local residents built a temple in her honour and began to venerate her as a goddess. She is celebrated twice each year in formal temple fairs, when Meizhou residents, farmers and fisherfolk temporarily suspend their work to sacrifice marine animals, venerate statues of Mazu and enjoy a variety of dances and other performances. Smaller worship ceremonies take place throughout the year in the other 5,000 Mazu temples around the world and in private homes; these may involve floral tributes; candles, incense and firecrackers; and evening processions of residents bearing 'Mazu lanterns'. Followers may implore the god for pregnancy, peace, the solution to a problem or general well-being. Deeply integrated into the lives of coastal Chinese and their descendants, belief in and commemoration of Mazu is an important cultural bond that promotes family harmony, social concord, and the social identity of these communities.
Inscribed in 2009 on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
© Text: UNESCO, Image:


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Debate: Health Care and Iran
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A B July 21, 2009 8:36 am
Where is Everyone?
Ma'ariv (Monday, June 22, 09) by Ben Caspit and Ben-Dror Yemini (opinion) –
Tell us, where is everyone? Where did all the people who demonstrated against Israel's brutality in Operation Cast Lead, in the Second Lebanon War, in Operation Defensive Shield, or even in The Hague, when we were dragged there unwillingly after daring to build a separation barrier between us and the suicide bombers, disappear to? We see demonstrations here and there, but these are mainly Iranian exiles. Europe, in principle, is peaceful and calm. So is the United States.
Here and there a few dozens, here and there a few hundreds. Have they evaporated because it is Tehran and not here?
All the peace-loving and justice-loving Europeans, British professors in search of freedom and equality, the friends filling the newspapers, magazines and various academic journals with various demands for boycotting Israel, defaming Zionism and blaming us and it for all the ills and woes of the world—could it be that they have taken a long summer vacation? Now of all times, when the Basij hooligans have begun to slaughter innocent civilians in the city squares of Tehran? Aren't they connected to the Internet? Don't they have YouTube? Has a terrible virus struck down their computer? Have their justice glands been removed in a complicated surgical procedure (to be re-implanted successfully for the next confrontation in Gaza)? How can it be that when a Jew kills a Muslim, the entire world boils, and when extremist Islam slaughters its citizens, whose sole sin is the aspiration to freedom, the world is silent?
Imagine that this were not happening now in Tehran, but rather here. Let's say in Nablus. Spontaneous demonstrations of Palestinians turning into an ongoing bloodbath. Border Policemen armed with knives, on motorcycles, butchering demonstrators. A young woman downed by a sniper in midday, dying before the cameras. Actually, why imagine? We can just recall what happened with the child Mohammed a-Dura. How the affair (which was very harsh, admittedly) swept the world from one end to another. The fact that a later independent investigative report raised tough questions as to the identity of the weapon from which a-Dura was shot, did not make a difference to anyone. The Zionists were to blame, and that was that.
And where are the world's leaders? Where is the wondrous rhetorical ability of Barack Obama? Where has his sublime vocabulary gone? Where is the desire, that is supposed to be built into all American presidents, to defend and act on behalf of freedom seekers around the globe? What is this stammering?
A source who is connected to the Iranian and security situation, said yesterday that if Obama had shown on the Iranian matter a quarter of the determination with which he assaulted the settlements in the territories, everything would have looked different. "The demonstrators in Iran are desperate for help,†said the man, who served in very senior positions for many years, "they need to know that they have backing, that there is an entire world that supports them, but instead they see indifference. And this is happening at such a critical stage of this battle for the soul of Iran and the freedom of the Iranian people. It's sad.â€
Or the European Union, for example. The organization that speaks of justice and peace all year round. Why should its leaders not declare clearly that the world wants to see a democratic and free Iran, and support it unreservedly? Could it be that the tongue of too many Europeans is still connected to dark places? The pathetic excuse that such support would give Khamenei and Ahmadinejad an excuse to call the demonstrators "Western agents,†does not hold water. They call them "Western agents†in any case, so what difference does it make?
To think that just six months ago, when Europe was flooded with demonstrations against Israel, leftists and Islamists raised pictures of Nasrallah, the protégé of the ayatollah regime. The fact that this was a benighted regime did not trouble them. This is madness, but it is sinking in and influencing the weary West. If there is a truly free world here, let it appear immediately! And impose sanctions, for example, on those who slaughter the members of their own people. Just as it imposed them on North Korea, or on the military regime in Burma. It is only a question of will, not of ability. Apparently, something happens to the global adherence to justice and equality, when it comes to Iran. The oppression is overt and known. The Internet era broadcasts everything live, and it is all for the better. Hooligans acting on behalf of the regime shoot and stab masses of demonstrators, who cry out for freedom.
Is anything more needed? Apparently it is. Because it is to no avail. The West remains indifferent. Obama is polite. Why shouldn't he be, after all, he aspires to a dialogue with the ayatollahs. And that is very fine and good, the problem is that at this stage there is no dialogue, but there is death and murder on the streets. At this stage, one must forget the rules of etiquette for a moment. The voices being heard from Obama elicit concern that we are actually dealing with a new version of Chamberlain. Being conciliatory is a positive trait, particularly when it follows the clumsy bellicosity of George Bush, but when conciliation becomes blindness, we have a problem.
The courageous voice of Angela Merkel, who issued yesterday a firm statement of support for the Iranian people and its right to freedom, is in the meantime a lone voice in the Western wilderness. It is only a shame that she has not announced an economic boycott, in light of the fact that this is the European country that is most invested in building infrastructure in Iran. She was joined by British Foreign Secretary Miliband. It is little, it is late, it is not enough. Millions of freedom seekers have taken to the streets in Iran, and the West is straddling the fence, one leg here, the other leg there.
There is a different Islam. This is already clear today. Even in Iran. There are millions of Muslims who support freedom, human rights, equality for women. These millions loathe Khamenei, Chavez and Nasrallah too. But part of the global left wing prefers the ayatollah regime over them. The main thing is for them to raise flags against Israel and America. The question is why the democrats, the liberals, and Obama, Blair and Sarkozy, are continuing to sit on the fence. This is not a fence of separation, it is a fence of shame. -
Robt June 30, 2009 2:54 am
It has been reported that S.C. Gov. Sanford and his wife have been participating in a marraige counciling reconciliation of some kind.
Who is paying for this marraige counciling?
The people of South Carolina or the Sanford's themselves.
I mean is Sanford's health care provided to the Governor, by the people covering this marraige counciling?
Paid for by tax payers that can't afford to pay their own health Insurance premium(s).