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Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Harry Potter, Book 5) (Paperback)
Temporarily Unavailable
Other Books in Series
This is book number 5 in the Harry Potter series.
- #1: Harry Potter y la piedra filosofal / Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (Paperback): $14.95
- #2: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Harry Potter, Book 2) (Paperback): $12.99
- #3: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Harry Potter, Book 3) (Paperback): $12.99
- #4: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Harry Potter, Book 4) (Paperback): $14.99
- #6: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Harry Potter, Book 6) (Paperback): $14.99
- #7: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Harry Potter, Book 7) (Paperback): $16.99
The most eagerly anticipated book in history becomes the biggest paperback release of 2004!The book that took the world by storm....In his fifth year at Hogwart's, Harry faces challenges at every turn, from the dark threat of He-Who-Must-Not-Be- Named and the unreliability of the government of the magical world to the rise of Ron Weasley as the keeper of the Gryffindor Quidditch Team. Along the way he learns about the strength of his friends, the fierceness of his enemies, and the meaning of sacrifice.
About the Author
J.K. ROWLING is the author of the enduringly popular, era-defining Harry Potter seven-book series, which have sold over 600 million copies in 85 languages, been listened to as audiobooks for over one billion hours and made into eight smash hit movies. To accompany the series, she wrote three short companion volumes for charity, including Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, which went on to inspire a new series of films featuring Magizoologist Newt Scamander. Harry's story as a grown-up was continued in a stage play, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, which J.K. Rowling wrote with playwright Jack Thorne and director John Tiffany.
In 2020, she returned to publishing for younger children with the fairy tale The Ickabog, the royalties for which she donated to her charitable trust, Volant, to help charities working to alleviate the social effects of the Covid 19 pandemic. Her latest children's novel, The Christmas Pig, was published in 2021.
J.K. Rowling has received many awards and honours for her writing, including for her detective series written under the name Robert Galbraith. She supports a wide number of humanitarian causes through Volant, and is the founder of the international children's care reform charity Lumos. J.K. Rowling lives in Scotland with her family.
Praise For…
The Potternaut rolls on, picking up more size than speed but propelling 15-year-old Harry through more hard tests of character and magical ability. Rowling again displays her ability to create both likable and genuinely scary characters--most notable among the latter being a pair of Dementors who accost Harry in a dark alley in the opening chapter. Even more horrible, Ministry of Magic functionary Dolores Umbridge descends upon Hogwarts with a tinkly laugh, a taste in office decor that runs to kitten paintings, and the authority, soon exercised, to torture students, kick Harry off the Quidditch team, fire teachers, and even to challenge Dumbledore himself. Afflicted with sudden fits of adolescent rage, Harry also has worries, from upcoming exams and recurrent eerie dreams to the steadfast refusal of the Magical World's bureaucracy to believe that Voldemort has returned. Steadfast allies remain, including Hermione, whose role here is largely limited to Chief Explainer, and a ragtag secret order of adults formed to protect him from dangers, which they characteristically keep to themselves until he finds out about them the hard way. Constructed, like GOBLET OF FIRE, of multiple, weakly connected plot lines and rousing, often hilarious set pieces, all set against a richly imagined backdrop, this involves its characters once again in plenty of adventures while moving them a step closer to maturity. And it's still impossible to predict how it's all going to turn out. (Fiction. 12-15)
Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books September 2003
Harry Potter's latest adventure reveals an admirable hero somewhat the worse for wear: his grief at the death of Cedric, his fear of (and connection to) the evil Lord Voldemort, and his emotional distance from Professor Dumbledore combine to make Harry a bit short-tempered, a bit short-sighted, and a bit more recognizably human. Rowling eases readers back into Harry's world-and-Harry's precarious existence-with nary a ripple: the suburban peace of the Dursleys' manicured lives is shattered by the intrusion of dementors, sent by a rogue in the Ministry of Magic and seeking to do Harry serious injury. A wizard rescue party retrieves Harry from the world of Muggles and sets him down amidst the Order of the Phoenix, a secret society that plots Voldemort's final downfall. With an escalating love life, academic complications at school, and a Ministry of Magic determined to ignore the obvious, Harry is in an adolescent uproar. Revelations about Sirius Black, Professor Snape, and Harry's late father cause the boy to question all he holds true, and his confusion clouds his judgment. A roaring set of practical jokes by Fred and George Weasley against a politically appointed, obnoxious new professor at Hogwarts lightens the tone just in time for the Order's tragic confrontation with Voldemort and his malevolent minions. Rowling cheerfully turns her own conventions on th@ir cars, and the result is a surprising and enjoyable ride. While Harry's much-touted love interest fizzles before it fires, familiar characters achieve a bit more depth. Ginny Weasley starts to come into her own, Hermione employs a dryly wicked wit, and Dumbledore reveals, if not feet, at least a little toe of clay. It's no longer quite clear that all will work out in the end; the lines are being drawn, but, as exemplified by Percy Weasley, not everyone is on the right side. Rowling has managed to make Harry and his fate a bit less predictable, which, in the fifth of a seven-volume series, is a very good thing. JMD
Horn Book Magazine
(September 1, 2003; 0-439-35806-X)
(Intermediate, Middle School) This review is much like the proverbial tree falling in an uninhabited forest: unlikely to make a sound. But for the record, HP5 is the best in the series since Azkaban, and far superior to the turgid HP4. With Rowling once again f


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Wednesday, October 16, 2013
Sony Announces A7 and A7R - Mirrorless Full Frame Camera
Sony has just announced their mirrorless, full frame cameras - the A7 and A7R. I have placed my order for this innovative camera. Will do a complete review on it soon. When are you coming out of your present funk and react, Canon?
SAN DIEGO, Oct. 15, 2013 – Sony's new A7 and A7R digital cameras are the world's smallest full-frame interchangeable lens models 2. Highly anticipated by professional photographers and imaging enthusiasts alike, the two new cameras offer an unmatched combination of creativity, customizability and portability.
The A7R model features a 36.4 effective megapixel 35mm Exmor® CMOS sensor – the highest resolution sensor in the history of Sony's A line – with no optical low pass filter for added resolving power and increased image detail. The A7 model boasts an impressive 24.3 effective megapixel 35mm Exmor® CMOS sensor and an innovative fast Hybrid AF system.
Each camera is equipped with advanced imaging features including a powerful new BIONZ® X processor; fast AF capabilities; a clear, bright XGA OLED Tru-finder, full HD 60p video recording, Wi-Fi® and NFC connection, dust-and moisture- resistance and more.
"With these new A7 camera systems, Sony has completely redefined the look and feel of a professional-grade digital camera," said Mike Kahn, director of the interchangeable lens camera business at Sony Electronics. "The A7 and A7R cameras are significantly smaller, lighter and more portable than any other full-frame interchange lens camera yet deliver image quality, power and performance that professionals and enthusiasts crave."
Both cameras feature full customization and control to meet the needs of the most demanding photographers. There are 9 different customizable buttons and 46 assignable functions that can be adjusted based on shooting preferences, including fully customizable front and back dials, a rear control wheel and an exposure compensation dial 3. Users can preview all changes to photographic settings in real-time on the high-contrast, 2.4 million dot XGA OLED Tru-Finder or the high-resolution tiltable 3" LCD screen.
The new cameras share a powerful new BIONZ X processor that accurately reproduces details in textures in real-time via extra high-speed processing capabilities, and allows for exceptional low noise performance in all types of lighting conditions. Additionally, the powerful processor combined with the advanced, high resolution sensors allow both cameras to shoot pro-quality Full HD video (AVCHD progressive, 1920x1080p @ 60p) with richly detailed colors and ultra-low noise.
Clear Image Zoom has been enhanced for video recording as well, allowing for powerful close-up shots without sacrificing pixel count. Other pro-style movie features include an audio recording level control and display plus a "live" HDMI® output for passing through video to an external monitor or recording device.
The new cameras both have on-board Wi-Fi and NFC capabilities for instant image sharing and transfer to compatible smartphones and tablets. The A7R and A7 models can access Sony's platform of PlayMemories™ Camera Apps, allowing users to add new effects, filters, utilities and more. This platform includes new 'Multiple Exposure' app, which automatically combines sequential exposures into one creative shot, and 'Smart Remote Control' 4, which allows for direct control of exposure and shutter speed from a connected smartphone and is particularly useful for self-portraits or group shots 5. Find out more at www.playmemoriescameraapps.com .
The new A7 and A7R cameras each have a tough, magnesium alloy build and are dust and moisture resistant for standing up to some of the toughest weather conditions.
A7R Camera
Designed for professional photographers and highly advanced enthusiasts, the new A7R model is the world's smallest and lightest full-frame interchangeable lens camera2.
It has an impressive 36.4 effective megapixel full frame sensor and no optical low pass filter, ensuring that the extraordinary resolving power is fully realized and resulting in an unprecedented level of detail and clarity in images.
The camera features a new Fast Intelligent AF technology that delivers blazingly quick, accurate autofocus. Additionally, there are a total of three selectable sizes for the Flexible Spot AF frame, minimizing the risk of accidentally focusing on the wrong target.
A7 Camera
Offering an exciting entry into the world of full-frame photography, the A7 camera features an advanced 24.3 effective megapixel full-frame Exmor CMOS sensor paired with the powerful new BIONZ X processor.
The exciting new camera has an innovative Fast Hybrid AF system that combines phase- and contrast-detect AF methods to ensure speedy, accurate autofocus. It can also shoot at up to 5 fps continuously with non-stop AF tracking, allowing it to keep pace with fast-moving athletes, wildlife or energetic children.
New Sony A Lenses and Accessories
There are a total of 5 new full-frame E-mount lenses designed to take full advantage of the powerful imaging capabilities of the A7R and A7 cameras, including mid-range zoom lenses from Sony and Carl Zeiss, two bright Zeiss Sonnar T prime lenses and a premium-quality G Lens™ telephoto zoom. Sony's growing E-mount interchangeable lens lineup now consists of 21 different lenses including the new full-frame models.
In addition to the new lenses, there are also two new-generation mount adaptors that give photographers the ability to utilize full-frame Sony A-mount optics on the A7 and A7R cameras. The LA-EA3 adapter simply adds compatibility for existing A-mount lenses the new cameras, while the LA-EA4 model adds the ultra-fast focusing and shooting capabilities of Sony's innovative Translucent Mirror Technology.
There is also a new vertical grip (VG-C1EM) that offers greater comfort during vertical shooting and can accommodate two separate NP-FW50 batteries for extended battery life and shooting time. A new BC-TRW compact external battery charger that quickly charges batteries and is great for travel, and FA-CS1M off camera shoe allows the use of external flashes (HVL-43M, 20M) in off-camera wired applications. Additionally, the new LCS-ELCA premium soft leather carry case protects the A7 and A7R cameras from scuffs and marks while being carried.
Pricing and Availability
The Sony A7R and A7 full-frame interchangeable lens cameras will be available for purchase this December. The A7R camera will be offered as a body-only for about $2300.
The Sony A7 compact system camera will be offered with a 28-70mm F3.5 – F5.6 full-frame lens (model SEL2870) for about $2000. It will also be offered as a body-only for about $1700.
The versatile new LA-EA3 and LA-EA4 mount adapters will be available in December for about $200 and $350, respectively. The new VG-C1EM vertical grip and LCS-ELCA premium case will also be available in December for about $300 and $140, respectively.
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Long pondered by the community of Biblical scholarship, the rest of the world began considering this question with the release of the hit motion picture 'Raiders of the Lost Ark.' Today there are no lack of possibilities.
Based on ancient Jewish writings, some have suggested the Ark is hidden on Mount Nebo on the Jordan River's east bank. This site is presently in the modern nation of Jordan with no hint of the Ark's presence.
Others suggest the Ark is hidden somewhere near the Dead Sea, on the Jordan's west bank. This location is usually considered in association with the ancient site of Qumran and the people of the Dead Sea Scrolls. Here, the Ark and other artifacts are believed buried in one of the region's caves, like the Dead Sea Scrolls.
Another view suggests the Ark is located beneath Jerusalem, in a stone-carved tunnel. Some say it is beneath the suggested site of the Crucifixion, Gordon's Calvary. The Temple Institute in Jerusalem's Old City, an Ultra-Orthodox organization dedicated to rebuilding the Jewish Temple, says the Ark is under the temple mount and will be revealed at the proper time-when the temple is rebuilt.
Interestingly, the thesis of the 'Raiders of the Lost Ark,' that the Ark was taken from the Temple by Egyptian Pharaoh Shishak is not a popular view today. This may be due to the lack of traditions suggesting the Ark's presence at the mouth of the Nile, in Lower Egypt.
A view which has received little attention until the past decade has now been popularized by a recent book. The Sign and the Seal: The Quest for the Lost Ark of the Covenant, by British journalist Graham Hancock, has almost reached best-seller status and captured the imagination of the general public. According to this view, the Ark of the Covenant was taken from ancient Jerusalem in the days of King Solomon. While there are numerous variations of the story, the common thread centers on a son fathered by Israelite King Solomon and born to the Queen of Sheba. While this union is not mentioned in the Biblical account of the meeting between these two monarchs (1 Kings 10), it has a long tradition in Ethiopia, a suggested location of ancient Sheba.
This son, named Menelik, is said to have brought the Ark to his country for safe keeping, according to an account preserved in the Ethiopian royal chronicles. This story has also been boosted by the now famous Black Jews of Ethiopia, the Falashas. These black Africans, practicing a very ancient form of Judaism, received international attention when an Israeli military action airlifted them to freedom from political persecution in 1976.
The Associates for Biblical Research have not been involved in any efforts to retrieve the Ark. Obviously, it would be one of the greatest artifacts of all time. But archaeology is not a treasure hunt, and the Bible does not need the recovered Ark to be proved accurate.
Fisher, Milton C. 1995. 'The Ark of the Covenant: Alive and Well in Ethiopia?' Bible and Spade 8/3, pp. 65-72.
Hancock, Graham. 1992. The Sign and the Seal: The Quest for the Lost Ark of the Covenant. New York: Crown Books.


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Volkswagen drives us toward a greater future. Martorell plant opens. Production reaches 10M cars.
Volkswagen takes on 99.99% of SEAT. Car number 8 million rolls off the tracks. This is transformation at its boldest.
The SEAT Toledo, our first creation with Volkswagen, debuts at the Barcelona Motor Show. Innovation in progress.
Official XXV Olympics Games partner and sponsor. 2000 cars to get organisers and athletes moving.
Welcome, SEAT Cordoba. In addition, His Majesty King Juan Carlos I opens the Martorell plant, producing the 2nd generation Ibiza.
Car number 10 million, a Toledo, has the honour of being driven first by His Royal Highness the Prince of Asturias.
The year of the Ibiza CUPRA. Plus, the SEAT Ibiza Kit Car wins the FIA World Rally Championship, and the SEAT Alhambra debuts in Geneva.
The SEAT Arosa says hello, with the SEAT Cordoba Vario. And another victory at the FIA World Rally Championship for the SEAT Ibiza Kit Car.
The SEAT Cordoba WRC hits the track at the World Rally Championship, while the new SEAT Toledo captivates at the Paris Motor Show.
New identity: blue & white become red & silver. The SEAT Leon comes up fast with a 180hp engine, 6-speed gearbox and 4-wheel drive.


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From Garrison Point: The Point is a lot of things. It's a place to live. A place to play. It's a place to hang with old friends and make new ones. It's a place to get in shape and it's a place to cool off on a hot summer day. Stylish condominium living is a big part of it, sure. But so are parklands, pools, local shops and even a fitness centre. This is more than just your average development — this is a real community, designed for real life. So whether you're looking for a hip bachelor pad or a place to raise your family, life is just better when you get to The Point. A Different Approach to Urban Living. Coming Soon
CENTURY 21 People's Choice Realty Inc, Independently Owned & Operated


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The Directorate of Istanbul Archaeology Museums that is dependent on the General Directorate of Monuments and Museums of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Turkey is on the Osman Hamdi Bey Ascent that opens to the Topkapı Palace Museum from the right of the Gülhane Park Entry which is in the Sultanahmet district.
Istanbul Archaeology Museums consist of three museums. Those are Archaeology Museum, Old Eastern Works Museum and Enameled Kiosk Museum.
Istanbul Archaeology Museums, which were established as Müze-i Humayun (Empire Museum) by the famous artist and museum director Osman Hamdi Bey at the end of the 19th century, were opened to public on June 13, 1891. Besides its importance as the "first Turkish museum", it has an importance and specialty of being one of the museum buildings that are constructed as a Museum in the World. Today, it still protects its outstanding place in the World's biggest museums with its works more than a million belonging to various cultures.
In the museum collections, there are rich and very important works of art belonging to various civilizations from the regions from Balkans to Africa, from Anatolia and Mesopotamia to Arab Peninsula and Afghanistan that were in the borders of the Ottoman Empire.


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4 x 6 Ranger Series
Price: $2565 Deposit: $965
Available on backorder
This 4′ x 6′ single axle, which is manufactured by Cargo Craft and has many, many features that make this trailer an outstanding value. It starts with tubular steel main frames, walls, and ceilings, making them the most robust frames in the industry. You cannot find a better 4×6 Enclosed Cargo Trailer for Sale at a lower price.
Standard Features Include:
Sharp v nose
2" coupler
4 way plug
16" stone guard
white in color
24" O.C floors
24" O.C. walls
24" O.C roof bows
Colored screws
Rounded aluminum fenders
Plastic sidewall vents
LED tail lights, LED fender lights
13" tires, 2000 lb straight axle
Single rear barn door.
Asphalt under body coating on frame
¾ " plywood floors
3/8" plywood wall liner
4' interior ceiling height on 4' wide
and one interior dome light.
Below are the only options allowed on RV model:
Colored metal
030 metal
6" additional ceiling height
16" on center floor
16" on center walls
16" on center roof
All pricing and specifications are subject to change without notice.Trailer shown with optional ATP nose guard.
Years from now you will be pleased that you bought your trailer from Trailers123.com.
This 4′ x 6′ single axle enclosed cargo trailer manufactured by Cargo Craft has many, many features that make this trailer an outstanding value. It starts with tubular steel main frames, walls and ceilings, making them the strongest frames in the industry. You simply cannot find a better 4 x 6 ft trailer at a lower price.
The roof is a high quality Galvalume roof that has mesa ridges to add rigidity and minimize wind sound. Your front wall is made with solid backing to prevent it from flexing in the wind and the floors are constructed of 3/4″ exterior grade plywood, and are undercoated on the bottom. The walls are 3/8″ plywood for strength and durability.
Triple steel tubing is standard on all of our trailer hitches to add peace of mind while hauling that heavy load. Your trailer also has a 32″ side door for easy access and 16″ stone guard to prevent chipping and maintain your trailer's sleek appearance.
The exterior aluminum is .024 thick with a combination of screws and glue for strength and a smoother exterior. All tail lights are LED for brightness and safety. Double doors or ramp doors are standard on all of our trailers.
Because this is a top quality trailer, you will get a rock solid, TRUE 3-year manufacturer's warranty on your trailer. Cargo Craft has been making trailers since 1990 and they stand behind their trailers.
There are, frankly, too many features to list here, we feel that you cannot find a better trailer anywhere at a lower price. For even more info, click on the features tab above. If the 4×6 enclosed cargo trailer is not the exact size you need, then be sure to shop our huge selection of enclosed cargo trailers by clicking on the trailer shop link at the top. All trailers are available with a wide range of enclosed trailer options,
To customize your trailer visit our Trailer Options Page.


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World Oceans Day: 12 things to know about El Niño: Is it coming, and when?
Find related stories on NSF's Long-Term Ecological Research Program at this link.
Find related stories on NSF's geosciences risk and resilience interest area at this link.
Just in time for World Oceans Day on June 8, cometh El Niño. But is El Niño really on the horizon? How certain are we of its arrival? And how will we know it's here? What effect will it have on the weather, on coastal species and on what's on our dinner tables?
To find out, the National Science Foundation (NSF) talked with biological oceanographer Mark Ohman and physical oceanographer Dan Rudnick of California's Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Their work is funded by NSF's Division of Ocean Sciences.
1) What is El Niño?
(Ohman) El Niño is the formation of warmer-than-usual ocean waters in the equatorial Pacific, with extensive temperature changes along the coast of South America during the month of December--hence the Spanish name "El Niño," the Christmas child. Scientists refer to the phenomenon as the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO). Its warm ocean phase is termed El Niño, and cool ocean phase La Niña.
2) Is El Niño predictable?
(Rudnick) Yes, to some extent. Scientists have identified the precursors of an El Niño; observations to monitor them are taking place near the equator. These observations are used in sophisticated models to predict the timing and magnitude of a developing El Niño. Right now, the models show anything from a weak to a strong El Niño ahead.
3) How do we know that changes in the ocean are the result of El Niño?
(Ohman) El Niño is the strongest year-to-year "signal" on Earth, with distinct temperature and precipitation changes over land and in the sea. Because the ocean is variable on many time scales (tidal, seasonal, year-to-year and decade-to-decade), it's essential to have a baseline of ocean measurements against which to measure departures from normal conditions.
Scientists at the NSF California Current Ecosystem Long-Term Ecological Research site, located in Southern California waters, have access to records of ocean conditions as far back as 1916.
4) Are all El Niños alike?
(Ohman) Not at all. Not only do El Niños vary in intensity, there are at least two major types. In one El Niño, termed Eastern Pacific, the most extreme temperature changes happen off the South American coast. In Central Pacific (CP) El Niños, the center of ocean temperature changes is much farther to the west. Some evidence suggests that the frequency of CP El Niños may be increasing.
(Rudnick) Ultimately every El Niño is different, and only some will strongly affect the coasts of the Americas.
5) When are the effects of El Niño the strongest?
(Ohman) The development of an El Niño is seasonal. The first ocean temperature changes usually begin during the Northern summer (June through September) then continue to grow, reaching their maximum during winter, from November to the following January. But precursors can sometimes be detected as early as February or March of the year of an El Niño's onset.
6) How often do El Niños occur, and how long do they last?
(Ohman) El Niños happen about every two to seven years. The last one was in 2009-10. Their duration is variable, but is usually six to eight months along the equator, with shorter time periods in higher latitudes. There have been exceptional cases of very long El Niños that lasted for two or more years, such as in 1957-59.
7) Are there new ways of observing developing El Niños?
(Rudnick) Yes, we're doing transects--criss-crossings of the ocean--using bullet-shaped, winged robotic gliders that collect underwater data. They're part of a project called Repeat Observations by Gliders in the Equatorial Region (ROGER).
These futuristic-looking gliders, called Spray gliders, traverse the oceans under their own power and are taking measurements in the Pacific Ocean near the Galapagos Islands. The information that returns with a glider tells us how the ocean is changing, and whether those changes indicate the coming of an El Niño.
8) How do the Spray gliders work?
(Rudnick) Spray gliders dive from the surface down to 1,000 meters (3,281 feet) and back, completing a cycle in six hours and covering six kilometers (3.7 miles) during that time.
The gliders carry sensors to measure temperature, salinity, current velocity, chlorophyll fluorescence (a measure of the abundance of phytoplankton), and acoustic backscatter (a measure of zooplankton). Spray gliders are launched for missions lasting about 100 days.
9) How do you know when to send out the gliders?
(Rudnick) The ROGER project wasn't originally designed to observe an El Niño, but the gliders were always capable of doing so. With a scientific project funded by NSF for two years, we couldn't realistically expect to catch an El Niño.
But science does involve serendipity, and we're fortunate to have the gliders in position just as an El Niño is appearing. We expect our data to include the most high-resolution repeated ocean transects ever done across the equator during an El Niño. Results from the gliders are showing the classic signs of an El Niño, including a strengthening equatorial undercurrent.
10) What effects will El Niño have on marine ecosystems along the U.S. West Coast?
(Ohman) During El Niño, the spawning grounds of coastal fish like sardines and anchovies often move closer to the coast. As warming waters from the open ocean come ever nearer to the California coast, cool upwelled water is found mostly along the edge of the land.
Warm-water plankton and fish may be transported far to the north of their normal ranges. In some El Niños, species that live along the coast of Baja California, Mexico, may be found as far north as off British Columbia.
11) Do seabirds and marine mammals respond to El Niño?
(Ohman) It all comes down to where the fish are. Some seabirds, especially those with limited foraging ranges or narrow food preferences, may have reduced reproductive success during an El Niño. California sea lions may have less fish prey available and therefore depressed birth weights of pups. Some whales, dolphins and porpoises may move to different foraging grounds where the fishing is better.
12) Will fisheries off California be affected?
(Ohman) El Niño may have a substantial effect on the catch of, for example, market squid, one of the most commercially important species off California. The spawning of this cool-water species may be severely curtailed, or take place in deeper waters than usual.
During an El Niño, U.S. West Coast sportfishers often catch more warm-water fish such as yellowfin tuna, dolphinfish (dorado), and yellowtail, and fewer cool-water fish like rockfish and lingcod. What's on your dinner table may, for a time, look just a bit different.


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Lake Dunstan at the moment..
The browns on Dunstan have all but left the top flats. I was there last Saturday. For a while, a large section of the lake was dead calm. In about 2 hours fishing it, I saw only a few rises. I caught one on one of Dad's buzzers and then went exploring the Clutha River through the various delta channels. I saw a few fish in deep, fast water but could do little with them. I had some nice action in the lee of a willow island to a few rising fish. All up though, the fishing was slow and the rainbows have not arrived on the top flat just yet.. not many anyway.
On Sunday, Kevin and I went out for a few hours, We decided to fish down the lake towards Clyde. There's lots of fishy water down the road shore. One section in particular had my attention from regularly driving passed it. We went there. We did a number of drifts covering deep to shallow water, weedy to sandy and some rocky edges. Almost every drift resulted in a fish event. We landed 5, The best fish was a 4lb plus rainbow on a nymph David Lambroughton gave me. I was also fishing one of Stu Tripney's damsel flies, which also picked up a fish or 2!
So that's it.. If you're keen on a day on Dunstan, maybe try down the lake. This time last year the top was very slow. By May, the fishing on the top flat was pretty good again for rainbows. Until then I'll be exploring between here (Cromwell) and the Clyde dam. Hopefully it will produce the goods.
No fishing this weekend.. I picked up a stomach bug and it has me fucked.


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American leaders are wrestling between Washington's demands for democracy and strategic coziness with dictatorial regimes.
As with Iran 30 years ago, American leaders again are wrestling with the moral conflict between Washington's demands for democracy among its friends and strategic coziness with dictatorial regimes seen as key to stability in an increasingly complex world, particularly the Middle East.
The turmoil in Egypt — and its potential for grave consequences for US policy throughout the region — was inevitable. The recent WikiLeaks release of US diplomatic reports showed that Washington knew what problems it increasingly faced with the regime of President Hosni Mubarak and his three decades of iron-fisted rule.
As importantly, the US handling of Egyptian uprising, regardless of how it plays out, now has other close American friends in the Middle East — particularly in Saudi Arabia and Jordan — watching closely, looking for foreshadowings of what might be in store for them.
For that reason, US officials have taken great pains to walk a middle line between Mubarak, an old friend and bulwark ally in the Arab world, and the street protests that threaten to drive him from power.
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton was spreading that message widely on US television talk shows Sunday.
"It's not a question of who retains power," she said. "It's how are we going to respond to the legitimate needs and grievances expressed by the Egyptian people and chart a new path. Clearly, the path that has been followed has not been one that has created that democratic future, that economic opportunity that people in the peaceful protests are seeking."
Both the State Department and the White House, in apparent frustration with Mubarak, quickly began talking late last week about the future of America's $1.5 billion in annual military and economic aid to Egypt. That sum is second only to America's annual grant to Israel, a practice that dates to the 1979 peace treaty the US brokered between the two neighbors.
That frustration was already on record in a report by Clinton's ambassador to Egypt, Margaret Scobey, to Gen. David Petraeus in late 2008 before his meeting with Mubarak. Petraeus was then chief of the US military's Central Command.
"Mubarak now makes scant public pretense of advancing a vision for democratic change. An ongoing challenge remains balancing our security interests with our democracy promotion efforts," she wrote, according to one document that was made public by WikiLeaks, the secrets-spilling website.
That is akin to US diplomatic reports about Tunisia, where a people's revolt forced President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali from power two weeks ago after weeks of violent protest. That followed WikiLeaks disclosures that American diplomats were repulsed by that government's greed.
Reports of that kind show clearly that American diplomats hold no illusions about the dictatorial regimes that have held power for decades in the region. At the same time the reports often draw a stark contrast between realities on the ground and official American policy. Dictating Washington's Mideast policy is a fundamental discomfort with instability, fears of a takeover by Islamic radicals — as happened in Iran 30 years ago — and the historic US backing for Israel, a Jewish state surrounded by Arabs.
That's all compounded by heavy US reliance on oil from Saudi Arabia and other Arab states in the Persian Gulf region.
Early in his presidency, Obama traveled to Cairo to deliver a speech to the Arab and Muslim world, declaring US friendship but tempering it with a stern call for democracy. In the meantime, US relations with Turkey, the only Muslim nation in NATO, and with always tumultuous Lebanon, have become severely strained. Then came Tunisia and Egypt, where dictatorial regimes were a bulwark against radical Islam.
That is causing deep concern in Israel, where some fear a takeover in Egypt by the Muslim Brotherhood could lead to an abnegation of Cairo's peace treaty with the Jewish state. The deeply conservative Islamic organization is the largest opposition group in Egypt, officially banned but still holding a large block of seats in parliament.
Obama knows history and has been active on the telephone with key leaders, looking for ways around the Iranian scenario. The White House on Sunday issued a statement outlining Obama's contacts.
Since Saturday, the statement said, Obama had spoken with the prime ministers of Turkey, Israel and Britain as well as King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia.
"During his calls, the president reiterated his focus on opposing violence and calling for restraint; supporting universal rights, including the right to peaceful assembly, association and speech; and supporting an orderly transition to a government that is responsive to the aspirations of the Egyptian people," the statement said. "The president asked each of the leaders that he spoke to for their assessment of the situation and agreed to stay in close contact going forward."
Obama is treading carefully but covering all the necessary bases as his administration struggles with the most serious foreign policy crisis since he took office two years ago. No matter what he does, however, he likely will end up angering either the Arab street that is celebrating the Egyptian uprising or other Arab dictators who have long counted on US government support.


text: This handy double ended crochet hook is attached to a keychain, so you can keep it with your keys or knitting bag at all times. One side of the crochet hook is 2.0 mm and the other end is 3.5 mm, which is handy if you are working at large or small gauges. Use the crochet hook to pick up the dropped stitch, and carry it up the ladders until you can return it to your knitting needles.


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Hollin Jones
Hollin Jones was classically trained as a piano player but found the lure of blues and jazz too much to resist. Graduating from bands to composition then production, he relishes the chance to play anything with keys. A sometime lecturer in videographics, music production and photography post production, Hollin has been a freelance w... Read More


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December 21st, 2013 | 2 Comments
After plotting the world several times we will concentrate on a smaller level this time. Ben Johnson was so kind to convert the part dealing with the USA of the 10m states and provinces data set from natural earth to something useful for gnuplot. The result is stored in the file usa.txt.
Two double lines divide the single states. This allows us to plot a single state with the help of the index
command. At the end of this post the corresponding index numbers for every state are listed.
In addition to the state border data we have another file that includes results from an example election and strings with the names of the states. The election result can be 1 or 2 – corresponding to blue and red. With the help of these two data sets we are able to create Fig. 1 and Fig. 2.
For drawing a single state in red or blue we first collect the results for every single state in the string variable ELEC
. The stats
command is suitable for this, because it parses all the data but doesn't try to plot any of them. During the parsing of every line the election result stored in the second column will be added at the end of the ELEC
ELEC='' stats 'election.txt' u 1:(ELEC = ELEC.sprintf('%i',$2))
In a second step we plot the state borders and color the states with the help of the ELEC
string. ELEC[1:1]
will return the election result for the state with the index 0.
plot for [idx=0:48] 'usa.txt' i idx u 2:1 w filledcurves ls ELEC[idx+1:idx+1],\ '' u 2:1 w l ls 3
Alaska and Hawaii are then added with additional plot commands and the help of multiplot
The data file with the election results includes also the names of the single states and a coordinates to place them. This allows us to put them in the map as well, as you can see in Fig. 2.
The plotting of the state names is easily achieved by the labels
plotting style:
plot for [idx=0:48] 'usa.txt' i idx u 2:1 w filledcurves ls ELEC[idx+1:idx+1],\ '' u 2:1 w l ls 3,\ 'election.txt' u 6:5:3 w labels tc ls 3
At the end we provide the list with the index numbers and the corresponding states. If you want to plot a subset of states – as in Fig. 2 – you should adjust the xrange
and yrange
values accordingly.
0 Massachusetts 1 Minnesota 2 Montana 3 North Dakota 4 Idaho 5 Washington 6 Arizona 7 California 8 Colorado 9 Nevada 10 New Mexico 11 Oregon 12 Utah 13 Wyoming 14 Arkansas 15 Iowa 16 Kansas 17 Missouri 18 Nebraska 19 Oklahoma 20 South Dakota 21 Louisiana 22 Texas 23 Connecticut 24 New Hampshire 25 Rhode Island 26 Vermont 27 Alabama 28 Florida 29 Georgia 30 Mississippi 31 South Carolina 32 Illinois 33 Indiana 34 Kentucky 35 North Carolina 36 Ohio 37 Tennessee 38 Virginia 39 Wisconsin 40 West Virginia 41 Delaware 42 District of Columbia 43 Maryland 44 New Jersey 45 New York 46 Pennsylvania 47 Maine 48 Michigan 49 Hawaii 50 Alaska


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To add extra fun to our hop, we are offering up a prize!
- FOUR winners will be chosen at RANDOM from any of the design team blogs and the PS Blog
- The prize - a $25 gift code to choose what you like at the PS online store.
- Just leave a comment on any of the eight design team blogs listed below or the PS blog for your chance to win! (you do not need to comment on all blogs to qualify)
- You have until midnight MT on Sunday, November 3rd to leave a comment.
- Please check the Paper Smooches blog on Monday, November 4th to see if you are one of the FOUR lucky winners.
- Emily Leiphart [You are here.]
- Erin Lincoln
- Heidi Van Laar
- Kalyn Kepner
- Karolyn Loncon
- Kim Kesti
- Laura Bassen
- Teri Anderson
1. Leave a comment on this blog post
2. Tell us that you Facebooked about our blog hop
3. Tell us that you Tweeted about our hop
4. Tell us that you posted on your blog about our blog hop
(which means that you have up to four chances to win on each blog)
Kim's illustrations are sure to make anyone smile or laugh out loud. Calorie Free does both and it's my favourite set from the November release. When I saw the sentiments, I knew that I wanted to make a group of foodie friends having a conversation.
The taco, its sentiment, sushi rolls and its sentiment are all from the Calorie Free stamp set. The box of fries and its sentiment are from Think Fast. The hamburger (or 'secret' the box of fries is hiding) is from Alfresco. The Word Bubbles and base of the card use patterned paper from Dear Lizzy's Lucky Charm collection. I added googly eyes in three different sizes proportionate to the food items. LOL
Thanks so much for stopping by today. Remember to check the Paper Smooches Blog on Monday to see if you are the lucky winner of the Calorie Free stamp set!


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Council on General Affairs and Policy 2014 – Conclusions & Recommendations
From 8 to 10 April 2014, Members of the Hague Conference gathered in The Hague for the annual meeting of the Council on General Affairs and Policy. The Council reviewed the work of the Organisation during the prior year and charted the course for future work. The Conclusions & Recommendations are available in English and French.


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That America's income distribution has grown dramatically more unequal in the past 40 years is beyond debate. The share of the top 1 percent has doubled since 1980, to over 20 percent of all income.
Could it get any worse? A look at America's large, privately held corporations suggests it could.
When Americans think of large corporations, most of us think of corporations like Pepsi or ExxonMobil, whose shares are publicly traded.
We can know a fair amount about these companies from the reports they file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Thanks to an Obama-era rule that recently went into effect, we even know how much their CEO makes compared to typical workers.
Many large corporations, however, are privately owned. Typically a single shareholder, members of the same family, or perhaps a small group of investors owns all the stock of one of those corporations.
These private owners aren't required to release much financial information, and few do so voluntarily. So their finances are much more opaque.
According to Forbes, there are over 200 privately held corporations in America with over $2 billion in annual revenue. The largest, Cargill, had $109 billion in revenue in 2016.
Unlike at publicly traded corporations, we don't know just how unequal things are between the employees of those privately held corporations and their owners. Might those owners be stingier with workers?
I began to wonder about this when I saw an announcement by Ronald Cameron, the owner and CEO of the poultry processing Mountaire Corporation, of bonuses he'd decided to give his hourly employees. Those bonuses, he said, were made possible by the tax legislation recently passed by the Republican Congress.
Mountaire, according to Forbes, has 6,000 employees and just over $2 billion in annual revenue. If every employee qualified for the maximum bonus of $1,000 Cameron announced, Mountaire's employees would receive $6 million in bonuses total.
Cameron, I'd noticed, is also a major Republican donor. He contributed over $14 million to Republican candidates for the 2016 election, including $2.4 million to Trump.
In other words, he was substantially more generous with politicians than with the 6,000 employees whose hard work has made him a very rich man.
What then, I wondered, might the income distribution be for the population at Mountaire — that is, the 6,000 employees and Cameron? What percentage of Mountaire's profit does Cameron pay to his 6,000 employees, and how much does he keep for himself?
Mountaire doesn't release that information. But we can make an educated guess based on what we know about similarly sized, publicly traded poultry processing companies.
Based on profit margins from those companies, along with data from a recent salary survey of Mountaire employees, Mountaire likely is paying $180 million or less in wages to its 6,000 employees each year — leaving about $200 million in pre-tax profits for CEO and owner Cameron.
In other words, over half the income at Mountaire may go to one person. That's 600 times as concentrated as in the country overall.
Mountaire could be an outlier. But consider this: CEOs at publicly traded corporations resisted reporting their ratio of CEO compensation to median worker pay for seven years. Honeywell recently became the first corporation to report its CEO to worker pay ratio, an eye-popping 333 to 1.
That's how bad it is at the companies we know about. How bad might it be at the companies we don't?


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Is there a minimum amount of meat or chicken required to be eaten in order to change one's status to being "fleishig" (i.e. so that he would have to wait before eating dairy)?
[same question can be said of dairy for "milchig" status...]
Would it matter if the meat or chicken is spit from the mouth before swallowing?


text:
Open/Close Toolbox
Format: Photos
Linked To
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 New Zealand License
This licence lets you remix, tweak, and build upon our work noncommercially and although your new works must also acknowledge us and be noncommercial, you do not have to license the derivative works on the same terms.
Click on the image to add
a tag or press ESC to cancel
a tag or press ESC to cancel
loading google map....
Marryatt Motors; no date given. Upper Hutt City Library, accessed 25/07/2024, https://uhcl.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/33985


text:
Click on any image to see a larger version of it.
Snowy Owl east of Barr Lake; a little too far for a decent picture |
Can you spot the bird that's different? (the Blue-morph Snow Goose) |
On another day we drove out to Nunn, CO where, for the first time, we didn't see any Burrowing Owls. We did enjoy seeing a flock of Horned Larks and we also saw our first Eurasian Collared Dove. We then went on to Pawnee National Grassland where we saw very little bird activity, even at the Crow Valley Recreation area. But we did see some Pronghorns and a coyote.
Horned Lark near Nunn, Colorado |
Another wayward bird, the Long-tailed Duck had been spotted at Denver City Park and we got a good look at him this past Sunday. In spite of terrible wind gusts, Mike managed to hang onto our camera and get some nice shots of the duck formerly known as Oldsquaw, and his Duck Lake cohorts. We especially enjoyed seeing several Hooded Mergansers up close.
Long-tailed Duck (M) at right with Common Goldeneye on left |
Hooded Merganser (male) |
Speaking of life lists, we have been reading two birding books this month -- The Big Year and Kenn Kaufman's Kingbird Highway. What fun to compare what we were doing in 1973 with the hitchhiking adventures of a teenage birder!
We have been tracking sightings on the iBird app for iPhone and updating our Bird Brain software to manage our life list as well as start a new list for 2012. As I type, we are at a meager 57 species for the year, but we have high hopes of increasing that number greatly with our upcoming trip to south Texas.


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Electoral Panorama / Panorama Electoral
Election Resources on the Internet's Weblog / El weblog de Recursos Electorales en la Internet
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Election Resources on the Internet
Recursos Electorales en la Internet
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Sun, Sep 30, 2007
Ukraine 2007 parliamentary election
Voters in Ukraine also went to the polls today.
Ukraine holds an early parliamentary election
, at
Global Economy Matters
, has partial 2007 election results and reviews the electoral system and post-independence political developments in the former Soviet republic, while Edward Hugh analyzes
The Economic Outlook in Ukraine
posted by
Manuel Álvarez-Rivera
: 09/30/2007 17:48 |
permanent link
Ecuador celebra elecciones para una Asamblea Constituyente
(This posting is also available in English.)
Los votantes en Ecuador acuden a las urnas hoy para elegir una Asamblea Constituyente que redactará una nueva constitución para la nación sudamericana.
La Asamblea Constituyente se compondrá de 130 miembros: 100 de las veintidós provincias del país, 24 de una lista nacional y seis escogidos por los ecuatorianos residentes en el extranjero. Los escaños provinciales y de la lista nacional se repartirán por el método del resto mayor de representación proporcional. Sin embargo, en las circunscripciones provinciales de dos escaños, le corresponderá un mandato a la candidatura que quede en segundo lugar si la misma consigue por lo menos el veinticinco porciento de los votos. Entre tanto, los seis miembros de la Asamblea que representarán a los ecuatorianos en el extranjero serán electos en tres circunscripciones - EE.UU. y Canadá, Europa y América Latina - por mayoría simple.
Los partidos políticos y los movimientos ciudadanos presentan listas de candidatos, y cada elector contará con un número de votos igual al número de representantes a elegirse. Los electores pueden escoger una sola lista, y de esta manera votar por todos los candidatos en la misma, o pueden escoger a candidatos de diferentes listas. Los escaños que obtengan las listas se le asignarán a los candidatos con mayor número de votos dentro de cada lista. El voto es compulsorio, salvo para los electores analfabetos, discapacitados, mayores de 65 años o residentes en el extranjero.
Ecuador ha sufrido de inestabilidad política en épocas recientes, y el país ha tenido ocho presidentes en los pasados once años. En las elecciones generales de 2006, Rafael Correa, un economista de 44 años, resultó electo presidente. Correa, que se considera a sí mismo un cristiano de izquierda, ha tenido enfrentamientos con el Congreso y desea implementar cambios institucionales abarcadores. En un referéndum celebrado el pasado 15 de abril, los votantes aprobaron su propuesta para convocar a una Asamblea Constituyente por 5,354,595 votos a favor (81.7%) frente a 814,323 en contra (12.4%), con una participación electoral del 71.6%.
Un total de 3,229 candidatos concurren a las elecciones en 26 listas nacionales, 428 provinciales y 44 del extranjero. No obstante, se anticipa que el partido oficialista - la Alianza PAIS (Patria Altiva I Soberana) - obtenga el mayor número de escaños, y posiblemente la mayoría absoluta.
La web del
Tribunal Supremo Electoral
de Ecuador tendrá los resultados en vivo de la elección de hoy.
posted by
Manuel Álvarez-Rivera
: 09/30/2007 09:39 |
permanent link
Ecuador holds a constituent assembly election
(Esta entrada está disponible también en español.)
Voters in Ecuador go to the polls today to elect a constituent assembly that will draft a new constitution for the South American nation.
The constituent assembly will be composed of 130 members: 100 from the country's twenty-two provinces, 24 from a national list and six chosen by Ecuadorians residing abroad. Provincial and national list seats will be distributed by the largest remainder method of proportional representation. However, in provincial constituencies with two seats, the second largest ticket will be entitled to one mandate if it obtains at least twenty-five percent of the vote. Meanwhile, the six assembly members representing Ecuadorians abroad will be elected in three constituencies - the U.S. and Canada, Europe and Latin America - by simple majority voting.
Political parties and citizen movements submit lists of candidates, and each elector will have a number of votes equal to the number of representatives to be elected. Electors may choose a single list, and in this manner vote for all its candidates, or they may choose candidates from different lists. Seats won by lists will be assigned to the candidates with the largest number of votes within each list. Voting is compulsory, except for electors who are illiterate, handicapped, over the age of 65 or residing abroad.
Ecuador has suffered from political instability in recent times, and the country has had eight presidents over the past eleven years. In the 2006 general election, 44-year old economist Rafael Correa was elected president. Correa, who considers himself a left-wing Christian, has clashed with Congress and wants to implement sweeping institutional changes. In a referendum held last April 15, voters overwhelmingly approved his proposal to call a constituent assembly by 5,354,595 votes in favor (81.7%) to 814,323 against (12.4%), on a 71.6% turnout.
A total of 3,229 candidates are running in the election in 26 national lists, 428 provincial lists, and 44 expatriate lists. Nonetheless, it is expected that the ruling party - the PAIS Alliance (Proud and Sovereign Fatherland) - will obtain the largest the number of seats in the assembly, and possibly an absolute majority.
Supreme Court of Elections
website will have live, Spanish-language results of today's election.
posted by
Manuel Álvarez-Rivera
: 09/30/2007 09:39 |
permanent link
Tue, Sep 18, 2007
2007 Hellenic Parliament election results
Elections to the Hellenic Parliament (Vouli)
has been updated with nationwide and constituency-level results of last Sunday's legislative election in Greece, as reported by the Ministry of the Interior's
National Elections 2007
posted by
Manuel Álvarez-Rivera
: 09/18/2007 19:43 |
permanent link
Sun, Sep 16, 2007
Elections to the Hellenic Parliament (Vouli)
Greece holds an early parliamentary election on Sunday, September 16, 2007.
Elections to the Hellenic Parliament (Vouli)
has an overview of Greece's electoral system, with results of Greek general elections since 1996.
Greece's snap parliamentary election of 2007 - trial by (wild) fire?
, in
Global Economy Matters
, has further information on the event, while Edward Hugh puts
The Greek Economy Under The Microscope
Today's election will be held under a new electoral law passed by the outgoing Pan Hellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK) government in early 2004, which provides for a majority bonus of forty seats (out of a total of 300) for the popular vote winner at the nationwide level; the remaining 260 seats (including 12 nationwide seats and 248 multi-member constituency seats) will be initially allocated by the largest remainder (Hare) method of PR. The legal provisions covering the upcoming elections to the Vouli are contained in Presidential Decree 96/2007 (available
in Greek
; link to the
Ministry of the Interior, Public Administration and Decentralization
Under the new system - which retains the existing three percent nationwide threshold - parties could win up to 87% of the seats they would receive under full proportionality (260 of 300 mandates being 86.7% of the total number of Vouli seats), as opposed to 70% under the old law. At the same time, the 40-seat majority prize means a single party could win an absolute parliamentary majority with as little as 42% of the nationwide vote.
Although the new electoral law was enacted in 2004 just before the election held that year, it did not come into effect at the time because the parliamentary majority voting in favor of the law did not reach the two-thirds required by the constitution for the immediate application of a new electoral system. Had the new electoral law been in place for the 2004 election
had voters cast their ballots the same way, the distribution of Vouli seats in the election would have been as follows: New Democracy (ND), 164; PASOK, 111; Communist Party of Greece (KKE), 16; and Coalition of the Left, the Movements and the Ecology (SYN), 9. Compared to the actual
2004 election outcome
, ND would have lost just one seat but PASOK would have lost six, while KKE would have gained four seats and SYN would have won three additional mandates.
posted by
Manuel Álvarez-Rivera
: 09/16/2007 11:11 |
permanent link
Turkey update
Last July 22, the ruling, moderately Islamist Justice and Development Party (AKP) of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan won a clear victory in a
snap Grand National Assembly election
triggered by a political crisis over the proposed election to the presidency of Abdullah Gul - who was finally
chosen by the Grand National Assembly as head of state
last August.
One factor that contributed decisively to AKP's electoral triumph was its record of strong, sustained economic growth under Erdogan's tenure, and Edward Hugh takes an in-depth look at Turkey's economy in
Turkey, Emerging Markets and the Coming Global Credit Crunch
Turkey, The Anatolian Tiger
Turkey, The Anatolian Tiger II
, at
Global Economy Matters
posted by
Manuel Álvarez-Rivera
: 09/16/2007 09:12 |
permanent link
Mon, Sep 10, 2007
Belgium: three months without government
It's been three months since Belgian voters went to the polls for a federal election in which the Liberal-Socialist coalition government of Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt lost its absolute majority in the Chamber of Representatives. However, a new government has yet to emerge.
In the election, the Christian Democratic & Flemish (CD&V) scored major gains and emerged as the largest party in the Chamber, although well short of an absolute majority. As a result, party leader Yves Leterme was nominated to replace Verhofstadt, who resigned after the election. However, last August 23 Leterme gave up after his attempt to form a coalition cabinet stumbled over the issue of further devolution of powers to the Dutch-speaking region of Flanders. Meanwhile, Verhofstadt remains as caretaker head of government.
Federal Elections in Belgium
has detailed results of last June 10 election.
posted by
Manuel Álvarez-Rivera
: 09/10/2007 14:04 |
permanent link
Sun, Sep 09, 2007
Guatemala celebra elecciones generales
(This posting is also available in English.)
La República de Guatemala celebra elecciones generales en el día de hoy, para escoger a un nuevo presidente y a los miembros del Congreso unicameral, así como a los gobiernos municipales.
El Presidente de la República, quien es electo de forma directa y mediante sufragio universal por un término de cuatro años, es escogido por mayoría absoluta de votos, y no puede ser re-electo. Si ningún candidato alcanza la mayoría absoluta en la primera vuelta, se celebra una segunda vuelta entre los dos candidatos con mayor número de votos, y se considera electo al que obtenga la mayoría de los votos válidos.
El Congreso de la República se compone de 158 diputados electos de manera directa para un término de cuatro años por el método de media mayor de representación proporcional (la regla D'Hondt) en distritos plurinominales - los departamentos de Guatemala, más la Ciudad de Guatemala - y una lista nacional. Un total de 31 diputados se eligen en la lista nacional, mientras que los restantes 127 escaños se reparten entre los distritos en proporción a su población; sin embargo, cada distrito cuenta con al menos un diputado.
Los partidos políticos presentan candidatos o listas de candidatos. Las listas son cerradas, por lo cual los electores no pueden seleccionar candidatos individuales en o alterar el orden de las mismas. Los electores votan por una sola lista, o por un solo candidato en distritos uninominales.
Un total de dieciseis partidos concurren a las elecciones. La web oficial
Voto 2007
del Tribunal Supremo Electoral de Guatemala tendrá disponibles los resultados preliminares de las elecciones del hoy, y el blog de
Elecciones Guatemala
también le está dando seguimiento al proceso.
posted by
Manuel Álvarez-Rivera
: 09/09/2007 09:36 |
permanent link
Guatemala holds a general election
(Esta entrada está disponible también en español.)
Guatemala holds a general election today to choose a new president and members of the unicameral Congress, as well as municipal governments.
The President of the Republic, directly elected by universal suffrage for a single term of four years, is chosen by an absolute majority of votes and cannot be re-elected. If no candidate attains an absolute majority in the first round of voting, a second round is held between the two candidates with the largest number of votes, and the candidate that obtains a majority of valid votes is deemed elected.
The Congress of the Republic is composed of 158 deputies directly elected for a four-year term of office by the largest average method of proportional representation (the D'Hondt rule) in multi-member districts - the departments of Guatemala, plus Guatemala City - and a nationwide list. A total of 31 deputies are elected in the national list, while the remaining 127 seats are allocated among the districts in proportion to their population; however, each district has at least one deputy.
Political parties submit candidates or lists of candidates. The lists are closed, so electors may not choose individual candidates in or alter the order of such lists. Electors cast a ballot for a single list, or for a single candidate in single-member districts.
A total of sixteen parties are taking part in the elections. The Guatemalan Supreme Court of Elections official
Voto 2007
(Vote 2007; in Spanish) website will have preliminary results of today's election, and the
Elecciones Guatemala
(Elections Guatemala; also in Spanish) blog is also following the process.
posted by
Manuel Álvarez-Rivera
: 09/09/2007 09:36 |
permanent link
Tue, Sep 04, 2007
Gone with the wind? Jamaica's PNP loses power to JLP in close poll
Jamaica's ruling People's National Party (PNP) appears to have lost power to the opposition Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) in yesterday's parliamentary election - the closest vote in the country's history.
Preliminary election results have the JLP prevailing by the narrowest of margins, with 31 seats in the House of Representatives to the PNP's 29. The popular vote was almost evenly divided, with the JLP narrowly ahead of the PNP by 405,215 votes (50.1%) to 402,275 (49.8%), according to
Jamaica Elections 2007
Definitive results are expected in two to three days. If these confirm the preliminary figures, JLP leader Bruce Golding will become the next prime minister of Jamaica, bringing eighteen years of PNP rule to a close. In the meantime, incumbent Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller refuses to concede defeat, citing election irregularities.
One factor that may have played a decisive role in the government's apparent defeat was its perceived slow response to Hurricane Dean, which battered the Caribbean island nation two weeks ago, forcing the postponement of the general election by a week.
The Electoral Office of Jamaica reports the JLP picked up two additional seats in
Monday's vote, for a majority of 33-27 over the PNP, which has conceded defeat in the election.
posted by
Manuel Álvarez-Rivera
: 09/04/2007 07:12 |
permanent link
Sun, Sep 02, 2007
Jamaica's 2007 Parliamentary Election
Jamaica holds a parliamentary election on Monday, September 3, 2007. The vote, originally scheduled for last August 27, was postponed after the country was severely affected two weeks ago by Hurricane Dean, which passed just south of the Caribbean island nation with devastating 145 mph (230 km/h) winds.
In tomorrow's poll, Jamaican voters will be choosing members of the lower chamber of Parliament, the sixty-seat House of Representatives, in single-member constituencies under the first-past-the-post method used for elections to the House of Commons in both the
United Kingdom
. Like both of these countries, Jamaica is a constitutional monarchy with Queen Elizabeth II of the U.K. as head of state (represented by a Governor-General) and a parliamentary system of government headed by a prime minister, who is usually the leader of the largest party in the House of Representatives.
Since the introduction of universal suffrage in 1944, Jamaican politics have been dominated by two major parties, the left-of-center People's National Party (PNP) and the somewhat more conservative Jamaica Labour Party (JLP). Both parties have alternated in power since the country won independence from the U.K. in 1962. The JLP held office from 1962 to 1972 and from 1980 to 1989, when the PNP, which ruled Jamaica from 1972 to 1980, was returned to power in a landslide victory under the leadership of former Prime Minister Michael Manley, son of party founder Norman Manley.
After Manley retired from politics in 1992, Percival J. Patterson succeeded him as head of government, leading the PNP to further landslide victories in 1993 and 1997. The PNP scored a fourth consecutive victory in the October 2002 general election, but the outcome was much closer than in the previous three elections, with the PNP winning thirty-four seats to the JLP's twenty-six. The popular vote was even closer: the PNP polled 396,590 votes (52.1%) and the JLP 360,718 (47.4%), while independent and minor-party candidates received 4,057 votes (0.5%).
In 2006, Prime Minister Patterson stepped down from office; Portia Simpson Miller succeeded Patterson as both party leader and head of government, becoming Jamaica's first-ever female premier.
Live election results are now available on
Jamaica Elections 2007
posted by
Manuel Álvarez-Rivera
: 09/02/2007 10:42 |
permanent link


text:
According to the National Institute of Dental Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), over half of those in the U.S. survive from oral cancer after five years. If this condition is caught early enough, the chances of successful treatment are high.
Dentists look for early signs of mouth cancer during regular checkup appointments, but it's also important for you to recognize these warning signals so you can bring them to the attention of your dentist right away.
Signs and Symptoms of Oral Cancer
Mouth cancer can occur anywhere in the mouth, including the lips, tongue and throat, as well as the salivary glands, pharynx, larynx and sinuses. And because early detection is crucial in overcoming this disease, you'll want to visit your doctor immediately if any of the following symptoms persist for more than two weeks:
- Sores, swellings, lumps or thick patches anywhere in or around your mouth or throat
- Areas of red or white lesions in your mouth or lips
- The feeling of a lump or object stuck in your throat
- Swellings that make wearing dentures uncomfortable
- Numbness, pain or tenderness anywhere in your mouth, including your tongue
- Pain in one of your ears but without any loss of hearing
- Trouble moving your jaw or tongue, or problems with chewing, swallowing or speaking
- Loose teeth with no apparent dental cause
- Lingering sore throat or hoarseness
How Mouth Cancer Occurs
Although the exact cause of oral cancer is unclear, there are certain lifestyle factors that can put someone at risk for this disease. Tobacco of any kind – cigarettes, cigars, pipes and smokeless tobacco – increase your risk for oral cancer. In fact, the Mouth Cancer Foundation reports 90 percent of those with oral cancer consume tobacco. Heavy use of alcohol also increases a person's chances of developing oral cancer, and the NIDCR says your risk is even higher when using both tobacco and alcohol.
In addition to tobacco and alcohol, age and eating habits can influence your risk as well. Most oral cancers occur in people over the age of 40, and a diet that is deficient in fruits and vegetables can make it easier to contract. Keep in mind sun exposure can cause cancer on the lips. More recently, there has been a rise in a subset of oral cancers associated with the sexually transmitted human papillomavirus (HPV 16).
Oral Cancer Early Screening and Treatment
Oral cancer examinations by your dentist are quick, painless and crucial to detecting it in its early stages. The American Dental Association (ADA) explains that during a routine checkup of your teeth and gums, your dentist also visually checks your lips and face for signs of spreading beyond your mouth. He or she may also palpate the neck and jaw area, and examine both the top and underside of your tongue. These oral cancer screenings should be done every six months.
A dentist who suspects cancer will recommend a biopsy of the area, according to the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD). With a positive diagnosis, surgery may be needed to treat the affected area, and often this surgery is followed by radiation and chemotherapy treatment.
Your Best Option for Early Detection
When in doubt, seek prevention! You should already practice daily oral hygiene to prevent tooth decay and gum disease: brushing regularly with a fluoride toothpaste, flossing daily and limiting sweets. But by regulating certain lifestyle choices – smoking, alcohol use and sun exposure, for example – you can significantly lower your risk of developing oral cancer.
Ultimately, if you know what to look for and see your dentist for regular screenings, early signs of mouth cancer can be identified and taken care of before they become a serious problem.


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President Biden has introduced a plan to spend $400 billion over eight years on home and community-based care for the elderly and people with disabilities. The money would go to expand access to care and support higher-paying caregiving jobs.
As the elderly population grows, our long-term care system is becoming increasingly strained. The AARP found that in 2020, more than one out of every five Americans — 21.3 percent — were acting as caregivers, either caring for a relative or a close friend. Many women have had to drop out of the workforce to care for aging family members. In the meantime, paid caregivers are typically underpaid and overworked, with one in six paid caregivers living in poverty. And our elderly population is only expected to grow: By 2030, one in five Americans is projected to be over 65.
Recognizing that the United States is "in the midst of a caregiving crisis," President Biden has proposed boosting funding for home and community based long-term care as part of his $2 trillion American Jobs Plan. While the plan does not have specifics, it proposes to expand access to long-term care services under Medicaid that help people stay at home and avoid care in an institution. Currently, only nursing home care is mandated under Medicaid, with states providing care at home or in the community at their discretion. Waiting lists for home and community-based services under state Medicaid programs can stretch on for years, and only a small fraction of those who need care receive these services, according to Kaiser Health News.
Among other things, President Biden wants to extend the Money Follows the Person program, which is a federal initiative designed to move people out of nursing homes and into home-based care. The program provides grants to states to create innovative home and community-based programs.
President Biden is also proposing that money be put toward creating well-paying caregiving jobs and that home health care workers be able to join a union and engage in collective bargaining. The White House states that this "will improve wages and quality of life for essential home health workers and yield significant economic benefits for low-income communities and communities of color."
President Biden's plan does not provide details, leaving It up to Congress to fill in the particulars when drafting its legislation. It is unclear how much of Biden's proposed funding will make it into a final bill.
To read about the American Jobs Plan, click here.
For more about the home health care proposal, click here and here.