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Bacillus anthraces — more commonly known as anthrax — is not to be trifled with. Once the bacterium enters the blood stream, it releases a lethal cocktail of toxins that spreads rapidly throughout the body, leading to severe tissue damage, bleeding, and respiratory collapse. The fact that anthrax spores can infect a host via inhalation have made it a popular biological weapon in recent years.
Some people, however, demonstrate a natural resistance to anthrax, although the reasons for this have remained largely unknown. Now, researchers have discovered that how resistant you are to anthrax's effects likely depends on specific components of your genetic makeup. What implications do their results have for biodefense and biosecurity? Is our understanding of infectious agents advancing to a point that could soon make genetic-specific bioweapons a reality?
A genetic basis for anthrax resistance
The results of the anthrax study are published in this week's Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, by a team of Stanford geneticists led by researchers Mikhail Martchenko and Stanley Cohen.
SciAm's Katherine Harmon provides a tidy summary of their findings:
The researchers used cells from 234 people from African, Asian, European and North American descent whose tissues were taken for the HapMap Project, a freely available genome database. Of those cells, most fell to assaults from the anthrax bacterium. But cells from three people-of European descent-required hundreds or even thousands more times as much anthrax toxin to kill them.
This staggering range in lethality was certainly unexpected; but believe it or not, the fact that the toxin was more deadly to some cells than it was to others was not, in and of itself, surprising.
Whether these variations were due to genetic or environmental factors, however, was unclear, which is why the real surprise came when Martchenko and Cohen managed to trace the broad range in anthrax sensitivity to the regulation of a specific gene, named capillary morphogenesis gene 2, or "CMG2" for short. (CMG2 codes for a protein that controls anthrax's ability to access human cells.)
The researchers found that the cells of people who were closely related expressed the CMG2 protein in similar quantities, and had comparable reactions to the toxin, leading the researchers to conclude that a person's sensitivity to anthrax is, in fact, a heritable genetic trait. By extension, some ethnic/geographical groups are likely to be more susceptible to lethal anthrax infection than others.
This study therefore belongs to a small handful of investigations that have managed to identify a strong genetic basis for person-to-person variations in toxin resistance, which make its findings especially relevant in the context of international biosecurity — i.e. how we go about protecting ourselves from biological warfare.
A brief introduction to biological warfare
Why these findings are so important in the context of international security requires a bit of background. The first thing you should understand is that biological weapons have been around for a very long time, and come in many different forms.
As early as the 5th century BC, Greco-Roman soldiers were deliberately contaminating their enemies' water sources with animal carcasses. By 400 BC, Scythian archers had managed to effectively weaponize biological agents by dipping the heads of their arrows in feces or decaying cadavers, recognizing that their projectiles would inflict more harm if they were first tainted by human waste of one form or another.
Two hundred years later, Hannibal — the legendary Carthaginian general — would weaponize biological agents, as well, cramming large clay pots full of venomous snakes before launching them aboard the ships of his enemies.
It seemed at first ridiculous to Hannibal's opponents that he should fight with earthen pots, "[as though his men] could not fight with the sword," writes Roman biographer Cornelius Nepos, in an account of Hannibal's unconventional tactics. "But when the ships began to be filled with serpents, and they were thus involved in double peril, [Hannibal's enemies] yielded the victory."
Over the course of history, biological warfare has evolved, and with it its methods of implementation. At the 1346 Siege of Caffa, Mongol forces are believed to have used enormous trebuchets — many capable of hurling loads well over 200 pounds — to pitch plague-ridden cadavers over the walls of the well-guarded the city.
"[These corpses] could easily have transmitted plague, as defenders handled the cadavers during disposal," writes Mark Wheelis — an historian of biological warfare and microbiologist at UC Davis — in an analysis of the tactics employed at Caffa. He continues:
Contact with infected material is a known mechanism of transmission; for instance, among 284 cases of plague in the United States in 1970–1995 for which a mechanism of transmission could be reasonably inferred, 20% were thought to be by direct contact. Such transmission would have been especially likely at Caffa, where cadavers would have been badly mangled by being hurled, and many of the defenders probably had cut or abraded hands from coping with the bombardment.
This act of biological warfare, concludes Wheelis, "appears to have been spectacularly successful in producing casualties."
More detailed accounts of biological warfare in the pre-modern and modern eras are available elsewhere. (The figure featured here, which highlights notable instances of biowarfare throughout history, is taken from "Feces, Dead Horses, and Fleas: Evolution of the Hostile Use of Biological Agents," and is available via the National Institutes of Health.)
An Unruly Weapon
For now, however, the most important thing to take away from these accounts is how every single one of them points to an overall lack of understanding and sophistication surrounding the weaponization of biological agents. Did armies recognize that arrows dipped in feces would inflict more harm upon their targets, or that plague-ridden bodies could act as vectors of illness and disease? Almost certainly — at least on some basic level. But remember: these tactics of biological warfare predate the germ theory of disease by hundreds, even thousands of years; whatever understanding these civilizations possessed, it lacked the epidemiological sophistication of modern science and medicine.
Granted, all of these examples took place a long, long time ago; our understanding of biological agents and how they affect the body has come a long way since we were hurling disease-ridden bodies over city walls, right? Absolutely — but in many ways, humanity's relationship with biological warfare is defined by a lack of understanding even to this day. Consider, for example, that one of the major hurdles facing biological warfare's effective implementation is the issue of target specificity — or, rather, the lack thereof.
"Among weapons of mass destruction, biological weapons are more destructive than
chemical weapons, including nerve gas," writes David Siegrist, a professor of biodefense at George Mason University, in an article published in Emerging Infectious Diseases.
"In certain circumstances," Siegrist continues, "biological weapons can be
as devastating as nuclear ones — —a few kilograms of anthrax can kill as many people as a
Hiroshima-size nuclear weapon."
Their potential to wipe out thousands of people while leaving infrastructure intact has led some to refer to biological weapons as "the poor man's neutron bomb." But these powerful weapons differ on one subtle, albeit crucial point: nuclear arms were specifically designed to deliver wholesale devastation; in contrast, widespread pestilence — the kind brought about by a biological weapon — is defined by a lack of design on humanity's part, by our outright inability to wield its power with deliberation.
What does the future hold?
Which brings us back to why the findings of Martchenko and his colleagues are so important in the context of international biosecurity.
Speaking to the implications of their results, the authors note:
Our findings, which reveal the previously unsuspected magnitude of genetically determined differences in toxin sensitivity among cells from different individuals, suggest a broadly applicable approach for investigating pathogen susceptibility in diverse human populations.
Such investigations could inform our ability to determine which members of a population are most likely to fall ill following exposure to a biological weapon. On one hand, this is the kind of information that a bioterrorist could use to "custom tailor" a toxin or infectious agent to inflict harm on a specific subset of people — what is sometimes referred to as an ethnic or biogenetic weapon. At a Department of Defense news briefing held in 1997, then Secretary of Defense William S. Cohen described such weapons as a conceivable risk, remarking that there are "plenty of ingenious minds out there that are at work finding ways in which they can wreak terror upon other nations." To assume that these "ingenious minds" will not take interest in a study that demonstrates a genetic basis for susceptibility to anthrax toxin would be exceedingly foolish.
On the other hand, this kind of information will also prove incredibly useful for those working to improve our ability to defend against lethal pathogens, anthrax or otherwise.
This discovery, notes Relman, who was not involved in the research, "could lead to the development of novel treatment strategies, perhaps by blocking the interaction between the toxin and the receptor or by down-regulating its expression."
"The findings could also provide a possible means for predicting who is likely to become seriously ill after exposure, which could be extremely useful when faced with a large number of exposed people."
So what's the upshot of all this? If the anthrax findings published in this week's PNAS have brought us one step closer to a future where custom-made biogenetic weapons are a reality, they have also narrowed the gap that separates us from effective defenses against those weapons.
The researchers' findings are published in the latest issue of PNAS.
DNA and Gas mask via Shutterstock; Hannibal via Wikimedia Commons; All other figures via their respective papers


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Tomorrow morning, in a court in London, two men will appear to face charges under Britain's Official Secrets Act. The first man, David Keogh, a former employee of the Cabinet Office, is accused of unlawfully handing a confidential memorandum to the second man, Leo O'Connor, a researcher for a former Labor member of Parliament, Tony Clarke.
The memorandum is actually a five-page transcript stamped "Top Secret." It describes a meeting at the White House on April 16, 2004, between President Bush and Prime Minister Tony Blair. At that meeting, which took place while desperately hard fighting was in progress in the Iraqi town of Fallujah, Bush mooted the idea of taking out the headquarters of Al Jazeera in Doha, Qatar. The network's correspondents inside the city had been transmitting lurid footage of extreme violence. The exchange apparently puts Blair in a good light, in that he dissuaded the president from any such course of action and was assisted in this by Colin Powell, who was then secretary of state.
So, this is ostensibly about something that never actually happened. But what if it had? The state of Qatar, which though a Wahabbi kingdom has a free press and allows women to run and to vote in elections, has not been the host of just Al Jazeera since the network's predecessor was kicked out of Saudi Arabia. It has also been the host of United States Central Command, and of many American civilians. It is the site each year of a highly interesting and useful conference, co-sponsored by the Saban Center at the Brookings Institution, where American and Middle Eastern academics and journalists and others meet in conditions of informality. Its emir has been a positive help and supporter to many democrats in the region. Bombing or blowing up the Al Jazeera office would involve hitting the downtown section of Doha, the capital city of a friendly power. It's difficult to think of any policy that would have been more calamitous. (But perhaps it was proposed to do it "surgically"?)
What reason do we have to believe that this appalling proposal was actually made? First, the British government has prosecuted the two men accused of handling the memo for leaking "making a damaging disclosure of a document relating to international relations." Blair's attorney general, Lord Goldsmith, has further threatened an injunction on the Daily Mirror, which published the original story in November under the bylines of Kevin Maguire and Andy Lines, if it tries to disclose any more details of the document.
But this attempt at damage control has been thwarted by one sitting and one former Labor MP, both of whom have stated for the record that they know the contents of the memorandum. The sitting one is Peter Kilfoyle, a strong opponent of the Iraq war who was until 2000 a deputy minister of defense. The recently unseated one is the abovementioned Tony Clarke, to one of whose staffers the memo was given in the first place. (Clarke did what he thought was the right thing by giving the memo back to Prime Minister Blair's office in Downing Street.) Kilfoyle decided on Monday to go public and in effect to challenge the British government to prosecute him, too.
A second reason for believing in the authenticity of the memo is that an unnamed spokesman for Blair was quoted in the original story as saying that Bush's remark was "humorous, not serious." This is as much as to concede that some such conversation did in fact take place. It is of course not always possible to tell when the president is joking, but another who saw the transcript claimed that he was "deadly serious, as was Blair." (This by the way is a rebuke to those who routinely taunt the prime minister as "Bush's poodle.")
A third and again somewhat inductive reason is the response of Colin Powell, who was finally asked about the meeting to his face outside St. John's Episcopal Church in Maclean, Va., on Sunday morning. The Daily Mirror's reporter, Ryan Parry, asked him a question that contained the date and subject of the meeting, and was successively told "I can't remember every meeting," … "I don't know, you'll have to forgive me," … "I don't recall this," … "I don't remember the Al Jazeera thing, frankly," along with several more brushoffs of the same "nondenial denial" sort. I am not the world's greatest fan of Powell or of his secretaryship, but the chief steward of American foreign policy might be expected to remember a proposal to bomb the territory of a friendly neutral that is the site of U.S. Central Command, as well as a sharp dispute about it between his president and his country's chief political and military ally. If he doesn't feel confident enough to say: "That is too absurdly untrue to deserve even a comment from me," then he is not doing much better than stalling.
It is high time that this question was ventilated by people other than British editors and journalists who labor under the repressive conditions of the Official Secrets Act. Al Jazeera is not describable, perhaps, as a strictly objective station, but it is the main source of news in the Arab world because it is not the property of any state or party, and it has given live and unedited coverage of things like the elections in Iraq. In 2001, its office in Afghanistan was destroyed by "smart" bombs. In 2003, its correspondent in Baghdad was killed in an American missile strike. If it becomes widely believed that it has been or is being targeted, the consequences in the region will be rather more than Karen Hughes' "public diplomacy" can handle.

subset: commoncrawl


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As the Trade Deadline Looms: Bats on the Bubble
Wilson Betemit, 3B, Royals
An underrated hitter who blasted 13 home runs with a .297 average last year in part-time duty, Betemit is struggling a bit this season, perhaps frustrated by the fact that he is not an everyday player. At 29 years old, Betemit can provide instant offense to a competitor. There's no room in Kansas City for him with rookie Mike Moustakas on the roster.
Carlos Beltran, OF, Mets
One of the most sought after sluggers on the market, Carlos Beltran is having a heck of a season with 13 home runs and 58 RBI. He could end up being a difference maker in San Francisco, where they are desperate for offense. His numbers, however, will spike if he ends up with the Texas Rangers in a very favorable ballpark plus a stacked lineup, very different than what we've seen in New York.
Aramis Ramirez, 3B, Cubs
After a sensational June, Ramirez is having an even better July with five home runs and 11 RBI through 10 games. He does have some leverage, as he can veto some trades, but it would strange for a slugger now 33 years old to reject a trade to a contender. After all, the Cubs are way out of contention once again.
Jose Reyes, SS, Mets
He is the NL MVP who is bound to make his fortune this off-season, but yet again, the one thing that can slow him down has done exactly that: a hamstring injury. Reyes should return in the coming weeks, and maybe it's just optimism, but I think the move to shed the salary of K-Rod was done with full intentions of using that money on Reyes. On the other hand, if the Mets get a sense that Reyes will not re-sign, he will be the biggest name moved by the deadline.
JJ Hardy, SS, Orioles
Now on his third team in three seasons, it is possible that JJ Hardy may find a fourth if he cannot come to terms with the Orioles for an extension. The 28-year-old Arizona native is having a solid season with 13 home runs and a .278 average. He has also offered the team a lift defensively. Again, Hardy will only get traded if the O's don't lock him up to an extension.
For the best fantasy baseball analysis and insight please visit BloombergSports.com


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The well-signposted German Limes Route offers an exciting insight into Germany's Roman sites and runs for approximately 550 km from Rheinbrohl on the Rhine to Regensburg on the Danube through the regions of Rhineland-Palatinate, Hessen, Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria. A route full of awe-inspiring history and a new destination every day.
The Upper Germanic-Rhaetian Limes, the former boundary of the Roman Empire, stretches for some 770 km through Germany with around 900 watch towers and 120 sentry posts of various sizes. One of central Europe's most impressive archaeological monuments, it has been awarded UNESCO World Heritage status, together with Hadrian's Wall and the Antonine Wall.
The longest cultural monument in Germany
Running from Rheinbrohl on the river Rhine to the Regensburg area on the Danube, the road meanders through beautiful countryside, with a host of charming towns, picturesque villages and fascinating cultural and historical stopping points lining the route. Points of interest include fortresses (both large and small), ramparts, palisades, vast Roman baths and living quarters, as well as the Limes towers and the fortification itself, which is the most recent Roman border in Germania. The ancient border was not only an extremely impressive feat of technical engineering, but also marks – as no other monument is able – the exact point where the Roman Empire and the Germanic tribes met.
Striking and thought-provoking
The Romans were the architects of Europe and without their achievements, our own culture would be unthinkable. The Roman Empire has long since collapsed but its achievements live on: Roman ideas and inventions such as democracy, sophisticated plumbing systems and Roman systems of rule laid the foundations for Europe's Modern Age.
By car, bicycle or on foot
If you choose to cycle the German Limes Route, every turn of the wheel will bring a new experience. Nature and culture fans will also love the guided walks, themed excursions, bus tours and museum visits, which are a great way of reliving this 2,000-year-old snapshot of world history. And if all that travelling has given you an appetite, why not try out a lavish Roman meal, some wine, a traditional medieval banquet or a Roman feast?
Length: approximately 550 km
Theme: the Upper Germanic-Rhaetian Limes
Aalen: Limes-Thermen spa, Limes Museum, visitor mine
Aschaffenburg: ruins of baths, replica of a Roman villa
Bad Gögging: Roman Baths Museum (Römisches Museum für Kur- und Badewesen)
Bad Homburg: spa gardens, reconstructed Roman fort at Saalburg, Pompejanum reconstructed Roman villa
Bendorf: Sayn Castle and Butterfly Garden, castle and falconry centre, Sayn Culture Park
Regensburg: Porta Praetoria, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Roman museum
Rheinbrohl: wine town, Roman experience museum
Weißenburg: Limes information centre, Biriciana Fort, Roman baths
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Uncovering of the relics of Saint Basil, Bishop of Amasea
The Hieromartyr Basil, Bishop of Amasea, lived at the beginning of the fourth century in the Pontine city of Amasea. He encouraged and comforted the Christians suffering persecution by the pagans. During this time the Eastern part of the Roman Empire was ruled by Licinius (311-324), the brother-in-law of the holy emperor Constantine the Great (May 21). Licinius deceitfully signed Saint Constantine's Edict of Milan (313), which granted religious toleration to Christians, but he hated them and continued to persecute them.


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Ukip leader Nigel Farage has stepped into the Top Gear racism row to defend Jeremy Clarkson, saying the TV star had not gone over the line of being offensive.
The BBC has put the presenter on a final warning over the controversy, but Mr Farage said it was "just typical Clarkson".
Clarkson admitted he will be sacked by the broadcaster if he makes another offensive remark, after claims he used the n-word while reciting the nursery rhyme Eeny, Meeny, Miny Moe during filming of the BBC2 programme.
Writing in his weekly Sun column the presenter also attacked the BBC for urging him to apologise over the footage, complaining he could not say sorry for something he had not done.
He said: "I've been told by the BBC that if I make one more offensive remark, anywhere, at any time, I will be sacked.
"And even the angel Gabriel would struggle to survive with that hanging over his head.
"It's inevitable that one day, someone, somewhere will say that I've offended them, and that will be that."
Speaking about the BBC's 'plan' for him to apologise, he added: "But saying sorry for using the most racist word of them all and hoping the story would die down as a result?
"...It's something I hadn't done."
The star became embroiled in controversy after the Daily Mirror saw unaired footage of him using the nursery rhyme to compare two sports cars and claims the word n***** can be heard.
Clarkson said he "mumbled where the offensive word would normally occur" in two takes, and used the word "teacher" in its place in a third.
Speaking on a campaign visit to Dover, Mr Farage said: "The more controversial Jeremy Clarkson is, the more people watch his programme, and the more money the BBC makes out of marketing a show that sells globally and makes them a fortune.
"I would think it's just typical Clarkson, getting very, very close to the line of being offensive but perhaps not quite going over it."
Mr Farage's intervention comes after Deputy Labour leader Harriet Harman called for the BBC to sack the presenter.
In a Twitter post Ms Harman said: "Anybody who uses the N-word in public or private in whatever context has no place in the British Broadcasting Corporation."
But Education Secretary Michael Gove urged the corporation not to axe Clarkson because he had been "clear in his apology".
In a video posted online, Clarkson said he "did everything in my power to not use that word" and was now "begging your forgiveness for the fact that obviously my efforts weren't quite good enough".
A solemn-looking Clarkson said: "I was mortified by this, horrified. It is a word I loathe."
Clarkson had earlier tweeted: "I did not use the n-word. Never use it. The Mirror has gone way too far this time."
The claims come days after the motoring show's producer apologised for broadcasting a "light-hearted" joke by Clarkson that sparked a complaint of racism.
An episode, filmed in Burma and Thailand and shown in March, featured a scene in which the presenters built a bridge over the River Kwai, and as an Asian man walked over it Clarkson said: "That is a proud moment, but there's a slope on it."
Somi Guha, an actress who complained to the BBC, said the use of the word "slope" was an example of "casual racism" and "gross misconduct".
In recent years Clarkson has been cleared of breaching the broadcasting code by watchdog Ofcom after comparing a Japanese car to people with growths on their faces.
He previously faced a storm of protest from mental health charities after he branded people who throw themselves under trains as ''selfish'' and was forced to apologise for telling BBC1's The One Show that striking workers should be shot.
The motoring show has also faced complaints from Indian and Mexican politicians over remarks made about their countries while filming on location.


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I really did intend to post this Monday night, but things got out of control this week. In a very good way. My news is that I took on a very last minute editing job for Robby Gallaty, who also happens to be my pastor. The book, Unashamed: Taking A Radical Stand For Christ, comes out on October 15th, so I had about three days with the book between Sunday night and last night's deadline. I can't really ethically promote it on here since I put a lot of work into it, but I will be posting about it. And probably giving away a copy. So yeah, actually I will be promoting it, just not reviewing the writing.
Anyway, that kept me busy for a few days, but now I can finish my update on National Book Festival. After we saw Suzanne Collins, we were exhausted and hot and very hungry, so we decided to find somewhere air conditioned to eat lunch. We ended up at the Smithsonian where we had lunch and checked out the Natural History exhibits (they still have triceratops displayed as a dinosaur!). My health has been acting up again lately, and we wound up scrapping all of our plans for dinner and visiting my cousin and decided to head straight back for Chattanooga around 4:30.
Except we got lost on the metro. While we were on the wrong line, heading in the wrong direction, there were metro delays. Which means we spent a good two hours on the wrong train and about half of that was sitting in a tunnel. This is why I live in the South where we don't even try with public transportation. Anyway, long, boring story short, we saw Suzanne and got our books stamped, saw the Washington Monument and the Capitol, and had a metro adventure.
Thankfully, we made it back home in one piece and without hating each other. It turns out that Bestie is one of the few people I can spend 20 hours in the car with over the course of two days and not want to murder. So yay for Bestie and a fun trip, but boo for whatever is currently wrong with my body. I've got quite a few books to review this week and I still need to finish my DBF posts, so look for those, plus a huge IMM catchup this weekend!


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Video about Technology
The use of technology is very important to our society. All students are provided equitable opportunities to use technology as one of many tools in their learning process. It is our belief that students learn best when they are engaged in meaningful activities where they are able to work with others in order to construct a product that shows their knowledge. Technology is always used with close supervision by adults and clear learning objectives.
- We are thrilled to be implementing iPads in our teaching and learning. There is quite a buzz about how much fun learning can be with this amazing tool.
- iPod Touches are used to increase student reading fluency. When students listen to their own recorded reading they will identify mistakes and make corrections when recording for a second time. This way students can practice fluency and expression until they get it just right. Self-correction is a powerful learning tool.
- Interactive whiteboards (Promethean Boards) allow teachers to present materials to students in a dynamic, interactive and engaging format. Students respond to this type of instruction and hands-on learning in ways never encountered with traditional pencil and paper.
- Student response systems (ActiVotes) are individual hand held electronic devices that allow full class participation when students respond to curricular questions and discussions. Each student has the opportunity to participate, giving teachers a clear picture of individual and overall understanding.
- The intermediate computer lab ("CyberSpace") is home to 28 multimedia PC computers, a scanner a projection system and an interactive whiteboard.
- The primary computer lab ("The Mouse House") has 28 multimedia PC computers, a scanner a projection system and an interactive whiteboard.
- 100% of the school is fully networked both wired and wireless. Students and staff save projects to the file server so that they can have access to their work from any computer in the school.
- Teachers are involved in ongoing professional development with technology such as study groups, grade level collaboration, classes on iPads in education and Promethean Board use and lesson development. We are doing our best to stay current with all the new technology that is continually evolving.
- Petroglyph has a full time educational technology specialist on staff which is vital to acquiring new technology, keeping it running smoothly and guiding technology infused instruction.


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Arkansas - Bergman
Sales Tax Calculator of Bergman for 2020
Calculation of the general sales taxes of the city Bergman, Arkansas for 2020
How 2020 Sales taxes are calculated in Bergman
The Bergman, Arkansas, general sales tax rate is 6.5%. The sales tax rate is always 7.75%
Every 2020 combined rates mentioned above are the results of Arkansas state rate (6.5%), the county rate (1.25%). There is no city sale tax for Bergman. There is no special rate for Bergman.
The Bergman's tax rate may change depending of the type of purchase.
Please refer to the Arkansas website for more sales taxes information.
Bergman city rate(s)
7.75% is the smallest possible tax rate (72615, Bergman, Arkansas)
The average combined rate of every zip code in Bergman, Arkansas is 7.75%
Last sales taxes rates update
The last rates update has been made on July 2020.


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Growthpoint Series Race
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Sliding Panel Track Blinds
- Contemporary alternative to vertical blinds
- Glide effortlessly on wheel carrier track
- Simple, clean, uniform appearance
- Best on large windows, sliding/patio doors
- Use as a ceiling mounted room divider
Panel track blinds are the ideal solution for covering patio doors, sliding glass doors, and oversized windows. Mounted to the wall or ceiling, large fabric panels slide back and forth on a track for easy operation and have the ability to stack completely clear of the door or window when in the open position. Available in numerous fabric, solar screen, or woven wood materials, sliding panel blinds are easy to coordinate with any décor style as well as other window coverings in the room.
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Blindsgalore® Expressions Panel Track: Solids
$579.70 $347.82 you save 40%
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Pigs pounce pen
The Lehigh Valley IronPigs used a three-run seventh inning rally to come from behind and upend the Buffalo Bisons, 4-3, in the final game of the 2010 series between the two IL North foes from Coca-Cola Park.
The Bisons jumped on top early with a two-run first inning. After a Jesus Feliciano double to lead off the game, Nick Evans drove him in on a double of his own. The next batter, Mike Cervenak, the got a base knock to send Evans home and put the Herd up 2-0.
Bisons starter Adam Pettyjohn kept the IronPigs off the board until his opposing pitcher Brian Mazone helped himself out with an RBI double in the fourth inning.
However, things fell apart for Buffalo in the bottom of the seventh frame, with newly promoted reliever Manuel Alvarez on the hill.
The big boppers of Lehigh Valley lit up the scoreboard with a three-run inning, including an RBI triple off the bat of Rich Thompson and a solo home run from John Mayberry Jr., his 15th long ball of the year. The IronPigs would go on for the 4-3 victory.
The Bisons will travel to Rochester for the final two games of the 2010 season starting tomorrow with a 7:05 p.m. start time from Frontier Field.
BISONS NOTES: With the loss the Bisons dropped to 10-6 in the season series with Lehigh Valley…Nick Evans had a big night at the plate in the loss going 2-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI double…Sean Green threw two hitless innings of relief, including striking out three.


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In the coming months I will do some posting on my thoughts about these motives.
Key-elements in that posting will be:
the personal relationship between Jackie and JFK, Mary Pinchot Meyer and Mary Pinchot Meyer's suspicious 'murder-case'.
A first problem, having a stand-in, is not that easy
Stand-ins weren't needed: JFK, Jackie and the Connally's turned out to be the best actors themselves..
Alternatively, having the president surviving the shoot-out you still need a warm body in the seat when you arrive at the hospital.
The whole scene in and around Parkland Hospital was also staged, it was all part of the simulation.
The main problem is what you would do with a surviving JFK afterwards; it could get somewhat embarrassing should he turn up in a TV show or so
The media-involvement was essential in this hoax, so that's all under control.
would now like to put in another question: Why use such a complicated set-up?
It is evidently possibly to shoot from the 6:th floor and have a high kill-rate if you shoot while the car go towards you. You don't need any fancy weapon either, and if the shooter empty the gun into the car, this make the pattern of a mad-man.
If you have help at the hospital, you can arrange so that death is certain. The advantage would be that claiming a single shooter would be a bit easier.
The purpose of the JFK psy-op was to simulate his 'murder' in plain sight, not to actually kill him.
In any case I agree with the findings by the JFK researchers
Never follow 'Truth-Leaders', always use your own eyes and braincells...
(Thank you Reality Shack for this golden rule!) ;)


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Department of Primatology
Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology
Deutscher Platz 6
04103 Leipzig
phone: +49 (0)341 3550 - 200
fax: +49 (0)341 3550 - 299
Curriculum Vitae
Research Interests
Primate endocrinology and behavioral ecology
|2004 - Present
|Leader of the Behavioral Endocrinology Lab, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Department of Primatology.
|Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Department of Primatology, Germany, PhD thesis in 2004: "The Function of Sexual Swellings in wild West African Chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes verus)", Supervisor: Christophe Boesch
|Indiana University, Bloomington, USA, graduate studies in animal behavior
|University of Hamburg, Germany, graduate studies, diploma thesis 1996: social behavior of the olive colobus, Colobus verus (VAN BENEDEN 1838) in the Taï National Park, Ivory Coast, Supervisor: Jakob Parzefall
|Ruprecht-Karls-University, Heidelberg, undergraduate studies
Field and laboratory research experience
I have 24 months experience in observational field research on wild chimpanzees at Taï, Ivory Coast. To train students in the collection of urine and feces samples as well as behavioral data, I have visited a number of field sites where I have observed east African chimpanzees at Budongo, Uganda, bonobos at Lui Kotal, DRC, and white-faced capuchins at Lomas Barbudal, Costa Rica. I gathered experience working in the endocrinology laboratory of Keith Hodges and Michael Heistermann at the German Primate Center in Göttingen and, since 2005, have ran the endocrinology lab in the Primatology Department at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, Germany. I am skilled in the laboratory techniques required for extracting and analyzing hormones derived from non-invasively collected source materials such as urine, feces, and saliva, including EIA and LC-MS techniques.
Teaching Experience
|2007 - Present
|Lecturer, International Max Planck Institute Research School of Human Origins.
|2006 – 2008
|Visiting Lecturer, University of Leipzig Germany.
|2005 - Present
|Thesis supervisor of diploma students in the Behavioral Endocrinology Laboratory and co-supervisor of PhD students in the Primatology Department at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology.
Ad hoc reviewer:
- Hormones and Behavior
- Physiology and Behavior
- International Journal of Primatology
- Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology
- Biological Letters
- American Journal of Primatology
- PLoS ONE
Grant applications:
- The Leakey Foundation
- The National Science Foundation
- National Geographic


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Tour bus had poor safety record before fatal crash
Federal inspectors over the last year found faulty axles and brakes and other safety violations on the tour bus that careened out of control on a winding mountain road near Yucaipa on Sunday evening, killing seven passengers, records show.
Maintenance citations of the tour buses owned by Scapadas Magicas of National City were numerous and serious enough that the company was placed on a federal watch list that flagged its buses for increased roadside inspections.
Bald tires, defective or missing axle parts, and insufficient brake linings were among 59 maintenance violations inspectors found on the firm's buses in the last two years, U.S. Department of Transportation safety records show.
The tour bus was operating under a contract with InterBus Tours and Charters, based in Tijuana, which closed its office Monday, shortly after sending a busload of day tourists to Knott's Berry Farm. The Scapadas Magicas office in National City, in San Diego County, was not open Monday.
Maria McDade, who said she was Scapadas Magicas' administrator for more than 20 years before retiring last year, said none of the company's buses had ever been in an accident and, aside from a fine of $2,500, the company had complied with all U.S. Department of Transportation regulations.
"I feel really, really sad, but accidents happen," she said by walkie-talkie phone from her home in Tijuana. "I feel so sad for all these people." Current company officials could not be contacted for comment.
A message posted on InterBus' Facebook page expressed regret for the accident and told clients that its contractor was insured.
Sales Manager Jordi Garcia said the agency's insurance would be handling burial expenses for the deceased. He said the agency had been open for one year and offered daily trips to Disneyland, Six Flags Magic Mountain and Universal Studios. The trips attracted people from all walks of life, including students, families and young professionals.
"Big Bear is also very popular this time of year. They want to experience nature," he said. The daylong excursion cost $40, he said.
He said the business contracts with independently owned bus operators and that they are responsible for complying with all U.S. and Mexican regulations.
"We're only interested in their availability and the condition of their buses," he said, adding that the agency has never had a problem with any of the several operators with whom they contract.
The Scapadas bus left Tijuana early Sunday with 38 passengers, including children, and was descending California 38 from the ski resort town of Big Bear Lake when the driver apparently lost control about four miles from Yucaipa.
The bus clipped a small Saturn sedan before it veered into oncoming traffic and began to roll, tossing out passengers who were not wearing seat belts. It crushed an oncoming Ford pickup before coming to rest upright atop a boulder and10-foot elderberry bush on a stretch of highway along Mill Creek. Backpacks, clothing and body parts were strewn across the crash site and, on Monday morning, a body remain draped out one of the bus windows.
"It is a gruesome and horrible scene. It's one of the most horrific scenes I've ever seen in 10 years with the department," said Officer Leon Lopez, spokesman for the California Highway Patrol.
CHP officials were joined Monday by investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board at the scene of the accident, which occurred about 6:30 p.m. Sunday just north of the U.S. Forest Service ranger station in the San Bernardino National Forest. The highway was closed most of Monday.
The bus driver, as well as passengers, reported that the vehicle was experiencing mechanical problems before the accident occurred, authorities said. Investigators believe a problem with the brakes may have led the bus to speed out of control down the highway's sweeping curves.
On Monday, those officials questioned the driver, identified as Norberto B. Perez, 52, of San Ysidro, but did not disclose his account of the crash.
"Everything happened so fast. When the bus spun everything flew, even the people," passenger Gerardo Barrientos, who was sitting on the bus next to his girlfriend, told the Associated Press. "I saw many people dead. There are very, very horrendous images in my head, things I don't want to think about."
Ramon Ramirez, who is listed in documents as the owner of Scapadas Magicas, lives in Tijuana and rents an apartment in Chula Vista. No one answered the door at the Chula Vista residence.
Federal transportation records show that the bus involved in the crash has been cited as recently as October, when inspectors found a damaged windshield and noted that there was no properly installed fire extinguisher. In July, they found a faulty axle and brakes. An inspection in May revealed loose or missing wheel fasteners.
The violations helped place Scapadas Magicas below industry norms for safety. More than 75% of carriers in the same class have a better safety record, according to the Department of Transportation.
Early Monday, some of the crash victims' relatives visited the office of InterBus Tours and Charters located in a Tijuana strip mall in an upscale district near restaurant row. They were referred to several U.S. hospitals.
Almost 20 hours after the crash, authorities remained at the scene of the accident, using a 60-ton crane to pluck the stricken bus from where it came to rest.
Once the bus was lifted onto the road and stabilized, emergency crews entered the vehicle and searched it. Investigators initially believed that two bodies had remained amid the wreckage, but found only one dead passenger Monday afternoon. They revised the death toll to seven. The CHP initially estimated eight deaths Sunday night.
All of those killed were bus passengers, according to the CHP.
The San Bernardino County coroner's office released the names of six of those killed: Guadalupe Olivas, 61; Elvira Garcia Jimenez, 40; and Victor Cabrera Garcia, 13, all of from San Diego; and Tijuana residents Aleida Adriana Arce Hernandez, 38; Rubicelia Escobedo Flores, 34; and Mario Garcia Santoyo, 32.
The dozens of injured were transported to at least four local hospitals. Some suffered minor injuries and had been released by Monday morning. Two passengers, including a child, remained in critical condition and a third in serious condition at Loma Linda University Medical Center, hospital spokesman Herbert Atienza said.
The three people inside the sedan did not sustain any serious injuries. The driver of the pickup was trapped until rescuers cut open his vehicle.
Times staff writers Kate Mather and Phil Willon contributed to this report.
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Made In Chelsea star Binky Felstead launches her nails range BINKY LONDON, a collection of Gorgeous Gel Effect, nail care, fashion colours, glitters and special effects polishes.
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They all applied like a dream, the wide brush is a bonus and the formulation is great.
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text: SAFAH 42266 Posted December 10, 2012 Report Share Posted December 10, 2012 When the Day of Resurrection comes, a man's wealth and capital will be his Hasanaat (good deeds). If he had done wrong to any people, they will take from his hasanaat to the extent that he mistreated them. If he does not have any hasanaat, or if his hasanaat run out, then some of their sayi`aat (bad deeds) will be taken and added to his burden.Bukhari narrated on the authority of Abu Hurayrah that the Messenger of Allah (p.b.u.h.) said:"Whoever wronged his brother with regard to his honor or any other matter, should seek his forgiveness today, before there are no longer any Dinars, or Dirhams; and if he has any righteous deeds, they will be taken from him, in accordance with the wrong he did; and if he has no hasanaat, some of the sayi`aat of his counterpart will be taken and added to his burden:" (Bukhari: Kitaab al-Mazaalim, Baab man kaanat lahu mazlamah 'inda rajul, Fath al-Baari, 5/101)This person whose Hasanaat (good deeds) are taken from him by the people, and then has their Sayi'aat (bad or evil deeds) placed on his own back, is the one who is bankrupt, as the Messenger (p.b.u.h.) called him. Muslim narrated from Abu Hurayrah that the Messenger of Allah (p.b.u.h.) said:"Do you know who is the one who is bankrupt?" They said, 'The bankrupt is the one who has no money and no possessions.' He said, 'Among my Ummah, the one who is bankrupt is the one who will come on the Day of Resurrection with prayer and fasting and Zakah (to his credit), but he will come having insulted this one, slandered that one, consumed the wealth of this one and shed the blood of that one, and beaten that one. So they will all be given some of his hasanaat, and when his hasanaat run out, before judgment is passed, some of their sins will be taken and cast onto him, then he will be cast into the Fire.'" (Muslim: 4/1998, Hadith no. 2581)If a debtor died when he still owed money to people, they will take from his Hasanaat whatever is in accordance with what he owes them. In Sunan Ibn Majah it is narrated with a Saheeh isnad that Ibn Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) stated: The Messenger of Allah (p.b.u.h.) said:"Whoever dies owing a Dinar or a Dirham, it will be paid from his Hasanaat, for then there will be no Dinars or Dirhams." (Saheeh al-Jaami as-Sagheer, 5/537, Hadith no. 6432)If people wronged one another, the score will be settled between them. If they mistreated one another equally, then there will be no score to settle. If one of them is still owed something by the other, he will take what he is entitled to.In Sunan at-Tirmidhi it is narrated that Aisha said: "A man came and sat in front of the Messenger of Allah (p.b.u.h.), and said, 'O Messenger of Allah, I have two slaves who tell me lies, betray and disobey me, and I insult them and beat them. What is my position with regard to them?' The Messenger of Allah (p.b.u.h.) said:'On the Day of Resurrection, their betrayal, disobedience and lying will be measured against your punishment of them. If your punishment is commensurate with their wrongs, then there will be no score to settle. If your punishment of them was less than their sins deserved, then this will count in your favour. If your punishment of them was more than their sins deserved, then the score will be settled against you.' The man turned away and started to weep. The Messenger of Allah (p.b.u.h.) said to him, 'Have you not read the words of Allah?''""And We shall set up Balances of justice on the Day of Resurrection, then none will be dealt with unjustly in anything. And if there be the weight of a mustard seed, We will bring it. And Sufficient are We to take account." (Quran 21: 47).'" (Mishkaat al-Masaabeeh, 3/66, Hadith no. 5561) It is also narrated in Saheeh al-Jaami`, 6/327, Hadith no. 7895, where it attributed to Ahmad and Tirmidhi.)Because Zulm (oppression) is such a serious matter, it is better for those who fear that Day to give up oppression and avoid it. The Messenger (p.b.u.h.) has told us that oppression will be darkness on the Day of Resurrection. Bukhari and Muslim narrated from Abdullah Ibn Umar that the Prophet (p.b.u.h.) said:"Oppression (Zulm) will be darkness (Zulumaat) on the Day of Resurrection." (Bukhari: Kitaab al-Mazaalim, Baab az-Zulm Zulumaat Yawm al-Qiyaamah, Fath al-Baari, 51100; Muslim, 4/1969, Hadith no. 2579)Muslim narrated from Jaabir ibn Abdullah that the Messenger of Allah (p.b.u.h.) said:"Beware of oppression (Zulm), for oppression will be darkness (Zulumaat) on the Day of Resurrection." (Muslim: 4/1969, Hadith no. 2578) 1 Link to post Share on other sites


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Jackie Robinson: Nothing Inevitable About Him
One of the few infuriating aspects of Jackie Robinson Day is the blowback from the uninformed. I have read today of how integration in this country was inevitable, and Robinson's success in 1947 was just a happy coincidence. I have read that the talent of the Negro Leagues was just too great and had Robinson failed, had he hit .197 instead of .297, it was still inevitable that those great athletes would have forced their way into the mainstream of American sports.
Utter nonsense.
Was it inevitable when Frank Grant led the International League in homers in 1887? Was it inevitable when John McGraw put the great second baseman Charlie Grant on his 1901 Baltimore Orioles squad under the pretense that he was a Native American named Tokohama? Was it inevitable when the Oakland Oaks of the PCL signed pitcher Jimmy Claxton in 1916 only to drop him days later? Was it inevitable when Satchel Paige and Josh Gibson both played in Pittsburgh in the early '30s and the Pirates desperately needed a starting pitcher and a catcher? Was it inevitable when John Henry Lloyd and Cool Papa Bell and Judy Johnson and Jose Mendez and nearly three dozen more future Hall of Famers spent their entire lives playing for peanuts in separate and unequal conditions?
Baseball had fought integration ever since the 1884 major league team in Toledo signed Fleet and Welday Walker. It had slowly closed the door on African-American players in the minors, through boycotts and threats, and by 1900 they were all gone. And the spasmodic attempts to sneak in a Grant or a Claxton as a Native American had been met with crushing responses and threats of retribution. Even when Robinson seemed safely over the threshold, other teams integrated haltingly and – as in St. Louis with the Browns – sometimes disastrously. Many of the others hung back. The New York Yankees saw nothing "inevitable" about integration: they did not add a black player until Elston Howard in 1955.
While the Boston Braves were signing Hank Aaron and Billy Bruton and Wes Covington and then moving to Milwaukee to win pennants with them, the Boston Red Sox chose not to sign Robinson in 1945, and not to add any African-American player until 1959. The Sox, intentionally or otherwise, kept to a limit of no more than five African-American players on their roster well into the '70s. It was maintained with extraordinary efficiency. On June 14, 1966, the Sox made a trade that added the former Negro Leagues pitcher John Wyatt to their bullpen. On June 15, 1966, they gave away pitcher Earl Wilson to the Detroit Tigers and their quota was back down to five.
And there was nothing inevitable about black athletes getting another chance in the major leagues had Jackie Robinson failed. He didn't win the civil rights war by himself (indeed, it has hardly been won), but his role was pivotal and unique. Leaders from each decade and every perspective have said that Robinson provided the cultural groundwork that made integration not necessarily possible, but practical. Unlike Jack Johnson or the less threatening Joe Louis, he had succeeded in a previously all-white team sport. He had white teammates and white friends.
It is little credited today, but Jackie Robinson's real contribution was not to convert the haters and the proactive racists towards an enlightened view of this country. In fact, what he did would've been impossible before the vastly increased interaction between whites and blacks in the military during World War II, and it might've been impossible if he had then failed on the ballfield or in his relationship with his white teammates: He erased benign prejudice.
My late father, nearly as liberal a man as I've ever known, used to look back at attending games of the New York Black Yankees as a teenager, with a sense of astonishment and shame. "It never occurred to us, never occurred to us, that the black players didn't want to play only with other black players. We had no idea this was segregation. We thought it was choice."
And for every open-minded individual like him whose consciousness was raised by Jackie Robinson, there was another who had no animus towards blacks but was convinced that there was either no way they had the athletic chops to succeed at the major league level, or no way they had the psychological stability to withstand the pressure of the game or of the process of integration.
Some large, but ultimately never-to-be-measured, group of Americans went from believing in 1946 that blacks had chosen their own world, or couldn't physically or psychologically function next to whites, to realizing that these convictions were the most insidious forms of racism. These were the white men and women who supported Brown v. Board of Education, and the marches in the South, and the integration in Little Rock, and Martin Luther King, and the repeal of the laws forbidding blacks to marry whites that stayed on the books of some states as late as the mid-'60s. These were the men and women who began to attend pro football and basketball games in the large numbers they needed to succeed as stable national enterprises only after these leagues began to fully integrate – and, yes, the NBA didn't integrate until Robinson had completed his fourth season with the Dodgers.
It is imperative to remember that none of the progress – in baseball or in America – that followed in Jackie Robinson's wake was inevitable. There were millions of hateful Americans who would have exploited a Robinson failure to roll back the limited gains of the war years. There were millions more who would've thought that Robinson's season, or half-season, or six weeks in the spotlight, had been a noble experiment, but that he and his race just weren't up to it. And when their support was needed to beat back the Orval Faubuses and Bull Connors and Strom Thurmonds, they would not have been there. Even today there are those who would push us back towards our awful past. Who would have stood against their predecessors – who sought a virtual apartheid in this country – had Robinson failed in 1947?
Inevitable! In 1948, when Thurmond ran on an openly segregationist, racist platform as a third-party candidate for president, he received 1,175,930 votes. In 1968 – after Jackie Robinson and after Malcolm X and after the rise and death of Martin Luther King – George Wallace ran on virtually the same platform and still got 9,901,118 votes.
There was nothing inevitable about the healing of this nation at the center of which was Jack Roosevelt Robinson.
24 Comments
My opinion is that nothing is inevitable. Change requires a push, and even then, a good hard push is usually not enough. We are creatures of habit, and far too many of us fear change, because change brings with it the unknown, the new and different, and the "other". Fear is a powerful motivator, and it is also a powerful bulwark against change. It requires courageous souls who are willing to stand up to powerful forces to effect any kind of real and substantive forward progress. Jackie Robinson was one of those courageous souls. He remained strong against pressures that would make most of us crumble. Thank you for honoring him, and for being one of the courageous few.
Yeah, I know. I use the same words too often. 🙂 Ah well. Thanks, Keith!
Finished reading. Absolutely brilliant. Something you said reminded me of high school, in the seventies. I was in Foreign Exchange, and although I never traveled abroad, I met many students from other countries. One year, there were two White students from South Africa who joined us at a regional meeting. They had just arrived, and when we discussed apartheid, they were absolutely stunned at the thought that it should end. One of them went so far as to say "But the Blacks don't want to be equal. They don't want the same things we do – they're happy just as they are." It shocked them that anyone might believe otherwise. It is amazing what kind of cognitive dissonance can exist in a person's mind, if they are not willing to openly and honestly examine what they believe. And like you said "indeed, it has hardly been won" – we still have a long way to go. I miss your "voice" on Countdown, but I'm grateful that it's still here, and on Twitter. Thank you.
Powerful piece, Keith. I've never believed for a moment that the first black President was inevitable, either. For the past four years, our President has been treated deplorably and with a level of disrespect that no one in the Executive Office should have to tolerate. He has carried out his duties with dignity and grace in the face of it. No, I believe there were plenty of voters out there in 2008 who simply couldn't stomach the thought of a woman in the White House sitting in the big chair in the Oval Office.
Trivia-4/15/47, Jackie Robinson, the opposing pitcher that day? Jamie Moyer.
Cody, Robinson's reaction was, "Why is someone so old pitching against me?"
Keith, great piece. Worth noting: Judge Landis, the longtime commissioner, was definitely a racist. Happy Chandler, who did some incredibly silly things as commissioner (the Durocher suspension in particular), backed Branch Rickey after other owners had voted 15-1 against integration.
Your father was much like my Grandfather of whom we have spoken, Keith. Grampy put a curse on the Braves for leaving Boston (maybe not as good a curse as he might have intended) primarily because as a huge baseball fan he was disgusted he would have only the Red Sox left and the "YawkeySox" were in his opinion hopelessly racist.
But this day, Jackie Robinson Day, makes me think not only of him, but also of when I lived for awhile while teaching at a Major University near the small Southwest Georgia town of Cairo; Mr. Robinsons' birthplace. The town has little to crow about except for a guitarist in Jefferson Airplane/Starship and the Roddenberry family {Pickles and Gene Roddenberry as a member} but they are very proud of Jackie Robinson. This even though you are more likely to find Judge Crater there than a Liberal.
Cheers! 🙂
Words matter ,truth matters .You Sir ,have a gift with both.
Only those who deny that racism still breathes it's foetid breath upon America will argue that anything about thi was inevitable.
Once a thinking person considers the context of the times ,and congruence of events that were necessary for Jackie Robinson to enter the "bigs" , and for other to
blacks to follow and remain, a viable, thriving ,accepted aspect of sport and the social fabric of America , they will wonder that it ever happened at all .
One can argue that timing was everything, but, it took you looking backward and articulating as much ,for me to see it .
In truth, I had barely considered what had to occur for Jackie Robinson to break the color barrier.Like so many others, I just accepted the result as part of a world I was lucky to be born into .
For the new perspective you have given me I am grateful .
The rich always exploit the poor and middle class in this country and grow richer off the talent of others. This is even more the case with wealthy whites exploiting blacks and making money off their work. So the "feelbad" side to Jackie Robinson's story is that it might not have happened if Branch Rickey and the Dodgers hadn't seen the opportunity to boost attendance and make more money. Whites have also liked to pat themselves on the back for doing the right thing at last when they should have been doing it all along, so it wasn't just about the money with Rickey, it was about right and wrong– but as usual a white man was setting the rules. And it really wasn't until free agency that baseball players– of all races– were paid what they were worth. So it's the usual story– America is all about money and winning. If the Dodgers hadn't started winning with Robinson on the team things would have turned out differently. But even as they were going to the World Series year after year (or almost going in 1951) and finally beating the Yankees in 1955, attendance and demographics in Brooklyn were changing. In post-War America, wealthier white Brooklynites were moving out. And finally the Dodgers moved too. It would be inaccurate to call it "white flight" but the success of Jackie Robinson and the Dodgers in Brooklyn 1947-1957 should have solidified their presence with their adoring fans. And I tie this in with free agency– after the most talented players (often black and/or Latino) were getting paid what they were really worth, white American sports fans started complaining about high salaries and turning to sports (or "sports") like NASCAR, a case of "white flight" from black/Latino-dominated sports. And today Jackie Robinson has made it possible for young black kids across the country to ignore baseball (the schools may have cut the baseball programs anyway because the rich won't pay their taxes) and play football or basketball. So it's sad that after all those gains there aren't as many blacks in the majors now as there were a few decades ago. Now the rich white owners (Magic not included) are turning to poor Latin American countries to exploit them for their talent.
You hit a home run that time KO. Let us remember the actions of the 2008 Teapartiers.
Typically brilliant post by KO. The historical context is invaluable. The "inevitable" crowd is the same group (like Haley Barbour) who are eager to build Civil Rights Museums in their Southern states so that that "history" can be relegated to the past now that we've achieved full equality, everything is swingin' and the Trayvon Martin murder case has nothing to do with race. (Oh, and the Tea Partiers are racists, they just oppose Obama because of his progressive policies).
KO, you are a treasure. Here's hoping you are back on the air in primetime SOON. There's simply no other broadcaster who combines your historical scholarship, your razor-sharp writing skills, your don't-flinch, go-straight-at-the-bastards commentaries…and your love for Thurber and Bob & Ray, of course. KO off the air and feckless poltroons like Sean Hannity putter on? Jesus weeps
I have seen exactly one "major league" game in my life (no worries; television suits me fine, and I can even name the starting line-up of the '61 Yankees from memory. CBS carried Dizzy Dean and PeeWee Reese doing the Yankee games when they owned the franchise).
This one was around '65, and the San Francisco Giants and the Cleveland Indians, the parent club of our AAA "Bees," played an exhibition game here. I've shared about being at that game on a couple of sites, and it's been nice hearing others were there as well. Willy Mays and Orlando Cepeda hit home runs for the Giants, and Marichal pitched. Rocky Colavito was back with the Indians and hit one as well. That's what 12-year olds wanted, of course.
One of the older "cyber-reporters" told me one I didn't know, which was that the Afro-Americans on the Giants team were not permitted to stay at the old Hotel Utah, then the nicest one in the valley (Ronald Reagan was the last president to stay there; it's now an LDS "memorial" building to church founder Joseph Smith).
There was a scandal, and the whole team opted for the Newhouse Hotel instead. This was 1965 for crying out loud!
You are alive! A good thing to know. And a well written comment BTW. Worthy of an English Major
Thank you CB. As can be seen, however, I'm in need of a good editor; I hit the "send" button on this one just as I looked at Mays' first name, and I shuddered. I shall apply some cattle prods to some Internet trolls somewhere as penance. BTW, I figured out the secret decoder function over on FOK…
I found myself flashing back to Al Campanis and his "black players lack the necessities" for management — he later explained that he meant they didn't have the experience, but how were they going to get experience unless someone gave them a shot? Great piece, as always. (Just a request, when you do your NL West preview, can you ignore Tim Lincecum's woes?)
I just learned while watching Yankees and Twins that Robinson Cano was named after Jackie Robinson and his number is Mr. Robinson's inverted. Cool. He is right up there with Dr. MLK Jr. Thanks.
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S1E354Experience a Victorian Christmas in London at the Great Dickens Christmas Fair!
The Great Dickens Christmas Fair brings transforms San Fran into the world of Charles Dickens. Experience Victorian London at Christmas time at this 3.5 acre experience complete with hundreds of actors, foods imported from London and all the Christmas traditions you know and love! Live out the work of Charles Dickens right in front of your eyes and create a new Christmas tradition unlike any other. Learn more by visiting dickensfair.com
more episodes
more episodes
S1 E697 - Luxury penthouse featured in Emmy nominated shows up for auction
Luxury penthouse featured in Emmy nominated shows up for auction.09.24.2020 | 2m
S1 E696 - Artist beautifies her block with flower murals!
Frankie Zela is using her art and love of nature to brighten up her comm...09.24.2020 | 2m
S1 E695 - Student artist draws homes lost in Creek Fire
This student artist is drawing homes that were destroyed by the Creek Fi...09.23.2020 | 3m
S1 E694 - Remembering a Latino legend: Macario Ramirez
He spent his life fighting for others. Now multiple generations will car...09.23.2020 | 7m
S1 E693 - Surprise proposal in a virtual escape room
This man surprised his girlfriend with a virtual escape room proposal.09.22.2020 | 2m
S1 E692 - Philadelphia man driving in the fast lane with big goals in mind
This young man would like to one day be his city's only Formula Vee racer.09.18.2020 | 1m
S1 E690 - Folklorico dancers perfect pandemic performance with beauty and grace
Folklorico dancers perfect pandemic performance with beauty and grace.09.18.2020 | 5m
S1 E691 - Find zen relaxing with rabbits!
This bunny club offers cuddles and time for guests to bond with rabbits.09.17.2020 | 2m
S1 E689 - 103-year-old family farm perseveres through a century of challenges
Family-owned and operated Richfield Farms has managed to overcome it all.09.17.2020 | 2m
S1 E688 - Meet Houston's spray paint Picasso!
How one of the nation's most sought-after street artists is working to c...09.16.2020 | 3m
S1 E687 - Postman's passion for oranges kickstarts the folk art scene in Houston
A postal worker's passion for oranges inspired him to build The Orange Show09.14.2020 | 4m
S1 E686 - This outdoor experience is the escape you've been needing
"Riddle of the Sphinx" tour offers shelter-in-place groups an immersive,...09.11.2020 | 3m
S1 E682 - Mexican artist paints beautiful murals to honor his heritage
This artist paints murals that honor his motherland.09.10.2020 | 1m
S1 E681 - MARIACHI: The love of Mexico's traditional music unites cultures worldwide
Mariachi is loved worldwide by people from all cultures!09.10.2020 | 2m
S1 E685 - Public Art Project shows support for Black Lives Matter
A new art installation aims to send an important message.09.09.2020 | 2m
S1 E684 - "Chalk Mom" draws for kids with life-threatening illnesses
This mom took the internet by storm with her jaw-dropping chalk drawings.09.09.2020 | 4m
S1 E683 - Plan on going apple picking this season? Watch this
Demarest farms is adjusting its popular apple picking season.09.09.2020 | 2m
S1 E680 - The perfect gift for loved one's during the pandemic
Gift your loved one a jingle written especially for them!09.08.2020 | 2m
S1 E679 - Puppeteer wows neighbors from 2nd floor apartment window!
Matthew Owens is performing puppet theater from his apartment window.09.03.2020 | 3m
S1 E678 - Artist showcases her Latinx culture through her art and jewelry
Artist showcases her Latinx culture through her art and jewelry.09.01.2020 | 2m


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DAMA Mission name and logo
Elementary and middle school students all over Italy were challenged to come up with a name and logo for Roberto Vittori's mission aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour. More than 2000 suggestions from around 200 schools were received.
In addition to providing Roberto's third trip to the International Space Station, STS-134 carried the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer. This fundamental instrument gave the hint to a young pupil to use the initial letters of 'dark matter' to form the winning acronym DAMA.
Following the same idea, an 11-year-old girl from Modena drew the logo that Roberto wore on his space suit. AMS-02 inspired her to sketch an antimatter particle emerging from the trail of the Space Shuttle, with the Italian flag in the background.


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Tunisia rapper gets 2 years prison for police song
TUNIS, Tunisia (AP) -- A Tunisian court convicted on Thursday a rap artist for insulting police with a song calling them dogs and sentenced him to two years in prison, his lawyer said.
The verdict comes as Tunisia's justice system is under increasing scrutiny after a series of controversial decisions, including sentencing women's rights activists to four months in prison for demonstrating topless while releasing suspects in last year's attack on the U.S. Embassy.
Lawyer Ghazi Mrabet described the sentence as overly severe and said he would appeal the verdict against his client Alaa Yacoub, 24, known by his rapper name Weld El 15, or "Son of 15."
Yacoub's song "Boulicia Kleb," or "the police are dogs," was released on YouTube.
He was originally tried and convicted in absentia for inciting violence against officials and insulting police back in March. He turned himself in and was retried, but given the same two-year sentence.
His supporters were outraged by the verdict and struggled with police outside the courtroom. Four people, including a journalist, another rapper and two friends of the artist were arrested, according to Mrabet.
Yacoub's case is remarkably similar to that of Moroccan rapper Mouad Belghouat, who last year served a year in prison for insulting police with his song "Dogs of the State."
Tunisia under former President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali was a police state in which security forces were widely reviled.
Tunisians overthrew the government in January 2011 in an uprising that sparked off pro-democracy movements around the region.
Police are still widely mistrusted even under a new elected government.


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Only extreme diehard Celtics fans remember Ronnie Grandison, but that was typical. It was never easy for Ronnie Grandison. Never. He started his college career at Cal-Irvine but after two lackluster seasons, he decided to transfer to Tulane. Then once he got to Tulane, a point-shaving scandal took place and Grandison was looking for yet a new college. This time he went to the University of New Orleans.
After graduating Grandison was a 5th round pick by the Nuggets in the 1987 draft (why did they used to have so many rounds is beyond comprehension for me). He didn't make the Nuggets and was the final cut.
"I can still see Doug Moe coming in every day wearing his blue jeans and running shoes with no socks," said Grandison. "He was a funny guy, but make one mistake and he was all on top of you no matter who you were. I was on my own there. They didn't tell you much in Denver. "After playing for Rochester in the CBA, Ronnie eventually got his call from the Celtics. Jimmy Rodgers brought up his name and scout Rick Weitzman followed through with some research.
"I saw him play about two years ago and I liked his work on the boards and in the post," said Weitzman. "Back then, there was some question about his shooting ability and his defense, but from what I've seen in camp, he's improved tremendously in both areas.What Ronnie did was bust his ass. He could never get by solely on physical gifts, so he hustled a lot, hit the floor for loose balls and really tried to rebound the ball. He appeared in 72 games during the 88-89 season with the Celtics, his only one.
After the 1989 season with Boston, Grandison took a most unusual NBA circuit. He next appeared in the league 3 years later with the Hornets where he only played 3 games. Then he was out of the league 3 more years until the 1995 season where he played 2 games for the Knicks. The next season he was back for 18 games with Miami, 4 for the Hawks, and 6 more with NY. So his total number of NBA games played was 105 and 72 of them came for the Celtics.
Ramon Rivas onto a last page, after December. In fact I was able to dig this up and am posting the picture of this amazing occurrence! It's not too surprising that Bird and McHale had their own months while Grandison and Rivas shared. Without further ado, here it is!
So what the hell happened to Ronnie Grandison? Back in 2000 he was part of the Living Food Films, a non-profit organization geared towards "creating professional, educational, documentary-style videos regarding the superior health benefits derived from Vegetarian and Raw, Living Food consumption." I'm not sure if there's actual video footage of Ronnie Grandison participating in this, but there's a fantastic still photo I start off the article with.
Interestingly enough as of 2002 he was actually the head coach for the Courts of Praise Christian Center in Cincinnati. The part that was interesting was it was a team made up of high school kids who were home-schooled. Check out this article on it if you can. The entire concept of kids being home-schooled really is puzzling to me. I guess Ronnie had no problem with it.
For a complete roster of this feature: What the Hell Happened to? Index tb727 1/25/2010 12:42:00 AM Tweet Edit


text: 2015-06-03-14.37.15 By runnersden Posted March 20, 2017 In 2017-03-202017-03-20https://runnersdenos.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/runenrs-den-logo.pngRunners Den Owen Soundhttps://runnersdenos.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/runenrs-den-logo.png200px200px 0 0 runnersden Recent PostsClinics are BACK!We Are Open – Regular Business HoursShopping with Runner's Den during Covid 19…..UpdateNew! Online store in response to forced closure! Leave a Comment Cancel reply Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Notify me of new posts by email.


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Payroll Mate 8.2.8
Payroll Mate is comprehensive payroll software that fits the needs of accountants and small to medium size businesses.
Payroll Mate automatically calculates net pay, federal tax withholding, Social Security tax, Medicare tax, and calculates user defined state and local taxes. Payroll Mate also supports different types of pay periods, prints payroll checks, prepares forms 941, 944, 940, W2 and W3. This payroll software also supports user-defined Income, Tax, and Deduction categories. Payroll Mate supports MICR check printing, eliminating the need to buy payroll checks. This payroll software also helps businesses go green through the support of payroll direct deposit. At year-end W2 Forms can be printed on regular white paper eliminating the need to buy W2 and W3 forms. Payroll Mate also supports some advanced payroll calculations like per mile and per piece. Payroll Mate supports the following state payroll tax forms: California DE-6, California DE-7, Texas C-3, Texas C-4, New York NYS-45, Illinois IL-941 Quarterly Withholding Return and Illinois UI-3/40. Payroll Mate can also be used as QuickBooks payroll software with the support of payroll data export to QuickBooks. The software can also export Payroll checks to Quicken and Microsoft Office Accounting.


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Fine Cashmere Mens Long-sleeve Polo in Shark
This variant is currently sold out
Premium quality cashmere that lets you breathe in cold and hot climates. Each garment is made with long, smooth-fibre cashmere yarn so that the ends don't 'pill'; seams taped with silk so they don't stretch; and have silk elbow pads stitched into the garments so they don't lose shape.
This is what makes KID a premium product and ensures that every piece endures, just like your grandmother's cashmere did.
Read more about the sustainability of KID here.


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|"Put Another Log on the Fire"
|Jim Henson
Two country singing hillbillies appeared on The Muppet Show. Both were performed by Jim Henson and were very similar in look and technique.
Slim,[1] a large hillbilly puppet, appeared in The Muppet Show episode 115 where he sang "Put Another Log on the Fire" to his wife. The guitar-playing hillbilly wore a beard, bowler hat, blue jeans and flannel shirt. His head was similar in design to Zelda Rose. The human-sized character was seen sitting in a chair. Although it appeared to be a full-body Muppet, it was not a costume worn by a performer. Henson was crouched down under the seat operating the upper part of the character like a normal live-hand Muppet and rods were used to control the hillbilly's tapping legs. This hillbilly later appeared in issue #2 of The Treasure of Peg-Leg Wilson, in which Kermit calls him "Mister McCoy."
Another country singing hillbilly sang "Ain't Nobody's Business But My Own" with Twiggy in The Muppet Show episode 121. This hillbilly wore a beard, straw hat, blue jeans and a flannel shirt. He was seen sitting on a fence and was operated similar to the earlier hillbilly singer. He had a different head, which was rounder when compared to his more cylindrical headed predecessor; and although he too was performed by Jim Henson, his voice was quite different from the other hillbilly from six episodes earlier.
- ↑ Jim Henson's Red Book entry - 8/10/1976


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A court date has been set in the case of a South Park Middle School teacher accused of date rape.
Corian Kendall Thomas, 37, was indicted last week on a charge of sexual assault and turned himself in at the Jefferson County Jail on June 28.
His first court date is Oct. 7 in the 252nd District Court.
If convicted, Thomas, who is free in lieu of a $20,000 bond, faces up to 20 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
The charges arose after a woman filed a report with police saying Thomas sexually assaulted her March 24 after she became intoxicated during an evening including dinner and a nightclub, according to court documents.
Thomas' defense lawyer, James Makin, wouldn't comment in detail on the pending case, but said he looked forward to proving his client's innocence in court.
The woman was not a student of Thomas', said Assistant District Attorney Ramon Rodriguez.
firstname.lastname@example.com Twitter.com/Daily_Tiger


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Build number
9300.16.0811.1521Download Tableau Server 9.3.6
Release date
Monday, August 15, 2016
Product support
Installation Guide
Install and Configure Tableau Server
Planning to upgrade?
Tableau Server Upgrade Page
Release Notes for Tableau 9.3.6
Note: Tableau Desktop customers in environments with Product Updates enabled will be prompted to upgrade a few days after a maintenance release is made available. For more information, see the Tableau Knowledge Base.


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With a month and a half before The Science of Kissing's debut, Ayana Byrd at Redbook interviewed me for a fun article in their December issue called The Kissing Project. The piece explores why we kiss and I'm quoted:
"Research suggests that men may have an unconscious tendency to swap lots of spit because they transfer testosterone (which raises libido over time) to their mate through saliva."
"Whether a couple has been together for four months or 40 years, kissing promotes feelings of intimacy and security."
Of course, that's just a hint of what's in the actual book: I spend a chapter exploring gender differences and several more on the hormones and neurotransmitters involved. While I don't want to give too much away yet, it's neat to see a nod to The Science of Kissing in print!
More will be revealed over the coming weeks...


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Underwater enthusiasts flock to this region because it offers the world's best marine sights. Two days earlier, some of these travelers had been at a deafening corner of a tourist trap in Bali. Once they took their flight to the bird head of the island of Papua everything changed as they embarked on a diving tour of a lifetime. In the Raja Ampat islands, divers can explore vertical underwater walls. The thrill of drift diving is another great challenge. These are the awesome experiences you will find in Raja Ampat.
Meanwhile, on this tour several divers were well equipped and looked advanced. The territory within the islands of the Four Kings is enormous, covering 9.8 million acres of land and sea, home to 540 types of corals, more than 1,000 types of coral fish and 700 types of mollusks. This makes it the most diverse living library for world's coral reef and underwater biota. According to a report developed by The Nature Conservancy and Conservation International, around 75% of the world's species live here. When divers first arrive here their excitement is palpable. It's common to hear people praise God as they take in the remarkable scenery. Others prefer to remain in silence taking in the overwhelming sight of so many islands with crystal clear water that softly brushes over the white sandy beaches.
Raja Ampat located in the heart of the coral triangle, Raja Ampat islands had become one of the richest marine life destination. Here you can see a wide range of species in fish, corals and birds. For you who likes to go out with nature, this place is one spot you would not miss. We are offering our trip packages to discover and explore all of these places.
As part of our main excursions program, we will explore by snorkeling a wide area of various snorkeling sites. To snorkel all of the nicest reef as we pass along while enjoying the excursion. Most of the snorkeling sites are shallow to moderate deep, typically the reefs is found on a slope ranging from 0 - 30 meters with good visibility and current. There are mangroves with crystal clear water and have corals growing, also walls and patch reefs. Snorkeling the area will offer you an unlimited exploration and discovery.
Ampat has lots of world class dive sites, on our trip we will take you to dive and explore some of these dive sites. On our excursions as we pass this dive sites we give the opportunity for you who is interested to go diving. To organize the diving we are working with the local dive center which have experience and professional crew. The dive sites are manageable and good for all level of divers. The reefs are well protected, ranging from 0 - 30 meters deep. Housing plenty kinds of fish and creatures and also aircraft wrecks, these diving will take you to see one of the best reef wonders.
Land Tour
Along the coast we will visit villages and people with their traditional culture and craftman. Going culture and exploring the landscape filled with tropical forests and reefs is another type of excursion we offer. Another program is to spot several kinds of birds which is endemic in Papua. Spotting the birds in their habitat and going for an easy treking to the local waterfall.
Our transportations for the trip
One wooden boat will be our main transportation,
Specification :
Length x Width : 19m x 4.5m
Built : 2014 Sulawesi
Engine : 2 x 4 Cylinders Diesel Engine (one for backup)
Generator : 1KW
Facility : Sun & Canopy Deck, Main Room Accommodation, Kitchen, Bathroom + Toilet
For organizing daily excursions and snorkeling trip we provide one fiberglass longboat canoe for tender, the boat is towed and ready for the whole trip.
Specification :
Length x Width : 7m x 1.5m
Engine : 1 x 25hp
outboard engine Capacity : 8 pax + 2 crews
For daily run around, and for you who likes to travel and snorkel more distances,
Specification : Length : 2.5m
Capacity : 100kg / 1 person
Type : Closed deck Units : 2 pcs
Raja Ampat have so many sites to snorkel with and we are taking you to the best snorkel sites on our excursions. Science have declared that Raja Ampat have a unique underwater life, and during the trip you will get the chance to experience different type of snorkel sites, from white sandy beaches to open sea, snorkeling mangrove reefscoral garden mangroves, bays, caves and channels all have beautiful and unique underwater life. Snorkeling under the forest reefs and snorkeling with the pelagic like mantas, and if you are lucky you could expect to snorkel with whales and dugong.
On our trip you will get the experience to explore all this snorkeling sites. Most of the snorkel site is white sandy beaches with reef slope ranging from 1 - 30 meters, the reefs are alive and abundant with many kinds of fish. With visibility average 30m year round, by snorkeling you can already enjoy a wide range of underwater view in every snorkel sites. We also sometimes likes to take advantage of the currents flowing along the reefs, with this current you can just snorkel and relax with longer range of coral reefs along the beach to explore and the chance to see more big fishes.
If you like you can also go snorkeling the sites in the evening, this can be done while we park our boat close to an island or village. Snorkeling in the evening is also interesting, you can get the chance to see different life on the reefs. Please bring your underwater lamp if you also plan to snorkel in the evening.
How to get there
There are several ways to get to Raja Ampat, this depends on where you are coming from, and each entry ports have their own advantages.
To fly to Raja Ampat there 4 international airports available in Indonesia, this is Jakarta, Makasar, Bali and Manado.
These airports are easily accessible from all parts of the world.
The good entrance is through Singapore, and from here you can fly direct to either of the airports with several direct fligths. Please contact your travel agents for the best routes.deserted island
You can obtain your visa on arrival for USD 25 for 30 days, if you want to stay longer than 30 days, you need to get visa from the Indonesia Consulate embassy as this cannot be issued on arrival.
Travel Permit
When entering Papua we provide you with travel permit (free) which will be issued by the local police station, pleaseprepare the following requirements :
-2 copies pass fotos
- 2 copies of passport id and arrival visa stamp PIN
Personal Identification Number
A regulation setup by the local government, conservation organizations and other stakeholders for managing tourism in Raja Ampat. Each tourist is required to buy an entrance PIN which is valid for one year at USD 100.- (Rp. 1.000.000,-). The fund will support several programs organized by the government and the stakeholders.
As we are located near the equator, sun protection is necessary. Insect repellant is needed for protection to common insects. Malaria is present in Papua, please refer to your physician for the best prevention.yuyu
Average weather is good yearround, there is no rainy seasons. There will be couple of time rainfall everyweek during the whole tear period with average distribution highest on July. Month June and July is considered rainy seasons in Indonesia. The period June = July and December - January will be a bit windy and the rest of the period will be steady. The seas will be very smooth during the non wind period and visibility average 20 - 30 meters. Water temperature from 26 - 28 Celcius, air temperature 31 - 33 Celcius. Practicalities To make things easier and enjoyable, below is some stuff which you might consider to have on the trip, snorkel sets, headlamp, binocular, hammock, trekking sandals and underwater torch.
Day 01 : SORONG ARRIVAL (BLD)
Arrive at Sorong airport meeting service then transfer pax to Royal Memberamo Hotel,for check in pax free program. Lunch and dinner on your own
After breakfast pax free at leasure until transfer to public harbour then by public fast boat explore to Waisai mother town of Raja Ampat regeny.Arrive harbour then transfer to melati hotel,or losmen for stay overnight .
After breakfast ten pax by outrigger boat explore Saonekbonde island for snorkelling ,then visiting Saonek village meet the local people learn the way of life, make the pictures of Panorama.Stay.Lunch on the island then afternoon back to Waisai to your hotel or homestay for dinner overnight.
After breakfast pax free program to visit local market and some nice place around Waisai town,then after lunch by Ojek adventure to Sapokren village learn the way of local villagers live,visit the Raja Ampat Dive resort and swimming on the beach.Late afternoon back to your homestay for dinner overnight.
After breakfast pax free program until transfer to harbour for by fast boat in 3 hours return to Sorong,then to your hotel Royal Memberamo.At night dinner sea food at Tembok berlin place,while enjoi kota Sorong di Waktu malam.Overnight at your hotel.
After breakfast at your hotel then pax with guide by Inova coach explore to visit local market, Soerong Artshop, and penakaran buaya ( Crocodile farm ) and kota Sorong Surrounding.Lunch box and mineral water and provided on the way. Afternoon back to your hotel for dinner by your own. Overnight at your hotel.
After breakfast then pax free until transfer to airport for your flight return to Jakarta via Manokwari and Makasar by Express air
Rate included:
- Airport pick up and transfer in Sorong
- 3 meals a day
- Sleeping on the deck or camping during the trip
- Refreshment ( Coffee, Tea and Mineral Water )
- English speaking guide
- Tours as per itinerary
Rate excluded:
- Hotel in Sorong
- Porters
- Alcoholic and non alcoholic drinks
- PIN for Raja Ampat
- Donation at the villages
- Any entrance fees in the islands
- Laundry
- Any personal expenses
View the embedded image gallery online at: