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With tax reform legislation finalized, it's time to start unpacking changes that will affect employers in the coming year and beyond.
The 2017 tax act, which was signed into law Dec. 22 by President Donald Trump (Pub. L. No. 115-97), makes significant changes to the tax treatment of transportation and commuter benefits.
Beginning in 2018, the law repeals employer deductions for parking and transit benefits, with an exception for ensuring employee safety.
Employees are still able to exclude employer-provided parking and transit benefits from their income and use salary reductions to purchase such benefits on a pre-tax basis.
The law makes the opposite changes to bicycle commuting reimbursements. Employers may continue to deduct bicycle commuting reimbursements offered to employees. However, beginning after Dec. 31, 2017, and before Jan. 1, 2026, employees are subject to income tax for employer reimbursements for bicycle commuting expenses, and the benefits can't be purchased through salary reduction contributions.
'Unusual' Mix of Provisions
"It's unusual because when you have a provision that is providing an incentive to do something, you usually get a consistent message. In this case, for most transportation fringe benefits, the value of the benefit will continue to be excluded from an employee's income, but it will no longer be deductible for the employer," Ed Leeds, counsel at Ballard Spahr, told Bloomberg Law.
"The exception to that is the bicycle commuting reimbursement benefit where the employer can get the deduction but the employee will not get the exclusion," he said.
The elimination of the parking and transit benefits deduction is expected to generate $17.7 billion in revenue over the next decade. Congress expects that increase in tax payments to be offset for employers by lower corporate tax rates established by the new tax law.
What do these changes mean for employers? "It's such a mixed message that we're just going to have to see where it goes," Leeds said. "Employers don't like to have to go to employees and say we're taking a benefit away from you."
Don't Forget About Local Laws
Employers considering cuts in commuter benefits should ensure they are complying with both federal and local laws. Cities such as New York and San Francisco require employers to offer a pre-tax commuter benefits program to employees.
In New York, employers with 20 or more employees must offer full-time employees the opportunity to use pre-tax income to purchase qualified transit benefits.
In San Francisco, employers with 20 or more employees have a choice between offering employees pre-tax transit benefit contributions, employer-paid public transit passes or reimbursement for equivalent vanpool charges, free transportation on employer-funded buses or vans, or a combination of the three benefits.
California has 16 cities with commuter benefits ordinances on the books, more than any other state. For more information, see the Bloomberg Law Local Commuter Benefits Chart (subscription required).
Gain a deeper understanding of the legal complexities of employee benefits and executive compensation with a free trial to Bloomberg Law: Benefits and Executive Compensation.
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Join us!
Austin 10K'r invites you to join us for a unique variety of fun running 'n' walking routes that will compliment your Cap10K training. The Texas Wildflower Run is a traditional 2 to 5-mile route that travels on the Ann & Roy Butler Hike & Bike Trail along Lady Bird Lake. One of the best times of the year to plant wildflower seeds in Texas is late winter before the spring showers. At the event native Texas wildflower seed packets will be provided, and with your assistance we will help Mother Nature get a head start on covering the trail with vibrant spring colors.
Saturday, February 24, 2018
Meeting Place: Austin American-Statesman
Activity: Run, Walk, Skip or Stroll
Participation: Free
Parking: Free
Meeting Time: 8:00 a.m.
Running Time: 8:05 a.m. (leave by)
Sunrise Time: 7:05 a.m.
Event Page: Texas Wildflower Run
Brief Description
The Austin 10K'r social training routes are Cap10K staff organized runs or walks which are variable in distance, free, open to the public and begin and end at Austin American-Statesman. Social run route distances vary between 3-6 miles and will be scheduled regularly throughout the year. Each meeting will incorporate a creative theme that highlights the culture of Austin and the Cap10K. Maps, bottled water, nutritional bars, high fives and selfies will be shared at each meeting.
More Details
Follow link to Austin 10K'r social runs

subset: commoncrawl


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I promised to post photos of our Disney trip, so here I am! Instead of posting individual pictures, I decided to make a collage from each day that features my favorite Disney moments.
Day 1: Hollywood Studios- We ate breakfast at Hollywood And Vine so Jordan could see Sofia The First, then we went straight to meet her again at the character greeting spot. We played in "snow" at one of the Frozen attractions. Ronnie's Mom bought the kids light-sabers during the Fantasmic show, and we took a photo with the famous hat before they dismantled it. Brandon did well, but by the end of the day he was quite overwhelmed.
Day 2: Magic Kingdom- We made a priority to go on rides that we'd never done before, but we didn't forget our old favorites. Jordan ended up crying when she met Anna and it totally made me cry. You know what else made me (almost) cry? My first time on Space Mountain. You could never, ever pay me to do that again!!! We rode the Barnstormer, and the 7-D Mine Train. That was Brandon's first roller coaster ride. He was so funny! He laughed and screamed at the same time. Also, I got to meet one of my online scrappy buddies for the first time. This trip was FULL of firsts!
Day 3: Downtown Disney And Epcot- We went shopping in the morning after figuring out where to park. The amount of construction was completely insane. Brandon found a little piece of happy at the Lego store. They had Minecraft Legos and he got two sets. He didn't want any Disney souvenirs. He just wanted Legos. We ate lunch at T-Rex, and Jordan bought a Build-A-Dino as her souvenir. Alexis had to have an Elsa dress from World Of Disney. When lunch was over, we headed to The Land ride in Epcot because Ronnie's parents love it. Later, they watched Brandon while we went on Test Track. After that, Brandon was about to have an absolute meltdown so Ronnie brought him back to the hotel early. The girls and I stayed a little longer to ride Soarin' and meet some characters.
Day 4: Animal Kingdom- Ronnie's parents came with us to eat breakfast at Chef Mickey's, but they didn't want to go to the park. They rode the monorail back to the Polynesian and we headed to the Animal Kingdom. We rode Kali River Rapids for the first time and Alexis got soaked! She didn't think it was as funny as the rest of us did. We played drums, and we waited about 45 minutes for the Lion King show to start. Guess what?! Alexis was chosen to go on the stage during the show. It was one of the coolest parts of our trip! She did a great job showing everyone how to roar like a lion.
As usual, we had a great time. I was a little worried that Brandon didn't enjoy himself much due to the fact that he seemed so overwhelmed. When we got home he told me, "Mom, I miss being in Disney already." I was so happy to hear that. Personally, I'm hoping our next vacation will be a little more relaxing. When we come back from Disney I'm always exhausted. It's almost like I need a vacation to recover from our vacation.


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Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) Australia has today announced Transport Certification Australia (TCA) as the official demonstrations partner for the 23rd annual ITS World Congress, to be held in Melbourne from 10-14 October 2016.
Developed by the ITS World Congress Demonstrations Committee, the Call for Demonstrations are currently being shortlisted, with expected official demonstrations to be announced later this year at the 22nd annual ITS World Congress in Bordeaux, France.
"ITS Australia is pleased to be partnering with TCA for the demonstrations component of the World Congress. This exciting part of the program provides a great opportunity for delegates to experience the latest mobility technologies," said ITS Australia Chief Executive Officer, Susan Harris.
Chris Koniditsiotis, TCA Chief Executive Officer added "TCA is delighted to be continuing a fruitful relationship with ITS Australia, putting the future of this technical enabling capability on the national agenda.
"As a national government body supporting the growing use of telematics and related intelligent technologies, TCA is uniquely positioned to coordinate practical, real-world demonstrations for the Congress," Mr Koniditsiotis said.
Centring around Enhancing Liveable Cities and Communities, the congresses theme focuses on key issues in transport, including challenges and opportunities of big open data, smart cities and new urban mobility, vehicle and network safety, environmental sustainability, cooperative and automated vehicles, mobile applications, future freight, and policy, standards and harmonization.
Six months since the official call for demonstrations, ITS Australia is delighted by the innovation and diversity of responses received during the call. While these applications are being evaluated, late applications will still be considered.
Those interested in applying should complete and submit an application form as soon as possible to support evaluation and delivery of a successful demonstration.
Hosted in the world's most liveable city, Melbourne will be hosting the demonstrations in first class facilities, including the Grand Prix circuit around Albert Park Lake, a short 10 minute drive from the Melbourne Exhibition and Convention Centre.
Further information:
Susan Harris
Chief Executive Officer
+61 (0)408 794 532
Felicity Robertson
Media Advisor
+61 3 9426 5388
On demand, on-line access to the ITS 2016 recorded sessions now vailable. Click here to find out more.
Click here to view the latest media coverage for ITS World Congress 2016
Australia to host the 23rd World Congress on Intelligent Transport Systems in Melbourne from 10-14 October 2016.
Cick here to read the latest Media Releases.


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Tuesday, 4 October 2011
A Chance for New Beginnings
5 comments:
- Daisy, Roo and Two said...
A beautiful piece of writing, Suzi. I really am so glad that your friend was brave enough to seek help, and glad that she is receiving it too.
- 4 October 2011 at 12:29
- Melissa Jane said...
It takes real guts to admit you need help, and then to readily do it. A huge pat on the back for your friend and also for you, for being there in her time of need.
- 7 October 2011 at 15:04
- Glen said...
It is always difficult to write about such difficult, personal things, but you have done it very well indeed.
- 7 October 2011 at 21:14
- Mum's the word said...
beautifully written, it takes guts to go visiting a mental hospital.. I hope your friend is better soon x
- 8 October 2011 at 14:11
- special 'k' said...
It is not easy to ask for help, these are difficult and miserable times for your friend. It seems with each episode they do recognise the early warning signs, which maybe what your friend has realised and sought help early. The wonderful support you show for your friend builds trust and she knows she can rely on you in times of need. Take Care. SpecialK
- 13 October 2011 at 23:50


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4 hours ago
Sunday, 28 September 2008
Feathered Friends ATCs part 3
Here's Nikki Blowers' entry, "Secretive Shadows", with many-layered background. She was the hostess too, so full marks to her.
And this is Robyn Wood's entry - so very smart, with fabulous atmospheric background.
Posted by Pauline Laing at 18:40
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There's one thing that Serbians and Croatians can agree on if politics and history are put to one side; Bosnians make the best ćevapi (pronounced che-vap-ee). Just incase you have no idea what ćevapi are, they are a minced meat, skinless type of sausage. Forget about ćevapi if you're vegetarian or vegan, there are no alternatives at present. Cevapi are also an influence left behind by the Ottomans and are readily available across the Balkans the way kebabs are along the highways in Sydney.
Balkan conversations generally revolve around where you can find the best ćevapi, the more Bosnian, the better. As you know or may have noticed, I tend to stay away from all dairy products (except cheese, I can't give up cheese) and have dramatically cut down on my intake of meat and animal products. So, selling me the concept of 'the best ćevapi in Zagreb' is not my idea of a culinary night out however, my cousin is very convincing and sold Sofra to me.
Sofra is located in Zagreb's business district, Green Gold business centre where high rise buildings and international companies call home, towering over the restaurant and visible to the eye in the outdoor area. Sofra's decor pays homage to Sarajevo's traditional values, where history meets a more contemporary vibe. With or without it's local reputation, Sofra remains as the best restaurant to visit if you're looking for the best cevapi outside of Bosnia.
For dinner we ordered three separate traditional Bosnian meals. I ordered the cevapi which arrived with freshly cut onions and on warm flatbread (also known as lepinje in Croatia or somun in Bosnia). Having previously tried authentic cevapi in Sarajevo, I can easily compare the portion I ate at Sofra by the taste. My cousins had đulbastije (Flat meat loafs baked in onion and sour cream) and pljeskavica sa sirom (hamburger steak stuffed with cheese).
I'm not really a big desert person anymore but I was encouraged to try tufahije, a Bosnian desert made of walnut-stuffed apples stewed in water with sugar, which I did. My cousin had hurmasice which is a syrup-drenched pastry, a little too dry for me but still a nice to drink with a Bosnian coffee.
There's no way you can visit a Bosnian restaurant without having a 'bosanska kafa,' or commonly referred to as black or Turkish coffee. Bosnian coffee is fairly strong not bitter in any way. Bosanska kafa is to be enjoyed slowly and to prolong a conversation so don't treat it like a cappuccino from Star Bucks. Your Bosanska kafa is always served with sugar cubes and rahat lokum, also known as turkish delight. You'll also notice that your bosanska kafa will arrive a dzezva (a pot designed specifically to make black coffee) for you to pour in a tiny cup without a handle, a little unusual but all part of the experience.
A special thank you to the boys at Sofra Green Gold for looking after my cousins and I in what will always be a memorable evening between us.
Top / Becha Design – Shorts / Zara – Heels / Pierre Hardy
Address: Radnička cesta 50, 10000
Hours: 10AM–1AM
Phone: 01 4111 621


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Long distance phone service carriers for years have charged per minute for long distance service. Many who make long distance phone calls can really feel the squeeze at the end of the month when the bill comes in. That is all about to change with one alternative to long distance LAN service.
Internet phone service. It is hot it's cheap and becoming very popular. If you have a high speed connection you can route all your calls through your internet connection instead of through your local phone service. Generally the cost is between $20-35 per month and includes local and unlimited long distance within the USA. Not to mention extremely low rates internationally.
The one drawback to this service is quality. Sometimes if your internet connection slows the quality of the phone call will suffer. At times clicks or chirps might be heard on the call. So the quality falls somewhere between a regular phone connection and a cell phone. But in this cell phone age rarely do we use the home phone any longer so saving you a few extra bucks can be in your best interest.
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World news story
Prince of Wales' envoy in Chile for Our Ocean conference
The Director of The Prince's Charities' International Sustainability Unit (ISU), Justin Mundy, is visiting Chile for the conference.
The Director of The Prince's Charities' International Sustainability Unit (ISU) which has been set up to reflect His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales' vision and aims in the area of sustainable development, Justin Mundy is in Chile to participate in Our Ocean international conference.
Organised by the Chilean Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Our Ocean will have more than 400 leaders from government, academia, and civil society who are committed to protecting the ocean will participate. The goal is to find solutions to deal with illegal fishing, marine plastic pollution, ocean acidification and its relation to climate change. Moreover, the conference seeks to encourage the creation of marine protected areas as a tool to protect the marine ecosystem.
Justin Mundy has thirty years' experience of working on climate change, environment and energy issues and has done so within the public, multilateral and private sectors.
Within the private sector he was a managing director of Climate Change Capital, responsible for Strategic Development and previously Senior Adviser to Deutsche Bank's Global Markets Group with responsibility for Climate Change issues and was also a director of Aon carbon.
He was a founder of ForestRe, a specialist forestry insurance company.
In the public sector he was an Adviser to the UK Government on Russia, Energy and Climate issues and during 2005 was the principal architect of the Clean Energy Investment Framework under the Gleneagles' G8 Action Plan. From 2003 to 2007 he was a member of the UK Government's Sustainable Energy Policy Advisory Board. During the UNFCCC COP6 (bis) and COP7 he was appointed adviser to the European Commission on EU – Russia coordination.
Between 1992 – 1998 he ran the World Bank's forestry and biodiversity programmes in Russia and Central Asia and was the Bank's environment adviser for the region's oil and gas sector.
Before joining the World Bank, he worked extensively on environment, forestry and conflict resolution programmes in Asia, South America, Africa and Eastern Europe.
Further information
Visit Our Ocean webpage for more information about the conference.
For more information about the events and activities of the British Embassy in Santiago, follow us on:


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|Written by Administrator
The Filipino CommUNITY Fredericton (FCF), celebrates the month of May as an Asian Heritage Month. Since 2006, the CommUNITY has been partnering with Asian Heritage Society of New Brunswick (AHSNB) to celebrate this special occasion.
This year we are proud to celebrate the history and valuable contribution of Filipino Communities in New Brunswick as well as in other parts of Canada.
Featuring the CommUNITY signature dance, the Tinikling (Bamboo dahce), La Jota Moncadena, Bayanihan and Sayaw sa Banko (Bench Dance), Binasuan (The Dance of Light), Alitaptap (Firefly Dance), and Lawiswis Kawayan. Don't miss this event. Admission is free.
The four major activities are:
Website Sponsors
FCNB thanks our sponsors:
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Proud of being part of Filipino CommUNITY!
Need Caregivers?
The Filipino caregiver could be one of the best caregivers whom you could hire to take care of your children, elderly and persons with disabilities since they are trained for the job. They are well known as a kind heart people, warm people and most of all sensitive and easy to adapt in all ways of life style.
We have members of our CommUNITY that are presently here in New Brunswick that are looking for employers.
Related information:
If you are interested or need more information you can contact us at for more information.
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Michael Brunner, who lives in Wisconsin, brought his petition in Los Angeles Superior Court. He will compete there with Dale Kiken, an attorney for Manson grandson Jason Freeman, who also wants the appointment.
A hearing is scheduled March 9 before Judge Clifford Klein.
Manson spent nearly 50 years incarcerated and died Nov. 19 at age 83 at Bakersfield Mercy Hospital of heart failure triggered by colon cancer that had spread to other areas of his body.
Freeman and former Manson pen pal Michael Channels are seeking to obtain control of the killer's remains. Channels said he has a copy of Manson's will.
But in his court papers, Freeman says Manson died without a will and that any such document anyone claims to possess is a "forgery."
Brunner's petition also states Manson had no will.
–City News Service
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Intalekt "House Party"
Posted In Blog,Tracks
Summertime BBQ vibes from Intalekt. A track with soft keys groovy bass but a harsher vocal tone it works really well and gets your head bopping definitely vibe. Really enjoying the brand of soulfulness that Intalekt brings to his music right up my street. Be sure to listen to the end for some more jokes.


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Miles of Power Lines Still Down in Florida
StoryfulWeatherPublished: September 14, 2017
Published: September 14, 2017
Drone video filmed by Duke Energy, a multi-state power company, shows miles of fallen power lines and poles in Avon Park, Florida, on September 13. The company said that as of Thursday, September 14, power has been restored to 824,000 Florida customers. In the Carolinas, 17,800 are still without power. Credit: Twitter/Duke Energy via Storyful


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Select 4 American Girls Collection Paperback books for $10Just let me know which ones you would like and I can put them all in one order.1904 Happy Birthday, Samantha! A Springtime Story Book 4Samantha's Birthday Party is nearly ruined when Eddie Ryland plays a mean trick. Then Agnes and Agatha, Cornelia's ten-year-old twin sisters, save the day with an invitation to visition New York City. Samantha loves the twins' lively, carefree attitude and can't wait to go -- especially since the trip will include a stop at the fanciest ice cream parlor in town. But when the girls carelessly break some rules, they suddenly find themselves racing dangerously through the big city-- and the path they take leasds to suprising discoveries.Love to bundleFast shipppingHappy to answer questions


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If you are still on the fence or just curious about the game we will be running demos Friday and Sunday of the convention as well. We will also be doing demos of this posts main topic. Spartan Games released the game of ground combat in the Firestorm Armada universe, Planetfall.
Planetfall allows you to finally play out the ground war in the Firestorm universe. The game is in the 10mm scale and has a nice low barrier to entry with some very cool looking models. The six core races of Firestorm Armada are currently available with some Alliance fleet races available as support forces. Lets dive in and take a look at the game. I am by no means an expert as I have only been able to get a few games in, but so far I really like it and it is easy to pick up, but has quite a bit of tactical depth.
Tactical Value is how you score points in Planetfall. In fact every unit has a Tactical Value. Rather than using Battle log like Firestorm Armada, Planetfall uses the Zero Hour Tracker. Victory is a race to zero. When you destroy an enemy unit, you subtract its Tactical Value from you zero hour tracker. When you hold an objective you subtract its point value from the Zero Hour Tracker. The first player to reach zero is the winner. It is pretty strait forward. I really like this system. You can get the big swings in score that you see in FSA and you can make up a big difference in points pretty quickly.
Terrain is handled pretty simply. Everything has a size class and this affects what kind of line of sight it will have. Light elements blocked by armored elements and armored elements are blocked by elevated elements. Flyers can see everybody. Buildings and walls are classified in this way as well so it make it pretty simple. You cannot shoot though your own vehicles either, so you can screen your vital command elements with other vehicles of the same size class. I have to admit it is taking some time adjusting to a game that does not use true line of sight. Maneuvering your vehicles so that a part of its base has an unobstructed view of your targets base can prove challenging when you have three or four vehicles and a narrow corridor.
I really want to go in depth, but this post would be way to long if I tried to cover everything. I wanted to kind of touch on some of the things I really like about the game. I am going to be writing about different aspects of the game for the next couple months as I play the game with my Relthoza army. There is quite a bit and it seems like Spartan has drawn all the good aspects of all their games into one system.
Its a new year and its looking pretty bright so far. Look for Relthoza coverage in the not to distant future for both Planetfall and FSA. I have been doing a lot of painting as of late too, so I will be doing some hobby articles as well.
Thats all for now until next time, crush the Alliance as as always.....


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Government careers
Wednesday, December 9, 2009; 11:00 AM
Federal careers expert Derrick Dortch was online to discuss government job searching and military transition on Wednesday, December 9, at 11 a.m. ET. Dortch is president of The Diversa Group, a firm that focuses on career counseling and development.
Find more career-related news and advice in our Jobs section.
Submit questions before or during the discussion.
Derrick Dortch: Good morning, good morning. Well it looks like we are getting some winter weather but its still a wonderful day and we are going to have a wonderful show. I am going to get right into answering your questions but I wanted to pass along some information.
If you are a federal Job seekers or an federal employee looking to switch agencies one of the best ways to do so is through hiring events. With these hiring events you have to register and then based on your skills, education, experience and qualifications you are selected to attend the hiring event. At these events you are usually interviewed on the spot and a hiring decision can be made there on the spot or a few days later. I have seen numerous people get hired at hiring events. Recently various agencies have held them including Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) , Defense Security Service, and National Geospatial Intelligence Agency (NGA). To find these events you have to stay on the look out for them with various agencies but one good way to find them is to go into USAJOBS and do a keyword search under "Hiring Events".
Make sure you put your best foot forward when applying to these positions because there is a great deal of competition out there but if you are selected to attend one of these hiring events you can very well walk out with a Conditional Offer of Employment (COE) in your hand or get an offer a few days later. Here is an upcoming hiring event being held by the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency.
Department Of Defense
Agency: National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency
Job Announcement Number: 20101199
Hiring Event
SALARY RANGE: 38,117.00 - 118,803.00 USD /year
Salary may vary depending on locality.
Please refer to www.nga.mil/careers for additional salary information.
OPEN PERIOD: Monday, November 30, 2009 to Friday, December 18, 2009
SERIES & GRADE: IA-0301-02/02 POSITION INFORMATION: Full Time This is a permanent position.
DUTY LOCATIONS: vacancy(s) in one of the following locations: multiple duty locations - click here for more info
NGA is currently accepting applications for our February 2010 invitation only hiring event to be held in Honolulu, HI. We are seeking entry to mid career level candidates, pay bands 2 to 3, interested in joining our highly skilled team supporting national security objectives of the United States. Resumes submitted through this assignment opportunity notice will be actively screened and applicants whose background, experience, and skill set meet the requirements of the targeted positions for which we will be hiring (listed below) will be contacted for an interview to be held in mid to late February 2010. Most individuals selected for hire as a result of this event will not fill current vacancies, but rather, fill future vacanies as they occur. Please Note : The primary duty locations for these positions are within the Washington, DC and St. Louis metropolitan areas. However, this event assignment opportunity notice may be used to fill limited opportunites at other NGA locations outside of the Washington, DC and St. Louis areas. There are a limited number of opportunities available for initial posting in Hawaii. On your resume, please notate which of the positions listed below you wish to be considered for: GEOINT Analyst (Geospatial Analysis) GEOINT Analyst (Imagery Intelligence) GEOINT Analyst (Imagery Science)
Job seekers continue to value face-to-face interaction
By Emily Long - November 30, 2009
Federal agencies are catching on to the social media craze and leveraging that technology to attract job seekers, especially young recruits. For example, the Labor Department advertises open positions on Twitter and plans to upload its recruitment videos to YouTube. The State Department regularly updates its Facebook page and maintains the @DOSCareers Twitter account. But conventional wisdom, which holds that recent college graduates and tech-savvy young professionals respond favorably to anything on the Internet, doesn't always apply when it comes to federal recruiting.
Bill would require agencies to recognize security clearances governmentwide
By Kellie Lunney - December 3, 2009
A bipartisan bill
The legislation, sponsored by Sens. Daniel Akaka, D-Hawaii, and George Voinovich, R-Ohio, amends the portion of the 2004 Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act that deals with the security clearance process. It mandates the creation of a performance accountability council to oversee the reduction of the government's security clearance backlog and extends reporting requirements.
Well without any further delay let me get to answering your questions. If you have any questions related to the federal job search, writing federal resumes and KSAs, getting a security clearance, military transition and more please send your questions in. I will respond to as many people as possible. Also if anyone has any comments, advice or a good tip they want to share please do not hesitate to do so.
Thank you so very much for stopping by the show. You are truly appreciated. ENJOY!!!
Washington, D.C.: As we enter holidays, just wanted to say how much I've enjoyed your chats. After 20 years, still a gas making a difference in a Federal system so averse to change. Thanks.
Derrick Dortch: Thanks so much for your comments DC. They are truly appreciated and keep me going. Have a Happy Holidays!!!
Fairfax: For job postings on USAJOBS, are the answers submitted to KSAs screened by automated tools or are they read by individuals? If they are scanned, are there certain keywords I should use when submitting my answers?
Derrick Dortch: Hello Fairfax,
For most automated systems whether its USAJOBS, AVUECENTRAL, or any of the other systems used by various agencies you can always assume and pretty much guarantee that there will be some automated tools scanning your resume first to determine baseline or minimum qualifications. I recently interviewed the CO-CED of AVUE Technologies who runs AVUECENTRAL.com a government job site where you can find and apply for federal jobs. She indicated that their software uses algorithms to run keyword searches on applicants. She also mentioned that for most federal positions there are between 200 - 400 applicants at the minimum. For others there are thousands of applicants.
Now with this being the case you do have to make sure do a couple of things. 1. Use Keywords: Yes you need to use keywords that are based on the job you are applying to and the experience you have. You can find keywords in the job description on the position announcement and many times since the government publishes so much information about its work and about positions you can usually do a good amount of research and find other keywords that you can use. Now these keywords that you are using should also be related to work you have done that makes you qualified for the position. Do not use keywords for keywords sake. If you are being deceptive and have used keywords just to get pass the first screening, you will be discovered pretty quick as you move up to the human phase of screening. You must use keywords in conjunction with telling your relevant success stories and achievements. This leads me into my second recommendation:
2. Tell YOUR SUCCESS STORIES!!!
This is critical. Many people will put in large amounts of content that has job descriptive language without really telling their story and what they have achieved or done. Once you are past the first screening the human resources person or selecting official will be looking for you to describe your relevant success stories in your federal resume as well as in any KSAs or Essay Responses. You have to catch there interest and in your success stories you have to provide both quantitative and qualitative examples.
If you think about it the majority of people applying will provide job description type language but if you only do that you are stuck in a sea of people with similar qualifications and none of you stand out. You have to make yourself stand out from the crowd.
I could go on all day, but the key for you is to combine both keywords with your relevant success stories and achievements and you should begin seeing good results.
Take care, and I wish you much success.
Fairfax, Va.: Mr. Dortch,
I attended a job fair where they had DIA representatives. I am retiring with 20 years in Army intelligence, I have three tours in Iraq, I have a TS/SCI and 2 foreign languages, one of them being Arabic. When I presented my credentials to the recruiter, she told me to fill out an application online. She was not able to provide me with any answers I was unable to find on their web site. While I didn't expect her to kiss my ring, I did expect a little more enthusiasm as I would seem to be exactly who they would want. Was this an anomaly or is this normal? I have to be honest, I wasn't too impressed. I'd like to transition to DIA but am somewhat concerned. Should I be?
Derrick Dortch: Hello Fairfax,
I am very surprised by the way you were treated by the DIA representative. I deal with a good number of people from DIA, and I have always found them to be top notch and a place that I highly recommend in terms of being a great place to work. With your background I would think they would definitely be more interested in you. What I will say is that you may have run into a human resources person who was in job fair mode where they just talk to you without really talking to you or this representative could have worked in a section within DIA that would not completely understand your value. I am not sure.
After 20 years in Army Intelligence and your qualifications I am pretty sure they are interested in you. Unfortunately you ran into the wrong representative. Let me suggest a couple of things.
1. Given your 20 years experience in the field of intelligence you probably know some people already working at DIA. I would suggest you do some networking and reach out to them. Be proactive and let them know you will be transitioning out of the military soon and would like to work at DIA. The person you know may be high up or they may be a person who can get your resume to a selecting official. Since DIA is half military and half civilian and many of the civilians have either been military or understand the military they should take an immediate interest in you. The key point is: Make sure you NETWORK!
2. Look for DIA Hiring Events. DIA just had a posting for their hiring event and they will have additional ones in the near future. Monitor DIA.mil and look at recruiting events.
3. Apply to DIA positions. DIA is definitely hiring so keep on applying. Make sure you have a strong federal resume and KSAs or what DIA calls Mandatory Assessment Factors. These are essay question responses. Do not take it for granted that you have this experience and you do not need to put your success stories down. I know there is only so much you can discuss, but you have have to sell yourself. Remember there are also other people with military intelligence and other intelligence backgrounds who are trying to get the same positions you are applying for.
4. Contact Me. Send me your resume and let me see if I can pass you along to some people who would be interested in you. Email me at firstname.lastname@example.com and I will follow up with you.
I hope this is helpful. Take care, thank you for your service and I wish you much success.
McLean, Va.: Dear Mr. Dortch,
I just had an interview with the Board of Immigration Appeals (DOJ), and I am still waiting for the results. I have a question about clearance matters, though. I applied to be an FBI special agent, and although I made it through the selection process, I failed the polygraph examination. Do you think this will count against me if I get the BIA attorney position?
Thanks so much!
Derrick Dortch: Hello McLean, VA,
Thanks for your question. I am sorry to hear about the polygraph. The FBI's polygraph process is a very stressful one so don't be too discouraged. Keep on applying to federal positions as you are doing.
Now in terms of the polygraph and the DOJ position, it should not be held against you. Most DOJ positions outside of those in the FBI and a few others do not require you to do a polygraph. They usually only require a background investigation and sometimes a security clearance. This all depends on who you are working for. Since you only received a conditional offer of employment and you only went through the initial phases which includes the polygraph you did not go through a background investigation more than so even when asked the question were you denied a clearance the answer would be no because a security clearance background investigation was barely started if started at all and was never completed.
The polygraph should have no bearing on this position and you should be fine.
If you need more advice on this matter contact me at dtd@diversagroup and we can set up a consultation and I can advise you better with more additional details of your situation.
Take care and I wish you much success.
Fairfax, Va.: Derrick, I recently found your discussion page and found your information helpful in my job search. Keep up the good work!
My question is: Am I automatically disqualified from working for any of the intelligence agencies like DIA if my spouse is not currently a US citizen?
Derrick Dortch: Hello Fairfax, VA,
This is a good question. Many positions within the intelligence community do require your spouse to be a U.S. Citizen. I can not say all because this is not always the case, and some agencies do have their own rules and some at times will provide waivers for exceptions depending on the person, their qualifications, etc.
I will share this with you. This below comes from the military side of military members applying to work at DIA. This same question is asked in a FAQ and here is the response:
Q. My spouse is not a U.S. citizen yet, but she does have her green card. Can I get a waiver for this?
A. Assignment to Defense Attaché Duty requires eligibility for access to classified information at the TS/SCI level. IAW Defense Intelligence Agency Manual 50-8 and Director of Central Intelligence Directives, all applicants and their immediate family members must be U.S. Citizens. As noted in DIAM 50-8: "Immediate family includes the individual's spouse, parents, brothers, sisters, and children. Immediate family members also include step and foster parents (in loco parentis); half, step and foster siblings; and adopted, step and foster children, provided that a close relationship existed or exists as evidenced by a substantial period of common residence. Cohabitants, with whom an intimate relationship is maintained, are also considered to be immediate family members for the purposes of this regulation. Permanent Residency (green card) or other status will not substitute for citizenship. In addition, once citizenship issues have been resolved, an applicant will normally be prevented from serving in or near the country of origin.
You can see the full FAQ here:
Now with that being said I do know of people who full families are not U.S. Citizens because they were naturalized when they came to this country so I know this rule is not fully applied.
The best way to find out each agencies rules and regulations when it comes to citizenship and status of a spouse is to call and ask. You do not have to provide your name, you are calling for information and that is all. Call the HR point of contact on the application in the How to Apply section and you should get some answers.
I will also track this down more to provide you a more concrete answer and to see if there is now one set answer for the IC.
Here is general contact information for DIA: For more information on these upcoming events and employment with DIA please direct your questions to:email@example.com or call 1-800-526-4629
I hope this was helpful and I wish you much success.
Reston, Va.: Derrick- I was selected for a FEMA position 6 months ago and have completed the security/backgound check. I have heard that funding for the position has been frozen for review. While the wait has been frustrating- what would be more frustrating is not getting the position at all. How possible is it to not get the position at all since the funding is under review?
Derrick Dortch: Hello Reston, VA,
Congratulations on the FEMA position and I am sorry to hear you have been put on hold because of funding. To be completely honest with you I have been working on helping people get into the federal government for a long time and there are times when I have had clients we worked with win positions, get an offer of employment and then have the position withdrawn and the offer rescinded because of lack of funding. It does happen. Now I did not tell you that story to scare you or discourage you. I only tell you the story so you will have some real insight on things.
What I recommend is this:
1Stay in touch with FEMA. I am not sure if you still talk to the HR point of contacts and those who interviewed you (possibly the selecting official) but you need to make sure you are in regular contact with your points of contact at FEMA. Every couple of weeks check in and go beyond that. Get to know them. Develop relationships with these people since this will be the place you hope to work one day. Become someone that they care about and want to make sure you come aboard at FEMA instead of just another person with an offer of employment who is on hold. If you make yourself important and build good relationships even if the worst happens they may try to find a way to still bring you on board at FEMA. People help people they have a connection with. Always remember that.
2. Monitor the budget process. Keep monitoring the federal budget and when agencies will be getting their monies. Since you have a personal stake in FEMA you want to monitor what is going on and when their full budget will be passed and monies distributed to them. When you see this you can call your points of contact and talk to them and see if this means that you will be brought on soon.
3. Keep applying to other positions. You now have a security clearance at some level and since FEMA saw interest in you I am sure other agencies will see interest in you as well. I know you probably do not want to do this since you thought your job search was over but begin putting in for other positions of interest at federal agencies. I am not sure if you are out of work or have a position and looking to make a move. Either way you need to have a B plan. Also talk to your HR point of contact about other positions at FEMA. Some positions are deemed more critical than others and will be brought on regardless of funding issues. Talk to your POC about other positions, your concerns and if you should also apply to any other position within FEMA. Let them know you are truly interested in FEMA and you are ready to begin working and doing the great work FEMA does.
I hope this is helpful. Agencies are still getting their monies so I feel positive that you will hear some good news soon but again be proactive in preparing for the worst just like FEMA does. I wish you much success. Let me know how it works out.
D.C.: Could you please explain your comment about full families not being US citizens because they were naturalized. At naturalization, a person becomes a US citizen in all respects, correct?
Derrick Dortch: DC,
A naturalized becomes a full citizen, yes, but sometimes they will have immediate family who lives in another country or in our country who will not become U.S. Citizens. They may only have a green card status or again they may live in another country all together and maintain that citizenship status. Under security clearance guidelines this can be a red flag because of foreign preference or foreign influence. If you have immediate or close family who are not U.S. Citizens and live here or abroad this will be looked into and scrutinized.
This is from the Adjudication Desk Reference which is used as a guideline for Adjudicators in determining a persons suitability for a clearance:
Foreign Influence
Relevance to Security
The adjudicative guideline specifies that foreign contacts and interests may be a security concern under the following circumstances:
* The individual "has divided loyalties or foreign financial interests." This is discussed below under Divided Loyalties and Competing Identities.
* The individual "may be manipulated or induced to help a foreign person, group, organization, or government in a way that is not in U.S. interests." This is discussed below under Vulnerable to Influence or Manipulation.
* The individual "is vulnerable to pressure or coercion by any foreign interest." This is discussed below under Vulnerable to Pressure or Coercion.
Potentially Disqualifying Conditions
Extract from the Guideline
(a) contact with a foreign family member, business or professional associate, friend, or other person who is a citizen of or resident in a foreign country if that contact creates a heightened risk of foreign exploitation, inducement, manipulation, pressure, or coercion;
(b) connections to a foreign person, group, government, or country that create a potential conflict of interest between the individual's obligation to protect sensitive information or technology and the individual's desire to help a foreign person, group, or country by providing that information;
(c) counterintelligence information, that may be classified, indicates that the individual's access to protected information may involve unacceptable risk to national security;
(d) sharing living quarters with a person or persons, regardless of citizenship status, if that relationship creates a heightened risk of foreign inducement, manipulation, pressure, or coercion;
(e) a substantial business, financial, or property interest in a foreign country, or in any foreign-owned or foreign-operated business, which could subject the individual to heightened risk of foreign influence or exploitation;
(f) failure to report, when required, association with a foreign national;
(g) unauthorized association with a suspected or known agent, associate, or employee of a foreign intelligence service;
(h) indications that representatives or nationals from a foreign country are acting to increase the vulnerability of the individual to possible future exploitation, inducement, manipulation, pressure, or coercion;
(i) conduct, especially while traveling outside the U.S., which may make the individual vulnerable to exploitation, pressure, or coercion by a foreign person, group, government, or country.
Mitigating Conditions
Extract from the Guideline
(a) the nature of the relationships with foreign persons, the country in which these persons are located, or the positions or activities of those persons in that country are such that it is unlikely the individual will be placed in a position of having to choose between the interests of a foreign individual, group, organization, or government and the interests of the U.S.;
(b) there is no conflict of interest, either because the individual's sense of loyalty or obligation to the foreign person, group, government, or country is so minimal, or the individual has such deep and longstanding relationships and loyalties in the U.S., that the individual can be expected to resolve any conflict of interest in favor of the U.S. interest;
(c) contact or communication with foreign citizens is so casual and infrequent that there is little likelihood that it could create a risk for foreign influence or exploitation;
(d) the foreign contacts and activities are on U.S. Government business or are approved by the cognizant security authority;
(e) the individual has promptly complied with existing agency requirements regarding the reporting of contacts, requests, or threats from persons, groups, or organizations from a foreign country;
(f) the value or routine nature of the foreign business, financial, or property interests is such that they are unlikely to result in a conflict and could not be used effectively to influence, manipulate, or pressure the individual.
This is only under foreign influence there is another section that focuses on foreign preference but unfortunately I have to wrap up the show. Just know that these things are looked at in the security clearance process. The best way to really get the answers is to talk to the agencies specifically about your situation and find out what their rules and regulations are. Since we do have many naturalized citizens whose immediate family are not U.S. Citizens but these individuals have the skills in terms of languages, etc our government needs there has been many changes in rules and regulations regarding immediate family.
I hope this was helpful. If you need more assistance with this please contact me at firstname.lastname@example.com and we can set up a consultation to discuss your individual details more. Take care and I wish you much success.
Derrick Dortch: Well my producer is giving me the cue to wrap it up. Thank you so much for stopping by today's show. We will be back in two weeks with another great show, and I look forward to answering your questions. Know that I appreciate you and your questions and comments.
I also want to thank my producer for today, Sarah Halzack, for doing such an excellent job.
I will be back in two weeks. Till then take care, be careful and I wish you much success in your career, work, and life!
Editor's Note: washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions. washingtonpost.com is not responsible for any content posted by third parties.


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When I was seven my violin teacher decided I was ready to play in my first music festival. My mother made me wear my best dress, something I did every time I performed or took a music exam (even in the very last music exam I took aged 17 - grade 8 piano: me, my sheet music and my best dress). I think my mother hoped that, in the event of a terrible musical cock up, I might at least get some marks for making an effort to look nice (a few years ago I had an MA interview at Oxford University and her advice remained the same, wear a nice dress: I didn't, and I wasn't offered a place - nothing to do with the way I was dressed, sadly).
When we got to the music festival my name wasn't in the programme. There'd been a mistake and I hadn't been entered. I was the youngest person present (and I was wearing my best dress) so they let me play and I was subsequently disqualified.
There were other festivals - I even got to play my violin in the Albert Hall on one, heady occasion. I probably learned some good, early lessons as a result of my disqualification: rules are rules, mistakes happen and best dresses aren't a panacea.
The Frank O'Connor longlist was released a week ago. The Frank O'Connor International Short Story Award is the single biggest prize in the world for a collection of short stories in English. Every eligible, entered collection is longlisted and that makes the longlist a showcase for short story collections from around the world in any given year. The Frank O'Connor is a huge prize and big names win (as you'd expect: big names are big because they're brilliant) so for writers like me the exciting thing is to be longlisted alongside the best practitioners of the craft.
Sweet Home should be on the longlist, but there was an administrative mix up with the publisher's distributors and it wasn't entered. I feel extremely *______* (insert grumpy words here) about this, but I'm still really interested in this year's Frank O'Connor Award.
I've read a little over 10% of the longlisted collections, something I'll attempt to rectify during the summer, after I've finished redrafting my novel. I've enjoyed every collection I've read, but I'm particularly fond of Hitting Trees With Sticks by Jane Rogers and Adam Marek's The Stone Thrower - I'd be delighted to see either on the shortlist.
Of the books I haven't read, I'm especially looking forward to The Tenth of December by George Saunders, Emma Donoghue's Astray, The Peacock Cloak by previous Edge Hill Prize winner, Chris Beckett, The Pre-War House and Other Stories by Booker shortlistee Alison Moore and Hassan Blasim's The Iraqi Christ.
To get an idea of the variety of the 2013 longlist take a look at this gorgeous book cover quilt graphic. Don't the books look beautiful? The shortlist will be decided in late May and the winner will announced in July.
Check out Robaroundbooks for coverage of the Frank O'Connor Award, the Edge Hill Prize and general, lovely, short story goodness.


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"This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom God has sent." John 6:29
What are you hungry for?
There are images that stay with you for a long time. My recent experience in Ecuador is a source of many images in my head these days. Many are images of those who are much poorer in resources than I have ever been. Fire jugglers earning their daily meal, a man asleep on a rock with empty bottles scattered around him, indigenous folks selling their creations, and the ever present street dogs searching for food in the garbage. Images of the family home we visited - the dirtiest kitchen I have ever seen, two rooms, an outside wash stand, Guinea pigs, chickens, kernels of corn, a couple much younger than they look, a pre-adolescent son - yet smiles of welcome and gratitude.
Each time I come back from Ecuador, or other places where I have witnessed places in need of the basics we take for granted; I wonder and have conversations in my mind about what I will do differently. How can and will I make a difference, will I be able to keep alive my desire to change one thing about myself that could provide for others, and in the big picture of the world how will what I do make an impact on anything?
Last week I spoke of gratitude. This week I challenge all of us to dig deeper.
I want a world where a child does not die every 3 seconds from hunger; where every child can go to school; where medications are made available for curable diseases; where clean water is the norm; and where … the list goes on and on.
Each of us can do something to make a difference. One of our small groups is looking at the big picture of economic justice, the imbalance of our structures, and how we might begin to address this through legislative action in our diocese. They have been hungry enough to meet and discern on this issue almost bi-weekly, even over the summer!
This year, I am hungry enough to sponsor a child for one year of education in Ecuador. It is only $384 per year, but it is one thing I can do, and it will make a difference for that child and their family. And hopefully I will sustain this for years to come.
Many in our church are making a difference in various ways - what is your story of changing the world? If you are hungry for something and don't know how or where you can make a difference, let's talk. Together we will find a place to begin dealing with that hunger.
Sue von Rautenkranz


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WAAGH! Drillteef
WAAGH! Drilteef is the great battle fleet of the infamous Doc Drillteef, Ork warlord and dentist.
Thursday, July 31, 2014
Loopy Paints Unto Others - Ravenwing
This is a
Level 1
of Ravenwing bikes I did for Frontline Gaming which means 1 highlight. This was a fun project before the behemoth projects I have in front of me and after the huge weekend I had doing Titans. However, I did go a little overboard on the white and it took me a bit too long. It's okay, though. I'm glad they look good.
At bat:
On deck:
More Titan work
Next in the lineup:
Grey Knights
Be sure to click the images for full resolution.
Posted by
Adam Fasoldt
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Van Walker:
Born on the north-west coast of Tasmania, Van first heard the music of Bob Dylan around adolescence & began picking guitar & writing songs. Drawing on the storytelling tradition of Ray Davies, Townes Van Zandt and John Prine, he has created a sound with a laconic familiarity that speaks to the heart with effortless intimacy.
Liz Stringer:
Liz Stringer's innate musicality merges with a true storyteller's soul to create a truly powerful and unique presence. She has seamlessly fused folk, country, blues and bluegrass in a manner that can be gentle, but which can also pack dynamite when the mood calls for it.


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Main Menu
Local Magazines
Contribution to augment martyrs trust fund
Asmara, 29 January 2018- The Ministry of Labor and Human Welfare stated that Eritrean nationals residing in the Diaspora contributed 62,316 Dollars towards augmenting the martyrs trust fund.
According to the Ministry, the Eritrean community members residing in the Swedish cities of Orebro, Skara and Almhult, Uppsala, Jonkoping and Aneby as well as nationals residing in the Norwegian city of Donch contributed 36,539 Dollars.
The remaining 25,776 was contributed by the Eritrean community members in Toronto and Edmonton, Holydays Coordinating Committee in Winnipeg, and nationals residing in the cities of Kitchener, Waterloo and Guelph as well as Holydays Coordinating Committee in London.


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|Dr. Jones awarded by Civil War Roundtable
|The Civil War Round Table of
Central Louisiana Dr. Terry Jones of the University of
Louisiana at Monroe its prestigious "Dr. Arthur W.
Bergeron, Jr. Award" at a ceremlony on Thursday, May
Dr. Jones is a native of Winn Parish, and a graduate of Dodson High School. His monthly column, "Louisiana in the Civil War," appears regularly in The Piney Woods Journal, and is widely read by area history buffs.
The Bergeron award is given yearly to the person who best preserves Louisiana's history during the American Civil War. Past recipients include such notables as Jay Dardenne, current Lieutenant Governor of Louisiana and Mary Manhein, director of Louisiana State University's F.A.C.E.S. Lab, who is a frequent consultant of the FBI and other law enforcement in facial reconstruction and forensic anthropology.
The award is named after Bergeron, who was a contemporary of Dr. Jones, both of whom worked for the Louisiana Office of State Parks at the same time. Dr. Bergeron passed away on February 8, 2010. He was a native of Rapides Parish and he was a widely known historian of Louisiana in the American Civil War.
Dr. Jones, known nationwide for his history articles in the New York Times, achieved international acclaim for his book, "Lee's Tigers" which documented the Louisiana soldiers serving in the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia. He is always accessible for fellow historians and students of the War when they have a question about the Tigers who served in Virginia. On the night of his award, Dr, Jones presented a program entitled "Twice Lost" The 8th Louisiana's Battle Flag at Gettysburg." It covered the initial capture of the flag in the waning hours of July 2, 1863 and its second disappearance after the war.
The Civil War Round Table meets in Alexandria the first Thursday of every month between September and May. For more information on the group, please see the website at http://cwrtofcenla.sharepoint.com/Pages/default.aspx


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Winona State University invites applications for the position of Electronic Resources Librarian. This position is a nine-month probationary/tenure-track appointment with additional duties assigned by the Dean. This position is responsible for maintaining access to the library's online databases, content management system, discovery layer, knowledge bases, proxy server, and electronic services. Minimum qualifications for this position are (1) an MLS/MLIS or equivalent degree from an ALA accredited institution; (2) experience with electronic resources, including online databases, link resolvers and proxy servers; and (3) demonstrated commitment to quality service. For a complete job descriptions and information on applying for this position, please go to www.governmentjobs.com/careers/winona. Review of applications begins immediately.
WSU is a member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities and is an equal opportunity educator and employer.


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Don't worry, I won't slaughter this post with number based puns but I'm very excited so I thought that I'd at least start by giving you one.
Anyway, it's taken me WAY longer than I'd hoped but I have finally finished a set of create your own 3D numbers and uploaded them to www.digitalcraftemporium.co.uk
There was much computer work, many test runs and a little going back to square one but I finally made it- yaaaay!
So, basically, now you can make your own 3D numbers – I am planning some time at the weekend to decorate a few so do pop back for that, in the meantime, if you would like to know more about these little cuties then please do pop over to www.digitalcraftemporium.co.uk
Many thanks for visiting the blog and sorry it was so short but I'm on a roll and need to crack on with some laundry too – ooo, what a glam life I lead, lol!
I'll see you back here sometime soon.


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Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Was Kwame Nkrumah A Young Criminal?
The book argues that high fliers owe their cachet to various elements: circumstances of birth; time and place of birth; a little ability; a little opportunity; a little luck; a lot social support.
The macabre movie re-enacts the true-life tale of Kingsley Ofosu, his brother and their more-than-a-handful colleagues who stowed away on a Russian or Ukrainian ship to France. Only Kingly made it (barely). His brother and fellow stowaways were bludgeoned, hacked and shot do death and fodder-flung to sharks or whatever lurks in the deep.
But I almost digress.
Nkrumah was born at a time when slavery had been abolished. Education in Gold-Coast-Ghana was possible to the level just before university. He had a reasonably rich uncle in Lagos, Nigeria. He obtained admission to an American university. He oozed oodles of ambition and whatever-it-takes.
Nkrumah saved some money; oh, just enough to buy him a few meals outside of home. He needed to get to America. What did he do? He stowed away on a boat. He was a risk-taker. But, he was not an non-calculated-risk junkie. He did not take the trans-Atlantic deadly voyage. The landlubber 'lotteried' his life only as far as Lagos. His uncle gave him loads of money. He returned to Gold-Coast-Ghana and paid for his passage to Britain, en route to America. He got his B.A., then M.A., the PhD.
Did Kwame Nkrumah commit peccadilloes (like travel without paying)? Yes. Was he jailed for any misdemeanour in America? Find out. Was his leadership of Ghana cruel at times? I think so.
But, in spite of everything, (or rather because of them, to think like Gladwell), Kwame Nkrumah was nothing short of an Outlier. A man with a lot of savoir faire and (to repeat) whatever-it-takes. Happy Birthday, Francis Nwia Kofi Nkrumah.
Sent from my BlackBerry® smartphone
9 comments:
Thought provoking, once again I am reminded of how ordinary the people who do extraordinary things are...somehow some way the people who make it and are deemed successful have an"X" factor whatever that might be.ReplyDelete
I recently read a quote by Henrik Ibsen that says something like the rule of the majority is the rule of the folly for almost always the majority has been wrong. And history would bear this out. What I am saying is that, people who love their skins too much are not borne to be leaders. For instance, today, across Africa, I can't point of one president fit enough to rule his/her country. These are leaders who follow. Afraid of stepping on stones. Recently, AU vote to recognise the Libyan Interim govt. What a pity. These leaders are afraid to speak against the almighty.ReplyDelete
That's why I strongly support Founder's day and not Founders' Day. For some people declined to consider themselves great by opting to blame Kwame Nkrumah for their woes in prison.
Yes, I also digressed. Nkrumah committed peccadilloes but so too did every great person (good or bad). Mandela acquired military training and ANC was still listed by the American govt as a Terrorist organisation, 15 years after Mandela's release from prison and a decade after his presidency. We need not afraid of what we are doing if it would lead to goodness. When it is done posterity would remember us. When we do nothing, we shall remain in darkness.
Nkrumah never got a PhDReplyDelete
@ PaulReplyDelete
Soooo very true!
@ Nana Fredua:ReplyDelete
Yes, we agree that Nkrumah was no Angel; only human. And no less fallible than each of us. But (and it's a complex debate) I do not agree that "some people declined to consider themselves great by opting to blame Kwame Nkrumah for their woes in prison".
@ Baafoo:ReplyDelete
Yes, I agree that (even though he passed his prelim exam for to undertake the PhD) Nkrumah did not obtain a PhD FROM RESEARCHING AND STUDYING FOR IT.
- Kwame Mensa-Bonsu22 September, 2011
One wonders whether he actually got any degree at all! The guy travelled alone and returned to tell tales. He had street smarts...no doubt...but he set Africa on a very wrong path. Terribly so too, it was! If all thought like me,he would have been forgotten.ReplyDelete
@ Kwame Mensa-Bonsu. If all thought like you? That's really what you wanted to say?ReplyDelete
If those around him had the same goal, our continent would have been a highly developed one by now. If only they knew & understood the external threats & challenges Ghana was up against.
- Kwame Mensa-Bonsu29 September, 2011
@ Think-About-It...Those "threats" are also faced by little Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, South Korea...etc. Or are they not? You see where those people are? They went in the right direction, while Nkrumah gleefully went in the very wrong direction.ReplyDelete
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A company spokesperson declined to comment on where newsstand sales fit in with the brand's overall revenue breakdown, but according to the New York Post, the magazine sold less than 550k copies — per AAM's audit — in the first half of this year, which is an all-time low. While there is not an exact figure, the 11.8% year-over-year decline in sales certainly accounts for a six-figure loss in revenue. However, the silver lining is that the brand's subscriber base has remained static. When asked about price adjustments for subscribers, no comment was offered.
So what impact will a marginal newsstand price reduction have? That remains unclear, but the spokesperson maintains the brand is nimble and responsive to changing conditions (and is likely keeping fingers crossed for more unexpected A-list news to dominate the news cycle).
"People is a multiplatform media brand that reaches a monthly audience of 80+ million," the spokesperson says. "For example, People is covering the Brad and Angelina divorce news with nonstop 24/7 stories across our platforms—including the People/Entertainment Weekly Network and our Snapchat Discover channel.
In addition, People will "publish next week's issue (October 10) featuring the Brad and Angelina cover story early so it can hit newsstands this week." As CNN Money reported, People missed out on including the news in its current issue because the issue was already at the printer.


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Posts tagged Thomas Jane
Arm Touching Recommendation0
Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed
This week we've got four new movies. Transporter Refueld came out and that is basically just an Audi commercial. A Walk in the Woods is essentially Grump Old Men 3. Dragon Blade wasn't quite bad wasn't quite good…I don't really know what it is. It looks like it's so bad it's good, but that's not the case it just kind of exists. Bloodsucking Bastards is a ton of fun and you can see it on demand right now….go do that.
Our Top Five this week is Robert Redford films which included All the Presidents Men, The Natural, Three Days of the Condor, Captain America The Winter's Soldier, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, The Sting etc
Our Undisputed Classic ended up just being Netflix Challenge. Sean challenged us to pick a movie Netflix recommended to us. Those movies ended up being Hook, Skeleton Twins, and Comet.
In 1985 City Limits and Joshua Then and Now
Our trailers this week are:
The Night Before
The Lobster
The Danish Girl
Critics Talk About Sex and Go "Wild" Over "Cake"0
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Welcome to the I Hate Critics Movie Review Podcast.
This week is even more of a throw away week than last week. "Pyramid" was the only movie to come out. So there's that, but we got the chance to catch both "Wild" starring Reese Witherspoon and "Cake" starring Jennifer Aniston, both of which are probably looking at Oscar nominations. What started as a weak year for female performances has quickly turned it to a very strong year.
This week we never got around to picking a segment movie so we thought we'd talk about sex. We brought in fellow podcaster Lindsay from Mommy's Cocktail Hour to join us in our discussion to get the female perspective.
1984 – Beverly Hills Cop, 2010 A Space Odyssey
While We're Young
Top Five
Black or White
Little Boy
We've got a brand new website, a brand new iTunes logo. We're launching a campaign on iTunes to get more ratings and reviews. If you rate and review our podcast you'll be entered into a contest where you can win:
An autographed DVD of "Cadaver Christmas"
Jeff Bridges and the Abider's Live CD
A Movie poster from A24 Distribution
Two tickets to the movie of your choice
We will also give out five additional signed copies of "A Cadaver Christmas" as well as the the chance to produce a bonus episode. What does that mean? It means you decide the movies we talk about.
and if we can get 100 reviews we'll throw in a year long subscription to Netflix.
If you like are logo and are looking for a logo of your own head over to www.podcastdesigns.com.
About Last Night: Merkins and Park Whores #Sharknado0
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Welcome to The I Hate Critics Movie Review Podcast. Happy Valentines Day, did you enjoy "Robocop?" Oh you didn't see it. Laurence Fishburne would be so disappointed in you. Let me guess, you either went to "The Lego Movie" (Bob did) or "About Last Night?" Yeah Kevin Hart's pretty funny, I can't say I blame you there.
You need to listen to Sean describe "Winter's Tale" and tell me that doesn't sound like the most magnificent thing you've ever heard of. In short its "Frozen" meets "Angel Heart." There was one other movie but I forgot what it was.
Our undisputed classic is "Dr. Strangelove," another Stanley Kubrick classic. I've decided that my favorite Kubrick movie is the last one I saw. How can "2001" not be your favorite? Well check out "The Shining," but then check out "A Clockwork Orange" or "Dr. Strangelove." Which one is the best? Right now since I just saw it "Dr. Strangelove." It's 50 years old and holds up better than most comedies and is strangely still relevant today.
This week in 1984 oops we skipped this segment, we'll make it up to you next week I promise.
Our trailers this week are:
"Nymphomaniac Volume 1"
"Under the Skin"
"Brick Mansions"
"Drive Hard"


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Okay, I know I brag about my husband's woodworking skills but, come on, the guy's an IT computer geek. He's not supposed to be a handyman...but, believe me, he is.
You have to remember that our house was built in 1890. So, even though I'm not so good at math, that makes it well over 100 years old...okay 125 years old (I used the calculator ;D) but, if he weren't handy, we'd be in trouble. 'Cuz a house this old, always needs something...a nail, a screw, a new floor...yep, and even new stairs.
So when he ripped out the stairs leading into the "new", old, room upstairs, I got a little worried. But no fear, look what he rebuilt...
And once he gets some Varathane on them, they're going to be breathtaking...at least for me, and not just when I'm walking up 'em ;D
And I'll post another picture when they're finally finished. But, now, the room is on the final finish countdown...for real!
Tuesday, January 27, 2015
DIY Stairs
Posted by Kimbra Kasch at 10:45 PM
Labels: breathtaking stairs, DIY Stairs, replacing treads
2 comments:
- The Happy Whisk said...
You keep bragging. That man is a keeper, and I enjoy seeing all he does for you and your family.
Very cool.
- January 28, 2015 at 7:45 AM
- David Batista said...
Yup, a keeper for sure. :)
I'm savvy with computers ... but can barely hang drapes! Still, I get by around the house as best I can.
- January 29, 2015 at 7:00 AM
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