text:
- News
- Weather
- Sports
- Community
- Features
- Programming
- Station Info
- Featured on 4
Friday, March 15, 2013 - 8:24pm
EL PASO — You may want to avoid downtown El Paso this Sunday. Traffic will be a mess. Several downtown streets will be closed to traffic from seven a.m. to noon while the city installs a new public safety communications system on the top of the Wells Fargo building on North Kansas Street. Some radio equipment and a generator will be moved by helicopter. The streets highlighted in red will be shut down while the work is performed, about six blocks surrounding Wells Fargo.


text:
Nesmith Library Board of Trustees
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Present: Trustees — Mark Branoff (Chairman), Norman Boutillette (Treasurer), Mary Lee Underhill (Assistant Treasurer), Patricia Barstow (Recording Secretary), J R Siegel
Director — Carl Heidenblad
Assistant Directors — Lois Freeston
Excused — Carolyn Webber, Anne-Marie O'Neil, Diane Mayr
Call to Order:
The meeting was called to order at 7:07 pm.
Minutes: The minutes from the November 9, 2010 meeting were accepted unanimously without changes.
Correspondence: There was no new correspondence to report this month.
Treasurer's Report: Spending for the year is on track, with 90.5% of the budget spent as of the end of November.
Director's Report: Circulation, still below what it was in 2009, caught up quite a bit in November. The decrease from last year is now 5,899 items and Carl attributes much of this decrease to the way the new circulation software operates.
Despite the circulation statistic, it has been a good, busy year at the library with many indicators showing growth. Fifty new patrons were registered in November, and internet usage is up. Both residents and non-residents take advantage of the WiFi services. Sunday visits are also up 30% over last November.
On the downside, the HVAC controller unit has died yet again, and getting a replacement board will be a challenge. Carl has asked the maintenance company to do two things, find a supplier for the controller board and get prices for an energy management system. With an energy management system (a PC that controls the HVAC system) the library could save money on heat as well as air conditioning and could more effectively manage temperatures throughout the building. Properly installed, an energy management system could go a long way toward eliminating the vagaries of the current heating system.
The heating system has three boilers. The broken controller can't balance the workload, so two of the boilers are always off while the third runs constantly, producing 140 degree water temperature. Whatever heat from this process filters through the building is what there is, and it is very uneven. Repairing the system is essential. Replacing the controller board would cost an estimated $4,000 while purchasing an energy management system would cost in the neighborhood of $13,000.
Everything is set for the ceiling and lighting renovation in the circulation area next week. Tri-State Acoustical will be starting the work on Monday morning and expects to take three days to complete the project, with the option to finish on the fourth day.
The library will be closed during renovations but any staff member who takes the time off will take it as earned time. Carl expects only a few employees to work Monday but has planned staff training days for Tuesday and Wednesday. He expects 90% of the staff to attend the training sessions.-
On Tuesday, Bobbi Slosser from the NH state library will present a workshop on e-book technology. She will give an overview of the technology and then concentrate on how the state's program works and is expected to evolve. This important workshop will help staff members begin to wrap their arms around a technology that will likely have major effects on their daily work in the not-too-distant future.
Wednesday's workshop will feature Mary Ann List, the director of the Portsmouth Public Library. Her presentation, called "Getting to Yes," deals with library customer service and stresses a more positive approach to rules implementation.
Carl has a machine all set to order for the reference librarian, but it probably won't be installed until after the first of the year. Carl does the machine installations and says that, while the other machines in the library take a day to install, this more complex system will require three to four days.
Strategic Planning Committee Report: The minutes from the October 26 meeting were presented to the board.
Unfinished Business:
2011 Budget: The library's proposed 2011 budget of $975,261, which represents level funding from the previous year, has been reduced by the town to $968,340. The most significant line item change was in group health insurance, which was reduced from $94,500 to $87,140. The town, anticipating that employees will be about as healthy next year as this year, decided to allocate less money to its Health Trust Fund and, instead, to redirect those funds to group health insurance. The $87,140 represents 85.5% of the cost of the insurance; the balance of the premiums will be funded through the Health Trust Fund account and employee co-pays.
The heating budget was reduced by $2,660. The town took a more conservative approach to calculating this figure than the library does, looking at only a couple of years of data. Carl takes an average over many years when he makes a projection of heating costs.
$6,000 was added back into the budget for books and periodicals, leaving this line item still $4,000 short of last year's budget.
A motion was made that the board approve the budget for 2011 as revised on November 10, 2010, in the amount of $968,340. The motion was made by Mary Lee, seconded by Patricia, and passed unanimously.
New Business:
Trustees Emeriti: A new plaque has been hung near the library entrance honoring the library's trustees emeriti. The plaque currently lists Pat Skinner and Dr. Murray Levin. J. Gross, also a trustee emeritus, was mistakenly overlooked; his name will be added to the plaque. The board discussed electing two more former trustees. Some members requested a list of these men's accomplishments and the board decided to postpone further discussion until Carolyn Webber, who knew both men, could be present.
Director's Evaluation: Carl handed out a self-assessment of his work performance over the past year and walked the board through it. Board members should complete their evaluations of Carl and forward them to Mark by January 8th. It is understood that J R's evaluation will be late due to his work and travel schedule.
Strategic Planning Committee Meeting: The next meeting of the Strategic Planning Committee will take place on January 24, 2010 at 6:30 pm.
Trustees' Meeting: The next meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 11, 2011 beginning at 7:00 pm.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:34 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Patricia Barstow
Draft subject to approval

subset: commoncrawl


text:
To perform a search, enter a keyword, phrase or item number in the search field and click "search."
We offer two ways to locate information:
Red wines that are more fruit-forward and lighter in tannin and body.
Medium bodied reds that go down easy, with smooth tannins and supple fruit.
Wines where earthy and/or spicy dominate the flavors – typically medium to full body.
Full bodied wines that have concentrated fruit and are higher in alcohol and/or tannins. Some need age.
Deep ruby red with garnet hues, Brentino offers a complex bouquet of ripe berries, currant, and cedar, followed by spicy notes of licorice and wood. On the palate, Brentino is full-bodied and soft with perfectly balanced acidity. Recommended with hearty pasta dishes, roasted and grilled meats, medium-aged and creamy cheeses.
"The 2006 Brentino is proof of Maculan's mastery at play. A blend of 55% Merlot and 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, the wine opens with elegant aromatics that meld into a palate of sweet dark fruit, herbs and toasted oak. There is excellent depth here, not to mention superb persistence and balance, particularly at this level. In short, this is a terrific value-priced red from Veneto. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2012.
89 Points
The Wine Advocate
For three generations the Maculan family has been selecting and vinifying the best grapes in Breganze, an enchanting village set like a small jewel at the foot of the Alps in Italy"s Veneto region. The surrounding mountains protect the area from cold winds, creating a perfect microclimate for the cultivation of vineyards. But it is Fausto Maculan"s drive and commitment, rather than...Read More About Maculan
Located in Northeast Italy, near the Austrian border, and one of the three regions making up the Tre-Venezie, Veneto is most famous for its city of love, Venice. In the wine world, Veneto is the top volume producer in the north of Italy. Production includes lovely spritzy Proseccos (also the grape name), as well as the easy-drinking white wine of Soave (made...Read More About Veneto
Bordeaux Blends The Fab Five With so much history under its belt, it's no wonder that Bordeaux has figured out the recipe to produce amazing wines. Centuries of making (and drinking) wine led to the blend that has become synonomous with Bordeaux. Winemakers in the New World replicate this formula to create successful blends in their respective regions - you may see Bordeaux blends...Read More About Bordeaux Red Blends
Ship on us for a month!
After your free trial, StewardShip is just $49/year.
*Some exclusions apply


text:
Mail :
Fraud Section Revenues and Benefits
Plymouth City Council
Plymouth PL1 2AA
Phone :
|01752 304450
Email :
- Fraud Section
Revenues and Benefits
Plymouth City Council
Civic Centre Google map
- Monday to Friday 8.30am to 5pm
- HM Revenues and Customs (tax credits)
- Directgov (fraud hotline)
- We are not responsible for the content of linked websites. Visit our disclaimer page for more information.
How do I report benefit fraud?
There are several ways you can tell us about suspected fraud. Although you do not have to provide your name or contact details it would be useful if we need to contact you to clarify any information.
- You can call in to the Civic Centre during normal opening hours (8.30am to 5pm) and speak to a member of staff, write to us, email us at firstname.lastname@example.com or ring us on 01752 304450 (8.30am to 5pm)
- Ring the National Benefit Fraud Hotline (Department for Work and Pensions) on 0800 854 440 or Textphone 0800 328 0512 (lines are open 7am to 11pm seven days a week)
- Complete the online report benefit fraud form. Please note the information from this form may also be given to the Department for Work and Pensions for them to investigate the reported fraud
What information do I need to give you?
We need the following information when you report a suspected fraud (don't worry if you can't provide all the information). Remember you can provide this information anonymously.
- The name and address of the claimant, including their description, age, distinguishing features, appearance and any other information you have about the person
- What type of benefit fraud you think is being committed
- Why you think they are committing benefit fraud
- If they are working; their type and place of employment and hours they work (do they wear a uniform to work?)
- Their vehicle details (including make, colour and registration number)
- Details of their partner or other adults in the household (including names, relationship to claimant and employment details if known)
- Property they may own
- Other names they may be using
What happens to my report?
Each report we receive is assessed to ensure the information you provide can justify the investigation. If it does the case is passed to a Fraud Investigation Officer who will then gather evidence to prove the facts and take action where necessary.
Investigations may take time to complete and we cannot discuss individual cases with you. Although you do not have to provide your name or contact details it would be useful if we need to contact you to clarify any information.
When we have finished our investigations and where there is enough evidence to go ahead with a prosecution we will consider which of the following actions is appropriate:
- Criminal prosecution, for the most serious cases
- Formal caution
- Administrative penalty
- No sanction appropriate
Please remember the following when you have a suspicion that a person is claiming benefits fraudulently:
- Do report your concerns as quickly as you can
- Do give as much information and detail as possible
- Do not approach the claimant yourself or alert them to your suspicions
- Do not try to obtain information which could compromise your safety
- Do not attempt to investigate the matter yourself. There is legislation which governs investigations and evidence gathering and any breach of those regulations may jeopardise a case
- The claimant may have already informed us of their circumstances
Remember, regardless of whether or not fraud is proven, we will always seek to recover overpaid Housing and Council Tax Support.


text:
Springfield Falcons 2008-09
This is Cody Wild. Is it just me or does he look a bit like Shawn Horcoff? I mean his eyes aren't different colors and the beak is pretty straight, but they look somewhat alike, right?
The Springfield Falcons won their opener last night, a dandy according to those who watched it (HF has an excellent Falcons thread with a few observers per game). Among the stars were Devan Dubnyk (started slow, but his SP this morning is a crisp .919 this morning), Gilbert Brule (a goal and an assist during an uneven and eventful effort for him), Taylor Chorney (hockey fans love the skaters, we just do) and Theo Peckham (+2 and a fight).
The AHL is a very, very good hockey league. I'd bet that if they moved the whole damn thing to Europe fans in most countries would consider it "on par" with their elite leagues (bias aside). If you can survive the AHL and get a break, the NHL awaits and that's the best league on planet earth.
Ryan Potulny scored a couple of goals and I think he's a guy who could have a career if he gets a break but the guy is a perfect example of what lies in the AHL: Solid professionals who are as good as many current NHLers but are waiting for their chance. I don't know the actual number of players in the AHL who could step in and do a credible job but suspect it's north of 50. If you added a 31st NHL team with only AHL players (and picked veterans) my bet is the team would finish well out of the playoffs, wouldn't score much, but would not be close to the worst expansion team in history.
The Springfield Falcons have some nice things. Below I outline the roster, a little about the player and what we might be able to expect from them this season. Much of this was written this summer but still applies and since the season is underway is perhaps more timely than it was when originally posted.
- Devan Dubnyk (22): Watching goalies develop is like watching the America's Cup yacht race: you can't really tell who's ahead and it's very, very boring. Unless you're actually in the race, of course. Dubnyk's SP scorecard is all over the place (he was .700 one night and .966 the next). Reasonable expectations: More than 40 games in the AHL and a more consistent record. This is a big year for the big man. Won last night, SP is .919 and we're looking for something north of .915 for the year.
- Glenn Fisher (25). Fisher did not have a terrific season in 07-08. You never know with goaltenders. He posted a .919SP his final college season so there's talent here. Reasonable Expectations: Survival in pro hockey. He may spend the entire season as backup to Dubnyk in Springfield or he might be back in the ECHL helping out Pitton plus there's Perugini in the mix. Either way, he needs to show something this season.
- Jake Taylor (25). Taylor signed a two-year AHL contract with Springfield, and their GM Bruce Landon said "Jake is a big, strong, physical defenseman who has the reputation of being tough to play against." I assume he's an AHL only option but Taylor does have over 200 games of AHL experience at a fairly young age. 6-4, 225. If you're not terribly familiar with the AHL guys like Taylor do the "heavy lifting" in the minors while the organization brings along the kids at their own pace. As a for instance, for all the glowing reports we'll read about Taylor Chorney this season, he won't play the minutes Jake Taylor will. Reasonable expectations: Solid season in Springfield, perhaps a call if the injuries hit like they did a year ago. David Staples would love this guy.
- Mathieu Roy (25). His recent comments about hoping another team would pick him up should come as no surprise. In fact, I can't imagine a pro hockey player not being upset by the current waiver rules. I think the NHL needs to go back to the olden days when non playoff teams could have two "extra" players on their rosters. It made poaching good players easier. Reasonable Expectations: Roy will be back in the NHL this season if you believe injuries will be a factor. In a bit of irony, he might just get taken by another team on his way back through waivers. Injuries will also be a factor for Roy.
- Theo Peckham (20). Played well and received rave reviews one year ago, but there's room for improvement and certainly development time in the minors will make him a better player when he finally arrives. The HFboard Falcons reports last night had him making some mistakes but he ended +2. If he plays the easy minutes (the Falcons site had him paired with Chorney last night) Peckham should have a very good statistical season. Reasonable Expectations: A more prominent role in the AHL with a better plus minus number and perhaps some powerplay time.
- Taylor Chorney (21). The Oilers have force fed young defensemen (Greene, Smid) since the break for cap purposes. The big league roster sets up now in a way guys like Chorney can be brought along at a more reasonable pace. Brian Lee was a teammate of Chorney's at North Dakota and is probably a nice comparable since they're the same age. Offense may come slowly since the Falcons will have other powerplay options and Chorney's learning curve away from the puck is going to be fairly steep. Reasonable Expectations: A full, healthy season in the AHL, with a plus minus in the middle of the D pack and enough offense to justify his draft number. By the way, the kid did get an assist last night, was +1 and observers said he played well. Good signs all.
- Bryan Young (22). Stay-at-home type wasn't consistent a year ago and will probably be asked to take on a larger role this season (he's now played in over 100 AHL games). He sticks out like a sore thumb in this group, as Young is the only member of this defense who might not see center ice. Reasonable Expectations: Top 4D in Springfield and perhaps a cup of coffee in the NHL.
- Cody Wild (21). One of the things we can probably predict right now is that one of these offensive defensemen is going to end up with disappointing offensive totals. Not everyone can be on the powerplay and someone has to play defense. Wild has a dozen games AHL experience but Chorney has the organizational push behind him so this season may be a struggle for him. Reasonable Expectations: A healthy season (that goes for all these rookies) and learning how to make defensive decisions at a higher speed. Wild had a goal last night but was -1. He was paired with Taylor though and that's a positive.
- Sebastian Bisaillon (21). This guy has all kinds of positive arrows if he can stay healthy. I don't know what's more impressive, his PP totals in 21 AHL games (2-4-6) or his EV totals is 21 AHL games (1-5-6). Either way, we should brace ourselves because at least offensively this fellow may be better than the college trio (Chorney, Wild and Petry) and he's pretty much the same age. Bisaillon played last night, +1 and a fight. Watch this guy. Reasonable Expectations: Healthy season, please. He has a wicked shot from the point and is RH (along with Bina, Taylor and Roy) so he should get PP time. If he stays healthy he could post 40+ points in the AHL which would make him the next Marc-Andre Bergeron. Some NHL time is also possible.
- Mike Gabinet (27). No matter how much development the Oilers want to accomplish in a single AHL season they need veterans who can compete in a very tough league. Although Gabinet lacks a lot of AHL experience he's played in Finland and the ECHL. He was a HS last night, which may give us a clue about where he ranks on the depth chart. Reasonable Expectations: Crash Davis.
- Robbie Bina, (25). Rather famous college career gets him a pro contract. Very small puck moving defender who should be a lot of fun to watch play. The things he probably does well (powerplay QB, moving the puck) are duplicated all over this roster and his size (Bina is 5.08, 180) will be an incredible hurdle. Reasonable expectations: A healthy season and over 35 games. Bina was a HS last night and that is likely to happen a bunch this year.
- Josef Hrabel (23). Injured at the beginning of TC and we didn't get a real good look at him. Oilers had suggested he could be a top pairing D in the AHL as soon as this season (before the injury) but everything is in a holding pattern now. Reasonable Expectations: Defensemen get hurt. It's a tough position. I have not read a specific timeline for his return.
- Ryan Potulny (24). A proven, established AHL scorer. He had 201 shots on goal in 07-08 (in 58 games) and that alone makes him an interesting player for the Oilers. Reasonable Expectations: If he plays in the AHL all season he could score 30 goals. He popped two last night alone.
- Tyler Spurgeon (22). No one did more to get their name back in the conversation during TC than this guy. Pro sports and injuries don't mix and entering camp Spurgeon was a huge question mark. Now he's in the conversation. Reasonable Expectations: A healthy AHL season and based on a tremendous TC he may get a cup of coffee in the NHL.
- Tim Sestito (24). I have a friend who played pro hockey a long time ago. Whenever we talk about hockey he makes me feel like I've never seen the game the way it actually plays out. He loves guys like Sestito even though the math says throw them in the ditch. It may have to do with role players, penalty killing, macho crap or barking at windmills but either way the Oilers have the same mindset. They even made him captain this time. Reasonable Expectations: Continuing his move up the organization's depth chart and waiting for his chance. A little more offense would help.
- Ryan O'Marra (21). At the beginning of the summer I posted some things about O'Marra that implied he had no chance to make the big team. It was met by some as being well off the mark and there were posts talking about his "lost season" being no big deal and about O'Marra being groomed as a shutdown center for 3line duty. He started his second pro season at center on the 4th line in the AHL. THAT'S a good, solid step from where he was a year ago. Reasonable Expectations: Playing well in that 4line role and then showing enough to move up the depth chart when injuries and callups begin. This is an excellent slot for him, here's hoping he takes advantage.
- Geoff Paukovich (22). Now that Troy Bodie is gone he'll be a top option for Coke Machine. He was -21 in Stockton on a team that looked to be about 25 goals in the red at EVs so he wasn't alone but he wasn't helping one year ago. Reasonable Expectations: A full AHL season, 10 goals, 100 pims and anything close to middle of the pack in the plus minus column. He looks to be in competition for playing time with O'Marra at center, a race O'Marra should win easily.
- Rob Schremp (22). First things first: Rob Schremp is not Superman. He is not the most talented player in the history of the game to play his career in the minor leagues (that honor belongs to Guyle Fielder). Second, he needed to be better in training camp in order for the Oilers to risk waivers on guys like Pouliot. Finally, he's still a prospect and could get a call at any time. Reasonable Expectations: I think it's completely reasonable to suggest Rob Schremp will lead the AHL in scoring this season.
- Liam Reddox (22). It's tempting to suggest he'll fall back a little but often when the light goes on it stays on. Draft pedigree isn't as important when you're 22 and this guy has a chance to make it although a quiet TC allowed people like Trukhno back into the conversation. Reasonable Expectations: If he is on the farm I'd expect he's a feature player on the top line and delivering on all cylinders. He played with Potulny and McDonald last night and had an assist.
- Slava Trukhno (21). More of a powerplay specialist than we thought he was based on scouting reports, Trukhno seemed to find his way as he moved up the depth chart. He was especially impressive when Pouliot was called up and he received more special teams time. He had a very good training camp and that should give him sustain in the AHL This will be a huge season for him. Reasonable Expectations: He should be able to establish himself on the top 2lines and as a viable option on the 1st powerplay.
- Bryan Lerg (22). Pure scorer in college, Lerg is so unique among the Oilers grinders and playmakers he'll no doubt get somet powerplay time as a rookie pro. We have no idea about how he'll handle the rough going but if he can take punishment without getting hurt (and make plays, obviously) the Oilers may have something here. Reasonable Expectations: A 20-goal season in the AHL.
- Adam Huxley (24). Huxley hung in there against Flinn at TC last fall and may well have gotten a pro contract because Flinn was injured in that fight. Played for Stockton in 07-08, posting 200 pims. Reasonable Expectations: An entire season in the AHL would be the outer marker, so reasonable should be about 40 games.
- Guillaume Lefebvre (27). Enforcer from the Quebec penal league who impressed the hell out of everyone with his fists in camp and then was promptly released. I read somewhere it was a contract thing but either way he's signed now and much bloodshed shall follow. Reasonable expectations: You never know. He might find a role. Nick Fotiu did.
- Colin McDonald (24). He didn't show enough this past season to suggest he's a player of special interest. He played a lot, took a lot of shots, spent some significant time of the powerplay and still didn't deliver runs. The Oilers appear to have reacted to this by giving him all kinds of opportunity, both in training camp, pre-season and now in Springfield where he played on the top line last night (1 assist, 2 shots). Reasonable Expectations: If he gets to play with skilled men all season and a lot of PP time then 15-20 goals is reasonable. This is his time, though. If he struggles the Oilers have all kinds of options available.
- Gilbert Brule (21). He's got a huge advantage over most of the other Falcons: he's a MacT type player. I define a MacT type as being a player who cheats a little on leather over wood but can still deliver enough to make a difference. In money terms, his gross dollars may not be as high as Schremp's but his bottom line kicks ass. Oilers need to be patient with this player, as Doug MacLean is an idiot. Reasonable Expectations: A full AHL season in multiple roles, perhaps 10 games in the NHL.
- Carl Corazzini (29). He finished last AHL season with 80gp, 24-36-60 totals and in a tie for 34th overall in league scoring. I think the Oilers got him so that Springfield would be more competitive and it should be mentioned he was an Oilers signing rather than a Falcons pickup. I don't know that it makes a difference but wanted to note it. Reasonable Expectations: A quality season in the AHL.
- Hans Benson (25). 6-0, 215 and a PIM magnet from the Dave Schultz family. Played 44 AHL games last season and managed 265PIMS. He's from California and is the brother of NFL player Cedric Benson. It is interesting that Benson got the call in G1 among the Coke Machines (along with Lefebvre) and Paukovich was on the outside. Reasonable expectations: All these guys who put fists first are going to duke it out this year and who knows which one will emerge.
- Stephane Goulet (22). He's got some unique qualities (didn't get a lot of PP time but scored pretty well at EVs based on suspected playing time) including scoring one fewer EV goals than Colin McDonald in half the games played. Interesting prospect, he'll need to show quite a bit to earn a contract beyond next season. Reasonable Expectations: Unlike some of the other prospects in the system, Goulet's performance suggest the talent is there but he needs the at-bats to prove it.
- Derek Bekar (33). A depth player who may or may not play a lot this season. It depends on the kids.


text:
caesarea, israel
the mediterranean sea. israel.
brooklyn ice cream factory
dumbo, brooklyn
dumbo, brooklyn
dumbo, brooklyn
on the brooklyn bridge
the brooklyn bridge
prehistoric skeletons, oh my. american museum of natural history, nyc.
butterflies. american museum of natural history, nyc.
the cloisters. arle, south of france
place d'aligre market. paris, france
les fraises in the place d'aligre market. paris, france
These "no parking" posters signify filming on St. Marks Place today. Lately the new television series Smash has been filming in the East Village. I wonder if it's them again?
Here are my photos from the recent "Sunflower Seeds" exhibit at the Mary Boone Gallery in Chelsea. Smith & Ratliff posted interesting information about the artist and his work here.


text:
Share your comments
Ultra cute. Volume 2
Akimoto, Nami
Teen Fiction AKIMOTO
Akimoto, Nami
Teen Fiction AKIMOTO
Summary: Ami is determined to win Tamon's heart, but things get complicated when Tamon's ex-girlfriend Mika shows up to try to reignite their romance.
Question about returns, requests or other account details?
Add a Comment
|Submission Guidelines


text:
Jump to navigation
Society of Corporate Secretaries and New York City Bar Submit Comment Letters on SEC Disclosure Effectiveness Initiative
September 17, 2014 | Ning Chiu
SEC Chair White has spoken about the SEC's interest in reforming the current disclosure regime, which we discuss here. Perhaps foreshadowing the possible benefits of change, the WSJ recently reported on Corp Fin's role in prowling through securities filings, dubbed the "the world's most impenetrable prose," followed by a story on how an outfit that runs the SAT test graded the filings of six large companies for "readability."
In response to the SEC's request for comments on its disclosure effectiveness project, the Society of Corporate Secretaries and Governance... Read More
September 15, 2014 | Ning Chiu
Rehearing en banc of the conflict minerals case is not warranted because there is no conflict with other court decisions, argues the National Association of Manufacturers, Chamber of Commerce and the Business Roundtable (collectively referred to as "NAM") in a joint response to the petitions for rehearing en banc submitted by the SEC and Amnesty International (which we previously discussed here.
The dispute between the parties centers on whether, in light of the recent American Meat Institute case, the statement that issuers were previously required to make regarding whether or not products are DRC conflict free is eligible for review under Zauderer, a Supreme Court precedent. The American Meat Institute case overruled prior circuit precedent limiting Zauderer to disclosure aimed at preventing... Read More
September 11, 2014 | Ning Chiu
As we previously discussed here, in May, a shareholder challenged the validity of an amendment to Cheniere Energy's 2011 incentive plan that was voted on at the company's February 2013 meeting. In the complaint, the plaintiff questioned whether abstentions should have been counted as votes "against" the plan, based on the company's bylaws. According to the plaintiff, treating abstentions as "no" votes would have meant that the plan was not approved by shareholders.
Citing the litigation, Cheniere Energy postponed its annual meeting originally scheduled for June to September 11, 2004. It also decided to remove proposals to further amend the plan that had been scheduled for that meeting.
The company has since filed a motion to stay or dismiss the plaintiff's claim. The company argued that since a shareholder vote for... Read More
September 9, 2014 | Ning Chiu
For those who wondered what happened to the rule proposal that the SEC issued in January 2011 requiring that investment managers report their say-on-pay votes at least annually, the staff is working on drafting final rules for the Commission's consideration "in the near term," according to Chair White.
This was one of many rules that Chair White discussed in her testimony before the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs about the SEC's ongoing implementation of the Dodd-Frank Act. She stated that the Commission has focused on eight key areas from the Act: credit rating agencies; asset-backed securities; municipal advisors; asset management, including regulation of private fund advisers; over-the-counter derivatives; clearance and settlement; proprietary activities by financial institutions; and executive compensation.... Read More
September 8, 2014 | Ning Chiu
In the midst of the clamor for disclosure reform that questions whether the current regime requires too much information in public filings, the Council of Institutional Investors (CII) wants companies to provide additional detail about their board evaluation processes.
In its report, "Best Disclosure: Board Evaluation," surveyed CII members said they value detailed disclosure of the board evaluation process when deciding on director elections. CII makes clear that investors do not expect information about the results of the actual evaluations, but believe that the process discussion "...is an indication that a board is willing to think critically about its own performance on a regular basis and tackle any weaknesses."
The report acknowledges that it is not common to find "robust disclosure" of the board evaluation process in the... Read More
Different Outcomes on No-Action Letters for Shareholder Proposals Aligning Political Contributions and Corporate Values
September 4, 2014 | Ning Chiu
The SEC staff recently disagreed with Procter & Gamble's no-action letter, which sought to exclude a shareholder proposal on ordinary business grounds, although a similar proposal sent to Johnson & Johnson was allowed to be kept out of its proxy statement this past February.
Both proposals requested reports to shareholders explaining the congruency between the companies' stated "corporate values" and the company's political contributions, with "justifications for…exceptions" for those contributions which may appear to be misaligned with the values. While the SEC staff did not explain their reasoning in the P&G decision, the different results seem to lie in the focus of the examples used to demonstrate the alleged... Read More
Amnesty International Seeks Rehearing of Conflicts Minerals Case Based on Recent First Amendment Ruling
August 27, 2014 | Ning Chiu
Amnesty International filed a supplemental brief to its late May petition for rehearing of the conflict minerals case, based on the American Meat decision from late July, which we previously discussed here.
Amnesty argues that the opinion in American Meat expressly overruled a portion of the conflict minerals decision, and made clear that the court in the conflict minerals litigation erred in failing to apply the First Amendment standard for review set forth in Zauderer. The court had declined to apply Zauderer in the conflict minerals dispute since the SEC had not claimed that the rule was related to the government interest of preventing consumer deception. Subsequently, the American Meat court expressly overruled the view that Zauderer is limited to disclosures based on "an... Read More
August 25, 2014 | Ning Chiu
Facebook is seeking to dismiss a lawsuit challenging the compensation paid to its non-executive directors, which we previously discussed here.
Although a board's decision to grant compensation to its members generally falls outside the business judgment rule because board members are deemed personally interested in their compensation levels, if the board's decision is approved by a majority of independent, disinterested and informed stockholders, then the business judgment rule presumption applies rather than the entire fairness standard.
Facebook argues in its motion to dismiss that the director compensation at issue was approved by the necessary stockholder majority because the company's CEO and chairman, Mark Zuckerberg, beneficially owns approximately 17% of the company, and 55% of the voting power, as a result of... Read More
Proxy Monitor Examines the Impact on Shareholder Proposals from Three Frequent Sponsors – Individuals, Socially Responsible Investors and Labor-Affiliated Funds
August 21, 2014 | Ning Chiu
The NYTimes Dealbook recently focused on a Proxy Monitor study that found that 70% of shareholder proposals submitted by individuals to Fortune 250 companies in 2014 were sponsored by three people and their family members − John Chevedden, William Steiner and James McRitchie. Over the last nine years, the Cheveddens have filed 232 proposals, with about 19% receiving majority support, while the Steiners made 215 submissions, with 29% passing. According to the report, Evelyn Davis only submitted one proposal in 2014, and none in 2013. Although her success rate for passing proposals is around 1%, the Dealbook article discusses her newsletter that many companies felt compelled to buy and other perks she received.
The focus on "corporate gadflies" is one... Read More
August 14, 2014 | Ning Chiu
ISS has launched a new Equity Plan Data Verification portal to better reflect the most up-to-date data for investors voting on equity plans. While this process is optional for issuers and does not affect whether they receive ISS recommendations, given that issuers frequently criticize the proxy advisory firms for having errors in the voting reports, this portal represents a unique opportunity to ensure those errors are minimized, especially in the complex area of equity plan proposals. Favorable proxy advisory firm recommendations can be crucial to the passage of those plans.
This portal will be available to all U.S. companies with an equity plan proposal on the ballot after September 8, 2014. It does not apply unless a company has such a proposal on the upcoming meeting agenda.
Companies must take action to have the ability to confirm the accuracy of the information before ISS... Read More


text:
Some information is missing or invalid below.
Learn more.
When your safety gate falls short on width, this Dream Baby extra tall gate extension fills the gap to keep your little one safe and sound.
Product Features
- Easy-slide extension pins and security bracket ensure effortless installation.
Product Details
- Includes: 21-in. gate extension, extension pins & security bracket
- 40-in. tall
- For use with any extra tall Dream Baby gate
- Manufacturer's 1-year limited warranty
- Model numbers:
- Black: F843B
- White: F843W
Promotional offers available online at Kohls.com may vary from those offered in Kohl's stores.
Sponsored Links
The links below are ads provided by the Google AdWords™ program. Outside companies pay to advertise via these links when specific phrases and words are searched. These ads are provided by Google and are labeled as sponsored links. Clicking on these links will open a new tab displaying that respective company's own website. The website you link to is not affiliated with or sponsored by Kohls.com


text:
- Your Path:
- Home
- Dino Puffy Stickers
- Large Image
Kids absolutely love stickers, especially when they coordinate with your child's party theme. They make terrific prizes for games, and fun fillers for favor boxes, too. Package includes (72) assorted stickers. Each sticker is approximately 1.5" W. Warning: Choking Hazard: Small Parts. Not for children under 3 yrs. Read More
- Product Number
- #76575
- Material
- plastic
- Air Shippable
- Yes
- Oversized
- No
- Express/Premium Surcharge
- $0.00
- Return Eligible
- Yes
- Available International
- Yes
Warning View Details
Dino Puffy Stickers
- Was:
- $0.00
- Price:
You Save %0 OFF
- Prod ID:
- 76575
Dino Puffy Stickers
Select one or more items and submit your email address to be notified when the product is available.
Discontinued Item
- We apologize for the inconvenience, but the product you're looking for has gone out of stock and is no longer available.


text:
Hawaii Outlook
Economy Hot, but Some Cooling Expected
There appeared to be signs of cooling for the Hawaii economy in the spring of last year. A very strong third quarter proved them wrong. Tourism rebounded and personal income was revised upward. The residential-construction sector continued to perform at an exceptionally high level. While the fallout from hurricanes and oil price likely caused somewhat slower growth late in the year, it is still probable that Hawaii will post greater than 4 percent real income growth for 2005. We are now operating at very high capacity, and we expect this to result in a gradual slowing over the next two years. The strong growth will also generate some additional inflationary pressure.
Recent Developments
The following are key developments in the economy in recent months.
• After a slowdown in the second quarter, visitor arrivals rebounded in the third quarter of 2005. Compared with the previous year, the mainland U.S. visitor count rose a strong 9.6 percent (seasonally unadjusted data), up from 1.6 percent year-on-year growth in the second quarter. In contrast, Japanese visitors dropped 0.1 percent. Overall arrivals, which include the various smaller markets as well, rose 7.3 percent, compared to 2.2 percent in the second quarter. Total visitor days showed a similar 7.5 percent year-on-year gain.
• All islands shared in the visitor rebound. Visitors to Oahu rose 7.2 percent from a year earlier, Kauai visitors were up 6.7 percent and Maui visitors 5.5 percent. The biggest gains were on the Big Island, where visitor numbers grew 17 percent, following a stunning 22.7 percent and 11.1 percent gain in the first and second quarters of 2005.
• Job growth continues at a very brisk pace. The number of non-farm payroll jobs rose a solid 2.9 percent through the third quarter of last year. Employment (which includes self-employment) on Oahu surged ahead 4.4 percent in the third quarter, a rate of growth not seen since 1990. The Neighbor Islands saw a similar rise. The state's unemployment rate remained at a very low 2.7 percent seasonally adjusted rate in September.
• The strongest job gains continue to be in construction and the transportation and utilities sectors. Trade and service areas are also strong.
• The income figures have been even healthier than the job statistics. Real (inflation-adjusted) personal income was revised upward significantly from 3.7 percent to 5.1 percent in the first quarter of 2005. Real income continued to be strong in the second quarter, expanding by an impressive 5 percent on a year-on-year basis. That makes four consecutive quarters of 5 percent or greater real-income growth.
• For the first half of last year, the sector contributing most to income growth was the construction and mining sector, where real income rose 16 percent year-on-year. Real income in transportation and warehousing grew by 7 percent. Real estate and rental and leasing income grew by 6.3 percent in real terms, and wholesale and retail trade expanded by 5.8 percent.
• The housing market continues to soar. In the third quarter of 2005, the median Oahu single-family-home price hit $618,500, up 30 percent from the third quarter of 2004. Median prices have been rising at a better-than-20-percent rate for seven quarters, and they more than doubled since the beginning of 2001. The Big Island single-family-home prices saw the biggest gains, of 53 percent in the third quarter. Volume on Oahu remains very strong, with the largest number of resales (1,308) on record. Sales of new homes have slowed due to limited inventory. Kauai and the Big Island have seen condominium booms, with resales surging ahead 52.3 percent, and 27.3 percent respectively.
• The government fiscal condition continues to be robust. General Fund revenues rose 15.3 percent in the first quarter of the current fiscal year. All major sources of revenue saw healthy growth. General excise and use taxes were up 11.7 percent, indicating the strength of the broad economy. Individual income taxes were up 11 percent during the same period. Transient accommodation-tax revenues grew by 3.8 percent.
• The Honolulu Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 3.1 percent in the first half of 2005, down slightly from 3.3 percent in the second half of 2004. Core inflation (all items less food and energy) rose 2.5 percent over the same period. The most significant increases were in shelter costs (4.1 percent), due to a continued surge in home prices, and fuel costs (6.1 percent).
UHERO Forecast Update
|U.S. Visitor
|Japanese Visitor
|Source: UHERO
The outlook for key external economies remains sound, with somewhat slower growth in the U.S. related to high energy prices. In the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma, there has been a sharp drop in consumer confidence in the U.S., which, if sustained, might auger weaker consumer spending. Industrial production has also fallen. At the same time, U.S. real gross domestic product (GDP) actually accelerated to 3.8 percent in the third quarter, primarily reflecting a smaller decrease in private inventory investment and accelerations in personal consumption expenditure and federal government spending.
We have marked down somewhat our medium-term outlook for the U.S. economy. We expect growth only in the 1 percent to 2 percent range for the fourth quarter of 2005 and the first quarter of 2006, before the economy strengthens. That will mean a slowing of annual output growth from 2005's 3.5 percent pace to only 3 percent in 2006. Output will improve to 3.3 percent growth in 2007, once we get beyond the adverse near-term impact of energy prices and weak consumer confidence. We still expect U.S. growth to be sufficient to sustain healthy Mainland tourism.
As expected, Japanese growth has slowed from the torrid pace of the first quarter of 2005, but the economy still appears to be in a moderate sustained expansion. Japanese GDP has risen for four consecutive quarters, posting a 1.7 percent annualized increase in the third quarter. The Nikkei 255 Index passed the 14,000 mark for the first time since 2000. Since the beginning of 2005, the yen has steadily depreciated, from 103.3 yen/dollar in January to 115 yen/dollar in October, good news for exporting firms. The Koizumi government's successful reelection and passage of the Postal Savings Reform eliminates some of the uncertainty that we saw earlier in the year, although fiscal restructuring in Japan is likely to act as a drag on growth going forward.
We expect Japanese output growth of 2.2 percent for 2005 as a whole, with slightly lower growth of 1.9 percent in 2006 and 2007. These economic conditions will support continued, gradual recovery of the Japanese visitor market, but not rapid improvement.
The tripling of oil prices over the past year has not yet fully passed through to higher consumer prices. Upward movement in measured prices in recent months leads us to raise our forecast of U.S. inflation to 3.4 percent for this year and 3.1 percent in 2006. We believe that inflationary expectations remain well-grounded, so that, once this inflationary impulse is fully incorporated, the national inflation rate will return to 2.6 percent in 2007. While there remains a risk that high energy prices could lead to more broad-based slowing for the national economy, there is no clear evidence of a significant slowdown in the offing. And the return of national gasoline prices (AAA) to $2.29 per gallon ($2.77 in Hawaii) in recent weeks is encouraging.
|Payroll Job Forecast
|Source: UHERO
2005 will end up having been a very good year for the visitor industry. We estimate that overall visitor arrivals for the year will have increased by 6.7 percent over their 2004 levels, setting a record of nearly 7.4 million visitors. The U.S. market and the non-Japanese international markets have been particularly strong. With some decline in the length of stay, the number of visitor days will post a 6.2 percent increase.
This may partly explain why the pace of Japanese market recovery, already tepid, has slowed further. The robust strength of U.S. arrivals may be crowding out some Japanese guests. Depreciation of the yen also explains part of this visitor weakness. Occupancy rates on Oahu have been running at a seasonally adjusted rate of 86 percent to 89 percent in recent months, on par with the 87 percent seen in 1990. Statewide, seasonally adjusted occupancy rates are expected to average nearly 80 percent for the next several years. With capacity strained, we expect a slowing of expansion for all markets. U.S. arrivals growth will slow to 2.5 percent in 2006 and 1 percent in 2007. The Japanese market will average about 2.5 percent growth in the 2006 to 2007 period.
Energy prices pose particular risks for the tourism industry, and it is too early to say that Hawaii's travel industry is out of the woods. But, so far, so good. Airline fares have not risen to the extent feared, in part because of keen competition in the airline industry. It remains to be seen whether the surge in heating costs squeezes vacation plans out of some consumers' budgets this winter. There is no evidence of this yet; according to DBEDT figures last fall, airlines planned to have nearly 5 percent more available seats in the November to January period than a year earlier.
|Real Income Growth
|Source: UHERO
Labor market conditions remain extremely tight, with statewide unemployment continuing to hover at 2.7 percent. If anything, there have been signs of strengthening labor demand, with some acceleration in the rates of growth of both payroll jobs and household survey-based employment. We expect a 2.7 percent growth in payroll jobs for 2005 as a whole. Considering the very low unemployment rate, we continue to expect gradual slowing of job growth, to 1.8 percent in 2006 and 1.3 percent in 2007.
Prices for residential real estate have continued to surge upward, in some markets accelerating over the course of last year. Statewide, the median resale price of a single-family home surged ahead 33 percent in the third quarter of 2005; it was more than 50 percent higher on the Big Island. This contrasts with some Mainland markets, which have begun to see prices slow. We continue to expect the market to cool over the next couple of years as the effects of declining affordability and higher interest rates are felt. Barring a sharp price correction, however, housing construction will continue to be a healthy sector.
We continue to see the biggest job gains in construction and the large service sectors. Construction job growth came in even stronger than anticipated and likely finished 2005 10 percent higher than 2004. Wholesale and retail trades likely rose 3.2 percent for the year, and health care 3.3 percent. Accommodations and food services added about 3 percent to their job bases in 2005. The government sector saw a small decline in jobs compared with 2004. With the exception of the public sector, we expect slower growth in every major sector this year.
|Honolulu vs. U.S. Inflation Rate
|Source: UHERO
As noted above, there have been repeated upward revisions to income figures for Hawaii, and we have posted four quarters of 5 percent or better growth in inflation-adjusted income. As a result, we now expect real income growth of 4.3 percent for 2005 as a whole. It is unlikely that such robust income growth can be sustained much longer; we expect slowing to 2.7 percent in 2006 and 2.5 percent in 2007.
The large spike in energy prices led to an uptick in U.S. inflation in the third quarter, and it is likely that a similar boost occurred in Honolulu prices. (Figures for the second half of the year were not available at the time of this writing.) While gas prices are now receding, home price inflation is still ongoing. We now expect inflation of 3.7 percent for 2005 as a whole, peaking at 3.9 percent in 2006. We expect inflation to remain above the national average for the foreseeable future, averaging 3.4 percent in 2007.
Hawaii's economy is performing at a very high level, creating jobs and income at a healthy pace. Inflation risks remain, as do the rising costs and potential dangers of overheating in the housing market. Some slowing appears inevitable, because of the high levels of capacity utilization of the labor force and of the visitor plant. Prospects remain good for slower but steady growth.
UHERO has expanded data coverage for Hawaii and the counties and added new functionality. You can now download a wide array of printer-ready tables, in addition to the interactive graphing capabilities that are the hallmark of the system. You can download data and tables in spreadsheet form that can be opened in Microsoft Excel. You can also perform graphical county comparisons. The system is updated monthly. Browse to http://uhero.isdi-hi.com.
Do you like what you read? Subscribe to Hawaii Business Magazine »
Hawaii Business magazine invites you to comment on our articles and the issues they raise. Comments are moderated for offensive language, commercial messages and off-topic posts and may be deleted. Some comments may be chosen for inclusion in the magazine on the Feedback page.


text:
LiveFOOTBALL: Magpies and Terras live updates
This live event has finished
- Dan Rose is at the Bob Lucas Stadium tonight to see if the Terras can make it four Calor League Premier Division wins on the bounce. They host Burnham, the side they beat on Saturday.
- Meanwhile, we will also be following Dorchester's tough trip to second-placed Eastleigh in Skrill South.
- Both kick-off at 7.45pm and you can get involved bu using #wearedorch or #terras in your tweets.
Terras record their fourth straight win.
Final score: Weymouth 2 Burnham 1
Terras 2 Burnham 1
Vassell rounds the goalkeeper on the counter-attack and clips the outside of the post from an acute angle.
Eastleigh 6 Magpies 0
Eastleigh 6 Magpies 0
Yemi Odubade completes the rout in the 89th minute.
Terras 2 Burnham 1
Kebamba now finds his way into the book for the visitors.
Terras 2 Burnham 1
Weymouth have turned things around here.
Isaac Vassell latches on to a perfect ball from Steve Colwell on 78 minutes to put his side ahead.
Munday and Makoni are on for Dorchester.
Eastleigh 5 Magpies 0
Reason finally completes his hat-trick on 80 minutes.
Terras 1 Burnham 1
Yetton hits the bar once again with a volley, Weymouth are piling on the pressure in search of a winner now.
Terras 1 Burnham 1
The visitors' frustration is starting to show as Lewis Driver is booked for a nasty lunge.
Terras 1 Burnham 1
Burnham's John Munday finds his way into the referee's book.
Reason nearly completes his hat-trick, his shot hitting the inside of the post.
Terras 1 Burnham 1
Burnham's Sam Boultwood is replaced by Thomas Abreu on 62 minutes.
There's some potential in some of what we're doing, but it's like watching a youth team at times.— @Ian_Evans 25 March 2014
Terras 1 Burnham 1
The hosts level things up as Yetton makes his way on to a neat back heel. He applies a cool finish to add to his impressive tally this season.
Terras 0 Burnham 1
Yetton rises highest from a corner, but his looping header grazes the top of the bar.
Eastleigh swap McAllister for Odubade.
Magpies bring on Twyford for Crittenden.
Terras 0 Burnham 1
Central defender Lewis Lavender booked for a push on Yetton. Weymouth starting to build pressure on the visitors' advantage.
Terras 0 Burnham 1
Central defender Lewis Lavender booked for a push on Yetton. Weymouth starting to build pressure on the visitors' advantage.
Back underway here at Weymouth, the home side trailing 0-1.
Eastleigh have brought on Jamie Collins for Ben Strevens at half-time.
Second half under way as Magpies trail Eastleigh 4-0.
Can just imagine Phil's inspiring team talk right now. We'll be a changed team in the second half. Probably.— @Ian_Evans 25 March 2014
Terras 0 Burnham 1
Weymouth struggling to get a foothold in this game as we reach the interval.
Similarly to when the teams met at the weekend, Matthews will want a lot more from his side in the second period.
Eastleigh 4 Magpies 0
Eastleigh 4 Magpies 0
Jai Reason gets his second and Eastleigh's fourth before the break, and if they're not careful, this could get a lot worse after the interval for Dorchester.
Terras 0 Burnham 1
Yetton pulls the ball back for Kelly, but his shot from ten yards out is high and wide.
Eastleigh 3 Magpies 0
Ben Wright adds to Dorchester's woes with Eastleigh's third goal, finishing off a flowing move just a few minutes before half-time.
Terras 0 Burnham 1
Weymouth escape as Burnham's John Munday shoots, it's parried away by Matthews and the ball is eventually scrambled clear.
Terras 0 Burnham 1
Burnham's Myles Hippolyte finds his way into the book for dissent.
Eastleigh 2 Magpies 0
Reason should make it 3-0 on 29 mins but his shot from close range is deflected away from a corner by Smeeton.
Terras 0 Burnham 1
Weymouth on top but struggling to find a final ball to open up the visitors at present.
Terras 0 Burnham 1
Yetton latches on to a ball from deep and slides it past Lawrence, but a covering defender sweeps up the danger.
Al made a good save, but the Eastleigh player was first to the rebound. 1-0 down. #WeAreDorch— @Ian_Evans 25 March 2014
2-0 down from a corner. We're in for a shafting. #WeAreDorch— @Ian_Evans 25 March 2014
Eastleigh 2 Magpies 0
Former Swansea City defender Chris Todd heads in from a corner for Eastleigh's second goal in as many minutes.
Eastleigh 1 Magpies 0
Jai Reason scores after Walker-Harris saved Wright's shot.
Former Eastleigh keeper Alan Walker-Harris makes a decen save from Daniel Wishart.
Terras 0 Burnham 1
Weymouth fall behind as striker Nicke Kebamba drills a low effort into the bottom corner.
Terras 0 Burnham 1
Weymouth fall behind as srtiker Nicke Kebamba drills a low effort into the bottom corner.
Eastleigh 0 Magpies 0
Eastleigh bossing possession in first 15 minutes but no real clear cut chances as yet.
Terras 0 Burnham 0
Weymouth have the ball in the net within the opening minute here but it is flagged offside.
Adam Kelly then forces a save from Lawrence in the visitors' goal.
We are underway here at the Bob Lucas Stadium...
The match between Eastleigh and the Magpies is under way at the Silverlake Stadium.
Good luck @DorchTownFC super magpies. #wearedorch #trenches #honesty— @Percy_Burton 25 March 2014
TERRAS v BURNHAM team news
Weymouth field the exact same XI that started on Saturday.
Terras: Matthews, Wells, Green, Colwell, Hutchings, Richards, Kelly, Jagger-Cane, Yetton, Rigg, Vassell.
Subs: Poole, McClements, Sharpe, Holland, Walker.
Burnham: Lawrence, Boultwood, Stevens, Munday, Pilbeam, Smith, Couch, Lavender, Kebamba, Driver, Hippolyte.
Subs: Abreu, Mallinson.
Tonight's referee is Adam Ricketts from Bristol.
EASTLEIGH v MAGPIES team news
Steve Walker and Dan Way come into the Magpies' starting line-up with Warren Byerley rested and Jamie Gleeson on the bench.
There is also a place on the bench for Oakley Hanger.
Eastleigh: Flitney, Spence, Green, Strevens, Dillon, Todd, Reason, Southam (c), McAllister, Wright, Wishart.
Subs: Odubade, Noice, Peacock, Collins, Masterton
Magpies: Walker-Harris, Case, Smeeton (c), McCarthy, N Walker, Lanahan, Crittenden, Way, S Walker, Chamberlain, Losasso.
Subs: Gleeson, Twyford, Munday, Makoni, Hanger.
TERRAS v BURNHAM match preview
Weymouth are looking for their fourth consecutive league victory following their 3-1 win against Burnham in the reverse fixture last Saturday.
A win for the Terras tonight would see them record their tenth league victory at home this season and would put them on 55 points in the Southern Premier Division.
Striker Stewart Yetton will be looking to continue his notable scoring form, having found the net seven times in his last six games.
The teams lined up like this at the weekend.....
Terras: Matthews, Wells, Green, Colwell, Hutchings, Richards, Kelly, Jagger-Cane (Walker 78), Yetton, Rigg, Vassell.
Subs not used: Poole, McClements, Sharpe, Holland.
Burnham: Lawrence, Pilbeam, Stevens, Munday, Smith, Togwell, Upward, Hippolyte, Couch, Driver, Blake.
Subs: Kebamba, Boultwood, Lavender, Joseph, Willmont
EASTLEIGH v MAGPIES match preview
They don't come much tougher for the Magpies tonight as they head to Hampshire to take on high-flying Eastleigh.
Both sides played out 0-0 draws last weekend, Dorchester at home to Sutton and the Spitfires away to Staines.
Each side is missing key players tonight.
Mark Jermyn and Warren Byerley are out for the visitors, while Stuart Fleetwood and Reece Connolly are unavailable for the hosts.
Goals from Ben Strevens and Jai Reason gave Eastleigh a 2-1 win at the Avenue before Christmas, with Josh Wakefield scoring for Dorchester.
The teams that day finished like this....
Magpies: Walker-Harris, Case (Makoni 72), Colmer (Munday 88), Smeeton, S Walker, Lanahan (Godfrey 83), Crittenden, Gleeson, Tennant, Wakefield, Twyford.
Subs not used: Rolls, Brooks
Eastleigh: Flitney, Batt (Green 65), Spence, Strevens, Evans, Todd, Odubade, Southam, McAllister (Dillon 48), Reason (Beckwith 88), Fleetwood.
Subs not used: Smith, Davey
RT @WinsperWBA: Good luck to all the lads again tonight! Another 3 points! #terras— @KineticoDorset 25 March 2014
Eastleigh bound. Come on you Magpies! #WeAreDorch— @Ian_Evans 25 March 2014
Good luck to @DorchTownFC against Eastleigh tonight #wearedorch— @Darrenwbee70 25 March 2014
@Phil_Simkin Phil u need to start twyford and makoni tomorrow and then we will have the 3 pts trust me on this on phil #WeAreDorch— @AylottMike 24 March 2014


text:
Steal Like An Artist, a book by Austin Kleon
My new book is out in bookstores today and online:
If you buy it before midnight, you can enter to win a framed Newspaper Blackout print from 20x200. Details here.
I want to get this book and you should too.
Reblogged from AUSTIN KLEON


text:
Tariq Sanders
Bearcats Have Strong Opening Day at Indiana Relays
Cincinnati had seven individuals place top five during the opening day of the Indiana Relays.
Somerville Sets UC Record on Final Day of BIG EAST Meet
Somerville runs 13.41 in 110-meter high hurdles.
Larsson and Fields Win Titles on Day Two of BIG EAST Championships
Larsson's toss sets school and facility records
Track and Field Has High Expectations for BIG EAST Championships
Bearcats have over 70 qualifiers for this week's championship meet.
UC has over 70 qualifiers for this week's BIG EAST meet
Bearcats' outdoor track & field teams are loaded for championship meet
2012-13 (Sophomore): Claimed fourth in the long jump at the Rod McCravy Invitational...runner-up finishes in the long jump and triple jump at the UC Early Bird Relays...placed second in the triple jump and fifth in the long jump at the All-Ohio Outdoor Championships...took third in the long jump at the Redhawk Invitational...claimed eighth in the long jump at the BIG EAST Outdoor Championships.


text:
Guests of Days Inn have access to an outdoor pool with lounging area . Every morning, a complimentary continental breakfast is served . The inn also offers free parking, free local calls, 24-hour front desk service, safety deposit, and laundry service .
All rooms have exterior access, clock radios, coffeemakers, dataport telephones, and satellite TV with free movie channels .
|Check-in Policy
|Check-out Policy
|# Of Rooms
|# Of Floors
Clarion Hotel And Conference Center
Richland, Washington Hotels & Resorts
We also offer banquet and meeting room facilities for up to 250 people, from intimate poolside wedding catered affairs. ...
$105 Per Night
Shilo Inn Richland Hotel
Richland, Washington Hotels & Resorts
The Shilo Inn Richland Hotel is a full service conference center located 12 miles from Pasco Airport. Dog friendly ...
$65 Per Night
Red Lion Hanford House
Richland, Washington Hotels & Resorts
The Red Lion Hotel Richland Hanford House is located right on the scenic Columbia River, 10 minutes from the Tri-cities Airport via its complimentary airport ...
$129 Per Night
Holiday Inn Express And Suites
Richland, Washington Hotels & Resorts
Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites at Columbia Center is located a quarter-mile from Columbia Center Mall and approximately 10 miles from Tri-Cities/Pasco ...
$110 Per Night
Courtyard By Marriott Richland-columbia Point
Richland, Washington Hotels & Resorts
Courtyard by Marriott surrounds travelers with the conveniences that make business and pleasure travel easy. Relax and get ready for the day ahead in one ...
$129 Per Night
Hampton Inn Richland Tri Cities
Richland, Washington Hotels & Resorts
The property is situated near Columbia River and Howard Amon Park and three miles from Columbia Pointe Golf Course and Broadmoor Park Factory Outlet. ...
$102 Per Night
Pioneer Square Hotel
Seattle, Washington Hotels & Resorts
An elegant, thoroughly restored turn-of-the-century hotel, conveniently located in the heart of historical downtown Seattle, just one block from the waterfront.Offering evening turndown service, continental breakfast & superb hospitality. Best Value!...
$170 Per Night
Seattle Pacific Hotel
Downtown, Washington Hotels & Resorts
Seattle Pacific Hotel is located just 2.5 blocks from the Space Needle and the Seattle Center. We are located withing walking distance to Pike Place Market, Piers and the Outdoor Sculpture Park. We also have easy access to public transportation and t...
$89 Per Night
Silver Cloud Inn - Mukilteo
Mukilteo, Washington Hotels & Resorts
With Waterfront and Mountain views relax in your choice of rooms ...
$119 Per Night
Crowne Plaza Seattle Downtown
Seattle, Washington Hotels & Resorts
The Crowne Plaza Hotel- Seattle offers a Downtown location and is within a few blocks of Pike Place Market, the Washington State Convention Center, Seattle ...
$153 Per Night
Bull Hill Guest Ranch
Kettle Falls, Washington Dude Ranch
Nestled high in the mountains in the northeastern corner of Washington state, sits Bull Hill Guest Ranch. Founded in 1903, Bull Hill is part of a working cattle ranch encompassing more than 50,000 acres of lush mountain landscapes....
Starting at $215 Per Night
Hot Air Balloon Flights in Western Washington
Snohomish, Washington Ballooning
Sail aboard a colorful, nine-story balloon as gentle breezes carry you over the spectacular Snohomish valley, sweeping just over tree tops or rising high above the earth for a picturesque view of the northwest mountains and waterways!...
From $195 Per Person
Morning Star Balloon Co.
Olympic Peninsula, Washington Ballooning
Join Captain Crystal with a view of the Olympic Peninsula, Victoria Canada, Mt. Baker, Pacific Ocean and the Cascade Range in a spectacular hot air balloon flight. Nothing less than extraordinary awaits you....
Starting at $250 Per Person
Whale Watching Adventure / Friday Harbor Cruise
Bellingham, Washington Whale Watching
The Northwest's best whale watching tour! We cruise through the scenic San Juan Islands, with a 2 hour visit in Friday Harbor. We look for Orca whales, Minke whales, porpoise, sea lions & seals, and include a Northwest salmon & chicken lunch onboard....
Starting at $99 Per Person
Whale Watch& Wildlife Tours April - October
Friday Harbor, Washington Whale Watching
Whale Watching & Wildlife with expert naturalist guides in the calm, Orca-rich waters of San Juan Is. Encounter Orca Whales, dolphin, porpoise, seals, eagles, sea lion, kelp forests & tide pool life. Small personalized tours. Safe, Educational & FUN...
Starting at $89 Per Person
Eco Tours w/ Western Prince Whale & Wildlife Tours
Friday Harbor, Washington Whale Watching
BIODIESEL Powered! Intimate sized tours (limited to 30 guests). 46 foot custom tour boat. Large enough for safety and comfort yet small enough for a more interactive experience. Local naturalists aboard every trip. Providing quality tours since 1986....
Barnard Griffin Winery: Wine Tasting Daily 10a-5p
Richland, Washington Wine Tasting
Barnard Griffin is the premier family owned winery in Washington; one of the most award-winning wineries in the state - an essential stop on any tour of Washington's best wineries. Tasting Room Open Daily from 10a-5p. Wine Bar Open W-Sat: 4p-9p...
Unique Wilderness Expeditions for Young Adults
San Juan, Washington Summer Camps & Programs
Unique wilderness expeditions exploring New England,and the Pacific Northwest. We combine small group size, motivated participants and outstanding leaders to create an exceptionally fun and amazing experience. Sailing, Paddling & Backcountry Travel....
$800 Per Week
Your Path to Nature Travel at IWA
South Puget Sound, Washington Sight-Seeing Tours
International Wildlife Adventures: Wilderness tours and adventure travel to some of the world's most unique destinations. Nature and wildlife experiences and photo opportunities await! This international tour company provides packages for Polar B...
Soul Refreshing Eco Journeys->Yellow Bear Journeys
Olympia, Washington Sight-Seeing Tours
Our tours focus on beaches and rainforests in the Pacific NW and in Hawaii. We also off other specialized tours, such as a Green Car Tour. And we can customize a tour for you....
$1,000 Per Week
|Link Code


text:
25th Meeting of the Ramsar Standing Committee -- Decisions
|25th Meeting of the Ramsar Standing Committee
Gland, Switzerland, 23 - 27 October 2000
Decisions of the 25th Meeting of the Standing Committee
Agenda item 7: Resolution VII.12 on "Sites in the Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance: official descriptions, conservation status, and management plans, including the situation of particular sites in the territories of specific Contracting Parties"
(See document SC25-3)
Decision SC25-1: The Standing Committee decided to:
a) request the Bureau to make further contacts with Contracting Parties about their actions concerning their commitments embodied in Resolution VII.12, in order to obtain the most up-to-date information and encourage their further action;
b) invite SC members to encourage Parties in the respective regions to follow up on those commitments; and
c) receive the Bureau's report on Resolution VII.12 implementation at SC26, and then decide how best to deal with the remaining issues in advance of COP8.
Decision SC25-2: Recognizing the need to give increased attention to the fuller implementation of Article 3.2 of the Convention, the Standing Committee requested the Bureau, with the assistance of the members of the Standing Committee, BirdLife International and other International Organization Partners, and the STRP's Expert Working Group on Ecological Character, to prepare a paper for consideration by the 26th Meeting of the Standing Committee, for possible consideration by COP8. The paper should:
(a) propose guidance to Contracting Parties concerning their identification and reporting of change and likely change in ecological character, in full accordance with Article 3.2; and
(b) propose options for response to reported change, or likely change, in ecological character, to include inter alia the modus operandi of the Montreux Record, the National Planning Tool, and other mechanisms.
Agenda item 9: Joint Work Plan with the Convention on Biological Diversity
Decision SC25-3: The Standing Committee expressed its support for the Bureau's efforts to develop synergies with the Convention on Biological Diversity and endorsed further work towards a third Joint Work Plan to succeed the present one.
Agenda item 10: Synergy and partnerships with other conventions and institutions
Decision SC25-4: The Standing Committee registered its support for the Bureau's cooperative efforts with other related conventions and institutions, in particular with the global treaties, and looked forward to observing benefits from these efforts flowing to the Contracting Parties. The Standing Committee members expressed their willingness to play a role in such cooperation, for example, by contacts in-country with the national focal points of other conventions.
Agenda item 11: Priority actions in the Barbados Programme of Action
Decision SC25-5: The Standing Committee determined that the priorities in the Barbados Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island States should be adopted as a focus for the development of specific actions to be considered for incorporation in the Ramsar Strategic Plan 2003-2008, and it urged further consultations with the Small Island Developing States on their needs relative to wetlands. The Committee welcomed the intention of Trinidad and Tobago to bring the "Review of the Role of the Ramsar Convention in Relation to the Barbados Programme of Action" to the consideration of the Caribbean meeting to be held in December 2000.
Agenda item 12: Analysis by the Environmental Law Centre of interpretation of Articles 2.5 and 4.2
Decision SC25-6: The Standing Committee requested the Bureau to translate the Environmental Law Centre's analytical paper into French and Spanish and circulate it to the Contracting Parties for comment; to convey any comments received to the ELC for consideration in a further draft of the paper; and to present that revised draft to the Standing Committee's next meeting for transmittal to COP8. The Committee expressed its gratitude to the ELC for its work thus far.
Decision SC25-7: The Standing Committee requested the Bureau, with assistance from BirdLife International, to prepare an analysis of the issue of "a procedure for the review of Ramsar site boundaries for reasons other than urgent national interest, without prejudice to other international obligations" (Resolution VII.23, para. 9).
Agenda item 13: Implementation of Resolution VII.8 on participation of local communities and indigenous people in wetland management
Decision SC25-8: The Standing Committee welcomed and supported the joint initiative by IUCN, WWF, and the Ramsar Bureau to establish a Participatory Management Networking Service (PMNS), to be managed by IUCN's Social Policy Programme.
Agenda item 15: Status of implementation of the River Basin Initiative
Decision SC25-9: The Standing Committee welcomed the news of recent progress in establishing the River Basin Initiative, jointly supported by the Conventions on Biological Diversity and on Wetlands.
Agenda item 16: Report from the Scientific and Technical Review Panel
Decision SC25-10: The Standing Committee approved the revised Work Plan proposed by the Scientific and Technical Review Panel (STRP). It noted the report on the STRP's 9th meeting and its progress in achieving its programme of work, and it noted the progress in the Parties' designation of STRP National Focal Points.
Decision SC25-11: The Standing Committee noted the concerns of the STRP's Chair and members about its modus operandi, mandates from the COP, and high turnover. The Committee established a Subgroup on the STRP to study the method of STRP selection and kinds of expertise sought for it, as well as the resource implications for the STRP and the Bureau caused by its work load and by the need for coordinating interactions with the STRP National Focal Points. The Terms of Reference of the Subgroup are to:
- prepare Terms of Reference for the Chair and members of the STRP and guidelines on the role and functioning of the STRP in relation to these TORs, as well as the role of observer organizations and invited experts;
- review the role of the STRP National Focal Points and, as appropriate, recommend changes to the existing Terms of Reference of these focal points so as to ensure that they can contribute fully to the work of the STRP;
- make recommendations for a procedure designed to establish greater continuity of membership in the STRP;
- make recommendations for a process designed to make available to COP8 (and subsequent COPs) a clear understanding of the full list of tasks it has under consideration for the future work of STRP, so as to assist the COP in its determination of Resolutions and Recommendations relating to this work;
- make recommendations on the schedule of meetings of the STRP during the next triennium, and in particular the timing of its first meeting, so as to maximize the time available to STRP to develop and undertake its programme of work; and
- review the financial and other resource implications of the recommendations and proposals relating to the modus operandi of the STRP, and make recommendations concerning resourcing of the work relating to the STRP.
The Standing Committee requested the Bureau to prepare a paper addressing the above Terms of Reference for circulation to the Subgroup on the STRP by 15 January 2001 and to incorporate comments from the Subgroup in a second draft; this second draft will be considered by the 10th meeting of STRP (in line with Decision STRP 9-17) and then at a meeting of the Subgroup to take place immediately prior to the 26th meeting of the Standing Committee, in late 2001, for transmittal to COP8.
The Subgroup will consist of Armenia, France, Japan, Uganda, BirdLife International, the Chair of STRP, and the USA as Observer , and the Deputy Secretary General (ex officio) and the past Chair of STRP (to be invited).
Agenda item 17: Significance for Ramsar of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment
Decision SC25-12: The Standing Committee endorsed the Bureau's participation in the development and implementation of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment and expressed the willingness of SC members to assist the MEA Board by nominating suitable experts and suggesting likely pilot sites for local assessment.
Agenda item 18.1: Suggested dates and venue of the 8th Meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties
Decision SC25-13: The Standing Committee adopted the recommendation of the Subgroup on COP8 that the COP be scheduled for Valencia, Spain, 18-26 November 2002, and it endorsed the proposed slogan "Wetlands: water, life, and culture" (and its French and Spanish equivalents). The Committee welcomed the agreement between the Bureau and the Spanish Ministry of Environment outlining responsibilities and budget and expressed gratitude for Spain's generous offer of Sfr 721,000 for Bureau costs and Sfr 100,000 for sponsored delegates.
The Committee also approved the following calendar of pre-COP8 events: a) Standing Committee's 26th meeting, 3-7 December 2001; b) Subgroup on COP8 meeting, 6-8 May 2002; c) SC27 and SC28 meetings, 17 and 26 November at the COP8 venue; d) SC29 meeting, 6-9 January 2003; e) SC30 meeting, 10-15 November 2003. The Committee welcomed Japan's indication of its willingness to contribute to delegate sponsorship.
Agenda item 18.2: Proposed Draft Agenda and Programme for COP8
Decision SC25-14: The Standing Committee adopted the Draft COP8 Agenda and Programme proposed in DOC. SC25-15, with the following amendments (in bold):
Agenda item VI: Appointment of the Credentials Committee and any other committees - Pursuant to the Rules of Procedure, the Conference will appoint a Credentials Committee on the basis of proposals made by the Conference Committee, and may establish any other committees necessary to enable the Conference to carry out its functions. The COP may establish a Committee on the Strategic Plan 2003-2008 and the Work Plan 2003-2005; a Committee on Finances and Budget; and a Committee on content and duration of future Ordinary Meetings of the Conference of the Contracting Parties.
Technical Session 1: Item 1.1 should incorporate the outputs of the STRP Working Group on Water allocation and management; Item 1.2 should incorporate the outputs of the (proposed) STRP Working Group on Climate change and the Ramsar Convention
Technical session 4: The titles of items 4.1 to 4.5 should read "Case studies and guidelines on ..."
The Committee requested the Subgroup on COP8 to prepare a study of the content and duration of future Conferences of the Parties, for consideration by SC26 and COP8. The Committee expressed its gratitude to the Government of Spain for its leadership on COP issues.
Agenda item 18.3: Ramsar regional meetings prior to COP8
Decision SC25-15: The Standing Committee noted the suggestions that regional meetings in Africa be organized by geographical proximity rather than by language and that planned meetings in the Neotropical region be increased from two to four, and instructed the Bureau to explore these arrangements, subject to their financial feasibility. The Committee adopted the list of regional meetings proposed by the Subgroup on COP8, as amended by the wishes of Africa and the Neotropics, and with a notation that the Central Asia meeting is planned for non-Parties. The Committee also approved the list of objectives for the regional and subregional meetings, as amended by the Subgroup's recommendations. It welcomed Australia's offer to explore with New Zealand and Papua New Guinea the organization of a meeting for Oceania, possibly to include non-Contracting Parties.
Note: On the basis of this Decision, the list of planned meetings, subject to availability of funds, comprises:
- Africa: 1 meeting each for West Africa; North and Central Africa; and Eastern and Southern Africa.
- Asia: 1 meeting each for the Middle East; Central Asia (for non-Contracting Parties); West Asia; and East Asia.
- Europe: 1 pan-European meeting in Slovenia in October 2001.
- Neotropics: 2 meetings for South America and two meetings for Central America.
- One meeting of the Mediterranean Wetlands Committee, in Portugal in 2001.
Agenda item 18.4: Ramsar Wetland Conservation Award
Decision SC25-16: The Standing Committee approved the proposed text of the guidelines for the Ramsar Award, amended to indicate that sums of less than $10,000 will not be awarded as cash prizes, not that they will not be accepted from donors. It endorsed the Subgroup's proposed calendar – call for nominations by 20 June 2001; deadline for nominations on 31 December 2001; Bureau's analysis of candidatures by 31 March 2002; Subgroup on COP8's recommendations on winners at its 6-8 May 2002 meeting and transmittal to Standing Committee for endorsement; presentation of the Awards at the opening of COP8 on 18 November 2002.
Agenda item 19: Report of the Subgroup on Ramsar's Strategic Plan 2003-2008
Decision SC25-17: The Standing Committee requested the Bureau to prepare a third draft of the Strategic Plan in line with the recommendations of the Subgroup on the Strategic Plan; to incorporate in this third draft, as far as practicable, any additional comments on the second draft received from Standing Committee members by 30 October 2000; and to circulate the third draft to the Subgroup by 15 December 2000 for comment and approval by 8 January 2001, followed by its translation into French and Spanish and wider distribution for comment by the end of January 2001. The Standing Committee will consider again the draft at its 26th meeting and will delegate the Subgroup to meet in May 2002 to adopt the final draft for transmittal to COP8. It is intended that the draft Strategic Plan will be considered late in the COP8 agenda to allow time for incorporation within it of results of the COP, as appropriate. It is also intended that the pre-COP8 Ramsar regional meetings will be given the opportunity to comment upon the draft Strategic Plan.
Note: on the basis of this decision, the Bureau will circulate the draft Strategic Plan 2003-2008 to all Contracting Parties for comments by the end of January 2001.
Agenda item 20: The Bureau's Work Plan for 2001
Decision SC25-18: The Standing Committee approved the Bureau's Work Plan for 2001, with amendments to the Americas section following the recent regional meeting. It urged that in future the Bureau's proposed plan should be simpler in structure and that it be accompanied by a 'balance sheet' indicating where the actions of the preceding year's Work Plan have been achieved or not achieved.
Decision SC25-19: The Standing Committee requested the Bureau to prepare a report and proposals, for consideration at its next meeting and possible transmittal to COP8, on a) the nature and extent of data holdings in the Ramsar Sites Database and the relationship between "official" and "unofficial" data on Ramsar sites; b) the possible need for a revised format for the Ramsar Information Sheet to bring it into closer conformity with evolving data needs; and c) specifications for the future preparation of Ramsar site maps, in both paper and digital formats.
Decision SC25-20: The Standing Committee endorsed the proposal by Wetlands International for establishment of a Ramsar Wetlands Training and Advisory Service, as described in the supplementary agenda paper to DOC. SC25-19 and presented by the representative of Wetlands International.
Agenda item 21: World Wetlands Day 2001
Decision SC25-21: The Standing Committee members noted the Bureau's planning for World Wetlands Day 2001 and indicated their willingness to forward descriptive text about planned activities in their own countries to the Ramsar Bureau, as soon as practicable, for inclusion in the growing list of planned activities on the Ramsar Web site.
Agenda item 22.1: Audited accounts for FY 1999
Decision SC25-22: The Standing Committee accepted the Audited Accounts as truly reflecting the financial position of the Ramsar Bureau as of 31st December 1999, for transmittal to all Contracting Parties.
Note: The Audited Accounts for FY 1999 are being distributed to all Contracting Parties under a separate diplomatic note.
Agenda item 22.2: Income and expenditure for FY 2000
Decision SC25-23: The Standing Committee approved the report on FY 2000 core and projects income and expenditure.
Agenda item 22.3: Use of funds under budget line 3
Decision SC25-24: The Standing Committee noted the Bureau's report on the use of funds under budget line 3 (travel on official business), submitted in accordance with Decision SC24-23.
Agenda item 22.4: Small Grants Fund: modus operandi and approval of projects
Decision SC25-25: The Standing Committee decided:
a) to establish a deadline of 31 December 2000 for return to the Bureau of signed contracts on outstanding SGF1999 projects. If a contract has not been returned fully signed by that date, the project should be cancelled and the funds reallocated to the next ranked A2 category SGF2000 project;
b) to establish a general rule for SGF2000 and future years that fully signed contracts must be returned to the Bureau within three months of the date that the Bureau has confirmed the project proponent's reception of the document. If a contract is not so returned, the project should be cancelled and the funds reallocated to the next ranked A2 project awaiting funding.
c) to approve for funding the list of projects in Category A1 contained in Annex 2 of DOC. SC25-24 and the projects listed in paragraphs 7 and 9 of the Addenda to DOC. SC25-24, noting the withdrawal of the project proposal from Brazil.
d) to amend the assessment procedure used in the review and ranking of small grant proposals by the following steps:
- Adding four new categories to the five categories already existing in Stage II of the evaluation form.
- These four new categories would address the 4 technical themes of Stage I:
- Objectives
- Activities and Methods
- Budget
- Capacity to Implement the Project
- A maximum of five points and a minimum of zero would be awarded under each category.
- A rating of zero should represent a minimally adequate level of compliance, not non-compliance.
- The Ramsar Bureau staff will develop specific proposal rating language for each of these four new Stage II categories. This language will be reviewed subsequently by the Subgroup on Finance.
- These proposed changes will be implemented in the 2001 small grants cycle.
Note: The following is the list of projects referred to in section c) of the above decision:
Funded projects:
1) Armenia, "Regional training course on wetland management", SFR 40,000
2) Bosnia & Herzegovina and Croatia, "Transboundary management plan for the Lower Naretva Valley", SFR 25,000
3) Cambodia, "Development and implementation of a management plan for the Boeung Chhmar Ramsar site", SFR 40,000
4) Colombia, "Inventory and characterisation of wetlands in Caqueta department", SFR 40,000
5) Lebanon, "Developing a viable economic framework for the management of Amning and Tyre Wetlands", SFR 38,720
6) Madagascar, "Workshop ion the development of a National Strategy for the Conservation and Sustainable use of Wetlands in Madagascar", SFR 38,700
7) Niger and Togo, "Training activities for wetland managers", SFR 40,000
8) Republic of Moldova, "Restoration, rehabilitation and implementation of protective measures in the core wetland areas in the Dniester River", SFR 40,000
A project from Congo, "Inventory and evaluation of wetlands in Congo", SFR 39,507, will be funded by the SGF if no confirmation of funding by the WWF Living Waters Campaign has been received by 31 December 2000.
The following projects will receive funding, in this order of priority, if resources became available because of cancellation of some 1999 SGF projects:
Algeria, "Training course for wetland managers at sub-regional level (Magreb countries), SFR 40,000
Chile, "Integrated planning for the conservation of the wetland system of the northern highlands", SFR 39,108
Panama, "Elaboration of an action plan for the conservation and wise use of Panama wetlands", SFR 39,325
Croatia, "Development of the Croatian wetland inventory", SFR 40,000
Agenda item 22.4 (ii): Feasibility of transferring operation of the SGF to one of the International Organization Partners (IOPs) (Decision SC24-21)
Decision SC25-26: The Standing Committee
a) decided that the administration of the SGF should be kept within the Ramsar Bureau and invited the IOPs to strengthen their support in relation to Ramsar SGF project design, evaluation, implementation and monitoring;
b) welcomed the statement by the Senior Advisor on Environment and Development Cooperation that he is confident that there are several mechanisms that could be explored with considerable prospects of success to raise funds for the SGF;
c) requested the Secretary General to ensure that the Senior Advisor devotes attention to exploring these mechanisms as soon as possible; and
d) urged the Ramsar Administrative Authorities to provide full support to the Senior Advisor in this endeavor.
Agenda item 22.5: Unpaid contributions from the Contracting Parties
Decision SC25-27: The Standing Committee determined to submit to COP8 a draft resolution establishing that, in order to encourage timely and regular payment of annual contributions, as from 1 January 2003:
a) Contracting Parties whose arrears equal the amount of their assessed contribution for the preceding two years on the date of the opening of the meeting of the Conference of the Parties shall not be eligible to be elected as Regional Representative in the Standing Committee of the Convention;
b) Contracting Parties whose arrears equal the amount of their assessed contribution for the preceding three years on the date of the opening of the meeting of the Conference of the Parties shall have their right to vote suspended at that meeting;
c) Contracting Parties whose arrears equal the amount of their assessed contribution for the preceding two years at the time of considering any request for funding under the Ramsar Small Grants Funds or other funding mechanism under the Convention shall not be eligible for such funding.
d) Since these sanctions would commence only at COP9 in 2005, COP8 should authorize the Standing Committee to negotiate a fair arrangement, on a case by case basis, with those Parties that have accumulated considerable arrears, in order to allow them to attend COP9 with a clean slate.
e) In case of severe economic conditions or natural disaster, at the request of the Contracting Party concerned, the Standing Committee would be authorized to make special arrangements with that Party regarding its unpaid contributions.
Agenda item 22.6: Use of the OECD/DAC list to determine eligibility for Ramsar financial assistance
Decision SC25-28: The Standing Committee decided that:
a) the OECD/DAC List of Aid Recipients should continue to be used, mutatismutandis as applying to Ramsar Contracting Parties and other countries eligible for accession, for eligibility for SGF as established by Resolution VI.6;
b) the Bureau, when allocating assistance for participating at Ramsar meetings, should use the OECD/DAC list in the following order of priorities:
i) Contracting Parties in Part I of the List
ii) Contracting Parties in Part II of the List: Central and Eastern European Countries and New Independent States of the former Soviet Union; and
iii) Contracting Parties in Part II of the List: More advanced Developing Countries and Territories;
c) the Bureau should prepare a report on the regulations and practice applied on this matter by other environment-related conventions for consideration at the next Standing Committee meeting and possible transmission with recommendations to COP8.
Agenda item 22.7: Ramsar Bureau budget 2001
Decision SC25-29: The Standing Committee approved the Bureau's proposed budget as shown in Document SC25-28.
Agenda item 22.8: Work Plan of the SAEDC
Decision SC25-30: The Standing Committee noted the proposed Work Plan of the Senior Advisor on Environment and Development Cooperation (SAEDC) and looked forward to its effective and successful implementation.
Agenda item 22.9: Location and financing of the MedWet Coordination function
Decision SC25-31: The Standing Committee, having received the generous proposals submitted by Spain and most recently by Greece for hosting the Coordination of the Mediterranean Wetlands Initiative, including a pledge for financial contributions towards the salary of the MedWet Coordinator and other expenses:
a) accepted with pleasure the recommendation of the interested countries that the MedWet Coordination function should continue to be based in Athens, Greece, for the interim period until 31 December 2002, when the 8th Meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties will have taken a more permanent decision;
b) accepted the generous offer by the Government of Greece contained in the letter addressed to the Secretary General by the Deputy Minister of Environment, Physical Planning and Public Works dated 16 October 2000 and further elaborated in the letter also addressed to the Secretary General by the Director General of that Ministry, dated 24 October 2000;
c) expressed its most sincere appreciation to the Government of Spain for having submitted a generous and early offer to provide a solution to the location and financing of the MedWet Coordination, and welcomed the indication by the Ministry of the Environment that it may consider using part of the resources involved in its offer for the secondment of a Spanish expert to work in the MedWet Coordination in Athens;
d) authorized the Secretary General to enter into an appropriate agreement with the Government of Greece concerning the MedWet Coordination office and its financing; and
e) urged the Bureau to communicate news of this decision to the participating MedWet countries without delay.
Agenda item 23: Next meeting of the Standing Committee
Decision SC25-32: The Standing Committee fixed the dates of its 26th meeting for 3-7 December 2001, at the Ramsar Bureau offices, and determined that time will be set aside in the agenda for regional meetings.
Agenda item 25 (i): Procedure for selection of a new Secretary General
Decision SC25-33: The Standing Committee decided a) that the Chair will circulate proposals concerning search procedures, including search criteria and the composition of the search and interview committee(s), well in advance of the next Standing Committee meeting; b) that at that meeting the Committee will adopt the procedure and calendar for selecting the new Secretary General and instruct the Bureau to put it in motion; and c) that the Committee will communicate to COP8 the procedure adopted by the Standing Committee for selecting a new Secretary General and invite the COP to consider and adopt it as the formal procedure for future occasions.
Agenda item 24: Adoption of the report and decisions of the meeting
Decision SC25-34: The Standing Committee adopted all of the Decisions of the meeting, as well as the Minutes of the first day of plenary sessions, subject to final editorial preparation by the Bureau. It was agreed that the Minutes of the second and final day of plenary sessions will be circulated by electronic mail to voting members of the Standing Committee with one week allowed for comment.
(Rapporteur: Dwight Peck, Ramsar)


text:
Blue Book® Suggested Retail Value
Fuel Economy (city/hwy)
Quick Facts
There are no 2012 BMW Z4 reviews. However, the following might be helpful:
There are no 2012 BMW Z4 reviews. However, the following might be helpful:
There are no 2012 BMW Z4 reviews. However, the following might be helpful:
Video Reviews
The 2012 BMW Z4 continues to deliver the classic characteristics that make the Z-lineup immensely popular.
User Reviews
The community thinks...
True roadster, impressive sports car. by gw on 06/30/2012. Trim: 2012 BMW Z4 sDrive35i, Owned less than 1 year.
Pros: -Very impressive power, particularly with the 7 speed PDK transimission. -Incredible styling. Looks better than any other roadster out there, hands down. -Technology and engineering: the retractable hard top is nothing short of an amazing engineering feat--way to go BMW. The PDK transmission with manual/sport shift mode, and normal, sport and sport + settings are incredible--you can almost instantly change the demeanor of the car from comfortable cruising Bimmer, to snarling, ready to eat Miatas for lunch Beast Bimmer.
Cons: -I've not had the car long, and already there is a rattle from the rear exhaust. Per the Z4 forums, this is very common and will be covered under warranty. Still, coming from Japanese cars, I'm not used to having really ANY problems of this sort. I've had brand new Toyotas, Subarus and Hondas; kept them for years and never had any problems. To have an issue at barely 17k miles is annoying.
Overall review: Indeed the Ultimate Driving Machine!
Review ID: #561273 Is this review offensive?
Recently Viewed Cars
Related Articles