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Dr Touré talks about ITU's technical leadership, its current standardization priorities as well as its policy-making activities.
"... As the broker of global consensus on the technologies and frameworks that will underpin the next wave of innovation, ITU is active in every facet of ICT development, from access networks, transmission, next generation networks and broadband, to billing and numbering, satellite systems and of course wireless, which continues to notch up exponential growth while expanding its reach into new areas.
In 2007, ITU-T alone produced over 160 new and revised standards, covering everything from core public phone network functionality to next-generation services like IPTV.
And to meet the needs of an industry where todays breakthrough technology quickly becomes yester-years legacy installation, weve dramatically streamlined our processes, paring back the average development time for an ITU Recommendation from four years in 1988 to around just one year today.
The pace of work continues to accelerate: 13% more ITU-T Recommendations were approved in 2007 than in 2006, and, with the World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly set to kick off in Johannesburg, South Africa in October, this years achievement is already set to be higher still.
In September last year, to promote and enhance worldwide access to globally-agreed ITU Recommendations, we also took the radical step of making over 3,000 core ITU standards downloadable directly over the Internet, free of charge. As hoped, this move has been particularly beneficial to developing countries, which downloaded over 300,000 copies of ITU-T standards in 2007.
Looking ahead, priority areas of focus include Next Generation Networks, multimedia codecs, digital identity management systems, fast broadband platforms, and of course the next wave in cellular mobile, which is being developed under the auspices of our IMT-Advanced project..." [Full speech...]
The US Academy of Television Arts & Sciences awarded the prestigious Primetime Emmy Award for Excellence to ITU, ISO and IEC - global leaders in making standards - for their work in producing an advanced video coding standard, formally known as Recommendation ITU-T H.264 | ISO/IEC Standard 14496-10 on Advanced Video Coding (AVC).
The Joint Video Team (JVT), made up of experts from the three international standards organizations, received industry recognition for its landmark achievement in developing a "high profile" that extends the reach of high quality video from mobile telephones right through to High Definition Television (HDTV). The JVT was formed in 2001 by the ITU Video Coding Experts Group (VCEG) and the ISO/IEC Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG).
H.264 | MPEG-4 AVC is a highly efficient video compression method that substantially reduces the bandwidth needed to deliver high quality video and the space required to store it. Seven sets of capabilities, referred to as "profiles", have been created for use in specific applications. It is a combination of the great efficiency of the codec as well as its scalability in delivering excellent quality across the entire bandwidth spectrum from high definition television to videoconferencing and 3G-mobile multimedia that has led to its increasing popularity. [More...]
Extract from the International Herald Tribune: ...More than 120 scientists, engineers, analysts and economists from 30 countries were hunkered down here for the 40th annual conference on "planetary emergencies." The term was coined by Antonino Zichichi, a native son and a theoretical physicist who has made Erice a hub for experts to discuss persistent, and potentially catastrophic, global challenges...
... In a session on information security, Hamadoun Toure, Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union, warned that pervasive computer use, while offering the prospect of a global "knowledge society," also made billions of individuals into potential superpowers. "Every single brain on earth is equal and can trigger an attack," he said... [Full article on the International Herald Tribune]
ITU TELECOM ASIA 2008 is set to open in Bangkok, Thailand in two weeks. The leading showcase for information and communication technologies (ICT) and the foremost networking platform for policy makers, regulators and the ICT industry from across the Asia-Pacific region will open its doors 2-5 September 2008 at the IMPACT Convention Centre, Muang Thong Thani, Bangkok.
The VIP/Press Day will be held on 1 September, beginning with the Opening Ceremony at 9:00 am. The Press conference will take place at 12 Noon followed by a Press lunch at 13:00 and a Press tour of the exhibition. A Ministerial round table and high-level dialogue between Ministers and industry leaders will also be held at the venue. The ITU Asia Pacific Telecommunication/ICT Indicators Report will be launched at the Press conference. [More...]
Since taking office in January 2007, Secretary-General Dr Hamadoun Touré has set an ambitious new agenda for the ITU designed to help lead the way towards a more equitable and responsible ICT-based economy. A native of Mali whose long career in ICT spans senior private and public sector roles on three continents, Dr Touré seeks to get to grips with the changing realities of a brand new socio-economic paradigm.
Q: Let's start with ITU's Global Cybersecurity Agenda. Why did ITU feel the need to launch this, and what does it hope to achieve?
A: ITU recognized an urgent need to raise awareness about the very real threat already posed by cybercrime, and to build global consensus on practical ways forward in combating this scourge.
Cyberspace has no borders, no constraining frontiers. The global nature of today's threats means no country can regard itself as an island. This is therefore a truly international problem demanding action on an international level. ITU boasts a long and successful history of forging consensus on the way the world manages globally shared ICT resources - such as satellite orbits and radiofrequency spectrum. Now we're leveraging that track record to help build an international set of principles and best practice that countries around the world can follow, so that efforts to stamp out cybercrime have maximum impact and effectiveness.
The GCA's role is to link existing initiatives and provide a framework for consensus. We've already got lots of key organizations sharing ideas - INTERPOL with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, for example. Working together significantly increases our chances of success. And by involving global experts in the process from the beginning, we'll help make sure that the solutions decided upon get implemented properly.
Q: Where are we in terms of progress on the Agenda?
A: To ensure all countries and stakeholders had the chance to voice their views and concerns, ITU convened a High-Level Experts Group comprising a broad spectrum of representatives from government, international and regional organizations, private industry and academia. This global multi-stakeholder think-tank was tasked with preparing a strategic report and a set of recommendations on how to best achieve the seven strategic goals of the GCA, which span legislation, hardware and software authentication, digital identity certification, and international frameworks for proactive cooperation, as well as early warning on cyber threats.
The HLEG met on 26 June 2008 to submit its recommendations, and I'll be presenting these to ITU Council in November this year. So just over one year since launch, we're moving from talk to action. In the past three months alone we've seen a number of exciting developments, including new collaboration with IMPACT, the global initiative launched by Malaysian Prime Minister, which has offered to serve as one of the GCA physical homes; launch of the GCA Strategic Partnership Program to forge alliances with key stakeholders; mounting interest from leading ICT firms; and a second Patron from Africa - the President of Burkina Faso.
We still have a lot of complex work ahead of us, but with ITU's proven ability to broker effective, workable international agreements on a whole range of contentious issues - from emergency communications to third-generation mobile telephony - I'm quite confident we'll get there.
Q: Child protection has emerged as one of the most urgent cybersecurity priorities. What's ITU position here?
A: There's no doubt this needs to be one of the very first issues addressed. Todays children are increasingly vulnerable - yet their parents, teachers, guardians and even governments are often unaware of the dangers.
We all tell our children to be careful out on the street. What many people havent realized is that, equipped with a computer, a childs bedroom can suddenly become a very dangerous neighbourhood - and that their children are walking through that neighbourhood in the dark, alone. So the first step is to raise awareness at a parental, educational and social level. We need to urgently integrate cyber protection into our community education programmes, and into our school curricula.
At the same time, we need to work towards a harmonized international framework against child pornography and cybercriminals who target and prey on children. Without this framework, some countries will become unwilling hubs for illegal activities of the most undesirable kind - something no nation would want. Much good work has already been done by various agencies and organizations around the world. Through ITU, we can bring key stakeholders together to leverage the progress made so far and develop an internationally effective strategy to eradicate these activities.
To that end, weve just announced the creation of a multi-stakeholder coalition under the GCA framework to undertake concrete actions for the protection of children online. The Child Online Protection (COP) will be launched later this year, and will actively work with partners from industry, governments, international organizations and others to develop concrete actions for protecting children in cyber space.
I believe ITU, which is committed to connecting the world, also has a responsibility to help ensure that these connections are safe. At the same time, its vital that our initiatives do nothing to stifle or smother the enormous benefits the Internet can bring young people, both as a traditional educational resource and as a tool for peer to peer networking and learning.
Q: You talk of ÂConnecting the World - and you held the highly successful ÂConnect Africa event in Rwanda last year. Can we expect to see more ÂConnect events - and which regions would be targeted next?
A: We held the first Connect event in Africa because, as home to 36 of the 49 UN-designated Least Developed Countries, the African continent is still the most urgently in need. The unprecedented interest this event generated, including over US$ 55 billion in project commitments, is clear proof that the industry is now aggressively looking to developing markets for new opportunities. The next Connect event - Connect CIS - is already on the agenda, and will be held in Belarus in 2009. Were confident that it will match the success of our first event, as participants take advantage of enormous untapped demand in fast-emerging markets across this exciting region.
Well be following that up with other Connect events for key world regions - Connect Americas, and Connect Asia - with a special focus as well on the small island states of the Pacific.
Q: How do ITU Connect events differ from the many other ICT trade shows and conferences targeting regional markets?
A: ICTs are the engine driving every other economic sector. And over the past five years, two thirds of all new jobs created have been in the ICT sector. In defining our Connect events, our motto has been Âwealth creation, not poverty alleviation. Unlike many events, were not focusing on the latest gizmos, but rather on ICT development through partnership - particularly constructive partnership between governments and the private sector. Regionally-focused events are very useful, because they can address common problems in areas like licensing, regulation and infrastructure sharing. In deciding the venue for future regional Connect events, well be looking for strong commitments from host governments to forging local ICT markets that favour business opportunity and promote good, competitively-priced services.
Q: In addition to Connect CIS, theres another important event on the ITU horizon next year - the fourth World Telecommunication Policy Forum in Lisbon. What will this event focus on?
A: With so much happening across the industry, weve chosen the broad theme of ÂConvergence to encompass a range of paradigm shifts. The event will look at new network technologies - for example, the standardization work now underway within ITU on Next Generation Networks and IMT-Advanced mobile technology. But well also be looking at other important global issues, such as ICTs and climate change.
Q: Climate change is a relatively new item on ITUs work plan
A: Yes, but in fact weve already been very active here for a number of years, through the development of technologies for environmental monitoring, through early warning systems to help communities mitigate the effects of the growing number of natural disasters provoked by global warming, and through technologies designed to minimize human impact on our environment.
I believe we can go much, much further, by helping industries across all sectors reduce their carbon footprint. Sure, as products that consume energy - through both their manufacture and their use - ICTs are part of the problem, accounting for around three per cent of global CO2 emissions. But they can also be a huge part of the solution - for example, by reducing the need for paper, by automatically switching both themselves and other electrical appliances to Âsleep mode to cut energy consumption, by reducing the need for travel, and by more efficiently managing energy needs in our homes or in our cars.
Following two international Symposia on ICTs and Climate Change held earlier this year, the important role of ICTs in mitigating climate change was addressed at the G8 meeting in Lake Toya in July. ITU will continue to proactively work towards even better technological solutions to reducing our carbon footprint, through standardization efforts in areas like NGN, where new technologies can dramatically reduce the power consumption of network infrastructure, and through special areas of focus like the Networked Home and the Networked Car. Were also stepping up our work in the area of emergency communications, to help communities deal with the often catastrophic effects of a shift in climate patterns.
Q: ITU took the lead back in 1998 in brokering the Tampere Convention on the cross-border use of mobile communications for humanitarian relief. What other activities are you involved in?
A: The Tampere Convention was a major landmark in emergency response, and has now been ratified by 36 nations. This is a priority area for us, and were partnering with a wide range of public and private sector organizations across a range of different areas.
Following the Asian tsunami in 2004, weve been working with the Australian government and others on developing early-warning technology for maritime disasters. The most recent World Radiocommunication Conference here in Geneva last year approved new key spectrum allocations for environmental monitoring and disaster mitigation.
And were active on the ground, providing communications equipment for disaster relief, and technical expertise to help authorities get backbone links up again quickly after a disaster.
During the course of 2008 alone, weve deployed 100 satellite terminals for emergency relief in Myanmar - we were one of the very few agencies authorized to enter - and in Sichuan, China, following the earthquake there. We also have excellent partnerships with most of the major satellite service providers, such as ICO and Inmarsat, with equipment vendors like Thuraya, and with specialist relief organizations like Télécoms Sans Frontières.
More, however, still needs to be done. Thats why we developed a new international framework that was put in place in December 2007. This framework focuses on putting in place national and international disaster prevention and response agreements that can serve as the basis of relief efforts in the event of a catastrophe. When disaster strikes, no-one should be wasting time brokering deals. And no-one should be arguing as to who might get credit for the rescue and clean-up. All our efforts must be directed to helping the victims - as efficiently and as quickly as possible.
Q: What can we expect to see at the industrys flagship trade show, ITU Telecom Asia 2008 in Thailand in September?
A: With Asia now leading the world in technological innovation, there are always plenty of surprises! Im sure well see much to excite us on the show floor from major global players and rising Asian stars. As to the Forum programme, we can expect plenty of healthy debate. The new, more interactive format we piloted at our Cairo event in May was very well received, so well be reinforcing that model in Bangkok. I believe Âfrom friction comes light - so well be aiming to provoke a few clashes of opinion from industry leadersÂ
Asia is a fascinating region because it encompasses both ends of the ICT development spectrum. Its home to the most wired, most technophile communities in the world. And its also home to LDCs and marginalized island states. That makes it a great test bed for new ideas, new technologies - and exciting new applications.
Q: The theme for this years ITU Telecom event is New Generation, New Values. What does this mean, in practice?
A: We chose this theme because, quite simply, no region of the world embraces ICTs like Asia. Entire generations now define themselves through technology. Thats a huge force for innovation, as manufacturers and service providers alike clamber to make the most of the opportunities by devising compelling new products and services designed to capture the consumer imagination - and wallet. In other countries, technology tends to be applied as a tool, to meet user needs. In Asia, its already very much a lifestyle.
Q: So Asias really shaping todays market developments, setting the tone and pace of trends?
A: Theres no doubt that this is true in areas like mobile and broadband. Asia spans some of the most sophisticated markets with the highest levels of ICT penetration and growth in the world. China and India are the worlds largest and fastest growing markets, with mobile subscribers alone totalling over 600 million and 280 million respectively by mid-2008. The Republic of Korea leads the world with close to 80% of households connected to broadband. Both Singapore and Hong Kong, China are not far behind, with 70%. Thats why ITU Telecom Asia has always served as a bellwether for the industry - it not only opens doors to some of the biggest opportunities for exhibitors, but provides a crucial snapshot of where the industrys heading in terms of technologies, applications and new business models.
Thats particularly important in Asia, which remains a region of stark contrasts. While some countries now boast excess broadband capacity, others - particularly geographically isolated nations like Small Island States - are still struggling to get their populations connected. New technologies will help. The next Connect Asia Summit that ITU is organizing with other partners will be a key milestone in setting the strategies at regional level. Discussions during Asia 2008 with business and political leaders will be timely for achieving the expected results.
This ITU TELECOM ASIA 2008 Forum session addresses the theme: Meeting the Needs of Society. Today's modern world of communications is witness to innovative systems that present a host of both opportunities and challenges for public policy frameworks. The current telecommunications regulatory model applies to legacy publicly switched telecommunications networks (PSTN). However, the rapid investment in next-generation networks (NGN) is creating new regulatory issues and challenges, calling for a paradigm shift in ICT regulation.
NGN is a packet-based Internet Protocol (IP) network designed to deliver a full range of services - from broadband Internet to fixed, wireless and mobile voice and data, and even broadcast television -- over a single network with guaranteed quality of service. The imminent replacement of circuit-switched phone systems with the new packet-switched architecture illustrates how regulatory approaches must match innovation. A significant challenge with NGN is matching the right policy and regulatory settings to facilitate migration to NGN and stimulate investment in the new networks. This session will consider the costs and benefits of investing in the still uncharted NGN terrain. [More...]
Climate change is a global challenge that demands urgent attention. Information and communication technologies (ICT) are vital instruments in monitoring the spread of global warming as well as part of the solution in promoting carbon displacement technologies. At the same time, in an increasingly switched on society, ICTs are also becoming a part of the cause of global warming. Although ICTs contribute only an estimated 2.5 per cent of total greenhouse gases, this is set to increase as ICT usage expands globally.
New technologies that increase efficiencies provide opportunities for monitoring and protecting the environment, mitigating the effects of global warming and adapting to climate change. In its commitment to connecting the world, ITU advances a green ICT agenda and leads environment-friendly initiatives to monitor climate change and reduce the carbon footprint of ICT while enabling other sectors to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. [More...]
Extract from Dr Touré's address: ... ITU and UPU have long worked towards the ideal of universal access. Now, at a time when the digitalization of our industries is rapidly changing the communication landscape, we are still working towards this ideal.
The goal of universal access was the reason for ITUs Connect Africa initiative, launched at a high-level Summit in Kigali last October. While great gains have been made in the African continent in recent years, there remains much to do if we want to eliminate the digital divide. Bringing connectivity to every region in Africa requires mobilizing all possible human, technical and financial resources both public and private. At the same time, Connect Africa has demonstrated that such mobilization of resources can create exciting business and investment opportunities.
UPU, of course, has had its own role to play in this process. As has been so often the case in the history of our two organizations, we again find ourselves not only standing side-by-side, but working actively together. Let me give you 3 examples... [Full speech]
During the audience granted to Dr Touré on 25 July by His Excellency Amadou Toumani Touré, President of the Republic of Mali, discussions focused on the successes achieved in the ICT sector with a view to facilitating access to communication for people from all layers of society nationwide and thereby attaining the Millennium Goals. Reference was also made to ITU's support, which will result in the implementation of priority projects relating to smooth privatization of SOTELMA, optical fibre networks, multipurpose community centres in post offices and training centres.
Emergency workers searching for next-of-kin contact information for an injured person now have a globally recognized way of doing so, thanks to a new standard from ITU.
By simply prefixing the Arabic numericals 01, 02, 03, and so on to a nominated contact, such as "01father", "02wife" or "03husband" written in any script in the mobile telephone directory, will help emergency workers in any part of the world identify contacts in order of priority and notify them.
ITU will work with non-profit organization ICE4SAFETY to promote this new way of identifying an emergency contact in a mobile handset's directory.
"In Case of Emergency" or ICE has emerged in some English-speaking countries encouraging people to list emergency contact numbers in their mobile phones directory in the form of "ICE father", for example, or "ICE doctor". However, this precludes people who do not use or recognize the Roman script from readily identifying what the term "ICE" represents. ITU members expressed the need to identify emergency contacts independent of language or script. [More...]
An audience with His Excellency Abdoulaye Wade, President of the Republic of Senegal, was granted on 21 July to the ITU Secretary-General, who had previously paid personal visits to ongoing projects such as extension of the Governmental Intranet, the Pompenguine Cybercase pilot project, and the computer-recycling programme involving disabled persons. Operational missions relating to feasibility studies in close collaboration with the African Union were entrusted to ITU.
TELECOM Forum: Security, Privacy and Trust - Who Protects Whom? And From What?
In an increasingly networked world, achieving cybersecurity and cyberpeace is critically important. Recognizing the magnitude of the issue, the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) called for building confidence and security in the use of ICTs. And ITU, in keeping with its lead role, launched the Global Cybersecurity Agenda (GCA) to fast-track a global response to enhance cybersecurity.
Considering the major role that ICTs play as an engine of growth in the world economy, the ITU TELECOM Forum in Bangkok, Thailand will address the key issues of security, privacy and trust.
Huge investments have been made worldwide to put government services online, and cross-border collaboration is critical for the effective implementation of those services. Users are often rightly suspicious about technology that aggregates massive amounts of personal data which, in the hands of identity thieves and cyber criminals, could lead to disastrous consequences.
How can the rights and privacy of citizens be safeguarded while still facilitating the convenience of electronic identity systems? What principles have been learned and where should attention be focused? This Forum session at ITU TELECOM ASIA will dig deep to find the answers! [More...]
The Connect the Caribbean event was hosted by the National Telecommunications Provider, Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) and was attended by well over 680 delegates, ten Ministers of Government from around the region and other invited guests from The Bahamas. The theme of this years event was CANTO"- Caribbean Unity through Connectivity and was centered on the Connect the Caribbean (CTC) Initiative of CANTO. The Connect the Caribbean Initiative is the Caribbeans response to the Connect the World Initiative, consistent with the framework of Connect the World project of the ITU. The project will function as a partnership to mobilize the human, financial and technical resources required to bridge major gaps in ICT infrastructure development, enabling a harmonized policy framework and developing relevant and affordable services and applications.
Responding to an industry call, ITU has set up a new group to work on standards related to the impact of information and communication technologies (ICT) on climate change. The new group will focus in particular on the reduction of ICT emissions and how ICTs can assist in cutting emissions in other industry sectors such as energy, transportation and buildings.
Since the adoption of the Kyoto Protocol, in December 1997, the number of ICT users has tripled worldwide. It is estimated that the ICT sector produces between two to three per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions. But ICTs are also seen as a part of the solution to the climate change challenge.
ICTs could help cut global emissions by between 15 to 40 per cent, depending on the methodology used to make these estimates. Two recent ITU symposia on ICTs and climate change in Kyoto in April and in London in June this year drew attention to the wide variation in these estimates. A key objective of the Focus Group will be to develop internationally agreed methodologies to describe and estimate the impact of ICTs on climate change, both directly and through their application in other industry sectors... [More... ]
The International Telecommunication Union and Andorra's telecommunications operator, Servei de Telecomunicacions d'Andorra (STA), have signed a non-exclusive partnership cooperation agreement to help boost access to telecommunication and information and communication technology (ICT) services in least developed countries and Small Island Developing States. In particular, the two parties will work together to develop and implement projects that aim to improve rural or outer island communication infrastructure; provide basic telecommunications, as well as high-speed Internet services; strengthen local capacity in information technology skills; and enhance ICT capacity, especially for emergency and disaster preparedness and management. [More...]
Reducing energy consumption is on the agenda at the G8 summit in Japan. Gareth from BBC Radio speaks to Malcolm Johnson, from the International Telecommunication Union, about the global issues facing technology providers and users... [Interview]
ITU TELECOM ASIA 2008, the regional ICT showcase, is set for Bangkok, Thailand from 2 to 5 September. The first such event to be hosted by Thailand, Asia 2008 will promote information and communication technologies (ICT) both globally and within the Asia-Pacific region.
"New Generation, New Values" the theme for ITU TELECOM ASIA 2008 sets the stage for both the Exhibition and the Forum. The Exhibition showcases a comprehensive range of ICT-related products and services, reflecting the ever extending reach of industry. Parallel to individual stands, a number of initiatives are underway to showcase national competitive advantages. Pavilions registered thus far include: China, France, Japan, Korea, Russia, Thailand and USA. ITU TELECOM ASIA 2008 will be held at the modern IMPACT Challenger Centre in Bangkok. As ASIA 2008 coincides with the dates for Bangkok International ICT Expo that has been organized for the last four years by Thailands Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (MICT), the entire central hall of the IMPACT Challenger venue is dedicated to showcasing the ICT industry in Thailand.
"Thailand is very supportive of this years event and has organized an impressive Pavilion that firmly establishes Thailand as an ICT hub," said ITU Secretary-General Dr Hamadoun Touré. "The location is ideal because of its strategic and geographic situation in the Asia-Pacific region, noting the fast-growing markets in China and India and the huge potential of the rest of the region. At the same time, more developed markets in neighbouring countries continue to embrace cutting edge information and communication technologies." [More...]
15% of Europeans suffer from some form of disability, and many face barriers such as reading a website's small text or even knowing how to access websites and online services. Despite repeated calls by the EU and government leaders to improve this situation, progress remains limited: by far the majority of websites fail to use universally accepted user-friendly solutions. Today the European Commission launched a public consultation on further measures to make websites in Europe accessible, starting with those of public administrations, and invites stakeholders to give their views. It also addresses other technologies like digital television. The consultation is open until 27 August 2008. [More...]
African regulators and policy makers met in Dakar, Senegal to address the challenges of connecting Africa to information and communication technologies (ICT). Achieving connectivity is seen as a catalyst for achieving the broader targets of the Millennium Development Goals.
The ninth Forum on Telecommunication/ICT Regulation and Partnership in Africa was held 4-6 June 2008 in the context of the Connect Africa Summit, which met in Kigali, Rwanda last October.
Opening the Forum, Mr Habib Sy, Minister for Infrastructures, Land Transport, Telecommunications and ICT of Senegal emphasized the importance of establishing a regulatory framework to build a modern and successful Africa perfectly integrated in the information society.
ITU was represented by Mr Yury Grin, Deputy Director of the Telecommunication Development Bureau. He highlighted ITUs role as a facilitator in supporting African countries to establish effective regulatory frameworks. He said the creation of an enabling environment would foster investment and stimulate growth in the ICT sector.
Over 140 delegates from 43 countries attended the Forum. [More...]
Speech from Dr Hamadoun I. Touré:
I am pleased to be with you this morning at this especially important TSAG meeting, the last before WTSA in Johannesburg.
As you know ITU's mission is to connect the world. I am proud of the strong resolve that TSAG has shown in supporting this number one goal of ITU.
In my address to TSAG in December last year I laid out the five key priorities that were identified by the new management team.
As a direct result of that last TSAG meeting ICTs and climate change has become an item to add to this list and is now very strongly fixed on our agenda. I am very appreciative of the drive that has come from TSAG and ITU-T on this topic and note with pleasure the excellent outcome of the recent symposiums in Kyoto and London... [Full speech...]
Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates met with ITU Secretary-General Hamadoun Touré along with a high-level ITU delegation including the Director of the ITU Standardization Bureau, Mr Malcolm Johnson, Director of the Development Bureau, Mr Sami Al Basheer, and Ms Doreen Bogdan-Martin, Chief of Strategic Planning and Membership.
The meeting in Redmond, WA, USA aimed at extending the collaboration between ITU and Microsoft. Discussions ranged from improving education through information and communication technologies (ICT), developing digital resources, providing access to low-cost ICT devices and building human capacity to expanding e-health services and other e-applications.
At the meeting, Mr Bill Gates emphasized that ICT is a key component for achieving the Millennium Development Goals.
After the OECD Ministerial Meeting and on his way to Seattle, Dr. Touré visited Japan for the first time since the begining of his mandate as Secretary-General and met with high-level officials in Tokyo to discuss subjects such as Cybersecurity, Climate Change, and the Digital Divide, with the view to intensify efforts in these important areas. The Secretary-General also thanked the Governement of Japan for its generous support towards an ITU pilot study project on Wireless Broadband Technology. Within the framework of his mission, Dr Touré was received by Mr. K. Aritomi Kaníchiro, President of the ITU Association of Japan and emphasized the catalytic role of ITU to link the new technologies and services of the Japanese industry with developping countries and develop this through partnerships.
The OECD Ministerial Meeting that took place in Seoul, Korea was attended by more than 70 countries. Dr Touré, ITU Secretary-General met with Presidents and CEOs of prominent ICT companies from Korea where the developments and innovations of the ICT industry have brought a significant benefit to the region. The industry leaders shared initiatives at multilateral and bilateral levels. Many themes were tackled and "the Global Internet Economy" was the topic of roundtable 5 at which Dr Touré addressed the mobile success story of today and defended the priority of tomorrow which is the broadband Internet as a basic and vital infrastructure to the economy and social development. The Secretary-General urged participants to bring the broadband networks within easy reach of all in order to avoid creating a devastating new Digital Divide. In face of today's new threats, the task of ensuring the right infrastructure and empowering people to use the new tools will build confidence in Internet becomes an essential goal to global technology.
Speech | OECD Ministerial Meeting | International Corporate Governance Network
Dr. Touré attended the GTM 2008 in Washington on 3 June 2008. Intelsat has been hosting GTM for the past 30 years where communications companies, satellite industry and organizations from all over the world gather in sharing their network and knowledge to address the benefit of ICT to people in the most remote places on the globe. This year GTM event opened its doors to corporate network operators, government services sectors and carriers. GTM 08 tackled the networking environment and focused on business and social issues affecting the world telecom industry. Connect the World having been the theme of this years GTM, Dr. Touré, a keynote speaker at this event, found this forum a perfect platform to share one of the principal missions of ITU to expand access and connectivity in a view to reaching its goal to connect the unconnected by 2015.
Geneva, Switzerland Ms Khédija Hamouda Ghariani, Secretary-General of the Arab Information and Communication Technology Organization (AICTO) visited the Geneva headquarters of ITU and met with Secretary-General Dr Hamadoun Touré and Deputy Secretary-General Mr Houlin Zhao on 26 May 2008. Established in January 2008 to meet the goals of the Information Society in the Arab States through the development of ICT, AICTO has applied to become a Sector Member of ITU. Photos | AICTO website
Geneva, Switzerland
Opening remarks by Dr Touré
HLEG website
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Speech at the Steering Committee meeting Speech at the Strategy Council meeting UNDESA-GAID website
Cairo, Egypt
Press release
ITU TELECOM Africa website
Minsk, Belarus
Speech at the XVTH Congress on Telecommunications, Information and Banking Technologies in Minsk, Belarus
ITU TELECOM website
Cameroon, Burkina Faso and Nigeria
Photos Camerron | Photos Burkina Faso | Photos Nigeria
Connect Africa initiative
Pattaya, Thailand
Speech of the Secretary-General at the Global Industry Leaders Forum
Opening remarks at the 8th Global Symposium for Regulators
Press releases: 11 March | 13 march
Welcome address by the Secretary-General
Press release: ICT standards needed to green automotive industry
The Fully Networked Car Workshop
Washington D.C., USA
Information note to the press: ITU to strengthen collaboration with space industry
Speech from ITU Secretary-General
Washington Space Business Roundtable official site
Satellite 2008 Conference and Exhibition official site
Barcelona, Spain
Dr Touré's supporting quote: "As the specialized United Nations agency for information and communication technologies (ICT), the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) welcomes the new Mobile Alliance Against Child Sexual Abuse to protect children from the misuse of mobile broadband networks by child predators around the world. The World Summit on the Information Society called for national and international measures against the use of ICT in all forms of child abuse and encouraged the setting up of child helplines. Those measures have been endorsed by the ITU and they are being adopted by our distinctive membership of 191 Member States and some 700 private companies. The Mobile Alliance is a prime example of the proactive action industry can take and, together with government and law enforcement support, we can make significant progress in the global fight against child sexual abuse content online."
Speech from ITU Secretary-General at the opening of the Session 'Economic & Social Value of Mobile'
Press release from GSMA
Davos, Switzerland
World Economic Forum official site
Kigali, Rwanda
Speech (video) by H.E. Pierre Nkurunziza, President of Burundi, at the Connect Africa Summit: English | French *
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text:
3 Min Read
(Reuters) - The Baltimore Ravens fell behind the Denver Broncos four times on Saturday and each time they battled back to level the game with the final rally paving the way for a stunning playoffs win which epitomizes the team's fighting spirit.
"This is a team of destiny," said running back Ray Rice, who rushed for 131 yards and a touchdown in the thrilling 38-35 double overtime AFC divisional playoff victory.
"Just look at the way we played today - it wasn't pretty, it wasn't perfect, but it was us," he added.
Baltimore were 31 seconds away from elimination when quarterback Joe Flacco hurled a 70-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Jacoby Jones to silence the home fans and send the game into overtime.
Then, after Peyton Manning threw an interception, Justin Tucker's 47-yard field goal sent the Ravens into the AFC Championship game for the second successive year.
"This will probably go down as one of the greatest victories in Ravens history," said linebacker Ray Lewis, Baltimore's undisputed leader, who will retire whenever this season finally ends.
Last week's 24-9 win over the Indianapolis Colts was Lewis' final home game for the team he has played for since being drafted in 1996 but his farewell could yet be at the Super Bowl in New Orleans.
"It's his last ride, why not send him off the right way," said Rice, who feels that the Ravens, beaten by the New England Patriots in last year's AFC Championship game, have made a leap in quality.
"These are the games we used to lose and now we are finding ways to win them," he said.
The pressure was certainly on Flacco who, despite everything he has achieved, still faced questions over whether he had what it took to win in the post-season.
Three touchdowns, including that memorable pass late in the fourth, and 331 yards without an interception, were the perfect answer to the lingering doubters.
"He grew up today," Lewis said.
"I told him in the tunnel, 'lead us to victory'. To look in his eyes he had something different about him today. I've always been a Joe Flacco fan, but to watch what he did, this was one of his greatest days," he said.
The quarterback agreed.
"It was pretty incredible, we overcame some things today and we fought to the very end," Flacco said.
"When some of those things happened, none of us blinked, we just sat on the sideline and said 'alright, it's our turn'. Slowly but surely we were able to score points when we needed to and our defense was able to stop them," he said.
In next week's AFC championship game, Baltimore will face either the Houston Texans or the Patriots, who extinguished their Super Bowl hopes last year.
"We feel it is going to take a lot for somebody to kick us off the field in the AFC Championship," Flacco added.
"We know what it felt like last year without the win, we know what we have put in this year so far to get back to this point so it is going to be a great game."
Reporting by Simon Evans in Mimai; Editing by John O'Brien

subset: commoncrawl


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Jubilation for Lotus fans today, as a fantastic fourth round of the FIA 2013 Formula One® World Championship at the Sakhir Circuit, Bahrain, saw Kimi Räikkönen finish in P2 and team mate Romain Grosjean clinch P3 replicating last year's double podium result.
In what had viewers on the edge of their seats from beginning to end, the Lotus pair drove a fantastic race charging up the field to bag a top spot finish. A marked result followed a disappointing qualifying session which saw Kimi start in P8 and Romain P11. Tyre strategy again played a crucial part in the Lotus performance, with both drivers opting for a longer stint early on in an effort to preserve their tyres from wear and thermal degradation. For our favourite Finn, this meant a 2-stop race which preserved precious seconds and aided his springboard up the field. Romain also benefited from a tactical tyre strategy and together with some intelligent overtaking he too battled his way to the front and finally, to a well deserved place on the podium, his first of the season.
Kimi Räikkönen, P2, E21-03
"You're never really happy if you don't win, but I suppose second place is as close as you can get. I drove to the maximum and the car had the pace that we missed in qualifying yesterday so it was a pretty good result. We didn't have the speed to challenge Sebastian [Vettel] today but we did have the pace to get both cars on the podium so I'm happy for the team."
Romain Grosjean, P3, E21-02
"It's great to be back on the podium and it's a fantastic result for the team. It hasn't been an easy start to the season for me, but we made good progress through the weekend and are now back to where we should be. I felt much more comfortable in the car and the result today is a deserved reward for everyone after all our hard work. It was a really enjoyable race with a lot of overtaking and a couple of tense moments along the way, so to come from P11 through to the podium is really satisfying. We've had consistency already, finishing every race in the points, but now it's the big results we're chasing and this is a very good start to that challenge."
Eric Boullier, Team Principal
"Here we are again, just like in 2012! This time around though it was much more difficult – especially after a qualifying performance which fell below our expectations – but we've shown flashes of pace throughout the weekend and confirmed that speed when it mattered today. The win was not quite within our reach after the start we made, but to come away with a double podium when the top six would maybe have been a more realistic pre-race target was a great performance from everybody involved. I'm delighted for the whole team here in Bahrain and back at Enstone; it's a well-deserved result."
It's all smiles then as we head to Europe and to the Spanish Grand Prix, where the competition begins to heat up. Lotus is currently second in the Constructor's Championship behind Red Bull, whilst in the drivers standings Kimi sits a mere 10 points behind current World Champion Sebastian Vettel. It's certainly all to play for and if our present form is anything to go by, it's sure to be yet another race thriller.
Can't wait that long? Then don't forget you can see the Lotus F1® Team at the Lotus Originals store in Regent Street, London, next Wednesday 24th April for autograph signings from 4.30pm. See our facebook page soon for further details.


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Results 1 to 5 of 5
Thread: question on homebirth
19th August 2012 09:43 PM #1
- Join Date
- Aug 2012
- Posts
- 20
question on homebirth
My mother in law would always tell me that I should just give birth at home. However, I am really and totally scared. Our house is not sanitized and I am not sure if its safe for me and the baby. So, please help me out. Can you please give me pros and cons of having a home birth? Also, how to get rid of my refusal to it.
19th August 2012 11:07 PM #2
- Join Date
- Dec 2011
- Posts
- 532
I am a firm believer in the fact that women should birth where they are most comfortable. It does not sound like homebirth is the most comfortable choice for you and that is quite alright.
However, I can address the issue of sanitation. Your home does not have to be sanitized for a safe home birth. It should be clean of course, but no more than your standard cleaning. The bacteria and germs in your home belong to you and your baby. They are safe. You pass antibodies on to your little one through the placenta and breastmilk to protect him/her from these familiar types of bacteria.
In this respect, home birth is sometimes seen as SAFER than hospital birth. The reason being that hospitals are filled with all kinds of bacteria and germs that are not familiar to you and your baby. These are germs that you may never have been exposed to before and have no built up immunity to pass on.
I encourage you to study up on homebirth by reading articles in the homebirth section of this website.
You may also want to study up on birth centres, as I feel they provide an excellent compromise between home and hospital.
27th August 2012 07:37 AM #3
- Join Date
- Aug 2012
- Posts
- 20
Thank you. This is really a big help for me. I am 2 and a half months away from giving birth. I really hope I can decide by then. Well, just in case I will be advised to have a normal birth.
27th August 2012 09:41 AM #4
- Join Date
- Jan 2012
- Posts
- 1,936
If you want to have the best chance of having a natural birth a homebirth or birth attended by a midwife can often offer this.
Here are some homebirth stories for you to read which might help you to better understand what a homebirth experience offers that a hospital birth does not.
What are you thinking at this point? You can always transfer your care to a midwife in the last month of pregnancy.
Warm regards,
Last edited by 5Homebirths4Kate; 23rd September 2012 at 08:23 AM.
22nd September 2012 07:59 PM #5
Hi concernedmomiya,
I think you must only have around 6-7 weeks until your due date now. How are you feeling? I hope you are able to find plenty of time to relax and get enough sleep as this is important in the third trimester.
Did you make a decision with where you would like to give birth? I hope you are feeling well-supported in whatever birth preferences you have decided.
Please do let us know if you have any further questions.
Best wishes,


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Co-host of Obama Hollywood fundraiser under SEC investigation
Getty Images
BY: Washington Free Beacon Staff - May 10, 2012 3:28 pm
President Obama's record $15 million fundraiser tonight at the home of actor George Clooney is being co-hosted by DreamWorks CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg. In addition to being the largest single donor to the pro-Obama Super PAC Priorities USA at $2 million, Katzenberg's company is currently under investigation by the SEC for allegedly bribing Chinese officials.
The SEC investigation comes just weeks after Katzenberg announced this February that DreamWorks had struck a $2 billion deal to open a studio in Shanghai under the Oriental Dreamworks brand. The China deal was inked in a ceremony that featured Katzenberg alongside Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping, who stopped off in Los Angeles in February on his way back to China after a series of high-level meetings at the White House, including meetings with Obama.
Katzenberg joined Vice President Joe Biden, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and the Chinese vice president for a meeting that led to the DreamWorks deal. In an interview with the Financial Times, Katzenberg said the deal required Xi's personal approval in order to move forward.


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Results 1 to 3 of 3
Hybrid View
13th June 2012 04:44 AM #1
Did you have an inspiring breastfeeding friend/support person?
As I have been preparing for caring for a newborn baby again, I have been thinking more about when my son was first born. I think back to the difficulties I first had with breastfeeding and how far this is from feeding my now 18 month old these days without a second thought. In those early days, when I felt lonely and overwhelmed, I had a friend who encouraged and inspired me to carry on breastfeeding.
Her name is Liz and she has a daughter two years older than my son who she breastfed. She was the person I could text, email or even call in the middle of the night to ask for help. Liz shared some helpful on-line breastfeeding resources with me and she steered me away from some negative advice I had been given.
I wanted to share this on this post to remind all those breastfeeding mums that we are often encouraging and helping others just by sharing our breastfeeding experiences and knowledge. Also, I wanted to say thank you to Liz! I would love to hear your stories of friends, support workers or professionals who encouraged and supported you in the early days of breastfeeding. What a difference these people can make!
Best wishes,
13th June 2012 05:57 AM #2
- Join Date
- Dec 2011
- Posts
- 532
For me it was my midwife. We were so close during my last pregnancy. Even though I ended up needing a hospital transfer, she was there for me every step of the way.
Even now, with a 17 month old, I can call her anytime and ask questions about breastfeeding and if she does not know the answer she will direct me to someone who does. She is great. This is the longest I have ever breastfed and I do not think I would have made it this far without her positive encouragement.
15th June 2012 08:11 PM #3
That's wonderful mom2many. I think we all need someone like your midwife to help us on the breastfeeding journey! Happy feeding!


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Located in the heart of the Rocky Mountains halfway between Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks, Missoula is the perfect stopover on the way to and from these spectacular sights. Known as the "Garden City" for its forested, lush surroundings and plentiful rivers, Missoula stays active year round with events, theatrical productions, outdoor activities, with an abundance of city parks and open spaces. Considered by many to be the most liberal town of Montana; this picturesque town is the proud home to the University of Montana Grizzlies.
The city's beautifully preserved downtown, with its college town atmosphere, offers a delightful array of specialty stores, restaurants, spas, museums, and galleries. Add a full calendar of festivals, shows and special events, and it is no surprise that so many people find Missoula an irresistible destination of itself.
Our historic Missoula Inn is conveniently located less than 2 miles from the University, historic downtown, and fine dining. Nature trails, golfing, down hill and cross-country skiing are just a few of the many Missoula activities out our front door.


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saveme has very nice piece
very nice guys, i made mine one day too late xD
wgone wins no contest .... dinerman that is straight fire man props! Make sure you don't miss out on the next one you would of given wgone a challenge for the w.
Only Fuck Fat Bitches Crew !!
Bas GMV. Killin it!
bas !!! gmv DOPE very clean !
yeah hesitated for a moment between cool dawg and Wgone, had to go with Wgone tho.
CoolDawg, is there anywhere where I can see more of your work? really dig your style man
thanks for the votes , I gotta go cooldawg , and I would say dinerman woulda won it with that entry imo , I could not see eskews entry
Thanks guys. I had to go with Wgone here. Nice, clean, and hypnotizing green. I like it.
Eskew, your photo doesn't allow linking. You might want to change your settings.
I tried to link the settings. I'm not sure how to. Any help?
Well thanks guys
Only Fuck Fat Bitches Crew !!
cheers guys, went with wgone but shiiiiiiiiit lilspin that shits dope, same goes for dinerman
and erek nah i dont have real shit up on the net, wouldnt mind doin a few exchanges but. how about you, anywhere i can see the real deal?
Graffiti is gay, everyone who does it is a massive homo. All graffiti posted by me on this site is in mockery of the lame movement and I laugh in the face of those who think I'm doing it for realsies. I hate you all
lil spin urs is dirty bro nice!!!
sometimes i feel as if writers here totally ignore letter structure and style, they just vote for whoever has the most colors or little toy designs in there work.
^^ true story
that retarted walrus made me shit my pants with laughter bas gmv


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The Doors' John Densmore is open to a reunion
Listen to The Doors on iHeartRadio
The Doors' John Densmore says he wouldn't rule out reteaming with his old bandmates. The drummer tells "Rolling Stone" the issues that kept them estranged for much of the past decade are now behind them, and he's rekindled a relationship with both Robby Krieger and Ray Manzarek.
He adds that he'd even be willing to "get together for a one-off if there's a good reason." But John isn't interested in simply cashing in, saying it would "have to be for charity, not money."
Densmore explains that their disputes in recent years, which were eventually resolved in court, were simply his efforts to maintain The Doors' integrity and authenticity. He says he has no problem with Ray and Robby - or anyone else - performing Doors music as long as they aren't claiming to be The Doors and they aren't using the songs for advertising purposes.
Photo Credit Getty Images


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Washington : Government Printing Office
|Chap. 20
|Nellie O. A. Moran.
|Sec. 3
|25 U. S. C. 386a.
Page 773
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Secretary of the Interior is authorized and directed to issue to Nellie Ohlerking Archambeau Moran a patent in fee to the following described lands allotted to her on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation, Montana: Northeast quarter northwest quarter section 20, township 26 north, range 26 east; west half southeast quarter northeast quarter, southwest quarter northeast quarter, south half north half northeast quarter, south half north half north half northeast quarter, east half southeast quarter northeast quarter section 14, township 26 north, range 25 east, principal meridian, Montana, containing 180 acres.
Said patent in fee when issued shall contain a reservation to the Fort Belknap Indian Community, in accordance with minerals, including coal, oil, and gas.
Pursuant to the provisions of the Act of March 3, 1921 (41 Stat. 1355, 1357), and the Act of March 7, 1928 (45 Stat. 200-210), as supplemented by the Act of July 1, 1932 (47 Stat. 564, 565), said patent in fee when issued shall contain a provision that any of the above-described
Page 774
lands which may be situated within a Federal irrigation project are subject to a lien, prior and superior to all other liens for the amount of costs and charges due to the United States for and on account of construction, operation, and maintenance of the irrigation system or acquisition of water rights by which said lands have been or are to be reclaimed.
Approved, January 28, 1956.


text: Ok i live in Longbranch and i fish off the jettys and off the beach. But i want to go out on a fishboat and fish out there for something other than black fish and fluke. I always see boats come out of Highlands and Belmars..Dose anybody know any good boats ?? ALso I only want a day trip mainly 9am to mabey 4.. ANd some of the people i'm going with dont want to go out super far thanks


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Designed for ease of use over the completion of complex tasks, the Nokia 5130 does one thing perfectly: downloading and playing music, thus the XpressMusic moniker. With dedicated music keys and the availability of affordable music this is one device that doubles as a phone and a music player.
One great feature of the phone is the included 3.5mm headset jack which doesn't come standard with all phones and is the best way to listen to music. Other devices might have a 2.5mm headset jack which can be a hassle to use because an adapter is necessary to use 99.9% of the headphones on the market. Photosharing is also supported through Share on Ovi and Mail on Ovi email service.
Up to 20 hours of playback are available through the long battery life that is kicks your music into high gear. The high-quality loudspeakers are perfect for listening to music with your friends and you can even turn music up to high volumes without a loss in quality
The option to take pictures with the phone's 2 Megapixel Camera and then exchange them over Bluetooth, email, or MMS is very convenient and great way to share photos. The included MicroSD slot allows users to store different cards.
This and other unlocked phones are available from Cellhut at www.cellhut.com


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Welcome Address by Ambassador Berger at Side Event "Family Planning – Key to Saving Lives" (44th Session, CPD)
(As delivered)
Mr. Chair,
Ms. Purnima Mane, Deputy Executive Director of UNFPA,
Distinguished delegates,
Ladies and gentlemen,
· Thank you very much for the kind introduction. I am honored to be here with you today and to welcome you all to this side event during the 44th session of the U.N. Commission on Population and Development.
· This year, the Commission has turned our attention to how fertility and reproductive health are intertwined with global development. This theme is of central importance for German development policy.
· The promotion of sexual and reproductive health and rights is one of the key pillars of German development cooperation in the health sector. At last years G8-summit, the German Government pledged additional Mio. 400 € over 5 years for the Muskoka-Initiative to promote mother's and children's health. We have decided to focus our contribution on sexual and reproductive health and family planning where we intend to double our bilateral ODA compared to 2008. We also actively support the Global Strategy for Women's and Children's Health under the auspices of the UN-SG.
· Along with the promotion of population and family planning policies that ensure individuals' fundamental human right to choose the number and timing of their children, we support measures that increase access to high quality, affordable family planning services.
· There are both direct and indirect benefits of addressing the unmet need for family planning services of an estimated 215 million women worldwide, many of which contribute positively to reaching countries' development goals.
· One example of how to increase access to family planning services will be presented to you today by Dr. Guy Zoungrana, Senior Technical Advisor of GIZ in Burkina Faso. Dr. Zoungrana will talk about the community-based distribution of contraceptives that has been successfully utilized in Burkina Faso to increase access to family planning services for both men and women.
· This is an auspicious time for promoting reproductive health and rightsissues; for one, the current international political environment is favorable to advancing the family planning and reproductive health policy agenda, a fact that should allow us to more easily visualize making greater strides in these areas.
· Further, we know that meeting the need for family planning, in particular, is one of the most effective ways to improve the health of women and their families. The strong body of evidence behind this serves not only to strengthen arguments around committing more resources to sexual and reproductive health services, but should also bolster the international community's resolve to promote family planning as a fundamental human right and to continue striving for universal access to reproductive health services.
· Ladies and gentlemen, while these are, indeed, welcome developments, numerous challenges must still be overcome, particularly in terms of raising public awareness around human rights, in general and, in particular, the fundamental human right to (and importance of!) universal access to reproductive health and family planning services.
· The reality of budget constraints makes it imperative that stakeholders at all levels of global society work together to maximize positive outcomes around family planning. To this end, there is a great need to further integrate and coordinate the efforts of international donors, partner governments and civil society organizations around family planning.
· I applaud the Secretary General's concerted efforts to raise the status of the Millennium Development Goals around these issues and for working to generate more political will to give them the priority they deserve.
· And, finally, I thank you all for participating in this forum to find ways of tackling these issues together. I truly appreciate your dedicated work on this key global health topic, and look forward to what will surely be a lively discussion.


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Canon jumps on mirrorless bandwagon with EOS MTuesday July 24 2012
Canon's 18-megapixel EOS M is sure to turn heads, as it combines some of Canon's famous DSLR and video technology and stuffs it into a point-and-shoot like camera body. Here's the scoop on Canon's first mirrorless model and some of its accessories.
Preview of the Canon EOS M
Further readings for the Canon jumps on mirrorless bandwagon with EOS M
To provide photographers with a broader perspective about mobiles, lenses and cameras, here are links to articles, reviews, and analyses of photographic equipment produced by DxOMark, renown websites, magazines or blogs.
Added by ag08025 | January 08 , 2013
No news
The DxO usual review...
Added by Calistoga Tony | January 06 , 2013
BSI sensors?
That can't be right. I've never heard of Sony using BSI image sensors. They only appear in some compacts and mobile phone cameras like the iPhone. BSI APS-C? that has to be an error. As for Canon, it looks like more of the same, stuck in the same place for the past 5-6 years, their APS-C sensors need a major overhaul. It's sad that a used Sony NEX C3 has an image sensor that beats the one in a Canon 7D.
Reply | Read all replies for this comment
First replies for this comment
Added by Nicolas | January 08 , 2013
Re: BSI sensors?
Thanks for having noticed it and letting us know.
Sony actually uses BSI sensor but only on its last Cybershot line cameras.
Kind regards,


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Welcome to the Web site for the Coe College Chemistry Department. Coe's mission is to "provide students an education of superior quality that aims at preparing them for life following graduation." The Chemistry Department seeks to support that mission by providing students with top-quality instruction and research opportunities.
A degree in chemistry from Coe will allow students to pursue a wide variety of opportunities, ranging from careers in local industry to graduate work at top research universities around the world. A chemistry degree indicates that you have learned to think in a logical fashion - to collect data, analyze it, and draw conclusions based upon your analysis. These are skills that can be applied in law school, in policy issues, on Wall Street - anywhere!
- Many chemistry grads go on to graduate school in chemistry or a related area. In recent years, students have gone into chemical engineering, biochemistry, molecular biology, material science, and environmental engineering graduate programs - in addition to further study in chemistry. These students will then likely either continue in academics - as a professor or researcher - or go into research in industry.
- Many other Coe chemistry majors choose to follow interests in the health sciences - medicine, dentistry, and veterinary science are some of the professional schools that our students have chosen.
- Still others decide to combine their chemistry with certification in secondary education and teach high school science. There is a considerable demand for individuals with solid science training in secondary education.
- Others will pursue a career immediately in industry or government. This may mean working in a quality assurance laboratory, but it could also involve sales or managerial responsibilities.
Nick Keyes '10 sets up equipment while doing research with Professor Marty St. Clair.
For more information, please explore the site or contact anyone in our department.
Why Chemistry at Coe?
What's different about chemistry at Coe? There are many good liberal arts colleges that offer small classes and solid instruction in chemistry. Why should you take a closer look at Coe if you're interested in chemistry?
- The quality and quantity of undergraduate research.
All of Coe's chemistry faculty carry out research with undergraduate students. The work is supported by competitive grants from the National Science Foundation, Research Corporation, the Petroleum Research Fund of the American Chemical Society, and internal grants, as well as by contracts with the city of Cedar Rapids, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, and the Environmental Protection Agency. Twelve students did research in chemistry during the summer of 2010; these students received stipends and free housing while they worked with Coe faculty on projects ranging from synthesizing new compounds to understanding the production of marine bio-cement. Approximately 50 students did research in the science building over the summer, which emphasizes Coe's commitment to undergraduate research. Coe is one of the smallest institutions in the nation to receive a National Science Foundation-Research Experience for Undergraduates grant. NSF-REU grants "involve students in meaningful ways in ongoing research programs or in research projects designed especially for the purpose." These grants typically are awarded to large research universities. Coe's program, which is in cooperation with our Physics Department, brings in students from across the nation to do research at Coe. What does this mean for you as a prospective student? When you graduate from Coe with a degree in chemistry, the graduate or professional schools you apply to will take note of your experiences in research. Your employer will notice that you have used a remarkable variety of instruments. These types of experiences make a difference!
- ACS-certified department!
The American Chemical Society sets standards for undergraduate degrees in chemistry, and only departments that meet their standards can offer "ACS-certified" degrees. Coe meets and exceeds these standards. You can find out about those standards, and find out what schools meet them, at the American Chemical Society's Committee on Professional Training web site.
- Hands-on experience with the latest and best instrumentation.
("This is not your parents' chemistry course.") The faculty is constantly looking for ways to provide students with opportunities to work with state-of-the-art instrumentation. In the past ten years, we have acquired approximately $1,000,000 worth of instrumentation. We have no graduate teaching assistants that run samples for you - you'll use the instruments yourself. You'll have opportunities to get acquainted with mass spectrometry, Raman spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, and much more!
- Fourteen students took part in summer research in chemistry during the summer of 2009. (A total of 88 students have participated in chemistry summer research over the past five years!) Besides, of course, many hours of work in the lab, faculty and students also took time for seminars (with snacks), an evening baseball game featuring the Cedar Rapids Kernels (a minor league team), and visits to local industries. Funding for the students came from the National Science Foundation, the American Chemical Society's Petroleum Research Fund, the city of Cedar Rapids Water Department, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, the Environmental Protection Agency, the David Mehaffy Research Fund, the Victor Boile Fund, and Coe College.
- Three Coe students, Caitlin Johnson, Tanja Duehrkop, & Rebecca Pine attended the National ACS meeting in Salt Lake City and received a student affiliate Honorable Mention.
- New equipment additions from a technology grant have been used over the past year in our classes and during summer research: an inductively coupled plasma spectrometer (ICP-OES), a gas chromatograph - mass spectrometer with auto-sampler, a flow injection analyzer, and a low pressure chromatography station.
- Coe's ACS student affiliate section worked in conjunction with the UNI chem club to host the undergraduate section activities at the regional Midwest ACS meeting in Iowa City, October, 2009.
Coe Chemistry in Salt Lake City - Caitlin Johnson, Tanja Duehrkop, and Rebecca Pine represented Coe College's ACS student affiliates receiving an Honorable Mention Award at the Spring 2009 National American Chemical Society meeting.


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Get an overview of this hotelFamily-friendly boutique resort near Calangute Beach
Popular property highlights
Close to beaches
Resort Terra Paraiso is a 3-minute walk from Calangute Beach, and a 5-minute drive from the market in Calangute. Anjuna Beach is 8.5 km (5.3 mi). Dabolim Airport is 40 km (25 mi) away.
Swim-up bar
Resort Terra Paraiso features an outdoor pool with a sunken swim-up bar and surrounding sun beds. Guests can enjoy the multi-cuisine, poolside restaurant or relax with onsite spa services.
Balconies with views
All of the resort's 64 air-conditioned rooms open to private balconies overlooking the courtyard. Bathrooms have rainfall showerheads, and rooms are equipped with flat-panel televisions.
Guest Highlights
- Good location
- Beach
- Pool
- Helpful staff
- Breakfast could've been better
Resort Terra Paraiso
Renovations & Closures
- Select guestrooms
Hotel Amenities
Hotel Amenities
This charming 3.5-star boutique resort is decorated with antique furniture and local handicrafts. The Goan-Portuguese villa-styled buildings surround an outdoor pool with a swim-up bar. Guests can also relax with a massage or visit the onsite hair salon.
Blue Bistro, the onsite restaurant, boasts pool views and offers a variety of cuisines, including local Goan specialties, as well as Chinese, Italian, and Continental fare. Guests can also arrange to dine poolside with a candlelit dinner, or enjoy the evening entertainment (as per schedule). Breakfast is served daily in the restaurant, and 24-hour room service is available.
Public areas are equipped with free WiFi access. An airport shuttle and train station pick-up service are available 24-hours (surcharges apply), and free self-parking is provided.
- Airport transportation (surcharge)
- Total number of rooms - 64
- Number of floors - 2
- Bar/lounge
- Breakfast available (surcharge)
- Coffee shop or café
- Dry cleaning/laundry service
- Front desk (limited hours)
- Hair salon
- Health club
- Free WiFi
- Pool umbrellas
- Tours/ticket assistance
- Laundry facilities
- Garden
- Restaurant
- Year Built 2008
- Free self parking
- Train station pickup (surcharge)
- Pool sun loungers
- Spa services on site
- Children's pool
- Outdoor pool
- Swim-up bar
- Television in common areas
Family Friendly Amenities
- Family Hotel
- Outdoor pool
- Children's pool
- Free Wi-Fi
- Laundry facilities
Available in all rooms: Wireless internet access ( INR 300 per night )
Available in some public areas: Free WiFi
Free self parking
Room Amenities
- Furnished balcony
- Air conditioning
- In-room climate control (air conditioning)
- Ceiling fan
- Phone
- Minibar
- Coffee/tea maker
- Daily housekeeping
- Private bathroom
- Free toiletries
- Shower only
- Hair dryer (on request)
- Rainfall showerhead
- Desk
- Satellite TV service
- Flat-panel TV
- WiFi (surcharge)
- In-room safe (laptop compatible)
- Room service (24 hours)
- Connecting/adjoining rooms available
- Rollaway/extra beds (surcharge)
Where to Eat
Blue Bistro - This poolside restaurant has a bar and offers a wide range of cuisines, including local Goan specialties as well as Italian, Chinese, and continental fare. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Reservations are required during the winter season.
A hot and cold buffet breakfast is served daily in the restaurant from 7:30 AM to 10 AM.
24-hour room service is available.
Nearby Things to Do
Guests can enjoy the outdoor pool and children's pool. Fitness facilities are open during limited hours.
The recreational activities listed below are available either on site or nearby; fees may apply.
- Scuba diving nearby
- Snorkeling nearby
- Windsurfing nearby
- Parasailing nearby
Spa Services
- Massages
- Facial treatments
Hotel Policies
Minimum check-in age is 18
Check-in time starts at 2 PM
Special check-in instructions:
Check-out time is noon
Payment types
Children and extra beds
- Children are welcome.
- Kids stay free! Children 6 years old and younger stay free when using existing bedding.
- Rollaway/extra beds are available.
- Cribs (infant beds) are not available.
- No pets or service animals allowed
You need to know
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy.
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card or cash deposit are required at check-in for incidental charges.
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges. Special requests cannot be guaranteed.
- The name on the credit card used at check-in to pay for incidentals must be the primary name on the guestroom reservation.
No cribs (infant beds) available
No elevators
No pets or service animals allowed
Please note: The game room and fitness facility are under renovation. For more details, please contact the office using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
This hotel caters to families and couples only. For additional information. For further details, please contact the property using information in the booking confirmation.
Proof of child's age is required at check-in. For more details, please contact the office using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
This property has a strict no-party policy. Bookings for individuals or groups for the purpose of attending parties are prohibited and will be rejected. For more details, please contact the office using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
- Christmas Day (25 December) Gala Dinner per adult: INR 1500
- Christmas Day (25 December) Gala Dinner per child: INR 750 (from 5 to 11 years old)
- New Year's Eve (31 December) Gala Dinner per adult: INR 1500
- New Year's Eve (31 December) Gala Dinner per child: INR 1000 (from 5 to 11 years old)
Optional extras
- Fee for in-room wireless Internet: INR 300 per night (rates may vary)
- Airport shuttle fee: INR 1600 per vehicle (one way)
- Rollaway beds are available for an additional fee
Hotel Name
- Paraiso Terra
- Resort Terra Paraiso
- Resort Terra Paraiso Calangute
- Terra Paraiso
- Terra Paraiso Calangute
- Terra Paraiso Resort
- Boutique Hotel Terra Paraiso
- Hotel Terra Paraiso
- Resort Terra Paraiso Goa/Calangute
- Resort Terra Paraiso Hotel Calangute
- Terra Paraiso Hotel
We should mention
Couples wishing to share a room must provide proof of marriage. This property's policy is to refuse certain bookings for the purpose of group events or parties, including pre-wedding stag/bachelor and hen/bachelorette parties. Reservations are required for massage services and spa treatments. Reservations can be made by contacting the resort prior to arrival, using the contact information on the booking confirmation. Children 6 years old and younger stay free when occupying the parent or guardian's room, using existing bedding. Only registered guests are allowed in the guestrooms. The property has connecting/adjoining rooms, which are subject to availability and can be requested by contacting the property using the number on the booking confirmation. No pets and no service animals are allowed at this property.


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Often we get great customer feedback from quality assurance survey's we ask customers to participate in. We collect feedback via online surveys and written business reply cards that gift recipients fill out and send back to us. It is in our Mission Statement to provide exceptional customer service and to bake the best gourmet chocolate brownies possible, so we take that very seriously! Here are a few examples of comments that we've received in the last few days from orders that were placed on our website brownies.com.
"I have a great deal of success when ordering from Fairytale, the product is outstanding. I am very satisfied."
"Fairytale brownies are absolutely delicious, and prices are very reasonable considering the care in gift wrapping and delivery that I have found to be standard with this company. I would recommend this product to any chocolate lover."
"My Father loved the brownies I gave him for Father's Day so much, that I got them for him for his Birthday. Of course, he loved them and declared once again that he LOVES brownies every since receiving a gift box from fairtytale brownies (yummm); i've sent fairytale brownies in as gifts myself - and they've always been a big hit. service is always quick and easy and the presentation is of good quality."
"I've sent and received Fairytale Brownies and have always found them to be reliable, and delicious."
"I first learned about Fairytale Brownies when my husband was in the hospital and it was a welcomed gift. They were delicious and was happy to send them when I needed a gift."
"The best brownies in the whole wide world"
"Once again I have given Fairytale Brownies as a gift and once again I was told it was the best gift they had received in a long time and loved it. They wanted to know how they could start ordering!"


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It's been awhile. It's amazing how much peace a nice long TO can bring.
For a brief background I'm the poster who was babyitting my niece for my entitled and batshit crazy SIL. She went so far as to steal my spare key and leave my poor niece hiding behind my couch early one morning while we were still sleeping after I told her that I would no longer be able to watch her.
DH (dear husband) and I put her in a long TO. About a year later she made a poor attempt at reconciling, but since I'm "so uptght" that I don't consider an apology that involves having popcorn thrown at me to be acceptable, we continued the TO.
Which brings us to now. This weekend DH's brother is getting married. This is DH (dear husband) and SIL's brother. We agreed to go because BIL (brother-in-law) has never been a problem and he expressed very sweetly how it's important to him to have his big brother and I there. I figure that I'll just follow the whole "pass the bean dip" polite avoidance technique with SIL (sister-in-law) and any other FMs.
Still, I'm pretty much sure that there's going to be some great llama food coming for you on Monday.
First of all SIL (sister-in-law) is all buddy buddy with BIL's fiance. So I was not invited to the bridal shower, or DH and I to the rehersal dinner, or any other pre-wedding events that the rest of the family are attending. Whatever, those things aren't my idea of a fun time anyway.
Then SIL (sister-in-law) is just a trainwreck from what I hear. She is pregnant and due in a week or two. She is still married to niece's father who is in jail but she is engaged to the new baby's daddy. And the most hilarious to me is that she is apparently whining about trying to find cheap infant childcare and tying to hook other family members into volunteering to help.


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LISTEN: EDC NY sets from Nicky Romero, R3hab, & more!
Tens of thousands of dance music fans descended upon Electric Daisy Carnival New York over the weekend at Citi Field. Festival-goers showed up in their most outrageous and colorful EDC ensembles to enjoy a weekend full of their favorite music from their favorite artists - not to mention ride that ferris wheel!
This year, the lineup included Manufactured Superstars, Calvin Harris, Steve Angello, Afrojack, Borgore, 12th Planet, Carl Cox, Dubfire, Gareth Emery, Dash Berlin, Nicky Romero, R3hab, Quintino, Cedric Gervais, and so much more.
PHOTOS: Electric Daisy Carnival New York
If you missed the festival, or you're gearing up to head to EDC Chicago or Las Vegas, check out a few of the sets from EDC New York that some of the artists have shared:
Nicky Romero
1. Nicky Romero - Symphonica (Intro edit)
2. Empire of the Sun vs Deniz Koyu - Alive Rage (Nicky Romero Mashup) 01 W&W vs FLG & NR - Thunder Sparks (Nicky Romero Mashup)
02 Hard Rock Sofa vs. Nirvana - Rasputin vs. Smells Like Teen Spirit (Dannic Mashup) [MOS/AXTONE] w/ The Prodigy - Smack My Bitch Up (Acappella)
03 Nicky Romero feat. Krewella - Legacy (Save My Life) [PROTOCOL]
04 GlowInTheDark - Party Without Me (Working Title)
06 Nicky Romero - Toulouse (Tommy Trash Remix) [SPINNIN'] w/ Nicky Romero - Toulouse [SPINNIN'] w/ Public Domain feat. Chuck D - Rock Da Funky Beats (Acappella)
07 Tony Romera & Hardwell vs. Blur - Pandor Song (Nicky Romero Mashup)
09 Knife Party - LRAD [EARSTORM/BIG BEAT]
10 Nicky Romero & NERVO - Like Home [PROTOCOL]
11 Kid Cudi feat. MGMT - Pursuit Of Happiness (Steve Aoki Remix)
12 David Guetta & Nicky Romero - Metropolis [JACK BACK] w/ Delerium feat. Sarah McLachlan - Silence (Acappella) [NETTWERK]
13 Nicky Romero feat. ZROQ - WTF [PROTOCOL]
14 Alesso vs. One Republic - If I Lose Myself (Alesso Remix) [MOSLEY/INTERSCOPE]
15 Avicii & Nicky Romero - I Could Be The One (Nicktim) (John Christian Remix) [LE7ELS]
16 ID - ID w/ Syndicate Of L.A.W. - Right On Time (2000 Countdown The Holly Digit) [GUN RECORDS]
17 Hardwell & Dyro feat. Heather Bright - Never Say Goodbye [REVEALED]
Sultan + Ned Shepard
Morgan Page
Also, from Chuckie: "Here is my EDCNYC set as it should be...The mix is longer than my actual planned set time. I only played 30 minutes because I was late for my gig...no excuses..just a free mix just to make it up to you guys! Love as always...Keep it DIRTY!"
Photo Credit Katherine and Mariel Tyler for iHeartRadio


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The subject of intentional breeding or meat rabbits is prohibited. The answers provided on this board are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. It is your responsibility to assess the information being given and seek professional advice/second opinion from your veterinarian and/or qualified behaviorist.
LEADERS: Azerane Bam BinkyBunny JerseyGirl LBJ10 LittlePuffyTail LongEaredLions RabbitPam
If tears could build
a stairway, and memories
a lane, I'd walk right
up to heaven and
bring you home again.
I found this beautiful little poem last night in a magazine ad. It's written on the back of a pendant. I found it really touching and it made me cry because I thought of everyone I've lost in the last few years, bunny, cat and human. I'm going to frame the poem and put it beside the urns of my beloved Velvet and Vanilla Bean and I'm also going to put it in the newspaper as a memorial to my Dad who died 4 years ago next week.
Aww...That's so sweet


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Cotton Gabardine Trench Coat
- A trench coat in breathable cotton gabardine. Invented by Thomas Burberry in 1879, cotton gabardine is a tightly woven, weatherproof fabric that protects against the elements. In a Sandringham slim fit, the design is closely tailored to the body with a fitted waist. Turn up the collar to add a flash of our recognisable check to your look.
- Coat length: 85cm/33.5in. This is based on a size UK 10 as proportions change slightly according to size.
- Model's height: 173cm/5ft 8in
- Outer: 100% cotton with leather trim
- Lining: 100% cotton
- Sleeve lining: 100% viscose
- Buttons: buffalo horn
- Double-breasted button closure
- Button-through pockets
- Signature details: epaulettes, hook-and-eye collar closure, gun flap, belted cuffs, D-ring belt, check undercollar, storm shield
- Specialist dry clean
- Imported


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The UCO MPA inspires public values by providing transformative learning experiences for ethical leaders striving to improve Oklahoma communities and the OKC metropolitan area.
As the flagship public service program for Oklahoma's metropolitan university, the UCO MPA prepares students to advance to leadership positions in local, state, tribal, and federal governments, and nonprofit organizations. UCO MPA students inform public debate and address critical policy issues.
The MPA is an applied management and policy degree that prepares students for careers and positions of leadership in local, state, tribal, and federal governments; private firms doing business with governments; and nonprofit organizations. The MPA develops the skills necessary for today's public leaders to implement policies and programs that resolve important social problems by effectively addressing organizational and financial challenges. Public administration is an interdisciplinary field of study and this degree emphasizes key areas such as city management, human resources, nonprofit leadership, public policy, and international organization.
UCO signals its emergence as a major, metropolitan university with the MPA, the most versatile and valuable degree for public service professionals. While among its newest offerings, the MPA continues UCO's longstanding tradition of educating students in public administration and public affairs.
The MPA program at UCO offers a convenient class schedule that includes evening and weekend offerings. It boasts a unique combination of liberal arts education and practical skills training and it offers personal attention from faculty who integrate academic excellence, rigorous research and professional experience.
The "graying" of the public sector workforce at all levels of government, especially among the mid-management and professional positions best served by an MPA education, ensure continued opportunity for career entry and promotional advancement for the next several years.
Growth in the nonprofit sector has increasing appeal for professionals desiring to pursue meaningful careers that really make a difference
Students are routinely placed in a variety of professional settings including local governments like the cities of Edmond, Harrah, Guthrie, and Oklahoma City; state agencies such as the Governor's Office, Oklahoma Health Care Authority, and the State Treasurer's Office; federal offices such as the Veterans Administration, the U.S. Secret Service; and the White House internship.
The MPA at UCO is a 36-credit hour program that is usually completed within two years of full-time study.
The MPA curriculum consists of:
Courses do not have to be taken in any particular order, but Public Administration Dynamics orients students (including those from other undergraduate majors and/or students who are returning to college after some time) to the discipline. Other core courses include Public Executive Leadership, Public Finance & Budgeting, Public Sector Human Resources, Public Policy Analysis, and Research Methods.
Open to qualified students who have graduated with a bachelor's degree in any field. Paper or online application for admission is available at www.uco.edu/graduate/admissions.
A student may be admitted by one of the following three methods:
1. Minimum of 2.75 GPA overall or 3.00 GPA in last 60 hours attempted,
2. GRE Scores with a minimum score of 150 Verbal and 145 Quantitative. The Writing Assessment portion must be 4.0,
3. Possess a master's degree from an accredited university with an overall GPA of 3.00.


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'"I think there should be (a cap)," Gaustad says. "Right now, I'm on the lower end of the salaries, about $525,000, and I'd be more than willing to take a pay cut to get this thing going — for the health of the game. As players, we're getting a little too greedy, but you gotta blame the owners for willing to give (players) the money. Both sides have screwed up."'
Gaustad mired in the minors
April 12, 2005 Submitted by
Via: Portland Tribune


text: MariSol Estate Site 17: A 2.19-acre bluff top lot 115ft above sea level w/ 463ft of frontage with spectacular whitewater, island and mountain views. MariSol's lot 17 is located in MariSol, Malibu's only resort-style community. Homesites are landscaped & include gated entries, stone privacy walls, drainage, sprinklers, utilities, & access rights to the botanical garden. MariSol's lots enjoy a special exemption from coastal development permits, enabling the owner to build his/her home free from uncertainty, restrictions & delays that can otherwise result from Coastal Commission involvement. In addition, MariSol offers a homebuilding program to assist the buyer through the building process, from design to permitting & through construction. Only 2 of 13 1-acre minimum lots remain ranging from $5.5M to $7M. Only three, 2-acre minimum lots remain from $6.9M to $10.9M. One modern, Doug Burdge designed, 13K sq.ft., modern masterpiece under construction and coming soon.


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Q. We are planning to supply mortar for a project. The architect has specified the mortar aggregate ratio method from ASTM C780 Annex A4 as a quality assurance test during construction, instead of using mortar cubes.
What is this test, and how is it performed?
A. The mortar aggregate ratio method is a test method described in ASTM C780, "Standard Test Method for Preconstruction and Construction Evaluation of Mortars for Plain and Reinforced Unit Masonry." It does not measure strength.
Using this procedure, technicians determine the aggregate to cementitious ratio of a fresh mortar sample. The ratio defines the volume of aggregate (sand) to that of the cementitious materials in a given mortar sample. (Cementitious materials include portland and blended cements, masonry, mortar cement, and lime.)
By comparing the values of the aggregate ratio from samples taken during construction, producers, architects, and mason contractors have a good quality control tool. They can evaluate if a particular mortar sample has been properly mixed by comparing test results to the ratio of the mortar's approved mix design. By reviewing the results from a number of different samples over a period, they can also determine if the batching and mixing process has been consistent.
The aggregate volume is determined by wet-sieving a split of the fresh mortar sample over a No. 100 sieve, then oven-drying the retained material to find a dry weight. Technicians also perform a water content test outlined by ASTM C780 Annex A5 to test on a companion mortar sample. Here, they first carefully flash off the alcohol from the sample that was at the jobsite to retard hydration. They then oven-dry the sample to find the weight of cementitous ingredients.
Using these two results, technicians follow the calculation procedure that determines the volume ratio of the two portions.
One useful advantage of the mortar aggregate ratio test, compared to mortar compression testing, is its speed. Technicians can determine the ratio using the procedure in hours. Compression tests using mortar cubes or cylinders can take several weeks to perform since the samples must be cured, typically in three, seven, or 28 days. Even then, results from compression tests are highly dependent on the method of making and curing the cube samples.
But there is a drawback. Because the mortar aggregate ratio test method uses a sieve analysis to measure the amount of aggregate, it is possible that some hydration of the cement may have occurred with the passage of time. These larger cement particles or clumps can be retained on the sieve. They then would be included erroneously with the sand volume, rather than included in the cementitious materials figure. The amount of clumping would depend on the materials and the conditions at the site where the mortar is used.
To resolve this question, the Portland Cement Association established a research project with the National Concrete Masonry Association to refine the procedure outlined in the ASTM document. Their work discovered three refinements that directly reduced the hydrated cement concern. They recommended using a 500-gram sample size; limiting the testing window to within four hours of batching; and requiring that the jar containing the mortar sample and alcohol be thoroughly agitated.
The sources for the answer are "Ruggedness Testing of the Mortar Aggregate Ratio Procedure," Jeffrey Greenwald, Portland Cement Association, SN2767, 2004; and National Concrete Masonry Association, "Sensitivity Analysis of the Mortar Aggregate Ratio," Portland Cement Association, SN2842, 2006.