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Rally for Justice for Mulrunji, noon, Wed Dec 20, Queens Park, Brisbane - prosecutor WON'T charge policeman who killed him
UPDATE: on Friday, January 26th, 2007, the Queensland Attorney-General announced that S/Sgt Chris Hurley will be charged with manslaughter over the death of Mulrunji.
Here are some pictures of the rally held in Brisbane on December 20th. WARNING: Mulrunji's nephews held signs with pictures of Mulrunji on them, so there are at least two photos with his picture.
Click here for a news roundup of the Palm Island and Townsville rallies.
All these pictures are on flickr, the photo-sharing website, so if you click on a picture you can see it in different sizes, see a map showing exactly where each photo was taken and download the pictures - they are free to use as long as you credit this website.
Click here to see the set of my photos on flickr.
You can also see seven photos from the rally here at FelixNavidad's flickr site.
Dave Riley of the Ratbag Radio Network has written a report on the rally - click here.
Margaret Wenham of the Courier-Mail reports that Alec Doomadgee, Mulrunji's brother, spoke at the Brisbane rally:
When the cousin of Mulrunji, Alec Doomadgee, took centre stage, the crowd roared their approval as he declared it was time for Aborigines to "stop playing the poor bugger me blackfella".
"Stand up and be counted," he shouted.
"It's time for us Aboriginal people to unite. We need to come together as an Aboriginal nation and stand up for our people ... and stop the injustices that have been happening for so long," he shouted.
Wenham also reports that Queensland Council for Civil Liberties VP Terry O'Gorman said:
"Day in and day ... ordinary citizens of this state have to go through to the agony of a jury verdict in cases prosecuted by the DPP where the evidence is 10 times weaker than the evidence appears with Mr Hurley."
Apparently, an Australian flag was burnt, and comedian Ernie Dingo was at the Brisbane rally.
If you are pleasant and friendly, and if you don't mind handing out some leaflets at the march to shoppers who are waiting for the march to pass them by on Wednesday, you could really help keep the Mulrunji story in the minds of the public.
I'm going to go up to shoppers and say "sorry to keep you waiting, we won't be long but this is really important, this explains what we're doing", and give them a leaflet. Will you join me?
If so, email me: firstname.lastname@example.com
Or turn up to the rally. I'll try and say something quickly, and I will be wearing a T-shirt with a big orange question mark. I'll probably be taking photographs.
Please pass this message on to anyone you think might help.
Online Petition - Dave Riley has organised an online petition - click here to see it on his blog.
You can sign the petition, or download it and collect signatures to take to the rally.
On Wednesday, December 20th, 2006, people will rally in Queens Park, Brisbane City, and march to Parliament House, to demand that Leanne Clare be dismissed, and replaced with someone who will act on the evidence in front of them. Click here for more details.
Queens Park is on the corner of George and Elizabeth St in the city.
Click on the map for a bigger view of Queen's Park and Parliament House in Brisbane City. Powered by Google Earth.
Thu Dec 14, approx 1300 Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST) A brief TV ad for National Nine News says that Senior Sergeant Chris Hurley has got away with murder. He will not be charged, despite the coroner's report that names him as the killer of Aboriginal man Mulrunji.
Stay tuned for updates.
There is a planning meeting for the rally on SATURDAY, December 16th, 4pm at the Activist Centre, 74b Wickham St, Fortitude Valley.
All Aboriginal people and supporters are invited, to help prepare for and organise the rally and march. All hands needed!
1352 AEST - ABC online confirms Hurley will not be charged.
1405 AEST - I have sent this letter to the Courier-Mail. Please write a letter and send it too - the more they get, the more likely it is that a few will be printed.
Senior Sergeant Chris Hurley should have been charged with murder for the death of Mulrunji, at Palm Island two years ago. Instead, he will not face court at all.
The Director of Public Prosecutions, Ms Leanne Clare, has failed in her duty, and should be dismissed for cause.
How can anyone, black or white, feel safe now if a rogue police officer decides to attack them? I hope all those officers who love justice will keep a very close eye indeed on Senior Sergeant Hurley.
You can send a letter to the Courier-Mail by clicking here.
1414 AEST - The Australian confirms that DPP Leanne Clare has held a media conference in Townsville and announced no charges will be laid.
Click here for all the background, and a report of the rally held on November 18th last, which demanded that Hurley be prosecuted. I especially like what Adrian Walker said about 'policing the police'.
1510 AEST - WARNING - the article I link to here has a large picture of Mulrunji at the top of the page - The Age has an article which explains DPP Leanne Clare's reasons for not putting S/Sgt Hurley in front of a jury.
An ad for tonight's National Nine News has shown video from Ms Clare's public meeting in Townsville where she said Hurley won't be charged. The video shows her walking away from the meeting while an Aboriginal woman calls out something like 'They think they are going to get away with it'.
1618 AEST - The Courier Mail has comments about the decisions here and here. Please go and comment - keep them passionate but cool. We need to convince the middling people that this really matters.
You can read the one-page statement from the DPP here. WARNING - She refuses to use the name 'Mulrunji', and instead calls him by the name which he had before he died. This is against the express wishes of Mulrunji's family.
I don't always belive in tribal traditions and taboos, but there is no reason to offend the family by not calling the murdered man 'Mulrunji'.
(It is a custom of some Australian aborigines to not use the names of the dead, nor look at pictures of them. 'Mulrunji' is the name that the family has asked people to use.)
The coroner's report, which names S/Sgt Hurley as Mulrunji's killer, is here.
1705 AEST - Queensland Premier Beattie has 'called for calm', while Mulrunji's sister "Valmai Aplin said she was devastated by the decision not to charge Snr Sgt Hurley".
Hurley will also face an internal Queensland Police investigation, which will no doubt overturn this horrible decision and make sure he faces justice (spot the deliberate mistake).
1733 AEST - Senator Andrew Bartlett's blog has mentioned the story:
It is pretty obvious what sort of message the residents of Palm Island – and Indigenous people throughout Queensland - will get from the DPP's decision, particularly when it is combined with harsher sentences for those convicted of rioting in response to the flawed initial Coroner's finding. Not to mention combining it with the history over more than a century of a justice system that has failed to protect Indigenous people.
1850 AEST - This is a recording of National Nine News Brisbane's story tonight about Mulrunji. WARNING - the story uses the name Mulrunji had before he was killed.
It was the lead story and took up the first 4 1/2 minutes of the program. You'll need Flash installed to listen to the story. Press play to listen:
powered by ODEO
1934 AEST - I have just spoken to Sam Watson, a local indigenous leader, who says there will be a rally next Wednesday, December 20th, 2006, at midday in Queens Park, Brisbane City, marching to Parliament House. The rally will demand that Director of Public Prosecutions Leanne Clare be dismissed immediately, because she has compromised the integrity of her office, which will cause enormous damage to the confidence of the Queensland community in the DPP.
Of Premier Beattie's call to 'respect the umpire's decision', Watson said 'this is not a game of cricket, its about the death in custody of an Aboriginal man'. He also challenged Ms Clare's claim that criminal responsibility could not be proved, saying that a 'first year law student' could obtain a conviction on the evidence gathered by the two coronial enquiries.
Speaking on ABC news tonight, Sam Watson said that when an indigenous person is arrested in Queensland, there is an 'even money chance' that he or she will be killed or assaulted.
There will be a petition to sack Ms Clare available online by Saturday. Link will be provided ASAP.
2123 AEST - WARNING - both links here use Mulrunji's name from before his death - Ken Parish at Club Troppo has written an article about today's decision. He has also quoted fom an online essay by Chloe Hooper called The Tall Man, from the Monthly magazine, about Mulrunji's death.
2258 AEST - WARNING - the first link (to The Spin Starts Here) refers to the surname Mulrunji had before his death.
The Spin Starts Here takes a cynical view of the Mulrunji decision:
In a tragic sequence of events, Mulrunji managed to split his own liver in two, rupture his own spleen and break four of his own ribs and pull Sgt Hurley down on top of him and propel the 201 cm tall policeman's elbow repeatedly into himself several times, during a sixty minute orgy of self-violence...Generously, the Queensland DPP will not be posthumously charging Mulrunji with public nuisance.
LiveJournaler drjon (Hail Eris! All Hail Discordia!) has also mentioned the story today - in fact, he has mentioned it twice.
2319 AEST - WARNING - There is a picture of Mulrunji, and his surname is used, in the first link to The Stupid News.
Marty at The Stupid News says:
I would not want to be a cop on Palm Island when the locals find out about this. Not for all tea in China.
Actually, come to think of it, those guys will probably have a ball. After all, they now have confirmation that they can kill black guys without fear of prosecution.
and MikQ at Think - Act - Think Again says that the decision is Just. Plain. Disgraceful.
0125 AEST 15 Dec - Mark Bahnisch at Larvatus Prodeo has posted an article about the Mulrunji story, and also wrote an article about the coroner's findings last October.
Captainflux has replied to drjon's LiveJournal post.
And there are 9 comments about this article at Melbourne Indymedia.
The Courier Mail has a story about how Mulrunji's fmaily have taken the news:
"When we heard the decision we just broke down and cried," Ms Aplin [Mulrunji's sister] said. "We feel like we're being treated like animals . . . we are just lost."
Meanwhile, the same article reports that lawyer Glen Cranny says his client, Snr-Sgt Hurley, "was yet to decide his future as a police officer, adding that his client was also considering possible legal action of his own."
You can see Cranny's shingle here, and this is a notice for a seminar he ran for the Queensland Law Society:
Inquiries and Investigations: Coronial Inquests, Royal Commissions of Inquiry, CMC & ACC Investigations
This seminar is relevant for legal practitioners and government officers likely to appear in a Coronial Inquest, Investigation or Royal Commission of Inquiry.
So this is not foreign to him at all. Even if the political will existed to charge Hurley, this brief sounds like a tough opponent. But why not have a go? Well, the Queensland Police Union is far too powerful for any serious player to cross. Basically.
0909 AEST - the ABC says Federal Indigenous Affairs Minister Mal Brough has said:
"So [Queensland Premier] Peter Beattie - please announce that this will be reviewed urgently in the interest of the family and the wider community."
This has raised at least one eyebrow - Mr Brough's Liberal (centre-right) Party is not considered a friend by many Aboriginal people.
The same article says that "north Queensland Indigenous leaders [including Gracelyn Smallwood] are calling for a national day of action".
Another ABC story from last night says that "North Queensland Indigenous leaders say they will appeal" the decision.
And The Australian has more of what Mulrunji's family has to say:
"I shouldn't have been surprised," said Tracey Twaddle, Mulrunji's former partner.
"I don't know what to do now. I don't know how we can get justice.", while Palm Island mayor Zac Sam said:
"We are just disgusted and shocked that this has happened. It seems as though there is one law for blacks and one law for whites...The law was not made for us. It was made to protect the people from us."
Meanwhile, the story has been noticed by blogger Angryindian at intelligent indigena.
WARNING - photos and previous surname of Mulrunji used at these two links: Bloggers Miss Eagle at Eagle's Nest and Troughboy have also noted the story.
There is also a media release from Socialist Alliance in the comments. Their site, and SA member Dave Riley, have been following the case for months.
1042 AEST - In the Courier-Mail, Member of Parliament for Townsville, Mike Reynolds, has said that the case should have gone before a jury. An article about S/Sgt Hurley says that the Police Union intend to 'appeal' the coroner's finding that Hurley killed Mulrunji. So much for respecting the umpire's decision when they don't like it.
1151 AEST - Malcolm Weatherup in the Townsville Bulletin writes about the way that black activists were expelled from the DPP's press conference in Townsville.
Noel Pearson, commonly said to be a 'conservative' black leader who is closely involved with Cape York Partnerships, says that the DPP is "damaging the public standing of her office", according to the ABC.
Brisbane blogger Tony Robertson has published a statement by Andrew Boe, the lawyer for the Palm Island Aboriginal Council., while blogger Iain Hall thinks the DPP made the right decision.
1456 AEST - The Bush Telegraph blog is promoting the rally, march and planning meeting, and also criticises the decision. There is also an open letter to Premier Beattie from October - you can still add your support to the letter.
1757 AEST - Blogger John Quiggin says in his post here:
this isn't the first dubious decision made by Leanne Clare, and something of a pattern seems to be emerging. If you're on the outer with the establishment (Pauline Hanson, Di Fingleton) dubious charges will be pursued to the limit. But if you're on the inside, things are very different.
2315 AEST - Stuart Levitt is a "lawyer for the alleged riot ringleader Lex Wotton." [referring to violence on Palm Island in 2004 immediately after Mulrunji's death]. As well as disagreeing with the decision, Levitt says that:
Indigenous advocate service, the Errol Wyles Justice Foundation, would be commissioning a study next year into the Queensland legal system's treatment of Aboriginal people.
The story is from the AAP wire, published at the National Indigenous Times.
The Voice of Today's Apathetic Youth isnt: Palm Islanders screwed by DPP
Sunday December 17th 2006
I went to the planning meeting for the Queens Park rally (Wed 20 Dec, midday) yesterday afternoon.
Sam Watson spoke, first of all going through the story so far.
He reminded the meeting that DPP Clare controversially dropped child abuse charges against prominent swimming coach Scott Volkers.
[At the time DPP Clare said that, because the alleged victim said that she had experienced an orgasm while the alleged abuse took place, then she would not be credible in court.
It is, of course, not unknown for those being abused to experience arousal and/or orgasms, as a forensic physician told the ABC's 7.30 Report at the time. - ED]
Watson also mentioned the fact that public prosecutor Leanne Clare was responsible for pushing dodgy charges against Queensland Chief Magistrate Di Fingleton and controversial right-populist politician Pauline Hanson.
While Hanson is bitterly disliked by many Aboriginal people, Watson reminded the meeting that "You don't send a goose like Hanson to jail...jails are for people who commit serious offences".
Both the Fingleton and the Hanson convictions were overturned, in ways that showed either enormous incompetence or, at worst, malicious indifference to the law.
Watson told the meeting that S/Sgt Hurley was transferred to Surfers Paradise, where he owns $1.4 million in real estate, after the Palm Island murder.
How does a cop who works most of his career in indigenous communities own real estate worth $1.4 million? Watson called for Hurley's entire career in the Queensland Police Service to be investigated.
Watson said that the 'evidence supports a criminal charge of the highest order'. He called for DPP Clare to be removed from office, and said that Clare's 'close working relationship' with the Queensland Police Service should be investigated, as part of a judicial review of the entire case.
This review should be conducted, Watson said, by Tony Fitzgerald QC, who conducted the judicial enquiry in the 1980s that destroyed the Bjelke-Petersen National Party government by revealing its long-term corruption and closeness to senior police.
"Our role is to support the family and the Palm Island community", said Watson. "The family is hurting but staying strong".
Watson identified the core issue: the Queensland Police Union dominates the administration of the Queensland Police Service. The QPS, he said, has never once been held accountable by the Beattie government.
The Criminal and Misconduct Commission has been "totally compromised on a number of occasions"
"We won't put up with this apalling maladministration."
If neither the DPP nor the CMC will act, then "We'll have to".
Watson also announced two important dates for next year: January 26th 2007 will be Justice Day, and May 27th 2007 is the 40th anniversary of the referendum that, in effect, recognised Aboriginal people as citizens for the first time.
Watson announced that all permits and permissions for the rally had been obtained. The march will pass through major shopping areas of the city.
If you can help hand out leaflets to shoppers who are waiting for the rally to pass, please email me at firstname.lastname@example.com
There will also be a rally on the Gold Coast on Thursday. For details call Paul on 0410 629 088.
News from and about Palm Island.
John Andersen in the Townsville Bulletin, a News/Murdoch tabloid, reports that a civil case will be launched by the Palm Island Council against S/Sgt Hurley.
Andersen goes out of his way to report successful relations between acting Palm Island Mayor Zac Sam, and S/Sgt Paul James, current QPS officer-in-charge on Palm Island:
Cr Sam's taking the helm at an early stage has helped ease what might have been a volatile situation.
This has been eased by police maintaining a near-invisible profile and doing nothing that could be construed as provocative.
Andersen reports that the civil case will be conducted by Boe Lawyers, who have represented the Palm Island council before - you can see a resume of their work for the council if you click here.
Boe Lawyers' homepage says:
To achieve individual justice the system must sometimes yield and the state of the law must be tested. Some of our notable cases have sought to achieve this. They also demonstrate our innovation and flexibility and our capacity to look beyond what might appear to others to be accepted limits.
Andersen also reports on the grief of Mulrunji's relatives - WARNING, Mulrunji's name before he died is used in this story.
Elsewhere in the Townsville Bulletin, Selina Sharratt reports on Saturday's mayoral election on Palm Island.
The Sydney Morning Herald prints a story from the AAP wire about a community rally held yesterday on Palm Island:
The ABC also carries a report about the Palm Island rally - WARNING - link has a picture of Mulrunji.
Darrell Giles in The Sunday Mail (News Ltd) reports that Queensland Premier Peter Beattie will visit Palm Island 'as early as this week'.
News Ltd's Courier Mail North Queensland reporter Peter Michael reports the reaction of Mulrunji's sister Valmai Alpin, while the ABC's Message Stick quotes:
the coordinator of the Palm Island Men's Group, Robert Blackley, [who] says he expects an angry reaction to Ms Clare's decision.
"The public prosecutor just called me, I guess in my capacity as men's group coordinator, to inform me that no charges will be laid against Chris Hurley in relation to the death of Mulrunji and I'm pretty pissed off about that," he said.
Also, calls for a review of the case by someone from outside Queensland grow.
Federal Parliamentary Leader of the Greens Bob Brown, Brisbane indigenous leader Sam Watson, Commonwealth Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Mal Brough, Queensland Council of Civil Liberties Vice-President Terry O'Gorman and Cape York aboriginal leader Noel Pearson have all called for an interstate review, while the Palm Island Council wants the decision 'reviewed'.
Premier Beattie refuses to intervene, but has pointed out that the DPP can order a review if she so chooses.
Monday Morning December 18th - News from Palm Island
WARNING - stories linked to here may contain pictures or other names of Mulrunji.
Click on these pictures to see larger copies.
Palm Island is about 65km NNW of Townsville, the largest city in North Queensland.
Delena Foster has won the election for mayor of Palm Island Council, held on Saturday. She has insisted on answers from Queensland Premier Peter Beattie while calling for calm on the island. That is from a report by Dave Donaghy and Steve Wardill, published in News Ltd's Courier Mail and Australian newspapers.
The Magnetic Times reports that Magnetic Island elder Ms Christine George, who was born on Palm Island, said:
"Nothing has really changed. There are numerous instances of Aboriginals being incarcerated for minor crimes and receiving punishments that didn't fit the crime. There doesn't seem to be any consideration for the situation Aboriginal people are currently in."
Shelina Sharratt in News Ltd's Townsville Bulletin says:
TEARS and raw emotion flowed freely as more than 150 residents, both black and white, packed a Townsville church to discuss the 'way forward' in the wake of the DPP's decision not to charge Senior Sergeant Chris Hurley over the death in custody of Mulrunji...
The two-hour long meeting heard addresses from aboriginal lawyers, activists and non-indigenous community members.
Tuesday 19 December - recent news
The ABC reports:
Mulrunji's family seeks legal advice over DPP decision
Brad Foster, a spokesman for Mulrunji's family, says there will be a community meeting to discuss the issue.
"Wednesday's open discussion with the mob over on Palm Island is a peaceful coming together, working out what the solutions are, how do we deal with those solutions," he said.
"We'll let the people know from a brief from our barrister about what position we'll be taking as a community in relation to the response that the DPP has now brought out."
Mr Foster says Queensland Premier Peter Beattie is invited to attend the community meeting.
In the Courier-Mail, Peter Michael and Roseanne Barrett's report suggests that Mr Beattie should not accept the invitation:
PREMIER Peter Beattie has been warned to stay away from Palm Island or risk "stirring up a hornet's nest" ahead of a national day of protest.
Senior police, island councillors and the family of death-in-custody victim Mulrunji yesterday said the Premier's proposed visit, likely to take place tomorrow, was ill-advised.
"He should just stay away," said sister Valmai Aplin, speaking on behalf of Mulrunji's family.
Warren Mundine, Aboriginal man and National President of the Australian Labor Party, is to address a Palm Island rally this week, reports the ABC.
A longer article by The Australian's Patricia Karvelas and Sean Parnell reports Mundine's words:
ALP national president Warren Mundine is to lead protests on Palm Island this week, saying he is "fed up" with the failure of the state Labor Government to deliver justice over the 2004 death in custody of Mulrunji Doomadgee...
"What an insult to Aboriginal people that this cop is going to continue working," Mr Mundine said yesterday.
"If the law fails people then the law needs to change. The politicians are out of step with the general Australian community on this."
Meanwhile, Col Dillon, "one of Australia's most highly decorated Aboriginal police officers says he is resigning from his Queensland public service role over the State Government's handling of the Palm Island death in custody.", reports the ABC, which also tells us that "The federal Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC) has joined the criticism of the decision not to charge a Queensland police officer over a death in custody on Palm Island."
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How the World Does Love: Interesting Wedding Traditions From Around the Globe
Have you ever stopped to wonder why it's commonplace to see bouquets and garters flying through the air during wedding receptions? While love is a universal language, the ways that the world celebrates the tradition of marriage couldn't be more diverse. Whether they're symbolizing unity or prosperity, wedding traditions add depth (and fun) to your big day. Plus, adding your own twist to traditions as a couple makes them all the more special. Check out these interesting traditions from all over the map.
Mexico: Lasso Ceremony
When couples in Mexico tie the knot, the bride and groom are bound with a lasso—usually with a traditional lasso or rosary beads—in a figure eight shape around their necks after swapping vows as a nod to unity. This couple, from a wedding coordinated by Tasteful Tatters, swapped the traditional lasso materials for a fresh garland that the bride wore for the remainder of the day.
Germany: Sawing a Log
Couples in Germany are put to work practicing their teamwork shortly after saying I do. The two are tasked with sawing a log, representing the "obstacle" they'll overcome in their marriage. The couple above in Columbus, Ohio, whose wedding was featured on The Knot, brought the tradition stateside for their wedding.
Japan: 1,000 Wedding Cranes
The crane holds special significance in Japan, as the birds mate for life and symbolize love. Folding 1,000 origami paper cranes is a custom to bless a long and happy marriage, and they double as meaningful décor, as you can see here in this California wedding featured on Junebug (the groom is Japanese).
Pakistan: Brides Wear a Red Dress
In Pakistan, a bride's elaborate gown is traditionally bright red, as you can see in this Dallas-area wedding from Junebug, which "combined vibrant, rich Pakistani and Bangladesh tradition with American elegance." However many brides choose to play with tradition, as you can see in this modernized Pakistani-meets Mongolian wedding from a Practical Wedding, where the bride opted for a custom-made Pakistani dress in white.


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Construction has started on a $24 million, automotive-parts plant in Mooresville that's expected to bring more than 300 jobs to southern Iredell County.
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A huge speculative building in Troutman didn't have to wait long for a tenant.


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- Summary
Mount Mogan, or Moganshan (莫干山) as it is locally known, is a great place to escape the busier cities of Shanghai or Hangzhou and spend a few days hiking, biking, visiting historical sites, or just plain relaxing in the quiet hills. Although the name emphasizes the "mountain", it is not really famous for its summit, but rather the natural beauty and serenity of the landscape.
Famous for its bamboo forests, hiking through the hills you will also come upon a variety of lakes, waterfalls, and small farming plots where the locals will diligently tend to their crops and chickens that you are sure to dine on later that day at any of the small village restaurants. Renting a bike is another great way to explore the countryside, but can be a little strenuous going up and down the hills so be prepared for a workout.
While camping is a possibility, it may be tough to find a decent flat and secluded area to set up so you might better off staying in a small guest house for the night. While there are a lot of expensive spots that cater to wealthy residents of Shanghai and Hangzhou, you can easily find cheaper and more local places if you prefer
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Organization: International Transformation Foundation
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Closing date: 21 Sep 2016
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Conduct regular hardware maintenance;
Design system applications to be used in the organization;
Manage information system and communications network;
Direct the strategic plans for the ICT development of the organization;
Keep informed of the emerging trends in ICT for youth development and non profit organizations.
- At least second year university/college student in ICT course.
- Possess web design skills (preferably joomla)
- Have skills in graphics design
- Good organizational skills, including ability to work within tight deadlines.
- Ability to work flexibly and as part of a team, and to use own initiative.
- Ability to conduct trainings.
- Knowledge of Joomla, Adobe After Effects and Photoshop are a basic requirement
- Willingness and capacity to volunteer.
- Have passion and commitment for youth development.
- Strong volunteer work ethic.
What we offer:
You build your confidence/ self-esteem
You grow professionally
Get to meet new people
Have fun as you get to mingle
Test and challenge yourself
Although ITF staffs enjoy limitless opportunities, ITF does NOT provide any kind of compensation. ITF Staffs operates on full time volunteer basis for a minimum of 3 months contract. They are responsible of all basic expenses such as home – office transportation, accommodation etc. ITF ONLY provide direct operational expenses such as Staff's transportation to a meeting outside office, visit field operations etc.
How to apply:
Like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter,
Completed ITF Volunteer/Intern Application form,
How to apply:
We are not considering incomplete applications as well as candidates, which are not able to cover the volunteer term expenses as mentioned in above paragraph (Compensation). If you meet the basic requirements do complete this application form available on our website with the position you're applying for in Application(Volunteer or Intern) box by 21th September 2016.
For any queries get in touch through email@example.com, Tel: +254770306839, @ITFSecretariat on Twitter or International Transformation Foundation on Facebook.
Read more here:: ReliefWeb


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'Zipper' streamlines patching process
Sections of Idaho 81 east of Declo are in poor condition. Years of heavy truck traffic and blistering winters have taken their toll resulting in deep and dangerous wheel ruts.
But it's only the ruts, not the entire road that needs replaced. That is where the Asphalt Zipper has come in handy. A four-foot wide roto-mill, the Zipper is mounted on the bucket of a front-end loader and carves a groove about two-and-a-half inches deep dig out the worst sections.
In a 12-foot lane, milling and replacing the asphalt in only the worst four feet is being considered by District Four as one of several ways to save precious road maintenance funds while preserving the road for a few more years.
The Zipper was touted in the 2007 ITD Efficiency Report as being utilized by the districts to provide one-time or on-going savings. By milling and patching only the worst sections of road, the Zipper saves in asphalt costs stated in the report to be $85,000 over milling and paving the entire width.
"It saves a third over doing the entire lane and you get it where it's the worst," Stacey said.
Jerome foreman Chuck Chapin discovered the Zipper at a trade show and was instrumental in bringing it to the district about four years ago. Chapin also was also instrumental in getting the piece of equipment in the district.
In three years, the Zipper has been put to the test in both small and large applications – over mile-long stretches on the interstate and for small patches on nearly every highway in the district.
"It's been used to the greatest degree in the Rupert Maintenance area and in a large part on Interstate 84 where wheel ruts made driving conditions extremely difficult. With the greatest amount of experience, the Rupert crew has been working on perfecting and making their operation even more efficient. One measure includes using a snowplow with modified grader blade attached to the plow to push the milled material off the road.
"We improved the process. We're down to equipment doing all the work and no manpower to move the material," Rupert foreman Allen Knight said. "We continue to fine-tune our methods to move more material and get more done."
Knight said his 12-16-person crew, if conditions were ideal, probably could mill and pave more than 3,000 feet per day.
"It's a quick fix, a Band-Aid to get rid of soft material," Knight added.
Stacey said the district is looking to extend the use of the Zipper by purchasing a second unit as well as a new paver to replace the aging paving box currently being used.
"It will be an even better operation when we get those in place," Stacey said.
Published 8-8-8


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Continuing our month-long discussion of Berlin Alexanderplatz.
Brandon, Dom, Suzanne,
Forgive me for saying so, but I think you've been tiptoeing around what all of us experienced as a profoundly disturbing passage of film – the last forty minutes of episode eleven, wherein Franz tries to murder Mieze, the person he loves most, in exactly the same way, in exactly the same place, as he murdered Ida. Indeed Fassbinder insists on this disconcerting repetition, replaying Ida's murder three times in the previous episodes, investing it with an ominous and totemic power.
If these scenes don't erase my great enjoyment of the series so far, they certainly transform, violently, the terms of that enjoyment. It's not just the beating that Franz inflicts. Unbearable as it is, we at least know it is coming. What is so horrible is first the character of Mieze's anguish – a strangulated screaming that goes on for what feels like minutes. Is any moment in cinema so raw and devastating? Perhaps only Michael Haneke has come close.
Worse still is what happens next. Choking on blood, Mieze immediately forgives him, and they embark for the countryside where first they fell in love. The scenes here verge on the blackest of comedy – Mieze, with split lip and clawed neck, defiantly orders ice cream from her stunned waitress. The profound horror of these moments is in Mieze's choosing to share in Franz's crime – her deciding that somehow, to follow Suzanne's phrasing, their suffering was mutual.
Even as I understand that this is a fiction, I simply cannot bear her choice. Yet it speaks to the power of Fassbinder's mini-series, that it gets so under my skin.
To answer quickly a question Dom posed to me during the screening, about the character of the political rally Franz and Willy attend in episode nine: Could it be that these strange creatures were anarcho-syndicalists? Syndicalism was a going concern in Germany in the late 20s, though many like Rudolph Rocker and Milly Witkop fled the country in the early 30s, after the Nazis came to power.


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I have been in town since Friday afternoon, and I thought it would be time for an in-country update!
(I am 7 hours ahead of AR, by the way)
I am so in love with the Czech Republic... it is wonderful to be back! I am currently renting a room from the dorms of a "Bible School" here in town. While there are still a few students also living here, they are finishing up their semester and will be moving out later this week. The location of this building is wonderful: right behind me is a beautiful park, and in front of the building is a quiet, peaceful courtyard. I feel like I live in a quiet part of town, but it is only a two minute walk to Dolní náměstí ("lower square") and two minutes farther is Horní náměstí ("upper square"--also the main square).
I just got my public transportation pass yesterday, but I have been walking a lot since I have been here. All of the walking on cobblestones has been a little rough on my ankle (I injured it last summer), but I think it is growing stronger. In addition, I think that the extra foot-transportation has caused me to lose a little weight... in spite of the fact that my diet largely consists of rohlík (bread/rolls), smažený sýr (fried cheese), brambory (potatoes), and kofola ("Coke"-like drink)!
I've also been feeling really tired. Yesterday I took a one-hour nap then slept for 10 hours straight. This might partially be from jet lag, but the missionaries here were telling me that learning a new language can really wear you out. Most of the Czech words I previously knew have come back quickly, and I am trying to learn new words and phrases as much as possible. However, much of the time I don't get translations while the Czech people are having conversations. While listening, I am constantly trying to figure out what they are saying--while I do catch a few words here and there, my brain gets tuckered out from trying to translate all of the time.
On a much lighter note: God is so faithful! It has been such a blessing to be with the church here, and they really are taking care of me. I have been spending quite a bit of time with the pastor and one of the youth leaders. I have also had a great opportunity to reconnect with many of the youth I met last summer, and have plans to visit with a couple of them throughout this next week.
Prayers guides:
- Pray that the students will be open to building a deeper relationship with me (both the Christians and non-Christians). My desire is to really invest in the youth here.
- Pray that my time will be spent wisely--I have quite a bit of free time in my schedule, which leaves me open to hang-out time possibilities. I want to really make sure that I'm not wasting this time away.
- Pray for my relationships with the Czech church, that the spirit of God that unites us will also provide us unity as His church. I also want to avoid doing things that are culturally offensive.
Thank-you so much for your prayers and encouraging emails! I am thankful for all of you, my brothers and sisters in Christ.


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Earlier this week Steve Yzerman made a bold declaration in favor of Steven Stamkos remaining a member of the Tampa Bay Lightning. At first glance I assumed this was an old man (he's only 50) insisting to change toothpaste or hair tonic. And I suppose that is typically how NHL GM's work — make a bold statement that is as wobbly as a china shop table post bull. But Yzerman is a smart, shrewd manager, and I think he had good intentions here beyond hanging on to one of the most important Bolts in the last ten years.
With the Tampa Bay Lightning dancing the line between playoffs and off season (it's only February, mind you) the announcement perhaps is a stamp of approval that his squad is really pushing for the playoffs and beyond.
Here is the exact quote by Yzerman.
"I have said repeatedly that it is our hope to reach an agreement with Steven on a new contract at some point," Yzerman said. "And with 27 games remaining in the season, our entire organization, Steven included, wants to focus on making the playoffs. I will keep the negotiating process strictly between the involved parties and have no further comment on the state of those negotiations."
I can't think of a time when Yzerman has contradicted himself so I'll take this statement as gospel. Stamkos remains in Tampa Bay — rain or shine, good or bad, happy or sad, playoffs or no playoffs.
Things haven't always turned out rosy for great players in the Lightning organization. Brad Richards, St. Louis, Lecavalier all had tumultuous moments at the end of their gulfside Floridian playing careers. Perhaps Yzerman realizes that the fans deserve better especially in the thick of the playoff race. Maybe, just maybe, he cares about the feelings of his fan base. Or maybe he is a good businessman that genuinely believes in his team. Either way, it is kind of refreshing.
I like to dream of a utopian NHL where players go, "Hey, I love this city, I'm committed," and then actually follow through with the sentiment. Unless a player is aging it is rare to spot a professional hockey player willing to take less to better his team. And that's for another topic, but it leads me to my next point. Stamkos is going to get paid. Maybe it is the Bolts that do it or maybe he ends up in Eastern Canada. Regardless, protecting an investment sometimes is more about the whole than the individual. In this case, keep Stamkos around at least through this season, get in to the playoffs, prove or disprove his worth moving forward, and then help decide his fate. That's sharp businessing.
As I am want to do, this might be a case of reaching beyond a publicity statement. Because there is probably a couple of deals out there that Yzerman would be foolish not to pounce on if given the chance. In that case he would really have to eat crow. But I choose to believe he is genuinely smart to make the statement of intent, hammer out quality wins in the next few months, and convince fans that things are in good hands. In the end that type of protection wins more friends than enemies.
Photo via NHL.com. All rights reserved.


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Hummingbird Camp Retreat offers a number of activities to add to your event's itinerary. The campuses alone offer pleasant walks through forest, field and along the Jemez River. The camp director will take your group on an invigorating hike to a hidden falls. This hike includes breathtaking views and a chance to romp around in a mountain waterfall. We'll guide your group on another spectacular trek that is a bit more rigorous. On this hike you'll find evidence of life in New Mexico from thousands of years ago among the Ponderosa Pines, Douglas Furs and scrub oak that line the trail. Ask the Hummingbird booking team to include a hike during your stay at Hummingbird Camp Retreat.
All three campuses at Hummingbird Camp Retreat have fire pits where you can enjoy a campfire and sing songs while munching on s'mores. The camp director will share a scary tale or two around the campfire to entertain your group. The weather, at times, may not permit an outdoor campfire. Your group can enjoy storytelling, song singing and s'mores munching in front of the fireplace in the dining hall's lounge. Let Hummingbird Camp Retreat's staff add a campfire to your planned event.
Hummingbird Camp Retreat has a couple of basketball hoops centrally located where your group can practice shooting or play a game of H O R S E. Next to the b-ball court there is a net and square set up for volleyball. You can also find space by the apple orchard to play a game of soccer or football. Indoor board games are available in the lounge in the ding hall. Please feel free to visit the Hummingbird Camp Retreat and we'll show you these features to help you plan your trip here.
There are 53 spectacular acres at Hummingbird Camp Retreat, and the Jemez River runs through it. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife service stocks the river regularly, so you may catch and release to your heart's content. Take a few fish to the kitchen and the cooks will prepare them for you, or you could leave a couple for Wanda. She enjoys a trout dinner when you do! Whether or not you care to fish the river offers many exquisite settings for walking, sitting, relaxing and enjoying the Hummingbird Camp Retreat.


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Waaah. March: I'm afraid blogging just didn't happen. Between moving into the new house, learning to ride our motorbikes, my mum and gran visiting for two weeks and then doing my headteacher training, there just wasn't any time to sit down and write up some of our back logged adventures!
So here's our March monthly round up to catch you up to date, and to fill you in on what will be coming over the next month now that we should (hopefully) have time to blog seriously.
First up for March was moving into our beautiful new villa. I have plans to do a full post on finding accommodation and what it costs to live here in Ho Chi Minh City. In the meantime here is a little sneak peek of our new home – complete with a huuuuuge swimming pool.
After moving in, we quickly grabbed ourselves some motorbikes and spent the week before my family arrived trying to perfect our driving skills. Believe it or not, we are actually pros! – It is so much easier than we envisaged, especially after our disastrous attempt to learn to ride in Thailand a few years ago.
Related post: Learning to Ride a Motorbike in Vietnam
My mum and gran then arrived safely in Ho Chi Minh City! We spent a brief afternoon wandering around town, grabbing some typical Vietnamese food and seeing some of the tourist sites before jetting off to the North!
First stop on our tour of Vietnam was Hanoi, a new destination for all four of us! Despite the cold and the rain we ventured out exploring. We did a walking tour, visited temples and ate some authentic Hanoian cuisine, including some delicious egg-coffee. We also tracked down the famous train street and felt the adrenaline of it speed past us!
Ha Long Bay
We then took a little break from the hustle and bustle of Hanoi and headed to the calm of Ha Long Bay, where we sailed among the limestone peaks on an Indochina Junk Boat. During our two nights on the water we enjoyed 5 course meals, kayaking, squid fishing, t'ai-chi and a trip to one of the floating villages of Ha Long Bay.
Hoi An
Following our busy week in the North, David and I headed back to work for the weekend. I then reconvened with my mum and gran for a girl's trip to Hoi An. This was a second visit for me and it was nice to return to my favourite town in Vietnam. We wandered around the ancient UNESCO town, ate some delicious local food and went on a day trip to My Son.
Related Post: Hoi An Guide and Budget
After some souvenir shopping we hopped back to Ho Chi Minh City, were we enjoyed some rooftop cocktails at our favourite spot before my mum and gran travelled onto Bangkok and then home. It was a busy, hectic few weeks but it was super lovely to spend lots of time with them and show them the country we call home!
Savings and Expenditure
This month we had a lot of extra expenses, mainly related to moving house – the deposit, two months rent up front, having to buy some furniture ourselves all while still paying rent on our old apartment. We also used our Vietnamese dong to pay for the whole of my mums time in Vietnam (she'll be repaying us into our UK accounts making it a cheap and easy was to transfer money back home). With all of this going on, and everything being paid using cash its been a bit challenging to keep tabs on expenses this month. Hopefully we'll have a better handle on it next month so we can share it with you all.
After all of this our savings for this month are looking a bit sad, but it's comforting to know that all the money we make in April will stay with us – no accommodation to pay for, no trips booked and money coming back from when family were here AND we get the deposit back from our old flat! Just food, socialising and our bikes to pay for. Easy!
UP NEXT: April Plans
April is going to be a bit of a slow and relatively quiet month I think, while we recover from the busyness of March and and try to recoup some of our savings which are looking a bit deflated. We do have a long weekend off at the very end of April, so depending on how itchy our feet are getting, we may take a last minute get away!


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Extended Scoop.It Curators Insight: The real role of the teacher and a growth mindset
During a time of significant educational change, as educators we are forced to address the contemporary question: "What is the real role of the teacher?". Teachers acknowledge that they continue to be central to learning and students still need to develop real skills and real knowledge, however 21st century learners also need to be self-reliant, resilient, and fully capable of re-inventing themselves, meaning that students must learn how to self-direct their learning.
Contemporary teachers establish and design lessons to cater for all student abilities, remaining flexible to adjust their schedules to support individual student needs, while providing opportunities and resources for students to access new knowledge, and facilitating individual learning pathways and learning. Modern-day teachers support collaborative learning in teams, while providing opportunities for real-world, connected, contemporary and practical learning rather than isolated academics. Teachers become proficient in how students learn, not only in teaching.
21st Century teachers should strive towards being co-learners - not just teachers. They should allow themselves to fail often, not avoid areas of weakness and not being afraid to invite mistakes into their lives. This notion is particularly true and relevant when it comes to the use of ICTs in the classroom - older teachers are quite likely to 'fail' at times using ICTs and it may be quite likely that the contemporary students may possess a better knowledge about some of those ICTs than the teacher him- or herself.
Modern-day teachers should embrace change - stepping outside of their comfort zone - not wait until being an expert to introduce something new and they should not be scared of the unknown. Considering the rapidly changeable nature of modern-day technology, the aforementioned statement is particularly true and important for both teachers and learners. To maximise the use of technology in the future, educators need to embrace these technologies that can change the world and make things better. Moving forward into 2017, it is not the technology itself that needs to change, but rather people's attitudes, particularly in education where there is still often stubborn resistance.
Furthermore, teachers should feel secure asking colleagues for help and they should dream big, asking "why not?". One effective way to acquire assistance, gather and share information and knowledge is through professional learning networks (PLNs) and digital curation applications like Scoop.it, and to this end teachers are strongly encouraged to establish their own and join the PLNs of others.
Effective 21st century teachers question everything and model resilience and perseverence while believing that they can learn anything. They move into the student's own worlds and allow learners to work collaboratively, learning together and sharing knowledge. It is wise for teachers to continually consider and accomodate the pedagogical significance of the so-called 'Four Cs' (Critical Thinking, Communication, Collaboration and Creativity) as discussed in my blog reflection elsewhere and identified on the NEA website. Of particular pedagogical importance is the consideration of how the four approaches meet the modification and redefinition levels of the SAMR-model and how those ideas could be further developed to enhance digital pedagogies.
The above also aligns well with the notion of encouraging a growth mindset in both students and teachers, and how it relates to students' learning and academic development. According to Stanford University psychologist, Carol Dweck, the idea of a growth mindset is related to our understanding of its impact on our abilities and learning, and it is agreed that the notion of developing a growth mindset is as equally applicable to staff and teacher performance as it is to students, particularly relevant to the implementation and application of ICTs in the 21st century classroom.
According to Vygotsky (1978) and Masters (2013), students' learning is optimised when they are provided with complex tasks stretching and challenging just beyond their comfort zones while reinforcing their understanding of the effort-success relationship. For students to develop healthy attitudes towards risks, challenges, mistakes and failure, they need to be exposed to challenging tasks and expectations. Furthermore, to support the previous statements, Dweck (2006) states that "unchallenging tasks are a waste of time".
According Masters (2013), students need to understand the relationship between effort and success to develop a growth mindset and to avoid demotivating messages and student disengagement. Similarly, advanced or gifted students need to be extended with more challenging, complex material while setting high expectations for all learners (Masters, 2013). To this end, Masters (2013) and Wiggins (2016) agree that students' self-confidence is reinforced by their observation of the progress they make, appreciation of the improved quality of their work and succeeding with challenging tasks.
One way to encourage critical thinking, communication, collaboration, creativity and to promote a growth mindset by providing learners with challenging tasks while employing digital technologies, is for students to develop their own web calculators where the code for the web calculator runs in the browser. Web browsers enable truly world-changing digital technologies that a lot of educators and students have not taken sufficient note of - building a truly universal computation machine. Such a machine consists of a set of code that adheres to the basic standards for what the browsers all can read.
In contrast, the "app" world has developed around all the various hardware where the software often runs natively on Apple computers, iPhones, Android and Microsoft phones, PCs or embedded machines, which are often not cross compatible. Furthermore, in the case of phones one often has to pay to get digital material shared in a useful way and some of the applications may cease to work properly if the phone is not constantly updated to follow the latest changes in the OS.
Masters, G. (2013). Towards a growth mindset in assessment. Retrieved from https://www.acer.org/occasional-essays/towards-a-growth-mindset-in-assessment
Wiggins, K. (2016). Exclusive: Carol Dweck - 'A growth mindset is even more important after Brexit', August 8. Retrieved from https://www.tes.com/news/tes-magazine/tes-magazine/a-growth-mindset-even-more-important-after-brexit
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Chesterfield rally driver Rhys Yates heads to mainland Europe for the first time in his career this week as he contests the fourth round of the Prestone MSA British Rally Championship, the Ypres Rally in Belgium
Having scored a confidence-boosting result at the opening two rounds of the series, Yates suffered a retirement in Scotland last time out and will aim to reignite his championship hopes at the event. The popular International rally marks the switch to asphalt for the first time this season, a surface Yates is historically strong on.
The Brettex backed Ford Fiesta R5 pilot is enjoying his second season in the British Championship and entered the RSAC Scottish Rally just four points away from a podium position in the standings.
Clipping a rock in the early stages of the event meant Yates and co-driver Carl Williamson had to withdraw from the rally and will now cross the English Channel in a bid to climb back up the leaderboard on the closed roads around Ypres.
Yates scored his first overall victory on a sealed surface event at Rockingham last year, a form which showed in the closing stages of the BRC in 2016, setting many top three stage times on the Ulster Rally and Rally Isle of Man. D espite contesting the Ypres Rally for the first time, he is looking forward to the return to asphalt.
"I'm certainly glad we are back on tar again although I do know the Ypres Rally is a unique event and a far cry from the other closed road events in the BRC" says Yates.
"When everything comes together I feel very at home on asphalt and that showed last year with my times so I'm hoping we won't be too far away from the pace in Belgium".
Yates doesn't believe the lack of experience abroad will hamper him too much either.
"We will have a test out there the week before to get used to the roads and of course I will call on Carl's experience to help get settled in. I know the ditches are big and the roads are super- fast so we will need to really knuckle down and stay out of trouble. But I'm hopeful of a decent result and it would be nice to get back to where we were in the championship before the Scottish."


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Click here for names, dimensions, and prices.
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Natasha D'Schommer
Minneapolis, MN
Artists bio available upon request
I am a photographer concentrating on still life, landscape, and portraiture. I opened my studio in 1998 after six years as a freelance photojournalist.
I earned an MFA from Vermont College of Visual Arts and a B.A. from New England College, West Sussex.
My still life work offers an intimate look at previously unphotographed rare manuscripts, among them Beethoven's sketchbooks and Emily Dickinson's letters.
My landscape work -- often printed on stone through a heat transfer process -- explores a spare and serene Midwestern landscape -- undulating hills and cloudy blue skies.


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Forest governance is now recognized as a critical factor for effective resource management and enhancing livelihood outcomes. This paper recognizes the need for having learning element in the governing process, for which there has to be a continuous monitoring process in place. Based on recent studies, the current monitoring system at different layers in Nepal's community forestry is reviewed, and opportunities for improved micro-macro linkages and forest governance are identified.
Topic: learning, monitoring, community forestry, governance, resource management
Geographic: Nepal
Publication Year: 2003
Source: Journal of Forests and Livelihoods 2(2): 23-34


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How Much Can You Contribute to a Traditional IRA?
Contribution Limits for 2018 and How Much You Can Deduct
For 2018, you can contribute $5,500 ($6,500 if you're age 50 or older) to an IRA. Contributions to a traditional IRA are tax-deferred, meaning that you won't pay income tax until you withdraw the money. There are contribution limits, and you'll need to make the contribution by the due date of your tax return.
There are two types of IRAs: traditional and Roth IRA. Unlike a traditional IRA that uses pretax dollars, Roth IRA contributions are made with after-tax dollars so you won't have to pay taxes on this money when you withdraw it.
Dollar Limits for Contributions to an Individual Retirement Account
You can contribute to a traditional IRA, a Roth IRA, or both. The total annual contributions to all of your and cannot be more than:
- ($6,500 if you're age 50 or older)
- Your taxable compensation for the year, if your compensation was less than this dollar limit
Contribution Requirements
You can make regular contributions to a traditional IRA up to age 70 1/2 provided you have earned income. If you're 50 or older, you can make catch-up contributions of up $6,500 for 2018. Roth IRAs have no age restrictions.
For IRA purposes only, earned income consists of wages reported on a W-2, self-employment income from a business or farm, and alimony.
The IRS explains:
"To contribute to a traditional IRA, you must be under age 70 1/2 at the end of the tax year. You, and/or your spouse if you file a joint return, must have taxable compensation, such as wages, salaries, commissions, tips, bonuses, or net income from self-employment. Taxable alimony and separate maintenance payments received by an individual are treated as compensation for IRA purposes. Compensation doesn't include earnings and profits from property, such as rental income, interest and dividend income, or any amount received as pension or annuity income, or as deferred compensation."
Deadlines for Making Contributions
You can contribute funds to your traditional IRA at any time during the calendar year, and you can also make contributions to an IRA by the first deadline for your tax return, not counting any extensions you might take. IRA contributions for tax year 2018 are due by April 15, 2019.
Where to Claim the Tax Deduction
Report your tax-deductible IRA contribution directly on the first page of Form 1040 or Form 1040A. You don't have to itemize to claim this deduction. It's an adjustment to income, so you can take it in addition to itemizing or claiming the standard deduction for your filing status.
IRA Deduction Can Phase Out or Is Eliminated Based on Income
Contributions to a traditional IRA might be fully deductible, partially deductible, or entirely nondeductible, depending on whether you and/or your spouse are covered by a retirement plan through your employer. If a taxpayer is covered by a retirement plan at work, his income determines whether his IRA deduction will be limited. Retirement plans at work include 401(k) plans, 403(b) plans, and pensions.
You can contribute to a traditional IRA whether you participate in another retirement plan through your employer or business or not. However, you might not be able to all of your traditional IRA contributions if you or your spouse participates in another retirement plan at work.
If you have a retirement plan at work, you won't be able to deduct all of your contributions if your modified adjusted gross income (AGI), or income minus adjustments or deductions, is:
More than $101,000 but less than $121,000 for a married couple filing a joint return or a qualifying widow(er)
More than $63,000 but less than $73,000 for a single individual or head of household
Less than $10,000 for a married individual filing a separate return
If you are married and your spouse is covered by a retirement plan at work and you aren't, and you live with your spouse or file a joint return, your deduction is phased out if your modified AGI is more than $189,000 but less than $199,000. If your modified AGI is $199,000 or more, you can't take a deduction for contributions to a traditional IRA.
To calculate your AGI, use the modified adjusted gross income formula.
Use Worksheet 1-1 in , available in pdf format on the IRS website, to calculate your modified AGI.
Once you determine your modified AGI, use the chart below to figure out if your IRA deduction might be limited.
|2018 Limitations on Deduction for Traditional IRAs
if Covered by Retirement Plan at Work
|Filing Status
|Modified AGI
|Head of household
|Qualifying widow/er
|Married filing separately and the spouses do not live apart all year
|Married filing separately and the spouses do live apart all year
|Married filing jointly: for a spouse who is covered by a retirement plan
|Married filing jointly: for a spouse who is not covered by a retirement plan and the other spouse is covered
|Is your modified AGI less than the "from" amount?
|In between these amounts?
|More than the "to" amount?
|Full deduction
|Partial deduction
|No deduction


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WASHINGTON (Reuters) - One regional Federal Reserve bank continued to push for a cut in the U.S. central bank's emergency lending rate in December, while three others renewed a request to hike it, minutes of Fed deliberations released on Tuesday showed.
The Minneapolis Federal Reserve Bank asked the Fed's board ahead of a December 17-18 policy meeting to lower the discount rate to 0.5 percent from 0.75 percent, while the Philadelphia, Kansas City and Dallas Fed banks requested an increase to 1.0 percent, the minutes said.
The discount rate is the amount the Fed charges banks who turn to the central bank for needed funds when they are unable to raise them in the private market.
The minutes of the Fed's board discussions showed that part of the reason the three regional banks wanted to raise the discount rate was to bring the spread between it and the federal funds rate back to its pre-crisis level of 1 percentage point. The federal funds rate governs the cost of overnight borrowing between banks and is the Fed's main monetary policy lever.
In contrast, directors at the Minneapolis Fed "believed that a lower setting would help to foster the (central bank's) macroeconomic objectives of maximum employment and price stability. The head of the Minneapolis Fed, Narayana Kocherlakota, has said the economy is in need of more stimulus not less.
At its December meeting, the policy-setting Federal Open Market Committee opted to keep the federal funds rate near zero but decided to begin reducing the pace of the bond purchases it has been making to keep long-term borrowing costs depressed.
(Reporting by Timothy Ahmann; Editing by Andrea Ricci)


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Cinco De Mayo (May 5th!) is on a Friday this year and we thought it would be great to celebrate with a Tequila Pairing event from 6:00PM – 8:00PM! We're going to be pairing Don Cheyo Teqila with foods from the region of Puebla Mexico!
This is a limited seating event so we encourage you to sign up ASAP (Tickets will be capped at 30)!
Some of the items we'll be preparing include:
Kona Shrimp, Ahi, Maui Mango, & Fresh Citrus
Paired With Silver Don Cheyo Margarita
Lamb Stuffed Poblano Chile w/ Walnut Cream Sauce & Pomegranate Seeds
Paired With A Fresh Pomegranate Don Cheyo Reposado Spritzer
Braised Pork Belly On A Crisp Tortilla w/ Butter Nut Squash, Salsa, Lettuce, & Cheese
Paired With Don Cheyo Anejo On The Rocks
Fried Pastry Dipped In Cinnamon Sugar w/ Caramel Dipping Sauce
Paired With Don Cheyo Extra Anejo On The Rocks
Many of the tequila will be available for order from Kadota Liquor in Hilo!
Cost for this paring is $67 which includes tax and gratuity!
To sign up, please fill out the form below and print out the confirmation page as your receipt/ticket to the event
Give us a call at 808-969-6640!


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Ivy stumbles over her apology.
Finally home, Wyatt is noticeably distracted. He downs his glass of wine and tells Ivy that his trust in her has obviously been "misplaced." As he grows more cryptic, Ivy spits out the truth, begging Wyatt to forgive her.
Can Wyatt overlook Ivy's deception?
Watch the full episode on CBS.com
© JPI Photography


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Good evening Ladies and Gentlemen!
I scanned through the comments and I need to see that gingerbread bow, the embroidered dishtowels and a million other things - I will be back to read them all in detail later - a great list of gift ideas in these comments!!!!!
But, in the meantime, by random number generator thingy.....The winner of our October stamp sets is:
DooDuhh who said...
Hi There!!! I enjoy giving little homemade items...stationery, cross-stitch ornaments, note cards, etc., something unique!!! I think it's much more personal if gifts are handmade!!! And...I like receiving handmade gifts, too!!! All the sets are exquisite, but I am in love with Nordic Winter. It makes me feel warm & snuggly!!! Thank You for the chance to win!!!
Loves & Hugs
lol, I love your 'screen name' DooDuhh... Congratulations - you win all 6 sets!!!!!! pop me an email with your name and addy details on email@example.com and we'll get your goodies all wrapped up!!!


text: David Jagielski - Wednesday, December 27, 2017 This Underrated Dividend Stock Has Grown More Than 1,100% in Five Years Savaria Corporation (TSX:SIS) might not have the largest yield or even a high market cap, but it does have a lot of potential. With a yield of barely 2% a year, it doesn't offer the allure of a dividend like Corus Entertainment Inc. (TSX:CJR.B) which pays investors nearly 10%. It also doesn't have the strong dividend-growth history of a reputable stock like Enbridge Inc (TSX:ENB)(NYSE:ENB). Instead, what Savaria offers is a lot of opportunity for growth. In the past three months, Savaria's stock price has risen more than 27% and in one year it has produced its investors returns of more than 60%. The company produces lifts, elevators, and helps improve personal mobility for many people. As the economy continues to age and as we see more baby boomers retire, there could be significant demand for Savaria's products. This is where we could see significant potential for the company to grow over the long term.In three years, the company's sales have risen more than 58% and profits have more than doubled. In its most recent quarter, Savaria's sales increased 73% as the company is on its way to another strong year which will continue to show strong growth.This dividend stock is a long-term play and as the company continues to grow and expand its bottom line, it's likely that payouts will increase as well. However, given that Savaria is still in its early growth stages, investors will need to be patient, but in the long term the rewards could be significant.


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Ludovico Einaudi
The boundary breaking composer and pianist brings his unique musicianship to the most cinematic of settings, the grounds of London's Royal Hospital Chelsea, as part of the Live At Chelsea Concert Series.
The Italian composer is one of the foremost classical musicians in the world, and has soundtracked everything from feature length films such as This Is England, to some of the most iconic TV adverts of the moment. His most recent album, Elements, reached No. 12 in the UK Classic Album Charts – a feat no other composer has managed in two decades.
Influnced by African, rock and electronic music as much as classical, Einaudi's classical music employs electronic instruments, and gets remixed by DJs around the world.
Einaudi's music has been performed in the most diverse of venues – from the Royal Albert Hall to Fabric Nightclub. His broad appeal even saw him perform a Radio 1 Live Lounge Session, cementing his cult status with music aficionados.
NB. Please note venue.


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Use the form below to contact Re-Member. We'd love to hear from you and answer any questions you have about our organization, or volunteer trips to Pine Ridge Reservation.
(605) 867-2282 local
(605) 454-5130 after-hours
(605) 867-2285 fax
Mountain Time Zone (MDT).
P.O. Box 5054, Pine Ridge, SD 57770 US
(605) 867-2282


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Seems like we can't catch a break from satin slides at the moment and to be honest with you: I don't really mind! There's just something so effortlessly chic about slipping into a pair of delicate satin mules, don't you agree? A few days ago, I was looking through the newest arrivals at my favorite online shops when I saw a picture of Dolce Vita's "Henry" Cross-Strap Satin Mules. The design seemed instantly familiar to me, but I couldn't put my finger on the designer inspiration right away. So I kept on browsing while my brain was doing its usual shoe memory scanning process in the background. And suddenly it just hit me that the Dolce Vita design was a lovely hybrid of Gucci's "Webby" High Heel Mule from last year and Gianvito Rossi's "Barth" Sandal Slides which we have already featured here in a previous blog post. Copycat math has striked once again! And I must admit: $595 + $645 = $130 is exactly the kind of shopping math that I like!
Go Shopping:
- GUCCI: Gucci "Webby" Crisscross Slip-On Sandals, $595
- GIANVITO ROSSI: Gianvito Rossi "Barth" Satin Crisscross Slide Sandal,
- DOLCE VITA: Dolce Vita "Henry" Cross-Strap Satin Mules, $130
Dolce Vita "Henry" is also available at Amazon, Urban Outfitters, Dolce Vita, Zappos, Nordstrom & eBay.
Image source(s): Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus, Dolce Vita