text:
Edsger Dijkstra's famous 1968 letter to the CACM, best known as "Go To Statement Considered Harmful," argued that statements such as
goto, despite their power, had hazards that programmers would do better to avoid. This letter started a programming revolution, to the point that today, transfers of control are almost always part of more restrictive control structures such as
if or
while statements.
C++ destructors have their own hazards, with nature and causes that are analogous to those of the
goto statement. This article argues that programmers should seriously consider restricting the use of destructors to data structures that are intended to avoid those hazards.
Dijkstra and Structured Programming
Edsger Dijkstra's 1968 letter to the Communications of the ACM (CACM) was originally entitled "A Case Against the GO TO Statement." The CACM retitled it "Go To Statement Considered Harmful." The document is generally credited with starting the Structured Programming revolution, which so affected how developers program that languages today such as Python and Java do not even have
goto statements.
When asked why
goto statements are harmful, most programmers will say something like "because they make programs hard to understand." Press harder, and you may well hear something like "I don't really know, but that's what I was taught." For that reason, I'd like to summarize Dijkstra's arguments.
People understand static relationships better than dynamic relationships because the latter requires their understanding to change constantly. Therefore, it is easier to understand how a program works if we can express that understanding in terms of properties of the program, rather than of the program's execution. This former understanding stays the same until someone rewrites the program, but the latter might have to change each time we run the program.
To understand a program's properties means to be able to point to a place in the program and think: "Whenever the program gets to this point, certain conditions are true." For example:
if (n < 0) n = 0;
Assuming that
n is a variable of a built-in numeric type, we know that after this code,
n is nonnegative.
Suppose we rewrite this fragment:
if (n >= 0) goto nonneg; n = 0; nonneg: ;
In theory, this rewrite should have the same effect as the original. However, rewriting has changed something important: It has opened the possibility of transferring control to nonneg from anywhere else in the program. In other words, even though rewriting the fragment may not have changed its behavior, we no longer know that when control reaches the statement after this fragment,
n is nonnegative.
Another way in which
goto statements make it hard to understand programs statically is by making it hard to describe how much progress a program has made during its execution. If a program includes only limited control structures such as
if and
while, then we can talk about which path each
if has taken and how many times each
while has executed, and build up from this information a complete picture of the program's execution history. Such a picture lets us understand programs by making claims such as "The number of iterations of this loop is the same as the number of input records so far."
goto statements complicate keeping track of the program's execution, because there is no limit to how much executing a single
goto can change the future path through the program. As a result, the program's execution history becomes much harder to describe.
Both of these hazards of
goto statements affect our ability to think about programs, particularly our ability to understand a program's dynamic behavior by making static claims about it.
Allocating Resources Is Safer Than Freeing Them
Now let's look at pointers. C++ programmers learn that pointers are dangerous because they might not point to valid memory but they don't learn why pointers wind up not pointing to valid memory.
There are two fundamental reasons that pointers might be invalid. First, the pointer might never have been initialized. This problem is not unique to pointers: Any variable of a built-in type can have a garbage value if the programmer forgets to initialize it. The unique hazard of pointers happens this way:
- A program allocates dynamic memory and uses its address to initialize a pointer.
- The program frees the memory, leaving the pointer with its previous now invalid value.
- The program tries to use the now unallocated memory to which the pointer points, and crashes.
It is important to realize that (1) is safe! It is not until (2) that there is any possibility of a problem. The hazard comes not in allocating memory, but in freeing it. Once a pointer points at correctly allocated memory, it will continue to do so unless that memory is freed. Of course, unless we have more memory than we need, we must free it eventually; when we do so, we must be sure that there are no other pointers to that memory.
This kind of assurance is similar to the assurance that we lost when we added a
goto statement to our earlier program. In effect, freeing memory is like transferring control, and pointers are like labels: When a program frees memory (transfers control), we must make certain that every pointer (label) that might inappropriately point to that memory (be the target of the transfer) does not do so in this particular case.


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Since 2008, county government retirees have not gotten a cost-of-living increase. But now the county commissioners are talking about such raises for county row officers.
If the county doesn't have enough money for retiree increases, why are cost-of-living increases being considered for anyone else?
As a former county employee, I have no extra money.
The county retirement board is obligated to consider every three years whether to give retirees a cost-of-living raise, but it has no obligation to approve one.
Unfortunately, it hasn't approved any.


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Difference between revisions of "Wolfberg"
(→New Routes)
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>> Back to [[Cederberg]] page
>> Back to [[Cederberg]] page
Revision as of 09:20, 26 May 2013
|Climbing Type
|Trad and Sport
|Rock Type
|All year round
|Western Cape
How to get there
From Cape Town, get onto the N1 towards Paarl, then take the N7 turnoff towards Malmesbury. Stay on this road past Piketberg and over the mountain pass. About 25 minutes past Citrusdal, take the Cedarberg; Algeria turnoff. Follow this dirt road (past Algeria campsite) for another +- 33 Kms until you get to Dwarsrivier farm. (normally about a 45 minute drive).
Fees & Permits
Contact details for Sanddrif Campsite:
- Tel: +27 (0)27 482 2825
- Fax: +27 (0)27 482 1188
- Email: email@example.com
- Web: www.cederbergwine.com
You must obtain a permit to go up to the cracks area. You can obtain a permit at the Sanddrif reception desk (you need one if you are going walking as well) or you can contact MCSA in Cape Town.
Accommodation & Food
The last big town you pass is Citrusdal, this town or the petrol station (100 meters after the turnoff to Citrusdal) is the last place to grab any supplies. Camping at Wolfberg (Sanddrif Campsite) is extremely pleasant, with a big green field for tents. There are fireplaces and hot showers/toilet facilities. Cottages are available, sleep six people and supply the following: Basic cooking utensils, eating crockery/cutlery, fridge with a small freezer, beds (no bedding). The area does get visited a lot so you should definitely book before going out (especially holidays). You need to take your own food for the duration of your trip. As this is a wine farm, excellent wine is available by the bottle or case (this can lead to late starts however!)
Stay at Sanddrif Campsite. The owners stay at Dwarsrivier Farm, just up the road. A small selection of food is available and excellent selection of wine can be bought at the reception office. Fire wood is also available.
Attractions & Activities
Superb quality Trad climbing on hard sandstone, gear placements are solid. Multi Pitch Trad Routes on stunning rocks and a sport crag at the base. The drive is +/- 2½ hours drive from Cape Town up the N7 highway and the a 45 minute drive on a dirt road. A 45min walk gets you to the base of the climbing. There is good bouldering in the Valley of the Gods. There are many places to go for a swim, one of the best spots however is Malgat.
The Rock is Superb quality Sandstone. The climbing is multi pitch using Trad gear. The routes are typically between four and seven pitches long. The rock is awesome compact sandstone with great friction. Once you have summitted, you will need to walk back down (you may also have to jump a small crevasse :). The walk up to the climbing area can be anything from 20 to 60 minutes depending. Ask at Reception where the path starts (very straightforward). Some of the routes offer an awesome amount of exposure (suck it up while you can). Grades vary from 3/10 - 7a+/25.
At the bottom of the mountain is a sport crag called 'Sanddrif' there are a number of bolted routes there.
- Please note as of October 2005*** there is currently an 'access/permission' issue with climbing. You can still climb there.
- January 2006 The situation has changed and you are welcome to climb at Wolfberg. You must obtain a permit to climb at the cracks and at the Sanddrif crag. Not doing so you jeopardise access for everyone!!
No Bolting is allowed until further notice.
Climbing is possible all year round all, though it does get very hot in December/January/February - July/August are very cold (frost like cold!) and you will probably see some snow on the higher peaks. Spring and autumn are choice times. In Summer, the trick is to be up early, walk up in the shade climb in the full shade all day.
A standard (but full) trad rack is advisable, double ropes and long slings are usefull to avoid rope drag. 50/60m rope/s will get you by.
Classic Trad Routes
- Energy Crisis
- Celestial Journey
Sport Climbing
Sanddrif Crag has some great easier (up to grade 22/23) routes.
Truitjieskraal is a short drive away.
Trad Routes RD
The following PDF files can be downloaded from: http://sites.google.com/site/wolfbergrd
- Mountain Club of SA – 1979 Route Guide
- Western Cape Rock – 1986 Route Guide
- Additional Photographs
New Routes
Whinge Direct (25R/X)
An alternative third pitch to Whinge taking the blank face left of the arete.
Start about 4m to the left of the arete at a good rail.
P3. 15m 25R/X: Climb up a few meters to some small crimps in a thin rail. Traverse right on hard, very thin moves to an undercling flake and then climb up and left to better crimps. Continue directly up a vague break to a good rail where one moves right to join the arete. Finish as for Whinge.
FA: Guy Paterson-Jones and Hilton Davies. November, 2011.
NB: This route requires very small micronuts and was headpointed on pre-placed gear.
Classic Trad Routes
- Satisfaction Guaranteed (19) 165m
The main feature on this route is the big left-leaning grey groove to the left of the overhanging bands on the south-west face.
Start from the ledges directly below the groove.
P1. 10m "F3": Climb past some suspect blocks into a short corner. Avoid a poised white flake by hand-traversing to the left so gaining a narrow ledge at the foot of the main groove.
P2. 30m "G1": Superb climbing leads up the back of the groove and out to the left around and overhang. Climb up the short corners above to a massive ledge on the right.
P3. 25m "F2": Go horizontally to the left on a narrow rail to a niche and then climb directly up on jugs to a belay ledge.
P4. 90m: An easy chimney gives access to an escape ledge whence scrambling on gargoyles leads to the summit.
FA: David Davies and Robin Barley. October, 1978
- Energy Crisis (20) 90m
The route follows a line to the left of "Lone Wolf" up a spectacular prow of red rock between the western-most Crack and the "Gaper's" Crack. It starts strenuously in the recessed corner to the left of the crest and then continues up easier but very exposed rock to finish on the incredible projecting nose at the top of the prow.
Start: In the left-facing corner with the obvious layback crack on the left side of the buttress between the first and second cracks.
P1: 15m 20 Climb the corner crack to a good ledge.
P2: 35m 15 Climb a groove for 5m then traverse right to the edge of the buttress and go straight up to a ledge.
P3: 20m 13 Climb the groove to a big overhang then traverse left onto an exposed face.
P4: 10m 18 Move up to a rail and traverse left around the buttress to a ledge.
P5: 40m 17 Climb up on the right of a hollow flake then step right and continue up bulges to a large ledge.
P6: 25m 17 Climb the red corner and traverse right to an exposed ledge then follow the grey wall to the top.
FA: R. Barley and R. Smithers with M. Hafner on P5 and P6 1979
- Little White Mind Games (22)
Start: 10m right of Day of the Jackals below a long shallow recess.
P1: 26m 22 Climb the recess, then move slightly left and pull through the roof three meters right of Day of the Jackals. Move right to belay on a tiny sloping ledge.
P2: 12m 16 Move up and right past white flakes and traverse right on a good handrail to a semi-hanging stance at a threadpoint on a red block, 6m below the white patch.
P3: 23m 22 Move onto the thin ledge then climb the steep slab 1m right of the white patch (micronuts useful) to follow a diagonal crackline which leads into a vertical, orange hand-jam crack. Belay on the ledge above.
P4: 40m 20 Climb the obvious overhanging corner (Gallows Bird P3) and continue diagonally across the face to the skyline. Go up to a small ledge then up a blunt arête to another ledge. Move up to a big rail at 2,5m, traverse right and finish up a shallow red corner.
P5: 22m 21 From the center of the left face, climb diagonally left past a recess (Wolfgang P6) and below an obvious pocket to the top left-hand corner of the buttress. Walk back to a grassy patch below a smooth orange face, right of a large chimney.
P6: 18m 22 Climb the middle of the orange face passing a sloping mantleshelf. At the next rail move left to the arête which is followed to the top.
FA: J. Orton and G. Fish 1998
- Omega (19) 168m
The route traverses in from the right under the "BP Overhang" on the corner between the south-east and south-west faces and takes the obvious line of weakness through the lower band of overhangs onto a grey face. It breaks through a prominent vertical step in the upper band of overhangs and finishes up the orange faces above.
Start at the left-hand end of the ledge below the south-east face.
P1. 23m "F1": Traverse to the left under the "BP overhang" to a small platform on the corner and continue around the corner on good rails to a narrow ledge.
P2. 15m "F2 and A0": Reverse the last part of the traverse and use a concealed flake and a peg to pull up into the recess below a ceiling. Traverse to the right across a face using a fixed peg for aid and move out under the overhang into a niche.
P3. 22. "F2": Climb up for 3m, traverse back to the left and climb a steep crack with some blocks in it to the level overhang. Traverse to the right past the overhang to a ledge below a short grey crack.
P4. 20m "E2": Climb the crack and continue up over large blocks into a cave-like recess. Move to the right and then back to the left onto a nose leadingto the broad ledge beneath the second band of overhangs. Walk to the left for 20 m to a wall forming a vertical step on the overhangs.
P5. 18m "G1": Use vertical hand jams, a peg and 2 nuts to move to the left across the wall and up to a small ledge at the base of a vertical crack on the corner above the overhang. Follow the crack to a stance on some jammed blocks where the crack narrows to a slit 5m below another overhang.
P6. 24m "E3": Traverse to a ledge on the right with a grey face above it, climb the exposed projecting corner and move back to the left belay directly above the previous stance.
P7. 16m "F2": Layback and jam up a tricky crack and then climb up easily past the pinnacle leaning against the face under an overhang to a large ledge on the left. Scramble 20m through a short steep band of rock to an undercut face.
P8. 30m "E3 and F2": Pull up through the overhang onto the face ("F2") and climb the face and a short recess on huge jugs to the top.
FA: Pete du Preez and Andre Schoon. November, 1978
- Alone in Space (22) 200m
The route follows the curved yellow crack system on the right-hand side of the south-east face and finishes on the magnificently exposed orange walls above.
Start in the vertical crack line directly below the huge detached yellow pedestal at the bottom of the curved crack.
Start: At the base of the obvious huge yellow crack system which splits the SE face.
P1: 50m 15 Climb the crack past a yellow pedestal to belay on the ledge below the 'Guillotine Flake' wedged in the crack.
P2: 20m 22 Climb up to a chockstone runner then descend and cross the roof crack. Continue up the crack to belay below the chimney.
P3: 15m 15 Step left and climb a smooth chimney to a sandy ledge.
P4: 33m 19 Climb up inside the attic, go through the window then follow the crack system straight up to a ledge.
P5: 40m 20 Walk left until able to climb onto the orange wall. Climb diagonally rightwards to the right edge of the face until able to pull over an exposed overhang above the arête to a stance.
P6: 5m Scramble up jugs to the top.
FA: D. Davies and R. Barley 1978
FFA: M. Roberts and R. Smithers 1978.
- Old Timer's Disease (21)
Start: On a ledge at the base of the wall around the corner to the right of Energy Crisis.
P1: 35m 19 Climb to a ledge then follow hollow flakes rightwards to honeycomb-like pockets. Rail left to a ledge.
P2: 20m 19 Climb up rightwards on a blunt arête to belay at a cave.
P3: 40m 19 Traverse left past some flakes and a smooth wall to a blunt arête. Move up this to a massive ledge.
P4: 15m 21 Climb the exposed arête past 2 pitons to the top.
FA: D. Davies, H. Davies and R. Barley 1992
- Afterglow (21)
Start: In a left-facing corner some 20m right of the Celestial Journey boulder.
P1: 50m 19 Climb the corner past a ledge until forced out left. Move up to a roof then out right and up a crescent crack. Rail left to a groove then go up 25m to a ledge.
P2: 40m 21 Move right off the ledge and climb up rightwards, then back leftwards under thin overhangs and past a peg to a ledge. Walk to the left end of the ledge.
P3: 10m 19 Step left and climb the grey face past a peg to a wide ledge. Scramble back over ledges to a rounded crack.
P4: 20m 18 Climb the crack until able to rail left to a large ledge.
P5: 30m 18 Climb up the grey wall above to a square, right-facing orange recess. Rail right and climb to the top.
FA: R. Smithers, M. Hafner and R. Barley 1979
FFA: M. Roberts and C. Leslie-Smith 1984
- Celestial Journey (22) 180m
Start: At a boulder below the smooth grey groove on the smooth SE face.
P1: 35m 22 From the boulder, climb the crack and follow the groove to a ledge on the right.
P2: 15m 20 Climb the groove and corner above to a large ledge.
P3: 30m 22 Climb the smooth grey face until a rail at 10m enables one to move 3m left to a peg and up to a small ledge. Continue to another ledge. Belay across to the left.
P4: 10m 19 Step left and climb the grey wall past a peg to a big ledge. Scramble up and right to the groove in the orange wall.
P5: 20m 21 Climb the left-facing offwidth and crack to a big ledge.
P6: 30m 20 Climb the crack above past a block to a groove which leads up to a hole. Rail 3m left then go up and left to a ledge and the top.
FA: D. Davies and R. Barley 1978
Day of the Jackals (19)
Start: Below a brown recess about 30m left of the BP Overhang.
P1: 18m 15 Climb the recess to a platform out on the left.
P2: 20m 19 Traverse back right and move up into a niche. Climb a shallow corner passing a triangular roof on the right to a ledge. Follow a vertical crack and smooth face on the left to a stance.
P3: 35m 12 Continue up the corners and move left to a stance below and right of the large grey ramp.
P4: 5m 18 Climb a corner and then traverse left on poor holds to a ledge on the ramp.
P5: 35m 10 Climb the ramp on jugs.
P6: 6m 10 Climb the rock band above then scramble up and walk right to a crack 15m right of a deep chimney.
P7: 30m 13 Follow the crack and move up the right side of a small amphitheatre and then back left through the overhangs.
FA: P. du Preez and A. Schoon 1978 (by a slightly different line around pitches 3 and 4). FFA: R. Barley and co. 1978
Sanddrif Crag has some great easier (up to grade 22/23) routes - its a five star climbing venue!
From the last route in Western Cape Rock guide on the left of the crag "impaled on the wall" go left 5 meters
Starting in the chimney crack is Bananarama 6 bolts grade (18)
Ayoba.....for Petes sake (21) First three bolts of Bananarama then step left and follow bolts to the top of wall
Venus (20) 7 bolts
Way left about 18 meters is Monkey Love 5 bolts (16)
A further 3 meters to the left is Milo Monkey 5 bolts (17)
From the last route in Western Cape Rock guide on the right of the crag go right 5 meters
Finding Neo 9 bolts (23)
Click here for Sanddrif / Wolfberg Accommodation
>> Back to Cederberg page


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Aug. 26, 2008
NEW HAVEN, Conn. - Yale tied for ninth among all Division I schools in the National Collegiate Scouting Association Collegiate Power Rankings released on Monday. The Collegiate Power Rankings rate colleges and universities comprehensively based on student-athlete graduation rates, academic strength and athletic prowess of the university. The institutions posted in the 2008 Power Rankings are in an elite group of less than 6% of colleges and universities across the nation.
"For a school to be at the top of a list of more than 1,000 NCAA schools with athletic programs is remarkable," said Chris Krause, Founder and President of NCSA and the originator of the NCSA Collegiate Power Rankings list. "Yale has made it to the top 2.5% overall in the rankings because of its commitment to academic and athletics, as well as its commitment to graduating its student-athletes. NCSA's power rankings objectively help prospective student-athletes compare each of their collegiate opportunities so they can make the most educated decision possible when it comes to their future. To be listed as one of the top schools in the 2008 NCSA Power Rankings shows dedication and commitment to running a first-class program, and deserves to be recognized."
The Collegiate Power Rankings from NCSA are calculated for each college and university at the NCAA Division I, II and III levels by averaging the U.S. News & World Report ranking, the U.S. Sports Academy Directors' Cup ranking and the NCAA student-athlete graduation rate of each college/university. The U.S. Sports Academy Directors' Cup rating evaluates the strength of NCAA athletic departments, while the U.S. News & World Report rating recognizes institutions of academic excellence. The student-athlete graduation rates are based on those provided by the NCAA.
In addition to its ninth-place showing in the Division I category, Yale was 21st in the NCSA's overall rankings, which include schools from all divisions. The Yale Athletics Department has received numerous honors for its overall performance this past year, leading the nation for the third year in a row with 28 teams receiving NCAA Public Recognition Awards for high Academic Progress Rate scores.
In addition to the collegiate power rankings, NCSA publishes recruiting guidelines and provides education to the nation's top clubs, camps and combines to high school athletic directors, coaches and families of student-athletes who are interested in competing at the next level.
"The backbone of NCSA is education," said Krause. "The NCSA staff consists of more than 70 former collegiate athletes and college coaches whose focus is to match college coaches with qualified and committed student athletes, maximizing their collegiate recruiting potential."
More than 35,000 college coaches and more than 1,700 colleges and universities use NCSA to meet their recruiting needs. NCSA annually tracks more than 100,000 of the top student athletes in 25 sports who will be making their way on to college rosters with the ultimate goal of earning a college degree.
Division I NCSA Collegiate Power Rankings
- Stanford University
- Duke University
- Princeton University
- Harvard University
- University of Notre Dame
- Johns Hopkins University
- University of Pennsylvania
- Northwestern University
- (tie) Yale University, Cornell University


text:
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Accueil > Asked for review > Enzinger and Weiss's Soft Tissue Tumors, 5th Edition
Enzinger and Weiss's Soft Tissue Tumors, 5th Edition
dimanche 3 février 2013
By Sharon W. Weiss, MD and John R. Goldblum, MD, FCAP, FASCP, FACG1268 Pages
Trim Size : 8 1/2 X 10 15/16 in
Imprint : Mosby
Copyright : 2008
Here's your ideal reference on the diagnosis of tumors of the skeletal muscles, connective tissue, fat, and related structures. No other textbook matches its scope and depth of coverage in this complex and challenging area of surgical pathology, and no other text contains as much practical information on differential diagnosis. Throughout, microscopic findings are correlated with the latest developments in molecular biology, cytogenetics, and immunohistochemistry to provide you with a comprehensive and integrated approach to evaluation and diagnosis. Almost 2,000 superb illustrations capture the appearance of a complete range of entities and help relate these to their specific classifications. The result is an essential resource for all who diagnose and treat soft tissue tumors.
Download all of the illustrations from the book for use in electronic presentations with the new bonus CD-ROM.
Apply the latest knowledge on FNA biopsy, molecular biology, and cytogenetics.
Understand complex molecular events more fully thanks to new conceptual line drawings.
Easily distinguish between entities that have a similar appearance with the assistance of new tables that correlate histologic, immunohistochemical, and molecular biologic findings.
Navigate through the book quickly thanks to new summary outlines at the beginning of each chapter.
Get all the assistance you need, in one reference, to effectively diagnose these often complex and challenging entities.
Confirm your diagnostic suspicions by comparing your findings to nearly 2,000 full-color, high-quality illustrations representing the complete range of soft tissue tumors.
Access all of the essential clinical and prognostic data necessary to formulate complete sign-out reports.
Make optimal use of relevant ancillary techniques such as immunohistochemistry and cytogenetics.
Make rapid and effective decisions with the aid of extensive algorithms, and access information at a glance with abundant tables and graphs.
Solve difficult diagnostic dilemmas and avoid pitfalls with a special emphasis on overcoming these challenges.
Find answers quickly thanks to a new color-coded page design as well as a consistent approach to every entity.
"As the leading textbook on soft part tumors, it belongs in the core library of all pathologists, and on the essential short list of books in surgical pathology sign-out rooms." - Modern Pathology
"This comprehensive, clearly written, richly and artfully illustrated text should be in the personal library of physicians who care for patients with soft-tissue tumors." - The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery
By Sharon W. Weiss, MD, Professor and Vice Chair, Director of Anatomic Pathology, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA ; and John R. Goldblum, MD, FCAP, FASCP, FACG, Professor of Pathology, Chairman, Department of Anatomic Pathology, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, Cleveland, OH


text:
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Airlie's Tram service is operated by our gracious Airlie volunteers, for confirmation of Tram operation please call ahead of your visit, as schedules are subject to change. Trams seat 7-9 people, are not reservable and are operated on a first come- first serve basis. Trams run along a continuous path back and forth through the gardens during the scheduled time frame. Trams do not operate in high winds, heavy rain, or severe weather. For more information please call 910-798-7700. (Our walking paths consist of approximately 1.3m of trails).


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My name is Robert Doyle (more affectionately known as Beroc) and I live in Tennessee. I have lived and worked in this area all my life and probably will the rest of my life.
My interests are in art and programming. I have been a game modder since about 1999 and have done 3d models and art for this stuff for as long as I can remember, I am a programmer and have been in it since I was like 10. Couple art and programming and you get games. I love computer games. I also enjoy hanging out with friends and just playing board games and such. There is a wonderful game called Battle Bots board game, it is a game of programming robots to do things.
I am currently a web programmer doing an online purchase site in Nashville for car parts.
Multiple Groups/Members
|Noffsinger, Linda G.
|3251 Colquitt Trail, NW
Kennesaw, Georgia 30152


text:
Postcard perfect Pagford in the north of England is a microcosm of modern cultural turmoil. It is a lovely town full of factions — the rich hate the poor, the Anglos hate the Indians, and visa versa.
Postcard perfect Pagford in the north of England is a microcosm of modern cultural turmoil. It is a lovely town full of factions — the rich hate the poor, the Anglos hate the Indians, and visa versa. So, when Barry Fairbrother dies unexpectedly leaving open his seat on the parish council, it becomes the catalyst that pushes all of Pagford into barely contained civil war. J. K. Rowling leaves Harry Potter and Hogwarts far behind in her first novel for adults, "A Casual Vacancy."
It has long been thought that popular American author Louisa May Alcott was strongly influenced by her father, the reformer and teacher Bronson Alcott. Yet Eve LaPlante believes the major influence in Louisa's life was her mother, Abigail May Alcott, a well-educated feminist who was forced to give up her ambitions in order to provide for her family. LaPlante presents newly found source material on this little known woman in her dual biography, "Marmee & Louisa: the Untold Story of Louisa May Alcott and her Mother" (921.000).
And LaPlante lets Abigail speak for herself in a collection of letters and journal entries she uncovered in her research for Marmee & Louisa. The writings that make up "My Heart is Boundless" (921.000) reveal a highly intelligent woman fully engaged in the social issues of her time yet committed to making the best of a difficult and ultimately disappointing marriage.
After surviving Death Benefit, Robin Cook's 2011 blockbuster, beautiful medical student Pia Grazdani decides to put aside her studies to take a job at Nano LLC, a huge lab in Colorado working on the cutting edge of nanotechnology. They have developed tiny bots capable of cleaning up viruses within the human body but their work is very hush-hush. In fact, Pia is warned to stay away from other experimental work in the facility and to not question where the funds supporting her own work come from. Of course, she doesn't listen and soon gets into a lot of trouble. "Nano" is Cook's latest.
One of the great issues of modern times is the seeming incompatibility between science and religion. Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, though, prefers to see them as complementary: "Science takes things apart to see how they work … Religion puts things together to see what they mean …" He makes a compelling case for "The Great Partnership: Science, Religion, and the Search for Meaning" (215.000).
As an attorney with the New York City Legal Aid Society, Nick Mannino is hoping to take on the case of a school aide who is accused of kidnapping and molesting three boys. He truly believes Guevara is innocent and begins to lay out a rock solid defense. But his second case isn't so easy — he is asked as a favor to defend a man accused in a series of brutal rapes. It soon becomes disturbingly clear, though, that both of Nick's cases are somehow linked. Thomas Benigno makes his promising fiction debut with "The Good Lawyer."
Other new titles:
Fiction — "The Elephant Keeper's Children," by Peter Hoeg'
"A Winter Dream," by Richard Paul Evans;
"Merry Christmas, Alex Cross," by James Patterson;
"The Forgotten," by David Baldacci.
Non-fiction — "The Patriarch: the Remarkable Life and Turbulent Times of Joseph P. Kennedy" (921.000), by David Nasaw;
"Super Brain: Unleashing the Explosive Power of Your Mind to Maximize Health, Happiness, and Spiritual Well-Being" (613.000), by Deepak Chopra and Rudolph Tanzi.


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Following World War I, France acquired a mandate over the northern portion of the former Ottoman Empire province of Syria. The French administered the area as Syria until granting it independence in 1946. The new country lacked political stability, however, and experienced a series of military coups during its first decades. Syria united with Egypt in February 1958 to form the United Arab Republic. In September 1961, the two entities separated, and the Syrian Arab Republic was reestablished. In November 1970, Hafiz al-ASAD, a member of the socialist Ba'th Party and the minority Alawi sect, seized power in a bloodless coup and brought political stability to the country. In the 1967 Arab-Israeli War, Syria lost the Golan Heights to Israel. During the 1990s, Syria and Israel held occasional peace talks over its return. Following the death of President al-ASAD, his son, Bashar al-ASAD, was approved as president by popular referendum in July 2000. Syrian troops – stationed in Lebanon since 1976 in an ostensible peacekeeping role – were withdrawn in April 2005. During the July-August 2006 conflict between Israel and Hizballah, Syria placed its military forces on alert but did not intervene directly on behalf of its ally Hizballah. In May 2007 Bashar al-ASAD's second term as president was approved by popular referendum. Influenced by major uprisings that began elsewhere in the region, antigovernment protests broke out in the southern province of Dar'a in March 2011 with protesters calling for the repeal of the restrictive Emergency Law allowing arrests without charge, the legalization of political parties, and the removal of corrupt local officials. Since then demonstrations and unrest have spread to nearly every city in Syria, but the size and intensity of protests have fluctuated over time. The government responded to unrest with a mix of concessions – including the repeal of the Emergency Law and approving new laws permitting new political parties and liberalizing local and national elections – and force. However, the government's response has failed to meet opposition demands for ASAD to step down, and the government's ongoing security operations to quell unrest and widespread armed opposition activity have led to extended violent clashes between government forces and oppositionists. International pressure on the ASAD regime has intensified since late 2011, as the Arab League, EU, Turkey, and the United States have expanded economic sanctions against the regime. Lakhdar BRAHIMI, current Joint Special Representative of the United Nations and the League of Arab States on the Syrian crisis, in October 2012 began meeting with regional heads of state to assist in brokering a cease-fire. In December 2012, the National Coalition of Syrian Revolution and Opposition Forces was recognized by more than 130 countries as the sole legitimate representative of the Syrian people. Unrest persists in 2013, and the death toll among Syrian Government forces, opposition forces, and civilians has topped 100,000.
Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Lebanon and Turkey
Geographic coordinates:
total: 185,180 sq km
country comparison to the world: 89
land: 183,630 sq km
water: 1,550 sq km
note: includes 1,295 sq km of Israeli-occupied territory
Area – comparative:
slightly larger than North Dakota
Land boundaries:
total: 2,253 km
border countries: Iraq 605 km, Israel 76 km, Jordan 375 km, Lebanon 375 km, Turkey 822 km
193 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
mostly desert; hot, dry, sunny summers (June to August) and mild, rainy winters (December to February) along coast; cold weather with snow or sleet periodically in Damascus
primarily semiarid and desert plateau; narrow coastal plain; mountains in west
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: unnamed location near Lake Tiberias -200 m
highest point: Mount Hermon 2,814 m
Natural resources:
petroleum, phosphates, chrome and manganese ores, asphalt, iron ore, rock salt, marble, gypsum, hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 24.9%
permanent crops: 5.69%
other: 69.41% (2011)
Irrigated land:
13,410 sq km (2010)
Total renewable water resources:
16.8 cu km (2011)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 16.76 cu km/yr (9%/4%/88%)
per capita: 867.4 cu m/yr (2005)
Natural hazards:
dust storms, sandstorms
volcanism: Syria's two historically active volcanoes, Es Safa and an unnamed volcano near the Turkish border have not erupted in centuries
Environment – current issues:
deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; water pollution from raw sewage and petroleum refining wastes; inadequate potable water
Environment – international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification
Geography – note:
the capital of Damascus – located at an oasis fed by the Barada River – is thought to be one of the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities; there are 41 Israeli settlements and civilian land use sites in the
Israeli-occupied Golan Heights (2010 est.)
People and Society
noun: Syrian(s)
adjective: Syrian
Ethnic groups:
Arab 90.3%, Kurds, Armenians, and other 9.7%
Arabic (official), Kurdish, Armenian, Aramaic, Circassian (widely understood); French, English (somewhat understood)
Sunni Muslim (Islam – official) 74%, other Muslim (includes Alawite, Druze) 16%, Christian (various denominations) 10%, Jewish (tiny communities in Damascus, Al Qamishli, and Aleppo)
22,457,336 (July 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53
note: approximately 18,700 Israeli settlers live in the Golan Heights (2011)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 33.9% (male 3,900,073/female 3,707,117)
15-24 years: 20.8% (male 2,387,006/female 2,285,496)
25-54 years: 36.9% (male 4,214,621/female 4,075,181)
55-64 years: 4.6% (male 504,422/female 517,413)
65 years and over: 3.9% (male 395,806/female 470,201) (2013 est.)
Dependency ratios:
total dependency ratio: 64.3 %
youth dependency ratio: 57.7 %
elderly dependency ratio: 6.7 %
potential support ratio: 15 (2013)
Median age:
total: 22.7 years
male: 22.5 years
female: 22.9 years (2013 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.15% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 181
Birth rate:
23.01 births/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73
Death rate:
3.67 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 211
Net migration rate:
-17.89 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 219
urban population: 56.1% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization: 2.36% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
Major urban areas – population:
Aleppo 2.985 million; DAMASCUS (capital) 2.527 million; Hims 1.276 million; Hamah 854,000 (2009)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female
total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2013 est.)
Maternal mortality rate:
70 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)
country comparison to the world: 88
Infant mortality rate:
total: 14.63 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 114
male: 16.83 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 12.31 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 75.14 years
country comparison to the world: 97
male: 72.74 years
female: 77.69 years (2013 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.77 children born/woman (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72
Contraceptive prevalence rate:
58.3% (2006)
Health expenditures:
3.4% of GDP (2010)
country comparison to the world: 178
Physicians density:
1.5 physicians/1,000 population (2008)
Hospital bed density:
1.5 beds/1,000 population (2010)
Drinking water source:
urban: 93% of population
rural: 86% of population
total: 90% of population
urban: 7% of population
rural: 14% of population
total: 10% of population (2010 est.)
Sanitation facility access:
urban: 96% of population
rural: 93% of population
total: 95% of population
urban: 4% of population
rural: 7% of population
total: 5% of population (2010 est.)
HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
country comparison to the world: 134
HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS:
fewer than 500 (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 150
HIV/AIDS – deaths:
fewer than 200 (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111
Obesity – adult prevalence rate:
27.1% (2008)
country comparison to the world: 41
Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
10.1% (2009)
country comparison to the world: 69
Education expenditures:
5.1% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 73
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 84.1%
male: 90.3%
female: 77.7% (2011 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 11 years
male: 12 years
female: 11 years (2007)
Child labor – children ages 5-14:
total number: 192,915
percentage: 4 % (2006 est.)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
total: 19.2%
country comparison to the world: 62
male: 15.3%
female: 40.2% (2010)
Country name:
conventional long form: Syrian Arab Republic
conventional short form: Syria
local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Arabiyah as Suriyah
local short form: Suriyah
former: United Arab Republic (with Egypt)
Government type:
republic under an authoritarian regime
name: Damascus
geographic coordinates: 33 30 N, 36 18 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins midnight on the last Friday in March; ends at midnight on the first Friday in November
Administrative divisions:
14 provinces (muhafazat, singular – muhafazah); Al Hasakah, Al Ladhiqiyah (Latakia), Al Qunaytirah, Ar Raqqah, As Suwayda', Dar'a, Dayr az Zawr, Dimashq (Damascus), Halab, Hamah, Hims (Homs), Idlib, Rif Dimashq (Damascus Countryside), Tartus
17 April 1946 (from League of Nations mandate under French administration)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 17 April (1946)
13 March 1973; amended February 2012
Legal system:
mixed legal system of civil and Islamic law (for family courts)
International law organization participation:
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Bashar al-ASAD (since 17 July 2000); Vice President Farouk al-SHARA (since 21 February 2006); Vice President Najah al-ATTAR (since 23 March 2006)
head of government: Prime Minister Wael al-HALQI (since 9 August 2012); Deputy Prime Ministers Fahd Jasim al-FURAYJ, Lt. Gen., Walid al-MUALEM
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president; note – new Council appointed on 14 April 2011
(For more information visit the World Leaders website Opens in New Window)
elections: president approved by popular referendum for a second seven-year term (no term limits); referendum last held on 27 May 2007 (next to be held in May 2014); the president appoints the vice presidents, prime minister, and deputy prime ministers
election results: Bashar al-ASAD approved as president; percent of vote – Bashar al-ASAD 97.6%, other 2.4%
Legislative branch:
unicameral People's Assembly or Majlis al-Shaab (250 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held on 7 May 2012 (next to be held in 2016)
election results: percent of vote by party – NA; seats by party – NA
Judicial branch:
highest court(s): Court of Cassation (organized into civil, criminal, religious, and military divisions, each with 3 judges); Supreme Constitutional Court (consists of 4 members)
judge selection and term of office: Court of Cassation judges appointed by the Supreme Judicial Council or SJC, a judicial management body headed by the minister of justice with 7 members including the national president; judge tenure NA; Supreme Constitutional Court judges nominated by the president and appointed by the SJC; judges appointed for 4-year renewable terms
subordinate courts: courts of first instance; magistrates' courts; religious and military courts; Economic Security Court
Political parties and leaders:
legal parties:
National Progressive Front or NPF [President Bashar al-ASAD, Dr. Suleiman QADDAH] (includes Arab Socialist Renaissance (Ba'th) Party [President Bashar al-ASAD] Socialist Unionist Democratic Party [Fadlallah Nasr al-DIN] Syrian Arab Socialist Union or ASU [Safwan al-QUDSI] Syrian Communist Party (two branches) [Wissal Farha BAKDASH, Yusuf Rashid FAYSAL] Syrian Social Nationalist Party [As'ad HARDAN] Unionist Socialist Party [Fayez ISMAIL])
Kurdish parties (considered illegal):
Kurdish Azadi Party
Kurdish Democratic Accord Party (al Wifaq)
Kurdish Democratic Party (al Parti-Ibrahim wing)
Kurdish Democratic Party (al Parti-Mustafa wing)
Kurdish Democratic Party in Syria or KDP-S
Kurdish Democratic Patriotic/National Party
Kurdish Democratic Progressive Party or KDPP-Darwish
Kurdish Democratic Progressive Party or KDPP-Muhammad
Kurdish Democratic Union Party or PYD [Salih Muslim MOHAMMAD] Kurdish Democratic Unity Party
Kurdish Democratic Yekiti Party
Kurdish Future Party or KFP
Kurdish Future Party [Rezan HASSAN] Kurdish Left Party
Kurdish Yekiti (Union) Party
Syrian Kurdish Democratic Party
other parties: Syrian Democratic Party [Mustafa QALAAJI]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Free Syrian Army
National Coalition of Syrian Revolution and Oppositon Forces or Syrian Oppositon Coalition [Mu'aaz al-KHATIB] (operates in exile in Cairo)
Syrian Muslim Brotherhood or SMB [Muhammad Riyad al-SHAQFAH] (operates in exile in London)
note: there are also hundreds of local groups that organize protests and stage armed attacks
International organization participation:
ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, CAEU, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Mounir KOUDMANI
chancery: 2215 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 232-6313
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Robert S. FORD; note – on 6 February 2012, the US closed its embassy in Damascus
embassy: Abou Roumaneh, Al-Mansour Street, No. 2, Damascus
mailing address: P. O. Box 29, Damascus
telephone: [963] (11) 3391-4444
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black; two small, green, five-pointed stars in a horizontal line centered in the white band; the band colors derive from the Arab Liberation flag and represent oppression (black), overcome through bloody struggle (red), to be replaced by a bright future (white); identical to the former flag of the United Arab Republic (1958-1961) where the two stars represented the constituent states of Syria and Egypt; the current design dates to 1980
note: similar to the flag of Yemen, which has a plain white band, Iraq, which has an Arabic inscription centered in the white band, and that of Egypt, which has a gold Eagle of Saladin centered in the white band
National symbol(s):
National anthem:
name: "Humat ad-Diyar" (Guardians of the Homeland)
lyrics/music: Khalil Mardam BEY/Mohammad Salim FLAYFEL and Ahmad Salim FLAYFEL
note: adopted 1936, restored 1961; between 1958 and 1961, while Syria was a member of the United Arab Republic with Egypt, the country had a different anthem
Economy – overview:
Despite modest economic growth and reform prior to the outbreak of unrest, Syria's economy continues to suffer the effects of the ongoing conflict that began in 2011. The economy further contracted in 2012 because of international sanctions and reduced domestic consumption and production, and inflation has risen sharply. The government has struggled to address the effects of economic decline, which include dwindling foreign exchange reserves, rising budget and trade deficits, and the decreasing value of the Syrian pound. Prior to the unrest, Damascus began liberalizing economic policies, including cutting lending interest rates, opening private banks, consolidating multiple exchange rates, raising prices on some subsidized items, and establishing the Damascus Stock Exchange. The economy remains highly regulated by the government. Long-run economic constraints include foreign trade barriers, declining oil production, high unemployment, rising budget deficits, and increasing pressure on water supplies caused by heavy use in agriculture, rapid population growth, industrial expansion, and water pollution.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$107.6 billion (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
$110.1 billion (2010 est.)
$113.9 billion (2010 est.)
note: data are in 2011 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$64.7 billion (2011 est.)
GDP – real growth rate:
NA% (2012 est.)
-2.3% (2011 est.)
3.4% (2010 est.)
GDP – per capita (PPP):
$5,100 (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159
$5,100 (2010 est.)
$5,300 (2010 est.)
note: data are in 2011 US dollars
Gross national saving:
12.5% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116
15% of GDP (2011 est.)
26.1% of GDP (2010 est.)
GDP – composition, by end use:
household consumption: 69.4%
government consumption: 17.2%
investment in fixed capital: 20.5%
investment in inventories: 8.4%
exports of goods and services: 13.9%
imports of goods and services: -29.4%
(2012 est.)
GDP – composition, by sector of origin:
agriculture: 16.5%
industry: 22.8%
services: 60.7% (2012 est.)
Agriculture – products:
wheat, barley, cotton, lentils, chickpeas, olives, sugar beets; beef, mutton, eggs, poultry, milk
petroleum, textiles, food processing, beverages, tobacco, phosphate rock mining, cement, oil seeds crushing,
car assembly
Industrial production growth rate:
-36% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 172
Labor force:
5.327 million (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72
Labor force – by occupation:
agriculture: 17%
industry: 16%
services: 67% (2008 est.)
Unemployment rate:
18% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156
14.9% (2011 est.)
Population below poverty line:
11.9% (2006 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
revenues: $5.222 billion
expenditures: $12.59 billion (2012 est.)
Taxes and other revenues:
8.1% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 211
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
-11.4% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 207
Public debt:
52.2% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59
35.2% of GDP (2011 est.)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
37% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 222
4.8% (2011 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
0.75% (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
5% (31 December 2011 est.)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
11.7% (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84
10.5% (31 December 2011 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$18.1 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65
$22.37 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
Stock of broad money:
$30.17 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76
$39.36 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$18.1 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87
$27.8 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
Current account balance:
-$5.103 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166
-$7.726 billion (2011 est.)
$3.876 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123
$10.29 billion (2011 est.)
Exports – commodities:
crude oil, minerals, petroleum products, fruits and vegetables, cotton fiber, textiles, clothing, meat and live animals, wheat
Exports – partners:
Iraq 55.9%, Saudi Arabia 9.3%, Kuwait 6.1%, UAE 5.3%, Lebanon 4.2% (2012)
$10.78 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94
$17.6 billion (2011 est.)
Imports – commodities:
machinery and transport equipment, electric power machinery, food and livestock, metal and metal products, chemicals and chemical products, plastics, yarn, paper
Imports – partners:
Saudi Arabia 21.2%, UAE 10.4%, Iran 7.7%, China 7%, Iraq 6.3%, Ukraine 6.3%, Egypt 4.3% (2012)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$4.774 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94
$14.83 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
Debt – external:
$8.33 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103
$8.196 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
Exchange rates:
Syrian pounds (SYP) per US dollar –
64.3919 (2012 est.)
48.371 (2011 est.)
11.225 (2010 est.)
46.708 (2009)
46.5281 (2008)
Electricity – production:
40.86 billion kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57
Electricity – consumption:
28.87 billion kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62
Electricity – exports:
0 kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133
Electricity – imports:
0 kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136
Electricity – installed generating capacity:
8.2 million kW (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61
Electricity – from fossil fuels:
84.8% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87
Electricity – from nuclear fuels:
0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 180
Electricity – from hydroelectric plants:
15.2% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102
Electricity – from other renewable sources:
0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 188
Crude oil – production:
333,900 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 33
Crude oil – exports:
144,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35
Crude oil – imports:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124
Crude oil – proved reserves:
2.183 billion bbl (1 January 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34
Refined petroleum products – production:
255,600 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49
Refined petroleum products – consumption:
258,800 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49
Refined petroleum products – exports:
14,540 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82
Refined petroleum products – imports:
58,160 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64
Natural gas – production:
8.94 billion cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 45
Natural gas – consumption:
9.63 billion cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48
Natural gas – exports:
0 cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 184
Natural gas – imports:
690 million cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65
Natural gas – proved reserves:
240.7 billion cu m (1 January 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
63.1 million Mt (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52
Telephones – main lines in use:
4.345 million (2011)
country comparison to the world: 37
Telephones – mobile cellular:
13.117 million (2011)
country comparison to the world: 59
Telephone system:
general assessment: fair system currently undergoing significant improvement and digital upgrades, including fiber-optic technology and expansion of the network to rural areas; the armed insurgency that began in 2011 has led to major disruptions to the network and has caused telephone and Internet outages throughout the country
domestic: the number of fixed-line connections has increased markedly since 2000; mobile-cellular service growing with telephone subscribership nearly 60 per 100 persons in 2011
international: country code – 963; submarine cable connection to Egypt, Lebanon, and Cyprus; satellite earth stations – 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region); coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey; participant in Medarabtel (2011)
Broadcast media:
state-run TV and radio broadcast networks; state operates 2 TV networks and a satellite channel; roughly two-thirds of Syrian homes have a satellite dish providing access to foreign TV broadcasts; 3 state-run radio channels; first private radio station launched in 2005; private radio broadcasters prohibited from transmitting news or political content (2007)
Internet country code:
Internet hosts:
416 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 187
Internet users:
4.469 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 52
90 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 62
Airports – with paved runways:
total: 29
over 3,047 m: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 16
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 5 (2013)
Airports – with unpaved runways:
total: 61
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 12
under 914 m:
48 (2013)
6 (2013)
gas 3,170 km; oil 2,029 km (2013)
total: 2,052 km
country comparison to the world: 72
standard gauge: 1,801 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 251 km 1.050-m gauge (2008)
total: 68,157 km
country comparison to the world: 69
paved: 61,514 km (includes 1,103 km of expressways)
unpaved: 6,643 km (2006)
900 km (navigable but not economically significant) (2011)
country comparison to the world: 69
Merchant marine:
total: 19
country comparison to the world: 95
by type: bulk carrier 4, cargo 14, carrier 1
registered in other countries: 166 (Barbados 1, Belize 4, Bolivia 4, Cambodia 22, Comoros 5, Dominica 4, Georgia 24, Lebanon 2, Liberia 1, Malta 4, Moldova 5, North Korea 4, Panama 34, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 9, Sierra Leone 13, Tanzania 23, Togo 6, unknown 1) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Baniyas, Latakia, Tartus
Military branches:
Syrian Armed Forces: Syrian Arab Army, Syrian Arab Navy, Syrian Arab Air and Air Defense Forces (includes Air Defense Command) (2008)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; conscript service obligation is 18 months; women are not conscripted but may volunteer to serve; re-enlistment obligation 5 years, with retirement after
15 years or age 40 (enlisted) or 20 years or age 45 (NCOs) (2012)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 5,889,837
females age 16-49: 5,660,751 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 5,055,510
females age 16-49: 4,884,151 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 256,698
female: 244,712 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
3.6% of GDP (2011)
country comparison to the world: 31
Transnational Issues
Disputes – international:
Golan Heights is Israeli-occupied with the almost 1,000-strong UN Disengagement Observer Force patrolling a buffer zone since 1964; lacking a treaty or other documentation describing the boundary, portions of the Lebanon-Syria boundary are unclear with several sections in dispute; since 2000, Lebanon has claimed Shab'a Farms in the Golan Heights; 2004 Agreement and pending demarcation settles border dispute with Jordan
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 486,946 (Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA)); 87,741 (Iraq) (2012)
IDPs: 4.25 million (ongoing civil war since 2011) (2012)
stateless persons: 221,000 (2012); note – Syria's stateless population is composed of Kurds and Palestinians; stateless persons are prevented from voting, owning land, holding certain jobs, receiving food subsidies or public healthcare, enrolling in public schools, or being legally married to Syrian citizens; in 1962, some 120,000 Syrian Kurds were stripped of their Syrian citizenship, rendering them and their descendants stateless; in 2011, the Syrian government granted citizenship to thousands of Syrian Kurds as a means of appeasement; however, resolving the question of statelessness is not a priority given Syria's ongoing civil war
Trafficking in persons:
current situation: due to Syria's political uprising and violent unrest, hundreds of thousands of Syrians, foreign migrant workers, and refugees have fled the country and are vulnerable to human trafficking; the lack of security and inaccessibility of the majority of the country makes it impossible to conduct a thorough analysis of the ongoing conflict and the scope and magnitude of Syria's human trafficking situation; prior to the uprising, Syria was principally a destination country for women and children subjected to forced labor or sex trafficking; thousands of women – the majority from Indonesia, the Philippines, Somalia, and Ethiopia – were recruited to work as domestic servants but were subsequently subjected to forced labor; Filipina domestic workers continue to be sent to Syria and are vulnerable to forced labor; the Syrian armed forces and opposition forces are using Syrian children in combat and support roles and as human shields; Iraqi women and girls continue to be sexually exploited, and Syrian children still face conditions of forced labor
tier rating: Tier 3 – the government does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so; the government does not demonstrate evidence of increasing efforts to investigate and punish trafficking offenses, provide protective services to victims, inform the public about human trafficking, or provide much-needed anti-trafficking training to law enforcement and social welfare officials; the government does not refer any victims to NGO-operated shelters and has failed to institute procedures for the identification, interview, and referral of trafficking victims; the status of the national plan of action against trafficking is unknown (2013)
Illicit drugs:
a transit point for opiates, hashish, and cocaine bound for regional and Western markets; weak anti-money-laundering controls and bank privatization may leave it vulnerable to money laundering


text:
Modern Enchantment™
EXCLUSIVE This bright and beautiful bouquet was inspired by the tranquil beauty found in a field of wildflowers. Our expert florists start with cheerful yellow sunflowers, which are gathered together with lavender stock and pink calcynia into a chic cube vase. We can't think of a better way to delight all the special people in your life—whatever the occasion.


text:
VDC 0.5 metre 50ohm Antenna cable (BNC-BNC) (110-245-000)
VDC 0.5 metre 50ohm Antenna Cable
• Connectors: Male BNC - Male BNC
• Colour: Black
• Length: 0.5 metres / 1.5ft
- This product will be ordered in from our suppliers as required. Please contact us for availability.
We normally ship this item within the UK by Royal Mail. This is not a guaranteed service and can take up to 14 days for delivery. If you need this item faster, please upgrade to a Before 12 service and we will send it by Special Delivery or courier.
Mainland UK: £3.50 within mainland UK ( Orders over £99 are delivered FREE )
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Order this item before 4pm and receive it on the next working day, mainland UK only*
Additional Information
Brand Vdc Condition New Connector 1 BNC Connector 2 BNC Cable Length 0.5 Metres Cable Features Metal Plugs


text:
Watch These Cats Jumping Up and Catching Stuff — Daily Distraction
[onescreen item="5159172"]
Everyone knows that cats always land on their feet, but often it's how they get up in the air in the first place that's much more impressive.
House cats (like their bigger cousins in the wild) have tremendous leaping ability. Nothing in the air is safe, unless you're waaaaaaaay up there. Like on the ceiling. Or the second floor.
The Daily Distraction is your Internet break from reality. Whether you're eating lunch at your desk or avoiding high school exes on Facebook, you might just laugh, say "aaahhh" or not believe what you just watched.


text:
Rates for Influencers like @lifestrideshoe
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$90.49 average cost per post.
4.621 average engagement rate.
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Midfielder talks exclusively to evertontv after rejoining the Blues on a permanent deal.
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From the World Travel Awards to "Conde Nast Traveler" magazine's annual Gold List, experts keep a close eye on developments in the market and have found luxury hotels on all seven continents. And here are the top 5 luxurious hotels in the world:
1. Grand Hotel Europe
Grand Hotel Europe is the leading luxurious hotel in the world. Located at Nevsky Prospekt, Mikhailovskaya Ulitsa 1/7, 191186 St. Petersburg, Russia. Positioned adjacent to Arts Square, the hotel has strong associations with the worlds of theatre, music and dance. Past guests include Tchaikovsky and Pavarotti, crowned heads and world leaders.
2. Chewton Glen
Chewton Glen is the next leading luxurious hotel in the world. Located at New Milton, New Forest, Hampshire BH25 6QS, England, UK. Chewton Glen is a privately owned Luxury Country House Hotel & Spa located in England on the edge of the historic New Forest National Park and within walking distance of the sea and easy reach of Christchurch, Bournemouth and Southampton.
3. Thanda Private Game Reserve
Thanda Private Game Reserve is third on the list. Located at D242, Off N2 Bayala Road, Hluhluwe 3960, South Africa. Thanda Private Game Reserve is South Africa's top award-winning safari destination and is situated in northern Zululand, in close proximity to the Indian Ocean.
4. Burj Al Arab
Burj Al Arab in the fourth place. Located at Off Jumeirah Beach Road, Umm Suqeim, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Situated in Dubai's Jumeirah Beach strip, 15 km from the main city centre and 25 km from Dubai International Airport. Designed to resemble a billowing sail, Burj Al Arab soars to a height of 321 metres, dominating the Dubai skyline. Illuminated at night by choreographed lighting representing water and fire.
5. Emirates Palace
Emirates Palace in fifth place. Located at Sheikh Zayed Road, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Emirates Palace is the ideal address for business/leisure requirements during your stay in Abu Dhabi.


text: Our one-piece metal bell is made of high quality steel with copper finish. Tapered shape, 1-3/4" high, with bottom dimensions of 1-1/2" by 2". Bell fits a 3/4" wide neckstrap (our nylon doe collar). Putting bells on your goats will help you keep track of them, especially those grazing in brush; will also alert you to activity in goat yard. Also available by the box of 12.


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What is shingles?
Shingles, or herpes zoster, is a common viral infection of the nerves, which results in a painful rash or small blisters on an area of skin. It can appear anywhere on the body, but it typically appears on only one side of the face or body. Burning or shooting pain and tingling or itching are early signs of the infection. Even after the rash is gone, the pain can continue for months, even years.
Shingles is caused by the reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus, the virus that causes chickenpox. After a person has had chickenpox, the virus lies dormant in certain nerves for many years. Herpes zoster is more common in people with weakened immune systems, and in people over the age of 50.
According to the CDC, at least one million people develop shingles in the U.S. each year.
What are the symptoms of shingles?
The following are the most common symptoms of shingles. However, each individual may experience symptoms differently. Symptoms may include:
Skin sensitivity, tingling, itching, and/or pain in the area of the skin before the rash appears
Rash, which appears after one to five days and initially looks like small, red spots that turn into blisters
Blisters typically scab over in seven to ten days and clear up within two to four weeks
Other early symptoms of shingles may include:
Gastrointestinal upset
Feeling ill
Fever and/or chills
The symptoms of shingles may resemble other medical conditions or problems. Always consult your health care provider for a diagnosis.
How is shingles diagnosed?
In addition to a complete physical exam and medical history, diagnostic tests for shingles may include:
Rash. The rash is so characteristic of shingles that a presumptive diagnosis is often made by just looking at the rash. The rash is typically confined to one area on one side of the body or face, and appears as red spots, small fluid- or pus-filled vesicles, or scabs.
Skin scrapings. A procedure in which the skin is gently scraped to determine if the virus is shingles or another virus.
Complications of shingles
Active shingles symptoms usually do not last longer than three to five weeks. However, complications can occur. The two major complications that can result from shingles include:
Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). The most common complication of shingles is postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). PHN is characterized by continuous, chronic pain that a person feels even after the skin lesions have healed. The pain may be severe in the area where the blisters were present, and the affected skin may be very sensitive to heat and cold.
People who are at increased risk for PHN include those who have severe pain during active shingles, those with sensory impairment, and elderly people. Early treatment of shingles may prevent PHN. In addition, analgesics (pain relieving medications) and steroid treatment (to help reduce inflammation) may be used to treat the pain and inflammation. Other treatments include antiviral drugs, antidepressants, anticonvulsants, and topical agents.
Bacterial infection. A second severe complication of shingles is a bacterial infection on the skin where the lesions are located. Rarely, infections can lead to further complications, such as superficial gangrene and scarring. When an infection occurs near or on the eyes, a corneal infection can occur which can lead to temporary or permanent blindness.
Treatment for shingles
Specific treatment for shingles will be determined by your health care provider based on:
Your age, overall health, and medical history
Extent of the condition
Your tolerance for specific medications, procedures, or therapies
Expectations for the course of the condition
Your opinion or preference
Shingles has to run its course; there is no cure for the disease. Treatment usually focuses on pain relief. Treatment may include painkillers to help alleviate some of the pain and antiviral drugs to help lessen some of the symptoms and minimize nerve damage. Other treatments may include:
Bed rest, especially during the early phase of shingles, and if fever is present
Topical agents
Cool compresses applied to affected skin areas
Antiviral medications (such as acyclovir, valacyclovir, and famciclovir)
A vaccine to prevent shingles was approved by the FDA in 2006. The vaccine, called Zostavax, is recommended for adults 60 years of age and older who are not immunocompromised. The vaccine has been found to reduce the number of cases of shingles and the incidence of PHN in older adults.


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I heard about exploding Nikon D800s before but I never knew it was as bad as this report by CNN's Anderson Cooper shows it to be. Seems like Nikon is doing good business in the middle east these days. Not only that, but according to our Swedisch correspondent Kai Reinertsen, the FAA has put the Nikon D800 on the list of prohibited items to take on board airplanes. Needless to say, shit are happen at Nikon.
I took a break from posting on the blog after the last post in order to calm down, rest and put my mind on other things for a while. Those cocksmokers at DxO Labs really got to me. I know for a fact that if I didn't take some time out I'd probably not be alive today. I started taking meditation classes shortly after that last post to help me calm down, and I must say it has really helped me. Swami Rajesh Ramchandrati really knows his stuff. I met the swami at a bar in New York shortly after publishing my last post, and he convinced me to start taking meditation classes the next day. He's quite an interesting fellow too. When he told me about his earlier life in New Delhi in between shots of vodka, it somehow reminded me of the time I served in 'Nam. I felt like we had a lot in common.
Turns out I've had a lot of repressed anger and fear inside of me for all these years, which when you think about it makes so much fucking sense. Suddenly I could explain so much of my behaviour in the past. When cocksmokers like DxO Labs show up, all of this repressed anger surfaces and I just can't control it. So I told the swami about DxO Labs and the D800 and everything that was bothering me that night, and crazily enough, as soon as I mentioned DxO Labs the swami's whole body started shuddering and he briefly went into some kind of trance. When he snapped out of it a few seconds later, he explained to me that he felt some strong negative energy from DxO Labs. So I was all like "No shit!" Then he put his right hand on my head and closed his eyes and everything around me started moving as if I was looking at the world through some kind of jelly. Then I started seeing funky colors and got dizzy. I'm not sure if this was because of the swami or the fact that I had way too much vodka that night, but I decided that I had enough and that it was time to head home. Only problem was I could barely walk by myself. Fortunately the swami was there with his taxicab and offered me a free ride home.
But I can't tell you enough how relaxing all this meditation really is. My mind feels so light and clear these days and I've even been able to deal with those DxO Labs cocksmokers without losing my sanity. And that's great because it helped me to focus on the coming product launches in the next few weeks.
Anyway, I should be going now if I don't want to be late for my meditation session with the swami. I'll be back.