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1. "Influential" people in the USA, Europe and SE Asia are meeting to discuss concerns about turtles.
2. Articles about turtles are being written and published in many popular, well-distributed Western publications. Even one article in a Hong Kong newspaper recently discussed the turtle crisis.
3. The declaration in a court case by one of the owners of a very large Cuora trifasciata "cancer cure" factory, that they lied about the turtle being responsible for a cure.
4. The government of China "appears" to be listening and new laws are said to be forthcoming.
5. A few private citizens and zoos within China are expressing concern.
6. A spirit of cooperation is developing between governments, zoos and private people worldwide working together to solve this problem
7. CITES proposals are being considered in the spirit of protecting some of the turtles. People with power are seeking a way to help.
1. There has been no official government sponsored meetings of Chinese turtle people, known so far, within China.
2. IF China is listening, rumor has it that their probable response will be to close down only export of it's own turtles as of March 2000. Without stopping the trade of its indigenous species from within, this will further ensure their extinction by stopping the rest of the world from obtaining more Chinese turtles for captive breeding. Also it is estimated that 80% of the turtles sold in Chinese markets come from other countries. The control or banning of turtles imported into China must also be considered. The world's "turtle" people are concerned with all the turtles of the world, not just Chinese species. To seriously attack the problem, China, countries exporting their turtles to China (embarrassingly this includes the U.S.), and the airlines would also have to stop allowing turtles to be labeled and shipped inhumanely as seafood or catfish to evade quotas, regulations, and /or to get cheaper freight fees.
3. What should the people with "power" do? This question does not have a simple answer. CITES with very good data and the best of intentions is likely to "soon" declare all Cuora as appendix II. I fully respect the intentions of this tactic, but will it solve the problem?
On one side I say it's not enough and may be too late for some of the Cuora! C. trifasciata, C. aurocapitata, C. Mccordi, C. zhoui, and C. pani realistically should be App. I now!
On the other side, I see App. I or II status either eliminating non-Chinese people from the future of some Cuora or making it more difficult than it presently is to obtain any Chinese Cuora. It would be harder for breeders to internationally exchange captive offspring. If China does remain "open" to export, the prices of the Cites App. II Cuora would go even higher, and some of these turtles already sell for $2,000 US each, again making it more difficult for non-Chinese breeders to obtain Cuora. As for non-Chinese Cuora, the primary species involved would be C. amboinensis which definitely has a major presence in the food markets of China (C. galbinifrons to a lesser degree). But realistically, IF China respects Cites App. II and stops C. amboinensis from being imported without permits, I suspect other species will fill the gap, assuming exporting countries (for example, Indonesia) don't issue Cites II permits for unlimited C. amboinensis anyway.
My instincts tell me we have something good in motion. I'm not opposed to CITES doing what it thinks is best for the cause, and I truly hope their efforts produce positive results for turtles everywhere, but most important is that they presently are working for the turtles and want to help. It's up to us turtle people to speak up and help them figure the pros and cons of their actions.
Questions about solutions
1. Is there a way to encourage China to stop importing turtles for food and medicine, and to shut down the markets within it's own borders? Would education about mythical cures and public health issues help? Does China care about its world image?
2. Is there a way to encourage China's non-Chinese turtle suppliers (present and future) to stop exporting turtles to China? Would replacing profit with fines and punishment make a difference? Would they like public recognition for what they do?
3. Is there a way to encourage all CITES signatory countries and all airlines to enforce present and future laws? I am afraid if the pro-turtle countries follow the rules while the turtle profiting and eating countries don't, it's not going to work!
Maybe while China is listening and powerful people want to help we should all turn up the noise!!? The people that supply the markets are vulnerable, not only through CITES regulations, but also IATA shipping regulations, fines imposed on airlines for breaking rules, bad publicity for airlines shipping turtles (don't forget seafood and catfish labels, plus whitewashing shipments through Bangkok and Singapore must be stopped), and quota systems in some countries that are presently not followed. Isn't it interesting how Indonesia can bypass all of it's own reptile regulations and laws set by the ministry of Forestry (Dept. PKA). This is done either by shipping turtles openly mislabeled as fish/seafood without inspection via its Dept. of Fisheries or even worse quite often without any permits as just "general freight" valued at $2.50US/Kg, regardless of the species enclosed. Bangladesh has strict rules for shipments labeled turtles, yet large "fish (turtle)" shipments don't have these same rules!?
Don't give up, there is strength in numbers and our numbers are growing!!


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Gender Identity and the Autism Spectrum Support Group for Transgender Adults on the Spectrum
09/19/2017 @ 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm, $5.00
Event Navigation
Neurodivergent? Gender Variant? This group's for you!
Are you an adult with Asperger Syndrome or a related Autism Spectrum Profile? Do you identify as Trans, Transgender, Genderqueer, Gender Fluid, Non-binary, Questioning, or any number of other ways that would fit under the transgender umbrella?
Join us for the monthly group to meet others on the spectrum who also identify as Transgender, hear one another's stories and share unique concerns and perspectives that come with being Transgender and on the Autism Spectrum.

subset: commoncrawl


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Home Page
Stop Fireworks
Coalition to Abolish the Fur Trade
"We support this campaign because of the negative impact fireworks has on wildlife populations in surrounding areas. We must consider that building new developments interferes and destroys wildlife and their habitat. The least we can do is to minimize the impact by avoiding unnecessary entertainment events that include fireworks."
Lydia Nichols,
National Director, www.banfur.org
Return to Quotations
We welcome your comments
and questions
Our education and humane efforts include: abuse, animal, animals, bird, birds, canine, cat, cats, compassion, compassionate, conservation, cruelty, decibel, decibels, detonate, detonates, detonation, detonations, dog, dogs, environment, exploitation, explosion, explosions, explosive, explosives, feline, firework, fireworks, humane, humanitarian, kitten, kittens, nature, Ohio, Ohioans, percussive, pet, pets, puppy, puppies, pyrotechnic, pyrotechnics, rights, veterinarian, veterinarians, veterinary, welfare, wilderness, wildlife
This site is hosted and maintained by:
The Mary T. and Frank L. Hoffman Family Foundation
Thank you for visiting all-creatures.org.


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Transportation Options
Parking Information
WheelsSM Valet Parking
Overnight Rates:
- Regular sized vehicles: $44
- Oversize vehicles: $46
Hourly Rates:
- 0 – 6hrs - $20
- 6 – 8hrs - $24
- 8hrs + - $44
Getting to W New Orleans - French Quarter
Louis Armstrong International Airport (MSY)
Options for getting to and from the hotel include:
Getting Around New Orleans
By Rental Car
If you're looking for greener options to get around, check out the following means of transportation in New Orleans:
The streetcars run within block of the hotel and will take guests through parts of Uptown, Downtown and Mid-City. Stops near the hotel include Canal Street, St. Charles Avenue, the Riverfront and Carondelet Street. A standard one-way fare on a streetcar costs only $1.25. Please have the exact amount ready, as fare boxes do not give change. You can also use a Jazzy Pass which is available at select NORTA retail partners. For more information on the Canal Street, Riverfront and St. Charles Avenue streetcar lines including maps and hours of operation, click here or stop by Whatever/Whenever anytime.
Pedicabs, or bike taxis, are a new, green form of transportation to recently hit the streets of New Orleans. Eco-friendly, efficient, and fun, a pedicab is a great way to get across the Quarter as you're biked around in the comfort of a padded carriage. You can catch one on the street as they're biking by or call one of the options listed below. Most bike taxis currently service the Central Business District, Faubourg Marigny, Uptown, Warehouse District and the French Quarter.
NOLA Pedicabs: 504 274 1300 / www.nolapedicabs.com
Need a Ride NOLA: 504 488 6565 / http://www.needaridenola.com/
Bike Taxi Unlimited: 504 891 3441 / http://www.neworleansbiketaxi.com/
Car Services
In addition to luxury sedans, limousines, SUVs and minibuses, several car services in the New Orleans area also offer eco-friendly options including vehicles that run on Flex-fuel.
Signature Livery: 504-828-6652 / www.signaturelivery.com
Carey New Orleans: 504-523-5466 / www.careynola.com
Additional Information
If you require transportation assistance, or if you have any additional requests, please feel free to contact us at (504) 581-1200


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Seventy percent of Louisiana's public high schools showed double-digit growth in their school performance scores this year compared with just 2 percent of elementary and middle schools.
Similarly, 40 percent of "combination schools" — usually high schools that feature middle or elementary grades — saw their school performance scores grow by 10 points or more.
It's the reverse of the past decade when the lower grades, particularly elementary schools, were typically the engines of Louisiana's academic growth.
The state as a whole increased its performance score 5.7 points, from 94.8 to 100.5, which is the second-highest improvement rate in the 13 years Louisiana has rated its public schools.
The vast majority of high schools, 86 percent of them, outdid the state's growth rate. Many of these schools jumped up one or two letter grades, earning financial rewards in the process.
These strong results were released Oct. 22.
In an interview earlier this month, state Superintendent of Education John White attributed the striking high school numbers to across the board increases in both graduation rates and improved results from four separate end-of-course exams that high school students take.
He described these as new challenges implemented in high schools in the past few years.
For instance, graduation rates improved from 67.2 to 70.9 percent overall — a handful of schools increased their graduation rates by 20 percent or more. White said while more students are staying in school, schools also are getting better at data keeping.
Meanwhile, passage rates for end-of-course tests in algebra, English, geometry and biology all showed at least a little growth. Biology showed the most gains, with student passage rates improving by 9 percentage points.
"The schools met two different challenges at the same time," White said.
The challenges are growing more challenging. Consequently, it's possible that schools that improved a letter grade this year may drop back to where they were, or even decline.
Falling behind has financial consequences for public schools. F-graded schools are in danger of state takeover, and students at C-, D- and F-graded schools qualify for vouchers to attend private schools, taking with them money that would have otherwise gone to their public schools.
High schools, in particular, are being measured differently.
A quarter of a high school's grade will, from now on, come from how students do on the ACT college placement exam.
Points that schools received for high school students who score "fair" on end-of-course exams, which equates to a little below grade level, are being discontinued. Also points that schools collected if students achieved special "diploma endorsements" are going away.
And all schools are in the process of shifting to the Common Core standards, adopted by 45 states so far, including Louisiana, as well as new standardized tests that rely on those new standards.
The highest possible school performance score will change as well. In the 2012-13 school year, it will change from 200 to 150.
The revised accountability system is being set up with the assumption that schools will do as well on the new measures as they did on the old. White acknowledged, however, that some schools may show declines as they adjust to new tests and new ways of measuring how they are doing. He said that's a consequence of raising the bar.
"When you reach a point where you are good at what you were doing before, it's a very natural thing to say, 'Now let's increase the challenge,'" White said.
White pointed out that growth in performance scores was not confined to high schools. Indeed, 76 percent of the almost 1,300 schools that earned scores in 2011-12 improved compared with the year before.
High schools' performance score growth, however, far outpaced the growth in elementary and middle schools.
For instance, while 74 percent of elementary and middle schools improved at least some compared with 2010-11, more than 97 percent of high schools improved their scores during that same time period.
Indeed, only four out of 130 high schools declined, while 252 out of 956 elementary and middle schools declined.
Among high schools, Homer High School declined the most, 5.7 points. By contrast, North Webster Junior High School declined by 18.7 points. Both schools are in Webster Parish, northeast of Shreveport.
The disparity is clear at the top of the scale as well.
Walker Freshman High School in Walker grew 40 points, the most in the state. The fastest-growing performance score in elementary or middle school, John L. Johns Elementary School in Minden, grew half that much, by 20.8 points.
High schools used to be measured similarly to elementary and middle schools, but not so much anymore.
For years, 90 percent of a school's score was based on standardized tests, the rest based on factors such as attendance and dropout rates.
In 2007, the formula for measuring high schools changed, but elementary and middle schools stuck with the old formula.
With the change, standardized tests accounted for just 70 percent of a high school's performance score. The remaining 30 percent came from a new "graduation index."
The index gives a growing number of points to students who stay in school, graduate and take extra courses connected with college or career preparation that earn them "diploma endorsements."
The standardized tests also changed beginning in 2009. Graduate exit exams, which Louisiana students had been taking since the 1980s, were replaced by tests given at the end of individual courses.
Louisiana students have steadily improved on these end-of-course exams since then, and the year ending in 2012 was particularly strong.
Donaldsonville High School benefited from all of these circumstances.
This high school, which has languished in the academic cellar for years, jumped from 76.4 to 108.8 on its latest school performance score, an increase of 32.4 points. That was enough to allow the school to jump from a D to a B. The school's score is now 8.3 points above the state average.
Donaldsonville High's graduation rate helped, improving by 14 percent. And its end-of-course test results improved in three of four subjects, growing by double digits in geometry and English.
The school's numbers were also helped when its seventh- and eighth-graders were moved to Lowery Middle School in fall 2011.
The school, however, still has a long way to go. While 60 percent of its students are at grade level or above in algebra, slightly better than the state, only 28 percent were doing as well in biology, a rate barely half the state rate of 52 percent.
The greater prominence of the ACT also may hurt the high school. In 2011, it had just a 16.3 composite ACT score. That's 0.2 point below last year's score. It's a score well below the state average of 20.3 and the national average of 21.1.
The three schools that feed into Donaldsonville High also remain D and F schools.


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Saturday, January 10, 2015
Sold Out!
The Tadd Dameron Project, with the Peter Hum-Charley Gordon Quintet, featuring Gerri Trimble
Gerri Trimble, vocals
Peter Hum, piano
Charley Gordon, trumpet and flugelhorn
Rob Martin, guitar
Mark Fraser, bass
Scott Warren, drums
Tadd Dameron, 1917-1965, was an American composer, arranger and pianist whose influence transcends the bop era in which he was most active. Although he played with such people as Fats Navarro, Miles Davis and John Coltrane and arranged for Jimmy Lunceford, Count Basie, Dizzy Gillespie and even Stan Kenton, it is Dameron's compositions that are best remembered.
Among his most well-known are Hot House, If You Could See Me Now and Lady Bird, but there are many others, some undeservedly obscure, that have been recorded by such people as Coltrane, Clifford Brown, Chet Baker and Sarah Vaughan.
The Peter Hum-Charley Gordon Quintet has performed at GigSpace, Café Paradiso and the Brookstreet Options lounge. For this concert of Tadd Dameron compositions, they are joined by singer Gerri Trimble, an imaginative interpreter of songs, from bop to ballads.
The players
Delighted to be part of this Dameron concert with some of her most trusted musical compadres, Gerri Trimble delivers songs in a fashion that is ear-catching and personal. She brings to her music practice a deep love for the art of singing, her senses of humour and adventure, along with a detective's ear for seeking out beautiful and interesting tunes. In recent years, Gerri has performed with, among others, John Geggie, Rob Martin and Tim Bedner.
Largely self-taught, pianist Peter Hum was bitten by the jazz bug when he was a teenager, exposed to the music of Keith Jarrett, Herbie Hancock and Chick Corea. While attending McGill University in the 1980s, Peter was one of the house pianists at the first incarnation of the Upstairs jazz club. He also led a sextet that won the 1986 Lowenbrau Jazz Search and competed in the 1987 Montreal International Jazz Festival's cross-Canada competition. Since returning to Ottawa in 1990, Peter has performed with Pat LaBarbera, Kelly Jefferson and Johnny Scott, as well as with Ottawa musicians John Geggie, Roddy Ellias and Vince Rimbach. He released his first CD, A Boy's Journey, in November 2010 and will release his second CD in 2015.
Charley Gordon, trumpet and flugelhorn, has been playing jazz since the late '50s. His early trumpet inspiration was Clifford Brown and his current favourite is Tom Harrell. In Ottawa, Gordon has performed, often with Peter Hum and Rob Martin, at such venues as The Bayou, Café Paradiso, Vineyards and the Brookstreet Options Lounge. He has also performed with Rob Frayne, Roddy Ellias, Tim Bedner and Yves Laroche and has recorded with singer Andy Poole. A CD of his compositions, Charley's Little Blues, was recorded in 2012 by the Tim Murray Quintet, which also included drummer Scott Warren.
Rob Martin started playing guitar as a teenager and absorbed jazz through the influence of his father, an experienced jazz guitarist who played regularly in Toronto during the 1950s and 1960s. While in his teens Rob studied with Tony Bradan (who taught Ed Bickert, Lorne Lofsky, and Rob Piltch) and Andy Krehm. This was followed by study in the Humber College Jazz Program. After that Rob was a regular fixture in alternative music groups in Toronto. In the 1990s he studied classical guitar. Rob moved to Ottawa in 1996 and from 2004 onward has regularly performed in jazz and gypsy jazz formats. Regular partners in crime include Peter Hum, Paul Bordeau, Gerri Trimble, Renee Yoxon, Mark Fraser, Floyd Hutchinson, Richard Page, Karen Rauh, Mark Fraser and Charley Gordon.
Mark Fraser sites as his primary influences Dave Holland, Charlie Haden and Ray Brown. Originally from Nova Scotia, Mark studied jazz bass with Skip Beckwith while pursuing a Music degree at St.Francis Xavier University. He also studied classical briefly with Max Kasper (Principal Bassist of Symphony Nova Scotia since 1986). After graduating from St.FX in 1994, he relocated to Ottawa and has been performing with a variety of musicians in the Ottawa area including Peter Hum, Rob Martin, Renee Yoxon, Gerri Trimble, Craig Pedersen, Steve Groves, Brian Browne, Petr Cancura, Mike Essoudry and Rob Frayne. He was a member of the Friday night house band at AlphaSoul (with Adrian Matte, Alex Moxon and Ted Zarras).
Scott Warren is a primarily self-taught drummer who plays on the Ottawa jazz and improvised music scene. He began playing jazz in the late 1990s with inspiration and focus provided by Jean Martin at Ottawa JazzWorks summer workshops. In recent years Scott has shared Ottawa stages with many established local players. Among them are, Rob Frayne, Roddy Elias, Peter Hum, John Geggie, Christine Fagan and Linsey Wellman. He has contributed to recordings by Bernard Stepien's Albert Ayler Christmas project, the Tim Murray Quintet, and most recently, 100 (IMOO Vol. 4 released in October) with Craig Pedersen, Mark Molnar, Rory Magill and David Broscoe.


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Watch Every Famous British Person Reenact the Best American Movie Scenes
Cumberbatch, Redmayne, Hiddleston, and more.
Did you ever notice how so many of our finest roles these days are being filled by Brits? Vanity Fair did, and it made a cheeky fake newsreel about it, to celebrate the Oscars, we guess? Because it's Vanity Fair, they were able to get literally every working British actor in Hollywood. Benedict Cumberbatch jumps into a pond. Eddie Redmayne rides a bike. Tom Hiddleston and Felicity Jones pretend to be Bonnie and Clyde. Keira Knightley reenacts that famous scene from When Harry Met Sally. If this year is any indication, they'll all receive Oscar nominations.


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Classic Delice - The Luxury of Life
Long live opulence. We enjoy life and surround ourselves with fine materials, warm scents and intense colors like caramel, chocolate and raspberry. The esthetics of British clubs with their dark noble woods is the inspiration for a hair style that exudes true luxury.
Like a veil of real silk fine strands of hair flow over this classic cut. Classic delice - a look that spoils the senses.
Collection: Goldwell Trend Zoom
Related posts:
Short hairstyles
Men's hairstyles


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BBVA Compass online banking offers free bill pay that permits users to pay any company or individual, as stated by the official BBVA Compass website. To make a payment, users input the information of the company or person that they need to pay, such as the name, address and account number. They can schedule a payment ahead of time, schedule recurring payments and make one-time payments.Continue Reading
Users may opt to receive email reminders that alert them when a bill is coming due. They can also receive e-bills in lieu of paper bills.
The online banking service lets users transfer money between accounts, view account statements, issue a stop payment for checks, open new accounts and receive balance alerts.Learn more about Personal Banking


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International conference entitled: "State-of-the-art technologies: challenge for the research in Agricultural and Food Sciences", was organized from April 18-20, 2016 at the Tulip Inn Hotel in Belgrade. The main aim was to present the possibility to apply new state-of the art technologies in the field of agriculture and food sciences. The Conference will also include the achievement of the AREA project in Plant, Animal, Microbial and Food Sciences as a result of new expertise in DNA-based and Raman microscopy/spectroscopy technologies. The conference was organized at the end of year 3 of project AREA and it constitutes one of the core elements of the AREA project dissemination activities. The conference proved to be a stimulating forum for exchanging the ideas, information, knowledge and experiences of scientists from Serbia, West Balkans and EU leading countries greatly improved during the project realization. A three day Conference Programme included total of 117 presented papers, 15 plenary lectures, 22 oral and 80 posters presentations. The total number of registered participants was 164. Book of abstracts and the presentations of plenary lectures of the conference as a PDF files can be found on AREA website.
International Conference "State-of-the-art technologies: challenge for the research in Agricultural and Food Sciences"
Monday, 18. April 2016 to Wednesday, 20. April 2016


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Degree Completion and Student Information
At Penn State Harrisburg Continuing Education, we pride ourselves on making available the resources proven to help adult learners successfully meet their educational goals. The following information will provide you with a brief overview of the services we offer and how they can help you achieve your educational goals.
We encourage you to talk with an adviser before registering for your first class. That way we can help you get the most out of your Penn State experience. Feel free to call even if you haven't decided to take a Penn State course yet.
Courses and Registration
Find a Course
Visit the University Registrar's Schedule of Courses to find out when a particular course will be offered.
Registering for Non-Credit Courses
Most courses offer online registration links, but in the event that you need to register "offline," please download and complete the noncredit registration form .
Registering for Credit Courses
Please refer to the Registration Instructions for complete details for degree and non-degree students.
Transfer Courses
Many courses will transfer and count toward your credit certificate or associate degree. You can only transfer a maximum of two courses, however, for a certificate program. Earning Credits Through Examination Depending on the program, some CLEP, CPS, and ACT-PEP exams will earn you credit at Penn State. Be sure to talk with an adviser prior to taking an exam. Minimum Grade You must earn a C in all certificate courses. Depending on the degree program, several core courses will require a C to be earned. Overall, students in a degree program need to maintain a GPA of 2.0 or higher.
Cancellation and Refund Policy
The University reserves the right to cancel or postpone any course because of insufficient enrollment or for other unforeseen circumstances. If a program is cancelled, registrants will be notified by telephone or e-mail, and refunds processed. Please provide a daytime phone number for this purpose. Distance Education or Independent Study Distance education and independent study options give you greater freedom to pursue the courses you want on a schedule that is convenient to you. If a course you want or need is not on the schedule, talk to us and we will try to make those arrangements.
Proctored Exam Services at Penn State Harrisburg
The Department of Continuing Education is funded by World Campus to provide exam proctoring for Penn State World Campus students. Students seeking proctoring for exams from other Penn State courses or from other institutions should contact their academic unit or their school for other proctoring options. Read more about Taking Exams and Securing a Proctor.
Scheduling Procedure
- Check your syllabus for exam due dates. Complete the following steps two weeks in advance of these dates. We have limited testing facilities so our schedule fills up quickly.
- Use the Proctored Exam Portal to select Penn State Harrisburg as your desired Exam Center for each upcoming test that you want to take here.
- You must schedule an exam time by calling 717-948-6500 or e-mailing firstname.lastname@example.com. Please inform us if you require any special accommodations.
- You will receive a confirmation email with details and directions regarding your exam.
Testing Center Hours
Exams will be scheduled during the Department of Continuing Education office hours, 7:30 a.m.- 4:00 p.m., Monday-Friday. Exams will be scheduled based on the stated allotment time, and must be completed by 5:00 p.m. Please arrive 10 minutes before your exam time.
The Testing Center office is located in room 210 Church Hall, Penn State Harrisburg, at the corner of Alumni Drive (aka 4th St) and University Drive (aka Meade or 5th Ave) in Middletown, PA 17057.
GPS location: lat 40.2035, long -76.7507
Penn State World Campus Exams
- If the two-factor authentication is required to log on, please bring your cell phone with you to log on.
- No personal belongings are permitted in the testing room.
- The Testing Center does not supply headphones or other equipment for listening to audible portions of exams. If your exam requires listening to recordings of any kind (e.g., recordings of spoken words for a language exam), you will need to bring your own headphones.
- You will need to present a photo ID to the proctor at the time of your exam.
- Plan to arrive 10 minutes early for your exam to allow time for checking in.
- Review Penn State's policy on academic integrity, as the Testing Center is committed to upholding this policy.
- Find out the exam format, time allotted for the exam, special materials you may need to bring to the exam, and other useful exam information in Canvas.
Contact Us
If you have questions or would like to schedule an exam, contact us at 717-948-6500 or firstname.lastname@example.com.
Tuition and Aid
We know that financing a college education can be challenging. This site includes basic information on financial aid and tuition costs. Our staff members are also available to answer questions and help you through the process.
Financial Aid
Available Aid
If you are a degree student taking at least six credits (normally two classes) in a semester you may be eligible for financial aid through Penn State. Most aid is available in the form of low-interest loans, although Penn State Harrisburg also offers some grants and scholarships. For more information, please call the Office of Financial Aid at 717-948-6307. Many employers offer their employees educational benefits and tuition reimbursement. Check with your employer to see if financial aid is available.
Veterans under G.I. Bill®
Veterans who plan to use G.I. Bill® benefits for the first time should obtain application forms from their Veterans Administration Office prior to registration. Veterans should be prepared to pay tuition at the time of registration since the Veterans Administration reimburses the individual, not the institution. For further information, visit our Veterans Affairs Web page.
Tuition and Fees
Visit the Penn State tuition page for more information regarding current tuition rates. An additional information technology fee is also required, which supports unrestricted student access to University computing facilities, e-mail, Web, and key information services. This is a non-refundable fee assessed to all students according to the highest number of credits taken in a semester. Students enrolled in at least one course at the Penn State Harrisburg campus will also be assessed a non-refundable student activity fee. The purpose of this fee is to enhance the overall quality of the college experience from the student's perspective and is assessed according to the highest number of credits taken in a semester.
Semester Bills
Penn State uses a paperless bill paying system called eBills. The University sends an e-mail message to a student's official PSU e-mail account that the eBill is available to pay. Generally, tuition payments are due in early August for the fall semester and early December for the spring semester. Late fees apply to both full- and part-time students in degree status. Students may also access their semester bill through their LionPath account.
Tuition Refund on Course Revisions or Withdrawals
If a student is enrolled for 12 or fewer credits and drops 1 or more credits, tuition adjustments will be determined on the effective date of the drop.
Refunds for withdrawals are based on the date of the last class attended provided an official withdrawal form is submitted to the Enrollment Services/Academic Records Office within thirty days of that class date. Tuition refunds for withdrawals submitted more than one calendar month after the last day of class attended will be based on the date the form is received in the Academic Records Office.
The following tuition adjustment schedule applies to course drops and withdrawal from the University. The University follows a fifteen-week semester calendar. The first week of the semester is defined as seven consecutive calendar days starting with first day of the semester.
- 1st week–80%
- 2nd week–70%
- 3rd week–60%
- 4th week–50%
- 5th week–40%
- 6th week–30%
- 7th week–20%
- 8th week–10%
- 9th week–0%
For specific refund information, call the Bursar at 717-948-6009.
Accessing to other student services and activities As a registered student, you have access to our career services, libraries, athletic facilities, and all other University resources. Your student ID can also give you discounts at a variety of local vendors and organizations.
LionPATH is an important online resource for all Penn State undergraduate degree and nondegree students enrolled in credit courses. Through LionPATH you can: access your grades verify your course registration check your degree audit and transcripts manage your graduation process submit address changes, and more To access LionPATH, you must have an active Penn State Access Account.
To obtain an official transcript of course work, you must make a request in writing to the Transcript Department, The Pennsylvania State University, 112 Shield Building, University Park, PA 16802-1271. There is a $6.00 fee per transcript set. For additional information call the Registrar at Information Service, 24-hours a day, at 814-863-8500 or access the University Registrar's home page at http://www.registrar.psu.edu/.
Textbooks will be available for purchase in the Penn State Bookstore at Penn State Harrisburg. If you are unable to get to the Bookstore to purchase your books, you may order them by mail or phone and have them sent to you for a $4.00 mailing fee for the first book plus 50¢ for each additional book. For additional information, call the Bookstore at 717-948-6286.
Penn State Bookstore Return Policy
- Incorrect textbooks must be returned within the first two weeks of classes.
- Books must be in the same condition as purchased.
- Books must have current price stickers or term code.
- Cash register receipt and Penn State ID are required. No cash refunds without a receipt.
- Defective merchandise is exchangeable at any time with a proof of purchase.
- Special orders are non-returnable.
- Refunds will be issued for all merchandise within three calendar days of purchase (receipt required). Exceptions: outlines, study aids, magazines, software, electronics, film, and prepaid phone cards.
Child Care
The Penn State Harrisburg Child Care Center provides early childhood education for approximately 65 young children ages 6 weeks through 5 years.
University Policies
Students may choose to audit a course-no tests, grades, credits, CEUs, or certificate points (where applicable). The audit fee is the same as the course registration fee.
Confidentiality of Student Records: The University recognizes the privacy of individuals and the confidentiality of student records as described in the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. According to this policy, information that is considered public record may be released without the student's permission. Students may request that this information not be publicly released by contacting the Enrollment Services/Academic Records Office, Swatara Building. Requests must be made in person with proper identification.
Vehicle Registration
The fee-based vehicle registration program has been designed to provide for the enhancement and maintenance of walkways, roadways and parking facilities at Penn State Harrisburg.
- 1-11 credits $20 per semester
- 12 + credits $40 per semester
(discounts available on multi-semester parking permits)
Vehicle Registration Procedures
- Walk-in: You may register and pay in person at the Vehicle Registration Office, located in the Susquehanna Building.
- On-line registration: You may register on-line. All parking permits must be picked up at the Vehicle Registration Office, PSU Id is required.
For a complete list of rules and regulations please visit Vehicle Registration page.
Smoking Policy
Smoking of any materials is prohibited in all facilities at Penn State Harrisburg except private residences.
Weather Policy
Penn State Harrisburg will delay or cancel classes during periods of inclement or dangerous weather conditions or other weather-related emergencies. View our weather policy for more information.


text:
Just Enough Linux
This book is 100% complete
Completed on 2017-04-30
About the Book
Just Enough Linux...
... to be dangerous.
If you've toyed with Linux and never really caught on to what's happening or have used a graphical interface without really touching the command line this book is for you.
How will it help me?
The idea is to get you started on the process of using some of the commands available in Linux so that you;
- Feel comfortable running commands
- You understand a little more about what Linux is about and
- Most importantly, you start to get Linux.
Is this book for you?
It's not written for experts. It's put together as a guide to get you started if you're unsure about how to make the first move. Although it's examples are centered around using Linux with a Raspberry Pi, the commands you learn here will translate to an industrial server running Linux.
Why is Just Enough Linux being written?
Because in the process of learning things, it's a great way to remember them if you write them down :-).
As a result, writing about how to do cool stuff with Linux means that we're accumulating ways to help ourselves out when the going gets tricky. Making a book out of the information is a no-brainer since that way more people benifit from the process.
So here we are! A collection of Linux commands and (hopefully) helpful information written for people who might consider that they're at the start of a fascinating journey :-).
The awesome that is Leanpub.
I've tried to pitch the book in sections so that if you find something interesting, you can read parts in isolation. I expect there to be additions and corrections to the content over time, so I'm hoping that publishing using Leanpub will allow readers to get easy notification of when updates and improvements are made.
Read the whole book online just to try it out!
I'm making the book content available to read online because I think it's a great way to give something back to the community as a whole, but if you want to download a copy of the PDF, ePub or Mobi version, I'm happy to take a donation to encourage further development of this and other books.
So I hope you get something out of the book, please excuse the sometimes light-hearted conversational manner in which I've approached the topic and enjoy Linux!
Bundles that include this book
Other books by this author
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Within 45 days of purchase you can get a 100% refund on any Leanpub purchase, in two clicks.
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text:
Isles force Caps to Game 7
Series finale Monday in Washington; winner to face Rangers next
Nikolay Kulemin scored the go-ahead goal with 9:27 left and the New York Islanders beat the Washington Capitals 3-1 on Saturday to force Game 7 in the first-round series.
John Tavares had a goal and an assist, and Nick Leddy had two assists in what could still be the franchise's final game at Nassau Coliseum. Cal Clutterbuck sealed the win with an empty-net goal with 53 seconds left.
John Carlson scored for the Capitals, who will play host for the deciding game Monday night. The series winner advances to face the Presidents' Trophy-winning New York Rangers, who finished off the Pittsburgh Penguins in five games Friday night.
Jaroslav Halak made 38 saves — including 13 in the final period — and bounced back from a 5-1 loss in Game 5 on Thursday night.
Red Wings 4, Lightning 0: Petr Mrazek stopped 28 shots and Detroit took a 3-2 lead in the first-round playoff series. Riley Sheahan, Drew Miller, Pavel Datsyuk and Danny DeKeyser scored. Sheahan and Datsyuk scored on the power play. The shutout was the second of the series for the young Mrazek, who had no previous NHL playoff experience before being named Detroit's starter over veteran Jimmy Howard. The 23-year-old goalie blanked the Lightning 3-0 in Game 3 at home and also had the only shutout against the league's highest-scoring team during the regular season. The Red Wings can advance at home Monday night.
Blackhawks 4, Predators 3: Duncan Keith scored at 16:12 of the third, and Chicago won its first-round playoff series 4-2. Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane and Patrick Sharp also scored for Chicago, and Corey Crawford stopped 13 shots after replacing Scott Darling in the first period after the rookie gave up three goals.
Flames 7, Canucks 4: Matt Stajan broke a tie with 4:17 left and Calgary won the playoff series 4-2. The Flames face Anaheim next.


text:
Full of exciting performances and celebrity spotlights, this year's Oscars proved to be not only an amazing awards telecast but one of the best Divas Live concerts in a long time. The opening number featured ambiguously gay host Seth MacFarlane singing an original song, "We Saw Your Boobs," which listed the many famous actresses who have bared their breasts on the big screen. Ironically, as the song reached its climax, MacFarlane was joined by the Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles, who likely had no real interest in the jingle's topic.
Brave, with its strong feminist undertones, won for Best Animated Feature Film. Though I was disappointed that neither The Invisible War nor How to Survive a Plague, two important social justice films, won for Best Documentary Feature (they lost out to Searching for Sugar Man), I was pleased that Anne Hathaway swept away the competition and proved every queen's predication right with her win for Best Supporting Actress for Les Misérables. I also love Jennifer Lawrence and was happy to see her win the award for Best Actress for Silver Linings Playbook (and laugh off her awkward fall as she climbed the steps to the stage), but I was really rooting for the youngest actress ever nominated in this category, Quvenzhané Wallis, to win for Beasts of the Southern Wild. Still, Wallis received enormous applause when her name was announced, and she was recognized earlier in the evening with a sweet shout-out from MacFarlane. During his acceptance speech for his Best Actor win for the Tony Kushner-penned Lincoln, method actor and Hollywood veteran Daniel Day-Lewis thanked his wife for years of putting up with his multiple personalities at home. And to top it all off, a gorgeous First Lady Michelle Obama, surrounded by distinguished service members, announced the winner for Best Picture, Argo, live from the White House.
During the telecast we also had a Dancing With the Stars-esque segment in which heartthrobs Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Daniel Radcliffe, both LGBTQ allies, joined MacFarlane in a song-and-dance number, followed by Channing Tatum (Magic Mike) and Charlize Theron (Snow White and the Huntsman) channeling Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, with Theron sporting what may have been the best haircut of the evening.
For me, the biggest highlight of the evening was the phenomenal lineup of female vocalists, with live performances strategically placed throughout the telecast. Though I tuned in for the films, I kept watching because of these women. Catherine Zeta-Jones proved that she still has it as she performed "All That Jazz" from Chicago. Dame Shirley Bassey sang the title number from the James Bond classic Goldfinger, and Adele sang the current Bond theme, "Skyfall." There was even a rare appearance by the incomparable Barbra Streisand, who honored those featured in the In Memoriam segment, particularly her friend, the late composer Marvin Hamlisch, with a performance of "The Way We Were." But perhaps my favorite performance of the night came from Jennifer Hudson, who proved yet again why she won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress in 2007 as she showed off every bit of her vocal prowess and slayed the competition with a flawless rendition of "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" from Dreamgirls, to a standing ovation.
Clearly MacFarlane and the Oscars' producers know how to entertain. I would even go so far as to suggest the inconceivable: that this year's Oscars ceremony trumped Beyoncé's Super Bowl halftime performance. Yes, queen, yes, this awards show may have been a gay man's campy wet dream, and I will be eagerly anticipating what is to come next year. The bar has been set!


text:
(PRWEB) May 21, 2014
It is not an exaggeration to call California Chrome one of the single most popular and skilled horses of the modern era. It has been exactly 36 years since a Triple Crown Winner won all three races and the hearts of horseracing fans all over the world, and this West Coast stud is in excellent contention to do so. Fans can witness history go down from the grandstands, track level or infield by making a visit today to TicketProcess.com for Belmont Stakes race tickets.
*TicketProcess is not associated with any of the organizations, teams, artists or venues listed. Names used in this release are for descriptive purposes only and do not imply endorsement or partnership.
About Ticket Process
Since 2010, TicketProcess secondary ticket exchange (broker & consumer) has been offering a large selection of live event inventory to some of the most exclusive sports, concert and theater events nationwide. With 7-day customer service, all backed by a 100% Guarantee, its simple design and ease of use allow anyone to purchase event tickets with confidence.
Follow Ticket Process on Facebook, Twitter & Google+ for exclusive announcements and free discount codes.


text:
I had an idea to try and start 3 different chains on Wednesday (Sept 16th) morning class (no, I'm not the most attentive student, especially when the subject is about pricing) and somehow I got each group together in around 24h! However I'm a bit worried whether some postcards ever return as there are slow countries, countries where mail gets lost easily as well as some people who have never taken part in chaincards before BUT I have my hopes up! :) And at least one group is with people I've already swapped with AND been in a chaincard group with so, it should be arriving back to me! :)
I also forwarded 2 chaincards to Japan and Russia, third leaving to Indonesia on Monday :)
I also forwarded 2 chaincards to Japan and Russia, third leaving to Indonesia on Monday :)
|No Theme Chaincard
I used 0,5€ swan stamp and 0,3€, 0,2€ and 0,1€ stamps
|Shaped and/or big stamps chaincard
I used one of the new "Eläinten Kaupunki" stamps :)
Finland-Hong Kong-Taiwan-Japan-Finland
|Favourite stamp(s) chaincard
I used one of the 2006 cat stamps for this one! :)
THIS is the card I'm most worried about but the happiest if it returns :3
|to Lisa
|to Netherlands
|to Japan
|to Japan
|to Japan
Postcrossing cards to USA
to my surprise, when I changed my account options and agreed to send many cards to the same country, I expected to be sending cards to Russia and Germany, instead, out of 20 cards I took, 13 are going to USA and I got address to USA 11 times in a row! :)
|Nuuksio National Park
Take care!


text:
About research
The Faculty of Law at Monash University has a strong commitment to diverse and innovative forms of high-quality and cross-disciplinary legal research that has governmental, professional, and social impact. As a member of the Group of Eight research-intensive universities, the Faculty has a vibrant research culture supported by research centres and other groups. Members of the Faculty continue to produce influential research that is doctrinal, theoretical, and law reform oriented and which attracts funding from a variety of sources.
There are three research and teaching centres: the Castan Centre for Human Rights Law, the Australian Centre for Justice Innovation (ACJI) and the Centre for Commercial Law and Regulatory Studies.
Top students together with academic staff are involved in the publication of the peer-reviewed journal, the Monash University Law Review.
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Phone: +61 3 990 58034


text:
Light Painting with Moth Trails
Extra photos for bloggers: 1, 2, 3
OMG, it's finally Spring!!! Get ready for the warm, lazy, insect-laden nights ahead!
Don't wrinkle your nose — buggy nights are the best! Once you train flying insects to do your photographic bidding, that is.
Long exposures make moth trails show up as squiggles of light in your night photos: like light painting with bugs!
Grab a tripod and keep reading to learn how to harness the power of the insect kingdom!
Light Painting with Moth Trails How-To
p.s. We're hiring in San Francisco! Must write sharp copy, know how to spread ideas, and eat social media for breakfast. info…
p.p.s. Thanks to new sponsor New York Institute of Photography for supporting Photojojo. Grab a free course catalog!
Thanks: @yayfiona, xenmate, estatik, Just Slip Away, and jpshannon44.
What's The Deal?
We could tell you to take pictures of moth trails because it looks great, like light painting with little flying bug friends.
We could tell you it's a fun way to get better at shooting night photography.
But mostly it's an excuse to sit outside in a comfy lawnchair on a nice night, staring up at the sky and lazily clicking the shutter button.
What You'll Need
- A camera that can take long exposures
- A tripod, Gorillapod, or big steady flat rock
- A dark place with a big ol' light source
- Moths! Flying beetles! Creepity crawlies!
Good Places to Shoot
Before you get down to business, you need somewhere to shoot.
Let's see, it needs to be dark, it needs to have a lot of bugs, and there needs to be a big ol' bright light. Hmmm… how about:
- The spotlights on the local playing field
- Streetlights in the park
- A porch with the light on
- Anyplace with a bug-zapper (Oh no! Look out, moths!)
- Just outside your tent (break out the camp lantern)
Don't Go Into the Light!
Long exposures make for the best, loopiest, squiggliest moth trail photos.
To get the best trails without blowing out your photo, don't shoot directly into the light.
Move behind the light or off to the side to put all the focus on those lovely loopy trails.
Play With Exposure
Like all night photography, getting the right exposure may take some fine tuning — the shutter may be open anywhere from one second to more than 20.
Shoot and preview a few test exposures until you like how it looks. If you're using film, bracket like a crazy person.
Once your exposure's set, shoot plenty of photos — each one will have a different pattern of mothly swirls for you to enjoy.
Pop the Flash
Pop the flash during the long exposure so the moths show up superimposed on their own trails.
Set your camera on "night portrait" or "slow sync" and see what happens.
Change Colors
Different types of electric lights have different color casts on photos: tungsten looks yellow, flourescent looks green or turquoise, and so on.
Mess around with different white balances until you get a color you like. The "indoor lighting" or "tungsten" setting is a good place to start.
Take it Further
- Make a video: long portraits of bugs flying around are strangely hypnotic.
- Combine still photos: it makes a different kind of movie
- Break the rules: shoot into the light to use the flare as a design element
- Get close: with a few strategic offerings to God of Luck, you might get a one-in-a-million shot.
3 Things We Bet You Didn't Know About Moths
- Insect flight paths look dotted in photos because electric lights flicker at 50 to 60 Hertz. This causes a strobe effect too fast for our eyes to perceive normally.
- Scientists say: moths fly toward bright lights due to celestial navigation by transverse orientation, Mach band visual distortion, and/or olfactory confusion due to infrared spectra. Whatever, science. They're just afraid of the dark.
- The Atlas moth has a wingspan of up to 12 inches. That's a big frickin' moth.
Photo credits: L4leather, shiftshaping, estatik, Sentrawoods., jpshannon44, jonpayne, and Just Slip Away.


text:
New York, New York (PRWEB) May 28, 2014
Ticket Down is a reliable source for affordable tickets for Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. One of the biggest groups in the history of American rock and roll, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, recently announced their intentions to hit the road this year for a summer tour.
The group, led by Tom Petty, is also made up of Mike Campbell, Ron Blair, Stan Lynch and Benmont Tench. The group was originally formed in 1976 in Gainesville, Florida and the group also made the announcement that they would be releasing their first album in four years, Hypnotic Eye. Their tour will be held to lend support to the album and will begin on Aug. 3 in San Diego, Calif. at the Viejas Arena and will end at The Forum in Hollywood, California on October 10th.
2014 Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers Concert Schedule:
Aug. 3 San Diego, CA (Viejas Arena)
Aug. 5 Boise, ID (Taco Bell Arena)
Aug. 7 Eugene, OR (Matthew Knight Center)
Aug. 12 Portland, OR (Moda Center (Rose Garden)
Aug. 14 Vancouver, BC (Rogers Arena)
Aug. 15 George, WA (The Gorge)
Aug. 17 Edmonton, Alberta (Rexall Place)
Aug. 19 Calgary, Alberta (Scotiabank Saddledome)
Aug. 21 Winnipeg, Manitoba (MTS Centre)
Aug. 23 Chicago, IL (United Center)
Aug. 26 Toronto, Ontario (Air Canada Centre)
Aug. 28 Montreal, Quebec (Bell Centre)
Aug. 30 Boston, MA (Fenway Park)
Sept. 7 Darien Center, NY (Darien Lake Performing Arts Center)
Sept. 10 New York, NY (Madison Square Garden)
Sept. 13 Hartford, CT (XL Center)
Sept. 15 Philadelphia, PA (Wells Fargo Center)
Sept. 18 Raleigh, NC (PNC Arena)
Sept. 20 West Palm Beach, FL (Cruzan Amphitheater)
Sept. 21 Tampa, FL (Tampa Bay Times Forum)
Sept. 23 Nashville, TN (Bridgestone Arena)
Sept. 25 Houston, TX (Toyota Center)
Sept. 26 Dallas, TX (American Airlines Center)
Sept. 28 Tulsa, OK (BOK Center)
Sept. 30 Kansas City, MO (Sprint Center)
Oct. 1 Lincoln, NE (Pinnacle Bank Arena)
Oct. 7 Anaheim, CA (Honda Center)
Oct. 10 Los Angeles, CA (The Forum)
To date, the group has released 12 studio albums, beginning in 1976 with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. That album has been certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America for selling more than 500,000 copies, but it wasn't until their third release, Damn the Torpedos, did the band truly find great success. The album reached the No. 2 spot on the Billboard 200 charts and has been certified platinum by the RIAA twice for selling more than two million copies. They also released several other platinum certified albums including Hard Promise, and Let Me Up (I've Had Enough).
The most popular album in their history together was their 1993 release, Greatest Hits. The album was certified diamond by the RIAA for selling more than 10 million copies. As a solo performer, Petty found great success with Full Moon Fever, Wildflowers and Highway Companion, with the former being his biggest release to date. The album sold more than five million copies in the United States and has also been certified platinum in Canada six times.
Among the songs that fans will hope to hear the legendary group perform include "Don't Do Me Like That," "You Got Lucky," "Jammin' Me," "Refugee," "I Won't Back Down," "Free Fallin'," "Learning to Fly," "Out in the Cold," "You Don't Know How it Feels," "You Wreck Me," and "Out in the Cold." These songs are some of their biggest hits and have been a large factor in why they have sold more than 80 million records worldwide.
The venues that this legendary group will travel to for their summer-long tour include the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas; Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn.; PNC Arena in Raleigh, N.C.; Fenway Park in Boston, Mass.; United Center in Chicago, Ill.; The Gorge in George, Wash.; Moda Center in Portland, Ore.; and the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. These venues will be packed to the rafters with fans that are hoping to get a little closer to one of the biggest groups of all time.
About TicketDown.com:
Ticket Down delivers tickets to sold out concerts and events worldwide when no one else can, and they do so at discounted prices. This popular ticket exchange also has Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers tickets at discounted prices. Add promo/coupon for added savings on any ticket order.
Note: Ticket Down is not associated with any of the artists or venues mentioned in this release. The names that are used in this release are purely for descriptive purposes. We are not affiliated with or do we endorse any artists or venues in this release.
Check out our discount codes online for all upcoming events. Ticket Down has low overheads which allow this well-known ticket site to keep prices low.


text:
People are buying gold and silver for safety right now, and that usually means holding hard assets as opposed to paper.
Fort Worth, TX (PRWEB) July 10, 2014
Following a July 1 report that gold and silver ETF holdings have fallen dramatically in recent months, Texas-based precious metals dealer GoldSilver.org has issued an advisory to clients regarding variables in performance among different gold and silver investments. Company spokesperson Maria Martin says many investors may be unaware that all gold and silver-based products do not trade equally.
"We specialize in physical gold and silver investments, such as coins and bars," said Martin, "but investments like mining stocks, ETFs and futures contracts work differently."
Investors have pulled $562 million from precious metal exchange-traded funds, or ETFs, this year. Despite the massive sell-offs the physical gold and silver spot prices have risen almost 10% since December. "People are buying gold and silver for safety right now, and that usually means holding hard assets as opposed to paper."
Gold and silver prices are down almost 30% since 2011, but fears of hyperinflation and dollar devaluation have kept business brisk for gold and silver dealers like GoldSilver.org. "Savvy investors have lost confidence in paper money, and we feel like the not-too-distant future holds a return to gold and silver as currency," Martin commented.
GoldSilver.org is a North American market leader for gold and silver investments for home delivery or within retirement accounts. They buy and sell all sorts of investment-grade gold, silver and platinum. For more information or a free gold and silver investment guide, visit http://www.goldsilver.org or call 1-800-394-3337 today.


text:
The PlayPower Family of Companies
Millions of children all over the world enjoy our indoor and outdoor playground equipment, and hundreds of thousands of recreational boaters rely on our floating dock systems. When you join us at PlayPower, you'll be a part of an organization that believes in products that make people smile.
Come join us and create a little fun!
Our current open positions are indicated on the left side of the screen. If you are interested in joining us, please select the Location and Position. You can then create your personal profile and apply for the position.
Internal candidates will be given first consideration


text:
Agenda Seminar proceedings
Life Risks, Life Course and Social Policy
OECD, Paris, Thursday 31 may - Friday 1st June 2007
International Energy Agency building, 9 rue de la Fédération, Paris 15
For many decades, social policy interventions were limited to assist and insure against a small number of well defined risks. As a result of diverse and ongoing social trends, however, the social order based on standard employment relations, the male breadwinner model and social security in defined but exceptional circumstances has changed. New risks have emerged and are often mutually reinforcing. Different groups of individuals are likely to frame and respond to risks differently. The development of new risks, or the additional complexity of those risks already existing, raises key questions for social policy. Recognising these developments, the 2005 Meeting of OECD Social Affairs Ministers asked the OECD Secretariat to undertake work on the topic of Life risks, the life course and social policy, noting that "The OECD should identify how social and economic goals can be best achieved, for example by policy interventions at certain critical 'transition points' or by redistribution of income from one point in the life course to another. The OECD should further assess the best ways of financing social policies across the life course."
In order to address these issues, the OECD is holding a seminar in Paris on May 31 and 1 June 2007 to develop responses to these emerging challenges. The fundamental policy question to be addressed in the seminar is whether the current designs of social protection systems in OECD societies are well-suited to contemporary life course realities. The seminar will look in detail at recent policy developments in OECD countries to develop more flexible time-based social policies, as well as related issues, such as asset-based welfare programmes, as well as policies to encourage redistribution of income and/or time over the life course and how these might be structured most effectively.
Thursday 31 May
Chair: Martine Durand, Deputy Director, Directorate of Employment, Labour and Social Affairs, OECD
"The life course perspective and social policies – an overview of the issues" [DELSA/ELSA/WP1(2007)8]
This paper will provide a broad review of the role and usefulness of life course concepts in developing new approaches to social policy, discussing the nature of social and economic changes calling for a new life-course perspective and the evidence for increased variability in life course experiences.
Lans Bovenberg, Tilburg University, the Netherlands (Powerpoint presentation)
Discussion : Peter Hicks, Human Resources and Social Development, Canada
Room Document 1 - Integrating life-course perspectives into policy analysis
15.15 Coffee Break
15.30 SESSION 1: Review of policies to redistribute time across the life course
Chair: Luc Masure, Bureau fédéral du plan, Belgium
If individuals have greater freedom to allocate time over the life course as they wish, what will be the implications for careers and aggregate labour supply? The objective of these papers and discussion is to review available evidence from OECD countries on the nature and impact of different approaches to redistribute time or resources across the life course, for example to facilitate the transition into retirement or to take time out of paid work for caring or studying.
Paper 1 [DELSA/ELSA/WP1(2007)1]: This paper will evaluate the role and effectiveness of existing and alternative policies to assist individuals and families in their roles as carers, both of children and dependent adults.
Colette Fagan, University of Manchester, United Kingdom (Powerpoint presentation)
Discussion: Willem Adema, Principal Administrator, Social Policy Division, OECD
16.10 Paper 2 [DELSA/ELSA/WP1(2007)2]: Ageing and life course issues
This paper and discussion will focus on ageing and the life course, reviewing evidence on programmes designed to facilitate the transition into retirement, for example through part-time work or phased retirement.
Stephanie Devisscher, IDEA Consult, Belgium (Powerpoint presentation)
16.30 Paper 3 [DELSA/ELSA/WP1(2007)3]: Ins and outs of the Dutch Life Course Savings Scheme
This paper reviews the contents and first results of the Life Course Savings Scheme introduced in the Netherlands in 2006
Lei Delsen, Radboud University, Nijmegen (Powerpoint presentation)
16.50 Discussion: Gerry Mangan, Office for Social Inclusion, Ireland
17.30 Finish of Day 1
Friday 1st June
9.30 SESSION 1 (Cont'd): Paper 4 [DELSA/ELSA/WP1(2007)4]: Life course policies and the labour market
Chair: Robyn McKay, Department of Family, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, Australia
(Powerpoint presentation)
This paper will concentrate on the implications for the labour market of different approaches to redistribute time or resources across the life course
Christine Erhel, CES - Centre d'économie de la Sorbonne - Université Panthéon Sorbonne - Paris I
(Powerpoint presentation)
Discussion: Jussi Toppila, Ministry of Labour, Finland
10.30 Coffee Break
11.00 SESSION 2: Asset-based social programs: A critical analysis of current initiatives
Chair: Mark Pearson, Head, Social Policy Division, OECD
Paper 5 [DELSA/ELSA/WP1(2007)5]: This paper provides a critical evaluation of the characteristics and effectiveness of the range of different assets-based welfare programmes in OECD countries, such as, for example, the Child Trust Fund in the United Kingdom, as well as proposals for capitalized benefits and other investment programmes.
Michael Mendelson, Caledon Institute of Social Policy, Ottawa, Canada (Powerpoint presentation)
Discussion: Elaine Kempson, University of Bristol (Powerpoint presentation)
12.00 SESSION 3: Assets-testing in social assistance programmes – a review
Chair: Sophie Boissard, Directrice générale du Centre d'analyse stratégique
Paper 6 [DELSA/ELSA/WP1(2007)6]: This paper reviews different means-tested social assistance programmes in OECD countries, and discusses possible effects of these programmes on the savings behaviour of recipients, and implications for self-reliance.
Ivar Lødemel, Research Director, GIV, Oslo University College, Norway (Powerpoint presentation)
Discussion: Amilcar Moreira, Irish Longitudinal Study of Ageing, Trinity College, Dublin
14.30 SESSION 4: Evidence on redistribution across the life course in existing social protection systems
To what extent do existing social policies in OECD countries redistribute from rich to poor and to what extent do they redistribute across the lifetime of individuals?
Chair: Mark Pearson, Social Policy Division, OECD
Paper 7 [DELSA/ELSA/WP1(2007)7]: This paper will review available evidence from OECD countries on the extent to which different systems of social protection redistribute across the life course (or redistribute between individuals).
Ann-Charlotte Ståhlberg, Swedish Institute for Social Research (SOFI), Stockholm University (Powerpoint presentation)
Discussion: Peter Whiteford, Principal Administrator, OECD (Powerpoint presentation)
Lans Bovenberg; Peter Hicks; Robyn McKay; Martine Durand
16.30 End of seminar
If you wish to attend this seminar, please contact Mr. Peter Whiteford (email@example.com) or Anna Cristina D'Addio (firstname.lastname@example.com).
Related Documents


text: WebDesign There are many companies creating websites—so how does our web design stand out from the crowd? It's simple! We're local ... or at least in Australia, and we make well designed, functional websites. We approach every web design project, as the majority of your customers will value the professional look and feel of your site, rather than the kind of coding and platform that has been used to create it. Our team of web designers/developers will work with you to build a site specific to your needs. From simple flat HTML to custom CSS, you're in great hands. Below is a small sample of some of the websites we've created including complex government sites meeting strict accessibility and WCAG compliancy. And all our websites are mobile-friendly for the best user experience on any device. Web &DigitalCapabilities We've worked on a huge range of digital and web projects. Here's a few of the skills we've honed along the way: Web Development Blogs Video Editing Digital/Video Signage Drupal Wordpress Squarespace Big Commerce eBooks Email Marketing Social media leveraging & training HTML 5 Animation See our workin action Just a small selection of some of our favourite digital projects View Site View Site View Site View Site View Site View Site View Site View Site View Site ExtraServices Search Friendly We to make sure your website is playing nice with the top search engines to get the best out of your SEO. Read More GovCMS Giraffe are Drupal experts & we can help support, expand or redesign your existing GovCMS website. Find Out More Website Hosting Packages You will need an Australian ABN to register a .com.au domain. Once you've registered your business domain, select a hosting package through our website hosting service. View Packages Domain Name Registration Having a website and associated email accounts is an important part of looking professional. Search online and register your Business domain name through our domain registration service. Search Domains


text:
Milestone moments to create with your children
Some things you never forget, like the moment you found out you were going to be a family – that's what we call a real milestone moment. And as that family grows, you'll have hundreds if not thousands of memories to look back on, so here are our Top Ten ideas for excellent, first, low-cost milestone moments to have with your own little ones during the school holidays:
Sow together, grow together
It doesn't matter if you have a farm or a few flowerpots on a windowsill, everyone can sow a few seeds together. Capture those moments: decorate your flowerpots; photograph your seedlings; compete for the tallest, fattest, tastiest treat from your first family 'vegetable patch'.
You can make it as simple as setting up a few tubs of cress, herbs or lettuce (easy on a sunny ledge), or you could go for cauliflowers, leeks, even putting garlic cloves in the garden (they're an easy one to plant all year round). Handy links for what to sow, and when, include:
- Suttons Seeds Vegetable Calendar
- The BBC's Gardening Calendar
- The Royal Horticultural Society's Advice Pages
Get out and about in a whole new way
Taking the car is easy, because it's usually on the drive. But how about turning an everyday journey into a real adventure – with a first trip out on a train or a bus?
Think of it as an opportunity to explore your local region (and maybe save a few pennies on your own motoring expenses, too). It's a great time to teach your little ones about paying for tickets, counting money, and to let them 'take charge' of getting you across a busy road. You could combine it with…
Spending A Day at The Museum
You may have seen the film 'Night at The Museum', but how about going to a museum with your children one day this holiday? Don't worry, it's not all about dinosaurs. Best of all, most museums give free entry to children under the age of 16 – so it's a great way to spend some quality time together.
Use the film as a taster, remind your children what they saw – and then let them choose which museum they'd like to visit: there are about 2,500 across the UK (there's a handy museum finder here), although the real favourites can get busy in the holidays.
Pop out for some popcorn
There are some exciting film releases coming up, so why not plan your first trip to the cinema instead of watching from the sofa? Make the most of ticket offers though, and encourage children to see the benefit of having a drink and snack before going into the cinema itself (popcorn and soda can be very expensive).
Start some healthy habits
Boring? No, health and fitness is a great habit to start early. Kick-scooters are all the rage, especially with younger children. But why not invest in bicycles for the whole family, and take a day out learning to ride together? Sure, there'll be a few bumps and bruises along the way, but there's nothing quite like pushing your child along for a while and then … suddenly … they're riding a pushbike, all on their own. Now that's a truly memorable milestone moment!
Make a splash
You're busy, and if feels as though you've never got two moments to spare when you have a young child to look after. So why not treat yourselves to some time out, and make a real memory you'll treasure: take your children swimming. Even if you've been to baby swim-gym, it's something most children will adore – a trip out with Mum and Dad to the pool. And don't worry if you're not keen on swimming yourself, it doesn't matter. Splashing around in a toddler pool is what it's all about!
Take off for the holidays…
Really tiny babies and very young children are unlikely to remember much about going on holiday, but as soon as little ones can wriggle sand in their toes, there's a memory to be made.
If you're making a long road trip, either to an airport or off to the beach here in the UK, make it as enjoyable as you can (for you, as well as for them). Plan ahead, take a scribbling book or pack of cards rather than electronic gadgets that could lead to nausea. If you're going to be racking up the miles on the road, you could try our free Aviva Drive app. Complete 200 miles using the app and get a personalised driving score out of 10 and a discount off your car insurance individual to you. That could mean more money to spend on your next family outing!
Make everyday moments, special
Take spring cleaning, for example. If you've got your phone in your pocket, create a photo-diary as you're tidying up your children's bedroom. That can lead to a sort-out of older (less played with) toys. Talk about the toys, and then take a trip to a charity shop together.
Or why not see if there's a carboot sale in your area? Have a good old rummage in the cupboards, share the idea of 'sell it, keep the pennies' with your children – and watch how their excitement grows.
Book in for a real treat
When it comes to learning, you don't have to wait for pre-school to give your child a head-start in life. You may have lots of storybooks at home, but why not take your toddlers to a library? Give the trip a real sense of occasion, get their first library card stamped, and teach them how to show respect for books they've borrowed. If your children enjoy looking at books and reading early on, they'll have something to treasure their whole lives – imagination costs nothing, and books are a great source of joy at any age.
Make something to eat that's a real treat
How about marking a special event (perhaps a sibling's birthday or parents' anniversary), with a celebration family meal. Get everyone involved in agreeing what to cook, really let your children's imaginations run riot here: look up a recipe together and write out a shopping list – even buying basic ingredients on a budget can be loads of fun if you make into an 'I Spy a Bargain!' game at the Supermarket.
It could be their first 'I-Made-This!' Their first lunch with potatoes they've peeled themselves, or even the first time they treat someone special to a home cooked breakfast. Here are some recipes for you both to try. Children love eating meals they've cooked themselves, and it guarantees an enjoyable milestone moment for the whole family.
And finally…
Years ago, we were limited to shoeboxes of newspaper clippings and pictures stuck into photo albums. But today you can easily capture those milestone moments online and associate memories and events with members of your family, far more easily. Try hosting pictures from your phone or camera using Instagram, Pinterest, or even Facebook. Make it a whole-day event – talking to people, phoning them up, visiting and asking for photographs of older relations perhaps, to help your children understand where and how they fit into their own family tree.


text: I believe every one of us has had a different experience to that of one another, even though we have been through the same programme. How we perceive it and how we compare it to where we come from and when we go back, makes the difference. With Encompass I felt home, the like I have not


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Whisky Magazine Issue 67
November 2007
This article is 10 years old and some information provided may be time sensitive. Please check all details of events, tours, opening times and other information before travelling or making arrangements.
Copyright Whisky Magazine © 1999-2018. All rights reserved. To use or reproduce part or all of this article please contact us for details of how you can do so legally.
What are the best independent bottlings out there? Our tasters tried more than 160 of them to find out. Here are the results…
Now in its third year, the Independent Bottlers' challenge has fast established itself as one of the key events in the whisky year.
The challenge was created to show case the best this sector has to offer. The Independents are widely acknowledged as offering the whisky lover something different from their favourite distillery.
Due to the nature of independent bottlings they tend to come in very small batches often from a single cask, therefore offering something very special to the whisky connessiour.
Despite increasing pressure to find top quality casks, a lot of the propriatory whisky companies are no longer putting casks up for sale, the awards this year have had a phenomenal turn out.
Each company was allowed to enter one whisky for each category, and it was then assessed by three members of the judging panel.
The whiskies were tasted blind, the bottles were only marked with a category number and ABV, by our dedicated panel of judges, who sampled the 167 whiskies spanning the six main production areas and marked out of 10.
In each category a gold, silver and bronze medal has been awarded for the top scoring whiskies.
In each section a point system was applied to the medal winners and the highest scoring was awarded the section trophy.
This year we have decided to honour the independent bottler who scores the most points across all the categories with an Icon of Whisky, see Icon results on page 8.
A broad spread of companies won medals, and there were five differe...


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Strictly Come Dancing dresses on show at Woburn Abbey
Dresses from BBC's Strictly Come Dancing programme have gone on display at a stately home in Bedfordshire.
The 12 gowns featured at Woburn Abbey, designed by the show's current costume designer Vicky Gill, appeared in the 2012 series.
They include those worn by actress Denise Van Outen and Olympic gold-medallist Victoria Pendleton.
An Abbey spokesman said it was the "largest collection" of dresses from the show to ever go on public display.
Strictly Come Dancing, a reality television competition which pairs professional dancers with celebrities, has been aired on BBC One since 2004.
The exhibition of the show's glamorous gowns is described as a chance to see contemporary design set against the art and architecture of the Abbey, the family home of the earls and dukes of Bedford for nearly 400 years.
Currently the home of the 15th duke and his family, its private art collection of more than 250 works by artists including Gainsborough, Reynolds, Van Dyck and Cuyp will sit alongside Pendleton's union jack dress and Flavia Cacace's Charleston dress.
General manager, Jonathan Irby, said the house was "extremely proud" to be hosting the exhibition.
"They have been sending us dresses over the past few weeks to try in different rooms and check they work and they are not too dramatic or distract from the art," he said.
"We hope the combination of stunning dresses with Woburn Abbey's classic art and architecture will score the exhibition a perfect 10."
The exhibition, which is spread throughout the state apartments, runs until 29 September.


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Tomato Salad
Tonight for dinner I went to the farmer's market and found a great looking heirloom tomato. I decided I wanted it for dinner with a cute little avacado, some lemon juice, sweet onion, salt, pepper, and balsamic vinegar. It was delicious and filling, but next time I need to figure out something different to do with the onion. I love onion, but I need to mellow it. Perhaps green onions or shallots would be better.
-- iPhone post


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Wednesday saw the launch of a re-designed pocket-lint.co.uk making navigation easier as well as adding a host of new features to the review pages.
Key new features include a much asked for "You may also like" feature on the reviews page which offers five alternative products that you might like after reading the review. This followed requests from the feedback form and the forums from people wanting to know about products "they may also like".
For those wishing to take the reviews home on the train, Pocket-lint.co.uk has also introduced a printer friendly version button on every review and news story giving you the chance to print reviews without all the fixtures and fittings.
Product and screen shots have also undergone a change on the review and news story pages and you can now click to enlarge for a better view.
As ever however, this is not the end of the road and Pocket-lint is always looking to develop the site to better suit its readers - why not let us know what you think of the new design and what other features you would like to see by filling in the feedback form or the comments box on the competition.
Pocket-lint.co.uk was started in February this year and since then has become one of the leading tech review sites in the UK.


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Mold rack classification
Mold rack is similar to cantilever rack,both are use to storage specical items. cantilever rack storage long materia.mold rack mainly to storage plastic mold,Hardware mold,Die Finale,powder metallurgy
rack,Extrusion die.
Mold storage rack structure
1.mold rack Assembld mainly by the column, guide slot, movable drawer layer, pull rod, Safety pin, bolt connection. Stable structure,
Safe and reliable.Generally used in a row.
2.movable drawer layer consists of Slide, drawer tray,
3.The mould rack was equipped with idler wheel rail on the bottom and the sliding shelf panel could be freely pulled out when loading.
The advantage of mold shelf
1.Safe and reliable,additional positioning device, safe and reliable used
2.Handle convenient,use bearing assembled,move stable,A separate form hoist.
3.save space,1.8 square meters area can put Dozens sets of mold rack.
4.color can be make as customer's requirement.
5.Bearing surface using pattern board, can increase friction to prevent mold slide.
6.Assembly shelf length according to need.
7.The adjustable foot height, to overcome the uneven surface site.


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iTunes Match is now available for the Nordic countries for 249kr per year in Denmark, Sweden and Norway and €24.99 in Finland.
This equates to a $10 to $15 higher price tag when compared to Australian users, who have paid $34.99 since it was introduced in late 2012. The price is even steeper when compared to US users.
With iTunes Match, users can upload their whole music library to iCloud and in turn iCloud allows access to the music library on every other devices.
However, not all countries have access to the service. iTunes Match is not available to users in Japan and in Romania customers only have access to iTunes.


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OPINION—Stillborn democracy
- Category: Contributor
"The last three years saw no tangible changes, especially in the area of the rule of law and the peace process. The reform started in 2010, now we have to ask the question: 'Have we got any tangible results so far?'." Aung San Suu Kyi, May 27, 2013.
CONTRIBUTOR—I woke up one morning at the end of January in northern Kachin State listening to the birds singing in the morning mist. The President of Burma [Myanmar] had announced on prime time TV the previous evening that a ceasefire would begin at 6.00 am that morning. His call was backed by a unanimous vote of support by the Lower House of Parliament. I believed him. A young Kachin soldier also believed him. He raised a white flag, stood up in his trench, smiled, waved and was shot dead through the head. Within hours mortar bombs were raining down. Meanwhile in New York the Secretary General of the United Nations was warmly welcoming the ceasefire.
This is the truth but it is not what people want to hear. Burma, we are told, is in the process of giving birth to democracy. The current difficulties are simply birth pangs... We must be patient and help nurse the irascible infant to maturity.
In reality the "birth pangs" currently being experienced by the Kachin and Rohingya, and suffered by most ethnic peoples for decades, are systematic human rights violations inflicted by the State, i.e. crimes against humanity. They are driven by a racial policy of Burmanisation, a blood-based ideology, which has been subjugating, assimilating and physically destroying non-Burmans and their cultures for decades. The Four Cuts Strategy is a vast crime against humanity. The military dictatorship responsible for this policy has not changed: it has simply "legitimised" and consolidated itself, and imposed a more sophisticated form of repression on lowland Burma, while continuing to target some of the other ethnic peoples with direct and indirect methods of destruction.
The current and recent violence against the Kachin, Rohingya and Muslims in general needs be seen in its true historical context. In 1948 the US military attaché cabled Washington from the Rangoon embassy and reported that "A racial war of annihilation has begun." This war, in which the Burman dominated military has tried to Burmanize other ethnic groups is a racial, imperialist project and has been going on ever since. Its ideology is embodied in the statues of Burman warrior kings in the new capital for all to see.
The latest assaults in this 60-year-old campaign have involved the massive, systematic attack on the Kachin in January/February, and the "communal riots" inflicted on State-persecuted Rohingya. As a result of these recent attacks, well over 200,000 people have been burnt, pillaged, murdered and generally terrorised out of their homes. These events are not the birth pangs of an emerging democracy: they are targeted attacks inflicting ethnic cleansing on hundreds of thousands of unarmed civilians. This is the Burmese spring.
This violence should be seen in the context of Burma's post-World War Two history. Millions of people have been violently displaced; hundreds of thousands have died; millions of homes have been destroyed. The media's ignorance and indifference, focussing, if it focuses at all, on each attack in isolation, has massively understated this vast crime. It has now compounded its failure to expose the truth by presenting the military consolidation of power in the form of an illegitimate constitution as "a Mandela-like transition" to democracy. The comparison is not just wrong: it is absurd. If what has happened in Burma was transposed to South Africa, Nelson Mandela would have volunteered to be elected to an apartheid-dominated Parliament; agreed to work under an apartheid Constitution; desired to stand for election as president of an apartheid state; refused to speak out about ethnic cleansing of say Cape coloureds; remained complicity silent while, for example, the Zulu nation was subjected to all-out military attack.
Apartheid South Africa, like the Soviet Union, fell because it was forced to change, not as a result of collaboration and naïve, international, wishful thinking. The opposite is true in Burma. The Burman military will not fall. It can afford to impose superficial changes because, in reality, it remains in total control. Its apparent relaxation of power is an expression of power. In fact, it has successfully manipulated the international community into rewarding it for deceitfully consolidating its power.
There is no reckoning. The massive amount of evidence of crimes against humanity, documented in decades-long NGO and UN Human Rights Reports and General Assembly Resolutions, is now being brushed under the carpet by an international community eager to ignore what has, and is happening, and exploit the country financially with the military-controlled government and its cronies. There is no talk of accountability. There is no talk of justice. The campaign by the NGO community for a Commission of Inquiry vanished like gossamer with the first whiff of Aung San Suu Kyi's release. This has made a complete mockery of the principle of universal jurisdiction, the decades-long work of the Office of the UN High Commission on Human Rights and its Special Rapporteurs, human rights organisations and most of all of the dead and current victims of outrageous injustice.
Hundreds of thousands of non-Burmans, and a smaller number of courageous Burman political and ex-political prisoners, have been abandoned to a culture of permanent impunity. The Burmese military is literally being allowed to get away with murder. The ritualistic, naive calls for self-investigation are met with arrogant indifference. There is no unclenched fist: to a State-terrorized Kachin or Rohingya, President Obama's image of the Burmese military as an outstretched hand is not just risible: it is incomprehensible.
It is not, however, only the present and the past which are being betrayed: so too is the future. The 2008 Constitution imposes military control in virtual perpetuity. When examined in detail, it is like a maze where every corridor narrows to a dead end. Taken as a whole it is totalitarian. There are no fairy wands wrapped up in some terminological closet.
For example, all land, air and water, and what is below and above all land, air and water, is in the hands of the military-controlled State (Article 37a). Almost no one in Burma is safe from a land grab, especially vulnerable, indigenous ethnic people. Burma is thus not just the military kleptocracy it has always been: it is now a constitutional military kleptocracy.
Moreover, the Commander-in-Chief can: proclaim a State of Emergency; dismiss the President; suspend both Houses of Parliament; dissolve the judiciary; rule supreme and rule alone. The right to inflict a coup d'état under the guise of a State of Emergency is now inscribed in the constitution (Article 40 c).
There is no civilian control of the military (Article 6 f). Parliament has a built-in military presence which makes amending the Constitution virtually impossible (Article 14). (Thein Sein just re-confirmed his opposition to such an amendment on his visit to Washington.) Ethnic minorities can be permanently outvoted (Article 9 a). Genuine Federalism, the crucial concept which could help solve Burma's problems, has been excluded.
The military-controlled government's primitive concept of citizenship remains the same: "Blood based" as Thein Sein's immigration minister, Khin Yi, opined at the International Crisis Group's recent celebration of the "new" democracy in New York.
I could go on, but the essential point is that the apologists for the democratic transition are in denial, deluded by the belief that change can miraculously take place through a process of constitutional amendments. But there is no fairy wand. Even if, for example, Aung San Suu Kyi was elected President, she would be little more than a complicit, cosmetic figurehead for the army. President Thein Sein proved the office of Presidency has no real authority when his announcement of a ceasefire in Kachin State was greeted by the army's crescendo of bombs. The Commander-in- Chief, not the President, is in control whoever that President is. That's "Constitutional".
Meanwhile the reforms in the Burman lowland, while opening up some political space, have not led to meaningful freedom. They have often, instead, established more indirect and subtle forms of repression. Much of the media now practises self-censorship and recycles prejudice. Repressive tolerance can be a far more effective method of control than outright force. For example, at the same time the bombs were raining down in Kachin State earlier this year, the international NGOs were dutifully filling in their Memoranda of Understanding under the supervision of the military-controlled government in Naypyitaw. Their self-imposed silence while the mortar shells fell was deafening. Moreover, some of the newly "independent" Burmese journalists appear quietly complicit with the status quo: there appears to have been little investigation into the root causes of the violence inflicted on the Christian Kachin and the Muslims. Who has examined, for example, the accusation that the deaths of 13 Muslim children burnt to death in a mosque at the height of the pogroms was "the result of an electrical fault" caused by "negligent" imams? Who has investigated the land grabs taking place in the ceasefire areas? Who has interviewed terrorised Kachin civilians?
Resistance continues however. You can't fool all of the people, as they say, all of the time. Win Tin, the deputy leader of the NLD, reportedly warned Aung San Suu Kyi that she was walking into a trap when she decided to stand for election to the rigged Parliament and pledge allegiance to the military-controlled government's illegitimate 2008 Constitution. He was right. Much to the authorities' annoyance, he continues, I understand, to wear his prison uniform. This seeming servility is an act of defiance, (just as many brave Danes wore Stars of David out of solidarity for Jewish victims), against the current, collective illusion of "The Burmese Spring." It affirms moral and spiritual freedom.
The people of Burma need real change, not the peace of appeasement and the violence of silence. They do not need naïve optimists, cynical opportunists, regime apologists, media weathercocks, one-hundred-thousand-dollar-black-tie-dinner-party-ICG-self-congratulatory plaudits. They need freedom. They need an effective investigation into crimes against humanity, as requested by the UN Special Rapporteur for Human rights, Mr. Tomás Ojea Quintana. They need a genuine federal democratic Constitution designed to protect their fundamental human, economic and political rights. They need what President Kennedy called a "Peaceful Revolution of Hope".
The alternative is more likely: a heavily armed, triumphant kleptocracy, awash with unaccounted resource money, founded on the bones of the victims of genocide and crimes against humanity, rewarded with impunity. With the aid of further Russian training and North Korean technology, such a State is likely to become in the long term a threat not just to the people of Burma, but to the region and the wider world. The gullibility of naïve optimists, the sophistry of apologists, the cynicism of opportunists and the puppet masters of Realpolitik will have birthed a new monster onto the world stage.
Guy Horton has worked on Burma (or Myanmar) since 1998. His report "Dying Alive" established the legal grounds for prosecuting the Burma military and contributed to the UN Security Council Resolution "Burma: A threat to the Peace." His web site www.justiceinburma.com is widely accessed. He has campaigned for an investigation by the UN into Crimes against Humanity since 2005.
The views expressed in this article are the author's and do not represent the editorial policy of Mizzima.


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October 9, 2013 (WASHINGTON) --A South Carolina man put himself in charge of cleaning up the Lincoln Memorial grounds during the government shutdown, but he was told to leave.
Chris Cox was spotted earlier in the day pushing a lawn mower at the memorial and emptying trash cans, things normally done by park service employees.
"Over my dead body are we going to let this deteriorate, does the government think we're going to stop taking out the trash at our memorials if they shut it down?" said Cox.
When Cox started doing some work with a chainsaw, he was told the monument was closing and was asked to leave.