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By Joan Biskupic and David Ingram
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - He may have been the first African-American president of the Harvard Law Review and taught constitutional law at the University of Chicago. He may have written a book extolling constitutional values in a democracy. And he may have run for president on a civil liberties banner, pledging to reverse the legacy of George W. Bush.
But as U.S. president for the last 4-1/2 years, Barack Obama has faced accusation after accusation of impinging on civil liberties, disappointing his liberal Democratic base and providing fodder for rival Republicans as he deals with the realities of office.
News in the past week of the federal seizure of phone records from the Associated Press news agency and the Internal Revenue Service's targeting of conservative Tea Party groups, has intensified criticism already simmering over the Guantanamo Bay prison camp and aerial drone strikes abroad.
Asked at a news conference on Tuesday why the administration had not done more for civil liberties, Attorney General Eric Holder said: "I'm proud of what we have done" and emphasized the administration's shift from Bush era harsh interrogation practices of terrorism suspects that had drawn international criticism.
When he took office in 2009, Obama promised to close the Guantanamo camp for foreign terrorism suspects, but it remains open with 166 detainees, many on hunger strikes in protest at indefinite detentions. Obama said last month he would revisit that pledge and blamed Congress for blocking his plan to close the camp, partly through restrictions on transfers of detainees.
The administration has defended its aerial drone strikes abroad, which have included targeting a U.S.-born terrorism suspect, as essential to the fight against al Qaeda and other militants in places such as Pakistan and Yemen.
On Tuesday, Holder defended the seizure of journalists' records, saying it was part of an investigation into a leak that he called "very, very serious." A law enforcement official said the probe is related to information in a May 2012 AP story on a foiled Yemen-based al Qaeda plot.
The phone records seizure was the latest in a series of crackdowns on leaks by the Obama administration.
Obama has disappointed some because of his background, and because he followed the Bush presidency that had responded to the attacks of September 11, 2001, with what liberal critics saw as a trampling of civil liberties.
"There were reasons to think he would be different," said New York University law professor Barry Friedman, who teaches constitutional law and has written about public attitudes on the law. "He seemed to be inculcated with constitutional values, because of his background and because of what he said during the campaign."
Friedman and other law professors acknowledge the Constitution is a text open to myriad interpretations and that, in situations such as the use of drones, a constant balancing of national security and individual liberties occurs.
Obama is also contending with a polarized political scene and clashes with Republicans.
Harvard University law professor Laurence Tribe, a professor, mentor and longtime supporter of Obama, said his famous former student was facing the realities of being president.
Tribe wrote in an email to Reuters that on campus, "Barack Obama could live in a world unclouded by bureaucratic and political obstacles. As President, however, Barack Obama needs to impose his basic beliefs and priorities on the vast bureaucracy. ... His failings, in my view, have much more to do with whatever he has permitted to take place under the supposed oversight of (individual Cabinet secretaries) than they have to do with his own constitutional understanding and commitments."
When Obama won his place as the first African American in the White House, many Americans applauded another advance in the country's long civil rights movement.
But while Obama has long presented himself as a progressive Democrat, he has not been known as a fiery civil libertarian.
His wont has been to assert the need for dialogue and consensus-building. In his 2006 book, "The Audacity of Hope," he wrote: "The scope of presidential power during wartime. The ethics surrounding end-of-life decisions. These weren't easy issues; as much as I disagreed with Republican policies, I believed they were worthy of serious debate. No, what troubled me was the process - or lack of process - by which the White House and its congressional allies disposed of opposing views."
Obama's administration has sometimes come under fire for its efforts to control the message, leading to allegations of manipulation.
In the case of the IRS and Tea Party groups, Iowa Republican Senator Charles Grassley wrote to Steven Miller, acting IRS commissioner, on Tuesday asking for all records relating to the decision to reveal its mistakes at a meeting on Friday of an American Bar Association committee instead of to Congress.
Some analysts say that because of his background Obama has been held to higher expectations. "He was elected by a constituency that would expect him to be more sensitive to civil liberties," said author Larry Sabato, director of the University of Virginia Center for Politics.
Others say he is simply being judged by the standard all presidents should meet.
"I am certainly distressed by the latest revelations," Steven Shapiro, legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union, said on Tuesday. "I also think, honestly, that the fact that he was a constitutional law professor is much less significant than that he is now president. Every president has a duty to understand, appreciate and protect our civil liberties."
Asked about Obama's record on civil liberties compared to other presidents, Shapiro said the ACLU did not do comparative rankings of administrations and that, in any event, it would be too early to assess Obama. Critics and other observers agreed.
"We're living it right now," said Ilya Shapiro, a senior fellow of constitutional studies at the libertarian Cato Institute. Even as he asserts the administration may have "overreached" its constitutional authority, he said it was hard to predict how Obama's tenure will rank with past administrations.
"You never really know what's going on behind the scenes until they leave office," Sabato said, adding that Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson abused the IRS, for example, by ordering audits of political enemies.
Sabato, who referred to other scandals including Watergate during Richard Nixon's administration and the Iran-contra controversy during Ronald Reagan's years, said: "Compared to prior presidents, we're still in the minor-abuse league."
(Reporting by Joan Biskupic; Editing by Howard Goller and Frances Kerry)


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What we know about love in the times that preceded ours we have learned from proverb, myth and literature, and that knowledge remains, to this day, somewhat spotty. Love may be blind, a baptism and many splendored. A red, red rose or a wild plant born of a wet night; unlucky at cards; the course that never did run smooth; done with the compass, done with the chart! A labor we lose. The lineage of love is provisional and perhaps discontinuous: if the reign of love commenced with Adam and Eve soon after the dawn of the world, then the textual traces of their union were many years out of date by the time the Book of Genesis arrived a few centuries before the common era. Did Adam profess undying love to Eve before the serpent stole her heart? Perhaps not, but how are we to know?
It seems there are two possible ways love has developed from the beginning of time until now: either it is a universal passed down to us from the first generations–the passion of Adam for Eve–or it is a cultural manifestation of lust, a kind of expressive outpouring that, if it roils the soul, does so only in the ways that our hearts have lately been conditioned. The question of love's universality is not only unanswerable but untranslatable, lost in the slippage between our understanding of the English word "love" and the meanings of the Greeks' eros, agape, philia and storge, the various Latinate iterations of amor, Hebrew's ahava and other near cognates of diverse languages and epochs.
That said, literature remains our best, most comprehensive archive of human love. All that we expect of love, our notions of how it will lift us, reward us, transform us, comes from a long line of books, poems and songs that have detailed what we may hope for from love and what price it will exact in exchange for its pleasures. Yet as Cristina Nehring argues in her recent treatise, A Vindication of Love, given that love has long been an animating force in literature it is surprising that it is so out of favor among novelists, poets and their ilk today. "Where once upon a time love poetry was the most abundant poetry written, it is now among the rarest–particularly in high-brow publications. Adolescents are still allowed to write love poems. Famous poets are not–or only if they demonstrate Latin American provenance or prodigious restraint."
Nehring's book is an elaborate defense of ferocious, passionate love, a love that "at its strongest and wildest and most authentic…is a demon," a religious faith and a "divine madness." In Nehring's view, this love is endangered after an embattled twentieth century that brought us Freud, feminism, pheromones and friends with benefits. Love in the twenty-first century has never been freer or easier, she writes, and yet, paradoxically, it has been "defused and discredited…. Streamlined, safety-checked, and emptied of spiritual consequence." Not just love itself but its many attendant rites and rituals: courtship, mating, marriage–all these have been attenuated, coupled "with AA batteries and [sold] over the counter." Romance in our time, Nehring asserts, has gone flaccid, and it is the task of writers and other lovers of high feeling and good prose style to arouse it, not just in their art but in their lives–their love lives, to be exact. Balzac wrote that "grand passions are as rare as masterpieces." Nehring's revision: "Not only are grand passions as rare as masterpieces; they are masterpieces."

subset: commoncrawl


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Boise State coach Leon Rice isn't about to let his young team get down after a disappointing loss to No. 19 New Mexico.
The Broncos played well and battled into overtime before the Lobos pulled away in the final 5 minutes for a 79-74 victory. The defeat snapped the Broncos' seven-game winning streak, was the first home loss of the season and marked the third straight loss to New Mexico (16-2, 3-0 Mountain West Conference) since the Broncos joined the league a year ago.
"Our guys are devastated. They battled their tails off and wanted this one really bad," Rice said. "But we can't hang our heads. We've got to wipe this one off. We've got to really be able to flip the switch."
Now, Boise State (13-3, 1-1) needs to regroup in time for hitting the road Saturday to play Air Force.
Derrick Marks, who returned after serving a one-game suspension, led all scorers with 27 points. Four other Broncos scored in double figures and Boise State shot better than the Lobos from the field and behind the 3-point arc.
Tony Snell, despite not feeling well, led the Lobos with 22 points.
"We were just trying to get him healthy . just to get him ready and having a chance was amazing," New Mexico coach Steve Alford said. "I think our team feeds off that kind of toughness."
The Lobos did, beating a scrappy Boise State team in a hostile environment to win their third straight game.
Snell was 7 of 12 from the field, including hitting 5 of 7 of his 3-point attempts. His point total is the highest since he put up 27 points against George Mason on Nov. 18. For Snell, the performance was more about being aggressive than overcoming illness.
"It's just something that I've got to learn to be aggressive every game," he said. "I know it's conference time, and I'm trying to get another ring. That's my main focus. If I want to get another ring, I've got to play hard every game."
The Lobos got 15 points from Hugh Greenwood and 11 points from Kendall Williams, who returned after serving a one-game suspension for violating team rules.
Greenwood sent the game into overtime when he took advantage of a lapse by Boise State on defense and drove a wide-open lane for a layup, tying the score at 63 with 54 seconds left.
In overtime, the Lobos dominated defensively, forcing turnovers and bad Broncos shots. Snell and Greenwood combined for 9 of the Lobos' 16 points in overtime, and Snell's baseline jumper with 2:25 put the Lobos up 71-66, a shot that essentially slammed the door in a game with 13 ties and just as many lead changes.
Ryan Watkins and Mikey Thompson both scored 12 points for the Lobos and Jeff Elorriaga chipped in 11.
"We're not going to look back," Rice said. "This league is going to be about these kinds of games. It's the team that can recover the quickest, recover from wins and losses. Every game is going to be like this."
Boise State led most of the second half and at one time led by nine points in the first half. The Broncos outshot the Lobos, hitting 43.1 percent from the field and 45 percent of its 3-point attempts. The Lobos shot 40.4 percent and made 42.9 percent from behind the arc.
But the Broncos struggled holding on to the ball, turning it over 16 times and New Mexico had nine steals. But the Lobos were also the better team from the free throw line, hitting 77.4 percent compared to 71.4 percent for the Broncos.
"They outscored us from the line by nine, and that's a big difference in a game like this," Rice said.
New Mexico was forced to play without center Alex Kirk early in the second half. Kirk, the Lobos' second-leading scorer and best rebounder, picked up his third foul with 18:52 to go and went to the bench. The Broncos, much smaller at nearly every position, got a lift from 6-foot-9 center Ryan Watkins on the ensuing possession when he scored on a putback to give the Broncos a 41-37 lead.
The teams traded baskets over the next 7 minutes, and when Kirk returned he and played side-by-side with 6-9 forward Cameron Bairstow as the Lobos sought to take advantage of the size difference.
Kirk, averaging 12.5 points per game, struggled offensively ending up with 10 points and seven rebounds. But he hit four free throws in overtime before fouling out with 2:09 left and the Lobos leading 71-66.


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By Jessica Dye
NEW YORK (Reuters) - A New York state appeals court on Tuesday upheld the conviction of Anthony Marshall, who was found guilty in 2009 of siphoning millions of dollars from the estate of his mother, philanthropist and socialite Brooke Astor.
The appeals court also rejected a request by Marshall, 88, that as an elderly first-time offender with medical conditions he should be spared a prison sentence.
Marshall looked frail and tired when he was convicted by a jury in October 2009 of grand larceny, falsifying business charges and other charges at a trial in which he was accused of keeping his mother in squalid conditions in her final years.
The appeals court upheld all of the charges but dismissed one count of second-degree larceny against Marshall.
Following his conviction, Marshall was sentenced to one to three years in prison but has been free pending the outcome of the appeal.
It was unclear whether the ruling would mean Marshall would go to prison immediately or whether his attorneys could seek an extension of his bail pending further legal actions.
Astor, who for decades was top supporter of cultural institutions and charities in New York City, died in 2007 at age 105. She had been married to Vincent Astor and inherited part of a fortune made in fur trading and real estate by John Jacob Astor in the late 1700s and early 1800s.
In amendments to her will, which Astor signed after she began suffering from Alzheimer's disease, Marshall was given tens of millions of dollars and valuable real estate, acts that prosecutors cited in bringing the fraud charges.
Marshall's lawyers argued that Astor voluntarily made the changes to her will and signed over the bulk of the money to her son after deciding she wanted him to be comfortable financially.
John Cuti, an attorney for Marshall, said he was deeply disappointed with the appeals court ruling and was exploring Marshall's options.
A spokeswoman for the Manhattan district attorney's office said Marshall's trial "underscored the importance of prosecuting elder abuse, particularly financial fraud perpetrated by those close to the victims."
A legal battle over Astor's will raged for five years after her death. Ultimately, a settlement allowed for $100 million to be distributed to New York City parks and playgrounds, the New York Public Library and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, among other organizations.
(Editing by Ellen Wulfhorst and Cynthia Osterman)


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truLinda Laser Cap Toe
- Color: Select Color
- Size: Select Size
100% of customers say this fits as expected
"Very comfortable for standing on your feet all day. Good cushioning and comfortable arch support. At the end of a full day of wearing these shoes at work I do not have any discomfort. Very cute too!"
"I have a job that requires boardroom-ready style with a lot of hours on your feet. I looked for months for a shoe that would give me both style, springy soles, and comfortable support -- nothing too molded that might give my arches blisters, but nothing too bare like ballet flats. These shoes fit the bill. I wore them for 10 hours on the first day out of the box, and my feet were just fine the next day. The toe area is rounded so just a little tight at times. Also the insole is completely flat (and firmly glued in place) so I'm trying to find some thin arch supports to fix in place. Definitely worth the money. I bought 2 pairs, in black and blue!"
The truLinda Laser Cap Toe is a well structured, yet whimsically designed shoe whose comfort and style pairs splendidly with any attire. Featuring truWALK® architecture, as well as ADIPRENE® by adidas shock-absorbent cushioning and ADIPRENE® by adidas resilient forefront cushioning, this shoe will keep you moving all day long.
- ADIPRENE® by adidas shock-absorbent cushioning protects the heel at impact
- ADIPRENE® by adidas resilient forefront cushioning helps provide a responsive, dynamic push-off
- truWALK® Architecture helps provide a natural full range of foot motion, from shock absorption at heel strike to forefront flexibility at push off
- Full grain leather is durable and easy to clean
- Rubber sole helps provide a durable grip on a variety of surfaces


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Food provides the energy your child needs to grow, learn, jump, stretch, and play. It provides the nutrient base necessary for building a strong and healthy body. Food also provides immediate information] to the body. It can make your child feel full and re-energized, or tired, jumpy, and irritable. The breakfasts you give your child, the lunches eaten at school, the snacks you provide, the dinners you prepare all provide the building blocks for every cell in your child's body.
The Historical Use of Diet
Hippocrates, the "Father of Medicine," wrote, "Let food be your medicine. Let your medicine be your food." This recommendation is as important for us today as it was in ancient Greece. Food was a primary form of medicine in ancient cultures and has continued to be used as such through the ages. Warm teas and soups for colds, prune juice for constipation, toast and crackers for diarrhea-all are well-known and time-tested "medicines."
Food is important not only for curing illness, but for preventing it Today, the importance of diet in maintaining health-and conversely, in contributing to the development of disease-is increasingly evident. A proper diet is therefore useful in treating acute and chronic childhood illness as well as in promoting and enhancing optimal health.
The American Diet Today
A hundred years ago, food was prepared in a very different way than it generally is today. Most importantly, food was prepared and served more simply. In the last several decades, thanks to food-processing technology, we have seen the development of a vast selection of "quick-fix" packaged, canned, frozen, boil-in-a-bag, and microwaveable foods that get us in and out of the kitchen fast. Few people cook in the traditional sense of the word, at least on a regular basis. It's easier and more convenient to stir water into the contents of a package, open a can, heat up a frozen dinner, or "nuke" a prepackaged serving in the microwave.
Highly processed junk food is a billion-dollar-a-year industry. The shelves of American supermarket are weighted down with candy, cookies, and all kinds of packaged baked goods; snacks loaded with sugar, fat, and salt; sodas, colas, "juices," and punches made with more chemicals and additives than fruit; and artificially flavored and colored cereals.
The typical American diet is in need of an overhaul Most of us eat too much fat, too few complex carbohydrates, and too many empty calories, and are deficient in trace minerals and vitamins. The typical American gets about 42 percent of total calories from fat, with 16 percent coming from saturated fats and 26 percent from unsaturated fats. Compare this to the recommended amounts: a maximum of 30 percent of total daily calories from fat, with 10 percent from saturated fats (such as meat and dairy products), 10 percent from monounsaturated fats (such as olive oil), and 10 percent from polyunsaturated fats (such as corn, safflower, and soybean oils).
The typical American gets about 22 percent of total calories from complex carbohydrates (such as those in grains and legumes), 6 percent of calories from naturally occurring sugars (such as those found in fruits and honey), and 18 percent of calories from refined and processed sugars (such as those found in sodas, candy bars, and many processed foods). Yet it is recommended that at least 48 percent of the calories we consume should come from complex carbohydrates and naturally occurring sugars, and no more than 10 percent from refined and processed sugars.
You can make a good start toward a better diet by focusing on five of the dietary goals determined by the Senate Select Committee on Nutrition and Human Services to optimize the health of Americans through improved nutrition:
1. Increase your intake of complex carbohydrates.
2. Decrease your intake of refined and processed sugars.
3. Decrease fat consumption.
4. Decrease cholesterol consumption.
5. Limit salt intake.
In addition, encourage your child to avoid the routine consumption of products containing refined and processed sugars, saving them instead for occasional treats. Base your family's diet on grains, vegetables, fruits, clean, lean proteins, and legumes. Don't depend on processed, packaged foods for your nutrition-it is a disservice to your family's health.
Food Additives and Other Chemicals
Too much of what passes for food in the United States contains chemicals such as manufactured sweeteners, processed fats and/or fat substitutes, artificial flavorings and colorings, plus vast quantities of preservatives. Preservatives are nothing new. Salting down and pickling meat and vegetables were common practices centuries ago, as was the drying (dehydrating) of various foodstuffs. Foods preserved this way lasted a very long time, which was important in an era before refrigeration and efficient transport of fresh foods. But these natural methods took so much time and care that they were not easily adaptable to mass production. As the prepared-food industry grew by leaps and bounds, other timesaving and more cost-effective-if less healthy- methods of preserving foods were developed by the major food manufacturers.
Food additives and preservatives undergo exhaustive testing, on an individual basis. During the testing phase, laboratory animals are given megadoses of a single additive at a time. It's easy enough for manufacturers to explain away any adverse reactions by pointing out that a human will ingest only a tiny bit of a particular additive per serving. But few studies have been conducted on how different food additives interact with each other or what they do to the human body, even
though it's impossible to find a manufactured food product that contains only one additive. A small-scale study reported in the Journal of Food Science in 1976 tested three common food additives, with alarming results. When laboratory rats were given a single additive in their food, no adverse effects were noted. When two additives were combined, the rats sickened. When all three additives were given, all of the animals died within two weeks.
And what about the effects over the long term? Current scientific research can't tell us what the cumulative effects of ingesting a single food additive will be-let alone what the ever-present chemical combinations of multiple additives may do over a period of many years.
Today's food products often contain more chemical additives than basic food ingredients. Always read the labels! Trying to find additive-free products can be an exercise in frustration. Preparing fresh, whole foods is a good beginning and a way to avoid the frustration. Even so, farmers often use pesticides and chemicals in their fields that contaminate even what look like healthy fresh foods. Since the 1940s, the use of chemicals by the food growers of America has increased tenfold. In the last twenty years alone, the number of pesticides, herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, rodenticides, chemical fertilizers, and soil conditioners has doubled. These toxic chemicals do not disperse and decay harmlessly. They contaminate the food we eat, pollute the air we breathe, and seep into the water we drink. And these chemicals are all pervasive, often mysteriously traveling far from the areas where they were actually used.
DDT (dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane) is a case in point. It was banned in 1972, yet nearly every American still carries traces of DDT in his or her body. DDT has even been detected in wild animals roaming free in the Antarctic, a place once thought free of man-made chemical contamination.
Each year more than 2.5 billion pounds of chemicals are sprayed or dumped on agricultural crops, spread in forests, and used to treat ponds and lakes or "green" lawns and parks. In the mid-1980s, farmers, pest-control companies, and homeowners spent over $6.5 billion on chemicals.
A 1987 study released by the National Cancer Institute showed that children living in homes where pesticides are routinely used are seven times more likely to develop childhood leukemia than are children who live in chemical-free households. In 1989, the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) reported on a comprehensive two-year study of the impact on children of pesticide residues in food. It showed that, compared to adults, the average child receives four times more exposure to eight cancer-causing pesticides in food. Apples, apple products, peanut butter, and processed cherries that have been treated with the chemical growth regulator daminozide (better known as Alar) were named as foods posing the greatest potential risk to children. The average exposure of a child under six to daminozide and to UMDH, the carcinogenic compound it forms in the body, is 240 times the cancer risk that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) calls "acceptable" after a lifetime of exposure to this toxic chemical.
The study determined that children consume proportionally more fruits and vegetables-and thus more pesticides-than adults. Fruits are especially susceptible to pesticide contamination. On average, produce accounts for about one-third of a child's diet, with fruits predominating. The average preschool child consumes six times more fruit and fruit products, and drinks eighteen times more apple juice, than his parents do. During infancy, the average baby consumes thirty-one times more apple juice than adults in the household.
The NRDC study targeted only eight widely used chemicals. But you should be aware that the EPA has identified sixty-six different carcinogenic pesticides that turn up in the average child's diet. To date, the EPA has not acted to restrict the use of these chemicals.
Only about 1 percent of the produce, domestic or imported, in your supermarket has been tested for pesticide residues, and tests currently used can detect only around 40 percent of the possible chemical contaminants. Many dangerous metabolises (chemical compounds that form as the source chemicals break down in the body) cannot be detected at all.
The General Accounting Office (GAO) reports that it takes the FDA close to a month, on average, to complete a laboratory analysis of a food sample. During that time, a suspect food stays on the market. In more than 50 percent of the instances where the FDA has found violations, the GAO says, the contaminated food was not recovered. By the time the FDA had completed lab testing, unsuspecting families had eaten the "evidence."
Choosing Food and Water for Your Child
As a parent, you have an important and powerful influence on your child's eating habits. Children will learn to eat what a parent eats and serves. Children will eat what you stock in the refrigerator and cupboards. Children will learn to eat the way their parents do, whether that is slowly or quickly, to satisfy hunger or to ease or avoid feelings, at mealtimes or while sitting in front of the television. We need to be conscious of what we are passing on to our children.
Following are some guidelines to help you provide a healthy, balanced, nutrient-rich diet for your child (and for yourself!).
Whenever possible, buy organically grown produce and grains. Buy meat from animals raised without hormones or antibiotics. Buying organically grown foods is the one way to avoid the danger of pesticides and chemical fertilizers. Organic foods are grown without the use of synthetic chemicals. They are absolutely the healthiest choice for our children, our families, and the earth and air.
Contaminants in the air, food, and drinking water c the nation are a major concern. By testing rainwater samples from twenty-three states, a recent study by the U.S. Geological Survey found that agricultural chemical end up in the atmosphere. Along with eliminating the pesticide residues that linger on commercially farmed foods, organic farming spares the earth from these unnecessary and destructive toxins. If you have difficulty finding a source of organic foods, ask your local grocery to carry certified organic produce and grains. Certified organic farms are periodically inspected by state agencies (at present, there is no federal law or organization that oversees organic farming practices). The California law has set the standard for regulating and certifying organic farming methods. It states that in order for a farm to be certified organic, the ground must have been worked without the use of chemical sprays or fertilizers for at leas four years. The soil of a farm is tested each year to deter mine compliance. You may also see produce marked a coming from transitional farms, meaning that the farm has not yet made the four-year mark, but is in the process of transition into farming without sprays or fertilizers.


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Oklahoma tornado damage could top $2 billion
Oklahoma tornado damage could top $2 billion
MOORE, Okla. —
The Oklahoma Insurance Department says a preliminary estimate suggests the cost of the tornado that hit the Oklahoma City suburb of Moore could be more than $2 billion.
Spokeswoman Calley Herth tells The Associated Press that the early tally of damages is based on visual assessments of an extensive damage zone stretching more than 17 miles and the fact that the tornado was on the ground for 40 minutes.
She says the monetary damage caused by Monday's tornado could be greater than the $2 billion in damage from the 2011 tornado that struck Joplin, Mo., which left a smaller, three-mile trail of destruction.


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Publisher pulls the plug on revisionist Jefferson history
Thomas Nelson Publishing has decided to cease publication of David Barton's controversial book, "The Jefferson Lies."
Barton has long been a fixture in far-right politics in Texas and served as vice chairman of the Texas Republican Party from 1997 to 2006. Barton also served as an "expert" reviewer during the Texas State Board of Education's controversial revision of social studies curriculum standards in 2010. More recently, he has been embraced by influential political figures like Michele Bachmann, Mike Huckabee and Glenn Beck.
Barton is head of a political advocacy group called WallBuilders, and coauthor of an American history textbook "Drive Thru America." Various Texas school districts have also reported using materials published by WallBuilders, including the "American Government and Bible" video. In April, the Jefferson County District Attorney was asked to investigate State Board of Education member David Bradley after Barton appeared at two fundraisers for Bradley's reelection campaign. The non-partisan Texas Freedom Network (TFN) said the actions of Barton on Bradley's behalf violated a provision of the Education Code that says "a person engaged in manufacturing, shipping, selling or advertising instructional materials commits an offense if the person makes or authorizes a political contribution to or takes part in, directly or indirectly, the campaign of any person seeking election to or serving on the board."
At the time, TFN President Kathy Miller said, "We shouldn't have people who are involved in creating and selling instructional materials also raising money for candidates for a state board that decides which materials will be sold to schools."
Also in April 2012, Thomas Nelson Publishing released Barton's "The Jefferson Lies." Steven Green, director of the Center for Religion, Law and Democracy at Willamette University, says in a review, "The basic theme of 'The Jefferson Lies' is that modern Americans have formed an incorrect impression of Thomas Jefferson, one that has been perpetrated by liberal academics and the media. The prevailing view of Jefferson, according to Barton, is one of a conflicted and tragic hero: a political leader and philosopher of the Founding through his authorship of the Declaration of Independence, but also disreputable character who was a racist and an atheist. Jefferson fathered children by his slave mistress and embraced a radical form of Enlightenment secularism; he despised religion and sought to impose a strict separation of church and state. Barton seeks to correct this 'standard' history and dispel such 'lies' about one of the nation's leading Founders. Rather than being a religious heretic and a racist libertine, the Jefferson who emerges in Barton's account is religiously devout just short of being an evangelical Christian and an early advocate for the rights of African-Americans. Jefferson 'was pro-Christian and pro-Jesus in his beliefs, demeanor, and public endeavors.' This 'Jefferson' did not intend to perpetrate a secular public square through the separation of church and state but to promote religion by protecting churches and people of faith from the overreaching of government. By Barton's account, Jefferson would likely feel comfortable at a modern Tea-Party rally."
One urgent motive for Barton and others seeking to alter Jefferson's reputation is his 1802 letter to the Danbury Baptist Association which makes the First Amendment assertion that Congress shall "make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof" means there is "a wall of separation between Church & State" — the first known appearance of that now-familiar phrase.
The review by Green found that Barton's book on Jefferson includes many of the same problems as his previous works, reinforcing widespread criticism that Barton distorts history in the service of an ideological argument. Brian Hampton, a senior vice president and publisher for Thomas Nelson, told CNN that a lengthy review found Barton had included "historical details that were not adequately supported."
Lamar University history professor Dr. Jeff Forret said it's simply an issue of academic integrity.
"It's pretty clear that (Barton) is rather ideologically driven," he said. "This is not a liberal issue or a conservative issue … it's about upholding professional standards."
Forret recounted another example of an attempt by an author to misconstrue historical facts. In 2000, a professor at Emory University in Georgia, Michael A Bellesiles, published "Arming America: The Origins of a National Gun Culture." The central theme of the book is that America's gun culture arose after the Civil War and that, contrary to myth, it did not have its roots in America's colonial and frontier eras. Bellesiles holds that guns were uncommon during peacetime in America during the colonial, early national, and antebellum periods, when guns were little used and the average American's proficiency in use of firearms was poor. The book won the Bancroft Prize, which is awarded each year by the trustees of Columbia University for books about diplomacy or the history of the Americas.
"As it turns out there, was some pretty sloppy research in there and some information that was apparently just straight up fabricated," Forret said. "Bellesile's Bancroft Prize was taken away and he had to resign from his position."
"Barton is certainly not alone," Forret said. "This is the latest in a number of similar cases. You have to get your history from professionally trained scholars who are less ideologically driven."
Forret said history by its very nature is useful to people, but how you write it and how you interpret it is certainly subject to personal influence.
Dr. Lloyd Daigrepont, an English professor specializing in American Literature at Lamar University, said the problem with this book is that Barton is trying a revisionist approach in "The Jefferson Lies" to undo what historians have long concluded.
"Jefferson was a product of the Age of Reason or the Enlightenment. While many of the founding fathers had a Christian tradition, many of them transitioned over to Enlightenment ideals," he said. "They accepted reason as primary — reason over faith. They were deists, and I think if you read Jefferson … you just don't see much indication that he is a Christian in the most conservative sense. Certainly his values are derived from a Christian background, but if you look at most of the thinkers of the Enlightenment, they tend to be more rationalists than devout believers."
Daigrepont said many revisionists, like Barton, are trying to rewrite history by saying that founding fathers such as Jefferson thought our government ought to be a Christian government.
"The Constitution doesn't say our government ought to be a Christian government," he said. "It's supposed to be government in and of itself or, bad word, 'secular' government. What I always tell my students is, 'Don't take my word for it. Go ahead and read the books yourself.'"
Daigrepont suggests reading "The Portable Thomas Jefferson" by Viking publishers. It consists of a vast collection of Jefferson's works, including "Notes on the State of Virginia," a report by Jefferson that includes politics, the economy, topography, populations, flora and fauna.
Forret said he is considering holding a history class specializing on Thomas Jefferson.
James Shannon contributed to this report. Kevin King can be reached at (409) 832-1400, ext. 225, or by e-mail at kevin [at] theexaminer [dot] com.


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LocationBirch Run, MI
12410 Dixie Highway
Birch Run, MI 48415
New 2018 Coachmen RV Freelander 20CB Ford Transit
With sleeping space for five in this Ford Transit model 20CB Freelander class C gas motor home you have everything needed for your time away from home including a full rear bath and double size bed, plus more!
As you enter notice the large J-lounge 41" x 64" dinette with pedestal table straight ahead. There is overhead storage and a generous space to enjoy your meals. This can also be simply made into extra sleeping space if needed at night.
To the left of the entry door find a countertop extension, two burner range, single sink, overhead microwave, and an additional corner counter space. Next to the J-lounge there is a refrigerator for your perishables. To the right of the entry door you will find an extra seat.
Above the cab there is a 48" x 87" bunk for extra sleeping space, and a swing-arm TV which is able to be seen from anywhere in the main living area. You have an optional passenger swivel seat as well.
Head to the back of this unit and step up to a bedroom and bathroom area. There is a rear double size bed with an overhead cabinet at the head and along the side of the bed. The other rear corner has a bathroom with a toilet, medicine cabinet, sink, and a shower. Just outside the bathroom door there is a large wardrobe for all of your clothing storage.
Don't forget about the optional outside entertainment center!
Like most: Thank you Terry for a dream come true! We are from Montreal and after selling our pop-up, my husband and I were looking for something that would allow us to have the family around on summer weekends. Our pop-up could sleep about 8, so we needed something at least equivalent. My husband found the General RV website. Because of the great prices they have, we opted for a Tioga Ranger Class ... More » - Nicole from Saint-Hubert, QC
Stock# 168891
Chassis: Ford T350 Transit
|23 ft 7 in
|Ext Width
|7 ft 10 in
|Ext Height
|10 ft 4 in
|Int Height
|6 ft 9 in
|Hitch Weight
|2000 lbs
|Gross Weight
|10360 lbs
|Dry Weight
|7738 lbs
|Cargo Weight
|2220 lbs
|Fresh Water Capacity
|38 gals
|Grey Water Capacity
|28 gals
|Black Water Capacity
|26 gals
|Furnace BTU
|18000 btu
|Fuel Type
|Ford T350 Transit
|275 hp
|Fuel Capacity
|25 gals
|156 in
|Number Of Bunks
|Available Beds
|260 ft-lb
|Refrigerator Type
|Double Door
|Cooktop Burners
|Number of Awnings
|Axle Weight Front
|4130 lbs
|Axle Weight Rear
|7275 lbs
|LP Tank Capacity
|40 lbs.
|Water Heater Capacity
|6 gal.
|Water Heater Type
|13500 btu
|Basement Storage
|60 cu. ft.
|Awning Info
|14' Power
|Gross Combined Weight
|12125 lbs
|Electrical Service
|30 amp
At Coachmen you will find a rich history of commitment from our Team Members. This commitment extends to our owners and in the pride we have for our brand. The close relationship that we share with our owners and our dealers is a quality that others have been trying to mimic over our 50 year history. Our goals and principles remain well in focus.
Coachmen RV products have been on North American roads and in North American campgrounds since 1964.
With over five decades of building Recreational Vehicles and over 600,000 RVs built and sold we know how to design and build a reliable RV with exceptional value, dependable design, practical innovation and the comforts and features you desire.
General RV works hard to ensure the accuracy of all its listings however we are not responsible for any misprints, typos, or errors found in our website pages. Any price listed excludes sales tax, registration tags, and delivery fees. Manufacturer-provided pictures, specifications and features may be used as needed. Inventory shown may be only a partial listing of the entire inventory. Please contact us at 888-436-7578 for availability as our inventory changes rapidly. All calculated payments are an estimate only and do not constitute a commitment that financing or a specific interest rate or term is available.


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WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Five years after Lehman Brothers collapsed, regulators' top priority should be cracking down on systemic threats posed by short-term bank funding, a U.S. Federal Reserve official said on Friday.
Banks rely less on risky, short-term funding than they did prior to the financial crisis, but the practice still poses a risk to the banking system, said Fed Governor Daniel Tarullo, the agency's point person on financial regulation.
"Although the amounts of short-term wholesale funding have come down from their pre-crisis peaks, this structural vulnerability remains," Tarullo said in remarks prepared for a speech at Yale University.
"The use of such funding surely has the potential to increase again during periods of rapid asset appreciation and ready access to leverage."
U.S. regulators have rushed to revamp the way they oversee the biggest banks after the 2007-2009 financial crisis.
Tarullo on Friday urged officials to shift their focus away from bank-specific oversight and more toward rooting out systemic risks which could bring about a repeat of the crisis.
In addition to beefing up capital requirements and cracking down on short-term funding, Tarullo said regulators are looking at ways to prevent banking activities from migrating away from regulated entities and into so-called "shadow banks."
"It would be preferable to confront these issues now, before too much of this migration has occurred, than to wait until the problem manifests itself in growing systemic risk," he said.
The countercyclical buffer provision in the international Basel III accord - which tells banks to ramp up capital in boom times - was quite a "blunt" tool, Tarullo also said, but could still serve as part of supervisory practices.
(Reporting by Emily Stephenson and Douwe Miedema; editing by Krista Hughes)


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Farmland values rose 15% in the last 12 months, slowing down from last quarter due to concern over drought conditions, according the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. The value of "good" farmland increased 1% in the second quarter of 2012 compared to the first quarter of 2012, the smallest quarterly increase in two years. All District states posted year-over-year increases in farmland values and the largest year-over-year land value increase came from Iowa, with a 24% increase.
Although there is concern over the recent drought conditions, a majority of bankers still believe there will be an increase or pause in farmland prices in the third quarter. 22% of bankers surveyed estimated farmland values will rise in the third quarter of 2012, only four percent believe prices will fall. The consensus, over 70%, believes farmland prices will level off through the third quarter.
Even with farmland prices stable to increasing, output is estimated to decrease significantly. The previous drought of this magnitude, in 1988, saw a decrease of 30% to 40% in soybean and corn yields. Due to improved seed traits and better farming practices, corn production should only decline by 22% and soybean production by 19% in the district year over year.
According to the USDA's most recent forecasts, average corn prices for the 2012-13 crop year are estimated at $7.50 to $8.90 a bushel, a significant increase from 2011. Soybean average price range is estimated at $15.00 to $17.00 per bushel.
In addition to high prices, crop insurance will also help farmers weather the drought. Only 22% of U.S. corn acres were not insured in 2011. The majority of the district was declared a disaster area, resulting in the federal government releasing additional funds and lowering rates on farm loans.
The agricultural credit condition avoided a descent in the 7th district in the second quarter of 2012. Year over year funds available has improved as 65% of respondents indicated their banks had more funds available.
The average loan-to-deposit ratios increased to 68.1, below the level one year prior. Banks were more restrictive this quarter requiring more collateral for loans. Nine percent of banks that were surveyed required more collateral, and none required less.
Interest rates for agricultural loans continued to decline in the second quarter of 2012 and set a new record low for the fifth straight quarter. Farm operating loan's average interest rate was 5.27% and real estate loans fell to 4.94%.
3rd Quarter Outlook
The recent drought has left farmers and bankers uncertain as to what the near future holds for farmland values and farm income. Non-real-estate agriculture loans are expected to decrease in the third quarter of 2012 compared to the third quarter of 2011, whereas farm mortgage volume is expected to increase. Farmers will remain on the sideline, for the most part, when purchasing farmland until crop insurance payments are issued and harvest is complete. We feel this may pose as an opportune time for investors to purchase farmland as the agriculture fundamental outlook remains very strong.
The Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago's second quarter survey of Farmland Values and Agricultural Credit Conditions Report is a summary of the 7th District's value of farmland, farm loan portfolio performance, and on-farm income. The 7th District consists of the entire state of Iowa, and portions of Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, and Michigan.
Disclosure: I have no positions in any stocks mentioned, and no plans to initiate any positions within the next 72 hours.


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Body in box trial delayed
Jeb Daly accused of killing girlfriend Jessica Dana
Body in box trial delayed
Jeb Daly accused of killing girlfriend Jessica Dana
NORTHAMPTON, Mass, —
The trial of a western Massachusetts man charged with killing his girlfriend and hiding her body in a cardboard box has been delayed pending the completion of forensic testing.
The trial of 37-year-old Jeb Daly was scheduled to start next month. The Daily Hampshire Gazette reports that the prosecutor said in court Monday that it is now not expected to start until November when the testing is completed.
Prosecutors allege Daly beat and strangled Jessica Dana in the Huntington home they shared in June 2012 after an argument sparked by money and drug use. Her body was found in a cardboard box behind the home.
Daly has pleaded not guilty to murder and other charges. He said she left home on her own accord following an argument.


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LocationSt. Cloud, MN
25064 Augusta Drive
St Cloud, MN 56301
New 2018 Keystone RV Springdale 38BH
This spacious Springdale travel trailer 38BH offers a larger family many comforts of home with sleeping for nine, a front bunkhouse, double slides for added space, dual entry doors, and so much more!
As you step through the glass patio doors notice a private bunkhouse up front featuring a kids dinette on the right with a bunk above, and a second set of bunk beds on the left. There is also a wardrobe in between for storage.
Just outside the bunkhouse door there is a slide out tri-fold sofa with overhead storage and booth dinette. Both of which can easily be made into more sleeping space if needed at night.
The kitchen offers all that you need to prepare and cook for for your hungry crew while camping. There is a large kitchen sink making cleaning up easy, a three burner range, overhead microwave oven, residential refrigerator, and pantry for dry and canned good storage.
The bath features an angled shower, toilet, sink, and linen cabinet.
The rear of this Springdale travel trailer features a queen bed slide along the road side wall, and a wardrobe with double doors, plus an entertainment center both along the curb side wall. There is an added convenience of a second private entry door from outside, plus so much more!
- Value Package
- Deluxe Entertainment System
- 50 AMP Service / Wire for 2nd A/C
- Radial Tires
- Enclosed Underbelly
- 10 gal. Water Heater
- Exterior Shower
- Sink Cover
- 15.0 BTU A/C - ducted
- 15" Spare Tire Kit
- Tri-Fold Sleeper Sofa
Stock# 333-18
Interior Color: Kona
|38 ft 11 in
|Ext Width
|8 ft
|Ext Height
|11 ft 4 in
|Int Height
|6 ft 10 in
|Interior Color
|Hitch Weight
|995 lbs
|Dry Weight
|8795 lbs
|Cargo Weight
|2360 lbs
|Fresh Water Capacity
|56 gals
|Grey Water Capacity
|69 gals
|Black Water Capacity
|39 gals
|Tire Size
|Furnace BTU
|30000 btu
|Number Of Bunks
|Available Beds
|Refrigerator Type
|Cooktop Burners
|Number of Awnings
|LP Tank Capacity
|30 lbs.
|Water Heater Capacity
|6 gal.
|Water Heater Type
|Gas/Electric DSI
|13500 btu
|Awning Info
|Adjustable Power
|Axle Count
|Number of LP Tanks
|Shower Type
|Electrical Service
|50 amp
When Cole Davis founded Keystone RV in 1996 his vision was clear: Build a quality RV loaded with features priced thousands less than other RVs on the market. To accomplish his goal, Cole would recruit and build a strong team, focus on keeping overhead low, and empower the people closest to the customer to make decisions.
Within a few short months after opening the doors, Keystone produced its very first camper. Delivering big on quality, features and value, the public fell in love with it. A star was born! As the appetite for the camper increased, new Keystone models were added to satisfy growing customer demand. Along with this tremendous growth came the need for expanded production. To meet this need more manufacturing plants were built and staffed.
From new floor plan designs to patented inventions, Keystone leads the way in product innovation. One reason is our mission to stay close to the customer. When talking with campers or visiting dealerships, our sales, product development, and service teams, are always looking for ways to improve the camping experience. And we don't stop there.
Every member of the Keystone family is encouraged to contribute to making our campers absolutely the best possible. Through something we call Kamp Keystone, our employees camp free of charge at local campgrounds in the Keystone trailers we supply. Each year hundreds of our production workers, administrative staff and service team enjoy a day (or a week) at Kamp Keystone. Their evaluation of the experience and the feedback they provide results in continued product improvements. Ask us if we use our RVs...the answer is YES!
Pleasureland RV is not responsible for any misprints, typos, or errors found in our website pages. Any price listed excludes sales tax, registration tags, and delivery fees. Manufacturer-provided pictures, specifications and features may be used as needed. Inventory shown may be only a partial listing of the entire inventory. Please contact us at 800-862-8603 for availability as our inventory changes rapidly. All calculated payments are an estimate only and do not constitute a commitment that financing or a specific interest rate or term is available.


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To say that Prince William and Kate Middleton's perfect relationship seems like the ultimate fairy tale is a total understatement. The couple, who met back in college, have been together for what feels like forever now and soon enough will be welcoming the cutest little royal bundle of joy. With all of this bliss at the palace, it's hard to think of the duo being without one another. The reality? It hasn't always been Will and Kate.
Both royals had their fair share of past romances before they committed to one another to have and to hold. I'll be honest with you guys -- a few of their exes are pretty good looking. Curious? We were too. Go on, take a look for yourself at 5 of Kate Middleton and Prince William's exes:
Can you imagine the royal couple dating anyone else?
Image via whitneyinchicago/Flickr


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NEW YORK — It was the most memorable women's tennis match played in the last year, Serena Williams' comeback from 5-3 down in the final set to beat Victoria Azarenka in the finals of the 2012 U.S. Open and win her 15th major title and fourth Open, 6-2, 2-6, 7-5.
The two will meet again Sunday, Williams seeded No. 1 and Azarenka No. 2, in the Open finals.
Williams will be aiming for her 17th major championship, having earned a French Open title since last September. Azarenka successfully defended her Australian Open title in January.
"We always have really good matches," Williams said. "It's great to get her in another final. She's a great player and she lifts her game when it really counts.
"I know her game as well as she knows mine. She knows what I do great, what I do bad and what I can do better. I know the same thing. At this point, it's just all about playing some tennis now."
Azarenka's thoughts were similar. "The battles we've had, it was just really taking each other out of the most comfortable zone and fight for everything," Azarenka said. "We know each other pretty well. I know her strengths, she knows mine."
Williams, from Compton, is 31. Azarenka, from Belarus, is 24. Williams has a 12-3 career advantage over Azarenka, but Azarenka has won two of their last three meetings, including the final big warmup in Cincinnati before the U.S. Open.
Former player Pam Shriver, now a television analyst, said the decision on who wins rests with Williams.
"The standard Serena has been playing, consistently dominant in this tournament, every match in her hands, she just needs to keep her same routine," said Shriver, noting that Williams had lost her serve only twice and lost no sets in six matches.
Shriver also said, almost word for word, what had been said by Williams' coach, Patrick Mouratoglou. Saturday, while Serena and her sister Venus were losing the women's doubles final, Mouratoglou said Azarenka was the only woman "who truly believes she can beat Serena. That confidence means everything."
Shriver agreed: "Azarenka goes in with great confidence, she's beaten her in the last final. But she's smart. She knows Serena is playing better than in Cincinnati.
"What she can't do is press herself to her best level. She just has to play and accept that at her best level she can beat Serena."
Shriver said to watch Williams' serve and forehand early. "Vika needs to see what that forehand is doing. If the flow is not good, that's a great sign for Azarenka," Shriver said. "Serena's serve is a threat to everyone, but Azarenka is the women's greatest returner. Azarenka has to be aware of patterns in Serena's serve."
Said Azarenka: "The battles we had, it's been just … who's willing to go for it more?"
Twitter: @mepucin


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Producer Jane Craig: "You could get fired for things like that."
Newscaster Tom Grunick: "I got promoted for things like that."
"Broadcast News" (1987)
We cast our TV newscasters much the way we cast our political leaders. It's as easy to imagine Brian Williams as a governor as anchor of the "NBC Nightly News," maybe easier after recent events.
News readers and newsmakers are expected to be witty and wise, warm but forceful, attractive. They have to appear comfortable in any setting, in casual duds or business attire. They're to speak authoritatively on every...


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Nation's money disaster hits Christian ministry
Financial ops being restructured to avoid capitol's bank account grab
A satellite television ministry that broadcasts into the Middle East is being forced to restructure its financial operations to prevent its assets from being seized by the government in Cyprus, which has melted down economically, officials say.
SAT-7 TV, a satellite ministry that broadcasts Christian programs in Arabic, is being forced to make the changes to avoid the worst of the impact of the decision by the Cypriot government to seize private assets from banks.
In a new message sent to supporters, SAT-7 President Dr. Terrence Ascott says the ministry has been adversely impacted by the Cyprus situation.
"The banking crises of the past few weeks have made day to day operations in Cyprus very difficult," Ascott said.
Sat-7 Television USA President Dr. Rex Rogers says the crisis is causing a delay in some financial transactions.
Rogers says SAT-7 was a target for the government's financial maneuvering, and the government already has taken a huge amount of cash – estimated at about 40,000 euros.
Rogers says the ministry is asking donors to look at alternative channels to contribute.
"The call is not necessarily for all of the money to go to our Denmark account. We said that because of the present banking crisis in Cyprus, we would ask that any gifts be sent to local SAT-7 support offices in the USA, Canada or UK," Rogers said.
The transition – collecting money in different accounts and then using them to pay the ministry's operating expenses, will take some time.
"Yes, it will. It will delay payments, salaries and other transactions," Rogers said.
But he knows he's not alone.
"We are aware of a couple other Christian organizations who have lost significant sums of money in this crisis. Likely there are others as well," Rogers said.
Rogers believes that billions of euros are involved and that the proposed solution is also risky.
"It appears from the latest reports that Cyprus will need to raise 13 billion euros to secure a … loan from the European Union and IMF," Rogers said. "Also, a large portion of the 13 billion appears to be coming from unsecured deposits in the two largest banks, but exact numbers have not been released yet."
The organization said it will continue broadcasting, and will continue to have some operations in Cyprus.
"We will of course always need some local banking in Cyprus and over the coming months, we are expecting to go through many more changes, including a change in bankers, bank cards, banking procedures, and etc.," Ascott said. "It will take time to see what the economic impact of all this will be on the country, and whether or not the current insecurity in the local banking sector can be addressed."
WND previously reported that the banking meltdown in Cyprus was affecting ministries.
Religious Freedom Coalition President William Murray said the future looked bleak because many Christian human rights and aid groups use Cyprus banks to ensure aid reaches the intended Middle Eastern and south Asian countries.
"Ministries like mine have to run money through Cyprus so the recipients in Muslim nations are not targeted for getting money from the crusaders," Murray said.
Other Christian-based human rights groups also use Cyprus.
"Several humanitarian groups were going to lose a lot of money if that heavy tax was put on their deposits. This would hurt those groups who are trying to help the poor and refugees in the Middle East," Murray said.
Those hurt would be refugees and the poor in Middle Eastern countries.
SAT-7 has been working since 1996 to raise the awareness in Middle East and North Africa about God's love.
It currently has five channels, SAT-7 Arabic, Sat-7 Pars, Sat-7 Kids, Sat-7 Plus and Sat-7 Turk.
Each channel regularly broadcasts programming that shows viewers God's love and gives local churches in the region a platform on which to educate and encourage their communities.
The broadcasts also are used to combat misconceptions about Christianity and work interdenominationally.
It also has offices in Europe, the UK, Canada and the United States. It has more than 100 staff members working throughout the Middle East.


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Team Leader and Middle-Distance Star Enters with Fifth-Seeded Time in 1,500-Meter Run
NEW HAVEN, Conn.—For most members of the Yale men's track and field team, the summer months have brought an end to a strong season; for junior James Shirvell, however, the most important competitions are just getting started. On June 6-8, Shirvell will be in Eugene, Ore., where he will be representing the Bulldogs on track and field's biggest collegiate stage: the Division I NCAA Championships. And just a couple weeks later, Shirvell's memorable season will continue in Des Moines, Iowa, where he will be competing in the USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
Shirvell will be traveling to Eugene with plenty of confidence, thanks to two incredible showings in the 1,500-meter run at the Division I NCAA East Regional a couple weeks ago. At Regionals, Shirvell broke his personal record on day one with a time of 3:43.43 that not only placed him second overall, but also easily earned him a spot in the Regional final two days later—a race which would determine who would move onto the NCAA Championships in Eugene. Despite competing for the second time in a span of just three days, Shirvell ran the best race of his collegiate career thus far: a 3:41.09, the fastest 1,500-meter race in Yale history. As a result, Shirvell punched his ticket not only to the NCAA Championship, where he will enter with the fifth-seeded overall time, but also to the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, at which Shirvell has already confirmed he will compete.
"My performances at Regionals definitely give me confidence going into NCAAs," Shirvell said. "I know that I'm fit if I'm able to [set personal records] substantially twice, with only a day of rest, so I'm feeling great. I'm happy with my performances, but it would be wrong to say I am content. There is still hunger, I want to see what I can do with the country's best and show that our program is one of the best."
For Shirvell, setting Yale's top all-time 1,500-meter mark was a significant, if not unexpected, honor.
"I was a little surprised, to be honest, that I got the school record," he said. "It wasn't something I was thinking about going into the race, as the only thing that was on my mind was advancing to NCAAs, so it was a very nice bonus. Getting the record has been a goal of mine, but—for it to come with an NCAA berth—I would have it no other way."
Despite his remarkable skill and history of regional success during his first two years of college competition, Shirvell's national dominance this season may have come as a bit of a surprise. Coming into the season, Shirvell had run the 1,500-meters at the collegiate level just once in his entire career. Typically an 800-meter specialist at outdoor meets, Shirvell's shift to the 1,500-meters seemed to pay off early, as he placed first in the event at the Tribe Invitational and set two personal records the first two times he ran the event.
Shirvell's success in the event continued throughout the remainder of the season, and he placed second in prelims and sixth overall at the Ivy League Championships in early May. Despite having qualified for the IC4As, Shirvell instead competed at the Virginia Challenge, where he shattered his previous personal record in the 1,500-meters and earned himself a last-minute invitation to Greensboro, N.C., for the Division I NCAA East Regional, which he entered as the 20th seed.
Shirvell will compete at the NCAA Championships for the first time on Thursday, June 6. Following that first-round race, the top five athletes from each heat—plus those with the next two fastest times—will qualify for the final race on Saturday, June 8.
Despite the elevated pressure, Shirvell is doing his best to remain calm and just appreciate this season's success.
"To prepare, nothing really different than any other race," Shirvell said. "I think you have to treat every race the same. Just making sure to get my rest, so I know I'm ready to go. Other than that, just enjoying Yale for a bit more this summer."
Results will be available on www.yalebulldogs.com at the end of competition on both Thursday and Saturday. The NCAA Championships can be seen on ESPN3 on Thursday and ESPNU on Friday and Saturday.
Report by Zach Schloss '15, Yale Sports Publicity


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Free District of Columbia Legal Resources–2013
Our nation's capital is a popular destination for legal professionals. Here are some free legal resources which may aid in conducting District of Columbia research.
District of Columbia Courts – Official website for the D.C. Court System. Court cases for all divisions are available online, but the interface requires specific information to locate cases. See instructions on how to navigate and use the system. The Superior Court homepage provides information about the court's different divisions and contains links to the court's rules, administrative orders, and forms. Useful information available on the Court of Appeals site, include rules and forms.U.S. District Court for DC – Official site provides access to opinions (2004-present), rules & forms.U.S. Court of Appeals DC Circuit – The website provides useful information related to the court including opinions (1997-present), rules, and forms.
District of Columbia Official Code – Contains current version of the code.
Municipal Regulations – The Office of Documents and Administrative Issuances (ODAI) publishes the DC Municipal Regulations, DC Register, and Mayor's Orders. The Municipal Regulations serves as the codification of all DC final rulemaking. The DC Register (index 2003-2008; more comprehensive 2009-present) is a weekly legal publication of DC laws, administrative rulemakings, notices, orders, and other items. The Mayor's Orders (Sept. 2009-present) covers administrative issuances such as orders, instructions, and memoranda.


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Introducción a la lengua española
© 2013 hardcover | 8 ½ x 10 ½ | 2-volume paperback available | online vText available
Panorama, 4th Edition
Vista Higher Learning offers several different package options. Prior to making your purchase, check with your instructor or review your course syllabus to ensure that you are purchasing the correct materials for your program.
Didn't find what you're looking for?
Try searching by your School or by the ISBN. The ISBN for your materials is available from your instructor or on your course syllabus.


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Movie Violence Might Temper the Real Thing
""The study's premise strikes me as somewhat goofy,' said Melissa Henson, senior director of programs at the Parents Television Council, a media watchdog... 'I'd hate for people to walk away with the message that, 'Oh, I ought to send my son to watch violent movies so they won't go out and drink or do drugs and commit violent crime...'" READ MORE >
Scholar sees a Catholic in the Bard
Another book arguing that Shakespeare's plays were written from a Catholic perspective. It's too bad, but until there's hard evidence that Shakespeare was a practicing Catholic, the literary establishment will keep ignoring these books. The best one so far is Claire Asquith's Shadowplay. READ MORE >
Taking Science on Faith
Unlike biologists, who get tarred with the brush of Creationism at the slightest mention of the G-word, physicists have been free to bring God into their speculation. Here, physicist Paul Davies explains the obvious: that both religion and science are confronted with mysteries that can't be reduced to theories or empirical investigation.… READ MORE >
Why Benedict XVI Is So Cautious with the Letter of the 138 Muslims
Few observers are more hardnosed and skeptical about dialogue with Islam than Sandro Magister. Sometimes he goes overboard, but here he's probably right to contrast the fawning response by 300 Christian scholars to the Muslim "letter of the 138" to the Pope's more toughminded, nuanced stance. How many apologies for… READ MORE >
After Stem-Cell Breakthrough, the Work Begins
Now that embryonic stem cell research may no longer require the destruction of human life, is it just a coinicidence that the NY Times is emphasizing how far scientists still have to go to develop successful treatments? READ MORE >
Bob Guccione Jr. finds his way back to church
"For Gooch, an erstwhile altar boy who describes himself as 'a lazy but devout Catholic,' science is incomplete without the contemplation of faith. 'I have no trouble whatsoever accommodating, side by side, the ideas of multiple universes and the Immaculate Conception...'" READ MORE >
Pat Robertson Endorses Giuliani for President
Pat Robertson puts the "War on Terror" and Christian nationalism ahead of the Gospel and traditional values, and confirms liberal claims that the Christian Right is interested in power, not piety. READ MORE >
Human Therapeutic Cloning at a Standstill
Anti-Aging Drugs Could Change the Nature of Death
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January 29. 2013 8:40AM
Armed man robs woman as she was clearing snow off her car in Manchester
MANCHESTER - A gunman robbed a woman as she was clearing snow off her car, pressing a black handgun into her stomach as he went through her pockets, police said.
The robbery happened about 5:45 p.m. Monday in the parking lot at N.H. Walk-in Dental offices at 25 S. Maple St. A 42-year-old employee left the clinic to clear snow off her car and a co-worker's vehicle. She finished clearing her car and was brushing snow off her co-worker's car when a man approached her, pointed a black handgun at her and demanded her valuables.
He put the gun up against her stomach, went through her pockets and then told her to give him her rings. She did as she was told, police said.
He asked for the keys to the car but she explained it was not hers. The gunman then took off with her jewelry and cellphone, heading north on foot.
He is described as a white man in his 20s, about 5-foot-6 to 5-foot-9 with a medium build. He was clean shaven and wore a black knit hat, a black and green puffy jacket and dark pants.
Anyone with information about the robbery is asked to call police at 668-8711. Anonymous tips for cash rewards may be made through Manchester Crimeline at 624-4040 or online at manchestercrimeline.org.


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HomeWhat's on
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Activities•Winter sports
Find out more
Year round
Scotlands premier artificial snowsports centre, with jumps, rails, boxes, moguls and quarter pipes.
Read more about: Aberdeen Snowsports Centre
Attractions•History & culture
Macdonald Inchyra Hotel & Spa
Year Round
The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Museum traces over 200 years of one of Scotland's elite military regiments.
Read more about: Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Museum
At Bannockburn in 1314, in one of the defining moments in Scottish history, King Robert the Bruce routed the English forces of King Edward II to win freedom for the Scots.
Read more about: Bannockburn Heritage Centre
Beecraigs Country Park boasts forest trakcs, childrens play area, mountain bike trails, animals, fishery, camping site and picnic areas.
Read more about: Beecraigs Country Park
Macdonald Marine Hotel & Spa
Come and tour Belhaven Brewery to really get behind the scenes of a working brewery steeped in history.
Read more about: Belhaven Brewery
Macdonald Drumossie Hotel
Beer lovers will love a tour of the The Black Isle Brewing Co.
Read more about: Black Isle Brewery
Macdonald Loch Rannoch Hotel
Steeped in centuries of often dramatic history, this magnificent castle and grounds are open for a day visit, corporate events, functions and weddings.
Read more about: Blair Castle
Attractions•Animal & wildlife
18th March - 29th October 2017
Blair Drummond Safari and Adventure Park is a great day out for all the family.
Read more about: Blair Drummond Safari & Adventure Park
Recent additions to the Boness Motor Museum include a car from the Harry Potter films, Thunderbirds hover bike and Tardis props from Dr Who.
Read more about: Boness Motor Museum
Macdonald Rusacks Hotel
The five-star British Golf Museum sits at the very heart of golfs home, just 67 short yards from the famous Old Course.
Read more about: British Golf Museum
Stay connected
Copyright © Macdonald Hotels 2018


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MassMutual Retirement Services Strengthens 401(k) Roster
Firm Selected By Concrete Tie Industries, Inc. as New Retirement Plan Provider
Feb 20, 2013, 02:00 EST
SPRINGFIELD, Mass., Feb. 20, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- MassMutual's Retirement Services Division has been selected by Concrete Tie Industries, Inc. as the new recordkeeper for the company's 401(k) retirement plan, today serving approximately 42 participants. Assets added to MassMutual's platform from the company's retirement plan total more than $2.4 million.
Headquartered in Compton, Calif., Concrete Tie Industries, Inc. specializes in concrete products and has been in business since 1950.
"MassMutual stood out as a clear choice following our diligent search for a new retirement plan provider due to the firm's competitive fee structure and flexibility of investment options," says David Tuebner, CFP, vice president with Morgan Stanley Wealth Management, who assisted with the search. "Another key differentiator was MassMutual's strong commitment to participant education, and Concrete Tie Industries, Inc. could not be more pleased with the prompt deployment of group and personalized one-on-one educational meetings with employees," adds Tuebner.
"MassMutual's focus on participant outcomes and participant success is truly exceptional, and that has been evident throughout the sales and implementation process. In addition, as a TPA firm, we love working with MassMutual because they are a great partner and make it easy for us to do our job efficiently and effectively, which ultimately makes Concrete Tie's job easier as well. We are thrilled to be working with MassMutual on this plan!" adds Ian Salisbury, pension consultant with Actuarial Benefits Corp.
"The transition to MassMutual was seamless," says Steve Sim, controller with Concrete Tie Industries, Inc. "This was the second time I've moved to a new 401(k) provider and this was by far the easiest, thanks in part to our transition manager being so organized and knowledgeable with every step of the process. Participant education was also very important to us in choosing our next provider. Each of our employees had a one-on-one meeting with a MassMutual Retirement Education Specialist who walked through the process of logging in to their accounts online and making changes. Each person also received a consultation on their own personal retirement situation. We are happy to recommend MassMutual," adds Sim.
"MassMutual is pleased to welcome Concrete Tie Industries, Inc. as a valued new retirement services client," says Elaine Sarsynski, executive vice president, MassMutual's Retirement Services Division and chairman and CEO of MassMutual International LLC. "We are proud to offer our highly effective communication and education programs and world-class participant service to plans of all sizes and look forward to helping Concrete Tie Industries, Inc.'s employees make the most of their 401(k)s," adds Sarsynski.
For more information about MassMutual Retirement Services, please contact your retirement plan advisor or call MassMutual at 1-866-444-2601.
About MassMutual
Founded in 1851, MassMutual is a leading mutual life insurance company that is run for the benefit of its members and participating policyholders. The company has a long history of financial strength and strong performance, and although dividends are not guaranteed, MassMutual has paid dividends to eligible participating policyholders consistently since the 1860s. With whole life insurance as its foundation, MassMutual provides products to help meet the financial needs of clients, such as life insurance, disability income insurance, long term care insurance, retirement/401(k) plan services, and annuities. In addition, the company's strong and growing network of financial professionals helps clients make good financial decisions for the long term.
MassMutual Financial Group is a marketing name for Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual) and its affiliated companies and sales representatives. MassMutual is headquartered in Springfield, Massachusetts and its major affiliates include: Babson Capital Management LLC; Baring Asset Management Limited; Cornerstone Real Estate Advisers LLC; The First Mercantile Trust Company; MassMutual International LLC; MML Investors Services, LLC, Member FINRA and SIPC; OppenheimerFunds, Inc.; and The MassMutual Trust Company, FSB.
MassMutual's Retirement Services Division has been serving retirement plans for more than 65 years. It offers a full range of products and services for corporate, union, nonprofit and governmental employers' defined benefit, defined contribution and nonqualified deferred compensation plans. It serves approximately 3 million participants.
For more information, visit www.massmutual.com or find MassMutual on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube and Google+. For information regarding MassMutual's Retirement Services Division, you may also visit massmutual.com/retire or find us on Facebook.com/RetireSmart and YouTube.com/RetireSmart.
Copyright ©2013 Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual) and affiliates, Springfield, MA 01111-0001. All rights reserved.
Contact: Jessica Barry
SOURCE MassMutual Retirement Services


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Tag: user groups
Revival of the Memphis Linux Users Group
by Joe on Jul.21, 2010, under Meetings, News
Since we have a lot of tech members among our group I wanted to pass along (in case you aren't already on the GOLUM mailing list) that some people are looking to revive the Group of Linux Users Memphis. GOLUM was started in the mid 90s and in the past years has faded away. There has been a lot of buzz on the mailing list the past two days about getting something started again. So If you're into Linux in any capacity from absolute beginner or advanced professional, check out the GOLUM mailing list and see what the buzz is all about.
Also Thursday 7/22 is the July meeting for the Memphis PHP Group. I know we have a couple of members planning on checking out the meeting. The meeting is being hosted at Lunaweb on Park Avenue. See the site for more info and if you're interested come check it out with us.
With all this happening don't forget about us! We're meeting every Friday night at 7pm at Christian Brothers University on Central. We'll be in the Nolan Building room 241. We hope to see you there and bring you're friends! The group has quite a bit of diversity, we're not just a bunch of techies so anyone interested in making something is more than welcome!


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Melie Bianco BeallOne Size|Taupe Taupe One Size
d-ring closure
MATERIAL - High Quality Luxury Vegan Leather handbags with convertible crossbody in Faux Suede Lining. PETA Approved.
DIMESNSIONS - These medium shoulder bags are sized at 9.5\"L x 3\"W x 5.5\"H. Also Fits Mini iPad
POCKETS and CLOSURE - Secure d-ring closure with an Inside Zipper Pocket.
STRUCTURE - This vegan leather shoulder bag comes with a removable cross body strap.
Drop - Adjustbale Shoulder Strap with a 8.5\" Drop. Long Strap Drop: 23\"- 29\"
Crossbody Bags


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Skydiver Felix Baumgartner hopes to hurtle toward Earth at supersonic speed from a record 23 miles (37 kilometres) up, breaking the sound barrier with only his body. He made it more than halfway there during a critical dress rehearsal, ascending from the New Mexico desert in a helium balloon and jumping from more than 13 miles (21 kilometres) up.
Watch the video of Baumgartner's test jump here.Picture: EPA/Jay Nemeth / GLOBAL NEWSROOM


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I can't believe I'm saying this but my baby just turned 1!!! As you know, I've been on an extended maternity leave for the past year. Look at that little face... can you blame me? This little boy is a ray of sunshine and I have loved every minute of the extra time I have been able to spend with him!!
This is probably unbelievable for the child of a cake maker, but he didn't have a single taste of cake or frosting before his first birthday! It's a rule of mine and all of my kids have stuck to it! (no matter how much their grandparents may have insisted)
Enter the first birthday cake smash!!!!
I think he liked it! Actually, he loved it. I have never been so happy to see one of my cakes destroyed!!! It was an absolute joy for everyone at his party to watch. Happy Birthday little one. I'm sure that's not the last of Mommy's cakes you'll enjoy ;)


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PINEHURST, N.C. (AP) – Pinehurst is getting ready to make history next year by hosting the men's and women's U.S. Opens in back-to-back weeks.
USGA Executive Director Mike Davis said Friday the resort's renowned No. 2 course will be set up roughly the same way for both events when they are held there in consecutive weeks in June 2014.
The course will be slightly longer for the men and the greens will be a touch softer a week later for the women.
Davis says No. 2 will play at roughly 7,500 yards for the men's event and approximately 6,800 yards for the women. Par will be 70 for both. He says the greens will be roughly 11 1/2 to 12 on the stimpmeter.
"Our goal really is to have the women hitting roughly the same kind of shot into the greens and roughly the same kind of shot off the tees,'' Davis said.
No. 2 has hosted U.S. Opens in 1999 and 2005. The U.S. Women's Open has been held at nearby Pine Needles three times since 1996 – but never at Ross' signature course.
"For us, 2014 is really about the opportunity to make history,'' said Reg Jones, managing director of the U.S. Open.
By next year, the USGA will have held 12 championships in 20 years in the North Carolina sandhills, with the most recent at No. 2 being the 2008 U.S. Amateur.
The course underwent a yearlong $2.5 million facelift three years ago, a project led by Ben Crenshaw and Bill Coore that restored the layout closer to Ross' original design.
Eight tees were added to the championship course, lengthening it by 271 yards to 7,485, and the fairways were widened by an average of 50 percent to give players more options.
"I think it's fair to say they hit an absolute grand slam,'' Davis said of the renovations.
The most noticeable tweak was the complete removal of the rough.
The U.S. Open has always been known for having punishing rough, but this will be different. This course only has two cuts of grass – fairway and green – while the rough was replaced by areas of hardpan, sand, pine straw and wiregrass – all components of its original design.
"We've always had U.S. Open rough with U.S. Opens,'' Davis said. "So in this case, you're going to have a U.S. Open that, when you miss a fairway, you're going to get all kinds of different lies.''
Davis said the USGA is taking a wait-and-see approach to next year's doubleheader before it decides whether to contest both opens at the same site in the future.
"There has not been discussion in-house about, `Let's name another back-to-back Open site,''' Davis said. "I really do think we want to see how this goes and take it from there. It could be a giant hit and we say, `This is great for the game.'
"There's things that can go wrong on this, too,'' he added. "I do think we're very bullish on this. There's a lot more upside to this than downside, but there certainly are risks and we knew going into it.''


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The Padres saw it differently.
Manager Bud Black gave Venable only five plate appearances against lefties, even with righty Chris Denorfia unavailable to play right field. And the trend likely will continue, Black told this blog today.
"With Will," Black said by phone from San Francisco, "he'd really have to be hitting the ball well off right-handers for us to say, 'We're going to keep you playing your total game.' "
Venable is a .218 hitter against lefties for his career, so he sits against most lefties, Black said, "because we're still trying to win games."
When Denorfia was giving the Padres a .298 batting average against righties and Venable was floundering overall, the decision invited less scrutiny, but Denorifa hasn't played since he was injured on July 30.
Denorfia's starts have gone to Aaron Cunningham, who has batted .175 this month (7-for-40) with five extra-base hits. Cunningham, 25, will be out of minor league options next year, so this may be an audition for him.
Venable, for his part, is having one of his best months as a Padre -- .333 batting average over 60 at-bats, a .403 on-base percentage and a slugging rate of .617 with five doubles, three triples and two home runs. Stealing bases, he is 5-for-5.
Four scouts polled by this blog were unanimous that Venable has more upside than Cunningham despite being three years older. Two scouts said Venable, one of the better athletes in National League, still has the potential to be an everyday player, but the clock is ticking loudly because he'll be 29 in October and still can look lost at the plate. The consensus was that Venable can be a good fourth outfielder, a standard that he sometimes has met as a platoon man.
If nothing else, Venable is improving his chances of getting the majority of the starts in right field next year.
When he got the same chance in April, he fumbled it.
"The question we have to ask ourselves is: 'What is Will Venable?' " Black said. "What is he?"
In late May, the Padres sent Venable to Triple-A to find one swing and stick to it. He returned 16 days later and showed better form.
One reason Venable long has struggled against lefties -- and still does -- is they expose his vulnerabilities to outside pitches.
Yet batting against lefties can develop a lefty hitter's fundamentals, Tony Gwynn has said many times, because it forces the hitter "to stay on the ball."
Another Padre who struggled against lefties was Ryan Klesko, who said he improved against them after manager Bruce Bochy suffered his poor results and gave him extra chances.
It's a familiar Catch-22. The only way for a lefty to learn how to hit against lefties is to bat off them, but there is no guarantee the struggles will pay off later. Venable has only 35 at-bats against lefties this year. And the day the Padres drafted him out of Princeton in 2005, he already was playing catch up, owing to his years as a basketball star.
August arrived with the Padres in last place, 16 games under .500 and far enough from playoff contention that the front office traded star reliever Mike Adams for two minor leaguers.
Black's job security wasn't on the line. The league's Manager of the Year in 2010, Black is under a guaranteed contract through 2013 with club options for 2014-15.
"Listen, I'm all for development and finding out about guys," Black said. "But there are 24 other guys you've got to think about, too. This isn't about Will Venable or Kyle Blanks or Logan Forsythe or Anthony Rizzo. We're trying to win. Those guys will get their chances."


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I didn't know you could do that either - and I've been using Mac for 13 years!
Another example of Mac superiority : right-click on the word, choose Dictionary:"2 emblazoned with a coat of arms or other emblem : crested notepaper." A quick search through online dictionaries did not find that meaning though.I assume in your case it means the photo would have the school name/logo on it.
Must not be a Mac mouse. More than one button just lacks Mac's simple elegance
It is one button. Mac is not only simply elegant, but awesomely smart too, and knows whether you pressed that one button with your left finger or your right finger.


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ICANN ASWG questionnaires assessment (Draft)
Assessment of ASWG questionnaires || 05 September 2012
From 10 July to 20 August the Africa Strategy working Group, which was set up by ICANN at its 44th meeting in Prague, administered a set of two questionnaires on the AfrICANN list . The pursued objective was to engage with the community on the one hand, and collect community opinions and recommendations as to the Icann Africa strategy on the other hand.
The questionnaires had to components, each of them with subsequent sub questions : the first component sought to assess the relevance of ICANN to Africa, and also the benefits ICANN could derive from further involvement in Africa. The second component puts to test the suggestion that an ICANN's physical presence in Africa should improve the Organisation's image and activities in Africa.
A total of 18 respondents filled out the questionnaires and were from the following constituencies and countries :
- At large/Civil society/registrants : 6
- Registry/registrars : 3
- Governments : 3
- Academia : 2
- ND (non defined) : 4
Respondents' countries included : Burkina Faso; Kenya; Nigeria; Cameroon; DRC; Tunisia; Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania , Niger, Congo and Mali.