text:
For years, Facebook has had a content moderation problem. It's struggled to make unpopular decisions about content — like whether it should take down a viral doctored video of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi that made it appear like she was slurring her words (it didn't) or if it should ban prominent conspiracy theorist Alex Jones (it did). And as the 2020 presidential election gets closer, the company is attempting to do a better job than it did in 2016, when it was accused of allowing misinformation on its platform to influence the democratic process. That's why Facebook will soon outsource some of its toughest content moderation problems to a new, much-anticipated but not yet fully formed outside group: its independent oversight board.
Facebook on Tuesday revealed new details about the board, which will evaluate how the company handles controversial posts on its platform, and which could influence its takedown policies around contentious topics like hate speech, nudity, and misinformation. Eventually, the board could also have the power to overrule Facebook's controversial ad policy that allows politicians to make false statements in political ads. The policy has lately been the source of heated criticism for the company, including for allowing a false ad about former Vice President Joe Biden to remain on the site. The new board could potentially reverse these kinds of decisions one day. But we have very few details for now on exactly when or how that would happen, and Facebook says it's not in the initial scope of the first set of cases the board will take on.
Currently, if you object to Facebook's decision to take down content you posted, you can appeal the decision to Facebook's community moderation team. But after that, there's no way for you to further dispute the decision. In the future, the company says, Facebook and Instagram users will be able to petition the independent oversight board that will have final say on the matter, if it decides to take on a user's case. People who care about the future of free speech online have been closely watching to see what Facebook does with its board, because it could shape the future of what's allowed, or not allowed, on the platform for years to come.
And now, more than a year after CEO Mark Zuckerberg initially announced the idea of an oversight board, Facebook has released a series of proposed rules about how it will all work. That includes a process for users to submit appeals, an outline of how the board will decide on cases, and a mandate forcing Facebook to implement the board's decisions on individual posts within seven days, unless the post violates local law. All in all, once the board considers an appeal, the decision should take around 90 days, Facebook says. In certain cases that warrant faster action, Facebook can expedite them, and the board should take no longer than 30 days to come to a decision.
We still don't know arguably the most important information about the board — who will be on it — but Facebook expects to announce its first three co-chairs in the coming months. The company's director of governance and strategic initiatives, Brent Harris, said on a press call on Tuesday morning that the board's members will have a "diverse set of opinions."
Harris called the board a "new mechanism that is independent, beyond the walls of Silicon Valley, and enables review against Facebook's stated principles." If the board chooses, it can amend any of the bylaws that Facebook proposed Tuesday, which it says it suggested for the sake of getting the board up and running.
Several experts Recode spoke with called the updates a step in the right direction for greater transparency, but say that the project's success will depend on how much the company actually listens to this new governing body. Under the proposed rules, Facebook will be forced to follow the board's decisions when it rules that the company should not have taken down content. But for broader policy decisions, Facebook will only take guidance — not mandates — from the board.
Ultimately, how the board ends up functioning could affect the day-to-day communications of Facebook's more than 2 billion users around the world. It could turn out to be a success — or a failed experiment in wrangling the social network's gargantuan problem of dealing with controversial speech.
"Content moderation is really hard — and these are really consequential decisions about public discourse and human rights," said Evelyn Douek, a doctoral student at Harvard Law School researching the regulation of online speech. Douek, along with many other academics, gave Facebook early feedback on a draft of its new rules. "While it's unacceptable to be having completely unaccountable and private entities making decisions, we also don't want governments having their hands all over it. … So the oversight board is a new model for handling this."
A brief history of Facebook's oversight board
Zuckerberg announced the idea for an oversight board in 2018, as the company was facing intense criticism about how it moderates content from both liberal and conservative politicians in the US. At the time, Zuckerberg wrote that the company "should not make so many important decisions about free expression and safety" on its own, and that instead it would assign responsibility on some of the toughest decisions to an independent body.
So far, setting up the board has been a relatively slow process for a company whose famous tagline used to be "move fast and break things." Facebook says that's because it wants to be sure it's getting the setup right.
What we do know is that the board will be funded by a separate trust, in which Facebook plans to invest more than $130 million. On Tuesday, Facebook also announced that it hired the board's administrative director, Thomas Hughes, a former executive director for Article 19, a nonprofit for freedom of expression and digital rights. Hughes will oversee administrative staff but will not make content decisions.
The board plans to hear its first cases in the first half of 2020, in time for the presidential elections. So presumably, by that timeline, it will have to hire its members by July.
Remaining questions
The most obvious question about the board following Tuesday's announcement is who will be on it.
Beyond that, experts wonder how many cases the board will take at each time, exactly what kinds of cases it will consider, and how broadly its rulings will be applied within the company. Facebook's Harris said on a press call Monday that he expects the board will take on "dozens" of cases initially — which would obviously be only a very small percentage of the total volume of posts of Facebook.
"We don't know what kinds of cases we'll hear — the board might spend all of its time on hate speech or nudity," said Douek. "We don't know what the board will actually decide to do with its power." She said it's actually a good thing for the board to have discretion, if it's going to be a truly independent body from Facebook as it hopes to be.
Douek also pointed out that for now, Facebook will be limiting users' appeals to content they think was incorrectly taken off the platform. That leaves out complaints where users are upset that content remains on the platform (like hate speech, violence, or misinformation). In the future, Facebook plans to expand its appeal process to let users dispute whether a post should remain on the app, but it hasn't said when.
Another big question is how narrowly Facebook plans to interpret the board's decisions.
If Facebook only plans to take down, or leave up, a handful of posts that the board specifically rules on, it could make only a minor dent in the overall landscape of misinformation on the social media platform, some experts say. Dipayan Ghosh, who conducts economic and technology policy research at the Harvard Kennedy School, said that "the devil will really be in the details" of implementation, and that for now, these announcements help contain the criticism from the community of academics, policy experts, and regulators who are plugged into speech issues on Facebook.
"If Facebook didn't do this, there would be more calls and pressure on the company to do something," said Ghosh. "The announcement and gradual development of this board is coming at a time when the company needs it to continue to succeed and survive."


text:
• Basic techniques of writing and execution of the Venezuelan maracas
• Study of each of the Venezuelan rhythms and their variations
• How to adapt the traditional Venezuelan technique to other cultures
• Study of the academic maracas (concert for maracas and orchestra PATARUCO)
• Study of contemporary maracas in electronic proposals
• Open stage for students every evening.
• Private student concert at the end of the course.
• Public concert by Professor Manuel Alejandro Rangel.
• Closing evening.
• Visit to the exotic places of Saint Christophe D'Allier.
• Picnic at the water's edge.
• The accommodation will be at the Gîte Le Grenier inn.
• Course fee: € 600 Includes classes, accommodation and meals (transportation is the responsibility of the participants).
• Advance payment of € 200 for registration to be canceled before May 15th 2019, non-refundable; the balance must be canceled no later than June 30th 2019. Once the registration date has passed, the rate will be increased to € 700, which must be paid in only once.
• Participants residing in Saint Christophe D'Allier may, if requested, not be accommodated through the inn.
• If you live outside of France, we will endeavor to help you get to Saint Christophe D'Allier from Lyon. Do not hesitate to let us know about your possible itinerary problems.
Account Number: 8769227961
Cheking account
15102 SW, 104th ST, #822.
Miami, Florida, 33196

subset: commoncrawl


text:
The Good Place's Jameela Jamil took Hollywood to task this weekend after news broke that actor Emile Hirsch had been cast in an upcoming Quentin Tarantino project.
News broke on Friday that Hirsch had been cast in a new Tarantino film about the Manson Family murders. Back in 2015, Hirsch was sentenced to 15 days in jail after pleading guilty to assault for choking a female studio executive at a party during the Sundance Film Festival. That executive just so happens to be Jamil's best friend, so when she caught wind of the casting news Friday, she took to Twitter to remind the industry just who was being welcomed back into its A-list projects.
"INTENSE case of rich white male privilege eh? Cool. Cool. Cool," she wrote.
Among Jamil's list of concerns about the casting is the fact that Hirsch has still not shown remorse for what he did in 2015.
"Left her with three years of PTSD and never paid for her treatment, and still hasn't apologized to her," she wrote. "Not today Satan, not today."
"Slow clap to everyone involved in this movie," she continued. "So many other actors who haven't attacked women to choose from."
As news outlets picked up Jamil's tweets and the story got bigger, she expanded upon her thoughts throughout the weekend.
"Today has been a slightly intense day," she tweeted early Saturday. "I am extremely moved by the support for my friend. I hope Emile does right by her."
Jamil went on to outline what she would consider an appropriate course of action at this point. "I hope Emile does right by her. I hope if he does not, the cast moves away from him. By celebrating men who hurt women, we tell men and women, it is ok to hurt women. Time's up on this shit."
On Instagram, Bono's daughter Eve Hewson came to Hirsch's defense, calling the attack a "mistake." Jamil was quick to fire back.
"Why is abusing women always classified as a 'mistake'?" she wrote. "If people hadn't pulled him off her, he could have killed her. We didn't call what Roseanne said a mistake. We took her off the air. When Nate Parker was cleared of rape and only accused of intimidation, they erased his career and binned his movie. May someone never make the same 'mistake' around your windpipe, or that of your loved ones. And if they do, may they be punished appropriately and may they help you in any way they can to heal and recover."
When one magazine joked that we need to "protect Jameela Jamil at all costs," her boyfriend the musician James Blake joked "I am trying my best."
I am trying my best https://t.co/nn6dnKTAR5
— James Blake (@jamesblake) June 10, 2018
Jamil is no stranger to taking a stand on social media. This past spring, she launched a meme aimed at helping women celebrate their bodies instead of criticizing them.


text:
Reactivate a Missing or Offline Dynamic Disk
Applies To: Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2
A dynamic disk may become Missing when it is corrupted, powered down, or disconnected.
A dynamic disk may become Offline if it is corrupted or intermittently unavailable. A dynamic disk may also become Offline if you attempt to import a foreign (dynamic) disk and the import fails. An error icon appears on the Offline disk. Only dynamic disks display the Missing or Offline status.
Only dynamic disks can be reactivated.
BackupOperator or Administrator is the minimum membership required to perform these steps.
Reactivating a missing or offline dynamic disk
Using the Windows interface
Using a command line
To reactivate a dynamic disk by using the Windows interface
In Disk Management, right-click the disk marked Missing or Offline.
Click Reactivate Disk. The disk should be marked Online after the disk is reactivated.
To reactivate a dynamic disk by using a command line
Open a command prompt and type
.At the DISKPART prompt, type
list disk
. Make note of the disk number of the missing or offline disk that you want to bring online. Missing disks are numbered M0, M1, M2, and so on, and offline disks are numbered 0, 1, 2, and so on.At the DISKPART prompt, type
select disk <disknumber>
.At the DISKPART prompt, type
Value | Description |
list disk |
Displays a list of disks and information about them, such as their size, amount of available free space, whether the disk is a basic or dynamic disk, and whether the disk uses the master boot record (MBR) or GUID partition table (GPT) partition style. The disk marked with an asterisk (*) has focus. |
select diskdisknumber |
Sets the focus to the specified disk, where disknumber is the disk number. |
online |
Brings an offline disk or volume with focus online. |


text:
TACOMA, Wash. — Pierce County Medical Examiner Dr. Thomas Clark now faces three separate complaints filed by high-ranking current and former employees. In an interview with KIRO 7, one former Associate Medical Examiner said Clark should be removed from his post.
"If the county is going to regain confidence in its medical examiner, Dr. Clark needs to go," said forensic pathologist Dr. J. Matthew Lacy. Lacy worked as an associate medical examiner in Pierce County from 2012 to 2017, saying he left the job because of Clark.
"It was the worst professional experience of my life," Lacy said. "I told Dr. Clark that, I told the county that in 2016 and when nothing changed, I left in 2017."
Lacy is one of two former associate medical examiners who worked under Clark who have now filed complaints against him with the Washington Medical Commission. He agreed to talk with KIRO 7 after seeing stories about ongoing complaints by employees and families who question Clark's conclusions about the causes of death in several cases.
Scroll down to continue reading
More news from KIRO 7
- 1 dead, 2 hospitalized after single car crash into Fall City creek
- First lady Melania Trump in Seattle Monday to promote 'Be Best' campaign
- Everett's Paine Field open for flights Monday
- Study: Seattle drivers will lose nearly 10 days commuting to work this year
- Do you have an investigative story tip? Send us an email at firstname.lastname@example.com
"The medical examiner must be objective, must be honest and must be professional at all times," said Lacy. "And that office is no longer fulfilling any of those categories."
Clark also faces a whistleblower complaint from a third associate medical examiner, Dr. Megan Quinn. After she filed that complaint, Quinn was placed on administrative leave and accused of insubordination and an unspecified ethics violation. An attorney representing Quinn said so far, no specific allegations have been presented to her.
Lacy, who now works at the Snohomish County Medical Examiner's Office, says in his time in the Pierce County ME's office, says he saw Clark target county employees, saying he would get them fired. Lacy said even after he left for another job in another county, he was concerned Clark could hurt his career.
"One of the reasons that I have been reticent to come forward is because I'm still afraid, even though I don't work for Pierce County, that he will try to do something to get back at me," Lacy said.
An attorney representing Clark did not return a request for comment on Lacy's allegations or the complaints filed with the state medical commission.
In an email statement, Pierce County Executive Bruce Dammeier said: "While we can't comment on the specifics of a complaint we haven't seen, we appreciate and welcome the involvement of other professionals who can assist us in confirming or refuting the various allegations made. We are committed to a thorough and fair investigation that serves the interests and needs of the people of Pierce County."
Cox Media Group


text:
ID card extras are a definitive minimal effort speculation to truly expand your organization's wellbeing, security, usefulness and general association. There are a couple of various choices out there that accompany their own remarkable advantages and essential capacities. At the point when you're looking to up the effect of your organization character cards, you'll go over a scope of clasps, lapels, pins, card holders, cords and identification reels that proposal up their own advantages. Peruse on to discover which will turn out best for your organization's security needs…
Lapels, Clips, Pins
Lapels, clasps and pins all play out a similar capacity – they connect a personality card to the dress of the wearer! These are excessively straightforward and extremely ease, so they're awesome in case you're searching for a fight free answer for ID card introduction. These will be particularly helpful if your structure is moderately low level in its security framework, as lapels, clasps or pins are best for the showcase of personality rather than the checking or examining of a character card for admittance to a specific territory of the structure. In the event that your representatives wear garbs or they're performing work escalated work, it's incredible to have IDs gotten set up with no possibility of them disappearing or getting harmed.
Card Holders
Card holders are an awesome accomplice to put resources into all alone, be that as it may, they likewise work with each and every other extra recorded here! An adaptable, clear plastic card holder adds an additional layer of assurance to character cards, shielding them from every day mileage, spillages or removal. These can be connected to cords, identification reels and utilized with lapels, clasps or pins – making them somewhat of a character card fundamental! You'll likewise go over inflexible card holders that can hold various cards, this is an incredible choice on the off chance that you require the utilization of both character and access cards in your organization. The manner in which you decide to go, you totally need some type of card holder to protect your identity cards..
Cords are ideal if your organization requires the filtering or perusing of personality cards to get to the structure. A cord is an incredible trade off as it very well may be worn ludicrous and give simple admittance to character cards when required and handily buried during available time or gatherings. An excellent, colored, firmly woven cord is a minimal effort venture that will last your staff for quite a long time to come. You can likewise acquaint some visual association with your structure by buying stepped cords with work force particulars, for example, "staff", "guest" and "security". You can likewise make this one stride further and buy altered cords that are customized with your organization tones, name or logo. This will furnish you with a little significant free promoting while your staff are making the rounds on their drives or mid-day breaks.
Identification Reels
Identification reels are your ID card embellishment classification in case you're a bustling working environment that sees a great deal of comings and goings. An identification reel joins at the hip of the wearer and permits the card to be introduced, filtered or perused while as yet remaining connected to their apparel. The card snaps once again into the right spot following introduction, making identification reels ideal for high-pressure conditions that require consistent ID show, for example, medical clinics or government organization structures.
However long you secure yourself ID card holders, you're moving indisputably the correct way. Take your organization's security and association to the following level with any of these personality card embellishment choices, you'll see the distinction and appreciate the advantages right away!


text:
"Anyone who wants a thoroughly professional job done at very reasonable cost should look no further than Phillip"
In order to give you some insight into how our business functions at Your Kitchen Tailor, here are some work-in-progress photos from one of our kitchens in Bicester.
When your newly delivered kitchen arrives and is piled up in a room as a pile of boxes, it can be hard for you to imagine how it will all come together - but we can make it happen! We work in an ordered, methodical way to minimize the disruption to your home. Your Kitchen Tailor, in tandem with our associates, will take care of everything: including the electrics, plumbing and supplying and fitting your tiling, units and white goods.
All work is project managed by the director of Your Kitchen Tailor, Phil Hudson, who has decades of industry experience under his belt.
Our company takes extra care in refining the details, as this will be what will set your kitchen apart from the rest: as a result of precise measurements combined with our expertise we will ensure smooth, crisp lines and surfaces from the natural wood flooring to the accent spotlights set into the ceiling.
We maximize the use of available space to ensure you will have plenty of room to move. We realize your kitchen will be a functional area for food preparation and the need for practicality: We keep everything neat and flush both for maximum visual impact and for safety purposes and we ensure doors won't be knocking against any surfaces or appliances to avoid damage.
You'll be amazed at how we manage to transform the realistic, textured, three-dimensional ArtiCAD design you will have been shown from our free design service into reality - a kitchen for you and your family to cherish and call 'your own' for the years to come.
We have spent years attaining excellent business connections with the best, local electricians, engineers, fitters and plumbers. All the people we work with are fully certified and have pride in working to the highest professional standards. Together, we can assemble your dream kitchen quickly and efficiently. Visit our testimonials page to find out what our satisfied customers say about us.
We recommend visiting our showroom in Bicester to see examples of the quality of our work, or give us a phone on 01869 240033 to discuss your ideas and receive expert advice.


text:
After a week of catching up on my blogs it was time to do some sightseeing in Medellin.
Medellin Metrocable
High on my sightseeing list was the Medellin Metrocable. The Metrocable was in the opposite end of the city where I was staying. That meant taking the Metro to get there.
The Medellin Metro is very modern and very cheap! Only $2 Canadian to take it to the opposite end of the city.
When I reached the Metrocable I was in for another surprise. The Metrocable is a gondola. Back home gondolas are largely tourist attractions or ways to get to the top of the ski hill. But here they are an integral part of thee transit system for poor people living on the side of the mountain. The big surprise was this Metrocable was included with the $2 I spent to take the Metro. It is just a part of the transit system. So I just transferred to it and off I went for the ride.
Once you get to the top, this is where the tourist part starts. It no longer is a transit system but a tourist ride over a forest plateau. And you pay extra for that. Almost double my $2 transit fare. So the ride continued.
The end was rather disappointing. I was hoping for a nice spot to sit, have a cup of coffee, and enjoy the sights. Instead, there were just a few food stalls and no view.
There are some walks you can do through the forest but that is it.
It was time to head back "home."
Of course amongst all the poverty is a beautiful soccer pitch 🙂
Time to transfer back onto the transit part of the Metrocable
Soon I was back to my comfortable surroundings in Envigado.
Downtown Medellin
My next sightseeing trip was to go downtown. One of the major attractions there are the sculptures in Botero Plaza created by Fernando Botero.
I walked around downtown hoping to see some more great things.
Other than this mall, I was disappointed.
I decided to take a walk to another place in the downtown area listed on my sightseeing things to see – Bolivar Park.
The park ended up being disappointing as well. I guess worth seeing but not mind blowing ha ha. Perhaps I have seen so much now that it takes more to impress me.
So I just kept walking to lose myself in the city. As I walked I came across the government area. It was deserted but had some nice sculptures.
Back home 🙂
Sunday Football in Poblado
Envigado where I am staying, and Poblado just north are reportedly the two nicest areas of Medellin. An English pub in Poblado was suppose to be the best place to watch NFL football. So that is where I headed.
The area where the pub was located was filled with restaurants around a small park.
Finally got to my pub to watch some football … in English too!
Regional Metropolitano Cerro El Volador Natural Park
My last sightseeing spot was the Regional Metropolitano Cerro El Volador Natural Park. This is a hill overlooking Medellin.
Here I discovered that after a year of riding and a hernia operation, that I am dreadfully out of shape. I discovered this after climbing numerous stairs to get to the top.
I am kind of frustrated, discouraged and disturbed by how out of shape I have become. It is a combination of no strenuous activity and poor eating. Something to watch for if you are planning on a motorcycle adventure of your own.
Anyways, I did make it to the top.
After my exercise I headed past the Medellin river, back on the Metro and home.
Actually, before heading home after each sightseeing trip, and on the days in between, I spent time at Starbucks at the Milla de Oro. It was my place to relax and enjoy a coffee. Plus they knew me and greeted me by name. Unique about this particular Starbucks was that they wrote a saying on everyone's cup. This is the one I liked the best:
"Brian, the best." 🙂


text:
UK Holidaymakers Warned NEVER To Use This Type Of Suitcase
If you find yourself panicking at the baggage retrieval that somebody will steal your bag or that you just won't spot it, travel expert and blogger Johnny Jet has just the advice that you need.
The expert confessed in a recent post that he once interviewed CD Lazear, a luggage executive for a leading company, and learned a lot about which baggage we should and should not use on our travels.
What is the best and worst luggage to use when travelling?
Lazear said to him: "Don't check-in a hard-sided black suitcase. It's the most common type of suitcase in the world. In the baggage industry, it's 22HW type and almost regarded as the default bag type."
He added that if your bag goes missing, you don't want to be somebody missing a black hard suitcase but instead looking for a green one, as an example.
Jet recommends investing in a fully customisable bag if you can but if that's not within your budget, opt for a colourful suitcase or even a colourful luggage strap to go around your suitcase, making it easier to spot as well as adding another layer of protection.
If you already have a hard sided black suitcase, another option, Jet adds, is Apple Airtags or Samsung SmartTags popped right into your case so you know exactly where it is at all times and face no issues grabbing it at the other side.
Finally, Jet says: "remember, the best aeroplane luggage these days is a carry-on. That way, you won't have to show up to the airport extra early to check it, wait around for what seems like an eternity at the baggage carousel upon arrival, worry about it getting lost or having items stolen."
Of course, carry-on luggage also reduces time in the airport and costs less to take on-board with you, too.


text:
Beetle Ottoman - Fully Upholstered
The Beetle Ottoman is adding an extra level of comfort to the Beetle Lounge Chair, but is expressive enough to stand alone and have its own saying in the interior decoration. The Beetle Ottoman carries strong references to the designer GamFratesi's inspirational source; the insect world, more specific the world of beetles.
The design of the Beetle Ottoman reinterprets the characteristic elements of the beetles' sections: shape, shells, sutures, rigid outside and soft inside, and the result is an ottoman that cunningly interprets the shell of this four-legged creature. The wide range of upholstery options allows matching the current interior or add a splash of colour.
Upholstered products are not available for purchase online. Please contact us or find a dealer.


text:
Arsene Wenger To Sell Alexis Sanchez Only On One Condition
Arsenal fans went through a series of frustrated meltdowns ever since stories of Alexis Sanchez's contract rebellion surfaced this summer. However, Arsene Wenger is confident of keeping his talisman, and according to the Mirror, he will not be sold for a sum under £70 million.
The Chilean international has been a subject of frequent media attention due to constant rumours of an Arsenal exit. Sanchez is reportedly frustrated with the Gunners' seeming lack of ambition and constant failure of offering a fair amount of title challenge.
Furthermore, the North Londoners are reportedly reluctant to comply with the Chile international's wage demands.
Consequently, the elites of Europe have caught up on the situation, and have been eyeing the wantaway Arsenal man ever since. Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, and Manchester City looked to test the North Londoners' resolve, but could not manage to strike a deal for the forward.
However, Wenger, along with the support of his board, strongly insists Sanchez will not be sold, especially to a Premier League rival. Moreover, recent reports also claim that it would take an offer worth at least £70 million if a club were looking to sign the talented winger.
Meanwhile, the Gunners boss has a similar approach to the Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain situation as well, who reportedly rejected two previous offers. The Frenchman is keen on keeping the youngster in North London, and will reportedly offer him a £125,000-a-week deal in an attempt to tie his future to the club amid links to Chelsea.
The Chilean is the main priority for the Premier League giants, though, as his contract expires in less than twelve months. And with the transfer deadline approaching, Wenger will surely be looking to sort out a perfect deal for the two fan-favourites, and will be keen on mounting a decent amount of title challenge this campaign.
Written by Ashish Sreejith
Have had two addictions in life- playing football and watching football. Usually described as introverted but not when it comes to speaking and writing about the beautiful game of football.


text:
Background: Transforming growth factor-beta (TGFβ) signaling regulates a myriad of biological processes during embryogenesis, in the adult, and during the manifestation of disease. TGFβ signaling is propagated through one of three TGFβ ligands interacting with Type I and Type II receptors, and Type III co-receptors. Although TGFβ signaling is regulated partly by the combinatorial expression patterns of TGFβ receptors and ligands, a comprehensive gene expression analysis has not been published. Results: Here we report the embryonic mRNA expression patterns in chicken embryos of the canonical TGFβ ligands (TGFB1, TGFB2, and TGFB3) and receptors (TGFBR1, TGFBR2, TGFBR3), plus the Activin A receptor, type 1 (ACVR1) and co receptor Endoglin (ENG) that also transduce TGFβ signaling. Conclusions: TGFB ligands and receptors show dynamic and frequently overlapping expression patterns in numerous embryonic cell layers and structures. Integrating expression information identifies combinations of ligands and receptors that are involved in specific developmental processes including somitogenesis, cardiogenesis and vasculogenesis. Developmental Dynamics 243:497-508, 2014.
Original language | English (US) |
Pages (from-to) | 497-508 |
Number of pages | 12 |
Journal | Developmental Dynamics |
Volume | 243 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Mar 2014 |
- Chicken
- Gallus gallus
- In situ hybridization
- Transforming growth factor beta
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Developmental Biology


text:
At the end of our planning day we hold our annual Lautrec golf tournament where we get into teams and create a mini-put hole. This year we added a boundary line i.e. no course is to go down the stairs and the top four scores for each hole will be counted towards the overall team score. This is an opportunity for the engineers to shine!
Teams have 15 minutes and can only use items in the office to design and build their hole. We ended up with some imaginative layouts (which in reality means it was really hard to get a hole in one!). Team participation and work competitiveness at its best! This year the prize went to Fraser, Ruby, Glenn and Yenny for taking out the lowest overall score for the tournament.


text:
Watching grass grow: Growth experiments on barley and millet
Grain weight is often used in agronomic studies to understand grain yield and overall grain quality. However, in archaeobotanical studies, grain measurements are rarely used other than as an identification criterion. In the 2000s Ferrio et al. (2006) utilised charring experiments on modern grains to calculate the grain yield of archaeological wheat and barley. Based on Ferrio et al. (2006), we set-up two separate growth experiments for landraces of millet (Setaria italica) and barley (Hordeum vulgare). 30 barley landraces were grown under uniform conditions, and 12 millet landraces were grown under different watering regimes. Upon harvesting, the grains were dried and analysed using a Leica microscope coupled with the Leica Application Suit for measurements. Stable isotope analysis of these measured grains is in progress. The aims of this study are: (1) to understand the relationship between carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analyses of these grains and their growth conditions; (2) to understand if we can calculate grain weight analysis from archaeological seed remains and infer their landrace or growth conditions and if (1) and (2) apply then; (3) can we understand how environmental factors impacted past agricultural management practices?
About the presenter
Dr Ustunkaya is an archaeobotanist who has current projects running in Turkey, India, Spain and Scotland. She recieved her PhD from the University of Queensland in 2015 where she investigated the impact of climate change on the Hittite Empire during the Late Bronze Age period. She later on continued her archaeobotanical work as a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Cambridge as part of TwoRains (ERC 648609) project based primarily in India. She has a EU Horizon 2020 MSCA Individual Fellowship and will start her new research position in Spain in 2021 utilising AI (artificial intelligence) and ML (machine learning). Dr Ustunkaya's research interests involves people-environment relationship in the face of climate adversity, palaeodiet reconstruction, agricultural management practices in marginal environments, isotope analysis and grain weight analysis.
About Archaeology Working Papers
The Working Papers in Archaeology seminar series provides a forum for dissemination of archaeological research and ideas amongst UQ archaeology students and staff. All students are invited to attend the series and postgraduate students, from honours upwards, are invited to present their research. The aim is to provide opportunities for students, staff and those from outside UQ, to present and discuss their work in an informal environment. It is hoped that anyone interested in current archaeological directions, both within and outside the School and University, will be able to attend and contribute to the series.


text: Looking for the perfect desk accoutrements but don't know where to start? We've searched hundreds of ideas, filtering out all things bland and uninspired, to help you transform a workspace into something special. Whether you're looking for a gift idea for a colleague or want to deck out your own space, we've got you covered with these awesome ideas.


text: This topic is empty. Viewing 3 posts - 1 through 3 (of 3 total) Author Posts October 21, 2005 at 7:12 pm #2723 fredmorinMember Hi! I hope someone can point me in the right direction. I am doing some customization of an application that uses VBA. Its the same VBA as Office 2000. I figured out how to send a fax programatically, but I have having a real hard time trapping the printing object (a report) to convert it in FX and then adding it as an attachment. Are there any good samples out there.. Thanks a lot Fred Morin July 26, 2006 at 4:41 pm #4631 khaiharMember There's an AddAttachment object, no? July 26, 2006 at 6:07 pm #4632 AnonymousMember @khaihar wrote: There's an AddAttachment object, no? yes, there is an addattachment object which allows you to add almost any type of document format, providing it can automatically print to the WinFax PRO printer driver. Some common type of attachment formats are .DOC (Microsoft Word) and .TXT (Text format) Author Posts Viewing 3 posts - 1 through 3 (of 3 total) You must be logged in to reply to this topic. Log In Username: Password: Keep me signed in Log In


text:
Phosphoric Acid
Phosphoric acid is an odorless, clear colorless syrupy liquid. It has a pH of 1.5 and a specific gravity of 1.69. Phosphoric acid has a concentration of 75 – 85%. The use of acid determines the concentration to be used.
Phosphoric acid is important as an industrial chemical used as an intermediate in the fertilizer industry, for metal surface treatment, it is used as an additive in the food industry, and used in edible oil refining.


text:
Lesotho Revenue Authority (LRA) has released a statement confirming the confiscation of 380,000 illicit cigarettes at the Maseru Bridge on Sunday night. Confiscation of the cigarettes forms part of the Authority's routine checks on compliance of tobacco and tobacco products in Lesotho. This is the biggest single bust on illicit cigarettes in Lesotho in the past five years. The cigarettes were worth just over a million Loti, which is a similar amount in South African rands.
Continue reading "Lesotho busts illicit South African cigarettes worth 1 Million Rand" »


text:
Vocal EQ is one of the ways we get a recorded performance from "dry" to "radio-ready." It has a huge influence on the overall quality of a vocal, and even just simple moves like filtering can change the sound completely.
Some of the most common basic moves include filtering the low-end, boosting high-end to add excitement and clarity, and attenuating any harsh or unpleasant frequencies. Once you start playing with vocal EQ, you'll notice immediately how it can shape a vocal for the best sound possible!
Vocal EQ Areas of Interest
Knowing specific frequencies and how they effect vocals means you can make quick, precise adjustments with less guesswork. These are average ranges, with every artist and recording varying to some degree. Check out these areas of interest for vocal EQ:
- 100 to 300: body and muddiness
- 500 to 800 Hz: boxiness
- 800 to 1.5 kHz: nasal
- 3 to 6 kHz: presence
- 4 to 7 kHz: sibilance
- 10 to 15 kHz: air
You'll find all of these important areas across the frequency spectrum in any given vocal, with some variation based on the vocalist him or herself, the microphone and other gear used, as well as the room.
Once you start to experiment with boosting/cutting these ranges, though, you'll better understand how they effect a vocal's overall tonality! Plus, you'll be able to make informed decisions when you know where certain qualities live in a voice.
Let's take a look at a step-by-step approach to equalizing vocals for any genre.
1. High-Pass Filter
This is one of the first moves to make as you start EQ-ing your vocals. Load up your favorite EQ on your track and start with a filter around 100 Hz. The slope can be gentle so you're not harshly cutting everything below 100—though there isn't much useful information on vocals this low. You'll be amazed at how much just a simple filter clears things up!
Many engineers will track vocals through a preamp with a HPF engaged. For reference, these typically range from 60-80 Hz. If you feel like your vocal needs more bottom end, try rolling off the filter to around 80 Hz. It depends on the voice and genre, but some mixers will even filter all the way up 120+ Hz!
Try seeing how high you can go on the filter without making the vocal unnaturally thin. That's usually the sweet spot!
2. Set Up Universal EQ on a Vocal Bus
A lot of mixers have a go-to vocal signal chain on a bus, which they then route selected tracks to. A chain usually includes things like compression, de-essing, and EQ, which will be applied universally to every track routed to it.
Here's where you can set up an EQ to process every vocal going through the bus. Something like a channel strip works very well to give a bit of color, as does your favorite Pultec emulation.
The bus EQ is where you'll want to shape the overall sound of your vocals—namely high- and low-end. Pay careful attention to muddiness in the lows, anywhere between 100 and 300 Hz depending on the voice. Generally speaking, cutting around 250-300 will clear things up, as you've already filtered somewhere around 100 Hz. Don't cut too much, though, as it can drain the life out of the performance.
You can also add air using the bus EQ. Between 10 and 12 kHz is a great place to brighten your vocal so it cuts through and sounds polished.
Let your bus EQ get the sound 70 or 80% of the way there. Then you can come in with tailored individual EQ later!
3. Individual EQ
After filtering and doing some overall shaping on the vocal bus, you can go back to clean up the sound further. Specifically, this stage is where you can visit individual tracks to sweep for resonant frequencies and notch them out, etc.
You might even find that your bus EQ isn't doing everything you want it to. Maybe the lows are still muddy, so cutting a bit more in that range is helpful. Maybe they need an extra bit of presence, which you can boost.
If a particular track is sounding overly harsh, for example, pay some attention to the 1 to 4 kHz range where a lot of rough-sounding frequencies live.
The idea in this stage is to finalize the overall vocal EQ!
For Further Consideration:
EQ Backgrounds Differently Than Leads
Separating background vocals/harmonies from the leads is super important, and you can do it with EQ! Usually backgrounds should sit below leads without overpowering or otherwise obscuring them. They should add some depth and richness without being distracting.
One way to tuck them under the lead vocal is to filter some of the high-end so it doesn't clash. Try a low-pass filter around 7 or 8 kHz to carve off the top end, helping the backgrounds fit in without muddying up the leads!
Telephone EQ for Pop/Hip-Hop Ad Libs
One of the most common effects used on pop/hip-hop ad libs is the telephone EQ! This can be as simple as a band-pass to "pinch" the vocals by filtering the highs and lows. Sometimes you want something even more aggressive, so you might try boosting frequencies in the midrange along with band-passing to get a very crispy telephone effect.
A lot of EQs even have presets for achieving this effect. Try them out!


text:
A Guide to Finding EFT Therapists
If you're feeling like you need a change in your life, but you're not sure where to start, therapy may be the answer for you. Millions of people around the world undergo therapy every year, and for good reason – it can be an incredibly effective way to address mental health concerns, personal relationships, and more. If you're curious about whether or not therapy is right for you, read on for our guide to finding EFT therapists and effective EFT therapy!
The first thing you'll need to do is some self-reflection. Consider why you're thinking about therapy in the first place. Are you struggling with anxiety, depression, or another mental health issue? Are you going through a difficult life transition, like a divorce or the death of a loved one? Or are you simply looking for ways to improve your relationship with yourself and others?
Once you've identified your reason for seeking out therapy, it's time to find a therapist who can help you meet your specific needs. If you're struggling with a mental health issue, look for a therapist who specializes in that area. If you're dealing with a life transition, look for a therapist who has experience helping people through similar changes. And if you're just looking to improve your relationship with yourself and others, any qualified therapist will be able to help you.
When you're ready to start looking for a therapist, there are a few different ways you can go about it. You can ask your doctor or another health care provider for a referral, look for therapists in your area online, or even ask friends or family members if they have any recommendations. Once you've found a few potential therapists, reach out to them and see if they offer a free consultation. This is usually a brief meeting (30 minutes or so) where you can get a feel for the therapist's style and whether or not you'll be comfortable working with them.


text:
Social Sciences
Ma Rong
A number of books and articles in Chinese and foreign languages published before 1949 describe the history, geography, anthropology, and general social background of China's grassland areas. These publications cover such topics as political and institutional history, culture and societies of native minority groups, relations between the Chinese government and local authorities, in-migration of Han farmers, and geographic and climatic characteristics. During the 1960s and 1970s, Chinese social scientists did little new research related to grassland areas. A list of pre-1980 social science publications related to China's northern grasslands appears in the first section of the references.
As a result of the program of reform at home and opening to the world outside, which began in 1979, Chinese scholars have taken a greater interest in research on the grassland areas. At the same time, the Chinese government organized five series of studies, describing the society, economy, culture, lan-
Dr. Ma Rong, research associate in the Institute of Sociology of National Peking University, describes studies carried out during the past decade on societies and human behavior in China's grassland areas. Dr. Ma, a member of the new generation of Chinese sociologists, spent five years during the Cultural Revolution working in the countryside in Inner Mongolia and later helped conduct some of the surveys he describes in this chapter.
guage, and geography of ethnic minority groups, including those who live in the grassland areas; these series include (1) an introduction to the minority nationalities of China; (2) introductions to each of the autonomous areas (regions, prefectures, and counties); (3) histories of each minority group; (4) introductions to the language of each minority group; and (5) social science research carried out in the 1950s, but not previously released. Material from the first series has been condensed and translated into English (Ma Yin, 1989). Items from the second, third, and fifth series, which have provided many valuable historical records, research reports, and current statistics related to the grasslands, appear in the second section of the references.
During this period, Chinese scholars and experts in four fields or disciplines have contributed to the study of grasslands:
Natural scientists, working in institutes under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, local academies and universities, especially in the fields of agriculture, animal husbandry, geography, and grassland construction, have published research in university and academic journals. (Scholarship in the natural sciences is reviewed in Chapters 2–7.)
Officials and staff in government offices—for example, the Ministry of Agriculture; the Agricultural Study Center of the State Council; and provincial, prefectural, and county governments—and in Communist Party organizations, such as the Central Committee Office of Agricultural Policies and offices of policy studies under local Party committees, have published reports in newspapers, academic journals, and books.
Economists in universities, institutes under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), and local academies of social sciences, have published studies related to grassland areas that have appeared in university and academic journals. During the first three decades of the People's Republic (1949–1979), economists in China adhered to Marxist economic theories and focused on problems posed by Soviet-style central planning. They studied issues such as the efficient allocation and distribution of resources or ways to organize a command economy, while ignoring questions raised by Western economics, such as household production strategies, risk management, allocation of labor, and the role of competitive markets and prices. Around 1980, this situation began to change. During the past 10 years, Western economic theories and methodologies have been introduced into China and applied to the study of the Chinese economy. Because this period has been brief, however, publications of this type remain limited in both quantity and quality.
Most studies by scholars in groups 2 and 3 have focused on two questions, both of which are directly related to the goal of economic development and the reform policies designed to achieve this result. The first question is, What is the best strategy for developing western China? One school has favored the "step development theory," in which central government investment and sub-
sidies should be allocated first to the coastal areas, then to the central regions of the country, and finally to the western frontier. Advocates of this approach point out that coastal areas offer a better environment for investment (higher-quality labor, better transportation, an established industrial base, etc.), which would bring higher and quicker profits.
Another group has argued for the "western development theory," whereby the coastal and western regions of China would receive equal treatment. In this view, economic development of the coastal areas cannot be sustained without the coal, oil, minerals, and other raw materials that are supplied by the west, whereas production in the more developed east will ultimately depend on inland markets. Meanwhile, narrowing the economic and social inequities between coastal and hinterland regions would reduce tensions between these regions and between the Han majority and the ethnic minorities concentrated in the west. Both economic and political problems can be alleviated by the rapid development of western China.
The second question that has preoccupied economists who have focused on problems of the hinterland is, Should large numbers of ethnic Han migrate to the northwest? Xinjiang, Qinghai, Gansu, Inner Mongolia, and other regions of the north and west are considered "frontier areas," because they (1) lie at a great distance from China proper; (2) support climate, soils, vegetation, and economic activities distinct from those in China proper; and (3) contain large numbers of ethnic minorities. Some scholars, such as Hu Huanyong, favor the organized movement of Han settlers into these areas on the grounds that the population density of the southeast is too high and the natural resources of the sparsely populated northwest can support more people. Others point out that natural limitations in the west—vast deserts, shortage of water, and poor soil—make it impossible to support a larger population there, and that the excessive cultivation and overstocking of grasslands have already damaged the environment of this region. The latter group concludes that the movement of Chinese farmers to the northwest is economically unfeasible and would contribute to tensions between Han and native minority groups. A list of post-1980 publications on the economics and public policy aspects of the grasslands appears in section 3 of the references.
Chinese sociologists and demographers have recently revived their disciplines and produced work related to the grasslands. The formal study of sociology, which was abolished in Chinese research academies and universities in 1952, was resurrected in 1979. Since 1980, five Chinese universities have established new departments of sociology, and three institutions—Peking University, People's University, and the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences—have set up institutes for sociological research. Among these, only Peking University has an organized program of sociological research that focuses on grasslands. In addition, there are more than 20 institutes for population studies within Chinese universities, several of which have received financial
support from the United Nations. Scholars in some of these institutes, located in minority areas such as Xinjiang and Gansu, have studied migration and fertility patterns in these regions, but few have carried out formal sample surveys. Publications from these institutes have appeared in university and academic journals.
Only two Chinese universities—Xiamen University in Fujian Province and Zhongshan University in Guangdong—have departments of anthropology. Both are located in southeastern coastal areas and have produced no research related to the grasslands.
In 1984, the former director of the Peking University Institute of Sociology, Professor Fei Xiaotong, began a program to study the peoples of the Chinese grasslands. In an article entitled "Chifeng," Professor Fei described the contradiction between traditional agriculture and animal husbandry, both of which require large tracts of land; the environmental problems brought by the expansion of cultivation; and ways to improve the situation.
During 1985–1990, Fei's institute carried out a research project entitled "Studies of Socioeconomic Development in the Chinese Frontier Areas," one of the "National Research Projects in the Social Sciences" included in the Seventh Five-Year Plan. This project was supported by government agencies at the national, regional, and local levels and by scholars from local academies. The major components of the project included the following:
Chifeng, Inner Mongolia (Map 1-3) survey of rural migration and ethnic relations, 2100 households (1985): This survey covers the history of Han in-migration into this region and the effects of this in-migration on relations between natives and immigrants; changes in social organization, economic behavior, culture, and environment; and aspects of ethnic integration within and between both major groups, including language use, neighborhood and social network formation, and intermarriage. Results of the survey are contained in Ma (1987).
Baotou, Inner Mongolia survey of local industrial development (1985): This study focuses on the role of large state-owned enterprises, which have been established by the central government and employ mainly Han Chinese, in a frontier minority area. Enterprises of this type have often given rise to Han communities insulated from the surrounding ethnic minorities. This study was designed to help such enterprises communicate more effectively with neighboring peoples and use their technology, personnel, and other resources to promote economic development in the surrounding county.
Six-town survey of migration and local markets in Wengniute Banner,
Inner Mongolia, 1300 households (1987): This study is similar to the 1985 Chifeng survey, except that it focuses on towns instead of villages and on the problem of migration and ethnic integration between rural areas and townships. The later survey also covers the movement of rural surplus labor into and the development of free markets in these towns.
Survey of circular migration and local economic development in Linxia Prefecture, Gansu Province (Map 1-4), 4000 households (1987): This survey traces the circular migration of Hui merchants between Gansu and markets in the pastoral areas of Qinghai and Tibet. These trading patterns, which had been followed for centuries and disappeared after the collectivization of agriculture in the 1950s, have recently been revived. Because Gansu is too poor to support its large population, long-distance trade helps supplement local incomes and relieves pressure on the land.
Survey of migration and ethnic relations, Xinjiang, 2500 households (1987): This survey investigates the pattern of Han in-migration into China's largest autonomous region. Special attention is paid to the production-construction corps, composed of demobilized Han soldiers and volunteer high school students, mainly from Shanghai. These corps established specialized administrative and production units that were separate from and often caused conflict with surrounding minority communities. Results of this survey appear in Ji (1989).
Survey of local community and family formation, Hailar, Inner Mongolia, four towns (1988): This survey, a cooperative project with Professors Burton Pasternak of Hunter College and Janet Salaff of the University of Toronto, focuses on family formation, migration patterns, community education, division of household labor, ethnic relations, and economic development strategies.
Survey of migration, income, consumption, and family formation, Tibet, 1400 households (1988): This sample survey, the first ever taken in Tibet, includes data on migration, community occupational structure, levels of income and consumption, and marriage patterns.
Survey of reservoir migration, Gansu, three sites (1988): Because of discussions about plans to build a dam at the Three Gorges of the Yangtze River, which will create an estimated one million migrants, the Institute of Sociology considered it timely to investigate the experience of migration resulting from previous construction projects. During the 1950s and 1960s, the Chinese government organized migrant labor teams to construct water reservoirs on the Yellow River. These migrant laborers were often underpaid during the period of reservoir construction and, lacking other means of survival, went on relief after construction was complete. Today, migrant communities that remain on government relief have no incentive to develop other means of production and pose a heavy burden on the government and the surrounding communities.
Community study of semiagricultural and semipastoral areas of Wengniute Banner, Inner Mongolia, one village (1989): This study focuses on migration and ethnicity, although ecological issues are also covered in the context of local economic development. It shows that the in-migration of farmers increased population density, shifted the focus of the local economy from animal husbandry to agriculture, and caused serious environmental deterioration.
Three-village survey of social networks, Hailar, Inner Mongolia, (1990): This second survey of Hailar examines the basic patterns and process of formation of social networks among local residents.
Survey of local migration and economy, Alashan, Inner Mongolia, one town (1988): Alashan, a desert region of western Inner Mongolia, is very sparsely populated. This survey examines the migration patterns of a salt-producing town and compares them with migration in other regions.
Survey of local community and division of labor, Hailar, Inner Mongolia, four sites (1990): The third Hailar survey, also conducted in cooperation with Professors Pasternak and Salaff, explores factors affecting community development and daily life in four communities.
Community studies of four villages, Tibet (1990): This survey applies anthropological methods to study local economic organization, social networks, neighborhood formation, income and consumption, daily life, and religious activities in Tibetan agricultural, pastoral, and small-town communities.
Survey of local economic development and ethnic relations in Linxia, Gansu (1990): This study focuses on ethnic relations and economic exchanges between different areas of Gansu Province.
These surveys have made use of sociological, demographic, and anthropological approaches, quantitative and qualitative analyses, and a combination of large-scale sampling and community studies. The Institute of Sociology has been supported in this effort by the Department of Sociology of Peking University, in large part through the cooperation of Professor Pan Naigu, who serves concurrently as associate director of the institute and chairperson of the department. Cooperation has also come from local authorities in Inner Mongolia, Gansu, Ningxia, Qinghai, and Tibet. A list of publications produced under this project appears in section 4 of the references.
During the same period, 1985–1990, researchers from the Institute of Sociology visited Qinghai, Ningxia, Heilongjiang, and other regions that have large grassland areas to collect local statistics, studies, and reports, and to discuss the issues of local economic development, relations between ethnic groups, social changes, and related topics with local authorities and scholars.
These surveys have produced four major findings that continue to guide social science research in the grassland areas. First, the in-migration of Han peoples has reshaped society in areas that were previously dominated by mi-
nority groups. The Han population of Inner Mongolia increased from 1.2 million in 1912 to 17.2 million in 1989, and in Xinjiang from 300,000 in 1949 to 5.5 million in 1982. Han in-migration has increased population density, altered the ethnic structure of the local population, changed the economic activities of the local communities, and increased communications and economic exchanges between local communities and the Han regions of China proper.
Second, the increase in Han population has affected Han-minority relations and hence local political stability. Han immigrants and native minority groups differ sharply in language, religion, traditional economic activities, folk culture, customs, and life-styles. In areas where migrants have arrived in large numbers within a short period of time, the competition for scarce jobs and resources (land, vegetation, water, etc.) has increased tensions between natives and newcomers. This competition, reinforced by ethnic differences, has posed a threat to local political stability.
Third, the rapid growth of population, due to both the in-migration of Han and the natural increase of local minority groups (who have been exempted from family planning programs), has increased the pressure on natural resources and caused severe environmental degradation. As a result of factors such as the decrease in rainfall, impoverishment of the soil, and expansion of the desert, the ecology of most semiagricultural and semipastoral areas has become very fragile. In this context, the key questions are how to enforce the transformation from traditional extensive agriculture and animal husbandry to modern production (grass planting, shed feeding, etc.), which uses less land and relies more on grassland construction and environmental protection, and how to find employment for laborers released from agricultural production in the areas affected by environmental degradation. One alternative has been to develop small towns, local industries, and other nonagricultural trades such as handicraft workshops, services, transportation, and trade.
Fourth, circular migration, such as that found in Linxia, is closely related to recent economic reforms. The Hui minority of Linxia, wedged between Han agriculturalists and Tibetan and Mongol pastoralists, has a long history of commercial activities. Under the household responsibility system, local inhabitants have been free to seek their own fortunes, and many have turned to trade with the pastoral communities of Qinghai and Tibet. These activities have increased the income of the Hui, relieved pressure on the land, and helped develop a market economy in the grassland areas.
In 1988, Peking University established a multidisciplinary research project for the northwestern region, including Xinjiang, Qinghai, Gansu, Ningxia, and Inner Mongolia. The vice president of Peking University, Professor Wang Yiqiu, is in charge of this project, which has drawn on scholars in sociology, economics, history, geography, ecology, applied technology, and computer science.
An important and convenient source of recent scholarship on this subject is the series ''Photocopies of Newspaper and Periodical Materials,'' published by People's University Press. One unit in this series, Agricultural Economy, which has appeared annually since 1979, covers two fields directly related to the grasslands: the development of animal husbandry and grassland reconstruction. Most of the articles are two to three pages long; provide a general introduction to a specific area or topic; or report on field research including observations, interviews, and statistics. A list of entries from the 1987 and 1988 volumes (see section 5 of references) includes articles on economics, sociology, history, demography, and ecology. The Harvard-Yenching Library has a complete collection of this series.
In recent years, the Chinese Government has released statistics related to social, economic, demographic, and environmental development in all regions of China over several decades. Statistical yearbooks published by central and local statistical bureaus cover agricultural and industrial production, trade and transportation, population changes (including migration), income and consumption levels of urban and rural residents, regional ethnic structure, education and health care facilities, social welfare, and other topics. The series Population of China contains recent population data for each province and autonomous region. A list of statistical yearbooks and other serial publications related to the grassland areas appears in section 6 of the references. The last section of the references provides a list of English-language publications on Chinese minority groups and grassland areas.
1. Pre-1980 Publications
Fu Zuolin. 1935. Ningxiasheng kaochaji [Survey of Ningxia Province]. Nanjing: Zhengzhong Press.
He Jianmin. 1932. Menggu gaiguan [General Situation in Mongolia]. Shanghai: Minzhi Press.
Hong Dichen. 1935. Xinjiang shi di dagang [Outline of History and Geography of Xinjiang]. Chongqing: Zhengzhong Press.
Hong Zunyuan. 1961. Xinjiang [Xinjiang]. Taipei: Taishan Press.
Hu Ruli. 1968. Ningxia xinzhi [New Record of Ningxia]. Taipei: Chengwen Press.
Hua Leng, ed. 1916. Neimenggu jiyao [Summary of Inner Mongolia]. Beijing: Republic Press.
Kang Furong. 1968. Qinghai ji Record of Qinghai]; Qinghai di zhilue [Brief Record of the Geography of Qinghai]. Taipei: Chengwen Press.
Lin Pengxia. 1951. Xinjiang xing [Travels in Xinjiang]. Hong Kong: Trade Press.
Liu Huru. 1933. Qinghai, Xikang liang sheng [Two Provinces of Qinghai and Xikang]. Shanghai: Trade Press.
Liu Jingping and Zheng Guangzhi, eds. 1979. Neimenggu zizhiqu jingji fazhan gaikuang [Introduction to Economic Development of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region]. Hohhot: People's Press of Inner Mongolia.
Ma Hetian. 1947. Gan Qing Cang bianqu kaochaji [Survey of Border Regions of Gansu, Qinghai, and Tibet]. Shanghai: Trade Press.
Mu Shouqi. 1972. Gan Ning Qing shilue [Brief History of Gansu, Ningxia, and Qinghai]. Taipei: Guangwen Press.
Ni Chao. 1948. Xinjiang zhi shuili [Water Conservancy in Xinjiang]. Shanghai: Trade Press.
Taiwan sifaxingzhengbu [Taiwan Ministry of Justice], ed. 1961. Xinjiang xiankuang diaocha [Investigation into the Current Situation in Xinjiang]. Taipei: Ministry of Justice.
Tan Tiwu. 1935. Neimeng zhi jinhou [The Present and Future of Inner Mongolia]. Shanghai: Trade Press.
Wang Zhiwen. 1942. Gansusheng xinanbu bianqu kaochaji [Survey of the Southwestern Border Region of Gansu Province]. Lanzhou: Bank of Gansu Province.
Wu Aichen. 1935. Xinjiang jiyou [Xinjiang Travel Diary]. Shanghai: Zhonghai Press.
Wu Shangquan. 1943. Rehe xinzhi [New Record of Jehol]. Chongqing: Culture Construction Press.
Wu Shaolin. 1933. Xinjiang gaiguan [General Situation in Xinjiang]. Shanghai: Zhonghua Press.
Xu Gongwu. 1943. Qinghai zhilue [Brief Record of Qinghai]. Chongqing: Trade Press.
Yang Zengzhi. 1934. Suiyuansheng fenxian diaocha gaiyao [Summary of County-Level Investigation of Suiyuan Province]. Hohhot: Mass Educational Bureau.
Yu Yuanan. 1958. Neimenggu shilue [Brief History of Inner Mongolia]. Shanghai: People's Press of Shanghai.
Zhongyang yinhang jingji yanjiuchu [Economic Research Section of the Central Bank]. 1935. Gan Qing Ning jingji jilue [Brief Record of the Economy of Gansu, Qinghai and Ningxia]. Shanghai, Central Bank.
Zhou Zhenhe. 1938. Qinghai [Qinghai]. Changsha: Trade Press.
2. Series on Minority Studies Published in the 1980s
Minzu jianshi [Short History of Minority Nationalities]: Mengguzu jianshi (Short History of the Mongolian Nationality]. 1987.
Weiwuerzu jianshi [Short History of the Uighur Nationality]. 1988.
Minzu zizhi quyu shehui diaocha ziliao ji [Collection of Materials on Social Investigation in Autonomous Minority Regions]: Research Reports on Society and Economy of Southern Xinjiang. 1987.
Zizhiquyu gaikuang [Introduction to Autonomous Regions]: Neimenggu zizhiqu gaikuang [Introduction to the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region]. 1986.
Linxia Hui zizhiqu gaikuang [Introduction to Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture]. 1987.
3. Publications Since 1980
Chaolubagen. 1984. Wanshan muye dabaogan de kexi changshi [Successful attempt to perfect the responsibility system in animal husbandry]. Neimenggu zizhiqu jingji gaige wenji [Collected Works on Economic Reform in Inner Mongolia], vol. 2, Neimenggu jingji tizhi gaige hui [Inner Mongolian Association for Reform of Economic Structures], ed. Inner Hohhot: People's Press of Inner Mongolia.
He Changmao. 1985. Woguo xumuye de fazhan qianjing he dangqian xuyao jiejue de jige wenti [Perspectives on the development of animal husbandry in China and some unresolved problems]. Zhongguo nongcun fazhan zhanlue wenti [Strategy of Rural Development in China].
Guowuyuan nongcun fazhan yanjiu zhongxin [Study Center for Rural Development of the State Council], ed. Beijing: Agricultural Technology Press .
Hu Huanyong and Yan Zhengyuan. 1985. Zhongguo dongxibu renkou de bu junheng fenbu (The unbalanced distribution of population in eastern and western China]. Population 1:8–11.
Huhehaote shi Menggu huawen he lishi yanjiuhui [Hohhot City Research Society for Mongolian Language and History]. 1983. Menggu shi lunwenji [Collected Works on Mongolian History]. Hohhot: Mongolian Language and History Association.
Lu Minghui, ed. 1984. Zhongguo beifang minzu guanxi shi (History of Relations Among Nationalities in Northern China]. Hohhot: People's Press of Inner Mongolia.
Lu Minghui, ed. 1984. Menggu shi lunwenji [Collected Works on Mongolian History]. Beijing: Chinese Social Science Press.
Neimenggu shehui fazhan xuehui [Society for the Study of Social Development in Inner Mongolia]. 1984. Shehui jingji fazhan yanjiu cankao ziliao [Reference Materials for Research on Social and Economic Development]. Hohhot: People's Press of Inner Mongolia.
Tian Fang and Lin Fatang, eds. 1986. Zhongguo renkou qianyi [Population Migration in China]. Beijing: Knowledge Press.
Wang Xiaoqiang and Bai Nanfeng. 1986. Fuqian de pinkun [Poverty of the Rich]. Chengdu: People's Press of Sichuan.
Zhang Zhihua. 1983. Qingdai zhi minkuo shiqi Neimengguzu renkou gaikuang [Mongolian population from the Qing Dynasty to the Republican period]. Studies on Modern History of Inner Mongolia, vol. 2. Hohhot: People's Press of Inner Mongolia.
Zhongguo nongcun fazhan wenti yanjiuzu [Chinese Agricultural Development Research Group], ed. 1985. Nongcun jingji shehui [Rural Areas, Economy, and Society). Beijing: Knowledge Press.
Zhou Xiwu. 1986. Yushu kaochaji [Survey of the Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai]. Xining: People's Press of Qinghai.
4. Publications of the Institute of Sociology, Peking University
Fei Xiaotong. 1986. Bianqu siti [Four Issues of Frontier Regions]. Nanjing: People's Press of Jiangsu.
Fei Xiaotong. 1988. Minzu yanjiu wenji [Collected Works on Research on Ethnicity]. Beijing: Nationalities Press.
Fei Xiaotong, ed. 1985. Bianqu kaifa yu sanli zhibian [Development of the Frontier Regions and Technical, Financial and Material Support for These Regions]. Hohhot: People's Press of Inner Mongolia.
Fei Xiaotong. 1989. Zhonghua minzu de duoyuan yiti gezhu [The pattern of pluralistic unity of the Chinese nation]. Journal of Peking University 4:1–19.
Ji Ping. 1989. Migration and assimilation in Xinjiang. Ph.D. thesis, Brown University, Providence, R.I.
Liu Yuanchao. 1988. Alashan meng pendi diqu de renkou qianyi he quyu fazhan [Population migration and regional development in the basin region of Alashan League]. Rural Economy and Society 3:12–23.
Ma Rong. 1987. Migrant and ethnic integration in rural Chifeng, Inner Mongolia. Ph.D. thesis, Brown University, Providence, R.I.
Ma Rong. 1988. Baidong renkou yu woguo nongcun laodongli de zhuanyi [Mobile population and movement of rural labor force in China]. Rural Economy and Society 4:33–38.
Ma Rong. 1989. Chifeng renkou qianyi de yuanyin yu tiaojian [The motives and conditions for population migration in Chifeng]. Population Science of China 2:24–36.
Ma Rong. 1989. Chongjian Zhonghua minzu duoyuan yiti gezhu de xin de lishi tiaojian [New historical conditions for rebuilding the pluralistic unity of the Chinese nation]. Journal of Peking University 4:20–25.
Ma Rong and Pan Naigu. 1988. Chifeng nongcun muqu Meng-Han tonghun de yanjiu [Research on Mongol-Han intermarriage patterns in the agriculture-animal husbandry region of Chifeng). Journal of Peking University 3:67–75.
Ma Rong and Pan Naigu. 1989. Juzhu xingshi shehui jiaowang yu Meng-Han minzu guanxi [Residential patterns, social communications, and Mongol-Han relations]. Social Sciences of China 3:179–192.
5. Articles from Nongye jingji [Agricultural Economy]
Nongye jingji [Agricultural Economy]. 1979– . Fuyin baokan ziliao [Photocopies of Newspaper and Periodical Materials]. Zhongguo renmin daxue shubao ziliao she [Chinese People's University, Society for Book and Newspaper Materials], ed.
1987 Collection
A Long (Propaganda Department, Communist Party, Inner Mongolia). Mumin sixiang guannian de bianhua [Changes in thoughts and outlooks of herdsmen].
Muqu jingji ketizu [Group on Animal Husbandry Economics] (Institute of Agricultural Economy, CAAS). Caoyuan baohu jianshe de fazhan yu qianjing [Development of and perspectives on grassland protection and construction].
Qin Qiming et al. (Institute of Rural Development, CASS). Xinjiang Bayinbuleng Menggu zizhizhou kaocha [Survey of Bayinbluke Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang).
Teng Youzheng et al. (Inner Mongolia University). Caoyuan shengtai jingji fazhan zhanlue taolun [Discussion on strategy for development of grassland ecology and economy].
Wang Kangfu et al. (Lanzhou Institute of Desert Research, CAS). Neimenggu Keerqin caoyuan de shamohua [Desertification of Keerqin grassland, Inner Mongolia].
Yao Yanchen (Natural Resource Study Committee, Planning Committee of State Council and CAS). Neimenggu Ximeng tianran caoyuan diyu tezheng [Special characteristics of the natural grassland region of Xilingele League, Inner Mongolia].
Zhang Minghua and Zhou liang (Grassland Research Institute, CAAS). Neimenggu caoyuan xumuye de fazhan zhanlue yu duice [Development strategy and policies for animal husbandry in the grasslands of Inner Mongolia].
Zhu Tingcheng (Grassland Studies Section, Northeastern Normal University). Lun caoyuan tuihua yu xingban caoye [On grassland degradation and the restoration of grasslands].
1988 Collection
Chen Wen (Inner Mongolia Academy of Social Sciences). Shilun woguo xumuye guanli tizhi de shenhua gaige [On deepening reform in China's animal husbandry management system].
Hao Tingzao. Ningxia Yanchixian zhisha zaolin fazhan xumuye [Developing animal husbandry by desert control and forest construction in Yanchi County, Ningxia].
He Yongqi (Economic Planning Office of Northeastern Region, State Council). Guanyu Hulunbeier dacaoyuan de kaifa yu jianshe [On development and construction of great grasslands of Hulunbeir, Inner Mongolia].
Lin Shaobo (Bureau of Animal Husbandry, Qinghai Province). Renzhen yanjiu fazhan caoyuan xumuye de zhanlue wenti [Carefully study the problem of strategy for developing grassland animal husbandry].
Zhang Xiaoren (Department of Rural Work, Communist Party Committee, Xinjiang). Wanshan shuangceng jingying tizhi cejin muqu shengchanli fazhan [Improving the two-level management system, promoting the development of animal husbandry production].
Zhang Xuanguo (Inner Mongolia Branch, Xinhua News Agency). Wushenqi jiating xiao muchang diaocha [Investigation of small farm households in Wushen Banner, Inner Mongolia].
6. Official Statistical and Serial Publications
Statistical Yearbooks for Each Province or Region, Edited by Local Bureau of Statistics: Neimenggu shehui tongji nianjian [Social Statistics of Inner Mongolia]. Annual.
Xinjiang tongji nianjian [Statistical Yearbook of Xinjiang]. Annual.
National Statistical Yearbooks: Zhongguo nongmuyuye tongji ziliao (Agricultural Statistics of China]. Ministry of Agriculture, ed.. Annual.
Zhongguo renkou [Population of China]. 1987. Neimenggu fence [Volume on Inner Mongolia]. Song Yougong, ed.. Beijing: Finance and Economy Press.
Zhongguo renkou nianjian [Population Yearbook of China]. 1982– . Institute of Population Studies, CASS, ed.
Zhongguo tongji nianjian [China Statistical Yearbook]. 1982– . Zhongguo tongjizhu [Chinese Bureau of Statistics), ed.
7. English-Language Publications
Alonso, M.E., ed. 1979. China's Inner Asian Frontier. Cambridge: Harvard University Press.
Banister, Judith. 1987. China's Changing Population. Stanford: Stanford University Press.
Chen, Jack. 1977. The Sinkiang Story. New York: Macmillan.
Dreyer, June. 1976. China's Forty Millions: Minority Nationalities and National Integration in the PRC. Cambridge: Harvard University Press.
Fei Xiaotong. 1979. On the Social Transformation of Chinese Minority Nationalities. Japan: The United Nations University.
Israeli, R. 1981. Muslims in China: A Study in Cultural Confrontation . London: Curzon.
Jagchid, S., and P. Hyer. 1979. Mongolia's Culture and Society. Boulder: Westview Press.
Lattimore, Owen. 1951. Inner Asian Frontier of China. New York: Oxford University Press.
Lattimore, Owen. 1955. Nationalism and Revolution in Mongolia. New York: Oxford University Press.
Lattimore, Owen. 1962. Studies in Frontier History. London: Oxford University Press.
Ma Yin, ed. 1989. China's Minority Nationalities. Beijing: Foreign Language Press.
Miller, R. 1959. Monasteries and Cultural Change in Inner Mongolia . Wiesbaden: Otto Harranssowitz.
Myrdal, Jan. 1984. The Silkroad, A Journey from the High Pamirs and Ili Through Sinkiang and Gansu. New York: Pantheon Books.
Pye, Lucien. 1975. China: Ethnic minorities and national security. In Ethnicity, N. Glazer and D. Moynihan, eds. Cambridge: Harvard University Press.
Rupen, Robert. 1979. How Mongolia is Really Ruled. Stanford: Hoover Institution.


text:
Of the many joys of summer, we find that there is one in particular that reigns supreme. Is it hot dogs and baseball games you might ask? Not quite, although those two things together are beyond great. Outdoor and rooftop dining? Mmm, while we do love eating and drinking alfresco, that's not exactly what we mean either. So, it must have something to do with farmer's markets and the abundance of fresh produce, right? (Right?) Well, we might as well just come clean with it: although food is usually first in our heart and mind, as far as we're concerned, the frivolous summer movie is one of unparalleled thrills of the season. That off our chest, it's time for confession #2, which is that we saw Mamma Mia! last night and loved it. The music! The dancing! The breathtaking shots of the glittering Aegean sea! It was enough to make us want to burst into song as we left the theater.
Everything always ends up circling back to food for us though, and this morning, we found ourselves pondering that sparkling sea, and not just because of its beauty. No. We started pondering the wealth of seafood right below the surface, and how much we could go for Greek seafood tonight. Fortunately, there is no dearth of terrific Greek restaurants here in Philly, and our craving can be satisfied pretty easily.
• New BYOB Kanella has been getting raves right and left, and with good reason. The restaurant serves truly authentic Cypriot fare, and the owner is fastidious about quality and freshness. The fish changes daily, so it's hard to point to a specific dish, but if the dorado is the fish of the day, it shouldn't be missed. We haven't had the chance to try it yet, but by all accounts, it's grilled to perfection.
• Effie's is a tried and true option for excellent Greek food in the city. If we were going tonight, we would ask to be seated in the patio garden, and order the armonia (sauteed shrimp, mussels, calamari in a spicy tomato sauce over pasta). The lack of a sea breeze, and definitely not the food, is what keeps us from feeling transported to the Greek Isles, instead of a garden in Philly.
• Lastly, we feel that no round-up of superlative Greek seafood joints would be complete without mention of the Dmitri's on S 3rd. We tend to get evangelical about this place, both around people who have been (it's a chorus of ringing endorsements), and those who haven't (we fear we might get overly pushy). The fare is the picture of simplicity: grilled fish, octopus, shrimp, and so on, with very little by way of embellishments other than olive oil and lemon juice, but with food this good, there is no need for more.
Effie's [MenuPages]
Effie's [Official Site] Kanella [MenuPages]
[Photo: Foodaphilia]


text: Christian Arnold and Arnold Schwarzenegger have two things in common. Even though it may seem that it is the body strength, it is not. Dedication (and the name) is the answer, and it is the key to success, this is something Christian has a lot of. After getting the taste of entrepreneurship in Australia where Christian was a semi-professional player and a part in the start-up of an e-sport team, he decided to apply for NTNU School of Entrepreneurship. He has a bachelor's in electrical engineering from NTNU and The University of Queensland. With the knowledge from his studies, Christian has worked on several hobby projects. When he is not working on any projects you will often find him follow the e-sport scene or not find him at all, because he loves to travel. Curiosity is something that has always thrived within Christian and the hunger for knowledge will never be satisfied. This has led to him being an outgoing person and questions everything.


text:
An incredibly talented and experienced group of ladies were named to the US Women's Basketball Team Wednesday morning. Following the announcement, questions were raised about the absence of Candace Parker from the roster.
"Candace is a great player. She's a two-time Olympian, and she's done a lot for us in the past starting in high school," USA Basketball Women's National Team Director Carol Callan said, "It does speak to the fact that we have incredible depth on this team.
"It's not an easy call to make, but what we are trying to do is pick a team collectively that has a chance to win the gold medal and I think we have that."
Head Coach Geno Auriemma said, "When you added the three players that we added, what they've accomplished in their careers up to this point, it really does set them apart from almost everyone else that could be a candidate for those positions."
The three newcomers have just a few months until they will be competing in their first Olympic games. "We're 100 days away but in some ways, it feels like it's right on top of us. I know all the players are excited to be on the team, to be named to the team and to be able to represent the USA in Rio," said Auriemma.
The team has a great mixture of experience and youth, "We have players that want to play again and again and again and in this case, again. We'll have three or four-time Olympians and that leadership on and off the court is so important. But we've also been able to work in first-time Olympians," Callan said.
Despite any backlash, Callan said the committee is confident in their decision. "This was an incredibly difficult decision for our selection committee but also we selected what we feel will give us the best chance to win our sixth straight gold medal."


text:
Safety in silence: here in the dark, we are carving wickerwork out of our shoulders, washing the colours from our skin and the rage from our tongues. I don't know why I wear the quiet like armour cold against my ribs, with this language (dirty) closed book pressed against my side and buried (blade) in my chest. Maybe it's because my mother wrings her hands when I speak: keep your head down, and they can't touch you. My voice is an invitation alongside shambling name, but I join a long line of us, told to study hard to acquire the voice we already have. You are soundless (still) after years of toil, wearing a face of fear over your mouth of love; and so I let the tart English rain swig back this body in drifts, chisel away at jade, and bath me in blood. "You're so sharp you'll cut yourself"
In the books I read as I child, it was the veiled threat of choice, it was what the villain said to the young hero. "You're so sharp you'll cut yourself" Someone said it to her as a child. She was bright and, quite frankly, a pain in the arse. "You're so sharp, you'll cut yourself" She did. Loose Threads
There's nowhere to keep the words once he's read them, so he just lets them fall to wherever it is thoughts go when you've finished using them, and continues reading. He's managed to convince himself that on some level, he understands them; that somewhere, beneath language, the argument is unfolding in his mind. It isn't. Not really. He's followed little details perhaps, clutched blindly to a single thread of reasoning and felt his way along. But he can't see the web in its entirety. His mind is out of focus, so it latches on to out-of-focus things - the vague outlines and blurred edges of the world at 2AM, when reason is asleep: the way the patterns in the wood change shape, the distant cries of drunken students mingling with faulty car alarms. The undefined sections of the night. Little details. Like loose threads in a tapestry that he's scared to pull on in case it falls apart. Duet
Some struggle to hold my wrist in separation from its bridge, and the E-string peg had special panics attached. I was having to root through cadavers left in the storeroom, looking for a substitute after the snap. That was the dream–wound too tight and then it draws a perfect line of blood, wherever its lash should fall. Not that I made it happen–I always deferred about finding my naturals, given half an accidental, or chance, but it had to spring apart even as he tuned it. Bad fate for those lost instruments to become my nervous salvage (I thought myself a surgeon then, before the Browning got me, and I tenderly removed the spare cord from a long-unplayed heart as if it was my future), and with tremored hands I went to tightening it, getting it taut, taut as I dared, and always having to turn it further– until, with mercy, the thing was done. It wasn't wounds which stopped me in the end. I had a flat, prosaic hatred for playing my scales. Yet here you have some love–some fear. It's all for violins. |
Archives |


text:
The Industrial Court has given a go-ahead to an earthshaking petition which names a governor and his wife as bribetakers in a syndicate to fraudulently employ county government employees by circumventing mandatory constitutional provisions and as prescribed by law.
The petition by a national employment and migration civil rights activism group which has fingered embattled Nyamira governor John Nyagarama and his wife Naomi Nyagarama as culprits could be a major gamechanger nationally if it succeeds as several other employment and procurement syndicates have been reported but unattended to in some other counties across the country.
According to documents filed in court, staff employed by the county "were never interviewed and were single-handedly sourced, employed and rewarded corruptly for greasing the hands and scratching the backs of the 3rd respondent (governor Nyagarama) and 9th respondent (wife Naomi) who have become the de facto lady general in the corruption and unethical practical spheres of the Nyamira county public service board. The reason being advanced is that there is a breakdown in the entire public service delivery and in the employment and recruitment of Kenyans in Nyamira county".
The court has been told that instead of the governor ensuring the right procedures are used in the hiring of staff, him and his wife, through briberies and corruption solicited illegal funds from unsuspecting Kenyans ranging between Sh200,000 and above disguised as donations to Naomi's many alleged dubious foundations that operate huge budgets such as Nyamira County First Lady Foundation (Sh10 million), Nyamira County Girl Child Foundation (Sh100 million), and Girl Child Mentorship Programme (Sh45 million)
This is happening even as fresh questions have erupted about budgetary fraud in the same county following increasing revelations of massive corruption that involve the governor and his officials.
Only recently, the county's sharply divided county assembly passed a staggering Sh5.5 billion budget just coinciding with a High Court decision to stop Nyagarama and his county officials from prematurely terminating a case by a major civil society organisation which has sued to challenge glaring cases of malpractices in governance and hiring county employees.
The decision by the heavily compromised and inconsistent Nyamira County Assembly to allocate an exorbitant Sh657,768,495 to the county executive office while more deserving areas like health, infrastructure, education and agriculture were allocated less money has sparked off an uproar and widespread disapproval with critics warning that much of the huge allocation could be secretly meant to be diverted into the governor's clandestine political operations like funding partisan activists and militia to terrorise, blackmail and or intimidate his marked political opponents.
A good number of leaders who talked on a point of anonymity for fear of being victimised cited the recent use of hired and drunk goons to storm and disrupt a peaceful press conference at Guardian Hotel are obvious signs that the governor and his cronies were on a mission to rule using dictatorship, yet it is widely known that dictators plunder public resources to enrich themselves and use part of it to sponsor political huggers to retain them in power illegally.
The press conference by area MP James Gesami, Timothy Bosire, Charles Geni and Alice Chae proceeded after anti-riot police dispersed the rowdy youths who were evidently inebriated on cheap alcohol and other substances and who were shouting in praise of the county government and the governor. The MPs castigated the county government for incompetence, corruption, political repression, corruption, nepotism and stalling development in the county.
In the Employment and Labour Relations (Industrial) Court sitting in Kericho, Justice DK Njagi Marete threw out a petition filed by the governor and the county government on April 7 that sought to stop a case by the Kenya Council of Employment and Migration Agencies that wants the governor and his top officials punished for illegally allowing use of bribes, corruption, political intimidations and clannism to hire county employees without short listing or carrying out interviews as required by law.
The unconstitutionally filled posts and which have raised a storm in the county include that of county secretary and head of county public service, senior assistant director Liaison, diaspora officer, three assistant directors of administration, county director and administration, enforcement officers and support staff, 12 Senior support staff, five cleaning supervisors, 12 support staff and 65 enforcement officers. They were first advertised on May 5 2014.
Governor Nyagarama and his officials suffered a major blow after the court found their grounds for challenging the petition to be unfounded in law and incompetent. They were ordered to pay the costs of the petition. It is feared, as usual, the governor will pay using siphoned public funds yet Nyamira taxpayers were not party to the litigation, neither were they consulted before the governor went to court to fight to protect himself from his own mistakes and shortcomings.
In the main case which could now proceed to full hearing, the officials the governor hired are accused that they "knowingly, willfully, with proxy, or by emissary, ethnic or clan whipping, canvassed directly or indirectly by either way of briberies, corruption, political intimidations, illegally, unconstitutionally or by pressure groups or other associations or in any other way to achieve the illegal positions without short listing, (carrying out) interviews and subsequent appointments, offending Article 10, 27, 35, 41, 73, 74 and 232 of the constitution of Kenya, yet they had been advertised calling for public applications which was never honoured"
The governor and his officials are accused of knowingly cheating and failing to disclose that even when they advertised for the jobs, the county service board of Nyamira was on suspension due to public pressure; hence any interviews held without a proper service board in office was an illegality.
The court has further been told that Erick Aori Onchana who is secretary to the county service board that he got the job fraudulently as he was not interviewed, shortlisted nor appointed in accordance with the law.