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An ancient piece of text is reviving an equally ancient debate: Was Jesus Christ married?
Of course, most Christians believe that he wasn't. But today, Harvard Professor of Divinity Karen King presented a scrap of papyrus that dates back to the fourth century. She told a gathering of scholars in Rome that written in Coptic was this surprising sentence: "Jesus said to them, 'My wife...' "
"Christian tradition has long held that Jesus was not married, even though no reliable historical evidence exists to support that claim," King said in a press release. "This new gospel doesn't prove that Jesus was married, but it tells us that the whole question only came up as part of vociferous debates about sexuality and marriage. From the very beginning, Christians disagreed about whether it was better not to marry, but it was over a century after Jesus' death before they began appealing to Jesus' marital status to support their positions."
King adds that this new gospel also tells us that some early Christians believed that Jesus was indeed married.
The New York Times reports that the provenance of the fragment is not known because the owner asked to remain anonymous. Still, the Times reports, this ancient debate is relevant today:
"Even with many questions unsettled, the discovery could reignite the debate over whether Jesus was married, whether Mary Magdalene was his wife and whether he had a female disciple. These debates date to the early centuries of Christianity, scholars say. But they are relevant today, when global Christianity is roiling over the place of women in ministry and the boundaries of marriage."The discussion is particularly animated in the Roman Catholic Church, where despite calls for change, the Vatican has reiterated the teaching that the priesthood cannot be opened to women and married men because of the model set by Jesus."
The Washington Post reports that in her announcement in Rome, King said that the Vatican had not yet responded to her findings. Harvard quotes two independent experts who believe the 3-inch fragment is authentic, both after examining the papyrus and the writing and after examining the language and grammar.
King and AnneMarie Luijendijk, an associate professor of religion at Princeton University, will present their hypothesis in the January 2013 issue of Harvard Theological Review journal.
Harvard has posted images of both sides of the fragment along with a line-by-line transcription and translation.
King points out that ultimate confirmation will come from further testing, especially of the chemical composition of the ink.
Update at 10:15 a.m. ET, Sept. 19: On Morning Edition today, NPR's Barbara Bradley Hagerty reported that King says that while the scrap of papyrus is not evidence that Jesus was married, it is "quite clear evidence, in fact, that some Christians, probably in the second half of the second century ... thought that Jesus had a wife."
Copyright 2016 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.


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Czech industry
Economy is Dominated by Industry
The Czech economy did unexpectedly well in 2015 and the trend remains positive also in 2016. Although there is no chance of surpassing last year's record 4.6 % growth, overall economic performance is still very good due to growing domestic and foreign demand. The manufacturing industry, the country's largest employer, continues to be the main motor force of GDP growth. In addition, the industry continues to participate signifi cantly in the creation of new jobs, leading to an accelerated growth of real wages, without there being any signs of overheating in the form of growing infl ation. The position of the Czech economy in relation to other countries is signifi cantly improving, while internal imbalances are receding. The state debts are being reduced and there is a good chance that this year again public budgets will be nearly balanced. The exchange rate regime, which does not allow for any strengthening of the crown beyond the 27 CZK/EUR limit, remains in force and both the offi cial and market interest rates remain at a record low level.
Full article you can find: https://issuu.com/ppagency/docs/db_aj_2017_web/21

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Freefire Project - Lisiting of free security tools and resources. The Freefire Project trties to help developers and administrators in building free firewall solutions. Security Tools - Can't find the programs you need? Most of them will be here, including COPS, Courtney, Crack, Dig, Passwd+, PGP, PingLogger, Sendmail (including all the latest patches), the shadow password package, Socks, SSH, TCP wrapper, the TIS Firewall Toolkit, WU-ftpd and Xinetd.
Copyright 1994-2018 Unix Guru Universe


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February 19, 2014 // Local
Guest editorial: A catechetical response to same-sex marriage
By John Cavadini
Why does the Catholic Church oppose same-sex marriage? This question is a burning one for many Catholics.
The recent outpouring of local support for Mark Zmuda, former vice principal at a Catholic high school in Seattle, is an example of how the emotions involved in addressing this question cross our own hearts.
Zmuda resigned from Eastside Catholic High School in December after failing to honor his contract — which states he must follow the Church's teachings — by marrying his same-sex partner in July. Since Zmuda's departure, the school's students have staged a walkout, spoken out on social media and collected signatures for a petition to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
As is evident by these actions, the Church's position seems especially inexplicable to young people. Anyone reading this may him or herself be same-sex attracted, and certainly all of us know and love people who are. Why, then, should there be any difficulty for the Church with same-sex civil marriage? Isn't this a simple matter of civil rights?
Marriage's redefinition
Indeed, this is the way it appears to many. In fact, the Church's position is often misunderstood or caricatured because the question is usually put this way: "Why does the Church oppose the extension of the right to marry to same-sex couples?" But to think of the Church's opposition to same-sex marriage as a refusal to extend the right to marry to same-sex couples, and then to try to defend that refusal, is to guarantee that the Church's position will be greeted with hostility and contempt, even, perhaps, in our own hearts.
The Church would put the question differently: "Why does the Church oppose the redefinition of marriage, such that it is no longer the same social institution?" The Church opposes giving up a conception of marriage in which the complementarity of man and woman is the defining feature and replacing it with a conception of marriage where the complementarity of man and woman is, instead, completely accidental to it.
Honesty on both sides of the debate would recognize that the Church's position — that we are dealing with a change in the definition of marriage and not just an extension of it — is a plausible account of the situation. Opposing this change is not a priori bigotry or contempt, and it deserves a hearing as such, both in our own hearts and in society at large.
Procreation not
Marriage, in all ages and under all forms, has been defined by the complementarity of male and female, and it was ordered, as that complementarity is ordered, toward procreation.
When marriage is redefined so that it can include a type of couple that, by its very type, and not by the accidents of circumstance or ill fortune, is incapable of procreative union, then we have endorsed a public, social declaration that procreation is completely accidental to marriage and not in any way intrinsic to its meaning. It means we are, as a society, declaring that procreation is completely accidental to marriage and irrelevant to its identity.
Formation of society
But this also means we are creating a society in which the natural unit of human procreation, the male/female couple, no longer has a social institution that is peculiarly its own. We are making the decision that this natural unit of procreation will have no social footprint, no social recognition, no social prestige, no social standing, no institutional trace.
We are forming our imaginations, and those of our young people, in such a way that the natural unit of human procreation, the male/female couple, has no special claim on our hopes and dreams as a society. We have decided that society no longer has an institution to which procreation is anything but accidental. Procreation is no longer a primary end of any social unit, but accidental to all.
Is this a good thing? It is a reasonable and vital question, not easily dismissed by charges of bigotry or contempt. If procreation is accidental to all and every legally defined social unit, then it ends up as a competitor with other ways of reproduction, all of which — all of which — are technological means of production and ultimately subject to a market economy. We are saying that, as a society, we have come to be able to see or value no difference between natural human procreation and artificial production of children.
In some indirect but real way, aren't we saying that a child can be a commodity? Aren't we saying, more directly, that it is completely socially irrelevant whether a child has a mother and a father, or is instead artificially generated in a production line, first with surrogate wombs for rent, and then, when technology catches up with our social cues, with artificial wombs and laboratory produced gametes?
Human production
The Church invites us to see that, as our social imagination continues to be redefined, we may very well begin to see the procreative human couple as a kind of outmoded technology, somewhat disgusting, even a little repulsive, as, for example, Gary Taylor talks about such a couple in his book, "Castration: An Abbreviated History of Western Manhood" (Routledge, $38.95).
Is this the proper direction for a society that values human dignity? A society that has divested itself from natural human procreation by eliminating any social institution that is intrinsically connected to the natural procreative couple has declared, in effect, that reproduction is essentially a kind of production, and that human beings can be, consequentially, a kind of product.
This is not such a distant prospect in the popular imagination. Take the ideal put forward in a recent book by Aarathi Prasad, "Like a Virgin: How Science is Redesigning the Rules of Sex" (Oneworld, $19.95). In a recent interview about her book, Prasad reflected on how gestating babies outside of the body would get away from the question of mother and father, and on how an artificial womb can be the same or even better than gestation in a mother's womb. After all, we are just substituting one machine for another: "I mean, we are machines, after all … the body is a machine." But is it?
To what end?
The Church poses this burning question back to us, asking us to think: "Is this really where we want to go as a society? Is this really what we want to teach our young people? Are we really ready to institutionally relativize the natural procreative unit of mother and father, so that it becomes just one equal option among many for reproduction? Is that really equality? Is it really fair to children?" It is not bigoted or contemptuous to worry about these implications or these outcomes.
Nor does it mean severing the bonds of love for persons of same-sex attraction. Rather, we are inviting everyone to ask if this very love is really compatible with a way of organizing society that in the end devalues human persons, making it easier for us to treat some as products and commodities.
Is that really OK? Doesn't it end up reducing the value and scope of all human love? Can't we find another solution?
John Cavadini is director of the Institute for Church Life at the University of Notre Dame.
Reprinted with permission from Our Sunday Visitor.
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Adding Particles and Turbulence to HAWKEN
Winner of 10 E3 awards, HAWKEN is a Free-to-Play online FPS developed by Adhesive Games. Built using the Unreal Development Kit (UDK), it features giant robots fighting in ruined futuristic cities.
HAWKEN uses PhysX particles and APEX Turbulence to create a more immersive and realistic experience for the player. We talked to Johnny Costello of the NVIDIA PhysX Art Team to find out how it was done.
Looking at the Turbulence effects, they feature a huge number of particles, how did you achieve that?
Particle count for visual effects is usually something you have to limit in games due to performance reasons. However, Turbulence specializes in rendering tens of thousands of particles, simulating those particles so they will interact with the player and the game environment, and running everything quickly on the GPU. This tech seemed like the perfect thing to help show off HAWKEN.
How do artists create Turbulence content?
Turbulence is integrated directly into UE3, so authoring feels pretty natural. You need to bring together several assets depending on what type of Turbulence effect you're going for. First, you need an emitter that uses APEX particles, then a grid actor that provides the simulation volume, and finally you can add other APEX actors like jets, attractors, and vortices that can be used to influence the grid simulation. Additionally, you can also have certain collision shapes affect the simulation. All of these elements come together to create a compelling visual effect.
For example, in the screenshot below, you can see the grid simulation volume (the large blue cube), a noise actor (smaller blue cube) that adds some interesting motion to the particles on top of the motion from the simulation, a jet actor (red capsule shape) that will push the simulation vectors to the right, and an emitter to provide the particles. All these components are combined to create the final effect.
What else could Turbulence be used for?
In HAWKEN, we focused on using Turbulence for mech sparks and various energy effects. However, you can also use the Turbulence simulation grid to drive other kinds of particles. We've been experimenting with using shadowed sprite smoke particles to create dense smoke effects as well as using mesh particles with Turbulence to produce some pretty wild debris effects. You could also associate Turbulence assets like attractors and jets with weapon interactions to allow the player to directly manipulate the simulation with their weapons. There's really a lot you could do.
What's unique about PhysX mesh particles?
The PhysX particles that we added to HAWKEN were actual 3D meshes that could rotate and be shadowed rather than just 2D billboards. We felt that HAWKEN was such a gritty, visceral game that it would really benefit from more persistent debris in the world. It's fun to have a massive firefight with a bunch of futuristic mechs and watch bits of mech armor, rock chunks, and metal pieces break off during the action. And then, after the fight, the ground is littered with debris and continues to interact with your mech as you stomp your way to the next battle. Interactive particles really help reinforce the enormous size and mass of your mechs in the game world.
How do developers add PhysX particles to their game?
It's pretty easy! There are some great instructions to get you started on the Unreal Developer Network under our PhysX Particle Starter Kit page:
How were these features configured to ensure a great play experience on a wide range of NVIDIA GPUs?
In HAWKEN, just like in most of our GPU PhysX titles, we implemented a system where the user can tune their PhysX effects just like any other video setting to allow for multiple configurations of the game that will run at high frame rates on varying machines. This allows gamers with aging systems to still experience some of the PhysX effects, and then gamers on more updated machines can crank this setting to the max and get all the PhysX goodness. We want the PhysX content to produce a positive play experience for gamers with machines at both ends of the spectrum. Specifically, in HAWKEN, for the 'PhysX On' setting, players will see interactive PhysX particle effects, and for the 'PhysX High' setting, gamers will get both the PhysX particles as well as all the Turbulence effects.
How do developers get a hold of APEX Turbulence?
We provide an APEX Turbulence Patch for UE3 and customers can get access to that by emailing us at firstname.lastname@example.com. The patch does require access to UE3 source and won't work with UDK.
See also: http://developer.nvidia.com/physxapex-download-page
For non-UE3 users we provide a standalone Particle Editing Tool for APEX 1.3. . The tool is currently in closed beta. Interested customers can request access to the tool by emailing us at email@example.com.


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With the holidays quickly approaching my days have been busy and I have been looking for quick, easy and light meals. When I think about quick and easy meals one of the first things that always comes to mind are sandwiches and recently I have been enjoying playing around with grilled cheese sandwiches stuffed with more than just the cheese. I have not have a mushroom fix in a while and I had been craving them! The two ideas collided to form something magical in my mind. I decided to cook the mushrooms in my favorite way, to saute them along with some onions, garlic and thyme until they are nice and golden brown and caramelized. From there of course came adding the to a sandwich with some cheese for which I went with a mild cheese, mozzarella, so as to not steal the show from the mushrooms. I also happened to have some leftover prosciutto on hand and you can never go wrong by adding salty cured ham products to a grilled cheese sandwich. The mushroom and prosciutto grilled cheese sandwich, or the mushroom melt, turned out really well! The crispy, buttery, lightly toasted bread wrapping the ooey, gooey, melted cheese and caramelized mushrooms was amazing! These mushroom melt sandwiches certainly satisfied my mushroom cravings.
Mushroom and Prosciutto Grilled Cheese Sandwich
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 1/2 small onion (sliced)
- 4 ounces mushrooms (cleaned and sliced)
- 1 clove garlic (chopped)
- 1/2 teaspoon thyme (chopped)
- 2 tablespoons broth (or white wine)
- 1 tablespoon parsley (chopped, optional)
- 2 slices bread
- 3 slices prosciutto (optional)
- 2 slices mozzarella cheese
- 1 tablespoon butter (room temperature)
- Heat the oil in a pan.
- Add the onion and mushrooms and saute until caramelized, about 20-30 minutes.
- Add the garlic and thyme and saute until fragrant, about a minute.
- Add the broth, deglaze the pan and saute until the liquid has been absorbed.
- Remove from heat and mix in the parsley.
- Assemble sandwich and grill until golden brown on both sides.


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After months of false "Blogs who Cried Breakup" rumors surrounding Miley "Just Being Miley" Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth, they finally huffed, and puffed, and blew the house down. Or something. IDK, wolves. BUT ANYWAY, the two have broken up on the reals, according to Page Six's multiple sources.
"Miley and Liam are done; it's over. She likes to party really hard and can be pretty wild. It became a problem for him."
Another source added, "They have broken up before, and are broken up again now. There was drama because she suspected he had a wandering eye. And she recently tweeted a denial that he cheated."
Last week Cyrus took to Twitter to refute myriad tales of Hemsworth making out with Oscars ice sculpture January Jones at a pre-Oscars party as well as creeping on Emma Watson ("He seemed to find a reason to touch her somewhere, shoulder, hand, knee, as often as possible").
However, the word on the street right now is that Hemsworth is chilling at home in Australia with brother Chris while Cyrus is traipsing around L.A. sans her 3.5-carat engagement ring. Soooo derp derp derp. [Page Six, image via Twitter]
We may as well all just commit hara-kiri now, because Olivia Wilde cannot BELIEVE that Jason Sudeikis could be interested in such a schlubby, average-looking woman as little old Olivia Wilde: "I thought, 'He won't be interested in me; I'm not a contender. He was so cool, so funny. I thought, 'I'm not beautiful enough or his type." Yeah, not buying this. [NYDN]
For such a promotional whiz-kid, you'd think Justin Timberlake would be able to shoehorn the title of his one-hour record release TV special to be a little less unwieldy: "Target Presents the iHeartRadio Album Release Party With Justin Timberlake." Nevertheless, the release party of The 20/20 Experience will indeed be aired as a one-hour CW special featuring interviews and performances by Timberlake, including the world premiere of second single "Mirrors." [MTV]
Harry Styles' dad Des has been taking the warmed-up Wand Erection tofu nugget aside to warn him of the dangers of douchedom, says a source:
"Des is worried that Harry is emerging as a lad who treats girls badly, dumps them and moves on without much remorse. He told Harry he's part of a clean-cut teenage band and although girls love them, he needs to treat them right. He told Harry to ride the wave and live the dream, but he's concerned his son is getting a bad reputation, which is unjustified as he's a kind-hearted soul."
Recently, Daddy Styles confirmed: "I told him, just because you're a good-looking boy and the girls like you, don't use them. But teenage lads take stuff on board and throw out what they don't want to listen to." [Entertainmentwise]
So this is amazing:
Heads quickly turned in the direction of Katie Holmes during the Sheryl Sandberg "Lean In" event at the Time Warner Center when Jane Rosenthal referred to a friend raising "the future assholes of tomorrow."
Don't give me that look. We ALL know there's a one in a million shot that Suri doesn't end up being Veruca Salt. [Page Six]
Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore will reunite for a rom-com about "a couple who, after [their] disastrous blind date, are stuck together in a family resort with their children from previous marriages." Reprise! [Variety]
- Kelsey Grammer, apparently the Don Quixote of the stock market, lost millions of dollars on investing in windmills. [TMZ]
- Gwyneth Paltrow had a really bad migraine/panic attack combo that she solved by basically ceasing to eat anything except seaweed-wrapped air. Science? [Express]
- Move to L.A., Adele! Move to L.A.! [Female First]
- Gwen Stefani stole Justin Bieber's drop-crotch pants. [Daily Mail]
- Speaking of El Beebo, ugly person Olivia Wilde was attacked by his fans after she Tweeted that "put your fucking shirt on" joke. [Toronto Sun]
- Miranda Kerr was in a minor car accident and is now wearing a neck brace. [E!]
- Ne-Yo and Celine Dion collaborate. (Ideally, on a mismatched cop show. "YOU'RE OUT OF LINE, DION.") [Idolator]
- Rock of Ages director Adam Shankman says that Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise are both "very happy" in the wake of the divorce. [Us Weekly]
- Jude Law is dating a 25-year-old model named Alicia Roundtree, which is strange because I TOTALLY thought he would be into 56-year-old insurance agents with goiters, or Olivia Wilde. [Daily Mail]
- Sabrina the Teenage Witch has no patience for her husband when he's sick and whining. [People]
- Today in perfection, George Clooney, Matt Damon, Bill Murray and John Goodman went out to eat in Berlin. See, they're MY version of One Direction. [HuffPo]
- 14-year-old Bindi Irwin is grown-up and pretty. [Us Weekly]
- Judge Judy is facing a rather Judge Judyish lawsuit over flatware. [News.com.eu]
- Jonathan Taylor-Thomas reunited with Tim Allen on his show Last Man Standing. [Us Weekly]
- Oww, Mira Sorvino wasn't recognized by bouncers at the Darby. Haven't they ever seen Mighty Aphrodite? [Page Six]
- Unsurprisingly, it's not fun to be James Franco's neighbors in L.A. [NYDN]
- Anna Wintour hates the shit out of Kim Kardashian. [Radar Online]
- Reportedly Demi Moore tried to have kids with Ashton Kutcher repeatedly, and believes it would have saved their marriage. [Radar Online]
- Amanda Bynes is "blissfully unaware" and "totally out of it lately," says a Captain Obvious on the good ship S.S. Gossip Source. [Radar Online]
- Tina Fey will be on Inside the Actors Studio. [Bravo TV]


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text:
From Library Success: A Best Practices Wiki
Examples of Wiki Uses
Community Info & Guides
- GRPLpedia Grand Rapids Public Library, Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA
- Loudonpedia Loundon County Public Library (PBwiki)
- The Stevens County Wiki Project A community wiki site for rural Stevens County in northeastern Washington, hosted by the Stevens County Rural Library District
Conference Sites
- ALA New Orleans 2006 Wiki
- OSU Libraries Wiki Oregon State University, Portland, Oregon, USA. Uses Confluence.
- Staff Wiki University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, USA. (mediawiki)
- UL Staff Wiki University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, Minnesota, USA. (pmwiki)
- Albany County Public Library Staff Wiki (pbwiki)
- Memphis Public Library Wiki Memphis, Tennessee, USA. (mediawiki)
Library and Information Science Topics
- Environmental Scan Environmental scan analyzing trends and issues affecting the library profession in general, and federal libraries in particular. (PBwiki) by Cindy Boeke and others
- Library Instruction Wiki
- Library Outreach Wiki
- Library Technology Training Wiki This wiki contains documents, resources and instructions how to make wikis using PBWiki and how to create online surveys using SurveyMonkey. (PBwiki) by Cindy Boeke
- LIS Publications Wiki A collection of publication profiles for librarians who write.
- LISWiki: Library and Information Science Wiki
- Michigan Libraries Wiki
- San Diego Librarians Wiki
- Archivopedia, the archives wiki encyclopedia
Library Web Sites
- USC Aiken Gregg-Graniteville Library web site (PmWiki)
Project Management
- Durham County Library Strategic Plan Durham County, North Carolina, USA. Created for the strategic planning process and implementation of the Durham County Library in Durham, North Carolina. (pbwiki)
- The MIT Engineering and Science Libraries B-Team (Massachusetts Institute of Techology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA. (seedwiki)
Staff Manuals & Service Point Manuals
- Antioch University New England Library Staff Training and Support Wiki Keene, New Hampshire, USA (seedwiki)
- Reference Wiki, Baruch College Password-protected. Publicly viewable [ screenshots](pbwiki)
- Reference Wiki, Butler University Libraries (seedwiki)
- North Metro Technical College Wiki Acworth, Georgia, USA (pbwiki)
- UL Cataloguers Desktop Glucksman Library, University of Limerick, Ireland(Wikia)
Subject Guides, Course Guides, & Resource Guides
- Bentley Library Research Help Bentley College, Waltham, Massachusetts, USA (mediawiki)
- Subject-based Guides Champlain College, Burlington, Vermont, USA (pbwiki)
- GRPLedia Grand Rapids Public Library, Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA (mediawiki)
- MULibraryPedia Maryville University, St. Louis, Missouri, USA. (mediawiki)
- Library Research Guides Norwich University, Northfield, Vermont, USA (mediawiki)
- Biz Wiki Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, USA (mediawiki)
- Lit Wiki Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, USA (mediawiki)
- Comm Wiki Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, USA (mediawiki)
- SJCPL Subject Guides St. Joseph Public Library, South Bend, Indiana, USA (mediawiki)
- Electronic Resources Wiki University of Huddersfield, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, UK (mediawiki)
- Healey Library Course Resource Hub University of Massachusetts-Boston, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. (wikispaces)
- Boatipedia University of Richmond, Richmond, VA (mediawiki)
- Researching Forced Migration: A Guide to Reference and Information Sources Massachusetts, USA (pbwiki)
- University of Calgary
- Fontys Mediatheek Wiki (Dutch)
- Mac Library Experience McMaster University, Ontario, Canada
Related Articles
- Social Machines by Wade Roush in Technology Review August 2005
- Wide Open Spaces: Wikis, Ready or Not by Brian Lamb. Featured in Educause Review, Sept/Oct 2004.
- Quickiwiki, Swiki, Twiki, Zwiki and the Plone Wars Wiki as a PIM and Collaborative Content Tool by David Mattison. Featured in Searcher in April, 2003.
- Making the Case for a Wiki by Emma Tonkin. Featured in Ariadne in January, 2005.
- Teaching and Learning Online with Wikis by Naomi Augar, Ruth Raitman and Wanlei Zhou.
- ALA Wiki: What I learned and what I'm doing with it by Meredith Farkas, July 2005
- Meredith's OPAL Talk on Wikis
- Step by step guide to making your first wiki using PBwiki (PDF version) by Cindy Boeke. PPT version: Step by step guide to making your first wiki using PBwiki (Click on the link).
- Sandbox Wikibibliography
- Identifying and Overcoming Barriers to the Successful Adoption and Use of Wikis in Collaborative Knowledge Management by John P. Walker, Jr. Honor's thesis from 2006.
- Wikis in the workplace: How wikis can help manage knowledge in library reference services by Angela Kille. Published in LIBRES 16, no. 1.
- Collaborating with wikis by Rachel Bridgewater and Anne-Marie Deitering. Presented at Internet Librarian International 2005, October 10, 2005, London, UK.
- The Long Road Toward Subject Guide 2.0 by Meredith Farkas, 24 October 2007.
- Using a Wiki as a Research Guide: A Year's Experience by Chad Boeninger, 13 July 2006


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Pubdate: 2022-08-24 17:18Pageviews: 242
Global and Chinese Stationery Accessories Industry, 2018 Market Research Report is a professional and in-depth study on the current state of the global Stationery Accessories Market with a focus on the major countries/markets in the world like North America, EU, APAC and ROW.
The report provides key statistics on the market status of the Stationery Accessories manufacturers and is a valuable source of guidance and direction for companies and individuals interested in the industry.
Firstly, the report provides a basic overview of the industry including its definition, applications and manufacturing technology. Then, the report explores the international and Chinese major industry players in detail. In this part, the report presents the company profile, product specifications, capacity, production value, and 2012-2018 market shares for each company.
Through statistical analysis, the report depicts the global and Chinese total market of Stationery Accessories industry including capacity, production, production value, cost/profit, supply/demand and Chinese import/export. The total market is further divided by company, by country, and by application/type for the competitive landscape analysis.
The report then estimates 2018-2023 market development trends of Stationery Accessories industry. Analysis of upstream raw materials, downstream demand, and current market dynamics is also carried out. In the end, the report makes some important proposals for a new project of Stationery Accessories Industry before evaluating its feasibility.
Overall, the report provides an in-depth insight of 2012-2023 global and Chinese Stationery Accessories Market covering all important parameters.
Avail Sample copy of the 142 pages report @ https://www.marketinsightsreports.com/reports/0323363732/global-and-chinese-stationery-accessories-industry-2018-market-research-report/inquiry
The study was conducted using an objective combination of primary and secondary information including inputs from key participants in the industry. The report contains a comprehensive market and vendor landscape in addition to a SWOT analysis of the key vendors.
The report is a compilation of first-hand information, qualitative and quantitative assessment by industry analysts, inputs from industry experts and industry participants across the value chain. The report provides in-depth analysis of parent market trends, macro-economic indicators and governing factors along with market attractiveness as per segments. The report also maps the qualitative impact of various market factors on market segments and geographies.
There are 15 Chapters to analyze in detail the global Stationery Accessories market.
Thus, the research study provides a comprehensive view of the global Stationery Accessories market, offering market dimensions and evaluations for the period from 2018 to 2023, keeping in mind the aforementioned factors.
Geographically, this report is segmented into several key Regions, with Sales, Sales, revenue, Market Share (%) and Growth Rate (%) of Ophthalmic Ultrasound System in these regions, from 2013 to 2023 (forecast), covering United States, North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa.
To avail DISCOUNT on this report inquire @ https://www.marketinsightsreports.com/reports/0323363732/global-and-chinese-stationery-accessories-industry-2018-market-research-report/discount
Chapter One: Introduction of Stationery Accessories Industry
1.1 Brief Introduction of Stationery Accessories
1.2 Development of Stationery Accessories Industry
1.3 Status of Stationery Accessories Industry
Chapter Two: Manufacturing Technology of Stationery Accessories
2.1 Development of Stationery Accessories Manufacturing Technology
2.2 Analysis of Stationery Accessories Manufacturing Technology
2.3 Trends of Stationery Accessories Manufacturing Technology
Chapter Three: Analysis of Global Key Manufacturers For all Companies.
3.1 Company A
3.1.1 Company Profile
3.1.2 Product Information
3.1.3 2012-2018 Production Information
3.1.4 Contact Information
Chapter Four: 2012-2018 Global and Chinese Market of Stationery Accessories
4.1 2012-2018 Global Capacity, Production and Production Value of Stationery Accessories Industry
4.2 2012-2018 Global Cost and Profit of Stationery Accessories Industry
4.3 Market Comparison of Global and Chinese Stationery Accessories Industry
4.4 2012-2018 Global and Chinese Supply and Consumption of Stationery Accessories
4.5 2012-2018 Chinese Import and Export of Stationery Accessories
Chapter Five: Market Status of Stationery Accessories Industry
5.1 Market Competition of Stationery Accessories Industry by Company
5.2 Market Competition of Stationery Accessories Industry by Country (USA, EU, Japan, Chinese etc.)
5.3 Market Analysis of Stationery Accessories Consumption by Application/Type
Chapter Six: 2018-2023 Market Forecast of Global and Chinese Stationery Accessories Industry
6.1 2018-2023 Global and Chinese Capacity, Production, and Production Value of Stationery Accessories
6.2 2018-2023 Stationery Accessories Industry Cost and Profit Estimation
6.3 2018-2023 Global and Chinese Market Share of Stationery Accessories
6.4 2018-2023 Global and Chinese Supply and Consumption of Stationery Accessories
6.5 2018-2023 Chinese Import and Export of Stationery Accessories
Chapter Seven: Analysis of Stationery Accessories Industry Chain
7.1 Industry Chain Structure
7.2 Upstream Raw Materials
7.3 Downstream Industry
Chapter Eight: Global and Chinese Economic Impact on Stationery Accessories Industry
8.1 Global and Chinese Macroeconomic Environment Analysis
8.1.1 Global Macroeconomic Analysis
8.1.2 Chinese Macroeconomic Analysis
8.2 Global and Chinese Macroeconomic Environment Development Trend
8.2.1 Global Macroeconomic Outlook
8.2.2 Chinese Macroeconomic Outlook
8.3 Effects to Stationery Accessories Industry
Chapter Nine: Market Dynamics of Stationery Accessories Industry
9.1 Stationery Accessories Industry News
9.2 Stationery Accessories Industry Development Challenges
9.3 Stationery Accessories Industry Development Opportunities
Chapter Ten: Proposals for New Project
10.1 Market Entry Strategies
10.2 Countermeasures of Economic Impact
10.3 Marketing Channels
10.4 Feasibility Studies of New Project Investment
The Stationery Accessories Market research report is a valuable source of guidance and direction. It is helpful for established businesses, new entrants in the market as well as individuals interested in the market. The Stationery Accessories market report provides important statistics on the existing state of the said market.
The report provides a basic overview of the Stationery Accessories industry including definitions, classifications, applications and industry chain structure. And development policies and plans are discussed as well as manufacturing processes and cost structures.
Then, the report focuses on global major leading industry players with information such as company profiles, product picture and specifications, sales, market share and contact information. What's more, the Stationery Accessories industry development trends and marketing channels are analysed.
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Republican Ron Paul is not shuttering his presidential campaign, his chief strategist says in a memo sent this morning to supporters and the news media.
"Let me be very clear," said Jesse Benton, "Dr. Paul is NOT dropping out or suspending his campaign."
"As Dr. Paul has previously stated, he is in this race all the way to the Republican National Convention in Tampa this August," Benton said. The campaign will, though, be "maximizing our resources" by not investing in remaining primary states, he said.
Benton's statement comes after reports over the past 24 hours characterized the Texas congressman's move to curtail his activities in the remaining primary states as an end to his campaign. (As Eyder reported Monday, though, the Paul campaign's "carefully worded statement about its plans spelled out how it would continue hunting for delegates.)
"We will," Benton said today in his statement, "continue to run strong programs at district and state [party] conventions to win more delegates and alternate delegates to the national convention.
The "new phase" of the campaign, he said, will begin Friday at the Minnesota state GOP convention, where Paul has been invited to speak. He is also scheduled to appear at the Texas party convention in early June. The handful of remaining GOP primaries are scheduled to wrap up June 5, while state and district party conventions are scheduled to end with Nebraska's gathering on July 14.
Benton, in his memo, urged supporters to remain active and continue to donate to the campaign in an effort to ensure that Paul goes to Tampa with a "solid group of delegates."
"We are in an excellent position to make sure the Republican Party adds solid liberty issues to the GOP platform," he said, while acknowledging that former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney is within striking distance of wrapping up the committed delegates he needs to win the nomination.
"Our delegates," Benton says, "can still make a major impact at the national convention and beyond." Including, he said, using their influence "to shape the process for future liberty candidates."
Future liberty candidates include Paul's son, Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, who could be a successor to his father on the presidential trail four years from now.
Copyright 2016 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.


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Most people have taken prescription medications at one time or another. Some people take them on an ongoing basis to treat a chronic condition, while others take them for shorter periods of time to treat medical problems that arise. If you are taking 1 or more prescription medication, it is important that you take steps to make sure you are taking them safely and properly.
Learning About Your Medications
When you receive a prescription for a medication, ask your doctor or pharmacist the following questions:
- Why am I taking the medication?
- How long will it take to start working?
- How long will I have to take it?
- Can I substitute a generic form?
- How should I store the medication?
- What time of day should I take it?
- Should I take the medication with food?
- Should I avoid any foods, beverages, other medications, herbs, or dietary supplements while I am taking the medication?
- Are there certain activities I should avoid while taking the medication, such as driving?
- What side effects are associated with the medication? Should I call you if I experience them?
- What should I do if I forget to take a dose?
Be sure to discuss any concerns you have about taking the medication with your doctor. If you are diagnosed with a new medical condition or are pregnant or breastfeeding, for example, ask your doctor if you can continue taking your medication. Do not stop taking your medication unless the doctor has told you to.
Your doctor or pharmacist should be able to answer most of your questions and provide you with written information about your medication. The drug label and supplemental written information will detail what the drug is used for, how it should be taken, and how to reduce drug interactions and unwanted side effects. If you still have trouble with a label or keeping a schedule, have a family member or friend help you sort it out.
Storing Your Medications Safely
Different medications should be stored in different ways. Ask your doctor or pharmacist how you should store the medication and whether it should be refrigerated. Generally, medications should be stored in their original containers and never in the same container as another type of medication. It is best to store mediations in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. Warm, humid environments, such as bathrooms, are not ideal.
Regularly check the expiration dates of the medications in your cabinet and promptly dispose of any expired medications. If there is no expiration date listed, you should consider the medication expired 6 months after it was purchased.
Avoiding Drug Interactions
You are at highest risk for drug interactions if you are taking more than 1 medication, but you can experience an interaction even if you are taking just 1. Drug interactions can make medications more or less effective, cause unwanted side effects, or harm your health.
There are 4 types of drug interactions:
- Drug-drug interactions—2 or more drugs react with each other; these may include prescription or over-the-counter medications
- Drug-food/beverage interactions—a drug reacts with a food or beverage
- Drug-herb interaction—a drug reacts with an herb or other dietary supplement
- Drug-condition interactions—a medical condition causes a drug to be dangerous
One of the best ways to avoid drug interactions is to keep a current list of all of the over-the-counter medications, prescription medications, herbs, dietary supplements, vitamins, and minerals you are taking, and share the list with your doctor and pharmacist. Try to use one pharmacy, so the pharmacist has a record of all your prescriptions, and if you see more than one doctor, keep all of your doctors up-to-date on the medications you are taking.
Know the best times to take your medications. There are several ways you can set up reminders, from a calendar to a smartphone app.
Traveling With Medications
If you are taking a prescription medication and are traveling away from home, do the following:
- Find out if your medication can cause increased sensitivity to sunlight. If it can, avoid excessive sun exposure and use sunscreen with the sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or higher.
- Pack your medications in your carry-on luggage during air, train, or bus travel. This way you will have access to them during travel, as well as at your destination, even if your luggage is lost or stolen.
- If you take medications that require a syringe, take copies of your prescriptions with you to ensure that you can pass through airport security.
- If you are traveling out of your time zone, ask your pharmacist for tips on how to adjust your medication routine.
- Keep your medications stored in cool, dry climates. Avoid storing them in checked baggage or glove compartments.
- Take extra medication with you on your trip in case you experience an unexpected delay. Do not count on being able to simply fill the prescription at your destination, particularly if you're traveling overseas.
Special Considerations for Children
Children are at increased risk of accidental poisonings because of an overdose or misuse of medications. Taking certain precautions can help parents and caregivers avoid accidental poisonings in children.
First, avoid taking medications in front of children, since they are prone to imitating the actions of adults. Do not attempt to coerce children into taking medications by calling it candy. Keep all medications in child-resistant containers stored out of site and reach of children, preferably in a locked cabinet.
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality http://www.ahrq.gov
US Food and Drug Information http://www.fda.gov
Health Canada http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca
Healthy Alberta http://www.healthyalberta.com
Buying prescription medicine online: a consumer safety guide. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality website. Available at: http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/ResourcesForYou/ucm080588.htm. Updated June 12, 2015. Accessed June 23, 2016.
Drug interactions: what you should know. Food and Drug Administration website. Available at: http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/ResourcesForYou/ucm163354.htm. Updated September 25, 2013. Accessed June 23, 2016.
Taking medicines. National Institute on Aging website. Available at: http://nihseniorhealth.gov/takingmedicines/drugsinthebody/01.html. Accessed June 23, 2016.
Buying & using medicine safely. Food and Drug Administration website. Available at: http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/ResourcesForYou/Consumers/BuyingUsingMedicineSafely/default.htm. Updated August 28, 2013. Accessed June 23, 2016.
Your medicine: Be smart. Be safe. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality website. Available at: http://www.ahrq.gov/consumer/safemeds/yourmeds.htm. Accessed June 23, 2016.


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I have no words. Tomorrow is National Bundt Day! We are finally here! Seriously, around Day 11, I never thought I would make it since there is a boatload of evidence of me quitting things...swim class, Spanish class, scrapbooking, cross-stitch from my youth, diets, exercise plans, photography class...yeah, that's the true Food Librarian. But, thanks to all your encouragement, I'm almost there!
And I've never made a Red Velvet cake. So, I turned to Los Angeles' own BUNDT bakery, Kiss My Bundt's Red Velvet Bundt Cake! The Los Angeles Times Food Section says, "Our selfless quest for the best red velvet cake led to the acquisition of Kiss My Bundt Bakery's recipe, which has become a favorite with many of our staff. "
Everything Kiss My Bundt makes is delicious and owner/chef Chrysta Wilson coming out with a cookbook - I can't wait to buy that!
Yes, I've been making 30 Bundts in the 30 days leading up to National Bundt Day on November 15th. Are you ready? I hope you have a Bundt in the Oven. :)
Yup. That is two tablespoons of red food dye.
It is so cute out of the oven. In addition to the red food coloring, there is one tablespoon of cocoa in the batter.
If you are in Los Angeles... Kiss My Bundt, is celebrating National Bundt Day!! Tomorrow, November 15th, they are offering a free slice of Bundt cake between 1-4 pm. Did you know that Kiss My Bundt makes a bunch of different Bundt flavors each day? Subscribe to their twitter account for a daily update. Support your local bakery!
This Bundt covers the entire cake with the cream cheese frosting. To me, Red Velvet cake is simply a vehicle for the cream cheese frosting. ;)
If you making a Bundt for National Bundt Day, let me know by commenting or emailing me! I'll try to put together a little round up next week.
Shout outs to: Rina of Gotta Little Space made a lovely Pomegranate Juice Bundt! Kirbie of Kirbie's Cravings made the Persimmon Bundt and Apple Cinnamon Bundt, and purchased a bunch of pretty Bundt pans! And Ronnie of Raccoon and Lobster made a beautiful, beautiful Cinnamon Chocolate Bundt. Check out her Williams Sonoma Bundt pan...I'm treating myself to this tomorrow after I finish my last post and Bundt!
Whoo hoo! Thanks again everyone for seeing me through this! I'm thrilled that so many people have brought out their Bundt pans. See you tomorrow!!! - mary the food librarian
Link: Kiss My Bundt Bakery's Red Velvet Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
Recipe adapted by Los Angeles Times Food Blog Daily Dish
1 1/4 cups vegetable oil
1 cup buttermilk
2 eggs, room temperature
2 tablespoons red food coloring
1 teaspoon white vinegar
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 1/2 cups flour
1 3/4 cups sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon fine salt
1 tablespoon high-fat cocoa powder (such as Callebaut)*
1. Heat the oven to 350 degrees.
2. Using an electric mixer, combine the oil, buttermilk, eggs, food coloring, vinegar and vanilla. Beat on medium speed for 1 minute.
3. In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, sugar, baking soda, salt and cocoa powder.
4. Add dry ingredients to the wet 1/2 cup at a time. Do this slowly so that the batter doesn't develop clumps.
5. Pour the batter into pans that have been greased and floured. [I use Pam with Flour spray]. The recipe will make one (10 to 12 cup) bundt cake.**
6. Bake until a cake tester or toothpick inserted into the cake comes out clean and the cake doesn't jiggle when shaken, about 45 minutes.
7. Cool the cake in the pan for at least 15 minutes. Then invert onto a serving plate. If cake resists, cool for an additional 15 minutes. Cool completely before frosting, at least 1 hour for a single large bundt cake.
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
4 ounces unsalted butter, softened
2 cups powdered sugar (measured then sifted)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1. With an electric mixer on medium speed, cream the cream cheese and butter until soft and completely smooth, at least two minutes.
2. Turn the mixer speed to low and slowly add the powdered sugar 1/2 cup at a time, making sure to scrape down any frosting stuck to the sides of the bowl.
3. Add the vanilla extract.
4. Mix on medium speed until the frosting is smooth and fluffy.
*[Los Angeles Times] Test Kitchen note: we used unsweetened dutch-process (processed with alkili) cocoa powder
**Instead of a single large cake, the recipe states it will make about 1 dozen "baby bundt" (1 cup capacity) cakes, 2 (9-inch) round cakes, and 14 to 18 cupcakes.
I Like Big Bundts recap:
Introduction: The Food Librarian confesses: I Like Big Bundts
Recap: Bundts made in the past by the Food Librarian
Day 1: Pumpkin Spice Bundt with Buttermilk Icing
Day 2: Chocolate-Cinnamon Bundt Cake with Mocha Icing
Day 3: Pumpkin-Apple Spiced Bundt
Day 4: Cinnamon Ripple Sweet Potato Bundt
Day 5: Chocolate Zucchini Bundt
Day 6: Cardamom Vanilla Bundt
Day 7: Monkey Bread in a Bundt
Day 8: Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bundt
Day 9: Coconut Bundt
Day 10: Sweet Potato Bundt
Day 11: Mom's Apple Cake Bundt
Day 12: Meyer Lemon Bundt
Day 13: Candy Corn Jello Bundt
Day 14: Spiced Cranberry Bundt
Day 15: Blueberry-Buttermilk Bundt
Day 16: Nutella Bundt
Day 17: Carrot Walnut Bundt
Day 18: Pear Ginger Bundt
Day 19: Persimmon Bundt
Day 20: Banana Chocolate Marble Bundt
Day 21: Martha Stewart Chocolate Bundt
Day 22: Whipped Cream Bundt
Day 23: Peanut Butter and Chocolate Bundt
Day 24: Brown Sugar and Chocolate Chip Pound Bundt with Maple-Espresso Glaze
Day 25: My Big Fat Greek Yogurt Lemon Bundt
Day 26: Orange Cranberry Bundt
Day 27: Peanut Butter and Jelly Swirl Bundt
Day 28: Matcha Mochi Bundts with Sweetened Red Bean Filling


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Access Booking line: 0800 912 6971
Please note Greenside Lane Bistro is located 25 steps up from street level.
Please note the Ambassador Lounge is located 33 steps up from street level.
Venue Access Information
We will always endeavour to meet individual needs. Please contact our Access team on 0844 871 7677 for any further information or to book.
Access to theatre bars:
There is level access from the entrance into Circle Bar located on the right hand side of the main foyer. An 'At Seat Service' is available on request please ask a member of the Front of House team upon arrival.
Level access to the theatre:
Is through the Main Entrance to Circle Level. The Circle Level is our easy access point and we would recommend booking in the Circle for any of our patrons with limited mobility. The Stalls are located down 40 stairs from street level, the Balcony level is located up 25 stairs from street level. Please note that the Edinburgh Playhouse does not have a lift.
Wheelchair user positions & Storage:
We have up to 8 wheelchair spaces per performance located in Row M of the Circle We would recommend the rear Circle if you are able to transfer from your wheelchair although please note that there are one or more steps involved. Our only level seating is with our wheelchair positions. Please contact us if you need further information. We can store wheelchairs in the Circle Bar during the performance if you are transferring.
Typetalk: 18001 0871 297 5477 the national telephone relay service which enables deaf, hard of hearing and speech impaired people to communicate with hearing people over the phone.
You can also come into the Box Office. The Box Office counter is of a height suitable for wheelchair users.
Box Office opening hours: Monday to Saturday - 12pm till 6pm (8pm on show nights)
Infra-red and Induction Loop hearing systems:
A Sennheiser infrared system for the hearing impaired. To obtain a headset please contact any member of the FOH team.
Enhanced Performances: Audio Description, Captioned and Sign Language Interpreted performances:
Sign Language Interpreted Performances – For our patrons who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing we offer British Sign Language Interpreted performances. A sign language Interpreter will be sited at the side of the stage. Please contact the venue's Groups and Access department for information on the Sign Interpreter's position to make your booking.
Captioned performances – For patrons who are hearing impaired we offer Captioned performances. Captioning is a way of converting the spoken word into visible text, that provides people with hearing loss access to live performance. Captions are displayed on two units installed on or near the stage enable people with hearing loss to understand what is said when it is said.
Audio Described performances – For our patrons who are visually impaired we offer Audio Described performances. Audio description is a live verbal commentary, given through headsets, which describes the setting, costumes, characters, facial expressions, body language and action during silent intervals of the piece being performed. An introduction is provided prior to the show.
Touch tours - Touch Tours are often available prior to an Audio Described performance
Enhanced performances are available on most of the longer running shows (2 or more week runs). For information regarding upcoming enhanced performances, please call 0844 871 7677
Assistance Dogs are welcome and can be looked after by the theatre staff during the performance if requested on arrival.
There is a unisex wheelchair accessible toilet inside the Circle Bar. The bar is located on the right hand side of the main foyer and there is level access from the entrance into the Circle Bar.


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This bag finishes at about 13″ long by 10″ wide. In addition to altering the gusset, you can change the length of the bag by trimming some of the fat quarter length before you start sewing. I promise after you've made one, you'll be able to start whipping them out quickly. They're great for holding craft projects, birthday presents, Legos, you name it.
Here are a few other simple Fat Quarter projects. These projects are perfect for beginning sewers and once again, would be good summer sewing projects with kids too.
Thanks so much for having me, U Create girls!


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Information | ||
Derechos | Equipo Nizkor
Private Manning acquitted of aiding enemy in WikiLeaks case
A military judge on Tuesday found U.S. soldier Bradley Manning not guilty of aiding the enemy - the most serious charge among many he faced for handing over documents to WikiLeaks.
But Col. Denise Lind, in her verdict, found Army Private First Class Manning, 25, guilty of 19 of the other 20 criminal counts in the biggest breach of classified information in the nation's history.
The U.S. government was pushing for the maximum penalty for the intelligence analyst's leaking of information that included battlefield reports from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. It viewed the action as a serious breach of national security, while anti-secrecy activists praised it as shining a light on shadowy U.S. operations abroad.
Army prosecutors contended during the court-martial that U.S. security was harmed when the WikiLeaks anti-secrecy website published combat videos of an attack by an American Apache helicopter gunship, diplomatic cables and secret details on prisoners held at Guantanamo Bay that Manning provided to the site while he was a junior intelligence analyst in Iraq in 2009 and 2010.
Manning, who early this year pleaded guilty to lesser charges that carried a 20-year sentence, will still be looking at a long prison term when the trial's sentencing phase gets under way on Wednesday.
"This is a historic verdict," said Elizabeth Goitein, a security specialist at New York University's Brennan Center for Justice.
"Manning is one of very few people ever charged under the Espionage Act prosecutions for leaks to the media ... Despite the lack of any evidence that he intended any harm to the United States, Manning faces decades in prison. That's a very scary precedent," she added.
A crowd of about 30 Manning supporters had gathered outside Fort Meade ahead of the reading of the verdict.
'Chilling Effect'
The guilty verdict on most of the counts could make it difficult for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to persuade future sources of information to share classified details with the website.
"That is going to make it more difficult for people who want to deal with Assange. They are going to be at greater risk and that will put his operation at risk," said Michael Corgan, a professor of international relations at Boston University and former officer in the U.S. Navy.
"It will have a very chilling effect on WikiLeaks," he said ahead of the verdict.
Manning, originally from Crescent, Oklahoma, opted to have his case heard by a judge, rather than a panel of military jurors.
During the court-martial proceedings, military prosecutors called the defendant a "traitor" for publicly posting information that the U.S. government said could jeopardize national security and intelligence operations.
Defense lawyers described Manning as well-intentioned but naive in hoping that his disclosures would provoke a more intense debate in the United States about diplomatic and military actions in Iraq and Afghanistan.
More than three years after Manning's arrest in May 2010, the U.S. intelligence community was reeling again as a result of leaked security documents. The latest revelations came from former intelligence contractor Edward Snowden, who has been holed up in the transit area of a Moscow airport for more than a month, despite U.S. calls for Russian authorities to turn him over.
WikiLeaks founder Assange surfaced again as a major player in the newest scandal, this time offering aid to Snowden in eluding authorities while seeking asylum abroad.
Assange has been living in the Ecuadorean embassy in London for more than a year to avoid extradition to Sweden, where two women have accused him of sexual assault. He fears that if sent there, he could be extradited to the United States, where he would likely face charges related to the classified documents published by his website.
The cases of Manning and Snowden illustrate the difficulties of keeping government secrets at a time the Internet makes it easy to disseminate them quickly and widely. In addition, more people are granted access to classified data.
[Source: By Medina Roshan, Reuters, For Meade, 30Jul13]
This document has been published on 31Jul13 by the Equipo Nizkor and Derechos Human Rights. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. |


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Conference on the Implications of the East European Elections:
Ukraine and Belarus
The Heritage Foundation
Thank you for inviting me to participate in your important and timely session.
Both Ukraine and Belarus face important elections in the coming month. Both are societies burdened by the Soviet communist legacy of the past. Both were "Captive Nations" and both, albeit to varying degrees, are vulnerable to Russia's political and economic influence, especially as all too many among the Russian political elite have not yet reconciled themselves to the loss of empire. Both now border on NATO and the EU. Both face serious challenges to democracy and Euro-Atlantic integration. There are many other similarities. There are also important distinctions.
Belarus is ruled by a dictator who controls the levers of power and increasingly all facets ofBelarusian society. Given the level of control and repression, there are few counterweights to Lukashenka's rule. The parliament, the National Assembly lacks real powers and Members have little power to be independent of Lukashenka's strong-arm tactics. Civil society, including NGOs and independent media, is under a tight lid. Fundamentally flawed elections have left that country lacking a legitimate president and legislature.
Ukraine, for all of the backsliding, scandals, and problems with respect to human rights, democracy and the rule of law, has institutions that act at least somewhat as a check on the powers-that-be, despite the ruling regime's attempts to control and, in some instances, stifle genuine democratic development and civil society. Civil society is tolerated to a greater extent than in Belarus, and independent media, while under severe pressure, is more widespread. There are competing centers of power and many diverse economic, political and social interests in Ukraine.
In the case of Ukraine, despite the progress in many areas since independence, there have been significant problems with respect to implementation of OSCE human dimension commitments, including in the areas of media freedoms, freedom of association and assembly, corruption, the rule of law and elections. The largest faction in the Rada is that of democratic opposition and presidential candidate Viktor Yushchenko's Our Ukraine. The pro-presidential parliamentary majority has disintegrated, with the defection earlier this month of the party led by Rada Speaker Lytvyn. Genuine political competition exists, and, of course, there is competition among the oligarchs.
In Belarus, there is only one oligarch. Although the Kuchma regime might be tempted, thus far, they have not been able to act with the same degree of impunity that Lukashenka exhibits.
International attention is rightly now focused on ensuring free, fair, open and transparent presidential elections on October 31 with a second round likely in late November. These elections are critically important to the future of Ukraine, yet we see on a daily basis an election campaign that calls into question Ukraine's commitment to OSCE principles. Without exaggeration, Ukraine is facing a critical presidential election – a choice not only between Euro-Atlantic integration versus reintegration into the former Soviet Eurasian space, but a choice between further development toward a European-style democracy, such as in Poland or Hungary, versus the increasingly authoritarian system that prevails in Russia today.
Many analysts and organizations, including the Helsinki Commission, have chronicled the numerous election campaign violations taking place inUkraine. We continue to maintain our strong interest and concern. Along with Chairman Henry Hyde, I joined him in introducing H.Con.Res. 415, calling on the Government of Ukraine to ensure a democratic, transparent, and fair election process for the presidential campaign. We make clear the expectation that Ukrainian authorities should – consistent with their own laws and international agreements – ensure an election process that enables all of the candidates to compete on a level playing field. We urge the Ukrainian Government to guarantee freedom of association and assembly, ensure full transparency of the election process, free access for Ukrainian and international election observers, and unimpeded access by all candidates to the media on a non-discriminatory basis.
Unfortunately, the pre-election environment in Ukraine gives great cause for concern. Ukrainian voters clearly are not receiving balanced and objective information about all the candidates in the race, independent media providing Ukrainians with objective information about the campaign – including channel 5 – is being shut down in the regions, and journalists who don't follow the infamous secret instructions from the presidential administration, or temnyky, are harassed and even fired. Ukraine's state-owned television channels are blatantly anti-Yushchenko.
Given the stakes in these elections, we should not be surprised that the ruling regime has launched an all-out campaign against the free media and against the opposition, the most recent of numerous examples being the highly suspicious poisoning of Victor Yushchenko. To its credit, the Rada last week overwhelmingly approved a resolution creating a special commission to investigate this alleged assassination attempt. We will be eager to see if the investigation will get underway. Four years have passed since the killing of independent journalist Georgi Gongadze, and the case remains unresolved. As you know, Gongadze was bravely exposing high-level corruption in Ukraine.
The Rada has also created an ad-hoc committee to monitor the upcoming election. Prime Minister Yanukovych, the presidential candidate of the ruling regime, instead of welcoming this move, called the Rada move "disloyal". This speaks volumes.
The independence exhibited by the Rada in Ukraine would be unthinkable in Belarus. There, serious and persistent violations have been committed in most human dimension areas, including freedom of speech, association and assembly, media freedoms, religious liberties, elections and the rule of law. Thanks to Lukashenka's iron rule, Belarus has the worst human rights record in Europe today, although Russia under the increasingly authoritarian rule of President Putin appears to be catching up, and, perhaps, even emulating Mr. Lukashenka.
Regrettably, the Belarusian authorities have disregarded the four democratic benchmarks established by the OSCE in 2000 – ending repressions and the climate of fear, permitting a functioning independent media, ensuring transparency of the elections process, and strengthening the functions of parliament. Lukashenka has flaunted shamelessly his 1999 Istanbul OSCE Summit declaration commitments for a political dialogue, with OSCE participation which stressed the necessity of removing "all remaining obstacles in Belarus to this dialogue by respecting the principles of the rule of law and the freedom of the media." Lukashenka has pointedly ignored this commitment and the situation with respect to the rule of law and media freedoms has only continued its steady deterioration.
At the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly meeting in Bucharest in 2000, I offered language to continue to deny the seating of the illegitimate Lukashenka parliament. We won. I continued to fight this battle until 2003, when the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly abandoned this position and seated the Members of the National Assembly. Since that time, I've continued to be an outspoken critic of the dismal human rights record of the Lukashenka regime.
Parliamentary elections are scheduled in Belarus for October 17, and they now have an added dimension, with Lukashenka's September 7 announcement of a referendum that would pave the way to extend his rule beyond 2006, when his ten-year tenure is due to expire, to potentially join the ranks of "presidents for life," like President Niyazov in Turkmenistan and others in Central Asia. The fact that, according to the Belarusian electoral code, a referendum cannot contain any questions related to presidential elections will certainly not deter him. Interestingly, opinion polls suggest that most Belarusians are against extending Lukashenka's rule, and the threshold for passage of the referendum is high, as at least 50 percent of all eligible voters – and not merely those casting ballots – have to vote "yes" for the referendum to pass. We will see how they manipulate that one.
Nevertheless, to say that the deck is stacked in favor of Lukashenka is an understatement. The Belarusian Government has almost total control over the electoral process and considerable experience in conducting elections that, to put it mildly, do not meet international democratic standards. For example, opposition parties have been allocated a mere two percent of seats on the district election commissions, and an appalling 0.2 percent of the 7,000 precinct commissions. One-third of the candidates proposed by Belarusian opposition parties were reportedly denied registration.
Ladies and gentlemen, to their credit, Belarus' repressed and embattled opposition and NGOs have not yet given up. We need to continue to support these brave men and women and all those struggling for democracy and human rights in Belarus. I am the sponsor of the BelarusDemocracy Act, which is waiting for consideration by the full House. The BDA is intended to promote democracy, human rights and rule of law inBelarus, including assistance for democracy building activities such as support for NGOs, independent media, international exchanges and international broadcasting.
We want to stand firmly on the side of those who long for freedom. As President Bush noted at Madison Square Garden earlier this month [on September 2], "The story of America is the story of expanding liberty: an ever-widening circle, constantly growing to reach further and include more. Our nation's founding commitment is still our deepest commitment: In our world, and here at home, we will extend the frontiers of freedom."
We are eager to have governments and parliaments in both countries with whom we can join forces to combat the scourges of our day, such as human trafficking, HIV/AIDS which has reportedly infected one percent of Ukraine's population, or corruption and cooperation on movement towards common security and Euro-Atlantic integration. We know that hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian and Belarusian women and children have been trafficked mostly to Europe and the Middle East over the course of the last decade. The problem is especially acute in Ukraine – one of the largest source countries in Europe. Ukraine is also a major transit country. Both Ukraine and Belarus have been designated in the most recent State Department report as Tier II countries (there are three tiers), meaning that these governments do not yet fully comply with minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking, but is making significant efforts to do so.
As the lead author of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act and its reauthorization which became law in 2003, I am pleased that our government, the OSCE and other international organizations and NGOs are devoting resources to combat this modern day slavery, but much more remains to be done.
For both Ukraine and Belarus, the best guarantee for their survival as independent countries is the full establishment of democracy, human rights and the rule of law, including, very importantly, democratic elections. In short, the best guarantee is their implementation of commitments both nations freely undertook when they joined the OSCE. Standing in solidarity with the courageous pro-democracy in both countries and with the people of Belarusand Ukraine, we must continue to encourage compliance with these commitments.


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Microsoft Investors, Partners, and Big Upcoming Changes
Some fine, good-looking person wrote:
Come on mini...post something new so we don't have to keep beating this dead horse :P
Okay, then, even on such a beautiful day as today I can take time for a post-break so that we can start refreshed. I'll do this by me, well, cribbing a whole lot of comments together into something delightfully repackaged. So the word "new" might be inappropriate for you dedicated comment hounds (you know, all thirty of you).
First of all, that Bloomberg article one of the commenters noted as pretty interesting was even carried in Saturday's Seattle P-I. The article: Microsoft Investors Urge Ballmer to Use Cash on $60 Bln Buyback. I agree with the commenter, it has some really choice moments in there. My picks:
Analysts worry that Ballmer is trying to build a Google within Microsoft. Investors are concerned that they may never see the payoff. The falling stock price is hurting Microsoft's ability to attract and retain employees, Rosenberg said.
Microsoft needs to show it is acting to boost the stock and appease shareholders, said Heather Bellini at UBS AG in New York, who is ranked the No. 2 software analyst by Institutional Investor magazine.
``Previously, the problem was apathy on the stock,'' she said. ``Now the apathy has been replaced with anger.''
All I can envision in the last part is a Yoda-voice reflecting, "Apathy leads to anger, angers leads to hate, and hate leads to mass sell-offs and firings..." It has amazed me to no end, though, how incredibly long it's taken for investors and shareholders to start saying "enough is enough" and start demanding reasonable leadership and reasonable results. It's as almost as if our executive leadership has, uh, wanted to keep the stock price down... Which leads to a comment that gets to the best conspiracy I've heard in a long time (even better than Mini-Microsoft actually doing Ballmer's will in prepping Microsofties for those mass firings):
But look, once the stock was sitting dangerously long close to $28 zone, this stupid mishap with forgetting to warn the Street about $2.4B investment lowering the planned profits happened. Every one company issues the warning up front in such situation, every single one, it's 101.
Does anyone really believe that the company head accountant along with CEO both didn't know what happens to the stock when the company issues unexpectedly low guidance for next quarter? Didn't they have any classes on about how stock market works while doing their MBA's? Didn't they at least, for Buddha's sake, nor any of their lieutenants at least watch Cramer's Mad Money on CNBC ever?
I just don't believe this stock price 'accident' was an accident, there are reasons for stock being stagnant for years now. There are ways of keeping profits low, spending $500M on marketing here, putting glass windows with Windows logo engraved into offices in entire building there, distributing the beatiful , colourful and expensive flyers on diversity subject to every single employee (yeah, at the same time we have very aggresive cost efficacy program going on). All this wasteful spending might well pay off - as long as the stock price is stagnant, the company earns huge savings on the expiring stock options.
(Assume a ponderous Arsenio Hall pose) "Hmmmmmm." Well, in a way, it's strangely comforting for me to think we're being led by a clutch of super-genius stock villains than a confederacy of fiscal dunces.
That whole SPSA program brought forth an interesting dialog. A Partner-esque poster provided details and justification of the program. That did not elicit gushes of hugs and rainbows from the front-line. Some snippets:
The SPSA goals set three years ago had NOTHING to do with Vista. The goals were focused on 3 things:
1) Increased Customer Satisfaction with Microsoft Products
2) Increased adoption of the Developer Platform
3) Increased adoption of Office 11
We absolutely met/exceeded all of our goals set in these areas. Our customer satisfaction goals have been met, and in fact, we have exceeded our expectations by a wide margin. The .NET developer platform, including the recent Whidbey updates have been well received by our customers. Office 11 has definitely met its targets.
The sad truth that you whining underachievers have to accept is that we were given a compensation package tied to aggressive and important goals. We worked very hard for three years to meet the performance goals tied to that package. We blew away the targets and now we DESERVE to be paid what was promised to us. I know it sucks to hear this, but you need to learn to deal with reality here. This was the deal that we accepted and it would be grossly unfair, and frankly would be illegal, for Microsoft or the Compensation comittee to all of a sudden just change the rules and shaft us.
Even MSDecade drove off the road momentarily:
Remember when I said I chose this nickname because I expected to be at MS for a decade? This post single-handedly changed my mind. I'm going to send out my resume.
Along the lines of conversation comes in this comment that rings with a good dose of cold-water reality:
I'm a long time lurker but avid reader of this blog. I'm a L68 partner (GM) at Microsoft - I thought this was one of the better posts and I specially enjoyed the spirited comments (many insightful, some negative, few balanced) here.
Politics in organization - again a GROUND REALITY. Just as we go into the marketplace we do whatever we take to fight and win, we as individuals do the same to rise in organizations. Some of us are successful and some of us are not. This is human nature and again reality. Did I earn my GM position fair and square? - yes. Did I have to play some politics to get there? - yes. Did I have to bury a few bodies to get there? - yes. Seems to me you want somebody like me to lead the battle (whatever it may be) versus somebody who is not willing to play 'games'.
RE: do we have the right folks in place - here I say no! We have moribund and lethargic leadership at the partner level and above. Specially in the senior leadership. Most of the folks have tasted failure and are too schooled in the MS model. Over the past year or two, I have been observing the lack of accountability and true leadership in my group and it saddens me. There are few risk takers left and most partners are worried about territorial ambitions rather than breakout performance. Yes they earned their positions but these are the wrong people for the company's future as they are too grounded in the past. And I include myself in this sentiment. We have chased away leaders who bring the new thinking required to the company. Yes I can resign but I worry about the next level too - they are not seasoned enough and we haven't provide enough opportunities to season or grow these leaders.
Bottom line, we are at a turning point in this company.
And some people commented, "Hey, lay off the Partners, they are the ones responsible for where Microsoft is today based on all their past accomplishments." Oy and vey, what have you done for me lately? Or, more specifically:
Our partners are for the most part, out of touch with the reality of today's software landscape. Most have NEVER launched an online service, never pushed bits to servers around the world, never configured a load balancer, performed calculations for a denial of service monitor, never written log analyzers needed to diagnose problems on live services. And just in case some of you say you have done this, let me quickly call BS... What I mean by doing is actually doing, nat "watching over". In your day, you ran kernel debuggers, wrote code, debugged problems, coded new features, etc. Going through this experience first hand taught you many skills. One skill you learned is how to estimate complexity, how to break a project down into bite sized pieces, etc. You learned this on a disconnected and isolated pc centric environment.
I guess my fear is that we are waging the wrong war with the wrong enemy, and somehow we have this beleif that our esteemed partners, csa's, and cto's can lead the way. I think we are fighting a war with the wrong leaders in place, and are fighting in a space that we dont have the skills to succeed in. It will be a war over several years that will defocus us and cause us to ignore our current set of customers. Windows, Office, our Enterprise server business. The places where we actually make money will suffer as we focus on this new space and start building our skills there.
Shifting gears: is something big on-tap for May 18th? I've been delighted by some insider rumors so far, and I have great hopes:
Ballmer announced today at Silicon Valley Campus that the company will announce substantial changes to the employee review system on May 18.
...also, when asked to review himself, Ballmer gave himself a 3.5
Substantial sounds like a step in the right direction and opens up the system to major overhaul according to employee feedback and vision. Will we still have stack ranks? Still need to fit a curve? Still need to temper our feedback to one another so that people don't go over-reacting to positive-feedback and have the nerve to think that translates to a 4.0? People followed up saying have faith and that LisaB not only listened, she acted. So come the 18th I'm bringing in a bag of popcorn to pop and sit down and read whatever comes our way with great antici... ... ...pation.
Lastly: the Al Billings Vs. Dare spat overflowed into here for a bit. Well, first Al shared some of his going away from Microsoft thoughts:
Microsoft takes too long to respond to the current thoughtspace and I think that we are mired in levels and levels of requirements and dead wood. In my exit survey, I gave my feedback that I was personally disappointed that not a single person has apparently been fired for the screw-up with Windows Vista. Sure, a couple of VPs are quietly being put out to pasture (I guess...or are they?) but no one has been made accountable for it.
In amidst the commenting here and there in the Al / Dare spat, Joshua Allen had a nice perspective, including an interesting gem:
As my boss remarked at our team meeting this morning, "the people who are afraid of transparency are the people who have something to hide". Let people say what they're going to say, and let the readers judge for themselves.
Amen to that.