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Zimbabwe (11/03)
Republic of Zimbabwe
Area: 390,580 sq. km. (150,760 sq. mi.), slightly larger than Montana.
Cities: Capital--Harare (pronounced Ha-RAR-e), pop. 1.5 million. Other towns--Bulawayo, Chitungwiza, Mutare, Gweru, Kwekwe, Masvingo, Marondera .
Terrain: Desert and savanna.
Climate: Mostly subtropical.
Nationality: Noun and adjective--Zimbabwean (sing.), Zimbabweans (pl.).
Population (2003 est.): 12.5 million.
Annual growth rate (2003 est.): 0.83% (Note: the population growth rate is depressed by an HIV/AIDS prevalence rate estimated to be nearly 25%.)
Ethnic groups: Shona 71%, Ndebele 16%, other African 11%, white 1%, mixed and Asian 1%.
Religions: Christianity 75%, offshoot Christian sects, animist, and Muslim.
Languages: English (official), Shona, Sindebele.
Education: Attendance--mandatory for primary level. Adult literacy--76% (est.).
Health (2003): Infant mortality rate--66/1,000. Life expectancy--men 40 (2003 est.), women 38 (2003 est.)
Work force (est.): 1.33 million in formal sector.
Type: Parliamentary.
Constitution: December 21, 1979.
Independence: April 18, 1980.
Branches: Executive--president (chief of state and head of government), Cabinet. Legislative--In the 150-seat House of Assembly, 120 seats are popularly elected and 30 are directly appointed by the president or selected through a process strongly influenced by him. Judicial--High court, Court of Appeal, local and customary courts.
Administrative subdivisions: Town Councils and District Councils.
Main political parties: Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), Zimbabwe African National Union--Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF); National Alliance for Good Governance (NAGG), Zimbabwe African People's Union (ZAPU), Zimbabwe African National Union--Ndonga (ZANU-Ndonga)
GDP (2002 est.): U.S.$4.0 billion
Growth rate (2001 est.): -5.5%
Per capita GDP (2000 est.): U.S.$520.
Avg. inflation rate: Above 100%. (official inflation, April 2002: 114%)
Natural resources: Deposits of more than 40 minerals including ferrochrome, gold, silver, platinum, copper, asbestos; 89 sq. km. of forest.
Agriculture (20% of GDP): Types of crops and livestock--corn, cotton, tobacco, wheat, coffee, sugarcane, peanuts, cattle, sheep, goats, pigs.
Industry: Types--manufacturing (25% of GDP), public administration (9% of GDP), commerce (9% of GDP), mining (8% of GDP), transport and communication (6% of GDP).
Trade (2000): U.S. exports--U.S.$53 million U.S. imports--U.S.$112 million Partners (2000 est.)--South Africa 22%, U.K. 10%, Germany 9%, U.S. 8%. Total imports--U.S.$1,886 million: most of these imports were construction and agricultural machinery, transportation equipment, data processing equipment and software, industrial machinery, pharmaceuticals, fertilizers, and general manufactured products. Major suppliers--South Africa 34%, U.K. 10.8%, Germany 7.3%, U.S. 6%.
Primarily of the Bantu group of south and central Africa, the black Zimbabweans are divided into two major language groups, which are subdivided into several ethnic groups. The Mashona (Shona speakers), who constitute about 75% of the population, have lived in the area the longest and are the majority language group. The Matabele (Sindebele speakers), representing about 20% of the population and centered in the southwest around Bulawayo, arrived in within the last 150 years. An offshoot of the South African Zulu group, they maintained control over the Mashona until the white occupation of Rhodesia in 1890.
More than half of the white Zimbabweans, primarily of English origin, arrived in Zimbabwe after World War II. Afrikaners from South Africa and other European minorities, including Portuguese from Mozambique, also are present. Until the mid-1970s, there were about 1,000 white immigrants per year, but from 1976 to 1985 a steady emigration resulted in a loss of more than 150,000, leaving about 100,000 in 1992. Renewed white emigration in the late 1990s and early 2000s reduced the white population to less than 50,000. English, the official language, is spoken by the white population and understood, if not always used, by more than half of the black population.
The literacy rate is estimated at 76%. Primary and secondary schools were segregated until 1979 when racial restrictions were removed. Since independence, the educational system had been systematically enlarged by the Zimbabwean Government, which is committed to providing free public education to all citizens on an equal basis. As of the late 1970s, some 50% of the African children (5-19 years old) were listed officially as attending rural schools. Today, most African children attend primary school. Primary through post-secondary enrollment has expanded from 1 million to about 2.9 million since independence. About 40% of the rural primary schools were destroyed during the Rhodesian conflict, which delayed improvement of the rural education system. Higher education, offered at the University of Zimbabwe in Harare, the new National University of Science and Technology in Bulawayo, the new Africa (Methodist) University in Mutare, several teacher-training colleges, and three technical institutes, are being expanded with assistance from several donor countries.
Early History
Archaeologists have found Stone-Age implements and pebble tools in several areas of Zimbabwe, a suggestion of human habitation for many centuries, and the ruins of stone buildings provide evidence of early civilization. The most impressive of these sites is the "Great Zimbabwe" ruins, after which the country is named, located near Masvingo. Evidence suggests that these stone structures were built between the 9th and 13th centuries A.D. by indigenous Africans who had established trading contacts with commercial centers on Africa's southeastern coast.
In the 16th century, the Portuguese were the first Europeans to attempt colonization of south-central Africa, but the hinterland lay virtually untouched by Europeans until the arrival of explorers, missionaries, ivory hunters, and traders some 300 years later. Meanwhile, mass migrations of indigenous peoples took place. Successive waves of more highly developed Bantu peoples from equatorial regions supplanted the original inhabitants and are the ancestors of the region's Africans today.
British Settlement and Administration
In 1888, Cecil Rhodes obtained a concession for mineral rights from local chiefs. Later that year, the area that became Southern and Northern Rhodesia was proclaimed a British sphere of influence. The British South Africa Company was chartered in 1889, and the settlement of Salisbury (now Harare, the capital) was established in 1890. In 1895, the territory was formally named Rhodesia after Cecil Rhodes under the British South Africa Company's administration.
Following the abrogation of the company's charter in 1923, Southern Rhodesia's white settlements were given the choice of being incorporated into the Union of South Africa or becoming a separate entity within the British Empire. The settlers rejected incorporation, and Southern Rhodesia was formally annexed by the United Kingdom that year. Until 1980, Rhodesia was an internally self-governing colony with its own legislature, civil service, armed forces, and police. Although Rhodesia was never administered directly from London, the United Kingdom always retained the right to intervene in the affairs of the colony, particularly in matters affecting Africans.
After 1923, European immigrants concentrated on developing Rhodesia's rich mineral resources and agricultural potential. The settlers' demand for more land led in 1934 to the passage of the first of a series of land apportionment acts that reserved certain areas for Europeans.
In September 1953, Southern Rhodesia was joined in a multiracial Central African Federation with the British protectorate of Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland in an effort to pool resources and markets. Although the federation flourished economically, it was opposed by the African population, who feared they would not be able to achieve self-government with the federal structure dominated by White Southern Rhodesians. The federation was dissolved at the end of 1963 after much crisis and turmoil, and Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland became the independent states of Zambia and Malawi in 1964.
Unilateral Declaration Of Independence (UDI)
The European electorate in Rhodesia, however, showed little willingness to accede to African demands for increased political participation and progressively replaced more moderate party leaders. In April 1964, Prime Minister Winston Field, accused of not moving rapidly enough to obtain independence from the United Kingdom, was replaced by his deputy, Ian Smith. Prime Minster Smith led his Rhodesian Front Party to an overwhelming victory in the 1965 elections, winning all 50 of the first roll seats and demoralizing the more moderate European opposition.
Although prepared to grant independence to Rhodesia, the United Kingdom insisted that the authorities at Salisbury first demonstrate their intention to move toward eventual majority rule. Desiring to keep their dominant position, the white Rhodesians refused to give such assurances. On November 11, 1965, after lengthy and unsuccessful negotiations with the British Government, Prime Minister Smith issued a Unilateral Declaration of Independence (UDI) from the United Kingdom.
Post-UDI Events
The British Government considered the UDI unconstitutional and illegal but made clear that it would not use force to the rebellion. On November 12, 1965, the United Nations also determined the Rhodesian Government and UDI to be illegal and called on member states to refrain from assisting or recognizing the Smith regime. The British Government imposed sanctions on Rhodesia and requested other nations to do the same.
On December 16, 1966, the UN Security Council, for the first time in this history, imposed mandatory economic sanctions on a state. Rhodesia's primary exports including ferrochrome and tobacco, were replaced on the selective sanctions list, as were shipments of arms, aircraft, motor vehicles, petroleum, and petroleum products to Rhodesia. On May 29, 1968, the Security Council unanimously voted to broaden the sanctions by imposing an almost total embargo on all trade with, investments in, or transfers of funds to Rhodesia and imposed restrictions on air transport to the territory.
In the early 1970s, informal attempts at settlement were renewed between the United Kingdom and the Rhodesian administration. Following the April 1974 coup in Portugal and the resulting shifts of power in Mozambique and Angola, pressure on the Smith regime to negotiate a peaceful settlement began to increase. In addition, sporadic antigovernment guerilla activity, which began in the late 1960s, increased dramatically after 1972, causing destruction, economic dislocation, casualties, and a slump in white morale. In 1974, the major African nationalists groups--the Zimbabwe African Peoples Union (ZAPU) and the Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU), which split away from ZAPU in 1963--were united into the "Patriotic Front" and combined their military forces, at least nominally.
In 1976, because of a combination of embargo-related economic hardships, the pressure of guerilla activity, independence and majority rule in the neighboring former Portuguese territories, and a U.K.-U.S. diplomatic initiative, the Smith government agreed in principle to majority rule and to a meeting in Geneva with black nationalist leaders to negotiate a final settlement of the conflict. Blacks represented at the Geneva meeting included ZAPU leader Joshua Nkomo, ZANU leader Robert Mugabe, UANC chairman bishop Abel Muzorewa, and former ZANU leader Rev. Nadabaningi Sithole. The meeting failed to find a basis for agreement because of Smith's inflexibility and the inability of the black leaders to form a common political front.
On September 1, 1977 a detailed Anglo-American plan was put forward with proposals for majority rule, neutrally administered with pre-independence elections, a democratic constitution and the formation of an integrated army. Reactions were mixed, but no party rejected them. In the interim, on March 3, 1978, the Smith administration signed the "internal settlement" agreement in Salisbury with Bishop Muzorewa, Rev. Sithole, and Chief Jeremiah Chirau. The agreement provided for qualified majority rule and elections with universal suffrage. Following elections in April 1979, in which his UANC party won a majority, Bishop Muzorewa assumed office on June 1, becoming "Zimbabwe-Rhodesia's" first black prime minister. However, the installation of the new black majority government did not end the guerilla conflict that had claimed more than 20,000 lives since 1972.
Shortly after British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher's conservative government took power in May 1979, the British began a new round of consultations that culminated in an agreement among the Commonwealth countries as the basis for fresh negotiations among the parties and the British involving a new constitution, free elections and independence.
The British and the African parties began deliberations on a Rhodesian settlement at Lancaster house in London on September 10, 1979. On December 10, 1979, in preparation for the transition under British authority to officially recognized independence, the "Zimbabwe-Rhodesia" reverted de facto to colonial status. On December 12, British Governor Lord Christopher Soames arrived in Salisbury to reassert British authority over the colony. His arrival signaled the end of the Rhodesian rebellion and the "internal settlement," as well as the beginning of Zimbabwe's transition to independence. The United Kingdom lifted all remaining sanctions against Zimbabwe that day. The United States lifted sanctions effective December 16.
On December 21, after 3 months of hard bargaining, the parties signed an agreement at Lancaster House calling for a cease-fire, new elections, a transition period under British rule, and a new Constitution implementing majority rule while protecting minority rights. The agreement specified that upon the granting of independence, the country's name would be Zimbabwe. The same day, the UN Security Council endorsed the settlement agreement and formally voted unanimously to call on member nations to remove sanctions.
During the transition period, nine political parties campaigned for the February 27-29 pre-independence elections. The elections were supervised by the British Government and monitored by hundreds of observers, most of whom concluded that, under the prevailing circumstances, the elections were free and fair and reflected the will of the people. Robert Mugabe's ZANU(PF) party won an absolute majority and was asked to form Zimbabwe's first government.
In a series of public statements during the transition period, Prime Minister Mugabe indicated that he was committed to a process of national reconciliation and reconstruction as well as moderate socioeconomic change. His priorities were to integrate the various armed forces, reestablish social services and education in rural areas, and resettle the estimated one million refugees and displaced persons. Mugabe also announced that his government would begin investigating ways of reversing past discriminatory policies in land distribution, education, employment, and wages.
Mugabe stated that Zimbabwe would follow a nonaligned foreign policy while seeking assistance from all actions and would pursue a pragmatic relationship with South Africa. He noted that while Zimbabwe opposed apartheid and would support democratic change in South Africa, it would not provide bases for anti-South African guerillas.
The British Government formally granted independence to Zimbabwe on April 18, 1980. Most nations recognized Zimbabwe following independence. The United States was to first nation to open an embassy in Salisbury on that day. Parliament convened for the first time on May 13, 1980. Zimbabwe became a member of the United Nations on August 25, 1980.
In seeking national reconciliation, Prime Minister Mugabe's first cabinet comprised members of ZANU-PF, PF-ZAPU, and independent white members of parliament (MPs) and senators. The government embarked on an ambitious reconstruction and development program and instituted increases in minimum wages. Land redistribution proceeded under four experimental models on land that the government had purchased at market rates from willing sellers.
Zimbabwe Since Independence
Prime Minister Mugabe's policy of reconciliation was generally successful during the country's first 2 years of independence, as the former political and military opponents began to work together. Although additional blacks were hired to fill new places in the civil service, there was no retribution for those whites who had worked for the Smith regime. Smith and many of his associates held seats in the parliament where they participated freely in debates. Likewise, Joshua Nkomo, Mugabe's rival as leader of the nationalist forces, was included in the first cabinet along with several other members of PF-ZAPU.
Splits soon developed, however. In 1981, several MPs from Smith's party left to sit as "independents," signifying that they did not automatically accept his antigovernment posture. More importantly, government security officials discovered large caches of arms and ammunition on properties owned by ZAPU, and Nkomo and his followers were accused of plotting to overthrow Mugabe's government. Nkomo and his closest aides were expelled from the cabinet.
As a result of what they perceived as persecution of Nkomo (known as "Father Zimbabwe") and of his party, PF-ZAPU supporters, some of them deserters from the army, began a loosely organized and ill-defined campaign of dissidence against the government. Centering primarily in Matabeleland, home of the Ndebeles who were PF-ZAPU's main followers, this dissidence continued through 1987 and involved attacks on government personnel and installations, armed banditry aimed at disrupting security and economic life in the rural areas, and harassment of ZANU-PF members. Occasionally, some demanded the Nkomo and his colleagues be reinstated in the cabinet. More frequently, however, dissidents called for the return of farms and other properties seized from PF-ZAPU.
Because of the unsettled security situation immediately after independence and the continuing anti-government dissidence, the government kept in force a "state of emergency," which was first declared before UDI. This gave government authorities widespread powers under the "Law and Order Maintenance Act," including the right to detain persons without charge.
In 1983-84, the government declared a curfew in areas of Matabeleland and sent in the army in an attempt to suppress dissidents. Credible reports surfaced of widespread violence and disregard for human rights by the security forces during these operations, and the level of political tension rose in the country as a result. The pacification campaign, known as the "Gukuruhundi," or strong wind, resulted in as many as 20,000 civilian deaths. Nkomo and his lieutenants repeatedly denied any connection with the dissidents and called for an all-party conference to discuss the political problems facing the country. In the 1985 elections, ZANU-PF increased its majority, holding 67 of the 100 seats. ZANU-PF and PF-ZAPU agreed to unite in December 1987, and the parties formally merged in December 1989.
In October 1987, in accordance with the Lancaster House Accords, the Constitution was amended to end the separate roll for white voters and to establish an executive presidency to replace the whites whose reserved seats had been abolished; among the new members were 15 whites in the Senate and House of Assembly. Elections in March 1990 resulted in another overwhelming victory for Mugabe and his party, which won 117 of the 120 election seats. However, voter turnout was only 54%, and the campaign was not free and fair although the actual balloting was. Not satisfied with a de facto one-party state, Mugabe called the ZANU-PF Central Committee to support the creation of a de jure one-party state in September 1990 and lost. The state of emergency was lifted in July 1990. However, through control of the media, the huge parastatal sector of the economy, and the security forces, the government has managed to keep political opposition to minimum.
Beginning in 1999, Zimbabwe has experienced a period of considerable political and economic upheaval. Opposition to President Mugabe and the ZANU-PF government has grown quickly in recent years, in part due to worsening economic and human rights conditions. The opposition is currently led by the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), established in September 1999.
The first opportunity to test opposition to the Mugabe government came in February 2000, when a referendum was held on a draft Constitution proposed by the government. Among its elements, the new Constitution would have permitted President Mugabe to seek two additional terms in office, granted government officials immunity from prosecution, and sanctioned government seizure of white-owned land. The referendum was handily defeated. Shortly thereafter, the government, through a loosely organized group of war veterans, launched an aggressive land redistribution program often characterized by forced expulsion of white farmers and violence against both farmers and farm employees.
Parliamentary elections held in June 2000 were marred by localized violence, and claims of electoral irregularities and government intimidation of opposition supporters. Nonetheless, the MDC succeeded in capturing 57 of 120 seats in the National Assembly.
Local and international human rights monitors have noted a marked increase in human rights abuses since the February 2000 constitutional referendum. Presidential elections in March 2002, in which Mugabe emerged victorious, were marred by disenfranchisement of urban voters, violent intimidation against opposition supporters, intimidation of the independent press and the judiciary, and other irregularities. The intimidation of opposition supporters, political dissenters, the press, and the judiciary continued post-election.
Since independence, Zimbabwe has enunciated and follows a policy of "active nonalignment." In practice, this has meant that Zimbabwe usually adheres to positions established by the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM); the Organization of African Unity (OAU), now the African Union; or the Commonwealth. Zimbabwe took a particular interest in the search for independence for Namibia (South-West Africa) from South Africa. In addition, as chairman of the front-line states in southern Africa, Zimbabwe spoke out vigorously against the policies of apartheid in South African and frequently called for the imposition of economic sanctions against Pretoria. In November 1982, Zimbabwe was chosen by the OAU to hold one of the nonpermanent seats in the UN Security Council for the following 2 years, which brought it onto the center stage of world events and gave it much-needed experience in international affairs. In 1986, Zimbabwe was the site of the NAM summit meeting; Prime Minister Mugabe became chairman of that organization, giving both Mugabe and Zimbabwe added international visibility and responsibility.
Zimbabwe maintains embassies in the United States, United Kingdom, Egypt, Angola, Kenya, Senegal, Nigeria, India, Sweden, France, China, Malaysia, Ethiopia, Namibia, Swaziland, Belgium, Tanzania, Botswana, the F.R.Y., Mozambique, Switzerland, Cuba, Canada, Japan, Australia, Germany, India, Italy, Russia, and South Africa. Sixty-six countries are represented in Harare as are several international organizations including UN institutions, the European Union, and the World Bank. Zimbabwe is a member of many international organizations, including the International Monetary Fund (IMF); African Development Bank; the Commonwealth; Southern African Development Community (SADC); Preferential trade Area for Eastern and Southern Africa (PTA); African Caribbean and Pacific Countries (ACP, in association with the EU); Group of 77 (G-77); Group of 15 (G-15); NAM; OAU (African Union); Customs Cooperation Council (CCC); and the World Federation of Trade Unions. Shortly after the March 2002 presidential election, the Commonwealth suspended Zimbabwe from leadership councils for one year after the Commonwealth's election observer team found the conduct of the election seriously flawed.
According to Zimbabwe's Constitution, the president is head of state and ahead of government elected for a 6-year term by popular majority vote. Parliament consists of the House of Assembly and has up to a 5-year life span. The House of Assembly has 120 members elected by the common-roll electorate, eight governors, 10 chiefs, 12 presidential appointees, the Speaker, and the Attorney General.
The Zimbabwean Constitution institutionalizes majority rule and protection of minority rights. The elected government controls senior appointments in the public service, including the military and police, and insures that appointments at lower levels are made on an equitable basis by the independent Public Service Commission.
The judiciary is headed by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court who like the other justices is appointed by the President on the advice of the Judicial Service Commission. The Constitution has a bill of rights containing extensive protection of human rights. The bill of rights could not be amended for the first 10 years of independence except by unanimous vote of the House of Assembly.
Zimbabwe is divided into eight provinces, each administered by a provincial governor appointed by the president. The provincial governor is assisted by the provincial administrator and representatives of several service ministries. Zimbabwe is governed by President Robert Mugabe and his Zimbabwean African National Union--Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF), which has dominated the legislative and executive branches since independence in 1980.
Principal Government Officials
President--Robert Mugabe
Vice Presidents--Simon Muzenda and Joseph Msika
Foreign Minister--Stanislaus Mudenge
Ambassador to the U.S.--Simbi Veke Mubako
Zimbabwe maintains an embassy in the United States at 1608 New Hampshire Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20009 (tel. 202-332-7100). A Zimbabwean mission to the United Nations is located at 19 East 47th St., New York, NY.
Properly managed, Zimbabwe's wide range of resources should enable it to support sustained economic growth. The country has an important percentage of the world's known reserves of metallurgical-grade chromite. Other commercial mineral deposits include coal, asbestos, copper, nickel, gold, and iron ore.
In the early 1970s, the economy experienced a modest boom. Real per capita earnings for blacks and whites reached record highs, although the disparity in incomes between blacks and whites remained, with blacks earning only about one-tenth as much as whites. After 1975, however, Rhodesia's economy was undermined by the cumulative effects of sanctions, declining earnings from commodity exports, worsening guerilla conflict, and increasing white emigration. When Mozambique severed economic ties, the Smith regime was forced to depend on South Africa for access to the outside world. Real gross domestic product (GDP) declined between 1974 and 1979. An increasing proportion of the national budget (an estimated 30%-40% per year) was allocated to defense, and a large budget deficit raised the public debt burden substantially.
Following the Lancaster House settlement in December 1979, Zimbabwe enjoyed a brisk economic recovery. Real growth for 1980-81 exceeded 20%. However, depressed foreign demand for the country's mineral exports and the onset of a drought cut sharply into the growth rate in 1982, 1983, and 1984. In 1985, the economy rebounded strongly due to a 30% jump in agricultural production. However it slumped in 1986 to a zero growth rate and registered negative of about minus 3% in 1987 due primarily to drought and foreign exchange crisis faced by the country. Growth in 1988-90 averaged about 4.5%.
In recent years, poor management of the economy and political turmoil has led to considerable economic hardship. The Government of Zimbabwe's chaotic land reform program, recurrent interference with and intimidation of the judiciary, and maintenance of unrealistic price controls and exchange rates has led to a sharp drop in investor confidence. Since 2000, the national economy has contracted by as much as 25%; inflation has vaulted over 400%; and there have been persistent shortages of foreign exchange, local currency, fuel, and food. Direct foreign investment has all but evaporated.
Zimbabwe has adequate internal transportation and electrical power networks. Paved roads link the major urban and industrial centers, and rail lines tie it into an extensive central African railroad network with all its neighbors. In nondrought years, it has adequate electrical power, mainly generated by the Kariba Dam on the Zambezi River but augmented since 1983 by large thermal plants adjacent to the Wankie coal field. Telephone service is problematic, and new lines are difficult of obtain.
The manufacturing sector, already well-developed before UDI in 1965, was given a major stimulus by the imposition of UN sanctions. The sanctions obliged Rhodesian industry to diversify and create many import-substitution undertakings to compensate for loss of traditional sources of imports. Rhodesian processing of local raw materials also grew rapidly. Major growth industries include steel and steel products, heavy equipment, transportation equipment, ferrochrome, textiles, and food processing.
Agriculture is the backbone of the Zimbabwean economy. Corn is the largest crop. Tobacco is the largest export crop followed by cotton. The government's controversial land reform efforts starting in 2000 have disrupted a significant portion of the commercial farm economy, leading to a sharp drop in tobacco, corn, and cotton production. Poor government management has exacerbated meager harvests caused by drought and floods, resulting in significant food shortfalls beginning in 2001.
Energy Resources
With considerable hydroelectric power and plentiful coal deposits for thermal power station, Zimbabwe is less dependent on oil as an energy source than most other comparably industrialized countries. Only about 15% of Zimbabwe's total energy consumption is accounted for by oil, all of which is imported. Zimbabwe imports about 1.2 billion liters per year. Dependence on petroleum is managed through the price controls for vehicle fuels, the use of gasohol, and the substitution of diesel-electric locomotives on the railway system. Zimbabwe also has substantial coal reserves that are utilized for power generation, and recently discovered in Matabeleland province are coalbed methane deposits greater than any known natural gas field in Southern or Eastern Africa. In recent years, poor economic management and low foreign currency reserves have led to serious fuel shortages.
At independence, then Prime Minster Mugabe declared that integrating Zimbabwe's then three armed forces would be one of Zimbabwe's top priorities. The existing Rhodesian forces were combined with the two guerilla armies--the 20,000-strong ZANLA forces of ZANU-PF and the 15,000-strong ZIPRA forces of PF-ZAPU. Currently the armed forces of Zimbabwe are completely integrated and are composed of an army (ZNA) and an air force (AFZ). The ZNA currently has an active duty strength of 37,000. The air force has about 5,000 men assigned. In July 1994 the combined Zimbabwe Defense Forces Headquarters was created.
In 1999, the Government of Zimbabwe sent a sizeable military force into the Democratic Republic of Congo to support the government of President Laurent Kabila. Those forces were largely withdrawn in 2002.
After the Universal Declaration of Independence was issued in November 1965, the United States recalled its Consul General from Salisbury, closed the U.S. Information Service (USIS) library, and withdrew its Agency for International Development (USAID) and trade promotion officials. After 1965, the small remaining American consular staff continued to operate under authority of exequaturs issued by Queen Elizabeth II. Following declaration of a republic, the United States closed its Consulate General on March 17, 1970.
In 1971, despite administration opposition, the U.S. Congress passed legislation permitting the United States to import strategic materials, such as chrome, from Rhodesia. The legislation, which took effect January 1, 1972, was of little real economic benefit to the Rhodesian economy, and the United States continued to support the balance of the sanctions program. After the legislation was repealed in March 1977, the United States once again enforced all sanctions.
The United States supported the United Nations and the United Kingdom consistently in their efforts to influence Rhodesian authorities to accept the principles of majority rule. Beginning in 1976, the United States began to take a more active role in the search for a settlement in cooperation with the British. The Anglo-American proposals of late 1977, aimed at bringing a negotiated end to the dispute, lent the weight of the United States to the search for a peaceful settlement and were a counterpart to the Soviet-Cuban use of military power to increase their influence in southern Africa. The United States supported British efforts to bring about and implement the settlement signed at Lancaster House on December 21, 1979.
At the Zimbabwe conference on reconstruction and development (ZIMCORD) in March 1981, the United States pledged $225 million over a 3-year period toward the government's goals of postwar reconstruction, distribution and development of land, and the development of skilled manpower. By the end of FY 1986, the United States had contributed $380 million, the majority in grants, with some loans and loan guarantees. However, in July 1986, the U.S. Government decided to discontinue future bilateral aid to Zimbabwe as a result of a continuing pattern of uncivil and undiplomatic statements and actions by the Government of Zimbabwe. These actions included statements in the United Nations and elsewhere that were unacceptably offensive. Aid programs previously agreed upon were not affected by the decision, nor were regional development programs that might benefit Zimbabwe. Full programming was restored in 1988.
Since 2000, the United States has taken a leading role in condemning the Zimbabwean Government's increasing assault on human rights and the rule of law, and has joined the world community in calling for the Government of Zimbabwe to embrace a peaceful democratic evolution. In 2002 and 2003, the United States imposed targeted measures on the Government of Zimbabwe, including financial and visa sanctions, a ban on transfers of defense items and services, and a suspension of non-humanitarian government-to-government assistance. Despite strained political relations, the United States continues as a leading provider of humanitarian assistance to the people of Zimbabwe, providing more than $150 million in humanitarian assistance (including $111 million in food aid) during 2002.
Principal U.S. Officials
Ambassador--Joseph Sullivan
Deputy Chief of Mission--Robert Whitehead
USAID Mission Director--Paul Weisenfeld
Public Affairs Officer--Geraldine Keener
Defense Attache--LTC. Daniel Hampton
Offices of the U.S. Mission
U.S. Embassy (Chancery)
172 Herbert Chitepo Avenue, Harare
Tel: 263-4-250-593
Fax: 263-4-796-488
U.S. Agency for International Development
1 Pascoe Avenue Belgravia, Harare
Tel: 263-4-252-401
Fax: 263-4-252-478
Public Affairs Section
38 Nelson Mandela Avenue, Harare
Tel: 263-4-758-800
For the most current version of this Note, see Background Notes A-Z.


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Yankees president Randy Levine challenges A-Rod to release medical records
Alex Rodriguez is being challenged once again by New York Yankees' team officials, according to ESPN. This time, team president Randy Levine is challenging Rodriguez to release his medical records after the third baseman's lawyer said the team misled Rodriguez in attempts to keep him off the field.
"Alex should put up or shut up," Levine told ESPNNewYork.com in a telephone conversation Saturday afternoon.
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A New York Times article Saturday detailed Rodriguez's new lawyer, Joseph Tacopina, saying Levine told Dr Bryan Kelly, the doctor who performed hip surgery on Rodriguez in January, he didn't "ever want to see him on the field again."
Tacopina said Levine wanted Dr. Kelly to make sure Rodriguez could not return from the surgery so the Yankees could collect insurance on the $114 million remaining on Rodriguez's contract before the start of the 2013 season.
"The obvious implication there is if the surgery is not successful, I'm good with that," Tacopina said. "Anyone with a brain can understand the implication of that. It was something that troubled Dr. Kelly so much that he decided to relay it to Alex Rodriguez, his patient."
According to Tacopina, Dr. Kelly infuriated Levine again when he announced the sluggers second hip surgery was unrelated to Rodriguez's admittance to using performance-enhancing drugs. Tacopina said Levine wanted to use the deterioration of A-Rod's hip because of the PEDs as a means to get out of the remainder of Rodriguez's contract.
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"That's nonsense," Levine said of all the allegations. "You can't even respond to a thing like that."
With Rodriguez's permission, the team would release all of his medical record back to his first hip surgery in March 2009.
"If he really believes that, he should file a grievance for the release of all his medical records," Levine said. "We're willing to release all of them. All he has to do is say yes and we'll release them all for everyone to see."
The exception to "all" of Rodriguez's medical records coming from the team is the treatments from Dr. Anthony Galea. Galea pleaded guilty to illegally bringing drugs, including HGH, to the United States in 2011. He served a year of jail time for the crime and faces similar charges in Canada.
"The only records we don't have are the ones of Alex's treatment by Dr. (Anthony) Galea. They were unauthorized by the club, but now that he's put his medical condition into question, he should put everything out there."
Tacopina said he has proof of his claims in the form of emails between Levine and Rodriguez.
"He has either forgotten what he has written or he has sense of bravado that is something that is going to come back and make him look very foolish," Tacopina said. "I'm not going to go into what is in those emails. ... I assure you that Randy Levine does not want these emails released because they are not fitting of the president of the New York Yankees."
Levine responded by saying he was willing to release all of his emails between he and Rodriguez.
"They will show that I've been one of Alex's biggest supporters," he said. "Everything I did was to help him to be a leader, better player and a better person."
Tacopina's claims came a day after CBS's "60 Minutes" released a story saying Rodriguez's "inner circle" turned in Yankees catcher Francisco Cervelli and Brewers outfielder Ryan Braun.
Rodriguez has yet to answer the question of whether he used PEDs or not. Both Rodriguez and Tacopina have not answered the question citing the confidentiality clause of his upcoming hearing with MLB arbitrator Frederic Horowitz.
Because of that, Levine has called this allegation a smokescreen thrown up to help Rodriguez avoid answer the question of whether he really used PEDs or not.
"It's quite surprising that now Alex needs a new layer to put out reckless, specious and false allegations that only distract from the only relevant question here, the one he refuses to answer: Did he or did he not use performance-enhancing drugs?" Levine said.
Tacopina also said the Yankees withheld MRI results last year that showed Rodriguez should not have been on the field during the postseason, one in which he went 3-for-25 with 12 strikeouts.
"All of our treatments of Alex were of the highest caliber and based on his own choices," said Levine, who added the Yankees also would release transcripts of all phone calls between Rodriguez, the team and its doctors.
Tacopina replied to Levine's comment by saying, "I'm anxious to meet them in court. I really am. Randy Levine [says,] 'If we continue, all parties will be held accountable.' I'm going to mark his words. I will be more than thrilled to be held accountable for exposing him for what he is and for some of the statements he made. If I say that I have something, I have something. If I say I have emails that are damning, I have emails that are damning. If I say that Dr. Kelly was told something, I have evidence that Dr. Kelly was told something. He'll see who has the last laugh."
Rodriguez is hitting .279 this season with 10 strikeouts in 49 plate appearances through Saturday's loss to the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
On the last post, I mentioned (many) more Stone Ridge photos were coming so here they are! Despite this being my fifth time travelling the ridge, the views were just as inspiring. Stone Ridge is a spot I could return over and over again; a truly magical place! These photos were taken after an FKT run up Cone Peak via Kirk Creek and Vicente Flat (1h50m). While I have climbed Cone Peak over a dozen times by various routes, I have never really done it for speed, so I figure there is room for some personal improvement. Obviously a race-like effort by talented mountain runners could knock down the time more substantially. Nonetheless, it's close to 6,000 feet of elevation gain in just over 11 miles to ascend Cone Peak via Vicente Flat (including a couple steep pitches) so it will always be a challenging run. After traveling through a thick fog layer in the upper reaches of Cone Peak, the views opened up near the summit. It was awesome to see low clouds riding over the ridge between Cone Peak and Twin Peak. These clouds dissipated as I made my way over Twin Peak producing brilliant sunshine and spectacular clarity on the way down Stone Ridge. The turquoise blue water along the coast juxtaposed with the green grass was fantastic. I was waffling on whether to carry a camera or not, but very happy I wound up carrying it. I placed the camera in the water resistant pouch of the Ultimate Direction Jurek Essential, I hardly noticed it! I chose a cool day for the quick run up the mountain so I only needed the Jurek Essential and the Fastdraw 20 for hydration. Prior Stone Ridge Posts:
- April 2013
- December 2013
- February 2014
- April 2014 (Stone Ridge Direct in reverse)


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Home 130 Simple, Fresh and Beautiful Front Yard Landscaping Ideas Front-yard-landscape (122)
This is awesome images ideas about Front-yard-landscape (122). Hopefully these will give you some inspirations. This Images is part of our 130 Simple, Fresh and Beautiful Front Yard Landscaping Ideas pictures gallery. A curated list of images that will get you Good ideas and Inspiration.
We are collecting These awesome Photo Ideas from Internet. So if you found your photos and want to add some credit on it's, don't be shy to Contact Us. Thanks and hope you'll enjoy.


text: Four people were arrested and charged with theft and trespass after police found more than 8,000 golf balls and diving equipment in their van. They've apparently hit multiple courses and country clubs in suburban Philadelphia. The ringleader, when asked his employment, told police he runs a ball-retrieval business. [Malvern Patch]


text:
Eli Manning's season started with a debate about whether or not he was an elite quarterback and it might end with another debate.
It won't be about his elite status as any remaining holdouts have long ago given up that fight. The debate this time will be about whether or not he's the best quarterback in the Manning family.
If he wins today against the 49ers, Eli will have a serious dog in the hunt. It's not just because Peyton's career is in doubt after three neck surgeries and the complete upheaval of the Colts organization in the last couple of weeks.
Throughout the history of the NFL, quarterbacks have always been graded on two parallel tracks. One is individual performance, and there haven't been many quarterbacks who have scored higher in this department than Peyton Manning.
He's thrown for the third most yards and touchdowns in history and ranks high in every metric you would ever use to gauge the ability of a quarterback. Eli may never match his brother's statistics.
But Peyton may never be able to match his little brother's status on the other grading scale of quarterbacks. That's winning championships, of course, and Eli already has one under his belt with a chance for a second this year.
If Eli wins it all this year, that would give him one more ring than his big brother, but there's even more to Eli's superiority in this category.
This playoff run has marked the second time in Eli's career that he has led a team on a run that massively outperformed expectations thanks in large part to his ability to step up his game in the biggest spots.
Peyton doesn't have the same polish to his resume. If anything, he's saved his worst moments for games against the Patriots, Saints and seven losses in his team's first playoff games.
Obviously getting to those points as often as the Colts speaks well of Peyton's ability to win games, but there aren't many people who wouldn't expect a bit more postseason success given how many regular season games the Colts have won in the Peyton Era.
Winning Sunday, at a moment when Eli is coming into his prime, would make it hard to argue that the younger Manning wasn't the bigger postseason winner in the family.
All of this is up for debate, of course, and there's no real way to answer a subjective question about who is the best quarterback of all time. The fact that you can make an argument for Eli over Peyton in any format says a lot about how far the Giants quarterback has come this season.
It's not just that he threw for nearly 5,000 yards, cut down his interceptions and continued to be a top performer in the fourth quarter. The way that Manning plays adds to your appreciation of his abilities.
He makes some incredibly dangerous throws, perhaps more of them than any other good quarterback, and completes a remarkably high percentage given how high the margin for error on those passes can be. And the fact that he makes a lot of them in the face of strong pressure because his offensive line isn't all that good speaks to his level of confidence in his own abilities.
Even if you think it is premature to put Eli into conversation with his own brother, it's hard to resist bumping him up with a win on Sunday.
If you count Peyton, there are only three current quarterbacks who have taken their teams to multiple Super Bowls.
Becoming the fourth would solidify Eli's standing in the first tier of the current NFL and might just push him past some guys with gaudier stats but less success when the games matter most.


text:
Biosan Laboratories, Inc.
1950 Tobsal Court, Warren, MI 48091-1351
Phone (586) 755-8970 / (800) 253-6800
Fax (586) 755-8978
We offer microbiological test kits such as dipslides and microbiology laboratory testing services for the following:
Read More...
Biosan Laboratories is an environmental microbiological laboratory that was founded by Dr. Harold Rossmoore in 1973. Our initial microbiology lab was in Ferndale, MI where we remained until 1994. As the microbiology laboratory grew, we realized that many of our customers would benefit from the ability to perform microbial testing of their own processes on-site. In response to this need, our microbiology lab developed the Sani-Check B dip slide for detecting bacteria, the Sani-Check BF dipslide for detecting bacteria and fungi, and the Sani-Check SRB test kit for culturing sulfate reducing bacteria. In addition to these test kits, our microbiology lab has recently developed the Sani-Check APB test kit for detecting acid producing bacteria. Read More...


text:
Remember Michele Sjolander? Well, you can read about her in MERS, Endorsed Note Get SLAMMED by Kings County NY Supreme Court | BANK of NEW YORK v. ALDERAZI –
As well as in ARIZONA BK COURT ORDERS BONY MELLON TO PRODUCE ORIGINAL CUSTODIAN DOCUMENTS
and finally in the FULL DEPOSITION OF BANK OF AMERICA ROBO SIGNER RENEE D. HERTZLER
Fresh off the depo wagon comes her Full Deposition courtesy of 4closurefraud.
Q It's employees at Recontrust that stamp the
7 endorsements on the notes in general, including this one;
8 is that right?
9 A Yes.
10 Q And you've seen that taking place?
11 A Yes.
12 Q In Simi Valley?
13 A Yes.
14 Q Is there some type of manual or set of
15 instructions?
16 A They have my power of attorney.
17 Q Well, okay. That's not what I'm asking. But I
18 do want to know about that. But what I'm saying: Is
19 there some sort of manual or instructions or –
20 A If you want to know the desk procedures, you
21 would have to speak with an associate of Recontrust.
22 Q Okay. Okay. Sorry. I'm just reading the notes
23 again. Now, I'm going to try to explain this. I may
24 have to do it a couple of times, but just bear with me.
25 And you've been very helpful so far. I appreciate it,
1 there it sat is I guess what I'm asking.
2 A In safekeeping, yes.
3 Q Okay. All right. Now, this is something you
4 touched on a minute ago. I'm going to try to phrase it
5 in a way that makes sense. Who — and let's just deal
6 with Countrywide in 2007.
7 Who is allowed to be an endorser as you were? I
8 mean, who — let me leave it at that and see if that
9 makes sense to you.
10 A I don't know what you're asking.
11 Q What I'm saying is: Are there people other than
12 you at Countrywide in 2007 whose names would appear on a
13 note as an endorsement?
14 A For Countrywide Home Loans, Inc.?
15 Q Yes.
16 A In 2007, I was the endorser for Countrywide Home
17 Loans, Inc.
18 Q Okay. And, I mean, can you explain why you, in
19 particular? I mean, how is that established?
20 A Just lucky.
21 Q I mean, I know this is going to sound silly, but
22 was there some competition for it? Did they come to you
23 and say, "Ms. Sjolander, we choose you?" I mean, how did
24 you come to be designated the person?
25 A It is the position I held within Countrywide.
1 Q Okay. And did you know that going in; you know,
2 if you take this job, you're going to be the endorser?
3 Was that explained to you at some point?
4 A I knew that my previous boss was the endorser,
5 yes.
6 Q Oh, okay. Now, we covered this, that other
7 people stamped your signature and the other — her name
8 is — oh, it's Laurie Meder?
9 A Meder.
10 Q Okay. So other people have a stamp with her
11 name and your name on it, and how do those people have
12 the authority to put her name and your name on a note for
13 it to be an effective endorsement?
14 A With my name, they have a power of attorney.
15 Q And what does the power of attorney say?
16 A The power of attorney allows them to place my
17 endorsement stamp on collateral.
18 Q How do they come to have your power of attorney?
19 A I gave that to them.
20 Q But, I mean, in what sort of process? You know,
21 how does someone at Recontrust — I mean, I understand
22 that a power of attorney document exists, I'm assuming;
23 correct?
24 A Yes.
25 Q And how do those people come to operate under
1 it?
2 A It's common, standard practice.
3 Q I may not be asking it quite right. I guess
4 what I'm asking is: Do they — the people who actually
5 use the stamps — is there more than one, or is there
6 just one stamp? I said "stamps" multiple. Is there only
7 one, or is there –
8 A No, there's multiple stamps.
9 Q So do these people sign something that says, "I
10 understand I'm under Michele Sjolander's power of
11 attorney"?
12 A Once again, you would have to look at the desk
13 procedures for Recontrust, and you would have to talk to
14 someone at Recontrust.
15 Q So that's your understanding that you — did you
16 sign a power of attorney document?
17 A Yes, I did.
18 Q And, I mean, can you explain just in — you
19 know, in general, not word for word what it says, but
20 what does it purport to grant as power of attorney?
21 A It grants Recontrust. They can endorse and
22 assign notes on behalf of myself.
23 Q And do you know if this applies to a select
24 group of people?
25 A I do not have — I would have to read the
1 document.
2 Q Okay. But just to clarify, once again, you
3 don't actually know the legal mechanism by which these
4 people with the stamps operate under this power of
5 attorney?
6 A As I said, I would have to go back through all
7 of the documentation that surrounds the power of
8 attorney, and Recontrust has desk procedures, and it
9 would be their procedures for them to assign that, to
10 place the stamp on the collateral.
11 Q And this was a procedure in 2007, what we're
12 talking here is 2007?
13 A Correct.
14 Q And to the present?
15 A No.
4 Q All of it, okay. Let's see. Now, you mentioned
5 documents that you had reviewed. The AS-400, that's a —
6 can you just refresh my memory? What was that again?
7 A A servicing system.
8 Q A servicing system, okay. Now, when you looked
9 over these records and documents before that you
10 mentioned before, where were you when you looked at
11 those?
12 A Simi Valley.
13 Q Simi Valley. And where were the documents that
14 you were looking at?
15 A At that time, they were brought into my office.
16 Q Do you have any idea where they were brought
17 from?
18 A They were printed off the system.
19 Q Printed off the system.
20 A From one of my associates.
21 Q Is that a computer system?
22 A As I said, the collateral tracking is printed
23 off the AS-400, which is our servicing system. The
24 investor number commitment was printed off — it's a
25 web-based application from secondary marketing. It's
1 printed off of that. The note was printed off of our
2 imaging system. And I think in this case I asked for a
3 copy of the note showing the endorsements, because in our
4 imaging system it does not — the note is actually imaged
5 prior to my endorsement stamp being in place. So I had
6 my associate contact the bank, which is Recontrust, to
7 get a copy of the original note to show my endorsement
8 stamps, because in imaging it is not shown.
9 Q So if a copy is made of a note that you got from
10 Recontrust, it doesn't have an endorsement? Is that what
11 you're saying?
12 A From our bank, it does. In our imaging system,
13 it does not. The note is imaged prior to an
14 endorsement — in '07, the note is imaged prior to an
15 endorsement being placed on the note. So if you look in
16 our imaging system, you wouldn't see the chain of title
17 of endorsement.
18 Q And where would you see that?
19 A On the original note.
20 Q Which is — which is where?
21 A In this case, it was in the Fannie Mae vault in
22 Simi Valley, California.
23 Q We'll come back to the Fannie Mae vault. Okay.
24 So they're printed off in AS-400 imaging system.
25 A AS-400 and the imaging system are two different
2 Q Oh, you said AS-400 is a servicing software
3 platform of some type?
4 A Yes.
5 Q And the imaging system, what — can you describe
6 that?
7 A It's a —
8 Q You know —
9 A It's when all of the collateral documents and
10 credit file documents are imaged after the closing of a
11 loan, and they are put in our imaging system, and we can
12 go into the system by loan number and pull up the
13 documentation of a loan —
14 Q I guess —
15 A — if you have access to the system.
16 Q But imaging, I mean, I'm imagining a scanner of
17 some sort. Is that what it is?
18 A It is not my area. I cannot tell you.
continue below…
[ipaper docId=86409969 access_key=key-1jwwt069dbt1xut3euia height=600 width=600 /]
© 2010-19 FORECLOSURE FRAUD | by DinSFLA. All rights reserved.


text:
Find out the value of your current car.
Colorado Kia Dealers
will help you estimate your current car's worth using the Kelley Blue
Book Trade-In Value Tool. Simply enter in the vehicle information and
have your trade-in value in just minutes.
From there, use our Kia
Payment Calculator to see how much the monthly payment will be for the
Kia model of your choice. Or apply for credit to get even closer to the
car of your dreams available at local Front Range Kia dealerships.


text:
Routing, Switching, Data Center, Wireless, Security Collaboration, Telepresence
NetApp Data Storage, Cloud Computing, Big Data Management, Virtualization
EMC2 Storage, Data Recovery, Information Management, Backup
VMware Virtualization, Server, Desktop, Public Cloud, Hybrid Cloud
Unified Communications, Contact Center, Conferencing, Mobility, Speech Analytics
Contact Center, Workload Management, Workforce Optimization, Self Service
Wimdows Server, SQL Server, Lync, Exchange Server, Dynamics
Proxy, Web Security, Content Analysis, Malware Analysis, Webfilter, Web Gateway
IT Consolidation, WAN Bandwidth Optimization, Application Acceleration
Load Balancer, Traffic Manager, Firewall, Web Gateway, Websafe
Database, Solaris, Linux, Cloud Management, SAN, NAS, Virtualization
Linux, Virtualization, Cloud Computing, Storage, Application Services
Customer Interaction Manager, Call Center Recording, Location Tracking.
Automatic Speech Recognition, Text to Speech, Vocalizer, Voice Biometrics
Routing, Switching, Security, Wireless, Network Management
Cloud, Mobility, Networking and Virtualization Technologies
Idris Usmani -DCUCI Training
This was one of the best workshops I have ever attended. The venue, materials & facilitation was excellent.
Ganesh - Sourcefire- SSIPS
Very interactive and participatory. Liked the way the training was structured along the lab.


text:
Events General Information
- It's for a good cause! A portion of event proceeds go to Spirit of Hope Children's Foundation Visit: www.spiritofhopechildrensfoundation.org
- Follow us on Facebook and Instagram to see fun event photos and get information in real time @DrinkEatRelax
- Must be 21 years of age to attend.
- Your tickets will be emailed to you, you should bring a printed copy of the PDF ticket that you received when you placed your order
- Valid ID is required.
- Events are rain or shine! All of our event features are under tents if the weather is rainy, but always a good idea to bring your rain boots if it's going to be wet.
- If you want a bottle of water, they are $2 and can be found at the Merchandise tent.
- Our event staff is here to help you! Please visit the show office on the day of the event if you have any questions.
- Alcohol Sampling. This is a sampling structured event. This means that you are given a tasting glass (if you purchased a tasting ticket) that will allow you to RESPONSIBLY enjoy all of the products featured at the show. These samples are all-you-care-to-taste from this sampling glass.
- Re-Entry. You can come and go, just make sure you get your hand stamped at the exit!
- Last Call is 20 minutes till the end of the event. We stop pouring alcohol at 15 minutes prior to the end of the event.
- Bottle and Glasses of Wine can be purchased ala carte.
- Last but not least (although the most important tip on this list) Please Drink Responsibly!
What to Bring
- Blankets & Chairs are welcomed and encouraged.
- Cash. Many of the vendors & food vendors will accept credit cards but to save yourself time and hassle, of having to track down an ATM if they do not, we recommend bringing cash.
- Valid ID. All guests entering will have their ID checked to verify that they are over the legal drinking age if they have purchased a tasting ticket
- Food & Drinks. Feel free to bring your own non-alcoholic beverages and snacks for the day. All bags and coolers will be subject to search.
What NOT to bring
- No pets. Service dogs are welcome but must register in advance and onsite upon arrival with all proper documentation.
- No weapons. All bags are subject to search by our security team.
- No outside alcohol or illegal substances. All bags and coolers are subject to search by our security team.
Military Discounts
- Visit the buy tickets page on www.DrinkEatRelax.com
- Add tickets to your cart.
- View your cart.
- Click on the RED LOGO "TROOPID" in the left hand corner of the View Cart page.
- You will go to a new window to enter your military information.
- Once approved by TROOPID a discount will be applied to your cart automatically.


text:
August 23, 2012
Sunrise on Semesters—Come celebrate with us!
Help us flip the switch on semesters at a
brief event early on the first day of
classes, Wednesday, August 29. After
several years of being just over the
horizon, semesters are finally dawning
and it's time to celebrate! Faculty, staff,
and students are invited to gather near
the Light Sails sculpture in the center of
campus beginning at 7:45 a.m. The
event, which includes the lighting of an
8-foot-tall, student-designed "switch"
sculpture, will conclude in time for you to get
to class or work at 8:00. Sunrise on Semesters
offers a unique way to herald a successful
college-wide initiative and a new era of student
success at Columbus State. After the event, you can
grab free coffee, breakfast munchies and an S2S
giveaway in the Welcome Tent. See you there!
Tasting the Future with Clawdette
Clawdette the Cougar visits with the chef from Parkhurst Dining Services at Capital University at Tuesday's Taste the Future. The event was very well attended with more than 1,000 guests enjoying specialties from local restaurants, clubs and foodservice establishments. Taste the Future is held annually to raise money for student scholarships. See more photos from Taste at the Columbus Underground site here: http://www.columbusunderground.com/photos-taste-the-future-2012 .
Textbook rental program launched
In response to student demand for less expensive textbooks and more textbook options, as well as supporting the campus initiative to make required learning materials more affordable, the Columbus State Bookstore is launching an in-store textbook rental program beginning Autumn Semester. The new term will be a test to gauge student interest, involving just a few titles, but high student participation is expected. The bookstore currently offers an online rental program, but financial aid students are unable to take advantage of this program. The new in-store rental program will be open to all students and they will be able to use their financial aid book allowance. The courses with books in the new rental program are Small Group Communication, Business Communication, Government and the Law, Legal Environment of Business, Introduction to Physics, Introduction to Psychology, and Abnormal Psychology.
New Autumn Semester textbooks still being stocked
While many of the textbooks for Autumn Semester are in stock, the Bookstore will be receiving new titles right up until the start of classes. The Bookstore is posting a daily out-of-stock report at www.cscc.edu/bookstore where students will be able to see the estimated time of delivery for out-of-stock books.
Math and Science college readiness discussed
Columbus State hosted an Ohio Board of Regents meeting of the statewide Math and Science College Readiness Panel August 17. The meeting, co-chaired by Gerald Mueller, professor of Mathematics, and Bob Midden, professor of Chemistry at Bowling Green State University, is part of an ongoing effort for this panel of math and science faculty members from around the state. They have been meeting, with assistance from OBR staff, to discuss and develop expectations for college readiness for first year math and science courses without the need for remediation. T.J. Duda, associate professor in Mathematics, is also on the panel.
The OBR's goal for the panel is to recommend to the presidents of the public institutions a set of college readiness standards, assessments, and placement benchmarks for math and science (as well as for reading and writing by another panel) for them to consider for adoption by the end of this year. The work is being coordinated by the Chancellor in response to implementation of HB 153.
Parking lots closed for maintenance
The Parking Garage will be closed for maintenance on Friday, August 24, as will Lots 33-S and 14-S. On Sunday, August 26, the 10 – VH and 11-S lots will be closed. On Monday, August 27, the closed lots will be 20-S and 27-S.


text:
On this week's The Line it is Drawn, Comic Book Resources asked artists to place comic book characters in music videos. We're partial to Marco D'Alfonso's Walking Dead/"Single Ladies" mashup, with Michonne's zombie companions as her backup dancers.
There are more characters playing video star at The Line it is Drawn, like Cynthia "Thea" Rodgers' 1950s DC characters starring in Weezer's "Buddy Holly."
The Line it is Drawn #137 – Comic Book Characters in Classic Music Videos! [Comics Should Be Good via Xombie DIRGE]


text:
SML Paris
Description from Amazon FRANCE :
Cornet en Sib, série Prime de SML Paris, Vernis.
All items :
Instruments pour CORNET
© 2000 - 2019
Home - New realises - Composers
Legal notice - Full version
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text:
With the sixth pick of the AAA phase, the Mets picked RHP Ronny Morla from the Cubs. Morla, who turned 22 in May, is listed at a lanky 6'3" and 190 pounds and struck out 86 while walking just 20 in 78.2 innings with the Peoria Chiefs in the Midwest League in 2010. He was part of the package the Cubs received for sending Jake Fox to the A's last December. Baseball America had him sitting 91-92 mph and thought "his changeup would seem to have a bit more potential than his slider, but if he commands at least one of them he could find success as a reliever."Look for him to start 2011 in the advanced-a St. Lucie bullpen.
With their second pick in the AAA phase, the Mets picked RHP Richard (Ricky) Brooks from the White Sox. The Sox moved Brooks to the bullpen when he graduated from the South Atlantic League to the advanced-A Carolina League in 2007. He's coming off a 2010 in which he had a 4.54 ERA for AA Birmingham in the Southern League. His strikeout to walk ratio was a sterling 3.8 (38 K/10 BB) in 41.2 innings, but he was awfully hittable in the zone with 54 hits allowed in 41.2 innings pitched. Or he just had a crazy-high .378 BABIP. In 2009, he had a .222 BABIP in 37 innings at AA.
Brooks grew up in the Buffalo area and attended North Tonawanda High School, so if he joins the Bisons, he will enjoy a nice homecoming of sorts. He talked about the transition to pro ball in this 2008 piece in the Niagra Gazette. The White Sox drafted Brooks twice: in the third round of the 2005 draft out of East Carolina and in the 11th round in 2003 out of NTHS.
The bet here is that he breaks camp in the Buffalo Bisons' bullpen.
In the AA phase, the Mets drafted CF Quintin Berry. The left-handed hitting Berry hit .210/.306/.284 in 99 games split between the Eastern League and the Texas League in 2010 as a 25 year old. Berry's a speedster, but hit above .275 just once, in the SAL in 2007. He stole at least 48 bases every year from 2007 - 2009 before swiping 27 in 2010. I think he fits as a piece of insurance for the AA outfield.


text:
- Library Overview
- Library User Information
- Collections Overview
- Library Catalog
- Programs & Services
- Research Resources
- Collections Online
- Rights & Reproductions
- Donations and Support
- Featured Collections
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- Historical Investigations Portal
- Onsite School Programs
- Virtual Field Trip
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- Homeschool Programs
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- Summer Teacher Institute
Did you know...
Doris M. Johnson Project: We Had a Job to Do: Marylanders at Home and Abroad during World War II, 2008-2009
Browse an inventory of the 12 oral histories in the collection
The Doris M. Johnson Project: We Had a Job to Do: Marylanders at Home and Abroad During World War II was a joint endeavor of the Maryland Historical Society and Doris M. Johnson High School in Baltimore. Students from the high school conducted research for the interviews through the MdHS's Student Research Center for History (SeaRCH), utilizing the primary source material on WW II contained within collection. The project coincided with and complemented "Maryland Veterans of World War II," an exhibition held at the Maryland Historical Society through 2009.
The goal of the project was to introduce the students involved to World War II's "impact on the peoples and institutions of Maryland." Students wrote essays on different aspects of Maryland's role in World War II and conducted 11 oral histories with Maryland veterans of the Army's 29th Division, Merchant Mariners and Tuskegee Airmen. There is also a group interview with members of the American Rosie the Riveter Association. Please visit the project inventory for a summary of topics discussed for each interview.
The collection also contains one of the last interviews with historian and activist Howard Zinn before he passed away in January of 2010. Mr. Zinn, best known for his book A People's History of the Unites States, discusses his experiences as a bombardier during World War 2 as well as his anti-war activism during the Vietnam War. Specific topics discussed relating to Maryland include: Mr. Zinn's relationship with Phillip and Daniel Berrigan, the Baltimore Four, the Catonsville Nine, Viva House and Jonah House. Mr. Zinn's interview is also part of the Doris M. Johnson Project: Vietnam War Series, 2008.
Materials available for this project include audio and video recordings, biographical material, photographs, ephemera and other materials. Transcripts are available for 10 of the interviews. OH 9915, Victor Harvey Hodgin, Sr. has not been transcribed.
There is also a companion booklet containing 14 student research papers examining Maryland's role during World War II from various aspects. Topics include: Maryland's prisoner of war camps, the Glenn L. Martin Company, Aberdeen Proving Ground, civil rights activism in wartime Baltimore, and more. The booklet also contains an introduction to the project, photographs, and short biographies of the student interviewers.
To make a request to view transcripts or other materials from the Doris M. Johnson Project please contact the Special Collections Department at email@example.com, or speak to the Special Collections Librarian at the desk in the library.


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In Disney's A Christmas Carol Ebenezer Scrooge is at his scroogiest. He shouts and bah humbugs until, as the story always goes, he returns home on Christmas Eve to be confronted by a series of ghosts. Little in the now all too familiar tale has been changed for this particular retelling, but it's a story which never tires or grows old. The specifics haven't changed but the look of the thing has, with Director Robert Zemeckis and his team of whiz-bang effects artists turning it into a blend of motion capture and computer animation, the same process which Zemeckis applied to The Polar Express back in 2004.
Except unlike The Polar Express, in which the animation resulted in something unintentionally creepy, when A Christmas Carol is creepy it's mostly only because it wants to be. The difference isn't the quality of animation used so much as a shift in the types of characters focused on. Simply put, Zemeckis' animation process is an utter failure when it comes to rendering children. Without wrinkles or facial hair to hide the too perfect sheen of obvious digitizing, their attempts to create photorealistic characters with digitizing resulted in something terrifying, re-animated puppets without strings, demon-possessed, dead-eyed freaks spat out from hell and into a Christmas movie. But in A Christmas Carol most of their animation efforts are focused on Scrooge, a mass of wrinkles and scowls which hide the flaws in their process. And when they're not focused on Ebenezer their skills are put to work on creatively spooky ghosts who, luckily, are meant to be creepy and are.
What I'm getting at here is that the animation works well enough to create a brand new world for a very familiar tale to play itself out in. It's most successful though when we're spending time solely with Jim Carrey, whose face and voice were used to construct not only Ebenezer Scrooge, but three of the movie's four ghosts. In essence Ebenezer spends much of the movie talking to himself, though you'd never know it unless you stick around for the credits. Carrey's work here is pitch perfect, and if the movie falters it's only when we step away from him to the glassy-eyed stare of Tiny Tim or some other pitiful soul encountered in Scrooge's journey through past, present and future.
Those moments spent watching the Cratchits or enduring Ebenezer's tedious nephew never quite ring true. In the classic Christmas Carol tale these should be tear-jerkers and, of course, from Scrooge they elicit a strong emotional reaction. But they never really connect with the audience, we're too engrossed in the flashy animation surrounding Scrooge's travels and those potentially resonate scenes end up being too rushed for us to latch on to whatever it is that's happening in them. And of course every now and then a kid pops up on the screen and yep, Tiny Tim is unintentionally creepy. He limps around on his crutches shouting Christmas cheer as if he's been spat from hell to bludgeon Santa Claus to death with a burning Yule log. Luckily, Tim's scenes are blissfully brief.
Too I can't help but wonder if this might be a movie better seen without the 3D element. It was originally conceived as a 3D movie and at times it works brilliantly, but in my showing at least, the picture often suffered from poor lighting. There are places where things become truly dark, as Scrooge stumbles his way through the night, when the image being reflected on the screen just wasn't quite up to the task of fighting it's way through the polarized filters on my 3D spectacles. That may, however, have been the fault of my projectionist and not the film itself. Let me know what you find when you see it.
Ultimately it's Carrey that carries the day and while Zemeckis may not have created a newly classic take on an already classic story, he's crafted one that's well worth watching. The animation is lively, the effects creative, and A Christmas Carol's fresh, creative take on the look (if not the substance) of Ebenezer's ghostly instructors is sure to frighten and delight in equal parts. Charles Dickens' classic story hasn't been revitalized but it has been faithfully and capably recreated. For moviegoers seeking a comfortable Christmas fix in a holiday season steeped with the familiarity of never weary traditions, Disney's take On A Christmas Carol is ready and able.


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Senators threaten Hagel filibuster
Some Senate Republicans are prepared to filibuster Chuck Hagel's nomination to become the next secretary of defense, a rare maneuver to block a Cabinet-level nominee that demonstrates the lingering hostility from GOP senators toward a man who used to serve with them.
Hagel, a former Nebraska GOP senator for a dozen years, still appears likely to eventually garner the votes for Senate confirmation when Republican opponents force Democrats to jump through procedural hoops to move toward a final vote.
Story Continued Below
( Also on POLITICO: Reid 'confident' GOP won't filibuster Hagel)
But the filibuster threat — reiterated Monday by Sen. Jim Inhofe, the top Republican on the Armed Services Committee — would make Hagel just the third Cabinet nominee in history to require 60 votes to overcome a filibuster on the Senate floor. The other two nominees were President Ronald Reagan's 1987 choice to head his Commerce Department, C. William Verity, and President George W. Bush's 2006 choice of Dirk Kempthorne to be secretary of the interior.
Even if Hagel cracks the 60-vote threshold, the GOP will have sent a message to President Barack Obama: Nobody gets a free pass on confirmations.
Never before has a defense secretary nominee required 60 votes on the floor to overcome a filibuster threat, the closest being Bush's 2006 pick to be an assistant secretary of defense, Peter Flory, according to the Senate's historical office.
"Yes, I will," Inhofe said when asked by POLITICO whether he would filibuster Hagel's nomination, adding that he didn't know that the move would be a first.
Of course, it's still possible that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) cut a deal and a Hagel filibuster is avoided — or that Inhofe, or another GOP senator, backs down from their threats.
But the filibuster warnings are the latest twist in a rocky confirmation process that would be likely to weaken the new defense secretary's relationship with Congress at a key time for the Pentagon. They come after Hagel has endured blistering attacks from Republicans on past statements and positions — on Iran, Israel, Iraq and nuclear arms control — and after a shaky confirmation hearing failed to quell GOP concerns. Republicans have demanded more information on the source of his income after he left office, which Democrats have called unfair.
The criticism started even before Hagel was nominated, and the unusual months-long confirmation battle has been fought with campaign-style media buys, opposition research and op-ed columns. On Tuesday, Republicans are prepared to cede a tactical defeat, letting Hagel pass through the Armed Services Committee on what's expected to be a partisan vote.
But that doesn't mean Hagel's GOP foes, many of whom are his former Senate friends, are giving up the fight.
On Monday, Inhofe made clear his threat to require 60 votes for Hagel to win confirmation, a precedent-setting move certain to be replicated by future Senates.
"Sen. Inhofe is prepared to take necessary measures to ensure there is a 60-vote threshold," Inhofe spokeswoman Donelle Harder said.
That threat has been echoed by other Senate Republicans, like South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, who has publicly warned that he'll place a hold on Hagel's nomination until the Obama administration provides a more detailed accounting of last year's deadly attacks in Benghazi.


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Nanodots—those tiny magnetic pellets that you can sculpt with—have reached new heights and widths. To celebrate the Golden Globes, their creators linked over 550,000 pellets into a 600lb award statuette. It's not real, Jennifer Love Hewitt!
The faux-Globe shattered the previous record of 32,786 magnetic dots, although it seems a little bit like the contest is basically "who's got the most nanodots," and that the Nanodots company is probably going to win every time. But! That doesn't mean we can't admire the big bright shiny magnets. It also puts J-Love about as close as she's going to come to one of these Major Awards, especially after the criminal injustice of too, too many Ghost Whisperer snubs. [Nanodots]


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Back from the Undead, and I wish I'd gotten to it sooner. Of course, it ends in a cliffhanger, so perhaps it's a good thing there's only around three months until Undead to the World comes out. Here's the blurb for Back from the Undead:
Another work day, another case for the Bloodhound Files. But this time, Jace is truly stumped: How is she, a mere human, supposed to penetrate the dark heart of a child-trafficking ring of pire orphans—one that turns out to be part of a blood-farm operation, in the crime-ridden border city of Vancouver, British Columbia? Jace is in over her head. But with the help of her former lover, Tanaka—whose family is one of the last samurai clans left in Japan—she stands a chance at seeking justice for the condemned children… Until the Yakuza tries to put an end to Jace's investigation. Jace risks more than death—this time, it's the fate of her very soul that's in danger . . .
I both enjoyed and didn't enjoy Back from the Undead. It was another wild ride, but there were some pacing issues this time that had me pushing forward, hoping things got better. Also, I expected some things to be answered from the previous book, and those things were put on hold, so we'll have to wait for another book (or longer, perhaps never) to get those answers. As for the writing elements:
- The plot was once again original and thought provoking.
- Pacing had some serious issues in a few places, but was fine for the most of the book.
- Prose and dialogue were very well done. Love the humor in this series, as well as the off-the-wall descriptions. Well done.
- Character development continues to be well done.
- World-building continues to be exceptional.
- Book Rating: Back from the Undead: 8 of 10
- Series Rating: 9 of 10
- Dying Bites
- Death Blows
- Killing Rocks
- Better Off Undead
- Back from the Undead
- Undead to the World (Nov 27, 2012)


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Welcome to Watch List, where we identify five things on TV to watch while you sit at home and commemorate the one-month anniversary of the BP Gulf oil spill. HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, EVERYONE! Has it really been that long? Boy, I remember when the spill was but a mere leak. LET'S GO!
BIGGEST LOSER (FINALE) – 8:00PM (NBC) It's the finale tonight, and a new fatty champion will be crowned. I have some experience in this whole weight loss thing, and I have to tell you that the most important thing to remember about losing weight is this: It's not that hard if you don't think of it as hard. If you plan on dropping 50 pounds and you're like, "Oh man, this is gonna stink. I can't do this," you've already failed. But if you treat it casually in your mind, if you don't think of it as some big huge deal, it helps. Trust me. If these tubbies can do it, you can too. ANTICIPATION: NOT AS FAT!
AMERICAN IDOL – 8:00PM (FOX) We're down to the final two. I'll allow my mom to evaluate the final pairing. On Crystal Bowersox: "She has a nice voice, I guess. But who's gonna buy a record from HER?" And now Lee DeWyze: "Some dope that never smiles." And there you have it in a nutshell. My mom is far more concise than Kara ever will be. ANTICIPATION: SOON OUT OF ITS MISERY!
GLEE – 9:00PM (FOX) Tonight is the big Lady Gaga episode, and the Gleesters will be tackling "Poker Face" (MA MA MA MOW) and "Bad Romance." Expect lots of goofy costumes. Also tonight, the boys from the show do "Shout It Out Loud" by KISS. But they won't do "Lick It Up," which is sooo much more subtle of a song. ANTICIPATION: CAN'T READ MY TV FACE!
LAKERS/SUNS – 9:00PM (TNT) Marv Albert interviews the President at halftime tonight. ANTICIPATION: YES! AND IT COUNTS!
DANCING WITH THE STARS – 9:00PM (ABC) Your winner is crowned tonight, and loogit who predicted the final three expertly. Do not mess with me when it comes to dancing prognostication, people. I am the Jimmy the Greek of the ballroom curcuit. JAZZ HANDS! ANTICIPATION: GO SEXY ERIN!


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Because this year's NBA All-Star Game is in Houston and because Houston is home to the Mission Control centre (and because Nike loves to have an excuse to make special edition sneakers), Nike is designing shoes that look like they're from outer space. They'd look great on aliens.
But the shoes will be worn by the best basketball players in the world: LeBron James, Kobe Bryant and Kevin Durant. The idea behind the design was to create planets for each player and design their shoes to represent those planets. The Lebron X was made to look like a volcanic surface, the Kobe 8 System is supposed to be some sort of volatile burning ice and the KD V represents dark matter (though I personally think the KD V looks more like green Martian boots).
Nike Sportswear is also making an 'Area 72' series for its casual shoes. The Nike Blazer Mid, Nike Vandal, Nike Lunar Force 1, Nike Barkley Posite Max and Nike Air Force Max 2013 will all get some extraterrestrial galaxy design that GLOW IN THE DARK. If you're a sneakerhead, you'll notice the Raygun character on all the NSW shoes too. All the shoe designs are a little loud but I guess that's what you get when you design stuff that's not from our world.
The Nike space shoes will be available starting February 14. A nice and romantic Valentine's Day present, if you ask me. Hint hint. [Nike, Nike]


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Watch the full interview.
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Opinions expressed by blog contributors do not necessarily represent those of Corpus Christi Watershed.
Corpus Christi Watershed is a 501(c)3 public charity dedicated to exploring and embodying as our calling
the relationship of religion, culture, and the arts. This non-profit organization employs the creative
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About Undergraduate Research
Undergraduate research, scholarly and creative activities are the hallmark of a complete liberal arts education. By engaging in a project of original scholarship, students apply classroom knowledge to real world situations. Students develop critical thinking and communication skills, the skills necessary to be engaged citizens and for successful careers in the 21st century. At UIS, faculty work closely with students on these projects, fulfilling the promise of "faculty who know you." Students and faculty at UIS are collaborating on projects of discovery, creativity, and application, increasing human knowledge and promoting learning.
The University of Illinois Springfield supports undergraduate research, scholarly and creative activities through a number of programs. Some of these programs are in individual departments, others are sponsored by college deans. Student Affairs and Academic Affairs have programs open to any student on campus. This website provides information about all of these programs, as well as resources on how to do undergraduate research.
The culmination of a successful student project is a professional presentation, reading, showing, or performance. The annual Student Technology Arts and Research Symposium (STARS) showcases the products of our student's research, scholarly and creative works. Past and current schedules can be found on this website. The Undergraduate Research Steering Committee is here to help coordinate campus programs to promote undergraduate research, scholarly and creative activities for all students at UIS. Please contact us with questions and suggestions.
Keenan Dungey, Director
Undergraduate Research Support Program
University of Illinois Springfield
Phone: (217) 206-7345
Email: email@example.com