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Friday, November 12, 2010
We often get questions from webmasters about how we index content designed for Flash Player, so we wanted to take a moment to update you on some of our latest progress.
About two years ago we announced that through a collaboration with Adobe we had significantly improved Google's capability to index Flash technology based content. Last year we followed up with an announcement that we had added external resource loading to our SWF indexing capabilities. This work has allowed us to index all kinds of textual content in SWF files, from Flash buttons and menus to self-contained Flash technology based websites. Currently almost any text a user can see as they interact with a SWF file on your site can be indexed by Googlebot and used to generate a snippet or match query terms in Google searches. Additionally, Googlebot can also discover URLs in SWF files and follow those links, so if your SWF content contains links to pages inside your website, Google may be able to crawl and index those pages as well.
Last month we expanded our SWF indexing capabilities thanks to our continued collaboration with Adobe and a new library that is more robust and compatible with features supported by Flash Player 10.1. Additionally, thanks to improvements in the way we handle JavaScript, we are also now significantly better at recognizing and indexing sites that use JavaScript to embed SWF content. Finally, we have made improvements in our video indexing technology, resulting in better detection of when a page has a video and better extraction of metadata such as alternate thumbnails from Flash technology based videos. All in all, our SWF indexing technology now allows us to see content from SWF files on hundreds of millions of pages across the web.
While we've made great progress indexing SWF content over the past few years, we're not done yet. We are continuing to work on our ability to index deep linking (content within a Flash technology based application that is linked to from the same application) as well as further improving indexing of SWF files executed through JavaScript. You can help us improve these capabilities by creating unique links for each page that is linked from within a single Flash object and by submitting a Sitemap through Google Webmaster Tools.
We're excited about the progress we've made so far and we look forward to keeping you updated about further progress.


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Paying for college just got harder
One education publication dubbed it the "December surprise": Two days before Christmas, the Bush administration announced it was revising the formulas for its Pell Grants - the federal government's primary aid vehicle for America's neediest college students - in a way that may leave 1.3 million students receiving a smaller amount, and 90,000 off the rolls altogether.
The reality, of course, is a bit more complicated. The change was mandated by law, and updates the formula to rely on 2002 tax rolls instead of 1988 ones. The neediest students should remain unaffected, and the money saved opens up at least the possibility that the maximum amount of the grant could eventually be raised from $4,050, long considered inadequate by many education advocates.
But the fact that, at a time of economic hardship, the country is tightening one of the few extensive grant programs available to low-income students raises broader questions about college affordability - and whose responsibility it is to make higher education a possibility. A vast majority of students relies on some combination of grants and loans to finance their education, and as the loan burden increases some are choosing to take fewer classes, forgo a four-year education, or skip college completely. The Pell Grant news is only one piece of a maze that's becoming increasingly tricky for many students to navigate.
"One thing that seems evident is that since the 1980s there's been a general shift in the public's and in policymakers' attitudes toward higher education, where they now believe it's an individual benefit instead of a societal benefit," says Ross Hodel, director of the Center for the Study of Educational Policy at Illinois State University. "That results in less government effort to help with higher education, and the feeling that the individual ought to contribute more. The old contract, where a student was paying roughly a third of the higher-ed costs, is now pretty much gone. Now the tuition-payer pays over half."
Since 1973, the Pell Grant has been the cornerstone of the federal government's student aid. Each year, millions of low-income Americans apply for assistance through the program. In 2006, according to the American Council on Education (ACE), it will provide $12.4 billion in grants - ranging from $400 to $4,050 - to more than 5 million undergraduates.
The changes will take effect next fall. Even with the revisions, the government estimates there will be about 25,000 more Pell Grant recipients than this year, simply because so many more students are applying. But some 90,000 students who would qualify under the current formula - mostly from families earning between $25,000 and $40,000 a year, according to ACE - may no longer get any money, and many more students will see their grants reduced by $100 or $300.
"It's what most of us would agree is a relatively inconsequential amount of money," says Brian Fitzgerald, staff director of the Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance. "But it's on top of an existing gap, and the effect in cumulative terms is much greater."
He and others worry about the "trickle-down" effect. Because many state-grant programs rely on the same tax formulas, the net change for some students can quickly become $1,000, instead of just $200 or $300. And even a few hundred dollars can mean a lot to some students, requiring them to work more hours, cut their number of classes, or enroll in a different type of college.
"Think about the student who is going somewhere like Aims Community College in Greeley Colo., where tuition is very minimal - $400 can be a lot to them," says Chris Simmons, assistant director of government relations at ACE. "I wish there had been more discussion or public debate about this, but in the end, the Department of Education was following the law. You can't blame them for that."
Mr. Fitzgerald, too, acknowledges the need for updating the Pell formulas, but preferred other solutions to the one chosen. His committee suggested phasing in the change over two years, which would have cost $150 million, or doing a more sweeping, one-time adjustment to eliminate some of the inequities in the way the grant program weighs state taxes.
Currently, it takes into account the amount of income tax and property taxes families pay in each state, but not other burdens, like sales tax or fees. Congress, Fitzgerald says, decided both options were too expensive.
In defense of the Pell decision, the House Education and Workforce Committee issued a statement underlining the fact that Pell grant funding is at an all-time high, and noting that without the changes, it would be impossible to increase the maximum grant to the neediest students, since the Pell budget shortfall has continued to grow.
The bigger question for students goes beyond just one grant. College affordability has hit what some call a "perfect storm" involving rising tuition, decreasing state funding, fewer student-aid options, and changing demographics.
"This decade, we'll see the largest generation in the history of the nation enrolling in college," says Fitzgerald. By 2010, some 32 million will attend college, and increasing numbers are minority students, often with more financial needs. His committee found that the average low-income student faces a $4,000 gap between their student aid and the cost of college. As they struggle to work more - occasionally seeing aid reduced as they report job earnings - "it turns into a death spiral for a lot of students," he says.
With so many sources of grants and loans either frozen or diminished, many are turning to private loan companies, which often charge higher interest rates and are exploding with business.
Last week, Sallie Mae - the largest student-loan company, created by Congress in 1972 - completed its privatization four years ahead of schedule. The company manages more than $98 billion in loans, and recently made an offer to buy Pennsylvania's state-run loan business for $1 billion, but was turned down.
Some experts worry, though, about students' growing reliance on loans and the repayment burden they shoulder when they graduate.
"There seems to be an effort to make the loan program the program to provide access to college, but that's not going to work for some low-income students, who have difficulty taking out a loan, or where it's anathema to families to borrow," says Sheila Pruden, an independent student financial-aid policy consultant in Illinois. "Education is the great equalizer, the way people get into the middle class. It's in the federal interest."

subset: commoncrawl


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7 February
From Tolkien Gateway
(Redirected from February 7)
Events that occurred on 7 February.
On Earth[edit | edit source]
- 1952 - The Inklings have dinner at C.S. Lewis's house, in the company of Dr. Firor of John Hopkins University. The evening was described by Tolkien as "like a glimpse of old times: quiet and rational (since Hugo was not asked)."
- 1968 - The third day of filming J.R.R. Tolkien for the documentary Tolkien in Oxford.
- 1988 - Author Lin Carter dies.
- 1995 - Actor Tom Glynn-Carney is born.
- 2008 - "C.S. Lewis, the Inklings, and the Call to Christian Community" conference, featuring Tom Shippey.
- 2020 - Actor Orson Bean dies.
In Arda[edit | edit source]
- The Fellowship of the Ring rests in Lothlórien.


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Scotland 2014
Our 'trip of a lifetime'! An amazing adventure from start to finish. Our first week was in Scotland and it was a busy one. We hit the ground running every single day ... so the photos are a collection of snapshots. Oh how I'd love to go back with enough time to sit in the Highlands and wait for that perfect light! Maybe next time ....Read More


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James Madison on the "sagacious and monied few" who are able to "harvest" the benefits of government regulations (1787)
Found in The Federalist (Gideon ed.)
In Federalist Paper no. 62, James Madison (1751-1836) observes that every piece of government legislation opens up opportunities for profit by a "sagacious and monied few" to take advantage of their less well-informed fellow citizens:
Another effect of public instability, is the unreasonable advantage it gives to the sagacious, the enterprising, and the monied few, over the industrious and uninformed mass of the people. Every new regulation concerning commerce or revenue, or in any manner affecting the value of the different species of property, presents a new harvest to those who watch the change, and can trace its consequences; a harvest, reared not by themselves, but by the toils and cares of the great body of their fellow citizens. This is a state of things in which it may be said, with some truth, that laws are made for the few, not for the many.
It should not be surprising to see many public choice insights in the writings of the Founding Fathers of the American Constitution. They were accutely aware of the self-interested activities of legislators and their allies in commerce and industry. Here we have an excellent example of this kind of analysis more commonly associated with the modern Public Choice school of economics pioneered by Tullock and Buchanan. Madison uses the analogy of "harvesting" to describe the behavior of well-informed and politically well-connected individuals who are able to extract "rents" from the opportunities opened up by government regulations and legislation. These "sagacious and monied few" are able then to pocket their political "harvest" at the expence of the " industrious and uninformed mass of the people".


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"I was terrified to walk alone," said Christina at lunch on Day 1 of the Susan G. Komen 3-Day in Tampa Bay this year. "It wasn't the 60 miles that worried me; it was the large teams that were very organized." It's true. The Komen 3-Day participants sometimes have large teams that sometimes incorporate scores of walkers and their coordinated outfits which can turn heads on the streets of any American city. "I heard Stephaney say she was alone walking, and I said: 'Me too!'"
The two were handed pink balloons by an onlooker, so by lunch, I assumed they were walking together anyway. I was surprised to find out they started alone – and that it was their first time participating. Stephaney is walking for her mother who is now a 5-year survivor of breast cancer. "I saw a commercial on TV when I was getting ready for work earlier this year, and thought that I needed to celebrate my mother's health!" Both Stephaney and Christina were raised in 'military' families, both Air Force, so they quickly realized they had a lot to talk about.
Christina's mother is currently in treatment. "I loved the Opening Ceremony," said Christina. "I tried not to cry." The Tampa Bay 3-Day opened with a bang on Friday morning in Sand Park, and a glorious sunrise accented the booming cheers of the celebration. Christina was brought to the 3-Day by her father's 'shenanigans.' She mentioned, "We always knew about the walk, but this year, my father expressed interest. He then only helped ME with the fundraising! I was in the top ten for fundraising!" Walkers have to raise $2300 to participate in the 60-mile walk, and most find creative strategies to fundraise. "We opened up donations from my father's work, and they were more than generous." By Day 3, they still had pink balloons, explaining that since the beginning, it had become their thing. One of the girl's father went to a balloon shop to revive the symbol of their new 'team.' "The guy at the balloon shop just gave them to us, considering what we were doing!" the girls explained. They had written their mascots' names on the balloons: 'Wilson' and 'Henry Jr.' (The movie reference from the Tom Hanks film was apparent, but evidently 'Henry Jr' is just a loving nickname.)
They are anticipating some strong family support today at Closing Ceremony in Tampa Bay. Congratulate Stephaney and Christina on their first time walks this weekend!


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A logo represents a brand's image. It highlights its values and market position. Changing your logo can be a delicate transition. How can you ensure a smooth change? In January 2014, Grenoble Ecole de Management unveiled its new logo.
Caroline Cuny and Marianela Fornerino, professors at Grenoble Ecole de Management, and Julien Grobert, a lecturer at IAE Toulouse, studied the process of acceptance for the school's new logo over the past three years. The results of their study bring to light several factors that help ensure a smooth transition.
Caroline Cuny and Marianela Fornerino
In 2014, Grenoble Ecole de Management made a radical decision to leave behind its symbolic dolphin, which is a reference to the local region. The new logo was designed to convey the school's position at a Top 20 business school in Europe.
In May of 2016, the school continued this communication strategy by launching a wide-scale campaign to position the school as a reference both in France and abroad in terms of the management of technology, innovation and entrepreneurship. The campaign also aims to reaffirm the school's unique approach to teaching and creating an impact on business and society.
Resisting change is only natural
"Human resistance to change is a well documented fact even though it might present itself differently depending on the individual. In this case, resistance was based on our familiarity and affection for the brand. The more someone is familiar with the brand, the more a new logo can have an surprisingly negative impact.
As a result, you have to anticipate how the new logo will be perceived in relation to the brand's image." explains Caroline Cuny. As with other companies, Grenoble Ecole de Management's most loyal clients demonstrated the strongest attachment to the old logo.
Anticipating reactions to a new logo
To help overcome the gap between a new logo and a brand's image, the best solution is to involve clients in the process. The goal is to limit unexpected reactions from already loyal clients. The marketing department can help close this gap by communicating on the change before it happens. You have to explain what will change and why.
Another solution can be to test a new logo with a sampling of brand stakeholders. In such a case, it can be useful to rely on widespread social network communications. By mobilizing the target audience, you can invite them to be involved in the creation process. This is a great way to minimize any negative surprises when you officially launch a logo.
Studies confirm a new logo that matches the brand
The three researchers carried out a long term study to examine how the new logo matches the values communicated by the school. The first tests were done in June 2014, six months after the launch of the new logo. They tested the logo on newly admitted students with little attachment to the brand and last-year students more familiar with the brand. These first results indicated little connection between the new logo and the brand's values. However, testing continued into 2016 and overtime the connection between logo and values has been confirmed.
Logos that missed the mark!
Even the most prestigious companies have had to deal with strong resistance to change. In every case, the common factor has been a lack of communication and explanation before the change. For example, GAP decided to radically change its logo in 2010. But the company had to make a quick U-turn seven days later given the aggressive reactions by customers.
The brand had not anticipated or explained the reasons behind this change. Both Apple and Starbucks faced strong resistance to change when they introduced new logos. Instead of back peddling, the two brands decided to carry out important communications campaigns to explains the reasons for the change.


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%TAG{fred='bad' "sad" joe="mad"}%
An attribute set is a map containing an entry for each parameter. The
default parameter (unnamed quoted string) is named
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Attributes declared later in the string will override those of the same
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the first instance of a setting is always taken.
As well as standard TWiki syntax (parameter values double-quoted)
it also parses single-quoted values, unquoted spaceless
values, spaces around the =, and commas as well as spaces separating values,
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the extended syntax can be turned off by passing the 'strict' parameter
This class replaces the old TWiki::extractNameValuePair and
$string - String containing attribute specification
$friendly - if true, the parse will be according to the extended syntax pioneered by the original Contrib::Attrs. Otherwise it will be strict as per traditional TWiki syntax.
my $attrs = new TWiki::Attrs('the="time \\"has come", "the walrus" said to=speak of=\'many \\'things\', 1);In this example:
the will be
time "has come
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remove the attribute is no longer defined.
|Attribute to get


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Pampers Swaddlers Size N Newborn Diapers
4.8(54790)View All Reviews
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Product Details
Wrap your baby in our softest comfort with Pampers Swaddlers diapers. Designed to keep skin dry and healthy, Pampers Swaddlers are the only diapers with a BreatheFree Liner that wicks away wetness and mess, allowing your baby's skin to breathe. Specially designed with your baby's comfort in mind,
- LockAway Channels absorb wetness and lock it away from skin
- Soft Flexi-Sides for comfortable fit
- Hypoallergenic and free of parabens and latex (Natural rubber)
- Protect your newborn's delicate belly with our Umbilical Cord Notch (Sizes N-2)
- Pampers Wetness Indicator
- Packaging and products may vary
Ratings and Reviews
Fry's Food Stores is not responsible for the content provided in customer ratings and reviews. For more information, visit our Terms and Conditions.
ReviewsAverage Customer Rating4.8(54790)5(45484)4(8283)3(726)2(185)1(112)


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JA Solar, a world-leading manufacturer of high-performance solar power products, announced that it has supplied 6.5MW half-cell modules for a solar plant in Namibia, Africa. This plant marks the first half-cell modules project in Namibia and represents JA Solar's first application of half-cell modules in utility-scale projects.
Located in Namibia, the project is co-developed by renowned German developer SunEQ GmbH, a sister company of the renewable energy consulting firm Suntrace GmbH, and leading new energy solution supplier GILDEMEISTER energy solutions. GILDEMEISTER energy solutions are also responsible for the construction of the project. Due to the high temperature and high ultraviolet conditions in Namibia, this project has very stringent requirements on the reliability of PV modules. For this project, GILDEMEISTER energy solutions selected JA Solar's high-performance 72-cells half-cell module to ensure a stable and steady electricity generation.
Compared with conventional modules, JA Solar's half-cell modules optimize interconnection technology, reduce resistance loss, boost current flow by increasing gaps between cells, resulting in an effective increase in power output. Additionally, JA Solar's half-cell module has a better temperature coefficient, which leads to significant output power advantages under high temperature. Through the optimization of BOM, the ability of resist ultraviolet radiation has also been enhanced. As a result, JA Solar's half-cell modules have the ability to perform well in a high-temperature, high-ultraviolet environment.
"As the world's leading PV module manufacturer, we remain focused on technological innovation and product quality to meet our diversified customer needs and to contribute in solving global energy problems," said Mr. Cao Bo, Vice president of JA Solar.
Edited by Daniëlle Kruger
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Temple of Artemis turns into swamp due to neglect
Ömer Erbil – İZMİRThe Temple of Artemis in the Selçuk district of İzmir has turned into a swamp because of neglect and a lack of interest by authorities.
The temple, which is among the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and on the UNESCO Cultural Heritage List, draws millions of tourists each year.
The temple, which was visited by tourists who come to the district to see the famous site of Ephesus, welcomes tourists with a rusted introduction panel. The temple resembles an empty, abandoned field with no environmental planning and traveling routes. Excavation holes in the temple area have been filled with rainwater, while security in the area is lacking.
Authorities at the Ephesus Museum said a project that they have been working on for a long time regarding the temple has been approved by the preservation board.
Noting their discontent with the current situation of the historic temple, authorities said the first step would be to conduct environmental planning for the environs of the temple, subject to permission from the Culture and Tourism Ministry.
Authorities will then seek to contain water in the area and create a mock-up of the temple in a visible spot to inform visitors about the historic aspects of the structure.
There are several warnings at the entrance of the temple, which are as follows:
-Don't enter forbidden zones (There are no forbidden zones)
-Don't step on the pieces (There are no officials around to warn visitors not to do so)
-Don't scratch the pieces (There are no officials to check)
-Don't take pieces from the temple (There are no officials or cameras to check)
-Don't touch electric cables (There are no warnings near the cables)
The ancient temple was built on the orders of Croesus, the king of Lydia, between 560 and 550 BC. The construction of the temple lasted for 10 years, but it was destroyed by Herostratus, a fourth-century BC Greek arsonist who sought notoriety by ruining the temple in 356 BC. The structure was then rebuilt with the same width and length but was three meters higher.
The structure, which is 55.10 by 115 meters and was famous for its marble statues, was the biggest temple in the Hellenistic era. The temple, however, was not repaired after it was demolished by invading Goths in around 262 A.D.
The first archeological excavations in Ephesus was started in 1869 by J.T. Wood on behalf of the British Museum. A number of artifacts found in the excavations were taken to the British Museum. In addition, there are a number of pieces from the Temple of Artemis in the Vienna Museum in Austria.
There are two grand Artemis sculptures on display at the Ephesus Museum. After the pieces from the temple were taken by the British and the Austrians, there were only architectural pieces, such as pieces of marble, pillars and pulleys, left in the area. Only one pillar is exhibited in the temple area, while the other architectural pieces can be seen dispersed around the area.
The land on which the temple is located belongs to the heirs of Professor Otto Bendorf from Vienna University, who began excavations in 1893. The Turkish Culture and Tourism Ministry has the right of usage for the Temple of Artemis.


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Dear Dategirl,
Until yesterday I was casually seeing this guy, who I liked but wasn't in love with by any stretch. I thought we might have a few more weeks of sex left, but I ended it early because of something that happened when we were in bed together. Mind you, I WAS NOT WEARING ANY CLOTHES, NOT EVEN UNDERPANTS, WHEN HE TOLD ME THIS.
A couple weeks ago he mentioned a lesbian co-worker who wanted him to be a sperm donor for her and her girlfriend. I forgot about it until last night when he informs me, RIGHT AFTER WE'D HAD SEX, that he was going to the girl's house the next night to have a threesome with her and her girlfriend.
First of all, I knew we were both seeing other people, but mentioning other sex partners WHEN I'M NAKED is wrong. Also, these women are not casual dabblers in lesbianism; he said he really had to argue with them to go for the threesome idea. What kind of person manipulates lesbians into a threesome by holding his sperm hostage?
Gross. He totes didn't know how nasty he was, either. Just laid there, all inflated by his giant ego, proud that he was going to have a threesome the next night. I don't even know why they want his sperm, because he's short, pudgy, and hairy, yet bald. (I have a thing for that type.) I wish he had told me before we'd had sex WHEN I WAS STILL WEARING CLOTHES so I could've kicked him out! Am I wrong? When I told him how squicked out I was, he told me I was being an asshole and implied I was uptight. I just think he's morally repugnant. Am I wrong?
Those are a couple of desperate ladies if they'd rather sex up an ugly guy than just go to the sperm bank and plop down a credit card. Don't they have any foxy gay friends who'd be willing to spill a little seed on their behalf? Or a sane straight guy who isn't so desperate to fill his spank bank that he'd just let them have a vial? If the number of soiled socks, sticky T-shirts, and Kleenex clumps I've encountered over my years of dealing with men are any indicator, I'd guess that most men have a surplus of baby batter that mainly just goes to waste. Surely they could find someone to share it with without such conditions. Not to mention that most people don't get preggo on the first try, so I hope they know that this is merely the first in a series.
I mean, imagine if you were somehow able to manipulate, like, Neil Patrick Harris and his foxy husband into sleeping with you in exchange for some loose eggs. As adorable as those two are, I'm sure it would never occur to you—or any sane person—to ask in the first place. Yuck.
You were right to lose this guy, because, yes, he's a manipulative jerk, and yes, again—unless it's part of your kink—you don't bring up other people you're schtupping with someone who's still in an underpants-free zone.
Want more? Listen to Judy on The Mike & Judy Show, follow her tweets @HitOrMissJudy, or buy her new book, The Official Book of Sex, Drugs, and Rock 'n' Roll Lists.


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Hoboken, N.J., July 2, 2012. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., announced today that its open access option for individual journal articles, OnlineOpen, will be available to authors in 81% of the journals it publishes. OnlineOpen gives authors the option to publish an open access paper in their journal of choice where it will benefit from maximum impact.
"Wiley is committed to expanding its range of publishing options for authors," said Rachel Burley, Vice President & Director, Open Access, Wiley. "With this significant expansion of OnlineOpen we are enabling authors who choose to publish under the open access model to select from a much broader range of publications which are well established and highly valued in their field.
OnlineOpen, Wiley's hybrid open access model for subscription journals launched in 2004, is available to authors of primary research articles who wish to make their article available to non-subscribers on publication, or whose funding agency requires grantees to archive the final version of their article. As of July 2012, OnlineOpen is available in over 1200 subscription journals.
In addition to OnlineOpen Wiley launched Wiley Open Access, a fully open access journal program, in early 2011. The portfolio includes eleven journals, with additional journals scheduled to launch later in the year. Wiley Open Access provides open access publication in peer-reviewed journals where all published articles are immediately freely available to read, download and share.
"We seek to develop open access policies which deliver innovative choices in journal publishing, meeting the needs of authors, funders, and institutions who wish to publish in the open access environment," said Steve Miron, Senior Vice President & Managing Director, Scientific, Technical, Medical, and Scholarly, Wiley. "By significantly increasing the number of journals we publish which are able to offer OnlineOpen, we are quickly moving towards that goal."
More information about Wiley's open access initiatives is available online.


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February 25, 2014
Truth is Our Story
You have to believe Truth is real to go looking for it, and the search itself transforms.
3 comments:
A moving and powerful witness to Truth and Catholicism. Ave Maria University will likely receive well-earned praise for this advertisement. Well done. Blessings.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousFebruary 27, 2014 at 8:21 PM
I did not like the video. Sorry. First time, yesterday, I viewed it without sound on, and it just looked like a big cliche, priest walking into a big cathedral. Seemed semi-creepy for some reason.ReplyDelete
Second time, tonight, I had the sound on. The "In a world" narrator is nice, but the script is not gracefully done, my opinion. Could've been better.
Nice but not my favorite. Maybe their next one will be a home run.
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Nestled in the Smoky Mountains, Gatlinburg, Tennessee, is a treasure for outdoor enthusiasts. But on top of the hiking, rafting, skiing, horseback riding and fishing available around town, there is a host of fun alternatives. Whether you go miniature golfing or go-kart racing, get ready for an action-packed adventure in Gatlinburg. Attractions like the Gatlinburg Space Needle and a Ripley's Believe It or Not! Museum promise to keep you entertained. Just up the road from our Gatlinburg hotels and resorts, Dollywood offers full-fledged theme park adventure.
For a change of pace, browse the many specialty shops and crafts of the city. Numerous boutiques and galleries feature hand thrown pottery, wood carvings, silver and more. To look deeper into the crafts culture, tour the eight-mile loop of the Great Smoky Arts Crafts Community of Gatlinburg, the largest group of independent artisans in North America. Guests of hotels in Gatlinburg looking for other shopping might also try Mountain Mall for a completely mountain-themed shopping experience.
Many visitors will use their Gatlinburg hotel as a jumping off point for their visit to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the national park with the most annual visitors. Whether you are seeking the great outdoors, or an array of indoor options, Gatlinburg has you covered, with Tennessee hospitality to boot.


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The Pac-12 issued a statement on the finish of Saturday night's Wisconsin-Arizona State game Monday.
The full statement reads as follows:
Walnut Creek, Calif. -- Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott has reprimanded and taken additional sanctions against officials in Saturday night's Wisconsin at Arizona State game for failing to properly administer the end of game situation and act with appropriate urgency on the game's final play, it was announced today.
With 18 seconds remaining in the game, Wisconsin's quarterback ran the ball toward the center of the field, touched his knee to the ground and then placed the ball on the ground. There was initial uncertainty over whether the quarterback had taken a knee, given himself up or fumbled the ball. As a result several Arizona State players considered the ball live and a fumble, and attempted to recover the ball.
Neither the referee nor anyone on his crew moved with appropriate urgency to clearly communicate that the ball was to be spotted so play could resume promptly.
"This was an unusual situation to end the game," said Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott. "After a thorough review, we have determined that the officials fell short of the high standard in which Pac-12 games should be managed. We will continue to work with all our officials to ensure this type of situation never occurs again."
We'll have full reaction from Wisconsin head coach Gary Andersen and select players shortly. In the meantime, live updates from Andersen's press conference:


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Lead Paint Testing & Inspection
Calling a home lead paint testing company or commercial lead paint testing service in Cameron Park may seem like an outdated measure, but hundreds of thousands of Americans fall victim to lead based illness every year. Federal law requires that an EPA certified hygienist come out and provide the actual inspection and testing to avoid conflict of interest in pricing remediation services. Lawton Construction & Restoration, Inc. facilitates scheduling with a Cameron Park lead paint testing company and ensures our residential, commercial, and industrial customers get a full report on their property before we even swing a hammer.
Home Lead Paint Inspections in Cameron Park
DIY lead paint testing kits available at local hardware stores in Cameron Park often don't meet the strict regulations set by the Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA. When it comes to the detrimental health issues associated with lead paint, you need professional home lead paint inspections, fielded by EPA certified teams with the proper equipment and expertise to identify all sources of lead that could cause you long term health defects. Call today if you suspect lead paint in your Cameron Park home!
Cameron Park's Office Lead Paint Testing Solution
Older office buildings in Cameron Park are notorious for having lead based paint and other sources of lead contaminants. You might believe it's a good idea to handle it yourself or have your facility manager tackle the problem to save money, but often DIY solutions cause more harm than good. When in doubt, call Lawton Construction & Restoration, Inc. for a professional, safer, EPA certified commercial lead paint testing solution. We have a partnership with an office lead paint testing team that will provide a transparent look into your building, and our team will remove any trace found.
Industrial Lead Paint Inspection and Testing in Cameron Park
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Trinidad and Tobago
The government generally respected the human rights of its citizens; however, there were problems in some areas: police killings during apprehension or custody, inmate illness and injuries due to poor prison conditions, high-profile cases of alleged bribery, violence against women, inadequate services for vulnerable children, and unsafe working conditions.
Section 1 Respect for the Integrity of the Person, Including Freedom From:
a. Arbitrary or Unlawful Deprivation of Life
The government or its agents did not commit any politically motivated killings; however, 29 persons died during the year while in police custody or at the hands of law enforcement authorities. Authorities investigated or opened inquests into all such killings, but only 6 percent of inquiries into police killings of civilians have been completed since 1999. In cases where charges were brought, 50 percent of the officers were acquitted.
On June 21, police shot and killed Sherwin Daniel, a suspect in five murders and several robberies, after he reportedly opened fire on police officers who were attempting to arrest him. Authorities conducted an inquiry but did not file any charges against the officers.
On August 17, police shot and killed four men in a vehicle (as well as an innocent bystander) who allegedly shot at the officers who were investigating suspicious actions by the vehicle's occupants. On December 4, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) sent the case back to the police for further investigation.
On May 2, a court discontinued proceedings in the case against coast guard mechanic Quincy Allum, the suspect in the 2006 shooting death of Shazard Mohammed during a military exercise. A 2006 internal coast guard investigation found no reason to charge anyone with the shooting, and authorities dropped the case when the prosecution failed to prove Allum was not acting in self-defense.
There were no developments in investigations or inquests into the 2006 police killings of Stefan Mills and Noel French.
During the year authorities extradited four of the 12 suspects charged with the 2005 kidnapping and killing of Balram Bachu Maharaj; four others voluntarily left, while the remaining four awaited an extradition hearing. Two of the remaining four were members of the defense force.
There was no resolution of most of the investigations into persons killed by police during 2005, including Mervyn Caton, Jameel Alexander, Anthony Ellis, Calvin Campbell, and Damian Gould.
On April 26, the chief magistrate freed three police officers from charges of fatally shooting Galene Bonadie in 2004. The magistrate not only found the eyewitness testimony to be unreliable but also ruled that the proceedings of the inquest be submitted to the DPP to determine whether to take action against those witnesses.
In July a court denied an appeal by former police constable Dave Burnett, sentenced to death in the 2004 killing of teenager Kevin Cato.
On August 30, the coroner began an inquest into the death of Sherman Monsegue, who was killed by police in 2004 when Monseque and his friend Kurt Holder allegedly fired at them.
In July 2006 a court acquitted two prison officers charged with the 2001 death of prisoner Anton Cooper.
b. Disappearance
There were no reports of politically motivated disappearances, and the number of criminal kidnappings increased to 162 from 150 in 2006.
At year's end authorities continued investigating the two special reserve police officers arrested in 2005 for their alleged role in a kidnapping characterized by the media as "high profile" because the two victims were sons of a well-known businessman and one of the police officers was himself a member of a prominent family.
c. Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
Although the constitution and the law prohibit such practices, there were credible reports that police officers and prison guards mistreated individuals under arrest or in detention.
Prison and Detention Center Conditions
Conditions in the prison system's eight facilities were somewhat upgraded but continued to be harsh. According to the prison service commissioner, the number of prisoners at the Port of Spain prison, originally designed to accommodate 250 inmates, increased to 599, compared to 554 in 2006. The average number of prisoners in each 10- by 10-foot cell increased to a maximum of eight.
According to prison authorities, at year's end they had brought charges against 23 prison officers for assault and battery or for poor conduct on the job, including possession of narcotics and provision of cell phones to inmates.
On August 3, Letroy Beepath died from alleged blunt trauma to the chest while in remand at Golden Grove Prison. On August 22, police completed their investigation into Beepath's death and submitted the case to the chief of homicide investigations, where it remained at year's end.
On September 19, Golden Grove Prison inmate Kurt Alexander hanged himself in his cell while awaiting trial for sexually assaulting a four-year-old boy in 2004. Despite recommendations that he be isolated due to two unsuccessful suicide attempts, Alexander was kept in a cell with six other prisoners.
The July arrest of 71 women led to serious overcrowding at the women's prison at Golden Grove, where most of the women did not have beds or proper accommodation. After holding the prisoners in the remand section, the police released many of the women for deportation.
Pretrial detainees were held separately from convicted prisoners, usually in the remand section of the same facilities as convicted prisoners. However, convicted prisoners often were held in the remand section until they exhausted their appeals. There also were allegations that some underage female prisoners were placed in the mainstream prison system due to overcrowding.
There was no resolution of the complaint filed by death row inmate Alladin Mohammed against the prison service for limiting "airing" time due to staff shortages.
The government permitted prison visits by independent human rights observers, but the Ministry of National Security must approve each visit.
d. Arbitrary Arrest or Detention
The constitution and the law prohibit arbitrary arrest and detention, and the government generally observed these prohibitions.
In January police arrested Inshan Ishmael under the 2005 Anti Terrorism Act but charged him the following day on lesser charges of printing flyers without his name and address on them. The flyers called for private businesses to close for two days across the nation in order to bring media attention to the spiraling crime situation. Ishmael had received permission to make this appeal, but the government revoked that decision. However, the DPP did not consider it in the public interest to try him under the Summary Offences Act, and the charges were dropped.
Role of the Police and Security Apparatus
The Ministry of National Security oversees the police service, the prison service, and the defense force. The police service maintains internal security, while the defense force is responsible for external security but also has certain domestic security responsibilities. An independent body, the Police Service Commission, makes hiring and firing decisions in the police service, and the ministry has little direct influence over changes in senior positions.
The national police force comprises nine divisions, including 17 specialized branches, with approximately 7,000 members. The Police Service Commission, in consultation with the prime minister, appoints a commissioner of police to oversee the police force. Municipal police under the jurisdiction of 14 regional administrative bodies supplement the national police force. The Special Anticrime Unit, composed of both police and defense force personnel, combats violent crime--including kidnappings for ransom--and carries out other security operations.
Police corruption continued to be a problem, with some officials suggesting there were officers who participated in corrupt and illegal activities. The Police Complaints Authority receives complaints about the conduct of police officers for transmittal to the Complaints Division of the Police Service where uniformed officers investigate them. The authority simply monitors the division's investigations and its disciplinary measures. Police Service Commission restrictions limited the division's ability to dismiss police officers. The public had little confidence in the police complaints process because the authority had no power to investigate complaints and because those investigating complaints against the police were themselves police officers.
On June 23, police arrested a reserve police officer related to an active duty police official, along with three other suspects, after a fight. According to media accounts, a senior police officer telephoned the police station and instructed that all four suspects be released from custody. Two station diary pages and a telephone register page documenting the time of call also allegedly disappeared.
Arrest and Detention
A police officer may arrest a person either based on a warrant issued or authorized by a magistrate or without a warrant when the officer witnesses the commission of an alleged offense. Detainees, as well as those summoned to appear before a magistrate, must appear in court within 48 hours. In the case of more serious offenses, the magistrate either commits the accused to prison on remand or allows the accused to post bail, pending a preliminary inquiry. Detainees were granted prompt access to a lawyer and to family members.
There is a functioning bail system, although persons charged with murder, treason, piracy, and hijacking are ineligible, as are persons charged with kidnapping for ransom for a period of 60 days following the charge and persons already convicted twice of violent crimes. However, a judge may still grant bail to such persons under exceptional circumstances. Where bail was refused, magistrates advised the accused of their right to an attorney and, with few exceptions, allowed them access to an attorney, once they were in custody and prior to any interrogation.
The minister of national security may authorize preventive detention in order to preclude actions prejudicial to public safety, public order, or national defense, in which case the minister must state the grounds for the detention. There were no reports that the authorities abused this power.
Lengthy pretrial detention resulting from heavy court backlogs and an inefficient judicial system continued to be a problem. Out of a prison population of 3,510, 578 inmates awaited trial at year's end. Many persons under indictment waited months, if not years, for their trial dates in the High Court. An added inefficiency resulted from the legal requirement that anyone charged and detained must appear in person for a hearing before magistrate's court every 10 days, if only to have the case postponed for a further 10 days, pending conclusion of the investigation.
On July 19, police arrested two teenagers and interrogated them at the Sangre Grande Police Station without their parents' consent and without advising them of their right to remain silent or to consult with a legal advisor before answering any questions. The police did not file any charges. The parents filed a constitutional motion charging that their 12- and 15-year-old children's rights had been breached.
On September 10, authorities released Ulric Merrimick from prison six months after his original sentence ended; due to delays in the court system and administrative oversight, he remained in custody while awaiting a hearing on his appeal.
e. Denial of Fair Public Trial
The constitution and the law provide for an independent judiciary, and the government generally respected this provision in practice. Although the judicial process was generally fair, it was slow due to backlogs and inefficiencies.
The judiciary is divided into the Supreme Court of Judicature and the magistracy. The Supreme Court is composed of the High Court and a Court of Appeal. The magistracy includes the summary courts and the petty civil courts.
Trial Procedures
Magistrates try both minor and more serious offenses, but in the case of more serious offenses, the magistrate must conduct a preliminary inquiry. Trials are public, and juries are used in the High Court. Defendants have the right to be present, are presumed innocent until proven guilty, and have the right to appeal. All defendants have the right to consult with an attorney in a timely manner. An attorney is provided at public expense to defendants facing serious criminal charges, and the law requires provision of an attorney to any person accused of murder. Although the courts may appoint attorneys for indigent persons charged with serious crimes, an indigent person may refuse to accept an assigned attorney for cause and may obtain a replacement. Defendants can confront or question witnesses against them, can present witnesses and evidence on their own behalf, and have access to government-held evidence relevant to their cases.
Both civil and criminal appeals may be filed with the Court of Appeal and ultimately with the Privy Council in the United Kingdom.
The regional Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), inaugurated in 2005, was intended to be a final court of appeal for the 15 member states of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). However, the government has not yet passed legislation for it to play this role. The CCJ has a separate original jurisdiction whereby it interprets and applies the treaty that established CARICOM as well as the agreement creating the Caribbean Single Market and Economy.
On August 28, the written statement of a witness afraid to testify in a murder inquiry was tendered as evidence for the first time. The preliminary inquiry concluded that there was enough evidence to send the case to trial. Past allegations of death threats and other forms of witness intimidation resulted in dismissal of several high-profile cases because witnesses who agreed to submit evidence remained silent in the witness box or simply stayed away from the courthouse.
Political Prisoners and Detainees
There were no reports of political prisoners or detainees.
Civil Judicial Procedures and Remedies
The constitution and the law provide for an independent and impartial judiciary in civil matters, and citizens are free to file lawsuits against civil breaches, in both the High Court and petty civil court. The High Court may review the decisions of lower courts, may order parties to cease and desist from particular actions, may compel parties to take specific actions, or may award damages to aggrieved parties. However, the petty civil court is authorized to hear only cases involving damages of up to $2,500 (TT$15,000).
f. Arbitrary Interference with Privacy, Family, Home, or Correspondence
The constitution and the law prohibit such actions, and the government generally respected these prohibitions in practice.
Section 2 Respect for Civil Liberties, Including:
a. Freedom of Speech and Press
The constitution and the law provide for freedom of speech and of the press, and the government generally respected these rights in practice. An independent press, an effective although slow and inefficient judiciary, and a functioning democratic political system combined to ensure freedom of speech and of the press.
Internet Freedom
There were no government restrictions on access to the Internet or reports that the government monitored e-mail or Internet chat rooms. Individuals and groups could engage in the peaceful expression of views via the Internet, including by e-mail.
Academic Freedom and Cultural Events
There were no government restrictions on academic freedom or cultural events.
b. Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and Association
The constitution and the law provide for these freedoms, and the government generally respected these rights in practice.
c. Freedom of Religion
The constitution provides for freedom of religion, and the government generally respected this right in practice. The government established public holidays for every religious group with a large following.
The government limits the number of foreign missionaries allowed in the country to 30 per religious group at any given time. Missionaries must meet standard requirements for an entry visa and must represent a registered religious group. They may not remain in the country for more than three years per visit but may reenter after a year's absence.
Societal Abuses and Discrimination
On August 3, unidentified vandals desecrated a prominent Hindu temple in central Trinidad. As a result, the nongovernmental Inter Religious Organization called a meeting to discuss security in the nation's places of worship. Police continued to investigate the case at year's end.
There were no other reports of societal abuses or discrimination, including anti-Semitic acts. The Jewish community was extremely small.
For a more detailed discussion, see the 2007 International Religious Freedom Report.
d. Freedom of Movement, Internally Displaced Persons, Protection of Refugees, and Stateless Persons
The constitution and various laws provide for freedom of movement within the country, foreign travel, emigration, and repatriation, and the government generally respected these rights in practice.
The law prohibits forced exile, and it was not used.
Protection of Refugees
Although the government acceded to the 1951 UN Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 protocol, it had not passed legislation to implement its obligations under the convention. The government cooperated with the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and other humanitarian organizations in assisting refugees and asylum seekers. The government placed asylum seekers in the care of the Living Water Community, a local Catholic social services agency, while their cases were reviewed by UNHCR and final resolution reached. Pending Parliament's approval of legislation implementing the UN convention and its protocol, the Ministry of National Security's Immigration Division handled all requests for asylum on a case-by-case basis.
In practice the government provided protection against refoulement, the return of persons to a country where there is reason to believe they feared persecution.
The government did not provide temporary protection to persons who may not qualify as refugees. The Living Water Community provided such persons with needed social services and reported 20 new asylum seekers and 100 refugees seeking assistance.
Section 3 Respect for Political Rights: The Right of Citizens to Change Their Government
The constitution and the law provide citizens the right to change their government peacefully, and citizens exercised this right in practice through periodic, free, and fair elections held on the basis of universal suffrage.
Elections and Political Participation
Observers found the November 5 national elections to be generally free and fair, although during the campaign period there were incidents of vandalism and violence that, while mild, were more pronounced than in past elections. A plurality of voters supported the PNM, which retained control of the government. The two major political parties are the PNM, which is primarily but not exclusively Afro-Trinidadian, and the UNC, which is primarily but not exclusively Indo-Trinidadian. A third party, the Congress of the People (COP), formed in 2006, failed to win any seats in the latest election. The COP and all other parties state their goal is to create a broad-based national political consensus spanning all racial, ethnic, and religious groups.
Voters elected the 41-member House of Representatives, and there is an appointed Senate composed of 31 persons. Of the 72 persons in both houses of Parliament, 23 were women; there were 11 women in the 28-member cabinet; and 11 female judges among the 38 judges on the High Court and the Court of Appeals. All major political parties reached out to voters from relatively small ethnic minorities, such as the Chinese, Syrian, Lebanese, and European-origin communities, and members of these groups held important positions in government. There were no members of these minorities in the legislature or in the cabinet.
Government Corruption and Transparency
The law provides criminal penalties for official corruption, and the government generally implemented these laws effectively. However, there was a widespread and growing public perception of corruption. According to the World Bank's worldwide governance indicators, government corruption was a problem.
The Integrity in Public Life Act mandates that public officials disclose their assets, income, and liabilities to an Integrity Commission. In the past, many officials and candidates for public office were reluctant to comply with this provision, claiming that such disclosures would make them and their families a target of kidnappings for ransom. No candidate in the November election made the required disclosures by year's end; however, the deadline for reporting was in 2008, and preliminary statements indicated that all members of Parliament would comply.
In April 2006 a magistrate's court convicted UNC Party Chairman and Parliamentary Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday of failing to disclose a London bank account under the act. After being relieved of his opposition leadership post and his seat in Parliament, he voluntarily resigned his UNC party chairmanship. Later, he resumed leadership and pursued his appeal through the legal system. In a related series of events, Chief Justice Satnarine Sharma was accused of trying to influence the case against Panday. A three-member tribunal concluded that there was insufficient evidence to refer the case to the Privy Council, which allowed Sharma to return as chief justice. Panday regained his parliamentary seat in the November election, and the Privy Council was scheduled to hear his case in February 2008.
On December 31, a judge ruled that the evidence against former PNM minister of energy and energy industries Eric Williams for 2005 bribery charges was tenuous and unreliable. The allegations against former PNM minister of works and transport and party chairman Franklin Khan continued to be heard in the courts and to be investigated by the authorities.
The courts continued to hear a case that implicated the most senior members of the 1995-2001 UNC government in embezzlement and bid-rigging on the Piarco Airport expansion project. At year's end the corruption case against then prime minister Panday, charging that he had accepted a bribe that led his government to favor a contractor on the project, was still being heard in the courts.
An investigation continued into the 2006 charges against Hafeez Karamath, part owner of a desalination company, who was accused of conspiring in 1998-99 to enrich himself by manipulating a bid on a contract for supplying desalinated water to the government's Water and Sewerage Authority.
The Freedom of Information Act provides for public access to government documents, upon application. However, critics charged that a growing number of public bodies were exempted from the act's coverage. The government countered that the exemptions were intended to avoid frivolous requests and searches for information.
Section 4 Governmental Attitude Regarding International and Nongovernmental Investigation of Alleged Violations of Human Rights
A number of domestic and international human rights groups generally operated without government restriction, investigating human rights cases and publishing their findings. Government officials generally were cooperative and responsive to their views.
The ombudsman investigates citizens' complaints concerning the administrative decisions of government agencies. Where there is evidence of a breach of duty, misconduct, or criminal offense, the ombudsman may refer the matter to the authority competent to take appropriate remedial action. The ombudsman has a quasi-autonomous status within the government and publishes a comprehensive annual report. Both the public and government had confidence in the integrity and the reliability of the office of the ombudsman and the ombudsman's annual report.
The ombudsman resolved 1,210 complaints during the year. In 2006 the office received 1,557 new complaints, which represented a 16 percent increase over the average number of complaints received in previous years. Important factors contributing to the increased inflow included a greater awareness of the services provided and a growing demand by citizens for state agencies to provide better services. In addition the ombudsman continued to investigate 3,216 complaints from previous years.
In 1999 the government withdrew from the American Convention on Human Rights. The convention states that such an action does not release a government from its obligations under the convention with respect to acts taken prior to the effective date of denunciation. In 2005 the Inter-American Court of Human Rights issued rulings on cases predating the government's withdrawal; by year's end the government still had not provided any official or public reaction to the rulings.
Section 5 Discrimination, Societal Abuses, and Trafficking in Persons
The government generally respected in practice the constitutional provisions for fundamental human rights and freedoms for all without discrimination based on race, origin, color, religion, social status, or gender.
Rape, including spousal rape, is illegal and punishable by up to life imprisonment, but the courts often handed down considerably shorter sentences. The government and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) reported that many incidents of rape and other sexual crimes were unreported, partly due to perceived insensitivity on the part of the police. One group, the Rape Crisis Society, stated that there were 100 new cases of rape reported during the year in the populous northern region of the country, but its full report had not been completed by year's end.
Many community leaders asserted that abuse of women, particularly in the form of domestic violence, continued to be a significant problem. The law provides for protection orders separating perpetrators of domestic violence, including abusive spouses, from their victims, as well as for penalties that include fines and imprisonment. While reliable national statistics were not available, women's groups estimated that from 20 to 25 percent of all women suffered abuse.
NGOs charged that police were often lax in enforcing the law. The Division of Gender Affairs (DGA) in the Ministry of Community Development, Culture, and Gender Affairs operated a 24-hour hot line for victims of rape, spousal abuse, and other violence against women, referring callers to eight shelters for battered women, a rape crisis center, counseling services, support groups, and other assistance.
Prostitution is illegal, and the authorities continued to monitor, investigate, and prosecute major operators believed to be engaged in soliciting for prostitution. On July 21, police arrested 71 foreign women involved in a prostitution ring. Many of the women entered the country illegally. The police allegedly warned 200 men located on the hotel premises and then allowed all but three to leave. The authorities deported many of the women and arrested the owner of the hotel, who awaited trial at year's end.
No laws specifically prohibit sexual harassment. Although related statutes could be used to prosecute perpetrators of sexual harassment, and some trade unions incorporated antiharassment provisions in their contracts, both the government and NGOs suspected that many incidents of sexual harassment went unreported.
Women generally enjoyed the same legal rights as men, including employment, education, and inheritance rights. No laws or regulations require equal pay for equal work. While equal pay for men and women in public service was the rule rather than the exception, both the government and NGOs noted considerable disparities in pay between men and women in the private sector, particularly in agriculture.
The DGA had primary government responsibility for protecting women's rights and women's advancement and sponsored income-generation workshops for unemployed single mothers, nontraditional skills training for women, and seminars for men on redefining masculinity.
A lack of funds and expanding social needs challenged the government's ability to carry out its commitment to protect the rights and welfare of children.
Education is compulsory up to the age of 12, and public education is free for all elementary and secondary students up to the age of 20. Higher education is free for nationals enrolled in undergraduate programs at the country's public institutions as well as in approved programs at private institutions. The Ministry of Education estimated that 89 percent of school-age children attended school, and most students achieved the equivalent of a high school diploma. Females performed better than males in both mathematics and language arts. Some parts of the public school system failed to meet the needs of the school-age population due to overcrowding, substandard physical facilities, and occasional classroom violence.
Medical care for children was widely available, with equal access for girls and boys.
The Domestic Violence Act provides protection for children abused at home. The Ministry of Education's Student Support Services Division reported that young school children were vulnerable to rape, physical abuse, and drug use and that some had access to weapons or lived with drug-addicted parents. Abused children removed from the home were first assessed at a reception center for vulnerable children and then placed with relatives, government institutions, or NGOs. According to the Rape Crisis Society, there were 126 child sexual abuse cases, an increase from 38 cases in 2006. Officials believed that this indicated that a greater percentage of cases were being reported, not necessarily that more cases occurred. The Coalition against Domestic Violence operated Childline, a free and confidential telephone hot line for at-risk or distressed children and young persons up to age 25. During the year Childline received 3,129 calls, 74 percent from girls and 26 percent from boys.
There were a number of cases of children who, either in their own homes or in institutional settings, were abused or, in some cases, tortured. In the case of the 2006 death of four-year-old Amy Emily Annamunthodo, a victim of rape, sodomy, suffocation, and inhuman treatment, her mother was released on April 16 due to the failure of a police constable and other witnesses to appear at scheduled court dates. The father awaited trial at year's end.
The law defines a child as under 18 years of age, outlaws corporal punishment for children, and prohibits sentencing a child to prison. One law sets the minimum legal age of marriage at 18 for both males and females; however, in practice the minimum legal age of marriage is determined by the distinct laws and attitudes of the various religious denominations: under the Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act, the minimum legal age of marriage is 16 for males and 12 for females, while under the Hindu Marriage Act and the Orisa Marriage Act, the minimum legal age of marriage is 18 for males and 16 for females.
Trafficking in Persons
Although the law does not specifically prohibit trafficking in persons, there were no substantiated reports that persons were trafficked to, from, or within the country. In the event of trafficking, perpetrators can be prosecuted under several related laws, with penalties ranging from seven years' to life imprisonment. There were no prosecutions during the year.
The government had not designated a specific agency to combat trafficking in persons, and it sponsored no public awareness campaigns to address this issue during the year. The government continued to cooperate with the International Organization for Migration, which began a Strengthening Technical Capacity (STC) project. The STC's goal was to bolster capabilities of the Immigration Division and other law enforcement agencies. Domestic NGOs were available to provide care and protection to trafficking victims.
Persons with Disabilities
There are no statutes either prohibiting discrimination on the basis of disability or mandating equal access for persons with disabilities to the political process, employment, education, transportation, housing, health care, and other citizen services.
In practice persons with disabilities faced discrimination and denial of opportunities in the form of architectural barriers, employer reluctance to make necessary accommodations that would enable otherwise qualified job candidates to work, an absence of support services to assist children with special needs to study, lowered expectations of the abilities of persons with disabilities, condescending attitudes, and disrespect. According to the NGO Disabled People's International, the majority of public schools and most government and commercial facilities were inaccessible to wheelchair users, and there were only five buses modified to accommodate the country's 125,000 persons with disabilities. However, the national library was widely regarded as a model of barrier-free design and genuinely equal service to patrons with disabilities. In addition a few commercial facilities, such as some supermarkets, made parking spaces available to shoppers with disabilities.
On July 20, the San Fernando High Court ruled that the Hall of Justice's lack of wheelchair access violated the freedom of persons with disabilities, and construction of a wheelchair ramp began.
National/Racial/Ethnic Minorities
The country's diverse racial and ethnic groups lived together in what appeared on the surface to be peace and mutual respect. However, nonviolent racial tensions regularly emerged between Afro-Trinidadians and Indo-Trinidadians, who each made up approximately 40 percent of the population.
Indo-Trinidadians and persons of European, Middle Eastern, and Asian descent predominated in the private sector, and Indo-Trinidadians also predominated in agriculture. Afro-Trinidadians were employed heavily in the civil service, the police, and the defense force. Some Indo-Trinidadians asserted that they were not equally represented in senior civil service and security force positions and among winners of state-sponsored housing grants and scholarships.
Indigenous People
A very small group of persons identified themselves as descendants of the country's original Amerindian population. The government effectively protected their civil and political rights, and they were not subject to discrimination.
Other Societal Abuses and Discrimination
The Equal Opportunities Act does not specifically include gays and lesbians. However, there are no laws that discriminate based on sexual orientation. HIV/AIDS was viewed as a significant medical concern for the government and society. Any incidents of violence against this group were usually isolated events.
Kenny Mitchell, a self-identified homosexual, filed a lawsuit against the state for being arrested in December 2006 and detained at Couva Police Station for three days without being charged. He claimed that he was taunted by officers for being homosexual and was denied access to his diabetes medication.
Section 6 Worker Rights
a. The Right of Association
The law provides that all workers, including those in state-owned enterprises, may form and join unions of their own choosing without prior authorization. The law also provides for the mandatory recognition of a trade union when it represents 51 percent or more of the workers in a specified bargaining unit. The government's Registration and Certification Board, however, determines whether a given workers' organization meets the definition of bargaining unit and can limit union recognition by this means. The government was consistently unwilling to negotiate with public sector unions and refused to amend its legislation on "essential services" and collective bargaining to conform with International Labor Organization conventions.
According to the National Trade Union Center, one of two umbrella organizations in the labor movement, 22 to 24 percent of the workforce was organized in approximately 25 active unions. Most unions were independent of government or political party control, although the Sugar Workers' Union historically was allied with the UNC.
The law mandates that workers illegally dismissed for union activities must be reinstated. A union also may bring a request for enforcement to the Industrial Court, which may order employers found guilty of antiunion activities to reinstate workers and pay compensation or may impose other penalties, including imprisonment.
b. The Right to Organize and Bargain Collectively
The law allows unions to conduct their activities without interference, to participate in collective bargaining, and to strike, although there were heavy restrictions on strikes and collective bargaining. Employees in essential services, such as police and teachers, do not have the right to strike, and walkouts can bring punishment of up to 18 months in prison. These employees negotiate with the government's chief personnel officer to resolve labor disputes. According to the International Trade Union Confederation, collective bargaining was restricted by the requirement that, to obtain bargaining rights, a union must have the support of an absolute majority of workers. Furthermore, collective agreements must be for a minimum of three years, making it almost impossible for workers on short-term contracts to be covered by such agreements.
There are several export processing zones, where the same labor laws are in effect as in the rest of the country.
c. Prohibition of Forced or Compulsory Labor
Although the law does not specifically prohibit forced or compulsory labor, including by children, there were no reports that such practices occurred.
d. Prohibition of Child Labor and Minimum Age for Employment
The minimum legal age for workers is 12 years. Children from 12 to 16 years of age may work only in family businesses. Children under the age of 18 may work legally only during daylight hours, with the exception that 16- to 18-year-olds may work at night in sugar factories. The Ministry of Labor and Small and Micro Enterprise Development and the Ministry of Social Development are responsible for enforcing child labor provisions. However, enforcement was not consistent since there was no comprehensive government policy on child labor and no formal mechanisms for receiving, investigating, and resolving child labor complaints.
There was no organized exploitation of child labor. A 2004 study by the UN Children's Fund estimated that 2 percent of children from five to 14 years of age were engaged in paid work.
e. Acceptable Conditions of Work
The national minimum wage is $1.66 (TT$10) per hour, which did not provide a decent standard of living for a worker and family. Actual wages varied considerably among industries. There were press reports of minimum wage violations with no enforcement by the government.
The law establishes a 40-hour workweek, a daily period for lunch or rest, and premium pay for overtime. The law does not prohibit excessive or compulsory overtime.
The law protects workers who file complaints with the labor ministry regarding illegal or hazardous working conditions. If complainants refuse to comply with an order that would place them in danger and if it is determined upon inspection that hazardous conditions exist in the workplace, the complainants are absolved from blame.


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When the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay was founded, its biggest mission was to have the environment at its core. This was a new type of university for the era. Getting students out of the classroom and making an impact on the environment was, and still is, essential to UW-Green Bay.
To see how it started and where we are now, click here for the video and the article.


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Natural Gas Generator Set Market to Reach Nearly $10 Billion by 2018, Forecasts Pike Research
Natural Gas Generator Set Market to Reach Nearly $10 Billion by 2018, Forecasts Pike Research
BOULDER, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Natural gas generator sets (gensets) are distributed power generation units that use reciprocating internal combustion engines to produce useable energy from gaseous fuels. Distributed generation has several advantages over traditional large centralized power stations, including going online more quickly, reducing demand pressure on the electrical grid, and reducing inefficiencies that are common in centralized power generation, transmission, and distribution. According to a new report from Pike Research, a part of Navigant's Energy Practice, installations of natural gas gensets from 2013 to 2018 will total 60 gigawatts of capacity, producing almost $10 billion in annual revenue, by 2018.
"Until recently, the natural gas genset market has experienced steady growth, but a boom in unconventional gas resources and tightening regulations limiting stationary generator emissions point to accelerating growth over the next decade," says senior research analyst Mackinnon Lawrence. "The number of specialized segments within the genset market - spanning power classes, applications, and end-use customers - offers a rich ecosystem of opportunities for market participants."
The vast majority of power generation technologies used in distributed applications are reciprocating engines, according to the report. Reciprocating engines are well-suited for distributed power generation. They are widely used in the United States and Europe, and are supported by a highly developed sales and service infrastructure. Reciprocating engines start quickly, follow load well, have good part-load efficiencies, maintain efficiency and output under harsh conditions, and are generally highly reliable.
The report, "Natural Gas Generator Sets", analyzes the global market potential for natural gas gensets, from less than 15 kilowatts to six megawatts for residential, commercial, and industrial applications. The study includes in-depth assessments of global regions for capacity installations, an analysis of global gas resource development, and profiles of the key industry players engaged in this market. Regional market forecasts are provided through 2018 for annual installations and revenue, segmented by power class as well as for power generation and CHP applications. An Executive Summary of the report is available for free download on the Pike Research website.
About Pike Research
Pike Research, which joined Navigant's global Energy Practice on July 1, 2012, provides in-depth analysis of global clean technology markets. The team's research methodology combines supply-side industry analysis, end-user primary research and demand assessment, and deep examination of technology trends to provide a comprehensive view of the Smart Energy, Smart Utilities, Smart Transportation, Smart Industry, and Smart Buildings sectors. Additional information about Pike Research can be found at www.navigant.com/pikeresearch.
About Navigant
Navigant (NYS: NCI) is a specialized, global expert services firm dedicated to assisting clients in creating and protecting value in the face of critical business risks and opportunities. Through senior level engagement with clients, Navigant professionals combine technical expertise in Disputes and Investigations, Economics, Financial Advisory and Management Consulting, with business pragmatism in the highly regulated Construction, Energy, Financial Services and Healthcare industries to support clients in addressing their most critical business needs. More information about Navigant can be found at www.navigant.com.
* The information contained in this press release concerning the report, "Natural Gas Generator Sets," is a summary and reflects Pike Research's current expectations based on market data and trend analysis. Market predictions and expectations are inherently uncertain and actual results may differ materially from those contained in this press release or the report. Please refer to the full report for a complete understanding of the assumptions underlying the report's conclusions and the methodologies used to create the report. Neither Pike Research nor Navigant undertakes any obligation to update any of the information contained in this press release or the report.
Pike Research
Richard Martin, +1-303-997-7609
Laverne Murach, +1-202-481-7336
KEYWORDS: United States North America Colorado
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Madigan says voters have the right to vote if they are in line when the polls close at 7 p.m.
If a voter makes a mistake or spoils a paper ballot and the voter hasn't cast the ballot, the voter has the right to a replacement ballot.
Voters have the right to take unpaid time from work to vote - up to two successive hours - as long as they've applied with their employer before Election Day. The employer may choose the time of day.
The attorney general's office has announced they'll have 173 teams of assistant attorneys general and investigators throughout the state on Election Day to monitor the polls.


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In 2019, four puzzle enthusiasts had an idea. After discovering what was a shared frustration in their inability to find a puzzle they could not wait to tackle, these four women started tossing around the idea of creating their own puzzles. These women, who also happen to be related, not only love to puzzle, but they love a challenge — especially competing against each other. The idea evolved while on a family vacation, where of course a puzzle was in tow, and the initial framework of what was soon to become — Puzzledly was developed. They each envisioned vibrant, artful puzzles of the highest quality. They imagined reaching for the untapped puzzle potential that was just not available in the market at that time. They pictured other families sharing a similar bonding experience when building together, complete with colorful stories and belly laughs.
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Banitza - Improved "Dupnishka" Recipe
All Bulgarian ladies know how to make good Banitza – layered egg and cheese cake with Fillo pastry – but this recipe is something special. It has been gradually improved over the ten years that I have been living in San Diego, with tips and bits of advice from friends, their mothers, grandmothers, visiting relatives and a few telephone calls from Bulgaria. The recipe has almost reached perfection! The last critical, essential, absolutely! necessary tip was added by a guest on our August 2009 Literary Krajec meeting. It comes from the region of Dupnica, hence the name "Improved Dupnishka Recipe". Our Krajec tried it in September and everyone agrees: it is absolutely delicious. My American friends from the coffee klatch like it too and helped me write down the recipe. Thank you, Michelle.
To make it a success, please follow the recipe in all the minute details.
5 eggs – Take them out of the fridge a few hours earlier, so that they are at room temperature.
In a large bowl, beat the eggs well until frothy. Separate the mixture, approximately two eggs for the cheese filing, three eggs for the milk topping.
Frozen Fillo pastry - One 16 oz. box. I buy those from the Persian shop on Genesse. I buy the "Apollo Fillo" #4 Pastry sheets, but any other kind will do. They are approx. 28 – 12"x17" Fillo sheets that keep in the freezer forever. Defrost them in the box on the kitchen counter for a few hours.
Melted butter - ¾ stick. Melt the butter in a small pan over the stove (do not microwave) until it sizzles and gets golden / brown crumbles. This gives the banitza a nice flavor.
Bulgarian Feta cheese - approximately ¾ pound or a little more. Again, I buy it from the Persian store. You can get it in a box, or over the counter, slightly cheaper and sometimes better quality. Crumble the cheese well with a fork on a plate.
Plain yogurt - ¾ cup
Baking soda - ½ teaspoon
In a bigger bowl mix the yogurt with the baking soda. The soda will make it bubble and rise a bit. Add the crumbled cheese. Add the two beaten eggs. This makes the cheese filling.
Grapeseed oil – ½ cup. You can use light Canola oil instead, but NOT Olive Oil because it is too heavy.
Milk – 1 cup. Warm it up in the microwave, but be careful not to make it too hot, then add it to the remaining three beaten eggs. This makes the milk topping. Prepare the milk topping at the end after your banitza is in the pan, cut in rectangles so that it is warm when you pour it over.
Using 2- 3 spoonfuls from the Grapeseed oil, lightly cover the bottom and sides of a metal 9" x 13" pan. I have discovered that this small size pan works best for my oven, as it allows the temperature to raise the whole cake. If I use a bigger pan, the middle does not bake well.
Now you are ready to start putting together the banitza: Have the oiled metal pan next to the opened box with Fillo pastry; get the bowl with the cheese filling and the small pan with the melted butter nearby.
Lay Fillo sheets, starting with three sheets on the bottom of pan. Crinkle them with your fingers as they are slightly larger then the pan. Try to spread the folds evenly. With a spoon spread some of the cheese mixture in small heaps here and there. Sprinkle a little of the hot butter here and there, with love. Repeat layering of the Fillo sheets, cheese filling, and butter. Make sure you have enough of the cheese filling and butter to finish the whole box of the Fillo pastry. End with two or three Fillo sheets as the top layer. Do not crinkle the very last one, cut the edges for a smooth appearance.
Half way through the layering, remember to switch on the oven: 400 F (or 200 C).
With a sharp knife cut the banitza into rectangles.
On the stove, in a small pan heat real hot, until sizzling, the remaining of grapeseed oil. Carefully pour it along the edges of the pan and over the edges of the rectangles. They will sizzle and become golden which will make you feel good.
Get the warm milk topping and evenly pour it on top of the banitza.
By now your oven should be ready, put the banitza in. I use the fan, for speed baking.
Baking and cooling:
Bake the banitza initially at 400 degrees (200 C) for 10-15 minutes until it raises, but does not get cooked on top. Keep an eye on it, gradually lower the temperature to 300 (150 C) degrees for the remaining 45 minutes. The banitza needs to cook for an hour, for the most part at a lower temperature while well raised from the initial heat.
Once out of the oven, turn it upside down, propping the pan on four cups hanging upside down. I do it over the sink. This is important, as it prevents the banitza from sagging in the middle.
Serve with a glass of red wine or some yogurt.


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Lions hope secondary will be ready for Rodgers
DETROIT (AP) — Although the Detroit Lions were pleased with their victory over Chicago last weekend, the game's last few minutes highlighted a potential trouble spot.
With cornerbacks Chris Houston and Rashean Mathis sidelined because of injuries, the Lions allowed two late touchdowns before holding on for a 40-32 win. Now the secondary has another challenge on the horizon — Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers this weekend.
"Aaron Rodgers is a whole 'nother animal on the field," Detroit cornerback Darius Slay said. "Smart, very, very, very accurate. It's our goal to slow him down."
The Lions (3-1) intercepted three of Jay Cutler's passes Sunday, but Mathis was shaken up early and didn't return, and Houston injured his hamstring. Cutler threw for two touchdowns in the final 4 minutes — as well as two 2-point conversions — to add a bit of drama to the finish.
"We weren't in prevent mode," coach Jim Schwartz said. "There are a couple plays that we could have played better in there."
Schwartz said Mathis was held out as a precaution but passed a concussion test. He's been back at practice. Houston, however, did not practice Thursday.
Green Bay (1-2) has struggled to start the season. Rodgers threw two interceptions in a loss to Cincinnati on Sept. 22. Then the Packers had a weekend off.
Still, Green Bay's lone victory was a reminder of how dangerous its offense can be. In a 38-20 win over Washington in Week 2, Rodgers went 34 of 42 for 480 yards with four TDs and no interceptions.
"We know they're going to make plays with Aaron Rodgers. We're just trying to slow them down, create turnovers, sack them," Slay said. "We know he likes to get rid of the ball fast, so we're going to try to tighten up our coverages."
Slay is the man who could be on the spot this weekend. The rookie from Mississippi State has started two games this season, and if Houston is out, Slay figures to be his replacement.
"He has a tremendous amount of potential," safety Don Carey said. "One of the best athletes we have on the team — fast, reads real well."
The Lions can also turn to players like Bill Bentley and Jonte Green at cornerback. Mathis was signed in the offseason after 10 seasons with Jacksonville, and his participation in practice after his injury has been a positive sign.
"He can fill in both corner positions, the nickel and safety position," Schwartz said. "He's worked really hard with the other players. It's disappointing to lose him after the first quarter last week, but he was a big addition for us."
Detroit held off the Bears in part because Chicago went 1 of 13 on third down. The Lions have held opponents to a 21.3 percent conversion rate on third down — the best defensive mark in the league.
"Third down will go a big way to getting Green Bay's offense stopped," Schwartz said. "It's well documented, they've put yards up. If we get off the field on third down — that can either be a field goal attempt in the red zone, or it can be a punt — those are good situations for our defense."
NOTES: Star WR Calvin Johnson (knee) did not practice Thursday. "I'm all right," he said. "Can't talk about injuries though. That's our rule." Whatever his bumps and bruises, Johnson hasn't missed a game since 2010.


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Super Goalkeeper in Chrome with OffiDocs
Super Goalkeeper Chrome web store extension
Run the Chrome online web store extension Super Goalkeeper using OffiDocs Chromium online.Download it right now and be a super goalkeeper let opponents appalled.
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