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March 23, 1842 - January 24, 1921
Susan Cunningham was born in Virginia. She studied astronomy and mathematics at Vassar College as a special student during 1866-67, working with Maria Mitchell, who encouraged so many Vassar students to continue in astronomy. She also took special courses in astronomy and mathematics during several summers at Harvard University, Princeton University, Newnham College at Cambridge, the Greenwich Observatory in England, and Williams College. In 1869 she helped to begin the astronomy and mathematics departments for the opening of Swarthmore College. She headed those two departments until her retirement from Swarthmore in 1906, rising through the ranks from instructor to full professor. In 1888 Swarthmore presented her with the honorary degree of Doctor of Science, the first degree of this kind given by that institution.
Practically the whole life of Susan Cunningham was involved with the founding and development of Swarthmore. In 1906, President Swain said:
Susan J. Cunningham has the distinction of being the only one in the faculty who has been connected with the College since its beginning in 1869. She is energetic, forceful and learned in her profession, and a thorough believer in the gospel of work. She has loved Swarthmore more than her own life, of which she has unsparingly given. She has in season and out of season been ready not only to serve the College but to help individual students by giving them her advice, her time and in numerous cases her money.
Cunningham planned and equipped the first observatory at Swarthmore. She lived in the building until her retirement in 1906. Swarthmore paid $100 rent per year to her for the rest of her life, and upon her death in 1921 Cunningham Observatory became college property. The original President's House was converted into a second observatory to house research quality astronomical equipment donated by William Sproul, a former student of Cunningham. At the time of her retirement, the then Senator Sproul gave the following tribute to Susan Cunningham:
No figure stands out more prominently than that of Doctor Cunningham. She has been a believer in honest work for herself and for her students as well. In her make-up, sham and superficiality have no place. Her straightforwardness in speech and in method in her classroom and in her daily life has left an influence for good on hundreds who have been here. Swarthmore has been and is the object of her devotion; to the college has been given the efforts of her best years of a remarkable life. In every success of the institution since the first student entered its door she has shared; in all its vicissitudes she has been ready with a helping hand. I fervently hope that our college may always stand for the principles of cleanliness, morality and intellectual honesty for which she has stood, and now as another of these strong leaders who have piloted the college out of the narrow channel of obscurity into the broad, deep sea of success steps down from the post where she has stood through nearly forty years, may the course that she has laid out be followed and Swarthmore go on to a splendid realization of the plans of the devoted founders.
In 1891 Cunningham was elected a member of the New York Mathematical Society (later to become the American Mathematical Society), one of the first six women to join this organization. She remained a member until her death in 1921.
Photo Credit: Photograph used with permission of the Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College


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Congratulations to Miss Dominica Marcia Baptiste who was Crowned Miss Caribbean World 2010 in Tortola Saturday Night following 2008 Winner Marah Walter — as Dominica Takes that Title back to back.
It was reported that aptitude, beauty, enticement and intelligence emanated from the stage of the Multipurpose Sports Complex on Saturday night as 15 Caribbean beauties converged to compete for the Miss Caribbean World Pageant 2010.
However, after all the pomp and flare, Reigning Miss Dominica Marcia Baptiste was crowned the 5th Miss Caribbean World Queen.
Placing First runner-up was Miss Barbados – Dannyele Teneel Leslie, Second runner-up Miss Trinidad & Tobago – Jeuel-Marie Green-Thompson, Third runner-up Miss USA – Meagan Small and Fourth runner-up Miss USVI Tamika Nicole Narissa Joseph.
Miss BVI – Josefina Nunez copped the Best Evening Wear and Best Costume awards, while Miss St. Kitts – Fatisha Imo walked away with the Best Talent award and Miss St. Lucia – Glenda Kimberlyn Abbott with Best Swimwear. Miss Barbados was adjudged Miss Intellect. The Miss Congeniality title went to Trinidad & Tobago's Jeuel-Marie Green-Thompson and Most Photogenic to Miss Anguilla – Sangrena Harris.
Congratulations once again, Marcia! You made us all proud to be Dominicans.

subset: commoncrawl


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VG6 PRECISION Epsilon AK Muzzle Brake 7.62x39mm 14x1 LH SS Black
Der beliebte Epsilon Kompensator von VG6
ist nun auch für die AK47 mit M14x1LH Gewinde verfügbar
The VG6 EPSILON AK is the pinnacle of AK47 muzzle devices. The EPSILON AK just outperforms everything on the market.
Designed for the discriminating shooter and professional end-users, VG6 Precision's EPSILON AK affords you the best muzzle control and recoil mitigation the industry has to offer. This is a true combination muzzle brake / compensator / flash hider. Its performance is matched only by the amazing look of this device.
The VG6 Epsilon AK carries many of the same characteristics as the Gamma line of muzzle brakes with a few exceptions. Extended flash hiding prongs allow uninhibited view from flash through optics or sights. The difference in porting is noticed on the underside of the device where it has 6 valve holes to allow the fastest gasses reaching the second chamber to exit. This creates very soft low energy recoil that allows for absolute control.
- Material: 17-4ph® Heat Treated Stainless Steel
- Finish: BLACKNITRIDE™
- Surface Hardness: 68RC
- Caliber: 7.62 x 39mm Only
- Thread: 14x1.0 LH
- Weight: 2.24oz
- Indexing pin slot for standard AK47 muzzle device retention
- Includes crush washer (not needed if using indexing pin)


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Sundance Interview: Heidi Ewing And Rachel Grady, Co-Directors Of 12th & Delaware And Jesus Camp
Documentary filmmakers Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady have previously demonstrated their ability to present controversial issues and people in an even-handed way. Their 2006 film, Jesus Camp, which documented a Pentacostal summer camp for children, was praised for the way it revealed the indoctrination of children by the religious right. But that film's subjects actually stated that they had no problems with they way they were depicted, a testament to Grady and Ewing's efforts towards verisimilitude.
The pair had a new film at Sundance this year called 12th & Delaware, which chronicles the people who work at an abortion clinic in Florida and the local religious members that try to thwart them (the title refers to a street corner where the abortion clinic and a church clinic are located opposite each other). The footage that Ewing and Grady were able to get is remarkable, and while they successfully capture the fervor on both sides of 12th & Delaware, it's the footage of the clients that is truly stunning, as they were able to film people in the process of making one of the most potentially important decisions of their lives. As with their previous films, 12th & Delaware is illuminating and infuriating in equal parts, but always a movie that feels both well-made and fair.
After the break, my interview with Grady and Ewing, in which we talk about how they made 12th & Delaware, the reception of Jesus Camp, and their exciting next project.
You can download audio of this interview (right-click and "Save As") or play it right now in your browser:
Subscribe to the /Filmcast to automatically receive all audio interviews (and more):


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Mini Dish in Frost
Little vibrant pebble for extra colour-pop in the middle of your table.
Approximate measurements:
app. 12 cm in diameter
Black glazed stoneware
How is it made?
Each plate is hand-carved and shaped in its own way, the uniqueness of colour glazes offer a spectrum of results in terms of shades and surface details too. What does this mean? It means each piece is completely unique in the truest sense. It means no two plates will ever be the same. Through the whole process of creation each plate travels through my hands several times, giving it a warmth that only a handmade piece can possess. A warmth that you can feel. A warmth that elevates each and every eating experience.
All prices include tax.
Shipping is offered worldwide via DHL Express for overseas orders and DPD service for EU orders. We strive to use as little plastic as possible therefore most of our ordered items are packed in recyclable paper packaging.
When will my order be shipped?
Your items will be packed and sent within 5 working days after you complete your order, unless notified otherwise.
When will my order arrive?
The shipping times vary depending on your country. If you are ordering from Slovenia, it usually takes up to 2 working days after the package is sent, to arrive at your chosen address. For orders within Europe it takes about 3-5 working days for your order to arrive, for the rest of the world, 3-5 working days. Once your order is sent, you will receive the notification with a tracking number provided by the currier service.
How much does the shipping cost?
Shipping costs depend on your location and the weight of the package. When you place your items in the cart and proceed to checkout, shipping cost will be automatically calculated based on these two variables.
Please note import fees may apply for orders outside EU. Customs and import fees are determined once the parcel reaches your country. Hana Karim Studio is not responsible for any additional charges regarding import fees. To get an estimation on your potential fees buying Hana Karim Studio tableware we advise you to contact your local custom agent.
Once the parcel leaves us, we have no control to cancel the order. Furthermore, delivery times may vary due to customs processing. Please note that this is beyond our control.
Do you offer free deliveries?
Currently we are not offering a free delivery option, but lookout for possible special offers that may include this option.
Can I pick up the items myself?
Yes! If you happen to be in Ljubljana you can place your order online and pick it up yourself at Hana Karim Studio, Vilharjeva cesta 3, 1000 Ljubljana.
Can I cancel my order?
If you haven't completed your order yet, you can cancel it anytime by simply removing the selected items from your cart. If you already completed your order and want to cancel it, please send us an email to firstname.lastname@example.com immediately! If your order hasn't been shipped already, we will cancel your order and refund you your money. If your order has already been shipped and is on its way, you will have to wait for your order to arrive and then send it back at your cost. The return address is: HANA KARIM STUDIO, Vilharjeva cesta 3, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia. We will refund your money within 2 weeks (without the shipping costs) to your account when the items return back to our studio undamaged. If the items arrive damaged, you are not eligible for refund.
My order has arrived but it is not what I expected. Can I return it?
You can return your order within 14 days from receiving it. If you want to do so, please send as an email first to email@example.com and notify us about it. You will have to arrange the shipping yourself and also cover the cost yourself. The return shipping address is: HANA KARIM, Vilharjeva cesta 3, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia. We will refund your money within 2 weeks (without the shipping costs) to your account when the items return back to our studio undamaged. If the items arrive damaged, you are not eligible for refund.
I received a damaged item. What do I do?
We are very sorry to hear that! Please send us an email to email@example.com and tell us more about it, the more details you provide to us, the better. Please, take a photo of your damaged item and attach it to your email. If the box, containing your item, is also damaged, please take a photo of it too and send it to us. Please, do not forget to include your order number. If that is the case we will work towards finding a better solution for shipping our products. After we receive your email, we will offer you a new item or refund your money (with the shipping costs) within 2 weeks. You won't have to send back the item. You can also choose to replace a broken item, in this case allow some time for the item to be finished since they're usually made to order.
I received my order but the items are not the same to the ones I ordered.
Oops! It might happen that we shipped the wrong items, we are very sorry. Please, check your receipt again and check if the items on the list don't match the ones you received. If you are sure that we've made a mistake, please send us an email to firstname.lastname@example.com. Please include your order number and a photo of the received items. If you still like what you got, that is great. We will simply change our inventory and you won't have to do a thing. If you would like to replace the items for the ones you ordered, you will have to return your item(s) back to us and place a new order. The return address is HANA KARIM, Vilharjeva cesta 3, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia. We just hope the items you wanted are still available! We will return your money when we receive the products back, but only in the case they are not damaged.
I received my order, but I would like to replace some items.
If you don't like some item(s) you've ordered and received, you can send them back to us and place a new order. Please, send us an email to email@example.com and notify us about it first. You will have to arrange the shipping yourself and also pay for it. When we receive the items back, we will return your money, but not the shipping costs. The items should be returned to HANA KARIM, Vilharjeva cesta 3, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia. If the items return to our studio damaged, you are not eligible for return.
- Sustainably made
- Easy to clean
- Suitable for dishwasher
- Suitable for microwave and oven (max. 200°C)
- Certified lead-free glaze meaning it's hard to scratch


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Search Jewellery
(613) 234-4136
(877) 754-4136
Ottawa, ON
From the Seasons by Shelly Purdy collection. The carefree days of summer are here, when gardens flourish with a burst of flowers in a rainbow of colours. 18kt Pure White™ canadian Certified white gold rosebud vines encased in an 18k rose Canadian certified gold band exquisitely highlight the sparkle of a round brilliant-cut Canadian centre diamond.
Available with a total diamond weight of 1.14, 0.85 and 0.55 carats.
Coordinating items available.
Contact us for pricing and availability.
Give your a name and set your privacy level.
The Seasons Collection is inspired by our ever-changing Canadian landscape — the awakening buds of Spring, Summer's enchanted gardens and sparkling lakes, earthy Autumn forest trails, followed by the beauty of Winter's gently falling snow. -- Shelly Purdy.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google
Privacy Policy and
Terms of Service apply.
Maple Leaf Diamonds™, a Canadian Diamond brand since 2001, combines Canadian diamonds with the art of jewellery design and Canadian Certified Gold. Our over 55 years of expertise and superb craftsmanship culminates in beautiful and timeless jewellery piece.
Here are just some of the benefits of purchasing this special item through our store.
Share this page with your friends or loved ones.
Don't leave them guessing! Send that special someone a hint.


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Laws, Regulations and Annotations
Business Taxes Law Guide – Revision 2023
Sales And Use Tax Law
Revenue and Taxation Code
Division 2. Other Taxes
Part 1. Sales and Use Taxes
Chapter 4. Exemptions
Article 1. General Exemptions
Section 6366.1
6366.1. Aircraft leased to common carriers, foreign governments, and nonresidents. (a) There are exempted from the taxes imposed by this part, the gross receipts from the sale of and the storage, use, or other consumption in this state of aircraft which are leased, or are sold to persons for the purpose of leasing, to lessees using such aircraft as common carriers of persons or property under authority of the laws of this state, of the United States or any foreign government, or to any foreign government as lessees for use by such government outside the state, or to persons as lessees who are not residents of this state and who will not use such aircraft in this state otherwise than in the removal of such aircraft from this state.
(b) There are exempted from the taxes imposed by this part, the gross receipts from the sale of and the storage, use, or other consumption in this state of tangible personal property sold to an aircraft manufacturer and incorporated into aircraft to be leased by the manufacturer under conditions set forth in subdivision (a) of this section.
(c) With respect to aircraft leased, or sold for the purpose of leasing, on or after January 1, 1997, it shall be presumed that the aircraft is not regularly used in the business of transporting for hire property or persons if the lessor's yearly gross receipts from the lease of that aircraft to persons using the aircraft as common carriers of property or persons do not exceed 20 percent of the cost of the aircraft to the lessor, or fifty thousand dollars ($50,000), whichever is less. This presumption may be rebutted by contrary evidence satisfactory to the board showing that the aircraft is regularly used as a common carrier of property or persons.
In no event shall "gross receipts" include compensation by the lessor or related parties for use of the aircraft as a common carrier.
History—Added by Stats. 1964, p. 276 (First Extra Session), in effect August 22, 1964. Stats. 1965, p. 3450, in effect September 17, 1965, substituted "common" carriers for "certificated or licensed" carriers, deleted "in interstate or foreign commerce" and added "of this state." Stats. 1986, Ch. 1361, effective January 1, 1987, added a rebuttable presumption regarding an aircraft not regularly used in the business of transporting for hire. Stats. 2000, Ch. 923 (AB 2894), in effect January 1, 2001, substituted "With respect to … it shall be" for "For purposes of this section, it shall be rebuttably" before "presumed that", added "lessor's" after "persons if the", deleted "of the lessor" after "gross receipts", substituted "the" for "that" after "persons using", substituted "20" for "10" after "do not exceed", substituted "fifty thousand dollars ($50,000)" for "twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000)" after "the lessor, or" and added the second sentence in subdivision (c).
Note.—Sec. 41, Stats. 1986, Ch. 1361 required that:
(a) On January 15, of each year from 1988 to 1992, inclusive, the State Board of Equalization and the Franchise Tax Board shall submit a report to the Legislature on implementation of the provisions of this act, with the exception of Section 40 of this act (for which separate reporting requirements are set out).
(b) The revenue and taxation policy committees of each house of the Legislature shall hold a public hearing no later than June 30 of each year from 1988 to 1992, inclusive, on the reports submitted pursuant to subdivision (a).
(c) The intent of this section is to assure the Legislature the opportunity to oversee the implementation of this act. The intent of the Legislature in enacting this act is to improve enforcement and voluntary compliance with the tax system and cash-pay reporting rules. The intent of the Legislature in enacting this act is not to cause harassment of or undue burden on innocent taxpayers.
Sec. 41 applies to the following Revenue and Taxation Code Sections: 6069, 6071, 6366, 6366.1, 6368.1, 6452, 6455, 6776, 6777, 7154, 8404, 9355, 30481, 32556, 40188, 41143, and 44186.
Tangible Personal Property Later Becoming Aircraft Parts.—Sales tax applies to sales of tangible personal property thereafter becoming component parts of aircraft which have already been sold, leased, or sold for the purpose of leasing, to persons using such aircraft as common carriers of persons or property. National Aircraft Leasing, Ltd. v. State Board of Equalization (1979) 90 Cal.App.3d 549.


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The ongoing controversy surrounding the Liquor Control Board for Worcester County (LCB) took another step this week. The problem is it went severely in the wrong direction.
The idea to create a Worcester County Liquor Control Department is not only a blindside to all the parties involved but also a mistake. This will immediately become regrettable for all involved and represents an inconsistent approach to government by county officials who recently merged three planning county departments into one in the name of efficiency and cost cutting.
For decades, we have been troubled by the liquor buying process in Worcester County and the fact a monopoly governs it. The LCB is unnecessary in this county, and there's no reason why bars, restaurants and liquor retail stores should have to buy through this entity, consequently paying much more than competitors a few miles to the north.
Sure, there have been over the years some ethical and criminal violations associated with the LCB management, some charges that have been proven and heard in a court of law, but that's not the point here today. A change is needed to correct a fundamental flaw in the spirit-buying process that has existed for decades.
This week the county came up with its idea of a solution, announcing a plan to submit legislation to bring the LCB under its purview. It's an indefinite absorption aimed at protecting the liquor business and retaining jobs.
As is consistent with how the county routinely does business, this move evidently came after a number of private meetings and absolutely no public discussion. At least one commissioner asked this week to comment on the maneuver said mysteriously time was needed to digest the decision.
The true problem with this move is it does nothing to alter the distribution process, and that's the major issue here.
The county is wrong. It has no right or reason to be involved in this process, besides the obvious financial implications. This should be a private sector matter, and some of the commissioners agree, raising questions of why this move was approved. The only logical answer is it's about the money.
It's no secret the county is going to be in terrible financial shape in the near future. The next fiscal year is expected to be okay, but it's the one after that causing heartburn among County Commissioners, leading some to privately warn large tax increases will be coming for fiscal year 2013.
Why the county wants or even thinks it can handle this liquor situation is beyond our understanding. The only possible reason comes down to dollars and cents. Some folks in Snow Hill must think this is an opportunity for a new revenue stream that previously did not exist.
The only way this money grab by the county is acceptable is if there's a sunset provision in place that will open up the buying process within a few years. However, the county is not willing to put that down on paper and submit it with the legislation. Instead, a vague statement in the press release said, "upon the establishment of the Worcester County Liquor Control Department, the County Commissioners may consider to eventually curtail the monopoly of wholesale liquor."
That ambiguity is unacceptable, and the shore's delegation in Annapolis should require some sort of documented phase-out plan before introducing any legislation. Much more work is needed here, and the public has the right to see this deliberation play out.


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There is a bright and cheerful composition which successfuly combines instruments like the guitar, piano and trumpet. Enjoy!
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Even though the federal government doesn't recognize same-sex marriage, the Department of Education won't let this stance impact its financial aid decisions any longer.
Starting with the 2014-2015 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), the form college students use to apply for federal financial aid, the department will use income and financial information from both same-sex parents to determine aid eligibility.
Currently, only one parent in a same-sex couple can be included on the form, since the Defense of Marriage Act, which defines marriage as between one man and one woman, prevents their marriages from being recognized by the federal government.
Related: 'What legalizing gay marriage means for our money'
Same-sex couples still won't be classified as married on the new form, but they will be able to identify as "unmarried and both parents living together." Other language on the form will also be modified -- "mother" and "father" will become "Parent 1" and Parent 2," for example.
When both same-sex parents are included on the FAFSA, their combined incomes and financial situations will be used to determine the financial need of a student, which could result in less aid for some students. For a small number of students, however, including an additional family member on the form could actually boost the amount of aid -- if that person's income is low enough.
Related: Marriage ruling could save same-sex couples thousands
"These changes will allow us to more precisely calculate federal student aid eligibility based on what a student's whole family is able to contribute and ensure taxpayer dollars are better targeted toward those students who have the most need, as well as provide an inclusive form that reflects the diversity of American families," U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said in a statement.


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|Slony-I 1.2.23 Documentation
|Fast Backward
|Fast Forward
7. Reshaping a Cluster
If you rearrange the nodes so that they serve different purposes, this will likely lead to the subscribers changing a bit.
This will require doing several things:
If you want a node that is a subscriber to become the origin for a particular replication set, you will have to issue a suitable slonik MOVE SET operation.
You may subsequently, or instead, wish to modify the subscriptions of other nodes. You might want to modify a node to get its data from a different provider, or to change it to turn forwarding on or off. This can be accomplished by issuing the slonik SLONIK SUBSCRIBE SET operation with the new subscription information for the node; Slony-I will change the configuration. No need to ask for SLONIK UNSUBSCRIBE SET; no need for it to start copying data from scratch; the SLONIK SUBSCRIBE SET request will reshape the subscription "on the fly" and allow data to remain consistent between nodes.
If the directions of data flows have changed, it is doubtless appropriate to issue a set of SLONIK DROP LISTEN operations to drop out obsolete paths between nodes and SLONIK STORE LISTEN to add the new ones. Up until version 1.1, this was not changed automatically; as of 1.1, SLONIK MOVE SET and SLONIK SUBSCRIBE SET change the paths as a side-effect. See Section 9 for more information about this. In version 1.1 and later, generation of sl_listen entries is entirely automated, so that they are regenerated when changes are made to sl_path or sl_subscribe, thereby making it unnecessary to even think about SLONIK STORE LISTEN.
After performing the configuration change, you should, as Section 1, run the Section 5.1 scripts in order to validate that the cluster state remains in good order after this change.
The altperl toolset includes a regenerate-listens script that is up to the task of creating the new SLONIK STORE LISTEN commands; it isn't, however, smart enough to know what listener paths should be dropped.


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their website and you know what I mean. And the bottle shape.. LOVE it! I had to take one bottle home, I picked Green Hills. Green Hills is a blackened green polish with a jelly-like consistency. It looks mostly black indoors, but outside or under my daylight lamp I can definitely see the green. I adore this colour, it makes me so happy! :D I used two coats of Green Hills and both coats went on smooth and even. The flat brush is easy to handle.
Thanks for watching!


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Online check-in
You can check in online from 23 hours before departure. To do this, you have three different identification options.
Advice on Covid-19-related documents
Find out about the Covid-19-related documents required for your destination by entering your departure and arrival airports.
You can have your Covid-19-related documents checked 72 to 8 hours before departure when you have an existing booking.
Check in online now
Your check-in with Lufthansa
All check-in options
With the Lufthansa check-in options you can check in conveniently online, via your mobile phone or at a check-in machine – wherever suits you best.
Check-in deadlines
Find out before departure about checking in baggage for your Lufthansa, partner or Star Alliance flight at airports in Germany.


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The July 7 edition of The Living Church is available online to registered subscribers.
This edition features an essay by historian Worth Norman, Jr., about the Civil War's effects on church and state. Also in this issue, Gary G. Yerkey reviews A Powerful Blessing: The Life of Charles Colcock Jones Carpenter, Sr., by the bishop's son, the Rev. Douglas M. Carpenter.
Texas Gains $1 Billion in Sale
The Civil War, Church, and State
By Worth "Woody" Norman, Jr.
A Powerful Blessing by Douglas M. Carpenter
Review by Gary G. Yerkey
Healing Wisdom edited by Kathleen J. Grider
Discovering the Treasure Within by R. Carroll Travis
Decision Making and Spiritual Discernment by Nancy L. Bieber
Review by Robert D. Hughes III
Receiving David by Faye Knol
Review by Anna Masi
Family Theology by Carol J. Gallagher
Review by Emily Hylden
Sic et non
A Provisional Solution
By Mark McCall
The Ethics of Dr. Spock
By Leonard Freeman
By Ephraim Radner
Other Departments
Cæli enarrant
Sunday's Readings
People & Places


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Zeagle Ranger w/Inflator and Hose
Zeagle Ranger w/Inflator and Hose
If you want a tough recreational buoyancy system, and also want it to adapt and change to meet your different diving needs, the Ranger is a system you won't outgrow. It's been at the "top of the charts" for many years.
The Ranger was the first BC to combine high quality heavy duty construction, weight integration and rear flotation. Its introduction created a new category of buoyancy systems and made it the most imitated BC in history. But its incredible versatility is what keeps knowledgeable divers recommending it year after year. Our modular construction allows the Ranger to transition between tropical travel diving, rugged cold water diving in wet or dry suits, single or twin cylinders, and even technical diving (with optional bladder assemblies having up to dual 85 lb lift redundant bladder assemblies and easily mounted backplates).
Constructed of heavily reinforced 1050 denier ballistic nylon, the Ranger is compatible with a variety of options and accessories, including bladders, pockets, hard backplates, and custom gear attachment components.
- 44lb lift capacity Ballistic bladder (standard, other capacities available as options)
- 30lb capacity Ripcord® weight system
- 20lb capacity rear trim weight system
- PFS modular sizing
- Heavily reinforced 1050 denier Ballistic nylon construction
- 11" grommets for mounting twin cylinders
- Two zippered utility pockets at sides
- Adjustable elastic waist panels
- 4 stainless steel angled D-rings on shoulders (two adjustable)
- 2 stainless steel D-rings on vest
- Adjustable sternum strap
- Single or twin tank capability
- Dry Weight: 8.4 lbs
Measure Waist Size
Measure Shoulder to Waist
SM 28"-35" SM 14"-18" MD 33"-41" MD 18"-22" LG 37"-45" LG 22"-26" XL 42"-50" XL 26"-29" XXL Custom


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A new device called a soft x-ray electrostatic precipitator protected immunocompromised mice from airborne pathogenic bacteria, viruses, ultrafine particles, and allergens, according to a paper published online ahead of print in the journal Applied and Environmental Microbiology. This device, known for short as a SXC ESP, is highly versatile, with multiple potential uses, and Washington University is working on licensing the technology.
"Small particles are difficult to remove, and our device overcomes that barrier," says Pratim Biswas of Washington University, St. Louis. The device not only captures particles with a high level of efficiency that has never before been achieved; it also inactivates them. Even bioterror agents are blocked and completely inactivated, says Biswas.
The range of potential uses includes indoor protection of susceptible populations, such as people with respiratory illness or inhalation-induced allergies, and young children; protection of buildings from bio-terror attack; protection of individuals in hospital surgical theaters, for example, during open organ surgery; protection in clean rooms for semiconductor fabrication; removal of ultrafine particles in power plants; and capture of diesel exhaust particulates, says Biswas.
The device could be used in homes, with a cost similar to that of high efficiency air cleaners, says Biswas. "But it would be much easier to operate, and much more effective," he adds. It could be added into stand-alone indoor air cleaners, or incorporated into HVAC systems in homes, offices, and even in aircraft cabins. In the study, the device exceeded standards for high efficiency articulate air filters, which must be capable of removing particles larger than 0.3 micrometers with 99.97 percent efficiency.
The SXC ESP works by placing a charge on the particles—"which it does very effectively," says Biswas—and then using an electrical field to trap the particles. The SXC unit then also completely inactivates biological particles, by irradiating them, and photoionizing them—as UV light does, only more energetically.
A copy of the manuscript can be found online at http://bit.ly/asmtip0113d. Formal publication of the paper is scheduled for the second February 2013 issue of Applied and Environmental Microbiology.
(E.M. Kettleson, J.M. Schriewer, R.M.L. Buller, and P. Biswas, 2013. Soft-x-ray-enhanced electrostatitc precipitation for protection against inhalable allergens, ultrafine particles, and microbial infections. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. Published ahead of print 21 December 2012 ,doi:10.1128/AEM.02897-12.)
Applied and Environmental Microbiology is a publication of the American Society for Microbiology (ASM). The ASM is the largest single life science society, composed of over 39,000 scientists and health professionals. Its mission is to advance the microbiological sciences as a vehicle for understanding life processes and to apply and communicate this knowledge for the improvement of health and environmental and economic well-being worldwide.
Applied and Environmental Microbiology


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In a drab meeting room at the Museum of Arts and Design in New York, Chandler Burr, the world's only curator of olfactory art, takes out a bottle and spritzes a thin strip of paper. He invites this art critic to take a sniff.
"What do you think?" he asks, leaning forward. The strip smells like … perfume. A bit sharper, maybe, than all the other strips that have been sampled this October morning, but still … perfume. Or maybe fancy soap.
Wrong answer. Burr says he smells a distant hint of rose, but also metal and blood. "Sometimes when I floss, there's blood, and I hate the taste—it's awful."
The fragrance is called Eau de protection, Burr explains, and it is "one of the most fascinating works ever created, in any art form." It was designed as "a portrait of a woman who is so beautiful that rose runs in her blood. And a man comes with a metal knife, and plunges it into her heart. And it is the smell of her blood, running down the blade."
He suggests another sniff. Okay, this time the rose becomes clear. But still no metal—maybe a touch of steely astringency—and certainly no blood. Still basically perfume, if maybe a perfume that's rather different from others. "It's weird! It's strange!" Burr insists. "If an alarm bell doesn't go off when you smell this, you have a neurological problem." Or maybe you're just an untutored philistine of fragrance, as impervious to scent's subtleties as a perfumer might be to the difference between, say, synthetic and analytic cubism.
Burr is only weeks away from his first show (or is it his first "sniff"?), which opens at MAD on Nov. 13. And here he is, this pioneer in scent art, confronted once again by his obvious challenge: How to get even dedicated aesthetes, untrained in the ways of the nose, to get as much as he does from smells.
In The Art of Scent: 1889-2012, Burr will be introducing museum visitors to 12 highpoints in the history of fragrance, thanks to diffusion technology that releases perfume in minute puffs. But it's still not clear how much of his audience will recognize the art form's finer points. Holly Hotchner, MAD's director, heads up a museum devoted to crossovers—to bridging craft and design and fine arts of every kind. But even she sees the show she supports as a gamble: "This is probably as far afield as we've gone, in terms of experimentation, because people aren't used to using their noses." Burr's determined to change that, nostril by nostril. (He says we only smell through one at a time.)
Burr recalls how he'd always thought "a painting is a painting," until an accidental encounter with a connoisseur showed him how much a trained eye could unpack from a single van Gogh. "It was a huge shock to me that he saw a hundred times more in this painting than I did," Burr says. "It's exactly the same thing with smell." He insists that a perfume expert like him isn't some "biological freak" born with a better nose—any more than art critics are born with better vision—but that he merely uses his more often, and more carefully.
"All knowledge is based on comparison," Burr says, echoing a professor he once had in Paris. He utters the aphorism in immaculate French, and judging from an overheard phone call, his Italian is almost as good. He's also fluent in Spanish—his partner is Hispanic—and he says he has good Japanese because of time spent teaching there. "I can't add two numbers, but I can learn a language in about three months," he claims. He also says he remembers each of the places he's been by its smell.
Burr, a big-boned 48-year-old, stands over six feet, with thinning brown hair and standard preppy clothes: boat shoes and khakis and a well-pressed plaid shirt. News junkies might recognize him from a CNN appearance last year, after the government of Colombia learned he was gay and tried to reverse his adoption of two Colombian children. (He won the battle and his sons now live with him in New Jersey.) Burr has an agile mind and talks long, fast, and well about whatever comes up, although there's not much sign of an off switch. Maybe the most surprising thing about him is his smell, or lack of it. "I don't wear scent, ever," he says, explaining that he gets enough exposure to fragrance in his day job.
Burr begins my own nose-training with work by Bertrand Duchaufour, "one of the greatest olfactory artists who ever lived, and certainly among the greatest working in the medium today." It's a creation called Sienne l'hiver ("Siena in Winter") and Burr urges me to recognize the heat and leather of horses, a whiff of straw, fragrant Italian white truffles and "ancient stones—cold stones … not only a mineral smell, but a cold effect." As usual, I smell … perfume—but possibly a perfume with a bit of coolness. "There's no sunlight in this scent, there is no spring, no plants, no blossoming flowers," Burr says, and it's true that, within the compass of what fragrances smell like, a lot of the standard florals are missing.
Burr insists that Duchaufour's impression of Siena is "one of the most accomplished, technically virtuosic realist works I've ever smelled." He also acknowledges that before his immersion in the world of scent, a bit more than a decade ago, he would have thought that was bunk.
Burr was born near Chicago but grew up in Washington, D.C., with a dad in government and a mother in real estate—and a family friend who gave him work in her perfume store, although Burr downplays the significance of the job. "If she'd been selling toys or cars, I'd have been selling those."
Burr earned a master's degree in economics, spent some time reporting on business and science, and then, through a chance encounter with an expert on our sense of smell, became the world's best-known popularizer of scent. He wrote a book about that olfactory scientist, Luca Turin—The Emperor of Scent, the book calls him—and then another on the making and selling of two perfumes. In 2006 Burr became the first "perfume critic" of The New York Times, and then dumped that job in late 2010 when Hotchner bought his pitch to found a Department of Olfactory Art at her museum.
Burr hands me a wand sprayed with Chanel No. 5, launched in 1921, which he describes as "a revolutionary work of art that fundamentally and dramatically changed the medium itself." Burr agrees, for once, that No. 5 is indeed "perfumy"—but only because its success made it the model for so many subsequent scents. He explains that No. 5 was the first perfume built around aldehydes, synthetic molecules that barely have smell-cousins in nature.
This leads to a peculiar notion of Burr's: that only perfumes that include man-made aromas are worthy works of art. He dismisses early scents, made only of naturally occurring ingredients, as "artisanal products." The medium only came into its own, he says, after 1884, when a creation called Fougère Royale—"the first work of olfactory art ever created"—included newly synthesized scent molecules.
To count as art, Burr insists, "a thing must be artificial; it is impossible to create art entirely with nature"—which would come as a surprise to the medieval masters who sourced all their paints in the natural world. Burr, self-taught in aesthetic theory, seems to have conflated the artifice found in art with a chemist's idea of the artificial, and now he won't let go of that conflation.
Fougère Royale won't be in Burr's show, since it's no longer being sold. Instead, Burr's diffusers will be puffing out a perfume called Jicky, which is only five years younger than Fougère and still counts, he says, as "one of the greatest works of olfactory romanticism. I'm thinking Delacroix and Gericault and Byron…. [Jicky] doesn't speak, it proclaims." Jicky spoke so clearly to Hotchner, Burr's boss at MAD, that she switched to it once he gave her a whiff.
At the other end of the time spanned in The Art of Scent will be a perfume called Jasmin et Cigarette, which Burr refers to as "21st-century photorealism." With a bit of prompting from him, I do catch hints of "a Frenchwoman in cheap jasmine perfume, smoking a cigarette." Burr even seems right in saying that Antoine Lie and Antoine Maisondieu, creators of this scent and of that blood-on-knife one, have managed "the most f--king lifelike representation of cigarette ashes"—the sour smell of butts in an ashtray rather than the facile aroma of smoke itself. But, bottom line, what I'm smelling is still recognizable as a perfume that's playing these tricks. It's still suited to a fancy glass bottle.
After several hours of smelling, and for all Burr's proselytizing, the range of experience on offer still seems smaller than in some other art forms. It's as though all of visual art were limited to the kind of expressionist abstraction that's all about emotion and vague hints at the world—to paintings that buy into the old-fashioned sensual model that still rules the aesthetics of perfume. But of course fine art can be full of content as well. Artists can draw or paint or snap pictures—or make films and videos and installations—that talk, directly and with force, about almost anything that humans can think about. Artists can go for the wildly scatological or the emphatically political; they can craft experiences that work below the belt or speak to our most abstract mental capacities; they can please, but they can also enrage or disgust. Whereas most perfumers make expensive stuff that smells more or less like perfume.
Olfactory art, Burr admits, has been "completely and aggressively and successfully colonized by commercial interests." By attaching a celebrity name to a tiny bit of liquid in a fancy bottle, Burr says, the cosmetics industry—which happens to be the source of most of his funding—has arrived at the ultimate way to monetize fame. But despite these obstacles, he feels that certain perfumers have created works that "have a huge intellectual impact and generate an immense emotional reaction—as well as communicating the thoughts, desires, prejudices, stupidities, dreams, wishes, and brilliance of the mind that made them." This may be true—just. But it's also true that all this is harder to read from a smell, which Burr says is processed in the most primitive parts of the brain, than from more clearly content-filled art forms.
Burr's first show, and his thinking, is focused on what is usually called "fine fragrance," but he can be coaxed into talking about other kinds of olfactory culture that may be more up-to-date. There's sculpture that's made to spew odors and perfumers' works that are close to conceptual, more likely to be collected than worn. (He's even willing to contemplate non-aromatic nose art, on the model of the non-retinal visual art proposed by Marcel Duchamp.) And then there are all the "olfactory landmarks" that live with us day to day, in laundry soaps and baby powder and new cars. "They're all composed by artists," Burr says, even if the public never hears their names. "The scent of Coppertone is incredibly well made, is beautifully composed. Call it a work of design—call it what you will—it is a minor work of art."


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Dear activist friends in all of Europe,
We send our call into Europe today to come and gather in one Big Circle in August -
Welcome to the European Permaculture Convergence 2012
1st.-5th August 2012
@gASTWERKe in Escherode/Kassel - Germany -
'Permaculture derives a future vision from the synergetic combination of all our skills, potentials and resources'. We invite European activists from Permaculture and all of Earth Care - People Care - Fair Share to co-create one common space, to link up & come together, to share skills & spread knowledge, to nurture ourselves and claim our stake before the few public performers of the Big Play.
Our vision goes beyond the traditional format of the EuPC - and yet embraces it at the same time. We are seeing a European landscape of activists and their networks - and want to link us all up, because we ARE ONE web of change and the time is now!
We therefore use our chance to reach out and call for delegations and representatives from all European countries and to come and join the EuPC 2012, to share their message and be of presence. We can accomodate a maximum of 300 people on a low-tech infrastructure and can already see the space filling up fast... What a resonance!
If you receive this invitation, we think it would be great to have you there. Would you like to be part of it?! Are you ready to co-create the space with us by lining up your country group/network and organizing your coming and contribution? Get in contact with us and get creative!
Use your chance to attend both the Pre-EuPC-Permaculture-Design-Course AND the EuPC on European Funding!
http://ec.europa.eu/education/trainingdatabase (search 'Permakultur Institut') Welcome to consider the opportunity of building up the AfterCon-week, a landscape of YOUR courses, events & workshops in the region or join the AfterCon-Site Tour, a merry journey to Permaculture places & communities, living architecture and remarkable people in Germany.
The EuPC will be held for 5 days & nights, with you arriving on Tue 31st July.
It will be a living landscape of workshops and speeches, of interaction and introspection, of Earth Spirit, Mind Matter and Free Flow. Already gladly receiving your themes and offers, we're extremely happy to merge them into a fine framework of workshops, presentations, plays and market stalls with enough Open Space to entertain the unknown.
Saturday 4th is Public Paradise & Party and Sunday 5th August Organize & Occupy:
Preparing together for a major public event in the City of Kassel, where at the same time dOCUMENTA 13 (a cultural event of world standing) is happening - our closing Circle will be a Circle of Power, transmitting our vision in a procession down town, where we link up with the Kassel-network of change to occupy public space with powerful peace.
We have on board already:
Permaculture Network
Transition Network
Schools of Wilderness
Dragon Dreaming
Deep Ecology
Social Sculpture Research Unit
Gaia University
Common Welfare Economy
And Strong Voices:
Declan & Margrit Kennedy
Opening speech & Occupy Money
Shelley Sacks & Hildegard Kurt
Social Sculpture - Art, culture & sustainability
John Croft
Dragon Dreaming
Davie Philip & Gerd Wessling
Transition Network Int'l / GER
power down Ireland
Andy Goldring & Louise Cartwright
LAND project England
Kosha Joubert & Robin Alfred
Collective Consciousness & Inspirational Leadership/Findhorn
Christian Felber
Common Welfare Economy/Austria
Welcome to be part of it!
Get in touch if you want to join in!
Best wishes for 2012
the EuPC-team


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As soon as the updated seasonal flu vaccine becomes available, parents should bring children aged 6 months and older to get vaccinated, according to an updated policy statement from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).
The AAP now recommends that kids be protected against the flu with either the trivalent vaccine, which contains three strains of the virus, or with a new quadrivalent vaccine that offers protection against four strains of flu.
The quadrivalent vaccines for this year's flu season contain the same three strains as the trivalent vaccine, but it may also offer protection from an additional B strain. The AAP has not said that one vaccine is better than the other. Instead, the group said to get either one of these vaccines at the first opportunity.
"Parents should not delay vaccinating their children to obtain a specific vaccine," Dr. Henry Bernstein, a pediatrician and lead author of the flu recommendations, said in an academy news release. "Influenza virus is unpredictable, and what's most important is that people receive the vaccine soon so they will be protected when the virus begins circulating."
The AAP experts said timely vaccination against the flu is particularly important for children who are most vulnerable to the flu, such as those with chronic health issues and those of American Indian or Alaskan Native heritage. In addition, health care workers, women who are pregnant or breast-feeding, and anyone who has contact with high-risk children should also be vaccinated as soon as possible.
People who are allergic to eggs can receive the inactivated flu vaccine, which is given in one dose. The AAP said, however, that patients who have had severe reactions should consult an allergist.
For children who are hospitalized with the flu or who have severe flu symptoms, as well as kids with the flu who have chronic health conditions, the AAP recommended treatment with the antiviral medications oseltamivir (brand name Tamiflu) or zanamivir (Relenza). Oseltamivir may be used to treat both full-term and premature infants with the flu. Chemoprophylaxis, however, should be used only to treat full-term babies, according to the AAP news release.
The AAP's updated policy statement was published online Sept. 2 in the journal Pediatrics.
SOURCE: American Academy of Pediatrics, news release, Sept. 2, 2013
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U.S. Department of Commerce
Bureau of Industry and Security
Update 2013 Conference
Remarks of
Eric L. Hirschhorn
Under Secretary for Industry and Security
July 23, 2013
Thank you, Dan. Thanks to Bernie Kritzer, Rebecca Joyce, Toni Jackson and our terrific Outreach staff as well as the many BIS and U.S. Government colleagues who have contributed to this conference. Bernie is retiring soon, so this will be the last Update conference for which he's responsible. Please give him a big hand.
To the staff of BIS, thank you again for your diligence, professionalism, and dedication. I'd also like to thank my colleagues from the other departments involved in export controls. As evidenced by our amazing progress in the reform effort, great things happen when we can see ourselves as part of an Executive branch with a single vision. It is an honor to work with all of you to advance our country's national security, foreign policy, and economic security.
I would like to introduce our BIS management team. Please stand when I call your name. Please hold your applause until I have read everyone's name. We have Assistant Secretaries David Mills and Kevin Wolf, Deputy Under Secretary Dan Hill, Chief of Staff Sharon Yanagi, Deputy Assistant Secretaries Matt Borman and Rich Majauskas—Rich will come aboard next week—Director of Administration and CFO Gay Shrum, Director of Congressional and Public Affairs Charles Kinney, and Chief Information Officer Eddie Donnell. And thanks to OEE Director Doug Hassebrock for serving as Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement for the past few months.
I. Export Control Reform (ECR) Generally
We have been describing for nearly four years why our national security requires fundamental reform of our export control system – to increase interoperability with our NATO and other close allies, to strengthen the defense industrial base by reducing the incentives of foreign companies to design out or avoid U.S.-origin content, and to focus our resources on the transactions that matter most.
To implement these objectives, the regulations must change considerably. Over the next three days, we will be describing the fundamental changes that have been completed and those that are yet to come. We are yours for these three days. Ask questions, so that you leave here as informed as possible—not only about what is changing but also what is not. If you think of a question after the conference, that's okay, too. Keep asking. Our accessibility to the public and our ability to explain the changes to those affected is essential to our success.
We know that change is hard. But we believe that once you understand and implement these changes, the system will be more efficient for you. It will also achieve our national security, foreign policy, and economic security objectives.
Another reason to keep asking questions is to help us spot things that we may have missed. With any regulatory reform effort as large as this, small mistakes and unintended consequences are inevitable. You can help by pointing out any seemingly odd results from your application of the regulations in the day-to-day business of exporting. They may be deliberate, or not.
We have strived to make the reform effort transparent. The government, of course, makes the final calls on what is in our national security and foreign policy interests, but we have been doing so with significant input from industry. We want our rules to be as reliable and predictable as possible so that you can be reliable and predictable exporters. This is good for our national security and foreign policy objectives, and for your ability to comply with the rules and to profit from secure, efficient, and lawful trade.
A central part of the reform initiative is the Defense Department-led effort, in which State and Commerce also played important roles, to revise the U.S. Munitions List so that its categories are more specific and list only those defense articles that are critical to maintaining a military or intelligence advantage or that otherwise warrant the types of controls in the ITAR. Military items that do not warrant ITAR controls will become subject to the EAR and its new "600 series" controls.
We will go into more detail on these new rules during the conference, but one way of thinking about them is that we have divided the world into three main groups –the 36 NATO and other close allies that will become eligible to receive military items subject to the EAR under License Exception Strategic Trade Authorization, or STA, the countries subject to arms embargoes, and all other countries. The greatest benefit will accrue for exports to and among the first group but there also will be significant benefits for the third group. The rules for the embargoed group will not change, even for items being transferred to the CCL.
II. Status of the ECR Effort
Export controls are serious, with serious implications that warrant careful action. Ours are ambitious ideas. Unlike previous Update conferences, however, they are now more than just ideas because we are issuing them as actual, final regulations.
In particular, on April 16th, State and Commerce published final rules revising the controls on military aircraft and engines, and related items. The most significant changes are with respect to most parts and components for military aircraft and engines.
The rule also includes many new or revised definitions and exceptions in order to begin the process of harmonizing the EAR and the ITAR. One such definition is "specially designed," which will result in increased clarity, reliability, and predictability for exporters without over-controlling—or under-controlling—items that meet the regulatory criteria. At the request of industry, the April 16th regulations include a 180-day delay in the effective date (until October 15) to allow companies to adjust their internal order processing and compliance programs.
On July 8th, State and Commerce published their second set of final rules, which included significant changes to the controls on the parts and components for military vehicles, ships, and items in the ITAR's miscellaneous and materials category. These rules will become effective on January 6, 2014.
This Thursday—July 25—State and Commerce will publish a second proposed revision to the controls on military electronics. The document will be on public display at the Office of the Federal Register tomorrow and the deadline for comments will be September 9th. We are publishing a second proposed rule because many of the comments to the first proposed rule provided hard evidence supporting changes—and the changes are significant. We wanted to give industry a chance to see and comment on the changes before they became final. This is an excellent example of what I meant by the transparency of the effort and our goal of involving industry in ensuring that the control text is understandable and consistent with the goals of the reform initiative.
In early January, President Obama signed this year's National Defense Authorization Act, which restored his authority to determine the appropriate export controls for satellites and related items. We owe thanks to those in the Congress—from both parties—who made this possible. On May 24th, Commerce and State published proposed rules regarding the transfer of communications and other non-military satellites and related items back to the EAR. Thank you also to those who sent in comments by the July 8th deadline. We've begun reviewing them and hope to have a draft final rule ready soon so that we can begin the required congressional notification process.
We expect to begin this fall the notification process on the categories pertaining to missiles, explosives, training equipment, and personal protective equipment. We also plan to have out for public comment this fall proposed rules on the fire control and biologics categories.
III. Compliance and Enforcement
Another aspect of the reform effort is the enhancement of the export control compliance and enforcement capabilities of BIS in particular and the government in general. We have, for example, established the Information Triage Unit (ITU) and Export Enforcement Coordination Center (E2C2). The ITU compiles, coordinates and reports intelligence and other information about foreign parties, which facilitates our review of license applications. The E2C2 improves interagency export enforcement coordination by ensuring the various agencies are talking to one another and sharing relevant information.
We are also strengthening our end-use check program. For example, BIS and State are working to coordinate end-use checks where U.S. Munitions List and CCL items are co-located, so that we can expand the total number of end-use checks while minimizing burdens on your foreign customers from multiple checks.
BIS is employing a layered approach to verify compliance with license exception STA. We review data reported in the Automated Export System to track STA shipments and identify users of STA. Exporters and consignees are required to provide, upon request, copies of their export activity pertaining to STA. We have conducted a number of on-site document reviews to verify compliance. To date, compliance with the provisions of STA is approaching ninety percent. We will continue to review STA transactions to guard against misuse.
We are working on a rule that would strengthen the Unverified List to increase U.S. Government visibility into potential transactions when BIS has been unable to verify the suitability of the potential recipients. This will give you more clarity on how to address "red flags" in transactions with foreign parties for which BIS has been unable to complete an end-use check. When coupled with our other unique administrative authorities, including the Entity List, BIS's compliance tools provide exporters with information about the reliability of foreign parties to safeguard transactions from illicit diversion.
IV. Next Steps
So what do we hope to accomplish by the time of next year's Update conference? First, we need to complete our work on the USML-CCL revisions. As the new categories start to come on line, we need to ensure that the new licensing system and personnel are functioning smoothly.
Our new Munitions Control Division will be handling the license applications, classification requests, and other matters that will become BIS's responsibility. It is staffed and trained, and I have every confidence that it will manage the new system successfully. If not, I'm sure you will let us know. By the way, a majority of the new hires have Department of Defense backgrounds, with almost one-third being combat veterans of Iraq or Afghanistan. They have direct, hands-on experience with military equipment and DOD programs.
Beyond the USML-CCL list review efforts, we need to keep working on making the EAR and the rest of the CCL clearer and easier to use. A control list comprising the details of multilateral regime commitments and various unilateral controls necessarily is complex. We nevertheless will do what we can to make it internally consistent and easier to apply. We also will continue the work of harmonizing the definitions of key ITAR and EAR terms.
Working through the regime process, we will continue evaluating the strategic rationales for the controls on specific dual-use items. The multilateral regimes can only handle a limited number of proposals each year but we will move as quickly as we can.
We want to revise and simplify encryption controls by making them more concise and clear, and not increasing the regulatory burden unduly. I do not yet have a solution but we are working on the issue.
We are drafting a proposed rule that would update existing support document requirements and clarify routed transaction issues. We plan to seek public input on how to revise the current recordkeeping requirements to be consistent with modern IT and document retention systems.
This is not a complete list of the EAR changes we're contemplating but it offers a feel for the types of developments we'd like to be discussing at this time next year.
V. Education
Since joining BIS, I have stressed the need for education and outreach, particularly for small- and medium-sized companies. The benefits of our improvements will be lost unless the regulated community can understand and comply with them. We are working hard to get the word out. We have, for example, developed partnerships with non-profit educational groups representing defense exporters, particularly small and medium-sized firms. Notwithstanding fiscal austerity, BIS has conducted this year more than 140 reform-related activities that have reached about 11,000 people. These include weekly teleconferences, which provide an important venue for industry to submit questions on what has been proposed and how the new system will work.
If you are a regular visitor to the BIS website, and I hope that you are, you'll notice that we've completed the transition to our redesigned website. Our goal was to provide quick and easy access to the information you need to stay current with bureau activities and tools to make your compliance responsibilities easier. We welcome your comments on our new format.
We have deployed on the BIS website two interactive tools to assist exporters in understanding and complying with the new rules: the Commerce Control List Order of Review Decision Tool and the "Specially Designed" Decision Tool. We will be updating the on-line interactive STA tool to assist companies in determining whether they are eligible for and compliant with STA to take into account the "600 series." Additionally, we are in the beta testing phase for a fourth interactive tool that will assist the private sector, academic, and research communities in determining whether a deemed export license is required.
We conduct seminars, webinars, and teleconferences on the new rules. These webinars are recorded and made available without charge on the BIS website.
BIS does not limit its outreach and education to the private sector. We're also helping other government agencies with the transition.
Over the next few months, BIS will be working closely with the Outbound Branch of U.S. Customs and Border Protection to implement a port training program, and with the FBI and DHS's Homeland Security Investigations. We don't want our law enforcement partners to be surprised when they see a defense part or component exported under a BIS license or license exception instead of an ITAR license.
We also are working with the Small Business Administration and Commerce's Minority Business Development Administration to get the word to the companies with which they deal.
VI. Conclusion
Another important aspect of our training and outreach efforts is this conference. Please take advantage of it. Ask questions. Challenge us. Learn. Enjoy yourself. Thank you for attending.
* * *
Let me now take just a few more moments of your time to introduce the next speaker. The centerpiece of this conference, as its theme implies, is President Obama's export control reform initiative. Many people, in BIS and a host of other agencies, have played a role in bringing ECR about. Kevin Wolf, our Assistant Secretary for Export Administration, has been in every sense the mainstay of the BIS team in this effort. Without his energy, commitment, knowledge of the ITAR and the EAR, ability to "play well with others," and sense of humor, ECR could not have gotten to first base, let alone be rounding third and heading for home.
Kevin is a native of the Show-Me State, Missouri, and received his bachelor's degree from its state university. He then made his way and earned his law degree and a masters in International Affairs from the University of Minnesota. Then, on to Washington, where he spent seventeen years with the Bryan Cave law firm, much of it working on export control and other international issues, before yielding to the siren call of government service in early 2010.
It's a privilege to have him at BIS and to hear from him this morning. Please welcome Assistant Secretary Kevin Wolf.


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State police say troopers were called to a western New York McDonald's last weekend for a report of a man asleep behind the wheel of a car in the drive-thru lane.
When troopers arrived at the fast-food restaurant in the Erie County town of Newstead at about 2 a.m. Saturday, they found the 32-year-old driver sleeping at the wheel of his car with the engine running.
The troopers woke him up and gave him sobriety tests, which he failed. Police say he was charged with driving while intoxicated for having a blood-alcohol content of 0.14 percent, nearly twice the legal limit of 0.08 percent.
Troopers say the man lives in Newstead, a rural town 20 miles east of Buffalo.


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Mayowa Ahmed's Saga: My Story
In view of the recent happenings around Mayowa Ahmed's ill health and the many allegations of fraud surrounding the funds raised, it has become imperative that I come clean by stating my side of the story and by implications, set the record straight.
When I got wind of Mayowa's sickness, I was moved to tears and immediately sought to know how I could help, hence my on-the-spot video which went viral as my genuine intervention.
Indeed, I was overwhelmed by the quick response of well-meaning Nigerians to whom I will forever owe a debt of gratitude.
But all this changed yesterday, Thursday 28th, July, when I went to the hospital in the morning to check as well as follow up on Mayowa. Her brother had told everyone to leave them alone because they wanted privacy. Although I was shocked at the sudden change in attitude, especially the tone of communication, I still did not suspect anything was amiss.
However, on my way out, I received a call from one Aramide Kasumu of Life Stake Foundation, who would later claim the whole Mayowa Ahmed fund raiser was a scam. Importantly, she wanted to know the extent of my involvement and in her words, "so that when they are giving their reports, I would not be roped into it".
She went further to state that the family deceived everyone in the first place by raising funds for Mayowa despite the fact that her case was helpless and the hopes of her survival was near impossible. She seemed to know so much, I reckoned.
Upon hearing this, I was appalled and in a bid to clear my name, I went back to the hospital in palpable anger and demanded explanations from all concerned. Perhaps, I overreacted when I went into a rage of anger over the matter with the CSO. I then alerted the Police PRO, who invited the parties involved to the police command.
I want to state for the record that I have never been a fraud and will never partake in one, not even at this stage of my career (which I hold to heart). All my efforts were strictly on humanitarian grounds without recourse to any pecuniary consideration or the resort to cheap fame.
That said, whatever discomfort my reactions may have cost anyone from any quarters is highly regretted and I take responsibility.
Whilst I wish Mayowa a quick recovery and divine intervention, I want to urge us as a people to continue to exhibit that enviable Nigerian spirit of compassion and generosity and not because of this isolated case cease to be our sister/brother's keeper.
I love you all and thank you.


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Alabama Renaissance Faire
First held in 1987, the official Alabama Renaissance Faire in Florence, Lauderdale County, has developed into a major tourist event in northwest Alabama. Regularly named one of the top 20 fall events in the Southeast by the Southeast Tourist Society in Roswell, Georgia, the event is held on the fourth Saturday and Sunday in October in Wilson Park (renamed Fountain-on-the-Green for the two days of the fair) and draws as many as 35,000 people.
Renaissance Faire Musicians The Renaissance Faire is planned and executed by an all-volunteer group known as the Roundtable, which includes a board of directors composed of 18 people who serve three-year terms and who meet quarterly to guide the overall planning and set policy. There are no limits to the number of members in the Roundtable. The event is financed primarily through the fees that vendors pay for space. Any profits are added to the organization's treasury to provide additional funds for the event. The City of Florence provides liability coverage and overnight security for the weekend and allows free use of the Florence-Lauderdale Coliseum. The city of Florence also declares the month of October to be Renaissance Month each year.
Renaissance Fairy The fair's yearly cycle begins in the spring, with an annual statewide poster contest to determine that year's official logo. Entries from across Alabama are submitted, with the winning artist receiving $500. The image is then used to promote the fair throughout the year on posters, tee shirts, and other products. A number of other events take place during the weeks before the fair, including Renaissance-related music programs, public lectures, dramatic performances, art exhibits, and dance programs. One of the major events is an authentic Renaissance Feast, held on Saturday evening a week before the start of the fair in the Florence-Lauderdale Coliseum. The event, which features authentic food and entertainment of the period, provides attendees with the opportunity to engage with the customs of the Renaissance period by bringing their own tablecloth, candelabra, and eating utensils, a practice common among the nobility so that they could flaunt their wealth.
Trolling the Renaissance Faire A primary goal of the fair is to educate visitors about the Renaissance period, and organizers include a number of activities to encourage the involvement of students. Among them are an annual art contest for students in grades K-6, that centers on subject matter related to the period, and a yearly sonnet-writing contest for students in grades 7-12 to commemorate the invention of the sonnet by Italian Renaissance poet Petrarch (Francesco Petrarca). Chess tournaments are held at all grade levels in area schools, with winners of these tournaments competing in playoffs at the fair. A free costume-making workshop is held on the second Saturday in October at the local Kennedy-Douglass Art Center, which is located directly across the street from the fair site. Attendees are invited to provide fabric that is then measured, cut, and sewn by event volunteers. This event allows a large number of people to attend the fair in costume.
The two-day fair itself features dancers, musicians playing period instruments and singing Renaissance ballads, sword fights, jugglers, jesters, a troll, a theater troupe, a children's play area, and the coronation of the new year's ruling "monarch," determined by who gets a coin in a cake served at the feast. Period food, including breads and pastries, and souvenirs, such as costumes, mugs, baskets, hand-crafted chainmail, and swords, can be purchased as well.