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Presbyterian Panel Survey, February 2006 - Mental Illness, Clergy
CitationMarcum, J. P. (2021, May 28). Presbyterian Panel Survey, February 2006 - Mental Illness, Clergy.
SummaryThe Presbyterian Panel began in 1973 and is an ongoing panel study in which mailed and web-based questionnaires are used to survey representative samples of constituency groups of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). These constituency groups include members, elders, pastors serving in a congregation, and specialized clergy serving elsewhere. The 3,742 member panel consists of 1,099 members, 1,164 elders and 1,469 clergy. Panels are re-sampled every three years. The main goal of this study is to gather broad information about Presbyterians in terms of their faith (beliefs, church background, and levels of church involvement), and their social, economic, and demographic characteristics (age, sex, marital status, living arrangements, etc.). The February 2006 survey focuses on mental illness.
The ARDA has added four additional variables to the original data set to enhance the users' experience on our site.
Data FileCases: 973
Variables: 271
Weight Variable: None
Data CollectionOctober 2005 (background questions) and February-April 2006
Funded ByCongregational Ministries Division, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
Collection ProceduresBackground Data
Data were collected by self-administered mail and web-based surveys. "In the initial mailing on October 21, 2005, each sampled individual was sent a 9"x12" envelope (personally addressed) containing the following materials: a letter encouraging participation from Rick Ufford-Chase, Moderator of the 216th General Assembly, on the moderator's letterhead with pre-printed signature in blue ink (not personally addressed); a personally-addressed cover letter, with pre-printed signature in blue ink, from John P. Marcum, Panel Administrator; a tri-fold brochure describing the Panel in a question-and-answer format; a questionnaire; and a postage-paid, business-reply envelope. (Overall design of the survey and the mailings followed the "Tailored Design Method"; see Dillman, 2000.)" (Technical Notes: Religious and Demographic Profile of Presbyterians 2005)
"All individuals who had not yet responded were mailed a reminder postcard on November 4, 2005. A second reminder, including cover letter, replacement copy of the questionnaire, Q&A brochure, and postage-paid reply envelope, was sent on November 18, 2005, to all sampled persons who had not yet responded. A third reminder, with cover letter, replacement copy of the questionnaire, Q&A brochure, and postage-paid reply envelope was sent on December 30, 2005, to all remaining non-respondents." (Technical Notes)
February 2006 Data
Questionnaires were mailed February 15, 2006. Non-responders were sent a postcard reminder on March 7. Returns were accepted through April 27, 2006. Response rates for this survey are: members, 54%; elders, 62%; ministers, 67%. Results are subject to sampling and other errors. As a general rule, differences of less than 8% are not statistically meaningful. Panelists had the option to complete the survey on the Web, and 11% of members, 13% of elders, 20% of pastors, and 18% of specialized clergy did so.
"The Panel consists of three samples, each drawn from a separate constituency group, or population, of persons affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). The PC(USA) consists of congregations in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico." (Technical Notes)
Ministers of the Word and Sacrament
"The population of ministers of the Word and Sacrament is defined as those persons who have been ordained to this office and continue to hold it as members of a presbytery of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). (See Book of Order, G-6.0200 through G-6.0204.) Retired or emeritus ministers are excluded. At the end of 2004, the population of active ministers totaled 13,786." (Technical Notes)
Sampling Procedures"Three representative samples were drawn, one from each of the three populations, using probability techniques." (Technical Notes)
Pastors and Specialized Clergy
"A list of all ordained ministers of the Word and Sacrament is maintained by the Office of the General Assembly based on reports from stated clerks of presbyteries. A probability sample of 2,203 ministers was drawn using proportional stratified sampling. All active ministers (i.e., not retired or emeritus) resident in the United States or Puerto Rico were located in one of 56 unique strata based on their region of residence (Northeast, Midwest, South, West), their race ethnicity (African American, Asian American, Hispanic American, Native American, White, other, not known), and their occupational category (pastors, specialized clergy). Random sampling was used within strata." (Technical Notes)


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In the highly competitive LED sector, it takes more than just quality products for manufacturers to thrive. OKT Lighting Int'l Group Ltd has managed to stay ahead of the game by choosing to focus entirely on one big market and in just a few years it has already gained a firm footing in the market. Now it's ready to go further. By Lydia Li from Hong Kong Trade Development Council .
Established in 2008, is an innovative manufacturer specializes in developing, manufacturing architectural LED lighting fixtures. Its main products are T-grid LED linear lights, LED linear suspended & surface mounted fixtures, LED commerical downlights , LED troffers and LED emergency drivers with all products U L, CUL Energy Star, DLC, SAA, CE certified. OKT lighting occupies a facility of 5000 square meter and possesses 130 experienced and professional staffs with 5 production lines for high production capacity. It has a cooperative supply chain and applies with technical equipments, such as SMT, Auto Aging-test , Integrating Sphere, Drop Tester, Shipping Simulation Tester for highly-qualified products. And it's ISO9001 certified.
Strong in R&D and quality control
"OKT has always been focused on research and development. Every quarter we have new models coming out of the pipeline and we produce LED products that are more energy-efficient, cost-effective and aesthetically pleasing than those already on the market. Installations of our products are much easier as well, helping customers to further save on labour costs," says OKT chief executive officer Allan Zhang.
He continues, "To illustrate our R&D capabilities, we were the first Chinese LED manufacturer to successfully create an LED panel light with luminous efficacy of 130 lumens per watt." Its extremely low product defect rate — less than one per cent — is another testament to OKT's strong R&D, as well as a result of its stringent quality control. In fact, all products have to undergo a series of tests before leaving the factory, including a hi-pot test, light distribution test, light depreciation test, drop test, vibration test and integrating sphere test.

subset: commoncrawl


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FREE Jan. 29-30 Bad Advice Steamy, Romantic, Black Comedy. and Murder Mystery Get Your FREE Copy Sometimes following your heart isn't the best advice… Ruby's having a problem looking for love. The divorced single mother needs someone to mend her heart. Scottie's avoiding any commitment, wanting to focus on his high flying career. But one […]Read More...
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Africa: The Rising Power of Social Media in Politics
By Gavin Davis
Opposition parties in Africa have struggled for decades in a media environment that favours incumbents.
Of 54 African countries measured in the Freedom House 2012 press freedom index, only five were considered to be "free". Press censorship and pliant public broadcasters mean that elections can be fixed before the first vote is counted.
State control of the media is not the only hurdle preventing parties from getting their message to the electorate. Many face the invidious choice of either giving journalists "petrol money" or having their press conference ignored.
"It's a pity that, as the party advocating for a corruption-free society, we find ourselves embroiled in this vice," says Kasekende Bashir of the Liberal Democratic Transparency (LDT) party in Uganda.
Social media have the power to change all this by permitting parties to bypass the gatekeepers – reporters, editors and government officials – who shape or control the press agenda. The Arab spring in 2010 – 11 revealed how social networks such as Twitter, Facebook and YouTube revolutionised political communication in North Africa.
In Africa only about 16% of the population have internet access – less than half of the world average of 34%, according to Internet World Stats, an online demography site.
A shortage of electricity and broadband infrastructure, coupled with the high cost of hardware to access the internet, mean that most African countries find themselves on the wrong side of the global digital divide.
The good news is that a mobile revolution is sweeping the continent and bridging this gap. More Africans have access to a mobile phone than clean drinking water, according to Jan Hutton, telecoms director at Nielsen, a market-research firm.
After Asia, Africa is the world's largest mobile phone market, with 700m mobile connections. By 2016, there will be 1 billion – a mobile phone for nearly every person, according to a 2012 report by financial services firms Frontier Advisory and Deloitte.
While not every mobile phone has social networking capabilities, this is changing too. At the end of 2012, smartphone users accounted for 6% of Africa's total mobile subscriptions; this share is forecast to rise to 18% by 2017, according to Thecla Mbongue, a senior analyst at Informa Telecoms and Media, a market-research firm.
Once mobile take-up reaches critical mass, social media may well become the only game in town. Many political parties realise that they need to be ahead of the game now if they are to win votes in the future.
At a conference on political communication held in Cape Town in November 2012, opposition parties from the Seychelles to South Sudan highlighted the rising significance of social media in their communications strategies.
All agreed that starting the right conversations on social media and steering engaged followers in the right direction are the keys to future success. These online conversations among many individuals are gradually supplanting the one-way "broadcast model" of communications.
In Botswana voters no longer trust the media and are turning to social networks for their news, reported Winfred Rasina, spokesman for the Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD). He spends an average of two-and-a-half hours daily updating the BMD's Facebook page and interacting with potential voters.
Only 7% of its citizens access the internet, according to the International Telecommunication Union. But "Botswana has a population of only 2m people, which means that word of mouth travels quickly," he says.
Trust in traditional media is in decline, particularly among the youth, says Fungisai Sithole, chief of staff of the Movement for Democratic Change in Zimbabwe.
"The current generation does not want to be treated as the 'other'.
They want to be engaged, they want to talk, they want to contribute," she says. To get around the drawback of low internet access and the high cost of smartphones, the party has developed a bespoke platform that uses text messages to interact with voters and members.
Another party finding innovative ways to reach the electorate is the Civic United Front (CUF) in Tanzania. It has linked its social media platforms with popular youth websites and trained a team of young activists to respond to issues.
Abdul Kambaya, CUF's national director for publicity, says that the success of this strategy is evident from the response it has elicited from its opponents: the party's website was hacked and completely destroyed six months ago.
This is a cautionary tale. As more people begin to use social media for political engagement, so too will governments increase their efforts to curtail it. Finding ways to circumvent state censorship with sophisticated social media strategies will be a key objective for African opposition parties in the years ahead.
The mobile revolution is a potential game-changer in Africa, where media gatekeepers have exerted too much power for too long. Once the social media groundswell breaks, a political tipping point may well follow.
Source: Africa in Fact


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HANDS UP! Who could not help but find themselves running out to get a bottle of the Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation after watching Lisa Eldridge's video on how to create a flawless foundation finish?
When I first watched that video, I was like 'WOW! This must be the best foundation in the world!', then on second thoughts, 'Meh, must be one of those sponsored products… that's why she's saying all these nice stuff'. But as the Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation got utilized in many of her other videos, coupled with some research done on my own, it seemed the consensus that it's a must-have drugstore foundation!
I wanted to wait for a sale, as I felt I had more than enough foundation to see me through for a long time, and so... buying another foundation at a sale would help to reduce the guilt of owning one too many. No? *grins*
The 30% off Singapore Tampines BHG sale came at the right time and the Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation was one of the two Bourjois foundations I purchased. I reviewed the Bourjois Flower Perfection Foundation earlier.
Great Match For Skin With Yellow Undertone
Even though the 'auntie' (it's how we address any older woman in Singapore) was just a promoter at the Bourjois counter, and not a qualified MUA, I was glad she recommended the right foundation shade for me. Some promoters are rather hopeless, they'll just pour a big glob of foundation on your hand, spread it the length of your arm and say "This also can, that also can. Up to you". Grrrr.
While the Bourjois Flower Perfection Foundation 52 goes on slightly pink on my skin, the Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation in 52 is a perfect match for my MAC NC20-25 skin tone.
I'm surprised a European makeup brand, and despite complaints that the Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation has limited range of shades, can produce a foundation shade that is so suitable for Asian skin, which typically has yellow undertones.
You can see the Healthy Mix Foundation is more yellow and it fits me to a T!
Oh, recently a friend commented that I look like Little Miss Sunshine:
Must be all that yellow in my skin and hair. LOL! But he also did mention it's coz I always appear cheerful and smiling. 😀
Plastic Bottle With A Pump
All foundations, or for that matter, all products in liquid or gel form, should come with a pump. Seriously, it's so hygienic and much easier to get product out!
I like that the Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation comes in a fuss-free, light, plastic bottle, which makes it safe for travel and does not take up unnecessary space or weight.
Light to Medium Coverage Foundation
The Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation might not be ideal for those with severe skin pigmentation or acne scars as its sheer coverage really does not cover much. It does well with minor imperfections and evening out skin tone, but to cover my acne and discoloration, I use a separate concealer.
Currently, I am using the Vichy Dermablend Fluid Corrective Foundation, a concealer highly recommended by - you guessed it - Lisa Eldridge!
Easy To Blend And Build
The Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation has a more liquid consistency than the Flower Perfection Foundation and takes slightly longer to dry. Actually, on my skin, it does not dry out at all. It stays at most dewy. You think dewy is good? Read on.
But before I go into that, this foundation is very easy to apply and blend with fingers, quite unlike the MAKE UP FOR EVER Mat Velvet + Matifying Foundation, which manages a smooth canvas only with the use of a foundation brush. I, of course, still prefer to use the Sigma F80 Flat Top Synthetic Kabuki Brush to apply liquid foundation.
I find that I need 2 pumps of the Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation instead of the usual 1 pump from other foundations. Its runny consistency and sheer coverage are most probably the reasons why.
A single layer usually provides insufficient coverage for mere mortals like us who struggle with all kinds of blemishes on the skin, so rejoice in the fact that if you'd like one more layer of the Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation, the finish will still be smooth and not cakey or pastey.
Be Careful If You Have Oily Skin!
As mentioned, the Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation dries looking like I look positively healthy and radiant. It's the perfect dewy finish any woman would love to sport on her skin.
Must be the ingredients contained - apricot for radiance, melon for hydration, apple for anti oxidant and ginger for energy.
Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation ingredients:
However, that dewy finish turns into oily mayhem by mid-day if I didn't set it with a powder. I do have to use setting powder on my oily skin for any liquid foundation I use, but the Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation tends to oil up more.
Also, the amount of oil churned out and absorbed by an oil-blotting sheet by 3pm is horrendous.
Contrary to what reviews say, the Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation does not particularly feel lightweight on my skin. No, not at all. It doesn't feel heavy either though, but I just know it's there because of the speed at which my skin is reacting to the foundation (oxidizing) and cooking up an oil storm.
If you have oily skin like mine, here are some comparisons with other liquid foundations:
Slightly oilier than Stage Photo Pro Foundation
Oilier than Bourjois Flower Perfection Foundation
Much less oily than Lancôme Maqui Blanc Miracle Foundation
For oily skin, remember to set this foundation with a face powder (I use MAC Blot Powder in Light) and bring blotting sheets along in your bag! I blot just once a day and it's enough to remove the shine and oil from my face with the use of the Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation.
Be Careful If You Have Dry Skin!
I thought a foundation this moisturizing would do well for those with dry skin. Imagine my bewilderment when I read plenty of reviews saying that the Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation is not moisturizing for dry skin at all!
Common issues with this moisturizer are that it blends horribly on dry skin, leaves patches of foundation behind, exposes dry areas, accentuates flakes on the skin, and one must apply loads of moisturizer first otherwise this foundation would cling onto the skin and does so not in a good way.
Of course there are those with dry skin who love this foundation for its moisturizing texture and ability to maintain a dewy finish throughout the day.
Anyone with dry skin who has had experience with this foundation?
My guess is that if you have dry skin, it most probably would dry matte; if you have oily skin, it would drydewy; if you're in between, a semi-matte finish would be likely.
Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation VS Healthy Mix Serum Gel Foundation
After watching Lisa Eldridge's video, I was bent on getting the Healthy Mix Foundation. But I found out that there is a similar foundation called the Healthy Mix Serum Gel Foundation, which has received rather good ratings too.
I don't own the Serum Gel Foundation, but I garner from reviews that it provides even less coverage than the Healthy Mix Foundation. The Bourjois promoter also told me that.
I need higher coverage, always, for those days when I don't have time to apply concealer, I'd hope a foundation can cover as many blemishes as possible.
I love the great shade match I have with Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation; I only hope it would be less oil-inducing though.
Bun Bun rates the Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation:
Have you found the perfect foundation shade match with any foundation? Do you use powder to control oil on the face?


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PORTLAND, Ore. – A federal judge has affirmed the legality of the U.S. government's bulk collection of phone and email data from foreign nationals living outside the country -- including their contact with U.S. citizens -- in denying a man's motion to dismiss his terrorism conviction.
It was the first legal challenge to the government's bulk data-collection program of non-U.S. citizens living overseas after revelations about massive, warrantless surveillance were made public by former National Security Agency employee Edward Snowden.
The program also sweeps up information about U.S. citizens who have contact with overseas suspects. This type of surveillance played a key role in this case.
Lawyers for Mohamed Mohamud, a U.S. citizen who lived in Oregon, tried to show the program violated his constitutional rights and was more broadly unconstitutional. U.S. District Judge Garr King on Tuesday denied that effort.
The ruling also upheld Mohamud's conviction on terrorism charges. In his decision, King rejected the argument from Mohamud's attorneys that prosecutors failed to notify Mohamud of information derived under the U.S. Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act until he was already convicted.
Suppressing the evidence collected "and a new trial would put defendant in the same position he would have been in if the government notified him of the (surveillance) at the start of the case," King wrote. "Dismissal is not warranted here."
Mohamud's attorneys argued that such a failure withheld important information from the defense team.
Mohamud was convicted last year of attempting to detonate a bomb at Portland's Christmas tree-lighting ceremony in 2010. The purported plot was actually an FBI sting, and the bomb was a fake.
The bulk data collection under FISA permits the U.S. government to sweep up information regarding foreign nationals "reasonably believed" to be outside the U.S. But it also includes the incidental collection of data from U.S. citizens communicating with people in other countries.
That was the case with Mohamud, whose email communications with two terror suspects were used as evidence at his trial.
Both of those men, U.S. citizens Anwar al-Awlaki and Samir Khan, were killed in drone strikes in 2011. The federal government classified the men as enemy combatants. On Monday, a federal court released the Justice Department memo justifying their killings.
Mohamud also communicated with a friend who was believed to have traveled to Pakistan to attend a terrorist training camp, according to evidence presented at the trial.
Other potential challenges to foreign surveillance watched the Portland case closely, said Electronic Frontier Foundation staff attorney Hanni Fakhoury, including a pending challenge in Colorado.
Mohamud "is at such a significant disadvantage," Fakhoury said. "He doesn't even have the evidence to make the challenge. That's the whole problem in this whole regime of after-the-fact (informing of suspects)."
Indeed, King said in his ruling that Mohamud's attorneys didn't have classified information provided by prosecutors to King, and therefore could only speculate as to the evidence given falsely or omitted by the government.
"This is insufficient," King said in the ruling. "I realize the difficult position the defense team is in, but the denial of a (hearing) is commonplace in the FISA context."
King held that Mohamud's most persuasive argument was that, even if the original surveillance were lawful, the subsequent use of that information on a U.S. citizen required a warrant. Previous federal appeals court rulings have said that the government needs a warrant to test pills seized in an unrelated search or to search a computer for more information that the warrant sought.
Those rulings, the defense argued, meant King should apply the same standard to the evidence seized.
But King disagreed.
"I do not find any significant additional intrusion," King wrote. "Thus, subsequent querying of (collected data), even if U.S. person identifiers are used, is not a separate search and does not make (such surveillance) unreasonable under the Fourth Amendment."


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1.) The Arrow Motel
My friend living in the Arrow Motel tells me that it is actually a unique little community, despite being in such a run-down part of Orlando. He says living in the Arrow is "totally safe and secure, despite the appearance of the opposite." He trusts his neighbors because "it is impossible to hide who you are because we all live in the same fishbowl." First, I must apologize for the assumptions I made about the living conditions there based solely upon the reputation of the Trail. Second, I really want to visit and meet the folks who live permanently in a vintage Florida roadside motel!
2.) Florida Forever
Florida's Governor, Charlie Crist, surprised me by vetoing the proposed cuts that would virtually wipe out the Florida Forever program. It's nice to read some good news in the paper for once!
3.) Homosassa Springs
I found this image of Homosassa Springs, before the Fish Bowl was built, on the Florida Geological Survey website.
4.) Houses for sale
All 3 historical Orlando homes, I've blogged about are still on the market. And I learned that the one home I was told housed Buddy Ebsens' family's musical school, was perhaps not the correct location of said school.
5.) St. Johns River
The battle for Florida's water is really just beginning. Here is a fine article giving reasons for not using the St. Johns River as a source of drinking water.
6.) Peace Tower
I'm not sure where I got the term Peace Tower, it's really called the Placid Tower.
7.) Presidents Hall of Fame
I posted some video from the presidents Hall of Fame in Clermont and meant to do a more in-depth blog about it later. This article on RoadsideAmerica.com, an excellent online resource, does a better job than I would have. And it is written by a highschooler. I'm impressed and hopeful for the next generation of roadside aficianados.
8.) Citrus Tower
I acquired this vintage postcard of the Clermont roadside attraction. I think perhaps there was some manipulation of the orange tree limb.


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Expert's Rating
- Sounds good with voice memos
- Three-position gain switch allows you to record both quiet and loud audio
- Built-in speaker
- No line-in
- Too easy to disconnect mic from dock connector
- Switch hard to move
- Could use in-between gain settings
- Speaker quiet and tinny
Our Verdict
Although many people have forgotten about this particular talent, the classic iPod has been able to record audio since October 16, 2003 (3G iPod or later, iPod Software Update 2.1 or later, and third-party microphone accessory required). While the ability to record audio fired the enthusiasm of some, it's a feature that hasn't particularly caught on. And one reason it hasn't is because the quality of the recorded audio isn't always very good thanks to the cheap microphones used to do the job.
Blue Microphones has set out to change that with the release of its $80 dock-connector microphone, Mikey. This is a stereo microphone that features a three-position Sensitivity Selector (read: gain) switch that allows you to record audio whether it's quiet (lectures), normal (voice notes), or loud (amplified music). That switch is found on the back of the microphone. Mikey also bears a swivel head that allows you to flip it up to 90-degrees forward or back, letting you place your iPod on its back while still directing the microphone at a sound source. Unlike some other iPod microphones, Mikey has no line-in jack—it's a microphone only. Like other iPod microphones, it will record WAV files at high quality (44.1kHz, 16-bit stereo) or low quality (22.05 kHz, 16-bit mono). It works with the classic and 5G iPod and 2G, 3G, and 4G iPod nanos.
Mikey is the largest iPod microphone I've used. And it needs to be to house the larger capsules that Blue Microphones claims are superior to those found in other iPod microphones. It works just like other iPod microphones. Plug it in to a compatible iPod's dock-connector port and a Voice Memo screen appears on the iPod's screen. Select the Record command, press the Center button, and the iPod records through Mikey. Scroll to the the Stop and Save command and press the Center button and your recording is saved to the iPod. To play back your recording, select it on the Voice Memos screen, press the Center button, move to the Play command on the next screen, and press the Center button again to play the memo. When you sync your iPod, the voice memos are transferred to iTunes on the computer.
Mikey has a small mono speaker built into the back of the microphone. This speaker isn't loud and is very tinny—it's good for previewing tracks or memos to hear what they contain, but it's not the kind of speaker you'll want to listen to for any other reason.
In my tests, Blue's claims of superior sound appear to be true. The quality of the recordings was better than what I pulled from an old Belkin TuneTalk, Griffin iTalk Pro, Tunewear Stereo Sound Recorder for iPod, or XtremeMac MicroMemo. Overall the sound was fuller and less hissy than with the other iPod mics I tested.
I also compared it to an iPhone 3G recording captured with the iPhone 3.0 software's Voice Memos application. The iPhone's recording was a little noisier than that from Mikey, but not glaringly so. If you have an iPhone and desire only to record voice memos, it's a less-expensive and adequate alternative.
I used Mikey to record me playing a piano, placing Mikey on top of the instrument. I flipped the Sensitivity switch to the quiet setting, figuring I'd overpower the microphone at the middle and loud settings. The results were too quiet. I then tried the middle setting and wished I had a little more gain. The loud setting resulted in distorted audio. I faced the same situation with Mikey and the iPod placed across the room to record the piano. The middle setting wasn't quite as loud as I wanted but the loud setting was too much. I wish there were a way to dial in gain between the settings for such situations and an indicator that told me if the gain was too hot or not hot enough. As it is, you judge the distance at which you'll record and then make your best guess which setting to use.
Apart from cases where you'd like that in-between adjustment, the three settings do their job. Holding the iPod and Mikey about nine-inches from my mouth, the audio was quite good from the middle setting. From four-feet away, the quiet setting produced decent audio as well. And when I blasted music at the Mikey set to absorb that kind of punishment, it took it without distorting. That said, you shouldn't expect miracles from Mikey. Its sound doesn't match the quality of a dedicated field recorder.
In addition to desiring those in-between settings, I wish Mikey's Sensitivity switch was easier to manipulate. It's quite small and placed in a groove on the back of the mic, requiring a well-honed fingernail to move it. I'd also like Mikey to sit a little more solidly in the dock connector. More than once I picked up the iPod, slightly bumped Mikey, and lost the connection between the microphone and the iPod.
Macworld's buying advice
Mikey is the best-sounding iPod microphone I've used. And with an $80 price tag and no line-level input, it should be. It records very nice sounding voice memos, and though the results it produces with quiet and loud material aren't stunning, they aren't bad. If you want the best of today's iPod mics and aren't expecting field-recorder results, Mikey is a reasonable choice.


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Almost five years after leaving Channel 5, veteran Boston newscaster Natalie Jacobson is coming back to the screen - the computer screen - to help launch an Internet news service in Worcester next month.
Jacobson will add her marquee name to GoLocalWorcester, the second local news website from Rhode Island start-up GoLocal24, which inaugurated a similar service in Providence in 2010.
She will join the site as a senior editor, working on investigative journalism projects with a small group of reporters, and occasionally appearing in front of the camera to conduct interviews. "I'm excited about working in news again,'' Jacobson said, adding she has so far agreed to work part time on an open-ended basis for GoLocalWorcester.
Jacobson, 68, has long been one of the most recognizable faces on Boston television. She became the city's first female evening news TV anchor in 1976 and spent 35 years at Channel 5 before retiring in 2007. Since then, she has dabbled in her own Internet venture, a website focused on baby boomer issues, she said. That site never got off the ground.
"I'm just going through a period in my life in which I'm trying to reinvent myself,'' Jacobson said, adding that the position with GoLocal offered a chance to work online. "The mediums are changing, but I think the need for honest, relevant information is still timely.''
GoLocal24 is among a growing number of start-ups trying to capitalize on the growth of the Internet as a source of information.
A number of local news sites have emerged nationwide in recent years, including AOL's Patch, EveryBlock, and Outside.in. The Boston Globe and Boston.com operate a network of 50 local news sites under the name Your Town.
The challenge for such start-ups, said Peter Krasilovsky, an analyst who follows online media for BIA/Kelsey in Virginia, is to become a destination not only for local news, but for anyone who goes online to search for a plumber or a pizza parlor. In short, he said, they have to be able to compete with the likes of search and Internet advertising giant Google.
"There are a bunch of these out there,'' he said. "Is it a sound model? I think it is. There are still some bumps in the road that need to be worked out.''
GoLocal24 in Providence was founded by Josh Fenton, a former advertising executive who grew up in Providence. His cofounder was Paul Krasinski, a Newton native and executive with Arbitron Inc., and brother of actor John Krasinski of the TV sitcom "The Office.'' The website employs 10 reporters and a group of freelance contributors.
Fenton would not reveal financial information but said the site became profitable after seven months of operation. In December, the company closed a second round of financing from a group of private investors in Boston and the venture firm Angel Street Capital in Providence, he added.
"We feel very strongly about what we've been able to accomplish in Providence, and we think the model is applicable to Central Massachusetts,'' he said.
Much of that success will depend on its ability to attract advertisers. Fenton said that although Worcester is a smaller media market than Providence, he hopes to do better in the new market since the economy in Massachusetts is doing much better than in Rhode Island.
The recruitment of Natalie Jacobson follows a model set by the launch of GoLocal in Providence, where well-known local news talent was hired in the hopes it would boost its audience. John Ghiorse , a meteorologist who had been with NBC 10 in Providence for 26 years before retiring in 2009, now does a daily weather report on GoLocalProv.
Michael B. Farrell can be reached at email@example.com.


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By BRIAN MELLEY Associated Press
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The California murder trial of New York real estate heir Robert Durst is scheduled to resume before a jury in April after the multimillionaire rejected an offer Friday to let a judge decide his fate sooner.
The case had been set to restart in July after a four-month delay because of the coronavirus outbreak but defense lawyers had objected over health concerns for jurors, themselves and their 77-year-old client.
Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Mark Windham said he would resume the case April 12.
Windham had offered Durst the option of a bench trial at a July 17 hearing. He gave defense lawyers two weeks to consult with their client to see if he wanted to waive his right to a jury and let the judge rule after hearing the evidence.
Durst, who wasn't in court Friday, opted to stick with the jury, his lawyers said.
Durst's trial in the 2000 shooting death of his best friend Susan Berman had just begun when it was halted in March. The trial is expected to take five months.
Prosecutors allege Durst killed Berman because he feared she was going to tell New York police that he killed his wife in 1982 and she helped him cover up the crime.
Durst, who was arrested in the killing in New Orleans in 2015, has pleaded not guilty.
Kathleen Durst has never been found, though she has been legally declared dead. Durst has never been charged with any crime related to her disappearance and has denied any role in her death.
If the trial resumes in April, as now planned, it will have been delayed over a year.
Defense lawyers have argued unsuccessfully for a mistrial because they don't think Durst can get a fair trial after such a long delay.
Deputy District Attorney John Lewin has said the trial can successfully be resumed, though jurors may need to be re-shown opening statements on video, and have witness testimony read back to them.
Durst was acquitted of murder in the shooting death of an elderly neighbor in a rooming house in Galveston, Texas, in 2001. He said shot Morris Black in self-defense and then panicked and dismembered the body and tossed it out to sea in garbage bags.
All three killings were documented in "The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst," an HBO documentary series first aired in 2015, which helped lead to his arrest.


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JPMorgan names auto loan head as it works to win back business
JPMorgan Chase & Co named a new head of auto finance on Monday as the bank tries to boost its lending in a red-hot area where it has lost market share in recent years.
Thasunda Brown Duckett, 39, said in an interview that she hopes to help the bank make profitable car loans without taking too much risk by looking at factors that lenders may not have traditionally considered in evaluating a borrower's ability to pay. JPMorgan may find it is okay to lend to more customers with lower scores, Duckett said.
Duckett replaces Marc Sheinbaum, whom the bank said had "asked to pursue other opportunities." Sheinbaum told Reuters in May 2011 that competition for auto loans had already come back aggressively after retreating in the financial crisis, and that lenders' margins were being squeezed.
He stopped short of saying that competitors were becoming reckless in lending money to consumers who couldn't repay loans, but JPMorgan Chase has given up market share in recent years. Its auto loan balances rose just 3 percent between December 2010 and the end of 2012. Industry-wide, outstanding loans rose about 13 percent over that period to $719 billion, according to data from consumer credit rating service Experian.
JPMorgan Chase is the biggest bank in the United States by assets, but is only the fourth-biggest auto lender by Experian's count.
Sheinbaum did not return a call seeking comment on Monday.
The shift in leadership shows the needle that JPMorgan Chase must thread as the auto lending market heats up. The bank, like most lenders, is under pressure to boost profits, and staying relatively cool on the auto loan market could result in the bank lagging its rivals.
But in any lending cycle, some banks will eventually take too many risks, whether it be on subprime mortgages that triggered the financial crisis in 2007 and 2008, or commercial real estate that sapped the strength of banks in the early 1990s.
Duckett, known in the bank as "T," said she believes there are "opportunities for us to expand that credit box to be able to help more customers."
To help build the bank's loan book, Duckett said she will strengthen JPMorgan Chase's relationships with manufacturers and with car dealers who can send customers to the bank.
She also plans to step-up marketing of car loans to people who use JPMorgan products and its network branches. The company has some 5,600 branches, the second-most of any U.S. bank.
She also hopes to capture some of the pent-up demand for new cars from dependable customers who have put off financing purchases until they were more confident about the economy.
Duckett was previously JPMorgan Chase's national retail sales executive for mortgage banking, a post in which she managed 4,000 employees.
(Reporting by David Henry in New York; Editing by Bernard Orr)


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The Secure Shell (SSH) protocol and software suite is used by millions of system administrators to log into application and service accounts on remote servers using authentication methods that include passwords, tokens, digital certificates and public keys. But when improperly managed, SSH keys can be used by attackers to penetrate the organization's IT infrastructure.
A Ponemon Institute study earlier this year of more than 2,100 systems administrators at Global 2000 companies found that three out of the four enterprises were vulnerable to root-level attacks against their systems because of failure to secure SSH keys, and more than half admitted to SSH-key-related compromises.
+ ALSO ON NETWORK WORLD Poorly managed SSH keys pose serious risks to most companies +
Because of rising concerns about this, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has formulated a 37-page "best practices" guidance for SSH key management. Here are some highlights in what NIST in its draft document, "Security of Automated Access Management Using Secure Shell (SSH)" is telling sys admins to do:
- NIST says there are two kinds of password authentication mechanisms in SSH: basic password authentication and keyboard-interactive authentication.
Basic password authentication is said to be a "legacy method mandated by the SSH protocol standards," while keyboard-interactive authentication "is used in most modern environments, and can support challenge-response authentication and one-time passwords in addition to traditional password authentication." NIST recommends that password authentication should generally not be used for automated access because hard-coded passwords can be obtained by attackers. If an organization does use password authentication for automated access, the passwords should be rotated frequently in accordance with the organizations password policy.
- Host-based authentication uses the server's host key—the key used by the client to verify the server's identity—to authenticate the source host and to vouch for the identity of the user on the client side. However, NIST points out that because host-based authentication does not permit configuring command restrictions (limits on what can be done on the server with the access), use of host-based authentication for automated access is "not recommended."
- Many organizations use Kerberos or Active Directory authentication with SSH for single sign-on within a Windows domain or Kerberos domain. NIST notes that some widely used SSH implementations provide single sign-on within an Active Directory domain or Kerberos realm by default. But NIST points out single sign-on "implies that once access has been gained to one account using Kerberos, it is possible to log in to any other server that has the same account and is into the same domain (with single sign-on permitted) without further authentication. This can easily create lots of unwanted implicit trust relationships. Another concern is that currently widely used SSH implementations do not support command restrictions for Kerberos. Because of these problems, the use of Kerberos authentication for automated access is not recommended."
- Public-key authentication in SSH makes use of the user key or certificates to authenticate a connection, with an SSH client having a user key called an "identity key," typically an RSA or DSA private key, with the server requiring the corresponding public key configured as an "authorized key" for a user account. Any user in possession of the identity key is then allowed to log into the server to that user account and perform actions under the privileges configured for the key, NIST points out. The identity key is often stored on a smartcard or in a password-protected file. NIST says many SSH implementations support configuring restrictions for authorized keys to limit what can be done on the server using the key (command restrictions) and from limiting the IP addresses from which the key can be used (source restrictions). NIST says an advantage of public-key authentication is that "it does not create any implicit trust relationships, only expressly-defined trust relationships." Permitted access can be determined by inspecting the destination host, which is important for being able to audit who can access what system and account. Because of the advantages seen with public-key authentication, NIST calls it "the recommended authentication mechanism for automated access with SSH."
The NIST guidance document (NIST 7966 draft) is out for comment until the end of the month, includes a wealth of other security management recommendations related to use of SSH software implementations as well as a "tool selections" guide covering vendors such as Fox Technologies, SSH Communications Security, and Venafi.


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Moscow is subjecting Ukrainians, Russians and the rest of the world to an intense campaign of disinformation that tries to paint a dangerous and false picture of Ukraine's legitimate government. Russia Today, the Moscow-based TV network financed by the government, is a key player in this campaign of distortion. Along with its Russian operation, RT operates an English-language broadcast out of Washington.
Last week, Secretary of State John Kerry referred to RT as a "propaganda bullhorn," which was promoting Russian President Vladimir Putin's "fantasy." The result was a predictable howl of protest from RT's editor, who claimed the State Department knows little about what is really happening in Ukraine today and had the audacity to request an apology.
I spent seven years as the managing editor of TIME magazine before joining the State Department. I understand the difference between news, propaganda and opinion. Propaganda is the deliberate dissemination of information that you know to be false or misleading in order to influence an audience.
From assertions that peaceful protesters hired snipers to repeated allegations that Kiev is beset by violence, fascism and anti-Semitism, these are lies falsely presented as news. An opinion is subjective and not a statement of fact. Opinions, however odious, are defensible speech in a way that false claims are not. RT is a distortion machine, not a news organization.
Consider the way RT manipulated a leaked telephone call involving former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko. Through selective editing, the network made it appear that Tymoshenko advocated violence against Russia. Or the constant reference to any Ukrainian opposed to a Russian takeover of the country as a "terrorist." Or the unquestioning repetition of the ludicrous assertion last week that the United States has invested $5 billion in regime change in Ukraine. These are not facts, and they are not opinions. They are false claims, and when propaganda poses as news it creates real dangers and gives a green light to violence.
Sometimes it's even too much for the people paid to make these claims. The network's clear bias led to an unprecedented on-air rebellion. First, the host of RT America, Abby Martin, condemned Russia's invasion of Crimea on a broadcast. Then one of the network's anchors, Liz Wahl, resigned on air, saying, "I cannot be part of a network funded by the Russian government that whitewashes the actions of Putin."
Yet, even so, I would defend the right of RT to broadcast. The First Amendment protects speech that we reject as much as speech that we embrace. The State Department facilitates RT's coverage by giving them unrestricted access to our briefings. No one is arguing that RT should be taken off the air the way Moscow has abruptly ended the license that allows Voice of America to broadcast to Russians. Free access to information is a basic principle, even if that information is nothing more or less than propaganda. But the network and its editors should not pretend that RT is anything other than another player in Russia's global disinformation campaign against the people of Ukraine and their supporters.
About the Author: Richard Stengel, a former managing editor of TIME magazine, is the Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs. Follow him via @Stengel on Twitter.


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Cookies, Food, Family and Friends, mixed with a little Fun. That's my secret recipe for happiness.
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
Tomato and Basil Soup with Panini Soldiers and it's my birthday!
14 comments:
Happy Birthday Gina!ReplyDelete
I wish you more gifts to open, more cakes to eat,
more candles to blow, and of course, more birthdays to come.
Ann :)
Happy Birthday to my dear friend!
I hope that you spend the day eating decadent desserts, as well as tomato soup, and spend the day with your loving family and friends.
I have no doubt that you will be around for my more birthdays. Every time I read your blog, i come away feeling that "You are the sunshine in my life," and I'm always laughing so hard. You have an innate gift of making people laugh and smile, and that is a great gift. I am so blessed to have you as a friend, not to mention all of your wonderful jam.
Happy Birthday Gina! Would love a bowl of your soup for lunch today...hmmmmm...how am I going to make that happen ...do you deliver to Bend, Oregon?ReplyDelete
Happy birthday, Gina! Wish I could bake you a special treat :). Love tomato & basil soup, and panini soldiers are the perfect side!ReplyDelete
Thanks everyone, it's been a great day so far and all of you have made it that much better.ReplyDelete
Happy happy Birthday Gina!ReplyDelete
Both soup and panini look very delicious.
Happy Birthday!!! I hope you had a wonderful day. Your soup looks delicious, and I absolutely love your panini soldiers :)ReplyDelete
Happy Birthday, Gina! Hope it was a good one. I was thinking of making tomato soup with the stockpile of tomatoes given to me by my family who grow them. I'll give your delicious looking recipe a try. Perfect pairing with the mozzarella pesto sticks. You can't go wrong with melted cheese. And thanks for including the link to the pesto recipe I posted a while back. I appreciate the shout out :)ReplyDelete
- Lisa
Happy Birthday again Gina! Wow I didn't know, you don't look like 45, Gina! I grabbed mozzarella today and I'm going to try the panini! Kids and I will enjoy this! Your soup sounds delicious too. I really need to attend your canning lesson! :)ReplyDelete
Happy Birthday, Gina! So glad I stopped by. Where is your birthday cake?...would have loved to bake you one, not just for show, but to actually having to share it with you. (guess we are not going to any more 'Foodbuzz Festivals'...hint...hint...LOL)ReplyDelete
Love your awesome tomato soup, and the yummy little mozzarella Panini sandwiches. That's exactly what my grown adult son asked for me to make for him and my little granddaughters for dinner last week. (but just simple grilled cheese)...love the creative little 'soldiers'...thanks for sharing! Big Hugs to you my dear friend!Replies
Thank you Elisabeth. I know a cake from you would have been grand I'm sure. Thanks for the hugs.Delete
Happy Birthday! And to celebrate you made us this terrific soup. ;-) Lovely stuff - thanks so much.ReplyDelete
Glad you made it Queen! And put another jewel in that crown for good measure!ReplyDelete
Your marinara looks to die for...no pun intended ;) and why do you have to make me so hungry all the time?! Tomato Basil soup is by far my favorite and the soldiers make me stand at attention!
I think Rusty and Abby would make a good pair. lol
I hope your birthday celebration continues with whatever decadent baked goods you desire! xoxo
YUM!!!! And happy birthday again, I hit ya up on Facebook but I couldn't help not saying it again ;-)ReplyDelete


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Big potential changes south of the border. Mexican President-elect Enrique Pena Nieto has announced that he wants increased private investment in the nation's energy industry.
Will this include Mexican state oil company Petroleos Mexicanos, more familiarly known as Pemex?
The question is significant for the U.S.
Mexico is, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, now America's second largest source of imports. Of the United States' total crude oil imports averaging 9,033 thousand barrels per day (tbpd), Mexico provides 1,319 tbpd, exceeded only by Canada with 2,666 tbpd.
No, says Pena Nieto. Speaking to reporters in Ottawa last month, Nieto said, "I have publicly talked about Mexico's need to open ourselves up to the participation of the private sector in the energy sector, however this doesn't mean privatizing state run companies. I hope that this will happen with investments in Pemex but we can't postpone the benefits that Mexicans deserve to get through energy development."
Related Articles: Mexico May Open Up Oil Market on Heels of Major Finds
Following a lunch with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Pena Nieto told reporters, " Clearly, if we evaluate Mexico's energy potential, it will require more infrastructure development and investment for exploration and exploitation of this important resource, and eventually, for refining."
The upside for Mexicans? The country's constitution stipulates that the nation's oil and gas in Mexico belongs to the Mexican people, and Pemex is the only company allowed to develop it.
On a national scale this leaves Mexico without energy captains of industry or private oil companies, but bereft of foreign investment, technology and expertise.
And the sad reality is that Pemex oil production is in decline, from 2006 Pemex's average daily oil output was 3.3 million barrels per day, but in 2011, just 2.54 million bpd.
On the plus side, last month Pemex announced the discovery of a field 16 miles from Villahermosa, Tabasco, that may contain reserves of 500 million barrels of crude oil. In any case, Pena Nieto is moving quickly to reorganize Pemex. Pena Nieto has appointed energy secretary Joaquín Coldwell, president of the National Executive Committee of the PRI to replace current Pemex president Jordy Herrera. Pena Nieto is pressing forward on reforming the country's energy sector, in order to attract foreign investment. Mexican energy analysts believe that foreign capital could be crucial to reviving Pemex's declining oil output, sharing the profit on private projects for exploration and production in deep waters as well as allowing foreign private capital to participate in the new business of developing new unconventional shale gas and shale oil reserves.
But Pena Nieto's efforts to open Mexico's closed energy sector still face an uphill struggle, as any real energy reform would require Constitutional changes, which have stymied previous governmental efforts.
Related Articles: Smart Grids, Stupid People
Still change is in the air, as Nieto and leaders of Mexico's three largest political parties have agreed to work toward allowing competition into some of Pemex's operations, as well as revising mining royalty agreements. Nieto signed a document stating that Mexico will make "the necessary reforms to create a competitive environment in the economic processes of refining, petrochemical, and transportation of hydrocarbons."
As Mexico is currently the world's No. 7 oil producer, the implications of Nieto's efforts are significant.
But U.S. oil companies operating in the Gulf of Mexico might have competition for Pemex assets. Four months ago China's State-owned China National Offshore Oil Corp. proposed buying Canada's Nexen Inc. (NYSE:NXY), paying roughly $15.1 billion for Nexen Inc.'s common and preferred shares for Nexen's worldwide operations including the North Sea, Colombia and the Gulf of Mexico. The Gulf of Mexico concessions from the U.S. government are the potential deal breaker for CNOOC, so, should other operations there arise, then America's oil companies can likely expect some eastern competition.
By. John C.K. Daly of Oilprice.com


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BERLIN – Changes sought in Maryland's slot machine legislation by the Worcester County Commissioners have both surprised and concerned Berlin's elected officials, who approved a letter to state legislators this week in an attempt to preserve the town's right under the slots law to 10 percent of slots revenue in the county.
Last week, the commissioners voted to request several changes to the slot machine gambling law passed this year, including elimination of the codified revenue split, with all slots revenue going directly to the county. Under the law, the county would receive 70 percent of the slots revenue, Ocean City would get 20 percent and Berlin would receive 10 percent
As discussed by the commissioners last week, the slot machine funds would be disbursed to northern Worcester County towns Ocean City and Berlin as impacts from slots at Ocean Downs are documented, under the county's requested approach. The county would like to be the recipient of the funds and then pass them on through grants to the municipalities, which would have to prove to the commissioners the impacts slots had them specifically.
Berlin elected officials learned of the county's attempt to get the law changed from local newspaper reports, not from the commissioners.
"I think we all feel a bit ambushed," Berlin Mayor Gee Williams said. "Quite frankly, I don't think it has a point."
The mayor said he had had several calls from townspeople asking how he would respond to the commissioners' request to eliminate the revenue sharing provision of the law.
"I am not aware of any effort on behalf of the commissioners to inform the Town of Berlin of their concerns with the legislation, or to seek Berlin's input regarding any modifications to provisions that may impact our municipality," wrote Williams in the letter, which was addressed to Delegates Jim Mathias, Norman Conway and Page Elmore, Sen. Lowell Stoltzfus, the County Commissioners and Ocean City Mayor Rick Meehan.
The Berlin Mayor and Council unanimously approved the letter, without discussion, on Monday night.
"I think his letter was appropriate," said newly seated Councilman Troy Purnell later, adding that he did not understand why Worcester County would seek such a change.
Williams was careful to say that he does not believe the county had any negative intent in asking for the change, when contacted after the meeting.
Councilwoman Lisa Hall, on the other hand, speculated that the County Commissioners want to use the slots revenue to recoup budget costs.
According to the letter, the town sees the 10 percent revenue share as a necessity, so that Berlin can handle increased traffic, parking demands, pedestrian facilities and other issues.
"I don't think we're getting an unfair share," Williams said.
The funding is also, in Williams' understanding, meant for economic development to take advantage of increased visitors to town and other economic opportunities, as well as the competition for tourist dollars from the slot machine facility slated for Ocean Downs.
The town, which has transformed itself into a tourist destination in the last 25 years, needs to be able to market itself to new tourists attracted by gambling opportunities.
"A guaranteed revenue stream, even a relatively modest one, will allow our community to plan, implement and adjust to both the economic opportunities and unanticipated circumstances of these uncertain economic times," the letter reads.
Berlin would use the slots funding in conjunction with the Maryland Main Street program to upgrade town infrastructure and offerings for the expected influx of new visitors.
The town's eastern entrance is just 1.5 miles from presumptive slots site Ocean Downs.
Funneling all local slots revenues to Worcester County would also increase bureaucracy and cause delays, according to Williams' letter, and hamper Berlin's ability to take advantage of new opportunities.
"Berlin and Ocean City are certainly capable of defining and responding to the respective needs of our communities without entering an annual budgetary bidding process with the commissioners," Williams wrote.
Since the county has never had a slots facility, no one knows what problems will crop up, and the towns will need flexibility to respond, he said.
The town of Berlin cannot create a long-term strategy to respond to slot machine impacts, positive and negative, if it has to go to the county, hat in hand, when it needs to take action.
Instead of going to the legislature to change the slots law, Williams felt, the commissioners should be sitting down with Ocean City and Berlin to work out any county concerns.
Berlin's letter to legislators requested that the revenue sharing split be retained as is, and asked to be included in any formal discussion related to changing the slots revenue disbursement.
"We simply ask that if there is any formal discussion about changing the current provisions of the slots legislation as it relates to Worcester County, the Town of Berlin would most appreciate being included in the dialogue," the letter read.


text:
Ways To Give
Giving to your local hospital lets you help others and make a positive difference. Whether you give your money, your time or even something as simple as a pint of blood, you will profoundly touch someone's life.
Why donate?
Giving is contagious. Many of our donors and volunteers began as patients and families who, in their moments of need, were touched or changed by the compassion or generosity of others.
Donating brings joy and satisfaction to those who give. Just ask our donors or volunteers. They'll be the first to say that donating puts a big smile on their faces and the faces of those we serve.
How to donate
If you are interested in giving back, we make it easy for you to do so in a number of ways.
Donate to your hospital foundation
We use gifts to SCL Health foundations to buy technology, support our communities, and fulfill our mission to help those who are poor and vulnerable. Today's healthcare challenges mean that we need your contributions more than ever.
Learn more about financial giving.
Whether you calm a worried patient with a smile or help a nurse get through a busy day, your time as a hospital volunteer is time well spent. You are part of a meaningful mission in service to the people in your community.


text:
LIMING, CHINA—Fourteen-year-old Feng Yu's parents used to have to carry as much as 66 pounds (30 kilograms) of wood daily to fuel the cooking stove in their kitchen. Although the old stove was in a separate building from the two-story wooden living quarters where she sleeps, its smoky smell still permeates its corner of the walled compound the family calls home and the walls are still blackened by years of smoke.
View a Slide Show of a Chinese Biogas Home
Now the head of this mountain village in the southwest of China—roughly 1,300 miles (2,100 kilometers) from the capital Beijing—has installed a stove capable of producing the same heat with less wood at the urging of his environmentally-educated daughter, one of the founding members of a club called Earth Helpers at the local middle school. "We save a lot of wood," says Yu. "My parents do not work as hard as before and it is also a benefit for the forest."
Villages not far from this one in the red sandstone mountains of Yunnan Province used to be dark in the middle of the day 30 years ago, according to local residents. Tall forests blocked out the sunlight, while providing the firewood, animal bedding, fertilizer and even food that sustained these farming communities. The local Naxi and Lisu ethnic minorities' religions even forbade cutting certain trees and they took the names of local animals—birds, bees and bears—in effect making them their ancestors.
Now the hillsides are covered in sparse, spindly pines rather than a vibrant mix of foliage. Erosion scars slice down mountainsides, serving as the sluices for timber. In addition to boosting floods, the massive deforestation has killed off the wild forage and animals that sustained area residents when farming failed. Although much of that timber went to feed growing commercial demand for wood for construction or furniture, the primary cause is local: fuel for home fires.
Both local and international environmental and public health groups have tried to address this problem by bringing more efficient stoves into the countryside, which burn only half as much wood and are better at funneling the resulting smoke outside.
The ultimate answer, however, may lie in a more unique technology: so-called biogas, or, as the Chinese call it, marsh gas, made from decomposing waste. Buried concrete tanks store human—and animal—waste that is digested by bacteria and turned into marsh gas, or methane, which can then be burned for cooking. Yu's father, for example, built such a system in their house last year. "We need to find something that is both a benefit to the locals and to forest conservation," says Li Shiyang of Rare. "The problem is fuel wood collection so we promote efficient stoves and biogas. But if you just give them everything for free then it won't work."
In Liming, local communities used to harvest wood on a rotational basis, assigning mature trees by lottery and strictly policing how much could be cut, even as other cultural practices—such as cooking the fodder for pigs—added more pressure. "We think the meat is more tasty that way," explains Cun "Angela" Yan Fang, who went from guiding Western tourists as a local Naxi to guiding her fellow locals through the biogas technology and environmental conservation promoted by Western environmental groups such as the Nature Conservancy and Rare. But "if we do it for all animals we'll be finished."
A population boom—as well as the cultural changes wrought by Communism—put increasing pressure on local natural resources in recent decades. "As local people, we cannot live without wood," says Cun. "Fuel wood consumption is the big thing we have to face."
Smoky, low stoves see the bulk of that wood; aging hunks of iron that belch much of the residue of their burning—despite chimneys—into the homes themselves. World Health Organization and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency soot "standards are 25 micrograms per cubic meter over 24 hours. These houses have 400 to 1,100 micrograms per cubic meter over 12 hours," says environmental epidemiologist Jill Baumgartner of the University of Wisconsin–Madison, who has researched indoor air pollution in the region. "Air pollution in these households is really, really high."
That has helped to boost rates of cardiovascular disease and other health effects of such air pollution, a problem that combined with the health effects of air pollution from industrial coal burning that costs China roughly $66 billion dollars per year and causes 760,000 premature deaths, according to a World Bank report.
That expense helps to put the costs of marsh gas systems into perspective. Although such systems can cost about 2,000 yuan ($300) per house to install, they have also proved popular—at least with officials such as the village heads in communities from Liming in the west to Shijialing in Shandong Province in the east. "More than 50 households use marsh gas," says Shijialing's leader Shi Tongkang, or more than one-third of homes. "We have developed animal husbandry as well to collect the waste."
The government—and non-governmental groups such as the ones Cun works for—subsidize installation, but they don't pay the full price. "It's just too easy if they don't make a contribution," says Rare's Li. "Then they don't take it seriously."
And that has been amply proven by the more than 30 years of promoting such systems, starting with Mao Zedong's drive to adopt them in the 1970s, which did not prove a lasting success. But such marsh gas can provide for a home's cooking needs and it emits far less pollution than burning wood, charcoal or even coal in a stove. As a result, more than 18 million rural households have adopted the fuel source, according to the Chinese government—a number they would like to boost to 40 million by 2010.
The benefits such marsh gas systems provide seem to be as bright as the blue flame in the biogas burners—at least to the next generation like Yu, who treasures the remaining forest. And it certainly won't hurt her lungs either.
View a Slide Show of a Chinese Biogas Home


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If there wasn't proof before that there is literally an app out there for any kind of romantic interaction you would ever want to have, there is now. Meet Wingman, "an app that connects you with attractive people on your flight, all before you touch down." Here we go (hopefully on a trip to the Bahamas) again.
While Wingman is still in beta (and isn't the first to co-op that catchy name) creator Gabe Whaley, a copywriter at BuzzFeed, says it works a lot like Tinder. He Animal New York that the difference is that Wingman includes information about the airline and flight a user is on as well. With this intel, the app matches people up according to what flight they're on and allows them to start chatting with others they're near (via wifi of course).
Even though Whaley said he thinks it's "incredibly unrealistic" that people will actually have sex on a plane because of his app, the emphasis on Wingman's site is still on the sexy secretive nature of it all:
Whether you meet someone who you can actually date after you land with this app that very few people have probably downloaded yet, there is one bottom line: Fuck fucking in planes. Have sex with your new love far away from your unsuspecting co-passengers, please.


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"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work" (2 Timothy 3: 16-17). (Emphasis added)
I bolded "All Scripture" to stress to the reader how critically important it is for the child of God to trust every Word of Scripture – Genesis to Revelation.
Andy Stanley teaches his church members that the "whole" Word of God is not inerrant. It is called "Spot inerrancy." So some of the Bible is infallible but not all of it. REALLY?
So, which portions of Scripture are we to take as infallible? Oh, Andy makes sure that he points his church members to the Scriptures they can trust. Does this remind you of someone?
"Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, "Has God indeed said, 'You shall not eat of every tree of the garden'?" (Genesis 3:1).
And we know how that story ended.
No Need for the Old Testament
Andy Stanley tells his congregation that the stories of the OT such as the Garden of Eden, Noah's Ark, Jonah and the Whale, and many others are merely fairy tales. He blames those who have taught these "Fairy tales" to children as Biblical truth, as the reason why so many young people leave the church when they enter college.
Most of my readers know that I am a Jewish Christian. Andy Stanley deeply offends me when he discards the Old Testament. But more importantly he offends God! The coming of our Messiah, Jesus Christ, is foretold in so many Scriptures in the Old Testament (Messianic Prophecies) and fulfilled in the New!
When Jesus spoke, he always quoted from the OT. Jesus was the fulfillment of the Law and the prophets. HOW can this arrogant pseudo-teacher of the Bible divorce the Old Testament from the New?
"My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment. For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body. Indeed, we put bits in horses' mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires. Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things" (James 3: 1-5).
Now Stanley says the Virgin Birth of Jesus not Important
From wnd.com
Is Virgin Birth Important to the Gospel? by Joseph Farah
Article from wnd.com <Click here to read article
Wondering if Charles Stanley is Watching and listening to his son
I love Charles Stanley. For many years, Dr. Stanley was "my" pastor via the TV. I was not being fed in Charismatic churches of which I was attending. I always searched the Word to make sure that what I was hearing from Charles Stanley was indeed true.
I understand that Dr. Stanley had some very rough years after his wife divorced him. I also have read that he had a falling out with his son, Andy. But things were patched up between them, and Dr. Stanley continues to have Andy come to his church and preach!
THIS is not acceptable. If Charles Stanley is inviting Andy to preach to keep the relationship between them "solid" then to me this is putting his son before the Lord Jesus Christ. I know about this, being a Jewish Christian. I have lost almost my entire family because of my beliefs.
"Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I tell you, not at all, but rather division. For from now on five in one house will be divided: three against two, and two against three. Father will be divided against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law" (Luke 12:51-53).
When I am saddened at the loss of my family, I go to the Scriptures above. They bring me peace and even joy; knowing that my love for the Lord and His Word reigns supreme in my heart and in my life. I love it that our Lord said these words to comfort us.
As long as Andy Stanley continues his heretical teachings, I will write about him. I fear for the souls of those who sit under the errant teachings of this man. I shudder to think of Andy Stanley one day standing before God if he does not repent.
We should pray for him that the Lord open his eyes to the lies he is believing and teaching.
His church members hang onto his every word. God help them all.
Shalom b'Yeshua


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Авторы:Jeaniene Frost
Год: 2009
справочники словари по физике энциклопедии ,
основы информатики
Her deadly dreams leave her in grave danger
Since half-vampire Cat Crawfield and her undead lover Bones met six years ago, they've fought against the rogue undead, battled a vengeful Master vampire, and pledged their devotion with a blood bond. Now it's time for a vacation. But their hopes for a perfect Paris holiday are dashed when Cat awakes one night in terror. She's having visions of a vampire named Gregor who's more powerful than Bones and has ties to her past that even Cat herself didn't know about.
Gregor believes Cat is his and he won't stop until he has her. As the battle begins between the vamp who haunts her nightmares and the one who holds her heart, only Cat can break Gregor's hold over her. She'll need all the power she can summon in order to bring down the baddest bloodsucker she's ever faced . . . even if getting that power will result in an early grave. Обо всём этом и не только в книге Destined For An Early Grave (Jeaniene Frost)


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Tag Archives: cryptocurrency
Crypto"currencies": A commodity, not a currency
Bitcoin, Ethereum, ETC, Ripple, Litecoin and Dash, which one should you invest in and why? The truth is there is no right answer as the answer will change depending on when these commodities become overvalued/appreciated. Anytime is a … Continue reading
Posted in Blog/Updates Tagged bitcoin, blockchain, cryptocurrency, Dash, ETC, ethereum, explanation, investment, litecoin, mining, ripple, Titcoin Leave a comment


text: At left is a true-color image from the downward-looking (nadir) camera on the Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer (MISR) instrument on NASA's Terra satellite. The false-color image at right is a composite of red band data taken by the MISR forward 45.6-degree, nadir, and aftward 45.6-degree cameras, displayed in blue, green, and red colors, respectively. Color variations in the left image highlight spectral (true-color) differences, whereas those in the right image highlight differences in angular reflectance properties. The purple areas in the right image are low cloud, and light blue at the edge of the bay is due to increased forward scattering by the fast (smooth) ice. The orange areas are rougher ice, which scatters more light in the backward direction. This example illustrates how multi-angle viewing can distinguish physical structures and textures. Data for all channels are presented in a Space Oblique Mercator map projection to facilitate their co-registration. The images are about 400 km (250 miles) wide with a spatial resolution of about 275 meters (300 yards). North is toward the top. MISR was built and is managed by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA, for NASA's Office of Earth Science, Washington, DC. The Terra satellite is managed by NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD. JPL is a division of the California Institute of Technology.


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Talk:1071: Exoplanets
Hmm... this comic and 786 have the same title. Is that a mistake? Jimmy C (talk) 01:07, 24 October 2012 (UTC)
- It may very well have been on xkcd itself; there was a bit of a snafu when Randall posted the image. That's part of the reason why we decided on number+name here, to ensure that that sort of naming collision couldn't be repeated. -- IronyChef (talk) 04:39, 24 October 2012 (UTC)
- It's also worth mentioning that 786 is both the number of the other strip, and the number of planets in this one. 188.8.131.52 22:38, 16 April 2013 (UTC)
The image isn't appearing for me. I think it's a problem with the thumbnail system. Bugefun (talk) 18:15, 27 December 2012 (UTC)
Same on ipad. DruidDriver (talk) 07:12, 17 January 2013 (UTC)
And on Firefox. --220.127.116.11 01:01, 27 January 2013 (UTC)
Not showing up in Chrome. Alpha (talk) 23:14, 2 February 2013 (UTC)
As a side note, the pace at which we're discovering exoplanets is accelerating. The first confirmed planet-sized mass outside our solar system was discovered in 1992, and it was ten years until we could celebrate the discovery of the 100th exoplanet. In the fifteen months since this comic was posted, another 156 exoplanets have been discovered (source: Extrasolar Planets Encyclopaedia, which lists 942 exoplanets as of 2 Sep 2013). Frijole (talk) 22:41, 10 September 2013 (UTC)
There are 786 exoplanets listed in the comic, And the previous comic about exoplanets is comic 786..... Coincidence? 184.108.40.206 08:58, 3 December 2013 (UTC)
- I think it's possible that he was waiting for the count to increase to that number to create some sort of meta-pun. With Randall, you never know, but the odds of that happening independently seems unfathomable to me. 184.108.40.206 16:12, 4 December 2013 (UTC)
- Additional comment: I believe the original filename for 768 was just "exoplanets.png" before being changed to "exoplanets_2010.png" when this comic was released. Any website that hotlinked the first comic would have their image replaced with the newest one. 188.8.131.52 (talk) (please sign your comments with ~~~~)
Does anybody else see this and think colorblindness test? 220.127.116.11 22:43, 23 January 2014 (UTC)
- Absolutely. Saw this from across the room (sometimes my machine takes a while to load) and thought it was a colourblindness statement rather than a planetary one. 22.214.171.124 20:41, 22 December 2020 (UTC)
- Three levels deep.. Remind anyone of Inception?A2658742 (talk) 08:36, 25 October 2014 (UTC)
This comic is referenced on exoplanet.eu, a professional site for exoplanet scientists, as the first link on a page titled "General professional Web sites relevant to extrasolar planets". The actual link goes to an interactive version of the page, but the link is at http://exoplanet.eu/sites/ labeled "Exoplanets: an interactive version of XKCD 1071". The actual interactive page is http://codementum.org/exoplanets/ . N. Kalanaga 13:58 (UTC-4) 10 April 2016
Was it actually 786 exoplanets known back then, or 786 planets including both the exoplanets and our own solar system? I would read the caption the latter way. This would make the number of exoplanets 778, like they also count it here and here, while this explanation here mentions 786 exoplanets several times. --YMS (talk) 09:25, 9 December 2017 (UTC)
- I could count them, but... I don't really feel like spending ~4 minutes straight on counting dots. 18.104.22.168 10:26, 29 March 2018 (UTC)


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WASHINGTON (AP) ? The man destined to be China's next leader won an extraordinary welcome across Washington on Tuesday, a finely scripted opening to one of the world's most important relationships. Trading kind words of cooperation, President Barack Obama and Xi Jinping also spoke directly about human rights and worsening foreign crises.
Everything about the day reflected just how much China and the United States need each other, no matter what their differences, given their economic and military might and global influence. Xi got a lengthy Oval Office audience with Obama, an elaborate reception at the State Department, full military honors at the Pentagon, a gathering with chief business executives and a dinner at Vice President Joe Biden's house.
At the center of it was a president seeking four more years and the man expected to lead China for the next decade. Xi (whose full name is pronounced shee jeen-ping) is expected succeed Hu Jintao as China's president in 2013.
"I'm sure the American people welcome you," Obama said.
All the symbolism and protocol were intended to pay dividends in the coming decade and to reciprocate for Biden's warm stay in China last year.
There were no obvious breakthroughs ? Xi is not empowered yet anyway ? but the stature he is set to assume was enough to draw rare attention.
Never before, for example, has the Pentagon heralded a visiting vice president the way Xi was. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta greeted Xi on the steps of the Pentagon's River Entrance, facing the Potomac, as U.S. troops held an honor cordon for Xi. He got a 19-gun salute.
The relationship between the nations is complex. It is strengthened by their joint need for international stability and economic growth, yet tested by currency disputes, China's limits on basic human freedoms, trade imbalances and growing military tensions.
Obama and Xi said they would maintain a relationship based on the traditional diplomatic speak of mutual interests and respect. They kept their focus on a diverse and cooperative agenda, although Obama did push China on human rights and the importance to recognize the "rights of all people."
In a separate setting, Xi later defended his country's rights records over the past 30 years but added: "Of course there's always room for improvement on human rights." His comments at the State Department luncheon were similar to those made by Hu during a state visit to Washington a year ago.
Leaders of foreign policy, academics and the business worlds were invited to see Xi and hear him speak; a string quartet greeted them upon arrival.
For Xi, the itinerary was carefully negotiated to convey high-level significance and minimize the chance of making news or, worse, any gaffe.
Neither he nor Obama took questions.
Outside the gates of the White House, a few hundred protesters marched, waving Tibetan flags and calling for a free Tibet. Underscoring the sensitivity of the rights issues among China's critics, they held signs proclaiming, "Xi Jinping: Tibet will be free." They shouted "Stop lying to the world."
Inside the Oval Office, Obama assured Xi: "It is absolutely vital that we have a strong relationship with China." The visiting leader smiled and looked at ease in his first formal meeting with the U.S. president.
Xi said that his meetings in Washington, to be followed by stops in the Iowa heartland and then California, were aimed not just at better political ties but a deeper friendship with the American people. By the end, he may even take in a Los Angeles Lakers basketball game, said a smiling Obama, a hoops fan himself.
Xi is known for being adept at forming personal connections, particularly in comparison with Hu, who has often appeared stiff and staid around Obama. In comments at the State Department, Xi cited a couple of old proverbs and even a Chinese pop song to make his point about the ever-changing US-China relationship.
This week is essentially one big get-to-know-you tour, from the halls of power to the farmland of Iowa, which he visited as a lower-ranking government official in 1985. He will have access to many power brokers while in Washington, including Cabinet secretaries, leading lawmakers and, most of all, Biden, his host.
"We are not always going to see eye to eye," Biden said as the day began with talks in the Roosevelt Room. "We are not always going to see things exactly the same, but we have very important economic and political concerns that warrant that we work together."
The timing comes as the United States remains in dispute with China on multiple fronts.
Even as Xi was soaking in his welcome, the top U.S. military officer was pressed at a Senate hearing about alleged Chinese computer hacking. Joints Chief of Staff Chairman Martin Dempsey said someone in China was responsible but he declined to blame the Chinese army for targeted electronic break-ins of U.S. government and corporate computer networks.
The United States accuses China of tolerating electronic theft and industrial espionage, but U.S. officials are reluctant to tie those crimes directly the Chinese government. When Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said he would be seeing Xi and asked advice on what to say, Dempsey quipped: "Happy Valentine's Day."
The U.S. is also deeply at odds with China and Russia for their vetoes of a tough U.N. Security Council resolution this month that called on Syrian President Bashar Assad to step aside. Washington accuses Beijing of protecting rogue regimes such as Syria, where the bloodshed rages daily.
In Xi's presence, Obama passed on answering a reporter's questions about Syria.
More broadly, China and the U.S. are also increasingly rivals in the Asia-Pacific region, with Washington's traditional alliances competing with China's economic and cultural influence. China sees the U.S. as encouraging skepticism and dissent among neighbors in the region while trying to undermine communist rule by encouraging civil liberties and human rights causes.
On Iran, China shares U.S. alarm about a possible Iranian nuclear bomb but has blocked consideration of the toughest international sanctions, including an international embargo on Iranian oil. China is Iran's largest customer for oil.
White House spokesman Jay Carney assured that Obama privately brings up "all of these issues" of concerns with Xi and other Chinese leaders.
Associated Press writers Matthew Pennington, Anne Gearan, Donna Cassata and Robert Burns contributed to this report.


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We Are the Night
One night, 18 year old Lena is bitten by Louise, leader of a female vampire trio that are as deadly as they are beautiful. Her newfound vampiric lifestyle is a blessing and a curse at the same time. At first, she enjoys the limitless freedom, the luxury, the parties. But soon the murderous blood lust of her comrades in arms proves too much for her, and she falls dangerously in love with Tom, a young undercover cop. When she resolves to turn her back on the bloodsucking band of sisters, Louise fury knows no bounds. Lena will have to choose between immortal love and immortal life.
Released: 2010-10-28
Duration: 100 min
Country: Germany
Production: Celluloid Dreams, Constantin Film Produktion


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The primary function of archives is the permanent preservation of records which are unique because of their administrative, financial, legal, research, cultural or other information value. The records are generally no longer required for the conduct of current activities by government agencies, non-government organisations or individuals. While much archival work is an adjunct to other activity, a growing number of archival bodies employ specialist staff to serve the legal, administrative and research needs of individuals and organisations and are funded by governments and private sources.
The National Archives of Australia (NAA) is the Commonwealth organisation which promotes reliable record keeping and maintains a visible, accessible and known archival collection, in the interests of accountable government and for the benefit of the community. There are NAA offices and reading rooms in all states and territories. The national headquarters in Canberra also houses the Treasures Gallery, the Exhibitions Gallery and the Federation Gallery. Constructed as part of the Centenary of Federation in 2001, the Federation Gallery houses Australia's original 'birth certificates' including the Constitution and Queen Victoria's Royal Commission of Assent. The NAA administers the legislative framework for Commonwealth records management (including arrangements for the disposal of records), maintains information systems, provides appropriate custody and preservation arrangements (including archival storage) and makes records available under the relevant legislation. Records covered by the Archives Act 1983 (Cwlth) occur in all formats including paper, digital and audio-visual. The database 'RecordSearch' and many of the record keeping publications and reference guides are now on-line and can be accessed through the NAA web site at <http://www.naa.gov.au>. The NAA also maintains the 'Documenting a Democracy' web site, <http://www.foundingdocs.gov.au>, which presents the founding documents of democratic governments in Australia, and the 'Australia's Prime Ministers' web site, <http://www.primeministers.naa.gov.au>, which operates as a portal to archival institutions holding prime ministerial records.
In addition, each state and territory government maintains its own archives and provides for public access to records. Archives have also been established by some churches, business corporations, universities and city councils. The Australian War Memorial collects private material concerning Australians at war, and it is also the custodian of certain official Commonwealth records relating to war or warlike operations. ScreenSound Australia collects cultural material relevant to the film and sound media. Other corporate and private records continue to be collected by some state archives offices, libraries and universities.
The 'Archives of Australia' web site, <http://www.archivenet.gov.au>, provides information about archives in Australia and operates as a portal to the web sites of other Australian archival institutions.
Libraries and archives industry
An ABS survey of libraries and archives in respect of 1999-2000 showed that, at the end of June 2000, there were 505 local government library organisations with 1,510 library locations, eight national and state library organisations with 26 locations, and eight national and state archive organisations with 27 locations. The libraries held 54.3 million books and other library materials at the end of June 2000, of which 36.4 million were available as lending stock. The total income of the industry in 1999-2000 was $792m, with government funding accounting for 91% ($725m) of the total.


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|After one of the most ambitious restoration programmes in Britain, The Savoy was officially reopened in autumn 2010 by Prince Charles. Pierre Yves Rochon's three-year, £220-million redesign combined the Art Deco and Edwardian styles of the original and involved the complete building, including the courtyard, all the public areas and guest rooms. Established in 1889, the grand building on the Strand is a Victorian creation of quite astounding magnificence, and as much a London landmark. It has a long tradition of fine dining, reflected today in the Michelin-starred Savoy Grill the River Restaurant, The American Bar, Beaufort Bar, Thames Foyer and Savoy Tea room. There is also a modern glass-enclosed fitness gallery with pool, gym and spa.
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Pizza Ranch, the Midwest buffet concept featuring a family-friendly atmosphere, announced it has signed an area development agreement with Mike and Angie Christianson to open eight new Pizza Ranch locations in Montana. The Christiansons, who are Pizza Ranch franchisees in North Dakota, anticipate opening the first Montana restaurant in 2011.
The signing reflects the largest agreement in company history, furthering Pizza Ranch's growth momentum. With nearly 160 locations in the Midwest and Great Plains states, the company is expanding its footprint at a new store growth rate of 10 percent annually.
"We are thrilled to bring the Pizza Ranch brand to Montana," says Mike Christianson. "Guests will enjoy our family dining experience, not to mention the limitless, freshly-prepared food offerings."
Christianson most recently worked as a district manager for Radio Shack and often took lunch breaks at the local Pizza Ranch. After noticing the popularity and growth potential of the restaurant concept in North Dakota, the Christiansons decided to open a Pizza Ranch of their own. They now own multiple locations in North Dakota and look forward to bringing the concept to Montana.
"We realize Pizza Ranch is on the cusp of unprecedented growth and we want to be a part of growing the brand," Christianson says. "We're very excited about the opportunities in Montana, and look forward to becoming involved and giving back to each of the communities we serve."
With recipes dating back to the company's origins, Pizza Ranch's menu items remain focused on traditional favorites along with new limited-time pizza and salad offerings such as the Crantastic Salad and the Chicken Bacon Ranch Pizza.
"We are very excited to sign this agreement with such valued members of the Pizza Ranch family," says Marilyn Mayberry, director of franchise development for Pizza Ranch. "We know the people of Montana will love Pizza Ranch and Mike and Angie will do an excellent job of growing the brand in Big Sky Country."


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|Home ▸ Catalog ▸ |Greek Coins| ▸ |Geographic - All Periods| ▸ |Anatolia| ▸ |Ionia| ▸ |Phokaia||View Options: | | |
Phokaia, Ionia
Phocaea, or Phokaia, was the northernmost Ionian city, on the boundary with Aeolis, near the mouth of the river Hermus (now Gediz), on a peninsula separating the Gulf of Cyme to the north, and the Gulf of Smyrna (now İzmir) to the south. Phocaea had two harbors, allowing it to develop a thriving seafaring economy, and to become a great naval power. The Phocaeans were the first Greeks to make long sea-voyages and founded the colonies Massalia (Marseille, France), Emporion (Emp�ries, Catalonia, Spain), and Elea (Velia, Campania, Italy). Phocaea was independent until all of mainland Ionia fell under Croesus of Lydia (c. 560-545 B.C.). In 546 B.C., Lydia was conquered by Cyrus the Great of Persia. After the Greeks defeated Xerxes I in 480 B.C., Phocaea joined the Delian League. In 412 B.C., it rebelled with the rest of Ionia and in 387 B.C. Phocaea returned to Persian control. After Alexander, it fell under Seleucid, then Attalid, and finally Roman rule.