text:
|Phrack Inc. XXVI Index
|Knight Lightning & Taran King
|Computer-Based Systems for Bell System Operation
|Taran King
|Getting Caught: Legal Procedures
|The Disk Jockey
|NSFnet: National Science Foundation Network
|Knight Lightning
|COSMOS: COmputer System for Mainframe OperationS (Part One)
|King Arthur
|Basic Concepts of Translation
|Chief Executive Officers & Dead Lord
|Phone Bugging: Telecom's Underground Industry
|Split Decision
|Internet Domains: FTSaga Appendix 3 (Limbo To Infinity)
|Phrack Staff
|Phrack World News XXVI Part 1
|Knight Lightning
|Phrack World News XXVI Part 2
|Knight Lightning
|Phrack World News XXVI Part 3
|Knight Lightning
==Phrack Inc.== Volume Three, Issue 26, File 2 of 11 Computer-Based Systems for Bell System Operations by Taran King This file contains a variety of operating systems in the Bell System. Some of them are very familiar to most people and others are widely unknown. Each sub-section gives a brief description of what the computer system's functions are. Table Of Contents: %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% I. TIRKS a. COC b. E1 c. F1 d. C1 e. FEPS II. PICS III. PREMIS IV. TNDS a. EADAS b. EADAS/NM c. TDAS d. CU/EQ e. ICAN f. LBS g. 5XB COER h. SPCS COER i. SONDS j. CU/TK k. TSS l. TFS m. CSAR V. SCCS VI. COEES VII. MATFAP VIII. Various Operating Systems IX. Acronym Glossary TIRKS (Trunks Integrated Records Keeping System) %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% TIRKS is the master record-keeping system for the network. It supports network operations related to growth and change in the network by providing accurate records of circuits and components that are in use and available for use. It was developed to mechanize the circuit-provisioning process. Two circuit-provisioning aspects are applied: daily circuit provisioning and current planning. Daily circuit provisioning is processing orders to satisfy customer needs for special service circuits and processing orders initiated for message trunks and carrier systems for the PSTN. The process begins at various operations centers and ends up at the CPCs (Circuit Provision Centers) which track orders, design circuits, and assign the components using TIRKS. It also prepares work packages and distributes them to technicians working in the field who implement them. Current planning determines the equipment and facility requirements for future new circuits. It apportions forecasts for circuits among the circuit designs planned for new circuits. TIRKS consists of five major interacting component systems: COC (Circuit Order Control system), E1 (Equipment system), F1 (Facility system), C1 (Circuit system), and FEPS (Facility and Equipment Planning System). o COC controls message trunk orders, special-services orders, and carrier system orders by tracking critical dates throughout the existence of an order as it flows from the source to the CPC and on to the field forces. It provides management with the current status of all circuit orders and provides data to other TIRKS component systems to update the assigned status of equipment, facilities, and circuits as orders are processed. o C1 is the heart of TIRKS. It automatically determines the types of equipment required for a given circuit, assigns the equipment and facilities needed, determines levels at the various transmission level points on the circuit, specifies the test requirements, and establishes circuit records for the circuits. All records of circuits already installed are kept in C1 for future additions or changes. o E1 is one of the two major inventory component systems in TIRKS. It contains equipment inventory records, assignment records, and pending equipment orders. The records show the amount of spare equipment that is available and equipment's circuit identification. o F1 is the other of the major inventory component systems. It contains cable and carrier inventory and assigns records. o FEPS supports the current planning process which determines the transmission facilities and equipment that will be required for new service. It uses data in E1, F1, and C1 as well as other forecasts to allocate existing inventories efficiently, to determine future facility and equipment requirements, and to update planning designs. TIRKS uses IBM-370 compatible hardware and direct-access storage devices. It provides benefits to the BOCs through improved service to customers, capital and expense savings, and better management control. PICS (Plug-in Inventory Control System) %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% PICS is the mechanized operations system developed for the efficient management of large amounts of equipment inventories. It assists with both inventory and materials management. Inventory managers establish corporate policies for the types of equipment and for equipment utilization, assist engineering organizations in introducing new types of equipment while phasing out older types, and set utilization goals that balance service objectives and carrying charges on spare equipment. Material managers work to achieve utilization goals by acquiring spare equipment for growth and maintenance purposes. They also administer a hierarchy of locations used for storing spare equipment. PICS/DCPR (PICS with Detailed Continuing Property Records) administers all types of CO equipment. The DCPR portion of PICS/DCPR serves as a detailed investment database supporting accounting records for all types of CO plug-in and "hardwired" equipment. PICS/DCPR accomplishes its goals of increasing utilization, decreasing manual effort, and providing a detailed supporting record for phone company investment through software, databases, administrative procedures, and workflows. Two new functional entities are created in the BOC first: PIA (Plug-In Administration) and the central stock. PIA is the materials manager and is responsible for acquiring equipment, distributing it as needed to field locations, repairing it, and accounting for it. The central stock is a warehouse where spare equipment is consolidated and managed. There are five subsystems in PICS/DCPR: o Plug-in inventory subsystem - maintains order, repair, and inventory records for all types of plug-in equipment. o Inventory management subsystem - provides the PIA with mechanized processes to assist in various tasks. o Plug-in DCPR subsystem - provides processes required to maintain investment records for plug-in units. o Hardwired DCPR subsystem - maintains detailed accounting records for hardwired CO equipment. o Reference file subsystem - provides and maintains reference data used by all other subsystems. PICS/DCPR runs on IBM-compatible equipment with the IBM Information Management System database manager. It interfaces with TIRKS as well as a few other circuit-provisioning systems. PREMIS (PREMises Information System) %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% PREMIS provides fast, convenient access to information needed to respond to service requests. It was developed in response to the need for address standardization. It has three mechanized databases: address data, a credit file, and a list of available telephone numbers. It also serves a function to the LAC (Loop Assignment Center), called PREMIS/LAC. PREMIS/LAC is an extension of the address database and provides for the storage of outside plant facility data at each address entry. PREMIS supports the following service representative tasks: o Determining the customer's correct address. The address related- and address-keyable information is the major feature of PREMIS. If an input request does not contain an accurate or complete address, PREMIS displays information that can be used to query the customer. The address database allows PREMIS to give the full address and information about the geographic area which includes WC (Wire Center), exchange area, tax area, directory group, and the service features available for that area. It also displays existing or previous customer's name and telephone number, modular jacking arrangement at the address, and an indication of whether a connect outside plant loop from the address back to the CO was left in place. If service was discontinued at the site, the reason for disconnect and the date of disconnect are also displayed. o Negotiating service features. PREMIS indicates the service features that can be sold at that address, providing useful information for discussing these with a customer. o Negotiating a service date. If it indicates that an outside plant loop back to the CO has been left in place, PREMIS allows for earlier installation as no installer will need to visit the site. o Checking a customer's credit status. PREMIS maintains a name-keyable file of customers with outstanding debts to the telephone company. If there is a match in the database, the customer's file is displayed. o Selecting a telephone number. There is a file in PREMIS listing all available telephone numbers from which service representatives request numbers for a specific address. The available telephone numbers are read from COSMOS (COmputer System for Mainframe OperationS) magnetic tape. PREMIS/LAC has a feature called DPAC (Dedicated Plant Assignment Card). Records of addresses where outside plant loop facilities are dedicated are organized and accessed by address by the LAC through DPAC. PREMIS is an on-line interactive system whose prime users are service representatives interacting with customers. It uses the UNIVAC 1100 as its main computer. It has network links to various other computer systems, too, to obtain various pieces of information that are helpful or necessary in efficiently completing service functions. TNDS (Total Network Data System) %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% TNDS is actually a large and complex set of coordinated systems which supports a broad range of activities that depend on accurate traffic data. It is more of a concept that incorporates various subsystems as opposed to a single computer system. It consists of both manual procedures and computer systems that provide operating company managers with comprehensive, timely, and accurate network information that helps in analysis of the network. TNDS supports operations centers responsible for administration of the trunking network, network data collection, daily surveillance of the load on the switching network, the utilization of equipment by the switching network, and the design of local and CO switching equipment to meet future service needs. TNDS modules that collect and format traffic data usually have dedicated minicomputers which are at the operating company's Minicomputer Maintenance (Operations) Center (MMOC/MMC). Other modules generate engineering and administrative reports on switching systems and on the trunking network of message trunks that interconnects them. These mostly run on general-purpose computers. Still others are located in AT&T centers and are accessed by various operating companies for data. The functions of TNDS are carried out by various computer systems since TNDS itself is just a concept. These subsystems include EADAS, EADAS/NM, TDAS, CU/EQ, LBS, 5XB COER, SPCS COER, ICAN, SONDS, TSS, CU/TK, TFS, and CSAR. The following sections cover these systems briefly. EADAS (Engineering and Administrative Data Acquisition System) %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% EADAS is the major data collecting system of TNDS and runs on a dedicated minicomputer at the NDCC (Network Data Collection Center). Each EADAS serves up to fifty switching offices. The 4ESS and No. 4 XBAR both have their own data acquisition systems built into the switch and they feed their data directly to other TNDS component systems that are downstream from EADAS, thereby bypassing the need for EADAS on those switches. EADAS summarizes data collected for processing by downstream TNDS systems and does so in real-time. EADAS is used by network administrators to determine quality of service and to identify switching problems. It also makes additional real-time information available to these administrators by providing traffic data history that covers up to 48 hours. This data history is flexible through the module NORGEN (Network Operations Report GENerator) so that administrators can tailor their requests for information to determine specifics. Information from EADAS is forwarded to other downstream systems in TNDS via data links or magnetic tape. EADAS/NM (EADAS/Network Management) %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% EADAS/NM is one of the three TNDS systems that EADAS forwards traffic data downstream to either by data links or magnetic tape. EADAS/NM uses data directly from EADAS as well as receiving data from those switching systems which do not interface with EADAS previously mentioned. It monitors switching systems and trunk groups designated by network managers and reports existing or anticipated congestion on a display board at local and regional NMCs (Network Management Centers). It is used to analyze problems in near real-time to determine their location and causes. EADAS/NM provides information that requires national coordination to the AT&T Long Lines NOC (Network Operations Center) in Bedminster, NJ which uses it's NOCS (NOC System) to perform EADAS/NM-like functions on a national scale. Like EADAS, EADAS/NM uses dedicated minicomputers to provide interactive real-time response and control. TDAS (Traffic Data Administration System) %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% The second of three TNDS systems that is downstream from EADAS is TDAS which formats the traffic data for use by most of the other downstream systems. It accepts data from EADAS, local vendor systems, and large toll switching systems on a weekly basis as magnetic tape. It functions basically as a warehouse and distribution facility for the traffic data and runs a batch system at the computation center. Correct association between recorded traffic data and the switching or trunking elements is the result of shared information between TDAS and CU/EQ. Data processed through TDAS is matched against that stored in CU/EQ. The data is summarized weekly on magnetic tape or printout and is sent for use in preparation of an engineering or administrative report. CU/EQ (Common Update/EQuipment) %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% CU/EQ is a master database which stores traffic measurements taken by TDAS and it shares information with TDAS, ICAN and LBS. As said before, correct association between recorded traffic data and the switching or trunking elements is due to the shared information between CU/EQ and TDAS. It runs as a batch system in the same computer as TDAS and is regularly updated with batch transactions to keep it current with changes in the physical arrangement of CO switching machines which ensures that recorded measurements are treated consistently in each of the reporting systems that use CU/EQ records. ICAN (Individual Circuit ANalysis) %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% The final of the three systems downstream from EADAS is ICAN, which also uses data directly from EADAS but uses CU/EQ for reference information. It is a CO reporting system which detects electromechanical switching system faults by identifying abnormal load patterns on individual circuits within a circuit group. ICAN produces a series of reports used by the NAC (Network Administration Center) to analyze the individual circuits and to verify that such circuits are being correctly associated with their respective groups. LBS (Load Balance System) %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% LBS is a batch-executed system that helps assure the network administrator that traffic loads in each switching system are uniformly distributed. It analyzes the traffic data to establish traffic loads on each line group of the switching system. The NAC uses the resulting reports to determine the lightly loaded line groups to which new subscriber lines can be assigned. LBS also calculates load balance indices for each system and aggregates the results for the entire BOC. 5XB COER (No. 5 Crossbar Central Office Equipment Reports) %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% The 5XB COER provides information on common-control switching equipment operation for different types of switching systems. It is a batch-executed system that runs on a BOC mainframe that analyzes traffic data to determine how heavily various switching system components are used and measures certain service parameters. It calculates capacity for the No. 5 Crossbar. Network administrators use 5XB COER reports to monitor day-to-day switching performance, diagnose potential switching malfunctions, and help predict future service needs. Traffic engineers rely on reports to assess switching office capacity and to forecast equipment requirements. It produces busy hour and busy season reports so service and traffic load measurements can be most useful in predictions. SPCS COER (Stored-Program Control Systems Central Office Equipment Reports) %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% The SPCS COER is basically the same as the 5XB COER as it too monitors switching system service and measures utilization in the same manners as mentioned above. The essential differences between the 5XB COER and the SPCS COER are that the latter calculates capacity for 1ESS, 2ESS, and 3ESS switching offices as opposed to the No. 5 Crossbar switch and SPCS COER is an interactive system that runs on a centralized AT&T mainframe computer. SONDS (Small Office Network Data System) %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SONDS collects its own data from small step-by-step offices independently of EADAS and TDAS. It performs a full range of data manipulation functions and provides a number of TNDS features economically for smaller electromechanical step-by-step offices. The data collected is directly from the offices being measured. It processes the data and automatically distributes weekly, monthly, exception, and on-demand reports to managers at the NACs via dial-up terminals. SONDS runs on an interactive basis at a centralized AT&T mainframe computer. CU/TK (Common Update/TrunKing) %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% CU/TK is a database system that contains the trunking network information and as well as other information required by TSS (Trunking Servicing System) and TFS (Trunk Forecasting System). The CU/TK is regularly updated by CAC (Circuit Administration Center) by personnel to keep it current with changes in the physical arrangements of trunks and switching machines in the CO. For correct trunking and switching configuration in the processing by TSS and TFS, this updating process, which includes maintaining office growth information and a "common-language" circuit identification of all circuits for individual switching machines, ensures that traffic data provided by TDAS will be correctly associated. TSS (Trunk Servicing System) %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% TSS helps trunk administrators develop short-term plans and determine the number of circuits required in a trunk group. Data from TDAS is processed in TSS and the offered load for each trunk group is computed. Through offered load calculation on a per-trunk-group basis, TSS calculates the number of trunks theoretically required to handle that traffic load at a designated grade of service. TSS produces weekly reports showing which trunk groups have too many trunks and which have too few that are performing below the grade-of-service objective. Trunk orders to add or disconnect trunks are made by the CAC after they use the information provided through TSS. TFS (Trunk Forecasting System) %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% TFS uses traffic load data computed by TSS as well as information on the network configuration and forecasting parameters stored in the CU/TK database for long-term construction planning for new trunks. TFS forecasts message trunk requirements for the next five years as the fundamental input to the planning process that leads to the provisioning of additional facilities. CSAR (Centralized System for Analysis and Reporting) %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% CSAR is designed to monitor and measure how well data is being processed through TNDS. It collects and analyzes data from other TNDS systems and provides operating company personnel at NDCCs, NACs, and CACs with quantitative measures of the accuracy, timeliness, and completeness of the TNDS data flow as well as the consistency of the TNDS record bases. CSAR also presents enough information to locate and identify a data collection problem. CSAR summarizes the results of its TNDS monitoring for the company as input to the TPMP (TNDS Performance Measurement Plan) which is published monthly by AT&T. CSAR runs as a centralized on-line interactive system at an AT&T computer center. Its data is placed into special files, which, at the end of a CSAR run, are merged and transferred to the AT&T computer center. CSAR performs the proper associations and analyzes each system's results. These results are obtained by company managers via dial-up and they can be arranged in a number of formats that provide details on overall TNDS performance or individual system effectiveness. Specific problems can also be identified through these reports. The following is a diagram of data flow among TNDS systems: *Trunk Network Reporting Systems* |-> TSS ----------------------> TFS * Data*| ^ ^ *Acquisition*| %_______ _______/ * Systems*| %-CU/TK-/ _________ | | |-->EADAS | |Switching| Alt. | |Systems | Systems| * Central Office * |_________|% | / *Reporting Systems* *System Performance * | % %->TDAS-------------------------- *Measurement Systems* | % | %_______ | | | | % EADAS | LBS 5XB SPCS .............CSAR | % | | / COER COER . | EADAS/NM CU/EQ-< . | % . | ICAN SONDS . | ^ . |__________________________________| Selected data from other TNDS Systems SCCS (Switching Control Center System) %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% The Switching Control Center (SCC) was created to centralize the administration, maintenance, and control of the 1ESS switching system. By using the remote-interaction interfacing of the MCC (Master Control Center), which is a frame of equipment in a 1ESS system that indicates the current state of the office equipment, the SCC functions as the centralized maintenance center for the switch. At the SCC, a minicomputer system called the CSS (Computer Sub-System) is added and along with the equipment units that remote the MCC, it makes up the SCCS. The CSS can support a number of SCCs. Generally, the CSS is located in the MMOC. Basically, a number of switches are handled by each SCC and the various SCCs are handled by the CSS. The SCCS contains maintenance and administrative data that is sent directly from the switches. Through the SCCS, a technician can remotely operate the MCC keys on the switches hooked up to it as well as perform any available command or task supported by the switch. The SCCS can handle up to 30 or more offices although usually only 15 or so are handled per SCC. This number depends also on the size of the offices and the amount of data that is transmitted. Major alarms that sound at a switching office set off alarms at the SCC within seconds and it also causes an update of the status of the office on the critical indicator panel and it displays a specific description of the alarm condition on a CRT alarm monitor at a workstation. Software enhancements to the SCCS fall into four broad classes: o Enhanced Alarming - Besides alarms sounding, incoming data can generate failure descriptions for easy interpretation and real-time analysis techniques. o Interaction with Message History - Using past information on a switch's troubles, the SCCS allows pertinent information on a specific switch to be provided in case of an alarm. o Mechanization of Craft Functions - Certain conditions no longer need to be looked into directly. If an alarm goes off, the SCCS can perform routine tests and fix the problem as best it can or else, if that doesn't work, a trouble ticket is issued. o Support for Switch Administration - Through the SCCS, data can be sent automatically to different operations centers as well as other operations systems which require data from the switches. Since the original SCCS came into operation, many changes have taken place. The current SCCS supports all of the entire ESS family of switches as well as network transmission equipment and it also can maintain several auxiliary processor systems, like TSPS (Traffic Service Position System) and AIS (Automatic Intercept System), and supports network transmission equipment. COEES (Central Office Equipment Engineering System) %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% COEES is a time-sharing system that runs on a DEC PDP-10. It is the standard system for planning and engineering local switching equipment. COEES contains component systems for Step-By-Step, Crossbar, 1/1AESS, and 2/2BESS switching systems, each of which has a different capability. The COEES database stores information obtained from forecasts for each local switching office on number of lines of all types, number of trunks of all types, average call rate per line and trunk, average usage per line and trunk, and all features, signaling types, etc. that are required. COEES determines the quantity of each type of equipment in the office needed to satisfy the forecasted load at objective service levels, determines an estimated price for engineering, procuring, and installing the equipment addition needed to reach the require level, and then it sums up the costs of doing it eight different ways for the network designer to review. The system also takes into account varying parameters like call rate or proportion of lines with certain features which is called sensitivity analysis. With the information provided by the COEES forecast, the designer can then make a recommendation. After a decision is made on the recommendation, COEES prints out an order so that the additional equipment can more quickly and easily be obtained. COEES also puts out a report called call store on a 1ESS, which tells the engineer and the equipment supplier how much memory to allocate to different functions in the switch depending on inputs that the engineer provides to the system. MATFAP (Metropolitan Area Transmission Facility Analysis Program) %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% MATFAP is a computer program that aids in facility planning. It analyzes the alternatives available to the operating company for its future transmission equipment and facilities using present worth of future expenses and other measures. By combining trunk and special-service circuit forecasts with switching plans, network configuration, cost data, and engineering rules, MATFAP can identify what transmission plant will be needed at various locations and when it will be needed. It also determines economic consequences of specific facility and/or equipment selections as well as routing choices and it provides the least-cost assignment of circuits to each facility as a guide to the circuit-provisioning process. It is oriented towards metropolitan networks and facilities/equipment found in those regions. MATFAP provides two benefits. It helps automate the transmission- planning process and it takes into account economies that cannot be identified by restricted analysis. It also balances circuit loads on high-capacity digital lines with additional multiplex equipment. Data from MATFAP is edited through RDES (Remote Data Entry System). Various Operating Systems %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% The following is a list of other operating systems used by the Bell System with brief descriptions: ATRS (Automated Trouble Reporting System) - aids in the analysis of trouble %%%% reports by sorting, formatting, forwarding, and examining them from the entire country for standard errors BOSS (Billing and Order Support System) - allows access to customer records, %%%% CN/A, bill adjustments, and information routing CAROT (Centralized Automatic Reporting On Trunks) - operations system that %%%%% tests a trunk on electromechanical and electronic switching systems and sends its findings to a remote computer terminal CATLAS (Centralized Automatic Trouble Locating and Analysis System) - an %%%%%% operations system that automates trouble location procedures that identify faulty circuit packs in a switch when trouble is detected and diagnosed CMDS (Centralized Message Data System) - analyzes the AMA tapes to determine %%%% traffic patterns COSMOS (COmputer System for Mainframe OperationS) - stores the full inventory %%%%%% of telephone numbers CRIS (Customer Records Information System) - contains the customer billing %%%% database CRS (Centralized Results System) - a management information system that %%% automates the collection, analysis, and publication of many measurement results CUCRIT (Capital Utilization CRITeria) - used mainly for project economic %%%%%% evaluation and capital budgeting and planning DACS (Digital Access Cross-connect System) - remote digital access for testing %%%% of special-service circuits in analog or digital form EFRAP (Exchange Feeder Route Analysis Program) - used in planning of the loop %%%%% network IFRPS (Intercity Facility Relief Planning System) - also like MATFAP but deals %%%%% with radio and coaxial cable as opposed to voice-frequency facilities IPLAN (Integrated PLanning And Analysis system) - used mainly for project %%%%% economic evaluation LMOS (Loop Maintenance Operations System) - maintenance outages on loops %%%% remotely by a service employee LRAP (Long Route Analysis Program) - like EFRAP, used in planning of the loop %%%% network LSRP (Local Switching Replacement Planning system) - a system used in the %%%% planning of wire centers NOTIS (Network Operations Trouble Information System) - aids in the analysis %%%%% of trouble reports NSCS (Network Service Center System) - at the NSC, aids in the analysis of %%%% trouble reports OFNPS (Outstate Facility Network Planning System) - similar to MATFAP but %%%%% contains a decision aid that identifies strategies for the introduction of digital facilities in a predominantly analog network; rural transmission facility network planning RDES (Remote Data Entry System) - allows for remote editing of on-line %%%% computer data RMAS (Remote Memory Administration System) - changes translations in the %%%% switching systems SARTS (Switched Access Remote Test System) - accessed to perform sophisticated %%%%% tests on most types of special-service circuits SMAS (Switched Maintenance Access System) - through the use of relays, %%%% provides concentrated metallic access to individual circuits to permit remote access and testing by SARTS TASC (Telecommunications Alarm Surveillance and Control System) - an alarm %%%% program that identifies the station and transmits it back to the central maintenance location TCAS (T-Carrier Administration System) - an operations system responsible for %%%% T-carrier alarms TCSP (Tandem Cross Section Program) - a program for analysis of traffic %%%% network planning TFLAP (T-carrier Fault-Locating Application Program) - a subprogram of %%%%% Universal Cable Circuit Analysis Program which analyzes networks with branches, multiple terminations and bridge taps Acronym Glossary %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% AIS Automatic Intercept System AMA Automatic Message Accounting ATRS Automated Trouble Reporting System BOSS Billing and Order Support System C1 Circuit system CAC Circuit Administration Center CAROT Centralized Automatic Reporting On Trunks CATLAS Centralized Automatic Trouble Locating and Analysis System CMDS Centralized Message Data System CPC Circuit Provision Center CO Central Office COC Circuit Order Control COEES Central Office Equipment Engineering System COSMOS COmputer System for Mainframe OperationS CRIS Customer Records Information System CRS Centralized Results System CRT Cathode-Ray Tube CSAR Centralized System for Analysis and Reporting CSS Computer SubSystem CUCRIT Capital Utilization CRITeria CU/EQ Common Update/EQuipment system CU/TK Common Update/TrunKing system DACS Digital Access and Cross-connect System DPAC Dedicated Plant Assignment Card E1 Equipment system EADAS Engineering and Administrative Data Acquisition System EADAS/NM EADAS/Network Management EFRAP Exchange Feeder Route Analysis Program ESS Electronic Switching System F1 Facility system FEPS Facility and Equipment Planning System 5XB COER No. 5 Crossbar Central Office Equipment Report system ICAN Individual Circuit ANalysis IFRPS Intercity Facility Relief Planning System IPLAN Integrated PLanning and ANalysis LAC Loop Assignment Center LBS Load Balance System LMOS Loop Maintenance Operations System LRAP Long Route Analysis Program LSRP Local Switching Replacement Planning system MATFAP Metropolitan Area Transmission Facility Analysis Program MCC Master Control Center MMC Minicomputer Maintenance Center MMOC Minicomputer Maintenance Operations Center NAC Network Administration Center NDCC Network Data Collection Center NMC Network Management Center NOC Network Operations Center NOCS Network Operations Center System NORGEN Network Operations Report GENerator NOTIS Network Operations Trouble Information System NSCS Network Service Center System OFNPS Outstate Facility Network Planning System PIA Plug-In Administrator PICS Plug-in Inventory Control System PICS/DCPR PICS/Detailed Continuing Property Records PREMIS PREMises Information System PSTN Public Switched Telephone Network RDES Remote Data Entry System RMAS Remote Memory Administration Center SARTS Switched Access Remote Test System SCC Switching Control Center SCCS Switching Control Center System SMAS Switched Maintenance Access System SONDS Small Office Network Data System SPCS COER Stored-Program Control System/Central Office Equipment Report TASC Telecommunications Alarm Surveillance and Control system TCAS T-Carrier Administration System TCSP Tandem Cross Section Program TDAS Traffic Data Administration System TFLAP T-Carrier Fault-Locating Applications Program TFS Trunk Forecasting System TIRKS Trunks Integrated Records Keeping System TNDS Total Network Data System TPMP TNDS Performance Measurement Plan TSPS Traffic Service Position System TSS Trunk Servicing System WC Wire Center ______________________________________________________________________________ Recommended reference: Bell System Technical Journals Engineering and Operations in the Bell System Phrack IX LMOS file by Phantom Phreaker Phrack XII TNDS file by Doom Prophet Various COSMOS files by LOD/H, KOTRT, etc. Completed 3/17/89 ______________________________________________________________________________


text:
The government generally respected the human rights of its citizens; however, there were reports that the government detained illegal immigrants under poor conditions. Societal problems included child abuse and trafficking in persons.
Section 1 Respect for the Integrity of the Person, Including Freedom From:
a. Arbitrary or Unlawful Deprivation of Life
There were no reports that the government or its agents committed arbitrary or unlawful killings.
b. Disappearance
There were no reports of politically motivated disappearances.
c. Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
The constitution and law prohibit such practices, and there were no reports that government officials employed them.
On September 10, the Council of Europe's Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) reported on allegations that soldiers had used excessive force to break up a 2005 demonstration by 80 to 90 illegal immigrants detained at the Safi Barracks. A CPT delegation interviewed detainees, who claimed that soldiers had violently beaten demonstrators who were already under control and were sitting or lying on the ground. Twenty-six demonstrators were treated in hospitals, 12 of whom were kept for 24 hours or longer. The CPT noted that reports of other witnesses and films and photographs seen by the CPT delegation corroborated these allegations. An earlier independent judicial inquiry into the incident had found that the detainees refused to obey legitimate orders of the soldiers and that although the use of force was generally justified, some individual soldiers used excessive force. That domestic investigation's report recommended that the armed forces receive additional training on handling detainees.
Prison and Detention Center Conditions
While prison and detention center conditions generally met international standards, there were reports that the government detained illegal immigrants under poor conditions.
In the September 10 report on its 2005 visit, the CPT stated that it found that a very large majority of illegal immigrants detained by the government were housed in poor and sometimes unacceptable conditions. It noted, in particular, that since 2004 the government housed approximately 100 detainees at the Safi Barracks in tents or metal hangars, and recommended that the detainees be transferred and the hangars decommissioned. At year's end, however, the detainees were still housed at the Safi barracks. Although the government had renovated some of the buildings at the Safi complex, almost 700 migrants were still being held there.
The CPT also reported that illegal immigrants had been detained for up to 40 days in a room in the basement of Luqa International Airport that should not have been used for periods of detention longer than 24 hours.
The government generally permitted visits by independent human rights observers, although none were reported during the year.
d. Arbitrary Arrest or Detention
The constitution and law prohibit arbitrary arrest and detention, and the government generally observed these prohibitions.
Role of the Police and Security Apparatus
Civilian authorities maintained effective control over the police force and the armed forces, and the government has effective mechanisms to investigate and punish abuse and corruption. There were no reported problems related to impunity within the police force.
The 2006 case of a senior police official who was arraigned on bribery charges in connection with the organization of an illegal, clandestine lotto was ongoing at year's end. The individual who was charged with bribing the police official pled guilty to the charges and received a six-month sentence suspended for one year.
Arrest and Detention
A magistrate-issued arrest warrant is generally necessary to detain a person for questioning and may be issued on the basis of reasonable suspicion. According to the constitution, police must either file charges or release a suspect within 48 hours of detention; in all cases authorities must inform detainees of the grounds for their arrest. These requirements were generally respected in practice. During the 48‑hour detention period, arrested persons have neither the right to legal counsel nor to meetings with family members. Pretrial detainees are granted access to counsel, and family members may visit detainees once charges are filed. Bail was normally granted on a case‑by‑case basis.
e. Denial of Fair Public Trial
The constitution provides for an independent judiciary, and the government generally respected this provision in practice.
Trial Procedures
The constitution provides for the right to a fair public jury trial, and an independent judiciary generally enforced this right. Defendants have the right to counsel of their choice or, if they cannot afford counsel, to court‑appointed counsel at public expense. Defendants and their lawyers have access to government‑held evidence relevant to their case. Defendants may confront witnesses and present evidence; defendants enjoy a presumption of innocence and have the right to appeal.
Political Prisoners and Detainees
There were no reports of political prisoners or detainees.
Civil Judicial Procedures and Remedies
The constitution provides for an independent and impartial court for the determination of civil rights or obligations, and access to a court to bring lawsuits seeking damages for, or cessation of, a human rights violation. Access in the case of a breach of human rights is also covered under the European Convention Act, which incorporates the European Convention of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. The government generally respected these rights.
f. Arbitrary Interference with Privacy, Family, Home, or Correspondence
The constitution prohibits such actions, and the government generally respected these prohibitions in practice.
Section 2 Respect for Civil Liberties, Including:
a. Freedom of Speech and Press
The constitution provides for freedom of speech and of the press, and the government generally respected these rights in practice. The law prohibits foreign financial support, speakers, equipment, or printed materials in politics during the period leading up to elections, although this provision has rarely been enforced. An independent press, an effective judiciary, and a functioning democratic political system combined to ensure freedom of speech and of the press.
During the year the Broadcasting Authority, an independent statutory body responsible for television and radio broadcasting, fined an independent television station for permitting the broadcast of material that could incite racial hatred. The station admitted the charge.
The independent media were active and expressed a wide variety of views without restriction. International media operated freely.
At year's end police continued to investigate, but had no suspects, in two 2006 incidents of suspected arson directed against a journalist and an editor. No connection had been proven, but circumstances indicated that the case could be connected to articles published by each of the targets concerning immigration, racism, and tolerance for migrants and refugees. In an October ruling, the appeals court dismissed the police commissioner's request that mobile telephone companies be required to divulge relevant information.
Internet Freedom
There were no government restrictions on access to the Internet or reports that the government monitored e‑mail or Internet chat rooms. Individuals and groups could engage in the peaceful expression of views via the Internet, including by e‑mail. Use of the Internet was widespread; approximately 53 percent of households and 90 percent of schools (state, church, and private) had Internet access. Several Internet cafes and many blogs operated freely throughout the island.
Academic Freedom and Cultural Events
There were no government restrictions on academic freedom or cultural events.
b. Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and Association
The constitution provides for freedom of assembly and association, and the government generally respected these rights in practice.
c. Freedom of Religion
The constitution provides for freedom of religion, and the government generally respected this right in practice. The constitution establishes Roman Catholicism as the state religion; however, numerous non‑Catholic religious groups, including an Islamic community, various Protestant denominations, and a small Jewish community, practiced their faiths freely and were not required to register with the government.
Societal Abuses and Discrimination
There were no reports of anti‑Semitic acts during the year. The Jewish community numbered approximately 120 persons.
Police made no arrests and had no suspects in the 2006 arson attack on seven cars belonging to members of the Jesuit community; the case remained under investigation at year's end. The attack was believed to be linked to the community's advocacy for migrants and refugees, rather than to their religious beliefs.
For a more detailed discussion, see the 2007 International Religious Freedom Report.
d. Freedom of Movement, Internally Displaced Persons, Protection of Refugees, and Stateless Persons
The constitution provides for freedom of movement within the country, foreign travel, emigration, and repatriation, and the government generally respected these rights in practice.
The constitution prohibits forced exile, and the government did not employ it.
There were no reports of government restrictions on emigration or prohibition against the return of citizens who left the country.
Protection of Refugees
The law provides for the granting of asylum or refugee status to persons in accordance with the 1951 UN Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 protocol; and the government has established a system for providing protection to refugees. The government provided a second tier status, granting some asylum seekers humanitarian protection against "refoulement," the return of persons to a country where there is reason to believe they feared persecution.
The government also provided temporary protection to individuals who may not qualify as refugees under the 1951 convention and the 1967 protocol; temporary protection was granted to approximately 399 persons from January to October.
The government generally cooperated with the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and other humanitarian organizations in assisting refugees and asylum seekers. During the year the government established the Organization for the Integration and Welfare of Asylum Seekers.
The government generally excluded asylum requests by nationals of safe countries of origin. Such applicants may apply to the refugee commissioner for reconsideration within seven days of notification by authorities. In such cases, the Office of the Refugee Commissioner calls applicants for a full interview and examination of their claim before ruling on their application.
Authorities detained "irregular immigrants"--persons seeking to emigrate illegally from Africa to the EU who were intercepted and brought to Malta by the armed forces--for up to 12 months after they arrived in Malta. Individuals had two months to file a claim to asylum and were detained while their cases were processed. Irregular immigrants who never applied for asylum, as well as those whose asylum applications and appeals were rejected, were confined for a maximum of 18 months from their date of arrival; after 18 months they were released, regardless of whether the police had arranged to repatriate them to their country of origin.
In 2006 the European Union and UNHCR issued reports criticizing the length of time irregular immigrants were confined in closed detention centers and the conditions within the centers. The problems reported included overcrowded facilities, unsanitary facilities, insensitivity of guards relating to the separation of men and women in confined spaces, the lack of meaningful activities within the centers, and the lack of access to legal resources. The UNHCR made recommendations to rectify the matter, but it appeared that the government had not taken action to specifically address the concerns. UNHCR representatives have met with government officials on this matter and at year's end were forming a working group to address the situation.
Illegal immigrants awaiting decisions on their cases occasionally protested their detention or attempted to escape from detention centers. In March 2006 approximately 370 illegal immigrants broke out of a closed detention center; a number of them were injured, along with police officers, before being captured and returned. A Sudanese man residing in the country and a number of other foreigners were detained by the police for organizing the escape. The Sudanese man was later triedand sentenced to one month's imprisonment.
Authorities aimed to place detained children, pregnant women, elderly persons, and parents with infants in open centers where they were free to move about shortly after their arrival in the country. The armed forces and police are responsible for persons in detention, while the Ministry for Family and Social Solidarity has responsibility for the welfare and accommodation of persons released from detention centers.
Section 3 Respect for Political Rights: The Right of Citizens to Change Their Government
The constitution provides citizens with the right to change their government peacefully, and citizens exercised this right in practice through periodic, free, and fair elections held on the basis of universal suffrage.
Elections and Political Participation
The most recent general elections in 2003 were free and fair. Political parties operated without restriction or outside interference.
There were six women in the 65‑seat parliament and two women in the 14‑member Cabinet of Ministers. Approximately 13 percent of senior government officials were women, and two women held ambassadorial rank. There were six female magistrates.
There were no members of minorities in the government.
Government Corruption and Transparency
The law provides criminal penalties for official corruption, and the government generally implemented these laws effectively.
During the year a number of officials at officially appointed bodies were arraigned on corruption charges or were dismissed after earlier being convicted of corruption. Government officials were subject to financial disclosure laws; the court has the right to order financial disclosure, depending on its judgment of the circumstances. The police and the Permanent Commission against Corruption are responsible for combating official corruption.
The country does not have laws providing general access to government information. There are laws which provide access for the press and the public to certain government‑held information. The government retained discretion to release information that does not fall under these sector‑specific laws, and generally provided access to such information.
Section 4 Governmental Attitudes Regarding International and Nongovernmental Investigation of Alleged Violations of Human Rights
A number of domestic and international human rights groups generally operated without government restriction, investigating and publishing their findings on human rights cases. Government officials were cooperative and responsive to their views.
Section 5 Discrimination, Societal Abuses, and Trafficking in Persons
The constitution prohibits discrimination based on race, gender, disability, language, or social status, and the government generally enforced this prohibition effectively. There were incidents of child abuse and trafficking in persons.
Rape, including spousal rape, is a criminal offense, and the government effectively prosecuted those accused of such crimes. Rape, spousal rape, and violent or indecent assault carry sentences of up to 10 years in prison.
During the year the police domestic violence unit received 341 reports of domestic violence, a significant increase from 2006. The law prohibits domestic violence, and the government effectively enforced it. Penalties ranged from three months to 20 years in prison.
A special police unit and several voluntary organizations provided support to victims of domestic violence. There is a hotline to assist victims of abuse through counseling and shelter referrals. The government provided support to victims of domestic violence through the Department of Welfare. A government‑supported shelter for women and children was in operation throughout the year; the government also provided financial support to a shelter operated by the Catholic Church, among others.
Some nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and victims' assistance advocates asserted that domestic violence was underreported, primarily because of societal attitudes and the attitude of law enforcement and medical service providers. The NGOs reported that women were afraid to report the crime because they feared that they would not be believed or protected.
The law prohibits prostitution, and the government effectively enforced it. The law provides for sentences of several months to two years in prison. From January to August, the police arraigned 79 persons for offences related to prostitution. There were a number of prosecutions during the year.
Sexual harassment is unlawful and is punishable by a $3,100 (1,000 lira) fine, six months' imprisonment, or both. The government effectively enforced the law. In August the Times of Malta reported that a woman was awarded financial compensation of approximately $6,100 (1,800 lira) after the Industrial Tribunal found she was forced to leave her employment due to sexual harassment.
Women enjoy the same legal rights as men, including under family law, property law, and in the judicial system. Redress in the courts for sexual discrimination was available. The Ministry for the Family and Social Solidarity and the National Commission for the Promotion of Equality for Men and Women were responsible for gender equality issues. The commission's program focused on broader integration of women into society. It advised the government on the implementation of policies promoting equality of women and men.
Although women constituted a growing portion of the higher education graduates and the work force, they were underrepresented in management and generally earned less than their male counterparts. The National Council of Women of Malta reported "extremely low" female representation in the labor force. In the first quarter of the year, 35.5 percent of women between age 15 and 65 were employed, and the female unemployment rate was 7.3 percent, compared with an unemployment rate for males of 6.6 percent.
The government was strongly committed to children's rights and welfare. It provided free, compulsory, and universal education through age 16. During the year approximately 95 percent of school‑age children attended school, and 70 percent went on to post‑secondary education. There were no apparent differences in the access of girls and boys to education.
The government provided universal free health care to all citizens, with equal access for boys and girls.
A review conducted by officials at the state hospital's Department of Pediatrics indicated that the agency received 1,200 reports of child abuse in 2006. Prison sentences were handed down in a number of cases involving sexual abuse of minors. A number of sources consistently claimed that authorities did not pursue cases of alleged sexual abuse of children by Catholic clerics unless a parent or adult filed a formal complaint, but rather allowed the church to handle the matter internally. If a formal complaint was filed, the same police investigations and judicial process as for other such
complaints were followed. One such case was pending at year's end, with no new developments since 2006.
Trafficking in Persons
The law prohibits all forms of trafficking in persons; the authorities arrested suspected traffickers and offered protection services to trafficking victims. There were no reports that persons were trafficked to, from, or within the country; however, there was anecdotal evidence that women from Serbia, Russia, Ukraine, Romania and other Eastern European countries may have been trafficked to Malta for forced prostitution.
The most recent confirmed case of trafficking occurred in December 2006, when police arrested four Maltese nationals and a foreign national for procuring a Romanian woman for prostitution in Malta. However, in previous years there were credible and specific reports that the country was a destination for persons, primarily from Ukraine, Russia, the Czech Republic, and Romania, trafficked for prostitution.
The criminal code prohibits trafficking and makes the offense punishable by two to nine years in prison. The punishment is more severe if the offense is accompanied by grievous bodily harm, generates over $15,000 (5,000 lira), or is organized by a criminal network. Persons can be charged if the offense took place within the country or if the person is a national or permanent resident. The law states that a person who forces by violence, threat, or deceit, another person over the age of 21 to leave the country for the purpose of prostitution can be imprisoned for up to two years; the maximum sentence increases to four years for trafficking persons under 21.
Authorities made five arrests for trafficking or trafficking‑related offenses during the year. In January the Court of Appeals confirmed a suspended sentence for a convicted trafficker for trafficking two women into prostitution. Algerian national Khaled Masoud was convicted and jailed for trafficking fifteen immigrants. A police officer convicted for complicity in trafficking in 2005 remained out of jail pending appeal. Another police officer was convicted and sentenced to three years imprisonment.
The government sometimes cooperated with other governments in the investigation of trafficking. The court ordered the extradition of two citizens to Italy where they were wanted for helping with the travel of Italy-bound Chinese illegal immigrants. There were no reports that authorities condoned or facilitated trafficking in persons during the year.
The government provided protection of witnesses and encouraged victims to assist in the investigation and prosecution of traffickers; however, victims who had been arrested generally refused to provide testimony or would testify only in closed hearings. Once victims provided evidence, they were typically returned to the care of social services and deported to their country of origin.
The government provides for social services to victims of trafficking through contracts with local NGOs, which also provided social and housing services to victims of domestic violence. Law enforcement authorities screened suspected victims of trafficking at border entry points and referred victims to local NGOs.
The government did not offer programs or education for the prevention of trafficking, but law enforcement officials participated in a course sponsored by a foreign embassy to identify and process victims of trafficking.
Persons with Disabilities
The law prohibits both the public and private sectors from discriminating against persons with disabilities in employment, education, health care, access to goods and services, housing, and insurance, and the government effectively enforced these provisions. Through September the National Commission for Persons with Disability (NCPD), the agency responsible for enforcement of this law, continued work on 76 complaints of discrimination against persons with disabilities that were pending from previous years. From October 2006 through September 2007, the NCPD opened investigations on 105 new cases. A total of 98 cases were satisfactorily concluded.
National/Racial/Ethnic Minorities
A few thousand persons of Arab, African, and Eastern European origin lived in the country. There continued to be isolated reports that owners of some bars and discos periodically discouraged or prohibited darker‑skinned persons, particularly of African or Arab origin, from entering their establishments. There were no reports of charges being pressed by the alleged victims.
Five cases involving incitement to racial hatred were pending in the courts. In four of the cases, the charges were brought in regard to allegedly racist comments made in speeches on immigration. During the year three cases were filed against Norman Lowell, who represented a far right political party; in October Lowell filed a countersuit claiming violation of freedom of expression and opinion. The case was ongoing at year's end. The fourth case was brought against an individual who represented a far right NGO. The fifth case was brought against a professor by an employee; in October the professor was cleared of all charges, and the employee who brought the charges was found guilty of threatening the professor and fined.
Other Societal Abuses and Discrimination
There were no reports of discrimination based on sexual orientation or against persons with HIV/AIDS.
Section 6 Worker Rights
a. The Right of Association
The constitution provides for workers to form and to join unions of their choice without previous authorization or excessive requirements, and workers did so in practice. Noncivilian military and police personnel are not allowed to join unions. Approximately 65 percent of the work force was unionized. Although all unions were nominally independent of political parties, the largest, the General Workers' Union, was regarded as having close informal ties with the Labor Party.
b. The Right to Organize and Bargain Collectively
The law allows unions to conduct their activities without interference, and the government protected this right in practice. The law provides for collective bargaining, and it was freely practiced. Workers, except noncivilian military and police personnel, have the right to strike, and they exercised this right by conducting legal strikes.
There are no special laws or exemptions from regular labor laws in the country's one export processing zone.
c. Prohibition of Forced or Compulsory Labor
The constitution prohibits forced or compulsory labor and the government generally enforced it.
d. Prohibition of Child Labor and Minimum Age for Employment
There are laws and policies to protect children from exploitation in the workplace, and the government generally implemented them effectively; however, some underage children were employed as domestic labor, restaurant kitchen help, or vendors and, during the summer, in businesses owned by their parents.
The law prohibits the employment of children younger than age 16. The Employment Training Corporation, a government entity under the Ministry of Education, Youth, and Employment, is responsible for labor and employment issues. It generally enforced the law effectively but allowed summer employment of underage youth in businesses operated by their families.
e. Acceptable Conditions of Work
The national weekly minimum wage of approximately $186 (59.63 lira, combined with an annual mandatory bonus of approximately $688 (220 lira) and a $284 (91 lira) annual cost of living increase to all employees to reflect inflation, provided a decent standard of living for a worker and family. In addition, citizens were entitled to government subsidies for housing, health care, and education.
The standard workweek was 40 hours, but in some trades it was 43 or 45 hours. Government regulations provided for a daily rest period, which is normally one hour, and one day of rest per week. Premium pay is required for overtime. Excessive compulsory overtime is prohibited, and workers cannot be obligated to work more than 48 hours, inclusive of overtime. The Ministry of Education, Youth, and Employment's Department of Industrial and Employment Relations generally enforced these requirements effectively.
The Occupational Health and Safety Authority (OHSA), a government entity composed of representatives of the government, unions, and employers, conducted regular inspections at work sites and cited a number of offenders. Enforcement of health and safety standards continued to be uneven; industrial accidents remained frequent, mostly in the manufacturing and building and construction sectors. Workers have the right to remove themselves from situations that endangered health or safety without jeopardy to their employment, and OHSA generally enforced this right. Allegations of physical and sexual abuse of workers were rarely made public and even more rarely prosecuted in court.

subset: commoncrawl


text: This collection of spectacular fixtures will convince you that lighting is an important design element and should not be an afterthought. Unusual and distinctive, lighting fixtures can be as much art as they are functional hardware. In addition, you need different kinds of lighting in your home, from low-level mood lighting and bright task lighting to decorative feature lighting. The right lighting in the right location can enhance the look of your home and create a warm and inviting atmosphere.


text:
BY MERRILL MATTHEWS – A widely recognized economic principle is that when you subsidize something, you get more of it, and when you tax it, you get less.
Unfortunately President Obama's guiding economic principle is to impose more taxes on profitable companies and subsidize those that can't make a dime. It's no wonder the economy is struggling.
Nothing better exemplifies the president's economic principle than his continued effort to end "special tax breaks" for the oil and gas companies.
The industry is doing well right now. Royal Dutch Shell Oil's profits were up 77 percent in 2010, and Exxon Mobile's were up 41 percent in the second quarter.
But they are far from being the most profitable companies in the country. According to Fortune magazine's recent list of the most profitable companies in 2010, Exxon's profit as a percent of revenues was 8.6 percent, Chevron 9.7 percent, and Conoco 6.1 percent.
By sharp contrast, Corning came in first at 54 percent. Coca-Cola was 34 percent, Visa was 37 percent and Google was 29 percent. It's no small feat to make such money in tough times.
Ironically, President Obama and his administration's policies have played a significant role in the oil industry's profits. When the value of the dollar declines, investors start buying commodities. Gold tends to be the first safe haven, but oil isn't far down the list.
Of course, other factors-such as demand, supply and refining capacity-affect the price of oil. But the Obama administration and the Federal Reserve Bank have funneled trillions of dollars into the economy, lowering the value of the dollar, and consequently driving up the price of commodities like oil. That leads to increased oil company profits.
While President Obama supports increased drilling in Saudi Arabia and off the coast of Brazil, his opposition to new domestic drilling means the U.S. is dependent on other countries for about half of the nation's oil needs. That reduced domestic oil supply drives up the price and forces the United States to buy oil from other countries, only adding to the U.S. trade deficit.
Now that President Obama's policies and federal spending have created a budget crunch, he wants the oil and gas industry to embrace the "shared sacrifice" platitude that has become the watchword of his administration.
The fact is that the alleged "special" tax breaks are widely available to other industries. But, the president also wants to repeal the foreign tax credit for oil companies. When a U.S. company makes a profit in a foreign country, it pays foreign taxes on those profits. It's perfectly legal for companies to claim a tax credit equal to their foreign taxes. This keeps them from being double taxed.
This tax break is available to all qualifying companies. It's the president's proposals that would create the inequities.
It is a mystery why the president is so intent on demonizing an industry with such deep American roots and huge American payrolls. The oil industry directly employs over 2 million Americans, both blue-collar workers and well-trained scientists and engineers. It's also growing-17,200 new oil field jobs were added in just the second quarter of the year. There are also millions of manufacturing, construction, mining and other indirect jobs the industry supports. To the extent the industry is allowed to drill here, it keeps jobs here.
The industry also invests here. According to the Oil and Gas Journal, some $284 billion was invested right in America, in 2011. If the industry were allowed to explore in more domestic areas currently off limits, there are estimates that another 1 million jobs would be created.
The oil and gas industry's stability and profitability make it a haven for public and private pension funds. Nearly 100 million Americans are industry stakeholders through their pensions, IRAs, 401k plans and mutual funds. Indeed, oil and gas stocks and mutual funds have been one of the stock market gushers. How would the market react to the news that President Obama was hitting the oil and gas industry with a slew of new taxes?
Economic policy may not be one of the president's strengths, but he needs to understand that rewarding failure and punishing success is bad policy. The oil and gas industry is an American success story-let's hope President Obama leaves it that way.
Merrill Matthews is a resident scholar with the Institute for Policy Innovation in Dallas, Texas.


text:
Create a Website Account - Manage notification subscriptions, save form progress and more.
The Public Works Department is dedicated to providing quality services and infrastructure needs at a reasonable cost through the use of best management practices and a team of employees dedicated to professional excellence and customer satisfaction.
The Public Works Department consists of the following divisions: Water Department, Sewer, Shop and Sanitation Department, Utility Customer Service, Street/Traffic Maintenance, Solid Waste/Wastewater Services, and Recycling Department.
Each department has an overall mission as the City of Levelland to provide award winning accounting services for the City and to insure the residents of Levelland are provided with great customer service.
Other responsibilities include: maintenance of traffic signals and traffic signs, quality infrastructure repair, insures safe and reliable water source for the community, handles maintenance on city vehicles, and administration.


text:
About the Book:
Every child of Woolpren dreams of becoming one, but only a few are chosen. Now, ten-year-old twin brother and sister, Ruskya and Duskya, have been selected to join an elite group of riders: dragon riders. Full of awe and excitement, the twins leave their mother, and their home, to train for their new lives.
Fifteen years later, dragons are becoming extinct and riders are rare. One day, Ruskya is at the general store in town when a man announces that he is recruiting new dragon riders. Ruskya goes undercover, and discovers that there is another colony of riders with their own agenda—a quest to find a mysterious plant that could restore the dragon population, or destroy it. When a battle erupts between the two colonies, it's up to Ruskya and his friends to fight for their dragons' future, and their lives.
Follow Ruskya's quest as he finds courage and friendship in this exciting middle grade fantasy series by new author Kandi J Wyatt.
About the Author:
Kandi J Wyatt is a wife, mother of five, teacher, artist, and author. In her free time, she enjoys writing fantasy stories and Christmas programs, and drawing with graphite and colored pencils. Portraits are her specialty. Kandi also enjoys photography, thanks to her photographer husband who has let her join his journey as both his model and apprentice, and she occasionally serves as his assistant when he needs a "light stand with feet." To learn more, visit kandijwyatt.wordpress.com.
One (1) paperback copy of Dragon's Future (US only)
Ends Aug. 25th
Prizing provided by the publisher, hosts are not responsible in any way.
This event was organized by CBB Book Promotions.


text:
B Raman decodes the email sent allegedly by the Indian Mujahideen after the attack on tourists outside Jama Masjid in New Delhi.
The statement purporting to be from the Indian Mujahideen disseminated by email on September 19, is shown as having been signed by one Al Arbi. It refers to certain anti-Muslim incidents which allegedly took place in Ratlam in Madhya Pradesh on the day of Eid (September 11). It also refers to the day when the total number of people allegedly killed by the security forces in Jammu & Kashmir crossed 100 (September 17). This would indicate that this message must have been drafted between September 17 and 19.
The statement is in good English with very few grammar or typing mistakes. It has been drafted by one well-versed in the Holy Koran. Many of the religious allusions have been taken from some past messages of Osama bin Laden, but Osama has not been mentioned anywhere by name.
The last para of the message has been borrowed almost word for word from a message against General Pervez Musharraf and the Pakistani Army issued by Osama in September 2007 calling for the wrath of Allah on them for the raid into the Lal Masjid of Islamabad in July, 2007.
It reads: 'O, Allah, deface them, break their backs and heads, split them up and destroy their unity; O, Allah, afflict them with the loss of their near and dear ones as they have afflicted us with the loss of our near and dear ones; O, Allah, we seek refuge in You from their evilness and we place You at their throats; O, Allah, make their plotting their destruction; O, Allah, suffice for us against them with whatever You wish; O, Allah, destroy them for they cannot escape You; O, Allah, count them, kill them and leave not even one of them. "
There are only two minor changes. Osama Laden had not said "deface them". He had also not said "and heads". One does not know wherefrom Osama had originally taken his curse against Musharraf and the Pakistani Army. Osama curse against them has been converted by the IM into a curse against the Indian people and officials. I had referred to Osama's message of September 2007 in my book Terrorism: Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow.
The statement does not directly claim responsibility on behalf of the IM for the attack in Delhi on September 19 in which two Taiwanese tourists were injured. However, it indirectly hints at its responsibility by saying: "In the name of Allah we dedicate this attack of retribution "
In its reference to the forthcoming Commonwealth Games, it says: "On the one hand Muslim blood is flowing like water, while on the other hand you are preparing for the festival of games. This is surely not a child's play. Mind you this is the initiative from the Lions of Allah and we warn you to host the Commonwealth Games if you have a grain of salt. We know that the preparations for the Games are at its peak. Beware we too are preparing in full swing for a great surprise. The participants will be solely responsible for the outcome as our bands of Mujahideens love death more than you love life."
It has highlighted in red ink the following words: "Our bands of Mujahideen love death more than you love life." This could be a hint or threat that it is planning to commit an act of suicide or suicidal terrorism. The IM has not so far indulged in either.
While over 75 percent of the statement is about alleged atrocities against Muslims in Jammu & Kashmir, there are also condemnatory references to the death of two IM suspects during a raid by the Delhi police on September 19, 2008, to the arrests of some alleged members of the IM by the Anti-Terrorism Squad of the Maharashtra Police in connection with the Pune Bakery blast of February 13 and some alleged anti-Muslim incidents in Ratlam in Madhya Pradesh on Eid day.
While the IM has threatened to launch a campaign of reprisals in solidarity with the Muslims of Kashmir, its initial attacks could be in Delhi, Mumbai and Ratlam.


text:
Red Sonja (2005) #35 A/B/C NOS
Dynamite Entertainment
$ 14.95
Cover by Mel Rubi. by Brian Reed & Walter Geovani Following the shocking pages of Red Sonja #34, a bold new direction begins here from writer Brian Reed (Ms. Marvel) and Walter Geovani (Savage Tales)! Everything you knew about Red Sonja and her world was forever changed when the She-Devil battled Kulan Gath to the death! Now, following her trip to Hades, the spirit of the She-Devil is reborn, though the world around her has forever changed! A perfect jumping on point for new readers, as well as an incredible continuation to the readers that have been there since issue #0! Featuring covers by definitive Red Sonja artist Mel Rubi and Carlos Rafael & Pablo Marcos!
New Old Stock


text:
On Air Now
The Capital Late Show with Sonny Jay 10pm - 1am
Hundreds of you guys took part in our amazing webchat with the X Factor phenomenon that are John & Edward. The guys loved taking part and wanted to thank all of you for coming. They said it was 'super cool!'.
They also had a chat with our evening show hosts Rich & Kat (see the photos), where they talked about our Jingle Bell Ball, fancying The Veronicas and their love for Smarties!
We also got flooded with your Jedward haircut photos - check out the gallery.
They also recreated that amazing Britney performance on the X Factor, just for us in the studio! It was magic!
Listen to Jedward chatting with Rich & Kat
Oh, and for all you guys who thought Jedward weren't really taking part in the webchat, take a look below!


text:
Life, the Universe, and Everything?
This week's commentary was written by Rabbi Murray Ezring, Rabbi of Temple Israel, Charlotte, North Carolina.
Science fiction aficionados know the answer. The answer is forty-two, or so wrote Douglas Adams in his classic Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Numbers have always been important in Jewish tradition. So Adams might be correct. The number forty-two may contain tremendous religious significance. Four plus two equals six, the number of books in the Mishnah. Four times two equals eight, the number representing the covenant we have shared with our creator since the days of our patriarch Abraham. Six times seven, the result of multiplying the six days of the mundane workweek by the sanctity of Shabbat. On second thought, maybe Adams was just using forty-two to represent something that he could not put into words. Maybe forty-two is his symbol to describe how we create our dialogue with God and feel the holy one's presence in our life. Four minus two equals two is the answer to mystical, spiritual searching, the relationship between one human and the one unique divine being.
Two is also the year, following the Exodus from Egypt, during which B'midbar , the fourth book of the Torah, begins its narrative. Following the acceptance of the covenant at Sinai, a census is taken to establish the size of Israel's military. The 603,550 men of military age is the exact same as the census taken a year earlier. The tribal tallies all end in round numbers of zero or fifty. Perhaps the Torah is giving us a hint that these are not necessarily real numbers, but symbolic. B'midbar is the only book of the Torah which shares a Hebrew pseudonym parallel to its English name "Hummash Hapekudim" (EJ) The Book of the Census (Numbers).
Biblical numbers often represent concepts. Three may refer to the elements of the covenant: God/Torah, Israel/the land, and Israel/the people. Four could represent completeness as the phrase "four corners of the earth," which implies the whole world. Seven stands for holiness. Ten implies wholeness as in Aseret Hadibrot, the ten statements of God on Sinai. Hundreds and thousands are large complete amounts that multiply the magnitude of the first digits. If this is really the case, perhaps the surprise repetition of 603,550 as the total of the census has a deeper, spiritual meaning. Although the number did not change, something significant was changing as our ancestors worked their way through their wilderness. They were learning what was most important in cementing their relationship with Hakadosh Barukh Hu, the holy one.
B'midbar relates the wanderings of Israel from the wilderness of Sinai to the borders of the Promised Land. Interspersed, we discover the sharing of law revealed on Sinai. We might expect the travels to be relatively easy. After all, Israel is accompanied by God, during its trek across the desert. Moses communicates with the holy one in the tent of meeting. Yet even God's presence cannot pacify the people. Fear of battle, hunger, thirst, jealousy, and political aspirations combine to lead Israel to complain, assimilate and rebel. Ancient Israel faces the wilderness, our people's training ground, and they do not fare extremely well. Eventually a new nation emerges from the wilderness: a people ready to take the land promised to them and build a country ruled by God's law.
Is the cultural wilderness in which we live today all that different from the desert our ancestors traversed? Foul language, drugs, violence, a vanishing morality, and lack of ethics confront us every day. The lure of the American dream seems to place wealth, sports, music, and the mall above the strength of Jewish culture, ritual, and community. Our generation, like the generation of the wilderness, is struggling to rediscover the beauty and spiritual fulfillment that Judaism and Torah have to offer. Our hunger leads us away from kashrut. Our thirst leads us to spirits and other artificial means of feeling good in our world. Our desire to assimilate leads us to abandon our rituals, holy days, and covenant. As our ancestors feared they would perish in the wilderness, we listen to the doomsayers prophesying the disappearance of American Jewry and the failure of our movement because our numbers are shrinking.
Midrash B'midbar Rabbah (1:7) teaches us that the Torah had to be given and received in the wilderness. Why? Anyone who cannot humble him or her self in order to open up to the teachings of Judaism cannot acquire wisdom, understanding, and Torah.
Let us open ourselves to learn from the Biblical census. There is a lesson hidden in the number 603,550. If great numbers remain the same, then it is not success, it is stagnation. Look closely at the census figure. When we add the digits together the sum is nineteen, the number of blessings in the Amidah, our silent personal prayer with God. It is not numbers that represent success, but the commitment we make to God, Torah, and Israel. If our faith is strong, our commitment steady, our study, and prayer invigorating, we will remain an undeniable force in the world. Adams was right. The answer is forty-two, or more precisely four minus two. The strength of our personal relationship with God and Torah is the future of Judaism and our movement. As we continue to deepen and share our faith, we will be able to more fully experience and share the blessings we receive from our creator.
The publication and distribution of the JTS Commentary are made possible by a generous grant from Rita Dee and Harold (z"l) Hassenfeld.


text:
Used 2019 Chevrolet Express Cargo Van Work Van Van
Used 2019 Chevrolet Express Cargo Van Work Van Van
Ken Ganley Nissan Special Price:$26,993
*Please contact dealer to verify price, options, and other vehicle details.
- Body Style: Van
- Model Code: CG23405
- Engine: Gas/Ethanol V8 6.0L/364
- Transmission: Automatic
- Drive Type: RWD
- Ext. Color: Summit White
- Int. Color: Jet Black/Medium Dark Pewter
- Mileage: 87,859
- Stock #: 25168T
Description 2019 Summit White Chevrolet Express 2500 Work Van Clean CARFAX. Passed Rigorous 160 Point Inspection Performed by Certified Technician, Vehicle has been freshly detailed, 4-Wheel Disc Brakes, AM/FM Stereo w/MP3 Player, Driver & Front Passenger High-Back Bucket Seats, Dual front impact airbags, Dual front side impact airbags, Electronic Stability Control, Exterior Parking Camera Rear, Fixed Rear Door Window Glass, Fixed Rear Side Door Window Glass, Overhead airbag, Power steering, Power windows, Rear & Side Cargo Door Glass, Rear Side Door Glass Window Security Bar, Seat-Mounted & Roof-Rail Side-Impact Airbags.
We will do our best to provide you with a Truly Exceptional Experience! We offer upfront pricing, Up front Appraisals and the Best Bottom Line Pricing! We will not be undersold and we will match or beat any advertised price! We need trades too so even if you don't buy a car from us we will make an offer to buy yours!!
We will do our best to provide you with a Truly Exceptional Experience! We offer upfront pricing, Up front Appraisals and the Best Bottom Line Pricing! We will not be undersold and we will match or beat any advertised price! We need trades too so even if you don't buy a car from us we will make an offer to buy yours!!
Interior Features
- Air conditioning, single-zone manual (Not available with (R6G) air conditioning delete.)
- Assist handles, driver and right-front passenger
- Audio system, AM/FM stereo with MP3 player seek-and-scan, digital clock, TheftLock, random select, auxiliary jack and 2 front door speakers (Not available with (U2K) SiriusXM Radio, (5BV) Upfitter electrical provisions or (WP9) Communications Package.)
- Cargo tie-downs 6 D-ring attachments on cargo area floor (Not available with (Y3H) Paratransit Package, (5BV) Upfitter electrical provisions or (ZP6) 5-passenger Express Crew Van.)
- Chevrolet 4G LTE and available built-in Wi-Fi hotspot offers a fast and reliable Internet connection for up to 7 devices; includes data trial for 1 month or 3GB (whichever comes first) (Included and only available with (UE1) OnStar. Available Wi-Fi requires compatible mobile device, active OnStar service and data plan. Data plans provided by AT&T. Visit onstar.com for details and system limitations.)
- Console, engine cover with open storage bin
- Cup holders, 3 on the engine console cover
- Defogger, side windows
- Door locks, power with lock-out protection (Included with (ZQ2) Power Convenience Package. NOTE: Does not include (ATG) Remote Keyless Entry. (ATG) Remote Keyless Entry must be ordered separately.)
- Driver Information Center includes fuel range, average speed, oil life, tire pressure monitoring, fuel used, ice warning, engine hours, average fuel economy, tachometer, and maintenance reminders. Compass and outside temperature available if equipped.
- Floor covering, full-length Black rubberized-vinyl (Not available with (RFM) rear floor covering delete, (5BV) Upfitter electrical or (PCH) Hotel Shuttle Package.)
- Headliner, cloth, over driver and passenger
- Instrumentation, analog with speedometer, odometer with trip odometer, fuel level, voltmeter, engine temperature and oil pressure
- Lighting, interior with 4 dome lights 1 overhead and 3 LED's on cross members in cargo area, includes defeat switch and door handle-activated switches
- Mirror, inside rearview includes Rear Vision Camera display
- Oil life monitor
- Power outlet, 120-volt
- Power outlets, 2 auxiliary on engine console cover with covers, 12-volt
- Seating arrangement, driver and front passenger high-back buckets with head restraints and vinyl or cloth trim (Not available with (AJ3) driver-side only frontal airbag.)
- Steering wheel, steel sleeve column with theft-deterrent locking feature, Black
- Theft-deterrent system, vehicle, PASS-Key III
- Tow/haul mode selector, instrument panel-mounted
- Trim panels, hinged rear side doors and hinged rear doors (Not available with (Y3H) Paratransit Package or (5BV) Upfitter electrical provisions.)
- Visors, driver and front passenger, cloth, padded
- Warning tones, headlamp on and key-in-ignition
- Windows, power (Included with (ZQ2) Power Convenience Package.)
Exterior Features
- Bumpers, front and rear painted Black with step-pad
- Door, swing-out passenger-side, 60/40 split
- Glass, Solar-Ray light-tinted, all windows
- Headlamps, dual halogen composite
- Mirrors, outside manual, Black
- Tire, spare LT245/75R16E all-season, blackwall located at rear underbody of vehicle
- Tires, front LT245/75R16E all-season, blackwall
- Tires, rear LT245/75R16E all-season, blackwall
- Wheels, 4 - 16" x 6.5" (40.6 cm x 16.5 cm) steel includes Gray center caps and steel spare
- Wipers, front intermittent wet-arm with pulse washers
Mechanical Features
- Alternator, 105 amps (Not available with (Y3H) Paratransit Package, (C69) rear air conditioning, (9L7) Wiring junction block equipment accessory, (5BV) Upfitter electrical provisions or (LWN) 2.8L Duramax Turbo-Diesel engine.)
- Battery, 600 cold-cranking amps, maintenance-free with rundown protection and retained accessory power
- Body, standard
- Brakes, 4-wheel antilock, 4-wheel disc
- Cooling, external engine oil cooler (Not available with (LWN) 2.8L Duamax Turbo-Diesel engine.)
- Engine, 4.3L V6 with Direct Injection and Variable Valve Timing, includes aluminum block construction (276 hp [206 kW]
- Exhaust, aluminized stainless-steel muffler and tailpipe
- Frame, full-length box ladder-type
- Fuel tank capacity, mid-frame and approximately 31 gallons (117.3L)
- GVWR, 8600 lbs. (3901 kg) (Reference the Engine/Axle page for availability.)
- Rear axle, 3.42 ratio (Reference the Engine/Axle page for availability.)
- Rear wheel drive
- Steering, power
- Suspension, front independent with coil springs and stabilizer bar
- Suspension, rear hypoid drive axle with multi-leaf springs
- Transmission oil cooler, external (Not available with (LWN) 2.8L Duramax Turbo-Diesel engine.)
- Transmission, 8-speed automatic, electronically controlled with overdrive and tow/haul mode, includes Cruise Grade Braking and Powertrain Grade Braking (Requires (LV1) 4.3L V6 SIDI engine or (LWN) 2.8L Duramax Turbo-Diesel engine.)
Safety Features
- Airbag deactivation switch, frontal passenger-side (Not available with (AJ3) driver only airbag. Always use seat belts and child restraints. Children are safer when properly secured in a rear seat in the appropriate child restraint. See the Owner's Manual for more information.)
- Airbags, driver and right-front passenger, seat-mounted side-impact and roof-rail side-impact (Always use seat belts and child restraints. Children are safer when properly secured in a rear seat in the appropriate child restraint. See the Owner's Manual for more information.)
- Airbags, frontal, driver and front passenger (Includes passenger-side airbag deactivation switch. Included with (ZX2) driver and front passenger high-back bucket seats or (ZP6) 5-passenger Express Crew Van Package. Not available with (ZX1) driver only high-back bucket seat or (AJ3) driver-side only frontal airbag. Always use seat belts and child restraints. Children are safer when properly secured in a rear seat in the appropriate child restraint. See the Owner's Manual for more information.)
- Brake/transmission shift interlock, for automatic transmissions
- Chevrolet Connected Access with 10 years of standard connectivity which enables services such as, Vehicle Diagnostics, Dealer Maintenance Notification, Chevrolet Smart Driver, Marketplace and more (Included and only available with (UE1) OnStar. Limitations apply. Not transferable. Standard connectivity available to original purchaser for ten years from the date of initial vehicle purchase for model year 2018 or newer Chevrolet vehicles. See onstar.com for details and further plan limitations. Connected Access does not include emergency or security services. Availability and additional services enabled by Connected Access are subject to change.)
- Daytime Running Lamps
- Door beams, steel-side
- Hill start assist
- OnStar and Chevrolet connected services capable (Not available with (UXZ) radio provisions only. Fleet orders receive a 3-month trial. Visit onstar.com for coverage map, details and system limitations. Services vary by model.)
- Rear Vision Camera display integrated into rearview mirror (Display included with (DRJ) inside rearview mirror.)
- StabiliTrak, traction assistance and vehicle stability enhancement system
- Tire Pressure Monitoring System (does not apply to spare tire)


text:
Goodreads Book Giveaway
Feda's Anchor
by D.J. Salisbury
Giveaway ends June 01, 2014.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.
Before he can decide what to do, he's saddled with cousins he doesn't dare confide in. Surely they can't get into trouble when he takes them to visit a ruined castle while he figures out how do deal with the threat.
But his cousin vanishes into a tunnel beneath the ruins and becomes trapped inside a sorcerous labyrinth designed to imprison a necromancer. Denton is torn between finding her before her torch dies and rescuing his parents from the priests' prison.
And something lives inside the maze.


text:
- Food and drink specials at Eagle's Nest from 5 – 9 p.m.
- Free activities including horseshoes, bean bag toss and the slackline park
Festivities begin at 5 p.m. every Friday throughout the summer on Talon's Deck Grill. Guests and locals alike can kick off the weekend with free live music and activities, food and drink specials, and more all while enjoying amazing sunsets and the best views in the valley.
All performances are free and the Eagle Bahn Gondola (#19) is free to 2012-2013 pass holders. Guests who have not yet secured the best season pass deal in the ski industry for next winter can purchase one at www.epicpass.com. Twilight gondola tickets can be purchased after 4 p.m. and include a $10 credit voucher valid for the purchase of on-mountain food and beverage at Talon's Deck Grill and Bistro Fourteen, or Adventure Ridge activities. Or, grab a complimentary shuttle to Game Creek and use the voucher towards sunset appetizers and drinks on Game Creek Restaurant's deck overlooking the Vail Valley. The last ride up the Eagle Bahn Gondola during evening operations is at 9 p.m.
The 2012 summer FAC band lineup includes:
- Aug. 3 KHZ & Friends
- Aug. 10 FC Funk Band
- Aug. 17 Hardscrabble
- Aug. 24 The Last Riot
- Aug. 31 Mad Dog
About Vail Resorts
Vail Resorts, Inc., through its subsidiaries, is the leading mountain resort operator in the
Liz BieblDirector, Brand Communications
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Phone: (303) 404-1831
Sara LococoSenior Communications Manager
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Phone: (970) 496-3210


text:
(RNS) Al-Jazeera and America, two name brands often at odds since 9/11, were wed as one on Tuesday (Aug. 20) when the Qatar-based media network began broadcasting its U.S. news channel Al-Jazeera America from New York.
This is not the first time Al-Jazeera has tried to find a home on American TV. Al-Jazeera English debuted with an international focus in 2006 but was never picked up in major media markets outside the Northeast.
From CNN to MSNBC to Fox, the leading cable and satellite news channels all struggled to gain and hold viewers, credibility and profit for years after their launch. But for Al-Jazeera America, deep-seated prejudices among some U.S. audiences are likely to make this uphill slog even steeper.
Some media commentators and Islam experts say Al-Jazeera's first failure was fueled by fears that audiences and advertisers would not tune in to a news channel with an Arabic name based in the Middle East and backed by a foreign government.
Ibrahim Hooper, spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, said those fears were boosted by a "cottage industry of Muslim bashers in the U.S. that think any mention of Arabs or Muslims in a positive context is bad. They didn't see what they were objecting to, but rather objected to something they didn't like the idea of."
This time around, Hooper is optimistic that more viewers will judge Al-Jazeera America on the content of its coverage rather than what he calls manufactured perceptions.
"I think Americans have become a bit more sophisticated in how we view things," he said. "After the Boston bombings, we didn't see the same knee-jerk anti-Islam reactions we'd seen previously."
With some 800 journalists and staff and bureaus in 12 U.S. cities, Al-Jazeera America bills itself as a network committed to "rebalancing global media by respecting the diversity and humanity of the world" and "giving a voice to the voiceless."
Although once ranked among Apple, Google, Ikea and Starbucks as one of the world's most influential brands, many Americans still view Al-Jazeera with suspicion — in part because of Al-Jazeera's decision to air messages it received from Osama bin Laden after the 9/11 attacks.
The take-away for many viewers was that Al-Jazeera was nothing more than a mouthpiece for terrorists.
Some influential commentators continue to label Al-Jazeera anti-American or to imply the network is somehow a front for terrorism. For many Americans, perceptions of the network are tied up with negative feelings toward the Middle East, Arabs and Islam.
"I'm afraid the terms Middle East, Arab and Muslim are all often lumped together under Muslim," said Roger Owen, professor of Middle East history at Harvard University.
John Esposito, director of Georgetown University's Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding and the author of several books on contemporary Islam, said Al-Jazeera America will have to deal with a segment of the population that is biased against Islam.
The Tampa-based Florida Family Association, which opposes what it perceives to be the "Islamization" of America, recently launched a campaign demanding major companies stop advertising on the channel.
Al-Jazeera America's official Facebook page is also peppered with anti-Arab, anti-Muslim and anti-Middle Eastern sentiments. One commenter wrote: "Al-Jazeera is the propaganda arm of the Muslim Brotherhood. Remove this jihadist network from my channel lineup!"
Another commented: "You people funnel money to the Muslim Brotherhood. Get out of my country and stay in the Middle East where you belong!"
Esposito hopes Al-Jazeera America will do a better job than its network and cable rivals at presenting a more nuanced view of Muslims. According to Esposito, news coverage of Muslims in the context of religious extremism has grown exponentially since 9/11, while coverage of mainstream Islam has remained low.
Al-Jazeera America will need to provide greater context and background to world events, especially those unfolding in the Middle East, to rectify this imbalance, he said.
Much of the media coverage of Al-Jazeera America's launch has focused on its format and strategy. The new channel is staffed by familiar faces from CNN, including anchors Soledad O'Brien, Tony Harris and Ali Velshi. It will air only six minutes of commercials per hour and will staff bureaus in traditionally under-covered cities including Detroit, New Orleans and Nashville, Tenn.
Six minutes of commercials per hour means either a deep commitment to the news or, more ominously, a lack of advertisers.
Bob Meyers, president of the National Press Foundation, thinks the network's decision not to shy away from its recognizable brand to appease potentially xenophobic or suspicious American audiences is significant and symbolic.
"This is democracy and free enterprise at work," he said. "If you don't want to watch it, don't watch it."