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Brussels, 15 March 2012
Q&A on the Task Force for Greece and its second quarterly report
See also: IP/12/242
1. What is the mission of the Task Force for Greece?
The Commission's Task Force for Greece (TFGR) was created and designed to help the Greek authorities to deliver reforms and growth in the coming years, in line with the programmes agreed between Greece, the EU and the IMF.
Since its creation by President Barroso last July at the request of the Greek government, and starting its operation in September 2011, the TF has been active on two major tasks:
2. Which areas are covered by the Task Force?
The TFGR is working in the following 9 areas, in line with the Economic Adjustment programme and Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) agreed with Greece, EU, ECB and IMF, and after consultation with Greek authorities and Member States. These areas are therefore the most pressing and crucial reforms to deliver to help Greece future development.
3. Very little has been achieved so far. Is this another bureaucratic structure?
Over the past six months,
4. But concretely, what has the Task Force achieved so far?
First of all, EU funds – one of the very few sources of growth financing presently available in Greece – are being better targeted and spent.
Secondly, unprecedented technical assistance has been provided by nearly 20 Member States, Commission and IMF over the past six months. More is expected in the course of the year. This concrete expertise is contributing to the modernisation of the Greek economy and public administration. There are many positive developments upon which further provision of technical assistance will be able to build:
5. Are you setting up a shadow governement in Greece?
This is nonsense. The Task Force for Greece has no executive powers and cannot impose any legal or financial decision upon Greek government. It is there to support Greece in implementing the reforms agreed with the COM, the ECB and the IMF, and adopted by its Parliament. We are working for Greece with the Greeks!
6. How does the Task Force work with the EU/IMF/ECB Troïka?
The Commission Task Force complements the work achieved by the Troïka. The latter has been working with the Greek authorities to identify the key structural reforms to be implemented in Greece, and subsequently in the surveillance of the implementation on a quarterly basis.
The Commission Task Force is there to help Greece implementing these reforms, by pulling technical assistance from Member States and streamlining the use of EU funds. The TF report monitors the concrete progress made on these two dimensions.
Commission staff in the Troïka and the Task Force report to VP Rehn to ensure consistency.
7. How many people work for the Task Force?
The Task Force is based in Brussels with a permanent presence in Athens. It includes around 45 staff (out of which 15 are located in Athens). Most of them are Commission officials. The Task Force is headed by Horst Reichenbach, special Adviser to the President. The coordination of technical assistance is done through High-Level Coordination meetings on a regular basis in Brussels (last meeting on 6 March).
There is also a number of Seconded National Experts, recruited from France (2), the United-Kingdom (2), Germany (2), the Netherlands (2), Belgium and the Czech Republic. Further recruitments (Austria, Sweden) are in the pipeline. Other Member States have expressed their possible interest in sending experts. Secondments are at this stage for one year.
8. Last month, the Eurogroup invited the Commission to increase the size of the Task Force. What are Commission's plans?
As the second Economic Adjustment Programme for Greece puts even more the emphasis on enhancing growth, employment and competitiveness than the first one, the contribution of the Task Force will be even more important.
The Commission will decide soon how to reinforce its support capacity on the ground in close coordination with the Greek authorities.
9. What is the Technical Assistance about?
TA is meant to bring expertise on key areas where the expertise or the practical experience is missing in Greece. Many Member States have volunteered to send national experts for shorter or sometimes longer periods to support TA projects. IMF also provides expertise. The Task Force is there to coordinate this expertise and ensure it matches with the concrete needs. In several cases, the Task Force is – sometimes together with other Commission services – providing the TA itself.
10. Who pays for TA?
These experts, who are usually staying for a limited period of a few days in Greece, are being paid by their Member States. The Commission only covers their mission expenses.
11. How does the Technical Assistance work in concrete terms?
TA needs are mainly grouped according to concrete policy domains (budget and taxation; financial sector; cohesion funds and agriculture; business environment, public procurement and competition; labour market, public health, justice and home affairs; administrative reform, e-government, statistics; civil society and social partners).
Where a request is retained, the Task Force assists in defining a work programme containing clear deliverables and intermediate milestones which are agreed with the Greek authorities. The Task Force also helps the Greek authorities to mobilise the inputs that are needed to implement the TA work programme (relevant expertise from other Member States, and European or international organisations).
TA can be provided in the following ways:
The matching of TA supply and demand is organised through quarterly high-level coordination meetings organised by the TFGR and involving the Greek authorities, (potential) TA providers and European Commission services. Prior to these meetings, Member States or other international organisations are requested to express their interest in providing technical assistance on particular projects.
12. Could you give concrete examples of Technical Assistance provided by Member States?
The TFGR has launched projects in agreement with the Greek administration. Concrete work strands have so far been agreed in the areas of
Coordination is done through quarterly high-level coordination meetings organised by the TFGR and involving the Greek authorities, (potential) TA providers and Commission services. Prior to these meetings, Member States or other international organisations are requested to express their interest in providing technical assistance on particular projects
The Task Force quarterly report gives an overview of the expertise mobilised and assesses progress on the ground.
13. How much EU money is available for Greece? And is Greece using this money in an efficient way?
The EU has allocated through its Structural Funds €20 billion for Greece in the period 2007-2013 of which almost €8 billion has already been paid. For the rest of the programming period, around €12 billion remain unspent, even if in many cases it is already committed for projects.
This money – or part of it – could be used to boost Greek growth potential through targeted projects, specifically designed to support SMEs, fight against unemployment, and key infrastructure development. A list of 181 priority projects was identified with the Greek authorities and published in November 2011. These projects accounting for 56% of available funding over the programming period, will be the focus of intensive monitoring and support by the Greek administration and the Commission.
Finally, it is important to note that the good track record of Greece when it comes to absorption capacity of the funds. By the end of 2011, Greece has absorbed 35% for the 20.4bn€ EU funds, which exceeds the EU average of 33.5%. This good performance is observed for Regional Funds (39.6% for EL and 34.6% for EU), and Cohesion fund (29.2% for EL and 28.5% for EU). In the case of Social Fund, 24.4% of Greek allocation was absorbed compared with an EU average of 27%.
14. What is the content of the second report?
The report outlines how the TFGR organises and coordinates the provision of technical assistance as well as identifies possible additional areas where technical assistance may be needed in the future.
The report draws lessons from the first six months of the TFGR operation. One major chapter of the report is devoted to the use of cohesion funds to support growth and job creation. In the chapter on the acceleration of cohesion policy projects, the report presents a number of positive developments as well as remaining challenges. It describes encouraging progress with the 181 priority projects and provides an update on the status of the politically and economically important highway concessions. It also presents the forthcoming Risk Sharing Instrument.
Under access to finance / financial sector the report gives an overview of the significant resources available for SME funding. It presents ongoing work to address the liquidity challenges of Greek domestic banks and defines forthcoming new instruments that could stimulate SME's' access to finance.
The second pillar of the report outlines the technical assistance to support the structural reforms that are foreseen by the Economic Adjustment Programme as a pre-condition for restoring future growth and competitiveness.
The budget and taxation section reports on progress achieved, such as success in the collection of past tax arrears. It also identifies areas where more progress needs to be made, such as collection of tax from wealthy taxpayers. It describes efforts to implement a comprehensive tax administration action plan, drawing on significant support from Member States, the IMF and Commission services. Efforts in the field of anti-money laundering are described, where better coordination between the different Greek players is critically needed. Further progress is also needed in respect of Public Financial Management, notably concerning expenditure control.
Under reform of the public administration and e-government the report notes good progress. The Greek government has established a steering group under the Prime Minister's authority. Substantial TA is being delivered by French authorities who are leading work on central government administrative reform. Parallel reform of decentralised, regional and local government level is also progressing with German support.
With regard to structural reforms to improve the business environment, preparatory work for TA in areas such as the facilitation of exports, overhaul of public procurement law and administration, regulated professions and regulatory simplification is advancing. A number of technical assistance projects are pending final agreement from the Greek authorities.
Public health is another area where many TA needs and possible TA providers have been identified. Technical assistance will focus on the pricing of pharmaceuticals, better management of consumption of healthcare services and products, and the health care environment. On this last point, TA will be provided for the set up of the integrated sickness fund.
Similarly, progress has been made with the reform of the judicial system. Initial reviews involving the Greek administration and potential TA providers allowed for the identification and partial launch of TA in areas such as the acceleration of judicial proceedings, the backlog of tax cases in courts and out-of-court dispute settlements.
With concrete work already under way regarding migration, asylum and borders, some of the TA needed for example for the implementation of the 2010 Greek Action Plan on migration and asylum still has to be matched by possible TA offers.
Under all headings, the contributions of TA providers, including the frequently vital contributions of other Commission services are described. In an annex, the report also describes the state of play of technical assistance projects as well as the Member States and organisations involved.
More information:
2nd quarterly report available here:
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Returns and Exchanges
Refund Policy
Return Policy for Online Orders
You are welcome to return your unworn, unwashed, unaltered item(s) with the price ticket(s) still attached. Maska reserves the right to request valid identification prior to accepting merchandise for a return. To find a store near you, select the Store Locator section on our webpage.
Our policy lasts 7 days. If 7 days have gone by since you received your purchase, unfortunately we can't offer you a refund or exchange.
Several types of goods are exempt from being returned.
Additional non-returnable items:
Gift cards
To complete your return, we require a receipt or proof of purchase.
Please do not send your purchase back to the manufacturer.
Refunds (if applicable)
Once your return is received and inspected, we also notify you of the approval or rejection of your refund.
If you are approved, then your refund will be processed, and a credit will automatically be applied to your credit card or original method of payment, within a certain amount of days.
Late or missing refunds (if applicable)
If you haven't received a refund yet, first check your bank account again.
Then contact your credit card company; it may take some time before your refund is officially posted.
Next contact your bank. There is often some processing time before a refund is posted.
If you've done all of this and you still have not received your refund yet, please contact us at email@example.com.
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We only replace items if they are defective or damaged. If you need to exchange it for the same item, send us an email at email@example.com and we will check the availability of the product for you.
If the item was marked as a gift when purchased and shipped directly to you, you'll receive a gift credit for the value of your return. Once the returned item is received, a gift certificate will be mailed to you.
If the item wasn't marked as a gift when purchased, or the gift giver had the order shipped to themselves to give to you later, we will send a refund to the gift giver and he will find out about your return.
How to return a product:
Imperial purchases from Maska online store can be returned or exchanged at any Maska store Canada Wide. Rinascimento items purchased from Maska online store can be returned or exchanged at any Rinascimento store Canada Wide.
You are welcome to return every item purchased at Maska online store to our head office. The shipping information is the following:
Groupe Imperial Skai Inc.
Att: Online Store Return
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You will be responsible for paying for your own shipping costs for returning your item. Shipping costs are non-refundable. If you receive a refund, the cost of return shipping will be deducted from your refund.
Depending on where you live, the time it may take for your exchanged product to reach you, may vary.
If you are shipping an item over $75, you should consider using a trackable shipping service or purchasing shipping insurance. We don't guarantee that we will receive your returned item.


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August 4th, 2010
I can count on one hand the number of times Brian and I have gone out to dinner alone since Jonathan was born almost two years ago (where has my baby gone?). I know, I know, everyone says you need to be sure to get out alone with your spouse after having a child, and really, they're right.
But here's the thing. Aside from our traveling propensities, we're really homebodies. Brian gardens (the sunflowers are blooming, the hops vines are over six feet now, and there is a freshly delivered pile of wood in my side yard destined for some new venture) in his free time, and I cook. Most of the time, we just enjoy doing our thing.
It's not that we don't like going out. We do. It's just that we happen to live in an area that is sparse on unique, fun, non-chain restaurants. So, whenever we talk about going out, it usually ends up with us ordering sushi to-go from the decent spot not too far away (since we didn't plan ahead and get a babysitter), or more usually, we stay home altogether and make homemade pizza that beats anything we could get eating out anyhow (I am so modest, no?).
Well, a couple of weeks ago we broke the norm. We happened to be up in the Washington D.C. area alone, together, with the rare opportunity to revisit one of our old haunts. Brian and I met in D.C. some seven plus(!) years ago now, and during our rather short courtship, we both gained at least five pounds eating out since we both had roommates, and the only way to be "alone", was to go out. Funny how the table has turned!
Needless to say it was wonderful having a night to ourselves, eating great food someone else prepared, and revisiting sentimental memories. As it so happened as I was looking over the menu, I got fixated on a certain mixed drink. I actually do not remember the name, but no matter, the concept was simple: lightly sweetened lemonade mixed with fresh blackberries and blackberry stoli vodka.
I am not a mixed drink person. My drink of choice is red wine and usually when I try a mixed drink I am put off by the sweetness. But something about this blackberry lemonade concoction was calling my name – the waiter said he was "sure" I would love it, and if I didn't, he vowed to bring me something different – how could I refuse?
Oh, I am so glad I didn't – and I hope you will be too, since I haven't been able to get it off my mind since, and have concocted this homemade version with just a couple of adjustments – I decided to use limes instead of lemons, and to make it sparkle. I love sparkle! (you can make your own carbonated anything – I've just discovered this – exciting!)
I made the alcohol optional so it could be an anytime drink, and finally, I tried it with muddled lavender (surprise, surprise), basil, mint, and fresh ginger (all testing completed sans vodka!). They were all interesting and alluring in their own way, but my favorites were the ginger, then plain, then the mint. I can't believe I didn't like the lavender best, but I have to say – the addition of fresh ginger added an aromatic spicy heat that was really quite extraordinary.
I added ice at first to try to pretty up these pictures, but I really don't like ice in my drinks – especially in this kind of a drink where the potency of flavors is so important and I don't want them watered down. So I took it out, on second thought.
All in all, the whole thing is pretty special, and I find it very satisfying to have made my own sparkling soda. I guess it's good to break out of routine occasionally and experience a new thing or two!
Sparkling blackberry limeade
7 1/2 cups water
1 cup superfine sugar
6 medium juicy limes, juiced
1/8 teaspoon of active dry yeast
1 quart blackberries (4 cups)
2-3 tablespoons sugar (less for sweet berries, more for tart berries)
fresh ginger or mint (optional)
Stoli blakberi vodka (optional)
1-2 limes for serving, sliced thin
Begin this recipe at least 48 hours before planning to serve. Combine the juice from the limes, water, 1 cup superfine sugar, and 1/8 teaspoon yeast in a large plastic (not glass, as you may need to release gases as it carbonates) jug. Close container and swirl to begin dissolving the sugar. Any undissolved sugar will dissolve on its own through the carbonation process. Set the container/jug out at room temperature for 48 hours and then place in the fridge to cool before drinking.
Crush the blackberries with the 2-3 tablespoons of sugar, leaving some berry pieces still intact. Grate a couple of grates of fresh ginger into a glass or muddle 3-4 mint leaves (if using) into 1 1/2 ounces of blakberi vodka (if using) and place a slice or two of lime in each glass. Serve chilled with or without ice (I prefer without) using one part blackberry syrup to two parts sparkling limeade. If serving as a cocktail, begin with 1/3 cup limeade to 1/4 cup crushed berry syrup, and adjust to taste.
Tags: blackberry, blakberi, ginger, homemade, limeade, sparkling limeade, sparkling soda, stoli, vodka
Posted in drinks | 8 Comments »
Oh Laura, it sounds perfect! I am a "girlie drink" kind of person. So naturally all fruity aperitifs are right up my alley! I can just imagine how the kiddos would respond to the milder version! Thanks again for your lovely inspiration!
what a beautiful beverage, laura. it's pretty much the perfect refresher, with or without the booze!
As long as you're happy staying in and enjoying your home, I see nothing wrong with it at all. The drink looks wonderful! I'll take mine (for now) with no spike. xoxoxoxo
My this does look refreshing. Thee photography is beautiful!
Wow, Laura! Wow! This is really, really cool! At Katsutya in Hollywood I had a mango cocktail with a Rosemary infusion that this recipe is reminding me of, but your drink looks better! I am intrigued by the carbonation process. This sounds really amazing.
La, this looks wonderful; we will have to try it soon before the warm weather goes away. Sorry I have been so long in commenting (I hope you see this). John fixes us a Gin and Tonic that I adore, that you might just like, as it only has a hint of sweet, but mainly tart from a big squeeze of lime. It is a real hot weather drink-very refreshing!
I just came across your blog and I LOVE your recipes!! This drink looks lovely, as do the rest of your foods. Will definitely be revisiting soon =)


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Why Is Economist Thomas Sowell Relying On Anti-Immigrant Arguments?
Blog ››› ››› SOLANGE UWIMANA
Thomas Sowell, a conservative economist and syndicated columnist from the Hoover Institution, is outraged. Actually, that's an understatement. Sowell is seething, judging from his latest column lashing out at Newt Gingrich and the Republican presidential candidate's comments stressing a "humane" immigration policy. But in a diatribe laden with falsehoods that mimics the tone most often employed by scores of anti-immigrant nativists, Sowell relies on agitprop from that same lobby to broadcast a flawed economic argument against immigration.
Sowell begins by taking a swipe at Gingrich, slapping down his characterization of a "humane" immigration policy. He then reminds Americans that the supposed "purpose" of "American immigration laws and policies is not to be either humane or inhumane to illegal immigrants." It is "to serve the national interest of this country."
He explains:
There is no inherent right to come live in the United States, in disregard of whether the American people want you here. Nor does the passage of time confer any such right retroactively.
But Sowell's argument of "no inherent right" for immigration is taken verbatim from the anti-immigrant movement. He writes:
The more doctrinaire libertarians see the benefits of free international trade in goods, and extend the same reasoning to free international movement of people. But goods do not bring a culture with them. Nor do they give birth to other goods to perpetuate that culture.
Why do people want to come to America in the first place? Because America offers them something that their native countries do not. This country has a culture which has produced a higher standard of living and a freer life than in many other countries.
When you import people, you import cultures, including cultures that have been far less successful in providing decent lives and decent livelihoods. The American people have a right to decide for themselves whether they want unlimited imports of cultures from other countries.
At one time, immigrants came to America to become Americans. Today, the apostles of multiculturalism and grievance-mongering have done their best to keep foreigners foreign and, if possible, feeling aggrieved. Our own schools and colleges teach grievances.
As an economist, it's surprising that Sowell would invoke the argument that immigrants hurt the economy, seeing that study after study continues to prove that immigrants' economic impact is overwhelmingly positive.
An example: Marshall Fitz, American Progress director of Immigration Policy, and senior fellow John Halpin recently noted that immigrants "founded 1 in 4 public companies between 1990 and 2005, like Intel, Yahoo, and Google." They also noted that foreign nationals in the United States "were inventors or co-inventors of 25 percent of all patents filed in U.S. in 2006."
Sowell also goes after the Wall Street Journal for its editorial calling the idea of mass deportation of undocumented immigrants "psychotic," writing:
The usually sober and thoughtful Wall Street Journal, on issues other than immigration, outdoes Newt Gingrich's claim that it would not be "humane" to deport illegal immigrants who have been living here a long time. A Wall Street Journal editorial says that it would be "psychotic" to do so.
"No one honestly believes the government should or will mount a nationwide manhunt to deport millions of people," according to the Wall Street Journal.
Incidentally, whether they believe it or not, three 2012 Republican presidential candidates have called for deportation: Mitt Romney, Texas Gov. Rick Perry, and Rep. Michele Bachmann. Not only that, but some Fox News personalities seem to favor it as well.
Sowell laments Gingrich's position, arguing "that illegal immigrants who have committed crime after crime are free to stay here and commit more crimes, including murder." He continues:
You don't have to launch a "manhunt" when a known criminal is also a known illegal alien. What many local policies have done has been to virtually put illegal aliens in a witness protection program.
Of course, none of that is true. In fact, the new federal immigration policy prioritizes the deportation of criminals and those who pose a security threat. There is no "witness protection program" for undocumented immigrants, since those cases that are postponed can be reopened "at any given time." But Sowell, who has a habit of dispensing with the truth to advance the conservative narrative du jour, concludes: "If Democrats win Congress and the White House in 2012, amnesty is virtually certain, along with other disasters."
- Posted In
- Economy, Jobs, Wages, & Unemployment, Immigration, Immigration Myths
- Network/Outlet
- Creators Syndicate
- Person
- Thomas Sowell
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Quote: Thanks for all your responses. You have all given me a lot to think about. Though I must say that I have been surprised by the content. I just find it difficult to believe that my instructor is at fault. The other students in the class like him and they are all very impressive karateka. So he obviously can teach.
Quote: So, I can't help thinking that there must be something very wrong with me. Maybe I am wasting his time. I know that I have reached the highest grade I could ever hope to achieve. But I still would dearly like to improve on the techniques I have learnt up to this point. I guess that isn't really the right attitude.
Quote:So, I can't help thinking that there must be something very wrong with me.
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Emma Jean — Suicide Girl of the Day
EmmaJean Suicide is a brand new Suicide Girl from Colorado who looks a hell of a lot like sexy Tinkerbell. We approve.
NAME: EmmaJean Suicide
LOCATION: Colorado, USA
CURRENT CRUSH: Robert Downey Jr. and Brian Orosco.
BODY MODS: A few tattoos and piercings/gauges, but nearly not enough.
GETS ME HOT: Skills, humor, mustaches, beards, cute girls.
I LOST MY VIRGINITY: Yes, yes I did.
MY KINK FACTOR: I'll try anything once, especially if you beg for it.
MY STATUS: Exclusive relationship
MY PIGEONHOLES: Crafty, arty, hippie, geek.
INTO: Marijuana, food, art, culture, tattoos, crayons, paint, chalk, photography, crafting, funny guys.
MAKES ME HAPPY: Creativity, my man, good food, pets, Alice in Wonderland, cute undies, weed.
HOBBIES: Making jewelry, painting, hemping, cooking, hiking, dreaming.
4 THINGS I CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT: Pencil, paper, pipe, ganja.
VICES: Sweets.
I SPEND MOST OF MY FREE TIME: Creating new pieces of art, cooking, nerding out, hiking, and adventuring.
SuicideGirls is a community that celebrates alternative beauty and alternative culture from all over the world. Since 2001, tens of thousands of models have submitted millions of photos to their website hoping to become SuicideGirls.


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European Commission
Press release
Brussels, 25 February 2013
Commissioner Malmström presents Action Plan on Visa Liberalisation with Georgia
Today in Tbilisi, Georgia, Commissioner Malmström will hand the Action Plan for Visa Liberalisation over to Georgia's authorities. The presentation of the Action Plan represents a further step towards full visa liberalisation. It clearly sets out all technical conditions to be met by Georgia before the possible establishment of a visa-free travel regime.
"I want to congratulate the Georgian authorities for their efforts made so far in pursuing the necessary reforms and making the start of the visa dialogue and the delivery of this Action Plan possible. This is yet another step towards visa-free travel for Georgian citizens and the shared goal of closer integration between the EU and Georgia", declared Cecilia Malmström, EU Commissioner for Home Affairs.
The action plan is structured in four blocks of measures dealing respectively with document security, border and migration management, public order and security, and relevant external relations issues.
It contains a first set of benchmarks concerning the policy framework (legislation and planning) and a second set of more specific benchmarks, covering effective and sustainable implementation of relevant measures including concrete results on the ground.
Georgian authorities are encouraged to continue working hand in hand to pursue the necessary reforms in all the areas relevant for the visa liberalisation dialogue, including: fight against corruption and organised crime, data protection, anti-discrimination and protection of minorities, as well as judicial reform aiming at ensuring the independence of the justice system.
The Commission will regularly assess the effective and consistent fulfilment and implementation by Georgia of each set of benchmarks.
At the occasion of her visit, Commissioner Malmström will have meetings with Georgia's President, Mikhail Saakashvili, Georgia's Prime Minister, Bidzina Ivanishvili, Georgia's Minister of Foreign Affairs, as well as other members of the Georgian government.
During her stay, Commissioner Malmström will also have the opportunity to meet with a number of Georgian NGOs working in the areas of migration, human rights and good governance.
The European Commission started a dialogue on visa liberalisation with Georgia in June 2012 (IP/12/561). The Action Plan presented today will be the main instrument to conduct this dialogue. It allows the EU and the Georgian authorities to examine all the technical preconditions for the establishment of visa-free travel for Georgian citizens.
Together with other recently adopted measures such as the establishment of a Mobility Partnership in 2009 (IP/09/1853) and the entry into force of the Visa Facilitation and Readmission agreements in 2011, this Action Plan on Visa Liberalisation constitutes another building block in the shared goal of closer integration between the EU and Georgia.
As a first step towards the long term goal of visa-free travel, Georgian citizens already enjoy the benefits of a visa facilitation agreement with the EU since March 2011. The visa facilitation agreement sets a lower visa fee for all Georgian citizens and waives fees for broad categories of visa applicants such as children, pensioners, students, people visiting family members living in the EU, people in need of medical treatment, economic operators working with EU companies, sportsmen and women, participants in cultural exchanges, or journalists. The visa facilitation agreement also accelerates procedures for assessing visa applications and sets the obligation of issuing multiple-entry visas with long period of validity for certain categories of frequent travellers.
Useful Links
Cecilia Malmström's website
Follow Commissioner Malmström on Twitter
DG Home Affairs website
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LeAnn Rimes' Offers Surprising Twist on Covers Album 'Lady and Gentleman'
By the time she was 14, LeAnn Rimes had already recorded four albums — and the fourth, 1996′s 'Blue,' sold more than six million copies in the United States alone.
Rimes has come a long way since those early days — she's now a 28-year-old married woman with 15 studio albums under her belt. And for her latest studio set, 'Lady and Gentlemen,' she took a brand new approach.
"The music is all cover songs but all of them were originally recorded by men … But not from a woman's perspective," Rimes explained during a recent interview. "We paid homage to the originals, but I twisted everything in a way to make it my own."
Offering further proof that she was willing to climb out on a limb during the sessions, she added, "I sing in Spanish on the record. I don't think there has been a covers record made like this."
For 'Lady and Gentlemen,' due September 27, Rimes enlisted Vince Gill and Darrell Brown to co-produce with her. Although the full track listing hasn't been announced, Rimes has tweeted a few of the songs fans can expect to hear, including 'Tonight the Bottle Let Me Down' and John Anderson's 'Swingin'.'


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I've always enjoyed the kinda-sorta-dance-fights in West Side Story, especially the tragic knife fight in the rumble between Riff and Bernardo.
But you know what would make them better? If instead of pocket knives, the Sharks and Jets had used tiny lightsabers. Watch the video, uploaded by YouTuber speederbikedad. Yep, way better.
What other classic fight scenes would be improved with lightsabers? Can they all be as awesome as this fight from Game of Thrones? Do you think we'll ever actually invent lightsabers, and if we do, will there be size variants?
Feel free to discuss that, or whatever else, here or over in the Talk Amongst Yourselves forum. Have good chatting, see you on Friday.
(Video by speederbikedad via NakedBob)


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Running for East Hampton Town Board
Endorsements: Republican, Conservative
1. Please share with us accomplishments or experiences that would indicate your commitment to advancing an environmental agenda for East Hampton. These may be professional or personal.
As a young man I began to appreciate nature and the environment as a Boy Scout and camper. As I grew older I hiked the back trails of the Catskills and Adirondack mountains and grew to enjoy their beauty. Today there is not a day that I don't appreciate the beauty of East Hampton Town and its trails, beaches, streams, ponds and wildlife. I love to garden with my wife, walk the beaches and feed the birds in my back yard. I would love to have the opportunity to help in any way I can to advance the environmental agenda not only in this town but anywhere I go.
2. What do you believe is the role of town government regulation and enforcement in maintaining a clean, sustainable environment? What, if any, changes are the most important?
I believe as a community we must discuss and plan to ensure that our grandchildren can enjoy the same things we have enjoyed. I think we do this by partnering with those environmentalists who are working in the field every day. We must make sure that we pass the laws and ordinances needed to keep and maintain a clean, sustainable environment.
3. What resources, experts or opinions will you consult when making decisions that affect East Hampton Town's environmental resources?
I think the board should meet with all environmental groups as well as the professionals already employed by the towns Natural Resources. I also think the Suffolk County Planning and the DEC should be consulted whenever possible and all local committees involved with the specific area of the environment that is being addressed.
Coastal, Drinking and Surface Water
4. In view of the extreme weather conditions as of late, what should East Hampton Town, as a coastal community, do in the short and long term to prepare for these changes?
It is important that we as a community prepare in the short term to keep our emergency services trained and prepared for medical and evacuation situations. In the long term we should develop a storm and flood plan to educate our people as what actions they need to take in emergencies. We should look at natural alternatives to bolster our shore line from natural disasters.
5. Do you believe current Town policies adequately protect drinking water quality and sustainability? If not, what, if any, policy changes would you support?
The current Town policies are just a start to protect our drinking water. We have started in Montauk with the water shed but we need to do more to understand the impact of our septic systems throughout the town. Then we need to correct any problems we find and that will take an effort from all of us and it will not be easy. 6. Periodically, East Hampton Town's bays and creeks are closed to shell fishing or swimming due to poor water quality. Some water bodies do not meet Federal EPA MS4 storm water protection standards. What concrete actions will you support to improve the quality of our surface waters? I know that the Wilkinson Board has taken every effort to get in compliance with all MS4 regulations. I think we need to make sure all of our beaches are never closed because of actions taken by us as a community. I will work with anyone to keep our water quality above standards.
Land Preservation
Public land preservation protects our drinking water supply and improves drinking water quality, quality of life, tax rates and property values in the Town of East Hampton.
7. Should the Town continue to use the Community Preservation Fund to purchase land? If so, what changes, if any, would you support in land preservation policy or practice? If not, what funding mechanism do you propose ought to replace it?
The community preservation fund is an excellent way, at present, to preserve the land. I would not make any changes at this time but I would like to add a process where as a community we would look at the land that has value to us either for aquifer, open space, trails, farms, and historic value and determine what properties we should preserve. This would take looking at a topographical map, understanding the water flow under our land, the sewage and how we will handle it in the future.
Dark and Quiet Skies
8. In 2006 the Town passed the "Smart Lighting" law which enhanced previous legislation addressing light pollution. What are the most important benefits (if any) and shortcomings (if any) of the Smart Lighting law? What actions would you support to expand or modify the enforcement of this law?
I think that addressing light pollution is a smart piece of legislation. However, I do know that there are some standards that have been set by the security industry pertaining to safety. The only thing I would do is make sure that all our legislation is in keeping with these standards as not to have the town attached to any future law suits.
9. Noise pollution caused by aircraft, particularly helicopters, has been a source of complaints from residents for many years. Because of financial agreements with the FAA, the Town government currently has little control over East Hampton airspace. How will you address these complaints? What specific rules would you like to see enacted?
I am not sure that this statement is entirely correct. In studying the relationship with the FAA I have found several things that seem to make this statement not true. The one that stands out the most is that due to the work of Dominick Stanzione the Town now has control of the air space out five miles. This means that we will be able to control the altitude and direction of incoming traffic which should alleviate most of the noise. The second thing that I see which may not apply is that the FAA is in control of the air traffic everywhere. It makes no difference whether the airport belongs to the Town or otherwise the only difference is in who has the liability. Government Planning and Enforcement Historically, East Hampton has been a national leader in community and environmental planning and open space preservation.
10. What is your vision for the future of the Planning Department in East Hampton Town? What aspects of the Planning Department's organization and function are most important for the Town's future and what aspects, if any, would you change or strengthen?
The planning department is doing a great job keeping our town beautiful. If I were to change anything I would focus on the future to assure that we are planning for additional density, adequate energy, infrastructure and disasters.
11. Are the Town's Comprehensive and Local Waterfront Revitalization Plans adequate in your opinion? If not, which specific policies or plan recommendations do you not support or would like to see changed? Which policies would you prioritize for implementation?
These plans have to be revised from time to time to keep up with our situations.
Solid Waste and Water Waste Management Facilities
The Town's systems for the management of both solid waste (trash and recyclables) and water waste (sewage) have been the focus of critical discussion in recent years.
12. What is your assessment of the state of these systems, what are the major problems requiring correction, and what are the most urgently needed changes in policy and practice?
Both solid waste and water waste management facilities are just adequate and will need work by all departments involved.


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If you were to guess a player based only on their red card history, and were then given a record of five dismissals in 82 League games, your first thought is unlikely to be that of a striker.
But Pablo Osvaldo's stunning ability to collect red cards means he is the proud owner of that record – an astonishing effort for a striker and one that sees him get sent off an average of once every 17 games, or twice per season.
It is an issue that seems to have escalated this year. Three of that five have come while playing for the Giallorossi, and his record for the club in all competitions is four reds in 38 games, all of which have been in 2012, with his latest coming last week in the Coppa Italia match at home to Atalanta. If you include his sending off for Italy against Denmark in October he has a remarkable total of five red cards for 2012 alone.
The concern is that so many of his dismissals arise through completely brainless acts – his one last Tuesday, for elbowing Carlos Matheu, one of a string of needless offences. Against Denmark it was for handing off Nicolai Stokholm in the face after he had released the ball – possibly harsh, but at international level there is only one outcome from that behaviour if the referee sees it.
In February he was sent off versus Atalanta, again, for having a sly kick out at Luca Cigarini with about seven yards distance between him and the official. Two months later he received a straight red card for dissent in a match with Fiorentina – and not for the first time. He was sent off in 2009 while playing for the Viola after receiving two yellow cards within 30 seconds. The first he took for the team when tactically fouling to stop a counter-attack, but the senseless second arrived after too much chat with referee Paolo Mazzoleni.
Apart from the obvious damage it causes to his team in that particular game, and the subsequent games he misses for his actions, is the potential it has to hold him back at international level.
Antonio Cassano's absence from the squad means there is a space open to partner Mario Balotelli in attack, and Osvaldo could well be at the head of the queue given his goals record for Italy to date, though with Balotelli still considered something of a liability – his disciplinary record at Man City last season is in the headlines after he took the club to tribunal for the fine they gave him – picking two strikers with a propensity for cards is something Cesare Prandelli has to consider.
Of course if he wants to move to the back of the queue, then carrying the ability to pick up red cards at club level on to the international scene is certainly a good way of going about it.


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GREAT LAKES, IL -- In line with the Navy's new culture of fitness, which aims to heighten standards and promote healthier choices, more than 600 students in the Apprentice Technical Training (ATT) course at the Center for Surface Combat Systems (CSCS) Learning Site, Great Lakes, IL, started a new physical training (PT) program.
The program, which was launched at Recruit Training Command (RTC) more than a year ago, focuses on strength and conditioning. Students no longer have to worry about being in step or doing pushups in unison because the focus is on the individual not the group, taking into account varying endurance and fitness levels across the board.
"It's a different style and it's a different mentality," said Chief Fire Controlman Robert Gomez, ATT staff leading chief petty officer. "They're not in step, they're not calling cadence; it's based on their individual efforts."
Chief Hull Maintenance Technician David Robison, RTC PT director, who was involved in the implementation of the program, said, "Starting at RTC, what we're trying to do is build a standardized fitness program that will carry over to the schoolhouses as part of the new culture of fitness."
Electronics Technician 1st Class Daniel McConnaughay, an ATT instructor who also leads the new PT program, said the previous PT regimen was more general and did not follow a set plan. "We didn't have a set schedule of how PT was going to be done, whereas now the program is standardized," he said. "It's been working at RTC, so we expect it will work here."
Students attest to the benefits. Seaman Apprentice Erynn Morris said the new PT program has helped her improve her run time by two and a half minutes.
"It helps with all parts of our physical fitness assessment (PFA)," she said. "I couldn't do one pushup when I arrived at boot camp, and now I can do 40."
Unlike the old PT program, ATT students participate in the training for one hour, five days a week, as opposed to three days a week, alternating between strength and conditioning, and endurance workouts. The new program is also intended to minimize the risk of injury through lower impact exercises that build strength and resilience. The program runs for six days a week at RTC.
"One day they're going to have an aerobic conditioning day, the next day it's going to be strength and conditioning, and it alternates between those two," said Machinist's Mate 1st Class Mike Nisbet, RTC PT liaison, who is a certified fitness trainer and helped in qualifying 30 ATT staff members and eight Training Support Center staff members in leading the new PT program. "The aerobic activities might be a sustained run for a set period of time or what we call speed and sprinting drills, and then we have the lower impact exercises that focus on strength."
Seaman Apprentice Kyle Marthiljohni, also a student at ATT, said the program helped him improve his run time and get in shape by dropping close to 20 pounds. Marthiljohni, who started boot camp Feb. 21, said he struggled to complete the PFA run when he first attempted it at RTC and now can accomplish the one-and-a-half-mile distance in 11 minutes and 30 seconds.
"That's pretty impressive to me because I've never been a runner," he said.


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Representing Union and Non Union Actors ! For Film, Corporate Video, Commercials, Voice-Over and Multimedia.
Minna Lee
Please email your photo and resume to firstname.lastname@example.com
Also, please (snail) mail your head shot and resume to:
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Representing Union and Non-Union Actors! For Film, Commercials, Corporate Videos, Voice-Overs & Multimedia
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Actors First Agency • 206.522.4368 • by appointment only
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Nelson Vergel, B.S.Ch.E., M.B.A.
Nelson Vergel, a chemical engineer from Venezuela, has been HIV positive since 1983. Over the years, he has become a leading treatment advocate on HIV disease in the U.S. In 1994, while trying to improve chances of survival, he created what is now known as the Program for Wellness Restoration (PoWeR), a national non-profit organization that disseminates information for people living with HIV about a comprehensive survival program for maximum health and productivity.
Nelson has lectured extensively around the country and overseas, providing over 500 seminars in English and Spanish and speaking at numerous conferences. For four years he was a community member of the Metabolics Study Group at the AIDS Clinical Trials Group. Along with his research partner, Michael Mooney, Nelson is the co-author of the book Built to Survive, which summarizes available knowledge about the use of clinical nutrition, supplementation, exercise and anabolic hormones in HIV disease.
In June of 1998, Nelson founded the Body Positive Wellness Center in Houston, which has helped more than 1,800 patients with HIV live a healthier life. Nelson is currently a member of the DHHS Panel on Antiretroviral Guidelines, is active in the AIDS Treatment Activists Coalition and helps thousands of people through his Internet Web sites on lipodystrophy, wasting and HIV salvage therapy. He founded and moderates one of the largest HIV health discussion listservs online, called PozHealth.
Nelson's most recent publication is Testosterone: A Man's Guide -- Practical Tips for Boosting Physical, Mental and Sexual Vitality (2010). For all his humanitarian and health-related efforts on behalf of the HIV community, Lee Brown, Mayor of the City of Houston, designated Sept. 13, 2001, "Nelson Vergel Day."
Read posts from Nelson's blog Surviving HIV.
Read posts from Nelson's blog Outsmarting HIV: A Survivor's Perspective.
Read posts from the blog HIV Care today, to which Nelson contributes.
Read posts from Nelson's blog Surviving HIV.
Read posts from the blog HIV Care today, to which Nelson contributes.
Nelson Vergel reports that he has no significant relationships to disclose.


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20487 Surnames | 134591 Records | 2764 Reunions
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Photo #77692
Last Name: Girardi
First Name : Leonardo
Middle Name:
Subject's City: Brooklyn
Subject's State: New York
Subject's County: Kings
Subject's Country: usa
Date: 1901-1920
Photographer: Visconti
Photographer's City: Brooklyn
Photographer's State: NY
Nee: Bovenzi
Type** : GRP
Comments: Leonardo Girardi (Nee: Bovenzi) | Brooklyn New York usa | 1901-1920 | Comments: Funeral of Carmella Girardi, 16 months old, died of Pneumonia 1916.
Father Leonardo Girardo, Rosina Bovenzi Girardo, Pasquale male child and Mary female child, not sure of other people
Digital Image Only? NO
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So, back a couple of months ago, I heard about a the Securian Half Marathon during the first Saturday of the St. Paul Winter Carnival.
I'd seen pictures of great marathon costumes and thought, "How funny would it be to run in a freezer costume? Get it?
(I work for an appliance company + It's cold out = I'm "freezin")
I've been training since November, and I'll fully confident in my ability to complete the race (though not as quickly as many others, I'm sure), but I'm still not totally ready.
One calendar event leads to another, and I'm left making my costume the day before.
I don't know how realistic-freezer this thing will look, but I know I work best under pressure.
And I know that if you want a laugh, stand down on Shepard Road tomorrow morning and look for the girl running in cardboard, white felt and a gigantic smile 🙂


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Configuring a network to given specifications
The lab exam is an eight-hour, hands-on exam which requires you to configure and troubleshoot a series of complex networks to given specifications. Knowledge of troubleshooting is an important skill and candidates are expected to diagnose and solve issues as part of the CCIE Data Center lab exam.
The Cisco documentation CD is available in the lab room, but the exam assumes knowledge of the more common protocols and technologies. The documentation can only be navigated using the index; the search function has been disabled. No outside reference materials are permitted in the lab room. You must report any suspected equipment issues to the proctor during the exam; adjustments cannot be made once the exam is over.
Each question on the lab has specific criterion. The labs are graded by proctors who ensure all the criterion are met and points are awarded accordingly. The proctors use automatic tools to gather information from the routers to perform some preliminary evaluations, but the final determination of a correct or incorrect configuration is done by a trained proctor.
The Lab Exam cost does not including travel and lodging expenses. Costs may vary due to exchange rates and local taxes (VAT, GST). You are responsible for any fees your financial institution charges to complete the payment transaction. Price not confirmed and is subject to change until full payment is made. For more information on the Lab Exam Registration please reference the Take Your Lab Exam tab.
You can review your lab exam results online (login required), usually within 48 hours. Results are Pass/Fail and failing score reports indicate major topic areas where additional study and preparation may be useful.
A Reread involves having a second proctor load your configurations into a rack to re-create the test and re-score the entire exam. Rereads are available for the Routing and Switching, and Service Provider technology tracks.
A Review involves having a second proctor verify your answers and any applicable system-generated debug data saved from your exam. Reviews are available for all other tracks.
Make your request within 14 days following your exam date by using the "Request for Reread" link next to your lab record. A Reread costs 1000.00 USD and a Review costs 400.00 USD. Payment is made online via credit card and your Reread or Review will be initiated upon successful payment. You may not cancel the appeal request once the process has been initiated. Refunds are given only when results change from fail to pass.


text: Michael Krufky wrote: > Steven Toth wrote: > >> Shannon Wynter wrote: >> >>> G'day all. >>> >>> What do you think my chances of getting the FusionHDTV DVB-T Dual >>> Express working? >>> >>> >>> >> Do you know which demodulators they're using? If we already have >> demodulator drivers then getting some basic support for the board into >> linux would only take a few days, based on the cx23885/7 tree I'm >> working on. >> >> >>> http://www.fusionhdtv.co.kr/ENG/products/DVBTDualExpress.aspx >>> >>> It would appear they may have left their 'usb' adoptions behind >>> >>> >>> >> Hmm. >> >>> Main chipset: CX23885 >>> Tuner: Xceive >>> >>> >>> >> Probably the xc3028, for all sorts of reasons. >> > > I think it's the xc3008. I have this information at home, and can get back with > it shortly. > > >>> I noticed someone asked about existing Xceive work - I wonder how far he >>> has gotten. >>> >>> >> Ignoring the tuner rework that's happening for userspace and/or >> simple-tuner, the xc3028 DVB-T driver was known to be working months ago >> with a USB2 based device. >> > > If anybody's interested, I've already added support for the FusionHDTV5 Express, > using LGH064F and the cx23885 bridge. There are a few bugs that have prevented > me from merging that patch into the public cx23885 tree, but they should be > resolved shortly. The tuner refactoring has taken most of my attention as of > late, but that will be history soon. :-) > > Yummy, very good to know. LGH064F I take it this is the demod. Is a datasheet available for that? - Steve


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On April 23 President Obama spoke at the Holocaust Days of Remembrance Ceremony at the Capitol. The White House has posted the text of his remarks here and video here.
Obama's remarks drew little attention. In a recent post, Michael Ledeen takes a close look at Obama's speech. Bringing his professional background as a student of fascism to bear, Ledeen provides both explication and analysis. Some of the speech, in Ledeen's estimation, is Obama at his best. Some of it, however, shows Obama in a less flattering light, as in his account of the meaning of the "never again" vow: Ledeen observes:
In the history of modern times, the United States has done more than anyone else, perhaps more than the rest of the world combined, to defeat evil, and we are still doing it. Yet Obama says that we must "learn from others" how to move on, forgive and forget, and live happily ever after. But these are just words, they are not policies, or even actions. And the meanings he gives to his words show that he has no real intention of doing anything to thwart evil, any more than he had any concrete actions to propose to punish North Korea.
Ledeen concludes:
Thus far, at least, the one clear message from President Obama is that he is not prepared to fight…our international enemies. He sounds more like a psychotherapist than a national leader in these words from his Holocaust Day speech: "…we have the opportunity to make a habit of empathy, to recognize ourselves in each other, to commit ourselves to resisting injustice and intolerance and indifference, in whatever forms they may take, whether confronting those who tell lies about history, or doing everything we can to prevent and end atrocities like those that took place in Rwanda, those taking place in Darfur…"
These words are calculated to internalize conflicts that are raging in the real world, and they are precisely the sort of words that will encourage our enemies to redouble their efforts to bring us down. For if the president of the United States will not act, who can stop them?
There is also a dispiriting adolescent quality in Obama's remarks. Obama draws a meaningless commencement speech moral from the obligation to confront the genocidal scourge: "It will not be easy. At times, fulfilling these obligations require [sic] self-reflection." Referring to 70,000 people protesting the Darfur massacres in a protest on the Washington Mall, Obama states:
Those numbers can be our future — our fellow citizens of the world showing us how to make the journey from oppression to survival, from witness to resistance, and ultimately to reconciliation. That is what we mean when we say "never again."
Where's the resistance? As Ledeen observes, it's entirely verbal, as is Obama's "resistance" to the nuclear program that aims to equip Hitler's contemporary successors with the means of completing Hitler's work. With Iran, even verbal resistance does not appear to be part of the equation. Obama would prefer to skip directly to reconciliation. Obama concludes his remarks on a somewhat anomalous Christian note:
So today, during this season when we celebrate liberation, resurrection, and the possibility of redemption, may each of us renew our resolve to do what must be done. And may we strive each day, both individually and as a nation, to be among the righteous.
If President Bush had said this at a Holocaust remembrance….well, you can figure it out. All in all, a revealing performance, entirely worthy of the attention that Ledeen usefully devotes to it.


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Sitting down to dinner to wrap up two jam-packed days of outreach by Judy and Dennis Shepard in Poland to parents of LGBT individuals, non-governmental organizations, parliamentarians, TV reporters, and others, I was struck by how universally their story resonates even thousands of miles from the United States.
As co-founders of the Matthew Shepard Foundation, Judy and Dennis have worked tirelessly to expand LGBT rights and protections through the legal system, while changing hearts and minds by telling the tragic story of their son's murder due to hate and intolerance.
The State Department is proud to be sponsoring the Shepards on a five-country, two week-plus European outreach trip. The Shepards' tour includes stops in Poland, Latvia, Estonia, Hungary, and Germany.
The first leg of the Shepards' trip took place in Warsaw, Poland, where I serve as Deputy Cultural Attache, and was co-sponsored by the Campaign Against Homophobia (KPH, in Polish) -- one of Poland's leading LGBT organizations.
On day one, the Shepards met with KPH's "Mothers' Group," a social support network for the mothers of LGBT children. KPH is creating a documentary about the mothers' group, which will be part of a larger social awareness campaign to reach out to families of Polish LGBT persons. The filmmakers were on hand for the Shepards' meeting, where the parents swapped stories and shared experiences. Later that afternoon, the Shepards spoke to a crowd of 50 students and activists at the Stefan Batory Foundation.
Day one concluded with a reception at the residence of U.S. Ambassador to Poland Lee A. Feinstein. More than 100 people -- including parliamentarians, several activists, cultural figures, and journalists -- gathered to meet the Shepards. In a surprise ceremony that was captured by the documentary filmmakers, Ambassador Feinstein and the Shepards handed out certificates of appreciation to the mothers in KPH's Mothers' Group.
The Shepards kept up their busy pace on their second day in Warsaw. They gave half a dozen media interviews, including a thirteen-minute spot on "Dzień Dobry TVN," one of Poland's most popular morning television programs. But the main attraction of the day was a Hate Crimes Conference in the Polish Parliament, sponsored by Parliamentarian Robert Biedroń, the only openly gay man in the Polish Parliament. To conclude their final day, and a successful swing through Poland, I was very pleased to join the Shepards for a dinner with the board of the Campaign Against Homophobia.
Next up for the Shepards: bringing their message of tolerance, LGBT rights, and parental activation to thousands more beyond Poland, and across central Europe. As a State Department officer, I am very pleased to help reinforce Secretary Clinton's message about human rights by supporting the Shepards' outreach to European audiences.
Kyle H. in Washington, D.C. writes:
It pleases me immensely to read this post. As a youth, I traveled to Eastern Europe, specifically Poland. While there I met a young lesbian teenager who shared with me the hardships of being gay in Eastern Europe. As Secretary Clinton said in her Human Rights Day speech last year, America too has a far from perfect record on LGBT rights, however, this proactive tour displays America's efforts to improve both LGBT rights at home and abroad. It's stories such as this that fill me with pride. We have long journey ahead of us until every country recognizes and respects their LGBT citizens. But with continued support of human rights from the State Department, the day will come.


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I've done some really big walks with a group of friends too, now the evenings are light we've left the roads and started walking across the nearby fields and up some very steep hills. I can definitely feel the difference in my jeans and trousers.
I also dusted off the Wii Fit Board (literally) and started using that on the nights I don't do a big walk, my arms are aching from boxing!
I am finding my calorie target very easy to stick too as well and feeling much less hungry than usual. I've really upped my water intake too.
Using my Fitbit Zip to count how many steps and recording what I've eaten using My Fitness Pal shows me calories consumed versus calories burned which I find really motivating. After a 5.5 mile walk with the girls last night on top of the usual daily steps I did over 20,000 steps. I'd done 19,300 when I got in so I paced around the room to get to 20,000. I think my husband thought I had lost the plot but I knew if I sat down I would stiffen up and not be able to do anything apart from crawl to bed.
It's my sister in laws 40th birthday this weekend and we are out all day on Saturday on an 'Ale Trail' so not only will I be consuming my body weight in lager, cider and vodka but I will need to line my stomach too, and probably have a curry at the end of the night. That's going to be my day off and I'm doing another 5/6 mile walk tomorrow night, at least 3 miles Friday morning and just sticking to the plan rigidly before and afterwards.
Next time I blog I WILL have lost my first stone!!!


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As many readers already know, the world of illustration changed dramatically after 1960. The magazine industry was unable to compete for ad dollars in the face of increased tv viewership. Lucrative assignments from print advertisers had been the lifeblood that had sustained large commercial art studios like Cooper's.
Don Crowley could see that times were changing. Like so many others who had enjoyed the privilege of membership in America's most prestigious art studio, he regretfully left to pursue freelance on his own.
Although his specialty (product illustration still lifes) continued to be in demand, he craved figurative work and found opportunities to pursue that type of illustration in the burgeoning paperback cover market.
He first tried a partnership in a small studio with one of the former salesmen from Cooper's, Jack Randall and another artist, Bob Smith. Don said, "Business was actually better with this new, smaller group... I did well with them for a couple of years."
Later he worked from home with an art rep, Joe Mendola, sending him assignments. "I did quite well with him for maybe seven or eight years," Don recalls.
I asked Don if the arrival of artists like Bernie Fuchs and Bob Peak on the scene had had any impact on his work, but he gave me a definitive "No."
"They were very individualistic and I was always a realist... never thought about trying any 'cute' techniques or anything like that." In spite how that might sound on the surface, Don mentioned in passing that Bob Peak was one of his best friends and that the two of them enjoyed socializing - often doing lunch at the Society of Illustrators. "I knew an awful lot of artists in those days," said Don, "[The SoI] was a great place to get together."
Don continued to do quite well throughout the '60s, doing more and more figure work. Book covers and Reader's Digest became the source of many assignments, along with Don's signature product 'still life' work, which he continued to produce steadily for advertising and packaging clients.
But as Don reached his middle '40s, and after more than two decades of working countless evenings and weekends (as is so often the case in freelance), Don began to wish for... "something else." At that point in an illustrator's career when the work becomes too familiar, no longer interesting or challenging, when the long hours begin to take their toll, two old friends and two important events came together to show Don the path to "something else."
Call it coincidence or call it fate, but just when he needed to find a reason to go on, a dramatic change of course found Don Crowley.
Concluded tomorrow...
* Most of today's images are from the Greenwich Workshop Press book, "Desert Dreams" by Don Hegpeth and Don Crowley © 2003
* Thanks to my Flickr contact, levar for the 1968 paperback cover scan which appears in this post, and to Brian McFann for the Reader's Digest images at the end of today's post.
* Also: Bruce Hettema has posted a look at the work of Peter Helck at his P&H Creative blog
* And: This week's NCS Spotlight is on ... Al Capp!


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Landmark study examines Hispanic longevity paradox
CHICAGO (AP) — The government's largest study of Hispanics' health aims to answer why they live longer than other Americans, but the first results suggest that trend might be in jeopardy, especially among certain groups.
Overall, high rates of high blood pressure, obesity and diabetes were found, especially among older adults. But troubling signs were seen among younger Hispanics, who were the least likely to have diabetes under treatment and well controlled.
Hispanics from Puerto Rico and Cuba were among the unhealthiest; those from South America were among the healthiest.
The landmark study has followed more than 16,000 Hispanics since 2008; the initial results released Monday reveal a diverse group whose health habits depend in part on how long they've lived in the United States.
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Keeping it fun and safe
Tactical exercises and sporting events are on the rise across the nation. A tactical exercise mimics "real life" combat situations. During one of these exercises, you can be a solo agent on your own or you can work within a team. When playing such games, its important to work on your cohesiveness so you can fight as a well oiled machine. After all, you are in the field acting as though you are a special ops Marine or Navy Seal so it's vital to succeed in your planned mission.
Some groups; usually consisting of a bunch of buddies playing weekend warrior are loosely regulated and require very little skill to have a good time. With the right protective gear, you can fight and brag about your conquests over a few beers at the end of the day. However, some organized groups will not kindly accept renegade warriors on their tactical practice fields. A rouge operation could quikcly find your group banned from the premises.
It's always important, if your team plans to be a serious contender in the world of Airsoft tactical to be well trained in your craft. There are many places online where you can gather information on how to train an Airsoft team. This Wikihow article does a great job of offering a jumping off point for any group looking to make a serious impact. Have fun and remember, always keep it safe!


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HI Dave Thank you very much for clarifying which one of the two reload procedures will be attempted on ISS Soon. The Serial port connector on the front of the radio is the easiest load to use. It allows you to quickly upload channel settings. The Internal load is used for loading the more complex configurations. Lets hope that Charles Simonyi gets some time to try the reload, so we can put one issue behind us. SSTV Testing: During the SSTV testing last summer we ran into a few unexpected problems. The first problem was we did not have a set of written procedures to instruct the crew which buttons to push on the radio to accept the SSTV Audio over the DIN connector. The Second problem was, SpaceCam SSTV was never tested with a D700 loaded with ISS-Flight software. The SSTV software SpaceCam1, had been tested on 4 different operation systems, Dozens of computers, Dozens of transceivers, including a Stock Terrestrial version of the D700. All configurations with good results. However it had never been tested on a D700 that was using the Special ISS-Flight version of the operating system. A problem that was quickly discovered in Flight, was that when SSTV audio was fed into the DIN connector on the D700, it was directed to the wrong down link frequency. The problem was caused by the unique way the D700 software was configured. This special D700 is always running packet and both Bands at the same time. The ISS crew had to experiment with different voice channels and button configurations until they found one that worked. In the process a few channel configurations may have changed. In the future we hope to approve a tested procure that supports SSTV. WF1F Marex SpaceCam1 ____________________________________________________________________________________ Finding fabulous fares is fun. Let Yahoo! FareChase search your favorite travel sites to find flight and hotel bargains. http://farechase.yahoo.com/promo-generic-14795097 ---- Sent via email@example.com. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/sarex
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Boys Bedroom Ideas or Decor
How to decorate boys bedroom? It is not necessary that boy's bedroom always incorporates with sports or action figure. Check unique and attractive ideas for boy's bedroom colors, bedroom themes, furniture for boy's bedroom, wall decoration and lots more. Create perfectly themed bedroom for boys they love to show to their friends and which reflects his personality and interests.
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A bedroom ceiling has pleasant effects. It can be soothing when you lie down and see it at the end of the day and can also fill you with positive energy when you wake up and see it in the morning.
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A bright colored bedroom is stimulating and relaxing. Amusing color combinations make the bedroom fantastic and enjoyable whereas stunning lighting is dominant in creating the mood of the night.
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Elegant bedroom décor may melt your all worries and tensions. Some simple but dazzling bedroom decoration or makeover tips give wow effects to bedroom. Check 10 inspirational bedroom décor images for flawlessly decorated bedroom. Warm and soothing bedroom colors, bedroom bedding, comforters, wall decorations create nice ambience and make your bedroom décor perfect.
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It is really important that you choose the right kind of bedroom set for your bedroom that gives you comfort and matches with your personality. Read article with pictures that shows you overall décor of the room with different styles of bedroom sets. Matching bedroom wardrobes, nightstand, dresser, etc. gives composite look to bedroom. Choose perfect style of furniture for bedroom which is elegant, stylish and practical furniture for bedroom.
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In scorching summer white bedroom is best place to relax. A white bedroom always looks classic and beautiful. It makes your bedroom cool and peaceful. Little touch of hues of whites, blue, pink, black, sunny yellow etc give new and charming look to white bedroom decor. Collection of white bedroom ideas, black and white bedroom will help you in decorating bedroom with white.
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Choosing the best bedroom style that will continue to look fresh and inviting for decades to come is a little bit confusing. But try to create a cozy and inviting haven in your bedroom with a perfect style that never seems to go out of style and it will also reflect your personal taste and interest how traditional or modern you are. Read this article to know about different bedroom styles that will give you absolute comfort.
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ORWELL –– When Rhianna Carr, 12, learned that she won a Boston Red Sox Kid Nation community service contest, she couldn't believe it.
"I was so happy I started crying and I was just jumping," she said. "I almost passed out when I found out, I was so happy."
Carr, an Orwell resident and big Sox fan, entered a contest run by Kids Nation, the Red Sox youth fan group.
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MIDDLEBURY — Jason Schnoor in February got to witness India's Taj Mahal, one of the most opulent and grandiose structures ever made by man.
But that elegant edifice paled in significance to another, far less conspicuous man-made creation that Schnoor and six of his colleagues dispensed to more than 130 children on a single day in India — a vaccine, doled out in simple two-drop increments, aimed at ridding the world of polio.
VERGENNES — The Boys & Girls Club of Greater Vergennes last month for the second straight time chose reigning Vermont Boys & Girls Club Youth of the Year Kaitlin Leroux-Eastman as the local organization's Youth of the Year.
On April 19 in Montpelier, Leroux-Eastman, a 16-year-old Vergennes Union High School junior with an extensive résumé of service to the youth club and the community, will represent the local organization in the state competition.
MIDDLEBURY — One of Middlebury's most active volunteers for child and teen causes is reducing that role in order to take on a leadership position within the legal community.
Emily Joselson, a local attorney, is stepping down from the boards of both the Addison County Parent-Child Center and Addison Central Teens (ACT) after a combined total of more than 35 years of service that saw seismic growth and change within those organizations.
MIDDLEBURY — A mother, an athlete, a role model and an inspiration, Middlebury's Liz Cronin recently was presented with a Bonnie and John McCardell Citizen's Award by Middlebury College for her outstanding service to the community as the founder and previous chairwoman of the Face Off Against Breast Cancer Hockey Tournament.
The tournament brings together women's hockey teams from around the state to have fun and raise money for the support of cancer patients and their families. The 12th annual tournament this past January raised close to $60,000.
NEW HAVEN — Beeman Elementary School kicked off its annual community service projects this past Friday with kindergarten through sixth-grade students collaborating on eight projects that will span the course of March under the theme "Kids Helping Kids, Seniors and Beeman."
Teachers, community members and a group of Middlebury College mentors all volunteered their time to help with the projects.
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What is Wholesale Unbundling? According to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the typical American consumer is only interested in watching 17 cable channels. Typically referred to as "highly desired" programming, these channels may include ESPN, USA, Discovery and MTV. However, for a cable operator to provide any one of those channels, the programmer or media conglomerate that owns the channel pressures the operator to carry and distribute several additional channels also under its ownership - and not just on any of the cable packages that the provider offers, but often on the most basic and widely distributed tiers. These operators are coerced into these deals without regard to consumer interest or its impact on household budgets.
Therefore, by "wholesale bundling" additional channels to a desired channel, the programmer can pressure cable operators to carry and pay for numerous unwanted channels. When statistics show that in order for cable operators to secure the rights to carry the most popular channels, programmers demand that at least 60 other channels are also carried, you can begin to understand why the most widely subscribed to programming packages are both bloated with channels and costly - charges that are ultimately passed on to customers in the form of higher cable bills.
While some programmers may "technically" provide cable operators with the option to purchase the desired channel on a standalone basis, or not tied to other programming distribution requirements, the per subscriber fee to offer a channel on a standalone basis is so exorbitantly high as compared to accepting a bundled package that the cable operator has no choice but to offer the bundle - or not to offer the channel at all. These standalone offers also include requirements that the channel be included in basic packages which means all subscribers would have to receive and pay for the channel, regardless of interest.
How Does Wholesale Bundling Harm Consumers? Customers served by independent operators - who lack the negotiating power to command more attractive deals - face reduced choice and disproportionately higher cable costs, as the cable operators have no choice but to pass on the cost for carrying bundled channel packages in order to continue offering high demand programming. In fact, the FCC estimates that programmers could be overcharging consumers more than $100 million per year.
In addition, for a cable operator to carry so many channels requires significant infrastructure and bandwidth investments. Frequently, an independent operator finds their ability to offer broadband services to the disconnected communities they serve impeded as resources and bandwidth is taken up by the bloated packages demanded by the programmers. Carrying so many channels of the largest programmers also reduces an operator's ability to provide channels owned by independent programmers which might be more desired by the community and cost less.
What is ACA Doing About Wholesale Bundling? Currently, the FCC is reviewing whether revisions to the wholesale cable programming and retransmission consent rules would provide consumers with more choice and value. ACA has presented the FCC with multiple filings to demonstrate how the current marketplace harms both independent cable operators as well as consumers. ACA and its members regularly brief FCC Commissions and their staff, as well as Members of Congress, to encourage prompt resolution in favor of independent cable operators. Our fight will continue until ACA members receive the relief they need from wholesale tying and bundling abuses at the hands of broadcasters and programmers.
Please use the information below to get in touch with the American Cable Association.
Enter your email address and zip code below to begin the process of creating an account on the ACA website.


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University of Lending Mini Session
Event Info
August 21st, 2014 8:00 AM through August 22nd, 2014 5:00 PM
United States
|Two Day Session
|$ 299.00
- Led by Lending Solutions Consulting, the first and foremost school of lending. This special mini session of The University of Lending will be taught by one of the industry's top lending experts – Rex Johnson, president of Lending Solutions Consulting, Inc.
· Special offer to Missouri credit unions for the University of Lending Mini Session.
o $299 per person for a two day session. MCUA will make a $50 donation to the Missouri Credit Union Charitable Foundation per participant.
- The special training opportunity is brought to Missouri credit unions thanks to the Missouri Credit Union Charitable Foundation CDFI Steering Committee: Alliance Credit Union, Electro Savings Credit Union, Poplar Bluff Federal Credit Union, and United Credit Union.
Rex Johnson - Owner/Founder of Lending Solutions Consulting, Inc. (LSCI)
- Rex Johnson is a leading expert within the credit union and consumer lending industries. He has authored four best-selling books plus eight videos. Rex is the former CEO and first employee of Baxter Credit Union, Deerfield, Illinois. During his 12-year leadership, the credit union grew to $300 million in assets. He has shared his expertise with thousands of credit union employees and volunteers worldwide. In addition to working with a number of credit union leagues, he has also served as an instructor for CUNA's Advanced Lending School. Rex created the first hands-on, interactive lending school for credit union professionals - The University of Lending. He is the driving force behind LSCI's commitment to helping credit unions become leaders in consumer lending.
- Rex received a master's degree from Northwestern University. He was also the Illinois Credit Union Executive of the year in 1986 and elected into the Illinois Credit Union Hall of Fame in April 2000 and into CUES Hall of Fame in November 2000.
Day One
8 a.m. Breakfast
8:30 a.m. - noon Scoring Models/Score Enhancement
What you really need to know about scoring models. How to recognize good scores from bad scores and what direction the score is headed. You will be able to make better decisions and will see how "E" paper may be "A" paper and how "A" & "B" paper may be "D" or "E" paper. We will show you what makes a score change so quickly and how some loans you thought were good are charged off.
Noon Lunch
1 p.m. – 5 p.m. Decision Making
We will show you how to make a loan that you would normally turn down by asking the right questions. What loans you can't make. Why you should not be afraid of unsecured debt consolidation loans. You will learn how to avoid bankruptcies by easily recognizing what causes bankruptcies. You will be provided tools to make decision making easy plus give you a decision matrix so more of your employees are empowered to make decisions on the spot, speed up service and help develop a strong lending team.
Day Two
8 a.m. Breakfast
8:30 a.m. – noon Decision Making/High Yield
Lending Strategy
Credit unions need yield. Our new High Yield Loan Decision Model will show you how to approve loans you never dreamed of and start serving more members by making loans available, regardless of their score. We'll show you the trend is your friend and far more important than the score. Credit unions have to start focusing on the direction the score is headed. We'll prove to you that a 575 score is a far better risk than a 715 score, plus it's more profitable to the credit union.
Noon Lunch
1 p.m. – 5 p.m. Sales Skills
We will show you how to evaluate your staff, the attributes of a good sales person. Once you identify you have the right people, we will show you how to teach them the right techniques. You will learn how to cross-sell to new members and build your loan portfolio. We will also provide you with incentive programs that work.
$299 per person
- Fee includes a $50 donation to the Missouri Credit Union Charitable Foundation. This donation will enable MCUCF to continue to provide affordable training opportunities to Missouri credit unions.
Hotel Information
Drury Inn & Suites 314.989.1100
11980 Olive Blvd
Creve Coeur, MO 63141
Hotel Room Rate:
2 Queen Beds Room Rate - $134.99
Check in at 4pm, check out is 11am
Click here for room reservations or call 1-800-325-0720. Mention MCUA's Group Code 2208704 to received discounted rate. Discounted room rate available until July 18th or until the group block is sold out, whichever comes first.
Contact: Maria Langston firstname.lastname@example.com
Phone: 314.542.1344
Contact: Maria Langston email@example.com
United States