text:
SAN FRANCISCO - Marking a decade since its establishment, the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance (CSWA) has issued its 2012 Progress Report, highlighting the release of its third edition California Code of Sustainable Winegrowing Workbook, updated CSWA program participation numbers, and an overview of a new Performance Metrics tool measuring vineyard and winery use of water, energy and applied nitrogen, and greenhouse gas emissions related to energy use. For a complete copy of the 2012 CSWA Progress Report, go to www.sustainablewinegrowing.org.
Since 2002, CSWA's Code Workbook has been used by 1,800 vineyard and winery organizations to self-assess their operations, representing 72 percent of California's winegrape acreage (389,375 acres) and 74 percent of its case production (189 million cases). In addition, CSWA has held 232 educational workshops attended by 10,737 participants.
"Wine Institute and the California Association of Winegrape Growers published the Code and established CSWA to position California's wine community as a world leader in sustainability. With more than 70 percent of California's winegrape acreage and case production engaged in the CSWA program, the industry has bolstered its environmental and sustainability credentials in the public policy and marketplace arenas, including the competitive global market," said Robert P. (Bobby) Koch, president and CEO of Wine Institute. "The scale of this accomplishment is remarkable, as California is the world's fourth largest wine producer."
"A tremendous amount of thought, time and effort went into revising the Code Workbook," said John Aguirre, president of the California Association of Winegrape Growers. "CSWA involved 50 growers and vintners in 35 meetings over two years to review and revise the workbook. As a result, vineyards and wineries of all sizes throughout the state will find the workbook's updated and revised best practices and resources even more relevant and effective."
Code Workbook
The third edition Code Workbook is the centerpiece of the CSWA program and covers a broad range of sustainable practices used in vineyard and winery operations. The Workbook has 14 chapters encompassing best practices from the grape to glass: viticulture, soil management, vineyard water management, pest management, wine quality, ecosystem management, energy efficiency, winery water conservation and quality, material handling, solid waste reduction and management, environmentally preferable purchasing, human resources, neighbors and community and air quality.
Building on major trends and successful regional efforts, including the first five viticulture chapters of the Lodi Winegrower's Workbook, the Code was first published in 2002 to help all California vintners and growers continuously improve and adopt sustainable practices. Using a "Cycle of Continuous Improvement," participants self-assess their operations, interpret their performance, develop actions plans to improve, implement changes and reassess.
Code Workbooks will be provided at no charge to California vintners and growers who attend upcoming workshops listed at www.sustainablewinegrowing.org/workshopcalendar.php. A copy can also be requested from CSWA at www.sustainablewinegrowing.org or firstname.lastname@example.com.
"The Code Workbook is a wonderful tool that allows participants to expand sustainable practices according to their company priorities and diverse regional growing conditions," said Allison Jordan, executive director of CSWA. "CSWA's goal is for vineyards and wineries that represent 80 percent of California's winegrapes and wines to use the Code Workbook to self-assess their operations by 2015."
Targeted Education
CSWA collaborates with regional grower and vintner organizations throughout the state to develop and hold educational events that target the most challenging areas in specific regions as part of the "Cycle of Continuous Improvement." CSWA has held the 232 workshops on topics such as air and water quality protection, biodiversity and habitat conservation, pest management and more.
CSWA also partnered with Pacific Gas and Electric to hold more than 50 workshops focused on energy conservation and efficiency for California wineries and vineyards, attended by 1,400 wine industry members. The two organizations produced a video series showcasing case studies on energy efficiency measures undertaken by wineries and vineyards at: www.sustainablewinegrowing.org/media.php.
Performance Metrics
In March 2012, CSWA released an online tool to help California growers and vintners measure, track and improve their use of natural resources over time. The initial set of metrics include: water and energy use in vineyards and wineries, greenhouse gas emissions in vineyards and wineries, and applied nitrogen use in vineyards. Participants will be able to compare their natural resource use from year to year and measure outcomes to changed practices. Once a robust set of metrics results is aggregated, data will be carefully analyzed to determine if reasonable collective (e.g. statewide and/or regional) baselines can be generated for industry wide benchmarking and target-setting. Metric results will also be used to determine priorities and to drive educational programs.
Certified California Sustainable Winegrowing
In January 2010, CSWA introduced Certified California Sustainable Winegrowing (CCSW-Certified), a third-party certification option for California vineyards and wineries based on the Code Workbook. CSWA developed the third-party certification program to enhance transparency and credibility in the public policy and market arenas, and provide a way for vintners and growers to verify and communicate their continuous improvement in the adoption of sustainable practices. CCSW-Certified requires an accredited auditor to verify that the vineyard and/or winery conducts an annual self-assessment and meets 50 vineyard and 32 winery prerequisites.
As of October 2012, CSWA has given CCSW-Certification to 56 wineries and 178 vineyards (more than 12 percent of statewide winegrape acreage), and countless others have been certified by Bay Area Green Business, Biodynamic®, Fish Friendly Farming, Lodi Rules, Napa Green, Organic and SIP-Certified. For a list of certified vineyards and wineries, see www.sustainablewinegrowing.org/certifiedparticipants.php.
About the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance
The California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance (CSWA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization incorporated in 2003 by Wine Institute and the California Association of Winegrape Growers. CSWA's mission is to ensure that the California wine community is recognized globally as the leader in sustainable winegrowing in the marketplace and public policy arena through the development and promotion of sustainable practices, tools for education and outreach, partnerships with key stakeholders, and prioritizing research. The result of this work will be a healthier environment, stronger communities, and vibrant businesses.
About Wine Institute
Established in 1934, Wine Institute is the premier voice effectively representing wine worldwide. With membership of 1,000 California wineries and affiliated businesses, the organization initiates and advocates public policy that enhances the ability to responsibly produce, promote, and enjoy wine. Wine Institute works to bolster the economic and environmental health of the state and its communities by encouraging sustainable winegrowing and winemaking practices. The membership represents 85 percent of U.S. wine production and 90 percent of U.S. wine exports.
About California Association of Winegrape Growers
Established in 1974, the California Association of Winegrape Growers (CAWG) provides industry leadership to advocate for public policies, research and education programs, sustainable farming practices and trade positions to improve the viability of winegrape growing as an essential contributor to California's economy, culture, and landscape. CAWG represents the growers of more than 60 percent of the gross grape tonnage crushed for wine and concentrate in California.
# # #
(Editors: photos available upon request by contacting firstname.lastname@example.com.)
CSWA prohibits discrimination in its programs on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability and marital or familial status. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact email@example.com.


text:
Phosphor Games Studio is coming up with one of the most ambitious looking games out there. Do not pass up the opportunity to help out on this amazing looking game!
This sounds like it will be absolutely amazing or a total flop. I'm worried they might be taking on too muich for a small studio.
Even so, it sure looks pretty ^^
The video they have out looks a hell of a lot like infamous.
How about Project Stop Using The Word Project In Your Titles Because It's Not Even Remotely Trendy Or Cool
Looks absolutely incredible for a Kickstarter project, everyone get behind this game. The developer deserves to have it released as it looks like they have put a ton of time into it.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Renowned Author to Return to Campus
Celebrated author T.C. Boyle has been more than a casual visitor to Harper College. He's taught on campus, stepping in to take over literature classes on his two most recent visits.
Boyle, whose close relationship with the College led Professor Greg Herriges and colleague Tom Knoff to produce an award-winning documentary on the author's work in 2008, will make his third trip to Harper this month. He'll read from his latest book, "San Miguel," at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 19 in the Building J Theatre, Room J143 in Building J on the main campus, 1200 W. Algonquin Road in Palatine.
"San Miguel," Boyle's 14th novel, is the story of two families who occupy their own island at different times. A previous book, "The Road to Wellville," was turned into a 1994 movie starring Anthony Hopkins and John Cusack.
"T.C. Boyle is one of the most innovative and successful authors of fiction writing today," says Herriges, who considers him an inspiration both in the classroom and as a writer. "He stretches the boundaries of what we writer and educators traditionally thought literature could do, and he does it with humor, insight and biting irony."
Boyle, who lives near Santa Barbara, Calif., is a Distinguished Professor of English at the University of Southern California, and is also the author of "Drop City," "After the Plague" and "When the Killing's Done," as well as several short story collections.
"He brings excitement to the stage when he appears at Harper, because he is not just a reader of fiction - he is a performance artist," Herriges said. "He enjoys bringing his tales to life, and he lives them in front of us. Each time he visits, he inspires and delights the audience with his passion for literature and the creative process."
Tickets for the reading are $12 for general admission, and $8 for senior citizens. Contact the Box Office, 847.925.6100 or visit the Box Office online.
Press Contact: Patrick Bromley, 847.925.6000, ext. 2564


text:
Items where Author is "Foster, J.H."
|Up a level
Group by: Item Type | Uncontrolled Keywords | No Grouping
Jump to: Monograph
Number of items: 1.
Barshell, K., Foster, J.H. ORCID: 0000-0002-7662-8203, Meerabeau, E. and West, E. (2011) Scoping drug and alcohol consumption in young people on the Isle of Sheppey. Project Report. University of Greenwich, Greenwich, UK.


text:
A BCS bowl victory and trip to both the men's and women's Final Fours have the Cardinals flying high.
ATLANTA – Tom Jurich had little time to reflect. The Louisville athletics director had about 30 minutes Sunday afternoon to catch another flight to another basketball game, a frequent occurrence over the past month.
With the Cardinals men's and women's teams in the Final Four, Jurich was happily shuttling between Atlanta and New Orleans over the weekend.
Combine that with a Bowl Championship Series bowl win, and this might be a golden year in Louisville athletics history.
LOUISVILLE: How Cardinals gained 'Cinderella' factor
"It's just been nonstop," Jurich said. "Certainly nobody every takes anything for granted. It's a very special time."
The past four months have brought success in Louisville's biggest programs, with the chance for more. In football, the Cardinals trounced then-No. 4 Florida in the Sugar Bowl.
The women's basketball team, a No. 5 seed, advanced to the program's second Final Four, knocking off defending champ Baylor, the top overall seed, in the Sweet 16 and No. 2 seed Tennessee in the Elite Eight.
Sunday, Jurich left the men's site for the women's national semifinal game vs. California in New Orleans, where the Cardinals rallied for a 64-57 win and will face Connecticut or Notre Dame for the title Tuesday.
MORE: Louisville women reach title game
He'll return to Atlanta for today's men's title game. The Louisville men's school-record 34th win came Saturday in the semifinals at the Georgia Dome as the Cardinals beat Wichita State to advance to their third NCAA championship game.
It has made for a fun few months at Louisville.
"Just lucky. There is talent, but there is luck in there too," center Gorgui Dieng said. "I'm sure we deserve it. You deserve everything you have if you just do everything the right way."
Dieng said he hasn't missed a women's home game when the men's team wasn't on the road. According to coach Rick Pitino, that kind of support isn't rare.
"(Guard) Russ Smith took off all his clothes — except his underpants, of course — and painted his body red for a women's soccer game in the cold," Pitino said. "That's what these guys are about. … It's a pretty cool school."
Louisville's bottom line stands to benefit, however modestly, from the postseason success. While schools often see an increase in ticket and merchandise sales, winning can come with a cost, including coaching salary increases and facility renovations.
"It's better to win than not to win, but there are costs to it," economist Andrew Zimbalist said. "In net terms, it's not a big deal. All of those things are potential sources of gain, but they're not incredibly large."
Recent champions North Carolina (2009) and Kansas (2008) saw operating surpluses increase at least $1.6 million in the year following a championship season, according to revenue and expense reports submitted to the NCAA. Like Louisville, they are the rare schools that generate a larger surplus in men's basketball than football. (While Louisville had the highest surplus in the country in men's basketball in 2010-11, it was not among the 22 public schools that met the NCAA's standards for self-sufficiency.)
"Going to the Final Fours for both men and women, that helps," Jurich said. "It makes all your donors feel good about what you're investing in."
Jurich said he hadn't thought about the financial windfall for the school. With national title games on back-to-back nights in two cities, any reflection would be saved for the summer.
Late Sunday, Jurich expected to be on a flight back to Atlanta, with another basketball game — a pretty big one — on the schedule.
He's got another trip back Tuesday for the women's championship game. This time of year, another basketball trip is just fine with Jurich.


text:
New buses hit the streets in Summit County
summit daily news
Residents of Summit County will begin seeing black Summit Stage buses on the roads, as the first of eight hand-me-down buses are deployed on routes this week.
The Stage inherited the buses from the discontinued Front Range Express system for a fraction of the cost of a new vehicle.
The black buses are two seats larger and slightly more luxurious than the older blue-and-white coaches they replaced, featuring air conditioning and advanced climate control, seat recliners with back pockets and cup holders. Transit officials also plan to equip them with interior bike racks next year.
The Summit Stage paid $224,000 for all eight buses, using them to replace eight older coaches, which were sold to Copper Mountain. A single new bus would have cost $419,000.
The inherited vehicles seat 40 people, compared to their 38-passenger predecessors and run 97 percent cleaner than the older models as well. They also feature a low floor design so riders do not need to climb steps to board them, a feature that has concerned elected officials with many passengers wearing ski boots.
All of the new buses are expected to be out on the roads shortly after Christmas, according to transit officials.
Start a dialogue, stay on topic and be civil.
If you don't follow the rules, your comment may be deleted.


text:
Thursday, March 06, 2008
The Frightening Optimism of Wine Collecting
I drink wine (a lot, even); I explore wine; I discover wines; I seek them out, sniff them and sip them. Cheapies I glug, sometimes.
But I have trouble collecting wine. Cellaring it. Purchasing it in quantities sufficient to allow long storage, untouched. Of bottles that need that kind of lengthy slumber before being mellow and right to pour.
To me, collecting age-worthy wines is an act of wild optimism - folly, almost. I have trouble even taking out a magazine subscription - I mean, how do I know I'll still live in the same place a year from now (let alone two)? Or that I'll still be alive? Given my gun-shy attitude toward something as simple as a monthly glossy in the mail, how can I grapple with the problem of amassing many, many heavy objects that you can't take with you anywhere, unless you hire a big truck?
I don't know if I'll ever be able to make the shift from backfilling (since I'm not so crazy as to drink age-worthy wines young) to... aging them. We'll see.
14 comments:
- peter said...
How many bottles do you have in your cellar - are they all mature (or do you like them young?)
If I could, I'd buy all mature wines, but the cost is prohibitive, let alone sourcing them.
Even with the cost of cellaring, it's much cheaper (for me) to collect them and wait for them to come around.
But you're right, there is a sort of optimism. And I used to be of your mind, travel light and not own too much crap, including wine.
- March 6, 2008 at 5:39 PM
I used to feel similarly, collecting merely to have a wide variety to choose from. But I admit that there were more than a few times I'd wish my Dad had passed along fine old wines to me. And so, now in my 60's, I am separating out a part of my cellar to pass on to my daughter. Its an old tradition (European, I think) and one I hope she enjoys.
Maybe my 1994 vintage ports will see their peak . . .
Best, Jim Cowan
- March 6, 2008 at 10:59 PM
- Sharon said...
Peter, I have about 150, tops. I tend to buy either champagne, younger drinking-type wines for casual consumption (read: Loire - or lower village Burgundy), and for better bottles, do actually try to backfill and source ones that are ready to drink. Clearly not the optimal approach, but then so many things about wine appreciation and collecting are illogical...
Jim, I see what you're saying - I wish my parents were interested in wine... :) I have no children, so that isn't a factor for me.
- March 7, 2008 at 10:38 AM
- Jeff said...
The hardest part is trying to have the vision as to where your tastes will be when the wine finally matures. Mine have changed significantly over the years so I have ended up with a broad cross section of wines some of which I no longer care for. Twice a year I find myself "thinning the herd" to make room for what I think I'll like down the road.
Like Jim I am preparing a portion of my cellar for my children.
- March 7, 2008 at 12:39 PM
- noble pig said...
Collecting wine does have its roots in commitment issues. I have 300-400 bottles around the house and the worst is they are all ready to drink! Yikes! Ageable wines and wines of great distinction can be a costly investment, but it sounds great right?
- March 9, 2008 at 4:33 PM
- Joe said...
Dear Noble Pig--lately, I buy mostly things with a long drinking window. If I neglect a bottle of Savennieres for a few years, I am confident that I'll be OK.
My worst excesses in the cellar come from library releases from my favorite wineries. When I have the sense that it's my last shot at well-stored wine from a favorite producer, and that the rest will kick around the (globally warmed, or just midwestern) market, I get piggy.
- March 9, 2008 at 7:28 PM
- Sean W. McBride (a.k.a. slaked) said...
An activity by any other name --- I think what we're talking about here is the activity of amassing wealth. In this case the property is wine. I think "collecting" is really just a euphanism for that activity. You might also call it "hoarding" or something verbally neutral like "nesting." My guess is it's a biological thing, since you see the same kind of activity (i.e. amassing food stores) in a number of mammals. In any event, in humans, the activity itself may be justified as optimistic (to share with family) or pessimistic (price increase, unavailability), depending on your worldview. I would also guess that most collectors feel conflicted about the activity itself: both optimistically and pessimistically about their collections. On the one hand you want to drink that Bordeaux young, and on the other you want to save it for when it peaks, or to pass it along to your children. At least that's how I feel: as much as I love my cellar and collecting wines and sharing wines with friends and family (that's the optimist in me), I think i've reached the point where collecting any more wine would be rather pointless (that's the pessimist), and so I wonder why I do it all. Sharon, I really like your blog. Good pictures, too.
- March 10, 2008 at 8:41 PM
- peter said...
Sharon - my collection isn't much more than double yours. It might be bigger if I had the space, but then I'd be broke as well. Like you, mine is mostly a mix of Champagne, village level Burgs, some nice non-first growth Bdx and Cali pinot/cabs. I'd say 80% of what I have isnt meant to be drunk now, since I began collecting just a few years ago. Stinks to drink wines before their time, but what can one do?
Joe - great point. My wife asked why we needed a 6-pack of 1996Jacquesson Avize when we have several already, and when I replied that soon the 1997 would be on shelves and would be difficult to source, she looked at me like I had three heads. But I'd rather pay for them now and store them than have to hunt them down later at higher prices, IF theyre even available!
- March 10, 2008 at 8:53 PM
Sharon, you can leave your cellar to my children if you like, provided you do it soon.
I have a dusty cave under our building with perhaps 150 bottles. Some are utter shite - Muscadets I didn't get round to opening, watery Bergerac I bought from the market because I liked the people selling it, a couple of late 90s "wine club" Bordeaux various relatives have palmed off on me - but there are more goodies I'm looking forward to opening in the next decade or two.
A good way to avoid opening bottles you mean to store is to live five floors up, sans lift, and keep the cellar filthy so you're not inclined to descend there too often.
I try to buy three of a wine I like if it's under 25 euros. I can't often justify more than one bottle of the 50 euro stuff, and I know I'm likely to be punished for this in future: Opening a brilliant bottle twenty years from now and frantically combing the net the next morning for more. It's already happened with 89 Riesling Frédéric Emile.
Neil xx
- March 11, 2008 at 11:36 PM
You need to buy better Muscadet.
Some of my most prized wines are Muscadet with some age. I just had my hands on some wines from 1997 today in the cellar, debating whether to drink them now or hold them.
My answer was, some of each.
- March 13, 2008 at 2:06 AM
SF Joe, I've started, believe me!
Found some very fine Muscadet, too. I'll be in the region this summer so that should give me the opportunity to explore this wine a little more.
- March 13, 2008 at 6:53 AM
- Rajiv said...
What does backfilling mean?
As a college student, I've only recently begun to keep wines more than a few hours before drinking. Sounds silly, but the local wine store is pretty convenient, so why keep them?
However I now have about 10 bottles, some special, some serviceable, some more for my friends' tastes than mine. It's nice to feel ready to entertain, even on a small scale. Long term aging is still out of the question, though.
- March 27, 2008 at 8:13 PM
Is offsite storage common in France? It seems like a good solution to the question "what if I move" or "what if I can't keep my hands off that bottle until it's ready";-)
- April 10, 2008 at 3:37 PM
- Kevin said...
My cellar: Oh, about two bottles. But I have dreams, boy do I have dreams. Nice blog.
- April 16, 2008 at 6:57 PM


text:
- Fast on-time delivery & pick-up
- We Deliver Solutions!
- Performed by Qualified Professionals
- Certified by Recycling Association
We will be sure that you know what to anticipate
You will need to be well informed concerning Deck Contractors in Saint Paris, OH. We be sure you understand what to expect. You're not going to encounter any sort of surprises if you hire Deck Builder Guys. The first step is to give us a call by dialing 888-427-8299 to begin your work. We're going to discuss your questions as soon as you call and get you set up with a meeting. We consistently appear at the appointed time, ready to work with you.
Deck Builder Guys will be available for all your expectations regarding Deck Contractors in Saint Paris, Wyoming
If you are considering a project for Deck Contractors in Saint Paris, OH, there are several good reasons to prefer Deck Builder Guys. We are the first choice when you really need the best cash saving options, the best equipment, and the highest rank of customer care. We will be ready to assist you with the greatest expertise and practical experience around. If you want Deck Contractors in Saint Paris, contact Deck Builder Guys by dialing 888-427-8299, and we'll be glad to help.


text:
We are Poway preferred janitorial & commercial service company. With over 36 years of experience, we've been offering unparalleled customer service and a vast array of janitorial and building maintenance services and contracts for commercial, industrial and residential customers in all San Diego areas.
Our customers rely on McKowski's Maintenance Systems for our premier level of janitorial & commercial cleaning services:
Janitorial Services
- Janitorial Maintenance Contracts
- Porter Services Contracts
- Complete Carpet Cleaning
- Hard Floor Care and restoration
- Electro Static Dissipative (ESD) Flooring
- Consulting
Commercial Maintenance Services
- Painting
- Drywall Patching & Repair
- Electrical
- Plumbing
- Welding
- Concrete Repairs
- Monthly Maintenance Contracts
- General Building Programs
- Landscape Maintenance
- Landscape Irrigation & Plant Installation
- Landscape Development & Planning
- Consulting
Contact us today, tell us about your project and request a proposal!


text:
This happened in 2006, so it's the very definition of old news, but we're still kind of tickled pink about it, and that's not a euphemism.
Some kid in Utah opened up his Madden 2007 game on Christmas morning — strange, a kid in Utah not being Jewish — and found himself a happy surprise.
Kolton Mahoney was shocked when he put the Madden NFL 07 game in his new Xbox 360 console Christmas day and an explicit image popped up on his television screen. "This is definitely not Madden," he said recalling his first thought after seeing the image.
Kolton turned off the Xbox and notified his parents, Linda and Tim Mahoney, who viewed the video game and were equally stunned. "It wasn't a pretty scene," Tim Mahoney said.
This is Utah, which means of course the scene involved necking. This is really just an excuse to use that instructional photo, which is a new and intriguing way to use the Wii.
Unhappy Christmas Surprise [Standard-Examiner]


text:
No. 84,645
LOUIS A. BRUCE, et al.,
1. Where a particular issue, although moot, is one capable of repetition and one of public importance, an appellate court may consider the appeal and render an opinion.
2. An agency's interpretation of administrative regulations which supplement statutes is to be given great weight by an appellate court.
3. Under K.A.R. 45-10-1(c), if a parolee achieves conditional release status while on parole, the conditions of parole are unchanged.
4. A parole violation, in substance, also constitutes a violation of conditional release.
5. Under the facts of this case, the petitioner's conditional release date, as dictated by Stansbury v. Hannigan, 265 Kan. 404, 960 P.2d 227, cert. denied 525 U.S. 1060 (1998), was September 15, 1998. Any language in Muldrow v. Hannigan, 27 Kan. App. 2d 662, 8 P.3d 12 (2000), suggesting a result contrary to our disposition here is disapproved.
Review of the judgment of the Court of Appeals in an unpublished decision filed July 21,
2000. Appeal from Reno district court; ROBERT C. HELSEL, judge. Judgment of the Court of Appeals affirming and remanding with directions to the district court is reversed. Judgment of the district court is reversed. Opinion filed March 9, 2001.
Timothy G. Madden, chief legal counsel, Department of Corrections, argued the cause, and Jon D. Graves, special assistant attorney general, and Carla J. Stovall, attorney general, were with him on the briefs for appellants/cross-appellees.
Sam S. Kepfield, of Legal Services for Prisoners, Inc., argued the cause and was on the briefs for appellee/cross appellant.
The opinion of the court was delivered by
SIX, J.: This case concerns the interplay of K.S.A. 2000 Supp. 22-3718 statutory conditional release dates, parole under K.S.A. 2000 Supp. 22-3717(a), a violation while on parole, and Stansbury v. Hannigan, 265 Kan. 404, 960 P.2d 227, cert. denied 525 U.S. 1060 (1998). Our focus is on the calculation of petitioner Jeffrey Parsons' conditional release date. Respondents Louis A. Bruce and the Kansas Department of Corrections (KDOC) appeal the district court's decision to grant Parsons' K.S.A. 2000 Supp. 60-1501 petition for a writ of habeas corpus and conditionally release Parsons forthwith. The Court of Appeals affirmed.
Our jurisdiction arises from granting KDOC's petition for review. K.S.A. 20-3018(b).
We reverse the Court of Appeals and the district court.
Parsons is serving an aggregated term of 4 to 15 years on four separate counts: attempted enticement of a child (1-5 years); attempted burglary (1-5 years); theft (1-2 years); and a drug violation involving opiates, opium, or narcotics (3-10 years). Parsons' sentence began on March 15, 1991, and, with delinquent time lost on parole, his current sentence discharge date is July 20, 2005.
Under the 1993 amendment to K.A.R. 44-6-124, which authorized the withholding of good time credits, Parsons' conditional release date was originally computed as February 15, 1999. However, the Kansas Parole Board (Board) granted parole on May 1, 1998. Later, on June 5, 1998, in Stansbury, we found that retrospective application of the 1993 amendment to K.A.R. 44-6-124(g)(6) violated ex post facto principles. 265 Kan. at 417. K.A.R. 44-6-124(g)(6) (1994) provided:
"A refusal by an inmate to constructively work or participate in assigned programs shall result in the withholding of 100% of the good time credits for that program classification review period, unless the inmate is determined by the facility health authority to be physically or mentally incapable of working or participating in a particular program or detail."
KDOC, following the Stansbury holding, restored good time credits previously withheld from Parsons. Because of the application of good time credits, Parsons' conditional release date was moved to September 15, 1998. As of May 1, 1998, his parole date, Parsons was released from incarceration and was on parole supervision.
Parsons escaped supervision on September 9, 1998. He was returned to KDOC's custody on October 12, 1998. On December 16, 1998, the Board revoked Parsons' parole and ordered that he be assessed for sex offender treatment. On May 24, 1999, the Board rescinded its December 1998 order revoking parole and, instead, issued a new order revoking Parsons' conditional release. Parsons' case was passed for reconsideration to December 1999.
Parsons filed a K.S.A. 2000 Supp. 60-1501 petition for writ of habeas corpus. The district court ruled that the Board erred by rescinding its December 1998 order revoking parole. The district court also: (1) concluded that Stansbury did not have the effect of abrogating Parsons' original conditional release date (February 15, 1999), (2) granted Parsons' petition, and (3) found that Parsons "was entitled to be conditionally released after his revocation in December 1998, and is now entitled to be conditionally released forthwith." The district court granted KDOC's motion to stay until the issues are resolved on appeal.
KDOC appealed to the Court of Appeals. The Court of Appeals affirmed the district court's decision in an unpublished opinion, reasoning that Parsons' facts "are foursquare with the facts in Muldrow v. Hanningan, 27 Kan. App. 2d 662, 8 P.3d 12 (2000)." KDOC contends that Adams v. Kansas Parole Board, 24 Kan. App. 2d 388, 947 P.2d 448, rev. denied 263 Kan. 885 (1997), not Muldrow, controls. We granted KDOC's petition for review to consider a perceived conflict between Muldrow and Adams in applying the teaching of Stansbury. Parsons admits that he was conditionally released on February 8, 2000.
We first must consider the threshold question of mootness. Parsons' admission of his release raises a question concerning the relief he requests. Parsons contends that the sentence computation issue here is not moot because the issue is likely to be repeated. His counsel identifies the issue here as one of first impression. Counsel describes Parsons' unique status as being released on parole and then being termed a conditional release violator. KDOC agrees the case is not moot because other inmates similarly situated are under KDOC's control. We have said: "[W]here a particular issue, although moot, is one capable of repetition and one of public importance, an appellate court may consider the appeal and render an opinion." Board of Johnson County Comm'rs v. Duffy, 259 Kan. 500, 504, 912 P.2d 716 (1996). Thus, in the interest of judicial economy, and in reliance on counsels' representations as to the significance of a resolution, we choose to address the parties' contentions.
In its petition for review, KDOC, in accordance with Supreme Court Rule 8.03(a)(5)(c) (2000 Kan. Ct. R. Annot. 56), phrased the issue to be reviewed as: "Did the Court of Appeals err in affirming the district court's application of a conditional release date that was recognized by the parties as having been illegally computed?"
KDOC advances the same phrasing in its supplemental brief filed with this court identifying the issue to be decided on appeal. Parsons, rather than replying to KDOC's issue to be reviewed either under Rule 8.03(c)(3) or in its supplemental brief, states the issue as: "The Court of Appeals did not err in upholding the trial court's ruling that the KDOC violated appellee's liberty interest in conditional release by retroactively changing his parole to conditional release."
Resolution of the conflicting positions here involves a question of law. We have unlimited review. Hamilton v. State Farm Fire & Cas. Co., 263 Kan. 875, 879, 953 P.2d 1027 (1998). We agree with KDOC that the district court and the Court of Appeals erred by applying an illegally computed conditional release date and granting Parsons' conditional release.
The statutes governing the conflict are supplemented by regulations. The legislature by enacting K.S.A. 2000 Supp. 22-3717(l) mandated that the Board
"adopt rules and regulations in accordance with K.S.A. 77-415 et seq., and amendments thereto, not inconsistent with the law and as it may deem proper or necessary, with respect to the conduct of parole hearings, postrelease supervision reviews, revocation hearings, orders of restitution, reimbursement of expenditures by the state board of indigents' defense services and other conditions to be imposed upon parolees or releases."
An agency's interpretation of administrative regulations which supplement statutes is to be given great weight by an appellate court. Hickey v. Kansas Corporation Comm'n, 244 Kan. 71, 76, 765 P.2d 1108 (1988).
We acknowledge the distinction between conditional release and parole. A conditional release is mandatory, while parole is discretionary. Beck v. Kansas Adult Authority, 241 Kan. 13, 30, 735 P.2d 222 (1987). Except in a unique fact situation similar to Muldrow, parole will occur before a conditional release. See 27 Kan. App. 2d at 664. K.S.A. 2000 Supp. 22-3718 describes conditional release:
"[A]n inmate who has served the inmate's maximum term or terms, less such work and good behavior credits as have been earned, shall be subject to such written rules and conditions as the Kansas parole board may impose, until the expiration of the maximum term or terms for which the inmate was sentenced or until the inmate is otherwise discharged."
In contrast, K.S.A. 2000 Supp. 22-3717(a) says that an inmate "shall be eligible for parole after serving the entire minimum sentence imposed by the court, less good time credits." As KDOC correctly points out, under K.A.R. 45-10-1(c) if a parolee achieves conditional release status while on parole, as Parsons did, the conditions of parole are unchanged. The Board's regulation, K.A.R. 45-10-1, says in part:
"(b) Conditional releasees shall be placed under parole supervision in the same manner as parolees. Conditional releasees shall be subject to the same terms and conditions as parolees while under supervision. If probable cause is established that a conditional releasee has violated the conditions of release, the conditional releasee may be returned to confinement upon determination of the secretary of corrections and thereafter, subject to the final hearing and order of the board, considered in the same manner as a parole violator. The conditional releasee shall have the same rights at the final hearing as a parolee under K.A.R. 45-9-2.
"(c) A parolee who achieves conditional release status while on parole, shall continue under supervision of the parole officer. The conditions of parole shall not be changed by the parolee reaching conditional release status."
KDOC argues that Adams, 24 Kan. App. 2d 388, applies and that because Parsons was already on parole, the arrival of his conditional release date passes with no effect. We agree. Parsons was not in prison on September 15, 1998; thus, there was no need to release him from prison. If Parsons had not been released from prison before September 15, 1998, K.S.A. 2000 Supp. 22-3718 would have mandated his release on that date.
A review of Adams is appropriate. Adams' conditional release date was set at April 5, 1995. He was released on parole on March 24, 1994. While paroled, Adams was arrested for violating the conditions of his parole, and new criminal charges were filed. In January 1995, he was convicted of a new charge. Then, before the April 5, 1995, conditional release date, Adams was sentenced to 13 months' incarceration for the new charge. On May 10, 1995, the Board revoked Adams' conditional release, and his case was passed for reconsideration to May 1996.
Adams filed a petition for writ of habeas corpus, claiming that because his conditional release date arrived while he was on parole, he should have been discharged from his previous sentence and should currently be serving the sentence on the new charge. The district court denied Adams' petition.
The Adams court noted that K.S.A. 1996 Supp. 75-5217(d) governed parole violations and provided in part:
"In the event the released inmate reaches conditional release date as provided by K.S.A. 22-3718 and amendments thereto after a finding of probable cause . . . of a violation of the released inmate's conditions of release, but prior to a hearing before the Kansas parole board, the secretary of corrections shall be authorized to detain the inmate until the hearing by the Kansas parole board. The secretary shall then enforce the order issued by the Kansas parole board."
Adams was properly kept in confinement while waiting for his parole hearing, even though his conditional release date arrived. Referring to K.A.R. 45-10-1, the Adams court said: "This regulation indicates that a parole violation, in substance, also constitutes a violation of conditional release." 24 Kan. App. 2d at 391. Adams' violation of his parole was the same as a violation of the conditions of his conditional release. The court said that K.A.R. 45-9-3(a) gave the Board the authority to revoke Adams' conditional release. 24 Kan. App. 2d at 391. K.A.R. 45-9-3(a) says in part:
"An offender whose parole has been revoked may be required by the board to serve all or any part of the remaining time on the sentence up to the original conditional release date, plus all good time forfeited by the board. An offender whose conditional release has been revoked may be required by the board to serve all or any part of the remaining time on the sentence."
The Adams court reasoned that the parole board properly exercised its authority in revoking Adams' conditional release and passing him to be reviewed a year later. 24 Kan. App. 2d at 393. We agree with the Adams court's analysis.
The Court of Appeals here affirmed Parsons' habeas petition under Muldrow, 27 Kan. App. 2d 662. Muldrow was serving sentences on six cases. His controlling sentence was 5 to 17 years, with a present sentence beginning date of September 17, 1989. Muldrow was paroled on July 1, 1998. After testing positive for cocaine, his parole was revoked on August 25, 1998, and he was ordered to serve to his conditional release date of April 25, 1999.
Under Stansbury, Muldrow's good time credit was restored. Thus, his conditional release date was changed from April 25, 1999, to March 17, 1998. The Board later rescinded its August 25, 1998, order revoking his parole and issued a new order revoking his conditional release. His case was passed for reconsideration to May 1999. Muldrow argued that he had never been granted a conditional release and, therefore, it could not be revoked by the board.
Muldrow filed a petition for writ of habeas corpus, which was granted by the district court. The district court found that Muldrow's conditional release date was not abrogated by restoration of good time credits and held that he was entitled to the original conditional release date of April 25, 1999.
The Court of Appeals in Muldrow reasoned that KDOC's reliance on Adams was misplaced, saying: "Adams is factually distinguishable in many respectsmost important is the fact that Adams' conditional release date remained constant." 27 Kan. App. 2d at 664. Muldrow's conditional release date was moved after his parole revocation to a date before he was released on parole (paroled July 1, 1998, parole revoked August 25, 1998; original conditional release date, April 25, 1999, new conditional release date March 17, 1998). The Court of Appeals described Muldrow's situation as "factually and legally unique." 27 Kan. App. 2d at 664. The Muldrow court found that the Board improperly revoked Muldrow's conditional release date and that "[b]y hindsight . . . he should have been conditionally released on March 17, 1998." 27 Kan. App. 2d at 665.
Here, KDOC correctly asserts that the district court erred in finding that Stansbury did not abrogate Parsons' original conditional release date of February 15, 1999. However, in affirming the district court's opinion, the Court of Appeals corrected the error saying: "Parsons' conditional release date remains September 15, 1998." (The new post-Stansbury conditional release date.)
Parsons argues the Board improperly revoked his conditional release. One of Parsons' complaints appears to be that his conditional release was revoked before his pre-Stansbury, or old conditional release date (February 15, 1999), arrived. Such a complaint is not well taken. His conditional release date, as dictated by Stansbury, was September 15, 1998.
As in Adams, Parsons' conditional release date occurred after he was paroled and before his parole was revoked. Thus, Parsons achieved conditional release status while on parole. Under the reasoning in Adams, Parsons' parole violation also constituted a violation of the conditions of his conditional release. See Adams, 24 Kan. App. 2d at 391. We disapprove of any language in Muldrow suggesting a result contrary to our disposition here. The Board did not err in revoking Parsons' conditional release.
The Court of Appeals' decision affirming the district court is reversed. The judgment of the district court is reversed. The Board's order of May 24, 1999, rescinding the December 16, 1998, order of parole revocation and revoking Parsons' conditional release is reinstated.


text:
This past Monday, I played at Cog Hill Golf Club in Lemont, Illinois - the venue for the BMW Championship and second-to-last event of the FedExCup Playoffs on the PGA Tour. I then came to CordeValle to represent my country and my association in competing in my fourth PGA Cup.
So what did I learn this past week and how can it help you?
I learned two things: one that will help me and one that should help all players who want to play at a higher level.
First of all, in a match play format like this, I get to compete in a format that my players (at the Univ. of Illinois) have to compete in. And anytime I play in this type of format, I learn so much about strategy, decision making, patience and game-management. So I benefitted greatly as a coach as well as a player.
For other players, I learned that to play great golf, you have to have all the shots. If you are looking to be a great player, an elite player, you have to have the total package.
What I mean by that is, I see so many good players who tailor their games to a particular type of shot. They refer to it as their "stock shot." Maybe it's a high fade off the tee. Maybe it's a high flop near the green. That's fine and good. But is it enough to get you to the next level? Can that game travel to some of the more demanding, and varied, layouts in the country? I don't think so.
When I look for players for my team, or I want to compete at the highest levels of golf, I know that I have to have all facets of my game working. I want to have a variety of shots, of pitches, of chips, to be able to read and putt on different types of greens, under different types of conditions - whatever the situation and the course itself may call for.
So when I look back on this week, I'll think of my time at the BMW Open Championship and seeing the world's top players there. And then coming here to CordeValle and playing among the world's top PGA Club Professionals. I know the amount of work and effort and practice all these guys put into their game. And it's paid off well for them.
If you're looking to take your game to elite levels, practice knowing that excelling at one course or mastering one type of shot may propel you to great golf heights locally, but won't at a larger, perhaps national level. You're going to need the total package. And if you know that up front, you'll be a better golfer for it immediately. Good luck!
Mike Small is the Head Coach of the University of Illinois Men's Golf Team. Small has taken the Fighting Illini to national prominence and three consecutive Big Ten titles. Small also has a storied playing career winning nine Illinois PGA Championships, four Illinois Opens, played in ten major championships including 7 PGA Championships and has won three PGA Professional National Championships (tied for the most with Larry Gilbert).


text:
Pop star Avril Lavigne has enlisted the help of another celebrity friend for her new music video after unveiling actor Billy Zane as her mystery guest star.
The singer previously recruited "The Wonder Years" actress Danica McKellar for the promo to "Rock N Roll" and teased fans with an announcement about another surprise guest appearance on Twitter on Thursday.
She encouraged fans to get the video's name trending on Twitter in order for her to release a new teaser writing, "I've got a surprise to share from the #RockNRoll video!! Wanna see it? Tweet #SaveRockNRoll (sic) to unlock the new teaser!"
Lavigne finally put her fans out of their misery and posted a sneak peak of the video, which features the "Titanic" star as a warrior wearing a samurai sword strapped to his back.
Zane also took his his account to reveal that starring in the video has made his rock and roll dreams come true, adding, "Wax on! Dig this #AvrilLavigne (sic) milestone. It's all part if my rock n roll fantasy."
Wax on!
Dig this #AvrilLavigne milestone. It's all part if my rock n roll fantasy. http://t.co/ZZrOUAIl0f
— Billy Zane (@BillyZane) August 15, 2013
The full-length video for "Rock N Roll" will premiere on August 20. See the first teaser below.


text:
GW2 Cologne Cinematic Pieces
Here are some pieces I created for the GW2 Cologne Cinematic. Be sure to check out the video to see these all motion-graphic'd out by Horia Dociu's cinematic team. These were created with 9 million layers and then animated and fx'd out.
14 comments:
- Jon Westwood said...
Jesus... Christ
- August 18, 2011 at 11:23 AM
- LG said...
Amazing stuff, should be fun creating and then tearing the place apart :)
- August 18, 2011 at 3:37 PM
- Chun Lo said...
Amazing man! My favorite is the second one love the colors in it :)
- August 18, 2011 at 6:19 PM
- Ben Greene said...
- August 18, 2011 at 8:51 PM
- Mariusz Kornatka said...
Very cool stuff
- August 21, 2011 at 1:38 AM
- Howard Shum said...
WOW! Amazing pieces!
- August 27, 2011 at 2:52 AM
- Sylvain Decaux said...
All that stuff is pretty EPIC !
- September 4, 2011 at 6:55 AM
- Levi said...
Thanks for the feedback everyone, much appreciated!
- September 6, 2011 at 12:07 PM
So these were created specifically for the Cologne cinematic? I was under the impression that they were just a part of a bigger animated video (since the Cologne video cut to in-game footage even though the background music continued playing), like a game intro or something.
Anyway, awesome stuff.
- October 10, 2011 at 5:08 PM
- Wes.W said...
- This comment has been removed by the author.
- December 9, 2011 at 12:20 AM
- Wes.W said...
These are incredible. I was wondering, in the 2nd one down, how did you go about rendering out that architecture?
I've been trying to achieve a similar look using several overlay layers from a few images i have, but it feels so tedious. Do u usually light the whole scene first then texture it out?
Any tips on getting architecture looking like that just as far as workflow would be much appreciated and as always, thanks for posting! very inspirational stuff.
[edit] "Cinematic_Arises" is the name the one in particular i'm drooling over.
- December 9, 2011 at 12:22 AM
- Levi said...
Hey wes, thanks!
I'm actually in the process of creating a tutorial for that piece in the upcoming digital masters book. I'll let you know when its out.
But in the meantime I basically blocked in the basic large shapes with a large square brush, with the basic lighting scheme i had already established earlier in the piece. I then ovelayed textures which were warped into perspective on top of the block-in and then refined, refined, refined.
- December 9, 2011 at 9:50 AM
- Wes.W said...
Ahh ok, i'll have to take another stab at it. I think i must be not getting my lighting refined enough before moving into the texture overlay phase. I really appreciate the tip, and i'll keep checking back here for the Digital Masters books release.
Thanks again!
- December 9, 2011 at 11:25 AM
- costlules said...
all this is made with the program from this video
- March 11, 2015 at 12:58 AM


text:
Please be patient with my English, as I am a native Korean and English is not my first language.
I want to write a story about a political organization built on fortune-telling.
Let us assume there are fortune-tellers who accurately predict the future more than 50% of the time, without any prior or inside information.
And, at this time, 'the probability' is not the probability of the fortuneteller's 'right foretell' but the probability that fortune-tellers present 'a right foretell'. [Edit: this sentence left as written.]
Here is my question.
If there is two fortune-tellers who have 60% chance of accurately answering a question about the future, is there a way to employ such fortune-tellers to increase the odds above 60%.
Would increasing the number of fortune-tellers to ten or more raise the odds of always making "right decisions?"
If possible, to optimize probability of accuracy, how should fortune-tellers foretell? [Edit: open-endedness of original preserved.]


text: In a story that would please Morrissey to no end, controversy surrounding a children's book, Vegan is Love, espouses the moral that "hamburgers are violent and sad," a point further driven by images of dead animals. Now meat-eaters are mad and vegans are feeling marginalized and stereotyped, so America remains unhappy. At least Man vs. Food is still on.


text:
CAIRO — With renewed promises of revitalizing Middle East peace negotiations, US envoy George Mitchell is due in Beirut today — the first stop of his inaugural 2010 regional tour. But a key ally in his efforts, Egypt, has gotten off to a bad start in the New Year, further complicating American interests.
The US has long hoped that Egypt would prove a key intermediary in bringing about Israeli-Palestinian peace. But Egypt has a poor relationship with Hamas, the Palestinian organization that controls the Gaza strip, and its recent effort to beef up its border fence with Gaza has backed Hamas into a corner and inflamed wider Palestinian anger against Egypt.
As a consequence, many Palestinians see Egypt as an ally of the US and Israel. The country's ability to act as an honest broker has been weakened as a consequence.
The problem is that Hamas is an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood, Egypt's most popular and powerful opposition movement. The regime of President Hosni Mubarak has been almost as eager as Israel for the Islamist movement to fail in Gaza, for fear it could encourage more Egyptians to support the brothers. But Egypt remains eager to hang on to its role as a perceived potential peace-maker since that inflates its importance to the US, which provides it with $2 billion in aid each year.
"The only paper or card which the Egyptian foreign policy can talk to Americans and say that we are very important in any process in the region is the 'Palestinian card'…. It's the only card with which we can play," says Emad Gad at the Al-Ahram Centre for Strategic and International Studies, a think tank funded by the Egyptian government .
Fawaz Gerges, professor of Middle Eastern politics at the London School of Economics, says that Egypt has more directly thrown its lot in with Washington in recent years, particularly in its efforts to weaken Hamas.
"The way it's seen is that Egypt has renounced its traditional leadership role in the region…. Egypt now serves the 'interests' of Washington and Jerusalem," says Prof. Gerges. "This is Egypt's predicament: the more it appeals to Washington [and] the more it improves its (political) capital, the graver the threat to its regional leadership in the Middle East."
Gerges thinks that in openly threatening Hamas, the Egyptian regime has calculated a strategic trade-off: Less regional popularity but a greater likelihood that Washington will approve of Egypt's next leader. President Mubarak, now 81, has yet to name a political successor but is grooming his son Gamal to replace him.
"The leadership believes that the only way the political transition will succeed is by getting Washington's consent," Gerges says.
Shutting down Hamas
In the first few weeks of the New Year, simmering hostilities between Hamas and Egypt have already boiled over – chiefly over a new wall on Gaza's border that's seen as part of Israel's effort to seal off the coastal territory.
"For Hamas this is not just about a political game, it's about an ideological, political, and theological existence and Hamas will basically do everything in its power to resist any kind of dictate by Egypt and the United States," says Gerges. As a result, he sees 2010 as a year for escalation of tensions in the region.
Egypt began construction last month on the subterranean wall at its border with Gaza. Its aim is to cut off the network of smuggling tunnels that provide an economic lifeline for the territory as well as arms for Hamas.
"Egypt's fear is that they don't want to have hundreds of thousands of Palestinians from Gaza coming into Sinai and staying there in a semi-permanent capacity…. They need to manage Gaza so that it does not become a national security nightmare," says Michele Dunne, senior associate at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
But Egypt's attempt to shut down what is virtually Gaza's only remaining conduit to the outside world under an Israeli blockade provoked a backlash from Hamas.
On Jan. 6, violent clashes at the border left one Egyptian guard dead and four Palestinians wounded, as Hamas led hundreds of Palestinians in protest of the wall and the Egyptian enforcement of the Israeli-led blockade of the territory.
Some analysts say that pressure from the threat of the wall has caused the usually defiant group to realize it needs Egypt as it battles for economic and political survival. But it's unclear whether this will cause Hamas to take seriously Egypt's effort to reconcile the Islamist group with its rival Fatah – paving the way for a stronger Palestinian front in Middle East peace talks.
"Hamas does not have many options," says Prof. Gerges. "Hamas is in a very, very difficult position. Hamas survival is on the line now because the pressure is coming… if Egypt succeeds in building this wall, Hamas is dead."
On Jan. 15, usually antagonistic rhetoric from Hamas leadership became conciliatory, which may signal a changing attitude.
"From this platform, I erase all the past, and I invite the brother Abu Mazen [Abbas] for a bilateral meeting to start with, then with the factions," said Hamas leader-in-exile Khaled Meshaal at a conference for resistance groups in Beirut, according to Reuters. "I am confident that when we meet, we will agree, and we will deal with these simple differences. Then we will go to Cairo, with an Arab presence, to bless our unity and our agreement."
In Egypt, that's being interpreted as a sign Hamas will capitulate on reconciliation talks.
"The issue here is after what Egypt is doing now at the border, is Hamas under pressure of being forced to sign the Egyptian document concerning reconciliation? The answer is yes," says Gad at Al-Ahram. "Regardless of if Hamas can trust in Egypt or not, the question here is if Hamas has any other alternatives. The answer is no."
Hamas has good reason to suspect its neighbor. Egypt has had strong ties with its rival, the secular Fatah party headquartered in the West Bank city of Ramallah. But Hamas needs Egypt in order to get to the negotiating table, since both Israel and the United States do not have diplomatic relations with the group, which they label a terrorist organization.
Egypt, meanwhile, views Hamas as a dangerous offshoot of its biggest political threat at home, the banned Muslim Brotherhood.
"We should not underestimate how anxious the Egyptian leadership feels vis-à-vis Gaza and Hamas. Hamas is not seen as Palestinian faction, Hamas is seen as part of the Muslim Brotherhood. It's this monstrous stress on its border," says Gerges.


text:
Your list is empty.
Save musicians, entertainers, speakers, and services, and they'll appear here.
Folk Bands Near You
Where do you need a Folk Band?
Select your event location in Wisconsin:
- Appleton
- Beaver Dam
- Beloit
- Brookfield
- Cudahy
- De Pere
- Eau Claire
- Fond Du Lac
- Franklin
- Germantown
- Green Bay
- Greenfield
- Janesville
- Kenosha
- La Crosse
- Madison
- Manitowoc
- Marshfield
- Menasha
- Menomonee Falls
- Mequon
- Middleton
- Milwaukee
- Mount Pleasant
- Muskego
- Neenah
- New Berlin
- Oak Creek
- Oshkosh
- Pleasant Prairie
- Racine
- Sheboygan
- South Milwaukee
Wisconsin Counties:
Why Book Folk Bands
Imagine that you and your friends are relaxing outside, cold drink in hand, feeling the evening breeze blow across your skin, and you're listening to the best folk music you've ever heard. Banjo, mandolin, fiddle, vocals... you name it, and it's there. If this little scenario sounds like the perfect idea for your next event, we've gotcha covered with these out-of-this-world folk bands. Whether you want to be dancin' or just relaxin'... they'll be able to set the mood to make your event one to remember.
Click here to get quotes from Folk Bands near you!
About Booking Folk Bands
Traditional music or Folk music can be easily identified with the grass roots working-class people who created it. The rise of folk music began with performers rooted in authentic American folk tradition like Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger. In the 1960s, performers such as Joan Baez and Bob Dylan began writing "protest music," and had crossover hits that spoke to their generation. Other examples of this crossover are seen in bands who fused seeds of Folk and Rock and developed the incidental class of music known as folk rock, the most well known of which include The Byrds, Simon and Garfunkel and The Mamas and the Papas. Start your search for a Folk Band now!
Some things to consider when hiring a Folk Band are to make sure you listen to audio and watch video clips. This will ensure that you truly do book the best for your next event! Next, you want to get references. Talk to people in the area about the group and get feedback. Finally, get a contract. Many professional Folk Bands require a deposit to secure them at your next event. Make sure to read through the contract carefully before contracting the group for your party.
Folk Band Pricing
Using data from quotes sent through GigSalad, we've gathered average nationwide pricing for hiring Folk Bands.
You might also like:
Want more Folk Band gigs?
If you provide Folk Band services in the United States or Canada, get more gigs by joining GigSalad.


text:
Young Justice OC'S!!!
Young Justice OC'S!!! OC Templates
Robin_Love posted on Feb 13, 2014 at 07:57AM
So I figured I'd make one for someone who wanted them. Yeah I know that others have done it, but I'm offering anyways. So if you want one, here's what I need
Power skill: (How good their agility/intellagence/speed/strength is (yes all))
Name: (Real one)
Powers: (Up to 3)
Notes: (Up to 3)
Appearance: (Skin/hair/eyes color. Hair length)
Battle Appearance: (All black uniform or rainbow clown shoes)
Preferably a picture with appearance so I get a better understanding but it isn't required. Okay if you want one...post away!!!
Young Justice OC'S!!! 5 balas
Click here to write a response...
hampir setahun yang lalu Kurls_Basd said…
Kurls_Basd commented…


text:
No partner needed
$10 with a punch card, $13 without a card ($10 for student and military!)
You learned the basics to Charleston and Lindy Hop...now it's time to learn how to combine them into patterns along with your East Coast Swing and Jitterbug! Each class brings new variations and styling as we work our way towards turning moving through steps into creating fun combinations and you can take on the dance floor!
We'll follow-up with a FREE 30-minute "Use It or Lose It" practice/DJ time. I'll be around for questions if you have any.


text:
Eddy Cue, Apple's SVP for Internet software in services has been a very visible member of the Apple team recently as the man tapped by Tim Cook to pick up the pieces of the Apple Maps disaster. He might be Apple's Mr. Fix-It, but somebody needs to help this guy with his Twitter. Cue doesn't tweet often, but when he does, it's hard to tell him apart from a Spambot.
Downloading iPhone apps
— Eddy Cue (@cue) July 11, 2008
watching The Bucket List
— Eddy Cue (@cue) June 29, 2008
going to the SuperBowl
— Eddy Cue (@cue) February 4, 2007
Watching HD TV Show on AppleTV
— Eddy Cue (@cue) October 4, 2008
rated Double Trouble - Single of the Week by Jack and White 5 stars itun.es/iBH7V5 #iTunes
— Eddy Cue (@cue) August 23, 2011
likes Prettiest Thing by Oh Darling on Ping itun.es/isL8W4 #iTunes
— Eddy Cue (@cue) May 19, 2012
likes Good Time - Single by Owl City & Carly Rae Jepsen on Ping itun.es/isy3r3 #iTunes
— Eddy Cue (@cue) June 26, 2012


text:
Go here and register if you need to. There are 2 proposals, one that has no battery and flashes one game at a time, and another that uses a cellular phone battery and flashes 4 games at a time.
This is what we have all been waiting for, for a very long time. Get over there and add your input.


text:
In an environment as inhospitable as Japan's wasted Fukushima nuclear plant, there's no feasible way for humans to partake in salvage efforts. Which is why Japan has called on the services of 23 brave rescue robots to enter the heart of darkness.
The bots, recently introduced by Japan's International Rescue System Institute, will be deployed to measure radiation levels and take video of the plant. They're significantly smaller than the Monirobo robots, 1,300 pound monsters that had been sent in previously to excavate and monitor the situation.
If any profession was going to be made obsolete by robots, I'm glad it's the St. Bernard. Godspeed, tiny rescue robots! Make us proud to be your eventual fleshpuppet servants. [Sankei via CrunchGear]


text:
Aerofoil - 2 A.M. E.P.
2011 has been quite a year for Nijmegen's Nick van Mansum. Under his Aerofoil pseudonym, his Caress 2 Impress E.P. released back in May has spanned plays on radio for almost 12 months - with the title track featuring on Prague '11 and an almost permanent fixture in Markus Schulz's livesets throughout that duration. Follow that up with another compilation appearance through Vortex, and it's easy to understand why he has quickly become a fan favorite within the Coldharbour ranks.
During his guestmix appearance for Global DJ Broadcast in May, Aerofoil placed 2am as his set opener. Throbbing from the very first second, listeners to the show were high in praise, and with the baton passed on to Markus himself, the track went on to become one of the big favorites during the Ibiza Summer Sessions Season. A journey that clocks in at exactly ten minutes, but one that is certainly worthwhile.
Complimenting 2am is Hortsik, which will appeal to those who enjoyed Aerofoil's previous track Kerosene, but with an added powerful melody thrown in on top for good measure. The result is a real party vibe that is sure to appeal to many of those who like their leads powerful and with energy.
Last but not least, Aerofoil teams up with E&G to deliver The Plank Effect. A name inspired by the planking craze of this past summer, the track is an absolutely ruthless monster with a bassline that will go through any shortcut it finds. The track has already rocked huge audiences in September, including Markus' performances at LovEvolution in Oakland and his residency night at Marquee in Las Vegas. For the second time in less than six months, Aerofoil conjures up another three track E.P. that is set to make an impact. And in the process, his star continues to rise.
Get '2 AM' on Beatport!


text:
I love a good joke. I also love me an Internet meme.
I've also been a waiter (Old Spaghetti Factory in case you're wondering), was stiffed plenty, and heck, I even like to mock me some hypocrisy and villainize the occasional corporation now and then.
So when I saw the news sprouting up everywhere on the Internet about an Applebee's server getting stiffed by a pastor, let alone a pastor who pulled the God card, and the server was later fired for mocking said pastor, I just knew this was a tailor-made cocktail of instant win for me.
But then I started to look more closely at what the server did. I also watched as all sorts of other publications ran to the server's defense.
She only makes minimum wage! they said. The pastor was pulling the God card! Applebee's never enforces this policy and now they are!
All true. Every statement. And in most cases I'd be ok with what the server did, as she surfaced an obvious case of hypocrisy.
But here's why I think Applebee's is still in the right after all this: The server, Chelsea Welch, did violate the pastor's privacy by putting a copy of her signature on the Internet.
Think about that. A signature is a very personal thing. It's what you put on checks, it's what you put on permission slips to excuse your children or grandchildren from school. It's what you put on your social security and passport.
It's a part of your identity.
And Chelsea Welch put someone else's on the Internet without their permission.
Would you want a part of your identity put on the Internet every time you did something dumb? I don't think so.
Listen, I get it. The pastor was wrong and she did a really dumb thing in pulling the God card while stiffing a server. She may actually, in fact, be a bad person.
But that doesn't mean this relatively trivial act of dumbness means should result in having her right to privacy violated.
And as for Applebee's and their policy, they may be inconsistent. They don't enforce this policy often. To all of which I say, so?
It doesn't matter if they are spotty in enforcing it if it's the right policy. If they enforce it 1 time in 100, then we should be talking about how they should enforce 100 times out of 100, not rush do the defense of the person who violated a valid policy.
And some will maybe say the policy doesn't cover receipts. It talks about pictures of customers, not receipts!
Splitting hairs. When I read a policy that says you can't post pictures of customers, that would include something like their signature. It's personal, it's part of their identity.
If this doesn't convince you, imagine we were discussing a government employee, and imagine if this government employee posted a signed document from a civilian using Twitter and pointed out this person was a bad person for something they did. Imagine if that something was a relatively minor infraction due to a error in judgement.
Which side would people come down on? The civilian or the government employee and the agency they worked for?
I have no doubt we'd have a thousands likes on a new "you violated a person's privacy (insert bad government agency's name here)" Facebook page the very next day, while we all applauded when the employee was fired for violating a policy.
But in this case, it wasn't a government employee who posted a picture, it was a person, and a sympathetic person at that.
It still doesn't make it right.


text:
University of Phoenix Receives ACBSP Accreditation on Accounting DegreesBy : UOPX News | June 27, 2012
PHOENIX, Ariz. – University of Phoenix School of Business today announced that the School has received the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs' (ACBSP) initial accreditation for the University's associate, bachelor's and master's accounting degree programs. University of Phoenix is one of the first seven institutions to have received this specific ACBSP accreditation, demonstrating its commitment to teaching excellence and delivering the highest quality education required to gain this level of accreditation.
"University of Phoenix School of Business is dedicated to continuously improving upon the academic quality of our business programs to produce graduates who are competitive in the 21st century workforce," said University of Phoenix School of Business Dean Dr. Bill Berry. "The University is proud to have received the initial programmatic accreditation and views this designation as a representation of the University's academic quality and excellence."
University of Phoenix is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association, one of six regional accrediting bodies serving as a national voice for accreditation and quality assurance to both the U.S. Department of Education and Congress. Additionally, most University of Phoenix business programs are currently accredited by the ACBSP, one of three accrediting organizations for business programs recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. The University has held this accreditation since 2007.
For more than 30 years, University of Phoenix School of Business has offered programs that prepare forward-thinking students to be creative problem solvers for the new economy. With scheduling flexibility for the working professional, students can work to advance their career while continuing to maintain their personal and professional obligations. University of Phoenix School of Business Accounting programs provide knowledge required for various levels of the Accounting field through comprehensive degree offerings to meet students' educational goals.
More information on University of Phoenix degree programs can be found at www.phoenix.edu.
University of Phoenix is constantly innovating to help students balance education and life in a rapidly changing world. Flexible schedules, challenging courses and interactive learning can help students pursue personal and career aspirations without putting their lives on hold. University of Phoenix serves a diverse student population, offering associate, bachelor's, master's and doctoral degree programs from campuses and learning centers across the U.S. as well as online throughout the world. For more information, visit phoenix.edu.


text:
BMW confirms X4 production
* BMW X4 sports SUV will be built * 580 million investment in US factory * Rival for upcoming Porsche Cajun...
Production of the BMW X4 sports SUV has been confirmed.
The new X4 will be built in Spartanburg, South Carolina, where BMW will invest $900 million (580 million) to produce the sporting version of its X3 compact 4x4.
The four-seater X4 is expected to go on sale in 2014, and will be lower and more agile than the X3 (pictured). It's also likely that a high-perormance X4 M will be added to the new range.
Early design proposals suggest the X4 will have a more sporty look than the X3, with a more purposeful front end, a curved coupe-style roofline and sharply angled tailgate.
The rival to Porsche's forthcoming Cajun is expected to offer a choice of four- and six-cylinder petrol and diesel engines combined with a six-speed manual gearbox. An optional eight-speed auto 'box is also likely.
The investment at the Spartanburg factory will boost its annual production capacity to 350,000 vehicles by 2014.


text:
|Via Alfleri, Italy
|High School:
|Liceo Scientifico
2013-14: Began competing for the Retrievers after winter break and swam in the 100- and 200-yd. breaststroke events, as well as the 400-yd. IM, at the CCSA Championships… Recorded career-best times in each of the events at the meet in Tennessee… His top 200 breaststroke time of 2:01.22 placed him fifth in the finals and ranks fourth all-time in UMBC history… His top time in the 100-yd. event of 56.87 was recorded in the event prelims and ranks tenth in program history… Won his first career dual meet event by claiming the top spot in the 200 breast on Jan. 11 as UMBC entertained Howard… Also competed in the 200 fly and 200 IM during the year.
2012-13: Sat out due to NCAA Transfer Policy.
Background: Finished in third place at the 2012 Italian Championships... Competed in the national swim meet for the first time in 2010.
Personal: Son of Sandro Santinelli and Angela Mei... Majoring in physics and hopes to become a researcher... Favorite professional team is AC Milan... Born May 18, 1992.


text:
Magalidecastro necesitaba un nuevo diseño de impreso o envases y lanzó un concurso de diseño en 99designs.
Un ganador ha sido elegido entre 87 diseños de 13 diseñadores freelance.
We're based in Melbourne Australia, and we're currently needing an A2 poster to promote the locally run Lifestyle Modification Programs, also known as LMP.
The posters will be distributed through local businesses (cafes, restaurants, gyms) as well as in doctors waiting rooms.
We'd like the design to have a fresh, fun and proactive feel. And though the programs are about diabetes prevention we'd prefer to focus more on the weight loss and healthy living benefits you get as a participant.
The goal of the poster is to get people over 40 to visit the website: http://www.mylmp.com.au (currently under construction) or call the information line ph: 9016 0053 to learn more about joining.
Our target audience is people over 40 years of age who are overweight, but do not currently have diabetes. We want to reach those who are keen to take action and take control of their weight and health.
The program is usually $385, but it only costs $50 or it could even be FREE for people over 40 who score 12 points or more in the diabetes risk test which will be available on the website.
The design must have good contrast and all text must be easy to read in places with poor lighting (cafes, gyms, doctors waiting rooms, etc).
It must include the site address http://www.mylmp.com.au and also the Infoline ph: 9016 0053
The poster must mention that the program is for people over 40 years of age.
Design must have at least one image.
You are free to use any other information including features and benefits of LMP's as you think best:
Additional info that may help (Optional):
Lifestyle Modification Programs are:
Weight loss and healthy living coaching programs
6 sessions in small groups, run by health professionals
Learn about diet, exercise, how to manage stress and create a plan that works for you!
Program value $385, but you may qualify for a $50 or even FREE place if you are over 40 and score 12 or more on the Australian diabetes risk test.
Over 40? Overweight? Take action now!
Help us spread the word.
Take the test, print your referral and read testimonials at mylmp.com.au


text:
Items where Author is "Al-Mosaibi, N. A."
Group by: Item Type | No Grouping
Jump to: Conference or Workshop Item
Number of items: 1.
Conference or Workshop Item
Faisal, S.F. and Al-Mosaibi, N. A. and A.Rahim, AHM Robust STATCOM Controller Design Using Genetic Algorithms. In: Article 170, Second Int. Conf. on Modeling, Simulation & Applied Optimization, March 2007, Petroleum Institute, UAE.


text:
Prime Minister John Key has given his qualified support to Jenny Shipley remaining chair of the soon-to-be-listed power company Genesis but investor advocates have questioned her involvement with collapsed construction company Mainzeal.
Replying to a question in Parliament yesterday, Key said he saw no reason for her to stand down at this point.
"We have not seen any particular reason ... at this point that would suggest that she should no longer chair a state-owned enterprise."
Shipley resigned as chair of Mainzeal on December 31 - just six weeks before the company went into receivership on Waitangi Day.
Prime Minister from 1997 to 1999, she heads the board of Genesis, one of four state-owned energy companies which the Government has slated for a partial float on the New Zealand stock exchange.
Mighty River Power is set down to be floated before June and expectations are that either Genesis or Meridian Energy will follow in the second half of this year.
Shipley has been chair of Genesis since 2009 and was appointed by the National-led Government to lead the company into its partial privatisation.
John Hawkins, chief executive of the Shareholders Association, said that on the face of it Shipley's situation was "not a good look". But he said more information was needed on the Mainzeal collapse before any decisions could be made. "We are in something of an information void."
Hawkins said he believed politicians were not governance experts, they were policy experts.
"People who are investing on the basis of names should think about that - we always advise peopleto look at a board's experiencebefore they invest."
Hawkins said boards were looking harder at the skill sets they needed and how that matched up with their directors.
"If you have a significant failure it just sets yourself up to be looked at a little more closely. If boards don't do that investors will."
Market commentator Arthur Lim said the situation was a "red flag" for investors and he expected the Government's advisers to raise the issue.
Lim said typically companies that went to initial public offering came on to the market in as pristine a condition as possible to enable sellers to get the best possible price.
Any concerns for investors could result in the Government not realising as much money as it hopes to from the partial sell-down. Lim said investors often bought into a company based on the track record of its directors and New Zealand did not have a good history with politicians on boards of public companies.
"It's currently hard to find a publicly listed company with a politician on it which has produced a good result for shareholders."
Labour's SOE spokesman, Clayton Cosgrove, said questions needed to be asked about Shipley's suitability to remain as chair of Genesis.
But he said receivers PwC needed to find out how Mainzeal collapsed first.
Cosgrove said that so far there had been no explanation of why the company failed and what the directors knew.
"Those are facts which should be placed on the table. You can't justify making a call without information, the problem is we have no facts."
He said the issue was another uncertainty for investors.
A spokesman for Jenny Shipley said she was not in a position to comment at this stage.


text:
Friday, June 15, 2012
Watching tiny living machines self-assemble
Scientists have devised a new way to see how proteins, tiny machines naturally built inside our bodies, assemble. The research could help fight diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's—caused by errors in assembly—or enable bioengineers to make new molecular machines, the researchers say. The study was published June 10 in the journal Nature Structural and Molecular Biology. "All creatures, from bacteria to humans, monitor and transform their environments using small protein nanomachines made of thousands of atoms," explained the senior author of the study, Stephen Michnick of the University of Montreal department of biochemistry. "For example, in our sinuses, there are complex receptor proteins that are activated in the presence of different odor molecules. Some of those scents warn us of danger; others tell us that food is nearby." Proteins are made of long chains of amino acids, which have evolved over millions of years to self-assemble extremely rapidly—often in thousandths of a second or less—into a working "nanomachine," or molecular-scale machine. "One of the main challenges for biochemists is to understand how these linear chains assemble into their correct structure given an astronomically large number of other possible forms," Michnick said. "To understand how a protein goes from a linear chain to a unique assembled structure, we need to capture snapshots of its shape at each stage of assembly," said Alexis Vallée-Bélisle, a co-author of the study. "The problem is that each step exists for a fleetingly short time and no available technique enables us to obtain precise structural information on these states within such a small time frame. We developed a strategy to monitor protein assembly by integrating fluorescent probes throughout the linear protein chain so that we could detect the structure of each stage of protein assembly, step by step to its final structure." The assembly process, which begins using instructions in our DNA, is itself not the end of its journey. A protein can change, through chemical modifications or with age, to take on different forms and functions. "Understanding how a protein goes from being one thing to becoming another is the first step towards understanding and designing protein nanomachines for biotechnologies such as medical and environmental diagnostic sensors, drug synthesis or delivery," Vallée-Bélisle said.


text:
Gold has had very long periods of boom and bust. Was last year's 28% tumble the end of boom and beginning of bust?
On the bearish front, Morgan Stanley (MS) reduced its 2014 gold forecast by 12% to $1,160 an ounce, and Goldman Sachs expects gold to fall to $1,050 over the next year.
In contrast, gold perma-bulls see higher bullion prices this year, just as they wrongly predicted last year. Who's right?
Market prices always tell us who's right and who's wrong. And so far, gold is ahead around 4%, and gold mining stocks are up almost 15% year-to-date.
However, ETFs tied to large-cap gold mining stocks (GDX) lost 79% from 2011 to 2013, while small-cap miners (GDXJ) crashed 111%.
The Direxion Shares Daily Gold Miners Bear 3x Shares (DUST), which aims for triple daily opposite performance to mining stocks, skyrocketed 179% last year and was a star performer.
After such a significant decline for both GDX and GDXJ, a significant bounce was almost inevitable.
Strategic Bets
Understanding market psychology and being able to profit from it is important, especially in a disorderly and mood-driven market like precious metals.
Before the surge in gold miner ETFs began in late December, overly bearish sentiment signaled a clear profit opportunity in this beaten down sector. Were you ready?
"This year [2013] will be the third consecutive year of losses for gold mining stocks. But once year-end tax loss selling is over, we're anticipating a bounce in beaten down gold miners in January.
"It remains to be seen whether this bounce will become a bigger trend change for GDX from down to up, but it's nevertheless a short-term profit opportunity. We're buying the Market Vectors Gold Miners ETF (GDX) at $21 and our tandem options trade is to buy the GDX JAN 2013 20 call options (GDX140124C00020000) at around $140," said ETFguide's Weekly ETF Picks from Dec. 26.
Since our 12/26 gold miners buy alert, we booked a blended two-week gain of 27% on our tandem GDX options trade, and we're still long GDX shares.
As readers familiar with ETFguide's research know, last year we were consistently bearish on gold and other precious metals along with mining stocks. In fact, our largest ETF gainer last year was our 2/14/13 time-stamped alert to buy GDX JUN 2013, 40 put options at $190 per contract.
As we expected, GDX crashed. In our 5/15/13 alert, we exited the trade with a 525% gain, selling our remaining position at $1,200 per contract.
This time around, the smart gold trade has been to do the exact opposite of the crowd. When they're selling, you should be buying.
Although gold bullishness has certainly picked up, it isn't at extreme levels. And that's good. It means the 2014 rally in gold and gold equities may have some legs, even if it has no brains.
Ron DeLegge is Editor of the ETF Profit Strategy Newsletter which uses technical and fundamental analysis along with market history and common sense to keep advisors on the right side of the market. In 2013, 70% of ETFguide's weekly ETF picks were winners.


text:
billhare wrote:the argument I was having at the time was that it was called a "computer-generated album played with keyboards", and I was saying that processing-wise, it was actually quite analog in its execution - something that could have been done (and WAS done) 50 years prior to "Code Red".
This is where some people chime in and say they don't care how you did it, they only care what it sounds like. I find it fascinating that we care about the difference between process and outcome, but I think it makes sense, especially for a cappella, which in some ways is defined by limitations. And it's not just us. Photographers are having the same discussions, with all the same arguments being made.
We also sometimes quibble over the number of people involved in creating an album. We romanticize the performer-as-artist and seem to prefer when the performer is also the composer, arranger, and studio engineer. This wouldn't matter if we just wanted a good outcome, but we care about the process.
As for analog effects, I can't help but think of the Doctor Who theme, made in 1963 using a few analog oscillators and filters, plus a lot of tape splicing. Today, Ms Derbyshire probably would have used a computer, but she made do with what she could build.


text:
Whether it is a matter of weeks or months, Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi will probably fall from power, and opposition forces will likely gain control of most of Libya.
In Afghanistan, the United States has begun withdrawing troops and allies are following suit. Over the next few years, despite best efforts to train Afghan security forces, Afghanistan's corrupt and ineffective government will likely have to accommodate radical Islamist Pashtuns (the Taliban in all but name) in the south and east, and acknowledge the old Northern Alliance's sway in the north. The west of the country will remain heavily influenced by Iran.
The best-case scenario may simply be that the central government does not collapse when international forces fall below critical mass.
It is a brutal irony: In Libya, NATO made a half-thought-through effort, with the US in the back seat, and may inadvertently succeed. In Afghanistan, with eight years of hard work, massive US leadership, and more than 150,000 troops on the ground, NATO has made little lasting impact and is beginning a retreat without a clear victory. It's a strange and troubling outcome – and a bad one for NATO – on all counts.
Lessons for US and Europe
The lessons Americans and Europeans may take from these episodes are as different as they are telling. Americans will likely blame Europeans for never doing their share in Afghanistan. And whether Libya is a success or failure, it will prove to Americans that the US should no longer offer defense capabilities that Europe itself will not fund.
Europeans, meanwhile, may conclude it was a mistake to follow the US into Afghanistan in the first place, and that the drawn-out operation in Libya further proves that expeditionary missions are a bad idea. Europe should stay close to home and practice genuine self-defense.
The one thing both sides would agree on is that for whatever we face in the future, NATO is not up to it. But in a world in which ideological, military, economic, political, and sheer chaotic threats are growing, shouldn't Europe and North America, these twin pillars of democratic values in the world, act together more closely than ever before?
If so, what are the real conclusions allies should draw from NATO's current operations? Here are some suggestions:
Lesson One: NATO and US must both take ownership
First, for NATO to mean anything, both sides of the Atlantic need to take ownership of the alliance.
At the moment, for both America and Europe, "NATO" has become synonymous with "them." When an American president speaks of "handing over to NATO," he means "Europe" – as though America, long the leader of NATO, is no longer in it. At the same time, for Europe, "NATO" has been long equated with "the Americans." The alliance is hollowing out from within.
Lesson Two: Europe's defense cuts undermine alliance
Second, as underlined by former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, the demolishing of European defense budgets is hastening this effect. Europe lacks the capabilities to accomplish basic combat missions without the US. This was a problem long before the Libya operation put it in stark relief.
If Europe continues to shed real defense capabilities, there will be no alliance to speak of.
Lesson Three: US can't abandon NATO
Third, the US cannot abdicate NATO leadership. This does not mean acting unilaterally, but neither can the US take a back seat. It is understandable that Americans would be frustrated that Europe does not pull more of the load. But an America that "leads from behind" is not leading at all.
We must lead, and bring others with us. By rejecting this role in Libya, the US is allowing NATO to appear a paper tiger. That serves no one's interests.
Lesson Four: Shore up solidarity
Fourth, we must shore up solidarity within the transatlantic family, which has eroded dramatically in recent years. The EU is fracturing over the euro debt crisis. In Afghanistan, every ally agreed to take part, but several placed "caveats" on their forces. In Libya, the US itself has become a caveat country.
This trend away from real solidarity must be reversed.
Lesson Five: NATO needs vision public will support
Finally, NATO needs a role that publics will genuinely support with resources and political will. At its 2010 Lisbon summit, NATO agreed on an ambitious new strategic concept that says NATO should do just about everything. But instead of implementing this vision, allies are slashing defense budgets, withdrawing troops, cutting costs at NATO headquarters, and ignoring civilian contributions.
Where does this leave NATO as it approaches a 2012 summit in Chicago? Ideally, we would all recommit to the fully resourced and robust NATO that meets the security needs of the 21st century. But if that bar proves too high, perhaps the opposite is in order.
A "back to basics" NATO that focuses on the collective defense of the allies may be the most that publics and finance ministries will sustainably support. Which means that for complex, expeditionary, and combat missions, whether on Europe's periphery or beyond, the old "coalition of the willing" concept is looking better and better.
Kurt Volker, a former US ambassador to NATO, is managing director, international, for BGR Group and senior fellow and managing director of The Center for Transatlantic Relations at Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies. A version of this essay originally appeared in Italy's La Stampa newspaper.


text:
Mamanuca Islands
Mamanuca Islands
White sandy beaches, warm turquoise sea and swaying coconut palms are all part of the scenery. It's a backdrop ideal for the screen, with the Mamanucas featuring in the classic Tom Hanks film Cast Away and also on Survivor: Fiji.
The Mamanucas are a great spot for water sports of all kinds, from family-friendly snorkelling to discovering famous dive sites, or riding one of the best surf breaks in the world. Whether you're looking for a relaxing break, an affordable holiday or some family time, there's an island in the Mamanucas for everyone.
Accommodation in the Mamanucas ranges from easy-going backpacker lodges and surfers' sanctuaries to relaxed resorts catering to families and five-star retreats. But whether you're sitting outside your ocean-front bure, or swinging in a hammock between the palm trees, you'll still be soaking up the magical views.All accommodation in Mamanuca Islands
Take things at your own pace in the Mamanucas. For the adventurous, there are high-speed jet ski safaris to tropical islands, skydiving from 14,000ft over coral reefs, or testing your skills on Fiji's most iconic wave, the world-famous Cloudbreak. If you're coming to relax, you can join a day cruise to a deserted island, bask in the sun by the pool, or explore the miles of sugar-white sand beaches.
How to get to the Mamanuca Islands
Located just off the western coast of Viti Levu, the Mamanuca Islands are visible from the Nadi coastline and easily accessible from the mainland. You can get there by boat, seaplane or helicopter, with many companies offering charters and transfer services.Transport in Mamanuca Islands
Dining in the Mamanuca Islands
Dining in the Mamanuca Islands is resort-based, with most accommodation having multiple offerings, from fine dining restaurants to more casual fare. Even if you are not staying there, most resorts will welcome visitors to experience their dining options.Dining in Mamanuca Islands


text:
|Biosequences .. Software .. Molbio soft .. Network News .. FTP
Version 1.0 of MHCPEP - a database of MHC binding peptides is now available for access using Internet gopher (gopher.wehi.edu.au). Queries and comments should be directed via email to vladimir at wehi.edu.au Researchers are invited to contribute their data, which will be duly referenced. Brief description: MHCPEP is a curated database comprising over 4000 peptide sequences known to bind MHC molecules. Entries are compiled from published reports as well as from direct submissions of experimental data. Each entry contains the source protein (when known), an estimate of binding affinity and critical anchor residues (if identified), and is fully referenced. The present format of the database allows text string matching searches. The database can be accessed via Internet using gopher. Reference: Vladimir Brusic, George Rudy, Leonard C. Harrison MHCPEP: a database of MHC-binding peptides Nucleic Acid Research, 1994, Vol. 22, No. 17 3663-3665 Vladimir Brusic The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute for Medical Research Melbourne, Australia