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I'm not the sort of person who enjoys crouching underneath picnic tables.
On this particular afternoon, however, my family and I were enjoying lunch in a beautiful park when my wife suddenly yelled, "Get down!" and dived beneath the table. She spoke and moved with such authority that we all followed suit.
"Why in the world did you do that?" we asked her.
"A man is pointing a gun at us" she said.
I looked and saw a man pointing a long-lensed camera in our direction. He'd been trying to take our picture.
Some time after this, on a drive in the mountains, we passed a young boy burning trash beside his house "Turn around," my wife said, "That boy is in trouble!"
"Sure," I muttered, "and the man in the park was going to shoot us, too."
But I turned the car around and drove back just in time to see the boy run out of the house with his arms full of blankets.
"Please help!" he yelled. We grabbed blankets and worked feverishly to smother the fire.
"Thank you," the boy told us after the fire had been extinguished.
"Without your help, there's no way I could have saved both the house and the forest."
Sometimes my wife is right; sometimes she's wrong. It seems that's true of every human authority—parents, government, the church. Are there any exceptions? Is there any truly trustworthy authority?
Many Christians believe the Bible to be just such an authority. They look to it for counsel, comfort, and meaning. They see it as the one sure source of guidance in a perplexing, confusing, and ever-changing world. However, many other people wonder whether such an ancient book can speak to our postmodern world.
"Its a good Book," they say, "but you can't take it too seriously." Should we take the Bible seriously? Can we trust it all the time?
Divine Origin
What does the Bible claim itself? The apostle Paul wrote to the young minister Timothy, "The holy Scriptures ... are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God- breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness" (2 Timothy 3:15, 16).
The Bible, Paul wrote, "is God-breathed." We would say "inspired."
This means that the Bible is not just a collection of merely human opinions. No, Paul claims that God actually spoke through human beings—that He watched over them so that what they wrote would be a faithful representation of what He wanted to say to us. That's quite a claim.
Paul also said, "[It] is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training." The Bible, in other words, gives us practical advice on how we should live. It reveals the kind of lifestyle that God knows is best for us.
And Paul said that Scripture is "able to make [us] wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus." If there's something you need to know in order to be saved, it's in the Bible. Nothing important, nothing vital, has been left out.
If it's something that claims to be inspired by God, a sure guide to the good life and is all you need to know in order to be saved, then you can't say, "It's a good book, but not something you should take seriously." If the Bible's claims are true, then it is something we should take seriously. But if its claims are not true, then it's hardly a good Book. To the contrary, if the Bible isn't what it claims to be, it's downright dangerous.
So, how can we tell whether the Bible is what it claims to be? We can hardly look for the kind of proof that comes from a test tube when we're dealing with matters of salvation and eternal life. What kind of experiment could we set up that would answer this question? Where, then, do we look for evidence?
External Evidence
There are non—biblical witnesses to the truth of Scripture. Archaeology, for instance, confirms the basic outlines of biblical history. Look up the word "Hittite" in the 1860 edition of Encyclopedia Britannica and you'll find only a few lines, which say that they were a legendary people mentioned only in the Bible. But when scholars learned to read Egyptian hieroglyphics, they found a whole new world of documents that repeatedly mentioned the Hittites. Archaeology has proven that the Hittites existed—just as the Bible said they did. It has confirmed the basic contours of the Bible story.
Still more evidence of the Bible's reliability comes from its fulfilled prophecies. Jesus, for example, told His disciples about the destruction of Jerusalem many years before it occurred (see Matthew 24; Mark 13; Luke 21). This and many other fulfilled prophecies provide another reason why believers through the ages have trusted the Scriptures.
Yet external matters such as archaeology and prophecy cannot really prove the Bible's claims to be true. The Bible, after all, claims to be more than accurate history. It claims to do more than predict the future. The Bible claims to be able to make us wise for salvation. How could we ever prove such a claim in the scientific way of proving things?
Personal Evidence
For the Bible, the proof must be in experience. Human lives are the only experiment that can actually test the claims of Scripture. There are two ways this test can work. One is to see the effects of the Bible's message in the lives of others.
I think of a man who was literally a drunk in the gutter. One night he staggered into a meeting where the Word of God was being preached. Hearing that Word gave him a new vision for his life. It put him in touch with a new source of power. He is now the pastor of a large church.
However, while the experience of others may be enough to arouse our interest, only our own personal experience can really convince us of the Scripture's truth. Only as we come to the Bible, understand its message and take it into our hearts can we tell whether it's true. Only then can we know whether there is really a God of grace. Only then can we know if this God can give us meaning, hope and confidence. The ultimate proof that the Bible is what it claims to be, you see, can never come secondhand.
That's why you must try this experiment yourself. Read the Bible—the story of Jesus in Mark, for instance. Pray that God will speak to you. "Listen" while you read. Then and only then will you find that even though every earthly authority is wrong at least part of the time, when it comes to the most important issues of life—meaning, purpose, salvation, and destiny—you really can trust the Bible, and the God who stands behind it.
This article originally appeared on Signs of the Times magazine, January, 2010.


text: TheRabbi Report post Posted February 14, 2013 Hello, forumites! We have had some changes in the prop rules recently, so I'm starting a new topic for this. Just like in past years, this is the exact same checklist that we give our ops to judge your props, and it's an easy way to double-check if your prop fits within the rules of Anime Central. However, this year, pay special attention to the new gun prop rules. As always, if you have any questions about props, post them in the forums; do not PM me (or anyone else) personally. That way, everyone can see and benefit from the answer. The Prop Acceptability Checklist If you can answer yes to any of the following questions, the prop is not allowed. Is the prop longer than the congoer's height when carried, if the congoer is at least 4 feet tall? Is the prop longer than 4 feet when carried, if the congoer is less than 4 feet tall? Is the prop made of live steel? Is the prop a real firearm? If the prop is a gun-like prop, does it lack an orange tip? If the prop is an gun-like prop, is it not disabled and unloaded? Are there projectiles loaded or nocked into the prop or easily accessible on the prop's carrier? If the prop is a water gun, is there water in the reservoir? If the prop is a bow or other stringed weapon, is it tightly strung? Are there any loose arrows or bolts with the costume or prop? If the prop is a sword-like prop, is it being carried in a dangerous manner? The Costume Acceptability Checklist If you can answer yes to any of the following questions, the costume is not allowed. Does the costume have dangerous protrusions? Does the costume break the 6-inch zone? Does the costume severely obstruct mobility or line-of-sight for the wearer? Does the costume violate local decency laws? Does the costume have offensive speech in any language on it? Is the congoer wearing or holding a sign that is not part of the costume? --- The big thing to note is that gun-like props are no longer required to not be realistic. We only require three things of a gun-like prop: It must have an orange tip. It must be disabled. It must be unloaded. Well, there you go. Of course, the rules will be in the program book and on the website, but this is the list of things IRT will be checking against. We apologize for the late rules change, but it took a little bit to put it together, so I hope you guys will be happy with the loosening of the rules! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites

subset: commoncrawl


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Walt Disney's 1994 animated blockbuster "The Lion King" certainly hasn't been an endangered species for the studio. Not with an international gross of $788.2 million. Though it hasn't been out on DVD or VHS since 2004, Disney reports it is the most successful title in home entertainment history. The film has also spawned two straight-to-video sequels and a TV series. And the Broadway musical version has played more than 5,000 performances as of this week and won six Tony Awards including best musical.
Now the lions Simba (Matthew Broderick), Mufasa (James Earl Jones) and Scar (Jeremy Irons), the laughing hyenas (Whoopi Goldberg, Cheech Marin and Jim Cummings) , the shaman monkey Rafiki (Robert Guillaume) and the comedic buddies Pumbaa the wart hog (Ernie Sabella) and Timon the hyper meerkat (Nathan Lane) are back for a two-week run in theaters in a new 3-D version. (On Oct. 4, Disney will release the 3-D Blu-ray and regular Blu-ray). L.A. TIMES
Image: Concept art for 'Lion King.' Credit: Disney


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Yesterday afternoon i decided to make a some hair clips for a few girlies in my life. We go through hair clips as fast as we go through pull-ups around here so i try not to spend a lot of time making them because i know they'll eventually just end up in a bowl of spaghetti or in a pile of mud. But in the meantime, they are necessary and fun.
So, here are the basic supplies i started out with:
-glue gun
-nice sharp scissors
(i was just given this pair by a friend and they are FANTASTIC!
-felt scraps
(wool blend felt holds up much longer than the synthetic, but if you're loosing them every month or so- who cares?!
-Beads, buttons, ribbon scraps
-metal hair clips
*side note: i usually use the basic "alligator" clip with or without teeth. i like the teeth for thicker hair but they can be a little bulky and sometimes pull on hair when removing. the snap clips are nice for babies but i think they require a little more work to decorate.
So then, ya just kind of cut and glue. Cirlces are my favorite because they are so easy. i used to sew on the beads but now i just glue them to save time. HOWEVER, if you're making these for a baby that likes to pull them out and suck on them i would probably sew or leave any buttons/ beads OFF entirely.
For the two pom-pom clips this tutorial from " I am Momma- Hear me Roar"
So easy and real cute.
have fun decorating the little girls in your life!


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Our direct relationships with industry-leading manufacturers, means you can access the very latest technology and information first, with no minimum order requirement. Plus we offer software and support from technology leaders like ARM, CadSoft and Micrium, unique development boards, and PCB services from proven providers.
As an authorized distributor, we only sell authentic products, so you can be confident that you are receiving the highest quality components and services available from proven suppliers.
In addition, our Value Brands portfolio of products is one of many ways we meet your price and performance needs. Multicomp, Pro-Power, Duratool and Tenma offer reliable components and equipment at low prices, offering you great value on thousands of in-stock products.
Whether you need the latest technology for a new application or products to keep a current system up and running, Newark element14 has what you need.
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We believe in the power of engineering to deliver innovations that can change the world…as well as those that just keep the world running. That's why we employ hundreds of engineers to support our customers. Whether selecting the right technology to offer, pulling together new solutions, creating technical content, or answering questions through our industry-leading technical support, our engineers provide expertise that allows us to deliver the solutions that directly meet the changing needs of engineers world-wide.
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text:
Now Available
About Anonymous
Set in the political snake-pit of Elizabethan England, ANONYMOUS speculates on an issue that has for centuries intrigued academics and brilliant minds... who was the author of the plays credited to William Shakespeare? ANONYMOUS poses one possible answer, focusing on a time when cloak-and-dagger political intrigue, illicit romances in the Royal Court, and the schemes of greedy nobles hungry for the power were exposed in the most unlikely of places: the London stage.
Henning Molfenter, Christoph Fisser, Kirstin Winkler, Carl Woebcken
John Orloff
Executive Producer
Volker Engel, Marc Weigert, John Orloff
Roland Emmerich, Larry Franco, Robert Leger
Roland Emmerich
Vanessa Redgrave, Joely Richardson, David Thewlis, Derek Jacobi, Rhys Ifans, Xavier Samuel, Jamie Bower, Edward Hogg, Sebastian Armesto, Rafe Spall


text:
It's been a while since I offered a free printable right here on my blog! And if you are still needing a mother's day card, here is one for you. A simple handlettered card in fun spring colors - what else is there to say? :)
Download the free 4.5" square printable (and remember it's for personal use only)! Just print on cardstock, cut and write your special message inside. And done! Don't need to go to the card store, just maybe the gift store? Or you can create a fun thumbprint keychain for her too. Either way, I'm sure she'll love what you're giving her. What are your plans for mother's day?


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It is a poorly kept secret among craftsmen frame builders — the less riding you do, the more bikes get built.
"There's an inverse relationship between our fitness and how much we're getting done in the shop," said Aaron Barcheck, who founded Mosaic Hand Crafted Performance Bicycles in 2009. And much to the satisfaction of a few hundred riders who have purchased custom titanium or steel frames from Mosaic, Barcheck hasn't had high-level fitness for a while.
Barcheck's years of experience pay off in the careful details
But for Barcheck, who spent seven years as a builder for Dean Titanium Bicycles, the process of working with riders to create their dream machine is completely worth the effort. Here, Barcheck walks us through the process of creating a frame inside his workshop in Boulder, Colorado.
Mosaic makes steel and titanium frames for road, mountain, cyclocross and track.
After a lengthy interview, a drawing is creating
While the end product is obviously a bicycle, a big part of what Mosaic sells is the process of a a rider working with an experienced builder — and often with an experienced fitter at a bike shop — to refine what a perfect bike would be for that individual.
"The conversation starts on what they want out of their bike," Barcheck said. "The interview process is a big part of what we do."
Kevin Batchelor works alongside Barcheck at Mosaic. Often the interview process is done through an expert fitter at a shop. "And everything is made specifically for that rider: geometry, tube thicknesses and diameter, ride quality and aesthetics."
Sometimes Barcheck will heavily steer the discussions on geometry.
"Some riders have a really good idea about what they want... and they're right. And some have a really good idea, but they could use some direction," he said. For example, some riders insist that they want a really fast-handling bike, "but if they are asking for 56mm of trail, we'll talk them into 58." (For reference, 60-62mm of trail is the sweet spot for road bikes, Barcheck says.)
Once the shop or Mosaic has a rider's fit data and other information, the company will create detailed frame drawings with every angle and every tube measurement detailed. Once the bike shop signs off on the drawings, it goes into the build cue. Turnover is about six weeks.
Mosaic machines metal on a lathe to transform a piece of pipe into a sculpted head tube
First, Barcheck pulls all the tubing and parts needed for a frame. The tubing is cut on various machines, with every angle and diameter specified from his drawings. After cutting, each piece is touched up with careful grinding to ensure a precision fit. "That's where the experience hand really makes a difference," Batchelor said. "Tight miters make strong bikes."
Mitered joints are carefully cut at the angles and lengths prescribed from the frame drawing
After this, each frame piece is washed with acetone, then mitered together in the fixture below. "We do a single pass of a fuse weld while the frame is in the fixture," Barcheck said.
This Anvil Journeyman fixture holds each piece of the frame in place
Next, bridges, bosses and stops are welded on and each joint is carefully secured during the finish-pass welding, which takes about two and a half hours. For titanium frames, Mosaic welds with a steady flow of argon, an inert gas that keeps oxygen away from the hot metal.
"Oxidation is the enemy," Barcheck said. "And titanium is particularly sensitive."
Head tube angle (shown here) and bottom bracket drop are accounted for in the easily adjustable jig
"Frame alignment for ti is all about the building process," he said. "If all the miters are tight, you can weld at a really low heat."
After the frame is fully welded, Mosaic runs it through a quality control process, and machines everything out to spec, facing, chasing and reaming the head tube and bottom bracket.
A finished weld
Once the frame has been QC approved and prepped, Mosaic then completes the finish. Frames that require paint are shipped to Spectrum Powderworks in Colorado Springs. Nude frames are finished with bead blasting, where Mosaic sprays the metal with sand for an even finish.
Each frame is bead blasted for a uniform finish
One treatment Mosaic does is a polished logo on a matte frame, show below. For this, a polished section of the tube is masked in the shape of the logo. Then the frame is bead blasted, and afterward the masking is removed, leaving the logo behind in polished detail.
This striking logo is created by masking the logo outline over a polished tube, then bead blasting the unmasked sections
After a few years in business, Barcheck estimates that Mosaic will make 100 frames this year. "If I work my butt off for the next few weeks," he said.
Batchelor's personal bike features an integrated seatmast, Campagnolo EPS and Enve wheels
"Our goal is to be a big, small company," Batchelor said. Mosaic currently works with six shops, for of which are outside Colorado. And riders can buy directly through Mosaic, too.
Custom titanium frames start at $3,000, and steel frames start at $1,900.
For more information, check out MosaicCycles.com.
Team Small Batch is a cyclocross team with handbuilt bikes. But really, every Mosaic bike is made in a very small batch... one at a time


text: In Northern Ireland for over three hundred years linen manufacture has been an important industry, particularly in the 18th and 19th centuries. Practically every town and village had a mill or a factory. By 1921 there were almost one million spindles and 37,000 looms, with over 70,000 directly employed, representing 40% of the registered working population, with closer to 100,000 people dependant on the linen industry. At end of the 20th century only 10 significant companies, at most, remained employing 4,000 people. The Linen trade in Ireland in the 18th century is illustrated through the Hincks engravings.The history, production processes and products in the 20th century, are fully featured in this website.The Living Linen Project has done much to preserve the experiences of those that worked in the industry in the 20th century.


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DailyDirt: Measuring Important Stuff...
from the urls-we-dig-up deptMeasuring natural phenomena isn't always easy. There are a lot of interesting things that can be measured without a lot of fancy equipment, but some things can't be measured without just the right conditions and materials. Here are a few links on measuring some cool (or actually kinda hot...) things.
- Did you know that the speed of gravity is about equal to the speed of light with an error of less than 1%? It's a speed that's measured from the decay rate of binary pulsar systems. [url]
- The Earth is radiating a lot of heat (forty-four trillion watts!), but the source of that heat isn't entirely obvious. About half of the heat seems to be accounted for (radioactive decay of elements, etc), but there's around 20 trillion watts that's still a bit of a mystery. [url]
- Vikings probably didn't use magnetic compasses to help them navigate since magnet-based compasses weren't popular in Europe until the 1300s. Vikings might have used "sunstones" -- crystals of calcite -- and birefringence to determine the sun's position even in foggy conditions. [url]
- To discover more interesting science-related stuff, check out what's currently floating around the StumbleUpon universe. [url]
Filed Under: binary pulsar, birefringence, compass, gravity, speed, sunstones, vikings


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Find information, membersand teachers/speakers here
Hello I was formerly one of the Quilters Guild Representatives for Region 4 covering West Dorset and I am a member of the Hardy Quilters who meet in Osmington Weymouth on the fourth Monday of each month.
Guild member in Region 4
Submitting this form creates an email from you to this member. The Quilters' Guild does not see a copy of this message, and your details are not stored.


text:
Darkfall (Hardcover)
Balzer & Bray/Harperteen, 9780061747502, 418pp.
Publication Date: October 4, 2011
War has come.
Nya's the one who brought it. And the people love her for it.
With Baseer in shambles and Geveg now an impenetrable military stronghold, Nya and the Underground have fled to a safer location--without Tali. Nya is guilt-ridden over leaving her sister behind and vows to find her, but with the rebellion in full swing and refugees flooding the Three Territories, she fears she never will.
The Duke, desperate to reclaim the throne as his own, has rallied his powerful army. And they are on the move, destroying anyone who gets in the way.
To save her sister, her family, and her people, Nya needs to stay ahead of the Duke's army and find a way to build one of her own. Past hurts must be healed, past wrongs must be righted, and Nya must decide: Is she merely a pawn in the rebellion, a symbol of hope--or is she ready to be a hero?
Praise For Darkfall…
Praise for BLUE FIRE: Nya confronts impossible moral choices as she fights. Relentless, gripping adventure.
-Kirkus Reviews
Praise for BLUE FIRE: A thrilling, complex saga.
-The Horn Book
Praise for THE SHIFTER: Fantasy fans and those who just love a good story will enjoy this fast-paced novel and eagerly await book two.
-School Library Journal
Praise for THE SHIFTER: The headstrong Nya and the innovative premise...keep readers turning the pages.
-Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
Praise for THE SHIFTER: Timely ethical exploration in the guise of high-action fantasy.
-Kirkus Reviews


text:
List of Applications/Games/Commercial
< List of Applications | GamesJump to navigation Jump to search
Native – Commercial
- Bullet Candy Perfect — Fun shoot-em-up game, with sharp, super smooth 3D graphics and a cool techno soundtrack. Features cross-platform, achievements, and online scores. 'PAMAYW' scheme.
- Enemy Territory: Quake Wars — Commercial team and class-based multiplayer game. Full version requires retail DVD to play.
- Eschalon: Book I — Classical isometric RPG like Ultima, Might & Magic or Wizardry.
- Eschalon: Book II — Isometric, turn-based RPG.
Popular rogue-like space-sim released to positive reception in 2012.
- http://www.ftlgame.com/ || ftlAUR
- irukandjiAUR — Cross-platform 'pay as much as you want' (minimum $1 USD) scheme. A fun score attack shooter, set in an abstract underwater trench. Features unlockables, online score system, and challenges.
- http://www.charliesgames.com/wordpress/?page_id=11/ || not packaged? search in AUR
Java based sandbox game. Very addictive game, big community, lots of updates, do not miss this one.
- Prey —
First Person Shooter released in 2006 (with a GNU/Linux port in 2008), published by 3D Realms.
- Rune —
3rd person Adventure / Hack'n Slay based on ut'99. Runs great from box installation.
- http://www.rune-world.com || not packaged? search in AUR
Hack'n Slay Roleplay Game like Diablo.
- Tip: If running on a low resolution (netbook etc) either play it on external monitor, but you can't see the skill/action bar. You can move the Window pressing
Alt+left_mouse. You can see the action bar, but then you can't see the health bar anymore. Email Michael from linuxgamepublishing.com and ask for a fix - would be really great if we could fully enjoy this game on Linux netbooks
- http://forum.sacred2.com || not packaged? search in AUR
First person shooter.
First person shooter.
- http://www.unrealtournament2004.com || ut2004AUR for the retail version, ut2004-anthologyAUR for the anthology version
Highly praised 2d puzzle platform indie game with a C64 retro theme, with a great chiptune soundtrack. You can buy the full version for £1.67, or play the demo. in a browser.
- Tip: You may want to backup your save file, which is found at
Great 2D puzzle game.


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Womens mesh Dancing Sale TIFENNY Adult Skirt Green Pleated Solid Gauze Mesh Dress Tutu High Half Waist Hot Brake Parts Inc (BPI) is committed to leading the global automotive aftermarket as the premier manufacturer and supplier of brake system components. The company's primary focus is the growth and profitability of its customers through a collaborative platform of quality, innovation, dedication and integrity. BPI has a demonstrated commitment to research, development and testing of its entire product offering, including friction, rotors, drums, calipers and hydraulic products, ensuring that they meet or exceed original equipment fit, form and function requirements.
Brake Parts Inc Expands Eastern Distribution Center
Jeff Fedorchak to Retire from Brake Parts Inc
Ed West Joins Brake Parts Inc as Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
Brake Parts Inc's David Overbeeke Honored with Inaugural United Way Trailblazer Award
GM Recognizes Brake Parts Inc for Performance, Quality and Innovation


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There was a thread with similar title - but it became a thread about one particular argument about pedaling technique. So, now that topic (uncoupled cranks, specifically Powercranks), has its own thread, so the people who want to discuss that narrow topic can do so - and there are people who seem to enjoy that argument.
This thread is for a general discussion of pedaling technique. A few posts here and there discussing uncoupled cranks will be tolerated, but the uncouple crank topic has its own thread. So, continuing on about them will be considered off-topic. Off-topic posts are covered in the forum rules.
But pedaling technique IS important. Early in our cycling lives, we heard the "spin, don't mash" mantra. I don't recall who it was, but one cyclist turned coach said he got best results from trying to hit the handlebars with his knees, rather than focusing on "pulling through" with your foot.
When I raced, I used a traditional Euro-pro method of making sure my stroke was smooth - I spent a month early each year on a fixed gear bike. It definitely helped me improve my ability to reach higher cadences - when you hit 140 rpm and start bouncing on the saddle on a fixed gear, it can get dangerous to your health! Actually, I would usually start the fixed gear month each year, at somewhere between 100 and 120 as my top cadence without bouncing on the saddle. By the month end, I would be kicking over 140, although I think I only ever hit 150 a couple of times.
Just a quick mention here - if uncoupled cranks DO have any benefit to pedaling technique, I think it would be like that offered by riding a fixed gear. I.e. you get instant physical feedback that your pedaling is not smooth. (Now, see? That was a mention, not a whole post, get the idea?)
Btw - if you are interested in using a fixed gear - you can set up a fixed gear rig extremely cheaply - if you can get your hands on a decent used frame. It doesn't even have to be a "good" frame - although I think it might have been easier back when steel frames were more common. Then you could pick something halfway decent off the trash that was close to your size. Check out Sheldon Brown's pages on fixed gear rigs for more on how to do this. You'll note he says you don't have to have a track dropout - and very few riders will need a track dropout in the rear. My fixed gear is an old "Panasonic" steel frame, standard road dropouts.
On the other hand, today, with fixed gear being popular, you might be able to find something used, too, eh?
I'll let somebody else tell us why pedaling techique is important - this post is already long enough.
Cheers - h


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Methal Repellent Soap
We are a local company with a global vision, and we know that's impossible without your support and we're deeply grateful for every customer, partner, and advocate. We provide methal repellent soap as well a solution to a worldwide problem. Whether you are looking for a clean, all-natural, daily use soap or interested in helping save lives around the world, we are here to help.
methal repellent soap, the Natural Way to Keep Bugs Away
Our life-saving soap has all the ingredients repellants have without all the chemicals and it's all natural and organic its purpose is to prevent malaria and improve sanitation for millions of people. For every package of methal repellent soap you buy, we will donate a bar to a family in need who are affected by dengue, malaria or zika and lack of sanitation.
methal repellent soap soap incorporates citronella as part of its effective formula. This active constituent has been used for centuries as a powerful natural methal repellent soap. Citronella distinctive scent wards off bugs and can even make it more difficult for an insect to locate a host. Thanks to its pleasant aroma, some natural bug repellent products such as our soap contain methal. Moreover, combine with menthol oil, it increases the efficacy against the methal vector larvae.
You can safely protect your skin and your family's health by washing every morning with an Osana soap. methal repellent soap is kids friendly and allergen-free.
Protect Your Skin and Safe Lives
For every bar of methal repellent soap you buy, we donate one to people in need of sanitary products around the world. We always send the bar to those countries with high-risk of acquiring mosquito-borne diseases.
By purchasing methal repellent soap you will receive 3 bars of methal repellent soap, 100-grams each. While taking action in the battle against many mosquito-borne illnesses and other sanitation-based diseases that cause millions of preventable deaths every year. Your purchase enables us to send one bar of methal repellent soap on your behalf to one of our partners working to fight mosquito-borne diseases while restoring dignity, building relationships and creating opportunity within their communities.
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If you are a traveler looking for mosquito protection when traveling overseas or a mom looking for safe methal for children, you can be part of the solution and help save lives!
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text:
Leo Gong
- Yield
- Makes 4 servings
- 2/3 cup honey
- 1/4 cup chili-garlic sauce*
- 3 tablespoons tamarind concentrate**
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
- 2 1/4 pounds yams (red-skinned sweet potatoes; about 3 medium)
- 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter
- 20 1 1/2-inch cubes boneless leg of lamb (about 2 pounds)
- 4 metal skewers or wooden skewers soaked in water 1 hour
- Stir first 5 ingredients in bowl to blend. Pierce yams with fork. Microwave on high until tender, about 12 minutes, turning once. Cut yams lengthwise in half; scoop flesh into microwave-safe bowl. Add butter; mash. Season with salt and pepper.
- Meanwhile, preheat broiler. Line large rimmed baking sheet with foil; place rack on sheet. Transfer 1/2 cup tamarind glaze to large bowl. Add lamb; stir to coat. Let stand 5 to 10 minutes. Thread 5 pieces of lamb onto each of 4 skewers. Sprinkle with salt. Brush with some of remaining glaze. Broil lamb to desired doneness, occasionally brushing with glaze, about 3 minutes per side for medium-rare.
- Rewarm yams in microwave, about 2 minutes. Divide yams among 4 plates; top yams with lamb skewers.
- *Chili-garlic sauce is slightly salty, spicy, and pungent; it can be found in the Asian foods section of many supermarkets and at some specialty foods stores and Asian markets.
- **Tamarind concentrate, a dark, seedless paste, is available at Middle Eastern, Indian, and some Asian markets.


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European Commission
Brussels, 9 October 2013
EU action in the fields of migration and asylum
The European Union is developing a broad range of policies and instruments to manage the increasing challenge of migration, security of external borders and asylum. It does so in full respect with human rights and fundamental values. The EU action is complementing the competencies and action of Member States who in many cases (like in the area of residence permits, asylum decisions, reception of refugees, external border management etc.) retain exclusive competences. This MEMO provides an overview of current activities.
1. Surveillance and external border controls
The European Commission assists Member States in managing an increasing influx of migrants and asylum seekers and protecting the life of migrants trying to reach European shores.
The European Union aims to be an area of protection for those non-EU nationals coming to Europe to seek protection from persecution or violence. This means providing access to asylum procedures and dignified and decent conditions for those who apply for asylum (asylum seekers) and those granted protection (refugees). Asylum seekers are not irregular migrants and have the right to remain on the territory of an EU Member State during the period of their asylum application. Europe also addresses the issue of irregular migration and aims to ensure that we have a humane return policy with clear, transparent and fair common rules for the return of persons coming to the EU irregularly or those who have overstayed their visa-free period of up to three months, and who do not have the intention to seek protection.
A) Frontex
Frontex was established to coordinate and facilitate the management of the external borders of the Union.
The Agency became fully operational on 3 October 2005 and is based in Warsaw (Poland). Its primary responsibility is to coordinate operational cooperation between Member States in managing the external borders of the EU (joint border operations and pilot projects) and to maintain a centralised record of technical equipment that Member States are ready to place at the disposal of other Member States.
Frontex has a budget of around 85 million euros for the year 2013 (see Frontex website).
The Agency constantly follows and assesses the development of movements along the main migratory routes in the Mediterranean and adjusts the joint operations accordingly. Should the situation so require, the implementation period of the on-going joint operations could be extended or other operations could be launched. Frontex is currently coordinating the following joint operations in the Mediterranean:
The European Border Surveillance System (EUROSUR), soon to be operational, aims at increasing coordination within and between Member States to reinforce border surveillance, prevent and tackle serious crime, such as drug trafficking and the trafficking of human beings. EUROSUR also aims to make a serious contribution to the protection and saving of lives of migrants trying to reach European shores by sea by facilitating the detection and tracking of small vessels and helping to fight criminal networks that organise much of these crossings.
EUROSUR will provide Member States with a better picture of what is happening at sea. It will also ensure better coordination between Member States and with Frontex. For these purposes, EUROSUR provides a common framework for information exchange and interagency cooperation between border guards, police, customs, coast guards and navies. These authorities are required to cooperate via so-called national coordination centres for border surveillance, which are currently being established in each Member State and which closely cooperate with Frontex and other EU agencies.
Following the gradual development, testing and implementation EUROSUR is to become operational by the end of 2013.
The cost estimates for EUROSUR amount to €244 million for 2014-2020, including costs for set-up, maintenance and personnel. These costs would be almost fully covered by existing EU programmes under the current and next multiannual financial framework of the Union.
For more detailed information on EUROSUR: http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-13-578_en.htm
2. EU Cooperation with countries of origin and transit of migrants: Global Approach to Migration
The EU continues to address the phenomenon of migration flows through dialogue and cooperation with countries of origin and transit of migrants and by opening new channels for legal migration. The European Commission has been engaging with several countries of North-Africa to agree on a concerted manner to better manage migration flows and promote mobility in a secure environment.
The events in the Arab world and the unrest, revolution and war that followed during the course of 2011 led the EU to acknowledge the need to re-think its policy approach towards the Southern Mediterranean, including in the domain of migration. Migration and mobility now feature as key components of the new Partnership for Democracy and Shared Prosperity with the Southern Mediterranean, as launched in March 2011 by the European Commission and the High Representative.
Subsequently, the European Commission called for the EU to strengthen its external migration policy by setting up partnerships with non-EU countries that make cooperation on migration "mutually beneficial" – so-called 'Dialogues for Migration, Mobility and Security'.
This approach was reinforced by the adoption of the EU's renewed Global Approach to Migration and Mobility (GAMM) in November 2011, which provides the overarching framework of EU's renewed external migration policy with a stronger emphasis on promoting well-managed mobility, enhancing the development benefits of migration, strengthening international protection and promoting the human rights of migrants. The GAMM is implemented through regional and bilateral dialogues, with policy tools known as Mobility Partnerships are foreseen as the principal instruments for bilateral cooperation.
The European Commission underscores the necessity for the GAMM to be "complementary to other, broader objectives that are served by EU foreign policy and development cooperation" and to "address migration and mobility, foreign policy and development objectives in a coherent and integrated way.
Consequently, autumn 2011 saw Dialogues on Migration, Mobility and Security launched with Tunisia and Morocco. In 2013 a similar dialogue started with Jordan. Other countries in the region may follow suit, once the required circumstances are in place. These dialogues cover the entire spectrum of potential cooperation, including how to address irregular migration and smuggling and trafficking of human beings, how to develop legal alternatives for those who wish to travel or migrate to the EU, how to strengthen asylum systems and international protection capacities in partner countries and how to maximise the impact of migration on development.
In the course of these dialogues partners may decide to establish a Mobility Partnership. Such a partnership was already signed with Morocco (July 2013). Discussions with Tunisia on the same are in an advanced stage. Mobility Partnerships include the commitment to negotiate a visa facilitation agreement, in parallel with a readmission agreement. It may include labour and circular migration schemes, flanked by a package of capacity-building measures in the areas of asylum (e.g. development of asylum legislation), migration and development (e.g. facilitating low-cost remittances and measures for countering brain drain) and measures to support the respect for fundamental rights for third country nationals in the partner country. It also covers working arrangements with Frontex; cooperation in joint surveillance operations in the Mediterranean sea; and capacity building on other aspects of integrated border management
The EU recently agreed Mobility Partnership with Morocco (IP/13/513) takes account of the interests and objectives of all involved: the EU, its Member States, the partner countries and the migrants themselves. It establishes a set of political objectives and provides for a series of initiatives which are designed to ensure that the movement of persons is managed as effectively as possible.
Further, the EU has launched the project Euro-Med Migration III (3 years 2012-2014, EUR 5 million) which aims to foster cooperation on migratory issues between the ENPI South partner countries and EU countries and then among ENPI South partner countries themselves. In line with the framework's objective and building upon the results of the previous phases the EUROMED Migration III project aim to assist partner countries in their own efforts to strengthen their migration governance.
This can be outlined as:
3. Asylum: The EU as an area of protection
A) The Common European Asylum System
Asylum is granted to people fleeing persecution or serious harm in their own country and therefore in need of international protection. Asylum is a fundamental right; granting it is an international obligation, first recognised in the 1951 Geneva Convention on the protection of refugees. In the EU, an area of open borders and freedom of movement, countries share the same fundamental values and Member States need to have a joint approach to guarantee high standards of protection for refugees. Procedures must at the same time be fair and effective throughout the EU and impervious to abuse. With this in mind, the EU States have committed to establishing a Common European Asylum System (CEAS). Since 1999, the EU has been working to create a CEAS and improve the current legislative framework.
New EU rules have now been agreed, setting out common high standards and stronger co-operation to ensure that asylum seekers are treated equally in an open and fair system – wherever they apply. In short:
• The revised Asylum Procedures Directive aims at fairer, quicker and better quality asylum decisions. Asylum seekers with special needs will receive the necessary support to explain their claim and in particular there will be greater protection of unaccompanied minors and victims of torture.
• The revised Reception Conditions Directive ensures that there are humane material reception conditions (such as housing) for asylum seekers across the EU and that the fundamental rights of the concerned persons are fully respected. It also ensures that detention is only applied as a measure of last resort.
• The revised Qualification Directive clarifies the grounds for granting international protection and therefore will make asylum decisions more robust. It will also improve the access to rights and integration measures for beneficiaries of international protection.
• The revised Dublin Regulation enhances the protection of asylum seekers during the process of establishing the State responsible for examining the application, and clarifies the rules governing the relations between states. It creates a system to detect early problems in national asylum or reception systems, and address their root causes before they develop into fully fledged crises.
• The revised EURODAC Regulation will allow law enforcement access to the EU database of the fingerprints of asylum seekers under strictly limited circumstances in order to prevent, detect or investigate the most serious crimes, such as murder, and terrorism.
Statistics and figures on asylum:
B) European Asylum Support Office
The European Asylum Support Office (EASO) is a regulatory agency, an independent European body which will work closely with the national authorities responsible for asylum, the European Commission, and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.
Its main tasks are:
C) Common principles for integration of immigrants
The successful integration of immigrants into society in the host country is the key to maximising the opportunities of legal migration and making the most of the contributions that immigrants can make to the economic, social and cultural development of European societies. Although the EU level has no competences in the field of integration of immigrants, it is supporting national and local policies with policy coordination, exchange of knowledge and financial support for integration.
In July 2011, the Commission proposed a European agenda for the integration of non-EU migrants, focusing on action to increase economic, social, cultural and political participation by migrants and putting the emphasis on local action. This new agenda highlights challenges that need to be solved if the EU is to benefit fully from the potential offered by migration and the value of diversity. It also explores the role of countries of origin in the integration process.
D) Common rules for managing the return of irregular migrants
A humane and effective return policy — in line with the Charter of Fundamental Rights and based on the principle of giving preference to voluntary return — is essential to a comprehensive and sustainable migration policy. At the end of 2010, the common standards on return (the so-called "Return Directive"), agreed by EU States in 2008, entered into force. They provide for clear, transparent and fair common rules for the return and removal, the use of coercive measures, detention and re-entry, while fully respecting the human rights and fundamental freedoms of the persons concerned.
Key features of the Directive include:
4. Solidarity and burden-sharing amongst EU Member States and with third countries
A) Funding for migration, asylum and borders
In order to ensure the fair sharing of responsibilities between EU countries for the financial costs that arises from the integrated management of the Union's external borders and from the implementation of common asylum and immigration policies, funding from Commission's four migration-related funds (the External Borders Fund, the Return Fund, the Refugee Fund and the Integration Fund) are available to Member States. Almost 4 billion is allocated for 2007-13.
Through these funds, the EU not only seeks to strengthen its common migration, asylum and border policies, but also to uphold European solidarity, so that those EU countries that face the largest financial burden are adequately supported.
These structural measures are complemented by emergency assistance for Member States who find themselves under pressure. Emergency funding can help Member States cope with a sudden flow of immigrants at their borders or situations where the reception capacities are put under particular pressure.
New tools will be created under the EU's Multiannual Financial Framework 2014-2020, namely the Asylum and Migration Fund (AMF), which will support Member States in the field of asylum and migration, including integration and return. Implementation is currently being discussed by the European Council and the European Parliament. Highest recipient with 370 million euro for the seven year period will be the UK, followed by Italy with 310 million euro.
A breakdown of funding available per country/per year can be found at (see also table in annex):http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/home-affairs/financing/fundings/mapping-funds/index_en.htm
B) Relocation and resettlement
Member States should show solidarity with each other and assist third countries bearing the greatest burden, through the relocation of persons who are beneficiaries of international protection and the resettlement to Europe of refugees stranded in third countries neighbouring.
The Commission remains fully behind the policy of relocation. It already promotes a project of relocation of beneficiaries of international protection (EUREMA I and II) that has been undertaken in Malta. The Commission encourages strongly Member States to take part to relocation measures, which remain however a voluntary activity by Member States. That is why the Commission organised the first annual relocation forum on 25 September 2013 in order to assist Member States to determine their pledges for relocation. The Commission intends, under the future Asylum and Migration Fund (AMF), to provide a lump sum of cash to governments that relocate beneficiaries of international protection as an incentive.
Refugee resettlement is not only a life-saving measure but an important solidarity gesture on the part of receiving EU countries towards third countries hosting large numbers of refugees. To involve more EU States in resettlement activities, to provide for orderly and secure access to protection for those resettled and to demonstrate greater solidarity with non-EU countries in receiving refugees, the EU adopted, in March 2012, a joint Resettlement Program. This EU-wide resettlement scheme, proposed by the Commission in 2009, will help EU States, on a voluntary basis, in finding sustainable solutions for refugees.
In the current context, showing solidarity with the countries neighbouring Syria that are under pressure through resettlement can help to maintain 'protection space', as well as contributing to dialogue and cooperation on other issues of migration and border management.
The European Refugee Fund offers financial support in view of facilitating the resettlement of persons in need of international protection in the form of a lump sum per person resettled, and this amount will likely be increased under the future AMF.
So far, UN High Commissioner for Refugees has called on the international community for targeted humanitarian admission of 10.000 Syrians and resettlement of further 2.000 most vulnerable cases in 2013. Several Member States have responded to this call, and others should be encouraged to follow this example. If the refugee situation in the countries neighbouring Syria develops into a protracted one, there will likely be calls for larger-scale resettlement efforts.
C) Temporary protection
Temporary protection is an exceptional measure to provide displaced persons from non-EU countries and unable to return to their country of origin, with immediate and temporary protection. It applies in the event of a mass influx of displaced persona arriving in the EU coming from a specific country/geographic area (arriving either spontaneously or via an evacuation programme) and when there is a risk that the asylum system of one or more Member State is struggling/would struggle to cope with the situation.
The Commission would be ready to consider proposing the use of the mechanism foreseen under the 2001 Temporary Protection Directive (2001/55/EC), if the conditions foreseen in the directive are met.
Consideration could only be given to taking this step if it is clear that the persons concerned are likely to be in need of international protection, if they cannot be safely returned to their countries-of-origin, and if the numbers of persons arriving who are in need of protection are sufficiently great.
Resort to this mechanism would allow for the immediate protection and reception in the territory of EU Member States for persons concerned, as well as offering a "breathing space" for the national asylum systems of the Member States most directly affected.
Temporary protection is triggered by a Council decision (to be adopted by qualified majority) based on a Commission proposal.
D) EU instruments and projects in support of 3rd countries
The SEAHORSE programme which started last September and is implemented by the Spanish border guards will increase the capacity of the authorities of Algeria, Tunisia, Libya and Egypt to tackle irregular migration and illicit trafficking by strengthening their border surveillance systems including their ability to respond to emergencies requiring search and rescue of stranded migrants or asylum seekers.
Through the Thematic Programme for Migration and Asylum several initiatives are being implemented for a global amount of 20.6 M€ focussing on the prevention and management of irregular migration, the strengthening of border management, the assisted voluntary return and reintegration of stranded migrants as well as the strengthening of the capacities for effective and protection-sensitive management of mixed migration movements in Libya. In particular:
Additional instruments exist to support various activities in the field of migration:
5. The EU humanitarian aid for refugees
Refugees are among the most vulnerable in humanitarian crises, especially since they often find themselves in other countries where host communities are impoverished themselves and struggle to cope with the influx of newcomers. In third countries, the European Commission supports refugees through its humanitarian budget. In 2012, more than 10 million refugees were supported by the Commission's humanitarian aid.
Through its funding, the Commission assists refugees by:
The Commission helps refugees in third countries through organisations which deal with migrants, refugees and IDPs including the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the International Organisation for Migration, the Red Cross and Red Crescent family and non-governmental organisations. Through this support, the Commission's action paves the way for durable solutions for refugees and IDPs. It coordinates its assistance with the organisations in charge of early recovery and development.
While supporting the victims of displacement, the European Commission is also working to decrease the number and scale of refugee crises: for instance, through its work on disaster preparedness and prevention, which aims to reduce the vulnerability of disadvantaged communities and prevent their displacement.
The Syrian crisis: EU biggest donor, leading international aid response
The Syrian civil war has created a human catastrophe: over 2 million Syrian refugees have fled their country and are registered or awaiting-registration in Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey, Iraq, Egypt and North Africa. This number is rising daily as hostilities continue. The High Commissioner for Refugees office projects a total of 3.45 million refugees from Syria by the end of 2013. The continuous influx of Syrians is increasing the burden on the host communities and is fuelling tensions in some areas. Countries bordering Syria are approaching a dangerous saturation point and they need urgent support to continue keeping borders open and assisting refugees. Assessment of the conditions of refugees living outside the camps is needed as well as humanitarian aid (especially shelter and water, hygiene and sanitation). The UN estimates that more than 4.25 million people have also been displaced within Syria. Every day of violence adds to this number.
The EU has so far mobilised almost € 1.8 billion in relief and recovery aid from both the Commission and Member States, making it the largest international contribution accounting for a significant proportion of the overall global funding.
European assistance reaches up to 80% of the population affected by the crisis and brings concrete and tangible results that make a difference for those affected by the Syria crisis and is having an immediate impact:
6. Migration and EU Development policies
The total number of international migrants rose from 150 million in 2000 to 214 million in 2010. Over half of these migrants reside in low- and middle income countries, and many developing countries are simultaneously countries of origin and destination of migrants. This increases regional and global mobility creates opportunities; contributing for instance to poverty reduction and innovation. Migration can indeed drive progress towards achieving development goals, especially in sectors most influenced by demographics and labour issues. It contributes to development not only in economic terms, but also in social and environmental areas.
But it also requires effective governance in order to address challenges such as 'brain drain' (outward migration of educated people), migrant exploitation and the effects of migration on urbanisation.
A) What is the EU doing about it?
The European Union can claim to be a leading donor when it comes to migration and development and will continue to provide substantial support in the years to come. The EU has committed almost 1 billion EUR to more than 400 projects focused on migration between 2004 and 2012 (globally). The majority of these projects have focused on improving migration management in our partner countries, which will remain a priority in the future.
A key objective of EU development assistance is to support developing countries in meeting their obligations to respect the human rights of migrants and managing migration in line with their development objectives.
On the policy level, migration is also a specific priority in the EU Agenda for Change, the Commission's development policy blueprint to refocus its work to focus on those countries and sectors which most need support.
The European Commission presented earlier this year its views on how migration and mobility can contribute to inclusive and economic social development. The aim of this Communication was to strengthen global cooperation to making migration a driver for development
The Commission also continues to play an active role in different policy dialogues and processes between the EU and partner countries on migration and asylum in the region, such as the Rabat Process on Migration and Development, the EU-Africa Migration, Mobility and Employment Partnership and the EU-ACP Migration Dialogue. These dialogues prove to effectively foster cooperation and exchange of best practices between countries of origin, transit and destination in all areas of migration management.
On the financial level, the main instrument to address migration issues in our partner countries from a development perspective is the Thematic Programme for Migration and Asylum. It counts with a budget of €384 million for the period 2007-2013. It includes six main areas of intervention, namely:
Apart from the Thematic Programme, migration related actions are also supported under geographic instruments.
Since 2001, the EU has implemented more than 250 migration and asylum related activities in partner countries in the Middle East and Africa for an amount of more than €500 million.
B) Project examples
Horn of Africa
In 2010 the Commission funded a two-year €5 million Regional Protection Programme in the Horn of Africa, namely Kenya, Djibouti and Yemen, with the aim of improving the protection and delivery of assistance to refugees and asylum seekers in the region. In addition, as a result of the large influx of Somali refugees into Dadaab refugee camps in Kenya, a second phase of the programme was adopted in 2011. Its main objectives are not only to improve the access of refugees, mainly Somalis, to legal assistance, to territory and education in both urban areas and camps but also to implement a self-reliance strategy aiming at increasing the skills and employability of refugees and host communities in camps.
The European Commission will finance a project with the International Organization for Migration (€1.2 million) that aims to strengthen regional coordination for a better protection of vulnerable and trafficked migrant children. This 24 month project will support the efforts of the governments of Yemen, Ethiopia and Djibouti to protect and promote the human rights of unaccompanied minors and separated children along the Gulf of Aden Migration Route.
Another project (EU contribution: €2,5 million) aimed at improving the protection of refugees, asylum seekers and migrants who have been displaced in the Horn of Africa and, in many cases, have moved across the Gulf of Aden or Red Sea to Yemen. Implemented by the Danish Refugee Council in the period 2010 – 2012, the project contributed to improving information and understanding of the rights of asylum seekers, refugees and other migrants by beneficiaries, communities and governments in Somalia and Yemen. It also contributed to enhancing institutional and legal capacities and practices of government authorities dealing with migration flows in accordance with human rights. Moreover, the project supported the establishment of the Regional Mixed Migration Secretariat (RMMS) in Nairobi which supports agencies, institutions and forums in the Horn of Africa and Yemen sub-region
EU cooperation on migration with Mauritania
Mauritania has always been a transit country with a flow of migrants coming from neighbouring countries, escaping conflicts but also using it as a transit point to Europe. It is estimated that around 84,000 migrants reside in Mauritania and that around 65,000 Mauritanians live abroad.
The EU is supporting the government's strategy on migration with the objective of developing a more comprehensive and structured policy. It is currently funding a €8 million project until 2017, which will aim to: support the creation of a national body that implements migration policies; protect migrants' and refugees' rights by insuring access to education, health and work; improve border controls in accordance with bilateral and international treaties signed by Mauritania. The project will directly benefit all migrants but also the population at large through better management of labour migration.
EU cooperation with Somalia
An on-going project under the Instrument for Stability (IfS) contributes to increasing security of the Kenyan Dadaab camp for Somali refugees, through support for improved living conditions for police officers, trainings for police officers and promoting a community policing network (budget: €2,100,000).
During the Somalia New Deal Conference on 16 September 2013 in Brussels, where the Somali Compact was endorsed, the EU pledged 650 million euro support to enable its implementation and committed to the new political process in Somalia.
EU cooperation with Mali
EU funding to Mali totals 727.8 million for the period 2008-2013. Focal sectors include governance (decentralisation, supporting Mali to define a migration policy), economic development for the North and Delta du Niger region (infrastructures) and general budget support.
EU cooperation with Eritrea
Support to Eritrea is currently limited to the agricultural sector and food security (€41.5 million) and to governance (support to the Community Courts in Eritrea: €5 million; Capacity Building of the public administration in Eritrea: €3.4 million, and EDF Technical Cooperation Facility €2 million).
Annex 1 - General Programme "Solidarity and Management of Migration Flows"
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For product availability, please select your "Ship to" state above.Got it, I'll ship to California
Diamond Creek Three Vineyard Blend Cabernet Sauvignon 1981
Winemaker Notes
Critical AcclaimAll Vintages
Responsible for the vast majority of American wine production, if California were a country, it would be the world's fourth largest wine-producing nation. The state's diverse terrain and microclimates allow for an incredible range of wine styles, and unlike tradition-bound Europe, experimentation is more than welcome here. Wineries range from tiny, family-owned boutiques to massive corporations, and price and production are equally varied. Plenty of inexpensive bulk wine is made in the Central Valley area, while Napa Valley is responsible for some of the world's most prestigious and expensive "cult" wines.
Each American Viticultural Area (AVA) and sub-AVA of has its own distinct personality, allowing California to produce wine of every fashion: from bone dry to unctuously sweet, still to sparkling, light and fresh to rich and full-bodied. In the Napa Valley, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc dominate vineyard acreage. Sonoma County is best known for Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel. The Central Coast has carved out a niche with Rhône Blends blends based on Grenache and Syrah, while Mendocino has found success with cool climate varieties such as Pinot noir, Riesling and Gewürztraminer. With all the diversity that California has to offer, any wine lover will find something to get excited about here.
A noble variety bestowed with both power and concentration, Cabernet Sauvignon enjoys success all over the globe. Inherently high in tannins and acidity, the best bottlings of Cabernet can age beautifully, with the ability to last fifty years or more. Cabernet Sauvignon flourishes in temperate climates like Bordeaux's Medoc region and forms the base of the Medoc reds, which are typically mostly Cabernet with Merlot and smaller amounts of some combination of Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot. (Enjoying a great deal of success in various regions around the world, this blend is now globally referred to as a Bordeaux Blend.) Cabernet Sauvignon from the Napa Valley is responsible for some of the world's most prestigious, age-worthy and sought-after "cult" wines.
In the Glass
High in color, tannin and extract, Cabernet Sauvignon expresses notes of blackberry, cassis, plum, currant, spice and tobacco. In Bordeaux and elsewhere in the Old World you'll find the more earthy, tannic side of Cabernet, where it is typically blended to soften tannins and add complexity. In warmer regions like California Washington, Argentina, Chile and Australia, you can typically expect more ripe fruit flavors upfront.
Perfect Pairings
Cabernet Sauvignon is right at home with rich, intense meat dishes—beef, lamb and venison, in particular—where its opulent fruit and decisive tannins make an equal match to the dense protein of the meat. With a mature Cabernet, opt for tender, slow-cooked meat dishes.
Sommelier Secrets
Despite the modern importance and ubiquity of Cabernet Sauvignon, it is actually a relatively young variety. In 1997, DNA profiling revealed the grape to be a spontaneous crossing of Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc which took place in 17th century southwestern France.


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Perhaps it's the mournful gaze, or the starched Western suits, or the quiet reticence of a middle son who grew up in the shadow of a more dynamic brother. There might even be a trace of the eager-to-please manner of the ophthalmologist he seemed destined to become. Whatever it is about his demeanor, powerful men and women chronically underestimate Bashar al-Assad.
With Congress weighing whether to approve a military strike against Syria and begin an unpredictable new chapter in the conflict, it's important to understand the man now at the center of the narrative. How Assad will respond to U.S. military force, or to alternatives such as placing his chemical-weapons stockpiles under international control, is a key question on the minds of many lawmakers. In interviews, observers who have spent years watching Assad say they now see a tyrant in full bloom, an expert propagandist at the peak of his powers, shrewd beyond the recognition of many of his contemporaries — and utterly cynical.
But the narrative was far different even 10 years ago. When Assad assumed the presidency of Syria after his father's death in 2000, extending three decades of hereditary dictatorship, he was feted in Paris and lauded by Jacque Chirac, then the president of France, as the vanguard of a new generation of more-modern, reforming Arab leaders. Noting his apparent meekness in comparison with his tyrannical father, Hafez al-Assad, one European diplomat remarked that Syria would become "a dictatorship without a dictator."
In 2003, Secretary of State Colin Powell traveled to Damascus to seek Assad's counsel as a leader the United States could do business with. In March 2011, at the onset of the Arab Spring uprisings, then-Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton insisted that the United States had no intention of intervening in Syria the way it had in Libya. "There is a different leader in Syria now," she said. "Many of the members of Congress from both parties who have gone to Syria in recent months have said they believe he's a reformer."
Now, with the blood of more than 100,000 Syrians on his hands and the White House saying definitively that his regime recently gassed more than a thousand men, women, and children to death in the suburbs of Damascus, it's clear that those formidable leaders, all expert judges of character, somehow fundamentally misread Assad.
They might argue instead that he has fundamentally changed, that once again absolute power had corrupted absolutely. But Assad, for one, is having none of it. He has already begun publicly defending his actions, including an interview with CBS's Charlie Rose that aired this week in which he argued there was little evidence that chemical weapons were used and that he had done nothing to earn his reputation as the Butcher of Damascus.
"The imperative question is: Has the nature of this person changed? The media can manipulate a person's image at a whim, yet my reality remains the same. I belong to the Syrian people. I defend their interests and independence, and will not succumb to external pressure. I cooperate with others in a way that promotes my country's interests," Assad told France's La Figaro newspaper recently. "This is what was never properly understood; they assumed that they could easily influence a young president, that if I had studied in the West I would lose my original culture. This is such a naive and shallow attitude. I have not changed; they are the ones who wished to identify me differently at the beginning."
A Family Affair
Assad was just 17 years old when his father introduced him to the family business. The year was 1982, and a Muslim Brotherhood-inspired uprising of Sunnis had taken place in the city of Hama. The ruling Assad family is part of the Alawite sect of Shiite Islam, which accounts for only about 11 percent of Syrians, while Sunnis account for roughly 75 percent of the population. Such an overt challenge to the Assad's minority rule by the sectarian majority would not be tolerated.
Hafez al-Assad, famous for wearing military uniforms and dark sunglasses, dispatched his younger brother Rifaat al-Assad, who commanded the elite Alawite security force responsible for defending the regime. Rifaat's forces leveled whole swaths of Hama with artillery barrages, killing an estimated 25,000 people. The Muslim Brotherhood was driven underground, and young Bashar internalized some of the lessons: Blood is thicker than water; tribe and sect trump nationalism; and dissent must be met with an iron fist.
"Hafez al-Assad was utterly ruthless in crushing the Muslim Brotherhood "¦ and he was successful in silencing them," said former U.S. Ambassador to Syria Richard Murphy, now a scholar at the Middle East Institute. "And there's no question that the son Bashar has adopted his father's code."
That same year, Assad graduated from high school and began studying medicine at the University of Damascus. After completing his residency in ophthalmology, he moved to London in 1992 to practice. Quiet and reserved, Bashar lived in the shadow of his more flamboyant and dynamic older brother, Bassel, who after being trained in the Soviet Military Academy was commissioned in the Syrian special forces. Everyone understood that the oldest son was the heir apparent, but Bassel died in a car wreck in 1994. The baton passed to Bashar.
After running unopposed as the leader of Syria's Baath Party, receiving 97 percent of the "vote" in a referendum, Bashar was nonetheless heralded as the vanguard of the next generation of Arab leaders, one who would bring modernization and much needed economic and human-rights reforms to Syria. The lengths to which Assad would go to advance that narrative were revealed in February 2011, when Vogue published a glowing profile of his wife, Asma al-Assad, under the title, "A Rose in the Desert." Even as the regime was beginning its brutal crackdown on protesters, the magazine referred to the couple as urbane, well traveled ,and "wildly democratic," with Asma described as "glamorous, young, and very chic — the freshest and most magnetic of first ladies."
A few weeks later, Vogue removed the article and all references to it from its website, and The Hill reported that the lobbying firm Brown Lloyd James had been paid thousands of dollars to help arrange for its publication.
Indeed, for all the talk of reform in Syria, Damascus remained a hub for extremist groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah. The State Department and various human-rights groups also continuously noted that Syria was still a police state that routinely imprisoned, tortured, and killed Assad's political opponents. When a United Nations commission found in 2011 that the regime had responded to initially peaceful protests with torture and other "crimes against humanity," Assad reacted by advancing Syria as a candidate for the U.N. Human Rights Council, even though he disparaged the world body as a farce.
"You do not believe the United Nations is a credible organization?" Barbara Walters posed to him in a December 2011 interview.
"No. Never. It's not just my generation. It's something we inherited as a concept. As a belief," Assad said.
"[But] you have an ambassador to the United Nations."
"Yeah," Assad said. "It's a game we play. It doesn't mean you believe in it."
The Dynasty
What Assad clearly believes in is solidifying the intricate web of connections that has always formed the tight core of the family dynasty. Taking a page directly out of his father's book, Assad has given his hotheaded younger brother. Maher, the job of regime enforcer, as a commander of the Republican Guard and the elite 4th Infantry Division. In 1999, Maher reportedly shot his sister's husband in the stomach in a fit of anger, and a number of experts suspect that he was behind the recent chemical-weapons attack (possibly in retaliation for a rebel attack on Bashar al-Assad's convoy, which is said to have infuriated the dictator).
As the current crisis has intensified, experts say the decision-making that once included significant input from Hafez al-Assad's old cronies in the military has been tightened. Assad admitted as much in a recent interview with a French journalist, when he was asked whether military commanders or someone from his inner circle could have given the order to use chemical weapons without his knowledge.
"Regardless of whether or not we do or do not possess such weapons, in any country that does possess these weapons, the decision to deploy is usually centralized," Assad replied.
"The Assads rule very much like a Mafia family, with decision-making increasingly centralized into the hands of Bashar and a few key family members," said Andrew Tabler, a senior fellow in the Program on Arab Politics at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, and a coauthor of the recent report on the Assad dynasty called "All the Tyrant's Men."
Unlike in Egypt, Tabler notes, the Syrian military and security forces are tightly controlled by members of the Alawite minority who are not pledged to protect the Syrian state, but rather who see their fate as being tied directly to the fortunes of the Assads.
"Unfortunately, nothing we or anyone else has done has been able to crack the cohesiveness and unity of that ruling elite," he said.
A Tyrant in Full
Assad has mastered the trick of the dictator's circular logic: The very fact that he has survived as president through two and a half years of a brutal civil war is proof that the Syrian people are behind him. His minority coalition of Alawites, Christians, and Druze (another religious sect) has remained remarkably resilient precisely because the Assad regime has now committed so many atrocities that retribution killings are inevitable in defeat. The rebel ranks are full of "terrorists" because Assad has done everything in his power to transform a secular uprising by disaffected Arab youth into a sectarian fight to the death to which extremists are attracted like moths to fire.
"Assad has successfully turned protests against a half-century of authoritarian rule into a sectarian civil war with radicals on all sides, in part by releasing Sunni jihadis associated with al-Qaida in Iraq from his own prisons so they could join the opposition," said Murhaf Jouejati, a professor at the National Defense University's Near East and South Asia Center for Strategic Studies. "That advances his narrative that the regime is the beating heart of Arab nationalism and resistance to the West, waging a battle for secularism against Islamic extremism. Which, quite frankly, is bull."
Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim Bin Jabr al-Thani, who until recently was the prime minister of Qatar, experienced Assad's penchant for cynicism and circular logic firsthand.
"Remember that what happened in Syria started out as not as a revolution but with peaceful protesters asking for a few reforms, and on the first day 160 of them were killed," Thani said at a Brookings Institution conference earlier this year. "I went to see Assad, and we had a long conversation. He promised to give an important speech to his parliament, and instead he cracked jokes as if nothing was happening, while blood was running in the streets! He agreed to meet with the opposition, and we saw that, too, was a joke to him! Other promises were made and not kept. As chair of the Arab League, we took the matter up with our friends and tried to solve it by sending a monitoring team to Syria to try and talk to him. And, finally, we concluded that Bashar al-Assad was just buying time to execute his one true strategy, which is to kill, and kill, and kill until he wins."
Indeed, what makes Assad so dangerous is that he has a worldview and a strategy — and the instincts of a survivalist. After a decade of unpopular war in Iraq and Afghanistan, he senses acutely that the West is war-weary, and the recent debates in London, Washington, and Paris over limited air strikes have reinforced the notion. After watching Saddam Hussein on the gallows, Hosni Mubarak in chains, and Muammar el-Qaddafi executed beside a drainage ditch, Assad understands that, for him, this fight is existential. He told CBS that a U.S. strike on Syria "is going to support al-Qaida."
Assad also knows that his friends in the region and his allies on the U.N. Security Council are more committed to the fight than his opponents. Qatar and Saudi Arabia send money to the rebellion, while Iran and Lebanese Hezbollah have both put boots on the ground in Syria. The United States wrings its hands over supplying small arms to the rebels, while Russia supplies the high-tech weaponry of a modern state. Assad told CBS that the U.S. should "expect every action" in retaliation, if a strike is carried out.
Assad's worldview and strategy of victory at all costs suggest he will be undeterred from slaughter by a limited U.S. cruise-missile strike meant to show resolve where none exists, experts say. Serious negotiations over a peaceful resolution that might eventually land him in a war-crimes tribunal or at the end of a rope are likely out of the question.
If Assad cannot win outright, he almost certainly will try to make good on his threat to turn Syria's civil war into a region-wide conflagration, the better to carve an Alawite rump state out of the chaos and perpetuate the dynasty.
Brian Michael Jenkins, a longtime analyst with Rand who returned from the region recently, said he believes Assad's fallback strategy is to slice an Alawite/Christian/Hezbollah state out of Syria's corpse, leaving Sunni and Kurdish rebels to fight over the remains. "Syria is now like the Italian Peninsula during the Renaissance," Jenkins wrote in an e-mail.
Jouejati of the National Defense University said, "Assad has said all along that he will set the region on fire before he falls, and if he can't crush the rebellion outright I think his Plan B is to carve out an Alawite stronghold along the coast stretching from Homs to Damascus, which would suit his Iranian allies as a continuing conduit to [Lebanese] Hezbollah. So I fear that each day this crisis continues, the sectarian fissures will deepen and widen, and the less likely it will be that Syria is ever again a unified state."


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Hoping to inspire a Delaware filmmaking movement, 2004 Thomas McKean High School graduate Lindsey Copeland is scouting New Castle County locations for her first feature-length film, "Thumper," which she will start shooting in August. Here, she discusses her new movie, her Hockessin roots and what filmmaking could mean for the First State's future.
In 2004, Hockessin native Lindsey Copeland graduated from Thomas McKean High School and headed to Boston to study art history. That was almost 10 years ago and a lot has changed for Copeland, who has finally found her place – and her voice – as a bona fide filmmaker with her own production company, Fivelands Films.
Copeland already has several short films under her belt, including "Sleep," a short film she wrote and directed that was selected for the 2013 Cannes Short Film Corner at the Cannes International Film Festival held annually in Cannes, France. Now she's ready to venture into feature films.
Along the way, she also has to raise $500,000. But, while raising that money, which she'll do through the crowd-sourcing website Kickstarter, Copeland is also hoping to inspire her home state to start thinking more about filmmaking in Delaware.
She took time, in between meetings, story rewrites and the general business of making a movie to discuss her current project, "Thumper," her desire to shoot the movie in Delaware and how a quiet girl from Hockessin found her voice through the magic of writing and filmmaking.
Q After high school and college, you decided to pursue post-graduate work at Brunel University in London. How did your time there influence what you are doing now?
A When I was twenty I went to London for the first time through my university's study abroad program. It was my first time being outside of the states by myself and it really opened my eyes to the career I wanted to pursue. I initially thought I wanted to be a novelist and it wasn't until I began handing in my assignments that I realized I was better at script writing. Initially, it was hard for me to understand that I was more adept at writing scripts since my program was tailored to novel writing. I thought that I was missing something, but what I discovered was that my talent was different and it was in a different area of writing.
The time I spent in London was invaluable. It changed who I was. I became braver because of it. I took more risks because of it. I finally found my own voice, one that I wasn't afraid to tell others about. Initially, you feel afraid of the vulnerability involved in telling people you want to write for a living and even more so telling people you want to make movies for a living. But my time in London made me bolder and made me less willing to shy away from the things I wanted to pursue, in part because moving there for grad school forced me to do everything alone. Doing things alone has a way of forcing you to believe in what you want to do, which you need if you're going to be a filmmaker. If you don't believe that what you have to say is worth saying, no one else will. I used to be afraid of the uncertainty of writing, and later of the film business. My mother would always tell me there's no glory in certainty, but I didn't understand what that meant until I was forced to go it alone and discover the beauty of uncertainty, even if I was initially scared of it.
Q You've done several short films but you are working on your first feature film, "Thumper," a story that reunites high school sweethearts on the eve of both of their weddings. What was the inspiration for that story?
A Without giving away too much of the plot of Thumper, I was largely inspired by a story I heard about a bachelorette party from a friend of mine. It's not exactly the same as what happens in Thumper but it was definitely what got the ball rolling for a script idea. At the time I was writing the script I had a lot of weddings coming up and I began to think about the permanency of marriage, or at least what we hope to be permanent. Marriage means a lot of things to a lot of different people and I spent a lot of time detailing those ideas.
I also started thinking a lot about nostalgia, and a longing for a time in which life seemed easier. After my parents sold the house I grew up in, I began to reflect on what it meant that the home I had always had was gone forever and now belongs to someone else. It happens to everyone but the more I wrote, the more I realized I was taking specific memories and blanketing them over a large period of time. It was a distorted memory. But, that's ultimately what nostalgia is-distorted memory. Portions of life are really never all good or all bad, there's a mixture in there.
So, this constant examination of these thoughts kept the story going for a while and then I hit a road block with the script in which I felt I didn't know how to properly end it. I went back and forth writing and re-writing until I decided to leave it and wait for inspiration to come. I then flew out to Arizona for a friend's wedding and suddenly, without even thinking about it, the ending came to me. My friends, my travels, stories I hear and collect, that's where most of my inspiration comes from. I like a good mix of real life and imagination.
Q But, why tell this story now?
A I felt this sudden need to make this film because I think it resonates with so many people. We all have moments of 'what if.' I don't think there's a person alive who hasn't thought about someone they used to love and what life would have been like had they taken a different path. Love, real love, carves a little space in your memory.
Even after you've moved on and forgotten a person, you'll hear a song, or catch a familiar scent, or someone will quote a line from a book or a movie and you'll say, 'Hey, I remember when I heard/saw/read that, I was with so and so.' There's a little piece of them in there somewhere. You can tell a lot about yourself by the people you choose to give your love to. In a way, your past loves are very much a reflective road map for how you view yourself. I hope when people watch "Thumper" they see that and they relate to it, and when it's over they'll say, 'Yeah, I've been there,' or 'I am there and I don't feel alone now.'
Q Producing a movie sounds time-consuming and costly. Explain why you turned to the crowd sourcing website Kickstarter and what you hope to accomplish.
A Producing is no small feat and it does take up a lot of time. That being said, I love and believe in this film so much that I'm willing to do whatever it takes to get it made. I used Kickstarter once before to raise post-production funds for my first short film, "Beautiful Girls," and had success with it. Granted, I'm asking for much more money this time around but I believe that the people, specifically the people of Delaware are interested in seeing feature films made in the state.
I believe this is a story that people would like to see told and I like that Kickstarter allows people to choose the films they want to see made. Instead of asking for arbitrary amounts of money, we're asking people to give $10, the average price of a movie ticket, in exchange for a digital copy of the film. In essence, we're saying that if this sounds like a film you would pay to see, then please do so. The bonus is that the people living in the areas we're shooting in throughout New Castle County, have the opportunity to be a part of the production. We'll need plenty of extras, people to work on sets, locations and everything. And, we'll also be able to put money back into the community by frequenting local businesses during production.
Q So, this project is about more than just making a movie for you?
A The project is two-fold. The first part of our Kickstarter campaign is the story of "Thumper." The second part is about encouraging filmmaking in Delaware. I grew up here and I'm inspired all the time by my experiences living here. I see the value in making films here and I'm surprised by the lack of filmmaking that's taking place, considering every state that surrounds it has production resources and are actively participating in production. The majority of my production team is coming from New York and I want them to be encouraged to bring production here. I'd like for everyone who sees the finished product to see Delaware as a great state for filming in. Production would mean a wide variety of new jobs and opportunities for residents. Films need a lot of things, they need insurance, caterers, vehicles, set designers, electrical equipment, rental houses, actual houses, animals, stunt coordinators, the list goes on and on. If there was a film presence in Delaware, then there would be a significant rise in employment opportunities for those who want to work in film production.
Q Have you started scouting locations yet?
A We are hoping to start filming in various locations in New Castle County this August. We've begun scouting various locations, which will include a high school, hotel, as well as various local businesses. So far, a lot of the locations we've been scouting have been incredibly friendly and excited about the opportunity so I'm hoping we're able to pull it off.
Q Finally, what's your ultimate goal with this project?
A My ultimate goal is to make a film people want to see, that they can relate to, and that they will want to watch again and again. As a teenager I loved having movie nights with my friends and bonding with them over films we loved. I hope I can bring that to audiences. And, I hope that I can inspire other Delawareans to make films. This business is not an easy thing, but if you love it you don't know how to leave it alone and you have to find your path to making it work. This campaign is a part of my path and I hope those who believe in this project will join me.