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5 things to know about the Wildrose party
When Alberta voters go to the polls on Monday, they could bring an end to a 41-year Progressive Conservative dynasty and turn to a largely untested group of politicians who say they want to return the province to a more traditional conservatism.
The Wildrose party has a charismatic leader — Danielle Smith — and a slate of rookie candidates riding a wave of discontent with the governing PCs.
Here are five things to know about the party that could form the next Alberta government.
Deep roots in Western political tradition
Alberta has a long-standing habit of spawning upstart parties — think Social Credit, Reform, Peter Lougheed's PCs at one point — upstarts that have often captured electoral victory in an impressive fashion. Wildrose — the name reflects the province's provincial flower — would like to carry on that tradition.
"In previous waves, it's always been a party that was very, very small or almost non-existent in the previous election coming in and sweeping power," says Duane Bratt, a political science professor at Mount Royal University in Calgary.
"SoCreds were non-existent before they knocked off the United Farmers of Alberta. The United Farmers of Alberta were non-existent before they wiped out the Liberals. The PCs had six members prior to the '71 election and Peter Lougheed's big victory."
What's more, every time that's happened, it's been a party on the right.
"There's a strong conservative populist streak in Alberta that goes back a long time," says Bratt. "There's a lot of questions about that given that there's been a lot of inflows of immigration. A lot of people believe Alberta changes you more than you change Alberta when you come here."
Rise in popularity owes much to PC woes
Much of the Wildrose momentum lies in its appeal to those dissatisfied with the ruling Conservatives, a dynasty born with Lougheed's win in 1971, and carried on under Don Getty, Ralph Klein, Ed Stelmach and current premier Alison Redford.
"You can't really look at [Wildrose's] potential victory," Bratt says, "without looking at the self-destruction of the Conservative dynasty."
To explain the rise of Wildrose, Bratt looks to the split in the federal Progressive Conservative party between the Reform movement and the PC party in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Bratt refers to the Alberta version of the PC split as the "battle of the daughters," metaphorically speaking, of former Conservative prime minister Joe Clark and former Reform Party leader Preston Manning, both from Alberta.
Redford, the current PC premier, worked for Clark in Ottawa while Wildrose leader Smith has, as campaign strategists, Cliff Fryers, who was Manning's chief of staff, and Tom Flanagan, the University of Calgary political scientist who worked closely with both Manning and Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
"Outside the party there was always a really conservative group," says Bratt, "but they were a rump, they would get two per cent, three per cent. This is the old Alberta Alliance party, the old Wildrose party, the Western Canada Concept Party. They even won a seat in 2004."
The Alberta Alliance and Wildrose merged in 2008 to form the Wildrose Alliance party. Smith was elected leader in 2009, and "Alliance" was dropped from the name in 2011.
Dissatisfaction had been mounting with the PCs for a while and Bratt points to one Stelmach decision in particular as fuelling the popularity of Wildrose: the premier's 2007 decision to increase royalties on oil and gas production across Alberta by about 20 per cent.
"This sparked anger in the oilpatch, particularly in Calgary, and you started to see some people leaving the party. But more importantly you started to see money leaving, or not necessarily money leaving, but money going … to Wildrose."
Wildrose didn't fare well in the next election in 2008, but the seeds were planted for further growth.
Leadership experience
Smith has proven to be one of Wildrose's strongest assets, and Bratt says she is a smart, likable woman who is "indispensable" to the party's rise.
However, the 41-year-old has little elected political experience — just some time in her 20s on the Calgary school board before all its members were fired by the education minister.
But Bratt says Smith, who has also served on the editorial board of the Calgary Herald and has been a television journalist, has turned any inexperience she has around and pegged it as a plus.
"She says, 'You're right, I don't have experience in intimidating doctors, I don't have experience in running deficits over five years, I don't have experience in giving myself large cabinet salaries.' She's able to use a very populist spin on that and deflect things."
Untested candidates
Few of the 87 candidates fielded by the Wildrose party have won any sort of political election. Only 11 are women. A handful are visible minorities. Some are libertarian in their outlook, others are social conservatives. They have diverse economic backgrounds, "but never at a high management level," says Bratt.
Election campaigns often have their fair share of oopsie moments brought on by a candidate's controversial statements, and Wildrose's experience has been no exception.
This week, for example, there have been two of what Bratt called "bozo eruptions." Anti-gay comments in a blog a year ago by Edmonton South West candidate Allan Hunsperger provoked a backlash against the party. Calgary Greenway candidate Ron Leech has apologized after suggesting in a radio interview that he would be the best choice to communicate with residents in the riding because he is white.
Some candidates who could prove particularly controversial have been "well-hidden" during the campaign, Bratt suggests.
"It's very similar to the 2006 federal conservative campaign, also run by Tom Flanagan, who kept those people solidly under wraps because in '04, the Conservatives looked like they were going to defeat Paul Martin and then Randy White and Cheryl Gallant and a couple of other MPs made some pretty outrageous statements about judges and abortions and things like that and it caused some real concern among voters and it swung them back to the Liberals."
Platform has a populist appeal
Wildrose has been campaigning on promises that could have a broad populist appeal: run a balanced budget; give some of any provincial surplus back to the people in the form of an energy rebate; offer direct democracy through initiatives such as public-sponsored referendums and more free votes in the legislature; tax credits for young families; a wait-time guarantee for health care.
Some of those have proved controversial, and are perhaps raising a degree of uncertainty in voters' minds as election day comes closer. It has been suggested, for example, that the referendum initiative might open the door to anti-abortion activism and that the wait-time guarantees, while innocuous on the face, would open the door to more private health clinics, which the leader supports.
"In the polls that are being done, if you look at the horse race polls, Wildrose is winning that," says Bratt.
But dig deeper in the polling data, and there isn't universal love for everything Wildrose is offering.
"There's questions that are specific to the policy proposals, like referendums, like the energy rebate, there's majority opposition to much of their plank," says Bratt.
"So my sense is that a majority of Albertans, perhaps even a larger majority of Albertans, don't like the policies that Wildrose is promising, but it doesn't matter, because they want to throw the Conservatives out of office and they have a nice, likable, smart woman leading their party."
With files from CBC News


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subset: commoncrawl


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Three months before Amin al-Qaraghouli walked into a meeting of tribal sheikhs here and blew himself up, killing 23 people, he was in jail for planting roadside bombs. He was freed after local elders backed his claim that he had abandoned his violent past.
The Jan. 3 attack in this town of dirt roads and mud-brick buildings 25 miles southwest of Baghdad was the worst suicide bombing in months and a deadly reminder that Al Qaeda in Iraq (AQI) remains within striking distance.
With American forces largely gone from Yusufiyah and pulling out of cities across the country, security is being left to the Iraqi Army, police, and their paramilitary allies in the Sons of Iraq (SOI). But experts and many Iraqis worry that in the absence of US soldiers AQI may attempt to resurface and once again carry out mass-casualty attacks.
"There are still some tribes who are trying to hide Al Qaeda in Iraq members," says Abu Hanian al-Qaraghouli, a local SOI deputy.
But while the apparent revenge attack on the Qaraghouli tribe, carried out by their own members for the group's cooperation with the Americans in the fight against Sunni insurgents, has certainly rattled Yusufiyah, many residents remain optimistic that the situation will continue to improve and that AQI will not gain the same foothold it once had.
"There have been tribal reconciliations here and the Iraqi Army controls this area. Security is strong," says street vender Sadah Najeed.
During the peak of the insurgency almost a year and a half ago, residents say this was a ghost town lined with shuttered storefronts. It wasn't uncommon for insurgents to leave bodies in one of the town's main traffic circles. Today it's bustling. Not only are stores open and residents out, but a group of Shiite pilgrims marched through the main street celebrating Ashura, the Shiite religious holiday, that would have been sure to draw attacks from Sunni insurgents just two or three years ago.
"Of course we still have Al Qaeda and criminals, but much less than we used to," says an Iraqi Army officer in Yusufiyah, speaking anonymously because he is not authorized to speak to the media. "Given the size of the Iraqi Army, Al Qaeda cannot make a comeback here."
While insurgents such as AQI may attempt to use the American withdrawal as an opportunity to reassert themselves, experts say it's unlikely that such organizations will ever achieve the level of power they once wielded here.
If violence does return in Iraq when the US leaves it is likely to look different, if for no other reason than because many of the key players from the insurgency were killed or captured during the surge, says Tarak Barkawi, a senior lecturer at Cambridge University who specializes in war and insurgencies.
"The insurgency, as it faced [Coalition Forces], is not around anymore. It's a different array of political forces and military forces than existed prior to the surge," he says. "The insurgency in all its different locations was united by this common enemy, which is us. We're not going to serve as that for much longer."
Already, US troops are moving to the sidelines, especially following the status of forces agreement that calls for all US troops to be out of cities by July 2009 and out of Iraq by the end of 2011.
The impending departure of US troops marks a shift that will force Iraqis to face many unresolved internal issues that could escalate.
"The political divide separating the Sunnis, the Shiites, and the Kurds remains as wide as it's ever been," says Fawaz Gerges, a professor of Middle Eastern studies at Sarah Lawrence College in Yonkers, New York. "The American presence has postponed the inevitable and the inevitable is that the Iraqi rulers must face the challenge of transforming the sectarian-based government into a national unity government."
With the political blocs in Iraq still heavily linked to the country's ethnic groups, Dr. Gerges says there are still a number of fault lines in Iraq that could bring about violent conflict.
For example, the provincial elections that will take place at the end of this month were nearly delayed over a dispute this fall between the Iraqi government and the semiautonomous Kurdish region in the north about who controls oil-rich Kirkuk. Though both sides are examining the issue, it remains unsettled.
Ali al-Dabbagh, spokesman for the government of Iraq, contends that "the presence of US troops is not connected with reconciliation issues." While he does acknowledge tension between sectarian leaning political blocs that must be resolved, he says that this strife does not trickle down to everyday Iraqis who are now much less motivated by sectarian issues than they were just two years ago.
Tribes have also acquired a larger role. Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki established tribal councils in select areas throughout the country and many of the groups are seeking seats in the upcoming provincial elections.
While the growth of tribal influence may provide a counterbalance to sectarian politics, it could also lead to a rise in violent civil disputes.
The Yusufiyah bombing reveals frustrations within the local SOI group, the country's community policing program that arose from the Awakening Movement.
From now on, Mr. Qaraghouli, the deputy, says if the SOI know someone is guilty of murder they will skip the court and execute the alleged killer themselves. He admits this type of vigilante justice could create enduring bloodshed.
"We will risk hate and fighting forever. It will affect the future of our sons," he says, undeterred.


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A Frankenweenie First
Frankenweenie: An Electrifying Book marks the first time Disney Publishing has done a "making of" title in digital form, as well as the first time it has used Apple's iBook Author to create a digital movie tie-in. The book features original sketches, animated storyboards, interviews, a documentary on stop-motion animation, and other elements.
"We wanted to leverage Apple's iBooks Author software to create a robust, interactive, behind-the scenes look into the making of Tim Burton's stop-motion animated film," says Yves Saada, v-p of digital media. "To do this, we partnered with Walt Disney Studios and Disney Music Group to compile interviews, images, music, and other items from their archives."
The title will be followed up with a more traditional deluxe "making of" gift book, Frankenweenie: The Visual Companion, in February 2013. Other print tie-ins include Frankenweenie: A Monstrous Menagerie of Stickers!, Frankenweenie: A Novel, Frankenweenie: A Cinematic Storybook, and Frankenweenie: A Graphic Novel.
Who Wants to Be a Secret Millionaire?
When Wiley's general interest group received a book proposal tied to a children's animation property, it took the unusual step of turning it over to its business and finance division.
Debra Englander, editorial director, business and finance, went online to investigate the show, A2 Entertainment's The Secret Millionaires Club, which features a cartoon version of Warren Buffet and airs on The Hub TV network and online. "I thought, this is sort of cute and interesting," she says. "It's very accessible, and Buffet is very involved in the program."
One element that appealed to her was the wide potential audience. "Kids will read it, but it will also be a gift for high school students and graduates," she says. "It's good for people just entering the workforce who want to understand business and financial literacy concepts.
"There's ongoing, global interest in Buffet," Englander continues. Wiley has published many Buffet-related books, which Englander calls "a really strong category for us," and often introduces new titles at the annual meeting of his company, Berkshire Hathaway. This book will launch in time for the April 2013 event.
Top That! Steps Into Licensing
Top That! Publishing has signed a global licensing agency deal with U.K.-based JELC to expand the Froobles, which debuted at Frankfurt last year, into preschool products. Twelve storybooks and 12 educational activity books are on the market in the U.K. and several other territories; they were introduced at Jo-Ann stores in the U.S. this fall. Froobles storybooks have sold more than 400,000 units globally in print, audio, and e-book form.
Top That! is known for supplying books for Disney, Warner Bros., and other companies through Scholastic Book Fairs, club stores, and Barnes & Noble. "We wanted to create brands for ourselves," says editorial director Dan Graham. To that end, the company came up with a group of fruit and vegetable characters in 2010 and tested the concept with 500 kids in six U.K. preschools. Their ideas about character names and other attributes were integrated into the final version. "They were 100% interested in the concept, and we were deluged with pictures of their own characters," Graham says. "We took the brand from there, and after 18 months of creative blood, sweat, and tears, the Froobles were born."
Licensing plans include toys and games, electronic learning aids, apparel, food and drink, and arts and crafts.
B&H Kids Debuts with Two Movie Tie-Ins
The first two books from B&H Kids, the new children's imprint of B&H Publishing (a division of LifeWay Christian Resources), are tie-ins to inspirational films.
Firebird is a picture book for ages 4-8 linked to the September 2012 limited release Unconditional. It is a physical version of a book that plays a central role in the film, about a writer and illustrator of children's books. B&H's adult division was working on Unconditional tie-ins for adults and brought the property to the attention of the children's division. The movie is not for kids, but its message lent itself to the picture book format, according to Dan Lynch, acquisitions editor for B&H Kids. "We think it will also have life as a gift book purchased by adults for adults," he says.
The second tie-in, Courageous Teens, is a spin-off of several trade books published last year by the adult division, including Courageous Living, The Resolution for Men, and The Resolution for Women, all tied to the movie Courageous (2011). Courageous Teens is co-authored by Michael Catt, senior pastor of Sherwood Baptist Church, one of the producers of Courageous. "We get a lot of requests from churches asking for material for this age group," Lynch says.
B&H Kids has just contracted for another movie tie-in, a middle-grade reader based on The Lost Medallion, a children's film set for a spring 2013 release.
In Brief
Random House is publishing six titles tied to the Disney animated feature Wreck-It Ralph, set for a November release, as well as four titles tied to The Secret of the Wings, the newest Disney Fairies DVD.... Egmont U.K. acquired rights to Rovio's Angry Birds for children's books in the U.K. and Commonwealth countries, as well as rights to publish books and magazines tied to Mojang's Minecraft, an online game, for worldwide distribution outside the U.S.... Top That! Publishing also secured a license for Angry Birds, for creative play books for children ages 3 and up in the U.K.... New licensees for Scholastic's Clifford include Hybrid and JCorp for apparel in the U.S. and Canada, respectively, and Young Scientists Club for science kits.... Target's See Spot Save section featured 20 World of Eric Carle products in September, including stationery and bags from Innovative Designs, socks from PS Brands, and feeding accessories from Zak Designs.... The Collective and its U.K. agent, Rocket Licensing, granted Egmont U.K. the rights to create annuals for Annoying Orange.... Penguin has signed Carson-Dellosa for classroom bulletin board sets and bookmarks tied to Corduroy, Otis, Ladybug Girl, Froggy, Skippyjon Jones, Llama Llama, Every Girl, and Jan Brett's The Mitten.... Lawless Entertainment licensed Galison Publishing's Mudpuppy Press division to create puzzles, diaries, colored pencils, and stencils tied to The Little Prince.... Jim Henson Company licensed N-Fusion Interactive foriOS apps based on Pajanimals, its preschool series on PBS Sprout.... Fox licensed iStorytime for an Ice Age movie storybook app collection timed to the film Ice Age: Continental Drift.... Knockout Licensing has signed six new licensees for BOO: The World's Cutest Dog, featured in two books from Chronicle. They include Calendar Holdings (puzzles and playing cards), FouFou Dog (luggage tags, keychains, pet blankets), Innovative Designs (school supplies and stationery), License 2 Play (disposable cameras), Mighty Fine (girls' t-shirts and tops), and Paladone (novelties).... Mick Inkpen's book and TV character Wibbly Pig will be featured in the picture book-themed virtual world Magic Town.... Rocket Licensing signs U.K. retailer Marks & Spencer for a line of sleepwear tied to Hodder Children's Books' Princess Pearl by Emma Thomson.


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The retired Marine general heading the tarnished California State Parks department made two promises Saturday (Jan. 5) in Pacific Grove before about 200 people dedicated to a park system jewel — the Point Lobos State Natural Reserve.
Anthony Jackson, a Marine Corps major general who became the 19th director of the state parks Department in November, told members of the Point Lobos Foundation that no state park will be closed under his watch and "every single penny will be accounted for," The Herald, Monterey County, reported
Jackson, an Oakland high school graduate and former football standout at San Jose State University, was named to lead the Parks Department amid continuing investigations into the concealment of millions of dollars of public park funds for up to 15 years.
The controversy broke last summer, with reports that up to $54 million had been squirreled away, as the state was readying to close dozens of parks for lack of money, and park lovers were raising funds for their favorites.
Jackson, a resident of Fallbrook in San Diego County, said he had contributed money to nearby Palomar Mountain State Park to help it remain open.
Then the scandal broke, and a short time later state Resources Secretary John Laird asked Jackson to run the battered department, which has 280 facilities, 1.4 million acres and a $500 million annual budget.
"This was a troubled organization, and the thinking was it would be kind of good for the culture to bring a Marine general in," Jackson said.
But Jackson, who devoted much of his speech to his compelling biography — he was one of seven children in an Army family who later left a lucrative insurance sales business as an adult to join the Marine Corps — said a successful general is not "a drill instructor" who issues orders from high.
"They (succeed) because they can build teams … and shake hands with a private," he said. "The more senior you get, the more of a team-builder, the more of a listener you have to be."
Jackson has spent recent Fridays and Saturdays visiting parks from San Diego County to Sonoma County and the people who work at them. He said he has found thousands of employees and volunteers "who love their park and the park system," he said.
"They have been taking some real body blows that I anticipated when the governor called me in and said you are my nominee," he said.
There will be one more investigation — the state auditor is also looking into the budgeting flap — and one more set of headlines, Jackson said.
Jackson said he reviews the budget every week and every cent will be accounted for. "If we miss it by $10, you will be able to see it," he said.
He attributed the concealment of park funds over so many years to "people making mistakes" and a consequent fear of having those mistakes come out.
"It was fear, it appears, that kept people from reporting accounting errors," he said. People were afraid they'd lose their jobs, or that the parks budget would be trimmed.
"I want to run an organization without fear of honesty … without fear of failure," he said.
In his last command, Jackson oversaw Marine bases in California and other western states. That put him into regular contact with officials in Sacramento and made him very aware of the state's environmental law.
As a major general, Jackson promoted green energy policies and helped fight a toll road near Camp Pendleton that would have gone through San Onofre State Beach. He described that as a victory against "people more interested in money than in protecting our natural resources."
Jackson's appointment was greeted in November with applause from park advocacy and environmental groups.
On Saturday, Jackson said parks, no matter what may happen in Sacramento, are "a phenomenal resource for the state of California."
He said his "grand plan" is to leave the job with parks open and improved.
Jackson's came out of his short retirement, which included putting 9,700 miles on a spiffy recreational vehicle on trips to parks around the state, to take his first state government job.
The reason was the same one that made him join the Marines — "service before self," he said.
"I'll get around to retirement some day," he said, noting the work put in by local volunteers, many of them retirees. "I'm very happy to be a member of your team."
Jackson said he has asked the state's 21 district park superintendents for their top priorities, but he said acquiring more parkland will not be one.
"Right now we are in a holding pattern on that," he said. The more important task is to make sure the existing parks are maintained and improved.
The Point Lobos Foundation is a charitable nonprofit formed in 1978 to support interpretive and education programs and to help the parks department maintain Point Lobos.


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The Punchline, First.
I need your help signing and promoting this Petition/campaign on Change.org to help Tesla overcome the Auto Dealers Assoc: http://chn.ge/12XDy9I
More Info.
After the successful White House Petition, I read that POTUS will not have much influence over our specific individual State and Federal representatives, which begs the question, '...did Tesla just win an empty bucket?'. I think so.
I decided to create a follow-on Petition and researched several on-line Petition sites. Change.org is one that sends the signed petition letter directly to your specific State and Federal rep.
My Motivation
Speaking as an entrepreneur, building a business is hard enough. It's incomprehensible to think my/your State and Federal representatives would handcuff my ability to create jobs and promote our innovations and offerings only because of 'good ol' boy', prehistoric thinking and politics.
The petition needs your signature and assistance to spread the word. We have less than 100 currently. The target is 150,000.
For those who have added their signature... Thank You! Now, would you mind sending this link to just 6 of your associates?
Anton Mitchell
Model S P85 (Sept. 2013)
Here's proof that we need to pressure our local State and Fed rep's. This is an email I just received (July 19 3:40PM) from our local Maryland House of Delegates, Delegate Glen Glass.
Sign this petition! http://chn.ge/12XDy9I
"Dear Mr. Mitchell:
Thank you for your thoughtful email regarding the ability of Tesla Motors to sell directly to its consumers in Maryland.
A White House petition has successfully gathered over 100,000 signatures, petitioning that Tesla be allowed to sell cars directly to the consumer in all of the 50 states. The idea has traction, whether this becomes a national law, or if it will be left up to the states to decide.
I appreciate your comments, and hope that you will continue to contact my office on other issues that may be of concern to you.
Delegate Glen Glass
House of Delegates
District 34A
6 Bladen Street *Room 325
Annapolis, MD 21401
(Phone number deleted)
Looks like the petition impressed some vote consumers.


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Araku Valley Tourism
The Black & White Motel, Visakhapatnam
Contact Us Regarding This Package Tour
Holiday on WhatsApp! Here's introducing our all-new 'Holiday on WhatsApp' feature. Just ping us on +91 6304988858 from 9 am to 9 pm and get your holiday booked in the most convenient way! Our travel experts will text you back and address your query.
Call:- 04039272275/08688309090/
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Browsing Departments by Subject "Use patterns"
Now showing items 1-1 of 1
Lehrer, Christiane; Constantiou, Ioanna; Hess, Thomas (, 2011)[More information][Less information]
Abstract: The recent profusion of smartphones in the mobile industry offers new opportunities for mobile services vendors. One of the most influenced service categories is location-based services (LBS). Based on insights from behavioural decision-making, a theoretical framework is developed to analyse individuals" decisions to use LBS. We focus on the cognitive processes involved in individual decisionmaking. Our research is based on two studies. First, we investigated the use of LBS through semistructured interviews of smartphone users. Second, we explored daily LBS use through a study based on diaries. The findings highlight the distinct value dimension in specific contexts of use and the positive experiences of the service as the main drivers of LBS use. Thus, the user decision to use LBS can be described by either a comparative mode based on the value of LBS in relation to other available options, or by an intuitive mode where past experiences trigger the use of heuristics. These modes in turn underscore the positive influences on the continuance of LBS use. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10398/8522
Files in this item: 1Constantiou_2011_1.pdf (284.1Kb)
Now showing items 1-1 of 1


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Total Invested
Total witdrawals
visitors online
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Thursday, August 02, 2007
Rounding Out the Week
The reason?
Damien English, in the latest edition of Edutopia magazine says it best in his article The Phantom of the Optical:
Somewhere in Sydney, a man quietly communes with his computer, pouring over visual "materia obscura" from every corner of the world and a wide spectrum of centuries. Through RSS feeds, bookmarked links, e-newsletter subscriptions, and search engines, he sifts through the web looking for art collections, exhibitions, archives of old engravings, and portfolios of contemporary graphic artists to share with the world.
This man isn't looking for any particular thing; rather, it seems he's looking for every beautiful, peculiar, or haunting piece of art that has ever graced the pages of a book. But what he's looking for exactly is not important -- what matters is that he's gathering up the gems and oddities he finds for a visually rich site called BibliOdyssey, a splendid classroom-discussion tool and entrée into art and its history.
BibliOdyssey is a wonderful site and if you are not visiting it….you should.
The History Carnival is up over at Kevin Levin's most excellent site Civil War Memory, and Dr. Homeslice has done a wonderful job with the Education Carnival at his site.
Which U.S. President do you think is the most obscure? A new poll feature over at American Presidents Blog wants YOUR input. Look for it in the sidebar.
Finally, I've been meaning to point readers towards Markeroni in order to introduce you to the gentle art of landmark snarfing. The site says:
Have you ever stopped to read a historical marker, or wanted to know more about an interesting old building?.....Beware! One snarf and you're hooked.
The Markeroni site can be found here where you can get information on joining in….a great class activity for the year….and the Markeroni Blog can be found here.
5 comments:
Thank you so much for the mention! :)
- EHT said...
No problem. Your idea over there is quite unique. I like it.
I have to disagree regarding Kevin Levin as a good source of historical interpretation and resource. Kevin fails to bring in the big picture of race and slavery in America, and rather chooses to denigrate Confederate memory and commemoration. Kevin's sectional bias is so obvious that it endangers our children with misinformation that forms perceptions going foward in their lives. Thanks for your interest in Civil War history.
- EHT said...
Anonymous...how is the weather in Iowa? and why is it anytime someone wants to disagree they use the name "Anonymous"?
Apparently you had googled "kevin levin" and that's how you found me. At any rate I'm always appreciative of visitors and their comments, but I wonder.....why slam Kevin here? Could it be that you noticed his blog moderates comments and you were afraid your comment wouldn't be added, so you decide to use my forum?
That's fine, but you want to state at the outset you want to disagree with me. All I wrote was that Kevin has a most excellent site, and I mean come on....even if he writes a mundane list of things he does each day his blog is well done. It's pleasing to the eye, great links, and contains information regarding all of the avenues of history that Kevin is involved in.
As a born and bred Southerner one thing I know about is Confederate pride. I've been taught it, seen it action, and by this point of my life I'm an expert regarding true Southern pride and mangling that some do with Southern memory.
Please understand me when I say that if Kevin's "sectional bias" was endangering students in his high school classes in any shape or form I assure you the parents, as well as the students, would create an outcry heard round the world. I've seen it happen.
True, often I breeze by Kevin's site and I'm confronted by the way he writes about something, but I don't see misinformation. I often see another way of looking at something without my upbringing getting in the way. Anonymous, that's what a good teacher does. They confront, they motivate our brains in order to get us to think for ourselves.
Apparently Kevin has even been succesful with you because you got riled up enough to google his name and to find his site.
You mention that Kevin fails to bring in race and slavery in America to his students. I'm sorry, but you cannot base what Kevin does or does not post on his site as a complete reflection regarding what he does in the classroom. Kevin has state standards to meet and I'm confident he strives to meet the elements of each and every standard from my past visits at his site.
First, if the reply function offers the "anonymous" option, then it is valid to use it and the user should not be ridiculed for choosing it.
Second, I whole-heartedly agree with anonymous that Kevin Levin lacks a brain filter when it comes to offensive anti-southern propaganda. You probably missed many prior discussions where Kevin attempted to discount other opinions regarding parity among northern and southern racial views around the Civil War period and today. These biased opinions serve to impress upon students and all readers a flawed version of southern history and perception that is still evident after a century and a half since the Civil War.
Kevin espouses a deep-seated northern hypocrtical view of the South and suggests social policy changes that would denigrate Confederate memory and further divide people along racial lines. Let's celebrate the diversity of the South without condemning select groups.
Question: You were born a southerner, but where did you grow up, attend school, and what region do you currently reside in now? I'm just curious as to how environments shape opinions.


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May 12, 2012, 6:00 am
Etsy entrepreneur Tara Rex brings her taradara products to West Elm today
Those of us who fawned over Tara Rex's stylish, hand-sewn, high-tech accessories featured on the May 7th $MART section cover (about what moms really want for Mother's Day) should drop by West Elm in Cherry Creek today as Rex will be there from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The store sought her out after reading in The Denver Post (and Rex's own blog) that her colorful taradara products have landed in celebrity gift bags for such A-list moms as Beyoncé and Jessica Alba.
One more reason to support this Colorado mom-trepreneur? She donates 10 percent of her profits to Girls with Sole, a non-profit organization that uses sports to built confidence and encourage skill building in at-risk girls.
West Elm is located at 2955 E. First Ave.


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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I place an order ?
Click "Shop" or "Shop Now" and follow links to the map you wish to purchase. On the appropriate map page, select the version and quantity you would like, and click "Add to Cart." At this time you can either "Continue Shopping" or you can "Checkout." After you click the "Checkout" button, please fill in your name, etc. and submit. Your shipping information will appear in my database and your order will ship, usually by the end of the next business day.
Is shipping free ?
Shipping to any US address free. The cost of shipping to Canada is $20USD for wall maps and $5USD for folded maps. For all other international orders, please visit Omnimap.com.
Are your maps packaged well for shipping ?
Here's what one customer said: "I just received the map I ordered a few days ago. The map is gorgeous, but I was expecting that. What I wasn't expecting was for the packaging to be just as impressive as the map itself. Kudos to both the map maker and whoever packed it for shipping!" -TD, Paradise, Utah
POSTER PAPER vs. LAMINATED vs. FOLDED ?
As with all visual art, you lose intimacy when you place your map behind a physical barrier, like glass or lamination. So, I prefer�POSTER PAPER�wall maps.
If you want to experience a map to its fullest, adhere a�POSTER PAPER�copy to a smooth, flat surface, and view it in abundant light.
On the other hand, there are times when�LAMINATION�is preferable. If you pin your map to a wall, you will want a�LAMINATED�copy that won�t sag excessively.
FOLDED�maps are the way to go if you don�t have wall space for a large map. Benefits are: you can page through�FOLDED�Essential Geography USA maps like an atlas, making them good for studying up close, at your desk or table. Plus, the paper is specialty map paper made to be durable, so you can re-FOLD your map anyway you�d like. For example, you can FOLD your map back to isolate�an area that is of particular interest to you.
How was the Essential Geography of the USA made ?
I made this map using Adobe Illustrator based on location data provided by my partner in such things, Pat Dunlavey. I estimate that my design and creation of the Essential Geography took 6,000 hours - about three years of average work time, compressed into about 24 months.
Are your maps printed on special paper ?
Yes!� To assure the best possible print quality, I print my wall maps on heavy poster paper. My laminated maps are identical to the poster paper version, but with the addition of a crystal clear laminate coating. I print each of my folded maps on special high-strength map paper that will last many years under normal use.
Which version do you recommend ?
If you plan to frame your map behind glass, I recommend the poster paper version. If you plan to frame your map without glass or you plan to pin your map to a wall, I recommend the laminated version. Normal changes in humidity will cause the poster paper version to sag over time if it is not mounted, such as for framing. On the other hand, normal changes in humidity do not affect laminated maps.
If you don't have wall space for a map, please try a folded map. I print my folded maps on special high-strength map paper that will last many years under normal use. And my folded "Essential Geography of the USA" map features an atlas fold that allows you to read across the country like you are turning the pages of a book.
Can a laminated map be framed ?
Yes! This method of display is less expensive than framing behind glass, yet it still encourages the viewer to run their fingers over the map. My laminated wall maps are heat-sealed in 1.7 mil clear vinyl, an easy-care finish. You can also write on them with a dry erase marker. When a traditional framing with glass is appropriate, I recommend the poster paper version.
What are the framed Essesntial Geography maps like ?
A crystal-clear, non-glare laminate, instead of glass, protects this popular version of the Essential Geography. Completely ready to hang, this map is professionally mounted on strong fiberboard and framed in mahogany-finished wood (poplar); picture wire is already attached and we provide two picture hangers. Your map will arrive in a sturdy, multi-layered box that was made specifically for shipping this elegant portrait of the USA. The frame's outside dimension is approximately 52.25" x 37.5". Each framed map is signed by cartographer, David Imus.
Can you recommend an inexpensive way to hang my map?
You might take a look at www.posterhanger.com
What about folded Essential Geography maps ?
When not left flat, my maps fold like accordions - the easiest style for human beings to refold. The folded "Essential Geography of the USA" map features an atlas fold that allows you to read across the country as if you were turning the pages of a book.
Also, the special high-strength paper on which I print my folded maps allows you to reconfigure the folds to suit yourself. Folded maps don't take up much space. Plus, there is a certain aesthetic to a map that lets you isolate your geographic focus by letting you fold the map sheet down to just your region of immediate concern.
- Do you have a downloadable index to the Essential Geography of the USA?
- Do you have a downloadable index to the Essential Geography of Oregon?
Can I order by mail ?
Yes. If you prefer to order by mail, you are more than welcome to use my Mail-In Order Form. Just print it, fill it out and send it to me at the address on the form. This is also a good way to request a signed map.
What are your terms and conditions ?
I offer a 30-day return/exchange policy.
Do you ship internationally ?
For orders outside the United States and Canada, please email East View Map Link at email@example.com
Do you offer discounts to educators ?
For quantity discounts, please contact me via email at firstname.lastname@example.com
Need more information ?
Contact via email
Mailing address:
Imus Geographics
P.O. Box 161
Eugene, OR 97440


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Pride FC 9: New Blood DVD
Expect about a one week delay in delivery.
The New Stars of PRIDE Fighting Championships make their debut in this epic event!
1. Ricco Rodriguez v. Gary Goodridge
2. Igor Vovhanchyn v. Daijiro Matsui
3. Gilbert Vyel v. Victor Belfort
4. Akira Shoji v. John Renken
5. Carlos Newton v. Naoki Sano
6. Alan Goes v. Vernon "Tiger" White
7. Carlos Barreto v. Tra Telligman
8. Heath Herring v. Willie Peters
Average Customer Review: Not yet rated
Write an online review and share your thoughts with others.


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Five months ago, Sporting Kansas City got the victory they have been looking for over the Houston Dynamo. The 1-0 win at BBVA Compass Stadium snapped Houston's 34-game unbeaten streak at home and saw Sporting celebrate on the Dynamo's field.
Now the clubs will rekindle their rivalry Wednesday night with the Dynamo intent on running down a team that sits just four points ahead of them in the conference standings. To do that, they will need to make sure that scene in May does no repeat itself.
"They won and it's their right to do whatever they want to do," said center back Bobby Boswell. "Obviously they were very happy with that result. You could tell how they came together on the field after that, but they earned that right. Our job is to make sure they don't have that option this time around."
If Houston does that, it will go a long ways to claiming a playoff spot; which a win and a loss by the Chicago Fire and a loss or draw by the New England Revolution would clinch.
Houston is preparing for the type of intense battle that always comes with playing SKC. To come out on top, the focus is on winning those little battles on second balls and taking the game to the visitors.
"We have to be alert of the second ball and to pounce on it and take advantage when their center backs are out of position," said left back Corey Ashe. "We have to win those, if we win those it lets them know they're in it for the long haul. We need to be dominant."
Being the first to loose balls will be important. Energy, intensity and physicality have been integral to winning in the series between the two. Even if Sporting, like Houston, are missing key players in Graham Zusi and Matt Besler, the Dynamo are expecting the same intense SKC squad they are used too.
"I don't know what Peter's going to try and do, but I know whenever they play, they try and win the game and make things uncomfortable for you," said head coach Dominic Kinnear. "For us it's important that we have to bring the right amount of intensity and second balls will be a key tomorrow."
Doing that will keep recent history from repeating itself, but the players aren't preoccupied with exacting revenge. As Houston prepares for the next big battle against Sporting the focus is on winning the game, not making up for May's loss. For the Dynamo, there's too many other things on the line.
"There's always something you can bring up to create a buzz," said right back Kofi Sarkodie. "Right now our focus is to continue our unbeaten streak and continue our playoff run."
Darrell Lovell covers the Houston Dynamo for MLSsoccer.com.


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OK so this probably isn't the most flattering shade on me. BUT it is more flattering in person than in this picture. The colour is like a very clean penny coated in butterscotch. Yum. I do like this very much, but I am seriously a sucker for anything gold....
Are you a fan of bronze/gold polishes? Let me know your favs!
Like this? Click below to let us know!


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LeighBebb necesitaba un nuevo diseño de logotipo y lanzó un concurso de diseño en 99designs.
Un ganador ha sido elegido entre 223 diseños de 63 diseñadores freelance.
I need a simple, professional logo for a new 2 in 1 company, in which I combine my photography skills with my personal training.
Hey, I am great with a camera, but have absolutely no skills with design! So that's where I am hoping you guys will come in.
So please check out the brief and good Luck!
I just started a new company that will combine my photography skills, withmy personal training skills. I train clients for 12 -16 weeks then give them aprofessional photo shoot at the end of that period. I wanted a professionallooking logo/brand which I can put on my business cards, paperwork, car decalsetc.
The current stand in logo was PhotoFit written in Franklin gothic mediumfont and where the "F" is capitalized and coloured blue. Something similar to the Carolina panthers blue/dark aqua they use(www.panthers.com). I prefer the design to use this colour with black andwhite and maintain this similar basic style.
I also wanted it if possible to incorporate a subtle hidden symbol/image (e.g. The arrowin FedEx, Lettering in Gloria jean) maybe with a camera or dumbbell etc. but isnot necessary.
some photos if interested are here: http://www.bebbphoto.com (temp photo site as main is created)
- Use of blue (simmilar to carolina panthers blue), black and white
- "F" in fit is blue, and captilized
- Hidden symbol (dumbbell, camera etc)
- No other colours (except slight variations of the blue for accents etc)
- Too complex, hard to read.
Descubre cómo funciona un concurso de diseño u obtén más información sobre nuestros servicios de diseño de logo.


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Toronto's Lovely Jude
Jude says: "You should be street smart and book smart. We all know the saying, 'education is the key.' Having beauty and brains is a double bonus.�
(Jude's journey to the top has only just begun).
Where She's From: Toronto, Ontario's Jude, says "I've learned to always try my best at whatever I do and never give up, from my parents.�
After attending Durham College, the 21-year old beauty enrolled at the University of Ontario, where she currently studies. Jude launched her career in April, 2005. "My career as a model has been blowing up more and more,� she tells The Black Star News; and one look at her, explains why. "At first it was slow but it is now picking up. I see myself doing more fashion shows and print work. I want to be known to the world and set a positive image for all other upcoming models.�
Where She's At: Jude's portfolio includes Paparazzi Fashion Show-Runway Model, Spectrum Talent Extravaganza–Runway Model; Music Video: Ro Dolla ~ Cosmo- Dancer; Television Shows: Naturally Sadie (Disney)-Designer #4; and The 5th Estate (CBC Series)-Nurse. She's also featured in print work such as Toronto Sunshine Girl-Model; Lets Do This-CD Cover model; Caribbean Friday's Halloween Style-Flyer Cover Model; and Da Jump OFF~IslandView-Flyer Cover Model.
Where She's Heading: "Having brainpower helps you get further in life,� Jude explains, to all aspirants. "You should be street smart and book smart. We all know the saying, 'education is the key.' Having beauty and brains is a double bonus.� With her academic pursuits, this beautiful young lady is practicing what she preaches. Who can doubt that she's realize her goals in the fashion industry.
"Whenever people have negative things to say about me, I don't let it get to me because they just want someone to talk about, just for the sake of talking,� she adds. "It's their way of showing me that they are jealous. Certain people don't like seeing other people getting far.� Others can learn from this determined lady. "I'm proud of myself for getting this far—this is just the beginning,� she says.
Jude's Words Of Wisdom: "Never give up—you can be whatever you want to be, because anything is possible.�
Jude's Secrets Of Success: "Follow my words of wisdom.�
Jude's Favorite All Time three movies: Love and Basketball, Menace to Society and Independence Day.
Jude's Favorite All Time three books: Cheaters (Eric Jerome Dickey), Liar's Game (Eric Jerome Dickey), and Sex Chronicles (Zane).
The First Three things Jude Would Do As U.S. President:Â Donate money to underprivileged countries; lower taxes and get healthcare coverage for all, and; work on finding cures for diseases.
For more information on this emerging star, visit www.myspace.com/sensualjudean
To be considered for inclusion in our profiles section please send your bio and hi resolution pictures to email@example.com.
We'll contact those whose information will be published—females and males in all professions are welcom. Make sure you include your words of wisdom and secrets to success.
Also look for the newsstand version of The Black Star New allover New York City and keep an eye on information about BSN's 2007 Talent Search. To advertise or to subscribe call (212) 481-7745.
To subscribe to or advertise in New York's leading Pan African weekly investigative newspaper, please call (212) 481-7745 or send a note to email@example.com
Latest comments
- Ann GarrisonFebruary 22,2018 @ 08:03 PM
I think you have "Filtered HTML" turned on here. If you switch to "Full HTML," it will probably...
googletag.pubads().definePassback('6785150/BENN/BlackStarNews', [[300,250]]).setTargeting('fold',['BTF']).display();


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Col. John McGrath, commander of Fort Carson's Evans Army Community Hospital, has been removed from command over allegations that he engaged in what the post called inappropriate behavior.
A Fort Carson spokeswoman confirmed that he is under investigation but would not release further information.
An email sent to Evans' staff Wednesday said, "There have been allegations made against Col. McGrath and an investigation is ongoing. He is in a suspended status until the investigation is complete. The Army takes all allegations seriously and this is a normal process that all Soldiers would go through."
The email alerting hospital staff was sent several hours after The Gazette contacted Fort Carson, asking about McGrath.
A longtime hospital employee who did not want his name used for fear of retribution said McGrath was escorted from the hospital Aug. 16 after allegations surfaced that McGrath harassed a member of the hospital staff. Investigators initially said McGrath would return after a two-week investigation, the employee said, but other hospital staff, including civilian doctors and uniformed staff, came forward, complaining of McGrath's offensive remarks and unprofessional conduct.
The employee, who has direct knowledge of human resource issues, said a line of people waiting to talk to investigators formed in the hall of the hospital when investigators came in August, and he estimated the investigation now includes 30 complaints. McGrath, a doctor with 29 years in the Army, took command of the hospital in January 2012. He deployed twice to Iraq and has been awarded the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star and Meritorious Service Medal.
While McGrath is on administrative suspension, Col. Thomas Rogers is commanding the hospital.


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Created on November 21, 2013
The 2013 Rainbow PUSH Coalition & Citizen Education Fund Public Policy Institute & Media and Telecommunications Symposium was held Nov. 15 at the Capital Hilton Hotel in Washington, DC.
The annual event titled "The Future of Media: Policies, People and Players," presented cutting edge information about racial diversity in the media landscape and how to think more broadly about media policy. It also covered recent strides in telecommunications and how to bridge the "digital divide."
"The information shared during this symposium is necessary for all Americans to know, as we seek to change the tide to a multi-cultural, multi-racial progressive agenda," said Martin King, Chairman, Rainbow PUSH Coalition. "We want those attending to go back to their communities and spread a message of hope and responsibility."
Kimberly Marcus, Associate Director for the Office of Legislative, Education & Intergovernmental Affairs at the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), was one of the panelists in the "Tele-everything: Broadband and Remote Access to Energy, Health and the Economy," session.
During this session, the panelists discussed the emerging prominence of remote education and energy management, as well as the burgeoning use of e-commerce. They also shared how innovative, internet-enabled devices are repurposing how individuals engage in the information technology economy that can facilitate more improved efficiencies across these verticals.
Marcus shared the statistics on minority-owned businesses use of internet technology to sell goods and services, as well as some of the problems they face when engaging in e-commerce. She also referenced an online resource, found on the MBDA website, for attendees to learn more about the first steps to conducting e-commerce.
"Because of similar race, ethnicity, culture, and language minority-owned businesses have a competitive edge in serving emerging markets abroad and using the Internet helps them leverage their competitive edge in foreign markets," Marcus said. "So it's important for the private sector to partner with government and become more active players in bridging the digital divide."
Posted at 12:04 PM


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Updated - November 5, 2012
1 Overview
1.1 The Rapaport Group of Companies (any company owned at least 51% by Martin Rapaport or any trust settled by Martin Rapaport) ("Rapaport" or "we") offers information and trading services ("the Services") through, amongst others, its Rapaport.com, Rapnet.com Diamonds.Net, and RapaportAuctions.com websites. In order to operate the Services and to be in compliance with United States laws and regulations, including the USA PATRIOT ACT and OFAC requirements, Rapaport may ask you to provide us with company, personal, credit card and/or bank account details. This Privacy Policy applies to all Rapaport websites and Services and describes the information we collect and how we use that information.
1.2 Rapaport takes the privacy of your personal information very seriously and will use your information only in accordance with the terms of this Privacy Policy. We will not sell or rent your personally identifiable information or a list of our customers to third parties. However, as described in more detail in Paragraph 3 below, there are limited circumstances in which some of your information will be shared with third parties, under strict restrictions, so it is important for you to review this Privacy Policy. This Privacy Policy applies to all services that are hosted on the Diamonds.Net, Rapaport.com, Rapnet.com, RapaportAuctions.com, RapaportFairTrade.com and other Rapaport websites, whether the services are offered by Rapaport, by its subsidiaries, or by its affiliates in the Rapaport Group.
1.3 By using this website and the Services, you agree to accept the provisions of this Privacy Policy. By applying for any of the Services offered through this website, you expressly consent to our use and disclosure of your personal information in the manner described in this Privacy Policy. This Privacy Policy forms a part of and is incorporated into the terms of the RapNet Member License Agreement.
1.4 Please note that your personal information will be stored and processed on our computers in the United States, in accordance with United States laws. Rapaport will hold and transmit your personal information in a safe, confidential and secure environment. If you object to your personal information being transferred or used as described in this Privacy Policy, please do not register for the Services.
2 Notification of Changes
2.1 This policy may be revised over time as new features are added to the Services or as we incorporate suggestions from our customers. If we are going to use or disclose your personally identifiable information in a manner materially different from that stated at the time we collected the information, you will have a choice as to whether or not we use or disclose your information in this new manner. Any material changes will be effective only 30 days after we post an amended Privacy Policy.
2.2 We will post the amended Privacy Policy prominently on our Web site so that you can always review what information we gather, how we might use that information, and whether we will disclose it to anyone. Please check this Web site at any time for the most current version of our Privacy Policy.
2.3 This Web site may include links to third party Web sites. These sites are governed by their own privacy statements, and Rapaport is not responsible for their operations, including but not limited to their information practices. Licensees submitting information to or through these third party Web sites should review the privacy statement of these sites before providing them with personally identifiable information.
3 Information We Collect
3.1 Required Information
To subscribe or use the Services, you must provide personal and company details, address, phone number, and e-mail address. In order to trade through our Trading Division or RapNet trading systems, you may be required to provide trade references, credit card, debit card or bank account information. This information is necessary for us to approve your membership and to process transactions or to contact you should the need arise in administering your membership.
If you choose to register or apply for certain optional/additional features,products or Services offered through Rapaport Web sites, you may be required to provide additional information to establish that you qualify for such features or products.
3.2 Transaction Information
Rapaport does not guarantee the quality, accuracy, reliability of any Information provided, nor is the Information an appraisal or guarantee of value.
3.3 Information About You From Third Parties
In order to protect us and our customers against potential fraud, we may verify with third parties the information you provide. In the course of such verification, we receive personally identifiable information about you from such services. This may include background and credit check from a credit bureau or a business information service such as Dun & Bradstreet. Rapaport, at its sole discretion, also reserves the right periodically to retrieve and review a business and / or consumer credit report for any account, and reserves the right to close an account based on information obtained during this credit review process or for any reason whatsoever.
3.4 Additional Verification
If we cannot verify the information that you provide we may ask you to send us additional information (such as your drivers' license, credit card statement, and/or a recent utility bill or other information linking you to the applicable address), or to answer additional questions.
3.5 Web Site Traffic Information
Because of the way that World Wide Web communication standards work, when you arrive at or leave this Web site, we automatically receive the Web address of the site that you came from or are going to. We also collect information on which pages of our Web site you visit while you are on the site, the type of browser you use and the times you access our Web site. We use this information only to try to understand our customers' preferences better and to manage the load on our servers, so as to improve our service and your experience with Rapaport. We do not track the Web sites that you visit before or after you leave the Rapaport site.
3.6 Rapaport Message Center
Messages sent to you and from you through the Rapaport Message Center or Rapaport communication tools are kept and maintained by Rapaport.
3.7 Our Use of "Cookies"
This Web site uses cookies to enhance your browsing experience. Cookies are small pieces of information saved by your browser onto your computer. Cookies are used to remember various aspects of your visit. This information is used by us to guarantee a consistent and uninterrupted experience. Cookies will allow you to revisit without losing many of your settings. We do not use cookies to save personal information for outside uses.
3.8 Customer Service Correspondence
If you send us correspondence, including e-mails and faxes, we may retain such information in the records of your account. We may also record phone calls to or from our various offices. We may also retain customer service correspondence and other correspondence from Rapaport to you. We retain these records in order to measure and improve our customer service, and to investigate potential fraud and violations of our Agreement. We may, over time, delete these records if permitted by law.
3.9 Questionnaires, Surveys and Profile Data
From time to time, we offer optional questionnaires and surveys to our users for such purposes as collecting demographic information or assessing users' interests and needs. The use of the information collected will be explained in detail in the survey itself. If we collect personally identifiable information from our users in these questionnaires and surveys, the users will be given notice of how the information will be used prior to their participation in the survey or questionnaire.
4 Our Use and Disclosure of Information
4.1 Internal Uses
We collect, store and process your personal information on servers located in the United States. We use the information we collect about you in order 1) to provide our services and process your transactions, 2) to provide customer service, 3) to determine your eligibility to receive special trading privileges or products and 4) to improve our products and services. We will not use any personal identification information without your permission.
4.2 Disclosure to Other Rapaport Customers
If you are a registered Rapaport customer, your name, Company name, telephone numbers and e-mail address and other personal information in addition to the diamonds you are listing for sale may be displayed to other Rapaport customers in diamond listings or in a member directory. Should you be expelled or excluded as a member/customer, your name and member details may be posted online... However, your credit card number, bank account and other financial information will NEVER be revealed to anyone except with your express written permission or if we are required to do so pursuant to a subpoena or other legal process.
4.3 Disclosure to Third Parties Other Than Rapaport Customers
Rapaport will not sell, rent or share any of your personally identifiable information to third parties, except in the limited circumstances described below, or with your express permission (or with other Rapaport customers as described above). We disclose information we collect in response to a law enforcement request, subpoena, warrant, court order, levy, attachment, order of a court-appointed receiver or other comparable legal process, including subpoenas from private parties in a civil action.
We disclose information we collect in circumstances in which Rapaport believes the Services are being used in the commission of a crime; when we have a good faith belief that there is an emergency that poses a threat to the safety of you or another person; or when necessary either to protect the rights or property of Rapaport, the Services or our subsidiaries, or affiliates in the Rapaport Group, or for us to render the Services provided. We disclose information we collect to your agent or legal representative (such as the holder of a power of attorney that you grant, or a guardian appointed for you).
We share aggregated statistical data with our business partners or for public relations. For example, we may disclose that a specific percentage of our users have addresses in New York. However, this aggregated information is not tied to personally identifiable information. We share your information with our parent, subsidiaries, affiliates and joint ventures to help coordinate the services we provide to you, enforce our terms and conditions, and promote trust and safety.
4.4 Our Contacts with Rapaport Customers
We communicate with users on a regular basis via e-mail to provide requested services, and we also communicate by phone or letter. We use your e-mail to send information, transaction confirmations and to send notices and other notices.. Generally, users cannot opt out of these communications, but they will be primarily informational in nature rather than promotional. We also use your e-mail address to send you other types of communications which you may opt out of.
4.5 Internet Address Information
We use IP addresses, browser types and access times to analyze trends, administer the site, improve site performance and gather broad demographic information for aggregate use.
4.6 Your Use of Information and Our Services
In order to facilitate the transactions between Rapaport members, our Service allows you limited access to other users' contact or shipping information. As a member, you may have access to the member information, email address or other contact or shipping information of other members. By consenting to the applicable Terms of Service, you agree that you will not share Rapaport access logins and you will only use this information for: (a) Rapaport-related communications that are not unsolicited commercial messages, (b) using services offered through Rapaport (e.g. diamond sales, shipping or insurance), and (c) any other purpose that such user expressly agrees to after adequate disclosure of the purpose(s). In all cases, you must provide users with the opportunity to remove themselves from your database and review any information you have collected about them. In addition, under no circumstances, except as defined in this Section, can you disclose personally identifiable information about another Rapaport user to any third party without our consent and the consent of such other user after adequate disclosure. Note that law enforcement personnel and other rights holders are given different rights with respect to information they access. Rapaport does not tolerate spam. Therefore, without limiting the foregoing, you may not add a Rapaport user to your mail list (email or physical mail) without their express consent after adequate disclosure, even if said user has previously made a purchase from you. We strictly enforce our Anti-Spam Policy. To report Rapaport-related spam, please send an email to: email@example.com.
5 Information Security
5.1 Rapaport is committed to handling your customer information with high standards of information security. We restrict access to your personally identifiable information to employees who need to know that information in order to provide products or services to you. We maintain physical, electronic and procedural safeguards that comply with federal regulations to guard your nonpublic personal information.
5.2 The security of your subscription to any of the Services also relies on your protection of your password. You may not share your password with anyone. Rapaport will never ask you to send your password or other sensitive information to us in an e-mail, though we may ask you to enter this type of information on the website.
5.3 Any e-mail or other communication requesting your password, asking you to provide sensitive account information via email, should be treated as unauthorized and suspicious and should be reported to Rapaport immediately. If you do share your Rapaport password with a third party for any reason, the third party will have access to your account and your personal information, and you may be responsible for actions taken using your password. If you believe someone else has obtained access to your password, please contact us immediately on email@example.com.
See for yourself how RapNet will give you the most current and accurate market information on pricing, diamonds and people.