text:
For those times we do a little too much celebrating, we offer a tea to help ease the symptoms. A tasty infusion of cinnamon, boldo leaves, spearmint, orange peels, black tea, chamomile flowers, rosehip and mallow flower. Makes a great hostess gift!
This product hasn't received any reviews yet. Be the first to review this product!


text:
Important! This job ad is no longer active
Last updated: 2019-04-25
Valid to: 2019-06-26
Job Role:
Maintenance Repair Operations, Unlicensed Mechanic / Technician
United States
Not specified
Aircraft type:
Fokker / Fairchild
Job description
Primary Location: UNITED STATES-ARIZONA-DAVIS MONTHAN AFB
Job Summary
Maintains A-10 aircraft under limited supervision. Coordinates maintenance activities with Mechanic II section/production personnel.
Principal Accountabilities
- Uses schematic diagrams, drawings, charts and technical publication in operating, testing, removing, troubleshooting and replacing aircraft system components.
- Complies with the requirements of the FOD prevention, housekeeping, tool control, environmental and safety programs.
- Adjusts, repairs, or replaces electrical wiring system and aircraft accessories, performs preflight, thru-flight, and post-flight maintenance inspections, performs miscellaneous duties to service aircraft, including flushing crankcase, cleaning screens and filters, greasing moving parts, and checking brakes.
- Troubleshoots malfunctions in aircraft structure, landing gear, flight surfaces and controls, anti-icing, pneudraulic, engines, auxiliary power unit, and ventilation and heating systems.
- Performs the jacking and towing of aircraft, enters in the maintenance records description of the work performed and verifies the work was performed satisfactorily, may service engines and airframe components at line station making repairs, short of overhaul, required to keep aircraft in safe operating condition, may specialize in work, repair and modification of structural, precision, and functional spare parts and assemblies, and may specialize in engine repair.
- Performs aircraft conditional inspections including, but not limited to, 100-hour, progressive, isochronal, phase, periodic, and other hourly or calendar inspections, examines reciprocating engines for cracked cylinders and oil leaks, and listens to operating engine to detect and diagnose malfunctions, such as sticking or burnt valves.
- Performs all required aircraft servicing tasks.
- Operates ground support equipment and documents/reports discrepancies prior to use.
- Performs all tasks associated with ground movement of aircraft.
- Completes all necessary manual and automated records required by USAF and Company directives.
- Orders parts and supplies as needed.
- Follows technical data, manuals, regulations, and other maintenance directives as required.
- Performs other related duties as assigned.
- Participates in towing and movement of aircraft in performing maintenance activities.
Knowledge & Skills
- A working knowledge of jet aircraft systems and of the use of common aircraft hand tools and special tools is required.
- A working knowledge of aircraft maintenance safety requirements and the operation of portable fire-fighting equipment are required.
Special Certifications Desired:
- APU Operation, Engine Run Qualified, Clear In-Process Inspections on A-10 Primary AFSC and Clear Red X on A-10 Primary AFSC.
Special Certifications Required:
- Inlet, Intake & Exhaust Inspector, Tow Team Supervisor, Sign All Condition Tags, and Sign Not Reparable This Station tags.
Experience & Education
- Eighteen (18) months of general aircraft maintenance experience is required.
- One (1) year experience in the past three (3) calendar years on A-10 aircraft is required.
- Technicians who do not meet minimum experience requirements have 180 days from the date of hire to complete the corresponding 5-Level core tasks as listed in the Site Training Business Area 2A353 Air Force Specialty Code Master Training Plan.
- Completion of high school or the equivalent is required.
- Completion of specialized courses is desired.
- The ability to read and write and to comprehend technical data is required.
Physical Requirements/Working Environment
Special Conditions:
- Must be able to lift a minimum weight of 50 lbs.
- Stand for prolonged periods of time.
- Have the ability to climb ladders and stairs.
- Normal color vision is required.
- Possession of a valid driver's license is necessary to obtain flight line driving privileges.
Work Environment:
- May work in Aircraft maintenance hangar or outside.
- May be required to respond to a wide variety of operational circumstances, including extreme weather conditions and rudimentary infrastructure.
- May be exposed to extreme noise from turbine and jet engine aircraft.
- May be exposed to fumes or airborne particles; may be exposed to electrical shock hazards or work near moving mechanical parts, vehicles, or aircraft.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Sometimes, it's just the little terms and facts that trip you up on a test and can even prevent you from understanding a question, let alone finding the correct answer. Check out these FREE flashcards for the TSI Assessment and smooth over any rough edges in your knowledge base before you take the test.
Math terms and little procedures can be confusing, especially when they've come from several years of high school study. Refresh your memory for the TSI Assessment using these flashcards and don't let those math questions stand in the way of immediate enrollment in college-level math courses.
There are so many terms used in reading questions on standardized tests. Then, there are all those little rules you'll need to know. Get a head start on them with these flashcards. You'll not only be better able to understand the questions but also find the correct answers!
The ability to write clearly is highly valued by today's colleges and needed to succeed in almost all college courses. Maybe you just need a quick review to be able to show what you know on the TSI Assessment. If so, check out these flashcards or use them along with our practice questions and study guide for a more thorough review.
It is our hope that these flashcards for the TSI Assessment made your study experience more complete and that you end up with positive results on test day. We'd love to hear how it goes, so reach out to us on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, Instagram, or YouTube. Or, our email address is email@example.com if you'd rather hit us up that way.


text:
Sen. Tom Harkin is one of 26 US senators to sign a bipartisan letter addressed to the director of national intelligence, James Clapper questioning the government's widespread collection of citizen data.
Obama, top legislators and national security officials have defended the NSA collection of phone and internet data, revealed by Edward Snowden, as necessary to combat terrorism.
But the group of senators says the snooping relies on "a secret body of law." Adding, "We are concerned that by depending on secret interpretations of the Patriot Act that differed from an intuitive reading of the statute, this program essentially relied for years on a secret body of law,"
The senators say they're also worried that the public isn't being informed adequately to debate the surveillance.
"Misleading statements by intelligence officials have prevented our constituents from evaluating the decisions that their government was making, and will unfortunately undermine trust in government more broadly," the letter goes on to say.
Snowden has been charged with espionage and theft of government property.
Of the 26 US senators, four republicans co-signed the letter.


text:
Allowing young sailing talent from the UAE, Bahrain, Egypt, Kuwait and Qatar to test their skills against the sport's top teenagers worldwide, the Dubai Junior Regatta combines an intense race programme commencing on January 26 with a variety of social events, making it a unique sailing festival.
Racing will be in two classes, with separate courses for the Optimist and Laser 4.7 events. There will be 14 races in all, with three each day from January 26-29 and the final two on January 30 prior to the prize giving ceremony.
Denmark is among 12 countries which will be represented for the first time in the Emirates Airline-sponsored event, the world's largest junior regatta, and team leader Stig BLØCHER is counting on the young Danes under his command to rise to the challenge. 'We're bringing a very young team to Dubai, but we hope to have two top ten finishers in the individual Optimist class and also hope the team finishes in the top five overall,' said Bløcher, who knows exactly what it takes to produce a winner.
He is a former Danish dinghy champion and former winner of the multi-hull (Formula 28) world and European titles. When not coaching his country's young hopefuls, he is managing director at the Winner Optimist factory in Faaborg, the world's most advanced production facility of its kind for the only dinghy officially approved for sailors under the age of 16.
The Winner brand has produced 13 world and 18 European champions, as well as eight consecutive US national champions from 1997, and Bløcher sees the Dubai Junior Regatta as a key stepping stone to success at the highest level for the Danish team. 'This is a very important event because it is our first regatta in 2005,' he said. 'We are only bringing Optimist competitors on our first visit to Dubai and they are all very young, but we hope at least two will go on to the World Championships later this year.'
Jes BONDE (12) and Stig STEINFURTH (11) are the two young Danes expected to make the biggest impact in Dubai in a team that also includes twin brothers Kåre and Kristian KIRKETERP (10) and the one girl making the trip to the UAE, Tine BONDE (10). Bløcher believes the beauty of the event is that it helps youngsters not only to further their sailing education but also broaden their horizons in general terms. 'A very important part of the trip is to teach the kids about the local culture and help them make new friends,' he says.
The Dubai Junior Regatta is part of a major effort to take sailing into a new era in the Gulf region in line with plans to increase the popularity of the sport worldwide. Apart from Denmark, the other newcomers to the event are Australia, Belgium, France, Ireland, Great Britain, Greece, Hong Kong, Mauritius, Pakistan, Ukraine and Zimbabwe. Bulgaria, France, Holland, Italy, Malta, Sweden, and Switzerland complete the line-up.


text:
HiFX doesn't need any introduction in the global fund transfer business. This popularity is primarily because they provide trustworthy services at economical prices. In last 20 years, they have never failed to satisfy their customers. This has made them earn an excellent score of 9.4 out of 10 on Trustpilot. We will discuss more about HiFX and review their services ahead in this article. Let's try to explore what makes it one of the most favored providers in the business.
How to transfer money with HiFX
As mentioned earlier, HiFX is a purely online company, and you can make transfers through their website only. You can create your account by submitting your details and a copy of your ID for your account's verification. HiFX verifies each and every account to prevent any kinds of frauds or scams. With a verified account you can make a transfer in minutes. First, log on to your account and choose the transaction type. You'll need to fill in the amount you are going to send and also the amount of currency that will be received. Next, you will be required to fill in the details of the recipient and the bank account where the money will be sent to. Always double check everything before hitting submit. If everything is fine, make payments by any of their payment methods. The money will reach the recipient in 1-2 business days.
How reliable is HiFX?
Customers have really trusted HiFX for last 20 years; their glowing reviews show how truly reliable they are. Their customers have scored them an average of 9.5 out of 10 on Trustpilot. HiFX is regulated and licensed by FCA, which compels them to follow certain guidelines. One of the key requirements is to keep the clients' money in segregated bank accounts. Every year they provide financial solutions to over 6000 businesses and transfer billions of dollars. They manage and satisfy over hundred thousands customer around the world every year. In order to protect the privacy of their customers, they use world-class technology on their website. For last 20 years, HiFX has performed better than the expectations of its customers; because of this, HiFX is definitely one of the most reliable names in the business.
How much will a transfer with HiFX cost you?
If you are wondering which service provider charges the least, you will be interested to know that HiFX charges nothing for fund transfers. They also offer very impressive exchange rates. But in the case of a payment made with a credit card, that fee would be applicable. It's important to mention here that there are a few service providers who are offering better exchange rates than HiFX. You will notice a big difference in the amount received by the recipient if the exchange rates are poor. If the exchange rates are lower, you will receive less money in the end. In my opinion, zero fees gives HiFX a lot of advantages over the others. But to remain competitive, they need to improve on their exchange rates as well. Even a small difference in the rates can make a tremendous difference. In that case, even offering zero transfer fee will not make much of a difference to its potential customers.
Advantages of HiFX's services
HiFX possesses certain qualities which, when bundled together, makes it an amazing service provider. HiFX is growing rapidly and has now reached over 170 countries. Even though they have a large customer base, they manage to satisfy pretty much all of them. They have a great team of customer support staff who make sure that all of your issues are solved. They also have amazing speed; most of their transfers are finished in about one day! Even in the cases of complicated transactions, the money gets delivered in maximum 4 business days. This is much faster than banks who can take up to 10 business days to process your transfer. HiFX also lets you choose from one of its many payment methods like credit or debit card or through bank transfer.
The Flaws I Observed in HiFX
It's rather difficult to find flaws in HiFX, but I observed some limitations in their services. Their focus should be on improving their exchange rates The rates they are offering now are okay, but there are other services that are providing better. Better rates would draw more customers to their business because the customers always want to spend less. Also, HiFX makes all their transfers directly to the recipient's bank account. They don't provide direct cash pick up from a local office like many other service providers.
Overall review on HiFX
So far, I am really impressed with HiFX, and you should try it. I came across so many great reviews of their services. Almost every customer praises their economical pricing, great customer experience, and smooth transaction. HiFX has been featured multiple times in prominent publications like The Daily Telegraph, The Sunday Times, and The Guardian. They admire HiFX every time! They have also acquired a strong financial foothold after becoming a part of Euronet Group. To me, HiFX seems more preferable since they have been in the business for 20 years, much longer than most of the other fun transfer companies. This certainly makes it the most desirable choice of them all.


text:
Use our powerful email builder to design pixel-perfect, branded emails that are automatically responsive so they look great on any device.
Send personalized email marketing campaigns by displaying targeted content for different audiences based on what you know about them.
Our A/B testing makes it easy to test subject lines, sender details and even different email marketing designs
Design engaging email marketing campaigns with simple drag-and-drop tools. Your design is guaranteed to look amazing in every inbox, on every device.
Organize your email marketing contact data and build segments based on custom criteria with our list management tools and integrations.
Use email automation to automatically trigger emails with relevant content like welcome emails, drip campaigns or reminder emails.
For every email marketing campaign, we provide a detailed set of real-time reports to track who opened it, who shared it, and much more.
With a range of professionally-designed email marketing templates to get you started, an infinite number of layouts, and the ability to perfectly match your brand — the possibilities are endless.
"Super service from the guys at @CampaignMonitor been a great help! Fantastic"
"Have I told you, lately, that I love you @CampaignMonitor? Best customer support and service in the galaxy."
"Every time I need the @CampaignMonitor support team they're excellent, and fast."
In the office or on-the-go, Campaign Monitor provides powerful tools to help you track the success of your email marketing campaigns.
Campaign Monitor has completely changed the game for us.
Kori Mirsberger - SXSW
Rated highest in customer satisfaction among major email marketing software vendors.
We employ email marketing specialists around the world to help you around the clock.
Campaign Monitor's dedicated team of email marketing experts are here to ensure your success, around the clock, and around the world.
Terms & Policies | © 2020 Campaign Monitor
Loved by over 2 million marketers at 250,000 businesses around the world.
Email Marketing is driving massive revenue for our business.
Rene Oehlerking, CMO


text:
Product Information
Sony Xperia XA1 Ultra Black 6" 32GB 4G Unlocked & SIM Free
Key Features:
- Unlocked & SIM Free
- 4G Ready for ultra fast network speeds
- 23 Megapixel rear camera & 16 Megapixel selfie camera!
- 6" Screen with 2.5D Corning® Gorilla® Glass
- Octa-Core Processor
- Android 7.0 Nougat OS
- 32GB Storage + 256GB micro SD card slot
- Borderless design
Make every moment a masterpiece
Xperia XA1 Ultra boasts a state-of-the-art 23 MP rear camera with Hybrid Autofocus, Exmor RS™ for mobile sensor for low-light capture and quick launch for flawless pictures in true-to-life colour.
Design Beyond borders
With its stunning 6" edge-to-edge screen, Xperia XA1 Ultra provides an immersive viewing experience right in the palm of your hand.
Stylishly sleek
Precision-edge detailing, aluminium sides and 2.5D glass give Xperia XA1 Ultra its polished design, while the endless loop surface provides a comfortable fit.
Performance that counts
Xperia XA1 Ultra features an Octa-core processor with 4GB RAM, making it a powerhouse performer that easily meets all your smartphone needs.
Stamina Mode
When you need to save power, use Stamina Mode to prolong battery lifetime and help you go through the day.


text:
This was published 10 years ago
State of Origin - 1980s
Arthur Beetson set the tone for Queensland, snotting Mick Cronin in 1980. NSW needed a similar act of defiance. Five years later, Steve Mortimer ordered the NSW team bus to be stopped outside Brisbane's Caxton Hotel. This was the birth of the real Blues. They won their first series, Mortimer sank to his knees in triumph, he was carried from the SCG like a victorious gladiator. Origin was on because, finally, it was competitive.
''It wasn't a premeditated thing,'' Mortimer said. ''We were driving down Caxton Street and all the Queenslanders were drinking and partying and carrying on. Benny Elias was on his debut that year, this cocky little character, and I was watching him look out the window in awe. I was a bit older than Benny and Steve Roach and a few of the blokes and I stood up and said: 'Stop this bus!' We sat there and I told the blokes we were there for one and only one thing that year. To win. I told them to look at all those people who hated us and take that into the game because on the way home we'd be going back up the same street. I wanted us to be going back up that street with a win. I wanted us to jam it up 'em.''
Mortimer had been left shattered by NSW's fifth straight Origin series loss in 1984. Up to half a dozen players had withdrawn through injury, a sure sign that commitment was lower than it might have been. Queensland entered the 1985 series on a rampage but the Blues refused to be beaten.
''We could have done anything on those nights in '85,'' he said. ''It's just mind games, State of Origin, getting blokes to spill blood for each other. We were very close, there were no egos, we honestly felt a lot of love for each other and that's why we won. Not everyone in that team would win premierships but I told them they could win the premiership of premierships in Origin. We won and it was the most amazing feeling. I kissed the ground at the SCG and then Blocker [Roach] picked me and kissed me like I was his little baby.'' Even now he says to me, 'How good was it back then?' ''
Queensland dominated in the early '80s. Wally Lewis could do no wrong. In a quagmire at the SCG in '84, he tried to trap the Blues in-goal with a kick - only for the ball to hit the crossbar before prop Greg Dowling somehow held onto it and scored. Lewis was still firing in game two in '89. Maroons Mal Meninga, Allan Langer, Paul Vautin, Michael Hancock and Bob Lindner were all wounded. It merely provided the scene for a legend to prove his worth, Lewis charging 40 metres for a timeless try. By then, though, NSW were consistently providing resistance thanks in no small part to Mortimer telling the bus driver to slam on his brakes outside the Caxton.
Will Swanton


text:
Template >> Flyer - Christmas Event Flyer 17201 by VoxelFlux Design @ CreativeMarket
File Size: 73.68 MB; Requirements: Adobe CS1+; Layered: Yes; DPI: 300 DPI; Dimensions: 8.5 x 11 px.
300 DPI ЁC Print Ready ЁC Bleed Margins ЁC 8.5" x 11" ЁC Easily Editable Text and Colors ЁC Layered and Labelled - 2 Background Colors - Uses Free Fonts (Check Documentation for download links) - Can also be used as a card if resized - Merry Xmas!
Keywords: xmas, christmas, party, event, flyer, christmas tree, present, typography, poster, design, retro, card, xmas poster, christmas flyer, holiday, invitation, celebration, postcard.


text:
I'm not into decorating for Christmas, although I will say there is something to be seen with white lit decorations in a yard full of snow. Gives a bit of brightness to the dark and dreary time of year, a spark of hope for sunshine maybe? I dunno, but otherwise I'm just not into the tinsel, glittery'ness. Having said that there is something to be said about Spookifying Christmas a bit.
For example, here are some Christmas Carols played in a minor key with a bit of horror movie flare added in. You can buy this CD over on Panda Smash, it's $11.95 and called Evil Christmas Carols. My favorite is Silent Night (Because your Dead) and The Peanuts Death March.
Before I start throwing the Etsy finds at you I have to show you what Ghoul Friday has been up to for her Christmas Decorations.
He Ain't No Frosty blog post shows these fabulous little guys. Although she claims she is experimenting with these little snowmen, I believe she has gotten the recipe just right!
Keep a watch for more to come from her!
Now the Etsy finds…
Raven Fae Creations has some wonderful little creepy things for Christmas, here is one little guy:
Spooky Hollow is another that is doing some Spooky Christmas'ness:
There are many others, I did a search on Etsy for Spooky Christmas.
So you have your decorations or are planning on the family making their own spookiness for the tree… well why not have a Black Christmas Tree to hang them on. Last year was the first year that I noticed that Walmart was selling Black Artificial Christmas tree's. Awesome!! Here is the Google search page for Black Christmas Tree's.
Heck… if your going for Whimsical why not put up an Upside Down Christmas Tree? Google search results are here.
Well that's all I got for now. My web searching and blog posting has been taken up by looking up information on Bend, Oregon. The fam is thinking about moving there in a few years, so I'm trying to find out all the info I can. It's looking awesome so far!!


text:
Up to 64% off airfare to Brazil!
IGLTA Share
Are you attending the upcoming IGLTA Annual Global Convention in Brazil? Be sure to take advantage of our special airfare rates for convention attendees. We currently offer discounted rates with Delta Air Lines, AeroMexico, TAM Airlines, SkyTeam Alliance and American Airlines. Discounts are available from North America, Europe and within Latin America. More coming soon. For more details, click here.
Pride House London 2012
IGLTA Share
For the first time at a Summer Games, Pride House London will open its doors, marking a significant milestone for the global LGBT community. As one of the largest of 15 Olympic Houses being planned, this open-air venue will present a dynamic 18-day festival with live music and entertainment, televised broadcasts of the Games, art exhibitions, fashion shows, hospitality programs and much more. Set to open in Clapham Common from 26 July to 12 August, Pride House will become a premier attraction for visitors to the Olympic Games, providing the perfect setting for brand activations, and corporate events for sponsors and partners seeking to raise visibility and engage with an LGBT audience. Organizers are hoping to create a tourism pavilion for destinations interested in targeting Pride House visitors. For more information about getting involved, please contact Jocelyn Wudel at firstname.lastname@example.com. Learn more about Pride House by visiting www.pridehouselondon.co.uk; find them on Facebook and Twitter.
Advertise in our 2012 Conference Program
IGLTA Share
Did you know that LGBT travel is a multibillion dollar industry? Advertising in the 2012 convention program is a great way to increase your visibility to one of the fastest growing travel segments. Target more than 300 travel professionals all at once! Ad space is limited, so book your space today. Click here to view options and pricing.
Call for silent auction items
IGLTA Share
We have begun to accept donations for our popular silent auction, which will take place online during the Annual Global Convention, 12-14 April in Florianopolis, Brazil. Each donor will be listed on our website with their company logo next to the auction item to increase interest ahead of the convention. This is a great opportunity for members to get more exposure and visibility. We encourage all members to donate what they can to help make this year's convention a success. For information and to donate, please complete the Auction Donation form.
Brochure distribution available at ITB Berlin
IGLTA Share
Space is nearly sold out! Join IGLTA in the 170m² Gay Pavilion at ITB Berlin and be a part of the World's Leading Travel Trade Show®. More than 11,000 exhibitors from 180-plus countries come together at ITB every March to do business in Berlin. Booth Share spaces in the IGLTA stand are sold out, however a limited number of Brochure Distribution opportunities are still available to IGLTA members. Register today and get ready to be a part of the world's largest LGBT travel-trade pavilion! Click here to register.
Attention IGLTA suppliers
IGLTA Share
Following our 29th Annual Global Convention in Florianopolis, we are co-hosting a Brazilian buyer event in Sao Paolo, from 12-3 p.m., 16 April. This is an additional opportunity for convention attendees to directly network with outbound Brazilian tour operators/travel agents and media. This supplier/buyer marketplace is produced in conjunction with ABRAT GLS, Brazil's national gay chamber. Brochure distribution is also available for businesses unable to attend. For details, CLICK HERE.
Court: California gay-marriage ban unconstitutional
Los Angeles Times Share
A federal appeals court Tuesday struck down California's ban on same-sex marriage, clearing the way for the U.S. Supreme Court to rule on gay marriage as early as next year. More
Expats lured by Brazil's booming economy
The Washington Post Share
It just made sense to be in South America's economic heart, Jonathan Rosenthal reasoned, no matter that he had been working on Wall Street with some of the investment world's most heady firms. The fact was, the United States was in a sustained slump and Europe was tanking, but there were promising opportunities in Brazil. More
Director of 'Priscilla, Queen of the Desert' announces he's gay
Têtu Share
In a moving speech, Stephan Elliott has revealed his homosexuality while calling for the legalization of marriage for all in his country of Australia. More
A first in Moscow: LGBT activists march unhindered
Têtu Share
For the first time in history of Russia, the rainbow flag floated for several hours in the streets of Moscow without major incident. More
Airline capacity grows for 9th consecutive month in February
Travel Pulse Share
Flights still may seem to be quite full, but airline capacity continues to grow of the ninth consecutive month, according to the latest statistics from OAG. Airline capacity grew 5 percent this month, translating to a slightly larger capacity increase (6%) as the average available seats in February 2012 nudges towards 127 per aircraft versus 125 in the same period last year. More
Malev Airlines collapse leaves other carriers working to fill void
Travel Pulse Share
Several European carriers have said they are interested in filing the void left by the collapse of state-owned Malev Airlines. The government-owned Hungarian airline, which was $270 million in debut, shut down 3 February after 66 years in business as creditors seized its aircraft. More
Diamond Jubilee: Queen celebrating 60-year reign
BBC News Share
The Queen has visited a school in Norfolk as she marks the 60th anniversary of her accession to the throne. Earlier she said she was dedicating herself "anew to your service" and that she was "deeply moved" by support for the Diamond Jubilee. More
US travel industry posts major employment gains in January
Travel Pulse Share
The U.S. travel industry, outpacing other sectors, saw significant employment gains in January, according to the U.S. Labor Department's January 2012 employment numbers reported 3 February. "Today's report offers a sign that the overall recovery, which has been stuck in low gear, is starting to accelerate, and confirms that the travel industry continues to outpace other sectors," said David Huether, senior vice president of economics and research at the U.S. Travel Association. More
Navy asked to make room for Sydney cruise boom
ABC Sydney Share
The New South Wales Government is in talks with the Royal Australia Navy to free up space in Sydney Harbor for the city's booming cruise ship industry. Ports Minister Duncan Gay says a 43% increase in numbers this year is the state's biggest tourism success story. More
Hello Kitty jets: Cutest airplanes ever
CNNGo Share
Forget the YouTube videos. If you want a real dose of cute cat, book a flight with Taiwan airline EVA Air. The carrier recently has launched three Hello Kitty-themed aircraft, on which everything from the fuselage to the flight attendants to the food is kitted out in the kawaii cat brand's images. More
How to score the best hotel rooms
CNN Share
Stephanie Oswald writes, "I recently was given the option of paying about $20 more for a hotel room in New York City with a skyline view. It put me at eye level with the Chrysler Building, and as the sun went down and the city lights began to twinkle, I savored every beautiful minute knowing I'd made a smart choice in paying just $20 for a million-dollar view." More
5 reasons to care about new FAA law
CNN Share
Did you hear that? It's a door busting open in Washington, unblocking a huge backlog of airline issues that will directly affect America's millions of air travelers. More


text:
Our Address:
FLL Park Safe
Long-Term Parking Services
1101 Old Griffin Road
Dania, Fl 33004
When you go on a business trip or take a vaction, your car's security shouldn't stress you out. This is why so many people choose to use secured parking lots, like FLL Park Safe. We all know that long term parking at FLL Hollywood Airport is a hassle. The lots are over-crowded, expensive, and a hassle to navigate. By the time you've found a space, you either have to run to your gate or are already too late and need to re-book your flight! Let alone the hassle of dragging all of your luggage from the furthest parking spot in the lot.
At FLL Park Safe, our mission is to alleviate your worries, and make traveling fun and easy again, which we have accomplished with our 4 step process:
With our FLL Airport parking services, you won't have to worry about a thing. No more wondering where your terminal is, no more stressing out about your vehicle getting scratched or stolen, no more back aches and pains from lugging around your heavy luggage. Our parking facility is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and is a mere 3 minutes from the Fort Lauderdale Hollywood Airport. With FLL Park Safe, you'll never have to break out a map and figure out how to get to your airport terminal, as we'll drop you off at your carrier's terminal with our free valet service. Simply choose the best long term airport parking service in all of Fort Lauderdale Florida, FLL Park Safe, and we'll take care of the rest!
Valet Services
When you arrive at FLL Park Safe your stresses fly out the window. Simply pull up and one of our helpful attendants will help you with your luggage, inform you of your parking options and park your vehicle for you. Also, unlike every other long term airport parking service in Florida, we accept RVs, trailers, and buses! From there it is a simple hop, skip and a jump to FLL Hollywood Airport and the beginning of your newest adventure.
Peace of Mind
When it comes to parking at the airport, the stress that comes with zero guaranteed protection is enough to keep some from travelling at all. Which is why we work tirelessly to not only provide you with the best possible customer service and care, but also security. At FLL Park Safe Long Term Parking, we ensure that your car is safe and secure at all times. That starts with tall fencing that surrounds the entire parking lot. State-of-the-art surveillance cameras keeping a close eye on all of the vehicles entrusted to us. Not to mention regular monitoring from our on-site parking lot guard 24/7, all so you can travel with peace of mind.
Fair Pricing
Have you seen what they charge to park at FLL Hollywood Airport? $17 dollars per day! And these are "economy" lots. Short-term parking at the airport can cost you well over $30 to $50 dollars per day. Heaven forbid you have to park in short term lot for a few days because the long term parking lot is full, that makes your 3-day weekend getaway nearly $200 dollars more in parking costs alone!
Our prices for FLL Airport parking start at $6.99 per day whether you have a car, truck or SUV, not to mention our free valet service! And always remember to check our Parking Specials page for great deals!
If you would like to book your FLL long-term airport parking or Port Everglades cruise ship parking reservation over the phone or in person, we are more than happy to accommodate you. Just call us at (954) 404-7688 or send an email to firstname.lastname@example.com to contact us.
FLL Park Safe has limited spaces available for RVs and large trucks without trailers. Long-term parking for these vehicles is subject to additional fees. We do not accept online reservations for these vehicles, so please call us to inquire about pricing and book your reservation!


text:
The PC may not be dead, but it's not doing well.
Sale of tablets will blow by those of portable PCs this year -- 229.3 million to 187.4 million -- and tablet shipments are on track to surpass all PC shipments combined by 2015, IDC says.
[ BACKGROUND:IDC: PC shipments to decrease in 2013
END OF LIFE:Microsoft lures Windows XP business customers to Windows 8 with a 15% discount
IN PICTURES:Images from the dawn of the PC era]
Part of this is due to PC sales taking a steeper than expected decline this year that they won't recover from over the next five years, according to IDC, while the research firm has bumped up its sales predictions for tablets for the second time this year.
"IDC continues to believe that PCs will have an important role in this new era of computing, especially among business users," says Ryan Reith, the program manager of IDC's Mobility Trackers service. "But for many consumers, a tablet is a simple and elegant solution for core use cases that were previously addressed by the PC."
Contributing to the problem is Windows 8, whose combination of support for keyboard-and-mouse as well as touchscreens has PC makers scrambling to produce new types of devices to accommodate the operating system, IDC says.
Shipments of PCs will drop 7.8% in 2013 vs. 2012, IDC says today, which is significantly larger than the 1.3% decline IDC predicted just three months ago.
If the forecast pans out, that means worldwide shipments will be 321.9 million this year, down from 349.2 million last year. Looking out to 2017, IDC says shipments will reach 333.4 million and still not have regained last year's volume.
"What started as a sign of tough economic times has quickly shifted to a change in the global computing paradigm with mobile being the primary benefactor," Reith says. The market peaked in 2011 at 363 million.
Businesses will buck the trend to some degree as they replace Windows XP machines that won't be supported by Microsoft after next spring, but those replacements will be selective, IDC says, rather than company-wide upgrades.
In addition, bring-your-own-device (BYOD) policies have nearly 25% of employees in organizations larger than 10 employees purchasing the primary PC they use for work, says Bob O'Donnell, IDC's program vice president for clients and displays. "This means that some of the corporate PC purchases we expected this year will no longer happen," he says.
At the same time, tablet sales are booming, forcing IDC to upgrade shipment predictions for the second time this year.
The latest projection represents a 58.7% increase over 2012, which itself is an upgrade over an earlier projected increase of 32.1%.
The red-hot market is being fueled by small-screen tablets such as iPad Minis and Kindles, IDC says. Tablets smaller than 8 inches grabbed 27% of tablet sales in 2011 and are predicted to snatch 55% this year, cutting dramatically into the market for 8-11-inch tablets such as the iPad.
Dropping prices are helping. The average sale price of a tablet will fall this year from $423.33 to $381, and will fall even further after that. That's about half what the average PC costs ($635), IDC says.
PCs are still useful, but tablets can meet most of users' needs, IDC says, and so new sales go to the tablets. "These users have not necessarily given up on PCs as a platform for computing when a more robust environment is needed, but this takes a smaller share of computing time, and users are making do with older systems," says Loren Loverde, the program vice president of IDC's Worldwide Quarterly PC Trackers service.
Tim Greene covers Microsoft and unified communications for Network World and writes the Mostly Microsoft blog. Reach him at firstname.lastname@example.com and follow him on Twitter @Tim_Greene.
Read more about data center in Network World's Data Center section.


text:
As the 8:10am train rolled into the crowded station, she could see the stairs that led up and off the platform on to the concourse. The stairs that she was minutes away from climbing to meet 'him' for the first time. She craned her neck in an attempt to see the top of the stairs, but the last 6 or 7 steps were just out of her eye line. She felt sick. With fingers that were stiff from the nervous wringing she had inflicted on them during the 3 hour journey, she fumbled with the strap of her bag as she got to her feet, nearly spilling the contents all over the carpeted middle of the carriage. As the passengers formed a queue of sorts down the aisle between the seats, the train came to a sudden stop with a hiss of compressed air, thrusting each standing passenger into the one in front, like a line of unstable dominoes. Newton should be proud of his work, she thought to herself. It was a thought that would have amused her had she not been so anxious, like a child outside the headteachers' office, awaiting the fate that follows a playground infraction.
This was it, the moment she had been waiting 6 months for. It had been the longest 6 months of her life, each day and night seeming to stretch into eternity. But, in the same instance, this day had arrived too quickly, stealthily sneaking behind her before crashing into her and propelling her forward, like one of the standing passengers on the braking train she was about to alight. She felt as though she hadn't had enough time to prepare, to rehearse everything that she would do and say when she finally stood before him, the man that she had only been able to love from a distance, until now. She stepped on to the stone platform, worn smooth by the passage of years of rushing feet, and after taking a long, shaky breath, she started towards the stairs. 'I'll wait for you at the top, my darling', he had written in his final message to her the night before. Now, for better or worse, that time had arrived. She mounted the first step slowly, attempting a composure she was a million miles away from feeling.
She cast her eyes downwards as she took each yellow-edged step, her hand sliding clumsily over the handrail, its red paint chipped and scratched as though it had seen many a battle. She didn't want to look up too soon, she didn't want him to see how nervous she was or how scared she felt. As she was approaching the last 6 steps she lifted her eyes to look at the space above the final one, steeling herself for the rush of love and attraction that she knew she would feel as soon as their eyes met. Those feelings, however, didn't materialise because the space to which she had raised her hopeful gaze was empty. She could see into the concourse properly now, could see he wasn't at the top, as promised. Pushing past a late looking commuter in a wrinkled business suit, she flew up the remaining steps, her heart sinking further with each one. Looking around wildly, she found that he was not there. He had not come to meet her at the top of the stairs……..


text:
The statistics for bicycling are less complete, but such as they are they suggest that the rate per mile is about ten times as high compared to driving. To keep calculations simple let's just call it 10 fatalities per 100,000,000 miles.
Call me chicken, but this is alarming. Applying the statistics directly to my own situation, I ride upwards of 5,000 miles per year, giving me odds of 1:20,000 of dying this year while biking. Over a 20-year career that's a one-in-a-thousand chance of getting killed. Compare this to other risky activities:
- Skydiving (per jump): 1:100,000
- Killed by lightning (lifetime): 1:100,000
- Plane crash (per trip): 1:1,000,000
The EPA, when assessing the risk of pollution levels, typically sets one in a million as unacceptably high. I'm comfortable with a one-in-a million risk; one in a thousand, not so much.
So how can I go about mitigating this risk? Quite a lot, I believe. What I see on the road convinces me that there is a lot of opportunity for bicyclists to improve their own chance for survival. To be honest, I'm astonished at the foolhardiness of many bikers. Here is just a small sample of behavior I've seen:
- Crossing a busy intersection without checking whether car traffic is aware of you. I actually saw someone get hit crossing 65th this way, and I've seen several close calls on Stone Way. How hard is it to look left and right?
- This one's similar: going straight through an intersection without looking for oncoming left-turners, or right-turners coming up behind you. At least one recent fatality in Seattle was caused by this situation. It's not much comfort to claim that the car was at fault.
- Riding on unsuitable roads, such as Aurora Avenue North (which also happened to be the location of the above-mentioned fatality).
- Riding at night in dark clothing with no lights. As a car driver with aging eyesight, I can assure you this renders you practically invisible.
I maintain that simply by taking common-sense precautions, the risk of accident can be dropped substantially. Statistics back this up. For example, one blogger has assembled data showing that young, inexperienced cyclists incur accidents at greater than ten times the rate of experienced cyclists.
But even experienced cyclists take risks that I myself avoid, so I believe in my case the risk is lower still. I know I've annoyed many a bicyclist with my cautious riding on the Burke-Gilman trail. Because of poor visibility I slow nearly to a stop at 70th and 65th to make sure no one's coming; I won't cross in front of a car until I make eye contact with the driver and have been given a clear signal to cross, particularly at high-traffic crossings like Blakely.
Recently I've been looking for the best route between Fremont and the Interbay Golf Course on Magnolia. My first attempt took me over an unacceptably steep hill. On my second attempt I tried a route that crossed the Ballard bridge, taking me within a few blocks of my destination, only to find that the pedestrian walkway on the other side didn't continue along 15th NW. My only options were to follow the safe route away from my destination, or to ride on the street. One look at the street convinced me to bail. I ended up taking a 15-minute detour just to avoid the traffic. Finally on my third try I found a suitable route that was pleasant, direct, and safe.
I have the added advantage that nearly 90% of my commute trip is along the Burke-Gilman trail, away from auto traffic entirely except for the street crossings. Cautious riding, experience, and a favorable route combine to reduce my personal risk to perhaps as low as 1:100,000 lifetime, I estimate.
That's still not one in a million, but it's almost certainly lower than the risk I would incur driving to work instead. Yet one more reason to ride!


text:
Dating can be a fun and relaxing environment for many single Christian women. Christians are called to a high standard of living and must honor God in their words and deeds. Many women find it hard to balance their religion and their relationships with men. Having a few simple dating tools will help ensure the relationships between you and God and men continue to be healthy and pure.
Women need to rely on their self-esteem and self-awareness when establishing their dating standards. Having high self-esteem allows women to set guidelines for who they will and will not date. Some women will date any man that shows interest, but those with higher standards will reject some of them because they are not up to standard. Some standards many include: being an active Christian, having a steady job, owning a car, and being involved in missions work. Once your standards are set, it is important to ask God to place the correct person in your life.
Many seeking God's wisdom must be patient while waiting to find a man to date. While this can be difficult, God has called on his followers to rely on him and find our satisfaction through his enduring love. Actively participating in church functions and serving God in various ways will bring potential boyfriends in your life while also keeping you focused on God.
Once God has placed a person in your life and dating has begun, it is vital to remain faithful and pure in God's eyes--not losing focus on the goal Christ has set before you. While dating, many Christians feel more comfortable group dating or "courting." This will help ensure you will not violate any moral dating standards and offers many socializing opportunities.
Making dating limitations clear to your date at the beginning of the relationship will relieve pressure if you are pressured to go beyond the limitations you have set for yourself. If the man you are dating tries to breach your boundaries, it is vital to remind your date that it is not acceptable to cross your personal boundaries. Both parties must show respect for each other and the goals of purity they have vowed to keep and hold true. If the man repeatedly violates your limitations, he does not respect your honor and morals, and you should seriously consider ending the relationship.


text: January 2011Conference+Meetings World17Mike Trudeau visits Krakow and investigates its conference and meetings offering.Krakow:Poland'sevent undergroundWhen thinking about hosting eventsin Poland, Poznan or Warsawinevitably spring to mind.However, the southern city Krakow is quietlyramping up its conference and meetingsoffering with the addition of two new venuesto complement many smaller facilities. Addto this the "old-European" feel of the place,and you have a powerful recipe for amemorable destination.The old market centre is a cobbled plazalined with cafés and bars, and has a richhistorical atmosphere. It's easy enough toget away from the tourist crowds andimmerse yourself in the vibrant nightlifeenergised by the thousands of universitystudents living there.Poland's third-largest city, Krakow ispeppered with small- to medium-sizedmeetings facilities. One of the biggestvenues is the Gromada Hotel andConference Centre, with a total capacity for4,880 people and a large conference roomfor up to 2,200. The JagiellonianUniversity's Auditorium Maximum holds1,200 and Krakow University of Economicshas a multi-functional conference room thatseats 1,500. The Krakow Opera House andPhilharmonic Hall have auditoriums for 800and 700 people respectively.The next generationDue to open in 2014, the InternationalConferencing and Entertainment (ICE)Congress Centre will finally deliver whatKrakow needs in terms of dedicatedconvention space. It is a modern, curvaceousbuilding on the banks of Krakow's Vistulariver and 15 minutes from town. ICE will havean 1,800sqm, three-storey glass foyer forexhibitions or banquets, a 2,000-seatauditorium and a 600-seat theatre. Meetingspace for 600 people will be available dividedinto two spaces, each sub-divisable for a totalof 12 rooms of varying sizes. The venue willalso hold two bars and two restaurants, aflorist, shop, VIP room, press centre and two-storey underground car park.Also in the works is the city's first combinedexhibition and conference space, CracoviaExpo. Unlike ICE, Cracovia Expo is privatelyfunded, by the city's exhibition associationTargi w Krakowie. The venue hopes to offer18,000sqm of exhibition space and a 1,600-seat auditorium. However, it seems thebureaucracy of local government isfrustrating efforts to finalise plans.Although ICE will be an extensive andversatile conference centre, the city'sstrength currently lies in its unique venues,which include botanical gardens, castles,towers and museums of everything frompharmaceuticals to aircraft.However, in terms of unique venues, theWieliczka Salt Mine is undoubtedly theKrakow region's meetings crown.After an unbelievably long descent on awinding staircase and walk past awe-inspiring underground lakes and chapelshewn by hand centuries ago, there's anelegant meeting space with a hideout-stylemood that inspires a conspiratorial senseof confidence.The underground chambers, carved fromMarket Square, Krakow solid rock, vary in size and capacity. TheWarsaw Chamber has 680sqm floor spaceand can accommodate 600 people.For such an ancient venue, the facilitiesare modern and tidy, including everythingfrom cloakrooms to catering. Most roomshave adjustable lighting from elegant saltchandeliers. Extras include tours of themines, performances by the miners'orchestra, and even a sample of themysterious 'Miners' Welcome Drink'. Whileyou're there, take a moment to discretelylick one of the walls, which are full of hunksof clear salt.Krakow's Mayor, Jacek Majchrowski,acknowledges the need for dedicatedvenue space to improve the city'sinternational standing."Krakow needs new conference andexhibition venues," he toldCMW. "Thepresence of additional conference andexhibition infrastructure will surely allow thecity to be even more competitive on thePolish tourism market in comparison withother big cities in the country. Krakow hasall the means and potential to become animportant business tourism destination," he told CMW.Krakow's old-world European vibecomplements its selection of unique venues.It is a safe and friendly city, where mostpeople will eagerly speak English to helpstrangers or share a joke. The KrakowConvention Bureau is hoping that the city'scharm coupled with two big new venues willboost this small medieval city into themodern-day meetings market.CITY FOCUSCracovia ExpoKrakow expects the ICE to break in 2014


text:
NuForce HEM1 In-ear Monitors
Employing the latest Balanced Armature Driver technology and advanced crossover design, the innovative and Hi-Res Audio certified HEM in-ear headphones represent a pinnacle achievement in performance and value. The HEM headphones reveal a whole new element of musical space to audio enthusiasts, redefining the stantard of premium portable sound.
- Single full range, high resolution Knowles Balanced Armature Driver
- Acoustically calculated and vibration free Lexan earpiece for comfortable and fatigue free fit.
- Hi-Res Audio Certified for studio quality Audio. Frequency range 20hz-40, 000Hz.
- High quality copper and silver earphone cable
- Package includes: range of silicon tips, cable clip and fabric carrying pouch.


text:
Delivering exceptional IT performance for the right people solutions at the right time
VxRail Appliance in CSI companies
The CSI Companies consists of four entities plus affiliate Anteo Group that provide staffing and specialized services to meet a wide range of client needs.
The CSI Companies has been named one of the top 25 fastest growing staffing firms in the nation, and has won numerous awards and recognition for its remarkable growth and the high quality of services it provides
The CSI Companies run a full complement of applications on the VxRail Appliance, including Microsoft SQL Server databases, Dynamics GP enterprise resource planning, several SQL Server Reporting Services, time and expense applications, and more.
"Since implementing VxRail Appliance, our team has been able to focus less on routine management, and more on delivering desired business value," said Matt Greaves, director of IT for The CSI Companies. "The VxRail Appliance is a real game-changer for us."


text:
- REDIRECT Template:UserCharacter (Old)
"Alright, let's go!" - Amelia
Amelina ("Amelia" or "Amy") Locheart Williams is one of the main protagonist of the fanmade story series, Soulcalibur: Pandemonium and is the 2nd daughter of Mikal and Naomi Williams. She bears the rune mark Hyperion, like the rest of his family and is immortal. She, Len, and Sophia are the only ones who are not the same race as their other three siblings. Her title is The Flourishing Tulip. She makes an appearance in Soulcalibur IV and V.
What lies in Amelia's soul is Pride.
In Part 1, Amelia is quiet most of the time which never made sense, seeming that she got along well with others. She is very gentle and full of advice.
In Part 2, She is more outgoing, headstrong, and a bit arrogant. However, her feelings for her relatives are the same. She also had a need to be keen for things and helpful towards others. Towards her siblings however, she will get angry at them for "messing up" things that end up in life-risking consequences.
Disclaimer: The following music is only fan music for this character and its egos. I don't own any of it.
Amelia's Themes
- Amelia can be very nice at some times, but tends to get very angry if something is "screwed up" by one of her siblings.
- Her favorite foods are sushi, hotdogs, and cheesecake.
- She doesn't wish to get married or have kids anytime soon.


text:
As part of its ongoing Q&A series, The Oil Palm has interviewed Datuk Sam Mannan, Sabah's Director of Forestry and lifelong conservation expert. After joining the Sabah Forestry Department in 1980, Datuk Mannan has risen to become one of Malaysia's most respected authorities on forestry related matters and an internationally acclaimed spokesperson on good forest management.
Recently, he has also featured in a documentary on palm oil, development and conservation broadcast by French TV station TV5 Monde. This recent documentary showcases Sabah's commitment to pursuing the dual track of development and conservation, and highlights the oil palm's significant contribution to this goal. In the documentary, Datuk Mannan notes the oil palm's 'vital contribution' to the state's conservation programs and he provides an overview of the strict laws and regulations on forest protection implemented in Sabah.
Similarly, in his exclusive video interview with The Oil Palm, Datuk Mannan explains that today, 60 per cent of Sabah is still under forest cover and income from forestry has declined from 90 per cent to 5 per cent of the state government's revenue. Datuk Mannan explains that this achievement would not have been possible without revenue from oil palm cultivation, which has financed many of the state's conservation efforts. He tells The Oil Palm how the oil palm, has become a substitute for revenue generation for the government of Sabah and has provided thousands of jobs and uplifted thousands of people from abject poverty.
Datuk Mannan also talks of the Great Ape Survival Project (GRASP), an orang-utan conservation initiative encompassing 300,000 hectares of forest surrounding Danum Valley. This area has been defined by the United Nations Environment Programme as a (model area for the conservation of Great Apes. Datuk Mannan believes that if the orangutan is to survive as a species on Earth, this has the highest likelihood of happening in Sabah.
In a world of limited resources, Datuk Mannan tells The Oil Palm that we must favor crops that offer the highest socio-economic return. The oil palm is such a crop. And the oil palm industry has an established track record of contributing, substantial amounts of money for conservation, forest restoration and wildlife management.
The boycott of palm oil advocated by some Western NGOs, will not help the environment, the NGOs, the government or the people; says Datuk Mannan. Removing such a competitive oil crop will negatively affect the livelihoods of millions of people in Malaysia and greater areas of land will have to be cleared to substitute for the oil palm's superior productivity. As Datuk Mannan points out, conservation cannot take place without the financing of it. In Sabah, oil palm development and conservation efforts have taken place side by side. Today, oil palm development – on land reserved for agricultural production – continues to complement forest management and forest conservation, by financing the efforts being undertaken by agencies like the Forestry Department and the Wildlife Department.
Come and watch the full Q&A interview here and learn more about the oil palm's contribution to conservation efforts in Sabah.
The documentary on palm oil featuring Sabah's Director of Forestry, Datuk Sam Mannan, will also be broadcast again on TV5 Monde this Saturday at 11.45 AM. Don't miss it!


text:
The Incheon Port Authority (IPA) announced on Aug. 6 that it can now accelerate the Golden Harbor project in the Incheon Free Economic Zone as the Korean National Assembly has passed an amendment to the Special Act on the Designation and Management of Free Economic Zones or the Free Economic Zone Ac
The United States Department of the Treasury designated China as a currency manipulator on Aug. 5. This is likely to have a negative impact on South Korean exporters, which are heavily dependent on China. The Korean won and the Chinese yuan tend to move in the same direction and a yuan appreciation
The Bank of Korea announced on Aug. 6 that South Korea posted a current account surplus of US$21.77 billion in the first half of this year and the surplus dropped 25 percent in one year. The first-half surplus is the smallest half-yearly surplus since the first half of 2012, when it stood at US$9.65
The South Korean government has come up with a plan to achieve independence from Japan for 100 key items within five years.To this end, the government will provide 7.80 trillion won (US$6.42 billion) in research and development (R&D) funds and 37.50 trillion won (US$30.85 billion) in financial suppo
About 100 professors at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) have come forward to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) develop fundamental technologies for key materials, components and equipment. The move is a response to Japan's recent trade retaliation against
Korea's exports dropped for the eighth consecutive month in July due to a slump in the global semiconductor industry and the prolonged U.S.-China trade dispute. Japan's restrictions on exports to Korea further dims Korea's exports looks.In July, Korea's exports stood at US$46.14 billion, down 11
As the Moon Jae-in government raised the maximum corporate tax rate from 24.2 percent to 27.5 percent, domestic investment has shrunk by approximately 20 trillion won (US$16.77 billion).The hike in corporate tax rates is the main factor in the country's decline in employment and household income and
South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-hwa had talks with Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono for 55 minutes in Bangkok on Aug. 1, but failed to reach any conclusion on resolving the escalating trade dispute between the two countries.As a result, Japan is highly likely to exclude Korea from its wh
The United States has urged South Korea and Japan to consider signing a "standstill agreement" on an escalating dispute over trade to buy time for negotiations, Reuters reported from Washington on July 30 (local time).Washington is trying to be helpful in the dispute, the report said, quoting a seni
As Japan is expected to remove South Korea from a "whitelist" of trusted importers, Korean companies that import the 1,100 strategic items from Japan are highly likely to suffer a big blow starting from later next month.Japan is predicted to approve a rule that will exclude South Korea from its "whi
Tokyo has been ignoring Seoul's proposals to hold talks to discuss Japan's trade restrictions on South Korea. South Korean Trade Minister Yoo Myung-hee told reporters on July 29 that she proposed to Japan's Trade Minister Hiroshige Seko that they meet on the sidelines of the ministerial conferen
With the South Korean semiconductor industry facing a crisis due to Japan's export curbs on core semiconductor materials, the Chinese government is encouraging foreign investment in 5G-related sectors and the manufacturing industry, including semiconductor equipment manufacturing, according to a stu
South Korea and the United States are entering into a legal battle over the U.S. safeguard tariffs on South Korean washing machines at the World Trade Organization (WTO).The WTO formed a panel to settle the dispute in Geneva, Switzerland, on July 1, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and E
U.S. President Donald Trump has stepped up pressure on the World Trade Organization (WTO) to change the rules on the status of developing countries. Trump's main target is China, but Korea was also mentioned as a major case.As President Trump ordered the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) on July 26 (
The Washington Post reported that North Korea launched two short-range missiles on July 25 for the first time since last month's Panmunjom meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and one week after the North's warning message regarding U.S.-ROK joint military
The World Trade Organization (WTO) held a general board meeting in Geneva on July 23 and 24. There, Kim Seung-ho, head of the Office of International Trade and Legal Affairs of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy of South Korea, pointed out that Japan's export curbs on South Korea are rooted
The international community is criticizing the Japanese government for its export restrictions targeting South Korea. Industry groups and think tanks in the United States and major global media outlets, which were cautious about mentioning the issue for its relation to history, are urging the Japane
The South Korean government is planning to allow telemedicine and blockchain-based regional currencies. The seven regulation-free zones it designated on July 24 are expected to function as test beds for new industry development.The seven zones are located in Gangwon Province (digital healthcare), Da
The South Korean chemical industry's degree of dependence on Japanese materials and components is as high as 55.6 percent, followed by automotive (36.9 percent), steel (34.6 percent) and semiconductor and display (29.2 percent), according to data from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy relea
Bank of Korea Governor Lee Ju-yeol said on July 23 that Japan's export restrictions targeting South Korea were not sufficiently reflected in the bank's economic forecasts released on July 18 and the restrictions can negatively affect South Korea's economic growth rate this year.On July 18, the centr


text:
General Mohamed Farah Hassan Aideed Garaad(Somali:Maxamed Faarax Xasan Caydiid Garaad,Arabic:محمد فرح عيديد) (December 15, 1934 – August 2, 1996) was a controversialSomalimilitary leader, often described as ahero of Somalia.[1]He became thePresident of Somaliafrom 1995 to 1996. He was the chairman ofUnited Somali Congress(USC) and laterSomali National Alliance(SNA), who droveMohamed Siad Barre's dictatorial regime from the capital,Mogadishuand eventually from Somalia altogether. Later he challenged the presence ofUnited NationsandUnited Statestroops in the country. General Aideed was one of the main targets ofOperation Restore Hope, the United Nations and United States military operation that came to the country to provide humanitarian aid and to break the militarysiege. He became General of Somalia for a short period after forcing UN forces to abandon the country in 1995.
General Mohamed Farah Hassan Aideed was born in theHabar Gidirclan of theMudugregion of Somalia.He was educated inRomeandMoscowand served in the Italian colonial police force in the 1950s. Later he rose in the military of Mohamed Siad Barre to the rank of general and served in the 1977-78Ogaden WarwithEthiopia.[1]Aidid also served in Barre's cabinet and as SomaliambassadortoIndiabefore finally being appointedintelligencechief.[2]
Somali Civil War
Barre suspected Aideed of planning acoup d'étatand had him imprisoned for six years as means ofpre-emption. In 1991, Aideed's clan did indeed manage to overthrow Barre, and the former, as leader of theUnited Somali Congress, emerged as a major force in the ensuingcivil war.
Further information:Somalian Revolution (1986-1992)
Opposition to UN intervention
General Aideed hindered international U.N. peacekeeping forces in 1992 culminating with an attack on Pakistani peace keeping forces which resulted in 24 dead. As a result, the US put a $25,000bountyon his head and attempted to arrest and try him forwar crimes. On October 3, 1993, by the order of PresidentBill Clinton, a force ofUnited States Army RangersandDelta Forceoperators set out to capture several officials of Aideed's troops in an area of the Somali capital city of Mogadishu, controlled by him. Although technically successful, with the capture of several "tier-one personalities", the operation did not completely go as planned. Between 500 and 1500 Somalis, as well as 18 American soldiers and 1Malaysian soldier, died as a result in theFirst Battle of Mogadishu. Also, as a result of a downedBlackhawkattack helicopter,Warrant Officer-PilotMichael J. Durantfrom160th SOARwas held captive for 11 days. He recalls in his book,In the Company of Heroes,that he believed that he may have seen General Aideed behind the cameraman as he was being filmed briefly by film reporters during his captivity.
The United States withdrew its forces soon afterwards and the United Nations left Somalia in 1995.
President of Somalia
General Aideed became President of Somalia in June 1995,he was like the lion of Africa and he had most support of the Somali People.
General Aideed died on August 2, 1996 as a result of gunshot wounds sustained a week earlier, possibly in a fight with competing factions.
Hussein Mohamed Farah, son of General Aideed, migrated to the United States when he was 17 years old. He stayed 16 years in the U.S. and became anaturalized citizen, and later aUnited States Marinewho served in Somalia. Two days after his father's death, the Somali National Alliance selected him to become the new president of the Republic of Somalia.
He resigned his position inCairo,Egyptfollowing a peace process between the Salbalar administration and Soodare Group. Hussein Mohammed Farah is seen by the West as making possible a chance for improvement of relationships between the West and Somalia. When asked about his Marine days, he replied: "Once a Marine, always a Marine


text:
Fitted Wedding Ring
We can create you the perfect wedding ring of your dreams. If you already have your solitaire we can recreate this into our design program or scan the original ring. We can then make the perfect fitting wedding band for you. Call our designers on 0121 236 4927 or email firstname.lastname@example.com
First we take ring or we create your bespoke design engagement ring
We then make the wedding ring to fit side by side with the solitaire
Once the Design is confirmed 2-3 weeks Later we will have made your new ring hallmarked by the Assay office
The matching new ring to sit along side your solitaire
Get in touch
Have an idea or just need questions answered? Give us a call or send us a message. We look forward to hearing from you


text:
West Alpha, winterization
These days, the North Atlantic Drilling rig West Alpha is undergoing extensive renovations at Westcon yard in Ølen in Norway..
A large part of the renovation includes winterization of the rig, special heating cables and "gangway- elements" are installed on all walkways, railings, pipes and valves etc. This large task is performed by GMC Elektro in Stavanger together with Faroe Offshore Service as a subcontractor..
Stretching of miles of new cables, installation of new switchboards and hundreds of electrical boxes, welding and assembly of the prefabricated "heat elements" is being done on-board the rig by enthusiastic electricians and mechanics from GMC-Electric and Faroe Offshore Service.
West Alpha will be ready the first half av July 2014, after which the rig is ready to operate in Arctic areas.


text:
We want to share with you the perfect Muddy Buddies recipe of all time! This is the "go to" treat for a day at the pool, camping, cookout, or a snack for the parade and fireworks!! It's one of our favorite treats! They are loaded with peanut butter and chocolate of course! We threw in some dry roasted peanuts and white chocolate chips! Muddy Buddies can't get any better than this! Your family will thank you! You can whip these up in a few minutes and nibble all day!
Six Sisters Stuff
Serves: 15
A delicious snack that can be made in about 15 minutes. This recipe will feed a crowd!
15 minPrep Time
2 minCook Time
17 minTotal Time
- 12 cups rice chex cereal
- 12 ounces white chocolate chips
- 10 ounces peanut butter chips
- 12.6 ounces M & M chocolate candies(about 2 cups)
- 2 cups dry roasted peanuts
- Line 2 cookie sheets with foil or waxed paper. Place 6 cups of rice chex cereal in a large bowl. In a small microwavable bowl, microwave white chocolate chips about 1 minute or until chips can be stirred smooth. Pour melted chips over the cereal in the bowl. Stir gently until they are evenly coated. Spread mixture in a single layer on one of the cookie sheets. Refrigerate 5 minutes until set.
- Repeat the above directions using 6 more cups of cereal and melting the peanut butter chips. Refrigerate 5 minutes until set.
- Gently break up coated cereal into a large bowl. Add M & M's and peanuts. Stir gently to combine. Store in airtight container.
Recipe from: Chex Recipes


text:
Upcoming Events:
Friday 11/13: Book fair at Barnes and Noble 6:00pm-8:00pm
Tuesday 11/24: Bring vegetables to prepare in classroom for Stone Soup
Wednesday, 11/25: Stone Soup Celebration at school
Thursday-Friday, 11/26-27: No School. Thanksgiving holiday.
Monday-Friday, 12/14-18: Joy of Sharing
Monday, December 21: Winter Break begins
Tuesday, January 5: Back to School
**Return Homework Friday, please! No Homework during the Thanksgiving Holiday break.
Sharing Theme: Nov. 9- An item made with wool, Nov. 16- A recipe, song or poem
HULT CENTER FIELD TRIP TUESDAY, November 10: We had a wonderful time! This concert presented music and dance from several different countries and the children were mesmerized!
BOOK FAIR AT BARNES & NOBLE, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 6:00-8:00PM: This annual event is fast approaching. Every year we set up a bookmark table at the bookstore and this year students from our class will present Peace Poems and sing a song. Presentations begin at 6:00 pm and our class is scheduled for 6:50pm. Please let us know if your student will be able to attend the book fair. Questions? Email, send a note, or call the office (541-681-9662)
WATER BOTTLE FILLING TEAM: Several parents signed up to help with refilling water bottles for our classroom dispenser. So far I haven't contacted volunteers because parents that pick up their children or walk into Ridgeline's lobby and see empty bottles outside our door are taking care of this task. Feel free to email, send a note or check for empty bottles whenever it's convenient. The students appreciate water in the classroom.
XTRA MATH: Many of Ridgeline's students use this free online program to practice math facts. Many of our students add it to their workplans and use the computers at school. Students have a unique PIN that tracks progress. If you are interested in letting your student use x-tra math at home let us know, and we'll send you the PIN. The address is https://xtramath.org. Enjoy!
ART DOUGH: During this week's art class the children enjoyed using dough to create imprints. Several of the students asked that I share the 2 dough recipes so you can have fun trying them at home. These are both self-hardening dough but you can also place them in a low heat oven.
2 cups flour
1-cup salt
1-cup warm water
Directions: In a large bowl mix salt and flour. Gradually stir in water. Mix well until it forms a doughy consistency. With your hands, form a ball with your dough and knead it for at least 5 minutes. The longer you kneed your dough the smoother it will be. Store your salt dough in an airtight container and you will be able to use it for days. You can paint your creations with acrylic paints and seal with varnish or polyurethane spray. You can let your salt dough creations air dry, however salt dough can also be dried in the oven. Bake at 200 F until your creation is dry.
1-cup baking soda
1-cup cornstarch
¾ cup warm water
Directions: Mix the dry ingredients in a pan then stir in warm water. Stir over medium heat until mixture begins to bubble and has is soft play dough consistency. Remove from heat and let cool for a few minutes. Knead for a few minutes until you have consistent and pliable dough. You can let your dough air dry or bake at 200 F until dry.
Thanks, Cheri and Azusa


text: Just because you have signed a timeshare contract which contains expressed terms does not mean that those terms can be relied upon by the resorts. You may later believe that those terms are unfair. If you seek guidance from a solicitor they may agree with you and if that belief is strong then you will be supported and have just cause to take the matter to court. To be adjudicated as unfair means that those terms will not be upheld by a court and/or become binding on the consumer. In all disputes involving timeshare contract terms and conditions the consumer have the right to ask the court to test the terms contained in the contract as to fairness and in the background of the sales process? In short resorts write the contract and put terms into those contracts which they believe are reasonable and fair however that in many cases is not the judgements of the courts, which look into the purpose and the consequences of the terms. If those terms are unfair, erroneous and unethical then the courts will exclude them from the contract and being unfair and the resorts will not be able to rely upon them in any defence to a consumer's action. If a terms or a collection of terms have been proved unfair and the judgement is recorded, many other consumers can use that judgements and apply it to their own dispute. If this becomes a reality then the resorts entire contract is as risk and what follows is enormous risk to the resorts business model. Therefore at all times the resorts have to consider if they lose one case the business model could implode. The court will always have in mind that in every situation the salesman will have a desire to sell, and if that desire is fuelled by bonus and rewards then unfair expressed terms will by glossed over with misrepresentations which induces the consumer to accept the contractual terms. Every consumer is entitled to rely upon the representations and apply those representations as silent riders in the contract. On many occasions the sales representative will have moved on to other companies and may not be around to challenge the statements of timeshare consumers, so it always best to keep this in mind if and when you challenge the express terms in the Timeshare contracts as your evidence might be the only evidence which the judge can rely upon. If you think that any of the standard terms in a consumer contract are unfair you should contact the TCA. The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) closed on 1st April 2014 thus cannot provide advice or assistance to individual Timeshare consumers or traders. For consumer advice, information on specific timeshare consumer rights, to make a complaint against a trader you can contact your Local Authority Trading Standards Service as well. OFT publications The TCA exists to help consumers free of charge. Last modified: August 25, 2015


text:
We guarantee 100% compatibility with all the latest Nespresso® machines, including:
Compatible Models:
Our Coffee Capsules are NOT Compatible with:
*Simply contact us if you are unsure about the compatibility of your machine.
No. Aldi uses as different system to Nespresso and the capsules are therefore NOT compatible
No. The Nespresso® VertuoLine machines use different size capsules that are not compatible with the Nespresso® OriginalLine machines
We are confident that you will love our masterfully crafted coffee range. To give customers the extra comfort, we are more than happy to give you a 30 Day Money Back Guarantee.
No, the manufacturer can not refuse to provide services while your machine is still under warranty.
♻ We can confirm that our Capsules are absolutely safe to use and both, Capsule and Aluminium Lid can be recycled.
If you need to update or cancel a Subscription or would like to update or change the credit card details, please contact our Customer Service via email email@example.com
No. The technical modifications that Nespresso® machines have undergone in no way impact the functionality of our Dingo Republic capsules.
Our capsules are guaranteed 100% compatible with all the latest Nespresso® machines.
Dingo Republic coffee capsules are priced from A$0.45 – 35% below Nespresso® retail price for their basic espresso range. If you compare this to A$3.50 from a Coffee Shop, the saving increases to an impressive 87%.
If you buy 5 coffees from the coffe shop a week, switching to Dingo Repbulic coffee capsules could save you A$793 over an entire year.
The quality of your Dingo Republic coffee depends on the machine used and how it is maintained. Here are some tips:
An espresso is made by slowly pouring high-pressure hot water through ground coffee. Just like in the best Italian bars, our coffee takes approximately 20 to 25 seconds to pour out into the cup, the optimal extraction time. Slow extraction is a sign of quality.
Faster extraction may indicate insufficient pressure. For optimal results, please use a good quality Nespresso® machine with 19 bar water pressure.
For an authentic espresso experience, you are advised to use a small cup. You can of course make a longer espresso if you prefer, but the balance of aromas and the intensity of the coffee will be affected. To fully benefit from the quality of our coffees, you are advised to prepare your espresso in a small Italian-style cup, filling it halfway or two-thirds as you prefer.
As the quality of water is essential for a good espresso, we also advise that you refill the water tank on a daily basis.
Whether they are destined for coffee capsules or coffee pods, our bean coffee is of the highest quality and best provenance. After it is gently and expertly roasted, the Dingo Republic coffee is freshly ground and immediately filled into our food-safe capsules under protective conditions.
Good quality coffee has a taste that will last and should also be packaged to last. Nitrogen sealing guarantees that the Dingo Republic coffee you're drinking will remain fresh in its capsule. The coffee in each single capsule can be kept until the best-before date shown on the packaging, which is 24 months after manufacture.
Dingo Republic is extremely passionate in regards to ensuring the product and the process in which it is made, is environmentally and trade friendly. Dingo Republic Coffee only considers suppliers and growers who meet their strict demands which ensures it's high standard of production and ultimately taste.
Our Dingo Republic coffee drinkers can also do their part by recycling! The box is made out of cardboard box and is fully recyclable, the coffee is packaged in recyclable pods that can simply be washed out and thrown in the recycling bin.
In addition to this, we are actively working towards a 100% compostable capsule that will further reduce waste to landfill. We are committed to working towards reducing our environmental footprint.
CO2 Neutral Website: Espressorium Pty Ltd is a participant in the climate initiative "CO2 neutral websites". The carbon emissions from both the website and the users of the website have been neutralized by the building of new renewable energy sources, various CO2 reducing projects and by the purchase of certified CO2 offsets, which are cleared by the relevant government institutions. Read more at www.co2neutralwebsite.com
The amount of caffeine in a capsule depends on the varieties of green coffee used in the recipe. The Robusta origin contains an average of 2.4% whereas the Arabica origins contain approx. 1.3% of caffeine. Decaf capsules contain less than 0.1% of caffeine. The Dingo Republic capsules contain 5.5g of ground coffee
A 100% Arabica coffee in a Dingo Republic capsule (5.5g) containing 5.5g x 1.3% = 0.0715g= 71.5 milligrams (mg) of caffeine.
Below are examples of average caffeine contents:
*) Sources: UK Food Safety Authorities 2001 and Nespresso
Our Decaf will not only satisfy your tastebuds, but you can also rest assured knowing that what you are putting into your body is free of any chemicals! From the mountains of Mexico comes our 'Mountain Water Washed' Organice Decaf Coffee. Not only is it decaffeinated but it is also 100% certified Organic.
This is a premium Decaf bean and is one of the rare decafs that only uses the mountain washing process which uses only pure water mountain to separate the caffeine from the beans. The process is difficult and tedious the production staff must be incredibly fastidious about how they handle the beans, the water that they use (making sure it isn't contaminated with other chemicals) and the length of time to retain the full flavours of the Mexican mountain beans whilst achieving the highest extraction of caffeine (99.9%)
Why not give our Mexico Organic Decaf a try.
We are very interested in onselling our capsules to interested resellers. Please contact us to discuss


text:
Common Home Cooling Myths Debunked Part 2
Believing the common home cooling myths could leave you with a high energy bill! Many homeowners expect to pay higher energy bills during the summer months, but if you believe the wrong information when it comes to home cooling, you could be paying more than necessary. In our last blog, we went over a couple… read more


text:
Cytosport Muscle Milk Chocolate 2.47 lbs
Flavor: Chocolate
Product Information
Looking to put gasoline on a fat-burning fire? If so, Muscle Milk® protein powder is the catalyst you need to get started. The Micellar proteins stimulate muscle synthesis and are designed to burn fat, not store it. Complete alpha-beta Caseins, Peptides and Lactalbumins trigger new growth and increase oxygen delivery to your muscles. With only 300 calories per serving, this is the ultimate muscle-making, fat-burning protein shake.
- 32 grams of lean protein
- 300 calories per serving
- 32 servings per container
- 20 vitamins and minerals
- These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease
- Brand : Cytosport
- Country of Origin : United States of America
- Web ID: 16CYTUMSCLMLKCHC2GAA


text:
Please join the growing GBN community to receive special news, announcements, offers and giveaways directly from Good Black News! All information will remain confidential and never be sold to marketers – we strive to stay positive in all ways!
Thank you!
The Good Black News Team
P.S. If you prefer snail mail, you may also contact us at:Good Black News 16350 Ventura Blvd., Ste. D-254 Encino, CA 91436


text:
Written by Chris Edges
Tuesday, 26 January 2010 23:35
A backhanded salute to corporate Americaâ..s soft, home-grown coup
By Chris Hedges
(Ed. Note: The U.S. Supreme Court last week opened a financial flood gate that will most likely drown out what little opposition exists to corporate dominance of politics in the United States. In a 5 to 4 decision, the Court ruled that corporate donations to political campaigns cannot be reigned in by Congressional legislation. Â
As the writer of the essay below notes, the ruling amounts to â..icing on the cakeâ. for a U.S. business oligarchy already firmly in control of the U.S. ship of state.)
Corporate forces, long before the Supreme Court's decision last week in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, carried out a coup d'état in slow motion. The coup is over. We lost. The ruling is one more judicial effort to streamline mechanisms for corporate control. It exposes the myth of a functioning democracy and the triumph of corporate power. But it does not significantly alter the political landscape. The corporate state is firmly cemented in place. The fiction of democracy remains useful, not only for corporations, but for our bankrupt liberal class. If the fiction is seriously challenged, liberals will be forced to consider actual resistance, which will be neither pleasant nor easy. As long as a democratic facade exists, liberals can engage in an empty moral posturing that requires little sacrifice or commitment. They can be the self-appointed scolds of the Democratic Party, acting as if they are part of the debate and feel vindicated by their cries of protest. Much of the outrage expressed about the court's ruling is the outrage of those who prefer this choreographed charade. As long as the charade is played, they do not have to consider how to combat what the political philosopher Sheldon Wolin calls our system of "inverted totalitarianism." Inverted totalitarianism represents "the political coming of age of corporate power and the political demobilization of the citizenry," Wolin writes in "Democracy Incorporated." Inverted totalitarianism differs from classical forms of totalitarianism, which revolve around a demagogue or charismatic leader, and finds its expression in the anonymity of the corporate state. The corporate forces behind inverted totalitarianism do not, as classical totalitarian movements do, boast of replacing decaying structures with a new, revolutionary structure. They purport to honor electoral politics, freedom and the Constitution. But they so corrupt and manipulate the levers of power as to make democracy impossible. Inverted totalitarianism is not conceptualized as an ideology or objectified in public policy. It is furthered by "power-holders and citizens who often seem unaware of the deeper consequences of their actions or inactions," Wolin writes. But it is as dangerous as classical forms of totalitarianism. In a system of inverted totalitarianism, as this court ruling illustrates, it is not necessary to rewrite the Constitution, as fascist and communist regimes do. It is enough to exploit legitimate power by means of judicial and legislative interpretation. This exploitation ensures that huge corporate campaign contributions are protected speech under the First Amendment. It ensures that heavily financed and organized lobbying by large corporations is interpreted as an application of the people's right to petition the government. The court again ratified the concept that corporations are persons, except in those cases where the "persons" agree to a "settlement." Those within corporations who commit crimes can avoid going to prison by paying large sums of money to the government while, according to this twisted judicial reasoning, not "admitting any wrongdoing." There is a word for this. It is called corruption. Corporations have 35,000 in Washington and thousands more in state capitals that dole out corporate money to shape and write legislation. They use their political action committees to solicit employees and shareholders for donations to fund pliable candidates. The financial sector, for example, spent more than $5 billion on political campaigns, influence peddling and lobbying during the past decade, which resulted in sweeping deregulation, the gouging of consumers, our global financial meltdown and the subsequent looting of the U.S. Treasury. The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America spent $26 million last year and drug companies such as Pfizer, Amgen and Eli Lilly kicked in tens of millions more to buy off the two parties. These corporations have made sure our so-called health reform bill will force us to buy their predatory and defective products.
The oil and gas industry, the coal industry, defense contractors and telecommunications companies have thwarted the drive for sustainable energy and orchestrated the steady erosion of civil liberties. Politicians do corporate bidding and stage hollow acts of political theater to keep the fiction of the democratic state alive. There is no national institution left that can accurately be described as democratic. Citizens, rather than participate in power, are allowed to have virtual opinions to preordained questions, a kind of participatory fascism as meaningless as voting on "American Idol." Mass emotions are directed toward the raging culture wars. This allows us to take emotional stands on issues that are inconsequential to the power elite. Our transformation into an empire, as happened in ancient Athens and Rome, has seen the tyranny we practice abroad become the tyranny we practice at home. We, like all empires, have been eviscerated by our own expansionism. We utilize weapons of horrific destructive power, subsidize their development with billions in taxpayer dollars, and are the world's largest arms dealer. And the Constitution, as Wolin notes, is "conscripted to serve as power's apprentice rather than its conscience."
"Inverted totalitarianism reverses things," Wolin writes. "It is politics all of the time but a politics largely untempered by the political. Party squabbles are occasionally on public display, and there is a frantic and continuous politics among factions of the party, interest groups, competing corporate powers, and rival media concerns. And there is, of course, the culminating moment of national elections when the attention of the nation is required to make a choice of personalities rather than a choice between alternatives. What is absent is the political, the commitment to finding where the common good lies amidst the welter of well-financed, highly organized, single-minded interests rabidly seeking governmental favors and overwhelming the practices of representative government and public administration by a sea of cash."
Hollywood, the news industry and television, all corporate controlled, have become instruments of inverted totalitarianism. They censor or ridicule those who critique or challenge corporate structures and assumptions. They saturate the airwaves with manufactured controversy, whether it is Tiger Woods or the dispute between Jay Leno and Conan O'Brien. They manipulate images to make us confuse how we are made to feel with knowledge, which is how Barack Obama became president. And the draconian internal control employed by the Department of Homeland Security, the military and the police over any form of popular dissent, coupled with the corporate media's censorship, does for inverted totalitarianism what thugs and bonfires of books do in classical totalitarian regimes.
"It seems a replay of historical experience that the bias displayed by today's media should be aimed consistently at the shredded remains of liberalism," Wolin writes. "Recall that an element common to most 20th century totalitarianism, whether Fascist or Stalinist, was hostility towards the left. In the United States, the left is assumed to consist solely of liberals, occasionally of â..the left wing of the Democratic Party,' never of democrats."
Liberals, socialists, trade unionists, independent journalists and intellectuals, many of whom were once important voices in our society, have been silenced or targeted for elimination within corporate-controlled academia, the media and government. Wolin, who taught at Berkeley and later at Princeton, is arguably the country's foremost political philosopher. And yet his book was virtually ignored. This is also why Ralph Nader, Dennis Kucinich and Cynthia McKinney, along with intellectuals like Noam Chomsky, are not given a part in our national discourse.
The uniformity of opinion is reinforced by the skillfully orchestrated mass emotions of nationalism and patriotism, which paints all dissidents as "soft" or "unpatriotic." The "patriotic" citizen, plagued by fear of job losses and possible terrorist attacks, unfailingly supports widespread surveillance and the militarized state. This means no questioning of the $1 trillion in defense-related spending. It means that the military and intelligence agencies are held above government, as if somehow they are not part of government. The most powerful instruments of state power and control are effectively removed from public discussion. We, as imperial citizens, are taught to be contemptuous of government bureaucracy, yet we stand like sheep before Homeland Security agents in airports and are mute when Congress permits our private correspondence and conversations to be monitored and archived. We endure more state control than at any time in American history.
The civic, patriotic and political language we use to describe ourselves remains unchanged. We pay fealty to the same national symbols and iconography. We find our collective identity in the same national myths. We continue to deify the Founding Fathers. But the America we celebrate is an illusion. It does not exist. Our government and judiciary have no real sovereignty. Our press provides diversion, not information.
Our organs of security and power keep us as domesticated and as fearful as most Iraqis. Capitalism, as Karl Marx understood, when it emasculates government, becomes a revolutionary force. And this revolutionary force, best described as inverted totalitarianism, is plunging us into a state of neo-feudalism, perpetual war and severe repression. The Supreme Court decision is part of our transformation by the corporate state from citizens to prisoners