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Тамара Григорівна Мовша (20 квітня 1922, містечко Любеч, нині селище міського типу Ріпкинського району Чернігівської області — 4 березня 2003, Київ) — український археолог, дослідник. Кандидат історичних наук (1975). Лауреат премії імені Вікентія Хвойки.

Біографія
Тамара Григорівна Мовша народилася 20 квітня 1922 року в Любечі в родині робітника. 1925 року сім'я переїхала до Києва, де мешкала на Трухановому острові. Батько Григорій Якович Мовша був повним Георгіївським кавалером, працював мотористом. В юності Тамара отримала посвідчення на право керування моторним човном.

1939 року Мовша закінчила школу і вступила на історичний факультет Київського університету, але навчання перервала війна. Після радянського відвоювання Києва Тамара поновила навчання в університеті, який закінчила 1945 року. Того ж року почала працювати науковим співробітником Київського державного історичного музею (тепер Національний музей історії України) у відділі докласового (первісного) суспільства. Цей відділ Мовша очолювала у 1952–1977 роках. Займалася упорядкуванням археологічних фондів, створенням розділів експозиції; працювала з колекціями матеріалів із розкопок Вікентія Хвойки, Миколи Біляшівського, Михайла Рудинського, Сергія Гамченка, Віктора Петрова, Сильвестра Магури, Валерії Козловської, Петра Курінного, Миколи Макаренка.

1975 року захистила кандидатську дисертацію «Антропоморфна пластика Трипілля (реалістичний стиль)». У 1977–1989 роках була співробітником відділу первісної археології Інституту археології АН УРСР (тепер Інститут археології НАН України). Від 1990 року і до кінця життя Мовша завідувала Музеєм трипільської культури в Переяславі, у створенні якого взяла активну участь.

Наукова діяльність
Сфера наукових інтересів Мовші була пов'язана переважно з Трипіллям: духовна культура та ідеологічні уявлення трипільських племен, взаємини всередині величезної трипільсько-кукутенської спільності та з іноетнічними спільностями енеоліту, хронологія, поділ Трипілля Кукутені на низку культур (або етнокультурних груп).

Автор понад 150 наукових праць, зокрема — розділів до перших томів «Археологія Української РСР» (1971) та «Археология Украинской ССР» (1985).

Польові дослідження розпочала 1946 року. Брала участь у дослідженні поселень Володимирівка (керівник експедиції Тетяна Пассек), Солончени II (1955–1956, 1959), Цвіклівці (1960–1961), Жванець-Щовб і Жванець-Лиса Гора, (1962–1980), Велика Слобідка (урочище Хрещате; 1976–1979), Ломачинці (урочище Вишнева; 1979–1980), пам'яток трипільської культури в Молдові (1952–1959). Постійний учасник Трипільської (Дністровської) експедиції.

Очолювала загін Трипільської комплексної експедиції (1980-ті роки), який досліджував поселення Доброводи та Косенівку, проводив розвідки поселень трипільської культури на Черкащині.

Праці
 Періодизація і хронологія середнього та пізнього Трипілля // Археологія. — 1971. — Вип. 5. — С.3—24.
 Нові дані про антропоморфну реалістичну пластику Трипілля // Археологія. — Вип. 11. — С.3—21.
 Петренська регіональна група трипільської культури // Археологія. — 1984. — Вип. 45. — С.10—23.
 Взаємовідносини Трипілля-Кукутені з синхронними культурами Центральної Європи // Археологія. — 1985. — Вип. 51. — С. 22—31.
 Антропоморфные сюжеты на керамике культур Трипольско-Кукутенской общности // Духовная культура древних обществ на территории Украины. — , 1993. — С.34—180.
 Зв'язки Трипілля-Кукутені зі степовими енеолітичними культурами: (До проблеми індоєвропеїзації Європи) // Записки НТШ. Праці археологічної комісії. — Львів, 1998. — Т. 235. — С.111-153.

Джерела
  — С.290—291.
 Бузян Г. М., Якубенко О. О. Мовша Тамара Григорівна // Енциклопедія трипільської цивілізації. — Т. 2. — С.338—339.
 Пам'яті Тамари Григорівни Мовші // Наукові записки з української історії. — Випуск 15. — Золоті литаври, 2004. — С.275—276.
 Бузян Галина, Якубенко Олена, Тамара Григорівна Мовша // Ант: Вісник археології, мистецтва, культурної антропології. — Випуск 13—15. — 2005. — С.101—102.

Українські археологи
Уродженці Любеча
Кандидати історичних наук
Померли в Києві
Дослідники трипільської культури
Жінки-археологи

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


These local beach prints perfect for decorating a home at the beach.
Here are a few of Miller Pope's Coastal North Carolina paintings. See all of Miller Pope's Coastal prints in the Island Life NC Store here.
Buy this print in the Island Life NC Store here.


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Basketball-Men 138 results
Yellow Jackets Surge Past Florida Southern
In the second and final game Cedarville men's basketball played in the Sunshine State, the Yellow Jackets came away with a solid 82-73 win over Florida Southern. With the victory, the Jackets improved their regular season record to 7-4. Senior Isaiah Speelman paced the Yellow Jackets' offense, finishing with a game-high 22 points on 7-11 shooting from the field, including 6-9 from behind-the-arc. Senior Branden Maughmer tallied 16 points and six rebounds and sophomore Jayvon Maughmer ...
Maughmer's Late Shot Propels Comeback Win Over St. Leo
In Saturday's matchup against St. Leo, Cedarville senior Branden Maughmer drilled a triple at the buzzer to force overtime and propel the Yellow Jackets to a thrilling 96-93 victory. The Yellow Jacket's victory came in their first match of the Florida Southern Classic, held at Florida Southern University, and improved their record to 6-4 Maughmer finished the night as the Jackets' leading scorer with 21 points and grabbed six rebounds in his return to the lineup after missing two ...
Cedarville Men's Basketball Falls Just Short Against Hillsdale
by Josh Decker The Yellow Jackets put together a hard-fought game against NABC No. 15 Hillsdale Saturday night, but came up just short against the Chargers, falling by a final score of 58-57. With the loss, Cedarville drops to 5-4 overall with a 3-1 record in G-MAC play. The game comes only two days after the Jackets put together a tremendous performance to stun conference rival Findlay with a 68-66 victory on the road. Cedarville was still without starting point guard Branden ...
Maughmer Lifts Yellow Jackets Over Ashland
by Josh Decker Cedarville men's basketball put together a strong performance and earned their third straight victory Saturday afternoon with a 74-71 victory over G-MAC newcomer Ashland. The result improves the Yellow Jackets' record this season to 4-3, including a strong 2-0 start in the G-MAC. Branden Maughmer erupted for 27 points while pulling in 10 rebounds. Maughmer finished the game with an extremely efficient 9-10 shooting from the field and has now had a 27 plus point ...
High-Powered Offense Propels Jackets to Victory Over Southern Indiana
by Josh Decker Cedarville University men's basketball put together a strong performance and earned their second win in their home opener Monday night, defeating Southern Indiana by a score of 101-88. The result improves the Jackets overall record this year to 2-3 and wraps up a busy schedule this past week that saw Cedarville play three games in five days. "The biggest positive is the toughness we played with," said head coach Pat Estepp. "I thought we really played hard on both ...
Men's Basketball Aiming High Ahead of New Season
by Josh Decker The 2020-2021 season was a difficult yet successful year for the Cedarville men's basketball team. After finishing with a 10-8 regular season record, the Yellow Jackets entered last season's Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) tournament as the No. 6 seed and notched key victories over Kentucky Wesleyan and Findlay before ultimately falling just short to Malone in the G-MAC tournament championship. Now with the 2021-2022 campaign on the horizon, Cedarville is ...
Cedarville Men's Basketball Drops Exhibition Opener Against Dayton
by Josh Decker The Cedarville Yellow Jackets fell 94-60 against Division I University of Dayton Monday night in an exhibition game where the Jackets' outside shots just didn't seem to find the net. The exhibition game, played at University of Dayton Arena, gave Cedarville an excellent opportunity to prepare for the upcoming regular season schedule by going up against high-end talent and athleticism. It was also the first full-capacity for Dayton in 603 days, which drew a crowd of over ...
Cedarville Men's Basketball to Play University of Dayton
by Abigail Hintz For the third time in three seasons, Cedarville men's basketball is scheduled to go up against Division I University of Dayton Flyers in an exhibition game. The game is scheduled for Nov. 1 at UD Arena with tipoff at 7 p.m. The two teams last competed prior to the 2019-20 season in which Cedarville fell 93-60. They were scheduled to play last season as well, but it was cancelled due to COVID-19 protocols. Dayton is scheduled to open their regular season just eight days ...
Men's Basketball Recap: Jackets Fall Just Short of G-MAC Championship
by Josh Decker The Yellow Jackets rounded out one of the most challenging seasons to date with an impressive tournament run that ended only after Cedarville fell in the 2020-2021 Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) championship game. No. 6 Cedarville grinded out a thrilling 76-73 victory over No. 2 Findlay in the semifinals, but the Jackets' championship hopes were dashed by a 77-59 loss to Malone in the final. Entering the year, the Yellow Jackets were picked second in the G-MAC ...

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


We already had a discussion about this summer's Kelly Clarkson song leaks, but the pop diva has finally (and officially) premiered her first single off of the new album Stronger titled "Mr. Know It All."
It all happened just minutes ago during a live webcast on KellyClarkson.com. Despite some technical difficulties, Kelly was an adorable delight as she introduced the track and then answered questions from fans. Some of my favorite moments from the Q&A: her celebrity crush is Kyle Chandler—aka Coach Taylor from Friday Night Lights—and she urged fans to not take themselves seriously while doing karaoke because everyone in the bar will just laugh.
It certainly doesn't sound like any of her previous songs, but there's the classic Kelly soul in there that I love.
Now I just need it to be October 25th so I can have the entire new album!


Take on family favorites with a Whirlpool counter-depth range that's made to make perfecting and cleaning up after your favorite meals easy. This large-capacity 5.3-cu.-ft. electric range heats both small and large pans with the FlexHeat dual radiant element, while the AccuBake temperature management system helps every dish come out delicious every time. When it's time to clean up after a family meal, the easy wipe ceramic glass cooktop's smooth surface makes wiping up everyday spills simple.


i-design, the developer and supplier of the leading marketing solution for ATMs and self-service machines, is pleased to announce that it has signed a major new banking customer agreement, with Barclays Bank plc ("Barclays"). The contract, to supply atmAd, covers Barclays' entire UK estate of c. 4,000 ATMs & kiosks and helps to underpin market forecasts for the current financial year.
The platform independent atmAd solution is feature-rich and simple to implement as a discrete application, requiring minimal integration with a bank's existing self-service platform.
Following the implementation of this contract, i-design Group's total licensed ATM and self-service estate will increase from approximately 17,000 machines to 21,000 ATMs, of which 9,900 ATMs are available for third party advertising.
"I am delighted to announce that Barclays has selected our technology after a rigorous tender process. We believe that our marketing solution provides unrivalled technological advantages and gives banks the flexibility and tools to unlock new ways of communicating and engaging with their customers."


Men's 'Sayer' white leather trainers from Polo Ralph Lauren. Crafted with smooth leather uppers, the lace-up sneakers are detailed with the signature pony logo embroidered to the tongue. Set on a tonal rubber sole, the low profile trainers feature a treaded outsole for added traction. The low top trainers feature an RLite, cushioned insole for all day comfort. Complete with a Polo licence plate to the heel.


To keep up with the growth of Bricknode Financial Systems there is a need for a knowledge base online. The KB covers articles, best practice etc. which will grow into a comprehensive library. Bricknode recently started working on this project which expands daily.
BFS supports as of this release an expanded functionality to manage average acquisition value of positions. The AAV is calculated continuously within BFS when purchases and sales are conducted of financial assets. Issues might arise when a security is transferred from an external system and in those cases the AAV has to be modified. Bricknode has created an article in the Knowledge Base where this functionality is described. Click the link below to view the article.
Bricknode strives to constantly make data available for export in order to work with the data in external systems if need be. Within the current release a function has been added which makes it possible to export historic data for financial instruments. Read the article below which describes this functionality.


TOLO Co. is a manufacturer of Steam Bath Generator and Sauna Heater with strong technical force, all our engineers are with more than 15 years' experience, all our products are with CE Certification.
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We provide OEM&ODM based on quantity.our company always insisting that quality is the first, sauna and swimming pool equipment in the factory to the development of design and quality control of production as the main content of the quality of work; the after sales technical guidance and support throughout the product as an important part of quality assurance ; therefore track product sales service, timely feedback products in transportation. installation and use of information is the main content of our service work. Domestic service in the country according to the company rules, we complete the sub-region sales and service work; in the foreign service in accordance with international rules, we have a network remote monitoring and distribution of spare parts, etc., feedback, product information, to achieve service and so on. Adhering to our "quality first, credit first" principle of service, and strive to satisfy our customers requirements for product quality, achieve "do the most good products, creating the world's most professional brand.
We have more than 5 professional product developing engineer,10 professional salesmen and many creative works. Every single person is an important part of the factory and has significant affect on the products, therefore, our company pays great attention to train our staffs and has created harmonic but strict company culture.


Long Island Sweet 16 DJs have to be chameleons, at least the goods ones do! We cannot reiterate, how much we believe, that every party is unique. There are plenty of posts on this site, our Hottracxs Facebook page and almost everywhere else you find us, where we mention every party is unique. Sweet 16s are no exception.
A long Island Sweet 16 is much different than a California Sweet 16. This fact you might already assume. However, what you might not realize is that every sweet 16 on Long Island is of its own brand as well. Sweet 16's were started in England in the 17th century. It is believed that a girl would become a woman on this day and could possibly be a suitor for a wealthy man. While, in our current day and age, we might thing of a 16 year old girl to be to young to be a suitor for any man, we still party on like it is her actual wedding day.
These parties are a reflection of our sweet 16 of honor. They need to have her unique twist to ensure a successful fun day. Our long island sweet 16 DJs have to really understand her taste of music and style. We recently had two different sweet 16s occurring at the same time. Both parties were wildly different and both were a great success.
One sweet 16 had a playlist of mostly broadway hits and disney sound tracks, along with some of her other favorite artists and songs. We had some dance lighting and a photo booth along with our sweet 16 DJ. Our Long Island Sweet 16 DJ also Emceed the party as well. The DJ played the broadway hits mixed with some of her other favorite songs and the party was an amazing time. All of the guests danced the entire night and created memories that will last a lifetime.
On the other hand, our other Long Island sweet 16 that we were DJing, had an entirely different feel. We designed more of a club atmosphere. This Sweet 16 was held in a popular catering hall in Nassau County. We had our Sweet 16 DJ to focus on beat matching and blending the music while our Sweet 16 Emcee was out on the dance floor, handling introductions and interacting with the guests. Prior to the sweet 16 party, we had our team develop a montage of all of the pictures of our Long Island Sweet 16 girl as she grew up until the current day. We played the montage during dinner on our 50 inch flat screen TVs. While the montage wasn't playing we had zap shots (or pictures our photographer at the event was taking) and instantly streamed them to the TVs. We also brought out our Photo booth for some photo booth fun.
The music stylings were completely different. Our second Long Island Sweet 16 party wanted all of the latest music, mixed with a little bit of spanish music. Our Long Island Sweet 16 DJ delivered. All of the guests filled the dance floor and the party was a great success.
Hottracxs Entertainment will perform at over 200 Long Island Sweet 16s alone this year. We are always excited to meet with our clients, learn more about their personalities and how we can deliver a great event. We want to know and understand your vision for how you want your super sweet 16 to go, so that our Long Island Sweet 16 DJs can go above and beyond your expectations!


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Lindbergh board begins eyeing tax hike, superintendent search
Lorenz would back placing tax hike on ballot this year
Lindbergh Board of Education members, from left, are: Secretary Mike Shamia, Cathy Carlock Lorenz, Matt Alonzo, President Karen Schuster, Treasurer Mike Tichlis, Christy Watz and Vice President Jennifer Miller.
With just weeks of experience, the new Lindbergh Board of Education is already pondering two of the most important decisions school board members make — a tax-rate increase and the search for the next superintendent.
At the annual "Lindbergh Traditions" workshop, designed to educate new board members about how Lindbergh traditionally functions and about the Missouri Open Meetings and Records Act, also called the Sunshine Law, board members began discussing time lines for tax-rate hikes and a superintendent search.
With Superintendent Jim Simpson retiring next year, he walked the board through how he will be replaced. The board will kick off the search to replace Simpson in September, with a final decision expected in January.
"This may be the most important thing you ever do as a board member," Simpson told the board.
Any decision on possibly placing a tax-rate hike before voters should wait until after the new superintendent is hired, board President Karen Schuster said.
Although Schuster doesn't foresee asking the public for more money before the new superintendent starts next year, new member Cathy Carlock Lorenz said she supports placing a tax-rate increase on the ballot later this year.
Lorenz was the top vote-getter in the April 5 election, when board members Matt Alonzo and Christy Watz and board Secretary Mike Shamia were also elected in a teachers' union-backed sweep of all the open offices on the board.
Teachers have pushed voters to raise the tax rate to fund higher teacher salaries.
"It will not be August," Schuster said of a ballot measure. "I don't even see it in November, just to throw that out there."
Although Lorenz agreed August was too soon since that decision would have to be made immediately, "I don't know that I would concur with waiting as long as you," she said.
But the best option might be to wait and see if the new superintendent believes the board should try for a tax hike, Schuster said.
Crestwood voters may be tax-weary this fall after just approving a 45-cent tax-rate increase, and everyone will pay higher sales taxes with the passage of the county's Proposition P sales-tax increase for police and public safety, Simpson noted.
"We'll keep having that conversation, and as a group we'll know when the time is right," Schuster said. "And we'll use the survey to really gauge it."
A survey should not be run more than four months in advance of the target ballot date, or the survey firm won't guarantee the results, Simpson cautioned. He estimated a scientific survey would cost roughly $17,000.
Chief Financial Officer Chuck Triplett explained the difference between an operational tax-rate increase and a bond issue to new board members. Bond issues are typically easier to pass because voters like to see a shiny new building, Simpson noted.
Operational increases are a "leap of faith" and a "tougher sell," Simpson said.
Lindbergh has only lost one ballot measure, in 2005, with four others passing in the years since, Triplett said.
With a potential bond issue on the horizon for a seventh elementary school, Schuster said, "We'll get into it in detail later, I have a feeling — the tax versus the bond."
In the meantime, she added, "The operating increase is certainly something that needs to be considered, and the survey will help with that, so we can figure out what's right."
'Lindbergh Traditions' include uniting as one voice
The "Lindbergh Traditions" workshop was presented annually in recent years by former board President Kathy Kienstra, who lost her bid for re-election in April.
But in the absence of any veteran board members except Schuster, Communications Director Beth Johnston, Simpson and the Cabinet informed the new board about the traditions of Lindbergh. Alonzo was absent from the May 1 meeting.
One of the most integral aspects of Lindbergh tradition is following the Sunshine Law, Simpson said.
"Our tradition is that we follow it to the letter," he said. "Then you never have to worry about it."
A successful board member presents a unified front with the rest of the school board, with the board president and communications director typically handling press inquiries, district officials said.
Board members should present a "consistent and clear message," Johnston said.
The new board members are members of a "group of one," Simpson said, with members expected to stand behind all decisions of the Lindbergh board.
"The way it works in an effective organization is hash it out before the vote," he said. "Then once the board votes, a healthy way is we're moving forward — if you turn back around and come right back at it again, then you can't move forward."
If board members disagree on an issue, they might come together on the next issue, Simpson noted.
"There's always a next time, so you guys realize you're in for the journey, not for a particular point in time," he said. "Lindbergh boards really haven't had a problem with letting go and moving forward."
Superintendent search set to kick off
With Simpson leaving next year after a decade-long tenure at Lindbergh in which he led the district to No.1 status in Missouri five years in a row, the stakes are high for the new board to find a replacement who maintains Lindbergh's high achievement while balancing enrollment growth and finances.
The search will kick off this fall when the board hires a search firm, Simpson said.
One of the factors that will decide the caliber of candidates is the number the board decides to offer for the new superintendent's salary, he said.
Due to Simpson's long tenure, he has become one of the highest-paid superintendents in the state at $270,858. He started at $195,000 for the 2008-2009 school year after arriving from Joplin.
"The salary I know is going to be a big thing in this case," Simpson said. "My salary is the most known salary in south county. I don't know how many times it's been in the Call and many more times than that on social media."
For months, the search firm runs the show for the most part, even supplying questions when the board interviews candidates in November and December. The board will hire the superintendent at the January meeting, Simpson said.
He warned the board that besides pay, future superintendent candidates might request perks and benefits beyond those Lindbergh typically offers, which many districts add to superintendent contracts.
But superintendent contracts have typically been straightforward in Lindbergh, with no fancy extras, Simpson said.
"When I was hired, they just scratched out (former Superintendent) Jim Sandfort's name and put my name in," he said. "I'm low maintenance."


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: Can You Use a VA Loan to Buy a Home in Foreclosure?
Can You Use a VA Loan to Buy a Home in Foreclosure?
If you want to by a property that falls into the "wreck" category then you might be better off with an FHA 203 (k) loan so you can get the money you need for repairs in your loan but you can use a VA loan for a foreclosure which is decent condition. The biggest issue my buyers have come up against is that VA does require that the electricity be turned on and I always make sure that the home has the water on as well.
VA provides one of the few 100% financing programs currently available in a declining market area. Even though the conventional VA loan limits are still set at $417,000 in today's Northern Virginia market that limit goes much farther than it did in the past. VA does provide jumbo loans for eligible active duty and retired personnel who may be looking for something just a bit bigger.
Need assistance finding your new home? You can start your search for a new home near The Pentagon, Fort Belvoir or Quantico online to get a feel for some of the local communities. Once you narrow down your search you need an agent who is knows the area and understands military moves then give me a call. I've walked in your shoes from the Far East to Europe and know what it is like to make a military move. I work with lenders who understand today's Northern Virginia market and are successful in getting VA loans to closing.
what does VA underwriting mainly look at from the appraisal?


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The Gulf States in the Shadow of Iran. Part I
Iranian Ambitions
by Patrick Knapp
1st part of 2
The Obama administration is caught on the horns of a dilemma. On the one hand, it has welcomed the Gulf Security Dialogue (GSD) as a chance to further "mutual interests" with Persian Gulf states, but, on the other, it has sought pragmatic engagement with the Islamic Republic—the greatest threat to gulf security. Michael Knights, a Persian Gulf expert at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy, noted in September that the "rapid advances" of the military forces of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) were the result of the dialogue. He predicts that they "may eclipse Iranian capabilities in the gulf within ten years."[1] Yet the GSD's initiatives are inadequate and need a foreign policy that stresses relationships and ideals. If policy within the gulf is to be dominated by short-term pragmatic demands, it may turn out to have unwanted consequences for other alliances in the region. That in turn could well have a negative impact on the United States.
Twenty percent of the oil traded in the world flows through the Strait of Hormuz every day.[2] Although U.S. politicians may dislike allowing oil to shape foreign policy, control of the strait is no matter of indifference. Closing the strait would cut the gulf's oil traffic in half. Some argue that even discussing such a possibility gives Iran leverage. But that is hypothetical. The real leverage that the Islamic Republic would have if it controlled the strait would be disastrous for the region and the West. The United States needs to wrest back control of the region.
The Gulf Security Dialogue
As the Islamic Republic spreads its influence, its immediate hinterland across the gulf is becoming increasingly vulnerable. The gulf is vital to Western oil supplies. When a regime that is utterly dedicated to the destruction of all Western influence and the elimination of the state of Israel has nuclear warheads in its reach, the Western powers need to do something quickly. Doing something means developing policies between the United States on the one hand and the six countries that form the Gulf Cooperation Council on the other.
The principal mechanism through which all seven parties can engage in discussions about security, arms sales, and other relevant issues is the Gulf Security Dialogue, launched in 2006. The GSD was designed to provide a framework within which the United States and its allies can engage in six areas: (1) GCC defense capabilities and interoperability; (2) regional security issues; (3) counter-proliferation; (4) counterterrorism and internal security; (5) critical infrastructure protection; and (6) commitments to Iraq. The question is: Does the Gulf Security Dialogue provide sufficient strength and protection to those most immediately faced with the Iranian threat?
Iran Moves into the Gulf
Iranian assertiveness in the Persian Gulf continues to vex the United States and its regional allies. In 1988, as the U.S. Navy escorted commercial traffic through the gulf, an Iranian-laid minefield struck the USS Samuel B. Roberts and wounded ten sailors. The United States retaliated with Operation Praying Mantis, which overwhelmed Iran's naval and coastal facilities.[3] In 2004, Iran's deputy oil minister accused Qatar of producing more than "her right share" from a natural gas field shared with Iran.[4] Three years later, Hossein Shariatmadari, head of the government's flagship publication Kayhan Daily and an appointee of Iranian supreme leader 'Ali Khamenei, wrote that Bahrain was more a province of Iran than an independent country.[5] The theme has persisted in Iranian discourse. Just this past February, for example, Ali Akbar Nateq-Nouri, the influential former speaker of the Iranian parliament, repeated Iran's claim to sovereignty over Bahrain.[6]
In 2007, Iran signaled its extraterritorial ambitions by capturing fifteen British sailors in Iraqi waters and holding them for nearly two weeks. Bringing back memories of the capture of the U.S. embassy in Tehran and the mass hostage taking that followed, this was also intended to show Iran's heedlessness of international law and its penchant for the humiliation of its enemies.
In January and April of 2008, incidents between U.S. ships and Iranian speedboats highlighted Iran's asymmetric threat to maritime security.[7] In July of 2008, Iran opened a maritime office on the Abu Musa islands, which the United Arab Emirates (UAE) contested. In September of the same year, Iran assigned the 20,000-man Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) navy rather than the less confrontational regular navy to Persian Gulf defense and opened a new naval base on the strategic Strait of Hormuz the following month. It has since upgraded its Assalouyeh naval base, establishing "an impenetrable line of defense at the entrance to the Sea of Oman," according to an Iranian admiral.[8]
The IRGC navy alone has more than forty light patrol boats and ten guided missile patrol boats. The regular navy has five mine vessels, six submarines, and twenty-six support ships.[9] Last September it added to its mostly outdated fleet of five major surface combatants by launching the homemade Sina class warship. The mix of past aggression and current military buildup gives weight to an Iranian foreign ministry official's explanation of how Iran would respond to a U.S. attack: "Ballistic missiles would be fired in masses against targets in Arab gulf states and Israel."[10] In June 2009, Mohamed El-Baradei, former International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief, summarized the unspoken message Iran would like to send the region: "Don't mess with us; we can have nuclear weapons if we want it."[11]
Defending the Persian Gulf
Concern about Persian Gulf security spans administrations. The U.S. Navy enhanced its presence in the gulf in 1970 during Britain's withdrawal from the region. Throughout the 1970s, Washington relied on the "twin pillars" of Iran and Saudi Arabia to police the Persian Gulf and check the pan-Arabism of Egypt's Gamal Abdel Nasser. But it was only in 1987, when the U.S. Navy launched Operation Earnest Will to reflag Kuwaiti tankers traversing the Strait of Hormuz, that the United States used direct military force to protect the gulf.[12] Three years later, the United States responded to Iraq's invasion of Kuwait with a massive buildup of forces.
In the wake of the 1991 Operation Desert Storm and the liberation of Kuwait, Washington ditched its old "balance of power game"[13] for dual containment, an attempt to isolate and weaken economically the aggressive regimes in Iran and Iraq. The U.S. military presence in the Persian Gulf rose through the 1990s as Iraqi president Saddam Hussein defied U.N. Security Council resolutions, and the Islamic Republic used proxy groups to threaten regional security. In 1995, the U.S. Navy assigned its Fifth Fleet to the naval support activity base in Bahrain—a base which it had used in one capacity or another for a half century. By 2003, the United States share of the Persian Gulf's arms supplier market reached an unprecedented high.[14] The 2003 overthrow of Saddam Hussein's regime in Iraq raised the U.S. partnership with the GCC states to a new level. Qatar continues to host a regional headquarters for U.S. Central Command,[15] and Kuwait enables the Pentagon both to base and transit troops through the country.[16]
This may give the impression of secure alliances and strong collaboration, but the truth is that the GCC states are vulnerable. With the exception of Saudi Arabia, none have strategic depth. Their armies are small: Iran's army has a total manpower of more than 540,000 compared to a combined GCC total of 176,500.[17] While Iraq today is no longer a military threat, Kuwait's 1990 capitulation in the face of an Iraqi invasion in less than a day underscores the difficulty any GCC state would have against a determined onslaught. Nuclear armament could enable Tehran to "dictate oil policy" and "embolden extremist groups," according to Tariq Khaitous, a Middle East security expert at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.[18]
President Bill Clinton's 1999 Cooperative Defense Initiative (CDI) was an effort to minimize these weaknesses by increasing defense integration and information sharing between GCC states, Egypt, and Jordan. It proposed enhancing active and passive defenses by promoting bilateral and multilateral initiatives. The CDI identified Iraq and Iran as major threats to the region and emphasized vulnerabilities to ground invasions, missile strikes, and chemical or biological attacks.[19] With the CDI's prodding, all six GCC states signed a joint defense pact in December 2000.[20] Yet cost concerns and differences in threat perception limited the follow-through. Even after Saddam's removal, pledges to triple the joint-force's troop strength and develop shared early warning systems have remained unfulfilled.
On May 12, 2006, the State Department announced that Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs John Hillen was to visit the Persian Gulf "to discuss regional security and defense cooperation with friends in the region."[21] This marked the beginning of the U.S.-GCC Gulf Security Dialogue, which Hillen characterized as "defensive, defensive, defensive."[22] Talks between U.S. and GCC security officials continued the following October when the United States led naval exercises in the Persian Gulf with Bahrain's unprecedented participation.[23] That November, Hillen said the dialogue was "not part of any big picture reexamination of the Middle East strategy." Rather, it was a revamped commitment to "missile defense" and "boosting the capabilities of U.S. allies."[24]
Secretary of Defense Robert Gates has defined the six pillars of the Gulf Security Dialogue as defense cooperation, rehabilitation of Iraq, regional stability, energy infrastructure security, counter-proliferation, and counterterrorism.[25] These pillars renew the Clinton Cooperative Defense Initiative's goals, such as improving missile defense and systems integration. But more importantly, they put the talks into a post-9/11, post-Saddam context in which Iran—with its nuclear program and support for terrorists—is seen as the main threat to gulf security. Even if Iranian missiles and terrorist attacks are not aimed directly at the gulf states, their destabilizing threat to the Middle East as a whole is unsettling enough. As Iran's regional aggression grows, so does the need to strengthen the GSD's pillars.
The Dialogue Becomes Reality
Signs of the Gulf Security Dialogue's implementation came in early 2007 when the Bush administration announced it would send a second U.S. aircraft carrier group to the Persian Gulf, extend the deployment of Patriot antimissile batteries in Kuwait and Qatar, and increase intelligence sharing with the Persian Gulf states.[26] Annual multilateral exercises in the spring of 2007 offered an opportunity to put the GSD's goals of interoperability and information-sharing into action. These included the world's largest mine countermeasure exercise (Arabian Gauntlet in Bahrain) and a missile defense operation with full GCC participation (Eagle Resolve in Qatar). These exercises fit Secretary Gates's vision of the GSD as "a strategic framework designed to enhance and strengthen regional security."[27]
As part of the GSD, President George W. Bush's administration announced US$20 billion in arms deals for the Persian Gulf states in July 2007,[28] a huge upgrade given that the total value of U.S.-delivered arms and services to GCC states had been $72 billion between 1981 and 2006.[29] Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice praised the proposal, saying that "the United States is determined to assure our allies that we are going to be reliable in helping them to meet their security needs."[30] In the following months, Saudi Arabia ordered more than $1 billion in vehicles and radar equipment, and Kuwait bought over $1.3 billion worth of Patriot advanced capability (PAC-3) air defense missiles.[31] In 2008, the United Arab Emirates ordered a $7 billion missile defense system never before sold to another country.[32] Together, such sales give the GCC an edge against Iran.[33]
However, delivery of much of this equipment is still pending. The Arms Export Control Act requires the president to notify Congress thirty days before finalizing arms deals and allows Congress to block deals up until the point of delivery. In addition to its PAC-3 order, Kuwait is awaiting three L-110-30 aircraft (commercial versions of the C-130 Hercules), thousands of radio frequency missiles, and related training and services. Meanwhile, the delivery of the UAE's missile defense system may not be complete until 2015.[34] Seeking to block the proposed sale of 900 satellite-guided joint direct attack munitions kits to Saudi Arabia, Senator Charles Schumer said in May 2008, "To most Americans, a well-armed Saudi Arabia is far less important than a reasonable price for gasoline, heating oil, and all other products upon which oil is based."[35]
The collective nature of the dialogue is also important because these arms sales are wasteful if Washington does not use its political capital to demand interoperable systems and joint-training programs. Three years into the Gulf Security Dialogue, there are signs that joint defense cooperation is taking root. In June, Gates praised "the unprecedented cooperation between the nations of the gulf."[36] Indeed, GCC states are pursuing shared early warning and active defense systems, increasing membership in U.S.-backed nonproliferation efforts such as the Proliferation Security Initiative, signing energy memoranda of understanding, and building on joint exercises like January's joint combined security exercise in Kuwait.[37]
Another key component of the dialogue is psychological. The Bush administration used the Gulf Security Dialogue "to convey the U.S. commitment to the peace and security of our GCC allies as well as encourage regional partners to take the steps necessary to address regional challenges."[38] Reinforcing U.S. commitment to defense of the GCC would cement alliances and give the regional Arab leaders the security to side with the United States. As President Bush explained in his 2008 state of the union address, "We will stand by our allies, and we will defend our vital interests in the Persian Gulf."[39] These vital interests are collective. Just as Bush declared a free Iraq to be "a friend of America, a partner in fighting terror, and a source of stability in a dangerous part of the world,"[40] so too is a GCC united against Iranian schemes on the Persian Gulf.
Such moral clarity helps dispel the competitive monarchies' natural aversion to defense cooperation. Al-Ubeid air base in Qatar and its logistics hub in Kuwait, for example, are crucial for operations in Iraq but would not exist if their host states did not sense a U.S. commitment to solidarity against mutual threats. Bilateral arms deals, too, are precursors to multilateral cooperation: "We sell stuff to build relationships," said Vice Admiral Jeffrey Wieringa, head of the Pentagon's Defense Security Cooperation Agency.[41] As Iran increasingly meddles in the region, trust-building between the United States and its GCC allies grows even more important.
Patrick Knapp
Copyright - Original materials copyright (c) by the authors.
Posted by Harry at 7:07 PM
Lebanon's next war may also be Syria's.
The War for 21st-century Freedom .
The Idiot Twins of American Idealism.
Nazi Eurabia and America's Fate. Part I.
Nazi Eurabia and America's Fate. Part II.
The Return of "Defensible Borders"?
Obama's State of the Union Message Tells Us Far Mo...
Enlightened nations of the world are on a coffee-b...
When Yemen Meets Gaza.
Fighting the Goldstone Report.
Ending the illusion of peace in our time.
Iran: The Time Has Come.
Iran's Private Army Digs in for a Wider Lebanon Wa...
Who's sleeping more deeply - Europe or America?
The Gulf States in the Shadow of Iran. Part II
Wall St Journal: Stop the Trial of Geert Wilders....
The Obama Administration Learns its Basic Mideast ...
Why I murdered 13 American soldiers at Fort Hood: ...
Norway's Middle East Hypocrisy.
Obama chasing rainbows with two-state solution.
Is Israel's Safety No Longer a Western Interest?
As the Islamic curtain descends.
Hezbollah's delusions.
Church leaders remain silent while Palestinian Chr...
The perils of presidential failure.
The Point of No Return: Clearly the Obama Administ...
Another Tack: Masters and donkeys.
Analysis: Did the Long Arm of Iran Reach the Dead ...
Cast Lead Conclusions.
Unilateralism is our only option.
It's Annexation Time.


text:
Battle to open new post office
Published: 5:00 AM January 12, 2005
Updated: 10:50 PM February 17, 2021
CAMPAIGNERS trying to keep a post office in their area are today calling for a temporary one to be set up until permanent premises can be found.The campaign to save the sub office at Morrisons in Felixstowe has been dealt a fatal blow with the supermarket giant announcing it will close it on February 5.
CAMPAIGNERS trying to keep a post office in their area are today calling for a temporary one to be set up until permanent premises can be found.
The campaign to save the sub office at Morrisons in Felixstowe has been dealt a fatal blow with the supermarket giant announcing it will close it on February 5.
Councillor Mike Ninnmey said it would be a huge blow to 9,000 people the post office served, especially the elderly.
"This closure is far earlier than we expected - we had been led to believe it would probably be July, which would have given more time to find alternative premises," he said.
"Now it looks as if the area could be without this facility for several months.
"That will mean more people having to travel in to Felixstowe to use the main post office - there are already considerable queues there most days. Added to that, it will mean more traffic and more people looking for parking."
Mr Ninnmey called on Post Office Ltd to provide temporary facilities until a new office could be found.
"I know in some other places, services have been provided in a caravan or some other temporary venue - I hope they will look at that here," he said.
Post Office Ltd has said all possibilities were being explored to find a convenient location for a replacement post office.
It is understood the company has been contacted by a number of interested parties in the area with offers to run the service.
Morrisons had said it would not run the outlet at its store in Grange Farm Avenue but was quite happy for a new tenant to be found to keep it going or for it to move to alternative premises.
The supermarket company received a string of complaints about its decision to end the franchise for running the post office. It said running a post office was "not our line of business."
Nearly 2,000 people have signed a petition calling for the sub office to be saved.
Town councillors have also joined the battle. They have written to Post Office Ltd and asked Suffolk Coastal council if it can use its economic development powers to encourage someone to take up the business.
The in-store post office serves the Cavendish Park, Orwell Green, Grange Farm and Coronation estates, as well as all the firms based at Felixstowe port.


text:
Media Coverage of the Candidates
Rick Perry has gotten the most and best coverage thus far in the campaign. President Obama has gotten mostly negative coverage.
James Joyner · Tuesday, October 18, 2011 · 10 comments
Pew's Project for Excellence in Journalism has looked at the news coverage of the Republican presidential candidates and President Obama.
In the first months of the race for president, that weeding out period before citizens ever vote or caucus, Texas Governor Rick Perry has received the most coverage and the most positive coverage from the news media of any GOP contender, according to a new study by the Pew Research Center's Project for Excellence in Journalism.
But in what is already a fluid race, Perry lost that mantle to Herman Cain two weeks ago, after the Florida straw poll and a faulty debate performance, according to the study, which combines traditional media research methods with computer algorithms to track the level and tone of coverage of candidates for president. The analysis also shows that Cain's narrative actually started to become more positive in late August, six weeks before he began to rise in the polls.
Meanwhile, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney remains the one constant—portrayed as the ever-present if not passionately embraced alternative in the GOP field. Despite often leading in the polls, Romney has typically received less coverage and less positive coverage than his chief rival of the moment—and that remained true in early October after Perry faltered. Overall, he is second in the amount of attention received and the tone of that narrative has been unwaveringly mixed.
If I had been forced to guess, I'd have gone with either Sarah Palin or Michele Bachmann as having gotten the most coverage. That's likely a function of my viewing things through the prism of the blogosphere and Twitter rather than watching the nightly news. Presumably, though, the reason that Romney is getting less coverage than Perry and Cain is the same reason that social media have given disproportionate attention to Palin and Bachmann: They're interesting and relatively unknown, whereas Romney has been around longer and really isn't making much "news."
One man running for president has suffered the most unrelentingly negative treatment of all, the study found: Barack Obama. Though covered largely as president rather than a candidate, negative assessments of Obama have outweighed positive by a ratio of almost 4-1. Those assessments of the president have also been substantially more negative than positive every one of the 23 weeks studied. And in no week during these five months was more than 10% of the coverage about the president positive in tone.
Steve Benen points to this as evidence that the "liberal media" meme is a sham. While I largely agree that the meme is overblown and outdated in the Fox News era, ideological bias or the lack of it isn't the reason Obama is getting less favorable coverage than most of the Republicans. Rather, it's because he's the sitting president and things are going to hell in a handcart around him.
Because most of the Republican candidates are relatively new on the national scene, much of the early coverage of them was of the "meet the candidate" variety, which is likely to be fairly positive. Additionally, it's fairly easy to make positive news: winning a straw poll somewhere, getting an endorsement, or making a surprisingly strong showing in some poll or debate. For Obama, most of the coverage is about falling poll numbers, the drip-drip-drip of bad news on the economy, failed attempts to get things passed through a recalcitrant Senate, and carping from the base that he's been a disappointment.
Additionally, despite my high regard for Pew's work, I'm not sold on the research methodology here. This is "content analysis," which is based on coding phrases and paragraphs:
The study examined four basic elements of each candidate's narrative. It measured how much attention each candidate received in news media. It also examined the tone of that coverage. Then, separately, it assessed the amount of attention and tone in blogs.
To analyze the level of attention, researchers identified all of the campaign coverage from a core list of mainstream news outlets using PEJ's weekly analysis, called the News Coverage Index. That core list includes 52 different news outlets from newspapers, cable news, broadcast television, the 12 most popular news websites in the country, and radio news (NPR, syndicated radio headlines and three talk radio personalities).
To assess the tone of coverage, PEJ researchers then employed computer algorithmic software from Crimson Hexagon. Researchers conducted a tone analysis and then "trained" the algorithm to follow the same rules as they had themselves. PEJ also conducted inter-coder tests to ensure the computer coding was replicable and valid by comparing human coding to the results derived by the algorithm. The project also had different people build the algorithms separately to ensure that they were achieving consistent results. Each computer algorithm was then additionally tested for reliability by having multiple researchers review the content assessed and the results.
While this is a widely accepted technique, it is not necessarily indicative of the takeaway of the average reader or viewer.
For example, my strong impression is that Jon Huntsman's coverage his been overwhelmingly positive. He's almost universally treated as highly competent, smart, and honorable. But, according to the "tone" analysis, it's been 21 percent positive and 17 percent negative. My guess is that the latter are late-paragraph disclaimers that, alas, Huntsman is doing quite poorly in the polls and is highly unlikely to get the nomination.
Similarly, my strong impression is that Palin and Bachmann have been portrayed quite poorly, with Palin coming across as a manipulative grandstander and Bachmann as a religious zealot and weirdo. But, according to the "tone" analysis, both have been portrayed positively 3 to 2. But if this comes from equal treatment of the overall message of the piece with throwaway lines about their charismatic appeal and the enthusiasm of their relatively small base of supporters, it's just misleading. By that standard, "Sarah Palin is a good looking woman and terrific public speaker, but she's too stupid to be president" is 2-to-1 positive.
FILED UNDER: Campaign 2012, Media, US Politics, Barack Obama, Cable News, Florida, Fox News, Herman Cain, Jon Huntsman, journalism, liberal media, Massachusetts, meme, methodology, Michele Bachmann, Mitt Romney, Newspapers, NPR, Rick Perry, Sarah Palin, Social Media, Steve Benen, television, Texas, Twitter
About James Joyner
James Joyner is Professor and Department Head of Security Studies at Marine Corps University's Command and Staff College and a nonresident senior fellow at the Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security at the Atlantic Council. He's a former Army officer and Desert Storm vet. Views expressed here are his own. Follow James on Twitter @DrJJoyner.
Stormy Dragon says:
Tuesday, 18 October 2011 at 07:24
Steve Benen points to this as evidence that the "liberal media" meme is a sham.
The assumption seems to be that negative coverage of Obama == conservative bias. If Republicans are criticized for being too conservative, while Obama is criticized for being no liberal enough, it's possible to be more critical of him while still being liberally biased.
Other thing is that while this covers tone of coverage, it doesn't say anything about amount of coverage, which seems an important part of the picture.
Tsar Nicholas II says:
This is an Onion-style parody, right?
PD Shaw says:
"If I had been forced to guess, I'd have gone with either Sarah Palin or Michele Bachmann as having gotten the most coverage."
Some indication that Fox News didn't cover Michele Bachmann here. Mickey Kaus suspects Roger Ailes doesn't want Bachmann candidacy.
mantis says:
The assumption seems to be that negative coverage of Obama == conservative bias.
No it isn't. Benen points out that the evidence does not point to liberal bias in the news media, which many take as a given. That's all. Even if this is not evidence of liberal bias, that doesn't mean it's evidence of conservative bias, and Benen doesn't say it is.
Loviatar says:
@mantis:
James is just being a good Republican.
Whats that old legal quote,
If the facts are on your side, argue the facts. If the law is on your side, argue the law . If neither the facts nor the law are on your side, just argue.
James is arguing.
Tlaloc says:
Media has a media bias, not a liberal or conservative one.
James Joyner says:
@Loviatar: What the hell are you talking about?
The coverage of Perry and Palin has been positive? LOL. Ya can't make it up.
Clovis says:
Suddenly blogs count?
Crimson Hexagon software examines online content provided by RSS feeds of thousands of news outlets from the U.S. and around the world. This provides researchers with analysis of a much wider pool of content than conventional human coding can provide. Specifically, the monitors PEJ creates are based on more than 11,500 news web sites, several million blogs, and hundreds of millions of publicly available Twitter and Facebook posts. CH maintains a database of all stories and posts available—numbering into the billions—so texts can be investigated retroactively.
Don't recall this sort of sample before. Certainly doesn't seem to be the, y'know, Media as much as "everything we could get our hands on" sort of thingummy.
That's likely a function of my viewing things through the prism of the blogosphere and Twitter rather than watching the nightly news.
Guess it isn't a function of that in so far as blogs, twitter and bleedin' facebook are included. So it looks like the algorithm is screwy, for the reasons you mentioned.
Wednesday, 19 October 2011 at 05:56
@Clovis: Actually, they separated out the blogs for a comparative analysis:
A separate analysis also tracks the level of discussion and tone across hundreds of thousands of blogs. The study covers the 23 weeks from May 2, when candidates began to announce, to October 9, one week ago—that first phase of what might be called The Media Primary.
The blogosphere, it turns out, is proving a much rougher environment than the news media for candidates, including contenders associated with the Tea Party movement. But one candidate has emerged as the winner of the blog primary so far—Texas Congressman Ron Paul.
The research, across such a wide range of outlets, and using a combination of conventional and computer tools, make it possible to quickly compare shifts in news coverage and in blogs with events in the campaign and movements in the polls. The project will continue to provide reports tracking the level and tone of candidate coverage on a weekly basis throughout the campaign season.
They're not hacks; indeed, they're among the most well regarded research firms out there. I'm just dubious of content analysis, especially when applied in this manner. I may make sense in terms of doing archival research of government documents, for example. But public perceptions of news stories are disproportionately influenced by headlines and opening paragraphs.
Rick Perry: The New GOP Frontrunner
Post-Debate, Romney Is Clear GOP Frontrunner, Bachmann Surging
Once Again, Romney Wins And Perry Falters In GOP Debate
Rick Perry v. Michele Bachmann: Is It Even Really A Contest?
Assessing Rick Perry's Vulnerabilities


Blackfield was started by Aviv and Steven in 2001 and have previously released the critically acclaimed albums Blackfield (2004), Blackfield II (2007) and 2011's Welcome To My DNA.
Since Welcome To My DNA, Geffen's profile has continued to rise and Aviv has worked with legendary producers Tony Visconti and Trevor Horn, played live with U2 and Placebo, and has been a judge on the Israeli TV show, The Voice.
Aviv contributed the writing and vocals on Blackfield IV, with Steven Wilson - who also mixed the album into stereo and 5.1 surround sound - adding guitar and vocal parts.
This limited 2 disc digi-book edition includes a DVD-AV featuring the surround mix presented in MLP Lossless & DTS 9624 and a 24-bit stereo mix presented in MLP Lossless & LPCM.


text:
Call For Entries: International Bureau for Epilepsy and UCB launch the 2012 Excellence in Epilepsy Journalism Award to recognise exceptional reporting on epilepsy
Brussels (Belgium), 12th June 2012 – 0700 CET – Today marks the launch of the 2012 Excellence in Epilepsy Journalism Award that aims to raise awareness about epilepsy across the globe. The award is a joint initiative of the International Bureau for Epilepsy and biopharmaceutical company UCB and recognises journalists who have excelled in reporting on this often-misunderstood condition.
Epilepsy is the most common, serious neurological condition, affecting nearly 50 million people worldwide.1 Now in its fourth year, the annual Excellence in Epilepsy Journalism Award recognises original and informative reporting on epilepsy, attracting a growing number of high-quality entries from around the world, with 49 entries from 24 countries received last year.
"Despite advances in the understanding and treatment of epilepsy, many people living with epilepsy continue to face prejudice and ignorance. By recognising remarkable, thought-provoking and most importantly accurate journalism, we can help to increase understanding of the condition and continue the IBE's mission to improve the quality of life of all people with epilepsy and their families," commented Mike Glynn, award judge and President of IBE.
"At UCB we have a passion for enabling people with epilepsy to enjoy normal everyday lives. We are committed to improving the lives of people with epilepsy worldwide, and our support of the Excellence in Epilepsy Journalism Award supports education and acceptance of the condition," said Lode Dewulf, MD, Vice President, Global Medical Affairs, UCB.
The Excellence in Epilepsy Journalism Award is open to all journalists, across four categories – print, online, broadcast TV and broadcast radio, with one winner selected from each group. Entries can either be entered by the author or via nomination by a third party. An independent panel of media experts and people with experience of epilepsy will judge submitted entries against set criteria. The panel will select winning entries that are informative, original, responsible and support the aim of raising awareness and understanding of epilepsy.
Entries can be about any aspect of epilepsy and must have been published or broadcast between 30th November 2011 and 30th November 2012.
2011 print winner Maj My Midtgaard Humaidan said, "I was honoured to receive this award. My article focused on the challenges people with epilepsy and their families face, exploring the realities of living day-to-day with this condition. I hope to continue to increase understanding and awareness of epilepsy."
Jessica Solodar, 2010 online winner for her epilepsy.com article, Seizures triggered by video games: Underestimated and undiagnosed, commented, "I was pleased to be recognised for my article on photosensitive epilepsy because the award has helped draw attention to this important issue. There is a tremendous need for more awareness and understanding of epilepsy, and I hope this award encourages more journalists to write about it."
Aliyah Baruchin, 2009 online and print winner said, "I was delighted to be awarded the 2009 Excellence in Epilepsy Journalism Award. I am very glad that my article, 'Epilepsy in the African-American Community: Access, Education and Advocacy' - published in EpilepsyUSA - has increased awareness of the challenges often faced by the African-American community when trying to gain access to appropriate epilepsy care. The 2009 award allowed me to do additional reporting and writing - including an article on epilepsy in West Africa - that can help to de-stigmatise epilepsy and give a voice to those who live with it."
To find out more information or to download an entry or nomination form, please visit: http://www.ibe-epilepsy.org/activities/excellence-in-journalism-award-2012
Certain local restrictions may apply regarding this award and the award is only available where not prohibited or restricted by local laws and regulations.
1. http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs999/en/ [accessed 28th March 2012]
Ann Little, Executive Director, IBE
T +353.1.210.8850 , ibedublin@eircom.net
Eimear O'Brien, Director, Brand Communications, Global Marketing & Access, UCB
T +32.2.559.9271 , eimear.obrien@ucb.com
About the IBE
Founded almost 50 years ago, the IBE is an organisation of laypersons and professionals interested in the medical and non-medical aspects of epilepsy. The IBE addresses such social problems as education, employment, insurance, driving licence restrictions and public awareness, and supports its members through a range of innovative and important initiatives aimed at improving the quality of life of people with epilepsy and their families. www.ibe-epilepsy.org
About UCB
UCB, Brussels, Belgium is a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the research, development and commercialization of innovative medicines with a focus on the fields of central nervous system and immunology disorders.
This press release contains forward-looking statements based on current plans, estimates and beliefs of management. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to be materially different from those that may be implied by such forward-looking statements contained in this press release. Important factors that could result in such differences include: changes in general economic, business and competitive conditions, effects of future judicial decisions, changes in regulation, exchange rate fluctuations and hiring and retention of its employees.
Asset Download
2012 application form
© 2007 - 2021 UCB S.A., Belgium. All rights reserved Last updated on: June, 12, 2012


Organization: This organization provides assistant wardening.
Project Type: Projects include practical maintenance, meeting day visitors off boats, supervising footpaths to make sure visitors do not stray from them, bird counts, and recording.
Project Dates and Duration: March to October each year.
Cost: No cost to participate, however transportation is not included.
Special Skills Required: Volunteers must be 16, have a general interest in natural history and a willingness to work.
Applications Process: Write to Mrs. Glennerster, Islands Booking Officer at the above address.


NEWS CENTER - "We haven't seen a fair approach towards Turkiye in EU summit," Turkiye Prime Minister Yıldırım said regarding the EU summit in Varna.
Speaking at the Grand National Assembly group meeting, Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım said, "The EU's report is full of serious fractures, incoherence, and wobbling from the very beginning our application. Our full membership process, which started at the same time as Greece, has been broken down and the initial loss of confidence has been experienced."
"The EU did not keep its promise"


text:
Fatal Pogo Mine-Area Black Bear Mauling Remains Under Investigation
— ADF&G Press Release
Samuel R. Cotten, Commissioner
Juneau, Alaska 99811-5526
Press Release: June 23, 2017
Contact: Doreen Parker McNeill, Management Coordinator, Fairbanks, (907) 459-7381
(Delta Junction) — The fatal mauling of a Pogo Mine contract employee by a black bear on Monday, June 19, remains under investigation by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Early reports suggested the attack showed signs of being predatory, but biologists say further examination of events and the bear involved is needed before a definitive conclusion can be reached.
Two Pogo Mine employees were reported attacked by the bear, one fatally, late Monday morning. The surviving employee was rescued by a mine helicopter after calling for help on a radio. Interviews after the incident indicate the bear broke off a subsequent attack on the survivor when the survivor deployed bear spray. The bear was subsequently killed by a mine employee who returned with a rifle. A department veterinarian who accompanied Alaska Wildlife Troopers to the scene to recover the bear carcass identified it as a cinnamon color-phase adult male. A necropsy has been performed on the bear and analysis is pending.
News of two people mauled and killed by black bears in separate incidents on successive days in separate regions of the state has many Alaskans on edge. The first attack occurred Sunday during a popular running event near Bird Creek south of Anchorage. The bear believed responsible for that attack was killed by department staff on Tuesday.
Wildlife managers generally divide bear attacks on humans into defensive and non-defensive (which includes predatory) categories. While bear attacks of any kind are relatively uncommon, predatory attacks on humans are rare. Of 207 bear attacks on humans recorded between 1980 and 2014 in Alaska, three were categorized as fatal predatory black bear attacks, according to retired state wildlife biologist John Hechtel.
Ranging from Florida and Texas north to the Brooks Range, black bears are North America's most common bear species. Alaska's black bear population is estimated to be at least 100,000. Black bear hunting is allowed in the Pogo Mine and Bird Ridge areas.
Bears may approach people out of curiosity, to test dominance, because they are food-conditioned or, rarely, because they are predatory. Interagency bear safety experts recommend people hiking, running or biking through bear country to carry a deterrent such as bear spray, or a firearm adequate for killing a bear. It is critical the deterrent be immediately within reach, where it can be quickly and easily accessed in the event of a sudden encounter.
When a bear is encountered at close range, people are advised to stand their ground, ready their deterrents, group up, and watch the bear. Stay firm and talk to the bear in a firm but calm voice. Don't play dead, run, or panic. If blocking the bear's path, try to move out of its way. If the bear continues to approach, follows, or is intent on a person, assert your dominance and become more aggressive. Don't retreat. Shout, make yourself look large, use your deterrent or, if you don't have a deterrent, throw rocks or sticks in an effort to drive off the bear. If the bear attacks, fight with anything you have, concentrating on the animal's face or muzzle.
For more detailed information on how to respond in a bear encounter, visit http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=livingwithbears.bearcountry.


When you're planning a wedding, it's the details that separate your special event from every other one you've been to. Those small decisions help personalize your wedding and showcase the people that you and your future spouse are.
So, while laboring over a decision to choose just the right guestbook might seem unnecessary at first, it's one of many decisions that ultimately come together with stationery, favors, place cards, and other smaller (but important!) details to create your full vision.
Nora Garcia realized the power of these details in a wedding back when she was crunching numbers as an accountant. In that line of work, the devil is always in the details, so her attention to the finer points translates perfectly into FLOR Gifts. Today, she's moved from formatting spreadsheets to creating guestbooks, and couples from across the U.S. are drawn to her inventive and eye-catching designs.
Read on to learn more about this Charleston-based entrepreneur!
I am a big believer that you should do what you love and although I have enjoyed working as an accountant, I have always loved the idea of working in the wedding industry.
FLOR gifts was one of those dreams that lingered in the back of my mind. Finally it came to the point where it kept me up all night and so I finally took the plunge and opened my ETSY shop.
Reach out to those who have had success in the wedding industry. Business owners are more than willing to help out with any questions.
Plus, you should check out local events that offer great opportunities to learn more about the industry and meet other entrepreneurs.
I make it a point to always stay in communication with my clients through out the process. This is vital because clients want to feel valued and respected. They're also looking for peace of mind that they can trust you will deliver what you promise.
I have worked in accounting industry for the past 18 years and I was once called the 'Martha Stewart' of accounting. This made me laugh, but I took it as a compliment. I loved creating stylish spreadsheets and reports so that they would be visually pleasing.
Accounting can be boring...so, why not make it pretty to look at? This mentality is what started FLOR. I couldn't find a heart drop guestbook that looked pretty enough to display and so I just created my own.
The best part about working and living in South Carolina are the people and the history. There are cities like Charleston, that are full of lovely landscapes and timeless settings...perfect for weddings!
Coming from a big city like Los Angeles, I have come to appreciate the tranquility and charm of the South.
I have loved the wonderful connections I have made with my clients and other business owners. In a way, it reminds me of how much fun I had planning my own wedding and how grateful I was for those who made it all possible.
Now, I get the chance to help brides create their own memories...one guestbook at a time.


text:
Q: Methods referenced by other assemblies I am developing a tool for Impact Analysis. If I am changing a method say "myMethod" in myAssembly, I need to get all other assemblies referencing myAssembly and I got it through below code.
Assembly a = Assembly.LoadFrom("otherAssembly");
//check if the my Assembly is referenced or not?
if (a.GetReferencedAssemblies().Where(item => item.Name == "myAssembly").LongCount() > 0)
{
    //Do something
}

But here How can I know if "myMethod" of "myAssembly" is called/used or not? Otherwise I will get all other assemblies which are referencing myAssembly (say 10 in number) but out of 10 just 1 is called/used myMethod and will be impacted.
Any help will be appreciated

A: You need to analyze all code in those assemblies. You can use Mono.Cecil for this task.
Some more info:
What you are trying to do isn't exactly trivial. You need to iterate over all possibly executable code and examine the CIL instructions and analyze them to see whether your method is called.
As a starting point, you can get the instructions of all methods like this:
var assemblyResolver = new DefaultAssemblyResolver();
assemblyResolver.AddSearchDirectory(...);
var assemblyDefinition = assemblyResolver.Resolve(
                             AssemblyNameReference.Parse(fullName));
foreach(ModuleDefinition module in assemblyDefinition)
{
    foreach(TypeDefinition type in module.Types)
    {
        foreach(MethodDefinition method in type.Methods)
        {
            foreach(Instruction instruction in method.Body.Instructions)
            {
                // Analyze it - the hard part ;-)
            }
        }
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Pittsburgh Job and Career Guide ..
Pittsburgh Job Corps - Job opportunities and training for disadvantaged youth. Placement services and guidance.
Pittsburgh Employment - Site has Pittsburgh employer links and a small but useful group of job listings.
Pittsburgh's Preferred Jobs - Pittsburgh job listings from local employers and Pittsburgh employer profiles. Free resume posting.
Three Rivers Free Net - Pittsburgh employment links, jobs and career resource information.
Pittsburgh Jobs.Net - Job listings from Pittsburgh and metro Pa employers. Career resources, free job and resume posting, monthly columnists and career advice. Pittsburgh based and run.
Specialized Recruiting Services, Inc. - Provides direct placement of professionals in accounting, finance and credit in the Pittsburgh area.
Pittsburgh Computer Work - Pittsburgh area IT/IS jobs and employment. Free resume posting.
Pittsburgh is a city located in Allegheny County in western part of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 334,563 (metropolitan area 2,358,695).
Beginning in the early 19th century, Pittsburgh's proximity to large coal deposits and excellent positioning along major trade routes made it one of the world's leading industrial powerhouses. Steel production was a major industry for many years, earning the city its nickname, "The Steel City". Pittsburgh lies at the confluence of the Monongahela River and Allegheny River, which merge to form the Ohio River, ultimately draining into the Mississippi River and Gulf of Mexico. As an industrial city, Pittsburgh was also a major hub of early railroad activity. Millions of European immigrants settled in and around Pittsburgh in the 19th and early 20th centuries to seek employment in the steel mills, coal mines, railroads, or numerous associated industries.
The collapse of the US steel industry in the 1970s marked a major turning point for the city of Pittsburgh, and brought with it an unexpected renaissance as the mills closed and Pittsburgh shed its image of a dirty, smoky place. Pittsburgh was spared the fate of other postindustrial rust belt cities as the basis of the economy dramatically shifted from heavy industry to services and high technology.
Pittsburgh is located at 40�26'29" North, 79�58'38" West (40.441419, -79.977292)1.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 151.1 km� (58.3 mi�). 144.0 km� (55.6 mi�) of it is land and 7.2 km� (2.8 mi�) of it is water. The total area is 4.75% water.
As of the census of 2000, there are 334,563 people, 143,739 households, and 74,169 families residing in the city. The population density is 2,324.1/km� (6,019.0/mi�). There are 163,366 housing units at an average density of 1,134.9/km� (2,939.1/mi�). The racial makeup of the city is 67.63% White, 27.12% African American, 0.19% Native American, 2.75% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.66% from other races, and 1.61% from two or more races. 1.32% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
The median income for a household in the city is $28,588, and the median income for a family is $38,795. Males have a median income of $32,128 versus $25,500 for females. The per capita income for the city is $18,816. 20.4% of the population and 15.0% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 27.5% are under the age of 18 and 13.5% are 65 or older.
Pittsburgh has exhibited amazing adaptability in the wake of the steel industry's collapse. The primary industries have shifted from steel manufacture and heavy industry to high technology, biomedics, banking, and service based fields.
Wealthy area businessmen of the 19th century donated large sums of money to local educational and cultural institutions. As a result, Pittsburgh is rich in art and culture. The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra is world-class. It owns and performs at Heinz Hall, which also plays host to a number of other events throughout the year. The Benedum Center and Heinz Hall provide venues for numerous musicals, lectures, speeches, and other performances. There is a large museum dedicated to the works of Pittsburgh native Andy Warhol. The collection of the Carnegie Museum of Art is home to works by such luminaries as Edgar Degas, Vincent van Gogh, Claude Monet, and many others, along with galleries of sculpture, modern art, the Heinz Architectural Center, a large film and video collection, and various travelling exhibits. The Pittsburgh Playhouse at Point Park College has four resident companies of professional actors. The Carnegie Museum of Natural History has extensive dinosaur collections on display, including the complete first Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton ever discovered, and an Egyptian wing. Kennywood Park is widely regarded by rollercoaster connosieurs to have one of the best collections of functional rollercoasters in the world, including several early 20th century wooden coasters.
Pittsburgh is home to many universities and research facilities. The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh has over 2.1 million cataloged items available for circulation. The Health Sciences Department at the University of Pittsburgh and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center operate some of the finest hospitals in the world, and an advanced medical research center that performs pioneering work in organ transplantation, AIDS and cancer research, and many other fields. Carnegie Mellon University is a leading computer science research center, and also has a renowned music program.


text:
The temperate rainforest teems with energy and life.
The world's largest spruce stands by Lake Quinault at the edge of Olympic National Park.
The "tree of life" somehow survives on the Washington coast despite its exposed roots.
Another of the Olympic National Park's giants.
Forks, Wash. –The Duncan Cedar is about 15 miles off the highway, most of it dirt roads. A sign reading "Big Cedar Tree" marks the turnoff from Rte. 101, but the signs are sketchy once you're in the woods -- "Big Tree" with an arrow, painted on a stump – and easy to miss. Once you find it, there's no mistaking what's considered the largest western red cedar in the world.
Duncan, named for the loggers who discovered it, towers over the large trees that surround it. The tree is 1,000 years old, and it seems its best days are long past. There aren't many needles on Ol' Duncan, just a few, clinging to branches near the very top, not nearly enough to support a tree that size.
But she is staying alive, with a little help from her friends.
The old growth forest in and around Olympic National Park is home to thousands of remarkable trees and several record-holders. The world's largest spruce tree, 191 feet tall, is a short walk from the road. Other giants require a 10- or 20-mile hike are accessible to those willing to hike 10 or 20 miles, while the exact location of others is known only to scientists and park officials. On the beach near Kalaloch, the "tree of life," suspended improbably over a cave, its roots swaying in the Pacific winds, entertains a steady stream of visitors.
Visitors shouldn't miss the forest for the individual trees, impressive as they are. The temperate rainforest is lush, moist and every shade of green. It teems with life, buzzes with energy – and that's just above the surface. A new school of forestry science argues that the real action is below the surface, where the roots of the trees are communicating with each other, sharing nutrients, raising tree children, sustaining a forest community.
If that sounds like we're going overboard in assigning human qualities to plants, I hear you. But that's the kind of language foresters like Peter Wohlleben and Suzanne Simard use to describe what they've learned about trees.
Wohlleben wrote the bestseller "The Hidden Life of Trees," which examines the relationships between trees in the forest he manages in Germany. The trees are always talking, he says, speculating freely about what they are saying.
Tree communications include warning neighbors about threats. When giraffes start nibbling at the leaves of African acacia trees, the acacias not only produce a tannin that can sicken large herbivores, they emit a scent that causes acacia trees downwind to produce the same poison.
Simard, a researcher in western Canada, was the first to prove that trees exchange nutrients through their roots. They do this with the help of fungi – not the mushrooms we see on the surface, but the miles of microscopic threads, called "mycelium," that branch out underground. The mycelium connect the forest, in a dispersed network built around "hub trees" – Simard calls them "mother trees," the largest and oldest in the forest -- forming what she and her colleagues have dubbed the "wood-wide web."
Old Duncan, a mother tree if ever there was one, appears to be on the receiving end these days, surviving through the nutrients shared by her descendants and neighbors.
Western science, rooted in a Darwinian survival-of-the-fittest mindset, long saw the forest as an arena of competition, where trees fight each other for sunlight and water, where every old tree that falls gives younger trees a chance for their place in the sun.
The new foresters see the forest as a supportive community of plants. Mother trees send food to young trees starved for sunlight. The shade the larger trees provide slows the young trees' growth, which makes them stronger. In stable forests, strong trees protect each other from the wind. "They live longest and reproduce most often in a healthy stable forest," Simard told Smithsonian Magazine. "That's why they've evolved to help their neighbors.
Some scientists scoff at the tree-hugger sentimentality that has grown around the new research. Trees communicate in their own fashion, they say, react to and shape their environment, and share an "intelligence," much like animal packs and insect colonies. But they don't have emotions, will, or intentions. When we hug them, they don't hug back.
Maybe so. As I walk through the rainforest, I can't hear the conversations of the trees, let alone translate them. We speak the language of humans, not trees, which is why we must use human metaphors – raising children, sounding alarms – that ends up making trees seem human. Whatever I hear, and feel, in the rainforest makes me think such comparisons aren't fair to the trees.
Rick Holmes can be reached at rick@rickholmes.net. You can follow his journey at www.rickholmes.net. Like him on Facebook at Holmes & Co, on follow him on Twitter @HolmesAndCo.