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Africa :: Algeria
Introduction :: Algeria
After more than a century of rule by France, Algerians fought through much of the 1950s to achieve independence in 1962. Algeria's primary political party, the National Liberation Front (FLN), was established in 1954 as part of the struggle for independence and has since largely dominated politics. The Government of Algeria in 1988 instituted a multi-party system in response to public unrest, but the surprising first round success of the Islamic Salvation Front (FIS) in the December 1991 legislative elections led the Algerian army to intervene and postpone the second round of elections to prevent what the secular elite feared would be an extremist-led government from assuming power. The army began a crackdown on the FIS that spurred FIS supporters to begin attacking government targets. Fighting escalated into an insurgency, which saw intense violence from 1992-98, resulting in over 100,000 deaths - many attributed to indiscriminate massacres of villagers by extremists. The government gained the upper hand by the late-1990s, and FIS's armed wing, the Islamic Salvation Army, disbanded in January 2000.
Abdelaziz BOUTEFLIKA, with the backing of the military, won the presidency in 1999 in an election that was boycotted by several candidates protesting alleged fraud, and won subsequent elections in 2004, 2009, and 2014. The government in 2011 introduced some political reforms in response to the Arab Spring, including lifting the 19-year-old state of emergency restrictions and increasing women's quotas for elected assemblies, while also increasing subsidies to the populace. Since 2014, Algeria's reliance on hydrocarbon revenues to fund the government and finance the large subsidies for the population has fallen under stress because of declining oil prices. Protests broke out across the country in late February 2019 against President BOUTEFLIKA's decision to seek a fifth term. BOUTEFLIKA resigned on 2 April 2019, and the speaker of the upper house of parliament, Abdelkader BENSALAH, became interim head of state on 9 April. Per the constitution, BENSALAH has 90 days to organize elections to elect a new president.
Geography :: Algeria
Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Morocco and Tunisia
28 00 N, 3 00 E
total: 2,381,740 sq km
land: 2,381,740 sq km
slightly less than 3.5 times the size of Texas
Africa :: Algeria Print
total: 6,734 km
border countries (7): Libya 989 km, Mali 1359 km, Mauritania 460 km, Morocco 1900 km, Niger 951 km, Tunisia 1034 km, Western Sahara 41 km
exclusive fishing zone: 32-52 nm
arid to semiarid; mild, wet winters with hot, dry summers along coast; drier with cold winters and hot summers on high plateau; sirocco is a hot, dust/sand-laden wind especially common in summer
mostly high plateau and desert; Atlas Mountains in the far north and Hoggar Mountains in the south; narrow, discontinuous coastal plain
lowest point: Chott Melrhir -40 m
highest point: Tahat 2,908 m
petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, phosphates, uranium, lead, zinc
arable land: 3.1% (2016 est.) / permanent crops: 0.4% (2016 est.) / permanent pasture: 13.8% (2016 est.)
13,600 sq km (2014)
the vast majority of the populace is found in the extreme northern part of the country along the Mediterranean Coast
mountainous areas subject to severe earthquakes; mudslides and floods in rainy season; droughts
air pollution in major cities; soil erosion from overgrazing and other poor farming practices; desertification; dumping of raw sewage, petroleum refining wastes, and other industrial effluents is leading to the pollution of rivers and coastal waters; Mediterranean Sea, in particular, becoming polluted from oil wastes, soil erosion, and fertilizer runoff; inadequate supplies of potable water
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
largest country in Africa but 80% desert; canyons and caves in the southern Hoggar Mountains and in the barren Tassili n'Ajjer area in the southeast of the country contain numerous examples of prehistoric art - rock paintings and carvings depicting human activities and wild and domestic animals (elephants, giraffes, cattle) - that date to the African Humid Period, roughly 11,000 to 5,000 years ago, when the region was completely vegetated
People and Society :: Algeria
41,657,488 (July 2018 est.)
noun: Algerian(s)
adjective: Algerian
Arab-Berber 99%, European less than 1%
note: although almost all Algerians are Berber in origin (not Arab), only a minority identify themselves as primarily Berber, about 15% of the total population; these people live mostly in the mountainous region of Kabylie east of Algiers and several other communities; the Berbers are also Muslim but identify with their Berber rather than Arab cultural heritage; Berbers have long agitated, sometimes violently, for autonomy; the government is unlikely to grant autonomy but has officially recognized Berber languages and introduced them into public schools
Arabic (official), French (lingua franca), Berber or Tamazight (official); dialects include Kabyle Berber (Taqbaylit), Shawiya Berber (Tacawit), Mzab Berber, Tuareg Berber (Tamahaq)
Muslim (official; predominantly Sunni) 99%, other (includes Christian and Jewish) <1% (2012 est.)
For the first two thirds of the 20th century, Algeria's high fertility rate caused its population to grow rapidly. However, about a decade after independence from France in 1962, the total fertility rate fell dramatically from 7 children per woman in the 1970s to about 2.4 in 2000, slowing Algeria's population growth rate by the late 1980s. The lower fertility rate was mainly the result of women's rising age at first marriage (virtually all Algerian children being born in wedlock) and to a lesser extent the wider use of contraceptives. Later marriages and a preference for smaller families are attributed to increases in women's education and participation in the labor market; higher unemployment; and a shortage of housing forcing multiple generations to live together. The average woman's age at first marriage increased from about 19 in the mid-1950s to 24 in the mid-1970s to 30.5 in the late 1990s.
Algeria's fertility rate experienced an unexpected upturn in the early 2000s, as the average woman's age at first marriage dropped slightly. The reversal in fertility could represent a temporary fluctuation in marriage age or, less likely, a decrease in the steady rate of contraceptive use.
Thousands of Algerian peasants - mainly Berber men from the Kabylia region - faced with land dispossession and economic hardship under French rule migrated temporarily to France to work in manufacturing and mining during the first half of the 20th century. This movement accelerated during World War I, when Algerians filled in for French factory workers or served as soldiers. In the years following independence, low-skilled Algerian workers and Algerians who had supported the French (known as Harkis) emigrated en masse to France. Tighter French immigration rules and Algiers' decision to cease managing labor migration to France in the 1970s limited legal emigration largely to family reunification.
Not until Algeria's civil war in the 1990s did the country again experience substantial outmigration. Many Algerians legally entered Tunisia without visas claiming to be tourists and then stayed as workers. Other Algerians headed to Europe seeking asylum, although France imposed restrictions. Sub-Saharan African migrants came to Algeria after its civil war to work in agriculture and mining. In the 2000s, a wave of educated Algerians went abroad seeking skilled jobs in a wider range of destinations, increasing their presence in North America and Spain. At the same time, legal foreign workers principally from China and Egypt came to work in Algeria's construction and oil sectors. Illegal migrants from sub-Saharan Africa, particularly Malians, Nigeriens, and Gambians, continue to come to Algeria in search of work or to use it as a stepping stone to Libya and Europe.
Since 1975, Algeria also has been the main recipient of Sahrawi refugees from the ongoing conflict in Western Sahara. More than 1000,000 Sahrawis are estimated to be living in five refugee camps in southwestern Algeria near Tindouf.
0-14 years: 29.49% (male 6,290,619 /female 5,993,733)
15-24 years: 14.72% (male 3,137,975 /female 2,994,056)
55-64 years: 7.01% (male 1,472,527 /female 1,446,083)
65 years and over: 5.81% (male 1,133,852 /female 1,287,808) (2018 est.)
This is the population pyramid for Algeria. A population pyramid illustrates the age and sex structure of a country's population and may provide insights about political and social stability, as well as economic development. The population is distributed along the horizontal axis, with males shown on the left and females on the right. The male and female populations are broken down into 5-year age groups represented as horizontal bars along the vertical axis, with the youngest age groups at the bottom and the oldest at the top. The shape of the population pyramid gradually evolves over time based on fertility, mortality, and international migration trends.
elderly dependency ratio: 9 (2015 est.)
-0.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2018 est.)
2.694 million ALGIERS (capital), 881,000 Oran (2018)
57.1% (2012/13)
unimproved: urban: 15.7% of population
<.1% (2017 est.)
14,000 (2017 est.)
<200 (2017 est.)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write (2015 est.)
total population: 80.2%
male: 87.2%
female: 73.1% (2015 est.)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
total: 25.7%
Government :: Algeria
conventional long form: People's Democratic Republic of Algeria
conventional short form: Algeria
local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Jaza'iriyah ad Dimuqratiyah ash Sha'biyah
local short form: Al Jaza'ir
etymology: the country name derives from the capital city of Algiers
name: Algiers
geographic coordinates: 36 45 N, 3 03 E
etymology: name derives from the Arabic "al-Jazair" meaning "the islands" and refers to the four islands formerly off the coast but joined to the mainland since 1525
48 provinces (wilayas, singular - wilaya); Adrar, Ain Defla, Ain Temouchent, Alger, Annaba, Batna, Bechar, Bejaia, Biskra, Blida, Bordj Bou Arreridj, Bouira, Boumerdes, Chlef, Constantine, Djelfa, El Bayadh, El Oued, El Tarf, Ghardaia, Guelma, Illizi, Jijel, Khenchela, Laghouat, Mascara, Medea, Mila, Mostaganem, M'Sila, Naama, Oran, Ouargla, Oum el Bouaghi, Relizane, Saida, Setif, Sidi Bel Abbes, Skikda, Souk Ahras, Tamanrasset, Tebessa, Tiaret, Tindouf, Tipaza, Tissemsilt, Tizi Ouzou, Tlemcen
5 July 1962 (from France)
Independence Day, 5 July (1962);Revolution Day, 1 November (1954)
history: several previous; latest approved by referendum 23 February 1989
amendments: proposed by the president of the republic or through the president with the support of three-fourths of the members of both houses of Parliament in joint session; passage requires approval by both houses, approval by referendum, and promulgation by the president; the president can forego a referendum if the Constitutional Council determines the proposed amendment does not conflict with basic constitutional principles; articles including the republican form of government, the integrity and unity of the country, and fundamental citizens' liberties and rights cannot be amended; amended several times, last in 2016 (2016)
mixed legal system of French civil law and Islamic law; judicial review of legislative acts in ad hoc Constitutional Council composed of various public officials including several Supreme Court justices
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
citizenship by descent only: the mother must be a citizen of Algeria
residency requirement for naturalization: 7 years
chief of state: Interim President Abdelkader BENSALAH (since 9 April 2019); note - Abdelaziz BOUTEFLIKA resigned the presidency on 2 April 2019
head of government: Prime Minister Noureddine BEDOUI (since 11 March 2019)
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president
elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in two rounds if needed for a 5-year term (2-term limit reinstated by constitutional amendment in February 2016); election last held on 17 April 2014 (next was scheduled for 4 July 2019, but postponed on 2 June 2019 by the Constitutional Council); prime minister nominated by the president after consultation with the majority party in Parliament
description: bicameral Parliament consists of:
Council of the Nation (upper house with 144 seats; one-third of members appointed by the president, two-thirds indirectly elected by simple majority vote by an electoral college composed of local council members; members serve 6-year terms with one-half of the membership renewed every 3 years)
National People's Assembly (lower house with 462 seats including 8 seats for Algerians living abroad); members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote to serve 5-year terms)
elections:
Council of the Nation - last held on 29 December 2018 (next to be held in December 2021)
National People's Assembly - last held on 4 May 2017 (next to be held in 2022)
election results:
Council of the Nation - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; composition - men 137, women 7, percent of women 5%
National People's Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - FLN 164, RND 97, MSP-FC 33, TAJ 19, Ennahda-FJD 15, FFS 14, El Mostakbel 14, MPA 13, PT 11, RCD 9, ANR 8, MEN 4, other 33, independent 28; composition - men 343, women 119, percent of women 25.8%; note - total Parliament percent of women 20.8%
highest courts: Supreme Court or Cour Suprême, (consists of 150 judges organized into 8 chambers: Civil, Commercial and Maritime, Criminal, House of Offenses and Contraventions, House of Petitions, Land, Personal Status, and Social; Constitutional Council (consists of 12 members including the court chairman and deputy chairman); note - Algeria's judicial system does not include sharia courts
judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges appointed by the High Council of Magistracy, an administrative body presided over by the president of the republic, and includes the republic vice-president and several members; judges appointed for life; Constitutional Council members - 4 appointed by the president of the republic, 2 each by the 2 houses of Parliament, 2 by the Supreme Court, and 2 by the Council of State; Council president and members appointed for single 6-year terms with half the membership renewed every 3 years
subordinate courts: appellate or wilaya courts; first instance or daira tribunals
Algerian National Front or FNA [Moussa TOUATI]
Algerian Popular Movement or MPA [Amara BENYOUNES]
Algerian Rally or RA [Ali ZAGHDOUD]
Algeria's Hope Rally or TAJ [Amar GHOUL]
Democratic and Social Movement or MDS [Hamid FERHI]
Dignity or El Karama [Aymene HARKATI]
Ennour El Djazairi Party (Algerian Radiance Party) or PED [Badreddine BELBAZ]
Front for Justice and Development or El Adala [Abdallah DJABALLAH]
Future Front or El Mostakbel [Abdelaziz BELAID]
Islamic Renaissance Movement or Ennahda Movement [Mohamed DOUIBI]
Justice and Development Front or FJD [Abdellah DJABALLAH]
Movement of National Construction (Harakat El-Binaa El-Watani) [Abdelkader BENGRINA]
Movement of National Understanding or MEN
Movement for National Reform or Islah [Filali GHOUINI]
Movement of Society for Peace or MSP [Abderrazak MOKRI]
National Democratic Rally (Rassemblement National Democratique) or RND [Ahmed OUYAHIA]
National Front for Social Justice or FNJS [Khaled BOUNEDJEMA]
National Liberation Front or FLN [Mohamed DJEMAI]
National Party for Solidarity and Development or PNSD [Dalila YALAQUI]
National Reform Movement or Islah [Djahid YOUNSI]
National Republican Alliance or ANR [Belkacem SAHLI]
New Dawn Party or PFJ [Tahar BENBAIBECHE]
New Generation or Jil Jadid [Soufiane DJILALI]
Oath of 1954 or Ahd 54 [Ali Fawzi REBAINE]
Party of Justice and Liberty [Mohammed SAID]
Rally for Culture and Democracy or RCD [Mohcine BELABBAS]
Socialist Forces Front or FFS [Hakim BELAHCEL]
Union for Change and Progress or UCP [Zoubida Assoul]
Union of Democratic and Social Forces or UFDS [Noureddine BAHBOUH]
Vanguard of Freedoms [Ali BENFLIS]
Youth Party or PJ [Hamana BOUCHARMA]
Workers Party or PT [Louisa HANOUNE]
note: a law banning political parties based on religion was enacted in March 1997
ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AMU, AU, BIS, CAEU, CD, FAO, G-15, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAS, MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OPEC, OSCE (partner), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
chief of mission: Ambassador Madjid BOUGUERRA (since 23 February 2015)
chancery: 2118 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: New York
chief of mission: Ambassador John P. DESROCHER (since 5 September 2017)
embassy: 05 Chemin Cheikh Bachir, El Ibrahimi, El-Biar 16030 Algeria
mailing address: B. P. 408, Alger-Gare, 16030 Algiers
telephone: [213] (0) 770-08-2000
FAX: [213] (0) 770-08-2064
two equal vertical bands of green (hoist side) and white; a red, five-pointed star within a red crescent centered over the two-color boundary; the colors represent Islam (green), purity and peace (white), and liberty (red); the crescent and star are also Islamic symbols, but the crescent is more closed than those of other Muslim countries because Algerians believe the long crescent horns bring happiness
five-pointed star between the extended horns of a crescent moon, fennec fox; national colors: green, white, red
name: "Kassaman" (We Pledge)
lyrics/music: Mufdi ZAKARIAH/Mohamed FAWZI
note: adopted 1962; ZAKARIAH wrote "Kassaman" as a poem while imprisoned in Algiers by French colonial forces
Economy :: Algeria
Algeria's economy remains dominated by the state, a legacy of the country's socialist post-independence development model. In recent years the Algerian Government has halted the privatization of state-owned industries and imposed restrictions on imports and foreign involvement in its economy, pursuing an explicit import substitution policy.
Hydrocarbons have long been the backbone of the economy, accounting for roughly 30% of GDP, 60% of budget revenues, and nearly 95% of export earnings. Algeria has the 10th-largest reserves of natural gas in the world - including the 3rd-largest reserves of shale gas - and is the 6th-largest gas exporter. It ranks 16th in proven oil reserves. Hydrocarbon exports enabled Algeria to maintain macroeconomic stability, amass large foreign currency reserves, and maintain low external debt while global oil prices were high. With lower oil prices since 2014, Algeria's foreign exchange reserves have declined by more than half and its oil stabilization fund has decreased from about $20 billion at the end of 2013 to about $7 billion in 2017, which is the statutory minimum.
Declining oil prices have also reduced the government's ability to use state-driven growth to distribute rents and fund generous public subsidies, and the government has been under pressure to reduce spending. Over the past three years, the government has enacted incremental increases in some taxes, resulting in modest increases in prices for gasoline, cigarettes, alcohol, and certain imported goods, but it has refrained from reducing subsidies, particularly for education, healthcare, and housing programs.
Algiers has increased protectionist measures since 2015 to limit its import bill and encourage domestic production of non-oil and gas industries. Since 2015, the government has imposed additional restrictions on access to foreign exchange for imports, and import quotas for specific products, such as cars. In January 2018 the government imposed an indefinite suspension on the importation of roughly 850 products, subject to periodic review.
President BOUTEFLIKA announced in fall 2017 that Algeria intends to develop its non-conventional energy resources. Algeria has struggled to develop non-hydrocarbon industries because of heavy regulation and an emphasis on state-driven growth. Algeria has not increased non-hydrocarbon exports, and hydrocarbon exports have declined because of field depletion and increased domestic demand.
$630 billion (2017 est.)
$621.3 billion (2016 est.)
investment in inventories: 11.2% (2017 est.)
agriculture: 13.3% (2017 est.)
wheat, barley, oats, grapes, olives, citrus, fruits; sheep, cattle
petroleum, natural gas, light industries, mining, electrical, petrochemical, food processing
11.82 million (2017 est.)
agriculture: 10.8%
industry: 30.9%
11.7% (2017 est.)
revenues: 54.15 billion (2017 est.)
expenditures: 70.2 billion (2017 est.)
-9.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
note: data cover central government debt as well as debt issued by subnational entities and intra-governmental debt
4% (31 December 2010)
8% (31 December 2017 est.)
$84.56 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$110.2 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
-$22.1 billion (2017 est.)
-$26.47 billion (2016 est.)
$34.37 billion (2017 est.)
Italy 17.4%, Spain 13%, France 11.9%, US 9.4%, Brazil 6.2%, Netherlands 5.5% (2017)
petroleum, natural gas, and petroleum products 97% (2009 est.)
capital goods, foodstuffs, consumer goods
China 18.2%, France 9.1%, Italy 8%, Germany 7%, Spain 6.9%, Turkey 4.4% (2017)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
Algerian dinars (DZD) per US dollar -
109.443 (2016 est.)
80.579 (2013 est.)
Energy :: Algeria
66.89 billion kWh (2016 est.)
19.27 million kW (2016 est.)
96% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)
1.306 million bbl/day (2017 est.)
756,400 bbl/day (2015 est.)
12.2 billion bbl (1 January 2018 est.)
82,930 bbl/day (2015 est.)
93.5 billion cu m (2017 est.)
41.28 billion cu m (2017 est.)
4.504 trillion cu m (1 January 2018 est.)
135.9 million Mt (2017 est.)
Communications :: Algeria
total subscriptions: 3,130,090 (2017 est.)
total subscriptions: 49,873,389 (2017 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 122 (2017 est.)
general assessment: privatization of Algeria's telecommunications sector began in 2000; three mobile-cellular licenses have been issued; regulator permits network operators to extend LTE services to additional provinces; a consortium led by Egypt's Orascom Telecom won a 15-year license to build and operate a fixed-line network in Algeria; migration to 5G
domestic: a limited network of fixed-lines with a teledensity of less than 10 telephones per 100 persons has been offset by the rapid increase in mobile-cellular subscribership; mobile-cellular teledensity was roughly 122 telephones per 100 persons
international: country code - 213; ALPAL-2 is a submarine telecommunications cable system in the Mediterranean Sea linking Algeria and the Spanish Balearic island of Majorca; landing point for the SEA-ME-WE-4 fiber-optic submarine cable system that provides links to Europe, the Middle East, and Asia; MED cable connecting Algeria with France; microwave radio relay to Italy, France, Spain, Morocco, and Tunisia; coaxial cable to Morocco and Tunisia; new submarine cables to link to the US and France
state-run Radio-Television Algerienne operates the broadcast media and carries programming in Arabic, Berber dialects, and French; use of satellite dishes is widespread, providing easy access to European and Arab satellite stations; state-run radio operates several national networks and roughly 40 regional radio stations
total: 17,291,463 (July 2016 est.)
total: 3,166,907 (2017 est.)
Transportation :: Algeria
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 74 (2015)
annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 5,910,835 (2015)
annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 24,723,377 mt-km (2015)
7T (2016)
over 3,047 m: 12 (2017)
2,438 to 3,047 m: 29 (2017)
914 to 1,523 m: 39 (2013)
under 914 m: 34 (2013)
Heliports:
Pipelines:
2600 km condensate, 16415 km gas, 3447 km liquid petroleum gas, 7036 km oil, 144 km refined products (2013)
standard gauge: 2,888 km 1.432-m gauge (283 km electrified) (2014)
narrow gauge: 1,085 km 1.055-m gauge (2014)
total: 104,000 km (2015)
paved: 71,656 km (2015)
unpaved: 32,344 km (2015)
by type: container ship 1, general cargo 11, oil tanker 10, other 84 (2018)
major seaport(s): Algiers, Annaba, Arzew, Bejaia, Djendjene, Jijel, Mostaganem, Oran, Skikda
LNG terminal(s) (export): Arzew, Bethioua, Skikda
Military and Security :: Algeria
Military expenditures:
5.81% of GDP (2017)
People's National Army (Armee Nationale Populaire, ANP): Land Forces (Forces Terrestres, FT), Navy of the Republic of Algeria (Marine de la Republique Algerienne, MRA), Air Force (Al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Jaza'eriya, QJJ), Territorial Air Defense Force (2016)
18 is the legal minimum age for voluntary military service; 19-30 years of age for compulsory service; conscript service obligation is 18 months (6 months basic training, 12 months civil projects) (2018)
Terrorism :: Algeria
Terrorist groups - home based:
al-Qa'ida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM):
aim: overthrow various African regimes and replace them with one ruled by sharia; establish a regional Islamic caliphate across all of North and West Africa
area(s) of operation: leadership headquartered in Algeria; operates in Tunisia, Libya, and northern Mali
note: al-Qa'ida's affiliate in North Africa; Tunisia-based branch known as the Uqbah bin Nafi Battalion; Mali-based cadre merged with allies to form JNIM in March 2017, which pledged allegiance to AQIM and al-Qa'ida (April 2018)
Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)-Algeria:
aim(s): replace the Algerian Government with an Islamic state and implement ISIS's strict interpretation of sharia
area(s) of operation: maintains an operational and recruitment presence mostly in the northeast
note: formerly known as Jund al-Khilafa - Algeria (JAK-A) (April 2018)
Transnational Issues :: Algeria
Algeria and many other states reject Moroccan administration of Western Sahara; the Polisario Front, exiled in Algeria, represents the "Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic" which Algeria recognizes; the Algerian-Moroccan land border remains closed; dormant disputes include Libyan claims of about 32,000 sq km of southeastern Algeria and the National Liberation Front's (FLN) assertions of a claim to Chirac Pastures in southeastern Morocco.
refugees (country of origin): more than 100,000 (Western Saharan Sahrawi, mostly living in Algerian-sponsored camps in the southwestern Algerian town of Tindouf) (2018)
current situation: Algeria is a transit and, to a lesser extent, a destination and source country for women subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking and, to a lesser extent, men subjected to forced labor; criminal networks, sometimes extending to sub-Saharan Africa and to Europe, are involved in human smuggling and trafficking in Algeria; sub-Saharan adults enter Algeria voluntarily but illegally, often with the aid of smugglers, for onward travel to Europe, but some of the women are forced into prostitution, domestic service, and begging; some sub-Saharan men, mostly from Mali, are forced into domestic servitude; some Algerian women and children are also forced into prostitution domestically
tier rating: Tier 3 – Algeria does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so: some officials denied the existence of human trafficking, hindering law enforcement efforts; the government reported its first conviction under its anti-trafficking law; one potential trafficking case was investigated in 2014, but no suspected offenders were arrested; no progress was made in identifying victims among vulnerable groups or referring them to NGO-run protection service, which left trafficking victims subject to arrest and detention; no anti-trafficking public awareness or educational campaigns were conducted (2015)


I started tweeting about this in response to a thread on Twitter thread I was alerted to this morning regarding leaving editors and agents, but then realised I had more than one tweet to post and I am too chemo-daft to suss out how to link tweets (where is that + and why does it disappear, when you need it?) so am going to talk about breaking up and hopefully making up with agents here instead, in the hopes that this will be all round helpful and I will hear from others in similar stasis.
In 2005, after a national writing award and interest from agents, I took the one who seemed most keen. Greenly, I based my decision on the fact that my soon to be enthusiastic agent was working out of an office that used to be Spike Milligan's. My agent did the rounds with the publishers on my first book. One of the majors who was humming and hawing to what turned out to be a different tune: he wanted to change the (very political) central premise, which after much soul searching, I could not do: Why do I write? What is success? Do I have some deep and sordid need to be famous? What is recognition? What is the truth? This is my truth - I must tell it my waaaaaaay (Cue Frank Sinatra.) Several other publishers said that they had already bought a Post-Colonial novel that year - was this the standard riposte? It all felt a bit whimsical. I felt a bit fed up. And shortly afterwards, a bit gung-ho.
I decided I needed the book out of me and out there, and so I left my agent despite her saying I could seek publishing for book one myself and she would stay on for book two. We had some interaction on the second book, but the energy seemed to have gone. And so I wrote a kind letter expressing my gratitude and she wrote a regretful but kind letter back and thus I ventured forth into the unknown: the unknown in both senses. I was no longer the young writer feted at university and then having won the Jerwood/Arvon mentoring award, at the attendant literary parties with the who's who of the publishing zoo. Those parties terrified me and I had to get tanked up on champagne to cope with them - everyone, it seemed, except me had gone to Cambridge and was uber confident. The only thing Uber about me was a need to flee. Soon it was just me with no agent, no publisher, no editor, no marketing machine: just me, on an icy mountain with no crampons. I was, initially, undaunted. I simply got on with it and had the book published. It felt right at the time and I was confident, given what had gone before to do it.
I went on to write another book that I did not have the goods to promote. The reasons are myriad and complex. Young children? Attendant exhaustion. Breakdown, Depression, Anxiety. Working on other wonderful books for authors? A dwindling sense of self-belief given no accolades to cheer me on? #Fear. Do I regret leaving my agent? At times I have, usually after having visited Waterstones and seen book 3 or 4 of some of my peers who won the same competition as me and further ones to boot. I have also discovered that I can easily plug and rave about the books of authors I have since worked with in an editorial capacity, but struggle to promote my own, though the first has gone on to have lots of favourable press and reviews and has, after some years sold thousands of copies. I am haunted a bit Imagine if I had had a top literary editor and a marketing machine called Jenny - maybe it would have sold in the tens of thousands! Usually, I come round to thinking that it is what it is and I am grateful for the readers who have contacted me to say that the book changed their perspective as to the civil war in Zimbabwe in the 70s - it was worth it.
And now? (What's happened to the font here? - apologies, it'll just have to look like this. You should see what a woman jacked on chemo and steroids laced with caffeine looks like!) I hope to find an agent (I think; I'm scared) for the memoir I am currently writing, but have been out of it all for so many years, the prospect of looking for an agent is like contemplating dating after divorce. But then yesterday, some kind and generous women offered to share their knowledge, time, and even money - an offer of travel to be paid - so they can share their experiences on getting published at a free event. It was timely and meaningful: serendipity - I felt the glimmer of hope and dare I say it, a rising determination again to seek an agent for my own work, after thinking for so long that there was no point in trying to find one Like winning the lottery! given I'm no longer the 'hot property' I was previously being touted to be. I think I'm ready to go out there and face rejection. But nothing ventured, nothing gained and the memoir I am writing will either go out with an agent or go out for free. I'm over promoting me.


text:
Home / Gaming / News / PC Gaming / Artifact Development Cancelled by Valve, Will Still be Available as a Free-to-Play Game
Artifact Development Cancelled by Valve, Will Still be Available as a Free-to-Play Game
Valve is company with a pretty spotless record, but their collectible card game Artifact has been one of their rare misses. Amid low player numbers that Gabe Newell deemed a "giant disappointment," Valve announced an Artifact revamp, which entered beta in early 2020. Unfortunately, it seems the finished version of Artifact 2.0 will never see the light of day.
Due to continuing low active player count numbers, Valve has announced active development of Artifact 2.0 is ceasing. The upshot is the game will still be available and is going free-to-play, which means everyone will have full access to all the game's cards. The original version of the game will become Artifact Classic and the 2.0 beta will become Artifact Foundry. Both games have received one more update to transition them to F2P – here's what to expect…
Valve Has Multiple Games to Announce, Gabe is Coy as Ever About Half-Life 3 and Portal
Here's an overview of our final changes to Artifact Classic:
The game is free for everyone to play.
All players get every card for free. You will no longer be able to buy card packs.
Paid players' existing cards have been converted into special Collector's Edition versions, which will remain marketable. Marketplace integration has been removed from the game.
Paid event tickets have been removed.
Customers who paid for the game will still earn packs of Collector's Edition cards for playing; players who got the game for free will not.
The final release of Artifact Foundry looks like this:
Players gain access to cards by playing the game. All cards are earned this way; no cards or packs will be for sale and Foundry cards are not marketable.
All final card art that was in the pipeline is now in the game.
Artifact Classic and Artifact Foundry are available to download on Steam now. Anybody thinking of tinkering with the game now that it's free?
Artifact Development Cancelled by Valve, Will Still be Available as a Free-to-Play Game Reviewed by Newsrust on March 05, 2021 Rating: 5

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Today, at Penn State University's Energypath 2016 future trends specialist and optimist Jack Uldrich will deliver the opening plenary speech for the Sustainable Energy Fund event.
Our very future depends on our ability to unlearn old habits and learn how to embrace change.
Speaking as a futurist, Uldrich says, "The world is at a pivotal point regarding developing sustainable energy. Creating, harnessing and promoting technologies like battery technology, Artificial Intelligence, even Blockchain and collaborative consumption will have a tremendous impact on the industry in the coming years."
He continues, "Asking more questions is also going to be important. Questions like, 'How do we become smarter in using these technologies that deplete our natural resources?' It's the old but wise mantra of reduce, reuse, recycle."
What makes Uldrich an optimist when it comes to the future of sustainable energy? He says, "The optimism stems from a belief in our (humankind's) ability to unlearn old, obsolete habits and having faith in our ability to learn more efficient ones. It comes from believing that not only can millions of people start slightly shifting their behavior to consume less energy -- they will change those habits, as they begin mindfully embracing technological advances and renewable resources. Our very future depends upon it."
Uldrich is a former naval intelligence officer and previously served as the director of the Minnesota Office of Strategic and Long-Range Planning. Leading Fortune 100 corporations, venture capital firms, and state and regional governments on five continents utilize his expertise on a regular basis.
He has delivered keynote presentations and workshops for Power South Energy Cooperative, American Public Power Association, San Diego Gas & Electric, the Southern California Gas Company, Southern Company, Northwestern Energy, the Wabash Valley Power Power Association, the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, Idaho Power, and Northwestern Energy, among others.
Parties interested in learning more about Jack Uldrich, his books, his daily blog or his speaking availability are encouraged to visit his website.


text:
Q: The remote name could not be resolved: 'api.nuget.org' I am having problem installing a Nuget package using the Package Manager Console in Visual Studio 2017. The following if the full details of the error:
install-package : Unable to load the service index for source https://api.nuget.org/v3/index.json.
  An error occurred while sending the request.
  The remote name could not be resolved: 'api.nuget.org'
At line:1 char:1
+ install-package selenium.webdriver -version 3.0.0
+ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    + CategoryInfo          : NotSpecified: (:) [Install-Package], Exception
    + FullyQualifiedErrorId : NuGetCmdletUnhandledException,NuGet.PackageManagement.PowerShellCmdlets.InstallPackageCommand

I already checked the status of each Nuget servers here and all seem operational. I also found similar posts but most them are old enough. I even tried to reset my router but still the same.
Hope someone helps me. I already emailed their support but did not get a reply yet.

A: I encountered this issue some time ago but I still want to post the reason to help others. It seems the error details were correct:
The remote name could not be resolved: 'api.nuget.org'

I just found out the next day that my internet provider was having issues at that time. I tried installing the package again that day and it works without doing any adjustments.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Electronic structure and reentrant magnetism in superconducting ErRh4B4
T. Jarlborg, Arthur J Freeman, T. J. Watson-Yang
Results of ab initio self-consistent energy-band calculations on the full 18-atom/unit-cell ternary alloys MRh4B4 (M=Y,ErandHo) are reported and used to discuss their superconducting and magnetic properties-including the observation of reentrant magnetism in the normal state at T
Physical Review Letters
ternary alloys
energy bands
Jarlborg, T., Freeman, A. J., & Watson-Yang, T. J. (1977). Electronic structure and reentrant magnetism in superconducting ErRh4B4. Physical Review Letters, 39(16), 1032-1034. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.39.1032
Electronic structure and reentrant magnetism in superconducting ErRh4B4. / Jarlborg, T.; Freeman, Arthur J; Watson-Yang, T. J.
In: Physical Review Letters, Vol. 39, No. 16, 1977, p. 1032-1034.
Jarlborg, T, Freeman, AJ & Watson-Yang, TJ 1977, 'Electronic structure and reentrant magnetism in superconducting ErRh4B4', Physical Review Letters, vol. 39, no. 16, pp. 1032-1034. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.39.1032
Jarlborg T, Freeman AJ, Watson-Yang TJ. Electronic structure and reentrant magnetism in superconducting ErRh4B4. Physical Review Letters. 1977;39(16):1032-1034. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.39.1032
Jarlborg, T. ; Freeman, Arthur J ; Watson-Yang, T. J. / Electronic structure and reentrant magnetism in superconducting ErRh4B4. In: Physical Review Letters. 1977 ; Vol. 39, No. 16. pp. 1032-1034.
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title = "Electronic structure and reentrant magnetism in superconducting ErRh4B4",
abstract = "Results of ab initio self-consistent energy-band calculations on the full 18-atom/unit-cell ternary alloys MRh4B4 (M=Y,ErandHo) are reported and used to discuss their superconducting and magnetic properties-including the observation of reentrant magnetism in the normal state at T",
author = "T. Jarlborg and Freeman, {Arthur J} and Watson-Yang, {T. J.}",
doi = "10.1103/PhysRevLett.39.1032",
journal = "Physical Review Letters",
T1 - Electronic structure and reentrant magnetism in superconducting ErRh4B4
AU - Jarlborg, T.
AU - Freeman, Arthur J
AU - Watson-Yang, T. J.
N2 - Results of ab initio self-consistent energy-band calculations on the full 18-atom/unit-cell ternary alloys MRh4B4 (M=Y,ErandHo) are reported and used to discuss their superconducting and magnetic properties-including the observation of reentrant magnetism in the normal state at T
AB - Results of ab initio self-consistent energy-band calculations on the full 18-atom/unit-cell ternary alloys MRh4B4 (M=Y,ErandHo) are reported and used to discuss their superconducting and magnetic properties-including the observation of reentrant magnetism in the normal state at T
U2 - 10.1103/PhysRevLett.39.1032
DO - 10.1103/PhysRevLett.39.1032
JO - Physical Review Letters
JF - Physical Review Letters
10.1103/PhysRevLett.39.1032


text:
The Ability in Disability
Health emily j. weitz | March 23, 2016
Stacey Wohl of Our Coffee with a Cause image: rick wenner
This time of year, parents of high school seniors are watching their children take their first steps into adulthood. But for the 1 in 68 American children diagnosed on the autism spectrum, life after high school holds little opportunity. Schools are required to offer services for autistic students, but the real gap, the place where the support system disappears, is when these young people age out of the education system. Their adult lives lay ahead of them, but they lack even the most practical job skills.
Stacey Wohl started Our Coffee with a Cause, a wholesale coffee business, in part because her two children, Brittney and Logan, both have autism. Brittney, 18, can say two words. Logan, 16, has ten. "There was nothing for them to look forward to after they graduate," said Wohl. "My kids aren't going to college and getting married and driving a car. The unemployment rate for people like my kids is over 90 percent."
As she watched her friends' children grow up, go to prom and go away for college, Wohl tried to be happy for them even though there was a part of her that was devastated. "I wanted to turn it around and make something positive out of it. I wanted to be a role model, as a single parent creating this business." Recently, the company expanded to include a brick-and-mortar location in Fort Salonga where the team plans to sell coffee and snacks as well as offer job training for autistic individuals. Cause Café is set to open at 1014 Fort Salonga Rd this month in honor of Autism Awareness Month.
On a typical day, Stacey might get the coffee ready and prepare the invoices while Logan helps load the boxes and go to the post office. Brittney, who had been on a lot of medication and needed to be physically restrained in the past, learned how to work at a trade show. She dressed up in high heels and walked around with an iPad to communicate. "She loves interacting with people," said Wohl. "They can't just sit home every day. I know people who have nothing to do, who sit on a couch all day beading a piece of rope. But there is ability in disability. They are employable and capable."
Wohl is not alone. Others have started businesses on Long Island that train and employ autistic individuals. Luv Michael is a granola company that uses local and organic ingredients in its recipes and currently employs three people on the autism spectrum. It all started when Michael Kessaris, an autistic child of two physicians, showed he had a passion for cooking. He worked with his behavioral analyst, Jason Lantier, on different skills. "We realized that if we broke activities down into small steps. Michael could learn any of these job skills," Lantier said.
Lisa Liberatore of Luv Michael image: rick wenner
Michael's parents, Lisa Liberatore MD and Dimitri Kessaris MD, started the business to help their son and others like him find gainful employment and lead happy, productive lives. But the goal is much bigger than just Luv Michael. The objective is to offer real job training that will be transferrable to work in other places down the line. Lantier said that one reason people with autism are so underemployed is that the appropriate training is often not available. "Maybe it would take longer to train someone, but if a company is committed, they can do it."
At Luv Michael, the curriculum being developed is as important as the product. Through the training process, participants earn a food handler's license to certify their ability to work elsewhere. A training manual helps direct them on how to dress, how to prepare for work and how to do the job. Michael, the namesake of the company, is now 18 years old and still in school. But he comes to work for a portion of the day. "We drive to our kitchen in Long Island City," said Lantier, "and Michael participates in every step from weighing and packaging products to sealing the bags, producing the recipe and weighing out the ingredients."
For his work, he gets paid. This provides Michael and his fellow employees with more than just monetary gain. "It gives them a self-esteem that comes out in different areas. I see an increase in assertiveness, a pride. This comes across, disability or not. When we are sitting around eating, we are all peers…They are a part of something," Lantier said.
In Oyster Bay, Orkestai Farm has taken a similar approach and applied it to working with the earth. They grow a wide variety of herbs and vegetables on more than an acre of land.
Alethea Vasilas and Erin Staub of Orkestai Farm
Alethea Vasilas and Erin Staub run the farm, which has a CSA that serves about 25 people in the community. But what makes Orkestai exceptional is not the flavor of its tomatoes, it's the apprenticeship program, where 15 students with autism are brought onto the farm for about six hours a week to work and learn.
Like Luv Michael and Our Coffee With a Cause, Orkestai was born out of the love of a person with autism. Vasilas went to school with Rachel Kaplan, who has severe autism. One day, Vasilas invited Kaplan to join her at her father's farm in Orient. "They planted hundreds of tomato plants together," said Staub. "They worked for six or eight hours. Rachel has a natural rocking that works well with the repetitive motion of planting. Alethea thought if we could work with people and their natural inclination, we could help."
Vasilas worked with Rachel's mom, Wendy Kaplan, to form Orkestai farm. But after a few years, the Kaplans decided to create a homestead in upstate New York. Their farm, Sustain Ability Farm, is thriving in Accord, NY. And Vasilas and Staub were left in charge of Orkestai.
Staub said the stage of life after structured education can be challenging for any young adult. But for disabled people— for whom jobs are scarce and meaningful ones even more-so—feelings of isolation and depression are common. The farm not only gives them something to do, it connects them to the community in a meaningful way. "Coming to a farm and growing food can seem like a simple thing, but we are growing for a community of people who rely on us. Our students pack the boxes with produce, and tell the customers what it is and where it's growing. That's a huge sense of purpose that we all need," she said.
The connection goes both ways. People in the community realize that the farmers provide a valuable service, and it helps to counteract the stigma often attached to people with disabilities. "Our customers love our farmers, and they see that people with disabilities have an ability that's worthwhile," Staub said.
The physicality of farming is hugely beneficial for anyone: fresh air, exercise, food at the peak of its flavor and healthfulness. But for people with disabilities it can be even more transformative. "A lot of our students have movements they can't control, and in an indoor classroom that's very stressful. It's a lot of restraint. I'll see students get out of the car at the farm and start running around, flailing their arms. They can be much bigger and free."
Digital Detox Retreats
Spend a weekend away from technology
Beauty Project
All-in-one pampering


text:
U.S. Intelligence Chiefs Refused To Answer Whether Trump Pressured Them To Influence Any Investigations
Kimberly RicciTwitterFilm/TV Editor
DNI Coats and NSA Dir. Rogers refuse to answer if they have ever been asked by anyone to influence an ongoing investigation. (via @MSNBC) pic.twitter.com/CkJnA7ZvOF
— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) June 7, 2017
On Thursday, James Comey shall testify in front of the Senate Intelligence Committee. He's expected to confirm contents of his leaked memo, in which he detailed a conversation where President Trump asked him to shut down the FBI probe into Michael Flynn's Russian ties. As a warmup round on Wednesday, three current U.S. intelligence officials came before the same committee. None of them would directly address whether or not Trump made the same type of request of them. Courtesy of MSNBC's Kyle Griffin, these three clips show a stunning refusal by all three intel chiefs, starting with Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) grilling Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats and National Security Agency Director Adm. Mike Rogers in the above clip.
Rubio — who recently heard during an open Senate hearing that Russian hackers detrimentally affected his primary election chances — cut to the chase: "Are prepared to say you have never been asked by the president or the White House to influence an ongoing investigation?" Coats would not budge:
"I am willing to come before the committee and tell you what I know and what I don't know. What I'm not willing to do is to share what I think is confidential information that ought to be protected in an open hearing, so I am not prepared to answer your question today."
In response, Rubio stressed that he is not seeing classified information, only to know whether these chiefs had been "asked by anyone to influence an ongoing investigation," but Coats refused "to go down that road." Rubio then asked the pair if they'd ever been asked by any administration to issue a knowingly false statement. Rogers refused to directly answer the question or comment upon his conversations with Trump. He simply said that he'd stand by a previous statement:
"To the best of my recollection … I do not recall ever feeling pressured to do so .. I have never felt pressure to intervene or interfere in any way to shape intelligence in a political way."
In the below clip, Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM) expressed disbelief at how Coats and Rogers refused to answer a question that did not involve classified information. Heinrich said, "I'm simply asking, 'Did that conversation occur?'" Coats responded that he felt it "inappropriate" to answer in a public hearing, and Heinrich laid down the reality: "You realize how simple it would simply be to say, 'No, that never happened?'"
However, Coats said that he felt that conversations with the president should not be shared "with the general public." So, Heinrich stated the obvious — that Coats' "unwillingness to answer a very basic question speaks volumes."
This is an important exchange btwn DNI Coats and Sen. Heinrich on Coats' refusal to share details of discussions with Trump. (via @MSNBC) pic.twitter.com/vzxAiJQjum
In the below clip, Sen. Angus King (I-ME) asked acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe — deputy to Comey and who could reportedly corroborate Comey's Trump story — for the basis of his refusal to address the same question. McCabe stated that he didn't want to "step into the special counsel's lane" by answering the question in front of Congress. King asked for a "legal justification" for McCabe's refusal and did not receive one in return.
Lots of excuses today!
This exchange: King presses McCabe, Rogers, Coats on refusal to discuss convos w/ Comey & Trump, demands legal basis https://t.co/UoGXtJlTQT
Topics: #Donald Trump, #RussiaTags: Dan Coats, donald trump, MARCO RUBIO, Mike Rogers, RUSSIA


text:
in: Characters, Heroic Warriors, Eternian royal family,
Married characters
Eternian Council
Eternian
King Randor
King D'Vann Grayskull (ancestor)
He-Ra (ancestor)
unknown mother
King Miro (father)
Marlena (wife)
Adam (son)
Adora (daughter)
Skeletor (half-brother)
King Stefen (brother or half-brother)
Prince Dal (nephew or half-nephew)
Accomplished administrator and military leader
Affiliation/s
King Randor is a character who appears in the popular 1980s Masters of the Universe franchise. In early material, the character is called King Miro, this was later given in the Filmation cartoon series as King Randor's long-lost father's name. As planetary monarch and head of the government of Eternia, Randor is descended from King Grayskull.
1.1 Minicomics
1.2 DC Comics
2 Pre-Crisis
2.1 Appearances
2.2 Filmation animated series
2.3 The New Adventures of He-Man
2.4 Mike Young Productions animated series
3 Toyline
4 Masters of the Universe Classics
Minicomics
Randor initially appeared in the minicomics as a much older man with gray hair and a wizened face, but as the series progressed he became closer to his Filmation age.
Older-
The Ordeal of Man-E-Faces
The Menace of Trap Jaw
The Magic Stealer!
Dragon's Gift
He-Man and the Insect People
Younger-
Skeletor's Dragon
Spikor Strikes
Mantenna and the Menace of the Evil Horde!
The Terror Claws Strike!
Between a Rock and a Hard Place!
Snake Attack!
The Search for Keldor
Revenge of the Snake Men!
Enter: Buzz-saw Hordak!
Pre-Crisis
The stories written by Paul Kupperberg for DC Comics were the first to present the King and Queen of Eternia as an older couple, the same way they would be presented in the second wave of minicomics. Randor was portrayed as being very disappointed in his son's lack of interest in stately affairs. This was also the first time that Marlena's Earth heritage was mentioned.
Fate is the Killer
To Tempt the Gods!
Main article: King Randor (DC Comics)
Filmation animated series
Randor is the good and noble King of Eternia, and the father of the series' hero He-Man, or rather his alter ego, Prince Adam, and (introduced later) Princess Adora, a.k.a. She-Ra. He is often annoyed and disappointed by Adam's seeming laziness and reluctance to take any real responsibility. Not realizing his son's dual identity, he is still very proud of his honest and kind-hearted son. Sometimes he is shown trying to teach his son lessons, as presumably Adam will become King one day. Unlike his children, who are both blondes, he has brown hair and a beard. Although Skeletor, the line's main villain, is initially said to be "from another dimension", late on in the original line it is heavily implied, but never officially confirmed, that Randor's long-lost brother Keldor became Skeletor. However, the writer of "The Search for Keldor", the minicomic in question, has since confirmed that this was the intent. In the 2002 series, Keldor also becomes Skeletor, although through different circumstances, and there is no acknowledgement that Keldor is Randor's brother.
The newborns, Adam and Adora.
Randor appears regularly in the original series, but it is uncommon for him to be directly involved in the action. However, he features heavily in the storyline of the episode "Prince Adam No More", in which he displays both his love for his son and his prowess at battling Skeletor's robots. The rest of the 1980s incarnation of the franchise mostly sticks with Filmation's version of a bold, middle-aged, brown-haired king, but some of the franchise's other material presents him as a much older, white haired, almost wizened ruler.
King Randor appears alongside Queen Marlena in the first episode of the New Adventures of He-Man series. Before Adam leaves to travel to the future, he visits his parents and tells them of his mission. Randor watches in amazement as Adam transforms into He-Man before his eyes, and tells his son he is very proud of him. Randor is one of the few characters to appear in both the original series and the New Adventures, and his costume and voice are very accurate to his original portrayal.
Main article: King Randor (New Adventures)
Mike Young Productions animated series
In the 2002 Mike Young Productions remake, it is made apparent that in his youth, Randor was known as Captain Randor, a brave and steadfast warrior before being crowned King of Eternia by the Elders, although in the 1983 series, he is portrayed as having taken over the throne after his father, King Miro, disappeared. He even aids the Masters in a couple of episodes in their battles against Skeletor and his Evil Warriors and even the Snake Men. Apparently, after King Grayskull's death, the Council of Elders was formed to rule Eternia. But after Keldor's transformation into Skeletor they made Randor king as they became one with Castle Grayskull.
He is also tied more closely to the origin of Skeletor, having battled Skeletor when he was still Keldor during a war the Eternians call The Great Unrest. That war ended when Keldor and his forces attacked the Hall of Wisdom, home of the Elders, and Keldor and Randor engaged in a deadly duel that ended with Keldor hurling acid at Randor, only to have Randor deflect the acid with his shield, splashing the acid back at Keldor and burning his face, which led to his transformation into Skeletor. It is revealed by a writer that in this continuity Keldor and Randor are half-brothers, but it is never revealed if either knew that.
Randor battles with Keldor
Prior to Captain Randor's fight with Keldor, he was told by the Council of Elders they wish to make him King to succeed them as ruler of Eternia. Randor protests, saying he is a soldier, not a politician, but then turns his attention to the forthcoming fight. After beating back Keldor and his underlings, Randor calls for the Council, but is told by the Sorceress they are gone and have left him the means to create a powerful hero. Randor is unsure of this, likely thinking he will be responsible for training a great soldier, and is left asking "How will I know this hero?"
Many years after the fight with Keldor, Eternia has enjoyed many years of peace and prosperity, and Randor has taken up the mantle of King, now married to a woman named Marlena and fathered a son named Adam, the foretold hero Randor was responsible for. Although Randor is not aware his son is He-Man, it is likely explained that the inward courage, fortitude and bravery of Captain Randor passed to his son in latent ways, thus enabling Adam to have the means to become He-Man.
After the Council of Evil incident, King Randor established an Eternian Council consisting of himself; Chief Carnivus of the Qadians; Lord Dactys of the Speleans; the King Chooblah of the Kulataks; Queen Andreeno of the Andreenids; King Taurius of the Mintaurans; Hawke, representing the Avions, and some other unnamed council members.
Toyline
In the original toy-line, despite featuring very much throughout the franchise's run, there was no King Randor figure until a surprise sudden release as part of the final wave. As the final wave was generally produced in less quantity due to sales gradually dipping, the figure is one of the rarer and more hunted of the original line. The 2002 revamped line was discontinued before a new King Randor figure could be produced; however there was a NECA-produced statue, an action figure-sized piece with no movable joints. This was released as an SDCC exclusive, however later, a repaint of the statue in the Filmation 1983 series colors, with different weapons, remolded hair and a fur cape has been released as well.[1] His wife Queen Marlena, never had an action figure version released in either the original or revamped line.
In the Masters of the Universe text adventure game that appeared on many home computers in the mid-1980s, King Randor is mis-spelt as 'King Radnor' throughout the game on many platforms.
The original toy-line mint condition (known as MOC / Mint on Card) version of this figure, first released in 1987, can fetch high dollars on auction sites such as eBay.
A line of toys that were debuted in 2008 to be sold exclusively on Mattel's collector website. Sculpted by the 4 Horsemen these toys are updated versions of everyone's favorite Masters characters.
In December 2009, King Randor was released as Matty Collectors figure of the month on Mattel's website. A version of him based upon the Filmation series design was released in November 2012.
↑ Exclusive Masters of the Universe King Randor mini statue from NECA
Eternian royal family


text:
The Blackbaud Index: Charitable Giving to Nonprofits Increased 3.1%
The Blackbaud Index today reported that overall charitable giving to nonprofits increased 3.1% and online giving increased 8.0% for the three months ending July 2014 as compared to the same period in 2013.
As reported in the recently released Charitable Giving Report, overall charitable giving grew 4.9% and online giving grew 13.5% for the full year 2013 compared to the full year 2012. Visit the interactive infographic to view highlights from the report.
The Blackbaud Index provides the most up-to-date information on charitable giving today. Tracking more than $13 billion in US-based charitable giving, the Index is updated on the first of each month (or the next business day) and is based on a three-month moving average of year-over-year percent change. Featuring overall and online giving, the Index can be viewed by size and subsets of the nonprofit industry via an interactive online chart. The Index now features a fundraising benchmark calculator that allows users to easily chart their own results against the Index and historical data to provide a fuller view of charitable giving.
In addition, The Blackbaud Index Canada, which tracks charitable giving to the Canadian nonprofit sector, today reported overall charitable giving increased 3.1% and online giving increased 10.6% for the three months ending July 2014. The Canadian Index draws its data from 285 organizations that raise more than $700 million a year and can be accessed at www.blackbaud.ca/blackbaudindex.
Serving the nonprofit and education sectors for more than 30 years, Blackbaud (NASDAQ:BLKB) combines technology and expertise to help organizations achieve their missions. Blackbaud works with more than 30,000 customers in over 60 countries that support higher education, healthcare, human services, arts and culture, faith, the environment, private K12 education, animal welfare and other charitable causes. The company offers a full spectrum of cloud-based and on-premise software solutions and related services for organizations of all sizes including: fundraising, eMarketing, advocacy, constituent relationship management (CRM), financial management, payment solutions, analytics, education solutions, and vertical-specific solutions. Using Blackbaud technology, these organizations raise more than $100 billion each year. Recognized as a top company by Forbes, InformationWeek, and Software Magazine and honored by Best Places to Work, Blackbaud is headquartered in Charleston, South Carolina and has operations in the United States, Australia, Canada, the Netherlands, Ireland and the United Kingdom. For more information, visit www.blackbaud.com.
Blackbaud, Inc.


text:
G7 Welcoming Committee Records Uncooperative Audio & Video
Comedy Music Punk Hardcore Experimental Hip Hop Spoken Radical Politics Humour Humor Independent G7 Welcoming Committee Records News Words
על ידי G7 Welcoming Committee Records התגלה על ידי Player FM והקהילה שלנו - זכויות היוצרים שמורות למפרסם, לא ל-Player FM, והשמע מוזרם ישירות מהשרתים שלכם. הירשמו כדי לעקוב אחר עדכונים ב-Player FM, או הדביקו את כתובת העדכונים באפליקציות פודקאסט אחרות.
G7 Welcoming Committee Records Uncooperative Audio & Video « »
G7 Radio, Episode 3, April 2006 - "The People's Revolution is gonna be a ..." podcast
17y ago
MP3•בית הפרקים
Manage episode 306898261 series 102327
That's right - we are back with a third installment of G7 Radio that continues to refuse to insult your intelligence by subjecting you to a thinly veiled self-aggrandizing info-merical for a crop of utterly mediocre new records put out only because labels are expected to keep farting out product regardless of whether it's exceptional or unique in any way. No, we have much more imaginative ways of insulting your intelligence. Basically this month we basically talk to Jord, who basically is active with the Canada-Haiti Action Network (and also basically plays drums in Propagandhi). Jordy basically goes over some of Haiti's basically tumultuous history, and basically leads up to the basically illegal interference by the West (basically the US, Canada and France) in Haiti's basically democratic processes. How many times can one man say "basically"? How many times can one man fart into a microphone? You tell us, we lost count. PLUS! Hear Derek rant like a lunatic! Oh wait, that's just him asking questions.
181 פרקים
דומה לG7 Welcoming Committee Records Uncooperative Audio & Video
Flashback Requests (Barry James)
Flashback Request Show (Barry James)
Barry first found music when he borrowed his sister's record collection when he was about eight and was hooked. When Caroline started it was a new beginning, and he listened to all the stations, but Caroline was his favourite by far. Later he became a singer in a band, then started doing discos when he was 18. He joined Caroline in 1977, touring the country with the Caroline Roadshow for 10 years, having great fun. Barry helped with tender trips and worked on the Ross Revenge in '84 and '85. ...
Real Punk Radio Podcast Network
יומי
Real Punk Radio podcast Network brings you the best in Punk, Rock, Underground Music around! From Classic Oi!, Psychobilly and Hardcore to some Classic Rock n Roll and 90's indie Alt Rock greatness!! With Tons of Live DJ's that like to Talk Music From Garage Rock, to Ska.. We are True MUSIC GEEKS!
The Eddie Trunk Podcast
שבועי
Eddie Trunk, the most well-known name in hard rock and metal music, brings his insight, commentary, reviews, discussion, and in-depth interviews to the podcast world! Join Eddie and his famous friends in rock and entertainment every week for a rollicking good time.
Too Much Rock
The Too Much Rock podcast is a 30-minute journey through the weekly music acquisitions of its creator. It may feature power pop, indie rock, post punk, indie pop, or any other named or unnamed genre.
RIP a Livecast
Formerly the Metal Injection Livecast, a weekly skewering of pop culture and beyond from the minds of 3 rock fans. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
the Millennial Throwback Machine
this podcast is going to be all about 60's music. the goal with this podcast is to educate a younger generation on one of the greatest decades of music of all time, and to prove to people that Millennials can love 60's music as well and it's not just for Baby boomers. Each week I"m going to review one song by one artist from the 60's and split the podcast into two halfs. first half is going to be my perspective and my opinion on the song and why I think it's so good or why I don't think it's ...
That's Not Metal
Your favourite rock & metal podcast bringing you all the latest news, opinions, honest reviews and laughs every Friday. 100% passion, 100% honesty, 100% of the time. Join us. @notmetalpod on Twitter & Instagram. Come join the discussion with a likeminded community of music fans on the That's Not Metal Facebook Focus Group www.facebook.com/groups/TNMFocus/.
Alternative 80s
SurfingTrucker
Offering up the best in New Wave, Goth, Post-Punk and Ska from the 80's, including rare and hard to find music you forgot you've missed!
Protocol Radio
Make sure you tune in weekly to catch up to all the latest tunes, remixes, bootlegs, and more! More info: https://protocol-radio.com https://nickyromero.com
Nothing But The Blues
Nothing but the blues, from the earliest to the latest, all genres


O great and glorious patriarch St. Joachim, how I rejoice in the thought that thou wast selected from among all the saints to cooperate in the divine mysteries, and to enrich the world with the great Mother of God, Mary most holy! By this special privilege thou didst become most powerful with the Mother and with the Son, so thatthere is no grace, however great, which thou canst not obtain. Animated with such confidence, I have recourse to thy powerful protection, and recommend to thee all my needs, and those of my family, both spiritual and temporal, but particularly the special grace which I desire and expect from thy fatherly intercession. And as thou wert a perfect model of the interior life, obtain for me the grace of recollection and detachment from the fleeting goods of this earth, with a lively and persevering love for Jesus and Mary. Obtain for me, also, sincere devotion and obedience to Holy Church, and to the Sovereign Pontiff governing it, that I may live and die in faith, hope, and perfect charity, invoking the holy names of Jesus and Mary, and thus be saved. Amen.


text:
> Artists > Régis Allard My account: log in
About Hortus
Régis Allard
Régis Allard was trained by André Isoir and Michel Chapuis (for several years he had private lessons with the latter) as well as at the Schola Cantorum in Paris, where he graduated. He devotes himself exclusively to the interpretation of early music and participates in numerous events centred on historic instruments in France, Spain, Holland and northern Germany.
He was a prize winner in the International Competition of French Music in Toulouse. His first disk, with pieces by Heinrich Scheidemann on the Arp Schnitger organ in the Stade church in northern Germany, received a Choc from Le Monde de la Musique.
His latest recording, J.S. Bach's Art of the Fugue under the Hortus label performed on the new instrument of the church Saint Louis en l'Isle in Paris, received critical praise.
Discography at Hortus
HORTUS 039
Gaspard Corette
Messe à l'usage d...
Magnificat 1739
Back to catalogue
© Hortus 2014-2019


text:
Electric string quartet, Escala rose to fame as finalists in the 2008 series of Britain's Got Talent memorably performing their version of Palladio. After the show they were signed by Simon Cowell and went on to release their first album Escala in 2009 which reached number 2 on the UK Albums Chart.
They continued their success performing all over the world and their new album Quadrasonic was released in 2016. With dazzling performances for both public and private audiences worldwide they continue to arrange and record new material pushing the boundaries of electric string quartet repertoire.
Escala is now Victoria Lyon & Honor Watson on the violin, Stephanie Benedetti on the viola and Helen Nash on the cello.
Escala have played all over the world and performed with many artists including Katherine Jenkins, Brian May, Richard Ashcroft and Pink Floyd. To name a few performances, the group have appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show, on the Sky Sports 2008-09 campaign, and at the James Bond film premiere of Quantum of Solace in London (Leicester Square). Escala continues to be a firm favourite with many, performing in the last few months for organisations such as Facebook, William & Son, Chopard, Citadel and the Professional Footballers Association.
As Ambassadors for Help for Heroes, they have performed at the Help for Heroes Rugby Union challenge match at Twickenham Stadium and more recently at the inaugural Cricket for Heroes match at The Oval.
Their latest album Quadrasonic was released in January 2016, produced by Youth (Martin Glover) and performed by Victoria Lyon, Chantal Leverton, Honor Watson and Helen Nash. With arrangements by Simon Hale and Escala, tracks include Bittersweet Symphony, Louder, Make You Feel My Love, Roxanne, Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This) and Tainted Love.
Their arrangement of the DJ Fresh track "Louder" was performed with Diversity on ITV's 2016's Royal Variety Performance.
Their first album Escala was produced by Trevor Horn and includes a diverse range of tracks including Led Zeppelin's Kashmir featuring Slash of Guns N'Roses on guitar, Robert Miles' Children, Handel's Sarabande and Ennio Morricone's Chi Mai. New arrangements of Karl Jenkins' Palladio and Paul McCartney's Live & Let Die are also on the album.
Orquesta Caché
Latin & Salsa Band
Headlining Electronic Music Duo
Sam Young
Popular DJ & producer
Famous Singer/Songwriter
Tokio Myers
Headlining Virtuoso Pianist
The Shakers
a must-see, must-hear ensemble


THESE ARE THREE SALVAGED OLD ANTIQUE METAL DECOR PIECE THAT THAT ARE SO UNIQUE WITH RICH COLORED RHINESTONES . These are fabulous! These are older good quality pieces I am not sure what they were salvaged from, and they came from the same group as the strips of metal pieces with rhinestones that I recently had on Ebay. There are metal pieces on the back with little metal rods and these look like they were cut from larger pieces. On the front, on the metal rods are prong set rhinestones in a very interesting design for each one. One is the shape of a flower. They have rhinestones that are mostly prong set in rich colors of pink, greens, blues, purples, gold and red. There is some discoloration, dirt, and wear. There is a missing rhinestone in the smallest piece. There are so many places to display a gorgeous rhinestone piece like this or you can simply display in a glass case, as I show! Perfect anywhere in your home with any shabby chic, French country or romantic cottage decor. Measurements are about 4 1/2" by 1 1/2" for the longest piece and 1 3/4" by 1" for the shortest piece.


text:
Q: How do I access nested array data while looping inside a loop? I'm trying to display the associated forums inside a category during a loop in /categories/index
   Array
(
    [0] => Array
        (
            [Category] => Array
                (
                    [id] => 1
                    [name] => General
                    [status] => 1
                    [order] => 1
                )

            [Forum] => Array
                (
                    [0] => Array
                        (
                            [id] => 1
                            [category_id] => 1
                            [name] => Lounge
                            [description] => Go and lounge around
                            [status] => 1
                            [order] => 1
                            [total_posts] => 1
                            [total_threads] => 1
                            [created] => 2009-06-04 19:13:24
                        )

                    [1] => Array
                        (
                            [id] => 2
                            [category_id] => 1
                            [name] => Test111
                            [description] => Test111
                            [status] => 1
                            [order] => 1
                            [total_posts] => 1
                            [total_threads] => 1
                            [created] => 2009-06-04 19:16:26
                        )

                )

        )

However to get the forum's to display I need to set the array value ([0]) and obviously this isnt going to work during a foreach loop, how do I loop the categories then loop the forums inside of categories

A: This should do it if the variable holding everything is $categories:
print '
';
foreach($categories as $category) {
   print '
' . $category['Category']['name'];
   if($category['Forum']) {
      print '
';
      foreach($category['Forum'] as $forum) {
          print '
' . $forum['name'] . '
';
      }
      print '
';
   }
   print '
';
}
print '
';

The HTML structure is just an example you can change it around to be on a table or whatever.

A: $result_set=array(....);//Your main array
foreach($result_set as $category){
  print_my_category_header($category['category']);
  print_category_forums($category['Forum'];
}

function print_my_category_header(array $category){
   //do what you need to do
}

function print_category_forums(array $forums){
   foreach($forums as $forum){
       echo_single_forum($forum);
   }
}

function echo_single_forum(array $forum){
      //echo fields in the way you want to
}


text:
PC346: The Pilgrim and the Angel
Author Topic: PC346: The Pilgrim and the Angel (Read 5519 times)
PodCastle 346: The Pilgrim and the Angel
by E. Lily Yu
Read by Rajan Khanna
Originally published in McSweeney's Quarterly 45.
Three days before Mr. Fareed Halawi was washed and turned to face the northeast, a beatific smile on his face, he had the unusual distinction of entertaining the angel Gabriel at the coffeeshop he operated in the unfashionable district of Moqattam in Cairo. Fareed was tipped back in his monobloc chair, watching the soccer game on television. The cigarette between his lips wobbled with disapproval at the referee's calls. Above him on the wall hung the photograph of a young man, barely eighteen, bleached to pale blue. His rolled-up prayer mat rested below. It was a quiet hour before lunch, and the coffeeshop was empty. Right as the referee held up a yellow card, a scrub-bearded man strode in.
"Peace to you, Fareed," the stranger boomed. "Arise!"
Fareed laughed and tapped out a grub of ash. "Peace to you. New to the neighborhood?"
"Not at all. I know you, Fareed," the stranger said. "You pray with devotion and give generously to the poor."
"So does my neighbor," said Fareed, "though that hasn't helped him find a husband for his big-nosed daughter. Can I get you a glass of tea?"
"The one thing you lack to perfect your faith is the hajj."
"Well, with business as slow as it is, and one thing and another…" Fareed coughed. "Truth is, may God forgive me, I'm saving up to visit my son. He's an electrician in Miami. Doesn't call home. What would you like to drink?"
"I have come to take you on hajj."
Greg Campbell, author and Navy Veteran needs your help! Click here to find out how you can help him and his children after a fire.
Listen to this week's PodCastle!
« Last Edit: February 03, 2015, 08:13:36 PM by Talia »
Anyanwu
Re: PC346: The Pilgrim and the Angel
Brilliant story! Mr. Halawi's hajj was not incomplete. In fact his desperate desire to see to the well being of his son, echoes Hagar's desperate attempt to find water for her son. Like Hagar, Mr. Halawi is gifted with opportunity to provide his son with "water of life:" faith, family, forgiveness, and acceptance. Like Hagar, Mr. Halawi is gifted with a promise of future generations. Make no mistake, at its heart this is a completed hajj, a perfected faith. Strong work, Pod Castle! As-salamu alaykum
mkhobson
"Only the irrational is unendurable." -Epictetus
I appreciate that perspective, Anyanwu! And I do prefer the "happy" interpretation of the ending.
Check it out, I've even got a signature now!
www.demimonde.com
FireTurtle
Quote from: Anyanwu on January 18, 2015, 05:12:00 PM
Yay! Mr. Halawi's request to see his son seemed to noble. Sacrificing his hajj to reunite his family seemed like a true act of faith but receded beyond the bounds of my knowledge of Islam. Completely accepting this interpretation because I really like a situation when family wins over personal desire. (Simplifying things, yes but I need to get my daughter out of the tub before she destroys something.)
"My imagination makes me human and makes me a fool; it gives me all the world and exiles me from it."
Ursula K. LeGuin
I really loved this story. It was very sweet and touching. I was also under the impression that Mr. Halawi was going to be okay - God's not that big of a jerk. Also, I didn't think that the hajj was a prerequisite for getting into heaven, but I'm a Jew who studied Islam briefly, so I'm sure there are others who could answer that question more thoroughly than I.
RDNinja
I liked the parallelism in this story. Gabriel visits Fareed (which, if he was as pious as Gabriel insisted, he should have been thrilled about), but he reacts with annoyance. So to give him a taste of his own medicine, Gabriel grants his request to visit his son, where he's on the receiving end of the exact same reaction to his visit.
It's possible Fareed got to complete his Hajj after visiting his son. Maybe that got Fareed's attention, and he was able to show God the same kind of gratitude and closeness that he wanted from his son. Or maybe Gabriel realized he was a lost cause, but gave him one last chance for mercy's sake anyway, and used it to get Ahmed's attention instead.
Quote from: RDNinja on January 22, 2015, 10:04:25 PM
Angels are really annoying.
I was interested throughout, but the ending completely lost me. I mean, I got that he was dead, but seemed pretty random. In hindsight and with Hobson's comments I see that he must've been approaching death and had to go on his Hajj to be ready for the afterlife, but I relistened to that ending 3 times and still didn't get it. Did the angel kill him to exact a cost for making him haul him all the way to Florida and back? That was my thought on it, which gave me a very much "So WTF was that actually supposed to be about then?" reaction, which probably wasn't the intent. If I'd read just the story without any commentary that's probably what I would still think happened, so I think the ending really lost me.
Thanks for posting that perspective. In my own point of view I felt like he did the right thing asking to see his son, especially wanting to do so to be certain his son is safe and to reassure his wife of that fact even though God's messenger is standing right in front of you telling you there is something else you're supposed to be doing--that would take guts and I loved the character for it. But I don't know a lot about Islam, so I couldn't have said whether my opinion meshed with someone who was a member of the faith.
I have mixed feelings about the story. It was well written and has a nice message, though he did not complete a Hajj (more on that later). It reminded me a bit of the magical realism in Salman Rushdie's work, which I mean as a compliment. On the other hand, the motive of father trying to reconcile with "lost" son was handled in a very straightforward way which I thought could have been done a bit more interestingly.
Now, concerning the Hajj, in my humble interpretation (I am not a scholar, but I have actually been on Hajj in 1433/2012) he did not perform Hajj, because he only completed the rituals of 'umra (including tawaf and sayy) but not the standing at 'arafah, listening to the sermon, and the stoning of the devil. You could accept that some parts of the story could be metaphors for these rituals, but I didn't see such parallels within the story. Also, as far as I know, drinking zamzam water is not a requirement, though it's kind of a no-brainer, because the Masjid al-Haram, which incorporates the two hills and the Ka'aba, is full of little faucets connected to zamzam. ... this doesn't invalidate the message of the story in any way, though.
I enjoyed this as another "angel gets in the way of regular person's daily life" story. Nice to see it from the perspective of another religion this time. FWIW, I also thought that he must have been about to die without realizing it and the angel came to give him one last shot at the hajj.
Definitely not an android.
I've got a lot of feels for this story, so much so I've relistened to it a couple of times, tried to write a post capturing my thoughts, and failed. So I'll just say I think it was beautiful and well-layered, and I appreciate that it's a story about reconciliation on several levels. Anyanwu nailed it with the Hagar parallelism too--that stood out to me too.
Medical Microfiction: Stories About Science
http://rckjones.wordpress.com
albionmoonlight
Quote from: Devoted135 on February 01, 2015, 02:00:42 AM
FWIW, I also thought that he must have been about to die without realizing it and the angel came to give him one last shot at the hajj.
That's what I got, too.
I really really liked this story. I thought that it was wonderful to have a fantasy story that unabashedly embraced a mainstream religious tradition. I also thought that the parallel between Hagar and Fareed were very well done. Fareed's son was just as much in a desert as Hagar's son. It was just a desert of isolation and not sand. And he went on a desperate journey to save him.
I also felt like this whole story was full of light and joy, which was another wonderful and refreshing approach that you don't always see in contemporary fantasy.
Very, very well done.


text:
Fresh 4 Less grocery, a Piggly Wiggly affiliate, opens in Lake Jackson area
TaMaryn Waters
New grocer Fresh 4 Less opened its doors Sept. 8 with a soft opening in a shuttered storefront on North Monroe Street.
It's filling a void left when Winn-Dixie decided to reduce its brick-and-mortar presence in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi and North and South Carolina. The Lake Jackson area store was among the 94 closures earlier this year. The space remained dark for months.
Fresh 4 Less, a Piggly Wiggly affiliate, sells products at cost with a 10 percent add-on for every item at the register. Store management said the model creates significant savings on a variety of products and food without compromising quality.
On Thursday, first-time shopper Regan Liburd inspected fully-stocked shelves and aisles. She was thrilled. "The prices are ridiculously good," she said.
Liburd stopped at a display showcasing Kraft mayonnaise that can cost up to $5 but was less than $2. She retrieved a 20-ounce can of string beans from her cart that was 77 cents. Liburd lives in the area and used to shop at Winn Dixie. She's glad another grocery store has opened.
"You give Walmart a run for their money," Liburd said.
The store occupies 50,000 square feet and employs 100 people. It sells a variety of produce, meats, seafood and shelf items. It features a produce butcher section where fruits and vegetables are cut and prepped daily. Customers can take advantage of the wash and cut service for produce items while they shop, including collard greens and kale.
"Whether you want things cut thick or thin, we can do it. It's up to the consumer to decide," said Marc Pageau, the store's general manager.
He said the store strives to offer variety at a low cost "at the best possible quality."
"We are not going to sacrifice quality. That's a big thing for us," Pageau said. "You should not have to sacrifice quality for price."
Pageau also said the store offers a fresh popcorn and caramel station and a dedicated aisle for low-priced deals that rotate once products sell out.
Roy Moore, who owns the two Piggly Wiggly stores in Tallahassee and Quincy, said owners saw the need in the Lake Jackson area and the vacancy in the market for another grocery store there.
"We thought this concept would work well for this community, and we are delighted to be here with the community," he said.
Moore said Winn Dixie's exit meant one less option for residents to shop for fresh foods and goods, which forced them to drive farther for items that used to be in their backyard.
"We didn't want that to happen. So, we got some contacts and saw an opportunity," Moore said. "So here we are."
Contact TaMaryn Waters at tlwaters@tallahassee.com or follow @TaMarynWaters on Twitter.
Upcoming grand opening
Grand opening is slated for Oct. 3 and spans six weeks. It will will include promotions, giveaways, tastings and more. The store is located at 3813 N. Monroe St.


text:
Sagan beats Cancellara in Tour de Suisse opening time trial
Nigel Wynn June 9, 2012 5:23 pm
Peter Sagan podium, Tour de Romandie 2010, stage 2
Peter Sagan (Liquigas-Cannondale) continued his stellar season with a win in the opening time trial stage of the Tour de Suisse on Saturday, beating pre-stage favourite Fabian Cancellara (RadioShack-Nissan) by four seconds.
Sagan blitzed the 7.3-kilometre stage around Lugano in a time of nine minutes and 43 seconds in a ride that former time trial world champion Cancellara simply couldn't answer.
The Swiss rider is still building his form after breaking his collarbone at the Tour of Flanders in April. The result hides the fact that Cancellara picked up his pace considerably on the second half of the course after coming through the first intermediate time check 12th fastest.
Moreno Moser gave Liquigas-Cannondale further cause to celebrate with a third place, seven seconds adrift of team-mate Sagan.
Defending champion Levi Leipheimer (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) finished 57th fastest, 41 seconds behind Sagan.
Sagan took four consecutive stage wins at the Tour of California in May and is shaping up to be a serious rival to Mark Cavendish (Sky) at this year's Tour de France at the end of this month.
Along with the currently running Criterium du Dauphine, the WorldTour-level Tour de Suisse is seen as a key build-up race ahead of the Tour de France.
Sunday's first road stage heads straight to the mountains, with the hors categorie Simplon Pass punctuating the middle of the day and a mountain-top finish on Verbier to sort out the overall classification.
The 2012 Tour de Suisse concludes on Sunday, June 17.
Tour de Suisse 2012, stage one: Lugano to Lugano, 7.3km ITT
1. Peter Sagan (Svk) Liquigas-Cannondale in 9-43
2. Fabian Cancellara (Swi) RadioShack-Nissan at 4 secs
3. Moreno Moser (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale at 7 secs
4. Martin Elmiger (Swi) Ag2r La Mondiale at 11 secs
5. Fredrik Kessiakoff (Swe) Astana at 15 secs
6. Michael Albasini (Swi) Orica-GreenEdge at 17 secs
7. Dario Cataldo (Ita) Omega Pharma-QuickStep at 18 secs
8. Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Astana at 19 secs
9. Tom Jelte Slagter (Ned) Rabobank at 20 secs
10. Jakob Fuglsang (Den) RadioShack-Nissan at 22 secs
Overall classification after stage one
1. Peter Sagan (Svk) Liquigas-Cannondale
Dan Martin: There's no room for me to talk about personal ambition – it's never a bad thing to be surrounded by strong riders
Remco Evenepoel forced to take more time off bike as recovery continues


I'm not going to blog the conference if only because I don't type fast enough. And I gather some other people may do so. But I'll try to post some notes now and then.
Learned: The State of Play conference is a sell-out. In addition to the academic crowd there are lot of people involved in designing the games, or in the constellation of ancillary industries that are springing up around the games (e.g. designing stuff for the avatars, and selling it; or doing things which rely on the games or the game engines, like making movies or staging online art shows).
Learned: The level on enthusiasm among massively multiplayer online game-makers and users is as high as anything you could have found in the early days of the dot-com bubble. "This is our Woodstock" one of them told me earnestly. And the level of idealism is almost as high: many of the people designing games see themselves as enabling self-expression and creating spaces in which new social linkages and new spontaneous forms of bottom-up social organization. But there's more of the social linkages than social organization.
Learned: In virtual worlds, the aphorism "the clothes make the man" is a lot more true than in real life.
Re-Learned: Game designers worry a lot about not discouraging the customers. This imposes massive constraints on their ability to address resource and skill inflation. And that can hurt the gameplay….
Learned: From the game designer perspective, the player-killers have much more stamina than the folks who try to settle and build something. The barbarians just don't mind getting killed, and come back again and again (indeed, the barbarians get highly organized, form guilds or factions, and attack and re-attack, until civilization is destroyed). Even when the people who have taken the time to build something and created a community around are able to organize to defend it, they don't have the staying power: the experience of having to fight all the time to preserve your tavern or your art gallery is juts too wearing on the soul, and eventually they give up.
Re-Learned: The level of legal sophistication among the people who build and code things is basically random. Some of the people doing some of the cutest things are going to have very high legal bills Real Soon Now.
Learned: Some Virtual Worlds are drifting in the direction of being Virtual Malls. There's probably money in that, but may co-exist uneasily with the idealists.