text:
Streamlined Employment Solutions
A fully customized online employment application solution, HireStaff ends paper application inefficiencies by reducing administration, providing more accurate and consistent information capture, and streamlining next steps to hire.
No matter the size of your business or organization, KENTECH offers a configurable and streamlined solution that meets your needs. With unparalleled technology, data sources and customer support, there is no better single source screening solution available. Period.
We offer access to billions of records from sex offender registries, criminal history files, government watch lists, courthouse searches, motor vehicle reports, name and address histories, and much more.
Using HireStaff allows you access to great benefits, including:
- Complete screening program management online
- Employment, education and professional license verification
- Progressive screening and employee monitoring
- FCRA regulatory compliance assistance
- Custom programs including fingerprinting and drug screening
- Integration gateways
- The industry's largest national criminal records database
Questions? Call us.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
What will compliance with the Massachusetts data protection act mean?
A bill being discussed in the Massachusetts Senate proposes major changes to MA GL 93H, the Data Breach Notification Act. These changes could in turn result in revisions to 201 CMR 17.00, the data protection regulation promulgated by the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation (OCABR), including removal of specific encryption requirements and deference to federal statutes.
- Image via Wikipedia
We wrote about it last week in "Mass. Senate seeks to amend, weaken data breach notification law." As you know, we've been covering news on the nation's most comprehensive data protection law since the beginning of the year, including a podcast with the OCABR CIO and general counsel:
• Podcast: New Massachusetts data protection law mandates IT compliance
• Panels describe risks of noncompliance with Mass. data protection law
Kevin Beaver, a contributor to SearchCompliance.com, offered his commentary on the situation nationally: "Are you out of the loop on state data breach notification laws?"
Sarah Cortes reminded the readers of SearchCompliance.com last week of the risk of penalties for violating data privacy laws.
Anne McCrory, editorial director for the CIO/IT Strategy Media Group at TechTarget, also has rung in with her view: "It's time for a federal data protection act," following Scot Petersen's take: "Red Flags Rule delay reveals troubling pattern developing."
Our sister site, SearchSecurity.com, posted some additional advice: Encrypt now to meet new Mass. data protection law.
So with all that out there, here's what I'm wondering:
What do you think of the law?
What are your thoughts on the proposed revisions?
How are you approaching compliance with the regulation?
Do you have clients or partners that you are advising on the topic? What do they think?
I've been interviewing many of our readers on precisely these questions, including many thought leaders, CISOs, privacy officers and CIOs. I'd be grateful for your thoughts as well.
Please write to firstname.lastname@example.com or directly to me at firstname.lastname@example.com.
As you know, you can also find us @ITCompliance on Twitter


text:
How Envy Becomes Respect
Getting Past Envy of Other Pastors
A number of years ago, I sat in an Applebee's with a fellow minister in our area. It was a typical pastor-lunch-share what's going on kind of thing. Both of us were considered to be "up and comers." We were close in age and even among well-meaning men who love the Lord, competition can crop up subtly. His preaching/teaching gifts were ahead of my own, but our church was growing faster than theirs.


text:
Dear Java Programmers,
I am fairly new to Java Programming as you guess,
and I need to program a new GUI to sell train tickets.
One of the requirements is that the "input pages" (JPanels)
slide from left to right.
In other words the old one slides out of the screen and the
new one slides in at the same time.
The sliding stops when the new JPanel
completely replaced the old one in the center of the screen.
The procedure repeats when the user moves to the next
input page.
Right now I can create various input pages (JPanels)
and I can place them where ever I want,
but I have no idea how to move them?
Can anyone give me an hint, where to start?
Or is there JFC Object which already does the job?
Or what is the general approach for such a feature?
Thanks in advance,


text:
CRISIS: A System for Risk Management
Centro de investigaciones del Medio Ambiente (CIMA), Fac. Ciencias Exactas, UNLP, Argentina
Departamento Modelado y Manejo de Crisis, CITEDEF, Argentina
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Systems 2013, 1(1), 3-26; https://doi.org/10.3390/systems1010003
Received: 26 October 2012 / Revised: 12 November 2012 / Accepted: 30 November 2012 / Published: 12 December 2012
In a situation of an unexpected catastrophe, uncertainty and demand for information are constant. In such a disaster scenario, the CRISIS system arises as a tool to contribute to previous coordination, procedure validation, exercise execution, a good and frequent communication among organizations, and weakness and threat assessment for an appropriate risk management. It offers a wide variety of tools for online communication, consultation and collaboration that, up to this day, includes cartography, tasks, resources, news, forums, instant messaging and chat. As a complement, mathematical models for training and emergency management are being researched and developed. For Argentinean society, it is a necessity to switch from the current handcrafted, bureaucratic emergency management method to a decision-making management model. Previous coordination, exercise execution, a fluid communication among institutions, and threats and weaknesses assessment are required for a proper risk management. With that goal in mind, it is important to reduce confusion, avoid the duplication of efforts to fulfill the same tasks, and have access to a complete vision of the situation, generated from the data of all the organizations taking part. The CRISIS system is a secure web application, accessible to every node in a network formed by the organizations which have complementary responsibilities during prevention and response. It offers a wide variety of tools for online communication, consultation and collaboration that, up to this day, includes cartography, tasks, media (organization and resources), news, forums, instant messaging and chat. As a complement, mathematical models for training and emergency management are being researched and developed. Currently, there are toxicological and epidemiological emergency models available. The present paper analyses, from the perspectives related to risk management for emergencies and disasters, the strengths and weaknesses of the CRISIS system to be used for prevention, response and recoveries in the case of a catastrophe. View Full-Text
Keywords: CRISIS system; risk management; emergency; disaster►▼ Show Figures
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Sanchez, E.Y.; Acquesta, A.A. CRISIS: A System for Risk Management. Systems 2013, 1, 3-26.
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Sanchez EY, Acquesta AA. CRISIS: A System for Risk Management. Systems. 2013; 1(1):3-26.Chicago/Turabian Style
Sanchez, Erica Y.; Acquesta, Alejandro A. 2013. "CRISIS: A System for Risk Management." Systems 1, no. 1: 3-26.
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text:
Insurance: As defined by Wikipedia it's the "equitable transfer of the risk of loss from one entity to another in exchange for payment." In layman's terms it means we purchase a policy that protects our valuable resources.
We invest our hard-earned money in auto, life, homeowners and medical insurance so as to be prepared for an unforeseen event. God forbid you actually have to make a claim, regardless of whether it was due to your own carelessness or a random act of nature.
This got me thinking: Why don't we have career insurance? (Note: This isn't to be confused with unemployment insurance – that's a temporary solution to what may be a long-term problem.)
After all, your career is ultimately how you fund the vast amount of insurance we have to purchase to protect our future securities to begin with. It seems silly when you think about it. How many people are actually ready for a lay-off, buy-out, or any other career-altering event? Few that I speak to.
Consider this challenging question: If your company went away today would you be prepared to job search in today's new normal economy? I'm not talking about putting a resume together, I'm asking if you have all the essentials – the whole insurance package to ensure you have whatever it takes to get a better position than you had before. Yes, I said a BETTER position than you had.
If your house burned down you wouldn't take the money and build the same old house again, now would you? So how do you build the security in your background to make sure you are prepared for whatever the employment world throws at you?
Compare your background to the job openings you see. Are you missing the necessary skills? Have you stopped getting trained or are you looking for outdated jobs? Are you properly invested in your future security? There are plenty of training opportunities out there beyond a typical education process.
- Don't run your future like you have in the past. Wrap your arms around the fact that you are responsible for moving your future forward, not your boss. Ask and seek out opportunities. And if you have to move to another company to get stronger, do it.
- Keep a journal about the tangible contributions you have made to a company. Employers are going to want to know specifics
- Act in an ownership way. Employers are doing behavioral-based interviews because they firmly believe your past behavior dictates a future response.
Stop using the word "luck" when it comes to your future. Because luck is where planning and opportunity meet.


text:
Buried Deep
By: T.R. Ragan
series:Jessie Cole #4
audio performed by: Kate Rudd
genre: Thriller/Suspense - Thriller
publication date:04/16/2019
Two missing persons. One apparent suicide. Three cases pushing PI Jessie Cole and crime reporter Ben Morrison closer to the edge.
Lacey Geiger could be a very rich woman. If Jessie Cole can find her. The beneficiary of a sizable estate, Lacey vanished years ago after escaping an abusive childhood and is veiled now behind a new identity. Jessie has two weeks to find her. It's enough time to discover that Lacey is hiding from so much more than anyone realized. But she isn't the only one with secrets. And Jessie's not the only one searching for the truth.
A concerned daughter has asked for help finding her mother—a woman said to have been murdered thirty years ago. And Jessie's colleague Ben, an amnesiac still struggling with the bloody memories of a shattered life, is nearer to piecing together a very dark picture. Especially when someone he detests is found dead, hanging from a tree by a riverbank.
Now as the mysteries, puzzles, and lies of three investigations are unearthed, Jessie and Ben will risk everything to bring all that is hidden into the light.


text:
The College Football Playoff era is entering its sixth season in the 2019-20 season. Will it be the first season since the inaugural playoff that Clemson and Alabama don't play in either a CFP semifinal or national championship?
Whether the Tigers and Tide play each other or not, here are the dates and sites for the 2019 College Football Playoff semifinals and CFP national championship.
MORE: Clemson dominates Alabama to win 2018 College Football Playoff title
When is the 2019 College Football Playoff semifinals?
The CFP semifinals are set for Dec. 28, 2019. One semifinal is the Peach Bowl from Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. The other semifinal is the Fiesta Bowl in Glendale, Arizona.
RANKINGS: Latest College Football Playoff poll | AP Poll | USA TODAY Coaches' Poll
When is the 2020 College Football Playoff national championship?
The CFP national championship is a bit later in 2020. The two winners of the semifinals will meet on the second Monday of January in New Orleans on Jan. 13, 2020 at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.
Below is a complete history of the College Football Playoff national championship game.
|No. 4 Ohio State 42, No. 2 Oregon 20
|No. 2 Alabama 45, No. 1 Clemson 40
|No. 2 Clemson 35, No. 1 Alabama 31
|No. 4 Alabama 26, No. 3 Georgia 23
|No. 1 Alabama vs. No. 2 Clemson
2021-2024 CFP national championship locations and dates
2021: Miami-South Florida (Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida) - Jan. 11
2022: Indianapolis (Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana) - Jan. 10
2023: Los Angeles (Los Angeles Stadium at Hollywood Park, Inglewood, California) - Jan. 9
2024: Houston (NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas) - Jan. 8
RELATED: Complete college football championship history | Schools with the most titles


text: Related Program: UW Highlights Symphony: Michael Griffith previews the season By Bob Beck • Sep 14, 2012 Related Program: UW Highlights TweetShareGoogle+Email Listen Listening... / 4:48 The University of Wyoming Symphony opens its season next week. Director Michael Griffith joins Bob Beck. Tags: Director Michael GriffithUniversity of Wyoming SymphonyTweetShareGoogle+EmailView the discussion thread.


text:
African Union Ministers of Trade (AMOT) will meet in Niamey, Niger, on 1 and 2 December in a bid to finalize negotiations on the Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA) by the end of 2017, as directed by the African Union (AU) Heads of State and Government in June 2015.
David Luke who coordinates the African Trade Policy Centre at the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) said that the month of November was characterized by a series of meetings by the CFTA Technical Working Groups, the CFTA Negotiating Forum, and the African Union Senior Trade Officials.
"The objective of these meetings is to conclude the outstanding issues of the Modalities for Tariff Liberalization that were adopted at the 3rd Meeting of the AU Ministers of Trade in June 2017; and to consider the draft Texts of the CFTA Agreement, its Protocols and its Annexes and Appendices," added Mr. Luke.
The ECA official expressed optimism about the December deadline for the establishment of the CFTA, stating "Given the momentum behind the negotiations thus far, we are confident that there will be the essential substance of an agreement to come out of the ministerial meeting in Niamey."
He cautioned, however, that some technical work will be needed during the first half of 2018 to finalize tariff schedules and rules of origin arrangements.
Mr. Luke added that "ECA is advocating for implementation of the agreement to begin early in 2018 on the basis of the level of ambition of tariff liberalization that has been agreed and with interim rules of origin pending the finalization of the outstanding technical issues."
The main objective of the CFTA negotiations is to achieve a comprehensive and mutually beneficial trade agreement among the Member States of the African Union.
The trade ministers are expected to consider the Report of the 4th meeting of the Senior Trade Officials, which took place on 27 - 29 November in Niamey; and approve the Text of the Agreement establishing the CFTA, Protocols on Trade in Goods and Services and any other Annexes deemed as early harvests.
The meeting is organized by the African Union Commission's Department of Trade and Industry. (UNECA)
At the invitation of the African Union, WCO Secretary General Mr. Kunio Mikuriya attended the 9th Meeting of the African Union (AU) Sub-Committee of Directors General of Customs, held in Yaoundé, Cameroon from 13 to 17 November 2017.
The theme of the Meeting was "The contribution of Customs to the analysis of international trade data, for security and the boosting of intra-African trade".
During the opening ceremony, Mr. Fongod Edwin Nuvaga, Director General of Cameroon Customs, welcomed delegates and updated them on current developments in his Administration.
H.E. Ambassador Albert Muchanga, the African Union's Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, outlined the AU's current activities, including its work on the introduction of the African Free Trade Area.
Secretary General Mikuriya highlighted the main priorities of the WCO, and urged AU Members to draw on the content of WCO instruments to bring about, inter alia, the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area and the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement. He emphasized that the WCO offers assistance in many relevant areas, mentioning seminars on transit and origin conducted recently for the benefit of AU Members as examples of such support.
Mr. Alamine Ousmane Mey, Cameroon's Minister for Finance, welcomed the representatives of the 54 AU Members present at the meeting, and emphasized the central role of Customs in ensuring a safe and secure trade environment and facilitating trade.
The Directors General heard and debated the reports of several Working Groups, and provided orientation for future work based on the outcomes and analyses of the Expert Working Group which had met prior to the Meeting. Issues addressed included the Interconnectivity of Computerized Customs Transit and Clearance Systems, and the outcomes of the Regional Economic Communities Sub-Committee on Customs Cooperation, the 3rd AU Customs Experts Trade Facilitation Forum, and the 1st Extra Ordinary Meeting of the AU Sub-Committee of Directors General of Customs.
The Directors General discussed and adopted a number of recommendations, relating in particular to: how to increase the number of accessions to the WTO TFA; the setting up of National Committees on Trade Facilitation as foreseen in the TFA; and issues related to the further development and implementation of AU objectives and programmes, notably those aimed at boosting intra-Africa trade which continues to show very low levels of improvement. Delegates also endorsed the need for enhanced consultations with Trade, as well as the sharing of information and best practices.
The Meeting elected Cameroon as Chair of the Bureau (Chair of this Group) for 2017/2018, with Comoros, Uganda, Benin, Côte d'Ivoire and Morocco completing the Bureau's membership.
Secretary General Mikuriya joined delegates in congratulating Cameroon Customs on the excellent arrangements for the Meeting; he also met bilaterally with Cameroon's Minister of Finance Mr. Alamine Ousmane Mey, to discuss issues of mutual interest. (World Customs Organization)
Facebook will open a "community hub space" in Nigeria next year to encourage software developers and technology entrepreneurs and become the latest technology giant to pursue a training program in fast-growing Africa.
The U.S. social media company said the center would host an "incubator program" to help develop technology start-ups, while it will also train 50,000 Nigerians in digital skills.
Africa's rapid population growth, falling data costs and heavy adoption of mobile phones rather than PCs is attracting technology companies looking to attract more users.
Facebook did not provide details of the period over which its planned training would take place in Nigeria, which is Africa's most populous country with 180 million inhabitants.
"We understand the important role Facebook plays here in Nigeria with developers and start-ups and are invested in helping these communities," Emeka Afigbo, its regional head of platform partnership, said in a statement on Wednesday.
Facebook said the training – aimed at software developers, entrepreneurs and students – would be offered in cities including the capital, Abuja, Port Harcourt in the south, Calabar in the southeast and Kaduna in the north.
Last year Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg visited technology companies in Lagos and his charitable foundation provided $24 million to Andela, which trains developers.
Google's chief executive in a July visit to Lagos said the company aimed to train 10 million people across the continent in online skills over the next five years. He also said it hoped to train 100,000 software developers in Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa.
Although Africa may not offer as much opportunity to add consumers as China or India, because large wealth gaps mean that many people in places like Nigeria have little disposable income, Facebook said more than 22 million people already use its social media website every month in Nigeria.
Widespread poverty means mobile adoption tends to favor basic phone models. That, combined with poor telecommunications infrastructure, can mean slow internet speeds and less internet surfing, which tech firms rely on to make money. (CNBC)
The East African Community (EAC) would need a hefty $ 55 billion to implement a number of proposed flagship infrastructure projects in the coming years.
The projects are seen as key in connecting the six partner states and hence boost intra-EAC trade and economic integration.
They were approved last week during the fourth extra-ordinary sectoral council of Transport, Communication and Metereology (TCM) during its session held here.
The transport links would also connect the bloc with the neighbouring states.
"The projects would have high impact on socio-economic growth and required an investment amounting to more than $ 55bn", said Steven Mlote, the deputy secretary general in charge of Planning and Infrastructure.
On the source of funds for implementation, Eng Mlote noted the bloc would approach the development partners and the private sector "in order to realize the huge financial investments required".
On the Tanzanian side, projects already approved include construction of the proposed 144 kilometre Dar es Salaam-Chalinze expressway and a mega hydropower project at Stiegler's Gorge along Rufiji river.
Also approved is the development of Zanzibar ports.
However, some of the projects such as the 1,442 kilometre Hoima (Uganda) to Tanga port crude oil pipeline and an oil refinery in Uganda are implemented bilaterally by the two countries with financing from the multilateral agencies.
Those whose civil works are already underway include the construction of the standard gauge railway (SGR) from Dar es Salaam and which will later connect to Burundi and Rwanda.
While the long-awaited Dar -Chalinze expressway is now on the radar of implementation within the framework of EAC, a similar expressway is planned for Mombasa-Nairobi-Jinja for the northern corridor.
The first SGR in the region between Mombasa and Nairobi has been completed and is now being extended to Malaba on the border with Uganda with a spur to South Sudan and Rwanda.
The projects which were reviewed by experts during the meeting include construction of a new single point mooring, one stop centre, expanded gates and improved access roads at the port of Dar es Salaam.
Also earmarked for implementation on the Tanzania side are upgrading of the Ndumbi port on Lake Nyasa,construction of the road from Simiyu region and to Sirari on the Tanzania/Kenya border.
According to Eng Mlote, the EAC Heads of State had way back in 2014 gave a priority status to the projects, paving way for implementation pending availability of the funds.
The Uganda minister of State for Works and Transport Aggrey Bagiire underscored the need to enhance capacities of the existing transport networks in the region "to cope with the future demands and to meet international standards and requirements". (All Africa)
African countries are forging ahead to complete negotiations for a continental free trade area between 55 countries by early next year. The idea, adopted by the African Union in 2012, is to create a single market which includes the free movement of goods, services and people. The integrated African market covers 1.2 billion people and a combined GDP of over USD$3.5 trillion.
Large markets are job-creating as they support more trade in goods, services and assets. It is expected that a well designed agreement would help Africa boost industrial development, promote economic transformation and create new wealth. The benefits won't be automatic but will require continuous national, regional and continental efforts.
Large regional markets are also essential for industrialisation. This is because they attract investment into firms that can diversify their product lines and stimulate the creation of related industries. This includes the supply of spare parts, distribution of goods and provision of advisory services. Some of these may start as their supplies but they may also grow into independent enterprises.
Viewed against the odds of success in getting 55 countries to foster meaningful regional integration, Africa has made commendable progress in crafting its own creative approach. But reports from recent talks and a slowdown of regional integration efforts suggest a disturbing trend.
Some government delegates are likely to seek to include protection for existing products and industries. This would be detrimental to the process if these lists ended up shaping the final agreement given the 2018 signing deadline. Such a retreat would run counter to recent advances in Africa's trade integration efforts. In 2015 for example, three regional trading blocs, covering 650 million people in 26 countries, signed the landmark Tripartite Free Trade Area with a combined GDP of over USD$1.5 trillion.
Agreement challenges
The trade agreement nevertheless needs to be carefully thought out, particularly given that Africa is starting with a low intra-regional trade of 15% compared to 19% in Latin America, 51% in Asia and 72% for Europe.
There is the risk that rushed negotiations could result in an agreement with too many exceptions to cover protected industries. This could include using non-tariff barriers – like safety measures – to protect local industries. A range of African countries use non-tariff barriers to curb imports of goods such as maize, milk, sugar, food oil products, and steel and iron.
Sensitive and excluded products – like sugar and dairy products – might in some cases cover up to 600 tariff lines (product codes used at the national level). But these exceptions should be used sparingly to enable domestic industries to access the larger regional and global markets needed for their growth.
In addition, the trade agreement needs to address the effects it may have on existing industries, environment, peace and security. It also needs to provide the policy space needed for governments to promote social policies such as job creation that could provide new performance standard for industries. Such policies should also balance between social goals and the need to be competitive on the global market.
Concerns over the expansion of foreign imports, rather than regional trade integration, also needs to be carefully assessed to avoid the free trade area becoming a conduit for imports. This could undermine Africa's goals to increase its industrial and trade capacity. At present, nearly 85% of the goods traded in Africa come from outside the continent. Only 15% of the goods traded in Africa are produced locally, leading to an annual food import bill of over USD$35 billion.
But the focus of the negotiations should not be the fear of imports. Rather the focus should be on scaling up export production in existing niche markets through the creation of new industries. Examples of growing industries include the supply of semi-processed processed foods that are turned into final products by importers. African firms such as the Agro Chemical and Food Company in Kenya are also producing speciality chemicals which are used in a variety of medical and manufacturing industries.
Moving away from protectionism
The alternative to protection is therefore market growth. This involves having deeper knowledge of markets through the collection of key information market, eliminating trade barriers, reducing subsidies and upgrading the quality of infrastructure. It also involves building capacity to manage the rules of origin of products to avoid illegal dumping of goods, customs and trade procedures and reporting and resolution of trade barriers.
The negotiations need to shift their focus from protectionism to greater regional trade integration. One way to do this is to set up a high-level expert committee or panel – drawn from government, private sector, academia and civil society – to include other relevant perspectives on issues such as infrastructure, technological capacity, and industrial growth. This would help to broaden discussions to reflect Africa's current needs of trade as an instrument for economic transformation.
This committee would be guided by evidence-based research as well as by Africa's own regional trade experiences. There are many examples that show how quickly Africa is learning about the risks of using bans and exemptions to restrict regional trade. For example, Zambia's positive decision to reverse a ban on fruit and vegetable imports.
The committee would also need to draw on lessons from other regions of the world. As I set out in Emergent Africa: Evolution of Regional Integration, Africa has a lot to learn from regional trade integration, especially the Association of Southeast Asian Nations .
The bloc' approach to integration transcends the traditional focus on the free movement of goods. It includes measures such as the creation of industrial parks to foster industrial development. The region also uses technology-based agreements covering key fields such as information and telecommunications technologies. This is particularly important because of the role of engineering and technology in all aspects of trade covering product design, production and distribution through international logistics chains.
The future is open
The challenges facing African trade negotiators are not easy. Africa's regional integration efforts are the most complex ever undertaken. They are not just about emulating trading rules used in other regions of the world. They are about remaking the continent to create new networked interactions between sovereign states in a flexible way. This makes for a more open future with expanding possibilities to use regional trade integration to spread prosperity.
Africa Day, held on 15 November within COP23 in Bonn, was the springboard for the official launch of Africa NDC Hub, the African Platform for Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). This African Development Bank (AfDB) initiative is intended to help the 54 African countries fulfil their commitments under the Paris Agreement, in other words, to put their respective NDCs into action without neglecting their own development priorities.
"This platform is a response to requests made by various African countries," said Amadou Hott, AfDB vice president for electricity, energy, climate change and green growth, as he unveiled the new initiative to a gathering of Heads of State, ministers, policy makers and representatives of civil society, among others, from across the continent. "It should be seen as an "opportunity to accelerate investment in climate action in Africa through NDCs," he said, noting that it will facilitate "better coordination among partners to provide a collective and effective response", for and by the whole of Africa.
A statement in the AfDB website reads 'this platform should be a catalyst for concessional funding for climate-related projects in Africa which will, in turn, help raise private finance. This is a most timely initiative, bearing in mind that, US$ 4 billion will be required to implement the NDCs, according to recent studies'.
While all 54 African countries signed the Paris Agreement, 43 have ratified it and 53 (the exception being Libya) have submitted their NDCs, 85% of which are conditional upon financial aid from abroad while only 15% are on the basis of domestic budgets. And Africa is already the poor orphan when it comes to world climate funding, capturing less than 5% of the total. Thus, the announcement of this new platform was warmly welcomed.
To date, Africa NDC Hub has 10 partners other than AfDB: the African Union Commission (AUC), the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), the NEPAD Planning and Coordination Agency, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), the International Institute for the Environment and Development (IIED) and the secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
Almost twenty years after the launch of the first Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, China-Africa relations remain unbalanced. Bilateral trade has leaped over the past ten years (a total of $123 billion in 2016), driven, up to 2014, by exports, which have fallen by 51% since the peak. The region now has a trade deficit with China. While exports remain mainly concentrated on natural resources (90% of exports to China), imports are more diversified and include manufactured goods, transport equipment, and machinery (51% of the total) before minerals and precious metals. This trade imbalance also reinforces the risk of "Dutch disease" which, in economics, links the decline of the local manufacturing sector to the economic development of raw materials.
The slowdown in the Chinese economy and the reorientation of its growth model towards private consumption are reflected in a weakening of demand for commodities from Africa. This will have inevitable consequences for exporters. According to Coface economists' calculations, sub-Saharan Africa had a significantly higher export dependency ratio (on a 0-to-1 scale) than other emerging countries in 2016, at 0.24 compared to 0.16 for South-East Asia (one of China's largest trading partners) and 0.19 for Russia, Brazil, and India. The differential is even greater with the European Union (0.07) and the United States (0.12).
Unsurprisingly, the countries that have benefited the most from China's expansion and those with a less diversified economy are likely to feel the effects of lower demand more acutely. The strongest trade dependency is concentrated around crude oil exports and, according to the index established by Coface, South Sudan has been at the top of the ranking since its independence was declared in 2011, followed by Angola and Congo. The Gambia, which produces wood, is not far behind. Eritrea, Guinea, and Mauritania are also among the most dependent countries because of their exports of metal ores (iron, copper, aluminium).
Despite this strong dependence on exports to China, the China-Africa relationship could turn into a win-win cooperation. Africa's export basket is gradually diversifying, incorporating higher value-added processed raw materials, raw wood, and, to a lesser extent, some agricultural products (tobacco, citrus fruit, seeds, and oleaginous fruit), matching the needs of China's emerging middle class. Even if such a change maintains the vulnerability of commodity-rich countries to international price developments, this could increase local incomes and foster employment and technology transfers.
Diversification also includes FDI flows and loans from China. Chinese investments in Africa are no longer extractive in nature and now extend to services, processing industries, transportation, and utilities. Existing initiatives, such as the One Belt, One Road, will ultimately boost regional connectivity and reduce export costs.
However, since FDI and financing flows are much lower than trade flows, African countries that are heavily dependent on China remain highly vulnerable to weakening demand or a further decline in the prices of raw materials. Moreover, the risk for African governments would be to increase their vulnerability to changes in China's foreign policy and to those of its demand because Chinese interests in the region are, first and foremost, based on a complex network of political and economic objectives.
"The latest developments seem to be moving in the right direction but efforts are still needed to move from a marriage of unbalanced convenience to a partnership based on win-win cooperation," said Ruben Nizard, Coface's economist in charge of sub-Saharan Africa and co-author of the study, "China-Africa: will the marriage of convenience last?". (Coface)
Global Business Forum on Africa 2017 calls for an investment boost in Trade, Finance, Logistics and Tourism
The 4th Global Business Forum on Africa, organised by the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, has called for increase in investment flows between the UAE and Africa in several key sectors, including trade, financial services, logistics, and tourism.
A poll conducted during the two-day forum revealed that 48% of delegates considered trade to be the most promising sector for investment, followed by financial services (24%), and 14% for both logistics and tourism sectors.
Participants labeled the above sectors as key areas where Dubai can offer its expertise and investment to boost African economies.
Over the last five years, Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry has stepped up its efforts aimed at strengthening economic ties between Dubai and Africa by opening four representative offices on the continent and organising the Global Business Forum on Africa in Dubai.
The Chamber recently announced that it has invested about $27.7 million to raise awareness of trade and investment opportunities in Africa, and promote Dubai as an attractive business hub for companies on the continent.
Other activities carried out by the Chamber in recent years include organising frequent trade missions to African countries, conducting specialised research and studies, and developing the Africa Gateway app to expand is members' access to opportunities opening up in the fast-growing market.
President and CEO of Dubai Chamber, Hamad Buamim explained that these efforts have given a major boost to UAE-Africa trade ties by facilitating cooperation between businesses and investors on both sides.
He noted that the Global Business Forum on Africa was launched in 2013 with the intention of establishing an ideal platform to explore business potential in Africa, adding that participation in the forum has increased significantly in recent years.
He revealed that Dubai's non-oil trade with Africa has grown to exceed AED 700 billion in the last five years, while 10,000 African companies have joined Dubai Chamber over the same period, bring the total number of African businesses registered with the Chamber to over 17,000 today.
"There are different sectors that investor from different part of the world look at in Africa and infrastructure is one of the very important sector, we see construction as an opportunity for businesses in our part of the world because of the experience we have in developing infrastructure in Dubai and the Gulf region," he said.
According to a number of Africa-based entrepreneurs, African countries have come a long way in terms of connectivity, by expanding digital infrastructure and opening up their economies to new growth opportunities.
Emirate the world's fourth largest airline and the largest in the Gulf with a 6 percent passenger growth in Africa in 2017 recently announced an increase of more destinations in Africa as a means of improving business integration with the continent.
The Senior Vice president, commercial operations for Africa, Emirates, Orhan Abbas said they have a hub in Dubai that caters to all the connectivities in each point in Africa"
"As you know the African continent is large and huge from the north to the south, many hours of flying and off course any flight you take on Emirate stop at the hub in Dubai. We operate in 22 countries in Africa, if a passenger is coming out from Morocco, and stop over at Dubai, they have a choice of four flights a day from Johannesburg or three flights a day to Cape Town or Durban," he added.
The Chief executive officer, Dubia Corporation for Tourism, Issam Kazim noted that they are leveraging on the social media and the digital spaces as well to hit the mass audience within Africa.
"I think for us, it was important, we had a very good experience working with one of the movie stars in Nigeria and Africa as well, which is the wedding party. We participated in the award ceremony, and we had an amazing reaction from the market, so that gave us the incentive to actually work with the same producers to shoot their sequence in Dubai. It encourages people to really get an experience of these celebrities that they are familiar with what they are doing in Dubai and how they experience Dubai as well," Kazim said.
The Global Business Forum on Africa, organised by Dubai Chamber, is the largest event of its kind that is hosted outside of the continent, while it remains one of the most high-profile international forums dedicated to exploring investment opportunities in fast-growing African markets.
This year's forum, held under the theme "Next Generation Africa", examined the role of young African entrepreneurs who are stimulating economic growth, and building relationships and partnerships with companies around the world. In addition, sessions focused on how technology and digitalisation are reshaping African economies and meeting the demand of a growing middle class.


text:
SEO for WordPress in comparison with other CMSs, Responsive Webdesign or scaling of inline elements in the template – when experts meet up talks reach a level that sounds like gibberish to laymen.
Chitchat among pros: 4selected.de
This was the case the other day when the seo-nerd met the colleagues from the Berliner web design agency 4selected. The seo-nerd likes to talk shop, particularly when his opponent is not free of nerdiness either. At one point the seo-nerd has talked himself up: very keenly he presented his very own SEO philosophy that he has perfected with his team of the SEO agency Berlin. The seo-nerd described OffPage and OnPage optimisation, the beauty of synonyms and the fabulous world of unique content in colourful pictures. Not only his eyes, but also the eyes of his opponent began to shine.
Onpage optimization: to get everything out of the engine
Soon it was clear that even the pros of 4selected wanted to benefit from OnPage optimisation in the style of proven seo-nerd philosophy. Trustfully they gave him the key to their treasure. They wouldn't get disappointed. For one thing the seo-nerd is capable of: to get more ouf of an already oiled engine. The web designer of 4selected manufacture for their customers a tailored, shiny car body – and the seo-nerd makes sure that everything is impeccable underneath the bonnet. The full service checks the engine of 4selected thoroughly: a full examination – package SEO for WordPress & OnPage optimisation – with the well-equipped seo-nerd tool box. Sure thing he had to deal with like-minded people, the website was impressive. Yet still: the backlinks were neglected, and the keyword density had to be tweaked, as well as some word could be replaced with a synonym.
Fine-tuning with a pinch of nerdiness
Penalty risks abolished. Keywords dusted. Meta-tags polished. Well-oiled, the engine is running on new levels never reached by 4selected before – also in terms of the search engine ranking. When the seo-nerd showed his colleagues the result of the optimisation they were blown off their feet: they fell into each other's arms of glee. That's how beautiful an end to a story can be when pros get included in it.


text: Christina joins old musical pal Yankl Falk to perform and teach at Klezmerquerque 2017 in Albuquerque, NM. Christina will be teaching sessions on Moldavian Repertoire and the Ovoid Mystery of Zhok/Slow Hora. Christina and Yankl will co-lead a session on how to incorporate stylistic elements from sung nign practice into instrumental performance. Charles Casimiro with join for a special concert of new material and dance music on Saturday night of the festival.


text:
- Music By: Jason Howland
- Lyrics By: Mindi Dickstein
- Book By: Allan Knee
This timeless and captivating story is brought to life in a glorious musical filled with personal discovery, heartache, hope and everlasting love. Based on Louisa May Alcott's life, Little Women follows the adventures of sisters Jo, Meg, Beth and Amy March and their experience growing up in Civil War America.
Presented by Devon Engineering, LLC
"These voices are some of the best I've heard singing the score. David Button has assembled a cast that, even in early rehearsals, already looks and feels like a real family." - Mindi Dickstein, Lyricist of LITTLE WOMEN: THE MUSICAL (about the Clear Space Theatre production)
Erin Williams (Jo March)
Marian Sunnergren (Meg March)
Rose Slavin (Beth March)
Jamie Ditzel (Amy March)
Donna de Kuyper (Marmee)
Peyton Lynch (Laurie)
Matt Lewis (Professor Bhaer)
Kelsey Gondek (Aunt March/Mrs. Kirk)
Steven Dow (Mr. John Brooke)
Dan Carney (Mr. Laurence)


text: Ultra low-noise air-cooled rooftop air conditioner / heat pump with 50 kW cooling and heating capacity. This low-energy low-noise machine is ready for use. This unit is plug 'n' play, which makes it very easy to install and operate. The unit has been mounted in a robust steel frame fitted with grates to prevent the condensers from being damaged. It can be moved easily with the use of a lift truck or a crane.


text:
Ode to the Coming Year
by SerenaLantha
2nd place New Year Ode Contest
The time has come again, it seems,
To contemplate what the past year has wrought;
I recall the happenings like a dream,
Each broken promise and lesson self-taught.
The memories flow through my mind,
Each one acting as a stepping stone,
All as a path I must follow the next year;
Friends come and go, true ones hard to find,
Which often leaves me quite alone-
May they be bountiful in the coming year.
I hope for peace and love and joy
In winter months, and I hope for it soon;
I pray for happiness in every girl and boy
Under the rays of the sun and shine of the moon.
This coming year, I hope to see
Smiles in the spring, summer, and fall-
I pray for everything to simply be right;
As impossible as this might be,
This is my wish for one and all,
This my wish at the stroke of midnight.
read in writing forum


text:
Need some help while my hair is still (mostly) intact. I've isolated this code out of a larger file (which i'm developing at the moment).
Code is as follows:

set Rs=server.createobject("adodb.recordset")
set cratedict=server.createobject("scripting.dictionary")
Rs.open "select top 5 bindtype, rate from current_rates where type='sp' and identifier=2051 order by bindtype",DatabaseConnection
while not Rs.eof
response.write replace(trim(Rs("bindtype")),"","")&" - "&trim(Rs("rate"))&"
"
cratedict.add replace(trim(Rs("bindtype")),"",""),Rs("rate")
response.write "
"
response.write cratedict.count&" count
"
/end code
Result is as follows:
bp - 1
bterms - 1
billtoperson - 2161
cdpd - 2
cdps - 0.1
5 count
ADODB.Field error '800a0d5c'
Object is no longer valid.
testdict.asp, line 15
/end result
Why would it give me the count on line 14, but not return the value on line 15?
Now, the thing is, i'm using dictonary objects in other scripts with no errors, and i can't for the life of me figure out what's going on.
no further responses needed, it turns out that my rate value needed to be trimmed. all is good, except for the state of my hair, but i can probably find most of it and paste it back on.
I also ran into this, and spent way too long trying to figure it out.
For future visitors to this thread:
It turns out that the two parameters passed to the scripting.dictionary "add" function are BYREFerence and not BYVALue, so it doesn't make a copy of the adodb.recordset data, but rather just puts a pointer to the adodb.recordset data. Of course, then you get finished with the rs (or move to the next record!) the dictionary.item() pointer goes to the wrong place, and then the adodb error.
So run your parameters through any function (trim, int) or assign them to a variable ( a=rs(0) : b=rs(0) : odict.add a,b ) and you won't get the weird errors, or pull out any hair!
This has caught me out a couple of times before. My preferred solution is to use the Value property:
cratedict.add replace(trim(Rs("bindtype").Value),"_",""),Rs("rate").Value
Perhaps a tad more elegant than Trim(), using a variable, etc.


text:
Producing a vehicle in South Korea using highly paid workers costs a lot more than in emerging markets with cheaper labor such as in China, Southeast Asian countries and even Eastern Europe. The low profitability of vehicles made in Korea due to high tariffs has been also cited as a hurdle for Korean automakers.
But according to industry officials, Hyundai and Kia, the two largest carmakers have no choice but to keep their local production levels the same due to the collective agreement it signed with unionized workers, and faces political and social pressure to keep its suppliers afloat. Of the 7.4 million vehicles by Hyundai and Kia sold worldwide, 43 percent were manufactured in South Korea. The figure includes vehicles exported overseas.
Under the labor-management agreement, Hyundai has to produce at least 1.6 million units a year at its local manufacturing plants and has to seek local workers' "agreement" when planning to build an overseas plant. The agreement also states that the company cannot lay off its workforces citing a slump in business, or declining market demand. If market forces require plant closures or reductions in production, the agreement states that the company has to do this overseas first.
|Hyundai Motor vehicle await shipment at a port near the company`s Ulsan plant. (Bloomberg)
"Even though Hyundai and Kia face growing need to expand its overseas production, they can't do so because of the pro-labor agreement they signed with the unionized workers. But there's a possibility of change in the next 5-6 years when a majority of union heads retire," said Lee Ho-geun, professor at Daeduk University.
By 2025, around 17,500 unionized workers are expected to retire from Hyundai Motor. The union has demanded to hire around 10,000 new workers at that time. Management has refused.
The declining number of workers at plants in South Korea and anticipated new labor-management agreements have raised the possibility of the carmaker gradually leaving its home ground and expanding its overseas production in emerging markets of India, Latin America and Southeast Asia.
And an official at Kia said the union has been sensitively reacting to overseas production plans.
Last week, the labor union at Kia demanded the company suspend the production of Telluride SUVs at its US plant in Georgia, and the planned production of the SP2 in India. They said they need to secure their jobs because of declining orders from the local market. Kia said the case has already been discussed and there's nothing more to talk about.
"They seem to be concerned about their job security after watching recent cases of other global carmakers carrying out massive layoff and relocation plans," he said.
Adding to the automakers' dilemma is the incumbent administration's pro-labor outlook, which makes it difficult to even talk about relocating or increasing labor flexibility for at least a couple of years.
But experts said carmakers reducing their production capability at home would happen one way or the other, to maximize profits and to make their businesses in respective markets more accessible.
"I think Korean carmakers making investments on overseas plants will be an inevitable choice in the future, not only as a way of avoiding high tariffs and other forms of regulations on foreign cars, but also due to the stagnant market demand at home. The Korean auto market is saturated," said an industry insider who declined to be named.
Lee of Daeduk University say that it was possible that GM or Renault Samsung to withdraw their manufacturing bases while leaving their more competitive and cost-efficient R&D units here.
Korean carmakers' mooted departure has instigated strong resistance from their suppliers, unions, and the communities they belong to, as well as local politicians.
Suppliers say their business survival is at risk, since many have been dependent on a single specific carmaker, such as Hyundai or Kia, for a long time.
Adding to the complex task carmakers face is the recent paradigm shift to zero-emission cars.
Since electric cars require a lot fewer components than cars powered by combustion engines, thousands of workers are expected to lose their jobs.
And because the switch away from fossil fuels is inevitable, both the carmakers and suppliers are pressed to come up with alternative plans.
"Carmakers should pursue a win-win strategy with suppliers and help them become competitive on global standards and diversify their supply chains even to those overseas," said Moon Byung-ki, senior researcher at Korea International Trade Association.
But what's missing here is the government's role in setting a clear direction. Experts say the government should be more specific about their choice of the future of green cars.
"There should be a plan B for existing suppliers, otherwise they would end up in bankruptcy," said an industry insider familiar to the matter. "The government has remained equivocal about its policy drive, whether it will push for electric vehicles or for vehicles powered by hydrogen, making it hard for suppliers to make choices."
By Cho Chung-un (email@example.com)


text:
On Food Network's Road Tasted with the Neelys, Pat and Gina get spicy with some Jerk Burgers at A Savory Spice Shop in Denver, CO.
Seen an error? Report This Listing
Get restaurant tips delivered to you weekly. Privacy Policy
Make restaurant favorites at home with copycat recipes from FN Magazine.
Let Guy take you on a coast-to-coast tour Friday at 9|8c.


text:
KINGS EMPIRE VETERANS (Marlborough Branch)
Within the ranks of ex servicemen there have been many organisations formed with the sole purpose of maintaining contact with the veterans to ensure that their welfare as well as that of their families is looked after and to maintain social contact with its membership.
Some are devoted to a particular unit such as a Regiment Squadron or Ship others to a War or Campaign, examples being the Kings Empire Veterans (KEV) Italy Star Association, Korean Veterans, Malayan Veterans, RNZAFA Association, Ex Navalmen's Association etc.
Many of these organisations are affiliated to the Royal New Zealand Returned and Services Association which represents all ex servicemen and has a dedicated welfare structure for Veterans anal their Families.
In 1900 Lord Ranfurly, Governor general of New Zealand considered there was a need for an organisation that War Veterans could identify with and founded the Empire Veterans Association.
At that time there were no fewer than 7000 Veterans in New Zealand consisting of ex Havel, Imperial and Colonial troops. They were Veterans of Wars dating from 1840 and included the CZ Wars and the Boer War.
In 1911 the Association changed its name to the Kings Empire Veterans after a suggestion from Lord Kitchener.
The requirements to become a member of KEV has Changed over the years, in earlier times the first priority was given to decorated soldiers and then to those with 10 years active service.
In 1963 this changed and ex service personnel over 60 years of age who had served overseas in His or Her Majesty's service in any War, Conflict, Occupation Force or emergency waged by the crown and sanctioned by the NZ Government became eligible. Today there is no age limit, any Veteran may become a member and associate members are also welcome.
The establishment of the NZRSA in 1916 and its rapid expansion after World War 2 saw the decline of KEV particularly as Boer War and World car 1 veterans passed away.
KEV members were resolved that their unique Association should continue in existence and increased promotion of social, sporting and leisure activities at branch and national level and the 1980's saw a remarkable resurgence of membership and sporting and social participation that still goes on today.
Members are ever mindful of the comradeship born of service and offer help and assistance to members in need, it liaises and supports the RNZRSA particularly in the Field of welfare.
The Marlborough branch of KEV meets on the first Thursday of each month at the Marlborough RSA Lounge and organises social, sporting and leisure events for its members.
It is currently organising a luncheon for its members and widows t0 take place shortly and welcome enquiries from veterans who may be interested in joining the Association to participate in its activities.
|The President is Peter Rhind
|Vice President Brian Selwyn
|Secretary David Rasmussen
|Treasurer Peter Callahan


text:
The WildTomato Story
WildTomato launched in July 2006. The first edition was 16 pages and soon found a loyal following by fulfilling an unmet need for an inspirational local journal. WildTomato has grown to cover the Top of The South and acquire a reputation for exciting journalism that is passionate about Nelson and Marlborough.
The Team
Laura Loghry
Laura arrived in New Zealand in late 2015 from Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA with her husband and two young daughters. She has fallen in love with the Nelson region's proximity to world class outdoor activities, sunny skies, and friendly locals. She brings to WildTomato a wealth of experience in sales, marketing, and management, and is excited to be a part of a quality publication highlighting the best of what our region has to offer.
027 378 0008
Lynda Papesch
Passionate about print media, Lynda is a seasoned journalist who has worked on newspapers in the Bay of Plenty, Marlborough and Nelson. She's run her own media consultancy company in the past and particularly enjoys writing people stories.
021 073 2786
Chrissie Sanders
Nelson/Tasman Advertising Sales
Chrissie has enjoyed the Nelson region for 13 years and considers herself lucky to have found such a great place to live. During this time she has worked extensively in sales and marketing mainly in wine and hospitality, which has enabled her to gain a good understanding of what the locality has to offer. With her energy, drive and enthusiasm she is very happy to be part of the team at WildTomato and have the opportunity to promote all of the good things Nelson has to offer.
027 540 2237
Jack Martin
Jack grew up on a farm in Great Britain. After dropping out of university to travel round the world, he started his first business, Meon Valley Barbecues, spit-roasting pigs and lambs at weddings and corporate events in the beautiful Hampshire countryside. Jack came to New Zealand to marry his wonderful Kiwi girlfriend, and bought WildTomato in 2008, installing himself as editor and publisher. After 10 years of epic adventures in business, the great outdoors and Nelson generally, he has moved back to England to launch a dairy products company from his family's dairy farm. Jack is married with three children and enjoys football, mountain-biking, skiing and great stories of every sort.


text:
HydroSpa Luxury Heat Shield
A light weight powerful thermal protector which will help protect hair and prevent damage from the heat of styling irons, curling tongs, hair dryers and hot irons. How to use: Spray liberally on hair before it's exposed to heat. Key Ingredients: KWS TriProtein Complex, macadamia. argan and jojoba oils, shea butter, aloe vera, panthenol, silcare and cucumber extract.


text:
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text:
The Amon Carter Center
The Amon Carter Center is beautifully designed to serve as a meeting and event space for both public and private use. The Amon Carter Center offers a main hall that can be divided into three separate rooms, and two smaller conference rooms with full audio-visual capabilities. They are perfect for training workshops, meetings, luncheons, or receptions for groups from 10 to 200. All rooms have access to the large catering kitchen, and a wide selection of pre-approved vendors and caterers. The Amon Carter Center's brilliant architecture, picturesque courtyard, design, easy access to I30, and amenities including free ample on-site parking are sure to make any event a success.
MAIN HALL Versatile and comfortable for a wide variety of events with a capacity of 250 (theater). Dimensions are 40' x 87', and seating can be arranged to accommodate classroom, theater, or boardroom style presentations or a banquet style for wedding or dining events.
MABEE HALL — MEADOWS HALL — MESSMAN HALL Each one-third of the Main Hall, these private areas are perfect for workshops, guest speakers, or small meetings with a capacity of 96 (theater). Dimensions are 40' x 28', and seating can be arranged to suit the event.
MARTY LEONARD BOARD ROOM Complete with a Scopia® video conference system, this room holds 16-20 people for executive board meetings, retreats, or small luncheons.
LUPTON CONFERENCE ROOM This private space accommodates 10-14 people, ideal for any small gathering.
22 round tables (72")
14 cocktail tables (36" round top and 42" tall)
78 rectangular tables (60" x 24")
200+ chairs
The Amon Carter Center is located on the Lena Pope campus, on the corner of Sanguinet and Donnelly streets, at 3200 Sanguinet St., Fort Worth, TX 76107.
For more information or a tour contact email@example.com or 817-255-2595.
Rental guidelines available here.


text:
Gharbzadegi (Persian: غربزدگی) is a pejorative Persian term variously translated as 'Westernized', 'West-struck-ness'[1], 'Westoxification', 'Westitis', 'Euromania', or 'Occidentosis'.[2] It is used to refer to the loss of Iranian cultural identity through the adoption and imitation of Western models and Western criteria in education, the arts, and culture; through the transformation of Iran into a passive market for Western goods and a pawn in Western geopolitics.[citation needed]
The phrase was first coined by Ahmad Fardid, a professor of philosophy at the University of Tehran, in the 1940s. it gained common usage following the clandestine publication in 1962 of the book Occidentosis: A Plague from the West by Jalal Al-e-Ahmad. Fardid's definition of the term as referring to the hegemony of ancient Greek philosophy, differed from its later usage as popularised by Al-e Ahmad.[3]
Al-e Ahmed's ideaEdit
Al-e Ahmed describes Iranian behavior in the twentieth century as being "Weststruck." The word was play on the dual meaning of "stricken" in Persian, which meant to be afflicted with a disease or to be stung by an insect, or to be infatuated and bedazzled.[4] "I say that gharbzadegi is like cholera [or] frostbite. But no. It's at least as bad as sawflies in the wheat fields. Have you ever seen how they infest wheat? From within. There's a healthy skin in places, but it's only a skin, just like the shell of a cicada on a tree."[4]
Al-e Ahmad argued that Iran must gain control over machines and become a producer rather than a consumer, even though once having overcome Weststruckness it will face a new malady - also western - that of 'machinestruckness'. "The soul of this devil 'the machine' [must be] bottled up and brought out at our disposal ... [The Iranian people] must not be at the service of machines, trapped by them, since the machine is a means not an end."[5]
The higher productivity of the foreign machines had devastated Iran's native handicrafts and turned Iran into an unproductive consumption economy. "These cities are just flea markets hawking European manufactured goods ... [In] no time at all instead of cities and villages we'll have heaps of dilapidated machines all over the country, all of them exactly like American 'junkyards' and every one as big as Tehran."[5]
The world market and global divide between rich and poor created by the machine - "one the constructors" of machines "and the other the consumers" - had superseded Marxist class analysis.[5]
Al-e Ahmad believed the one element of Iranian life uninfected by gharbzadegi was religion. Twelver Shi'i Islam in Iran had authenticity and the ability to move people.[6]
Discourse of authenticityEdit
Ali Mirsepasi believes that Al-e Ahmad is concerned with the discourse of authenticity along with Shariati. According to Mirsepasi, Al-e Ahmad extended his critiques of the hegemonic power of west. The critique is centered on the concept of westoxication with which Al-e Ahmad attacks secular intellectuals. He believes that these intellectuals are not able to effectively construct an authentically Iranian modernity. For that purpose, he posed the concept of "return" to an Islamic culture which is authentic at the same time. Al-e Ahmad believed that avoiding the homogenizing and alienating forces of Western modernity it is necessary to return to the roots of Islamic culture. Of course this discourse was a few complicated politically. In fact, Al-e Ahmad wanted to reimagine modernity with Iranian-Islamic tradition.[7]
The phrase was revived after the Iranian Revolution as the Islamic Republic sought to legitimize its campaign of nationalization and Ruhollah Khomeini's push for "self-sufficiency".
Western popular cultureEdit
"Gharbzadegi" is the title of a political song by British avant-garde musician Robert Wyatt, which appears on Old Rottenhat (Rough Trade, 1985) and can also be heard on the tribute LP Soupsongs Live: The Music of Robert Wyatt.[8]
"Gharbzadegi" has now been superseded by a new term commonly used in reference to China's growing presence in Iran. Called "Sharqzadegi", the new term is classed as fear of China's dominance.
See alsoEdit
- ^ Al-e-Ahmad 1982.
- ^ Moghadam 2003, p. 158.
- ^ Tavakoli-Targhi 2000, p. 566.
- ^ a b Mottahedeh 2014, p. 296.
- ^ a b c Mottahedeh 2014, p. 298.
- ^ Mottahedeh 2014, p. 299-300.
- ^ Ali Mirsepasi (2000). intellectual discourse and the politics of modernization. Cambridge University. p. 96. ISBN 0521650003.
- ^ Rachel Carroll, Adam Hansen (2016). Litpop: Writing and Popular Music. Routledge. p. 59. ISBN 131710420X.
Works citedEdit
- Al-e-Ahmad, Jalal (1982). Gharbzadegi. Mazdâ Publishers. ISBN 978-0-939214-07-5.
- Biparva, Ebrahim; Boroujerdi, Mehrzad (Winter 1998). "Iranian Intellectuals and the West: The Tormented Triumph of Nativism". International Migration Review. 32 (4): 1090. doi:10.2307/2547692.
- Moghadam, Valentine (2003). Modernizing Women: Gender and Social Change in the Middle East. Lynne Rienner Publishers. ISBN 978-1-58826-171-7.
- Mottahedeh, Roy (2014). The Mantle of the Prophet. Oneworld Publications. ISBN 978-1-78074-738-5.
- Al-e Ahmad, Jalal. Occidentosis: A Plague from the West (Gharbzadegi), translated by R. Campbell. Berkeley, CA: Mizan Press, 1983.
- Al-e Ahmad, Jalal. Plagued by the West (Gharbzadegi), translated by Paul Sprachman, Columbia University, NY; Delmar, NY:: Caravan Books, 1982.
- Al-e Ahmad, Jalal. Weststruckness (Gharbzadegi), translated by John Green and Ahmad Alizadeh. Costa Mesa, CA: Mazda Publishers, 1997.
- Hanson, Brad (29 January 2009). "The "Westoxication" of Iran: Depictions and Reactions of Behrangi, Āl-e Ahmad, and Shari ati". International Journal of Middle East Studies. 15 (01): 1–23. doi:10.1017/s0020743800052387.


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text:
Ed Petruska-Contributing writer-Pinal Central
SIGNAL PEAK — Fully aware that its postseason fate was on the line, the Central Arizona College baseball team toughed out two huge wins over Yavapai on Saturday.
"We knew we had to sweep today," CAC coach Anthony Gilich said after the Vaqueros came through with 7-6 and 11-7 victories.
"We're past the point of scoreboard watching. I'm assuming we have to win out."
Central is 34-18 overall and 20-14 in Arizona Community College Athletic Conference play entering the final week of the regular season. The Vaqueros play a doubleheader at last-place Eastern Arizona on Tuesday and host conference leader Cochise on Saturday.
Four teams qualify for the Division I Region 1 tournament. Central was sixth heading into Saturday's action, trailing Cochise (23-9), Yavapai, South Mountain (21-11), Pima (20-11) and Arizona Western (19-13).
Having lost three of their previous four on their home field, the Vaqueros took care of business against Yavapai (31-15, 21-13 ACCAC) by banging out 10 hits in the opener and 11 in Game 2. Central did the bulk of its scoring in bunches, striking for three or more runs five times.
"The bats came out," Gilich said. "Our pitching's been there most of the year but we haven't really hit" on a consistent basis.
Ian Raidy had four RBIs in Game 1, going 2 for 2 with a two-run triple in the second inning and a two-run single in the third. The Vaqueros also got a sacrifice fly in the second from Liam Spence and an RBI single from Jake Meyer in the third.
Hunter Jump went 3 for 3 with a double, and Meyer and Zach Hogueisson each had two hits.
Yavapai scored four runs in the top of the sixth, making it 7-6 on two-run doubles by Cody Holtz and Christian Encarnacion-Strand.
The Vaqueros took a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the first inning of Game 2 on back-to-back RBI doubles by Ernny Ordonez and Hogueisson and Matt Aribal's run-scoring single.
CAC went ahead to stay at 6-4 with a three-run third, getting an RBI double from Meyer and run-scoring singles by Raidy and Spence.
The Vaqueros batted around in a four-run fifth that featured Hogueisson's two-run single, an RBI single by Ordonez and a bases-loaded walk to Aribal.
Brennan Reback's RBI single in the eighth capped the scoring after the Roughriders scored one in the sixth and two in the eighth.
Ordonez, Hogueisson and Meyer each finished with two hits.
The Vaqueros had eight two-out RBIs in the game to help them overcome 15 strikeouts.
Gianni Tomasi had four of Yavapai's 12 hits and two RBIs. Encarnacion-Strand hit a solo home run for the Roughriders, who also got RBI singles from Logan Williams and Jack Silverman.
Gilich elected to not throw his top two starters — Lucas Knowles (8-2, 1.23 ERA) and Jason Nelson (5-2, 1.40). He said both will be available next week.
Game 1 starter Jonathon Stroman went 5 2/3 innings before giving way to Zane Strand, who retired the Roughriders in order in the seventh on two strikeouts and a popup to the catcher.
Four pitchers saw action for CAC in Game 2.
"I knew we were going to have to score some runs and piece it together on the pitching side," Gilich said. "We had some guys in roles that they haven't been in all year."
Mitchell DeCovich made just his second start of the season and allowed four runs in 2 1/3 innings. Next came Tyler Woessner (one run in 3 2/3 innings), DJ Carpenter and Brandon Jenkins.
Jenkins faced six batters, striking out the last four. Jenkins closed a game for the first time this year.
"He has the most electric stuff on our team," Gilich said. "He had a rough start (to the season) and needed to get his confidence going. He's been pitching a lot better lately."


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Vine Trail FAQs: Know Before You Go!
What is the Napa Valley Vine Trail?
The Napa Valley Vine Trail Coalition is a grass-roots nonprofit that is working to design, fund, construct, and maintain 47 safe and scenic miles of level, paved, family-friendly, pet-friendly, free-access Class I trail, stretching from Vallejo's Ferry to Calistoga. Currently, 12.5 miles of the Vine Trail spanning from Kennedy Park (south of Downtown Napa) to the north end of Yountville is completed and open.*
*There are two stretches of Class II bike lanes where the Vine Trail has not yet been constructed: 1) 0.3 miles along Solano Ave. from the north end of the Park & Ride Lot across from the Napa Valley Marriott to just south of the Chablis Inn and 2) approximately a half-mile along Socsol Ave. between Vallejo and Third Streets. View detail on the map below.
That sounds cool! How can we ride it?!
Our two shop locations in Downtown Napa and Yountville (see map below) offer nearly instant access to the Napa Valley Vine Trail. You can rent bikes from either location to ride the Vine Trail.
Can we rent bikes in Downtown Napa & return them in Yountville (or vice versa)?
YES! Please note that for all point-to-point rentals there is a 2-hr minimum rental charge, plus a $10 per bike relocation fee. If you ride point-to-point, your options for getting back to your starting point are calling a taxi or Uber/Lyft.
Can we visit wineries along the Napa Valley Vine Trail?
The short answer is: not without exiting the Vine Trail and riding along some local roads. There is a small handful of wineries located within a stone's throw of Vine Trail; however, you cannot reach these wineries without exiting the bike path and riding on roads where you will be riding alongside traffic. Check out the map below to see some of the wineries and tasting rooms located within one mile of the Vine Trail.
If visiting wineries is the primary goal of your bike ride, you should not expect to confine your ride to the Vine Trail. The vast majority of Napa Valley's wineries are located along Hwy. 29 and Silverado Trail. Both of these roads have a bike lane or wide shoulder. Click here to learn more about the bicycling infrastructure of these roads.
When will the rest of the Napa Valley Vine Trail open?
The Napa Valley Vine Trail Coalition is continuing its work to design and construct additional sections of the trail. When complete, the trail will more or less follow the existing Wine Train tracks and Hwy. 29 north of Yountville all the way to Calistoga. Your support is needed to continue the progress! » Learn More & Donate Here
Vine Trail Etiquette: "Just Be Cool"
The Napa Valley Vine Trail is NOT a just a "bike path" – it is a "shared-use" recreational trail that is open to walkers, joggers and rollerbladers and other users in addition to bicyclists. With that in mind, please be a courteous trail user and follow the following common sense guidelines:
- Keep Right, Pass Left
- Be Vocal & Alert Others to Your Presence
(e.g. "On Your Left!")
- Use Safe Speeds*
- Slow Down & Ride Single-File when approaching other trail users*
- Obey Stop Signs & Traffic Signals
*Cyclists who are unwilling to slow down in courtesy to other trail users do not belong on the Vine Trail. Cyclists who desire a fast ride free of obstructions should use Solano Ave., which runs parallel to the Vine Trail and has its own Class II bike lane.
Vine Trail Map: Plan Your Ride!
The map provided here (best viewed from a full-size computer) illustrates the wineries, tasting rooms, restaurants and popular attractions that are along – or within about a mile or so of – the Napa Valley Vine Trail. Zoom In for greater detail.
Park & Walk in Urban Areas
Urban areas can be especially hazardous for bicyclists. We HIGHLY recommend parking your bike and walking to visit destinations along Washington Street in Yountville and in Downtown Napa. Bike locks included with rental.
Need Ideas? Check Out Our Vine Trail Ride Suggestions
All About Yountville
START FROM: Downtown Napa Shop, 950 Pearl Street
DESCRIPTION: With more than a dozen tasting rooms, myriad boutique shops, a curated Art Walk and world-class restaurants tucked within its 1.5-mile length, Yountville easily merits an afternoon of dedicated exploration. Starting from our Downtown Napa rental shop, you'll cruise upvalley along the Vine Trail as it parallels the Wine Train tracks. Your ride will begin with an urban adventure through the City of Napa; plan time to stop and admire and take photos with the engaging Rail Arts District (aka RAD) Murals. As you continue to ride north, you'll reach the Oak Knoll District where the urban landscape will transform to vineyard views and the Vine Trail will wind under towering oak and eucalyptus trees with the majestic Mayacamas Range framing your eastward view. Venture off the Vine Trail to stop off and visit a local winery along the way (Laird Family Estate, Trefethen Family Vineyards, Andretti Winery, Monticello Vineyards and Domaine Chandon all welcome walk-ins for parties of 5 or fewer guests. Or make a beeline to Yountville and plan a decadent lunch at a local restaurant (R+D Kitchen, Redd Wood or Bottega, to name a few of our favorites), or pick up picnic provisions (Yountville Deli, Bouchon Bakery, among others) and make your way to Yountville Park to enjoy an alfresco feast.
DISTANCE: 9 miles one-way to Yountville* or 18 miles round-trip (return to Napa)
DON'T MISS: The French Laundry Culinary Garden really is a must-see for gardening enthusiasts and fine-dining aficionados alike! Visitors are welcome to walk along the grass pathways that run between more than 50 garden plots. Insider's tip: Avoid the congestion along Washington Street and gain entry to the garden through the "back door" by riding the Vine Trail north through Yountville and exiting at Webber Ave.
*All one-way bike rentals will incur a 2-hour minimum rental charge, plus $10 per bike relocation fee.
Destination Oxbow
START FROM: Yountville Shop, 6500 Washington St. (longer ride) or Napa Shop, 950 Pearl Street (super short ride)
DESCRIPTION: No doubt, Oxbow Public Market is on the must-do list for many Napa Valley visitors – for good (and tasty!) reasons. An eclectic mix of more than 20 independent merchants specialize in a full spectrum of culinary specialties: Hog Island Oyster Depot, Three Twins Organic Ice Cream, Model Bakery and Gott's Roadside are just a few of the popular outposts you'll find at Oxbow. Communal seating areas, including a spacious outdoor deck overlooking the Napa River, allow everyone in your party to order something uniquely suited to their tastes before regrouping so you can all nosh together.
DISTANCE: From Yountville, it's ~9.5-mile ride to Oxbow Market and then 0.5 miles to return bikes at our Downtown Napa shop* or ~19 miles total roundtrip (return to Yountville). From our Napa shop location, it's just a 0.5-mile ride to Oxbow Market, but it's easy to extend your ride with a venture farther south through Kennedy Park.
DON'T MISS: Stop and take photos with the Rail Arts District murals on your way into Downtown. Also, be sure to visit St. Clair Brown Winery, a unique urban oasis that is part-winery and part micro-brewery with a menu of small plates featuring produce from their onsite culinary garden.
*All one-way bike rentals will incur a 2-hour minimum rental charge, plus $10 per bike relocation fee.
Ride the Whole Darn Thing!
START FROM: Yountville Shop, 6500 Washington St.
DESCRIPTION: For those who want to leave no mile of the Napa Valley Vine Trail unturned – or unridden, in this case – head to Yountville to start your ride from the northernmost section of the trail. From Yountville, you can ride the full length of the Vine Trail south through the City of Napa and Kennedy Park totaling 12.5 miles.
DISTANCE: From Kennedy Park, you can retrace your tread marks part way to finish at our Napa shop* for a total of ~18 miles; or, ride the entire way back to Yountville for a grand total of ~25 miles.
*All one-way bike rentals will incur a 2-hour minimum rental charge, plus $10 per bike relocation fee.


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Come listen to your favorite 80s songs, sing along, and win some prizes! The Amherst Survival Center is hosting 80's Musical Bingo Night at the High Horse in downtown Amherst. Instead of calling numbers, we'll be playing soundbites from 80's songs. Once you know the song, find it on your game card and the first person to BINGO wins!
Prizes will be awarded for every round, for best 80's hair (optional), for best 80's attire (optional), and for 80's trivia experts! Additional raffle opportunities!
When: Wednesday, January 30, 2019 5:30pm to 8:30pm (1st game starts at 6pm)
Where: High Horse, 24 North Pleasant Street, Amherst (upstairs)
Tickets: $25.00 for 4 games and can be purchased online using the form below or at the following locations by cash or check only:
- the Amherst Survival Center,
- AJ Hastings, and
- High Horse
Tickets will be sold at the door, though we encourage you to purchase your tickets in advance. All tickets will be held at the door.
- Food and beverages will be available for purchase
- 80's attire and 80's hair optional
All proceeds benefit the Amherst Survival Center's programs.
Questions: Contact Lisa Queenin, Development Coordinator, by e-mail at email@example.com or by phone at 549-3968 ext 108.
The mission of the Amherst Survival Center is to connect residents of Hampshire and Franklin Counties to food, clothing (and household items), healthcare, wellness, and community, primarily through volunteer efforts.


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East White Horse Pike, a main thoroughfare between the airport and the Boardwalk, is lined with cheap hotels of decent quality. At Clarion Inn and Suites, you can relax in a clean, comfortable room or suite, and enjoy the indoor pool and sauna for an amazing price. The Atrium Inn is basic, but has amenities like hair dryers and in-room coffeemakers to make your stay pleasant.
Country Inn and Suites is another great choice on White Horse Pike, where you can enjoy a suite with a kitchenette and a dip in the pool. Choose the Comfort Inn if you'd like a deluxe King Suite with a private hot tub for a surprisingly affordable price.
On the south side of airport, you'll find the slightly more upscale hotels of Egg Harbor Township. Prices are a little higher on this side, but still affordable. The Homewood Suites by Hilton is a popular option for those who want a modern studio suite. The EconoLodge gives you a comfortable room and an outdoor pool, while the Days Hotel has spacious rooms and a 24-hour business center in case you need to squeeze in a bit of work during your trip.
Renting a car is the best way to get around in Atlantic City. Major highways connect the airport to the Boardwalk and Marina areas, where the casinos and attractions are, and any large casino can offer you a place to park while you walk the Boardwalk area.
Airport hotels usually offer shuttle service, but you may need to make arrangements ahead of time, so be sure to ask. If you choose a taxi, make sure it has a meter. Don't get into one of the black unmetered sedans without asking the price first or you could be in for an ugly surprise. The Jitney is the public shuttle. It costs just $2.50 to get around town, but coming in from the airport is $10 and going back to the airport will be $15.
Most of the airport hotels don't have restaurants. The airport has a couple of pubs and cafes, but East White Horse Pike is your best bet for getting fed at odd times. The road is packed with fast food places and diners in between the many hotel options.
Atlantic City is overflowing with casinos and attractions. To make sense of it all, visit the city's website where you can browse the attractions or request a free Visitor's Guide. Atlantic City Weekly maintains a list of casino promotions, discounts, and giveaways on the website as well.
© 2019 Hipmunk® and Concur® Hipmunk® are trademarks of Hipmunk, Inc. and Concur Technologies, Inc.
© 2019 Hipmunk® and Concur® Hipmunk® are trademarks of Hipmunk, Inc. and Concur Technologies, Inc.


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On the show Mike devotes his time to finding the dirtiest jobs in America and boy does he not disappoint! Some of the things he gets himself into are down right gross. I have often wondered how he gets anything clean after he is done shooting.
I myself have days when the tub is encrusted with dried muck, the kid's laundry looks and smells like they rolled around in a pile of dead animal carcasses and my first instinct is to just give up! I hope I'm not the only one that sometimes feels this way.
The only thing that can make it all better is a dynamite cleaning product that can power away the smells and stains. I have some faves of course, there are products that I keep on hand at all times because I can trust them to clean up the most terrible messes my family can cook up. I have fairly high expectations of each product that I use -- they MUST work or out in the trash they will go and I don't fool around, nope! When I buy any type of new cleaner I am usually testing it out the minute I walk in the door. I want to see if my money was spent wisely, to see if the product works like it says it will and I have fun doing so.
When I got my package of Dirty Jobs Complete Heavy Duty Stain Remover I was a bit excited. The green package is pretty cool, the handle is easy for me told hold even with my weak hands and of course the picture of the ever so handsome Mike Rowe did not hurt at all hehe. I liked that the top could come all the way off or you can just pop open the corner a little bit. I like that there are really great and easy to read usage instructions on the back of the container. I even found comfort in the makers claims on the website that told me this was unlike any other product on the market right now. What I did NOT find was that the product actually worked and met my expectations which I have admitted are high...
Simply put, Dirty Jobs Complete Heavy Duty Stain Remover did NOT clean stains away for me. I followed the instructions, I made sure to do exactly as I was instructed but for some reason I was only met with failure.
My first project was a freshly dirtied pair of undies from one of my children. Kids sometimes are not the greatest of wipers, we all probably know that and if you didn't well now you know (yes I even keep flushable wipes at the toilet). Obviously I cannot share a photo, that would be so wrong but I can tell you that these undies were new and only washed once previous and this stain was treated the same day it was made. I prepared a paste of the Dirty Jobs Stain Remover and water, applied it to the stain and let it set for a minute before tossing it into my washer on a warm cycle with cool rinse. I waited until the whole cycle was finished to pull them out...um...yeah...they were still stained. And this is the same type of stain that my old trusty spot lifter has gotten out time and time again so I was disappointed to say the least in the Dirty Jobs product.
Next day...My tub was filthy last night, it had a ring of dirt and a couple stains. When my kids play outside they carry a lot of dirt back with them so I am used to it by now. I mixed a solution like the package said, water and the product into a spray bottle to spray on the tub and then wait. So I waited a handful of minutes, gave it a little scrub with my trusty tub scrubby but still there were the stains. So now I moved on to making a paste. I was hoping the stronger paste would remove the stains, so I let it set for a minute or two then gave it another little scrub and a rinse. NOPE, still stains!
Okay so after this I was kind of sad, I had great hopes and I thought this stuff would work but really it is just a bunch of hoopla. My usual tub cleaner of vinegar and baking soda does the job so why can't this product? I would not recommend this product, it does not do what it claims to do and I feel bad writing this but it is the truth and I would not post otherwise. I guess now I can use the heavy container as a nice door stop...that way I can look at Mike's cute photo every day (sorry hubby lol).
Just because I had a bad experience does not mean you will, maybe I got a bad batch or maybe my stains brought this stain remover to it's breaking point. All I know is, you gotta try it yourself and see.
This product and more can be found at:
|In this photo the lighting changed in the 'after' so it looks brighter but really it is not at all, still dingy and stained. The loose dirt was carried away but not the stains. You are looking at photos of my bath tub.


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Office Plants Pretoria
It's a well-known fact that when annual budgets are reviewed, one of the first things to go when some cutting is required, are the indoor plants. Chances are, it's because the worth of having indoor plants in the office versus not having them hasn't really been studied in South Africa. Most executives see them as a nice to have, much like two-ply toilet paper or expensive coffee.
One doesn't really have to dig very deep though, into overseas research, to see exactly what benefits plants bring to the workspace apart from aesthetics. In addition to their valuable aesthetic role, the presence of indoor plants promote the physiological and psychological wellbeing of a buildings occupants in a number of different ways.
"The typical return in the office environment shows 12 percent improvement in productivity along with 60 percent reduction in absenteeism rates. This translates to a $24 ROI per day per employee commercially for costs of about $200 per year per employee including maintenance." – Arizona Facilities Magazine. Sounds like a pretty expensive budget cut, doesn't it?
Assuming that the figures quoted above are specifically aimed at making it seem like an attractive option, let's take only one tenth of the stated ROI into account. The plants still pay for themselves and offer up some change. So really, the true cost of plants in the office is not a cost at all, but a saving.


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The Massachusetts foreclosure disaster finally may be winding down.
A total of 1,198 foreclosures were initiated in Massachusetts in July, marking the lowest monthly level recorded so far this year, The Warren Group, publisher of Banker & Tradesman, reported September 17, 2012.
Year-over-year petitions were down almost 17 percent in July, dropping from 1,441 petitions in July 2011. This is the fewest number of foreclosure starts recorded in any month in 2012, beating January's low of 1,333. Still, foreclosures are up 55 percent from a year ago. A total of 10,623 foreclosure petitions have been initiated so far this year, up from 6,856 petitions filed during the same period last year; however, petitions were stalled last year due to the "robo-signing" controversy and other issues.
"It appears there is a downward trend in foreclosure activity," said The Warren Group CEO Timothy M. Warren Jr.
Foreclosure deeds, the last step in the foreclosure process, also declined to 648 in July, a 17 percent decrease from 782 in July 2011. This also marks the fewest number of completed foreclosures for any month in 2012. It is the slowest month since May 2011 when there were 571 foreclosure deeds. A total of 5,409 foreclosure deeds have been filed through July of this year, an 18.5 percent increase compared to 4,564 deeds recorded during the same period last year.
Less foreclosure starts and completions means homeowners are paying their mortgages, working out defaults or selling their homes through short sales.


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GENERATION X – "LIVE AT THE PARIS THEATRE, mind 1978 & 1981″
Generation X tends to get a bad rap as being somewhat of a poseur band, after they went all "pop", but when viewed through the meat grinder of history, it all sounds perfectly fine to me — although I'm sure their sound made a few people mad back in the day.
The two sets on this disc were recorded at the same venue on May 11th, 1978, and January 7th, 1981. This out-of-print title originally had the BBC stamp on it, although I'm not sure if these live sets were recorded specifically for broadcast or not.
Gneration X – Live at the Paris Theatre, 1978 & 1981 (ZIP file)


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Bus schedules
Reykjavik Akureyri Kjolur Route,
The route leads towards east over Hellisheiði through Hveragerði and Selfoss before the bus proceedes to the Geysir geotherman area, the site of numerous hot springs, Strokkur (Butterchurn) being the most active one today. A glimpse of the majestic Gullfoss waterfall is next on the agenda, before the drive north, up to the high plane of Kjölur, begins. The name refers to the plateau between the glaciers Langjökull in the west and Hofsjökull towards east, at an altitude of 650 m above sea level. The highland road leads on through the rugged wilderness to the oasis of Hveravellir, with the geothermal area and bathing possibilities. After a brief stop the bus continues along the highland road past Blönduvirkjun hydro-electric power station. In Langidalur walley the road joins Highway 1 and the route ends in Akureyri. The above itinery applies in the reverse order if one chooses to beginn the tour in Akureyri.
Click on the map for further
information or below
Bus Schedule
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