text:
Le-Vel Rewards
Our aggressive and innovative compensation plan is designed to cater to the average person just getting started while also offering great rewards to seasoned professionals.
Retail Sales Show MoreShow Less
Every Brand Promoter can earn 20% on the BV of their customers' web orders. As a Qualified & Active Promoter, you will also earn a percentage of the Customer web orders generated by Promoters in your Sponsorship Tree - down an additional 3 Levels - helping to build your residual income.
BV from Customer web orders is imported into Uni-Level at 50% of Retail Price.
Vanishing Autoship - 2 For Free
When you have 2 personal Customers enrolled in the Autoship Program, you are eligible to receive free product each and every month as long as they continue their Autoship. You will receive Le-Vel credit equal to the average of your two highest personal Customer Autoship orders... Learn More
Infinity Fast Start Show MoreShow Less
As a Qualified & Active Promoter, you can begin earning the Infinity Fast Start bonus on the product packages purchased by new or upgrading Promoters. Each Enrollment or Upgrade package has a defined Fast Start amount, which you begin earning from your personally enrolled promoters and their personally enrolled promoters — this continues for infinite width and 4 levels down. If you personally enrolled Tim, that would mean Tim is on your 1st level. If Tim enrolled Chris, that would mean Chris is on your 2nd level. You can also earn multiple Fast Starts as Promoters upgrade from Starter to VIP, or Starter to Promoter, etc.
Infinity Fast Start Match Show MoreShow Less
Earn a 10% match on the Infinity Fast Start commissions on your personally enrolled Promoters. (Must have personally enrolled at least 2 Q&A Promoters)
Example: Your personally enrolled Promoter has just earned $2,000 in Infinity Fast Start commissions, you would earn a $200 Match ($2,000 x 10%). This example would happen on all of your personally enrolled Promoters! You can earn Match for infinite width. The more you enroll, the more Match you potentially receive.
Infinity Fast Start Match Accelerator Show MoreShow Less
Much like the Fast Start Match, Promoters can accelerate their Match Earnings by qualifying for the Accelerator Bonus. Earn a 20% match instead of 10%, on the Infinity Fast Start commissions on your personally enrolled Promoters. (Must have personally enrolled at least 8 Q&A Promoters, and reach the Rank of 4K VIP or above)
Example: Your personally enrolled Promoter has just earned $2,000 in Infinity Fast Start commissions, you would earn a $400 Match ($2,000 x 20%). This example would happen on all of your personally enrolled Promoters! You can earn Match for infinite width. The more you enroll, the more Match you potentially receive.
GO VIP Bonus
Earn up to $800 in extra cash plus $200 in THRIVE Credits within your first 14 days with the GO VIP Bonus! Learn More
iPad mini Bonus
Reach 4,000QV (Qualification Volume) in your first 30 Days as a Le-Vel Brand Promoter and we'll apply a {1} bonus to your check for an iPad mini to help you build your business. Learn More
Apple is not a participant in or sponsor of this promotion. {1} Bonus based on iPad mini 4 - MSRP {1}.
Uni-Level Team Commissions Show MoreShow Less
As a Qualified & Active Brand Promoter, you can earn up to 8% on the BV in each level of your Placement Tree - up to 8 levels deep.
Note: The Placement Tree is different from the Sponsorship Tree because the Cloud Office allows Promoters to place their personally sponsored Promoters anywhere within their sales team - this allows for very strategic team building.
Team Commissions Matching Bonus Show MoreShow Less
The Team Commissions Matching Bonus is another powerful feature of the Le-Vel Rewards Plan. As you advance in Rank, you can earn a Match of the Uni-Level Team Commissions earned by the Promoters your personally enroll! Achieve the Rank of 4K VIP and above and earn a 20 - 40% Match.
Example: John who is one of your personally enrolled Promoters, earns $4,000 in Uni-Level Team Commissions. You would earn a Check Matching Bonus of $800 - $1,600! (Depending on where you qualified $4,000 x 20 or 40%). This is just one example, imagine earning a Match on all your personally enrolled Promoters! The key to this bonus is team work, help your team become successful!!
Must be Qualified, Active, & 4K VIP or Higher.
VIP Auto Bonus
Earn a monthly $800 Auto Bonus, or a monthly $1,600 Auto Elite Bonus toward a white or black BMW, Lexus, Mercedes, Cadillac, Audi or Tesla!Learn More
Lifestyle Getaways
Le-Vel is one of the first companies to incorporate Lifestyle Getaways into their Rewards Plan. Starting at the Rank of 40K VIP and above, you get to enjoy trips to places like: Las Vegas, Napa Valley, New York, Italy, Alaska & the Caribbean!


text:
The key to happiness is not the eradication of all problems but rather the development of a mind capable of transforming any problem into a cause of happiness. Essential Mind Training is full of guidance for cultivating new mental habits for mastering our thoughts and emotions.
This volume contains eighteen individual works selected from Mind Training: The Great Collection, the earliest compilation of mind-training (lojong) literature. The first volume of the historic Tibetan Classics series, Essential Mind Training includes both lesser-known and renowned classics such as Eight Verses on Mind Training and The Seven-Point Mind Training. These texts offer methods for practicing the golden rule of learning to love your neighbor as yourself and are full of practical and down-to-earth advice.
The techniques explained here, by enhancing our capacity for compassion, love, and perseverance, can give us the freedom to embrace the world.
Read the biographies of Chekawa Yeshe Dorje and Atisha at the Treasury of Lives.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Shhh! We aren't supposed to discuss this subject, at least that's how it used to be, back in the old days, when the specula's looked like serrated Medieval torture devices. Frozen serrated Medieval torture devices. I remember the very first gynecologist I visited, he drove the thirteenth buggy from the front, traveling with our wagon train as we made our way into the wilderness that was Illinois. This was in the mid 1800's. Or, maybe not.
Anyway, his name was O'Brien or O'Connor or something like that. I was just eighteen or so and untouched before this. I tell you it was different world. Women wore BATHING CAPS at the beach and GARTER BELTS were a necessity, not a sexy turn on. Or, maybe they were. Who knew, certainly not me.
I was mortified when he screamed out to his nurse that he needed the baby specula and if they didn't have any small enough did they have any old Popsicle sticks laying around. I never went back.
My next gynecologist was Dr. Loeff in Chicago. He seemed very nice. A little guy (why are most male gynecologists short, I wonder? Could be they've been to base of the mountain top, looked up and saw there was no need to go any further. Everything worth seeing was right there in front of them.) But I digress...
Anyway, Dr. Loeff would check my breasts as if he was popping those bubble wrap sheets. He'd go on and on, his head bent in deep concentration, his jaw set firmly, his eyes closed. It was rather disconcerting, all that intense physical attention with no speaking, murmuring. Just silence.
Finally, I remember saying, "You sure take a long time. You're starting to scare me." He didn't even raise his head in acknowledgement. "You want me to do a thorough job don't you?" he grumbled. Later we would lean back, share a cigarette and a glass of wine. Just kidding.
One day he was in his magic fingers position, head bent, eyes closed, jaw locked, when the door swung wide open (I kid you not) and his nurse, Eva Braun, stood on the threshold, eyes popped open. "Oh!" she shrieked. "You are giving ze examination?!?"
I could feel his hands shake on my breasts - that was the first sign; then I heard this odd grumble, rumble sound, suddenly his head rested on the exam table and he started to wail with laughter. Remember, I was laying there, exposed to the world, my doctor's tiny hands truly the only thing between me and a career in porno. He laughed so hard I thought he was going to faint. "I better be," he finally screamed in laughter. No. I didn't think it was that funny either. I never went back.
I was through with men, at least in the professional gynecological area, and I set out to find me a good female gynecologist. I hit the jackpot right off. Dr. Cislak, located in Evanston, Illinois; and, what a difference a female doctor makes, a completely different dynamic. Of course I was older now (although still pathetically naive), less humiliated, a 'career' woman (if you count being a secretary a career). For the first time a doctor was my age, female and adored all the same singers and actors I adored. Actually, she looked a lot younger than her years, kind of like that little kid in Fatal Attraction whose bunny ended up in the pot. Punky Brewster was my OB/gyne.
She was my doctor for years, my confidante, and the person to whom I could ask questions. I heard about all her kids, she heard about all my crushes. It was very nice, but then I got engaged and thought I was big stuff, thought perhaps I should have a fancy Gyne located in the loop somewhere (that's Downtown Chicago to you Lithuanians) I found a woman with an office in the most expensive, most exclusive, most pretentious medical building downtown. It was beautiful, brass and glass, girlie colors, soft, very rich looking. I figured I deserved it. I was going to be a WIFE. As we settled into the usual positions she asked me which physician I had been seeing before. I told her, "Dr. Cislak in Evanston." She looked at me, up there between my knees, her big blue eyes peeking just over the drop cloth, in that adorable way gyne's have. She was enraptured, she looked worshipful, like I was something holy. I must look pretty damn good, I thought.
"Dr. Cislak!?" she repeated. I nodded. She became teary eyed. "She's my ideal, the reason I went into Gynecology! I love her! She is the most amazing doctor in the world."
Well, that was really interesting. Why the hell am I seeing you then? I thought. I didn't say it, but I sure as hell thought it. I never went back.
Now I see Dr. Cislak less frequently. We live in Florida and I've found a great doctor here. Dr. Liebert. She's one of the very kindest, nicest people I've ever met and she truly loves medicine. Recently she had to do a BIOPSY on something she noticed in a nonmentionable area. To me the word BIOPSY is latin for Order the Hearse, so I freaked. But it turned out to be nothing. She asked me if I wanted to see what she cut off. I declined politely. She said "Now when you look down here..." I said I wouldn't be looking there in the foreseeable future, thank you very much. She said, "But if you do, position a mirror here..." That's all I need, the touring company of the Vagina Monologues. In Florida, God's Waiting Room, it is not an appealing idea. I could tell she still didn't understand my disinterest in that particular part of my anatomy. "See," she said, "I just lopped this bit of flesh off. It's really small." She showed me the vial with the little snippet in it anyway. "Isn't that interesting?" she asked me just moments before I passed out. And she was serious.
Gynecologists - you can't kill them and you can't live without them.


text:
Set of 2 RedRev watches
This exclusive set contains two watches from the RedRev line, featuring bold honeycomb texturing on the dial. *>
They each boast a large dial, 1.5 inch and 1.7 inch in diameter, and come in a striking case embellished with the Ferrari Shield. Fitted with straps detailed with grooves inspired by the front grille of racing cars, these accessories are infused with a strong sporting spirit via the bright color contrasts and the racing-inspired design. They are personalized with the iconic Ferrari Shield at the 12 o'clock position. A perfect complement to every outfit, the new RedRev watches have their own unique personality and inimitable spirit. Alternate yours as a constant symbol of your passion for Scuderia Ferrari.
- Silicone strap
- Water resistant to 5 atmospheres underwater
- Composition: 70% Plastic, 30% Silicon
We offer both Standard and Express shipping: choose the service that best meets your needs at checkout.
We provide an easy return service: just ship your items back to us using the UPS return label included in your package within 30 days of delivery.


text:
Images of Nova Cygni 1992 With Hubble's Old and New Optics
The European Space Agency's ESA Faint Object Camera utilizing the corrective optics provided by NASA's COSTAR (Corrective Optics Space Telescope Axial Replacement), has given astronomers their best look yet at a rapidly ballooning bubble of gas blasted off a star.
The shell surrounds Nova Cygni 1992, which erupted on February 19, 1992. A nova is a thermonuclear explosion that occurs on the surface of a white dwarf star in a double star system.
The new HST image [right] reveals an elliptical and slightly lumpy ring-like structure. The ring is the edge of a bubble of hot gas blasted into space by the nova. The shell is so thin that the FOC does not resolve its true thickness, even with HST's restored vision.
An HST image taken on May 31 1993, [left] 467 days after the explosion, provided the first glimpse of the ring and a mysterious bar-like structure. But the image interpretation was severely hampered by HST's optical aberration, that scattered light from the central star which contaminated the ring's image.
A comparison of the pre and post COSTAR/FOC images reveals that the ring has evolved in the seven months that have elapsed between the two observations. The ring has expanded from a diameter of approximately 74 to 96 billion miles.
The bar-like structure seen in the earlier HST image has disappear. These changes might confirm theories that the bar was produced by a dense layer of gas thrown off in the orbital plane of the double star system. The gas has subsequently grown more tenuous and so the bar has faded.
The ring has also grown noticeably more oblong since the earlier image. This suggests the hot gas is escaping more rapidly above and below the system's orbital plane. As the gas continues escaping the ring should grow increasingly egg-shaped in the coming years.
HST's newly improved sensitivity and high resolution provides a unique opportunity to understand the novae by resolving the effects of the explosion long before they can be resolved in ground based telescopes.
Nova Cygni is 10,430 light years away (as measured directly from the ring's diameter), and located in the summer constellation Cygnus the Swan.


text:
Judge Susan Webber Wright
September 2012: Median Prison Sentence
District Court - Arkansas East
Referring Agency: Department of Homeland Security Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Lead Charge: Withheld by govt from TRAC (FOIA challenge pending)
Judge Susan Webber Wright's service terminated on December 1, 1990, due to statutory reassignment of judg. Judge Susan Webber Wright didn't dispose of any cases in the Eastern District of Arkansas in the current fiscal year (2012) and disposed of 1 cases in the previous year.
Over the last five years, the median prison sentence imposed on defendants that were credited to Judge Wright was 46.0 months. This was 106053.8% higher than the 0.0 months typical in Arkansas East and 91.7% higher than the 24.0 months median prison sentence for the nation. Judge Susan Webber Wright sentenced 11 defendants during the past five years.
(CAUTION: The kinds of cases handled by individual judges influences statistical information about their sentences. It therefore is important to consider the breakdown of cases that each has handled, available below, when making judge-by-judge comparisons.)
Figure 1 compares Judge Wright's numbers to those for judges in this district and in the United States as a whole for cases of this type over the last five years.
During the last five years there were 5 other judges in the Eastern District of Arkansas with information on convictions during that period. Median prison sentence numbers passed down for those judges ranged from 0.0 months to 78.0 months, putting Judge Wright's median prison sentence of 46.0 months at the higher end of the range. The median prison sentence for the whole Eastern District of Arkansas during that time was 0.0 months.
Professional Biography
Born 1948 in Texarkana, AR
Federal Judicial Service
Judge, U. S. District Court, Western District of Arkansas
Nominated by George H.W. Bush on September 21, 1989, to a seat vacated by Elsijane Trimble Roy; Confirmed by the Senate on January 23, 1990, and received commission on January 24, 1990. Service terminated on December 1, 1990, due to statutory reassignment of judges.
Judge, U. S. District Court, Eastern District of Arkansas
Nominated by George H.W. Bush on September 21, 1989, to a seat vacated by Elsijane Trimble Roy; Confirmed by the Senate on January 23, 1990, and received commission on January 24, 1990. Served as chief judge, 1998-2005.
Randolph-Macon Woman's College, B.A., 1970
University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, M.P.A., 1973
University of Arkansas at Fayetteville School of Law, J.D., 1975
Professional Career:
Law clerk, Hon. J. Smith Henley, U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit, 1975-1976
Faculty, University of Arkansas at Little Rock School of Law, 1976-1990
Assistant professor and assistant dean, 1976-1978
Associate professor, 1980-1983
Professor, 1983-1990
Research assistant, Arkansas Constitutional Convention, 1979
Visiting assistant professor, University of Arkansas at Fayetteville School of Law, 1980
Visiting associate professor, Ohio State University College of Law, 1981
Visiting associate professor, Louisiana State University Law Center, 1982-1983
Program Areas of Cases Handled
Cases disposed of by Judge Susan Webber Wright for the past five years fell into a number of broad categories. The lead category for these cases was Withheld by Govt from TRAC accounting for 100.0% of cases.
Program Area Judge District US Not specified 100.0% 100.0% 99.9% More
Table 2: Composition of Cases for the Past Five Years (Top 10)
Number of Defendants in Judge Susan Webber Wright's Cases
Judge Susan Webber Wright didn't handle any convictions of this type in the current fiscal year 2012.


text:
What do you think of the building boom?
Tony LaBua: "I've been waiting for it for a long time. When I left New York in 1985 to open Chaps, Long Island was in the middle of a housing boom."
Jehu Martin: "I love it. I don't like the restrictions they put on some things and not others. They restrict creativity and allow other things that are out of sync, in poor taste, and wouldn't get a passing grade in first-year architecture school."
Lisa McCade: "Too fast, out of control, no parking."


text:
The Home of Fashion Film and Live Fashion Broadcasting
Report by Kiki Georgiou on 1 October 2012.
The print also worked as smaller panels on simple cotton utilitarian pieces; down the sleeves of a cropped jacket with the Kenzo logo embroidered at the back. White and army green leather boots had parachute-like drawstring tops and there were wild animal knitwear to substitute the countless Kenzo sweaters that, in my guess, have beaten Balenciaga's Star Wars sweatshirts as the top of the season.
Enjoyed the DJ tunes at @Kenzo_Paris courtesy of @Blood_Orange almost as much as the show!! #PFW
Superfijne #Kenzo show om de dag mee te beginnen! #pfw http://t.co/VtfkmP3R
Tigercamo night-vision-goggle jungle prints bags gone wild, trippy visuals @kenzo_paris @BlackFrame #pfw @marieclaire http://t.co/ADRKGx3o
most beautiful finale @kenzo listening to blood orange...ss13 blooming http://t.co/uqDpj8mr
Too much greatness to take all at once! @kenzo_paris #PFW http://t.co/LIuVzlLJ
#pfw Kenzo suite ...et fin http://t.co/TyC0V3LE
Kenzo-finale. Verrukkelijke show om de dag mee te beginnen http://t.co/8sYnUAY0
Kenzo visuals = Psychedelic Safari http://t.co/8vThVcxd
Kenzo is fun and sophisticated at once--the best parts of the late 80s. Also, love that the cell phone service is good. #PFW
Magnificent safari jungle animal prints abit of camouflage thrown in and voila! A vibrant a la #Kenzo collection http://t.co/SqIyLnHQ
Cray-mazing graphics @kenzo_paris #PFW http://t.co/x66xEeWu
Inside the show - waiting for start - a big round martial arts arena on the outskirts of Paris with bleacher seats! #kenzo
If you thought the Sunday earlyish morning time slot would make the pre-Kenzo scene a little calmer, you would be wrong. #pfw
@kenzo_paris hasn't started yet but the anticipation is at its best! You can tell it'll be one of the highlight of the season. #PFW
#pfw At #Kenzo. Maison du Judo. http://t.co/ODYlLbGA
Only @Kenzo_Paris, a printed runway #PFW
Never seen so many @kenzo_paris hats, sweaters and Vans on one place! Wow!!
Crowd control issues @kenzo_paris #pfw
You better be wearing your @kenzo_paris jumpers this morning #pfw
Super cool backstage for @kenzo_paris at la maison su judo! Always a treat to see @_yadim again! http://t.co/PLNphJvJ
Sunday morning in Paris .Sun shines ,blue skies and kenzo takes us on a journey to the South of Paris to the Maison du Judo.
en route to Kenzo http://t.co/svVpOSeI
Kenzo show http://t.co/M5KgLUjN
#BackStage #Kenzo #FashionWeek #Paris http://t.co/1PkRbYa8
Coolest invite ever from @kenzo_paris - an engraved stone! One day till showtime! #PFW http://t.co/B8IF54yW
SAVE THE DATE: Sunday 9/30, KENZO Femme Printemps-Eté 2013: live pics & tweets from backstage and the runway http://t.co/mb39o63j
In Paris opening a LOT of tickets. Most original so far http://t.co/Xzded8Lj


text:
Chrome users will soon be able to encrypt search traffic sent via the address bar even when not signed into Google, the company has announced.
From version 25, currently still in the beta and developer channel, that same facility will be extended to searches made using the 'Omnibox' (or address bar), as Google calls it, including those via other supported search engines.
Google has gradually enabled SSL searching across its search, browser and Gmail services in the last couple of years, and it remains a work in progress.
Many users are probably now confused by which parts of their interactions with Google are currently encrypted and which are not.
Gmail and Google search started using SSL encryption experimentally in 2010 and 2011, rolling this out across its .com and country domains thereafter. Confusingly, for a while, that meant visiting a secure (https) versions of its sites but all searches and email are now encrypted by default.
Firefox implemented SSL searching for Google address bar searching last summer so Google is really playing catch-up when it comes to Chrome's address bar.
"Users shouldn't notice any changes. If anything, their searches will be slightly faster due to Chrome's implementation of the SPDY protocol, but there should be no other user-visible effect," said Google engineer, Adam Langley.
Services such as Twitter and Facebook have also started to implement SSL encryption across their services in the same pragmatic manner.
The day when all traffic between browser users and major Internet services is encrypted by default now looks near, and not before time. Hitherto, SSL has been limited to the ecommerce systems used by retailers.
There are a number of scenarios where it us a useful layer of security, mostly when using unencrypted Wi-Fi hotspots.


text:
Americans With Disabilities Act: Information for People Facing Cancer
What is the Americans with Disabilities Act?
The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) is a law that helps protect the civil rights of people with disabilities. It can help people with disabilities have equal opportunities in:
- Employment
- Public accommodations (places that are generally open to and used by the public)
- Transportation
- State and local government services
- Telecommunications
How can the ADA help people with cancer?
People with cancer can have long-term disabilities that make it hard to work or get around. The ADA is intended to make it possible for people who can do the essential parts of their job to go back to work or keep working during and after cancer treatment. Even when a person with cancer doesn't have a disability, they may be thought of as being disabled. This alone can set the stage for discrimination at work, and the ADA addresses this as well.
The ADA can help people who might have trouble getting into buildings and using public accommodations (such as commercial and other buildings, stores, libraries, offices, transportation etc., that are intended to be used by the public) due to a disability. The ADA can also help people with hearing and speech problems use phone and electronic communications.
To find out if the ADA might help you, you'll want to know if it applies to your condition, your employer, and public accommodations, as discussed here.
What is a disability under ADA?
The Americans with Disabilities Act may apply to you if:
- You have a physical or mental problem that substantially limits one or more of your "major life activities"
- There is a record of you having had such a problem in the past.
- Other people think you have such a problem, even if you don't actually have it.
Some of the "major life activities" covered by ADA include but are not limited to:
- Caring for yourself
- Doing manual tasks
- Seeing
- Hearing
- Eating,
- Sleeping
- Walking
- Standing
- Lifting
- Bending
- Speaking
- Breathing
- Learning
- Reading
- Concentrating
- Thinking
- Communicating
- Working
On January 1, 2009, the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 went into effect. It changed the way the definition of disability had been interpreted under the ADA. The Amendments Act covers disabilities in the body and mind, like the functions of the immune system, cell growth, digestive, bowel, bladder, brain and nervous system, respiratory, circulatory, endocrine, and reproductive systems. These changes can help many people with cancer to clearly meet the definition of disability.
Questions and answers about employment discrimination
Does the ADA apply to my employer?
The law applies to employers with 15 or more employees. Job discrimination against people with disabilities by these employers is not legal if practiced by:
- Private employers
- State and local governments
- Employment agencies
- Labor organizations
- Labor management committees
Employees of the US (federal) government are not covered under the ADA. But they have the same protections under a different law, which is enforced by the Office of Federal Operations of the Equal Employment Opportunities Commission (EEOC). To file a complaint, a federal employee must first contact an equal employment opportunity counselor at the agency in which they believe the discrimination took place. You can read more about these protections at https://www.eeoc.gov/federal/index.cfm.
Who is covered under the ADA?
In order to be protected by the ADA at work, the ADA must apply to your employer as noted in the section above. You must also be qualified for and able to perform the "essential functions" of the job. (See the section called "What are the essential functions of a job under ADA?")
Although the ADA defines the term disability, it does not include a list of conditions that are always considered disabilities. Instead, each case must be looked at on its own merits.
According to the United States Equal Employment Opportunities Commission (EEOC), cancer is not always considered a disability. The ADA can help protect you when cancer prevents or makes it very hard for you to do everyday tasks such as household chores, bathing, and brushing your teeth. But this kind of disability must be permanent or long-term.
The ADA protects you if you had cancer in the past, but are doing well now. An employer may not discriminate against you because you used to be sick.
The ADA also prevents an employer from discriminating against you if he or she thinks you are sick, even if you aren't.
Which employment practices does the ADA cover?
If you have a disability and are qualified for a job, the ADA does not allow the employers noted above (see the section "Does the ADA apply to my employer?") to discriminate in employment practices, such as:
- Recruiting and advertising for job openings
- Job application and hiring
- Training
- Job assignments
- Tenure
- Promotions
- Pay
- Benefits
- Leave
- Firing
- Lay off
- All other employment-related activities, terms, conditions, and privileges
An employer cannot take action against you because you ask for your rights under the ADA. The Act also protects you if you are discriminated against because of your family, business, social, or other type of relationship or association with a person who has a disability. For instance, this means an employer cannot discriminate against you because your spouse or child has cancer.
Still, the ADA does not completely protect your job just because you have a disability and are qualified for the job. The employer can still fire or lay off (terminate) an employee with a disability for legitimate business reasons. For instance, a disabled worker would not be protected during downsizing.
What does the ADA consider essential job functions?
If you have a disability, you must be qualified to perform the essential functions of a job in order to be protected from job discrimination by the ADA. Essential functions are the fundamental duties required by the job itself. An employer cannot refuse to hire you because your disability prevents you from performing duties that are not essential to the job.
But you must satisfy the employer's job requirements such as education, employment experience, skills, or licenses. Employers are not required to lower their job standards to accommodate someone with a disability. Nor do they have to provide personal-use items such as glasses or hearing aids.
You also must be able to perform the essential functions of the job either on your own or with reasonable accommodation (see definition of accommodation in the next section).
What does the ADA consider reasonable accommodation?
Reasonable accommodation is how an employer makes adjustments to a job that allow an employee with a disability to perform the essential functions of that job. But reasonable accommodation can start even before hiring. For example, it may be a change in procedure that allows a qualified disabled person to apply for a job.
For those already working, reasonable accommodation can be a change that allows disabled people to have the same benefits and privileges of employment as employees without disabilities. Examples of reasonable accommodations may include:
- Providing equipment or devices, or adapting them so the person with a disability can use them
- Restructuring a job
- Changing work schedules
- Reassigning the employee to a vacant position
- Adjusting or modifying tests, training materials, or policies
- Providing electronic readers and/or interpreters
- Making the workplace easy to get into and use by people with disabilities
An employer must accommodate a qualified applicant or employee with a disability unless the employer can show that making the accommodation would not be reasonable. That means that the accommodation would be very difficult or expensive (an "undue hardship"). These factors include the type and cost of the accommodation in relation to the size, resources, nature, and structure of the employer's operation. In general, a larger employer would be expected to make accommodations requiring greater effort or expense than would be required of a smaller employer.
The facts of your case will help determine whether an accommodation will make it possible for you to do the job and, if so, what kind of accommodation is needed. Employers do not have to know about every kind of disability to know whether or how to make a reasonable accommodation. They are required to accommodate only those disabilities they know about and that do not cause too much hardship for the employer. The requirement is usually triggered by a request from a person with a disability, who often can suggest a workable accommodation.
Accommodations must be made on a case-by-case basis because the type and extent of a disability and the requirements of the job will vary in each case. If you don't ask for an accommodation, the employer is not required to provide one. If you ask for an accommodation, but cannot suggest one that will work for you, you and the employer should work together to identify one. There are also many public and private resources that can provide help without cost. See the "To learn more" section for some places to start.
What are employers allowed to ask job applicants with disabilities under ADA?
When you apply for a job, employers can't ask you if you are disabled. They also can't ask about the type or how severe a disability you have. Employers may not ask you if you have or have ever had cancer. They can't ask about the medicines you take, or past illness. But they can ask you about your ability to perform certain job tasks. An employer can ask you to describe or show them how, with or without reasonable accommodation, you will perform the duties of the job.
If all new employees in similar jobs are required to have a medical exam, you may be offered a job conditionally, pending the results of a medical exam. The medical exams must be related to the job and in line with the employer's business needs. But an employer cannot reject you because of information the medical exam reveals about your disability unless the reasons for rejection are related to the job and necessary to conduct the employer's business. The results of all medical exams must be kept confidential. Medical files must be kept separate from work or personnel files.
Should I tell my employer I have a disability?
If you think you'll need accommodation to be able to apply for a job or to perform essential job functions, you should tell the employer that you have a disability. Employers are only required to provide reasonable accommodation if they know about the disability. Generally, the employee is the person who must tell the employer that an accommodation is needed. But you are not required to offer information about having cancer or another disability when you apply for a job.
Does my employer have to provide any accommodation I request?
No. There is some flexibility built into the reasonable accommodation requirement under the ADA. For example:
- Employers can choose among effective accommodation options and don't always have to provide the accommodation that the employee requests.
- Employers do not have to provide accommodations that pose an undue hardship for them.
- Employers do not have to provide personal-use items that are needed for daily activities both on and off the job.
- Employers do not have to make an accommodation for a person who isn't otherwise qualified for the job.
- Employers do not have to remove essential functions, create new jobs, or lower production standards to accommodate a disabled employee.
Under ADA, does the employer have to hire a qualified applicant with a disability over other qualified applicants?
No. The ADA does not require an employer to hire a person with a disability over other applicants because the person has a disability. The ADA only prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability. It makes it unlawful to refuse to hire a qualified applicant with a disability just because he or she is disabled. It's also unlawful to refuse to hire the qualified person because a reasonable accommodation is required to make it possible for this person to perform essential job functions.
Do I have to pay for it if I need reasonable accommodation under ADA?
Generally, no. The ADA requires the employer to provide the accommodation unless doing so would cause an undue hardship on the employer's business. If the cost of providing the needed accommodation would be too much, you must be given the choice of:
- Providing the accommodation yourself, or
- Paying for the portion of the accommodation that causes the undue hardship
An employer cannot make up the cost of providing a reasonable accommodation by lowering your salary or paying you less than other employees in similar jobs. Typically, employers don't pay a lot to accommodate employees with disabilities. When asked, employers noted that most accommodations cost nothing; the rest typically cost only about $500.
Under ADA, can an employer offer a health insurance policy that doesn't cover pre-existing conditions?
In rare cases, yes. The ADA does not affect pre-existing condition clauses in health insurance policies. But other laws now limit the employer's use of pre-existing condition exclusions for employees in group health plans. New health care plans are not allowed to exclude pre-existing health conditions. See our document, Health Insurance and Financial Assistance for the Person With Cancer, and our booklet, The Health Care Law: How It Can Help People With Cancer and Their Families for more on this.
If the health insurance offered by my employer does not cover all medical expenses related to my disability, does the company have to get extra coverage for me under ADA?
No. The ADA only requires an employer to provide employees with disabilities equal access to whatever health insurance coverage is offered to other employees. The same is true for employees with cancer or for employees who have family members with cancer or a history of cancer.
Under ADA, does an employer have to make non-work areas used by employees, such as cafeterias, lounges, or employer-provided transportation, accessible to people with disabilities?
Yes, unless making these changes would pose an undue hardship on the employer. Employers must accommodate the disabled person for all services, programs, and non-work facilities they provide, if the changes are reasonable. If making an existing facility accessible would be an undue hardship, the employer can provide a comparable facility that will let a person with a disability enjoy the same benefits and privileges of employment as those enjoyed by other employees, unless doing so also would be an undue hardship.
What agency enforces ADA job protections?
The Equal Employment Opportunities Commission (EEOC), along with state and local civil rights enforcement agencies, enforces the part of the ADA that covers employment protection.
What should I do if I think I'm being discriminated against in a work situation because of my disability?
You have a limited time to act, although the time limit varies by employer and the state in which you work. If you think you have been discriminated against at work because of a disability, you can file a complaint with an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) field office located in certain cities throughout the United States. If you work for a state or local government, the process is the same as for a private employer. A discrimination charge generally must be filed with the EEOC within 180 days of the action that you think is discriminatory. You can contact the EEOC at 1-800-669-4000.
If you work for the US government, you have only 45 days to contact your agency's EEOC officer, and the process is somewhat different from that for private employers. See the section "Questions and answers about employment discrimination."
If your state or local laws cover discrimination on the basis of disability, the charge must be filed with the proper state or local fair employment practice agency within 300 days of the discriminatory action. EEOC field offices can refer you to the agencies that enforce those laws (see the "To learn more" section). But to protect your rights, it's best to contact the EEOC right away if you suspect discrimination, at 1-800-669-4000.
If the EEOC decides that you have been discriminated against, you are entitled to a remedy that will place you in the position you would have been in if the discrimination had never occurred. You may be entitled to hiring, promotion, reinstatement, back pay, or reasonable accommodation, including reassignment. You also may be entitled to have your legal fees paid. Keep in mind that these decisions may take quite a long time depending on the nature of the claim and how it's resolved.
If the EEOC does not find proof that discrimination has occurred, or when attempts to resolve the problem have failed and the EEOC decides not to sue on your behalf, you can request a "right to sue" letter from the EEOC 180 days after filing your complaint. After you get this notice of right to sue, you have 90 days to file the suit. If you sue, you might want to hire a private attorney to represent you.
How the ADA can help in settings other than work
This section deals only with discrimination in settings other than work.
What are "public accommodations" as defined by ADA?
Private clubs and religious organizations are not considered places of public accommodation. They don't have to meet the ADA requirements.
Places of public accommodation are those generally open to everyone, such as restaurants, hotels, theaters, doctors' offices, drug stores, retail stores, museums, libraries, parks, private schools, and day care centers.
The ADA requires the property administrators of these kinds of public places to remove barriers when it's "readily achievable" to do so. This means that it must be fairly easy to do without much trouble or expense. Examples of removing barriers would include making a simple ramp over a few steps or other modest adjustments to parts of a public place's physical structure that may impose barriers for people with disabilities.
What are the different sections of the ADA?
The United States Department of Justice enforces the ADA requirements in 3 areas:
- Title I: Employment practices by units of state and local government (remember that the EEOC enforces most work-related practices)
- Title II: Programs, services, and activities of state and local government, including public transportation
- Title III: Public accommodations and commercial facilities (private businesses and non-profit service providers). This can include privately owned or privately run transportation, movie theaters, restaurants, stores, doctors' offices, fitness centers, zoos, convention centers, private schools, day care centers, homeless shelters, funeral homes, and more.
Title IV of the ADA covers people with hearing and speech problems, and is enforced by the Federal Communications Commission (the FCC). See the "To learn more" section for more on those rules, or visit www.fcc.gov/encyclopedia/title-iv-ada.
Where can I find information about discrimination in areas other than employment?
The US Department of Justice has a toll-free ADA Information Line (1-800-514-0301). ADA specialists are available Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. (Eastern Time) except on Thursdays, when the hours are 12:30 p.m. until 5:30 p.m. A Spanish language service is also available. This toll-free number permits businesses, state and local government officials, or others to call and ask questions about general or specific ADA requirements, including questions about the ADA Standards for Accessible Design.
The American Cancer Society medical and editorial content team
Our team is made up of doctors and oncology certified nurses with deep knowledge of cancer care as well as journalists, editors, and translators with extensive experience in medical writing.
Along with the American Cancer Society, other sources of information and support are listed here. Some have more specific information about ADA requirements affecting employment.
Job and work-related disability problems
Job Accommodation Network
Toll-free number: 1-800-526-7234
Website: www.askjan.org
This is a free consulting service of the US Department of Labor that gives information on the ADA, your rights, how to talk to an employer, and how to ask for accommodations.
US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
Toll-free number: 1-800-669-4000
Website: www.eeoc.gov
Tells you how to find EEOC offices in your area and how to file charges of workplace discrimination; has information on federal equal employment opportunity regulations, practices, and policies; offers publications such as Questions and Answers About Cancer in the Workplace and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which has special information for people with cancer. It's on the EEOC website at http://www.eeoc.gov/laws/types/cancer.cfm
Americans with Disabilities Act Technical Assistance – US Department of Justice
Toll-free number: 1-800-514-0301
Website: www.ada.gov
Specialists answer questions about the ADA and the programs, services, and activities of employers as well as state and local governments. The website has a list of free booklets and publications you can order or read online, many of which are available in other languages.
Social Security Administration (SSA)
Toll-free number: 1-800-772-1213
Website: www.socialsecurity.gov
Has general information, qualification criteria, and information about how to apply for program benefits (such as Social Security Disability Income and Supplemental Security Income) if you cannot work. Makes referrals to local SSA and Medicare/Medicaid offices
Other problems caused by disability
Easter Seals Project ACTION
Toll-free number: 1-800-659-6428
Website: www.projectaction.org
For more specific information about accessibility and transportation services for people with disabilities
Federal Communications Commission
Toll-free number: 1-888-225-5322
Website : www.fcc.gov/cgb/dro/trs.html
For TRS (Telecommunications Relay Services, which allow people with hearing or speech disabilities to place and receive phone calls) questions and fact sheets; also offers technical assistance on ADA telephone service requirements
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)
Toll-free number: 1-800-638-8255
Website: www.asha.org
Provides information and support so that all people with speech, language, and hearing disorders have access to quality services to help them communicate
Federal Transit Administration
Toll-free number: 1-888-446-4511 (FTA ADA Assistance Line, voice/relay)
Website: https://www.transit.dot.gov/regulations-and-guidance/civil-rights-ada/civil-rightsada
For problems with public transportation only; to get information or file a complaint
United States Access Board
Toll-free number: 1-800-872-2253
Website: www.access-board.gov
Has specific information on accessibility requirements for people with disabilities. The Board develops and maintains design criteria for the built environment, transit vehicles, telecommunications equipment, and for electronic and information technology
*Inclusion on this list does not imply endorsement by the American Cancer Society.
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Disability Discrimination. Accessed at www.eeoc.gov/laws/types/disability.cfm on October 28, 2014.
Job Accommodation Network. Accessed at www.askjan.org on October 28, 2014.
Job Accommodation Network Fact Sheet Series (2014 update). Workplace Accommodations: Low Cost, High Impact. Accessed at http://askjan.org/media/LowCostHighImpact.doc on October 28, 2014.
Job Accommodation Network. Accommodation and Compliance Series: The ADA Amendments Act of 2008. Accessed at http://askjan.org/bulletins/adaaa1.htm on October 26, 2012.
US Department of Justice. ADA home page. Americans with Disabilities Act Information and Technical Assistance. Accessed at www.ada.gov on October 28, 2014.
US Department of Justice. A Guide to Disability Rights Laws, July 2009. Accessed at www.ada.gov/cguide.htm on October 28, 2014.
US Department of Labor, Office of Disability Employment Policy. Employment rights: Who has them and who enforces them. Accessed at www.dol.gov/odep/pubs/fact/rights.htm on October 28, 2014.
US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Filing A Charge of Discrimination. Accessed at www.eeoc.gov/employees/charge.cfm on October 28, 2014.
US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Time Limits for Filing a Charge. Accessed at www.eeoc.gov/employees/timeliness.cfm on October 27, 2014.
Last Medical Review: May 24, 2016 Last Revised: May 24, 2016
American Cancer Society medical information is copyrighted material. For reprint requests, please see our Content Usage Policy.


text:
I spotted this Barbiturik shoelace packaging on Lovely Package this afternoon and was instantly smitten. Test tubes featuring a mix of typefaces and stuffed with colourful fabric? I'm sold. Shoelace packaging is rarely an example of great design but these might set a new standard. From the tubes to the bright contrasting colours of laces and aglets, I wouldn't mind having the whole set simply as a desk accessory! Barbiturik was created by Rémy Hernandez after he suffered a skateboarding crash that left him a quadriplegic. His passion for skateboarding sparked the creation of the brand. An inspiring story you can read more about here.
(images via lovely package)


text:
We got a straight-up ugly piece of US economic data yesterday: Consumer confidence dove several points in January.
Why are consumers upset? Haven't they heard that all the big fears are lifting?
The big worry is that it has something to do with the expiration of the payroll tax. People see they're taking home less each weak; they get less confident. It wouldn't be that weird.
And a new study that came out yesterday just happens to compound the fear.
The paper, from Grant Graziani, Wilbert van der Klaauw, and Basit Zafar, at the New York Fed (via WSJ) says that the payroll tax cut in 2011 had a much bigger economic boost than would have been anticipated:
This paper presents new survey evidence on workers' response to the 2011 payroll tax cuts. While workers intended to spend 10 to 18 percent of their tax-cut income, they reported actually spending 28 to 43 percent of the funds. This is higher than estimates from studies of recent tax cuts, and arguably a consequence of the design of the 2011 tax cuts. The shift to greater consumption than intended is largely unexplained by presentbias or unanticipated shocks, and is likely a consequence of mental accounting. We also use data from a complementary survey to understand the heterogeneous tax-cut response.
Bottom line, the payroll tax cut of 2011 had a surprise positive shock.
Now we see that reversing and at the same time, consumer confidence has fallen.
It's just one datapoint, but it needs to be watched.


text:
Kristi- the Chameleon……She figured out what her parents expected, did it….she figured out what her teaches expected, did it….her coaches, then her Boss. She's an achiever, some would say an over-achiever. But this is the way she operates, she really likes to please and wants to help or be on the winning team. She's smart, that's for sure. Now, that she's gotten older and has warranted a decent amount of respect, you'd think she'd be okay with that. But she's a little lost because she's not sure what she expects from herself, for herself right now.
I think we all know a Kristi or two. We often just look at them and think of what they can do for us. Which is totally understandable. Some people are born leaders and some are better at being lead. I think Kristi is of the latter group and there is nothing wrong with that. With a little time and maturity, these people figure it out. To be really good at something takes sacrifice, and a lot of it unseen. And how wonderful for these people to know that if they really want something, they have it within themselves to achieve it, learn it, do it! I applaud that amount of focus and discipline!
Enough about my life views, already!! Back to this drawing…..I really would like to do a watercolor tie-dye so I searched and searched on the web and didn't find what I was looking for unless I want to tie-dye coffee filters or popcorn. BUT I did find this little instructional video about the various techniques for Watercolor Pencils. It's a quick view, I think I learned a few things.
Here's the daylight picture version of Kristi. The colors are better here. My scanner seems to have trouble with the lighter, pastel type colors. It doesn't recognize them. I probably just need to go in a play with the setttings. But, grabbing the camera is so much easier.
Below, my entire bird family. Instead of clicking the links to see all the birds, I thought it would be fun to show them to you all together!
Pic above looks a little squishy, don't know what happened.
And to think, not one bird is exactly like the other! Ahhhhh, individualism! The foundation of America!


text:
Genetically modified organisms are not major topics in public debate in Croatia. Even less attention has been placed on co-existence.
Although Croatia promoted itself as a "GMO-free tourist region" in 2001, the de facto ban on genetically modified organisms is set to lift with the adopted GMO Act. Even though the Croatian government remains sceptical to transgenic plants, it wishes to streamline itself with EU policies considering its pending accession negotiations. The Croatian public is largely opposed to agricultural biotechnology. The public does not expect benefits from GM crops because Croatia has few pest, drought, or soil problems.
Drafting the new Genetically Modified Organisms Act involved discussions about co-existence between farmers, NGOs, and politicians.


text:
Ellen Page just scored what might've been a lifesaving victory against an alleged stalker -- who threatened to kill her online -- because a judge has ordered the man to stay the hell away ... or else.
TMZ broke the story ... the LAPD launched an investigation last year into threats made against the actress via Twitter -- threats like "I'm going to murder Ellen Page. She's dead."
The investigation yielded one suspect -- a man named Joshua Michael Myers -- who was ordered today not to contact the actress in any way for 3 years.
Ellen was present in court for the hearing.


text:
You are here
Rebecca Romijn's Hot Yoga Workout
The actress credits her smokin' post-baby bod to steamy Bikram yoga sessions. Try this five-asana sample of a typical 90-minute class from Susan Antonaccio, a certified instructor for Bikram Yoga NYC in New York City. Roll out the mat!
Balancing Stick
Targets butt and legs
- Stand with feet together, arms by sides. Step forward with right leg and hinge forward at hips as you reach both arms overhead, interlacing fingers and pointing forefingers up.
- Simultaneously lift extended left leg behind so that body is as close to parallel to floor as possible from fingertips to left foot. Hold for 15 to 20 seconds.
- Return to start, switch legs and repeat. Then repeat sequence.
Targets arms, abs, obliques, and butt
- Stand with feet together, arms by sides.
- Extend arms overhead and interlace fingers, pointing forefingers up.
- Side bend to right at waist, keeping chest facing forward, and hold for 30 seconds.
- Straighten up, then repeat to left for 30 seconds.
Awkward Pose
Targets shoulders, butt, quads, and calves
- Stand with feet hip-width apart, arms by sides.
- Squat until thighs are parallel to floor as you reach arms forward. Hold for 20 to 30 seconds, then return to start.
- Rise up on balls of feet (heels off floor) and lower into squat, knees bent 90 degrees, as you reach arms forward at shoulder level. Hold for 20 to 30 seconds; return to start.
- Repeat sequence.
Triangle Pose
Targets shoulders, abs, obliques, butt, and legs
- Stand with feet about 3 feet apart, toes of right foot turned out 90 degrees, left foot 45 degrees; extend arms out to sides at shoulder level palms down.
- Shift body weight over right leg and bend right knee 90 degrees as you side bend to right, chest facing forward, and reach right hand to floor, left arm toward ceiling (left leg remains straight).
- Look up toward ceiling and hold for 20 seconds. Return to start. Switch sides and repeat.
- Repeat again on each side.
Full Locust
Targets back, arms, butt, and legs
- Lie facedown on floor with arms by sides, palms up, and legs extended on floor behind you.
- Lift chest and arms off floor as you squeeze glutes and lift thighs off floor, bending knees slightly. Hold for 10 seconds.
- Lower, rest for 20 seconds and repeat.
Originally published in FITNESS magazine, March 2012.


text:
The Asia-Pacific fighters market will continue to be the world's most active over the next decade, with the countries likely to buy more than 500 aircraft to supplement existing fleets, embark on upgrades and acquire new capabilities to take them into the next stage of their development.
"For many Asian countries, fourth-generation planes will be useful and relevant for decades to come, and we'll see orders for a few more batches of these," says Richard Aboulafia, vice-president analysis at the Teal Group. "But for Japan and Singapore, there's a need for any technology that will help them overcome quantitative inferiority and cement a strategic relationship with the USA."
© Lockheed Martin
Lockheed Martin is pusing its F-35, the only fifth-generation fighter available for export
Western manufacturers such as Boeing and Lockheed Martin from the USA, France's Dassault, the Eurofighter consortium and Sweden's Saab are vying for several potentially lucrative contracts around the region. They face stiff competition from the Russian alternatives, which will take advantage of Moscow's long-standing political and military relationships. China, too, is fast emerging as a viable alternative supplier.
What, however, do the various air forces really need? While there is a lot of talk about fourth- and fifth-generation fighters, these labels are of little help in understanding the actual requirements of the various countries. It is far better, say observers, to talk about the capabilities that are available and link them to national requirements.
Lockheed, which is pushing both its latest version of the F-16 single-engined multi-role fighter and the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, the only fifth-generation aircraft available for export, believes that having situational awareness and denying it to adversaries will be increasingly important.
"Through stealth, electro-optical sensors, a powerful and advanced AESA [active electronically scanned array] radar, electronic warfare, inherent jamming capability, and the ability to share information via secure datalinks, the F-35 combines its sensor capability like no other platform before it," says Steve O'Bryan, vice-president, F-35 business development and customer engagement
"So while those types of sensors and the situational awareness they provide will become increasingly important, they are most effective when their information is fused and presented to the pilot in a single, coherent display, as they are on the F-35. It's difficult to remove the platform from the equation, because the platform itself is integral to the capability."
Singapore first to order F-15 SG
Singapore has ordered 24 Boeing F-15SG multi-role fighters, making it the first South-East Asian country to order the type and ensuring its air force retains its edge as the region's most potent strike force.
Republic of Singapore Air Force pilots began training with the F-15SGs at Mountain Home AFB in Idaho, USA, last year. The air force will replace its McDonnell Douglas A-4 Skyhawks with the F-15s, but has not said when it would fly the aircraft from Singapore.
It has also not released details about their configuration, apart from confirming that 29,000lb-thrust (130kN) General Electric F110-GE-129 engines will power them.
A US Defense Security Cooperation Agency notification to the US Congress in 2005, when the service made an initial order for 12 F-15s, said that the weapons included 200 AIM-120C AMRAAM medium-range air-to-air missiles with six captive air training rounds, and 200 AIM-9X Sidewinder missiles with 24 CAT and dummy rounds.
For the air-to-ground role, Singapore was to get 50 GBU-38 Joint Direct Attack Munitions and 30 AGM-154A-1 Joint Stand Off Weapons both with BLU-111 warheads, and 30 AGM-154C Joint Standoff Weapons. It was also to be supplied with 24 Link 16 multifunctional information distribution system/low volume terminals (fighter datalink terminals) and 44 pairs of AN/AVS-9(V) night vision goggles.
The aircraft are also likely to be fitted with the Raytheon AN/APG-63(V)3 active electronically scanned array radar, and the Data Device high-performance 1553 databus or HyPer-1553TM tested by the Boeing Phantom Works F-15E1 Advanced Technology Demonstrator aircraft.
It has been speculated that Singapore will work with Israel to modify and upgrade its F-15s. The Israeli F-15I Ra'am (Thunder) has an Elisra SPS-2110 integrated electronic warfare system, and its crews wear DASH helmet sights.
A new round of procurement decisions to replace Northrop F-5s with a new tactical fighter are due to start soon, with Singapore likely to choose between the F-15 Silent Eagle - Boeing's latest variant - and the Lockheed Martin F-35. Singapore joined the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter programme in 2002 at the "security co-operation participant" level, and could ask for more information in the next year. Pentagon officials say that the island could buy up to 100 F-35s.
Rival Boeing is promoting its F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and F-15 Silent Eagle multi-role fighters actively in the Asia-Pacific region. It also believes that platforms are key.
"That said, we think there will be continued fusion and integration of on-board and off-board sensors and weapons, giving pilots the ability to detect and engage targets in any domain - in the air, at sea, or on the ground. We will also develop engine capability that is quieter and provides more range at less fuel burn," it says.
"Multirole capability is paramount for countries investing in fighters. Fighters don't just exist in one or two spectrums any more. They must be able to fulfil a variety of missions over vast geographic space. These aircraft will handle both strategic and tactical missions, including air-to-air, maritime strike, air-to-ground, and ISR missions. Long endurance and versatility will always be factors in Asia Pacific, given the vast geographic diversity - over water, over mountain ranges, and other terrain."
Lockheed, reflecting the fact that its products are primarily for allies of the USA, adds that threat perceptions matter. "Given the continued increase in capability - and numbers - of fighters being developed by China and Russia, it becomes imperative that regional governments continue to equip their air forces with the leading-edge capabilities required to counter the emerging threats to security," says O'Bryan.
Russia has been a mainstay in Asia for decades. Rosoboronexport, the country's arms export agency is promoting its Sukhoi Su-30, Su-35 and RSK MiG-35 as replacements for earlier aircraft such as the Su-27, MiG-29 and MiG-21.
"We have many close friends in Asia - India, China, Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam are just some of them," says Victor Komardin, deputy director-general of Rosoboronexport. "Yes, there is more competition from the USA and Europe. But we are confident in our ability to secure more contracts in the coming years. Russia has never stopped helping its friends, and our friends know we are here for them."
Representatives from the Eurofighter Typhoon consortium and Dassault Rafale have been active in the region as well. Neither, however, has had a sale yet. Saab, on the other hand, had its first success in Asia Pacific after signing a contract with Thailand for six Gripens. It is pushing Bangkok to buy another six and is promoting the fighter in India and Malaysia. Its sales pitch is essentially that its "ideologically neutral" fighter is cheaper than and just as capable as its competitors.
China is becoming more active. Beijing has exported fighters for several decades - most notably the Chengdu F-7 interceptor and Nanchang A-5 ground attack aircraft to the likes of Bangladesh, Myanmar, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. But it has newer-generation fighters and it is now casting its net wider.
Beijing has held talks with several countries on the Chengdu FC-1, also known as the JF-17 in the export variant that was developed with Pakistan, and the light attack variant of the Hongdu L-15 advanced jet trainer. For JF-17 customers, China could set up an assembly line or produce components for the aircraft, just like some Western suppliers. This includes traditional and non-traditional clients, say officials.
"We are talking to about five to six countries for each aircraft, and air force pilots from some of them have already flown test flights," says Ma Zhiping, president of China National Aero-Technology Import & Export Corporation, which markets China-made military aviation products globally.
"We provide very capable aircraft at a very reasonable price compared to what else there is in the market. One of the biggest problems for many of our customers is financing. Many are developing countries and their payment abilities are limited. We work with the Chinese government in these cases to help them get cheap credit."
Exports of the Chengdu J-10 fighter are possible, but Beijing's priority is to develop an upgraded version of the aircraft. "This will take a bit of time and we are confident we will have a very good fourth-generation fighter when this is completed. Then, we could export the J-10 to our friends," says Wang Yawei, president of AVIC Defence, the military arm of state-owned aircraft manufacturer China Aviation Industry (AVIC).
The development of indigenous fighters is also under way in India, Japan and South Korea, with various degrees of success, and some could involve foreign partners. These programmes reflect a desire to acquire the technology to develop new combat aircraft and insecurity about the future availability of imports, say observers.
Boeing points out that the USA has spent billions on research to develop various fighter capabilities, and says that countries that embark on indigenous programmes could succeed if they do the same. There is an easier alternative, it adds.
© Boeing
"In each case, it would make more sense to partner with the US government and US industry that has already made this investment, and has not only developed the technology but has also integrated those disparate capabilities into an effective weapons system. Boeing would certainly be interested in this type of collaboration," says the company.
This could happen in India. The Indian air force is due to take delivery of the first batch of the long-delayed Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) later in 2010 - although, going by its past record, that event could face a further postponement.
The pain that the air force went through with the LCA, however, means that foreign collaboration is a possibility for the proposed Medium Combat Aircraft, on which the country's Aeronautical Development Agency could begin work on it in the middle of this decade.
The twin-engined aircraft will incorporate stealth features, have air-to-ground and air-to-air capabilities and be able to perform suppression of enemy air defence, precision strike and close combat missions, says the ADA.
The 20t aircraft will also have a low radar cross-section, "serpentine-shaped" air intakes, internal weapons bays and advanced radomes to increase its stealth features. All of these technologies are already available in the USA, observers point out.
India is also in talks with Russia to collaborate on a fifth-generation fighter programme. This aircraft will be based on Russia's Sukhoi-led PAK-FA fighter, which is likely to have its first flight in 2010. Officials from both countries are confident that they can reach an agreement on the joint venture shortly, but there are worries within India about the level of access their researchers will get to the Russian programme.
In South Korea, the KF-X programme to develop a successor to the country's F-16s and McDonnell Douglas F-4s has stalled at the study stage. Seoul declined to finance the development stage due to the economic downturn, and there is still no clear indication of when that will go through. The focus of the study appears to have shifted.
Initially, the plan was to develop an advanced fighter similar to the Rafale or Typhoon. Last year, however, the research institute that is studying the feasibility of the programme recommended that it instead focus on developing a larger version of the F-16. That could involve Lockheed, which helped the county's Korea Aerospace Industries develop its T-50 advanced jet trainer that is based on the F-16. But the uncertainty, and potential $10 billion bill, means that this should remain in limbo.
Seoul, however, has given KAI the go-ahead to develop a prototype of a light attack version of its T-50, with a production contract likely after the air force tests the aircraft. The F/A-50 also has export potential, says KAI.
Japan has been working for years on the ATD-X programme to develop a stealth fighter that would be similar to the Gripen in size. It would be powered by a pair of IHI XF5 afterburning, thrust-vectoring engines derived from the XF7 turbofan used by Japan's Kawasaki XP-1 maritime patrol aircraft.
© Flightglobal/Tim Bicheno-Brown
Indegenousfighter developments like Japan's proposed ATD-X have largely stalled
However, there has been little word on the programme since the defence ministry unveiled the first full-sized mock-up of the demonstrator at Japan Aerospace 2008. That same year, it decided against proceeding with the development stage and instead continued to fund the studies.
Some observers say that Japan would fund the development of a fighter only to satisfy the needs of its indigenous aerospace industry. Others say that this is just a ploy to get the USA to release access to the Lockheed F-22 Raptor, which Japan covets but Washington is refusing to release for export.
When it comes to indigenous programmes, Aboulafia proposes his "Rule of National Fighter Creation" to assess why countries embark on them. It can mean one of four things: they have a big budget and are not prepared to compromise on quality, they believe that it would be cheaper than the alternative imports, only local firms can meet the country's requirements, or they do not mind having an inferior aircraft.
His point is that, when indigenous programmes are closely scrutinised, none of those reasons really holds up. Almost inevitably, these plans cost too much and produce an inferior or outdated aircraft.
"India's LCA, for example, is quick becoming a multi-decade horror story, despite a large market and an abundance of talent and cash," Aboulafia points out. "National fighter concepts are almost always a very bad idea."
There are several big fighter requirements around the Asia-Pacific region, with the countries assessing a variety of aircraft.
India has the biggest competition in the region - a $10-12 billion tender for 126 medium multi-role combat aircraft. The Saab Gripen NG, Dassault Rafale, Boeing F/A18-E/F Super Hornet, Eurofighter Typhoon, Lockheed Martin F-16 and RSK MiG-35 are in contention in what could be a product-saving opportunity for some.
New Delhi requires naval fighters as well, and has sent a request for information to Boeing, Dassault and Lockheed for the carrier version of its F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. New Delhi is also likely to order more Sukhoi Su-30MKIs, which Hindustan Aeronautics licence-produces in India.
Neighbouring Pakistan, with one eye on its rival, has begun indigenous production of the Chengdu JF-17 that Pakistan Aeronautical Complex helped to design. It also began to receive its newer batch of F-16s last year. In a few years, Islamabad is likely to ask Washington for more F-16s and attempt to buy a batch of the Chengdu J-10, China's latest fighter.
© Sipa Press/Rex Features
India is likely to order more Sukhoi Su-30MKIs, which Hindustan Aeronautics licence-produces in India
Further east, Lockheed is pushing South Korea to select the F-35 for the third phase of its F-X competition, with the company saying that Seoul could get access to the aircraft from 2014 if required. Seoul is looking to buy around 60 fighters, but worries about possible delays to the F-35 and that the early variants may not be as sophisticated.
That could pave the way for Boeing and its F-15 Silent Eagle variant, which the company has proposed with countries such as South Korea in mind. The F-15K was selected for the first two phases of South Korea's F-X competition, and Boeing is pushing Seoul to consider the F-15SE.
Japan is studying the F-35, the F-15SE and the F/A-18E/F, along with the Eurofighter Typhoon, for its F-X competition. Its first choice, however, is the Lockheed F-22 Raptor. Washington's reluctance to export the fighter, however, could lead Japan to the F-35 instead. If there is a delay, one of the others could be an interim solution.
The Obama administration is still studying Taiwan's long-standing request for 66 new F-16C/Ds worth $1.3 billion, and Taipei has asked to buy mid-life upgrade kits for its existing F-16A/Bs as well. It is keen on the F-35, but that is a long shot. Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation, the island's national aircraft manufacturer, proposes upgrades to half of the service's existing 130 A/B-model IDFs.
In South-East Asia, Singapore has ordered 24 Boeing F-15SGs to complement its older fleet of Lockheed F-16s. It could buy up to 60 aircraft, although the Singapore air force could begin evaluating the F-35 in the coming years. It is unlikely to proceed with an order until the F-35 has entered into service with several air forces, and proven its capabilities. When that order comes, the air force is likely to retain the region's most modern and capable combat aircraft fleet.
The Royal Malaysian Air Force bought 18 Su-30MKMs and was considering a follow-on order. However, in October, the Malaysian government decided to retire the country's fleet of MiG-29s because of their high operating costs. It plans to assess fighters from the USA, France, Sweden and the UK to replace them, and Russian arms export agency Rosoboronexport says that it is likely to offer the Sukhoi Su-30MKM for the tender.
Thailand has ordered six Saab Gripens, but it has delayed the purchase of an additional six due to the deepening economic crisis. Its neighbour Vietnam is reported to be going ahead with the purchase of a new batch of Su-30s and could order more advanced fighters from its traditional supplier Russia.
Indonesia has taken delivery of five Su-30MKs and two Su-27SKs, with another three Su-30SKMs likely to be delivered in the coming year. It also hopes to buy six Block 50/52 F-16C/Ds and upgrade six of its airworthy F-16A/Bs to the enhanced standard. This would enable Jakarta to stand-up an F-16 squadron to replace its F-5s by 2014.
Last year, Australia ordered an initial batch of 14 F-35s - the first country in the Asia Pacific region to commit to the fighter. The first F-35 is due to be delivered in 2014, and the first operational squadron to be stood up by 2018. Approval for a second batch will be considered in 2012, fulfilling Australia's commitment to form three operational squadrons and a training squadron.
Canberra also ordered 24 Boeing F/A-18E/F - becoming the first export customer for the type - but could convert around 12 of them to the E/A-18G electronic attack configuration.


text:
|New Zealand v Bangladesh - Jan 4-6, 2008
|New Zealand v South Africa - Mar 8-12, 2017
|Test records | Results | High totals | High scores | Most runs | Best bowling | Most wickets | Partnerships | Statsguru
|New Zealand v Bangladesh - Feb 8, 2010
|New Zealand v Bangladesh - Feb 20, 2019
|ODI records | Results | High totals | High scores | Most runs | Best bowling | Most wickets | Partnerships | Statsguru
|Records index
The University Oval ground is located in Logan Park, which itself was built between 1913 and 1920 on the silted-up inlet of Otago Harbour. The Park contains many sports pitches, and as well as the cricket venue it is also home to the Caledonian Ground, the city's main football (soccer) venue.
A beautiful tree-lined ground with a main pavilion and a grandstand at one end, and plenty of flat grassy banks for spectators, the playing area was expanded and the pitch rotated ahead of Otago switching there in 2004. It had been used occasionally for major cricket since 1978-79. In 2007-08 it hosted its first Test, becoming New Zealand's seventh Test venue, but its second, in December 2008 against West Indies, was controversial because considerable time was lost to rain and the facilities and groundstaff came in for much criticism.
Cricinfo staff


text:
Newtown Holds The First Funerals [VIDEO]
A grief-stricken Newtown began laying to rest the littlest victims of the school massacre, starting with two 6-year-old boys — one of them a big football fan, the other described as a whip-smart youngster whose twin sister survived the rampage.
Family, friends and townspeople streamed to two funeral homes to say goodbye to Jack Pinto, who loved the Giants and idolized their star wide receiver Victor Cruz, and Noah Pozner, who liked to figure out how things worked mechanically.
In front of the funeral home where relatives mourned Noah, well-wishers placed two teddy bears, a bouquet of white flowers and a single red rose at the base of an old maple tree.
"He was just a really lively, smart kid," said Noah's uncle Alexis Haller, of Woodinville, Wash. "He would have become a great man, I think. He would have grown up to be a great dad."
A fir tree opposite the funeral home was strung with paper angels carrying the names of everyone who died, including the teachers.
In keeping with Jewish tradition, the boy was laid to rest in a simple brown wooden casket adorned with a Star of David. His uncle described him as a smart, funny and mischievous child who loved animals and Mario Brothers video games, and liked to tease his sisters by telling them he worked in a taco factory.
"It is unspeakably tragic that none of us can bring Noah back," Haller said. "We would go to the ends of the earth to do so, but none of us can. What we can do is carry Noah within us, always. We can remember the joy he brought to us. We can hold his memory close to our hearts. We can treasure him forever."
Noah's twin sister, Arielle, who was assigned to a different classroom, survived the killing frenzy by 20-year-old Adam Lanza that left 20 children and six adults dead last week at Sandy Hook Elementary in an attack so horrifying that authorities could not say whether the school would ever reopen.
"You're secure now. The worst is over"
At Jack's service, hymns rang out from inside the funeral home. A mourner, Gwendolyn Glover, said that Jack was in an open casket and that the service was a message of comfort and protection, particularly for other children.
"The message was: You're secure now. The worst is over," she said.
The funeral program bore a quote from the Book of Revelation: "God shall wipe away all tears. There shall be no more death. Neither sorrow nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain."
At both funeral homes, people wrestled with the same questions as the rest of the country — what steps could and should be taken to prevent anything like the massacre from happening again.
"If people want to go hunting, a single-shot rifle does the job, and that does the job to protect your home, too. If you need more than that, I don't know what to say," Ray DiStephan said outside Noah's funeral.
He added: "I don't want to see my kids go to schools that become maximum-security fortresses. That's not the world I want to live in, and that's not the world I want to raise them in."
With more funerals planned this week, the road ahead for Newtown, which had already started purging itself of Christmas decorations in a joyful season turned mournful, was clouded.
"I feel like we have to get back to normal, but I don't know if there is normal anymore," said Kim Camputo, mother of two children, 5 and 10, who attend a different school. "I'll definitely be dropping them off and picking them up myself for a while."
With Sandy Creek Elementary still designated a crime scene, State police Lt. Paul Vance said that it could be months before police turn the school back over to the district. The people of Newtown, consumed by loss, were not ready to address its future.
"We're just now getting ready to talk to our son about who was killed," said Robert Licata, the father of a student who escaped harm during the shooting. "He's not even there yet."
A message read at the funeral of 6-year-old Noah Pozner by his uncle Alexis Haller, of Woodinville, Wash.:
On Friday, Dec. 14, we tragically lost a most beloved member of our family. Noah was a 6-year-old little boy, and he was so dear to all of our hearts.
Words cannot express the unfathomable loss we feel.
Noah was a wonderful son and a loving brother. He was kind, caring, smart, funny, and sometimes even a little mischievous. He liked to tell his sisters that he worked in a taco factory; when they asked him how he got to work, he would give them a funny look as if to say he knew something that they didn't.
Noah was a little kid. He loved animals, video games and Mario Brothers. He was already a very good reader, and had just bought a Ninjago book at a book fair that he was really excited about reading. He was also very excited about going to a birthday party he had been invited to. It was to take place on Saturday, Dec. 15.
Noah loved his family dearly, especially his mom, his dad, his big sisters Danielle and Sophia, his big brother Michael, and his dear twin Arielle. He called Arielle his best friend, and she was — and always had been.
If Noah had not been taken from us, he would have become a great man. He would been a wonderful husband and a loving father. He would have been a backbone of our family for years to come. His loss, and our loss, are deep indeed.
It is unspeakably tragic that none of us can bring Noah back. We would go to the ends of the Earth to do so, but none of us can.
What we can do is carry Noah within us, always. We can remember the joy he brought to us. We can hold his memory close to our hearts. We can treasure him forever. And all of us, including the family, the community, the country and the world, can honor Noah by loving each other and taking care of each other. That's what Noah would have wanted.
Noah, we love you so much, we miss you dearly, and we will never, ever forget you.


text:
Lap marks appear as a denser color or higher gloss where wet and dry layers overlap.
Lap marks can occur when wet and dry layers overlap during painting or staining. They can also occur when paint is applied in direct sunlight or in conditions that are too warm, or when paint or stain is applied on too porous a surface.
To cover lap marks, spread another coat of paint on top of your previous coat, taking care to spread it uniformly. If the finish is transparent or the surface is overly porous, you may need to apply a second coat or a primer coat.
To avoid making lap marks, do not paint sections of large surfaces from top to bottom completely. Instead, paint walls and other surfaces in sections small enough to allow you to maintain a wet edge.
Avoid painting on hot, windy days, as this will accelerate the drying time of paint.
Note: Images provided by The Rohm & Hass Paint Quality Institute.


text:
Get the Flash Playerto see this player.
|Dr Susan Block
Short review: I would love to find that unbridled release of who I truly am inside, to let it become exposed through the sexual side of life, to let go and grab on at the same time, letting go of reality and grabbing onto how we all should be able to escape now and then, it must be so refreshing and satisfying! This is a site that I could literally use a million adjectives to describe, it's a wonderful place!
Content Amount: I wish I could say the numbers are in the thousands when it comes to content, but, that's not the case, they are low, which of course will affect the star count, but they do update, just not on a rigid schedule, at times just days, others in weeks.


text:
algorithmic sculpture update
my research continues, i was unhappy with the results of the ribbon of plexi so I replaced it with acrylic rod which is much more line like. I am applying L-System Rules to the acrylic rod and allowing the aesthetics of math to take shape.
This video shows a simple set of instructions: 1 unit forward, two units 90 degrees down, 1 unit at 0 degrees pitch and 270 degrees yaw.
This video shows the partially rendered 6 iterations of L-System formula: FX, where X is X+YF+> and Y is >>-FX-Y