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November 9th, 2012
5@5 is a daily, food-related list from chefs, writers, political pundits, musicians, actors, and all manner of opinionated people from around the globe.
Editor's Note: Gregory Hall is the founder of Virtue Cider, a Chicago-based craft cider company. Hall served as the Brewmaster of Goose Island Beer Company from 1991 to 2011.
I became a big fan of hard cider on a trip to England in 2000 with a group of brewers from Goose Island. We visited several breweries on the trip, but the highlight was visiting a pub called The Maltings in York.
They were hosting a cider festival with casks from small producers all around the English countryside. We were all blown away by the variety, complexity and just plain wonderfulness of those ciders.
Here are five of my favorites, in no particular order.
Five Hard Ciders to Try Right Now: Gregory Hall
1. Herefordshire Sparkling Dry Cider - Oliver's Cider and Perry
2. Organic Cidre Bouché Brut de Normandie - Etienne Dupont
3. Sarasola Sagardoa
4. Dooryard Cider - Farnum Hill Ciders
Traditional cider is such an agricultural product and Dooryard shows that well. There is usually enough tannin and acidity to pair with a bowl of New England clam chowder.
5. Smackintosh - Tandem Ciders
Is there someone you'd like to see in the hot seat? Let us know in the comments below and if we agree, we'll do our best to chase 'em down.
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Book Binders & Book Printers in Hamilton
Below is a list of businesses listed within our directory. If you do not see your business within the list below, you can submit it for addition to this list. Adding your business will feature your listing above Standard listings.
M J Printing CO - Hamilton, AL - Phone: (205) 921-3833
Helpful Definition for: Book Binders & Book Printers
A person in Hamilton who fastens books together and puts covers on them is generally known as a bookbinder. The origination of book binding was in India. In the ancient era the holy sutras were copied with a metallic stylus on the palm leaves which were cut laterally into two pieces. Then the leaf was dried and ink was rubbed in the same. This would create a tint in the space. The completed leaves were named with numbers, and two long strings were threaded through each end through wooden boards. However, from the 5th century onwards the Western books were bound between hard covers, and the pages were prepared from parchment crumpled and stitched with strong cords. These cords were attached to the wooden boards and were protected with leather. Earlier the books were entirely handwritten using handmade tools, hence the sizes and styles varied significantly. As a result, each book was a unique creation. People who live their livelihoods by printing books are known as Book Printers in Hamilton. This profession has been now extended to print-press also. Book printing includes hard cover or soft cover books consuming a wide variety of binding categories. Apart from this, publishing software applications or some version of book printing software is often used also.
Recent News from the Green Blog
PSEG Long Island Helps Customers Go Green and Save Green
Energy Efficiency Programs Save Customers Millions of Dollars (Long Island, NY) PSEG Long Island announced today that customers participating in energy efficiency programs in 2015 will save more than $60 million and 307,582,000 kilowatt hours (kWh) per year. The amount of energy saved is good for the environment, too, as it results in the elimination of the carbon dioxide emissions..

subset: commoncrawl


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Sounds a good idea to me, i dont think there is much between all the local sides now so the level of competition would be good.
I just hope they keep it summer to build on this year as it is only going to get better. No summer break just keep the fixture list with breaks in it for players to book there weekends away etc.
Edited by joe elliot, 22 October 2012 - 01:01 PM.


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Glycoproteomic Analysis of Urine in Women Undergoing Spontaneous Preterm Delivery
Recruitment status was Not yet recruiting
- Full Text View
- Tabular View
- No Study Results Posted
- Disclaimer
- How to Read a Study Record
When babies are premature, or born before they are fully developed, they face many different medical problems, some of which are quite devastating, such as cerebral palsy, mental retardation, blindness, deafness, severe intestinal problems, and developmental delays. Unfortunately, in more than half the cases of premature births, there is no procedure or test that an obstetrician can employ to predict if a fetus is at risk for premature birth, especially when the mother is healthy. This study seeks to determine if certain factors found in the urine undergo specific changes that can be used to detect premature births of this type before they happen.
In this study, the investigators will identify women with a history of preterm delivery between 24-32 weeks, 32-34, and 34-36 weeks gestation based on diagnosis codes in the medical record who are currently pregnant. The investigators will ask these women when they are in the 16-20 week into their pregnancy to fill out a questionaire to determine study eligibility. If chosen to participate, the investigators will ask them to collect their first morning urine samples before each of their remaining prenatal care appointments for our studies. The investigators will also ask them if the investigators can check their medical records to determine if they later had a premature baby. If these women in either group give birth prematurely, then the investigators will analyze the glycoproteins in their urine samples using known values from women who did not have a premature birth as controls. If the investigators can see any changes in glycosylation in the women who gave birth prematurely, then this information will be used to apply for a larger study that will determine if such changes apply to all women. If it can then be shown to apply to all women, then the investigators may use it to predict preterm delivery. This information would allow physicians to design treatments to help these women and their babies, and spare them these disabilities. Some women go into labor prematurely, well before they should give birth. Physicians can intervene in some cases to stop labor, and allow the fetus to develop further in the mother's womb. However, in more than half the cases the physician cannot stop this process, and the baby is born prematurely.
Preterm Birth
Obstetric Labor, Premature
Preterm PROM
Other: No interventions.
|Study Type:
|Study Design:
|Observational Model: Cohort
Time Perspective: Prospective
|Official Title:
|Glycoproteomic Analysis of Urine in Women Undergoing Spontaneous Preterm Delivery
- Glycosylation changes in glycoproteins in urine [ Time Frame: After delivery of preterm infant, less than one year ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]In participating women who deliver preterm, the collected urine specimens will be analyzed to evaluate glycosylation changes in glycoproteins, specifically uromodulin.
Biospecimen Retention: Samples Without DNA
|Estimated Enrollment:
|Study Start Date:
|May 2011
|Assigned Interventions
Prior delivery at 24-32 weeks gestation
Women with a prior preterm delivery at 24-32 weeks gestation, not related to multiple gestation pregnancy.
Other: No interventions.
No interventions.
Prior preterm deliver at 32-34 weeks gestation
Women with a prior preterm delivery at 32-34 weeks gestation, not related to multiple gestation pregnancy.
Other: No interventions.
No interventions.
Prior preterm delivery at 34-36 weeks gestation
Women with a prior preterm delivery at 34-36 weeks gestation, not related to multiple gestation pregnancy.
Other: No interventions.
No interventions.
|Ages Eligible for Study:
|18 Years to 50 Years
|Genders Eligible for Study:
|Accepts Healthy Volunteers:
|Sampling Method:
|Probability Sample
Inclusion Criteria:
- Pregnant women with a history of preterm delivery
Exclusion Criteria:
- Individuals that abuse alcohol or drugs
- Individuals under the age of 18
- Individuals that do not speak fluent English
- Individuals with multifetal gestation
- Individuals with known fetal anomaly
- Individuals receiving heparin treatment during current pregnancy
- Individuals with current or planned cervical cerclage
- Individuals with hypertension requiring medication
- Individuals with a seizure disorder
- Individuals who plan to deliver at some location other than the University of Missouri affiliated hospitals
- Individuals with a known abnormal fetal karyotype
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01348230
|Contact: Michael W McCullough, MD
|(573) 817-3095
|Contact: Amanda J Stephens, MD
|(573) 499-6084
|United States, Missouri
|University of Missouri Hospitals and Clinics
|Not yet recruiting
|Columbia, Missouri, United States, 65202
|Contact: Michael W McCullough, MD 573-817-3095 email@example.com
|Principal Investigator: Michael W McCullough, MD
|Sub-Investigator: Gary F Clark, PhD
|Sub-Investigator: Amanda J Stephens, MD
|Sub-Investigator: Mary L Smith, MD
|Principal Investigator:
|Michael W McCullough, MD
|University of Missouri Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
|Responsible Party:
|Michael Wayne McCullough, MD, University of Missouri Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
|ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
|NCT01348230 History of Changes
|Other Study ID Numbers:
|Study First Received:
|May 3, 2011
|Last Updated:
|May 4, 2011
|Health Authority:
|United States: Institutional Review Board
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
Obstetric Labor, Premature
Premature Birth
Obstetric Labor Complications
Pregnancy Complications
ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on May 05, 2016


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KESHA has a song called "Supernatural" on her new album . . . and she claims it's based on real-life experiences she had with a ghost. Real-life SEXUAL experiences.
--She says, quote, "It's about experiences with the supernatural . . . but in a sexy way . . . I had a couple experiences with the supernatural.
--"I don't know his name! He was a ghost! I'm very open to it."
TLC Has Announced Three "Here Comes Honey Boo Boo" Holiday Specials
If your holidays aren't complete without some trashy reality TV . . . there's FANTASTIC news: TLC has ordered three "Here Comes Honey Boo Boo" holiday specials.
--There aren't any specific airdates yet . . . but they'll air around Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas.
--TLC also announced that more episodes are on the way, which will air in the spring. This seems to indicate a second season, but they didn't specifically say that. The first season . . . which ended last night . . . averaged a strong 2.3 million viewers.
Snoop Dogg on Smoking Marijuana with His Son: "What Better Way to Learn Than from the Master?"
Earlier this month, SNOOP DOGG'S 18-year-old son CORDE BROADUS posted photos of him smoking pot with his dad out of a two-foot glass bong. And in case you're wondering, Snoop considers that GOOD parenting.
--He tells the "Hollywood Reporter", quote, "My kids can do whatever the hell they want. For me to say otherwise would be hypocritical.
--"A lot of mother[effers] don't have a relationship with their kids, and that's when they get on drugs and have suicidal thoughts and drive drunk. Me and my son is mellow. I'm his father, so I wanna show him the proper way because he looks up to me.
--"What better way to get it than from the master?"
(--Obviously, we assume that by "getting on drugs," Snoop is NOT referring to marijuana. He probably doesn't consider the GIGGLE WEED a real drug.)
Are Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart Living Together Again?
"Us Weekly" claims that ROBERT PATTINSON and KRISTEN STEWART are living together again . . . but there's no word where. A source says, quote, "They are living together and have reconciled."
--Things aren't back to normal yet, though. The source adds that Rob is still, quote, "extra-sensitive" and "insecure".
--Other tabloids are saying that Kristen is doing everything she can to prove she's all about Rob this time.
--According to one source, that includes writing POETRY . . . quote, "He always wanted her to write poetry for him, but she never made the effort before. But since this happened, she's been writing her heart out.
--"She's written song lyrics, poetry and about a million apologies."
--Another source says Kristen is talking about getting Rob's name TATTOOED on her body. And while Rob thinks it's a crazy idea, he was also "affected deeply" that she would consider it.
Jennifer Garner Says Ben Affleck Has "Wonder Sperm"
JENNIFER GARNER wants to be done having kids . . . but BEN AFFLECK'S LOINS may not let her.
--Yesterday on "Ellen", Jennifer said, quote, "I plan to be done. But my husband is kind of a WONDER SPERM kind of guy."
--That wonder sperm has spawned three progeny so far: A 6-year-old daughter named Violet, a 3-year-old daughter named Seraphina and a 6-month-old son named Samuel.
JWoww From "Jersey Shore" Got Engaged . . . While Skydiving
JENNI "JWOWW" FARLEY from "Jersey Shore" got engaged recently . . . while SKYDIVING. Her boyfriend Roger Matthewsproposed during a skydiving lesson by holding a handwritten sign . . . which she didn't even see until they hit the ground.
--She says, quote, "The whole time I'm screaming, 'What are you doing? What's going on?' He's like, 'I want to spend the rest of my life with you! Will you allow me to?'" Obviously, she said yes.
(--Maybe the FIVE-CARAT ROCK he slipped on her finger had something to do with it.)


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Leave it to OHWOW founders Aaron Bondaroff and Al Moran to bring democracy to Art Basel, which, with its satellite transforms Miami each year into a giant shopping mall for high-priced art.
Thursday night, the opening of the fifth and final It Ain't Fair annual group exhibition presented by OHWOW had no guestlist. Conceived before the art market bubble burst in 2008, Moran said the exhibition's mission since inception has been to show the most interesting work, not the most expensive. And when the gallery launched its first It Ain't Fair here in Miami a month after the market crash, it was obvious they were in it for the right reasons.
The artists OHWOW have supported, shown and published are among today's most well-known and rising stars—and they were all in attendance at the opening of the fair in its new South Beach location, a 6000-foot warehouse space reserved for the event. Harmony Korine, Ryan McGinley, Tim Barber and Terry Richardson mingled, and OHWOW-repped artists Aurel Schmidt, Scott Campbell and Bert Rodriguez showed. Their artworks hung without provenance or pretension.
The crowd was a mix of downtown cool kids, art scene-stealers, aficionados and skaters repping Supreme, the legendary New York brand that Bondaroff part-founded in 1994. The New York Times-anointed power couple Cynthia Rowley and Bill Powers worked the room and Pharrell Williams posed for photos with fans, staying until security started calling for everyone to clear out. McGinley was one of the last to go, stopping on the way out to admire Agathe Snow's large-scale installation suspended in the front room, visible from the street through the floor-to-ceiling windows at 743 Washington Avenue.


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2 Product Reviews
Building toysMy wife and I bought this toy for our grandson for his 4th birthday. His parents tell us he's really enjoying it. He gets to take the toys apart and put them back together with the included tools. I like to build stuff; my son likes to build stuff; and now, my grandson likes to build stuff!
For the little mechanics out thereThis is a real cool toy, because kids get to learn how to put stuff together when they use it. Being a man of the house, I've had to learn how to fix and build a lot of stuff. Toys like this let my son do the same thing! Basically they use the included power drill (not dangerous) to put together these vehicles! Real cool concept, and he loves playing with the toys, taking them apart, and putting them back together.


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Whoosh! The sound of a massive milestone quickly passing by :)
We're continually improving Layers. Today we've launched the rich text editor in all Layers core widgets.
Last Saturday, Obox attended the second annual WordPress do_action charity hackathon day sponsored by WooThemes. The format required 8 teams of around 6 people each to build a website for a different charity in only 8 hours.
So you're browsing around for a theme for the new website you're building and you've already found some incredible stuff. Gorgeous layouts and amazing demos. You're super inspired, excited and can't wait to spend your money, get your theme, and launch the hottest site around.
This is something we've been keeping a secret for a while now, and it hasn't been easy. Finally, today, the cat is allowed out of the bag :) Envato, the world's greatest creative market, has become the exclusive partner for Layers, the world's best site builder. So what does this mean for you? Well, ThemeForest will be the […]
Long time friend of the company, Nic Haralambous, owner of the successful Nicharry.com men's socks and accessories store has moved his entire web presence over to Layers. We asked Nic some quick questions about his experience.
With Layers being our first open-source product we are quickly learning how awesome it is to have people outside of Obox make contributions. With just over a month having passed since launch we've had an overwhelming amount of contributions to the core and for that we are incredibly grateful.
This post has been 6 years in the making. I'll start at the beginning with a brief history of how Marc, David and Adii came to be part of the same company.
Last year in September Marc and I took part in the WordCamp do_action charity day in Cape Town with our primary task being to judge the event and help the various charities involved with their websites.


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On the upside
Reuters reported that Advanced Micro Devices (NYSE: AMD) retained the services of JPMorgan Chase to explore strategic options but the chipmaker denied that it would sell the company.
ZaZa Energy (Nasdaq: ZAZA) reversed year ago losses to post a profit for the third quarter as revenue surged. On the downside
To prevent MBIA (NYSE: MBI) from jeopardizing policyholder claims, Bank of America (NYSE: BAC) offered to purchase outstanding senior notes from the mortgage insurer.
Street-Wire issued a report saying that continued global economic challenges have negatively impacted alcohol sales to weigh down shares of Central European Distribution (Nasdaq: CEDC).
Shares of Abraxa Petroleum (Nasdaq: AXAS) continued falling after reporting a loss for the third quarter last week.
In the broad market, declining issues outpaced decliners by a margin of more than 2 to 1 on both the NYSE and on Nasdaq. The Russell 2000 which tracks small cap stocks lost 4 points to 789.


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Wicked queens aren't quite the same without an evil pet crow, and Halloween parties aren't, either. That's why you'll want to order our Crow with Wings Up Prop. Walk around with it to portray an evil witch or stand it up at your Halloween bash to create a spooky mood.
Our Price: $2.99
Our Price: $49.99
Our Price: $4.99


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From inside the book
89 pages matching eyes in this book
Where's the rest of this book?
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What people are saying - Write a review
We haven't found any reviews in the usual places.
Further Reading
Ode to Apollo In thy western halls of gold
24 other sections not shown
Common terms and phrases
ALBERT Allott Apollo AURANTHE beauty breath bright cancelled Charles Cowden Clarke clouds CONRAD dark death doth Draft dream earth echoes Endymion ERMINIA ETHELBERT eyes Faerie Faerie Queene Fair copy Fall of Hyperion Fanny Fanny Brawne feel flowers Garrod OSA gentle GERSA Gittings goddess golden hand happy hast headnote heart heaven Hyperion John Keats Jupiter Keats's kiss lady Lamia Leigh Hunt Lempriere light lips look LUDOLPH Milton moon morning mortal Muses night Nightingale numbers o'er Ode to Psyche ofSt OTHO pain pale Paradise Paradise Lost pleasure poem poet poeticism poetry Published 1848 round Saturn shade sigh SIGIFRED silent sleep Sleep and Poetry soft song sonnet sorrow soul Spenser spirit stanza stars sweet tears thee thine things thought Titans trees twas voice whisper wild wind wings wonder Woodhouse word written


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Remember Food Safety at Farmers' Markets
AMES, Iowa — Spring begins the farmers' market season across Iowa. As Iowans seek fresh produce and support local growers, they should follow general guidelines to make sure locally-grown food is safe to eat.
Iowans shop at farmers' markets for a variety of reasons, said Lindsay MacNab, a diet and exercise research assistant with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.
"Many people take comfort in knowing where their food comes from and the process that it undergoes from farm to marketplace. Local farmers' markets support green living and are environmentally friendly. Markets also build local communities — consumers establish positive relationships with other shoppers as well as local growers and their families," MacNab said.
The Iowa Farmers' Market Association says Iowa ranks fourth in having the greatest number of farmers' markets statewide. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, Iowa has an estimated 99,000 consumers and 1,500 producers who actively participate in local markets.
Local and federal regulations are in place to ensure food safety at the marketplace, but food safety is always a concern. Food contamination can occur while food is growing in the fields or during harvest, processing, packing or distribution, MacNab said.
"It's important to know the farmers at your local market and talk with them about their farm food safety plan and the treatment their products undergo before reaching the market," MacNab said.
Food Safety Shopping Tips
MacNab offers the following tips for shopping at farmers' markets:
- Check fruits and vegetables for bruising and damage. Any cuts or holes are hot spots for microbial growth.
- Before preparing or cooking fruits and vegetables, rinse the produce under cool running water, being sure to remove dust, soil and bugs.
- Pay particular attention to spinach, salad greens, melons and any other produce that comes in contact with the ground; these items require greater food safety vigilence.
- Milk, cheese, juices and ciders are required to have been pasteurized or treated prior to packaging. Canned goods (with the exception of jams and jellies) must come from a registered processing facility that has a license from local, state or federal authorities. "If you have any questions about a product, ask the vendor," MacNab said.
- "If you are unsure of food ingredients or have allergy concerns, check the product packaging. All food must be labeled with the common name of the item and both the name and address of the producer," MacNab continued. The State of Iowa requires that the product label show the name, list of ingredients, name and address of the producer/distributor, net weight or volume, allergen information and nutrition information.
- Pay close attention to ready-to-eat foods such as sandwiches, dips and other prepared samples. Ask the vendor how long the samples have been sitting out and how the food was prepared to ensure food safety.
- Assess the sanitation and food safety practices of the vendor by checking the environment. If the vendor is located in the sun without shade, does not have a hand washing station or fails to promote cleanliness, the products may be more at risk for containing pathogens that may lead to foodborne illness, MacNab said.
Markets Accept EBT Cards
Farmers' markets throughout Iowa accept Food Assistance Electronic Benefit Transfer cards, known as EBT cards, said Sarah Francis, an Iowa State University assistant professor and ISU Extension and Outreach nutrition specialist.
Since the launch of the Wireless EBT Project in 2005, families receiving food assistance have been able to purchase healthy, locally-grown food using their EBT card at local farmers' markets. Vendors who accept EBT cards will have a sign saying they accept EBT, Francis said. Iowans can obtain a list of participating farmers' markets and farmers at http://www.dhs.state.ia.us/docs/6.12._Brochure_Comm284.pdf.
Live Healthy Iowa
Purchasing healthy food at farmers' markets is a step toward Iowa's Healthiest State Initiative. This privately led public initiative is intended to inspire Iowans and their communities throughout the state to improve their health and happiness.
"Another step to help Iowa become the healthiest state in the nation is the Live Healthy Iowa 100-Day Challenge," Francis said. This team-based weight loss and physical activity program helps Iowans make positive changes for a healthier lifestyle. For more information, visit www.LiveHealthyIowa.org. Live Healthy Iowa is a partnership of the Iowa Department of Public Health, Iowa Sports Foundation and ISU Extension and Outreach.
For more information on nutrition and health or to receive a weekly e-mail from ISU Extension and Outreach including a food, recipe and activity of the week, visit www.extension.iastate.edu/healthnutrition.
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31 U.S. Code § 9701 - Fees and charges for Government services and things of value
prev | next
(a) It is the sense of Congress that each service or thing of value provided by an agency (except a mixed-ownership Government corporation) to a person (except a person on official business of the United States Government) is to be self-sustaining to the extent possible.
(b) The head of each agency (except a mixed-ownership Government corporation) may prescribe regulations establishing the charge for a service or thing of value provided by the agency. Regulations prescribed by the heads of executive agencies are subject to policies prescribed by the President and shall be as uniform as practicable. Each charge shall be—
Source(Pub. L. 97–258, Sept. 13, 1982, 96 Stat. 1051.)
|Revised Section
|Source (U.S. Code)
|Source (Statutes at Large)
|Aug. 31, 1951, ch. 376, § 501, 65 Stat. 290.
In the section, the words "agency (except a mixed-ownership Government corporation)" are substituted for "Federal agency (including wholly owned Government corporations as defined in the Government Corporation Control Act of 1945 [31 U.S.C. 841 et seq.]" because of section 101 of the revised title and for consistency.
In subsection (a), the words "each service or thing of value provided" are substituted for "any work, service, publication, report, document, benefit, privilege, authority, use, franchise, license, permit, certificate, registration or similar thing of value or utility performed, furnished, provided, granted, prepared, or issued" for consistency and to eliminate unnecessary words. The words "(including groups, associations, organizations, partnerships, corporations, or businesses)" are omitted as being included in "person" under 1:1.
In subsection (b), before clause (1), the words "may prescribe regulations establishing the charge for a service or thing of value provided by the agency" are substituted for "is authorized by regulation . . . to prescribe therefor such fee, charge, or price, if any, as he shall determine, in case none exists, or redetermine, in case of any existing one" for consistency, to eliminate unnecessary words, and because of the restatement. In clause (1), the words "and equitable" are omitted as being included in "fair". In clause (2)(A), the words "direct and indirect" are omitted as surplus. In clause (2)(B), the words "of the service or thing" are added for clarity. In clause (2)(D), the words "and any amount so determined or redetermined shall be collected and paid into the Treasury as miscellaneous receipts" are omitted as unnecessary because of section 3302 (a) of this title.
Subsection (c) is substituted for 31:483a(provisos) for clarity and to eliminate unnecessary words.
Short Title of 1992 Amendment
Pub. L. 102–393, title VI, § 638(a),Oct. 6, 1992, 106 Stat. 1779, provided that: "This section [enacting section 9703 of this title and amending sections 981 and 982 of Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure, section 1509 of Title 21, Food and Drugs, section 524 of Title 28, Judiciary and Judicial Procedure, and section 2003 of Title 39, Postal Service] may be cited as the 'Treasury Forfeiture Fund Act of 1992'."
LII has no control over and does not endorse any external Internet site that contains links to or references LII.


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In order to turn over aging inventory and make way for more current stock, some products on our site are listed in a "Dutch Auction". In a Dutch Auction, the selling price of a product is repeatedly lowered every day until product is sold out. As a result of the decreasing purchase price the product deal becomes more enticing to other buyers.
Act quickly to purchase at this "special price" before inventory is depleted and the product is sold out.
Cozy up with the Rodeo Round Up Baby Blanket. This soft blanket with horse
appliqué and striped trim is warm and cuddly. Makes a perfect gift and also
coordinates perfectly with the Bananafish Rodeo Round Up collection.
Size: 30" x 40"


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The process of buying a new Chevrolet car or truck can seem overwhelming if you don't know where to begin. Edmunds.com can get you started on the right track with a convenient directory of Chevrolet car dealerships in and around Holliston, Massachusetts. Compare online price quotes on the new or used car, truck, SUV, minivan, or wagon of your choice to locate the best deals. Edmunds.com makes it easy to find trusted Chevrolet car dealers in Holliston, saving car buyers time and money on what will be an important purchase.
Non Display Review Name "Great sales staff and service department. Always meets my expectations." Read more Review by: trat56
Non Display Review Name "This was a great experience the sales staff was very accommodating and knowledgeable. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this dealership to anyone. Very"... Read more Review by: markwvickerssr
Non Display Review Name "All of the people I dealt with at Colonial were terrific. I actually enjoyed the process and would recommend this dealership without hesitation." Read more Review by: JohnL53


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Learn how to use Muse to create a responsive website that looks great on a desktop, tablet, or mobile device. Learn how content can adjust and change so your site always looks good—regardless of where it's viewed.
Mobile Web
Explore mobile web development, including how to build mobile web applications, adaptive mobile websites, and mobile apps suitable for smartphones, tablets, and devices.
Make your WordPress sites more mobile. This is a basic, beginner-level course for people who want to make their sites mobile ready—with a focus on WordPress mobile themes and plugins.
Learn to build native-style applications that leverage your existing knowledge of HTML5, JavaScript, and CSS by using AngularJS and the Ionic framework.
Learn how to prototype apps that look and act just like native iOS and Android apps, with the simple HTML, CSS, and JavaScript components included in the Ratchet prototyping framework.
Learn how to develop iOS and Android apps with your existing HTML skills, Dreamweaver CC, and PhoneGap.
Learn how to build, test, and deploy Android and iOS apps with the PhoneGap and Cordova CLIs.
Learn how to design a user experience that's consistent and reliable from device to device: from phones and tablets to desktops and wearable tech.
Build rich, interactive mobile apps for iOS and Android devices without having to write native code, all with jQuery Mobile.
See how PhoneGap, an open-source framework, and the PhoneGap Build service, part of the Adobe Creative Cloud, allow you to create cross-platform mobile apps.
Learn to identity the most useful APIs available for your web applications, including services from Google, iOS and Android, Facebook and Twitter, Citrix, and even the US government.
Find out what web developers need to know to start developing projects with Visual Studio 2013.
Rapidly build, test, package, and publish cross-platform mobile apps using only JavaScript and a single, flexible code base, with Titanium Studio.
Learn how to add JavaScript to your HTML and CSS to make your webpages more responsive to different screen sizes. Dynamically load content, add animation, collapse navigation, and more.
Shows you how to use the Feathers and Starling user interface frameworks along with Stage3D to build out mobile applications with Adobe AIR.
Learn about the history, types, and various implementations of web services—the standard method of communicating between applications and across the web.
Learn to build a scalable backend with Azure Mobile Services and connect it to an existing app, add user profiles and roles, store data in the cloud, and set up an API service.
Explore the emerging workflow between the Adobe Creative Cloud applications and Edge Animate through a series of hands-on projects.
Real-world responsive design strategies to control the appearance and behavior of your website across multiple screen sizes and devices.
Discover how to create an app-like experience for iPad with HTML, CSS, and jQuery, while bypassing the need for Objective-C or the App Store.
Shows Flash developers how to create dynamic content in the browser using HTML5, CSS, and other related technologies.
Shows how to build a mobile WordPress site in Dreamweaver.
Shows how to create native iOS and Android applications from a single codebase with the open-source platform Titanium.
How to build a web site that automatically adapts its layout to various screen sizes, orientations, and resolutions on desktop browsers and mobile devices.
Surveys the core principles and techniques essential to building web sites for mobile devices.
"I often watch the lynda.com videos on my laptop while working out on a stationary bicycle. The short length of the video segments helps to keep me motivated: "I'll quit at the end of this chapter." So far I have lost 25 pounds!" —Gail P.Try it free
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Another way that you could tell a hippie besides from their bright and psychedelic clothing was all in their hairstyle. That's why you'll need one of our 60's wigs in order to really play the part of a 1960's hippie or mod look. These signature hairstyles are great for both men and women and are sure to make for an interesting Halloween.
Adult Blonde Braided Hippie Wig
Supa Freakin' Black Wig for Adults
Men during the 60's had one of two hairstyles going on: a hippie look or a mod look. The mod hairstyle was a medium length cut with slight bangs that could be seen on such artists like The Beatles. However, many men were also hippies and they had completely different looks. An afro was the typical and signature hairstyle of these men, though some of them just had very long straight hair that they'd hold back with a headband.
Women also has long hair that was accented with a headband as well. Some of the hairstyles were completely straight while others were teased out. Hippie women had very long locks of hair, while a woman who chose to wear a mod style would keep it teased upwards and cut off with a headband. You can be sure that you'll look like you came right out from the 60's in one of these wigs.


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Activity Browse
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Psychology5 matches
Quantitative Skills
New Pedagogic Methods
Pedagogy: Teaching with Data
Results 1 - 5 of 5 matches
Examining Prosocial Behavior Quantitatively: An Activity for Introductory Psychology Students
Kenneth Abrams, Carleton College
For this psychology project, students in small groups will design and execute a study on helping behavior and then analyze and interpret the results.
Political Psychology - Public Political Attitudes Assignment
Greg Marfleet, Carleton College
Students were asked to compare their estimates of public opinion on several current issues to the actual values obtained through the analysis of National Surveys. The objective was to explore a common social attribution error and to acquire familiarity with data sources and on-line analysis tools.
Introducing Introductory Psychology Students to Quantitative Analysis
Neil Lutsky, Carleton College
An assignment that involves introductory psychology students in the analysis a data set on personality traits and their relationship to measures of happiness and well-being.
Who Gets Help: A Field Experiment?
shelia kennison, Oklahoma State University-Main Campus
Students carry out a field experiment in order to test the hypothesis that able bodied individuals receive less help than those perceived to have an injury. Students collect and analyze data and write an APA style research report.
Becoming a Psychology Scholar
Lynn Garrioch, Colby-Sawyer College
This assignment takes indtroductory psychology students step-by-step through the research process.


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Polishing and decorating cases
In this workshop, imperfections invisible to the naked eye are hunted down to give the case the perfect shine it deserves. To cater to this need, the workshop is bathed in a dim light contrasting with the white light focussed on each work station. Everything hinges on the work of the polisher, to attain the degree of perfection imposed by Jaeger-LeCoultre for goods named "mirror polished ". The Atmos clock has the same degree of finishing and also undergoes several post-treatments such as smoothing, diamond polishing, buffing and varnishing.


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JE022: The Superhero Secret
Revision as of 17:17, April 25, 2013 by Joshuabassett0 (Talk | contribs)
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Still heading for Azalea Town, Ash and co. are attacked by Team Rocket, but look, up in the sky. It's a Golbat. It's a Dragonite, no it's Gligarman! Yes, Gligarman. The greatest superhero that ever existed. Faster than a Pidgeot, more powerful than a Machamp, able to leap tall buildings in a single bound (or fly around them).
Gligarman manages to save Togepi and flies off. Just then, a young girl (who Brock falls for), asks if they saw Gligarman, they say yes and she bikes off. What is the secret behind Gligarman? And will Ash be the Gligarman of the next generation?
- Mr. Parker/GligarMan
- Latoya Parker/Gligirl
- Gligarman is the Pokémon version of Batman.
- The surname Parker may be an omage to Peter Parker a.k.a. Spider Man.
- Gligirl is the Pokémon version of Batgirl.
- Gligarman and Gligirl are the first and second superheroes in the Pokémon anime, the third being the Mighty Accelguard.
- The "Who's that Pokémon?" in this episode is Mareep.
|This article is an anime stub.
Please help the Pokémon Wiki by expanding it.
| This article has an incomplete plot or synopsis.
Reason: N/A
Please help the Pokémon Wiki by expanding it.


text: "Well, imagine what you go through," she tells EW. "Imagine what happens when you go through a break up. We all go through break ups and we all get very depressed and desperate. The lyrics are very exact and autobiographical. That's how I write. But the one thing about those lyrics is you can hear me finding my strength throughout the song. It starts off really low and then I kind of stand up for myself and say, 'No!'"


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May 2, 2016
The rash of robberies at Internet cafes in Eastern Carolina became violent this morning with a shooting at one business.
Greenville police say just after 5:00 a.m. officers responded to the report of an armed robbery in progress at the H&L Business Center on Evans Street.
Police tell us the store manager reported two men dressed in all black and wearing masks came into the business, one with a handgun, the other with a shotgun.
The manger told police when one gunman jumped over the cash counter, he reached for his own weapon. The manager fired twice, and the men took off toward the railroad tracks and East 14th Street.
No injuries were reported.
Police said both their major crimes and forensics units are currently working the case. No word yet on if anything was stolen from the business or the identities of those robbers.
There has been a rash of similar hold-ups in the east including several in Greenville and Pitt County. Others have been reported in Lenoir, Martin and Onslow Counties. Deputies with the Pitt County Sheriff's Office recently announced the counties are teaming up and comparing notes on these cases as they try to catch the robbers.
Click Here to access the online Public Inspection File
Viewers with disabilities can get assistance accessing this station's FCC Public Inspection File by contacting the station with the information listed below. Questions or concerns relating to the accessibility of the FCC's online public file system should be directed to the FCC at 888-225-5322, 888-835-5322 (TTY), or firstname.lastname@example.com.


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This Child Superman Man of Steel Cape will transform you into this tough superhero that you always wanted to become. The red cape features the signature yellow and red "S" embroidered on the item. Make sure you stand up for justice and truth when you put on the signature cape and transform yourself into the man of steel.
Our Price: $9.99
Our Price: $3.99
Our Price: $18.99


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Krylon® Preserve It!® Digital Photo and Paper Protectant
If you print it, Krylon® Preserve It!® Digital Photo and Paper Protectant will protect it. Preserve all of your valuable papers—from treasured photos to ink jet greeting cards to awards to scrapbooking pages and more.
Acid-free and archival-safe, Preserve It!® effectively guards against moisture, UV fading and smudging. In fact, Preserve It! more than doubles the life of digital photos, prints and important documents.
Preserve It!® is available in both Gloss and Matte in 11-ounce aerosol cans.
Preserve It!® is acid-free/archival-safe and can be used on:
- paper
- wood
- plastic
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- wicker
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text: Our exclusive Shun Hiro collection features high-performance Eastern-style knives designed for speed, agility and balance as well as striking beauty. A cutting core of ultra-premium SG-2 steel creates a super-sharp, lasting edge, and the hammered blade helps keep foods from sticking for fast, efficient use. This bread knife's serrated blade slices through the largest loaves without tearing.


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Pivarootsi Windmill Holiday Village
Tuuleveski, Pivarootsi küla, Hanila vald, Lääne maakond
Getting there
10 km before Virtsu harbour in Hanila municipality in Lääne County you will come to the village of Kõmsi. After 300 m, turn left towards the village of Pivarootsi. From this intersection you will need to drive another 9 km. When you see the sign for the village make a right turn after 500 m and you should see the windmill.
- Signposted
- By excursion bus
- By car
58°33'34''N 23°35'36''E | Download GPX file


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Holly Dining Chair + Sets
Act fast! Items with prices ending in $0.99 are final sale.
No longer available
Mid-century minimalist. With its gently tapering birch legs and streamlined silhouette, the Holly Dining Chair brings the simple elegance of mid-century modern design to the dining room. Flanged seams on the seat cushion keep it looking both sophisticated and comfy.
Solid birch frame and legs with Pecan-stained finish.
21.25"w x 25.25"d x 35.5"h.
Covered in brushed heathered cotton in Flax.
Minimum assembly required.
Spot clean.


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i love it keep it up
cool ish
AWSOME !!! ..... very lovely e-card
nice card
its awesome.............
nice e-card...
it is really 999999times amazing!!!
will give this to my special someone NOW!!!
Wow. The words are so apt .
Most romantic ecard ever to express your love to your sweetheart, your darling!
Romantic greetings for your loved one.
A passionate romantic card to express your warm love emotions!
Let this pink shy bunny say, I love you, to someone special.
Cute visual to let your love know how special he/ she is to you.
I live my life between the moments I think about you!
The infinite reasons of my love for you!
A beautiful love song by John Legend, enjoy! Please comment & subscribe!
Music by Christine Calder (CC-50) used with permission. Send this beautiful ecard to...
Send this beautiful romantic ecard to your significant other for no reason but to tell...
Romantic visuals and a copy that will melt your sweetheart's heart.
Romantic visual to express how special he/ she is to you.
A special love card for your sweetheart!
Stuck on you - Lionel Richie Lyrics: Stuck on you I've got this feeling down deep in...
A romantic ecard to share endless love for your loved one.
Please wait...
Please wait...
Get a weekly dose of stories on friendship, love, misadventures and special offers. It's free, read it once and you're hooked!
Read the latest newsletter or Editor Bob's Blog


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So happy you will be able to join me! I will be giving instructions in the chatroom as well as here in the forum. I have a special coupon for anyone that comes and visits me in the chatroom that will only be good until midnight!... So be sure to at least pop in and say hi!! You will have 2 hours to finish your LO to claim your prize!
Want to see what you are playing for??
This lovely journal card set that coordinates with my World Traveler Collection!
I'm currently in the chatroom, and we will get started in about 20 minutes!!
Step 1: Choose different 3 photos, 1 photo will be your backgound 'paper'
Step 2: Choose at minimum 5 papers. Using 2 different papers, mat your 2 photos that are not your background 'paper
Step3: Create a paper stack using 3 different papers making a border edge that covers up to 1/3 of your background photo. Place your matted photos on this stack.
Step 4: Cut 2 short paper strips (using same papers as earlier or new ones) and place them on the opposite side of the page from your paper stack. Add a 1 word title on the strips using an alpha
Step 5: Choose at least 12 unique elements for your page. Be sure to choose at least 1 or 2 metal elements. Add them as you wish
Step 6: Add at least 2 sentences of journaling
Step 7: Add any additional elements that you feel you need, be sure to shadow your page, then upload to the gallery speed scrap catagory and post your LO in this thread!
here's mine!
You have 2 hours to finish up your page.
I will send out the prize for completing your page tomorrow evening (I have to work all day :( boo!)


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Monday, September 13, 2010
New York Fashion Week: Advanced Style
19 comments:
That's one SNAZZY outfit! I LOVE IT!!!
- September 14, 2010 at 2:39 AM
- Alpha male said...
I have been visiting various blogs for my research work. I have found your blog to be quite useful. Keep updating your blog with valuable information... Regards
- September 14, 2010 at 7:19 AM
- Judy C said...
Wow. He looks wonderful. I love that older people like me are allowed to be individualists.
- September 14, 2010 at 8:34 AM
- Fashionistable said...
You are so right. He is wonderful. Xxxx
- September 14, 2010 at 8:57 AM
- Kimmi said...
Its so cool, I like it and the colour is adorable! ;P
Greetings from
- September 14, 2010 at 9:00 AM
- rye said...
I just heard you on CBC Radio. Thanks for sharing these wonderful pictures and stories. Love what you are doing.
- September 14, 2010 at 10:29 AM
Great boots, and great outfit!
- September 14, 2010 at 4:40 PM
- Mim said...
- September 14, 2010 at 5:15 PM
- Jennifer said...
That is one fabulous zoot suit! I love how he styled it with all of those pins. And the color is incredible!
- September 14, 2010 at 10:52 PM
- buzztbuzzter.deer said...
straight classic, i love it!
- September 15, 2010 at 4:23 AM
- Forest City Fashionista said...
If I met him wearing that outfit, I would ask him to marry me right there, because I'd know that I just met my style match, and it doesn't get any better than that. That is THE BEST SUIT EVER! And I don't even have words for the shoes..
- September 16, 2010 at 9:25 PM
Such inventive use of color, texture and coordination -- he is one dapper gentleman!
- September 16, 2010 at 9:26 PM
- Baglady said...
Fantastic. Now THAT is a man who knows how to dress!
- September 20, 2010 at 4:06 PM
- Figure5InGold said...
Those are some Kick. A$$. Shoes.
- September 21, 2010 at 1:59 AM
- Figure5InGold said...
Oh dear, I hope I'm not banned for my last comment... No intent to offend--it was the highest compliment!
- September 21, 2010 at 2:01 AM
- TheGirlWithTheNotepad said...
Love the outfit, love the blog! I started my blog three days ago, and I hope one day my blog (www.thegirlwiththenotepad.blogspot.com) will become as inspirational and popular as yours! Keep doing what you're doing. x
- August 25, 2011 at 10:41 AM
- Brant said...
What a lovely man; I would love to see more photos, maybe an interview with him. Thank you Ari and friends!
- January 2, 2012 at 6:01 AM
- Vanda Panzica said...
I am curious to know if you take the looks or are used in everyday models? The looks are very creative. Congratulations
- April 20, 2012 at 7:36 PM
- Style Mentor™ said...
This gentleman just gave new meaning to the phrase, "SUPER FLY". :-) Love those kicks...
- May 18, 2012 at 11:25 AM


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David began his career in real estate during college in California in 1975 and has owned and operated 10 real estate related businesses, including: development, investment and management, escrow, personal coaching, training and consulting, Lindal Cedar Homes and a construction company.
David has been a licensed Realtor® in Utah since 2000 and has over 30 years of experience in real estate. He is currently the owner and director of the Lawson Real Estate team, a team of real estate professionals who he is responsible for managing, training and supervising. The Lawson Real Estate Team consists of a listing agent, buyer's specialists, transaction manager, administrative manager, a full service marketing team and administrative support staff, all working together for the benefit of our clients and developers. David possesses knowledge of Park City's real estate market that is unsurpassed and strives to offer the best professional representation in an ever changing real estate market, without sacrificing old fashioned, personalized service. He prides himself on making your real estate experience fun and educational and he works diligently to achieve your goals.
David is a current member of Park City and Salt Lake City Board of Realtors®. He is a Certified Distressed Property Expert and is knowledgeable in short sales, bank owned and distressed properties. David is married with four sons and six granddaughters. Activities he and his family enjoy together include skiing and snowboarding, riding motorcycles, boating and camping. Other interests include auto racing, flying airplanes, coaching, playing and watching baseball and basketball.


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Prices and availability are subject to change from the time and date that you print this page.
For Customer Service, please call 800.967.6696
Product Description
With the same easy-care, eco-friendly construction as the Epicurean boards and pizza peel, these special toola are handcrafted in Minnesota from sustainably harvested American wood. The construction process uses wood pulp certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), a nonprofit organization that encourages responsible management of the world's forests. Foodsafe resin is added in a technique that dramatically reduces waste, while Greenguard certification assures adherence to strict chemical emission standards, contributing to healthy homes. Dishwasher-safe sauté tool will develop a warm patina with regular use but will not warp or crack. Epicurean is also enrolled in WindSense, a program that purchases wind or other renewable energy from local power companies.
View all Epicurean products
- FSC-certified wood fibers and foodsafe resin
- Greenguard certified
- Non-porous
- Dishwasher-, freezer- and oven-safe to 350 degrees
- Made in USA
Our Designers Recommend
Everything you need.
Read what people are saying.Our reviews are verified for authenticity. Learn More.
Return/Exchange Policy
What you need to know.
We will accept returns and exchanges of non-furniture items if:
- Non-furniture items are returned within 90 days of customer receipt.
- A valid proof of purchase is provided (see below).
- Non-furniture items are returned in good condition—unused and unwashed.
If you discover an item has a manufacturer's defect or was damaged during transit, we will accept the item for return or exchange with proof of purchase. Without proof of purchase, the item can be exchanged only for the same item. A valid photo ID is required.
We are unable to accept any items for return or exchange without proof of purchase. Items purchased as final sale cannot be returned, exchanged or repaired.
Items must be returned to the store brand where the purchase originated or by mail (if the item was ordered online or by phone and received by mail). Purchases made outside the U.S. may only be returned to the purchase location.


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Community Information Database
You are browsing the Subject Heading Drug Courts which contains 2 record(s)
Page 1 of 1
- ALTO Counseling Center
Services also at 585 Auto Center Drive Watsonville, CA 95076 831-728-2233 Phone for an appointment. The ALTO program offers outpatient services, drinking driver programs, drug court and more.... [Full Record] [Add to Personal List]
- Fenix Outpatient Counseling Services
Provides outpatient drug and/or alcohol abuse treatment services to adults. We offer comprehensive individual sessions, family and group sessions. We provide substance abuse counseling including: AOD ... [Full Record] [Add to Personal List]
Page 1 of 1


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For the most current version of this Note, see Background Notes A-Z.
Republic of Lithuania
Area: 65,200 sq. km. (26,080 sq. mi.); about the size of West Virginia.
Cities: Capital--Vilnius (pop. 541,278); Kaunas (364,059); Klaipeda (188,767); Siauliai (130,020) (January 2004).
Terrain: Lithuania's fertile, central lowland plains are separated by hilly uplands created by glacial drift. A total of 758 rivers, many navigable, and 2,833 lakes cover the landscape. The coastline is 90 km. (56 mi.) long. Land use--44.2% arable land, 0.91% cultivated, 53.87% other.
Climate: With four distinct seasons, the climate is humid continental, with a moderating maritime influence from the Baltic Sea. January temperatures average -5oC (23oF); July, 17oC (63oF). Annual precipitation averages 62 centimeters (24.4 in.).
Nationality: Noun and adjective--Lithuanian(s).
Population: 3.4 million (July 2005 est.).
Growth rate: -0.3%. Birth rate--8.9/1,000. Death rate--11.9/1,000.
Ethnic groups: Lithuanian 83.4%, Poles 6.7%, Russians 6.3%.
Religions: Catholic (79%), Orthodox (4.1%), Protestant (1.9%).
Languages: Lithuanian; a minority speaks Russian (8%) and Polish (5.6%).
Education: Years compulsory--10 (until the age of 16). Literacy--99.6%.
Health: Infant mortality rate--67.8/1,000. Life expectancy--66.48 yrs. male, 77.85 yrs. female.
Work force (2005 est.): 1.61 million: services 56%; industry and construction 20%; agriculture 16%.
Type: Parliamentary democracy.
Constitution: On October 25, 1992 Lithuanians ratified a new constitution, which officially was signed on November 6 that year.
Branches: Executive--popularly elected president (chief of state); prime minister (head of government). Legislative--Seimas (parliament--141 members, 4-year term). Judicial--Constitutional Court, Supreme Court, and Highest Administrative Court.
Administrative regions: 10 counties and 60 municipalities.
Principal political parties/coalitions: Labor Party--39 seats, Conservative Party--25 seats, Social Democratic Party--20 seats, Liberal and Center Union--18 seats, New Union--11 seats, Liberal Democratic Party--10 seats, Union of Peasant and New Democracy Parties--10 seats, Independent--6 seats, Polish Electoral Action--2 seats.
Suffrage: 18 years, universal.
General government budget (2004): $4.96 billion (average exchange rate of 2004--2.78 Lt=$1).
GDP (2005 est.): $25.5 billion.
Annual GDP growth (2005 est.): 7.5%.
GDP per capita (2005 est.): $7,487.
Inflation (at the end of 2005): 2.7%.
Unemployment rate (2005 est.): 4.8%.
Major sectors of the economy: Manufacturing 21.5%, wholesale and retail trade 17.7%, transport and communications 12.9%, real estate, renting and business activities 10%.
Trade: Exports--$11.82 billion (2005): mineral products 27.5%, machinery and mechanical appliances 12.4%, textiles and textile articles 9.2%, wood and paper products 4.6%. Major export partners--Russia 10.4%, Latvia 10.1%, Germany 9.4%, France 7%. Imports--$15.48 billion (2005): mineral products 25.6%, machinery and equipment 17.9%, transportation equipment 11.7%, chemicals 7.8%, base metals 7%, textiles and clothing 5.6%. Major import partners--Russia 27.8%, Germany 15.2%, Poland 8.3%, the Netherlands 3.9%.
The largest and most populous of the Baltic states, Lithuania is a generally maritime country with 60 miles of sandy coastline, of which only 24 miles face the open Baltic Sea. Lithuania's major warm-water port of Klaipeda lies at the narrow mouth of Kursiu Gulf, a shallow lagoon extending south to Kaliningrad. The Nemunas River and some of its tributaries are used for internal shipping. (In 2000, 89 inland ships carried 900,000 tons of cargo, which is less than 1% of the total goods traffic). Between 56.27 and 53.53 latitude and 20.56 and 26.50 longitude, Lithuania is glacially flat, except for morainic hills in the western uplands and eastern highlands no higher than 300 meters. The terrain is marked by numerous small lakes and swamps, and a mixed forest zone covers 30% of the country.
The growing season lasts 169 days in the east and 202 days in the west, with most farmland consisting of sandy- or clay-loam soils. Limestone, clay, sand, and gravel are Lithuania's primary natural resources, but the coastal shelf offers perhaps 10 million barrels' worth of oil deposits, and the southeast could provide high yields of iron ore and granite. According to some geographers, Lithuania's capital, Vilnius, lies at the geographical center of Europe.
The earliest evidence of inhabitants in present-day Lithuania dates back to 10,000 BC. Between 3,000-2,000 BC, the cord-ware culture people spread over a vast region of eastern Europe, between the Baltic Sea and the Vistula River in the west and the Moscow-Kursk line in the east. Merging with the indigenous population, they gave rise to the Balts, a distinct Indo-European ethnic group whose descendants are the present-day Lithuanian and Latvian nations and the now extinct Prussians. The name "Lietuva", or Lithuania, might be derived from the word "lietava," for a small river, or "lietus," meaning rain (or land of rain).
Lithuanians are neither Slavic nor Germanic, although the union with Poland and Germanic and Russian colonization and settlement left cultural and religious influences. This highly literate society places strong emphasis upon education, which is free and compulsory until age 16. Most Lithuanians and ethnic Poles belong to the Roman Catholic Church; Orthodoxy is the largest non-Catholic denomination.
Enduring several border changes, Soviet deportations, a massacre of its Jewish population, and German and Polish repatriations during and after WWII, Lithuania has maintained a fairly stable percentage of ethnic Lithuanians (from 79.3% in 1959 to 83.5% in 2002). Lithuania's citizenship law and constitution meet international and OSCE [Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe] standards, guaranteeing universal human and civil rights.
The Lithuanian language still retains the original sound system and morphological peculiarities of the prototypal Indo-European tongue and therefore is fascinating for linguistic study. Between 400-600 AD, the Lithuanian and Latvian languages split from the Eastern Baltic (Prussian) language group, which subsequently became extinct. The first known written Lithuanian text dates from a hymnal translation in 1545. Written with the Latin alphabet, Lithuanian has been the official language of Lithuania again since 1989. The Soviet era had imposed the official use of Russian, so many Lithuanians speak Russian as a second language while the resident Slavic populace generally speaks Russian or Polish as a first language.
The first written mention of Lithuania occurs in 1009 AD, although many centuries earlier the Roman historian Tacitus referred to the Lithuanians as excellent farmers. Spurred by the expansion into the Baltic lands of the Germanic monastic military orders (the Order of the Knights of the Sword and the Teutonic Order) Duke Mindaugas united the lands inhabited by the Lithuanians, the Samogitians, Yotvingians, and Couranians into the Grand Duchy of Lithuania (GDL) in the 1230s-40s. In 1251 Mindaugas adopted Catholicism and was crowned King of Lithuania on July 6, 1253; a decade later, civil war erupted upon his assassination until a ruler named Vytenis defeated the Teutonic Knights and restored order.
From 1316 to 1341 Vytenis' brother and successor, Grand Duke Gediminas, expanded the empire as far as Kiev against the Tatars and Russians. He twice attempted to adopt Christianity in order to end the GDL's political and cultural isolation from western Europe. To that purpose, he invited knights, merchants, and artisans to settle in Lithuania and wrote letters to Pope John XXII and European cities maintaining that the Teutonic Order's purpose was to conquer lands rather than spread Christianity. Gediminas' dynasty ruled the GDL until 1572. In the 1300s through the early 1400s, the Lithuanian state expanded eastward. During the rule of Grand Duke Algirdas (1345-77), Lithuania almost doubled in size. The 1385 Kreva Union signed by the Grand Duke of Lithuania Jogaila (ruled in 1377-81 and 1382-92) and the Queen of Poland Jadwyga intensified Lithuania's economic and cultural development, orienting it toward the West.
Lithuania's independence under the union with Poland was restored by Grand Duke Vytautas. During his rule (1392-1430) the GDL turned into one of the largest states in Europe, encompassing present-day Belarus, most of Ukraine, and the Smolensk region of western Russia. Led by Jogaila and Vytautas, the united Polish-Lithuanian army defeated the Teutonic Order in the Battle of Tannenberg (Grunewald or Zalgiris) in 1410, terminating the medieval Germanic drive eastward.
The 16th century witnessed a number of wars against the growing Russian state over the Slavic lands ruled by the GDL. Coupled with the need for an ally in those wars, the wish of the middle and petty gentry to obtain more rights already granted to the Polish feudal lords drew Lithuania closer to Poland. The Union of Lublin in 1569 united Poland and Lithuania into a commonwealth in which the highest power belonged to the Sejm of the nobility and its elected King who also was the Grand Duke of Lithuania. Mid-16th century land reform strengthened serfdom and yet promoted the development of agriculture owing to the introduction of a regular three-field rotation system.
The 16th century saw a more rapid development of agriculture, growth of towns, spread of ideas of humanism and the Reformation, and book printing. The emergence of Vilnius University in 1579 and the Lithuanian Codes of Law (the Statutes of Lithuania) stimulated the development of culture both in Lithuania and in neighboring countries.
The Polish-Lithuanian Republic was weakened by the rising domination of the big magnates, and the 16th-18th-century wars against Russia and Sweden over Livonia, Ukraine, and Byelorussia. The end of the 18th century witnessed three divisions of the commonwealth by Russia, Prussia, and Austria; in 1795 most of Lithuania became part of the Russian empire. Attempts to restore independence in the uprisings of 1794, 1830-31, and 1863 were suppressed and followed by a tightened police regime, increasing Russification, the closure of Vilnius University in 1832, and the 1864 ban on the printing of Lithuanian books in traditional Latin characters.
Because of his proclamation of liberation and self-rule, many Lithuanians gratefully volunteered for the French Army when Napoleon occupied Kaunas in 1812 during the fateful invasion of Russia. After the war, Russia imposed extra taxes on Catholic landowners and enserfed an increasing number of peasants. A market economy slowly developed with the abolition of serfdom in 1861. Lithuanian farmers grew stronger, and an increase in the number of intellectuals of peasant origin led to the growth of a Lithuanian national movement. In German-ruled East Prussia, also called Lithuania Minor, K�nigsberg or Kaliningrad, Lithuanian publications were printed in large numbers and then smuggled into Russian-ruled Lithuania. The most outstanding leaders of the national liberation movement were J. Basanavicius and V. Kudirka. The ban on the Lithuanian press finally was lifted in 1904.
During WW I, the German Army occupied Lithuania in 1915, and the occupation administration allowed a Lithuanian conference to convene in Vilnius in September 1917. The conference adopted a resolution demanding the restoration of an independent Lithuanian state and elected the Lithuanian Council, a standing body chaired by Antanas Smetona. On February 16, 1918, the council declared Lithuania's independence. The years 1919-20 witnessed Lithuania's War for Independence against three factions--the Red Army, which in 1919 controlled territory ruled by a Bolshevist government headed by V. Kapsukas; the Polish Army; and the Bermondt Army, composed of Russian and German troops under the command of the Germans. Lithuania failed to regain the Polish-occupied Vilnius region.
In the Moscow Treaty of July 12, 1920, Russia recognized Lithuanian independence and renounced all previous claims to it. The Seimas (parliament) of Lithuania adopted a constitution on August 1, 1922, declaring Lithuania a parliamentary republic, and in 1923 Lithuania annexed the Klaipeda region, the northern part of Lithuania Minor. By then, most countries had recognized Lithuanian independence. After a military coup on December 17, 1926, Nationalist Party leader Antanas Smetona became president and gradually introduced an authoritarian regime.
Lithuania's borders posed its major foreign policy problem. Poland's occupation (1920) and annexation (1922) of the Vilnius region strained bilateral relations, and in March 1939 Germany forced Lithuania to surrender the Klaipeda region. Radical land reform in 1922 considerably reduced the number of estates, promoted the growth of small and middle farms, and boosted agricultural production and exports, especially livestock. In particular, light industry and agriculture successfully adjusted to the new market situation and developed new structures.
The inter-war period gave birth to a comprehensive system of education with Lithuanian as the language of instruction and the development of the press, literature, music, arts, and theater. On August 23, 1939, the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact pulled Lithuania first into the German sphere of influence and then brought Lithuania under Soviet domination following the Soviet-German agreement of September 28, 1939. Soviet pressure and a complicated international situation forced Lithuania to sign an agreement with the U.S.S.R. on October 10, 1939, by which Lithuania was given back the city of Vilnius and the part of Vilnius region seized by the Red Army during the Soviet-Polish war. In return, some 20,000 Soviet soldiers were deployed in Lithuania.
On June 14, 1940, the Soviet Government issued an ultimatum to Lithuania, demanding the formation of a new Lithuanian government and permission to station additional Red Army troops. Lithuania succumbed to the Soviet demand, and 100,000 Soviet troops moved into the country the next day. Arriving in Kaunas, the Soviet Government's special envoy began implementing the plan for Lithuania's incorporation into the U.S.S.R. On June 17 the alleged people's government, headed by J. Paleckis, was formed. Rump parliamentary elections were held a month later, and Lithuania was proclaimed a Soviet Socialist Republic on August 3. Totalitarian rule was established, Sovietization of the economy and culture began, and Lithuanian state employees and public figures were arrested and exiled to Russia. During the mass deportation campaign of June 14-18, 1941, about 7,439 families (12,600 people) were deported to Siberia without investigation or trial; 3,600 people were imprisoned, and more than 1,000 massacred.
A Lithuanian revolt against the U.S.S.R. quickly followed the outbreak of the war against Germany in 1941. The rebels declared the restoration of Lithuania's independence and actively operated a provisional government, without German recognition, from June 24 to August 5. Lithuania became part of the German occupational administrative unit of Ostland. People were repressed and taken to forced labor camps in Germany. The Nazis and local collaborators deprived Lithuanian Jews of their civil rights and massacred about 200,000 of them. Together with Soviet partisans, supporters of independence put up a resistance movement to deflect Nazi recruitment of Lithuanians to the German Army.
The Red Army forced the Germans out of Lithuania in 1944 and reestablished control. Sovietization continued with the arrival of communist party leaders to create a local party administration. The mass deportation campaigns of 1941-52 exiled 29,923 families to Siberia and other remote parts of the Soviet Union. Official statistics state that more than 120,000 people were deported from Lithuania during this period, while some sources estimate the number of political prisoners and deportees at 300,000. In response to these events, an estimated several tens of thousands of resistance fighters participated in unsuccessful guerilla warfare against the Soviet regime from 1944-53. Soviet authorities encouraged immigration of other Soviet workers, especially Russians, as a way of integrating Lithuania into the Soviet Union and of fomenting industrial development.
Until mid-1988, all political, economic, and cultural life was controlled by the Lithuanian Communist Party (LCP). The political and economic crisis that began in the U.S.S.R. in the mid-1980s also affected Lithuania, and Lithuanians as well as other Balts offered active support to Gorbachev's program of social and political reforms. Under the leadership of intellectuals, the Lithuanian reform movement "Sajudis" was formed in mid-1988 and declared a program of democratic and national rights, winning nationwide popularity. Inspired by Sajudis, the Lithuanian Supreme Soviet passed constitutional amendments on the supremacy of Lithuanian laws over Soviet legislation, annulled the 1940 decisions on proclaiming Lithuania a part of the U.S.S.R., legalized a multi-party system, and adopted a number of other important decisions. A large number of LCP members also supported the ideas of Sajudis, and with Sajudis support, Algirdas Brazauskas was elected First Secretary of the Central Committee of the LCP in 1988. In December 1989, the Brazauskas-led LCP split from the CPSU and became an independent party, renaming itself in 1990 the Lithuanian Democratic Labor Party.
In 1990, Sajudis-backed candidates won the elections to the Lithuanian Supreme Soviet. On March 11, 1990, its chairman Vytautas Landsbergis proclaimed the restoration of Lithuanian independence, formed a new Cabinet of Ministers headed by Kazimiera Prunskiene, and adopted the Provisional Fundamental Law of the state and a number of by-laws. The U.S.S.R. demanded revocation of the act and began employing political and economic sanctions against Lithuania as well as demonstrating military force. On January 10, 1991, U.S.S.R. authorities seized the central publishing house and other premises in Vilnius and unsuccessfully attempted to overthrow the elected government by sponsoring a local "National Salvation Committee." Three days later the Soviets forcibly took over the TV tower, killing 14 civilians and injuring 700. During the national plebiscite in February more than 90% of those who took part in the voting (76% of all eligible voters) voted in favor of an independent, democratic Lithuania. Led by the tenacious Landsbergis, Lithuania's leadership continued to seek Western diplomatic recognition of its independence. Soviet military-security forces continued forced conscription, occasional seizure of buildings, attacking customs posts, and sometimes killing customs and police officials.
During the August 19 coup against Gorbachev, Soviet military troops took over several communications and other government facilities in Vilnius and other cities but returned to their barracks when the coup failed. The Lithuanian Government banned the Communist Party and ordered confiscation of its property.
Despite Lithuania's achievement of complete independence, sizable numbers of Russian forces remained on its territory. Withdrawal of those forces was one of Lithuania's top foreign policy priorities. Lithuania and Russia signed an agreement on September 8, 1992, calling for Russian troop withdrawals by August 31, 1993, which took place on time.
Lithuania is a multi-party, parliamentary democracy. The president, who is elected directly for 5 years, is head of state and commander in chief overseeing foreign and security policy. The president nominates the prime minister and his cabinet and a number of other top civil servants.
The parliament (Seimas) has 141 members that are elected for a 4-year term. About half of the members are elected in single constituencies (71), and the other half (70) are elected in the nationwide vote by party lists. A party must receive at least 5% of the national vote to be represented in the Seimas.
Since 1991, Lithuanian voters have shifted from right to left and back again, swinging between the Conservatives, led by Vytautas Landsbergis (now headed by Andrius Kubilius), and the Labor (former communist) Party, led by former president Algirdas Brazauskas. This pattern was broken in the October 2000 elections when the Liberal Union and New Union parties won the most votes and were able to form a centrist ruling coalition with minor partners. President Adamkus played a key role in bringing the new centrist parties together. The leader of the center-left New Union (also known as the Social Liberal party), Arturas Paulauskas, became the Chairman of the Seimas. The then-government of liberal Rolandas Paksas got off to a rocky start and collapsed within 7 months. In July 2001, the center-left New Union Party forged an alliance with the left-wing Social Democratic Party and formed a new cabinet under former President Algirdas Brazauskas.
In January 2003, former Prime Minister and Liberal Union Party leader Rolandas Paksas defeated incumbent president Valdas Adamkus in a runoff presidential election. In December 2003, an ad hoc parliamentary commission found that President Paksas' vulnerability to influence constituted a threat to national security. On April 7, 2004, parliament removed President Paksas from office. Parliamentary Speaker Arturas Paulauskas became acting President. Valdas Adamkus won the second round of presidential elections in June 2004 and was sworn in as President on July 12, 2004. The first round of parliamentary elections was held October 10, 2004 and a second round was held October 24, 2004. A new government, led by Prime Minister Algirdas Brazauskas, took office on December 14, 2004. On April 11, 2006, Parliamentary Speaker Paulauskas was removed from his position following a vote of no-confidence. That same day, Paulauskas announced the withdrawal of his New Union party from the ruling coalition, including Foreign Minister Antanas Valionis and Social Welfare and Labor Minister Vilija Blinkeviciute.
Lithuania officially became a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization on March 29, 2004 after depositing its instruments of treaty ratification in Washington, DC. Lithuania joined the European Union on May 1, 2004.
Principal Government Officials
President--Valdas Adamkus
Prime Minister--Algirdas Brazauskas, Social Democratic Party
Minister of Foreign Affairs--Antanas Valionis, New Union
Minister of Defense--Gediminas Kirkilas, Social Democratic Party
Minister of Interior--Gintaras Furmanavicius, Labor Party
Minister of Justice--Gintautas Buzinskas, Labor Party
Minister of Finance--Zigmantas Balcytis, Social Democratic Party
Minister of Transportation--Petras Povilas Cesna
Minister of Economy--Kestutis Dauksys, Labor Party
Minister of Agriculture--Kazimira Prunskiene, Peasant Party
Minister of Education and Science--Remigijus Motuzas
Minister of Health--Zilvinas Padaiga, Labor Party
Minister of Social Security and Labor--Vilija Blinkeviciute, New Union
Minister of Culture--Vladimiras Prudnikovas, Labor Party
Minister of Environment--Arunas Kundrotas, Social Democratic Party
Seimas Chairman--Vydas Gedvilas, Acting
Lithuania maintains an embassy in the United States, temporarily located at 4590 MacArthur Blvd, Suite 200, Washington, DC, 20007, tel: (202) 234-5860.
The Soviet era brought Lithuania intensive industrialization and economic integration into the U.S.S.R., although the level of technology and state concern for environmental, health, and labor issues lagged far behind Western standards. Urbanization increased from 39% in 1959 to 68% in 1989. From 1949-52 the Soviets abolished private ownership in agriculture, establishing collective and state farms. Production declined and did not reach pre-war levels until the early 1960s. The intensification of agricultural production through intense chemical use and mechanization eventually doubled production but created additional ecological problems. This changed after independence, when farm production dropped due to difficulties in restructuring the agricultural sector.
The transportation infrastructure inherited from the Soviet period is adequate and has been generally well maintained since independence. Lithuania has one ice-free seaport with ferry services to German, Swedish, and Danish ports. There are operating commercial airports with scheduled international services at Vilnius, Kaunas, and Klaipeda. The road system is good. Border facilities at checkpoints with Poland were significantly improved by using EU funds. Telecommunications have improved greatly since independence as a result of heavy investment. The national telecommunications company had a monopoly on the market until the end of 2002, but now several cell phone companies provide competition.
The economy of independent Lithuania had a slow start, as the process of privatization and the development of new companies slowly moved the country from a command economy toward the free market. By 1998, the economy had survived the early years of uncertainty and several setbacks, including a banking crisis, and seemed poised for solid growth. However, the collapse of the Russian ruble in August 1998 shocked the economy into negative growth and forced the reorientation of trade from Russia toward the West. Since the ruble crisis, the focus of Lithuania's export markets has shifted from East to West. In 1997, exports to former Soviet states were 45% of total Lithuanian exports. In 2005, exports to the East (the Commonwealth of Independent States--CIS) were only 18% of the total, while exports to the EU-25 were 65%. The government of 1999, which was led by Prime Minister Kubilius, managed to control raging budget deficits in the midst of the crisis, and all successor governments have maintained that fiscal discipline.
The last couple of years have been good for the Lithuanian economy. In 2005, Lithuania's GDP increased 7.5%, above expectations. Private consumption has been the principal driver of recent economic growth. The contribution of domestic market oriented sectors, especially construction, has also increased. Growth in 2005 was strongest in construction, retail and wholesale trade, and processing and light industries. Inflation was moderate, GDP growth was strong, and the government's budget deficit stood at 1.2% of GDP in 2005. Lithuania continues to harmonize its regulatory environment with European Union requirements. Weaknesses remain in public policy development and structural and agricultural reforms. Lithuania pegged its national currency, the litas, to the euro on February 2, 2002 at the rate of LTL 3.4528 for EUR 1. The government hopes to join the single European currency zone on January 1, 2007, but its current inflation rate may reach or exceed the limit, forcing the government to postpone entry.
Lithuania has privatized nearly all formerly state-owned enterprises. More than 70% of the economy's output is generated by the private sector. The share of employees in the private sector exceeds 72%. The Government of Lithuania completed banking sector privatization in 2001, with 89% of this sector controlled by foreign--mainly Scandinavian--capital. The government completed privatization of the national gas and power companies "Lietuvos Dujos" (Lithuanian Gas) and "Vakaru skirstomieji tinklai" (Western electricity distributor). "Rytu skirtomieji tinklai" (Eastern electricity distributor), "Lietuvos Energija" (Lithuanian Energy), and "Lithuanian Railways" remain state-owned.
Inflation reached 2.7% in 2005. The minimum wage increased in 2005 to $198 per month, slightly above the poverty threshold. The average wage stands at $464 per month.
Exports to the United States make up 4.7% of all Lithuania's exports, and imports from the United States comprise 2% of total imports to Lithuania. Lithuania has accumulated foreign direct investment (FDI) of $6.8 billion. The stock of U.S. investments amounted to $300 million at the end of 2005, accounting for 5% of FDI. The current account deficit in 2005 stood at 7% of GDP.
Lithuania, a relatively new NATO member, fully endorses the concept of "collective defense." National policy recognizes the primacy of NATO as the guarantor of security in Europe. The goal of Lithuania's defense policy is to create a military that can contribute to international missions through the NATO alliance, the UN, and other groups, and to continue to integrate Lithuania into Western defense structures. The defense ministry is responsible for combat forces, search and rescue operations, and intelligence. The government has committed to achieving the goal of dedicating 2% of GDP for defense spending.
Lithuania maintains 8,500 active duty troops and 8,000 reserve troops. The core of the Lithuanian force structure is the Iron Wolf Rapid Reaction Brigade, which consists of five battalions and appropriate support elements. The Lithuanian Air Force operates 17 fixed wing aircraft and nine helicopters. The Home Guard is currently organized into seven districts. Plans call for reorganization into five districts.
The Border Police are under the Interior Ministry and are responsible for border protection, passport and customs duties, and interdiction of smuggling and trafficking activities.
Lithuania became a member of the United Nations on September 18, 1991, and is a signatory to a number of its organizations and other international agreements. It also is a member of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the North Atlantic Coordinating Council, and the Council of Europe. Lithuania gained membership in the World Trade Organization on May 31, 2001, and in November 2002 was invited to join NATO. Lithuania officially became a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization on March 29, 2004 after depositing its instruments of treaty ratification in Washington, DC. Lithuania joined the European Union on May 1, 2004.
Lithuania maintains foreign diplomatic missions in 60 countries on six continents, a consular post in one country that is not represented by an embassy, consular posts led by Honorary Consuls in 32 countries that are not represented by an embassy, and a special mission in one country without other diplomatic representation. Lithuania's liberal "zero-option" citizenship law has substantially erased tensions with its neighbors. Its suspension of two strongly ethnic Polish district councils on charges of blocking reform or disloyalty during the August 1991 coup had cooled relations with Poland, but bilateral cooperation markedly increased with the holding of elections in those districts and the signing of a bilateral friendship treaty in 1994. Relations with Poland are now among the closest enjoyed by Lithuania. Although a similar bilateral friendship agreement was signed with Belarus in 1995, Lithuania has joined the United States and other European nations in urging the Government of Belarus to adopt democratic and economic reforms. President Adamkus was instrumental in brokering a peaceful resolution to the electoral challenges in Ukraine in 2004, and Lithuania plays an important leadership role in promoting democracy throughout the region.
The United States established diplomatic relations with Lithuania on July 28, 1922. The Soviet invasion forced the closure of the Legation to Lithuania on September 5, 1940, but Lithuanian representation in the United States continued uninterrupted. The United States never recognized the forcible incorporation of Lithuania into the U.S.S.R. and views the present Government of Lithuania as a legal continuation of the interwar republic. Lithuania has enjoyed most-favored-nation treatment with the United States since December 1991. Since 1992, the United States has committed more than $100 million to Lithuania's economic and political transformation and to address humanitarian needs. The United States and Lithuania signed an agreement on bilateral trade and intellectual property protection in 1994--a bilateral investment treaty in 1997, and in 1998, the United States signed a "Charter of Partnership" with Lithuania and the other Baltic countries. Under this partnership, bilateral working groups focusing on improving regional security, defense, and economic issues were established.
Principal U.S. Officials
Ambassador--Stephen Mull
Deputy Chief of Mission--Thomas Kelly
Political/Economic Officer--Nancy Cohen
Public Affairs Officer--Anthony Pahigian
Defense Attach�--LTC Joseph King (USA)
Defense Cooperation Officer--LTC R. Darr Reimers
Management Officer--Cheryl Johnson
Consular Officer--James Fellows
The U.S. Embassy in Lithuania is located at Akmenu 6, 2600 Vilnius [tel/fax: (370) 5-2665500]. The Embassy website is http://vilnius.usembassy.gov/


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Now that the post-holiday headache is beginning to wear off, and the season of merry-making and celebration is done for one more year, we note that this is the traditional time of year to make new year's resolutions — you know, the kind that we decide to break in a few week's time, if not forget about the very next day.
In past years, as part of that tradition, the Brandon Sun has published lists of resolutions made by local politicians and other notable people about town. This year, however, we're changing things up.
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Million-dollar homes with million-dollar price cuts
While it's not uncommon for a home's price to drop by a few grand after sitting on the market for a year or two, a 25 percent or larger cut after a couple of months is the sign of a truly motivated seller. And, in the luxury market, a price break of this size means buyers can land their dream home for millions less.
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The ultimate guide to debunking right-wingers insane persecution fantasies (Part I)
Conservatives love to pretend they're being denied their religious liberty. Here's how to prove them wrong
sunday, march 16, 2014
Glenn Beck, Phil Robertson, Michele Bachmann
Excerpted from Taking Liberties: Why Religious Freedom Doesn't Give You the Right to Tell Other People What to Do
Certain words should not be tossed around lightly. Persecution is one of those words.
Religious right leaders and their followers often claim that they are being persecuted in the United States. They should watch their words carefully. Their claims are offensive; they dont know the first thing about persecution.
One doesnt have to look far to find examples of real religious persecution in the world. In some countries, people can be imprisoned, beaten, or even killed because of what they believe. Certain religious groups are illegal and denied the right to meet. This is real persecution. By contrast, being offended because a clerk in a discount store said Happy Holidays instead of Merry Christmas pales. Only the most confused mind would equate the two.
We have worked hard in the United States to find the right balance concerning religious-freedom matters. Despite what the religious right would have Americans believe, this is not an issue that our culture and legal systems take lightly. Claims of a violation of religious freedom are usually taken very seriously. An entire body of law has evolved in the courts to protect this right. The right of conscience is, appropriately, considered precious and inviolable to Americans.
Far from being persecuted, houses of worship and the religious denominations that sponsor them enjoy great liberty in America. Their activities are subjected to very little government regulation. They are often exempt from laws that other groups must follow. The government bends over backward to avoid interfering in the internal matters of religious groups and does so only in the most extreme cases.
What the religious right labels persecution is something else entirely: it is the natural pushback that occurs when any one sectarian group goes too far in trying to control the lives of others. Americans are more than happy to allow religious organizations to tend to their own matters and make their own decisions about internal governance. When those religious groups overstep their bounds and demand that people who dont even subscribe to their beliefs follow their rigid theology, that is another matter entirely.
Before I delve into this a little more, it would be helpful to step back and take a look at the state of religious liberty in the United States today. Far from being persecuted, I would assert that religions position is one of extreme privilege.
Consider the following points:
- Religious groups enjoy complete tax exemption, a very powerful and sought-after benefit.
- Unlike secular nonprofit groups, houses of worship are not required to apply for tax-exempt status. They receive it by mere dint of their existence. Houses of worship are assumed to be tax exempt as soon as they form. This exemption is rarely examined again and is revoked only in cases of extreme fraud (such as someone claiming that the entity he or she has formed is a church when its really a for-profit business).
- Houses of worship are free from the mandatory reporting obligations that are imposed on secular nonprofit groups. For example, secular groups that are tax-exempt must fill out a detailed financial form and submit it to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) every year. This document, called a Form 990, must be made available for public inspection. Houses of worship and ministries are not required to fill out and submit these forms.
- Religious entities are not required to report their wealth to any government agency. The question often comes up about how much money houses of worship raise every year or what the value of the land they hold is. There is no way of knowing this because they are not required to tell anyone.
- The IRS has the power to audit individuals and secular groups at the merest suspicion of wrongdoing or financial irregularities. Houses of worship, by contrast, are very difficult for the IRS to audit. This is so because Congress passed a special law governing church audits that requires the IRS to show heightened scrutiny before initiating such procedures. In addition, church audits must be approved by highly placed IRS officials.
- Religious groups enjoy a loud and robust public voice. They own television and radio stations all over the country (all tax exempt, by the way). They own publishing arms, and they maintain various outreach sites on the Internet. The ability of religious groups to proselytize and spread their theology is limited only by the imaginations of their leaders.
- Across the country, religious groups own a network of hospitals, secondary schools, colleges, social-service agencies, and other entities that often enjoy a cozy relationship with the government. Many of these institutions are subsidized directly with tax fundseven though they may promote religion. In recent years, religious groups that sponsor charitable services have seen themselves open to a host of new taxpayer assistance through the so-called faith-based initiative.
- Religious groups are often exempt from laws that secular organizations must follow. A house of worship or a ministry can fire employees at will if those workers violate (or are merely suspected or accused of violating) some tenet of the faith. A religious school, for example, could fire a woman who becomes pregnant out of wedlock. A corporation or a secular nonprofit would not be able to do this. In many cases, religious groups are free from following even basic laws designed to promote health, safety, and general welfare. Houses of worship are routinely exempted from laws designed to improve access to facilities for those with disabilities, for example. In some states, daycare centers and other facilities sponsored by religious groups are wholly exempt from routine inspection laws.
- Many religious groups engage in extensive lobbying on Capitol Hill and in the state capitals. Under federal law, there is virtually no regulation of their lobbying activities. Federal law exempts from oversight a church, its integrated auxiliary, or a convention or association of churches that is exempt from filing a Federal income tax return. This means that, unlike other groups, religious organizations are not required to report the money they spend attempting to influence legislation or to register their lobbyists. In rare cases, some states have tried to impose minimal regulations, such as public financial-disclosure reports, on houses of worship. The religious groups often fight such laws and call them an infringement of their religious-liberty rights.
- Many legislators are quick to placate religious groups and the clergy. The results of their lobbying campaigns are often successful. In the 1990s, when some religious groups began to complain about experiencing difficulties with zoning issues and the ability to build houses of worship where they pleased, Congress was quick to pass a special law called the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act. This law essentially trumps local zoning regulations with a federal fiateven though, for many years, zoning had been considered a matter best handled by local officials.
- Religious groups are often treated with special deference in cases of suspected law breaking. Anyone who doubts this need not look beyond the experience of the Roman Catholic Church during the pedophilia scandal. A secular corporation that engaged in such a massive cover-up and acts of deception would have found its top leaders behind bars. Yet in that scandal, only a handful of relatively low-level clergy were held accountable.


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|Madada Mogador
|Characteristics and services
|Madada Mogador
|Characteristics and services
In half a day you will learn how to prepare traditional cuisine in a friendly relaxed atmosphere. Tajines, couscous, pastilles or cornes de gazelle will not longer remain a secret.
In the warm & neat surroundings of an old carob bean warehouse, la Table Madada offers a "bistro" card with flavours from the ocean and Morocco. On the bar side: cocktails & tapas will spice up your early evening; On the table side: the chef suggestions from the daily catch and market will liven up your taste buds.
Essaouira is an exceptional example of a late-18th-century fortified town, built according to the principles of contemporary European military architecture in a North African context. Since its foundation, it has been a major international trading seaport, linking Morocco and its Saharan hinterland with Europe and the rest of the world.


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These brushes contain excellent hair from the Ussuri River region of Siberia. Russian Red Sable Brushes are expertly shaped for spring, resiliency, color-carrying capacity, and the ability to hold a sharp edge or point. Color can be spread thinly and evenly for subtle shades of color, structuring, or layering.
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TIP OF THE WEEKWhen it comes to snacking, there are dozens of ways to answer your cravings. Sometimes your snack cravings are tied to flavor; other times it�s a texture that you�re yearning for. When you feel a tinge of hunger, give yourself permission to put down the grab-and-go bar or bag of chips, and instead take a moment to have a mindful snacking experience that allows you to truly savor your food.
As if you needed another reminder, J.R. Smith is a legend.
At last, it's the Democrats' turn.
A Florida woman was arrested and charged with driving under the influence Saturday night after she live streamed herself...
In a crime-of-the-week show, it�s either the case that keeps you interested or the characters that are investigating it. In some circumstances, you find a show that is good at making both the crime and the main characters intriguing. �Rosewood� is...
Nate Beeler cartoon on Hillary Clinton.
Nate Beeler cartoon on the House speaker.
Naming your child is a decision with lifetime consequences. Choose a name that will be an asset to your child, not a liability.
Bastrop 42, Richwood 0
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