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Posted on August 21st, 2009 8 commentsDear Friends,
A very warm welcome to my blog which I have launched with great pleasure as a means of dialoguing with the American public.
Like the United States, Kazakhstan is also a country blessed with a grand landscape along the Steppes and a diverse and dynamic population that is coming into its own in the early 21st Century. Our independence as a country is not unlike what America experienced over 200 years ago and I trust we are on the same path to democracy and civil society that will most certainly strengthen relations between our two countries.
My country can lay claim to about 3-4% of the world's proven oil resources in addition to a remarkable treasure trove of minerals. But despite its warm and ever evolving strategic relations with the US, not so many Americans know much about its origins as a country with a great nomadic heritage. Or about its extraordinary late 20th century transition from impoverished Soviet backwater to a tolerant and prosperous modern democracy building state.
My aim is tell you something of Kazakhstan's present-day aspirations as well as a little of its culture and history. But I also want to learn from you. An ambassador can most effectively serve his country if he possesses a deep and sympathetic understanding of the people, culture and institutions of the country in which he is based. I do of course have official and diplomatic duties that I must perform in Washington, D. C. But importantly, I also see my mission as reaching into America's heartland to better understand its history and culture, to appreciate its ethnic diversity and political legacy, and most of all to capture the spirit and character of the American people.
For the people of both our countries, it is about shared values and mutual support that can be achieved by reaching out to one another. I want to share my thoughts and experiences with you and exchange views on topics of mutual interest and concern. Your comments, opinions and questions are not just welcome, I believe that they can come to form part of a dialogue that has the potential to enrich the political, economic and cultural links between our countries.
Posted on October 20th, 2012 No commentsDear Friends,
As you may have already heard, I have left Washington to assume my new assignment as the new foreign minister of Kazakhstan.
My five-year tour of service in Washington, D.C. has been most exciting, enjoyable, rewarding as well as challenging both professionally and personally. I have many fond and unforgettable memories, and I have had the great pleasure of getting to know and working with so many friends during my stay in Washington DC and my many travels all over the United States. I tried to do my best to further advance what I view as a key strategic partnership. I am proud to say that Kazakh- US ties on many important avenues , including non-proliferation, global and regional security, investments, energy, agriculture, tourism, cultural exchanges, people-to-people contacts etc., are stronger than ever before.
As I have told you before, it has been an exciting experience to correspond with you all through my blog. I have thoroughly enjoyed it and see the advantages of blog writing. Today, I am writing to thank you all for reading my entries, and to let you know that I have already set up my new blog "The Blog of the Minister" posted on the Foreign Ministry's website http://www.mfa.kz/en . However, I must confess that it will take some time before I can devote myself to the new blog as my new plate is pretty full. But I will try to sort things out in due course and look forward to re-engaging with you and other "netizens" worldwide to inform about Kazakhstan's foreign policy priorities from my personal perspective. So I hope to continue staying in touch with you.
I extend my best wishes for your success, prosperity and personal happiness.
Erlan Idrissov
Things To Do DC event
Posted on September 25th, 2012 No commentsDear Friend,
The Kazakh Embassy played host to a terrific, fun gathering on Thursday, Sept. 20. The Things to Do in DC organization spotlighted the Embassy in one of its many cultural gatherings and, I'm glad to say, the place was packed. About fifty people, many of them completely new to the Embassy, dropped by for food, drink, Kazakh dancing and a good deal of information sharing about our country.
The evening started with a tour of the Embassy, which was enjoyed by all. Many were impressed by the permanent collection of native artifacts — swords, jewelry and native costumes — that we keep on our first floor. It was both enjoyable and educational for the well-dressed people who came by that night.
Next, I welcomed everyone briefly to our Embassy and introduced a short documentary by our friend Dennis Wholey. Dennis, many of you may remember, visited Kazakhstan recently and did wonderful reporting about our people, our country and its future. This was a short version of that.
I then explained our country and its many accomplishments. I highlighted the gold-medal victories our athletes had in such abundance during the Olympics. I also talked about how far our Government has come since the days, more than 20 years ago, that we struggled as a newly born nation.
Then we saw a performance of Kazakh traditional dance by Silk Road Dance company. Its songs and dances were accompanied by traditional Kazakh instruments. Wearing full native costume, the audience was taken on a musical journey of Kazakhstan's cities, countryside and history. The performance brought a smile to everyone's face.
Last, but not least, everyone enjoyed a delicious Kazakh dinner. It included Kazakh-style salad, Baursaks, home-style beef pie, mushroom pie, small tefteli and Napoleon cake. What a treat!
A good time was had by all.
I am very glad that our Embassy is getting a reputation — like our Government — of being warm and open. The Things to Do in DC evening was a perfect example of why that's happening.
Please find below a blog by Greg Bland, CEO of the Things to Do DC about his impressions of the event.
Erlan Idrissov
Great Evening at the Kazakh Embassy
Once again, the young professionals of ThingstodoDC.com were very fortunate enough to visit Ambassador Erlan Idrissov at the Embassy for a special cultural evening. Every time we visit this embassy, we feel as if we are visiting a home away from home. Ambassador Idrissov and his staff are among the friendliest diplomats in Washington D.C. and always go the extra mile to give us a special welcome to the embassy.
After a brief greeting by the Ambassador, we saw an exciting dance presentation, dined on Kazak food, enjoyed Kazak vodka, and toured the incredible artifacts throughout the embassy.
We are hoping to go the extra mile next year and plan a special first time trip to Kazakhstan and some neighboring countries. People interested should email me personally at firstname.lastname@example.com.
We are looking forward to our many more returns to the embassy. We always get such wonderful feedback and list these events among the top of our favorites list in Washington DC.
We posted pictures of the event at http://www.facebook.com/thingstododc . Please LIKE this page for special updates.
Again, our special thanks to Ambassador Idrissov and his fantastic staff.
Greg Bland
Summer Summary Blog Entry
Posted on September 11th, 2012 No commentsDear Friends,
July and August are holiday months for many of you and I truly hope you enjoyed the time surrounded by family, friends and loved ones. But even though it has been a "down time" for many, we at the Kazakh Embassy to the United States have been very busy. I'd like to update you on some of this season's goings on and hope that you took the opportunity to enjoy some of these highlights – either in person – or in spirit.
Inter-City Friendly Golf Match
At the beginning, I would like to briefly write about the golf match, which took place in June and was somehow overlooked in my blog for June.
To add some sports flavor to our busy diplomatic life, I was happy to initiate and host the first "Inter-City Friendly Golf Match" for diplomats from New York city, Washington and our American friends, a friendly (but competitive) round of golf on June 8 at Army Navy Country Club, Fairfax. Logically, we had three teams: Team UN, Team DC and Team USA , which together included Ambassadors and representatives from the U.K., the E.U., Pakistan, Korea, Taiwan, Finland, Papua New Guinea, Palau, our Lady Ambassador to the UN and myself. Team USA was headed up by former Congressman Marty Russo and included members of the media, prominent business folk and other friends.
Everyone enjoyed a very nice company of colleagues and friends in a wonderful environment and relaxed setting of Army Navy's Fairfax golf course, playing an exciting game of golf. To know more about our great game, please click here.
I want to say special thank you to the US Chief of Protocol Ambassador Capricia Marshall, Editor-in-Chief of The Washington Diplomat newspaper Victor Shiblie for supporting my initiative. I also would like to thank all who attended and made the first inter-city diplomatic golf match such a great time. British Ambassador to the UN Sir Mark Lyall Grant promised to work on a reciprocal match in New York next year and we all look forward to it.
Kazakhstan's Truly Olympic Achievements
To say that Kazakhstan came to the London Olympics well prepared would be a gross understatement. The Chairman of Kazakhstan's Sports Agency, Talgat Yermegiyaev, said on the eve of the London Olympics that Kazakhstan's national team aimed to win at least 13 medals, including at least three gold medals. The goal was to be among the 30 best national teams in the world.
In the event, Kazakhstan exceeded the expectation and won 7 gold medals, 1 silver medal and 5 bronze medals, placing itself as the 12th best nation in the world when counting gold medal victories!!! This a great leap forward and rapid improvement from the 24th place, we took four years ago in Beijing.
The next day, after the official opening ceremony of the Games, Alexander Vinokourov won the first gold medal for Kazakhstan in the cycling road race. He had previously won two bronze medals at the World Championships, four stage wins in the Tour de France, four wins in the Vuelta a Espana, plus the overall title in 2006 and two Liege Bastogne Liege monuments, one Amstel Gold Race. Vinokourov is a past national champion of Kazakhstan and a dual-medalist at the Summer Olympics.
The second, third and fourth gold medals were won by Kazakh lady weightlifters Zulfiya Chinshanlo, Maiya Maneza and Svetlana Podobedova. Zulfiya Chinshanlo set a world record 131 kg (289 lbs) in the women's 53kg (117 lbs) clean & jerk and claimed the gold medal seemingly with ease. Maiya Maneza won Kazakhstan's second weightlifting gold medal in London and set an Olympic record in the women's 63-kilogram category. Svetlana Podobedova won her Olympic weightlifting gold in the women's 75-kg division.
In addition, Ilya Ilyin, who is an Asian champion and a three-time world champion, won Kazakhstan's fifth gold medal in men's 94-kilogram division.
For Ilyin winning the gold medal seemed very easy as well. According to the Associated Press , "Most lifters in the 94-kilogram class paused for a few seconds as they gripped the bar, collecting themselves for the excruciating effort of lifting one-fourth of a ton over one's head. Ilyin marched up to the bar with quick steps and hoisted it in the air so fast that by the time a 'good lift' was announced he was already celebrating."
Ilya lifted 185 kilograms in the snatch and a world-record 233 kilograms in the clean and jerk for a total of 418 kilograms. That was a world record, six kilograms better than the pre-competition mark set in 1999. After the medal ceremony, Ilyin told the Associated Press that he prepared for the Olympics with a special diet, including horse meat, which we all know is a Kazakh delicacy. I doubt the reporter had ever had it.
Olga Rypakova won the 6th Olympic gold medal for the country with a leap of 14.98m in women's triple jump final. She beat her closest competitor by 18 cms. Kazakhstan had never before won a gold medal in track and field. This was a glorious victory for Olga, and for all of us!
The final, seventh gold medal was brought home in boxing by Serik Sapiyev. He was also named the tournament's best pound-for-pound boxer. According to Yahoo Sports, Sapiyev said, "I have been waiting for this moment so long. In Beijing, I lost in the quarter-finals and I was upset. But I was dreaming about the next Olympics."
Kazakhstan's only silver medal was won by boxer Adilbek Niyazymbetov, who fought fiercely, but lost to a Russian in a very close match.
Kazakhstan's bronze medals were won by our boxers and wrestlers: Ivan Dychko (Boxing, Men's super heavyweight), Marina Volnova (Boxing, Women's middleweight), Daniyal Gadzhiyev (Wrestling, Men's 84kg, Greco-Roman), Guzel Manyurova (Wrestling, Women's 72kg freestyle) and Akzhurek Tanatarov (Wrestling, Men's freestyle 66 kg).
Kazakhstan has been traditionally strong in boxing, weightlifting, Greco-Roman and free-style wrestling as well as judo. Despite a population of only 16 million, Kazakhstan has done well compared to countries with larger populations.
But by the number of new records set during the London Olympiad, Kazakhstan took the 4th place after only the US, China and Russia!
The London Olympics' showed that Kazakhstan is an emerging power in Olympic sports.
Upon their return from London, the entire Kazakh Olympic team was cheered by adoring and patriotic fans and welcomed home by their President as national heroes.
Overall, the victories of London 2012 have led to an outburst of nationalist and patriotic feelings of pride and joy. I hope you enjoyed watching the Games as much as I did and that you join us in celebrating the achievements of our great Olympic athletes.Nomads and Networks Exhibition
On August 15th, the Embassy co-hosted an art and ancient culture exhibition called "Nomads and their relationships: The Ancient Art and Culture of Kazakhstan" at the Smithsonian's Freer Sackler Galleries in Washington D.C.The opening ceremony was attended by senior officials, in particular, Alice Wells, special assistant to the President and Senior Director for Russian and Eurasian Affairs for the National Security Council and the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs James Moore, as well as Members of Congress and representatives from the business and cultural communities.
In his welcome to the guests, director of the Freer Sackler Galleries and prominent scholar Julian Raby said the exhibition marked the first time the Nation's Capital had hosted an exhibition of ancient items that represent the highest level of culture and art of ancient Kazakhs. According to Raby, the culturally rich discoveries from the mounds in Chilikty and Berel are national treasures of Kazakhstan and tell a story about the nomadic culture and the unique pieces of art it produced. He expressed gratitude to the Government of Kazakhstan for its support in organizing the event and highlighted the work of the Ministry of Culture and Information, Ministry of Education and Science, as well as cultural and historical institutions in Kazakhstan, including the Nazarbayev Center, for their assistance in making the exhibition possible.
"The rich treasures discovered in Kazakhstan's royal burial mounds tell a story of a nomadic culture that created works of art through their network of exchange with settled communities," Raby said Wednesday at the exhibition's opening ceremony which was also attended by a delegation from Kazakhstan, wrote the Silk Road Newsline.
In my remarks, I said, "This multi-faceted exhibition carries many important messages not only about the sophistication of the great culture of ancient nomads but the importance of cultural communication in the twenty first century as well. Networking, partnering and being together is a road to survival and growth."
I also underlined that "this exhibition, which brings BC times to DC streets, will dispel many misperceptions about the nomadic cultures and nomadic societies. It is also very timely that right after the Olympics, this exhibition is about GOLD! Another bridge between ancient gold of nomads and modern gold of the London Olympics, where my Kazakhstan took 12th place by winning historic 7 gold medals!" This timely plug prompted sincere laughter and applause from the audience!
I also shared my joy over the success of the project and thanked everyone involved in bringing the treasures from Kazakhstan to the US. I especially wanted to thank Shelby White, co-founder of the Leon Levy Foundation for the generous contributions from its membership, and expressed my personal appreciation to Jennifer Chi, Exhibitions Director and Chief Curator of the Gallery, who "traveled between New York city and Kazakhstan as a true nomad" to bring the exhibition together.
It was because of successful cooperation with our partners, that we were able to offer our American friends the beauty, elegance and sophistication of the work done by my Kazakh ancestors who made such a great, yet unsung contribution to the development of civilization.
Paul Taylor, Director of the Asian Cultural History Program for the Smithsonian, highlighted the importance of the exhibition as critical to understanding the evolvement of world civilization in an interview with Silk Road Newsline. As an expert who worked on a number of Kazakhstan related projects, including a virtual exhibition "Discover Kazakhstan: the Expeditions of Chokan Valikhanov," he expressed his confidence that this kind of project would usher in a new level of cultural cooperation between our two countries.
According to Alexander Nagel, assistant curator of Ancient Near Eastern Art at the Freer and Sackler Galleries and in-house curator of the exhibition, it was conceptualized, developed, and organized by New York University's Institute for the Study of the Ancient World in collaboration with the Ministries of Culture and Information and of Science and Education, Republic of Kazakhstan, and four major national museums in Kazakhstan and the Embassy of Kazakhstan in Washington, DC.
He continued, "A country four times bigger than Texas and almost the size of India, Kazakhstan is rich with history and home to wild tulips, oil, nomads who still hunt with golden eagles, and more than one hundred nationalities. Bordering Russia to the north and China to the east, Kazakhstan is today the world's ninth largest country and has emerged as one of the most fascinating places in Central Asia."
"The exhibition dispels the notion that nomadic societies were less developed than sedentary ones. Rather, they are revealed to have been highly sophisticated, with strategic migratory routes and active networks of communication and cultural exchange with their neighbors," according to a press release by the Institute for the Study of the Ancient World (ISAW) that hosted the exhibition from March 7 to June 3 in New York.
The exhibition was accompanied by a 200-page catalogue entitled "Nomads and Networks: The Ancient Art and Culture of Kazakhstan" with 220 color illustrations published by the Princeton University Press. With essays by nine international scholars, the catalogue provides an unparalleled introduction to the ancient nomadic culture of Kazakhstan, exploring its distinctive but little-known patterns of life. The book is available at Amazon.com for $38.48, ISBN-10: 0691154805. I highly recommend it!
The exhibition will remain on display in the Sackler Gallery in Washington through November of 2012, is free and open to the general public. A video of the exhibition opening ceremony can be viewed at YouTube.
Kazakh Film Festival in LA
Later in the Summer, the Embassy co hosted the 2nd film festival "Kazakhstan: Montage of Cinemas" in Los Angeles.
The inaugural festival held last year in this beautiful city, was such a huge success that I asked the Honorary Consulate of Kazakhstan in Los Angeles to begin organizing the second one almost immediately. As a result, we once again celebrated the achievements of Kazakhstan's cinematic art and culture.
The event was co-organized by Kazakhstan's Honorary Consulate in Los Angeles. Honorary Consul Steven Jaffe is better known as the producer and second unit director of such movies as Ghost, Star Trek VI, The Day After, K19: Widowmaker and many more. His partner at the Honorary Consulate and Helix Films Gaukhar Noortas is a successful business lady in her own right and was a driving force behind the Festival.
Earlier this year, we celebrated the 20th anniversary of Kazakhstan's Foreign Service (July 2) as well as 20th anniversary of President Nazarbayev's first official visit to the United States in 1992 (May 18-20). I see the film festival and cultural and art performances as part of our ongoing celebration of these landmark anniversaries.
The continuous economic growth in Kazakhstan has benefited many aspects of life there, including cinema. Here are a few quick examples: To date, we have submitted a total of seven films to be considered for Academy awards. Since 2006, we have been submitting a film every year.
2012 has been a big year so far for cinema in Kazakhstan. At this year's Cannes Film Festival, two Kazakh films received international praise: Myn Bala (1000 Brave Boys) and Student. While touching on the subjects of Kazakhstan and cinema, I can't forget to mention one of Kazakhstan's favorite sons. World famous director Timur Bekmambetov has once again produced an international hit movie entitled Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, which is currently playing in movie theatres around the globe and is quite popular.
Over 7 days of the film festival in LA, American friends watched feature films and documentaries such as Kelin, Letters to an Angel, The Little Hunter, We Will See Tomorrow, The Tale of the Pink Bunny, Deal, Dash and many more. These are the films that were selected to be screened this year. All of them were powerful, entertaining and provided a glimpse of Kazakhstan's growing cinematic art and industry.
The festival also freatured cultural performances by the Inju Marjan ensemble and award-winning dombra soloist Yerzhan Isin as well as the exhibits of rich jewelry from Kazakhstan that were on display throughout seven days.
I believe the Festival presented new opportunities for Kazakh film makers aspiring to be recognized internationally. It also created bridges of partnership and collaboration between Kazakh cinema industry and Hollywood. So, as a diplomat, I was tremendously pleased that the festival had complemented our work, fostering friendship between our countries and opening a new avenue for win-win partnership.
Fellowship Travel to Kazakhstan
To encourage travel by U.S. tourists, particularly youngsters and students, to Kazakhstan, we launched a new fellowship in cooperation with Kazakhstan's National Airline "Air Astana," the Kazakh travel agency Sayat (www.sayat-travel.kz/) and the US-based Russian American Travel Agencies Association (RATA, www.russiantravelusa.com/).
Under this fellowship, two students – Emin Hasanov from New York University and Charles Santos from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill traveled to Kazakhstan for a week, from August 6-12. Their free trip allowed them to explore the Astana and Almaty, major cities of Kazakhstan. Apart from siteseeing they met with representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Industry and New Technologies and other Government agencies to work under their projects on promoting Kazakhstan-US partnership in two important areas — mobile health services and alternative energy. All their expenses were paid for with the exception of food costs and other incidentals.
They were the winners of the competition on writing 500-word essay on "Discovering new Kazakhstan: bringing US innovations to Kazakhstan to develop Kazakhstan-US Science and Technology Partnership."
I hope in addition to visiting Kazakhstan, their research works will help promote science and technology cooperation between our countries. I hope that their pleasant memories about Kazakhstan will have a long lasting influence on their view toward our part of the world.
Delegations Witness the Zhanaozen Trials
It is in the spirit of openness and transparency I am eager to continue to keep the public updated about last year's violent events in Zhanaozen and the open trial of rioters and police that resulted.
All the courts procedures were conducted openly with relatives of the defendants, international observers, NGOs and the international media welcome to attend. The court room was also equipped with video monitors, which allowed the media to witness the procedure in its entirety.
This transparency has been confirmed by US diplomat Jessica Jarciv who visited the court and said that she was satisfied how the hearing was conducted: "We are very pleased that Court session is conducted in an open manner. We did not have any issue with an access to this place and even before that had not observed any issue or wrongdoing."
The temporary detention facilities in Zhanaozen and Aktau have been visited by the Penal Reform International and NGOs, which confirmed that conditions there met all requirements and that there was no evidence whatsoever to justify irresponsible allegations of torture and inhumane treatment.
Court procedures in the trial of Kozlov and other key instigators were conducted transparently and in strict accordance with Kazakh and international laws. On Sept 3, 4 and 5, 2012 court hearings were held on the case of V.Kozlov, A.Aminov and S.Sapargali, during which 6 witnesses were questioned. It was followed by international NGOs, including from Poland and UK, and diplomats from the German Embassy in Astana.
Witness Natalya Azhigaliyeva, who was a participant of the Zhanaozen labor dispute, testified that some politicians, including V.Kozlov, tried to exploit the dispute, politicize and further destabilize the public order. These people, according to her, instigated and provoked the workers, thereby hardening the position of the laid off laborers. She said that she understood and in hindsight, regretted her own participation in the instability which led to the tragic death of several people and the destruction of millions of dollars in public and private property.
The Court will issue its verdict on all of the remaining cases once all the procedures are fully completed, and all admissible evidence has been heard. Again, open for all to see and in full accordance with the laws.
Staff Dell
To help better understand Kazakhstan here in the USA, we supported a delegation of Congress staffers, better known as StaffDel, to Kazakhstan, from August 26 – Sept 1. The group of about 9 chiefs of staff of important congressmen visited Kazakhstan from August 26 for about a week and visited Astana and Almaty. They have meet officials from the Foreign Ministry and other Government Agencies, interacted with members of our Parliament, attended international conferences and roundtables taking place in Kazakhstan. They came back happy and with better knowledge of Kazakhstan. I am full of hope that their positive experience in Kazakhstan and firsthand knowledge about Kazakhstan will help them to be better positioned to promote friendship between our nations. We look forward to organizing the second Staff Dell later this year.
Kazakhstan's Competitiveness Ranking Soars
I am extremely glad to share with you very positive news about Kazakhstan's economy. The World Economic Forum or Davos Forum's 2012-2013 Global Competiveness Report has shown that Kazakhstan has made the most significant leap forward in terms of its global competitiveness among all countries covered by the report. The country jumped up 21 levels to settle at the 51st position (it ranked 72nd in 2011) outperforming its closest peer, Turkey, which moved up 16 notches this year.
Kazakhstan has shown substantial improvements in a number of areas, but most importantly in macroeconomic stability, where the country ranks 16th, and labor market efficiency, where it holds the 19th position. The country has also improved its positions in technological readiness (55th), market size (55th) and higher education and training (58th). Despite the progress achieved, important challenges related to health and primary education (92nd) and business sophistication (99th) remain.
According to the WEF's report, Kazakhstan today is in transition mode, moving from an efficiency driven economy to innovation driven one. Other countries making a similar transition include Argentina, Brazil, Malaysia, Russian Federation, Turkey etc. For these countries, the WEF places increasingly more weight on those areas that are becoming more important for the countries competitiveness as they develop, ensuring "penalization" for those countries that are not preparing for the next stage.
In the first half of 2012, Kazakhstan's economy grew by 5.6 percent (year-on-year), according to the latest official statistics. Since 2002 the country's economy expanded 7 times or 1.2-1.3 times each year. According to the International Monetary Fund, Kazakhstan was ranked 53rd among 182 countries in terms of GDP production in 2011. With its current 11 thousand dollars GDP per capita, the country's economy is expected to grow in 2012 by 6%, while the United Nations' Economic and Social Commission for Asia and Pacific forecasts the country's economic growth to be at 6.2 percent.
During his speech at the Atlantic Council Conference on Twenty Years of Kazakhstan's Independence and U.S.-Diplomatic Relations, Assistant Secretary of State Robert Blake highlighted the significant economic progress Kazakhstan has achieved since the country became independent in 1991. "For 20 years, Kazakhstan has attracted considerable international investment that has created jobs and prosperity. Kazakhstan stands out in the region for substantially reducing poverty and laying a solid foundation for the creation of a real middle class," he said.
It is expected that with its forthcoming accession to the World Trade Organization and participation in the OECD, Kazakhstan will make the further structural changes necessary for it to take advantage of regional and global integration efforts, and to spur its economic diversification, domestic output and exports.
The WEF's Global Competiveness Report is the most high-profile publication the organization
publishes. It ranked 144 economies, the largest group of countries the WEF has ranked to date. The rankings are based on an index created by the WEF's experts that incorporates a series of metrics, including 12 "pillars of competitiveness".
I believe that the high ranking will send a powerful signal to international businessmen that Kazakhstan is a very safe place to invest and an excellent destination for technology and capital. It would provide confidence for entrepreneurs that their skills will be valued in my country and their efforts will lead to high profits, which can be taken out of the country easily or re-invested in even more lucrative ventures.
* * *
As you can see, we have truly been very busy here at the Embassy and I wanted to be sure you didn't miss any of our important summer developments – our sports and culture initiatives, the achievements of our fantastic athletes, the pride we display in our heritage and the openness with which we deal with lawbreakers, be they citizen rioters or law enforcement officials.
We at the Embassy were excited to have a busy but enjoyable Summer, however we are not done yet. We are already planning several new events before the end of the year. Stay tuned to our website and newsletters for announcements, and as always, check in with my Blog. For example, in my next blog, I will write about my friendly dinner with the Congressmen dedicated to the Constitution Day of Kazakhstan, my trip to North Dakota to introduce our Honorary Consul for Upper MidWest, an online lecture by Kazakhstan's President with the participation of Kazakh students in the USA and other developments.
Many thanks,
Erlan Idrissov
The Embassy event to celebrate the Olympic achievements
Posted on August 21st, 2012 No commentsDear friends,
We had a wonderful celebration at the embassy on Thursday in honor of the Kazakh Olympians who won medals. Over a hundred people showed up for the lunch celebration. Everyone was in a great mood. And why not? Kazakhstan ranked 12th among all the nations in the world in the number of gold medal winners! We had seven, a new record for us, and we are very proud and happy. For details of the Kazakhstan's Olympic achievements, please click here.
In brief remarks before we all dined on a delicious buffet lunch, I told everyone how joyous I was – and as Kazakhs all over the world are – at the success of our Olympic athletes. Usually, we do well in Greco-Roman wrestling and weightlifting. We medaled in those, of course. But this time we also won major honors in cycling and track and field. That was a special set of victories for us.
I joked that in London people were saying our athletes had a special secret for high performance: they ate horse meat. I assured everyone at the Embassy that we weren't serving horse meet at lunch, but that everyone in London became believers in whatever our athletes did to do so well.
I was lucky enough to have been in London for the Olympics and I told everyone how exciting it was to be in the Olympic Stadium for the opening ceremonies. I had served as Kazakhstan's Ambassador to Great Britain and that made my visit especially enriching and exciting.
I thanked everyone for coming – from the children to the high government officials present. We had the treat of a short documentary – with music! – about our victorious Olympians. Then we all had a tasty meal and wine to toast our medalists.
It was a terrific celebration for a great Olympics for Kazakhstan! You can watch the video about the event uploaded to YouTube here.
Erlan Idrissov
The Embassy of Kazakhstan welcomes the members of National Press
Posted on July 17th, 2012 No commentsDear Friends,
As I have mentioned in my previous blog entry, at the dinner event featuring Kazakh cuisine for the member of the National Press Club on June 26, our American friends have been happy to experience Kazakh hospitality and talk to our diplomats.
We have received many "thank you" letters appreciating our Embassy's role in promoting friendship between our countries. Some of the guests have written articles, blogs about the event. Therefore I am pleased to offer to your attention two pieces: a blog contribution Six "Wows" for the Kazakhstan Embassy by Myron Belkind, Chair, International Correspondents Committee, and another an article "Discovering the Kazakhstan Way" by C Naseer Ahmad.
I hope you would enjoy reading them.
Erlan Idrissov
Six "Wows" for the Kazakhstan Embassy
"Wow!" That's what journalists like to say when something special happens, and we couldn't stop saying "wow" on the occasion of the Kazakhstan Embassy Night hosted by HE Ambassador Erlan Idrissov on June 26 for the National Press Club's International Correspondents Committee.
First "wow": A record turnout of 70 NPC members, double the normal amount who attend the presentations and informational briefings as part of the NPC's Embassy Nights Series begun in 2005. The NPC quickly filled up its normal quota of 35 members who had RSVP'd, and then word came from the Kazakhstan Embassy that the ambassador wanted to double the number. Could we get 70 NPC members to attend, enquired Nurgali Arystanov, the embassy's very helpful first secretary? My first thought was, "I am not so certain," because, after all, we had just had a Kazakhstan Embassy Night exactly a year ago, in the last week of June 2011. With some concerns as to what the response would be, I sent out an invitational notice to all NPC members through the Club's online newsletter, and within hours, we had reached our new quota of 70! Clearly, there was strong interest in learning about the distant, landlocked Central Asian nation of Kazakhstan and how it has progressed economically and politically since it became independent from the Soviet Union in December 1991.
Second "wow": After an opening reception and the viewing of excerpts from the popular PBS series, "This is America with Dennis Wholey" featuring Kazakhstan, I had the honor of introducing the ambassador and noted that on this July 4, 2012, the fireworks over the Capitol and the National Mall could well have a double theme – first, to celebrate the 236th anniversary of American Independence, and the second (in a "lighter" sense), the fifth anniversary of the ambassador's becoming envoy to the United States following seven years as ambassador to the United Kingdom! And then the ambassador proceeded to give an extremely informative presentation about the "real Kazakhstan" – "not the one you might have heard about through the movie 'Borat'" – and so the ambassador's remarks qualify for the second "wow" of the evening.
Now for an embarrassing moment. As everyone knows, journalists never like to be corrected. Well, in the presence of 70 National Press Club members, the Ambassador felt he had to correct me. In my introductory remarks, I had said that Kazakhstan had achieved a literacy rate of 99.5 percent. Actually, the ambassador said the correct number for literacy is 99.7 percent! I happily stand corrected, and the fact that the literacy rate is so high – nearly 100 percent – qualifies for a third "wow."
Then there is a "wow" for the ambassador's detailed responses to every question the journalists asked on a wide range of topics during a Q&A session that was originally scheduled for 20 minutes but went on for double the time – to 40 minutes.
And what can we say regarding the truly delicious buffet featuring Kazakh cuisine at the concluding "mix and mingle" reception, and the fact that the ambassador stayed on and spoke with NPC members individually and in small groups until 9pm – am hour longer than the event was scheduled to end?
You got it. We award two more "wows" and a very grateful thank-you to Ambassador Erlan Idrissov for a very special Embassy Night sponsored by the National Press Club's International Correspondents Committee.
Six "Wows!" That is a record.
Myron Belkind,
Chair, International Correspondents Committee, and
Treasurer, The National Press Club
Discovering the Kazakhstan Way
By C. Naseer Ahmad
"Mein thori si Urdu bolta hoon; Pakistan mein chaar saal raha hoon" said the affable Ambassador Erlan A. Idrissov upon learning that the questioner was born on the currently troubled end of the Silk Road. With humor and wit he charmed the guests at the Kazakhstan Embassy during event organized by the International Correspondents Committee. "We survived the Stalinist era, so we can also survive the 'Borat' phenomenon" he said jokingly. The notable thing was not just the command of the issues and the statistics but also that the atmosphere was remarkably relaxed in which journalist felt at ease touching a wide range of subjects.
The evening started with a video presentation of Dennis Wholey's television program about Kazakhstan. Through the condensed program that participants were made to feel at home in the ornate reception room with magnificent art displays.
"The Future is Wide Open" – a claim from a nation reborn with open hearts and minds – was an unmistakable message the visitors took. For a country that went from 1,400 to zero nuclear weapons, the Embassy staff radiated both openness and confidence to entertain visitors. A handout, dated May 29, 2012, on the table outside the reception room communicated the success story that is happening in this vibrant country. For instance, in connection with the New Silk Road Project President Nursultan Nazabayev was quoted on the introduction of the newest members in the Foreign Investors Council (FIC) – which included President of Russian Sberbank, CEO of Conoco Phillips and Chairman of Deloitte Touche – to name a few.
With over $146 billion foreign direct investments – not foreign aid – and 99.5% literacy in a country that is home to 140 different ethnic groups and 40 religious denominations something must be going right. It has been said that facts are stubborn what can perhaps be said about Kazakhstan is that its facts are amazing. For instance, Ambassador Idrissov pointed out that with investments in infrastructure shipments from the eastern ports of China can travel to Frankfurt in about nine days whereas by sea it would take over a month – not to mention the financial cost.
Of course, in any country there is room for improvement and that might also be true of Kazakhstan. However, one must take into account where the country was soon after the independence from Soviet domination and the period of Russian occupation. A glimpse of the challenges the Kazakh people faced can be viewed by reading the "The Kazakhstan Way" – President Nursultan Nazarbayev's autobiography in which he narrates pacifying striking miners with a pack of cigarette during the communist era. He noted that while he was not a smoker, he found the habit of carrying packs of cigarettes useful in breaking ice. The more one reads about Kazakhstan the more one is convinced that while Borat enjoy some success in making fun of a beautiful country, the Kazakhs are probably laughing all the way to the bank.
In addition to Dennis Wholey's television program, the awe inspiring natural beauty can be enjoyed in a wonderful book "Kazakhstan", by Dagmar Schreiber and Jeremy Tredinnick, with pictures, historical context – such as information about poets and thinkers like Al Farabi – and not to mention the hotspots that could tempt the world travelers to hop on the next flight to Almaty, Astana or Zhetisu – the Land of Seven Rivers. And in their travels they too might sing like the Kazakh people:
"True riches and jewels
Are kept on the bottom of the deepest seas
True generosity and wisdom
Are kept deep down in one's soul"


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M.A.T. Tuition & Fees
Fall and Spring semesters are full time. The summer semester courses are calculated on a per credit graduate basis. Other fees also apply as with all graduate students.
Estimated tuition for the (2012-2013, Fall and Spring semesters) subject to change:
Full time graduate studies:
FT In State (per semester)
FT Out of State (per semester)
Part-Time studies:
Part-time, Per Credit (Summers I & II):
Part-time, Per Credit
In-State students $427 per semester hour, plus a $55 non-refundable registration fee
Out-of-State/NERP students $433.00 per semester hour, plus a $55 non-refundable registration fee Part-Time Registration Fee (summer session)
$60 per summer
Other fees
Transcript Evaluation Fee (one time)
Application Fee (one time)
Professional Education Fee (one time)
Please see the graduate catalog at http://www.wcsu.edu/catalogs/graduate/.

subset: commoncrawl


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Morelia Belt
The Deco design of geometric links, artistically embossed, with just-like-jade marbled stones.
- Lobster-clasp closure.
- Acrylic, metal, and resin.
- Imported.
We're so sorry: this item sold out sooner than expected. For an equally chic substitute, please call our Personal Service Associates at 1.888.855.4986. Or click on Chico's Chat below for immediate assistance.


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In the ever-growing world of gadgets, it seems almost impossible to keep up. Technology whiz Omar Wasow has waded through the sea of products to show Oprah the two he thinks stand out.
The Vuzix Wrap 310 looks like a regular pair of sunglasses, but put them on and you can watch an entire movie! "They create the experience of watching a wide-screen, 55-inch TV from 10 feet away, inside your glasses," Omar says. "You can hook it up to a video game for your kids to play when on the go. Even if you wanted to watch a movie and your significant other was asleep next to you, you can watch it and not bother them at all." The Vuzix Wrap 310 costs $250. Omar is a student now, and this new gadget offers up a creative solution to a common problem. "I'm always struggling, do I take notes on my computer or on paper?" The Livescribe Pulse Smartpen is his solution. It looks like a pen, but it has a camera in the front to record what you're writing. "It's also got a very powerful microphone," Omar says. "So as you are writing, it records all of the audio being said all around." Once you're done, just put the pen in its cradle and it easily transfers the information to your computer. "If you're a student or you're in a meeting or you're interviewing somebody, it allows you to never miss a word." The Livescribe Pulse Smartpen costs $200. Keep Reading |


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Greg Attonito Vocals
Michael McDermott Drums
Papillon Bass
The Pete Guitars
Bouncing Souls
The Bouncing Souls have never been in the New Yorker. The NJ band that has been kicking their singular brand of angular punk-anthems for upwards of 15 years now, are not necessarily what you would classify as critical darlings, but they have something more tangible. The boys have an arsenal of songs that no one in the North East corridor can deny, tracks like Sing Along Forever, Kate Is Great, or The Freaks, The Nerds, And The Romantics are as potent as anything to come up from the NJ boardwalks. All offer a glimpse of the spark that makes The Bouncing Souls such a cultural enigma; their simple straight-ahead love of the live set and steadfast dedication to their rabid devotees.
Frontman Greg Attonito expands, "We started as a live band playing basements, bars, parties, and clubs to anyone who cared. Over the years we?ve made records, toured the world over, met so many people and created countless memories together. Through it all, the live show has remained the essence of The Bouncing Souls.?
The Bouncing Souls have been a band longer than some of their fans have been alive. That?s quite a statement to make in these times of no-hit wonders, sub-genres here and gone before you can name them, complete musical saturation?and quite a story to tell.
Officially the band names 1987 as it?s start?a vague reference to the first time the original members jammed together in high school, and perhaps when the name came about. Nothing of note happened until at least 1991 when the band moved to New Brunswick, NJ to live in the ghetto and try to make the big time. When no one would give them a show, they put on their own shows in their basement or yard. When no one would put out their record, they started their own labe...
Bouncing Souls Travel Down Under More
BR, the Souls, and Pennywise kick off... More
New interview with Greg Attonito of... More


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Adventures in genealogy . . . finding out who my ancestors were and connecting with cousins today!
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Tuesday's Tip: Boston Post Road History (Read a Book Day)
During college, I drove my Yamaha 50 motorcycle down the Boston Post Road (Route 1) from Boston to Bridgeport (CT) and then on to New York City. It only (!) took 10 hours, door to door, not including the overnight stay in Bridgeport with my dorm buddy and her family. In many spots, Route 1 coincided with Route 95, meaning I was riding a few short inches away from gigantic 18-wheelers that weren't at all impressed by my bike's 50 mph top speed.
Not only did the author trace BPR's surprising history from the 1600s to the present, he also described the economic, social, political, and cultural changes that the road brought about in New England and through New York City and its northern suburbs.
I didn't realize, for example, that "Colonel" Albert A. Pope, a bicycle entrepreneur in Hartford, was largely responsible for the movement to upgrade roads between Bean Town and the Big Apple, seeing them as bike paths! I also didn't know that bicycling clubs were the first to print foldout road maps for members. And I wasn't aware that the BPR went through Hartford, not just along the shoreline.
One of my great-uncles worked in Bridgeport, a hub of industrial activity that expanded thanks to P.T. Barnum's never-ending civic promotions plus, of course, the availability of rail, trolley, and road travel along the Boston Post Road.
This book would be a fun read for any genealogist researching the lives of ancestors who worked or lived in or near the Boston-to-New York corridor.
2 comments:
I was in Wells, Maine over the Labor Day weekend and I was on the Boston Post Road (Rt. 1) I think there were many roads with name, not just the famous one from Boston to New York. I was surprised, but excited to think of all the other possibilities. Maybe all mail roads to Boston had this name at one time?
ReplyDeleteHeather, according to the book, there were a number of routes from Boston to NY, including one through Hartford. It makes sense that there would be routes from further north into Boston too! The book explains why it's Rt 1, by the way: The bicycle club that made early folding maps put a #1 on the BPR, so it was often referred to with that number, informally. Who knew? Anyway, thanks for reading and commenting!


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July 27, 2010
Last week, the State of Illinois released roughly $32 million of capital funding to Arlington Heights, Ill.-based Pace Bus, which will help the agency to move forward with efforts to test green technology buses and paratransit vehicles such as hybrids and compressed natural gas (CNG), replace its radio system and build a transit center at Toyota Park in Bridgeview.
The funding stems from two comprehensive capital investment bills passed by the Illinois General Assembly during 2009. The $32 million is the first installment of a total $200 million that Pace expects to receive based on the legislation. It is estimated that the money will create or retain approximately 270 jobs, many of those in Illinois.
Pace will use $14 million of the new funding will be used to purchase "Green" vehicles for use in the City of Chicago on ADA paratransit service for registered people with disabilities. The new vehicles will begin the agency's efforts to have an entirely Pace-owned fleet in Chicago, thus eliminating the need to use its limited operating funds to reimburse its contractors that operate the service for their costs to procure their own vehicles.
An additional $6 million will be used to purchase 11 "green" buses for use on regular fixed route service. In either case, the green vehicles could be hybrids, compressed natural gas-powered, or other technologies or some assortment of each.
Meanwhile, $10 million will be used to replace Pace's existing radio system, which over time has become obsolete to the point that it can no longer be serviced by its manufacturer. The radio system purchase will be part of a joint procurement with the State of Illinois and will save Pace approximately $10-14 million versus purchasing a standalone system.
Additionally, the radio system will be purchased from Schaumburg, Ill.-based Motorola, meaning that jobs created or retained through the project will be in Illinois.
The remaining $2 million will be used to construct a transportation center at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, creating an estimated 35 local jobs. Pace operates special events service to the stadium from the CTA Orange Line Midway Station.
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Join them today and discover how LightCMS can transform your website.
By clicking below to sign up, you are agreeing to the LightCMS Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
We're adding another fantastic, mobile-friendly, responsive design to the LightCMS platform. Grasp is our newest addition and it's available free inside your LightCMS account. Check out images and more details below.
As with all of our latest designs, Grasp offers a fully responsive display that adapts to fit beautifully in browsers of any width, whether on desktop computers, tablets, or smartphones. We've also styled a custom login and 404 pages to go along with this design template.
To check it out, log in to your website and click "Design" on the top toolbar. Then click "Gallery" and Grasp is currently the first design in the list of featured designs. It only takes a click to preview the design, apply it to your website, or even download the source code to modify on your own. Plus, as always, you can customize the design in the LightCMS Design Editor as well.
Collision Media is a LightCMS Professionals partner based in Nashville, Tenn. who has built its business around the LightCMS content management system to create more than 200 websites (and counting) for clients — many of them churches, ministries and non-profit organizations.
Like many web design agencies, Collision Media started out working with open source platforms such as WordPress and Joomla, but quickly realized these systems were incapable of meeting its needs. Using these tools, Collision struggled to scale its business and grow the way it wanted to.
Collision Media moved to LightCMS' cloud-based platform because of the ease of use it offered its clients and the simplicity of integration for its designers. Collision Media also takes full advantage of LightCMS's compatibility with responsive design techniques. This allows Collision to create websites that adapt to whatever device is accessing it—whether laptop, smartphone or tablet.
LightCMS' intuitive and simple interface now allows Collision Media to complete and deliver more projects in a fraction of the time resulting in its ability to take on more projects and grow its business. To learn more about how Collision Media is leveraging LightCMS to expand and grow its design business, read their full Success Story on the LightCMS Website.
If you're like many creative professionals in a design business, you're probably not as focused as you should be on growing your company. You'd rather work on your next great design than call former customers to ask for a referral. But without those calls and referrals, the business won't last long. Here are five simple, but often ignored, tactics for expanding a design business.
You prefer to think you're a designer, producer, or marketer, but to grow your business, you also have to be a salesperson. Selling means asking friends and existing clients for referrals, getting out into the community to network, creating and distributing marketing materials, getting active on social media sites and even cold calling possible customers to introduce yourself.
It's tempting to try and grab hold of available projects by offering a low rate, discount, or even a freebie. That's a big mistake. It's much harder to raise your rates once you've set them. Plus, most customers base their decisions on more than just price. So, if you've got a quality service to offer, don't cheapen it with price cuts. This also applies to all the little extras you add in for clients and which you're loathe to add to the bill. If you added a service they requested — a third revision, additional graphics…etc. — put it on the bill. If you don't, you risk starving your business of needed revenues.
We all know we're supposed to meet deadlines, but all too often we struggle to deliver what we've promised on time. When you're competing against other agencies for business, meeting deadlines is a major factor in getting repeat business and referrals. The perception that you deliver what you promise is critical. You're always in control of the timeline, so set reasonable expectations and meet them.
Handle calls immediately when you can and always return missed calls the same business day. If you find it distracting to talk on the phone while working on a project, then divide your day so some of it is focused on creative tasks with other times set aside for customer calls. Getting back to people quickly will help you land more projects and keep customers satisfied.
At first, most new agencies will take on every kind of work they can get, from newsletters and business cards to corporate logos and websites. But when business starts coming in regularly, it pays to focus on a specific niche or industry. Sharpening your niche will make your entire business more efficient — from focusing your sales and marketing efforts, to streamlining your daily tasks, to improving your customer support on finished projects. It's better to become the go-to expert in a specific field than to try and do everything. A focused approach will also produce better referrals and help you grow your business to the next level.
We're excited to bring another fantastic, mobile-friendly, responsive design to the LightCMS platform. Origami is our newest addition and it's available at no cost inside your LightCMS account. Check out images and more details below.
As with all of our recent designs, Origami offers a fully responsive display that adapts to fit beautifully in browsers of any width, whether on desktop computers, tablets, or smartphones. To check it out, log in to your website and click "Design" on the top toolbar. Then click "Gallery" and look for Origami in the list of featured designs. It only takes a click to preview the design, apply it to your website, or even download the source code to modify on your own. Plus, as always, you can customize the design in the LightCMS Design Editor as well.
Making beautiful, creative websites accessible to everyone is a primary goal of LightCMS. With built-in designs and our easy-to-use design editor, thousands of customers set up fantastic websites on their own. But sometimes our customers are looking for a little something extra, from assistance with the set up process to full-scale custom website design. The LightCMS Professionals Program aims to connect our customers with experienced LightCMS designers who can provide them with the services they need.
Now you can easily find an experienced LightCMS designer to assist you with your LightCMS project. Every LightCMS Professional has proven their experience with our platform. Browse through our Professionals listing and you'll be able to see examples of each Professional's work, their price range, location and more. When you find a Professional you'd like to work with, simply click the contact button on their listing, fill out the form, and we'll send your details to them immediately. Contacting a Professional doesn't obligate you to anything. The Professional will simply get in touch to discuss your project, answer your questions, and offer a proposal. Then, you get to decide if you wish to proceed.
Currently, LightCMS Professionals offer two types of services. The first is Custom Design, which can include a range of services that vary by provider. Some Professionals may offer fixed-price Custom Design packages while other may charge by the hour. Each Professional will be able to provide details about their Custom Design services. In any case, Custom Design provides you the opportunity to get a beautiful and world-class look that's tailored to meet your needs.
The second service Professionals can choose to offer is called LightCMS Setup. Setup is a fantastic, time-saving service offered at a fixed price of $500. LightCMS Setup takes care of all the details of setting up your LightCMS website such as applying a built-in design, tailoring it to your brand with the Design Editor, adjusting settings for your website and store, and even building out your home page content. You can see if a Professional offers LightCMS Setup by looking at their Professionals listing.
If you're an experienced LightCMS designer who would like to offer your services to LightCMS customers, you can apply to the LightCMS Professionals program as well. Simply visit our Professionals page to get the details and to complete the application form.


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Personalized treatments for people with back pain and spine disorders
Published: Nov. 15, 2010
Updated: Mar. 21, 2011
A microdiscectomy is a surgical procedure in which a small portion of the vertebra or disc is removed to relieve pressure on a nerve.
Lumbar microdiscectomy is a spine treatment performed on patients who have lower extremity pain (radiculopathy or sciatica) due to a herniated disc.
Patients will be up and moving around within hours after the procedure. Most patients will have to spend just one night in the hospital.
Since patients are able to return home the day after surgery, light activities may be resumed within a few weeks after surgery. Make sure to talk with your physician regarding any specific limitations.


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Mathematics Education Library Home | Site Map | Contact Us
Links to:
HIGHLIGHTS This subject guide will help you access information related to Mathematics Education on the Web and in Miller Library.
For more general information, consult the Miller Library's guide for Education. As always, carefully evaluate all sources before you choose to integrate them into your papers, assignments and presentations.
Relevant Databases =============== EBSCOhost Educator's Reference Desk ERIC netLibrary Professional Development Collection Proquest's PA Research I More databases & information
General Information:
NCTM - National Council of Teachers of Mathematics: Site includes standards, events, publications, jobs, news, activities, lessons, links and more.
PA Department of Education - Information for Pennsylvania teachers and teachers-in-training. Includes PA standards, news, certification info, and the 2007 assessment anchor cards for Mathematics.
The Math Forum - Includes Math Tools, Teacher2Teacher, Ask Dr. Math, Problems and Puzzles, and many teacher resources.
Math World - Wolfram Math World Classroom, a free educational site with extensive resources in higher-level mathematics.
NCES- National Center for Education Statistics; and NAEP - The Nation's Report Card: assessing the state of education in the United States.
Relevant Call Numbers
Math + Life = Interesting
What Successful Math Teachers Do, Grades Pre-K- 5 : 47 Research-based strategies for the standards-based classroom. by Edward S. Wall. 2007. (372.7 W188w)
Using Technology for Problem Solving in Middle and High School Mathematics : Investigations using scientific and graphing calculators, spreadsheets, and the Geometer's Sketchpad. by Kenneth P. Goldberg. 2007. (510.71 G618u)
Designing and Implementing Mathematics Instruction for Students with Diverse Learning Needs. by Pamela Hudson, Susan P. Miller. 2006 (510.71 H886d)
Mathematics Curriculum Topic Study : bridging the gap between standards and practice. by Page Keeley, Cheryl M. Rose. 2006 (510.71 K26m)
Hands-on math projects with real-life applications. by Judith A. Muschla. 2006 (510.712 M985h)
Lesson Plans & More
Lessons =============== Educator's Reference Desk: Math Math For America NCTM Illuminations PBS Teacher Source MathSolutions: Lessons Math Archives: Lessons Arithmetic Lessons (K-8) Fractals Nova Teacher's Guides New York Times Daily Lesson Plan Teacher's Domain
Standards =============== PA Dept of Ed: Standards NCTM Standards NCTM Standards Overview Standards Finder 2007 Assessment Anchor Cards PALS
Assessment =============== Reference Desk: Evaluation NCTM Assessment Resources PDE's Assessment & Testing Site Assessment in Math Teaching CRESST PALS PA School Report Cards NAEP- The Nation's Report Card
Tutorials, Manipulatives, Games =============== Ask Dr. Math Cut the Knot Fun Brain Graphics Calculator Math Cats Math Tools Math Tutor: Fractions Math Tutor: Integers National Library of Virtual Manipulatives NRICH Road Sign Math Seeing Math: Math Interactives Visual Calculus Zona Land
Relevant Journals
This page was created by Kathleen Cavanaugh. 2007.
© Keystone College, All rights reserved
Comments and suggestions about this page should go to the Reference Team. Miller Library, Keystone College, One College Green La Plume, PA 18440
This page was updated on 09/27/06


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Niket G. CRM & ERP Consultant and Development About Us: We are a group of technical & highly motivated people having varying experience in CRM from 2-11 years. I am currently working for a USA based company healthcare domain company on SugarCRM, Salesforce, Microsoft Dynamics, Netsuite, OpenERP, SAP. I … more About Us: We are a group of technical & highly motivated people having varying experience in CRM from 2-11 years. I am currently working for a USA based company healthcare domain company on SugarCRM, Salesforce, Microsoft Dynamics, Netsuite, OpenERP, SAP. I have been currently working on similar job for creating the sugarcrm instance and integrating their backend system with sugar by understanding the business logic and working on the reporting module , via odesk for a New York based bed bugs pest control company on sugarcrm stuff so i think the same experience can be utilized in this project as well. I have created new modules(Invoice, Implementation, Project management etc), have customized all of the existing sugar modules, web services, integrated various platforms, created mobile crm etc. Have created completed crm logic by understanding business logic for various companies based in USA, Australia and some European countries. Let's have a conversation to discuss your requirements in detail and i will show you some samples as needed. less salesforce-app-development sugar-crm microsoft-dynamics-crm openerp-development sap business-proposal-writing marketing-strategy html5 php asp.net 00 more less $27.78 HOURLY RATE 4.8 1888 HOURS INDIA LAST ACTIVE March 15 2014 10 PORTFOLIO ITEMS 15 TESTS GROUPS: Bluehost Developers and Designers 00 more less ASSOCIATED WITH: OutSourcing Solutions Agency Niket Gupta 00 more less
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I've dealt with many business domains including Retail, Asset management, Logistics [including reverse logistics], Market Research, ERP, CRM, Content Management, Social Media, eCommerce, Mass Domain Development and Life Insurance during the past 13 years. Responsible for building datacenters for couple of small to mid size companies focusing internal and external needs. Helped couple of organizations in the past to acquire and manage quality communities and execute targetted social media and email marketing campaigns towards the communities. I've participated in all the phases of SDLC for development of small scale web sites to large scale, distributed, enterprise level applications. As an expert business analyst, I can start with very little details and can elaborate/elicit necessary business requirements within the agreed upon scope to move ahead with the project activities. I am not a traditional business analyst who is stick into producing lengthy business requirements. I do produce business requirements diagrams, wireframes, business scenarios in workflows, suggestions on usability improvements and test data to validate the deliverables. I've helped many organizations to setup their project execution processes covering project management, business analysis, development and testing and helped them to come-up with necessary artifacts to maintain a higher level of visibility to the stake holders and the project team members. I am an expert in process methodologies and helped couple of local and foreign companies to obtain ISO 9000 series and CMMi level 3/4 certifications with less hassle. Do have the access to a mini test lab with cross browsers and three of the main operating systems. Apart from that, my test lab has the access to an internal document management system plus a bug tracker to help any of my clients. My QA service offerings include but not limited to testing, test case preparation, planning various test techniques and strategies and improving the quality. Apart from that I can contribute towards organizational goals such as implementing TQM standards. I've prepared many test plans, requirement specs; use case documents, test reports and test cases. I've achieved many milestones during the last 10 years naming; 1. Helped a NY, US based retail solution provider to identify the test scope for their third generation POS and Asset Management solution (After having a thorough analysis, managed to reduce the regression scenarios to 300 from 12000 odd bugs from their issue tracker. I helped them to generate regression and acceptance scenarios covering all the business cases and day-to-day and special transactions). 2. Initiated the testing practices at Cambridge, UK based software service provider. I implemented a CMMI level 3 ready process using agile practices. 3. Initiated the testing practices at US based hosted service provider and expand the team to 7 members covering three product platforms. Setup a CMMI level 3 ready process using agile SCRUM practices and reduced the bug count to .1 for KLOC. I brought down the critical or high priority issues on a UAT To 0. 4. Managed to analyze the V 1.2 of a large, enterprise scale logistics solution and prepared a 600 pages long requirement spec for the V 2.0 with major feature and performance enhancement requirements. 5. Managed to test three RIA applications focusing logistics, ERP/CRM and supply chain management. 6. Brought in Seattle, WA based software solutions provider to the local market (worked with their Director, Technology in terms of setting up the operations), convince them on the capabilities and growing the initial headcount of 3 to 33 in 18 months (budget grows to 4000 US$ to 40000 US$ a month). 7. In 2007, I was instrumental for relocating a large help-desk operation (a distributed operation) to Sri Lanka and managing the operations. We were suppose to attend nearly 12,000 help-desk queries a week and I was responsible for hiring, training and managing the 24 x 7 operations from Colombo. You can find my personal profile at linkedin with the recommendations: http://lk.linkedin.com/in/chathurab Currently I am based in Colombo, Sri Lanka. This is a fantastic place to setup offshore operations as it's blessed with quality and cost effective resources compared to many outsourcing destinations. less business-development recruiting business-analysis requirements-analysis requirement-management project-management program-management product-management software-qa-testing software-testing business-plans customer-support helpdesk-support wordpress seo business-models business-proposal-writing data-center-operations 00 more less $16.67 HOURLY RATE 4.6 1490 HOURS SRI LANKA LAST ACTIVE March 16 2014 6 PORTFOLIO ITEMS 8 TESTS GROUPS: PBwiki Professionals 00 more less ASSOCIATED WITH: Assets Labs Inc 00 more less
Jai V. Management & Strategy Consultant | Enterprise Architect | MBB L6S | IT *** AMONG THE TOP 5% OF oDESK WORKING PROFESSIONALS *** Dear Client / Company, Having worked and supported activities in the field of Strategy & Management consulting, Mergers and Acquisition, led various Lean Six Sigma projects, Enterprise Architecture and modelling, IT Alignment, and new … more *** AMONG THE TOP 5% OF oDESK WORKING PROFESSIONALS *** Dear Client / Company, Having worked and supported activities in the field of Strategy & Management consulting, Mergers and Acquisition, led various Lean Six Sigma projects, Enterprise Architecture and modelling, IT Alignment, and new strategy execution, am a veteran in the field and am looking to support ventures and businesses of any scale who seek professional assistance. Client Portfolio of Fortune 100 clients: > UnitedHealth Group > MetLife > Dell > Aon Hewitt > Barclays and more.... Author of: http://www.amazon.com/Business-Architecture-Provision-maintenance-guide-ebook/dp/B00HIFRU3A/ref=la_B00HIZI2ZA_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1388930823&sr=1-2 http://www.amazon.com/Transforming-Your-Enterprise-successful-implementation/dp/365941350X/ref=la_B00HIZI2ZA_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1388930930&sr=1-1 I have worked for projects across Banking & Financial Service and Insurance Industry, Start ups, Healthcare, ITES, Business Intelligence and Customer Data Integration. Where in bringing in a right balance of IT and Business sense and wish to bring the need and importance of innovation with transformation. Have over 10+ years of experience with certifications in Enterprise Architecture TOGAF, Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt, and SOA. And am a qualified engineer who holds a MBA in Human Resources and Industry Relations and two bachelors degree, one in Nautical Sciences and the other as Commerce Honors. Where to play and how to win is what we do best. Regards, Vishwakarma J S www.unihro.com (Management & Consulting) www.regdocs.in (Legal - Attorney at laws) www.omega-hits.com (Medical IT solutions) www.cognisofttech.com (Business Intelligence & IT Deployment) Consulting | Technology | Outsourcing | Legal less six-sigma strategic-planning project-management insurance-consulting ecommerce-consulting information-architecture brand-consulting process-improvement microsoft-project microsoft-excel microsoft-visual-studio microsoft-visio sap php sql html database-modeling oracle-obiee-plus data-center-operations business-intelligence sharepoint-designer data-warehousing database-cataloguing oracle-enterprise-service-bus software-testing web-content-management teaching-english business-process-modelling microsoft-business-intelligence-studio business-it-alignment business-coaching business-process-reengineering financial-management business-continuity-planning legal-research paralegal legal-writing marketing-strategy business-proposal-writing negotiation public-relations policy-writing 00 more less $55.56 HOURLY RATE 5.0 1561 HOURS INDIA LAST ACTIVE March 16 2014 6 PORTFOLIO ITEMS 15 TESTS ASSOCIATED WITH: UNI CONSULTING Agency 00 more less
Jose enrico C. TOP DIGITAL MARKETER I'm a Gun-For-Hire Digital Marketer! If you know what it means! … more I'm a Gun-For-Hire Digital Marketer! If you know what it means! less telephone-skills data-entry phone-support order-processing customer-service adobe-photoshop sound-forge windows-movie-maker helpdesk-support social-media-marketing marketing-strategy email-handling email-technical-support email-marketing financial-management internet-research market-research telemarketing sound-editing video-production computer-networking wordpress seo vbseo socialengine social-bookmarking affiliate-marketing directory-submission direct-marketing business-proposal-writing account-management human-resource-management seo-backlinking seo-keyword-research web-content-management blog-writing article-submission article-spinning 00 more less $111.11 HOURLY RATE 4.9 6362 HOURS PHILIPPINES LAST ACTIVE March 16 2014 21 PORTFOLIO ITEMS 15 TESTS GROUPS: Bluehost Developers and Designers 00 more less
Niraj G. Sr. Business Analyst My main objective is to help your development through my analytical ability, both of business and human. As a good analyst I am able to see a big picture about where we are and then looking deeper inside as well … more My main objective is to help your development through my analytical ability, both of business and human. As a good analyst I am able to see a big picture about where we are and then looking deeper inside as well I will find up how to both improve inside a business or the best way to help people by learning. This ability has been developed during the last 4 years. As a business analyst, I provide detailed business & market analysis and investment valuation reports covering all aspects of businesses, ranging from Marketing to Finance and from operations management to statistical analysis. As I am hoping to further build my repertoire here at ODesk, I look forward to meeting new clients and aid them in their respective tasks and goals. less business-analysis business-plans business-proposal-writing business-writing microsoft-visio 00 more less $15.00 HOURLY RATE 4.9 2039 HOURS INDIA LAST ACTIVE March 13 2014 0 PORTFOLIO ITEMS 0 TESTS ASSOCIATED WITH: SEASIA INFOTECH PVT LTD 00 more less
Abhishek Jain 18000+ hrs on oDesk and iphone,Blackberry and Android Developer We do mobile application development & porting services for iPhone, BlackBerry, Android, Windows Mobile, Symbian as well as all types of J2ME devices. … more We do mobile application development & porting services for iPhone, BlackBerry, Android, Windows Mobile, Symbian as well as all types of J2ME devices. less blackberry-app-development android-app-development j2me c amazon-web-services xml-web-services soap amazon-ec2 rackspace-cloudservers mac-os-app-development website-development blackberry-jde adobe-photoshop web-content-management web-design jquery-mobile core-java custom-cms cakephp codeigniter facebook-api foursquare-api legal-research c# .net-framework asp.net microsoft-visual-basic vbscript twilio-api live-chat-software xmpp xml balsamiq google-maps-api google-analytics google-places-api google-analytics-api google-plus linkedin-api business-process-modelling java javascript django-framework amazon-mechanical-turk-api 3d-animation accounting ab-testing account-management 1shoppingcart html html5 actionscript-2 soapui sap-business-objects objective-c apple-xcode zencart zend-framework oscommerce research-papers animation css3 css dejavu apple-ios-jailbreaking business-proposal-writing accounts-payable-management ablecommerce medical-writing api-development actionscript-3 abaqus engineering-drawing windev-mobile microsoft-access microsoft-powerpoint amazon-rds zoho-crm microsoft-project windows-app-development google-swiffy windows-azure caricature-drawing php phpmyadmin calendar-management data-analysis data-mining data-sheet-writing data-backup database-design database-administration internet-research data-science database-modeling windows-workflow-foundation database-testing 3d-design apple-webobjects weblogic sap-netweaver information-builders-webfocus powerbuilder lamp-administration phone-support phonegap appcelerator-titanium paypal-integration payment-gateway-integration online-community-management adobe-content-server 00 more less $15.56 HOURLY RATE 4.5 4274 HOURS INDIA LAST ACTIVE March 15 2014 81 PORTFOLIO ITEMS 7 TESTS ASSOCIATED WITH: Techvalens Software Systems Pvt Ltd 00 more less
Abhinav S. 17000+ Hours Completed for iPhone,iOS,iPad,Android & Blackberry Over the last 6 years, we have developed a wide range of mobile applications in various domains such as- Social, Educational, GPS Based Apps, QUIZ Apps, Restaurant Apps, File uploading App, Magazine App, Stock and News App, Health care Apps … more Over the last 6 years, we have developed a wide range of mobile applications in various domains such as- Social, Educational, GPS Based Apps, QUIZ Apps, Restaurant Apps, File uploading App, Magazine App, Stock and News App, Health care Apps , Mobiologic App, Retailer app, Real state app and many more. We have excellent knowledge of iOS, Android, Blackberry, Windows and Symbain Key Skills: -> A systematic and well organised approach in application development and deployment. -> In-Depth Debugging skills. -> Defensive coding and reading ability accompanied with strong analytical and creative problem solving skills. -> Photo , Video , Audio Manipulation. -> Web Service Integration & Web Server Building. -> Business analysis system like Flurry -> ePayment ability using like Apple's in app purchase, paypal. Key Experience: -> Excellent and detailed Object Oriented programming paradigm. -> Agile, Zera, Teamly software development experience. -> Having Excellent client-Server communication. -> Co-operation experience with team member(like Communication & Using SVN, GIT, JIRA) -> Simple and graceful User interface sense My specialist skill set is following by: 1. Super level UI customization, suggestion of best user friendly and elegant UI design. 2.Google Map API and the building of Location Based System. 3. Social networking and the interaction with web service and porting from web site to mobile app. 4. Video/Audio Streaming. 5. Social Networking App. 6. Integration of social media such as Facebook or Twitter. 7. Push Notification by using APNS and C2DM. 8. In-App purchase. 9. PhotoSharing and Image processing apps. less objective-c c# .net-framework javascript iphone-app-development ios-development android-app-development graphic-design ecommerce-consulting google-app-engine google-apps-api google-analytics google-docs test-case-design black-box-testing google-analytics-api google-calendar-development netbeans rest api-development dropbox-api google-app-engine-api google-calendar-api game-design game-testing facebook-api pinterest-marketing foursquare-api facebook-marketing saas b2b-marketing packaging-design api-documentation technical-documentation business-proposal-writing odesk-api gps-development voip-software mobile-app-development jquery j2me java j2ee jquery-mobile agile-software-development mac-os-app-development windows-8-app-development windows-8-administration ui-design 2d-design oscommerce adobe-acrobat graphics-programming image-processing 00 more less $11.00 HOURLY RATE 2.8 2001 HOURS UNITED STATES LAST ACTIVE Feb. 21 2014 85 PORTFOLIO ITEMS 7 TESTS GROUPS: Corona Labs 00 more less ASSOCIATED WITH: Techvalens Software Systems Pvt Ltd 00 more less


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Kenneth John's grief-stricken stepfather is reflecting on the life of his son, who would have turned 27 next month before he was fatally shot by an Anchorage police officer Monday night.
APD investigators say John was carrying two bladed weapons when he approached an officer who was checking on John's vehicle near the intersection of Hyder Street and East 12th Avenue.
"It doesn't strike me that Kenneth would be a little confrontational because Kenneth, that's just the way he was," said John's stepfather, Steve Hatzis. "He would be straight up-front with you, but what strikes me as out of character is Kenneth to be threatening somebody."
Although John had a domestic-violence arrest on his record he was turning his life around, most recently working towards his state certification in abatement or asbestos removal.
"People smiled when they saw him, we looked forward to the day," said David Herrmann, who hired John to work at his asbestos-removal firm. "Kenneth was one of the backbones of our company."
John worked for Herrmann for three years, until he left a few months ago. Hermann says John was bothered at the time by the April 5 death of his cousin, Detlef Wulf, who was shot to death outside the Fairview Carrs Safeway store in a confrontation with police. Hermann, as well as John's family, say John also battled with alcohol abuse.
"Kenneth would have his times when he would fall off the wagon, then he would come back again," Hatzis said.
APD says it may be several weeks before the completion of toxicology reports that would show whether John was under the influence of any substances at the time of his death.
Contact Adam Pinsker


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Students at Pittsville High School came together to construct a shelter in the school's forest Tuesday.
The Weston man accused of running a cockfighting ring is now in the Marathon County Jail, according to a jail official.
NEILLSVILLE (WAOW) – The Clark County Sheriff's Department says some suspects from Neillsville have admitted vandalizing about 40 rural mailboxes during a nighttime spree across four townships.
The 2014 Children's Miracle Network campaign has kicked off.
WAUSAU (WAOW) - A 30-year-old Wausau man was charged Tuesday with fatally shooting another man outside a Wausau bar two months ago.
Many of us want the snow gone, especially after this brutal winter. But, public works crews say it can't go too quickly.
The battle over the sober server ordinance in Wausau is set to reach a conclusion Tuesday night.
The city of Wausau is one step closer in tackling its stray cat problem. On Tuesday, the Board of Public Works opened the bids from groups willing to take the cats.
AUBURNDALE (WAOW) – About 20 cattle were killed in a fire that destroyed a rural Auburndale milking barn early Tuesday, Auburndale Fire Chief Todd Bores said.
A popular name in the music industry visited UW-Stevens Point Monday.
Some rural central Wisconsin schools have to decide what to do about increasing enrollment.
A group has come to central Wisconsin to bring harmony to the area through art.
Central Wisconsin got a little taste of Spring today.Warmer temperatures brightened up the day for many in Marshfield.
We are remembering a central Wisconsin woman who captured our hearts.
Workers from Wausau Public Works are busy removing snow and ice build up from catch basins
PHILLIPS (WAOW) – The police chief in Phillips who has been targeted for dismissal by the mayor in a lengthy complaint denies any wrongdoing, his attorney said Monday.
CLARK COUNTY (WAOW) - A former Abbotsford math teacher accused of assaulting two 17-year-old female students appeared before a Clark County judge on new charges Monday and the judge ordered him to no longer use the internet, according to online court records.
WAUSAU (WAOW) - A judge Monday ordered that a 27-year-old man accused of killing and beheading a St. Paul, Minn., man stand trial after ruling he was competent to understand the court proceedings.
A Gleason man threw a bag holding a .38 caliber gun and it fired, hitting him in the leg, according to the Lincoln County Sheriff's Department.
An iconic place in Medford is at risk of closing its doors. Owners of the Broadway Theater are asking the community for help and looking to the power of the Internet to keep things up and running.
Thank you for participating in our poll. Here are the results so far:
Click here for updates from WFXS.com
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A list of stuff I will just start keeping in my bag at all times, probably in that suit flap thing where people with real jobs keep their nice outfits.
the internet
Sometimes I get freaked out if I have to call for a pizza, even if I know doing so will result in piping hot pizza. PIZZA.
I have menstruating on the brain, friends!


text:
Latest Security articles
How to temporarily disable Microsoft Security Essentials
Think your anti-virus program is causing a conflict with some other program? Here's how to switch it off for temporary troubleshooting
How to recognise and defeat website malware
Back-up, update, have tough passwords, harden your server - there is much you can do
Security woes: How to defend against malnets
Malnets are extensive distributed network infrastructures embedded in the Internet, but there is something you can do
Will tech companies ever figure out how to deal with passwords?
CIOs should worry about seeing their companies targeted, hacked and eventually vilified in the press
How to encrypt your Apple or Android tablet
Thinking about encrypting your Apple or Android tablet? The process can be daunting, but here's how to do it.
How to secure your BIOS
You've password-protected your computer, but it remains vulnerable to mischief until you've done the same for your BIOS
How to preserve your privacy on Facebook - be savvy
Here are a few tips to help you enjoy social networking and not worry about interfering with your ability to land that perfect job
Four ways for you to control your Google Privacy
Google's new privacy policy reportedly breaches privacy in Europe and the US - so what are you going to do about it?
Five reasons why you should host your own email
There are good reasons to keep your business' email on your private server instead of outsourcing it
Four ways to protect your intellectual property
Data breaches are going down but stealing IP is on the rise. Here's how to stop it happening to you
How to manage information security during an innovation void
Advice for infosec executives on turning possible crisis into an opportunity
How to recover a lost phone, tablet or laptop
These terrific tools and tips can rescue your wayward mobile devices and keep your personal data out of criminals' hands
Android devices exposed: 7 ways to thwart hackers
How to stay safe as malware targets Google-owned platform
How you can stop spear-phishing
Inbound email sandboxin, real-time analysis of web traffic and much, much more
How to gain access to an old PC without the logon password
This technique is not well known, but it's relatively simple
How to send sensitive information over email
Need to share some private data but don't want to risk a hack attack? Read on
Three ways you can avoid getting hacked like Yahoo!
Hackers breached Yahoo and exposed more than 450,000 passwords, but Yahoo is to blame for making it easy
How to protect yourself from DNSChanger
Here's how to determine whether you're infected, and what to do if you are.
16 expert OpenSSH hacks
So you think you know OpenSSH inside and out? Test your chops against this hit parade of 16 expert tips and tricks
How to create different, secure and easy-to-remember passwords for every site
Need an easy way to generate and manage your passwords? Here's a simple trick that requires no special software
What an Internet cyber thief is doing and how to catch them
The situation today with extremist groups using high-tech hacking and bots "isn't out of hand", but it could quickly get worse
How to secure your Android smartphone
With Android malware on the rise, here's how to protect your device from infection
How to protect online transactions with multi-factor authentication
Organisations in the US are now affected by federal guidelines recommending multiple layers of security controls
How to stay safe online while grabbing bargains on Cyber Monday
If you're planning on letting your fingers do the shopping on Monday, here are five tips to help you stay safe
How to hack your way into Facebook's new Timeline
Use this workaround to disguise yourself as a developer and gain early access to the newest version of Facebook
[ 1 ] [ 2 ] [ 3 ] [ 4 ] [ 5 ] … next »


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How to Fix Final Fantasy
Kevin VanOrd looks back on the Final Fantasy XIII trilogy, and wonders what must be done to get the beloved role-playing series back on track.
Square Enix wants to bring Final Fantasy games to PC
Success of Final Fantasy 7 and 8 on Steam paves a possible path to PC releases for future Final Fantasy titles.
Final Fantasy XIII trailer gets a retro SNES makeover for Lightning Returns
Get caught up on the long and winding Final Fantasy XIII story before Lightning Returns with this original 16-bit trailer straight from Square Enix.
Final Fantasy games 50 percent off on EU PlayStation Store
A good opportunity to pick up Final Fantasy Tactics for your Vita.
Sound Byte Radio Episode 16: Remember Me, Fez, Final Fantasy XIII-2
We jump start this month's music podcast episode with remixes and genre mash-ups from Halo 4, Fez, and Final Fantasy XIII-2
Final Fantasy XIII-2 rerelease and DLC bundle head to Japan this July
New bundle to feature all of the game's DLC except for the Assassin's Creed, Mass Effect, and AKB48 singer-created outfit.
Sound Byte: Meet the Performer - Malaysian guest artist for Distant Worlds
We had a short online chat with Az Samad, a Malaysian guitarist and composer who was a guest performer for Square Enix's Final Fantasy-themed music concert.
Sound Byte: Best of 2012 In Game Music
We take you to an audio-filled ride on the game soundtracks that made this year great.
Final Fantasy next-gen tech demo took 12 months to make
Square Enix spent six months planning, six months creating four-minute "Agni's Philosophy" demo running on new Luminous Engine.
Recent Forum Activity
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High performance car
At 170000 1 cylinder started to nock and fuel pump, fuel was liking in the oil, I've fixed that.
Only you need to look is tyres, oil and water and then your car will be OK.
I made a mistake, I didn't look for a oil.
General Comments:
This car has BIG acceleration, for example I counted 9.8 sec to 100km/h and top speed on the racing track 155km/h. He goes quietly at that speed, no shaking, like you are flowing. he handles corners better than some BMW or Fiat.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 29th December, 2003
16th Dec 2004, 18:08
Maybe it's a really modified one. But normal Renault 4s do not fit the description above.
24th Jul 2005, 08:52
No way does a Renault 4 handle corners better than a BMW. Unless you just prefer the way it handles them.
14th Dec 2005, 14:06
Come on!!! maybe if it were a Clio, but a R4? I know lots of people love that car, but its never going to be better drive than a BMW, I am just glad you didn't say BMW M3.
27th Sep 2006, 17:18
I think he is refering to the old 3 series with 4 flat tyres in my back garden.


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Zero Dark Thirty (15)
Release date
25th January 2013
Running Time
157 minutes
Kathryn Bigelow
Action, Drama, Thriller
Jessica Chastain, Jason Clarke, Joel Edgerton, Mark Strong
The search for Osama Bin Laden gets underway in riveting, fact-based thriller Zero Dark Thirty. Director of The Hurt Locker Kathryn Bigelow follows her Oscar-winning success with this dramatization of the world's greatest manhunt. On 2 May 2011, al-Qaeda leader bin Laden was tracked down and killed at a compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan. Bigelow and writer-producer Mark Boal (who wrote the Oscar-winning script for The Hurt Locker) rewind the clock and examine the events that led to his discovery and death. The decade-long operation involved a top-secret team of intelligence and military operatives, all of whom dedicated themselves to a single goal: track down and eliminate the world's most wanted man. A superb cast including Jessica Chastain, Joel Edgerton and Mark Strong puts a human face on this extraordinary story whilst Bigelow hones her signature blend of gripping tension, visceral set pieces and political intelligence, immersing audiences in the realities of modern warfare.
Available screening types
Now Showing
You should see this because
Bigelow relays the remarkable details of an operation that was hidden from public view.
Cineworld Magazine
If you like Zero Dark Thirty you may like...
The Hurt Locker (2008), Body of Lies (2008), Argo (2012)
Cineworld Magazine