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Communication from the Commission to the Council, the European Parliament, the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions - eEurope 2005: An information society for all - An Action Plan to be presented in view of the Sevilla European Council, 21/22 June 2002
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COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS - eEurope 2005: An information society for all - An Action Plan to be presented in view of the Sevilla European Council, 21/22 June 2002
Executive summary
The objective of this Action Plan is to provide a favourable environment for private investment and for the creation of new jobs, to boost productivity, to modernise public services, and to give everyone the opportunity to participate in the global information society. eEurope 2005 therefore aims to stimulate secure services, applications and content based on a widely available broadband infrastructure.
The Barcelona European Council called on the Commission to draw up an eEurope action plan focussing on "the widespread availability and use of broadband networks throughout the Union by 2005 and the development of Internet protocol IPv6 .... and the security of networks and information, eGovernment, eLearning, eHealth and eBusiness" [1]
[1] Barcelona European Council, Presidency Conclusions, paragraph 40(http://ue.eu.int/en/Info/eurocouncil/index.htm)
This action plan will succeed the eEurope 2002 action plan endorsed by the Feira European Council in June 2000. eEurope is part of the Lisbon strategy to make the European Union the most competitive and dynamic knowledge-based economy with improved employment and social cohesion by 2010.
eEurope 2002, with the joint effort of all stakeholders, has already delivered major changes and has increased the number of citizens and businesses connected to the Internet. It has reshaped the regulatory environment for communications networks and services and for e-commerce and opened the door to new generations of mobile and multimedia services. It is providing opportunities for people to participate in society and helping the workforce to acquire the skills needed in a knowledge-driven economy. It is bringing computers and the Internet into schools across the Union, bringing governments on-line and focusing attention on the need to ensure a safer on-line world.
The information society has much untapped potential to improve productivity and the quality of life. This potential is growing due to the technological developments of broadband and multi-platform access, i.e. the possibility to connect to the Internet via other means than the PC, such as digital TV and 3G. These developments are opening up significant economic and social opportunities. New services, applications and content will create new markets and provide the means to increase productivity and hence growth and employment throughout the economy. They will also provide citizens with more convenient access to information and communication tools.
Most services are provided by the market. Developing new services needs significant investment, most of it from the private sector. But there is a problem: funding more advanced multimedia services depends on the availability of broadband for these service to run on, while funding broadband infrastructure depends on the availability of new services to use it. Action is needed to stimulate services and infrastructure to create the dynamic where one side develops from the growth of the other. Both developing services and building infrastructures are mainly tasks for the private sector and eEurope will create a favourable environment for private investment. This means not only developing an investment friendly legal framework but also taking action that stimulates demand and so reduces uncertainty to private investors.
eEurope 2005 applies a number of measures to address both sides of the equation simultaneously. On the demand side, actions on e-government, e-health, e-learning and e-business are designed to foster the development of new services. In addition to providing both better and cheaper services to citizens, public authorities can use their purchasing power to aggregate demand and provide a crucial pull for new networks. On the supply side, actions on broadband and security should advance the roll-out of infrastructure.
The Lisbon strategy is not just about productivity and growth but also about employment and social cohesion. eEurope 2005 puts users at the centre. It will improve participation, open up opportunities for everyone and enhance skills. eEurope contains measures regarding e-inclusion in all action lines. One important tool to achieve this is to ensure multi-platform provision of services. It is generally accepted that not everyone will want to have a PC. Making sure that services, especially online public services, are available over different terminals such as TV sets or mobile phones is crucial to ensuring the inclusion of all citizens.
The eEurope action plan is based on two groups of actions which reinforce each other. On the one hand, it aims to stimulate services, applications and content, covering both online public services and e-business; on the other hand it addresses the underlying broadband infrastructure and security matters.
The action plan comprises four separate but interlinked tools
Firstly, policy measures to review and adapt legislation at national and European level; to ensure legislation does not unnecessarily hamper new services; to strengthen competition and interoperability; to improve access to a variety of networks; and, to demonstrate political leadership. eEurope 2005 identifies those areas where public policy can provide an added value and therefore focuses on a limited set of actions in priority areas. Some key targets are:
* Connecting public administrations, schools, health care to broadband
* Interactive public services, accessible for all, and offered on multiple platforms
* Provide online health services
* Removal of obstacles to the deployment of broadband networks
* Review of legislation affecting e-business
* Creation of a Cyber Security Task Force
Secondly, eEurope will facilitate the exchange of experience, of good practices and demonstration projects, but also of sharing the lessons from failures. Projects will be launched to accelerate the roll-out of leading edge applications and infrastructure.
Thirdly, policy measures will be monitored and better focussed by benchmarking of the progress made in achieving the objectives and of the policies in support of the objectives.
Fourthly, an overall co-ordination of existing policies will bring out synergies between proposed actions. A steering group will provide a better overview of policy developments and ensure a good information exchange between national and European policy makers and the private sector. This steering group would also make an early participation of candidate countries possible.
This action plan is a proposal to Member States to take some far-reaching commitments. It is an invitation to the private sector to work with the Commission and Member States to realise the eEurope objectives. It sets out the initiatives the Commission will or is willing to take. Overall the action plan sets the scene for a co-ordinated European policy approach on information society issues. The eEurope action plan should be confirmed as a key element in the Lisbon strategy. If successful, this plan will have a significant impact on growth and productivity, employment and social cohesion in Europe.
The European Council in Sevilla is expected to endorse an Action Plan and invite Council and Parliament to adopt as quickly as possible the necessary legal and budgetary instruments to implement it.
1. The objectives
2. The approach
3. The actions
3.1 Policy measures
3.1.1. Modern online public services
3.1.2. A dynamic e-business environment
3.1.3. A secure information infrastructure
3.1.4. Broadband
3.2. Development, analysis and dissemination of good practices
3.3. Benchmarking
3.4. A co-ordination mechanism for e-policies
3.5. Financing
4. Conclusions
1. The objectives
The Barcelona European Council called on the Commission to draw up an eEurope action plan focussing on:
"the widespread availability and use of broadband networks throughout the Union by 2005 and the development of Internet protocol IPv6 .... and the security of networks and information, eGovernment, eLearning, eHealth and eBusiness" [2]
[2] Barcelona European Council, Presidency Conclusions, paragraph 40 (http://ue.eu.int/en/Info/eurocouncil/index.htm)
This action plan will succeed the eEurope 2002 action plan endorsed by the Feira European Council in June 2000. eEurope 2002 is part of the Lisbon strategy to make the European Union the most competitive and dynamic knowledge-based economy with improved employment and social cohesion by 2010. It was complemented by the eEurope+ [3] initiative launched by the candidate countries in reply to the invitation of the European Council to take on board the Lisbon strategy. Many of the objectives of eEurope 2002 have already been achieved and the remainder will largely be completed by the end of this year [4].
[3] http://europa.eu.int/information_society/international/candidate_countries/action_plan/index_en.htm
[4] The full text of the eEurope 2002 Action Plan, other reference documents and the results of eEurope benchmarking can be found at http://europa.eu.int/eeurope.
To create a knowledge economy, eEurope 2002 focused on extending Internet connectivity in Europe. In order to generate growth, connectivity needs to be translated into economic activities. This is the focus of eEurope 2005: stimulating services, applications and content that create new markets and reduce costs and eventually increase productivity throughout the economy. Developing content, services and applications and rolling out the underlying infrastructure is predominantly up to the market. Therefore, the action plan will concentrate on those areas where public policy can provide an added value and contribute to creating a positive environment for private investment.
Fast progress in digital technologies and the decline in prices for information technology equipment provided business and consumers with more powerful devices. Investment in digital equipment grew throughout the 80s and 90s but when computers became interconnected as the World Wide Web took off in the mid 90s there was a particular boost to productivity. The contribution of the Internet to productivity and growth, particularly in Europe, is therefore relatively recent and much more can be expected. Two new developments will have a major impact on the further development of the Internet: multi-platform access/convergence and broadband [5].
[5] There is no universally accepted definition of broadband, but its key characteristics are high speed and always-on functionality. Currently, broadband access is mostly offered over the telephone copper network using ADSL technology or over cable TV networks using cable modems. Broadband access can also be offered over new infrastructure, mainly fibre optic, fixed wireless access (FWA), third-generation mobile systems, R-LANs operating in licence-exempt frequency bands, and satellite communication systems.
New communication platforms beyond PC-based Internet access are now becoming available. In particular, interactive digital television and third generation (3G) mobile systems driven by common standards open up possibilities for multiple platform access to services. They can be both substitutes and complements. The same holds for the supporting networks. The Barcelona European Council stressed the importance of open platforms for convergence [6].
[6] The Barcelona European Council called upon "the Commission and the Member States to foster the use of open platforms to provide freedom of choice to citizens for access to applications and services of the Information Society, notably through digital television, 3G mobile and other platforms that technological convergence may provide in the future." It also invited the Commission to present "a comprehensive analysis of remaining barriers to: the achievement of widespread access to new services and applications of the information society through open platforms in digital television and 3G mobile communications, the full roll-out of 3G mobile communications, the development of e-commerce and e-government and the role that national electronic identification and authentication systems could play in this context." (paragraph 41).
Broadband connections significantly increase the speed of transmission between computers, mobile phones, TV set-top boxes and other digital devices. This will improve quality of Internet access, making it more user-friendly and convenient for consumers, and enable the full scope of multi-media applications to be applied.
The next generation of services will rely on these features. If fully exploited, broadband technologies will improve the effective use of networks, and thereby increase productivity and employment. Having anytime, anywhere access to information will contribute to greater effectiveness. However, achieving productivity gains through effective use can only be realised by restructuring of economic behaviour to exploit the new technologies: adapting business processes, bringing public services online, enhancing skills.
Realising the potential of broadband requires that everyone is given the ability and opportunity to enjoy and exploit its richness and benefits (in terms of healthcare, education, and business for example). This means that the goal of the eEurope 2002 action plan of achieving an 'information society for all' remains valid for eEurope 2005. By supporting the emergence of alternative access platforms, such as digital television or 3G mobile systems, the new action plan will further facilitate e-inclusion, also for people with special needs.
The more networks and computers become an essential part of business and daily life, the more security becomes a necessity. Because of the value of current and expected transactions carried out online, networks and information systems need to be secure. Security has therefore become a key enabler for e-businesses and a pre-requisite for privacy.
The internationalisation of Internet management will also be a key parameter for the harmonious development of the Internet, and the EU will continue to work actively towards this aim.
In summary, broadband enabled communication, in combination with convergence, will bring social as well as economic benefits. It will contribute to e-inclusion, cohesion and cultural diversity. It offers the potential to improve and simplify the life of all Europeans and to change the way people interact, not just at work, but also with friends, family, community, and institutions and the way companies operate. This is what users are interested in, and this is where eEurope 2005 starts from. The objective of this Action Plan is to stimulate secure services, applications and content based on a widely available broadband infrastructure.
2. The approach
The eEurope 2002 action plan proved to be a successful format and the basis for similar actions not only in the candidate countries (eEurope+), but also in third countries. Its method of i) speeding up the adoption of new legal measures, ii) re-focusing existing support programmes, and iii) defining clear targets to be achieved, combined with benchmarking, had a major impact. The new action plan will build on these successes and maintain eEurope as the symbol of European Union policy to develop the information society. However it needs to be adapted with regard to three requirements.
1. Broadband technology is transforming the Internet and opening up new possibilities for interactive multimedia services only possible at very fast transmission speeds. Infrastructure investment is driven by availability of content and services and the development of new services and content depends on infrastructure deployment. The infrastructure evolves and upgrades when new services and applications emerge and vice versa. eEurope 2005 will try to stimulate a positive feedback between infrastructure upgrading, both broadband and multi-platform and service developments.
2. Many measures at European, national and regional level in support of the knowledge economy are already underway. Most Member States have national action plans for information society policy, many of which were inspired by eEurope 2002. The eEurope 2005 actions should therefore go beyond current policies and make a real difference. They must also be in line with the Barcelona conclusions [7] and take account of the discussions at the Informal Telecom Council [8] in Vitoria.
[7] http://ue.eu.int/en/Info/eurocouncil/index.htm
[8] Results of the informal meeting of ministers for Telecommunications and the Information Society, February 2002 - Vitoria, http://www.ue2002.es/
3. Before the end of this action plan, it is likely that a number of candidate countries for accession to the EU will be members. It will be a challenge for them (and for the current Member States) to meet the targets and to implement the actions contained in eEurope 2005. eEurope 2005 therefore needs built-in flexibility and should provide for a mid-term review of actions to ensure a smooth phasing in of the new members in the action plan.
To meet these requirements, the eEurope action plan is based on two groups of actions which reinforce each other and build a virtuous circle. The first one concerns services, applications and content, covering both online public services and e-business, and the second one concerns the underlying broadband infrastructure and security matters. The targets of eEurope 2005 can be summarised as follows:
By 2005, Europe should have:
- modern online public services
e-learning services
e-health services
- a dynamic e-business environment
and, as an enabler for these
- widespread availability of broadband access at competitive prices
- a secure information infrastructure
The action plan is structured around four lines which are interlinked:
Firstly, policy measures to review and adapt legislation at national and European level, to strengthen competition and interoperability, to create awareness, and to demonstrate political leadership.
Secondly, the implementation of policy measures is supported by the development, analysis and dissemination of good practices. Projects will be launched to accelerate the roll-out of leading edge applications and infrastructure.
Thirdly, policy measures will be monitored and better focussed by benchmarking of the progress made in achieving the objectives and of the policies in support of the objectives.
Fourthly, an overall co-ordination of existing policies will bring out synergies between proposed actions. A steering group will provide a better overview of policy developments and ensure a good information exchange between national and European policy makers and the private sector.
3. The actions
3.1 Policy measures
3.1.1. Modern online public services
i) e-government
Starting point
Under the eEurope 2002 Action Plan, Member States agreed to provide all basic services online by end 2002. Much has been achieved in this area but many services still have limited interactivity. The Commission and the Belgian Presidency held an e-government conference in November 2001 to identify and disseminate examples of good practice. The ministers participating in the conference adopted a declaration [9] stressing the need to further develop the exchange of good practices and to ensure inclusion and security in online public service delivery. The development of secure and seamless access to e-government services depends on deployment and the effective use of electronic authentication means. The action taken in support of smart card take-up will continue and could effectively serve this purpose by also providing a secure device to support electronic signature.
[9] http://europa.eu.int/information_society/eeurope/egovconf/index_en.htm
Improved access to public web sites for disabled people is an objective of eEurope 2002. In October 2001, the Council adopted a resolution on e-inclusion [10] and a further resolution in March 2002 [11] stating that Member States should speed up their efforts in implementing the 'Web Accessibility Initiative' guidelines [12]. Access to government services can be facilitated by providing multilingual content and making it available on various platforms.
[10] OJ C 292 of 18.10.2001.
[11] OJ C 86 of 10.04.2002.
[12] http://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG10/
Initiatives regarding e-government exist at national, regional and local level. These are complemented by actions carried out at European level: the IDA programme [13] is supporting interoperability of back office processes, standardisation and the provision of pan-European services and the IST programme [14] is financing research activities. In addition, the Commission is preparing an initiative to follow up the Communication on creating a EU framework for the exploitation of public sector information [15]. At the Barcelona European Council, Heads of State and Government decided on the creation of a 'one stop European Job Mobility Information Web Site'. This and the portal of the EU administration developed in the framework of the IDA Programme will offer multi-lingual point of access for online information and services to citizens and enterprises supporting mobility across borders. The IDA portal will also serve as test bed for multi-platform technologies. In this context, the use and improvement of machine translation systems to fully cover the linguistic diversity of European users of such web sites will be of importance. The Barcelona European Council also invited the Commission to analyse the role that electronic authentication systems can play in removing obstacles to the development of e-government.
[13] Interchange of data between administrations (http://europa.eu.int/ispo/ida)
[14] Information society technologies (http://www.cordis.lu/ist)
[15] COM(2001) 607 final of 23.10.2001.
Proposed actions
Broadband connection. Member States should aim to have broadband connections for all public administrations by 2005.Since broadband services can be offered on different technological platforms, national and regional authorities should not discriminate between technologies when purchasing connections (using open bidding procedures, for example).
Interoperability. By end 2003, the Commission will issue an agreed interoperability framework to support the delivery of pan-European e-government services to citizens and enterprises. It will address information content and recommend technical policies and specifications for joining up public administration information systems across the EU. It will be based on open standards and encourage the use of open source software.
Interactive public services. By end 2004, Member States should have ensured that basic public services are interactive, where relevant, accessible for all, and exploit both the potential of broadband networks and of multi-platform access. This will require back-office reorganisation [16] which will be addressed in the good practice exercise. It also implies addressing access for people with special needs, such as persons with disabilities or the elderly. Commission and Member States will agree on a list of public services for which interactivity and interoperability are desirable.
[16] Re-engineering of internal administrative processes that relate e.g. to data collection and data management, electronic information exchange, interagency co-ordination.
Public procurement. By end 2005, Member States should carry out a significant part of public procurement electronically. The experience of the private sector shows that reducing costs is most efficiently achieved through the use of the Internet in supply chain management, including e-procurement. Council and Parliament should adopt as quickly as possible the legislative package on procurement.
Public Internet Access Points (PIAPs). All citizens should have easy access to PIAPs, preferably with broadband connections, in their communes/municipalities. In establishing PIAPs, Member States should use structural funds and work in collaboration with the private and/or voluntary sector, where necessary. The Commission intends to continue to support technology development in the research programme and good practice showcases to the extent possible through the follow-up programme to the PROMISE programme.
Culture and tourism. The Commission, in co-operation with Member States, the private sector and regional authorities, will define e-services to promote Europe and to offer user-friendly public information. These e-services should be deployed by 2005 and build on interoperable interfaces, use broadband communication, and be accessible from all types of digital terminals.
ii) e-learning
Starting point
Member States responded positively to the ambitious eEurope 2002 targets. Most schools are now connected and work is underway to provide convenient access to the Internet and multimedia resources for schools, teachers and students. In Barcelona, the European Council set the target of ensuring by end 2003 a ratio of 15 pupils per on-line computer for educational purposes [17] in EU schools. Trans-European networks connecting national research and education networks have been upgraded substantially but, as yet, few schools are connected.
[17] The Barcelona European Council also requested to develop digital literacy through the generalisation of an Internet and computer user's certificate for secondary school pupils and to undertake a feasibility study to identify options for helping secondary schools to establish or enhance an internet twinning link with a partner school elsewhere in Europe (paragraph 44).
The Commission has contributed to financing some of these actions through the IST Programme, the eLearning initiative and other actions co-ordinated under the eLearning Action Plan. EU measures included support to the provision of equipment, co-operation and exchange of good practices, teacher training, pedagogical research, and the development of e-learning content and services.
Proposed actions
Broadband connections. By end 2005, Member States should aim that all schools and universities have Internet access for educational and research purposes over a broadband connection. Museums, libraries, archives and similar institutions that play a key role in e-learning should also be connected to broadband networks.
eLearning Programme. By end 2002, the Commission intends to adopt a proposal for a specific eLearning Programme. It will focus on the implementation of the objectives of the eLearning Action Plan from an educational perspective and run from 2004-2006. The Commission will also publish an analysis of the European market for e-learning, including the private sector. It will review the market situation and analyse legal, economic and social issues with a view to identifying obstacles to the development of the e-learning market in Europe and where necessary make proposals to remedy them.
Virtual campuses for all students. By end 2005, Member States, supported by the eLearning and eTEN [18] programmes, should ensure that all universities offer on-line access for students and researchers to maximise the quality and efficiency of learning processes and activities.
[18] The former TEN-Telecom programme.
University and research computer-supported co-operative system. By end 2003, the Commission will launch research and piloting actions to enable the deployment of Europe-wide computer-supported networks and platforms, based on high performance computing infrastructures and GRID [19] technologies. They will allow collaborative work addressed at solving complex problems and virtual access to, and sharing of learning resources, and computational power across Europe.
[19] wide-area distributed computing using the global Internet to build distributed computing and communications infrastructures.
Re-skilling for the knowledge society: By end 2003, Member States, where appropriate using structural funds and supported by the Commission, should launch actions to provide adults (e.g. the unemployed, women returning to the labour market, etc) with the key skills [20] needed for the knowledge society, to improve their employability and overall quality of life. These actions will take advantage of the possibilities offered by e-learning.
[20] Key skills include basic computer skills (digital literacy) and higher-order skills such as teamwork, problem solving, project management, etc.
iii) e-health
Starting point
The work of medical practitioners at all levels is becoming more information intensive as sophisticated medical equipment and computer applications are more widely used. At the same time, demands on healthcare budgets are increasing in the face of medical and scientific advances, an ageing population and changing patient expectations. Digital technologies are becoming more important in health management both at individual practitioner level and at national and regional level. They offer the potential to reduce administrative costs, to deliver health care services at a distance, to avoid unnecessary duplicate examinations. In addition, the Internet is increasingly used by citizens to obtain medical information. Against this background, it is critical that e-health content and services are developed efficiently, are available for all and health related web sites comply with established quality criteria.
More than 10 years of research and development in health telematics and in the framework of the IST programme have been undertaken. Examples of results are integrated regional health information networks, standardised electronic health records, reliable and effective telemedicine services (teleconsultation and home telemonitoring) as well as personal systems for citizens to support and manage their health status. Another important action already underway which will be contributing to eEurope 2005 is to improve the use of telematics in the community pharmaceutical regulatory system (e.g. Eudravigilance for safety of medicines, Europharm Database or e-submission for information exchange between regulatory authorities and industry) which is expected to deliver first results by end 2003. eEurope offers the possibility to combine efforts into a strategy to deliver visible results at the end of the action plan. Health data is particularly sensitive, and all actions in this area must be accompanied by the development of the technical and organisational means to ensure the protection of individuals' health information from unauthorised access, disclosure, and manipulation.
Proposed actions
Electronic health cards. Building on the agreement at the Barcelona European Council that a European health insurance card will replace paper based forms needed for health treatment in another Member State, the Commission will make a proposal before the Spring Council in 2003. The Commission intends to support a common approach to patient identifiers and electronic health record architecture through standardisation and will support the exchange of good practices on possible additional functionalities, such as medical emergency data and secure access to personal health information..
Health information networks. By end 2005, Member States should develop health information networks between points of care (hospitals, laboratories and homes) with broadband connectivity where relevant. In parallel, the Commission intends to set up European-wide information networks of public health data and co-ordinate actions for Europe wide rapid reactions to health threats.
Online health services. By end 2005, Commission and Member States will ensure that online health services are provided to citizens (e.g. information on healthy living and illness prevention, electronic health records, teleconsultation, e-reimbursement). Some of the health and related preventative services (e.g. air and water quality online information) could be expanded to a trans-European level through the eTEN programme. The Commission will monitor actions taken by Member States to make health information as accessible as possible to citizens as well as initiatives to implement quality criteria for web sites.
3.1.2. A dynamic e-business environment
Starting point
e-business comprises both e-commerce (buying and selling online) and restructuring of business processes to make best use of digital technologies. Since the publication of the e-commerce communication in 1997 [21], the Commission has developed a comprehensive policy in this field. Among the achievements have been the rapid adoption by the EU of a series of directives [22], which are aimed at establishing an Internal Market for information society services, as well as a number of non-legislative initiatives aimed at promoting self-regulation, notably in the field of "e-confidence" and online dispute resolution (ODR) [23], and the launch of the 'Go Digital' initiative to help small and medium-sized enterprises to better use e-business. In addition, the tax environment of e-commerce has been adapted and simplified, mainly through the adoption of a directive on electronic invoicing [24] as well as a directive and a regulation on VAT on digital supplies [25].
[21] A European Initiative in Electronic Commerce, COM(1997) 157 final of 16.4.1997.
[22] Directive 2000/31/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 8 June 2000 on electronic commerce, OJ L 178 of 17.7.2000, Directive 1999/93/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 December 1999 on a Community framework for electronic signatures, OJ L 13 of 19.1.2000, Directive 2001/29/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 May 2001 on the harmonisation of certain aspects of copyright and related rights in the Information Society, OJ L 167 of 22.6.2001, Directive 97/7/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 May 1997 on the protection of consumers in respect of distance contracts, OJ L 144 of 4.6.1997.
[23] The Commission has established an alternative dispute settlement network - the EEJ net - in order to utilise and promote dispute resolution mechanisms for resolving consumer-business disputes cross border throughout the EU.
[24] Council Directive 2001/115/EC of 20.12.2001, OJ L 15 of 17.1.2002.
[25] Council Regulation (EC) No 792/2002 of 7.5.2002, OJ L 128 of 15.5.2002 and Council Directive 2002/38/EC of 7.5.2002, OJ L 128 of 15.5.2002.
The Commission has also launched [26] a debate on the future of consumer policy, regulation and its enforcement. It highlights the need to eliminate regulatory distinctions between the on and off-line world and for future regulation to be created in such a way that it neither becomes redundant or stifles innovation and new technology.
[26] Green Paper on consumer protection 2001 COM(2001) 531 final, follow-up Communication currently under preparation.
Building on the European Competitiveness Report [27] and on the Communication on the e-economy [28], the Commission is working in co-operation with Member States to support e-business in Europe. The goal is to promote take-up of e-business with the aim of increasing the competitiveness of European enterprises and raising productivity and growth through investment in information and communication technologies, human resources (notably e-skills) and new business models, whilst ensuring privacy. eEurope 2005 will be instrumental in making this policy work.
[27] Commission Staff working paper: European competitiveness report 2001, SEC(2001) 1705.
[28] The Impact of the e-Economy on European Enterprises: Economic Analysis and Policy Implications' - COM(2001) 711 final of 29.11.2001.
Proposed actions
Legislation. The Commission, in co-operation with Member States, will review relevant legislation where appropriate with the aim of identifying and removing factors that prevent enterprises from using e-business. This review will in particular aim at extending existing e-commerce friendly rules to the off-line delivery of goods and services in order to create a level playing field between the different trading modes (on-line/off-line). The review, open to all interested parties, will be kicked off with an e-business summit in 2003, giving high-level business representatives the opportunity to describe difficulties encountered when doing e-business.
SMEs. By end 2003, the Commission intends to establish an European e-business support network, federating existing European, national and regional players in this field with a view to strengthening and co-ordinating actions in support of SMEs in the field of e-business. The Commission will foster geographical and sectoral clusters of SMEs working online to encourage innovation in e-business, sharing of good practice and promotion of guidelines and standards.
e-skills. By end 2003, the Commission, in close co-operation with Member States, will publish an analysis of the supply and the demand for e-skills in Europe. The Commission and Member States should foster public-private partnerships and the co-operation of stakeholders with a view to developing European-wide e-skills definitions.
Interoperability. By end 2003, the private sector should, supported by the Commission and Member States, have developed interoperable e-business solutions for transactions, security, signatures, procurement and payments. This will facilitate services enabling seamless, secure and easy cross-border electronic business and mobile commerce.
Trust and confidence. By end 2003, the Commission, together with the private sector, consumer organisations and Member States will examine possibilities of establishing a European-wide online dispute resolution system. To facilitate cross-border electronic transactions for SMEs, the Commission will further support the establishment of online information systems on legal issues. The Commission will work with stakeholders on trustmarks requirements with a view to a recommendation on consumer confidence in electronic commerce.
The ".eu company". By end 2003, the Commission will examine the possibilities to provide European companies with additional functionalities linked to the .eu domain name such as a trusted cyberidentity and other supporting operations, e.g. trustmarks and an authentication scheme.
3.1.3. A secure information infrastructure
Starting point
The European Union has already launched a comprehensive strategy based on the Communications on network security [29], cyber crime [30], and the current [31] and forthcoming data protection directive regarding electronic communications. The suggested approach was endorsed and further developed by the Council Resolution of 28 January 2002 [32] and by the recent Commission proposal for a Council Framework Decision on attacks against information systems [33].
[29] Network and Information Security: Proposal for A European Policy Approach, COM(2001) 298 of 6.6.2001.
[30] Creating a Safer Information Society by Improving the Security of Information Infrastructures and Combating Computer-related Crime, COM(2000) 890 of 22.1.2001.
[31] Directive 97/66/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on 15 December 1997 concerning the processing of personal data and the protection of privacy in the telecommunications sector, OJ L 24 of 30.1.1998.
[32] http://register.consilium.eu.int/pdf/en/01/st15/15152en1.pdf
[33] http://europa.eu.int/comm/dgs/justice_home/index_en.htm, COM(2002) 173 final of 19.4.2002.
Based on the 28 January Resolution, a number of initiatives (e.g. the establishment of a cyber security task force, awareness campaigns, promotion of good practices, and improved exchange of information mechanisms) should be completed by the end of 2002. This will provide the basis for the work towards a secure information infrastructure. Work on the creation of a secure European smart card infrastructure should continue and the roll-out of applications be intensified.
Community research activity on security will continue under the Sixth Framework Programme. Priorities will be: trustworthy network and information infrastructures with an emphasis on emerging technologies (e.g. broadband, wireless architectures, ambient intelligence); the identification of vulnerabilities and inter-dependencies in infrastructures. It also intends to support standardisation with a view to wider use of open standards and open source software. Research activities should also take into account the 'human factor' in security, e.g. basic security standards, user-friendliness of systems.
Proposed actions
Cyber security task force (CSTF). By mid 2003, the CSTF should be operational. Based on a proposal which the Commission intends to submit in 2002, Council and Parliament will be able to adopt the necessary legal base as quickly as possible, taking into account the cross-pillar dimension of network and information security. Member States and the private sector should support the activities of CSTF. It should become a centre of competence on security questions, e.g. to develop with Member States a concept for a European computer attack alert system; to facilitate cross-pillar discussion; to improve trans-border co-operation.
'Culture of security'. By end 2005, a 'culture of security' in the design and implementation of information and communication products should be achieved. The private sector should develop good practices and standards and to promote their consistent application. The Commission intends to support projects and will work to raise awareness of security risks in all users. An intermediate report of progress made will be issued end 2003 and a final assessment by end 2005.
Secure communications between public services. By end 2003, the Commission and Member States will examine the possibilities to establish a secure communications environment for the exchange of classified government information.
3.1.4. Broadband
Starting point
Governments world-wide are increasingly realising that broadband access will be central to the economic development of their countries. Wide availability of broadband communication would have a significant impact on the economy, and several EU Member States have started reviewing broadband development on their territory. Their common objective is to accelerate its deployment. The importance of 'widespread availability and use of broadband networks throughout the Union by 2005' has been recognised by the Barcelona European Council. The actions proposed in this Action Plan correspond to this priority.
Investment in broadband will mainly come from the private sector. In its broad economic policy guidelines, the Commission recommended that "Member States should: ... ensure effective competition in local telecommunication networks (the 'local loop') in order to speed up the development of the European broadband network". Competition is expected to drive investment, generate innovation and lower prices. Therefore, public policy should focus on issues where competition is not effective or where political objectives, e.g. territorial coverage with a view to cohesion, need to be ensured.
The new regulatory framework, which will be applied in all Member States from July 2003, takes full account of the convergent nature of broadband. Encouraging efficient investment in infrastructure (by new entrants and incumbent operators) and promoting innovation are explicit objectives for regulators. This means taking account of the need for investors to obtain an adequate return on their investment, in the light of the risks taken. This also means that regulatory uncertainty for investors must be reduced as much as possible.
In the wider context of the European Research Area project, the Commission is supporting the full exploitation of broadband networks by the research community. This will continue under the Sixth Framework Program using the new priority instruments of Networks of Excellence and Integrated Projects. In specific terms, it will support the upgrade and efficiency of technology for optical fibre access networks, mobile broadband wireless services (beyond 3G), broadband access satellite systems (also taking into account the needs of the Galileo system), convergence of fixed and mobile networks, including the transition to the next generation Internet Protocol (IPv6) and take account of security and privacy issues (wireless, always-on) etc. The Commission has already set out the steps needed to support the next generation Internet in its IPv6 Communication [34], "Next Generation Internet - priorities for action in migrating to the new Internet protocol IPv6" and those recommendations should be followed up.
[34] COM(2002) 96 final of 21.2.2002.
A broadband strategy will have a complex task as it is affected by many different policies: town and country planning, research policy, taxation and regulation. They are carried out at all levels: international, European, national, regional and local, and by a range of different actors, private sector as well as public sector. The Commission will deepen the analysis of policy options and existing obstacles to broadband deployment, in particular with a view to widespread access to new services through open platforms in digital television and 3G, in line with the request from the Barcelona European Council
Proposed actions
Spectrum policy. The Commission will use the new regulatory framework for radio spectrum policy to ensure spectrum availability for, and efficient spectrum use by, wireless broadband services (e.g. W-LANs) and to co-operate with Member States' with regard to the introduction of such services. The Commission will initiate a discussion on new approaches to spectrum valuation and trading of rights-of-use of frequencies.
Broadband access in less favoured regions. Member States, in co-operation with the Commission should support, where necessary, deployment in less favoured areas, and where possible may use structural funds and/or financial incentives (without prejudice to competition rules). Particular attention should be paid to outermost regions.
Reduce barriers to broadband deployment. Member States should ease access to rights-of-way, poles and conduits to facilitate investment, for instance through the removal of legislative barriers. The Commission will support this by encouraging and organising exchange of local and regional experience and private/public partnerships.
Multi-platform content. Public authorities in Member States and the private sector should aim to offer their content on different technological platforms, such as interactive digital TV, 3G etc. The Commission intends to support demonstrations and research projects. The Commission will identify regulatory obstacles to the use of digital television for interactive services [35].
[35] As has been requested by the Barcelona European Council.
Digital switchover. In order to speed up the transition to digital television, Member States should create transparency as far as the conditions for the envisaged switchover are concerned. Member States should publish by end 2003 their intentions regarding a possible switchover . These could include a road map, and an assessment of market conditions, and possibly a date for the closure of analogue terrestrial television broadcasting which would enable the recovery and refarming of frequencies. National switchover plans should also be an opportunity to demonstrate a platform-neutral approach to digital television, taking into account competing delivery mechanisms (primarily satellite, cable and terrestrial).
3.2. Development, analysis and dissemination of good practices
In all areas of eEurope 2005, commercial and public applications are being developed, support programmes are running, and experimental applications are being tested. These activities are a rich source of knowledge and expertise. Progress is rapid but uneven, for example one administration or school may be trying to develop or use an application already working somewhere else or for which there is a viable private sector solution.
eEurope 2005 aims to build upon these experiences. It will not only identify and exploit good practices, but further advance them to act as a showcase which will be instrumental to the achievement of the eEurope targets. Good practice activity will therefore be complementary to the policy actions. A three-step approach is proposed:
i. Examples of good practice will be identified, and selected.
The Commission, in close co-operation with Member States, candidate countries, and the private sector, will identify examples of good practice world-wide. This would include practical working examples from the public sector and commercial applications in the areas of the action plan.
ii. Where appropriate, selected good practices will be enhanced to broaden their applicability and an analysis will be carried out to produce a template or guidelines for good practices.
Relevant examples would be extended in scope (e.g. multi-platform instead of single platform or additional users) or complemented by additional developments (e.g. greater functionality or multi-lingual interaction). The demonstration and evaluation aspects of these projects will be reinforced, so that a thorough analysis of the results may be undertaken.
The detailed analysis of good practice should result in templates or guidelines. These provide proven, well-documented approaches to tried and tested applications for e-services. They would be modular and customisable for any particular user and would typically consist of a methodology, an associated set of tools and software in open-source form. This would result in a critical assessment of success factors and lessons of failure, which may lead to transfer and dissemination of good practice across Europe, particularly in the less favoured regions.
iii. The good practices and the results of the project analysis will be disseminated.
For the dissemination of good practices, the Commission in co-operation with the Council Presidencies will organise promotional campaigns covering the EU and candidate countries. This will be based on the following mechanisms:
* Conferences/workshops: The e-government conference with its exhibition of good practice examples is one successful model for an exchange of experience and lessons learnt. An e-health conference which will follow this model is planned for the first half of 2003, as is an e-learning conference and a second e-government conference is proposed for the Italian Presidency. These conferences normally address policy-makers. They will be accompanied by special dedicated workshops which would bring together the actors for the respective strategies. These events will address in detail the good-practice showcases, templates and guidelines.
* Support networks: Results will be disseminated using existing business, academic, research and user networks - e.g. the e-business support networks to the SME's or the European School Net- and other such channels at the European, national or regional levels. Comparable networks will be sought for actors in all eEurope areas. In doing so, the regional and local dimension shall be particularly taken into account, inter alia by maintaining an open dialogue with networks such as TeleCities, Eris@ and Elanet. The new Innovative Actions programmes within the framework of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) offer regions (in particular, less favoured regions and areas under re-conversion) the possibility to test innovative tools and to exchange good practices in regional e-services. This will contribute positively to regional development strategies and thus play an important role within the eEurope 2005 action plan.
* A web site: Links to the good-practice templates and guidelines will be published on a specific web site which will provide tools supporting their use and feed-back mechanisms.
3.3. Benchmarking
Benchmarking of eEurope is a 3 stage process.
i. Definition of indicators
For eEurope 2002, 23 indicators were used. The rationale behind these indicators is to focus on output, i.e. the final objective of policy, not the policy itself (e.g. % household connected to the Internet rather than any measure of local loop unbundling). The objective of benchmarking is policy development and this means it is essential to obtain political endorsement of the indicators [36]. Indicators will need to be updated for eEurope 2005 to reflect the revised political objectives. From 2004 onwards, i.e. after the end of eEurope+, the new indicator list will also serve as a basis in the Candidate Countries. Where appropriate, regional indicators will be developed.
[36] Indicators were endorsed by the Internal Market Council, November 2000 (13493/00 ECO 338).
ii. Measurement and analysis
Internet related statistics soon become outdated and, to retain policy relevance, indicator measurements must be available quickly. Inevitably there is a trade-off between speed and quality. To improve the quality, measurement of eEurope 2005 indicators should make greater use of official statistics from the National Statistical Institutes and Eurostat. To allow for regular and comparable data collection in Member States, a legal base is needed for information society statistics. The Commission will propose this legal base before end 2002.
Analysis of the factors underlying indicator values is a key element in exploiting the data for policy development. The first analysis of eEurope 2002 indicators was given in the Commission benchmarking report [37]. To enable Member States to undertake their own analysis the results are regularly updated on the eEurope web site [38]. The Commission and the Member States will encourage the development of regional benchmarking, especially with less developed regions in relation to the development of national and regional information society strategies.
[37] eEurope Benchmarking Report, COM(2002) 62 final, http://europa.eu.int/information_society/eeurope/news_library/documents/index_en.htm
[38] http://europa.eu.int/eeurope
iii. Policy development
The value of benchmarking to policy development is evidenced by the Commission's Spring Report to the European Council [39] and the Benchmarking report which provided impetus for the eEurope 2005 Action Plan.
[39] "The Lisbon Strategy - Making change happen", COM(2002) 14 and the supporting staff paper SEC(2002) 29 of 15.01.2002.
Benchmarking can be further exploited by exchanging policy good practices. To facilitate this, the Commission will analyse the benchmarking results to identify policy good practices, including regional policies of those Member States, or other countries, with best results in terms of the indicators.
Proposed actions
By end 2002, based on a proposal of the Commission, the Council adopts a list of indicators and a methodology for the benchmarking exercise.
By beginning 2003, the Commission will publish an evaluation of the eEurope 2002 action plan which will build on the first benchmarking report and will provide the analytical basis for progress assessment under eEurope 2005.
The Commission will carry out benchmarking, will publish an interim report early in 2004, and regularly update the benchmarking data on the eEurope web site.
3.4. A co-ordination mechanism for e-policies
Over the recent years many policy initiatives have been launched either as a direct response to the e-economy or to build in an e-dimension into existing policies. Examples at European level are policies such as regional (e.g. support for eEurope in structural funds [40]), development (e.g. dotforce - the G8 initiative), education (e.g. e-learning), employment and inclusion (e.g. employment guidelines), trade (e.g. e-commerce in WTO) and the eEurope+ action plan. At national level equally, many policy initiatives related to the e-economy have been taken. It is not always guaranteed that the various national measures are well communicated at European level. A better overview and an exchange of information between the various actors would enhance the efficiency of e-policies.
[40] A significant amount of structural funds expenditure, around 6 billion euro, has been earmarked for information society actions over the period 2000-2006, mainly on improving digital literacy, modernising public services, promoting e-business and upgrading the digital infrastructure.
For this reason, an eEurope steering group, chaired by the Commission (composed of Member States and candidate countries representatives, the European Parliament, and, where necessary, representatives of the private sector and of consumer groups, and funded by the follow-up to the PROMISE programme), should be established. This steering group would monitor progress of the eEurope action plan with the aim of improving the implementation of eEurope 2005. It would also provide a forum to exchange experiences. It would allow to bring in the private sector and make an early participation of candidate countries possible. The group would in general meet twice a year and with executive level participants to allow a strategic discussion.
3.5 Financing
The action plan sets ambitious objectives and proposes actions that will need significant resources. This will be met by using and, where necessary, re-focussing existing programmes. To finance projects and actions at European level, the Commission will make full use of the eTEN and the IDA programmes. Both programmes are currently being re-orientated to support eEurope objectives. In particular the financial regulation with respect to the eTEN programme would need to be adapted to make this programme an appropriate tool.
The Commission will, where possible, also use available funds of the eContent programme, the follow-up programme of PROMISE [41], the multiannual programme for enterprise and entrepreneurship, as well as the standardisation, the Internal Market and the industrial competitiveness budget lines. The forthcoming eLearning Programme will also support eEurope related activities. The use of funds from these programmes will be in accordance with their legal base.
[41] multi-annual support programme for the promotion of the information society in Europe (http://europa.eu.int/ISPO/promotion/i_promise.html)
IST financed projects have been directly relevant to the eEurope 2002 action plan and the new IST priority in the Sixth Framework Programme intends to continue to finance research and demonstration projects covering these fields, thus contributing (mostly in an indirect way) to the eEurope objectives. .
Proposed actions
By end 2002, Council and Parliament, on the basis of a Commission proposal, should raise the funding ceiling for the implementation phase of eTEN projects from 10% to 30% without prejudice to the other TEN programmes.
By end 2002, Council and Parliament should adopt the proposal for an amendment of the IDA programme to reorient it according to the eEurope objectives.
By end 2002, the Council, on the basis of a Commission proposal and taking into account the opinion of the Parliament, should adopt a follow-up programme to PROMISE and the legal base for the cyber security task force.
By end 2002, the Commission intends to adopt a proposal for a specific eLearning programme.
By end 2002, the Commission will examine the need to adjust the second eContent work programme with a view to eEurope objectives and, if necessary, will make an appropriate proposal.
By end 2003, the Commission will make a proposal for a follow-up programme to the eContent programme.
4. Conclusions
This action plan is a proposal to Member States to take some far-reaching commitments. It is an invitation to the private sector to work with the Commission and Member States to realise the eEurope objectives. It sets out the initiatives the Commission will or is willing to take. Overall the action plan sets the scene for a co-ordinated European policy approach on information society issues. The eEurope action plan has been confirmed as a key element in the Lisbon strategy. If successful, this plan will have a significant impact on growth and productivity, employment and social cohesion in Europe.
One lesson learnt from eEurope 2002 is that it would be useful to review actions during the course of the action plan. This becomes particular important given that several new Member States will probably have to be accommodated during eEurope 2005. Therefore a mid-term review, which would coincide with the proposed interim benchmarking report, presented in advance of the 2004 Spring European Council is suggested.
The European Council in Sevilla is expected to endorse an Action Plan and invite Council and Parliament to adopt as quickly as possible the necessary legal and budgetary instruments to implement it.
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Great Western Record Recorders is an analog recording studio located near Champaign, IL, dedicated to the creating of analog recordings of the highest fidelity. Owned and operated by Matt Talbott, GWRR offers free on-location lodging and boasts a great collection of class-A preamps, tube compressors, Studer and Ampex tape recorders for tracking and mixing, and plenty of vintage instruments and amps.
Great Western Record Recorders is changing it's name to Earth Analog. Look for a new site soon at earthanalog.com. Massive changes are afoot.
The Live Room
Fisheye lens shot from the corner of the live room. You can get really great room sounds in here.
Image #1Drums
The studio's vintage 70's Ludwig kit. 3-ply with re-rings for that ultimate open, warm vintage drum tone.
doesitmatterwhatIwritehereIso Room
Adjacent to the control room, this isolated tracking space is great for vocals and guitar.

subset: commoncrawl


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Feb. 27, 2012
Morningside College announces winners of student art show
Morningside College recently announced the winners of the all-campus student art show, which is on exhibit through Sunday, March 11, in the Eppley Art Gallery, 3625 Garretson Ave.
Sammi Grella of Beatrice, Neb. was awarded first place for her photograph "Caught Red-Handed"; Jessica Sievers of North Sioux City, S.D. was awarded second place for her acrylic painting titled "Mother"; and John Kelley of Sioux City was awarded third place for his plaster sculpture titled "In & Out."
Honorable mentions were awarded to Jessica Boschen of Newman Grove, Neb. for her photograph titled "Frozen"; and Tymmrie Rath of Sioux City for her acrylic painting called "Delanie."
The show was juried by Al Harris-Fernandez, director of the Sioux City Art Center.
The all-campus student art show features painting, drawing, photography, graphic design, printmaking and sculpture. It is free and open to the public. The Eppley Art Gallery is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.


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SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- In the wake of a deadly shooting at a movie premiere in Colorado, Mike Davis said he wasn't afraid to go to the movie theater in Southridge on Friday.
As the Mink Shoals resident headed into the building, he said the killings in Colorado are an example of people "out of control."
"I feel pretty safe here," Davis said. "I don't think there's crazies here -- but you never can tell."
Some movie theaters in the Charleston area had beefed up surveillance Friday, taking extra precautions after a shooter in Colorado gunned down an audience at the midnight premiere of the Batman movie early Friday morning. But most people filtering in and out of Marquee Cinemas in
Southridge on Friday afternoon said they weren't worried about something similar happening to them.
Taylor Wilson, general manager at Great Escape Nitro, said the theater brought in extra staff members Friday to monitor people coming to the movies in costume.
Wilson said employees kept an eye out for anything "questionable," such as outfits that could hide something. That's common practice at the theater for weekends or big movie events, he said, but it was especially relevant considering Friday's tragedy.
"There is a higher awareness, of course, today," he said.
At Park Place Stadium Cinemas in Charleston, there are always police officers on the weekends to make customers and staff more comfortable, said Derek Hyman, president of the Greater Huntington Theater Corporation, which owns the Charleston theater.
The movie theater doesn't usually have officers present for midnight releases, but Hyman said maybe it would for the next few showings because of the situation in Colorado.
But he said he didn't expect a need for increased security.
"Quite frankly, I think there's no chance that it's going to happen," he said, talking about the likelihood of a shooting occurring in a Charleston theater.


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3500+ people at the last bout of the season last night. Incredibly loud - loudest it's ever been since I started watching at working at The Roy Wilkins, plus a very very close game. I was shouting and could not hear myself. Wild stuff. Final was 111-95.
Time to get a very loud megaphone.
That's why we normally use whistles; although the period I was referring to was during a time-out. The whistle I normally use (Fox 40 Classic) tops out at 114 db; I have one that's supposed to go over 120 db, but I'm not normally allowed to use it.
Doesn't change the fact that neither has any relevance.
Highlights from the last game I officiated, including the power-outage: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=VDCWnluj8kg
The lights going out looked fun, maybe they should give everyone glow in the dark outfits and do the whole derby that way :)
The NCAA decided to "vacate" all Penn State wins from 1998 to 2011. How the **** is that supposed to work? Originally they won, but now they didn't?
Are there jurors from the OJ Simpson civil lawsuit working here?
Anyway ... as a nerd, I am very pleased to see bad things happening to jocks.
Err, wasn't that how he got in this predicament in the first place?
So I take it you enjoyed poor Jeeter's mishap?


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February 21st,
Well, Mixology Monday LXIV is in the books. I happily hijacked it this time around in search of more content for of my annual Tiki blog-a-palooza, and boy did the internet deliver. There were 35 blog posts, with five more contributions over on the eGullet forums as well. I asked for more than just drinks, and got some molecular mixology, some food, some garnish, vessels, and some good old Tiki memories. But mostly, as it should be, I got drinks. There were classics, riffs on classics, and originals. As for contributors, the usual suspects were in, as well as a raft of new and up and coming bloggers. A few old silverbacks even reared up on their hind legs and let their Tiki roar.
Without further ado, here we go!
I'm going to lead with Rowley's Whiskey Forge, because his post on Jellied Mai Tais made me call my wife to tell her to pick up Knox gelatin right that moment. I wonder what Don and Vic would have thought of molecular mixology. My suspicion is that they both would have secretly hated it, but would both also have become masters of it, each claiming they invented it.
There was a strong international contingent this time around, as probing the appeal of Tiki transcends all boundaries. We all love our pagan Polynesian citrus-rum-spice-everything-else goodness.
Danish blogger Andrea writes three blogs, a food blog and a cocktail blog in Danish, and Gin Hound in English. It is there that she forgoes her love of gin to craft the herbal school original offering, Weeping Ukulele.
Louis-Florian Tatsuhito is a Franco-japanese musician and sound artist who is documenting his cocktail explorations at Le Trou d'Argent. He offers us a passionfruit treat that certainly fills the faux-Polynesian bill, but also couldn't be more, um, French/Japanese if he tried: 膣 : Vagina.
Polish cocktail blogger, Tarasco Bar first rolls out the classic Blue Hawaiian, then fiddles with the color (and flavor) balance to produce a tarter and more even-sounding version, the Red Hawaiian. He blogs in Polish, but always provides an English translation that is annoyingly better written than lots of English language blogs of all sorts.
Speaking of "furriners" who write English better than they have any right to, my Tiki idol Tiare, of A Mountain of Crushed Ice, brings us two drinks. The the first is a Beachbum Berry drink, the Tiki Revival. It is presented in the flat-out awesome Tiki mug you see above. She follows it up with the muskily delicious sounding coffee-based original she calls the Tiki Torch.
François Monti, of the french-language blog Bottoms Up, discusses the Molokai Mule, one of the better examples of later, juice-heavy Tiki recipes. (A Google translation, with some charm all its own can be read here.)
My good buddy Tony Harion of Mixing Bar in Brazil begins with a discussion of Brazil's belated warming to the Tiki phenomenon. He then focuses on the greatest of Tiki drinks, the Mai Tai (sorry, Zombie guys), while engaging in some magnificent Rule 2. He then does what all Tiki-philes eventually do, and riffs on said Mai Tai, offering up the Uai Tai, a Mai Tai with some Cachaça. You can also read his post in the original Portuguese.
Next up, we have three Canadian posts. Here is where I would on principle make some joke about how they are really Americans and not foreign at all, but the Canadians have heard it all already, most Americans don't realize that it's a joke, and other international types think we are both weird anyway. So here we go.
Bitter monger Janice Mansfield of House Spirits (the company and the blog) had her own festival similar to Tiki Month in January. She pledged to drink Fernet Branca every day. This worked out so well that she has carried the spirit into Mixology Monday. She takes some of her acquired Fernet wisdom and produces The Misfits, an herbal-school Tiki original that I'm sure Don the Beachcomber would have appreciated.
Mackenzie Wheeler of The Spirit of Imbibing produced the delicious looking and sounding Terror on the High Seas. This one uses one of the more delicious but pain-in-the-ass ingredients for home mixology, Port.
My buddy Dagreb of Nihil Utopia is on the wagon or something. (Is there anything sadder than a booze-blogger taking the Cure?) The upside for us is that after a round of his own Rule 2, he offers up some Tiki tots for the Designated Driver or those who need to extend their stay a bit before driving home. Pictured above is the Jamaique Fleur Café, and he follows that with the Falooklyn, a… I dunno what it is. Read about it.
Back to America The United States (Happy, Canadians?), homeland of Tiki (and cocktails over all, for that matter). Specifically, we head to South Florida, where something must be in the water, or maybe the rum, because both entrants from that region work on the same Tiki icon: The hollowed out pineapple drinking vessel. {Flips a coin}
Joe Garcia of Basic Civilization does the Chief Lapu Lapu as his offering. He intros it with an amusing take on the history behind the name (Spoiler: Magellan dies), and natters on upon his usual hobby horse of buying everything on eBay. (Gimme a break, Joe. I'm Episcopalian. There are fewer of us every day, but somebody's gotta pay retail.) After that he goes step by step in making both the vessel and the drink.
The Atomic Grog blog's Hurricane Hayward also namechecks the cranky old Polynesian chief who told Magellan to "get off my lawn" as intro to his hollowed out pineapple. Both use the same tool, but Hurricane uses the top as a lid, then offers us to other classic recipes for pineapple potation: The Pineapple Paradise and the Pineapple Surprise.
Guys, I'll indulge myself in a little flashback to Tiki Month 2010, when I posted this about Ohio bartender Zak Renzetti-Voit's turning the whole pineapple drinking vessel thing on its head… literally.
The eGullet crowd came up with a ton of cocktails to try, and a delicious-looking Tiki shrimp dish as well. The thread where they all went up over there is here, or if internet forums scare you, I digested them in a separate post right here on the Pegu Blog. Thanks to Frog Princesse, Zachary, Dan Perrigan, Katie Loeb, Kerry Beal, and another foreign entrant, Australian contributor Haresfur, who used the International Date Line to enter late and still be on time.
Very new blog The Mix Lab makes it into its first Mixology Monday with two of the richest-sounding cocktails of this MxMo. The first is an Improved Rum Fizz that shows egg whites can be Tiki too. The second is a coffee-infused number by the name of Starbuck. (To the lawyers of a certain barista mega-employer, I bear no responsibility for this name, I only report!) The garnish on this one is particularly cool and Tiki.
The next group of posts are all what I feel like calling "Donnish Drinks". I haven't made many of them, so I'm not sure, but they have the feel of the Beachcomber's style of Tiki.
Rowen of San Francisco's Fogged in Lounge offers the original Rongorongo, a spicy, dark, rummy concoction, as well as a look at his impressive collection of Moai Tiki mugs.
First time MxMo participant Tri2Cook wanders off the eGullet reservation to blog the original Crackin' Jenny's Teacup. The drink is also suitable for International Talk Like a Pirate Day. Read his post to see why.
Colonel Tiki is one of my original Tiki Muses, the Board of Tiki Idols, and also one of those silverback cocktail bloggers I alluded to at the start of all this. He presents the Rio Tonga, an amazing amalgamation of spices, cachaça, bitters, and just enough fruit. The dim, mysterious photo above is typical, by the by, of all the Colonel's pix. I think they capture the Tiki vibe perfectly.
Chicago Craft (and occasionally Tiki) bar, The Whistler gives us the fabulously garnished Free Rider. Given that it combines Lemon Hart 151, Benedictine, and Fernet Branca, I think that delicate orchid in the garnish is damn near false advertising!
Portland Oregon's leading (only?) Libertarian, Jacob Grier of Liquidity Preference trots out a drink to salve the savage heart of his 49ers lovin' boss, calling it the Bitter End. Another Fernet Branca run at Tiki, the only thing about this drink that bothers me is that Jacob has access to better paper umbrellas than I do.
Wordsmithing Pantagruel's Ed features Chartreuse in his creation. A riff off the Improved Chartreuse Swizzle, the Gilligan's Ginger Swizzle is a frosty, frosty glass of high-octane Tiki funk. Ed also includes two other Tiki-fitting creations he's produced during his recent blog hiatus, the Tornadiki and the Einbahnstraße.
Speaking of elusive silverbacks of the Cocktailosphere, Rumdood himself (who is not a Tiki blogger) appears from the mist to give us an update and improvement on an earlier creation of his, the Absinthe-Minded Professor. With a full ounce of absinthe, some maraschino, some Smitty, and more, this learned instructor seems not to be trifled with. Quick, go read Matt's post before he slips back into the obscuring jungle.
Paul Willenberg of, um, Portland (he's the only guy in town without a blog) brings this wowser: The Kahlua Pork Old-fashioned. This one is worth a read, let me say. I do have one question, Paul. Do the pig ears lend flavor to the falernum, or are they there to collagen up the texture?
I'll finish the Donnish Drinks section with my own post on the Missionary's Downfall. I'm pretty sure this one belongs in this section because Don created it. With mint, rum, honey, and fruit brandy, this light concoction has a big, mysterious flavor. Since it's written by me, I'm sure you'll read every magnificent word….
Zach the Venture Mixologist just got back from Hawaii itself, America's Polynesian frontier. He brought with him that most elusive of Tiki ingredients, a bottle of Okolehao, the unique spirit of Maui. He uses it to lend some of the dreaded authenticity to his Polynesian pop, the Shaka.
At Shake, Strain, and Sip, Scott Diaz does an Almost Tiki Month in a Post, with four fully fleshed out and beautifully photographed cocktails. It took some doing to decide on a picture to use here, but I settled on the Castaway. Surrounding it is a short history of Tiki, as well as a classic Mai Tai, Don's Navy Grog, and a Pimm's Plantation.
Speaking of Navy Grog, my nephew and family cocktail apprentice Duncan also comes in for his first ever cocktail blog post with a run down of his Super (punch)Bowl edition of Vic's Navy Grog. Read this post. Duncan is one of them genuine Disney Imagineers and is learning his cocktail-fu fast. You'll want to be able to say you read him back when.
The Hardest Working Man in the Cocktailosphere™, Fred Yarm the Cocktail Virgin leads off the group of what I'll of course call the "Vic-like drinks". That said, his drink is Don's Beach Planter, by the Beachcomber, not the Trader. I may be way off since I haven't made this one yet, but this Zombie variant just looks more like one of Vic's sour/sweet citrusy efforts than most stuff Don ran off.
DJ Hawaiianshirt splices the Main Brace over at Spirited Remix. He spends four interesting paragraphs exploring the meaning of this piece of nautical jargon before claiming he's avoided nautical jargon. The drink employs a hearty amount of red burgundy wine and is the only alcoholic Tiki drink I've seen this year that doesn't use any hard spirit at all.
Jordan of Chemistry of the Cocktail goes with his Ahau's Dram. This one also has roots as a Beachcomber original, but the changes seem to make for a more Vicish result.
Half of Scofflaw's Den (Marshall) loves me and posts on a find from Remixed, the Ankle Breaker. I intend to try this one, maybe tonight. The other half of Scofflaw's Den is dead to me, and I hope the Tiki Gods fill his bed with molten lava.
So, SeanMike's made the list?
We're on it….
Marc of A Drinker's Peace focuses on dangerous garnishes, a hallmark of Tiki. His Flaming Boats Don't Float is a how-to on giving your insurance agent a heart-attack. This is a helluva fun post, but Marc needs to go back and put in the proportions to actually make the drink in which to present your pyrotechnics!
Bartender-blogger Brian Thomas of Bottle of Swan posts on his neighbor's dog, Tiki. Wait… what? Oh, he gets around to a drink too. First, he carves a gorgeous Tiki mug out of a young coconut, which he then eats instead of drinking out of, before finally giving us the Monkey Business.
The final Viclike cocktail comes from Mixology Monday Supreme High King, Paul Clarke of the Cocktail Chronicles. He declares he has now become as lazy as Beachbum Berry lies about being, and so went looking for the ultimate Tiki drink for the mixer who has no Tiki setup at hand and no time to assemble it. The result is the simple and elegant Trade Wind Cocktail, which demonstrates that the right name can take certain classic-style concoctions and turn them into a ticket to the Polynesia that never was.
Now, after my comments earlier on Mai Tai supremacy, you Zombie-philes get your turn.
Dennis of Rock & Rye gives us a short history of the grandpappy drink of the entire Tiki movement, then offers Ted Haigh's version of the iconic Zombie, and ruminates on the why of so many Zombie variations, since even the bartenders who first made them didn't know what the recipe was!
Ian Lauer of Tempered Spirits rounds out the drink offerings this Mixology Monday with more history on the George Romero of Tiki, Don the Beachcomber. He then gives us three versions of the Zombie, all claimed by Don. Finally, he gives more places to look for other variations, and touches on some good music selections for when you drink them all. (But not in the same seating. Only 2 per customer!)
Pittsburgh columnist Hal Klein, who blogs also at This Man's Kitchen, heads us home with Tiki Memories of great faux Polynesian haunts of his halcyon days of youth like the Tonga Room and the Tiki Ti. These are the places that bridged the end of the Golden Age with today's revival.
The last word of all goes to The Old Town Alchemy Company. Jon missed the deadline for a full post, but prompts us all to watch this Public Service Announcement about the effects of Zombie consumption from British comedian Bill Connolly. I shamelessly steal the video to embed here so that you will be sure to watch it and be forewarned!
That's it folks! Thanks for joining us and see you all soon. If MxMo has gotten you in the Tiki mood, please stick around here for the rest of this and every February, when this old joint goes from classic cocktails to all Tiki, all the time.
And one last thing: Paul Clarke Wants You! … for MxMo host. Paul's schedule has been hectic lately, and as several posters this month have mentioned, a few months have been Mixology Monday-less of late. If you are an established blogger who'd enjoy a tremendous amount of extra work but lots of luscious content, contact Paul through the Mixology Monday home site and inquire about offering your services. This is my third time hosting MxMo, and it is Not Just a Job, It's an Adventure!
Aloha, everyone!
19 Responses to "Mixology Monday Roundup: Tiki!"
1Larry P Says:
February 21st, 2012 at 8:43 pmThanks for the tiki party! Just for the record though… I be a he.
2Tiare Says:
February 21st, 2012 at 9:36 pmWow!! there´s a LOT brought to this party! Umm…..boss…i have no time for work right now…can i have some (tiki) time off please???
Mahalo for hosting Doug! Okole maluna!
3Doug Says:
February 21st, 2012 at 9:46 pmDamn! Fixed. I didn't know and thought I had scrupulously avoided them pronouns….
4Joe Says:
February 21st, 2012 at 9:51 pm1- The pineapple crown as lid is VERY cool, but falls over too bloody often. (Lesson learned the hard way…)
2- My hobbyhorse is buying *Not Retail* which also includes garage sales, rummage sales (Episcopalians, you'll be pleased to note, have the best of these), etc.
3- Given my weakness for sartorial splendor, I gotta save a buck wherever I can.
5Tony Harion Says:
February 22nd, 2012 at 1:22 pmAmazing round up Doug!
Thank you very much for hosting!
Wow! There are really some great drink suggestions this time. I better get to it.
6Marc Says:
February 22nd, 2012 at 1:46 pmProportions are so over……. (from my own addendum to "Shit bartenders say")
Guess that's what happens when you do a last minute MxMo post. I actually did the recipe but forgot to link it to the post (& to publish the recipe to the site). Will update later today.
Thanks again Doug!
7Brian Says:
February 22nd, 2012 at 5:49 pmDoug,
Tip of the hat, for putting in all the work. For a first time crasher of the MXMO party, the Tiki theme forced me to scramble. And why not? If you're not learning, your're not breathing, right? By the way…"Battle of Swan" was the perfect typo, but it's actually "Bottle… -
8Marc Says:
February 23rd, 2012 at 1:41 amOkay….since the rest of the world can't automatically infer the correct proportions from the listed ingredients (geez….you'd think it would be obvious) I updated my post to include a bona fide recipe.
Here is the link again: http://www.adrinkerspeace.com/post.xql?id={6C588036-3552-47AB-BFE6-AB71EFA28890}Or, in shortened form: http://bit.ly/wZCzRD
Happy adventures with flaming booze! Just remember, in the immortal words of Homer Simpson: "Fire made it good"
9Uai Tai – MxMo LXIV – Tiki : Mixing Bar Says:
February 23rd, 2012 at 2:30 am -
10Dan Chadwick Says:
February 23rd, 2012 at 9:41 amAwesome wrap-up, Doug. I bet that took you a while! This is one MxMo category that creates great photographs.
11Doug Says:
February 23rd, 2012 at 10:10 amI do appreciate all the comments, everybody. The real time spent was on reading all the good stuff. And on deciding which pictures to use to show off all the cool work everyone else did…
12MxMo LXIV – Tiki! | A Mountain Of Crushed Ice Says:
February 25th, 2012 at 10:25 pm -
13Larry P Says:
February 26th, 2012 at 6:38 pmWhat an awesome array of drinks. I was feeling kinda proud of my creation until I read through the roundup and saw what everyone else brought to the party… but I knew I had a lot to learn going into this so I'm still happy I jumped in.
14Aloha, Tiki Month…. | The Pegu Blog Says:
February 29th, 2012 at 5:01 pm -
15Still trying … Says:
March 18th, 2012 at 3:27 pm -
16Mixology Monday (Tiki) – The Shell Games Cocktail Says:
March 22nd, 2012 at 7:45 pm -
17膣 : Vagina | Kimya Says:
April 22nd, 2012 at 5:40 pm -
18MxMo LXVI: Bein' Green – October's Still Green » Malty Puppy Says:
October 9th, 2012 at 12:49 pm -
19The Mixology Monday Revitalization | The Pegu Blog Says:
October 18th, 2012 at 4:33 pm


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I find out just how interested my son-in-law, Adam, is in his wife's mother.
Chapter 1 Martin and I have been married for twenty-eight years now and we've been about as happy as you would expect. Like many couples, we've had our ups and downs, none really too serious and we've raised our daughter, Pamela, who, today, is a wonderful woman, married to Adam, our son-in-law, for five years now. Pam is a middle-school science teacher and Adam has his own...Read On
Added: 30 Jan 2013 | Category: Taboo | Avg Score: 4.86 | Tags: mil sex sil sex older woman younger man | 10 Comments
My first lover was my soon to be father-in-law
My fiancé's father was one of the professors during my freshman year in college. I was a virgin and had a passionate love affair with him. Then ten years later, I reunited with him, as his son's soon-to-be wife. The attraction was still there. After I met my future father- and mother-in-law, and realized our past relationship, the tension escalated as the wedding plans became more real and...Read On
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A trainee teacher goes too far.
The thing was, Joe was a bad lad. A naughty lad. One of the ones my Mum had told me to stay away from when I'd been at school. Perhaps that was why he fascinated me so much. Did all the bad lads slip away to toss themselves off? Perhaps my Mum had been right to warn me off them… she would certainly warn me away from engaging in any kind of liaison with a pupil - but I was old enough to make...Read On
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Following my adulterous escapades, the next day was to be spent at a boring trade show where I had to give several tedious seminars on the benefits of solar water heating. Most of the time I found myself struggling to keep my mind off Rita who was now imposing on my every thought. Shortly after lunch we had a "group meeting" to discuss the successes of the morning and to plan changes to...Read On
Added: 08 Jan 2013 | Category: Taboo | Avg Score: 4.8 | Tags: anal incest mention handjob mother in-law cheating affair | 4 Comments
Part 2 {Mr. Atkins POV} As I watched Britani walk out of the locker rooms, I had to fight myself to keep from bringing her back in here and fucking her so hard, so fast, until I filled her completely with my cum and when I pull out of her, she'll clean me up and I'll eat my juices out of her. "I can't wait until tomorrow," I whispered to myself. {Britani's POV} When I laid down on my...Read On
Added: 03 Jan 2013 | Category: Taboo | Avg Score: 3.9 | Tags: teacher student principal trouble | 2 Comments
a young woman swings with her in laws
When my wife, Susan, and I decided to tell Tommy and Renee that we were swingers, we knew what the reaction would be. Tommy is our son. He is 27 years old, a little over 6 feet tall and about 225 pounds. Renee is our 25 year old daughter in law. She is a pretty blonde about 5'3" and 125 pounds. "Ewwww." Tommy scowled, crunching his face up like he had just bit into a lemon. "Mom, I don't...Read On
Added: 31 Dec 2012 | Category: Taboo | Avg Score: 4.83 | Tags: daughter in law swingers | 9 Comments
He was her tutor; she was smart and hot...
My eyes flew over the bunch of students – freshmen, all of them. We were in a small room located in the mathematical institution of the University of Basel, Switzerland. My job was to tutor a small group of students, and help them with their math exercises. It was my first time as a tutor. I was one of five, each tutoring a group of a little less than a dozen students. I noticed only one...Read On
Added: 30 Dec 2012 | Category: Taboo | Avg Score: 4.75 | Tags: tutor student cheating | 5 Comments
How will I explain this to my sister?
The doorknob turned and I closed my eyes. He walked in, stripped his shirt and the sound of him unbuckling his belt made me open my eyes. I knew it was wrong. I knew I should have told him to stop, to tell him the truth, but the lust I felt for him was unbearable. He opened the covers slightly and I could feel his eyes on me. My half-naked body was right there, ready to be devoured by him....Read On
Added: 29 Dec 2012 | Category: Taboo | Avg Score: 4.74 | Tags: twin sister | 30 Comments
Victoria's dream wedding is complicated by an old flame...
After just one glass of champagne at the Club I told my brand-new husband that I needed to go upstairs to our honeymoon suite and fix my make-up. "You're perfect as you are, my dear," he said, his eyes twinkling with pride and giving him the look of a much younger man, "but go if you must. Just don't be too long…" He resumed talking to his guests. Well, our guests. I could tell how proud he...Read On
Added: 27 Dec 2012 | Category: Taboo | Avg Score: 4.79 | Tags: bride wedding cheating pantie oral straight sex | 21 Comments
This story is inspired by a real event in my life.
The sun dappled across the water, it was a brilliant, bright blue day. A soft breeze caressed my young 18 year old skin and brushed my long brunette hair back from my face. It had been one hell of a morning; I had won my first yacht race! Only our annual club ladies race, but my dad was so proud, bless him. I had been at the helm of a boat owned by my dad's friend. The boat was called...Read On
Added: 25 Dec 2012 | Category: Taboo | Avg Score: 4.94 | Tags: straight sex fingers oral dad's friend sailing | 11 Comments
Mischievous Smile
Several years ago, I needed to find a new doctor. I decided to go to the same doctor my wife sees and this happened to be a female general practitioner. I had pictured a rather plain woman, cold and impersonal and was surprised at my first appointment when she turned out to be anything but plain or cold. After registering, I was led to the room, where I was instructed to change into...Read On
Added: 24 Dec 2012 | Category: Taboo | Avg Score: 3.69 | Tags: female doctor exam examination | 2 Comments
The cougar hungers. Will she find the meat she needs?
(A Les Lumens Story) The cougar stalks the watering hole, desperate with hunger. Her wound is old – but deep – from a hunt gone horribly awry in her youth. She seeks out the weak and the injured – the easy prey that will not put up a dangerous fight. "Yes, I'm at the bar, Jackie. I told you that I was going to go have a drink." Dave paused and held the phone away from his ear, his...Read On
Added: 22 Dec 2012 | Category: Taboo | Avg Score: 4.81 | Tags: cougar bar temptation cheat blowjob creampie | 6 Comments
She's given the ultimate taste test.
As I walked into the dimly lit room, I could smell the heat in the air. The note had said, "Room 469, 1:00pm. Wear something easily removed." It had been typed, but when it had been delivered with a dozen white and fuchsia gladiolas, I knew it was from one or the other of them. Maybe both. Also, It didn't say which hotel, so I assumed it would be the one place the 3 of us had rendezvoused...Read On
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"Bless me Father for I have sinned. In the name of the Father, and of the son, and of the Holy Spirit, my last confession was six months ago." "Go ahead, child. What grievous sin have you committed since your last confession?" I took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, trying to gain my composure before I confessed. "Father, I keep having these sinful thoughts about a man, I know it's wrong...Read On
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Another year another party
This is a true story from two weeks ago, though I have changed the names of some of those involved, you will understand why. As a HGV driver, I do not get home very often during the week as I am usually away in different parts of the country. I do not normally see my wife between Monday morning and Friday evening. My wife had an Ann Summers party booked on Saturday and her friends and...Read On
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It's a moment some Oklahomans wait for all year: the American Airlines circus. They bring in performers out of Hugo to wow thousands of employees and their families.
American Airlines also provided free tickets to underprivileged children.
They've been doing this for more than six decades. The airline says it's a good way to bring everyone together and boost morale.
The event was held at the Tulsa County fairgrounds pavilion.
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There is clear evidence that living with a sight problem brings a range of additional costs. These can include adaptations to the home and domestic appliances, additional costs for food and heat, costs of support for cleaning and gardening, and the high cost of access technology and training for using CCTVs, computers or mobile phones.
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Right now we can only reach one in three of the people who need our help most. Please make a donation and help us support more blind and partially sighted people.


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Org is an Emacs mode for keeping notes, maintaining TODO lists, and doing project planning with a fast and effective plain-text system.
This package is distributed with GNU Emacs.
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- irc://irc.freenode.net/org-mode
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released on 8 November 2013
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GPLv3 | genium | 11 November 2013 |
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Oracle gets Sun for $7.4 billion, MySQL for $0
Back in the early days of computing, there was no such thing as a "software vendor." Companies like IBM sold hardware/software integrated solutions and, really, software was developed simply to sell the value of the hardware.
With Monday's announcement that Oracle is acquiring Sun for $7.4 billion, however, Oracle is signaling its own "iPod moment," seeking to compete with Hewlett-Packard, IBM, and others in integrated hardware/software systems.
It's a bold move, and not for the faint of heart. But then, no one would ever accuse Oracle of being faint-hearted.
"I … Read more


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The International Institute for Sustainable Development – Reporting Services Division |
The IISD provides a variety of information resources for environment and sustainable development policymakers, including coverage of international negotiations. The Earth Negotiations Bulletin is an essential source of information for government officials, policy and decision makers, UN staff, non-governmental organizations, intergovernmental organizations, business, industry and academia.
The ENB, is a reporting service that provides information from multilateral negotiations on environment and sustainable development, including the preparation of the mercury convention instrument.
Regional Office for the Americas of the World Health Organization |