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The department continued to devote extensive resources to monitoring, maintaining and improving security at Australia's overseas missions.
The security environment remained highly challenging as a result of continuing and emerging threats from terrorism, political and civil disorder and criminal violence. The department effectively managed a number of potentially serious security situations by providing timely responses to safeguard missions and staff. With the additional government funding allocated following the September 2004 bombing at the Australian embassy in Jakarta, we made good progress on our program of upgrading physical security at overseas posts. We strengthened walls, fences and buildings, installed security equipment such as x-ray machines and explosives detectors, and made preparations for relocating some missions. Our regular security assessments and inspections of overseas missions underpinned these measures.
Promoting security awareness and vigilance among all staff remained a focus for the department. To update the skills of our security managers and advisers, we expanded our range of security training to include new courses in security management, physical security design and defensive driving. The department continued to safeguard official information through technical and information security measures.
The department significantly improved its ability to maintain communications with Australia's overseas missions with the implementation of a number of important upgrades to the communications network, covering satellite links, hardware and emergency radios. We increased the security of our desktop computer systems and conducted a post-implementation review of the new Official Diplomatic Information Network (ODIN) messaging system. The review confirmed that ODIN was providing faster, more transparent cable delivery.
Managing security of overseas missions
A number of events threatened the safety of embassy staff and visitors. They included civil unrest in Honiara and East Timor, violent crime in Zimbabwe and anti-Western demonstrations in Europe and the Middle East following publication in the Western media of cartoons depicting the Prophet Mohammed. The department responded effectively to these threats by undertaking early analysis and monitoring of the threat to mission staff and families and by providing timely advice and assistance as the situations required.
The department continued a cyclical program of overseas physical security inspections to ensure security countermeasures at chanceries and residences were appropriate to the risks. During the year, departmental security advisers undertook 25 such visits, covering almost one-third of our overseas posts and a range of threat environments including Bali, Cairo, Canakkale, Colombo, Dhaka, Dili, Jakarta, Manila, Ottawa and Washington. The visits strengthened cooperation and planning on threats, risks and countermeasures with missions and with local security authorities and contractors. The department's introduction of desktop incident response exercises also helped posts assess their preparedness and response strategies to a range of security situations.
The department worked in Canberra and at posts to consolidate security planning with other agencies represented overseas such as the Department of Defence, Austrade, AusAID and the Australian Federal Police. We kept all overseas staff and families informed of new security measures, including through production of a newsletter. This helped reinforce to staff and families the need to give priority to security issues.
Physical security improvements
The department implemented substantial new security measures at overseas posts as part of the major security upgrade program agreed by the Government in 2004–05 and separate ongoing security and relocation initiatives. We completed significant new security-related construction at the Jakarta and Baghdad embassies designed to strengthen facade, overhead and perimeter protection, in line with the department's blast and ballistic protection guidelines. Extensive security works required as part of the construction of a new chancery in Colombo and the relocation of four other chanceries were completed. We undertook work on the security features of new chanceries being constructed in New Delhi and Port Vila and on additional perimeter security, including new fences and guard houses, in Rangoon and Nairobi. Security-related construction undertaken as part of the refurbishment of the Harare, Guangzhou, Wellington and Nauru chanceries continued and is due to finish in the first half of 2006–07.
We began advance planning for security works on a further 16 chancery relocations and two chancery mid-life upgrades. The design of perimeter strengthening works, including new guard facilities and vehicle barrier systems, was completed for two other posts.
The department continued to roll out additional safety and security measures to increase protection for people working and visiting overseas posts. We installed anti-shatter window film at 50 chanceries and residences, x-ray machines at eleven posts and explosive detection equipment at a further eight posts. We upgraded closed-circuit television systems at 33 posts and emergency communication systems at 29 posts.
The department finalised arrangements for the supply and delivery of 24 civilian armoured vehicles to high-risk posts. Six were completed during the year, with the rest scheduled for delivery by December 2006. The vehicles help protect official visitors and staff engaged in official in-country travel and consular work from terrorist and criminal attack. Specialised training is being provided to staff who need to drive these vehicles.
Information and technical security
The department continued efforts to ensure the protection of classified information against possible computer, electronic and technical attacks. We reviewed a number of policies and procedures concerning the protection of official information on our information and communications technology (ICT) systems. The reviews ensured our policies and procedures remained appropriate to the evolving technological and threat environments and were consistent with relevant Government guidelines. We inspected ICT security at four overseas missions for compliance with departmental security standards.
The department carried out technical security inspections at 18 overseas posts, including five relocated chanceries, and provided technical security support to eight prime ministerial overseas visits and three international conferences in Australia. As part of a continuing program, we installed new back-to-base, high-security intruder alarms at 22 posts. We continued to provide guidance on ICT and technical security as part of general security awareness training for officers working overseas.
Security training
Security awareness training is mandatory for all Australia-based departmental staff and staff from other agencies posted to Australia's overseas posts. Reflecting the need for a heightened sense of alert and preparedness, the department introduced new specialised courses for staff with specific security responsibilities. These included courses for senior officers in charge of security management at posts. We provided security advisers with specialised training to update and consolidate expertise in physical security. We began developing new security courses for locally engaged staff and locally employed security guards at overseas posts.
A total of 361 staff attended our regular introductory and refresher security awareness courses. More detailed overseas security awareness training was provided to 220 staff from the department and 207 staff from other agencies prior to overseas postings. Staff and their partners posted to higher threat posts attended additional training in personal security and defensive driving. We provided security training to relevant staff in European and Asian posts as part of the department's annual Regional Management Conferences.
Security clearances
Government policy requires that staff handling classified information be vetted and cleared to an appropriate level. During the year, the department granted 474 security clearances for new staff and renewed 374 security clearances for existing staff. Overseas posts processed a further 88 initial clearances and renewals for locally engaged staff. The department recognised 107 security clearances issued by other agencies.
Information management and secure communications access
We enhanced our communications network which is now significantly better at maintaining continuity of communications with Australia's overseas posts. This is an important achievement as interruptions caused by a range of factors, such as weak local infrastructure and network load, can impede our ability to manage and assist during overseas crises and can adversely affect normal business operations. We undertook a major upgrade of our communications hardware to meet the growing future needs of both the department and the large number of other government agencies using our communications network. We increased bandwidth at 28 posts and installed dual satellite systems at a further eight posts to improve the redundancy (or resilience) of satellite communications links. We bolstered our capacity to support posts during overseas crises by upgrading the emergency radio network (ERN) which posts use as a communication tool when local networks fail. We developed a 'flyaway' or portable ERN kit that can be deployed to temporary or remote locations.
Enhancements to the ODIN system
In October 2005 the department undertook a post-implementation review of our new cable system, the Official Diplomatic Information Network (ODIN). The cable system is the means of official communication between headquarters and posts and is used to communicate all tasking, reporting and analysis. The review concluded that the ODIN system had delivered all the expected benefits, with cables being delivered faster, more transparently and more consistently than ever before.
Following the review, we further enhanced the ODIN system to improve the accuracy and reliability of cable distributions. As a result, it is now easier for users to validate that cable distributions are correct and to highlight cable action requirements. Cable originators are now also alerted automatically if action recipients of an urgent cable fail to read it within a prescribed time limit.
The department implemented initiatives to improve the security of our desktop computer systems. We began rolling out the Windows XP desktop which is intended to increase safeguards against viruses and 'trojans' and prevent software copyright breaches from the downloading of unauthorised applications. Consistent with the department's obligation to ensure the appropriate use of Government resources, we installed 'Content Keeper' software on the department's desktop system to filter, monitor and manage staff internet access.
In October 2005 the department rolled out the Consular Management Information System on the Austrade network to enable Austrade-managed posts to provide a quicker, better service to Australians abroad requiring consular assistance.
The department's Technical Officer Peter Fox monitors the global communications network in our 24/7 Network Operations Centre. |
Enlarge image :: Photo gallery |
We expect the international security environment to remain challenging and unpredictable. A priority will be to finish implementing the program of additional security measures agreed by the Government, as well as the security works associated with the significant number of planned chancery relocations. The department will give continuing priority to enhancing our capacity to anticipate and respond quickly and effectively to a wider range of security scenarios, including through liaison and cooperation with other agencies and like-minded governments.
The department will work to consolidate and standardise our information and communications technology (ICT) architecture, including through our ongoing asset refresh process, which will make ICT systems easier to administer and help reduce management and maintenance costs.
Over recent years the department has seen a rapid growth in its ICT user base among other government agencies, with a five-fold increase in the number of agencies on the department's networks and a ten-fold increase in the number of users. Against this background, we will continue to expand our consultations with other agencies to improve our cost and operating efficiencies in the delivery of whole of government ICT services to overseas posts.


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• Home • Student Mail • Contact Us
Welcome to Williams Baptist College! Williams is a four-year, Christian, liberal arts college located at Walnut Ridge, Arkansas. WBC is a Christ-centered institution, long known for its warm and caring atmosphere and its personal attention to students. Williams offers over 25 majors, covering a wide array of career options.
Williams chapter honored named Outstanding Collegiate Chapter. ....more>>
Student ministry conference to focus on ministry in the home. ....more>>
Williams opens the spring semester on normal schedule. ....more>>
Students with GPA of 3.5 and higher honored. ....more>>

subset: commoncrawl


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Track: Charlotte Motor Speedway
Date: 5/20/2000
Car No: 8
Sponsor: Budweiser
Organization: Dale Earnhardt Inc.
No rookie had ever won NASCAR's All-Star race, but Dale Jr. was no ordinary rookie. Having already won two races (Texas and Richmond) in his first 16 races, Junior was entering All-Star week with momentum, so much so that Charlotte Motor Speedway promoter Humpy Wheeler picked the Budweiser team to shock the world and win The Winston. The race was divided into three segments (30 laps, 30 laps, 10 laps). Junior finished third in each of the first two segments. He then was part of a gut-wrenching decision to make a pit stop with eight laps to go in the final segment for four new tires. The call for fresh rubber relegated the No. 8 Chevrolet to 10th for the restart. Passing cars every lap, Dale Jr. charged to the front. He inched behind leader Dale Jarrett with two laps to go and nosed ahead with the white flag waving. Junior then pulled away, or as TNT broadcaster Eli Gold described it, "He kicked those Clydesdales into high gear!" The ending scene was one for the ages, as Dale Earnhardt Sr., who finished third, ran across the infield grass to celebrate with his son and team. "The highlight of my life is seeing the smile on my daddy's face," said Junior after the race. "I mean that's what this is all about... making people happy."


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Who's A Tough Mudder? easy payday loans
I am – Oorah!
We did it. Alex and I ran (and walked) the whole damn thing and finished every obstacle. In terms of painful but gratifying things I've done in my life it ranks third after giving birth to my two kick-ass kiddos. Here's our before and after shots. When Daniel saw that bottom one on the right he said: "I've never seen you look that out of it… while sober."
It took us about 4 hours, which I'm pretty happy about, as I've never run 10 miles in my life. Of course, we didn't run the whole thing because the course went up and down hills (and I do mean straight up and straight down), but we ran a lot of it.
There were some things that were as I thought they would be: the Arctic Enema
Then there were the things I did not expect.
1. The first thing that surprised me was how well run the whole Tough Mudder event was. They had water stations every two miles (with snacks like bananas or cliff bars, which totally kept me going), and life guards at any obstacle with water. The lines at the obstacles were generally pretty short and moved quickly, and at the end, after you run through the live wires, they force water on you – over and over, as you stumble toward your free beer.
2. That leads me to that last obstacle – the Electroshock Therapy
3. Given the advertising of the event, I had been a little intimidated by all the testosterone, but I am very happy to report that there are actually lots of women who ran with us. I would guess 40%. And there was a wide age range too, I would peg the average around 35. And I only saw one or two folks go around an obstacle over the course of the entire race. People were in it for the challenge, which was cool.
4. The electric eel
5. It was a ton of fun. I mean, I wouldn't have signed up for it if I didn't think it would be at least kind of fun, but I think it was the challenge that attracted me. Now that I know how much fun it is, I will totally go back (though until my head stops hurting I reserve the right to go around the final obstacle – yes, my head still hurts 30 hours later).
So that's that. If you're thinking of doing one yourself, here's what I learned:
1. Train on hills. Seriously. I was running five miles easy leading up to the event, but the hills killed me.
2. Start hydrating two days before.
3. Cotton socks are death around mile 8, they bunch up and just hold mud in clumps. Also, I wish I had worn some trail running shoes.
4. You will need help. Don't be afraid to ask, it's part of the fun. Be sure to return the favor when you can.
5. Don't worry about carrying water. The hydration stands are well stocked.
Alex is already pushing to do another in February. I'm waiting for my head to stop hurting before I commit to a date. I'm thinking maybe a half marathon is next… I mean really, it's only three more miles, and there's no electricity involved. How hard could it be?
I'm giving myself one more day to sleep in and recoup, then it's back to my regular schedule of getting up early to write. It's been quite an adventure.
I get paid to be nosey. easy payday loans
I'm very excited to announce that an article I wrote about my uncles went live today on the BETA Magazine website
For the word nerds – serodiscordant is a fairly new term describing a relationship wherein one person has HIV/AIDS and the other does not. My uncles have been in their serodiscordant relationship since before the term existed. It was a real treat to sit down with them and hear the details of their story.
When Terry was first diagnosed, I was young and nobody spoke much about it. It was still so taboo. By the time I was old enough to know about HIV/AIDS, Terry's infection was old news, and there just never seemed to be a good time to ask the question: "so… do you guys still have sex, or what?"
Thankfully, in my line of work, I get paid to be nosey.
Check it out (here
Finally, thank you to all the family and friends who have sent well wishes for Daniel's recovery. We got to see an x-ray of his spine today. Check this baby out:
Those white things are the screws in my guy's spine. Burly.
He was having a hard time getting comfortable in bed, so this morning we invested in a recliner. So he's still laid up, but he's doing it in style, the doc told him to keep the narcotics coming, and the Euro Cup, or something, is playing soccer non-stop (or so it seems) – so he's doing just fine.


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The Blood Type Diet Archives Volume 15
Posted By: Sean (Be Negative)Date: Monday, 2 October 2000, at 11:15 a.m.
In Response To: viteligo (KerriK)
I don't have an official diagnosis yet, but I'm pretty sure because It hasn't gone away for a couple of years. Can't complain much because it don't itch, it's just a loss of pigment. I'm pretty sure there is no sure fire detox way to get it in remission, though I'm going to a PHD this week for advice and check out nutrient/toxin levels. Will tell if I learn anything about diet helping it.


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FREE WDD Email Newsletter
The Tinker's Toolbox - Ashraf Elghamrawi of Analog Devices on RFICs
November 29, 2011 10:44 am | CommentsHosted by Alix Paultre, the Tinker's Toolbox is the Advantage Design Group's web-based interview show where we talk about the latest technology, components, and design issues for the electronic design engineering community. In this podcast we talk to Ashraf Elghamrawi, Product Marketing Manager at Analog Devices, about the RF landscape as it applies to smart devices and the challenges to the engineer.
Problem Solvers - The Next Decade of the Software-Defined Instrument
November 28, 2011 8:38 am | by David Hall, RF and Communications Product Manager, National Instruments | CommentsWhen you take a step back and look at how RF instruments have evolved over the past twenty years, you can observe how the evolution of wireless standards has pushed the RF front ends to new levels of analog performance. For example, one might remember the ORFS (Output RF Spectrum) measurement from GSM – long thought of as one of the most challenging RF measurements that an engineer could make with a signal analyzer.
Tech Exchange: Medical Connectors
November 22, 2011 10:59 am | CommentsWelcome to Tech Exchange on Medical Connectors! This Month: Anthony J. Kalaijakis, Strategic Medical Marketing Manager, Molex 1. What are some of the major connector trends today influencing the global electronics market e.g., consumer electronics, industrial automation, medical electronics? The major trends for connectors in the medical device industry are: • Healthcare reform and reimbursement are driving the merging of commercial products and technologies into the medical market.
Mark Frauenfelder Presents Maker Faire
November 22, 2011 8:40 am | CommentsMAKE editor-in-chief Mark Frauenfelder would like to introduce you to some of his favorite makers, and the projects they've brought to Maker Faire. If you don't know about Maker Faire, it's a festive two-day exhibition of DIY invention and creativity held annually in several locations around the United States.
Minimizing Vulnerability of the Growing 4G Infrastructure
November 18, 2011 9:35 am | by Posted by Janine E. Mooney, Editor | Commentsby Jim Colby, Littelfuse The 4G buildout continues at full speed. A major telecom equipment manufacturer has predicted that by 2020, "everything that benefits from a network connection will be connected," and that the number of connected devices will reach 50 billion. The 4G piece of this is high-speed, mobile connectivity; basically providing broadband speeds without a wired connection to the Internet.
Army develops self-aware, decision-making network
November 18, 2011 8:39 am | CommentsThe U.S. Army is developing a "self-aware, decision-making network" that will ultimately reduce human decision-making requirements and increase network performance. The Skynet Cognitive Algorithm & Network Design Experiment (CANDE) was designed to enable easier network maintenance, reduce human decision-making requirements, increase network lifetime, transfer data with less delay, and reduce energy consumption.
Opto-electronic Circuit Simulation and Microwave Photonics
November 17, 2011 6:08 am | by Tom Smy, Ph.D. Professor Department of Electronics, Carleton University and Marcio Freitas, Ph.D. Senior Research Scientist, Optiwave | CommentsThe ongoing convergence of electrical, solid state photonic and optical technologies has produced a wave of experimental results, new devices and novel applications - with Microwave Photonics (MWP) being a particularly exciting field. Roughly speaking, microwave photonics involves the optical generation, distribution and processing of microwave frequency (40 to 200 GHz) signals imposed on an optical carrier as a modulated envelope.
Tony Valentino of Quickfilter Technologies on Signal Management
November 16, 2011 5:07 am | CommentsHosted by Alix Paultre, the Tinker's Toolbox is the Advantage Design Group's web-based interview show where we talk about the latest technology, components, and design issues for the electronic design engineering community. In this podcast we talk to Tony Valentino, Quickfilter Technologies COO, about signal managment issues and the challenges facing the designer.
Android Accessory Development with chipKIT MAX32
November 15, 2011 3:36 am | CommentsThis video demonstrates a working application example from Microchip's Accessory Framework for Android™ running on the chipKIT Development Platform.
Cloud to Service Endpoints - The Missing Link
November 15, 2011 3:29 am | by Paul Anderson, Wind River (www.windriver.com) | CommentsI remember as a kid I was fascinated with phones. The idea that you could pick up the phone, dial it, and talk to someone on the other end was pretty neat. And… at the time, a phone was an elegantly designed electro-mechanical work of art, and it was fun to take them apart to try and figure out how they worked.
The Tinker's Toolbox - Mark Thirman of Illume on the User Interface
November 14, 2011 10:55 am | CommentsHosted by Alix Paultre, the Tinker's Toolbox is the Advantage Design Group's web-based interview show where we talk about the latest technology, components, and design issues for the electronic design engineering community. In this podcast we talk to Mark Thirman of Illume Software ( www.getizup.
LCD Market Trends - Smartphones vs. TVs
November 14, 2011 5:07 am | CommentsThis past summer, for the first time in the history of LCDTVs, the average selling price (ASP) of a 42" LCDTV dropped below that of a Smartphone. Simultaneously, the excess capacity of LCDTV panels hit its highest level in years with almost no growth forecasted between 2010 and 2011. So what does this tell us? Firstly, dropping prices will not necessarily sell more LCDTVs.
A'Swiss Army Knife for the Blind' using Freescale Kinetis MCUs
November 11, 2011 10:22 am | CommentsThe Make It Challenge featuring Kinetis MCUs is Freescale's latest design contest. This design utilizes Freescale's Kinetis K60 Tower System, MQX software, the i.MX53 Quick Start board, along with IAR Systems' Embedded Workbench and GainSpan's Tower System 802.11b Wi-Fi Module. The Swiss Army Knife is a portable product for blind people, integrating: - Notepad - Portable Scan to Braille - Twitter Communication Also provides PC software so blind people can be trained/monitored by people without Braille coding knowledge: - Writing Coach - Reading Coach The K60-based B-Notepad offers a portable solution for storage into a SDHC card, so students type notes using the B-Keyboard and review using the B-Display B-Writing Coach is used to capture dictation to the B-Keyboard; the data is sent to the PC using the Tower Wi-Fi module so it can be graded by the teacher.
Printed Electronics Technology Moves Closer to Fully-Printed Devices
November 9, 2011 7:05 am | CommentsScreen Printing is one of the more established technologies utilised in the manufacture of what a lot would consider "conventional" electronics. And although they represent a hybrid state between fully printable electronics and electronics processed in silicon fabs, they also represent the intermediate step that leads to more accurate, fully automated atmospheric processing at very high volumes, with equally high yields.
Hall Effect Measurement Fundamentals
November 9, 2011 5:32 am | CommentsLearn how to make Hall effect measurements as they relate to semiconductor materials and device characterization. This seminar presents an introduction to Hall effect measurements, including background on their application, methodologies for deriving Hall voltage, resistivity, and carrier mobility, and techniques for ensuring measurement quality.


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Published Online:
10 August 2011
Some babies develop persistent pulmonary hypertension of the neonate (PPHN), a condition where the pressure in the blood vessels that allows blood to flow to the lungs remains abnormally high. Persistent high pressure in these vessels leads to less blood flow to the lungs and therefore less oxygen reaching the blood and all organs of the body. Sildenafil may cause these vessels to relax and allow for improved blood flow and improved oxygen delivery to all organs. This treatment is especially useful in the settings where other treatment approaches are not available. However, in resourceful environment, further studies are needed to compare sildenafil with existing treatment for effect and safety.
This record should be cited as:
Shah PS, Ohlsson A. Sildenafil for pulmonary hypertension in neonates. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2011, Issue 8. Art. No.: CD005494. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD005494.pub3
Assessed as up to date:
30 April 2010
Health topics:


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Hey, Internet Meme Trackers: The Pentagon Wants YOU!
We told you the Pentagon was getting serious about its war strategy for the internet, but we didn't realize that meant getting social. The New York Times' Bits blog reports that the Pentagon's R&D arm is offering $42 million in funding to people that can help it use sites like Twitter and Facebook as both an early detection system and a weapon. In a document circulating among potential researchers, the military says that post-Arab Spring it's interested in being able to find and track the spread of ideas.
In fact, they're soliciting proposals to build what Bits calls, "at its most basic level, an Internet meme tracker" that would use tools like "linguistic cues, patterns of information flow, topic trend analysis, sentiment detection and opinion mining." Read More


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Sun Care Sponsored by
Nanoencapsulating sunscreen agents may make them more effective and reduce the potential for allergic reactions, suggests a new report.
According to research published in this month's International Journal of Cosmetic Science, encapsulating the active ingredient in a sunscreen can stabilize the compound that might otherwise alter in form when hit with solar radiation. The scientists, led by Dr. Manuela Vettor from the University of Pavia, Italy, investigated the effect of nanoencapsulating octyl methoxycinnamate (OCM), a common sunscreen agent that is known to change from a trans to a cis form when exposed to sunlight.
This photoinduced change can significantly reduce the SPF of the sunscreen and finding ways to increase the photostability of such agents is crucial to the industry. Furthermore, the cis form has been known in rare cases to illicit an allergic reaction in consumers, according to the scientists.
Encapsulating reduces photodegradation
Vettor and the team coated the OMC in a poly(D,L-lactide) (PLA) polymer and found that, when encapsulated, the compound was less likely to degrade from the cis to the trans form.
Furthermore, the stabilizing effect of the PLA encapsulation was dependent on the concentration of the OMC. When the sunscreen agent was in low concentrations (0.66%) the stabilizing effect was 36.65% but when the concentration of the sunscreen was higher (5%), the stabilizing effect increased to 70.8%.
Vettor and the team then tested in vitro the SPF values of the encapsulated OMC against the free OMC and placebo nanocapsules and found that encapsulating the OMC did not decrease its protective power.


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Product Details
- Two carry options: a removable shoulder strap and adjustable 50" cross-body strap
- Smart Travel Security™ organization
- Secure-Zip™ toggle closure on main compartment
- Front and back zippered pockets
- Custom metal findings and satin lining
- Reflective accents for dusk and nighttime visibility
This product can only be shipped within the United States. Due to shipper restrictions, we cannot deliver to P.O. Boxes or APO/FPO addresses.


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Third Millennium Bible (TMB) | New International Version (NIV) |
1 <> O God, my heart is fixed; I will sing and give praise, even with my inmost being. | 1 My heart is steadfast, O God; I will sing and make music with all my soul. |
2 Awake, psaltery and harp! I myself will awake early. | 2 Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn. |
3 I will praise Thee, O LORD, among the people, and I will sing praises unto Thee among the nations. | 3 I will praise you, O LORD, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples. |
4 For Thy mercy is great above the heavens, and Thy truth reacheth unto the clouds. | 4 For great is your love, higher than the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies. |
5 Be Thou exalted, O God, above the heavens, and Thy glory above all the earth. | 5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens, and let your glory be over all the earth. |
6 That Thy beloved may be delivered, save with Thy right hand, and answer me. | 6 Save us and help us with your right hand, that those you love may be delivered. |
7 God hath spoken in His holiness: "I will rejoice; I will divide Shechem, and mete out the Valley of Succoth. | 7 God has spoken from his sanctuary: "In triumph I will parcel out Shechem and measure off the Valley of Succoth. |
8 Gilead is Mine; Manasseh is Mine; Ephraim also is the strength of Mine head; Judah is My lawgiver. | 8 Gilead is mine, Manasseh is mine; Ephraim is my helmet, Judah my scepter. |
9 Moab is My washpot; over Edom will I cast My shoe; over Philistia will I triumph." | 9 Moab is my washbasin, upon Edom I toss my sandal; over Philistia I shout in triumph." |
10 Who will bring me into the stronghold city? Who will lead me into Edom? | 10 Who will bring me to the fortified city? Who will lead me to Edom? |
11 Wilt not Thou, O God, who hast cast us off? And wilt not Thou, O God, go forth with our hosts? | 11 Is it not you, O God, you who have rejected us and no longer go out with our armies? |
12 Give us help from trouble, for vain is the help of man. | 12 Give us aid against the enemy, for the help of man is worthless. |
13 Through God we shall do valiantly, for He it is that shall tread down our enemies. | 13 With God we will gain the victory, and he will trample down our enemies. |
Third Millennium Bible (TMB), New Authorized Version, Copyright 1998 by Deuel Enterprises, Inc., Gary, SD 57237. All rights reserved. (Third Millennium Bible Online) | Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide. (New International Version Bible Online) |


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Sat, Dec 7, 13 at 20:57
Last year was the first year (I think) that I dumped bunches of leaves on the asparagus bed, and I ended up with asparagus beetle! A couple of weeks ago, I cut back the gus, then sprayed with sevin, then covered with leaves. I have quite a bit of compost almost ready to go. Should I top the leaves with the compost? Since the bed is permanent, I need to add something because the soil level is dropping. I'm sure the leaves and compost will keep decomposing, so would it be a good idea to add some soil on top of the leaves and compost? We are only about 2-3 months from the start of gus season! =) and I want to treat them right! Nancy |
Follow-Up Postings:
If the amount of organic matter in the soil is decreasing it can appear as if the soil level is dropping, shrinking. The main component of soil is the mineral portion, about 90 percent of soil, but organic matter is a necessary part of the mix and adds volume and increases the soils ability to hold moisture and air as well as provide necessary nutrients to plants growing in that soil. |
- Posted by toxcrusadr 5 (My Page) on Mon, Dec 9, 13 at 12:51
I would blend a little soil into that compost (50-50 or whatever you like) and layer it on the bed. Then use the leaves over top as a mulch. I like to put the most composted materials closest to the existing soil surface, then work up to completely un-composted mulch on top. If the leaves blow away you can reverse that, or put some pine needles or wood chips over them to hold them down. Just my 2 cents. I love asparagus! Alas, not easy to grow in my clay. |
- Posted by nancyjane_gardener USDA 8ish No CA (My Page) on Mon, Dec 9, 13 at 20:35
OK, it's not a huge bed (4x8), so I'll rake the leaves onto a tarp, put the compost/soil mix down then top it off with the leaves again. Thanks, Nancy |
- Posted by toxcrusadr 5 (My Page) on Tue, Dec 10, 13 at 10:31
As to your beetle problem, I don't know whether the extra mulch would have had anything to do with that or not. Doubtful that they came in with the leaves, but it's possible that there were a few there and they overwintered a bit better due to the mulch, and were able to have a bigger population the next year. I've heard you can wait until a hard freeze or two before mulching to help reduce insects. If your soil really needs the compost (asparagus is a heavy feeder, I think, so it does), then I'd put up with the beetles if they show up again and find some way to deal with them. Anything for fresh asparagus! |
- Posted by nancyjane_gardener USDA 8ish No CA (My Page) on Tue, Dec 10, 13 at 21:27
Well Tox...TIMING! We here in sunnyCA have been having a real (for us ) freeze, down into the teens and only into the 40-50s during the day! We are in for a couple more 20's mornings, so I think I'll pull the leaves etc off for the duration of this freeze, then top it back off with compost/soil and leaves I can only do the best that I can do! Nancy |
- Posted by toxcrusadr 5 (My Page) on Wed, Dec 11, 13 at 11:38
I would love a 50-degree day. It hasn't been above freezing here for a week, and it's going down to 6 tonight. :-] |
- Posted by nancyjane_gardener USDA 8ish No CA (My Page) on Wed, Dec 11, 13 at 21:03
Well, it doesn't help that our furnace is out! So it really IS a freeze for us! LOL We do have a wood stove, luckily, but I don't like to waste a fire on daytime unless it is raining too. I'm finding a lot of reasons to go to the store, or even sit out in the garden while the sun is out to absorb the sun! Nancy |
- Posted by toxcrusadr 5 (My Page) on Thu, Dec 12, 13 at 12:02
Funny you should say that, our furnace is on the blink too, and we have a woodstove that's keeping us warm. our problem is intermittent, sometimes it fires up, sometimes not. :-\ |
- Posted by nancyjane_gardener USDA 8ish No CA (My Page) on Fri, Jan 10, 14 at 21:04
I wouldn't want to have furnace problems in zone 5! Brrrrr!!!! Especially the last couple of weeks! Bundle up! Nancy P.S. Ours is temporarily fixed. |
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Reviewed Pickled Grapes with Jicama and Celery Seed
Nov 27, 2011 in Food Network Community Toolbox on FoodNetwork.com
"I was excited to try this recipe as I love pickles, but this was just bad stuff. The cloves are way too strong (take them out after a few hours and the grapes don't absorb the pickling. However, the jicama absorbs too much flavor and you can't tell what it is. Anyway, I made this for Thanksgiving and it was a total flop. It's so strong that it ma..."


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NEW: PDiN Monitor, December/January Issue
This latest issue of PDiN Monitor is titled India Emerged: A Review of India's Public Diplomacy Activities. The issue examines the large scale public diplomacy effort put forward by India recently and the rise of its soft power presence in the world.
USC alum Maya Babla led a group of students last month to India to assess the scope of its public diplomacy. Her piece India Inside and Out - A Case Study in Indian Public Diplomacy, chronicles the findings of the trip as well as media coverage India's PD has received this month. We are also pleased to publish a piece by Navdeep Suri, Joint Secretary and Head of the Public Diplomacy Division in India's Ministry of External Affairs, titled India Is - Old and New, overviewing the work his team has been doing to increase India's presence on the world stage.
Lastly, PDiN Monitor Managing Editor Naomi Leight has contributed Public Diplomacy Snapshot - 2011, a review of the news on public diplomacy in the last year.
Other items in this issue:
To read the complete December/January 2011 issue online, click here.
To subscribe to PDiN Monitor, click here.
Thank you for reading PDiN Monitor. As always, we welcome your feedback.
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They canvassed all the trails through the park, picking up trash and moving branches and small trees out of the paths. They cleaned around the stone overlook and some of the park grounds as well.
The Meigs chapter returned two weeks later at attend the Inter-Tribal Pow-Wow on Oct. 23, to learn more about Indian culture, history and customs. During an interlude in the activities, a brief business meeting was conducted in which Target and Walmart gift cards were collected to be sent to the Chemawa Indian school in Salem, Oregon. The Chemawa Indian School is a private boarding school for Native American students from grades 9-12 run by the Bureau of Indian Education, and it is one of two schools supported nationwide by the Daughters of the American Revolution.
The next meeting of the CAR Meigs chapter will coincide with the Wreaths Across America ceremonies at Chattanooga Military Cemetery on Saturday, Dec. 14. Later that day, the chapter is planning to prepare a meal for the families staying at the Ronald McDonald house in Chattanooga.
The Children of the American Revolution is sponsored by the Daughters of the American Revolution. The local chapter (Col. Return Jonathan Meigs) is comprised of members from across Southeast Tennessee, including Cleveland. Full membership is based on a child or youth (under the age of 21) being able to prove that they had an ancestor that aided the cause for American independence (such as being a veteran, a civil servant, providing material aid to the cause, etc.). Anyone with an interest in the history of the American Revolution is welcome to attend the meetings and participate in the activities.


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Pleasant Hill, MO
2001 N. 7 Highway
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Pleasant Hill, MO 64080
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Rolls-Royce wins $350m contract from Hawaiian Airlines
Thursday, 1 December 2011
Rolls-Royce, the global power systems company, has won a $350 million contract from Hawaiian Airlines to deliver Trent 700 engines to power five Airbus A330 aircraft. The order includes TotalCare® long-term services support.
The aircraft, to be delivered from 2013 to 2015, will add to the airline's current fleet of five Trent 700-powered A330s and another 12 to be delivered.
Mark Dunkerley, Hawaiian Airline's President and CEO said: "This announcement marks another important milestone in the growth of our business and our long range fleet. The Rolls-Royce Trent 700 delivers high levels of operational performance and fuel-efficiency. It is the quietest engine for the Airbus A330 – an important consideration for Hawaiian Airlines."
Mark King, Rolls-Royce, President – Civil Aerospace, said: "We are very pleased that Hawaiian Airlines has again chosen to place its trust in our world-class engine technology, which is underpinned by comprehensive TotalCare® support. We look forward to continuing to develop our important relationship and helping Hawaiian Airlines maximise the benefits of Rolls-Royce technology."
The Trent 700 is the only engine specifically designed for the Airbus A330 and is the most fuel-efficient, cleanest and quietest engine for the aircraft. It now incorporates technology from later generation Trent engines, which has further improved its fuel-efficiency by one per cent.
More than 1,400 Trent 700 engines are now in service or on firm order. In the past three years the engine has captured more than 75 per cent of orders for the A330.
In addition to the current fleet of A330s, the carrier also operates 18 Boeing 717s, powered by the Rolls-Royce BR715 and has six Airbus A350 aircraft on order, which will be powered by Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines.
- Rolls-Royce is a world-leading provider of power systems and services for use on land, at sea and in the air, and has established a strong position in global markets - civil aerospace, defence aerospace, marine and energy.
- As a result of this strategy, Rolls-Royce has a broad customer base comprising more than 500 airlines, 4,000 corporate and utility aircraft and helicopter operators, 160 armed forces, more than 4,000 marine customers, including 70 navies, and energy customers in nearly 120 countries, with an installed base of 54,000 gas turbines.
- Annual underlying revenues were £10.8 billion in 2010, of which more than half came from the provision of services. The firm and announced order book stood at £61.4 billion at 30 June 2011, providing visibility of future levels of activity.
- Rolls-Royce employs over 39,000 skilled people in offices, manufacturing and service facilities in over 50 countries. Over 11,000 of these employees are engineers.
- In 2010, Rolls-Royce invested £923 million on research and development, two thirds of which had the objective of further improving the environmental performance of its products, in particular reducing emissions.
- Rolls-Royce supports a global network of 28 University Technology Centres, which connect the company's engineers with the forefront of scientific research.
- The Group has a strong commitment to apprentice and graduate recruitment and to further developing employee skills.


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Stella Latte da Mano is a hand milk enriched with olive oil, sweet almond oil, shea butter, aloe and milk to calm and condition dry, sensitive skin. Lightweight yet richly moisturizing and scented with Italian Blood Orange, it absorbs easily, leaving skin soft and silky.8 oz.
Copyright © 2015 Bluemercury. All Rights Reserved.


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By Bree Al-Rashid, Redfin real estate agent in Seattle
Before buying any home, it's important to consider your lifestyle, and what your needs will be in the next five to ten years. That's especially the case when it comes to choosing what type of home to purchase. Redfin.com allows you to narrow your search based on the types of home you are interested in, but for those who aren't clear on the differences, here's a handy guide to the benefits and drawbacks of each type of residential building.
Single Family Homes
Definition: Single family homes (often abbreviated as SFH) are homes built on a single lot, with no shared walls. Sometimes there's a garage, attached or detached.
Plus Sides: This type of home tends to offer more privacy than condos and townhomes, which often share walls. They also tend to be larger, and possibly come with front and back yards. Since you don't share the property with anyone else, you are free to express yourself with any type of home design you choose. They also tend to have a more reliable resell value than condos and townhomes.
Downsides: The downside is that they generally require a lot more maintenance, and all of the cost for that falls on the shoulders of the homeowner. With condos and townhomes, you share the costs involved with yard maintenance, plumbing, roofing, etc.
Definition: Condominiums (or condos for short) are single units within a larger building or community. The unit often shares a wall or two with other units. They generally come with homeowners' associations (HOAs), which require the residents to pay monthly or yearly dues. Condos are popular in urban, high-density areas, where there are many restaurants and shops.
Plus Sides: The benefits of living in a condo include low responsibility on the homeowner's part to contribute to maintenance and upkeep. For example, if the roof goes out, you share the costs with other residents, instead of paying for the whole thing yourself. In addition, some condos offer gyms, lounge areas, pools and other amenities that you might not be able to afford or have space for in a single family home.
Downsides: Condo homeowners' associations often limit the types of remodeling you can do, and there can be pet and rental restrictions as well. HOAs want uniformity and safety; you don't want one homeowner replacing doors and windows if they're not to a high standard, or safely installed! In addition, because you share a space with others, there's not as much privacy, and you need to be extra cautious of disturbing your neighbors because they are so close.
Definition: Co-ops are very similar to condos, but they're a different way to hold a title of a shared building. With a condo, you own the space within your unit, but with a co-op, everyone owns the building together. Because of the shared responsibility, there's often an interview process to become part of the community.
Plus Sides: Co-ops tend to take on the maintenance as a community, so they tend to have lower HOA dues. They also tend to be less expensive than comparable condos.
Downsides: You share financial responsibility of the whole building with your neighbors, which means if someone stops paying their mortgage on a co-op, the bank can foreclose on the whole building. It can be more difficult to get a loan for a co-op than a condo; most require more money down, and some banks won't support it.
Definition: Townhouses are a hybrid between a condo and a single family home. They are often multiple floors, with one or two shared walls, and some have a small yard space or rooftop deck. They're generally larger than a condo, but smaller than a single family home.
Plus sides: Townhomes often have more privacy than a condo might afford. Some have HOAs or joint maintenance agreements to share upkeep costs. They tend to be more affordable than a single family home.
Downsides: Townhomes don't usually have shared amenities like a gym or a pool. They're not as private as a single family home.
Multi-family units
Definition: Multi-family homes are the least common of the residential types. They can be anything from a duplex to a four-plex; anything more becomes commercial. They could be row house style or multiple floors. Multi-family units could also be apartment style flats, but usually each unit has its own separate entrance. The distinction between multi-family units and condos is that the units can't be purchased individually; there's one owner for the whole building.
Plus sides: People who look for these are usually people looking for an investment property. They can live in one unit, and rent out the others for income, or rent all units. Compared to a condo, there are fewer people you're sharing your building with and it tends to be more private and quiet. You may also have some yard space.
Down sides: Like a townhome, they're a hybrid between a single family home and a condo. They tend to be smaller than single family homes, and less private. If you're renting one, the maintenance costs go to the landlord, but if you own one, as the landlord, you're bearing all the costs for maintenance, plus the time commitment of finding renters.
Definition: Just land, no home of any type.
Plus sides: The sky is the limit; you can do whatever you want to improve the property. Build whatever home you'd like, or grow/raise crops or animals (within local restrictions).
Down sides: Land can be difficult to purchase in terms of financing. It tends to require a much larger down payment, and fewer lenders are available for someone looking to finance a land purchase. Banks like to know that there's going to be someone living on it, and that it will be improved. It's easier to know what a property is going to be used for when you see a structure sitting on it. Also, it may not come with utility hookups, so you're responsible for bringing gas, water, sewer, electricity to the land to build a structure.
For more information on residential building types and buying or selling a home, check out my video series in the SFGate Home Guide section: Real Estate Tips You Need to Know
About Bree Al-Rashid, Redfin Real Estate Agent
Bree Al-Rashid has been selling homes with Redfin in North Seattle since 2008, and was a financial adviser prior to getting into real estate. She works for Redfin, a technology-powered real estate brokerage that's on a mission to change the real estate industry in the consumer's favor. You can contact Bree and read her client reviews on Redfin.com.


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Early Warning System
The Peralta Community College District has made the Alertify Mass Communication System services available to instantly reach students, faculty, and staff in cases of major or catastrophic emergencies. Alertify is an affordable, simple, personalized, web-based, universal notification service for mass communications. Mass text alerts to the campus community members will be sent in cases of major or catastrophic emergencies affecting the Peralta Community College District, in whole or in part.
Below is a copy of the Administrative Procedures
ALERTIY MASS COMMUNICATIONS – Administrative Procedures (EMERGENCIES ONLY) updated 2013
For a list of Users Authorized to Issue Emergency Notifications, click on the link below.
ALERTIY – List of Authorized Administrators & Designees (4/16/13)


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World English Bible (WEB) | New International Version (NIV) |
23 I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd. | 23 I will place over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he will tend them; he will tend them and be their shepherd. |
The World English Bible is in the public domain. (The World English Bible Online) | Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide. (New International Version Bible Online) |


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Light-headedness - dizzy; Loss of balance; Vertigo
If you tend to get light-headed when you stand up:
If you have vertigo, the following tips can help prevent your symptoms from becoming worse:
Full Question: Hello, I have been having sharp throbbing pain and stiffness in my neck and shoulders. This pain has been going on for a few... Read more »
Full Question:I am recovering from my fourth bout of vertigo, the first three years ago, and the last three within the last 12 months. (I... Read more »
Full Question: I wake up ever morning with a real bad headache in the back of my eyes and back of my neck and its a pounding feeling all... Read more »
Full Question: Well I guess my problem is that I have constant non-stopping headaches. I've had them for a while now but these past few... Read more »
Full Question: I've been having Sharp Pain in my head and Eye Twitching a lot of times and the eye twitching is in my left eye and I'm... Read more »
Source: ADAM Encyclopedia
Emesis; Vomiting; Stomach upset; Upset stomach Home Care It is important to stay hydrated. Try frequent, small amounts of clear liquids,... Read more »
Source: FirstDatabank Drug
Generic Name: NAPHAZOLINE - OPHTHALMICPronounced: (nah-FAZZ-oh-leen)Clear Eyes Itchy Eye Relief Opht Precautions Before using naphazoline, tell... Read more »
Does the "Big O" cause or stop headaches and Migraine? We've all heard the old joke, "Not tonight, dear. I have a headache." Right? Surprisingly... Read more »


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Contents | Guide | Overviews | Performance | Corporate |
You are currently viewing: Contents > Performance Reporting > Outcome 3 > Output 3.1 Effectiveness Indicators |
Output 3.1 Public information services and public diplomacy |
Output 3.1 Effectiveness Indicators
3.1.2: Projecting a positive image of Australia internationally
Effectiveness indicators
- An accurate and contemporary image of Australia projected through public diplomacy activities and initiatives, including targeted international media, special visitor program and cultural award scheme visits, and public affairs material.
- Public affairs strategies developed to counter misperceptions of Australia.
- International appreciation for Australian cultural achievements enhanced through the work of the Commission on International Cultural Promotion and support for Australian performing groups, artists, exhibitors and other cultural visitors touring overseas.
- Implementation of the Australia International Cultural Council three-year strategy for the Coordination and Promotion of Australian Cultural Activity Overseas.
- Strategy implemented for the international promotion of major events including the Centenary of Federation.
- Positive image of Australia conveyed through successful operation of the Australian Expo 2000 pavilion in Hanover (also relates to administered item on Expo 2000).
- Non-official linkages and partnerships between Australia and key Asian partners developed, and a positive image of Australia promoted in these countries, through the work of the Australia–China Council, Australia–India Council, Australia–Indonesia Institute, Australia–Japan Foundation, and Australia– Korea Foundation.
3.1.3: Olympics
Effectiveness indicators
- Australia's foreign and trade policy interests relating to the Sydney Olympics advanced through effective coordination and liaison with the Sydney Organising Committee for the Olympic Games and other agencies, including the Olympic Torch relay through Oceania.
- Australia's image promoted through placement on the Olympic Virtual Media Centre of public affairs and media material produced for overseas markets.
- Sydney Media Centre judged by the international media to meet their requirements for the Sydney Olympics.
3.1.4: Freedom of Information and archival research and clearance
Effectiveness indicators
- Obligations under the Freedom of Information Act fully met.
- First draft of One Hundred Years of Australia's Engagement with Asia completed and submitted to the Advisory Committee to the Centenary of Federation Project.
Projecting a positive image of Australia internationally
The department coordinated a wide-ranging public diplomacy program to project a positive image of Australia internationally. Key elements included:
- conducting international media and other visitor programs to generate accurate coverage of Australia;
- assisting international media representatives in the lead-up to and during the Sydney Olympic Games;
- monitoring international media coverage of Australia and providing targeted material to respond to emerging issues;
- strengthening the impact of our public diplomacy effort through more strategic linking of events at posts with key messages about Australia;
- continuing to improve the design, accessibility and content of the central website and other sites managed by overseas posts; and
- producing targeted public affairs material, including on Australia's new economy, innovation and e-commerce credentials.
The department delivered a cultural diplomacy agenda through a range of projects under the auspices of the Australia International Cultural Council . This included a 'roadshow' of recent Australian films, which began touring posts in March. We also coordinated a process to select a provider for a television service to the Asia-Pacific region, which resulted in the Australian Broadcasting Corporation being selected by the Government (see also page 177).
The department monitored international media coverage of Australia, particularly during the lead-up to the Sydney Olympic Games. Targeted material and talking points were prepared to respond to specific issues and more general material was prepared to respond to broader issues. This enabled overseas posts to respond quickly and effectively to media inquiries, whether directly or through departmental websites. The result was more balanced and positive international reporting on the organisation of the Olympic Games and on broader issues such as the economy, tourism and multiculturalism. While there was some negative coverage of Indigenous issues, there were also many balanced reports on the strong 'reconciliation' message of the Games.
International media, special visits and cultural awards
The department's International Media Visits program generated accurate and comprehensive media coverage in support of Australian foreign and trade policy objectives through targeted working visits by groups of international media representatives.
Twenty-six foreign media representatives visited Australia under this program in 2000–01, in three separate groups. Each group visit focused on a theme drawn from Australia's foreign and trade policy priorities. The first group focused on the capabilities and innovations behind the successful staging of the Sydney Olympic Games and the business and investment climate in Australia after the Olympics. Subsequent groups examined information and communications technology, e-commerce, biotechnology, telecommunications infrastructure and Australia's trade policy position in the lead-up to the launch of the next round of negotiations of the WTO.
The department facilitated fewer visits than in previous years—a result of our focus on servicing the large number of media representatives visiting Sydney during the Olympics. We resumed a full program of group media visits from the beginning of 2001.
The department's International Media Centre in Sydney provided resident and visiting foreign media with logistical advice and support, background information, story ideas, contacts, research tools and access to various facilities. The centre organised 20 functions on foreign and trade policy issues for international and domestic media representatives. During the period from July to October 2000, it played a key role in Olympics-related briefings and events.
The Special Visits Program (SVP) played an important role in supporting the department's core function of advocating Australia's interests overseas through establishing valuable long-term networks and personal contacts. The SVP is aimed at influential or potentially influential individuals who can contribute to a greater understanding of Australia's policies and institutions, and who are likely to be in positions which deal with issues of direct relevance to Australia's foreign and trade policy interests. Special Visitors Programs organised included:
- three visits from Japan focusing on regional security, regional financial architecture and Japanese finance and industry; two visits from China, covering economic and public sector reform; and two from South Korea, covering economic and public sector reform and regional security issues. Five South Korean journalists were invited to Australia and we organised a visit to Korea by the Australia–Asia Young Leaders Forum;
- four visits from Malaysia, three from Indonesia, two from East Timor, one each from Thailand, Vietnam and Singapore and three from South Asia aimed at furthering bilateral relations across a range of priority sectors for Australia, including trade, public policy and capacity building;
- four visits from the United States and one from Spain centred on foreign policy, trade and international security, one from Germany investigated developments in renewable energy, while one from Canada examined public policy forums; and
- visits by two Members of Parliament from New Zealand explored approaches across a range of bilateral interests, while two visits from Solomon Islands and one from New Caledonia strengthened links and assisted our efforts to encourage good governance in the region.
As a result of the Australian International Cultural Council's Strategy for the Coordination and Promotion of Australian Cultural Activity Overseas , 24 individuals from 13 countries or territories visited Australia under the auspices of the department's Cultural Awards Scheme. Participants included arts media representatives, festival directors, venue managers and opinion makers. Individual programs were tailored to ensure maximum exposure for Australian arts and cultural products and to strengthen links to important overseas markets.
Promotion of Australian culture
The department's overseas missions provided financial and in-kind support for 1,386 Australian artists, performances, festivals and exhibitions around the world. More than 1.6 million patrons, many representing foreign governments, business or media, attended these public diplomacy activities.
Indigenous Australian culture
We continued to promote and showcase the rich diversity of Australia's Indigenous arts and cultures, including through our travelling exhibitions of Aboriginal art—Seasons of the Kunwinjku and Prints by Seven Aboriginal Australian Artists. The New Directions—Aboriginal Australia and Business exhibition, developed jointly with Rio Tinto, focused on positive examples of business links between Indigenous Australians and sections of the mining industry. It completed a successful two-year tour to Asia and Europe, with a final exhibition in London as part of the Commonwealth Institute's celebration of Australia's Centenary of Federation.
In a partnership between the department and the Australian Film Commission, a major program of over 40 Australian Indigenous films was curated and shown at Ethnofilmfest 2001—one of Europe's most prestigious ethnographic film festivals. Ethnofilmfest dedicated 10 days to Australian Indigenous films. The films were also shown in Munich and Frankfurt.
Through our Australia 2000 initiative, we supported a range of indigenous activities directed at international media covering the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. We also worked with relevant departments and agencies to prepare and distribute fact sheets on indigenous issues to overseas posts and media representatives in the lead-up to the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Following the Olympics, these have been added to the department's consolidated fact sheets, providing a valuable source of accurate information on indigenous issues for international audiences.
Australia—Our Sporting Life exhibition
The Australia—Our Sporting Life exhibition was an important platform for the department's public diplomacy efforts against the background of the Olympic Games. The exhibition, which incorporated photographic, audio-visual and interactive segments, promoted Australia's involvement in sport and the capacity of the Australian sports industry. After a two-year international touring program in 15 major markets and an estimated 1.5 million visitors overseas, the exhibition's Olympic season was launched by Mr Downer on 21 August 2000 at the National Maritime Museum in Sydney.
Australia International Cultural Council
The department implemented the Australia International Cultural Council's (AICC) Strategy for the Coordination and Promotion of Australian Cultural Activity Overseas, including through our work at World Expo 2000 in Hanover (boxed text below), the Olympics Arts Festivals and international Centenary of Federation celebrations. As chair of the Commission for International Cultural Promotion, which implements the AICC's strategy, we improved inter-agency coordination and progressed a program of activities to promote Australian culture internationally. This work was reflected in AICC projects such as preparations for the month-long program of Australian arts at the Brooklyn Academy of Music New Wave Festival in New York in October 2001.
The department undertook a joint AICC project with the Australian Film Commission to produce a film festival package of recent Australian feature films, Embassy Roadshow. Mr Downer launched the package in December 2000. Since March 2001, film festivals held monthly in various locations around the world have screened the films to extensive local media coverage and appreciative, near-capacity audiences. For example, over 2,000 people attended the Embassy Roadshow in Bangkok in June 2001 and, as a result, several local cinema companies have expressed interest in securing screening rights for Australian films and hosting future Australian film festivals.
Another AICC initiative involved the hosting by the department of 129 international dignitaries to performances by Australian artists at the Sydney Olympic Arts Festival during the Olympic Games. This program impressed influential international visitors with the quality, diversity and vibrancy of the Australian arts community.
Centenary of Federation
The department used the Centenary of Federation to promote Australia internationally by highlighting our significant achievements over the past 100 years. Posts used the Centenary to promote Australia in a variety of ways, and some key overseas posts received funding from the National Council for the Centenary of Federation, for major projects. A collaboration between the Council, the Australia Council and the High Commission in London resulted in the highly successful 'Australia Week' in July 2000 in the United Kingdom, which comprised a series of major commemorative events and a program of contemporary Australian arts, HeadsUP Australian Arts 100. Posts also provided considerable support to the London to Sydney Air Race 2001, which passed through 15 countries on the former 'Kangaroo Route'.
Expo 2000 in Hanover The department managed the Australian pavilion at World Expo 2000 in Hanover from 1 June until 31 October 2000, working closely with Austrade, the Australian Tourist Commission and a number of State and Territory Governments, particularly the Queensland Government (see also administered item). Our approach combined image projection and tourism promotion with a trade and investment development agenda. The Australian pavilion attracted over 3.5 million visitors, or about one in five public visitors to Expo—a record for any Australian pavilion at an Expo. Over $2.5 million of Australian-made merchandise was sold in the Pavilion shop. A program of targeted industry seminars generated very high levels of German business interest, particularly in environmental and energy technology, automotive industry, education and food and beverage. Feedback from visitors, including to the business seminars, confirmed that the pavilion successfully expanded public perceptions of Australia beyond the traditional images to include a better appreciation of the technological innovation and sophistication of Australian industry, science and the arts. This was intensified by the attention focused on Australia during the Olympics, broadcasts of which were played on a giant screen mounted on the main façade of the pavilion. The arts program, which featured a wide range of performing artists and video imagery, was acclaimed by visitors and the Expo organisers as one of the most innovative and interesting on site. |
Australia and Asia: people-to-people links
The Australia–China Council (ACC) awarded six outstanding young Australian graduates its inaugural Young Business Scholars in China scholarships at a function organised by the Australia–China Business Council in Melbourne in June 2001. The scholars will study a six-month course at the University of International Business and Economics in Beijing from September 2001. The ACC aims to equip these scholars, who all speak Mandarin, with skills and work experience in China that will enhance their prospects of a career in Australia–China business relations. The ACC is working closely with the Australian business community in Beijing to ensure the scheme's success.
The ACC, for the first time, offered a Beijing residency award in 2001. The ready-to-use apartment provides a base for Australians in China to develop projects related to China and encourages ongoing contact between Australians and Chinese in fields that will enhance the relationship, such as the arts, scholarship and business. Difficulty in finding suitable furnished accommodation at reasonable cost has hindered many Australians wishing to undertake projects in China.
In October 2000, the ACC sponsored the 7th Biennial International Conference of Australian Studies in China. ACC members delivered papers on topics ranging from public art in Australia to electronic delivery of education and Australia's links with China at the time of Federation in 1901. The quality and quantity of the papers delivered by the Chinese students and academics demonstrated how Australian Studies had diversified in recent years from the study of Australian literature to economic, gender, and social issues, globalisation and Australia's strategic place in the region. The Council currently sponsors 11 Australian Study Centres across China, a network that has increased awareness of Australia in China. Changes to the funding arrangements will allow the Council to increase the number of centres having access to Council funds.
The Australia–India Council (AIC) supported a wide range of projects in Australia and India, promoting bilateral contact and understanding as well as helping to expand links in commerce, health and social issues, environment, education, the arts, law and governance, sport, and news media and film. Major new projects supported by the AIC included disaster management, sustainable mining and water resource management, teacher and journalist exchanges and activities in competition policy, aquaculture farming development, early childhood education and community health and paediatric HIV health care.
The AIC's activities generated considerable favourable publicity and feedback, contributed to wider recognition in India of Australian capabilities, and assisted Australian access to key sectors of India's economy. The AIC's role in supporting "second-track" activities complemented and supported the Government's broader objective of enhancing bilateral relations with India.
The Australia–Indonesia Institute (AII) supported a large number of projects designed to expand broad-based community links with Indonesia. The annual youth exchange program provided for extended visits in both directions by young Australians and Indonesians. The AII also supported a teacher exchange program with Indonesia. The program, now in its second year, helped Australian and Indonesian primary and secondary teachers and teacher educators develop expertise and school curriculum materials about each other's culture and society.
The Australia–Korea Foundation (AKF) generated favourable publicity in Korea by sponsoring the Janganpa Aboriginal Dance Group to the Changmu International Dance Festival, Korea's sole international dance festival for indigenous and experimental dance. The AKF also sponsored a well-attended exhibition of Korean ceramics, Earth, spirit, fire: Korean masterpieces of the Choson dynasty, shown at both the Queensland Art Gallery and the Powerhouse Museum. The exhibition was an official event in the Sydney 2000 Olympic Arts Festival.
The AKF explored new ways of promoting media links between the two countries. As a follow-up to the Australia–Korea Media Forum in 1999, co-sponsored by the AKF and the Korea Press Foundation, the AKF has introduced a program of sending Australian journalists on study visits to Korea. The first journalist on the program visited Korea in June 2001.
The AKF is updating the content and upgrading the technology associated with its multi-media study kit, Investigating Australia. Aimed at informing young Koreans about the everyday life of their counterparts in Australia, the kit was launched in 1999 and has been distributed to 3,000 secondary schools. One element of the kit has also been translated and incorporated in a Korean secondary school social studies textbook.
The department's work with the Australia–Japan Foundation is reported under outcome 1, sub-output 1.1.2 and 1.2.1. The Foundation's annual report is presented to Parliament before 31 October each year.
Australia–South Pacific 2006 program
Building on the highly successful sports component of the Australia–South Pacific (ASP) 2000 program, the department continued to oversee Australia's sporting infrastructure assistance to regional states and territories through the ASP 2006 program. We worked closely with the Australian Sports Commission, which manages a substantial part of the program on behalf of the department. Posts in the region also played a key role in identifying appropriate sports development projects.
Australia–Asia Sports Linkages Program
Funding for the Australia–Asia Sports Linkages Program, a departmental initiative to provide sports development assistance in South and South-East Asia, concluded at the end of the financial year. The program, which operated in 11 countries, focused on developing sport at the community level; promoting sports opportunities for disabled athletes; and providing training assistance for potential Olympic and Paralympic competitors. It made a significant contribution in these areas, while also highlighting Australia's expertise in many areas of sport. The program has led to a number of commercial opportunities for the Australian sports industry, including in Singapore and Vietnam.
Television service to the Asia-Pacific
At the direction of the Government, the department sought proposals for the establishment of an enhanced television service to the Asia-Pacific region to project accurate images and perceptions of Australia. The Government subsequently announced that the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) would be funded to establish a regional television service, subject to the finalisation of an agreement with the ABC for the operation of the service.
The Sydney 2000 Olympics provided a unique opportunity to inform and influence international public opinion about Australia on a massive scale. The department played a key role in capitalising on that opportunity by working closely with the Sydney Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (SOCOG) and other agencies to coordinate support for visiting dignitaries and international media representatives. In particular, we assisted visiting media to project an accurate image of Australia, including its foreign and trade policies.
We advanced Australia's foreign and trade policy interests through the production of targeted public affairs material, briefings for international media representatives and media presentations at the Sydney Media Centre in the lead-up to and during the Olympic Games. These activities resulted in increased understanding and awareness of these issues by international media and resulted in positive coverage including of Australia's trade, tourism and economic potential.
We provided extensive assistance with the entry, handling and security of visiting dignitaries, access to ministers, the provision of federal hospitality, and foreign and trade policy issues management. In addition, we put in place arrangements to enable the diplomatic and consular corps to perform their functions appropriately during the Games.
Many overseas posts hosted opening and closing ceremony events to promote the Games and Australia. Overseas posts also helped with Australian cultural events around the world under the Olympic Arts Festival banner. In cooperation with Australian immigration, customs and quarantine agencies, overseas posts took part in a campaign to inform Olympic visitors about entry requirements to Australia and to brief local media representatives. We also co-hosted, with Austrade, Business Club Australia bilateral 'networking' sessions, which brought together government and business representatives from Australia and 14 key trading partners during the Olympics.
The department's successful management of the Government's involvement in the running of the Oceania leg of the Olympic torch relay also generated considerable interest and goodwill in the Pacific and contributed significantly to the positive publicity Australia received in the region in the lead-up to and during the Olympic Games.
Olympic Virtual Media Centre
A dedicated Internet site was developed to complement the services of the Sydney Media Centre and to help visiting media during the Olympic and Paralympic Games. This site recorded almost 240,000 hits and approximately 9,000 visitor sessions from July to November 2000 when the site was closed. The site provided current news, features and background information on major Australian economic, scientific, social and sporting themes, and an email service for media to seek responses to specific questions.
To promote Australia effectively to the large number of foreign media representatives visiting Australia before and during the Olympics, the department became a lead partner in the establishment of the Sydney Media Centre, a state-of-the-art media service centre located in the Darling Harbour precinct. The centre, which operated from June to October 2000, was a joint initiative between the Commonwealth and NSW governments, with additional private sector sponsorship. Providing a coordinated service in a convenient location for all media, the Centre covered over 3,000 square metres of floor space and included 96 workstations, a media conference room to seat 500 people, a 50-seat briefing room, help desks, phone and Internet access, commercial services, and photographic, broadcast and catering facilities. In the lead-up to and during the Games, approximately 3,500 individual media representatives visited the centre, while a further 1,500 registered via the centre's website. During September 2000 alone, more than 55,000 separate visitor entries to the centre were recorded. In cooperation with 25 federal agencies, the department coordinated a program of around 40 media conferences and presentations on a wide variety of subjects, including trade and investment, indigenous and multicultural affairs, the environment, science and technology, the arts and sport. Departmental officers at the centre handled more than 300 media inquiries in September and provided journalists with practical and timely information on sources and story ideas. We provided a range of public affairs material, including publications, stock television video and still images. In a commissioned survey of 126 journalists, almost all respondents considered the centre to have been an important source of story ideas and information. More than half felt that the information and media briefings had changed or extended their stories in some way. The professionalism of staff and the facilities were highly rated. Media monitoring by overseas posts revealed almost universally positive coverage of Sydney and Australia over the Games period and an improved understanding of Australia in the international media. |
Freedom of Information and archival research and clearance
Freedom of Information
The department met our obligations under the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 1982, processing 73 applications (an increase of 33 per cent on the previous year). While not all requests were met within the statutory deadlines, either because those few cases were extremely complicated or there was a need to retrieve documents from overseas, the department revised procedures to ensure applicants were kept informed of progress in handling their requests. Three complaints requiring departmental action were made to the Ombudsman, all of which were resolved. Two appeals against departmental decisions were made to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal; these have not yet been heard.
Table 7. Requests processed under the Freedom of Information Act 1982
1998–99 |
1999–00 |
2000–01 |
Requests for information | |||
Access granted in full |
10 |
9 |
22 |
Access granted in part |
33 |
31 |
41 |
Access refused |
1 |
3 |
5 |
Requests transferred or withdrawn |
6 |
12 |
5 |
Total |
50 |
55 |
73 |
Requests subject to review or legal appeal | |||
Subject to internal review (s.54) |
1 |
3 |
7 |
In Administrative Appeals Tribunal (s.55) |
1 |
0 |
2 |
Ombudsman* |
0 |
2 |
3 |
* Only three referrals to the Ombudsman required action by the department.
Privacy Act 1988
The department received no complaints in relation to the Privacy Act 1988.
Archival research and clearance
Departmental records more than 30 years old are available for public access under the Archives Act 1983. Highly classified departmental records are referred by the National Archives for expert assessment of sensitivities relating to intelligence, security, defence or international relations.
During the year under review, the department assessed 675 files for public or special access. Of these, 460 contained at least one exemption each on national security or international relations grounds. There were no appeals.
Table 8. Files assessed for international relations sensitivities before release to the public under the Archives Act 1983
1998–99 |
1999–2000 |
2000–01 |
Records received |
894 |
509 |
657 |
Records completed |
655 |
659 |
675 |
Number of folios |
142,709 |
142,867 |
136,109 |
Open access |
131 |
168 |
182 |
Released with exemptions |
517 |
490 |
460 |
Subject to review |
34 |
0 |
10 |
Subject to appeal |
0 |
0 |
0 |
In September, following the publication of Australia and the Indonesian Incorporation of Portuguese Timor 1974–1976, 317 records relating to East Timor in the period 1974 to 1976 were released, wholly or partly, ahead of the 30-year rule.
We answered 458 requests for historical and administrative information from public and official researchers.
Table 9. Requests for information processed
1998–99 |
1999–2000 |
2000–01 |
Requests for Information |
Public |
213 |
189 |
207 |
Official |
258 |
265 |
269 |
Special access |
50 |
18 |
16 |
Total |
521 |
472 |
492 |
Historical documents publications
The department completed a documents volume, Australia and the Indonesian Incorporation of Portuguese Timor 1974–1976, which Mr Downer launched at Parliament House in September 2000, attracting wide publicity and considerable media and academic interest. Some 1,200 copies of the Timor volume were distributed to overseas posts, libraries and academic institutions, as well as being sold commercially.
The department's Centenary of Federation history, Facing North: A Century of Australian Engagement with Asia, has been split into two volumes. Volume 1, covering the period from 1901 to the 1970s, has been cleared by the Advisory Committee to the project and will be launched later in 2001. The draft of Volume 2 is in progress.
The library made approximately 9,000 loans and fulfilled approximately 1,300 reference requests during the year. Enhanced services such as the provision of a monthly 'Management Abstracts' paper led to requests for access to 142 articles appearing in the abstracts.
The archives unit supervised the sentencing of more than of 1,000 metres of files in Canberra and more than 210 metres overseas.
The financial and staffing resources summary for outcome 3 is at Appendix 2.
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Recipe of the Month: Greek-Style Chicken and Roasted Potatoes
This is our second,"Recipe of the Month" featured on our content partners website, Cars Travel Food. To see this post on their site, click here: http://www.carstravelfood.com/2012/05/21/recipe-of-the-month-greek-style-chicken-and-roasted-potatoes-low-calorie-and-bursting-with-flavor/.
To view the recipe here on Skinny Kitchen, click here:http://www.skinnykitchen.com/recipes/greek-style-chicken-and-roasted-potatoes-low-calorie-and-bursting-with-flavor/
If you haven't tried it yet, you are in for a delicious treat!


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Page 1 of 4
Filmmaker Sajid Khan, who is currently busy with the post production work of Housefull 2, has already proclaimed that he is all set to give the likes of Asin the biggest hit of their career.
On Day One of the shoot of Housefull 2, Sajid Khan gave every cast member a personally written letter that states among many things something to the effect of 'Welcome to the biggest hit of your career'.
Asin, for one, admitted to getting this letter, and stated that it would be great if Housefull 2 does as well as Sajid Khan says it would and goes on to beat all previous records. In fact, Sajid Khan has gone on to tell all that it's 100-crores that he will clock with this movie.
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Friday, August 15, 2008
Hell in Contemporary Literature
J.C., who writes the N.B. column on the back page of the TLS, is renowned for his wicked, witty and acerbic sense of humour. So it was with some suspicion that, in reading through back issues of the supplement recently, I approached his coverage of 'the Nicholas Mosley Award for the most inadvisable book title of 2007-08'. Sure enough, Googling its title only brings up another blogger's speculation as to the award's existence, which looks almost certainly to be one of J.C.'s inventions. What's best about the whole thing, however, is the seemingly unlikely titles of the award's shortlisted contenders, including Foreskin's Lament: A memoir by Shalom Auslander, Shut Up He Explained by John Metcalf, and Random Deaths and Custard by Catrin Dafydd, with previous winners including How To Shit in the Woods by Kathleen Meyer and Pox Americana by Elizabeth Fenn.
Too ridiculous to believe? Well, though the award may not, all of these books do actually exist. No, seriously. Go and check for yourself. Foreskin's Lament is a real - and assumedly quite gritty - memoir, recounting a boy's upbringing in an 'ultra-Orthodox Jewish community in New York' and, in adult life, his deliberating as to whether or not he should have his son circumcised. Random Deaths and Custard, on the other hand, is a much more lighthearted affair: a novel that centres around a young woman who lives in Wales, works for a custard factory which is, you guessed it, imaginatively called Custard's, and whom everyone thinks is a lesbian. Oh yes. You can't make this stuff up. Although, at least in the latter case, apparently you can.
For me though, the icing on the thoroughly bizarre cake was J.C.'s mention of a little textbook called Hell in Contemporary Literature, an entry that, along with Steve Penfold's The Donut: A Canadian History, was unfortunately 'considered by the judges but fell at the last hurdle'. As it goes, Hell in Contemporary Literature, a book which 'addresses the subject of 'Hell' as a trope problematically deployed in contemporary reportage of terrorism and acts of war', is in fact by a former university lecturer of mine, Rachel Falconer. Whilst an undoubtedly interesting textbook, then, it just goes to show that becoming enveloped in any writerly project to the detriment of obtaining good critical distance can often produce, if nothing else, some hilarious results.
Monday, August 11, 2008
Regina Spektor
I've been listening to Regina Spektor again recently, whose album Begin To Hope briefly catapulted the self-styled 'Bronx girl by way of Moscow' into the limelight a year or so ago; 'Fidelity' and 'On the Radio' getting a decent amount of mainstream radio airplay. But on reflection, I think I'm still a bigger fan of her EP, Soviet Kitsch, which feels less polished and rougher round the edges, all soaring vocals and inventive piano coming to together to create both heartfelt and frequently surreal narratives. The song above, then, is taken from Soviet Kitsch, and includes a wonderfully bizarre montage video that reminds me of some of the Smashing Pumpkins better ones, not least 'Thirty-Three' and the excellent 'Tonight, Tonight', inspired by Georges Méliès' silent film A Trip to the Moon.
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If getting your toddler to brush her teeth was not a challenge enough, choosing what toothpaste to use is another issue all parents face. Pediatricians recommend that kids' teeth or rather gums be cleaned from the beginning. Once the milk teeth erupt it is advised to start brushing using a soft bristle brush without toothpaste.
A child aged 18 months or 2 years can brush their teeth with toothpaste. Since most toddlers have not mastered the technique of spitting at this age, it should be understood that some of the toothpaste might be ingested by them.
Some of the important things parents need to keep in mind while choosing a toothpaste:
Fluoride : Most toothpastes are fortified with fluoride to fight cavities but too much of fluoride can cause fluorosis. Fluorosis is staining of teeth with brown or white stains doe to excessive fluoride. Since small kids don't always spit out the toothpaste properly, it can be ingested into their system. Therefore one should perfer using non-fluoride toothpastes for kids. If you must use a fluoride toothpaste for kids, ensure that they use no more than a pea-size of the toothpaste.
SLS (Sodium Laruyl Sulfate) : SLS is an ingredient in many common toothpastes but in kids it can cause mouth ulcers. So steer clear of any toothpastes with SLS in them.
Abrasives: Lots of toothpastes today contain abrasives in them to clean plaque and help take food stains away. But these abrasives can prove to be quite harsh for small kids so make sure that their toothpaste contains only low or mild abrasives.
Flavour: Most kids toothpastes comes in either fruity or bubblegum flavor. Some flavours might be stronger for your child and they may not like it. My daughter can never use the bubblegum flavour of any toothpaste it is just too tingly for her. Fruity flavours work best for her. It might be a case of trial and error for you to find out the perfect toothpaste flavor for your child.
The top 5 kids toothpastes in India are Colgate kids, Pepsodent Kids, Pigeon, Chicco and Mee Mee.
A Comparison of Top 5 Kids toothpastes in India
Brand | Non-Fluoride | SLS and Abrasives | Flavours | Price |
Brand | Non-Fluoride | SLS and Abrasives | Flavours | Price |
Colgate | No | Contains SLS | Strawberry and Bubble Fruit | Rs 47 |
Pepsodent | No | Contains SLS | Strawberry Care, Fruity Princess and Fruity Soccer | Rs 49 |
Pigeon | Yes, Fluoride Free | No SLS and Sugar free too | Orange and Strawberry | Rs 100 |
Chicco | Yes, Fluoride Free | Contains Low Abrasives | Apple & Banana and Strawberry | Rs 179 |
Mee Mee | Yes, Fluoride Free | Sugar Free, No SLS | Strawberry, Bubble Fruit and Orange | Rs 75 |
So next time you go to buy a toothpaste for your child just remember the above points and make the best choice. Keep your little ones' pearly whites shining and healthy. If you know of any other popular kids toothpaste brands, do let me know through your comments.
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