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An exciting Level 3 programme in Hair Extension Services which will provide existing hairdressing trainers with specialist skills to teach pre-bonded and micro-ring hair extension systems.
The course will run over 4 days, the available course dates are as follows:
2012 Course Dates:
Course: 21st, 22nd, 23rd October and 25th November
2013 Course Dates:
Course: February 24th 25th 26th and 7th April
Course: April 21st 22nd 23rd and 2nd June
Course: July 28th 29th 30th and 1st September
Course: September 29th 30th, 1st October and 3rd November
- A Level 3 VTCT Certificate in Hair Extension Services
- Advanced and specialist skills in teaching pre-bonded and micro-ring hair extensions
- Advanced trainer/teacher/assessor skills.
- The course to be delivered in a reputable hair extensions training organisation
- Candidates will have access to a bank of existing models
- Candidates will have access to some of the best products and equipment on the market
- Course delivery and assessment by one of the most experienced trainers and assessors in the hair extension industry, who will share the following:
- Their own wealth of knowledge, experience and skills
- Provide training hints and tips
- Demonstrate best practice in delivering hair extensions courses.
- Appearances and live demonstrations from guest artists working in the hair extension industry and key hair extension product manufacturers
- VTCT Lifetime Registration (please advise if you already have this).
- Must have NVQ Level 3 hairdressing qualification or equivalent and at least 5 years working in the hairdressing industry
- Must be existing hairdressing trainers or people who want to be trainers in Hair Extensions and/or deliver hairdressing extension qualifications
- If you are interested in the course but feel you do not quite meet the course entry requirements, please still register your interest with us so we can consider you for future courses.
If you are interested in the course but feel you do not quite meet the course entry requirements, please still register your interest with us so we can consider you for future courses.
The next step!
Do not delay and apply now as places are limited!
Please send a letter of application clearly outlining your experience, skills and knowledge in hair extensions, along with your updated and most recent CV to firstname.lastname@example.com to be considered. Alternatively, call our sales team today on 0845 6 123 555.
Further course information
- Lunch and refreshments included
- Delegates will pay their own travel and hotel accommodation expenses
- A hair extension kit must also be purchased to be able to carry out case studies and prepare for final assessment between course dates to ensure competency.
Further information will be provided on enrolment.
Michelle Griffin Academy Ltd
30A Hewell Road
Barnt Green
Click for bigger map and directions


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Welcome to zFacts! Fair, Not Balanced.
If one side is fanatical or just plain wrong, balance is no virtue. ZFacts takes on the extremes — left and right. We focus on facts the shed light on key issues, not just media factiods.
Why Two-Year College Makes More Sense than High School
Jan 18, 2015. So Republicans think free public community college is a waste of money, but they're still OK with high school. (Next the Tea Party will want to charge for that too.) But providing education the way Obama proposes will be more cost-effective than high school. First, it gets rid of everyone with a C+ average or lower. So we're not paying for those who aren't getting anything out of it, and we're getting rid of the trouble-makers and [Read more...]
1 Year of Free Community College = 12 days of Iraq War
Jan 17, 2015. Obama proposes free community college for students with just over a C+ average or better. This could cost up to $60 billion over 10 years. Most Americans favor this but the Republicans say we can't afford it. Let's put that in perspective. Bush II and the Republicans thought it was worth $800+ billion (133 years of community college for America) to install the pro-Iranian Nouri al-Maliki as Pres of Iraq, so he could kick us out of Iraq (unless US troops submitted to Iraqi law—as bad as Sharia) and then let the ISIS flourish. [Read more...]
Would MoveOn Rig Its Own Voting?
Dec 18, 2014. MoveOn just voted 81% to 19% to pit Elizabeth Warren against Hillary Clinton in the primary. But members were given only 24 hours to discuss and decide how to vote, and the ballot consisted of a strong but entirely one-sided argument for voting yes. What do we think of governments that only allow one side to have a say? And who would have guessed that [Read more...]
Michael Moore continues to help the Tea Party
Dec 17, 2014. Moore just tweeted, "Cuba 1, USA 0. Congrats on winning." and "Cuba's pissy whiny neighbor grows up. Thank u Obama." Hate radio and the Tea-Party are loving it, as well they should. It will offend most, and polarize America as much as any right-wing talk show host. Those of us who want a kinder and more peaceful nation need to speak out against those like Moore, who sabotage our efforts (remember he backed Nader, who threw the election to Bush). [Read more...]
CIA torture did not lead to bin Laden — Senator John McCain
Dec 9, 2014. In May 2011, John McCain made his own investigation into the claim that CIA torture produced the information that led to finding bin Laden. He went straight to the CIA and was told the claim and the "facts" that supposedly supported it were false. [Read more...]
George Bush: "I've said to the people: we don't torture."
Bush, Dec 8, 2014 |
Dec 9, 2014. In 1988, Reagan signed the United Nations Convention Against Torture, which stated that torture could never be used under any "exceptional circumstances, whatsoever." When doing so he concluded by saying, "By giving its advice and consent to ratification of this Convention, the Senate of the United States will demonstrate unequivocally our desire to bring an end to the abhorrent practice of torture."
George Bush understood that this is how the American people feel about torture, which is why he felt compelled to say "This government does not torture people. We stick to US law and international obligations." (Fox news clip, 0:52, "Oct 5, 2007). [Read more...]
Why Schumer Attacked the Affordable Care Act
Schumer messaging |
Dec 7, 2014. For his party, it made no sense, but for Schumer, it did. Everyone from Krugman to the Republicans has pointed out that NY Senator Schumer's attack on Obamacare was wrong and a bit crass. So why did he do it? There's no word on that. So zFacts looked into it. To add to the mystery, Schumer has been the Dems top messaging guy (chairman, Communications Committee) for years. So this was no accident. To figure it out, let's check the timing. [Read more...]
Background Stories
What Went Wrong and How to Win Next Time
Nov 26, 2014. "He was the first black president. Okay, not a bad accomplishment, but that's it, Mr. Obama." Who would say that to the President? McConnell? Limbaugh? The truth will shock you. Republicans have been running on a simple anti-Obama platform for six years. It worked. [Photo: Alison Grimes — Who did I vote for?] [Read more...]
National Debt Graph by President
Oct 24, 2014. When did the National Debt go crazy? Why? Who's to blame? Where is the debt headed? Compared to the US economy, the national debt is smaller than it was after World War II. But, take a look at what could have happened if three presidents had balanced their budgets. [Email the Fact Card] [Read more...]
How Obamacare Tricked the Republicans
Oct 22, 2014. To make sure Obamacare worked and could pass, Obama borrowed the conservatives' plan. So Republicans knew it would work if given a chance. Their only hope was to kill it with politics before it could take root. Too late now. In spite of politics and early computer screw-ups, a last-minute surge pushed it past its target of 7 million on April 1, 2014. But what about cost? [Read more...]
Why the Stock Market Favors Democrats
Oct 20, 2014. Republicans claim Democrats are bad for business, but the stock market disagrees. It rose more than twice as fast under Obama as under Reagan. In fact since Reagan (1981) stocks have gained 13% under Republicans and 450% under Democrats. That's 35 times more, and they had six years less time. [Email the Fact Card] [Read more...]
Unemployment Claims, Lowest in 47 Years!
Oct 18, 2014. The Republicans left Obama with unemployment claims running higher than at any time since Reagan in 1982. Democrats (with the Republicans obstructing) reduced that to its lowest level in 14 years according to the Press. But, compared to the number of jobs, it's at its lowest level since they started collecting data in 1967. [Email the Fact Card] [Read more...]
Who are the Job Creators?
Oct 11, 2014. For at least the last 85 years, since 1929, every time the Democrats took over, jobs were created faster. And every time the Republicans took over, jobs were created slower. Ten times in a row is no accident. And the difference is huge. Why is that? [EMail the Fact Card] [Read more...]

subset: commoncrawl


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On December 9th, 1974, what rocker stopped by Monday Night Football and chatted on-air with Howard Cosell and Frank Gifford? He talked about whether his band would get back together and compared NFL football to rugby. Sadly enough, Howard Cosell was part of the broadcast team for an NFL game six years later and officially announced that the famous rocker had been shot to death. Who is the rocker that stopped by Monday Night Football on December 9th, 1974?
Answer: John Lennon


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Sun, Jul 18, 10 at 18:49
I was wondering what was eating holes in my morning glory and found this guy under a leaf. I had never seen one before. If you haven't seen one, they look like they are crafted of real gold. I was really amazed and ran for my camera.
Golden Tortoise Beetle Just thought I'd share! Lisa |
Follow-Up Postings:
That is one very cool bug and an amazing photo. Thanks for sharing, Lisa! |
- Posted by capecodder z6 MA (My Page) on Sun, Jul 18, 10 at 21:11
Those bugs really did a job on my morning glories last year, only saw a couple of them this year, but it was the rabbits that finished them off this year. Have never seen that gold bug on anything but the morning glories. |
- Posted by cindysunshine 5b (My Page) on Mon, Jul 19, 10 at 1:44
I found that bug on my morning glories earlier this year - I had never seen it either. Thought it was a sequin off a prom dress. They are gorgeous little creatures and seem to really flock to morning glories. |
- Posted by hosenemesis SoCal Sunset 19 USDA (My Page) on Mon, Jul 19, 10 at 2:01
Wow. Stick it with a pin and put it in a box. |
Very cool! I love the way nature does metallic. |
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Children & Youth: Building tomorrow today
As young people mature, the decisions they make have an enormous impact on their families, their communities and our world. But growing up surrounded by poverty, war or in the aftermath of disaster increases their risks and limits their choices.
That's why giving children and youth the right support at this most critical time is essential to building tomorrow's strong, productive communities.
When disaster strikes, young children are especially vulnerable to developing emotional and social problems that can jeopardize their futures. Mercy Corps worked with experts to design our signature Comfort for Kids program that helps children process their trauma and recover through play, sports and art activities. See our expert's recommendations for how parents and caregivers can help children through times of crisis ▸
For adolescents faced with violence, early marriage and interruptions to schooling, we provide opportunities for community involvement, vocational training and life skills development. Our goal is to empower youth in the toughest places to make smart life choices and invest their energy in developing solutions to their countries' biggest challenges.
All stories about Children & Youth
Food for Thought June 18, 2002
Earlier this year, 11-year-old Ibrahim was on the verge of dropping out of the fourth grade. "We were worried," said Alamin Abdirahman, the director of Shitel Elementary School in Shitel, Eritea. "He is a clever student."
Afghanistan: A Class Project Worthy of High Marks June 11, 2002
This is one class assignment that the students in Mr. McElroy's third-grade class at Alameda Elementary School in Portland, Oregon would not mind repeating.
Pioneering Program Begins in Azerbaijan April 16, 2002
Mercy Corps has received funding from United States Agency for International Development (USAID) for the first Child Survival health initiative to be awarded in Azerbaijan.
Generous action makes youth soccer team a winner April 11, 2002
The players on the Wild Green Bananas youth soccer team in West Linn, Oregon did not receive any trophies at the end of their most recent season, but don't tell this group of boys that they aren't winners.
Afghanistan: Giving back by going back April 9, 2002
He comes from a place called Sheen Kallay, or green village, but after fours years of drought there are only small patches of green near the southern Afghanistan hometown of Dr. Mohammad Khan Kharoti.
Afghanistan: A new era begins as Afghan schools reopen March 25, 2002
The first step in the long road to the revitalization of the education system in Afghanistan is being hailed as a great success, but there is a long way to go to expand the educational opportunities for the country's 4.5 million school age children.
Afghanistan: Commentary: Don't miss opportunity to help Afghans' education March 7, 2002
Being a refugee from Afghanistan has often gotten me attention. Since Sept. 11, the level of interest about my life and beliefs has risen exponentially. I am often asked to share my thoughts and experiences with others.
Afghanistan: Nine-year-old boy lends a heart to help Afghans February 25, 2002
When Josh Norville, 9, of Oregon City, Oregon heard a news report about families suffering this winter in Afghanistan he decided he wanted to do something to help.
Afghanistan: From nomad to doctor February 15, 2002
I was born to a nomadic family in Afghanistan. I did not have the opportunity to go school or Madrassa (religious school) when I was young. I was not taught how to read. No one in my family could read or write. We did not enjoy the basic right to literacy.
Afghanistan: Mercy Corps distributes school and hospital supplies in Kabul, Afghanistan February 14, 2002
From the hands of students in Issaquah, Washington to desks of children in Kabul, Afghanistan, a Mercy Corps relief mission is helping to deliver much needed aid while also bringing people together.


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Video Description
Hollywood has a magical attraction to anything that has to do with the end of the world and for good reason - it makes for an extremely cinematic situation filled with conflict. But the comedy genre hadn't seen any apocalyptic goodness and the first movie releasing which will change that is the upcoming 'Seeking a Friend for the End of the World' which has a sweet trailer boasting a strong cast. Steve Carrell is excellent as usual and his unusual pairing with Keira Knightley will make this interesting to watch for sure. The main plot might be predictable but the end of the world twist makes it fresh again. Plot - Steve Carell and Keira Knightley star in the comedy Seeking a Friend for the End of the World, which marks the feature directorial debut of screenwriter Lorene Scafaria. Set in a too-near future, the movie explores what people will do when humanity's last days are at hand. As the respective journeys of Dodge (Carell) and Penny (Knightley) converge, the two spark to each other and their outlooks – if not the world's – brighten.
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Seeking a Friend for the End of the World Movie Info
Director: Lorene Scafaria
Genre: Drama, Comedy, Romance
Language: English
Certification: TBA
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Hotels in Innisbrook
From luxury resorts to small design hotels and cozy inns, there are an infinite number of great places to stay in the world, including hotels in Innisbrook. Browse our travel guide and get Travel + Leisure's picks for the best Innisbrook hotels—all-inclusive resorts, design hotels, remote lodges, vacation rentals, and more. Our international team of editors and writers handpicks the top Innisbrook hotels, helping travelers discover the most popular places to stay in Innisbrook, and the most memorable.
Whether a boutique hotel with luxury amenities, a wilderness lodge, a cool rental home, or a country inn fit for your budget, Travel + Leisure highlights the best of the best. From affordable beach resorts and cozy inns to high-tech hotels and kid-friendly all-inclusive resorts, these Innisbrook hotel listings will help you find just the right place to spend the night during your visit. Below find Travel + Leisure's top spots for where to stay in Innisbrook.
1 - 1 of 1 Results
Innisbrook Resort & Golf Club
PRICE RANGE:It's all about golf at Innisbrook, a resort on 900 acres just five miles east of Florida's Gulf Coast beaches. Since 1990, the 600-room all-suite p... More
Explore hotels in The Tampa/St. Petersburg Area for more options.
1 - 1 of 1 Results


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Book your room at Island House
Deluxe, Two Queen Beds
Max Occupancy: 4 guests (up to 3 children, 3 infants)Studio, Kitchenette (1 King and 1 Queen Bed)
Max Occupancy: 5 guests (up to 4 children, 4 infants)Basic Suite, 2 Bedrooms, Refrigerator & Microwave
Max Occupancy: 5 guests (up to 4 children, 4 infants)Suite, 1 Bedroom, Kitchenette
Max Occupancy: 5 guests (up to 4 children, 4 infants)Standard, One Queen Bed
Max Occupancy: 2 guests (up to 1 child, 1 infant)Art Deco Miami Beach hotel in Art Deco Historic District, walk to Art Deco Welcome Center
Located in Art Deco Historic District, this hotel is within a 15-minute walk of Anchor Shops, Art Deco Welcome Center, and Lummus Park Beach. Miami Beach Cinematheque and The Wolfsonian Museum are also within 10 minutes.
Nearest Transport Options
Nearest Airports
Hotel Features
Concierge services, multilingual staff, and a front-desk safe are available at this smoke-free hotel. Continental breakfast is free.
Room Amenities
All 24 rooms offer refrigerators, premium bedding, and TVs with cable channels. Guests will also find hair dryers and free toiletries.
Information missing or incorrect? Tell us!


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Calivita Shop
Discount offer on Detox Patch
The main ingredients of the formula are different plant extracts (gingko biloba, green tea, and blueberry) that besides their antioxidant properties are known for their many other effect beneficial for the body. It also contains vitamins and trace elements, which further enhance its antioxidant effect, and support our health as well.
Calivita, a Lifestyle
CaliVita is an international company with its head office in the United States, growing dynamically worldwide and popularizing, by means of its latest products aimed for health, a new quality lifestyle in the world.
CaliVita International is a significant player in the European food supplement market. Each of their products are developed to meet the highest scientific standards. The products' ingredients are formed according to the latest scientic research results adjusting to the demands of our age. Products are made in the United States with the latest and most up-to-date technology. Their quality insurance guarantees that the products live up to most strict regulations, which are demanded in the drug production industry as well. All ingredients come from natural sources. In case of a larger dose, all products continuosly absorb ensuring an optimal ingredient level in the body. The chemical forms of the ingredients give guarantee to the appropriate usage.
The company Calivita produces and sells a wide range of nutritional supplements, most of them unique in the world:
Nutritional supplements based on herbs;
Nutritional supplements for weight control;
Nutritional supplements for smooth digestion;
Nutritional supplements with vitamins;
Nutritional supplements with minerals and trace elements;
Nutritional supplements - antioxidants;
Nutritional supplements for detoxification and increase of body immunity;
Other nutritional supplements.
Short History of Calivita® International
The company`s founder is Gerry G. Hargitai;
In Europe, Calivita International was officially registered in 1991;
The head office of Calivita for Western Europe is in Rotterdam and for Eastern Europe, in Budapest;
Calivita International owns all the stages of the manufacturing process for its products, starting with cultivation of raw materials and up to testing and selling the products;
Tthe raw material cultures that are the source of the nutritional supplements Calivita; the research lab and the company`s head office are in Pharmington and Plainville, USA.
In 2004, the company`s sales in Europe increased with 110%, despite competition on this market, and they continued to increase until now, the company being the most famous food supplements company on the European market for a decade now.
The nutritional supplements Calivita have the following features:
Are 100% pure, and they are manufactured from ecological cultures in unpolluted, monitored, controlled and protected environments.
Have a chelated structure, the composing minerals being interconnected through long chain of amino acids, therefore optimising intestinal absorption.
They are not drugs.
They have no secondary effects.
They do not contain: sugar, salt, colouring and synthetic preservatives.
They are obtained from 100% natural sources.
They create no addiction.
They are obtained through modern processes of extraction and combination.
The nutritional supplements Calivita have the medical certifications from the authorized bodies:
The certification from the Food and Drug Administration in the USA. (F.D.A.) – being considered the toughest worldwide institution for the certification of food and health products; a certification is issued following prior studies and detailed tests, during a period of 10 – 12 years. Few companies may boast about owning this certification.?
The acknowledgements of specialised bodies specific to each country where the products Calivita are sold.
According to statistics in the USA, 1 of 3 people use natural therapies, out of which 1 to 2 family physicians prescribe them, and courses are taught about knowing and using them in about 90 out of 125 medicine faculties.
The proportion quality-quantity-price, a good reason to choose the nutritional supplements Calivita
Each bottle of a Calivita product contains a sufficient product quantity to complete the first cure stage. Considering the cost of each bottle, the quantity of tablets or capsules contained, as well as the concentration of active substance, the price of the Calivita products is low as compared to similar pharmacy products.
The nutritional Calivita products may be delivered in all European countries, but in other countries, too. For more information, please contact us. For orders exceeding EUR 200, the transport is free of charge.
The Calivita products may be bought both at consumer and club prices, which is 23% lower than the consumer price. Besides, Calivita allows you to establish your own success business!
The natural products Calivita are nutritional supplements and require no medical prescription!
They may be administered together with other cures, and we recommend you to carefully read the prospectus before administration.
These products don't replace a diversified dietary.
The date of expiry of the Calivita natural products is indicated in the American system. According to this system, the figures standing for the date indicate the month and the year.


text: Product ReviewsOverall rating: Posted By: LynneAnne727 verified customer Cute beadsJune 18, 2012 These are cute beads. I purchased 2 of them and made a pair of earrings with them. I added 2 green Swarovski Crystal bicones to the top of the beads with gold filled 2mm beads. I love the AB polka-dots on them. They're great to use on a bracelet since they're smooth and comfortable on your wrist. Click here to review this product (Reviews are subject to approval) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||


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Latest News
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With these stylish straight leg jeans in his collection, he'll be ready to head out on the highway (or just around the house) on his trusty scooter. Great for pairing with tough graphic tees and lived-in Western shirts, these new classics are finished with five-pocket styling, a zipper fly, a snap button, and adjustable stretch tabs inside the waist.
Department: Children'sStyle: LKS35001


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Local government (council) elections
State government (Queensland) elections
Election funding - registered political parties
Election funding - candidates
When and how claims are made
Disclosure - registered political parties
Disclosure - associated entities
Disclosure - candidates
Disclosure - third parties and entities making gifts (donors)
Disclosure - broadcasters
Disclosure - publishers
Auditing of returns
Public inspection of returns
Funding and disclosure handbooks
Funding and disclosure forms
The Local Government Electoral Act 2011 (linked to the Queensland Legislation website) governs the financial obligations for candidates and third parties who take part in Local Government elections. The electoral commission publishes a handbook to assist candidates and third parties.
Nomination deposits are refunded to eligible candidates, those who poll 4% or more of the vote or are elected, after the end of the disclosure period (30 days after polling day) and once their disclosure return is received by the electoral commission.
Candidates at a Local Government election and entities or persons with an obligation to disclose as a third party for an election (this term includes persons or entities that gave gifts of $200 or more to a candidate at that election) have an obligation to lodge a disclosure return with the electoral commission within 15 weeks after polling day. Click here for a Local Government candidate's disclosure form. (This form can be completed on line but must be printed for signature and lodgement) Click here for a Local Government third party disclosure form.
There is no specific time frame within which the electoral commission must make Local Government election disclosures available for inspection. Disclosures are being published progressively after they are received. Click here to access the disclosure returns posted. Candidates who are elected or poll more than 4% of the vote are entitled to a refund of their nomination deposits. Refunds can be processed at the end of the disclosure period once a disclosure return is given to the commission. Use Form QLG04 Registration of EFT Details for Nomination Refund.
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The Electoral Act 1992 provides for financial disclosure by candidates, third parties and registered political parties—
A registered political party may claim election funding for all elections held on the same day if, in relation to a candidate who the party endorses in an election, the total number of formal first preference votes given for the candidate is at least 6% of the total number of formal first preference votes made in the election.
Election funding is calculated as reimbursement of actual electoral expenditure to a maximum entitlement being the product of formal first preference votes and the relevant election funding amount.
A candidate may claim election funding if their formal first preference vote is at least 6% of the total formal first preference vote in the election.
A Candidates' Funding and Disclosure Handbook is available from the commission.
To be paid election funding, agents of candidates and registered political parties must submit a claim in the approved form to the electoral commission. Claims must state all electoral expenditure for which election funding is sought and be given to the commission within 20 weeks after the polling day.
Registered political parties must use QFD14 Claim for Payment of Election Funding. Candidates may opt to use the same form or combine their claim with QFD09 Return by a Candidate following an Election and Claim for Election Funding. Candidates must give the commission a return even if they opt to use a separate claim form. These forms are made available after an election result is final (QFD14) and at the end of the election disclosure period (QFD09).
An EFT Details Registration form for payment to a nominated account may be completed and given to the electoral commission.
Agents of registered political parties must give the electoral commission an audited disclosure return for each financial year. These returns must be given to the commission within 16 weeks after the end of a financial year; i.e. by 20 October. A certified copy of the return that the party has given the Australian Electoral Commission to fulfil its obligations pursuant to the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 is acceptable, however it must be accompanied by an audit certificate.
Audited returns must be in the approved form and state—
Financial controllers of associated entities must give the electoral commissison an audited disclosure return for each financial year within 16 weeks after the end of a financial year; i.e. by 20 October.
Entities which make gifts, including fundraising contributions and gifts in kind, of more than the gift threshold amount to the same registered political party (includes associated entities and related political parties) must give the electoral commission a return within 20 weeks after the end of the financial year disclosing all gifts made to a registered political party during the reporting period.
Reporting periods are each financial year.
A third party for a State election is any entity other than a candidate, registered political party or an associated entity (of a registered political party). It may be an organisation or an individual.
Third parties incurring expenditure for a political purpose at an election, including entities making gifts to candidates, must give the commission a return within 15 weeks after polling day disclosing gifts more than the gift threshold amount.
Agents of candidates, or the candidate if there is no agent appointed, must within 15 weeks after polling day give the electoral commission an audited return in the approved form stating—
Each broadcaster which for an election broadcasts an advertisement relating to the election with the authority of a participant in the election must within 8 weeks after polling day give the electoral commission a return in the approved form stating—
Each publisher of a journal which for an election publishes an advertisement relating to the election with the authority of a participant in the election must within 8 weeks after polling day give the electoral commission a return in the approved form stating—
Publishers are not required to give a return if the total charge made by the publisher for the publication of advertising relating to an election does not exceed $1,000.
Disclosure returns by registered political parties, associated entities, candidates and third parties must be accompanied by an auditor's certificate.
An auditor cannot be, or have ever been, a member of a political party and must satisfy one of the following qualification or experience criteria—
The electoral commission may also conduct its own reviews and investigations related to returns lodged and entitlements claimed under the Electoral Act 1992.
Some amounts that form part of the State's funding and disclosure scheme are indexed annually on 1 July. These include the gift threshold amount and the election funding amounts applicable to candidates and registered political parties. A policy development fund is fixed by regulation.
Amounts applicable to the 2014/15 financial year are:
Returns for a financial year are available for public inspection at the commission's office and on this website five working days after the return is given to the commission.
All election returns are available for public inspection at the commission's office and on this website 24 weeks after polling day.
Registered Officers and Agents of Registered Political Parties (Last updated 19 September 2014)
Associated Entities (of Registered Political Parties) (Last updated 23 September 2014)
Candidates and their Agents (Last updated 2 September 2014)
Third Party (Last updated 3 September 2014) includes donors to candidates and registered political parties
Registering a Political Party (Last updated 15 September 2014)
Broadcasters (Last updated 29 September 2014)
Publishers (Last updated 29 September 2014)
A fundraising contribution means an amount paid by a person as a contribution, entry fee or other payment to entitle that person or another person to participate in or otherwise obtain a benefit from a fundraising venture or function. A fundraising contribution of $200 or less is not considered a gift. If a fundraising contribution is more than $200 the first $200 of the fundraising contribution is not considered to be a gift. Section 200 of the Act contains an expanded description of this term.
A gift means a disposition of property made by a person to someone else; otherwise than by will, being a disposition made without consideration in money or money's worth or with inadequate consideration. A gift includes the provision of a service other than volunteer labour for no consideration or for inadequate consideration and uncharged interest on a loan. Section 201 of the Act contains an expanded description of this term.
The gift threshold amount, for the amount or value of a gift or loan, is the dollar amount applying for a gift under the Commonwealth Electoral Act, section 304(5)(b)(ii), as indexed under section 321A of that Act.
A list of downloadable financial disclosure forms is listed below.
QFD01 Disclosure Return - Registered Political Party
QFD02 Disclosure Return - Associated Entity
QFD03A Disclosure of Gifts to Registered Political Parties - Organisations
QFD03B Disclosure of Gifts to Registered Political Parties - Individuals
QFD04 Notice of Appointment of an Agent by a Candidate
QFD07 Disclosure Return - Third Party (Use this form if you made a gift to a candidate or incurred expenditure for a political purpose at an election)
QFD09 Return by a Candidate following an Election and Claim for Election Funding
QFD15 Payment Direction by an Agent or a Candidate
QFD16 Registration of EFT Details for Election Funding
QFD17 Registration of EFT Details for Policy Development Payment
QFD21 Disclosure Return - Publisher
QFD22 Disclosure Return - Broadcaster
QFD25 Request to Amend a Return or Claim
QLG01 Disclosure Return for a Candidate or Group of Candidates (Local Government elections 28 April 2012)
QLG02 Disclosure Return for a Third Party/Donor (Local Government elections 28 April 2012)


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WPCentral meets needs of demanding readers with design update
Our ongoing series featuring Windows Phone design consultations continues this week, and we have an interesting case indeed. We take a look at recommendations given to Jay Bennett, creator of the very popular WPCentral application, which as you might expect has a loyal user base that turn to this resource on a regular basis for the latest details about anything and everything related to Windows Phone.
For instance, back in October, one reviewer (Kristina) of the app in Windows Phone Store had this to say: "It's the first thing I read with my morning coffee. Well worth the price to get rid of ads, too."
While Jay originally created the app by himself, there are several people on the core team from WPCentral, including bloggers and editors who refresh the content on a daily basis.
This app has been around since the beginning of Windows Phone 7 in early 2011, and a big part of the consultation was to help Jay find ways to update the app design from Windows Phone 7 to Windows Phone 8 styles. You can find a good summary about updating design from Windows Phone 7 to 8 online.
"I think there are a lot of different ways you can define design, but ultimately it is about making sure that everything looks really clean, clutter free and fits with the Windows Phone operating system itself,"said Jay. While interaction design also comprises a major part of overall application design Jay recognized that the visual design had become especially "stale" and he was ready for a fresh pair of eyes on the project.
Like our prior consultations, Jay had the opportunity to meet with Dave Crawford,design lead at Microsoft, to get some ideas for ways to enhance the app for its users.
Watch this short video to see the design consultation between Dave and Jay:
"They do have a challenge in that they do have the hardest of hard-core followers behind them, but that is also a strength," said Dave. "They have a really vocal user base that will provide them with feedback. So, they do have a challenge but they have quite an opportunity here, too."
Recommendations for improvement
- Update the style of the app's splash screen, perhaps with each new version of the app as a point of reference for the user.
- While the use of various tiles to browse content within the app is useful, the tapping effect (and flip) that had been used is a bit "bling" (as Dave noted); the use of a more sophisticated Windows Phone 8 tilt effect was recommended instead.
- ing a collapsed app bar to better organize the information that is presented on screen.
- Organize the app settings to be more in line with overall OS-level settings, which will then also help to solve issues related to "gesture competition" (details about this topic are in the extended video with Dave below).
How to enhance your Windows Phone apps
Are you ready to enhance your Windows Phone app? Start with this video that shows you the best Tips & Tricks from Dave Crawford when it comes designing apps for Windows Phone:
The Windows Phone Dev Center has information about tile design guidelines, and proper use of the app bar for Windows Phone 8.
Additional guidance for designing great apps is available in the Windows Phone Dev Center within their Design Library. You can also find sources of inspiration in our Design Gallery.
Design consultations are available as rewards from our DVLUP program, including an introductory one-hour consultation with the experts from Toledo Design.
If you want to learn more about Jay, and his work, check out his website.


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Sponsors of PQMRA
Alpenrose Dairy:
The Cadonau Family with Alpenrose Dairy has dedicated significant energy to create a huge playground for children and even us adults. From baseball, to bikes, to Easter Egg Hunts, amazing Christmas activities, and our quarter midget track – Alpenrose Dairy is without question more than a special place. PQMRA is deeply appreciative to Alpenrose Dairy for enabling many generations the opportunity to race for the past 57 years.
Private Donations:
Private donations are extended by members throughout the year that enable us to provide awards to our drivers and support the maintenance of our facility. PQMRA extends great gratitude to each member for their commitment and financial contribution.
Support the Sponsors that make PQMRA possible


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My Headline Grabs
See breaking news stories I'm watching and reading.
See breaking news stories I'm watching and reading.
In surfing, the impact zone is the spot where the wave crashes down over your head. It's a tough place to be, but it's where the power of the ocean is at its most intense. Tech has its own impact zone, the place where emerging technologies meet the market and either disrupt industries or sink without a trace. I covered many of these developments during my decade on the staff of Wired Magazine, and I witnessed their business impact as custom content director at PCWorld|Macworld. Prior to that, I delved into various technologies at a string of specialist publications. I'll report here as the gathering waves in biotech, robotics, energy, entertainment, consumer electronics, and information technology crash against the shores of business and reshape the global landscape.
See my profile »Contributor Since: | October 2011 |


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Each month the Friends name a new Photographer of the Month, and feature his or her virtual album of twelve photos taken at Hagerman NWR on the Gallery.
Here is a complete listing of all who have been named Photographer of the Month:
2015 - Win Goddard
2014 - Jillian Duquaine-Watson, Jesus Moreno, Michael B. Keck, Allen Rich, Terri Barnett, Tom Crews, Laura Cooper, Holly Simone Cantu, Randy Conaway, George Cooper, Hannah Frosch, Amanda Burns
2013 - Pamela Porter, Bob Brown, Lee Hatfield, Charlie Hernandez, John Mead, John Scruggs, Kevin Vaughn, Monica Babin Muil, Maggie Goodman, Brian Kaylor, Diane Varley, Jimmy Thomas
2012 - Ron Varley, Melinda Hill, Becky Goodman, Bert Garcia, Karen Skogsbergh, Marilyn Pickens, Skip Hill, Ben Salisbury, Sally Papin, Tigger Saldy, Drew Foran, Phil McGuire
2011 - Laurie Snidow, BIll Powell, Carol Ann Sowell, Linda Hopson, Wayne Meyer, Laurie Lawler, Miguel Mendoza Munoz, Carl Hill, Lindsey Hill, Diane Lizanich, Carrie Chambers, Corina Garayua
2010 - Laurie Sheppard, Robyn Raggio, Mark McCune, Susan Dilmore, Mike Chiles, Mary Karam, Pedro Alicea, Carole & David Higgins, Denise Stephens, Nancy Miles Miller, Brenda Loveless, Dennis Skogsbergh
2009 - Dana M. Handy, Eileen Sullivan, Cinda Benton, Tony Dean, Jim Gay, Bob and Mary Ann Cummings, Randall N. Lantz, Dick Malnory, Kay Karns, Bill Adams, Chris Jennings, Callie Evans
2008 - Jack Chiles, Rick Cantu, Johnny Beall, Bill Hurst, Kenneth Jeffcoat, Donna Niemann, Michael & Grace Haight, Carol Pfeiffer, Joe Blackburn, Earley Family, Ronnie Barron
Click Photographer of the Month for information on this program
Want to share your Refuge photos? The Friends welcome your photos posted on the FOH Facebook page.
Web page header photos adapted from the following:
Heron in Flight, Phil McGuire; Heron with Fish, Carol Ann Sowell; Heron Standing, Rick Cantu. Page footer adapted from photo by Linda Hopson


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New Century Version (NCV) | New International Version (NIV) |
13 Then Gideon said, "Sir, if the Lord is with us, why are we having so much trouble? Where are the miracles our ancestors told us he did when the Lord brought them out of Egypt? But now he has left us and has handed us over to the Midianites." | 13 "But sir," Gideon replied, "if the LORD is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our fathers told us about when they said, 'Did not the LORD bring us up out of Egypt?' But now the LORD has abandoned us and put us into the hand of Midian." |
Scripture taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. (New Century Version Online Bible) | 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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Study abroad can be an enlightening, maturing and life-changing experience. As students live in and learn to understand a different culture, they are challenged to re-examine themselves, their attitudes and their studies. Salamanca, due to its rich historic, artistic and cultural heritage, is considered one of Spain's most important cities. The mark of civilizations, some of which pre-date the Romans, can be found throughout the city. Many important historical figures passed through Salamanca: the duke of Alba, Meléndez Valdés, Unamuno, Columbus, Cervantes, and the Conde-duque de Olivares. In the field of Art, all the styles have left their most worthy and exquisite mark on this city. The Spanish Plateresque style, of decorative quality and fine execution, offers its most beautiful examples in Salamanca. The city of Salamanca was awarded Heritage of Mankind by UNESCO and in 2002 the city was declared European Capital of Culture.
Pick up a program brochure that includes details on Courses and Faculty, Fees and Program Options, Application and Scholarships:
Application deadline: November 17, 2014
Application procedures
STEP ONE: Attend a Study Abroad Information Meeting to learn more about the program and determine how you will pay for study abroad. If you are seeking Federal Financial Aid, add Citrus College's school code #001166 under colleges on your FAFSA application for 2014-2015 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/
STEP TWO: Complete the Academic Eligibility Application. Schedule an appointment at the MiraCosta International Office to receive the required Study Abroad Coordinator signature.
STEP THREE: Complete online registration and pay program deposit of $350. You will receive the link to the online registration form after receiving the Study Abroad Coordinator's signature on the Academic Eligibility Form.
MiraCosta College
Institute for International Perspectives
One Barnard Drive
Oceanside, California, United States 92056
We are located on the Oceanside campus in room 3443.
P 760.795.6897 (toll-free outside 760 area code: 888.201.8480 x6897. Contact us via e-mail at: email@example.com


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For the 2nd Year, I'm delighted that Enterprise Ireland is taking part in the Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference. The 2012 WPC which takes place in Toronto from July 8th to 12th and provides one of the best forums for companies to connect with Microsoft channel partners and with Microsoft staff, and to learn about the latest Microsoft programs, strategies, and cutting-edge technologies.
You can visit Digital WPC to find everything you need to know about the event.
Twelve to Fifteen Enterprise Ireland client companies are being offered the opportunity to participate in an 'Ireland @ WPC' stand at Microsoft WPC 2012. This is the second Enterprise Ireland participation at WPC and we are keen to build on last year's success.
The Enterprise Ireland subsidised cost of participation at Microsoft WPC 2012 is €2,450 + 23% VAT per company.
Registration includes;
- 1 Full Conference Pass (access to all areas) & Access to Microsoft Connect,
- Stand Participation: Logos on backdrop, flyers on stand, Use of stand & EI PR,
- Channel Partnering Workshop, 7th July
- How to sell to Channel partners
- How to better partner with Microsoft
- Networking Reception for clients, partners and prospects. Monday 9th
- Pre & Post Event Marketing to Press and Attendees
- Advance Assessments (To be completed in April/May):
- International Expansion Readiness Assessment
- Partner Channel Building Readiness Assessment
- Ideal Partner Profile definition template
- Partner Value Propositions definition template
- Competitive SWOT & differentiator's analysis template
The competition for space on the Ireland Stand at this show will be intense so early registration is advised. Places will be allocated to qualified client companies on a first come, first served basis.
You can register at; https://www.eventsforce.net/enterpriseireland/444/register or get in touch with me at firstname.lastname@example.com


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April 17, 2014 If you are feeling thirsty tonight between 5 and 7 pm, stop by Ford Food and Drink and hear about PMLR Art while you're there. Portland-Milwaukie Light Rail Transit Project Public Art and Transit Thursday, April 17, … Continue reading
Category Archives: Uncategorized
ORANGE READ Orange Lining 'Lines' will be Read Aloud from West to East: PSU to Milwaukie April 15, 7pm – 9pm In Other Words Books, 14 NE Killingsworth Street, Portland, OR 97211 The "Figures of Speech" monthly reading series, held at … Continue reading
A new year, and some new photos… These photos were all taken on SE 17th except for the last two, which were taken in Milwaukie. Walking the length of 17th from SE Rhine to McLoughlin, I found quite a few … Continue reading
Sidewalks have been going in along the new light rail line for the past few months. Here are some new photos of stamps. Some of them are still in construction zones, so are not quite accessible to the public yet. … Continue reading
"CROSS THE FREIGHT TRACKS LATTICE OF STEEL AND LIGHT", written by Ayelet Amittay. Stamp is Located on SE Division Place at SE 8th. "I IMAGINE YOU AND HOW I BRUSHED BY YOU WITH WORDS", written by Elisabeth Tschalaer. Located at … Continue reading
Here are a few photos of Orange Lining that has recently been installed. Located just south of downtown Milwaukie, OR on McLoughlin Blvd. … Continue reading
I took a Sunday drive along SE 17th Avenue this weekend to see if any lines had been stamped in the southeast area of the project. Not much concrete has been poured yet in this portion of the light rail … Continue reading
Most of the "Impressed Concrete" installations have taken place on the west side of the Willamette along SW Lincoln St. to this point. The photos below were all taken of stampings between SW Naito and SW 1st on Lincoln. This … Continue reading
A great example of the fleeting and utilitarian nature of the "Art Starts Now" portion of the Orange Lining project, the following line's were installed in Milwaukie along the railroad tracks while a retaining wall was being built east of … Continue reading
Orange Lining text was painted this week near where the new light rail bridge will touch down in SE Portland, just south of OMSI along the bike path. This line of text was written by Elisabeth Tschalaer. … Continue reading


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Fisheye <3 Sensia
The first 6 shots on the roll were shot in 2007 and 2010, the rest all in one day in 2012. The film must've expired over the years. Funny thing is that the first shots on the roll are quite monochrome and purplish, whereas the 'fresh' shots from 2012 have more orange hues.
This photo was shot on film. Taken by desibel with a Lomography Fisheye One (available in our Online Shop) loaded with Fuji Sensia 200 film in Amsterdam, Netherlands. These tags describe this photo: fisheye, fisheye one, fuji sensia, fuji, sensia, xpro, crossprocess, cross, x-pro, amsterdam, desibel, pink, orange, west, philip, boyfriend, vriendje, bellamyplein, bellamy, stadsboeren, cityfarmers, plants, grass, and park. Date: 2012-06-17. Time: Afternoon. This photo can also be found in the album Fuji Fisheye '12.Please login to get more out of this site
You are currently not logged in, do so now to add comments, like articles as well as photos, submit to competitions, translate articles and gain access to unlimited photo upload! If you are not registered yet, go here to find out more about Lomography and join now! If you just want a limited account for now you can use Twitter or Facebook. We would love to have you as a member here!
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Welcome to our Website
Hello, and welcome to our website. We are a volunteer based band serving the communities of Southern Ontario and Western New york. As a non-competeing band we participate in local parades, fund raisers, special events and Legion functions. Our band has been in existance for over 40 years and over those years we have had many exciting and rewarding opportunities as well as making many lasting friendships.
We're always looking for Players
If you are interested in joining us, whether you have never played before or are an experienced musician, there is room for you at 163 Pipes and Drums. We are currently teaching the bagpipes and would like to have you come and talk to us to see if this is for you. There is no charge for lessons only the hope that we will gain another player in the band.
We hold practices on Wednesday nights from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. (pipe tutoring from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. and on Saturday mornings from 9:30 a.m. to 12 noon.
St. Patty's Pub Night
A big thank-you to all the organizations and individuals who donated gifts and their time to make this night a huge success. A special thank-you goes out to "Benson" for his time and talent, he was a big part of our night and was highly recieved by all our guests.
Donations by:
Angels Diner Waterdown, Phil, www.angelsdiner.ca/
Hamilton Tiger Cats, www.ticats.ca/
Angelo Mosca, www.angelomosca.com/
E. Sheehan & Associates, www.protectyourworld.ca/
Jelkel Jewelery, Jenny, www.etsy.com/shop/jelkeljewelry
Barry's Jewelers, Liz & Stellina, barrys.ca/
Hamilton Bull Dogs, Laura: Community Relations Coordinator, www.hamiltonbulldogs.com
Gamma Dynacare Laboratory, 849 Upper Wentworth Unit 100, www.gamma-dynacare.com/
Suds Express, www.sudsjiffy.com/
Plaza Nissan, Michael Wojtowicz, www.plazanissan.com
STREGA Lori-A, firstname.lastname@example.com
Jiffy Lube, www.sudsjiffy.com/
Staples, Joe, Mellisa & Jessica; Copy & Print Center, www.staples.ca
Regal Nails, Pham, 90 Dundas St, Waterdown, Ontario L0R2H2 (905) 689-0008
Christa's Catering, www.christascatering.ca
Five Guys Burgers and Fries Owner/ Operator Gianni Monaco, 1807 Stone Chruch Rd E Unit 6009 905-689-0008, fiveguys.ca/en
Pharmasave, www.paramountpharmasave.com
Best Buy, www.bestbuy.ca/
Hamilton Legion branch 163 (Kim, Murray and Barb),
Sandy & Steve Gray of Waterdown
Jeanette Hines,
Fred & Fay Conry,
Dave & Bev Peck,
Chris & Louise Dunn,
Wally & Pat Eland,
Kathleen Ashford (Helen Ryan),
Debbie Regan-Lovie,
Please, if I have forgotten anyone, please send an e-mail to the band manager and I will post it as soon as I get word.


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Technology and Education are two passions of mine. Most of my work takes place in schools where I work with groups of children and young people discussing their online habits and attitudes. I want to ensure that all young users of the internet have the best possible experiences online. I occasionally work with companies to help them evaluate policies and practice in relation to online safety. If you'd like me to work with your company, your children's school or your family please do get in contact :-)
Linked to this work is the development of the "Milk Teeth Tech" project. This project seeks to develop products that encourage young children to take up healthy and responsible attitudes to technology.
I am currently working with Kidscape (the longest established anti bullying charity in the UK) on the DfE funded Primary Bullying Intervention Training programme. I am working with schools in 9 London boroughs and training professionals to cascade anti bullying strategies to their pupils.
I also curate the content for a *new* Facebook Magazine Page. Developed to respond to a gap in the market, Not just (a mum) provides random and quirky content catering for the needs of time poor, culture hungry women with children.
Outside of work and when I manage to separate myself from the internet I can be found on random road trips to old fashioned seaside towns, attempting a garden makeover and trying to wrestle my iPad away from my two year old son.
I love making new connections so if I have met you at a conference/event please drop me an email and say hi!
Veronica Belmont - about.me user since 2010
"First, customize your page. It's easy and fun to design!"
Hi! I'm currently living in (City), where I work at (Work Place) doing (Job Title). When I'm not working I like to (Hobby), (Interest) and (Passion). Connect with me!
"Next, connect services and send people to your page."
"That's it! Let about.me do all of the work for you."
Showcase a 360 degree view of who you are
Help people find and follow you on your social networks
Be found for new opportunities


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Sign Up
Search this Topic:
Forum Jump
Dec 19 07 3:44 PM
Tags : None
Dec 19 07 5:02 PM
Enlightened: Flute's Of The Chi Style
now go away
Dec 19 07 5:07 PM
Charlie Browniest
Dec 19 07 5:08 PM
Dec 19 07 5:11 PM
Deja Voodoo Chile
Dec 19 07 5:15 PM
Dec 19 07 5:17 PM
poon handler
Dec 19 07 5:18 PM
Papa Zit wrote: remember when alts were clever?
Dec 19 07 5:21 PM
Dec 19 07 5:27 PM
big girl porn lover
if you want some bukake, better call some buddies..
Bukkake (Japanese: ブッカケ) pronunciation (help·info) is a group sex practice that features a man or woman being ejaculated on by multiple men or women.[1]
Theories as to the historical origins of bukkake vary, but one theory is that bukkake was popularized in Japan by Japanese adult video companies during the 1970s and 1980s. The term Bukkake reached a wider audience in the United States through radio host Howard Stern when he mentioned the website Bukkake.com on his nationally syndicated radio program. Controversy arose regarding the meaning of the word when station managers began censoring its use, inadvertently creating more interest.[2]
Some western pornographers also explore this fetish; examples might include the video series German Goo Girls by John Thompson, Baker's Dozen by Brandon Iron and American Bukkake by JM Productions.[citation needed] Gay bukkake and lesbian bukkake have also made appearances in pornographic movies.
Dec 19 07 5:34 PM
(here but not all there)
Dec 19 07 5:35 PM
Pot Cat
Dec 19 07 5:39 PM
Dec 19 07 5:55 PM
Dec 19 07 5:57 PM
stever wrote: im sure you wouldn't have trouble finding volunteers to help you
i tried myspace, i now have 7000 friend invites.
Dec 19 07 6:01 PM
Closet JT Fanboy
Dec 19 07 6:12 PM
fuzebox wrote: stand on your head and wank it till you blow it all over the top section of your body
this may work, im looking for a good thorough coating, my flow is a little light.
Dec 21 07 11:17 AM
Dec 21 07 11:21 AM
crack in me head
ToadAGAIN wrote: I know you are staring at me jerking off, loser! Get yourself comfortable and start stroking that cock because I have a happy ending in mind! First start stroking that little dick slowly for me. Get yourself hard, but not too close. Im going to make you do something for me. You are lucky Im even considering letting you cum and because Im so sweet you will cum only when I let you and the way I tell you to. Now you can get that slut cock harder and stroke it faster but only because you agreed to cum just like I order you to. I see you are so close to blowing that pathetic load so here is what I want you to do. When you are almost ready to cum you must lift your legs high in the air over your head as far as you can get them. Point your sorry ass dick into your face and let that cum rip all over your ugly face, bitch! Its self bukkake. You cum right into your own loser face while I laugh at you! HA! Looooozer!
That would have fit perfectly in this thread.----->http://weendotnetforum16662.yuku.com/topic/7258
Dec 21 07 11:58 AM
5th St. Pigfucker
Share This Link


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"We've got a great bunch of girls. We have four seniors that have been with the program four years and done a great job," praised Lady Wildcat coach Danny Rogers. "We're a scrappy team that has played teams that were taller and bigger almost every time out.
"We finished 22-5 and were undefeated in the district, both in the season and tournament," the retired Polk County superintendent of schools stated. "I've never been prouder of a team."
In the region opener, Polk County ran into the Red Bank buzz saw that later in the evening repaid Chattanooga Central for a five-set loss in the District 6-AA championship match, with a five-set victory for the region crown.
The Lionettes fought off the hosts 25-21, 25-16, 25-12, while the Lady Pounders shut out McMinn Central (11-14) 25-10, 25-11, 25-14 to advance to the region title match.
In the title match, Red Bank (21-24) claimed an exciting 25-18, 21-25, 25-23, 22-25, 15-13 victory over Chattanooga Central (28-12), but both teams advance to the TSSAA Sectional play Thursday evening.
Polk County stayed right with the girls from the foot of Signal Mountain in the opening match as the lead changed hands four times and the score was tied eight times.
After falling behind 7-3, the Lady Wildcats fought back to take the lead with a 7-1 run, that included back-to-back aces by Catie Hughes. Red Bank answered with a 4-0 run, but Polk evened things at 13-all with three straight points.
After the score was still knotted at 19-all, the Lionettes made another run, scoring eight of the final 11 points put on the board in the opener.
Red Bank scored the first seven points of the second set, but once again the scrappy Lady Wildcats clawed back into the contest and pulled within three points behind a 4-0 run led by the serving of Emily Bates. The visitors used a 5-1 run to put some distance between the squads and then wrapped up the set with another 5-1 spurt.
After falling behind 3-0 to open the third set, Polk rallied behind the serving of Brittany Rymer for four straight points, but that would be its last lead of the evening. The Lionettes went on a 12-3 run and never looked back, scoring nine of the last 10 points of the match.
"Volleyball is a game of runs and they had more runs than we did," expressed Coach Rogers. "We had a couple of good runs here and there, but then we'd make a mistake or two and they'd (Red Bank) get the momentum back.
"We started off good in the first set, but then they wore us down as the match went along," the coach added. "Our girls didn't quit, but they (Red Bank) were just too much for us tonight."
Bates finished with 10 digs for Polk, while Rymer collected four kills and dug out four shots. Cecilia Waldroup had a half dozen digs, while Hughes finished with a trio of aces.


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My Account
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Fformat back system - developed solely through our interactions with our test team the Fformat back system delivers an extremely stable and comfortable fit that is optimal for climbing or scrambling. The basis of the system is a malleable metal frame encapsulated by a cross linked EVA closed cell foam. This removable "Fformat" is easily manipulated to customise the fit of the pack, and also to be used as a sit mat or in emergencies (many people have used Fformats as splints). Using raised scapula pads ensures good support and transfer of load energy to the shoulder area and also safeguards overheating of the back. The wrap over harness fits the shoulders and spreads the weight evenly across the chest area by utilising a "naturally curved" sewing construction. Lastly, the hip belt has been specially shaped to allow for maximum load transfer, whilst allowing for total unhindered movement of the legs and pelvis when in motion.
> Rucksack > Karrimor logo > Mitt friendly grab handle > Airmesh back system with removable Fformat frame > Removable hip belt > External hydration sleeve access > 3 point haul system > Easy access gear loops > Protective front print and splash guard zips > Axe loops and retainers > Large main compartment and wand pockets > Extendable lid with zip pocket and key clip > Chest and tension straps > Rope compression strap > Bungee system > Weight: 1450g > Capacity: 35 + 10L > Back length: 59cm Here at SportsDirect.com we have a wide choice of rucksacks.
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Existing Reviews


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Return to Nicholas Johnson Home Page
Published in
Nezavisimaya Gazeta, NG-Dipkurier
(Moscow), March 22, 2001;
Dipkurier Internet, no.10
(30), June 21, 2001;
Johnson's Russia List, no.5180,
April 1, 2001
(available at www.cdi.org/russia/johnson/5180.html)
Something Wicked Comes This
A Sad Story of U.S. Aid
to Russian "Reformers"
Alexander N. Domrin
Russia is slowly coming to her senses after almost a decade of Yeltsin's
rule, if we start counting from the First Congress of People's Deputies
(May-June 1990) which elected Yeltsin its Chairman.
Vladimir Putin inherited a crushed, looted and humiliated country, which
industrial product has shrunk by 53 percent (or about 25 percent more than
in 1941-45, when Nazi Germany was occupying a larger portion of the European
part of the USSR and about 26,5 million Soviet citizens lost their lives),
whose increase in mortality rates (60 percent between 1990 and 1996) has
been "unprecedented in any country during peacetime since Middle Ages"
(Murray Feshbach of Georgetown University, in Washington Post, 12.07.1995),
whose men have a smaller chance to survive to age 60 than under "terrible"
Russian tzars a
century ago, whose population
is shrinking by about 2,500 a day (or approximately 0,5 percent a year),
which has more homeless children today than after the Bolshevik revolution,
and whose role in the world politics has been reduced to a position of
"Upper Volta with nuclear missiles".
This is simply not true when senior U.S. officials are now trying to give
their post-factum (or post-mortem) assurances that the U.S. foreign policy
since the Cold War have included such "overriding goals" as "to work with
Russia internationally" and "to support Russia's effort to transform its
political, economic, and social institutions at home» (Thomas R.
Pickering, Address at Meridian House/Smithsonian Seminar "Russia: Sleeping
Superpower?", Washington, DC, March 28, 2000; text available at:
emphasis is added. AD).
In reality, since Margaret Thatcher's infamous endorsement of Gorbachev
in December 1984 through the latest period of contemporary Russian history,
the Western governments have been promoting a "strategic alliance with
Russian reform" rather than an alliance with Russia herself. A guiding
principle of the U.S. foreign policy was not to support Russia, but to
support "Russian reforms" which "were considered to be critical to U.S.
objectives" (Foreign Assistance. Harvard Institute for International
Development's Work in Russia and Ukraine (Washington, U.S. General Accounting
Office: November 1996),
p.2); not to help Russian
people to overcome consequences of the Communist rule, but "to help Russian
reformers" (Strobe Talbott, Stanford University, September 19, 1997; emphasis
is added. AD) which is not the same.
The position of the IMF was hardly different in that respect from the position
of the U.S. Agency for International Development. Even the most devoted
supporters of "market fundamentalists", as George Soros names Russian "reformers"
("Who Lost Russia?" , The New York Review of Books, April 13, 2000), have
to admit now that the IMF was acting "like another political arm of the
U.S. government" (Testimony of Michael McFaul, "Russia's 2000 Presidential
Elections: Implications for Russian Democracy and U.S.-Russian Relations",
Committee on Foreign Relations, U.S. Senate, April 12, 2000; Johnson's
Russia List, #4247, April 14, 2000).
Only in the earliest period of legal and political reforms in the USSR,
the U.S. national interests ("objectives") coincided with the historical
necessity of the Soviet transition to democracy and the rule of law. As
soon as the slogan "Down with Article 6" (Communist Party hegemony clause)
and (never realized) slogan "All Power to the Soviets" catapulted Yeltsin
and radical "democrats" to power, the correlation between national interests
of the U.S. and Russia became less evident. With disintegration of the
USSR and especially after the initiation of liberal economic "reforms",
turning Russian into a mineral appendix of Western corporations and throwing
Russia in her social and economic development into the group of third-world
countries, the values of the Russian transition to the rule of law were
finally forgotten and supplanted by the interests of the ultimate economic
and political subordination of Russia.
It's hard to believe that some of the most eloquent American observers,
really think so, when they say that Russia's socioeconomic collapse was
"largely unanticipated" or that deindustrialization of Russian economy
was an "unintended consequence" of liberal "reforms" (Thomas Graham, "Putin's
Russia. Why Economic Reform Requires Political Support. Reflections on
U.S. Policy Toward Russia", 9 East European Constitutional Review 1-2 (Winter-Spring
2000)). Warnings about inevitability of such collapse and about suicidal
character of monetarist experiments with Russian economy were repeatedly
voiced by the Russian Parliament already in 1992-93 and became one of the
main reasons of its violent dissolution by President Yeltsin. Dissolution
which was unconditionally supported, if not encouraged, by the Western
community" in general and
by both branches of the U.S. Government in particular.
As it was later cynically explained by an American scholar, if the "international
community" gives its support to a "traditionally undemocratic act", as
it did in Russia in September 1993, then this act is actually "democratic",
albeit "unconstitutionally democratic" (Donna R. Miller, "Unconstitutional
Democracy: Ends vs. Means in Boris Yeltsin's Russia", 4 Transnational Law
& Contemporary Problems 2 (Fall 1994), p.876). The conclusion itself
is a complete rejection of Clinton Rossiter's classic legal formula: "Even
if a government can be constitutional without being democratic, it cannot
be democratic without being
constitutional" (Clinton
L. Rossiter, Constitutional Dictatorship: Crisis Government in the Modern
Democracies (Princeton University Press, 1948), p. viii)).
The day after Yeltsin's issuance of his notorious anti-constitutional Decree
1400, Rep. Steny H. Hoyer (D-MD) admitted that Yeltsin's decree was "technically
speaking" "illegal" but insisted that Yeltsin "acted in the spirit of democracy
by breaking the letter of the law". However, the "primary reason for continued
Western backing for Yeltsin", in Hoyer's words, was not even that he "acted
in the spirit of democracy", but that "Yeltsin is explicitly pro-American,
pro-Western, pro-market", whereas the Parliament "has accused the West
of seeking to undermine and weaken Russia" and "opposes Yeltsin's privatization
According to the Congressman, "it is imperative" "for our own interests",
that Yeltsin's government "implement necessary reforms and keep Russia
on a pro-Western track" (Yeltsin Moves to End Chaos - Hon. Steny H. Hoyer
(Extension of Remarks), Congressional Record, 22.09.1993. P. E2219). The
question whether this was "imperative" for the interests of Russia was
not asked.
The same day Senator Claiborne Pell (D-RI) welcomed "the swift, unequivocal
show of support that the Clinton administration has shown for President
Yeltsin's move to consolidate democratic reform in Russia" and appealed
to the Senate to vote for $2.5 billion in "assistance" to Russia and other
former Soviet republics in order to "to show the reformers in the NIS that
we are in their corner" (Support for Democratic Reform in Russia, Congressional
Record, 22.09.1993. P. S12239). Thus again, the senator unambiguously demonstrated
that U.S. aid was intended not for Russia and the countries of the region,
but for the
The speeches and proposals of Rep. Hoyer and Sen. Pell were quite typical.
Another prominent Congressman, Rep. Gerald B. Solomon (R-NY), for instance,
expected that the new Federal Assembly "would almost certainly be
more democratic [in a letter to President Clinton of October 26, 1993,
Solomon even said: "far more democratic". - AD] and friendly to the West
than the previous parliament", "truly representative", and concluded that
the December 1993 elections "have a direct bearing on our
national security and should
be treated as a top foreign policy priority by the administration". "The
democrats are in desperate need of outside assistance", Solomon said, "We
believe it is imperative for the West to provide as much assistance as
possible to democratic candidates in Russia", and called on Congress to
"divert from existing programs whatever resources necessary to achieve
the objective of ensuring" victory for the reformers in Russia (Elections
in Russia. - Hon. Gerald B.H. Solomon (Extension of Remarks), Congressional
Record, 26.10.1993. P. E2534, E2536).
At least one expectation of Rep. Solomon came true: the new Russian Federal
Assembly did in fact become a "truly representative parliament", but...
without most of those "reformers".
The list of similar speeches on the Capitol Hill and in the White House
in the days of Yeltsin's constitutional coup of September-October 1993
could be continued, but what is really important for us is an open recognition
by the U.S. officials of not only a possibility but a desirability of use
of American "aid" as an instrument of interference into Russian internal
U.S. support for such undemocratic and anti-constitutional decisions as
the violent dissolution of the Russian federal parliament, closure
of regional legislatures throughout Russia, and suspension (for about 18
months) of the Constitutional Court made it clear better than ever before
that despite its verbal assurances in its interest to see Russia as a prosperous,
respected and democratic "partner", the U.S. government was quite satisfied
with making her a client state controlled by a dependent semi-criminal
authoritarian leader, "corrupt but friendly drunk", as Yeltsin was later
described by The Washington Post.
It's highly indicative that it was in 2000 only when the former Secretary
of State James Baker publicly appealed to the U.S. "leaders" to finally
"recognize that Russia will have its own foreign policy, independent of
our" (James A. Baker III, "Repairing Relations with Russia", The New York
Times, February 05, 2000). Yet, Baker contradicts himself when saying that
new "Russian leaders" [read: Putin. - A.D.] allegedly "reject 'partnership
and friendship'" with the West. This statement, just like a similar Thomas
Graham's lament that "a constructive U.S.-Russian partnership now appears
a distant dream", is not convincing, because a "partnership" with Russia
was never an issue. In fact, Graham recognized it himself in his testimony
before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (April 12, 2000) when saying
that "the Administration's earlier talk of 'strategic partnership'
created expectations in Russia that we were never prepared to meet" (Johnson's
Russia List, #4244, April 13, 2000).
The new Russian Constitution is usually more favorably viewed by Western
experts than similar constitutions of some other former Soviet republics.
It is claimed that "the Constitution of the Russian Federation created
a true federation", that after the adoption of the constitution in December
1993 "all basic civil rights" exist in Russia "not only in theory as they
did in the past, but in practice as is true in western democracies", and,
finally, that "the Constitution of the Russian Federation creates a genuine
western democracy" (Ronald C. Monticone, "A Brief Comparative Analysis
of the Russian Constitution". In: Constitution of the Russia Federation.
With Commentaries and Interpretation by American and Russian Scholars (Lawrenceville,
VA: Brunswick Publ. Corp., 1994), p. 7, 9, 14.). The 1996 Constitution
of Belarus, on the other hand, is usually seen as not meeting "democratic
standards of human rights", granting "sweeping powers" to President and
establishing "dictatorship" and "totalitarian state".
The problem is that often correctly criticized Lukashenka's Constitution
of Belarus (see, e.g., Presidential Powers and Human Rights under the Draft
Constitution of Belarus (New York: Lawyers Committee for Human Rights,
October 1996)) is just a stronger version of Yeltsin's Constitution. If,
for instance, according to the Russian Constitution the decision on President's
removal from office must be adopted by a vote of two-thirds of the total
membership of each chamber of the Federal Assembly, and the whole impeachment
process is to be accomplished within three months after filing the
charge against him
(Art. 93), the Constitution
of Belarus has the same provision regarding voting in the lower chamber
(House of Representatives), but raises the threshold for the Senate to
three-quarters of its total composition, and limits the time frame to one
month (Art.88). Yet, the Russian Constitution provides for five stages
in the impeachment process (including participation of both the Supreme
and Constitutional Courts of Russia) which makes the process more time-consuming,
whereas the impeachment process in Belarus is to be accomplished in four
stages without involvement of the Constitutional Court. In practical terms,
however, the Constitutions of both countries make their Presidents technically
The real reason why Western official figures and, what is more regrettable,
many foreign experts react so differently to these constitutions can be
explained mainly by the fact that one of them was endorsed by an "explicitly
pro-American, pro-Western, pro-market" president, whereas the other one
was introduced by a more independent national leader, which is a sufficient
reason for the U.S. mass media to label Alexander Lukashenka as "stupid",
"paranoid", "with Neanderthal views" (Chicago Tribune, Editorial, March
29, 1997), "the Stalinist leader of Belarus", and even "an open admirer
of Hitler" (The New York Times, "Russia and Its Tyrant Neighbor" (Editorial),
August 25, 1997). That's about a leader of the Nation where every fourth
citizen was slaughtered by Nazis...
U.S. official support to the dissolved Belorussian parliament and orchestration
of anti-Lukashenka's "active measures" from overseas (see, for instance,
the U.S. State Department Press Statement "Belarus: Deputy Secretary
Talbott Meets With Belarusian Opposition Leaders" of February 4, 2000;
text available at: http://secretary.state.gov/www/briefings/statements/2000/ps000204a.html),
on the one hand, and, at the same time, demonization of the Russian Supreme
Soviet as "nationalist-Communist bloc" ("Russia Without Rules" (Editorial),
The Boston Globe, September 23, 1993), a "nationalist, crypto-Soviet opposition"
(Celestine Bohlen, "An Old Georgian Story: Dancing with the Devil", The
New York Times, October 24, 1993), "a band of Communist apparatchiks" (William
Safire, "On Dying Hard", The New York Times, September 30, 1993), a "band
of Communists and fascists" ("Detours to Russian Democracy" (Editorial),
The Boston Globe, September 30, 1993), and even "communist fascists masquerading
as parliamentarians" (Thomas Oliphant, "Another Clash with the Beast",
The Boston Globe, October 6, 1993) bespeaks of a policy of double standards,
which is quite typical for the U.S., but hardly healthy for democratic
developments in both Russia and Belarus.
The participation of American consultants in the Russian presidential election
of 1996 once again illustrated that proud words of U.S. officials about
the necessity of strict observance of laws in a law-governed state and
about "the promotion of democracy as a key feature of American foreign
policy" (Strobe Talbott, Deputy Secretary of State. Address at All Souls
College, "The Crooked Timber: A Carpenter's Perspective". Oxford University,
January 21, 2000; text available at:
are very easily forgotten when the U.S. national interests - at that moment,
preservation of "our horse", as Ambassador Strauss
called Yeltsin, and "our
best man in Russia", as Russian President was named by Brent Scowcroft
back in 1992, in power - are at stake.
Although there is no reason to overestimate the role of Richard Dresner's
group in Yeltsin's victory in 1996, what is really important, is the practical
lesson given to us in Russia by the U.S. consultants, their attitude to
legal norms and political "necessity". As revealed by Dresner himself,
he was on a regular basis reporting about the work of his group in
Moscow directly to President Clinton's aide Dick Morris. When asked, "if
he had any compunction about the extent to which the Yeltsin campaign was
violating election spending laws by many orders of magnitude, Dresner's
answer was 'No', because "Yeltsin was for democracy, and whatever it takes
to win is OK" (see Jonathan's Weiler's report about a panel discussion
at Duke University "Designing Boris Yeltsin's Victory" (March 26, 1997)
featuring Richard Dresner, in Johnson's Russia List, March 29, 1997).
According to a well-informed American observer, the U.S. Embassy was expecting
pro-Yeltsin falsifications in the 1996 presidential elections and "warned"
the Moscow US AID Mission to keep a "distance from monitoring efforts that
might actually uncover fraud" (Sarah E. Mendelson, Western Assistance and
the Development of Parties and Elections in Russia (Democracy and Rule
of Law Project, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Fall 1999;
text available at:
p. 30, 31)).
Clearly, the end justifies the means.
A similar approach was used in the activities of at least two of the US
AID-funded programs aimed at "developing parties and elections" in Russia:
those of the National Democratic Institute (NDI) and the International
Republican Institute (IRI). Overall, according to US GAO, between 1992
and 1997 those programs received $17.4 million, as a series of US AID grants,
to "help reformist political parties strengthen their organizational structures
and their role in elections" (US GAO report, 1996, p.37). Needless to remind
of the disastrous defeats of radical "democrats", the main consumers of
the US AID "assistance", in every
parliamentary elections
in Russia since 1993.
In the summer of 1995, the US AID Moscow Mission commissioned a report
to analyze the "effectiveness of U.S. government assistance to the Russian
Parliament" (on file with the author). An independent expert evaluated
the three main AID-funded programs working with the Russian Federal Assembly:
those of NDI, IRI, and of the U.S. Congressional Research Service (CRS).
The report revealed that the activities of the NDI and IRI were based on
favoritism. It found that "most efforts" by both
the NDI and IRI "were channeled
to the education and training of staff workers and MPs in the Vybor
Rossii" (Russia's Choice) faction" (p.12). Yabloko was not forgotten either.
A former NDI program officer in Moscow has admitted lately that in the
1990s, Yegor Gaidar and Grigory Yavlinsky "appeared to favor trips to the
West vastly more than they did trips to the regions" (Mendelson,
The same report also concluded that "some of the IRI activities have been
marked by unsystematic and over-demonstrating style" (p.11), and that the
seminars of NDI and IRI "leave an impression of some political show rather
than profound regular work" (p.21).
Ironically, the group of approximately 3,000 "reformist-minded political
activists" trained by the U.S. programs in 1992-96 also included Vladimir
Putin ("trained" by NDI), who is now described by Michael McFaul, since
1990 an NDI consultant in Moscow himself, as someone who "may turn out
to be Russia's Milosevic", someone "willing to use the power of the state
and ignore the democratic rights of society in the pursuit of his objectives",
whose election as a new Russian President was not a "positive step" for
the U.S. interests in Russia (Testimony before the Senate Committee on
Foreign Relations, April 12, 2000;
Johnson's Russia List, #4247,
April 14, 2000).
Although certain aspects of the CRS program were criticized as well, overall
the CRS record was recognized to be "much better because all of its activities
are actually connected with the parliament as such" (p.20). As stated by
Duma authorities, "within one year of cooperation with the CRS, the Duma
has been equipped with modern technologies for 10-15 years ahead" (p.18).
According to a Federation Council respondent, "cooperation with the CRS
resulted in the unique computer network having no analogues even in the
executive structure" (p.19). Equally important is the fact that when in
the December 1995
parliamentary elections
none of the "reformist" parties, except Yabloko, cleared the 5-percent
threshold to bring its members to the Duma (by the party lists), the NDI
and IRI lost about 90 percent of their contacts in the Federal Assembly,
whereas CRS, whose credo was to work on an unbiased and non-partisan basis
with all factions and committees in the Russian Parliament, maintained
all their contacts.
Paradoxically, it was the low-budget ($2.5 million) CRS Program which was
abruptly stopped by the U.S. authorities in 1996, whereas multimillion
NDI, IRI and similar Western programs still promote the "reform-minded
liberals" in Russia and train "pro-Western, liberal-minded political activists
following strategies developed in Western capitals" (Mendelson, p.4, 5).
Interruption of the CRS-Russian Federal Assembly Parliamentary Program
became a part of a more general U.S. policy aimed at circumventing Russian
parliamentary processes (see, e.g., Peter Stavrakis, State Building in
Post-Soviet Russia: The Chicago Boys and the Decline of Administrative
Capacity (Kennan Institute for Advanced Russian Studies, Washington, 1993);
Peter Stavrakis, "Bull in a China Shop: US AID's Post-Soviet Mission",
3 Demokratizatsiya 3 (Fall 1995); Janine R. Wedel, "Clique-Run Organizations
and U.S. Economic Aid: An Institutional Analysis", 4 Demokratizatsiya
4 (Fall 1996); Janine R.
Wedel, Collision and Collusion:
The Strange Case of Western Aid to Eastern Europe, 1989-1998 (New
York: St. Martin's Press, 1998)).
When it became apparent that the new Russian Federal Assembly was as resistant
to the experiments of "bolshevist monetarists" (Peter Stavrakis) with Russian
economy as the disbanded Supreme Soviet, U.S. "assistance" to Russia gave
precedence to decree-making over long-term legal institutional development
in the country. Much of the work of Western consultants and USAID-funded
programs has gone towards executive decrees rather than parliamentary legislation.
According to the US GAO, just one AID-funded program - the Harvard
Institute for International Development (HIID) in 1994-96 alone drafted
"hundreds of decrees". As explained in the GAO report, "HIID supported
the use of decrees because it believed
that they advanced reforms""
(US GAO Report, 1996, p.46).
The energetic work of the program came to a sudden end in May 1997, when
after a thorough investigation US AID came to the conclusion that key HIID
players in Moscow (Andrei Shleifer and Jonathan Hay) having "gained influence
over nascent Russian capital markets", had "abused the trust of the United
States government by using personal relationships ... for private gain",
and canceled the 58-million dollar Harvard project. The Wall Street Journal
drew the attention of its readers to the fact that "the Harvard men had
been assigned to promote, among other things, Western ideals of fair play"
(Carla Anne Robbins &
Steve Liesman, "Harvard
Men Built Market, But Didn't Steer Clear of It", The Wall Street Journal,
August 13, 1997).
Another stunning defeat of radical "reformers" in the Russian parliamentary
elections in 1999, Putin's decisive victory in the presidential campaign,
which is viewed by most observers as the end of "revolutionary changes"
in Russia, and election of a new Republican President in the U.S. will
inevitably make it necessary for the new U.S. Administration to reevaluate
the results of its policy in Russia in the 1990s and outline a blueprint
for the next decade. The very first statements of U.S. President-elect
Bush about the necessity to reduce the role for the United States in financial
aid for Russia (The New York Times, January 15,
2001), got a positive response
in Moscow. In the words of the Duma Speaker Seleznev, "we are tired of
corruption and of our criminal leaders, who have concluded transactions
to Russia's detriment" (RFE/RL Newsline, January 15, 2001).
Whereas the programs of American assistance to dismantlement of nuclear
weapons in Russia, as well as cultural, scientific and educational exchanges
between our countries, should definitely be maintained and further developed,
continuation of the U.S. reliance on a narrow circle of pro-Western liberal
intelligentsia and "agents of democratic change" (Michael McFaul) in Russia
proves to be wasteful, eventually counter-productive for the U.S. interests
and detrimental to the goals of long-term institutional legal
and democratic development
of Russia. U.S. aid to Russian "reformers" should be stopped by the U.S.
Administration before it's interrupted by the Russian Government!
On the other hand, a working group of experts of the Russian Council for
Foreign and Defense Policy (see its report on "Russian-American Relations
at the Turn of the Century": http://www.svop.ru/doklad23_3.html) formulated
its concept of "small deeds", where the "benefits are obvious for both
sides while avoiding sharp issues", as the most adequate, in the present
circumstances, form of mutually beneficial U.S.-Russian cooperation. The
assistance aimed at strengthening the system of
checks and balances in the
Russian constitutional mechanism, and programs of cooperation with those
branches of the Russian government, whose position was undermined under
Yeltsin, may at least partly counterbalance the authoritarian character
of superpresidential Constitution of Russia. A new full-scale project that
would use the experience and continue the work of the CRS-Russian Federal
Assembly Parliamentary Development Program (1994-1996), and extension of
programs of technical
assistance to the Russian
judicial reform (including the Supreme Court and Cnstitutional Court of
Russia), together with a significant effort aimed at development of legal
education in Russia (first of all in the regions), should be seriously
considered. In the long run, impact of such programs on Russia's transition
to the rule of law will prove to be more significant than just a
"small deed".


text:
Young's Literal Translation (YLT) | New International Version (NIV) |
15 stedfast [is] the word, and of all acceptation worthy, that Christ Jesus came to the world to save sinners -- first of whom I am; | 15 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners--of whom I am the worst. |
Young's Literal Translation is in the public domain. (Young's Literal Translation - The 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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