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650 Refurbished computers have thus far been placed at smaller NGOs, clinics, missions and other causes that work with the poor. The recipient organisations are situated in South Africa and in neighbouring countries. Another 390 Pentium 4 computers were recently donated to The Papillon Foundation for refurbishment and we need funding to assist with the refurbishment and placement of the computers at worthy causes. Please help us to help the poor.
What is the issue, problem, or challenge?
Many smaller NPOs, NGOs, PBOs and other worthy causes in the country are struggling to perform their work due to a lack of finances for proper infrastructure. Communication and access to information remains a problem for these causes and it affects their ability to deliver quality services to the poor.
How will this project solve this problem?
As computers are the future, Papillon has already assisted many of them with refurbished computers and also effective computer literacy training, that has certainly assisted to open many new doors for them. There are millions of poor people in the country and we simply have to try our best to help as many as we can. Assisting organisations that work with the poor is a sure winner, as so many more people can benefit from improved service delivery.
Potential Long Term Impact
The long term benefits of this project speaks for itself, as a part from improving the causes communication systems, we are also setting up satelite community computer training centres in the affected communities. Quality information becomes available to deserted areas which can only lead to community improvement.
Funding Information
This project has been retired and is no longer accepting donations.
Additional Documentation
This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).


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There have been a few great posts in the last couple of weeks about building software factories. Jezz Santos and Edward Bakker have been posting a series of articles titled Factories 201 to take people beyond the basics. To date, they have posted on the following:
Not in this series, but in a similar vein, is Daniel Cazzulino's post Building Software Factories Today. It's great to see so many people using and building software factories, especially when they share their experiences with the community.
Tom Hollander from Patterns and Practices put together a nice list of articles regarding Software Factories:
Tom Hollander's blog mentions a Software Factory Building Roundup: There have been a few great posts

subset: commoncrawl


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State Approaches to Prescription Drug Abuse
Members of the National Governors Association Health and Human Services Committee discussed state efforts to combat prescription drug… read more
Members of the National Governors Association Health and Human Services Committee discussed state efforts to combat prescription drug abuse. Governor Bentley of Alabama in his remarks emphasized the need for prescribers to be more educated about abuse because the problem starts with them. He also described legislation in his state to make it a crime for those who "doctor shop." Governor Shumlin of Vermont told stories to back up his belief that treatment waiting lists do not work, and a new revolutionary proposal in his state that would change how the judicial system would treat certain abusers.
"Battling an Epidemic: State Efforts to Combat Prescription Drug Abuse" was a session of the National Governors Association 2014 Winter Meeting, held February 21-24. close
*The transcript for this program was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.
People in this video
- Robert Bentley M.D. Governor Alabama
- Mary Fallin Chair National Governors Association
- Bill Haslam Governor Tennessee
- John W. Hickenlooper Vice Chair National Governors Association
- Frederick Isasi Director National Governors Association->Health Division
- David Quam Director National Governors Association->Federal Relations
- Brian E. Sandoval Governor Nevada
- Peter Shumlin Governor Vermont
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Governors talked about jobs and economic growth. They discussed economic challenges at the state level, including…
Jobs and the Economy
Governors from throughout the U.S. discussed employment trends in states, growth opportunities, and the changing…


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Originally written on We Talk Fantasy Sports | Last updated 4/4/13
I was getting ready to go to bed, and checked twitter like I always do, when I came across a bunch of tweets looking for Jose Bautista. He was replaced by Rajai Davis for what most fans believed was a defensive replacement, but was no where to be found when the Blue Jays celebrated on the field their first win on the season. Twisted ankle for @joeybats19 landing on the bag at first base. Removed as a precaution. Minor injury, say #Bluejays #Jays— Mike Wilner (@Wilnerness590) April 5, 2013new TWTR.Widget({ version: 2, type: 'search', search: 'Jose Bautista', interval: 30000, title: '', subject: '', width: 500, height: 300, theme: { shell: { background: '#050173', color: '#ffffff' }, tweets: { background: '#ffffff', color: '#444444', links: '#040e7d' } }, features: { scrollbar: true, loop: false, live: false, behavior: 'default' } }).render().start();
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Shawn Russell Cooper, 29, of the 3400 block of Mill Green Road, was charged Friday with third-degree burglary and vandalism less than $500.
A caller in the 1600 block of Poole Road reported July 29 someone stole something overnight.
A caller in the 800 block of Chance Court reported July 30 someone stole a trailer.
A caller in the 2400 block of Bradenbaugh Road reported July 31 someone stole multiple items.
A caller in the 4300 block of Joshua Court reported last Wednesday someone trespassing in the yard.
A caller in the 3100 block of Queens Castle Court reported Friday someone slit a tire.
Mikael Stephen Lingwai, 21, of the 1700 block of Deep Run Road, was charged July 29 with possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.
A caller in the 4400 block of Flintville Road reported Aug. 2 someone making harassing phone calls.
White Hall
Nicholas Patrick Bauer, 27, of the 3000 block of Bradenbaugh Road, was charged July 30 with failure to display license to uniformed police on demand, driving in violation of restricted license requirement, driving while his license and privilege were revoked, driving while his license and privilege were suspended, failure to display registration card on demand, negligent driving, failure to obey properly placed traffic control device instructions, driving while impaired by alcohol, driving while under the influence of alcohol, failure to return and remain at scene of accident involving attended damage, failure of driver in accident involving damage to furnish required identification and license, failure of driver in accident to exhibit license and failure of driver involved in accident to give insurance policy information.
A caller in the 4900 block of Jolly Acres Road reported July 29 someone stole equipment.
A caller in the 4900 block of Jolly Acres Road reported July 31 his girlfriend kicked a window out of the house.
Other reports
Joshua Chavez, 21, of the first block of Horseshoe Drive in Waterbury, Conn., was charged Tuesday with theft between $10,000 and $100,000.
Tayvon Michael Banks, 24, of the 100 block of Hillside Avenue in Waterbury, Conn., was charged Tuesday with theft between $10,000 and $100,000.
Kyle Y. Banks Jr., 19, of the 300 block of East Avenue in Bridgeport, Conn., was charged Tuesday with theft between $10,0000 and $100,000 and possession of marijuana.
Chelsea Maye Morrison, 25, of the 100 block of Ontario Street in North East, was arrested Tuesday on a bench warrant in a case in which she was charged with forging private documents, theft scheme between $1,000 and $10,000 and issuing a false document.
Victor P. Sorrentino, 56, of the first block of Old Ruhl Court in Freeland, was charged Tuesday with violating a protection order.
Christopher Allen Carter, 28, of the 200 block of East Telegraph Road in Airville, Pa., was charged Monday with second-degree assault, fourth-degree burglary and vandalism less than $500.


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Best Engineering Schools In KoreaJune 26, 2015 - Don't agree with the list? Vote for an existing item you think should be ranked higher or if you are a logged in, add a new item for others to vote on or create your own version of this list.
The Top Ten
1Seoul National University
4Hanyang University
5Yonsei University
6Pusan National University
7Kyungpook National University
8Korea University
It's the best uni in s Korea. I wish to study there.
9Inha University
10Chungnam National University
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Two From Two For Shane In MSS Security V8 Supercars Challenge
Two poles translate into two wins for quick Kiwi, as Mark Fattore reports.
Shane Van Gisbergen's impeccable front-running form in the MSS Security V8 Supercar Challenge at the 2014 Formula 1® Rolex Australian Grand Prix continued in Friday's second race.
His tried-and-tested formula for success at Albert Park produced a second consecutive victory from pole position as he fended off early pressure from fellow-Holden Commodore drivers Craig Lowndes and Fabian Coulthard before settling into a pace and rhythm that kept him at the sharp end of the 25-car pack.


text: Tennis Warehouse Equipment Men's Women's Improve Have an Account? Log In 1.800.883.6647 WTA ATP 0 Items $0.00 Checkout Learning Center Mailing List TV Schedule Team Orders Customer Service Order Tracking Ordering Info Shipping Options Returns Info Warranties International Sizing Charts Contact Us Careers Privacy Message Board Gift Cards Shipping Details Donnay Weighting System Customized Weighting Technology System Kit The Donnay customization kit that is sold separately allows users the option to adjust the weights and balances exactly to their liking to any Donnay racquet. There are three interchangeable buttcaps weighing two, seven and 12 grams, along with weighted slides that can be easily applied to the sides and top of the frame in the blink of a changeover. The combination of the slides and lightest buttcap tips the balance more to the head for more power; no slides and the heaviest buttcap increase control and further enhance maneuverability. There are 10 combinations in between. Donnay X-P Dual Black 102 Racquet Search Shop By Brand Racquet Brands Babolat Wilson Volkl Asics Dunlop One Strings PowerAngle Solinco Head Prince Yonex Becker Gamma Pacific ProKennex Tecnifibre Junior Racquets Vintage Racquets Used Racquets Racquet Help Racquet Finder Demo Program Sale Racquets Reviews Junior Store Apparel Men's Apparel Women's Apparel Boy's Apparel Girl's Apparel Hats & Visors Head & Wristbands Men's Socks Women's Socks Team Orders Sale Apparel Tennis Shoes Men's Nike adidas Asics Babolat Diadora Fila Head Joma K-Swiss Lacoste Lotto New Balance Prince Wilson Yonex Sale Women's Nike adidas Asics Babolat Diadora Fila Head K-Swiss Lacoste Lotto New Balance Prince Wilson Yonex Sale Junior Shoes Tennis Bags Strings & Stringing String Sets & Reels Stringing Machines Tool & Supplies Grips & Accessories Over Grips Replacement Grips Vibration Dampeners Head & Lead Tape Other Items Sensors and Gadgets Tennis Balls Tennis Towels Fitness & Therapy Sunscreen Sunglasses Tennis Ball Machines Court Equipment Tennis Books Tennis Videos Liquidation Specials


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Football Manager 2014 video outlines major feature changes
Football Manager 2014 has a new feature video available below in which Miles Jacboson walks you through some of the major feature changes such as the revamp to the news system and the manager's email inbox.
It's all been streamlined so you can spend less time reading emails regarding club business and spend more time managing your team.
Other significant FM 2014 changes include:
- An improved 3D Match Engine
- A tactical overhaul
- More realistic transfers and contracts
- More sophisticated board interaction
- More complex interaction between staff, players and rival managers
- A revamped news system
- An enhanced user interface
- Evolution for Classic mode
- Additional community features
- Extensive tech improvements
Football Manager 2014 will be released on Linux, Mac and PC sometime before Christmas.


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Graham Greene's 1938 novel about a sociopathic young British thug and his co-dependent girlfriend receives an uneven treatment in this modernized film adaptation. Read morePublished 2 months ago by Transcendental Thomist
I purchased this movie because I adore Sam Riley. He's an excellent actor.
It is a good story with a surprising ending.
If you are a Sam Riley fan he is really good in this movie (and evil!) you will like it. I also love Sean Harris who has a small, but great part in this. Read morePublished 12 months ago by T. Hellstrom
I was awaiting this film with great anticipation.It does deliver.It is a decent story with the historical background of the times.Published 15 months ago by Byron
Fans of BBC Sherlock might recognize Phil Davis, who has a supporting role in this film -- he's the twisted cab driver murderer in "A Study in Pink. Read morePublished 17 months ago by Amazon Customer
I really liked this one. Too bad it was region B but I have a region free blu ray player so it worked fine but I have to hook it up to the screen and cannot play it on my computer. Read morePublished 18 months ago by John
Brighton Rock ... the book .... and the original film ...... are classics. This is NOT a good film. The acting is bad.Published 24 months ago by Execelsior
This flick is too violent and the characters are not acting normal. I could not give any sympathy to any of these individuals. Read morePublished on June 30, 2013 by christine c


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For who?
Yup. Vin Baker Sucks. $13M.
Type: Posts; User: ChrisC-EIT
For who?
Yup. Vin Baker Sucks. $13M.
Yeah, sure, why not throw him in.
Way too many words to change the subject - we weren't talking about Marbury.
What he said.
I'll say it now though - I've always underestimated Leon Powe, and he's always proven me wrong. If he makes an All Star Game, I'll be more than impressed - his story is too much to...
Glen Davis is easily worth more than Brian Scalabrine.
I'd go 5 years at 30-35 million to keep him.
Wow - no ****, huh?
Still has to sign with the Celtics for me to be wrong though (holding breath).
Well, he's not on YOUR team, he's on the Celtics - care to elaborate on his chemistry problems?
I watched him the last season and a half and he was nothing but completely productive for the...
Ooofs. My sincerest bad. Sincerest.
I'll admit - I'm on the phucko list. Oofs. Still, is he going to sign with the Celtics?
I laughed when I first read this - and I'm giggling now. I know - it's only one year, but seriously - do you really think TA is good for 15ppg in another year? How about three or four years, if it...
Do you mean to wonder what seat he'll have in Section 1? Who really thinks that Stephon Marbury will suiting up in Green this season?
I bet his seat will cost as much as mine on stubhub.
1 - waaaaaaaah.
2 - the Knicks simply aren't giving up a player under contract to play for a rival - like the Celtics (just to keep it on-topic)
3 - complaining about someone complaining about...
Considering it's the end of February, it's a great signing. Mikki Moore is a solid player and really good pickup for whatever the Cs are paying him for the rest of the year.
Does this mean...
Funny. As of a week ago, playing the Magic in the second round just isn't the interesting. In fact, the Magic would be happy not to play either the Cavs or Celtics in the first round. Yeah, you...
Can I trade the last 25 minutes of my life that I wasted reading this thread in order to never read posts like this again?
Okay. I get your point - the Celtics win NOW (again). But. Have you seen Harrington play lately other than highlights? I don't think Pruitt+Davis [plus cap needs] for Harrington makes the Celtics...
I've got a soft-spot for the guy regardless of whether he's hit his ceiling or not. If I'm running the Celtics, I find out if I can extend him at some small number over some very long period of time...
I wish I had posted at the time of the draft - all the non-Celtics Fans here laughed at me on that one. I said at the time that Rondo was a great pickup and hard to scoff at. A lottery talent at...
If you're moving on, why respond?
Tracy McGrady is mostly garbage. He's easily the MOST overrated player in the NBA. You should have known that already. He routinely gets his 25 pts while...
I'm drunk for six months straight to celebrate the Finals...
and this is the thread I wake up to? Gosh, Celtics Fan is the worst.
2010? Holy freaking crap. Anyone thinking 2010 and reading...
I'm typing this after the fact, so I'll ask the question: Did anyone else honestly notice that Darius Miles has no vertical game?
It was his only value. The guy is athletic. Errrrr. Was.
Nope. They got robbed, and Bwahahaha. Hahahahaha.
Hold on. Bwahahaha. Hahahahahaha.
Wait, does anyone have a year? Or two?
Bwahahaha. Hahahahahaha.
Bwahahaha. Hahahahahaha.
Double post. Sorry.
instead of your average garbage double post that this was back on February 24...
Anyone still on the Tony Allen bandwagon, even after the alley-oop?
Is that before, or after, the Celtics trade Ray Allen as an expiring contract? You raise a good question though - who's the better defender on the Celtics in two years?
I think people like you...
The garbage I read on this board never ceases to amaze me. Larry Hughes was getting an easy 20ppg at age 21. He continued getting an easy (and I stress EASY) 15ppg for years after that.


text:
|40 posts found
Apprentice Member
Joined: 5/06/06
All this debate about theme park vs. sandbox, action combat vs tab targetting, dynamic vs. scripted and the 'stagnation' of MMORPGs...
The biggest problem that has plagues the industry since WoW isnt that they are copying WoW, its that they aren't copying the GOOD parts of WoW. 'You're not in Azeorth anymore.' No, I am in someplace much more generic and bland.
Games have lost sight of immersion and the RP part of MMORPG. And I'm not talking about creating backstories for your characters or heading to the Goldshire Inn on Moonguard for some good ole kinky ERP, Im talking about the abilities for games to suck you into the world and create an attachment to your character.
This goes back to that greatest slogan ever created for an MMORPG. Norrath was an actual world. It was massive, and full of wonder. There was tons of in game lore waiting to be discovered, and different races with different personalities and motivations. So much care went into creating that world and it shows. Vanilla Azeroth had this as well, and its a very big reason for its success. As its gone farther and farther away from that approach, interest seems to have gone down.
Now we have games like Rift and SWtoR, where the game world is just a place to cram quests in. Every bit of the map has its purpose to fulfill a quest of some kind, and the whole thing just feels fake and artificial. The last time I rode around an MMORPG just taking in the world around me was in LOTRO, which is coincidentally (or is it?) the last game to not suffer a loss of subs in its first couple years. It just seems games are now content first, world second.
There is some hope on the horizon though. WHile it suffers from cramming in too much content like other games, at least GW2 gets the lore driven world. Its glorious cities are the best cities an MMO has seen in a VERY long time. Full of local flavor, they are wonders to explore. Even the often too hectic zones in GW2 at least seem a bit less artificial. Its a step in the right direction at least, and GW2 has that exploration factor because there could be something interesting lurking in that unmarked corner of your map.
Another completely different positive sign, one that DOES focus on the textbook definition of RP but will create a greater bond with your character for many is the SoEmote. It is finally a company that is interesting on improving the social aspects of an MMORPG beyond just bigger and badder guild features.
I think the future is a return to the quality of game worlds, with more sandbox elements thrown in but not necessarily pure sandbox. I still have never understood why companies don't look to SWG for inspiration, as that game was a disaster PvE combat wise (bad balance, lackluster and sparse content) but had a loyal fanbase around 300k people. How did a game that did so poorly at what companies think people want have such a large following? People felt connected. They logged on not to a game, but a galaxy far, far away.
MMORPG developers: bring back those immersive worlds. We want to be in your world once more.
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Elite Member
Joined: 4/12/11
RIP City of Heroes!
what will you do when your customers complain that something isn't the way they demand it should be?
Yes, the must have it now crowd.
Apprentice Member
Joined: 3/18/10
Well put. Really most of what needs to be said. The same basic thing can be said about raiding, dungeons and pvp.
It used to be ok to say "brb" in Scholo. Now you just get booted from the group. Very telling.
LFD tools are great for cramming people into content, but quality > quantity.
Novice Member
Joined: 4/14/06
As long as gamers keep paying for shallow, linear, and completely derivative MMOs that is all we'll get because they take less time and money to produce and keep up than virtual worlds.
Hard Core Member
Joined: 5/29/08
Originally posted by pierth
This is the absolute truth.
Give some players a simple, linear game where they can gather 10,000 Wolf Tails (or whatever other body part the 'inventive' game designers come up with) over a timespan of months and they're as happy as pigs in s*it.
There are also players that LOVE "Shiny Gear and Trinkets" gaming, epitomised by the End Game Nerds who can't get enough of raiding to get better gear to do more raiding to get better gear to... well, you see how it goes. It's like they're stuck in Groundhog Day but, pathetically, loving it!
Any company catering to the two crowds described above will make mucho cash for a minimum of game design work. They don't need to bother wasting money catering for anyone else. You only have to look around to see it's true.
Guest Writer
Joined: 12/24/11
Developer X: I've created a vast expansive world to explore! Enjoy the open spaces!
Player: Open spaces? Bah, this game has a lack of content. I ran 20 feet and didn't even see an NPC. FAIL!
Originally posted by Dibdabs
Completely off topic, but I wonder how things would function in a game that doesn't ask you to kill anything, ever, and the death rattle of a simple pig is enough to emotionally scar a person for life. Like, actually having to have the real-life balls of a hunter to stomach it, and have poor little Babe stare up at you from the ground screaming "Whhhhy" from his dead eyes.
Would that truly be "hardcore" PvE?
Writer / Musician / Game Designer
Now Playing: Skyrim, Wurm Online, Tropico 4
Bitter Vet™
Joined: 9/13/06
Fools find no pleasure in understanding, but delight in airing their own opinions. Pvbs 18:2, NIV
Unfortunately, the larger player base is not looking for an in-depth virtual world, they're here just to play a game for a short while and their dollars speak larger than any other demographic it seems.
I had totally expected MMORPG's to go another direction when I first started, if you told me that they would have evolved more and more towards single player, lobby based, almost console based experiences I would have scoffed at you.
Which would have revealed my lack of business sense and naivety when it comes to knowing what would sell and how MMO Dev would naturally go. (chasing the most dollars of course)
We might see a few indy titles attempt to create better virtual worlds, but major AAA houses aren't likely to chase that market any time soon.
Arrogant, Condescending, Dismissive, Elitist, "Meany", you speak as if these are bad things?
Originally posted by Kyleran
A good virtual world is one where you would literally "stop to smell the roses".
I don't see the common MMO player doing that... well, ever.
Writer / Musician / Game Designer
Now Playing: Skyrim, Wurm Online, Tropico 4
Apprentice Member
Joined: 1/29/12
Originally posted by Kyleran
I think it's very simple. Most people play games incl MMO's to have fun and an entertaining time. For some that's simply playing a game, for others that's wandering around in a virtual world, for again others both are good as long as it's fun.
Also, I think the demographics of the MMO playerbase has changed. Where before in the early years had a large percentage who'd feel comfortable with playing PnP RPG's or complex mechanics, that percentage has shrunk significantly when MMO's opened up to a mainstream audience, many of whom couldn't care less about the old RPG's or complex indepth mechanics.
Elite Member
Joined: 12/24/04
Originally posted by GTwander
Hell they almost never did. Not after the first time anyway. What replayability is there in a virtual world? Once you've seen it you've seen it and won't pay to see it again. The real attraction of the old days was the communities not the game. People were looking to make connections and share experiences. Now they just want to finish and move on. People visit Disneyland they don't really want to live there.
"Strong and bitter words indicate a weak cause" ~Victor Hugo
Advanced Member
Joined: 10/21/08
A child of five would understand this. Send someone to fetch a child of five.
OP Only AAA Mo recently announced that i think will do well because it is different is Defiance with the TV tie in possibly a real game changer,as for games being inspired and wanting to create the worlds of old SWG look no further than my banner
Originally posted by zymurgeist
People still want to sit in chairs, so perhaps there is still hope for the lot of em.
It's really about what a person does during downtime, but now the very idea of downtime scares the masses. Travel times included. Part of me wants to say they are just spoiled, but I can understand us older folks having more important RL-matters to attend to these days, and thusly limited time... but then what is the excuse for the impatient kiddos out there?
/backhands for all of them and their stupid smart phones and fast food drive-thru culture.
~Oh yeah, my point is you can't have a virtual world without the niggling hindrances that make you take stock in where you are at, and what you are doing at a given moment. Back in the day you had to wait for transit, move large distances, etc, etc, and it's pretty much what made a world... the niggling shit.
Even in real life you have a car drive between work and home that allows you to think and truly put things into perspective. Virtual worlds sometimes need that. If it was just instantaneous work then play, you'd be a bunch of boring and entitled motherf**kers.
Essentially the journey between rides at Disneyland is as important as the rides themselves... and some people would love to live there, you crazy.
Writer / Musician / Game Designer
Now Playing: Skyrim, Wurm Online, Tropico 4
Novice Member
Joined: 3/02/11
Originally posted by zymurgeist
The problem with replayability in MMO is that because the contents are static. What has been put there will always be there, where in the real world, things are changing because of the people and the nature themselves. A real virtual world is the one that even when there is no player around, things still change. Day and night, seasons through out the years, weather condition, organisms migrate from one part to another, sea level rise and low depend on luna cycle, building are destroy and has been rebuilded. Current MMO are just linear scripted world with high predicability. Community definately part of what make the world interesting, but the world itself should moving on through time as well, not just stuck in time.
Hard Core Member
Joined: 9/19/06
The Ambassador of PvP.
Nowdays when you log in there is only a few things to do.. simply put, level progress or craft stuff. Ill use SWG as an example, when I logged in to SWG I could progress in combat skills on my choice of planets or work on my piloting in space.. Work on my profession (dancing.. etc) or craft weapons or browse the market for nice stuff to put in my house... hang out in the catina to heal up and chat with guild or start a fight (asking somebody to step outside) or just PvP...
I played it for years even after the Combat upgrade... most games I play I find myself jumping from game to game along with the rest of the masses*some spelling
Apprentice Member
Joined: 4/21/03
To be fair i think rift did copy the good part of wow just added nothing original .
Ps they copied it well might I add.
Apprentice Member
Joined: 10/20/09
IMO, it is the focus on "game" that kills the immersion. When the entire reason for the virtual world is to support a single game, it loses something. Let there be games IN the world, not make have the world itself be a game.
Apprentice Member
Joined: 1/19/12
Originally posted by hercules
I think it copied the worst parts and made it worse (maybe just a differnce in taste). The exact reasons why I dislike WoW for becoming too casual are what drove me away from Rift. The dungeon finder, the endgame rat race, the poor community (which was made worse by the server transfers).
In my mind they lied about the "Your not in Azeroth anymore". It headed in the direction to become more like Azeroth than Azeroth was. My account ran out around last september as I had no urge to log in anymore. Most of the people I played with felt the same way about the game.
I'd actually have to disagree with you on Rift. Their design doesn't just use real estate for throwing in some questlines. The world isn't bland because of the design, it's bland because of the writing. I had a hard time following the lore on any part of Rift because the writers they had created a backstory that wasn't easily followable. The world itself actually felt more alive then most due to the Rifts opening and due to the events happening in various zones in the world and there are pleanty of puzzles there. (once had to jump up the steps of a sheared off mountain cliff to get to a puzzle piece.) So really if Trion had better writers they would have made it easier to follow the lore, however, lore isn't the only thing that makes a world immersive. They had immersion but the lore pretty much broke it by being bad writing. The rest of the immersion process in Rift was actually sound, some kind of events happening nearby, very few safe places, mobs that actually patrolled.
I agree that GW2 appeals to me because they have more immersion, they have ambient talking nearby, they are sharing lore with the public before the game releases so we understand what's happening and the lore is easier to follow. GW2 is a beautiful game as well as Rift, but because of the design of GW2 there is more immersion then the other games and your right it does show in the gameplay. Critters etc all doing their thing in GW2.
Hard Core Member
Joined: 8/21/04
Logic be damned!
GW2 is the first AAA Themepark in a long, long time that I feel really gets the immersion right and persuades you quite actively to stop and smell the roses, explore, and have FUN on the journey not just at the destination because you never know what you'll run into if you just pick a direction and go.
Game doesn't have to be a sandbox to be a virtual world, just needs to be designed in a way to encourage immersion.
Many themepark games have tried to immerse you in the story and/or immerse you in YOUR character, but most have completely forgotten about immersing you in the world itself.
GW2 has been a huge gusting hurricane of fresh air for me, this old haggard burned-out MMO veteran.
I've probably been lurking for way, way too long.


text:
Regional Religious Bias:
Okay, while I've had my fill and then some of religious discussions, I'd like to address something. As Lawyerdude (or was it Derelict) pointed out, nobody is trying to be arrogant when they declare "A real Christian wouldn't (or would) do this or that." In any sufficiently large group of people, there's going to be significant variance in how much it's members subscribe to the group's parameters. Being a Christian, or a black person, or an American means a ton of different things to different people. But.....there are certain core qualities; qualities that are a basic condition for being in said group. In the case of Christianity, we can argue about whether we should eating pork, or whether rap music is evil, or even whether homosexuality is wrong. But not causing harm to people is basic. If you can't keep that straight, then in my very humble opinion, you might need to check exactly what faith you claim to be following.
It was an honor
102 Carciofus8th Jun 2012 07:31:10 AM from Alpha Tucanae I
Is that cake frosting?
But on the other hand, "you should not cause harm to other people" is hardly a sentiment which is exclusive to Christianity. My personal opinion is that the term "Christian" should apply to all movements that recognize that Jesus is the Messiah, and which claim (no matter how correctly or incorrectly) to be based on His teachings. But if somebody does not fit this definition and wants still to call himself Christian, I won't begrudge that — I see little use in quarreling about definitions.
edited 8th Jun '12 7:34:27 AM by Carciofus
But they seem to know where they are going, the ones who walk away from Omelas.
103 DrunkGirlfriend8th Jun 2012 07:40:52 AM from Castle Geekhaven
Not to mention that there are a multitude of sects that have different definitions of "harm".
"I don't know how I do it. I'm like the Mr. Bean of sex." -Drunkscriblerian
104 ohsointocats8th Jun 2012 07:51:26 AM from The Sand Wastes , Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
I am mostly just tired of people claiming that the violence in Christianity stems from Judaism while still saying it's less violent because they're not beholden unto the old laws. It tastes a bit too much like having your cake and eating it too. I do however agree that the definition of Christian should include accepting Christ as the messiah. Christians don't have a monopoly on not harming people. If they did, taking the Hippocratic Oath would be conversion.
105 Carciofus8th Jun 2012 07:58:26 AM from Alpha Tucanae I
Is that cake frosting?
I don't know if I would say that Christianity, today, is less violent that Judaism today. As a matter of fact, I'd say that the opposite is true, probably — I know that some ultraconservative branches of Judaism can get pretty oppressive, but mainstream Judaism as a whole is not at all interested in stonings and so on (and neither is mainstream Christianity, of course.)
edited 8th Jun '12 8:00:30 AM by Carciofus
But they seem to know where they are going, the ones who walk away from Omelas.
For the record, I've never suggested not causing harm is exclusive to Christians.
It was an honor
107 DrunkGirlfriend8th Jun 2012 09:22:23 AM from Castle Geekhaven
No, of course not. I personally believe that the moral compass is pretty consistent regardless of religious inclination, but certain things can cause it to lose it's calibration, as it were. To expand on what I was saying earlier about different sects having different ideas as to what constitutes "harm": Most Christians I know would think that it's very Christ-like to step in and keep people from getting hurt, yes? Most of them would also agree that offing a serial killer to keep him from killing again is morally just. However, if that same idea gets tweaked just a little bit, you wind up with the Christians that believe that, say, the George Tiller murder was morally correct.
"I don't know how I do it. I'm like the Mr. Bean of sex." -Drunkscriblerian
108 Carciofus8th Jun 2012 09:23:07 AM from Alpha Tucanae I
Is that cake frosting?
I acknowledge that. Still, what you wrote seemed to imply that if you intentionally cause harm, then you are not a Christian. I don't know if this was your intended meaning; but it seems to me that if we accept this condition, then we charge too much the meaning of the term "Christian". I agree of course that intentionally causing harm is in contrast with the Christian message; but eh, if we counted as Christian only those who follow the Christian message to perfection then I think that there existed only one Christian ever (or maybe two, if we want to count Mary)
edited 8th Jun '12 9:23:24 AM by Carciofus
But they seem to know where they are going, the ones who walk away from Omelas.
109 Lawyerdude8th Jun 2012 09:37:45 AM from my secret moon base
Bertrand Russell, the Atheist and Philosopher posited the very question, "What is a Christian" in his essay "Why I am not a Christian". He runs through several possible examples, and points out that, up through the Reformation, it was easy to say who was a Christian or not because there was only one Catholic (universal) Church. But nowadays it isn't because anybody can call themselves a Christian and there's no central authority who can say who is or who isn't. Heck, there are Atheists today who identify themselves as "Atheist Christians", who embrace the moral teachings of Jesus but reject claims of divinity. It's a sort of Jesus Was Way Cool, but he wasn't God.
What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly.
110 Carciofus8th Jun 2012 09:41:55 AM from Alpha Tucanae I
Is that cake frosting?
Points out that, up through the Reformation, it was easy to say who was a Christian or not because there was only one Catholic (universal) Church.What about the Eastern Orthodox Churches? Or the Oriental Orthodox Churches (they are different)? Or the Assyrian Church? Or any number of "heretical" movements? Paul's letters already talk about "divisions" within Christianity, and try to get people to avoid factionalism as much as possible. The first division within Christianity happened literally decades after Jesus' death, when some took the position that Christians had to obey the Torah and the Law in full and others took the position that this was not the case.
edited 8th Jun '12 9:44:53 AM by Carciofus
But they seem to know where they are going, the ones who walk away from Omelas.
111 DeMarquis8th Jun 2012 10:18:53 AM from Hell, USA , Relationship Status: Buried in snow, waiting for spring
Who Am I?
"No, but it may make you an undiscerning hobbyist who can't tell the Cthulhu mythos from actual occultism." Puhlease! I am well aware that the Necronomicon they published in paperback form is just a watered down version of the Golden Dawn system. Since I believe in the efficacy of neither, it makes no matter to me, but to some of the people who have been described, it must seem the very essence of satanic evil. "However, if that same idea gets tweaked just a little bit, you wind up with the Christians that believe that, say, the George Tiller murder was morally correct." This is what happens when someone tries to use one single moral principle to guide all their life decisions- they end up becoming an extremist, and losing all sense of balance.
Disobedience is the true foundation of liberty. The obedient must be slaves.
112 Jhimmibhob8th Jun 2012 10:24:19 AM from Arm's reach of the julep machine , Relationship Status: My own grandpa
My rule of thumb for deciding what's "Christian" is generally the Nicene Creed. It's broadly inclusive, well defined, and historically grounded. In addition, the general public already tends to be dubious about the "Christian" status of non-Nicene sects & churches; this means that credal criteria and the man in the street's working definitions match up tolerably well.
113 DerelictVessel8th Jun 2012 10:34:57 AM from the Ocean Blue
Flying Dutchman
Though I wouldn't say that they line up intentionally. I imagine most Americans, being lax Christians at best, don't even know the Nicene Creed (though perhaps they'd be able to say it along with you from rote memory depending on when and where they grew up).
"Can ye fathom the ocean, dark and deep, where the mighty waves and the grandeur sweep?"
114 DrunkGirlfriend8th Jun 2012 10:40:36 AM from Castle Geekhaven
There's also a difference between the Apostle's Creed and the Nicene Creed. Some denominations use one, but not the other. One example I can think of off the top of my head is that Methodists use the Apostle's creed instead.
"I don't know how I do it. I'm like the Mr. Bean of sex." -Drunkscriblerian
115 Jhimmibhob8th Jun 2012 10:42:49 AM from Arm's reach of the julep machine , Relationship Status: My own grandpa
True. I just meant that since general public perceptions and the Creed line up roughly, that makes the latter all the more useful a yardstick if we're looking for solid criteria.
116 Jhimmibhob8th Jun 2012 10:45:39 AM from Arm's reach of the julep machine , Relationship Status: My own grandpa
The Apostle's Creed is a condensed version of the full Nicene. I believe high Protestant churches that use a Creed in their liturgies may go for one or the other, depending on how formal they lean, and how interested they are in cutting to the chase.
speaking as a former seventh day adventist, I can safely say my church never once ever mentioned the Nicene Creed and I never even heard the name until after I had long since left the church.
Going Forth!
118 Jhimmibhob9th Jun 2012 07:19:31 AM from Arm's reach of the julep machine , Relationship Status: My own grandpa
If I understand correctly, SDAs are opposed to the formulation of any creeds at all, contending that only the Bible is an adequate source of doctrine. That's the default stance in many Evangelical and low-church denominations—I was raised Pentecostal, and never heard of "creeds" until I was an adult. On the other hand, the Creed is perfectly consistent with the doctrines of the latter two: I don't think you'll find an evangelical church that'd disagree with the Nicene creed if it was presented to them (except for understandable reservations about the definition/scope of "catholic"). SDA sources, though, tend to get dodgy about many of the Creed's definitions, and don't even like to say whether it's consistent with their understanding of doctrine. So it's hard to get enough out of them to say whether their teachings are classically Christian in the fullest sense.
edited 9th Jun '12 7:19:42 AM by Jhimmibhob
In my experience with their documents..they tend to cleave to a somewhat fundamentalist/young earth creationist bent.
edited 9th Jun '12 9:36:11 AM by Midgetsnowman
Going Forth!
120 Jhimmibhob9th Jun 2012 09:43:06 AM from Arm's reach of the julep machine , Relationship Status: My own grandpa
Yeah. Plenty of fundamentalist-inclined churches and individuals do. However, that's not inherently inconsistent with the creeds; I'm a little more puzzled about their take on Trinitarianism and the nature of the Persons who comprise it. That's highly relevant to the creeds, and to the ordinary working definition of orthodox Christianity. Not that they require my stamp of approval; I'm just curious.
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Texas on the Potomac
Washington news with a Texas accent
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Napolitano: Immigration hasn't been 'a linchpin, red hot issue' in 2012
"The illegal migration into the States hasn't been this low probably since 1971, 1970. Is there still illegal migration? Yes. But is it much more under control than it was at its peak? Absolutely," Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano said yesterday during a panel discussion with Mexican Interior Secretary Alejandro Poiré. [Read More]
Texas lawmakers worry about impact of Mexican presidential election on drug war
"I'm hopeful there is no change in policy, but obviously this is an internal decision that will be made by the Mexican government, the Mexican people, but it's not without some impact on Texas and the rest of the country," said Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas. [Read More]
Calderon ridicules Texas for warning students to avoid Mexico on spring break
"There are hundreds of thousands of young Texans who go to Mexico (and) enjoy it," Mexican President Felipe Calderon said in Spanish. "We haven't seen one single incident with U.S. 'spring-breakers' in Mexico this past spring." [Read More]
Mexican president says end of U.S. assault weapon ban contributed to drug cartel violence
At a joint press conference with President Barack Obama and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, the Mexican President Felipe Calderon declared the end of the assault weapons ban coincided with "the beginning of the harshest period" of the drug war and that "the vast majority of these weapons were sold" in the U.S. [Read More]
Mexican ambassador suggests 'political agenda' behind Texas travel alert
During his failed presidential campaign, Texas Gov. Rick Perry frequently discussed Mexican drug violence and what he described as a federal failure to secure the U.S.-Mexico border. [Read More]
At Brownsville hearing, Ted Poe says cartel violence "is not confined to Mexico"
"There are some in the federal bureaucracy who would have us believe that the (cartel) violence is all in Mexico," Rep. Ted Poe, R-Humble, said today at a congressional field hearing in Brownsville featuring witnesses to the drug wars. "These individuals know firsthand the violence is not confined to Mexico." [Read More]
Feds require gun dealers along Texas-Mexico border to give feds names of some customers
Thousands of firearms dealers along the U.S.-Mexico border now will be required to give the federal government the names of customers making multiple purchases of semi-automatic rifles favored by Mexican drug cartels, U.S. officials said Monday.
The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said the new requirement in states bordering Mexico will provide valuable intelligence for derailing arms-trafficking rings that have thrived in Texas and elsewhere, and fed a war in Mexico that has taken at least 40,000 lives since late 2006.[Read More]
There's lots of violence on Mexican side of border, but amount of 'spillover violence' is a matter of heated dispute
Wrangling over the scope of so-called "spillover violence" from Mexico has divided Republicans and Democrats — and delayed progress toward comprehensive immigration reform. The central question — Is the border secure? — lies at the heart of an open-ended political stalemate.
Facts are in such dispute and perceptions so different that public testimonies and political potshots tell a tale of two borders.[Read More]
Cartel violence is 'real and escalating,' John Cornyn says after border shootout
Texas Sen. John Cornyn today decried the morning shootout along the Texas-Mexico border, saying it was further evidence that drug-related violence "is real and escalating."
The San Antonio Republican said the Obama administration is in a state of denial over the rising violence connected with narcotraffickers and increasing incidences of "spillover violence" inside the United States.[Read More]
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REFERENCES Regional and World Maps Flags of the World Gallery of Covers Definitions and Notes Guide to Country Profiles Guide to Country Comparisons The World Factbook Users Guide APPENDICES A: abbreviations B: international organizations and groups C: selected international environmental agreements D: cross-reference list of country data codes E: cross-reference list of hydrographic data codes F: cross-reference list of geographic names G: weights and measures FAQs CONTACT Africa :: Mali Page last updated on June 25, 2015 view 4 photos of Mali Introduction :: MALI Background: The Sudanese Republic and Senegal became independent of France in 1960 as the Mali Federation. When Senegal withdrew after only a few months, what formerly made up the Sudanese Republic was renamed Mali. Rule by dictatorship was brought to a close in 1991 by a military coup that ushered in a period of democratic rule. President Alpha KONARE won Mali's first two democratic presidential elections in 1992 and 1997. In keeping with Mali's two-term constitutional limit, he stepped down in 2002 and was succeeded by Amadou Toumani TOURE, who was elected to a second term in a 2007 election that was widely judged to be free and fair. Malian returnees from Libya in 2011 exacerbated tensions in northern Mali, and Tuareg ethnic militias rebelled in January 2012. Low- and mid-level soldiers, frustrated with the poor handling of the rebellion, overthrew TOURE on 22 March. Intensive mediation efforts led by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) returned power to a civilian administration in April with the appointment of Interim President Dioncounda TRAORE. The post-coup chaos led to rebels expelling the Malian military from the three northern regions of the country and allowed Islamic militants to set up strongholds. Hundreds of thousands of northern Malians fled the violence to southern Mali and neighboring countries, exacerbating regional food shortages in host communities. An international military intervention to retake the three northern regions began in January 2013 and within a month most of the north had been retaken. In a democratic presidential election conducted in July and August of 2013, Ibrahim Boubacar KEITA was elected president. Geography :: MALI Location: interior Western Africa, southwest of Algeria, north of Guinea, Cote d'Ivoire, and Burkina Faso, west of Niger Geographic coordinates: 17 00 N, 4 00 W Map references: Africa Area: total: 1,240,192 sq km land: 1,220,190 sq km water: 20,002 sq km country comparison to the world: 24 Area - comparative: slightly less than twice the size of Texas Land boundaries: total: 7,908 km border countries (7): Algeria 1,359 km, Burkina Faso 1,325 km, Cote d'Ivoire 599 km, Guinea 1,062 km, Mauritania 2,236 km, Niger 838 km, Senegal 489 km Coastline: 0 km (landlocked) Maritime claims: none (landlocked) Climate: subtropical to arid; hot and dry (February to June); rainy, humid, and mild (June to November); cool and dry (November to February) Terrain: mostly flat to rolling northern plains covered by sand; savanna in south, rugged hills in northeast Elevation extremes: lowest point: Senegal River 23 m highest point: Hombori Tondo 1,155 m Natural resources: gold, phosphates, kaolin, salt, limestone, uranium, gypsum, granite, hydropower note: bauxite, iron ore, manganese, tin, and copper deposits are known but not exploited Land use: agricultural land: 34.1% arable land 5.6%; permanent crops 0.1%; permanent pasture 28.4% forest: 10.2% other: 55.7% (2011 est.) Irrigated land: 2,358 sq km (2003) Total renewable water resources: 100 cu km (2011) Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural): total: 6.55 cu km/yr (9%/1%/90%) per capita: 545.4 cu m/yr (2000) Natural hazards: hot, dust-laden harmattan haze common during dry seasons; recurring droughts; occasional Niger River flooding Environment - current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; inadequate supplies of potable water; poaching Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Geography - note: landlocked; divided into three natural zones: the southern, cultivated Sudanese; the central, semiarid Sahelian; and the northern, arid Saharan People and Society :: MALI Nationality: noun: Malian(s) adjective: Malian Ethnic groups: Mande 50% (Bambara, Malinke, Soninke), Peul 17%, Voltaic 12%, Songhai 6%, Tuareg and Moor 10%, other 5% Languages: French (official), Bambara 46.3%, Peul/foulfoulbe 9.4%, Dogon 7.2%, Maraka/soninke 6.4%, Malinke 5.6%, Sonrhai/djerma 5.6%, Minianka 4.3%, Tamacheq 3.5%, Senoufo 2.6%, unspecified 0.6%, other 8.5% note: Mali has 13 national languages in addition to its official language Religions: Muslim 94.8%, Christian 2.4%, Animist 2%, none 0.5%, unspecified 0.3% (2009 Census) Population: 16,455,903 (July 2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 67 Age structure: 0-14 years: 47.6% (male 3,931,818/female 3,899,535) 15-24 years: 19% (male 1,489,830/female 1,638,995) 25-54 years: 26.7% (male 2,042,666/female 2,348,337) 55-64 years: 3.7% (male 307,167/female 306,470) 65 years and over: 3% (male 246,084/female 245,001) (2014 est.) population pyramid: Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 100.9% youth dependency ratio: 95.4% elderly dependency ratio: 5.5% potential support ratio: 18.2% (2014 est.) Median age: total: 16 years male: 15.4 years female: 16.7 years (2014 est.) Population growth rate: 3% (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 12 Birth rate: 45.53 births/1,000 population (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 2 Death rate: 13.22 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 18 Net migration rate: -2.33 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 171 Urbanization: urban population: 39.1% of total population (2014) rate of urbanization: 5.08% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.) Major urban areas - population: BAMAKO (capital) 2.386 million (2014) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 0.91 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.87 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.01 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2014 est.) Mother's mean age at first birth: 18.3 note: median age at first birth among women 20-24 (2012/13 est.) Maternal mortality rate: 550 deaths/100,000 live births (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 18 Infant mortality rate: total: 104.34 deaths/1,000 live births male: 111.04 deaths/1,000 live births female: 97.44 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 2 Life expectancy at birth: total population: 54.95 years male: 53.12 years female: 56.83 years (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 207 Total fertility rate: 6.16 children born/woman (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 2 Contraceptive prevalence rate: 10.3% (2012/13) Health expenditures: 7.1% of GDP (2013) country comparison to the world: 119 Physicians density: 0.08 physicians/1,000 population (2010) Hospital bed density: 0.1 beds/1,000 population (2010) Drinking water source: improved: urban: 90.9% of population rural: 54.2% of population total: 67.2% of population unimproved: urban: 9.1% of population rural: 45.8% of population total: 32.8% of population (2012 est.) Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 35.3% of population rural: 14.5% of population total: 21.9% of population unimproved: urban: 64.7% of population rural: 85.5% of population total: 78.1% of population (2012 est.) HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.86% (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 48 HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 97,000 (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 43 HIV/AIDS - deaths: 5,500 (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 36 Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: very high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: malaria and dengue fever water contact disease: schistosomiasis respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis animal contact disease: rabies (2013) Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 5.7% (2014) country comparison to the world: 166 Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 27.9% (2006) country comparison to the world: 20 Education expenditures: 4.8% of GDP (2011) country comparison to the world: 83 Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 38.7% male: 48.2% female: 29.2% (2015 est.) School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 8 years male: 9 years female: 7 years (2011) Child labor - children ages 5-14: total number: 1,485,027 percentage: 36% (2010 est.) Government :: MALI Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Mali conventional short form: Mali local long form: Republique de Mali local short form: Mali former: French Sudan and Sudanese Republic Government type: republic Capital: name: Bamako geographic coordinates: 12 39 N, 8 00 W time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) Administrative divisions: 8 regions (regions, singular - region), 1 district*; District de Bamako*, Gao, Kayes, Kidal, Koulikoro, Mopti, Segou, Sikasso, Tombouctou (Timbuktu) Independence: 22 September 1960 (from France) National holiday: Independence Day, 22 September (1960) Constitution: several previous; latest drafted August 1991, approved by referendum 12 January 1992, effective 25 February 1992; amended 1999; note - suspended briefly in 2012 (2012) Legal system: civil law system based on the French civil law model and influenced by customary law; judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional Court International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President Ibrahim Boubacar KEITA (since 4 September 2013) head of government: Prime Minister Modibo KEITA (since 8 January 2015) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); the election scheduled for 29 April 2012 and delayed following the March 2012 coup took place 28 July 2013 and a runoff election was held on 11 August 2013; prime minister appointed by the president election results: Ibrahim Boubacar KEITA elected president in a runoff election; percent of vote - Ibrahim Boubacar KEITA 77.6%, Soumaila CISSE 22.4% Legislative branch: description: unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (147 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by absolute majority vote in two rounds if needed; members serve 5-year terms) elections: last held in two rounds on 24 November 2013 and on 15 December 2013 (next to be held in 2018); note - the scheduled July 2012 election was cancelled due to a coup d'etat and the Tuareg Rebellion election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - FDR coalition 64 (RPM 61, PARENA 3), ADP coalition 42 (ADEMA 20, URD 18, CNID 4), FARE 5, CODEM 5, SADI 4, ASMA-CFP 4, Yelema 2, independent 16, other 5; note - 13 seats were from voters abroad Judicial branch: highest court(s): Supreme Court or Cour Supreme (consists of 19 members organized into 3 civil chambers and a criminal chamber); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 members) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court members appointed by the Ministry of Justice to serve 5-year terms; Constitutional Court members selected - 3 each by the president, the National Assembly, and the Supreme Council of the Magistracy; members serve single renewable 7-year terms subordinate courts: High Court of Justice (jurisdiction limited to cases of high treason or criminal offenses by the president or ministers while in office) Political parties and leaders: African Solidarity for Democracy and Independence or SADI [Oumar MARIKO, Secretary General] Alliance for Democracy or ADEMA [Dionconda TRAORE] Alliance for Democracy and Progress or ADP (a coalition of political parties including ADEMA and URD formed in December 2006 to support the presidential candidacy of Amadou TOURE) Alliance for Democratic Change (political group comprised mainly of Tuareg from Mali's northern region) Alliance for the Solidarity of Mali-Convergence of Patriotic Forces or ASMA-CFP [Soumeylou Boubeye MAIGA] Alternative Forces for Renewal and Emergence or FARE [Modibo SIDIBE] Convergence for the development of Mali or CODEM [Housseyni GUINDO] Economic and Social Development Party or PDES [Jamille BITTAR] Front for Democracy and the Republic or FDR (a coalition of political parties including RPM and PARENA formed to oppose the presidential candidacy of Amadou TOURE) Movement for a Common Destiny or MODEC [Koniba SIDIBE] National Congress for Democratic Initiative or CNID [Mountaga TALL] Party for Democracy and Progress or PDP [Mady KONATE] Party for National Renewal or PARENA [Tiebile DRAME] Patriotic Movement for Renewal or MPR [Choguel Kokalla MAIGA] Rally for Democracy and Labor or RDT [Amadou Ali NIANGADOU] Rally for Mali or RPM [Ibrahim Boubacar KEITA] (ruling party) Sudanese Union/African Democratic Rally or US/RDA [Mamadou Bamou TOURE] Union for Democracy and Development or UDD [Tieman Hubert COULIBALY] Union for Republic and Democracy or URD [Younoussi TOURE] Yelema [Moussa MARA] Political pressure groups and leaders: other: the army; Islamic authorities; state-run cotton company CMDT International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, AU, CD, ECOWAS, EITI (compliant country), FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNMISS, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Tiena COULIBALY (since 18 November 2014) chancery: 2130 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 332-2249, 939-8950 FAX: [1] (202) 332-6603 Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Andrew YOUNG (since 2014) embassy: located just off the Roi Bin Fahad Aziz Bridge just west of the Bamako central district mailing address: ACI 2000, Rue 243, Porte 297, Bamako telephone: [223] 2070-2300 FAX: [223] 2070-2479 Flag description: three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), yellow, and red note: uses the popular Pan-African colors of Ethiopia; the colors from left to right are the same as those of neighboring Senegal (which has an additional green central star) and the reverse of those on the flag of neighboring Guinea National symbol(s): Great Mosque of Djenne; national colors: green, yellow, red National anthem: name: "Le Mali" (Mali) lyrics/music: Seydou Badian KOUYATE/Banzoumana SISSOKO note: adopted 1962; also known as "Pour L'Afrique et pour toi, Mali" (For Africa and for You, Mali) and "A ton appel Mali" (At Your Call, Mali) Economy :: MALI Economy - overview: Among the 25 poorest countries in the world, Mali is a landlocked country that depends on gold mining and agricultural exports for revenue. The country's fiscal status fluctuates with gold and agricultural commodity prices and the harvest; cotton and gold exports make up around 80% of export earnings. Economic activity is largely confined to the riverine area irrigated by the Niger River and about 65% of its land area is desert or semidesert. About 10% of the population is nomadic and about 80% of the labor force is engaged in farming and fishing. Mali remains dependent on foreign aid. Industrial activity is concentrated on processing farm commodities. Mali is developing its iron ore extraction industry to diversify foreign exchange earnings away from gold, but the pace will largely depend on global price trends. The government is subsidizing the production of cereals to decrease the country's dependence on imported foodstuffs and to reduce its vulnerability to food price shocks. The main threat to Mali's economy is a return to physical insecurity. Other long term threats to the economy include high population growth, corruption, a weak infrastructure, and low levels of human capital. The administration's purchase of a presidential jet for $40 million and inflated defense contracts damaged it's credibility and led the IMF to temporarily suspend aid in 2014. GDP (purchasing power parity): $27.1 billion (2014 est.) $25.59 billion (2013 est.) $25.15 billion (2012 est.) note: data are in 2014 US dollars country comparison to the world: 131 GDP (official exchange rate): $12.04 billion (2014 est.) GDP - real growth rate: 5.9% (2014 est.) 1.7% (2013 est.) 0% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 38 GDP - per capita (PPP): $1,600 (2014 est.) $1,500 (2013 est.) $1,500 (2012 est.) note: data are in 2013 US dollars country comparison to the world: 215 Gross national saving: 16.7% of GDP (2014 est.) 14% of GDP (2013 est.) 14.2% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 105 GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 78.4% government consumption: 16.6% investment in fixed capital: 14.8% investment in inventories: 0% exports of goods and services: 26.5% imports of goods and services: -36.2% (2014 est.) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 38% industry: 23.3% services: 38.7% (2014 est.) Agriculture - products: cotton, millet, rice, corn, vegetables, peanuts; cattle, sheep, goats Industries: food processing; construction; phosphate and gold mining Industrial production growth rate: 5.5% (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 48 Labor force: 5.538 million (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 72 Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 80% industry and services: 20% (2005 est.) Unemployment rate: 30% (2004 est.) 8.1% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 185 Population below poverty line: 36.1% (2005 est.) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.5% highest 10%: 25.8% (2010 est.) Distribution of family income - Gini index: 40.1 (2001) 50.5 (1994) country comparison to the world: 61 Budget: revenues: $2.698 billion expenditures: $3.265 billion (2014 est.) Taxes and other revenues: 22.4% of GDP (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 145 Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -4.7% of GDP (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 161 Public debt: 32.1% of GDP (2014 est.) 29.1% of GDP (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 127 Fiscal year: calendar year Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1% (2014 est.) -0.6% (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 52 Central bank discount rate: 16% (31 December 2010) 4.25% (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 9 Commercial bank prime lending rate: 9.3% (31 December 2014 est.) 9.3% (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 93 Stock of narrow money: $2.833 billion (31 December 2014 est.) $2.772 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 121 Stock of broad money: $3.984 billion (31 December 2014 est.) $3.817 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 141 Stock of domestic credit: $2.484 billion (31 December 2014 est.) $2.37 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 134 Market value of publicly traded shares: $NA Current account balance: $-93 million (2014 est.) $232.4 million (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 80 Exports: $2.763 billion (2014 est.) $3.081 billion (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 132 Exports - commodities: cotton, gold, livestock Exports - partners: China 30.5%, India 15.1%, Indonesia 8.6%, Bangladesh 6.3%, Thailand 5.6% (2013) Imports: $2.995 billion (2014 est.) $2.964 billion (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 148 Imports - commodities: petroleum, machinery and equipment, construction materials, foodstuffs, textiles Imports - partners: France 11.1%, Senegal 10.1%, Cote dIvoire 9.2%, China 7.6% (2013) Debt - external: $3.737 billion (31 December 2014 est.) $3.431 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 135 Stock of direct foreign investment - at home: $2.812 billion (31 December 2014 est.) $2.412 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 105 Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad: $61.2 million (31 December 2014 est.) $52.28 million (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 98 Exchange rates: Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 491.2 (2014 est.) 494.04 (2013 est.) 510.53 (2012 est.) 471.87 (2011 est.) 495.28 (2010 est.) Energy :: MALI Electricity - production: 520 million kWh (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 163 Electricity - consumption: 483.6 million kWh (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 172 Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 169 Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 172 Electricity - installed generating capacity: 304,000 kW (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 153 Electricity - from fossil fuels: 48.4% of total installed capacity (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 155 Electricity - from nuclear fuels: 0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 140 Electricity - from hydroelectric plants: 51.6% of total installed capacity (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 46 Electricity - from other renewable sources: 0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 205 Crude oil - production: 0 bbl/day (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 177 Crude oil - exports: 0 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 155 Crude oil - imports: 0 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 96 Crude oil - proved reserves: 0 bbl (1 January 2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 167 Refined petroleum products - production: 0 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 209 Refined petroleum products - consumption: 5,440 bbl/day (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 167 Refined petroleum products - exports: 0 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 198 Refined petroleum products - imports: 4,698 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 157 Natural gas - production: 0 cu m (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 103 Natural gas - consumption: 0 cu m (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 171 Natural gas - exports: 0 cu m (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 145 Natural gas - imports: 0 cu m (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 98 Natural gas - proved reserves: 0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 170 Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy: 773,900 Mt (2012 est.) Communications :: MALI Telephones - main lines in use: 112,000 (2012) country comparison to the world: 141 Telephones - mobile cellular: 14.613 million (2012) country comparison to the world: 59 Telephone system: general assessment: domestic system unreliable but improving; increasing use of local radio loops to extend network coverage to remote areas domestic: fixed-line subscribership remains less than 1 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular subscribership has increased sharply to about 70 per 100 persons international: country code - 223; satellite communications center and fiber-optic links to neighboring countries; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean, 1 Indian Ocean) (2010) Broadcast media: national public TV broadcaster; 2 privately-owned companies provide subscription services to foreign multi-channel TV packages; national public radio broadcaster supplemented by a large number of privately-owned and community broadcast stations; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are available (2007) Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 230 (27 regional and government stations, and 203 private stations), shortwave 1 (2001) Television broadcast stations: 2 (plus repeaters) (2007) Internet country code: .ml Internet hosts: 437 (2012) country comparison to the world: 186 Internet users: 249,800 (2009) country comparison to the world: 132 Transportation :: MALI Airports: 25 (2013) country comparison to the world: 129 Airports - with paved runways: total: 8 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2013) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 17 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 9 under 914 m: 5 (2013) Heliports: 2 (2013) Railways: total: 593 km narrow gauge: 593 km 1.000-m gauge (2008) country comparison to the world: 110 Roadways: total: 22,474 km paved: 5,522 km unpaved: 16,952 km (2009) country comparison to the world: 103 Waterways: 1,800 km (downstream of Koulikoro; low water levels on the River Niger cause problems in dry years; in the months before the rainy season the river is not navigable by commercial vessels) (2011) country comparison to the world: 43 Ports and terminals: river port(s): Koulikoro (Niger) Military :: MALI Military branches: Malian Armed Forces: Army (Armee de Terre), Republic of Mali Air Force (Force Aerienne de la Republique du Mali, FARM), National Guard (Garde National du Mali) (2013) Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for selective compulsory and voluntary military service; 2-year conscript service obligation (2012) Manpower available for military service: males age 16-49: 2,848,412 females age 16-49: 2,981,106 (2010 est.) Manpower fit for military service: males age 16-49: 1,825,779 females age 16-49: 1,968,563 (2010 est.) Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually: male: 158,031 female: 159,733 (2010 est.) Military expenditures: 1.44% of GDP (2012) 1.51% of GDP (2011) 1.44% of GDP (2010) country comparison to the world: 68 Transnational Issues :: MALI Disputes - international: demarcation is underway with Burkina Faso Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees (country of origin): 12,898 (Mauritania) (2014) IDPs: 102,346 (Tuareg rebellion since 2012) (2015) Trafficking in persons: current situation: Mali is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking; women and girls are forced into domestic servitude, agricultural labor, and support roles in gold mines, as well as subjected to sex trafficking; Malian boys are found in conditions of forced labor in agricultural settings, gold mines, and the informal commercial sector, as well as forced begging within Mali and neighboring countries; Malians and other Africans who travel through Mali to Mauritania, Algeria, or Libya in hopes of reaching Europe are particularly at risk of becoming victims of human trafficking; men and boys, primarily of Songhai ethnicity, are subjected to the longstanding practice of debt bondage in the salt mines of Taoudenni in northern Mali; some members of Mali's black Tamachek community are subjected to traditional slavery-related practices, and this involuntary servitude reportedly has extended to their children; there has been a decrease in the recruitment of Malian children as combatants, cooks, porters, guards, spies, and sex slaves by non-governmental armed groups in northern Mali tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Mali does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; although the government enacted a comprehensive anti-trafficking law in 2012, it did not demonstrate evidence of overall increasing efforts to address human trafficking over the previous year; the government failed to prosecute or convict any trafficking offenders because the law had not yet been distributed to judges and a significant lack of awareness of the law within the judiciary remained; authorities did not provide any direct services to victims and did not make any tangible prevention efforts; NGOs provided care to victims without government funding; no awareness-raising campaigns or anti-trafficking training were carried out (2014)


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WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama signed legislation Tuesday that affords greater protection to federal employees who expose fraud, waste and abuse in government operations.
Capping a 13-year effort by supporters of whistle-blower rights, the new law closes loopholes created by court rulings, which removed protections for federal whistle-blowers. One loophole specified that whistle-blowers were only protected when they were the first to report misconduct.
Obama also signed legislation that protects U.S. airlines from having to pay into a European Union program to cut down on pollutants. Earlier this month, the EU postponed its enforcement of the payment for non-EU airlines amid protests from numerous countries and threats of a possible trade war.
The whistle-blower law makes it easier to punish supervisors who try to retaliate against the government workers.
The federal official who investigates retaliation, Special Counsel Carolyn Lerner, said her office "stands ready to implement these important reforms, which will better ensure that no employee suffers retaliation for speaking out against government waste or misconduct."
The new legislation, however, would go beyond restoring protections, to expand whistle-blower rights and clarify certain protections. For example, whistle-blowers could challenge the consequences of government policy decisions.
Specific protections would be given to certain employees, including government scientists who challenge censorship. Workers at the Transportation Security Administration, who provide airport security, would be covered under the law for the first time.
The law also would clarify that whistleblowers have the right to communicate with Congress.
To stop illegal retaliation, the law would make it easier to discipline those responsible, by modifying the burden of proof required when taking action against those trying to punish whistle-blowers. Also, the Office of Special Counsel, which was established to protect federal employees, would no longer be liable for attorney fees of government managers if the office does not prevail in a disciplinary action.
The new law would suspend the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals' sole jurisdiction to review decisions in whistle-blower cases.
The law's supporters said the court consistently narrowed protections and ruled for whistle-blowers only three times in 229 cases between October 1994 and May 2012. A review by all federal circuit courts was added as a two-year experiment.
Continue reading this story on the...


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Storms cut power in city
CORPUS CHRISTI - A line of thunderstorms moved through the city Saturday afternoon, contributing to already flooded roadways and rivers.
The storms quickly dissipated but not before they dumped two inches of rain, increasing the monthly rainfall total to almost 14 inches, said Nick Hampshire, National Weather Service meteorologist.
Hampshire said access roads near South Padre Island Drive and Crosstown Expressway were under water by at least one foot. Heavy rainfall also contributed to power outages throughout the city. According to Corpus Christi police dispatch office, power lines along Gollihar Road, Ayers Street, Weber Road, Holly Road, South Padre Island Drive and Crosstown Expressway were down. AEP Texas and the Texas Department of Transportation were notified.
About 5,600 customers were affected by the storm, which produced a lot of lightning and wind, said AEP Texas spokesman Andy Heines. Most of the outages were fixed by 5 p.m. About 680 customers were still without power Saturday evening, he said.
"There was a lot of lighting associated with the storm which caused a lot of burned fuses, transformer outages and downed wire," Heines said.
This week's weather has made this month the wettest Julys since 1976, when the National Weather Service recorded the city receiving 11.92 inches of rain. So far this month, the city has received 13.95.
The low pressure system causing the wet weather will be moving out of the area by today, Hampshire said. "Hopefully, things will start to quiet down a little bit," he said. Today will be mostly cloudy with temperatures in the upper 80s near the coast and low 90s inland. A 20 percent chance of rain is predicted for today through Friday, Hampshire said.
However, flood watches still are in effect near river areas. The Nueces River near Calallen, and in areas near Mathis and Bluntzer, has started to level off, he said, but is expected to rise again by Tuesday. The rises are because of water releases at Lake Corpus Christi, he said.
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YIELD: Serves 6
Preheat oven to 350°F. Mix oil, syrup and garlic in small bowl. Place all remaining ingredients except butter and green onions on heavy large rimmed baking sheet. Pour oil mixture over; toss to coat. Spread out vegetables in single layer. Sprinkle generously with salt and pepper. Roast until tender and golden brown, stirring occasionally, about 1 1/2 hours. Transfer vegetables to platter. Drizzle vegetables with butter. Sprinkle with chopped green onions and serve immediately.


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Updated 04/10/2014
An estimated 1 million dogs roam Costa Rica's cities and towns, and sculptor Francisco Munguía calls attention to their plight. His steel sculpture on the pedestrian boulevard next to the Central Market is a monument to San José's zaguates ("mutts" in Costa Rican Spanish), and the models for the painted caricatures were 6 of the 23 dogs Munguía and his wife Deborah have rescued over the years. The artist's goal is for Bobi, Ewok, Oso, Pauleta, Shampú, and Tábata—those are the animals' names—to encourage residents to adopt a dog of their own.
Avda. Central, Cs.6–8, San José, 10102, Costa Rica
Updated 04/10/2014
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← Back to Sustainability at BSU
Deadline: 11:59 PM April 10, 2015
The Bemidji State University (BSU) Environmental Advisory Committee is accepting applications for the Sustainable Campus Scholarship and Research Award. In 2005, the BSU Sustainable Campus Endowment was established to promote projects by undergraduate and graduate students to improve environmental stewardship on campus and in the community. As part of an ongoing partnership to promote energy conservation and renewable energy, Otter Tail Power Company made a major contribution to support student projects. An award up to 0 will be given to meritorious projects that foster sustainability with emphasis on energy conservation and renewable energy.
The goal of the Sustainable Scholarship and Research Award is to promote academic and personal excellence in the area of environmental sustainability on campus and in the community. This award is one of many ways students may continue their academic and professional pursuits with increased awareness of the environment and the role of citizens in helping to preserve it for generations to come.
The recipient(s) will be announced tentatively April 22nd during Earth Week.
Please note that this application requires three essay answers. We encourage you to type your answers to the questions ahead of time in Microsoft Word or a similar application and have your application reviewed. When you are ready to complete the application you can copy and paste your answers into this form. This form does not provide access to spell check once the content has been entered.
Please refer to the FAQ on the website or contact Erika Bailey-Johnson at the Sustainability Office with questions regarding the scholarship award or application process.