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The 2005 general election was marred by, among other things, a decade-long public outcry about the decision by the President Mkapa regime to give freely the country's vast mineral resources to foreign investors.
The election of President Jakaya Kikwete, who had during the campaigns promised to overhaul the mining contracts, was seen by many as the breakthrough the country had been awaiting for a decade with baited breath to regain its deserved share in the mining sector.
During his campaign, especially in minerals-rich areas, Kikwete promised that, once elected, one of his priorities would be to review all contracts in the mining sector in order to bring what he described as a 'win-win situation'. After his election, President Kikwete appointed Lawrence Kego Masha as the deputy minister for Minerals and Energy and tasked him, among other things, with a review of all the contracts and advising the government on how to handle the mining sector.
Though some analysts were not happy with Masha's appointment, citing conflict of interest because his law firm was representing some of the foreign mining companies, the president decided to give him the benefit of the doubt.
Later on Masha issued a credible report on the fiscal regime, which was in later years also used by the Judge Mark Bomani-led Committee as its benchmark in reviewing all the mining contracts between 2007 and 2008. Despite his credible report which detailed how this country was being milked by foreign mining firms, Masha was later on transferred to the Home Affairs ministry as full minister.
Prime Minister Edward Lowassa, also acting on the instructions of his boss, hired an economist from the Bank of Tanzania, Msafiri Nampesya, to help him with the economic-know-how of the mining sector. But his move was later tainted by the Buzwagi controversial contract which was signed in London early in 2007.
However, as President Kikwete's regime continued with its efforts to overhaul the mining sector powerful forces infiltrated his cabinet using some of the prominent CCM bigwigs such as Rostam Aziz and others, to block or neutralize the move. Some people were worried that any radical reforms in the sector would tarnish the image of the country before international investors.
Tanzania, they argued, was still a young country that needed more foreign investors than the latter needed it and therefore those advocating radical reforms in the mining sector were either seen as anti-business or urged to tread carefully.
The beginning of 2006 was marked by uncertainty within the mining sector whereby some of the biggest key players were not happy at all by the government's move to overhaul the Mining Act of 1998.
To fight the move, some powerful forces were hired to brainwash some lawmakers as well as media executives using the very same techniques applied by the Britton Woods institutions in the 1990s. Media trips were organized for journalists to visit various mines who, on their return, some suddenly became the pimps of foreign companies at the expense of their country.
It was the same story with some lawmakers and government officials. The story was that Tanzania, as a country, couldn't afford such huge investments and therefore it was a wise move to allow foreign companies to invest in the sector by granting them massive incentives.
However, with the growing pressure from activists and the media by the end of 2006 it was agreed within the government that since there was a move to overhaul the Mining Act of 1998, then no any mineral development agreement (MDA) would be granted. The idea was to ensure that any new licence for large-scale mining should be issued once the country has had a new good law in place, though later on the agreement was violated by the very same government.
Some big players within the mining sector, by using their agents, established that the state was planning to introduce a new law that would allow the government to own free carried share of up to 40 per cent in any mine without investing a single shilling.
African Barrick Gold knew that this was something the company wasn't ready to accept, and therefore it launched a campaign to ensure that it secured an MDA for its Buzwagi gold mine as soon as possible before the new Act was introduced. Early in 2007, the nation was shocked to learn that Nazir Karamagi, then sitting minister for Energy and Minerals, had signed a contract with the Canadian investors, granting them a licence to construct a $400 million mine at Buzwagi, in Shinyanga region.
Tanzania has roughly 47m ounces of gold valued at $75 billion (as per the current price of $1600 per ounce) scattered about beneath its surface, mainly in the Lake Victoria gold belt. No one is quite sure how much of that is retrievable, but this was enough to make the country the third largest gold producer in Africa after South Africa and Ghana, and the second largest non-oil recipient of foreign direct investment ($4 billion from mining over the last decade) on the continent.
Karamagi's move was against the earlier agreement of suspending issuance of any new large-scale mining licence pending the introduction of a new Act, which would enable the country to have what President Kikwete called a 'win-win' situation.
Not only that, but also the decision to sign the contract in London raised more questions, with some critics led by Kigoma North legislator Zitto Kabwe, calling for thorough investigation into the matter. Karamagi acted against the earlier agreement not to issue any MDA or licence for large-scale mining until the country had a proper new mining law.
In his actions, Karamagi was supported by his boss, the former premier, who was also in London during the signing of the contract, though there was no evidence to support the suggestion that he attended the signing ceremony.
However, the former premier vehemently denied any wrongdoing, saying the minister for Energy and Minerals was given powers by the 1998 Act to sign the MDA. This means that Karamagi used the very same bad law to grant another bad contract at the expense of this country, and he was let to walk out of the government freely.
This move was the basis for Kabwe's outcry in Parliament, before CCM legislators ganged up against him. Whether the legislators knew that they were being used or not is debatable, but they finally used their numbers in the House to banish Kabwe from parliamentary proceedings.
To CCM legislators, the interests of their party were more important than the interests of their country. However, they forgot one thing: that by uniting their forces to defend Karamagi, whose integrity was questionable, they were unwittingly making Kabwe a hero while at the same time they were digging their own political grave.
Immediately after Kabwe was ousted, Lowassa planned a counter attack against any strong public reactions, and in one incident a TV talk show to which the Kigoma North MP had been invited was delayed after the premier demanded that another CCM legislator also be invited.
Adam Malima, the current deputy minister for Energy and Minerals, was tasked to counter any attacks from Kabwe during the TV talk show. On the other hand, Samuel Sitta was also on TBC1 defending the National Assembly's move to expel Kabwe from its proceedings. To put things into perspective, up to this stage the powerful forces had won, though they didn't know that President Kikwete's views about Kabwe were very positive.
In October, 2007 during the CCM election in Dodoma, President Kikwete dropped a 'bombshell' when he finally declared that he would form a presidential committee that would review all mining contracts as well as the entire sector.
This wasn't received very well within his party, especially to those who acted as agents of globalization. It was a thorn into their flesh. However, the real bombshell came a few days later when the president named Zitto Kabwe one of the members of the Presidential Mining Review Committee.
This was a stunning move to former premier Lowassa, Karamagi and other CCM legislators who had ganged up to oust Kabwe from Parliament. It was also another indication that Kikwete was still committed to bringing a new mining Act, despite the internal undercurrents of resistance, mainly by the 'pimps' of the plunderers of our resources.
But, it was also a signal that President Kikwete was acting as a lone ranger in his bid to overhaul the Mining Act of 1998. To some of us who have reported extensively about the mining sector and how the country was being plundered because of the dubious Act, Kikwete's move was a resounding victory on our side.
It was a victory because, at the end of the day, we do not just write for the sake of informing the public but also to hold the government accountable so that it can take decisions. Between 1998 and 2007 I was seen by most large-scale miners as a thorn in the flesh because of my extensive reporting about the industry, which raised awareness to the general public on how Tanzania was being plundered.
The media industry was divided into two groups: the watchdog and the lapdog. We were in the group of the watchdog, while some of our colleagues decided to be in the other group, doing the job of countering every story that we published.
But we managed to overcome them and their paymasters because we were standing for the truth, driven mainly by the public interest. That's why the day President Kikwete stood before his party and told the nation what we had been awaiting for a decade, our editorial team, led by Madam Sakina Datoo, was not only excited but also inspired.
After years of being dubbed anti-government because of our investigative reporting of the mining sector and other key sectors, the moment of truth had arrived because we knew that any serious committee would reveal or confirm all the things we had been reporting for years.
Within a few weeks, the Presidential Mining Review Committee was named and Judge Bomani was tasked to chair it. The 11-member committee was tasked to review all existing mining contracts and to gauge their efficacy in generating government revenue.
Finally, after a broad review of all mining contracts, visiting all gold mines, interviewing various stakeholders as well as visiting some foreign countries involved in large-scale mining, in 2008 the committee floated recommendations for a new mining policy that would increase royalties across the board, most of which have been included in a new law.
Its findings confirmed beyond reasonable doubt what a South African investor told me in Johannesburg in 2006: "We are robbing Tanzania very badly…but the good thing is that we didn't pass the law that gives us an opportunity to rob your country…it was passed by your parliament."
Though one member of the committee declined to sign the final copy of the report, protesting its contents, the Bomani-led committee revealed how the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the Mkapa regime orchestrated the plunder of the country's rich minerals.
It was the findings of the Bomani committee, as well as the previous report by Lawrence Masha's team, that enabled the minister for Energy and Minerals, William Ngeleja, and his team to draft a new policy, which was then tabled before the cabinet for approval.
Ngeleja, who was promoted to full minister after the political storm of February 2008 that ousted Premier Lowassa and another two cabinet ministers, was tasked to spearhead the drafting of the new minerals policy which would then enable the introduction of the new Act. He was closely assisted by Dr Peter Kafumu, former commissioner for minerals, who was seen by some large-scale miners as anti-investor because of his stance on the 1998 Act.
Kafumu became Commissioner for Minerals in 2006 soon after the election of President Kikwete, inheriting a department that was highly attacked and blamed for the previous Mining Act of 1998. The minerals policy draft was tabled before the cabinet and endorsed by all the members, opening the way for the drafting of a new Mining Act in early 2009. The proposed Mining Act took into consideration the recommendations by the Bomani committee, the Kipokola commission, Lawrence Masha's fiscal regime study and comparative studies from countries such as Botswana, Namibia, Ghana, Angola, Canada and Australia.The Minerals Policy of 2009 was formulated as a result of an evaluation conducted during the ten years of implementation of the Minerals Policy of 1997, the Mining Act of 1998 and lessons drawn from its implementation.
Among proposals of the new Mining Act, which was first tabled for the stakeholders' discussion in Arusha in December, 2009, was to abolish hundred percent ownership of large-scale mining by foreign companies, enabling the government to automatically retain between 10-40 percent free carried share in a large-scale mine.
The new law also proposed drastic changes in royalty calculations by introducing a gross value system instead of the current netback value. Under the new law, royalties in gold would be adjusted to 4 percent of the gross value earning posted by any large-scale mine, up from the previous 3 percent which was being calculated basing on netback value – a situation the government says was denying Tanzanians enough revenues.
For tanzanite, diamonds and uranium, the new royalties' rate would be 5 percent, up from the previous 3 percent, while other minerals would be taxed at 3 percent. The new Mining Act also proposed that large-scale gemstone mining would be done in a 50/50 joint venture between locals and foreign investors, contrary to the current situation where the winners, mainly foreign firms, take it all.
The Act also allows the government to acquire a maximum of 20 percent shares by investing in selected projects. The new law, which sought to end the 'winner takes it all' system, also allows state-owned corporations to acquire up to 15 per cent equity in a corporate parent company abroad for negotiations and promotional purposes.
However, to foreign investors, this was viewed a fresh nationalisation in the making, hence they quickly embarked on an international campaign to ensure that the new Act was not passed without being overhauled in their favour. Using their agents, who are well equipped in public relations and international communication, global news wires such as Bloomberg, Reuters and Dow Jones reported that Tanzania was about to nationalise all mines, by introducing the clause that allows the government to retain free carried shares.
The masters of globalisation also control a section of the international media, which report stories for the interest of the corporate world. These media will always trust any report from WB or IMF about Africa, even if the report says the sun rises from the west!
When their governments kill foreign nationals, these media will call it 'collateral damage' or an incident of 'friendly fire'. But if it's Robert Mugabe doing it, it's called murder, genocide or whatever suits the needs of their western masters. That's why an Uruguayan journalist, Edwardo Galleano, wrote that "when America goes to the war so does the press."
President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan rigged the election some few years ago, but since he was the darling of the western masters the story was buried and his opponent told to shut up. However, when Mugabe did the same thing, he was condemned around the globe, with the western masters calling for his head. This is how some sections of the international media operate to suit the needs of their allies.
So, when Bloomberg, Reuters and Dow Jones report a story that Tanzania plans to introduce nationalisation, the image of the country before international investors suffers a lot. Finally, you are left with no option but to follow the orders of the western corporate giants.
In Tanzania the pressure was very high, with some investors threatening to close down business if the law was passed without being amended. President Kikwete was at a crossroads, and his critics cited another law passed by Parliament which wanted mobile phone companies to list at the Dar es Salaam Stock Exchange as a sign of an anti-business regime.
At the local level, the campaign also gained momentum, whereby two cabinet ministers were tasked to ensure that the new law didn't sail through without being amended. In defending the Act amid growing international pressure, Energy and Minerals minister Ngeleja said, "It's unfair to allow a hundred percent ownership by foreign companies…the fact that the minerals are in our land gives qualification to the government to have at least 10 percent free carried share." "It should be noted that Tanzania is not aiming at nationalising any foreign-owned mine, but our intention is to create a level-playing field or a win-win situation," the minister clarified in his defence after the proposed law drew negative reactions from foreign investors.
Needless to say, the mining companies have been lobbying hard against tax reforms. The Tanzania Chamber of Minerals and Energy (TCME), an industry body, warned in June 2009: "The timing and manner in which these regressive measures have been instituted is too costly to be borne by any industry or sector," according to an article by Ratio magazine published in 2009.
In response to 'A Golden Opportunity', a report released by activists in 2008 that demanded higher tax contribution from mining companies in Tanzania, Barrick made some caustic comments: "The authors' proposed changes in law to make the Tanzanian investment climate vastly less attractive for new investment could not possibly be any more insensitive to global economic reality. Such changes would only aggravate an already desperate economic picture for new investment in the sector and cast an even larger cloud over the long-term future of the gold mining industry in Tanzania."
Mining companies asked parliament in 2009 to consider postponing the reforms until the effects of the global crisis subsided, to which the MPs responded by saying that it would be "politically irresponsible" to do. All these were efforts aimed at blocking the 2010 Act pending major overhaul of some of the 'unfriendly' clauses to investors.
But, as the government struggled to defend its position, former President Benjamin Mkapa, whose regime is accused of introducing the bad Mining Act of 1998, was defending his actions, saying the so-called bad law was intended to benefit both the investors and the country.
To put things into perspective, Mkapa was seen as a pro-business leader while Kikwete was viewed as anti-investors during the process to introduce the Mining Act of 2010, which replaced the 1998 law. Just the fact that a poor country like Tanzania, had the audacity to introduce a law that went against the western corporate firms, financed and insured by the World Bank, was an insult to the big brothers.
To prove that there were more powerful forces at work, a cabinet minister strongly opposed the law in writing, calling it unfair to the international business community. When I read what the minister wrote, I was stunned because he was part of the cabinet that approved the 2009 minerals policy that finally paved the way for the introduction of the 2010 Mining Act.
Whether or not he was paid we shall never know for sure. Another cabinet minister denounced the proposed law two days before the Act was to be tabled in parliament under a certificate of urgency. Whether he was also paid to act the way he did is subject to debate, but his move was a clear indication of how external forces were at work to block major reforms in the mining sector.
Even after the Act was passed, the move to block the law continued, with this time key players in the industry lobbying to ensure that the president didn't assent to it to make it law. However, finally, the 2010 Act was assented by the president, making it an official law, and since then none of the foreign investors has closed down business.
My view is that President Kikwete might have erred in some areas, but one thing he did against all external pressure was to ensure reforms in the mining sector sailed through, which finally gave Tanzania a new good law which replaced the 1998 Act. Of course, having a good law is one thing. A bigger challenge is to have strong institutions to supervise the enforcement of that law.
Clarification: In our last week's series, Mining Analysis-3, we used the file picture of a senior USAID Director Pamela White, distributing condoms to small scale Tanzanite miners in Mererani some few years ago. The picture was intended to show the small scale miners who are key stakeholders in the main article and therefore wasn't by anyway intended to undermine the image of anybody.


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MyOwnersBox COLLEGE STACKITS Fabric Storage Cube University of South Carolina
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When your souvenir collection or file folders are getting out of hand, this MyOwnersBox NCAA® STACKITS fabric storage cube comes to the rescue! The firm, flat lid allows multiple STACKITS to be piled on top of one another, while an embroidered team logo exudes tons of varsity spirit.
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subset: commoncrawl


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by Bytesequencing.com,LLC
Developer Notes
Play the classic card game Hearts where the goal is to avoid taking hearts and the queen of spades. With quick play against either 3 challenging AI opponents or live play, hearts can provide hours of entertainment.
•normal and omnibus rules
•easy intuitive touch interface
Heart of Cards — If you like playing Hearts you'll love this app. That's exactly what it is. You can pick what rules you want to play by and you really get nice animations. It is also very easy to move your cards around which is a big plus considering that's what you need to do to play the game.


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Bamboo/Cotton Bedding
$34.00 - $169.00
Overview & Details
- 70% bamboo rayon/30% cotton sateen.
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- Available in a flat sheet, fitted sheet, pillow case, duvet cover and sham.
- Fitted sheets fit mattresses up to 14"deep.
- Duvet covers have corner ties that attach to the loops on our comforters, holding them securely in place.
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An inviting collection every night of the week, our 300-thread-count bamboo sheets are made from a blend of 70% bamboo rayon and 30% cotton. Why we love this combination: It's durable, breathable and divinely soft to the touch. A sateen weave gives it a silky shine and a smooth hand. Available exclusively at The Company Store®.


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Schinzel Giedion syndrome
Other Names for this Disease
- Schinzel Giedion midface-retraction syndrome
- Schinzel-Giedion syndrome
See Disclaimer regarding information on this site. Some links on this page may take you to organizations outside of the National Institutes of Health.
[1][2][3] Recurrent pneumonia, feeding intolerance, and seizures are frequent difficulties in the care of affected children.[4] The underlying genetic defect that causes the condition has not yet been identified.Schinzel-Giedion syndrome is a rare genetic syndrome. Common symptoms include kidney and urinary malformations, skeletal abnormalities, severe developmental delay, and a characteristic facial appearance.
Last updated: 1/20/2009
- Minn et al.. Further Clinical and Sensorial Delineation of Schinzel-Giedion Syndrome: Report of Two Cases. American Journal of Medical Genetics. 2002;
- Rr. P. Labrune. Schinzel-Giedion midface retraction syndrome. Orphanet. 2004; http://www.orpha.net/consor/cgi-bin/OC_Exp.php?Lng=GB&Expert=798. Accessed 10/30/2008.
- In: Gorlin RJ, Cohen MM, Hennekam RCM. Syndromes of the Head and Neck, 4th ed. 2001;
- Lehman AM, McFadden D, Pugash D, Sangha K, Gibson WT, Patel MS. Clinical Report Schinzel-Giedion Syndrome: Report of splenopancreatic fusion and proposed diagnostic criteria. American Journal of Medical Genetics. 2008;
GARD Video TutorialsLearn how to find information on treatment, research, specialists, and more.
Your Questions AnsweredView questions about this condition answered by GARD Information Specialists. You can also submit a new question.
On this page
Basic Information
- Genetics Home Reference (GHR) contains information on Schinzel Giedion syndrome. This website is maintained by the National Library of Medicine.
- The National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) is a federation of more than 130 nonprofit voluntary health organizations serving people with rare disorders. Click on the link to view information on this topic.
In Depth Information
- Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM) is a catalog of human genes and genetic disorders. Each entry has a summary of related medical articles. It is meant for health care professionals and researchers. OMIM is maintained by Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
- Orphanet is a European reference portal for information on rare diseases and orphan drugs. Access to this database is free of charge.
- PubMed is a searchable database of medical literature and lists journal articles that discuss Schinzel Giedion syndrome. Click on the link to view a sample search on this topic.
Other Names for this Disease
- Schinzel Giedion midface-retraction syndrome
- Schinzel-Giedion syndrome
See Disclaimer regarding information on this site. Some links on this page may take you to organizations outside of the National Institutes of Health.


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Individuals and families from North and Northeast often call the NAZ office, intrigued and excited by the possibilities this model and work present to the city of Minneapolis and our state, and wondering how they can get involved as volunteers. They are most often directed to the mentoring action team consisting of the three largest Best Practices Mentoring agencies in the city: Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Greater Twin Cities, Bolder Options and Kinship of Greater Minneapolis. A fourth partner on the team is the Mentoring Partnership of Minnesota.
There is great need for people to step forward—as individuals, couples, and families—to offer an hour or two a week to support a young person and become part of their successful transition into college bound students. The simple friendship and guidance of a consistent, caring adult friend outside of the family can change life outcomes drastically for children. Studies show that mentored children are 52 percent less likely to drop out of school or get involved with violent behavior and 46 percent less likely to use drugs. Mentoring is an effective way to help kids stay focused on reaching their potential in school and life.
Each of the three mentoring agencies has waiting lists of children living in the zone for whom families have requested a mentor. Each program is unique and prospective volunteers are encouraged to visit the northsideachievement.org website to learn more about the programming and commitment required from each agency.
Minnesota has a reputation for being an innovative, compassionate state—a place where families are supported and education valued. Help us put some muster behind the image—get involved. Join NAZ CEO Sondra Samuels who, with her family, has signed up to mentor. The success of our children depends on it.
Nancy TorrisonKinship of Greater Minneapolis, on NAZ Management Team


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Questions about TaxAct 2015? View our FAQs


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A list of student-submitted discussion questions for Reptile Ecology.
To encourage students' critical thinking about vocabulary concepts, to allow students to reflect on their knowledge of individual vocabulary words, and to increase vocabulary comprehension using the Vocabulary Self-Rate.
Addresses the use of the term "living fossils" pointing out that organisms change genetically if not phenotypically, thus "Living Fossil" is a misnomer. Provides another angle from which to understand natural selection.
Covers reptiles and their adaptations and lifestyles. Seeks to have students to consider how different organisms confront environmental challenges.
The structure, reproduction, classification, evolution, and ecology of reptiles are covered in this study guide.
These flashcards help you study important terms and vocabulary from Reptile Ecology.


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Worked With:
Lisa Ann Walter
Birth Name: Lisa Ann Walter
Born: 08/03/1963
Birth Place: Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
Born: 08/03/1963
Birth Place: Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
A petite, energetic comedienne and actress who has opened for The Band on the concert stage and starred in the short-lived Fox series "My Wildest Dreams" (1995), Lisa Ann Walter scored as Claudine, Whoopi Goldberg's best friend in the feature film "Eddie" (1995). She began her career as a young girl of six, and in the 90s was appearing Off-Broadway as Brandy in the South Street Theatre's production of "Battery". Walter began performing on the stand-up stage, where her act has been termed "boisterous" by critics, who have also spoken of her "well-built" frame, somewhat unusual for comediennes. This led to opening for The Band on their "Jericho" tour. Fox signed her in 1995 expecting series su... Continue Bio >>
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That's not just any camel; that's Mr. Sultan
Hi, Johnnie!: If you drive out 287 north of Longmont and look in the "pens" just south of Duran's Hobby Acres, there are several small horses. In the pen to the west of the horses, there is another pen, which … Continue reading
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Eastern Mediterranean conifer-sclerophyllous-broadleaf forests
Habitat along the Jordan River. Source: Creative Commons
The Eastern Mediterranean conifer-sclerophyllous-broadleaf forests ecoregion lies in the heart of the Middle East along the Levantine Sea coasts of Turkey, Syria, Lebanon and Israel, as well as in the neighbouring coastal plains and lowlands. Major avian migratory routes pass through this Palaearctic realm, contributing to its status as an area of high bird biodiversity. There is considerable flora and fauna species richness in the ecoregion, with 522 vertebrate taxa being recorded here. The ecoregion is also home to a number of globally threatened wildlife species, including the critically endangered Northern Bald Ibis (Geronticus eremita CR) and Mediterranean Monk Seal (Monachus monachus CR), the endangered Loggerhead Sea Turtle (Caretta caretta EN) and the endangered Euphrates Softshell Turtle (Rafetus euphraticus EN), and the vulnerable Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca VU). This raptor's territory overlaps with that of the Fertile Crescent, an area which supported some of the early human civilisations, and offers an important record of the interactions between man and nature from prehistoric time to present.
Location and general depiction
Eastern Mediterranean conifer-scelophyllous-broadleaf forests. WWF This ecoregion is situated in the eastern and southeastern region of the Mediterranean Basin. It starts in the western part of Turkey's Mediterranean coastal region, extends east along the coastal zone through southeastern Anatolia and then forks into two branches. The first branch continues largely eastward, encompassing most of the Turkish-Syrian border, and the second branch turns south along the Levantine Sea coast into Lebanon, Israel and Jordan. This ecoregion has three main components:
- The southern Mediterranean coastal zone of Anatolia starting from Kemer in the west and extending through Iskenderun Bay in the east: From north to south, this ecoregion extends from the southern skirts of the Taurus Mountains through the coastal zone. Because these mountains affect temperature and precipitation regimes, they delineate the inland boundaries of the ecoregion. The Aksu, Goksu, Seyhan, and Ceyhan Rivers and their associated plains constitute both the chief river systems of the area and the lowlands that represent the ecoregion's inland-most extensions.
- Southeastern Anatolia and the Northern Syrian Basin: This is an inland region in the general area of the Turkish-Syrian border. Here, the northern boundary is delineated by the Anti-Taurus Mountains and the southern boundary is determined by the Syrian Desert. The Euphrates River and part of the Tigris River form the principal valleys of the region, which is heavily influenced by desert. Since this is the driest part of the ecoregion, these two rivers are the principal biological focal points.
- Syrian, Lebanese, Israeli and Jordanian plains excluding the Levantine Mountains: From southern Anatolia to northeast Africa, this area represents one of the most diverse segments of Rift Valley habitat. The Palestinian coastal plains, the lowlands of Syria and Lebanon, and the northern parts of the Rift Valley are the chief topographical formations of the region. The Jordan River green belt is also noteworthy.
The climate is characterized by warm, rainy winters and arid, hot summers. Precipitation amounts decrease from west to east, ranging from 1000 to 1250 millimetres (mm) around Antalya, 600 to 800 mm in Mersin, Adana, and Iskenderun Bay, 400 mm around Mesopotamia, and lower amounts in the Syrian basin. In the coastal plains of the southern part of the ecoregion, precipitation reaches 600 to 850 mm around Beirut, Akko, and Zefad, and decreases to about 400 mm in southern Israel.
The relatively harsh climatic conditions and the long history of human settlement constitute two major factors affecting the flora and fauna in this ecoregion. Macro-botanical evidence indicates that deleterious effects of human activities became evident in the region as early as 3000 BC. Since that time, high temperatures, low atmospheric humidity, and poor soil conditions have impeded the vegetation from recovering after human disturbances. There are a number of special status taxa that are found in the Eastern Mediterranean conifer-sclerophyllous-broadleaf forests, denoted by the increasing threat gradations of Lower Risk (LR), Near Threatened (NT), Vulnerable (VU), Endangered (EN), or Critically Endangered (CR).
Vegetative communities
The vegetation of this ecoregion can be organized into three main groups: (1) broadleaf sclerophyllus vegetation (maquis); (2) coniferous forests of Aleppo Pine (Pinus halepensis) and Callabrian Pine (Pinus brutia); and (3) various associations of drought tolerant oak (Quercus spp.) woodlands and steppe formations. Here, although the Amanus Mountains and the Anti-Taurus Mountains in the north are not part of this ecoregion, their presence is important, since they serve as topographic barriers between this region's western, eastern, and southern parts. Since they affect the distribution of humid weather, these geographical barriers have an impact on species composition and the physiognomy of the vegetation.
Maquis is dominant, especially in the northwestern part of the ecoregion and along the eastern coastal zone of the Levantine Sea. Olive (Olea europea), Carob (Ceratonia siliqua), Kermes Oak (Quercus coccifera), Cyprus Turpentine (Pistacia terebinthus), Mastic Tree (P. lentiscus), and Greek Strawberry Tree (Arbutus andrachne) are the chief tree taxa of this maquis community. In addition, however, over forty sclerophyllus species also occur here, including: Green Olive Tree (Phillyrea latifolia), Cypress Turpentine (Pistacia terebinthus), Spiny Broom (Calicotome villosa), Genista micrantha, Rhamnus lycioides oleoides, Myrtle (Myrtus communis), Bay Laurel (Laurus nobilis), Drug Snowbell (Styrax officinalis), and Spanish Broom (Spartium junceum).
Although the Olea-Ceratonia alliance in the coastal belt is greatly degraded, it nevertheless represents the climax community. The Ceratonia siliqua tree layer in particular is so degraded that it is only represented by a few individuals. Olive (Olea europea) forms robust communities surrounding Antalya-Köprülü Kanyon and Adana-Feke. One of the most widespread and important communities of this ecoregion is the Kermes oak (Quercus coccifera) community. Its high ecological tolerance and capacity to recover in degraded Pinus brutia forests make it one of the most dominant vegetation types. Another noteworthy oak is the community of the endemic species Boz-pirnal Oak (Quercus aucheri LR/NT), located near Antalya-Kemer-Faselis.
The maquis formation in the southern part of the ecoregion has quite different features from the more common Mediterranean maquis formation. Due to a drier climate and higher temperatures, and since it is greatly influenced by the Irano-Turanian phytogeographic realm, the southern maquis formation exhibits many deciduous species.
Coniferous forests
Calabrian Pine (Pinus brutia LR/NT) and Aleppo Pine (P. halepensis) are the dominant tree species in the forests of this ecoregion. P. brutia predominates in the northern parts of the ecoregion and P. halepensis is dominant species further to the south. The two species have similar ecological features, and both taxa are known for their high ecological tolerance. Although they can be found from sea level up to 1800 metres, neither grows naturally in the Mesopotamian part of the region. A few remnant stands of Stone Pine (Pinus pinea) accompany the southernmost distribution of Pontic Rhododendron (Rhododendron ponticum), which is a characteristic species of Euxinic vegetation..
There are good examples of Pinus brutia forest around Mersin, Silifke, Tarsus, Anamur, Gazipaşa, Pos, Adana, and Sarıçam. Usually, elements of maquis vegetation are common in the understory. Also, as these forests are influenced by the sea, they are irregular in shape and their biomass accumulation is slower than elsewhere. Pinus halepensis, in the southern part of the ecoregion, is highly degraded due to the harsh environmental conditions and human impacts.
The coastal plains of the upper Jordan Valley are dominated by Thatching Grass (Hyparrhenia hirta), with scattered thorny shrubs and small trees such as Jerusalem Thorn (Paliurus spina-christi), Lac Sumach (Rhus tripartita), and Bean Clover (Anagyris foetida).
Oak woodlands
The eastern part of the ecoregion is poorer in terms of woody vegetation since it receives only 400 to 500 mm of annual precipitation. A line running through Viranşehir delineates the boundary between the desert and the Mediterranean formation. One of the main factors linking this xeric eastern area to the Mediterranean part of the ecoregion is the existence of Olive (Olea europea) and other shrub communities that incorporate Mediterranean elements. This part of the ecoregion runs in a west-east direction and ends around Cizre, near the Turkish-Syrian-Iraqi border, extending a distance of approximately 500 to 600 kilometres.
Close-up of the Caper flower. Source: J.E.& Bonnie McClellan/EoL This eastern area, which primarily covers the Anatolian and Syrian parts of the ecoregion, supports xeric vegetation dominated chiefly by chamaephytic (dwarf shrub) and hemicrophytic plants such as White Wormwood (Artemisia herba-alba), Phlomis bruguieri, Cousinia stenocephala, Caper (Capparis ovata), Hulwort (Teucrium polium), Phlomis kurdica, Astragalus caprinus caprinus, and Diffuse Knapweed (Centaurea diffusa). At higher altitudes (about 700 metres) Valonia Oak (Quercus ithaburensis), Turkey Oak (Q. cerris), Brant's Oak (Q. brantii), and Boissier Oak (Q. infectoria boissieri) comprise the dominant trees in deciduous oak woodland communities. Except for the shrub formations, these woodlands constitute the only woody community in this part of the ecoregion. Euphrates Poplar (Populus euphratica) and Almond Willow (Salix triandra) make up the dominant trees of tree community that forms gallery forests along segments of the Euphrates, Tigris, and Jordan Rivers.. Amygdalus arabica, Cerasus microcarpa, Perfumed Cherry (C. mahaleb), Judas Tree (Cercis siliquastrum), Common Fig (Ficus carica), Montpellier Maple (Acer monspessulanum), Crateagus taurica, Pyrus syriaca, Oriental Hackberry (Celtis tournefortii), Pistacia khinjuk, and Pistachio Nut tree (P. vera) are the principal species forming shrub communities in those gallery forests.
Biodiversity details
This ecoregion is not home to as many endemic species as the adjacent Taurus and Amanos Mountains. However one of its most important features is the nature-based component of Mediterranean culture. Olive (Olea europea), Carob (Cerotonia siliqua), and species within the genus Ficus are all significant plants in the local human culture. They are significant not only for their edible fruits but also for their ornamental, pharmaceutical, and medicinal uses. They provide fodder for livestock, shade during the hot Mediterranean summers, and fuelwood. In addition, their strong regenerative capacity enables them to recover more easily after repeated human use.
The Mediterranean Basin is an important area for agro-pastoral systems. Recently, such systems have attracted special interest since the mosaic of habitats they can create is thought by some to enhance biodiversity. However, from the perspective of natural succession, ecosystem maturity and ecological processes, the impact of agro-pastoral systems is still being debated in the development of conservation strategies..
The Mesopotamian part of this ecoregion falls within what is referred to as the Fertile Crescent, an area of valuable agricultural land that supported some of the earliest human civilizations. Human settlement and agriculture here date back to the early Holocene, a key factor underlaying the enormous genetic diversity among the area's crop species. Some of the wild relatives of agricultural plants that occur here include species in such genera as Wheat (Triticum), Lentil (Lens), Vetchling (Lathyrus), Pea (Pisum), Sainfoin (Onobrychis), and Clover (Trifolium). For example, four species of Wheat (Triticum baeoticum, T. dicoccoioes, T. durum, and T. aestivum) can be found in this ecoregion. These species constitute a critical resource, since artificial selection processes have narrowed the gene pool of this important grain crop.
This ecoregion hosts a number of noteworthy floristic features and endemic species. Boz-Pirnal Oak (Quercus aucheri) is an endemic tree species with a narrow and scattered distribution limited to southwestern Anatolia. A very large and well preserved dune system lies between Anamur and Mersin; it supports enclaves of Euro-Siberian elements such as Caucasian Walnut (Pterocarya fraxinifolia), English Yew (Taxus baccata), European Cornel (Cornus mas), C. sanguinea australis, Common Nipplewort (Lapsana communis), Dorycnium graecum, and Woolly Blackberry (Rubus canescens). Part of the region between Gülnar, Gilindere, Ermenek, and Karaman is rich in narrow endemics of Verbascum spp. The Çukurova plain hosts endemics that are threatened largely due to intensive agricultural activities; these include the Beet (Beta vulgaris adanensis), Linum anisocalyx, Trigonella halophila, and Bromus psammophilus.
This ecoregion is an important area of avian biodiversity because it is situated on one of the world's major avian migratory routes. The Upper Rift Valley extends into the ecoregion around Israel, and Jordan, reaching from the Levantine Mountains in Lebanon and the Syrian plains to the Belen Pass. This area thus supports the continuation of a key migratory route from Africa on to the north.
In addition, there are six Important Bird Areas (IBAs) in the western part of this ecoregion. From west to east they are: the Goksu Delta, the Aydincik Islands, Tuzla Lake, Akyatan Lake, Agyatan Lake, and Yumurtalik Lagoon. The Goksu Delta supports numerous avian taxa, including: Pygmy Cormorant (Phalacrocorax pygmeus). In the Goksu Delta there are a number of threatened bird species, such as, Dalmatian Pelican (Pelecanus crispus VU); Marbled Duck (Marmaronetta angustirostris VU), classified as Vulnerable on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources Red List; Ferruginous Duck (Aythya nyroca NT), Greater Spotted Eagle (Aquila clanga VU), and Imperial Eagle (A. heliaca VU). Akyatan Lake, Agyatan Lake and Yumurtalik Lagoon all belong to the same system and support important species such as the Marbled Duck (Marmaronetta angustirostris VU), Black Francolin (Francolinus francolinus), Purple Swamphen (Porphyrio porphyrio), Stone Curlew (Burhinus oedicnemus), Kentish Plover (Charadrius alexandrinus), Spur-winged Lapwing (Vanellus spinosus), Little Tern (Sterna albifrons) and a large number of waterfowl..
A population of the critically endangered bald ibis (Geronticus eremita) occurs in this ecoregion. The only population in Turkey, with 61 pairs, it cannot survive completely in the wild, however; it lives in a breeding station in Birecik, and flies free during the breeding season. The other remaining population of this species, in Morocco, is wild and in good condition with 250 pairs.
A number of large mammal species inhabit this ecoregion. Gazelles (Gazella subgutturosa), which once enjoyed a wider distribution, are now mainly confined to southeastern Turkey. Their population has been greatly reduced during the last 50 years, and the wild population is believed to number less than 500. There is a captive population in Urfa-Ceylanpınar. The Caracal (Caracal caracal) inhabits the arid hilly steppe desert and mountain terrain to which it is adapted, and Wild Boar (Sus scrofa) are found in wooded hills and forests. Striped Hyaena (Hyaena hyaena) are distributed from Turkey to Iraq; however, the population in Turkey is fragmented and believed to include fewer than 250 individuals. The Asia Minor Ground Squirrel (Spermophilus xanthoprymnus NT) is a near-endemic found chiefly on open steppe in Anatolian Turkey. Another special status mammal in the ecoregion is the Euphrates Jerboa (Allactaga euphratica NT), who, like all its genus members, is nocturnal with daytimes spent in burrows.
The Gray Wolf (Canis lupus) has been virtually extirpated from many parts of the ecoregion, although there are rare reports of sightings in areas near the mountains. Golden jackal (Canis aureus) is distributed throughout the ecoregion; it may have expanded into the areas that were once occupied by wolves. The Golden Jackal is the most widely distributed apex predator in the ecoregion. Small carnivores such as the Eurasian Badger (Meles meles), Stone Marten (Martes foina), and Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) can be found in favourable habitat. Egyptian Mongoose (Herpestes ichneumon), which prefers areas with water and dense plant cover, can be found in scrub habitat bordering cultivated plains.
The endangered Euphrates Softshell Turtle (Rafetus euphraticus EN) is a characteristic aquatic species here and is distributed throughout the streams of the ecoregion. Southeastern Anatolia, Syria, and Iraq constitute important areas of distribution for this species.
The endangered Loggerhead Sea Turtle (Caretta caretta EN) and the critically endangered Mediterranean Monk Seal (Monachus monachus) are flagship species for marine conservation activities in Turkey. The country's Mediterranean coastal zone provide these two marine species with some of their most important nesting sites, and nine of the country's seventeen Caretta caretta nesting sites lie within the boundaries of this ecoregion. Habitat destruction poses the main threat to both species, since the nesting sites are located in areas coinciding with high tourism intensity. Another key threat for the Mediterrean Monk Seal (Monachus monachus CR) is mortality from accidental capture by net fishermen.
Current ecological status
There are three national parks within the Turkish areas of this ecoregion: Köprülü Canyon (36,614 hectares) and Olimpos-Beydağları in Antalya (34,425 ha), and Karatepe Aslantaş in Adana (7715 hectares). Karatepe Aslantaş National Park is an archeological park dedicated to the protection of ruins from the Hittite Civilization. Köprülü Canyon is important in terms of plant biodiversity, sheltering high numbers of endemic species as well as a 500 hectare stand of native Mediterrean Cyprus (Cupressus sempervirens). Although this tree is not classified as a rare species, this forest type is extremely rare and the stand in Köprülü Canyon is the only known example in Turkey. Olimpos-Beydağları National Park is an extension of the Beydağları range and includes Taurus fir (Abies cilicica), Cedar of Lebanon (Cedrus libani), and Callabrian Pine (Pinus brutia) forests and maquis communities. It is also possible to find one of two natural populations of the narrow endemic species Datça Palm (Phoenix theophrasti LR/NT).
There are two nature reserves in the Turkish areas of this ecoregion. The Sütçüler Sığla Ormanı Nature Reserve is dedicated to the conservation of the Oriental Sweetgum (Liquidambar orientalis), a narrow endemic tree species which occurs as a riverine community along the Karacaören Stream. The second reserve is the Akyatağan Lagoon, which protects a complex system of terrestrial and lacustrine communities.
The Authority for Specially Protected Areas in Turkey (ASPA) has declared two Specially Protected Areas (SPAs) in the area under consideration: Belek (Antalya) and Goksu Delta (Mersin). These sites are mainly intended to address the impacts of construction activities in the coastal zone, but they also engage in the conservation and monitoring of Caretta caretta nesting sites.
Types and severity of threats
The Mediterranean region and the Middle East are among the most degraded areas in the world due to their long history of heavy human settlement. Most coastal sites are heavily impacted by both tourism and agriculture. While agricultural activities destroy natural habitats in the lowland plains, tourism destroys coastal dunes, one of the most fragile and rare habitat types. Maquis is another important natural formation that suffers from human activities, but its biodiversity is usually underappreciated as it is structurally quite different from the forest. Human-caused fire is another important cause of forest habitat destruction, and intensive grazing prevents the development of seedlings into mature plants. Although in most cases ecosystems have the capability to recover on their own, continual human pressures in these areas impede the normal forest regeneration processes. In the eastern part of the ecoregion agriculture is so extensive that, except in the hilly areas, all the natural vegetation has been converted to fields. Even in the hilly areas, natural communities are highly degraded due to overgrazing.
Extensive agricultural activities also threaten bird communities. Overuse of herbicides, insecticides and fertilizers kills many birds every year. One of the best examples of this is offered by the Northern Bald Ibis (Geronticus eremita CR) population in Birecik-Urfa. As noted above, this is the only Turkish population of this species, and one of two populations in the world. Its breeding site is located along the Euphrates River, and each year new hatchlings die from insecticide or herbicide poisoning.
Dams constructed on the Euphrates and Tigris rivers also pose threats to the natural habitats of this ecoregion. The dams have destroyed the integrity of these rivers and isolated many species to areas between the dams. One notable species that has suffered from the dams is the endangered Euphrates Softshell Turtle (Rafetus euphraticus EN).
Justification of ecoregion delineation
This ecoregion was developed to include the following formations as identified by Guidotti et al.(1986): the eastern Mediterranean evergreen oak forests and woodlands, Middle East evergreen tree steppes, the eastern Mediterranean evergreen scrub maquis, and the southeastern Anatolia and Middle East lowland dry conifer forests.
- H.R. Akçakaya. 1990. Bald ibis (Geronticus eremita) population in Turkey: An evaluation of the captive-breeding project for reintroduction. Biological Conservation 51: 225-237
- Y. Ayaşlıgil. 1987. Der Köprülü National Park. Seine Vegetation und ihre Beeniflussung durch den Menschen. Weihenstephan.
- Y. Akman. 1995. Türkiye Orman Vejetasyonu. Ankara Üniversitesi Yayınları. Ankara, Turkey.
- I. Atalay. 1994. Türkiye Vejetasyon Coğrafyası. Ege Üniversitesi Basımevi. İzmir, Turkey.
- I. Baran. and M. Atatür. 1998. Türkiye Herpetofaunsası (Kurbağa ve Sürüngenler). Çevre Bakanlığı. Ankara, Turkey.
- L. Boulos, A.G. Miller, and R.R. Mill. 1994. South West Asia and the Middle East. Pages 293-349 in S.D. Davis, V.H. Heywood, and A.C. Hamilton, editors. Centers of Plant Diversity. Information Press, Oxford, England. [{{ISBN| |1=2831701988}}]
- Can, Ö. 2000. Türkiye'nin büyük memeli hayvanları projesi. Kelaynak 28: 4-5.
- Davis, P.H. 1971. Distribution patterns in Anatolia with particular reference to endemism. Pages 15-27 in P.H. Davis, P.C. Harper, and I.C. Hedge, editors. Plant Life of South-West Asia. Botanical Society of Edinburgh.
- Ekim, T. 1994. GAP Bölgesi Bitkileri: GAP Bölgesinde bitki örtüsü ve ormanlar tartışmalı bildirisi, Ankara, Turkey.
- N. Feinburn. 1959. Spontaneous Pineta in the Lebanon. Bull. Res. Council. Israel 7D:132-153.
- G. Guidotti, P. Regato and S. Jimenez-Caballero. 1986. The Major Forest Types in the Mediterranean. World Wildlife Fund, Rome, Italy.
- Handel-Mazetti, H.v. 1914. Die Vegetationsverhaltnisse mvon Mesopotamien und Kurdistan. Ann. Naturh. Hofmus. Wien 28: 48-ııı, pls. 3-8.
- (KÇOSAD) Kırsal Çevre ve Ormancılık Sorunları Araştırma Derneği. 2000. Türkiye'nin Tabiatı Koruma Alanları. Dönmez Ofset. Ankara.
- G. Magnin and M. Yarar. 1997. Important Bird Areas in Turkey. Doğal Hayatı Koruma Derneği. İstanbul, Turkey. ISBN 1=9759608170
- N. Miller. 1998. The macrobotanical evidence for vegetation in the Near East c. 18.000/16.000 BC to 4.000 BC. Paléorient 23/2: 197-207.
- Research Association for Rural Environment and Forest. 2000. Turkiye'nin Tabiati Koruma Alanlari. Donmez Ofset. Ankara, Turkey.
- Schwarz, O. 1936: Die Vegetationsverhaltnisse Westanatoliens. Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 67.
- T. Uslu. 1977. A plant ecological and sociological research on the dune and maquis vegetation between Mersin and Silifke. Comm. Fac. Sci. Univ. Ankara. Ser. C2: Bot. 21 (Suppl. 1):1-60
- S. Yerli and F. Demirayak. 1996. Turkiye'de Deniz Kaplumbagalari ve Ureme Kumsallari Uzerine bir Degerlendirme' 95. Dogal Hayati Koruma Dernegi. Istanbul, Turkey.
- W. Zech and N. Çepel. 1972. Beziehungen zwischen Boden- und Reliefeigenschaften und der Wuchsleistung von Pinus brutia – Bestanden in Südanatolien. İ.Ü. Orman Fakültesi Yayınları 1753/191.
- Zohary, M. 1973. Geobotanical Foundations of the Middle East. 2 vols. Fischer, Sttutgart, and Sweets and Zeitlinger, Amsterdam. 739 pp.
Disclaimer: This article contains certain information that was originally published by the World Wildlife Fund. Topic editors and authors for the Encyclopedia of Earth have edited its content and added new information. The use of information from the World Wildlife Fund should not be construed as support for or endorsement by that organization for any new information added by EoE.


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Cubs Need New Closer, Right?
I would be greatly disappointed if Carlos Marmol returns as the Cubs closer next year. And I think it's fair to say I wouldn't be the only one.
Marmol's frequent inability to throw strikes has largely accounted for his 10 blown saves this season–the most in the majors.
Walks, in particular, are a closer's worst enemy and Carlos has 46 in just 73 innings.
That alone is the definition of a closer beating himself, and it's apparent the opposition has caught on given Marmol's above 6.00 ERA over his last 35 appearances.
His overall numbers are not any better. A (2-6) record and unsightly 3.86 ERA are unfavorable compared to the rest of the league's best shut-down men.
For one thing, eight of the top-10 closers in MLB have an ERA less than 3.00, and six post an ERA less than 2.50.
Not surprisingly, half the top-10 closers will be pitching in the postseason. Just more proof the Cubs won't win with a guy as unpredictable as Marmol closing games.
As I've said before, however, just because Marmol isn't suited for the closer's role doesn't mean he's not a valuable arm in the late innings.
With the Cubs sporting the major's third best improvement in bullpen ERA since last season, adding Marmol along side Sean Marshall would be an added bonus come April.
But acquiring a top-of-the-line closer has become yet another priority for the Cubs during this most important offseason.
Marmol, unfortunately, isn't the best answer in the ninth. Any GM can see that, right?


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Friends of a local family are coming together to help one of their own.
Hometown Pizza of La Grange is hosting a Hope for Hayli concert and fundraiser August 6 from 6 to 11 p.m.
Hope for Hayli is an organization dedicated to helping Hayli Ann Nobles.
Amanda and Mike Nobles' one-year-old daughter Hayli was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia, a form of leukemia rarely found in anyone under the age of 40.
Hayli was diagnosed in January and has been receiving treatment at St. Jude's Children Hospital in Memphis.
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hhmmm…I don't have a layout button. I have a "design" button and it takes me to some crazy page. And I CANNOT get the color of my post title to change – it's driving me nuts!
How do people get random pictures onto there blog – where do they get them from and how do you get the photos in the right sequence when showing a tutorial and then the writing in between.
Sorry probably very easy but I amnot sure
I would love to know how to make my linkbar fancier- is that what it's called? The links to my pages. Thanks for all your great tutorials!
I would love to know how EASILY use fonts from our computer instead of the boring default fonts. I am also with artsy_momma and want to know how to spruce up the 'menu' of links under the header so that it isn't the same font and size as the post titles. Thanks so much for the great tutorials- slowly but surely my blog is getting prettier!
FUN fonts would be great! I would like to know if there is any way, besides a message to my email, to be notified of new comments or followers…
I am trying to figure out HOW TO EMAIL people who have commented on my blog. I would LOVE to respond to them–but I can't figure out how!! I am new at this whole blogging thing and would love some help!! firstname.lastname@example.com
I would love to know how to make a header with pictures that change!


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Win a Marc Jacobs Watch
11:09 31 May 2012
This simply stunning Marc by Marc Jacobs watch would look great on any womens wrist and is a wonderful prize for you or maybe to treat a loved one.
It features a round rose gold dial, with 3 chrono sub-dials and date display at 3 o'clock. It has a quartz movement and scratch resistant glass, with a Marc by Marc Jacobs logo on the bezel and is secured by a sleek steel bracelet with deployment clasp.
Perfect for any formal occasion or for everyday use, it will suit your work attire, an evening dress or just a casual pair of jeans and a t-shirt.
This prize draw closes on Saturday, 30 June 2012 Terms and Conditions


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Difference between revisions of "Reporting Bugs"
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Revision as of 16:15, March 16, 2014
The Funtoo community's goal is to provide a seamless and problem-free computing experience, and we take all bugs seriously. Please use the following resources for reporting bugs, technical support, and troubleshooting assistance:
Our IRC channels are available for informal, real-time technical support and troubleshooting. Please use Funtoo channels rather than Gentoo channels for Funtoo Linux support.
Support Forums
The following Web-based discussion resources are specifically created for community-based support and troubleshooting, and are monitored by the Funtoo Linux core team.
- Funtoo Linux Install Central - Web-based help with installation.
- Tech Support/Troubleshooting - Web-based general troubleshooting assistance.
- Hardware Compatibility - Web-based assistance with hardware compatibility issues.
Bug tracker
We are using JIRA for tracking Funtoo Linux issues. See bugs.funtoo.org to access the bug tracker.
For information on how to properly use the bug tracker, see below.
How To Report Bugs
- Create a JIRA account at bugs.funtoo.org.
- Go to Issues -> Create Issue
- Set Issue Type to "Bug".
- For Summary, enter a clear description of the defect.
- For Description, enter:
- a clear, detailed description of the problem
- clear steps to reproduce the problem
- output of the failure
- a description of what you expected to happen instead of the failure
When your issue is created, it will have a short name such as FL-17 that can be used to reference it.
Each issue is intended to track a specific defect in Funtoo Linux. Please respect the focus of each individual issue. Use the mailing lists and forums for general discussion.
Bug Status
When bugs are first reported, they are marked as Awaiting Review. This means that they are waiting to be reviewed by Daniel Robbins and the Funtoo Linux Core Team. Once reviewed and possibly revised somewhat, they will be moved into Queued status. This means that the bug has been accepted and is in queue to being fixed. When a developer starts working on the bug, it will move to In Progress status. This means that the bug is being actively worked on. When the bug is resolved, it will move to Test/Integration status, which means that it will now be tested and fully integrated into Funtoo Linux. When it has been fully integrated into Funtoo Linux, it will be marked as Closed, and the resolution will be set appropriately.
There are a few other statuses that are used. Upstream Review is used when a bug is submitted to an upstream project and is awaiting review or feedback. This status should not be used as a permanent resolution for a bug; it is just a temporary status. There is also a Community Discussion status. This status is used when we are actively requesting community feedback. In general, we want to use JIRA as a way to have a very focused discussion about a specific bug, so we don't want the bug comments to be used like forums posts as a type of general discussion. The Community Discussion status is used to allow a bit more open discussion (within reason) for a period of time when necessary.
Fixing Bugs
When developers fix bugs, they can reference the issue(s) being fixed in the git commit message, by saying something like "This fixes FL-22". The funtoo-overlay and flora repositories are integrated with JIRA, so you will be able to see links to these commits by going to the Commits tab for the issue.
funtoo-dev Mailing List
The funtoo-dev mailing list should be used for reporting vetted bugs or issues that have not been resolved on IRC or the support forums. We request that you do not use the mailing list for general troubleshooting or technical support, but instead try to use IRC or the support forums first, and then escalate to the funtoo-dev mailing list if your problem is unresolved within a reasonable time frame.
Upstream Bug Reporting
Sometimes, it may be necessary to report bugs upstream, particularly to Gentoo's Bugzilla. You should be aware that Gentoo Linux has a habit of marking reported bugs as INVALID simply because you are running Funtoo Linux, even if they are clearly related to ebuilds that have originated from Gentoo Linux. While we find this policy to be questionable and unfortunate, it does mean that reporting bugs to Gentoo's Bugzilla must be handled with great care. Please follow these steps:
- Try to get your bug resolved through the Funtoo Linux community resources and funtoo-dev mailing list first.
- If you feel it is necessary to file a bug with Gentoo, please inform the Funtoo core team that you are doing so, indicate that you are using Funtoo Linux in the bug report, also mention the troubleshooting steps you have performed so far (on Funtoo infrastructure), and add email@example.com to the CC field on your bug report so that I can personally track the status of these bug reports and get involved as necessary.


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Garden Tool Arch
This item is currently not available.
Additional Information
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Oversize garden tools form a big, bold arch for a fanciful and dramatic landscape accent. At 9' high, this is a stunning and unique piece of art that proclaims your passion for gardening. It's plenty wide, too, for wheeling our biggest garden cart or strolling through side-by-side. Adorn with climbing vines for even more drama. The brilliant red really pops against a green landscape; Rustic is a more subtle color but just as fun.
Product Details
- 1" tubular and 1/2" solid powder-coated steel
- 72" W x 10" D x 108" H
- Base pieces have easel braces in back; therefore, arch is best viewed from the front
- Includes four 8" ground stakes
- We recommend embedding bases in concrete for extra stability, especially in sandy soils
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Join me in this thread for another speed scrap at 9pm eastern! I promise I won't be too hard on you!!!
The theme for this speed scrap will be Friendship which goes along with our theme for this month's collab kit! So be ready to pick a/some digiscrapper friend(s) of yours to scrap about....
Of course, anyone who participates will get a coordinating participation bonus and one lucky random participant will win a $5 coupon to my store!
GDS is on eastern time and so you can visit the world clock to figure out what time 9pm eastern is for you! http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/.
I know how us multi-tasking women get going on lots of things so you can request an email reminder here so you don't miss it!
Participation counts toward Scrappin '7!
See ya Friday night! Be back later to post previews of the bonuses!!!


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A random-textured professional surface that will allow lifting and scraping applications. Popular with watercolorists because of the fine and even washes that can be achieved. Acid-free. 140 lb (300 gsm). 5-1/2" x 8-1/2" and 12" x 12" sizes are tape bound. All other sizes are wire bound on the shor
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It looks really interesting ^.^
I can't wait to see what you do with it!
It looks really interesting ^.^
I can't wait to see what you do with it!
Have you "liked" a post today?
Ooooo it's looking so lovely already ^.^
Have you "liked" a post today?
I suspect you might be violating river laws. Rivers typically do not split into multiple channels, as you have depicted on the plateau.
Pretty sure there could be an exception, though, with all those cliffs/falls... Like Goat Island in Niagara (which I should finish mapping >.< )
The river splits in like 10 places cause theres SO much water and so many big drops
Dunno if that applies here, but just saaying
Have you "liked" a post today?
It is entirely possible, it could be a delta. Anyway, I'm not sure if the rivers officers are still around. You know, union breaks...
It does happen, as I have said on another map. I even checked and wikipedia has found 7 instances where this happens in real life. Worldwide. That said, it's quite rare.
Easy, I would cut the river, that connects the lake in the south with the river system north west of the mountains. From the many river outlets, this looks like the mountains there are quite massive and it would require the water to flow upwards quite a bit to flow over those mountains. Sure, with enough water pressure, the water could break its way through, but this pressure will not happen, since it is connected to the ocean already on both sides.
The Plateau think is different. You looked at a river delta, I guess.
The problems are, that
1. This does not scale up. The Nile delta already is almost impossibly huge. If it was not real, it would not be realistic. Yours is magnitudes bigger.
2. It really just works at the coast or really big lakes (where the sediments have time to set to the ground and are not simply washed down the waterfall. ).
At least remove the first disjunction on the top plateau, maybe a few more. One or two can fall under the "it's unlikely but possible" but when it's too many it looks weired.


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Continuing Education Can Help Jump Start Your Career
Submitted on January 17, 2012 at 4:06 PM
New career skills don't just happen, you need to seek them out. Volunteer State Community College Continuing Education can help. Whether it's finding an entirely new career path or fine-tuning your knowledge, non-credit classes are designed to assist workers and employers.
A new set of classes in the Leadership Compass Program will teach skills such as Building Trust, High-Payoff Hiring, Customer Service and the Awesome Powers of Persuasion. Each class meets one time, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month. That allows participants to take several courses or businesses can send different employees to different classes.
Fiber Optic Technician training gives students the hands-on skills they need for the high-tech field. The new Certified Fiber Optic Technician Outside Plant class prepares students for the certification exam. It will be held in one weekend starting February 9. Vol State offers several Fiber Optics courses each semester.
Six Sigma, Lean Six Sigma. TOSHA and a wide variety of computer training courses are part of the dozens of in-person and online courses offered throughout the spring semester. For a complete list visit www.volstate.edu/ContinuingEd or call 615-230-3358.
A service provided by the Office of Public Relations.


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FORT WAYNE, Ind. (21 Alive) - Northrop's girls will try for their second straight girls state track title and eleventh all time Friday night at the state meet in Bloomington, following wins at the sectional and regional level.
It will require a near perfect meet for the Lady Bruins, who have individuals qualified in just three events along with two relay teams.
And one girl, Amber McGee, is in four events herself.
It will not be easy, but the Bruins feel they have a chance.
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text: There's nothing like a creamy, piping-hot chicken pot pie to remind you of home. Now you can savor that old-fashioned flavor whenever you like with these classic pot pies prepared by the expert cooks at The Perfect Bite Co. A rich, creamy béchamel sauce is simmered with tender chunks of chicken, butternut squash, carrots, mushrooms, snow peas and other vegetables, then crowned with a puff pastry top that bakes in your oven to light, fluffy perfection. These pot pies are generously sized so you've got a fast weeknight meal or an easy dinner party dish ready at a moment's notice. Each pie arrives in a reusable porcelain ramekin.


text: From MICHAEL Michael Kors a stunning python-embossed glazed leather tote with a little edge and a lot of style. Snap closure, detachable shoulder strap, silver hardware, logo plate detail, hanging MK logo circle, plus lined interior with zip and open pockets. Dimensions: 16"L x 5"W x 11"H. 5" handle drop and 15" shoulder strap drop.


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Grandma Wilma
Revision as of 22:39, January 20, 2012 by Crimsonnavy (Talk | contribs)
12,920pages on
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| Grandma Wilma
(タツばあさん Grandma Tatsu)
|Move Tutor
|First Appearance:
|Diamond and Pearl (Games)
Grandma Wilma or simply Wilma, (Japanese: タツばあさん Grandma Tatsu) is an old Move Tutor who teaches the powerful Dragon-type move known as Draco Meteor. She can be found living alone on Route 210, where she can teach the move to the player's Dragon Pokémon if it has max friendship. She can also be later found in Blackthorn City.
In the anime
In the anime, Wilma owns one Pokémon, Altaria, which knows Draco Meteor. Ash and friends met Wilma on their way to Daybreak Town. After helping save her Altaria from Team Rocket, she showed them the way to Daybreak Town. During her time alone, she also befriended a Gible. After it met Ash, it left Wilma and began following him.


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The Center for Marriage & Family Therapy and Counseling is our on-campus clinic which ministers to over 1,000 clients each year and provides a context for our student therapists to put into practice what they are learning in the classroom.
Rather than wasting your valuable time trying to recruit your own clients or driving long distances to other clinics which may or may not share our values, as an RTS Marriage & Family Therapy and Counseling student your clients come to you. The 500-hour face-to-face clinical requirement can be met within the context of our clinic. Our students can see clients immediately before or after class, step into the library to do research between clients, or benefit from the camaraderie and insight of their peers in the control room.
For every five hours our students see clients, they are required to meet with their supervisor for one hour. This usually occurs in a group setting with other student therapists where they discuss particular cases, show video clips from clients, and ask for advice. Students rotate between supervisors every three months. By the end of their 500 clinical hours, they will have completed 100 hours of supervision.
A unique feature of supervision at RTS is that all of our supervisors also teach in the program. This distinctive feature affords the student and professor the opportunity to interact directly with the material that they are learning in class and work together to see how it can be applied with particular clients.
Once per term student therapists set up a live supervision in which their supervisor and cohort of student therapists all watch the session live behind a two-way mirror. The student therapist wears an earpiece which enables the supervisor to give input in real time.
With approval from our Clinic Coordinator, some of our student therapists elect to do a limited number of clinical hours via externships. Externships provide a specialized setting that enables the student therapist to hone their counseling skills in a particular area. Standard externships include Three Oaks (outpatient treatment facility), State Hospital (inpatient treatment), and Mississippi Children Home Services (CARES), but students may investigate new opportunities in accordance with their particular interests if they wish.
The MFTC program has also begun to work closely with Mission to North America's Disaster Relief Team (MNA is a ministry of the Presbyterian Church in America) to provide crisis counseling wherever the crisis occurs. Our students have travelled to meet with those who experienced trauma and loss in several recent tornadoes.
The Center for Marriage & Family Therapy includes the following features:
- Fifteen therapy rooms, including two play therapy rooms- Audio/video equipment in each therapy room to record sessions for supervision- Computerized student/therapist control room to record session notes and prepare video for supervision- Comfortable student lounge areas to maximize informal student to student and student to faculty interactionThese amenities make our clinic one of the best in the country.
- Pre-marital and marital decision making- Marital and family conflict and resolution- Infidelity- Divorce- Singleness and single parenting issues - Step-family issues- Sexual abuse- Traumatic experiences- Crisis situations- Depression- Anxiety- Anger management- Attachment- Communication skill improvement- Parenting and child discipline- Play therapy- Adolescent behavior issues- Self injury (cutting, etc.)- Eating disorders
The Center ministers to a wide variety of people in the greater Jackson area. Among our clients, there is significant ethnic diversity, a range of incomes (low to high), and various degrees of functioning (low to high). We receive referrals from churches, the Department of Human Services, lawyers, physicians, and judges (court-ordered cases). Counseling is provided to individuals, couples, or families as appropriate.
Fees are minimal, adjusted according to the financial circumstances of the clients and are set at the first counseling session.
The Center partners with Theravive to offer low-cost counseling to those in need.
Whether you're a prospective student, current student, alumnus, donor, or friend of RTS, we would love to hear from you.


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[Ben Von Wong] Discovering my work, I think is the most challenging thing. I think that when someone asks me, what do you do—my default reaction is, here, let me show you. I can say that it's fantasy, it's epic, it's surreal, it's storytelling, but it's not really a word thing, so much as it's feel. I think as you flip through it, you kind of get a feel of who it is, and it's very me in the sense that it's always grandiose, it's always surreal, it's larger than life— it's not about a specific emotion and I don't want people to feel sad or happy, but I want people to dream. [♪ music ♪] [♪ music ♪] People always ask, well, how much of your work is done in post? And really, it's a fair trade. The post-production is a part of the process. Sometimes there are things we can't do in reality, you do it in post-production. If you can do it in reality, why not do it for real and bring all of this together? The reason why I enjoy so much what I do, this entire creative process, is that sharing, that interaction—meeting new people, getting to know them, and helping them out, and people get out of these feeling inspired I think, just seeing that it's possible, that all these things can come together. Really, if you have the drive and the motivation and you put enough heart into it, then anything is possible. [♪ music ♪] Initially, it all started with photography—it started with lighting, but then I discovered Photoshop and then suddenly, I could make things that weren't possible— I could make—I could bring magic into my images. I could bring those fine details and transform something that was pretty cool into something that was absolutely phenomenal. I really, really like Creative Cloud. Suddenly, for a simple subscription model, I can have access to creating anything. I can go into After Effects, play with color toning; I can do Premiere; I can cut my own videos. You're not just one thing anymore—you can be anything you want, and you can reach out, and you can change, and you can reinvent yourself constantly, so that's why I don't call myself a photographer. I'm getting into directing; I'm getting into shooting; I'm getting into editing. Suddenly, whether it's music or video or stills, they can all come together and I can do a little bit of everything. And just understanding that and seeing it and being able to play with it on your own opens up possibilities; it opens up learning experiences, and then it also opens up the future because now suddenly, if I want to change, if I want to be somebody else, I can. [♪ music ♪] [♪ music ♪] [Adobe]
Creative Cloud and Ben Von Wong
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About This Episode
Benjamin Von Wong is a Canadian-based photographer and visual engineer whose images are fantastic and epic.This video showcases Benjamin's work, inspiration and how Photoshop and his subscription to the Creative Cloud enable him to realize images that push the boundaries of reality.
Runtime : 00:02:33 Added : 02/04/2014
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Customer Stories: Photography
See how Adobe customers create amazing images using digital imaging techniques that plumb the depths of Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Lightroom. Real-world profiles and real-world projects.
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STMicroelectronics Drives Advances in Integrated Passives and Protection DevicesNext-generation integrated devices for matching, filtering and protection help shrink circuit size and boost end-product performance
ST leverages advanced semiconductor technologies to integrate commonly used circuit elements such as passive filters, ESD suppressors and wireless baluns in a much smaller size than state-of-the-art discrete solutions. As semiconductor devices, ST's components also display tighter tolerances and higher stability than conventional discrete components, allowing product designers to miniaturize pc-board size, accelerate time-to-market and improve quality.
The latest advanced devices joining ST's micro-package families include the world's smallest single-line Transient-Voltage Suppressor, the ESDAVLC6-1BV2, in a 01005 surface-mount package to protect sensitive circuitry against hazardous voltage surges. ST is also introducing the first five members of its new ECMF™ family of common-mode filters embedding ESD protection. These are built using advanced silicon technology and are offered in ultra-thin packages only 0.55mm high.
Another new member of ST's IPD (Integrated Passive Device) family, the BAL-NRF01D3 ultra-miniature wireless balun, has already enabled ST's customers to boost the performance of their low-power wireless solutions and save up to 90% of the pc-board space occupied by discrete antenna-matching and harmonic-filtering components.
Background to ST's Integrated Passives and Protection Devices
ST's technologies leverage advanced component-fabrication technologies to combine into a single device multiple circuit elements including resistors, capacitors, inductors and ESD diodes that are otherwise typically implemented as individual components on the pc-board. In this way, ST's integrated devices eliminate multiple components and the interconnections between them, resulting in a large net saving in pc-board area. Hence designers can use them to create smaller end-products, increase functionality by designing-in extra ICs, simplify PCB layout and shorten time-to-market for new products.
Moreover, ST's integrated devices deliver better performance than equivalent discrete devices, as they are produced using semiconductor processes that display greater quality, reliability and process control. Component values have closer tolerances and reduced variation over time compared with conventional devices such as Metal-Oxide Varistors (MOVs), Low-Temperature Co-fired Ceramic (LTCC) devices and general-purpose passive components. These advantages allow customers to improve the quality of their products and the perception of their brand.
The BAL-NRF01D3 is in mass production in a 5-bump flip-chip package, priced from $0.18 for orders over 5,000 units. The ECMF common-mode filters are also in mass production, priced from $0.16 (ECMF02-2BF3) for orders over 1,000 units. The ESDAVLC6-1BV2 Transient-Voltage Suppressor is priced from $0.10 for orders over 1,000 units.
For further information on ST's ECMF devices please go to http://www.st.com/ecmf or http://www.st.com/common_mode_filters
For further information on ST's EMI filtering and signal conditioning devices please go to http://www.st.com/ipad
For further information on ST's IPD devices for RF front-end please go to http://www.st.com/ipd
Click here for the high-resolution photo
About STMicroelectronics
ST is a global leader in the semiconductor market serving customers across the spectrum of sense and power and automotive products and embedded processing solutions. From energy management and savings to trust and data security, from healthcare and wellness to smart consumer devices, in the home, car and office, at work and at play, ST is found everywhere microelectronics make a positive and innovative contribution to people's life. By getting more from technology to get more from life, ST stands for life.augmented.
In 2012, the Company's net revenues were $8.49 billion. Further information on ST can be found at www.st.com.


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Large, Ordered 3D Nanocup Arrays for Plasmonic Applications [BPN551]Here we present a novel method for fabricating large, ordered arrays of 3D nanocups for
plasmonic applications. Previously, it has been demonstrated that nanocups provide a unique method for
bending scattered light by creating "magnetic plasmon" responses in optical frequencies. However,
creating large, ordered arrays of nanocups has remained a significant challenge. We constructed a
large (0.5 cm X 1.0 cm), ordered array of nanocups via nanoimprint lithography (NIL), soft
lithography, and shadow evaporation. This methodology enables high control over the shapes and optical
properties of asymmetric nanocups, and may facilitates the applications of nanocups in superlenses,
optical nanocircuits, and cloaking devices.
back to Researchers


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ENews Signup
See something in a GSUSA catalog that you like? Call your local Council Shop and we can order it for you! Call 800.624.4185.
Did you know? Only purchases made through our council online shop or at one of our four shop locations generate revenues that directly benefit Girl Scouts Heart of the South? Please make your purchases through us and support your local Girl Scouts.
Thank you for telling your friend about our products
There are lots of fun things to do at the Memphis Zoo! Here's the perfect patch to celebrate your visit.
For more info on events at the Memphis Zoo, please visit http://memphiszoo.org.
We've made the resources you need easy to find!


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Before we say our so longs to the sorrowful month of May, we have one day to finalize our zombie lust. I have searched, I have scoured, and I have rummaged through the Internet garbage to bring you some jewels of undead enjoyment. From a zombie beach party to a rudimentary anti-zombie blade-throwing slingshot, here is the last and final day of Zombie Appreciation Month:
Countless individuals have dedicated their lives to creating gruesome machines of death and destruction, but something about this next invention screams accidental decapitation. The video is titled Shooting Circular Sawblades With The Slingshot, and it is absolutely full of amazing. (Skip to 2:20 to see the damage it can cause to a watermelon.)
If you are wondering why this is part of the final goodbyes of Zombie Appreciation Month, let me reiterate the name of the video: Shooting Circular Sawblades With The Slingshot. It is "The Slingshot," not "A Slingshot." This is something he is proud of creating, proud of showing off, and proud of wielding like a watermelon mass murderer. When the bullets run out, this guy is fully prepared to launch sawblades into the decaying flesh of the undead. (For the Half-Life fans out there, this guy went to Ravenholm, conquered it, and came back to ready the world.)
However, I thought about something while watching this video: what happens if the slingshot backfires, like the melon incident from the Amazing Race.
(Side Note: I love how the blond lady is initially too stunned to do anything. Did that melon just ruin that lady's face? Yes, yes it did, and it was hilarious to watch in both slow-mo and regular speed.)
Anyway, let's move away from homemade death machines and toward a lighter, more joyfully undead time.
On May 28th, Asbury Park, New Jersey, held the first ever zombie beach party, equipped with zombie costumes, games, and make-up. Attending individuals walked up and down the Asbury Boardwalk during the Memorial Day weekend celebrations. If someone arrived at the party without the proper zombie make-up, professional make-up artists were on site to work their zombifying magic. Here are some pictures from the event:


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Finance Mustafa Mkulo has said he does not know whether sitting or any other allowances for Members of Parliament have been increased substantially as reported in the media and confirmed by National Assembly Speaker Anne Makinda on Tuesday.
While Makinda told journalists that the daily sitting allowance during House sessions had risen from 70,000/- to 200,000/-, chiefly owing to hikes in house rental charges in Dodoma, the minister told this paper in a telephone interview in Dar es Salaam yesterday that he knows "completely nothing" on the matter.
Pressed for elaboration, Mkulo recommended that the appropriate place to go for details was the Speaker's Office.
"It is better you contact the Speaker for details on what she is reported to have said. As I speak, I know completely nothing about the increase being talked about," he said.
Winding up debate on the 2011/2012 government Budget in July, the minister said the effect of personnel allowances on the national budget was "very minimal".
He said the 2011/2012 Budget totalled 13.5trn/- but personnel allowances accounted for only 352.74bn/-, including 25.65bn/- in sitting allowances for public servants – out of which 4.92bn/- went to MPs.
Correspondents Rose Mwalongo and Gadiosa Lamtey meanwhile report that Ubungo legislator John Mnyika of the opposition Chadema has said that the President, "in his capacity as the First Employer, is the only one with the legal mandate to increase MPs' salaries and allowances, and so far he has not notified notify us (legislators) in writing on the said rise".
"For all I know, the reported review of perks has yet to be approved by the President and is therefore null and void," he noted.
Mnyika made the remarks in a presentation on the role of the legislature at a seminar in Dar es Salaam yesterday organised by the Legal and Human Rights Centre for 50 students from 17 universities.
"The much I remember is that copies of the only letter specifying our salary and allowance levels were given to us when we came to the House last year. We are yet to receive any further memo or other communication in connection with the issue," he said.
According to Mnyika, the National Assembly is not allowed to discuss its own (MPs') allowances, "and some legislators once raised the matter with Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda and he promised to find another session at which to discuss the issue".
The MP further explained that, under parliamentary regulations, allowances are normally deposited into MPs' personal accounts weekly depending on the attendance of each legislator.
A number of academics, private sector employees and ordinary citizens also faulted the decision to increase allowances in respect of MPs and other senior public servants without the benefits trickling down to the rest of the population, particularly lowly paid employees.
Most said the practice was unfair and unjustified in that it came when a significant number of Tanzanians survived on less than one dollar a day.
A visibly enraged Tanzania Media Women Association (TAMWA) executive director Ananilea Nkya described the reported hiking of MPs' allowances as "daylight robbery that ought to be condemned in the strongest terms".
"It's absurd and totally against the principles of good governance. Everybody, every Tanzanian, must condemn the payment of the new package. We must join forces and ensure the decision (to pay the hiked allowances) is rescinded," she said in an interview.
"The package should be scrapped immediately, and this should be done regardless of whether the allowances are justified by law or custom or regulation," she added.
Nkya said the allowances were being paid while millions of Tanzanians were facing life-threatening problems relating to vital infrastructure and provision of basic goods and services such as food, housing, education, health, clean and safe water and electricity.
Dr Benson Bana, a political scientist and lecturer with the University of Dar es Salaam, was recently quoted as criticising the whole idea of paying MPs and senior civil servants on routine duty what is vaguely known as sitting allowance.
"My stand has always been clear on this issue. There is no justification of paying allowances to both MPs and senior government executives while they are executing their routine duties," he said.
The don, an expert in human resources management, said there was no scientific evidence of sitting allowances necessarily serving as an incentive to employees.
"Sitting allowances to public leaders is not duty facilitation allowance in meetings. It is not brain-facilitation allowance in meetings. It cannot be used as a motivational ingredient for improving performance of public leaders," he argued.
He said sitting allowances could be justified only if paid after one had genuinely worked beyond official hours.
Contacted for comment on the issue of MPs' allowances, Zanzibar Second Vice President Seif Ali Iddi said the government had done the right thing because the move would motivate the legislators into better performance.
"I don't want to comment any further on the matter because (National Assembly) Speaker Anne Makinda has given enough clarification. I hope everyone has understood her because there are no ill motives on the part of the government," he added.