text:
The Salvation Army, an evangelical part of the universal Christian church, has been supporting those in need in His name without discrimination since 1865. We combat disasters with acts of God. Since service began in Oklahoma on 5/19, The Salvation Army has provided approximately: 11,033 meals, 15,862 drinks, 8,422 snacks, emotional and spiritual care to 1,261 persons, including first responders as well as those affected by the tornadoes.
eBay for Charity
Registered with eBay for Charity.


text:
Dec. 9, 2012
RUSTON -- Louisiana Tech basketball head coaches Teresa Weatherspoon and Michael White will review and preview the latest with both the Techsters and the Bulldogs on the Centric Federal Credit Union's Inside Tech Basketball one-hour radio show presented by Miller Light as part of the LA Tech Sports Network on Monday at 6 p.m. at Scott's Catfish.
The show will feature a half hour segment with Weatherspoon and the Voice of the Lady Techsters Malcolm Butler and a half hour segment with White and the Voice of the Bulldogs Dave Nitz as each coach will discuss all the latest developments regarding their respective programs.
The show can be heard live across the LA Tech Sports Network on KNBB 97.7 FM (Ruston/Monroe), KJVC 92.7 FM (Mansfield), KTKC 92.9 (Springhill) and KVCL 92.1 FM (Winnfield).
It can also be heard via the internet by purchasing a subscription for LA Tech All-Access at www.LATechSports.com.
The remaining schedule for this year's show includes: Monday, Jan. 7; Monday, Jan. 14; Monday, Jan. 21; Monday, Jan. 28; Monday, Feb. 4; Monday, Feb. 11; Monday, Feb. 18; Monday, Feb. 25; Monday, March 4; Monday, March 11.

subset: commoncrawl


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London 2012 - American high jumper Jamie Nieto feels disappointment missing out on medals after his final attempt in the finals competition.
London 2012 - Michael Mason of Canada is happy to the cross bar still in place after his leap in the men's high jump finals.
London 2012 - Bohdan Bondarenko of Ukraine clears the bar in the men's high jump finals.
London 2012 - High jumper Bohdan Bondarenko of Ukraine celebrates in the pit after a clean jump in the men's finals.
London 2012 - Ivan Ukhov's hair flows as the Russian clears the bar for gold in the men's high jump.
London 2012 - Jamie Nieto of the USA arches in an unsuccessful effort to get over the bar in the men's high jump finals. Nieto missed twice at 2.33 but elected to make this, his last attempt, at 2.36.


text:
Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Some potential FCS playoff teams could
still be riding high come midnight Saturday.
It's during the wee hours of Sunday, when the NCAA football selection
committee is expected to finalize their 20-team field for the FCS playoffs,
that the carriage could turn into a pumpkin.
Unfortunately for too many teams with playoff-worthy resumes, the bubble is
bigger than Donald Trump's ego.
"There seemed to be at least a consensus (among selection committee members)
that this may be the most difficult year to pick the at-large teams," said
Appalachian State athletic director Charlie Cobb, the chair of the committee.
In recent years, the committee has wrapped up discussions around midnight on
the eve of Selection Sunday.
The members are ready for some overtime this year. The field will be announced
at 1:30 p.m. ET Sunday on ESPNU.
It's the final year before the FCS playoffs are increased to 24 teams, so
there will be 10 automatic bids for conference champions and 10 at-large bids.
The at-large bids pose the biggest problem for the 11-person committee, which
is composed of one representative from each FCS conference with an automatic
bid plus one from the Pioneer Football League, which won't get one until next
Depending on how Saturday's Week 12 action plays out, there could be about
12-14 teams in serious discussion for roughly the final three at-large spots.
The discussion is not just about wins, but quality wins. For instance, if
Lehigh wins on Saturday to improve to 10-1, will the Patriot League school's
resume be better than, say, an eight-win team from the higher-rated CAA
Football (perhaps James Madison, Richmond or Villanova)?
There aren't any easy answers, and there may be not right or wrong answers.
The committee has to decide which are the best answers.
"We're trying to listen to some conversations, but also get a pretty good
understanding of how teams match up when there's not a lot of cross-sectional
games, I think is really going to be important," Cobb said.
"I don't think anybody walks in with an agenda that says we're going
to exclude this team or that."
The playoff mix is the following:
Big Sky: Montana State, Eastern Washington and Saturday's Cal Poly-Northern
Arizona winner will be in the field, including one with the automatic bid. The
Cal Poly-Northern Arizona loser will have slumped enough over the last four
weeks of action that it might be the last team in or the last one left out.
Big South: Coastal Carolina, Liberty and Stony Brook are all alive for the
automatic bid. Stony Brook (9-2) has been the best team for most of the
season, but loses out if it's a three-way tie with the two others or a two-way
tie with Liberty. The likely scenario is the Seawolves have to hope for an at-
large bid.
CAA Football - New Hampshire and Old Dominion will be in the field. Richmond,
Villanova, James Madison and Towson could all win on Saturday and feel worthy
of bids, yet still not get in. Richmond (7-3), having beaten Villanova and
James Madison, would seem to be standing the best for a bid.
MEAC - Bethune-Cookman has claimed the automatic bid.
Missouri Valley - Defending FCS champion North Dakota State will lock up the
No. 1 overall seed with a win at Illinois State. However, ISU is in the mix
for one of the five seeds with a win over NDSU. Both teams are in the field.
South Dakota State seems safe with a win over South Dakota. Indiana State is
playoff-worthy with a road win over Youngstown State, but out of the mix with
a loss because it would have beaten only six Division I teams. YSU is probably
coming from too far back to get into the playoffs.
NEC - Wagner will claim the automatic bid with a win over Duquesne or an
Albany loss to Central Connecticut State. A Wagner loss and Albany win puts
the Great Danes back in the field
Ohio Valley - Eastern Illinois has won the conference title. Tennessee State
is probably dancing with a win at UT Martin, but a UTM win might be enough for
Eastern Kentucky to get in the field. UTM would seem to be in trouble with its
loss to Tennessee Tech.
Patriot - Colgate has clinched the league title and automatic bid. Lehigh's
strength of schedule could keep it out. The 1997 Bucknell team finished 10-1
with 10 D-I wins and did not earn an at-large bid, but the field was only 16
teams then.
Southern - The Big Three of Appalachian State, Georgia Southern and Wofford
are playoff-bound. Saturday's action will decide which one is the automatic
qualifier. Samford would have to beat Kentucky to become playoff-eligible, but
might still fall short.
Southland - Co-champions Central Arkansas and Sam Houston State will be in the
field, with UCA going in on the automatic bid.
No team from the Ivy and Pioneer leagues and the SWAC will be in the playoffs.
Committee members have made a concerted effort to make the selection process
stronger. During the season, each committee member has been assigned to
monitor other conferences to have a strong understanding of those teams.
"There seems to be more information, it seems to be a little bit more of an
open process," Cobb said.
The playoffs open with four first-round games on Nov. 24, followed by the
second round on Dec. 1.
Big Sky: Montana State and Montana meet for the 112th time, with UM holding a
70-36-5 series lead. The host Grizzlies (5-5), who have lost two home games
this season, are trying to avoid their first losing season since 1985 ...
Retiring UC Davis coach Bob Biggs, in his 20th year, will coach in his final
game Saturday at home against Sacramento State in the Causeway Classic.
Big South: As outstanding as Coastal Carolina quarterback Aramis Hillary has
been this season, the Chanticleers (6-4) also have been a hot team behind a
surging running attack. They have at least 200 rushing yards in five straight
games (four wins), averaging 275.4 yards in that span. Jeremy Height (686
yards, nine touchdowns) is the team's leading rusher.
CAA Football: In the CAA playoff logjam of Richmond, Villanova, James Madison
and Towson, the conference teams especially need bubble teams Indiana State
and Tennesse State to lose their difficult road games on Saturday ... While
Villanova is trying to force its way into the playoffs, Delaware (5-5) needs
to beat its rival to post a winning season. The backfield of quarterback Trent
Hurley and running back Andrew Pierce will make the Blue Hens dangerous next
Ivy: Penn will try to wrap up an outright league title without starting
quarterback Billy Ragone (fractured ankle) at Cornell. Senior Andrew Holland,
whose only completion against Harvard last Saturday went for a touchdown, will
get the start ... Although Ivy League presidents say they don't want to send
their champion to the FCS playoffs because players will miss class time, don't
doubt they also believe the Harvard-Yale rivalry would lose some attention.
The two teams will meet for the 129th edition at Harvard, with Yale leading
the all-time series, 65-55-8.
MEAC: Having already beaten North Carolina Central, it would seem Florida A&M
acting head coach Earl Holmes will lock down the full-time gig with a win over
conference champion Bethune-Cookman in the Florida Classic. The 1996 FAMU
graduate, the team's defensive coordinator, was one of the best defensive
players to done a Rattlers uniform.
Missouri Valley: Indiana State (7-3) needs to win at Youngstown State (6-4) to
become playoff-eligible with a seventh D-I win. Last year, running back Shakir
Bell was unstoppable against YSU with 256 rushing yards and four touchdowns.
Northeast: Six running backs could go over 1,000 yards for the season Saturday.
The conference leaders are Duquesne's Larry McCoy (995), Central Connecticut
State's Rob Hollomon (993), Wagner's Dominique Williams (958), Bryant's Jordan
Brown (937), Albany's Drew Smith (926) and St. Francis' Keion Wade (916) ...
The CCSU-Monmouth game from Nov. 3 that was postponed by Hurricane Sandy has
officially been canceled.
Ohio Valley: The top five teams in the conference - champion Eastern Illinos,
Eastern Kentucky, UT Martin, Tennessee State and Jacksonville State - are a
combined 22-2 in home games. EIU, TSU and JSU finished 5-0 each.
Patriot: The Lehigh-Lafayette game is in its 148th season as college
football's most-played rivalry. Lafayette holds a 76-66-5 series lead, but
Lehigh has won the last four meetings, scoring a touchdown on defense or
special teams in each of the games ... Colgate quarterback Gavin McCarney (21)
and running back Jordan McCord (19) have combined for 40 rushing touchdowns.
Pioneer: Raise your hand if you're heard this before (see OVC). The top five
teams in the league - Butler, Drake, San Diego, Jacksonville and Dayton - are
a combined 22-3 in home games. With another home win, Jacksonville can deny
Drake a share of the league title for the season straight season. Butler has
clinched a share already and San Diego remains alive for the title as well.
SoCon: There are five 1,000-yard rushers in the conference. The Citadel's
Darien Robinson (953) and Georgia Southern's Dominique Swope (827) could make
it seven ... As four teams wrap up the regular season against SEC opponents,
keep in mind that no Southern Conference team has beaten an FBS team since
Appalachian State's historic win over fifth-ranked Michigan to open the 2007
regular season.
Southland: For toughness, look no further than Northwestern State senior
linebacker Derek Rose. Doctors wanted to shut him down when he was diagnosed
with a torn labrum in his shoulder, but he would have none of it. He's played
the last three games with the injury. He has 286 career tackles heading into
his final game against Stephen F. Austin ... Nicholls hopes to end a program-
record 13-game conference losing streak Thursday night when it hosts
Southeastern Louisiana.
SWAC: Jackson State will represent the East Division in the SWAC Championship
Game with a win at home against Alcorn State. Otherwise, Alabama State, which
still has its Thanksgiving Day game against Tuskegee, will play Arkansas-Pine
Bluff on Dec. 8 in Birmingham, Ala.
The Sports Network FCS Top 25 can be found at http://tinyurl.com/88q2k7t.
Also, once again this season, In the FCS Huddle is projecting the potential
FCS playoff field. The projections are a long-range look at the season - not
based off current records or rankings - and can be found at
Additions have been made in the last week to the Walter Payton, Buck Buchanan
and Jerry Rice award watch lists. The FCS Awards section can be found at
The Eddie Robinson Award finalists will be announced Monday.
Last Week's Record: 39-17 (.696)
Season Record: 513-170 (.751)
All Times ET
Thursday, Nov. 15
X-Southeastern Louisiana (4-6, 4-2 Southland) at Nicholls (1-8, 0-6), 7 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 17
X-Maine (4-6, 3-4 CAA) at Rhode Island (0-10, 0-7), noon
Sacred Heart (2-8, 1-6 NEC) at X-St. Francis, Pa. (4-6, 3-4), noon
X-Tennessee Tech (3-7, 1-6 OVC) at Austin Peay (1-9, 0-7), noon
X-Drake (7-3, 6-1 PFL) at Jacksonville (7-3, 5-2), noon
Co-Game of the Week: No. 19 Towson (6-4, 5-2 CAA) at X-No. 7 New Hampshire
(8-2, 6-1), noon. Can red-hot Towson force itself into the playoffs even
though other potential at-large teams would have more wins? Can UNH wrap up an
outright CAA Football championship?
Duquesne (5-5, 3-4 NEC) at X-Wagner (7-3, 6-1), noon
Yale (2-7, 1-5 Ivy) at X-Harvard (7-2, 4-2), noon
X-Monmouth (4-5, 3-3 NEC) at Robert Morris (4-6, 3-4), noon
Western Carolina (1-9) at X-Alabama (9-1), 12:21 p.m.
Columbia (3-6, 2-4 Ivy) at X-Brown (6-3, 3-3), 12:30 p.m.
Penn (5-4, 5-1 Ivy) at X-Cornell (4-5, 2-4), 12:30 p.m.
Valparaiso (1-9, 1-6 PFL) at X-Morehead State (3-7, 2-5), 1 p.m.
Bryant (4-6) at X-Bucknell (2-8), 1 p.m.
X-Colgate (7-3) at Fordham (6-4), 1 p.m.
Delaware State (6-4, 5-2 MEAC) at X-Howard (6-4, 5-2), 1 p.m.
Holy Cross (1-9, 1-3 Patriot) at X-Georgetown (5-5, 2-2), 1 p.m.
X-Hampton (2-7, 2-5 MEAC) at Morgan State (3-7, 2-5), 1 p.m.
Central Connecticut State (2-7, 2-4 NEC) at X-Albany (8-2, 6-1), 1 p.m.
X-Marist (3-6, 2-4 PFL) at Campbell (1-9, 0-7), 1 p.m.
X-San Diego (6-3, 5-1 PFL) at Davidson (2-8, 2-5), 1 p.m.
Dartmouth (5-4, 3-3 Ivy) at X-Princeton (5-4, 4-2), 1 p.m.
Co-Game of the Week: X-No. 1 North Dakota State (9-1, 6-1 Missouri Valley) at
No. 11 Illinois State (8-2, 5-2), 1 p.m. North Dakota State has won all 10 of
its road games the last two seasons, but with Illinois State alive for a share
of the conference title and a playoff seed, this could be a doozy.
Jacksonville State (6-4) at X-Florida (9-1), 1 p.m.
No. 9 Wofford (8-2) at X-South Carolina (8-2), 1 p.m.
No. 6 Georgia Southern (8-2) at X-Georgia (9-1), 1:30 p.m.
X-Liberty (5-5, 4-1 Big South) at VMI (2-8, 1-4), 1:30 p.m.
X-Presbyterian (2-8, 0-5 Big South) at Gardner-Webb (2-8, 1-4), 1:30 p.m.
X-No. 14 Lehigh (9-1, 3-1 Patriot) at Lafayette (5-5, 2-2), 1:30 p.m.
Savannah State (1-9, 0-7 MEAC) at X-South Carolina State (4-6, 3-4), 1:30 p.m.
X-No. 20 Richmond (7-3, 5-2 CAA) at William & Mary (2-8, 1-6), 1:30 p.m.
X-The Citadel (6-4, 4-3 SoCon) at Furman (3-7, 2-5), 1:30 p.m.
North Carolina A&T (6-4, 4-3 MEAC) at X-North Carolina Central (6-4, 5-2), 2
Alabama A&M (7-3) at X-Auburn (2-8), 2 p.m.
No. 18 Indiana State (7-3, 5-2 Missouri Valley) at X-Youngstown State (6-4,
3-4), 2 p.m.
Southeast Missouri State (3-7, 2-5 OVC) at X-Murray State (4-6, 3-4), 2 p.m.
Alcorn State (4-6, 4-4 SWAC) at X-Jackson State (6-4, 6-2), 2 p.m.
X-Mississippi Valley State (4-6, 4-4 SWAC) at Texas Southern (2-8, 2-6), 2
Elon (3-7, 1-6 SoCon) at X-Chattanooga (5-5, 4-3), 2 p.m.
X-North Dakota (5-5, 3-4 Big Sky) at Northern Colorado (4-6, 3-4), 2:05 p.m.
X-No. 24 Bethune-Cookman (8-2, 7-0 MEAC) at Florida A&M (4-6, 4-3) at Orlando,
Fla., 2:30 p.m.
South Dakota (1-9, 0-7) at X-No. 21 South Dakota State (7-3, 5-2), 3 p.m.
Western Illinois (3-7, 1-6 Missouri Valley) at X-Southern Illinois (5-5, 4-3),
3 p.m.
No. 23 Tennessee State (8-2, 4-2 OVC) at X-UT Martin (7-3, 5-2), 3 p.m.
Prairie View A&M (3-7, 3-5 SWAC) at X-Arkansas-Pine Bluff (8-2, 7-1), 3:30
X-No. 16 Villanova (7-3, 5-2 CAA) at Delaware (5-5, 2-5), 3:30 p.m.
Charleston Southern (5-5, 3-2 Big South) at X-Coastal Carolina (6-4, 4-1),
No. 3 Sam Houston State (8-2) at X-Texas A&M (8-2), 3:30 p.m.
X-No. 2 Montana State (9-1, 6-1 Big Sky) at Montana (5-5, 3-4), 3:35 p.m.
Northwestern State (4-6, 2-4 Southland) at X-Stephen F. Austin (4-6, 3-3), 4
No. 5 Eastern Washington (8-2, 7-1 Big Sky) at X-Portland State (3-7, 2-5),
4:05 p.m.
Missouri State (3-7, 3-4 Missouri Valley) at X-Northern Iowa (4-6, 3-4), 5
X-Sacramento State (6-4, 4-3 Big Sky) at UC Davis (3-7, 2-5), 6 p.m.
X-Weber State (1-9, 1-6 Big Sky) at Idaho State (1-9, 0-7), 6 p.m.
No. 24 Eastern Illinois (7-3) at X-No. 10 Central Arkansas (8-2), 6 p.m.
No. 17 Cal Poly (8-2, 6-1 Big Sky) at X-No. 15 Northern Arizona (8-2, 6-1),
6:05 p.m.
X-No. 4 Old Dominion (9-1, 6-1 CAA) at No. 13 James Madison (7-3, 5-2), 7 p.m.
Samford (7-3) at X-Kentucky (1-9), 7:30 p.m.
Lamar (4-7, 1-5 Southland) at X-McNeese State (6-4, 3-3), 8 p.m.
The Sports Network


text:
Just a little free time map I decided to work on.
Its a map of the different dimensions within the RP I help run.
I was inspired by really old maps that tried to explain the world or the universe, and how everything related to one another.
Just a little free time map I decided to work on.
Its a map of the different dimensions within the RP I help run.
I was inspired by really old maps that tried to explain the world or the universe, and how everything related to one another.
I really like this concept. Where's the background? I'd love to hear how this all fits together and what each ring means.
Ill make a quick edit with some numbers so I can explain each
The background is black because nothing physical exists there. It is a dimension of pure thoughts and emotion, no matter.
1. Dimension of Darkness aka Nether Dimension. A realm that surrounds all other dimensions, is infinite in size, but has no substance. It is made of nothing but pure thought and emotion. Beings that live in this dimension have the ability to look within all other dimensions, but they cannot actually manifest themselves within other dimensions as they have no form.
2. Dimension of Light aka Heaven. The dimension where the Gods reside.
3. Mortal Dimension. Space, the stars, the moon, the earth and everything that lives on and within it.
4. Dimension of the Worthy aka the Fields of Elyssium. First tier of the underworld where the souls of the most good, virtuous and righteous reside after death.
5. Dimension of the Many aka the Caves of Erebus. Second tier of the underworld where the majority of souls reside after death.
6. Dimension of the Damned aka the Pit of Tartarus. Third and final tier of the underworld where the souls of the wicked and evil reside after death. This dimension
has 3 levels. The first is a cliff of hot jagged rock, where the souls of thieves, kidnappers, and the generally wicked must cling to for eternity. The second is a sea of fire, where the souls of murderers and rapists burn. The third is a whirlpool of dark water, where the souls of the purely evil and unforgiven are dropped into (Souls in the Underworld not sent into the whirlpool may be elevated into higher levels or even tiers depending on the severity of their crimes, the time that passes after death, if they are forgiven by the individual or family the crimes were perpetrated upon, if the crime is found to be just later in history, or if laws are changed.) Souls that enter the whirlpool are destroyed, a normally impossible task, even for the gods.
7. Dimension of Lacroa. There is an island called Lacroa that exists within its own dimension. Every 20 years it crosses into and manifests itself within the Mortal Dimension. During the 20 years (from the Mortal Dimension point of view), the Island crosses into other dimensions, including the Heavens and the Underworld, making the perception of time on the island completely different, and ultimately killing anyone trapped when it vanishes from the Mortal Dimension. The island only manifests itself within the Mortal Dimension, so beings in other Dimensions never know its passing thru their own Dimensions.
8. Dimension of the Fates. This is where three figures known as The Fates reside. All other Dimensions rotate clockwise around each other thru time, but this dimension remains stationary, allowing it to exist outside of time. Inside, the Fates keep the Thread of Time straight, preventing it from crossing over itself (thus making time travel impossible) and allowing it to weave into an immense tapestry that contains the entire history of the universe.
As you can see, a lot of this was influenced by greek mythology, which makes sense since the RP is based on Atlantis :p
cool.. nice to see a different type of map
regs tilt
:: My art on Deviant Art :: My work Catapult ::
:: Finished Maps :: WIP Breakwater - Gungnerhafn -Battle City :: Competion maps - A Ghastly Rest ::
:: FREE Tiles - Compasses :: Other Taking a commision - Copyright & Creative Commons ::
Works under CC licence unless mentioned otherwise
I might switch it to a more hand drawn stylized one than a more "realistic" one
havent decided yet
dont have much to say about it
still thinking if this is the right direction to go for it
That's a pretty nifty idea, actually. I wonder what a three-quarter view of something like that would look like?
Hexingtide: A dieselpunk-fantasy setting for gaming and fiction. Two world map posters in progress here.


text:
Associate Professor of Computer ScienceTel: 301-696-3884
Email: email@example.com: Hodson Science & Technology Center, Room 254
Office Hours: Monday and Wednesday: 1-3 p.m.
Hood College prepares students to excel in meeting the personal, professional and global challenges of the future. Hood is committed to the integration of the liberal arts, the professions and technology, to the exploration of values, a sense of community and to the preparation of students for lives of responsibility, leadership and service.
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Bon Vital' Sweet Almond Oil
Bon Vital Sweet Almond Oil is a midweight oil with a long shelf life. This oil is cold pressed, and has been used for centuries to soften and smooth the skin. Great for adding essential oils, perfect for all types of modalities that require longer lasting strokes, yet gentle enough for infant massage!Use caution when laundering linens that have been exposed to oils. Oil products are potentially combustible when exposed to heat in the dryer. Consult dryer manufacturer's guidelines for drying linens that have been exposed to oils.
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U.S. Department of State Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2001 - Comoros
|United States Department of State
|Publication Date
|4 March 2002
|Cite as
|United States Department of State, U.S. Department of State Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2001 - Comoros , 4 March 2002, available at: http://www.refworld.org/docid/3c84d98e0.html [accessed 31 May 2016]
|The report entitled "Country Reports on Human Rights Practices" is submitted to the Congress by the Department of State in compliance with sections 116(d) and 502(b) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (FAA), as amended, and section 504 of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended. The law provides that the Secretary of State shall transmit to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate, by February 25 "a full and complete report regarding the status of internationally recognized human rights, within the meaning of subsection (A) in countries that receive assistance under this part, and (B) in all other foreign countries which are members of the United Nations and which are not otherwise the subject of a human rights report under this Act." We have also included reports on several countries that do not fall into the categories established by these statutes and that thus are not covered by the congressional requirement.
|This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.
The Federal Islamic Republic of the Comoros is ruled by Colonel Azali Assoumani, who took power in a coup in April 1999. The country consists of three islands (Grande Comore, Anjouan, and Moheli) and claims a fourth, Mayotte, which is governed by France. Comoros has been prone to coups and political insurrection since its independence in 1975. In April 1999, army commander Colonel Azali staged a bloodless coup and overthrew President Tadjiddine Ben Said Massounde, the Interim President who had held office since the death of democratically elected President Mohamed Taki Abdoulkarim in November 1998. In May 1999, Azali decreed a constitution that gave him both executive and legislative powers. In December 1999, in response to international criticism, Azali appointed a civilian prime minister, Bianrifi Tarmidi; however, Azali remains the Head of State and army Commander in Chief. In December 2000, Azali named a new civilian Prime Minister, Hamada Madi, and formed a new civilian Cabinet. When he took power, Azali said that he would step down in April 2000 and relinquish power to a democratically elected president, but by year's end, he had not done so. In response to pressure to restore civilian rule, the Government organized several committees to draft a new constitution, including the August 2000 National Congress and November 2000 Tripartite Commission. The opposition parties initially refused to participate in the Tripartite Commission, but on February 17, representatives of the Government, the Anjouan separatists, the political opposition, and civil society organizations signed a "Framework Accord for Reconciliation in Comoros," brokered by the Organization for African Unity (OAU). The Accord called for the creation of a new Tripartite Commission for National Reconciliation to develop a "New Comorian Entity" with a new constitution. Although the Commission set June as its goal for completing the constitution and December for national elections, disagreements over procedure and goals delayed completion of the draft constitution. In August representatives from each island in August debated the first draft. On December 23, the draft Constitution, which calls for the reincorporation of Anjouan, Grand Comoros, and Moheli into a new federation that would grant the islands greater autonomy, was approved overwhelmingly in a referendum described by international observers as free and fair. Under the terms of the new Constitution, President Azali had 7 days to decide to either lead the transitional government until elections in March 2002 or to stand in the elections himself; however, by year's end, he had neither stepped down from office nor withdrawn from the March 2002 election. The new Constitution provides for the continuation of an independent judiciary. In the past, both the executive and other elites influenced the outcome of cases; however, there were no reports of interventions during the year.
The Anjouan secession crisis subsided after the August 2000 signing of the "Fomboni Declaration of National Unity" by Azali and separatist leader Lieutenant Colonel Said Abeid. The Fomboni Declaration provides for a loose confederation between the islands, giving each island the ability to maintain an army and conduct its own foreign relations. In August separatist soldiers, reportedly dissatisfied with pay and promotions, started protests that led to the overthrow of Abeid in Anjouan. A three-man military commission replaced him as leader of Anjouan; Abeid fled to Mayotte and was placed under house arrest. The new military commission pledged to support the reconciliation process begun by the February Accord. Between November 3 and 4, Abeid made an unsuccessful attempt to regain control of Anjouan by attacking forces loyal to the new military commission, but he quickly was defeated. The coup attempt did not appear to threaten the Fomboni Agreement. On December 19 on Moheli, 13 French mercenaries launched a coup attempt that the army defeated after several hours of fighting. Colonel Hassan Harouna, a defense official in the government of former President Abdoulkarim, was arrested the same day and accused of organizing the coup in order to prevent the December 23 referendum.
The Comorian Defense Force (FCD) and the Gendarmerie are responsible for internal security and are under Azali's direct control. Security forces committed some human rights abuses.
The economy of this extremely poor country is dominated by agriculture; the country's population is approximately 578,400. Revenues from the main crops – vanilla, essence of ylang-ylang, and cloves – continued to fall while the population has been growing at a rate of 2.7 percent annually. Per capita income was approximately $400 (226,500 Comorian francs) per year in 1997 – the national accounts have not been updated since 1998. The country depends heavily on foreign assistance from the European Union, China, and Arab countries, including Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Libya, and the United Arab Emirates.
The Government's human rights record remained poor, and it continued to commit abuses. Citizens do not have the right to change their government. Prison conditions remained poor. Security forces and the separatist authorities on Anjouan used arbitrary arrest and detention. Authorities restricted citizens' privacy rights. There were infringements on freedom of the press and assembly and movement. The military Government limited freedom of religion, and security forces reportedly continued to threaten Christians. Societal discrimination against women and Christians continued to be serious problems. There were some instances of forced child labor.
1. Respect for the Integrity of the Person, Including Freedom From:
a. Arbitrary or Unlawful Deprivation of Life
There were no reports of the arbitrary or unlawful deprivation of life by security forces on Grande Comore or Moheli; however, during a December 19 unsuccessful coup attempt on Moheli, soldiers killed four invading mercenaries; two other mercenaries were lynched by a mob. No persons were killed during the November 3-4 unsuccessful coup attempt in Anjouan.
In addition to the police and the military, there are many groups throughout Anjouan that are armed, including paramilitary forces, militias, and civilians. In 1999 battles between rival militias resulted in approximately 12 deaths; however, there were no such deaths reported during the year.
b. Disappearance
There were no reports of politically motivated disappearances.
c. Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
The new Constitution prohibits such practices, and there were no reports of security force brutality, and unlike in the previous year, police did not threaten Christians on Grande Comore (see Section 2.c.).
In October 2000, police used tear gas to disperse forcibly a demonstration; some protesters were arrested, although all were released by year's end following various periods of detention.
Unlike in the previous year, there were no reports that separatist security forces tortured, beat, and otherwise abused persons on Anjouan. In August 2000, separatist authorities on Anjouan arrested approximately 100 opponents of the Fomboni Declaration, following demonstrations against the agreement. There were unconfirmed reports that as many as 28 of those arrested, who primarily were members of the Comoros Red Crescent Society and the opposition party Group for the Recovery Initiative for the Anjouan Movement (GIRMA), were tortured, and, in one case, raped. By November 2000, the Government had freed all of those arrested; however, there were no reports of government action against those persons responsible for the abuses.
In 1999 quasi-police authorities known as embargoes arrested, beat, and detained three local Christians; there was no further information on the incident at year's end.
Prison conditions continued to be poor. A lack of proper sanitation, overcrowding, inadequate medical facilities, and poor diet are common problems. The military Government has not taken action to remedy these problems. Unlike in previous years, there were no reports of deaths as a result of disease in prisons during the year. Female prisoners are held separately from male prisoners. Juveniles are not imprisoned; they are returned to the custody of their parents. Pretrial detainees are not held separately from convicted prisoners.
The military Government permits prison visits by independent monitors, and two such visits by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Association Comorienne des Droits de l'Homme (ACDH) occurred during the year.
d. Arbitrary Arrest, Detention, or Exile
The new Constitution prohibits arbitrary arrest and detention; however, teenagers, who were considered "trouble makers," occasionally were arrested arbitrarily.
In August Anjouan separatist leader Abeid fled to Mayotte after he was overthrown; he was placed under house arrest upon his arrival but was released on August 12 (see Section 3).
In March Judge Omar ben Ali of the Tribunal de premiere instance ordered the arrest of an attorney on a charge of contempt of court, allegedly because he had not followed the proper procedures in registering himself as the attorney of record in the case. On April 12, the libel case was settled out of court, and the charges against the attorney were dropped immediately.
In August 2000, authorities arrested four opposition politicians, including Cheik Ali Bacar Kassim, former Member of Parliament (M.P.) and owner of the opposition radio station Radio Tropique, for allegedly plotting to overthrow Colonel Azali. The four were detained in a military prison, despite a judge's order to transfer them to the civilian prison in Moroni (see Section 1.e.). In November 2000, one of the four escaped from prison. Two others then were released, leaving only Cheik Ali in prison. At the end of November 2000, authorities reportedly freed Cheik Ali on the condition that he leave the country; when he refused to leave, he was returned to prison. Cheik Ali reportedly was denied access to defense counsel until he launched a hunger strike in protest. In June Cheik Ali pled guilty to illegal possession of guns. He was sentenced to 2 years in prison, with 1 year suspended; in August he was released following the completion of 1 year in prison.
After the August 2000 demonstrations against the Fomboni Declaration, separatist authorities on Anjouan arrested and beat numerous opposition supporters. In September 2000, 3 of the approximately 100 persons arrested were freed by a tribunal in Anjouan's capital, Mutsamudu. The remaining 97 remained in detention, and no trial date had been scheduled by year's end.
Two Azali opponents who reportedly led a coup attempt in March 2000 continued to be detained in a military prison (see Section 3). Although one of the opponents was believed to have escaped from prison in November 2000, both opponents remained in detention at year's end. No trial had been scheduled for either opponent by year's end.
On Anjouan local authorities continued to attempt to suppress or convert the Christian minority. One Anjouanais Christian estimated that embargoes in Anjouan detained and released several days later approximately 50 Christians, both men and women in an 18-month period between 1999 and 2000. Unlike in the previous year, there were no reports of such incidents during the year.
The new Constitution prohibits forced exile, and the military Government did not use it.
e. Denial of Fair Public Trial
The new Constitution provides for an independent judiciary; however, in the past, the executive and other elites have exercised influence over court cases, and the executive intervened in at least two cases in 2000. The Head of State names magistrates by decree. In August 2000, despite regulations that prevent the removal of judges, Colonel Azali transferred to other duties nine judges, who had initiated a strike calling for judicial reform and regular payment of salaries. In October 2000, Azali issued a presidential decree that reduced the number of Supreme Court justices from nine to five and transferred judges to other courts. Although the official reason for the action was a lack of resources, opposition critics accused Azali of punishing certain judges for questioning government policies and participating in a strike by judges and court personnel.
In the case of detained opposition politician Cheik Ali Bacar Kassim and three others, the trial judge resigned in protest when authorities failed to obey his order to transfer the opposition leaders from a military prison to a civilian prison (see Section 1.d.). Authorities stated that the poor condition of the civilian prison prohibited the transfer.
The High Council, made up of four members appointed by the President, three members elected by the Federal Assembly, and a member of each island council, also serves as the High Court of the Republic and rules on cases of Constitutional law. Trials are open to the public except for limited exceptions defined by law. The legal system incorporates Islamic law as well as French legal codes. There are very few lawyers in the country, making it difficult to obtain legal representation. The military Government does not provide legal counsel to the accused. Most disputes are presented to village elders for possible resolution before being taken to court.
There were no reports of political prisoners.
f. Arbitrary Interference with Privacy, Family, Home, or Correspondence
The new Constitution prohibits such actions, and the Government generally respects these prohibitions in practice. Unlike in the previous year, there were no reports that police interfered with the privacy of the home. There were no known cases of arbitrary interference with correspondence.
Bans on alcohol and immodest dress are enforced sporadically, usually during religious months, such as Ramadan. Alcohol can be imported and sold with a permit from the Government.
In October 2000, several hundred Comorian illegal immigrants were evicted from their homes and places of employment after the local government in Mayotte announced new penalties against persons who housed or employed illegal immigrants (see Section 2.d.).
2. Respect for Civil Liberties, Including:
a. Freedom of Speech and Press
The new Constitution provides for freedom of speech and of the press, and the Government generally respects these rights in practice. In August 2000, former M.P. Cheik Ali Bacar Kassim, who also owns the independent radio station Radio Tropique and is a well-known opposition figure, was arrested for allegedly plotting to overthrow the Azali Government (see Sections 1.d. and 1.e.).
There are two independent newspapers that publish regularly. These newspapers exist side-by-side with the semiofficial weekly Al-Watwan. Some of the independent newspapers criticized the Government freely.
In March the head of Azali's political party sued the Comoros Gazette for libel after it published excerpts from party communiques; the suit was settled out of court in April.
There are two national radio stations: The government-controlled radio station, Radio Comoros; and the opposition radio station Radio Tropique. In addition there are at least 10 regional and local stations, some of which are openly critical of the Government. Residents also receive broadcasts from Mayotte Radio, as well as from French television, without government interference. In January a national television station constructed with assistance from the Government of the People's Republic of China was completed. There are several private local television stations, and satellite antennas are popular. Amateur radio licenses have been issued without hindrance in previous years.
In August 1999, an independent radio station on Anjouan, Radio Ushababi, which was opposed to the independence movement, reportedly was forced to cease broadcasting after being harassed by police and threatened on several occasions by a group of separatist militiamen. In November 2000, the station resumed broadcasting.
Foreign newspapers and books are available. Internet service was introduced in 1998.
The Government generally respects academic freedom. There is no university, but secondary students and teachers continued to speak freely and criticize the Government openly. During the year on Anjouan, teachers went on strike between May and June because they were not being paid, resulting in the closure of the schools. Teachers went on strike again from mid-September to October 22, when they received a guarantee that all arrears would be paid in full. An agreement was signed on October 19 (see Section 6.e.).
b. Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and Association
The new Constitution provides for the freedom of assembly, and, unlike in previous years, the Government did not restrict this right in practice during the year.
The new Constitution does not provide specifically for the freedom of association; however, the Government generally respected this right in practice.
c. Freedom of Religion
The new Constitution provides for freedom of religion; however, the authorities infringed on this right. Islam is the official religion; however, there were no reports of official discrimination or other abuse against non-Muslims during the year. An overwhelming majority of the population is Sunni Muslim, and the Government discouraged the practice of religions other than Islam. The August 2000 Fomboni Declaration that was signed by Azali and the Anjouan separatist leader included an agreement to make Islam the national religion. Authorities restricted the right of Christians to practice their faith, and police regularly threatened and sometimes detained practicing Christians.
In previous years, the authorities held those detained for a few days and often attempted to convert them to Islam forcibly; however, there were no reports of such actions during the year. In October 1999, two citizens were arrested, tried, and convicted of "anti-Islamic activity" in part because they possessed Christian books and audiovisual material. One of the citizens was sentenced to 18 months in prison, while the other was sentenced to 4 months. One citizen was released after 4 months; it was unknown at year's end whether the other citizen was released or still was incarcerated. Although in previous years local government officials attempted to force Christians to attend services at mosques against their will, there were no reports of such incidents during the year.
Unlike in the previous year, there were no reports that police arrested persons inside mosques while they were praying.
There are two Roman Catholic churches and one Protestant church; however, prior to the 1999 coup, the former military Government restricted the use of these three churches to noncitizens. The Government continued to restrict the use of the country's three churches to noncitizens. The Government permitted Christian missionaries to work in local hospitals and schools, but did not permit them to proselytize.
In previous years, there have been accounts of police and quasi-police authorities, known as embargoes, arresting, beating, and detaining Christians on the island of Anjouan. One Anjouanais Christian estimated that approximately 50 Christians, both men and women, were detained and released several days later by the embargoes in an 18-month period between 1999 and 2000. There were no reports of Christians being detained on Anjouan during the year. Some community authorities on Anjouan banned Christians from attending any community events and banned Christian burials in a local cemetery.
Bans on alcohol and immodest dress are enforced sporadically, usually during religious months, such as Ramadan. Alcohol can be imported and sold with a permit from the Government.
d. Freedom of Movement Within the Country, Foreign Travel, Emigration, and Repatriation
The new Constitution provides for these rights, and, unlike in previous years, there were no reports that the Government restricted these rights during the year.
In 2000 the OAU and the Azali Government imposed sanctions on Anjouan for its failure to sign the OAU-brokered Antananarivo Accords, which would have reunited the islands by a February 2000 deadline. These sanctions included restrictions on all telecommunications, air and sea links, imports of oil and petroleum products, and nonrecognition of travel documents and passports. In May following the February signing of the Framework Accord on National Reconciliation, the OAU lifted sanctions against Anjouan; the Azali Government previously had lifted the embargo in August 2000, following the signing of the Fomboni Declaration.
There continued to be reports during the year that persons fled Grand Comore and Anjouan for Mayotte; many of these persons reportedly drowned when they attempted to reach Mayotte on rafts or by swimming.
Citizens of Mayotte sometimes harassed Comorian illegal immigrants in Mayotte. For example, in October 2000, several hundred Comorian illegal immigrants were evicted from their homes and places of employment after the local government in Mayotte announced new penalties against persons who housed or employed illegal immigrants.
The new Constitution does not provide for the granting of refugee or asylum status in accordance with the 1951 U.N. Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol, and the Government has not formulated a policy regarding refugees, asylees, or first asylum; however, the Government cooperates with the office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and other humanitarian organizations assisting refugees. During the 1990's, refugees from central Africa fled to the country. Some have received asylum in other countries; approximately 10 of these refugees remained in the country, and they were awaiting placement by the UNHCR in other countries at year's end.
There were no reports of the forced return of persons to a country where they feared persecution.
3. Respect for Political Rights: The Right of Citizens to Change Their Government
The 1999 Constitution did not provide specifically for the right of citizens to change their government, and in practice citizens have not exercised this right; however, the new Constitution, which was approved December 23 in a national referendum, provides for the right of citizens to change their government in regularly scheduled elections. Under the terms of the new Constitution, a president will be elected from a different island every 4 years, based on a rotating schedule. For the presidential election scheduled for March 10, 2002, primary elections will be held only on Grand Comore, since the first president under the new Constitution must be a Grand Comorian. Three candidates will advance from the primary to participate in the general election involving all three islands.
In 1999 in response to international criticism, Azali appointed a civilian Prime Minister, Bianrifi Tarmidi; however, Azali remains the Head of State and army Commander in Chief. When he took power, Azali said that he would step down in April 2000 and relinquish power to a democratically elected president; however, by year's end, he had not done so.
In August 2000, Azali organized a National Congress in response to pressure from his political supporters to restore civilian rule; opposition parties boycotted the Congress. The Congress agreed on a constitution in which Azali would remain Head of State, but daily government administration would be handled by the civilian Prime Minister and the Council of State, which would act as both a legislature and constituent assembly. Although the constitution was approved by the National Congress in August 2000, it was not implemented and was replaced by the February reconciliation accord.
Also in August 2000, Azali and separatist leader Abeid signed the Fomboni Declaration. The declaration called for the creation of a new Comorian entity, in which the islands would share a common policy on religion, nationality, currency, foreign relations, and defense. In November 2000, a Tripartite Commission, composed of representatives from Grande Comore, Moheli, and Anjouan, was inaugurated and charged with developing a new constitution based on the Fomboni Declaration and the constitution drafted by the National Congress. The opposition parties initially refused to participate in the Tripartite Commission, but in December 2000, they met with the Azali Government, and the OAU began mediating negotiations. Although the OAU initially had maintained the position that the OAU-brokered Antananarivo Accord was the only viable option to reunify the islands, in December 2000, the OAU stated that it would accept an agreement that maintained the territorial integrity of the country and that provided for a democratic constitutional government. In December 2000, Azali named a new civilian Prime Minister, Hamada Madi, and formed a new civilian Cabinet, which is composed of Azali supporters.
On February 17, representatives of the Government, the Anjouan separatists, the political opposition, and civil society organizations signed a Framework Accord for Reconciliation in Comoros, brokered by the OAU. The Accord called for the creation of a new Tripartite Commission for National Reconciliation to develop a new Comorian entity with a new constitution. Although the Commission set June as its goal for completing the constitution and December for national elections, disagreements over procedure and goals delayed completion of the draft constitution. In August representatives from each island debated the first draft. The Tripartite Commission then adopted a draft Constitution, which was approved by 75 percent of the voters in a December 23 referendum described by international observers as free and fair. The new Constitution provides for the reincorporation of Anjouan, Grand Comoros, and Moheli into a new federation that grants the islands greater autonomy. According to the new Constitution, the Legislative Assembly will be composed of 33 members. Of these, citizens will directly elect 18, and 15 will be selected by the Government (5 per island). Under the terms of the new Constitution, President Azali had 7 days to decide to either lead the transitional government until elections in March 2002 or to stand in the elections himself; however, by year's end, he did not step down from office or withdraw from the March 2002 election. According to the new Constitution, leaders of the transitional governments on each island also are scheduled to step down after the March 2002 elections. The other leaders did not indicate any unwillingness to abide by the terms of the agreement by year's end.
In August separatist soldiers, reportedly dissatisfied with pay and promotions, started protests that led to the overthrow of Abeid. A three-man military commission replaced him as leader of Anjouan; Abeid fled to Mayotte and was placed under house arrest. The new military commission pledged its support for the reconciliation process begun by the February Accord. Between November 2 and 3, Abeid made an unsuccessful attempt to regain control of Anjouan when he launched an attack against forces loyal to the new military commission. Abeid was defeated quickly, however, and the coup attempt did not appear to threaten the Fomboni Agreement.
On December 19 on Moheli, the army defeated a coup attempt by 13 French mercenaries after several hours of fighting. Colonel Hassan Harouna, a former defense official in the Government of former President Abdoulkarim, was arrested on December 19 and accused of organizing the coup to derail the December 23 referendum. He was in detention pending trial at year's end.
In March 2000, dissident political and army elements attempted a coup against Azali. This coup was suppressed, and the leaders of the coup were detained. The two leaders of the coup remained in prison at year's end; no trial date had been scheduled (see Section 1.d.).
There were no bans in effect on political parties, which continued to criticize the Government openly and without penalty. There are 21 political parties in the country; 5 parties represent the Azali Government, and 16 parties represent the opposition.
Village chiefs and Muslim religious leaders tend to dominate local politics. Traditional social, religious, and economic institutions also affect the country's political life in important ways.
The percentage of women in government and politics does not correspond to their percentage of the population. Two women hold senior government positions; one is the President of the Tribunal of First Instance, and the other is legal counsel to President Azali.
An overwhelming majority of the population is Sunni Muslim, and all citizens, including the small number of Christians in the country, identify themselves as Muslims for safety reasons (see Sections 2.c. and 5). There are no Christians in the Government.
4. Governmental Attitude Regarding International and Nongovernmental Investigation of Alleged Violations of Human Rights
A number of domestic and international nongovernmental organizations (NGO's) generally operate without government restriction, investigating and publishing their findings on human rights cases. Government officials are cooperative and responsive to their views. However, the Comoros Human Rights Association, established in 1990, was inactive during the year due to a lack of funds.
5. Discrimination Based on Race, Sex, Religion, Disability, Language, or Social Status
The new Constitution prohibits discrimination based on these factors; however, there was discrimination against women, and local communities discriminated against and harassed Christians.
Domestic violence against women occurs, but medical authorities, the police, and women's groups believed that it was rare. In theory a woman could seek protection through the courts in the case of violence, but the problem is addressed most often within the extended family or at the village level.
Female genital mutilation (FGM), which is widely condemned by international health experts as damaging to both physical and psychological health, generally is not practiced.
Prostitution is illegal; however, most Comorians do not consider it to be a problem.
Men have the dominant role in society. A matriarchal African tradition affords women some rights, especially in terms of landholding. Societal discrimination against women is most apparent in rural areas where women have farming and childrearing duties, with fewer opportunities for education and wage employment. In contrast, an improvement in the status of women was most evident in the major towns, where growing numbers of women are in the labor force and generally earn wages comparable to those of men engaged in similar work; however, few women hold positions of responsibility in business. While legal discrimination exists in some areas, in general inheritance and property rights do not disfavor women. For example, the house that the father of the bride traditionally provides to the couple at the time of their marriage remains her property in the event of divorce.
The Government has not taken any specific action to protect or promote children's welfare. Legal provisions that address the rights and welfare of children were not enforced because of a lack of inspectors.
Education is compulsory until the age of 10; however, attendance is not enforced. An estimated 60 percent of children attend primary school, while only 34 percent attend secondary school; 55 percent of boys attend school, and 45 percent of girls attend school.
Child abuse appears to be rare.
Child prostitution and child pornography are criminalized under the law. Unmarried children under the age of 13 are considered minors, and they are protected legally from sexual exploitation, prostitution, and pornography.
Child labor is a problem (see Sections 6.c. and 6.d.).
Persons With Disabilities
There is no discrimination against persons with disabilities in employment, education, or in the provision of other state services. There are no laws that mandate access to buildings for persons with disabilities.
Religious Minorities
There is widespread societal discrimination against Christians in all sectors of life. Christians face insults and threats of violence from members of their communities. Christians have been harassed by mobs in front of mosques and summoned for questioning by religious authorities. In some instances, families forced Christian members out of their homes or threatened them with a loss of financial support. Some Christians have had their Bibles taken by family members. Local government officials, religious authorities, and family members have attempted to force Christians to attend services at mosques against their will.
Several times early in the year, religious leaders on Anjouan and Grande Comore threatened Christians during radio broadcasts. In April in Domoni on Anjouan, a local Christian leader was summoned before local Islamic leaders and threatened. The Christian leader's father was forced to pay a fine, and the leader's family had to leave Domoni for a month. In December 2000, also in Domoni, community members set fire to the house of a Christian man while he was sleeping inside; the man escaped.
Attempts have been made to isolate Christians from village life. In September and October 1999, on Anjouan a religious leader started an unofficial campaign against Christians. Committees were formed in many villages to harass Christians, and lists of names of suspected Christians were circulated. Anti-Christian rhetoric was broadcast on the radio. This campaign resulted in threats, but there were no reports of violence.
In 1999 community members and authorities in Lingoni, Anjouan, banned Christians from attending any community events, and in Mremeni, Anjouan, they banned Christian burials in the local cemetery.
Islamic fundamentalism is growing in popularity as more students return to the country after studying Islamic subjects in foreign countries.
6. Worker Rights
a. The Right of Association
The new Constitution provides for the right to unionize, and the Government has not prevented industries from unionizing. Farming on small land holdings, subsistence fishing, and petty commerce make up the daily activity of most of the population. The wage labor force is small, and numbers less than 7,000 including government employees, and less than 2,000 excluding them. Teachers, civil servants, and dockworkers are unionized. Unions are independent of the Government. The new Constitution provides for the right to strike, and the right to strike has been exercised freely by public sector workers.
In previous years, government workers, teachers, and hospital workers have held strikes primarily because they were not paid for weeks at a time. There were no reports of strikes on Grande Comore or Moheli during the year; however, teachers held strikes on Anjouan during the year, which resulted in periodic school closures (see Section 2.a.). In August 2000, despite regulations that forbid the removal of judges, Colonel Azali transferred to other duties nine judges who had initiated a strike from mid-June to early-August 2000 that called for judicial reform and regular payment of salaries. There are no laws protecting strikers from retribution, but there were no known instances of retribution.
There are no restrictions on unions joining federations or affiliating with international bodies; however, none are known to do so.
b. The Right to Organize and Bargain Collectively
The law protects workers from employer interference in their right to organize and administer their unions. Unions have the right to bargain collectively, and strikes are legal. Wages are set by employers in the small private sector and by the Government, especially the Ministries of Finance and Labor, in the larger public sector. The Labor Code, which is enforced rarely, does not include a system for resolving labor disputes, and it does not prohibit antiunion discrimination by employers.
There are no export processing zones.
c. Prohibition of Forced or Compulsory Labor
The new Constitution prohibits forced or compulsory labor, and it generally was not practiced among adults. The Government does not prohibit forced and bonded labor by children, and there were some instances in which it occurred (see Section 6.d.). Some families place their children in the homes of others where they work long hours in exchange for food or shelter. A 2000 UNICEF study found that approximately 15 percent of children worked at jobs for which they were not paid.
d. Status of Child Labor Practices and Minimum Age for Employment
The Labor Code defines the minimum age for employment as 15 years of age. The Ministry of Labor has few resources to enforce this provision; however, child labor is not a problem due to the general lack of wage employment opportunities. Children generally help with the work of their families in the subsistence farming and fishing sectors. Population pressure and poverty forced some families to place their children in the homes of others. These children, often as young as 7 years of age, typically worked long hours as domestic servants in exchange for food and shelter.
The Government has not ratified International Labor Organization Convention 187 on the worst forms of child labor; however, the Government adheres to its provisions in practice.
The law does not prohibit forced or bonded labor by children, and there were some instances in which it occurred (see Section 6.c.).
e. Acceptable Conditions of Work
There is no minimum wage. In previous years, the Government has paid workers late or failed to pay them at all; however, during the year, government workers were paid more regularly (see Section 6.a.). On Anjouan teachers went on strike several times during the year because they were not being paid, resulting in the closure of the schools (see Section 2.a.). On October 19, an agreement was signed after the teachers were promised back payments on unpaid salaries and official recognition from local officials of their status as teachers.
The Labor Code specifies 1 day off per week plus 1 month of paid vacation per year, but the Government has not set a standard workweek.
There are no safety or health standards for the minuscule manufacturing sector.
Legal foreign workers are protected by law; however, there are no such provisions in the law to protect illegal foreign workers.
f. Trafficking in Persons
The law does not prohibit trafficking in persons; however, there were no reports that persons were trafficked to, from, or within the country.


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Really thanks.
This is the message I seen from audit.log, it seems it is the suspected account which I have closed, however the email still sending out from our server, however there is still massive amount of active email queue.
Sorry, am really not good in programming and Linux, do you mean save those code to a script named pfdel.pl? And where should I put this script?2013-04-03 18:00:55,404 WARN [btpool0-257://ms1.ipeee.com:7071/service/admin/soap/] [firstname.lastname@example.com;ip=10.0.85.21;] security - cmd=Auth; account=test@ipeee.
com.hk; protocol=soap; error=authentication failed for test, account(or domain) status is closed;


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When brilliant archaeologist Dilara Kenner is contacted by Sam Watson, an old family friend who says that he has crucial information about her missing father, Dilara abandons her Peruvian dig and rushes to Los Angeles to meet him. But at the airport, Sam speaks instead of Noah's Ark—the artifact her father had long been searching for—and the possible death of billions. Before Sam can explain, he collapses. With his dying breath, he urges Dilara to find Tyler Locke—a man she's never heard of.
Two days later Dilara manages to track down former combat engineer Tyler Locke on an oil rig off Newfoundland. Her helicopter transport goes down well short of the oil rig's landing pad and Dilara and those aboard nearly drown. No sooner is Dilara safely on the rig than she convinces Tyler the crash was no accident. Tyler agrees to help her uncover the secret behind Noah's Ark and, more important, her father's disappearance. As the picture begins to come into focus, they realize they have just seven days to find the Ark before its secret is used to wipe out civilization once again.
With a chilling premise and a blistering pace, Boyd Morrison combines all the best elements of a blockbuster thriller with an intelligent and fascinating exploration of one of the Old Testament's great mysteries.
©2010 Boyd Morrison (P)2010 Simon & Schuster
"great summer read"
I enjoyed this book, as did my two daughters. The story was taut and exciting - the characters engaging; Tyler Locke reminded me a lot of Cussler"s Dirk Pitt, but since I love Pitt I don't mind the resemblance if Clive doesn't.
I also enjoyed the twist on Noah's Ark and the flood, strange, yet as plausible as any of the current theories out there.
I found this a perfect summer read - not too light,not too heavy - just right.
Words are cool.
"Really cool!!!"
Really cool. Right up there with Clive Cussler, James Rollins and Matthew Reilly. Love the twist on the Noah's Ark story. Tyler Locke is a great protag and I'm looking forward to his next adventure
Gaines does a fine job narrating. I really enjoyed this book. Next please.
"Too Predictable"
The characters were too perfect. Everything came too easy to them.
Anybody who could read a little faster.
The Russian female bad girl
All in all, I found myself preferring to listen to the news on the radio rather than plug in my iPod and listen to this book. I make myself listen to everyhing I pay for even if it is bad but it was not easy with this book. I read all the reviews before purchasing and thought that some of the people who reviewed it were being overly critical so I clicked 'Buy' anyway. Guess I should have paid more attention to those reviews.
Dont let the narrarator ruin your listening to a good book! I read waaay to many "critics" who go on and on about a bad narrarater, so what!
"okay but not great"
Pretty good overall concept, but as USUUAL, the military folks were stereotypical, and the egghead types were either evil geniuses or high minded academics. Could have been much better. I'm tired of "delta force" being portrayed as robots, etc. I'm not saying the authors have to be military experts BUT if they're going to make it part of the story they should be accurate, ex. over reliance on this or that kind of weapon that we ALL know about and comic book dialog between the soldiers, etc. Narration was fine, but I never let the narraration ruin a book for me.
"Trying to be something it's not"
It seemed to drag on and on unnecessarily.
Not very dynamic
I would recommend James Rollins for anyone interested in this type of book. Much better author.
"Noah's Ark Meet Da Vinci's Code"
Similar to the Dan Brown book. The Ark contains fairly cinematic writing. You can see how this could be made into a movie either for TV of the theater. The tale is engaging and contains some of the trademark trivia minutiae that Dan Brown wows us with in his books. If you are fan of the Dan Brown books, you will like this. If you are not, it's still worth a listen.
"Great story! Always held my attention."
After reading it made the whole story of the ark more believable.
Indiana Jones series, in more modern times!
Noahs Ark is found!
"Quite an Adventure"
Possibly, in a distant future. I pretty much got the whole story with this listening experience.
There were some moments that dragged along a bit. However, it picked up as the story rolled along toward the middle.
Tyler Locke and his buddy, Grant. Great team and good humor.
The Ark isn't what you think!
I've got another of Boyd Morrison's books on Kindle (Rogue Wave) and loved it.. This is the first series book I've listened to. Although the plot was similar to some others I've listened to ("Judas Strain" by James Rollins and Cllive Cussler's, "Plague Ship") it had its own unique twist. I really loved the characters in the book and their "McGyver-like" solutions to some of the obstacles in their way. All in all a good listen. My only complaint is that it twisted and turned a bit too much and could have been shorter and still have been good. Pretty good story for an early effort, though.
I really enjoyed this book archaeologist Dilara Kenner finds Tyler Locke after the death of her friend. It's a great adventure finding Noah's Ark it has everything you want in a book; the bad guy is really bad. What a ride. Now onto the next Tyler Locke adventure. The narration was great.
"Great book!"
I really enjoyed this book. It is not a sappy love story, which I much appreciate. It is just a really good story. It is sort of science fiction but it is also sort of a thriller because the scenario could happen someday in real life. I liked it a lot and have since read both the other books based on the character Tyler Locke which although quite different in storyline have some similar elements in that their stories could really happen/have happened. Great reads!
The fact that things in the story could happen/have happened in real life - it was fiction and a bit far-fetched, but still easily in the realm of the possible.
Well after getting into the story I realized that I actually had read the book, but I was better able to picture the scenes and action by his reading. I did like that he changed his voice a bit for the different characters. I think that helps follow the dialogue.
Yes. I usually listen only in the car but I also listened to this one at home several times.
The reader was a tad slow and I enjoyed it more when played at 1.25X
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WASHINGTON (AP) - Former Redskin Fred Smoot is facing a drunken driving charge in Washington.
Court records show a U.S. Capitol Police officer pulled over the former player on Massachusetts Ave. on Dec. 30 because his Audi A7 did not have license plates. The documents show Smoot refused a breath test and showed signs of impairment during a field sobriety test.
Smoot was charged Jan. 10 and later pleaded not guilty. Smoot attorney Brian K. McDaniel says the former player is looking forward to telling his side of the story.
The 33-year-old former defensive back played seven seasons with the Redskins.


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Here are the post-processing images. Nothing on these maps is hand-edited.
Any and all critiques or feedback is welcome. Not sure why the system didn't create thumbnails of some of the maps.
It's kind of odd that no deserts got created. I may need to modify the continental drying portion of the script. It's possible that the only reason deserts have shown up in my previous map is because the continent was flipping HUGE (covered most of a hemisphere). If so, then I'll have to up the drying factor to compensate.


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WASHINGTON – It's an understatement to say Monday's Inauguration Day public swearing-in ceremony takes a lot of planning.
Behind the scenes, one man has a very important job: logistics.
Senate Sergeant at Arms Terry Gainer says Inauguration Day is one of his biggest challenges.
One task Gainer says he needs to address is "how to get all the VIPs into the building and in position to start on time."
He says on the immediate inaugural platform, there are "about 1,500 people."
But these aren't just any people. They include Supreme Court justices, members of the House and Senate, former presidents and spouses and even foreign dignitaries.
And because of the VIPs, security is the top priority.
The Senate Committee on Rules and Administration spells out many of the initial mandates, but Gainer's office helps enforce them, he says.
Some of the tasks Gainer coordinates include parking logistics, military escorts and where military snipers might be needed.
Gainer says he is lucky in one aspect. He doesn't decide who sits next to whom.
WTOP's Mark Segraves contributed to this report. Follow @SegravesWTOP and @WTOP on Twitter.
(Copyright 2013 by WTOP. All Rights Reserved.)
Sure, you could grill another hot dog. Or, you could try one of these 30 recipes for foods you never knew you could cook on the grill.


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Lift Me Up & Take Me Down
20/04/2010 21:04 by Amsterdamize
When I get off the train and walk to my office in the morning, I see other people going the last leg of their daily journey, taking that last hurdle, where rural tranquility meets suburban sprawl: the highway.
This bicycle/pedestrian bridge is way old, old skool, walking & pushing is a thing of the past. Nowadays, the usual policy directive for crossing a highway is to dig. Much better, but this 'll do. Progress will reach this neck of the woods someday, too.
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Amsterdamize offers a range of consultancy services which help you develop effective urban mobility strategies and execute inspiring promotional campaigns.
website by mr mister
Office: +31 20 845 18 94
Cell: +31 6 431 00 747
With love, from the certified
Bicycle Capital of the World


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10 Questions From Science Fiction That We're Glad Were Never Answered
We tend to think of science fiction and fantasy as being like mystery novels — the story is over when you solve the case. So we obsess over questions that have no answers. But here are 10 questions that are better unanswered, either because the possibilities are fascinating or because the answers would be terrible.


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Of all the superstars who helped shape and define popular culture in the 20th century, few lasted as long in the spotlight — and even fewer were as enigmatic — as Francis Albert Sinatra.
Across seven decades, the skinny, big-eared kid from Jersey who grew up to be the Chairman of the Board influenced generations of singers, musicians and fedora-topped hepcats; triumphed on stage, in the movies (winning an Oscar for his performance in From Here to Eternity) and on TV; and crafted a public persona so indelible that, even today, the image of a figure in a tux, alone on stage, drink in one hand, mic in the other, smoke swirling in the spotlight — that image likely evokes for millions of fans the man known, simply, as The Voice.
In 1965, the year Sinatra turned 50, LIFE photographer John Dominis and editor Thomas Thompson were, as the magazine put it, "permitted" to spend time with the singer and his crew — friends, family, cohorts, fellow performers — for a cover story the magazine hoped to run. The result was a remarkable window into the man's closely and famously guarded private world, as well as Sinatra's own take on his celebrity and his music. Here, LIFE.com presents photos by Dominis that ran in that cover story, as well as many others that were not published in LIFE.
In the introduction to the huge, 16-page feature in its April 23, 1965 issue, "The Private World and Thoughts of Frank Sinatra," LIFE took pains to make clear that the man, 25 years into his career as a performer, was as volatile and as deeply, weirdly inscrutable as he'd ever been:
The kid with the high-pitched voice that came out of the throat wrapped in the floppy bow tie is going to be 50 this year — and Frank Sinatra remains the most controversial, powerful and surprising entertainer around. He is a man who will angrily throw an over-cooked hamburger at his valet or an ashtray at an inept assistant — and yet never fires anyone from his huge staff of aides and hangers-on. He will spend 10 minutes of his nightclub act attacking a woman columnist so venomously that the audience gasps — and will send $100,000 to a Los Angeles college with the strict instructions that the gift not be made public. He sneers "Charley brown shoes" at people he thinks are squares and always says "thank you" when someone asks for his autograph. He is the legendary ladies' man — and he says he has flunked out with women. He cannot read music, yet he has taken popular singing and made of it an art. He is the finest living singer of popular songs, an astonishingly good actor, an ambitious director, a shrewd businessman. . . .
Sinatra contributed memorable insights about his singing technique, the peers he loves (and those he doesn't like so much) and more to the centerpiece of the feature — a long article, titled "Me and My Music" — that, LIFE told its readers, "Sinatra himself wrote." Among the gems in the piece:
It was my idea [in my mid-20s] to make my voice work in the same way as a trombone or a violin — not sounding like them, but "playing" like those instruments. The first thing I needed was extraordinary breath control, which I didn't have. I began swimming every chance I got in public pools — taking laps under water and thinking song lyrics to myself as I swam, holding my breath.
One thing that was tremendously important was learning the use of a microphone. Many singers never learned to use one. They never understood, and still don't, that a microphone is their instrument…. [Instead] of playing a saxophone, they're playing a microphone.
I don't read a note of music. I learn songs by having them played for me a couple of times while I read the lyrics. I can pick up the melody very quickly. I learn the lyrics by writing them out in long hand. When I get a new song, I look for continuity of melody that in itself will tell a musical story. It must go somewhere. I don't like it to ramble. And then, by the same token, I like almost the same thing — more, as a matter of fact — in the lyrics. They must tell you a complete story, from "once upon a time" to "the end."
For my money, Tony Bennett is the best singer in the business, the best exponent of a song. He excites me when I watch him — he moves me. Vic Damone has better pipes than anybody, but he lacks the know-how or whatever you want to call it. Take Lena Horne, for example, a beautiful lady but really a mechanical singer. She gimmicks up a song, makes it too pat. . . .
And on he goes, following his thoughts to conclusions that feel right, allowing him to say all he wanted to say — just as, countless times in his career, he found new, unexpected ways to phrase utterly familiar lyrics from the Great American Songbook.
Sinatra died in May 1998, but music critic David Hadju spoke for untold numbers of fans when he wrote, "To hell with the calendar. The day Frank Sinatra dies, the 20th century is over." Strong words. But in some elemental ways, the further we get from the Chairman's death, the more apt and prophetic they feel.
The most controversial, powerful and surprising entertainer around.
All these years later, that still sounds about right.
[Buy the LIFE book, The Rat Pack: The Original Bad Boys]
Liz Ronk, who edited this gallery, is the Photo Editor for LIFE.com. Follow her on Twitter at @LizabethRonk.


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Attach cups securely to cage with a choice of hanger-style or bolt-lock clamp style. They are easy to place and remove, and less likely to spill. Bowl easily slips out of bracket for cleaning. Dishwasher safe.
Bracket on Bolt-Lock Clamp style may be powder-coated black or stainless steel.
The non-porous structure of stainless steel makes them the ideal food bowl for your small pet. They won't harbor bacteria and they are virtually indestructible by pet's teeth.


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The Hartford Hospital Cardiac Rehabilitation program is an exercise and health program aimed at helping people recover from a recent heart hospitalization. It is designed to provide education guidelines to help heart patients safely increase their physical fitness and return to a healthy and active lifestyle.
Counseling and education are provided that will help you with dietary changes, weight loss, smoking cessation, and stress management.
VIDEO: What is Cardiac Rehab?
One of only six hospitals in CT to earn accreditation
(American Association of Cardiovascular Pulmonary Rehabilitation) is the
credentialing organization that assures Cardiac Rehabilitation
Programs will maintain the highest quality of care in the treatment of
patients with cardiac and pulmonary diseases.
In order to become accredited by the AACVPR, a program must comply with the AACVPR standards for accreditation.
These requirements change every three years to keep all programs
current. The Hartford Hospital Cardiac Rehabilitation Program has been
accredited for more than ten years, which distinguishes it from many
others in Connecticut.


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Wedding Dress ($$$) from Aire Barcelona Follow
Featured in 25 New Wedding Gowns from Aire Barcelona.
2013 wedding dress by Aire Barcelona bridal gowns Ramo.
Find Wedding Dresses Near You:
Create Account
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Plan, book and shop for your wedding with inspiration as your guide. Plus, save photos to your favorites!


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Gameday Platter
# 00662
Product Description
Show your team loyalty and enhance your game-time festivities with the hand-painted Gameday Platter. Featuring your team's colors and logo, it's perfect for serving up hotdogs, sandwiches and more with a durable ceramic quality you're sure to appreciate. Go ahead and pick your favorite; order now.
Product Details


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Copyright Law (3120)
The course will study the rights of creators under Title 17 of the United States Code and analogous common law doctrines. Topics include the constitutional and historic basis for copyright; subject matter; originality; rights and infringements; the "fair use" doctrine, exemptions and compulsory licenses; notice, deposit and registration; problems of new technologies; and other problems of interest. This course is a prerequisite for Selected Topics in Entertainment Law Seminar (4120).
Course Details
- Credits: 3


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This glacial country does not enjoy its everlasting snow.
It has always preferred the buttery smoothness of "baisers de mousse" - Zurich-style macarons - and their warmer counterparts, such as Aargau carrot cake, gingerbread or chestnut vermicelli, which melt in the mouth like a sponge finger.
PREPARATION TIME: 20 min
COOLING TIME: 30 min
COOKING TIME: 10 min
Ingredients: 1 Fortissio Lungo capsule per person (1 x 110 ml) - 160 ml of hot milk
For the biscuits: 125 g (4 ½ oz) soft butter - 1 egg - 120 g (4 oz) sugar - a pinch of salt - the zest of one small lemon - 250 g (9 oz) flour - 50 g (2 oz) icing sugar - 1 tablespoon kirsch - a pinch of cinnamon.
Mix the butter with the egg, sugar, salt and lemon zest in a food processor until the mixture is smooth, then add the flour and blend in short bursts until the pastry forms a ball. Add a little flour if the mixture is sticky. Leave the pastry to cool in the fridge for 30 minutes, then roll it out until it is 5 to 7 mm thick. Heat the oven to 200 °C (gas mark 6 - 7). Cut out shapes with a pastry cutter. Place the biscuits on a baking tray covered with baking paper and spread with a mixture of the icing sugar, kirsch and cinnamon. Cook in the oven for 10 minutes. Dust with icing sugar to serve. Serve with a café renversé prepared with 160 ml of hot milk and a Fortissio Lungo capsule.
PREPARATION TIME: 20 min COOKING TIME: 45 min
INGREDIENTS: 6 Cosi capsules (6 x 40 ml)
For the cake: 400 g (14 oz) carrots - 250 g (9 oz) ground almonds - 4 eggs -200 g (7 oz) sugar - 60 g (2 oz) flour - the zest and juice of ½ a lemon - ½ sachet (1tsp) of baking powder - a pinch of salt - a knob of butter.
For the icing: 1 tablespoon of kirsch - 150 g of icing sugar - 1 egg white - marzipan carrot.
Pre-heat the oven to 180 °C (gas mark 6). Peel and grate the carrots. Separate the egg yolks and whites, then beat the yolks with the sugar until the mixture turns white. Add the zest, lemon juice, grated carrots, ground almonds, flour, salt and baking powder, and blend until the mixture is smooth. Beat the egg whites until stiff and stir into the mixture. Grease and flour a sloping sided tin. Pour the mixture into the tin and bake for around 45 minutes. Check the cake is cooked by inserting the blade of a knife into the centre: it should come out clean. Remove the cake from the tin and leave to cool on a cooling rack. For the icing, mix the kirsch with the icing sugar and an egg white and whip until smooth. Spread on the cake and leave to set. Decorate with the marzipan carrot. Serve with a Cosi with half a teaspoon of kirsch.
NUSSTÖRTLI WALNUT AND HONEY TARTLETS & DULSÃO do Brasil
PREPARATION TIME: 30 min
COOLING TIME: 2 hrs
COOKING TIME: 50 min
INGREDIENTS: 1 Dulsão do Brasil capsule per person (1 x 40 ml)
For the pastry: 300 g (10 ½ oz) flour - 150 g (5 oz) butter - 150 g (5 oz) sugar - a pinch of salt - 1 egg - icing sugar.
For the filling: 300 g (10 ½ oz) sugar - 250 g (9 oz) shelled and ground walnuts (or hazelnuts) - 2 tablespoons of honey - 200 ml (7 fl oz) single cream.
Put the flour and butter into a food processor and blend in short bursts for a few seconds. Add the sugar, salt and egg then continue to mix in short, sharp bursts until it has formed a pastry. Refrigerate for 2 hours. Flour a work surface and roll out the pastry. Cut out circles and place them in greased, floured tartlet moulds, prick with a fork and refrigerate again with the rest of the pastry. Heat the sugar with 4 tablespoons of water to form a golden caramel. Take off the heat and add the walnuts, honey and cream, then return to a low heat for around 10 minutes, stirring continuously, allowing the mixture to thicken a little. Leave to cool, then divide the mixture between the tartlets. Roll out the rest of the pastry and cut into circles to top the tartlets. Pinch the edges so that they hold together and cook in the oven for around 40 minutes. Dust the tarlets with icing sugar. Serve with a Dulsão do Brasil.
PREPARATION TIME: 30 min
COOKING TIME: 1 hr the previous day
COOLING TIME: 12 hrs + 1 hr
INGREDIENTS: 6 Decaffeinato Intenso capsules (6 x 40 ml)
For the filling: 300 g (10 ½ oz) chestnut cream - 300 g (10 ½ oz ) chestnut purée - 100 g (3 ½ oz) soft butter - 2 tablespoons of rum.
For the meringue: 2 egg whites - 80 g (3 oz) caster sugar 40 g (1 ½ oz) icing sugar.
For the whipped cream: 300 ml single cream - 50 g (2 oz) mascarpone - seeds from one vanilla pod - 40 g (1 ½ oz) icing sugar.
Pre-heat the oven to 120 °C (gas mark 4) and cover a baking tray with baking paper. Beat the egg whites until stiff, sift the caster sugar and the icing sugar and fold into the egg whites. Using a piping bag with a 1 cm nozzle, squeeze the mixture into cones and bake for one hour. Lower the temperature to 100-110 °C if the meringues are browning too quickly. Switch off the oven and leave the meringues in to cool for 12 hours, with the oven door ajar. In a food processor, blend the butter, chestnut cream and purée, and the rum. Place in the fridge for 12 hours. Whip the cream with the vanilla seeds, mascarpone and icing sugar, and place in the fridge for one hour. Open the meringues and fill with the chestnut mixture using a piping bag, then add the whipped cream. Serve with a Decaffeinato Intenso.
LÄCKERLI GINGERBREAD WITH A SUGAR GLAZE & CAPPUCCINO INDRIYA from India
PREPARATION TIME: 20 min
COOKING TIME: 20 min
COOLING TIME: 1 hr
INGREDIENTS: 1 Indriya from India capsule per person (1 x 40 ml)
For the gingerbread: 2 tablespoons of mixed spice (aniseed, ginger, star anise, cinnamon) - 125 g (4 ½ oz) sugar - 200 g (7 oz) honey - 125 g (4 ½ oz) ground almonds - 20 g (¾ oz) candied orange peel - 20 g (¾ oz) candied lemon peel - 1 lemon - 80 ml (3 fl oz) kirsch - 300 g (10 ½ oz) flour - 1 teaspoon of baking powder.
For the icing: 200 g (7 oz) icing sugar - 3 teaspoons of kirsch - 1 teaspoon of water.
Heat the honey in a pan over low heat. Add the sugar, spices, chopped lemon and orange peel, grated lemon zest and the kirsch. Measure the almonds, flour and baking powder into a food processor, add the contents of the saucepan and blend in short bursts to form a dough. Using the tips of your fingers, spread the dough in a rectangular tin lined with baking paper to a depth of 1.5 cm and place in the fridge for one hour. Heat the oven to 180 °C (gas mark 6) and bake for 20 minutes. Mix all the icing ingredients and pour over the cooked cake while still hot, then cut into squares. Serve with a cappuccino made with an Indriya from India.
PREPARATION TIME: 30 min
COOKING TIME: 20 min
COOLING TIME: at least 6 hrs
INGREDIENTS: 6 Arpeggio capsules (6 x 25 ml)
For the filling: 300 g (10 ½ oz) of 70 % dark chocolate, chopped - 2 Arpeggio capsules (2 x 25 ml) - 300 ml (10 ½ fl oz) whipping cream - 30 g (1 oz) butter - 200 g (7 oz) icing sugar - a few drops of green food colouring.
For the pastry: 350 g (12 oz) flour - 250 g (9 oz) butter - 125 g (4 ½ oz) sugar - 1 teaspoon vanilla powder - 2 egg yolks.
Using a food processor, blend all the pastry ingredients except the egg yolks in short bursts. When the mixture has reached a breadcrumb consistency, add the egg yolks, blend until it has formed a ball and refrigerate for two hours. Turn the oven on to 180 °C (gas mark 6). Roll out the pastry, cut into circles and place them in a greased tartlet tray. Prick with a fork, cover in baking paper and fill with dry beans. Blind bake for 20 minutes. Boil the cream. Take off the heat and mix into the chopped chocolate. Add the coffee and butter and leave to cool. Pour this mixture into the pastry bases, but keep back a few drops. Leave in the fridge for 2-3 hours. Heat the icing sugar with 3 tablespoons of water and the food colouring for 2 minutes. Leave to cool. Pour into the caracs. Top with chocolate and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. Serve with an Arpeggio.
Production Marie Leteuré Stylist Élodie Rambaud Photography Jérôme Bilic


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A satellite workshop of Logic in Computer Science (LICS 2013)
- Submission deadline: Tuesday 30th April 2013 (anywhere on earth)
- Author notification: 10th May
- Workshop: 29th June
Early registration deadline: May 22 2013. Please register via the LICS website.
It has been understood since the late 1960s that tools and structures arising in mathematical logic and proof theory can usefully be applied to the design of high level programming languages, and to the development of reasoning principles for such languages. Yet low level languages, such as machine code, and the compilation of high level languages into a low level ones have traditionally been seen as having little or no essential connection to logic.
However, a fundamental discovery of this past decade has been that low level languages are also governed by logical principles. From this key observation has emerged an active and fascinating new research area at the frontier of logic and computer science. The practically-motivated design of logics reflecting the structure of low level languages (such as heaps, registers and code pointers) and low level properties of programs (such as resource usage) goes hand in hand with the some of the most advanced contemporary researches in semantics and proof theory, including classical realizability and forcing, double orthogonality, parametricity, linear logic, game semantics, uniformity, categorical semantics, explicit substitutions, abstract machines, implicit complexity and sublinear programming.
The LOLA workshop, affiliated with LICS, will bring together researchers interested in many aspects of the relationship between logic and low level languages and programs. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:
- Typed assembly languages,
- Certified assembly programming,
- Certified and certifying compilation,
- Proof-carrying code,
- Program optimization,
- Modal logic and realizability in machine code,
- Realizability and double orthogonality in assembly code,
- Parametricity, modules and existential types,
- General references, Kripke models and recursive types,
- Continuations and concurrency,
- Implicit complexity, sublinear programming and Turing machines,
- Closures and explicit substitutions,
- Linear logic and separation logic,
- Game semantics, abstract machines and hardware synthesis,
- Monoidal and premonoidal categories, traces and effects.
Invited Talks
Vellvm: Verifying Transformations of the LLVM IR
Steve Zdancewic (University of Pennsylvania)
The Low-Level Virtual Machine (LLVM) compiler provides a modern, industrial-strength SSA-based intermediate representation (IR) along with infrastructure support for many source languages and target platforms. Much of the LLVM compiler is structured as IR to IR translation passes that apply various optimizations and analyses.
In this talk, I will describe the Vellvm project, which seeks to provide a formal framework for developing machine-checkable proofs about LLVM IR programs and translation passes. I'll discuss some of the subtleties of modeling the LLVM IR semantics, including nondeterminism and its use of SSA representation. I'll also describe some of the proof techniques that we have used for reasoning about LLVM IR transformations and give two example applications: (1) formal verification of the SoftBound pass, which hardens C programs against memory safety errors, and (2) the mem2reg transformation, which promotes stack-allocated temporaries to registers and converts "trivial" SSA programs to "minimal, pruned" SSA programs.
Vellvm, which is implemented in the Coq theorem prover, provides facilities for extracting LLVM IR transformation passes and plugging them into the LLVM compiler, thus enabling us to create verified optimization passes for LLVM and evaluate them against their unverified counterparts. Our experimental results show that fully verified and automatically extracted implementations can yield competitive performance.
This is joint work with Jianzhou Zhao and Milo Martin (both at Penn) and Santosh Nagarakatte (at Rutgers University).
Machine code, formal verification and functional programming
Magnus Myreen (University of Cambridge)
All programs run in the form of machine code. Ultimately, all formal software verification ought to reach down to this concrete form of execution and prove theorems about the actual ARM, x86 or PowerPC machine instructions that pass through the processor.
This talk presents techniques and tools that aid both verification of existing machine code (e.g. as produced by gcc) and tools that synthesise correct-by-construction machine code from high-level specifications (functions in logic). All of these tools have been implemented and used within the HOL4 theorem prover.
For post hoc verification, I describe a proof-producing decompiler that, given concrete machine code, returns a clean logic function describing the effect of executing that machine code. The decompiler is proof producing, i.e. for each run it proves that the generated function is correct w.r.t. specification of the underlying machine language (instruction set architecture). I will briefly comment on a significant case study, namely, decompilation of the ARM output from gcc for the seL4 microkernel (10k lines of C developed at NICTA).
For synthesis, I turn the decompiler around into a tool that generates correct machine code from functions in logic. This technique has been successfully applied in projects that construct verified implementations of Lisp (and soon ML). The most sophisticated verified Lisp implementation has decent efficiency due to its ability to perform verified dynamic compilation at runtime. Support for the dynamic compilation requires reasoning about self-modifying x86 code.
The talk includes a number of short demos and is meant to be accessible to people unfamiliar with machine code or theorem proving.
Accepted Talks
- Lennart Beringer, Gordon Stewart, Robert Dockins and Andrew W. Appel
Towards Verified Shared-memory Cooperation for C
- Olle Fredriksson
Compilation using abstract machines for game semantics
- Sergey Goncharov and Lutz Schröder
Monad-based Partial Correctness Assertions
- Dwight Guth, Andrei Stefanescu and Grigore Rosu
Low-Level Program Verification using Matching Logic Reachability
- Chang Liu, Michael Hicks and Elaine Shi
Memory Trace Oblivious Program Execution
- Radu Mardare and Prakash Panangaden
Approximate reasoning for Markov Processes
Program Co-Chairs:
- Andrew Kennedy (Microsoft Research Cambridge)
- Dan Ghica (University of Birmingham)
Andrew Kennedy (Microsoft Research Cambridge)
Dan Ghica (University of Birmingham)
- Thomas Braibant (INRIA)
- Karl Crary (Carnegie Mellon University)
- Ugo Dal Lago (Università di Bologna)
- Xinyu Feng (University of Science and Technology of China)
- Scott Owens (University of Kent)
- Sam Staton (University of Cambridge)
- Nikos Tzevelekos (Queen Mary, University of London)
- Nobuko Yoshida (Imperial College London