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Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
Area: 2,586 sq. km. (1,034 sq. mi.; about the size of Rhode Island).
Cities: Capital--Luxembourg (pop.81,800). Other cities--Esch/Alzette, Dudelange, Differdange.
Terrain: Continuation of Belgian Ardennes in the north, heavily forested and slightly mountainous; extension of French Lorraine plateau in the south, with open, rolling countryside.
Climate: Cool, temperate, rainy; like the U.S. Pacific Northwest.
Nationality: Noun--Luxembourger(s). Adjective--Luxembourg.
Population (2001): 442,972.
Annual growth rate:1.26%.
Ethnic groups: Celtic base with French and German blend; also guest workers from Portugal, Italy, Spain, and other European countries.
Religion: Historically Roman Catholic. Luxembourg law forbids the collection of data on religious practices.
Languages: Luxembourgish, French, and German (official); English is widely spoken.
Education: Years compulsory--9. Attendance--100%. Literacy--100%.
Health: Life expectancy--avg. 78 years; males 74 years, females 81 years. Infant mortality rate--4.7/1000.
Work force (2000, 248,000): Services--62%; agriculture--1%; industry--28%; government--9%,
Unemployment (2000 est.): 2.7%.
Type: Constitutional monarchy.
Independence: 1839.
Constitution: 1868.
Branches: Executive--Grand Duke (chief of state). Legislative--bicameral parliament (Chamber of Deputies and Council of State). Judicial--superior court.
Political parties: Christian Socialist Party (CSV), Socialist Party (LSAP), Democratic (liberal) Party (DP), Green Alternative Party (GAP), Party for Pension Rights (ADR).
Suffrage: Universal over age of 18.
Government budget (2000): $4.32 billion.
The language of Luxembourg is Luxembourgish, a blend of old German and Frankish elements. The official language of the civil service, law, and parliament is French, although criminal and legal debates are conducted partly in Luxembourgish and police case files are recorded in German. German is the primary language of the press. French and German are taught in the schools, with German spoken mainly at the primary level and French at the secondary level.
June 9, 1815, after 400 years of domination by various European nations, Luxembourg was made a grand duchy by the Congress of Vienna. It was granted political autonomy in 1838 under King William I of the Netherlands, who also was the Grand Duke of Luxembourg. The country considers 1835 to be its year of independence. In 1867, Luxembourg was recognized as independent and guaranteed perpetual neutrality. After being occupied by Germany in both World Wars, however, Luxembourg abandoned neutrality and became a charter member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in 1949.
The present sovereign, Grand Duke Henri, succeeded his father, Grand Duke Jean on October 7, 2000. Grand Duke Jean announced his decision to abdicate in December 1999, after a 35 year reign.
Luxembourg has a parliamentary form of government with a constitutional monarchy by inheritance. Under the constitution of 1868, as amended, executive power is exercised by the Grand Duke and the Council of Government (cabinet), which consists of a prime minister and several other ministers. The prime minister is the leader of the political party or coalition of parties having the most seats in parliament.
Legislative power is vested in the Chamber of Deputies, elected directly to 5-year terms. A second body, the "Conseil d'Etat" (Council of State), composed of 21 ordinary citizens appointed by the Grand Duke, advises the Chamber of Deputies in the drafting of legislation. The responsibilities of the members of the Conseil d'Etat are extracurricular to their normal professional duties.
Luxembourg law is a composite of local practice, legal tradition, and French, Belgian, and German systems. The apex of the judicial system is the superior court, whose judges are appointed by the Grand Duke.
Principal Government Officials
Chief of State--Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg
Prime Minister, Minister of State, Minister of Finance, Minister of Labor and Employment--Jean Claude Juncker, (CSV)
Vice Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs, External Trade and Development--Lydie Polfer (DP)
Ambassador to the United States--Arlette Conzemius
Ambassador to the United Nations--Hubert Wurth
Luxembourg maintains an embassy in the United States at 2200 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20006 (tel. 202-265-4171). Consulates or honorary consulates are located in many U.S. cities.
Since the end of World War II, the Christian Social Party (CSV) has usually been the dominant partner in governing coalitions. The Roman Catholic-oriented CSV resembles Christian Democratic parties in other west European countries and enjoys broad popular support. However, in June 1999, national elections ushered in a new government. For the first time since 1974, the Socialist Party (LSAP) ceded its junior coalition position with the long-reigning CSV majority to the Liberal Democrat Party (DP).
The DP is a center party, drawing support from the professions, merchants, and urban middle class. Like other west European liberal parties, it advocates both social legislation and minimum government involvement in the economy. It also is strongly pro-NATO. In the opposition since 1984, the DP had been a partner in the three previous consecutive coalition governments.
The Green Party has received growing support since it was officially formed in 1983. It opposes both nuclear weapons and nuclear power and supports environmental and ecological preservation measures. This party generally opposes Luxembourg's military policies, including its membership in NATO.
National elections are held at least every 5 years and municipal elections every 6 years. In the June 1999 parliamentary elections, the CSV won 19, the DP 15, the LSAP 13, the ADR (a single-issue party that emerged from the LSAP focused on pension rights) 6, the "Greens" 5, and the PCL 1. Hence, for the first time since 1974, the Socialists (LSAP) ceded their junior coalition position with the long-reigning Christian Socialist (CSV) majority to the Liberal Democrats. Jean-Claude Juncker (CSV) remained for a second 5-year term as Prime Minister, and Lydie Polfer (DP), the former Luxembourg City mayor, was named Vice Prime Minister and Foreign Minister.
Although Luxembourg in tourist literature is aptly called the "Green Heart of Europe," its pastoral land coexists with a highly industrialized and export-intensive economy. Luxembourg enjoys a degree of economic prosperity almost unique among industrialized democracies.
In 1876, English metallurgist Sidney Thomas invented a refining process that led to the development of the steel industry in Luxembourg and the founding of the Arbed company in 1911--now the world's largest steel producer. The iron and steel industry, located along the French border, is the most important single sector of the economy. Steel accounts for 29% of all exports (excluding services), 1.8% of GDP, 22% of industrial employment, and 3.9% of the work force.
The restructuring of the industry and increasing government ownership in Arbed began as early as 1974, and eventually led to a merger with two European steel giants, resulting in Arcelor, the world's most productive steel mill. As a result of timely modernization of facilities, cutbacks in production and employment, and recent cyclical recovery of the international demand for steel, the company is again profitable. The company specializes in production of large architectural steel beams and specialized value-added products by recycling steel scrap metal rather than mining and producing new steel.
There has been, however, a relative decline in the steel sector, offset by Luxembourg's emergence as a financial center. Banking is especially important. In 2000, there were 202 banks in Luxembourg, with 23,464 employees. Political stability, good communications, easy access to other European centers, skilled multilingual staff, and a tradition of banking secrecy have all contributed to the growth of the financial sector. Germany accounts for the largest-single grouping of banks, with Scandinavian, Japanese, and major U.S. banks also heavily represented. Total assets exceeded $600 billion at the end of 2000. More than 14,000 holding companies are established in Luxembourg. The European Investment Bank--the financial institution of the European Union--also is located there.
Government policies promote the development of Luxembourg as an audiovisual and communications center. Radio-Television-Luxembourg is Europe's premier private radio and television broadcaster. The government-backed Luxembourg satellite company Societe Europeenne des Satellites (SES) was created in 1986 to install and operate a satellite telecommunications system for transmission of television programs throughout Europe. The first SES "ASTRA" satellite, a 16-channel RCA 4000, was launched by Ariane Rocket in December 1988. SES presently operates 13 satellites with ASTRA 1K, the world's largest telecommunication satellite ever, to be launched before the year 2003.
Luxembourg offers a favorable climate to foreign investment. Successive governments have effectively attracted new investment in medium, light, and high-tech industry. Incentives cover taxes, construction, and plant equipment. U.S. firms are among the most prominent foreign investors, producing tires (Goodyear), chemicals (Dupont), glass (Guardian Industries), and a wide range of industrial equipment. The current value of U.S. direct investment is almost $1.4 billion, on a per capita basis--the highest level of U.S. direct investment outside of North America.
Labor relations have been peaceful since the 1930s. Most industrial workers are organized by unions linked to one of the major political parties. Representatives of business, unions, and government participate in the conduct of major labor negotiations.
Foreign investors often cite Luxembourg's labor relations as a primary reason for locating in the Grand Duchy. Unemployment in 2000 averaged less than 2.7%.
Luxembourg's small but productive agricultural sector provides employment for less than 2% of the work force. Most farmers are engaged in dairy and meat production. Vineyards in the Moselle Valley annually produce about 15 million liters of dry white wine, most of which is consumed locally.
Luxembourg's trade account has run a persistent deficit over the last decade, but the country enjoys an overall balance-of-payment surplus, due to revenues from financial services. Government finances are strong, and budgets are normally in surplus.
Luxembourg has long been a prominent supporter of European political and economic integration. In efforts foreshadowing European integration, Luxembourg and Belgium in 1921 formed the Belgium-Luxembourg Economic Union (BLEU) to create an inter-exchangeable currency and a common customs regime. Luxembourg is a member of the Benelux Economic Union and was one of the founding members of the European Economic Community (now the European Union). It also participates in the Schengen Group, whose goal is the free movement of citizens among member states. At the same time, Luxembourgers have consistently recognized that European unity makes sense only in the context of a dynamic, transatlantic relationship and have traditionally pursued a pro-NATO, pro-U.S. foreign policy.
Luxembourg is the site of the European Court of Justice, the European Court of Auditors, and other vital EU organs. The Secretariat of the European Parliament is located in Luxembourg, but the Parliament usually meets in nearby Strasbourg.
The Luxembourg army is under civilian control. Responsibility for defense matters is vested in the Minister of Cooperation, Humanitarian Action and Defense under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Trade, Cooperation and Defense. Luxembourg has no navy or air force. A 1967 law made the army an all-volunteer force with current strength of approximately 450 professional soldiers, about 340 enlisted recruits and 100 civilians, and a total budget of $131 million. Luxembourg has participated in the European Corps (EUROCORPS) since 1994, has contributed troops to the UNPROFOR and IFOR missions in former Yugoslavia, and participated with a small contingent in the NATO SFOR mission in Bosnia. The Luxembourg Army is integrated into the Multinational Belurokas Force under Belgian command. Luxembourg has financially supported international peacekeeping missions during the 1991 Gulf War, in Rwanda and Albania. The army also has participated in humanitarian relief missions such as setting up refugee camps for Kurds and providing emergency supplies to Albania.
Bilateral relations between the United States and Luxembourg are excellent, both historically and through common membership in the Organization for Cooperation and Economic Development (OECD), OSCE, and NATO. More than 5,000 American soldiers, including Gen. George S. Patton, are buried at the American Military Cemetery near the capital.
Principal U.S. Officials
Ambassador--Peter Terpeluk, Jr.
Deputy Chief of Mission--Gerald Loftus
Political/Economic Officer--Vin Carver
Commercial Counselor (based in Brussels)--George Knowles
Administrative Officer--Barbara A. Hibben
Vice Consul--Carol Cox
Public Diplomacy--Steven Weston
The U.S. Embassy in Luxembourg is located at 22 Boulevard Emmanuel Servais, L-2535 Luxembourg City (tel. 352-460-123).


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Did Angelina Jolie And Brad Pitt Get Married?
by Daily Dish
posted Oct 2 2013 5:49AM
Jay-Z's childhood was definitely different than his daughter Blue Ivy's. He's admitting that growing up in Brooklyn's Marcy Projects with his single mother and three siblings led to him selling drugs to make ends meet. Sometimes they'd pay the light bill, sometimes they paid the phone, sometimes the gas went off. He didn't want to be embarrassed when he went to school and didn't want to have dirty sneakers or wear the same clothes over again. Jay-Z swears he never used crack, only sold it. He was thinking about surviving. But Jay Z says his troubled past has made him a better business man today for his sports agency. It's sad but it's true and he learned much later in life just how much dealing drugs negatively affects the community. Can you imagine Jay-Z not living the fine life?
Could they have gotten one over on us? Angelina Jolie is provoking another round of secret wedding rumors this week. She was caught hanging out at the beach with her kids wearing what seems to be a new gold band on her wedding finger. The simple ring rests against her much more blingy engagement ring that was given to her by Brad Pitt in the spring of 2012. The couple has been dropping hints that a wedding is coming really, really soon. Wedding or not, this year has already been an extremely emotional, bonding year for Brad and Angelina, especially after Angelina Jolie underwent a preventative mastectomy earlier this year. If anything, that's definitely one reason that could make you want to race to the alter!
Scarlett Johansson is definitely an established and successful actress in Hollywood and has passed the test. But when it comes to passing with flying colors on other things, that's not always the case. When it comes to other tests like the SATs, it turns out that Scarlett Johansoon had a more difficult time. She's revealing that her SAT score from high school, in her eyes, was pretty low. She said, "I think the way it worked when I took them was that they were out of 1,600, so maybe you'd get a 1,240 if you were a smarty-pants. I got a 1,080, which was pretty low. But that was probably because I didn't answer half the math questions." Scarlett Johansson was busy trying to launch her career at the time too. Hey, SATs aren't everything!
Uh oh! Maybe the Kardashians should be worried that Khloe's husband Lamar Odom could affect their income! Looks like Lamar Odom's drug scandal is now hurting the Kardashian brand! People have started to notice heavily marked down racks of their Kardashian Kollection products at Sears, and not even the slashed prices are helping sales. These prices that we're talking about are some things as cheap as $9.99 and 40-50% off new arrivals! Plus, their tv show, Keeping Up With The Kardashians is seeing a big decrease in viewership. Could this be the end of the Kardashian era? It might just be!
Little Monsters, get excited! Lady Gaga is about to headline the inaugural YouTube Music Awards! It's been announced that Eminem, Arcade Fire and Lady Gaga will all get together for the event, which will take place on November 3rd. The first-ever award show from YouTube will be an hour and a half long and be all live entertainment along with six award categories. This is a smart move on Lady Gaga's part to join the event since the release date for her next album is November 11
. Regardless talk about something cool and different!
On Monday I reported that Katy Perry got attitude from Barbara Walters for being late to a past interview while she was dealing with her divorce from Russell Brand. Well, now the 84-year-old veteran journalist has issued an apology to Katy Perry, explaining she wasn't aware of the situation. She said, "Katy, if I made you feel at all unhappy, during a time when you were obviously unhappy, and I didn't know, I'm sorry. But you can't always know!" Katy Perry did admit that she kept Barbara Walters in the dark about her marital problems with Russell Brand during the interview. But apparently Barbara Walters looked at Katy Perry and said, 'You know, I've only ever waited for one other person this long, and you know who that person was? Judy Garland. You know how she turned out, right?' OUCH! That being said, I think Barbara Walters did the right thing in apologizing!
Rihanna's string of bad luck with homes continues! For around the third time, someone tried to break into her mansion! While Rihanna was in Australia, someone drove up her private road onto her property, walked to the backyard and threw a chair through a sliding glass door, but the burglars were scared off by the alarm because they left without entering. Rihanna's house is covered by security cameras. To get to the property you have to drive onto a private road. As you turn onto the road, there's a sign: "Smile, You're on camera!" Cops are still on the hunt for the intruders. WHAT DID YOU EXPECT?
Are they or aren't they?!?!?! There's conflicting reports going on this morning! First, it seemed as though Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta Jones were finally reuniting after announcing that they were taking a separation. Michael Douglas supposedly begged Catherine Zeta Jones to give their marriage another try and she agreed. It goes beyond the children. You don't stay married for 13 years without a lot of love being there. My sources are telling me though that while there's still hope for the marriage, Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta Jones are still taking a break and aren't back together. In fact, the couple, who share the same September 25th birthday, spent their big day apart this year. We hope they can work this out!
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Ajax View enables developer to see and control the behaviors of their web applications on user's desktops.
April 29, 2009: The technology in Ajax View is now available as a Power Tool: Microsoft Visual Studio AJAX Profiling Extensions. This power tool includes a server-side extension to IIS to add profiling code to your JavaScript web applications, and a Visual Studio add-in to investigate this data with Visual Studio's Performance Explorer.
About Ajax View
Because Ajax View is rewriting web application code dynamically each time a user visits the web site, it can:
- Serve different instrumentation code to different users. This allows us to distribute instrumentation code across many users, spreading the cost of gathering lots of information such that no single user pays a high performance penalty.
- Adapt an instrumentation policy and serve different instrumentation code over time. For example, we can drill-down into performance problems and gather extra context about bugs.
- Emre Kıcıman and Ben Livshits, AjaxScope: A Platform for Remotely Monitoring the Client-side Behavior of Web 2.0 Applications, in the 21st ACM Symposium on Operating Systems Principles (SOSP'07), Association for Computing Machinery, Inc., October 2007.
- Emre Kıcıman and Helen J. Wang, Live Monitoring: Using Adaptive Instrumentation and Analysis to Debug and Maintain Web Applications, in The 11th Workshop on Hot Topics in Operating Systems (HotOS XI), May 2007.
- Microsoft Visual Studio AJAX Profiling Extensions Power Tool
- Ajax View JavaScript Instrumentation Proxy (first release of our client-side prototype)
Learn More
Project Members
- Emre Kiciman
- Ben Livshits
- Himanshu Sharma (intern, summer 2006)


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The Rhythm of Life
For years Nancy Buckeye experienced an occasional heart flutter, but never gave it much thought.
"I'd mention it to my friends and they'd say they have the same thing," says the 73-year-old from Edgeley, N.D. "But when the episodes became more frequent and intense, it became obvious to me something was wrong."
Starting her inquiry with Linda LeVee, NP at Sanford Health Edgeley Clinic led to an appointment with cardiologist Dr. Susan Farkas at Sanford Heart which led to tests. The diagnosis: atrial fibrillation (AF). A common heart-rhythm disorder, AF varies in severity, becoming more prevalent in later life. While some people barely feel a flutter, others have lengthy periods of racing heart, dizziness and lightheadedness. Nancy experienced several troublesome episodes daily.
"What really got my attention was when Dr. Farkas said this condition increased my stroke risk," says Nancy. "That's when I knew I needed to do something."
Initial attemptsFor Nancy, then 71, the first line of treatment was medications. She also wore a special monitor for a month so her heart team could better analyze her particular AF.
"The monitor showed my irregular heart rhythm would come and go. There was no predicting when it would happen," says Nancy. "And always I was left feeling weak, tired and shaky."
When the standard medication didn't significantly help, Dr. Farkas recommended a consultation with Dr. Christopher Pierce. A cardiologist and electrophysiologist, Dr. Pierce specializes in the heart's electrical system.
Close examination of Nancy's problem led to two approaches. The first was stronger medications, but difficult side-effects resulted. The second was cardioversion, an outpatient treatment that involves shocking the heart back into normal rhythm. The treatment worked initially, but within days the AF returned.
"Although many people get the help they need from medications or cardioversion, Nancy's heart episodes continued," says Dr. Pierce. "She was an excellent candidate for a heart-ablation procedure."
Advanced treatmentDr. Pierce's experience in heart-ablation procedures spans more than a decade. Until recently, these procedures typically relied on heat to alter the electrical tissue causing the rhythm irregularity.
"With cryoablation, we use freezing," says Dr. Pierce. "It's very precise, plus it shortens the procedure. With less time under general anesthesia, patients feel better sooner. Most go home the next day."
Dr. Pierce began offering cryoablation in 2011 and was the first in North Dakota. He now performs 60 a year.
A life-changing differenceNancy had never heard of cryoablation but was familiar with Dr. Pierce's work. An acquaintance in her hometown had excellent results from a pacemaker procedure performed by him.
"When Dr. Pierce said there was an 80 percent chance the cryoablation procedure would work, I was pretty confident," says Nancy. "I was also very impressed with his extensive experience. I had complete trust in him."
Nancy underwent cryoablation in Sanford's Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory in April 2012. Similar to an angiogram the procedure involves threading a small catheter to the heart through a vein in the upper leg. Advanced imaging technology helps pinpoint the areas in need of ablation.
"Absolutely this procedure made a difference," says Nancy, eight months later.
Except for one baby aspirin a day, she's been taken off all medications.
"Thanks to state-of-the-art technology and the gifted hands of Dr. Pierce, I have more energy and feel great." she says.
Dr. Pierce says that's the best possible outcome. "That's what medicine is for," he says. "To hear someone say, 'Wow, it really changed my life' … there's nothing better."
Let's go!It's early afternoon on a cold January day. Nancy's at home packing her suitcase for a trip to the West Coast with her husband.
"I feel like I've really been freed up to enjoy these retirement years," she says. "Now I have the get-up-and-go, and that's exactly what I plan to do. With five children, 14 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, we have no shortage of activities."
If heart problems disrupt your rhythm of life, learn about the advanced options available at Sanford. Visit heart.sanfordhealth.org.
Posted Date: March 2013


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Published: Friday, December 21, 2012 at 11:00 p.m.
Last Modified: Saturday, December 22, 2012 at 12:03 a.m.
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- Special Academic Programs
- Cooperative Education Program
- Center for Ethics and Social Responsibility
- National Student Exchange
- University Scholars Program
- McNair Scholars Program
The following programs offer undergraduate students opportunities for new academic experiences, hands-on or on-the-job training, and cultural exchange. All University of Alabama students are encouraged to participate in these programs as appropriate to their degree programs and personal and professional goals. Such programs offer unique ways for UA students to enrich their college experiences, build their résumés, and explore career choices.
Dr. B. Jane Stanfield
Associate Provost for International Education and Global Outreach
Office: 135 B.B. Comer Hall
Web site: international.ua.edu
The University of Alabama provides a wide variety of international education programs and services at the Capstone International Center, housed on the first floor of B.B. Comer Hall. Known simply as Capstone International, the Capstone International Center takes its name from its historical pre-eminence in the state as a provider of international education. A combination of integrated units, the Capstone International Center has multiple complementary yet diverse functions ranging from intensive English language instruction in the English Language Institute (ELI) to U.S. immigration compliance, Fulbright programs, and overseas study. Capstone International is a multipurpose center designed to inform, assist, and educate both international and domestic students, faculty, and staff members as well as members of the local civic, education, and corporate communities. Capstone International annually welcomes almost 1,000 internationals to campus and makes possible the participation of UA faculty, students, and staff in a multitude of internationally focused degree, research, and outreach programs.
Outreach is an important function within Capstone International as evidenced by its quarterly Capstone International newsletter, the German Supplementary School (for school-age children from Germany), the Japan Culture and Information Center (a resource for both the local and academic communities), and the English Language Institute (on-site corporate programs and tailored courses for usage by children and spouses of the employees). A wide variety of international student activities are coordinated in conjunction with the Rotary International Club of Tuscaloosa, Tuscaloosas International Friends (TIF), and the Childrens Hands-on Museum (CHOM).
The University is a member of national organizations providing congressional support, professional training, and annual conferences to promote international education at member universities, namely NAFSA: Association for International Educators, the Institute for International Education (IIE), the Association for International Education Administrators (AIEA), the European Association for International Education (EAIE), and the Council for International Education Exchange (CIEE).
Capstone International has four functional focal points known as Academic Programs, Community and Corporate Outreach, International Services, and English Language Institute. Collectively they provide courses and activities available to the constituents of The University of Alabama community.
Academic Programs
- Fulbright Programs
- Global Studies Certificate Program
- International Academic Exchange Programs
- Short-term Academic Group Overseas Study
- Affiliate Programs
- International University Programs
Community and Corporate Outreach
- German Supplementary School
- Sakura Festival
- Japan Program
- Japan Culture and Information Center
International Services
- International Scholar Events
- International Student and Scholar Services
- International Student Programming
- Multicultural Guidance and Counseling
- U.S. Immigration Compliance
- Visa Advising
English Language Institute
- Internal Program
- External Group Programs
- International Teaching Assistant Program (ITAP)
- Academic Support Program
Fulbright programs. Capstone International encourages and facilitates active participation in all Fulbright programs. Since the founding of the Fulbright programs in 1948, approximately 125 UA students, faculty, and professional staff members have been selected to receive the prestigious Fulbright award. Their appointments have ranged from Austria to Zimbabwe (A to Z). More information is available from the CIC, 135 B.B. Comer Hall, (205) 348-5312, or fax (205) 348-5298.
Global Studies Certificate (GSC) Program. The University of Alabama Global Studies Certificate Program is designed to introduce the undergraduate student to the cultural, economic, physical, and political aspects of being a world citizen in the 21st century. The program emphasizes the contemporary rather than the historical. Nine hours of the program are specified as GSC core, usually lower division, and must be taken prior to the six Emphasis Area hours, usually upper division.
The Introduction to Global Studies (CIP 200) course must be taken first in the sequence of GSC Core and Emphasis Area courses, but the remaining GSC Core courses and the following Emphasis Area courses may be taken in any order. The introductory course will set the philosophy for the students approach to the entire Global Studies Certificate Curriculum, both core and upper division, Emphasis Area courses.
Students must successfully complete 15 hours of coursework as specified below. Some courses may have prerequisites. Candidates for the certificate must complete an application form before the certificate can be awarded. Application forms are available in the Capstone International Center, Room 135 B.B. Comer Hall, and must be completed and submitted no later than the semester prior to the semester of graduation.
- Total Certificate Program Hours: 15
- GSC Core Courses9 hours
- Mandatory introductory course:
- CIP 200 Introduction to Global Studies
- Two of four existing courses:
- GSC Emphasis Area Courses6 hours
- Approximately 53 available courses plus a variety of 300-level language courses and numerous summer, Interim, and exchange overseas courses.
- AMS 151 Introduction to American Cultures: World, Nation, Regions (HU)
- AMS 231 Contemporary America (HU)
- ANT 412 *Peoples of Europe (W)
- ANT 413 *Peoples of Latin America (W)
- ANT 414 *Peoples of Africa
- ANT 415 *Peoples of East Asia
- ANT 416 *Peoples of Southeast Asia
- ANT 417 *Peoples of South Asia
- ANT 455 Africans in the Americas
- EC 430 International Trade/Economics (W)
- EC/FI 431 International Finance
- EC 442 Economic Development of Latin America
- EN 207 World Literature I (HU or L)
- EN 208 World Literature II (HU or L)
- EN 311 Literature: Special Topics
- EN 320 Introduction to Linguistics
- EN 429 Directed Studies (W)
- FI/EC 431 International Finance
- GY 344 Geography of Africa
- GY 377 Cultural Geography
- IBA 350 Introduction to World Business
- IBA 351 Multinational Business Communication
- MKT 455 International Marketing
- MC 411 International Mass Communication
- MUS 250 Music in World Cultures (FA or HU)
- NEW 472 Social Science II: Social Change
- NEW 473 Social Science II: Globalization
- NEW 474 Social Science II: Survival NUR (see UA Overseas Study Programs)
- PSC 204 International Relations
- PSC 332 Latin American Political Systems
- PSC 333 Soviet and Post-Soviet Politics
- PSC 334 Governments and Politics of Western Europe
- PSC 342 Foreign Policies of the Soviet Union and its Successor States
- PSC 413 American Foreign Policy
- PSC 434 International Political Economy
- PSC 442 International Conflict
- PSC 444 International Organizations (W)
- PSC 445 Nationalism and Ethnic Conflict (W)
- REL 100 Introduction to Religious Studies (HU)
- REL 208 Hinduism
- REL 210 Buddhism
- REL 213 Sociology of Religion
- REL 220 Survey of Asian Religions (HU)
- REL 224 Judaism (HU)
- REL 238 Philosophies of Judaism
- TCF 340 International Cinema
*ANT 412, ANT 413, ANT 414, ANT 415, ANT 416, and ANT 417 are offered according to demand.
- Independent Study (All Colleges)
- Special Topics/Field Education/Directed Readings (maximum 3 hours) with permission of department/professor and GSC director
- Language Studies (FL , HUfor some)
- All MLC and critical languages at the 300 to 400 level are eligible maximum 6 hours)
- UA Overseas Study (Various Colleges)
- Summer/Interim: (maximum 6 hours)
- Australia
- Austria
- Belgium
- China
- Dublin
- Internship
- France
- Germany
- Ghana
- Greece
- India
- Italy
- Japan
- London Internship
- Mexico
- New Zealand
- Oxford
- Panama
- Turkey
- Spain
- Sweden Exchanges: (maximum 6 hours)
- Aarhus (Denmark)
- Aberystwyth (Wales)
- Ajou (South Korea)
- Augsburg (Germany)
- Berlin (Germany)
- Birmingham (England)
- Bordeaux (France)
- Chiba (Japan)
- Feng Chia (Republic of China/Taiwan)
- Groningen (The Netherlands)
- Hiroshima (Japan)
- Hull (England)
- Kansai Gaidai (Japan)
- Klagenfurt (Austria)
- Liege (Belgium)
- Mannheim (German)
- Monterrey Tech (Mexico)
- Paris (France)
- Poitiers (France)
- Pusan (South Korea)
- Queensland University of Technology (Australia)
- Ritsumeikan (Japan)
- Tours (France)
- Yonsei (South Korea)
International academic exchange programs. The University of Alabama offers a number of international exchange programs that allow students to act as visiting scholars at overseas universities. Each program gives students opportunities to learn in a foreign country where they obtain first hand knowledge of another people, language, and culture in addition to gaining course credits. In some cases, a working knowledge of the language of the host country is a prerequisite. In others, the language can be studied for the first time in the host country; sometimes, no language requirement is necessary (e.g., England and Australia). Students pay University of Alabama tuition based on residency and are assisted in arranging transfer of credits through appropriate departments and divisions prior to departure.
International exchange programs are available to UA students at the following partner universities for either one or two semesters and, in some cases, summer study:
- Australia: Queensland University of Technology (Brisbane)
- Austria: University of Klagenfurt
- Belgium: Université de Liège
- Denmark: Aarhus School of Business
- England: University of Hull; University of Birmingham
- France: Université François-Rabelais (Tours); Bordeaux Business School; Paris-EST Marne la Vallee (Paris); Université de Poitiers (Poitiers)
- Germany: University of Augsburg; University of Berlin; University of Mannheim;
- Italy: University of the Sacred Heart (Milan)
- Japan: Chiba University; Ritsumeikan University (Kyoto); Hiroshima University; Kansai Gaidai University (Hirakata-City)
- Korea: Pusan National University; Yonsei University (Seoul), Ajou University (Suwon); Yeungnam University (Daegu)
- The Netherlands: Hanzehogeschool-Gröningen
- Taiwan: Feng Chia University (Taichung)
- Wales: University of Wales (Aberystwyth)
Short-term academic group overseas study. In addition to its longer-term international exchange programs, The University of Alabama conducts many overseas study programs lasting from two to six weeks, most often during the summer and Interim sessions. Scholarships and financial aid are available to students participating in these programs. Programs and fields of study in recent years include the following:
- Alabama in Australia: business
- Alabama at Oxford: English, history, honors
- Alabama in Belgium: political science
- Alabama in China: business studies, Chinese language and culture, communications
- Alabama in France: French, business studies
- Alabama in Austria: German language and culture
- Alabama in Ghana: geography, African-American studies
- Alabama in Greece: modern Greek studies, religious studies
- Alabama in Italy: art, Italian, finance, business studies, art history, interior design
- Alabama in Japan: nursing, Japanese language & culture
- Alabama in Mexico: social work
- Alabama in New Zealand: English
- Alabama in Panama: engineering without borders
Alabama in Spain: Spanish, business studies, engineering
Alabama in Sweden: political science
Alabama in Turkey: business
Dublin Internship Program: business, communications, engineering
London Internship program: business, communications, engineering
Affiliate Programs. The University of Alabama offers programs through third party program providers every year and students continually have positive feedback on their experiences with these providers. Students participating in these programs can use their UA scholarships and financial aid for funding. Also, students do not pay UA tuition but pay the program fee charged by the program provider and additional expenses including but not limited to travel, personal, meals, visa, housing expenses, etc. A list of UAs Affiliate Programs can be found online at studyabroad.ua.edu.
International University Programs. Students at the University of Alabama have the opportunity to spend a summer, semester, or academic year at one of the International Universities. Participants in these programs can use their UA scholarships and financial aid for funding. Also, students do not pay UA tuition but pay the cost of attending the International University. A list of International University programs can be found online at studyabroad.ua.edu.
Capstone International now provides upgraded International Student Identity Cards (ISIC), the ISIC Platinum. Issued by STA Travel, the ISIC Platinum provides international insurance coverage ($1 million in accident and sickness coverage for travel worldwide and a toll-free 24-hour help line for medical, mental, legal, and financial emergencies abroad) in addition to many other discount rates for transportation, educational, and cultural programs and services.
Additional information about any international study program may be obtained from studyabroad.ua.edu, 135 B.B. Comer Hall or by writing The University of Alabama, Capstone International, Box 870254, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0254; (205) 348-5256. If The University of Alabama is unable to meet the overseas study needs of a student, Capstone International provides information about additional international education opportunities available through study abroad at other institutions and organizations.
German Supplementary School. Established by The University of AlabaGerman Supplementary School. Established by The University of Alabama in 1995 in cooperation with Mercedes-Benz U.S. International Inc., the German Supplementary School provides supplementary education in German to children ages six to 16 who will return to a German-speaking educational system after living in Alabama for several years. In addition to providing education to German-speaking children, the GSS provides University of Alabama students who have an interest and proficiency in German language and culture the opportunity to work with GSS in a variety of ways. More information is available from the CIC, 135 B.B. Comer Hall, (205) 348-5312, or fax (205) 348-5298.
Sakura Festival. Capstone International organizes the annual spring Sakura Festival and Haiku contest for the state of Alabama.
Japan Program. Reciprocal student exchange programs with Kansai Gaidai University in Osaka, Ritsumeikan University, Hiroshima University, and Chiba University enable qualified undergraduate students to study Japanese in Japan while undertaking Asian studies, humanities, social science, and science courses taught in English. Generous AIE-J scholarships providing round-trip transportation and a monthly stipend are available on a competitive basis to UA students. Gilman and Freeman-ASIA scholarships for students on financial aid is also available. Examples of courses offered at partner institutions include Japanese-Style Management, Japanese Economic Development, Sociology of Everyday Life in Japan, Survey of Modern Japanese History, Japanese Culture and Education, Seminar in Geography, Agriculture and Agricultural Sciences in Japan, and Introduction to Deep-Sea Biology. For students who have already earned undergraduate degrees, Chiba University offers prestigious Monbusho (Ministry of Education) research scholarships for 18 months of study. The Monbusho scholarship provides round-trip transportation and monthly stipends to cover living costs.
Additional information about the Japan Program may be obtained from Capstone International, 135 B.B. Comer Hall, (205) 348-5312.
Japan Culture and Information Center. Established by The University of Alabama as part of the Japan Program in 1990, the Japan Culture and Information Center (JCIC) serves as a meeting place and clearinghouse for information about Japan and its culture.
Additional information about programs at the Japan Culture and Information Center may be obtained from Capstone International, 135 B.B. Comer Hall, (205) 348-5312 or fax (205) 348-5298.
International Services, located within the Capstone International Center of The University of Alabama, provides specialized services for international students, professors, research scholars, visitors, and their families. International Services conducts intensive orientation programs and provides vital information regarding U.S. Immigration compliance as well as multicultural guidance and counseling. These are ongoing services that monitor individual progress according to Department of Homeland Security regulations.
Professional staff members advise and assist the International Student Association, which represents all international students and the many nationality organizations on campus.
International Services may be contacted by telephone at (205) 348-5402, by fax at (205) 348-5406, and by mail at The University of Alabama, International Services, Box 870254, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0254, USA. Offices are located in 105 B.B. Comer Hall.
For the non-native speaker of English, the University of Alabama English Language Institute (ELI), a part of Capstone International, offers two types of year-round English-language programs: The Intensive English Program is designed for individuals who are seeking intensive English study, while External Programs are designed for groups who desire highly specialized curricula. In addition, the ELI has two programs for matriculated students at The University of Alabama: the International Teaching Assistant Program, which trains and evaluates international graduate teaching assistants, and the Academic Support Program, which provides opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students who may want or need additional English-language instruction.
Intensive English Program
The ELI Intensive English Program (IEP) is designed for individuals who need to learn English as a second language. The program focuses on preparing students for academic success, both in English-language proficiency and cultural awareness, for undergraduate and graduate study at The University of Alabama.
Six levels of study, from beginning to advanced, are available. Each level consists of 20 hours of core classes per week; additional optional classes are also available for students who wish to take them. Each level of study lasts approximately eight weeks and is available six times per year with sessions beginning in August, October, January, March, May, and June. Students may begin their English study at the beginning of any one of these sessions.
An ELI student wishing to enter an undergraduate degree program at The University of Alabama may meet UAs English proficiency requirements either by obtaining the required TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) score or by completing Level 6 with a GPA of 3.0 in Levels 4, 5, and 6. Undergraduates who meet certain conditions (minimum TOEFL score and GPA) become eligible to enroll in undergraduate courses while completing their ELI program of study. The number of UA courses that an eligible student may take is determined by the ELI. Students pursuing graduate study must complete Levels 4, 5, and 6 with a GPA of 3.5. In certain cases, the Graduate School, the ELI, and the students academic department may together grant permission for a student who has completed Level 4 or higher with a minimum GPA of 3.5 to enroll in one graduate course per semester while completing the ELI program of study. The specific course must be approved by the instructor and department prior to enrollment.
Students who apply for admission to UA and meet the academic and financial qualifications to enter the University but do not have TOEFL scores available or do not meet the TOEFL score requirement may be admitted conditionally or provisionally. Such students will not be eligible to begin an academic program and will be required to register for full-time study in ELI until they meet the TOEFL requirement or satisfactorily complete the ELI program as outlined above.
ELI Intensive English Program Courses
Structure: Levels 1 to 6. Structure courses provide students with the basic grammatical structures they will need to communicate effectively in English in four language skill areas: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Each structure course emphasizes communicationboth comprehension (listening and reading) and production (speaking and writing). Structure courses meet 5 hours per week.
Speaking/Listening: Levels 1 to 6. ELI courses in Speaking/Listening English provide students with the opportunity to improve their listening and speaking skills and to gain confidence in using English to communicate orally. Students practice appropriate conversation management skills, receive instruction on problem areas of pronunciation, and learn useful vocabulary. These activities are carried on through a variety of classroom exercises that focus on the everyday situations students are likely to encounter while adjusting to life in the United States. Speaking/Listening courses meet 6 hours per week.
Reading/Writing: Levels 1 to 6. The Reading/Writing curriculum of the English Language Institute is designed to provide students with both the skills and the practice that are necessary for them to develop satisfactory reading and writing skills in English and eventually to function successfully in U.S. university courses where extensive academic reading and essay writing are required. Skill instruction and accessible, varied, and challenging tasks invite students to invest their time and energy in constructing meaning from written texts, responding to those texts, and producing writings of their own. Students will acquire new vocabulary and develop effective reading strategies for different types of tests. Working on closely related reading and writing assignments, students will develop proficiency in understanding what they read and in thinking, drafting, and revising their own ideas by working through the writing process with input from their classmates and teachers. Reading/Writing courses meet 9 hours per week.
Oral Communication. Oral Communication (OC) is designed to help students improve their skills and proficiency in both speaking and understanding oral English. Students oral proficiency in English will improve as a result of a variety of classroom tasks and activities. In addition, instructional activities will occasionally take place outside of the classroom in order to take advantage of opportunities in community settings. Oral Communication is divided into two separate eight-week sessionsOC I and OC IIeach of which meets for 9 hours per week.
Optional Classes. The ELI offers several choices of optional courses. Some examples of optional courses are TOEFL Preparation, Pronunciation, American Culture, Current Events, Business English, English Through Current Events, and English Through Music. Optional classes typically meet 2-3 hours per week.
Culturally Speaking. Through the Culturally Speaking class, ELI students meet regularly with American students to converse in English in relaxed surroundings. Culturally Speaking provides a comfortable way for ELI students to form friendships with American students and to practice their English.
Culture and Language Exchange Program. The Culture and Language Exchange Program matches the ELI students with UA students who are studying the ELI students native language. Once matched, these pairs or groups of students then meet as often as they like for conversation practice in both English and in the particular foreign language.
ELI External Programs
ELI External Programs consist of a variety of programs designed for groups of participants with mutual goals and concerns who desire highly specialized, intensive curricula. Such programs are typically designed for international English teachers, students whose international universities have approved given curricula for credit, international graduate students preparing to enter universities throughout the United States, and business professionals who wish to improve their overall effectiveness in English or to concentrate on specific skills such as written communication.
An organization wishing to participate in such a program should clearly define the goals of its group and keep in mind that program enrollments typically require a minimum of 10 participants. Financial sponsorship for the above programs may come from ministries of education, embassies, corporations, private philanthropic organizations, U.S. or other government sponsoring agencies, or the individual participants themselves. Programs may be offered at any time of the year and typically range in length from two to six weeks.
A second type of external program is the corporate short-term program for individuals from a single corporation who participate in a curriculum composed partially of courses in the ELI Intensive English Program and partially of specialized courses designed specifically for the participants. These programs are offered as needed throughout the year.
A third type of external program may be offered on-site at the corporation or university. As with all external programs, dates can be customized and curricula can be specially designed for the particular group.
ELI External Program Curricula
International University Undergraduate Program. This program typically offers one or two levels of instruction for the group and consists of four hours of instruction per day, five days per week. Courses offered can include Spoken English, Pronunciation, Reading/Vocabulary, Writing, Structure, Computer Skills, American Culture, and English through Music or Film.
English Teacher Training Program. This program is designed for non-native speakers who are teachers of English. The curriculum typically consists of courses in conversational management, debate, listening and speaking, pronunciation, and public speaking, as well as a teaching workshop and series of methodology lectures. This curriculum can be adjusted to meet the needs of a particular group of English teachers. The program aims to further refine the teachers own usage and to address and evaluate current theories of methodology in light of the countrys unique challenges in teaching English. These courses meet four to six hours daily.
Academic Support Program
The ELI Academic Support Program provides opportunities for UA undergraduate and graduate students who may want or need additional English-language instruction. At the undergraduate level, newly admitted international students, after taking the UA English Proficiency and Placement Exam (EPPE) prior to beginning their first semester at UA, may be asked to take one or two ELI courses in spoken and/or written English on a part-time basis. These students may pursue their academic studies while fulfilling their EPPE requirements. Students must pass the designated ELI Speaking/Listening or Academic Writing course(s) before enrolling in the Universitys required English courses for credit. In addition, the UA Language Resource Center is available for individualized language assistance.
To obtain more information about any of the above ELI programs, to request a brochure and application for the Intensive English Program, or to discuss the possibility of an external program for your group, contact the University of Alabama English Language Institute, Box 870250, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0250; (205) 348-7413; fax (205) 348-9266; e-mail firstname.lastname@example.com. Also please visit our Web site at eli.ua.edu.


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text: Last week, Ashley wrote about wild bachelor parties where men feel they can go cavort with prostitutes. We were curious about how disturbed by that women actually were. So we talked to some! Here are their opinions on whether they could ever be with a man who'd been with a sex worker.


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(USA TODAY) -- President Obama announced a plan today that attempts to accommodate certain religious employers opposed to a rule that would require them to provide access to birth control for women free of charge.
Obama announced that the rule would be tweaked so that in cases where non-profit religious organizations have objections, insurance companies would be required to reach out to employees and offer the coverage directly.
"Under the rule, women will still have access to free preventive care that includes contraceptive service no matter where they work," Obama said. "That core principle remains.
"But if a woman's employer is a charity or a hospital that has a religious objection to providing contraceptive services as part of their health plan, the insurance company -- not the hospital, not the charity -- will be required to reach out and offer the woman contraceptive care free of charge without co-pays, without hassle."
With that distinction, those organizations won't have to provide the coverage, pay for it or refer their employees to it. The requirement will rest with insurers.
Obama and Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said they always had planned on working with religious institutions to get the mandate right. But they moved up their timetable after hearing vehement objections from the Catholic church and others.
"We weren't going to spend a year doing this," Obama said in brief remarks to reporters.
The change, loosely based on a regulation in effect in Hawaii, still leaves some unanswered questions. How will women be referred to insurers if they don't think of it themselves? Will the cost of contraceptives get added to premiums? And will other employers -- say, a strict Catholic who owns a restaurant -- be allowed the same exemption as hospitals, schools and charities?
Officials said that while the final rule goes into effect today, it will not be enforced on religious organizations that object until August 2013, leaving additional time to work out details.
The administration announced last month that religious-affiliated employers had to cover birth control as preventive care for women. Churches and houses of worship were exempt, but all other religiously affiliated organizations were ordered to comply.
The White House received backlash to the measure from Catholic clergy as well as Republican leaders this week. Obama cited "many genuine concerns" expressed by conscientious objectors.
"My first job in Chicago was working with Catholic parishes in poor neighborhoods, and my salary was funded by a grant from an arm of the Catholic Church," Obama said. "And I saw that local churches often did more good for a community than a government program ever could, so I know how important the work that faith-based organizations do and how much impact they can have in their communities.
I also know that some religious institutions -- particularly those affiliated with the Catholic Church -- have a religious objection to directly providing insurance that covers contraceptive services for their employees."
On the other hand, he cited "the more cynical desire on the part of some to make this into a political football."
"I understand some folks in Washington may want to treat this as another political wedge issue, but it shouldn't be," he said. "I certainly never saw it that way."
White House officials took pains to avoid the word "compromise," noting that under the accommodation, no woman who wants access to contraceptives should be denied.
Experts on religion said the accommodation isn't enough. "It's a shell game," says Robert Destro, law professor at Catholic University.
Frank Pavone, National Director of Priests for Life, said he remained unsatisfied.
"A resolution to this issue cannot only cover 'religious' employers," Pavone said. "Religious freedom, which includes freedom of conscience, does not belong only to religious entities but to every American. There are many non-religious reasons to object to the administration's policy."
Marie Hilliard, director of bioethics and public policy at the National Catholic Bioethics Center, a registered nurse and a canon lawyer, noted that the administration has not changed it's definition of who is exempt. Instead, Obama just established a special provision for "non-exempt religious groups."
It's still a narrow definition focused on churches that employ and serve people of their faith, not schools, hospitals, social services or other ministries that are recognized under the tax code as exempt religious organizations. Until that's changed, Hilliard said, the government is still "cherry-picking to see which groups will be seen by our government as worthy of exemptions and which won't. "
Many Catholic institutions are self-insured and not covered under the mandate unless they update or alter their plans. No one knows how many health policies are held by Catholic agenicies, because every diocese and Catholic institution makes its own decisions in hundreds of thousands of separate corporations.
Within minutes of announcing the change in policy, the White House began rolling out endorsements from some Catholic organizations, including the Catholic Health Association and Catholics United. Planned Parenthood also applauded the action.
In a memo to reporters Friday morning, the Republican National Committee said Obama is trying to "ride the fence" on the issue.
"It's a dangerous game when dealing with a fundamental American right protected by the Constitution such as religious freedom," the RNC said in the memo.
House Speaker John Boehner this week called the mandate "an unambiguous attack on religious freedom" in a rare House floor speech and vowed legislative action to reverse it.
"If the president does not reverse the attack on religious freedom, then the Congress, acting on behalf of the American people and the Constitution we are sworn to uphold and defend, must," Boehner said. "This attack by the federal government on religious freedom in our country must not stand and will not stand."
Republican leaders have been joined by a few Democrats -- such as Sens. Robert Casey of Pennsylvania and Joe Manchin of West Virginia and House Democratic Caucus Chairman John Larson of Connecticut -- in calling for changes in the policy. Vice President Biden vowed in Ohio Thursday that a solution would be forthcoming.
The White House has pointed to 28 states with similar laws, including eight without the religious exemption contained in the federal rule, as proof that requiring free access to contraceptives is workable.
The rule goes into effect Aug. 1, but if objections are raised, another year's extension is possible.
That's been no consolation to Catholic leaders. The White House is "all talk, no action" on moving toward compromise, said Anthony Picarello, general counsel for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
"There has been a lot of talk in the last couple days about compromise, but it sounds to us like a way to turn down the heat, to placate people without doing anything in particular," Picarello said this week. "We're not going to do anything until this is fixed."
That means removing the provision from the health care law altogether, he said, not simply changing it for Catholic employers and their insurers. He cited the problem that would create for "good Catholic business people who can't in good conscience cooperate with this."
"If I quit this job and opened a Taco Bell, I'd be covered by the mandate," Picarello said.
Senate Democrats who met with Obama on Wednesday came away convinced he would not back down on requiring some form of access for all women, regardless of where they work.
"We support the right of women in this country to have access to birth control through their insurance policies, and anybody who stands in the way is going to have to deal with us and our friends," said Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., flanked by four colleagues. Boxer said she had spoken to Obama adviser David Axelrod, who assured her that the administration would not weaken its position.
More than 600 physicians and medical students from 49 states signed a letter to Obama and Sebelius on Wednesday, urging them to stand firm in defense of the rule. They said millions of women rely on birth control pills for other medical conditions.
Roman Catholic leaders showed no sign of backing down, either.
"There's no room for compromise on this. The mandate has to go," said John Allen, senior correspondent for the National Catholic Reporter and author of numerous books on the Catholic church. "There's not much room for a conversation here."
Contributing: Cathy Lynn Grossman and Aamer Madhani
The White House provided this fact sheet on women's preventive services and religious institutions:
Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, most health insurance plans will cover women's preventive services, including contraception, without charging a co-pay or deductible beginning in August, 2012. This new law will save money for millions of Americans and ensure Americans nationwide get the high-quality care they need to stay healthy.
Today, President Obama will announce that his Administration will implement a policy that accommodates religious liberty while protecting the health of women. Today, nearly 99 percent of all women have used contraception at some point in their lives, but more than half of all women between the ages of 18-34 struggle to afford it.
Under the new policy to be announced today, women will have free preventive care that includes contraceptive services no matter where she works. The policy also ensures that if a woman works for religious employers with objections to providing contraceptive services as part of its health plan, the religious employer will not be required to provide contraception coverage, but her insurance company will be required to offer contraceptive care free of charge.
The new policy ensures women can get contraception without paying a co-pay and addresses important concerns raised by religious groups by ensuring that objecting religious employers will not have to provide contraceptive coverage or refer women to organizations that provide contraception. Background on this policy is included below:
• Section 2713 of the Affordable Care Act, the Administration adopted new guidelines that will require most private health plans to cover preventive services for women without charging a co-pay starting on August 1, 2012. These preventive services include well women visits, domestic violence screening, and contraception, and all were recommended to the Secretary of Health and Human Services by the independent Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Science.
• Today, the Obama Administration will publish final rules in the Federal Register that:
o Exempts churches, other houses of worship, and similar organizations from covering contraception on the basis of their religious objections.
o Establishes a one year transition period for religious organizations while this policy is being implemented.
• The President will also announce that his Administration will propose and finalize a new regulation during this transition year to address the religious objections of the non-exempted religious organizations. The new regulation will require insurance companies to cover contraception if the non-exempted religious organization chooses not to. Under the policy:
o Religious organizations will not have to provide contraceptive coverage or refer their employees to organizations that provide contraception.
o Religious organizations will not be required to subsidize the cost of contraception.
o Contraception coverage will be offered to women by their employers' insurance companies directly, with no role for religious employers who oppose contraception.
o Insurance companies will be required to provide contraception coverage to these women free of charge.
Covering contraception saves money for insurance companies by keeping women healthy and preventing spending on other health services. For example, there was no increase in premiums when contraception was added to the Federal Employees Health Benefit System and required of non-religious employers in Hawaii. One study found that covering contraception lowered premiums by 10 percent or more.


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Article Courtesy UNC Athletics:
Chapel Hill, N.C. - The University of North Carolina has accepted an invitation to represent the Atlantic Coast Conference in the 2013 Belk Bowl on Saturday, Dec. 28, in Charlotte's Bank of America Stadium. The Tar Heels will face Cincinnati of the American Athletic Conference at 3:20 p.m. and the game will be televised by ESPN.
"I'm excited for our team, especially our seniors, who fought through some early season adversity and won five of the last six games to become bowl eligible," said head coach Larry Fedora. "This is a resilient bunch of guys that kept believing in one another throughout the year and I'm glad they were rewarded with a bowl game. We're looking forward to facing a very good Cincinnati team led by an outstanding coach in Tommy Tuberville."
Rams Club members and 2013 season ticket holders can request tickets for the Belk Bowl at GoHeels.com. Priority deadline for those groups is Sunday, Dec. 15, at 5 p.m. Tickets are also available to the general public on GoHeels.com and start at $45.
"Congratulations to our students, coaches and staff for their hard work and dedication this season," said UNC Athletic Director Bubba Cunningham. "We've had a history of great support in the city of Charlotte and certainly our fans will be excited to watch our seniors play one more game."
After starting the season 1-5, Carolina ran off five straight wins to finish the season 6-6 overall and 4-4 in the ACC. The Tar Heels will be making their fourth appearance in the Charlotte bowl game, but are seeking their first win. Carolina fell to Boston College in 2004, West Virginia in 2008 and Pittsburgh in 2009.
Carolina is just the sixth team since the regular season expanded to 12 games in 2006 to start the season 1-5 and make a bowl game. Only one - Rutgers in 2008 - came from a BCS conference. The turnaround is similar to the 2001 season when UNC opened with three losses, but rebounded to win five straight and make a bowl game.
UNC/ WFMY News 2 Sports


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Installing Unisteer Products Rack And Pinion Kit - Steering In A Different DirectionWritten by on September 1, 2009 Rack-And-Pinion On A Dropped Axle Model A
When's the last time you looked underneath an early hot rod with a tube axle or I-beam axle and found rack-and-pinion steering? More likely, you saw a Vega box or Mustang box-but rack-and-pinion is now an option for rodders.
We've been hearing about the Cross Steer rack-and-pinion system from Unisteer Products ever since it was named Best New Product in the Street Rod/Custom Car category at the SEMA Show in 2003, but we had yet to watch a swap being done.
That changed when we found out that KA Customs was ready to install a Cross Steer system on Joe Torres' full-fendered '31 Model A sedan. The car was running a worn-out Mustang box and definitely overdue for an upgrade. Instead of replacing the box, Joe decided to go a different direction, to eliminate bump steer and lose some of the sloppy steering feeling sometimes associated with boxes.
The Cross Steer system, to put it simply, uses the mechanics of a rack-and-pinion, combined with the side-steering method of a box and drag link set-up. This one-sided rack mounts to the framerail on the driver side and a chrome steering tube (included) connects to the steering arm on the passenger side spindle; a tie rod connects right and left steering arms. The Cross Steer rack going on to Joe's '31 is designed as a direct replacement for a Vega box with a 6-inch pitman arm, and features a bracket pre-drilled to fit directly to the Vega box mounting bracket. Since the sedan was running a Mustang box, not a Vega box, the mounting bracket was welded to the frame instead and reinforced with a pair of custom-fabricated gussets, adding a tiny degree of difficulty to an otherwise simple installation.
As Kevin Francis at KA Customs pointed out, and the photos illustrate, this swap works best with a four-bar front suspension, so that the steering can run in between the upper and lower bars. Wishbones or hairpins would probably interfere with the tie rod and drag link. Otherwise, no suspension adjustments were required. If replacing a Vega box, the job might not require any steering column modifications, and you can probably retain the same U-joint as well. Of course, Unisteer recommends that you check your front suspension before making the swap, to ensure that you get the best performance.
In addition to '28-34 Ford applications, Unisteer also offers a '35-40 Cross Steer system. The package being used here came complete with the rack-and-pinion, coupler, chrome steering tube for use as the drag link, and hardware. The installation was a half-day job (at most) and required no special tools or talent, with the exception of some welding, which would not be necessary if replacing a Vega box. While a steering rack might not be the perfect look on a traditional open-wheel hot rod, it's virtually unnoticeable on a full-fendered car, and is an easy upgrade.
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The old Mustang box has been removed and the new Unisteer Cross Steer rack and pinion is ready to be installed. Note the three mounting holes on the bracket, which are the same as a Vega box bracket.When removing the steering box, remember to secure the steering wheel and front wheels in a straight-ahead position. The tie rod that had been used with the box will be retained for use with the Cross Steer system.This swap required a pair of new steering arms, so Steve removed the existing arms from the spindles using a cut-off tool and then smoothed the spindle with an angle grinder.In their place will go these deep drop steering arms from the Speedway Motors catalog, which will allow the drag link and tie rod clear the 4-link radius rods.Steve pulled off the brakes for easy access to the spindles before installing the replacement steering arms, which bolt from the outside of the spindles. The double-hole steering arm (shown here) goes on the passenger side of the car; the single-hole steering arm goes on the driver side.With the new steering arms in place, the brakes were reinstalled and the tie rod remounted between the steering arms as shown here.The Unisteer Cross Steer rack includes a 90-degree mounting bracket. On the Vega box replacement system, the mounting bracket is drilled for installation in the existing box mounting holes on the frame. Since a Vega box was not previously used on this car, the bracket was removed from the rack and clamped onto the frame. The rack and drag link were temporarily installed to make sure the position of the drag link was parallel to the tie rod, in order to prevent bumpsteer. With the sedan lowered onto jackstands and the weight of the car on the suspension, Steve checked to make sure the tie rod and drag link were, in fact, parallel and level.Once Steve confirmed the bracket was in the correct position the frame was marked. The paint was ground off of the bracket and it was welded to the boxed frame.Because the bracket wasn't bolted to an existing Vega mount, a large section was unsupported below the framerail. Side steer puts some stress on the frame, so Steve knew it would be a good idea to reinforce the steering bracket with some custom gussets. On Joe's sedan, the front crossmember has been welded and the 'rails were boxed to help prevent any potential flex from the steering. The gussets were a way to add a little more strength and also dress things up a bit. A piece of scrap cardboard was used as a pattern.
Steve used 1/8-inch steel to create the pair of gussets. A few drilled holes add some aesthetics to a functional part...........A grinding disc provided the template for the arc shape and a guide for the plasma cutter while cutting. The finished pieces were deburred and welded in place.All of a sudden that ordinary-looking bracket looks like a trick part. Once it's fully welded and painted it'll blend right in with the frame.The rack was then installed in the bracket and the chromed tube drag link was fastened to the passenger-side steering arm with a tie rod end, castle nut, and cotter pin. The other end of the tube is threaded to the output shaft of the steering rack. Half the threads from the output shaft should extend into the tube. At the steering arm end, half the threads from the tie rod end should extend into the tube. The tube should be adjusted so that an equal number of threads are showing at each end, before tightening the jam nuts.


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The old system is a Poweredge, running sbs 2003 w/ a failing mobo (swollen cap problem, I think). The drives (RAID-1) are intact.
The new system is a ThinkServer running Lucid LTS (server) w/ ZCS 7.0 installed.
I can't keep the old system running long enough to complete the migration. So my question is:
Is there any way to transfer/migrate the data from the old drives to ZCS?


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'Antony and Cleopatra' reign at Hofstra
(Page 2 of 5)
Mark Antony stood at the height of power in Rome, as part of the ruling triumvirate, seeking to be the most powerful man in the known world; Cleopatra was the queen of that ancient civilization, Egypt, and heir to the glorious cultural achievements of another, Greece.
"Cleopatra was a powerful woman in a world ruled by men," said Dr. Kolb. "She led a remarkable life. Imagine how the world would have been different and what would have happened to Western culture if Egypt had defeated Rome."
In his director's notes, Dr. Kolb points out that Antony and Cleopatra features several themes known to recur in Shakespearean works. One is the tension of the "other" – or between conventional and unconventional. Cleopatra was "other" by way of her race (Greek/Egyptian) and also by the fact that she was a great and influential ruler in a world dominated by men. Additionally, the juxtaposition of West versus East, masculine versus feminine, Roman coldness and rationality versus Egyptian passion and heat are all examples of Shakespeare's exploration of the antithesis in his works.
"Antony and Cleopatra, a late play of Shakespeare's, examines a tension and dichotomy that still exists in the 21st century," Dr. Kolb said. "Ancient Greeks considered anyone who was not Greek to be a barbarian. Romans adopted that mantle and believed that they had to bring culture and civilization to the rest of the "uncivilized" world."
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Prep football roundup: Clay-Battelle eliminates Valley 33-28
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Shayne Hinkle rushed for 201 yards and three touchdowns on 30 carries as Class A No. 8 Clay-Battelle held off No. 9 Valley 33-28 in a first-round playoff game Saturday at University High School in Morgantown.
Raeshawn Breckenridge kept Valley (8-3) in the game, scoring three touchdowns on the ground and adding a 49-yard touchdown pass to Dante Wilkerson.
The big play came when Nathan Tolley hauled in a 15-yard touchdown pass from Tristan Haught with just three second left in the first half, putting the Cee-Bees (10-1) up 19-6 at the break.
Clay-Battelle scored on its first possession of the second half and was able to survive to win its second playoff game in school history.
The Cee-Bees will hit the road to play at No. 1 Tucker County next week.
Commodore led all rushers with 153 yards and touchdown runs of 54, 3, and 63 yards while Weidman contributed 123 yards and scores of 87 and 26 yards.
Mark Johnson and Jarret Hockenberry each threw a touchdown pass for the Mohigans (9-2) with Stone Wolfley and Blaine Stewart on the receiving end.
For the Big Blacks (8-3), Aden Yates threw three touchdowns and had 177 yards on 19-of-31 passing. Brycen Reymond was on the receiving end of two of those scores while Chase Walton added a 7-yard touchdown grab.
Marquez Griffin led Point on the ground with 56 yards on nine carries and a 10-yard touchdown.
Morgantown will travel to No. 4 Huntington next week.
The Indians (8-2) had 385 yards on the ground as a team compared to just 164 for the Raiders (6-5) and Bridgeport was able to build a 28-0 lead at halftime.
Cameron Staley, Hunter Mann, Anthony Caldera and Troy Anderson each had a touchdown run for Bridgeport while Anderson also connected with Cullen Cutright on a 24-yard touchdown pass. Anthony Bonamico returned an interception 47 yards for a score as well.
Sammy Brewster scored the lone touchdown for River View on a 12-yard run with 41 seconds remaining.
Bridgeport will await the winner of No. 6 Frankfort and No. 11 Summers County. That game was being played at press time Saturday.
Josh Parker set a preliminary playoff round record after racking up 232 receiving yards on eight grabs with three touchdowns for the Cougars (10-1) while also adding a 32-yard interception return for a score. Levi Beck returned a kick 82 yards for a score in the first half for the Cougars.
The game was more competitive than the score would indicate and the game was actually tied at 28 in the third quarter but East Hardy scored 26 points in the final 12 minutes to ice the game.
Chris Burch ran for 238 yards and threw for 114 to lead the No. 10 Maroon Knights (7-4).
East Hardy will play at No. 2 Magnolia next week.
Cory Cox added 57 yards rushing on just four carries and a 9-yard touchdown run for the Cavaliers (10-1) while Josh Martin was on the receiving end of both of Boatwright's completions for 59 yards and a score.
The Greenbrier West defense also did the job, creating seven Meadow Bridge turnovers, including two interceptions for Parker.
Meadow Bridge's Jake Parker ran for a game-high 194 yards on 38 carries, including a 22-yard touchdown. The Wildcats (8-3) managed just 201 yards of total offense.
The Cavaliers will travel to Point Pleasant to take on No. 3 Wahama next week.
Cox had touchdown runs of 10, 69 and 4 yards to pace RCB (10-1) in its first playoff game as a Class AA school.
Jacob Yanero led Braxton County (6-5) with 152 rushing yards and a touchdown on 23 carries. Yanero also threw for a touchdown, connecting with Derek Barnette for a 30-yard score.
Friday's games
Loftus added 61 yards on six carries for the Skyhawks (8-3), who forced five turnovers against the Warriors (7-4).
Scott's Cody Brown completed 5 of 11 passes for 85 yards and one TD, a 29-yard hookup with Michael Belcher (five catches, 57 yards). Tyler Jude also threw a 37-yard scoring pass to Dylan Dehart.
For East, Jacob Dulcie ran seven times for 74 yards.
For Keyser (10-1), Danny Fife rushed for three TDs, while Hunter Kasmier, who ran the ball all of 19 times in the regular season, tallied 175 yards and two TDs on 16 carries.
For Mingo Central (5-6), Joseph Hall had an 80-yard rushing score. Joe May, the team's 1,000-yard rusher, was held to minus-1 yard on eight carries.
Donte Hendricks also ran for two scores for the Highlanders (9-2), who led 42-13 at halftime. Mark Shaver threw for one TD and ran for another.
For Elkins (7-4), L.J. Lawrence carried 12 times for 180 yards and two TDs covering 72 and 60 yards and Clayton Collett returned a kickoff 77 yards for a score.


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Gleaners Mobile Food Pantry will distribute food Friday at the Center Grove Alternative Academy's CARE Pantry parking lot.
The distribution will be open to anyone who needs food and does not count against regular visits to the CARE pantry.
The distribution will be 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. at 2911 S. Morgantown Road, Greenwood.