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CLEVELAND (November 22, 2010) - The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum is pleased to welcome Peter Hook, co-founder of post-punk bands Joy Division and New Order, for a special Legends Series interview on Tuesday, November 30 at 7 p.m. in the Rock Hall's Foster Theater.
Hook will be interviewed by the Rock Hall's Director of Education Jason Hanley. Questions will be taken from the audience at the end of the interview. Hook will also be performing a selection of songs from Joy Division's seminal album, Unknown Pleasures. This event is free with a reservation. Please email firstname.lastname@example.com or call (216) 515-8426 to RSVP. This event will be live streamed on rockhall.com.
Born in 1956 in Salford, England, legendary bass guitarist Peter Hook remains energetically devoted to music, rock and roll and the experiences that his three decade career has given him with bands like Joy Division and New Order, which he co-founded, as well as Revenge, Monaco and Freebass. He is also the director of the infamous Fac 51 The Hacienda and manager of the Manchester indie venue the Factory.
A well respected rock and roll icon, Hook is known for his droning bass lines which dominated the sounds of Joy Division and New Order. He overcame the trend of badly tuned guitars during the punk rock era and made the throbbing beat of the bass stress the importance of rhythm. Hook has become synonymous with the Manchester music scene and what it represents culturally. As a DJ, he is one of the most sought after in the world, both as himself and also with the revived Haçienda, and he continues to record and produce new music.
Most recently Hook has opened a new chapter on his life, as a critically acclaimed author with his honest to account of the turbulent times of the Haçienda years in the critically acclaimed The Haçienda – How Not To Run A Club. He is also presently writing his second book on Joy Division and plans a book to follow on New Order.
Having decided to commemorate the 30 year anniversary of Joy Division lead vocalist Ian Curtis' passing by performing Unknown Pleasures in two charity supporting concerts at The Factory in Manchester with his band The Light, the band has been invited from around the world for these special concerts and over the Summer of 2010.
Over September and October 2010 Hooky and the Light undertook sold out tours of Australia, New Zealand and Spain before performing a three date tour of Italy in late November prior to this coast to coast tour of The States. Next year, the group will tour Europe in February 2011 and begin writing and recording new material.
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum has a spotlight exhibit on Joy Division and New Order in the Ahmet M. Ertegun Main Exhibit Hall. Featured in the exhibit is Peter Hook's bass guitar, Bernard Sumner's acoustic guitar, concert posters, ticket stubs, original handwritten lyrics to songs like "Love Will Tear Us Apart" and "Blue Monday" and more.
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum has FREE educational offerings year round. Additional adult education programs include From Songwriters to Soundmen: The People Behind the Hits, which gives audiences an inside look at aspects of the music business that are often concealed from view, and Rock and Roll Night School, which gives interested adults the opportunity to expand their rock and roll-related knowledge.
For more information about these and other Rock Hall educational programs, visit www.rockhall.com/education.
About Joy Division and New Order
The band that would eventually become New Order was originally known as Warsaw. The group -- Ian Curtis on vocals, Bernard Sumner on guitar and vocals, Peter Hook on bass and Stephen Morris on drums -- came together in Manchester, England in 1976. Discarding the Warsaw moniker and borrowing a new name from the forced prostitution wings of German concentration camps, Joy Division emerged in 1978. After recording a self-released EP, An Ideal for Living, the band was signed to Manchester's recently formed Factory Records. The group's Factory debut, Unknown Pleasures, with its stark black cover, perfectly captured the ethos of Joy Division. Morris's drums were employed almost as a lead instrument, backed by the ominous-sounding and propulsive bass lines of Hook, which formed a backdrop for Curtis' raw, intense vocals – evoking a compelling sonic landscape with relentless precision that was both distinctive and disturbing. The quartet established a strong cult following, with much of the attention centered on the charismatic lead singer. Ian Curtis, who suffered from epilepsy, was renowned for his idiosyncratic, herky-jerky onstage presence. On more than one occasion he experienced epileptic seizures and blackouts onstage, and the illness seemed to worsen with the group's increasingly demanding live schedule.
On May 18, 1980, the eve of Joy Division's proposed tour of America, Ian Curtis committed suicide by hanging. Less than a month later, Joy Division entered the U.K. charts with the single "Love Will Tear Us Apart," which eventually reached Number 13. Within months of the Curtis tragedy, the remaining members sought a fresh start under the name New Order, which, like Joy Division, was another appropriation from the vernacular of the Third Reich. Sumner took over lead vocal duties, and the trio embarked on a tour of America. Later that year they recruited Morris's girlfriend, Gillian Gilbert, on keyboards, vocals and guitar. New Order's debut, Movement, was released the following year. The group's first single, "Ceremony," penned primarily by Ian Curtis, was a U.K. Top 40 hit in spring 1981. Power, Corruption and Lies followed in 1983, as did the single "Blue Monday," often seen as one of the most important crossover tracks of the 1980s music scene. As well as influencing a legion of bands, "Blue Monday" would come to be regarded as a crucial link between disco and dance/house music, and it established electronica as a force in popular music. The single was arguably the first British dance record to exhibit an obvious influence from the New York club scene, particularly the work of producers like Arthur Baker (who collaborated on New Order's follow-up single, "Confusion"). "Blue Monday" was a hit twice in 1983, initially reaching Number 12, then re-entering the chart later in the year and climbing to Number Nine. In 1988 it was officially remixed by Quincy Jones under the title "Blue Monday 88" and climbed to Number Three in the British charts. A further remix/reissue in 1995 made the British Top 20, which gave "Blue Monday" official status as the best-selling British 12-inch single of all time.
Throughout the Eighties and into the Nineties, New Order maintained their status as one of the most influential bands in the U.K. and around the world. Their second collaboration with Arthur Baker yielded 1984's "Thieves Like Us." Low Life was released in 1985. Their next album, 1986's Brotherhood, included the international hit "Bizarre Love Triangle." Technique was released in 1989 and in summer 1990 the band reached Number One in the U.K. with "World In Motion," the official anthem for the England World Cup Squad. The Nineties found the members of New Order working on various side projects – bassist Hook formed the groups Revenge and Monaco and produced cuts by the Manchester groups Inspiral Carpets and the Stone Roses. Sumner joined former Smiths' guitarist Johnny Marr in the group Electronic and produced another Manchester band, Happy Mondays. Morris and Gilbert recorded an album under the name the Other Two. New Order released Get Ready in 2001, hitting the U.K. Top 10. A collaboration with the Chemical Brothers called "Here to Stay" appeared on the soundtrack of the motion picture 24 Hour Party People, which was a history of New Order's record label, Factory Records. New Order's most recent release is 2005's Waiting for the Sirens' Call.
About the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, Inc. is the nonprofit organization that exists to educate visitors, fans and scholars from around the world about the history and continuing significance of rock and roll music. It carries out this mission through its operation of a world-class museum that collects, preserves, exhibits and interprets this art form and through its library and archives as well as its educational programs.
The Museum is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. On Wednesdays, the Museum is open until 9 p.m. Museum admission is $22 for adults, $18 for adult residents of Greater Cleveland, $17 for seniors (65+), $13 for youth (9-12), children under 8 and Museum Members are always free, for information or to join the membership program call 216.515.8425. For general inquiries, please call 216.781.ROCK(7625) or visit www.rockhall.com. The Museum is generously funded by Cuyahoga County residents through Cuyahoga Arts and Culture.


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that's great but he wont be the last mass shooter. how many more hits like this do you think gun owners can take??????
by your descripton he is just another gunowner with a AR killing people an we should just execute him. some buddy better separate him from you an I.
If there is a way to stop the next shooter by knowing what makes this idoit tick Im for it.
I completely agree the media needs to keep these idiots out of the news. the media makes these guys famous an that is wrong imo. There basically keeping score an making it a sport for nut balls .
a kid was caught with plans to bomb his school today apparently he was making bombs got the info off the net. Im betting we will see mass shooting or similar type situation with in the next 3 months.
there ramping up the Colorado shooter trial today an all his issues an problems. It will be in the minds of every sick kid as we speak.

subset: commoncrawl


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For the most current version of this Note, see Background Notes A-Z.
Area: 147,181 sq. km. (56,136 sq. mi.), about the size and shape of Tennessee, bordering China and India.
Cities: Capital--Kathmandu (3 districts) (pop. 2.2 million est.). Other cities--Biratnagar, Patan, Pokhara, Birgunj, Dharan, Nepalgunj.
Terrain: Flat and fertile in the southern Terai region; terraced cultivation and swiftly flowing mountain rivers in the central hills; and the high Himalayas in the north. Eight of the world's ten highest peaks are in Nepal, including Mount Everest. Kathmandu, the capital, is in a broad valley at 1,310 meters (4,300 ft.) elevation.
Climate: Ranging from subtropical in the south to temperate in the hills to arctic at high altitudes. The monsoon season is from June to September, during which showers occur almost every day, bringing 75 to 150 centimeters (30-60 in.) of rain.
Time zone: Nepal is 10 hours and 45 minutes ahead of Eastern Standard Time and does not observe daylight saving time.
Nationality: Noun--Nepali (sing.) or Nepalese (plural). Adjective--Nepalese or Nepali.
Population (2007 estimate): 29 million.
Annual growth rate (2007 estimate): 2.132%.
Population breakdown/distribution: Rural (86%); female (50%); in the southern Terai region (49%); in the hills (44%); in the mountains (7%).
Ethnic groups (caste and ethnicity are often used interchangeably): Brahman, Chetri, Newar, Gurung, Magar, Tamang, Rai, Limbu, Sherpa, Tharu, and others.
Religions: Hinduism (81%), Buddhism (11%), Islam (4%), and others (4%).
Languages: Nepali and more than 100 regional and indigenous languages.
Education: Years compulsory--0. Attendance--primary 80.4%, secondary 20%. Literacy--49% (63% male, 35% female).
Health: Infant mortality rate (2007 estimate)--63.7 deaths/1,000 live births. Life expectancy (2007 estimate)--61.9 years for males and 65.5 years for females.
Work force: Agriculture--71%; industry--3%; services--11%; other--1%.
Type: Representative democracy.
Constitution: Interim constitution promulgated on January 15, 2007. Constituent Assembly convened May 2008 to draft a new constitution.
Branches: Executive--President (head of state), Prime Minister (head of government). Legislative--The Constituent Assembly is a unicameral Parliament, consisting of 601 members; 240 members were elected through a direct electoral process representing single-member constituencies across the country; 335 members were nominated from party lists through a proportional representation system; and 26 were nominated by the cabinet as representatives of ethnic and indigenous communities. Judicial--Supreme Court, 16 appellate courts, 75 district courts.
Subdivisions: 5 development regions, 14 zones, and 75 districts. 75 district development committees, 58 municipalities, 3,913 village development committees, and 36,023 ward committees.
Political parties: United Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (UCPN-M), formerly known as the Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (CPN-M), (on the U.S. terrorist exclusion list); Nepali Congress (NC); Communist Party of Nepal-United Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML); Madhesi People's Rights Forum (MPRF); Madhesi People's Right Forum-Democratic (MPRF-D); Tarai Madhes Democratic Party (TMDP); Sadhbavana Party (SP); Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP); and 17 others.
Elections: Constituent Assembly election held on April 10, 2008.
Suffrage: Universal over 18.
Defense/police (FY 2007/2008): $314 million.
National Day: Republic Day, Jestha 15 (May 28); Democracy Day, Falgun 7 (mid-February). (Note: Jestha and Falgun are months of the Nepalese calendar.)
GDP (2007/2008): $12.69 billion.
Annual growth rate of real GDP (FY 2007/2008): 4.7%.
Per capita income (gross national product, FY 2007/2008): $470.
Avg. inflation rate (Consumer Price Index, mid-October 2008 est.): 14.1%.
Natural resources: Water, hydropower, limited but fertile agricultural land, timber.
Agriculture (32.12% of GDP): Products--rice, wheat, maize, sugarcane, oilseed, jute, millet, potatoes. Cultivated land--25%.
Industry (7.6% of GDP): Types--carpets, pashmina, garments, cement, cigarettes, bricks, sugar, soap, matches, jute, manufactured goods, hydroelectric power.
Trade (2007/2008): Exports--$892 million: carpets, pashmina, garments. Major markets--Germany and the U.S. Imports--$2.79 billion: manufactured goods. Major supplier--India.
Central government budget (FY 2008/2009): $3.14 billion; military allocation $163.43 million.
Official exchange rate (as of September 19, 2008): NPR 75.00 = US$1.00.
Fiscal year: July 16-July 15.
Perched on the southern slopes of the Himalayan Mountains, Nepal is as ethnically diverse as its terrain. The Nepalese are descendants of three major migrations from India, Tibet, and central Asia.
Among the earliest inhabitants were the Newars of the Kathmandu Valley and aboriginal Tharus in the southern Terai region. The ancestors of the Brahman and Chetri caste groups came from India, while other ethnic groups trace their origins to central Asia and Tibet, including the Gurungs and Magars in the west, Rais and Limbus in the east, and Sherpas and Bhotias in the north.
The Terai, a part of the Ganges Basin with 20% of Nepal's land, is the country's breadbasket. Much of the population is physically and culturally similar to the Indo-Aryan people of northern India. People of Indo-Aryan and Mongoloid origin live in the hill regions. The mountainous highlands are sparsely populated. The Kathmandu Valley, in the middle hill region, constitutes a small fraction of the nation's area but is the most densely populated, with over 7% of the population.
Religion is important in Nepal; the Kathmandu Valley alone has more than 2,700 religious shrines. According to the 2001 census, Nepal is roughly 81% Hindu. Buddhists account for about 11% of the population. The interim constitution, promulgated on January 15, 2007, declared the country a "secular state." Buddhist and Hindu shrines and festivals are respected and celebrated by many. The government celebrates most Hindu and some Buddhist holidays. Nepal also has small Muslim and Christian minorities. Certain animistic practices of old indigenous religions also survive.
Nepali is the official language, although over 100 regional and indigenous languages are spoken throughout the country. Derived from Sanskrit, Nepali is similar to Hindi and is spoken by about 90% of the population (although often as a second or third language). Many Nepalese in government and business also speak Hindi and English.
Early History
Modern Nepal was created in the latter half of the 18th century when Prithvi Narayan Shah, the ruler of the small principality of Gorkha, formed a unified country from a number of independent hill states. The country was frequently called the Gorkha Kingdom, the source of the term "Gurkha" used for Nepali soldiers.
After 1800, the heirs of Prithvi Narayan Shah proved unable to maintain firm political control over Nepal. A period of internal turmoil followed, heightened by Nepal's defeat by the British in a war from 1814 to 1816. Stability was restored after 1846 when the Rana family gained power, entrenched itself through hereditary prime ministers, and reduced the monarch to a figurehead. The Rana regime, a highly centralized autocracy, pursued a policy of isolating Nepal from external influences. This policy helped Nepal maintain its national independence during the colonial era, but also impeded the country's economic development.
In 1950, King Tribhuvan, a direct descendant of Prithvi Narayan Shah, fled his "palace prison" to newly independent India, touching off an armed revolt against the Rana administration. This allowed the return of the Shah family to power and, eventually, the appointment of a non-Rana prime minister. A period of quasi-constitutional rule followed, during which the monarch, assisted by the leaders of fledgling political parties, governed the country. During the 1950s, efforts were made to frame a constitution for Nepal that would establish a representative form of government, based on the British model.
Democracy Develops
In early 1959, King Mahendra, who had succeeded his father Tribhuvan in 1955, issued a new constitution and the first democratic elections for a national assembly were held. The Nepali Congress Party, a moderate socialist group, gained a substantial victory in the election. Its leader, B.P. Koirala, formed a government and served as Prime Minister.
Declaring parliamentary democracy a failure eighteen months later, King Mahendra dismissed the Koirala government and promulgated a new constitution on December 16, 1962. The new constitution established a "partyless" system of panchayats (councils), which King Mahendra claimed was a democratic form of government closer to Nepalese traditions. As a hierarchical structure progressing from village assemblies to a Rastriya Panchayat (National Parliament), the Panchayat system enshrined the absolute power of the monarchy and kept the King as head of state with sole authority over all governmental institutions, including the Cabinet (Council of Ministers) and the Parliament.
King Mahendra was succeeded by his 27-year-old son, King Birendra, in 1972. Amid student demonstrations and anti-regime activities in 1979, King Birendra called for a national referendum to decide the nature of Nepal's government--either the continuation of the Panchayat system with democratic reforms or the establishment of a multiparty system. The referendum was held in May 1980, and the Panchayat system won a narrow victory. The King carried out the promised reforms, including selection of the prime minister by the Rastriya Panchayat.
Movement to Restore Democracy
In 1990, the political parties again pressed the King and the government for change. Leftist parties united under a common banner of the United Left Front and joined forces with the Nepali Congress Party to launch strikes and demonstrations in the major cities of Nepal. This "Movement to Restore Democracy" was initially dealt with severely, with more than 50 persons killed by police gunfire and hundreds arrested. In April, the King capitulated. Consequently, he dissolved the Panchayat system, lifted the ban on political parties, and released all political prisoners.
An interim government was sworn in on April 19, 1990, headed by Krishna Prasad Bhattarai as Prime Minister presiding over a cabinet made up of members of the Nepali Congress Party, the communist parties of Nepal, royal appointees, and independents. The new government drafted and promulgated a new constitution in November 1990, which enshrined fundamental human rights and established Nepal as a parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarch. International observers characterized the May 1991 elections as free and fair, in which the Nepali Congress Party won 110 out of 205 seats to form the government.
In mid-1994, the Parliament was dissolved due to dissension within the Nepali Congress Party. The subsequent general election held November 15, 1994, gave no party a majority. The 1994 elections resulted in a Nepali Congress Party defeat and a hung Parliament, with a minority government led by the Communist Party of Nepal-United Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML); this made Nepal the world's first communist monarchy, with Man Mohan Adhikary as Prime Minister. The next five years saw five successive unstable coalition governments and the beginning of a Maoist insurgency.
Following the May 1999 general elections, the Nepali Congress Party once again headed a majority government after winning 113 out of 205 seats. But the pattern of short-lived governments persisted. There were three Nepali Congress Party Prime Ministers after the 1999 elections: K.P. Bhattarai (5/31/99-3/17/00); G. P. Koirala (3/20/00-7/19/01); and Sher Bahadur Deuba (7/23/01-10/04/02).
On June 1, 2001, Crown Prince Dipendra reportedly shot and killed his father King Birendra, his mother Queen Aishwarya, his brother, his sister, his father's younger brother Prince Dhirendra, and several aunts before turning the gun on himself. After his death two days later, the late King's surviving brother Gyanendra was proclaimed King.
Maoist Insurgency
In February 1996, the leaders of the Maoist United People's Front began a violent insurgency, waged through killings, torture, bombings, kidnappings, extortion, and intimidation against civilians, police, and public officials in more than 50 of the country's 75 districts. Over 13,000 police, civilians, and insurgents were killed in the conflict. The government and Maoists held peace talks in August, September, and November of 2001, but they were unsuccessful, and the Maoists resumed their violent insurgency. Shortly after the 2001 peace talks failed, King Gyanendra declared a state of emergency, which the Parliament approved by a two-thirds vote. On the recommendation of Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, the King dissolved the House on May 22, 2002.
Struggle for Democracy Continues
In a sudden turn of events on October 4, 2002, King Gyanendra removed Prime Minister Deuba and assumed executive power. The entire Council of Ministers was also dissolved, and the November 13, 2002 elections to the dissolved House of Representatives were called off. After a week-long consultation with the leaders of various political parties, on October 11, 2002, the King appointed Lokendra Bahadur Chand as Prime Minister with a five-point directive that included creating an environment of peace and security as well as holding elections to the local bodies and the House of Representatives.
Under Chand's premiership, the government and Maoists declared a cease-fire on January 29, 2003. This marked the second cease-fire with the Maoists; the first, in 2001, had been broken by the Maoists. The 2003 cease-fire included an agreement to undertake initiatives to resolve the Maoist problem through dialogue and bring the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) back into mainstream politics. After the announcement of the 2003 cease-fire, the Chand government held two rounds of peace talks with the Maoists, in April and May. But in its effort to end political instability, it failed to secure the support of the leading political parties. In the face of growing pressure from political parties and their mass movement, Chand resigned from his post on May 30, 2003, after only seven months in power.
The King appointed Surya Bahadur Thapa as the new Prime Minister on June 4, 2003, amidst opposition from the major political parties. Another round of peace talks was held in mid-August 2003, but on August 27, 2003 the Maoists broke the second cease-fire. Thapa resigned in May 2004 as a result of political pressure. In June 2004, the King reinstated formerly dismissed Sher Bahadur Deuba as Prime Minister.
King's Direct Rule
Citing a steady deterioration of conditions in the country, King Gyanendra dismissed the Cabinet and constituted a Council of Ministers under his own chairmanship on February 1, 2005. He stated that the Council of Ministers (i.e., Cabinet) would try to reactivate multi-party democracy within three years. The King subsequently declared a state of emergency and suspended almost all fundamental rights for nearly three months. His new government was sworn in on February 2, 2005. The Council of Ministers under the King's chairmanship was reshuffled twice during the King's 15 months of direct rule.
People's Movement
In April 2006, the major political parties, in cooperation with the Maoists, organized massive countrywide demonstrations for the restoration of democracy, forcing the King to relinquish power. On April 24, 2006, King Gyanendra reinstated the 1999 Parliament. Former Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala of the Nepali Congress Party was selected by the Seven-Party Alliance (SPA) of political parties to again lead the government. The Maoists declared a unilateral cease-fire on April 26, and the new Koirala government announced its own unilateral cease-fire and plans for peace talks with the Maoist insurgents on May 3, 2006. The SPA and the Maoists have since signed a number of agreements, including, in November 2006, a comprehensive peace agreement to end the decade-long insurgency. Both sides also agreed to an arms management process and elections for a Constituent Assembly. On January 15, 2007 a 328-member interim Parliament, including 83 Maoist representatives and other party representatives, was constituted. The first sitting of the Parliament unanimously endorsed an interim constitution, which replaced the constitution of 1990. On April 1, 2007, the ruling eight-party government formed an interim Council of Ministers through political consensus, including five Maoist ministers.
The Constituent Assembly Election
Nepal held its historic Constituent Assembly (CA) election on April 10, 2008. Primarily mandated to draft a new constitution of Nepal, the CA also serves as a Parliament. The Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), now known as the United Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), emerged as the largest party securing 229 seats, followed by the Nepali Congress Party with 115 seats, and the Communist Party of Nepal-United Marxist Leninist with 108 seats. The Terai-based Madhesi People's Rights Forum, securing 54 seats emerged as a new political force in Nepalese politics. Twenty-one smaller parties, including 2 independent candidates, received 95 seats.
In August 2008, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal--leader of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist)--was sworn in as Prime Minister. However, following a dispute over his bid to dismiss the Chief of the Army Staff, Prime Minister Dahal resigned from the government on May 4, 2009. On May 23, members from 22 of the 24 political parties represented in the Constituent Assembly elected veteran Communist Party of Nepal-United Marxist Leninst (UML) leader Madhav Kumar Nepal as Prime Minister. Madhav Kumar Nepal was sworn in on May 25, 2009.
A 10-year Maoist insurgency--punctuated by cease-fires in 2001, 2003, 2005, and 2006--began in 1996. After King Gyanendra announced the reinstatement of Parliament on April 24, 2006, the Maoists declared a three-month unilateral cease-fire on April 26, 2006 which the new Koirala government reciprocated on May 3, 2006. The Seven-Party Alliance (SPA) and the Maoists signed five agreements, culminating in the comprehensive peace agreement of November 21, 2006, effectively ending the insurgency. However, Maoist violence and intimidation continued in spite of the agreement.
The main agenda of the SPA and the Maoists was to hold a Constituent Assembly (CA) election, with the primary responsibility of drafting and promulgating a new constitution defining the future political system in Nepal. The interim constitution, adopted on January 15, 2007, expressed full commitment to democratic ideals and norms, including competitive multi-party democracy, civil liberties, fundamental human rights, adult enfranchisement, periodic elections, press freedom, an independent judiciary, and the rule of law. The interim constitution also guaranteed the basic rights of Nepali citizens to formulate a constitution for themselves and to participate in the Constituent Assembly in an environment free from fear. The interim constitution transferred all powers of the King as head of state to the prime minister and stripped the King of any ceremonial constitutional role. Under the interim constitution, the fate of the monarchy was to be decided by the first meeting of the Constituent Assembly. The interim Parliament was a unicameral house.
After promulgation of the interim constitution, many socially marginalized ethnic communities, including the Madhesis of the lowland Terai, began widespread protests against the proposed proportional representation system incorporated in the new constitution. Bandhs and protests sometimes turned violent, with clashes between police and demonstrators leading to dozens killed and injured. The government eventually agreed to increase the number of directly elected representatives from the Terai and implement quotas ensuring representation of women, Madhesis, janajatis, and other discriminated groups. Constitutional amendments regarding representation were adopted in March and June 2007. (The government signed further agreements with Madhesi and janajati groups agreeing to inclusion in government bodies and institutions as well as commitment to address other issues in August 2007, but these have yet to be fully implemented.)
Five Maoist ministers were appointed to the Nepali Congress-led cabinet on April 2007. The ministers submitted their resignations on September 18, 2007 over the issue of declaring Nepal a republic and adoption of fully proportional representation system for the Constituent Assembly (CA) election. After compromise agreements on these issues were reached--having the Interim Parliament declare Nepal a republic but letting the CA implement the measure, and adoption of a mixed electoral system, the constitution was amended again and the Maoist ministers were reinducted on December 31, 2007.
Twice deferred, Nepal's historic Constituent Assembly (CA) election was finally held on April 10, 2008. None of the parties succeeded in getting a simple majority in the CA. The Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) won 218 out of 575 elected seats, followed by the Nepali Congress with 109 seats, the Communist Party of Nepal (United Marxist Leninist) with 103 seats, and the Terai-based Madhesi People's Rights Forum with 50 seats. Six constituencies need to hold by-elections, five due to one candidate having won two directly elected seats and one due to the newly elected President resigning his seat. The appointed seats were distributed across the parties in the following manner CPN-M 9, NC 5, UML 5, MPRF 2, SP- 1, CPN-Marxist Leninist 1, People's Front Nepal 1, Nepal Workers and Peasants Party 1 and TMDP 1.
The final list of members elected under the proportional representation system was released on May 8, 2008. The members of the Constituent Assembly were sworn in on May 27, 2008, and the first session of the CA was convened on May 28, 2008. In this session, the CA voted to declare Nepal a federal democratic republic by abolishing the monarchy. Out of 564 members of the CA who voted, 560 voted in favor and 4 against the motion.
While the CA has the prime responsibility of drafting a new constitution for Nepal, it also functions as a regular Parliament. Through the fourth amendment to the interim constitution of Nepal on May 28, 2008, the CA also established, for the first time, a largely ceremonial President as the constitutional head of state, as well as a Vice President. The Prime Minister continues to be the head of the government.
On January 12, 2009, the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) merged with the much smaller Communist Party of Nepal (Unity Center Masal), the formerly underground party of the People's Front Nepal, to form the United Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist).
Nepal's judiciary is legally separated from the executive and legislative branches and, in practice, has increasingly shown the will to be independent of political influence. However, by asserting executive control over the judiciary, the interim constitution called into question this independence. Under the interim constitution, the Prime Minister appoints the Chief Justice on the recommendation of the Constitutional Council, and the Chief Justice appoints other judges on the recommendation of the Judicial Council. All lower court decisions, including acquittals, are subject to appeal. The Supreme Court is the court of last appeal.
Human Rights
Since political reform began in 1990, some progress has been achieved in the transition to a more open society with greater respect for human rights; however, substantial problems remain. Poorly trained police sometimes use excessive force in quelling violent demonstrations. In addition, there have been reports of torture during detention and widespread reports of custodial abuse. In 2000, the government established the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), a government-appointed commission with a mandate to investigate human rights violations. However, the government continues to stall in implementing the commission's recommendations and has not been able to enforce accountability for recent and past abuses. The King's February 2005 dismissal of the government, subsequent imposition of emergency rule and suspension of many civil rights--including freedom of expression, assembly, and privacy--was a setback for human rights in Nepal. During this three-month period, censors were deployed to major newspapers, and many political leaders were kept under house arrest. The King's government restricted the media from publishing interviews, articles, or news items against the spirit of the royal proclamation of February 1, 2005 or in support of terrorist or destructive activities. The reinstated government, led by Prime Minister Koirala, reversed these decisions in May 2006. The interim constitution promulgated on January 15, 2007 ensured unrestricted freedom of expression and made the NHRC a constitutional body.
Both the Maoists and security personnel have committed numerous human rights violations. The Maoists have used tactics such as kidnapping, torture, bombings, intimidation, killings, and conscription of children. Within the Nepalese security forces, violations ranged from disappearances to executions. After the royal takeover on February 1, 2005 and subsequent imposition of the state of emergency, the security forces arrested many political leaders, student leaders, journalists, and human rights activists under the Public Security Act of 1989, although all were released by June 2005 when the King ended the state of emergency.
After the April 2006 cease-fire announced by the government and the Maoists, incidents of human rights violations by the government declined substantially while incidents of human rights violations by the Maoists remained relatively unabated. Even after signing a comprehensive peace agreement with the government in November 2006, Maoists' extortion, abduction, and intimidation remained largely unchecked. Although activities by other political parties have increased significantly in the rural parts of Nepal, political party representatives, police, non-governmental organization (NGO) workers, and journalists reported continuous threats and intimidation by Maoist or Young Communist League (YCL) cadres. During the January-February 2007 uprising in the Terai, reports of government security forces using excessive force to quell demonstrations were common.
There are three major daily English-language newspapers, "The Kathmandu Post," "The Himalayan Times" and "The Rising Nepal." The last and its vernacular sister publication are owned by a government corporation. There are hundreds of smaller daily and weekly periodicals that are privately owned and of varying journalistic quality. Views expressed since the 1990 move to democracy are varied and vigorous. Currently, 137 FM radio and eight television stations are privately owned and operated, following liberalization of licensing regulations. Radio Nepal and Nepal Television are government-owned and operated. There are nearly 200 cable television operators nationwide, and satellite dishes to receive television broadcasts abound. However, despite its prominence, the Nepali press is still frequently subject to violence and intimidation by political groups.
Trafficking in women and child labor remain serious problems. While Nepal is primarily a source country for destinations like India and the Middle East, internal trafficking is also a prominent issue. According to the State Department's 2008 Trafficking in Persons Report, 5,000 to 7,000 girls have been trafficked from rural parts of the country to Kathmandu, and there are over 20,000 child indentured domestic workers in Nepal. Lack of prosecution and police complicity in trafficking cases remain major problems. Discrimination against women and lower castes is prevalent.
Principal Government Officials
President--Ram Baran Yadav
Vice President--Parmananda Jha
Cabinet Ministers (Coalition Government)
Prime Minister--Madhav Kumar Nepal, UML
Women, Children and Social Welfare (and Deputy Prime Minister)--Bijay Kumar Gachhedar, MPRF
Finance--Surendra Pandey, UML
Foreign Affairs--Sujata Koirala, NC
Defense--Bidhya Devi Bhandari, UML
Physical Planning and Works--Bijay Kumar Gachchedar, MPRF
Information and Communications--Shankar Pokhrel, UML
Agriculture and Cooperatives--Mrigendra Kumar Singh Yadav, MPRF
Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs--Prem Bahadur Singh, Samajwadi Prajatantrik Janata Party
Education--Ramchandra Kushwaha, TMDP
Home Affairs--Bhim Bahadur Rawal, UML
Peace and Reconstruction--Rakam Chemjong, UML
Environment, Science and Technology--Madhav Kumar Nepal, UML
Local Development--Purna Kumar Serma Limbu, NC
Industry--Mahendra Raya Yadav, TMDP
Commerce and Supplies--Rajendra Mahato, SP
Tourism and Civil Aviation--Sarat Singh Bhandari, MPRF
Forest and Soil-Conservation--Deepak Bohara, RPP
Land Reforms and Management--Dambar Shrestha, ML
Youth and Sports--Ganesh Tiwari Nepali, TMDP
Health and Population--Umakanta Chaudhary, NC
Labour and Transport Management--Mohammad Aftab Alam, NC
Irrigation--Bal Krishna Khana, NC
General Administration--Prabhakar Pradhanag (Ravindra Shrestha), UML
Ambassador to the United States--Shankar Prasad Sharma
Ambassador to the United Nations--Madhu Raman Acharya
Nepal maintains an Embassy in the United States at 2131 Leroy Place, NW, Washington, DC 20008 (Tel: 202-667-4550; fax: 202-667- 5534). The Nepalese Mission to the United Nations is at 300 E. 46th Street, New York, NY 10017 (Tel: 212-370-3988/3989).
Nepal ranks among the world's poorest countries, with a per capita income of around $470 in 2009. Based on national calorie/GNP criteria, an estimated 31% of the population is below the poverty line. An isolated, agrarian society until the mid-20th century, Nepal entered the modern era in 1951 without schools, hospitals, roads, telecommunications, electric power, industry, or a civil service. The country has, however, made progress toward sustainable economic growth since the 1950s and is committed to a program of economic liberalization.
Nepal launched its 10th five-year economic development plan in 2002; its currency has been made convertible; and fourteen state enterprises have been privatized, seven liquidated, and two dissolved. Foreign aid accounts for more than half the development budget. The Government of Nepal has shown an increasing commitment to fiscal transparency, good governance, and accountability. Also in 2002, the government began to prioritize development projects and eliminate wasteful spending. In consultation with civil society and donors, the government cut 160 development projects that were driven by political patronage.
Agriculture remains Nepal's principal economic activity, employing over 71% of the population and providing 32.12% of GDP. Only about 25% of the total area is cultivable; another 33% is forested; most of the rest is mountainous. Rice and wheat are the main food crops. The lowland Terai region produces an agricultural surplus, part of which supplies the food-deficient hill areas. Because of Nepal's dependence on agriculture, the magnitude of the annual monsoon rain strongly influences economic growth.
In FY 2007/2008 Nepal's exports increased by 2.4%, compared to a decrease of 1.4% in FY 2006/2007. Imports grew by 16.1% in FY 2007/2008 as compared to 12% in FY 2006/2007. Exports constrained by political turmoil and a poor investment climate in the last fiscal year grew marginally owing to improvement in the political situation. The trade deficit for FY 2006/2007 was $1.9 billion, which widened to $2.5 billion in FY 2007/2008. Real GDP growth during 1996-2002 averaged less than 5%. According to the revised estimates of the Central Bureau of Statistics, GDP grew 4.68% in FY 2003/2004 and slipped to 3.12% in FY 2004/2005, but again increased marginally to 3.72% in 2005/2006 and slipped to 3.19% in FY 2006/2007.
Despite its growing trade deficit, Nepal traditionally has a balance of payments (BOP) surplus due to remittances from Nepalese working abroad. In FY 2007/2008, Nepal recorded a balance of payments surplus of $452.9 million (0.4% of GDP), as compared to $83.58 million in FY 2006/2007 (0.01% of GDP). Significant rise in workers' remittances and grants assistance contributed to a record level of BOP surplus in FY 2007/2008, however, the BOP surplus covered import trade credit amounting to $232 million in 2007/08, reflecting a rather fragile base. In the previous year, import trade credit was at a lower level of $ 25.95 million. Nepal receives substantial amounts of external assistance from India, the United Kingdom, the United States, Japan, Germany, and the Scandinavian countries. Several multilateral organizations--including the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, and the UN Development Program--also provide significant assistance. On April 23, 2004, Nepal became the 147th member of the World Trade Organization (WTO).
With eight of the world's ten highest mountain peaks--including Mt. Everest at 8,848 m (29,000 ft)--Nepal is a tourist destination for hikers and mountain climbers. However, the decade-long insurgency and a global economic slowdown threatened the tourism industry. But 2007 witnessed a renewed wave of tourism. Figures from the Department of Immigration showed a 37.2% increase in arrivals in 2007, which surpassed the numbers of tourist arrivals during 1999, the peak tourism year prior to 2006. Since the political parties and Maoists brokered a comprehensive peace agreement in November 2006, renewed tourist arrivals have given relief to the tourism-based hotel, trekking, mountaineering, and aviation industries.
Swift rivers flowing south through the Himalayas have massive hydroelectric potential to service domestic power needs and growing demand from India. Only about 1% of Nepal's hydroelectric potential is currently tapped. Several hydroelectric projects, at Kulekhani and Marsyangdi, were completed in the early to late 1980s. In the early 1990s, one large public-sector project, the Kali Gandaki A (144 megawatts--MW), and a number of private projects were planned; some have been completed. Kali Gandaki A started commercial operation in August 2002. The most significant privately financed hydroelectric projects currently in operation are the Khimti Khola (60 MW) and Bhote Koshi (36 MW) projects.
The environmental impact of Nepal's hydroelectric projects has been limited by the fact that most are "run-of-river," with only one storage project undertaken to date. The planned private-sector West Seti (750 MW) storage project is dedicated to electricity exports. An Australian company signed a power purchase agreement with the Indian Power Trading Corporation in September 2002 and has the lead on the project. Negotiations with India for a power purchase agreement have been underway for several years, but agreement on pricing and capital financing remains a problem. The Government of Nepal has taken up the issue of project financing for the West Seti project with the EXIM Bank of China. Starting in December 2006, the Department of Electricity Development obtained proposals from 14 foreign companies for survey licenses of three projects--600 MW Budhi Gandaki, 402 MW Arun III, and 300 MW Upper Karnali. The Ministry of Water Resources, after delaying the evaluation process for more than a year, finally awarded the 300 MW Upper Karnali to Indian private sector developer GMR Energy Ltd. In March 2008, the 402 MW Arun III was awarded to India's state-owned Sutlej Jal Vidyut Nigam (SJVN). The Department of Electricity Development had invited fresh global tenders for the 600 MW Budhi Gandi project in December 2007, but it failed to attract investors. Currently, domestic demand for electricity is increasing at 8%-10% a year.
Population pressure on natural resources is increasing. Overpopulation is already straining the "carrying capacity" of the middle hill areas, particularly the Kathmandu Valley, resulting in the depletion of forest cover for crops, fuel and fodder, and contributing to erosion and flooding. Additionally, water supplies within the Kathmandu Valley are not considered safe for consumption, and disease outbreaks are not uncommon. Although steep mountain terrain makes exploitation difficult, mineral surveys have found small deposits of limestone, magnesite, zinc, copper, iron, mica, lead, and cobalt.
Progress has been achieved in education, health, and infrastructure. A countrywide primary education system is under development, and Tribhuvan University has several campuses. Although eradication efforts continue, malaria has been controlled in the fertile but previously uninhabitable Terai region in the south. Kathmandu is linked to India and nearby hill regions by an expanding highway network.
Nepal's military consists of the nearly 95,000-strong Nepalese Army (NA), which is organized into six divisions (Far-Western, Mid-Western, Western, Central, Eastern, and Valley Divisions) with separate Aviation, Parachute, and Security Brigades as well as brigade-sized directorates encompassing air defense, artillery, engineers, logistics, and signals which provide general support to the NA. According to recent amendments to the interim constitution, the President is the Supreme Commander of the NA. General Rookmangud Katawal is Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), and also the senior commissioned officer of the NA. Talks are currently underway to negotiate the integration of the Maoist People's Liberation Army into the NA and other security forces.
Since 1958, the NA has contributed over 50,000 peacekeepers to 28 peacekeeping missions such as the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), the UN Protection Force (UNPROFOR) in the former Yugoslavia, the UN Operational Mission in Somalia II (UNOSOMII), the UN Mission in Haiti (UNMIH), and the UN Mission of Support in East Timor (UNTAET). NA units are presently serving in the UN Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL), the UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC), and the UN Mission in Haiti (MINUSTOH), among others. The NA currently has approximately 3,000 peacekeepers deployed and hopes to increase this to 5,000 in the near future. Approximately 3,400 of the world-famous Nepalese Gurkha soldiers serve in the British Army, and 40,000 serve in the Indian Army.
The U.S. Pacific Command (USPACOM) coordinates U.S. military engagement and security assistance with Nepal through the Office of Defense Cooperation. Cumulative U.S. military assistance to the NA has consisted of $20.95 million in grant assistance: $9.9 million in Foreign Military Financing (FMF), $5.37 million in professional and technical training provided under the International Military Education and Training Program (IMET in FY 2009 was $743,000), and approximately $5.6 million for Global Peace Operations Initiative funding to increase the pool of international peacekeepers and promote interoperability. Many NA officers attend U.S. military schools, conferences and seminars such as those provided by the National Defense University (NDU), Marshall Center, and the Asia Pacific Center for Strategic Studies (APCSS).
As a small, landlocked country wedged between two much larger and far stronger powers, Nepal seeks good relations with both India and China. Nepal formally established relations with China in 1956 and, since then, their bilateral relations have generally been good. Because of strong cultural, religious, linguistic, and economic ties, Nepal's association with India traditionally has been close. India and Nepal restored trade relations in 1990 after a break caused by India's security concerns over Nepal's relations with China. A bilateral trade treaty signed with India in 1991 is renewed every five years. The most recent renewal was on March 6, 2007, which expires on March 5, 2012. A transit treaty with India, which allows Nepal to trade with other countries through the Calcutta/Haldia ports, was extended on March 30, 2006 for seven years.
Nepal played an active role in the formation of the economic development-oriented South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and is the site of its secretariat. Nepal is also a signatory of the agreement on South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA), which came into force on January 1, 2006. A SAFTA tariff liberalization program (TLP) was scheduled to be implemented July 1, 2006. All member countries, except for Nepal, whose TLP started on August 1, 2006, reduced tariffs for each other. However, on July 1, 2006, Pakistan officially toughened its stance of not trading with India under the SAFTA arrangements and did not announce TLP for India. Due to the stalemate between India and Pakistan, the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation Free Trade Agreement (BIMSTEC-FTA), which was initially scheduled to come into force on July 1, 2006, was deferred indefinitely. The BIMSTEC Summit scheduled for February 8, 2007, in India was also deferred due to political instability in member states, including Nepal, but eventually took place in November 2008. On international issues, Nepal follows a non-aligned policy and often votes with the Non-Aligned Movement in the United Nations. Nepal participates in a number of UN specialized agencies and is a member of the World Trade Organization, World Bank, International Monetary Fund, Colombo Plan, and Asian Development Bank.
The United States established official relations with Nepal in 1947 and opened its Kathmandu Embassy in 1959. Relations between the two countries have always been friendly. U.S. policy objectives toward Nepal center on helping Nepal build a peaceful, prosperous, and democratic society.
Since 1951, the United States has provided more than $1 billion in bilateral development assistance to Nepal. In recent years, annual bilateral U.S. assistance through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Department of State has averaged $55 million. U.S. foreign assistance programs support Nepal's peace process and transition to democracy, and promote long-term development through agriculture, health, family planning, environmental protection, and vocational education programs in Nepal. The United States also contributes to international institutions and private voluntary organizations working in Nepal. The Peace Corps temporarily suspended its operations in Nepal in 2004 due to increasing security concerns, and officially terminated its Nepal program in 2006.
Principal U.S. Officials
Ambassador--Scott H. DeLisi
Deputy Chief of Mission (Acting)--Terry White
USAID Director--Kevin Rushing
Counselor for Management Affairs--Lee Hess
Political and Economic Chief--Timothy Trenkle
Consular Chief--Clay Adler
Public Affairs Officer--Terry White
Regional Security Officer--Bryan Scruggs
Political/Military Chief--John Tasco
Defense Attache--LTC Bryan Chapman
Office of Defense Cooperation--Michael Rembold
The U.S. Embassy in Nepal is located in Maharajgunj, Kathmandu (Tel: [977] (1) 400-7200; fax: [977] (1) 400-7272).
Short URL: http://m.state.gov/md153891.htm


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Riley: Trust remains in Beasley's Heat future
Miami Heat President Pat Riley said Tuesday that he still has major hopes for forward Michael Beasley, even as the 2008 lottery pick remains in a Houston rehab facility due to violations of the NBA's substance abuse policies.
Although limited by league rules regarding discussing specifics about Beasley's stay, Riley said he has been in constant contact with All-Rookie forward and that the Heat coaching staff has been working with Beasley since his arrival last month in Houston.
"The last thing I'm going to do now is judge him harshly on what has happened," Riley said. "I think we're going to get a great year out of Mike. We're in contact with him every single day."
Riley said the goal remains for Beasley "to play a prominent role, a bigger role than he played last year."
Beasley mostly was utilized as a backup power forward in 2008-09.
"I trust the fact that this guy," Riley said, "is going to produce big numbers for you."
Asked if he considered that feasible in the wake of Beasley's ongoing rehab stay, one that is not scheduled to end until just before the Sept. 28 eve of training camp, Riley said, "I think we will find out."
Riley, though, said the slip-up that moved Beasley to an inpatient program and re-set the 30-day clock on his treatment, can't be written off to youthful foibles.
"I'm not going to forgive anybody's transgressions because they're 20 years old," Riley said.
As for rumors that Beasley's lack of maturity has created concerns from Heat guard Dwyane Wade, Riley said such speculation is an insult to his team leader.
"I think the last thing any player in this league wants to do is judge somebody else," Riley said.
Riley said he continues to view Beasley as a combo forward, but added that the recent loss of workout time with teammates could limit Beasley's ability to slide to small forward.
Riley also touched on several team-related topics.
- He said that any veteran added to the camp roster likely would have to accept a non-guaranteed contract. "There's never really been an all-out assault on picking off this guy or that guy," he said, noting that Lamar Odom was the exception. Allen Iverson's name never came up during Riley's 39-minute discussion at AmericanAirlines Arena
- He reiterated that due to luxury-tax concerns, a trade is more likely than a free-agent signing. "The only way we're going to be able to add is to subtract," he said. "If something is going to happen, it probably happens via a trade."
- He said he felt most of his offseason personnel work was done once Yakhouba Diawara and Chris Quinn invoked their contract options and once Jamaal Magloire and Joel Anthony were re-signed. "I don't want to add more pieces to the team," he said.
- He said adding a veteran point guard is not a priority, "I don't want to waste another roster spot on a point guard that's never going to play."
- He said at least one more big man will be added by the start of training camp, possibly Blazers free-agent power forward Shavlik Randolph, who was one of several big men to receive recent tryouts.
- He said the team views Quentin Richardson as a shooting guard, not a small forward, but also as a player who could see time at small forward, considering the volume of minutes Wade will play at shooting guard.
- Riley stressed that James Jones has had an extraordinary summer in the team's workout program, setting attendance records. He said among the team's priorities is "to solidify ownership at the three spot. Everything else is in order."
- He said the Heat may bypass adding a top-tier free agent next summer. "Maybe we want to sign three or four guys," he said. "We have a chance to do something that no other team is going to be able to do."
- Riley said the Heat's salary-cap position has him confident of success in 2010 free agency. "We have more flexibility than any team that has a perceived max player," he said, alluding to Wade, who also can be a free agent next summer.
- Riley said he no longer expects Wade to discuss a contract extension this season. "We're just going to ride the wave, until probably July" he said. "There's no prodding; there's no demands."
- Riley said encouraging reports have been received regarding the work center Jermaine O'Neal has put in with noted Chicago-area trainer Tim Grover.
(Also, your Heat questions are answered regularly at Ask Ira! and for Heat updates check out our Twitter feed.)


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Class of 1998
Update your contact information to hear the latest Emory news, breakthroughs and events, join our online directory to remain accessible to your fellow alumni and find other Emory grads in your area, and keep up with classmates through the Class of 1998 Facebook group. A lot has changed since 1998, and Emory wants to remain a part of your life. Please stay in touch!
Reunion volunteers are the heart of Homecoming and reunions at Emory. They bring valuable knowledge of their class and encourage others to participate in class activities and class giving. Reunion volunteers do more than plan an event; they inspire others to a life-long connection at Emory. If you're interested in being part of your reunion committee, email email@example.com.
Emory will always be a part of your life. Even though you are over 15 years removed from college you can still get involved with your alma mater. Help us spread the word about all that Emory has to offer as an admissions representative or serve as a career resource for alumni.
You're not in the same place you were in 1998, but your ties to Emory will always remain — through friendships, learning and a top-notch degree you carried out into "the real world."
For Emory to continue to provide these transformative experiences to students, we need your help. Please consider a gift to the Fund for Excellence or any area of the college or campus that made an impact on you. Help Emory live in the minds of future students as it lives in yours. Make a gift today.


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ZF-10166: Zend_Translate should not clear all cache and use tagging when backend is capable of it
I pass my cache object to Zend_Translate::setCache and when I call Zend_Translate::clearCache() it clears complete cache - no matter who worte it. problem is that one server is used by few projects and they all lose cache.
Could Zend_Translate and probably all other components (currency, locale data ... etc) that use cache, try to use tags if available in cache component.
I've extended Memcached backend so it supports cache tagging. So MyComp_Cache_Backend_Memcached::getCapabilities() return array with entry ('tags' => true) and I have implemented my way of handling tags.
selected component/s that concern this issue
It is not possible to add tagging because when a cache does not support tagging an notice/warning is thrown.
As long as Zend_Cache does not support tagging, or a proper handling for un-tagable cache adapters, it is not possible for the I18n core to support tagging.
Tags have been erased 3 releases before as there were problems with this approach.
Now, when using cache, Zend_Translate must have it's own cache or you omit using clearCache().
Thomas you can use getCapabilities() to determine whether the cache returns tags. If it does; it should use tags rather than clearing it all - imho.
There is no need to duplicate things which we already discussed and clearified.
You should give me some minutes to add a feature even if it's bug hunt day and I decleared that it works different that you noted within irc :-)
Added with r22586 See the manual for proper usage


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To Conduct Cellular Censuses Sequence Deeply...
Diseases of the Eye That Cause...
Widespread Adoption of Biomarkers Has Been...
Three-Dimensional Cell Culture Has Two Dimensions,...
After all but waxing rhapsodic in recent years about the value of partnerships and collaborations, biopharma giants are showing more caution about doing licensing deals, according to a just-released state-of-industry report.
According to Biotech and Pharma: 2012 Year in Review, published by EvaluatePharma's publishing arm EP Vantage, big biopharma spent $20.9 billion on licensing deals in 2012, a 19% drop from 2011. The number of products licensed also fell significantly, to 759 in 2012 from 1,037 a year earlier.
A possible reason, the report posited, was that biopharma giants had less of a need to plug holes in pipelines through increased licensing activity, as companies slowly navigated the "patent cliff" expirations of several brand-name drugs.
"The decline we saw in licensing deals during 2012 could mean rather than the old scatter gun approach of licensing lots of products and banking on certain attrition rates, companies will be looking to do fewer, more considered deals," Lisa Urquhart, editor of EP Vantage and author of the study, told GEN.
"What this might mean is fewer deals struck at the riskier early stages of development unless they are in a hot area, such as HepC, cutting the number of deals. The value of deals might also fall as companies try to mitigate their risk exposure by spending less on up-front fees and back-end loading deals," Urquhart added.
Also declining last year were M&A deals, which fell to $42.6 billion in 180 deals, or 24% below 2011's roughly $56 billion in 196 deals. The 2011 figure includes Sanofi's $20.1 billion acquisition of Genzyme.
One area where licensing and M&A activity could increase this year, Urquhart said, is orphan drugs, whose development costs are lower than for many other disease categories, and whose chances of approval are higher and reimbursement, easier: "Watch out for more activity in this area."
Biopharma is unlikely in 2013 to see the convulsive megamergers that rocked the industry after the 2007–09 recession. Other than AstraZeneca, most biopharma giants are already past the patent cliff, reducing their need to buy pipelines. As a result, growth among big biopharmas is expected to be pretty flat over the next five years, Urquhart said.
"Mega-mergers are not a quick fix for R&D productivity and a lot of companies—including Abbott, Pfizer, and Johnson & Johnson—are looking to slim down their operations to make them more efficient," Urquhart added. "A lot of companies will be looking at controlling costs and being a lot more strategic when considering licensing or spending on R&D, which could mean smaller more heavily back-ended licensing deals and maybe more smaller less-risky acquisitions."
While fewer licensing deals are likely for smaller drug developers, they have several positives to anticipate in 2013. One is the prospect of continued gains by biotech stocks, which enhances the industry's attractiveness to investors. That should lead to a short-term increase in venture capital investment, which dried up during the recession, Urquhart said.
Also encouraging to investors, Urquhart said, was FDA's increased dialogue with industry about what it wants to see in clinical trials, reflected in more early meetings with companies. FDA approved 43 novel biologic or small molecule agents in 2012, up from 35 in 2011 and 26 in 2010: "Other than external macroeconomic factors, the only thing that might push back stock prices would be the failure of the one of the big-ticket drugs up for approval this year."
Even that is less likely, she added; FDA on Wednesday approved Biogen Idec's oral MS drug Tecfidera.
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Cabin and Catering Services
1. Why can't i sit together with my family?
You need to make your request at reservation. Requests made at check-in point are subject to availability of the seats left in the aircraft.
2. Why there is no left meal choice during your service?
The meal stored is based on the number of passengers, due to the capacity of aircrafts, the choice of meal is limited to a certain ratio and number. Thus, your choice can not be served you because of other passengers' high demands.
For more information
3. Why we can not benefit inflight entertainment system in each flight?
Depending on the type of aircraft, some of our airplanes are not yet equipped with a digital entertainment system. News, films and short programs are offered to passengers on all flights of more than two hours. Music programs may also be available depending on the type of aircraft. Music programs are available on our long-haul and international flights.
For more information;
4. May I take my baggage with me into cabin?
Cabin baggage is baggage carried on board free of charge by the passenger under his or her control and responsibility. A cabin baggage tag must be affixed to cabin baggage. The weight and dimension must be maximum 8 kg. and 23x40x55 cm.
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5. Why are the seats pitches different size in each aircraft?
There are several kinds of aircrafts in our fleet. Seat pitches are changeable according to travel class and aircraft cabin.
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6. May I travel with my pet?
The pets that passengers may travel with are restricted as to kind and number. For this reason travelling with your pet is possible with prior reservation.
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- Date submitted: 1 Nov 2011
- Stakeholder type: Major Group
- Name: World Association of Former United Nations Internes and Fellows (WAFUNIF)
- Submission Document: Download
THE UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT 4-6 June 2012: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
The World Association of Former United Nations Internes and Fellows (WAFUNIF)
2 United Nations Plaza, DC2-0370, New York, NY 10017 1 November 2011
2 UN Plaza, DC 2-0370
New York, New York 10017, USA
Telephone: (212) 963 -3110 Fax: (212) 963 -4609 or 4116
firstname.lastname@example.com www.wafunif.org
A. Concrete Proposals
1. Intactness of the Earth
a. Lithosphere
b. Hydrosphere
c. Atmosphere
2. Resources of the Earth
a. Living Resources
b. Non-Living Resources
c. Conservation of Resources
d. Preservation of Resources
e. Protection of Resources
f. Exploitation of Resources
g. Uses of Resources
i. Constructive Uses
ii. Destructive Uses
3. Civilizational Demands
B. Comments on Existing Proposals
1. Initiatives
2. Green Economy Roadmap
3. Framework for Action
4. Sustainable Development Goals
5. Revitalized Global Partnership
C. Implementational Views
1. Closing Implementational Gaps
a. Conscious
b. Unconscious
2. Relevant Actors
a. Public Sector
b. Private Sector
c. Civil Society
d. Organizations
e. Institutions
f. Groups
g. Individuals
D. Implementational Methodologies
1. Content of Priorities
a. Specific
b. General
2. Framework of Timings
a. Short-Term
b. Medium-Term
c. Long-Term
3. Cooperative Mechanisms
a. With Common Interests
b. With Diverse Interests
4. Partnership Arrangements
a. Comprehensive
b. Partial
5. Other Tools
II. Specific Elements
A. Conference Objectives
1. Securing Reviewed Commitment
2. Assessment of Progress
3. Remaining Implementational Gaps
4. Addressing Emerging Challenges
5. Sectoral Priorities
a. Energy
b. Food
c. Agriculture
d. Forests
e. Technology
f. Water
g. Oceans
h. Urbanization
i. Production
j. Consumption
k. Biodiversity
l. Climate Change
m. Natural Disasters
B. Green Economy
1. Definition]
2. Potential
3. Experience
4. Successes
5. Opportunities
6. Challenges
7. Elements of Agreement
C. Poverty Eradication
1. Definition
2. Potential
3. Experience
4. Successes
5. Opportunities
6. Challenges
7. Elements of Agreement
D. Institutional Framework
1. Individual Pillars
a. International
i. Priorities
ii. Proposals
b. Regional
i. Priorities
ii. Proposals
c. National
i. Priorities
ii. Proposals
d. Local
i. Priorities
ii. Proposals
2. Integration of Pillars
i. International Level
ii. Regional level
iii. National level
iv. Local Level
E. Proposals for Refinement
1. Green Economy
2. Poverty Eradication
3. Institutional Framework
CONCRETE PROPOSALS Intactness of the Earth
The Earth being a very fragile planet in its composition, delicately balanced in all its parts (viz., lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere), any scheme of sustainable development to be successful has to flow from the realization of this fundamental fact.
In destabilizing the structure of the planet or disturbing its titanic plates by violent activities, one cannot expect to simultaneously subscribe to the requirements of sustainable development. Similarly, by inflicting injuries to the lithosphere by such acts as gas emission, soil erosion, land slide, desertification, and deforestation cannot be conducive to the precepts of sustainable development. Likewise, senseless exploitation and ruthless destruction of Earth?s resources cannot go hand in hand with the demands of sustainable conduct. In the same vein, subjecting the land mass of the Earth to suffocating pollution and toxification cannot be treated as a tolerable activity for a sustainable economy.
Similar degenerative activities in hydrosphere (viz., oceans, seas, lakes, ponds, rivers, glaciers) violate the premises of sustainable life. If pollution beyond the natural absorptive capacity and exploitation of marine resources (living and non-living) above replenishment capacity cannot be regarded as sustainable. Therefore, promulgation of effective checks is necessary to stem the tide against the sustainability standards, so that a conducive future could be ensured.
Degenerative perpetrations are also increasingly rampant in the atmosphere (even beyond in outer space). Overloading the atmosphere with carbon dioxide and other toxic gasses is having harmful effects over weather, setting in motion consequences equally injurious to life on the Earth, emission of other gasses is punching holes in ozone layer, with hazardous consequences to health among others.
It is thus expected that Rio+20 will proceed with the fundamental premise that only with a healthy Earth can emerge a sound sustainable development plan. With these bases, a comprehensive program has to evolve with the recognition that the planet?s resources (both living and non-living) have limits, demanding accordingly their sensible treatment. They need their proper conservation, preservation, and protection. They too have their rights and therefore, as parts of civilizational desiderata, they need proper handling on all counts.
Comments on Existing Proposals
The Agenda 21, Rio Conventions, Johannesburg Plan, and the Millennium Declaration have all been important steps as they touched upon important questions (e.g., biodiversity, desertification, climate change), thereby helping to define the parameters of Sustainable Development goals and to build a global sustainable agenda. The momentum so generated gave rise to many other constructive initiatives (e.g., Green Economy Roadmap) and produced pressure for creation of implementational devices (e.g., Framework for Action, Global Partnership).
These initiatives ushered in visible spectrum of socio-economic progress worldwide. As such, numerous projects of development may be proudly mentioned to testify this claim of advancement.
Yet, the progress has been sporadic and uneven, far below the expected measure. Therefore, the underlain conditions of dissatisfaction and insecurity have remained, encompassing most of the sectors across the board (e.g., water, food, energy, biodiversity, climate).
Such circumstances have posed many challenges, which have necessarily to be seriously addressed. Not only the remaining issues are there, having not been fully resolved, but also emerging problems have further added to difficulties.
Implementational Views
Among these, one critical aspect is that of implementation of what had been solemnly agreed upon. Many gaps have been left consciously or unconsciously. While the plans of action, programs of timing, roadmaps of procedure are in existence, they have not been wholly or partially acted upon.
Therefore there is a need of concerted endeavors on the part of all relevant actors (e.g., public sector, private sector, civil society, organizations, institutions, groups, individuals), on all levels (viz., local, national, regional, international, global).
Implementational Methodologies
In order to pursue the professed goals, with implementational elements in sight, there is the necessity of incorporating due methodologies. In order to systemize the entire gamut of means, firstly the context of priorities of tasks has to be decided, so that specific issues demanding urgent attention may be taken up immediately. Then, the general questions could be taken up, at their turn. Also, the framework of timing is equally important, so that all problems could be attended to properly. A simple issue may not be allowed to degenerate in the waiting, while a complex problem may have sufficient time to muster concerted support, whereas the middle ones may be settled in due course. Accordingly, all tasks must be sorted out diligently as short-term, medium-term, and long-term, in view of their importance and urgency.
It is at this juncture that the cooperative mechanisms as parts of essential methodologies have to be sought. They may be developed with agencies of common interest, which naturally are the most conducive, with prospects of intense and sustained relationships. But, even with those of diverse leanings, casual ties could still be possible in areas of some degree of mutuality. The essential feature is that any available measure of cooperation (short or long, incidental or sustained) should be welcomed.
Beyond these, there could be likelihood of partnerships, for reciprocal gains in defined spheres of pursuit. It may be comprehensive in the sense of coverage of all or most areas of concern. Or, it may be partial, dealing with a select facet or several chosen facilities. In both ways, they are gainful.
Besides, there are certain advocacy groups, voluntary services, special facilities, and honorary offers, whose capacities could profitably be deployed.
SPECIFIC ELEMENTS Conference Objectives
In the wake of only partial success and many failures, with numerous impending dilemmas and crises, it has been a bold and wise step to hold another Conference on the same theme. It will provide opportunities to utilize the experiences gained during the interim period, both to avoid pitfalls and fill the gaps, while meeting challenges and resisting temptations.
The international community, consisted of all stakeholders, is therefore returning to Rio with renewed vigor to objectively: i) assess the progress made during the intervening years; ii) fill up the remaining implementational voids; iii) build institutional stamina to address emerging challenges; iv) formulate action oriented policies; v) produce workable development agenda for the coming decades; vi) mobilize financial and technological resources; and vii) capture conducive opportunities.
With the obtainment of political commitment for such a program, focusing on green economy and poverty eradication as its leit motif, it has laid down its plan for sectoral development priorities. This consists, among other things, such factors as: energy, food, agriculture, forests, technology, water, oceans, urbanization, production, consumption, biodiversity, climate change, and natural disasters.
Green Economy
The concept of Green Economy, if friendly to the Earth and natural forces, may be considered as a positive move. Embracing most of the sectors of life on the planet, it must be considered as having great potential to promote the elements of developmental sustainability. Otherwise, it will invite futility and dejection. Here, the lessons learnt from past successes as well as from failures must provide light to chart a correct course, both for seizing opportunities and meeting challenges. Accordingly, the elements of agreements have to be universal in their nature to encompass all facets of the problem and global in scope to cover all areas of the world, in a harmonious way.
Poverty Eradication
Poverty Eradication, even though an important goal, it can hardly be treated as a pillar of the sustainable development scheme. As a symptom rather than an independent issue in itself, it should have been considered as a sector within the context of green economy, as broadly defined. Even if brought in as one of the main independent pillar, it ought to be considered in realistic terms, so that its intrinsic significance is not eclipsed. It is within this context that its potentialities have to be assessed in view of past triumphs, as well as defaults, in order to profit from professed fortunes and deal with imminent dilemmas, to provide proper elements to be included in anticipated agreements.
Institutional Framework
Sustainable development being a global problem, to tackle it adequately, naturally demands a global response. However, since no such machinery presently exists, the closest approach could be involvement of all stakeholders (viz., national governments, international organizations, private sector, civil society, interest groups, individuals) on all levels (international, regional, national, local).
As a catalyst, the United Nations can play the key role by bringing the national governments together and generating a climate of binding commitments, thereby opening the road for global standards.
With the promulgation of legal norms, appropriate institutional framework will follow, both by design and by practice. A broadly based tripartite structure could initially be established with open channels from the top tier (international) through the middle rungs (regional, national) to the bottom one (local). With their respective responsibilities at their designated stations, they will be coordinated according to their interests and commitments, always linked together by the common cause of a better future for all.
With the underlain devotion and constant practice, the urge for integration of all functional levels into a single administrative authority will tend to increase in time, finally to be merged into a compact body of all pursuances.
Proposals for Refinement
Refinement of all its facets of the sustainable development scheme will come from three elements: i) conceptual soundness; ii) functional reality; and iii) growth potential.
As for the green economy, while its concept is sound, its functional reality rests on the will of sovereign states. For a successful passage, it has to be broadly based and functionally viable to serve the largest interests, while able to cut through the resisting impediments.
As regards to the premise of poverty eradication, it is difficult for it to stand alone as a main independent pillar of the sustainable development scheme, because essentially it is a dependent component of other interacting factors. Its refinement therefore depends either on making it a part of a larger phenomenon or broadening it separately as an independent entity.
Concerning the institutional framework, its refinement includes its functional efficacy on all organizational levels, with reliable coordination among them. With the aid of international organizations and cooperation with regional entities as well a national sovereigns and local authorities, it will apt to present itself as a viable structure, capable of taking the current load while having the capacity of constant improvement for future responsibilities.


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A quick search online shows there are dozens of different types of hiking socks, with different materials, thicknesses, and properties. In general, what should you look for when shopping for hiking socks? What are the main differences, and what would make you choose one type over another?
Sign up
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- Anybody can answer
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Don't use cotton socks for hiking.
When your feet sweat, the socks become wet, and take forever to dry out. Good socks remove the bacteria and moisture that thrive in the environment created by sweating feet and help to prevent blisters. Cotton retains moisture, thus cotton socks will not do the job properly.
Rather, buy non-itching ("merino") wool, nylon, alpaca, elastic, polyester, spandex, or polypropylene(can also be used as a layer between the sock and skin) socks.
I wear wildland firefighting boots (all leather) for work, and they can take a long time to fully break in (6-12 months!), so a good pair of socks/combination of socks is crucial. I've found that I like to wear a thin sport sock under a full boot sock, which helps to add more padding and support up to the ankle, where it counts.
A very helpful source of additional information, including more information on the different benefits of different sock types and materials: Foot Care, Socks 101 & Sock Care.


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Westminster College just sent us info on their camp for teens prepping for science majors or just curious about the natural world.
This summer, teens will spend a week as scientists studying the environment of the Great Salt Lake (ages 15–18).
Camp takes place July 15–21 and will likely fill fast.
After a bunch of hands-on experiences at camp, teens will be able to answer any questions you have about birds, brine shrimp and microbes that live at or in the lake.
On top of all the science stuff, campers will also get the chance to go paddle boarding and visit the Spiral Jetty, Natural History Museum of Utah, Tracy Aviary and Antelope Island—where they will host a public program to show off what they learned.
High school teachers are also needed as paid consultants for the camp.
Camp price is $250, which includes food, lodging and activities. Scholarships available. College credit available to incoming high school juniors.
Click here to register or for more info.


text: Inductee: Neil Young (vocals, guitar, banjo, keyboards, harmonica; born November 12, 1945) Neil Young is one of rock and roll's greatest songwriters and performers. In a career that extends back to his mid-Sixties roots as a coffeehouse folkie in his native Canada, this principled and unpredictable maverick has pursued an often winding course across the rock and roll landscape. He's been a cult hero, a chart-topping rock star, and all things in-between, remaining true to his restless muse all the while. At various times, Young has delved into folk, country, garage-rock and grunge. His biggest album, Harvest (1972) , apotheosized ...full bio


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Bat Falcon
The Bat Falcon (Falco rufigularis) is a small, colorful falcon that lives along tropical rivers and at the edge of rainforests. In the Tambopata region, this beautiful raptor is frequently seen by guests of the Rainforest Expeditions eco-lodges as they travel along the meandering, coffee-colored Tambopata River. It sometimes reveals its presence with a rapid series of notes similar to the sounds made by the American Kestrel. More often, it is noticed by guides and guests as it perches atop a tall snag at the river's edge.
Bat Falcons prefer to spend their time at the edges of rivers to catch unwary birds and bats that happen to fly across the waterway. The unobstructed view and flying space favors the falcon and keeps many birds from flying across the river. For this reason, small birds adapted to the forest understory rarely fly across a waterway as wide as the Tambopata and therefore tend to become isolated from populations of the same species that reside in the forests on the opposite bank. Birds with rapid flight such as parakeets and swifts don't hesitate in flying across rivers but they still do so with care and in flocks because they tend to be the birds that the Bat Falcon preys upon the most.
Some interesting facts about the Bat Falcon:
How to see Bat Falcons on an Amazon rainforest adventure:
Take a family friendly Peruvian jungle tour with Rainforest Expeditions to see Bat Falcons and other beautiful wildlife in the Amazon rainforest.
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- Yield
Makes 6 drinks
- 2 cups Ruby Port
- 1 cup unsweetened pineapple juice
- 1 cup fresh orange juice
- 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
- Chilled club soda or seltzer water
- 6 lemon slices for garnish
- In a large pitcher stir together well the port and the juices. Divide the drink among 6 glasses filled with ice cubes. Top off the drinks with the soda and garnish them with the lemon slices.


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Pat Miller is offering a quilting class that will be a must-do for people interested in learning to quilt or who want to expand their horizons by learning about color in quilting. The prerequisite for the course is knowing how to sew and use a rotary cutter and having a sewing machine portable enough to bring with you. The first class, on Saturday at 2 p.m. at the 1st Street Emporium, is just an introduction and has no requirements or cost attached.
Miller's quilting horizons are expanding. Retiring from CrossRoads MarketPlace a year or so ago, Miller and her husband moved into Casa Del Sol. There was no place in their apartment that was suitable for her quilting materials and equipment. "Barb [Barbara Ingles] and the girls told me they had the perfect place for me at the 1st Street Emporium," said Miller.
It was a small office-like space at the back of the unit where Lynn Horner used to have his antiques and books (still has some of them in that front half of the store). The area suited her perfectly. She can keep her sewing machine, cutting table and ironing board set up and there is plenty of room to store colorful fabrics. Her colorful cubbyhole is a beautiful addition to the store, as well, because the front is open to the store. Also, everybody can watch her work.
The overview of "Quilting and Designing with Color" will be held at the 1st Street Emporium on Saturday at 2 p.m. It is just an introduction, with no cost attached. All other sessions will be held at the Aspen Center at Casa Del Sol, 1002 Casa Del Sol Drive, La Junta (that is on the west end of 10th Street). The sessions will be all day, with lunch furnished. A complete project will be finished at each session, and the cost varies with the kit offered for the session, increasing in difficulty from the first to the last.
The first session of the complete class is April 27, 2013, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The cost for that session is $25 plus $30 for Heather Thomas's book, "A Fiber Artist's Guide to Color & Design." Total class fee is required at the time of enrollment. Subsequent classes are all 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Here are the dates, subjects and fees:
- Basic Design with Neutrals - Log Cabin Pattern Wall Quilt, May 4, $45
- Using Monochromatic Colors - Sampler Table Runner, June 4, $50
- Designing with Color Combinations - Log Cabin Cubes Wall Quilt, July 13, $50
- Creating with Light-Woven Windows Table Topper, Aug. 3, $75
- Creating Depth & Dimension - Afternoon Delight Wall Quilt, Sept. 14, $75
You may take all the sessions or just the ones that get you excited about quilting. The degree of difficulty increases with each workshop.
Page 2 of 2 - Remember, Saturday's session is free and you do not need to bring your sewing machine. It is just an introduction (and a chance to see Pat Miller's beautiful work).
Location, ST | website.com


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Pokemon USA recently revealed the English names of the Pokemon Black & White starters, Snivy, Tepig, and Oshawott, as well as the two legendary Pokemon Reshiram and Zekrom. We also now know that the region name is "Unova" in English, whereas it was "Isshu" in Japanese. This is the first time the Japanese region name was completely renamed for the English version.
Speaking of renaming, I have updated the Pokedex (which had always been "PokeRep" up till about an hour ago) with the latest names and pictures of these new Pokemon, so check them out!


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More Information
News & Notes - CFCC scholarships; grant for YWCA
Published: Monday, May 20, 2013 at 11:03 p.m.
Last Modified: Monday, May 20, 2013 at 11:03 p.m.
Wilmington Kiwanis Club donates $2,600 to CFCC for scholarships
WILMINGTON | The Wilmington Kiwanis Club recently donated $2,600 to the Cape Fear Community College Foundation to be used for student scholarships. The Wilmington Kiwanis Club Scholarship at CFCC is open to students in any program of study who meet a minimum grade-point average requirement. Each year the scholarship is awarded to one first-year student and one second-year student. Kiwanis scholarships at Cape Fear Community College and UNCW are funded by proceeds from the Kiwanis Pancake Day in November.
The Wilmington Kiwanis Club was officially chartered in 1920 with 105 charter members. In 1964, the club began a scholarship program for worthy students at the University of North Carolina Wilmington and in 1997 at Cape Fear Community College. Scholarship gifts totaling more than $175,000 have assisted deserving students.
For more information, visit www.cfcc.edu/foundation.
YWCA receives grant for water fitness program to benefit cancer survivors
WILMINGTON | The YWCA Lower Cape Fear has received a $15,000 grant from the Cape Fear Memorial Foundation for the Fluid Recovery program, which was developed in partnership with the Pretty in Pink Foundation to benefit breast cancer survivor "champions."
Fluid Recovery is a progressive water fitness program developed for breast cancer survivors. Because of the grant, the program will be offered free of charge to champions living in New Hanover, Brunswick, Pender and Columbus counties in any stage of recovery and survivorship. Fluid Recovery will focus on the areas that have been affected by breast cancer surgeries and treatments, and will provide gentle exercises and relaxation techniques in the water. Classes will be led by a certified instructor at the center, and will begin June 5.
For more details on the Fluid Recovery program, contact Lance Tate, YWCA aquatics director, at 799-6820 or firstname.lastname@example.com, or Joy Wade, Pretty in Pink Foundation program manager, at 620-9871 or firstname.lastname@example.com.
Email your New Hanover County news items to
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received two weeks before the event date.
Reader comments posted to this article may be published in our print edition. All rights reserved. This copyrighted material may not be re-published without permission. Links are encouraged.


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If your computer is having problems running the Aero desktop experience, which includes effects such as transparency, try using the Aero troubleshooter to fix the problem. It checks for common compatibility issues with running Aero, such as your computer's color, theme, power settings and your computer's video card.
To make sure you have the most up-to-date troubleshooters from the Windows Online Troubleshooting Service, your computer should be connected to the Internet. For more information, see Troubleshooting in Windows.
To learn more about Aero desktop effects, see What is the Aero desktop experience?
Open the Aero troubleshooter by clicking the Start button , and then clicking Control Panel. In the search box, type Troubleshooter, click Troubleshooting, and then, under Appearance and Personalization, click Display Aero desktop effects.
If you're prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.
Article ID: MSW700048


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For those of you who missed ESPN's First Take Friday morning, the Orlando Magic and Dwight Howard were again topics of discussion on the popular debate show spearheaded by everyone's favorite sports critic Skip Bayless. (C'mon, admit it, you like him. You really, really like him).
After Game 2 in Orlando Tuesday, Paul Pierce told ESPN reporter Doris Burke "We're gonna try to close this out in two games, ya'll hear me. We're comin' home and close it out." Paul Pierce's twitter account was allegedly hacked, but a tweet came out shortly after the game which said "Anybody got a broom?"
First and Ten host Jay Crawford posed the question if Paul Pierce's post game comments would help or hurt the Magic to debaters Skip Bayless and NBA analyst Jalen Rose.
Jalen Rose said the comments would hurt the Magic because the words will send the Celtics' crowd into a frenzy in Game 3, but also said it could be good bulletin board material for the Magic as well. He added that Paul Pierce's words would be no different than anything Magic Johnson or Michael Jordan would have said back in their playing days.
Skip Bayless said Pierce's comments raise the question of what kind of mental toughness the Orlando Magic have. "What's their manhood? That's what we're calling into question here. I question it. I have all year. I don't know about their mental toughness, their intangibles. So to me, I think they get further damaged, the Magic's psyche, because I loved it the other day what Paul Piece said, to your point, because he was smelling blood. He was seeing doubt in their eyes at the end of Game 2."
Keep in mind the Boston Celtics have a 32-0 all-time advantage when up 2-0 in a best of seven game series and will be playing in front of a very excited home crowd Saturday. While not impossible, the Magic certainly have an uphill climb for Games 3 and 4.
So what do you think? Are the Magic mentally tough enough to win one or maybe both road games? Or do they fold under pressure?
Sound off.