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If your PC is connected to a domain, Parental Controls aren't available.
In addition to the basic controls that Windows provides, you can install additional parental controls from other service providers that can be used within Parental Controls to manage how your children use the PC. For example, even though web filtering and activity reporting aren't included in this version of Windows, you can install these additional controls through a separate service provider. To add them, you must first download and install the additional controls.
For more information about additional controls you can use, go to Looking for web filtering and activity reports in Windows Parental Controls?
For information about using specific controls you've already installed, check with the manufacturer of the controls.
In order to add additional controls you first need to install the additional controls from a separate service provider.
Install the controls that you want to add.
Open Parental Controls by clicking the Start button , clicking Control Panel, and then, under User Accounts and Family Safety, clicking Set up parental controls for any user.
If you're prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.
Under Additional controls, select the provider for the controls you want to add in the Select a provider box. If there is no Select a provider box, you still need to install the additional controls.
Click the user account that you want to add the additional controls to.
If a setup screen appears for the additional controls, follow the instructions on the screen.
If no setup screen appears, check with the manufacturer of the controls for information about setting them up.
If you've installed additional controls that don't appear in Parental Controls, check with the manufacturer.


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The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum will open a ground-breaking and provocative new exhibit that will illustrate the important roles women have played in rock and roll, from its inception through today. Women Who Rock: Vision, Passion, Power will highlight the flashpoints, the firsts, the best, the celebrated and sometimes lesser-known women who moved rock and roll music and American culture forward. The exhibit is sponsored by PNC and Time Warner Cable. Women Who Rock will open to the public on Friday, May 13, 2011.
To kick off the exhibit's opening weekend on Saturday, May 14, the Museum's annual It's Only Rock and Roll Spring Benefit Concert will feature an all-star lineup including Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee Wanda Jackson and Cyndi Lauper, both featured in the Women Who Rock exhibit. Additional artists will be announced in the coming weeks. Tickets go on sale to Rock Hall members on Monday, March 28 and to the general public on Tuesday, March 29, 2011.
The exhibition will spotlight more than 60 artists and fill two entire floors of the museum. The exhibit will feature artifacts, video and listening stations, as well as a recording booth where visitors can film a short story or moment of inspiration related to women in rock. The exhibit will move through the rock and roll eras, weaving a powerful and engaging narrative that demonstrates how women have been the engines of creation and change in popular music, from the early years of the 20th Century to the present.
"This exhibit is going to illustrate the vital role women played in shaping the evolution of rock and roll," said Jim Henke, vice president of exhibitions and curatorial affairs for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. "Visitors are going to walk away from this exhibit with a deeper appreciation of how these artists contributed to the rock and roll art form and changed our society. Women Who Rock will compare and contrast artist experiences, highlighting the female spirit as the engine of creation and change in the music."
Throughout the year, the museum will offer educational programming that will explore the role that women have played in rock and roll, including interviews, performances, panel discussions, a symposium, and classes for K-12 and university students.
"The Women Who Rock exhibit gives us a fantastic opportunity to advance the educational mission of the Museum," said Dr. Lauren Onkey, Vice President of Education and Public Programs. "We will bring performers, songwriters, scholars and students together to explore this important story in rock and roll history."
>Click here for details about the exhibit, as well as videos, photo galleries and more!

subset: commoncrawl


text: The Christian Faith advances through testimony. Jesus gives testimony to the Father; the Apostles give testimony to the Resurrection; Paul gives testimony to his conversion; Augustine gives testimony in his Confessions; you and I give and receive the testimony of how Jesus changes the lives He enters. That is why the Silent No More Awareness Campaign is so powerful and necessary. Men and women wounded by abortion and then healed are speaking out about the lie of abortion and the power of Jesus. They are giving testimony to why life must be protected. The power of their testimony is calling many to repentance and healing. If you feel called to give a testimony about your abortion, or know someone else who does, contact us at priestsforlife.org.


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Let's call it chivalry. Most of the working women I talk to who are about my age (51) say mentors have helped them greatly in their careers. But the mentors were generally men.
Over the years, I've had a few female bosses offer guidance from time to time. But they never helped me break through any sort of glass ceiling, get promoted, boost my skills or navigate a career change.
Boomer Women and Mentors
I'm far from alone. When LinkedIn surveyed nearly 1,000 female professionals last fall, about two-thirds of boomer women said they were not being mentored by women — and never had been.
So I was heartened to come across the recent report Paying It Forward Pays Back for Business Leaders, from Catalyst, a nonprofit for women and business. The survey of 742 working men and women who had attended full-time MBA programs found that women were more likely than men to help others advance their careers.
Specifically, 65 percent of the women who had received career development support, aka mentoring, are now developing others at work, compared to just 56 percent of men. What's more, 73 percent of the women who are developing new talent at work are assisting women, versus only 30 percent of male mentors.
"This finding," the report says, "helps bust the oft-cited 'Queen Bee' myth that women are reluctant to provide career support to other women and may even actively undermine each other."
Click here for tips on finding a mentor
Don't miss out on MORE great stories like this one. Sign up for our weekly newsletter here.
Photo courtesy of Miramiska/Shutterstock.com


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Indian Point
Indian Point, known to most as "The Hook," overlooks Little Chebeague Island, an abandoned historical site used during WWII, and a once popular vacation spot. Walk the sandbar at low tide and collect sand dollars and sea glass. The Hook is a frequent site where licensed clam diggers are found because of its vast offering. (Caution is advised for the strong undertow on the sandbar.)
Chandler Cove
A beach known for its easy access, Chandler Cove is also a place where many of the fishermen are preparing or finishing their daily catch.
Hamilton Beach
Just around the bend from the Inn is Hamilton Beach. The northeast end of the beach is good for a quick dip, while the southwest end is a challenging walk along rocky terrain.
Bennett Cove
A true cove, this beach is a popular place for exploration of rock formations, and many walk out to the jetting land spot nicknamed "the Nubble" and appreciate the views.
Division Point
Division Point is a smaller beach admired for its tranquility and privacy. Crossing a small meadow will bring you to this peaceful location.
Roses Point
Overlooking Crow Island, Rose Point is also the home of our working boatyard where most of the island boats are maintained. Rose Point can be accessed on foot or bike through the boatyard.


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We're closing in on the end of another year and what a year it's been. It's, once again, been our honor and privilege to cover the news, weather, sports and other events that affect your lives, touch your hearts, or maybe just make your day a little better. And we appreciate your loyal viewership. Without you, we'd really have no reason to do what we do each day.
Once again this year we want you to play a big role in selecting what you believe to be the big stories of 2011. We've compiled nearly 50 stories, in no particular order, that we saw as the most important to the people of Northwest Florida. By no means is this THE definitive list. But it is the most representative list of the stories we spent the most time and energy covering over the past year. We're asking you to pick your top 10 out of the list.
You can vote between now and Monday, December 10th at 11:59 pm. We'll then calculate the results and present the Top 10 news stories of 2012 during a special presentation of NewsChannel 7 @ 10:00 on New Year's Eve December 31st, 2012.
So, weigh-in with your opinion, have fun, and have a great 2013. And, once again, thanks for make NewsChannel 7 your #1 source for news. NewsChannel 7 is Coverage You Can Count On!


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Jessica the Genius?
Jessica Simpson gets catty and cozy, when she poses for next month's Vanity Fair. But does America's favorite "Newlywed" play up her role as a ditzy blonde for the cameras? In the article, Editor Krista Smith writes that Jessica may actually have an IQ up there with Albert Einstein.
In fact, Jessica's mom says her daughter's IQ is in the 160s. "The genius IQ is from Tina Simpson," Smith revealed. "I do think the ditziness is played up a bit on MTV. I think it's edited in a very clever way."
But Jessica's TV ratings are what MTV keeps track of. And the network is extremely pleased with the success of her show, which is now in its second season.
And although Simpson is famous for her revealing outfits and sexy videos, when she married husband Nick Lachey, Jessica was a virgin. "She did say that her decision to keep her virginity was more of a traditional thing," Smith told us. "Her belief in God did have something to do with it, but it wasn't entirely motivated by that."
But since she's tried it, Simpson reveals that she likes it. So is a baby next? "No babies," Simpson insisted. "I am definitely not pregnant."
You can read more about Jessica Simpson when Vanity Fair hits newsstands on July 13th.


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As NLIs are faxed and approved by the Washington State University administration, live updates will be posted on this page throughout the day. Along with the news of the official signing, biographical information and video highlights of the signees will be posted on this page. In addition, check out the First and Crimson blog throughout signing day to receive the exclusive first look of the 2009 class.
The first Wednesday in February is the first day of the signing period for football players. High school student-athletes can fax their official National Letter of Intent to attend a certain school beginning that day.
Don't be left out on Cougar Football history! Be sure to visit wsucougars.com on Feb. 4.
First and Crimson: Official Blog of Cougar Football
Signing Day Cougar Chat With Rich Rasmussen
Signing Class Roster and Bios
Night With Cougar Football Events


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From NOAA--Washington, D.C.
The Atlantic Basin is expected to see an above-normal hurricane season this year, according to the seasonal outlook issued by NOAA's Climate Prediction Center – a division of the National Weather Service.
Across the entire Atlantic Basin for the six-month season, which begins June 1, NOAA is predicting the following ranges this year:
12 to 18 named storms (winds of 39 mph or higher), of which:
6 to 10 could become hurricanes (winds of 74 mph or higher), including:
3 to 6 major hurricanes (Category 3, 4 or 5; winds of 111 mph or higher)
Each of these ranges has a 70 percent likelihood, and indicate that activity will exceed the seasonal average of 11 named storms, six hurricanes and two major hurricanes.
"The United States was fortunate last year. Winds steered most of the season's tropical storms and all hurricanes away from our coastlines," said Jane Lubchenco, Ph.D., under secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator. "However we can't count on luck to get us through this season. We need to be prepared, especially with this above-normal outlook."
Climate factors considered for this outlook are:
The continuing high activity era. Since 1995, the tropical multi-decadal signal has brought ocean and atmospheric conditions conducive for development in sync, leading to more active Atlantic hurricane seasons.
Warm Atlantic Ocean water. Sea surface temperatures where storms often develop and move across the Atlantic are up to two degrees Fahrenheit warmer-than-average.
La Niña, which continues to weaken in the equatorial Pacific Ocean, is expected to dissipate later this month or in June, but its impacts such as reduced wind shear are expected to continue into the hurricane season.
"In addition to multiple climate factors, seasonal climate models also indicate an above-normal season is likely, and even suggest we could see activity comparable to some of the active seasons since 1995," said Gerry Bell, Ph.D., lead seasonal hurricane forecaster at NOAA's Climate Prediction Center.
NOAA's seasonal hurricane outlook does not predict where and when any of these storms may hit. Landfall is dictated by weather patterns in place at the time the storm approaches. For each storm, NOAA's National Hurricane Center forecasts how these weather patterns affect the storm track, intensity and landfall potential.


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Our switchboard operates from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.
To contact us via email please first use our find a contact page to locate the email address that is most appropriate for your enquiry.
Lancaster University lies approximately 3 miles south of the City of Lancaster. The campus is easily accessible by all means of travel and is within 70 miles of Manchester's International Airport.Learn More
Our contacts and departmental social media directories contain contact details for some of our main offices and departments.
Current students & staff can also use the staff directory (requires campus login)


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Monday, February 18, 2008
Providing prospective students with thousands of reasons to consider the University of West Georgia, UWG will host its second annual President's Day Scholarship Program on Monday, Feb. 18.
Eligible high school students will have the opportunity to compete for the West Georgia Foundation Scholarship that will offer more than $50,000 in academic scholarships. There will be 10 awards at the $2,000 level and 30 awards at the $1,000 level. These awards are not renewable. Foundation Scholarships have been in existence for a number of years, however a majority of the awards are now targeted directly to prospective students for recruitment purposes.
According to Dr. Scot Lingrell, associate vice president for enrollment management, attracting high-achieving students and retaining them to graduation is a high priority at UWG.
"The $50,000 Foundation Scholarship for new students, along with other excellent scholarships like the Presidential, Goizueta and talent-based scholarships, provides not only an added incentive for talented students to choose UWG as their first-choice institution, but provides a sound financial basis from which they can launch their four-year college career," Lingrell said.
"We believe that many students will choose to enroll at UWG because of the extra $1,000 or $2,000 they receive through the Foundation Scholarship program," he added.
The minimum qualifications for these new scholarships are a 3.5 academic high school grade point average, 1150 combined critical reading and math SAT score, and acceptance to UWG by March 1.
In addition to scholarship competitions, Scholarship Day will include lunch with current students and faculty, campus tours, and financial aid FAFSA completion workshops. UWG faculty, staff and students will be available to answer questions prospective students may have about the university.
"We have chosen to highlight our scholarship programs by inviting prospective scholarship earners to our one-day opportunity for potential students to witness the educational excellence we espouse in our motto while competing for thousands of dollars in scholarships," Lingrell explained. "Our goal is that by the end of the program, students will have fallen in love with UWG and will decide to enroll here whether or not they are awarded a scholarship!"
In addition to the West Georgia Foundation Scholarships, other scholarships are available for entering freshmen. Students with superior grades and test scores may qualify for UWG's highly competitive Presidential Scholarships. In addition, students will compete for scholarships in music, theatre and art during Scholarship Day. Competition will also be held for The Goizueta Scholarship for Hispanic/Latino students.
UWG President's Day Scholarship Program will also feature scholarships opportunities with the departments of Art, Music, and Theatre Arts. For additional information regarding art scholarships, visit www.westga.edu/~artdept/ or contact the Art Department at 678-839-6521.
Friends of Theatre New Talent Award and Theatre Work Study applications will be available. For more information concerning theatre scholarships, visit www.westga.edu/~theatre or contact Shelly Elman at 678-839-4700.
For music scholarship and audition requirements, visit www.westga.edu/~musicdpt/AA or contact Dr. Kevin Hibbard, chairman of the Music Department, at email@example.com or call 678-839-6516.
Students who are eligible for the Foundation Scholarships may reserve a space for Scholarship Day by visiting www.westga.edu/scholarshipday by Feb. 7. Students eligible for Presidential Scholarships will be invited by the Honors College based on their completed admissions application.
Students interested in competing for art, music, or theatre scholarships must contact the individual departments for registration and invitation. Students interested in competing for the Goizueta Foundation Scholarship for Hispanic/Latino students should visit www.westga.edu/~goizueta/ or call Nova Davidson at 678-839-5600 for scholarship application and more information.
One week prior to Scholarship Day, all students will receive a confirmation, schedule and program information, map and directions to campus. Call the Admissions Office at 678-839-5600 with any questions.


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Note to our readers: Background Notes are no longer being updated or produced. They are being replaced with Fact Sheets focusing on U.S. relations with countries and providing links to additional resources. For archived versions of Background Notes, see http://www.state.gov/outofdate/bgn/.
Location: Central Africa. Bordering nations--Angola, Burundi, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia.
Area: 2.345 sq. km. (905,063 sq. mi.; about the size of the U.S. east of the Mississippi).
Cities: Capital--Kinshasa (pop. approx. 9 million). Regional capitals--Bandundu, Bukavu, Goma, Kananga, Kindu, Kisangani, Lubumbashi, Matadi, Mbandaka, Mbuji-Mayi.
Terrain: Varies from tropical rainforests to mountainous terraces, plateaus, savannas, dense grasslands, and mountains.
Climate: Equatorial; ranges from tropical rainforest in the Congo River basin, hot and humid in much of the north and west, cooler and drier in the south central area and the east.
Nationality: Noun and adjective--Congolese.
Population (2011 est.): 71,712,867.
Annual population growth rate (2008 est.): 3.24%.
Ethnic groups: Approximately 250 African ethnic groups; the Luba, Kongo, and Anamongo are some of the larger groups.
Religions: Christian 70% (Catholic 50%, Protestant 20%); Kimbanguist 10%; other sects and traditional beliefs 10%; Muslim 10%.
Languages: French, Lingala, Kiswahili, Kikongo, Tshiluba.
Education: Literacy (2008 est.)--French or local language: 55% (women), 76% (men). Enrollment (2010 est.)--primary 91%, secondary 36.5%, higher education 4.6%.
Health (2007 est.): Infant mortality rate--92/1,000 live births. Life expectancy (2008 est.)--51.3 years.
Type: Republic; highly centralized with executive power vested in the president.
Independence: June 30, 1960 (from Belgium).
Constitution: The D.R.C. has had numerous constitutions, constitutional amendments, and transitional constitutions since independence. The currently operative constitution was approved by 84% of voters in a December 2005 referendum and officially promulgated in February 2006.
Branches: Executive--President (head of state) nominates the Prime Minister (head of government), who, together with his/her cabinet, is approved by parliament. Legislative--Bicameral parliament consisting of a directly elected National Assembly and an indirectly elected Senate. Judicial---Supreme Court of Justice consisting of 26 justices. The nine-member Constitutional Court charged with resolving electoral and constitutional questions has yet to be appointed; the Supreme Court of Justice fulfills this role in the interim.
Administrative subdivisions: The 2006 constitution mandates the reapportionment of the D.R.C.'s current 11 provinces (including the capital city, Kinshasa) into 26 provinces, but implementation of this change has been delayed.
Political parties: 104 parties were elected to the National Assembly in 2011.
Suffrage: 18 years of age and universal.
GDP (2010): $15.3 billion.
Annual GDP growth rate (2011): 6.9%.
Per capita GDP (2011): $210.
Natural resources: Copper, cobalt, diamonds, gold, tantalum, other minerals; petroleum; wood; hydroelectric potential.
Agriculture: Cash crops--coffee, rubber, palm oil, cotton, cocoa, sugar, tea. Food crops--manioc, corn, legumes, plantains, peanuts. Land use--Agriculture 3%; pasture 7%; forest/woodland 77%; other 13%.
Industry: Types--processed and unprocessed minerals; consumer products, including textiles, plastics, footwear, cigarettes, metal products; processed foods and beverages, cement, timber.
Currency: Congolese franc (FC). The U.S. dollar is also used as legal tender.
Trade: Exports (2010 goods)--$8.5 billion. Products--diamonds, gold, cobalt, copper, coffee, petroleum, wood. Main partners--EU, Japan, South Africa, U.S., China. Imports (2010 goods)--$8.0 billion. Products--consumer goods (food, textiles), capital equipment, refined petroleum products. Partners--EU, China, South Africa, U.S.
Official debt (2010 est.): $3.9 billion.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (D.R.C.) includes the greater part of the Congo River basin, which covers an area of almost one million square kilometers (400,000 sq. mi.). The country's only outlet to the Atlantic Ocean is a narrow strip of land on the north bank of the Congo River.
The vast, low-lying central area is a basin-shaped plateau sloping toward the west and covered by tropical rainforest. This area is surrounded by mountainous terraces in the west, plateaus merging into savannas in the south and southwest, and dense grasslands extending beyond the Congo River in the north. High mountains are found in the extreme eastern region.
The D.R.C. lies on the Equator, with one-third of the country to the north and two-thirds to the south. The climate is hot and humid in the river basin and cool and dry in the southern highlands. South of the Equator, the rainy season lasts from October to May and north of the Equator, from April to November. Along the Equator, rainfall is fairly regular throughout the year. During the wet season, thunderstorms often are violent but seldom last more than a few hours. The average annual rainfall for the entire country is about 107 centimeters (42 in.).
The population of the D.R.C. was estimated at 71 million in 2011. As many as 250 Sudanese, Nilotic, and Bantu ethnic groups have been distinguished and named; small groups of aboriginal Pygmies are found throughout the central Congo Basin. Some of the larger groups are the Kongo, Luba, Tetela, and Anamongo. Although some 700 local languages and dialects are spoken, the linguistic variety is bridged both by the use of French and by the national languages of Kikongo, Tshiluba, Kiswahili, and Lingala.
About 70% of the Congolese population is Christian, predominantly Roman Catholic. Most of the non-Christians adhere to either traditional religions or syncretic sects. Traditional religions include concepts such as monotheism, animism, vitalism, spirit and ancestor worship, witchcraft and sorcery, and vary widely among ethnic groups; none is formalized. The syncretic sects often merge Christianity with traditional beliefs and rituals. The most popular of these sects, Kimbanguism, was seen as a threat to the colonial regime and was banned by the Belgians. Kimbanguism, officially "the Church of Christ on Earth by the Prophet Simon Kimbangu," now claims about 3 million members, primarily among the Bakongo tribe in the provinces of Bas-Congo and Kinshasa. In 1969, it became the first independent African church admitted to the World Council of Churches.
Before independence in 1960, education was largely in the hands of religious groups. The primary school system was well developed at independence; however, the secondary school system was limited, and higher education was almost nonexistent in most regions of the country. The principal objective of this system was to train low-level administrators and clerks. Since independence, efforts have been made to increase access to education, and secondary and higher education have been made available to many more Congolese. According to 2010 estimates, gross enrollment rates were 90.76% for primary education, 36.5% for secondary education and 4.6% for higher education. At all levels of education, males greatly outnumber females. The largest state-run universities are the University of Kinshasa, the University of Lubumbashi, and the University of Kisangani. The elite continue to send their children abroad to be educated, primarily in Western Europe.
The area known as the Democratic Republic of the Congo was populated as early as 10,000 years ago and settled in the 7th and 8th centuries A.D. by Bantus from present-day Nigeria. Portuguese navigator Diego Cao was the first European known to have visited the area (in 1482), and English journalist Henry Morton Stanley later explored much of the region in the mid to late 19th century. The area was officially colonized in 1885 as a personal possession of Belgian King Leopold II as the Congo Free State. In 1907, administration shifted to the Belgian Government, which renamed the country the Belgian Congo. Following a series of riots and unrest, the Belgian Congo gained its independence on June 30, 1960. Parliamentary elections in 1960 produced Patrice Lumumba as prime minister and Joseph Kasavubu as president of the renamed Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The Mobutu Era
Within the first year of independence, several events destabilized the country: the army mutinied; the governor of Katanga Province attempted secession; a UN peacekeeping force was called in to restore order; Prime Minister Lumumba died under mysterious circumstances; and Col. Joseph Desire Mobutu (later Mobutu Sese Seko) took over the government and ceded it again to President Kasavubu.
Unrest and rebellion plagued the government until 1965, when Mobutu, by then a lieutenant general and commander-in-chief of the national army, again seized control of the country and declared himself president for 5 years. Mobutu quickly centralized power through the domination of his Popular Revolution Movement (MPR) party and was elected unopposed as president in 1970.
Embarking on a campaign of cultural awareness, in 1971, Mobutu renamed the country the Republic of Zaire and required citizens to adopt African names. Relative peace and stability prevailed until 1977 and 1978 when Katangese rebels, staged in Angola, launched a series of invasions into the Katanga region. The rebels were driven out with the aid of Belgian, Moroccan, and French paratroopers.
During the 1980s, Mobutu continued to enforce his one-party system of rule. Although Mobutu successfully maintained control during this period, opposition parties, most notably the Democracy and Social Progress Union (UDPS), were active. Mobutu's attempts to quell these groups drew significant international criticism.
As the Cold War came to a close, internal and external pressures on Mobutu increased. In late 1989 and early 1990, Mobutu was weakened by a series of domestic protests, heightened international criticism of his regime's human rights practices, and a faltering economy. In April 1990, Mobutu agreed to the principle of a multi-party system with elections and a constitution. As details of a reform package were delayed, soldiers in September 1991 began looting Kinshasa to protest their unpaid wages. Two thousand French and Belgian troops, some of whom were flown in on U.S. Air Force planes, arrived to evacuate the 20,000 endangered foreign nationals in Kinshasa. Soldiers went on a similar rampage in January 1993.
In 1992, after previous similar attempts, the long-promised Sovereign National Conference was staged, encompassing more than 2,000 representatives from various political parties. The conference gave itself a legislative mandate and elected Archbishop Laurent Monsengwo as its chairman, along with Etienne Tshisekedi, leader of the UDPS, as prime minister. Mobutu's opposition to the Sovereign National Conference led to the Limete Catholic Massacre on February 16, 1992, in which Mobutu's personal guards gunned down as many as 250 parishioners on their way to church. By the end of the year Mobutu had created a rival government with its own prime minister. The ensuing stalemate produced a compromise merger of the two governments into the High Council of the Republic-Parliament of Transition (HCR-PT) in 1994, with Mobutu as head of state and Leon Kengo Wa Dondo as prime minister. Although presidential and legislative elections were scheduled repeatedly over the next 2 years, they never took place.
Beginning in late 1994, the war and genocide in neighboring Rwanda spilled over to Zaire. Rwandan Hutu militia forces (Interahamwe), who fled Rwanda following the ascension of a Tutsi-led government, used Hutu refugee camps in eastern Zaire as bases for incursions against Rwanda.
In October 1996, Rwandan troops (RPA) entered Zaire, simultaneously with the formation of an armed coalition led by Laurent-Desire Kabila known as the Alliance of Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Congo-Zaire (AFDL). With the goal of forcibly ousting Mobutu, the AFDL, supported by Rwanda and Uganda, began a military campaign toward Kinshasa. Following failed peace talks between Mobutu and Kabila in May 1997, Mobutu left the country.
From Dictatorship to Disintegration
Laurent-Desire Kabila marched into Kinshasa on May 17, 1997, and declared himself president. He consolidated power around himself and the AFDL and renamed the country the Democratic Republic of the Congo (D.R.C.). Kabila's Army Chief and the Secretary General of the AFDL were Rwandan, and RPA units continued to operate tangentially with the D.R.C.'s military, which was renamed the Congolese Armed Forces(FAC).
Over the next year, relations between Kabila and his foreign backers deteriorated. In July 1998, Kabila ordered all foreign troops to leave the D.R.C. Most refused to leave. On August 2, nationwide fighting erupted as Rwandan troops in the D.R.C. "mutinied," and fresh Rwandan and Ugandan troops entered the country. Two days later, Rwandan troops flew to Bas-Congo, with the intention of marching on Kinshasa, ousting Kabila, and replacing him with the newly formed Rwandan-backed rebel group called the Congolese Rally for Democracy (RCD). The Rwandan campaign was thwarted at the last minute when Angolan, Zimbabwean, and Namibian troops intervened on behalf of the D.R.C. Government. The Rwandans and the RCD withdrew to eastern D.R.C., where they established de facto control over portions of eastern D.R.C. and continued to fight the Congolese army and its foreign allies.
In February 1999, Uganda backed the formation of a rebel group called the Congo Liberation Movement (MLC), which drew support from among ex-Mobutuists and ex-Zairian soldiers in Equateur Province (Mobutu's home province). Together, Uganda and the MLC established control over the northern third of the D.R.C.
At this stage, the D.R.C. was divided de facto into three segments--one controlled by Laurent Kabila, one controlled by Rwanda, and one controlled by Uganda--and the parties had reached military deadlock. In July 1999, a cease-fire was proposed in Lusaka, Zambia, which all parties signed by the end of August. The Lusaka Accord called for a cease-fire, the deployment of a UN peacekeeping operation, the withdrawal of foreign troops, and the launching of an "Inter-Congolese Dialogue" to form a transitional government leading to elections. The parties to the Lusaka Accord failed to fully implement its provisions in 1999 and 2000. Laurent Kabila drew increasing international criticism for blocking full deployment of UN troops, hindering progress toward an Inter-Congolese Dialogue, and suppressing internal political activity.
On January 16, 2001, Laurent Kabila was assassinated, allegedly by a member of his personal bodyguard corps who was in turn killed by an aide-de-camp. Kabila was succeeded by his son Joseph, who reversed many of his father's negative policies. Over the next year, the UN peacekeeping mission in the D.R.C. (United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, known by its French acronym MONUC) deployed throughout the country, and the Inter-Congolese Dialogue proceeded. By the end of 2002, all Angolan, Namibian, and Zimbabwean troops had withdrawn from the D.R.C. Following D.R.C.-Rwanda talks in South Africa that culminated in the Pretoria Accord in July 2002, Rwandan troops officially withdrew from the D.R.C. in October 2002. However, there were continued, unconfirmed reports that Rwandan soldiers and military advisers remained integrated with the forces of an RCD splinter group (RCD/G) in eastern D.R.C. Ugandan troops officially withdrew from the D.R.C. in May 2003.
National Dialogue, Transitional Government, and Nascent Democracy
In October 2001, the Inter-Congolese Dialogue began in Addis Ababa under the auspices of a facilitator, former Botswana president Ketumile Masire. The initial meetings made little progress and were adjourned. On February 25, 2002, the dialogue was reconvened in South Africa. It included representatives from the government, rebel groups, political opposition, civil society, and Mai-Mai groups (Congolese local defense militias). The talks ended inconclusively on April 19, 2002, when the government and the MLC brokered an agreement that was signed by the majority of delegates at the dialogue but left out the RCD/G and opposition UDPS party, among others.
This partial agreement was never implemented, and negotiations resumed in South Africa in October 2002. This time, the talks led to an all-inclusive agreement, which was signed by delegates in Pretoria on December 17, 2002, and formally ratified by all parties on April 2, 2003. That same day, a transitional constitution was adopted.
Following nominations by each of the various signatory groups, President Joseph Kabila on June 30, 2003, issued a decree that formally announced the transitional government lineup. Four vice presidents (each representing a specific party, faction, or region) took their oaths of office on July 17, 2003, and most incoming ministers assumed their new functions within days thereafter.
During the transitional government period, President Joseph Kabila made significant progress in liberalizing domestic political activity and undertaking economic reforms in cooperation with the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF). However, serious human rights problems remained in the security services and justice system.
In December 2005, roughly two-thirds of eligible Congolese voters participated in a referendum that resulted in approval of a new constitution. This constitution entered into force in February 2006. Extensive executive, legislative, and military powers are vested in the president. The president is head of a cabinet of ministers. In consultation with the Supreme Judicial Council (CSM), the president has the power to dismiss and appoint judges. The judiciary is only nominally independent. The legislature does not have the power to overturn the government through a vote of no confidence. Like the president, National Assembly deputies serve 5-year terms. Unlike the president, they are not term-limited. National Assembly winners in multiple-seat districts (approximately two-thirds of the total districts) are determined based on a complex formula involving the percentages of overall votes cast for a given party and proportional representation using open party lists.
On November 28, 2011, the D.R.C. held only its second multi-party election in more than 45 years. Almost 19 million registered voters cast ballots for president (from among 11 candidates) and National Assembly deputies (from almost 19,000 candidates vying for 500 seats). Voter turnout was almost 60%. Significant technical and logistical difficulties as well as isolated incidents of violence and intimidation marred the elections and the tabulation process. Domestic and international observers judged that these technical and logistical problems and the lack of transparency in the tabulation process contributed to serious flaws in the presidential and legislative election process. Nevertheless, the elections were largely calm and orderly. According to the D.R.C.'s Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI), incumbent President Kabila won with 48.95% of the vote, compared to 32.33% for Etienne Tshisekedi, his nearest challenger. The new National Assembly convened for the first time in February 2012. A new cabinet was named in April 2012.
President Joseph Kabila ran in 2011 as an independent, but the party of his principal supporters is the People's Party for Reconstruction and Development (PPRD). The Presidential Majority (MP) is a large coalition spearheaded by the PPRD and its satellite parties that supports President Kabila. The largest opposition party is the Democracy and Social Progress Union (UDPS), led by Etienne Tshisekedi. The Congolese Liberation Movement (MLC) is the second-largest opposition party represented in the National Assembly. Its leader, Jean-Pierre Bemba, is currently on trial at the International Criminal Court in The Hague following his May 2008 arrest by Belgian authorities. The Congolese National Union (UNC) party was formed in 2010 by former PPRD member Vital Kamerhe, who was nominated as its presidential candidate in 2011. The 2011 legislative elections resulted in 104 parties being elected to the National Assembly. The largest single parties besides the PPRD, UDPS, and MLC are the Social Movement for Renewal (MSR), People's Party for Peace and Democracy (PPPD), Unified Lumumbist Party (PALU), UNC, and the Congolese Rebirth Alliance (ARC). The former rebel group National Congress for the People's Defense (CNDP) failed to garner any seats in the 2011 elections, although it received official status as a political party in May 2009.
Provincial assemblies that were elected on January 16, 2007, indirectly elected 108 members of the Senate and provincial governors later that month. Provincial assembly elections originally scheduled for March 2012 were delayed due to the irregularities of the November 2011 polls. Local elections have been tentatively scheduled for late 2012 and early 2013, but are likely to be delayed as well.
Principal Government Officials
President--Joseph KABILA Kabange
Prime Minister--Augustin MATATA Ponyo
Minister of Foreign Affairs, International and Regional Cooperation--Raymond TSHIBANDA N'Tungamulongo
Defense Minister--Alexandre LUBA Tamu
Finance Minister--Augustin MATATA Ponyo
United Nations Operations
After operating in the D.R.C. as the United Nations Organization Mission (MONUC) for 10 years, the UN, at the Congolese Government's insistence, altered its mission as of July 1, 2010, renaming it the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO). Established under UN Security Council Resolution 1925, MONUSCO differs from MONUC in its enhanced cooperative relationship with the D.R.C. Government, its coordinated, regional approach to counter threats posed by armed groups in the country, and its stated logistical role in assisting the D.R.C. in its electoral activities, all designed to stabilize what MONUC's peacekeeping operations had accomplished. MONUSCO played a key role in providing logistical and technical support to the D.R.C.'s government in the November 2011 presidential and National Assembly elections. On June 30, 2010, MONUSCO was inaugurated on the 50th anniversary of the D.R.C.'s independence from Belgium with a largely symbolic drawdown of some 1,500 troops from MONUC's forces.
Eastern Challenges
The Kabila administration identified five areas requiring particular attention: education, health, infrastructure, water/electricity, and job creation. These five areas are known as the five pillars or "cinq chantiers" in French. The government has made limited progress in these areas, however, due in large part to continuing insecurity and intermittent returns to armed conflict in several eastern provinces, particularly North and South Kivu and the Ituri, Bas-Uele, and Haut-Uele Districts of Orientale Province. A number of illegal Congolese and foreign militias have operated largely with impunity in these areas since before the overthrow of Mobutu in early 1997. Their relative strength and influence have waxed and waned over time, but two are of particular importance to the current situation: the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), led by individuals involved in perpetrating the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, and the National Congress for the Defense of the People (CNDP), a Congolese group, which ostensibly agreed to integrate into the Armed Forces of the D.R.C. (FARDC). These groups--the first predominantly Hutu, the second predominantly Tutsi--have fought each other and the FARDC, illegally exploited and exported D.R.C. natural resources to fund their weapons, and committed gross human rights violations (including indiscriminate killings and sexual and gender-based violence--including mass rapes, mutilations, and forced child soldier recruitment) in the areas under their control.
On January 23, 2008, the Government of the D.R.C. and over 20 Congolese armed groups (including the CNDP) signed a peace accord in Goma, North Kivu Province, under which they agreed on the need for an immediate cessation of hostilities, the disengagement of troops, improved adherence to human rights standards, and the creation of UN buffer zones between and among the various factions. Between January and August 2008, most of the parties worked to implement the Goma Accords' provisions, albeit with regular cease-fire violations. In late August 2008, intense fighting began again between the CNDP and the FARDC in the southern part of North Kivu Province, also called the "Petit Nord." Over the next 4 months, this fighting resulted in the internal displacement of a quarter million residents of North Kivu and led some 40,000 to flee into Uganda. Hundreds of people were killed, and by late October 2008, Laurent Nkunda's CNDP forces--much stronger and better disciplined than the Congolese military--got to within a few miles of Goma before declaring a unilateral cease-fire. During this period, the United States, European Union, and United Nations all worked to develop plans for a lasting peace, and seek adherence to past agreements, but progress was slow.
By January 2009, a dramatic series of events significantly altered the political-military landscape in the Petit Nord. Infighting within the CNDP leadership led to a schism in which Nkunda's military chief of staff staged a de facto internal coup and then signed an agreement with the D.R.C. Government to integrate his forces into the FARDC. A smaller but also dangerous militia group, PARECO, made a similar commitment. Meanwhile, the governments of the D.R.C. and Rwanda, which had been engaged in the gradual pursuit of rapprochement over several months, announced plans for Rwandan forces to enter the D.R.C. and join with the Congolese military in a concerted effort to eliminate the FDLR once and for all. On January 20, 2009, several thousand Rwandan soldiers crossed into the D.R.C. for the third time in 12 years, but this time at the invitation of the Congolese Government in Kinshasa. Two days later, Laurent Nkunda fled into Rwanda, where Rwandan officials took him into custody. He remains in custody, pending the resolution of Rwandan court proceedings. Between January 20 and the end of February 2009, the joint Rwandan-Congolese-CNDP-PARECO coalition of forces pressured the FDLR, engaged in a small number of battles with FDLR units, and convinced several hundred FDLR members and their families to return voluntarily to Rwanda. On February 25, 2009, the Rwandan forces left the D.R.C.
On March 23, 2009, the Government of the D.R.C. signed separate peace agreements with the CNDP, the North Kivu armed groups, and the South Kivu armed groups. The rebel groups agreed to transform their movements from military to political entities, while the government promised to work toward integrating rebel soldiers and officials into the FARDC, national police, and national and local political and administrative units. Many details of the agreements still require implementation, but the CNDP has already been registered as a political party, and various other rebel groups have declared their intention to establish political parties. The FARDC, with support from MONUC, offered ex-combatants the opportunity to undergo "accelerated integration" into the national army, a process that was less thorough than traditional integration but allowed for more expeditious demobilization of rebel forces. As part of the peace agreements, parliament passed and the president signed an amnesty law that pardoned people for crimes committed in the eastern D.R.C. during the fighting, other than crimes of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes. Late 2010 and early 2011 saw an increasing number of Mai Mai and other rebel groups similarly opt for negotiated surrender that includes FARDC integration.
The FARDC, with MONUC support, launched Operation Kimia II, a military operation against the FDLR in North and South Kivu in May 2009 and July 2009, respectively. Kimia II, which ended on December 31, 2009, registered some noticeable success, including pushing the bulk of the FDLR away from population centers and money-making enterprises, notably illegal mining. In addition, according to MONUC, in 2009 (roughly the same time period as Kimia II), 1,114 FDLR members were killed, and 1,522 FDLR combatants and 2,187 of their dependents were repatriated to Rwanda. However, human rights violations by the FDLR and by undisciplined FARDC elements increased during Kimia II operations. MONUC estimated that as many as 1,714 civilians were killed during the military operation. A follow-on operation, Amani Leo, was launched by the FARDC and MONUC in January 2010. Amani Leo has been more selective in its targets, as well as concentrating on holding re-captured territory and developing state institutions and authority in these areas. In July 2010, Amani Leo operations successfully targeted the camps of Allied Democratic Forces-National Army for the Liberation of Uganda (ADF-NALU), a Ugandan rebel group, which was operating along the Ugandan border in the northern Beni District of North Kivu. However, since early 2011, ADF/NALU has regained strength and continues to instigate insecurity in North Kivu. It is considered by both D.R.C. and Uganda as a threat to civilians. Nevertheless, the continued proliferation of newly-formed, loosely-organized, and less politically motivated local militia groups (Mai Mai) remains a menace to the fragile situation in North and South Kivu. Curbing random acts of violence targeting civilians, particularly those living in the remote, largely inaccessible, and densely forested regions of the provinces, perpetrated by both FDLR remnants and assorted Mai Mai groups continues to be a challenge for FARDC and MONUSCO.
Beginning in late 2010, the defection or capture of significant FDLR commanders, coupled with the arrests in France and Germany of key FDLR political leaders, dealt the organization a decisive blow. While a number of FDLR stalwarts have increased the scale and intensity of their attacks, many of the rank and file have surrendered to MONUSCO and have offered to be demoblilized or integrated into the FARDC. According to MONUSCO, systematic D.R.C. Government and MONUSCO military operations have reduced the FDLR's number by half and weakened them. However, FDLR remains a real threat.
Northeastern Challenges
The northeastern D.R.C. has also been the scene of fighting as the FARDC has engaged a Ugandan rebel group, the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), that operates in the D.R.C. Since 1987, the LRA, led by Joseph Kony, has waged an on-again, off-again insurgency against the Ugandan Government from bases in southern Sudan and, since 2005, in the D.R.C. The group is infamous for its brutal attacks on local populations, including looting, rapes, mutilations, and killings. It abducts young boys to serve as child soldiers and girls as sex slaves and porters. In late 2008, after failed peace talks and in the face of continuing attacks, regional leaders launched new military operations against the LRA. Unfortunately, the LRA managed to escape the initial assaults on its camps in Garamba National Park in the D.R.C. Over the following months, at Joseph Kony's direction, the LRA committed a series of new large-scale massacres, including the brutal "Christmas Massacres" in northern D.R.C. Since that time, the Uganda People's Defense Force (UPDF), FARDC, and other militaries in the region have continued to pursue the LRA and to expand protection to the local populations. Despite tremendous challenges, the UPDF's sustained efforts have yielded some success in reducing the LRA's numbers and keeping them from regrouping. However, the LRA's top leaders have continued to evade capture and the group has continued to cast a dark shadow across a broad swath of central Africa. According to the UN, the LRA was reportedly responsible for over 200 attacks in the D.R.C. in 2011 alone, and over 365,000 Congolese were displaced or living as a refugees during 2011 as a result of the LRA threat. The D.R.C. Government has said that it remains committed to combating the LRA threat and working with regional partners. The Congolese military is working with MONUSCO to carry out joint operations in LRA-affected areas.
Western Challenges
Fighting erupted in the western province of Equateur in late October to early November 2009 between two rival clans over a long-standing fishing dispute. Combatants from the Enyele clan killed approximately 45 police officers who had been sent to the region to restore order. The government responded by deploying a special, Belgian-trained brigade to the area, and MONUC shifted some of its resources to Equateur to assist. Over 120,000 Congolese fled into the neighboring Republic of the Congo and approximately 20,000 into the Central African Republic. There are over 30,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the region. Humanitarian assistance to IDPs remains difficult because of geographical obstacles and fears of renewed fighting. On April 4, 2010, a group of Enyele rebels attacked the provincial capital of Mbandaka, killing at least 16 people, after hijacking a riverboat. They held the airport for some 24 hours before the arrival of MONUC soldiers. There were reports of FARDC reprisals and extrajudicial killings in the days that followed. The ensuing violence caused further refugee movement across the Ubangi River into Republic of the Congo. In June 2010, Enyele leader Udjani Mangbama was captured and arrested by Republic of the Congo authorities and, to date, remains in the D.R.C. Following Udjani's arrest, the fighting has largely abated and the government security forces appear to have restored a modicum of security to the impoverished Equateur region. The two rival clans, Enyele and Monzaya, have recently reconciled.
Human Rights
Internal conflict in the eastern provinces of North and South Kivu, as well as in the LRA-affected areas in the Haut- Uele and Bas-Uele Districts of Orientale Province has an extremely negative effect on security and human rights. Armed groups continue to commit numerous, serious abuses with impunity--some of which may constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity--including unlawful killings, disappearances, mass rape, and torture. They also recruit and retain child soldiers and compel forced labor. Mass rapes are becoming a common method of intimidation and revenge in eastern Congo, with members of both the national army and armed rebel groups perpetrating the violence.
Members of illegal armed groups, the FARDC, and the police were responsible for 81% of all reported cases of sexual violence in conflict zones and 24% in non-conflict areas. While many of the armed rapes occur in the east, sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) is pervasive throughout the D.R.C. The lack of gender equality puts women and girls at a disadvantage both economically and socially. The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) reported 12,838 cases of sexual violence for both adults and children in North and South Kivu and Province Orientale in 2009, with a total of 17,507 cases across the entire area. An estimated 50% of rape victims do not have access to medical treatment and less than 2% of the cases are brought to court. The 2006 sexual violence law is effective in principle, and while there are generally few instances of prosecution, there have been several high-profile cases in Fizi and Kalehe where FARDC troops have been arrested, tried, and sentenced for rape. Although a general is currently on trial for rape, impunity is still a significant factor in the lack of prosecutions, particularly for high-ranking military officials.
Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) and Refugees
As of November 2011, there were an estimated 1.54 million IDPs in the D.R.C. The majority (approx. 1.11 million) are in North and South Kivu. The overwhelming majority of these IDPs resulted directly or indirectly from armed conflict in the region. Additional IDPs are present in Orientale Province, Equateur Province, and northern Katanga. According to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), there are 419,618 Congolese refugees hosted in the D.R.C.'s nine neighboring countries and in other areas. There are 124,244 refugees in the Republic of the Congo as a result of interethnic conflict in November 2009 in Equateur. The D.R.C. is currently host to an estimated 153,180 refugees from the nine neighboring countries and other countries as well.
Sparsely populated in relation to its area, the Democratic Republic of the Congo is home to vast natural resources and mineral wealth. Nevertheless, the D.R.C. is one of the poorest countries in the world, with per capita annual income of about U.S. $210 in 2011. This is the result of years of mismanagement, corruption, and war.
For decades, corruption and misguided policy have fostered a clandestine economy in the D.R.C. Individuals and businesses in the formal sector operated with high costs under arbitrarily enforced laws. As a consequence, the informal sector now dominates the economy. In order to combat corruption, in September 2009, President Kabila launched a "zero-tolerance" campaign. Within this framework, he established the D.R.C. Financial Intelligence Unit to combat money laundering and misappropriation of public funds. Nevertheless, very weak law enforcement and judicial systems are serious obstacles to progress in combating corruptions.
Agriculture is the largest contributor to Congolese gross domestic product (54% in 2010). Manufacturing accounted for just 6.7% of GDP in 2010, while services accounted for 34%. The main cash crops include coffee, palm oil, rubber, cotton, sugar, tea, and cocoa. Food crops include cassava, plantains, maize, groundnuts, and rice. However, commercial agricultural production or processing remains limited, with many producers engaged in subsistence food production.
The mining sector dominates the D.R.C.'s formal economy and is expanding (12% of GDP in 2010). Minerals account for the vast majority of the D.R.C.'s exports and represent the single largest source of foreign direct investment (FDI). Copper, cobalt, gold, coltan, tin, and zinc are the most important metals mined and produced in the D.R.C. State-owned mining company Gecamines is the largest actor in the copper and cobalt sectors. Gecamines' independent production capacity collapsed due to corruption, civil unrest, world market trends, and failure to reinvest profits toward routine maintenance and innovation. Gecamines is now most often a state partner in public-private mining partnerships with foreign companies. The diamond sector currently accounts for about 10% of the D.R.C.'s export revenue. This is from both gem and industrial-grade diamond sales that were around $875 million in 2008 and were projected to approach an estimated $1 billion in 2009. Production by the D.R.C. parastatal, MIBA, has significantly declined from past decades; MIBA ceased operations in 2009 and 2010 due to technical and financial difficulties. While its current production is minimal, MIBA is working to restructure its operations and administration and seeking financing to resume operations. Nearly all current diamond production in the D.R.C. is artisanal and takes place in the two Kasai provinces.
In recent years, the Congolese Government has updated and approved several new laws including the investment code, the mining code, the agricultural law, the public finance law, and the procurement code. It has also designed a new commercial court. The goal of these initiatives was to attract investment by promising fair and transparent treatment to private business. The D.R.C. Government recently established an inter-ministerial committee called the "Steering Committee for Investment and Business Climate Improvement" to support reforms that would improve the business climate. In December 2009, the Congolese parliament approved a law authorizing the D.R.C.'s accession to the Organization for the Harmonization of Business Law in Africa (OHADA), and President Kabila promulgated this law in February 2010. The Government of the D.R.C. officially launched the National OHADA Commission in April 2010. However, as of January 2012 the D.R.C. had not yet signed and deposited the instrument of OHADA accession.
Other measures undertaken by the Government of the D.R.C. to improve the business and investment climate include President Kabila's promulgation of a new customs code and implementation of a value-added tax (VAT) in January 2012. The new customs code took effect on February 20, 2011. In 2007, shortly after the Joseph Kabila administration took office, the government launched a wholesale review of mining contracts that had been entered into from 1997-2002. In theory, the purpose of this contract review was to determine which negotiations may have been colored by corruption and revisit/renegotiate their terms as needed. In practice, this process itself was opaque and plagued with numerous delays, with little information provided by the government to foreign (including American) investors. The Government of the D.R.C. reached agreement in December 2008 with the vast majority of the companies under review and formally announced the completion of the process in November 2009. In October 2010, the Government of the D.R.C. reached agreement with the final remaining company, a U.S. investor.
Effects of the World Financial Crisis
Due to the drop in global demand for commodities in 2008-2009, the D.R.C. faced a serious fiscal and monetary crisis, with international reserves near zero and the exchange rate rapidly deteriorating. The international community responded quickly to the D.R.C.'s deteriorating economic situation by providing emergency financial assistance, including from the IMF (U.S. $200 million), the World Bank (U.S. $100 million), and the African Development Bank (U.S. $97 million). The European Union and Belgium also provided emergency assistance. This assistance helped stabilize the economy and ensure the continuation of basic services. With the support of international emergency assistance and improved prices for key export commodities, the D.R.C.'s macroeconomic situation stabilized and the economy recovered significantly. GDP growth for 2010 was 6.1% and 6.9% in 2011. The value of goods and services exports amounted to 57.5% of GDP in 2010.
Economic and Structural Reforms
The Government of the D.R.C. continues to build on economic reforms initiated in 2001 aimed at stabilizing the macroeconomic situation and promoting economic growth. Reforms included liberalization of petroleum prices and exchange rates and adoption of disciplined fiscal and monetary policies. These policies have been successful in reducing inflation and supporting the resumption and acceleration of economic growth since 2002. The D.R.C.'s economy grew by 5.6% in 2006, 6.32% in 2007, and 6.15% in 2008. Inflation was reduced from over 501% in 2001 to approximately 15% in 2011.
The D.R.C.'s development framework includes implementation of the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP), approved in mid-2006 by the IMF and World Bank boards, and the government's 5-year program, approved by the National Assembly in February 2007. The 5-year program, known as the five pillars or "cinq chantiers" in French, is based on the PRSP and focuses heavily on President Kabila's five priority areas: infrastructure; employment; education; water/electricity; and health. Many donors had disengaged from the D.R.C. prior to 2002.
In early 2008, the Government of the D.R.C. concluded a U.S. $9.2 billion minerals-for-infrastructure agreement with the Chinese Government. Under pressure from international financial institutions and donors concerned about the potential negative effect of this deal on the D.R.C.'s debt burden, the Government of the D.R.C. and the Chinese amended the agreement in November 2009, reducing the overall value of the agreement by $3 billion among other changes. As a result, the IMF Board of Directors approved on December 11, 2009, a new, 3-year Extended Credit Facility (ECF) program. Paris Club creditors, including the United States, agreed in February 2010 to resume interim debt relief for the D.R.C. On July 1, 2010, the D.R.C. reached the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) completion point following a determination by the IMF and World Bank boards that the D.R.C. had successfully implemented the policy measures ("triggers") under the program. Under HIPC, the IMF and World Bank forgave $12.3 billion on Congolese sovereign debt, which has greatly alleviated the D.R.C.'s official debt burden and provided resources for development and poverty-reduction efforts.
Natural Resource Exploitation
In June 2000, the United Nations established a Panel of Experts on the Illegal Exploitation of Congolese Resources to examine links between the wars and natural resource exploitation. Reports issued by the panel indicated that countries involved in the war in Congo developed significant economic interests in the D.R.C. that complicated Congolese Government efforts to control its resources and the mining sector. Although the original Panel of Experts was disbanded when its mandate ended in late 2003, a separate UN Group of Experts continued to look into these issues due to the apparent links between the illegal armed groups in the eastern part of the D.R.C. and natural resource exploitation. The Group of Experts published a report in December 2008 that documented how armed groups in eastern D.R.C. finance their activities through the exploitation of natural resources and provided evidence of the collaboration and support of Rwandan authorities and the Government of the D.R.C. in supporting such groups. In November 2011, the Group of Experts issued a new report, which stated that armed groups in eastern D.R.C. continue to engage in the illegal extraction of minerals to finance their activities. The report also documented that these armed rebel groups, in particular the FDLR, continue to engage in human rights abuses, including attacks against civilians.
In 2008, the D.R.C. became a candidate country for the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), a multi-stakeholder effort to increase transparency in transactions between governments and companies in the extractive industries. Though the Government of the D.R.C. took some positive steps under EITI, including establishment of a National EITI Committee, publication of the first report on EITI in the D.R.C., and the hiring of an independent auditor to carry out the validation of the EITI process, the D.R.C. did not meet its March 9, 2010 validation deadline. The EITI Secretariat granted the D.R.C. a 6-month extension (until September 9, 2010) to complete validation. The report was subsequently validated by the independent auditor, approved by the National EITI Committee and transmitted to the President of the International EITI Secretariat in Berlin, Germany on September 8, 2010. The validation of the first EITI report was hailed as an important step toward improving transparency and accountability in D.R.C.'s management of natural resources. On December 14, 2010, the EITI Board designated the D.R.C. as a candidate country that is "close to compliant" and gave the D.R.C. 6 months (until June 12, 2011) to complete the remaining steps in order to achieve "compliant" status. However, the D.R.C. did not meet its requirements and was given an 18-month extension until March 2013, by when it must become compliant or withdraw from EITI consideration.
A number of initiatives have been launched at the national, regional, and international level to promote greater control and transparency of the minerals trade in eastern D.R.C. The U.S. Financial Reform Act of 2010 contains provisions related to minerals sourced in the D.R.C. Specifically, these provisions require companies whose products contain certain minerals to disclose to U.S. regulators whether they are sourcing these materials from the D.R.C. or its neighbors. They must also document their due diligence to ensure that their sourcing arrangements are not benefiting armed groups.
The D.R.C.'s large size and strategic location in the center of Africa, as well as its vast mineral wealth, have made the country a key regional player since even before independence. The D.R.C.'s relations with its neighbors have often been driven by security concerns, leading to intricate, interlocking, and shifting alliances. The complexities and dangers of these relations were never clearer than in the 1997-2003 period described in the "From Dictatorship to Disintegration" section above. In addition, internal conflicts in Angola, Burundi, the Central African Republic, Congo-Brazzaville, Rwanda, Sudan, and Uganda have at various times created bilateral and regional tensions.
Over the past 8 years, the D.R.C. Government has signed agreements with its neighbors to improve the security of the D.R.C. and the wider region. In October 2004, with significant U.S. involvement and facilitation, the D.R.C. joined with Rwanda and Uganda in signing a Great Lakes regional security agreement that established a "Tripartite Commission" to address issues peacefully rather than militarily. (Burundi joined a year later and the expanded agreement is now known as "Tripartite Plus.") In September 2007, the D.R.C. and Uganda signed the so-called "Ngurdoto Agreement" committing to strong bilateral efforts to eliminate all illegal armed groups operating in and between the two countries. In November 2007, with significant assistance from the UN, United States, and European Union, the D.R.C. reached a similar agreement with Rwanda. Known as the "Nairobi Communique," this accord was designed to lay the groundwork for D.R.C.-Rwandan cooperation to disarm, demobilize, reintegrate and/or repatriate all foreign armed groups operating in the D.R.C., particularly the ex-FAR/Interahamwe (later the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda, FDLR).
Following up on enhanced military cooperation with Rwanda and Uganda, the D.R.C. re-established full diplomatic relations with Rwanda, Burundi, and Uganda in 2009. President Kabila held bilateral talks with Rwandan President Kagame in January 2009, August 2009, and September 2010. The 2009 meetings were the first heads-of-state meetings between the D.R.C. and Rwanda in over 10 years. Relations with Angola had been tense, but a recent visit by President Kabila has eased tensions and given hopes of a lasting rapprochement. The D.R.C. also established diplomatic relations with its newest neighbor, the Republic of South Sudan, after the latter gained its independence on July 9, 2011.
U.S. relations with the D.R.C. are strong. The United States has pursued an active diplomatic strategy in the region and has supported internal reconciliation and democratization in the D.R.C., facilitating the Nairobi Communique, Goma Accords, and the Tripartite Plus mechanism, all described above.
The United States is proud to have played a role in the peace process in the D.R.C., and continues to encourage Congolese peace, prosperity, democracy, and respect for human rights. The U.S. Government provided $306 million in bilateral assistance to the D.R.C. in 2010 to support economic reform and transparency efforts. The United States is also the largest donor to the United Nations stabilization mission in the D.R.C. (MONUSCO), contributing almost one-third of MONUSCO's $1 billion annual budget.
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton visited the D.R.C. in August 2009, meeting with President Kabila and other senior officials, civil society representatives, and victims of the current conflicts. The Secretary reinforced the U.S. commitment to help the D.R.C. reduce sexual and gender-based violence and address corruption. AFRICOM Commander General Carter Ham visited the D.R.C. in August 2011 and met with senior defense officials, underscoring the U.S. commitment to assist the D.R.C. in establishing a long-term plan to successfully implement durable security sector reform.
The D.R.C. appointed its current ambassador to the United States in 2000. The State Department has consistently issued cautionary travel information about Zaire/D.R.C. since 1977.
Principal U.S. Officials
Ambassador--James F. Entwistle
Deputy Chief of Mission--Samuel C. Laeuchli
The U.S. Embassy is located at 310 Avenue des Aviateurs, Kinshasa (tel. 243-81-2255872; fax 243-81-3010561). Mailing address is American Embassy Kinshasa, Unit 2220, DPO AE 09828.
Short URL: http://m.state.gov/md200313.htm


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Two students at W.T. Chipman Middle School in Harrington are facing criminal charges in connection with the assault of a classmate on school grounds, according to police.
Harrington Police Department spokesman Lt. Earl K. Brode said officers were contacted by the parents of the victim, who reported their child had suffered minor injuries at the hands of a 12-year-old and an 11-year-old.
Brode did not say when the alleged assault occurred. The 12-year-old was identified as a boy, although it was not clear whether the other accused child and the victim are also boys.
He did say police obtained warrants charging both accused children of offensive touching and conspiracy.
The 12-year-old turned himself in to police on Monday and was later released to the custody of his parents, pending a court appearance in Kent County Family Court.
Warrants were still on file for the 11-year-old as of Wednesday, Brode said.
Location, ST | website.com


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Rated 4.5 out of 5 by 2 reviewers.
Rated 5 out of 5 by 5K Runner Excellent Coat Rack This helps keep my hall neat and clutter-free, I love this item! November 11, 2011
Rated 4 out of 5 by Tina2014 Good coat rack for the price I got this on discount and was glad I did. Overall it seems well made (there are three pieces you have to assemble together) but some of the screws don't seem to tighten all the way, leaving some of it just a little wobbly. But once its loaded with coats/scarves/purses/hats, there is no wobble to it. I do recommend it because it was a great price (even Homegoods couldn't come up with a better price for a similar product) and it looks great. Its very easy to assemble (just be careful because the box can be heavy for some as it is made out of iron. December 22, 2013
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Our MedSafe Lockers include a specially formulated powder coat finish that resists the growth of bacteria, mold, yeast and mildew for up to 20 years! MedSafe lockers are ideal for use in medical, educational, retail manufacturing environments, where the spread of harmful elements is of major concern. This particular locker is a double-tier, three-wide locker, with openings that are 12"w x 18"d x 36"h.
The multi-point gravity lift-type latching assures a secure locker. The doors are louvered for ventilation and include continuous piano hinges to insure a smooth door operation for the life of the locker. Doors include a stainless steel recessed handle allowing the lock to sit fully-recessed into the door for added safety while reducing vandalism and improving overall locker appearance.
Includes double prong ceiling hook and two single hooks. Locks are not included. These KD lockers require assembly.
This product has been Greenguard certified to support better indoor air quality for schools, libraries, churches and public spaces.


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ZF-2631: Test process stops because of out of memory
Test process stops with the following diagnostic:
Fatal error: Allowed memory size of 268435456 bytes exhausted (tried to allocate 168034281 bytes) in /home/cawa/ZendFramework/release-1.0/library/Zend/Measure/Number.php on line 335
Problem appears at testNumberSetType() (Zend/Measure/NumberTest.php) when it tries to convert value type from Zend_Measure_Number::BINARY to Zend_Measure_Number::ROMAN
PS line number 156
Duplicate of ZF-2368
Feel free to respond on eighter of the both issues.
But please test it with the trunk... as soon it's fixed within the trunk I can integrate the change to the branch.
Have you tested with the branch or just with the release ??? This is part of another issue and has already been fixed in te past with the help of Darby and Sebastian.
I am not sure it duplicates ZF-2368
ZF-2368 issue is test fail for testConvertTo(Zend_Measure_NumberTest)
The problem of current issue is that tests don't pass at all, but test execution is stopped with 'out of memory' diagnostic. That happens at testNumberSetType() exactly at line 156 ("$value->setType(Zend_Measure_Number::ROMAN);")
I tested it using release maintenance branch.
Commenting lines 156 and 157 helps to pass testNumberSetType() and Zend_Measure unit tests pass correctly with only fail mentioned at ZF-2368 ZF-2368 still exist for the release maintenance branch and for the trunk
Enabling bcmath extension resolves this problem and ZF-2631 test fail
Please test with the latest release and give me response. If it still failes I will need additional informations and debug traces.
Still fails with the same result.
I'm ready to provide any additional info
Unsure if it will make until 1.0.4... therefor downgrading to critical... fix depends on an other issue which will be fixed before this one
What I don't understand is that the function you have mentioned brakes after 200 loops... so it is unable to run infinite as you said. The maximum could be that it reports an error.
So I attached a debug version of Measure/Number.php. Please run it and give us the debug feedback for reproduction and fixing.
I see.
Here is an output of Zend_Measure unit tests pass (see attachment).
Alex... how can it create output if it runs infinite as you said ???
You said it brakes with an memory error... I added only textual output on the console so this behaviour should not have changed... Can it be that you've tested with an outdated version ?
This issue was already reported about 3 weeks ago and fixed. And the error you sent with the output is a duplication of another already created issue from you.
In my opinion this one does not exist anymore...
Please change your debug version to the original one from branch/trunk and give me feedback if I am right. We will then close this issue as fixed/duplicated.
Note: This issue is related to "Testbed runs infinit and stops because of out of memory"
Alex... how can it create output if it runs infinite as you said ??? That's a question :)
You said it brakes with an memory error... Exactly!
I added only textual output on the console so this behaviour should not have changed... Can it be that you've tested with an outdated version ? I don't think so. I performed tests in several environments using just checked out release maintenance branch:
svn checkout http://framework.zend.com/svn/framework/…
This issue was already reported about 3 weeks ago and fixed. And the error you sent with the output is a duplication of another already created issue from you.
Yes. It's ZF-2272 issue. It also has commits into the release maintenance branch, but it looks like changes were not merged completely. Here is a diff between 'Number.php' you sent me and current 'branch/release-1.0/library/Zend/Measure/Number.php' file (see the attachment). There are not only debug output, but also some differences in code. To be more precise, diff also contains changes for CS-7536 and CS-7537.
Merging to release brunch comments also don't refer these changesets.
Please check it.
I asked you in my first reply if it is fixed now within the trunk.
You said NO it runs endless. In your debug output I saw that it does not run endless.
I am quite confused now.
Could you PLEASE test it with trunk and verify if it runs endless or not ? If it is fixed within trunk I can integrate it to branch as I said in past.
Thomas, I am very upset because of this misunderstanding. Please accept my sincere apology.
I was sure it's clear, that trunk tests pass correct, since I didn't mentioned that trunk tests failed and NumberTest.php is the same in both branches (probably, you know this better than me).
Yes, tests pass correctly with trunk code.
Thanks for you and for your work!
I committed SVN7656 to branch which fixes this problem within the branch. If there is any further problem related to this issue don't be shy and reopen it.
I've just tested it. The problem is fixed. Thanks!


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ZF-3922: Router no longer matches urls with trailing slashes
Prior to 1.6.0RC2 sanity check packages, the following route:
routes.article.type = "Zend_Controller_Router_Route"
routes.article.route = "blog/articles/:id"
routes.article.defaults.controller = blog
routes.article.defaults.action = articles
routes.article.defaults.id = 0
routes.article.reqs.id = "[0-9]+"
would match both 'http://localhost/blog/articles/2000/' and 'http://localhost/blog/articles/2000'; currently, only the latter route now will match.
Does a unit test cover this case yet?
Fixed in trunk with r10883 and in 1.6 release branch with r10884 (verified on #zftalk.dev)
Updating for the 1.6.0 release.


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Athletics Home
Sports in the News
Huge Win For No. 10 Women's Hoops Over No. 5 LBCC, 56-44
The old school-yard line "I can beat you with one hand tied behind my back," applied Wednesday during a South Coast Conference and state top 10 matchup between visiting No. 5 Long Beach and the No. 10 Pasadena City College women's basketball team. In an effort to solve the team's season-long issues at the free throw line, PCC head coach Joe Peron instructed his players to shoot free throws with one hand while the other hand tucked behind their backs. That strategy resulted in seven straight free throws being made during a 56-44 upset win by the Lancers.
The made one-handed free throws were crucial in keeping Long Beach at bay during the second half. PCC's defense again rose to the occasion, allowing just 16 points to the high-scoring Vikings in the final 20 minutes. PCC improved to 16-5 overall and 6-3 in the conference. LBCC suffered just its third loss of the season (18-3) and is 8-2 in SCC games.
The Lancers, in third place in the conference, also focused their offense to getting the ball inside to freshman center Kaitlyn Parks, who scored 16 of her game-high 20 points in the second half and added 10 total rebounds. Parks sank two free throws via the one hand approach.
Reserve frosh point guard Desiree Loving converted four consecutive shots from one-hand land as part of her 10 points and backup forward Sarah Jackson also hit a one hand attempt (had three points and two steals).
PCC opened a 21-10 lead during the first half and took a 34-28 lead into halftime. Long Beach never got closer than four points.
"Shooting free throws with one arm wasn't meant to be a slap in the face to anyone," Peron said. "We've been shooting 52 percent this year, so we have been practicing shooting with one hand to work on our arm and knee strength. I figured we can't do worse than 52 percent, and I've tried everything to improve our free throw shooting so this was our last resort. If we increase our percentage by 10 percent, we'll be in the game. The deal was, they could shoot free throws their way for the first shot but if they missed, they have to try it my way. And it worked for us."
PCC made 9-for-15 overall at the line, but 7-for-8 (87.5 percent) on the one handers.
Also contributing to the triumph were starting guards Shay Jackson (10 points, seven rebounds) and Stella Ghazarian (eight points, including two 3-pointers). For Long Beach, Shakeena Benton scored 12 points while Talia Rayford had 10 points and 16 rebounds.
The Lancers are 9-0 this season when holding the opponent to less than 50 points. They are 8-1 at home this season and currently have won seven of their last eight games.
PCC will be tested once more Friday when the Lancers host state No. 1 Mt. San Antonio in a 6 p.m. tip-off at Hutto-Patterson Gymnasium. The game is billed as "Black Out Night" as fans are encouranged to wear black t-shirts in support of the home team. Shirts will be on sale near the front entrance for $7 each.
[Photo--Practice Makes Perfect--Lancer Desiree Loving displays the one-hand form that led to her making four free throws during PCC's 56-44 win over Long Beach Wednesday night, image by Richard Quinton, sports information photographer.]
Release Date: 01/31/13
SERVICE ALERT: PCC will be launching an updated version of this website on Tuesday, June 28, and Wednesday, June 29. During that time, you may notice some changes to content, layout, and functionality of the site, and there may be interruptions in service. We appreciate your patience during the launch, and apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.


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The City of Kunshan has a unique history and its people have been responsible for establishing many of the cultural traditions for this region; Kun Opera, canal villages, hairy crab, the Double-headed Lotus flower and a long history of aquaculture production are all notable. As a gateway for the city's westward expansion, Lotus Lake Park had to define and demonstrate the character of the future public realm in the west.
Continue reading Lotus Lake Park | Kunshan China | Integrated Planning and Design


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Price: $11.95
One of five Trails Illustrated maps for the Washington Cascades region offering the most detailed and up-to-date map for the forest, carefully researched and developed in co-operation with local land managers and agencies. Each map contains easy to read trails, numbered forest service roads, campsites, access points, scenic points-of-interests, and important facilities.
More than 700 lakes and mountain ponds fill practically every low spot in the glacier-carved terrain of Alpine Lakes Wilderness. Valleys thick with trees give way to rocky ridges and rugged peaks along the crest of the Cascades, some slopes permanently cloaked with snowfields. Diverse is the word that best describes the Alpine Lakes: from wet forests of Douglas fir, cedar, and western hemlock understoried with salal and berries at lower elevations on the western side; to true firs and mountain hemlock opened by extensive meadows matted with low growth; to the crest and 180 inches of precipitation per year (largely as snow); countered by spruce, whitebark pine, and larch on the eastern side; and ending farther down with a dry forestland of ponderosa pine and lodgepole pine understoried by grasses and dampened by as little as 10 inches of annual precipitation.
The Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail (PCT) enters from Stevens Pass on the north to follow the crest south, with a long westward bend to Snoqualmie Pass, a distance of 67 trail miles. Hordes of people take advantage of the PCT's 450 miles or so of excellent trails. Subsequent use and abuse of the area has resulted in a permit system, which is applied to some regions of the Wilderness between June 15 and October 15. No dogs are permitted, and campfires are banned above 5,000 feet.
Coverage includes: Pacific Crest Trail, Cle Elum, Kachess & Keechelus Lakes, Wenatchee River, Deception Falls, Stevens Pass Greenway
Wilderness Coverage: Alipine Lakes.
Other Attractions: Hiking Trails, Mountain Biking, Scenic Back Roads, Boat Ramps, Mountain Climbing, Sno-Parks, Ski Areas, Fishing, Snowmobile Trails.
More than just a map, National Geographic Trails Illustrated topographic maps are designed to take you into the wilderness and back. Printed on tear-resistant, waterproof material, this map can go anywhere you do. Each map is based on exact reproductions of USGS topographic map information, updated, customized, and enhanced to meet the unique features of each area. The maps include valuable wilderness tips and Leave No Trace guidelines, along with updated trails, trailheads, points of interest, campgrounds, and much more. With a new color palette and stunning shaded relief, backcountry navigation has never been easier.


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Four new basketball DVDs featuring legendary St. Anthony High School basketball coach Bob Hurley! Hurley became the 10th high school boys coach to reach 1,000 career wins earlier this season. Hurley owns over 1,000 victories and has won 23 state titles, 10 Tournament of Champions titles, and three USA Today national championships!
Bob Hurley: Practice Planning & Program Development
Bob Hurley: Motion and Zone Offenses
Bob Hurley: Building a Multiple Defensive System
Bob Hurley: Developing Perimeter Players
Purchase the Bob Hurley Coaching High School Basketball 4-Pack and save $20!
About Us | Security & Privacy | Shipping | Affiliates | Advertise With Us | Help | Contact Us | Site Map | Drake University Distance Learning | Gift Certificates | Request a Catalog | Print Order Form
© 2016 Championship Productions, Inc.


text:
Tagged with "logo"Edit
These uses specifically include examples of logos. For a broader look at identity design, see the Branding/Identity category.
The Story of Our Friend, the Fat Face1826
- Paul Rand
- Herbert Bayer
- Bruno Munari
Contributed by Jennifer Kennard
Contribute to the Collection
Fonts in Use is a collaborative project. Create an account and submit your own work or other examples of typography.


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Our Customers is Our Greatest Asset
portraits of the people who have come inside the store from Eastern Europe, Japan, China, Canada, Russia, Mexico, South America, and from throughout the United States.
Randy Magnus grew up in the Central Valley farmlands of California, and saw the cultural diversity that came into the area as the population grew. He learned to celebrate what the different cultures had to offer in the arts, food, and lifestyles. With his cameras Randy would document the cultural celebrations, showing the pride in what sets each culture apart, perserving a part of their unique heritage to share with others. Randy Magnus has work in several museums, including MOMA in New York City, the Oakland Museum, and the Achenbach Print Collection at the Legion of Honor Museum in San Francisco. He has had one-man shows in San Francisco, New York, and Amsterdam. .
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West Hawai'i Obon Festivals 2014 Published November 26, 2014
West Hawai'i Obon Festivals 2014 Published September 28, 2014
Horses, Cows, and Ropers at the 50th Annual Kona Stampede Rodeo Published April 22, 2014
Cambodian & Lao New Year Celebrations Published April 22, 2014
My Aloha Shirt Collection Published December 07, 2013
Cambodian & Lao New Year Celebrations in the Central Valley of California Published August 07, 2013
Bangkok 2555 Published March 07, 2013
San Francisco & Alameda, CA Published October 18, 2012


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Could the Dolphins really land Peyton Manning?
I'm a pessimist by nature, so excuse me for preparing for the worst.
In my mind, if you prepare for the worst and something good actually happens it's a win-win.
I know that's a messed up way of thinking, but that's the way my glass half empty brain works. Hey, I cover the Miami Dolphins, which have had the same feel as Charlie Brown's interaction with footballs since the Dan Marino era ended.
You know…. the Charlie Brown who keeps trying to kick the football, but Lucy consistently swiping that old football up from its position right when he's swinging his legs to kick it.
That's the Dolphins!
But here we are in the hunt for Peyton Manning, who actually views the Dolphins as a desirable landing spot if/when he's released by the Colts.
Reasons I'm told….
Manning's wife (and I had no idea he was married till yesterday) loves South Florida, and the couple has owned a South Beach condo since 2007.
Manning would like to continue playing in the AFC because that's the conference and opponents he's familiar with after spending 14 years in Indianapolis.
The Dolphins have the salary cap space to sign him without drastically purging the roster.
Manning is looking for a team with a GOOD defense. Out of the half dozen or so teams that will be pursuing him the Dolphins have a pretty good one considering the 2011 team finished sixth in points allowed per game, and third against the rush.
Manning likes the weaponry that Miami has in four-time Pro Bowler Brandon Marshall, whom Manning hung with on Friday. Reggie Bush rushed for 1,000 yards and caught 43 passes out of the backfield. Davone Bess is viewed as one of the NFL's best slot receivers. Brian Hartline averages 15.3 yards per catch in his three year career. Anthony Fasano is a solid dual threat tight end, and Charles Clay averaged 14.6 yards per catch and scored three touchdowns as a flex player his rookie season.
It is also possible that the Dolphins could sign Manning's old center Jeff Saturday (moving Mike Pouncey to guard), and his favorite receiver, former UM standout Reggie Wayne, getting a few members of the Colts band back together. But that's going to take some SERIOUS salary cap restructuring.
If the Dolphins offensive line gets beefed up, and Manning is healthy and resembles his old self, it's impossible to not imagine the Dolphins going far in 2012.
Hell, the Dolphins would be one of the NFL's hottest teams…. the Miami Heat of the NFL.
This should explain why Manning supposedly views Miami as a desired landing spot.
Problem is, I can't help but feel owner Steve Ross is being set up AGAIN, and used to set the market for Manning the same way Jeff Fisher used him to land a $7 million per year contract, and full power in St. Louis.
That's why I say the Dolphins better have a good plan B, and need to make sure that if they end up the bridesmaid in the Manning hunt they get hitched quickly to the very next quarterback upgrade (Matt Flynn) who bats his eye at them.
South Florida can't handle too much of this quarterback heartbreak.
The one thing Ross and General Manager Jeff Ireland can't afford to do after flirting with all these quarterbacks this offseason is exit free agent and the draft with Matt Moore as the team's best option as the starting quarterback in 2012.


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Price: $15.00
The updated companion book to Carl Sagan's Cosmos, returning to television in March 2014 as an all-new miniseries on the National Geographic Channel and Fox networks, hosted by astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson
PBS's 1980 miniseries Cosmos, hosted by astronomer and astrophysicist Carl Sagan, captivated television viewers with its explorations of our place in the universe. Now, Cosmos returns to television in March 2014 as an all-new Fox miniseries with astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson.
Sagan's companion book remains one of the bestselling science books of all time, and it too has been reprinted for a new generation. In clear prose, Sagan reveals a jewel-like blue world inhabited by a life form that is just beginning to discover its own identity and venture into the vast ocean of space. Featuring a new, illustrated introduction by Sagan's collaborator Ann Druyan and a new foreword by astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, Cosmos retraces the fourteen billion years of cosmic evolution that have transformed matter into consciousness. Explore such topics as the origin of life, the human brain, Egyptian hieroglyphics, spacecraft missions, the death of the sun, the evolution of galaxies, and the forces and individuals who helped to shape modern science.
Carl Sagan was the David Duncan Professor of Astronomy and Space Sciences and Director of the Laboratory for Planetary Studies at Cornell University; Distinguished Visiting Scientist at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology; and the cofounder and president of the Planetary Society, the largest space-interest group in the world. For the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, he was an adviser on the Mariner, Voyager, and Viking unmanned space missions, and he briefed astronauts for journeys to the moon. His Peabody Award-winning public television series, Cosmos, has been seen by more than 500 million people in over sixty countries, and the accompanying book spent seventy weeks on The New York Times bestseller list. The author of thirty books, Sagan was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for The Dragons of Eden: Speculations on the Evolution of Human Intelligence in 1978, and his novel Contact became a major motion picture.
In their posthumous award to Dr. Sagan of their highest honor, the National Science Foundation declared that his research "transformed planetary science
his gifts to mankind were infinite."
With a lyrical literary style, and a range that touches almost all aspects of human knowledge, Cosmos often seems too good to be true." The Plain Dealer
"Sagan is an astronomer with one eye on the stars, another on history, and a thirdhis mind'son the human condition." Newsday
"Brilliant in its scope and provocative in its suggestions shimmers with a sense of wonder." The Miami Herald
"Sagan dazzles the mind with the miracle of our survival, framed by the stately galaxies of space." Cosmopolitan
imaginatively illustrated." The New York Times Book Review
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By Maggie 101
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Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
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A master story teller at his best.
By The ultimate story of everything!!
from Dallas, Texas, USA, Earth, Milky Way
I read it slowly over several weeks and really enjoyed it all. I also watched the new Cosmos series by Dr. Tyson when not reading this book during the same weeks.


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Excellent...now, if fb would just follow suit.
I would rather both sites address their privacy, say a policy that reads "We will not share your private information with anyone" .
I always assume that everything they can access is shared with their advertisers. The responsibility falls on the members. Anything I don't want shared, I don't give them. FB just announced that they will be sharing phone numbers. Why would anyone include their phone number in their profile to begin with unless they were way too naive?
Page created in 0.141 seconds with 21 queries.


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Rated 5 out of 5 by 1 reviewer.
Rated 5 out of 5 by kxz1 Lots of fun and easy for a 3 year old My three year old nephew received a lot of gifts for Christmas. We included this as part of a dinosaur themed gift. He loved it and played almost exclusively with this toy even though he had a log of options. It was easy for him to use, and he loved chasing after the little saucer. It's a simple toy, but a big hit! December 26, 2012
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Unlike a lot of folks, I don't look forward to the holidays. I prefer to look back into them. It's a visualization technique I picked up a couple of years ago when I took an online writing class with artist and "inspirator" Mary Anne Radmacher. Her workshop was called "Holidaze" — and its theme was how to back into the season. Essentially we were to visualize ourselves January 1st looking back over the festivities, falderal, and fa-la-la. How would we want to remember them? We were to imagine what we'd want that to look like and then set about creating that celebration. Instead of waking up in the new year wondering what happened, we can focus on the results and outcomes we most desire. Wow. Intentional? Purposeful? In-the-Moment Mindful? You mean there's another way to broach the season besides pell-mell tumult, confusion, frustration, anxiety, and pharmaceuticals? Wow. Sign me up.
Before I took that workshop, I always felt a little like the last doggie in the herd – every other cow on the cattle trail seemed to know where they were going; I just sort of followed along. It feels good now to set off on an intentional trail — as much as that trail seems to twist and wind about. Mindset in place I try to orchestrate a lot of what made those my seasons particularly happy and memorable. Not surprisingly, those happier days between November and January weren't the ones consumed by shopping, credit cards, and frenetic activity. The most glorious days were colored with hall decking and laughter, merriment, surprise and serendipity. So this December, along with my naughty and nice lists, Christmas card and shopping lists, I've got my "memories to make" list. I shall choose to focus on those activities so my January 1st will be filled with a warm heart and no regrets.