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Head of the Charles Home
PHILADELPHIA - The University of Pennsylvania men's lightweight rowing team will take part in the 47th Head of the Charles Regatta Sunday in Boston, Mass. The Head of the Charles Regatta is the largest two-day regatta in the world.
This year, the Quakers will be sending two boats to compete, both racing on Sunday afternoon. The Lightweight 4 are up first and are scheduled to begin at 4:02 p.m. Following the Lightweight 4 race, the Lightweight 8 will hit the water at 4:27 p.m.
The Red and Blue had one boat participating last year at the Head of the Charles and the varsity 8 finished 11th out of 21 teams with a time of 14:54.680. Princeton won the race, getting through the 3.2-mile long Charles River course with a time of 14:09.921, beating out the second-place team by almost 13 full seconds.
Penn was last in action two weeks ago in its fall opener at the Navy Day Regatta on the Schuylkill River. The Quakers were very successful and posted two victories on the day. The first was in the Open 2, with sophomores Zack Seigel and Eric Sezgen clocking in at 14:54.32, 11 seconds faster than their nearest competitors. The Red and Blue also took the top two spots in the Lightweight 4 race, with times of 14:06.07 and 14:12.03 respectively.
A complete recap and results of the regatta will be available shortly after its conclusion on PennAthletics.com.
Penn's Tentative Boatings
Lightweight 8
C - Nucci, Domenic
S - Seigel, Zack
7 - Sezgen, Eric
6 - Hurd, Oliver
5 - Nuckols, Hurst
4 - McGrath, Andrew
3- David, Jacques
2 - Gannon, Mark
B - Shovlin, James
Lightweight 4
C - Dembowitz, Josh
S - Shoener, Charles
3 - Shaw, Sam
2 - Schwarz, Dan
B - Lange, Parker


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HAL vs RCI
With the low Euro exchange rate, I see that a 12 night med cruise with HAL is not much more expensive than a 7 night with RCI. Our fascination for HAL keeps growing day by day and we are tempted to cancel our already booked cruise with the Liberty of the seas from Barcelona in july next year and rather go for a HAL cruise.
Question is, will our son enjoy HAL as much as RCI? He is well behaved during dinners and love the evening shows, but during daytime he prefers of course to stay in the kids pool which are great on the RCI ships.
Should we wait a few years until he becomes more self going, or is HAL a good option even for families with small children?
Svein, I've only been on one HAL cruise and it was on the smaller Veendam and a 10 day Baltic cruise at that; but we were surprised by the number of families and many with small children, who seemed to be having a marvelous time. There were areas and activities just for the kids; and I would imagine the larger ships have even more to offer.
I think you know how I feel about Princess--a great value for the money--but I have to admit, HAL was a cut above in everything. I would be inclined to take advantage of the favorable exchange rate and enjoy a truly first class experience.
I've been following postings to the HollandAmericaBlog by a family from the Netherlands on the Niew Amsterdam doing the Venice / Greece thing. I was surprised to read that there are 350 children on this trip . . . the most children I've ever seen on a HAL ship was maybe 50 in the Caribbean ~ These Dutch children are older than your son - but seem to enjoy their Club HAL time.... I will also say that most children I've observed on HAL cruises are always such good travelers - regardless of their age. Well behaved at dinner and in the show room and around the pools. You, of course, know your child best - but it seems like the HAL cruise for more days would be a very good deal . . .
|All times are GMT -7. The time now is 04:09 AM.

subset: commoncrawl


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Should Women Suing "Girls Gone Wild" Be Allowed To Stay Anonymous?
Four women, who were between the ages of 13 and 17 when they were filmed flashing their breasts by "Girls Gone Wild" goons, have asked to pursue their lawsuit without being named. The women, who are now in their 20s, said when they appeared in the "Girls Gone Wild" videos as teens in Panama City, Florida, they were ridiculed and forced to leave their schools. Their lawyers battled in court recently, arguing that as the women sue Joe Francis for exploitation, there is no need for their identities to be revealed. "Their names" — in addition to their breasts — "are going to be everywhere," attorney Rachael Pontikes argued. Alas, an unsympathetic FL judge rejected their request and now the women have filed an appeal.
But this debate isn't just about boobs, exploitation and poor judgment. It's also about journalism!Two journalistic groups, Florida Freedom Newspapers, Inc. and the Southern Newspaper Publishers Association, are adding their voices to the chorus in this lawsuit to remind everyone "openness," as a lawyer for their team put it, is integral to freedom of the press. Keeping names anonymous could be a slippery slope leading to so much privacy that journalists are unable to do their duty of checks and balances. Furthermore, the lawyers for the press argue, newspapers could be told the names of the young women but individually decide not to publish them. That is the standard practice for many media outlets, including the Associated Press, when it comes to victims of rape. The press will be unable to faithfully do the background research and fact-checking that's integral to good journalism if they're not even given all the answers in the first place.
I'm truly torn on this story. On the one hand, like victims of rape are allowed to do, I do think these young women are entitled to try to keep as much of their privacy as possible. They did what they did when they were minors — as young as 13! Furthermore, those videos have already been seen by people they know; their names being Google-able will only blow that embarrassment up. It's reasonable to assume the women will be harassed, too. Out of a sense of human dignity, these women should be spared further humiliation.
I also have little to no faith in the press' argument that they should be told the names and they can choose not to publish them. Distinguished outlets like the AP will do that, sure. But what other "press" will get their names? Perez Hilton? Radar Online? Like it or not, a lot of trashy publications with low editorial and moral standards exist and they will be all to happy to print these women's names — and who knows what other details they'll dig up? In this regard, the ability to do research has a dark side.
But on the other hand, I understand and empathize with everything the news outlets are arguing about adhering to the First Amendment. If I were the journalist covering this (or any future case that uses this as a precedent), I would never want some information to be kept secret. It's just an "on principle" thing and it's what makes America a better place for journalism than, say, Russia. At a certain point, don't you have to tell the young women that it sucks their names are all over the internet but principles are more important?
I'm split down the middle, but curious about what you all think. I think we can agree one thing is for sure, though. The writers of the First Amendment probably never could have imagined they'd be caught up in a "Girls Gone Wild" s**tshow!


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How to Make a Simple 12 Volt LED Lantern Circuit
Please Share this Post:
the resistors 1/4 or 1.4 watts.ReplyDelete
Sorry, it's 1/4 watts,
why to connect a diode.ReplyDelete
No need of it actually, it's just to protect the circuit from accidental reverse polarity connection that might take place due to human error.Delete
Thank u for ur good works. Please i built the 'high efficiency emergency LED lamp' you posted on brighthub and it was working until now. It does not light unless u short C and E of the transistor. I replaced d BD140 with TIP42 then found out that d light only flashes when u connect to d battery then goes off. I found that it lights when you short circuit capacitor C2 but when i removed the capacitor it does not even flash. Same thing happened when i replaced with d BD transistor. Pls help. THANK YOUReplyDelete
Thanks for pointing out the problem.
Firstly, the LEDs will never light up as long as mains voltage is present, however if the problem is happening even after the circuit is removed from the mains socket, it can be simply corrected by reducing the resistor value connected across the base and the ground of the transistor.
Reduce and try different values until the LEDs light up with sufficient brightness.
thank u sir for your timely response. The problem happens with battery i.e not mains voltage. Pls is using the TP42 transistor ok? The biasing resistor R2 reads fine ie 10k when i tested it (though it was still connected in d circuit when i tested it). I hav also noticed that bypassing the base resistor makes it light but the transistor becomes hot. Could it be that the resistor is open and therefore not conducting hence sending the current through the capacitor C2?ReplyDelete
If you short the 10K resistor, it will damage the transistor permanently, probably you might have already made it weak.
As I explained in the previous comment, the resistor value should be reduced to, say, 1K or 2K etc until the LEDs light up brightly, but you cannot short it.
Mr. Swagatam, what is the watts brightness of this lantern circuit?Delete
watts will be around 15.
not sure about the brightness.
I have a doubt that y r u connecting Vcc 12v positive terminal passing through all the LED's and at right side corner connecting with negative terminal. Isn't become short circuit.???? Reply immediatlyReplyDelete
how u have calculated that there are 32 parallel connections.????
pls explain..
Each of the shown Two LEDs with the series resistor becomes one string, count how many are there.Delete
hello swagatam,in this lantern circuit on to line u r connecting resistors to -ve of leds
then in second line u r connecting resistors to +ve of leds.
i didnt understand whats the point.
pls explain.
thnks in advance.
resistors can be connected anywhere in the line, the position is not important.Delete
Dear sir,
May I know which software is used to draw the schematic in this post?
Thank you.
Dear Srinivas, I use CorelDraw......Delete
Wat is the ampere of batteryReplyDelete
for 5mm leds it can be 4AH, and for 1 watt it should be 25Ah or 40 AHDelete
Can I use piranha led if yes then ampere for piranha led will be 4AH or it is changed and wat will the resistor value for piranha led and 1watt led.... ThanksReplyDelete
yes you can use piranha LEDs also without changing anything in the circuit,
but 1 watt leds cannot be used in this circuit, it will require completely different configuration
Thanks for the reply............. Sir I want ur email address..........ReplyDelete
for discussing circuits you can feel free to ask your questions here....I use email only for business related discussions.Delete
Ok sir but..... I want to send a video to u so that's why I wanted ur email..........ReplyDelete
OK, send it to:
replace (at) with @
good day! is it the same process if i use different color of led light for my lantern?
if you use approximately 3.3V LEDs then it'll be the same regardless of the color...Delete
thanks for the info, I was wondering if you can take old LEDS from old LED flash lights that have quit working and make a simple working light for hooking to a 12 volt battery to make a light for when the power goes out.ReplyDelete
If the LEDs are in a a working condition then definitely you can use them with an external battery for emergency lighting....Delete
Ok thanks. My question is the two lights I have is one has 7 LEDS in
parallel with a 32 ohm resistor at each light and 5 in parallel with
one 6.8m ohm resistor up front, can you just add another resistor to make
them work off 12 volts if so what sizes please or do I need to rewire
the whole thing, Just a little about me I took half a course in
electronics about 45 years ago, so I know what things do and how to
take them apart and replace parts but I missed or forgot the part about
building circuits, I can build from a DWG, so I am half smart, If I was
totally smart I would build me a overunity motor or magnet motor, just
love that stuff, Many thanks Buddy
OK, but I'll also need to know what supply voltages these two lamps used...only then I'll able to judge the LED specs and then accordingly would be able to tell you the resistor value and the wiring detail for connecting these together with a 12V supply.Delete
Thanks for the help, I do not know the supply voltage the bat went dead and would not charge and it does not have any markings on it or the light all it has is a marking of a number of the circuit board, SS272-B one of those china made or some place does not have a brand name, sorry BuddyReplyDelete
OK but without the voltage I wouldn't be able to calculate the resistor value...so it can be difficult to configure the designDelete
thanks for the help, So I am confused if you have an white led with a 32 ohm resistor you can not just add another resistor to use with 12 volt batt, what about just taking that resistor out and just replacing it with one that works with 12 volts, I think I will make it easy just cut that resistor out put in a jumper in to connect two LEDS and put in the resistor you have shown above and be done with it, what do you think, or am I missing something which is almost all ways, thanks for your thoughts, buddyReplyDelete
either I have to know the original voltage spec used in the unit, or you can tell me the LED current (mA) rating...any of the two will be sufficient for calculating the resistor value....if neither of this is known then it would be impossible to calculate the correct resistor value.
the other method is to try by trial and error method which can be fatal for the LED or can make them work inefficiently
Thanks for your reply, I did miss something I thought all white LEDS had the same (ma) rating and voltage draw, I told you I know just enough to get my self in trouble, I guess it is going to be trial and burnout method, they are free now and if I can not make them work I was going to throw them away anyway, going to hook them as they are to a 5 volt phone charger first to see if they burn or burn HA HA, it is never easy when you are trying to recycle free electronics< if you do not snap, crackel and pop you are not learning, that is like I crashed 3 computers before I learned how to use dos and now you use windows do not need dos, thanks BuddyReplyDelete
sure buddy, you won't learn unless you sacrifice a few of the valuable things...
you can experiment on a single LED, by applying 12V to it through an arbitrarily selected high value resistor such as a 1K, then go on reducing this value until you find the resistor getting to hot or may be the LED on the verge of getting destroyed, this will tell you which value of resistor was actually optimal during the procedure...
wish you all the best.
Ok thanks, if does not work I will just build one of your Emergency circuits thanks BuddyReplyDelete
Could I still build this circuit if I used 18V (2 x 9V batteries connected together) and used about 150 LEDs and 150 470Ohm resistors?
IF I could do this, how long would it light for?
Many thanks in advance.
yes it's possible just make sure each string now includes 5 LeDs in series with 150 ohms in each series
Thanks for your speedy answer.
Unfortunately, time is of the essence here, and I won't get the 150ohm resistors in the mail before the project is due.
Could I alternatively use a string of simply 470 ohm resistor with each individual led (in parallel) instead of 5 leds with 150ohm resistor? Like this:
│led+470 ohm resistor│
│ │
│led+470 ohm resistor│
│ │
│led+470 ohm resistor│
│ │
│led+470 ohm resistor│
│ │
│led+470 ohm resistor│
│ │
│led+470 ohm resistor│
│ │
│led+470 ohm resistor│
│ │
│led+470 ohm resistor│
│ │
│led+470 ohm resistor│
│ │
│led+470 ohm resistor│
│ │
│led+470 ohm resistor│
│ │
│led+470 ohm resistor│
Thanks again for any help you can give.
18 - 3.3 / 0.02 = 735 ohms
470 will burn the 5mm 20 mA LEDs at 18V
as per the calculations it will need to be at least 735 ohms.
you could for a 680 ohm or even a 1K.
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Dept. Code: EPH
• Master of Public Health (MPH)
• Master of Science in Public Health (MSPH)
• Doctor of Philosophy in Epidemiology (PhD)
The Graduate Programs in the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine are at the forefront of public health science with emphases on research, education, and evidence-based, public health service. The Graduate Programs promotes an environment of learning and inquiry, stressing the scientific method as a way of generating knowledge about common pathways in health and illness. The mission of the Graduate Programs in Epidemiology and Public Health is to develop leaders who can expand and translate knowledge into policy and practice to promote health and prevent disease in human populations.
The Master of Public Health (MPH) degree is a professional degree for students who require a broad general academic experience in public health. Students will acquire competency in the fundamental public health disciplines. This includes research design and conduct, data analysis and policy analysis, communications, program planning and administration, public health systems and the organization of health services in the United States and Latin America, recognition and analysis of ethical issues in public health and professional practice, the needs of special populations, and the integration of these core disciplines in public health decision making. The MPH degree is a 45 semester-hour program that is accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health. The 45 credit degree program consists of 27 credits of core coursework, 12 credits of electives and 6 credits for the capstone/culminating experience.
The MSPH is an academic research degree designed for students who wish to prepare for further study at the doctoral level, or to prepare for research or technical positions in government, industry, academia, or private institutions. Studies will include many of the core disciplines included in the MPH degree with an additional emphasis on advanced research methods and quantitative analysis skills. The 45 credit degree consists of 24 credits of core coursework, 15 credits of electives and 6 credits for the capstone/culminating experience. The MSPH program is accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health.
Full-time students can expect to complete the MPH or MSPH degree requirements within 2 years. A nine-credit waiver may be available for students who enter the MPH or MSPH degree programs with an earned advanced degree (e.g., MD, DDS, DVM).
The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Epidemiology is an intensive research training program for students with prior training in Epidemiology or related disciplines. It provides advanced education and training for students seeking a professional career in medical and health-related research, as well as for physicians and other persons who have attained professional degrees and are seeking to integrate epidemiological research and methods into their ongoing careers. The program is primarily designed for persons who have an MPH degree, as well as for physicians and others who have a master's or doctoral degree in a related discipline.
All Ph.D. students are required to complete sixty-six (66) credit hours. There are 9 core courses in epidemiology and biostatistics (30 credit hours), 8 courses (24 credit hours) in electives and the dissertation (12 credit hours).
Joint degree programs are also offered in conjunction with the School of Medicine (MD/MPH, MD/PhD), School of Law (JD/MPH), School of Business (MPA/MPH), and the College of Arts and Sciences (MAIA/MPH).
• Online Application and non-refundable application fee of 65 USD.
• Official transcripts from all previously attended colleges and universities. All foreign transcripts must be official and submitted in the original language. If the original language is not English, an official translation must be submitted along with the transcript. We do not accept evaluations from foreign credentialing service organizations.
• Official GRE test scores (code 5815). Alternatively we accept the MCAT, LSAT, GMAT and DAT for the MPH/MSPH degree programs only. Applicants to the MPH/MSPH program that hold advanced degrees (MD, PhD, JD) are encouraged but not required to submit test scores.
• Resume/Curriculum Vitae including employment, activities, community service, education, academic or professional honors.
• Statement of purpose detailing your academic interest in our program as well as your future career goals. This statement should discuss any experience you have in public health including field experience, training, education or other related qualifications. Discuss how earning this degree will contribute to your future and the future of public health.
• Three letters of recommendation from people who are best able to assess your ability to be successful in a public health degree program. Ideally, your recommenders are recent professors, researchers or employers in a related field. You will be asked for your recommenders' contact information on the online application. They will be sent an online form to complete via email.
To obtain detailed program curricula on the MPH/MSPH, PhD in Epidemiology and joint degree programs, please contact our offices at the address below or visit our website at http://publichealth.med.miami.edu/
For further information, please contact:
Graduate Programs Office
Department of Epidemiology and Public Health
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
P. O. Box 016069
Miami, Florida 33101
Tel: (305) 243-0291
E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com
Website: http://publichealth.med.miami.edu/
Dept. Code: BST
• Master of Science in Biostatistics (MS)
• Doctor of Philosophy in Biostatistics (PhD)
Prerequisites and requirements for these degrees are described below.
The essential background an ideal entering student would have is (1) a minimum of three semesters of calculus including partial derivatives and techniques for solving multiple integrals, (2) One semester of linear algebra, (3) one semester of probability theory, (4) four undergraduate courses in statistics or biostatistics. These four courses are to include a general introduction, linear regression, introductory mathematical statistics and at least one further course, typically drawn from multivariate analysis, nonparametrics, survey sampling and time series. Students who do not satisfy these pre-requisites may be required to make up their deficiencies during their first year of study.
Admitted MS students are expected to take a full suite of courses totaling 45 credits including four iterations of the seminar course, a consulting practicum as well as basic theory courses. In addition, students are expected to write a Major Paper and pass a written examination between their first two years of study. The standard course sequence can be found at:
Variations on this basic plan are permitted and decided on a case-by-case basis. Candidates may earn the MS on as part time or full time students.
Formally, the essential background an ideal entering student would have is the same as for the MS program apart from item (4) where a minimum of six undergraduate courses would be expected. In practice, the ideal student will have further evidence of a commitment to the field of biostatistics usually through more extensive course work, undergraduate theses, or already having earned an MS in biostatistics or statistics. Degrees in allied fields such as mathematics, computer science, and engineering are also evidence of commitment to biostatistics if the degree clearly emphasized biostatistics related content.
Admitted PhD students are expected to take a full suite of courses including several iterations of the seminar course, a consulting practicum (or advanced computing course), and a series of four to six courses that ensure the candidate has studied a subject matter discipline within biomedical research. PhD students are also expected to take high level courses in statistical theory, survival analysis, and high-dimensional and complex data not generally taken by MS students. A sample program can be found at
Variations on this basic plan are permitted and decided on a case-by-case basis. Candidates may earn the MS on as part time or full time students.
PhD students are expected to pass a first year exam between their first two years of study and to be examined on a thesis proposal normally at the end of their third year of study.
To obtain detailed program curricula on the Master of Science and PhD in Biostatistics, please contact our offices at the address below or visit our website at http://www.biostat.med.miami.edu/
For further information, please contact:
Division of Biostatistics
Department of Epidemiology and Public Health (R669)
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
1120 NW 14 Street, Room 1064
Miami, Florida 33136
Tel: (305) 243-6312
Fax: (305) 243-5544
E-mail: email@example.com
Website: http://www.biostat.med.miami.edu/


text:
184 PCNP 11 E bis- BELARUS A DIFFICULT PARTNER
1. Though sharing borders with three NATO member states, Belarus has not been high on the agenda of the Alliance. However, because of its geographical position, the country plays an important role in European stability. Moreover, Belarus serves as an important energy corridor between Russia and Europe. Although Minsk has a close, if sometimes difficult, relationship with Moscow, it is a NATO partner country and participates in a number of its programmes. Co-operation remains limited, though, and Minsk's crackdown on the opposition following the latest presidential election in Belarus has minimised the chance for short-term improvement in its relations with the West. The latest wave of revolutionary upheavals in the Middle East and North Africa highlights the need for a continuous and serious assessment of the evolving situation in Belarus. This report examines Belarus' foreign and security policy, its relations with the Alliance and with its neighbours. The paper also briefly refers to the latest domestic developments in the country and includes some recommendations for a conditions-based policy of engagement with Minsk.
2. As one of the Soviet Union's successor states, the Republic of Belarus gained its independence in 1991. The current president, Alexander Lukashenko, founder of the faction "Communists for Democracy," came to power on a populist platform in 1994, following the short rule of Stanislav Shushkevich. Belarus' political decision-making system is highly centralized and the regime is authoritarian. The main power levers in Belarus are in the hands of the President who has sweeping executive authority. Notable experts and public figures, such as former US President George W. Bush, have described Belarus as the "last remaining dictatorship in Europe". Presidential powers were significantly increased by constitutional amendments in 1996 and again in 2005, when presidential term limits were removed altogether. The President exercises unchecked control over the bureaucracy, including the security apparatus, the military and the law enforcement agencies. The constitution states that presidential decrees have more binding legal force than ordinary legislation. Political parties play only a marginal role in the country's political process. More than two thirds of the candidates registered for the 2008 parliamentary election were not affiliated with any one political party but were non-partisans loyal to the government. No opposition party made it to the National Assembly during the last elections. As Dzianis Melyantsou shared with the Political Committee during the 2010 Annual Session in Warsaw, there is no viable opposition to counter Mr Lukashenko's rule. In fact, the opposition lacks unified leadership and the party structures are only poorly developed. One of the reasons why the opposition remains weak and divided is that a large part of the economy is state-controlled, thus providing the President with the financial means to constrain any party perceived as a threat to his power.
3. Civil society in Belarus is weak and has no firm hold. The government places severe limits on media freedom. Belarus ranks 154th out of 178 countries according to the Press Freedom Index of "Reporters Without Borders". The vast majority of print media in Belarus is state-owned, with a small number of privately-owned newspapers of limited circulation. Print media outlets are obliged to register with the state press distributor. In 2010, Belarus ranked 127th on Transparency International's Corruption Perception Index, with a score of 2.5 while Freedom House characterizes it as "not free".
4. Despite its authoritarian character, the regime enjoys a modicum of domestic approval, which is largely contingent upon the artificial sustenance of the economy and only presents a vague reflection of the economic fundamentals. Mr Lukashenko's carefully crafted image as Belarus' indispensable leader has been considered favourably by the broader audience, especially among rural constituencies. Although waning, his popularity owes to the fact that the regime provides some, if little, stability in uncertain times and the fact that Belarus has remained relatively shielded from the economic malaise experienced in Russia or Ukraine following the collapse of the Soviet Union. For the most part, the social contract in Belarus can be described as the exchange of basic economic survival for political loyalty and restraint from social activism.
5. In comparison to the other successor states of the former Soviet Union, Belarus has, so far, enjoyed notable socio-economic stability. State-owned industries employ more than half of the population - unemployment is very low and there is little income inequality. The state offers generous social services in the form of healthcare, pensions, education and others. The economy is centrally managed, with a heavy industrial base that is largely unreformed (contributing to approximately 52 % of the country's GDP). However, the economic picture is deteriorating fast and it seems unlikely that Minsk will be able to maintain current levels of economic and social stability - rising inflation and a steep decline in the country's foreign exchange reserves have put increasing pressure on the government.
6. The latest report on Belarus conducted by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development reveals that the country is experiencing a "severe balance of payments crisis, triggered by large direct lending, rapid growth of public sector wages and pensions, and loose monetary policy."1 In May 2011, Belarus devalued the ruble by 36%, which led to an increase in import prices and caused panic among the public. Instead of allowing a rebalancing of domestic and external demand, the government exerted greater control over the currency and consumer markets, a move that was anticipated to add more stress to the financial framework, which witnessed 44 per cent inflation in June alone. The multiplicity of currency exchange rates is seen as one of the drivers for inflation, which is projected to average between 55-75% by the end of the year. The country's hard currency reserves have fallen by $100 million over the past month alone.2 The head of the Belarus Ministry for macroeconomic analysis predicted that consumer prices would continue to soar. Furthermore, basic commodities have disappeared from the shelves, prompting consumer hoarding, as producers choose to sell their products in neighbouring Russia, where the currency is stable.
7. Rating agencies, such as Moody's, downgraded Belarus's foreign and local-currency government bond ratings, making them the lowest-rated in Eastern Europe. Moody's also forecast that the ruble may soon decline by as much as 50% against the US dollar. In late August, Mr Lukashenko surprisingly announced that he would let the ruble float starting in mid-September, declaring his intention to defend the currency, adding that Belarus anticipated a $ 5 billion loan, although he did not specify its origin. The IMF had also urged Belarus to float the ruble and close the gap between the currency's multiple exchange rates. In May 2011, Belarus requested a substantial loan from the IMF, which had extended a total of $3,46 billion to Belarus in 2009 and 2010 under its stand-by agreement. The outcome of the IMF negotiations is not yet clear but denying Minsk a much-needed loan could further boost Moscow's influence. While Mr Lukashenko seeks to display a certain level of control over the situation, analysts indicate that the crisis is only in the initial stages and that it is far more deeply-rooted and systemic than a short-term recession.
8. The 2010 presidential elections and the ensuing political repression put an end to the cautious steps towards economic and political liberalisation that had been taken in the second half of 2009. Assessing the conduct of the last elections, international observers concluded that "Belarus has a considerable way to go in meeting its OSCE commitments for democratic elections". While the 2010 campaign represented an improvement upon previous elections campaigns, problems remained. Noting that the government did not conduct a transparent vote count and did not allow opposition parties to monitor that count, the OSCE election monitoring team categorised the vote counting in nearly half of the constituencies as "bad or very bad".
9. In the ensuing crackdown, police arrested approximately 700 people, including seven of the nine presidential candidates. Forty-two were charged with organising a riot, an offence carrying a prison term of five to 15 years. Soon after, Belarus decided not to renew the mandate of the OSCE Office in Minsk, which was forced to cease its operations. The crackdown prompted the European Union (EU) and member states of the Alliance, including the United States and Canada, to impose travel restrictions and asset freezes upon President Lukashenko and 170 other top Belarusian officials. In contrast, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev congratulated Alexander Lukashenko on his victory.
10. Since early June 2011, protesters in Belarus have resorted to utilizing social media such as VKontakte, the Russian equivalent of Facebook. An Internet group called "Revolution through the Social Network" has been organizing weekly demonstrations, taking the form of silent marches, with protestors playing a single tune on their mobile phones while clapping in unison. The security forces have arrested a number of protestors and the government passed a degree banning clapping in public. In his public address on Independence Day, on July 3, 2011, Mr Lukashenko denounced efforts to "destabilize" the country and pledged to quash any attempts to "copy a coloured revolution" in Belarus. Almost 400 people were detained after the protests during the Independence Day celebrations. In response to the protests, the Belarusian parliament has drafted a new law providing for sanctions for "organized inactivity."
11. With regard to the continuing detention of several activists arrested after the December elections, the Observation Mission of the International Committee for Monitoring the Human Rights Situation in Belarus has accused the Belarusian authorities of violating a number of UN treaties, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and the Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners adopted by the UN Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders in 1955. At the time of writing, the UN Human Rights Council is scheduled to hold a meeting on the situation in Belarus during its 18th session.
12. Regarding Belarus' strategic objectives, the Foreign Ministry of Belarus stresses that "cooperation with nations and international organisations […] is vital to encourage sustainable development and support [its] lucrative export potential". Furthermore, the Ministry highlights that Belarus' foreign policy is based on 'non-discrimination', a term which is largely used to justify interaction and arms deals with "the world's pariahs".
13. Belarus' regional role is important, given that it is a key transit point for migrants and is essential for the channelling of oil and natural gas from Russia to Europe. Although it is Russia's strongest regional ally, Minsk has pursued a foreign policy that ensures its independence and territorial integrity. Straddled geographically between NATO and the EU to one side, and Russia on the other, Minsk has pursued varied tactics, trying to play one against the other while remaining open to engagement with whoever suited Minsk's interests.
14. A long-standing issue of concern has been Belarus' role as an international weapons exporter. Although the volume has declined, Belarus remains an important arms supplier to numerous autocratic regimes around the world. There have been various reports of formal or unconfirmed deals made by Belarus to Syria, Palestinian groups, Sudan as well as Libya and Ivory Coast, which are currently under a UN arms embargo. Between 2004 and 2008, two-thirds of Belarus' arms exports went to Africa, and more specifically to Sudan, which accounted for 40% of Belarus' total arms exports. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), Belarus is currently supplying weapons to Libya despite the UN arms embargo. In an interview with Reuters, SIPRI arms trafficking expert Hugh Griffiths said that "SIPRI can confirm, based on our sources, aircraft landing in Libya carrying military equipment that come from Belarus, and that Gaddafi's aircraft, his executive jet, has been flying from Libya to Belarus".
15. Belarus has close historical and cultural ties to Russia and efforts to establish a political and economic "union" between the two countries have had substantial public support in Belarus. However, public attitudes in Belarus demonstrate a subtle shift regarding Belarus' political future. According to recent polls, conducted by the Belarus Independent Institute for Social and Economic Research, public support for unification with Russia dwindled from 56.3% to 35.4% between 2006 and 2010, while EU membership grew from 27.5% to 42.2% over the same period.
16. Minsk and Moscow maintain a multifaceted and dynamic relationship that has taken various twists and turns in recent years. The Russian Federation is Belarus' main trading partner. It supplies 54.5% of all Belarus' imports and receives 30.4% of its exports (primarily minerals, chemical products, machinery and food). Moreover, Russia is also the country's main investor (approximately 82.5 % of the foreign investments in Belarus). Up until 2006, the Russian Federation provided its neighbour with sizable subsidies in the form of under-market prices for oil and gas and despite a recent rise, from $46 to $170 from 2006 to 2010, gas prices remain generally low and well below the market levels. Most recently, Belarus' power supply was cut in half by the Russian power network operator over unpaid bills. Most recently, Belarus requested easing the conditions of a loan that it had requested of Russia's top lender Sberbank and Deutsche Bank. The initial conditions of the loans envisioned granting Moscow with export contracts and a 35 per cent stake in Belarus chief potash exporter Belaruskali.3
17. Military co-operation between the two countries remains strong. The latest Russian military doctrine of 2010 makes explicit mention of Belarus, emphasizing the security of the "Union State of Belarus and Russia". According to the text of the doctrine, Russia "considers an armed attack on the state-participant in the Union State, as well as all other actions involving the use of military force against it, as an act of aggression against the Union State, and it will take measures in response". The Russian Federation has a number of military bases on the territory of Belarus near Baranovici as well as a naval communication centre near Vileyka. In general though, the pace of integration between Belarus and Russia has been inconsistent.
18. Along with the Russian Federation, Belarus is a member of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO), which was founded on the basis of the Collective Security Treaty (1992). The Russian Federation plays a prominent role in the organisation, which also includes Armenia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. Russia's national security strategy to 2020 underlines the role to be played by CSTO as "the main interstate instrument for responding to regional threats and challenges of a military-political or military-strategic nature". The organisation has been marketed domestically as a counterpart to NATO. Following the 2008 war with Georgia, President Medvedev urged that CSTO be strengthened to be "no worse than NATO".
19. In February 2009, five CSTO member states agreed to establish a Collective Rapid Reaction Force (CRRF) to serve against military aggression, conduct anti-terrorist operations, fight transnational crime and drug trafficking, and to respond to natural disasters. CSTO did not take action during the ethnic clashes in Kyrgyzstan in 2010 and was unable to agree on the provision of military assistance, provoking President Lukashenko to question the future of the organisation. After its parliament ratified CRRF in May 2010, Belarus pledged to contribute more than 2,000 military personnel to the force, including conventional military units, counterterrorism officers and a contingent from the intelligence services. Holding this year's Presidency of CSTO, Belarus has highlighted the need to address the organisation's peacekeeping efforts as well as the activities of CSTO Collective Rapid Response units. During the recent CSTO summit in Astana, chaired by Mr Lukashenko, a number of draft decision were chartered, such as an agreement to strengthen the collective rapid response forces, to set up a special co-ordination body to analyze information networks and security, as well as to boost co-operation on drug trafficking from Afghanistan. CSTO Secretary General Nikolai Bordyuzha announced that the heads of state had "agreed to use collective rapid response forces for the sake of protecting the constitutional order in a particular CSTO member state."4
20. There has been considerable economic and political tension between Minsk and Moscow, including, among others, the fact that Belarus did not recognise the independence of SouthOssetia or Abkhazia after the 2008 Georgia War. Friction between the two countries also arose as Russia sought to obtain a controlling share of the Belarusian pipeline network Beltransgaz, amongst other vital distribution and processing assets. The dispute over the price of Russian gas deliveries to Belarus was resolved after Belarus ceded 50 per cent of the Beltransgaz shares to the Russian gas company Gazprom. Similarly, the Urals Potash Company has announced plans of taking over Belarus Potash. Other points of disagreement related to Belarus' initial refusal to sign on the CRRF agreement and the fact that it provided a safe haven to Kyrgyzstan's Kurmanbek Bakiyev. What is more, the harsh coverage of President Lukashenko in Russia throughout 2010, up until the elections in November that year, contributed to a souring in relations. In an interview with the French daily "Le Figaro", President Lukashenko accused Russia of financing opposition candidates Vladimir Nyaklyaeu and Andrei Sannikov. Recently, Moscow criticized the fact that numerous Russian citizens had been detained during the latest waves of protests in the country.
21. Bilateral relations between Minsk and Moscow have remained fitful in recent months. Nevertheless, the somewhat combative rhetoric seems to belie a number of recently-signed agreements between the two countries. In December 2010, a day before the presidential election, Belarus and Russia signed an agreement which removed duties on exports of crude oil to Belarus deal, equivalent to a $4 billion subsidy. The export duty issue had been threatening to freeze a substantial part of the Belarus economy and removed the last obstacle to Belarus' accession into the free trade zone agreed by Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus, set to go in force in 2013. At the latest Customs Union Business Forum, Prime Minister Putin expressed hope for the formation of the Eurasian Economic Union, which "can and must start operating as early as 2013."5
22. Since president Lukashenko came to power, Belarus' relations with the EU have been uneasy. While he has repeatedly called for closer economic ties with the Union, he has rejected criticism of his regime as interference in the country's affairs. The EU restricted official contact with Minsk in the late 1990s and Belarus remains the only ex-Soviet country outside the Partnership and Co-operation Agreement (PCA) framework. Due to this, Belarus has long been excluded from the EU's "European Neighbourhood" policy, which seeks to improve ties with countries neighbouring the EU. The Union barred high-ranking Belarusian officials involved in the disappearance and murder of four journalists and politicians from its territory, as well as those involved in subsequent cover-ups. In the December 2004 elections, the EU announced an extension of its visa ban to "persons who are directly responsible for the fraudulent elections and referendum in Belarus on October 17, 2004 and those who are responsible for severe human rights violations in the repression of peaceful demonstrators in the aftermath of the elections and referendum in Belarus". After the equally fraudulent presidential elections of March 2006, the EU imposed a visa ban and an asset freeze upon 31 high-ranking Belarusian officials, including Mr Lukashenko, key members of the Belarusian presidential administration, parliament, law enforcement ministries, and election authorities.
23. In a move to boost the development of Belarusian civil society, Western governments have encouraged a more active engagement with Minsk in recent years. The EU therefore boosted relations with Belarus after the Russian-Belarus tension over energy prices in 2006 and 2007, in exchange for political and economic liberalisation. Following the release of three prominent political prisoners, the EU decided to temporarily lift the sanctions it had imposed on the Belarus leadership with the hope the regime would be willing to review its undemocratic practices. The suspension of sanctions was subsequently extended. In May 2009, the Union invited Belarus to join its Eastern Partnership Initiative, designed to facilitate co-operation with Eastern European and Caucasus nations. The EU is also considering facilitating visa regimes and travel procedures for Belarus citizens. In the long term, the initiative foresees the creation of a free trade zone and visa free travel to the EU.
24. Belarus' attempted rapprochement with the West, although inconsistent and hesitant, generated tangible economic benefits. It significantly improved Minsk's international standing and contributed to a certain degree of progress, albeit erratic, towards political liberalisation. Perhaps as a consequence of that, the 2010 preelection campaign was considerably more open and democratic. Nevertheless, from the perspective of the EU, neither dialogue nor isolation has been particularly fruitful vis-à-vis the regime in generating political or economic reform. Civil society remains weak and Mr Lukashenko maintains a tight grip over the country.
25. Following the December 2010 crackdown, the EU imposed a travel ban on and froze the assets of President Lukashenko and 157 of his political associates, recently adding 19 names to the sanctions list. In June 2011, the EU also decided to take measures against three Belarusian companies, associated with President Lukashenko. Most recently, the EU High Representative Catherine Ashton released a statement denouncing the sentencing and use of capital punishment in connection with two recent criminal cases. This statement was a follow up to a previous release by Ms Ashton on the brutal handling of the "silent protesters," many of whom "have been mistreated by law enforcement personnel and fined or sentenced to administrative arrest on questionable charges."6 While the charges were dropped against Ryhor Kastusyow, deputy chairman of the Belarusian Popular Front (BPF) and a candidate in last year's presidential election, other pressing cases remain outstanding. The President of the European Parliament has been continuously calling for the release of opposition leader Dzmitry Bandarenka who is in need of medical treatment and has been forced to undergo surgery in the Minsk City Clinical Hospital. The authorities recently arrested a prominent human rights activist Ales Byalyatski on charges of tax evasion. Mr Lukashenko allegedly pledged to release all political prisoners by the end of September 2011, as conveyed by Bulgaria's Foreign Minister in a letter to Catherine Ashton.7 Currently, the Belarus stance is under review at a meeting in Sopot (2-3 September) Gymnich of the 27 EU foreign ministers, led by Ms. Ashton, in Poland. The United States has also imposed sanctions against Belarus, which, in turn, announced the suspension of its nuclear programme to eliminate all its stocks of highly enriched uranium until the sanctions were lifted.
26. NATO-Belarus relations are based on dialogue and the pursuit of common interests. Cooperation is focused on working-level engagement and capacity building. Belarus has developed an Individual Partnership Programme (IPP) and partakes in the Planning and Review Process (PARP), a defence reform framework tasked to train and prepare the Belarusian military for participation in international peacekeeping operations. Despite fluctuations (relations took a downward turn in the aftermath of the 2006 presidential election), dialogue between Belarus and NATO has been sustained. In 1995, Belarus joined NATO's Partnership for Peace programme (PfP), which provided the context for successful co-operation - Belarus participates in approximately 100 NATO training activities per year, aiming to assist Belarus in reaching its PARP benchmarks. Belarus is also a contributor to the Northern Distribution Network that supplies the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF). Moreover, Belarus has offered to host the 2012 exercise of the Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Co-ordination Centre (EADRCC).
27. However, when compared to NATO's relations with other third countries, interaction with Belarus has rather been limited and Minsk's attitudes to NATO can be, at best, summarized as ambivalent. Belarus was strongly opposed to NATO's enlargement in Central Europe. Government officials, including President Lukashenko, have repeatedly highlighted the military threat that NATO represents. According to independent expert Dzianis Meliantsou, who briefed the Political Committee during the 2010 Annual Session in Warsaw, recent polls show that only 22% of the population support closer co-operation with NATO, while a mere 10% of the population favours membership.
28. In recognition of Belarus' important geo-strategic location and the fact that it is a direct neighbour to NATO (Belarus borders three NATO states), the Alliance has kept the security dialogue open, preferring engagement and dialogue over isolation. Nevertheless, it has repeatedly expressed concern regarding the political and human rights situation in Belarus, an issue that has been often raised by NATO representatives during exchanges with Belarus officials. This highlights the need for any high-level engagement with Belarus to be reviewed by NATO on a case-by-case basis.
29. Belarus remains a difficult partner for NATO, and the EU in particular. While Minsk continues its participation in PfP and a number of other NATO activities, relations with the EU have been in deadlock since the government's crackdown on protestors and opposition figures following the disputed presidential election on 19 December 2010 and the recent demonstrations. NATO and the EU remain concerned about the political and human rights situation in Belarus. The repression following the election stands in stark opposition to commitments made to the OSCE, the Council of Europe and NATO (in the PfP Framework Document). The international community has unanimously condemned the actions of the Lukashenko regime and EU and NATO member states have imposed travel restrictions upon and frozen the assets of President Lukashenko and senior Belarusian officials.
30. Unless the Belarusian government does a U-turn, putting a halt to repression and adopting a course that allows for political as well as economic reforms, there is little hope that relations between Minsk and the West can be restored to pre-December 2010 levels. Minsk has failed to respect human rights or uphold democratic standards in the past. President Lukashenko has engaged in limited co-operation with the West when it suited him and has increased repression when he deemed necessary. As far as the NATO Parliamentary Assembly's relations with the Parliament of Belarus are concerned, your Rapporteur does not believe the Assembly could reengage unless the regime in Minsk changes its course. Indeed, it would be desirable to establish useful contact with the members of the Belarus diaspora and to invite speakers from outside the governmental sphere to seminars organised by the NATO PA.
31. Yet, as a direct neighbour of NATO and the EU, Belarus has an important role to play in European security and stability. Therefore, NATO and the EU have an interest in continuing and, where possible, further developing a working relationship with Belarus. Belarus, on the other hand, is interested in maintaining its independence and sovereignty and has in the past used its relations with NATO and the EU as a lever in its bilateral relations with Russia. The deteriorating economic and financial situation of Belarus provided an incentive for the regime in Minsk to improve its relationship with the West, but the violent crackdown in December badly damaged the progress towards better relations.
32. While the current financial crisis gripping Belarus might provide an entry point for greater involvement by the West it appears that Belarus is drifting more and more into the realm of Russian influence. However, the economic and financial challenges that the country faces require urgent reforms of the economy. Thus far, the Minsk government has been unable to come up with a viable strategy to improve economic conditions. Moreover, the opposition itself is weak, divided and ineffective. Opposition parties lack functioning party structures. Critics, such as Rodger Potocki, suggest that the opposition is out of touch with the needs of the population; opposition candidates are often primarily concerned with their personnel advancement8. NATO member countries should therefore continue, and where possible, improve their assistance to build up civil society in Belarus. Assistance provided to institutions like the European Humanities University in Vilnius, Lithuania can make an important contribution in this regard. As mentioned above, the NATO Parliamentary Assembly should continue to monitor the developments in Belarus closely and include independent experts on the country in its activities where appropriate.
33. NATO and the EU should keep the door open for dialogue. However, engaging Belarus has to be based on the principle of conditionality. NATO and the EU must make it clear that relations with Belarus can only improve if Minsk ends its repression of the opposition. At the very least, Belarusian authorities must release anyone detained for the expression of critical views regarding the outcome of the election and not imprison additional political opponents. The Allies should also demand a clear roadmap for democratic reform and free and fair elections to be developed by the Belarusian authorities, with the assistance of international institutions. The transatlantic partners must remain committed to supporting the democratic aspirations of the people of Belarus. The EU has a leading role to play in this regard and the international donor's conference "Solidarity with Belarus" in Warsaw in February 2011 has been a good step in this direction.
34. Unfortunately, in the past, NATO and the EU considered their relations with Belarus primarily as an appendage to their relationships with Russia. It is time to recognize Belarus as a country of its own playing its part in the European political and security landscape and keep it on our agenda. Democratic countries, NATO and the EU in particular, must speak with one voice and strongly advocate democratic reform and respect for human rights in Belarus.


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Apparently, I have writers block. It's been going on for a while now and it sucks. Big time. I know I have many things I could write about, but the words will not come. Which means I'm stuck on the book I'm writing too, not just my blog. Ugh. I've read many many tips and ideas on how to get over this block, including my favorite, "talk to a monkey" like this person suggested. Ummm…I wonder if a fish would work? I think my daughter still has Nemo. Must try.
I wish I had some tootsie rolls.
Have you ever had writer's block? What did you do to overcome it?
Leave a Reply
8 Comments on "I May Talk To A Monkey"
I get writer's block all the time. Sometimes, I just take a walk to clear my mind, or talk to my daughter about how her day went. That's when the ideas start to flood in.
I feel your pain. I've been struggling with what to write about lately, and with not sounding like everyone else!
I get writers block alot and other times I am overflowing with ideas. I found when I am overflowing with ideas that I jot them down on a word document. So if I can't think of a topic to write about then I can revert to my list of topics which would hopefully trigger something for me to write about.
I don't know if I have writer's block, but there are times I just don't feel like writing anything for my blog. I guess I get lazy at times.
Stopping by from VoiceBoks!
I can't say that I have had a writers blog but sometimes to get inspiration I look at some writing prompts or the pictures that I have recently taken.


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Medina del Campo Vacation Packages
The national capital Madrid is located 90 miles (145 kilometers) southeast of Medina del Campo.
Enjoy Medina del Campo's sights. Visit the Plaza Mayor de la Hispanidad and the Castillo de la Mota.
When it comes to getting the most out of your holidays, it's worth keeping in mind that Medina del Campo is merely just the start; Castilla - Leon has been blessed with an abundance of scenic wonders. Visit the Plaza Mayor and Museo de San Antolin in and around Tordesillas, some 14 miles (23 kilometers) to the south of Medina del Campo.
Once you've fully explored Medina del Campo, check out the nearest center. Valladolid is situated 25 miles (40 kilometers) away and features attractions including Jose Zorilla Stadium, Valladolid Cathedral and University of Valladolid. San Pablo Church, Museo de la Ciencia and Centro Cultural Miguel Delibes are also good to visit.
Take a trip to Castilla - Leon's art museums, history museums and art galleries. These are great places to explore, particularly when the weather is less than perfect.
Travelers in search of an adrenaline rush can test their limits by signing up for a mountain climbing or rock climbing adventure. If you are searching for a unique way to experience the Castilla - Leon area, have a go at hot air ballooning.
At the end of your stay in Medina del Campo, use your last euros on last minute keepsakes and bid a fond Adiós (farewell).


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Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Business Sectors
There are three main sectors of industry
- The Primary Sector
- The Secondary Sector
- The Tertiary Sector
The Primary Sector
This sector is involved with gathering the raw materials from which everything else is made.
Types of industry in the primary sector are:
- Farming - the production of food
- Mining – mining metals and minerals
- Fishing – catching and gathering food from seas, rivers and lakes
- Forestry – growing and managing forests for wood production
Each of these primary industries has traditionally been labour intensive. Most of the work was done by people, and little or no information technology was used. This has now changed, particularly in the developed world.
Farmers often use computers and software to manage the farming paperwork. Fishing ships and boats use computerised sonar devices to find shoals of fish, and global positioning systems to navigate the seas.
The Secondary Sector
The secondary sector processes the raw materials from the primary sector. This means that they take the raw materials and make them into finished items.
Types of industry in the secondary sector are:
- Food and drink - processing raw foodstuffs, such as making wheat into bread.
- Manufacturing cars
- Building
Many centuries ago a lot of these types of industry used simple tools, then during the Industrial Revolution mechanical tools were invented to make life easier. Nowadays manufacturing processes are often controlled by computers and use robots.
Computers are used to control food processing so that the product is always the same. Robots are used to do the welding, painting and other processes involved in car manufacture.
The Tertiary Sector
The tertiary sector comprises the service industries.
Types of industry in the tertiary sector are:
- Banking
- Insurance
- Delivery services
- Health services
- Education
- Police
These industries involve a lot of paperwork. Paper records were originally handwritten, then machinery such as the typewriter and calculator made paperwork quicker and more efficient. Now ICT has replaced these older methods. Computers are used to word process, calculate and maintain data records.


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Join Date:04-25-2007
Last Activity:05-08-2007 5:01 AM
- retired firefighter/paramedic
- fishing, hunting, do-it-yourself stuff
- staying retired, Young Marines Volunteer Staff
Posted in thread: Vehicle Safes? on 11-11-2008 at 08:35 PM
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Posted in thread: Hi folks from Marietta, GA on 04-26-2007 at 03:19 AM
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In 2005, citizens of the city of Houston and surrounding areas fled the city in anticipation of Hurricane Rita's arrival. Today, sports fans in the city of Houston, who just recently endured the NFL draft in which the Houston Texans passed on heralded star Reggie Bush, may be ready to flee again after watching the Houston Rockets draft and then apparently trade away potential star Rudy Gay.
It should be noted that, coincidentally, Hurricane Rita missed a direct hit on the city of Houston. That seems apropos for Houston sports fans today.
With the eighth pick in the 2006 NBA Draft, the Houston Rockets knew they would get the opportunity to pick a very talented young player. But because of the volatility of the picks before them, they were in the dark as to exactly which player would still be available for them.
Fans in Houston were certainly rejoicing when the 6-9, 220 lb small forward slipped to the eighth pick. Rudy Gay would seem to be a near perfect fit for the Rockets rotation and a potential star in the league. His long arms and defensive ability would seem to fit well in the defensive minded scheme Jeff Van Gundy preaches. And his offensive potential would fit in nicely next to superstars Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming.
With two established stars and scoring options in front of him, Gay would have an opportunity to develop his offensive game to the NBA level while still contributing regular minutes to the rotation. Tracy McGrady would be able to slide back to the shooting guard spot, which is reportedly where he would prefer to play, and the Rockets would have significantly increased their ability to put 4 or 5 quality players on the court at one time.
But apparently, that is not to be. The Rockets have reportedly traded the draft rights of Rudy Gay and the contract of last year's free agent acquisition Stromile Swift to division rival Memphis for Shane Battier. The deal can not become official until at least July 12th due to league salary rules. So neither team is able to officially discuss the deal. But an agreement has clearly been made and thus far nobody has disputed the principle players in the trade.
Houston Rockets fans are probably feeling like they were just stiff-armed by Reggie Bush on his way to the end zone. Certainly, Shane Battier is a very good pickup for the Rockets. He is a legitimate starter in the league though he is not regarded as a star.
In many ways, Battier provides all of the features Rudy Gay appears to have. He is just about the same size, 6-8 and 220 lbs, although his arms may not be quite as long. He is a hustle player known for his defense and tenacity. He is clearly a Jeff Van Gundy kind of player as well. And to his credit, he is a proven NBA player having played 5 seasons for Memphis while averaging 10.5 points, 1.7 assists, 45% shooting, 38% 3-point shooting and about one turnover, block and steal a game.
He also comes with a 5 year contract starting at over $5 million next season. Which is considerably more than Rudy Gay's rookie contract will pay over the next five years. In comparison, Channing Frye was drafted 8th last year and made just over $2 million in his rookie season.
Apparently also going over to Memphis in the deal is Stromile Swift. He was a huge disappointment for the Rockets last season after signing as a free agent in 2006. Jeff Van Gundy was clearly not pleased with his play and attitude. But he is still young and considered to have good potential if a coach can ever get it out of him. Swift's contract is for almost exactly the same amount of money as Battier next season, but Swift's deal only has three seasons remaining.
Over the next five years, the salaries of Swift and Gay will likely combine for about the same total, around $32 million, as Battier will make during those 5 years. That is assuming Swift is not resigned in the fourth year.
The trade probably isn't a terrible trade as trades go, but it has the potential to turn out to be very lopsided in favor of Memphis. They got two players for one and got the player with the greatest potential all while coming out about even on total salary.
Jeff Van Gundy's tenure in Houston has seen a continual parade of veteran players arriving to try to fill in the gaps. Previous experiments with players near the end of their career like Charlie Ward, Bob Sura, and Derrick Anderson failed miserably last season. Shane Battier is a nice improvement over those previous and still a young player in comparison to some of his predecessors. Clearly the Rockets believe they are in a "win now" situation and have little patience for young and unproven players to develop.
Meanwhile, if the details of the rumored trade are accurate then the Rockets lost an opportunity to get younger, establish a deeper bench and lost a potential star in the league. Fans in Houston will be crossing their fingers that Trace McGrady stays healthy this next season and Shane Battier excels in the starting lineup. Or else their gaze may often wander to another channel so they can watch the exploits of Reggie Bush in New Orleans and Rudy Gay in Memphis while they wonder what could have been.


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A Scottdale man is not welcome on the campus of the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg, where he allegedly vandalized a restroom last month.
Robert William King, 55, of 414 Brook St., is charged with causing similar damage at Penn State Fayette, the Eberly Campus, on the same night.
"He cannot return, or he can be arrested on sight," Dale A. Blasko, chief of the Pitt-Greensburg police department, said on Monday. "This was our first contact with Mr. King, and hopefully, it is our last."
King, who does not appear to be enrolled in either school, visited both campuses on Dec. 12, causing about $650 worth of damage over several hours, security officers said.
Penn State Fayette security officer Scott Williams confirmed an "incident" is under investigation by state police.
Charges of institutional vandalism and criminal mischief were filed against King with North Union District Judge Wendy Dennis.
In a criminal complaint, Trooper Robert Reitler said graffiti was found on a men's bathroom stall in the Biomedical Building. The graffiti mentioned a specific person, who told police King had issues in the past with that person's father.
During an interview at King's home, Reitler said, King said he "commits similar incidents when he gets angry."
"He said he was (expletive) off and it was better than committing an act of violence," Reitler wrote.
Damage from "various ramblings," scrawled with indelible marker and spray paint, amounted to $500, according to police.
Pitt-Greensburg police filed a summary charge of criminal mischief against King with Hempfield District Judge James Falcon.
Blasko said King was among visitors attending a basketball game in Chambers Hall.
He said several men reported that one of the restroom stalls "had a tremendous amount of writing on the interior."
Campus police reviewed security video and the graffiti, which led them to contact state police at Uniontown, Blasko said.
"We learned they had a report of a similar complaint. We compared notes," he said.
Blasko declined to elaborate on the words written with the marker.
Damage was estimated at $150 to repaint the stall.
King faces a preliminary hearing on March 13 before Dennis on the Penn State charges.
He can request a hearing before Falcon to contest the charge, or he can elect to pay a fine.
Mary Pickels is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. She can be reached at 724-836-5401 or email@example.com.


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FORT COLLINS, Colo., Jan. 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Atrix Laboratories, Inc. announced today that the company has signed an exclusive licensing agreement with Han All Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., to develop and commercialize Eligard(R) (leuprolide acetate for injectable suspension) in Korea. Leutenizing hormone releasing hormone (LHRH) agonists, like Eligard, are commonly used for the treatment of hormone-responsive prostate cancer and other indications such as breast cancer and endometriosis around the world.
"Korea is the second largest LHRH market in pan-Asia after Japan and among the top twenty globally," said David R. Bethune, Atrix's chairman and chief executive officer.
Han All Pharmaceutical is a well-established Korean pharmaceutical company focusing on mainly prescription medicines. With the Atrix collaboration, Han All aims to become a top player in the Korean prostate cancer market.
Atrix will receive royalty payments based on sales of the Eligard products upon approval. Han All will be responsible for any pre-clinical and clinical studies required for approval and will be responsible for submission of the necessary documents to obtain marketing authorization. Finally, Atrix will manufacture the Eligard products for Han All at its facility in Fort Collins, Colorado and will earn manufacturing profits on each unit made.
Atrix Laboratories, Inc. is an emerging specialty pharmaceutical company focused on advanced drug delivery. With five unique patented technologies, Atrix is currently developing a diverse portfolio of proprietary products, including oncology, pain management, and dermatology products. The company also partners with large pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to apply its proprietary technologies to new chemical entities or to extend the patent life of existing products. Additional information is available on the Atrix Laboratories, Inc. website at http://www.atrixlabs.com/ .
This press release contains statements that qualify as "forward-looking statements" under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 including statements about Han All's goal to become a top player in the Korean prostate cancer market. The company is subject to certain risk factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from anticipated results. Those risks include, but are not limited to, risks associated with product demand, pricing, market acceptance, changing economic conditions, risks in product and technology development and competition from other products and treatments. For additional information about risk factors, please see the reports filed by the company with the SEC, including the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002 and the company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2003. All forward-looking statements in this press release are made as of the date hereof, based on information available to the company as of the date hereof, and the company assumes no obligation to update or revise any of its forward-looking statements even if experience or future changes show that the indicated results or events will not be realized.
CONTACT: Danette R.M. Meyer, Ph.D., Director of Investor Relations ofATRIX LABORATORIES, INC., +1-970-482-5868, email@example.com
Web site: http://www.atrixlabs.com/


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Painting I
Painting I provides a strong fundamental grasp of all aspects of the painting process, with instruction in opaque, glazing, and impasto techniques in both oil and acrylic, along with the basics of encaustic painting. We examine the historical context for all styles of painting, and expose the student to contemporary influences. Our goal is to prepare students for any type of upper-level work they might come to envision, and to place them in a position to succeed, whatever their career goals may be.
The course builds upon the skills obtained in the Art Foundations Sequence. We begin with standard approaches to the painting process in a medium, acrylics, with which most students are familiar. We then explore the techniques of the Old Masters, followed by the expressive impasto approaches introduced in the early modern period. We then examine how style and content are related in an assignment that explores the work of historically important artists. The final assignment asks the student to make their own artistic statement in preparation for upper-level painting investigations.


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As the zone of unpredictability boosts, plea bargaining becomes possible and the gain from hiring an attorney increases. For example, if the test shows a BAC to be.09 or.10, the field sobriety tests are undetermined, and no untoward behavior jumps out, the prosecution might want to change the charge from DUI to a lesser offense, such as careless driving-- a much less severe offense that in numerous states might still a misdemeanor, but which will result in a far less harsh sentence. Reckless driving is typically a fallback position for district attorneys who don't feel they can win a DUI case or who don't believe the realities validate a trial. This is referred to as a "legal fiction" in that there need not be any wrong owning whatsoever. The recklessness is suggested from having adequate alcohol in your system to risk damage or injury. In a handful of states, there are two ranges of reckless owning that are used in the plea bargaining context: a regular careless driving charge and something called a "damp careless." A wet reckless is when a charge of DUI is decreased to careless driving, and the record shows that alcohol was associated with some way. A damp negligent usually will not need prison time although probation is a possibility. Nor will the court likely require a license suspension (although the state's DMV might suspend the permit. Despite the decrease in charge). The fine might be less, and a less intensive DUI school may be required. Nevertheless, if you are accused of DUI in the future (within a period covering seven to 10 years), the damp negligent generally will count as a prior. Finally, insurer sees this charge as equal to a DUI regarding rate boosts. The legislative purpose in passing this kind of law is to encourage plea deals in close cases-- providing offenders a reason to plead guilty but providing to the federal government a method to obtain convictions. How Wet Reckless Functions in California. Here's how a wet careless varies from a DUI in California:. The DUI class is less extensive-- six weeks instead of 12 since just the educational element of the DUI program needs to be completed. The fine has to do with $800 less. The conviction will not lead to a suspension. (Nevertheless, if your BAC is greater than.08 your license will be suspended anyhow.). The conviction will not lead to a suspension of your business license. You can learn whether your state has a wet careless charge by going to Nolo's DUI & DWI section. Let's be clear. Lots of DUI defendants successfully do their plea bargaining in circumstances where bargains are freely given (for example, limited test scores like.09, or where there was no proof of possible harm to the neighborhood). However, if you are even more out on the margins of when the prosecutor feels obliged to obtain a DUI conviction, generating a lawyer to do it for you can pay off big time. If you are pursuing a decrease in the charge to a damp careless (or just reckless driving in states that do not have the wet careless arrangement), the possibilities are excellent that an attorney with a preexisting relationship with the prosecutor will have much better luck than you will have on your very own. After all, plea bargaining is an art form that includes a combination of legal understanding, experience, and poker skills. The prosecutor may not mind going to trial versus you alone, however, would rather not waste his/her time needing to deal with a controversial defense attorney. Representation alone may figure out the result, particularly in hard cases.
Some people financially qualify for the services of a public defender. If you have very little or no earnings and assets, you'll probably be able to get the P.D. to represent you. If on the other hand, you make average or better earnings, you'll have to hire your very own lawyer. A lot of states provide public protectors for qualified people implicated of DUI. Public defenders typically have a much better concept of the likelihood of a plea bargain in an offered case than do private defense attorneys since DUI cases are a large part of a public protector's caseload. Nevertheless, some public protectors have trustworthiness with the prosecutor's workplace (meaning they are willing to take cases to trial and are good at their job) while others have little reliability. The greater the credibility, the higher the opportunity for a good plea deal. Unless you have some concept of the public defender's credibility with the prosecutor, you may not benefit much from having them represent you as opposed to representing yourself-- at least in regards to acquiring a decrease in the charge. Also, in lots of areas of the nation public protectors are overwhelmed with a large case load, and they are not inclined to bring cases to trial unless they see a clear course to an acquittal or they are brand-new attorneys who want trial experience. Public protectors with large caseloads typically find themselves in weekly or monthly mass plea-bargaining sessions with their prosecutor counterparts in which a hundred or more cases at a time are fixed. In these sessions, your case may be a low priority for a settlement (in light of the other cases the general public protector is trying to settle). As a result, the public as a whole shield will indicate to you that you should plead guilty to the DUI charge and get it over with. If this occurs to you, you can consistently decide to have the public protector removed and represent yourself with an eye to doing your plea bargaining (at the minimum).Now is the time for buy the best breathalyzer on the market to avoid needing a legal representative for DUI.


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Few people involved in Lafourche Parish politics would argue that there is a dire need for a new jail.
The current jail is outdated, overcrowded and unsafe, to the people who are housed there and those who work there.
Officials in the Lafourche Parish Council, in the administration and with the Sheriff's Office agree that a new jail is needed. The essential questions now are where the new jail will be built, how big it will be, how much it will cost and how the parish will pay for it.
An advisory committee spent a year meeting with consultants and discussing possible approaches to getting a new jail and concluded only that the parish needs one.
Since the committee delivered its findings to the Parish Council, though, there has been almost no communication between parish government and the Sheriff's Office.
That is unacceptable.
"The law is clear that we have the obligation to operate a jail," Webre said. "To not be allowed to participate in every facet of the development process is disappointing."
Webre is absolutely right.
His department will be in charge of running the facility if and when the parish builds one.
He is in a unique position to offer educated insight about what his office needs to house the parish's jail population without incurring the cost of sending inmates to other parishes to be housed in their jails.
His input in the planning process is critical. Without it, the parish could be building a new jail that is obsolete before it opens.
Parish residents deserve much better.
If Lafourche is going to build a new jail — and that seems to be the consensus for what is needed — all interested parties must be part of the planning.
That means the Parish Council, the parish administration and the sheriff have to be communicating with each other and with parish residents, the people who will ultimately foot the bill for the jail.
The jail consultants hired by the committee recommended a $50 million jail that will house 894 inmates. Parish President Charlotte Randolph has suggested that a $20 million or $30 million facility will be more in keeping with the parish's ability to pay.
That might be. We want all parties to move forward with a keen eye toward containing cost and keeping the project affordable. However, everyone must realize that in addition to the cost of a new jail, there would be costs associated with not having enough jail space, too. For instance, the parish would have to pay other parishes for housing inmates. And there is a social cost to not having enough room to incarcerate those who must be taken off the streets.
There are no easy answers to the jail problem. These are tough economic times that demand difficult decisions. Those decisions, though, must be made with the input of everyone involved.
We simply cannot afford to act without properly considering all the alternatives. And to do that, the people in charge have to have information.
Communication is essential. Let's use it.
Editorials represent the opinions of the newspaper, not of any individual.
Make sure everyone is involved
Few people involved in Lafourche Parish politics would argue that there is a dire need for a new jail.


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Acrobat 9 and Acrobat.com eSeminar July 15
The Acrobat.com team are hosting a weekly eSeminar series right now. Next up: an eSeminar on how Acrobat 9 works with Acrobat.com for document-based collaboration, on July 15 from 4:30pm GMT/3:30pm UTC/11:30am EDT/8:30am PDT, presented by myself and Tad Staley.
To attend, simply go to http://my.adobe.acrobat.com/aclearn/ up to 15 minutes before the scheduled start time. Sign in as a guest and you will be taken to an Acrobat Connect Pro room. Conference call information will be provided inside the Acrobat Connect room.
For more information on the eSeminar schedule visit the Acrobat.com forum.
Hope to see you online!
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The Man tries hard to support my love of blogging. Some days he's successful. Others he is not.
It's the nature of the beast, you see. If he does not believe in something, even if this belief is born out of ignorance, he will automatically dismiss it as something not important.
One might say this is a very self absorbed approach to life.
I'm inclined to agree with One.
The Man is one of these folk who do not consider things that happen online as "real life". Now I can understand that people have come to form this view based on virtual reality stereotypes (e.g. gamers) but it is such a gross generalisation and it makes me feel quite stabby.
Blogging is my hobby, my time out for me. A creative outlet that would otherwise be repressed. The Man's hobby? Watching copious amounts of football (he also has an unhealthy obsession with courtroom "reality" shows but we'll leave that for another post).
About football he says: "At least it's real."
Real? Sure it may be real people who actually play, but it is only a game, after all. You may make some level of emotional investment in this game but what do you get in return?
Does the commentator say "You really have a good point there, Man!" when you yell abuse at the ref?
Do the players really care if you , The Man, watch or not?
Apart from losing a bet or hurting team pride, what are the stakes for you as an individual if the game is lost?
You are not playing. You are a spectator to someone else's reality.
But blogging, for me, is a little different.
Sure we are both facing a screen, but when I blog I am not playing or watching a game.
When I blog I am a real person, writing about real events in my life. These events are framed by real feelings, to which real people who read can often relate, respond and we really CONNECT. Maybe even form a friendship.
How can you get more real than that?
Even when I read someone else's blog, Facebook post or tweet, I can choose to be an active participant in their reality. They let me into their lives, they make me nod and smile, laugh and sometimes even cry. And I don't have to be a silent spectator or just a cheering face in the crowd. I can reach out and really CONNECT with that person. Regardless of geography, race or team colours.
Sure, some bloggers may show the world a slightly glossier version of their reality, but me? Real as it comes.
So my dear husband, yes blogging is real and like it or not you're married to a REAL blogger.
Does your partner understand your blog or hobby?


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The 16 Most Hilariously Dishonest Old School Advertisements
Modern advertising constantly straddles the line between creative marketing and straight-up bullshit. But back in the old days, advertising companies got away with winning their bread and butter through straight poker-faced lies.
#16. Almost All Women Are Poisonous. From the Questionable Statistics Department comes this ad depicting an assembly line of identical blondes who have to cross their legs at the ankles to keep their nether regions from exploding like angry beehives. The ad's vision of "procurable women" looks more like a store shelf of Barbie dolls, or the inside of a serial killer's eyelids when asked to picture "procurable women."
The real question is what they were even trying to accomplish here. Did they want to eradicate sex altogether? Were the Nazis trying to infiltrate the U.S. Navy with an army of gonorrhea-infected Stepford clones? Or was this a very specific piece of propaganda aimed at the three young sailors who would go on to star in the "Pep Boys" logo? Read more…


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FRANKFURT (Feb. 2)
The Frankfurt Criminal Court reduced yesterday the sentence of a leader of a group which terrorized a Jewish cafe-owner in the town of Koeppern, after deciding that there was no evidence to show that the citizens of Koeppern were anti-Semitic.
The owner, Kurt Sumpf, emigrated from the town, to which he had returned after the war, in a case which attracted worldwide attention in 1958. He said then that he and his family were in danger from anti-Semitic vandals. The court found that the Koeppern affair was mainly "a clash between the oversensitive and intellectual cafe owner and the rough town population. " The court then reduced the four-month sentence previously passed on Heinrich Weidmann to one months imprisonment.


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Pack It In With Less Pain
Pack It In With Less Pain
Clinical Tip | April 06, 2011 | Practical Pointers
Incision and drainage of an abscess is painful, but it is also painful to pack and repack until the site has healed. I have found that after the initial packing is removed, instilling lidocaine without epinephrine using a syringe without the needle lessens the discomfort and anxiety of repacking considerably. It also encourages return visits because the procedure is less painful.
— Willard R. Baker Jr, MMS, PA-C
Edinburg, Tex


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Look at other dictionaries:
Halfway — ist der Name mehrerer Orte in den Vereinigten Staaten: Halfway (Maryland) Halfway (Missouri) Halfway (Oregon) Halfway (Wyoming) im Vereinigten Königreich: Halfway (Berkshire), England Halfway (Carmarthenshire), Wales Halfway (Glasgow), Schottland … Deutsch Wikipedia
Halfway — is the name of several places: *in the British Islands **Halfway, Berkshire, England **Halfway, Carmarthenshire, Wales **Halfway, County Cork, Ireland **Halfway, Glasgow, Scotland **Halfway, Sheffield, England *in the United States **Halfway,… … Wikipedia
Halfway — Halfway, MO U.S. village in Missouri Population (2000): 176 Housing Units (2000): 74 Land area (2000): 2.135612 sq. miles (5.531209 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.000000 sq. miles (0.000000 sq. km) Total area (2000): 2.135612 sq. miles (5.531209 sq … StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places
Halfway — Half way , a. Equally distant from the extremes; situated at an intermediate point; midway; as, at the halfway mark. [WordNet sense 1] Syn: center(prenominal), middle(prenominal), midway. [1913 Webster] 2. partial. [WordNet sense 2] [WordNet 1.5… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
halfway — [haf′wā΄, hafwā′] adj. 1. equally distant between two points, states, etc.; midway 2. incomplete; partial [halfway measures] adv. 1. half the distance; to the midway point 2. incompletely; partially meet halfway to compromise or be willing to… … English World dictionary
halfway — also half way, O.E. healfweg; see HALF (Cf. half) + WAY (Cf. way). Halfway house originally was a common name for inns midway between cities or stages … Etymology dictionary
halfway — [adj] not complete; in the middle betwixt and between*, center, centermost, central, equidistant, imperfect, intermediate, medial, median, mid*, middlemost, midway, moderate, part, partial, part way, smack dab*, smack in the middle*; concepts 531 … New thesaurus
halfway — ► ADVERB & ADJECTIVE 1) at or to a point equidistant between two others. 2) (as adverb ) to some extent: halfway decent … English terms dictionary
halfway — index center (central position), central (situated near center), intermediate Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 … Law dictionary
halfway — half|way [ˌha:fˈweı US ˌhæf ] adj, adv 1.) at a middle point in space or time between two things = ↑partway halfway through/up/down/between etc ▪ He chased Kevin halfway up the stairs. ▪ It was a terrible film I left halfway through. ▪ traffic… … Dictionary of contemporary English


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Challenge Issued (West Kingdom)!!
Expand Messages
- Greetings,
At the Westermark Shipwrecked Madness event, I issued a challenge before those in attendance at Court. It is critically important to our Kingdom, Principalities and local Branches to continually bring in new people. As the years pass by, those of us with energy and innovative ideas need to learn and gain wisdom from those who have the cherished obligation to pass along their wisdom. We have a great deal of wisdom in our corner of the Known World. Although we have some newness, innovation and energetic dreamers, we can always use more and more.
I Challenge ALL Baronies, Provinces, Shires, Cantons, Ridings, Colleges, Strongholds, and Ports in the West Kingdom to bring in our future generations. Bring in the elderly, bring in the youths, bring in everyone who has the potential to make our Kingdom and Society great!!
Every (local) group in the Kingdom of the West is encouraged to participate!! I will be presenting a prize to the Group that brings in the most (see below) to be presented to the Baron and Baroness or Seneschal and Chatelain (if not a Barony). There will also be a trophy of sorts to display the great work your group contributed to the Kingdom during the year. The "trophy" will be passed along to the winner of the next year's competition).
Here are the details:
This Competition begins and ends at Purgatorio Coronation. This year's competition begins at the previous Purg (2011) and ends at the next Purg (2012).
Bring in people and when they attend their 5th SCA event, send us their information (and your Branch Info) to be counted (see below).
Once we tally the numbers, we will announce and present the prize and trophy to the winning Branch. I encourage Royalty at all levels to add incentives to the deal, if they so wish.
Each person will count as 1 point. Paid Members of the SCA will count as an additional point. Those who, through their amazing acts of service and worth, are awarded an Award of Arms (or an award that conveys an Award of Arms) will count for an additional point. Any one person may count for a possibility of 3 Points total (one for attending their 5th event, another for also becoming a member of the SCA and another for becoming Armigerous.
To count at all, the new person must have attended their 5th event (even if they are already paid members and/or Armigerous).
If your Branch is sending us information for the first time, please include:
Branch Name:
Branch Level (Barony, Province, Shire, College, etc):
Branch Location (Cynagua, Mists, Oertha, Marches):
Baron and Baroness (Mundane and SCA if Barony):
Baron and Baroness's Contract (Email and Phone if Barony):
Seneschal Name (Mundane and SCA):
Seneschal Contact: (Email and Phone)
Chatelain Name (Mundane and SCA):
Chatelain Contact: (Email and Phone)
Please include the following information for those who you are submitting. Remember that they must have attended 5 or more SCA events since Purg 2011 and before Purg 2012 to be counted this year.
SCA Name (if they have one):
Mundane Name:
Branch Name:
Paid SCA Member (Yes / No):
Armiger (AOA)(Yes / No):
Please send this info to: rivenoakbaron @ yahoo . com / rivenoakbaron @ gmail . com (please send to both)(the Baron, me) AND elevendytwo @ gmail . com (Our Chatelain Muirgen)
If you have any questions, please let me know,
Seamus, Baron of Rivenoak
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