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Bosnia and Herzegovina
After a 15-month deadlock following the October 2010 elections, Bosnia and Herzegovina's political parties formed a government in December 2011. In the meantime, the country experienced political stagnation, with the parliament failing to pass any significant reforms deemed necessary by the international Peace Implementation Council.
Formerly a constituent republic within socialist Yugoslavia, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) is among the most ethnically diverse countries in the region. The bulk of the population consists of three ethnic groups: Bosniaks, who are mainly Muslim; Serbs, who are Orthodox Christian; and Croats, who identify with the Roman Catholic Church. As Yugoslavia began to disintegrate in the early 1990s, BiH was recognized as an independent state in April 1992. A 43-month-long civil war ensued, resulting in the deaths of tens of thousands of people and the forced resettlement of approximately half of BiH's population.
The 1995 the Dayton Peace Accords brought an end to the war by creating a loosely knit state composed of the Bosniak-Croat "Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina" (the Federation) and the largely Serb "Republika Srpska." The final status of the Brčko district was decided in 1999 by a special arbitration council, which defined it as a self-governing administrative unit that is formally part of both the Federation and Republika Srpska. The Dayton Accords gave significant authority to international civilian agencies such as the Office of the High Representative (OHR). However, despite years of considerable efforts by the international community to aid the country's integration, most aspects of political, social, and economic life remained divided along ethnic lines.
A coalition government formed in early 2007, following October 2006 elections, proved to be highly unstable, particularly due to a thorny working relationship between Serb leader Milorad Dodik of the Alliance of Independent Social Democrats (SNSD), who was determined to maintain Republika Srpska's autonomy, and Bosniak leader Haris Silajdžić of the Party for BiH (SzBiH), who sought to create a unitary BiH. Meanwhile, most Croat officials advocated further decentralization and the creation of a third constituent entity for Croat-majority areas. Despite these tensions, in June 2008 the European Union (EU) and BiH signed a Stabilization and Association Agreement, a key step toward EU membership.
In March 2009, Austrian diplomat Valentin Inzko was appointed as the new high representative. Long-standing tensions between the OHR and the Bosnian Serb leadership continued, with the latter challenging several of Inzko's decisions.
In a step condemned by the OHR, the parliament of Republika Srpska adopted a law in February 2010 that made it easier for the authorities to hold referendums on national issues, raising the possibility of a vote on secession. Later in February, the Peace Implementation Council (PIC), the international body charged with overseeing the postwar development of BiH, postponed the closure of the OHR due to the country's failure to meet the required conditions, including a political agreement on the census law. Serb authorities generally favored collecting census data on ethnic affiliation, but most Bosniaks opposed it because the Bosniak population in Republika Srpska decreased during the civil conflict, in large part due to the policies of "ethnic cleansing."
Parliamentary and presidential elections took place in October 2010, bringing a power shift to several government bodies. The SNSD remained the dominant party in Republika Srpska, with Dodik stepping up his nationalist rhetoric ahead of the vote. Dodik himself was elected president of the Serb entity, having served as its prime minister since 2006. The more moderate and largely Bosniak Social Democratic Party (SDP) secured the plurality of seats in the Federation at the expense of the Party of Democratic Action (SDA) and the SzBiH, the latter of which experienced major defeats. The Croat Democratic Union of BiH (HDZ BiH) remained the most popular party among Bosnian Croats.
In the tripartite presidential election, incumbent Željko Komšić of the SDP was reelected as the Croat member of presidency. In a surprise victory, Bakir Izetbegović of the SDA, the son of the late president Alija Izetbegović, defeated the incumbent Silajdžić in the race for the Bosniak seat. SNSD incumbent Nebojša Radmanović narrowly defeated Mladen Ivanić of the Party of Democratic Progress (PDP) to become the Serb member of presidency.
In months following the elections, prolonged political wrangling over the formation of ruling coalitions paralyzed the country, stifling the already slow reform process. In Republika Srpska, a new government was formed in December 2010. In the Federation, however, a new government was not formed until March 2011, and it almost immediately faced a legal challenge by the HDZ BiH and its ally, HDZ 1990,, which argued that the entity's legislature did not have a quorum when it voted to approve the new cabinet. Although the Central Electoral Commission (CEC) ruled in favor of the claim, Inzko in late March declared that the government would remain in place until the Federation's Constitutional Court provided a final ruling, and in April the two Croat parties decided to withdraw their legal challenge.
An agreement on a new central government was not reached until late December 2011, in large part due to disagreement over which party should receive the premiership and other key cabinet positions. The SDP argued that it should name the prime minister, as it won a plurality of the votes in the elections, but the HDZ BiH and HDZ 1990 claimed the right to choose the key officeholders, citing the informal system of rotating core posts among the three main ethnic groups. The December compromise agreement permitted the HDZ BiH to nominate candidates for only three out of four key ministry positions allocated to Croats, though HDZ BiH's Vjekoslav Bevanda was set to be confirmed as prime minister in January 2012.
Several rallies were held in Republika Srpska to support former Bosnian Serb military commander Ratko Mladić, who was arrested in Serbia in May after over 16 years in hiding. In June, the Republika Srpska government created a new fund to help with the legal costs of Mladić and other accused Bosnian Serb war criminals on trial before the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), which many Serbs perceive as biased against them, provoking strong criticism from other ethnic groups.
In September, in a move designed to dilute the powers of the OHR, the head of the EU mission in BiH assumed the position of EU special representative to Bosnia, a role that was previously combined with the OHR. Although some European countries see the OHR as having outlived its usefulness, the PIC has refused to set a timeline for its closure due to the lack of progress on key reforms and consistent challenges by the government of Republika Srpska to central state institutions.
The Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) is an electoral democracy. In general, voters can freely elect their representatives, although the OHR has the authority to remove elected officials if they are deemed to be obstructing the peace process. The government is led by a prime minister, and the role of head of state is performed by a three-member presidency composed of one Bosniak, one Serb, and one Croat. The Parliamentary Assembly is a bicameral body. The 15-seat upper house, the House of Peoples, consists of five members from each of the three main ethnic groups, elected by the Federation and Republika Srpska legislatures for four-year terms. The lower house, the House of Representatives, has 42 popularly elected members serving four-year terms, with 28 seats assigned to the Federation and 14 to Republika Srpska.
Corruption remains a serious problem. Enforcement of legislation designed to combat it has been weak, due in part to the lack of strong and independent anticorruption agencies and a dearth of political will to seriously address the issue. In its annual report on Bosnia's progress toward EU membership, the European Commission in 2011 identified serious flaws in the fight against corruption and noted a shortage of effective investigations, prosecutions, and convictions in corruption cases. BiH was ranked 91 among 183 countries surveyed in Transparency International's 2011 Corruption Perceptions Index.
The constitution and the human rights annex to the Dayton Peace Accords provide for freedom of the press, but this right is not always respected in practice. While a large number of independent broadcast and print outlets operate, they tend to appeal to narrow ethnic audiences, and most neglect substantive or investigative reporting. The public broadcaster BiH Radio Television (BHRT), which is designed to cater to multiethnic audiences, has faced growing political pressure in recent years. In April 2011, its Steering Committee, whose members are confirmed by the parliament, changed the broadcaster's charter to extend the committee's supervisory power over editorial and managerial policies, significantly undermining the outlet's independence. Separately, Free Media Helpline, which operates under the auspices of the BiH Federation of Journalists, found that attacks against journalists between January and September 2011 increased by 30 percent compared with the same period in 2010. The organization recorded 52 violations of journalists' rights during 2011, including four physical attacks and one death threat.
Citizens enjoy full freedom of religion, but only in areas where their particular group represents a majority. Acts of vandalism against holy sites of all three major faiths continue to occur. According to the Inter-Religious Council of Bosnia (IRCB), 56 attacks on religious sites, objects, and officials took place between November 2010 and November 2011. Police made arrests in 17 of these cases.
While the authorities do not restrict academic freedom at institutions of higher education, academic appointments are heavily politicized, with ethnic favoritism playing a significant role. Primary and secondary school curriculums are also politicized. Depending on their ethnicity, children use textbooks printed in Croatia, Serbia, or Sarajevo. In parts of the region of Herzegovina, students are divided by ethnicity, with separate classrooms, entrances, textbooks, and class times. The educational sector is among the most corrupt in BiH, with studies showing that bribery and inappropriate expenditures are pervasive.
The constitution provides for freedoms of assembly and association, and the various levels of government generally respect these rights in practice. Nonetheless, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs)—particularly those that are critical of the authorities—have faced some intimidation. Authorities in Banja Luka fined the local NGO Oštra Nula 1,400 convertible marks ($900) in September 2011 for placing a banner in the city's main square that aimed to draw attention to the fact that a new central government had yet to be formed despite growing economic challenges facing the country. Although there are no legal restrictions on the right of workers to form and join labor unions, discrimination against union members persists.
Despite evidence of growing independence, the judiciary remains influenced by nationalist political parties and faces pressure from the executive branch. The lack of a single, supreme judicial body and the existence of four separate court systems—for the central state, Republika Srpska, the Federation, and the Brčko district—contributes to overall inefficiency. The country has made some efforts to reduce its case backlog, but the number of pending cases continues to be high. The state court—established in 2002 to handle organized crime, war crimes, corruption, and terrorism cases—made some progress in 2010 on adjudicating cases of organized crime and war crimes, and it expanded its witness-protection program. In April 2011, however, the Republika Srpska's parliament voted in favor of holding a referendum that would have disputed the jurisdiction of the state court and the state prosecutor's office on the territory of Republika Srpska. The parliament rescinded its decision in late May, after the Office of the EU Representative offered to initiate a "structured dialogue" on judicial reform in BiH.
Individuals face discrimination in employment, housing, and social services in regions that are not dominated by their own ethnic group. In December 2009, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that the constitution was discriminatory for allowing only Bosniaks, Croats, and Serbs to run for the presidency or serve in the upper house of parliament, excluding candidates from the Jewish, Romany, and other smaller minorities. However, no remedies have been implemented to date.
Women are legally entitled to full equality with men. However, they are underrepresented in politics and government and face discrimination in the workplace. The issue of sexual harassment is poorly understood, and improper behavior frequently goes unpunished. The police are still largely unresponsive to violent domestic disputes, particularly in rural areas. Women are trafficked internally for the purpose of prostitution, and BiH is to a lesser extent a transit country for trafficking to other parts of Europe.

subset: commoncrawl


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We recently caught up with the creative whirlwind otherwise known as Zofia Kostyrko. She's one of the Altadena artists behind the now-famous Fork in the Road at Pasadena and Bellefontaine avenues, pulled in by Ken Marshall to create "Photoshop voodoo" to visualize his wacky idea. After designing the Put a Fork in Hunger logos, T-shirts, banner and flier, Zofia volunteered at the Thanksgiving food drive and was floored by the community's generosity.
She's now collaborating on more such guerrilla artworks with her fellow pranksters and will celebrate Altadena and its many creative spirits next year with a portrait show at the Coffee Gallery tentatively titled— courtesy of her eighth-grade daughter Lara — 'Hey, You With the Face!'" We've posted some of her recent portrait work here.
Meanwhile, through her company, deZign sKape, Zofia's working on themed environments ranging from theme parks and resorts to the NOAA National Marine Sanctuaries & Hawaiian history exhibit in Lahaina, Hawaii. A peek into her diverse portfolio reveals that she has created hand props for Pee Wee's Playhouse, worked a 13-year stint at Walt Disney Imagineering and designed for Cirque du Soleil and the Long Beach Aquarium of the Pacific. She recently mentored a Girl Scout doing her Gold Award project, a mural at Beyond Shelter (a homeless shelter in Downtown L.A.). "It came out great," she says, "and it means a whole lot more than a lot of my commercial stuff!"
Born in Warsaw, Poland, to a nuclear physicist and a metrologist (a specialist in weights and measures), Zofia has a first memory of William Blake's watercolors for Dante's Inferno. She also recalls wondering what happened to the arms of the Venus de Milo. Growing up she imbibed the avant-garde art culture of communist Poland. "A formal framework for state-censored art existed," she explains, "but the work that was produced was subversive and sophisticated, full of layered meaning for those in the know." The scene there, which honored craft (and craftiness), as well as what Americans would consider "high art," made her both analytical and antsy.
As a teenager Zofia came to California to visit her aunt, a film teacher at Art Center, and had her first art show at Barnsdall Art Gallery. When she returned to Poland she thought, "Where are all the crayons?" So she left the repressive "gray box" of her homeland in 1980, came to Pasadena and graduated from Art Center in 1985. Days later she and her boyfriend, photographer Charly Edwards, eloped and got married at City Hall in Downtown L.A. "We took our first married lunch at the Fox's Dining Room in Altadena and moved here as soon as we could," she says. They have two daughters: elder Veronika is a senior at Westridge, and younger Lara in middle school at Flintridge Prep.
What motivates you?
• Curiosity.
• I can so I do. Having a talent is a gift but comes with a responsibility to use it.
• Making art makes me happy. It surprises me — whatever inspiration flows through me makes me high, powerful, curious and hungry for more of it!
• The need to make a living while having fun at it.
• Interaction with and learning from others.
• Being a role model for my kids. Being a cool mom and an artist.
• Breaking a lot of silly social rules and getting away with it, because as an artist I can!
• Doing something out of nothing, getting better at what I do, and finding ways of making my mistakes work in the most unexpected ways.
• Figuring out what I want to do when I grow up, if ever.
What inspires you?
• My mom. She still works at age 75 as a scientist in Poland and keeps finding new ideas, projects and grants, while practically all her contemporaries were forcibly retired more than 15 years ago. She gets excited about nanowires! I love her spirit and energy.
• My kids. They have this amazing energy, potential, knowledge, spirit and fantastic taste in music. They keep me young and they (and their teen friends) think I am a cool mom.
• My husband Charly. He is my best friend and best storyteller I know. After 25 years of marriage he still keeps surprising me.
• There is so much cool stuff to do, and so many cool people to meet! I keep meeting them everyday. Last week I met Bill Viola, my longterm artistic inspiration! Yay!
• Nature: everything in it and how complex it is.
• Great writers and storytellers: Ann Patchett, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Haruki Murakami, Alan Lightman, Michael Pollan — these names just came to mind, but there are sooo many others…
How do you balance your family and your art?
The best I can. Thankfully they are both resilient and tolerant, because art makes me happy and fun to be around. So while I love the family life, cooking and all that stuff, it comes and goes depending on how deep I get my head into my studio, either screen or canvas.
My husband is my number-one fan and a great life partner, and he holds down the fort when I go art AWOL. We trade places and duties as needed. My girls are independent and self-sufficient. That said, I find it easier to balance my art, work and family working on my own and running my own business than holding a full-time job for a corporation; I go to school events and have time to interact with my kids during the day, and just work ungodly hours at night when the work needs to be done. In the end it all works out. The wonderful extended village of the moms of my kids' friends helps fill in my recurring planning gaps when I drop the ball.
What do you do for fun?
• Drive fast on PCH while listening to a loud music mix from my girls.
• Make sidewalk art at chalk festivals.
• Read read read or listen to books on tape.
• Knit, hang out with friends, look at my garden.
• Hike, row, walk with Nina (my genius dog) up in the Altadena hills.
• Go to see something new and different in L.A.
• Go to the ocean and just hang out there.
• Travel travel TRAVEL!
• Theatre: plays, live music or comedy.
• Work really late on some art I'm having a lot of fun with.
• Cook great food for my family and friends.


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South African Journal of Surgery
versão On-line ISSN 2078-5151
versão impressa ISSN 0038-2361
S. Afr. j. surg. vol.46 no.3 Cape Town Ago. 2008
Audit of appendicectomies at Frere Hospital, Eastern Cape
A. D. RogersI; M. I. HamptonII; M. BuntingIII; A. K. AtherstoneIV
IM.B. CH.B; Department of Surgery, Frere Hospital, East London, E Cape
IIM.B. CH.B; Department of Surgery, Frere Hospital, East London, E Cape
IIIM.B. CH.B., F.C.S. (S.A.); Department of Surgery, Frere Hospital, East London, E Cape
IVM.B. CH.B., F.R.C.S. (GLAS.); Department of Surgery, Frere Hospital, East London, E Cape
OBJECTIVE: We sought to evaluate the surgical service in the central part of the Eastern Cape Province by reviewing the practice of appendicectomy at Frere Hospital. Specifically, it was our aim to compare the service to those patients who reside in and outside the East London metropolitan area and the outcomes of patients according to their operative finding.
PATIENTS AND MOTHODS: A retrospective study was performed on the medical records of all patients who underwent appendicectomy in a 26-month period. This entailed a thorough review of demographic factors, mode of presentation, operation factors and findings, and the postoperative course.
RESULTS: In the study period, 436 appendicectomies were performed, of which 81% were performed after hours, with a consultant surgeon present in only 6% of cases. Of the group, 51% had a perforated appendix at surgery, and 12% a normal appendix. There was a significantly increased risk of perforation at the extremes of age and in patients from outside East London (63% v. 35% in East London). Those with perforated appendices stayed an average of 7.3 days in hospital, compared with 5 days for those with earlier appendicitis. Of the perforated group, 21% developed a complication, with 86% of all complications occurring in this group. The hospital stays were longer in those perforated appendices that were drained (10.7 days v. 6.1 days), and the rate of complications higher in this subgroup. Four patients died (1%) - all in the perforated group.
DISCUSSION: The perforation rate in our setting is significantly higher than other published results. Patients with perforated appendices have longer hospital stays and are more likely to develop significant complications, including re-operation. Patients from outside East London, males and those at the extremes of age are more likely to have perforated appendices. This study lends little support to the advocates of drains, and recommends the use of non-absorbable sutures for skin closure. The majority of procedures are performed after hours by medical officers and registrars, but there is no evidence to suggest that this practice be altered, particularly in light of the high perforation rate. The main factor identified as contributing to the huge discrepancy between perforation rates (and hence morbidity) is delay in presentation to the operating surgeon for the region. Patient factors may contribute, but service factors are regarded as significant, including poor access to clinics and hospitals, transport and ambulance services, and the expertise of the referring medical staff. The need to improve the quality of patient care in the under-serviced rural areas of the Eastern Cape is highlighted.
"Full text available only in PDF format"
1. Population Census 2001. Pretoria: Statistics South Africa, 2003. [ Links ]
2. Eastern Cape Government, Department of Health; Statistics; Hospitals and Healthcare. http://www.ecdoh.gov.za/health_statistics (accessed 15 June 2007). [ Links ]
3. Walker ARP, Segal I. Appendicitis - an African perspective. J R Soc Med 1995; 88: 616-619. [ Links ]
4. Levy RD, Degiannis E, Kantrovsky A, et al. Audit of appendicitis in a black South African population. S Afr J Surg 1997; 35(4): 198-202. [ Links ]
5. Temple CL, Huchcroft SA, Temple WJ. The natural history of appendicitis in adults. A prospective study. Ann Surg 1995; 221(3): 278-281. [ Links ]
6. Wong SW, Haxhimolla H, Grieve DA, et al. The risk of ruptured appendix in the adult. ANZ J Surg 69; 1: 31-33. [ Links ]
7. Prystowsky JB, Pugh CM, Nagle AP. Appendicitis. Curr Probl Surg 2005; 42 (10): 683-742. [ Links ]
8. Hale DA, Molloy M, Pearl RH, Schutt DC, Jaques DP. Appendectomy - a contemporary appraisal. Ann Surg 225; 3: 252-261. [ Links ]
9. Madiba TE, Haffejee AA, Mbete DLM, Chaithram H, John J. Appendicitis among African patients at King Edward VIII Hospital, Durban, SA: a review. East Afr Med J 1998; 75: 81-84. [ Links ]
10. Ohene-Yeboah M, Togbe B. An audit of appendicitis in Kumasi, Ghana. West Afr J Med 2006; 252: 138-143. [ Links ]
11. Fahim F, Shirjeel S. A comparison between presentation time and delay in surgery in simple and advanced appendicitis. J Ayub Med Coll Abbottabad. 2005; 17: 37-39. [ Links ]
12. Maroju NK, Smile SR, Sistla SC, et al. Delay in surgery for acute appendicitis ANZ J Surg 2004; 74: 773-776. [ Links ]
13. Omundsen M, Dennett E. Delay due to appendicectomy and associated morbidity: a retrospective review. ANZ J Surg 2006; 76(3): 153-155. [ Links ]
14. Ramesh S, Galland RB. Early discharge from hospital after open appendicectomy. Br J Surg 1993; 80: 1192-1193. [ Links ]
15. Colson M, Skinner KA, Dunnington G. High negative appendectomy rates are no longer acceptable. Am J Surg 1997; 174: 723-726. [ Links ]
16. Greenall MJ, Evans M, Pollock AV. Should you drain a perforated appendix? Br J Surg 1978; 65: 880-882. [ Links ]
17. Foster GE, Hardy EG, Hardcastle JD. Subcuticular suturing after appendicectomy. Lancet 1977; May 28 (8022): 1128-1129. [ Links ]


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The Anatomy of Sangria
A good way to start the weekend! The Anatomy of Sangria from Wine Enthusiast Magazine is a nice visual explanation of what goes into making sangria, including different variations of ingredients.
It's sometimes tough to know where to start when making sangria. In addition to selecting a red wine or white, there are several elements to consider: Which fruit will you use? What mixer will you add? Will you choose a savory or sweet garnish? Flavor combinations can make or break even the simplest of sangrias, so to make sure your next batch is stellar, use the guidelines below to create a version that promises to suit your palate—and your guests.
Bright, colorful design using photographs of the different ingredients is visually appealing and should get shared frequently.
This is also a great example of a long Online Lifespan topic for an infographic. The ingredients for making sangria don't change, so the infographic will be relevant for years to come; driving traffic and links to the website.
The footer should include a copyright statement, and the URL to the infographic landing page so readers that find this infographic on other sites can find the original full-size version.
Found on Foodista


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Afghanistan: Post-Taliban Governance, Security, and U.S. Policy
Description: This report discusses the current political state of Iran, focusing particularly on the influence of the Taliban and other militant groups and on the leadership of Afghan President Hamid Karzai. This report also discusses the U.S.-Iran relationship and U.S. efforts under the Obama Administration to provide military, reconstructive, and stabilization aid.
Date: November 19, 2010
Creator: Katzman, Kenneth
Item Type: Refine your search to only Report


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Mama and Her Boys, the new off-Broadway musical, has announced its guest star schedule through April 1. February 18 and 25 will feature the previously announced Christina Sajous (Spider Man, American Idiot, Forever Dusty). Nicole Lewis (Hair, Rent, Murder Ballad) will join the cast for the March 4 performance. March 11 will feature Bethany Moore (Spider Man, Pippin). On March 25, the cast welcome Ellyn Marie Marsh (Priscilla, Kinky Boots) and on April 1, Eric Riley (Dreamgirls, Once On This Island, Ain't Misbehavin) will appear. Additional guest stars will be announced shortly.
Created by and starring Ethan Paulini, Christopher Sidoli and Wendy Watson, Mama and Her Boys is a funny and poignant musical that explores the dynamic relationship between mothers, sons and families. Featuring an eclectic mix of over 25 songs from all styles and genres. Performances continue every Monday at 9pm at the new Underground Theatre, 955 West End Avenue (at W. 107th and Broadway). Tickets, priced $30-$40 are available by calling 866.811.4111 or visiting theatermania.com.
Mama and Her Boys premiered at Cape Rep Theatre in January of 2011. Following critical and commercial success it went on to enjoy engagements all over the Northeast and has been enjoyed over 200 performances for thousands of theatregoers including an open ended run in Provincetown, MA from June-October, 2011. More information, including the special guest schedule can be found at www.ethanpaulini.com/mama-and-her-boys.html.


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2018-08-13 13:30:00
PLATTS - Angola's crude oil exports rebounded to a four-month high of 1.63 mil b/d in June even as the OPEC member struggles to arrest declines at some of its ageing deepwater oil fields, finance ministry data showed Friday.
Angola exported 1,627,697 b/d in June compared with 1,425,269 b/d in May but close to the 2017 average export volume of 1,632,766 b/d, according to ministry data.
The country…
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2019, August, 23, 10:50:00ROSNEFT SALES VENEZUELA'S OIL
Rosneft, which produces around five percent of the world's oil, is now taking care of shipping and marketing operations for the bulk of Venezuelan oil exports, ensuring that PDVSA can continue to supply buyers.
2019, August, 23, 10:45:00ROSNEFT SWITCH TO EURO
Rosneft last week asked buyers to use the euro as the default currency for the first time in a spot tender to sell naphtha
2019, August, 23, 10:40:00ROSNEFT IN MOZAMBIQUE
Rosneft Oil Company and the National Petroleum Institute (Instituto Nacional de Petróleo, INP) have signed a Cooperation Agreement. The document was signed by Chief Executive Officer of Rosneft Oil Company Igor Sechin and Chairman of INP Carlos Zacarias. In addition, Rosneft has signed a Memorandum on Expansion of cooperation in Mozambique with the National Hydrocarbon Company (Empresa Nacional de Hidrocarbonetos, ENH).
2019, August, 23, 10:35:00ADNOC CONTRACTS $3.6 BLN
The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) announced, today, the award of multi-billion-dollar contracts for the procurement of casing and tubing as it drives value through its smart approach to procurement. The combined scope of the three contracts awarded is one of the world's largest in this category, maximizing value for ADNOC across its drilling value chain and underpinning its strategy to deliver a more profitable upstream business.
2019, August, 23, 10:30:00THE NEW CANADA'S LNG
Woodfibre LNG, a subsidiary of Singapore-based Pacific Oil and Gas Ltd., is finalizing its engineering, procurement and construction contract, which company president David Keane expects to sign "at the end of the summer or shortly thereafter" before construction begins on the LNG export facility in Squamish, British Columbia.
2019, August, 23, 10:25:00U.S. WANT VIETNAM OIL AND GAS
U.S. energy firms had interests in the South China Sea and Washington was "committed to bolstering the energy security of our partners and allies in the Indo-Pacific region and in ensuring uninterrupted regional oil and gas production for the global market."U.S. warships have conducted periodic "freedom of navigation" operations in the South China Sea to challenge China's claim to nearly all of the strategic waterway.
2019, August, 21, 12:35:00OIL PRICE: ABOVE $60
Brent had gained 26 cents, or 0.43%, to $60.29 a barrel, WTI was up 3 cents, or 0.05%, at $56.16 a barrel.


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"You can't teach an old dog new tricks," or so it's been said. While I don't buy that in its entirety, I'll agree that we're less likely to learn new tricks while working alone as opposed to working with others. Recently, I had an opportunity to work closely with the expert metalmen of Hot Rods & Hobbies in Signal Hill, California. There, under custom reconstruction, is a stately '48 Cadillac sedan. With its roof lowered an appropriate 2 inches, there is no interruption to the Caddy's inborn bulbous flow—it's working. Now some may be thinking that a chop of such short proportions is mild, and therefore would not require as much head scratchin' as a more radical chop. But let us assure you, for the curvaceous Cad, with its detachable post hardtop conversion, 2 inches did not come easily.
Along the same lines it should also be noted that the smaller detail refinements don't necessarily come easily, either. Take the deletion of the factory bumper guards, for example. Here in the real world, the seemingly subtle smoothing of this Caddy's lumpy bumpers will require more than the ol' proverbial "shave", as it's called. On this car, the factory's stampings, as you'll see, have seams and large indentations concealed beneath the guards. Short of its supporting bracketry, this type of bumper is comprised of five major components: a center (also referred to as a face bar), two large ends, and, of course a pair of large, in-your-face guards. While they do "guard" the bumper from impending peril, to some degree, the prominent protrusions have a downplayed secondary function, which is to create a visual distraction as they cover up the ugly truth lurking below. Because the guards are where your eyes go, you'll not focus on the fact that the three welded-together horizontal sections of the bumper don't even line up with one-another. Well, all of that is about to change.


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Red Hot Chili Peppers are trying to convince Jimmy Page to perform with them.
'The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie' group are coming to the Led Zeppelin guitarist's home country, England, in June and hoping he will appear on stage at one of their shows.
Drummer Chad Smith told the Daily Star newspaper: "Jimmy Page has come to our shows before but we haven't had a chance to play with him. That would be really cool so maybe that can happen. I saw him come on with Foo Fighters at Wembley."
The band were forced to delay a string of concerts in the US earlier this year after frontman Anthony Keidis crushed a bone in his foot and had to undergo surgery, but he has now recovered and they are set to start playing again next week.
Chad added the time off was productive, as he got together with the other band members - guitarist Josh Klinghoffer and bassist Flea - to write new tracks.
He added: "We just rehearsed and came up with some ideas and new song ideas.
"It's good for morale, it's good for the future. The future is bright.
"Normally in Chili Peppers world we never really had this much of a kind of break in a tour. Before, if we had a month off, we would never get together and write song ideas. But everyone just wanted to play. It was great."
Red Hot Chili Peppers will start their tour in Tampa, Florida next Thursday, and they will play in the UK at Knebworth Park on June 23 and Sunderland's Stadium Of Light on June 24 before coming here for a gig in Croke Park on June 26.


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Four years after the idea of a coal gasification plant in Taylorville was first floated, Illinois lawmakers Thursday finally approved legislation that may enable the facility to be built.
Four years after the idea of a coal gasification plant in Taylorville was first floated, Illinois lawmakers Thursday finally approved legislation that may enable the facility to be built.
Also on the last day of the General Assembly's fall veto session, lawmakers approved bills to require insurance coverage of autism disorders and to help the state's horse racing industry.
The Illinois Senate gave final approval to a bill that could lead to construction of the $2.5 billion Taylorville Energy Center in Christian County. The plant will use coal gasification technology to produce up to 550 megawatts of electricity, enough to power 500,000 homes. High-sulfur Illinois coal will be used.
By a 53-0 vote, the Senate sent Senate Bill 1987 to Gov. Rod Blagojevich for his signature.
"We will review the bill," said Blagojevich spokesman Brian Williamsen.
Even if Blagojevich signs the legislation, construction is a long way off. Nebraska-based Tenaska, which wants to build the plant, must conduct a cost and engineering study that proponents said could take 18 months to complete. That study must then be reviewed by the Illinois Commerce Commission and the Illinois Power Authority, which will make a report to the General Assembly.
After that, the legislature must vote again on whether the plant should be allowed to proceed. Lawmakers also will determine what costs should be paid by consumers and the profits the plant's owners can receive.
The study is estimated to cost $18 million. The money will come from bonds issued by the state to promote the use of Illinois coal. Both the House and Senate Thursday approved a separate bill authorizing issuance of coal-development bonds.
"This is a phase-one study," said Sen. Dale Risinger, R-Peoria. "We can move to the point where we can move forward (with the plant) if the General Assembly approves the study after it is done. It is a direction we need to go."
The bill requires Illinois utilities such as Commonwealth Edison and Ameren to buy up to 5 percent of their power from clean-coal facilities. Since power from the Taylorville plant will cost more to produce than electricity from traditional plants, some opponents — especially commercial customers — fear their power bills will rise.
"Costs are going to go up (even) if we don't build," argued Sen. John Jones, R-Mount Vernon.
In other developments Thursday:
*Legislation requiring insurance companies to cover autism disorders won Senate approval on a 45-6 vote and now goes to Blagojevich, who on multiple occasions has pushed that idea.
If signed into law, Senate Bill 934 would provide for a maximum benefit of $36,000 a year to cover tests, treatment and other autism-related services for anyone younger than 21.
*The House and Senate both approved a measure that will require the state's most lucrative riverboat casinos, all in the Chicago area, to direct some of their profits to the horseracing industry.
House Bill 4758, which goes to the governor, specifies that the casinos must pay 3 percent of their adjusted gross receipts into the Horse Racing Equity Trust Fund until July 2011. An earlier law containing the same provision expired earlier this year.
Rep. Bill Black, R-Danville, said the legislation is meant to help bolster the fortunes of the struggling racetrack business.
Staff writer Adriana Colindres contributed to this report. Doug Finke can be reached at (217) 788-1527.


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Monday, July 19, 2010
Whirlwind Family Connections: My Big Fat Genealogy Adventure
For a while I had been the only person I knew of who was actively researching my great-great-great grandfather from my mother's paternal line, Samuel Moore (d. 1828) of Greenville, South Carolina. There were other Moore family researchers who were interested, but online resources seemed to be exhausted, and none of us had the time to do the onsite or repository research that was necessary to advance our knowledge of Samuel Moore.
I had plans to do so eventually, but real life kept intruding, and it seemed that it would be years before I could take my dream research trip to Greenville.
That all changed a month or so ago.
The connection came not through my blog nor through a genealogy discussion board nor through Ancestry with its various ways to connect with other researchers.
It was just a modest little "connection" note through Footnote.
Someone else was descended from Samuel Moore. Wha….? I had encountered other researchers who knew that they were descended from one of Samuel Moore's descendants, but not anyone who knew that they were descended from Samuel Moore himself, who I believed to be known only to me and the circle of researchers with whom I am in contact.
Perhaps it was a mistake. There were at least three other Samuel Moores present in Greenville at various times in the early part of the nineteenth century. It would be easy to confuse them. There had been a couple of other researchers previously who had mistaken one of these guys for my Samuel Moore.
The researcher's name was Paula. I wrote a reply saying I would be happy to figure out how her line fit in if she would tell me about her Moore line.
Paula wrote back. She knew exactly how her line fit in. She is descended from Samuel's son Manson Moore. The name brought a shock of recognition, but it was not a name I had yet entered as a son of Samuel Moore. Most of my knowledge of Samuel Moore was based on his will, which mentioned my great-great grandfather Spencer and his sisters Elizabeth and Susannah … and some other guy. I knew that Spencer had a brother named Bud Mathis Moore – that was how I found Samuel in the first place – and at first I thought it might be referring to him. But the name looked a little more like Manson or Maryon. However, the probate materials mentioned a B. M. Moore, so I just shrugged my shoulders and assumed the clerk had made a hash of the name Mathis.
Ah, the probate materials. They had another copy of the will – I checked, and the name Manson was much clearer on that copy. Meanwhile, Paula had written back with some additional information – she had a land document of Manson Moore's from Georgia witnessed by a B. M. Moore (Bud Mathis lived in Georgia for several years) and a military document wherein Freeman Manson Moore listed Greenville as his home town. Whoa – three data points – triangulation.
I had to rearrange my thinking on the Samuel Moore family. Another brother. Remembering the "extra males and females" (= enough to be more than the two sons and two daughters I knew to be Samuel's children) on the 1800 through 1820 censuses, I realized that Samuel had probably already settled land and goods on his older children (Bud and probably others) and in the will was most likely taking care of only his younger children. The John Moore who administered Samuel's estate was possibly a son, as was the Andrew Moore shown living near Freeman Manson Moore on early Henry County, Georgia censuses.
But even more interesting than the reversal of my view of Samuel Moore's family was what transpired in the course of a few e-mail exchanges between Paula and me.
By about the third or fourth exchange, we were planning a research trip to Greenville. The sooner, the better. Due to various commitments on both sides, we settled on early fall. So, unless something happens to drain our finances or make a stronger claim on our time, it's a go. And we're each taking a family member or two. Power in numbers! This Big Adventure will take a lot of planning, but we're stoked!
This was probably the kick in the pants I needed to send me off to Greenville.
16 comments:
How wonderful! Have a fabulous trip, rip down walls!ReplyDelete
It doesn't take much to get the ball rolling does it? One piece of information can change everything which is why we can't stop looking. We never know where that little tidbit will turn up.ReplyDelete
This comment has been removed by the author.ReplyDelete
Excellent news, Greta! A big breakthrough AND a trip :-)ReplyDelete
Oh, I love it. I really love your open mindedness. One can research alone, but numbers and collaboration with someone with more knowledge really does make a difference.ReplyDelete
You give me hope.
How exciting for you. I have not had much luck with Footnote....maybe I should give it another try.ReplyDelete
This is the great side of genealogy, cousins and collaboration.ReplyDelete
Wow! Now that is the kind of connection I dream about! Great post.ReplyDelete
I love to read stories like these! It's so encouraging.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousJuly 21, 2010 at 12:26 AM
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.ReplyDelete
I love contacts like the one in your blog today, almost as much as I love research trips. Here's hoping for much success on your trip!
Congratulations, Greta. And good luck on the research trip. Making kinexxions is what it is all about!ReplyDelete
Thank you all for your good wishes - I hope to have some good results to post after the trip!ReplyDelete
Oh Greta! How exciting! I can't wait to read about your adventure. Good luck!ReplyDelete
I love stories like this, Greta! How fun!ReplyDelete
Fantastic! I'm happy that you two were able to connect and that the puzzle pieces are starting to fit together.ReplyDelete


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Extreme Backpackers
Kyle te Kiwi checks out the Extreme Backpackers in Turangi
Extreme Backpackers is conveniently located in Turangi the gateway to the Tongariro National Park, with daily transport to the Tongariro Crossing, Mt Ruapehu (ski fields).
Relax in the warm lounge with sky TV or sunny courtyard with BBQ, or test your climbing skills on their Climbing wall.
Bare Kiwi is your FREE online guide to New Zealand made by us the locals for you the traveler. As you read, we are currently on the road filming.
We are here to show you an honest image of Aotearoa and how to best find her heart beat.
For more FREE video's and travel tips visit http://www.barekiwi.com


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Earmarks down, but not 75 percent
With Democrats now running the show, it's their turn to take the heat for earmarks in a $410 billion omnibus spending bill to keep the government running for the rest of the fiscal year.
Congressional Democrats and the White House have been quick to note this spending bill is actually a holdover from the previous administration, that things will be different next year, and that earmarks hit a peak during Republican control in the middle part of this decade.
On CNN's "State of the Union" on March 8, Peter Orszag, director of the Office of Management and Budget, said, "Look, the earmarks have come down significantly, 75 percent."
The same day on NBC's Meet the Press , Sen. Charles Schumer threw out a nearly identical assessment: "The bottom line is, there's been serious reform. We are now, this year, two years later, there's one-fifth the earmarks there were before — not 80 percent, 20 percent from before. They are transparent. No Bridge to Nowhere could occur."
When it comes to earmarks, lots of numbers get thrown around. Different groups have different definitions of earmarks. Some people look at the number of earmarks, some at the dollar amount, some both.
Most everyone agrees that earmarks have gone down with Democrats at the helm, but we haven't found any source to reasonably back up claims that earmarks have declined anywhere near 75 or 80 percent.
According to the math provided by the Senate Appropriations Committee (Democratic-controlled, we note), earmarks were reduced by 43 percent last year, and the omnibus appropriations bill reduces earmarks by another 5 percent.
There's a big caveat to their numbers: They do not include "project-based" federal programs. For example, the Army Corps of Engineers, which oversees federal water projects, has such a high percentage of earmarks in its overall budget that Democrats exclude the projects from the totals. Their reasoning is that if they promise to cut earmarks by a certain percentage, as they have in the past few years, these programs will be disproportionately cut. By their count, there are $3.8 billion worth of earmarks in the omnibus bill.
The most trusted source in earmark accounting, Taxpayers for Common Sense, doesn't go for excluding that "non-project-based" stuff.
"An earmark is an earmark," said Steve Ellis of Taxpayers for Common Sense. "You can't start sequestering things off. I mean, I can meet my weight loss goals if I don't count my butt."
They count more than 8,500 disclosed earmarks in the omnibus bill, coming to $7.7 billion. Together with $6.6 billion in disclosed earmarks in the three 2009 spending bills that passed in the fall, earmarks for the year come to $14.3 billion, which is $500 million less than earmarks last year, they note. Less, but not a whole lot less in the big picture.
The total amount of last year's earmarks represented a 23 percent reduction from the high water mark in 2005, according to TCS. The slight reduction this year would add a couple percentage points to that. But in no way does it come anywhere near the reduction of 75 or 80 percent that Orszag and Schumer cited.
So, we asked, where did Schumer and Orszag get their figures?
Schumer's office didn't respond.
And a spokesman from Orszag's Office of Management and Budget sent this vague reply: "A number of groups which tally earmarks have estimates on the level of reductions that are in the omnibus. Peter pulled from those."
Um, okay.
In summary, based on the figures from the most respected source on earmarks, Taxpayers for Common Sense — which uses Congress' own definition of earmarks — the figures cited by Orszag and Schumer are way off.
The Appropriation Committee numbers are a little closer to those cited by Schumer and Orszag. But we don't buy this number because it excludes "project-based" federal programs.
We note that Obama, in an announcement about earmark reform on March 11, said earmarks "hit their peak in the middle of this decade, when the number of earmarks had ballooned to more than 16,000." This number appears to include "project-based" federal programs. As we think it should.
At any rate, the Appropriations Committee numbers suggest less than a 50 percent reduction — not 75 or 80 percent. We don't know where Orszag and Schumer got their numbers. And they aren't saying. At least not to us. But the authorities on this matter say their calculations are bunk. We agree. And we rule the statements False.


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Today's KD Charity Game featuring Melo, Amar'e and Kevin Durant, will be streamed online on the basketball channel. Here are the rosters for the teams
Team Blue:
Chris Paul
Carmelo Anthony
Amar'e Stoudemire
Rudy Gay
James Harden
John Wall
Damien Wilkins
Johnny Flynn
Team White:
Kevin Durant
Russell Westbrook
LeBron James
LaMarcus Aldridge
Monta Ellis
Jeff Green
Michael Beasley
Jamal Crawford
You have to sign up for an account on the basketball channel but it only takes a few seconds.
Here is the link for the gameFollow @tarmosino


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His dad knew long before their first visit with Auntie to Morley Field that the boy could throw a Frisbee. Sure, lots of kids can fling one, but Noah's first throws as a toddler in the backyard were natural and possessed an uncanny accuracy. His casual nature and competitive drive eventually led him to the first tee. Noah started playing disc golf regularly this year (2009). At ten years old, he is not the youngest player ever seen at the Morley Field links. But Noah's enthusiasm for the sport is beginning to attract attention and valuable lessons from more experienced players here. His stature as a novice often leads to friendly advice from players much more "in the know" than his old man. Noah is soaking up every word.
Disc golf at Morley also seems to be teaching Noah there is more to this disc-shaped world than simply waiting at the next tee. With each round, Noah is recognizing and greeting familiar faces on the course and with that he seems to be learning the meaning of community.
These days, Noah proudly carries a budding collection of discs in his own green shoulder bag and, though he won't brag, he will tell you about his first hole-five par. Noah is certainly hooked on Disc Golf and he can't wait to play that next round.
From his dad – On December 10, 2007 Noah was eight and half. A benign tumor was found on his optic nerve near his pituitary gland nine months earlier. It had to come out because he would likely lose peripheral vision (or worse), if not. Skilled hands at Children's Hospital removed it; he spent five days at the hospital and recovered at home after that. Back to school in January. Baseball season started in March and he made the allstar roster by May; then allstar soccer in the fall. He is very low-key about it, but it is a significant part of his life and I consider it an amazing life event that he probably won't fathom until he's much older.
It certainly helps me with perspective in my life...
Say Hi to Noah when you see him on the course. He's a cool kid!


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Giant companies are using YOUR money to buy their competitors.
For example, Bloomberg writes today:
PNC Financial Services Group Inc., Pennsylvania's biggest bank, plans to buy National City Corp. for about $5.2 billion in stock after receiving U.S. Treasury funds.
The $7.7 billion of Treasury funding, part of the government's $250 billion plan to recapitalize banks, "put this transaction on a very solid footing," PNC said.
Remember that the $250 billion is part of the $700 bailout which taxpayers are paying for.
This confirms CNBC's report that the feds were using the bailout to push bank mergers.
Update: Bloomberg posted a second article entitled "PNC's $5.2 Billion National City Purchase Is Takeover Template for Paulson" after I wrote this essay, which says:
PNC Financial Services Group Inc.'s taxpayer-backed $5.2 billion purchase of National City Corp. is a blueprint for regional bank takeovers pressed for by U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, investors said.
Update 2: See also this New York Times article.


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Mason Pearson's Handy Mixture Brush ($120) is the Rolex of the hair brush world: it has a rich heritage, is handmade with the finest parts, and doesn't come cheap. It also happens to create soft, enviable texture on any hair type, whether you're giving yourself a blowout or combing through your morning bedhead.
Then there's the Sonia Kashuk Hair Brush ($16). Upon first inspection they seem very similar, so we put them to the test. What did we find? Both brushes distribute oils from your scalp through the hair, gently detangle, and create touchable, beautiful texture.
The nylon bristles on both brushes are heat-resistant and eliminates static, and the natural hairs on both come from boars raised in cold climates, which yields a better bristle.
So do you need to spend over $100 for a high-quality boar/nylon mixture brush? Honestly, no. While Mason Pearson's iconic brush has all the charm of a luxury brand—we'd happily add any of their iconic brushes to our vanity!—you can get the same results by swinging by Target.


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Available ebook formats: epub mobi pdf rtf lrf pdb txt html
Former nightclub hostess Trinity Lee started writing erotica after she developed an addiction to reading it. She's got a thing for alien sex, but most of all she likes reading and writing stories about hot guys in bands, tattoo parlours, on surf beaches and anywhere else they can get down and dirty together.
She is now on a mission to bring pleasure to as many people as possible with her scorching hot selection of sensual short stories.


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Hope is
a Financial Plan
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Retirement Savings Resolutions for the New Year
Every New Year we think about our resolutions, which typically includes some promise to better ourselves. Pledging to go the gym more, eat healthier, be more active, spend additional time with friends and family, and decrease our social media intake, are a few that...read more
The Social Security Retirement Age Increases to 66.5 in 2019
By Emily Brandon, Staff Writer Workers with an older retirement age get smaller Social Security payments throughout retirement. WHILE YOU CAN START Social Security payments at age 62, your monthly checks are reduced if you begin collecting benefits at this age. To...read more
Holiday Wish List 2018: Financial Security
What's on your loved one's gift wish list? Are they asking for the latest technology? Fashionable apparel? A must-have toy? No matter the buzz-worthy item, what they may want consider is a gift that lasts a lifetime. Remember, it is just a matter of time before a new...read more
Fixed Indexed Annuities FAQ
Discover our most frequently asked questions about fixed indexed annuities (FIAs). Get the answers you need to help calculate your path to retirement. What is an annuity? In the most basic sense, an annuity is a contract between you and an insurance company that says...read more
A Retirement Recipe for a Hearty Turkey Day
Coming to you from the Indexed Annuity Leadership Council (IALC) is a new recipe to add to your Thanksgiving menu. We all have our Thanksgiving favorites, from turkey to stuffing, to sweet potatoes, pumpkin pie, and more. But as you sit around your table reflecting on...read more
7 Surprising Ways Retirement Will Change Your Life
YOU CAN PLAN FOR IT, dream about it and try to visualize it, but there's no way to tell for sure what retirement will be like for you until after you've actually pulled the trigger and left the job. As you contemplate this major life change, remember to prepare for...read more
'Safer' harbor for annuities can help fix retirement woes
Americans are living longer into retirement, but the financial solutions needed to support them have not kept pace with their needs. With a number of bipartisan proposals currently under consideration, the U.S. Congress has the opportunity to take significant steps...read more
Did You Let Retirement Scare You Off This Halloween?
Halloween might get less scary as we age, but there are a lot of frightening aspects of retirement in 2018. In fact, recent data on the state of America's workforce shows just how underprepared for retirement many Americans are. While running out of money, drastic...read more
Protect Your Financial Plan by Avoiding These Retirement Pitfalls
With just a few months left in the year, National Financial Planning Month is a great time to take charge of your retirement saving strategy. Some of the most important things you can do are to make sure you're creating a diverse portfolio that will protect your...read more
5 Things To Consider When Building Your Retirement Financial Plan
October marks National Financial Planning Month, a time when Americans can look at how they are saving, their retirement goals, and how they can create a tailored approach that works for them. October is the perfect time of the year to plan, with summer winding down...read more
Out With the $1 Million Goal for Retirement: What You Will Really Need
Think about your retirement dreams and realities to set a savings goal for the future. By Rachel Hartman, Contributor IN THE PAST, saving $1 million for retirement was considered a benchmark to help you enter retirement comfortably. But times have changed, and that...read more
Teacher's Retirement Q&A on Fixed Indexed Annuities This Back-to-School Season
Teachers are among the hardest working professionals and have the unique responsibility to prepare our younger generations for the future. And, as educators across the country are participating in another back-to-school season, it is a good time to highlight how these...read more
Your biggest retirement expense: What Medicare Doesn't Cover
Once you turn 65 you are eligible to enroll in the Medicare health insurance system. It is fantastic program that charges a relatively small premium for broad services. But it is a serious mistake to think that all you need to do is make it to 65 and you're set. No....read more
A Simple Way to Get Guaranteed Income in Retirement
By Walter Updegrave People crave guaranteed income in retirement, but they cringe at the mention of the word "annuity." That disconnect can make it tough to ensure a steady flow of dollars in later life. One answer: Go with an annuity, but keep it simple. The appeal...read more
3 Simple Ways to Save for Retirement
Summer is here, and the future is brighter than ever. If you are busy planning, saving and budgeting for a summer vacation, use these tips to make the most out of your summer and get your retirement savings on track. 1. Spend less and save more. With this warmer...read more
For Retirement Savers
As a retirement saver, we know the tax reform debate of 2017 reawakened the need for you to examine and evaluate your retirement savings plans and educate yourself on all available options for planning. Our educational videos on retirement planning and fixed indexed...read more
Celebrating Senior Citizens – Today and Every Day!
Indexed Annuity Leadership Council Every August 21 we honor our seniors and recognize their achievements to society. This tradition began in 1988 when former President Ronald Reagan declared August 21 to be National Senior Citizens Day. Prior to this declaration, many...read more
3 Ways To Celebrate National Dollar Day While Preparing For Your Golden Years
With pennies in your back pocket and dollars in the couch, money may seem like it's virtually everywhere. But, do you know when this phenomenon first began? In 1786, 232 years ago today, Congress established the U.S. monetary system. However, the first U.S. dollar was...read more
Is a Fixed Indexed Annuity Right for Me?
Ensure you have the financial security to be in control of your retirement. Before determining if an FIA is right for your portfolio, make sure you understand the specific product features and if the benefits ladder into your goals. If you… have a retirement plan in...read more
The 10 Best Places to Retire Overseas in 2018
The Algarve region provides all that a continental lifestyle has to offer, from medieval towns and fishing villages to open-air markets and local wine. Retirees can choose to live or retire in any country in the world. A move to a new country can allow you to live...read more
10 Surprising Facts About Retirement
Retirement might not live up to your expectations. Most retirees are prepared for more free time and less stress, but some other aspects of retirement could be unexpected. Many retirees have significant financial worries and health concerns, and an excess of free time...read more
Celebrate Financial Freedom with Fixed Indexed Annuities
The Fourth of July may be over, but your financial freedom never has to end, and with the right retirement vehicles in your financial portfolio, it doesn't have to. In fact, there are many ways retirement can increase financial freedom and ensure security by providing...read more
Reasons for purchasing an annuity
Annuities can serve many useful purposes. If you are in a saving-money stage of life, a deferred annuity can... Help you meet your retirement income goals. Employer-sponsored plans such as a 401(k), 403(b) or Keogh are an important part of planning for retirement....read more
Annuities and Structured Settlements
You're unlikely to reach retirement age without somebody asking you about annuities. They want to know whether you considered buying one, and if they work for an insurance agency, they're likely to try to sell you on the benefits of a lifetime income that annuities...read more
Fixed Indexed Annuities 101
When you think about retirement, what are your goals? For most people, the answer is a nice balance between stability, favorite pastimes, and new adventures. Balance is also important in your financial life: between reward and risk, nest egg preservation, and growth....read more
3 Ways to Prepare Your Dad for Retirement after Father's Day
Although most people know it's never too early to start planning for retirement, many Americans aren't truly prepared, and there are many supporting statistics from the Indexed Annuity Leadership Council's (IALC) data: One in four baby boomers (think: your dad) have...read more
Higher interest rates fuel retirement account annuities
When the yield on the 10-year U.S. Treasury note recently peaked a few basis points above 3% in May, for many market observers, a psychological barrier had been breached. That closely watched benchmark bond hadn't exceeded 3% since July of 2011. "That's a pretty...read more
Dear Baby Boomer: Retirement Is This Close, and You Need to Deal With a Few Issues
Here are four challenges to jump on right now to make sure your retirement is a happy one. I know you're ready. You're so close to retirement, you can taste the cool beverages on the beach and feel the sand between your toes. Unfortunately, at the rate you're going,...read more
This Is What Life Without Retirement Savings Looks Like
Many seniors are stuck with lives of never-ending work—a fate that could befall millions in the coming decades. CORONA, Calif.—Roberta Gordon never thought she'd still be alive at age 76. She definitely didn't think she'd still be working. But every Saturday, she goes...read more
Three Common Mistakes to Avoid At Any Age When Saving For Retirement
This May we are celebrating Older Americans Month and the 2018 theme of Engage at Every Age teaches us that age is not a factor when it comes to taking part in activities to enrich one's emotional, mental, and physical well-being. One activity that is key for...read more
6 Lessons From the First Year of Retirement
After one year of retirement, here's what you need to do. Once you get through the first year of retirement, you probably think you can coast for the next 30 years. That's not necessarily true. This is not the time to get comfortable. Things are never that simple in...read more
The Atlantic Roundtable Dinner Sparks Conversation on the Future of Retirement
Recently, an esteemed group of experts in business and finance, economists and education, convened in Washington, D.C. along with our Executive Director Jim Poolman and editors from The Atlantic for a roundtable dinner to talk about the reality of retirement readiness...read more
Is Your Work Environment Setting You Up to Achieve Your Retirement Goals? New Study Tells All.
This week the Indexed Annuity Leadership Council (IALC) released The State of America's Workforce: The Reality of Retirement Readiness study and corresponding white paper, which found retirement readiness is influenced by two key factors: the industry you are in and...read more
New Data Breaks Workforce Stereotypes: Two Blue-collar Industries Outpace White-collar Retirement Readiness
Heavy Reliance on Social Security for Income Stream, A Solution Provides Guaranteed Lifetime Income The story of saving for retirement today has two key factors: the industry you are in and your company size. Newly released retirement-readiness scores show workers in...read more
Top 3 Things to Ask Your Financial Professional During Financial Literacy Month
April is National Financial Literacy Month and a perfect time to increase your financial literacy, while establishing and maintaining healthy money and finance habits. One way you can become financially savvy is by getting advice from financial professionals....read more
Four Reasons to Own an Annuity
Now that the Powerball winner has come forward to claim her prize of $758 million (before taxes), you can't turn on the television or radio without hearing the word "annuity." The winner of the lottery had a very important choice to make: to take an after-tax lump sum...read more
Fixed Indexed Annuities FAQ
Discover our most frequently asked questions about fixed indexed annuities (FIAs). Get the answers you need to help calculate your path to retirement. What is an annuity? In the most basic sense, an annuity is a contract between you and an insurance company that says...read more
Olympic Athletes Can Teach Us Valuable Lessons About Retirement
Last month, athletes from around the globe came together to compete in the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics. While for some, these games were a debut, others retired from their sport following the competition. Each Olympian's journey is unique from its infancy to its...read more
Benefits of Fixed Indexed Annuities
Fixed indexed annuities (FIAs) address many basic retirement concerns: protection of hard-earned dollars, tax-deferred growth, balance, and lifetime income. Get some peace of mind — no matter what happens in the market. Consider these five key benefits: Guaranteed...read more
Discover 3 Ways to Bridget the Gender Savings Gap On International Women's Day 2018
As we celebrate women's social, economic, cultural, and political achievements this International Women's Day, the Indexed Annuity Leadership Council (IALC) wants to raise awareness that when it comes to savings, the gender savings gap is still huge. This post,...read more
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text:
Police charged a West Baltimore man in the drive-by shooting death of a bus driver in Westport last week.
Kevin Barnell Carroll, 34, of the 700 block of Cherry Blossom Way in Poppleton, was arrested Saturday and charged with first-degree murder, along with several handgun and assault violations, according to police and online court records.
Maryland Transit Administration bus driver Craig Ray Jr. was found shot in the back early Monday in the 2400 block of Wilgrey Court, near his girlfriend's home. Ray, 34, was taken to a hospital and pronounced dead about an hour later.
Police believe the shooting stemmed from an argument, spokesman Det. Jeremy Silbert said.
Ray's mother, Deborah Ray, said she believed the shooting was retribution for a call her son had made to police earlier that week complaining of loud music at a home nearby.
Carroll is scheduled to appear in District Court for Baltimore City for a preliminary hearing on the charges April 1.


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February 2001
Human somatic cell nuclear transfer, otherwise known (somewhat inaccurately) as creating an embryo by "cloning," involves1:
What rights would a child born as a genetic copy of another have? Source: Microsoft Images.
- The starvation and subsequent implantation of DNA from specialized, non-sexual cells of one organism (e.g., cells specialized to make that organism's hair or milk) into an egg whose DNA nucleus has been removed.
- The resulting egg and nucleus are shocked or chemically treated so that the egg begins to behave as though fertilization has occurred, resulting in the beginning of embryonic development of a second organism containing the entire genetic code of the first organism.
Mammalian cloning, through this nuclear transfer process, has resulted in the birth of hundreds of organisms to date. However, significantly more nuclear transfer generated embryos fail during pregnancy than would fail in sexual reproduction, and a substantial majority of cloned animals who have survived to birth have had some significant birth defect.
Reproduction, or perhaps more accurately, replication of an organism's DNA identity does not normally occur in mammals, with the exception of twinning, which always results in the simultaneous birth of siblings. Only plants reproduce through replication from one generation to another. The prospect of such replication for humans has resulted in the most controversial debate about reproduction ever to be taken up in western civilization.
Cloning Issues
In addition to the obvious risks to the first child, noted below, those who oppose human cloning point to the repugnance of a style of reproduction with such profound potential for vanity, arguing that the freedom of children and nature of the family are in danger.
Proponents of cloning suggested it might serve as a new, unusual but perhaps efficacious treatment for infertility, enabling those unable to pass genes to future generations to do so in a way that is at least analogous to the familial linkage of twins.
Perhaps the most urgent ethical, legal and social issues about cloning arise in the context and process that may lead to the birth of a first human clone. This is so because, as has been pointed out by scholars and politicians, early human experiments are likely to result in a number of clinical failures and lead to miscarriage, the necessity of dozens or even hundreds of abortions, or births of massively deformed offspring. Recent study of mammalian cloning also suggests that a number of defects often created in the reprogramming of the egg do not manifest themselves until later in the life of the resulting clone, so that mature clones have often undergone spectacular, unforeseen deaths.2
The dangers for early prospective clones are controversial and difficult to manage because
- in part, one is attempting to protect a future potential person against harms that might be inflicted by their very existence, and
- in part because societies around the world have indicated that they believe that the early cloning experiments will breach a natural barrier that is moral in character, taking humans into a realm of self-engineering that vastly exceeds any prior experiments with new reproductive technology.
Laws that would prevent the birth of a first clone are difficult because they traverse complex jurisprudential ground: protecting an as-yet nonexistent life against reproductive dangers, in a western world that, in statutory and case law at least, favors reproductive autonomy.3,4
But the dangers for the first clone pale in comparison to the ethical issues that will arise should cloning succeed in producing a healthy child, and become part of the repertoire of new reproductive technologies presently offered to those with sufficient funds.
- The creation of Dolly the sheep at Roslyn, Scotland labs of biotechnology company PPL Therapeutics (and not-for-profit Roslyn Institute) did not involve any of the hallmarks of what is known socially, religiously, and scientifically, as conception: the fusion of egg and sperm and the adhesion of the thus fertilized egg to the wall of the uterus.5
- The genetic and cellular material that led to Dolly indeed might not even qualify in traditional terms as an embryo, in that mammalian embryos are scientifically defined in part by how they come into being. It is quite difficult to divine "what is in the dish" where a "clone" is being created, a problem that plagues all those who would define and regulate the creation and research on embryonic progenitors of a clone.
By analogy, many have speculated as to whether
- a human clone lacks traits necessary for true independence from "parent" progenitors
- whether a clone is entitled by contrast to feel that a progenitor (genetically its monozygotic twin) is an appropriate parent
- and many in the general public in western nations identified the most important problem of cloning as whether a clone would have a soul.
How a clone is to be defined, or rather how difficult is the task of finding a way of understanding human cloning in terms from traditional language and contemporary institutions of science and parenting, has proven to be a most formidable challenge.
In moral terms, the questions to be asked about cloning, were it shown to be safe and effective, are:
- Whether and how does cloning relate to other kinds of families?
- What sorts of boundaries of parenthood and social responsibility are challenged by cloning?
Legal scholars have argued that cloning may violate, for example, a child's "right to an open future." A child born as a genetic copy of another may feel undue pressure to become like or different from its progenitor. Yet a right to an open future is difficult to validate by common law or analogy to ethical analysis about parenthood. What is parenthood, after all, but the teaching of values and knowledge to children in an act of stewardship? Perhaps children do not ever have fully open futures. Failing an absolute standard, society will have to find ways to reconcile differences among the many kinds and degrees of parental control and enhancement of children. While it is tempting to describe cloning as either a radical new form of parenting or as twinning, either analysis fails to take account of the need for new ways to integrate the problem of cloning into social institutions before it becomes an accepted form of reproductive medicine.
Cloning offers remarkable insight into the power of creation that humanity has taken into its fold. One theological analysis holds that humans are co-creators with God; perhaps it is more accurate to say that humans are moving ever closer to a posture of making babies, rather than having babies. Cloning represents a remarkable test of human restraint, wisdom and institutional development, one that will in many ways identify the moral features of 21st century biotechnology.
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