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New treatment plant, sewage system in Alpine, Wyo., earns PISCES Award
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded the Town of Alpine, Wyo., wastewater utility with the Performance and Innovation in the State Revolving Fund Creating Environmental Success (PISCES) Award for the construction of a new wastewater treatment facility and sewage collection system.
Alpine used a Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) loan to replace their wastewater treatment plant with a new, larger facility and sewage collection system. The project also addressed concerns with the inadequate construction and failure of several local septic systems. The new infrastructure is improving the quality of treated water and the protection of local groundwater and surface water resources.
"The Town of Alpine's effort to upgrade its wastewater infrastructure offers a potent example of the type of investments that will help our nation's communities protect local water resources for decades to come," said Carol Rushin, EPA's acting regional administrator in Denver. "The Town has taken clear and proactive steps to improve water quality and protect public health."
EPA's PISCES Awards recognize individual projects that best represent the CWSRF's commitment to innovative and sustainable water quality financing. The nomination criteria consisted of leadership and innovation in Clean Water Act compliance and financial integrity. In addition, each borrower demonstrated a commitment to one of more of the following criteria:
• Better management practices;
• Full-cost pricing;
• Efficient water use;
• Watershed approach;
• Innovation in financing;
• Innovative approach to project implementation; and
• Creative use of partnerships.


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Creative Confidence
David Kelley, Founder and Chairman, IDEO
Friday, February 3, 2012, 3:30pm
Spanos Auditorium
This seminar is part of the Jones Seminars on Science, Technology, and Society series.
There is much to be gained both personally and professionally from learning to trust our intuitive minds and developing a personal methodology to gain creative confidence.
A team of designers from IDEO also led a design workshop entitled "Design Strategies for Innovation." Watch videos from the workshop on YouTube and see photos from the event on Flickr.
About the Speaker
David Kelley is founder and chairman of IDEO, a California-based entrepreneur, educator, designer, and venture capitalist. He is recognized as one of America's leading design innovators, in part, thanks to his membership in the National Academy of Engineering and his receiving of numerous awards. David serves as the Donald W. Whittier professor in the Product Design program at Stanford University, where he also established the school's Hasso Plattner Institute of Design, also known as the d.school. Preparing the design thinkers of tomorrow earned David the Sir Misha Black Medal for his "distinguished contribution to design education." He has also won the Edison Achievement Award for Innovation, as well as the Chrysler Design Award and National Design Award in Product Design from the Smithsonian's Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum.

subset: commoncrawl


text: Feel free to send us tunes you think we might like. We are always keen to check out new sounds. Please make sure they are somewhere in the category of music we usually release and of good quality. As long as it is edgy, has forest atmospheres, groovy, dark or night psychedelic, weird sounds-capes and top notch production, we'll be happy to listen.


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O26 Weekly Awards: New Mexico, Jeremy Ingram, Donnie Tyndall & ECU…Posted by Tommy Lemoine on February 26th, 2014
Think about it, folks: this time next week, it will be March. Let that sink in for a minute… Now let's take a step back and give some recognition to several of last week's top performers and performances.
O26 Team of the Week
New Mexico. If the Lobos made one thing abundantly clear last week, it's this: They are every bit the team we thought they were back in the preseason (they are who we thought they were!). While San Diego State has captured the lofty rankings and national media attention for much of 2013-14, New Mexico — once favorites to win the Mountain West — has lurked under the radar for the better part of three months, amassing plenty of wins but not many headlines. But after a pair of statement victories in a four-night span, over two of its biggest rivals? That all changed in a hurry.
Entering last Wednesday's game at UNLV, head coach Craig Neal was confronted with the challenge of having to focus his team on the task at hand without looking ahead to Saturday's enormous tilt against San Diego State. Not necessarily an easy task, but an especially important one considering that the Runnin' Rebels had more or less handled New Mexico in its own gym just one month earlier. Lucky for Neal, he never had to worry much at the Thomas & Mack Center — his senior point guard Kendall Williams took any possible questions about "focus" and immediately extinguished them with a flurry points. Williams nailed a three in the first minute of the contest to give the Lobos an early lead, then helped his team maintain that advantage for the remainder of the night by notching 29 points — including 17 in the first half — along with seven rebounds, three assists and two steals. The outcome was never in question, and what made the 68-56 final even more impressive was the fact that New Mexico, not especially known for its defense, held UNLV to a paltry 31.7 percent from the field. Now the Lobos could look ahead.


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Are you interested in getting married onboard? Do you have a family reunion coming up? A business conference to organise? Holiday away with friends? A Hen or Stag Do?
Whether it's a cruise close to home and as short as 3 nights or further afield and you have 5 or more cabins, our dedicated staff will be able to recommend something well suited to you & your travel needs.
For enquiries for less then 5 cabins please refer back to the main website and enquire here


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Access control systems are virtually everywhere and are part of our daily lives, we just do not realize it. A lock on a door is a form of access control, but here it is important to secure your life and your possessions behind an access control system that is connected to a fence or gate. It is here where you will feel the safest with a custom low voltage system that will secure you and not allow intruders or unwanted guests to enter.
Thank you for visiting our Low Voltage System - Access Control Systems website. Please contact us with any questions or comments about our Low Voltage System - Access Control Systems products or services.
Baldwin County Fence Company
22996 River Road South
Daphne , AL 36526
(251) 943-6442


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We've all heard the rhyme, "April showers bring May flowers", and so we have the general knowledge that when April rolls around there will more than likely be rain. This doesn't mean that your day is completely ruined though. No, you may not be able to go for a run, work in a garden, or go for a hike, but here are some things you can do.
Hammock Inside
Hang your hammock inside and get the benefit of listening to the rain while not becoming drenched. Just use an eyebolt in a stud or ceiling beam. Before plopping down, make sure that your hammock is secure and not just in a plastered wall. If there's no place to set up, then stick to the couch. Waiting to hammock until the rain stops is better than having to repair your house.
Work out
Although it may be raining, that doesn't mean you can let your body turn to mush. (Obviously it wont happen in one day.) Try working your upper body with pushups, reverse pushups, and chair dips. For a quick rest, throw some crunches and a 30-60 second plank pose. To work your lower body, try some squats, jumping jacks, lunges or calf rises. If you have a treadmill or elliptical, hop on and a decent cardio session will ensue. Or, if your hammock is up, try some yoga in the hammock.
Ever wanted to make your own granola or trail mix? Since you've got time to kill, try it. Find a recipe online or check on the back of bags and boxes in your pantry for different recipes you'd like to try. Maybe you could even find some different things to take with you while camping or on the trail.
If you set up a hammock to chill in, then by all means grab a good book and read to your heart's content. If you're faced with the unfortunate situation of having to go a day without the comfort of your hammock, then a couch or chair is always a viable option. Just sit back, relax, and forget about all of the office paperwork you should be reading.
When the weather outside is slightly dreary there is already a calm about the day. Get how you are most comfortable and do progressive muscle relaxation. Starting from your toes, tense all of the muscles in your feet for a few seconds then release it. Then go onto the calves and ankles. Repeat this process until you have tensed and relaxed your entire body. Focus on your breathing and be aware of your entire body.
Even if the rain ruined an outdoor excursion, you can still plan for your next one. Whether it is to go for a run through your neighborhood or camping off the grid, at least you'll be prepared when it comes time to go.
Ignore it
If you come to the issue of rain when you are about to go kayaking, biking, running, hiking, or any outdoor activity, just ignore it. Our ancestors didn't let condensation deter their plans. A little rain wont hurt your adventures, unless there is lightening, and then there could be one billion volts of hurt.


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GROTON - An attack submarine has returned to Groton following a six-month deployment.
USS Virginia and its crew of more than 130 sailors arrived Thursday at the Naval Submarine Base. Six babies, including twin girls, were born during the deployment and were meeting their fathers for the first time.
The 377-foot-long submarine called on ports in Norway, Scotland and England during its second overseas deployment.
She was commissioned in 2004 as the first in the Navy's newest class of attack submarines, capable of diving to depths greater than 800 feet and operating at speeds faster than 25 knots when submerged. The vessel is equipped with missiles to attack targets on land and can conduct covert surveillance of land and sea.


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It's hard to say exactly when it happened, but a number of MOTHER EARTH NEWS' staffers have gone and got themselves bitten by the clog dancing bug. The whole thing may have started when we admired the Southern Appalachian Cloggers in action at our seminars last year. But then, it may also have been prompted by a wistful desire to join in on the action at Bill Stanley's, a bluegrass-and-barbecue spot in nearby Asheville, North Carolina. At any rate, by the time the annual Mountain Youth Folk Festival rolled around this spring—and the Asheville Civic Center was packed with petticoat-layered and denim-clad youngsters dancing their hearts out—our crew was distinctly envious. We had clogging fever.
Well, it wasn't long before some of us decided to look further into the history of the old-time Appalachian dance form and to learn a few steps (Which we'll pass on to you later). After all, clogging's fun, it's sociable, it's downright lively, and almost anyone can learn how to do it. In fact, we'll almost stake the ranch that—by the time you finish reading this armchair guide to clogging—you'll be itching to put your feet to the test.
The Origins of Clogging
Clog dancing probably had its roots in the traditional fancy steps of the Irish, Scotch, and English immigrants who settled in the Appalachian Mountains. One historian has suggested that the dance originated in the mill towns of England, where workers—who commonly wore stout wooden-soled shoes would go out into the cobblestone streets during their lunch breaks and hold impromptu dancing contests.
The steps developed by those factory laborers—along with the hornpipes, jigs, and reels of the Anglo-Saxon cultures—were then influenced, in the New World, by the heel-and-toe-accented rhythms of Cherokee dances and the routines performed by blacks in minstrel and medicine shows. It's out of this synthesis, many people believe, that "buck and wing" or "buck" dancing was born.
Performed by one person, usually to the plaintive strains of mountain fiddle music, buck dancing features close-to-the-ground lateral foot movement, with the torso held fairly stationary. (In fact, some of the old-time buck dancers prided themselves on their ability to "go it" with water-filled teacups balanced on their heads.)
Modern clogging resulted—the theory goes—from a combination of buck dancing and square dancing. It often incorporates traditional square dance figures, performed to the quick tempo of bluegrass, but features a heavier beat and more emphasis on the rhythmic use of the heel than does buck dancing.
While authorities still debate about the origins of both buck dancing and clogging, one fact does seem pretty sure: Clog team dancing originated in western North Carolina. The late Sam Queen—who is regarded as the father of team clogging—formed the Soco Gap Dancers in the 1920's, and that act was among the first to take the Appalachian art out of the mountains and introduce it to a wider public.
As a logical consequence of the formation of dance groups came team competition. The first such event occurred in 1927, on the Asheville town square, when five different clubs vied for honors. (Ever since that time, clogging competition has been included in the annual Asheville Mountain Dance and Folk Festival, the oldest gathering of its type in the nation.)
However, during the early days when these teams were assembling, mountain hoofers still referred to their style of dancing as "buck dancing," "flatfooting", or "square dancing." It wasn't until a number of years later that the pastime and the name by which we know it got together.
In 1939 the Soco Gap Dancers—along with the Coon Creek Girls from Pinchem Tight, Kentucky—were invited by President Roosevelt to perform at the White House while the King and Queen of England were visiting. Queen Elizabeth (the present monarch's mother) who, it's reported, tapped her foot eagerly during the exhibition—remarked, "Why, that's just like our clogging" ... and the name is still applied to the dance style that Sam Queen's group made famous. [EDITOR'S NOTE: If you'd tike to see some old-style cloggers in action, tune in to Country Classics, a program, shown on many PBS stations throughout the U.S.]
Definition of Terms
There are two types of clogging: freestyle and precision. The former—considered to be the more traditional of the two styles—features free-flowing and improvised steps. Precision clogging, on the other hand, is a relatively new development in the dance form. It was originated in the late 1950's by James Kesterson of Henderson County, North Carolina, who—in an attempt to modernize the dance and make it more interesting to audiences—developed set routines and standard calls for his Blue Ridge Mountain Dancers.
Needless to say, there's some resistance among clogging purists to the notion of precision footwork. Such folks feel that the "homogenization" of the steps, terminology, and calls may cause the art to lose much of its individuality and its charm, and tend to blur a significant piece of our mountain heritage.
Setting the Stage
There's an old saying that clogging is "caught, not taught". Nevertheless, MOTHER EARTH NEWS' fledgling dancers signed up for a few lessons at the local YWCA, and we found that the steps we learned in our classes were valuable in giving us a reference point to work from.
All you really need to get started are a record or tape with a thumping 4/4 beat, a smooth-surfaced floor (with a lot of room), and a pair of comfortable (but not too loose-fitting) hard-soled shoes. (Our cloggers recommend that beginners locate a recording of "The Battle of New Orleans," since it has the requisite beat but is slow enough not to be discouraging.)
You'll feel awkward at first, but remember that speed comes only with practice and that your pace will pick up as you become familiar with the motions. (One of the Southern Appalachian Cloggers told us that she polishes her frenetic footwork by putting on a pair of heavy sweat socks and working out for an hour—everyevening—on the linoleum in her kitchen.)
Shuffle, One, Two, Three...
Once you've mastered three principal clogging steps, you can piece them together to form all kinds of impressive routines. The easiest step is the chug. The name is derived from the fact that both its sound and appearance are reminiscent of an old-timey locomotive, and it's done like so: Stand with your feet slightly apart and slide/hop forward—bending your knees and moving both feet at the same time—and then slide/hop back into place as you straighten your knees. That's all there is to it ...forward and back, forward and back. The chug is a particularly good movement to use when you're just getting warmed up and want to feel the rhythm of the music. (It does wonders for lazy thigh muscles, too! )
A second clogging step is the single shuffle, which somewhat resembles a basic tap dancing move. To do it, lift one foot slightly above the floor, scuff the ball of the foot forward, and then brush it back. This results in a kind of two-beat tap. After you've shuffled that foot, stand on it. Now, lift and shuffle the other foot, and then step down on it. (You may want to keep yourself on track by reciting "shuffle-step, shuffle-step" while learning this one.) Practice the move until you're comfortable, at which point you can proceed to the basicclogging step, a four-beat piece of footwork.
The basic step combines the shuffle with three well-timed stomps. Start by doing a shuffle with your right foot ...then bring your right foot down firmly (as in the single shuffle) ...follow that by repeating the stomp with your left foot ...and finish up by putting your weight back on your right foot. (A count of "shuffle, one, two, three" is useful for marking time.) Now, you are ready to repeat the same sequence, starting with the left foot: shuffle (left), stomp (left), stomp (right), stomp (left) ...and so on, alternating the leading shuffle between right foot and left foot as you go. (Professional cloggers often add an extra accent—by stepping with more authority —to the second and fourth beats.)
There's some controversy, in clogging circles, about whether the arms should be used as you dance. It's true that many of the old-time buck dancers keep their upper bodies virtually immobile while their feet go mad, but some folks find that arm movements help them both keep their balance and get into the mood of the music. See how it feels to you, and go with whatever "body English" you like best.
While you are practicing these rudimentary clogging steps, you'll like as not wonder, at times, whether you'll ever be able to dance in a public place without counting aloud. Rest assured, confidence will come with time. (Full-length mirrors—although they can make you feel foolish at first—do allow you to see what you're doing and perhaps even correct it! )
When you're working on getting the basic feel of clogging, it may help to bear in mind a piece of advice that Poochey King (the female half of the Southern Appalachian Cloggers' lead couple) offers to novices: "It's all in the knees and the heels. If you concentrate on keeping your knees loose and remember to mark time with your heels, you will learn to clog."
Flying Feet
After you feel competent at chugging, single shuffling, and basic stepping, you can set your sights on learning some really fancy footwork. While it'll probably seem impossible, in the beginning, to nudge your feet into the awkward configurations called for in advanced clogging steps, these "frills," too, will soon become second nature.
Perhaps the most impressive step is the Earl (It's also known as the Bertha or crossover. Clogging terminology varies from region to region). The Earl is a combination chug and hornpipe step, and it looks particularly flashy when performed by a person who has long legs. Here's how it's done: Clog a few basic steps to pick up the rhythm. Then, when it's time for your right foot to shuffle, extend that leg forward instead with the knee kept straight—while you chug backward on your left foot. On the second beat, bend your right knee and bring your foot in toward your body, and chug forward with your left foot. For the third beat, straighten and extend your right leg and chug backward again on your left leg. Finally, on the fourth beat, place your dangling foot safely on the ground ...and ponder the intricacies of a step that requires your body to be moving in so many different directions at one time. The Earl may be repeated from side to side. Some folks are able to whip off a dazzling series of variations on the crossover.
The chicken (the origin of the name will become quite evident when you see this step performed) is a maneuver that is really not too difficult but is tiring. To do the step (it doesn't matter which foot you start with), chug back and forth on one leg while twirling your other foot in a circle behind you in time to the music. When performed correctly, the chicken has a syncopated rhythm, sounding like chug, tap (the second beat coming each time the circling foot touches the floor), chug, tap, chug, tap.
Another (relatively straightforward) clogging move that you might want to learn is the kick. To perform it, first get into the swing with several basic clogging steps (shuffle, one, two, three ...remember?). Then, when it's time to shuffle your right foot, step forward with it instead—elevating your left—and step back quickly on your left foot as you kick smartly with your right. (It's akin to a rocking motion.) Finish the figure with an expressive right-left-right stomp. You can dance a few more basic steps to get back into the rhythm of the music, and then substitute a kick for a left shuffle. The sideways chug is particularly useful for moving yourself laterally. (This is the step you'll often see freestyle dancers use when they're really "getting down" to the music.) All you do is slide/hop to the side with one foot /while pushing off with the other foot. (Incidentally, it's a good idea to develop some degree of mobility when you're practicing all of your moves—clogging forward, backward, in circles, and side to side—so you'll be able to fit in with ease on the dance floor or apply your new-found expertise at a square dance.)
There are plenty of other fancy clogging steps (you can always dress up one of the simpler moves with a kick or so), and once you feel proficient, you can even develop a few of your own. Most of the variations are founded on the basic chug, with rhythmic taps and shuffles added. The best way to improve your repertoire is to watch dance teams in action and figure out their steps. And don't be shy about seeking the counsel of any professionals (if you're lucky enough to have such folks in your area): MOTHER EARTH NEWS' cloggers have found that the team members—who are usually glad to see new interest in a too-long-neglected mountain art—are extremely helpful and like to give pointers.
Clogging Equipment
While hard-soled shoes, loose clothing, and lots of room are the only clogging essentials, you may well find that tap equipped footgear will help you progress more rapidly. For $5.00 to $10.00 you can have a set of heel-and-toe taps affixed to a pair of shoes (make sure they fit securely), or—in some areas—women can buy Mary Jane-style dancing slippers with taps already in place, for between $20 and $30. Most men simply have taps attached to a pair of leather-soled oxfords. Shoe repair shops or dancing apparel stores are likely sources of taps.
The cloggers in western North Carolina favor what are called jingle taps: distinctive sounding noisemakers with a movable circle embedded in the center of each metal plate.
If you do add the click makers to your footgear, keep in mind two points: Taps will mar the surface of finely finished hardwood floors or will wear loose (resulting in flying pieces of metal and, perhaps, twisted ankles) if you dance often on concrete. Should you find your tap-fitted shoes to be a mite too slick to control on your customary dancing surface, take a tip from the Southern Appalachian Cloggers: A small strip of masking tape-fastened across the sole of each shoe below the toe tap-will improve your traction.
What Are You Waiting For?
Now that you've learned the origins of this traditional form of mountain dancing and have gotten a few pointers on how to get started, the rest is up to you. Learn the rudimentary clogging steps, practice them diligently, and who knows? You may be the belle or beau of a barn dance or corn shucking in your area this fall!
Bluegrass Best Bets
We've compiled a list of records—performed by bands that frequently accompany clogging teams in western North Carolina—which would be of use to anyone who'd like to practice his or her footwork or hold a clogging get-together.
The Midnight Plowboys. This album features a bluegrass group that often plays during MOTHER EARTH NEWS' seminars and contains both vocals and instrumentals. It's available for $8.00—plus $1.50 shipping and handling—from Mountain Talents.
Any of the following records can be purchased for $8.00 apiece (on orders of one, two, or three records include $1.50 for shipping and handling. If you want four or more, add an additional 50¢ per record to the basic handling charge) from Skyline Records.
Streamline Cannonball by Marc Pruett: banjo instrumentals.
Moonlight Madness by the Marc Pruett Band: bluegrass vocals and instrumentals. (Incidentally, MOTHER EARTH NEWS' own cartoonist,. Jack Vaughan, perpetrated the jacket illustration for this one.)
Raymond Fairchild Plays " Little Zane": instrumentals that feature Raymond Fairchild, "king of the five-string banjo".
Music From Cowbell Hollow by Peter Gott and Family: old-time and bluegrass string music.
Always True by the Crowe Brothers: old-time and bluegrass string instrumentals and vocals.
Mike Hunter, The Magician of the Mandolin: mandolin instrumentals, both bluegrass and waltzes.


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Come be a part of 4-H
Special events to start at the end of this month
Send a link to a friend
09, 2014]
Logan County 4-H has some excitement and fun
coming up with events starting the end of January. Every young
person is encouraged to come out, learn about 4-H and become a part
of a great Logan County youth organization.
Logan County 4-H welcomes all 5- to 7-year-olds to the
upcoming 4-H Cloverbud events. This is a club program for children.
The purpose is to provide experiences that are fun and educational,
helping children learn to get along with others, explore many
interests, learn subject matter skills, build self-confidence
through healthy experiences, become prepared to graduate into the
traditional club program when they reach age 8, and most important —
have fun.
Programs for Cloverbuds have been scheduled for Saturday mornings
from 10 to 11:30 a.m. on Feb. 1, "Heart of Gold"; March 1,
"Surprising Seeds"; April 5, "Discovering Farm Animals"; and May 3,
"Bugs, Butterflies & Spiders." These programs will be led by high
school youth leaders serving as 4-H ambassadors.
For children currently enrolled as Cloverbuds in Logan County,
there is no charge for these programs. For children not currently
enrolled, the cost will be $10, which includes all four Saturdays.
Register online at
or call 732-8289 to register to attend.
For more information, feel free to contact Amy Hyde at 732-8289
or firstname.lastname@example.com.
[to top of second column]
4-H YES! event
Fifth- to eighth-graders
Calling all fifth- to eighth-graders! Come and check out the
kickoff event for the new 4-H YES group, focusing on leadership,
community service and meeting new friends. The first meeting will be
at the Logan County Extension office on Tuesday, Jan. 28, from 6 to
8 p.m. The evening will start with a taco bar, followed by "A Minute
to Win It" challenges.
As the first community service project, each participant is asked
to bring along a cake mix or a can of cake icing to make "birthday
bags." These will be shared with the food pantry, which can
distribute them to families with a birthday that month.
Share the word and bring a friend along to be a part of a new
adventure with Logan County 4-H. To register, call the office at
732-8289, email Amy Hyde at
email@example.com or register online at
Mark your calendars for future events on March 25 and May 20.
[Text from file received from
Carissa Akpore,
University of
Illinois Extension]
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March 20, 2014
LAWT News Service
Attorney General Kamala D. Harris recently announced a package of legislation to help local school districts and communities address California's elementary school truancy crisis. Each year, an estimated one million elementary school students are truant and 250,000 elementary school students miss 18 or more school days at a cost of $1.4 billion in lost funds to California school districts.
Joined by State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson, State Senator Bill Monning and assemblymembers Raul Bocanegra, Rob Bonta, Joan Buchanan, Isadore Hall and Chris Holden, Attorney General Harris announced her sponsorship of five bills that will help schools, parents and government effectively intervene when children are chronically absent, and improve local school districts' and counties' ability to track attendance patterns.
"California's Constitution guarantees our children the right to an education, yet our elementary schools face a truancy crisis," Harris said. "When children in kindergarten through sixth grade miss school, they fall behind and too many never catch up. The consequences for California's economy and public safety are very serious. These bills modernize attendance monitoring and build the support schools, parents and communities need to get California's children to class."
The legislation will:
• Assist schools and counties as they work with parents to address the core reasons behind truancy and chronic absence.
• Provide local school districts and counties tools to comply with attendance tracking requirements in the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF), state truancy mandates and state and federal reporting requirements.
• Modernize state and local systems to track and prevent truancy and chronic absence.
• Ensure that schools, districts, counties and the state can evaluate the success of interventions to combat truancy and chronic absence.
"It is an honor to be able to partner with Attorney General Harris on SB 1107," said Monning.
"We have long known the importance of early childhood education, and that full attendance of elementary school students is one of the keys to later academic success. By mandating the annual tracking and reporting by the attorney general, we will be able to offer local school districts additional tools in tackling this very complex issue."
"I'm proud to stand with Attorney General Harris to unveil this package of legislation that will help to address the truancy crisis here in California," Bocanegra said.
"AB 1866 will allow educators and stakeholders to identify students at risk of becoming truants earlier in the process, which will allow preventative steps to be taken to ensure these students get back to school and back on track. Hundreds of thousands of our young men and women are truant from school each and every year. That is simply unacceptable and I applaud Attorney General Harris for helping to shine a spotlight on this critical issue."
Assemblymember Bonta said, "Putting our children on the right path starts with making sure they are in school, and requires that we all work together to ensure that happens. That means developing the lines of communication between schools, parents and law enforcement to address the issue—which is what AB 2141 does. Additionally, this package of bills being put forward by the Attorney General will help stakeholders intervene early when students are not in class."
"With the right individuals at the table, such as mental health or social service agencies, we can work with students and families to find a positive solution to attendance challenges. By requiring every county to have a SARB, we guarantee that this important tool is available across the state," said Assemblymember Buchanan.
"A student's chronic truancy is a symptom of larger problems in a young person's life. Our efforts to reduce student truancy mean very little when we don't know which programs work and which ones don't. My AB 2141 is an important tool in helping to identify successful outcomes which will help us to better coordinate state and local efforts needed to keep students on track and in the classroom," Assemblymember Hall said.
"I am proud to author a bill that will help more students stay in the classroom and out of the courtroom. If schools aren't tracking what students are missing you won't be able to effectively fix the problem. Second graders are missing school and arriving late for very different reasons than 11th graders. Requiring County Offices of Education to forward the complete reports to the Department of Education will allow the State to identify trends and find best practices to address this crisis," Assemblymember Holden said.
In School +On Track also made the point that elementary school truancy is at the root of the state's chronic criminal justice problems. Missing large amounts of school is one of the strongest predictors of falling behind academically and dropping out, even in early grades. According to one study, students who missed 10 percent of their kindergarten and first grade years scored, on average, 60 points below similar students with good attendance on third-grade reading tests. And, students who don't read proficiently by the third grade are four times more likely not to receive a high school diploma than proficient readers, which puts them at risk of becoming a victim or perpetrator of crime. An increase of graduation rates by just 10 percent would result in a 20 percent drop in violent crime, and prevent 500 murders and more than 20,000 aggravated assaults per year in California.


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Leading UK Interior Design company Margolis Office Environment applies Freedom Of Creations' Macedonia Space Divider for the interior of the brand new RI3K office in the centre of London.
Margolis created a new and exciting environment for RI3K staff of 80 in the newly renovated 1960s office building, located at Dashwood House at 69 Old Broad Street.
The open plan area has the best use of natural light, by creating a bespoke breakout area with comfortable lounge and effective yet see through divisions with the Macedonia Panels this lightness translates trough the whole space.
The Macedonia Space Divider has been produced in custom vibrant blue tint requested by the interior architect. The space divider construction is a combination of free hanging panels and frame mounted space dividers.
About RI3K
'Reinsurance and Insurance for the 3rd Millennium' (RI3K) allows all types and classes of large commercial insurance and facultative and treaty reinsurance to be transacted over the Internet. No software is needed, users simply log on and trade. RI3K is the engine of the modern, paperless market, increasing efficiency, accelerating information, and driving out paper and cost.


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Culture and Leisure ActivitiesCopyright: RWTH Aachen
Due to its rich cultural program and unique geographic location close to Belgium and Holland, Aachen has lots to offer in the way of outings and excursions. Additionally, the region has a broad cultural event program. One example of a program event is the "Across the Borders" cultural festival that took place in 2011 for the fourth time.
Excursions and Outings
Aachen is located in the Meuse-Rhine Euroregion, which comprises parts of Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium. Many of the region's cities, such as Cologne and Düsseldorf in Germany, Maastricht and Heerlen in the Netherlands and Brussels, Liège and Hasselt in Belgium, are just an hour's drive from Aachen.
More information on other excursions in the region is available on North Rhine-Westphalia's bicycle route planner.
Important Events in Aachen
There are some special events that regularly take place in Aachen, e.g. the international equestrian show CHIO, the Charlemagne Award, or Aachener Kultursommer.
Eating and Drinking
Aachen has an extraordinary variety of restaurants, cafes, and bars. The Pontstraße is particularly favorite location for students and visiting researchers. It is located between Ponttor and the town square and has not only a number of bars and clubs, but also restaurants with culinary specialities from all over the world. The Pontstraße is particularly inviting during summer evenings, where you can sit outside with pizza, beer, or glass of wine.
There are a number of museums in Aachen and its surroundings, including the Ludwig Forum for International Art and the Suermondt Ludwig Museum, which are the biggest and most well known. Exhibits in Aachen museums are often accompanied by a multi-layer/complex program, which could include workshops, seminars, and events for children and youth.
Theaters in Aachen, the Aachen Symphony Orchestra, and many different cultural initiatives have a broad spectrum of events to offer including opera, theater, ballet, concerts, and open air events.
Thermal Springs and Thermal Baths
Aachen has a long and significant tradition as a spa and bath city – even the Romans recognized the positive and healing effects of Aachen's spring water. Today, the Carolus Thermen are a particularly popular place among Aachen inhabitants, who seek recovery and relaxation in the thermal bath and sauna rooms. Various water attractions such as geysers, massage jets, fizzy ?, Sprudelbecken, and whirlpools provide a bit of a variety in an architecturally sophisticated thermal bath environment.
Carolus Thermen
Spas and Baths
City Tours, Outings, and Nature
In order to get to know Aachen and the surroundings better, you can participate in a number of tours. The city of Aachen organizes outings to the Aachener Wald, the Eifel, the three country point, and neighboring cities such as Liege and Maastricht. Bicycle tours through the Aachen region are also offered.


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MUTEK.ES Announces Second Batch of 2013 Artists!
Tickets on sale now via www.mutek.es
December 18, 2012
Days before jumping into the holiday season, MUTEK.ES announces the second round of artists confirmed for its 4th edition, which will run February 6 – 9, 2013 in Barcelona, Spain
Kuedo & MFO [UK] / Laurel Halo [US] / Nautiluss [CA] / Andrés Bucci [CL] / Cardopusher [VL] / Clip! [ES] / Nikka & Alba G. Corral [ES] / Boris Chimp 504 [PT] / DOSF [ES] / XTRNGR [ES] / Astroboyz [ES].
Several new international highlights join the festival lineup as debut appearances. Making his name as part of British dubstep duo Vex'd along with Roly Porter, Jamie Teasedale's work as Kuedo has drawn frequent comparisons to the sweeping, arpeggiated synth passages of Vangelis. Performing the Barcelona premiere of his live A/V show, Kuedo's glassy synth superhighways and trap-inspired rhythmic patterns swirl over visuals by Berlin-based video collective MFO.
Acclaimed for her nuanced songwriting, rhythmic complexity, and unique singing voice, Laurel Halo has been electrifying clubs in the US and Europe with sharp, dancefloor driven live sets. Wrapping up a busy 2012 year that saw Halo release two EPs to critical acclaim, the artist makes her Barcelona debut while performing at the MUTEK.ES. Opening Concert at new venue Station Barcelona, located inside the spectacular Estación Francia, Barcelona's international train station.
Over at the Nitsa / 2 room, Nautiluss, Cardopusher, and Clip! take over the Red Bull Music Academy stage for a night that shifts through several faces of the bass continuum. An alumnus of the RBMA stage at MUTEK Montreal and former member of Thunderheist (Big Dada), Nautiluss constantly strives for the perfect combination of synthetic and organic textures. Joining him is Venezuela-born Barcelona-based producer Cardopusher, whose journeys between dubstep, tropical bass, UK funky, electro, house, and various points in-between have been published on varied labels such as Hyperdub, Tigerbeat6, Lo Dubs and Car Crash Set to name a few Barcelona native, classically trained musician, and RBMA alumnus Clip! rounds out the RBMA stage program with his hyperactive shifts between UK garage, house, bass, and juke.
With an ever-growing mandate to support Spain's diverse local scene, MUTEK.ES is proud to present even more Spanish artists in this year's program. Following independent MUTEK.ES debuts last year, artists Nikka and Alba G. Corral have joined forces to create an interactive version of a collaborative project entitled ¨The Space in Between¨. Another audiovisual performance comes from compatriots DOSF, whose ongoing exploration of the dialogue between sound and image takes shape as "Uno", a work where audio passages seed visuals and vice versa. Upcoming artist XTRNGR, who mutates the worlds of ambient and glitch, and the house-oriented Astroboyz, who works in both analogue and digital mediums, round out the local talent confirmed thus far.
In parallel to supporting Spanish talent, MUTEK.ES also continues to foment links with Latin America via performances by the above-mentioned newcomer, Cardopusher [VL], as well as veteran Chilean producer turned Berlin resident Andrés Bucci, known for his ever-versatile and unpredictable live sets suffused with analogue 808 and 909 grooves.
Rounding out this second announcement are Portugal's Boris Chimp 504, who will perform a live A/V show as well as present an audio installation called ¨Non Human Device¨, based on their live performance. The installation invites the public to create audiovisual signals by interacting with a touch-activated "non human machine interface". The above artists and projects are of course coming in addition to the international highlights announced in November:
Jeff Mills [US] / Raime [UK] / Vessel [UK] / Monolake [DE] / Jon Hopkins [UK] / The Mole [CA] / Dewalta [DE] / Le Révélateur [CA]
Stay tuned as we announce the full MUTEK.ES 2013 Digi_Section daytime conference program, in January!
To purchase tickets, and for program updates, check the MUTEK.ES website: http://www.mutek.es
Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/MutekSpain
Twitter page: http://www.twitter.com/mutek_es


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If you've been wondering when you'll be able to get your hands on Steve Fox, Lilli and, ahem, Kunimitsu and you happen to live in Europe, Namco Bandai's got answers for you.
Tekken Tag Tournament 2 will be available for continental fighting game fans on September 14th, bringing with it the collectors' edition and expected pre-order exclusives. The We Are Tekken variant will come in a metal case that holds the game's original soundtrack, a remix CD, an art book that exceeds 200 pages and a behind-the-scenes DVD with game tips from Katsuhiro Harada and the rest of the Tekken dev team.
Pre-orders mean that you'll be able to start playing certain characters right away without having to grind away and unlock them. Go through ShopTo and you'll get Michelle Chang and Angel; reserving it at Zavvi gets you Kunimitsu and Ancient Ogre.
One imagines that North America and other territories will find out when they're getting TTT2 in the coming weeks.
Tekken Tag Tournament 2 release date announced [Eurogamer]


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Possible Duplicate:
Where can I find good (well organized) examples of game code?
I have coded several C++ games and now I'm building my own game engine and editor.
I have some doubts about the design and I wish to find great examples to follow.
What is the best designed in your opinion?
Must be object oriented. Programming language does not matter, but I prefer in this order: C++, C#, Java or another similar.
EDITED: To clarify more, I'm not interested on game-specific code. I want general purpose game engines.
EDITED: This article explains what is a game engine: game engine at wikipedia and here is a list of known game engines: list of game engines at wikipedia


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Can't they just give us a nice night of watching ball? With the cheering, and the hand slappies, and me and Coop not having to leave the Blind Pig early because the game's too painful to watch?
I thought they'd win last night. I thought Niese would stump the Cubbies. I thought I'd get to jump around a bit over a couple drinks. Instead, Coop and I watched, wailed, pouted, and more than once dropped our heads into our hands in despair. Not what we were hoping for.
I would like a hug, please.
I'm grouchy and sad and feel like I have constant PMS right now.
Please turn it around for us, boys.


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Incoming sixth- and seventh-grade students from around the district and beyond have the opportunity to take STEM courses at Robbinsdale Middle School. The program is open to all three grade levels at Robbinsdale Middle School.
The program will be a natural progression for those students at the School of Engineering and Arts at Olson Elementary (SEA), which is a K-5 Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) magnet school and will include, among other things, a year-long course in engineering utilizing the Gateway to Technology (GTT) curriculum, the middle level leg of the national pre-engineering program Project Lead the Way. Plans are being made for more components of the program and also specific professional development for teachers.
Project Lead the Way (PLTW) is a national Pre-Engineering program for high school students and is available at both Robbinsdale Armstrong and Robbinsdale Cooper.
Click here for more information about STEM.


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It's the offseason, so get ready for more of this.
Per the Lawrence Journal-World, Kansas linebacker Ben Heeney was cited for misdemeanor battery after an incident that took place last Sunday outside a local bar. According to the paper, Heeney apparently "battered employees" at the establishment after he was asked to leave. Heeney is scheduled to appear in court on Feb. 8.
"We are fully aware of the situation involving Ben," Jayhawks coach Charlie Weis said in a statement. "We have discussed this with all of the parties involved and believe we know what truly happened. We are handling it internally with appropriate measures."
Heeney was an All-Big 12 second-team selection as a sophomore in 2012. He led the team with 112 tackles and also recorded 12 TFL and a sack.


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Cream of cauliflower soup with sautéed wild mushrooms
Nutrition and extra info
- Freezable
- Vegetarian
- kcal276
- fat21g
- saturates10g
- carbs14g
- sugars0g
- fibre3g
- protein9g
- salt0.77g
- 1 large cauliflower (about 1.3kg/3lb), stalks discarded and florets chopped
A brassica, like cabbage and broccoli, cauliflower is a mass of tiny, tightly packed flower…
- 1 large potato, peeled and chopped into large chunks
The world's favourite root vegetable, the potato comes in innumerable varieties. A member of…
- 1 medium onion, chopped
Onions are endlessly versatile and an essential ingredient in countless recipes. Native to Asia…
- 25g butter
Butter is a dairy product made from separating whole milk or cream into fat and…
- 4 tbsp olive oil
Olive oilol-iv oyl
Probably the most widely-used oil in cooking, olive oil is pressed from fresh olives. It's…
- 1.2l light chicken or vegetable stock
- 600ml full-fat milk
One of the most widely used ingredients, milk is often referred to as a 'complete' food…
- 142ml carton double cream
- 250g wild mushroom – choose from ceps, girolles (chanterelles), morels (either a mixture or just one type)
- 1-2 tbsp finely snipped chives
Put the cauliflower, potato and onion in a large saucepan with the butter and half of the oil. Gently heat the contents until they start to sizzle, then cover with a lid and sweat over a low heat for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. The vegetables should be softened but not coloured.
Pour in the stock and bring to the boil, then pour in the milk and return gently to a boil. This way, there will be no scum forming from the milk. Season to taste then simmer, uncovered, for 10-15 minutes until the vegetables are soft. Pour in half the cream.
Blend everything in a food processor or blender, in batches. For an extra creamy texture, push the purée through a sieve with the back of a ladle. Stir in the rest of the cream. (If preparing ahead cool, cover and chill for up to a day.)
To serve, pick over the mushrooms. Wild mushrooms can be gritty so wash them quickly in a bowl of cold water then drain well and pat dry. Trim the stalks and chop or slice the mushrooms neatly. Heat the remaining oil in a frying pan and, when very hot, stir fry the mushrooms quickly until nicely browned, seasoning with salt and freshly ground black pepper as you cook them.
Reheat the soup until piping hot. Check for seasoning and ladle into warmed bowls. Spoon the mushrooms into the centre and sprinkle lightly with the chives. Italy's elegant, mildly citrussy whites, such as Vernaccia di San Gimignano, or a Chardonnay would suit this rich soup.


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President Barack Obama said Friday that any use of chemical weapons by Syria would be a "game changer," but he cautioned that the United States needs more evidence that President Bashar Assad has used the deadly agents against his people.
"We cannot stand by and permit the systematic use of weapons like chemical weapons on civilian populations," Obama said in his first comments since the White House disclosed that U.S. intelligence indicates Syria probably has used chemical weapons.
However, the president said more evidence of such use was still needed, including when and how the deadly agents might have been used. He said the U.S., along with the United Nations, would seek to "gather evidence on the ground" in Syria to solidify intelligence assessments.
"This adds increased urgency to what already is a significant security and humanitarian problem in the region," he said from the Oval Office, where he was meeting with Jordan's King Abdullah II.
The White House said on Thursday that the Syrian government probably had used chemical weapons, most likely the agent sarin, in the two-year civil war that has killed more than 70,000 people and displaced hundreds of thousands more.
Obama's cautious response reflects a lack of agreement in Washington over aggressive military intervention. However, lawmakers in both parties also have expressed concern that inaction could embolden not only Assad but such countries as North Korea and Iran as well.
Obama has declared that the Assad government's use of chemical weapons would cross a "red line" for a major military response.
"For the Syrian government to utilize chemical weapons on its people crosses a line that will change my calculus and how the United States approaches these issues," the president said.
Emerging from a closed-door briefing with Secretary of State John Kerry on Capitol Hill, House Republicans and Democrats expressed uncertainty about the appropriate next step as the Obama administration considers limited military options.
No lawmaker pressed for military invasion by the U.S., after more than 10 years of war in Iraq and Afghanistan.
"It is such a muddled picture," said Rep. Hal Rogers, R-Ky., chairman of the House Appropriations Committee. "I think probably we should be asking the U.N. to be involved. I think perhaps that's in the making."
Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger of Maryland, the senior Democrat on the House intelligence committee, was among many lawmakers who called for a cautious approach to Syria even as they acknowledged the seriousness of the situation.
"We want to do everything we can to avoid putting boots on the ground," he told reporters. The U.S. should work with other countries to stabilize Syria and ensure its chemical weapons are kept out of the hands of terrorist groups, he said.
"I don't think that we, just as the United States, want to go in to another war," Ruppersberger said.
Obama's vow that Syria's use of chemical weapons would elicit a strong response and the administration's latest caution could raise questions about Obama's definition of a "red line." The U.S. credibility and international authority are on the line in the administration's handling of Syria, and the message it sends to Assad and other nations.
"There's no question that when the United States takes a position that this crosses a line that our failure to respond has implications," said Rep. David Cicilline, D-R.I., a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. "I think the president was saying the use of chemical weapons is a game changer. I think most people agree with that. So that if we in fact determine that chemical weapons were used, I think the expectation is that we and the coalition and others take some action."
Rep. John Mica, R-Fla., wondered whether the red line is "turning into a pink line."
In Syria, officials rejected the U.S. intelligence assessment and denied that it had used chemical weapons.
Pressed on the response, State Department spokesman Patrick Ventrell said: "If the regime has nothing to hide they should let the U.N. investigators in immediately so we can get to the bottom of this."
The White House faces a limited choice of military options to help the rebels oust Assad.
Arming the rebels would run into several problems. For one, a military group fighting alongside them has pledged allegiance to al-Qaida. Also, establishing a no-fly zone poses a significant challenge, as Syria possesses an air defense system far more robust than the U.S. and its allies overwhelmed in Libya two years ago.
The next move on Syria was high on the agenda for Obama's meeting Friday with King Abdullah, as the U.S. ally has struggled with the influx of hundreds of thousands of refugees escaping the Syrian violence.
"I think it's important for the administration to look for ways to up the military pressure on Assad," said Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., chairman of the Armed Services Committee.
One of the most powerful of the rebel groups in Syria is Jabhat al-Nusra, which recently declared its affiliation with al-Qaida. Last December, the State Department designated the group a terrorist organization, and the administration's opposition to directly arming the Syrian opposition stems from concerns about the weapons ending up in the hands of Islamic extremists.
Arming the rebels, said Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., is a "lot harder that it was before."
"We've gotten to the point now where the opposition has been affected by the radicals," Graham said in an interview. "Right weapons in right hands is the goal. The second war is coming. I think we can arm the right people with the right weapons. There's a risk there, but the risk of letting this go and chemical weapons falling into radical Islamists' hands is the greatest risk."
Several lawmakers, including Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., have called for the U.S. to create a narrow, safe zone inside Syria, along its border with Turkey.
Either a safe zone or a no-fly zone would require neutralizing Syria's air defenses. According to a report by the Institute for the Study of War, Syria's largely Soviet-era air defense system includes as many as 300 mobile surface-to-air missile systems and defense systems, and more than 600 static missile launchers and sites.
The U.S. has taken only minimal military steps so far, limiting U.S. assistance to nonlethal aid, including military-style equipment such as body armor and night vision goggles.
The U.S. has deployed about 200 troops to Jordan to assist that country's military, and participated in NATO's placement of Patriot missile batteries in Turkey near the border to protect against an attack from Syria.
Associated Press Intelligence Writer Kimberly Dozier and AP writer Richard Lardner contributed to this report.


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On March 9, audio legend Paul W Klipsch (PWK) is born in Elkhart, Indiana. He is the only child of Oscar Colman Klipsch and Minna Pearl Eddy.
In graduate school at Stanford University, one of Paul W. Klipsch's classmates mentions to him that speakers sound better in a corner.
It was then during his military service at the Southwest Proving Grounds located in Hope, Ark. that Paul W. Klipsch refined his corner Horn speaker design. Visitors to his officer's quarters were amazed by the lifelike reproduction and encouraged PWK to start his own manufacturing business.
At age 85, Paul W. Klipsch sells Klipsch & Associates to second cousin and Indianapolis businessman Fred S. Klipsch and his wife Judy. While manufacturing remains in Hope, Arkansas, business operations move to Indianapolis, Indiana.
The company is re-named Klipsch, Inc.
Klipsch introduces the Rebel "8", the company's first compact "satellite" speaker offering.
At the 2004 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES), Paul W. Klipsch is inducted into the Consumer Electronics Hall of Fame, which was established in 2000 by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) to honor the leaders whose creativity, persistence and determination helped shape the consumer electronics industry.
Klipsch enters the iPod accessories space with the iFi, the first iPod-dockable home Stereo system on the market.
Klipsch acquires Danish brand Jamo to accelerate global growth. One year later, the company acquires Audio Products International (API), makers of the Mirage®, Energy® and Athena® speaker brands.
In May, Klipsch introduces the Image S4 headphones. At the time, it is one of the most successful product launches in company history.
The S4i was deemed the first third-party Headset to offer full control of the iPhone 3GS, iPod touch and iPod music and video content.
Klipsch introduces its affordable HD Theater Series, proving a high-def picture demands high-def sound. In August, Klipsch takes its headphone business a step further, introducing the Image S4i and S2m headsets.


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MasterCard Gold
A card for holders with considerable financial opportunities and advantages.
MasterCard Gold
A card for holders with considerable financial opportunities and advantages.
How can I get MasterCard Gold ?
General information
A card for holders with considerable financial opportunities and advantages. You can use this card to withdraw money and make purchases in trade and services centers throughout the world. Holders of MasterCard Gold cards enjoy special treatment, high quality of service and discounts on products and services around the world. The card supports Contactless Payment Technology
- 24/7 cash withdrawal from ATMs.
- Making online payments
- Paying for products and services in Azerbaijan and abroad
- Carrying a desired amount of money on foreign trips
- Global customer support - MasterCard Global Service
- Consultation on the legal and healthcare issues - MasterAssist and Travel Assistance Service
- Emergency card replacement and / or payment of the money in case of loss
- Exclusive services in any country of the world - Download
- MasterCard Priceless program
- Line of credit with high drawdown limit
- Contactless payment technology
|Card price – 1 year / 2 years / 3 years
|Additional price – 1 year / 2 years / 3 years
|Defective card replacement
|Urgent card issue surcharge fee
|Baku branches - 10 AZN, regional branches - 15 AZN
|"Emergency Cash Disbursement" (to withdraw money without a card in 24 hours in case if the card is lost or stolen in the foreign country
|Master Card - 100 EUR/ VISA - 180 USD [1]
|Connection to BirBank mobile application
|Resetting a PIN code via BirBank
|Resetting a forgotten, lost PIN code via ATM
|Resetting PIN tries or unblocking a card via BirBank
|Unblocking a card
|Unjustified claims in respect to payments
|Maintaining closed accounts in operating system
|monthly 1.00 AZN
|Withdrawing cash from Kapital Bank's ATMs and branches
|1% (min 1,00 AZN/USD/EUR)
|Withdrawing cash from ATMs of other banks
|1,5% (min 3.50 AZN/USD/EUR)
|Withdrawing cash from offices of other banks within the Republic of Azerbaijan
|1,5% (min 5.00 AZN/USD/EUR)
|Withdrawing cash from offices of banks outside of Azerbaijan
1,5% (min 7.50 AZN/USD/EUR)
|Commission for trading transactions
|Adding funds to card through Kapital Bank's offices, cash-in ATMs and infokiosk terminals
|Unique transactions in Azerbaijan and abroad (gambling)
|3% (min 5.00 AZN/USD/EUR)
|Cash by Code service fee (with ATM)
|1% (min 1,00 AZN/USD/EUR)
|Card to Card - transfering funds to another Kapital Bank card (via ATM)
|0,2% (min 0.50 AZN/USD/EUR)
|Card to Card - transfering funds to another Kapital Bank card (via BirBank)
|"Card to Card" to resident bank cards
|0,5% (min 1.5 AZN/USD/EUR)
|"Card to Card" to non-resident bank cards
|1,5% (min 3 AZN/USD/EUR)
|"Card to Card" recieve money
|Receiving money to cards through Kapital Bank office, ATM and terminal
|Payment of taxes and custom dues through POS in Azerbaijan
|0,2% (min 0,50 AZN)
|Payment of administrative fines, state dues and state budget payments through POS in Azerbaijan
|0,5% (min 0,30 AZN)
|Payment of taxes, custom dues, administrative fines, state dues and other state budget payments through www.gpp.az website
|0,15% (min 0,40 AZN, max 15.00 AZN)
Conversion: Debit and credit transactions conducted in foreign currency by AZN payment card accounts (cash-in, withdrawal, card to card)
Conversion: Payment transactions conducted in foreign currency within the country by AZN payment card accounts
Conversion: Debit and credit transactions conducted in AZN by USD/EUR payment card accounts (cash-in, withdrawal, card to card)
|Conversion fees in all other cases
|Transfer of funds to salary cards
|1% (min 1.00 AZN/USD/EUR)
[1] The max amount of the money that the customer can receive is 5000 USD (or equivalent).
- How can I increase my card balance? Still have a question? Ask an online consultant!
- How can one obtain a Kapital Bank card?
To obtain a Kapital Bank card, you can apply to a bank branch (unit) or by filling out the Online Application Form on the official website of Kapital Bank.
- How can I connect to the SMS Banking service?
There are 3 easy ways to connect to Kapital Bank's SMS Banking service:
- Applying to a local structural unit;
- By using a Kapital Bank ATM;
- Calling the Customer Service at 196;
- Is a service fee charged on card payments in trade and service centers?
No service fee is charged on card payments in trade and service centers.
- What shall I do if my card is opened in USD but I am travelling to Euro zone?
In this case, a conversion fee of 0.5% will be charged. You can also open a EUR card to avoid paying the conversion fee.
- How can I connect to BirBank services? Are these services free?
You can apply to your local branch (unit) to connect to this service. You will proposed to sign an BirBank service agreement. The service will be activated within 3 business days. The service is free of charge.
- Where shall I apply for an account statement?
You can obtain your account statement from any branch (unit) of Kapital Bank. The following tariffs apply to issue of account statements: Balance statement – free, other accompanying documents – AZN 10
- Is there any user limit applied to cards?
To minimize operational risks and potential damages in the event of stolen card, a user limit is set for cash withdrawal from ATM and payments through POS terminals in high-risk and relatively low-risk countries.
- Where shall I apply to change my card limits?
Before you travel to a new country, you can change the daily limit by calling customer service at 196, applying to your local structural unit or by visiting BirBank section on the website.
- I added funds to my account through cash-in ATM but the money has not been settled to my account yet. What shall I do?
If money which was added to account has not been settled for technical reasons (power cut, network problems, etc), a customer shall immediately notify the customer service at 196 or inform the local branch. The application will be investigated by bank within 7 business days and the customer will be notified about the results in due order.


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One-hundred ultimate "24" fans will get the opportunity to set a Guinness World Record starting Thursday evening. Fox Home Entertainment is sponsoring the event that, when over, will hand out $10,000 to the last remaining participant.
The "24" Marathon Challenge and Fan Fest will host 100 fans in a custom-built Plexiglas home theater to watch consecutive episodes of "24" until they literally can't watch anymore. The last remaining fan will win $10,000 cash and most likely hold a new world record for longest time to continuously watch television.
The current record belongs to Netherlands resident Efraïm van Oeveren who watched TV for 86 continuous hours.
A news release by Fox Home Entertainment mentions that cast members from the show will be making appearances, but there has been no confirmation on when they will visit, or even which cast members will show up.
According to the official 24 Facebook page, the 100 allotted spots for the contest were filled in less than three hours.
The official rules for the contest state that contestants are not allowed to sleep or leave the viewing area at any time other than during designated rest periods. Food, water, seating and anything else participants will need during the competition will be provided, and as a result nothing will be allowed into the viewing area.
Fans who were not able to register for the event may go and watch at the Hollywood and Highland complex. There will be original props, bonus footage and cast members at the event for the public.
"'24' The Complete Series" will be available on Blu-ray and DVD on Dec. 14. You can pre-order it on Amazon and receive it the day it comes out.


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FOOD- THE DISH- Tears on Water: after nine years, upscale Oxo closes
Dish is sad to report that the rumors are true– Oxo on Water Street is closing.
"OXO bids you farewell," say owners John Haywood and Alice Kim in a statement to the Hook. "....having OXO Restaurant was one of the most rewarding experiences of our lives, but we are now burnt out, craving time off, not enjoying this recession, and needing to participate in life outside our restaurant bubble. So we are changing gears."
Nine years ago, Haywood and Kim moved into the space on Water Street occupied by Julian's, an "odd little Italian-Mexican" restaurant, recalls Kim. Before that its was a Brazilian-inspired restaurant named Brasa.
"Brasa was actually the first tapas restaurant in Charlottesville," says Kim. " The concept was so new that when some people heard "tapas restaurant" they thought it was "topless restaurant."
Oxo's minimalist white-on-white interior belied the color and flavors bursting from the plates. In addition to being one of the first– if not the first– to put a few seats overlooking the chef, the restaurant innovated until the end including some "After Dark" events that had been spicing up the late-night scene, most notably a "Bondage Party" in April, which featured a cage filled with professional-looking women with whips and grinning young men.
And as many know, Kim was the brains behind the popular Artini parties in the Ix building, the first of which in 2006 many considered the party of the year, if not the decade. Indeed, like the setting for a celebration of the Apocalypse, 500 guests danced the night away while a thunder and lightning storm raged outside, with torrential rains coming down through the gaps in the roof of the old textile mill. Some described the scene as "other-worldly." The following year bartenders at the event served over 4,000 drinks as bikini-clad painted dancers (and one shirtless boy) served drinks while circus performers spun fire and whirled hoopla-hoops.
No wonder the National Gallery of Art came knocking.
Back in April, Kim accepted a gig organizing special events at the Gallery, an opportunity that she described as "too intriguing" to pass up.
"Working at the Gallery revealed how burnt out John and I had become running the restaurant," says Kim in an email sent from her new office in DC. "While we absolutely loved it, we were also tired of how the restaurant affected our personal and family life. And, this non-recession recession was really stressful. Basically, an opportunity came up, and we took it."
"I can't say enough about the staff we had," says Kim. "They are fabulous spirits with generous hearts. And let's not forget, incredibly sexy!"
Horse & Hound party a 'steal'
The folks at Horse & Hound GastroPub will soon be celebrating their first birthday, and so they're inviting us over to steal their glasses. That's right...on Friday, June 20 the West Main eatery plans to have a "Steal Your Glass Party" with live music and free apps from 5pm to 7pm. Festivities will also continue on the weekend, with live music Saturday night and at Sunday brunch.
"We will have one glass to 'steal' and it will either be the Bitburger glass or the Hennepin glass, we are not sure yet," says co-owner Brooke Fedora. "We will also be having Martinis specials."
Hmm... is it still stealing if they let you? Maybe they should at least have someone chase us down the street!
Deep Palate: Hungry in Scottsville
Our undercover contact in Scottsville, "Deep Palate", sent us a missive recently about the food scene in the little hamlet by the James. "It has been a while since I sent you an update," DP says. " It may be due in part to a prolonged period of starvation..."
Apparently, restaurants have been closing right and left. Now, Minor's Diner, which seemed to be doing okay and had just opened a breakfast buffet, is history, and so is the spot it once occupied. The owner, says DP, gutted the building of all its restaurant equipment and has turned down offers from other restaurateurs.
The Dogwood Cafe at Lake Monticello is poised to rent the space formerly occupied by Magnolia's on Valley Road, and a cigar bar known as the Horseshoe Bend Tavern is scheduled to open in September.
Finally, Donna's Place, a cafe on Valley Road owned by Joe Hale and his wife Donna, is for sale. Joe, says DP, is also the owner of the IGA, which will be closing in anticipation of the opening of a new Food Lion. The couple has purchased another IGA in Martinsville and will be pulling up stakes. Donna's, says DP, was only open for about year.
"Boy, am I hungry," says DP with a sigh.
Local food scene: Area farmer's markets
Of course, we're all familiar with the Charlottesville farmers' markets– the one on Water Street and the one at Meade Park– but there are a few other far flung markets...so why not do your own little shopping experiment?
Forest Lakes: Tuesdays, 4pm to 7pm, in the South Recreational Facility parking area.
Waynesboro: Wednesdays, 3pm to 7pm, downtown at the pavilion in Constitution Park. 540-649-4594.
Nelson County: Saturdays, 8am to noon, on Route 151 in Nellysford. 434-244-2399.
Staunton: Saturdays, 7am to noon, at the Wharf lot on Johnson Street downtown. 540-332-3802.
Verona: Wednesdays, noon to 5pm. at the Market dock in Augusta Government Center on Route 11, 540-332-3802.
As an added bonus, the Staunton market will feature demonstrations from local chefs. Here's the line-up: June 21, 9am: Ian Boden, Staunton Grocery; August 23, 9am: Doreen Bechtol, Shakespeare Actress/Gourmet Chef; September 20, 9am: David Zawhorodny, Zynadoa.
All (or at least most of) this food news was first reported online. Check it out at readthehook.com/food/


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Radiology Information System
Interlinked information, at every step.
Your RIS helps decrease operational cost, increase efficiency, and maintain a high standard of quality of care in departments serving medical imaging. Find out how your colleagues around the world utilize the patient-centric imaging workflow solution.
Higher efficiency through clever tools
Through its intelligent tools and centralizing architecture, the Siemens RIS can help to decrease operational costs.
Anne Osowski, RIS Administrator, Bethesda Health, Boynton Beach, Florida, USA, describes the benefits of auto-generated patient letters in the RIS: After dictation, the results are sent to the syngo Workflow SLR Mammography Module, where they are parsed out and stored in the appropriate mammography database fields. Then, the appropriate letter stream is applied. "Currently, our staff spends two or more hours a day generating patient letters," says Anne Osowski. "We estimate this function will save us about an hour a day. And, those patients whose assessment is entered by the radiologist will receive their letters one day sooner than before."
"IDOC Builder is a phenomenal tool!", says Doug Ross, Radiology PACS Coordinator at Bay Area Hospital, Coos Bay, Oregon, USA. He uses the easy tools that his RIS offers to build interactive documents and clinical alerts to speed up report generation.
He also appreciates the new guided implementation tools, stating "The feature had great links, and I liked that I could add a task."
Less paper, more mobiles, more flexibility
Missing something? In 44% of lawsuits, physicians report that missing information is likely to adversely impact patients1. This can be due to error-prone paper workflows. Bethesda Health in Florida, USA, consequently set up a paperless workflow based on mobile devices.
"Bethesda is also committed to taking advantage of the new mobile device application. The IDOC functionality can be accessed on any tablet type device connected to the facilities wireless network. This new functionality allows the staff the freedom of filling out patient questionnaires and documents, requiring a signature, without the constrictions of fixed equipment." Anne Osowski, Bethesda Health
The right information to the right user at the right time
Did you know? 75% of lawsuits in radiology center around a failure to diagnose or communicate2. Your RIS enables a seamless exchange of imaging information, enabling informed decisions for all involved administrators and clinicians.
"My number one goal as a radiologist is to accurately detect disease and convey [results] in a concise and accurate format so the referring physician can interpret and act accordingly. Portal Radiologist helps me do that by having all the relevant important clinical information available at my fingertips." Ariana Alvarez, MD, Bethesda Health, Boynton Beach, Florida, USA
"Portal Administrator has vastly improved my day-to-day functionality, operations. [… ] I can be more engaged with the technologists and the radiologists while making changes in real time." Anne Osowski, IS Administrator, Bethesda Health, Boynton Beach, Florida, USA
Complete the form below to download whitepapers or request additional information.
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Update: Sony said nee-ther, Raimi said nie-ther, let's call the whole thing off
The ongoing saga that is "Spider-Man 4" took a new twist with John Malkovich's confirmation that he will do battle with the webslinger.
Malkovich told an Italian radio station that he is, like the rest of the world, just waiting to receive the script for the latest Spidey installment, according to Collider. While he didn;t specifiy his role, he's been rumored to play The Vulture.
U.S. & World
Being John Malkovich is hard work these days: He is already squaring off with another Marvel hero in "Jonah Hex," due out this summer. And he is stepping in for John C. Reilly in "Red," yet another comic-book adaptation, in which he teams up with Bruce Willis' ex-CIA spook to fight off a band of assassins, reported Heat Vision.
In addition to the Malkovich/Vulture rumors, there's been talk of Anne Hathaway as Black Cat, director Sam Rami was rumored to favor Raimierio and Sony wanted to leverage the whole vampire thing by having "SM4" feature Raimiius.
Just last week it was revealed that Rami and Sony were still at odds over which villain(s?) Spider-Man would go up against, and that script troubles had delayed production. Rami himself has admitted that "SM3" suffered from a villain glut, hopefully this issue has been settled.
This project is already so backed up that Thor has planted his flag on the May 6, 2011, opening weekend that had once been Spider-Man's.


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Jeff Randle is one of the most thoughtful Republican strategists in California.
He's advised Meg Whitman, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Pete Wilson, among others. And, writing in the Sacramento Bee, Randle argues that his party, if it's ever going to regain power, must field better candidates, attract diverse voters, and speak more directly to the independents that decide elections. He writes:
Time is of the essence. Republicans should have a dedicated effort to recruit Latinos for non-partisan offices. We must also prove our sincerity by funding Latino Republicans in safe Assembly and Senate seats as well as swing districts. And we have to connect with independent voters who support our policies on government reform, fiscal accountability and tax fairness.
These are all good ideas, and are worth pursuing But they won't be nearly enough to bring Republicans back to power.
What the GOP needs is a change in the political system itself.
Put simply, the current method of legislative elections hurts Republicans. The GOP gets a higher percentage of votes in legislative races than its percentage of legislators in office. But under the single-member district, plurality vote system, Democrats, representing districts in which fewer vote, pick up big majorities of seats -- far bigger than the percentage of the vote they receive.
Even with stronger candidates, the GOP is likely to fall short until it does something about this system.
What would the party have to do? Republicans need a system that awards legislative seats proportionally -- by the percentage of the vote that its candidates get. Proportional representation seems strange to Americans, and particularly Republicans. But it has a long history in the U.S. And it's really the only way to make the party competitive, particularly given its weakness in population centers such as the Bay Area and greater Los Angeles.
In a proportional system, Republicans would win a higher percentage of seats simply by changing the rules, and they'd win seats in every corner of the state. This would broaden the audience for the GOP message--and give the Republicans the opportunity they don't have now to convince voters that they've changed. And if the Republicans recruited better candidates with a broader message, they could win back power.
Let us know what you think. Comment below, send us your thoughts via Twitter @PropZero or add your comment to our Facebook page.


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Breakfast seminar summary: Getting permissions for housing in 2018
Bristol - On Wednesday, 20th June SLR Consulting, Ashfords LLP and Landmark Chambers held a summer breakfast seminar at Ashfords offices in Bristol. The event focused on the ongoing developments in planning and infrastructure and offered attendees an insight into the getting permissions for housing developments in the current climate. The seminar attracted developers, agents, housebuilders and architects from Bristol and the surrounding area.View Article


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It was a great honour to be invited to present the opening plenary at the Quantified Self Europe Conference in Amsterdam at which I was asked to speak to the attendees about sensors for wearable technology.
Quantified Self "self knowledge through numbers" is a meet up organisation for people who are interested in self-tracking and enjoy sharing their experiences, plus listening to the research and techniques of others too. Groups are held in a show and tell arrangement and attendees take turns in presenting their research, tools and methods. I attend the London meet-ups , they're very insightful, friendly and great for bouncing ideas & info.
Here's my slides…
During my presentation I introduced the audience to the LilyPad Arduino, the sewable microcontroller that I use with e-textiles & electronic components for most of my wearable tech, with some of my insights into what I feel makes this microcontroller fabulous, followed by some thoughts on what could be improved.
My talk then looked at the main components for wearables and a brief explanation of what they do, in particular sensors and actuators for which I created a graphic to show some of the most prominent user areas of these components and which components they're mostly using (in my humble opinion). For me at least, this helps me consider where funding for wearables is going and also what's being created, and by whom. I gave a few examples of existing projects that include sensors and that I feel are rather exciting and inspirational – looking at one example per usage area.
Finally in my summing up, I offered my thoughts on wearables and e-textiles as an emerging technology and perhaps what improvements could be made.
I enjoyed the QS conference and I was pleased at how many hardware prototype talks and breakout sessions there were. I attended a great breakout session on hardware prototyping where I had a good chinwag with fellow engineers and designers.
During the talks, I was introduced to a very nice example of a piece of wearable tech in development by Hind Hobeika called Butterfleye – which are swimming goggles that allow the wearer to monitor their heart rate and gives real time feedback to the wearer via a visual system.
There were also many talks from QS-ers on different aspects of self-monitoring and personal stories about what they'd experimented with and conclusions in terms of their own tracking. For example, I enjoyed Chia Hwu's talk on why she's banned from drinking caffeine – which turned out to be an engaging story on genetics and how some people metabolise caffeine slower than others, she had a similar story to tell about alcohol and genetics – both substances send me a bit loopy, so I was nodding from the back of the room and we had an affirming chat afterwards. There's a nice write-up of it on QS which also mentions Martha Rotter's interesting story of her investigation into food allergies in relation to skin complaints.
I had a lovely time at QS EU and it was great to meet people I had chatted to on Twitter such as organisers Gary Wolf and Alex Carmichael, as well as very interesting researchers such as Kiel Gilleade whose Body Blogger work monitoring his heart rate is right up my street, as I have my own hacks looking at heart rate and social interaction such as 'You Make My Heart Flutter'. Plus Kiel had an informative and entertaining tale to tell about the moments of stress he's given himself and his friends who are able to watch his heart rate online at and jump to all sorts of conclusions! I've managed to freak myself out too by experimenting with wearing heart rate monitors outside the gym, so was smiling at Kiel's tales.
If you'd like to view some of the personal self-tracking presentations from Quantified Self EU, including all the examples I mention above, Ernesto Ramirez (who also did a great job of being main stage tech manager at the conference) has posted 33 of them on slideshare for you to peruse
And if you fancy a bit of Quantified Self action yourself there are tons of QS groups springing up all over the world, check the QS site and if there isn't one in your area you could always start one up!


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The Eurostars Embassy is located right on one of the busiest thoroughfares in the Austrian capital, the Landstrasser Hauptstrasse avenue. It is very close to the Belvedere palace and gardens, as well as the famous Viennese Prater, with its typical, giant Ferris wheel, and the amusing Hundertwasserhaus. It is also close to the Danube and the legendary Ernst Happel Stadium where the Spanish soccer team won the European Championship in 2008. Other nearby attractions include the Kurssalon, the monument to Johann Strauss and the large number of theatres and cultural centres. The hotel is less than 200 metres from the bus stop from where you can have easy access to any of the important tourist sites, such as the Schönbrunn Palace, the State Opera House, the Spanish Riding School, the Liechtenstein Museum, the Imperial Palace of Hofburg or the Mariahilferstrasse shopping street, the longest in Europe. Apart from all the Austrian authorities and international embassies, Vienna houses the headquarters of a large range of international organisms, such as the OPEP, OSCE (Organization for European Security and Cooperation), OIEA (International Atomic Energy Organization) and various United Nations agencies, amongst others the UNICITRAL (International Business Rules & Regulations) and UNODC (UN Office against Drugs & Crime).
How to get to the Hotel Eurostars Embassy from the Airport:
With car:
From the Airport take the A4 direction Wien. By the Junction keep left and stay on A4/Wien. Drive onto the A23 (southeast bypass) and exit Landstrasser Gürtel. Turn right into Landstrasser Hauptstrasse 120.
With public transportation:
Take the City Airport Train or the S7 to Wien Mitte, there change to Bus 74A to Eslearngasse. The Bus stops just in front of the Hotel.
Websites of interest:
- Tourist Information: www.wien.info/en
- Public transport in Vienna: www.wienerlinien.at
- Information on trains in Austria: www.oebb.at
- Information on stores in Vienna: www.viennashopping.at
- Information on the Vienna airport: www.viennaairport.com/passagiere


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D-sub connector kits include a range of parts relating to D-sub connectors, a common type of electrical connector usually used in computing . For example, D-sub connectors are used to make a connection between a monitor and a PC.
Applications for D-sub connectors
Another common use for D-sub connectors is as a video connector. Other uses include connectors for printer cables, computer game controllers, network ports and multi-channel audio recording systems.
D-sub connector kit components
With a D-sub connector kit, you'll have all the components you need to make or repair your D-sub connector. Whether you need a new D-sub connector, or replacement parts, choose from a range of D-sub connector kits, with components including:
- Connectors – these usually have nuts that accept screws and are used to lock the components together and offer mechanical strain relief.
- Hood – the exterior shell/casing of the connector, usually made from a hard and durable metal such as zinc.
- Screws and inserts – for securing parts together.


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Rachel McAdams on the Cover of Allure Magazine [PHOTO]by Thomas Chau | PopCrush
E! Online has the first look at Rachel McAdams gracing the cover of the Aug. 2014 issue of Allure with what appears to be minimal make-up on the 35-year-old actress.
McAdams looks fresh-faced and is all smiles for her first magazine cover in nearly two years.
She will be appearing in the film 'A Most Wanted Man,' which co-stars the late Philip Seymour Hoffman. The spy-thriller debuted at the Sundance Film Festival in January to rave reviews and is based on the novel of the same name by John le Carre. McAdams plays a human rights attorney who assists a half-Chechen, half-Russian man when he turns up in Germany, and finds himself in the crossfires of the war on terror. Is he dangerous, or is he a victim?
McAdams has been in the news recently for one of her classic films, 'The Notebook,' which celebrated its 10th anniversary last month. A big story coming out of the retro pieces is that then-boyfriend Ryan Gosling actually requested McAdams to be kicked off the set one day, according to director Nick Cassavetes in an interview with VH1.
Cassavetes recalled, "Ryan came to me, and there's 150 people standing in this big scene, and he says, 'Nick come here.' And he's doing a scene with Rachel and he says, 'Would you take her out of here and bring in another actress to read off camera with me?' I said, 'What?' He says, 'I can't. I can't do it with her. I'm just not getting anything from this.'"
Luckily, Cassavetes was able to help resolve their differences and rest is history!
See Other Celebrities Without Make-Up


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The Supreme Court on Monday said it will rule for the first time on one of several tough, new state immigration laws, with a decision coming in the middle of the 2012 presidential election campaign.
Potentially deepening political divisions over the contentious immigration policy issue, the court will decide if key parts of an Arizona crackdown can proceed. The ruling could have implications for similar tough laws adopted recently in other states - including South Carolina, Alabama, Utah, Georgia, and Indiana
A decision upholding the Arizona law would be a legal and political blow to President Barack Obama, who has criticized it, as he seeks re-election. A pro-Arizona ruling also could encourage other states to pursue equally harsh measures.
The Supreme Court's decision to hear the case comes on the same day that 33 Hispanic Roman Catholic Bishops in the US released a strongly worded letter suggesting illegal immigrants deserve thanks from Americans and calling for ``denunciation of the forces which oppress them.''
The bishops have come out in support of comprehensive immigration reform and a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants before -- as they did again Monday -- but the letter uses stronger language and goes further in offering support to undocumented immigrants.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court's decision to intervene in the Arizona immigration law was a setback for the administration, which sued to challenge the law and urged the justices to reject Arizona's appeal.
The law requires police to check the immigration status of anyone they detain and suspect of being in the nation illegally. Other parts require immigrants to carry their papers at all times and ban people without proper documents from soliciting for work in public places.
The justices are likely to hear arguments in the case in April, with a ruling due by July. In addition to the Arizona case, the court will also decide Obama's healthcare overhaul law, putting its 2012 docket squarely on the election agenda.
About 11 million illegal immigrants are believed to be in the United States and immigration is a major political issue, especially in states such as Arizona that border Mexico.
Republican Arizona Governor Jan Brewer, who signed the measure in April 2010, welcomed the court's decision and was confident it will uphold the law.
``Decades of federal inaction and misguided policy have created a dangerous and unacceptable situation, and states deserve clarity from the court in terms of what role they have in fighting illegal immigration,'' she said in a statement.
Obama and other opponents, including many Democrats and civil rights groups, have criticized the Arizona law and said it could lead to harassment of Hispanic-Americans.
The Obama administration challenged it on the grounds that the federal government has exclusive control over immigration enforcement and federal laws preempt the state law. That is the legal issue that the Supreme Court agreed to decide.
A federal judge and a U.S. appeals courts ruled for the Obama administration and put on hold the disputed provisions.
The law's supporters, including many Republicans, said states need to take aggressive action because the federal government has failed to do enough to stop the flow of illegal immigrants into the country.
Paul Clement, a former solicitor general during the Bush administration who represents Arizona in the Supreme Court appeal, said the case involved an important nationwide issue.
``It is widely recognized that the federal immigration laws are not adequately enforced,'' he said. ``This broken system leaves the people and government of Arizona to bear a disproportionate share of the burden of a national problem.''
The Obama administration's top courtroom lawyer, Solicitor General Donald Verrilli, opposed the appeal and said further review of the case by the Supreme Court was unwarranted.
Eleven other states supported Arizona's appeal, along with 59 members of Congress. Congress has been unable to agree on comprehensive new immigration measures.
The Supreme Court in May upheld a different Arizona law that allows the state to shut down businesses that hire illegal immigrants.
The court's conservative majority rejected the argument by business and civil rights groups and by the Obama administration that the 2007 Arizona law conflicted with federal immigration law.
In the new case, Justice Elena Kagan did not take part in considering the appeal. She apparently recused herself because she had been involved in the matter in her previous job as Obama's solicitor general.
The SupremeCourt case is Arizona v. U.S., No. 11-182. (Editing by Jackie Frank and Bill Trott)


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Pop superstar Lady Gaga has brushed off criticism of her controversial "Do What U Want" music video after the raunchy promo leaked online.
The singer released her duet with R. Kelly last year, but the accompanying video failed to appear and Gaga blamed the delay on time constraints.
The clip, which features Kelly and was directed by controversial photographer Terry Richardson, leaked online on Thursday, and hit headlines for its explicit content, with critics alleging the saucy scenes appear to condone rape.
However, Gaga dismissed the furor over the promo in a post on Instagram page on Friday, adding a picture of her dogs looking bored and writing in a caption, "Stella and Asia after watching DWUW (Do What U Want)."
She adds in a series of posts on Twitter.com, "Is there a yawn emoji … this one doesn't look unimpressed enough."


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Walpamur Quality Paints
Household - Painting, Decorating
Year: 1959 Item #: 195 Views: 33,023 Comments: No Comments.
Walpamur Quality Paints bring colour before you wherever you live, in town or country, in large house or small. Colour adds to the gaiety of life and these famous paints ensure its durability...