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22 Nights | Europe
You will visit the following 18 places:
Dubrovnik is a gorgeous Croatian city on the Adriatic Sea coast positioned at the terminal end of the Isthmus of Dubrovnik. It is one of the most prominent tourist resorts of the Mediterranean and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979. The city is nicknamed "Pearl of the Adriatic". The success of Dubrovnik's tourist industry has brought a certain degree of complacency and self-satisfaction. Certain aspects of the city's appeal remain immune to tourist numbers, however, most notably the uniquely stunning setting and the unjaded straightforwardness of the Dubrovčani themselves.
Katakolon, or Katakolo is a seaside town in the municipality of Pyrgos in western Elis, Greece. It is situated on a headland overlooking the Ionian Sea and separating the Gulf of Kyparissia from the rest of the Ionian. It is 11 km west of downtown Pyrgos. The small village of Agios Andreas, which in ancient times was the natural harbour for Ancient Olympia, lies northwest of Katakolo. A railway connects Katakolo with Pyrgos and Olympia, but along with the rest of the rail network in the Peloponnese, services have been suspended since 2011 for economic reasons.
Corfu, an island off Greece's northwest coast in the Ionian Sea, is defined by rugged mountains and a resort-studded shoreline. Nicknamed ''the island of the Phaeacians'', Corfu is home to the Ionian University. Known also as Kerkyra, is the northernmost of the Ionian Islands in Greece. Located off of the far northwest coast of the country, Corfu lies in the Adriatic sea, east of Italy and southwest of Albania. Historically Corfu has been controlled by many foreign powers, notably the Venetians, French, and British.
Naples is a city in Italy; it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples. Known for its rich history, art, culture, architecture, music, and gastronomy, Naples has played an important role in the Italian peninsula and beyond for much of its existence, which began more than 2,800 years ago. Situated on the west coast of Italy by the Gulf of Naples, the city is located halfway between two volcanic areas, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields. Naples has the fourth-largest urban economy in Italy, after Milan, Rome and Turin. It is the world's 103rd-richest city by purchasing power, with an estimated 2011 GDP of US$83.6 billion. The port of Naples is one of the most important in Europe, and has the world's second-highest level of passenger flow, after the port of Hong Kong. The city has long been a major cultural centre with a global sphere of influence, particularly during the Renaissance and Enlightenment eras. In the immediate vicinity of Naples are numerous culturally and historically significant sites, including the Palace of Caserta and the Roman ruins ofPompeii and Herculaneum. Culinarily, it is synonymous with pizza, which originated in the city.
The Convent Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the capital of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. It is the country's largest city and its financial, cultural, and creative centre. Many large Dutch institutions have their headquarters there, and seven of the world's 500 largest companies, including Philips and ING, are based in the city. In 2012, Amsterdam was ranked the second best city in which to live by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) and 12th globally on quality of living for environment and infrastructure by Mercer. Amsterdam derives its name from the city's origin as "Dam" of river "Amstel". In the past, the name was "Amstelredamme" which later changed as "Amsterdam". The city is one of the most popular destinations in Europe, attracting over 7 million international travellers annually. The city is colloquially known as ''Venice of the North'' because of its lovely canals that criss-cross the city, its impressive architecture and more than 1,500 bridges. There is something for every traveller's taste here; whether you prefer culture and history, serious partying, or just the relaxing charm of an old European city!
The capital of Portugal, Lisbon (Portuguese: Lisboa) has experienced a renaissance in recent years, with a contemporary culture that is alive and thriving and making its mark in today's Europe. Perched on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean, Lisbon is one of the rare Western European cities that faces the ocean and uses water as an element that defines the city. Lisbon enchants travellers with its white-bleached limestone buildings, intimate alleyways, and an easy-going charm that makes it a popular year-round destination.
Barcelona – Spain's enchanting capital, second largest and most populous city. It is a huge city that vibrates with life, and there's certainly not another city in the country to touch it for its sheer style, looks or energy. It is one of the world's leading tourist, economic, trade fair and cultural centers, and its influence in commerce, education, entertainment, media, fashion, science, and the arts all contribute to its status as one of the world's major global cities. Barcelona is home to masterpieces of many great architects – the most famous of which is Antoni Gaudí.
Valencia is the most populous city of the Autonomous Community of Valencia and the third largest city in Spain, with a population of 809,267 in 2010. It is the 15th-most populous municipality in the European Union. It is integrated into an industrial area on the Costa del Azahar. Its historic centre is one of the largest in Spain, with approximately 169 hectares; this heritage of ancient monuments, views and cultural attractions makes Valencia one of the country's most popular tourist destinations!
Athens is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica periphery and it is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. The city is widely referred to as the cradle of Western civilization and the birthplace of democracy, largely because of its cultural and political impact on the European continent and in particular the Romans. In modern times, Athens is a large cosmopolitan metropolis and central to economic, financial, industrial, maritime, political and cultural life in Greece. Its compact downtown, north of campus, is alive with clubs, bars, restaurants, galleries and – of course – record stores; Broad Street in particular is lined with arty shops.
Santorini Airport
Kotor is a coastal town in Montenegro with a population of about 13,500. It is well-known for its World heritage medieval structures (including churches and fortifications) and its stunning natural setting at the very edge of the mountain-rimmed Kotor Bay. It is situated in a most secluded tip of Boka Kotorska bay, in the northern part of the Montenegro coast on the Adriatic Sea. Kotor has developed around Stari Grad (local language for "old town"), the city's old town and best known landmark, which is listed with UNESCO World heritage sites. Kotor Bay is the deepest natural fjord-like bay in the Mediterranean Sea, and the scenery around it (including the steep mountains which come almost straight down to the waters edge) is spectacular.
Cartagena is a Spanish city and a majornaval station located in the Region of Murcia, by the Mediterranean coast, south-eastern Spain. The metropolitan area of Cartagena, known as Campo de Cartagena, has a population of 409,586 inhabitants. Cartagena has been inhabited for over two millennia, being founded around 227 BC by the Carthaginian Hasdrubal the Fair as Qart Hadasht, the same name as the original city of Carthage. Much of the historical weight of Cartagena in the past goes to its coveted defensive port, one of the most important in the western Mediterranean. As far back as the 16th century it was one of the most important naval ports in Spain, together with Ferrol in the North. It is still an important naval seaport, the main military haven of Spain, and is home to a large naval shipyard. The confluence of civilizations as well as its strategic harbour, together with the rise of the local mining industry is manifested by a unique artistic heritage, with a number of landmarks such as the Roman Theatre, the second largest of the Iberian Peninsulaafter the one in Mérida, an abundance of Phoenician, Roman, Byzantine and Moorish remains, and a plethora of Art Nouveaubuildings, a result of the bourgeoisie from the early 20th century. Cartagena is now established as a major cruise ship destination in the Mediterranean and an emerging cultural focus. It is the first of a number of cities that eventually have been named Cartagena, most notably Cartagena de Indias (Cartagena of the Indies) in Colombia.
Civitavecchia is a town and comune of the Metropolitan City of Rome in the central Italian region of Lazio. A sea port on the Tyrrhenian Sea, the name ''Civitavecchia'' means "ancient town". The modern city was built over a pre-existing Etruscan settlement. The massive Forte Michelangelo was first commissioned from Donato Bramante by Pope Julius II, to defend the port of Rome. The upper part of the "maschio" tower, however, was designed by Michelangelo, whose name is generally applied to the fortress. North of the city at Ficoncella are the Terme Taurine baths frequented by Romans and still popular with the Civitavecchiesi. The modern name stems from the common fig plants among the various pools. And also next to the town is the location of the cruise ship docks. All major cruise lines start and end their cruises at this location, and others stop for shore excursion days that allow guests to see Rome and Vatican sights, which are ninety minutes away.
Cherbourg-Octeville is a city and former commune situated at the northern end of the Cotentin peninsula in the northwestern French department of Manche. Due to its union, it is the most populated city in its department with 37,121 inhabitants making it the first city of the department before the Saint-Lô prefecture and the second in the region after Caen. Cherbourg-en-Cotentin is protected by Cherbourg Harbour, between La Hague and Val de Saire, and the city has been a strategic position over the centuries, disputed between the English and French. Cited as one of the "keys to the kingdom" by Vauban, it became, by colossal maritime development work, a first-rate military port under the leadership of Louis XVI and Napoleon, and holds an arsenal of the French Navy. A stopping point for prestigious transatlantic liners in the first half of the 20th century, Cherbourg was the primary goal of US troops during the invasion of Normandy in 1944. Along with its use as a military, fishing and yachting port, it is also a cross-Channel ferry port, with routes to the English ports of Poole and Portsmouth, the Irish port of Rosslare Harbour and St Helier on Jersey. Limited by its geographical isolation from being a great commercial port, it is nonetheless an important shipbuilding centre, and a working-class city with a rural hinterland.


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Why the Word of God Will Not Let Me Vote for Mitt Romney: A Gentlemanly Response to Dr.Joel Beeke
There are few men in this world to whom I owe so much. While many readers may say that Dr. Beeke has been an influence in their lives through his writing, his preaching, and his conference messages -- I have so much more that I owe to Joel Beeke.
Dr. Beeke has been a key figure in forming me into the minister of the gospel that I am. Four and a half years of study under his instruction at Puritan Reformed Seminary have shaped and molded my spiritual life, my family, my sanctification, and my pastoral ministry. The very first sermon that I ever preached began with the two of us storming the throne room of grace as we prayed in his study. Dr. Beeke laid hands on me as I was ordained to the Gospel ministry here in Los Angeles, CA. He has preached in my pulpit on numerous occasions as he has visited the West Coast. He continues to pray for me and my "success" as a minister within the RPCNA. I really believe that any crowns that I receive in glory will be partially his crowns as well.
**Positive Elements in Dr. Beeke's Article **
As I read over (a number of times) Dr. Beeke's article, Why My Conscience Won't Let Me Not Vote for Romney, and prayed through the argumentation in the article, I was reminded of my instruction from Dr. Beeke. Always begin criticism with a positive because the hearer will respond better, and it is with sincere pleasure that I do so now.
There are many positive applications in Dr. Beeke's article. I appreciate his call to protect the life of 98% of abortions in America (Mitt Romney claims to be opposed to 98% of abortions in the US). I was challenged to think about the primaries and convicted concerning how I do not call on my own people to seek office. I was encouraged that Dr. Beeke called on the church to consider the fact that they will stand before God and give account for what they have done in the flesh. And of course, I appreciated the fact that he called on Christians to NOT vote for Obama! These are great applications that we should take into the polls as Christians.
Humanistic, Relativistic, and Moralistic Political Theory
However, I found the article lacking principle based on the Word of God. There was no biblical view of the magistrate put forward. There were no arguments based on the person and work of Christ (to whom the nations were given as an inheritance). You see, if I did not know the author, the portion of the article that instructed Christians to vote for Romney would not help me understand any foundational purposes for casting this vote other than fear; fear of what God's providence has in store for our country.
Each of the reasons (save the final judgment) were reasons that humanists, moralists, and relativists are also using to defend voting for Romney. That's not enough. The Word of God is not silent on the issue of the state and it is not silent on the issue of the church's responsibility to preach to the kings and princes of this world.
Was biblical truth preached or was moralistic relativism promoted? It pains me to say that Jesus was not lifted up in the article.
A Call to Confessionalism: Principles, Not Pragmatism
Dr. Beeke is part of a denomination that claims to uphold both the Belgic Confession of Faith as well as the Westminster Confession of Faith, yet there was nothing of those confessional principles within the call for the church to vote for Mitt Romney. But the fact remains Reformed Christians are a part of a confessional heritage. Our confessions are summaries of what believe the Word of God teaches.
As confessional Christians, we must stand on our confessions as the principles of our Christian life. Below is the opening paragraph of Article 36 of the Belgic Confession of Faith, Dr. Beeke's primary subordinate standard:
We believe that our gracious God, because of the depravity of mankind, hath appointed kings, princes, and magistrates, willing that the world should be governed by certain laws and policies; to the end that the dissoluteness of men might be restrained, and all things carried on among them with good order and decency. For this purpose He hath invested the magistracy with the sword, for the punishment of evil doers, and for the praise of them that do well. And their office is, not only to have regard unto and watch for the welfare of the civil state, but also that they protect the sacred ministry, and thus may remove and prevent all idolatry and false worship, that the kingdom of antichrist may be thus destroyed, and the kingdom of Christ promoted. They must, therefore, countenance the preaching of the word of the gospel everywhere, that God may be honored and worshipped by every one, as He commands in His Word.
How can such a high and glorious view of a magistrate in subjection to the gospel be confessed as an article of faith and then pragmatism be promoted as the application of that confession?
If our confession does not match the current reality in our culture, we should not stoop to the level of the failing culture, but we should call men and women back to a confessional understanding of the teaching of God's Word concerning the magistrate. Ideas like "we are not electing a pastor" and "our constitution does not have a requirement of religious profession" are not helpful in instructing the church.
We need to stand on principle and have all of our application flow out of those principles. This is part of being confessionally Reformed. To abandon our confession as a way to promote an agenda that is opposed to our confessions is not standing with our forefathers.
**The Reformers and Puritans: Ministers Who Changed the World **
You see, the Reformers and Puritans were men of conviction and men who were not afraid to stand on the Word of God even if the status quo was against His Word. One of the wonderful things about Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary, of which Dr. Beeke is president, is that men are trained in the gospel ministry with the Reformers and the Puritans cheering us on to take up the banner of truth and biblical conviction.
Men like Guido DeBres as he tossed the Belgic Confession over the wall, calling on the magistrate to conform to the Word of God. Men like Martin Bucer who wrote De Regno Christi, a structure for what a biblical government and culture would look like. Men like John Knox who called Scotland to turn unto King Jesus. Men like the Westminster Divines, who despite civil war, pressed ahead to stand for truth and a magistrate under submission to Christ. Men like the fathers of the Dutch Further Reformation who called for the magistrate to uphold both tables of the law. Men like the Covenanters who were slaughtered on the moors of Scotland over a biblical political theory. Men like the American Puritans who saw the opportunity for a city on a hill (See the chapter in Dr. Beeke's Puritan Theology that espouses the American Puritan ideal of the city on a hill). Men of confessional conviction with a clear doctrine of the state.
Where is our conviction when we can look at our forefathers, who suffered so much and lost so much and proclaimed so much, and then say, "They just wouldn't understand. This is a different time." Where is the Puritan Reformed conviction? Where is the reformation heritage? Promoting the status quo of the GOP is not the way ahead. It's a deep compromise that is against our confessional heritage and against the fathers in the faith to whom we look for encouragement to live out the Christian life.
A Way Ahead
So what should we do as confessionally reformed Christians? Promoting a Bishop of one of the fastest growing cults in the world is not it! I have been asked on occasion why there are not more Reformed men in politics. Why don't we see leaders be raised up to promote biblical truth?
I truly believe it is because what the church has to say on this issue is the same as the moralistic, humanistic, and pragmatic talking heads of our age. The church will not prosper so long as she binds men's consciences to vote for someone who hates our God and the true religion.
You see, the Scriptures do have a political philosophy. We may disagree on some of the applications of that philosophy, but on this we can agree:
The nations of the world are called to "kiss the Son lest they perish (Psalm 2)." This is our message to the kings and rulers of this age. How can they take us seriously, when we bring the gospel to them, if our actions declare that we do not believe the nations are called on by God to kiss the Son. We need to stand on our confession of biblical truth and see that a new generation of political reformers are instructed from God's Word, not the Red-State-Blue-State-Status-Quo.
As much as I love my professor and friend, Dr. Beeke, I must disagree with him in this matter. When you, reader, stand before God on judgment day and He asks you what you did with your vote, I hope you can say that you lived radically unto Him and called on the princes of your nation to kiss the Son and submit to the true head and heir of the nations.
This is why my conscience will not allow me to vote for Mitt Romney. It has been instructed by the Word of God through our reformed confessions. It is a close race, that is for sure, but in God's sovereignty, we do not have a man in the fight. We need a man who will kiss the Son. Only this will get us on track as a nation.

subset: commoncrawl


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Remember when Apple's Retina displays were the next big thing? Now it seems everyone has them - or something better. Whether it be a text message from a friend or just a version of Draw Something, the customer's eye is always attracted to the bright and beautiful - and smartphone makers have quickly learned that a sharp, vibrant display can sell millions of smartphones.
Unfortunately, the smartphone market is a cutthroat, Darwinian environment where what's hot today can quickly seem like an anachronism from yesterday. (See Razr, Motorola). While phone manufacturers can align their entire brand around their displays, a strategy successfully employed by Samsung and Apple, lower-tier vendors have to pick and choose how they source their displays, leaving a few flagship "hero" phones with eye-popping screens, but with others feeling decidedly average.
When smartphone designers try to nail down the features of a next-generation phone, the most obvious axis of improvement is the display resolution, in a bid to simply "out-pop" the competition. But smartphone makers are also exploring flexible displays and trying to minimize power in a bid to conserve battery drain and maximize talk time and Web surfing.
The battery life of phones can be one of the hidden costs of owning a phones with a bright, beautiful display - all those pixels, especially using a traditional LCD, will require more power than a conventional, lower-resolution screen. Organic LEDs, which can actually turn off to conserve power, seem to be the way forward, replacing the traditional LCD backlight. However, they're also expensive to manufacture, and for now, there are concerns with the longevity of the material itself.
For now, 3D mobile displays seem to be a gimmick that never quite took off; ditto for phone-mounted pico projectors, which can project an image upon the screen. The next trend of dubious value may end up being flexibility, for screens that can bend around your wrist or to enable new form factors. And you know, you may even get both.
One thing is for sure: each new display innovation will be substantially marketed, hyped, and dissected by the analyst and media community. And any success will be immediately copied by competitors.
1. Samsung Youm
2. Plastic Logic
3. Sharp's Display in the HTC One
4. Samsung Galaxy S 4
5. LG's Flexible OLED
6. Kyocera Organic
7. Kyocera Infinito
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Survivor II: The Australian Outback
The sophomore effort of reality TV's hit television show
by Beth Rowen |
This article was posted on January 25, 2001.
Related Links |
Survivor II was the first hit on the small screen for the 2000-2001 television season.
The sophomore edition of 2000's summer runaway hit, this time set in Queensland, Australia, went head-to-head with NBC's formerly indomitable Friends.
NBC responded to the challenge by extending Friends to 40 minutes during the February sweeps. For the first two weeks of the month, the network filled in the remaining 20 minutes of the hour with special episodes of Saturday Night Live. After that, Will & Grace and Just Shoot Me also ran 40 minutes, thus three shows occupied two hours of programming.
Tough Competition for Must-See TV
In addition, CBS moved C.S.I., one of the few new dramas to have found an audience this season, to Thursday at 9 p.m., immediately following Survivor. For the first time in more than 15 years, NBC's Must-See Thursday faced stiff competition.
A first glance at the 16 Survivors of Survivor II revealed a generally young, buff group of attractive contestants. There were a few obvious parallels between some of this season's contestants and those from the last.
Click here to read more about the Survivor II contestants.
About Queensland
Queensland is located in northeastern Australia.
Much like the deserted island in the South China Sea, where Survivor I was filmed, the outback of Queensland, Australia's second-largest state, features a combination of breathtaking beauty and rugged, often dangerous terrain. The weather ranges from extremely hot during the day to downright chilly at night.
The contestants were surrounded by a wide variety of creatures. There are more than 70 species of marsupials, 600 bird species, 79 species of snakes (some of them are deadly), 161 types of lizards, and nearly 50 different kinds of bats.


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Every Friday, the MusicRadar team submits its own personal favourite music videos and clips on the net.
Some clips we really like, others are simply comedy classics or oddly intriguing. But all are worth watching.
This week we've got a birthday for Motown, stupid hat electro, Baez and Dylan and plenty more besides.
Enjoy the clips…
Marvin Gets It On
On Monday, Motown will celebrate the 50th anniversary of its foundation - has any other record label been so influential or so closely associated with a specific sound? You can kick off your celebrations by watching Marvin Gaye, one of Motown's biggest stars, performing an extended version of his 1973 hit Let's Get It On. Ben Rogerson
A simple drum remix + stupid hat = insane electro pop
Ronald Jenkees makes crazy tunes with synths. He was asked by the band STS9 to remix one of their songs, but ended up borrowing the drum parts for a little project of his own. Jenkees describes it as "fun", but don't let that put you off. Tom Porter
Joan and Bob duet
Folk icon Joan Baez is 68 years old today. Here's footage of her with Bob Dylan in 1976 on the Rolling Thunder Revue concert tour. The song is Woodie Guthrie's Deportee (Plane Wreck At Los Gatos). If you like the Dylan and Baezversion, check out this interpretation by Arlo Guthrie and Emmylou Harris, or this 1969 cut by The Byrds. Chris Vinnicombe
Microsoft Songsmith will change your life
We reported on Microsoft's new semi-auto-songwriting program Songsmith a few months ago, but never in our wildest dreams did we imagine that the advert would be so funny. The video tells the story of a glow-in-the-dark-towel-making-company executive whose work and home life is transformed by Songsmith. Personal highlight - the bit at 1:56 where an inquisitive bypasser asks "Microsoft huh? So it's pretty easy to use?". Chris Wickett
Darth Vader Rocks Out
After a long hard day causing intergalatic death and destruction, Darth Vader loves nothing more than coming home to his one-bedroom apartment in Torrance, California, strapping on his Strat and laying down some blues. True, he's no Jimi or Stevie Ray, but it's the passion that counts. (Sadly, the part where his wife tells him to "turn down that damn guitar!" was edited out.) Joe Bosso
The Soft Pack: Bright Side
January means every website ever is busy tipping bands the world over as The Next Big Thing. Currently, it looks like you either have to come from Brooklyn or be called Florence and the Machine to have a chance but one of the best of the rest has to be San Diego's The Soft Pack. Previously known as The Muslims (a quick Google will get you the backstory), this lot are pretty much a Strokes for 2009 but with some added Jonathan Richman slouch for us oldsters. Here's a live version of the b-side from their new single, Nightlife - we're st(r)oked, are you? Mike Goldsmith
The Smiths' How Soon Is Now?: solo cover
I like The Smiths. But not as much as this guy. Here's a one-man recreation of How Soon Is Now? Johnny Marr was wobbling four Fender amps' tremolo knobs on the original. Here's how to do it 'easy' PC.
This dude is lacking the original's guitar harmonics hit on the fretboard with a knife, but we'll forgive him that 'oversight'. MusicRadar will even forgive his not-pressed shirt. This is a dedicated, and intriguing, fanboy tribute. Michael Leonard


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Talk with a real person: (571) 250 - 5958
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OCEAN CITY – In a work session of the Planning and Zoning Commission this week, officials took several rezoning issues into consideration, ranging from individual properties to entire sections of Coastal Highway.
"You need to decide if we want to proceed with any comprehensive rezoning," said Planning and Zoning Director Jesse Houston. "Comprehensive rezonings are zoning changes made after the adoption of a comprehensive plan."
Areas such as the east side of Coastal Highway could be considered for comprehensive rezoning, but other areas, such as individual properties, must be addressed piecemeal.
One property presented to the commission for consideration was a 15th Street property, which currently stands in a residential, R-1, zone. Zoning Administrator Blaine Smith pointed out if the property were to be re-zoned to R-2, as desired, the apartment building would be able to rebuild up to five stories.
"With traffic and parking, there's no way they want more activity there," said Commission member Lauren Taylor of the neighborhood.
"It would be out of character for that neighborhood to allow a five-story building," agreed Commission chairperson Pamela Buckley.
The commission agreed that the area would not be considered for re-zoning.
The commission also considered the property housing the Pizza Hut and Buxy's Salty Dog, located on 28th Street. The front of the property is zoned commercial, LC-1, however the parking lots are zoned residential, R-2, limiting redevelopment.
Buckley suggested taking a closer look at all properties along Coastal Highway. When the comprehensive plan was drafted, technology kept town officials from having a clear picture of where zoning lines would fall, issues that could be better addressed with current technology.
"It just seems to me we need to take a look at everything and make sure our lines are making sense. We need to decide how much commercial we want," said Buckley.
The commission agreed to continue looking at zoning throughout town and where zoning lines fall.
Zoning along the frontage of "Little Salisbury" has been discussed for many years, with some arguing to rezone the area commercial and others fighting to keep the single-family neighborhood residential.
"The argument is, single-family along Coastal Highway isn't the most desirable land use. On the other hand, you want to protect your single-family neighborhoods," explained Houston.
"If you look at those houses, they're all from the 40's and 50's because nobody's putting big money into building on the highway," said Taylor.
Buckley pointed out the adverse affect commercial zoning would have on the neighboring, small-sized, single-family lots. The commission agreed not to consider rezoning in that area.
One area that will be garnering further attention from the commission is the east side of Coastal Highway, from 34th to 59th streets.
"As you know, most of the commercially-zoned property is on the west side of Coastal Highway," said Houston, pointing out that the east side of Coastal Highway, in that area, is zoned residential, R-3.
Houston explained that the commercial businesses that are on the east side of Coastal Highway in that area are commercial, non-conforming. As a result, if one of those businesses were to expand or rebuild, they could only rebuild residential.
"At one point, 15 years ago, we did not want further development on the east side commercially, but times have changed," said Buckley.
The commission agreed to consider the comprehensive rezoning along that section of Coastal Highway.
A public hearing will be held next month to gain public opinion on the amount of commercial and residential zoning desired throughout town.


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Good data needed for small-wind turbines to spin
Massachusetts stiffens the requirements for its small-wind rebate program, a sign that people, aided by online tools, can better choose locations for home turbines.
Massachusetts has revamped its small-wind rebate program with more stringent requirements, a reflection of how important brisk wind is to small-wind turbine installations.
Dozens of companies have developed turbines designed to supply a portion of a home or business' electricity, which has fueled a surge in small-wind turbine installations over the past three years. Now, installers and consumers are being nudged toward picking only the best locations, a shift that is being aided by the emergence of better online tools.
The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center, which administers renewable energy grants, temporarily suspended the state's small-wind program to phase in measures, expected in the coming weeks, that include a more rigorous assessment of available wind.
The state now demands a wind assessment be done at the tower height of the turbine the customer plans to install, rather than a single height for all grant applicants. That change, which follows others instituted last year, is meant to better reflect the actual wind conditions at a given location, rather than the general wind resource in a region.
"At the end of the day, wind speed is the critical factor that determines performance, so we want to be focused on that," said Andy Brydges, program director in the renewable energy division of the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center. "We think it's a viable market. We just want to do everything we can to protect consumers and pick good projects."
Massachusetts decided it first needed to stiffen the wind resource requirements after a review it did last summer of small-wind turbines in the state. It found the actual performance was disappointing, with about one-third generating the expected output. A U.K. review of roof-mounted microturbines found disappointing results as well.
Massachusetts homeowners, small businesses, or communities exploring wind turbines now need to use an online software program, developed for the state, to assess the available resource. Also, the rebate is based partly on ongoing performance, which is another way to ensure good locations are being chosen.
"The difficulty has been that it's very hard to model the wind. It's not that people were intentionally picking locations that didn't work," Brydges said.
Growing pains
Most wind turbine manufacturers provide a required speed, typically a minimum of 10 miles per hour, for turbines to generate at their stated capacity. Distributors of the home Swift turbine, for example, says it can generate 1,200 kilowatt-hours a year with average wind speed of 11.2 miles per hour and that it starts generating at 7 miles per hour. The Helix wind turbine, meanwhile, recommends 14 mile-per-hour wind, preferably gusty wind, and an electricity rate of over 15 cents per kilowatt-hour. One company, Windtronics, this year plans to release a small-wind turbine optimized for very low wind speeds.
More available products and interest in on-site energy have led to a steady rise in sales the past three years. Sales of small-wind turbines, defined as 100 kilowatt capacity and less, grew 15 percent in 2009, representing $82.4 million in sales and almost 10,000 new units, according to the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA). Sales were aided by a 30 percent federal tax credit for renewable energy investments and state incentives.
Often installers and homeowners have relied on satellite data to get an idea of the available wind resource. Data from wind maps is typically given at 80 meters, and installers need to extrapolate available wind at the height of towers, which are usually 20 meters to 30 meters, said Ron Stimmel, the manager of legislative affairs and small systems at AWEA.
But now the tools for measuring wind are improving, one of the factors that are making small wind more viable, according to AWEA.
Small-wind turbine maker Southwest Windpower last month launched an online wind assessment tool that uses data from 3Tier, which provides data to estimate wind, solar, and hydro power potential. The tool is designed as a way to quickly separate locations into three types: high potential, moderate, and those not worth pursuing.
"We're trying to make it with a very high degree of probability that when you install a wind turbine, it works," said Ken Westrick, the CEO of 3Tier, which sells its weather data and makes it available through a Web service. "It's a tremendous leap forward from what the industry was doing even a year ago."
The data, which is accurate within about 1 mile per hour for a 3-mile square region, should improve over time, said Westrick.
These online tools are an improvement over wind maps that classify regions based on available wind, said Westrick. They are also significantly less expensive than installing a meteorological, or "met," tower to gather data over several months, said Stimmel.
But a good installer is also needed to check out location conditions, including understanding where the prevailing wind is from. The placement and the height of a turbine can make a significant difference in performance, say experts. For example, there should be no obstructions, such as trees, nearby. Roof-mounted turbines are often plagued by turbulent and unpredictable wind around rooftops.
The North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners is establishing a certification for wind site assessors, a move that should help homeowners make better decisions on turbine location. AWEA has also created a set of safety and reliability standards for small turbines.
There are other barriers to small-wind installations besides getting good wind data, including zoning laws that limit the height of towers, or even finding qualified installers. Massachusetts is particularly strict in its requirements, said AWEA's Stimmel, but it's part of the maturing that industry is going through in the U.S.
"The market has grown exponentially in the last three years, so these issues are coming to the fore and how to optimize for turbine productivity is certainly an important one," he said.


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SNOW HILL – The Worcester County Commissioners worked their way through a busy agenda in just two hours on Tuesday, March 18. Here are some of the minor items discussed:
(bullet) Worcester County may not be fulfilling legal requirements to have surplus vehicles inspected before offering them for sale through government surplus auction site GovDeals, said Jacqueline Delisle Tuesday.
"I just wanted to bring this section of the code to your attention," Delisle said.
Maryland code mandates that excess vehicles sold to the public be state inspected, she said. Wholesale dealers, who get the inspections done themselves, generally buy the surplus vehicles at live auctions but cars sold to the general public in Internet auctions need to be inspected, according to Delisle.
Commission president Virgil Shockley remarked that at farm sales, a lot of the trucks offered are not inspected. The new owner must then have the truck inspected to get license plates from the state. County attorney Sonny Bloxom said he would investigate further.
(bullet) The County Commissioners were taken aback by a lease agreement for an apartment presented for their approval Tuesday. The price to house the physicians who conduct the summer Hot Boards program in Ocean City increased from $8,000 to $11,000 this year. Commissioner Bud Church, a real estate agent by profession, was surprised by the increase.
"Can you get us a better deal?" commission president Virgil Shockley joked.
"With all the new construction going on there's a huge amount of vacancies," Church said. "To go from $8,000 to $11,000, in my opinion it seems a little high."
The commissioners voted to investigate the price and try to renegotiate. "Take a look at it and bring it back," Shockley said.
(bullet) Dredge spoil from Isle of Wight Bay will be drained and deposited on the beach at 33rd St. in Ocean City.
The town has agreed to take the sand dredged from the bay as it has in the past, deputy director of Public Works John Ross said.
The Army Corps of Engineers will dredge a navigation channel 125 feet wide and six feet deep from the Inlet channel to North 8th St. in Ocean City, and from there a channel 75 feet wide into Isle of Wight Bay.
Roughly 20,000 cubic yards of sand will be removed to restore the six-foot deep channel, with two feet of allowable over-depth in some areas.


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Most parts of Scotland to be hit by air pollution
Friends of the Earth Scotland has warned that air safety standards are forecasted to be broken in 31 council areas across the country on July 1.
This will be the third air pollution episode of the year with others having already occurred in April and March.
Air pollution is measured on a 1-10 scale - 1-3 is low, 4-6 is moderate (over legal limits), 7-9 is high and 10 is very high.
Tomorrow every Scottish council area is forecasted to breach safety standards with air pollution falling into the moderate category, except for one council area - Eilean Siar in the Outer Hebrides.
Emilia Hanna, air pollution campaigner for Friends of the Earth Scotland, said: "The official health advice for the expected levels of air pollution is for people with heart and lung problems such as asthma or emphysema, who experience symptoms, to consider reducing strenuous physical activity, particularly outdoors."
Emilia warned that while people with existing respiratory problems are at increased risk tomorrow, the public's health is damaged by air pollution every day and not just on days when pollution is high.
She explained: "Regular exposure to the levels of pollution that we see day in, day out on city streets in Scotland increases the risk of people having a heart attack or stroke.
"Most disturbingly, air pollution impacts on foetal development, with newborn babies more likely to have lower birth weights if expectant mothers are exposed to air pollution throughout pregnancy. Air pollution causes 2000 early deaths every year in Scotland."
Ground-level ozone is understood to be the key pollutant of concern during this episode, with levels predicted to break World Health Organisation safety guidelines.
Ozone is considered to be among the most irritating gases to humans, and exposure to high levels can cause respiratory symptoms, reduce lung function, and cause inflammation of the airways.
Emilia continued: "Some of this air pollution will have blown in from elsewhere but it is adding to the heavy air pollution caused by traffic on our streets.
"To combat the worst of tomorrow's air pollution impacts, the Government should advise people to avoid driving. But it must also introduce longer term measures to reduce traffic levels on our streets.
"The Government recently announced that it would work with a local authority to develop a Low Emission Zone. This is a welcome step, but we need to see this plan in action, and fast."
She added: "Tackling air pollution will save lives and reduce costs to the NHS, in addition to helping Scotland meet its climate change emission targets."
See the latest air pollution forecast at Scottish air quality


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We hope this Web site serves as a tool and resource for you to provide the best care and treatment possible for people with HIV. We encourage you to foster discussion below and throughout the comment sections of the site.
Please come back often, as frequently asked questions are answered and more resources are added. In fact many of your questions may already be answered within the training manual and curricula. So we encourage you to please check there first.
We want to hear from you and create an online learning community by continuing to share helpful resources. If you have an online resource, peer-reviewed journal article, presentation, or other helpful items you'd like to share with the greater Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program community and would like to have added to this Web site, please contact Sarah Cook-Raymond of Impact Marketing + Communications at [email protected].
Online Resources
- Buprenorphine Curriculum Online Resources
- Buprenorphine Training and Integration Webinar Series Part 1
Understanding Addiction
- What Do Opioids Do to the Brain, and Why Are They Highly Addictive?
- What Increased Risk Behaviors Are Tied to Opioid Abuse?
- What Is Medication-Assisted Treatment for Opioid Use?
- Why Consider Medication-Assisted Treatment?
- What Is Buprenorphine?
- What Does It Do?
- Is Buprenorphine Addictive?
- What Are Agonists and Antagonists and How Do They Relate to Buprenorphine?
- Is It Safe?
- How Does Buprenorphine Differ from Methadone?
- Is Buprenorphine Used for Detox and, if so, How?
- What Do I Need to Know About Buprenorphine and Liver Enzymes?
Prescribing Buprenorphine
- Who Can Prescribe Buprenorphine?
- How Many Patients Can I Treat?
- Are There Any HIV Drugs That Should Not Be Taken With Buprenorphine?
- What Happens If Someone Needs Pain Medication With Buprenorphine?
- Can People on Methadone Switch to Buprenorphine?
- What Do I Need To Do To Get Started?
- Will I Need To Offer Counseling Services?


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Go Back! Mother3Kumatora sketch - by ozwalled
Other Submissions by ozwalled
Author | Title | Description | Date | Rank |
ozwalled | Bionic Kraken |
A Bionic Kraken in the Sea of Eden. It's been a while since I played through EB and for some crazy reason (I blame the Player's Guide) I could have SWORN that there were Bionic Krakens in the Sea of Eden. I feel like a bonehead, but it made for an alright picture anyway.
5/14/05 | 0.00 |
ozwalled | Struttin' Evil Mushroom |
*spreads some spores*
5/14/05 | 0.00 |
ozwalled | Antoid Farm |
Black Antoid Farm! Some of the pictures I love doing most are based upon nifty ideas that come to me, and this is a prime example of that. Another fun one. Note that my younger brother had one of the brand name ant farms as a kid, so this is sort of a throwback to that old thing. I'd thought about throwing in the green silhouetted silo, farmhous and tractor and stuff at the surface, but decided they'd only be a distraction, and that people who were unfamiliar with the ol' green plastic ant farm might not get it anyway.
5/14/05 | 0.00 |
ozwalled | Mutation |
Poo using his "Mirror" ability to transform into a mook. I don't know about you, but I never much used Poo's "Mirror". I drew this one mostly because I think it's a shame that more people haven't depicted his "Mirroring" in action.
5/14/05 | 0.00 |
ozwalled | Worthless Protoplasm |
Poor guy... This one actually started with the background, which is rarely how I start character art. Somehow, the background felt like it needed a Worthless Protoplasm on it. It's simple, sure, but I really like how it turned out., and how I left some orange come through.
5/14/05 | 0.00 |


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Northrop Grumman Corporation has launched CUTLASS, its latest generation unmanned ground vehicle (UGV), expanding its range of industry-leading capabilities in unmanned systems for the remote handling and surveillance of hazardous threats.
CUTLASS has been designed, developed and manufactured by Northrop Grumman in the U.K., and includes significant advances in technology and performance and a range of features that provides state-of-the-art capabilities for national security and resilience applications.
"Our CUTLASS vehicle is setting new standards in the UGV market and significantly enhancing the ability of users to handle hazardous threats safely. It is more dexterous, cost effective and, as a package, four times faster than any other UGV," said Greg Roberts, managing director, defence and security, Northrop Grumman Information Systems Europe. "The vehicle is already in service across the U.K. and has proven itself to be robust and capable in the most demanding environments. We look forward to exploiting the potential opportunities for exporting this capability into international markets."
CUTLASS will be on display in Northrop Grumman's exhibit at the Counter Terror Expo, where it will also show its range of capabilities in daily live scenario-based demonstrations. The international exhibition and conference Counter Terror Expo takes place at the National Hall, Olympia, London, April 24-25.
CUTLASS offers the latest technology in a modular design, enabling the user to deal safely with the full range of hazardous threats from a distance, including the detection and disposal of explosive ordnance. Its highly versatile design means that it is capable of accommodating a wide range of payloads, sensors and tools. It carries all of the tools and sensors it needs to perform the full range of operations required for explosive ordnance disposal and other applications, avoiding the need to deploy two standard UGVs. CUTLASS saves up to 50 percent on the through-life costs when compared to owning and operating two standard UGVs.
The manipulator arm is equipped with a three-fingered, state-of-the-art gripper and has nine degrees of freedom for greater movement and agility inside limited spaces. With a specialised sensing system it provides a high level of control and dexterity to minimize damage to property and preserve forensic evidence.
Using CUTLASS, a hazardous situation can be restored to normal up to four times more quickly than with any other UGV. The combination of the speed of the wheeled platform, which can reach speeds of up to 12 kph, and the ability of CUTLASS to carry multiple tools and sensors negates the need to return to the incident control point, thus saving considerable time. The robot is able to creep along at deliberately slow speeds for delicate operations and may accelerate to high speeds to enable rapid travel. The six-wheeled design offers mobility on all types of hard and soft terrain and in all weather conditions.
Northrop Grumman's unmanned ground vehicle business has been established in Coventry, U.K., for more than 20 years. Today, the company designs, develops and manufactures in the U.K. some of the most capable and reliable unmanned ground vehicles available, from the Wheelbarrow bomb disposal robot to the latest vehicle, CUTLASS.
Northrop Grumman has more than 2,000 unmanned ground vehicle systems in operation around the world.
Northrop Grumman is a leading global security company providing innovative systems, products and solutions in unmanned systems, cybersecurity, C4ISR, and logistics and modernization to government and commercial customers worldwide.


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Pancreatic Cancer Library
Learn about Pancreatic Cancer
Pancreatic cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the tissues of the pancreas.
The pancreas is a gland about 6 inches long that is shaped like a thin pear lying on its side. The wider end of the pancreas is called the head, the middle section is called the body, and the narrow end is called the tail. The pancreas lies between the stomach and the spine.
The pancreas has two main jobs in the body:
- To make juices that help digest (break down) food.
- To make hormones, such as insulin and glucagon, that help control blood sugar levels. Both of these hormones help the body use and store the energy it gets from food.
The digestive juices are made by exocrine pancreas cells and the hormones are made by endocrine pancreas cells. About 95% of pancreatic cancers begin in exocrine cells.
This summary is about exocrine pancreatic cancer. For information on endocrine pancreatic cancer, see the summary on Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors (Islet Cell Tumors) Treatment.
Smoking and health history can affect the risk of pancreatic cancer.
Anything that increases your risk of getting a disease is called a risk factor. Having a risk factor does not mean that you will get cancer; not having risk factors doesn't mean that you will not get cancer. Talk with your doctor if you think you may be at risk.
Risk factors for pancreatic cancer include the following:
- Smoking.
- Being very overweight.
- Having a personal history of diabetes or chronic pancreatitis.
- Having a family history of pancreatic cancer or pancreatitis.
- Having certain hereditary
conditions, such as:
- Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1) syndrome.
- Hereditary nonpolyposis colon cancer (HNPCC; Lynch syndrome).
- von Hippel-Lindau syndrome.
- Peutz-Jeghers syndrome.
- Hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome.
- Familial atypical multiple mole melanoma (FAMMM) syndrome.
- Ataxia-telangiectasia.
Signs and symptoms of pancreatic cancer include jaundice, pain, and weight loss.
Pancreatic cancer may not cause early signs or symptoms. Signs and symptoms may be caused by pancreatic cancer or by other conditions. Check with your doctor if you have any of the following:
- Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes).
- Light-colored stools.
- Dark urine.
- Pain in the upper or middle abdomen and back.
- Weight loss for no known reason.
- Loss of appetite.
- Feeling very tired.
Pancreatic cancer is difficult to diagnose early.
Pancreatic cancer is difficult to detect and diagnose for the following reasons:
- There aren't any noticeable signs or symptoms in the early stages of pancreatic cancer.
- The signs and symptoms of pancreatic cancer, when present, are like the signs and symptoms of many other illnesses.
- The pancreas is hidden behind other organs such as the stomach, small intestine, liver, gallbladder, spleen, and bile ducts.
Tests that examine the pancreas are used to diagnose and stage pancreatic cancer.
Pancreatic cancer is usually diagnosed with tests and procedures that make pictures of the pancreas and the area around it. The process used to find out if cancer cells have spread within and around the pancreas is called staging. Tests and procedures to detect, diagnose, and stage pancreatic cancer are usually done at the same time. In order to plan treatment, it is important to know the stage of the disease and whether or not the pancreatic cancer can be removed by surgery.
The following tests and procedures may be used:
- Physical exam and health history: An exam of the body to check general signs of health, including checking for signs of disease, such as lumps or anything else that seems unusual. A history of the patient's health habits and past illnesses and treatments will also be taken.
- Blood chemistry studies: A procedure in which a blood sample is checked to measure the amounts of certain substances, such as bilirubin, released into the blood by organs and tissues in the body. An unusual (higher or lower than normal) amount of a substance can be a sign of disease.
- Tumor marker test: A procedure in which a sample of blood, urine, or tissue is checked to measure the amounts of certain substances, such as CA 19-9, and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), made by organs, tissues, or tumor cells in the body. Certain substances are linked to specific types of cancer when found in increased levels in the body. These are called tumor markers.
- MRI (magnetic resonance imaging): A procedure that uses a magnet, radio waves, and a computer to make a series of detailed pictures of areas inside the body. This procedure is also called nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (NMRI).
- CT scan (CAT scan): A procedure that makes a series of detailed pictures of areas inside the body, taken from different angles. The pictures are made by a computer linked to an x-ray machine. A dye may be injected into a vein or swallowed to help the organs or tissues show up more clearly. This procedure is also called computed tomography, computerized tomography, or computerized axial tomography. A spiral or helical CT scan makes a series of very detailed pictures of areas inside the body using an x-ray machine that scans the body in a spiral path.
- PET scan (positron emission tomography scan): A procedure to find malignant tumor cells in the body. A small amount of radioactive glucose (sugar) is injected into a vein. The PET scanner rotates around the body and makes a picture of where glucose is being used in the body. Malignant tumor cells show up brighter in the picture because they are more active and take up more glucose than normal cells do. A PET scan and CT scan may be done at the same time. This is called a PET-CT.
- Abdominal ultrasound: An ultrasound exam used to make pictures of the inside of the abdomen. The ultrasound transducer is pressed against the skin of the abdomen and directs high-energy sound waves (ultrasound) into the abdomen. The sound waves bounce off the internal tissues and organs and make echoes. The transducer receives the echoes and sends them to a computer, which uses the echoes to make pictures called sonograms. The picture can be printed to be looked at later.
- Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS): A procedure in which an endoscope is inserted into the body, usually through the mouth or rectum. An endoscope is a thin, tube-like instrument with a light and a lens for viewing. A probe at the end of the endoscope is used to bounce high-energy sound waves (ultrasound) off internal tissues or organs and make echoes. The echoes form a picture of body tissues called a sonogram. This procedure is also called endosonography.
- Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP): A procedure used to x-ray the ducts (tubes) that carry bile from the liver to the gallbladder and from the gallbladder to the small intestine. Sometimes pancreatic cancer causes these ducts to narrow and block or slow the flow of bile, causing jaundice. An endoscope (a thin, lighted tube) is passed through the mouth, esophagus, and stomach into the first part of the small intestine. A catheter (a smaller tube) is then inserted through the endoscope into the pancreatic ducts. A dye is injected through the catheter into the ducts and an x-ray is taken. If the ducts are blocked by a tumor, a fine tube may be inserted into the duct to unblock it. This tube (or stent) may be left in place to keep the duct open. Tissue samples may also be taken.
- Percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography (PTC): A procedure used to x-ray the liver and bile ducts. A thin needle is inserted through the skin below the ribs and into the liver. Dye is injected into the liver or bile ducts and an x-ray is taken. If a blockage is found, a thin, flexible tube called a stent is sometimes left in the liver to drain bile into the small intestine or a collection bag outside the body. This test is done only if ERCP cannot be done.
- Laparoscopy: A surgical procedure to look at the organs inside the abdomen to check for signs of disease. Small incisions (cuts) are made in the wall of the abdomen and a laparoscope (a thin, lighted tube) is inserted into one of the incisions. The laparoscope may have an ultrasound probe at the end in order to bounce high-energy sound waves off internal organs, such as the pancreas. This is called laparoscopic ultrasound. Other instruments may be inserted through the same or other incisions to perform procedures such as taking tissue samples from the pancreas or a sample of fluid from the abdomen to check for cancer.
- Biopsy: The removal of cells or tissues so they can be viewed under a microscope by a pathologist to check for signs of cancer. There are several ways to do a biopsy for pancreatic cancer. A fine needle or a core needle may be inserted into the pancreas during an x-ray or ultrasound to remove cells. Tissue may also be removed during a laparoscopy or surgery to remove the tumor.
Certain factors affect prognosis (chance of recovery) and treatment options.
The prognosis and treatment options depend on the following:
- Whether or not the tumor can be removed by surgery.
- The stage of the cancer (the size of the tumor and whether the cancer has spread outside the pancreas to nearby tissues or lymph nodes or to other places in the body).
- The patient's general health.
- Whether the cancer has just been diagnosed or has recurred (come back).
Pancreatic cancer can be controlled only if it is found before it has spread, when it can be completely removed by surgery. If the cancer has spread, palliative treatment can improve the patient's quality of life by controlling the symptoms and complications of this disease.
Featured Resources
Palliative Care
200Chemotherapy Resources
Radiation Resources
Frequently Used Pancreatic Cancer Chemotherapy Drugs
- Zanosar (streptozocin)
- Tarceva (erlotinib)
- Adriamycin (doxorubicin)
- Mutamycin (mitomycin)
- Gemzar (gemcitabine)
- Afinitor (everolimus)
- Onivyde (irinotecan lipid complex injection)
- Abraxane (paclitaxel (with albumin) injection)
- Welireg (belzutifan)
Frequently Used Pancreatic Cancer Chemotherapy Regimens
- 5FU + Leucovorin
- 5FU + radiation
- Gemzar
- Gemzar + Eloxatin
- Gemzar + radiation
- Gemzar + Taxotere
- Taxotere
- Taxotere + Camptosar
- Xeloda
- Xeloda + Eloxatin
- Xeloda + Gemzar


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Chances are that if you are in the Florida Keys, you will eventually enter Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. The sanctuary protects the waters surrounding the Keys, extending from south of Miami westward to encompass the Dry Tortugas, excluding Dry Tortugas National Park. And with a shoreward boundary that starts at the mean high-water mark, once you set foot in Keys waters, you are in the sanctuary.
Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary is a special place, with spectacular and unique resources such as coral reefs, shipwrecks, seagrass beds, and fisheries that are the source of commercial and recreational activities like diving, fishing, and boating. The sanctuary is in place to protect these resources, but their ultimate protection hinges on you and other visitors following sanctuary rules and taking simple steps to be a good, thoughtful steward of the environment.
We've assembled the information below to help you plan your visit and help us ensure that you and other visitors can continue to enjoy all that the Florida Keys have to offer.


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Mondays just fail to register for me when I don't hear the stopwatch on Sunday evenings. I saw this segment on Plumpynut for the second time on 60 Minutes. I'm glad this topic has come around again, and felt just as dumbfounded as to why this is such a difficult problem to solve this time as I did the first time.
Quick Background
Journalist-designed-to-attract-women-in-their-30s visits third world (complete with Prada-T) and interviews the Nobel Prize-winning relief group "Doctors Without Borders."
Every year, malnutrition kills five million children – that's one child every six seconds.
Dr. Milton Tectonidis, the chief nutritionist for Doctors Without Borders says Plumpynut is cheap, easy to make, and even easier to use.
Plumpynut is a ready-to-eat, vitamin-enriched paste that has the capacity to serve like an essential medicine; in three weeks, a child that looked half dead can be cured.
The Problem
Mothers in these villages can't produce enough milk themselves and can't afford to buy it. Even if they could, they can't store it — there's no electricity, so no refrigeration. Powdered milk is useless because most villagers don't have clean water.
The Solution
Plumpynut is simple: it is made of peanut butter, powdered milk, powdered sugar, and enriched with vitamins and minerals. It tastes like a peanut butter paste. It is very sweet, and because of that kids cannot get enough of it. The formula was developed by a nutritionist. It doesn't need refrigeration, water, or cooking; mothers simply squeeze out the paste. Many children can even feed themselves. Each serving is the equivalent of a glass of milk and a multivitamin.
My Question
Given the simplicity of this product, why haven't companies like Kraft, Nestle or Procter & Gamble…with their decades of knowledge in product management, manufacturing and global distribution not done something about this?
It's those organizations that can secure a government contract, produce this kind of product at a low cost and distribute it. There is a market, it's cheap, and the product will make money!!! What's the deal?


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This article is more than 1 year old
Admins accuse Microsoft of Draconian Hotmail cap
'Only 10 recipients at a time, please'
Life can be tough when you're one of the globe's biggest email providers. Just ask Hotmail. Users get upset enough when come-ons for Viagra slip through the cracks of the Microsoft-owned service. But there's just as much hell to pay when its war on spam snuffs out legitimate emails.
In May, we reported on a proprietary Microsoft technology dubbed SmartScreen, which secretly blocked Hotmail-destined email from entire domains - even when they were a year or more old and were correctly listed in the DNS and had solid SPF records.
Now we're fielding reader tips that Hotmail has placed Draconian limits on the number of Hotmail recipients who can receive an email. The first 10 Hotmail addresses included in a mass email go through just fine, according to these reports. But any additional addresses are returned to sender with a message that reads: "552 Too many recipients." (Microsoft denies it has placed any such restriction on the number of senders.)
That's causing considerable trouble for people like William Old, a UK-based IT administrator who maintains an email newsletter for retired police officers. After sending the most recent newsletter about two weeks ago, he quickly received the 552 notice informing him that 29 of the 39 Hotmail addressees were being returned.
"The issue for us is it's a blow to a well established mechanism for getting an update out to our 550 members," Old says. "It was working perfectly well up until the last month."
Old has since sent several batches of test emails, and each time, exactly 10 are delivered to addresses ending in hotmail.com or msn.com and the rest are rejected with the same 552 failure notice.
It took Microsoft's rapid response team more than 19 hours to provide a three-sentence response to our request for comment. It read:
Microsoft is committed to helping protect email as an essential communications tool and to help protect users worldwide from spam and other e-mail safety concerns. One of the methods we employ to prevent spammers from abusing Windows Live Hotmail is to establish a sending limitation of 250 recipients per day. We do not currently limit the number of recipients per message, however we may consider doing so in the future for new accounts, as additional means to prevent spammers from abusing Microsoft services.
Microsoft's denial doesn't square with recent online discussions in which users report a new spate of 552 failure notices being sent by Hotmail. The initiator of this discussion, for instance, reported that six of 16 messages sent to Hotmail users bounced and said the rejection was a new phenomenon. Other discussions like the one here also appear to report the same cock up.
Microsoft denied our request for an interview with a Hotmail official.
Several people have reported a work-around, which can be achieved by setting the max_rcpt of the SMTP transport to 10 or less. This method worked for Old, but he said it has the potential to consume significantly more bandwidth, a limitation that is sure to hurt legitimate senders but have much less of an effect on spammers, who don't pay for their internet service.
The last time we spoke with a Hotmail official, we learned that of the 5 billion emails sent to its users each day, about 4.5 billion of them, or a whopping 90 percent, were spam. Clearly, unsolicited email is a problem that warrants a tough response from Microsoft.
But the sudden reports of 552 rejection notices are a reminder that brute-force solutions are just as likely to trip up legitimate senders as they are in shielding their users from spam. In this case, it would also appear to violate RFC 2821, which states: "Rejection of messages (for excessive recipients) with fewer than 100 RCPT commands is a violation of this specification."
So the next time you send email to a Hotmail user, give a moment of silence for the beleaguered security pros at Microsoft whose collective finger are all that's blocking a torrent of spam and other crud from spilling over the proverbial dike.
Then say a little prayer that the people you're trying to reach actually get your message. ®


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Maybe nothing exists.[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=108633\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]
"I think I think; therefore I think I am." [a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=108651\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]
RayThere are those about who would be offended, deeply hurt even, by such misuse of good cigars.Ciao - Rob C[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=109116\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]
Hhmm! It is a bit small, isn't it! I hope this wonderful work of art is not mere local vandalism; or just something to amuse the tourists .[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=109138\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]
Ray - if that had been on display in my old hang-out, Glasgow, the cigar wouldn't have lasted a full five minutes; even the guy might have had problems...[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=109149\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]
Rob,Are you saying your old hang-out was the Gorbals? . My father was raised in Glasgow and I got the impression the Gorbals was the Scottish equivalent of Harlem in New York.[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=109154\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]
On a more serious note, I'm quite surprised, in this day and age, that this topic has centred so much around sex.However, we do have consideration for the frail at heart, for those of a nervous disposition who have perhaps led a very sheltered life, and even for those who may not have led a particularly sheltered life but who consider certain objects as sacred and not for public view.One has to be sensible about such a mix of different sensitivities. Sometimes, of course, the ends justify the means. [a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=108688\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]
Keep in mind the cultural differences betwee Australia (original white setttlers were criminals) and the USA (original white settlers seeking freedom of (not from) religion).
Soon after the settling of Jamestown, there was a tremendous demand for labour, skilled and unskilled, in the American colonies. Many early Virginians were English convicts who arrived in this country as "transported " felons. In England a system was introduced in 1655 which enabled death sentences to be reduced to transportation overseas, and two years later justices of the peace were empowered to transport vagrants. Many crimes carried the death penalty, but today many of those crimes would be considered misdemeanors.After 1655 and before the Transportation Act of 1718 some prisoners of each circuit court were selected to be reprieved from the gallows on condition of their accepting a term of transportation to the Colonies. Each formal pardon, signed by the king, was enrolled in the great series of patent rolls that are preserved in the Public Record Office in London as Class C 66. Nearly 400 convict ships carrying 50,000 men, women and children left England bound for the American colonies where their human cargoes were sold and/or indentured as servants to work off their passage for a term of years. Facilities were developed for the reception and sale of convicted prisoners. The tidal wave of involuntary laborers became known as ``His Majesty's Seven-Year Passengers.'' Of the more than 400 convict ships identified as having crossed the Atlantic from the ports of London, Bristol, Liverpool and Bideford between 1716 and 1776, a dozen or so were destined for the West Indies or the Carolinas before 1730. Thereafter Maryland or Virginia were the invariable destinations. English prisons were cleared on a regular basis two or three times a year at times to suit demands of tobacco exporters in the colonies.
Ray, when exactly does the "ends justify the means?" This term more often than not means that an immoral, unjust or wrong action is OK as long as it produces a moral, just or right result. But then, if you actually believe this, you must be ready to accept any and all results. And how do you (or who?) decide what is a moral, just or right result?
In spite of your respectful request, in my opinion, the image you posted is not art nor an image of someone else's art. Rather it is an image of an idol of some folks in Nepal. But for the erect penis, you would have taken the image, and certainly not posted it here. You posted it merely to try to offend.
America, at least during my lifetime, has had a tradition of getting things first; the latest products and innovations.It's ironic she was also the first to get our British convicts .[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=109503\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]
Your history lesson perhaps helps explain why drivers in and around Boston (where I live) are among the worst in the world. Maybe most of us are descended from convicts.
By the way, EASTHAM, WELLFLEET AND ORLEANS are nice places to photograph.


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(Version in Español)
The United States and much of the world economy are still recovering from the devastating global recession that began in 2008. Sometimes crises happen that we cannot foresee or avoid.
But for the U.S. economy, serious risks could come at the end of this year from two potential self-inflicted wounds: the so-called "fiscal cliff" and the debt ceiling.
Let's start with the fiscal cliff. In simple terms: if U.S. policymakers do nothing, a number of temporary tax cuts will expire and significant across-the-board spending reductions will kick in on January 1, 2013. The combined effect of these measures could result in a huge fiscal contraction, which would derail the economic recovery.
Why is this happening?
The payroll tax break, the Bush tax cuts (enacted in 2001 and 2003, and extended for two years at the end of 2010), as well as exemptions on the Alternative Minimum Tax are set to expire on January 1, 2013.
As for the cuts to government spending, it was agreed last summer that if the so-called "Super Committee" (a Congressional committee in charge of reducing the deficit) failed to approve a set of deficit-reduction measures, draconian cuts to defense and nondefense spending would take effect starting on January 1, 2013. Unfortunately, this threat did not work as envisaged—the Super Committee did not come up with any plan to reduce the deficit—and, as a result, the deep spending cuts are scheduled to kick in.
All in all, the cliff would remove about $700 billion from the U.S. economy next year—over 4 percent of GDP—with higher taxes contributing about three quarters of the total.
Is it really that bad?
Unfortunately, yes. The reason is that the U.S. economy is still slowly mending from the effects of the financial crisis.
The pace of the recovery is tepid, and unemployment remains elevated. The fiscal cliff would reduce growth to about zero on an annual basis in 2013, and the economy would most likely fall into a recession early next year. This is because the large tax increases would make consumers and businesses cut back on their expenditures, while the steep government spending cuts would also subtract from growth.
Furthermore, one traditional response—monetary policy action to lower interest rates—is hampered in the current environment because rates are already extraordinary low. And a weakening world economy would not be able to provide much support by buying U.S. goods and services.
What's more, the negative impact of the cliff could start materializing even sooner, as uncertainty about what is going to happen early in 2013 might lead consumers, businesses, and government agencies to hold back their spending already this year, in anticipation of the cuts.
Yes, the U.S. needs to raise taxes and cut spending. But it should do so gradually, without sapping the economic recovery.
What can be done about it?
In principle, the fix is easy. A political agreement should be reached to ensure that tax increases and/or spending cuts are carried out by only a modest amount next year. Such an agreement would be all the more powerful in restoring confidence if it also included a credible plan to gradually raise taxes further and limit the growth of spending, so that the U.S. public debt stops growing faster than U.S. GDP.
In practice, of course, things are never easy, and there are significant differences across the U.S. political spectrum on how to reduce the deficit. But there is some common ground, and a number of bipartisan plans have been put forward.
The second self-inflicted wound
In late 2012 or early 2013 the U.S. federal government will again reach a statutory borrowing limit and will not be able to issue additional debt.
Why is this a problem?
First, because the federal government is spending considerably more than it collects in taxes; and second, because spending and tax collections are not synchronized.
As a result, if the ceiling is not raised in time, the government would need to cut spending drastically, curtailing important government functions, with detrimental effects on output and employment. And just the mere possibility that the government might have to delay a payment on a bond could unsettle financial markets.
In the past, Congress has raised this limit on a regular basis. But last summer an acrimonious debate delayed the lifting of the debt ceiling until the very last minute. True, interest rates on Treasury bonds did not rise, as many had anticipated, but financial markets suffered, and uncertainty and a decline in faith in the political system took a toll on consumer and business confidence.
Unfortunately, it takes a lot of time to regain confidence and trust, but it takes one rash action to lose it. Wounds are painful and can take a long time to heal—but self-inflicted ones are easy to avoid.


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Write Less to Mean More
I assume that the process of editing varies for every writer, but regardless of how it's done, it is a very necessary and painstaking process. There may be writers out there who can publish their first draft, who require no extra polishing or very little; I am not one of those. Lacking in that wonderful talent, I am forced to go through many different stages of editing to bring my work to an acceptable level.
The editing stage that I'm currently working on is tightening up my novel, which also relates to my last blog – Frustrating Word Count. This tightening step makes my writing better, the information more concise, and the story clearer, with the wonderful side effect of reducing word count.
I use various methods for tightening my writing:
Removing my excess wordage. What I mean by excess is using one word to say what I sometimes say in three or four words. This type of excess wordage creeps all through my text. For example: The science of flight has advanced over the years. This can be better written, Aeronautics has advanced over the years, making the noun stronger, more noticeable, and the word-count less. I have just cut four unnecessary words.
Remove my weak modifiers, words I use for emphasis. I tend to use modifiers a lot in my writing and they really aren't necessary. See, I did it again! The modifier really is superfluous in that sentence.
Remove my unneeded nouns. For example, The amount of coffee I drink is too much. I should write instead, The coffee I drink is too much. There go another two more words!
Get rid of my extra verbs, articles, and prepositions that profusely find their way into my writing. For example, I will make changes to my story. Instead, I will change my story. The verb, make is unnecessary. Another example, The subjects that are found in public school are basic. Better would be, The subjects in public school are basic. I have just dropped three more words!
Use concise writing. For this, I use my Dictionary of Concise Writing by Robert Fiske. I use too many wordy phrases in my writing that can be reduced to fewer words. An example he gives in his book: "Mr. Branch was an acquaintance of Miss Gregory." This is better written: "Mr. Branch knew Miss Gregory."
It's amazing how losing excess words makes the writing clearer and better to read.
I'm sure that I have other bad habits to my writing that I'm blinded to when editing, but that's where my much needed editor helps to teach me.
If you have any helpful tips for me, I would love to hear them.


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PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A boy hanging out in a high school gym with fellow students on Friday afternoon shot and wounded two of them before fleeing and being captured near his home, police said.
The shooting happened at the Delaware Valley Charter School in north Philadelphia around 3 p.m., they said.
Surveillance video shows a group of about seven students hanging around when the shooting happened, police Commissioner Charles Ramsey said. It was unclear if the shooting was accidental or intentional, but it "doesn't look like an active shooter type of situation," he said.
A male student and a female student were shot, each in an arm, but it was unclear whether one or two shots were fired, Ramsey said.
The wounded students were taken to a hospital near the school, where they were listed in stable condition, police said.
The shooter lives quite far from the school and may have driven or taken a bus toward his home after the shooting, Ramsey said. No gun was recovered, he said.
A spokesman for the school district didn't immediately respond to a call seeking comment.
It's the second U.S. school shooting this week. Authorities said a seventh-grader opened fire Tuesday in a New Mexico middle school gym, wounding two classmates.
Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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LOS ANGELES -- Chris Brown has been taken into custody by U.S. marshals and will be transported to Washington, D.C., for an upcoming misdemeanor assault trial, an official said Thursday.
Brown was turned over to marshals on Wednesday at a Los Angeles jail, marshals' spokeswoman Laura Vega said. She declined to say when the Grammy winner would be sent to Washington.
The singer and his bodyguard are accused of hitting a man outside a Washington hotel in October. Brown is set to go on trial later this month.
A judge in Los Angeles sent Brown to jail in mid-March after the singer was dismissed from a court-mandated rehab program for anger management and other issues.
Defense attorney Mark Geragos had been trying to block Brown's transfer into marshals' custody, arguing it would deprive him of the opportunity to properly prepare for the trial.
A hearing on the motion had been scheduled for Thursday but was canceled.
Geragos wrote in an email that the marshals service took Brown into custody just hours after the lawyer filed the motion on Tuesday.
Brown, 24, remains under court supervision in Los Angeles for a felony assault case filed after his 2009 attack on then-girlfriend Rihanna.
If convicted in the Washington case, Brown could face additional penalties, including time behind bars, in the attack on Rihanna.
Apr 3, 4:08 PM EDT


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Happy Finally Friday (Well, now it's Saturday, but I write these the day before to reflect what I ate)!
It's the first Friday of our Mid-Year Resolution challenge and I'm in it to win it. I am sitting here eating some tuna fish salad and thinking about how much better I feel today than last Friday. I do wish I could sleep more, but I attribute that to my bad 'caffeine-after-7pm' habits, so I'm cutting back.
Now what I had yesterday… First of all, here's the plan I'm following and here is the introduction post to the Mid-Year Resolution Challenge.
While you look at what I'm doing, be sure to do your thing. I am thrilled to provide some ideas, but I'm not the person you should necessarily look to for dieting advice (I'm not a paid nosh-a-titian). I am, however, here with you to cheer you on and help you hold you when you're so slim you blow away when you sneeze.
Be sure to subscribe for updates by adding your email right (in the sidebar) or through Feedburner in the title bar up top!
Friday, August 31
I ate this:
Breakfast: Dr. Zevia cola + Greek tuna salad (It was nasty. No recipe coming.)
Lunch: Zucchini bread (still in development. No recipe yet.) + *Burger Toppings (lettuce, tomato cheese, onion)
Dinner: Chili with cheese, onions and sour cream, Blueberries (about 1/4 cup)
Late-night snack: Zucchini bread
Notes: I can't stand the texture of canned tuna because I am too spoiled by fresh-grilled tuna steaks (recipe).
* My kids went to Carl's Junior and all I wanted was the discarded lettuce, tomato and onions! I layered those on a slice of American cheese and was in Heaven.
I exercised:
Today I Learned:
No more caffeine after 7 p.m.
I am having a really hard time getting to bed before midnight and then getting up to spend time with my teenagers in the morning at 6:30.
I love waking up with my teens because it is a quiet time to wish them a wonderful morning and see to any needs they might have. Sometimes I can even help make them breakfast or help pack their lunches, sign papers and give plenty of hugs. I am missing out on all of those moments due to a slight miscalculation in caffeine, so that ends today.
As an aside, this tuna salad was nasty! I am not a girl who likes canned tuna. Going to buy some tuna steaks…


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President Goodluck Jonathan
'Some yesterday's men seem to be on the offensive against the Jonathan administration.'By Reuben Abati
A loosely bound group of yesterday's men and women seem to be on the offensive against the Jonathan administration. They pick issues with virtually every effort of the administration, pretending to do so in the public interest; positing that they alone, know it all. Arrogantly, they claim to be better and smarter than everyone else in the current government. They are ever so censorious, contrarian and supercilious. They have no original claim to their pretensions other than they were privileged to have been in the corridors of power once upon a time in their lives. They obviously got so engrossed with their own sense of importance they began to imagine themselves indispensable to Nigeria. It is dangerous to have such a navel-gazing, narcissistic group inflict themselves with so much ferocity on an otherwise impressionable public. We are in reality dealing with a bunch of hypocrites.
With exceptions so few, they really don't care about Nigeria as a sovereign but the political spoils that accrue from it. And so they will stop at nothing to discredit those they think are not as deserving as they imagine themselves to be. President Jonathan has unfairly become the target of their pitiable frustrations.
Underneath their superfluous appearance, lies an unspoken class disdain directed at the person and office of a duly elected president of the country. It is a Nigerian problem, perhaps. In the same advanced societies which these same yesterday men and women often like to refer to, public service is seen and treated as a privilege. People are called upon to serve; they do so with humility and great commitment, and when it is all over, they move on to other things. The quantity surveyor returns to his or her quantity surveying or some other decent work; the lawyer to his or her wig and gown; the university teacher, to the classroom, glad to have been found worthy of national service. When and where necessary, as private citizens they are entitled to use the benefit of this experience to contribute to national development, they speak up on matters of public importance not as a full-time job as is the case in Nigeria currently.
What then, is the problem with us? As part of our governance evolution, most people become public servants by accident, but they soon get so used to the glamour of office that they lose sight of their own ordinariness. They use the system to climb: to become media celebrities, to gain international attention and to morph into self-appointed guardians of the Nigerian estate. They mask self interest motives as public causes and manipulate the public's desire for improvements in their daily struggles as opportunity for power grab.
They are perpetually hanging around, lobbying and hustling for undeserved privileges. They exploit ethnic and religious connections where they can or join political parties and run for political office. They even write books (I, me and myself books, packaged as cerebral stuff); if that still doesn't work, they lobby newspaper houses for columns to write and they become apostolic pundits pontificating on matters ranging from the nebulous to the non-descript. Power blinds them to the reality that we are all in this together and we have a unique opportunity to do well for the taxpayers and hardworking electorate that provide every public official the privilege to serve.
Unsatisfied with the newspaper columns, they open social media accounts and pretend to be voices of wisdom seeking to cultivate an angry crowd which they feed continually with their own brand of negativity. They arrange to give lectures at high profile events where they abuse the government of the day in order to gain attention and steal a few minutes in the sun; hoping to force an audience that may 'open doors' for them, back into the corridors of power. These characters are in different sizes and shapes: small, big; Godfathers, agents, proxies. The tactics of the big figures on this rung of opportunism may be slightly different. They parade themselves as a Godfather or kingmaker or the better man who should have been king. They suffer of course, from messianic delusions. The fact that they boast of some followership and the media often treats them as icons, makes their nuisance factor worse. They and their protégés and proxies are united by one factor though: their hypocrisy.
It is in the larger interest of our country that the point be made that the government of the day welcomes criticism and political activism. This is an aspect of our emergent democracy that expands on the growing freedom of expression, thought and association but there is need for caution and vigilance, lest we get taken hostage by the architects of odious disinformation. Nigerians must not allow any group of individuals to hold this country to ransom and no one alone should appropriate the right to determine what is best for Nigeria. The accidental public servants who have turned that privilege into a life-long obsession and profession must be told to go get a life and find meaningful work to do.
Those who believe that no one else can run Nigeria without them must be told to stop hallucinating. The former Ministers, former Governors, former DGs, and all sorts who have been busy quoting mischievous figures, spreading cruel propaganda must be reminded that the Jonathan administration is in fact trying to clean up the mess that they created. They want to own the game when the ball is not in their possession. They want to be the referee when nobody has offered them a whistle. They seek to play God, forgetting that the case for God is not in the hands of man. One of the virtues of enlightenment is for persons to have a true perspective of their own location in the order of things. What they do not seem to realise or accept is that the political climate has changed.
When one of them was in charge of this same estate called Nigeria, he shut down the Port Harcourt airport and other airports for close to two years under the guise of renovation. The Port Harcourt airport was abandoned for so long it was overgrown with weeds after serving for months as a practice ground for motoring schools. It was reopened without any improvement and with so much money down the drain, and the pervasive suspicion that the reason it was shut down in the first place was to create a market for a new airline that had been allowed the monopoly use of the other airport in the city. Under President Jonathan, airports across the country are being upgraded, rebuilt and modernized; in less than two years, the transformation is self-evident. Perhaps the greatest hypocrisy from our see-no-good commentators comes from the one who superintended over the near-collapse of the aviation sector who is now audacious enough to claim to be a social critic.
For the first time since 1999, the Nigerian Railway Corporation is up and running as a service organization. The rail lines have become functional from Lagos to Kano; Ewekoro to Minna, and very soon, from Port Harcourt to Maiduguri, Abuja to Kaduna and Lagos to Ibadan. They couldn't do this in their time, now they are busy looking for money that is not missing with their teeth. When questions are asked, they claim they invented the ideas of due process and accountability. They once promised to solve the crisis of electricity supply in Nigeria. But what did they do? They managed to leave the country in darkness with less than 2,000 MW; abandoned independent power projects, mismanaged power stations, and uncompleted procurement processes. The mess was so bad their immediate successors had to declare an emergency in the power sector. It has taken President Jonathan to make the difference. Today, there is greater coherence in the management of the power sector with power supply in excess of 4, 200 MW; a better conceived power sector road map is running apace, and the administration is determined to make it better. They complain about the state of the roads. Most of the contracts were actually awarded under their watch to the tune of billions! They talk about corruption, yet many of them have thick case files with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the courts and the police on corruption-related charges. One of them was even accused of having awarded choice plots of government land to himself, his wives, his companies and other relations when he was in charge of such allocations! Really, have we forgotten so soon?
These yesterday men and women certainly don't seem to care very much about the Nigerian taxpayer who has had to bear the brunt of the many scandals this administration is exposing in its bid to clear out the Augean stable. They'd rather grandstand with the ex-General this, Chief that, Doctor this and ex-(dis)Honourable Minister who has no record of what he or she did with the funds the nation provided them to deliver results to protect our interest so that we don't end up continuing to make the same wasteful mistakes.
It is enough to make you shudder at the thought of any of them being part of government with access to the public purse; but then we've already seen what some of them are capable of doing when in control of public money, authority and influence; and to that the people have spoken in unison – they have had enough. Nigerians are wiser and are now familiar with the trickery from these persons whose claim to fame and fortune was on the back of their public service.
Our point at the risk of overstating what is by now too obvious: We have too many yesterday men and women behaving too badly. We are dealing with a group of power-point technocrats who have mastered the rhetoric of public grandstanding: carefully crafted emotion-laden sound bites passed off as meaningful engagements. That is all there is to them, after many years of hanging around in relevant places and mingling in the right corridors, all made possible through the use/abuse of Nigeria. Our caveat to their audience is the same old line: let the buyer beware!
Dr. Abati is Special Adviser (Media and Publicity) to Nigeria's President Goodluck Jonathan.