text:
"A firm foundation is necessary for any building, institution, or individual to endure."
-- Elder Russell M. Nelson
Primers are essential to creating the perfect foundation for long-lasting makeup, creating a flawless and smooth canvas before applying your makeup. I recently picked up 3 MAC Prep + Prime primers: Face primer (base), Line Filler, and Skin Refined Zone Treatment. The tubes on the Skin Refined Zone Treatment and Line Filler are smaller in person, however a little goes a long way so it should last you a relatively long time. These are also officially part of the PERMANENT LINE in the MAC's Prep + Prime family, so there is no need to rush to nab one as they are definitely here to stay! (I did NOT buy the Prep + Prime Transparent Finishing Powder, I bought the MAC PRO Transparent (invisible) setting powder. The difference? The Prep + Prime one is of a finer grade, meaning the powder itself is more finely milled for a more "soft focus" type look). I will do a review on the PRO powder I bought soon.
In this post I will talk in depth about each of these primers and its uses, as well as how you can make the most out of them to achieve the perfect look.
The Prep + Prime Skin Refined Zone Treatment ($19.50) is described as "A light, oil-free emulsion that helps cloak visible pores while controlling oil and shine. Applies "wet" for a gentle micro-exfoliation: dries instantly to create an invisible, long-lasting natural matte finish. Ideal for the T-zone."
Overall: 4 out of 5 stars
Translation: You apply this OVER your moisturizer (let it dry in between), it's supposed to help minimize the look of pores as well as controlling oily areas of the face by absorbing the oils and giving you a shine-free face such as your t-zone area. The consistency is similar to that of a moisturizer except it feels more "thin" rather than thick, when applied to the face (like you would apply your moisturizer), it dries quickly to a nice matte, soft powder-like finish (and feel).
Overall: I like this prep + primet, it actually keeps me less-shiny than normal, and I love how I can use this on light or no makeup days to help me achieve a more natural look without looking like an oil slick later on in the day. However I don't feel like it's a "must-have". A good face primer or a mineral transparent powder such as Purely Cosmetics' Oil Absorb or Silk Primer are awesome alternative choices for oil control throughout the day.
MAC Prep + Prime Line Filler ($19.50), described as "A primer used post-foundation, pre-makeup to camouflage, soften and relax expression lines and wrinkles. Applies as a dense cream: dries to a transparent, smooth, natural matte finish. With ongoing use, clinically proven to help rejuvenate your look."
Overall: 5 out of 5
Translation: It's basically a primer for wrinkles, fine lines (such as under the eye, crows feet, frown lines around the mouth, etc) and invisibly "fills" these lines thus creating a smooth barrier for easier makeup application as well as minimizing the look of these lines by making them softer. In my Makeup Application Steps Post, I used the line filler under my eyes where I have a couple of lines (apply like you would an eye cream, pat or swipe a little dot), then apply your concealer > foundation for a flawless finish. As you notice in a few of the pictures from that post, my under eye looked really smooth and flawless after applying the Sonia Kushuk loose powder on top of the concealer, but it was the line filler that helped create the smooth canvas to begin with as well as keeping that delicate area moisturized.
Overall: This is a "must-have" for me, I love using it under my eye so that my concealer and powder goes over it smoothly. Consistency wise it's thicker than the Skin Refined Zone Treatment and when dry, your skin feels smooth like a face primer with that powder-like feel.
The good 'ol Prep + Prime Skin ($23), this has been around for awhile, and I like it A LOT better than the Prep + Prime Face Protect with SPF50 because it feels more like a primer, and less like a moisturizer which I love. It is described as "An ultra-fluid lotion formulated with special-effect silicones. Calms and soothes the skin, blots away excess oil, and evens out skin redness. Improves the laydown and application of foundation or powder."
Overall: 5 out of 5
Translation: A basic face primer for the face, to be applied AFTER your moisturizer and BEFORE foundation application. It creates a smooth surface on your face so that your foundation goes on flawlessly without any blotches or uneven tones or color.
Overall: This is one of the best primers I have used so far, it hasn't caused my skin to react in a crazy way, smells good, and is a lot cheaper than other primers I have tried. The best part is that it actually does its job. The primer itself is pure white and has an iridescent pearl-like shimmer or sheen to it, but does not show on your face, it's just completely a pure cream that dries to a matte finish.
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Thursday, April 16, 2009
Product Review: MAC Prep + Prime Primers
31 comments
- Linda said...
This is a great post. Thanks for sharing. I think I'm going to pick up the primer.
- April 16, 2009 at 1:42 AM
- Distinque said...
thanks for the review. I'm adding the line filler in my cart:)
- April 16, 2009 at 2:04 AM
- Paint Me Gorgeous said...
thanks for the review! i was wondering about these...
- April 16, 2009 at 3:55 AM
- Neeyuh said...
I love prep+prime it's my hg primer. I really want the refined zone treatment since I have such oily skin and it sounds like it would work out great. Thank you for the reviews!
- April 16, 2009 at 5:04 AM
- A. Rose said...
Thanks for the great reviews! I agree that the last two are must-haves :)
- April 16, 2009 at 5:34 AM
- Meredith said...
Thanks for the review - I was on the fence about buying some of these, but I think i definitely will now!
- April 16, 2009 at 6:09 AM
- Tammy said...
I'm really loving refined zone, I usually have a hard time finding something that handles oil control but doesn't make me break out. I've heard so many great things about the line filler, I must try it soon!
- April 16, 2009 at 7:00 AM
- .cupcake love. said...
Great review Vanessa! I love the Prep&Prime Skin;; it's my hg :) I'm glad that MAC is keeping the other ones permanent. That way we all won't be sad once they leave !
- April 16, 2009 at 8:35 AM
- Chels said...
how is the primer (the last one) at controlling oil? that and smaller pores are my main concern
- April 16, 2009 at 8:39 AM
- Vanessa said...
Hi Chels- the MAC Skin Primer is pretty good at controlling oil, I mean then again I have dry skin to begin with, so I can't really say how it would hold up with a person with oily skin, however I didn't notice any shine or that melty look I usually get with other primers (such as Smashbox's primer) where I LOOKED oily, so for me this primer just works great because it still holds my makeup well all day!
- April 16, 2009 at 8:48 AM
- The Mighty J said...
Thanks for the awesome post - makes it easier for me to refer to them all in one post rather than 3 different ones. I need to try that line filler!!!
- April 16, 2009 at 9:12 AM
- PowderPuffGirl said...
thanks for the amazing post Vanessa! this may be a silly question but how are they in terms of pore minimization?
- April 16, 2009 at 10:34 AM
- Angela said...
Thank you so much for this review. I am definitely gonna get the Prep + Prime filler. I really need it for my eyes!
- April 16, 2009 at 11:03 AM
- XINAR0X said...
Great Review! Thnx!!
- April 16, 2009 at 11:14 AM
- mosha said...
awesome review ..
btw check my blog, you have been mentioned in "it's face time" entry<3
- April 16, 2009 at 12:02 PM
- divinexjanice said...
Hey Vanessa, on the Mac Pro website it says the Mac Prep and Prime Refined Zone says its limited edition... =T
- April 16, 2009 at 12:21 PM
- FabDiva20 said...
I love the Skin Refined Zone!! I now come home with no oily T-Zone! I also want to try the line filler and the face primer sometime soon.
- April 16, 2009 at 12:35 PM
- JENSMAKEUPBAG said...
thanks for the review! i've been wondering about the prep n prime foundation primer. love line filler...it really does work.
- April 16, 2009 at 1:43 PM
- makeupper said...
Great review!
Really want that line filler..
- April 16, 2009 at 1:45 PM
- Janelle said...
I really want to try the Refined Zone Treatment. My t-zone is my biggest problem area when it comes to oil! Thanks for the great reviews. :)
- April 16, 2009 at 1:58 PM
- Anonymous said...
How does the Refined Zone compare with MAC Matte???? It sounds exactly the same to me. Your thoughts?
- April 16, 2009 at 2:18 PM
- Femme Fatale Disturbed said...
Awesome review! I've been using the good ol' prep and prime for a couple years now and I love it! I was bummed out when they were out of the the Refined primer (initially wanted that) but bought prep&prime and I've been sold since ;) Now I'm glad you posted this blog so I'm not as curious anymore.
- April 16, 2009 at 8:54 PM
- ladystarr said...
THANK YOU for reviewing the primers! I'm definitely going to purchase the line filler and then the other primers eventually!
- April 17, 2009 at 1:40 AM
- Theresa said...
Thank you for your post. Actually after reading the post i went to MAC and tried out the line filler (I have some lines under my eye) And the sales person told me that the line filler is NOT for the eye area... She didnt give me a reason and i am wondering your thoughts on it.
- April 18, 2009 at 11:15 PM
- Vanessa said...
Hi Theresa! How are you? I use it around my eye and mouth but personally I think it just comes down to use preference, since the line filler is similar to that of a primer (it's use as well as it''s ingredients and feel) I personally think it is safe to use around such area without causing any particular harm; and it works for me. At 26, I don't have any lines or wrinkles yet so my main area of concentration is similar to yours, where I have a line or two under my eyes and essentially would like the line filler to "fill" these lines so that my concealer and makeup can go on smoothly.
MAC says the same thing about certain pigments because of the dyes it contains and I know many people still use it whichever way they see fit, although I don't personally use it where they say not to use it! LOL. But I think it's just based on prerogative....in case some harm goes wrong, they also don't want to be liable so I can understand their warnings. But like I said, it works for me...some makeup artists will say you CAN use it and some won't.
- April 19, 2009 at 11:11 AM
- ACDC2005 said...
I am not sure if you are LDS but either way I am loving that you put an LDS quote on your blog!
- April 21, 2009 at 11:57 PM
- Tricia15 said...
great review, exactly what i was looking for, I am definitely going to pick up the line filler base.
- May 31, 2009 at 10:13 PM
- Sarah said...
Hi I have all 3 products and use the line filler for lines smile and frown lines. I usually use moisturizer, then skin refine zone, then line filler, then primer. But I am still seeing my foundation get caught in my smile and frown lines and making them look worse. Any suggestions? Should I be using the filler after the primer? Maybe I'm not letting the filler dry long enough?
- August 30, 2009 at 11:12 PM
- Sarah said...
Hi I just wrote you awhile ago... please email me your response @ email@example.com thank you!
p.s just wanted to make sure my email addy doesnt get posted thank u :)
- August 31, 2009 at 1:16 AM
- Lorien BeautyLove said...
I goggled reviews for the MAC Prep + Prime skin refined treatment and it came up with your blog! Im a blogger too :D followed x
- December 8, 2009 at 5:18 AM
- The Harker Family said...
Great review! Thanks! But just to let you know, that quote you have above by Elder Russell M. Nelson is an LDS (Mormon) religious representative (I'm Mormon myself). When he is speaking about a "firm foundation" he is not talking about the makeup "foundation", but rather about a firm "base" in life. Not sure if you knew that so just thought I would pass it on. Love your website and your reviews are awesome!
- July 29, 2011 at 7:50 PM


text:
Ireland Population: 4,952,4735,054 VISITORS FROM HERE!
« Previous Country | Next Country » Back to Flag Counter Overview
|Celtic tribes arrived on the island between 600 and 150 B.C. Invasions by Norsemen that began in the late 8th century were finally ended when King Brian BORU defeated the Danes in 1014. Norman invasions began in the 12th century and set off more than seven centuries of Anglo-Irish struggle marked by fierce rebellions and harsh repressions. The Irish famine of the mid-19th century saw the population of the island drop by one third through starvation and emigration. For more than a century after that the population of the island continued to fall only to begin growing again in the 1960s. Over the last 50 years, Ireland's high birthrate has made it demographically one of the youngest populations in the EU. The modern Irish state traces its origins to the failed 1916 Easter Monday Uprising that touched off several years of guerrilla warfare resulting in independence from the UK in 1921 for 26 southern counties; six northern (Ulster) counties remained part of the UK. Unresolved issues in Northern Ireland erupted into years of violence known as the "Troubles" that began in the 1960s. The Government of Ireland was part of a process along with the UK and US Governments that helped broker what is known as The Good Friday Agreement in Northern Ireland in 1998. This initiated a new phase of cooperation between the Irish and British Governments. Ireland was neutral in World War II and continues its policy of military neutrality. Ireland joined the European Community in 1973 and the euro-zone currency union in 1999. The economic boom years of the Celtic Tiger (1995-2007) saw rapid economic growth, which came to an abrupt end in 2008 with the meltdown of the Irish banking system. Today the economy is recovering, fueled by large and growing foreign direct investment, especially from US multi-nationals.
Strategic location on major air and sea routes between North America and northern Europe; over 40% of the population resides within 100 km of Dublin
|Western Europe, occupying five-sixths of the island of Ireland in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Great Britain
|Geographic coordinates:
| total: 70,273 sq km
land: 68,883 sq km
water: 1,390 sq km
Size comparison: slightly larger than West Virginia
|Land Boundaries:
|total: 443 km border countries (1): UK 443 km
|1,448 km
|Maritime claims:
|territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
|temperate maritime; modified by North Atlantic Current; mild winters, cool summers; consistently humid; overcast about half the time
|mostly flat to rolling interior plain surrounded by rugged hills and low mountains; sea cliffs on west coast
|Elevation extremes:
|Natural resources:
|natural gas, peat, copper, lead, zinc, silver, barite, gypsum, limestone, dolomite
|Land use:
| agricultural land: 66.1% arable land 15.4%; permanent crops 0%; permanent pasture 50.7% forest: 10.9%
other: 23% (2011 est.)
|Irrigated land:
|0 sq km (2012)
|Natural hazards:
|Current Environment Issues:
|water pollution, especially of lakes, from agricultural runoff
|International Environment Agreements:
| party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Marine Life Conservation
|^Back to Top
| noun: Irishman(men), Irishwoman(women), Irish (collective plural)
adjective: Irish
|Ethnic groups:
|Irish 84.5%, other white 9.8%, Asian 1.9%, black 1.4%, mixed and other 0.9%, unspecified 1.6% (2011 est.)
|English (official, the language generally used), Irish (Gaelic or Gaeilge) (official, spoken by approximately 38.7% of the population as a first or second language in 2011; mainly spoken in areas along the western coast)
|Roman Catholic 84.7%, Church of Ireland 2.7%, other Christian 2.7%, Muslim 1.1%, other 1.7%, unspecified 1.5%, none 5.7% (2011 est.)
|4,952,473 (July 2016 est.)
|Age structure:
| 0-14 years: 21.51% (male 544,506/female 520,934)
15-24 years: 11.8% (male 297,025/female 287,512)
25-54 years: 43.52% (male 1,082,577/female 1,072,721)
55-64 years: 10.33% (male 256,353/female 255,155)
65 years and over: 12.84% (male 293,577/female 342,113) (2016 est.)
|Dependency ratios:
| total dependency ratio: 53.7%
youth dependency ratio: 33.5%
elderly dependency ratio: 20.2%
potential support ratio: 5% (2015 est.)
|Median age:
| total: 36.4 years
male: 36.1 years
female: 36.8 years (2016 est.)
|Population growth rate:
|1.2% (2016 est.)
|Birth rate:
|14.5 births/1,000 population (2016 est.)
|Death rate:
|6.5 deaths/1,000 population (2016 est.)
|Net migration rate:
|4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2016 est.)
| urban population: 63.2% of total population (2015)
rate of urbanization: 1.58% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
|Major urban areas - population:
|DUBLIN (capital) 1.169 million (2015)
|Sex ratio:
| at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2016 est.)
|Mother's mean age at first birth:
|29.9 (2012 est.)
|Maternal mortality rate:
|8 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)
|Infant mortality rate:
| total: 3.7 deaths/1,000 live births male: 4 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2016 est.)
|Life expectancy at birth:
| total population: 80.8 years male: 78.5 years
female: 83.2 years (2016 est.)
|Total fertility rate:
|1.98 children born/woman (2016 est.)
|Contraceptive prevalence rate:
|64.8% note: percent of women aged 18-49 (2004/05)
|Health expenditures:
|7.8% of GDP (2014)
|Physicians density:
|2.67 physicians/1,000 population (2013)
|Hospital bed density:
|2.9 beds/1,000 population (2011)
|Drinking water source:
| improved:
urban: 97.9% of population
rural: 97.8% of population
total: 97.9% of population
urban: 2.1% of population
rural: 2.2% of population
total: 2.1% of population (2015 est.)
|Sanitation facility access:
| improved:
urban: 89.1% of population
rural: 92.9% of population
total: 90.5% of population
urban: 10.9% of population
rural: 7.1% of population
total: 9.5% of population (2015 est.)
|HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
|0.28% (2014 est.)
|HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
|8,000 (2014 est.)
|HIV/AIDS - deaths:
|100 (2014 est.)
|Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
|27% (2014)
|Education expenditures:
|5.3% of GDP (2013)
|School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
| total: 19 years male: 19 years
female: 19 years (2012)
|Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
| total: 23.9% male: 26.6%
female: 20.9% (2014 est.)
|^Back to Top
|Country name:
| conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Ireland
local long form: none
local short form: Eire
etymology: the modern Irish name "Eire" evolved from the Gaelic "Eriu," the name of the matron goddess of Ireland (goddess of the land); the names "Ireland" in English and "Eire" in Irish are direct translations of each other
|Government type:
|parliamentary republic
| name: Dublin
geographic coordinates: 53 19 N, 6 14 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
|Administrative divisions:
|28 counties and 3 cities*; Carlow, Cavan, Clare, Cork, Cork*, Donegal, Dublin*, Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown, Fingal, Galway, Galway*, Kerry, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Leitrim, Limerick, Longford, Louth, Mayo , Meath, Monaghan, Offaly, Roscommon, Sligo, South Dublin, Tipperary, Waterford, Westmeath, Wexford, Wicklow
|6 December 1921 (from the UK by treaty)
|National holiday:
|Saint Patrick's Day, 17 March
|history: previous 1922; latest drafted 14 June 1937, adopted by plebiscite 1 July 1937, effective 29 December 1937 amendments: proposed as bills in Parliament; passage requires majority vote by both the Senate and House of Representatives, majority vote in a referendum, and presidental signature; amended many times, last in 2015 (2016)
|Legal system:
|common law system based on the English model but substantially modified by customary law; judicial review of legislative acts by Supreme Court
|18 years of age; universal
|Executive branch:
| chief of state: President Michael D. HIGGINS (since 11 November 2011)
head of government: Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Enda KENNY (since 9 March 2011); reelected prime minister on 6 May 2016
cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the prime minister, appointed by the president, approved by the Dali Eireann (lower house of Parliament) elections/appointments: president directly elected by majority popular vote for a 7-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 29 October 2011 (next to be held in October 2018); taoiseach (prime minister) nominated by the House of Representatives (Dail Eireann), appointed by the president
election results: Michael D. HIGGINS elected president; percent of vote - Michael D. HIGGINS (Labor Party) 39.6%, Sean GALLAGHER (independent) 28.5%, Martin MCGUINNESS (Sinn Fein) 13.7%, Gay MITCHELL (Fine Gael) 6.4%, David NORRIS (independent) 6.2%, other 5.6%
|Legislative branch:
| description: bicameral Parliament or Oireachtas consists of the Senate or Seanad Eireann (60 seats; 43 members indirectly elected by panels of various vocational interests, 11 appointed by the prime minister, and 6 elected by graduates of the University of Dublin and the National University of Ireland; members serve 5-year terms) and the House of Representatives or Dail Eireann (158 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote; members serve 5-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held in April and May 2016 (next to be held no later than 2021); House of Representatives - last held on 26 February 2016 (next to be held no later than 2021)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Fine Gael 19, Fianna Fail 14, Sinn Fein 7, Labor Party 5, Sinn Fein 3, Green Party 1, independent 14; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - Fine Gael 25.5%, Fianna Fail 24.4%, Sinn Fein 13.8%, Labor Party 6.6%, AAA-PBD 4.0%, Social Democrats 3.0%, Green Party 2.7%, Renua Ireland 2.2% independents 17.8%; seats by party - Fine Gael 50, Fianna Fail 44, Sinn Fein 23, Labor Party 7, AAA-PBP 6, Social Democrats 3, Green Party 2, independent 23
|Judicial branch:
| highest court(s): Supreme Court of Ireland (consists of the chief justice, 9 judges, 2 ex-officio members - the presidents of the High Court and Court of Appeal - and organized in 3-, 5-, or 7-judge panels, depending on the importance or complexity of an issue of law) judge selection and term of office: judges nominated by the prime minister and Cabinet and appointed by the president; chief justice serves in the position for 7 years; judges can serve until age 70
subordinate courts: High Court, Court of Appeal; circuit and district courts; criminal courts
|Political parties and leaders:
|Anti-Austerity Alliance-People Before Profit or AAA-PBP [collective leadership] Fianna Fail [Micheal MARTIN] Fine Gael [Enda KENNY] Green Party [Eamon RYAN] Labor (Labour) Party [Brendan HOWLIN] Renua Ireland [John LEAHY] Sinn Fein [Gerry ADAMS] Social Democratic Party [Stephen DONNELLY, Catherine MURPHY, Roisin SHORTALL] Socialist Party [collective leadership] The Workers' Party [Michael DONNELLY]
|Political pressure groups and leaders:
|Continuity IRA (terrorist group) Families Acting for Innocent Relatives or FAIR [Brian MCCONNELL] (seek compensation for victims of violence) Iona Institute [David QUINN] (a conservative Catholic think tank) Irish Anti-War Movement [Richard BOYD BARRETT] (campaigns against wars around the world) Keep Ireland Open (environmental group) Oglaigh na hEireann (terrorist group) Midland Railway Action Group or MRAG [Willie ALLEN] (transportation promoters) New Irish Republican Army (terrorist group combining elements of the former Real IRA and Republican Action Against Drugs) Peace and Neutrality Alliance [Roger COLE] (campaigns to protect Irish neutrality) Rail Users Ireland (formerly the Platform 11 - transportation promoters) 32 Country Sovereignty Movement or 32CSM (supports unifying Northern Ireland with the rest of the island under Irish government sovereignty)
|International organization participation:
|ADB (nonregional member), Australia Group, BIS, CD, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD (partners), IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINURSO, MONUSCO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNOCI, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
|National symbol(s):
|harp, shamrock (trefoil); national colors: blue, green
|National anthem:
| name: "Amhran na bhFiann" (The Soldier's Song)
lyrics/music: Peadar KEARNEY [English], Liam O RINN [Irish]/Patrick HEENEY and Peadar KEARNEY
note: adopted 1926; instead of "Amhran na bhFiann," the song "Ireland's Call" is often used at athletic events where citizens of Ireland and Northern Ireland compete as a unified team
|Diplomatic representation in the US:
| chief of mission: Ambassador Anne Colette ANDERSON (since 28 August 2013)
chancery: 2234 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 462-3939
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Austin (TX), Boston, Chicago, New York, San Francisco
|Diplomatic representation from the US:
| chief of mission: Ambassador Kevin F. O'MALLEY (since 8 October 2014)
embassy: 42 Elgin Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [353] (1) 668-8777
|^Back to Top
Ireland is a small, modern, trade-dependent economy. Ireland was among the initial group of 12 EU nations that began circulating the euro on 1 January 2002. GDP growth averaged 6% in 1995-2007, but economic activity dropped sharply during the world financial crisis and the subsequent collapse of its domestic property market and construction industry. Faced with sharply reduced revenues and a burgeoning budget deficit from efforts to stabilize its fragile banking sector, the Irish Government introduced the first in a series of draconian budgets in 2009. These measures were not sufficient to stabilize Ireland's public finances. In 2010, the budget deficit reached 32.4% of GDP - the world's largest deficit, as a percentage of GDP. In late 2010, the former COWEN government agreed to a $92 billion loan package from the EU and IMF to help Dublin recapitalize Ireland's banking sector and avoid defaulting on its sovereign debt. In March 2011, the KENNY government intensified austerity measures to meet the deficit targets under Ireland's EU-IMF bailout program. In late 2013, Ireland formally exited its EU-IMF bailout program, benefiting from its strict adherence to deficit-reduction targets and success in refinancing a large amount of banking-related debt. In 2014, the economy rapidly picked up and GDP grew by 5.2%. The recovering economy assisted lowering the deficit to 2.5% of GDP. In late 2014, the government introduced a fiscally neutral budget, marking the end of the austerity program. Continued growth of tax receipts has allowed the government to lower some taxes and increase public spending while keeping to its deficit-reduction targets. In 2015, GDP growth reached 7.8%, the highest growth in the EU for the second consecutive year. In the wake of the collapse of the construction sector and the downturn in consumer spending and business investment, the export sector, dominated by foreign multinationals, has become an even more important component of Ireland's economy. Ireland's low corporation tax of 12.5% and a talented pool of high-tech laborers have been key factors in encouraging business investment. Loose tax residency requirements made Ireland a common destination for international firms seeking to avoid taxation. Amid growing international pressure, the government announced it would phase in more stringent tax laws, effectively closing a loophole.
|GDP (purchasing power parity):
| GDP (purchasing power parity): $324.3 billion (2016 est.) $309 billion (2015 est.) $244.7 billion (2014 est.)
note: data are in 2016 dollars
|GDP (official exchange rate):
|GDP (official exchange rate): $307.9 billion (2015 est.)
|GDP - real growth rate:
|4.9% (2016 est.) 26.3% (2015 est.) 8.5% (2014 est.)
|GDP - per capita (PPP):
| GDP - per capita (PPP): $69,400 (2016 est.) $66,700 (2015 est.) $53,100 (2014 est.)
note: data are in 2016 dollars
|Gross national saving:
|31.9% of GDP (2016 est.) 31.9% of GDP (2015 est.) 23.6% of GDP (2014 est.)
|GDP - composition, by end use:
| household consumption: 36.7%
government consumption: 10.8%
investment in fixed capital: 20.4%
investment in inventories: 0.6%
exports of goods and services: 124.1%
imports of goods and services: -92.6% (2016 est.)
|GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
| household consumption: 36.7%
government consumption: 10.8%
investment in fixed capital: 20.4%
investment in inventories: 0.6%
exports of goods and services: 124.1%
imports of goods and services: -92.6% (2016 est.)
|Agriculture - products:
|barley, potatoes, wheat; beef, dairy products
|pharmaceuticals, chemicals, computer hardware and software, food products, beverages and brewing; medical devices
|Industrial production growth rate:
|1.2% (2016 est.)
|Labor force:
|2.181 million (2016 est.)
|Labor force - by occupation:
| agriculture: 5%
industry: 11%
services: 84% (2015 est.)
|Unemployment rate:
|8% (2016 est.) 9.5% (2015 est.)
|Population below poverty line:
|8.2% (2013 est.)
|Household income or consumption by percentage share:
| lowest 10%: 2.9%
highest 10%: 27.2% (2000)
|Distribution of family income - Gini index:
|31.3 (2013 est.) 35.9 (1987 est.)
| revenues: $78.47 billion
expenditures: $80.86 billion (2016 est.)
|Taxes and other revenues:
|25.5% of GDP (2016 est.)
|Public debt:
| 77.9% of GDP (2016 est.) 78.7% of GDP (2015 est.)
note: data cover general government debt and include debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities, as well as int
|Fiscal year:
|calendar year
|Inflation rate (consumer prices):
|Inflation rate (consumer prices): 0.2% (2016 est.) 0% (2015 est.)
|Current account balance:
|$29.11 billion (2016 est.) $29.02 billion (2015 est.)
|$160.1 billion (2016 est.) $160.9 billion (2015 est.)
|Exports - commodities:
|machinery and equipment, computers, chemicals, medical devices, pharmaceuticals; foodstuffs, animal products
|Exports - partners:
|US 23.7%, UK 13.8%, Belgium 13.2%, Germany 6.6%, Switzerland 5.5%, Netherlands 4.4%, France 4.4% (2015)
|$88.01 billion (2016 est.) $87.79 billion (2015 est.)
|Imports - commodities:
|data processing equipment, other machinery and equipment, chemicals, petroleum and petroleum products, textiles, clothing
|Imports - partners:
|UK 32.5%, US 14%, France 10.2%, Germany 9.3%, Netherlands 4.9%, China 4.1% (2015)
|Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
|$2.203 billion (31 December 2015 est.) $1.748 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
|Debt - external:
|$2.47 trillion (31 March 2016 est.) $2.35 trillion (31 March 2015 est.)
|Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
|$1.057 trillion (31 December 2016 est.) $963.4 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
|Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
|$1.435 trillion (31 December 2016 est.) $1.321 trillion (31 December 2015 est.)
|Market value of publicly traded shares:
|$128 billion (31 December 2015 est.) $143.5 billion (31 December 2014 est.) $170.1 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
|Exchange rates:
|euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.9214 (2016 est.) 0.885 (2015 est.) 0.885 (2014 est.) 0.7634 (2013 est.) 0.78 (2012 est.)
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|Electricity - production:
|25 billion kWh (2014 est.)
|Electricity - consumption:
|25 billion kWh (2014 est.)
|Electricity - exports:
|700 million kWh (2014 est.)
|Electricity - imports:
|2.9 billion kWh (2014 est.)
|Electricity - installed generating capacity:
|9.1 million kW (2014 est.)
|Electricity - from fossil fuels:
|72.3% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)
|Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
|0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)
|Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
|2.7% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)
|Electricity - from other renewable sources:
|25% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)
|Crude oil - production:
|0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
|Crude oil - exports:
|0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
|Crude oil - imports:
|74,690 bbl/day (2015 est.)
|Crude oil - proved reserves:
|0 bbl (1 January 2016 es)
|Refined petroleum products - production:
|68,050 bbl/day (2015 est.)
|Refined petroleum products - consumption:
|147,800 bbl/day (2015 est.)
|Refined petroleum products - exports:
|34,200 bbl/day (2015 est.)
|Refined petroleum products - imports:
|115,000 bbl/day (2015 est.)
|Natural gas - production:
|152 million cu m (2014 est.)
|Natural gas - consumption:
|4.387 billion cu m (2014 est.)
|Natural gas - exports:
|0 cu m (2014 est.)
|Natural gas - imports:
|4.246 billion cu m (2014 est.)
|Natural gas - proved reserves:
|9.911 billion cu m (1 January 2016 es)
|Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
|34 million Mt (2013 est.)
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|Cellular Phones in use:
|total: 4.902 million subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 100 (July 2015 est.)
|Telephone system:
| general assessment: modern digital system using cable and microwave radio relay
domestic: system privatized but dominated by former state monopoly operator; increasing levels of broadband access particularly in urban areas
international: country code - 353; landing point for the Hibernia-Atlantic submarine cable with links to the US, Canada, and UK; satellite earth stations - 81 (2014)
|Broadcast media:
|publicly owned broadcaster Radio Telefis Eireann (RTE) operates 2 TV stations; commercial TV stations are available; about 75% of households utilize multi-channel satellite and TV services that provide access to a wide range of stations; RTE operates 4 na (2014)
|Internet country code:
|Internet users:
|total: 3.92 million percent of population: 80.1% (July 2015 est.)
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|40 (2013)
|Airports (paved runways):
| total 16
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 5 (2013)
|Airports (unpaved runways):
| total 24
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 21 (2013)
|gas 2,147 km (2013)
| total 3,237 km
broad gauge: 1,872 km 1.600-m gauge (49 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 1,365 km 0.914-m gauge (operated by the Irish Peat Board to transport peat to power stations and briquetting plants) (2014)
| total 96,036 km
paved: 96,036 km (includes 1,224 km of expressways) (2014)
|956 km (pleasure craft only) (2010)
|Merchant marine:
| total 31
by type: cargo 28, chemical tanker 2, container 1
foreign-owned: 5 (France 2, Spain 1, US 2)
registered in other countries: 33 (Bahamas 3, Bermuda 1, Cambodia 1, Cyprus 3, Isle of Man 1, Kazakhstan 1, Malta 4, Marshall Islands 6, Netherlands 8, Panama 1, Russia 1, Slovakia 1, Sweden 1, UK 1) (2010)
|Ports and terminals:
| major seaport(s): Dublin, Shannon Foynes
river port(s): Cork (Lee), Waterford (Suir) container port(s) (TEUs): Dublin (1,931,001)
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|Military branches:
|Irish Defence Forces (Oglaigh na h-Eireannn), Permanent Defence Forces (PDF): Army, Naval Service, Air Corps; Reserve Defence Forces (RDF): Army, Naval Service Reserves (2014)
|Military service age and obligation:
|18-25 years of age for male and female voluntary military service recruits to the Permanent Defence Forces (PDF; 18-27 years of age for the Naval Service); 18-28 for cadetship (officer) applicants; 18-35 years of age for the Reserve Defence Forces (RDF); maximum obligation 12 years (PDF officers), 5 years (PDF enlisted), 3 years RDF (4 years for Naval Service Reserves); EU citizenship, refugee status, or 5-year residence in Ireland required (2014)
|Military expenditures:
|0.49% of GDP (2014) 0.51% of GDP (2013) 0.55% of GDP (2012) 0.59% of GDP (2011) 0.55% of GDP (2010)
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|Transnational Issues
|Disputes - International:
|Ireland, Iceland, and the UK dispute Denmark's claim that the Faroe Islands' continental shelf extends beyond 200 nm
|Refugees and internally displaced persons:
stateless persons: 99 (2015)
|Illicit drugs:
|transshipment point for and consumer of hashish from North Africa to the UK and Netherlands and of European-produced synthetic drugs; increasing consumption of South American cocaine; minor transshipment point for heroin and cocaine destined for Western Europe; despite recent legislation, narcotics-related money laundering - using bureaux de change, trusts, and shell companies involving the offshore financial community - remains a concern
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« Previous Country | Next Country » Back to Flag Counter Overview
Source: CIA - The World Factbook

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Spain Population: 48,563,47627 VISITORS FROM HERE!
« Previous Country | Next Country » Back to Flag Counter Overview
|Spain's powerful world empire of the 16th and 17th centuries ultimately yielded command of the seas to England. Subsequent failure to embrace the mercantile and industrial revolutions caused the country to fall behind Britain, France, and Germany in economic and political power. Spain remained neutral in World War I and II but suffered through a devastating civil war (1936-39). A peaceful transition to democracy following the death of dictator Francisco FRANCO in 1975, and rapid economic modernization (Spain joined the EU in 1986) gave Spain a dynamic and rapidly growing economy and made it a global champion of freedom and human rights. More recently the government has focused on measures to reverse a severe economic recession that began in mid-2008. Austerity measures implemented to reduce a large budget deficit and reassure foreign investors have led to one of the highest unemployment rates in Europe. Spain assumed a nonpermanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2015-16 term.
Strategic location along approaches to Strait of Gibraltar; Spain controls a number of territories in northern Morocco including the enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla, and the islands of Penon de Velez de la Gomera, Penon de Alhucemas, and Islas Chafarinas
|Southwestern Europe, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, North Atlantic Ocean, Bay of Biscay, and Pyrenees Mountains; southwest of France
|Geographic coordinates:
| total: 505,370 sq km
land: 498,980 sq km
water: 6,390 sq km
note: there are two autonomous cities - Ceuta and Melilla - and 17 autonomous communities including Balearic Islands and Canary Islands, and three small Spanish possessions off the coast of Morocco - Islas Chafarinas, Penon de Alhucemas, and Penon de Velez de la Gomera
Size comparison: almost five times the size of Kentucky; slightly more than twice the size of Oregon
|Land Boundaries:
|total: 1,952.7 km border countries (5): Andorra 63 km, France 646 km, Gibraltar 1.2 km, Portugal 1,224 km, Morocco (Ceuta) 8 km, Morocco (Melilla) 10.5 km note: an additional 75-meter border segment exists between Morocco and the Spanish exclave of Penon de Velez de la Gomera
|4,964 km
|Maritime claims:
| territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm (applies only to the Atlantic Ocean)
|temperate; clear, hot summers in interior, more moderate and cloudy along coast; cloudy, cold winters in interior, partly cloudy and cool along coast
|large, flat to dissected plateau surrounded by rugged hills; Pyrenees Mountains in north
|Elevation extremes:
|Natural resources:
|coal, lignite, iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, uranium, tungsten, mercury, pyrites, magnesite, fluorspar, gypsum, sepiolite, kaolin, potash, hydropower, arable land
|Land use:
| agricultural land: 54.1% arable land 24.9%; permanent crops 9.1%; permanent pasture 20.1% forest: 36.8%
other: 9.1% (2011 est.)
|Irrigated land:
|38,000 sq km (2012)
|Natural hazards:
|periodic droughts, occasional flooding volcanism: volcanic activity in the Canary Islands, located off Africa's northwest coast; Teide (elev. 3,715 m) has been deemed a Decade Volcano by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, worthy of study due to its explosive history and close proximity to human populations; La Palma (elev. 2,426 m), which last erupted in 1971, is the most active of the Canary Islands volcanoes; Lanzarote is the only other historically active volcano
|Current Environment Issues:
|pollution of the Mediterranean Sea from raw sewage and effluents from the offshore production of oil and gas; water quality and quantity nationwide; air pollution; deforestation; desertification
|International Environment Agreements:
| party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants
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| noun: Spaniard(s)
adjective: Spanish
|Ethnic groups:
|composite of Mediterranean and Nordic types
|Castilian Spanish (official nationwide) 74%, Catalan (official in Catalonia, the Balearic Islands, and the Valencian Community (where it is known as Valencian)) 17%, Galician (official in Galicia) 7%, Basque (official in the Basque Country and in the Basque-speaking area of Navarre) 2%, Aranese (official in the northwest corner of Catalonia (Vall d'Aran) along with Catalan; note: Aragonese, Aranese Asturian, Basque, Calo, Catalan, Galician, and Valencian are recognized as regional languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages
|Roman Catholic 94%, other 6%
|48,563,476 (July 2016 est.)
|Age structure:
| 0-14 years: 15.43% (male 3,854,687/female 3,638,288)
15-24 years: 9.56% (male 2,400,188/female 2,243,311)
25-54 years: 45.24% (male 11,200,786/female 10,771,652)
55-64 years: 11.91% (male 2,820,933/female 2,963,050)
65 years and over: 17.85% (male 3,700,832/female 4,969,749) (2016 est.)
|Dependency ratios:
| total dependency ratio: 50.8%
youth dependency ratio: 22.4%
elderly dependency ratio: 28.3%
potential support ratio: 3.5% (2015 est.)
|Median age:
| total: 42.3 years
male: 41.2 years
female: 43.6 years (2016 est.)
|Population growth rate:
|0.84% (2016 est.)
|Birth rate:
|9.4 births/1,000 population (2016 est.)
|Death rate:
|9.1 deaths/1,000 population (2016 est.)
|Net migration rate:
|8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2016 est.)
| urban population: 79.6% of total population (2015)
rate of urbanization: 0.52% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
|Major urban areas - population:
|MADRID (capital) 6.199 million; Barcelona 5.258 million; Valencia 810,000 (2015)
|Sex ratio:
| at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2016 est.)
|Mother's mean age at first birth:
|29.8 (2010 est.)
|Maternal mortality rate:
|5 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)
|Infant mortality rate:
| total: 3.3 deaths/1,000 live births male: 3.6 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 2.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2016 est.)
|Life expectancy at birth:
| total population: 81.7 years male: 78.7 years
female: 84.9 years (2016 est.)
|Total fertility rate:
|1.49 children born/woman (2016 est.)
|Contraceptive prevalence rate:
|65.7% (2006)
|Health expenditures:
|9% of GDP (2014)
|Physicians density:
|4.95 physicians/1,000 population (2013)
|Hospital bed density:
|3.1 beds/1,000 population (2011)
|Drinking water source:
| improved:
urban: 100% of population
rural: 100% of population
total: 100% of population
urban: 0% of population
rural: 0% of population
total: 0% of population (2015 est.)
|Sanitation facility access:
| improved:
urban: 99.8% of population
rural: 100% of population
total: 99.9% of population
urban: 0.2% of population
rural: 0% of population
total: 0.1% of population (2015 est.)
|HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
|0.39% (2015 est.)
|HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
|148,900 (2015 est.)
|HIV/AIDS - deaths:
|1,200 (2015 est.)
|Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
|26.5% (2014)
|Education expenditures:
|4.3% of GDP (2013)
| definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98.1%
male: 98.7%
female: 97.5% (2015 est.)
|School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
| total: 18 years male: 17 years
female: 18 years (2014)
|Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
| total: 53.2% male: 53.4%
female: 52.9% (2014 est.)
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|Country name:
| conventional long form: Kingdom of Spain
conventional short form: Spain
local long form: Reino de Espana
local short form: Espana
etymology: derivation of the name "Espana" is uncertain, but may come from the Phoenician term "span," related to the word "spy," meaning "to forge metals," so, "i-spn-ya" would mean "place where metals are forged"; the ancient Phoenicians long exploited the Iberian Peninsula for its mineral wealth
|Government type:
|parliamentary constitutional monarchy
| name: Madrid
geographic coordinates: 40 24 N, 3 41 W
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
note: Spain has two time zones including the Canary Islands
|Administrative divisions:
| 17 semi-autonomous communities (comunidades autonomas, singular - comunidad autonoma) and 2 autonomous cities* (ciudades autonomas, singular - ciudad autonoma); Andalucia; Aragon; Asturias; Canarias (Canary Islands); Cantabria; Castilla-La Mancha; Castilla-Leon; Cataluna (Castilian), Catalunya (Catalan), Catalonha (Aranese) [Catalonia]; Ceuta*; Comunidad Valenciana (Castilian), Comunitat Valenciana (Valencian) [Valencian Community]; Extremadura; Galicia; Illes Baleares (Balearic Islands); La Rioja; Madrid; Melilla*; Murcia; Navarra (Castilian), Nafarroa (Basque) [Navarre]; Pais Vasco (Castilian), Euskadi (Basque) [Basque Country]
note: the autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla plus three small islands of Islas Chafarinas, Penon de Alhucemas, and Penon de Velez de la Gomera, administered directly by the Spanish central government, are all along the coast of Morocco and are collectively referred to as Places of Sovereignty (Plazas de Soberania)
|1492; the Iberian peninsula was characterized by a variety of independent kingdoms prior to the Muslim occupation that began in the early 8th century A.D. and lasted nearly seven centuries; the small Christian redoubts of the north began the reconquest almost immediately, culminating in the seizure of Granada in 1492; this event completed the unification of several kingdoms and is traditionally considered the forging of present-day Spain
|National holiday:
|National Day, 12 October (1492); year when Columbus first set foot in the Americas
|history: previous 1812; latest approved by the General Courts 31 October 1978, passed by referendum 6 December 1978, signed by the king 27 December 1978, effective 29 December 1978 amendments: proposed by the government, by the General Courts (the Congress or the Senate), or by the self-governing communities submitted through the government; passage requires three-fifths majority vote by both houses and passage by referendum if required by one-tenth of the members of either house within 15 days of passage; proposals disapproved by both houses are submitted to a joint committee, which submits an agreed upon text for another vote; passage requires two-thirds vote in Congress and simple majority vote in the Senate; amended 1992, 2007, 2011 (2016)
|Legal system:
|civil law system with regional variations
|18 years of age; universal
|Executive branch:
| chief of state: King FELIPE VI (since 19 June 2014); Heir Apparent Princess LEONOR, Princess of Asturias, daughter of the monarch, born 31 October 2005
head of government: President of the Government or Acting Prime Minister Mariano RAJOY (since 20 December 2011); Vice President (and Minister of the President's Office) Soraya SAENZ DE SANTAMARIA (since 22 December 2011)
cabinet: Council of Ministers designated by the president elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; following legislative elections, the monarch usually proposes the leader of the party or coalition with the largest majority of seats as president, who is then indirectly elected by the Congress of Deputies; election last held on 20 December 2015; vice president and Council of Ministers appointed by the president; note - because no party received a majority of the votes in both houses, and because the leaders of the parties with the most votes were unable to form a coalition to form a majority, new elections were held on 26 June 2016
election results: percent of National Assembly vote - NA
note: there is also a Council of State that is the supreme consultative organ of the government, but its recommendations are non-binding
|Legislative branch:
| description: bicameral General Courts or Las Cortes Generales consists of the Senate or Senado (266 seats as of 2013; 208 members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 58 appointed by the regional legislatures; members serve 4-year terms) and the Congress of Deputies or Congreso de los Diputados (350 seats; 348 members directly elected in 50 multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote and 2 directly elected from the North African Ceuta and Melilla enclaves by simple majority vote; members serve 4-year terms or until the government is dissolved)
elections: Senate - last held on 26 June 2016 (next to be held 26 June 2016); Congress of Deputies - last held on 20 December 2015 (next to be held no later than 26 June 2020); note - the four main parties were unable to form a government so a second election was held six months later
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PP 151, PSOE 63, Podemos 23, ERC 12, EAJ/PNV 6, CDC 4, other 7; Congress of Deputies - percent of vote by party - PP 33.0%, PSOE 22.7%, Podemos 21.1%, C's 13.0%, ERC-CatSi 2.6%, CDC 2.0%, EAJ/PNV 1.2%, other 4.4%; seats by party - PP 137, PSOE 85, Podemos 71, C's 32, ERC-CatSi 9, CDC 8, EAJ/PNV 5, other 3
|Judicial branch:
| highest court(s): Supreme Court or Tribunal Supremo (consists of the court president and organized into the Civil Room with a president and 9 judges, the Penal Room with a president and 14 judges, the Administrative Room with a president and 32 judges, the Social Room with a president and 12 judges, and the Military Room with a president and 7 judges); Constitutional Court or Tribunal Constitucional de Espana (consists of 12 judges) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges appointed by the monarch from candidates proposed by the General Council of the Judiciary Power, a 20-member governing board chaired by the monarch that includes presidential appointees, and lawyers and jurists confirmed by the National Assembly; judges can serve until age 70; Constitutional Court judges nominated by the National Assembly, executive branch, and the General Council of the Judiciary, and appointed by the monarch for 9-year terms
subordinate courts: National High Court; High Courts of Justice (in each of the autonomous communities); provincial courts; courts of first instance
|Political parties and leaders:
|Amaiur [Xabier ERREKONDO] (a separatist political coalition that advocates Basque independence from Spain) Asturias Forum or FAC [Cristina COTO] Basque Country Unite (Euskal Herria Bildu) or EH Bildu [Pello URIZAR] (coalition of 4 Basque pro-independence parties) Basque Nationalist Party or PNV or EAJ [Andoni ORTUZAR] Canarian Coalition or CC [Claudina MORALES Rodriguez] (coalition of five parties) Canarian Nationalist Party or PNC [Juan Manuel GARCIA Ramos] Catalan Agreement of Progress (Entesa Catalonia de Progress) or ECP [Carles BONET i Reves] (Senate coalition of Catalan parties - PSC, ERC, ICV, EUA) Change or Cambio-Aldaketa Ciudadamos Party or C's [Albert RIVERA] Democracy and Freedom or DiL [Francesc HOMS Molist] (2015 merger of Cemocratic Convergence of Catalonia or CDC, Democrats of Catalonia, Reagrupament) Democratic Union of Catalonia or UDC [Josep Maria PELEGRIA] Galician Nationalist Bloc or BNG [Ana PONTON Mondelo] Gomera Socialist Group or ASG Initiative for Catalonia Greens or ICV [Joan HERRERA i Torres and Dolors CAMATS] Podemos [Pablo IGLESIAS Turrion] Popular Party or PP [Mariano RAJOY Brey] Republican Left of Catalonia or ERC [Oriol JUNQUERAS i Vies] Spanish Socialist Workers Party or PSOE [interim leader Javier FERNANDEZ] Union of People of Navarra or UPN [Javier ESPARZA] Union, Progress and Democracy or UPyD [Gorka MAEIRO] United Left or IU [Alberto GARZON] (a coalition of parties including the Communist Party of Spain or PCE and other small parties; ran as Popular Unity or UP in 2015 election) Yes to the Future or Geroa Bai [Koldo MARTINEZ] (a coalition of four Navarran parties)
|Political pressure groups and leaders:
|Association for Victims of Terrorism or AVT (grassroots organization devoted primarily to supporting victims of the Basque Fatherland and Liberty (ETA) terrorist organization) Catholic Church Socialist General Union of Workers or UGT (includes the smaller independent Workers Syndical Union or USO) Trade Union Confederation of Workers' Commissions or CC.OO. Spanish Confederation of Employers' Organizations or CEOE other: business and landowning interests; free labor unions (authorized in April 1977); university students
|International organization participation:
|ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Arctic Council (observer), Australia Group, BCIE, BIS, CAN (observer), CBSS (observer), CD, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EITI (implementing country), EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAIA (observer), MIGA, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club, PCA, PIF (partner), Schengen Convention, SELEC (observer), SICA (observer), UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, Union Latina, UNOCI, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
|National symbol(s):
|Pillars of Hercules; national colors: red, yellow
|National anthem:
| name: "Himno Nacional Espanol" (National Anthem of Spain)
lyrics/music: no lyrics/unknown
note: officially in use between 1770 and 1931, restored in 1939; the Spanish anthem is the first anthem to be officially adopted, but it has no lyrics; in the years prior to 1931 it became known as "Marcha Real" (The Royal March); it first appeared in a 1761 military bugle call book and was replaced by "Himno de Riego" in the years between 1931 and 1939; the long version of the anthem is used for the king, while the short version is used for the prince, prime minister, and occasions such as sporting events
|Diplomatic representation in the US:
| chief of mission: Ambassador Ramon GIL-CASARES Satrustegui (since 5 June 2012)
chancery: 2375 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037
telephone: [1] (202) 452-0100, 728-2340
consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico) consulate(s): Kansas City (MO)
|Diplomatic representation from the US:
| chief of mission: Ambassador James COSTOS (since 24 September 2013); note - also accredited to Andorra
embassy: Serrano 75, 28006 Madrid
mailing address: PSC 61, APO AE 09642
telephone: [34] (91) 587-2200
consulate(s) general: Barcelona
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After experiencing a prolonged recession in the wake of the global financial crisis that began in 2008, in 2014 Spain marked the first full year of positive economic growth in seven years, largely due to increased private consumption. At the onset of the financial crisis, Spain's GDP contracted by 3.7% in 2009, ending a 16-year growth trend, and continued contracting through most of 2013. In 2013, the government successfully shored up struggling banks - exposed to the collapse of Spain's depressed real estate and construction sectors - and in January 2014 completed an EU-funded restructuring and recapitalization program. Until 2014, credit contraction in the private sector, fiscal austerity, and high unemployment weighed on domestic consumption and investment. The unemployment rate rose from a low of about 8% in 2007 to more than 26% in 2013, but labor reforms prompted a modest reduction to 22% in 2015. High unemployment strained Spain's public finances, as spending on social benefits increased while tax revenues fell. Spain's budget deficit peaked at 11.4% of GDP in 2010, but Spain gradually reduced the deficit to just under 7% of GDP in 2013-14, and 4.7% of GDP in 2015. Public debt has increased substantially – from 60.1% of GDP in 2010 to nearly 101% in 2015. Exports were resilient throughout the economic downturn and helped to bring Spain's current account into surplus in 2013 for the first time since 1986, where it remained in 2014-15. Rising labor productivity and an internal devaluation resulting from moderating labor costs and lower inflation have helped to improve foreign investor interest in the economy and positive FDI flows have been restored. The government's efforts to implement labor, pension, healthcare, tax, and education reforms - aimed at supporting investor sentiment - have become overshadowed by political activity in 2015 in anticipation of the national parliamentary elections in December. The European Commission criticized Spain's 2016 budget for its easing of austerity measures and its alleged overly optimistic growth and deficit projections. Spain's borrowing costs are dramatically lower since their peak in mid-2012, and despite the recent uptick in economic activity, inflation has dropped sharply, from 1.5% in 2013 to a negative 0.6% in 2015.
|GDP (purchasing power parity):
| GDP (purchasing power parity): $1.69 trillion (2016 est.) $1.64 trillion (2015 est.) $1.589 trillion (2014 est.)
note: data are in 2016 dollars
|GDP (official exchange rate):
|GDP (official exchange rate): $1.252 trillion (2015 est.)
|GDP - real growth rate:
|3.1% (2016 est.) 3.2% (2015 est.) 1.4% (2014 est.)
|GDP - per capita (PPP):
| GDP - per capita (PPP): $36,500 (2016 est.) $35,300 (2015 est.) $34,200 (2014 est.)
note: data are in 2016 dollars
|Gross national saving:
|22.9% of GDP (2016 est.) 22.1% of GDP (2015 est.) 20.8% of GDP (2014 est.)
|GDP - composition, by end use:
| household consumption: 57.2%
government consumption: 19%
investment in fixed capital: 20.8%
investment in inventories: 0.1%
exports of goods and services: 32.2%
imports of goods and services: -29.3% (2016 est.)
|GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
| household consumption: 57.2%
government consumption: 19%
investment in fixed capital: 20.8%
investment in inventories: 0.1%
exports of goods and services: 32.2%
imports of goods and services: -29.3% (2016 est.)
|Agriculture - products:
|grain, vegetables, olives, wine grapes, sugar beets, citrus; beef, pork, poultry, dairy products; fish
|textiles and apparel (including footwear), food and beverages, metals and metal manufactures, chemicals, shipbuilding, automobiles, machine tools, tourism, clay and refractory products, footwear, pharmaceuticals, medical equipment
|Industrial production growth rate:
|2% (2016 est.)
|Labor force:
|22.89 million (2016 est.)
|Labor force - by occupation:
| agriculture: 4.2%
industry: 24%
services: 71.7% (2009 est.)
|Unemployment rate:
|19.7% (2016 est.) 22.1% (2015 est.)
|Population below poverty line:
|21.1% (2012 est.)
|Household income or consumption by percentage share:
| lowest 10%: 2.5%
highest 10%: 24% (2011)
|Distribution of family income - Gini index:
|35.9 (2012) 32 (2005)
| revenues: $461.3 billion
expenditures: $512.9 billion (2016 est.)
|Taxes and other revenues:
|36.8% of GDP (2016 est.)
|Public debt:
|99.6% of GDP (2016 est.) 99.2% of GDP (2015 est.)
|Fiscal year:
|calendar year
|Inflation rate (consumer prices):
|Inflation rate (consumer prices): -0.3% (2016 est.) -0.6% (2015 est.)
|Current account balance:
|$24.29 billion (2016 est.) $16.7 billion (2015 est.)
|$266.3 billion (2016 est.) $277.9 billion (2015 est.)
|Exports - commodities:
|machinery, motor vehicles; foodstuffs, pharmaceuticals, medicines, other consumer goods
|Exports - partners:
|France 15.7%, Germany 11%, Italy 7.4%, UK 7.4%, Portugal 7.1%, US 4.5% (2015)
|$287.9 billion (2016 est.) $302.6 billion (2015 est.)
|Imports - commodities:
|machinery and equipment, fuels, chemicals, semi-finished goods, foodstuffs, consumer goods, measuring and medical control instruments
|Imports - partners:
|Germany 14.4%, France 11.7%, China 7.1%, Italy 6.5%, Netherlands 5%, UK 4.9% (2015)
|Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
|$53.97 billion (31 December 2015 est.) $50.35 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
|Debt - external:
|$2.094 trillion (31 March 2016 est.) $1.963 trillion (31 March 2015 est.)
|Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
|$781.4 billion (31 December 2016 est.) $758.7 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
|Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
|$770.3 billion (31 December 2016 est.) $720.6 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
|Market value of publicly traded shares:
|$787.2 billion (31 December 2015 est.) $992.9 billion (31 December 2014 est.) $1.117 trillion (31 December 2013 est.)
|Exchange rates:
|euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.9214 (2016 est.) 0.885 (2015 est.) 0.7525 (2014 est.) 0.7634 (2013 est.) 0.7752 (2012 est.)
|^Back to Top
|Electricity - production:
|264 billion kWh (2014 est.)
|Electricity - consumption:
|234 billion kWh (2014 est.)
|Electricity - exports:
|16 billion kWh (2014 est.)
|Electricity - imports:
|12 billion kWh (2014 est.)
|Electricity - installed generating capacity:
|102.3 million kW (2014 est.)
|Electricity - from fossil fuels:
|43% of total installed capacity (2014 est.)
|Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
|7.7% of total installed capacity (2014 est.)
|Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
|19.6% of total installed capacity (2014 est.)
|Electricity - from other renewable sources:
|30% of total installed capacity (2014 est.)
|Crude oil - production:
|4,652 bbl/day (2015 est.)
|Crude oil - exports:
|54,230 bbl/day (2015 est.)
|Crude oil - imports:
|1.349 million bbl/day (2015 est.)
|Crude oil - proved reserves:
|150 million bbl (1 January 2016 es)
|Refined petroleum products - production:
|1.352 million bbl/day (2015 est.)
|Refined petroleum products - consumption:
|1.241 million bbl/day (2015 est.)
|Refined petroleum products - exports:
|416,000 bbl/day (2015 est.)
|Refined petroleum products - imports:
|302,900 bbl/day (2015 est.)
|Natural gas - production:
|24 million cu m (2014 est.)
|Natural gas - consumption:
|27.23 billion cu m (2014 est.)
|Natural gas - exports:
|8.219 billion cu m (2014 est.)
|Natural gas - imports:
|36.38 billion cu m (2014 est.)
|Natural gas - proved reserves:
|2.548 billion cu m (1 January 2016 es)
|Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
|276 million Mt (2013 est.)
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|Cellular Phones in use:
|total: 50.926 million subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 106 (July 2015 est.)
|Telephone system:
| general assessment: well-developed, modern facilities
domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity exceeds 145 telephones per 100 persons
international: country code - 34; submarine cables provide connectivity to Europe, Middle East, Asia, and US; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), NA Eutelsat; tropospheric scatter to adjacent countries (2015)
|Broadcast media:
|a mixture of both publicly operated and privately owned TV and radio stations; overall, hundreds of TV channels are available including national, regional, local, public, and international channels; satellite and cable TV systems available; multiple natio (2008)
|Internet country code:
|Internet users:
|total: 37.886 million percent of population: 78.7% (July 2015 est.)
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|150 (2013)
|Airports (paved runways):
| total 99
over 3,047 m: 18
2,438 to 3,047 m: 14
1,524 to 2,437 m: 19
914 to 1,523 m: 24
under 914 m: 24 (2013)
|Airports (unpaved runways):
| total 51
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 13
under 914 m: 36 (2013)
|10 (2013)
|gas 10,481 km; oil 616 km; refined products 3,461 km (2013)
| total: 16,101.5 km broad gauge: 11,873 km 1.668-m gauge (6,488 km electrified) standard gauge: 2,312 km 1.435-m gauge (2,312 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 1,884.9 km 1.000-m gauge (807 km electrified); 28 km 0.914-m gauge (28 km electrified); 3.6 km 0.600-m gauge (2014)
| total 683,175 km
paved: 683,175 km (includes 16,205 km of expressways) (2011)
|1,000 km (2012)
|Merchant marine:
| total 132
by type: bulk carrier 7, cargo 19, chemical tanker 8, container 5, liquefied gas 12, passenger/cargo 43, petroleum tanker 18, refrigerated cargo 4, roll on/roll off 9, vehicle carrier 7
foreign-owned: 27 (Canada 4, Germany 4, Italy 1, Mexico 1, Norway 10, Russia 6, Switzerland 1)
registered in other countries: 103 (Angola 1, Argentina 3, Bahamas 6, Brazil 12, Cabo Verde 1, Cyprus 6, Ireland 1, Malta 8, Morocco 9, Panama 30, Peru 1, Portugal 18, Uruguay 5, Venezuela 1, unknown 1) (2010)
|Ports and terminals:
|major seaport(s): Algeciras, Barcelona, Bilbao, Cartagena, Huelva, Tarragona, Valencia (all in Spain); Las Palmas, Santa Cruz de Tenerife (in the Canary Islands) container port(s) (TEUs): Algeciras (3,608,301), Barcelona (2,033,747), Valencia (4,327,371); Las Palmas (1,287,389) LNG terminal(s) (import): Barcelona, Bilbao, Cartagena, Huelva, Mugardos, Sagunto
|^Back to Top
|Military branches:
|Spanish Armed Forces: Army (Ejercito de Tierra), Spanish Navy (Armada Espanola, AE; includes Marine Corps), Spanish Air Force (Ejercito del Aire Espanola, EdA) (2013)
|Military service age and obligation:
|18-26 years of age for voluntary military service by a Spanish citizen or legal immigrant, 2-3 year obligation; women allowed to serve in all SAF branches, including combat units; no conscription, but Spanish Government retains right to mobilize citizens 19-25 years of age in a national emergency; mandatory retirement of non-NCO enlisted personnel at age 45 or 58, depending on service length (2013)
|Military expenditures:
|0.86% of GDP (2012) 0.95% of GDP (2011) 0.86% of GDP (2010)
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|Transnational Issues
|Disputes - International:
|in 2002, Gibraltar residents voted overwhelmingly by referendum to reject any "shared sovereignty" arrangement; the Government of Gibraltar insists on equal participation in talks between the UK and Spain; Spain disapproves of UK plans to grant Gibraltar greater autonomy; Morocco protests Spain's control over the coastal enclaves of Ceuta, Melilla, and the islands of Penon de Velez de la Gomera, Penon de Alhucemas, and Islas Chafarinas, and surrounding waters; both countries claim Isla Perejil (Leila Island); Morocco serves as the primary launching site of illegal migration into Spain from North Africa; Portugal does not recognize Spanish sovereignty over the territory of Olivenza based on a difference of interpretation of the 1815 Congress of Vienna and the 1801 Treaty of Badajoz
|Refugees and internally displaced persons:
stateless persons: 440 (2015) note: 14,661 estimated refugee and migrant arrivals (2015 - September 2016)
|Illicit drugs:
|despite rigorous law enforcement efforts, North African, Latin American, Galician, and other European traffickers take advantage of Spain's long coastline to land large shipments of cocaine and hashish for distribution to the European market; consumer for Latin American cocaine and North African hashish; destination and minor transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin; money-laundering site for Colombian narcotics trafficking organizations and organized crime
|^Back to Top
« Previous Country | Next Country » Back to Flag Counter Overview
Source: CIA - The World Factbook


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Julius Genachowski isn't the only member of the Federal Communications Commission who is leaving the FCC. Commissioner Robert McDowell also announced his departure a couple of days ago after serving since 2006. The Republican McDowell and Democrat Genachowski found common ground on numerous issues and praised each other on their way out, but the two were also at loggerheads in some high-profile cases.
The biggest in McDowell's mind was the net neutrality debate, the commissioner told Ars on Friday. The FCC in 2010 approved net neutrality rules that prevented Internet service providers from blocking lawful traffic and banning discrimination against competitive services running over the ISP's networks.
Wireless providers were exempt from the rules, angering many consumer advocates. McDowell, though, didn't want neutrality rules at all, and he said that net neutrality was the biggest failure under Genachowski.
"I just think it was needlessly disruptive and a diversion of FCC resources. But it remains to be seen what the courts think of it," McDowell said.
He elaborated:
First of all, I've been a strong advocate for a free and open Internet. What I opposed really focused on, first of all, there is no market failure that needed to be addressed. Second, the FCC did not have the statutory authority to do what it did. Third, if there had been a problem there were laws already on the books that would have addressed the problem.
There wasn't a problem before the rules and there's not a problem with any danger of a closed Internet in this country after the rules. For those who think the rules have preserved an open Internet, that's sort of like a rooster taking credit for the sunrise.
When asked if net neutrality has caused any harm to businesses, McDowell said it's not clear yet. There's been no obvious harm, he said, because the FCC hasn't yet taken any enforcement actions against companies for violating the rules. However, he said capital expenditures in broadband have remained flat even as the economy grew slightly between 2010 and 2011. It's too early to tell if that is in any way connected to net neutrality affecting wired service but not wireless.
"Spending has always gone up unless there is an economic downturn, and between 2010 and 2011 there was no economic downturn, there was slow economic growth," McDowell said.
He argued increases in network efficiency wouldn't explain the slow spending, because networks are always getting more efficient. "There's a shift to expenditures into the wireless space and one could argue that's natural progression, and it probably is," McDowell said. "But did that come at the expense of deploying fiber because fiber is subject to the net neutrality rules while wireless is not? We don't know the answer to that, those are questions I'd like to have answered."
The FCC's biggest success
As for the FCC's biggest success under Genachowski, McDowell pointed to the 2011 reform of the Universal Service Fund. He called this "the first federal entitlement reform since the 1996 Welfare Reform Act was passed by the Republican Congress and signed by Bill Clinton."
The reform involved changing a fund designed to subsidize rural phone companies. "We eliminated duplicate subsidies for more than one company serving the same area," McDowell said. "And we introduced competitive market incentives such as reverse auctions for the awarding of some of the subsidies. And then most importantly, we repurposed it to support broadband."
McDowell acknowledged that Genachowski probably wouldn't cite the fund's reform as his greatest achievement, yet Genachowski worked across party lines to get it done in a 3-1 vote.
"Julius worked hard, relentlessly to find consensus," McDowell said. "He took a risk in trying to make that happen. There were a lot of constituencies that have interests in the universal service program and it was fraught with political peril. He had the courage and the perseverance to make it happen."
Many of Genachowski's critics from the more liberal side of the aisle criticize him for being too conciliatory to corporate interests, favoring industry over consumers as we noted in our story Friday. But Genachowski gets criticism from multiple angles. TechFreedom, a conservative tech policy think tank, said "With the support of the equally personable Republican Rob McDowell, Genachowski's legacy could have been progress on a range of issues where broad consensus exists, like eliminating the regulatory barriers that slow down broadband deployment."
In TechFreedom's view, that didn't happen. The organization blasted the net neutrality decision and said Genachowski should have cleared more spectrum for mobile broadband providers.
However, McDowell praised Genachowski for being "a gentleman to work with. He was able to get past our disagreements quickly and move on to the next issue. And that's how it should be." And in a statement about McDowell's departure, Genachowski returned the compliments. "Rob McDowell has been an extraordinary colleague—deeply knowledgeable about the vital and growing communications and tech sector, creative, wise, and a great partner on the Commission. ... I'm proud that Rob is both a colleague and a friend."
The future of the FCC, according to McDowell
More than 90 percent of Commission votes have been unanimous, McDowell said. Besides net neutrality, cases where McDowell dissented include the FCC's wireless data roaming rules, a decision forcing Comcast to carry the Tennis Channel, and the closing of a "terrestrial loophole" that kept HD content off FiOS.
"The vast majority of what we do is unanimous," McDowell said, although he expressed hope that the FCC will place fewer restrictions on mergers in the future. Under Genachowski, the FCC blocked the AT&T/T-Mobile acquisition and placed conditions on others.
"I think some of the merger conditions that were forced upon companies had nothing to do with the merger," McDowell said. "I look at it as 'what merger-specific harms are coming about' and our conditions should be narrowly tailored and perhaps sunsetted to address those harms. For instance, the Comcast/NBCUniversal merger had a lot of conditions in there that were not related at all to the transaction. But others, we just saw T-Mobile/MetroPCS a few days ago, that one had a minimal amount of conditions and was handled well."
One thing the next commissioner has to oversee is an auction to repurpose TV broadcast spectrum. That spectrum could be sold to wireless carriers for exclusive use, and some of it could go to unlicensed users to improve technologies like White Spaces. McDowell thinks the FCC will be able to appease both the carriers and White Spaces technology proponents.
"I've been a strong proponent of unlicensed use of spectrum, especially the unused TV White Spaces," he said. "But I think the statute really compels us to auction what we harvest from the broadcasters, unless there is some technical reason to not do so. The short answer is that means there will still be plenty of leftover spectrum for White Spaces use. There will still be these gaps for unlicensed use. I think it could be a win-win scenario, I don't think its a zero sum game that licensed wins, unlicensed loses, which is how some people are trying to paint it."
President Obama will have to nominate replacements for both Genachowski and McDowell. The first quality that the replacements should have, McDowell said, is "a deep and detailed understanding of the issues that the FCC will face, substantive expertise first and foremost." Second, he hopes the replacements will be "patient" with the fast-moving marketplace, and let it run on its own instead of imposing extensive regulations.
"None of us can predict the future when it comes to innovation," he said. "The last thing you want is making a rule which freezes in place the status quo, which will likely change rapidly. Sometimes regulators succumb to the temptation of thinking they are smarter than the marketplace or thinking that a nudge from government will produce a better outcome than the market would have delivered on its own without interference."
McDowell, the lobbyist?
What's next for McDowell? It won't be lobbying the FCC, at least not right away. "I can go work pretty much anywhere but there are rules barring your contact or advocacy with the FCC," he said. "There is a two-year outright ban on advocacy, and other Obama administration restrictions on lobbying."
Former Republican FCC Chairman Michael Powell is now CEO of the National Cable & Telecommunications Association. Given McDowell's political views and experience, a similar lobbying job could be in his future, but he said that he has not yet decided what he'd like to do.
"I honestly do not know," he said. "There's not a job I'm gunning for. I'm starting with a blank sheet of paper."


text:
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Founded in 1521 Spiegelau is one of the oldest and most famous European manufacturers of fine crystal located in the small town of Spiegelau in the heart of the Bavarian Forest. Being one of the most picturesque parts of Germany this area has in recent times become as much a centre of tourism as well as a traditional center of glassmaking. Today the Spiegelau brand has become synonymous with quality stemware especially among the worlds leading sommeliers and wine connoisseurs.
Dimensions of the Spiegelau Festival Burgundy Glasses:
Height: 8-3/7" Capacity: 22-4/7 oz
Collections: Pinot / Burgundy Wine Glasses, Spiegelau Festival Glasses


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Vivienne Westwood Watch VV152CHSL
We Price Match!Seen it cheaper?
Vivienne Westwood VV152CHSL is an incredible trendy Ladies watch. Case is made out of Stainless Steel and the Black dial gives the watch that unique look. This model has got 30 metres water resistancy - it can be worn in scenarios where it is likely to be splashed but not immersed in water. It can be worn while washing your hands and will be fine in rain. The watch is shipped with an original box and a guarantee from the manufacturer.
This watch is supplied with:
- check Official Vivienne Westwood presentation box
- check Official Vivienne Westwood guarantee
- check Instruction manual (where applicable)
This product can be shipped to:
- UK (United Kingdom)
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Should you find any item not to your liking, simply return the unwanted item(s) to us using the enclosed returns form and your purchase will be refunded in full. We assure you of a smooth, easy, and zero hassle returns procedure if you change your mind for any reason. Please note that earrings and other items of body jewellery cannot be returned for refund as unwanted items in the interests of hygiene. Currently, refunds are processed in an average of 2 days after receipt (Live statistic)
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Punk fashion designer Vivienne Westwood has been making waves in the fashion world since the 1970s. Today, the icon's collection continues to make a statement, and is complemented with a watch range that proudly celebrates the brand's cult roots. The collection includes wrist wear for men and women, with both elegant and understated pieces sitting alongside edgy and head-turning statement watches. Women can choose from a range of metallic and leather straps in shades from deepest black to soft cream - and everything in between. The iconic orb charm adds a sentimental touch to the design, making these watches unmistakeably Vivienne Westwood. Men's timepieces feature bold, futuristic designs, alongside iconography synonymous with the classic punk rock movement. From dramatic, chunky cuffs to delicate and elegant watches, a Vivienne Westwood watch is a must for anyone who adores fashion's finest designers. Explore the full collection to find your favourite piece here.
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All Items > Knives > Out-The-Front Automatics > Double Action > AKC Concord OTF
AKC Concord Polish/Black OTF Automatic Knife - Dagger Satin Plain
- Overall Length:8.00"
- Blade Length:3.25"
- Blade Thickness:0.09"
- Blade Style:Dagger
- Finish:Satin
- Edge Type:Plain
- Handle Length:4.75"
- Handle Thickness:0.61"
- Handle Material:Aluminum
- Color:Black
- Weight:3.15 oz.
- Knife Type:Double-Action OTF Automatic
- Opener:Thumb Slide
- Brand:AKC
- Model:Concord
- Country of Origin:Italy
- Blade Material:Stainless Steel
- Best Use:Everyday Carry
- Product Type:Knife
The AKC Concord is a stylish out-the-front knife with fast automatic action. This model has a polished aluminum handle with black inserts and a satin finished dagger blade. The blade rockets out by sliding the front-mounted firing button forward. It's a double-action mechanism, just pull the button back and the blade safely retracts. It's that simple. The AKC Concord OTF is a slick, enjoyable knife that provides fidgety folks an entertaining outlet.
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Trove: hidden treasures
10 October, 2010 at 12:33 pm 1 comment
Preparing for a class this week I had another look at Trove. Trove is an initiative of the National Library of Australia, designed to "provide a single point of access to the resources of the deep web", focused on Australia and Australians. Trove's byline is "one search … a wealth of information".
Trove itself was first released in May 2009 however some parts of the collections have been available for years, perhaps under other titles. Now they are brought together under a single search. Some are the results of digitisation projects undertaken by the National Library of Australia (perhaps in conjunction with others), but others are links into other collections (such as Open Library or Google Books).
You can log in to the site, in order to personalise the way you search and results found. You can create and save your own lists of useful items, list libraries you are affiliated with, tag or comment (on books, photographs,etc), correct electronically generated newspaper text – and more.
A recent survey showed that about half the users of Trove are family historians (equal to all the other categories combined). There is good reason for that – Trove provides access to information invaluable to family historians who want more than just names and dates.
The Australian newspaper digitisation project has been underway since 2007, making available newspapers published in Australia from 1803 to 1954, covering a range of titles from every state and territory. Now this collection is accessed via Trove. Family historians can search for articles about a family name of interest, or the first reports of a new settlement, ships' passengers named on their arrival – or anything else you can think of. Searches can be narrowed by location, date, publication, article category – or even whether or not the article is illustrated.
Newspapers often reported on distant events, if those stories were deemed likely to be of interest to readers. In "The Canberra Times" of 1946 I found an article reporting on a fire at the home of my grandparents in the northern suburbs of Sydney. (A reminder not to be too hasty to narrow the location of the search.)
The "Pictures and photos" collection within Trove includes even more than the Picture Australia collection. Family historians might search for an ancestor by name or a historic photograph of the town where they lived, or even photos of an event witnessed by a family member.
The "Books, journals, magazines, articles" collection provides access to the full text of some books (those held in collections like Project Gutenberg and Open Library). In addition users can search by subject or title for a book, and then find out which libraries in Australia hold that book. Such books can then be ordered by inter-library loan to the user's local library – often even when the holding library is not itself a lending library.
"Archived websites" provides access to the Pandora collection, in which the National Library has been archiving Australian websites since 1996 – thus perhaps providing access even to pages no longer on the web. (I found a 2001 obituary of an ancestor published in an architecture magazine.) (If you don't find the page you want in Pandora, also have a look at The Wayback machine.)
Other headings on the Trove gateway provide access to "Diaries, letters, Archives", Maps, "Music, sound and video" and "About people and organisations".
This is indeed a treasure trove of information, easily and freely available to anyone prepared to look.
Entry filed under: Archives, Newspapers, Photographs, Research techniques. Tags: archived websites, books, diaries, digitised, libraries, maps, music, National Library of Australia, Newspapers, pictures, Trove.
1 Comment Add your own
Welcome to the Geneabloggers family. Hope you find the association fruitful; I sure do. I have found it most stimulating, especially some of the Daily Themes.
May you keep sharing your ancestor stories!
Dr. Bill 😉
Author of "Back to the Homeplace"
and "13 Ways to Tell Your Ancestor Stories"
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