the Austin rodeo scheduled to start March 14 or the MotoGP Formula One race April 5. This weekend, they also pointed out, the University of Texas at Austin men and women’s basketball teams were still scheduled to play their final games of the season.

Adler on Saturday said Austin officials were evaluating whether other events in the city should go forward, including unofficial SXSW events. He said public health officials would issue guidance about ways to mitigate the risk of spreading the coronavirus, such as added hand sanitizers and decreased capacity.

But, he said, “the goal is not to have the same people who were coming to South By go to other events.”

SXSW coincides with spring break for UT Austin and other schools, and some Austinites questioned why the cityfoot and horseback. Past midnight, the strip of bars was still crowded with couples, tourists, bachelorettes in veils and students in orange UT sweatshirts.

The crowd reaffirmed Angela Tharp’s determination to see the music portion of SXSW continue this year. Standing outside the 29-year-old bar she owns, Flamingo Cantina, she dismissed coronavirus fears as “hysteria.” She was running a special on Corona beer as a joke.

“People are still going to go out. I mean, look at the street now,” she said, gesturing to the stream of passersby.

She headed inside, where several dozen people were nodding along with the lead singer of Los Kurados, a reggae/ska band. Tharp was gearing up. She had other bands booked, a private party to plan for and an ice machine to buy.

“The people are


told through a timeline of its projects.

Project Chanology - Though the name refers to its beginnings on 4chan, Project Chanology is widely recognized as Anonymous's first major coordinated effort and targeted the Church of Scientology. Anonymous declared war on the Church of Scientology after they attempted to remove a potentially condemning video of Scientologist Tom Cruise from the internet in 2008. Though that war took many forms--prank calls, black faxes, denial-of-service attacks--it all started with this YouTube video:

The statement in the video shows off the activist beginnings Anonymous: "For the good of your followers, for the good of mankind--for the laughs--we shall expel you from the Internet and systematically dismantle the Church of Scientology in its present form."

YouTube Porn Day - After the long fought battle with theChurch of Scientology and a few othersmaller projects, members of Anonymous teamed up with eBaum's World users to declare YouTube Porn Day on May 20, 2009. The protest itself, as the name sort of suggests, involved countless people uploading porn to YouTube to annoy the moderators who would then have to remove the videos. It took YouTubedays to remove all of the videos. The group repeated the action in 2010 "in protest of YouTube's decision to suspend the account of Lukeywes1234," an otherwise typical user whose account was suspended for abuse language:

Operation Payback - Anonymous did some work around the 2009 Iran election protests and Australian internet policy, but they gained global notoriety as activists--or more appropriately, "hacktivists"--for their support for WikiLeaks. Although the project started in September


group, and their internet relay chat (IRC) networkremains a central hub for activity amongst various hacker group. They also maintain a Twitter accountwith updates.

Operation Leakspin - Anonymous conceived of Leakspin in December 2010 as a way to help WikiLeaks sort through data. Unlike Operation Payback, which was bent on destruction, Leakspin focused on exposing information for the public good, and the effort still survives across a number of websites.

*Attack on HB Gary - Although not mentioned in the chart, this event marks an important turning point for Anonymous. After Aaron Barr, chief executive of the internet security firm HBGary, announced that he would reveal the inner workings of Anonymous at a conference in February 2010, the group brought down their website and phones, erased files and pulled over68,000 emails from their database. Within those documents was a PowerPoint presentation called "The WikiLeaks Threat" which HBGary compiled for Bank of America in order identify and potentially disrupt the activities of journalists who supported the movement, including Glenn Greenwald.

Operation Sony - Sony filed a lawsuit against George Hotz, a hacker who reverse engineered the Sony Playstation 3, in January 2011. In response, Anonymous announced that they would attack Sony's website in early April 2011. Three weeks later, the entire Playstation network was brought down, and Sony was unable to restore the network for weeks. Anonymous cheekily denied responsibility for the attack, although Sony reports having discovered a document named "Anonymous" on their servers that read "We Are Legion."

Operations Tunisia, Algeria and Egypt - During the Arab Spring,


June 2011 but not before they announced a new project that reunited LulzSec members with the leaders of Anonymous. This hacktivism project began with a major release of documents from law enforcement officers in Arizona.

Web Ninjas, TeaMp0isoN, The A-Team and th3j35st3r ("The Jester") - These mostly small and less organized groups all launched attacks on LulzSec at some point in time. The attacks are disparate and kind of hard to track as the groups are also loosely organized. TeaMp0soiN launched this attack in late June 2011 and seem like they have a lot of members. The Jester, however, works alone.returned home after a short time, for reasons that Bede does not specify. He was followed in turn by Trumhere and Jaruman.

Wulfhere, another son of Penda, continued to base his rule over Mercia among the Middle Angles, with the royal centre at Tamworth. In 669, after the death of Jaruman, he requested that the archbishop of Canterbury send a new bishop. This was Chad, brother of Cedd. According to Bede, Chad was designated "bishop of the Mercians and Lindsey people". In this case there is no doubt that the Middle Angles are subsumed into the category of the Mercians. The ecclesiastical centre for the entire vast region was established in Middle Angle territory, for Wulfhere donated land a short distance away from Tamworth, at Lichfield, to allow Chad


18 F.Supp. 746 (1937)
In re KEEGAN.
District Court, S. D. New York.
March 5, 1937.
*747 Fox & Wintner, of New York City (Robert J. Fox, of New York City, Harvey D. Jacob, of Washington, D. C., and Robert P. Schur, of New York City, of counsel), for petitioner.
Lamar Hardy, U. S. Atty., of New York City (Jay Slonim, Asst. U. S. Atty., of New York City, of counsel), for respondent.
PATTERSON, District Judge.
A summons was served on Keegan, requiring him to appear before one Kunkel, an internal revenue agent, and testify as to the matter of the tax liability of a company by the name of Compania Navira Nacional. In issuing the summons the revenue officers assumed to be acting under authority of section 618 of the Revenue Act of 1928an order to compel Keegan to testify. By section 617(a) of the 1928 Act (26 U.S.C.A. § 1523), the District Court may compel a person to attend and testify in obedience to such a summons. Kunkel's petition showed the matters already stated. It also alleged that the inquiry concerned the tax liability of several others, in addition to Compania Navira Nacional, from 1916 to 1933, and that Keegan's firm had had financial dealings with several of the taxpayers under investigation. On the petition the court on January 20, 1937, issued an ex parte order directing Keegan to appear and give testimony in the matter of the tax liability of the named taxpayers. Keegan then made a motion to vacate the order. The moving papers state his belief that


all the taxpayers concerned have paid all taxes truly owed by them, that the time for assessing taxes against them has expired, and that the order requiring him to testify is contrary to the Fourth Amendment. Keegan also stated in an affidavit in support of his motion that prior to the service of the summons three internal revenue agents had visited him frequently at his office, had asked him numerous questions which he had answered, and had asked for firm records which he had produced. It is further shown that a matter of assessment of tax against one of the taxpayers, Interocean Oil Company, for 1917-1921 is now pending before the Board of Tax Appeals.
The papers submitted in opposition indicate that the inquiry as to tax liability isV. Stiviano. Made the previous fall, the tape captured Sterling lambasting Stiviano for posting on social media a photo of her with a black basketball player and instructing her not to bring African Americans to Clippers games. Reaction was immediate and intense. Superstar LeBron James denounced the owner and his comments, stating emphatically that "there is no room for Donald Sterling in our league" and demanding that NBA commissioner Adam Silver "make a stand." Other players echoed James and the Clippers coaches, and players threatened to boycott upcoming games, while sponsors terminated agreements with the team and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People rescinded its plans to give Sterling a second lifetime achievement award. Sports media raged, pundits offered blistering critiques, and even President Obama


refused to run ads by an organization critical of the team name. Silencing dissent is, of course, in these stations' best interest. To do otherwise threatens to alienate the team and the NFL more generally as well as their audience. The stations have glossed this as an effort to promote balanced discourse, guided by principles of fairness meant to protect their audience and open discussion of the issue. For its part, the NFL has opted to muzzle critics as well. It refused to run a commercial about the team name produced by the National Congress of American Indians during the 2014 Super Bowl. It justified this decision by pointing to a long-standing prohibition of activist ads. Subsequent new coverage of the rejection ensured many Americans watched the spot;the 'Redskins' Lie."

19. Faleomavaega, "Ignorance Is Bliss."

20. Garcia-Vargas, "Redskins Say."

21. Cook, "Stupid Americans."

22. Shakely, "Problem with the 'R' Word?"

23. Faleomavaega, "Ignorance Is Bliss."

24. Bryant, "Battle over Nickname Continues."

25. Zirin, "You Can't Unsee It."

26. Moya-Smith, "Mea Culpa."

27. Saunt, "This Land Is Their Land."

###### 5. Sentiment

1. "ESPN's Mike Ditka on Redskins' Name Debate." After this initial statement, Ditka clarified his position slightly. See Cahill, "Mike Ditka."

2. Lovely, "Redskins."

3. Steinberg, "Dan Snyder Bought."

4. Steinberg, "Matthew McConaughey and the Redskins." See also Steinberg, "Matthew McConaughey Tells Larry Michael."

5. D. Snyder, "Letter from Washington Redskins Owner."

6. Geoghegan, "Washington Redskins."

7. Tomasky, "Dan Snyder's Trail."

8. Quoted in "NFL Commissioner Tells Congress."

9. "Daniel Snyder Defends the 'Redskins.'"

10. L. Smith, "Redskins' Nickname Honors Indian Warriors."

11. "Theismann: 'Skins Name Is Meaningful."

12. Cox, "Redskins Protesters Gearing Up."

13. Steinberg, "Redskins


supplied to the terminal work face of the outer circumferential land of the said shift spool. The main pressure acting on the terminal work face of the outer land initiates the shifting of the shift spool from initial first position to alternate second position and the high-speed friction engaging means are actuated. The shift spool is urged by a spring against the opposite acting main pressure into the initial first position and after the main pressure disappears, the shift spool returns by action of a spring to the initial first position and the low-speed friction engaging means are in this way actuated.
The main pressure acting on the terminal work face of the outer land of the shift spool is delivered through a signal pressure conduit from a knownBy Thomas Nicolon

MBANDAKA, Congo (Reuters) - Once a month, Mohamed Esimbo Matongu leaves his home in the western Congolese city of Mbandaka and hunts for wild animals.

Though he works for a government agency, he says he needs the income from selling most of what he kills to provide for his family. But bushmeat hunters like him are emptying Central Africa's forests at a high rate, researchers say.

"When I was a teenager, I had to travel no more than 10 km (6 miles) upriver to find animals. But now I have to go as far as 40 km to come across a decent hunting ground," said 61-year-old Matongu.

When he goes hunting, he rents a dugout canoe and a couple of paddles, and packs a homemade rifle, a dozen cartridges


and enough kwanga, a traditional bread made from cassava, to last a few days.

He stays in a cabin on a tributary of the Congo river and roams the forest day and night in search of whatever quarry he can find, including monkeys, forest antelopes, crocodiles, pythons and river hogs.

Until the 1990s, hunters like Matongu killed for personal consumption, but growing appetite for wild meat in cities has ramped up the scale of hunting.

The impact on wildlife numbers is clear, according to locals and researchers.

Research shows around 6 million tonnes of bushmeat are sourced annually from the Congo Basin, whose forest spans across six countries and is second in size only to the Amazon.

"Our surveys show that animals from many species are disappearing around villages," said Michel Bakanza, whoof the world's poorest countries can override concerns about the animals.

"Hunting some species is prohibited, I know that, but it allows me to pay my university fees and provide for my family,” he said.

After a few days hunting in the forest, Matongu sells most of what he killed - making from 5,000 to 100,000 Congolese francs (around $7 to $60) – and keeps just enough meat for his family for a couple of days.

His catch goes to Mbandaka's markets, where thousands congregate every Friday to buy bushmeat from incoming barges.

Stands are filled with trussed crocodiles and monitor lizards, as well as freshly killed monkeys, antelopes and other species.

For a photo essay: https://reut.rs/2nisNoE

(The photographer of this story was part of the 2018 Reuters photojournalism grant program)

(Reporting by Thomas Nicolon,


Study finds 94% of unaffiliated Russian American Jews who took part in programming married co-religionists – and the program is growing.

The mass emigration of Russian Jewry has brought great blessing to the State of Israel, with roughly a million Jews having been added to its population. Had the Russian doors remain closed, it is likely that most of them would have been lost to the Jewish Nation forever.

Similarly, some 750,000 Russian Jews now reside in the United States. Having been exposed to little or no Judaism, what prevents them from now unidentifiably assimilating into the melting pot of American society in place of that of Russia?

The answer, to a significant extent, is RAJE - Russian American Jewish Experience. A study by the RINA Institute in New York hasfound that over the past eight years, 11% of all Russian American Jews aged 18-30 in the New York area completed the RAJE Fellowship program/Israel trip, and that it has had a major impact on intermarriage rates and involvement in Jewish life.

The RAJE semester-long program consists of 250 hours of high-level Jewish educational programming, featuring a two-week trip to Israel, ten sessions (4.5 hours long each), two weekend retreats, and additional social activities.

The RINA study – carried out by an independent research and analytical center founded by Russian immigrants – came up with the following remarkably encouraging statistics: A full 94% of those who got married since taking part in the RAJE program married a Jewish spouse – a significantly higher percentage than the entire American Jewish population.


More than half of them met their spouse at the RAJE program; those who did not, made sure to meet their Jewish spouses elsewhere…

31% of the graduates continued on for a second semester – and another 19% took a third semester. In addition, more than 80% of the nearly 80% who gave charity in the past 12 months, gave to a Jewish organization.

Hundreds of Russian Jews have completed the program in New York and Philadelphia in each of the last several years. A pilot program has been launched in Toronto, and plans are underway to open RAJE programming in Chicago and Baltimore.Monthly haemoptysis in a woman with platelet storage pool disease.
A 26-year-old female with known platelet storage pool disease presented with a short history of recurrent haemoptysis. Initial investigations were unhelpful until the cyclical nature of the symptoms became apparent prompting the unusual diagnosis of pulmonary endometriosis to be made. This was subsequently confirmed on premenstrual CT scanning. The introduction of a specific hormonal therapy and multidisciplinary input was ultimately successful.


man who conquered mt everest faces social boycott in his own village

New Delhi: In a shocking incident, a 30 year old man Rahul Yelange, who was part of the team that successfully climbed Mount Everest in May 2012, was boycotted by elders of his own Budruk village falling in Raigadh district of Maharashtra.

In March 2014, Rahul and his wife Pournima returned to their village and started dairy farming and imparting mountaineering skills to young boys and girls. The village women used to taunt Pournima as she wore jeans instead of sari and did not wear the traditional mangalsutra or put bindi on her forehead.

The couple had to face a lot of problems as they were not allowed to attend any functions of the village temple, neither were theysuch animal shall at the time of taking the animal give written notice to the owner or person from whose custody it was taken.
"The necessary expenses incurred for the care and keeping of the animal after such notice by the humane society shall be a lien thereon and, if the animal is not reclaimed within 10 days from the giving of such notice, the humane society may sell the animal to satisfy such lien. If the humane society determines that the animal cannot be sold, it may cause the animal to be otherwise disposed of."
Other jurisdictions with statutes similar to Alabama's have found them unconstitutional on due process grounds. We quote at length from the well-reasoned opinions of two other courts on the due process issue. The fundamental


Harald Vilimsky, Secretary-general of Austria's right-wing populist Freedom Party (FPÖ) | Yann Coatsaliou/AFP via Getty Images Austrian far-right party to join Salvini’s EU election alliance The FPÖ and the League already belong to the same political family in the European Parliament.

The Austrian Freedom Party (FPÖ) will join Italian far-right leader Matteo Salvini's European election alliance, the party's secretary-general, Harald Vilimsky, confirmed Tuesday.

Salvini announced Monday his ambition to form the largest group in the European Parliament by joining forces with Euroskeptics across the bloc following next month's election.

The Freedom Party, which governs in Vienna as part of a coalition, is already part of the Europe of Nations and Freedom (ENF) group in the European Parliament, which Salvini's League belongs to.

Vilimsky made the announcement on Twitter, posting a template inThe Jerusalem District Court on Thursday ruled that the State must return a house in Hebron to settlers who were evicted from it in December 2008, stating that they had purchased it legally.

Judge Moshe Baram determined that the Palestinian owner's claim that the purchase agreement had been annulled before it was finalized was not credible. He ordered the Palestinian to pay NIS 50,000 (about $13,000) in legal fees.

Related articles:

The affair began in March of 2007 when Jewish settlers moved into the so-called "house of contention," located on the main road linking Kiryat Arba to the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron. In response Faizi Rajabi, the seller, filed a police complaint saying he was the owner and that the purchase agreement was never finalized.

Evacuation of 'house of contention'


in December 2008 (Archive photo: AFP)

Following a lengthy legal battle, security forces removed the settlers from the house, also known as "Beit HaShalom," in December 2008. The eviction led to a series of violent clashes between settlers and security forces. Following the eviction, it was determined that the house would remain in the State's hands until the court rules on the settlers' ownership claims.

On Thursday Judge Baram ordered the State to prepare to turn the house over to the settlers within a month. However, the judge stressed that he is not ordering the Civil Administration to pursue legal measures that would allow the settlers to live in the house. Jews who purchase a home in the territories cannot move into it without the Civil Administration's authorization.

The settlers laudedthe court's decision and said they were convinced it would pave the way for the return of the Machpelah house to Jewish hands. Settlers were evicted from the Machpelah house five months ago.

"The verdict bolsters our claim that Jews have a right to settle in all parts of the Land of Israel," said Malachi Levinger, head of the Kiryat Arba Hebron Council. "I urge the government of Israel to allow the settlers to return to the house immediately, and at the same time rectify the injustice that was done at the Machpelah house."

In response to the ruling, Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz called on Defense Minister Ehud Barak to "instruct the Civil Administration to authorize the deal and allow the Jewish families to move into the house.

"The defense minister's


decision (to evacuate the home) was reckless and was aimed at fanning the flames. Jews have always lived in Hebron, and they will continue to do so," the minister added.

Yesha Council head Danny Dayan urged Barak and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to "uphold the court's decision and not try to thwart it using various tricks."

Aviel Magnezi contributed to the reportemployed for almost nine years at Saginaw Steering Gear, a division of General Motors Corporation. According to her statement of affairs, her 1984 earnings were approximately $30,000. At the time she filed this case she was on sick leave, as she was then eight months pregnant with twins. In addition, her doctor had informed her that she would need surgery for an undisclosed ailment soon after delivery; as a consequence, she was unsure when she would be medically cleared to return to work. However, things worked out better than she expected, because she returned to full time employment on July 3, 1985. Mrs. Shands *122 earns $11.12 per hour on a 40-hour shift. Her gross pay is $414.00 per week. She claims that her net pay is only


since her husband was given a lien on the marital home and since she lost that home to a mortgage foreclosure, she no longer has an obligation to him. She feels she lost more as a result of the foreclosure than he did and that he should just accept his loss silently. Finally, she claims to be unable to pay him what is owing. She did, however, *123 offer him $1,000 in full settlement of his claim pre-petition, which he refused. In her answer to Mr. Fowler's complaint (in the adversary proceeding) she stated: "The Debtor does admit that the main purpose of filing her bankruptcy was to discharge her debt to her former husband."
Mrs. Shands explained that since she has now paid off the "rental" payments, andstrict new regulations are necessary to protect the network that increasingly weaves together the vast majority of the world’s computers.

Mr. Schmidt will report to the National Security Council — not both to the council and to the National Economic Council, as previously planned, an administration official said on Monday. Mr. Schmidt will also “have regular access to the president,” said the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he had not been authorized to talk publicly about the appointment.

Cybersecurity has taken on new urgency this year in the face of a growing range of cyberattacks and reports of vulnerabilities in business and military computing systems. Indeed, at the May 29 announcement of his administration’s decision to create the position of cybersecurity coordinator, Mr. Obama described how


Silver Is The Metal To Watch As It Plays Catch-Up With Gold – Analysts

While all eyes have been on gold’s massive rally Wednesday, the bigger play to come, according to some analysts, could be in silver.

April gold futures, settling the session at $1,358, up more than 2% on the day, is seeing its biggest percentage gain in nearly two years. At the same time, silver prices saw a 2% rally as March silver futures settled the session at $16.878 an ounce. But, to put the move in silver into perspective, the percentage gain was less than the move recorded two days ago.

With gold and silver moving in tandem, the gold/silver ratio, according to Kitco.com, has held steady at 80, holding near a multi-year high.

According to some analysts, theOne-minute speeches on matters of political importance
Kinga Gál
(HU) Last week, for the third time, the Hungarian Academy of Sciences organised the World Science Forum in cooperation with the EU, UNESCO and the International Council for Science. Scientists and decision-makers from more than 60 countries participated in the World Science Forum, including four Heads of State, the Director-General of UNESCO and the Commission's Environment [...] (interjection: I am sorry, Mr President, but I cannot carry on like this!).
As László Sólyom, President of the Republic of Hungary, recommended the creation of a world environment organisation in his address, the leaders of the United Nations Environment Programme announced the formation of a new international organisation. It was recommended at the World Forum that the parliaments of as many countries as possible


should establish the institution of a commissioner responsible for future generations.
The main message of the World Forum is that science and politics must act together to halt climate change and the destruction of the environment. According to the participants, a 'scientific Davos' has been created in Budapest, in other words, Budapest is now for science what Davos is for economic issues.
The next event in the series will be in 2009, when it is intended to host the world's science, education and finance ministers in Budapest, as the main event of the Year of Creativity. I would like to ask the Commission and you to support the event and the concept behind it, that is to say, we must defend ourselves and future generations as well as the environmentand sustainability. Thank you for the floor, Mr President.
Eluned Morgan
Mr President, one of the greatest problems in relation to EU policy is implementation. This is particularly true in relation to directives relating to Lisbon and climate change.
On 4 January 2006 the energy performance of the Buildings Directive should have been implemented in all Member States. This would have led to massive energy savings. The problem is that only eight countries communicated full transposition on time. That means that all of the following countries have failed to implement the laws that they themselves signed up to: France, Italy, Belgium, Luxembourg, the UK, Spain, Austria, Finland, Sweden, Estonia, Latvia, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Hungary, Romania, Greece, Cyprus and Malta.
The EU will lose credibility and its attempts to reduce carbon


to receive European funds for the integration of Roma, although it was obvious that the Roma had started to represent a problem that required an approach for several years.
The European Union Member States have the right to expel citizens who commit crimes, but no country of the European Union can have the right to expel European citizens who might be criminals, without having committed a blamable act.
Directive 38 of 2004 clearly explains these situations and the Italian Government Decree exceeds the spirit of the European Directive.
The European Parliament and the European officials should take a stand regarding Decree 181 of 1 November 2007 and ask the Italian Parliament for the final form of the law to comply with the letter and spirit of the European Directive.
Mirosław Mariusz Piotrowski
-also ask, Mr President, that you show an interest and intervene in this matter.
Dimitar Stoyanov
(BG) Mr. Chairman, Members of Parliament,
Ahmed Dogan, the leader of the anti-constitutional Turkish party Movement for Rights and Freedoms which holds the mandate of the Bulgarian Government, declared in the night of the run-off of the local elections that vote shopping was an European practice. That disgraceful statement evoked the justified anger of the Bavarian Minister of European Affairs Markus Söder. In his interview for Die Welt Söder demanded that an investigation be carried out and the EU funds be stopped for Bulgaria.
The MRF is the political heir to a Turkish terrorist organisation. Ahmed Dogan was the founder of that organisation, for which he was convicted and imprisoned as a terrorist. Right from the


Thank you!
Jaroslav Zvěřina
(CS) Ladies and gentlemen, the final decision on the entry of nine EU Member States into the Schengen area was welcomed with enthusiasm by the citizens of the Czech Republic. It will imply formal changes to the security system and protection of national borders and facilitate the free movement of goods and people, but it will also have some surprising complications. At the recent meeting of local authorities from South Bohemia, Bavaria and Upper Austria, some experts mentioned that the new obstacle along the former national borders could be the so-called 'non-interference zone' of the Šumava National Park. Some tourist routes from Bavaria border the non-interference zone and the strict environmental laws do not allow these routes to cross Czech territory. Not so long ago thereare printed, trains are stopped, there is disruption for the elderly and also for children, and there is disruption to information systems. I would be glad, Mr President, if Parliament were to hear authoritative information from the Commission concerning the gains and losses brought about by the time change.
James Nicholson
Mr President, I would like to bring to the attention of the House a proposal by FIFA, the governing body of football, allowing players born in Northern Ireland to represent the Republic of Ireland. The Northern Ireland football team has a very proud history going back many decades and has produced many great football teams over the years, defeating many of the large nations in Europe. Over those years, Northern Ireland has had many difficulties, as it has over


summit were taking place in Mafra, in the Russian city of Kazan, 720 kilometres from Moscow, another round in the long-running battle between the authorities and the media was being played out. This time the part of victim was played by Natalia Petrova, a maker of documentary films about, among other subjects, Chechnya. The role of the torturers was played by plain-clothes officers from the local police.
They arrested Ms Petrova at her home in front of her parents and two small children. During her arrest she lost consciousness, was struck several times and was burned with cigarettes. She came round at police headquarters, from where she was released after a few hours. One of the journalist's daughters also suffered injuries, as did her mother. Are these the standardssure that he has taken careful note of that.
Anna Záborská
(SK) This coming 17 November is for the Czech and Slovak people as symbolically important as the fall of the Berlin Wall was for the Germans.
Eighteen years ago a barbarian totalitarian regime came to an end in these countries. Subsequently, the Czech and Slovak people once more became part of Europe. Because of this event, 17 November is an anniversary that is alive, a symbol of something important to be remembered. The united Europe is founded on the defeat not just of Nazism but also of Communism. Just as not dealing with the Nazi crimes and criminals has been a threat to Europe, the same applies to the crimes of the Communist regime.
I would like to recall here the


legacy of Pope John Paul II, whose famous words 'do not be afraid' were an important display of solidarity for Slovak dissent. I would also like to mention President Reagan, whose words about the 'Evil Empire' turned him into our President, even though we did not vote for him. Communism was defeated by the courage of men and women; injustice made way for justice. Freedom is a great gift, and I am pleased to be able that today as a Member of the European Parliament.
Csaba Sándor Tabajdi
(HU) A decisive majority of the European Parliament has rightly been disgusted with events in Italy, but there is extraordinarily great hypocrisy in this, ladies and gentlemen. As if we didn't know that there are 3-4 million Roma living in difficult circumstancesFiremen versus the UK. It concerned Mr Jay Lee, who had been a member of ASLEF and the British National Party. Mr Lee was expelled by ASLEF because of his BNP membership. The Court upheld this action.
The BNP is a political party with its roots in neo-Nazism. Nevertheless, under UK law, membership is perfectly legal. The British Government has conceded that trade union law must now be amended so that unions can expel members whose political views they do not like.
The role of trade unions is to collectively represent the material interests of their members in the workplace, not to decide what political views are acceptable or unacceptable. The Court's decision is yet another European nail in the coffin of British liberties.
Toomas Savi
Mr President, we were shocked at


ruled the law unconstitutional. Many observers think Hudson will be the first.

That prediction is built partly on Hudson's roots in Republican politics. He was elected Arlington's commonwealth attorney as a Republican, briefly ran against U.S. Rep. James P. Moran (D-Va.) in 1991 and has received all of his appointments - as U.S. attorney, as a Fairfax County Circuit Court judge in 1998 and to the federal bench in 2002 - from Republicans.

For The Sake of My Sanity

Some will know me from my other blog, "Surgeonsblog." Of late I've given over to frothing at the mouth as the world descends into stupidity, and our politics and our citizens seem, in numbers enough to be meaningful, unable to see it. So for now I'm leaving surgery writing behind, if forbehind a tree, she waited until he was out of sight before getting back on the track.

When she reached her destination, she paused, deeply inhaling the fresh evening air. The rays of the setting sun gleamed off the water surface as tiny ripples made for a prismed effect. Being cautious and remembering her father's warnings, she took a moment to peruse her surroundings. When she was certain she was alone, she pulled her dirty frock over her head, then removed her flimsy knickers, throwing them on a wild binjou bush.

Her fingers brushed the fire aranitite pendant hanging from a leather cord around her neck. Her father told her that this was her protection. It was placed around her neck when she was a baby, and since then, it


lord, it is not," she replied, keeping her eyes on the ground.

"You dare argue with me, nether?" he admonished, obviously agitated with her. "Do you have any idea to whom you speak?"

This knight was certainly as arrogant as they came. His attitude further irritated her that she could not hold her tongue. Her fiery spirit made her a good warrior as well. She could hold her own against any man. For the first time since the encounter, she lifted her head and looked directly at the man. He was the king's most loved knight and he was the warrior everyone talked about and feared. However, as she looked at him, her mouth fell open.

She had always thought he was older. Now, looking at him revealed otherwise. Yes, hewas sending her away to be courted by one of King Christoffle's sons, it meant that Rulf did not intend to marry her.

There were a few snickers and some giggles, but Guinevere frowned deeply. "Your Majesty..." she started to say, but the king held up his hand.

"No need, my dear. No one has come forward to claim thy troth. Hence, you will obey. This is an order, my dear."

_No one, meaning Rulf_ , Guinevere interpreted.

They were given strict orders not to return without being promised. This displeased Guinevere and she sought out Rulf after leaving the king's hall. She must make one more attempt to see if perhaps she misunderstood him. Maybe he was waiting for a sign from her, even though she thought she'd given plenty. What


ears up. He loved this part of the river, it was the place his master saw the beautiful nether.

As far as Osorus was concerned, Kisalese were stupid. They could not tell the difference between individuals. They separated people based on royal lines. Animals differentiated between evil and good. As for the people in the palace, they were mostly evil, but the people in the townships were pure.

Taking his last mouthful, the horse turned to go back to the battlefield to fetch Rulf. The master hadn't whistled, but he heard the call to halt for the day and knew Rulf must be needing him. As he turned to head toward the battleground, a weird sensation gripped him.

"My master," he whinnied.

The heart of the horse thundered, as he knew somethingplaced under the knight's nose. The injured man twisted his head and opened his eyes with a groan. Merek told her it was important that he was conscious when they removed the arrow.

"Daughter, fetch your uncle Brogue," Merek instructed. "We must get this arrow out."

Merek's brother lived a short distance away. From her yard, Catrain could make out the lights in her uncle's house a little further down the dirt path. In little time, she was running up to the small porch.

"Uncle Brogue!" she yelled, banging on the door. "Uncle Brogue."

"I ain't hard of hearing you know," he returned as he yanked the door open. "What troubles you?"

"It's the king's knight. He's been injured by an arrow."

Brogue's eyes opened wide. "A knight? What is he doing in the


_What manner of place is this?_ Trying to rise was of no use as he felt weak throughout his body. When he tried to move, waves of excruciating pain in his shoulder and torso rendered he immobile. The heat in his body was unbearable while the room seemed to move about at its own will.

After great effort, he moved his right hand. It brushed something silky and he barely got his head to turn in its direction. Someone's head rested beside him on the cot. The hair. Catrain _? No, it's impossible_.

_What happened? Why am I here?_ Confusion plagued him, causing him to stare at her for a long time. _What happened?_ He closed his eyes and tried to remember. The fog slowly cleared as he recalled thenot."

"Yes you are," the man insisted. "I remember you. You wouldn't remember me. I am that boy that brought the royal shoes to have them mended."

"Hmm."

"I used to sit and watch you work and wished I could be like you one day," the soldier said. "Did you travel far?"

"No, I told you, I be not the kings cobbler."

"No use denying it sir, I remember you," the guard insisted. "What is your name?"

"Merek it is."

"Then you are...," the guard paused. "You were the cobbler a long while back. I told you I remember you."

"Okay, I used to be," Merek reluctantly replied since the man would not let the matter alone. "I be a farmer now."

The guard glanced at the cart covered with straw. "What have you to trade today?"

"Not


become of Cronada and the king? What would the Gerdanians do with the people and the land?

The horses came to a halt and her abductor dismounted before lifting her from her perch. He was surprisingly gentle unlike those that had gagged and bound her. Still, he was not as gentle as Rulf had been with her.

A nudge at her back suggested that she move along. What she wished for was to run, but with her hands bound and her face covered, it was useless trying. Hands gripped her upper arm guiding her, she believed, toward her doom. If she could only see where she was going, she could make her escape, but they kept the cloth over her face.

They paused. There was the sound of a click, whichus hope she is hidden somewhere and will return soon."

Merek turned to his brother. "When you go to the market today, keep your ears to the ground for any word."

"Shouldn't we search the mountains too?"

Catrain's father shook his head. "I know in my gut she's in the castle."

"How will we get her?" Brogue asked.

"If the knight can rescue her before they reveal all, that would be best."

"If not?"

"Then they will come fetch me."

Brogue snickered, "You mean you will _allow_ them to fetch you."

Rulf reined in Osorus and scanned the river. He remembered this was her favorite spot. The sun was almost set and there was no sign of her. Three days he'd come, and she didn't show. He'd ridden up and down the river bank, gone down stream


and now stood in the spot she swam the first day he saw her.

_Did the rebels scare her?_ Shaking his head, he decided that not even the rebels would scare her into not coming to fetch her pail of water and take a wash. She'd faced him unwavering that first day. When the rebels had accosted her, she'd used the sword like a trained warrior.

"No, she is not easily frightened."

Rulf dismounted and slapped the rump of his steed. An hour was left before it would be dark. He'd been searching the riverbank for hours and still no sign of her. Now he sat, staring at the pool, recalling her naked body as she bathed in it. The setting sun had set her skin aglow and some jewel shehis voice breaking.

"That cannot be," Rulf denied.

"Aye, my lord," Merek said. "We have searched far and wide. She is nowhere to be found."

"Are you certain she is not with friends?'

Merek shook his head. "Catrain has never left home for a night, let alone four entire days. She's never gone beyond the bank of the river. We found her pail in the fields," Merek added. "She'd never leave that pail behind."

With his fist curled into a ball, Rulf grounded his teeth together. The first thought that occurred to him was that the rebels took her.

"I swear on my sword I will find your daughter. With my last breath I will search this entire kingdom, knock on every door and tear apart every forest until I find her," he declared.


the mountain air bit into Guinevere as she pulled her coat about her. She had taken an early morning stroll away from the stuffiness of her chambers. The palace gardens were expansive and would have been beautiful had it not been for the cold.

Many miles away from Cronada, she hated the very soil on which she stood. This was her fate. If she went against the king's order, she would be exiled to live a life similar to a commoner.

In her heart, she avowed never to return to the Cronadian palace. Should it matter to whom she married then? Turning from the bitter cold, she began to make her way out of the garden. On her way, she met one of her chambermaids who had accompanied her fromShe hadn't realized how handsome the king was until that moment. "Do you not wish to marry one of my brothers, Lady Guinevere?"

"Your Majesty, it is not that I do not wish to marry your brother, it is that ...." Her words trailed off.

The king nodded thoughtfully. "Ha. Your heart belongs to another."

Guinevere beamed. "It is so, Your Majesty."

"Hmm, then we shall wait until you are ready," he said.

They started moving again, but Guinevere felt uneasy. She paused. "My king, may I be so forward as to ask you a question?"

He narrowed his eyes and looked intently at her. Guinevere lowered her gaze.

"You may."

"Sire, should you not be by the queen's bedside this moment?" she said. "I understand she's gravely ill."

The king clenched his jaw and gave her


even though she tried to hide it from him. She'd been lying in that position now for nearly twenty-four hours. Her soft groans filtered through the cell door, proving she was in pain.

Frederick moved away from the cell and made his way to the east wing of the castle where the Prime Minister's private quarters were. After knocking twice, he entered the chambers. The minister's head was bent as he scribed on papyrus.

"What is it?" Cronus demanded.

"Minister, it's about the lesser."

"Don't call her that."

Frederick frowned. Was the minister sweet on her? What was he to call her? He didn't even know her name. Scratching his head with lines creasing his brow, he shuffled uncomfortably.

"Her name is Catrain," the Minister added.

"Yes, Minister," he replied.

"Now tell me, what about her?"

AUlrich, find out what they did to her."

As Ulrich left Rulf that night, he pondered the knight's reaction to the information. He then recalled an incident about a month ago, that made him think twice about Rulf's response.

Rulf had returned from a long journey and seemed quite upset. He'd mumbled and shouted at nothing in particular. Ulrich had been concerned that the Gerdanians were creating problems but now that he remembered well, the master had been disgruntled about a netherbred.

" _She is a_ netherbred _, a lesser!"_ Rulf had shouted that day. Now Ulrich was sure of whom Rulf was referring. Who was this netherbred woman and why was she important to him?

Rulf had to be careful. He had to make sure that the woman Ulrich saw was


Cronus' dwelling. Guarding it were two soldiers, one of which was the traitor Frederick.

Catrain curled on the large bed with satin sheets. She'd have refused to take the bed if she wasn't in so much pain. A young maid, hovering like a mother hen spoke ludicrously to her.

"My lady, you must eat," the woman said.

Catrain would have corrected her if another shot of pain hadn't rendered her immobile. When they had taken her from the cell the night before, the girl had bathed her and dressed her in fine raiment such as she'd never hoped to wear. She had been too weak to protest or even figure out what was going on.

The girl was given a bed in the same chamber as her and it seemed she waslet her continue to believe so. The Prime Minister must have a reason why he has assigned you a maid and given you this chamber."

"I thought the same," she replied. "But isn't it against the law for a nether to work in the palace?"

"No, it's an unspoken rule but was never put in writing."

"Oh."

"Now promise you will eat and get better so that we can find the reason behind all this."

Giving the matter some thought, she finally acquiesced, "I promise."

Curiosity killed the crolouth. That's what she'd been taught since her childhood. Guinevere was never one to quench her curiosity. Therefore, if she was the crolouth, she'd perhaps used all fifteen lives a long time ago.

The Petarian kingdom's hierarchy was the same as Cronada – royalites at the head


desk against a wall and the door to his wardrobe. The king hurried to the wall at the head of the bed and pulled a sword.

"Guard her well," he instructed the guards who had followed them. "No harm must come to her."

"No, I will not remain here alone," Catrain protested.

The king lay his hand on her head, the way her father would. "You must stay out of harm's way, my child."

"You said my father was the greatest swordsman Cronada had ever seen, well he taught me to fight and I will not sit still while he is in battle."

"You are as stubborn as your...," the king began but withdrew his words.

Catrain had no time to ponder what he meant to say. She was looking at the weapons, tryingof this crystal, it was generally considered worthless as it was unable to be made into jewelry or ornaments. But to people like Guinevere's father this was invaluable.

With this colorless concoction, one could find any trace of potions and poisons used on anyone. She could even use it to test someone's sweat and urine if needed.

Taking a brush made from horse's hair, Guinevere set to work. The downside was that she would need to make a new batch every night as the mixture only lasted for a few hours and then it turned dark blue, which would be of no use.

On the first night of her investigation, Guinevere examined the cup in which Queen Zenevia's tea was served. Using her solution, she discovered a reddish color residue remained


a little distant with her since he came to know that her father was a knight.

What puzzled her was that the ancient laws of knighthood were only changed since she was born. Two decades ago, only noblites and half-bloods could become knights. No nether had even been knighted until recently.

When her father rejoined them, she asked him what he was about to tell her. His answer was that Cronus had threatened them all so that put her life in danger as well. The Prime Minister had threatened them, thinking they were traitors of the kingdom. His answer didn't appease her although she dropped the subject. She made a note to return to it once they were alone.

As promised, a short while passed and the sound of a horse'sand halved one of her hers. When she handed one-half to him, he returned a shocked stare.

"What, can you not take fruit from a nether?"

With a snicker, he snatched the plum and shoved it in his mouth. After breakfast, they moved off again. On the way, she picked herbs that she knew would make good medicine for the king.

The rains began some time during the mid-morning, falling in thin sheets. Rulf stopped to ask if she was able to withstand the chill of it.

"I am fine," she answered, ignoring the biting cold of the icy drops.

Rulf was right. The rain did help them as the rain erased Osorus' tracks. The cool weather also made them move much more quickly than they would have done during the heat of


to secrecy along with the maids who were present. They cleaned up the mistress well and padded her belly with pillows. The master was kept away as he was told her labor was long.

"You cannot take my baby!" the woman screamed.

The older woman jutted her head at the guards. "Take the child and bring it to me."

One of the guards plucked the boy child from the netherbred's arms and placed him in the arms of the head chambermaid. He then dropped a sachet with cold coins on the table. The wailing of the woman could be heard for miles, except not many could hear it as her home was deep in the valley.

The handmaid returned with the child by the secret entrance and placed the newly born childMMRDA headed by the Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis lacks a proper e-Office was a fact admitted by the administration in a response to RTI Activist Anil Galgali. The project for e-Office is ongoing for the past 15 months and MMRDA has already incurred an expense of Rs 33.34 lakhs on it.

Galgali had sought information from the MMRDA about the e-Office at its headquarters. The MMRDA’s Information and Technology cell has informed Galgali that, for the project it had received a proposal from NICISI, on which the IT cell has started the work on July 4, 2016. On the query pertaining to the completion of work, it has been informed that the work is still in progress and the MMRDA has spent Rs 33.34 lakhs on it and yet


ever slipping out of place. Loading

Ocean's Seven

“ So much of the 20-or-so-hour campaign consists of jogging back and forth through the same seven or so predictable maps.

A pity, then, that the plot quickly falls into a pit of tired clichés, particularly after Fidel and his childhood friend Miki start hunting for the parents of a mysterious young girl who escaped from the fallen spacecraft. (She also has amnesia, because of course she does!) Space remains distant — regardless of the series' title, this is a decidedly earthbound adventure, with the few jaunts to space and back lasting only a little longer than a round-trip flight for a SpaceX rocket.Other signs of trouble reveal themselves early on, such as the relative absence of many traditional cutscenes in favor ofnarrative shorthand of a superhero figurine collection to signify Matt's regressed status. And yet, Matt remains the only adult "conscience" in the film, consistently trying to talk Mavis (Charlize Theron) out of her ridiculous scheme to win back her old boyfriend, Buddy Slade (Patrick Wilson). Buddy is for the most part a cipher, but as a seemingly committed husband and enthusiastic father, he fills out the necessary position of Adult--Non-Child.

Now, you might think Cody was somewhat harsh with Mark in Juno for punishing him so excessively just for enjoying the rock 'n' roll music and finding a witty teenager attractive. Thus the genius of Nipple Confusion. By placing Buddy's wife, Beth (Elizabeth Reaser), in a cover band made up entirely of new moms, Cody finds a more nuanced


regressed and thus wholly dysfunctional. Mavis' rewinding of the tape is offered, initially at least, as a playfully regressive memory for any audience member old enough to remember the courtship and technical protocols attending analog "mix-tapes"--but as the story proceeds, her fixation on "The Concept" retroactively becomes a sonic marker of Mavis having become "stuck" in the past. She therefore has an "inappropriate" relationship with Teenage Fanclub.

As the drummer in Nipple Confusion, however, Buddy's wife Beth demonstrates a healthy and non-regressed relationship to Teenage Bandwagon. This is because Beth, unlike Mavis, enjoys Teenage Bandwagon within the context of successful marriage and reproduction. Indeed, Nipple Confusion is "cool" precisely because they have the "proper" perspective on life by virtue of their marriages and collective motherhood. Single and without children,Does Russia Have A Cogent Middle East Strategy?

Russia's support for Syrian President Bashar Assad has put it at odds with other countries in the Arab world.

Russia drew a lot of flack from Arab countries and the West when it vetoed a U.N. Security Council resolution aimed at pressuring Assad to stop his crackdown on protesters. That has some analysts in Russia doubting whether the Kremlin really has a cogent strategy for the Middle East.

The dilemma for Russia policy in the Arab world can be illustrated by two very different events that took place this week.

Lavrov said Russia was willing to serve as a mediator in the conflict, although Assad's forces continued their assault on the opposition. Meanwhile, a very different scenario was playing out in New York.

Russia's U.N.


be careful of its image in the Arab world.

Dmitri Trenin, director of the Carnegie Moscow Center, points out that Russia's stand on Syria puts it at odds with important members of the Arab League, such as Saudi Arabia.

"Saudi Arabia has enormous leverage on the global oil market. Saudi Arabia has resources that could be used to minimize Russia's control of parts of its own country," Trenin says. He means the North Caucasus, the region that includes volatile areas such as Chechnya.

Trenin says that what Lavrov, the Russian foreign minister, tried to do in Damascus this week should have been done months ago, when the Arab Spring protests first erupted.

"If Russia wanted to uphold its prestige as an important player, it needed to engage more fully in looking forcrackdown on protestors. And Russia's support for Syria's Bashar al-Assad has put it at odds with not just the West but also the Arab world. That has some analysts in Russia doubting whether the Kremlin really has a cogent strategy for the Middle East. NPR's Corey Flintoff reports.

COREY FLINTOFF, BYLINE: The dilemma for Russian policy in the Arab world can be illustrated by two very different events that took place this week. On Tuesday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was greeted by cheering crowds of Assad supporters in Damascus.

UNIDENTIFIED PEOPLE: (Foreign language spoken)

FLINTOFF: Lavrov said Russia was willing to serve as a mediator in the conflict, although Assad's forces continued their assault on the opposition.

Meanwhile, a very different scenario was playing out in New York. Russia's UN ambassador,


other analysts say Russia needs to be careful of its image in the Arab world.

Dmitri Trenin, director of the Carnegie Moscow Center, points out that Russia's stand on Syria puts it at odds with important members of the Arab League, such as Saudi Arabia.

DMITRI TRENIN: Saudi Arabia has enormous leverage on the global oil market. Saudi Arabia has resources that could be used to minimize Russia's control of parts of its own country.

FLINTOFF: He means the North Caucasus, the region that includes volatile areas such as Chechnya.

Trenin says that what Foreign Minister Lavrov tried to do in Damascus this week should have been done months ago, when the Arab Spring protests first erupted.

TRENIN: If Russia wanted to uphold its prestige as an important player, it needed to engage,more fully, in looking for a peaceful resolution to the Syrian conflict.

FLINTOFF: Both analysts say one of Russia's mains concern is keeping a lid on Islamic radicalism, the kind that's spreading in the Muslim parts of Russia's own territory.

Satanovsky says Russian policy seeks to play off the Islamic fundamentalist regimes of the Arab world against Iran. In putting such strong and public support behind the Syrian regime, though, Russia has put itself at a pivot point in the major struggles of the Arab World. It's not clear whether it has a strategy to affect the balance there.


PlayStation. BBC News has confirmed that PlayStation blocked the game's release.

The game "will not be made available," was PlayStation's official statement.

Super Seducer's Steam page bills the game as a "way to getting those sweet digits like a pro by using tried and true attraction 'hacks'". There are already several downloadable content packs available, such as "Earning the Kiss" and "Nighttime Strategy".

It's unusual to see PlayStation blocking a game's release - especially so late before its arrival - but it's perhaps more surprising the game was ever pencilled in for a PS4 launch at all.Offensive lineman Nolan Kelleher 's career at Florida is over due to back issues he dealt with when he arrived at Florida, a UF spokesman confirmed to Inside the Gators on Tuesday.

The initial plan back in May was for Kelleher to redshirt following back surgery. In August, per the spokesman, a decision had already been reached about Kelleher's playing future.

Kelleher arrived at Florida as the No. 27 player at his position in his 2014 class and the No. 7 player out of the state of South Carolina.

With the careers of Kelleher and Drew Sarvary (concussion symptoms) cut short because of injury, Florida enters 2015 with not much depth on the offensive line. Max Garcia, Chaz Green and Trenton Brown graduate, while Tyler Moore will declare early for the


Moncton adapts to new downtown parking spots

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Drivers in downtown Moncton are getting used to a new traffic pattern after the city eliminated turning lanes on Main Street in an effort to add more than 80 parking spaces.

The new parking spots are a part of a pilot project aimed at adding more downtown parking.

Stephane Thibodeau, the city’s transportation co-ordinator, said the city will see how the new arrangement works over the next year.

He said the city will be looking at two issues: how parking will work with public transit and how it will go in the winter.

"What are the differences of trying to snow clear Main Street with parking on the street clearing the areas where the meters are at and so on so that's going to bethat the Justice League can’t quite win on their own, forcing them to “turn to a dead friend for help.”

Created by Jack Kirby, Steppenwolf has been the leader of Darkseid’s army of Apokolips since he debuted in 1972. A member of the New Gods, he has an extensive history in the DCU including fights with Doomsday, The Flash, and lesser known villains like Clock King.

Production is already underway for Justice League in London with Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill and Gal Gadot reprising their roles as the DC Trinity, Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman. Joining them are Jason Mamoa as Aquaman, Ray Fisher as Cyborg, and Ezra Miller as The Flash. Amber Heard is set to play Queen Mera in the film as well before moving to the solo


Kevin Lafrance

Kevin Pierre Lafrance (born 13 January 1990) is a professional footballer who plays as a defender for Pafos, on loan from APOEL in the Cypriot First Division.

Born in France, he represents Haiti at international level.

Career
Born in Bondy, France, Lafrance played club football in the Czech Republic and Poland for Baník Most, Slavia Prague, Viktoria Žižkov and Widzew Łódź.

In June 2019 he signed for APOEL.

International career
He made his international debut for Haiti in 2010.

International goals
Scores and results list Haiti's goal tally first.

References

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Category:Widzew Łódź players
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Category:Haitian expatriateEdward Luce needs to work on his terminology:

Even the “paleocons” warmed to Mr Romney. At the start of the year John Bolton, the fire and brimstone former US ambassador to the UN, endorsed Mr Romney even though Newt Gingrich promised to make him his secretary of state.

Obviously, Bolton isn’t a “paleocon” by any definition, and neither is he strictly a neoconservative. Bolton is often mistakenly referred to as a neoconservative because he is a nationalist hard-liner whose positions often align with those of neoconservatives, and because he served in the Bush administration, but he has none of their preoccupation with democracy promotion. He is often wrong about things, and has gone so far as to lend rhetorical support to such atrocious groups as the MEK as part of


estate loans from different parts of the country — so if Florida real estate went south, the investments would benefit from rising prices in Arizona. If things got real tough, the Fed would lower interest rates.

But the Lehman collapse sparked a panic that quickly spread to the remaining players: Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Citigroup, Bank of America, etc., which held so much of these now-money-losing investments that the entire financial system was insolvent. They were supposed to be insured by fancy financial products developed by American International Group. But AIG was basically insolvent as well and didn’t have the capital to cover all the losses.

And with that, the bailouts began. The remaining banks survived, so a Great Depression was averted, replaced by a Great Recession instead when banksof the Onondaga County Court (Anthony F.
Aloi, J.), rendered May 10, 2010. The judgment convicted defendant,
upon a jury verdict, of assault in the first degree and reckless
endangerment in the first degree.

     It is hereby ORDERED that the judgment so appealed from is
unanimously modified on the law by reducing the conviction of assault
in the first degree (Penal Law § 120.10 [3]) to assault in the third
degree (§ 120.00 [2]), reducing the conviction of reckless
endangerment in the first degree to reckless endangerment in the
second degree and vacating the sentence, and as modified the judgment
is affirmed, and the matter is remitted to Onondaga County Court for
sentencing.

     Memorandum: Defendant appeals from a judgment convicting him
upon a jury verdict of assault in the first degree


JERUSALEM -- A top Israeli minister close to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed rare criticism of President Donald Trump on Monday and said he expects the government to approve more construction in settlements next week.

Zeev Elkin said he is "disappointed" that Trump hasn't fulfilled his campaign promise to move the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

Israel considers Jerusalem, home to holy sites sacred to Jews, Muslims and Christians, as its capital. Palestinians demand east Jerusalem, which Israeli captured from Jordan in the 1967 war, for the capital of their future state, along with the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

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Mr. Trump has backed away from the campaign pledge on the embassy move as his Mideast envoy attempts to breathe life into peacetalks, which last collapsed in 2014.

"There were very clear election promises, not to the state of Israel but to the American voter, of moving the embassy and I very much regret the delay," Elkin told Army Radio.

He said that it was "incorrect" to claim that relocating the embassy "will prevent peace."

"What prevents peace ... is the conduct of the Palestinian leadership that in a clear way chooses to continue to promote the atmosphere of hatred and terror against Israel," he said.

Criticism of Mr. Trump is rare in Netanyahu's right wing coalition government.

President Trump is more sympathetic to settlements than his predecessor Barack Obama, who together with the international community considers them illegal and obstacles to Palestinian statehood.

Two decades of U.S.-led peace plans have called for evacuating settlements to


UMC Minnesota Conference Removes 'Father' From Apostles' Creed for Worship Service

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The Minnesota Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church edited the historic Apostles' Creed so that it removed references to God as "Father" for a worship service.

The Apostles' Creed is an affirmation of Christian faith that goes back to the early Church and is still common in many churches that include liturgy as part of worship.

At the multiday Minnesota Conference, which went from May 30–June 1, liturgical folders reportedly included a copy of the creed that removed gender specific language for God, changing "God the Father Almighty" to "God the Creator Almighty" and "Jesus Christ His Only Son" to "Jesus Christ God's Only Son."

The Christian Post reachedout to the Minnesota Conference for further details about the edited creed and its use, and will update this piece when a response is received.

The Rev. Keith Mcilwain, pastor at Slippery Rock United Methodist Church in the Western Pennsylvania Conference, posted an image of the edited creed on social media.

In an interview with The Christian Post on Wednesday, Mcilwain explained that he got his hands on a copy of the edited creed from a friend of his who attended the Annual Conference.

Mcilwain took issue with the edits, explaining that it "fails to affirm the classical ecumenically-supported understanding of the Doctrine of the Holy Trinity, which teaches us that God has been revealed as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit."

"No United Methodist individual or body has the authority to edit


to God with male pronouns.

Despite the trend, plenty of clergy and hymns in the official hymnal still refer to God in the masculine tense, and most UMC congregations use the Lord's Prayer, with its opening line "Our Father."

Furthermore, the UMC retains a traditional and an ecumenical version of the Apostles' Creed for official use, both of which identify God as "Father" and Jesus as "His Only Son."

"All ordained United Methodist clergy promise to faithfully uphold and teach the Doctrine of the Holy Trinity, which is shared and defined in Article 1 of our Articles of Religion; I fear that this edited creed represents a failure to be faithful to what The United Methodist Church believes," added Mcilwain.

Mcilwain also noted that, to his knowledge, his annual conference had never1999 when a man named Derrick came to her door and asked for "Junior." Pearson told him that no one by the name of "Junior" lived there. Thirty minutes later he came to her door again and asked for "Junior." She reiterated to him that no one by the name of "Junior" lived there. Pearson testified that Derrick, Paul Thompson, and Michael Graham then started shooting at her car and into her house. The damage to her car was about $4000. Pearson identified Peggy Wright as sitting in the backseat of the vehicle that the men drove during the occurrence.
Graham, Wright, and Thompson were tried together for discharging a firearm into a dwelling and malicious injury to personal property over $1000 but less than $5000. The same counsel


for him.
A Bench Warrant was issued for Thompson on September 11, 2000 and another was issued on May 17, 2001. During September 2001, Thompson went to a rehabilitation facility in Maryland for cocaine and alcohol addiction. He left the facility on November 19, 2001. He went to High Point, North Carolina and then to his uncle's house in Bennettsville. Thompson was tried on November 28, 2001. Thompson's brother testified that the family was only given fourteen hours notice of trial.
The judge determined that a lawyer would have been appointed for him if he had presented himself at trial:
THE COURT: Well, I can say here for the record if he would have been here like the other two defendants were, didn't have a lawyer, we would have appointed oneto counsel by his conduct because he was given reasonable time to secure counsel, he was financially capable of retaining counsel, and the court had done all it could to advise him to seek counsel. Id.
The facts in Jacobs are dissimilar to the case sub judice. Jacobs was present in the courtroom, he was financially capable of retaining counsel, the judge had repeatedly encouraged him to get an attorney, the judge continued the case at least on one occasion for him to retain an attorney, and he had the assistance of a public defender at trial. Jacobs is enlightening:
Appellant never expressly waived his right to counsel but the trial judge found that he was very capable of retaining counsel, that the court had done all it could do


Transportation and urban planning student/Member , MIT/TransitMatters About Ari Ofsevit Ari Ofsevit is a transportation planner with the Charles River TMA in Cambridge, which runs the EZRide Shuttle. He has won hackathons examining data from Hubway, late night MBTA service, and MassDOT real time highway traffic. About Ari Ofsevit Ari Ofsevit is a transportation planner with the Charles River TMA in Cambridge, which runs the EZRide Shuttle. He has won hackathons examining data from Hubway, late night MBTA service, and MassDOT real time highway traffic.

There are a number of other issues that make the feasibility of a Summer Street gondola unlikely, including significant resilience issues (any single issue along the line has the potential to put the entire line out), and an inherent inability to scale to meet92 acres of

wetlands and uplands that it uses for hunting and passive recreation purposes (the

Property). The Property is located 18 miles southeast of the City of Riverside, adjacent

to Mystic Lake, and shares a common boundary with the state-owned San Jacinto

Wildlife Area. The Mystic Lake area supports many species of amphibians, reptiles, and

birds, and is home to threatened and endangered plants and animals. The parties agree

the Property "is in a substantially undisturbed natural and open space condition and

possesses natural, open space and habitat values which are of great importance to the

people of the State of California . . . ."

       The Board is an independent state board within the Department, each of which has

its own distinct powers, purposes, and funding. (Compare Fish &


under state protection.

       On and off since 2008, the Board and the Duck Club discussed the state's potential

acquisition of a conservation easement over the Property. These discussions accelerated

after the County of Riverside in 2010 issued the Duck Club a conditional use permit

(CUP) that allows "the operation of a hunting club specifically limited to the southerly

two (2) acres" of the Property (the Club Property).4 The CUP acknowledged the

existence of 11 recreational vehicle (RV) parking spaces with patios, a tool shed, and a

well on the Club Property. It allowed the expansion of the existing facilities by adding to

the Club Property eight RV parking spaces with patios, two storage containers, 20

automobile parking spaces, two 7,500-gallon water storage tanks, a trap and skeet facility

area, and portable   4
      On January 26, 2011, the Board gave public notice that it would consider at its

February 24, 2011 public meeting whether to approve the acquisition of a conservation

easement on a portion of the Property. Paulek and a group known as Friends of the

Northern San Jacinto Valley (Friends), of which Paulek is a member and his counsel is a

board member, each submitted written comments on the project throughout February

2011. They challenged the Duck Club's use of lead shot on the Conserved Property, the

existence of the gate, and the conservation easement's inadequate protection of rare and

endangered plants on the Property.

      In mid-February, the Board and the Duck Club agreed on a final draft version of

the conservation easement


other to the Board's

exemption determination.

      On March 22, 2011, the Duck Club signed the final Conservation Easement.

      On February 24, 2012, the trial court heard Paulek's writ petition. During the

hearing, Paulek dismissed with prejudice his public-participation claim, leaving only his

exemption-related claim. The trial court concluded the Class 13 exemption applies and

Paulek "did not make a fair argument that the 'unusual circumstances' exception to the

categorical exemption applies." The court issued a statement of decision on April 25,

2012, and entered judgment in favor of respondents and against Paulek on May 14, 2012.

      Paulek timely appealed.

                                             7
exception applies because the use of lead shot in nonhunting activities,7 the Duck Club's

previous erection of a gate, and the presence of rare and endangered plants on the

Conserved Property are unusual circumstances that create a significant risk of adverse

effects on the environment. He also contends the Conservation Easement's incorporation

of the CUP's prohibition on the use of lead shot and the Board's consideration of the

Duck Club's removal of the gate constitute mitigation measures that rendered the

Conservation Easement ineligible for a categorical exemption. These arguments lack

merit.

A.       Legal Standards Applicable to Categorical Exemptions and Exceptions Under


websites.

Fransen, who was elected deputy leader of Britain First in autumn 2014, was also found guilty of wearing a political uniform in a public place. She was dressed in a green coat with a Britain First lapel and black beanie hat bearing the party’s emblem during the patrol, which Mellanby ruled was similar attire to the rest of the group and signified her association with the party.

Fransen was fined £1,000 for the religiously aggravated harassment and £200 for wearing a political uniform.

She was also ordered to pay £620 in costs – as well as a £100 surcharge – and issued with a two-year restraining order to prevent her from contacting Sharpe or engaging in intimidating behaviour towards her.

A further charge of failure to surrender to police bail wasMinnesota Vikings: Pants Around the Ankles

The Minnesota Vikings travelled to New Orleans hoping to chant their new mascot rendition of “Pants On the Ground” after winning the NFC Championship game Sunday.

Instead they returned home from New Orleans wearing their pants around their ankles after losing 31-28 to the opportunistic Saints in overtime.

The Vikings dominated the game against the Saints: They accumulated 217 more yards, the widest margin in NFC Championship history for a losing team, controlled the game clock for the majority of the game, (36 minutes to 24, excluding overtime), and held powerful Saints quarterback Drew Brees to just 17 completions and only 189 yards. As a team, the Saints had just 15 first downs for the entire game, three of them by penalty.

Brees, however, made the


brought to you by the Southern Arizona Roadrunners, is in the books!

It was beautiful morning at Buckelew Farms today for the 5K and FitKidz mile. Participants had a blast running the the pumpkin fields and corn maze and there were some fast times out there! As usual on a working Pumpkin Farm, the course was as close to a 5K as was workable and this was probably a little under 3 miles. No complaints were heard as this event is about fun, Pumpkins, dancing to the Monster Mash, running in costumes and running through a corn maze!

In the 5K, the women’s overall was won by Josephine Bush in a speedy time of 18:08, second place was Claire Hans in 18:34 and in third place was Kristina Bonet inbehavior of those variables into forecasts. And when statistical models inevitably fail to fully explain a forecast variable's history, forecasters supplement models' projections with their perceptions of what a broader business and economic history has taught them.

Even after the atypical Great Recession and the also atypical modest business recovery through 2013, forecasters still should not ignore earlier historical trends. Instead, the variations in this history should be a reminder of the economy's propensity for behavioral change. Moreover, history remains an inescapable necessity in understanding how the economy functions—a key to gauging the future.

_Numerous characteristics of U.S. economic history remain very relevant for contemporary forecasters. Business contractions_ , whether labeled as recessions or depressions, are the perhaps the most difficult and critical events to forecast. They entail especially high


particularly critical for career longevity in forecasting. It is crucial to remember the following, always: _Just because we don't know everything does not mean we don't know anything. We still know a lot_. The forecaster still can be helpful even when a specific forecast has gone awry.

When presenting a forecast, it is important to _outline risks and signposts_. Doing so helps to establish credibility that the forecaster is being diligent and thorough. Also, when a forecast is wrong, the audience will be less surprised than if it had not been warned about risks along the path to a specific projected future outcome.

In assigning _risks_ to a specific forecast, a simple approach is to list events that could influence outcomes on either side. For instance, interest rates will beByzantine medical manuscripts: towards a new catalogue, with a specimen for an annotated checklist of manuscripts based on an index of Diels' Catalogue.
Greek manuscripts containing medical texts were inventoried at the beginning of the 20th century by a team of philologists under the direction of Hermann Diels. The resulting catalogue, however useful it was when new and still is today, needs to be updated not only because some manuscripts have been destroyed, certain collections and single items have changed location, new shelfmark systems have been sometimes adopted and cataloguing has made substantial progress, but also because in Diels' time the concept of ancient medicine was limited, the method used in compiling data was not standardized and, in a time of manual recording and handling of information, mistakes could


not be avoided. The present article is an introduction to a new catalogue of Greek medical manuscripts. In the first part, it surveys the history of the heuristic and cataloguing of Greek medical manuscripts from the 16th century forward; in the second part, it highlights the problems in Diels' catalogue and describes the genesis and methods of the new catalogue, together with the plan for its completion; and in the third part, it provides a sample of such a new catalogue, with a list of the Greek medical manuscripts in the libraries of the United Kingdom and Ireland.polyethylene catheter (PE-50 tube; American Health & Medical Supply International Corp., Scarsdale, New York, USA) was inserted through the right jugular vein via a small transverse cut and then advanced into the right ventricle (RV) under the guidance of the pressure waveform. The catheters were filled with heparinized saline (10 U/ml heparin in 0.9% saline). The other end of the catheter was connected to a biosignal acquisition processor, and RVSP was directly measured using PowerLab monitoring hardware and software (AD Instruments, Colorado Springs, CO, USA). Next, rats were killed by cervical dislocation under anesthesia. The chest was opened, and the whole lungs and hearts were excised.

The lungs and body were weighed, and the lung weight (LW)/body weight (BW) was calculated. The left lungs were removed for histological analysis, and


Sunday, November 5, 2017

If you live in Boston, I'm sure you've visited the Boston Public Market, but did you know about The KITCHEN at Boston Public Market at the back of the market? The KITCHEN is managed by The Trustees, one of the largest owners and steward of agricultural land in Massachusetts and a founding member of Boston Public Market. The KITCHEN frequently holds hands-on cooking classes and educational experiences that highlight New England farmers, artisans, and chefs.
I recently got to attend a crepe making class with Saltbox Farm and the chefs from Saltbox Kitchen, their farm cafe in Concord, MA.
Since my mom was visiting me from Indonesia I took her along for the class.
Each table can fit four people and equipped with our own cutting boards, oneYnez Valley.

Second course is the Steamed Black Mussels in Red Curry Coconut Broth (find the recipe here)These mussels are certainly delicious and I can see why they are so popular at the restaurant. The curry broth is bold in flavor yet not too spicy. I'll definitely order this at Wilshire Restaurant. Here the dish was paired with a Sweeney Canyon Chardonnay.

We all came home with a swag bag filled among others with a bottle of 2004 Semler Cabernet Sauvignon and the newest Los Angeles magazine.

Saturday, June 20, 2009

Los Angeles Magazine has partnered up with Snyder Diamond to host a series of cooking classes called Culinary College. I was invited to attend their first class featuring Chef Patrick Healy from the Buffalo Club in Santa Monica.

The event is held


at the Snyder Diamond store in Santa Monica.

The night starts off with a selection of wines from LearnAboutWine. Ian Blackburn was there pouring the wines himself. We started with a nice chilled 2008 Dashwood Sauvignon Blanc, Marlorough, New Zealand and a 2004 Semler Cabernet Sauvignon, Malibu Mountain Estate.

The rest of the wine during the cocktail hour was paired with three hors d'oeuvres that Chef Bridget Bueche of Sub-Zero/Wolf was cooking in the showroom kitchen.Two of the three hors d'oeuvres focused on mushrooms:

King Trumpet MushroomPaired with a 2007 Mulderbosch Cabernet Sauvignon "Rose" Stellenbosch, South Africa.

Shrimp paired with a 2007 Gerhard Riesling, Kabinett, Rheingau, Germany.The Riesling was very sweet, perfect for a dessert wine. I noted to myself to find a bottle of this since I love sweet, dessert wines.

Thecooking class itself was set up in a back room at Snyder Diamond, where the tables for attendants have been beautifully set.This isn't a hands-on class but the recipes are provided as you follow chef Healy cooking at the mock kitchen.

Here's what chef Patrick Healy has to say about picking the right corn:

The first dish chef Healy made that night was this Summer Corn Pudding with Rock Shrimp Salsa w/ tomatillo sauce, paired with a 2006 Leasingham Dry Riesling "Magnus", Clare Valley.The corn pudding was dense and creamy, and it was great with the nicely spiced (but not spicy) rock shrimp in tomatillo sauce. I do love corn, so although I was late for my dinner, I waited to taste this dish and it was worth the wait.

Vanilla


or are believed to be in the public domain. Legitimate requests to remove copyrighted photos not in the public domain will be honored promptly. Comments by third parties are neither sponsored or endorsed by Bleacher Nation.

Bleacher Nation Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Bleacher Nation is a private media site, and it is not affiliated in any way with Major League Baseball, the National Football League, the Chicago Cubs, or the Chicago Bears. None of MLB, the NFL, the Chicago Cubs, or the Chicago Bears have endorsed, supported, directed, or participated in the creation of the content at this site, or in the creation of the site itself. It's just a media site that happens to cover MLB, the NFL, the Chicago Cubs, and the Chicago Bears.

Bleacher NationA Nova Scotia doctor has lost her privileges to treat opioid users at an inpatient detox unit in Pictou because she refuses to prescribe methadone, or what she calls a "medical monster."

Dr. Cathy Felderhof said people need more options, including long-term counseling, when trying to overcome their addiction other than resorting to the controversial synthetic opioid.

"It's taken the spotlight off of some of the root causes [of addiction]," said Felderhof of methadone.

A CBC Nova Scotia investigation has learned the Nova Scotia Health Authority shut down treatment for opioid users at the Pictou withdrawal unit last spring, after learning Felderhof had been operating without methadone for two years. The facility continues to treat people who are addicted to alcohol and other drugs.

No methadone policy

Felderhof, who has been a physician


the withdrawal unit was not following "accepted practice."

"It was safer to keep that unit running, but not for that particular target population," said Linda Courey at the time.

Courey said opioid users in Pictou County were being referred to the detox facility about 120 kilometres away in Springhill. At the time, Courey also confirmed to CBC the health authority was shifting away from inpatient detox for opioid users and putting more people on long-term methadone therapy.

Methadone is currently used both as a short-term treatment to help stave off discomfort or pain during withdrawal from opioids, and as medicine to ease cravings in people who have already gotten off the drugs.

Success on methadone

Shayne Nelson, 26, credits methadone for saving his life five years ago. In 2012, he spoke with CBCpart, for overseeing the claim by Missouri United School Insurance Council ("MUSIC") on its policy of insurance No. 83 XLS SC1375 for a fire occurring at the Dent Phelps R-III School District on January 30, 1992.
....
4. MUSIC notified Hartford that MUSIC wished Hartford to negotiate only with MUSIC on MUSIC's claim for this fire loss.
Absent from the affidavit, as it was from the rejection letter, is a claim by Hartford that the District's property was not covered by this policy.
From the foregoing, we conclude that Hartford interprets its policy as insuring the District's property while at the same time *921 insisting that policy terms mandate that Hartford negotiate and settle the claim with MUSIC only. Such position means that Hartford treats the term "Named Insured" as referring only


appeal includes the District's second amended petition, Hartford's motion to dismiss or for summary judgment, Hartford's memorandum in support of motions, and the District's memorandum in opposition to Hartford's motion to dismiss or for summary judgment. Attached to the District's memorandum are (a) Articles of Association of the Missouri United School Insurance Council and amendments thereto, (b) affidavit of Nancy A. Crampton, president of the District's board of directors, and (c) Hartford's letter of July 17, 1992, by Frank Bair, General Adjuster for Hartford, directed to Nancy A. Crampton.

In addition, pursuant to Rule 81.12(e), the parties' attorneys stipulated to the filing of a supplement legal file. It contains copies of five exhibits originally part of the District's second amended petition but omitted from the legal file and anComing to the Swedish postal service this spring: the face of Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

The Posten have announced that Ibrahimovic, Sweden's international superstar striker, will feature on a line of stamps to be released March 27.

Here's a preview of one of the stamps, via TheLocal.Se.

Ibrahimovic, 32, was apparently quite chuffed at the thought of seeing his face featured nationwide on a government-issued stamp. Imagine that.

From The Local:

"It's a great honour to be on a postage stamp and I'm very happy and proud to have been chosen," said Ibrahimovic on his personal app Zlatan Unplugged. The head of postage stamps with the Swedish post office told The Local that the superstar was keen on the project and took an active role. Ibrahimovic's image will appear on five different stamps and will


Tag Archives: protein muscle

In the NHL Finals recently, the Chicago Blackhawks beat the Boston Bruins in Game 6 to win the Stanley Cup. All of the players got a serious workout that day and as professional athletes they are well aware of the … Continue reading →NEW YORK – July 9, 2014 – The market for initial public offerings (IPOs) finished on a strong note late in the second quarter of 2014, recording the highest quarterly deal volume since the fourth quarter of 2007. Interest in new equity issues is expected to remain healthy heading into the third quarter, driven by continued investor demand for growth and a strong equities market environment, according to IPO Watch,a PwC US quarterly survey of IPOs listed on U.S. stock exchanges.

According to PwC, there were 89 public company debuts in the second quarter of 2014, representing $21.5 billion in proceeds raised. On an annual basis, this represents an increase of 41 percent over the 63 public listings in the second quarter of 2013, and a 63 percent increase


of the equity markets continues and the global economic recovery stays on pace, the total number of 2014 IPOs and proceeds raised may surpass 2013 levels of 238 new issuers and $57 billion.”

Healthcare and technology companies continued their high activity levels of the first quarter to lead the way in volume, and technology, consumer and energy companies raised the most proceeds. A large number of early-stage healthcare companies have also resurfaced in the IPO market, highlighting the importance of being well-prepared to take advantage of rapid changes in the IPO window.

With an average 9.2 percent stock price increase on the first day of trading, one-day IPO returns continued to perform well. In addition, aftermarket returns of IPOs in the second quarter of 2014 generated on average 20.3 percentrehabilitation, patients and associations, ICT solutions (the national RD registry) and platforms (the national contact point for rare diseases; NCP), national and international RD organizations, statistical agencies and the research community, existing national and international data sources, and the precisely defined rules of operation and work processes between these entities \[[@CR1]\]. As one of the main elements of the RD ecosystem, a RD registry in technological terms basically denotes a database of identifiable individuals containing a clearly defined set of health and demographic data collected for a specific public healthcare purpose \[[@CR5]\]. Registration, on the other hand, could be defined as the process of the continuous systematic collection of data on the occurrence and characteristics of the related healthcare phenomenon. Moreover, RD registries facilitate comprehensive surveillance of the


Slovenia is also one of the main concerns outlined in the "Work plan in the field of rare diseases in the Republic of Slovenia" from 2011 \[[@CR1]\] and formulated in the "Resolution on the National Healthcare Plan 2016--2025" \[[@CR13]\]. However, despite the unquestionable importance of the RD registry and initiatives from various international and supranational organizations, the legal basis for the establishment of the national RD registry was adopted only recently (19 April 2018). Consequently, Slovenia still does not have a functional RD registry. The RD registry was included in the proposed amendment to the Healthcare Databases Act \[[@CR14]\], which was finally adopted after a long period of legislative gridlock.

In view thereof, the aim of this paper is to explore the existing state of affairs concerning RDs, outlinethe development of the pilot RD registry (PRDR), and propose the establishment of a RD ecosystem in Slovenia. Accordingly, this paper primarily focuses on the following interrelated research objectives:an analysis of the current situation and identification of related systemic constraints and deficiencies in the field of RDs in Slovenia;development of the PRDR and conceptualization of the RD ecosystem in Slovenia.

Methods {#Sec2}
=======

Research design {#Sec3}
---------------

This paper employs a case study design to investigate the outlined research objectives concerning the current situation in the field of RDs, the development of the PRDR and conceptualization of the RD ecosystem in Slovenia. Fourteen focus group sessions were used as the main data collection technique and conducted from January 2016 to February 2017. The selection of the research method was based on the particularities


and analysts), and experts in public health (methodologists and statisticians).

Data collection {#Sec5}
---------------

The final goals of the focus group sessions were revised with the participants in line with their comments and suggestions, which helped to resolve some conceptual ambiguities. The participation rate in the focus groups was 100%; namely, all invited experts responded to the invitation and ultimately participated in the focus group sessions. The focus group sessions, which lasted approximately 90 to 120 min, were held on the premises of the UMCL. The directed and structured discussions were focused on the existing situation in the field of RDs in Slovenia and related problems, substantive, technological and organizational issues concerning the development of the PRDR, and priority actions at the normative and implementation levels. The participating experts had to identifyare based on the focus group discussions.

When designing long-term ICT projects, an applicable model of management and sustainable funding must be considered in the early planning stages. It often happens in Slovenia that only start-up and pilot project funds are ensured in the planning stage. Only afterwards are questions about long-term management, the role of specific stakeholders, and the organization of their work often raised, although these issues should have been included in the development activities from the very beginning. This also relates to the provision of funds for ensuring the financial sustainability of the project, as well as maintaining, upgrading, and developing the ICT solution in the future. Ensuring suitable resources is a key prerequisite for the effective development of the national RD registry and its successful


the end of April 2018 \[[@CR14]\]. The preparation of the amended Act was included in the regulatory work programme of the Government of the Republic of Slovenia for 2016, but since its adoption was not mandatory, all related activities were delayed \[[@CR28]\]. However, based on the current momentum in the field of RDs and the tremendous efforts of the authors of this paper, the amended Act was adopted before the end of that term, namely in June 2018. The adoption of an appropriate Act is crucial to this end, as it provides the required legal basis for the collection of data on patients with RDs and the establishment of the national RD registry.

Directive 95/46/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 October 1995 on theoutlined recent activities and projects in the field related to the potential development of the national RD registry. Unfortunately, an up-to-date strategic document and action plan in the field of RDs do not exist. Based on the strategic guidelines of the "Work plan in the field of rare diseases in the Republic of Slovenia" \[[@CR1]\], the two-year research project "Analysis and development in the field of rare diseases in Slovenia" was launched in October 2015. The scope of the project includes a detailed sectoral analysis, the design of a national system for monitoring RDs, and the development of the PRDR \[[@CR2]\]. In 2015, the Ministry of Health also launched a project for the creation of a website of the NCP for RDs, led by the Division of Paediatrics


of the PRDR itself and in its testing and final optimization. The construction of the PRDR was based on the open electronic health records (OpenEHR) methodology, which has become widely used to achieve semantic interoperability in healthcare and which was also used to create some analogous registries (e.g. the endoprosthetics registry) in Slovenia. This approach is "open" in terms of data, and the modelling and subsequent translation thereof into electronic form. The OpenEHR registry development methodology is based on the separate treatment of the clinical content and the ICT solution used for content management itself. The clinical content was planned, designed, and structured separately from the rest of the ICT solution development process. The point of this concept was that the clinical content preparation is done by clinicalRD registry, evidently requires the mobilization of all stakeholders, substantial funding, and the coordination of often conflicting interests within the healthcare system. This could present a major challenge for the effective long-term regulation of the field of RDs in Slovenia. However, due to recent developments, including the launch of the PRDR, and particularly the adoption of the umbrella law in this field, the overall situation concerning RDs looks more promising.

Notwithstanding the identified intricacies, the establishment of the RD ecosystem in Slovenia, including the national RD registry, undoubtedly represents a development opportunity that could efficiently connect different stakeholders, improve utilization of the already existing institutional capacities, and contribute to the improved healthcare treatment for all patients with RDs.

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