text:
Once the center of power for the large Austro-Hungarian Empire, Austria was reduced to a small republic after its defeat in World War I. Following annexation by Nazi Germany in 1938 and subsequent occupation by the victorious Allies in 1945, Austria's status remained unclear for a decade. A State Treaty signed in 1955 ended the occupation, recognized Austria's independence, and forbade unification with Germany. A constitutional law that same year declared the country's "perpetual neutrality" as a condition for Soviet military withdrawal. Following the Soviet Union's collapse in 1991 and Austria's entry into the European Union in 1995, some Austrian's have called into question this neutrality. A prosperous, democratic country, Austria entered the European Monetary Union in 1999.
Insider tip: A comprehensive description of Austria can be found in the free ebook "Country Studies - Austria".
Geography Austria
Location: Central Europe, north of Italy and Slovenia
Geographic coordinates: 47 20 N, 13 20 E
Area: total: 83,870 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Maine
Land boundaries: total: 2,562 km
border countries: Czech Republic 362 km, Germany 784 km, Hungary 366 km, Italy 430 km, Liechtenstein 35 km, Slovakia 91 km, Slovenia 330 km, Switzerland 164 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims - as described in UNCLOS 1982 (see Notes and Definitions): none (landlocked)
Climate: temperate; continental, cloudy; cold winters with frequent rain and some snow in lowlands and snow in mountains; moderate summers with occasional showers
Terrain: in the west and south mostly mountains (Alps); along the eastern and northern margins mostly flat or gently sloping
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Neusiedler See 115 m
highest point: Grossglockner 3,798 m
Natural resources: oil, coal, lignite, timber, iron ore, copper, zinc, antimony, magnesite, tungsten, graphite, salt, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 16.89%
permanent crops: 0.99%
Irrigated land: 457 sq km (2000 est.)
Natural hazards: landslides; avalanches; earthquakes
Environment - current issues: some forest degradation caused by air and soil pollution; soil pollution results from the use of agricultural chemicals; air pollution results from emissions by coal- and oil-fired power stations and industrial plants and from trucks transiting Austria between northern and southern Europe
Environment - international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants
Geography - note: landlocked; strategic location at the crossroads of central Europe with many easily traversable Alpine passes and valleys; major river is the Danube; population is concentrated on eastern lowlands because of steep slopes, poor soils, and low temperatures elsewhere
People Austria
Age structure: 0-14 years: 15.9% (male 665,680; female 633,560)
15-64 years: 68.1% (male 2,799,411; female 2,764,426)
65 years and over: 16% (male 518,748; female 792,937) (2004 est.)
Birth rate: 8.9 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
HIV/AIDS - deaths: less than 100 (2001 est.)
Nationality: noun: Austrian(s)
adjective: Austrian
Ethnic groups: German 88.5%, indigenous minorities 1.5% (includes Croatians, Slovenes, Hungarians, Czechs, Slovaks, Roma), recent immigrant groups 10% (includes Turks, Bosnians, Serbians, Croatians) (2001)
Religions: Roman Catholic 74%, Protestant 5%, Muslim 4%, other 17%
Languages: German (official nationwide), Slovene (official in Carinthia), Croatian (official in Burgenland), Hungarian (official in Burgenland)
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Government Austria
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Austria
conventional short form: Austria
local short form: Oesterreich
local long form: Republik Oesterreich
Government type: federal republic
Capital: Vienna
Administrative divisions: 9 states (Bundeslaender, singular - Bundesland); Burgenland, Kaernten, Niederoesterreich, Oberoesterreich, Salzburg, Steiermark, Tirol, Vorarlberg, Wien
Independence: 1156 (from Bavaria)
National holiday: National Day, 26 October (1955); note - commemorates the State Treaty restoring national sovereignty and the end of occupation and the passage of the law on permanent neutrality
Constitution: 1920; revised 1929 (reinstated 1 May 1945)
Legal system: civil law system with Roman law origin; judicial review of legislative acts by the Constitutional Court; separate administrative and civil/penal supreme courts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal; compulsory for presidential elections
Executive branch: chief of state: President Thomas KLESTIL (since 8 July 1992) note - will remain in office until 8 July 2004
head of government: Chancellor Wolfgang SCHUESSEL (OeVP)(since 4 February 2000); Vice Chancellor Hubert GORBACH (since 21 October 2003)
cabinet: Council of Ministers chosen by the president on the advice of the chancellor
elections: president elected by direct popular vote for a six-year term; presidential election last held 25 April 2004 (next to be held NA April 2010); chancellor traditionally chosen by the president from the plurality party in the National Council; vice chancellor chosen by the president on the advice of the chancellor
note: government coalition - OeVP and FPOe
election results: Heinz FISCHER elected president; percent of vote - Heinz FISCHER (SPOe) 52.4%, Benita FERRERO-WALDNER (OeVP) 47.6%
Legislative branch: bicameral Federal Assembly or Bundesversammlung consists of Federal Council or Bundesrat (62 members; members represent each of the states on the basis of population, but with each state having at least three representatives; members serve a five- or six-year term) and the National Council or Nationalrat (183 seats; members elected by direct popular vote to serve four-year terms)
election results: National Council - percent of vote by party - OeVP 42.3%, SPOe 36.5%, FPOe 10.0%, Greens 9.5%; seats by party - OeVP 79, SPOe 69, FPOe 18, Greens 17
elections: National Council - last held 24 November 2002 (next to be held in the fall of 2006)
Judicial branch: Supreme Judicial Court or Oberster Gerichtshof; Administrative Court or Verwaltungsgerichtshof; Constitutional Court or Verfassungsgerichtshof
Political parties and leaders: Austrian People's Party or OeVP [Wolfgang SCHUESSEL]; Freedom Party of Austria (also known as the Liberal Party) or FPOe [Herbert HAUPT]; Social Democratic Party of Austria or SPOe [Alfred GUSENBAUER]; The Greens [Alexander VAN DER BELLEN]
Political pressure groups and leaders: Austrian Trade Union Federation (nominally independent but primarily Socialist) or OeGB; Federal Economic Chamber; OeVP-oriented League of Austrian Industrialists or VOeI; Roman Catholic Church, including its chief lay organization, Catholic Action; three composite leagues of the Austrian People's Party or OeVP representing business, labor, and farmers and other non-government organizations in the areas of environment and human rights
International organization participation: AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 9, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMEE, UNMIK, UNMISET, UNOMIG, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU (observer), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Eva NOWOTNY
chancery: 3524 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008-3035
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador William Lee LYONS BROWN, Jr.
embassy: Boltzmanngasse 16, A-1090, Vienna
telephone: [43] (1) 31339, 31375, 31335
FAX: [43] (1) 5125835
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and red
Economy Austria
Economy - overview: Austria, with its well-developed market economy and high standard of living, is closely tied to other EU economies, especially Germany's. Membership in the EU has drawn an influx of foreign investors attracted by Austria's access to the single European market and proximity to EU aspirant economies. Slow growth in Germany and elsewhere in the world held the economy to 0.7% growth in 2001, 1.4% in 2002, and again less than 1% in 2003. However, recent data signal that the recovery has started. The government estimates economic growth in 2004 of 1.7-2.1% and of 2.5% in 2005. The government is planning a EURO 500 billion income tax cut in 2004, though some economists doubt it will have stimulative effects in 2004, because it will be offset by higher health insurance contributions and higher taxes on energy. For 2005, Austria plans a tax cut of EURO 2.5 billion and harmonization of the various pension schemes. To meet increased competition from both EU and Central European countries, particularly the new EU members, Austria will need to emphasize knowledge-based sectors of the economy, continue to deregulate the service sector, and lower its tax burden. A key issue is the encouragement of much greater participation in the labor market by its aging population.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $245.5 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 0.8% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $30,000 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 2%
Population below poverty line: 3.9% (1999)
Distribution of family income - Gini index: 31 (1995)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.2% (2003 est.)
Labor force: 4.3 million (2001)
Labor force - by occupation: services 67%, industry and crafts 29%, agriculture and forestry 4% (2001 est.)
Budget: revenues: $67 billion
expenditures: $70 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2004 est.)
Industries: construction, machinery, vehicles and parts, food, chemicals, lumber and wood processing, paper and paperboard, communications equipment, tourism
Electricity - production: 58.75 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 29.3%
hydro: 67.2%
other: 3.5% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption: 54.85 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports: 14.25 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports: 14.47 billion kWh (2001)
Oil - production: 20,670 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption: 262,400 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports: 35,470 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports: 262,000 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - proved reserves: 85.69 million bbl (1 January 2002)
Natural gas - consumption: 7.81 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports: 403 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports: 6.033 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves: 24.9 billion cu m (1 January 2002)
Agriculture - products: grains, potatoes, sugar beets, wine, fruit; dairy products, cattle, pigs, poultry; lumber
Exports: $83.45 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Exports - commodities: machinery and equipment, motor vehicles and parts, paper and paperboard, metal goods, chemicals, iron and steel; textiles, foodstuffs
Exports - partners: Germany 31.5%, Italy 9.3%, Switzerland 5.4%, US 4.9%, UK 4.9%, France 4.7%, Hungary 4.3% (2002)
Imports: $81.59 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Imports - commodities: machinery and equipment, motor vehicles, chemicals, metal goods, oil and oil products; foodstuffs
Imports - partners: Germany 42.6%, Italy 6.6%, Hungary 5.1%, Switzerland 4.8%, Netherlands 4.4% (2002)
Debt - external: $15.5 billion (2003 est.)
Economic aid - donor: ODA, $520 million (2002)
Currency: euro (EUR)
note: on 1 January 1999, the European Monetary Union introduced the euro as a common currency to be used by the financial institutions of member countries; as of 1 January 2002, the euro became the only legal tender in EMU member countries, including Austria
Currency code: EUR
Exchange rates: euros per US dollar - 0.89 (2003), 1.06 (2002), 1.12 (2001), 1.09 (2000), 0.94 (1999)
Communications Austria
Telephones - main lines in use: 3.988 million (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 6.415 million (2002)
Telephone system: general assessment: highly developed and efficient
domestic: there are 48 main lines for every 100 persons; the fiber optic net is very extensive; all telephone applications and Internet services are available
international: country code - 43; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) and 1 Eutelsat; in addition, there are about 600 VSAT (very small aperture terminals) (2002)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 65 (plus several hundred repeaters), shortwave 1 (2001)
Radios: 6.08 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 10 (plus more than 1,000 repeaters) (2001)
Televisions: 4.25 million (1997)
Internet country code: .at
Internet hosts: 367,933 (2002)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 37 (2000)
Internet users: 3.34 million (2002)
Transportation Austria
Railways: total: 6,021 km (3,552 km electrified)
standard gauge: 5,565 km 1.435-m gauge (3,430 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 34 km 1.000-m gauge (28 km electrified); 422 km 0.760-m gauge (94 km electrified) (2003)
Highways: total: 200,000 km
paved: 200,000 km (including 1,633 km of expressways)
unpaved: 0 km (2000)
Waterways: 358 km (1999)
Pipelines: gas 2,722 km; oil 687 km; refined products 149 km (2003)
Ports and harbors: Enns, Krems, Linz, Vienna
Merchant marine: total: 6 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 29,624 GRT/37,425 DWT
by type: cargo 4, container 2
registered in other countries: 34 (2003 est.)
foreign-owned: Netherlands 1
Airports: 55 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 24
under 914 m: 14 (2003 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 31
Heliports: 1 (2003 est.)
Military Austria
Military branches: Land Forces (KdoLdSK), Air Forces (KdoLuSK)
Military manpower - military age: 19 years of age (2004 est.)
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 2,066,467 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 1,699,384 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 48,981 (2004 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $1.497 billion (FY01/02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 0.8% (FY01/02)
Transnational Issues Austria
Disputes - international: minor disputes with the Czech Republic over the Temelin Nuclear Power Plant
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and South American cocaine destined for Western Europe


text:
You are here: Home / BlackBerry / Verizon Brings V Cast Video To The BlackBerry Storm… Finally
Verizon Brings V Cast Video To The BlackBerry Storm… Finally
August 21, 2009 by Robb Dunewood 10 Comments
Verizon has finally decided to offer its V Cast Video Service on the BlackBerry Storm. Starting today, Verizon BlackBerry Storm users with unlimited data plans can add V Cast Video to their devices for $10 per month.
BlackBerry Storm users can find V CAST Videos by going to the VZ Today link in their browsers, clicking on Get Apps, and selecting V CAST Videos to download the application.
If you aren't a BlackBerry Storm use, but, still want to get V Vast videos on your device, it looks like it may just be a matter of time. The press release says clearly that V Cast videos would be first available on the Storm, however, it didn't say anything about the Storm being the only BlackBerry device that the service would be offered on.
Read the full press release after the jump…
V CAST Video From Verizon Wireless Now Playing on BlackBerry Storm Smartphones
BASKING RIDGE, N.J., Aug. 21 /PRNewswire/ — Watching great television programs whenever you want just got easier as Verizon Wireless said today that its V CAST Video on Demand service is now available to BlackBerry(R) Storm(TM) smartphone customers. Beginning today, TV fans who don't want to miss episodes of their favorite shows can download the application directly to their BlackBerry Storm smartphones and start watching exciting video programming on demand.
V CAST Video now features more than 100 full-length programs from leading broadcast and cable networks, including some of the summer's favorite series and shows that will be premiering or returning this fall season. Programs, ranging from highly-rated drama and comedy series to reality programs and children's programming, are available on demand in easy-to-watch segments that appear on the phone soon after their original air dates.
V CAST Video also delivers live sporting events, including NHL hockey games and an upcoming slate of college football games, so people who are away from their television sets won't miss a minute of the action.
BlackBerry Storm smartphone customers are the first to enjoy V CAST Video on their Verizon Wireless smartphones. They can find V CAST Videos by going to the VZ Today link in their browsers, clicking on Get Apps, and selecting V CAST Videos to download the application. A V CAST Video icon will appear on the device's home screen, and customers can move it to the place that's most convenient for them.
V CAST Videos on the BlackBerry Storm smartphone features an updated design, making it easier for viewers to search for and watch the shows they want to see, as well as higher resolution video, taking advantage of the handset's enhanced multimedia capabilities. The search function has been made more prominent, giving customers the ability to find specific programs or channels quickly.
BlackBerry Storm smartphone customers with unlimited data plans can add V CAST Videos for a $10.00 monthly subscription.
V CAST Video Also Available On Many Feature Phones
Customers who have select V CAST-enabled feature phones can check out V CAST whenever they want for just $3.00 for a one-time 24-hour use or by signing up for the $15.00 V CAST VPak monthly subscription, which includes access to V CAST Video featuring more than 100 full-length programs from leading broadcast and cable networks, the Verizon Wireless ESPN MVP service, Get It Now(R), and Mobile Web services. Customers get unlimited basic video, but application download fees may apply for 3D games and premium video. There are no airtime or megabyte charges to download, stream or watch V CAST content with any V CAST subscription.
For more information about products and services from Verizon Wireless, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or visit www.verizonwireless.com.
About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable and largest wireless voice and data network, serving 87.7 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with more than 87,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). For more information, visit www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.
The BlackBerry and RIM families of related marks, images and symbols are the exclusive property and trademarks of Research In Motion Limited.
Filed Under: BlackBerry Tagged With: BlackBerry Storm, V Cast Videos
Get It Now, V Cast videos = verizon's monthly nickel and diming way to get video's you can already get over the internet for the cost of normal data service. LAME.
C'mon Rock, don't be so curmudgeonly. I think that a lot of folks might actually agree with you on this one. Instead being so "Bah Humbug", why don't you give a few examples of how people could do something similar for free?
Sparky says
If they would just get a browser or some way to get Hulu, I'd be in love.
nyr2k2 says
Yes, I would love to know how to watch NHL games on my Storm for free.
kernel32.dll says
Verizon provides my voice and data plans. I want nothing more from them.
Brandon N says
its good to hear VZW is expanding its offering to more devices. This may be a decent option for some folks, but I am happy with my Orb and tv tuner. I enjoy all of my live local cable channels programs while only paying the cost for the tv tuner hardware. Yes, my laptop does have to remain on and plugged in to enjoy live television, but if I step away for business the duty is passed on to my desktop comp. As stated, this may be a decent option for those who are not as tech inclined as others (or those who are not able to get the firewall and handset settings right for Orb). For others that seek an alternative option, Orb is another avenue to explore. Make sure to visit the website before going out and purchasing any equipment as the Orb software only wants to play nice with certain brands of tuners and handsets.
Installed it yesterday, does not work. Called tech support at Verizonwireless they pulled it. No date when it will be back up.
UPDATE: I REINSTALLED THE DOWNLOAD ON MY OWN AND IT'S WORKING GREAT!. I GUESS THIS VERIZON WIRELESS TECH DID NOT WANT TO WORK TODAY. SHE GAVE ME INFORMATION THAT WAS NOT TRUE. IT ALSO MAKES HER COMPANY NOT LOOK TO GOOD AS WELL WITH THE INFO SHE TOLD ME. SHE SAID THEY GOT IT UP AND RUNNING BUT IT DID NOT WORK. THEY DO NOT HAVE A DATE WHEN IT WILL BE BACK AND RUNNING.
Maybe she was just trying to save you money. You see a conscience is a tough thing to have for some people who work for verizon and "get it". As pointed out before Get It Now, V Cast videos = verizon's monthly nickel and diming way to get video's you can already get over the internet for the cost of normal data service.
Get It Now, V Cast videos, any and all of verizon's monthly nickel and diming ways is nothing but a desperate grab of control to keep customers within the walled garden where they can charge for things which are available free on the internet.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-pzBloyvAk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDvXaUH6NNo
The day is coming soon for the service providers to be shown for what they are, what we pay them to be, DUMB PIPES. Consumers have put up far too long with big red's games of crippling devices in the name of nickle and dime.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Andrew Lines vs The Herald
Complainant: Andrew Lines
Article: Boost for Settlers Park – New sponsors set to see rangers return.
Respondent: The Herald
This ruling is based on the written submissions of Mr A. Lines and The Herald newspaper, as well as on an informal hearing that took place in Port Elizabeth on October 28, 2011. The newspaper was represented by its editor, Heather Robertson, its news editor, Angela Gillham, and the journalist, Guy Rogers; Lines represented himself.
Mr Andrew Lines complains about a story in The Herald, published on April 21, 2011and headlined Boost for Settlers Park – New sponsors set to see rangers return.
In a 45-pages hand-written document, Line's chief complaint is that The Herald refused to use relevant information that was in the public interest that he had provided the newspaper with (implying bias), and in the process dishonouring an "agreement" to report and investigate his claims – all of which resulted in a story that falsely depicts the security situation in Settlers Park.
He adds that the:
photo and the caption are misleading; and
reference to security promises is deceptive to such an extent that the story in fact compromises citizens' safety.
The story, written by Guy Rogers, says that Settlers Park and the lower Baakens Valley in Port Elizabeth looked set to benefit from a new tranche of international funding and a new donor contract to relaunch the ranger protection project. It says that this has come "not a moment too soon", following a few recent attacks in the park.
I shall now look at the merits of the complaint:
Refused to use relevant information
The relevant clause in the Press Code regarding this part of the complaint is Art. 1.2.2 that states: "News shall be presented in context and in a balanced manner, without any intentional or negligent departure from the facts whether by…material omissions…".
Lines complains that he has given the newspaper relevant information that was in the public interest, which it refused to publish. He puts this "neglect" down to a friendly relationship between Rogers and Mr Morgan Griffiths from Fidelity Security Services (FSS). He adds that The Herald also dishonoured an "agreement" that it would report and investigate his claims.
In later correspondence, Lines elaborates on the reporter's alleged bias. He says that Rogers "vehemently objected" to any evidence that would inflict on FSS people, that he vouched for their good character, and that he did not investigate any "evidences" regarding the security situation at the park. Lines adds that, despite assurances by the newspaper to the contrary, Rogers has failed to take note of his side of the story. This, he says, has led to a story that falsely depicts the security situation at Settlers Park.
At the hearing, Lines explained that this "relevant information" mainly referred to negligent security control at Settlers Park.
The examples that he cited in this regard were:
A ranger had told a couple not to enter the park, and when they did, they were mugged – and said that no action had been taken against that ranger;
FSS sent the rangers on a course for a few days, leaving the park unattended and not notifying the public to this effect;
A warden slept on duty with his shoes off; and
Guards were not issued with two-way radios, as they should have been.
Lines said that he has presented Rogers with a complete folder, and remarked that the reporter was not interested in these matters.
Other "pieces of evidence" that he said The Herald did not publish were his statements that:
DA leader Helen Zille was a liar;
the DA's and the Municipality were not accountable (he says that those organisations have snubbed him when he tried to get information from them);
there was a corrupt relationship within FSS;
the Municipality and FSS had acknowledged guilt with regards to negligent security control;
there was a possible fraudulent contract involving FSS during the Soccer World Cup tournament; and
there were a lack of maintenance and waste management in the park.
Lines concluded that the newspaper's "agreement" that it will investigate "his story" has never materialized. He again also put the reporter's "neglect" to investigate and to publish down to bias, due to his "friendship" with Griffiths.
The Herald responds that it has afforded Lines "every chance" to have his concerns published. However, the newspaper says that Lines was "very prescriptive" in how he wanted Rogers to write the story – he even asked to be present when Rogers wrote the story "to ensure it was written correctly" (an allegation that Lines denies in later correspondence).
The newspaper says that Lines indeed has a valid concern as Settlers Park was not safe, and stressed that it has widely reported on various attacks in the area. However, it argues that it has struggled to find a fresh angle as Lines' concerns were not new. Still, the newspaper said that it had decided to speak with him, as well as with other stakeholders.
The Herald also explains that the majority of regular park users seemed to feel that the situation had in fact improved, and adds: "Mr Lines however seemed angered that other stakeholders had been consulted for the article and told Guy that it was his story and if others were to be involved he wanted no part in the article." (This, Lines also denies in later correspondence.) The newspaper argues that, in the interest of balance, it had to speak with as wide a group of (concerned) people as possible.
Rogers then offered Lines an opportunity to write a letter to the editor (which Lines denied, arguing that nobody would propose that he wrote a letter as there had already been an agreement that his side of the story would be published.)
At the hearing the reporter also said that he would like to convey Lines' opinions and stated that he had in fact first asked Lines for comment.
The newspaper concluded that Lines would not give information to its reporter unless he was allowed to say how the story would be written – so it was not privy to all the "evidences". (Lines denies this, saying that he verbally submitted "evidences" to Rogers who "declined to peruse such evidences" in contravention of the "agreement". He adds that he has in vain requested a meeting with the news editor.)
The Herald added that:
the "evidence" that Lines had presented was not evidence at all;
there was no "agreement" between itself and Lines;
Rogers knew Griffiths, but denied that they were friends (and that there was therefore no reason to be biased);
it had been struggling to find a new angle for a follow-up story;
it had been keen to get Lines' opinion, but that the latter had been vague; and
Lines was not quoted in the story in dispute, as he wanted to be the only source and did not want the story to include other people's views.
Of all the pieces of information that Lines said that he had provided The Herald with, the newspaper only admitted to four, namely that rangers were sent on a course (leaving the park without security), that a barefoot warden slept whilst on duty, that guards were not issued with proper radios, and that there was the possibility of a fraudulent security contract during the Soccer World Cup.
The Herald argued that the first two issues had already been dealt with and that it was therefore not newsworthy anymore – notices were put up to inform the public of the rangers' absence (albeit a few days later), and the barefoot, sleeping warden had been disciplined.
It added that the other two issues that it knew about did not warrant a story.
The implication of admitting to the four "evidences" mentioned above is that the newspaper could not be blamed for the others as it did not know about them.
The newspaper undertook to investigate FSS and, indeed, also to look at the greater picture regarding security matters in Port Elizabeth; it reiterated that it would publish a letter to the editor by Lines.
The Herald also provided me with quite a few stories that it has carried on the security situation at the park, indicating that it cared about the situation, that it did report on the park whenever something newsworthy cropped, and argued that it would continue to do so.
I am now going to consider the following:
Which information material to the story that was in the public interest did Lines provide the newspaper with that it did not publish;
Was there a friendly relationship between Rogers and FSS that cause him to report unfairly and unbalanced;
Was there a binding agreement, which the newspaper has subsequently dishonoured;
Does the story falsely depict the security station at Settlers Park.
I am first going to deal with the four issues that The Herald admitted to knowing about, after which I shall turn my attention to the rest.
I am willing to accept the newspaper's explanation regarding the rangers' absence and the barefoot, sleeping warden, as these arguments were reasonable – these matters have already been settled or attended to, and as such did not represent a news-worthy angle to a new story.
I also doubt if a lack of proper radios and a possible fraudulent security contract warranted a story – the first issue was not strong enough to compete successfully for space, and the other one was mere speculation.
The context of the story should also be taken into account. Lines may have been correct that the story falsely depicts the security situation in the park – if the story's purpose was to report on a comprehensive picture regarding security at the park. In that case, it would have been necessary to use some of or all of the "evidences" that Lines put forward at the hearing. However, the story does not purport to sketch such a comprehensive picture regarding security; instead, the newsworthy angle to the story is that Settlers Park was set to benefit from new international funding over the following two years.
I therefore do not believe that the newspaper has breached the Code regarding the matters that it admitted to knowing about.
Let me now take a look at the other "evidences" that Lines claims that the newspaper omitted, but of which it said that it was not aware of.
These are the:
allegation that Zille was a liar;
DA's and the municipality's "unaccountability";
alleged bias of Rogers;
matter of a "binding agreement";
"investigation" of the security situation; and
misrepresentation of the security situation at the park.
Firstly, Lines argues that Zille has earlier (in the election campaign) promised to make Port Elizabeth safe from crime, and says that this has not happened. From this, he deducts that she is a liar (as she has allegedly gone back on her promise, because crime was not stopped).
This argument does not hold water. If, for example, the Minister of Police promises that the Police will focus on the prevention of murder, and the very next day a few murders are committed, it does not make him a liar or means that he has gone back on his promise – he has not promised to stop all murders (which he cannot do, for obvious reasons), all that he has done is to undertake to do his best to stop murders.
The same applies to Zille – she has reportedly prioritized crime as something that the DA would fight against. She did not promise to stop all crime (which would have been ludicrous, anyway). If all crime is not stopped, it does not logically follow that she was lying when she identified this issue as a priority.
Lines also complains that he has contacted the DA and the Municipality for information, but that both have snubbed him. From this, he deduces that these organisations are not accountable, as they should be. He then blames the newspaper for not reporting their lack of accountability.
This argument is also not strong enough. Although I do not condone the alleged snubbing, I am not going to generalize – when an organization gives an individual a cold shoulder, it does not necessarily follow that it is not accountable to the public at large.
I do not think that it is necessarily newsworthy if that happens to a private individual, and I therefore do not blame the newspaper for not reporting this specific allegation.
I also take into account there may be many reasons why these organisations did not reply to Lines (if indeed they did not) – reasons that are unknown to me, because it falls outside the scope of my task to investigate them.
Regarding the reporter's alleged bias: Not only did the newspaper deny this allegation, but also judged by how Rogers denied this and the way he conducted himself throughout the hearing, I have no difficulty in accepting his bona fides in this regard. I could indeed find no basis for this part of the complaint.
Lines says that the "binding agreement" was verbal, but he also furnished me with an email by Robertson, dated April 14, 2011 to support his claim that there was an "agreement" or an undertaking by the newspaper to report and investigate his claims (a claim that the newspaper denies).
This email is all that I have to go on, so let me take a look at it.
Robertson's correspondence was in response to a request by Lines earlier that day to meet with her regarding reportage on the unsafe situation in Settlers Park. In his email, Lines also voiced his concern about Rogers being "friendly" with some stakeholders.
Robertson replied as follows:
Her reporters have to be unbiased, irrespective of their affiliations;
She has assigned the story to Rogers, and it is his responsibility to report fairly and accurately on the issues that Lines has raised;
"If you want your story published…I strongly urge you to work with him to get your story told"; and
She, and the news editor, will ensure that Rogers gets all sides to the story.
There are no signs of any "binding agreement" in this email, only an undertaking that Rogers will report fairly and accurately. The only "agreement" is that Lines will get his side of the story published – but only if he works with Rogers. This clearly is put as a pre-condition.
However, there is no indication that Lines was willing to work with Rogers – not in any documentation, not from our hearing, and not from his complaint. Given his complaint about the journalist's alleged bias, and the fact that, at the hearing, I had to prevent Lines from making a remark that I strongly suspected was heading towards an accusation regarding journalist's ability to report fairly and balanced, it is not reasonable for me to believe that Lines was willing to work with Rogers – and therefore, and also based on the email, I do not think that there was any "binding agreement" between the two parties.
As for the "investigation" that was possibly still to come: It is not for this office to dictate to the newspaper what future investigations it should or should not undertake. That is for the editor to decide. She has indeed indicated at the hearing that the newspaper would do a story on this issue.
Lastly, it is not as if the story paints a picture of (relative) safety in the park, as Lines alleges – not only does the re-enactment of the rangers imply that more/better security was needed, but the story itself also mentions that this comes "not a moment too soon", referring to "two bike-jackings by knife-wielding thugs reported in the valley in the past three weeks following on a bloody attack last month on a motorist sitting in his vehicle at the Target Kloof entrance to the park". The story also refers to the killing of a boy in the park in 2008.
Based on the above, it is not reasonable for me to accept that the story paints a picture of "relative safety".
From the rest of his allegations, only the one that the Municipality and FSS had acknowledged guilt with regards to negligent security control seems newsworthy to me. But again, I don't think that it is strong enough to provide an angle for a new story. Maybe the newspaper will include this as part of its envisaged story on the security situation in the city.
In conclusion: As was the case with the issues that The Herald admitted to knowing about, the ones that the newspaper denied any knowledge of also are not substantive enough to have represented a breach of the Code – even if it knew about these "evidences".
Picture, caption misleading
The picture shows four rangers on horseback, busy patrolling the area. The caption reads: "IN THE SADDLE…Patrolling on horseback in the Baakens Valley are (from left)…"
Lines complains that the picture and the caption portrays a false image – at the hearing he said that there were either no such regular patrols, or that these patrols were few and far between.
I note that he does not complain that the picture was staged, but only that it implied the false message that patrols were undertaken on a regular basis.
However, the caption does not say that patrols were undertaken on a regular basis; it merely states that these four people on horseback were patrolling on that specific day – which seems to be accurate. Moreover, the story suggests that the patrols will come in future, leaving the distinct impression that the patrolling rangers have not started with their work yet.
'Security promises' deceptive, citizens' safety compromised
The story mentions a "new donor contract to relaunch the ranger protection programme".
Lines complains that this is deceptive, as security promises have not yet materialized. He argues that the newspaper has miss-informed the public and that it failed to report "both sides of my story in public interest". He adds that the story in dispute is damaging to the park and constituted a life-threatening situation, as it does not portray the real situation.
In fact, at the hearing Lines actually accused The Herald for being at least partly to blame for the death of a murdered child (in the park); he alleged that the newspaper was not doing its duty to adequately inform the public of the security situation there.
I note that the information about a new donor contract is not in dispute. Also, it is clear from the story that the security situation has not as yet improved as indicated above (at least, not sufficiently so) – only that it is believed to be going to happen sometime in future. The story mentions a promise, which is by definition something that could not have materialized at the time.
It is therefore not reasonable to accept the accusation that the newspaper has miss-informed the public.
There is no sanction. The newspaper is free to publish (a summary of) this finding if it wishes to do so, without intervention from this office.
Please note that our Complaints Procedures lay down that within seven days of receipt of this decision, anyone of the parties may apply for leave to appeal to the Chairperson of the SA Press Appeals Panel, Judge Ralph Zulman, fully setting out the grounds of appeal. He can be contacted at Khanyim@ombudsman.org.za.


The Renaissance Workshop Company Ltd. (RWC) is the world's largest specialist manufacturer of historical instruments for early music, all based on existing originals or relevant iconography, meticulously researched and handmade in our own workshops by a small team of dedicated craftsmen who have many years experience.
We are engaged with early music and early music instruments. But developing a new project or instrument is quite costly. We do not want to make replicas of any instrument but only of the world best instruments. That implies paying copyrights, study the originals, getting the specific materials and tools, generate all the product documentation, making the prototypes, testing them by expert musicians, etc.
The company's success is mainly due to its founder Jonathan Askey.
If you want to compare the advantages and disadvantages of these three forms of getting an instrument or if you doubt if you will get a good instrument from a kit, please, read this article.
Early music festivals, instruments, performers, etc. Keep updated.
Although our company is based in UK, this website is edited by our Spanish team. Should you find any mistake, in the contents or in the English style, please let us know so that we can put it right. Thank you.
We pride ourselves in the quality of our work. Our craftsmen work in our own workshops to produce the parts for all our instruments, each one being carefully hand built to the highest standards.


tableaufans.com » How to write back data to Microsoft SQL Server, MySQL or SAP HANA?
Other than that we're always looking for feedback. So please give us an idea how helpful this blog post has been by leaving us a short comment below. Thanks a lot, Timo.


text:
Q: How to predict a univariate time series with Elman neural networks in R I have following time series on weekly basis
    Week      Value
    1         23456
    2         56787
    3         12546
    4         5564

Like wise I have data for 4 years.  I want to use Elman neural networks to predict the non-linear time series. I am facing the difficulty in data preparation for the following elman function.
elman(x, y, size = c(5), maxit = 100,
     initFunc = "JE_Weights", initFuncParams = c(1, -1, 0.3, 1, 0.5),
     learnFunc = "JE_BP", learnFuncParams = c(0.2), updateFunc = "JE_Order",
     updateFuncParams = c(0), shufflePatterns = FALSE, linOut = TRUE,
     outContext = FALSE, inputsTest = NULL, targetsTest = NULL, ...)

What should be the value of X and Y ? And while predicting for weeks ahead,how should I do it?

A: I am unfamiliar with elman, but I assume that x contains explanatory variables and y contains the data you want to forecast. This, at least, is standard in R.
For predicting, there is probably a predict.elman function, to which you will need to feed the values of the explanatory variable x. This is frequently a newdata parameter.
The help pages or any package vignettes should be helpful.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Description: These endangered animals will need some extra loving and care to make it to their new homes!
Instructions: Helicopters will deliver new arrivals to the waiting house. Transport the animals to their own pens by clicking on them, then tend to their needs: Health, Cleanliness, Happiness, and Food. When an animal's been tended to, a helicopter will transport it to its new permanent home. Patch up the number of animals shown in the top right to complete a level. If an animal dies, it will take 20 seconds off the timer.


Ezri returns to her home world when Chief O'Brien goes missing there. Tangled business dealings and fractured family dynamics make finding a missing person even more complicated.
New Sydney looks like the GOP's fantasy planet. Drill, baby, drill!
Nog returns to DS9 after receiving a replacement leg and convalescing with Starfleet medical. But some of his less outwardly apparent wounds still need healing, and he retreats to the holosuite as a result.
Huh huh huh. Fire! Huh huh huh.
Kira is whisked away from the station by an old friend to meet a cult of Bajorans and their unexpected leader - Gul Dukat.
Sisko and crew join a group of Starfleet soldiers struggling to hold a Jem'Hadar installation from recapture. They are pushed to the limits of their endurance by the long, grueling battle.
They are also pushed to the limits of human eyesight by the utterly drab and formless underground cave set.
Worf is approached by a living legend, Kor, in search of a final glorious command with the Klingons. But Kor's advanced age ends up proving a liability in battle.
Odo is lured to an alien moon with the promise of war intelligence, but gets more than he bargained for when he finds Weyoun, seeking to defect.
That's a spicy-a meat-a-ball (pepperoni)!
Bashir's genetically engineered friends bring Sarina to the station in the hopes that Bashir can cure her of her catalepsy. But Bashir must weigh whether to pursue a relationship with her when she comes out of her torpid state as a complete neophyte to romance.
You know what? The end IS near! Maybe we should start tying up some story threads?
Ezri struggles to decide whether her future lies aboard DS9.
Throw pillows haven't really advanced much in 300 odd years.
Season 4 saw some major changes in Voyager. Gone was one main cast member in Kes and new to the show was Seven of Nine. Episodes also took on a bit of a darker edge with a heavier emphasis on action. How did the show fare?
So much going on in this picture! Garrett Wang reveling in his "Hollywood's Sexiest Young People" magazine nod, Robert Beltran closing all the windows and shutting all the doors as he checks out for good, Roxann Dawson trying to hide something from the producers, Jeri Ryan trying not to pass out, Kate Mulgrew barely concealing her irritation... and Robert Duncan McNeill - what are you doing with your legs?
The crew, in a desperate search for fuel, comes to a Demon-class world, so named for how inhospitable it is to even entering orbit. They find a substance that should solve all their problems in the form of a mysterious liquid metal, but as usual, things are not necessarily what they appear.
People! This is no time to get jiggy in the Astrometrics lab!
A woman comes aboard claiming that she and Chakotay had fallen in love a few weeks before, but he does not remember meeting her.
Chakotay and What's-her-name stand in front of a totally forgettable nebula picture.
When Seven of Nine has a violent altercation with an arms dealer, questions begin to surface whether he previously assaulted her and erased her memory of it.
I mean, just look this guy, amirite?
Voyager finds a critically injured Hirogen who they take aboard in the hopes of mending a few fences. He is hunting an old foe...a Species 8472.


This is a thumbnail of the "Titles - Match the Spanish and English Phrases" page. Phrases: señor/Sr./Mr., señora/Sra./Mrs., señorita/Srta./Miss, don/D./Sir, doña/Dª, Dña/Lady, doctor/Dr./Doctor (male), doctora/Dra./Doctor (female), profesor/Prof./Professor (male), profesora/Profa./Professor (female). The full-size printout is available only to site members.


text:
Union Budget 2023-24 is Driving the Nation to AatmaNirbharta: Nitin Gadkari
Home/Sectors/Agriculture/PM Modi Assured Farmers for Getting Cabinet Approval For MSP
AgricultureLimeLightNewsSectors
PM Modi Assured Farmers for Getting Cabinet Approval For MSP
SMEStreet Desk Follow on Twitter Send an email July 2, 2018Last Updated: July 2, 2018
Prime Minister Narendra Modi assured farmers that the Union Cabinet would approve the implementation of Minimum Support Price of 150% of the input cost.
Interacting with a group of sugarcane farmers, Modi said Union Cabinet would approve the implementation of Minimum Support Price of 150% of the input cost, in its forthcoming meeting, for the notified crops of Kharif season 2018-19. This would ensure a significant boost to the income of farmers.
He interacted with a group of over 140 sugarcane farmers at Lok Kalyan Marg in New Delhi.
The farmers were from Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Maharashtra and Karnataka.
He also stated that within the next two weeks, the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) for sugarcane for the sugar season of 2018-19, will also be announced.
He said that this will also be higher than the 2017-18 price. It will also provide incentive for those farmers whose recovery from sugarcane will be higher than 9.5%.
The Prime Minister apprised the farmers about the various decisions taken to liquidate the arrears of sugarcane farmers. In the last seven to ten days itself, more than Rs. 4000 crore of arrears have been given to the farmers as a result of new policy measures enforced, the Prime Minister said.
He further assured the farmers that State Governments have been requested to take effective measures for liquidation of cane arrears.
The Prime Minister exhorted farmers to use sprinkler and drip irrigation, latest farming techniques, and solar pumps.
He urged farmers to install solar panels in their farms as a source of power, as well as additional income.
He called for emphasis on value addition of crops. He also urged them to use farm waste judiciously, as a source of nutrients and for additional income.
He exhorted farmers to aim for upto 10% reduction in chemical fertilizers by 2022
Agriculture Farmers MSP Narendra Modi
Mahindra Registers 26 Pc Automotive Sales Growth
June Manufacturing PMI Records Fastest Growth in 2018