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Previous Editions of Romania Background Note
Romania (04/06/11)
Area: 237,499 sq. km. (91,699 sq. mi.); slightly smaller than Wyoming.
Cities: Capital--Bucharest (pop. 1.94 million). Other cities--Iasi (309,000), Constanta (302,000), Timisoara (316,000), Cluj-Napoca (306,000), Craiova (299,000), Galati (291,000), Brasov (278,000).
Terrain: Consists mainly of rolling, fertile plains; hilly in the eastern regions of the middle Danube basin; and major mountain ranges running north and west in the center of the country, which collectively are known as the Carpathians.
Climate: Moderate.
Nationality: Noun and adjective--Romanian(s).
Population (2010): 21.49 million.
Annual population growth rate: -0.247%.
Ethnic groups: Romanians 89.5%, Hungarians 6.6%, Germans 0.3%, Ukrainians 0.3%, Serbs, Croats, Russians 0.2%, Turks 0.2%, and Roma 2.5%.
Religions: Orthodox 86.8%; Roman Catholic 5%; Reformed Protestant, Baptist, and Pentecostal 5%; Greek Catholic (Uniate) 1% to 3%; Muslim 0.2%; Jewish less than 0.1%.
Languages: Romanian (official). Other languages--Hungarian, German.
Education: Years compulsory--9. Attendance--98%. Literacy--97.3%.
Health: Infant mortality rate (2010)--11.32/1,000. Life expectancy--men 70.26 yrs., women 77.42 yrs.
Work force (2010): 9.72 million. Agriculture--3.0 million, industry and construction--2.8 million, services--3.3 million, other--0.3 million.
Constitution: December 8, 1991, amended by referendum October 18-19, 2003.
Branches: Executive--president (head of state), prime minister (head of government), Council of Ministers. Legislative--bicameral Parliament. Judicial--Constitutional Court, High Court of Cassation and Justice, and lower courts.
Subdivisions: 41 counties plus the city of Bucharest.
Political parties represented in the Parliament are: Social Democratic Party (Partidul Social Democrat--PSD); National Liberal Party (Partidul National Liberal--PNL); Democratic Liberal Party (Partidul Democrat Liberal--PDL); Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania (Uniunea Democrata Maghiara din Romania--UDMR); National Union for the Advancement of Romania (Uniunea Nationala pentru Progresul Romaniei--UNPR); Conservative Party (Partidul Conservator--PC).
Suffrage: Universal from age 18.
Defense (2010): 1.4% of GDP.
GDP (2010): $162 billion.
Annual GDP growth rate (2010): -1.3%; latest IMF 2011 growth forecast: +1.5%.
GDP per capita: $7,538.
Natural resources: Oil, timber, natural gas, coal, salt, iron ore.
Agriculture (2010): Percentage of GDP--6.0%. Products--corn, wheat, potatoes, oilseeds, vegetables, livestock, fish, and forestry.
Industry (2010): Percentage of GDP--26.4%. Types--machine building, mining, construction materials, metal production and processing, chemicals, food processing, textiles, clothing. Industrial output increased by 0.9% in 2008, decreased 5.5% in 2009, and rebounded with a 5.5% increase in 2010.
Services (2010): Percentage of GDP--47.6%.
Construction (2010): Percentage of GDP--8.9%.
Trade: Exports--$48.8 billion. Types--textiles, chemicals, light manufactures, wood products, fuels, processed metals, machinery and equipment. Exports to the U.S. (2010)--$734.0 million. Major markets--Germany, Italy, France, Turkey, Hungary. Imports--$61.2 billion. Types--machinery and equipment, textiles, fuel, coking coal, iron ore, machinery and equipment, and mineral products. Imports from the U.S. (2010)--$750.4 million. Major suppliers--Germany, Italy, Hungary, France, China.
Exchange rate (March 2011): 3.01 new Lei=U.S. $1.
Extending inland halfway across the northern limits of the Balkan Peninsula and covering a large elliptical area of 237,499 square kilometers (91,699 sq. mi.), Romania occupies the greater part of the lower basin of the Danube River system and the hilly eastern regions of the middle Danube basin. It lies on either side of the mountain systems collectively known as the Carpathians, which form the natural barrier between the two Danube basins.
Romania's location gives it a continental climate, particularly in Moldavia and Wallachia (geographic areas east of the Carpathians and south of the Transylvanian Alps, respectively) and to a lesser extent in centrally located Transylvania, where the climate is more moderate. A long and at times severe winter (December-March), a hot summer (April-July), and a prolonged autumn (August-November) are the principal seasons, with a rapid transition from spring to summer. In Bucharest, the daily minimum temperature in January averages -7oC (20oF), and the daily maximum temperature in July averages 29oC (85oF).
About 89% of the people are ethnic Romanians, a group that--in contrast to its Slav or Hungarian neighbors--traces itself to Latin-speaking Romans, who in the second and third centuries A.D. conquered and settled among the ancient Dacians, a Thracian people. As a result, the Romanian language, although containing elements of Slavic, Turkish, and other languages, is a Romance language related to French and Italian.
Hungarians and Roma are the principal minorities, with a declining German population and smaller numbers of Serbs, Croats, Ukrainians, Greeks, Turks, Armenians, Great Russians, and others. Minority populations are greatest in Transylvania and the Banat, areas in the north and west, which belonged to the Austro-Hungarian Empire until World War I. Even before union with Romania, ethnic Romanians comprised the overall majority in Transylvania. However, ethnic Hungarians and Germans were the dominant urban population until relatively recently, and ethnic Hungarians still are the majority in a few districts.
Before World War II, minorities represented more than 28% of the total population. During the war that percentage was halved, largely by the loss of the border areas of Bessarabia and northern Bukovina (to the former Soviet Union--now Moldova and a portion of southwest Ukraine) and southern Dobruja (to Bulgaria), as well as by the postwar flight or deportation of ethnic Germans. In the last several decades, more than two-thirds of the remaining ethnic Germans in Romania emigrated to Germany.
Romanian troops during World War II participated in the destruction of the Jewish communities of Bessarabia and Transnistria (both now comprising the independent Republic of Moldova) and northern Bukovina (now part of Ukraine). Jews in areas now comprising Romania also were subject to harsh persecution, including government-sanctioned pogroms and killings, and about 30% did not survive the Holocaust. Mass emigration, mostly to Israel, has reduced the surviving Jewish community from over 300,000 to less than 10,000.
Religious affiliation tends to follow ethnic lines, with most ethnic Romanians identifying with the Romanian Orthodox Church. Also ethnically Romanian is the Greek Catholic or Uniate Church, reunified with the Orthodox Church by fiat in 1948, and restored after the 1989 revolution. The 2002 census indicates that 1%-3% of the population is Greek Catholic, as opposed to about 10% prior to 1948. Roman Catholics, largely ethnic Hungarians and Germans, constitute about 5% of the population; Calvinists, Baptists, Pentecostals, and Lutherans make up another 5%. There are smaller numbers of Unitarians, Muslims, and other religions.
Romania's cultural traditions have been nourished by many sources, some of which predate the Roman occupation. The traditional folk arts, including dance, music, wood-carving, ceramics, weaving and embroidery of costumes and household decorations still flourish in many parts of the country. Despite strong Austrian, German, and especially French influence, many of Romania's great artists, such as the painter Nicolae Grigorescu, the poet Mihai Eminescu, the composer George Enescu, and the sculptor Constantin Brancusi, drew their inspiration from Romanian folk traditions.
The country's many Orthodox monasteries, as well as the Transylvanian Catholic and Evangelical Churches, some of which date back to the 13th century, are repositories of artistic treasures. The famous painted monasteries of southern (Romanian) Bukovina make an important contribution to European architecture.
Poetry and the theater play an important role in contemporary Romanian life. Classic Romanian plays, such as those of Ion Luca Caragiale, as well as works by modern or avant-garde Romanian and international playwrights, find sophisticated and enthusiastic audiences in the many theaters of the capital and smaller cities.
Since about 200 B.C., when it was settled by the Dacians, a Thracian tribe, Romania has been in the path of a series of migrations and conquests. Under the emperor Trajan early in the second century A.D., Dacia was incorporated into the Roman Empire, but was abandoned by a declining Rome less than 2 centuries later. Romania disappeared from recorded history for hundreds of years, to reemerge in the medieval period as the Principalities of Moldavia and Wallachia. Heavily taxed and badly administered under the Ottoman Empire, the two principalities were unified under a single native prince, Alexandru Ioan Cuza, in 1859, and had their full independence ratified in the 1878 Treaty of Berlin. A German prince, Carol of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen, was crowned the first King of Romania in 1881.
The new state, squeezed between the Ottoman, Austro-Hungarian, and Russian Empires, looked to the West, particularly France, for its cultural, educational, and administrative models. Romania was an ally of the Entente Powers and the U.S. in World War I, and was granted substantial territories with Romanian populations, notably Transylvania, Bessarabia, and Bukovina, after the war.
Most of Romania's pre-World War II governments maintained the forms, but not always the substance, of a liberal constitutional monarchy. The virulently anti-Semitic and Fascist Iron Guard movement, exploiting a quasi-mystical nationalism, fear of communism, and resentment of alleged foreign and Jewish domination of the economy, was a key destabilizing factor, which led to the creation of a royal dictatorship in 1938 under King Carol II. In 1940, the authoritarian General Antonescu took control and pursued pro-Nazi, anti-Semitic policies similar to those advocated by the Iron Guard. Romania entered World War II on the side of the Axis Powers in June 1941, invading the Soviet Union to recover Bessarabia and Bukovina, which had been annexed in 1940.
In August 1944, a coup led by King Mihai (Michael), with support from opposition politicians and the army, deposed the Antonescu dictatorship and put Romania's battered armies on the side of the Allies. Romania incurred additional heavy casualties fighting alongside the Soviet Union against the Germans in Transylvania, Hungary, and Czechoslovakia.
A peace treaty, signed in Paris on February 10, 1947, confirmed the Soviet annexation of Bessarabia and northern Bukovina, but restored the part of northern Transylvania granted to Hungary in 1940 by Hitler. The treaty also required massive war reparations by Romania to the Soviet Union, whose occupying forces did not leave until 1958.
According to the officially recognized 2004 Wiesel Commission report, Romanian authorities were responsible for the deaths of between 280,000 and 380,000 Romanian and Ukrainian Jews in the territories under Romanian jurisdiction (including Bessarabia, Bukovina, and Transnistria) out of a population of approximately 760,000. In addition, 132,000 Romanian Jews were killed by the pro-Nazi Hungarian authorities in the area of Transylvania that the Nazi government had placed in Hungarian control at the time.
The Soviets pressed for inclusion of Romania's heretofore negligible Communist Party in the post-war government, while non-communist political leaders were steadily eliminated from political life. King Mihai abdicated under pressure in December 1947, when the Romanian People's Republic was declared, and went into exile.
By the late 1950s, Romania's communist government began to assert some independence from the Soviet Union. Nicolae Ceausescu became head of the Communist Party in 1965 and head of state in 1967. Ceausescu's denunciation of the 1968 Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia and a brief relaxation in internal repression helped give him a positive image both at home and in the West. Seduced by Ceausescu's "independent" foreign policy, Western leaders were slow to turn against a regime that, by the late 1970s, had become increasingly harsh, arbitrary, and capricious. Rapid economic growth fueled by foreign credits gradually gave way to economic autarchy accompanied by wrenching austerity and severe political repression.
After the collapse of communism in the rest of Eastern Europe in the late summer and fall of 1989, a mid-December protest in Timisoara against the forced relocation of an ethnic Hungarian pastor grew into a country-wide protest against the Ceausescu regime, sweeping the dictator from power. Ceausescu and his wife were executed on December 25, 1989, after a cursory military trial. About 1,500 people were killed in confused street fighting. An impromptu governing coalition, the National Salvation Front (FSN), installed itself and proclaimed the restoration of democracy and freedom. The Communist Party was dissolved and its assets transferred to the state. Ceausescu's most unpopular measures, such as bans on private commercial entities and independent political activity, were repealed.
Ion Iliescu, a former Communist Party official demoted by Ceausescu in the 1970s, emerged as the leader of the FSN. Presidential and parliamentary elections were held on May 20, 1990. Running against representatives of the pre-war National Peasants' Party and National Liberal Party (PNL), Iliescu won 85% of the vote. The FSN captured two-thirds of the seats in Parliament (66.31% of the votes), and named a university professor, Petre Roman, as prime minister. The strongest parties in opposition in the election were the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania (UDMR) with 7.23% of the votes, and the National Liberal Party with 6.41%. The new government began cautious free-market reforms such as opening the economy to consumer imports and establishing the independence of the National Bank.
Over 200 new political parties sprang up after 1989, gravitating around personalities rather than programs. All major parties espoused democracy and market reforms, with the governing National Salvation Front proposing slower, more cautious economic reforms. In contrast, the opposition's main parties--the National Liberal Party and the National Peasant-Christian Democrat Party (PNTCD)--favored quick, sweeping reforms, immediate privatization, and reducing the role of the ex-communist elite. Nevertheless, the legacy of 44 years of communist rule could not be eliminated quickly. Membership in the Romanian Communist Party usually had been the prerequisite for higher education, foreign travel, or a good job, while the extensive internal security apparatus had subverted normal social and political relations. To the few active dissidents, who suffered gravely under Ceausescu and his predecessors, many of those who came forward as politicians after the revolution seemed tainted by association with the previous regime.
Unhappy at the continued political and economic influence of members of the Ceausescu-era elite, anti-communist protesters camped out in University Square in April 1990. When miners from the Jiu Valley descended on Bucharest 2 months later and brutally dispersed the remaining "hooligans," President Iliescu expressed public thanks, thus convincing many that the government had sponsored the miners' actions. The miners also attacked the headquarters and houses of opposition leaders. Petre Roman's government fell in late September 1991, when the miners returned to Bucharest to demand higher salaries and better living conditions. Theodor Stolojan was appointed to head an interim government until new elections could be held.
Parliament drafted a new democratic constitution, approved by popular referendum in December 1991. The FSN split into two groups, one led by Ion Iliescu (FDSN) and the other by Petre Roman (FSN), in March 1992. Roman's party subsequently adopted the name Democratic Party (PD), and the FDSN became the Party of Social Democracy of Romania (PDSR) in July 1993.
National elections in September 1992 returned President Iliescu by a clear majority; he easily won reelection over a field of five other candidates. His party, the FDSN, won a plurality in both chambers of Parliament. The 1992 elections revealed a continuing political cleavage between major urban centers and the countryside. Rural voters, who were grateful for the restoration of most agricultural land to farmers but fearful of change, strongly favored President Ion Iliescu and the FDSN, while the urban electorate favored the CDR (a coalition made up of several parties--among which the PNTCD and the PNL were the strongest--and civic organizations) and quicker reform. With the CDR, the second-largest parliamentary group, reluctant to take part in a national unity coalition, the FDSN formed a technocratic government in November 1992 under Prime Minister Nicolae Vacaroiu, an economist, with parliamentary support from the nationalist Party of Romanian National Unity (PUNR) and Greater Romania Party (PRM), and the ex-communist Socialist Labor Party (PSM). PRM and PSM left the government in October and December 1995, respectively, and all three smaller parties had abandoned the coalition by the time elections were held in November 1996.
The 1996 local elections demonstrated a major shift in the political orientation of the Romanian electorate. Opposition parties swept Bucharest and many of the larger cities. This trend continued in the national elections that same year, when the opposition dominated the cities and made deep inroads into rural areas up until then dominated by President Iliescu and the PDSR, which lost many voters in their traditional strongholds outside Transylvania. The campaign of the opposition hammered away on the twin themes of the need to squelch corruption and to launch economic reform. The message resonated with the electorate, which swept Emil Constantinescu and parties allied with him to power in free and fair presidential and parliamentary elections. The coalition government formed in December 1996 took the historic step of inviting the Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania (UDMR) and its Hungarian ethnic backers into government. The coalition government retained power for 4 years despite constant internal frictions and going through three prime ministers, the last being the Governor of the National Bank, Mugur Isarescu.
In elections in November 2000, the electorate punished the coalition parties for their corruption and failure to improve the standard of living. The PDSR came back into power, albeit as a minority government. In the concurrent presidential elections, former President Ion Iliescu decisively defeated the extreme nationalist Greater Romania Party (PRM) leader Corneliu Vadim Tudor. The PDSR was renamed PSD--Social Democratic Party--at a June 16, 2001 congress after it merged with the tiny yet historical Romanian Social Democratic Party.
The PSD government, led by Prime Minister Adrian Nastase, forged a de facto governing coalition with the ethnic Hungarian UDMR, ushering in 4 years of relatively stable government. The PSD guided Romania toward greater macroeconomic stability, although endemic corruption remained a major problem. In September 2003, the center-right National Liberal Party (PNL) and centrist Democratic Party (PD) formed an alliance at a national and local level in anticipation of the 2004 local and national elections, and Romania moved closer to a political system dominated by two large political blocs.
In October 2003, citizens voted in favor of major amendments to the constitution in a nationwide referendum to bring Romania's organic law into compliance with European Union standards.
On November 28, 2004, Romania again held parliamentary and the first round of presidential elections. In the December 12 presidential run-off election, former Bucharest Mayor Traian Basescu, representing the center-right PNL/PD alliance, delivered a surprise defeat to PSD candidate Nastase. Basescu appointed PNL leader Calin Popescu-Tariceanu as prime minister, whose government was approved by the Parliament on December 28, 2004.
This coalition unraveled by April 2007 due to enmity between the president and prime minister. From 2007 until December 2008, former Prime Minister Tariceanu's PNL ran an ultra-minority government in coalition with the UDMR and tacit support of the PSD. Following parliamentary elections on November 30, 2008, in which the Democratic Liberal Party (PDL) and PSD virtually tied, a majority PDL/PSD coalition led by PDL Prime Minister Emil Boc governed until October 2009, when it disbanded. The PDL ruled as a caretaker government until a new coalition government was formed in December 2009, made up of the PDL, UDMR, and some National Union for the Advancement of Romania (UNPR) members and independents.
Presidential elections were held in November 2009. Since no candidate garnered a majority of the votes of eligible voters, the top two vote getters--incumbent President Traian Basescu and Senate President Mircea Geoana (PSD)--went on to a second-round runoff. The December 2009 runoff election resulted in a narrow victory for Basescu, who was inaugurated later that month for a second 5-year term.
Romania's 1991 constitution proclaims Romania a democracy and market economy, in which human dignity, civic rights and freedoms, the unhindered development of human personality, justice, and political pluralism are supreme and guaranteed values. The constitution directs the state to implement free trade, protect the principle of competition, and provide a favorable framework for production. The constitution provides for a president, a Parliament, a Constitutional Court, and a separate system of ordinary courts that includes a Supreme Court.
The two-chamber Parliament, consisting of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate, is the law-making authority. Deputies and senators are elected for 4-year terms by universal suffrage. The president, mayors, and county council presidents are elected individually; members of Parliament are elected under a mixed election system (majority and proportional); and local and county council members are elected on party slates, in proportion to party choices made by the electorate.
The president is elected by popular vote for a maximum of two terms. The length of the term was extended from 4 to 5 years in an October 2003 constitutional referendum. He is the head of state, charged with safeguarding the constitution, foreign affairs, and the proper functioning of public authorities. He is the commander-in-chief of the armed forces and chairman of the Supreme Defense Council. According to the constitution, he acts as mediator among the power centers within the state, as well as between the state and society. The president nominates the prime minister, who in turn appoints the government, which must be confirmed by a vote of confidence from Parliament.
The Constitutional Court adjudicates the constitutionality of challenged laws and decrees. The court consists of nine judges, appointed for non-concurrent terms of 9 years. Three judges are appointed by the Chamber of Deputies, three by the Senate, and three by the president of Romania.
The Romanian legal system is based on the Napoleonic Code. The judiciary is to be independent, and judges appointed by the president are not removable. The president and other judges of the High Court of Cassation and Justice are appointed for terms of 6 years and may serve consecutive terms. Proceedings are public, except in special circumstances provided for by law.
The Ministry of Justice represents "the general interests of society" and defends the legal order as well as citizens' rights and freedoms. The ministry is to discharge its powers through independent, impartial public prosecutors.
For territorial and administrative purposes, Romania is divided into 41 counties and the city of Bucharest. Each county is governed by an elected county council. Local councils and elected mayors are the public administration authorities in villages and towns. The county council is the public administration authority that coordinates the activities of all village and town councils in a county.
The central government appoints a prefect for each county and the Bucharest municipality. The prefect is the representative of the central government at the local level and directs any public services of the ministries and other central agencies at the county level. A prefect may block the action of a local authority if he deems it unlawful or unconstitutional. The matter is then decided by an administrative court.
Under legislation in effect since January 1999, local councils have control over the spending of their allocations from the central government budget, as well as authority to raise additional revenue locally.
President of Romania--Traian Basescu
Prime Minister--Emil Boc
Minister of Foreign Affairs--Teodor Baconschi
Other Ministers
Minister of Regional Development and Tourism--Elena Udrea
Minister of Justice--Catalin Predoiu
Minister of Defense--Gabriel Oprea
Minister of Administration and Interior--Traian Igas
Minister of Economy, Trade and Business Climate--Ion Ariton
Minister of Public Finance--Gheorghe Ialomitianu
Minister of Labor, Family and Social Protection--Nelu Ioan Botis
Minister of Agriculture, Forests, and Rural Development--Valeriu Tabara
Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure--Anca Boagiu
Minister of Education, Research, Youth and Sports--Daniel Petru Funeriu
Minister of Culture and National Heritage--Kelemen Hunor
Minister of Public Health--Cseke Attila
Minister of Communication and Information Technology--Valerian Vreme
Minister of Environment--Laszlo Borbely
Romania maintains an embassy in the United States at 1607 23rd St., NW, Washington, DC 20008 (tel. 202-332-4846 or 202-332-4848; fax: 202-232-4748).
November 2008 parliamentary elections resulted in a virtual tie between the center-right PDL and the center-left PSD, with each holding between 34%-37% of the seats in each chamber. The ruling center-right PNL finished a distant third, and PNL Prime Minister Calin Tariceanu resigned. After intense negotiations among various configurations of the PDL, PSD, and PNL, a majority PDL/PSD coalition government was formed in December 2008 with Emil Boc as new prime minister. Among the new government's top priorities were addressing the effects of global economic turmoil on Romania's economic development, and coping with significant fiscal challenges facing the Romanian Government's budget.
In October 2009, the PNL, PSD, and the Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania (UDMR) filed a no-confidence motion after Prime Minister Boc dismissed Deputy Prime Minister/Interior Minister Dan Nica of the PSD. The no-confidence motion carried, ousting Boc's minority government, and marking the first time since the revolution of 1989 that a no-confidence motion toppled a Romanian government. However, difficulty in nominating and approving a new cabinet allowed Boc to remain in power as a caretaker through both the November and December 2009 rounds of the presidential election.
Concerns over Romania's economic situation dominated the November 2009 presidential election, contested by incumbent Traian Basescu of the PDL, Mircea Geoana of the PSD, and Crin Antonescu of the PNL. Basescu (32.8%) and Geoana (29.8%) advanced to the second round of elections in December. Despite charges of electoral irregularities, the Constitutional Court certified Basescu the winner over Geoana by 0.7%, or 70,000 votes. Following his victory, Basescu asked acting Prime Minister Boc to again form a new cabinet. The Parliament approved the new government in late December, alleviating 2 months of political instability. Dedicated to modernization, education, and judicial and government reform, the Basescu administration's main focus remains Romania's continued recovery from economic recession.
Romania has made great progress in institutionalizing democratic principles, civil liberties, and respect for human rights since the 1989 revolution. Political parties represent a broad range of views and interests, and elected officials and other public figures freely express their views. Civil society watchdog groups remain relatively small but have grown in influence. The press is free and outspoken, although there have been incidents of politically motivated intimidation and even violence against journalists and media management, particularly prior to the 2004 national elections. Independent radio networks have proliferated, and several private television networks now operate nationwide. In addition, a large number of local private television networks have emerged.
Through support of or participation in consecutive government coalitions, the UDMR has ensured the continuing influence of the ethnic Hungarian minority in national government, and presently serves as part of the ruling coalition government. Consecutive governments have sought to improve the socio-economic situation of the Roma minority, which continues to suffer from severe poverty in many areas and from discrimination. According to government statistics Roma officially represent 2.5% of the population, although Romani organizations claim the figure may be as high as 10%.
The restitution of private and religious property seized under communism or during World War II continues to move very slowly. Particularly problematic is the return of Greek-Catholic churches, which were given to the Romanian Orthodox Church by the communist regime. The Romanian Orthodox Church thus far has turned over very few of these churches, many of which had belonged to the Greek Catholic community for hundreds of years. Romania has repealed communist-era legislation criminalizing homosexual acts and banned xenophobic and racist groups and their activities. Romanian law does not prohibit women's participation in government or politics, but societal attitudes remain a significant barrier. Women hold some high positions in government and roughly 10% of the seats in each chamber in the Parliament.
Romania is a country of considerable potential: rich agricultural lands, diverse energy sources (coal, oil, natural gas, hydro, and nuclear), a substantial industrial base encompassing almost the full range of manufacturing activities, an educated work force, and opportunities for expanded development in tourism on the Black Sea and in the Carpathian Mountains.
The Romanian Government borrowed heavily from the West in the 1970s to build a substantial state-owned industrial base. Following the 1979 oil price shock and a debt rescheduling in 1981, Ceausescu decreed that Romania would no longer be subject to foreign creditors. By the end of 1989, Romania had paid off a foreign debt of about $10.5 billion through an unprecedented effort that wreaked havoc on the economy and living standards. Vital imports were slashed and food and fuel strictly rationed, while the government exported everything it could to earn hard currency. With investment slashed, Romania's infrastructure fell behind its historically poorer Balkan neighbors.
Since the fall of the Ceausescu regime in 1989, successive governments sought to build a Western-style market economy. The pace of restructuring was slow, but by 1994 the legal basis for a market economy was largely in place. After the 1996 elections, the coalition government attempted to eliminate consumer subsidies, float prices, liberalize exchange rates, and put in place a tight monetary policy. The Parliament enacted laws permitting foreign entities incorporated in Romania to purchase land. Foreign capital investment in Romania had been increasing rapidly until 2008, although it remained less in per capita terms than in some other countries of East and Central Europe.
Romania was the largest U.S. trading partner in Eastern Europe until Ceausescu's 1988 renunciation of most favored nation (MFN, or non-discriminatory) trading status resulted in high U.S. tariffs on Romanian products. Congress approved restoration of MFN status effective November 8, 1993, as part of a new bilateral trade agreement. Tariffs on most Romanian products dropped to zero in February 1994, with the inclusion of Romania in the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP). Major Romanian exports to the U.S. include shoes, clothing, steel, and chemicals. Romania signed an Association Agreement with the European Union (EU) in 1992 and a free trade agreement with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) in 1993, codifying Romania's access to European markets and creating the basic framework for further economic integration.
At its Helsinki Summit in December 1999, the European Union invited Romania to formally begin accession negotiations. In December 2004, the European Commission concluded pre-accession negotiations with Romania. In April 2005, the EU signed an accession treaty with Romania and its neighbor, Bulgaria, and in January 2007, they were both welcomed as new EU members.
Romania suffered through a deep economic recession beginning with the 2008 global financial crisis, but should return to positive if very modest growth by the end of 2011. Due to rapidly deteriorating economic conditions, a ballooning budget deficit, and large external imbalances, the Romanian Government was forced to conclude a 2-year, $27 billion financial assistance package with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the European Commission, and the World Bank in March 2009. Under the terms agreed with the IMF, the Romanian Government embarked on a difficult austerity program to reduce the budget deficit, cut public sector employment, and restructure local and national government agencies. Austerity measures included a 25% cut in public sector wages, a hike in the national value added tax (VAT) rate from 19% to 24%, and thousands of layoffs. GDP declined by 7.1% in 2009 and a further 1.3% in 2010, but the government succeeded in meeting IMF-agreed deficit targets despite strong opposition to the austerity measures from labor unions. In late 2010 and early 2011 the government also pushed several important pieces of reform legislation through Parliament, including pension reforms, an overhaul of public sector pay systems, and modernization of the labor code. The final IMF review under the 2009 agreement, conducted in February 2011, declared the agreement a "success" in stabilizing the economy and setting the stage for a return to growth. A new 2-year "precautionary" agreement between Romania and the IMF, effective March 2011, focuses on deepening structural reforms and restructuring or privatizing unprofitable state-owned enterprises.
Privatization of industry was first pursued with the transfer in 1992 of 30% of the shares of some 6,000 state-owned enterprises to five private ownership funds, in which each adult citizen received certificates of ownership. The remaining 70% ownership of the enterprises was transferred to a state ownership fund. With the assistance of the World Bank, European Union, and IMF, Romania succeeded in privatizing most industrial state-owned enterprises, including some large state-owned energy companies. Romania completed the privatization of the largest commercial bank (BCR) in 2006. Two state-owned banks remain in Romania, Eximbank and the National Savings Bank (CEC), after an attempt to privatize CEC Bank was indefinitely postponed in 2006. Four of the country's eight regional electricity distributors have now been privatized. Privatization of natural gas distribution companies also progressed with the sale of Romania's two regional gas distributors, Distrigaz Nord (to E.ON Ruhrgas of Germany) and Distrigaz Sud (to Gaz de France). Further progress in energy sector privatization has been delayed as the government is contemplating the creation of two integrated, state-owned energy producers. However, this "bundling" scheme has been challenged in court and is also under review by the Romanian Competition Council and by competition authorities at the European Commission. Romania has a nuclear power plant at Cernavoda, with one nuclear reactor in operation since 1996 and a second one commissioned in the fall of 2007.
The return of collectivized farmland to its cultivators, one of the first initiatives of the post-December 1989 revolution government, resulted in a short-term decrease in agricultural production. Some four million small parcels representing 80% of the arable surface were returned to original owners or their heirs. Many of the recipients were elderly or city dwellers, and the slow progress of granting formal land titles remains an obstacle to leasing or selling land to active farmers.
Financial and technical assistance continues to flow from the U.S., European Union, other industrial nations, and international financial institutions facilitating Romania's reintegration into the world economy. The IMF, World Bank, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), and European Investment Bank (EIB) all have programs and resident representatives in Romania. U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) programs were phased out completely in 2008, except for Small Project Assistance Grants, which are still available through the Peace Corps. According to the National Office of the Trade Register, which measures foreign direct capital registered and disbursed to firms, between 1990 and November 2010 Romania attracted a total of $37.91 billion in foreign direct investment, of which the U.S. represented 2.59%. The actual level of U.S. investment, however, is underreported as much of it flows to Romania through European subsidiaries of U.S. companies.
After years of consistently high inflation in the 1990s, Romania's inflation rate steadily decreased through 2004, only to rise again along with high GDP growth rates of 4% to 8% through 2008. The deep recession beginning in late 2008 dramatically reduced inflationary pressures, but the VAT tax hike from 19% to 24% imposed in mid-2010 reversed that trend and pushed prices higher. Stoked also by rising global food and energy prices, inflation hit an annualized rate of 8% at the end of 2010, the highest in the EU. The IMF has been critical of Romania's low rate of tax collection and poor enforcement mechanisms as a medium- to long-term impediment to growth. Tax arrears are slightly decreasing, but Romania still has one of the lowest percentages in the EU of revenues collected, at 33% of GDP in 2010. The current account deficit had been a concern, as it reached 13.6% of GDP in 2007 and 12.4% of GDP in 2008. However, due to the recession, the current account deficit dropped to 4.2% of GDP in 2010. Deteriorating education and health services and aging and inadequate physical infrastructure continue to be seen as threats to future growth.
Romania's budget deficit dropped steadily from 4% of GDP in 1999 to only 0.8% in 2005, but then skyrocketed, peaking at 7.2% in 2009. The major culprits for the rising deficit were tax evasion and lax enforcement; runaway government procurement spending; and big increases in public sector wages, retirement pensions, and social assistance. Under the IMF agreement the deficit was pared to 6.5% of GDP in 2010 and is on track to reach the target of 4.4% in 2011, though additional austerity measures may be needed to get the deficit under 3% by 2012.
Driven by the recession, official unemployment peaked at 7.8% in December 2009 but then dropped to 6.9% by the end of 2010 despite substantial layoffs in the public sector, and declined further to 6.74% in January 2011. More public sector layoffs are expected in 2011, though a gradual return to growth in the private sector should fuel a correspondingly gradual recovery in job creation.
Since December 1989, Romania has actively pursued a policy of strengthening relations with the West in general, and specifically with the U.S. and the European Union. Romania was a helpful partner to the allied forces during the first Gulf War, particularly during its service as president of the UN Security Council. Romania has been active in peace support operations in Afghanistan, the UN Angola Verification Mission (UNAVEM), the Implementation Force/Stabilization Force (IFOR/SFOR) in Bosnia, the Kosovo Force (KFOR) and EU Rule of Law Mission (EULEX) in Kosovo, and in Albania. Romania also offered important logistical support to allied military operations in Iraq in 2003 and, after the cessation of organized hostilities, has participated in coalition security and reconstruction activities. Romania is a member of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), which it chaired in 2001.
In 1996, Romania signed and ratified a basic bilateral treaty with Hungary that settled outstanding issues and laid the foundation for closer, more cooperative relations. In June 1997, Romania signed a bilateral treaty with Ukraine that resolved certain territorial and minority issues, among others. Romania also signed a basic bilateral treaty with Russia in July 2003.
Romania formally joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in 2004, and hosted a NATO Summit from April 2-4, 2008. The venue symbolized the expansion of the Alliance from the Baltic to the Black Sea, and set new goals for years to come.
Romania acceded to the European Union on January 1, 2007 along with Bulgaria, bringing the number of EU states to 27. Romania is a strong advocate for a "larger Europe," encouraging other countries that were formerly part of the Soviet sphere to integrate into both NATO and the EU.
Romania has been actively involved in regional organizations, such as the Southeast Europe Cooperation Initiative (SECI) and the Stability Pact for Southeast Europe, and has been a positive force in supporting stability and cooperation in the area.
Romania maintains good diplomatic relations with Israel and was supportive of the Middle East peace negotiations initiated after the Gulf conflict in 1991. Romania also is a founding member of the Black Sea Consortium for Economic Development. It joined the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank in 1972, and is a member of the World Trade Organization.
Romanian Missions in the United States
1607 23rd Street, NW
Tel. 202-332-4846 or 202-332-4848; fax: 202-232-4748
Romanian Mission to the UN
Romanian National Tourist Office
New York, NW 10016
Romanian Cultural Center
In accordance with the December 1991 Romanian constitution, the Romanian armed forces have the defensive mission of ensuring the territorial integrity of the country. The military enjoys popular support, partly because of its role in supporting the December 1989 revolution. The army is the largest service. Romania has an all-volunteer military force; conscription ended in 2007. The Romanian armed forces have about 75,000 military personnel and 15,000 civilians, for a total of 90,000 men and women. Out of these 75,000, about 45,800 are in the Land Forces. In 1993, the U.S. military began training of Romanian military and civilian officials through International Military Education and Training (IMET) and other exchange programs, emphasizing civilian democratic control over the military.
U.S.-ROMANIAN RELATIONS
Cold during the early post-war period, U.S. bilateral relations with Romania began to improve in the early 1960s with the signing of an agreement providing for partial settlement of American property claims. Cultural, scientific, and educational exchanges were initiated, and in 1964 the legations of both nations were promoted to full embassies.
Responding to Ceausescu's calculated distancing of Romania from Soviet foreign policy, particularly Romania's continued diplomatic relations with Israel and denunciation of the 1968 Soviet intervention in Czechoslovakia, President Richard Nixon paid an official visit to Romania in August 1969. Despite political differences, high-level contacts continued between U.S. and Romanian leaders throughout the decade of the 1970s, culminating in the 1978 state visit to Washington by President and Mrs. Ceausescu.
In 1972, a consular convention to facilitate protection of citizens and their property in both countries was signed. Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) facilities were granted, and Romania became eligible for U.S. Export-Import Bank credits.
A trade agreement signed in April 1975 accorded most favored nation (MFN) status to Romania under Section 402 of the Trade Reform Act of 1974 (the Jackson-Vanik Amendment that links MFN to a country's performance on emigration). This status was renewed yearly after congressional review of a presidential determination that Romania was making progress toward freedom of emigration.
In the mid-1980s, criticism of Romania's deteriorating human rights record, particularly regarding mistreatment of religious and ethnic minorities, spurred attempts by Congress to withdraw MFN status. In 1988, to preempt congressional action, Ceausescu renounced MFN treatment, calling Jackson-Vanik and other human rights requirements unacceptable interference with Romanian sovereignty.
After welcoming the revolution of December 1989 with a visit by Secretary of State James Baker in February 1990, the U.S. Government expressed concern that opposition parties had faced discriminatory treatment in the May 1990 elections, when the National Salvation Front won a sweeping victory. The slow progress of subsequent political and economic reform increased that concern, and relations with Romania cooled sharply after the June 1990 intervention of the miners in University Square. Anxious to cultivate better relations with the U.S. and Europe, and disappointed at the poor results from its gradualist economic reform strategy, the Theodor Stolojan government undertook some economic reforms and conducted free and fair parliamentary and presidential elections in September 1992. Encouraged by the conduct of local elections in February 1992, Deputy Secretary of State Lawrence Eagleburger paid a visit in May 1992. Congress restored MFN status in November 1993 in recognition of Romania's progress in instituting political and economic reform. In 1996, the U.S. Congress voted to extend permanent MFN graduation to Romania.
As Romania's policies became unequivocally pro-Western, the United States moved to deepen relations. President Bill Clinton visited Bucharest in 1997. The two countries initiated cooperation on shared goals, including economic and political development, defense reform, and non-traditional threats such as trans-border crime and non-proliferation.
Following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States, Romania has been fully supportive of the U.S. in counterterrorism efforts. Romania became the first country to enroll in the NATO Partnership for Peace Program, and it was invited to join the alliance in November 2002. Shortly after the U.S. invasion of Iraq, Romania pledged to commit troops, and they remained there until July 2009. Romania formally acceded to NATO on March 29, 2004 after depositing its instruments of treaty ratification in Washington, DC. President George W. Bush helped commemorate Romania's NATO accession when he visited Bucharest in November 2002. On that occasion he congratulated the Romanian people on building democratic institutions and a market economy following the fall of communism. Romanian troops have served alongside U.S. troops in both Iraq and Afghanistan.
In March 2005, President Traian Basescu made his first official visit to Washington to meet with President Bush, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, and other senior U.S. officials. In December 2005, Secretary Rice visited Bucharest to meet with President Basescu and to sign a base use and access agreement that allows for the use of Romanian military facilities by U.S. troops. The first proof of principle exercise took place at Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base from August to October 2007. In February 2010, following a visit to Bucharest by Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Ellen Tauscher, Romania agreed to host elements of the U.S. Phased Adaptive Approach to European missile defense within the 2015 timeframe.
Ambassador--Mark Gitenstein
Deputy Chief of Mission--Jeri Guthrie-Corn
Public Affairs Officer--Patricia Guy
Consul General--James Gray
Political Section Chief--David T. Morris
Economic Section Chief--Blair LaBarge
Defense Attache--Bruce West
Commercial Section Chief--Keith Kirkham
Management Counselor--Brian Moran
Peace Corps Director--Sheila Crowley
The U.S. Embassy in Romania is located at Strada Tudor Arghezi 7-9, Bucharest (tel. 40-21 200-3300, fax 40-21 200-3442, consular fax 40-21 200-3381).


For workaholic people. they get satisfaction from accomplishing tasks that is beyond the normal load that an average person must do. In return, this has resultedup to people reporting getting stressed at their workplace.
Here are some symptoms that you're starting to become a workaholic person.


text:
Encyclopedias almanacs transcripts and maps
KADESH (Heb. קָדֵשׁ), name of several places in Ereẓ Israel and Syria to which a sacred character is attributed.
(1) Kadesh, Kadesh-Barnea (Heb. קָדֵשׁ, קָדֵשׁ בַּרְנֵעַ), an important oasis situated on the southern border of Canaan (Num. 34:4; Josh. 15:3; Ezek. 47:19; 48:28) in the wilderness of Zin (Num. 20:1; 27:14; 33:36; Deut. 32:51) – part of the wilderness of Paran (Num. 20:16) – at a distance of an eleven days' journey from Mt. Horeb (Deut. 1:2). Kadesh is alternatively called En-Mishpat ("spring of judgment"; Gen. 14:7) and the "waters of Meribah" ("strife," Num. 20:13, 24; 27:14; Deut. 32:51), names which indicate its special role as a sacred place of judgment and assembly for the desert tribes.
Kadesh-Barnea appears in the stories of Abraham (Gen. 16:14; 20:1) and in the description of the expedition of Chedorlaomer and his allies; Kadesh-Barnea, here called En-Mishpat, is said to have been inhabited by Amalekites (Gen. 14:7). During the Exodus it served as an assembly point for the Israelite tribes in the desert (Deut. 1:46). Some scholars regard it as the first amphictyonic center of the Israelites. From Kadesh-Barnea spies were sent to explore Canaan (Num. 13:26); the attempt was made to penetrate into Canaan which was prevented by Arad and Hormah (Num. 14:40–45; 21:1; 33:36–40); messengers were sent to the king of Edom; and from here the Israelites started out on their eastward march to Transjordan (Num. 20:14ff.; 33:36ff.; Deut. 1:46ff.; Judg. 11:16ff.). Biblical tradition associates Kadesh-Barnea with the family of Moses in particular: here Moses drew water abundantly from the rock; here he and Aaron were punished for their lack of faith by being denied entrance into the land of Canaan (Num. 20:2ff.); here his sister Miriam died and was buried (Num. 20:1); and Aaron died nearby at mount Hor (Num. 20:22–29; 33:37–39). Kadesh-Barnea has been identified with the group of springs 46 mi. (75 km.) south of Beer-Sheba and 15 mi. (25 km.) south of Niẓẓanah. The name is preserved at the southernmost spring ʿAyn Qudays, but ʿAyn al-Qudayrāt to the north of it is of much greater importance being a rich spring which waters a fertile plain. In its vicinity a large fortress from the time of the Judahite kings was discovered. Most scholars therefore identify Kadesh-Barnea with the larger spring; the entire group of springs may have originally been called Kadesh-Barnea and the name survived at the southern one despite its lesser importance. During the Sinai campaign a large Israelite fortress was discovered also above ʿAyn Qudays as well as numerous remains in the whole region from the Middle Bronze i (c. 2000 b.c.e.) and Israelite periods.
Large-scale excavations in 1976 and 1982 uncovered three superimposed fortresses on the site. The first was dated to the 11th century, the second to around the time of Hezekiah and measured 65 ft. × 195 ft. (20 × 60 m.) with six rectangular towers and a moat and glacis on three sides, and the third to the seventh century, probably destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar. Inscriptions indicate that the inhabitants of the fortress probably spoke Hebrew.
(2) Kedesh in Galilee (Heb. קֶדֶשׁ בַּגָּלִיל), one of the principal cities in Upper Galilee in the Canaanite and Israelite periods. In the opinion of some scholars, it is mentioned in the list of cities conquered by Thutmosis iii (c. 1468 b.c.e.) and depicted on a relief of Seti i (c. 1300 b.c.e.); others, however, argue that these references are to Kadesh on the Orontes. In the Bible, "Kedesh in Galilee in the hill country of Naphtali" appears in the list of defeated Canaanite kings (Josh. 12:22), as a city of refuge (Josh. 20:7) and a levitical city (Josh. 21:32; i Chron. 6:61), and as one of the fortified cities of the tribe of Naphtali (Josh. 19:37). It was conquered by Tiglath-Pileser iii in his expedition in 733/2 b.c.e. (ii Kings 15:29) but continued to exist in the Second Temple period eventually becoming a Hellenistic city in the territory of Tyre. Near Kedesh, Jonathan the Hasmonean defeated the army of Demetrius ii (i Macc. 11:63–73; Jos., Ant. 13:154). It is identified with Tell Qadis, a large tell overlooking the fertile plateau west of the Ḥuleh, and containing remains and fortifications from the Canaanite, Israelite, and later periods. A Roman temple was partially excavated in 1981–84, dedicated under Hadrian in 117/8 c.e.
(3) Kedesh-Naphtali (Heb. קֶדֶשׁ־נַפְתָּלִי), the birthplace of Barak, son of Abinoam, located in Galilee in the territory of the tribe of Naphtali (Judg. 4:6, 9–11). It is generally identified with Kedesh (2) but this seems unsound for the following reasons:
(a) Kedesh Upper Galilee is far from Mt. Tabor in the vicinity of which Deborah's battle with the Canaanite kings took place;
(b) "Elon-Bezaanannim, which is by Kedesh" (Judg. 4:11) is also known from the border description of Naphtali where it is situated between the Tabor and the Jordan (Josh. 19:33).
Kedesh-Naphtali should therefore be sought east of Mount Tabor and in this area Khirbat al-Kadīsh near Poriyyah which contains extensive remains from the early Israelite period has been proposed as the location of the site.
(4) Kadesh on the Orontes, a major city in the Canaanite period on the Orontes River, identified with Tell Nabī Mind south of Lake Homs. Together with Megiddo, Kadesh headed the coalition of Canaanite kings against Thutmosis iii in their great battle in c. 1468 b.c.e. Although confined with the other defeated kings within the walls of Megiddo, the king of Kadesh succeeded in escaping the Egyptian siege and Kadesh was conquered only during Thutmosis' sixth campaign, in his eighth year. In the 14th century b.c.e. the city came under Hittite influence, as indicated by the *El-Amarna letters. It was conquered at the beginning of the 13th century by Seti i as shown in a stele discovered by Pézard in his excavations at Kadesh. A relief depicting Seti's conquest may be preserved in the Karnak temple in Egypt but some scholars interpret it as referring to Kadesh in Galilee. During the reign of Ramses ii, a famous battle between the Egyptians and the Hittites (c. 1280 b.c.e.) took place near Kadesh; it actually terminated in a defeat for the Egyptians and Kadesh remained in the possession of the Hittites. According to the peace treaty concluded after the battle, the border between the two kingdoms in the Lebanon al-Biqʿa was moved south of Kadesh. Further information on the city is lacking. It was apparently destroyed in the invasion of the Sea Peoples at the beginning of the 12th century b.c.e. and its place was taken over in the Israelite period by Riblah on the Orontes south of Kadesh. The border of Lebo-Hamath in the Bible corresponds to the Egyptian border south of Kadesh.
Excavations from 1975 reveal a settlement at the site in the sixth millennium b.c.e. and then reoccupation in the third millennium. The settlement was apparently destroyed around 1600 b.c.e. and reestablished by the time mentioned in the sources, i.e., 1468.
(1) B. Rothenberg and J. Aharoni, Tagliyyot Sinai (1958); H.C. Trumbull, Kadesh-Barnea (1884): C.L. Woolley and T.E. Lawrence, The Wilderness of Zin (1915); Glueck, in: aasor, 15 (1935), 118ff.; Phythian-Adams, in: pefas, 67 (1935), 69ff.; 114ff.; de Vaux and Savignac, in: rb, 47 (1938), 89ff. (2) J. Aharoni, Hitnaḥalut Shivtei Yisrael ba-Galil ha-Elyon (1957), index; Avi-Yonah, Land, index; Albright, in: basor, 19 (1928), 12; 35 (1929), 9; J. Garstang, Joshua-Judges (1931), 390–91. (3) Press, in: bjpes, 1, pt. 3 (1933/34), 26ff.; J. Aharoni, op. cit., index; Kolshari, in: bies, 27 (1963), 165ff. (4); M. Péyard, Qadesh Mission à Tell Nebi Mend… (1931); Du Buisson, in: Mélanges Maspéro, 1 (1938), 919ff.; Gardiner, in: Onomastica, 2 (1947), index; Aharoni, Land, index.
[Yohanan Aharoni]
Encyclopaedia Judaica
"Kadesh ." Encyclopaedia Judaica. . Encyclopedia.com. 28 Dec. 2021 <https://www.encyclopedia.com>.
"Kadesh ." Encyclopaedia Judaica. . Encyclopedia.com. (December 28, 2021). https://www.encyclopedia.com/religion/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/kadesh
"Kadesh ." Encyclopaedia Judaica. . Retrieved December 28, 2021 from Encyclopedia.com: https://www.encyclopedia.com/religion/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/kadesh
Elam , Elam ELAM (Heb. עילם, ' eylam; Elamite halhatamti; Akk. Elamtu), region on the edge of the southwestern part of the Iranian plateau, modern Khuzistan… Edom , Edom EDOM (Heb. אֱדוֹם), a land in the south of eastern Transjordan, the southeastern neighbor of Palestine. The Country "The land of Edom" is the mo… Sargon Ii , 721–705 b.c.e. Assyrian king Sources Usurper. In 722 b.c.e. Sargon, whose Akkadian name (Sharrukin) means "the king is legitimate," overthrew the Ass… Nineveh , Nineveh NINEVEH (Heb. נִינְוֶה; Akk. Ninua, Ninâ; in Mari Ninuwa; Ar. Ninawa), the capital of the Assyrian empire from Sennacherib's time on, situate… Megiddo , MEGIDDO MEGIDDO (Heb. מְגִדּוֹ), ancient Canaanite and Israelite city, identified with Tell al-Mutasallim on the southern side of the Jezreel Valley,… Moab , Moab MOAB (Heb. מוֹאָב), a land E. of the Jordan and the Dead Sea, one of Israel's neighbors in biblical times. The highland of Moab extends southwar…
Phoenicia, Phoenicians
Aram, Arameans
Achshaph
EKRON
Heshbon
Aphek
Kader, Soha Abdel
Kadelburg, Lavoslav
Kadel, Andrew
Kade, Otto
Kaddour, Hédi 1945–
Kaddish for a Child not Born (Kaddis a Meg Nem Született Gyermekért)
Kaddish for a Child Not Born
Kaddari, Menachem Zevi
Kadazan
Kadari, Shraga
Kadare, Ismail 1936-
Kadare, Ismail (b. 1936)
Kadare, Ismail
Kadaré, Elena (1943–)
Kádár, János (1912–1989)
Kádar, Ján
Kadan
Kadam
Kadair, Deborah Ousley
Kada (Hagura) no Azumaro
Kaczynski, Theodore "Ted" (The Unabomber)
Kaczynski, Ted
Kaczyński, Lech Aleksander
Kaczynski, Lech
Kadesh Operation
Kadets
Kadets (Constitutional Democratic Party)
Kadimah
Kadir, Djelal
Kadis, Susan (Thornhill)
Kadish, Alon
Kadish, Rachel 1969- (Rachel Susan Kadish)
Kadishman, Menashe
Kadlecek, Jo
Kadlecova, Jirina (1948–)
Kadman (Formerly Kaufman), Gurit
Kadmiel
Kadmonites
Kadohata, Cynthia 1956(?)-
Kadohata, Cynthia 1956–
Kadoorie
Kadoorie, Lawrence, Baron
Kadoorie, Sasson
Kadosa, Pál
Kadow, Jeannine

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


At Scrum.org, we help ensure that individuals understand how to deliver high value software with higher levels of agility using Scrum. To help meet that goal, Scrum.org provides assessments that can be used as tools to examine, enhance, and certify knowledge of Scrum. Below, you can see the total number of Professional Scrum certifications held per assessment. You can also search for an individual certification holder here.
Many certification test takers and others who are looking to assess their knowledge without certification take the Scrum.org Open Assessments. These tests are a great way to gauge your knowledge and find areas where improvement is required.
More than 3,375,000 Open Assessments have been taken. This shows a willingness for our community to learn, grow and practice.
To be effective, Scrum Masters need to have a rock-solid understanding of the practices and values of Scrum. The Professional Scrum Master™ (PSM) assessments allow people to validate and certify their understanding of those practices and values, and how they would respond to situations that challenge them.
The Professional Scrum Product Owner™ (PSPO) assessments allow people to validate and certify their understanding of the role of the Product Owner and how they would respond to real situations that would challenge them.
The Professional Scrum Developer™ (PSD) assessment is available to anyone who wishes to validate their knowledge of how to build complex software products using Scrum. Those that pass the assessment will receive the industry recognized PSD Certification to demonstrate their mastery of the content.
An intermediate-level assessment, Scaled Professional Scrum™ (SPS) is available to anyone who wishes to validate his or her depth of knowledge of the scaling Scrum and the Nexus™ Framework. Those that pass this assessment will receive the industry recognized SPS certification that demonstrates their mastery of the content.
The Professional Agile Leadership™ (PAL I) Assessment validates and certifies your knowledge of how agility adds value and why leadership understanding, sponsorship, and support of Agile practices are essential. This assessment was first made available on April 25, 2018.
The Professional Scrum with Kanban™ (PSK I) Assessment validates and certifies your knowledge of how Scrum Teams can use Scrum with Kanban to support value creation, measurement and delivery. This assessment was first made available on April 25, 2018.
Please be aware that while the PSM I has been available since 2009, the PSPO I was only open to the public in February 2014. Following Scrum, we took time by having a smaller group attempt the PSPO I assessment first, learned, adapted and improved before opening it up to the public.
Please also note that what is now known as the PSM II only became available to the public in July 2016 and what was PSM II became PSM III. More information about this change can be found in this blog post.
SPS was first introduced to students in August 2015, and was released to the public in November 2015.
PAL I and PSK I are our newest assessments, released April 25, 2018.


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Here's Why You Should Ask for a Raise in January
By Martha C. White
https://money.com/heres-why-you-should-ask-for-a-raise-in-january/
New year, new you…new paycheck?
Experts say there are some compelling reasons why you should consider asking your boss for a raise this January, and they're providing advice on what to say — and not to say — to convince your employer it's time to pay you more.
According to LinkedIn data, January is the top month for promotion activity. If you're on your boss's short list of go-to people, this could be your year to increase both your status and your salary.
"January has always been a popular month to ask for a raise due in part to annual performance review cycles," says Lydia Frank, vice president at PayScale.com. New Year's resolutions also play a role in people working up the courage to ask for a pay boost.
It's the best labor market in nearly a decade, which career and compensation experts say give workers more bargaining leverage, especially in competitive industries or if you have a skill set that's in high demand. (See a few more tips on how to snag a big raise.)
"Employment is strong, the market is up, measures of confidence are up, and these could indicate new life in talent mobility," says career coach Todd Dewett. "Strong performers might sense their odds of getting a 'yes,' or their odds of being received well in the market, if a move is needed, are stronger than last year," he said.
"It is a healthy job market. If you want a pay raise, it's on your mind and you believe you deserve it, it is a good time to ask," says Scott Dobroski, career trends analyst at Glassdoor.com.
That said, Dewett and other experts caution against framing your request for more money as a threat, or simply pegging it to the calendar.
"It's got to be performance-based, and you've got to prove your worth to the employer," says Dobroski. "The worst thing you can do is go in willy-nilly and say, 'I feel like I deserve it.'"
Instead, focus on your own performance and the great things you achieved last year (you did have a great year, right?) Experts say if you can't point to two or three big-deal accomplishments, you might want to wait this one out.
The key is having a professional "highlights reel" of successes, ideally ones that boosted the company's bottom line.
"Add these accomplishments to your LinkedIn profile as well to remind your manager of your success and impact and showcase your professional brand," says the site's career expert, Blair Decembrele.
Experts say you need to figure out how much you want before you meet with your boss. "Go into the conversation with a number or percent and be willing and able to justify the request," Dewett says. Sites like PayScale, Glassdoor and LinkedIn can help you figure out what your skills are worth.
"If you've done your homework, you'll be entering the compensation conversation with more confidence," Frank says.
It also helps to practice your pitch so that you come off as polished as possible, Decembrele says. "Rehearse what you will say out loud," she advises. "Reach out to a mentor or friend in your network who may be able to help you with delivery and building confidence."
Even if you have all your ducks in a row, your boss might turn down your request. But if you prepare for this contingency as well, you might come away with something for your efforts.
Ask if you can have that raise kick in six months or a few quarters down the road, Dewett suggests.
"This gives your boss a much less stressful timeline moving forward," he says. An especially good way to get your boss to sign on is to ask that this future raise be contingent on some quantifiable performance metric, which gives them both a defined target as well as a financial justification to present to their higher-ups. "They have more clarity about the budget situation, a higher ability to specify the type of performance that would justify your raise, and so on," Dewett says.
Even so, your boss might tell you more money just isn't in the cards, either now or in the future. If you've done your homework and already know that you're underpaid, this might be a sign to update your resume and brush up on your interview skills.
But if you like where you work or have signed on with this employer fairly recently, consider what else they might be able to offer you.
"Right now, benefits are growing at a faster rate than wages," Dobroski says. "Think what other benefits could you ask for that carry a monetary value that could help your income," he says. In cities with high commuting costs, being able to work from home part-time could free up more of your take-home pay, while assistance paying for tuition or continuing education lets you acquire and maintain skills that will benefit you in the future, even if you do decide your best bet for a higher salary might be a new job.


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The heart of the world-class capabilities we deliver to our clients starts with our seasoned project management teams, expert individuals well-known and highly respected in the industry for their plant knowledge, skill, and reliability, and well used to working together in sync, taking hands- on control of the project, building client trust and delivering an optimum, high quality result on every job site. And, with our national footprint and experienced worker support resources, we are able to get ramped up quickly with the right people for every labor position, every time.
Going a step beyond even the most detailed preparatory pre-job actions, TEiC is well-known for the availability of its formal Pre-Planning service, especially for our ongoing Alliance clients. In this unique service, our proven group of highly experienced field engineers provides a unique, 3D-modeling driven analysis that helps identify hidden challenges and gives your project an even greater degree of surety.
We understand our most important asset is our people, a team with over 80 years of experience in planning and executing large utility and industrial projects. TEiC Project Services has extensive market knowledge which enables us to understand and customize your project goals. Our team provides comprehensive skills to bring together design, procurement, planning and scheduling, construction execution, and support throughout commissioning and first operation.
TEiC Project Services focuses on open shop, large scale, and/or long duration construction projects for new or existing facilities. These large projects are further distinguished by their need for detailed planning, fully integrated scheduling, monitoring, reporting, and active risk management.
TEiC's history of successful projects is the result of detailed planning and diligently working every aspect of the plan. From initial estimating through commissioning and project close out, our people excel at planning and executing projects.
TEiC operates as a national company with strong regional focus. In conjunction with our sister companies, we have service centers and capabilities around the country, including Texas, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Missouri, Kentucky, and California, so we are always close by to most major industrial/power centers.
TEiC is part of Babcock Power Inc., an international company with multiple specialized business units all working independently and together as needed to best meet customer needs. For example, as noted, we often work in conjunction with our sister companies BTA and Vogt, as well as do work on equipment featuring other high quality Babcock nameplates such as Riley Power, TEi and Struthers Wells.
Contact TEiC Today For on Schedule, on Budget, Smooth-running Outage or Expert Repair. Find Out More About Putting TEiC Expertise to Work For You During Your Next Outage or Maintenance Need.


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text:
Q: Why does SELinux label files unexpectedly when created? On a private Centos 8 development server, while working on code, access is lost to certain files. Investigating the matter, I found it's caused by the SELinux label these files receive. It only seems to happen when these files are created from the shell utilities like touch, mkdir and through input output piping. When the same file is for instance uploaded through a cifs share, the label is as expected.
According to my knowledge, new files and directories inherit the SElinux context from their parent or when a rule matches from what is defined through semanage in /etc/selinux/targeted/contexts. However something else seems to be also at play.
Setup a test to reproduce the issue
# mkdir /home/user/testdir/
# ls -Zd /home/user/testdir/
unconfined_u:object_r:user_home_t:s0 /home/user/testdir
# semanage fcontext -a -t httpd_user_content_t '/home/user/testdir(/.*)?'
# restorecon -R /home/user/testdir/
# setsebool -P samba_enable_home_dirs 1
# setsebool -P httpd_enable_homedirs 1
# ls -Zd /home/user/testdir/
unconfined_u:object_r:httpd_user_content_t:s0 /home/user/testdir/

Create a file through the CLI. Expected behaviour is that the file would be labelled as httpd_user_content_t like the parent and the above set rule.
# ls -Z /home/user/testdir/.htaccess
ls: cannot access '/home/user/testdir/.htaccess': No such file or directory
# touch /home/user/testdir/.htaccess
# ls -Z /home/user/testdir/.htaccess
unconfined_u:object_r:httpd_user_htaccess_t:s0 /home/user/testdir/.htaccess

The tools supplied with SELinux seem to agree with me:
# matchpathcon -V /home/user/testdir/.htaccess
/home/user/testdir/.htaccess has context unconfined_u:object_r:httpd_user_htaccess_t:s0, should be system_u:object_r:httpd_user_content_t:s0

restorecon denies restoring the context to default as its overridden by the admin?
# restorecon -vv /home/user/testdir/.htaccess
/home/user/testdir/.htaccess not reset as customized by admin to unconfined_u:object_r:httpd_user_htaccess_t:s0

There is exactly one rule present that labels files with the httpd_user_htaccess_t type. But that rule does NOT match our files, as our files are not within a www, web or public_html directory. If I would read the pattern wrongly, both matchpathcon and restorecon should have already told me that.
# semanage fcontext -l | grep httpd_user_htaccess_t
/home/[^/]+/((www)|(web)|(public_html))(/.*)?/\.htaccess regular file       unconfined_u:object_r:httpd_user_htaccess_t:s0

Apparently I thought I knew how SELinux worked or I'm unaware of some part of SELinux or I'm unaware of some other process that comes with Centos 8.
Of course I can chcon all the affected files and directories each time, or I can write a custom policy to also allow access to httpd_user_htaccess_t, httpd_user_ra_content_t and httpd_user_rw_content_t. But I would rather understand what's going on here.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


My child left school just over two years ago. I will never forget pulling up to their* high school and seeing my child scrunch down in the car seat as tears began to stream down their face. "I can't do this," they said softly. I looked out the window and could see nothing extraordinary. Kids were milling about, talking, and starting their school day but for my child, the scene was somehow terrifying. My bright, insightful, articulate, strong child literally could not get out of the car. We had worked with their teachers and the administration. They had an IEP and accommodations. We had even tried antidepressants.
It became crystal clear that day; we had to find another way. The school's focus was on finishing assignments, meeting timelines and meeting attendance requirements. And that needed to happen in a sea of other bodies, a social soup, timetables, and pressures. The school could not give my child what they needed; time and space to heal, grow and come back to themselves. That day, I realized my child needed an alternative. They needed to come out of school. For a parent, this is a difficult place to arrive at but my ultimate priority was the health and well-being of my child and so, this is where we were.
Two years later, my child is healthy, happy and growing. They are a community organizer and activist who has created a dynamic and meaningful life. My child has discovered and honed their talents. They are productive and hard working and have more responsibilities than many adults. Their accomplishments include: testifying at the state senate, writing articles for a local paper, running meetings, presenting at conferences, and working in many capacities around local elections. My child is learning how to write grant applications, run a household and be independent. They are crafting a life for themselves built around their passions and interests. They are whole and healthy because they've had the time and space to develop coping skills, understand themselves and discover strengths and passions. Sometimes we must step off the well worn path and forge our own. There is life outside of school. Sometimes, we have to trust ourselves enough to make a daring choice.
*I'm using the neutral pronoun they/their/their's out of respect for my child's expressed identity.


This guide provides suggested library resources for each topic, yet it is only a starting point; don't hesitate to ask a librarian for further assistance.
An annual publication that surveys the world's human rights record. Each volume offers regional and country surveys summarizing the events of the previous year.


text:
Canberra Metro says no delay to launch despite track relaying and need for two sign-offs
Glynis Quinlan 10 April 2019 10 April 2019 3
The head of Canberra Metro believes the light rail project is still on schedule for an Easter Saturday launch despite it still needing two major accreditations. File photo.
The head of Canberra Metro believes the light rail project is on schedule for an Easter Saturday launch despite it still needing two major accreditations and this week's replacement of 10 metres of track near Nullarbor Avenue.
Canberra Metro chief executive officer Glenn Stockton said he is confident of achieving the accreditations required in time for the April 20 community launch and this was "always expected to occur at the back end".
He said the ripping up and relaying of track near the new Nullarbor stop which was completed yesterday (April 9) was due to a drainage issue rather than a safety issue, with work aimed at preventing passengers from getting their feet wet.
"We weren't happy with the way the levels came through and, as a result of that, if you were a pedestrian crossing the intersection in the vicinity of the stop at Nullarbor you'd probably get your feet wet and that wasn't a satisfactory outcome for us," Mr Stockton told ABC Canberra's breakfast program this morning.
"It wouldn't be a satisfactory outcome for Canberrans and as a result, we made the choice now to take action and fix it.
"About 10 metres of rail was taken out. We did that on both sides of the track to improve the drainage, improve the levels and set ourselves up for success going forward."
Mr Stockton said Canberra Metro made the decision to relay that section of the track now, despite it being so close to the launch, rather than "risk doing that during revenue service when people are looking to use the light rail".
Mr Stockton said the light rail project still needs two accreditations before the launch. One of these is an accreditation to take passengers on light rail from the Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator and the other is a licence from the Utilities Technical Regulator to operate the network.
"We've created an electrical network as part of the project. We've energised high voltage wires to provide traction power to the trams and provide power to the stops and those sort of things," Mr Stockton told ABC Canberra.
"We got an initial licence (from the Utilities Technical Regulator) to allow us to construct, test and commission and now what we're doing is finalising the documentation to achieve the operator's licence."
Mr Stockton said Canberra Metro is working closely with the regulatory authorities to achieve the accreditations and he expects to have them in time for starting operations.
"It was always expected to occur at the back end and that's a process of the life cycle of a project, particularly one that requires such accreditations," he said.
"We're very happy with the way the system's performed and we've done a couple of new things on this project.
"One of those is how we actually move trams through traffic intersections and that process is working really well for us."
Light rail from Gungahlin to the City will officially open to the public on Saturday, April 20 with free travel offered to encourage the community to try it out.
Light rail from Gungahlin to the City is scheduled to officially open to the public on Saturday, April 20. File photo.
Canberrans are being asked to leave their cars at home and take advantage of free buses that will run across the network to get people to and from the City and Gungahlin terminals.
Three-hundred Canberrans who won spots through a public ballot will also have the opportunity to board a vehicle and preview the light rail experience on April 18, two days before the rest of the public.
Tags Canberra Metro Glenn Stockton light rail accreditation light rail launch Nullarbor Avenue Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator Utilities Technical Regulator
3 Responses to Canberra Metro says no delay to launch despite track relaying and need for two sign-offs
Lucy Baker 7:07 pm 11 Apr 19
So, they don't have plans to even out the nasty bumps cars encounter at the Wakefield Avenue intersection. So bad they previously had a warning sign on them.
Reply Show 1 reply
Capital Retro 10:12 am 12 Apr 19
The noise that will make (thump, thump) will put a premium on the prices for units at that intersection. Buyers will be fighting each other to be in earshot of the true aural wonders that result from tram lines intersecting with roads on an uneven plain.
Reply Hide replies
Capital Retro 5:20 pm 10 Apr 19
Free busses, free trams but leave your car at home. How prophetic.
Government reveals start date for light rail
Ian Bushnell 19 March 2019 13
Light rail driver back on track despite running red light
Lachlan Roberts 25 March 2019 3
Vehicle rolled out on to track as light rail testing set to start
Ian Bushnell 18 June 2018 29
Canberra's light rail picks up speed with network to be fully operational in April
Lachlan Roberts 1 March 2019 76
Hundreds gather at Light Rail Ready open day as ACT's first ever Rail Safety Week takes off
Lachlan Roberts 13 August 2018 6
Another light rail near-miss revealed as launch day nears
Lachlan Roberts 1 April 2019 21


text:
Q: Reading oddly-formatted XML file C# I need some help with reading an oddly-formatted XML file. Because of the way the nodes and attributes are structured, I keep running into XMLException errors (at least, that's what the output window is telling me; my breakpoints refuse to fire so that I can check it). Anyway, here's the XML. Anyone experienced anything like this before?
<ApplicationMonitoring>
<MonitoredApps>
        <Application>
            <function1 listenPort="5000"/>
        </Application>
        <Application>
            <function2 listenPort="6000"/>
        </Application>
</MonitoredApps>
<MIBs>
    <site1 location="test.mib"/>
</MIBs>
<Community value="public"/>
<proxyAgent listenPort="161" timeOut="2"/>
</ApplicationMonitoring>

Cheers
EDIT: Current version of the parsing code (file path shortened - Im not actually using this one):
XmlDocument xml = new XmlDocument();
xml.LoadXml(@"..\..\..\ApplicationMonitoring.xml");

string port = xml.DocumentElement["proxyAgent"].InnerText;

A: Your problem in loading the XML is that xml.LoadXml expects you to pass the xml document as a string, not a file reference.
Try instead using:
xml.Load(@"..\..\..\ApplicationMonitoring.xml");

Essentially in your original code you are telling it that your xml document is
..\..\..\ApplicationMonitoring.xml

And I'm sure you can now see why there is a parse exception. :) I've tested this with your xml document and the modified load and it works fine (except for the issue that Only Bolivian Here pointed out with the fact that your inner Text is not going to return anything.
For completeness you probably want:
XmlDocument xml = new XmlDocument();
xml.Load(@"..\..\..\ApplicationMonitoring.xml");
string port = xml.DocumentElement["proxyAgent"].Attributes["listenPort"].Value;
//And to get stuff more specifically in the tree something like this
string function1 = xml.SelectSingleNode("//function1").Attributes["listenPort"].Value;

Note the use of the Value property on the attribute and not the ToString method which won't do what you are expecting.
Exactly how you extract the data from the xml is probably dependant on what you are doing with it. For example you may want to get a list of Application nodes to enumerate over with a foreach by doing this xml.SelectNodes("//Application").
If you are having trouble with extdacting stuff though that is probably the scope of a different question since this was just about how to get the XML document loaded.

A: xml.DocumentElement["proxyAgent"].InnerText;

The proxyAgent element is self closing. InnerText will return the string inside of an XML element, in this case, there is no inner elements.
You need to access an attribute of the element, not the InnerText.

A: Try this:
string port = xml.GetElementsByTagName("ProxyAgent")[0].Attributes["listenPort"].ToString();

Or use Linq to XML:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb387098.aspx
And... your XML is not malformed...


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text:
Golf News – January 8, 2014
Ready For Launch – New 588 Woods From Cleveland Golf
HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA – January 7, 2014 – Cleveland® Golf is pleased to introduce the new 588® woods: the 588® Custom™ Driver, 588® Fairway and 588® Hybrid. These tour-proven designs, which add distance and forgiveness to any player's game, are now available for pre-booking and will be in-stores on February 7, 2014.
Based on exhaustive testing and tour validation, the Cleveland® 588® Custom™ Driver has a 460cc titanium head that offers the greatest combination of distance, forgiveness and accuracy in any driver Cleveland® Golf has ever made. An adjustable hosel offers 12 different settings to precisely tune loft, lie and face angle – loft and lie have a total range of 3°, while face angle has a total range of 4.5°. The back of the sole has an adjustable weight screw to optimize swingweight (standard weight is 3 grams). Advanced wall construction allows more weight to be positioned lower in the club head for a higher, more penetrating ball flight. Enhanced variable face thickness technology creates the hottest flight on center strikes and even faster ball speed on off-center hits for maximum forgiveness. A premium Matrix® OZIK 6Q3™ shaft promotes a mid-launch and provides an all-around combination of speed and stability with solid feel at impact. TheCleveland® 588® Custom™ Driver has a MAP of $349.99.
The Cleveland® 588® Fairway combines power and forgiveness in a versatile design. A tour-proven profile offers optimal face, sole and crown dimensions to promote a clean, confidence-inspiring look from the turf or off the tee. Enhanced variable face thickness technology produces maximum distance on center strikes and greater forgiveness on off-center hits. Combined with a rear sole plug, advanced wall construction allows more weight to be positioned low in the club head for a higher launch. A premium Matrix® OZIK 6Q3™ shaft is designed for a mid-high launch, offering an all-around combination of speed and stability with solid feel at impact. Cleveland® 588® Fairways are available in lofts of 14.0°, 15.5°, 18.0° and 20.5° and carry a MAP of $199.99.
The Cleveland® 588® Hybrid, our first hybrid engineered with both variable face thickness and Gliderail Technology, provides incredible playability as well as maximum distance and forgiveness. Its tour-proven, compact profile has minimal offset, giving golfers a confidence-inspiring look from any lie. Combined with a rear sole plug, advanced wall construction allows more weight to be positioned low in the club for a higher launch. A premium Matrix® OZIK Altus™ shaft is designed for a high launch and an all-around combination of speed and stability with a solid feel at impact.Cleveland® 588® Hybrids are available in lofts of 18.0°, 20.5°, 23.0° and 26.0° and have a MAP of $169.99.
Todd Anderson Joins PING Staff
PHOENIX (Jan. 7, 2014) — PING announced today that Todd Anderson, Sea Island Director of Instruction in Sea Island, Ga., has joined the company as a brand ambassador. Anderson, a nationally renowned instructor who coaches PING Pro Billy Horschel and several other top-rated PGA Tour players, will represent PING at Sea Island and throughout the world of golf.
"Todd's record of success with golfers of all abilities makes him a perfect fit for our team," said John A. Solheim, PING Chairman & CEO. "He has an amazing ability to bring out the best in golfers no matter their ability. It takes a special skill to be able to improve the games of everyone from world-class players to those with higher handicaps. Todd has that gift and we're excited he'll be representing PING at Sea Island and throughout his other high-profile activities."
The 2010 National PGA Teacher of the Year, Anderson has published more than 50 articles on instruction for leading magazines, including Golf Digest, where he is a member of the teaching-professional staff. He's currently ranked 8th nationally (#1 in Georgia) by the magazine, which has also honored him as one of "America's 50 Greatest Teachers" every year since 2000, when the list was established. He has been a Golf Magazine Top 100 teacher since 2002.
Anderson's long career working with golfers of all skill levels has given him significant insight on how properly fit clubs will lead to improved performance. He is a strong advocate for custom-fitting, whether it's a top tour player or a golfer who just plays for the love of the game.
"Instruction and fitting go hand in hand," said Anderson, who resides in Sea Island with his family. "I've learned over the years that fitting my students with clubs built to their specifications and their swing is vital to helping them play better. Once this is established, we can then focus on improving their technique through proper instruction. PING pioneered fitting more than 40 years ago and remains the leader today. Joining forces with their engineering team and fitting specialists is very exciting for me.
"On top of that, I've long admired PING and the Solheim family for their contributions to golf. All of us who play the game have been touched by their company's influence in some way, whether it's through their incredible generosity or one of PING's numerous innovations that make the game more enjoyable."
Vibrant Colors, Lightweight Cushioning Combine In The Nike Lunar Control
BEAVERTON, Ore. (January 7, 2014) – Rory McIlroy loves how lightweight his Nike Lunar Control shoes are. "They feel like you can wear them all day, they're incredibly comfortable," he says.
Paul Casey says it's "the impeccable traction with the ground" that is key in his decision to lace up in Lunar Controls week after week.
And Kyle Stanley likes that he doesn't have to break them in. "They're ready to wear, right out of the box," he says. "I wouldn't wear anything else."
Nike Golf Athletes sport the Nike Lunar Control on Tour more than any other shoe because it offers the control and lightweight cushioning they need round after round – and now they have an expressive range of bold and confident colors to choose from.
"The shoe is designed to be in contact with the ground as much as possible and that enables me to push off the ground with more control," Casey says. "For me, it's always incredible how Nike creates great shoes, and then improves on them in the next generation."
Vibrant colors such as Venom Green, Military Blue and Challenge Red pop against white and black premium full-grain leather uppers and highlight Nike's proprietary full-length Lunarlon technology, a lightweight cushioning system that is highly responsive, resulting in a unique combination of comfort and support.
"Our Tour athletes are on their feet all day, every day – they know what they need out of a golf shoe to perform at their best," says Lee Walker, Nike Golf Global Footwear Marketing Director. "We relied heavily on their insights to create a shoe that provides optimal control and comfort in a range of confident colors."
In addition to Lunarlon foam cushioning, the Nike Lunar Control also features Nike Flywire, another proprietary technology, which wraps from the midfoot to the heel for targeted support and lightweight structure.
Underfoot, Nike Power Platform stabilizes the foot to provide better balance, smoother weight transfer and more control at impact. Power Transfer Zone technology works in conjunction with the Power Platform to allow for constant ground contact and a smooth transfer of power throughout the swing.
The new colorways of the Nike Lunar Control are available now in Black/Reflect Silver-Light Crimson; White/Team Red-Challenge Red; White/Black-Venom Green; and White/Military Blue-Venom Green.
Nike Lunar Control
Street Price: $160
Andrew Bogren
News & Release Coordinator at Plugged In Golf
Drew is passionate about keeping up on the latest in golf technology and staying on top of the latest products and offerings from around the industry. When Drew is away from the golf world, he works in the Chicago area as an accountant and lives with his wife.
Latest posts by Andrew Bogren (see all)
Golf News – January 5, 2015 - January 5, 2015
Golf News – December 8, 2014 - December 8, 2014
Golf News – November 21, 2014 - November 21, 2014


In an effort to engage a younger demographic, Kia recently encouraged art and design students to express their creativity through its Driving Creativity Contest. So, for fun, we had our creative interns step on the gas and get going.
The task was to create a print ad that would effectively capture the Kia Stinger's spirit of youthful rebellion and creative disruption, while portraying Kia as a forward-thinking, convention-defying brand.
Our interns' creative concept combined the rebellious nature of the car with its high-speed performance, a new territory for Kia and an important feature to highlight. The idea of the get-away car was born, in which the Kia Stinger was positioned as the escape plan for leaving uncomfortable situations behind.


text:
Home/New Zealand/Motor neurone sufferers and supporters go to D & # 39; Feet Disease
Motor neurone sufferers and supporters go to D & # 39; Feet Disease
newzealand November 11, 2018 New Zealand, newzealand
MURRAY WILSON / STUFF
Sufferers and supporters of motor neuron disease were walking from the North Palmerston Fire Station to the square to support people with the disease.
A short walk may feel like a marathon for those suffering from motor neurone disease, so people hit the streets to show their support.
A nationwide motor neuron disease Walk 2 D Peet was held on Sunday, the day of sensitization for muscle disease that is wasting people out of their movement and speech and is ultimately fatal.
Supporters and sufferers of the disease walked from the fire station in North Palmerston on the square and back to raise awareness and money for research to fund a cure.
Many were dressed in blue clothes as they turned the square, followed by a fire truck.
* Art auction that collects money for Ethiopia
* Refugees learning how to play the way of Akinthians
Kylie Martin, 31, from Palmerston North, was diagnosed about 10 years ago and began to get worse about five years ago.
She said she was running in her family – her father, grandfather, uncle and uncle had all died of motor neurone disease.
"I'm obviously worried about the next generation," Martin said of her four children.
He said he could not stand for long periods and he easily tired.
"Especially when trying to run a household with children is extremely tiring."
Marilyn Merriman of Palmerston North, 70, learned that she had a motor neuron disease a year ago.
It now takes a step to pass, but her husband, Ross, pushed her into a wheelchair for Sunday's walk.
People walked to Palmerston North on Sunday for Walking Disease Neuroscience Peet.
"I was so anxious," said Merriman. "We went for walks for an hour, now we can not do that."
He said it was good to meet other people who had the same problem.
More than 3000 people in New Zealand have motor neuron diseases and more than 100 sufferers die each year.
"With more people diagnosed each year in New Zealand we want to be able to reach these impacts and provide the best support for people living with motor neuron disease and their families," said Carl Sunderland, Director General of New Zealand.
Half of the funds gathered across the country were intended to provide support to people with this disease and the other half went to research for treatment.
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short walk to North Harbour reserve and Stockland's shopping village.
Located on the top floor of a small block of four units.
Large lounge room with dining area.
Two good sized bedrooms both with built-in robe.
Large lock up garage with plenty of room for storage.