This much is undeniable. Samoa absolutely needs an opposition party.
A quality opposition party at that too, not one driven by emotions and anger which stirs up animosity among the population. We also want a party that doesn't misinform people.
In any democracy, the role of an opposition party is critical. It exists to provide checks and balance and to hold the government of the day to account for their decision-making and more.
Indeed, they are there to ask questions of the system and highlight faults and flaws, especially in the area of finances and policies. Speaking of finances, they play a very important role in exposing corruption; highlighting wrongdoing and bringing to the public's attention what they believe the real issues of the day are – including abuse of power and positions, which is rampant in political circles.
In Samoa today, the truth is staring at us unblinkingly. In the absence of an official opposition party, we are a one party state. Numbers don't lie, in a Parliament of 50 members, 47 belong to the ruling Human Rights Protection Party.
Olo, who has been an opposition MP all his political life, has over the years developed a reputation as a fearless critic of the Government who would take on anybody including the most powerful politician in Samoa in the form of Prime Minister Tuilaepa Dr. Sailele Malielegaoi. History exists to remind us of the many clashes between the two politicians where the name-calling knows no end. And with the election coming in two years time, this relationship is only to become even more interesting to follow.
There is another element of course. After the last General Election when Prime Minister Tuilaepa appointed all his Cabinet Ministers and Associate Minsters, he made a point at the time that all other HRPP members were unofficially opposition members in Parliament.
Now this is important because we've seen some instances where these HRPP members have taken their new role quite seriously and literally. During some Parliament sessions, one could be mistaken for thinking that some of these HRPP members have crossed the floor listening to their tone in Parliament.
But that's just one part of being an opposition MP. There is a lot more. What we have seen and this where we the need for an official opposition party becomes quite acute is when matters of national importance – especially Constitutional amendments – are put to a vote.
Although other HRPP members are unofficially opposition members, they would not rock the boat and they will always toe the party line. All you need to do is look at what has happened to former Speaker Laauli Leuatea Schmidt and how the HRPP has treated him after he rocked the boat during the last Parliament session.
Indeed, regardless of what they say, political parties want control and nothing but complete control. Where a more insidious form of dictatorship exists, the almighty and powerful will always want to crush that lone voice of dissent.
La'auli, as we've all seen, has found himself in that position. We don't envy being in his shoes right now but we admire his tenacity and courage to take on a system that has become so powerful over the years the only way it could break up is if it self-destructs.
Now, is there a possibility of that happening in the HRPP? Who knows? You be the judge.
The fact is nothing lasts forever. As powerful as all the powerful regimes in the world go, history reminds us that there was always a beginning and an end. It's just the way it is. It's not a question of whether it will happen but it is only a question of when and how it will happen. This ruling government is not immune.
But these are interesting times.
Having had Prime Minister Tuilaepa at the helm for so long, the question that is on everyone's lips is this: What is the succession plan after Tuilaepa? And who will take over should the current Prime Minister decide to call it a day?
Everyone has an answer just as everyone has an opinion. There is no doubt even members of the HRPP have been talking among themselves – perhaps whispering quietly too – about the future.
What will happen and how will it all unfold?
In the meantime, it brings us back to the issue of having an official opposition party. Now is the opportune time to organise an opposition party, with a couple of years remaining before the General Election.
If anything, this country needs an effective opposition party now more than ever. But it helps when people putting themselves up are people with credibility and of good standing in the community. We need brave men and women to stand up, not extremists and loudmouths.
What do you think? Have a wonderful Wednesday Samoa, God bless!


It is extremely difficult to choose natural gemstone rather than wearing it. There are ample numbers of factors which need to be taken into the account while purchasing a gemstone.
Usually, a person due to lack of awareness is compelled to buy a synthetic gemstone by counterfeit gemstone dealers. Nevertheless, if you are heading toward to buy a natural gemstone, so in that case, the following article will assist you in purchasing a right gemstone.
The quality of a gemstone is graded principally upon the following four parameters Cut, color, clarity, and carat. Hence, these are the key criteria's which are meticulously evaluated in order to grade a gemstone. Thus, we will discuss below all four essential factors in detail below.
The value of a gemstone primarily depends upon its color characteristics. In the context of colors, there are three primary colors red, green, blue and three secondary colors (purple, orange and green).
These colors are mixed proportionally to obtain new colors. Usually, the colors which are visible to us are the mixture of these primary and secondary colors. Apart from this, Saturation, Hue, and tone of the colors also hold quite an importance while grading a gemstone.
It means the colorfulness of a color relative to its own brightness. The saturation of a color will be decided by a combination of light intensity and how much it is distributed across the spectrum of different wavelengths.
The purest color is obtained when a single wavelength passes through the spectrum of light assist in obtaining a high quality or graded gemstone.
However, if the intensity of the wavelength decreases, so as the saturation decreases, consequently, the grade of the gemstone also been affected.
However, it is impossible to obtain a 100 percent Saturation in nature, but higher the saturation, consequently, the price of a gemstone will be higher.
The Hue of a color is described to be the pure color without any inclusion and tint. In addition to this, it generally means that how our brain perceives specific colors red, green and blue. The different hues are considered to have a different wavelength in the spectrum.
The red, green, purple, blues are defined to have perfect hue. However, the hue of a color change according to fashion. So, the gemstones which reflect the rich amount of color such as red, green, purple and blue are regarded as high graded color gemstones.
When a color is added with white that is being called a tint. It has been said occasionally about tint that the lesser the tint betters the hue of the stone and lesser the saturation. So, a gemstone with fewer tints is regarded to be the high color graded gemstone.
Color grading in the context of the gemstones, means that what is the strength of the main color persist in a gemstone? For example, if it is a blue sapphire stone, so while evaluating this gemstone specifically on the color grading parameter. It is being evaluated that in what quantity the blue color persists in the stone.
Fortunately, if the quantity of blue color is 100 percent in the stone, it will be regarded as the natural blue sapphire stone. However, it is almost impossible to spot a gemstone without any inclusion. Nonetheless, in that case, a stone with a lesser number of inclusions being confirmed the high-quality gemstone.
After color, the other parameter which holds paramount importance while grading a gemstone is considered to be the clarity of the stone. More precise definition of clarity is that a gemstone without any inclusions or with "few inclusions" "large inclusions".
However, in order to perceive the more accurate and precise results generally, the gemstones are categorized in the following categories on the basis of the number of inclusions.
These gemstones are completely internally flawless and free of any inclusions. Even, under the 10 X magnifier no as such inclusion can be spotted.
It stands for (very very less) inclusions. It is a cumbersome task to spot a flaw in vvs gemstones as these are completely flawless gemstones. However, in order to find any inclusion in the stone, 10 mx magnifier is used which barely reflects any flaws.
These stones contain slight inclusions which can be caught by under the 10x magnifier or by competent gemstone experts.
It stands for slightly included inclusions in the stone which can be measured with an experienced pair of eyes or under the magnifier. However, in comparison to VVS, VS, the stone which lies under this category are slightly low in quality.
These gemstones are highly influenced by external inclusion and quantity of the inclusions are such high so that it can be spotted with bare eyes.
The stone which possesses the quality of transmitting the light through it without any diffusion or bare infusions is regarded to be the transparent gemstone.
Translucent: Hence, the stone allows passing the light through it. However, the stone is not revered as "transparent".
The gemstone which does not let the light to travel or pass through it.
A gemstone is extracted from the mines or from deep forests. Thus, they appear dull and asymmetric. However, in order to use these gemstones for jewelry purposes. These gemstones are introduced to cut into different shapes considering in mind the inclusions in the stone.
A rough gemstone is needed to cut because the stone which is extracted from mines are immensely large in size. So, the process to make a gemstone assume a certain shape, size, bringing out its luster and shine and enabling the stone to be embedded in jewelry the whole process will be aggregately called cutting of a gemstone.
However, cutting a gemstone is quite different from cutting a diamond. While cutting a gemstone, it should not be cut generally in uniform shape because a gemstone possesses certain inclusions and properties which should be maintained while cutting a gemstone.
Thus, a gemstone is cut in such an ideal manner so that it possesses its original qualities and exhibits its original color, an acceptable number of inclusions and its scintillating brilliance.
Typically, the gemstones are cut in two ways, either in faceted gems (gems with geometrically shaped flat polished faces) and non-faceted gems (those gemstones that do not have geometrically shaped flat polished faces such as Cabochons). A rough gemstone is authorized to be cut by the gemstone cutter with minimum two years of experience.
The followings are categorized to be the best types of cut, which a rough gemstone can be received.
The rough stone securing this type of cut is regarded to be the best type of cut gemstone. As the stone which receives this type of cut looks apprehensively beautiful. However, not all gemstones can perceive this type of cut because the cut of the stone principally depends upon the shape of the stone, inclusions and aesthetic values.
Round brilliant cut gemstones are announced to be the best quality of cut which a gemstone can perceive. It is also acknowledged to be the American standard cut. However, nobody, in reality, knows about who is the real inventor of this cut.
Although, this cut is extremely famous because it essays 57 faceted. The diamond chiefly perceives the round brilliant cut treatment. Usually, the benefits of the round cut are that it uniformly divides the facets of the stone and also enhances the luster and shine of the gemstones. However, earlier this cut was not only practiced on diamonds but nowadays gemstones are obtaining this treatment.
Baguette cut gemstones have 20 faceted. This cut has been exercised upon rough gemstones, especially for Tourmaline.
Square cut stone has at least 57 facets. Basically, this stone has to be cut in step by step procedure to achieve a perfect square cut stone. Most oblong cuts are step cut means the stone has to cut in steps just like a pyramid with its top chopped off. Usually, the stone with square cut denotes justice, equality, truth, and satisfaction.
The number of facets of trillion cut stone has been counted around 43. A trillion cut stone is triangular in the shape. Due to the excellent way of cutting the stone from the corners the stone reflects brilliant light and lusters from corners.
Moreover, because of its high clustering characteristics, this gemstone is popular among the gemstones buyers. The gemstones like emerald, aquamarine, diamond and white sapphire receive hugely this cut as they possess a brilliant luster and shine.
This type of cut is a hybrid cut gemstone which possesses at least 71 facets. Moreover, the pear cut stone is a combination of oval cut and marquise cut, it's shaped like a teardrop. The pear cut gemstone resembles high brilliance and luster. The pear cut stone looks elegant and compliments neck highly when adopted in the form of a necklace or pendant.
The octagon cut gemstone usually have 53 facets. As like square cut stone, it is also cut in steps.
The emerald cut gemstone also falls in the category of step cut stone. Generally, the emerald cut gemstone has approximately 50 facets which enable it to look apprehensively brilliant with stepped cases. The shape of the stone which has perceived emerald cut resembles the square shape with stepped increment.
The stone looks like a rugby ball and it has got 57 facets. In addition to this, the marquise cut gemstone is also called "Navette Stone" resembles alike a stretched oval shape. The marquise cut stone bequeath excellent brilliance and luster.
The number of facets of this stone is around 64. Additionally, this stone is revered as "pillow cut stone" or "candlelight stone cut" in reference to cuts designed prior to electric lights. This stone also means as "classic" stone.
In comparison to other cuts; this cut has introduced in recent times. The number of facets of princess cut stone is around 76. Importantly, the princess cut stone is not only bound to diamond, though, it is used primarily for gemstones. Due to its high brilliance, it is principally used for engagement rings, wedding rings etc.
Mirror cut stones were used since ancient times to cut gemstones. It is also regarded to be the "thin stone". Due to its excellent luster and shine, it was used in earlier times to polish diamond and cut rough gemstone.
So these are the main types of cut, which a gemstone can perceive. However, apart from this, there are other cuts which can be exercised upon the gemstones like Concave cut, Millennium cut, Cabochon cut, Buff cut, Briolette cut.
Except for cut. Color, clarity, the other extremely important parameter which we do need to consider while grading a gemstone is carat.
Carat is supposed as a unit of mass which is used in measuring gemstones. It was found that the unit carat comes into existence around 1920. Additionally; one carat is equal to 200 mg.
Apart from other essential parameters the weight of the stone also holds paramount importance while grading a gemstone.
The weight of the gemstone also makes an impact on the price of the gemstone. Hence, as the carat of the stone increases in the same proportion to the price of the stone will also increase.
Apparently, a rough gemstone carries much weight, which needs to be scaled down by eliminating the redundant materials persisting inside the stone for example: separating inclusions from a stone. As a result of this, the size of the stone and the appearance of the stone enhances brilliantly.
Instead of this, it is not mandatory to purchase a high carat stone. Although, you are advised to purchase a gemstone by keeping in mind your budget, since due to the advancement in technology, nowadays, a gemstone with lesser in carat even appears elegant and suppose to bestow all the benefits which a person seek from a gemstone.


Providence Academy seeks to be accessible to families of all income levels. Tuition is based on a family's ability to pay. Anyone who is unable to pay the minimum tuition rate is able to apply for a variable tuition rate (see Variable Tuition). Families also have the opportunity to support the school in the form of volunteer hours and other fundraising opportunities. Any amount paid above the minimum tuition is considered a donation and may be tax-deductible.
Providence Academy's tuition rates for the 2019-2020 academic school year are listed below.
* Financial Assistance and multiple student discounts are not available for 3 Year Old Pre-School and Pre-Kindergarten programs.


text:
Each time in history that a society has tried to materialize a utopic vision of a perfect world, it has produced the most brutal and criminal regimes.
— Mario Vargas Llosa
Still The Jihadis Jabber
Posted in Politics, Religion on May 31st, 2010
Once again the jihadi vermin are polluting the air with their jabbering rants. This time it's an alliance of Muslim terrorist organizations are trying to get the UN, already horribly infected by Muslims, to enact a global law against blasphemy of prophets and awarding the death penalty to violators.
Mankind should, given the degenerate nature of the UN, take such Islamist threats seriously.
From Yahoo News:
Demanding a permanent ban on Facebook, over two dozen Pakistani religious groups working under the umbrella of the JuD have decided to contact the UN for enacting a global law "against blasphemy of prophets and awarding death penalty to violators."
The decision to contact the UN and envoys from Muslims and non-Muslim states was made at a meeting of clerics belonging to the JuD, Jamaat-e-Islami, Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan, Tanzeem-e-Islami, Markaz-e-Ahlesunnat, Muslim Conference, Jamat-e-Ahlehadis, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam, Pakistan Ulema Council and International Katham-e-Nabuwat.
The meeting, held yesterday at the JuD's headquarters Markaz Alqaadsia in Chawburji, was presided over by JuD chief Hafiz Mohd Saeed.
"The ambassadors of Muslim and non-Muslim states will be told that blasphemy against prophets not only hurts the feelings of one religion but also sows a seed of hatred against the people of other religions," the meeting observed.
The UN and envoys will be asked to support the enactment of an international law against blasphemy and the move to award the death penalty to violators, the meeting decided.
"Leaders of the ruling as well as of the opposition parties will also be called for their support," the meeting decided.
Speaking on the occasion, Saeed asked the Muslim world to unite, introduce its own currency and develop a joint defense system.
The Muslim world should also spend the income from oil and other resources on the defense of Muslims, he said.
"It is shameful that our rulers and opposition are not playing their due role to register the protest of the nation with the US and other countries over the posting of blasphemous cartoons on (Facebook)," Saeed said and demanded a permanent ban on Facebook.
His comments follow Pakistan's recent move to cut off access to social networking website Facebook till May 31 over a page featuring blasphemous cartoons of Prophet Mohammed.
"All Muslim countries should put pressure on the UN to pass a law with death penalty for those committing blasphemy," Saeed said.
He asked Muslims to boycott the products of those countries where blasphemous cartoons were published.
The meeting also decided to hold a public meeting in Islamabad against profane caricatures. Top leaders of almost all religious and religio-political parties will address this meeting.
There was also consensus that the groups should continue to hold public meetings and seminars and use other means to mobilize the people against "profanity."
Take such attempts to destroy freedom in the foul name of fostering the abomination of the Muslims' Caliphate seriously because these subhuman jihadi vermin certainly do so. They will use any means that are allowed to them to enslave the world to the worship of their false god and their disgusting pedophile prophet, Muhammad.
Ragheaded Muslim Vermin Protesting Freedom Of Speech
These misborn animals will continue to try to get the UN to pass laws protecting their cult and sensibilities of those creatures infected by it. If and when those attempts fail, as they fortunately have so far, these poorly crafted mockeries of human form will, as they always do, resort to violence and terrorism.
This sad but unalterable truth is made clear by the fact that these Islamist groups have banded together under the umbrella of Jama'at-ud-Da'wah (JuD), led by Hafiz Muhammad Saeed.
Unlike the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) in the US, Jama'at-ud-Da'wah isn't just a front group and money laundering operation for Muslim terrorist groups; Jama'at-ud-Da'wah is itself a terrorist organization. It is simply a renamed Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) which has committed repeated acts of terrorism across Asia for years.
So remember that when their sort issue their various mouthings about "mobilizing" Muslims they do not mean the same thing as people do when they use that word. Things like Saeed do not mobilize people for peaceful purposes; they mobilize armed nests of Muslims for the purposes spreading Islam and Shari'a by means of rape, murder, mutilation, and any other barbaric act that their cult finds pleasing.
True Then, True Now
Posted in Books & Reading, Society on May 30th, 2010
In January of 1945, during the final months of WW2, the already renowned science fiction author Robert Heinlein wrote a letter to one of science fiction's greatest fans, Forrest Ackerman who many consider the founder of science fiction fandom. In the missive Mr. Heinlein offered his sincere and heart-felt condolences over Mr. Ackerman's brother, Alden's death during the Battle of the Bulge on New Year's Day 1945 while he serving in the 11th Armor Division, 42nd Tank Battalion, D Company as the battalion was fighting its way to Bastogne to relieve the 101st Airborne.
Alden Ackerman was 21 years old at the time of of his death from a German air strike on the battalion which was securing Rechrival, Belgium.
Robert Heinlein did more than offer his condolences though. He also launched a blistering and cruelly accurate attack on the bulk of science fiction fandom of the time. Heinlein passionately condemned the inaction of most fans and, not without cause, blamed these fans for the death of Forrest's brother, Alden.
The transcript and scan of Heinlein's letter is from Letters of Note.
311 S. Hicks St.
Philadelphia 2, Pa.
Dear Forry,
Our hearts are sore at your loss and there is nothing we can say to relieve your personal anguish. Your brother died a noble and heroic death. It is my belief that he did in fact die to make a better world; it is for us who live on to see to it that a better world is accomplished. I am heartened that you regard it as your duty to follow through on his unfinished work.
I will not be able to supply an article for the fan publication you propose to publish in his memory. I dislike to have to tell you that I will not be writing for you, under the circumstances, and I feel that you are entitled to a full explanation. Forry, every day I am writing things which are, literally, dedicated to Alden, and to the many, many others who have died and are dying. My daily writings are dedicated to getting the war won quicker with the fewest number of deaths of our own. My writings are laboratory instructions, engineering reports, letters to manufacturers, and other things having to do with the tedious work of scientific research for war. It takes up all of my energy and all of my imagination and I have none left over for other matters. If I had any energy left over, I would know that I was not doing all that I could do and I would then, in truth, be disloyal to your brother's memory.
(I have, not a belief, not a conviction, but a knowledge of personal survival. You said on your post card that you wanted to discuss the matter with us someday. We will be honored to do so.)
Forry, you have sought my advice on matters which worried you in the past. You have not sought my advice in this matter, but I am going to presume on our old friendship to offer you some. I know that you are solemn in your intention to see to it that Alden's sacrifice does not become meaningless. I am unable to believe that fan activity and fan publications can have anything to do with such intent. I have read the fan publications you have sent me and, with rare exceptions, I find myself utterly disgusted with the way the active fans have met the trial of this war. By the fan mags I learn that many of these persons, who are readily self-congratulatory on their superiority to ordinary people—so many, many of these "fans" have done nothing whatsoever to help out. Many of them are neither in the army nor in war work. Many have found this a golden opportunity to make money during a war boom—by writing, by commercial photography, through the movies, or by other worthless activities—worthless when compared with what your brother Alden was doing. These bastards let your brother die, Forry, and did not lift a hand to help him. I mean that literally. The war in Europe would have been over if all the slackers in this country had been trying to help out—would have been over before the date on which your brother died. The slackers are collectively and individually personally responsible for the death of Alden. And a large percent of fans are among those slackers. Alden's blood is on their hands.
As for persons who are guilty not merely by sins of omission but who actively threw their weight against us, like that traitorous little bastard Jocquel, I have no words to describe them. It is a bitter thing that he should be alive while your brother is dead. It would be well for him to stay out of my sight when this is over. As for any of them, unless they have fought this war in every way they could to the best of their ability, I will not meet with them socially when this is over. I will not shake hands, speak, sit down, nor eat with them.
I am not alone in this opinion. You will find that my opinion is shared by Carnell and by Franklyn Brady. You will find it shared by many others of the grown-ups who know that a war is going on and know that it is not a game nor a joke nor a piece of fiction but a tragic business in which men like your brother Alden meet their deaths, too young and too horribly.
Forry, I want you to dedicate yourself to Alden's memory. To be faithful to him we now have two jobs to do. The first is to win this war as quickly as possible. You can do that by volunteering for something more useful than you are now doing. General Lear has said that he needs thousands of limited-duty clerks and such behind the lines in Europe to release able-bodied men for action. Or, perhaps, a re-examination will find you no longer limited in duty. In either case a Wac can edit your camp paper. The second job is, now and after the war, to see to it that it shall not happen again. There are many ways to do that and each must select his own—political activity of every sort, writing intended to stir people up, the willingness to combat race hatred, discrimination, limitations of civil liberty, generalized hates of every sort, whenever and wherever they show up. But I am damn well sure that fan activity is not the way to serve Alden's memory. Fandom has had a chance to prove itself and it has failed. I find the mags crowded with escapism and other nonsense; I find that fans now call themselves "Slans" (God save us!) on many occasions. I find many other evidences of group paranoia and of psychotic infantilism—and unwillingness to face up to adult problems and to cope with them. Forry, you may write the most inspiring things for a better world possible; if you direct them to this group, they will be worthless in carrying on with Alden's unfinished work, for they will fall on sterile ground. I am not generalizing; there are a few adults among them and there was a fair percentage before the war. I do not indict any who are carrying their load. But there are many (and you know that I am right) who are doing nothing and did nothing to save your brother's life. A bunch of neurotic, selfish, childish, insensitive and unimaginative, vicious bunch of jerks! It is time you quit associating with them and tackled the problems of the real world.
We are very fond of you, Forry. You are a fine and gentle soul. This is a very difficult letter to write; if I did not think you were worth it, I would not make the effort. This letter is for your eyes only; the ideas in it you are free to use but the letter is for you only.
I am very sorry your brother was killed; You may be sure that Leslyn and I will be faithful to his memory with all our strength.
(Signed, 'Bob')
What was true in the 1940s is just true today and Robert Heinlein would likely be no fonder of many within science fiction fandom today than he was of many of those during WW2. "A bunch of neurotic, selfish, childish, insensitive and unimaginative, vicious bunch of jerks," who are afflicted with an odd and pernicious sort of , "group paranoia and of psychotic infantilism—and unwillingness to face up to adult problems and to cope with them," still aptly, if unflatteringly and uncharitably, describes a solid majority of fandom today.
I'm not talking about the larger body of fans of science fiction, but rather the active members of "fandom."
I'm not sure if I can properly describe and define that distinction because I have long been involved with the science fiction and fantasy scene and am, to some extent, effected by the same affliction and attitudes of the rest of them. Suggesting that you review the movies, Trekkies and Galaxy Quest, is the best that I can offer.
This is not to say that there are not good Americans and true within fandom's ranks, for that would be a rank falsehood. It is just that such men and women are in the minority, just as they were when Heinlein wrote this letter to Ackerman.
This is truly a sad and bitter fact. Fandom had much to offer America but has failed to do so many, many times since its members, when not actually adhering to the philosophies of our enemies, hold themselves aloof as if they were too good to soil their hands with honest work in service to the nation that provides them with the freedom to pursue their pleasures.
Obama Attacks Arizona
Friday, May 29, 2010 President Obama demanded that the Us Supreme Court review and set aside an Arizona illegal immigration law. His federal regime thinks that it is inappropriate for the individual states to have such laws.
Obama's administration, in a brief submitted by Acting Solicitor General Neal Katyal, said federal law should preempt state efforts.
The Obama administration on Friday urged the Supreme Court to review and set aside an Arizona law that sanctions employers who hire illegal immigrants, saying it would disrupt the "careful balance" that Congress struck in federal immigration law.
The act in question is not the strict new Arizona law that President Obama and other members of his administration have criticized. That measure authorizes police to question the immigration status anyone who appears to be in the country illegally.
The law being challenged, the Legal Arizona Workers Act, imposes tougher sanctions than federal law for hiring illegal workers. If the court chooses to hear the case, its ruling could show how receptive the justices would be to arguments that enforcing immigration laws is a federal responsibility that cannot be usurped by the states.
It's somewhat interesting that Obama has chosen to attack the State of Arizona over this particular law, Legal Arizona Workers Act which was enacted in 2008, rather than over the other, more recent anti-illegal immigration laws that Arizona, in the wake of continued willful failure by the federal government to protect and defend America's borders, has been forced to enact.
One is forced to conclude that Obama, ever a fan of any nation except America, is bowing before the will of Mexico's Felipe Calderon, whose failed government has a vested interest in keeping these illegal immigrants employed within America. Obama's timing is especially suspicious since it comes so soon after Calderon instructed Obama on how to use America's National Guard along the Mexican border.
What's worse for America though is the disturbing trend being shown by Obama's regime. President Obama has a very dangerous attitude towards the law, especially the intersection of federal and state laws. Currently he is jabbering that Arizona's law should not "usurp" federal authority because it stricter than federal law – which Obama refuses to enforce in the first place. In the recent past, however, he has refused to exert federal authority when a state's – California in this case – laws were looser and in direct contravention of federal law.
Essentially, President Obama's philosophy seems to be that, if he likes a federal law, he will use whatever means he can dream up to prevent the State's from having sterner and more effective laws. Conversely, if he doesn't like a law, he will bend over backwards not to exert federal authority to enforce it even if a state passes laws that directly conflict with- and attempt to nullify it.
This is a philosophy that is inherently dangerous and is an existential threat to America as a Constitutional Republic. Anyone who adheres to such a philosophy is an enemy of America and has no rightful business being allowed to survive within America's borders much less fill, and thereby foul, the position of President of the United States.
Keep your eyes open. Travel light but load heavy, and always put another round in the enemy after they're down. 😉
A Simple Reminder
Posted in Society on May 29th, 2010
A simple, but not particularly gentle, reminder to the civilian people either of or within America – every freedom you enjoy came at a cost of blood, sweat, and tears. The brunt of that price was paid for our soldiery who put themselves in harm's way in order to provide those freedoms.
It Is The Soldier Who Gives Us Liberty, Bought With His Blood
These fallen soldiers are long past review, and I sincerely doubt that our dead care overmuch about our opinions of their lives; they're now past our flawed judgments. But we should certainly care about what their judgment of us and how we've used the freedoms they bought for with their privation, pain, and deaths would be.
Official US Military Totals: 1775 – 1991
U.S. Military Service During War 43,185,893
Battle Deaths 653,708
Other Deaths (In Theater) 14,560
Other Deaths in Service (Non-Theater) 525,930
Source: History News Network
NOTE: I don't have any official US military data on this post 1991, so the later operations in Iraq and Afghanistan are not included above.
Yes, a simple reminder on this Memorial Day weekend – America is the Land of the Free because of the Brave. Every single freedom we have was bought with their blood and what have so many within the US done with those hard-earned freedoms?
Excuse Me, Felipe?
Apparently Felipe Calderon, the largely ineffectual President of the failed state of Mexico is feeling his machismo in the wake of the accommodating response by President Obama and the Congressional Democrats to his recent jabbering rant in DC about Arizona's new immigration laws.
Like so many Mexicans he seems to believe that the United States is Atzlan's La Provincia del Norte.
The Mexican Embassy to the United States has released A statement of their demands and expectations for the use of our National Guard soldiery within our borders:
Washington D.C, May 25th, 2010
Regarding the Administration's decision to send 1,200 National Guard servicemen to the US Southern border, the Government of Mexico trusts that this decision will help to channel additional US resources to enhance efforts to prevent the illegal flows of weapons and bulk cash into Mexico, which provide organized crime with its firepower and its ability to corrupt.
Additionally, the Government of Mexico expects that National Guard personnel will strengthen US operations in the fight against transnational organized crime that operates on both sides of our common border and that it will not, in accordance to its legal obligations, conduct activities directly linked to the enforcement of immigration laws.
Mexico is determined to continue working on its side of the border to enhance the security and well-being of border communities, and to deter and dismantle organized crime and its links to drug trafficking and human smuggling.
As part of our joint strategy in the fight against transnational organized crime, there are actions that our two governments have undertaken together, and there are other measures taken independently by Mexico and by the US within their respective territories. In this regard, the Mexican Government fully respects the sovereign decisions of the US Government, but underscores that joint responsibility must continue to underpin our joint efforts in rolling-back transnational organized crime operating on both sides of the border.
Firstly – it is rarely, if ever, a good idea for the government of one nation to attempt to dictate to another sovereign state how they will deploy and use their own troops within in their own borders to secure that border. This is especially true of any attempt to dictate such terms to a nation that can, at whim or will, raze your country to the ground and has certain empirical reasons for doing so already.
Secondly – The Mexican government has already failed. The cartels control more of the country than the government does and are filled with members of the Mexican army who decided that outright banditry and the drug trade were more profitable than the normal graft and corruption commonplace in Mexico. The Mexican government's only hope of survival is US intervention. It's just plain stupid to piss off the people who you need to save your filthy asses.
Third and finally – Felipe's head is swelling up too big for his sombrero if he think he has right or privilege to speak to his betters in that fashion or to have his subordinates do so for him. He need to correct that failing pronto before an American decides to let the gas out of his head with .338 Lapua or .50 BMG round.
Mantenga sus ojos abiertos. Viaje ligero pero pesado de carga, y siempre dicho de otra bala en el enemigo una vez que estás abajo. 😉

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
T-54 (1949)
Revision as of 08:27, 27 February 2019 by Inceptor57 (talk | contribs) (→See also: Added similar T-54 tanks)
USSRV Rank
Medium tankClass
4 peopleCrew
83 %Visibility
front / side / backArmour
100 / 80 / 45Hull
200 / 125 / 50Turret
35.5 tWeight
992 hp520 hpEngine power
28 hp/t15 hp/tSurface density
55 km/h forward
8 km/h back50 km/h forward
7 km/h backSpeed
100 mm D-10T cannonMain weapon
34 roundsAmmunition
20 roundsFirst-order
8.5 / 11.1 sReload
-4° / 17°Vertical guidance
12.7 mm DShK machine gunMachinegun
50 roundsBelt capacity
-10° / 60°Vertical guidance
7.62 mm SGMT machine gunCoaxial weapon
3 500 roundsAmmunition
250 roundsBelt capacity
160 000 Research
7 180 / 9 800/3 300 / 4 504/3 520 / 4 804Repair
110 000 Crew training
2.2 Mobility
3.1 Main armament
3.1.1 Ammunition
3.1.2 Ammo racks
3.2 Machine guns
5.1 Predecessors
5.4 Combat usage
The T-54 (1949) is a Rank V Soviet medium tank with a battle rating of 7.7 (AB/RB/SB). It was introduced in Update 1.47 - "Big Guns". It is the second in the Soviet T-54 series between the 1947 and 1951 models, yet only differs in the design and the available choice in ammunition.
Armour type:
Rolled homogeneous armour (Hull, Turret roof)
Cast homogeneous armour (Turret)
Hull 100 mm (61°) Front glacis
100 mm (53°) Lower glacis 80 mm 45 mm (18°) Upper
30 mm (73°) Lower 30 mm
Turret 200 mm (7-64°) Turret front
200 mm Gun mantlet 90 - 160 mm (9-48°) 50 mm (16-52°) 30 mm
Cupola 100 mm 30 mm
Suspension wheels are 20 mm thick while tracks are 18 mm thick.
Mobility characteristic
Weight (tons)
Add-on Armour
Max speed (km/h)
35.5 N/A 56 (AB)
50 (RB/SB)
Engine power (horsepower)
Arcade 806 ___
Realistic/Simulator 460 520
Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton)
Arcade 22.70 __.__
Realistic/Simulator 12.96 14.65
Main armament
Main article: D-10T (100 mm)
100 mm D-10T
34 -4°/+17° ±180° N/A
Turret rotation speed (°/s)
Prior + Full crew
Prior + Expert qualif.
Prior + Ace qualif.
Arcade 9.5 __.__ __.__ __.__ __.__
Realistic 5.9 __.__ __.__ __.__ __.__
Reloading rate (seconds)
11.10 __.__ __.__ __.__
Penetration statistics
Penetration in mm @ 90°
BR-412 APHE 217 213 192 168 148 130
BR-412B APHEBC 217 213 194 173 154 137
BR-412D APCBC 238 236 222 206 191 177
BR-412P APCR 251 250 217 169 114 99
OF-412 HE 20 20 19 19 19 19
3BM-8 APDS 299 298 291 272 253 249
Shell details
in m/s
Mass in kg
Fuse delay
in m:
Fuse sensitivity
in mm:
Explosive Mass in g
(TNT equivalent):
Normalization At 30°
from horizontal:
Ricochet:
BR-412 APHE 895 16 1.2 15 110.5 -1° 47° 60° 65°
BR-412B APHEBC 895 16 1.2 15 110.5 +4° 48° 63° 71°
BR-412D APCBC 887 16 1.2 15 103.7 +4° 48° 63° 71°
BR-412P APCR 1,050 8 N/A N/A N/A +1.5° 66° 70° 72°
OF-412 HE 880 15 0.1 5 1,460 +0° 79° 80° 81°
3BM-8 APDS 1415 5.7 N/A N/A N/A +1.5° 75° 78° 80°
Smoke characteristic
Screen radius
in m
in s
Screen hold time
in s:
3D3 880 16 20 5 25 272
Ammo racks
Ammo racks of the T-54 mod. 1947.
rack empty
34 29 (+5) 26 (+8) 25 (+9) 21 (+13) 1 (+33) no
Turret empty: 26 (+8)
One rack only: 21 (+13)
Main articles: DShK (12.7 mm), SGMT (7.62 mm)
12.7 mm DShK
Pintle mount
Capacity (Belt capacity)
(shots/minute)
250 (50) 600 -10°/+60° ±180°
7.62 mm SGMT
Coaxial mount
3,500 (250) 600 N/A N/A
Describe the tactics of playing in the vehicle, the features of using vehicles in the team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view but give the reader food for thought. Describe the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).
Retains the decent D-10 100 mm gun, just like the T-54 Mod.1947
Access to APDS ammunition
Fast reload rate
New elliptical turret removes the frontal turret shot trap found on the T-54 (1947)
Good mobility
Armour is not as thick in comparison to the T-54 (1947)
Angling the armour is not advised, as the side armor will be exposed
Ammo Racks can be detonated fairly easily from the side
Slow turret traverse speed in general
Predecessors
During World War II, the Soviet Union fielded the T-34 in large numbers to overrun the German tanks. The initial T-34 variant with the 76 mm gun soon became insufficient due to further German development on potent anti-tank weaponry. The response was the development of the T-34-85 with the more powerful 85 mm gun. However, the T-34-85 was still insufficient fighting against the German "big cats" tanks. This prompted for further tank development to make a more protected medium tank for the Soviet armoured forces. This developed into the T-44, which proved superior to the T-34 in armour, but retained the same 85 mm gun.
The army then requested that the gun on the tank be increased for additional firepower. This developed into adding the 100 mm gun onto the T-44 and was designated the T-44-100. The T-44-100 proved successful in testing, but still suffered drawbacks that impeded its efficiency. It was decided that instead of quickly sending the tank into production, further development and modernization on the overall tank design should be made to make the tank the full transition from a World-War II era tank into the next generation. This developed into the T-54 tank that was accepted into service in 29 April 1946.
The tank would enter production at Nizhni Tagil in 1947 and Kharkov in 1948. However, the initial production was slow as the serial production models underwent 1,490 different modifications. The first model produced was designated the T-54-1 (Object 137), which had a thicker hull armour than its future model. This production model suffered quality deficiency, and was cancelled and upgraded into the T-54-2 (Object 137R) in 1949 that featured a new turret and other changes to the hull, transmission, and track design. In 1951, another change was made to the design and was designated the T-54-3 (Object 137Sh). The T-54-3 design featured a new turret design that removed shot traps. A new gun sight and smoke generating system was also installed into the tank. The T-54-3 would become the basis of future T-54 design, with the turret design staying in all of its successor.
Despite the T-54's great performance in its design, the T-54 did not stop at its base model. The first upgrades done was in 1953 and 1955 when the tank's D-10 gun was given stabilization gear, first with a vertical stabilizer in 1953 before upgrading again with a 2-plane stabilizer in 1955. These tank upgrades renamed the T-54 to T-54A and T-54B for the respective years. While an improvement in the tank's performance, the biggest jump came with the advent of nuclear technology in the Soviet arsenal. When testings show that a T-54 can survive the blast of a 2 - 15 kt nuclear charge at 300 meters (700 m for crew survival), the T-54 was slated for the installment of a Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical (NBC) protection system to protect the crew from the weapons of mass destruction. This project was given to the KB-60 design bureau in Kharkov and this was finished in 1956. Along with many other changes to the tank interior, such as a new engine, heating system, fuel tanks, ammo storage, and new guns sights, the tank became the more common T-55 tank, which would replace the T-54 design in production past 1958. The difference in the T-54 and the T-55 other than the mechanical differences is the presence of a dome-shaped ventilator in front of the loaders hatch, it is a T-54 if present as it was removed in order to seal the tank with NBC protection. All in all, the T-54/55 tank series became the most widely produced tank ever, surpassing the T-34 with an estimated 100,000+ built, many due to the export market and licensed manufacturing the Soviets gave to their allies.
The T-54 is a simple and reliable, yet deadly machine compared to its contemporaries at its introduction. The T-54 retained the same interior compartments as traditional designs, with the driving in the front, fighting and turret in the center, and the engine at the rear. The most distinctive features on the T-54 is the dome turret and the space between the first and second road wheels in the front, which would be absent in its successor, the T-62.
The T-54 simplicity and reliability made it a very easy tank to operate, not requiring a thoroughly trained crew to operate (though a better crew can give a better performance). The T-54 also presents a very low profile compared to the American and British tank, which makes it a smaller target to hit. The light weight of the design at only 36 tons made it very easy to transport around on flatbed. The tank also features extra abilities like a cold-weather starting system and a snorkel for deep-wading that were mostly absent on similar vehicles. Finally, the 100 mm D-10T gun was much better than anything fielded as tank armament, able to defeat the American Patton and the British Centurions, which were their mainstay tanks. Even after the introduction of superior tanks like the M60 tank with the 105 mm M68 gun, the T-54 is able to keep up with new HEAT and APDS rounds.
However, the T-54 design suffered from some of these advantages. The small profile gave the tank a small interior volume, which causes such a constraint to crew space that a height limit had to be set. The low turret silhouette also made the tank unable to depress the gun in a large angle due to the gun's breech hitting the roof, which restricts the T-54 ability to enter a hull-down position. Like other tanks in its generation, the T-54 also had an unprotected ammo storage, which increased the chance of a catastrophic explosion of the ammunition if the tank is penetrated in battle.
Despite that, the T-54 design, upgraded into the T-55, proved very successful as a cost-effective weapon of war that can still stand on its own today. Its utility is further demonstrated by the many variants created from the chassis, such as bridge-layers, fire-fighting vehicles, flamethrowers, armoured-personnel carriers, engineer vehicles, and anti-aircraft vehicles.
Combat usage
Most of the service recorded in the T-54 and the T-55 are interchangeable as the two are essentially identical aside from the NBC protection. They will be referred as the "T-54/55" unless specified otherwise.
The Soviets main tank during the course of the Cold War was the T-54/55 and the T-62 tanks, comprising about 85% of the Soviet armoured force in mid-1970s. The first combat usage of the T-54 was in the Hungarian Revolution of 1956. During the conflict, one T-54A was captured by the Hungarian rebels and delivered it to the British embassy. This act inspired the production of the 105 mm L7 gun and the M60 MBT when tests on this T-54 found it superior in firepower and armour. Afterwards, the Soviets did not have many activities with the T-54/55, but they are still in reserve status after being replaced by the Soviet T-72 and T-90 tanks.
The Middle East region saw more usage of the T-54/55 in the conflicts that ensured there, notably in the Israel-Arab conflicts in the Six-Day War and the Yom Kippur War. The Israel were able to beat back the T-54/55 in both conflicts due to superior tactics and air superiority in the Six-Day War, and the presence of superior tanks such as the 105 mm equipped M60 and Centuron tanks, which could more easily deal with the T-54/55 in the Yom Kippur War. Israel were able to capture many T-54/55 tanks intact in both wars and upgraded these tanks with the 105 mm L7 gun, designated as the Tiran-5. The T-54/55 also saw usage in the Jordanian Civil War of 1970 on the Syrian side, the Iran-Iraq War in the 1980s, and even as recent as Operation Desert Storm in 1991 and Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003, a testament to the utility and reliability of the T-54/55 tanks to still be in use 60 years after its introduction despite its inferiority to the American M1A1 Abrams and the British Challenger II's.
The T-54/55 also saw use in the Vietnam War on the North Vietnamese side, equipping the NVA 203rd Armoured Regiment and many other divisions. The T-54/55 also made appearance in Angola and Mozambique, which were supplied from the Soviets to support the rising Marxist influences in South Africa. These T-54/55s saw use in the South African Border War and Angolan Civil War, but many were lost against turreted armoured car with HEAT rounds. Many other countries in the world used the T-54/55 as well, whether given by the Soviets and their allies or licensed to produce in-country, up to 50 countries in the world used the T-54/55 in their military, including irregular forces in these countries. Notable conflicts using the T-54/55 was in the Indo-Pakistani War in the Indian Army, in the Ugandan-Tanzanian War, Yugoslav Wars, Sino-Vietnamese War, and the Sri Lakan Civil War. The T-54/55 is still being used to day in the modern century, such as the Libyan Civil War in 2011, and the ongoing conflicts of the Syrian Civil War in many sides, including ISIS and the Syrian Army.
T-54 (1947) - Predecessor, featuring an enhanced front glacis plate, but turret design have certain frontal weak points.
T-54 (1951) - Successor, featuring an improved turret design that eliminates the rear shot trap.
[Devblog] A-20G-25 and T-54 1949
USSR medium tanks
T-28 T-28 · T-28E
T-34-76 T-34 (Prototype) · T-34 (1940) · T-34 (1941) · T-34 (1st Gv.T.Br.) · T-34 (1942) · T-34E STZ · T-34E
T-34-57 T-34-57 · T-34-57 (1943)
T-34-85 T-34-85 (D-5T) · T-34-85 · T-34-85E
T-34-100 T-34-100
T-44 T-44 · T-44-100 · T-44-122
T-54 T-54 (1947) · T-54 (1949) · T-54 (1951)
T-55 T-55A · T-55AM-1
T-62 T-62 · T-62M-1 · IT-1
T-64 T-64A (1971) · T-64B
T-72 T-72A
T-80 T-80B · T-80U
Others Shturm-S
Trophies/Lend-Lease ▂T-III · ▂T-V · ▂M3 Medium · ▂M4A2
Retrieved from "https://wiki.warthunder.com/index.php?title=T-54_(1949)&oldid=16150"
USSR ground vehicles
Fifth rank ground vehicles


Does anyone know any junkyards around northern Illinois, northwestern Indiana or southern Wisconsin for Jeep where I can actually roam around with my tools?
Picknpull in Summit Il,and in Hammond IN.
Ashleys pick a part in joilet IL.
All can roam around pretty well. LKQ is my favorite price wise. But I literally just got back from the pick n pull in summit 30 minutes ago and they had I believe 3 97+ Cherokees, and 2-3 Pre 96 cherokees right now. I've been to all the yards multiple times though.
I'll check them out. Thanks for your quick response!
did you see the two blue xjs? i got the ohc off them and rc front brake lines.
The gun metal pearl jeep? Yep. Seen that one, grabbed factory fog light switch out of it.
the black lifted 2000 been there couple weeks. saw that somebody chopped off the the leaf. i took the coil spring and stashed away. they probably crushed the car i put in by now lol. the yard wants 36 each.
i also picked up these rare 92/93 chevy lumina Z34 metal hood vents. im going to list them on ebay or 3800 forum i know somebody will buy them.
back to the jy post there's also few places by you. circus in river dale on 127th and ashland. pick and pull in hammond, and one in danville.


Our Volunteers work all over the festival or event to support the festival staff, fans, sponsors, and artists to ensure that everyone at the event has an unforgettable, exciting, fun, and safe time. As a member of the Dina Media Group Volunteer Crew, you could be doing anything from helping set up a vendors site, to keeping a watchful eye on various entry points, or even simply putting on a smile and greeting everyone as they come and go throughout the event.
When you volunteer at a music festival, it's not just all fun and games. You'll be expected to carry your weight and help the festival proceed without a hitch, which means that you'll be doing your fair share of work. However, that type of experience not only looks great on resumes and college applications, it helps you develop real-world skills necessary for your future.
Want to join us? Volunteering with Dina Media Group is truly a one-of-a-kind experience. Every year Dina Media Group produces multiple events that attract thousands of people from all over. We're looking for volunteers to assist in all areas of the Festival or Event—from managing entrances to helping vendors with their setup. Of course there are plenty of exciting benefits, but the real benefits of volunteering aren't things, but rather being part of a passionate community and meeting exciting people and who knows, you just may create future opportunities. If you're ready for an unforgettable experience, join us!
To volunteer fill out the form below.
Thank you for your interest in becoming a volunteer. After submitting this form, someone will contact you shortly.


US new home sales slump | City A.M.
FEARS of a double-dip in the US housing market intensified yesterday after data showed that new home sales fell at the sharpest monthly pace in July since records began.
Sales of new homes plummeted 12.4 per cent to an annual rate of 276,000 – the lowest since the data was first recorded in 1963 and well below the market's expectations of a rate of 330,000 homes. The Commerce Department also revised down June's annual sales pace to 315,000 units.
New home sales have struggled to pick up over the past few months and the annual pace is only a quarter of what was seen in the boom years of the early 2000s.
The downbeat data initially weighed on US equities but buying activity capped losses.
Analysts expect the pace of new home sales to remain depressed for some months to come and predicted possible years of excess supply.
"Homebuilders continue to face tough competition from distressed sales. These typically sell at a discount and currently make up about 30 per cent of total sales. Moreover, while the building spree peaked in 2006, the housing market is still burdened with substantial excess supply. It may take several years to clear this excess," he warned.


Amanda Ward practices what she preaches. The 35-year-old naturopathic doctor is the founder of Bloom Naturopathic Health in Encinitas, where the governing philosophy is "let your life be your medicine." In other words, she believes diet, exercise, meditation, and other lifestyle choices are the key to wellness. This sense of Zen carries over to Amanda's life at home, which she shares with her partner of 10 years, Chris Cozzi, and their six dogs. Stepping into their 1962 house feels like entering a spa—gentle soothing music playing on the sound system, the scent of essential oils wafting through the air. The décor is part Balinese with midcentury bones, but mostly it's a testament to Amanda's passions—the first being health, followed by her love of rescuing dogs and a fascination with ancient cultures. In the front yard (above), a colossal stone Olmec head is juxtaposed with an 80-pound quartz crystal. Every two months, feng shui specialist Shauna Piscitello performs acupuncture on the land, balancing the energy of the surrounding plants and clearing any negative energy from the property. "Om"-mazing!
A large statement mirror hangs above a West Elm console, creating a place to display more healing crystals and meaningful trinkets from her travels. Note the bronze yoga fingers—the thumb and forefinger are pressed together, a gesture of consciousness and knowledge. The doc also loves to have fresh flowers in every room. "It's flower power!" says Amanda, who aptly named her business Bloom.


text:
How Safe Do LGBTQ+ Individuals Feel in Tech?
by John Sudekum August 21, 2020 4 min read
DiversityLGBTQ
How safe do LGBTQ+ individuals who work in tech feel in their workplaces? Blind, which anonymously surveys technologists, went out and asked—and received some interesting answers in return.
According to Blind's report (PDF), some 86 percent of technologists overall felt that their companies were safe places to work for LGBTQ+ individuals. However, 76 percent of LGBQ individuals and 64 percent of trans or gender non-conforming employees actually felt safe. Clearly there's a bit of a dichotomy between employees' perception of their workplace safety, and how LGBTQ+ individuals really feel about it.
In a worrisome twist, the percentages of those feeling safe within their workplaces has dipped year-over-year:
Similar gaps popped up in other parts of Blind's survey. For instance, although 74 percent of overall respondents thought their company offered "inclusive" health and family policies for LGBTQ+ workers, only 69 percent of LGBQ and 64 percent of trans or gender non-conforming respondents felt the same way.
Perhaps the starkest contrast came with questions of management. Although 55 percent of overall respondents felt that they were represented by their company's upper management, only 35 percent of LGBQ and 41 percent of trans or gender non-conforming employees could say the same.
The technology industry has spent years struggling with its diversity efforts. Although many firms (including the largest) have made very public shows of trying to boost the hiring and retention of underrepresented groups, diversity reports often show that real progress is slow. Advocacy organizations such as O4U (Out for Undergrad) and oSTEM (a nonprofit association for LGBTQ+ people in the STEM community) are also dedicated to broadening the pipeline for LGBTQ+ technologists and developers.
Stack Overflow's most recent edition of its Developer Survey, in which it asked tens of thousands of developers about everything from their favorite programming languages to their educational background, also queried them about their sexual orientation:
Another question asked developers whether they were transgender:
For managers and executives, it's not just a matter of refining the talent pipeline. Taking into account the safety of underrepresented employees might also be a good first step, as the Blind survey indicates there's some serious concern in that area.
Tech Workers Seem Unconcerned About Gender Pay Gap
Webinar: The Gender Pay Gap in Tech
Webinar: 2019 Trends in Tech Recruiting
CTO: Job Description Template
UNIX Administrator: Job Description Template
Search Employer Resources
Access 11M Unique Tech Profiles
Dice Resource Library
Where can you find the latest data on tech hiring? The Dice Resource Library has the reports, ebooks, webinars and tools you need to be in the know.
Check out the Dice Resource Library.
The New Dice TalentSearch
Source and engage skilled, relevant talent fast with the most powerful search engine in tech recruiting.


With Valentine's Day fast approaching, it's time to get thinking about how to impress that special someone in your life.
Not sure where to start? Don't panic as BMW has it covered. From modern lifestyle apparel, leather goods and accessories, you can forget the standard chocolate and flowers and say 'I love you' with one of these distinctive picks from BMW's exclusive lifestyle collection.
For all the fitness fanatics out there, the breathable Athletics Performance Functional Jacket is the perfect choice. It adapts perfectly to the body, and is ideal for a life on the move, whether that's a stroll in the park, or a morning jog during the chilly months.
Look chic on the beach with these stylish unisex Motorsport Sunglasses with slightly mirrored ultra-light polycarbonate lenses – the ideal accessory for a sunny day.
Planning a special night for the two of you? Then complete the surprise by gifting her a BMW Iconic Pocket Unisex Leather Pouch, a stylish fashion accessory, which impresses with simple elegance. In addition to two penholders and a side compartment, the interior of the bag offers space for car keys, a mobile phone, and indispensable little things for the road.
Is your other half's phone constantly running out of battery? Why not gift him with the BMW i Solar Charger, that's not only incredibly stylish but also friendly to the environment.
Buy your man a pair of stunning BMW Cufflinks which resemble the iconic BMW car grille to chic him up for business meetings or for a special night spent together.
If your man has a need for speed, then surprise him with a comfy yet stylish BMW i Hooded Jacket, designed to match one of the fastest hybrid sport cars in the world, the BMW i8. This multi-functional jacket is made of 100% organic cotton, with roomy pockets and soft hood, it is ideally suited for sports and leisure activities.


By putting each email address and IP address into a spreadsheet, I was able to link IP addresses to multiple email addresses. And when this linking was done, I identified additional email addresses that could be confirmed as linked to Sean B**shie through use of the same IP addresses.
3. Obtain University of Montana server logs for all emails listed above that were sent during work hours for Sean B**shie.
5. Require Verizon to provide Sean B**shie's telephone and data records. The police love to say that Crystal Cox or Bill Windsor could have sent these emails. Neither of them had a Blackberry.
8. Officer Nick Painter of the University of Montana Police Department told Sean B**shie to stop emailing Bill Windsor on August 21, 2013 at approximately 1:00 pm. Bill Windsor never received another email from Sean B**shie or his many aliases.
This is Sean B**shie's front yard on August 6, 2013 when I drove by on the public road and snapped a few photos for the movie. My visit was announced, and I discussed with the Ravalli County Sheriff's Department that I would stay in my vehicle and remain on public property.
Now, the police have wanted to say that it could have been Crystal Cox or me who did these things. Ridiculous. It seems to me that the sign in Sean B**shie's front yard makes it mighty clear that he was doing the things that I accused him of.


text:
Superintendent Board Member Information/Board Policy BoardDocs Electronic Board Meetings
District Office Staff Contacts Business Services Curriculum & Instruction Facilities and Maintenance Human Resources Student Services Technology Title IX Per SB1375
Annual Parent Notifications Educational Foundation of Orinda (EFO) Lamorinda School Bus Program Parent Clubs Parent Education Student Internet Use Agreement
District Schools/SARCs School Finder
News Item: Homepage
Orinda Union School District Partners with Landed to Help Educators Purchase Homes
The Orinda Union School District (OUSD) Board of Trustees recognizes that attracting and retaining the most talented teachers, staff, and administrators is of utmost importance to maintaining educational excellence. Unfortunately, limited state funding for OUSD teacher and other employee salaries has not kept pace with the cost of living in, or commuting to, Orinda.
At their recent March meeting, the OUSD Board approved a resolution to partner with Landed, a San Francisco-based startup that helps school personnel purchase homes through a down payment assistance program. The program provides half of the down payment on a home, up to $120,000 per household, in exchange for a portion of the gain or loss in the value of the home when the home is sold. Landed's down payment support will be available to all teachers, administrators, and staff who have worked for Orinda Union School District for at least two years and can contribute their own 10% down payment.
"Orinda is one of least affordable cities in the Bay Area," noted Orinda Union School District Board President Carol Brown. "Without innovative solutions like Landed, most of our educators cannot afford to live in or near our community. We believe Landed will be a valuable tool to improve district retention by providing educators with a pathway to home ownership."
OUSD Superintendent Dr. Carolyn Seaton added, "Orinda Union School District receives among the lowest per pupil state funding of all public school districts in California. Consequently, it is challenging to offer competitive salaries for our teachers and other employees. Fortunately, Landed offers an opportunity to provide Orinda teachers and staff with assistance for a down payment on a home at no cost to the district."
Last year, Landed received a $5 million investment from the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative to help educators in three public school districts on the Peninsula buy homes. Thanks to subsequent partnerships with large foundations, Landed has established the U.S. Educator Housing Fund to bring down payment support to educators in expensive cities around the country. Since its founding in 2015, Landed has already helped over forty educators purchase homes in San Jose, Oakland, San Francisco, Santa Clara, and other cities across California.
"We couldn't be more thrilled to partner with the Orinda Union School District," said Landed Head of Engagement Nikki Lowy. "We believe in upholding the essential professionals who uphold all of us. While we recognize that Landed is just one of many solutions needed to address the housing crisis in the East Bay, we're excited to offer a new tool to help Orinda educators live in or near the beautiful community they serve."
An informational session will be held with Orinda Union School District employees in April. In the interim, interested OUSD educators can apply for Landed support today at www.landed.com/interest.
About the Orinda Union School District
Orinda Union School District is one of the highest performing school districts in the State of California. Orinda USD serves approximately 2,500 students from transitional kindergarten to eighth grade at five school campuses— four elementary schools and one middle school. Three Orinda USD elementary schools have been honored as 2018 California Distinguished Schools: Del Rey, Glorietta, and Wagner Ranch. Orinda Intermediate School was named a California Gold Ribbon School in 2015. Del Rey Elementary School earned National Blue Ribbon School status in 2015. All five Orinda USD schools have been honored by the Campaign for Business and Education Excellence as California Honor Roll Schools based on student achievement data. In addition to outstanding students and excellent teachers and staff, Orinda Union School District is extremely fortunate to have a high level of parental involvement in the schools and strong community partnerships as evidenced by the support provided by Parent Clubs, the Educational Foundation of Orinda, and the City of Orinda. More information about Orinda USD is available at http://www.orindaschools.org.
About Landed
Landed is on a mission to help essential professionals, starting with educators, build financial security near the communities they serve. One of the ways we do this is by investing equity alongside educators when they are ready to buy a home. We call this shared equity down payment assistance. Here's how it works. Recent news coverage about Landed can be found in the Wall Street Journal, on NPR, and in the San Jose Mercury News. Helping great educators become homeowners keeps them in the classroom and improves student outcomes. That's why Landed is financially supported by great organizations like the DRK Foundation and the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative. More information about Landed is available at www.landed.com.
Posted by: Debbie Jamieson Published:4/4/18
Audience: News and News
© 2017-2018 Orinda Union School District
8 Altarinda Road, Orinda, California 94563


And I had to do the same in downtown Philadelphia, and I haven't yet reached 50. So what? That was 1974. We're almost in 2007. There was no publically accessible internet. There were no personal computers. There were no cellphones. A child born when I passed the Extra exam may now be pushing for (or be) partner at a major law firm. Times change and we must change with them.
My guess is that those QRMing most any major DX pileup (or being an obnoxious frequency cop) passed a CW test. It's not an exclusive arbiter of good behavior. I also think amateur radio will be fine. If not, it won't be because of no-code, but rather because we didn't make it attractive for newbies.
And yes, I can send/receive 40 wpm with ease. If I were king SSB contests would be banished to history's dustbin (OK, not really). I prefer CW for a variety of reasons. But times change.