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The Moab Fault, near Moab, Utah, United States, is an extensional fault that runs approximately NW-SE, passing to the west of the Arches National Park. It is about  long and has a maximum displacement of about . The fault connects with the Tenmile Graben in the north and extends through the Moab-Spanish Valley to the south. The fault outcrop has a well-defined fault zone bordered by a damage zone of minor faults and fractures.

The Moab Fault has been the focus of a number of studies, covering a range of topics including fault zone architecture, fault cementation, and fault seal prediction.

Geological Setting

The Moab Fault was active during a period between the Triassic and early Tertiary, with a break from mid-Jurassic until at least mid-Cretaceous. It is associated with two salt anticlines formed within the Fold and Fault Belt of the Paradox Basin in east-central Utah. The Paradox Basin is part of the Colorado Plateau that formed during the Late Paleozoic. Movement on the basement faults began in the Proterozoic and was greatest during mid-Pennsylvanian Rocky Mountain tectonism. The fault was reactivated at ~60 Ma, likely due to reinitiated salt movement during the Laramide Orogeny. Following its deposition, the salt was deformed to form a series of salt anticlines that were ultimately buried by 1–2 km of Jurassic to Tertiary sediments.

Fault Geometry
The architecture of the Moab fault zone is highly variable, and has been studied by several authors. The first systematic study was conducted by Foxford et al. in 1998, which classified architectural elements into slip band zones, shaley gouge zones and sandstone cataclastics and breccias. Thirty-seven transect exposures within the Moab fault zone were described. These exposures provide excellent data on lateral variation and structure features within the fault zone. The most studied transects include the Moab Canyon, R191 Canyon, Corral Canyon, Courthouse Mine, Bartlett Wash, and Waterfall Canyon.

The Moab Fault is a sharply defined brittle shear zone (1–10 m wide). The overall geometry of the southern fault segment is that of a faulted anticline, modified by a minor component of normal drag adjacent to the fault. The fault is composed of three main components: a poorly exposed southern section, a central section (where the greatest throws are found), and a complex branching northern section that tips out to the northwest. At the north end of the Moab valley, there is a fault transfer zone, where the fault steps east. This zone transfers the displacement along the fault from one segment to another. Within this zone there is very dense faulting. Along the southern segment, footwall bed dips define a structural high symmetrically disposed about the point of maximum throw. A prominent hanging wall feature of the southern segment is the Moab Anticline, with a crestal collapse graben accommodated by an array of normal faults. The Moab Anticline is an asymmetric fold with a wavelength of approximately 1 km, an amplitude of 350 m and a length of over 10 km.

The internal geometry of the Moab fault zone is complex in terms of the numbers of slip zones, the partitioning of throw between them and the distribution of fault rocks, all of which vary over the fault surface. One study by Berg and Skar5 analyzes the arrangement of fractures in damage zones of the Bartlett segment of the Moab Fault. The Bartlett fault consist of a fault core surrounded by damage zones in the footwall and hanging wall. The fault core consists of a variety of fault rocks and entrained bodies of clastic host rocks, which indicate variation in strain intensity and deformation style. Berg and Skar suggest that the most important cause for asymmetric strain distribution is the development of the hanging wall syncline and the resulting asymmetric stress pattern expected to exist during fault propagation.

Sedimentation and Stratigraphy
The sedimentation of the Moab area was primarily influenced by marine or lacustrine incursions into the margins of major Jurassic ergs. This area consists of a heterogeneous series of dominantly clastic sedimentary rocks. The basal Navajo Sandstone to top Entrada Sandstone interval is separated into six sedimentologically distinct stratigraphic units: the Navajo Sandstone, the Page Sandstone, the Dewey Bridge and Slick Rock members of the Entrada Sandstone, the Moab Tongue, and the Curtis Formation. The stratigraphy of the outcropping fault zone can be divided into three lithological groups: mudstone-dominated, mixed mudstone-sandstone, and sandstone-rich sequences. The mixed mudstone-sandstone sequences include interbedded fluvial and aeolian sandstones and floodplain/lacustrine mudstones and siltstones. Sandstone-rich intervals are primarily aeolian in origin.

Distribution of Clays and Cements
Distinctive types of veining, calcite cementation and iron oxide reduction exist adjacent to the fault, especially in Jurassic Navajo and Entrada sandstones. Calcite, barite, ankerite, and pyrite cemented veins are found in immediate proximity of the fault. The presence and amount of clays in fault rocks is a useful indicator in determining:

 Fault rock composition and mechanical and hydrologic fault zone properties
 Paleoflow migration in the Moab Fault
 Fault seal prediction

Mechanical and hydrologic properties
The presence of clays in fault rock influences both the mechanical and hydrologic properties of clay-bearing faults. Field mapping shows that layers of clay gouge and shale smear are common along the Moab Fault. Solum et al. describe the occurrence of clay-rich fault along four fault zones: R191, Corral Canyon, Courthouse Canyon, and the Bartlett Wash exposure. While fault rocks along the R191 location and Bartlett Wash are enriched in clays relative to protolith, those at Corral Canyon and Courthouse Canyon show little difference in composition relative to protolith, suggesting that fault rock formation at the latter locations is governed by mechanical as opposed to authigenic processes.

Paleoflow migration
Many studies have documented multiple episodes of fluid flow along the Moab Fault since its formation in the Permo-Triassic. In one study, Eichhubl et al. use the distribution of calcite cement as an indicator of paleofluid migration. They infer that fault-parallel fluid flow was focused along fault segments overprinted by joints and sheared joints. These conclusions support Chan et al.'s hydrogeologic model, which proposes that hydrocarbon and basin brines from Pennsylvanian source rocks migrated along the Moab fault, moving into the porous sandstone units where they interacted with oxygenated meteoric water. Chan et al. use Ar-Ar dating to define the age of this fluid movement. They determine a mineralization age of c. 25-20 Ma, which coincides with episodic uplift of the Colorado Plateau or with La Sal Mountains volcanism.

The Moab Fault is characterized by patterns of iron oxide reduction that also suggest the fault acted as a conduit for mineralizing fluids. It is suggested that red sandstones adjacent to the Moab Fault were bleached by reducing fluids. Iron oxide reduction is concentrated within high permeability, well-connected sandstones and spatially associated with cemented veins – indicating that the reduction event coincided with vein formation, and thus with the final stages of faulting. Permeability along the fault may have been promoted by the highly anisotropic shaley gouge fabrics or by fault zone fractures.

After analyzing geochemical data of carbonate cements and iron-oxide reduced sandstones from the Moab Anticline, Garden et al. suggest that following fault movement, the fault zone was the locus of vertical migration of over-pressured hydrocarbon and aqueous, carbonate-saturated fluids. These observations, combined with the extensive presence of shaley gouge even at low stratigraphic levels suggest that the Moab Fault was a conduit for fluid flow while supporting significant across-fault pressure differences.

Fault seal prediction
Clay smear is among the family of structures that detect fluid flow in sedimentary basins. Clay smear processes are applied to instances of cross-fault flow when porous and permeable rocks, specifically sandstones and shales, are cut by normal faults. According to Foxford et al., the most important feature of the Moab Fault zone from the standpoint of seal potential assessment is the nearly constant presence of at least one shaley gouge layer.  The shale gouge ratio is one way to describe the amount of clay smear in a fault zone, and is simply defined as the percentage of shale/clay in the slipped interval. Shale gouge ratio, when applied to sand-shale sequences, indicates the proportion of phyllosilicate material expected to be incorporated into the fault rock. Thus it provides a measure of the seal capacity, as a shale layer in a fault zone may provide an effective seal to across-fault flow. Previous studies show that a shale gouge ratio of ~20% defines the boundary between sealing and non-sealing faults, with faults sealing at shale gouge ratios above this 'cut-off' value. Shale gouge is present in the Moab Fault at values >c. 20%, but varies depending on the location of the transect.

References

Geology of Utah
Seismic faults of the United States
Geography of Grand County, Utah

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Retro 80's heavy metal band featuring Mick Rowe (ex-Tempest, Midnight Orchestra) on guitar and vocals. (Mick's brother is Jamie Rowe of Guardian fame. Mick & Jamie were in Tempest together.) Formed from the ashes of Mick's previous band Goliath (Music Cartel Records), Nineteen88 was created to play "good time rock that has something for everyone" as Handsome Mick puts it. "We all grew up listening and playing different styles of music, we consider Nineteen88's sonic territory to include AC/DC, JET, and Big & Rich. but include a nod to the past heros of 80's rock music. We are not a cover band in the least, but we do not try to hide those Classic influences, if we did, the music wouldn't be as honest".
) Nineeen88 mainman Mick Rowe has been around the block a few times and has been in bands like Midnight Orchestra and Tempest. Mick brings in elements of all his past years of experience into his new band. Nineteen88's "The Great American Rock and Roll Spectacle" is a nostalgic look back to when attitude and hard rockin' was more important than technical prowess. As the song "Rock and Roll" states, "The Rock we play is rudimentary, but the life we live is elementary..." That sums up Nineteen88 pretty well. Their sound combines guitar heavy riffs not unlike AC/DC with a slightly more modern approach, not unlike The Darkness. "Play Your Guitar" in particular has that Angus Young feel to the music, even if Mick's vocals are miles away from Bon Scott or Brian Johnson. The vocals on this CD have more of a gritty, almost Southern rock vibe. Likewise "Highway of Rock & Roll" reminds me of bands like Krokus and early Def Leppard with it's pulsing bass and crunchy guitar riffs. Imagine if a song like Krokus' "Long Stick Goes Boom" had been written in 2004 and you might get the idea here. Overall, this is the idea of this entire CD. It's an intentional nostolgic trip. Of course some may accuse the band of being corny, but I am not sure that Nineteen88 take themselves to serious. With a song like "The Metal Pokey", based on the "Hokey Pokey", it is pretty obvious that this band is about fun enjoying a good laugh. I can just picture the massive Handsome Mick Rowe on stage singing this song on stage. "Put your fist in the air...raise 'em to the sky, you've got your Marshall stack turned way to high, you do the metal pokey, turn your life around. You love the metal sound." Likewise "Rock All Day" features a small bit taken from the Bay City Rollers. Gotta love some good time rock n roll. Turn it up to eleven!


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Who are all these crazy people in the town square? Who mistakes Charlie for a boy at the Belfast Market? Will Charlie ever fall asleep without Macy Gray's help? What happens to all of Charlie's teething rings when mummy washes her toys? Whatever became of the Lorax, keeper of the Truffula Trees? What makes Charlie laugh the most? And what, pray tell, are those crazy wiggly things on the end of her legs? All these questions answered, and more, next month on baby.beimers.com!
More amazing baby adventures coming soon (but probably not THAT soon, to be honest).
B-mail us! Get baby updates in your inbox!
Interested in Kevin and Aimee's other adventures? Of course you are!
Lose a month out of your life reading the Roadtrip or the Bikeabout. They're rather funny.
© 2006 Kevin & Aimee & Charlie Beimers.
Doop dee doop dee doopity doop!


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Auf Wiedersehen Pet
|26 Episodes
There's trouble for the lads in the form of the hard-drinking Magowan, another Brit working on the site. He's an unwelcome guest in their hut so they figure out an ingenious way to get rid of him.
Contains some moderate language, scenes of nudity and adult themes. Turn on Parental controls
9. The Alien - There's trouble for the lads in the form of the hard-drinking Magowan, another Brit working on the site. He's an unwelcome guest in their hut so they figure out an ingenious way to get rid of him.
1. If I Were a Carpenter
Classic series about a group of British builders who head to Germany in search of employment. The lads arrive with hopes of high wages and plenty of frauleins.
2. Who Won the War Anyway?
Neville becomes a hero despite himself and manages to keep his job in the process. On the other hand, Oz is about to be sacked because of his bad attitude.
3. The Girls They Left Behind
Oz's wife Marjorie hasn't heard from him for quite a while and she's getting desperate for money. She sends Oz a letter, but he marks it 'not known at this address' and sends it back.
4. Suspicion
When things start to go missing from the hut, everyone is a suspect. In a bid to catch out the culprit various plans are hatched but all of them end in failure. The question remains, who is the thief?
5. Home Thoughts From Abroad
There's bad news from home for Bomber when his daughter runs away. Can the gang possibly be of any help?
6. The Accused
Neville is under suspicion from all quarters - his wife believes that he is living it up in Germany, and a German girl accuses him of assaulting her. Meanwhile, Dennis has to face up to his impending divorce.
7. Private Lives
Comedy drama series about a group of brickies working in Germany. Dennis wants a spot of privacy - but finds it difficult to come by.
8. The Fugitive
The lads go off for a weekend of fishing in the country and meet up with a mysterious English hitchhiker.
9. The Alien
10. Last Rites
Comedy drama series about Geordie brickies forced to take work in Germany. Oz is involved in some shady dealing - but what is the connection between a dead body and an illegal business transaction?
11. The Lovers
Comedy drama series about Geordie brickies working in Germany. Oz falls in love with a German girl, but their romance is fraught with danger.
12. Love and Other Four Letter Words
Dennis' wife Vera visits him in Dusseldorf and tells him that she wants to try and rescue their marriage. Will he stay in Germany or return to England? Meanwhile, Wayne has fallen in love with a secretary in the site office Christa.
13. When the Boat Goes Out
It's time to pack up and go home. Dennis wants one last night alone with Dagmar, but a fire at the hut forces the lads to join him at Dagmar's house. Next day, the lads go their separate ways and Dennis, Neville and Oz return to England.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


An easy-to-read guide is The Bible and You, a sixteen-page pamphlet highlighting the main points of each book of the Bible. An up-to-date work with friendly layouts is The Cambridge Companion to the Bible by Howard Clark Kee, Eric M. Meyers, John Rogerson, and Anthony J. Saldarini.
A topical study, in which you analyze what the Bible says about a particular topic or subject, is an effective way to learn what the Scriptures teach. Start with � the beginning lessons, � as it were, and then � go forward to more mature (advanced) teaching.


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CMI Insight | 2018
Breaking BAD: Understanding Backlash Against Democracy in Africa
Lise Rakner (2018)
Bergen: Chr. Michelsen Institute (CMI Insight 2018:3)
The nature of democratic backlash: Democratic rights eroding from within
Measuring democracy in Africa- what does the data say?
International responses to democratic backlash
Responses to democratic backlash from civil society
There is a trend of democratic retrenchment across the African continent. Despite democratic gains in some states, the overall tendency over the past decade has been the erosion of democratic gains won in the period after 1990. Democracy is challenged in ways that pose threats to freedom of speech, association and information, the ability to choose political leaders, rule of law with recourse to independent courts, protection of personal integrity and private life. This CMI Insight discusses the ambiguous and multifaceted features of democratic backlash in Africa, and responses from international and domestic actors.
African states have adopted legal restrictions on key civil and political rights that form the basis of democratic rule in a range of countries from dominant party regimes, such as Ethiopia, Rwanda and Tanzania, to competitive electoral democracies, like Zambia, Senegal and Malawi. In South Africa, where democracy and rule of law appear deeply institutionalised, the succession battles and exposed levels of corruption under President Zuma, who was recently removed from the leadership of the ANC party, suggest a weakening of the institutions intended to check executive powers. The court annulment of the Kenyan elections of September 2017 suggests that the courts were able perform an important accountability function and safeguard free and fair election. However, the aftermath of the Kenyan elections culminated with President Uhuru Kenyatta closing TV and radio stations in early 2018.
This slow, piecemeal erosion of democracy from within means that it is exceedingly hard to pinpoint exactly when a political system transforms from one regime form to another.
Civil society actors, policy makers and scholars warn against the democratic backlash and its negative implications for domestic and international politics. Internationally, the African democratic backlash challenges global actors who have long pressured developing countries to politically liberalise. Yet, following what appears to be a global trend of democratic backsliding, space for international influence and the spread of liberal norms is closing rapidly. Domestically, the observed backlash against democracy may pose further social and political threats with wide-reaching implications for development. This may, in turn, challenge the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Rukanova and colleagues (2017) argue that whereas closing space for civil society impacts on voice and participation first and foremost, restrictions on civil society ultimately may curb even the most seemingly apolitical activities such as humanitarian relief.
It is important to note that the current backlash against democracy differs from previous periods of democratic retrenchment. Contemporary processes of democratic backlash are slower in pace: now, democracies tend to erode and not break. In the 1970s, democratic breakdowns tended to result in abrupt military or one-party regime shifts (Bermeo 2016). This is no longer the case. Since the end of the cold war, almost 90 per cent of all countries in the world hold regular and at least minimally competitive elections. Yet, increasingly, we witness elections held under authoritarian conditions and incumbents manipulating the electoral process with no intention of succumbing their rule to electoral uncertainty and competition. Across the African continent, incumbent leaders resort to illiberal strategies to win elections, including election violence, vote-buying, voter intimidation, and media control. Yet, while observers lament that the quality of elections is eroding, multiparty elections are upheld, with regular intervals, across the continent.
A second distinctive feature characterising the contemporary democratic backlash is that it is primarily targeted at some institutions and some aspects of liberal democracy. Some democratic institutions are deliberately dismantled through legal and budgetary procedures, but other institutions may be thriving. Multiparty elections have become a regularised feature, yet democratically elected parliaments pass votes curtailing the independence of courts or electoral institutions intended to secure accountability in future electoral contests. Legal restrictions imposed on civil society groups in many countries are targeted only at some organisations, such as human rights organisations (Christensen and Weinstein 2013, Dupuy et al. 2016). Churches, trade union groups and other interest groups are typically not targeted by the new legal and financial restrictions. The incremental forms of backsliding also create political challenges as incremental changes such as alterations to electoral laws and voter registration procedures rarely mobilise mass protests. Similarly, media restrictions, court manipulation and restrictions on NGO funding may only generate fragmented opposition.
16 April 2010 - El Fasher: Elections in Sudan. An observer reads an elections manual book during the counting process in Ta'heel Tarabawi Polling Station (El Fasher). Picture: UNAMID - Albert Gonzalez Farran - CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Finally, and closely linked to the points above, a central feature of the ongoing backlash against democracy is that the undoing of a set of democratic rights and the institutions upholding it are legitimised through democratic institutions that often marshal broad popular support. This slow, piecemeal erosion of democracy from within means that it is exceedingly hard to pinpoint exactly when a political system transforms from one regime form to another. This again challenges our understanding of the processes witnessed conceptually, methodologically and theoretically (Waldner and Lust 2018, Bermeo 2016). This again raises critical questions, like how do we know when a democracy is no longer a democracy? When do a regime change from one form to another?
Is there evidence of a global democratic backlash? The answer, unfortunately, is yes. According to the Freedom House report, Freedom in the World 2018 Democracy in Crisis, 2017 marked the 12th consecutive year of a global decline of democracy. The global average level of democracy has slipped back to where it was before the year 2000. The Varieties of Democracy (V-Dem) dataset which measures democracy along seven principles of democracy supports the overall trend reported by Freedom House, However, they also report that on average, the decline has been moderate, and most changes have occurred within regime categories—with democracies becoming less liberal and autocracies less competitive and more repressive. So far, at least, the data reports relatively few countries backsliding from democracy all the way to full-blown autocracy. Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) is another index measuring the status of democracy. Their democracy index is constructed on five key measures of democracy: Elections and pluralism, citizen rights, governance, political participation and political culture, measuring democracy on a scale from 0 (autocracy) to 10 (full democracy).
15 January 2011. El Fasher (Noth Darfur): Two Southern Sudan Referendum Comission staff members posted in El Fasher (Armed Forces Club - Polling center) close a ballot right after the closing time of the Referendum on the self determination of South Sudan. Picture: UNAMID - Albert Gonzalez Farran - CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
According to the EIU democracy index, the African "mean score" has increased in this past decade from 4.11 to 4.28, yet below the global mean score at 5.52. The worrying trend is that the improvements happened in the period 2006-2011 and since progress has stagnated. Moreover, the data suggests significant regional differences. The most distinct democratic improvements have taken place in North and West Africa. Of the ten countries in Africa where democracy has markedly decline according to the five-point democracy index, four are East African countries: Ethiopia, Sudan, Rwanda and Burundi. In more than half the countries on the continent however, the process of democracy is characterised by stagnation. This is also the main conclusion in Bleck and van de Walle´s recent analysis of African elections (2018). According to these authors, a striking characteristic of the region that needs explaining is how little negative or positive regime change that has actually taken place since the conclusion of the democratic transitions of the mid-1990s. In the African context, when countries start holding regular multi-party elections, they largely continue to do so. Military coups that used to lead to lengthy periods of non-electoral politics, now get overturned quickly, because of both local and international pressures, and regular elections have become the default option of politics. This paradoxical continuity observed since the end of the transitions of the 1990s shows that the authoritarian reflexes in the executive have not changed markedly and the composition of the political class remains very similar: Indeed, in a youthful continent, the political class seems to continue to be getting older (Bleck and van de Walle, 2018).
Puzzlingly, the ongoing backlash against democracy appears heavily concentrated in countries that made distinctly democratic gains in the 1990s (van de Walle 2016). African countries have traditionally been the recipient of high amounts of foreign aid, and as a result, benefited heavily from good governance support after the end of the Cold War at a time when the West had few competing interests. In the 1990s and 2000s, democracy assistance support resulted in a continent-wide growth of civil society organisations, the spread of basic human rights, and several successful national democratic transitions. Scholars and donors alike have spent a great deal of effort to study the institutionalisation of democratic rule on the African continent (Bratton & van de Walle 1997, Cheeseman 2015, Bleck and van de Walle 2018). Now, however, scholars, pundits and policymakers alike are struggling to explain the reverse: the ongoing backlash against democratic rule in Africa and how the international community can respond and counteract the ongoing erosion of democracy. But, responses from the international actors are challenged by the nature of the democratic backsliding. Incumbent governments employ formal democratic institutions and institutional mechanisms, set up with the support of the international community, in their attempt to roll back democracy, such as handsome majorities in the legislature won through electoral processes in part financed by international aid donors. The international community do not know how to respond to this trend (Bush 2015, Dietrich and Wright 2015), in part, because it is difficult to assess precisely when, how and which elements of democracy are eroding.
The international community does not know how to respond to democratic backsliding in part, because it is difficult to assess precisely when, how and which elements of democracy are eroding.
Arguably, international donors have performed relatively well in promoting and financing democratic institutions through engaging governments and power-holders. But governance assistance have been less successful in terms of identifying and assisting 'change agents' outside government (Banks, Hulme, & Edwards 2015, Breen 2015). African governments are increasingly imposing restrictions on foreign funding to NGOs and civil society associations, leaving international donors with fewer options as support to human rights and democracy traditionally has been channelled through NGOs either directly or through transnational NGOs. With this door gradually closing, the only other door open to international support is through governments, the international community is increasingly finding itself in a situation where their remaining "tools" to promote democracy appear to support the increasingly more autocratic tendencies of African executives.
Emphasising the global character of the ongoing "democratic backsliding", arguably, political leaders no longer feel the need to "make excuses" or pretend to adhere to democratic institutions and liberal norms. Similar arguments may be made about the international community. Based on the positive economic results and progress on some key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by some of Africa's authoritarian, dominant party states like Ethiopia and Rwanda, parts of the aid community now appear to question the validity and legitimacy of adherence to democracy being a condition for developing assistance (Kelsall and Booth 2013). Observers now argue that competitive elections pose special dangers in low-income, poorly institutionalised political systems (Ibid).
RPF Presidential Campaign 2017 15Th July (Kicukiro District) Documentary photographs at former ETO Kicukiro by Don Mugisha
African civil society associations are now facing a "double jeopardy." They need increasing support from the international community to combat the retrenchment of democratic rights by their governments. Yet, due to governments imposing legal restrictions of NGOs receiving foreign funding, the same organisations are receiving less attention and financial support from the international community. As a result, both domestic civil society actors and international supporters are searching for new solutions. A number of recent studies and evaluations highlight the challenges posed by the "closing space for civil society engagement" (Brechenmacher 2017, Mendelson 2015, Rukanova et al. 2017).
Rukanova and colleagues (2017) shed light on the 'adaptation and mitigation' approach that most international philanthropic foundations and international non-governmental organisations (INGOs) are adapting, hoping to create a distance between the humanitarian actors and the more outspoken spectrum of development and human rights actors (Rukanova et al. 2017). Harding (2015) points to a distinct shift in the "profiling" of NGO, either towards a stronger human rights (or protest) framing or a development framing, where civil society organisations increasingly shy away from focusing on governance issues in order to continue to operate without government interference. Increasingly, however, there is reason to expect that African civil society organisations aiming to advance human rights and good governance now have to operate "from below," that is, through grassroots networks of activists who form local civil society groups, non-governmental organisations, or social movements focused on the protection of civil liberties. Because such work ultimately challenges the legitimacy of governments that carry out repression, human rights activists, including lawyers, journalists, and academics, are themselves often targeted for politically motivated trials or violent persecution by government agents (CIVICUS 2016).
This research project, funded by the Norwegian Research Council (2018-2021), focuses on the conscious efforts of political actors and elites to curtail democratic rights along four interlinked dimensions of democracy. We further analyse variance along these four dimensions of rights and responses from domestic and international actors.
Participation rights enable access to decision-making and include rights to form, join, support, and operate political parties and civil society organisations, and to meet and to organise mass events. African states are increasingly legally preventing civil society organisations from engaging in human rights work.
Contestation rights enable citizens to freely express their opinion on policy and to choose their political leaders and to monitor elections. Freedom of information and the press is under pressure in Africa. Governments enact laws preventing access to information and allow them to close both traditional and online media. Sham elections are on the rise in African states, with reigning political elites manipulating elections to maintain their hold on power. Election monitors are increasingly being harassed and legally barred from carrying out their functions.
Rule of law rights entail access to courts and equal and impartial treatment of all people by the law, which can be realised only under conditions of judicial independence. Recent years have seen serious regressions in judicial independence across Africa.
Personal integrity and gender equality rights entitle citizens to bodily integrity and a private sphere free from state interference, and to equality of opportunity: the ability to access all social, political, and economic spheres without discrimination – irrespective of sexual orientation and gender identity. Rights concerning gender equality, sexuality and reproduction have been severely limited in recent years with new restrictions on homosexuality, marriage, and abortion.
Across the African continent, democracy is under pressure in ways that pose political and social threats. Citizens face mounting legal restrictions on freedoms of speech and association and are often subjected to the repression of peaceful protest. Governments perceive foreign aid to NGOs as supporting political opponents and a threat to their hold on power. Today, even the most basic of democratic achievements are being reversed, including in Africa's more robust democracies like Zambia and South Africa (Gyimah-Boadi 2015). Institutions that were once crucial for promoting participation and fair contestation – such as courts, anti-corruption agencies and the media – are now under pressure and increasingly seen as being used as a part of an authoritarian toolkit. As a result, attention has turned away from explaining democratic transition and describing democratic consolidation towards specifying a democracy's quality, identifying democracies' hazard rates (the probability that they will decay), and explaining authoritarian persistence. Arguably, at the core of many democratic setbacks over the past decades, is the failure of institutionalisation – put differently, the capacity of many new democracies in the developing world has not kept pace with popular demands for democratic accountability. This piecemeal erosion of the democratic fabric of many African governments requires us to see democracy as a collection of multiple institutions and actors. Understanding the current backlash's timing, manifestations, causes, and effects is not only of great scholarly importance, it also has significant policy relevance in a context where the international aid community is scaling back their support and the consequent potential for permanent, worldwide political regression.
While there are a number of recent studies and evaluations that highlight the challenges posed by the backlash of democracy in Africa, at present, we have a limited understanding of possible response mechanisms. How do activists come together to advocate for particular rights? When are activists more effective in generating mass citizen support for their campaigns? How can researchers, international actors and domestic civil society organisations work together to disseminate and use knowledge about organisational resilience in these circumstances? These will be pressing questions for scholars and activists going forward.
Banks, N. E. Hulme, D. Edward, 2015. "NGOs, States and Donors Revisited. Still too Close for Comfort?" World Development, Vol66, pp. 707-718.
Bermeo, Nancy. 2016. "On Democratic Backsliding". Journal of Democracy, 27(1): 5-19.
Bleck, Jamie and Nicolas van de Walle, 2018 (forthcoming): Electoral Politics in Africa since 1990. Continuity and Change. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press.
Bratton, Michael, and Nicolas van de Walle. 1997. Democratic Experiences in Africa: Regime Transitions in Comparative Perspective. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Brechenmacher, S., 2017. Civil Society Under Assault: Repression and Responses in Russia, Egypt and Ethiopia. NY: Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
Bush, Sarah, 2015: The Taming of Democracy Assistance. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Carothers, Thomas. 2015. "The Closing Space Challenge: How Are Funders Responding?" Washington, D.C.: Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
Cheeseman, N., 2015: Democracy in Africa: Successes, Failures and the Struggle for Political Reform. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Christensen, D., and J. M. Weinstein. 2013. "Defunding Dissent: Restrictions on Aid to NGOs". Journal of Democracy, 24(2): 77-91.
Civicus. 2015. "State of Civil Society Report". Johannesburg: Civicus.
Dietrich, Simone, and Joseph Wright. 2015. Foreign Aid Allocation Tactics and Democratic Change in Africa. Journal of Politics, 77(1), 216-234.
Dupuy, Kendra, James Ron, and Aseem Prakash. 2016. "Hands Off My Regime! Governments' Restrictions on Foreign Aid to Non-Governmental Organizations". World Development, 84: 299-311.
Gyimah-Boadi, E. 2015. "Africa's Waning Democratic Commitment". Journal of Democracy, 26(1): 101-113.
Harding, L. 2015: Protecting Human Rights and Development Actors. York: University of York Centre for Applied Human Rights. Working Paper No. 1.
Helle, Svein Erik and L. Rakner (2017), "The impact of elections. The case of Uganda", in Johannes Gerschewski and Christoph Stefes (eds.). Crisis in Autocratic Regimes, Boulder: Lynne Rienner, pp. 111-134.
Kelsall, T. and D. Booth, 2013: Business, Politics, and the State in Africa: Challenging the Orthodoxies of Growth and Transformation. London. Zed Books.
Levitsky, S. and L. Way, 2015: "The myth of democratic recession", Journal of Democracy, Vol. 26, No. 1, pp. 45-58.
Mendelson, S.E., 2015. Why Governments Target Civil Society and What Can be Done in Response: A New Agenda. Washington: Center for Strategic and International Studies.
Rukanova, S., R. Herweijer, R. Kerkhoven, H. Surmatz, D. Doane, 2017. Why Shrinking Civil Society Space Matters in International Development and Humanitarian Action. European Foundation Centre and Funders Initiative for Civil Society.
Van de Walle, N., 2016: "Two cheers for African democracy", in Muna Ndulo and Mamoudou Gazibo, (eds). Growing Democracy: Elections, Accountability, and Democratic Governance in Africa, (Cambridge UK: Cambridge Scholars, 2016). pp. 304-312.
Waldner D. and El Lust (2018). Unwelcome Change. Coming to Terms with Democratic Backsliding. Annual Review of Political Science. Forthcoming.
Wood, Ngaire. 2008. "Whose Aid? Whose Influence? China, Emerging Donors and the Silent Revolution in Development Assistance". International Affairs, 84(6): 1205-1221.
Commonwealth Secretariat
Lise Rakner
Senior Researcher (20%)
lise.rakner@cmi.no
Breaking BAD: Understanding the Backlash Against Democracy in Africa
Aug 2017 - Dec 2021
Backlash against democracy
Den gode «fiende»: Fra flyktninger til seksuelle minoriteter
Journal Article | 2018
Do donors reduce bilateral aid to countries with restrictive NGO laws?: A panel study, 1993-2012
Kendra Dupuy & Aseem Prakash
Non-Profit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly


Happy Friday! Believe it or not, today marks the last day of summer vacation for us. My daughter's school district began a new school calendar last year and school now starts in early August. Summer went so fast! We have a few fun things planned today (lunch at a favorite restaurant and a trip to the Discovery Museum) to mark the occasion.
I am running a week behind on French Fridays with Dorie due to a fun vacation and other out-of-town activities. I had actually hoped to get this post written before I left for my vacation, but it didn't work out.
We only have a few desserts left to do, so we have been spreading them out a bit. The group recently tackled Gâteau Basque, a specialty of the Basque region of France (and I suppose it's common in the Basque regions of Spain too…).
I am always amazed at the wonderful and different ways to use a few basic ingredients: flour, butter, sugar, egg, and vanilla. This time they came together as a soft cookie-like shortbread cake with a sweet filling of cherry jam.
I didn't get a lot of help eating this one. My daughter enjoyed her piece quite a bit. My mother-in-law ate a piece while babysitting (I never heard if she liked it or not). My husband usually doesn't consider a dessert without chocolate worth eating, so he didn't have any.
Good thing I liked this cake! I loved the buttery, vanilla-y cake layers. The jam I chose was a little too sweet for my taste, but I enjoyed the mix of flavors. While the cherry jam is traditional, this would be wonderful with other jams too, particularly apricot or strawberry.
This post participates in French Fridays with Dorie, an online cooking group cooking our way through Dorie Greenspan's wonderful book Around My French Table. If you would like to try making Gâteau Basque you can find it in Dorie's book, or here.
Is it really Friday already? This week has flown by! Being Friday, you know what that means: French Fridays with Dorie.
This week's recipe is a simple cake called Quatre-Quarts, which translates directly to "four-fourths". Similar in concept to an American pound cake, the cake uses equal amounts of eggs, flour, sugar, and butter.
Cakes have been my nemesis since I moved to Reno over 11 years ago. Growing up in sea-level Seattle I never had to be concerned with my altitude while baking. Reno is apparently at a high enough altitude (~4400 feet) to affect the baking of cakes. I suddenly had cakes that were not rising properly, sinking in the middle, spilling over the pan, and the texture was off. The richer the cake, the more trouble I had.
I received the book High Altitude Baking, which explains a lot of the science behind baking and altitude and also gives suggestions for adjusting recipes. For years I attempted small adjustments to my recipes with mixed results. Whenever I did any Internet searches for help with high altitude baking, most people said they simply added an extra egg to their recipe. I resisted trying this because it seemed too easy, but a year or so ago I started adding an extra egg to cake recipes and it worked! The extra egg changes the texture a little bit, but cakes rise beautifully and the texture is way better than what I was getting without the extra egg.
If you live at a higher altitude, do you adjust your cake recipes? If so, what method do you use?
Now, back to this week's cake… I debated whether or not to follow the recipe as written or to add the extra egg. In the end, I decided to add the egg. The result was a lovely, simple cake very similar to a pound cake, but lighter in texture.
I really liked this cake. Dorie mentions that it is a common after-school snack cake, so my daughter enjoyed a piece when she got home from school. We ate it plain, but the cake would also be lovely dressed up a bit. Strawberries and whipped cream would be good!
My daughter is notorious for helping herself to cakes and other baked goods left unattended. This cake became a victim. Luckily it happened after my pictures were taken!
Who ate this cake - a little mouse or a little girl?


Want to Be an Effective Leader? Stop Saying "I Feel Like..."
Clear communication is all we want in the workplace. It's what leads to successful emails, effective feedback, and productive meetings—all of which are pretty great things.
Here's the problem, as explained by Worthen: Saying "I feel like" makes it practically impossible to have a productive conversation with others.
Let's say your boss calls a meeting to discuss your team's performance with the intention of addressing areas that need improvement. Everyone's welcome to share what didn't work and brainstorm possible reasons why. If everyone feels like it didn't work for one reason or another, where will the responsibility for fixing those problems actually go?
The first one might result in people nodding their head because they also might feel that way. The second, on the other hand, makes a statement that others have to either agree with or disagree with—which'll lead to a faster decision. (Not to mention, it also sounds more confident, which is key for getting ahead at work).
So, how you can get rid of this credibility killer? Simply replace it with "I know" or remove it altogether.
And look, it's okay if you're afraid of communicating more directly—that often comes with speaking up. But it's also what you were hired to do: Confidently share your ideas. Even if people disagree, you'll get to the final decision faster.
Photo of people talking courtesy of Klaus Vedfelt/Getty Images.


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Ekosem-Agrar continues growth in Russia with deal for dairy farm 2 mins ago
Ekosem-Agrar continues growth in Russia with deal for dairy farm - 2 mins ago
Nestlé creates recyclable paper wrapper for Yes! snack bar range
Posted By: Contributoron: July 03, 2019 In: Food, Industries, Innovation, Manufacturing, New products, Packaging, Snacks
Nestlé has launched a new recyclable paper wrapper for its Yes! snack bar range, alongside the introduction of three new flavours.
Experts at Nestlé's confectionery research and development centre in York, UK, have found a way to use a recyclable paper wrapper in a high-speed 'flow wrap cold seal' packaging line. According to Nestlé, it represents a "world first" for a process that, in the past, was only suitable for plastic films and laminates.
The Yes! line of fruit- and nut-based bars are the first brand to convert to the new recyclable paper wrapper.
The three new snack bar variants are: delicious dark choc, banana and pecan; luscious raspberry and chia seeds; and heavenly pineapple and coconut.
Stefano Agostini, CEO for Nestlé in the UK and Ireland, said: "Yes! represents exactly what more and more people are demanding from manufacturers like Nestlé now and for the future. Last year we introduced Yes! as an entirely new brand using wholesome ingredients and offering a healthier snacking option of tasty fruit and nut bars.
"Now we've turned our attention to the wrapper so that the packaging is sustainable and easy to recycle. It's an important step as we work to make all of our packaging recyclable or reusable by 2025."
The new packaging is made of a coated paper that is widely recyclable with other paper.
Yes! bar wrappers will now carry the message "carefully wrapped in paper". The new packaging is made of a coated paper that is widely recyclable with other paper.
Jas Scott de Martinville, global confectionery R&D lead for Nestlé, said: "This launch is the result of a lot of hard work at speed with our R&D teams delivering a recyclable paper solution for our Yes! bars in less than ten months. It is an incredible achievement and one that we are all very proud of."
Each Yes! nut bar is vegetarian, high in fibre, and a source of protein. The fruit bars are vegan, gluten free, lactose free, high in fibre, and have no added sugar.
With the new paper wrapper and a wider range of flavours, Yes! is now being launched in more countries. It will now be available in Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, and the UK. More countries in Europe and beyond will follow soon.
Tags: NestlésustainabilityUKYES!
New Vegebot uses machine learning to pick iceberg lettuce
Nestlé creates new chocolate without adding refined sugar
Tetra Pak develops new paper straw for use with its cartons
Asian food brand Kelly Loves launches snack range in Europe
Total CBD launches new range of CBD 'Tongue Shots'


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Red Joan (CINE BABIES)
"While Joan's early years are absolutely fascinating, it is the refreshing concept of Dench's elderly communist agent that gives this drama its real bite and edge." - Daily Mirror
"A good old-fashioned British spy thriller with a bewitching female heroine (or anti-heroine, if you will) played by the excellent actresses Judi Dench and (as her younger self) Sophie Cookson, Red Joan revisits the incredible real-life spy case of Melita Norwood. It is directed with a strong sense for character by Trevor Nunn, the former director of the Royal Shakespeare Co.
"Certainly, this isn't the kind of adrenaline-pumping spy film laden with exploding buildings and the protagonist leaping out of skyscrapers. But it isn't a sedate film either, and stakes couldn't be higher: the balance of power between the West and the communist bloc at the end of WWII. Based on Jennie Rooney's bestselling novel, Lindsay Shapero's screenplay cleverly plays with the ostensible staidness of ordinary pensioner Joan Stanley (Dench), a woman in her 80s living a quiet suburban life who is abruptly arrested as a Soviet spy in the opening scene, set in 2000.
"Zac Nicholson's cinematography is warm and involving like production designer Cristina Casali's quaint woody laboratories, as behooves the sub-genre of British spy yarns. George Fenton's romantic score and Charlotte Walter's charming costumes well describe the mood of the time." - Hollywood Reporter
About Cine Babies:
Every Wednesday, 1:00pm at the Twin. Cine Babies is presented by the Princess in partnership with Balancing from Birth to Baby
Cine Babies is a movie program for new parents (and their friends and family) to attend with their infants. Films will be presented with a lowered volume to protect sensitive infant ears, as well as dimmed lights and convenient amenities like change tables and bottle warmers.
See a new movie every week and stay connected with other new parents in the area. Join us! New titles updated weekly. Stay tuned!
If you want to grab a lunch at Princess Cafe before Cine Babies, just tell them you're attending and you'll receive 10% off your purchase.
Trevor Nunn
Judi Dench, Sophie Cookson


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French Leaseback Ski Property: Market Guide and Resorts
For real estate investors, French leaseback ski property is an attractive option because France is the mecca of alpine homes. Prices are stable thanks to an excellent choice of ski resorts and as a popular ski holiday destination, limited opportunities for new builds and demand for holiday accommodation outstrips supply.
Property prices in France aren't showing any great growth potential. But in fact, stability is its main appeal. French Alpine homes are never cheap, but because it attracts wealthier buyers, there are fewer people panic selling in low times and so prices hold in unstable times, making it a safe investment.
Investing in French Leaseback Ski Property
French leaseback schemes are a low-risk property investment in the global market. Skiers looking for a hassle-free way of owning an Alpine property which also generates guaranteed rental income should in a leaseback property, an ownership not available in other countries and which is exempt of VAT.
So how does it work? Investors buy a property freehold but lease it back to a professional management company. Management companies take care of all maintenance and bookings, making it a hand-off investment. Leaseback owners include in contracts a certain number of weeks' personal use each year, from two to six weeks, split between winter and summer seasons.
In return for leasing their property back, buyers get tax benefits, government-guaranteed rental yield, and ample usage for their own holidays. Guaranteed rental income paid with a leaseback property, is 3-5 percent and falls in line with the amount of personal use an owner receives.
Fixed leaseback contracts run for a minimum term, nine or eleven years, after which owners may have the choice to assume outright freehold ownership – buyers should check these details before committing to a purchase.
During the recent boom, French leasebacks saw their popularity wane, as other options presented possibilities for much stronger rental yields, but now as reducing risk continues to weigh on investors' minds, leasebacks are once again seeing surging popularity.
When French Alp developers build skiing developments, or residences, such as those in Tignes and Chatel, they will allocate a certain amount of properties for leaseback purchase with the rest available for outright purchase.
Built for tourism, residences include communal facilities like lounge areas, a bar, indoor swimming pool and a spa and wellness centre. Not dissimilar to a hotel, reception deals with bookings and general enquiries about the accommodation and resort. Owners of leaseback property pay a contribution towards maintenance charges and tax foncière (council tax).
62% of alpine property buyers are buying for both lifestyle and investment reasons. This contributes to strong demand in this sector because leaseback properties offer good holiday usage in a serviced and maintained apartment, alongside government-guaranteed rental income.
Summer Rentals for Leaseback Property
While alpine ski tourism has been declining for several seasons, resorts have developed their summer offerings since the early nineties, and property owners now rent all year round in top areas. This has led to solid rental yields on good properties, even though capital appreciation has been little better than mediocre.
French developers are reporting strong interest in leaseback properties from British buyers. Part of this popularity is because the lifestyle offered by properties is a year-round, from good winter skiing to a huge variety of other activities during summer, Autumn and Spring.
These activities include dog sledding, and climbing frozen waterfalls during winter, while summer activities include white-water rafting, cycling, fishing, and walking, and rock climbing, giving such properties wide appeal for rental markets.
In addition, purchasers of property in such developments integrate with local people, and prices in resorts such as Samoan are a lot lower than other more well-known resorts such as Chamonix and Tignes and can be up to 25% less for comparable properties.
Another huge attraction is Britain's proximity, as Geneva airport is only an hour's drive away, and it is possible to travel from London in just four hours. However, the upper-end French market is still proving popular, and it draws many buyers towards the mediaeval religious of Luberon and Les Alpilles, surrounded by vineyards, lavender fields, and the region's mountain range.
Where to Buy French Ski Real Estate?
A popular location is Chatel village, on the border with Switzerland. It is just 90 minutes' drive from Geneva airport, and part of the world's largest international linked ski area. It is in a region with 650 km of slopes encompassing eight French resorts, and four ski resorts in Switzerland. While popular during winter, this area has a lot to offer during summer and is becoming sought after amongst those seeking year-round holiday homes.
The French Alps are home to some world's longest and most exciting ski runs, making them the ideal place to buy if you rank exhilarating skiing at the top of your property wish list. If this sounds like you, start your search for a ski home in, or near, Flaine, Chamonix or Alpe d'Huez.
Flaine is home to Europe's longest blue run, the 14-kilometre Cascades piste. Starting at 2,500 metres, it includes a 1,800-metre vertical and takes in spectacular scenery with not a single lift in sight. Properties for sale in Flaine, part of the Grand Massif ski domain, include one to five-bedroom apartments available on a leaseback basis and with access to an indoor pool, and spa and wellness centre.
Meanwhile, for more experienced skiers, Alpe d'Huez boasts of Sarenne piste, a 16-kilometre black run, stretching from Pic Blanc at 3,330 metres to Alpe d'Huez at 1,860 metres. This begins and ends with a long flatter section along the valley floor.
Saving the best till last, a great run is the 22-kilometre Vallée Blanche, accessed via the base of Chamonix from where Europe's highest gondola takes you to the 12,605-foot Aiguille du Midi summit, in mighty Mont Blanc's shadow. Skiing is red runs, with some off-piste, but there are more difficult black detours. Property in Vallorcine resort, Chamonix Valley and connected to the Chamonix area, would suit skiers looking for a combination of a tranquil home with exhilarating skiing, including access to exciting Vallée Blanche.
Beautiful Tignes Le Lac, France
Tignes, a well-known French Alp resort links to Val D'Isere to form the Espace Killy area and comprises three different resorts: le Lavachet, le Lac, and Val Claret.
The lowest resort is le Lavachet, while Les Lac is right beside the lake. Val Claret is 2 km further up the valley, but Les Lac is very much the centre of things and enjoys the best access to the Espace Killy area.
Skiing opportunities are excellent, there are several free lifts available for beginners and several good ski and snowboard schools. Intermediates enjoy many blue and red runs, and advanced skiers will love this resort thanks to many black runs and off-piste skiing.
There is one Snowboard Park, over 300 km of varied terrain and 97 ski lifts, the highest of which is at 3,550 m. In fact, it's one of the highest Alp ski resorts, so is a great destination for guaranteed good skiing late into the season.
Tignes is ideal for a short break, or even a long weekend, as it's just two-and-a-half hours away from Chambery, and four hours away from Geneva, Lyon and Grenoble. Cheap flights combined with low accommodation costs make this a very affordable skiing break. The area enjoys a lively après-ski, and there's plenty to off and on the slopes.
Skiing at La Plagne
La Plagne, a French Paradiski ski resort sits near Les Arcs, Montchavin-Les Coches and Peisey-Vallandry. The area has 425 km of downhill skiing, including 475 individual pistes with 141 lifts, and is one of the world's biggest ski areas.
La Plagne alone has 225 km of ski runs, which is about the most skiing offered by a single resort just about anywhere. Situated over 1500 m above sea level, it is possible to ski back. Pistes above 2500m, assure snow right throughout the season but it has 359 snow cannons just in case.
It is a great resort for all ages and abilities, with wide, open pistes to short sharp black runs, and the terrain ranges from forest to powder snowfields to glacier. Most runs cater for recreational skiers, and they include nursery slopes and a huge choice of tuition schools.
La Plagne is also great for snowboarding with several good parks served by high-speed chairlifts. The large choice of night time bars also makes it a good après-ski destination. Self-catering accommodation is cheap and a charming French village appeal combined with access to an enormous ski area makes it an excellent resort.
France's Savoie Region Favourite with British Property Buyers
The combined area of Savoie and Haute-Savoie, known as Savoy, has much going for it. Home to Mont Blanc and that hub of winter and mountain sports, Chamonix, it has excellent access by car from Calais ferry port, by air from Geneva Airport and by rail direct from London, not to mention great skiing and picturesque resorts. It also includes Lake Annecy.
Haute-Savoie includes the massive interlinked skiing area of Portes du Soleil, which connects Morzine, Avoriaz and Les Gets resorts. Buyers seek property in Les Gets, thanks to chocolate-box architecture, easy slope access and a great range of facilities. In Savoie, Espace Killy is a key ski area and includes Val d'Isère and Tignes, with some desirable French leaseback ski property.
See our range of leaseback properties for sale in France here. Each listing includes photographs, location details and key features of that home. Also call us today to speak to an experienced real estate consultant about investing in French property.


Day Kimball Healthcare offers a wide range of surgical care, from complex and specialized surgeries to minor procedures. We work with some of the region's best surgeons and offer some of the latest surgical technologies. Our personalized patient care ensures an integrated and seamless experience.
Our surgical facilities at Day Kimball Hospital include our Ambulatory Care Unit and four operating rooms in our Brousseau Surgical Suite, located within the Hale Medical Pavilion.


November 2012 Shore News Article.
In the summer of 2008, the Musquodoboit Harbour Farmers Market held its very first Sunday market. The inaugural market was held at the Musquodoboit Harbour Railway Station, and we welcomed 10 vendors and 167 people! It was a great spot for a Sunday market, and many of us have fond memories of the friendly, welcoming atmosphere, bright with tents, fresh air, and sunshine … but it wasn't quite as much fun when it was raining! We quickly realized we needed an indoor venue of our own in the Harbour, so we did what most organizations do: we regrouped and started to fundraise for ourselves. Our market is self-sustaining, and fundraising is a key element of that as we continue towards our goal of establishing a new building. A new building is important because it gives us the ability to store heavy coolers and displays for some vendors. So back in 2009 we hired an architect, and now we have drawings for our very own farmers market building, since our longterm fundraising goal is to one day have our very own farmers market building.
Today between 300 and 400 people come out to shop at our market every Sunday. That's a lot of people connecting! We are very proud that the Musquodoboit Farmers Market had become one of many positive generators of economic and social wellbeing for us on the Shore. Its one of the reasons why you will find our "Market Cafe" area to sit and chat. Farmers Markets not only bring communities together socially, but they also connect consumers to producers by bringing us closer to our food supply., Farmers markets also connect people with our local artisans and foodsmiths. Through markets, relationships are developed that provide a broader understanding of what it means to be an agricultural producer in our challenging climate. In return, our producers benefit from direct feedback from you, our customers. From this we generate new ideas, responding to your needs. The social aspect of our Farmers Market actually "grows" the whole community. Every time you come to our non-partisan and non-denominational gathering spot, you help to create community cohesion, vision and action.
Among our many vendors is Ray Coombs, who will always greet you with a smile. Ray retired to Spry Harbour, Nova Scotia a few years ago, and he has always loved gardening and cooking. Now he's the owner of My Dog Mister, and when he's not at the MHFM selling his flavored vinegars (like basil & garlic, pear & star anise), fresh mustards, and dehydrated dog treats (with kelp & dulse flakes!), he's busy at home making everything he sells from scratch, using ingredients he grows himself. Ray has always been creative, and his passion stems from constantly seeking new, better flavours with which he can cook. Ray's creations are a great change from using salt, which promotes healthy eating and living. Ray is a great example of why people keep coming back to the Musquodoboit Harbour Farmers market.
If you aren't familiar with the MHFM yet, we hope you'll come see us this Sunday, and every Sunday - 9am-1pm, from June to mid-December. As always, we'll be at the Bingo Hall in the Eastern Shore Community Centre (a.k.a. The Rink) right in the heart of Musquodoboit Harbour, NS.


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Nasa: "My energy is really weak" - That's how touching the Mars probe "Insight" says goodbye to humanity
In November 2018 there was great jubilation.
In November 2018 there was great jubilation. The Mars probe "Insight" successfully touched down on the red planet and sent images of its surface (read more here). The primary "Insight" mission was initially designed for two years. After four years on Mars, the secondary mission is now ending - and "Insight" says goodbye. Overall, the project is said to have cost around 828 million US dollars.
On Sunday, the US space agency reported that Insight had not responded to a call, suggesting the mission may end soon. Although Nasa wants to continue trying to communicate with "Insight", the last photo of the probe was published as a precaution and a touching text was written.
For example, "Insight" may chime in on Twitter one last time, writing: "I'm running out of power so this may be the last picture I can send. Don't worry about me though, my time here was both productive and cheerful. If I can continue speaking with my mission team, I will -- but I'll be signing off here soon. Thank you for being with me."
A look at the last photo of the probe makes it clear why "Insight" is no longer able to survive on the solar panels. The four years in the Martian plane Elysium Planitia have left a thick layer of dust on the probe, which greatly reduces the efficiency of the power supply. Until the end, Nasa had hoped that a storm would blow the surface free - but apparently that didn't happen.
The sympathy at the end of the service of the robot is huge. With pictures of people crying, users say goodbye to "Insight" on Twitter, many are reminded of the emotional end of the Mars rover "Spirit", which bravely plowed across Mars from 2004 to 2011 and one day also stopped reporting . At that time, an "xkcd" comic went around the world and created an emotional connection to the small robots, which were pioneering far away.
During its mission, the "Insight" probe sent 6668 images and worked 1445 sols on Mars. A sol, i.e. a "day" on Mars, lasts 24 hours, 39 minutes and 35.244 seconds. "Insight" is equipped with a seismometer and a heat flow probe, with data from the probe the development of the planet should be researched. In the course of the mission, important insights into the red planet could be gained that were not available before - such as more precise details of its inner structure.
At the beginning of November, NASA explained in further tweets why nothing could be done about the dust – and showed the progress. As part of the farewell, "Insight" referred to other "friends" who are currently on Mars - and bravely continue after the death of the probe.
1 Special forces: After the hostage-taking in Saxony-Anhalt:... 2 Ska legend The Specials frontman Terry Hall dies aged... 3 James Gunn: DC boss defends himself against Shitstorm 4 Stock exchange in Frankfurt: Dax reduces losses 5 Report: Despite state aid, Lufthansa wants to pay... 6 Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck: Christmas party with... 7 Daniela Katzenberger: No Christmas on Mallorca 8 Nasa: "My energy is really weak" - That's... 9 Researchers: The dinosaur Europasaurus was probably... 10 Defense: Lambrecht wants the industry to speed up...
Pollution: Lake Titicaca is "Threatened Lake of the Year 2023"
Life imprisonment for two accomplices of the Vienna attacker
Processes: Vienna assassination: life sentences for terror helpers
Special forces: After the hostage-taking in Saxony-Anhalt:...


But perhaps the best bit is a hidden detail under the bag flaps: a playful fart illustration, conceptualized with the sole purpose of making the owner laugh. "Sometimes you feel sad, or bad, or tired, you open up the flap and you can see the fart. The fart is not for everybody, it's just for yourself – you see it and you think 'oh my god, life is funny,'" said Liang.
A comical "fart" detail is hidden under the flap of the bag.


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Amka (ˁm-k3) ókori egyiptomi hivatalnok volt az I. dinasztia idején, Dzser, Dzset és Den uralkodása alatt. Ő az első egyiptomi hivatalnok, akinek pályafutása majdnem teljesen végigkövethető.

Élete

Neve pecsétlenyomatokon maradt fenn Dzser, Dzset és Den sírjában, valamint Meritneith királynő sírjában, az abüdoszi temetőben. Ő az egyiptomi történelem első olyan hivatalnoka, akiről tudni, hogy több uralkodó alatt is szolgált. Pályafutása Dzser uralkodásának utolsó éveiben kezdődött, majd Dzset alatt folytatódott, és Den uralkodásának első éveiben ért véget, amikor Meritneith uralkodott régensként. Dzser alatt már Hór-szehenti-dzsu birtokának igazgatásával foglalkozott, a nebi és a heri-nehenu címeket viselte, utóbbit Dzset alatt is. Pályája csúcsát Meritneith és Den alatt érte el, mikor a halotti kultusz papja lett. Pályája végén a Nílus-delta nyugati részén, Hut-ihutban (talán a mai Kom el-Hiszn) volt kormányzó; úgy tűnik, a királyi birtokok igazgatása után a regionális adminisztráció területén helyezkedett el.

Jegyzetek

Fordítás

Irodalom
 Toby A. H. Wilkinson: Early Dynastic Egypt – Strategy, Society and Security. Routledge, London 1998, .
 Dilwyn Jones: An Index of ancient Egyptian titles, epithets and phrases of the Old Kingdom. vol. 2, nr. 2209, Archaeopress, Oxford 2000, , p. 602.
 Wolfgang Helck: Untersuchungen zur Thinitenzeit (= Ägyptologische Abhandlungen. (ÄA) Bd. 45). Harrassowitz, Wiesbaden 1987, , pp. 188-189.
 Wolfgang Helck: Wirtschaftsgeschichte des Alten Ägypten im 3. und 2. Jahrtausend vor Chr. BRILL, Leiden 1975, , p. 26.

Ókori egyiptomi tisztviselők
I. dinasztia


The first ever GMO mammal, Dolly the sheep was put to sleep in February of 2003 after she was discovered to have a progressive lung disease. She was 'born' on July 5, 1996 after researched by Dr. Ian Wilmut and his team from the Roslin Institute research centre.
Man's best friend glows. Imagine tampering with the genes of your loving pet. A research team from Seoul National University (SNU) created a genetically modified female beagle, named Tegon. She was 'born' in 2009, and she glows fluorescent green under ultraviolet light if given a doxycycline antibiotic.
Chickens without feathers were genetically altered in Hebrew University in Israel to grow quickly, but without any protective covering. Researchers claim there are many reasons why bald chickens are necessary. They point to the fact that fast-growing "boiler chickens" produce excessive body heat and may suffer tremendously in warmer climates, so the lack of feathers would make these creatures more comfortable, but animal protection groups are leery. The removal of chickens' feathers makes them more susceptible to parasitic infections, and can make it more difficult for them to mate.
Genetically engineered goats were created by a team at a Framingham, Massachusetts -based Genzyme Transgenics Corporation, Tufts University and Louisiana State University. Why? To produce a human protein that affects blood clotting. Three female goats posed for a picture in April of 1999 to show off the work of the scientists.
These GMO fish were glowing in a tank under a blacklight while being displayed at the 2013 Bio Expo in Taipei.
These fish glow in a tank under a blacklight at a fish farm in Pingtung, southern Taiwan, as of September 16, 2010. The genetically modified creatures are the world's first fluorescent angelfish created by a joint project between Taiwan's Academia Sinica and Jy Lin, a private biotechnology company. The breed is the largest fluorescent fish in the world. They are still able to mate and reproduce, which is more than we can say for Monsanto's suicide seeds.
Transgenic sheep were grown in China using 'a simplified technique' – handmade cloning. They were successfully born on March 26, 2012 due to the efforts of scientists from BGI, the world's largest genomics organization, together with the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), and Shihezi University, Xinjiang province.
There are many other genetically modified animals, too.
Cytoplasmic transfer, a practice which allows scientists the ability to create GMO human babies, is technically illegal in the U.S., but the current regulatory framework offers little in the way of enforcement capacity against those that breach this moratorium. Here's what the FDA has to say about that.


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Flowers, Rugs, And Cash: Nicole Richie's Formula For a Relaxed Holiday Celebration
The star shares her tips and favorite party decor
By Olivia Rassow
Alan Silfen
Born and bred amongst elite Hollywood social circles, Nicole Richie is no stranger to stylish entertaining. And the TV star and multi-hyphenate considers her home in Laurel Canyon the ideal place for celebrations. "People are in and out of our house every day and night," says Riche. "They come over, take off their shoes, listen to classic rock and eat good food." Unique personal touches help to create the mood for any party, and some of Nicole's favorites, including candles, rugs, flatwear, and holiday decorations, are available for purchase in an upcoming Joss & Main sale event curated by the star.
Nicole creates an easy atmosphere with rugs and blankets—laying different rugs on the ground so that guests have room to sit, and keeping white Moroccan wedding blankets within reach in the event that outdoor gatherings get chilly. "I really love the relaxed vibe of friends sitting on the floor, D.L. & Co. candles burning, and listening to music," she says. Fittingly, Richie names D.L. & Co. (as well as Diptyque) candles as an ideal hostess gift, but is also in favor of a decidedly less formal take. "Listen, I'll take some cash!" says the star, whose unfiltered sense of humor is regularly on display in her AOL show, Candidly Nicole.
One thing she's serious about: A plethora of blooms. "Flowers are an important detail for me," she says. "Eric Buterbaugh & Botany do my flowers, and we have them on every table." And we're on board with her pre-party clean-up routine. "There's nothing you can do about these kids' awful, neon toys nowadays," she says. "So I collect vintage trunks and put them anywhere in the house that I can. I let [the kids] run wild during the day and then throw everything into trunks at night."
Nicole's eclectic Joss & Main sale (featuring items seen below) launches on Tuesday, Nov. 12 at 9 p.m. ET on JossandMain.com.
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O'Hare, located on the far northwest side of Chicago, Illinois, is one of the city's 77 official community areas. O'Hare International Airport is located within the boundaries of this community area. This community area is the only one that extends outside of Cook County; the western edge is in DuPage County.
The O'Hare area is zoned to Chicago Public Schools. Zoned schools include Dirksen School and Taft High School.
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But it's also because of the name 'Jay Chou' that as soon as the airing permit for 'Pandamen' was granted, mainland China's 8 major television stations and 4 Home Satellite channels immediately tossed their original series broadcast aside, and changed to 'Pandamen' as 2010's biggest drama! From January 17th, Shan Dong, Guang Zhou, Beijing & Shanghai will first broadcast, and then from February 2nd, Jiang Su, Zhe Jiang, Chong Qing & Shen Zhen will then broadcast. The premiere event is set to be on January 28th or 29th. However, Taiwan's side previously did not want to set a date until the airing permit was granted, and now the broadcast date has temporarily been delayed to April.
Recently, Jay Chou has just finished promoting his film 'The Treasure Hunter', and his Hollywood film 'The Green Hornet' has also wrapped up. Currently, he is busy preparing for his new album. JVR expressed that 'Pandamen' means very much to Jay, and so he will definitely co-operate with all promotional activities. Yesterday, Tian Jing Quan also expressed that 'Pandamen' total costs are estimated to be $25million rmb (NT$1200million). It is the cross-strait (China & Taiwan) collaboration drama with the highest production costs to date, and there will definitely be grand premiere events!


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The background: Kate Tempest is a published playwright, novelist, poet and respected recording artist. Each track on the record correlates with a chapter in the novel, in a ground breaking cross-genre experience. Her latest album was produced by Dan Carey aka Mr Dan who is one of the UK's best-known and most highly-rated producers.
Hometown: London, England.
The truth: Kate Tempest started out when she was 16!
The buzz: Her debut novel, The Bricks That Built The Houses, sold in a highly competitive auction to Bloomsbury and will be published in territories including the UK, US, France, Holland and Brazil in Spring 2015.
What to buy: Kate's new album "Everybody Down", released in May 2014.
File next to: Benjamin Clementine, Young Fathers.
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Similar to climbing a mountain, real estate transactions require careful planning, an awareness of timing considerations, care and attention to detail plus a big picture view.
The Banff/Canmore Marketplace presents unique land use zoning opportunities including fulltime living, vacation investment properties and employee/entry-level perpetually affordable (PAH) housing. Solid value for both enjoyment and investment.
Canmore and Banff offer a wide variety of property types, from luxury houses to spacious low-maintenance townhomes and efficient condominium apartments, most with stellar Rocky Mountain views and all.
The Combination of and proximity to amazing built amenities and unsurpassed natural wonders can't be beat in the Canmore and Banff. Whether your interest are cultural (Music & Dance at the Banff Centre), recreating at the Nordic Centre or Elevation Place or self-reflection through outdoor Yoga or a walk in your National or Provincial Parks ~ life is here to enjoy.
When purchasing a home in Canmore/Banff, you are faced with a multitude of decisions! Let us guide you every step of the way.
When choosing to sell, we facilitate a sale of your home at top dollar in a timely manner.
Recent trends and home sales give us an accurate analysis of your home's worth.
Our team approach to providing quality service allows us to deliver combined local in-depth knowledge and expertise seldom found in individual Realtors. Our synergy results in challenging each other to solve problems in ways you will be pleased with.


Charles de Gaulle, the French Navy's (Marine Nationale) sole nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, entered a dry dock this week at Toulon naval base following 15 years of operational deployments during which it was involved in most of the international conflicts in which France took part (Afghanistan, Libya, Levant) and in particular three times since January 2015.
French nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle entering the dry dock for mid-life refit. French Navy picture.
This mid-life refit period is scheduled to last 18 months. Unprecedented in its scope and the number of works to be carried out, it will restore operational potential to the carrier for more than twenty years.
The French Navy's fleet support service, with the DGA (French procurement agency) are in charge of the control of the work while the overall project management was entrusted to DCNS. Its mission is to manage the work to be carried out during this overhaul in coordination with the sailors of Charles de Gaulle, who will contribute greatly.
- To modernize the capabilities of the aircraft carrier by renewing and upgrading its platform.


is the hope of yesterday, gone. It's true.
the horizon of each breath, whether tepid or profound.
The wonder of promise leaves us spellbound.
The future; such a quixotic conception.
To think one can control it is Satan's greatest deception.
A collection of winds seems to be all we accrue.
our days with strivings, both selfish and divine.
I'll do my own thing, but you must do mine.
yet God is sovereign, don't purchase the ruse.
Intoxicated by the everlasting, ever real, wonder of promise.


I hope everyone is enjoying their summer. We have enjoyed lots of library and pool time in my family. I've also been lucky enough to snuggle lots of babies.
Registration is up for my Fall parent support groups. I'm running two sessions of Getting Started for new parents (starting September 13th and November 8th). I'm only running one session of my Second Time Parent Group this Fall (starting October 4th).
Details and registration are on my Parent Classes page.
I hope to see you in one of my groups!