text:
Signed up, but still not getting our newsletter? Click here.
Click Here To 'Like' Meridian Magazine on Facebook
How to be a Virtual Missionary
By Norman Hill
Personal Voice
Nephi's Bountiful
Gospel Doctrine
Doctrine & Covenants
Line upon Line
Expand Blog
By Carolyn Allen
Ideas and Society
Family Leader
Meridian Cares
LDS Fiction: Two Historical Novels
By Jennie Hansen
Latter-day Saint Books
Serializations
In Case You Missed it: Meridian Live Interviews Key Players from New "Witnesses" Film
By Meridian Magazine
Discovering the Story of a Forgotten Ancestor
By Wallace Goddard
Of Good Cheer
Latter-day Laughs
Come, Follow Me Podcast #19, "What Lack I Yet?", Matthew 19-20; Mark 10; Luke 18
By Scot and Maurine Proctor
Photo Essay: Come with Young Joseph into the Sacred Grove
By Scot Facer Proctor
Click here to see additional authors
Scot Facer Proctor was raised in Rolla, Missouri, the youngest son of Paul Dean and Martha Facer Proctor. He is the co-founder and publisher of Meridian Magazine. In his youth he was given the extraordinary opportunity to live in Ankara,…
Maurine Proctor
Maurine Jensen Proctor is the co-founder and editor-in-chief of Meridian Magazine. With her husband, Scot, she has written several photographic books including Witness of the Light, a Photographic Journey in the Footsteps of the American Prophet, Joseph Smith; Source of…
BYU Media Relations
Mark Albright
Mark Albright is currently an Institute Teacher and Stake Mission Preparation Teacher. He has been a mission president, temple ordinance worker, stake president, bishop, high councilman, and seminary teacher. He is a partner in the Las Vegas, Nevada, law firm…
Carolyn Allen
Carolyn Allen is the Author of 60 Seconds to Weight Loss Success - One Minute Inspirations to Change Your Thinking, Your Weight and Your Life. She has been providing mental and spiritual approaches for weight loss success both online and…
Philip Allred
A member of the BYU-Idaho Religion Department Faculty. 15 years as faculty member in the BYU-Idaho Religion Department at BYU-Idaho, 8 years teaching in Seminary and Institutes for the Church Educational System in Utah and south-eastern Idaho. Born in Ankara,…
Margaret Anderson
Margaret Anderson is the mother of seven young children. When they make her laugh, she writes about it. When they make her cry, she writes about it so she can laugh later. She is a contributing writer for Meridian Magazine,…
Catherine K. Arveseth
Catherine Keddington Arveseth is a full-time mother to five young children, including two sets of twins. She has published articles at Meridian, Deseret News, Power of Moms, Segullah, Multiply Goodness, and Reader's Digest. She has co-authored two books with Power…
Michael R. Ash
Michael R. Ash is a veteran staff member of the Foundation for Apologetic Information and Research (FAIR), former weekly columnist for the Mormon Times and has presented several papers at LDS-related symposiums. Ash is the author of Shaken Faith Syndrome: Strengthening One's Testimony In the…
Larry Barkdull
Larry Barkdull is the author of number of books, including a seven-book series called Pillars of Zion (www.pillarsofzion.com) and Rescuing Wayward Children, a subject that he teaches at BYU Education Week. He is a regular fireside speaker and loves to teach Gospel Doctrine…
Kevin Beckstrom
Kevin Beckstrom is a native of Salt Lake City, served a mission in Korea and is a graduate of BYU. Beckstrom has been publishing cartoons since he was 16, and his work has appeared in numerous newsletters, trade publications, newspapers…
R. William Bennett
"Author of Jacob T. Marley and the newly released, Last Man At the Inn."
Jane Birch
Jane Birch, PhD, is Assistant Director for Faculty Development at the Brigham Young University Faculty Center where she enjoys helping BYU faculty members become their best. She was born in Sacramento, California and now resides in Provo, Utah and happily…
Ashby D Boyle II, JD PhD
Prior to returning to academia this year, Ashby Boyle was an entrepreneur and attorney, beginning his career at the Washington, D.C. office of Sullivan & Cromwell. He is currently a research fellow at Yale, at work on two books. One is…
Jeffrey M. Bradshaw
Jeffrey M. Bradshaw (PhD, Cognitive Science, University of Washington) is a Senior Research Scientist at the Florida Institute for Human and Machine Cognition (IHMC) in Pensacola, Florida. His professional writings have explored a wide range of topics in human and…
RoseMarie Briggs
RoseMarie Briggs is a former syndicated radio reporter for over 200 stations and an international radio network. She continues to have stories published in print and on the internet. She is the former executive director of Family Leader Network. RoseMarie…
Laura M. Brotherson LMFT, CST, CFLE
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and Certified Sex Therapist (CST), Laura M. Brotherson, is the author of the best-selling book, And They Were Not Ashamed: Strengthening Marriage through Sexual Fulfillment, and her latest book Knowing HER Intimately: 12 Keys…
Joel Campbell
Joel Campbell is an associate teaching professor of journalism in the Brigham Young University School of Communications. He has researched, written and taught about the intersection of media and religion. His peer-reviewed articles include, "Mitt Romney's Religion: A Five Factor…
Jodi Chaffee
Jodi is the creator and host of "Our Modern Heritage" a podcast discussing ways families can create an intentional family culture. She is on a mission to support families to cultivate their traditions, vision, and standards while treasuring the heritage…
McKay Christensen
McKay Christensen is a Gospel Doctrine teacher in the Alpine Utah 2nd ward. He and his wife Jennifer are the parents of five children. In his professional career McKay has served as Managing Director of External Relations at BYU, management…
Jon Clark
Jon Clark lives in Knoxville, Tennessee with his wife and four children. He is an award-winning composer for TV, cartoonist and published children's book author. His cartoons have appeared in the New Era, Sunstone, Highlights, and Mormon Times online. Honest…
Jonathan Decker
Jonathan Decker is a licensed marriage and family therapist available for online sessions throughout Utah and face-to-face sessions in St. George. He was the co-host of The KJZZ Movie Show, winner of the campus-wide BYU Talent Show, performer with Divine…
Meghan Decker
Meghan Decker is a writer, public speaking consultant, teacher, wife/mom/grandma, 12-Stepper, and aspiring good person. In her book Reaching for Hope: An LDS Perspective on Recovering from Depression she recounts her experience with clinical depression; in addition, she has published…
David C. Dollahite
David C. Dollahite is Professor of Family Life at Brigham Young University where he teaches classes and conducts research on the links between religion and family life. He is Co-Director (with Dr. Loren Marks) of the American Families of Faith…
Becky Douglas
Becky Douglas is the Founder and President of Rising Star Outreach, a charity dedicated to serving the leprosy-affected of India. Her work with Rising Star has been featured on TV, radio, magazines and newspapers throughout the U.S. and internationally. Becky…
William C. Duncan
William C. Duncan is director of the Marriage Law Foundation. He previously served as the director of the Marriage Law Project at the Columbus School of Law at the Catholic University of America.
Rodger Dean Duncan
Rodger Dean Duncan is a descendant of 19th century Baptist evangelists and a convert to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He has served as bishop of three wards, as a stake president, and as a stake mission…
John Dye
John Dye spent 7 years at Bonneville Communications (boncom) where he led Social Media and Influencer Outreach activities and was involved in major initiatives for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, including the "I'm a Mormon" campaign, the…
Breck England
Breck England, product architect and consultant for FranklinCovey Company, earned a bachelor's degree in Medieval History and master's and PhD in English and literary theory from the University of Utah.An appointment in his college years as an assistant researcher to…
Richard and Linda Eyre
Richard and Linda Eyre are among the most popular speakers in the world on parenting and families. Their clients and audiences range from The Young President's Organization (YPO) and major corporations and associations to a wide array of school, civic,…
James L. Ferrell
James L. Ferrell was born and raised in Seattle, Washington. He graduated from Brigham Young University with degrees in economics and philosophy and went on to receive a law degree from Yale Law School. He serves as managing director of…
William Fortune
Bill Fortune is a cartoonist, artist, graphics designer, and history buff. After spending nearly 45 years in advertising as an Art Director/Creative Director, he spent the last 15 years on the corporate side of business. In March of 2014 he…
Craig R. Frogley
Craig R. Frogley, DC is married to Janet and they are the parents of 8 children and 21 grandchildren. He is currently retired from 35 years with the Church's institute program, BYU continuing education, and private practice as a chiropractic…
Stan M. Gardner MD, CNS
Dr. Stan is the medical director of the Keys to Healing Medical Center, located at 2332 West 12600 South, Suite 2B in Riverton, UT 84065. You may reach him at 801-302-5397. As an M.D., Dr. Gardner practiced conventional Western medicine…
Ted Gibbons
Nathaniel Givens
Nathaniel Givens is a data scientist and entrepreneur with degrees in math, systems engineering, and economics. He is a Contributing Editor for Expand and has also written for Real Clear Religion, First Things, and Square Two. He also maintains his…
Wallace Goddard
Wally Goddard is a retired professor of Family Life having served in Arkansas and Alabama. He developed programs on personal well-being, marriage, and parenting. He is well known for his many creative family programs, including The Marriage Garden, The Parenting…
Chris Hall's creativity and energy were evident in her earliest childhood. Her grade school teachers often commented, "She has tremendous energy – if we could just get it channeled!" Her parent's instilled in her a belief that good can come…
Taylor Halverson is an aspiring master learner who has discovered his life purpose is to help people find and act on the best ideas and tools in order to experience enduring joy. He currently is an Entrepreneurship Professor in the…
Ralph C. Hancock
Ralph Hancock (PhD Harvard) is Professor of Political Science at Brigham Young University, where he teaches the tradition of political philosophy as well as contemporary political theory. He has taught three times as Visiting Professor at the University of Rennes,…
Jennie Hansen
Jennie Hansen graduated from Ricks College in Idaho, then Westminster College in Utah. She has been a freelance magazine writer, newspaper reporter, editor, and librarian. Her published novels fall in several genre categories, including romantic suspense, mystery, historical, and western.…
Colleen Harrison
Colleen C. Harrison is the author of He Did Deliver Me from Bondage , the LDS 12 Step study guide that was used by LDS Family Services for 10 years from 1995 to 2005, during the A pilot program @…
Cassandra Showell Hedelius
Cassandra S. Hedelius studied political science and mathematics at the University of Oklahoma and law at the University of Colorado. She has practiced domestic and business law for profit, and researches and writes about Mormonism for pleasure. Her main focus…
Jacob Z. Hess
Jacob Hess is a mindfulness teacher and writer focused on exploring long-term, sustainable healing from depression. He is on the board of the National Coalition of Dialogue & Deliberation and co-author of "You're Not as Crazy as I Thought, But…
Joni Hilton
Joni Hilton holds a Master of Fine Arts degree in Professional Writing from USC. She has written five award-winning plays and 25 books, including her most recent, A Little Christmas Prayer (Covenant). She's also the author of the bestselling As…
Daris Howard, an award winning author and playwright, grew up on an Idaho farm. He was a state champion athlete, competed in college athletics, and served a mission to Rochester, New York. He has worked as a cowboy, a mechanic,…
Kelly Schrum Hutchins
Kelly Schrum Hutchins is a stay-at-home mother of ten, who served a mission in Kobe, Japan ('87-88), and has, so far, supported five of her children on missions. She has worked with the youth in various assignments and organizations over…
Sutherland Institute
United Families International
For over 40 years, United Families International has worked on the national and international level to strengthen and defend the family. Our mission includes educating and empowering citizens and decision-makers to protect the family as the foundation of society, marriage…
Darla Isackson
Darla Isackson believes that writing is part of her "heavenly assignment" and has been a professional writer for four decades. In her twenties she found great joy and success serving in the California Mission, where she was asked to write…
Gary C. Lawrence
Gary Lawrence is a public opinion pollster who received a B.A. from BYU and a Ph.D. from Stanford. He is the author of three books: How Americans View Mormonism, Mormons Believe … What?!, and The War in Heaven Continues. His…
Sharon Lee received her bachelor's degree from BYU in American Studies with an emphasis on literature and history. She studied in Novosibirsk, Siberia; Vienna, Austria and Jerusalem, Israel. In her twenties, she was a contributing writer for the LDS curriculum…
Shalissa Lindsay
Shalissa Lindsay is the author of Answers Will Come: Trusting the Lord in the Meantime. She worked as a senior instructional designer within the MTC, creating a temple square display and refining language learning software. She also worked in change…
Marilynne Todd Linford
Marilynne Todd Linford has a passion for history—the Reformation, Colonial America, the Restoration of the Church, and writing family histories. She knows those who write history make history because only those things that are recorded are remembered. She has been…
Gary and Joy Lundberg
Gary and Joy Lundberg live in Provo, Utah and are parents of five children and have thirteen grandchildren. Gary is a licensed marriage and family therapist in private practice, and is a clinical member of the American Association for Marriage…
Loren Marks
Loren Marks is a professor in Brigham Young University's School of Family Life. His research interests have included religion and families, minority families, and family finance. He is Co-Director (with Dr. David Dollahite) of the American Families of Faith Project.
Jeffrey Marsh
Dr. W. J. Marsh has written curriculum materials for seminaries and institutes in the Church Educational System. He has also prepared Melchizedek Priesthood manuals and the current Gospel Doctrine courses of study. He and his wife Kathie have conducted Church History…
Ron McMillan
About Ron McMillanRon McMillan is the four-time New York Times best-selling co-author of Crucial Conversations, Crucial Confrontations, Influencer, and Change Anything. For more than 25 years, he has served as an expert in behavior change, interpersonal communication, and corporate training. A…
Ronald P. Millett
Ron Millett and his wife Rhonda live in Cedar Hills, Utah. They have six energetic children and three wonderful grandchildren. Ron has BS and MS degrees in Computer Science from BYU and also a MA degree in Linguistics from BYU. …
William J. Monahan
A U.S. Air Force veteran, William Monahan is a 1980 graduate of BYU Law School. He practices law in Gilbert, Arizona. A former stake and mission president, he teaches gospel doctrine class in his ward. Brother and Sister Monahan are…
Derek Monson
Derek Monson graduated from Brigham Young University in August 2007 with bachelor's degrees in economics and political science, and began working for Sutherland Institute as a policy analyst in May 2007. Derek has co-authored a research study on Utah government…
Reid N. Moon
Reid Moon graduated from BYU in 1985. He is an antiquarian book dealer who specializes in rare Mormon books, documents, early Bibles [1250-1899 AD], classics in literature and important historical books and artifacts. He has traveled over a million miles—to…
Heather B. Moore is the author of Women of the Book of Mormon: Insights & Inspirations as well as the award-winning historical novels: Abinadi and Alma.
Kerry Muhlestein
Kerry received his B.S. from BYU in Psychology with a Hebrew minor. As an undergraduate he spent time at the BYU Jerusalem Center for Near Eastern Studies in the intensive Hebrew program. He received an M.A. in Ancient Near Eastern…
Tanya Neider
Some of Tanya's earliest memories were traipsing through cemeteries, knocking on doors of potential relatives, and looking at giant books in courthouses. Many of the family "vacations" were devoted to reunions and visiting extended family. It seems as if doing…
Holly E. Newton
Holly Newton has been reviewing children's books for 18 years. She reviewed weekly on NBC for 8 years in both Columbia, Missouri and Phoenix, Arizona. Holly wrote weekly for the Columbia Tribune for 14 years and received the Literacy Award…
Carolyn Nicolaysen
Carolyn Nicolaysen grew up in New Jersey where she loved baking with her grandfather, swimming, singing in school choirs, and visiting the Jersey Shore. Carolyn joined the Church while attending Central College in Pella, Iowa, where she earned a degree…
D. Kelly Ogden
D. Kelly Ogden is professor of ancient scripture at Brigham Young University. He has taught courses in Hebrew, Old and New Testament, writings of Isaiah, the Bible as literature, history of the ancient Near East, biblical and modern geography of…
Rynna Ollivier
Rynna Ollivier is a life long member of the Church who has served as a Stake Young Women's President for 15 years, Ward Relief Society Presidency, Stake Missionary, Church Public Affairs for the South Bay area of Southern California, and…
Rosemary G. Palmer
Rosemary Palmer is a wife, mother of two children, and a grandmother of four. After teaching elementary and secondary school, Rosemary was a professor in the College of Education, Department of Literacy, at Boise State University . She has published articles…
Marvin Payne
Marvin Payne is a professional actor, wordcrafter, songwriter, and recording artist.
Nicholeen Peck
Nicholeen Peck is a popular public speaker around North America who most often addresses the subject of parenting. Her parenting methods clam tantrum toddlers to tough teens while creating a family structure which invites the spirit of love and good…
Steven Kapp Perry
Steven Kapp Perry is a Pearl Award-winning songwriter, playwright, and broadcaster - the host of "Soft Sunday Sounds" on FM100 in Salt Lake City. Steve loves music, cream cheese on bagels, his wife Johanne, and whichever of their 4 children…
Janice Kapp Perry
Janice Kapp Perry was born in Ogden, Utah, raised in Vale, Oregon, and currently lives in Provo, Utah. She and her husband, Douglas, have five children and 13 grandchildren. Through the years, they have also had many foster children. Janice…
Daniel C. Peterson
Daniel C. Peterson is a professor of Islamic studies and Arabic in the Department of Asian and Near Eastern Languages at Brigham Young University, and editor-in-chief of BYU's Middle Eastern Texts Initiative.
Janet Peterson
Janet Peterson has served on the Church Correlation Committee (Materials Evaluation) for the past decade. She earned her bachelor's and master's degrees in English from BYU. A free-lance writer, she has published over 100 articles in Church magazines, including "Friend to…
Carol Kostakos Petranek
Carol Kostakos Petranek has been hooked on non-fiction writing since childhood, and on family history research for the past 30 years. Melding the two has been a joyous adventure which has led her to journeys of discovery and introspection, and…
James W. Petty, AG, CG
James W. Petty, AG, CG is the Board-Certified and Accredited Professional Genealogist, "Climbing the Family Tree Professionally Since 1969". He is President of HEIRLINES Family History & Genealogy, Inc. (www.Heirlines.com), a professional genealogy research services firm, providing professionally-standardized and verified…
John P. Pratt
John P. Pratt writes a monthly column for Meridian Magazine giving one LDS perspective on current science. He has a Ph.D. in astronomy and specializes in religious chronology and ancient calendars. He has authored several articles in the Ensign and…
Anne Hinton Pratt
Anne Hinton Pratt is a composer and writer. After doing graduate work at BYU, she married her best friend, had five children in three different countries, (Saudi Arabia, the U.S. and Mexico), and now divides her time living in El…
Mariah Proctor
Mariah Proctor received her Masters in Creative Writing from Oxford University. She is a graduate of BYU with a Bachelors in Theater and German. She considers herself a citizen of the world and particularly loves writing about her travels. She…
Scot and Maurine Proctor
After receiving her education from University of Utah and Harvard, Maurine Jensen Proctor, the Editor-in-Chief and co-founder of Meridian Magazine, began her writing career with McGraw Hill Magazines and the Chicago Sun-Times. She has created award-winning television documentaries, has written…
Michaela Proctor Hutchins
Michaela Proctor Hutchins grew up in the Washington D.C. Metro area then spent her last two years of high school in Alpine, Utah. During that time she formed "The Africa Club" and led the effort for two major humanitarian projects…
Joanne Rich
Joanne Patterson Rich has lived in Salt Lake City most of her life, attending Olympus High School and graduating with a BA in Communications from BYU! She married the most wonderful man on earth, Jim Rich, who passed away valiantly in…
Larry Richman
Larry Richman writes daily articles at www.LDS365.com to help Latter-day Saints become more aware of helpful resources from the Church and from others. He regularly encourages people to hasten the work of the Lord by sharing the goodness of the…
Bruce K. Satterfield Bruce Satterfield is a professor in the Department of Religious Studies at Brigham Young University - Idaho where he teaches Old and New Testament. He also teaches Biblical Hebrew in the Honors Program. Bro.Satterfield did his undergraduate…
Franz Sidney
Franz was born in Italy and lives in Norfolk (UK) with her two children, Alex and Kim. Her passions include illustration, cartoons, photography, fitness, wholistic health, skating, writing novels and much more. She loves life and nature and she tries…
JeaNette Goates Smith
JeaNette G. Smith is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (L.M.F.T.) and a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (L.M.H.C.) in private practice in Jacksonville Beach, Florida. She is the author of the recently released book, Unsteady: What Every Parent Absolutely Must…
Seth Adam Smith
Seth Adam Smith was born in Alaska and raised in Utah. He has edited and produced many short LDS films for the internet and runs several popular blogs and YouTube channels. He enjoys gardening, politics, writing, film, running marathons and…
Rodney K. Smith
Rod Smith is a constitutional scholar and has served as a law school dean and as President at Southern Virginia University. Rod currently directs the Center for Constitutional Studies at Utah Valley University and is the author of numerous books…
Don Staheli
Don H. Staheli holds a bachelor's degree in history and master's degrees in international management and social work. He has lovingly assisted thousands of people in his work as a licensed clinical social worker and trainer. He has served for…
Geoff Steurer, MS, LMFT
Geoff Steurer is a licensed marriage and family therapist in St. George, Utah. He specializes in working with couples, pornography/sexual addiction, betrayal trauma, and infidelity. He is the founder of Lifestar of St. George, Utah and Alliant Counseling and Education.…
Mark J. Stoddard
For more than 30 years Mark has been a successful entrepreneur, marketer, and educator. In 1990, the USSR's Deputy Minister of Higher Education brought Mark teach free market business principles to leaders of the president's cabinet, got him to be…
James T. Summerhays
James T. Summerhays has served as Senior Editor for the academic journal BYU Studies Quarterly, Editor and Instructional Designer in the Continuing Education Department at BYU, and as New Media Editor at Deseret Book. James and his wife Mary have…
Vickey Pahnke Taylor
Vickey is a songwriter/producer, vocalist, and professional speaker, who has spoken for more than two decades Church Education Systems, including BYU Education Week and Best of Especially for Youth. She is a Billboard award winning songwriter, with hundreds of songs…
Dian Thomas
During the past 25 years, Dian Thomas has delivered more than 5000 media appearances. She is the author of 18 books, including the New York Times Best Seller Roughing it Easy, which has sold more than a million copies. She…
Devin D. Thorpe
Devin D. Thorpe, author of Building Wealth for Building the Kingdom: A Financial Planning Guide for Latter-day Saint Families and other books, recently served as a business professor at South China University of Technology in Guangzhou, China for BYU's Kennedy…
Rachel J. Trotter
Rachel J. Trotter is a senior writer/editor at Evalogue.Life – Tell Your Story. She tells people's stories and shares hers to encourage others. She loves family storytelling. A graduate of Weber State University, she has had articles featured on LDSLiving.com…
Wendy Ulrich, Ph.D.
G.G. Vandagriff
G.G. Vandagriff is the full-time writer of eleven books, including the Whitney Award Winner The Last Waltz: A Novel of Love and War. A Meridian columnist for ten years, she is a survivor of bi-polar disorder and has written, with…
Dennis has been in love with food since he was given a cookbook for his eighth birthday. Since then, he has burnt food from Miami, Florida to Point Barrow, Alaska. He is the general manager of The Prepared Pantry in…
Diana Webb
Diana Webb was born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah. She graduated magna cum laude from the University of Utah in 1972 with a degree in English Education. She got a job teaching school at John F. Kennedy Junior…
Pamela Whitmore
Pamela Whitmore is editor at Sutherland Institute.
Lynne Hilton Wilson
Dr. Lynne Wilson lives in Palo Alto, California with her husband Dow. She is mother to seven children--all with red hair. Lynne received her master's degree in the New Testament, and a PhD in Theology and American Religious History at…
By	Norman Hill
Come, Follow Me for Sunday School: "My Work Shall Go Forth", Doctrine and Covenants 3-5
By	McKay Christensen
Tallahassee Florida Temple Location Revealed
By	Meridian Church Newswire
Critical Race Theory Infiltrates Government, Classrooms
By	Meridian Magazine
Parable of the Plastic Grapes: Growing Empathy
Following the Prophet's Example in Dealing with Contention
By	Mary Bell
Why Could Joseph Smith Testify in Court at Age 13?
By	Book of Mormon Central
Yesterday's Articles
By Mary Bell
By Book of Mormon Central
The Power of a Child
By Daris Howard
Children Worldwide Invited to Participate in First-Ever Friend to Friend Event
By Meridian Church Newswire
Developing Sexual Self-Restraint Before Marriage
By Laura M. Brotherson LMFT, CST, CFLE
Three of the Six New Chapters from the General Handbook Concern Temple Work: Here's What You Need to Know
By Church News
INSPIRATION FOR LIVING A LATTER-DAY SAINT LIFE
Daily news, articles, videos and podcasts sent straight to your inbox.
I agree and consent to Meridian Magazine's privacy policy.
ADVERTISE WITH MERIDIAN


Politics is a struggle to gain power, exercise power, control power, and how to use power. This is consistent with the opinion of Sidney Hilmann in Ranney (1990) that politics is the science of who gets what, when, and why.
In political matters there are often power struggles that color the world of politics. Power does not only have to mean the power of the king or the president, but it can also mean the power of government officials from superiors to subordinates.
The nature of politics is basically power, in other words to regulate the community so that they can obey and submit to the rules is not possible without power.
The country of Indonesia is a democratic country that adheres to a system of representation, where in regulating society, a ruler or leader is needed. When determining a leader must hold an election conducted by the community. General elections (elections) are important instruments in a democratic country that adheres to a system of representation. Elections serve as a filter tool for "politicians" who represent and bring the voice of the people in representative institutions.
Power struggles often color when elections are held. Various methods are carried out by prospective authorities to obtain the desired power or position. Starting from providing assistance in the form of goods or services, such as assistance or alms in the form of clothing, basic necessities, cash and so on. It was used to get the attention of the people to win the desired position or position.
General Election is also called "Political Market" (Dr. Indria Samego). This means that general elections are political markets where individuals / communities interact to carry out social contracts (community agreements) between general election participants (political parties) and voters (people) who have the right to vote after first carrying out a series of political activities which include campaigns, propaganda, political advertising through printed mass media, audio (Radio) and audio visual (television) and other media such as banners, pamphlets, leaflets and even inter-personal communication in the form of face to face or lobby which contains messages about programs, platforms , principles, ideology, and other political promises in order to convince voters so that voting can determine their choice of one of the political parties participating in the general election to represent them in legislative and executive bands.
As stated by Moh. Kusnardi and Harmaily Ibrahim, in terms of people's sovereignty (democracy), it is the people who are considered as the highest holders of power in a country. It is the people who determine the style and the way the government is held. It is the people who determine the goals to be achieved by the state and its government.
Based on the above understanding, election is an activity in which the election participants or legislative candidates carry out social contracts (agreements) on voters or voters, namely the people. A series of activities carried out include campaigns, political advertisements through mass media or communication in the form of face to face containing programs that will be launched by legislative candidates.
Ahead of regional head elections, candidates often visit religious leaders to ask for their blessing. At the time of sowan (silaturahmi) to the Islamic boarding school, for example, they usually give donations while hoping to get a vote from the santri. Donations or alms from these regional head candidates, according to Chairman of the Nahdlatul Ulama Executive Board Said Aqil Siradj, are not clear about the legal nature of Islam. "Sodaqoh, but with a political background, what is the law.
The MUI states that money politics (money politics) is haram, because the charity given is done because of expecting something, the charity is not sincere and there is a purpose. Chairperson of the MUI Fatwa Division Ma'ruf Amin said that his party would immediately issue a fatwa forbidden for money politics. It is still waiting for the right timing. "We will issue the fatwa, we wait for the right event momentum for that. Now it's still in the design, "said Mufuf".
Alms before the election at this time are fairly ordinary and become a culture of politics. In connection with some of the opinions above, alms based on understanding is an act of giving something to others voluntarily, either in the form of goods, assistance or actions that can be done by anyone and there is no time limit and a certain amount that solely expects the blessing of Allah SWT and expect His reward, charity is more important if done in a quiet way to keep away from the nature of riya 'which can damage the merit of charity, but in practice the charity carried out by prospective officials before the election was done because certain motives, as well as to gain sympathy from the community in order to win the position or position desired by the candidates. If associated with the implementation of charity before the election with the understanding of alms in Islamic religion, this is not in accordance with the implementation of the charity that is recommended in Islam.


With all the buzz around Twitter these days, it's no surprise that we see new clients popping up everywhere - on our desktops, the web and as mobile applications. While some applications are done quite well, it can be difficult to find the one that has the features that you want. But like all software developers, you have a choice - you can go ahead and build one of your own. That's where Twitter4J fits in.
I first became aware of Twitter4J as I was working on my Twitter client using ECF. No matter what feature I needed from Twitter, it was supported in Twitter4J. Of course, you can integrate into any Java application from version 1.4.2, and there's also support for the Android platform. In this article i'm going to give a brief overview of how to use the framework to connect to, and use, Twitter. With the basic building blocks that the library provides, you can create your own rich Twitter interface.
It couldn't be easier to get going with this library - simply download the latest version, and add the core library to your classpath.
To connect up to your twitter account, you simply create a new instance of a Twitter object, using your real username and password.
Twitter4J also has OAuth support, which can be used as outlined at the project code sample page.
Finding out what everyone else has been saying works by getting your friends timeline, which is just a list of Status objects.
The Status object contains all information that you will need to know about that update such as the time it was created at, the geographic location, the user who performed the update, and whether it was in reply to another message.
Meanwhile the User object gives you access to all of a typical Twitter users public information, including their avatar.
I really like how Twitter.com show messages timestamps in the form of "3 minutes ago", rather than a plain old date. I found the PrettyTime library, which provides all you need to do this in Java.
As you're developing, you'll probably run into "Rate Limited Exceeded" messages. This means that you've used more than the 150 hourly API calls that are allowed. If you plan on developing further, you can request for a higher limit from Twitter. However, the rate limit being lifted only applies to your ID, so it's recommended that you cache your Twitter API calls.
There's lots more available in the Twitter4J library - anything that you can think of that you might need in your Twitter application is supported. We may have enough dedicated Twitter applications, but if you want to integrate Twitter support into an existing application, or you want to write an Android app that lets you do what you want on Twitter, there's no excuse not to get started.


text:
Stuart Haining
Entrepreneur, Businessman
Stuart Haining ACIB MCIM always gives highly practical advice in business based on his experience as an entrepreneur, innovator and strategist, having run a digital marketing agency that has successfully launched, supported and developed a wide range of businesses using hard won tricks of the trade and insights from the cutting edge of digital development. With his focus on what he knows will bring success, Stuart helps his readers navigate through hearsay and common mistakes, so that all your efforts will bear fruit in the most entertaining way.
He also has had a long-running love affair with an Aston Martin Vantage V8 – and he has used his sharp wit and really engaging enthusiasm to explain that in his book My Other Car is an Aston. A really fun book – and our first Bumper Bite-Sized Book.
A former banker turned marketeer, Stuart has worked on several world firsts – from running the UK's largest in-house loyalty magazine to managing a £20m advertising budget, with detours along the way into a leading-edge CRM project, re-inventing the infamous BarclaySquare mall into the model now familiar at Amazon, developing the first usable MP3 download service, and raising Venture Capital to launch a technology incubator before completing a Management Buy-Out and eventual sale to a PLC. He was singled out by Barclays CEO for his blue-sky approach and his books show you why. The range of books that Stuart has written and is writing is wide – and new volumes will be added showing that versatility.
Alfa Male
The Great Pension Pantomime
MLM 101
After the Supercar
The Complete Practical Digital Marketeer
The average wage millionaire
Planet Amazon
My other car is an aston
Hawk and Hyena – What Really Happened to the Serpent
Morse, Lewis, Endeavour and Oxford: A Guide Celebrating 35 Years on Screen

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


at 12 Warren St, New York. The development was completed in 2016. Sales for available units range in price from $4,700,000 to $6,000,000. 12 Warren has a total of 13 units. Sizes range from 3522 to 3752 square feet.
Nestled in Tribeca, 12 Warren is a new residential development that reflects the rich architectural tradition of Tribeca loft buildings. The façade is composed of bluestone quarried in the Catskill region of upstate New York that has been artfully composed, arranged and layered by developer, design architect, and builder DDG. This thoughtful craftsmanship results in a building that is modern with classic details. Exposed interior concrete elements, as well as bluestone vanities and finishes in the residences complement the handcrafted stonework throughout the building. Landscaping is integrated into the façade to enhance its connection to natural materials.
Your inquiry will be delivered to the 12 Warren sales team, who will send you more information about this development.


text:
Soroco overpowers Hayden in the "Logan Zone"
Joel Reichenberger
jreichenberger@SteamboatToday.com
Soroco sophomore Jace Logan tries to hold off a Hayden defender Friday as the Rams ran over the Tigers, 56-28. Logan finished the night with 272 yards rushing on 27 carries. He scored five touchdowns.
Oak Creek — The second half of a football game isn't a time period crying out for a nickname, unless Soroco High School running back Jace Logan's around, anyway.
Logan, the Soroco sophomore, did Friday what he's done all season: turn a powerful first half into a dominant second half. This time, he reigned over the final two quarters — the Logan Zone, if you will — to the tune of 182 yards rushing and four touchdowns.
It was enough to overwhelm visiting cross-county rival Hayden and, with a 56-28 victory, potentially power the Rams into the Colorado 8-man playoffs.
"The second half, that's when I'm just getting my legs," Logan said.
The Rams, 6-3, will now have to wait for a phone call to see if they made the cut for the 16-team playoff. They were ranked No. 15 by the state's RPI ranking system before Friday, but their fate is in the hands of a committee, which meets Sunday to assign the playoff slots.
Soroco did all it could Friday to prove it belonged, surviving a furious passing attack from Hayden.
That passing kept things close early, when Hayden junior Garrett St. Clair found senior Tyler Boyer on a screen pass for 48-yard catch and run for a touchdown.
That, with a successful two-point conversion, made the score 8-8 in the first quarter.
The screen pass was a key.
"They were coming hard, so we kept throwing it over their heads," Boyer said.
St. Clair finished the night with 248 yards through the air, and it wasn't all short passes, either. He connected with Alan Aguirre for two long bombs, getting touchdowns of 66 and 47 yards, both in the second half.
St. Clair also ran in for another in the second half.
"We left it all out on the field," Boyer said. "It was one of our better games. We all played really hard."
It wasn't enough to hang with Soroco, however, which played with its offense fully in tune Friday.
Logan, who entered the night just 12 yards short of the overall all-class state rushing lead, finished with 272 yards rushing and another 67 receiving. He had five touchdowns.
Quarterback Isaac Jonas was sharp, as well, rushing for 253 yards and scoring two touchdowns on the ground. He added one more through the air, finding Sarvis Anarella.
"Isaac throws the ball well all the time," Anarella said. "He's really underrated. Honestly, if it's not caught, it's my fault."
"We were just happy to come out and get a good win today," he said.
To reach Joel Reichenberger, call 970-871-4253, email jreichenberger@SteamboatToday.com or follow him on Twitter @JReich9


text:
Afghan Report: June 6, 2005
6 June 2005, Volume 4, Number 18
IS RECONCILIATION WITH THE NEO-TALIBAN WORKING?
By Amin Tarzi
The latest surge of violence associated and often claimed by the neo-Taliban brings into question Afghan President Hamid Karzai's reconciliation policy with members of the ousted regime. However, the incidents, including the deadly suicide attack inside a mosque in the southern city of Kandahar on 1 June, may involve more actors than the resurgent elements from the Taliban regime, or the neo-Taliban, and, as such, can be a destabilizing factor in Afghanistan's future.
The Reconciliation Policy
In a little-noticed speech before a gathering of the ulema in Kabul in April 2003, Karzai said that a "clear line" has to be drawn between "the ordinary Taliban who are real and honest sons of this country" and those "who still use the Taliban cover to disturb peace and security in the country." No one has "the right to harass/persecute anyone under the name of Talib/Taliban anymore," Karzai emphasized (see "RFE/RL Afghanistan Report," 3 July 2003).
In some senses, Karzai speech was an announcement, albeit not formally at the time, of the launch of his reconciliation policy designed to weaken the resolve of the neo-Taliban by breaking their ranks into good and bad Talibs. Moreover, at the time Karzai -- who was leading a transitional administration in which he was not the dominant force -- needed the backing of his co-ethnic Pashtuns who were perceived to be -- or were actually -- marginalized from the Afghan political scene since the demise of the mostly Pashtun Taliban regime in December 2001.
The reconciliation policy, more articulated by Karzai since April 2003, essentially maintains that other than between 100 to 150 former members of the Taliban regime are known to have committed crimes against the Afghan people; all others, whether dormant or active within the ranks of the neo-Taliban, can begin living as normal citizens of Afghanistan by denouncing violence and renouncing their opposition to the central Afghan government.
The list of the unpardonable former Taliban members has never been made public by Karzai despite requests for by the Afghan media and politicians. Moreover, comments made in May by Sebghatullah Mojaddedi -- which were initially supported by Karzai -- have changed the issue of who cannot be pardoned into a contentious political problem.
As the head of the Independent National Commission for Peace in Afghanistan, an organ established to facilitate the reconciliation process with the former Taliban members, Mojaddedi announced that the amnesty offer from Karzai's government extended to all Taliban leaders, including the regime's former head, Mullah Mohammad Omar (see "RFE/RL Afghanistan Report," 17 May 2005). Both Mojaddedi and Karzai have since backed off of those statements, but distrust has increased and the door of misuse of the reconciliation policy has opened wider.
Upsurge In Violence
In line with the expectations of Afghan authorities and U.S.-led coalition forces, disruptive activities and terrorist acts either committed by or in the name of the neo-Taliban and their allies has increased since the weather improved in southern and eastern Afghanistan. In April, U.S. Major General Eric Olson said that there "has been an increase in Taliban and enemy activity in the spring [compared to the winter months]. And we anticipate that the enemy has the intention of trying to raise the level of activity this spring." However, Olson predicted that these activities would lack cohesion and fade in traditional neo-Taliban strongholds (see "RFE/RL Afghanistan Report," 11 March 2005).
While from a purely military perspective -- often no more than sporadic gun battles and launching of small rockets -- engagements between the neo-Taliban and the coalition forces and their Afghan National Army allies have not shown any significant cohesion or an increase that has not been expected, acts of terror have become more organized and, indeed, deadlier.
The well-planned killing of Mawlawi Abdullah Fayyaz, head of the Council of Ulema of Kandahar and an ardent opponent of the neo-Taliban, on 29 May and the suicide blast inside a Kandahar mosque on 1 June that claimed at least 21 lives, are gruesome illustrations of the increase in terror activities in Afghanistan.
Dilemma Facing Kabul
Following Fayyaz's killing, the office of Karzai's spokesman issued a statement in which the Afghan president strongly condemned the slaying of the cleric, adding that Fayyaz was assassinated by "the enemies of Afghanistan's peace and prosperity," without mentioning the neo-Taliban by name.
Soon after Fayyaz's assassination, Mufti Latifullah Hakimi, a spokesman for the neo-Taliban, claimed responsibility for the act, calling Fayyaz a supporter of the "Americans, [who] preached against an Islamic way of life and intended to lead people away from the path of righteousness."
On 31 May, Karzai responded to Fayyaz's assassination and said that it "is clear that the people who call themselves Taliban and act under the name of Taliban -- whether they are Taliban's representatives or not -- but it is clear that they are enemies of Afghanistan," Radio Afghanistan reported. Indirectly in support of his reconciliation policies, Karzai called on all of those who are "in the ranks of the Taliban, and [are] an Afghan, and belong to this soil," as their "national and religious duty" should act against those people who kill Afghans and their religious scholars. "They should take revenge on them and push them out of this country and prove that they are Afghans and they do not allow foreigners in the country," Karzai added, in an attempt to portray the killers of Fayyaz as non-Afghans.
In a statement, the Afghan Interior Ministry linked the suicide blast on 1 June, which occurred during a special funeral prayer for Fayyaz and claimed the life of Kabul's security chief General Akram Khakrezwal, to Fayyaz's killing. However, according to Afghan Interior Minister Ali Ahmad Jalali, the suicide bomber was not an Afghan, and was "an enemy of Islam" and an "enemy of peace and stability in Afghanistan" -- using what have recently become the standard official Afghan terms for what once was referred to as the Taliban.
Referring to Fayyaz's slaying, the 1 June statement refrains from mentioning the Taliban by name, referring to those who carried out the assassination simply as "gunmen."
Neo-Taliban spokesman Hakimi on 1 June contacted the Peshawar-based Afghan Islamic Press, saying that the bombing "shouldn't have occurred" and "strongly" condemning the act. While Pakistani journalist and Taliban expert Rahimullah Yusofzai told Dubai-based Geo TV on 1 June that the militia had claimed responsibility for the suicide bombing. In "my view, the Taliban was looking for this opportunity. It believed that important people would visit this mosque to offer prayer for" Fayyaz, Yusofzai told the station. There are reports that two of Karzai's brothers were due to arrive to the mosque later.
Whether the neo-Taliban or a splinter group within their ranks carried out the mosque bombing, the incident has opened a new chapter of violence in Afghanistan, in which mosques are no longer considered sanctuaries safe from violence. Moreover, with the killing of Fayyaz and the possible implications of the neo-Taliban in the mosque bombing, the currency of Karzai's reconciliation policy towards the militia becomes more tenuous. And the tensions created between Karzai and some within his own government regarding his Taliban policy and between the president and some of the opposition parties might lead to a radicalization ahead of the elections for the lower house of the Afghan parliament and provincial councils; that could, in turn, allow the reconciliation issue to be brought into the forefront of the political debate in the country with dire consequences for national unity of Afghanistan and leaving more opportunities for foreign hands to destabilize the country.
SUICIDE BOMBER ATTACKS AFGHAN MOSQUE DURING CEREMONY
At least 21 people were killed and more than 50 injured by a suicide bomber who blew himself up at the entrance of Kandahar's main mosque on 1 June. The bomber detonated his explosives during a mourning ceremony for a slain Islamic cleric who had been a strong supporter of Afghan President Hamid Karzai. The Afghan government has confirmed that the Interior Ministry's new security chief for Kabul is among those killed.
RFE/RL's Kandahar correspondent Reshtin Qadiri was standing outside of the crowded Abdul Rab Akhondzada Mosque in Kandahar to report on the mourning ceremony of a slain Islamic cleric when a suicide bomber blew himself up.
Within minutes, Qadiri managed to push her way through the fleeing crowd and make it into the small room at the front of the mosque where the explosion occurred. She found a nightmarish vision of death: "I'm in the area [just at the mosque's entrance], and this place is covered with blood and body parts. The scene here is [horrific and] almost surreal."
Afghan Interior Ministry spokesman Lotfullah Mashal confirmed that the ministry's new security chief in Kabul was killed. "As a result of the suicide attack, [at least] 17 people were killed and an additional 36 people were injured," Mashal said. "And General Akram Khakrezwal -- the security chief of Kabul -- is among the martyred."
Nasir Ahmad Niazi, the director of Kandahar's Mirwais Hospital, said later that the bodies of at least 20 people had been brought to his facility by the early afternoon. Afghan officials at the scene of the explosion said they fear the death toll eventually could top 50.
RFE/RL's Qadiri spoke to witnesses who had been injured by the blast and who said Khakrezwal appeared to be intentionally targeted by the suicide bomber.
"According to eyewitness accounts, commander Akram Khakrezwal -- who was the [Interior Ministry's new] security chief in Kabul -- had just entered the mosque with his bodyguards [when the attack occurred]," Qadiri said. "The suicide bomber was dressed like one of [his] bodyguards. And as [Khakrezwal] entered, the suicide bomber went in with them. It was when Khakrezwal paused to take off his shoes that this person jumped under [him] and blew himself up."
Khakrezwal was a native of Kandahar who had worked as the Interior Ministry's security chief in the northern Afghan city of Mazar-e Sharif during the past two years. He had been promoted to the Kabul security post about two months ago.
Afghan officials told RFE/RL that two of President Karzai's brothers -- Ahmad Wali and Shah Wali -- also were due to attend the 1 June mourning ceremony but had not yet arrived when the blast occurred.
Khakrezwal returned to Kandahar today to attend a mourning ceremony at the mosque for Mawlawi Abdullah Fayyaz -- the chairman of the Kandahar Clerics' Council who was shot dead by a suspected Taliban militant on 29 May. Fayyaz had been a strong supporter of Karzai and had recently issued an edict calling on Afghans not to support the Taliban.
An Afghan man claiming to be a spokesman for the Taliban phoned news organizations in Kabul today to claim responsibility for the attack. But Interior Ministry spokesman Mashal told RFE/RL that the claim has not been confirmed.
"The investigation is under way. It is not clear [who is behind this attack]," Mashal said. "But one thing is clear. These are people who are enemies of Islam as well as the enemies of Afghanistan. This is the first time that a suicide attack has been committed inside a mosque. And people who have come to pray have been killed."
Correspondents say a suicide bomb attack on a mosque -- particularly during a mourning ceremony for a Muslim cleric -- is a cause for outrage among ordinary Afghans.
Witnesses who were injured in the blast were reluctant to give their names. But they told RFE/RL's Qadiri just moments after the explosion that the attack had the hallmarks of the "enemies of Afghanistan" -- an expression used by Karzai and his supporters to describe the Taliban and Al-Qaeda fighters.
"This morning I went to the mosque to attend the mourning ceremony for Mawlawi Fayyaz," one eyewitness said. "As I was entering the mosque an explosion took place. My shawl and clothes were thrown up in the air. I received a few injuries on my hands and legs. I can't hear anything right now. But I can tell you that this is not Islam. This is the killing of Muslim brothers, of innocent people. This is done by the servants of the foreigners who are against Afghanistan's security."
Mawlawi Kashaf, a Muslim cleric and member of Afghanistan's Supreme Court, condemned the attack as un-Islamic. "These suicide and terrorist attacks are all rejected from a humanitarian point of view," Kashaf said. "They are rejected by Islam. Those who are against security in Afghanistan do such things. They don't want security and stability to come to this country."
Afghan officials also say a prominent former mujahedin commander from Kandahar named Mullah Naqibullah was inside the mosque and injured by the blast. Naqibullah fought against the Taliban as a member of the former Northern Alliance and is a supporter of Karzai's central government. There were no immediate details on the extent of his injuries. (Ron Synovitz, with contributions from RFE/RL Afghan correspondent Reshtin Qadiri in Kandahar and RFE/RL's Radio Free Afghanistan staffers Hashem Mohmand, Sharifa Sharif, and Haifizullah Asefi; and RFE/RL correspondent Golnaz Esfandiari)
SECURITY SITUATION DETERIORATES IN MAY
Human Rights Watch is calling for NATO to send more security forces to Afghanistan following a marked deterioration of the security situation throughout May. In the past month, Afghanistan has seen a series of political killings, violent protests, attacks on humanitarian workers, and bombings targeting foreigner civilians and troops. The flare-up is attributed partly to Taliban militants in the southern and eastern parts of the country after a winter lull. But Human Rights Watch is warning about the potential intimidation of candidates and voters ahead of parliamentary elections in September.
Afghan officials say the latest violence in Kabul -- a roadside bomb blast on 30 May on the main road going east from the capital -- was a failed attempt to attack soldiers from the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force.
Seven Afghan civilians nearby were injured by the blast, which appears to have been detonated by remote control just seconds after a NATO vehicle passed. District police chief Mohammad Akbar said the bomb was attached to a bicycle parked near a crowded market.
"It was at 9 a.m. that a bomb placed on a bicycle exploded here at the bazaar wounding seven people -- four people inside a passing taxi and three people passing by this road," Mohammad Akbar said. "We are investigating at the moment."
A Taliban spokesman has claimed responsibility. Taliban attacks in Kabul are not common. But the city has seen periodic rocket attacks and bomb blasts since U.S.-led forces overthrew the fundamentalist Taliban government in late 2001.
Sam Zarifi, a researcher on Afghanistan for Human Rights Watch, said there are concerns about an increase in violence across Afghanistan during May.
"We've seen in the last few weeks an upsurge of violence in Afghanistan," Zarifi said. "We're not quite sure exactly what all the reasons for it are. But with the end of the cold season and with upcoming parliamentary elections, unfortunately, the outlook is that the violence could increase. So it's even more important than before for the United States and its allies -- NATO really, which has taken over responsibility for providing security in Afghanistan -- to step up to the plate and to finally fulfill their commitments to Afghanistan."
Just a few months ago, before the spring thaw began in Afghanistan, U.S. military commanders were boasting that the Taliban was practically defeated and no longer posed a threat to the central government. Zarifi said there has been a tendency among U.S. officials to declare Afghanistan a complete success. And he said such declarations are premature.
"It's very clear that as the snows melted in Afghanistan and as the weather cleared up, there is some movement afoot," Zarifi said. "Whether it is for political reasons or economic reasons, the month of May just was a particularly bad month in Afghanistan after several months of relative quiet. The overall outlook for the summer has now been put into doubt."
Zarifi noted that it is not just the number of violent attacks that have been proliferating. He said the types of attacks also are increasing.
"We've seen in May a kidnapping and attempted kidnapping in Kabul of foreigners working there," Zarifi said. "We've seen a suicide-bomb attack -- something really rarely seen -- which targeted an internet cafe where foreigners worked. We've seen protests that really rocked the country -- focusing on the southeast. But protests against the U.S. presence there. And we've seen some factional fighting again in the northern part of the country."
In fact, Zarifi said, factional fighting between local militia commanders could pose the biggest threat to parliamentary elections in much of Afghanistan.
"Because of the nature of parliamentary elections -- because of how intensely local they are and because of the role of the future parliament -- we expect these races to be very competitive in a lot of places in Afghanistan," Zarifi said. "With the presidential elections, there wasn't as much competition. And even then, we had some serious cases of intimidation and efforts to sway the vote one way or the other. We expect this to be much more serious with the parliamentary elections as different groups jockey for power."
Human Rights Watch has noted that at least one parliamentary candidate and former delegate to Afghanistan's recent Loya Jirga has been killed. Akhtar Mohammad Tolwak was killed along with his driver on 11 May while driving in the eastern part of Ghazni Province.
An Italian aid worker for CARE International has been a hostage since she was abducted from her car in central Kabul on 16 May. Earlier in May, armed men failed in their attempts to kidnap three foreign World Bank employees under similar circumstances in Kabul.
Periodic rocket attacks against foreign military bases in Kabul and Kandahar have continued after a lull during the winter.
At least 11 Afghan employees of a Washington-based agricultural firm were shot and killed by suspected Taliban fighters in Zabul Province during the last two weeks.
Human Rights Watch has called on the United States to lead efforts to speed the deployment of additional international security forces to remote Afghan provinces. The group also says there needs to be more international human rights monitors and election monitors for the parliamentary elections. (Ron Synovitz)
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL SAYS AFGHAN WOMEN STILL FACING ABUSE
Amnesty International says in a new report that Afghan women face the risk of abduction, rape, and forced marriage on a daily basis. The report, entitled "Afghanistan: Women Under Attack," says women in Afghanistan face discrimination from all segments of society as well as by state officials. The report comes a day after Afghan election authorities announced that about 10 percent of the candidates who have registered for the country's upcoming parliamentary and provincial elections are women.
Throughout Afghanistan, hundreds of women and girls continue to suffer abuse at the hands of their husbands, fathers, and brothers. Afghan women are also abused by armed individuals, state institutions such as the police, and the judicial system.
These are some of the findings of a new report by Amnesty International based on extensive interviews with Afghan women. Amnesty International says that, throughout Afghanistan, "few women are exempt from violence or safe from the threat of it."
The publication comes more than three years after the fall of the Taliban regime, which barred women from public life and forced them to wear burqas, a garment that covers the face and body. Since the overthrow of the hard-line regime, women have returned to schools and the workplace, but Amnesty International says that abuse against women is still rife -- especially in rural areas.
Forced marriages have reportedly increased and some women have killed themselves by self-immolation to escape.
The report states that "societal codes, invoked in the name of tradition and religion, are used as justification for denying women the ability to enjoy their fundamental rights."
Jamila Mujahed is the director of Voice of Women, a Kabul-based radio station that is dedicated to women's issues. Mojahed -- who was the first female presenter to appear on television announcing the fall of the Taliban regime in 2001 -- told RFE/RL that insecurity is one of the main reasons for widespread abuse against women.
"The disarmament process hasn't been completed yet, and it hasn't been successful," Mujahed said. "There are still irresponsible armed people in charge in Afghanistan's provinces. The have power. And in such conditions, of course, the situation of women has not improved."
Amnesty International has called on the Afghan government to condemn publicly violence against women and to change laws and practices that permit gender discrimination.
Amnesty International has also called on the international community to support the Afghan government's efforts to prevent crimes against women through its efforts to rebuild the country.
The report's author, Nazia Husayn, told Reuters that there are glimmers of hope -- noting that women are entering politics and starting to make their voices heard.
Afghan officials have encouraged women to run in the upcoming elections in order to have a say in future laws and policies.
The latest figures by Afghanistan's Joint Electoral Management Body (JEMB) show that out of the some 3,000 candidates who have registered for the 18 September parliamentary elections, about 350 are women. Approximately 300 women have also registered for the provincial council elections that are scheduled to take place the same day. More than one-fourth of the seats in the Wolesi Jirga (the lower house of the Afghan National Assembly) are reserved for women.
JEMB spokesman Sultan Ahmed Bahin told RFE/RL that the turnout of women -- who compose slightly more than 10 percent of the candidates -- is favorable.
"For the Wolesi Jirga, the number of women who have registered is enough," Bahin said. "For example, in Oruzgan, there are three women candidates for one seat. But, for example, in Kabul, for nine seats we have 45 [female] candidates. For the provincial councils, in Oruzgan we don't have any female candidates. In Zabul Province, Niagara, Konar, and Nuristan, we do have candidates but their number is not enough."
Jamila Mujahed said she believes security issues have prevented many women from registering their candidacies for the elections.
"Yesterday [29 May] in Kandahar, a prominent Afghan personality, Mawlawi Abdullah Fayyaz, was killed in the open daylight by armed men. He was a man of fame," Mujahed said. "A poor woman with no name and no fame and without real support, how can such a woman feel responsible? It's very difficult with the current insecurity for women to have enough courage to come forward and become a candidate or have enough courage to defend their rights."
Mujahed said security must be improved if women involved in politics are to be successful in bringing about changes.
"It is possible that the presence of women in the parliament will bring some small changes, but as long as security is not guaranteed all over Afghanistan, it will be very difficult. Until then I'm not hopeful," Mujahed said. (Golnaz Esfandiari)
FORMER TALIBAN LEADER, IRAN CONDEMN U.S.-AFGHAN PACT
In a statement read out by a neo-Taliban member to Peshawar-based Afghan Islamic Press (AIP) on 25 May, Mullah Mohammad Omar criticized the "strategic partnership" declaration signed by Afghan President Hamid Karzai and his U.S. counterpart George W. Bush in Washington on 23 May (see "RFE/RL Afghanistan Report," 27 May 2005). With the agreement, Afghanistan "has been sold out forever" to the United States, Mullah Omar's statement read. "This is not just a Taliban issue...[but] an issue for every independent Afghan," the statement declared. According to Mullah Omar, Afghan government authorities "should be ashamed" for referring to Afghanistan as an independent country and for "turning a blind eye" to the "occupation" of their country. "Our resistance will grow stronger and become more organized," Mullah Omar's statement added.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid-Reza Assefi on 25 May said that the long-term military presence of the United States in Afghanistan agreed by Bush and Karzai will cause instability in the region, IRNA reported. "Undoubtedly, the issues [included in the U.S.-Afghan strategic partnership declaration] would inflict heavy military costs on the people in Afghanistan and regional states," Assefi said. Assefi alleged that the United States is storing weapons of mass destruction in Afghanistan. Referring to the deadly student-led protests -- ostensibly in reaction to allegations of desecration of a Koran at the U.S. detention facility in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba -- Assefi said that Afghans have proven to be against the U.S. presence in their country.
While Karzai has pointed to foreign hands in the demonstrations that left 16 Afghans dead, analysts and some Afghan media sources have specifically named Iran as fomenting anti-U.S. sentiments in Afghanistan (see "RFE/RL Afghanistan Report," 17 May 2005). (Amin Tarzi)
KARZAI EXPLAINS KABUL'S ECONOMIC GOALS DURING U.S. VISIT
Much of Afghan President Hamid Karzai's recent four-day visit to the United States was dominated by talk about security issues and Kabul's strategic partnership with America. But Karzai also used the occasion to discuss his government's economic goals -- including the dream of becoming a regional trade hub by building transit routes linking ports in Pakistan and Iran with the former Soviet republics of Central Asia.
Karzai wrapped up his four-day visit to the United States on 25 May with a visit to the state of Nebraska. He stopped at a cattle farm to see how agriculture in his own country might be strengthened as farmers are weaned off opium production.
It was one of several events during Karzai's U.S. visit that focused on how Afghanistan might achieve its goals of economic reconstruction.
On 24 May, at Johns Hopkins University in Washington, Karzai said the development of a reliable trade network is central to his vision of a prosperous Afghanistan.
"Afghanistan is now thinking of evolving a regional cooperation between the countries in that part of the world -- in terms of linking infrastructure, in terms of linking trade, in terms of also developing mechanisms that would foster this cooperative environment. We are in the early stages. [Afghan Foreign Minister] Dr. Abdullah is working on it with the foreign ministers of the neighboring countries. I believe a formalized structure of cooperation would take us a long way forward toward a secure psychological environment for all of us. That's what we need," Karzai said.
He said building roads is particularly important so that Afghanistan can become a link between Central Asia and key ports in Pakistan and Iran.
"The money that we get, we plan to spend on major reconstruction projects. Afghanistan wants to be the hub of trade and transit in that part of the world. Afghanistan's highways and roads will [shorten] journeys by weeks for that part of the world. The journey from Tashkent [Uzbekistan] to [Pakistan's] port of Karachi will be less than 32 hours -- for cargo, for transportation of goods. The same will be to [the Iranian port city of] Bandar-Abbas. And that is the future we are seeking," Karzai said.
Karzai noted that Afghanistan currently produces enough electricity for about 6 percent of its population. He said his country has the potential to produce much more by using hydroelectric dams, wind power, and untapped coal resources:
"It's the biggest need in that part of the world. Right now, we are buying electricity from Iran, from Turkmenistan, from Tajikistan, from Uzbekistan. We have tremendous hydro-capabilities, and coal and windmills and all of that. So [the funds also are] going to build the infrastructure for Afghanistan on which this machine will move towards a better future," Karzai said.
Karzai received new pledges of economic support from U.S. President George W. Bush. One is a promise to help Afghanistan become integrated into regional and international trade organizations. Another is to help develop the legal framework for a thriving private business sector. Bush also promised to encourage U.S. businesses to become more involved with Afghan firms. But details on new U.S. financial aid commitments made to Karzai are unclear.
Anatol Lieven, an Afghan expert at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, says the real issue is how much U.S. financial aid actually reaches the Afghans who need it most.
"Well, [Karzai] has been pledged more money. But whether that money will ever be provided -- or whether, if provided, it will actually be distributed to ordinary Afghans -- is a very different matter," Lieven said.
Bob McMullin, an American who manages the largest Internet provider in Afghanistan, told Karzai at Johns Hopkins University that corruption is the biggest impediment to the development of Afghanistan's private business sector -- and therefore, the Afghan economy.
Karzai says Afghan courts are just beginning to deal with corruption. He notes that the recent corruption convictions against two deputy officials from the Hajj Ministry mark the first time Afghan government officials have been sent to prison on such charges. He also notes that another corruption trial is under way against officials from the Ministry of Transportation.
But Karzai admits it will take a long time to make the kind of changes that have a broad and lasting impact on corruption.
"Corruption? It is a problem, indeed. It is a serious problem. It's one of the problems that we are trying to fix and that will take time to fix, unfortunately. The reasons we know. It's a country without institutional strength. It's a country with a lot of poverty. And yet it's a country with a lot of money flowing into it. That's the best recipe for corruption. An end to corruption will come when we are able to improve the salary structure in Afghanistan and bureaucracy's own structure -- and regulate it in a manner that politics will not intervene in it. I'm a very strong believer in stopping political interference in appointments of the civil service," Karzai said.
When asked about reports of unfulfilled aid pledges, Karzai said there is a widespread misunderstanding about the Tokyo donors conference of early 2002.
"What was promised to us in Tokyo, which was close to $5 billion, has been delivered to Afghanistan by all those who promised -- the Japanese, the Europeans, the Americans, and others. We are not complaining that the money has not come to Afghanistan. It has come to Afghanistan. It has been spent on Afghanistan. We are complaining about the way that money has been spent in Afghanistan. That money has not come to the Afghan government. A little bit of it, very little of it was spent [that way]. Perhaps in the range of $200 million of it came to [the Afghan government.] The rest of it is spent through NGOs. That is what we have a disagreement about," Karzai said.
Karzai told journalists in early 2002 that his government did not have the financial institutions needed to accept direct aid disbursements from foreign governments. But he now says this is no longer the case.
"The only thing we want is that that money should be spent with a higher accountability in Afghanistan, preferably through the government of Afghanistan. And then hold us accountable to what we do. If our performance as a government is not satisfactory, then tell us: 'Well, you have failed. You have no capacity. You have no ability to spend it, and there is no transparency.' Unless we do that, it will be very difficult for the Afghan government to gain capacity. Therefore, our request is that the international community spend the money through the Afghan system, or through a transparent, strong process through the private sector. And if they give us more money, we will be happier," Karzai said.
Another major economic challenge for Karzai is to eliminate the widespread cultivation of opium poppies, the raw material for heroin. To do so, he says Afghan farmers need support so they can grow other crops, such as fruits and vegetables.
Speaking at his final stop in Nebraska on 25 May, the Afghan president said he hopes his country can eliminate opium production in about five or six years. (Ron Synovitz)
THIS WEEK IN AFGHANISTAN'S HISTORY
25 May 1879 -- Treaty of Gandomak signed by Amir Mohammad Yaqub Khan and Sir Louis Cavagnari.
28 May 1963 -- The Shah of Iran announces that Afghanistan and Pakistan have agreed to reestablish diplomatic and commercial relations.
24 May 2001 -- The Taliban government orders Afghan Hindus to wear a yellow sign on their dress and their women to wear Afghan burqa.


Softimage to Blender = Finally a theme to work!
Hello, I´ve been actively doing a lot of research around modding Blender.
So far the source code is on my machine and have sucessfully compiled an executable.
I also modded a theme with better mouse controls and views for softimage users.
on blender. In the end: frustration can finally be set aside.
I am working in a #B3D theme and interaction shortcuts for SOFTIMAGE users. #LongLiveSoftimage #BlenderTheme.
At the moment I am writting the help file to document everything you can and cannot do.
Re: Softimage to Blender = Finally a theme to work!
Nice. Looks more colourful than the current Softimage theme out there in the forums - yet more consistent. What features did you build into the sourcecode? Or is this just a theme?
I'd love to have a list of the things you built, so I could test them.
Yes, some things will be implemented over time. This wednesday I´ll be sitting with a coder to get some wiring around GUI manipulation.
compiling and drills into the correct code, maybe we can release -by feature- priority versions...who knows ?
That really sounds great sirdavid!
Also by curiosity, did you consider starting from BforArtists (like a fork of a fork) ?
For older source code versions see below.
Please use the libraries from Blender to compile.
I'd test it. Will there be a download?
Or even just developing BFA to have those SI features? BFA has gotten past some hard issues that prose problems with UI logicallity already. The theme can be added, include the shortcuts, and reap benefits already included with BFA over Blender's many UI issues!? Maybe what you all will develop can be ultimately part of the soul of BFA?
I really should make those videos to showcase why I prefer BFA over Blender and how it compares to other software I've used.
Hard to say it, but I'd hate to see Blender fork off into multiple distros like Linux has - ultimately supposedly built for the end user, but nothing close to anything usable for an end user due to way too many options of a similar thing and disjointed visions with them.
Hi to everyone who is visiting this post.
There are many other details that I´d like to point across in detail.


text:
Nov. 22, '17 NASCUS Report
Share Tweet Share Email
Unite state rules, adopt alt capital,
among NASCUS reg reform comments
The opportunity to consolidate all NCUA rules applicable to federally insured, state-chartered credit unions (FISCUs) under one section within the agency's list of regulations should be seized as part of a regulatory reform agenda, NASCUS has written in its comment letter on the agency's regulatory reform effort. Additionally, NASCUS wrote, the agency should commence rulemaking for alternative capital next year, rather than two to three years from now, as contemplated in the agency's reform plan.
The NASCUS letter filed Monday is in response to NCUA's call for comments on its four-year "regulatory reform agenda" (unveiled in August). The proposed agenda was made in response to an executive order issued by President Donald Trump in February calling on all federal agencies to review their regulations to determine which regulations may be repealed, replaced, or modified. As an independent agency, the order did not apply directly to NCUA. However, the agency chose to "adhere to the spirit" of the order, and published a recommended regulatory reform agenda that groups its existing rules into three tiers for revision over four years.
At the top of the NASCUS comments is a recommendation for "significant regulatory reform" that the agency co-locate and combine all of its rules related to share insurance in one section of the agency's list of regulations. NASCUS pointed out that the agency opens the door to doing so (a long-time goal of the association) by proposing in its reform agenda to co-locate several other requirements of its rules into single combined provisions (such as for loan maturity and single borrower provisions).
"NCUA's proposal acknowledges the confusing nature of having various maturity limits, various borrower provisions, and various third-party due diligence provisions scattered throughout its rules," NASCUS wrote in its comment letter. "This burden is multiplied exponentially for FISCUs that have dozens of applicable rules scattered throughout NCUA's FCU rules." NASCUS noted that by consolidating FISCU rules, NCUA could provide substantial regulatory relief to FISCUs consistent with Trump's order, and "with the rationale the agency itself cites in proposing to combine maturity limits and aggregate borrower limits."
NASCUS comments: NCUA Regulatory Reform Agenda
TIME FOR ALTERNATIVE CAPITAL RULEMAKING IS NOW, LETTER ARGUES
In other comments, NASCUS urged NCUA to begin rulemaking now for alternative capital, rather than in the third year of the agency's reform agenda (essentially, 2020). NCUA's reform agenda proposes to enhance low-income credit union (LICU) secondary capital rules and to establish supplemental capital for risk-based capital (RBC) rulemaking in Tier II of the plan (year three of the overall four-year plan).
But NASCUS pointed out that timing does not work under the agency's current regulatory timetable. "Currently, credit unions have a little more than one year to prepare for the 2019 effective date of new NCUA risk-based net worth requirements," NASCUS wrote, adding that alternative capital is an essential tool for both LICUs and non-LICU complex credit unions to meet net worth thresholds.
"As currently relegated to Tier II, Alternative Capital would not be available for use in meeting risk-based net worth requirements until after the effective date of the final RBC rule," NASCUS stated. "Furthermore, NCUA's proposal is ambiguous as to whether the agency remains committed to a robust Alternative Capital rulemaking, stating only that the NCUA Board "should decide whether" to make Alternative Capital changes. This runs contrary to repeated statements from NCUA unequivocally linking Alternative Capital rulemaking to risk-based capital."
NASCUS noted that state regulators, NCUA, and many others in the credit union system have studied alternative capital, developing regulatory frameworks for well over a decade. "To abdicate the progress made on alternative capital rulemaking would squander one of the more significant, and long sought, regulatory relief opportunities before NCUA," the association wrote.
NASCUS OFFERS MORE SUGGESTIONS IN REG REFORM LETTER
Among the other key issues identified in the NASCUS comment letter:
That NCUA should not suspend its annual "Regulatory Review" until 2020, and urged the agency to "maintain a formal mechanism for stakeholders to provide insight into the real world effect of existing regulations on a contemporary basis;"
Support for raising the stress-testing threshold (which NASCUS pointed out is also the subject of a separate comment period) and supported a delay in the implementation of risk-based capital;
Support for consolidating all third party due diligence standards and eliminating certain loan participation aggregate limits in favor of a third party due diligence standard;
Concerns about NCUA's proposal to withdraw from joint rulemaking on appraisals with the other federal bank regulators and to create its own modified appraisal rule;
Recommendation that NCUA change its restoration of accrual status in business loans from six payments to six months, matching bank standards;
Advocacy for more progressive CUSO rules;
That the agency should separate its rules for FCU supervisory committees from audit requirements for FISCUs, and fully incorporate the FISCU audit requirements in part 741 of NCUA rules.
YELLEN RESIGNATION ASSURES MORE REGULATOR CHANGE COMING
The resignation of Federal Reserve Board Chairman Janet L. Yellen from the central bank's board – effective on the swearing-in of her successor as chair – assures that even more change to the leadership of federal financial institution regulators is coming. Further, Yellen's resignation will leave four seats open on the Federal Reserve's governing board – and give President Donald Trump an opportunity to shape the board as he wishes.
Yellen announced her resignation to Trump in a letter this week, writing it would be effective on the swearing in of her successor as chair of the board. Jerome Powell a current member of the board, has been nominated as the next chairman; a hearing in the Senate Banking Committee is set for Tuesday (Nov. 28) on Powell's nomination. Yellen's term as chairman runs to Feb. 3, 2018. Her current term on the board expires at the end of January, 2024.
Yellen wrote that sustaining the progress that the economy and health that the financial system has achieved since the financial crisis will require continued monitoring of newly emerging threats to financial and economic stability, and decisive responses. She wrote that the economy has produced 17 million jobs, on net, over the past eight years and, "by most metrics, is close to achieving the Federal Reserve's statutory objectives of maximum employment and price stability."
Janet L. Yellen will step down as a Member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, effective upon the swearing in of her successor as Chair
BUREAU FORMALLY CLOSES THE BOOK ON 'ARBITRATION RULE'
A formal removal of the "arbitration rule" from the list of federal rules and regulations has been filed by the CFPB, closing the book on the regulation, which would have allowed consumers to join in class actions over disputes about financial products, including credit cards and bank accounts. "Under the Congressional Review Act, Congress has passed and the president has signed a joint resolution disapproving a final rule published by the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection (Bureau) on July 19, 2017, to regulate arbitration agreements in contracts for specified consumer financial products and services," the CFPB notice states, which is scheduled for publication in the Federal Register. "Under the joint resolution and by operation of the Congressional Review Act, the arbitration agreements rule has no force or effect. The Bureau is hereby removing it from the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR)."
President Donald Trump Nov. 1 signed H.R. 111, the repeal of the CFPB rule (which would have blocked "arbitration agreements" and allowed consumers to join in class actions over disputes about financial products). The repeal, accomplished through the Congressional Review Act (CRA), was passed by the Senate in late October, 51-50; the House approved the resolution earlier this year.
Under the CRA, once a rule is repealed it may not be reissued in substantially the same form – nor may a new rule that is substantially the same be issued – "unless the reissued or new rule is specifically authorized by a law enacted after the date of the joint resolution disapproving the original," according to the statute, passed in 1996.
CFPB arbitration final rule: CRA revocation.
AS CORDRAY PREPARES TO EXIT, BUREAU KEEPS UP ACTIVE PACE
Although CFPB Director Richard Cordray may be leaving by the end of the month, the bureau continued this week to keep an active pace, issuing a letter to financial institution leaders on new technology adoption, leveling a $1.1 million penalty against a software firm, fining a large bank $6.5 million for student loan servicing failures, and issuing a report on overdraft programs.
The bureau released a letter that Cordray (who said last week he is leaving the agency) had sent to credit union, bank and financial company CEOs urging their organizations to consider adopting new technology that makes it feasible for financial institutions to enable consumers to exert "much greater control" over their credit cards, debit cards, and other payment methods. The CFPB director urged speedy adoption by financial institutions so their customers can take advantage of the technology, such as digital servicing, which can enable consumers to exercise detailed control over their accounts by setting spending limits on a card-by-card basis for particular merchants, channels of transactions (online versus phone versus in-person versus recurring transactions, for example). Cordray said he believes credit union members and bank and financial company customers will want and demand the capability, "and it is worth considering how you can prioritize the steps necessary to speed its availability to them."
Meanwhile, the agency announced details of an action against Xerox Business Services, LLC (now called Conduent Business Services, according to CFPB) of Dallas, Texas, that included a $1.1 million fine and a demand for a plan from the software developer about fixing the errors. According to the bureau, software errors in the company's product led to auto lenders sending incorrect information about more than 1 million borrowers to credit reporting agencies. The company compounded the problem, CFPB said, by keeping lenders in the dark about the defects. In addition to the fine, the company is required to explain the errors to its clients, act to prevent future mistakes, and provide CFPB a plan showing that the company will identify and fix all defects in its software, and ensure that the software will report accurate information to credit reporting agencies.
Tuesday, the consumer bureau revealed action against Citibank, N.A. for student loan servicing failures that the agency said harmed borrowers, fining the bank $6.5 million ($3.75 million in redress to consumers and a $2.75 million civil money penalty) and ordering the bank to "end these illegal servicing practices." According to the bureau, the bank misled borrowers into believing that they were not eligible for a valuable tax deduction on interest paid on certain student loans. The company also incorrectly charged late fees and added interest to the student loan balances of borrowers who were still in school and eligible to defer their loan payments, among other things.
A report on overdraft programs was also released Tuesday which, according to the agency, shares findings "from qualitative interviews the CFPB conducted with consumers about their experiences with overdraft programs." The interviews, the agency said, focused on how consumers understand overdraft programs, their perceptions of their experiences with overdraft, and their beliefs about the advantages and drawbacks to alternatives to overdraft.
CFPB sends letters to financial institution CEO's encouraging more consumer control over payment methods
CFPB Fines Xerox Business Services $1.1 Million for Incorrect Consumer Information Sent to Credit Reporting Agencies
CFPB Takes Action Against Citibank For Student Loan Servicing Failures That Harmed Borrowers
CFPB report: Consumer voices on overdraft programs
NEW SUMMARIES OF NCUA LTCU, LEGAL OPINION POSTED
Two new summaries – both for NASCUS members only – on a recent legal opinion letter regarding joint coverage of fidelity bonds, and a "letter to credit unions" on appraisal exceptions in the wake of the recent hurricanes have been posted on the NASCUS website. The legal opinion deals with a change of opinion, in which the NCUA's general counsel has decided the "individual policy" requirement of credit union fidelity bonds does not prohibit a credit union from having a bond also covering its credit union service organization (CUSO), provided the credit union owns at least 50% of the CUSO or the service organization otherwise meets the definition of a "nominee." The letter to CUs reports on appraisal requirements that were eased for real estate-related financial transactions in areas declared to be a major disaster – including those affected by severe storms and flooding related to Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria.
NCUA letter to credit unions 17-CU-06, temporary appraisal exceptions in storm areas (members only)
NCUA legal opinion 17-0959, Fidelity Bonds – Joint Coverage (members only)
NASCUS ON THE ROAD: IN VA FOR CU HOUSE HONORS
The Virginia Credit Union League (VACUL) honored NASCUS for its support of the association's Credit Union House at a recent event in the state capital of Richmond, attended by Vice President of Member Relations Alicia Valencia Erb. NASCUS and the VACUL are developing events for the coming year to raise awareness of state credit unions and their issues, to be held at league event facilities in the capital.
BRIEFLY: Welcome to Delta Community Credit Union, Heartland CU Association; Mortgage symposium Tuesday; commercial lending school in two weeks; Happy Thanksgiving!
NASCUS welcomes Delta Community Credit Union of Atlanta and the Heartland Credit Union Association as its newest members. The credit union is led by President and CEO Hank Halter, counts more than 360,000 members and holds assets of $5.6 billion. Heartland represents credit unions in Kansas and Missouri through advocacy, compliance, professional development and consumer awareness … The NASCUS Mortgage Symposium kicks off Tuesday, with a high-level overview on topics such as Real Estate Loan workflow, Fannie/Freddie as Investor/Servicer, the Business of Loan Servicing, Economics of Servicing, Servicing Components and Loss Mitigation. The one-day training session in Newton, Mass., is $250 for members, $300 for non-members … In early December, NASCUS hosts its MBL Symposium. The one-day session on commercial lending Dec. 5 in Nashville covers investment real estate underwriting, documentation, and risk management practices. Cost is $349 for members, $399 for non-members …
NASCUS Mortgage Symposium
MBL Symposium
Happy Thanksgiving to all;
here's to a safe and joyous holiday!
Patrick Keefe, pkeefe@nascus.org
For more information about NASCUS publications, or to obtain permission to reprint a NASCUS publication, please contact NASCUS' Communications Department:
info@nascus.org


text:
Каунасский международный аэропорт (IATA: KUN, ICAO: EYKA) — гражданский аэропорт в Каунасе, второй по пассажироперевозкам и первый по грузовым перевозкам аэропорт в Литве.

Общая информация
Построен в Каунасском районе у посёлка Кармелава в 1988 году. Находится в 13 километрах к северо-востоку от центра Каунаса.

До него в качестве аэропорта Каунаса использовался построенный Германией в 1915 г. военный аэродром в Алексотасе в 3 километрах южнее центра города. Аэродром в Алексотасе с 1921 г. использовался и как гражданский аэродром. В 1988 г. главный аэродром Каунаса из Алексотаса был передислоцирован в Кармелаву. Аэродром в Алексотасе используется как спортивный аэродром для выполнения культурно-просветительных и спортивных мероприятий, в нем базируется Каунасский аэроклуб. С 1993 до 2005 г. главный Каунасский аэропорт был аэродромом постоянного базирования авиакомпании "Air Lithuania", выполнявшей полеты из Каунаса в Гамбург, Будапешт, Билунд (Дания), Мальмё и Осло.

Каунасский аэропорт обладает взлетно-посадочной полосой  длиной  3,25 км и шириной 45 м. Имеется 3 рулёжныe дорожки. На перроне аэродромного комплекса расположено 15 мест стоянок для различных типов воздушных судов. Аэропорт может принимать самолеты практически всех типов. В 2008 г. был открыт новый трехэтажный пассажирский терминал.
В начале мая 2010 г. в Каунасском аэропорту первую в Восточной и Центральной Европе базу открыла авиакомпания Ryanair. Каунасский аэропорт планирует дальнейшее расширение.

В настоящее время прямыми полётами из Каунасского международного аэропорта можно добраться в 11 стран мира. Аэропорт находится в ведомстве Министерства сообщения Литовской Республики.

Статистика аэропорта Каунас

Перевозчики и пункты назначения

Грузовые авиакомпании
 ASL Airlines
 FedEx
 SprintAir
 TNT
 UPS

Транспорт
От Каунаса до аэропорта можно добраться на такси, на общественном транспорте и на 120-м маршрутном микроавтобусе. Сообщение с аэропортом обеспечивают автобусы 29 маршрута, которые отходят от центрального железнодорожного вокзала города в аэропорт и обратно в центр города. Высадка и посадка в аэропорту осуществляется  у входа в терминал. Продолжительность поездки около 30 минут. 120-ый маршрутный микроавтобус отходит от Старого города (Каунасского замка) в аэропорт и обратно.

Из Каунасского аэропорта в Вильнюс, Клайпеду, Ригу (Латвия) и Минск (Беларусь) и обратно курсируют экспресс-автобусы. Автобусное сообщение между аэропортом Каунаса и Ригой (Латвия) обеспечивает трансферная компания Flybus (www.flybus.lv). Автобусы в Ригу и из Риги курсируют в соответствии с графиком, привязанным к прилёту и вылету рейсов Ryanair.

Примечания

Ссылки
 Сайт аэропорта
 Трансферная компания Flybus  (перевозки из аэропорта Каунаса в Ригу и обратно)

Аэропорты Литвы
Транспортные здания и сооружения Каунаса
Транспортные здания и сооружения, построенные в 1988 году

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Click the button below to add the Auriga Publishing - Static Model Manual 5: Painting Figures - Reissued to your wish list.
This book will explain how to paint the figures.
For many modelers it is a problem "give life" to a figure with color. This book by Aleks Michelotti is designed to clearly illustrate the procedures for obtaining an excellent figure. Steps by step photos, secrets, tricks, shortcuts, anything goes... everything is included for best results!
This book features acrylic paints.