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New Kaspersky Internet Security for Android managed via smartwatch
March 9, 2016, 2:24 p.m.
Kaspersky Lab has unveiled a new version of Kaspersky Internet Security for Android that, in addition to offering improved performance speed and protection quality, includes an option for managing protection via Android Wear devices.
In 2015 alone, Kaspersky Lab registered nearly 17 million attacks by malicious mobile software. These included programmes designed for surveillance, extortion, stealing money and other criminal activities.
Kaspersky Internet Security for Android provides protection from these kinds of threats. To make it even more user-friendly and accessible, Kaspersky Lab has released an update that includes control via Android Wear smart watches.
A user's smartwatch can now display notifications from Kaspersky Internet Security for Android, installed on a paired smartphone or tablet. This could include, for example, notifications about a threat detected on the device. A user can also remotely issue commands to the product via a watch by pressing keys on the screen or via voice control. These commands can activate an audible alarm to find a lost phone, run a scan for Android malware and update anti-virus databases.
In addition, the new version of the security solution is now compatible with Android 6.0, which provides effective protection against online threats to even more owners of Android devices.
"Statistics show that Android continues to be the second most attacked platform after Microsoft Windows, which is why owners of Android-based devices are strongly recommended to use security solutions. At the same time, the Internet of Things market is rapidly developing, attracting more and more users. This means that security solution vendors need to make it possible for customers to use the IoT in combination with their protection solutions," says Alexey Chikov, Product Manager at Kaspersky Lab.
The new Kaspersky Internet Security for Android is now available from Google Play, on the Kaspersky Lab site, and as part of Kaspersky Internet Security – Multi-Device, and Kaspersky Total Security – Multi-Device. In 2015, Kaspersky Lab was awarded the Top Developer prize from Google for its innovative approach and high quality products.
In addition to protection against malicious software and websites, the solution includes tools to remotely control a device if it is lost or stolen, to filter out unwanted calls and messages, and to hide personal data from prying eyes. The product can also be controlled remotely via the My Kaspersky portal, for example, to activate the Anti-Theft function, to enable or disable the Privacy Protection function or to update anti-virus databases.
More information about Kaspersky Internet Security for Android is available at the Kaspersky Lab site. To read more about the company's free solutions, please visit free.kaspersky.com.
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My sellers approached me recently and asked what they could do to make their home standout against the others for sale in the neighborhood. Since the market has "corrected" a little, we're seeing a bit more inventory (meaning more homes for sale and more homes for buyers to choose from), so making your home standout is key. The other homes for sale, comps we'll call them, were all nice, but no real updates. They were built in the early 2000's and really hadn't been updated since. Think, oak everywhere-cabinets, floors, banisters, etc, black appliances, vinyl flooring, standard black granite (sorry mom and dad, I know it was cool back then!). Most of the comps were bigger than my clients home, had a bigger garage, bigger basement, but again, no updates.
After crunching numbers and talking about the comps in the neighborhood, my sellers decided to invest the money into a kitchen remodel. Nothing fancy and over-the-top, but something that would make their home standout and give them a good return. We went back and forth with options that would appeal to the largest buyer pool. Not only did my sellers have really good design taste to begin with, they are also super handy, so were able to do all the work themselves (which obviously saved a lot for their bottom line).
See what I mean, OAK. EVERYWHERE. The appliances were old, they had the standard black granite (granite tiles, nonetheless) and there was definitely no "pizzazz" in this home.
And now, the after pictures! Such a huge difference!
When we first started talking about listing their home, we were talking something in the $510,000-$515,000 range. I said if they did the kitchen updates, we could probably push the list price closer to $550,000. WHAT! Spend about $6,000 in updates, but make another $35,000?! Yes, please! It was a no-brainer. We knew we were taking a risk at that price, but in the end, it all paid off. In addition to their kitchen remodel, my sellers have really good taste in decorating. All of that helped them to get an offer in the very first weekend their home was listed (with the "correction" of the market right now, average days on market is closer to 30 days). Not only did they get a fast offer, but it was all cash, full price, and the buyers wanted to close ASAP! It was everything my sellers were looking for.
If you're thinking of selling, and think your home may need some updates, please reach out to me so we can discuss options, cost vs. gain and what makes the most sense for your home. Simple updates have the potential to yield a big return!
And, because this house was so damn cute, click here for the full virtual tour link!


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Letter to Folger Researchers: Renovation Plans — July 2019
How the building renovation affects you
Get updates:
- Subscribe to the Research Bulletin email newsletter
- Follow @FolgerResearch on Twitter
Dear Folger Research Community,
We write with another update on the Folger's renovation plans, which we have been sharing as key decisions are made and the project moves closer to construction.
The larger aims of the renovation are to create more space for public engagement while also ensuring the continued research use of our growing collections onsite. It is vital that we create the next generation of scholars, artists, teachers, and humanists who are inspired by our collections and programming. Just as vitally, we must advance research here at the Folger. That's an endeavor most readily associated with the collections, but it also spans work in the theater, classroom, exhibitions, and online. Deep inquiry conducted within our walls makes for more authentic public engagement, so we see both the public and the research aspects of our mission as forming a single, complementary whole.
Still, the Folger researcher's experience is an especially valued one, and it has been nurtured by longstanding institutional support and investment. Scholarly research here has also been undertaken in workspaces that have changed slowly over decades of use. In earlier letters, we have shared the expected timeline of our renovation and some of the changes and improvements that researchers will see when we reopen in 2022. It is time now to speak specifically about the research and collection needs that will be addressed by the renovation, as well as some of the institutional goals we must satisfy as we reconfigure our spaces.
Folger researchers will recognize a number of needs that have become more obvious in the lead-up to our project, which include 1) the need to keep our growing collection onsite; 2) the need to provide more productive and collaborative workspaces for researchers and Collections staff alike; and 3) the need to bring researchers' workspaces into alignment with ergonomic standards and parity with similar workspaces at the British Library, the Huntington, and Penn Special Collections, for instance.
Surveys of stack space and growth have made us aware of the long term need to keep our growing collection onsite. We are committed to the value of having the open, browsable stacks of a well-curated modern collection, and rare materials readily available to readers. To ensure that this environment is preserved, we will use this renovation as an opportunity to significantly upgrade fire suppression and collections security, as well as provide further capacity for growth.
Not surprisingly, the staff that works with researchers and the collection has also grown. Today, many Collections staff members are working in cramped and dispersed quarters, at arm's length from the high circulation areas in the reading rooms. In recent years, we have come to understand that staff are doing different kinds of work, not only researching and servicing the collection, but working alongside researchers as collaborators. That gap is one we would like to close.
Researchers, in turn, rightly expect modern amenities. Because they are working for hours at a stretch, they need ergonomically supportive spaces, with improved lighting, wifi, and more convenient electrical outlets. Researchers are also now coming to us with group projects and questions that require the ability to talk out loud with rare materials directly at hand. We are also pursuing collaborative research initiatives to foster those forms of humanities research.
In support of these needs, we will refit the Bond Reading Room with seminar and consultation rooms for working collaboratively with curators and other scholars. We will also move the workspaces of a portion of our growing Collections staff to the Bond Reading Room where they can work directly with the collection as well as with researchers. An important consequence of these changes is that the Paster Reading Room will become the sole workspace for independent, quiet research with rare collections material. That space will be refurbished with care, according to today's standards for humanities research. Our expected average daily use will be readily accommodated. We will provide for overflow capacity when needed, as for instance when we host the Folger Orientation to Research Methods and Agendas for several dozen graduate students at a time.
We will also provide more gracious and accessible spaces for when you step away from the Reading Room. For instance, some of you have spent time in the Founders' Room during a working day, either eating lunch or having a conversation over coffee. Some gravitate toward this room for a change of scenery during writing. A refurbished Great Hall, with seating clusters and small tables, will also be available for conversation and coffee before it opens to the public, for informal lunch before a seminar, or a glass of wine with colleagues at the close of the day. The Great Hall is a large space that can support multiple uses at any given moment, including opportunities for researchers to talk directly with the public about ongoing research. All of us are going to spend more time here, even as these uses do not preclude other informal gatherings throughout the building as well as in refreshed garden oases outside.
As we write with this news, our renovation plans are under review by the Historic Preservation Review Board of the District of Columbia. The architects are finishing construction documents, and we expect to put those drawings out to bid at the end of the year. Our fundraising campaign, The Wonder of Will, continues to secure philanthropic gifts to support this work. We feel confident that our plans are on track, and that the rough outlines of the schedule we shared last year will hold.
We know you have more questions. So do we, and we will return with more news as we make decisions around the project and future programming. In the meantime, we can now announce that the final day for research in our Reading Rooms before construction begins is Saturday, January 4, 2020. We have seen many of you make special trips here in recent months. We look forward to seeing more this summer and fall. As you continue to make your plans for ongoing research, please send your collections questions to reference@folger.edu and your programming questions to institute@folger.edu.
We appreciate your understanding and trust as we work towards a renewed research community in the future Folger.
Kathleen Lynch
Executive Director, Folger Institute
Greg Prickman
Eric Weinmann Librarian, Director of Collections
Earlier communications
April 2019 | March 2018

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September 16, 2018 Main
The World's Richest MMA Fighters
Have you ever wondered who the richest fighters are in the world when it comes to MMA? There's no denying that MMA has experienced loads of popularity in recent years and the net worth of each great MMA fighter is truly reflecting that fact. Therefore, we compiled a list of MMA fighters that are currently earning the most in the sport.
1. Conor McGregor – Net Worth: $85 Million
As an Irish professional MMA fighter, McGregor is also considered the most notorious fighter in the MMA and has also grown into an incredible sensations within the last few years. The majority of Conor's net worth didn't come from fights in the MMA, but rather from a recent boxing bout against Floyd Mayweather.
2. Rorian Gracie – Net Worth: $50 Million
Rorian Gracie is best known as an American/Brazilian Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Master, co-founder of UFC, lecturer, producer, publisher, and writer. He is one of a handful of fighters that holds a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu 9th degree red belt and also introduced Brazilian/Gracie Jit-Jitsu to the world.
3. Georges St. Pierre – Net Worth: $25 Million
St-Pierre is a 3 time former Welterweight Champion within the UFC and is considered a mixed martial artist reigning from Canada. Most people consider St-Pierre to be one of the best fighters of all time within MMA.
4. BJ Penn – Net Worth: $22 Million
BJ Penn, or Jay Dee Penn, is a mixed martial artist from America and is also a practitioner of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Penn has managed to win both Welterweight and Lightweight UFC Championships. There's only two other fighters in the history of the sport to have claimed titles in several weight classes.
5. Brock Lesnar – Net Worth: $22 Million
Brock Lesnar is a former mixed martial artist, American professional wrestler, and American football player. He is also the former Heavyweight Champion in the UFC, but is currently a WWE wrestler.
6. Anderson Silva – Net Worth: $18 Million
Anderson Silva is a former Middleweight UFC Champion and is considered a Brazilian mixed martial artist. Silva further impresses by holding the longest title streak in the history of the UFC with a total of 16 consecutive victories and a total of 10 title defenses.
7. Fedor Emelianenko – Net Worth: $18 Million
Emelianenko is a judoka, sambist, and heavyweight mixed martial artist from Russia. He currently fights in the MMA Bellator Championship and earned several accolades within the MMA over the last few years.
8. Wanderlei Silva – Net Worth: $18 Million
As a Brazilian mixed martial artist, Silva has competed in the UFC and the Pride Fighting Championship in Japan. Silva also holds records for most title defenses, knockouts, wins, and the longest winning streak in the history of PRIDE.
9. Randy Couture – Net Worth: $17 Million
Couture is a former mixed martial artist, retired U.S Army Sergeant, and an American actor. Couture won a total of 6 championships in the UFC and is also one of a handful of fighters to win titles in several weight classes.
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Next Post:Six-Figure Paydays for UFC Fighters


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Paddock Wood Town Council > Paddock Wood Youth Council
Terms of Reference for Paddock Wood Youth Council
PWYC represents the views of young people in Paddock Wood, communicating with Paddock Wood Town Council about issues important to children and young people. PWYC works with the Town Council to provide facilities for children and young people.
We are made up of representatives from young people's groups and interested individuals in Paddock Wood. These groups typically include:
Uniformed organisations
Sports clubs and associations
Any young people between 11 and 18 years can become a member of PWYC. We would encourage you to attend a meeting to see how the Youth council operates.
PWYC is led by a member of PWYC, nominated and elected by the Youth Council. Elections take place annually in May.
The Leader works with a Town Councillor to agree the items on the agenda and leads the meeting. A Town Councillor provides support with meeting notes and other activities.
To identify issues affecting young people around the town and work on finding solutions.
To young people a voice on issues such as local facilities for young people, the community centre, neighbourhood plan and other developments.
To make links with Kent Youth County Council to share ideas and make young people aware of youth activities across the county.
Advertise the range of youth activities with Paddock Wood.
PWYC meets once a month on a Monday evening between 6 and 7 pm, with no meeting in August during the school summer holidays. Members are expected to attend all meetings during the year or identify a deputy when unable to attend.
Minutes and Agendas for previous meetings can be viewed HERE
Please visit and follow our Instagram page https://www.instagram.com/pwyouthcouncil


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Q: Get the highest number that is divisible by 4 from a total number ( total = 25, I want 24) Say I have an array with 25 elements, I want them in four even groups.  So, I want only the first 24 elements.  But if I wind up with 17, I only want 16, etc etc.
I could foreach them, with modulo, checking for the last one that is divisible by 4.  But, it seems like there would be a smarter way? PHP, por favor.

A: $i -= ($i % 4); //$i is now a multiple of 4

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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(From left) Navya Pottmutu, Steven Macaskill, Daniel Parrish, Alex Cameron, and Marjolie Lemay-Roy will be performing as part of the jazz band ensemble at Belmont's annual winter concert on Thursday, Dec. 5. (Aaron Guillen/News Staff)
VIDEO: Behind-the-scenes of Belmont's annual winter concert rehearsals
The concert takes place on Thursday, Dec. 5
Aaron Guillen
Walking down the halls of Belmont Secondary, you can hear the familiar tune of Linus and Lucy on the piano competing for dominance against a choir singing Silent Night – the holiday season has arrived.
More than 100 students are preparing for their annual winter concert on Thursday, Dec. 5.
"There's always going to be a little anxiety for the younger ones, but generally it's a lot of excitement and pride in what we've accomplished," said Sheryn Basham, a Grade 12 student.
She'll be singing Girl From Ipanema in a vocal jazz ensemble with Grade 10 student Rachel Nordby.
READ MORE: Christmas events set to begin across Greater Victoria
ALSO READ: A white Christmas not likely for Greater Victoria
"The whole concert prep has been a stressful situation, but it's brought us all together," Nordby said. "It's great when you have the chance to show your love of music to other people."
This year there will be a variety of choirs, bands, student solos, and even a winter drumline.
Students from Grade 9 through 12 are putting in overtime to make sure their performances are sharp. They spend hours practicing after they've already been dismissed for the day and other students have gone home.
"It's exciting to work this hard and finally have it pay off after two or three months," said Steven Macaskill, a Grade 11 student. "When you have to play for up to two hours, it really tires you out. When we practice, some days are more serious and others are more fun and lighthearted. It all depends on how we play."
The event takes place in Belmont's Spotswood Gym, 3041 Langford Lake Rd., on Thursday, Dec. 5 starting at 7 p.m.
Admission is by donation. For more info, head over to www.facebook.com/events/492549008274836/.
aaron.guillen@goldstreamgazette.com
@iaaronguillen
Belmont student Alex Cameron practices his trumpet for the annual winter concert on Thursday, Dec. 5. (Aaron Guillen/News Staff)
Eagles congregate around Salish Sea for one last feast before period of famine
James Bay hotel hosts gift and toy drive for Victoria Women's Transition House


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This Propane Tank Holder From Sportys Pilot Shop the gallery form Propane Tank Rack. Hopefully you can find the best inspiration from our gallery here.


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Swazi Identity Is at the Heart of the Debate on Democratic Reform
What can we expect from Swaziland's version of elections being held in August and September this year? Local and international actors have long argued that the Swazi electoral system does not meet international standards, as the process is too vulnerable to manipulation by actors close to and reliant upon the monarchy. The tinkhundla constituency system is based on traditional governance structures in both the determination of candidacy and the voting process.
As the majority of the African continent moves steadily towards democracy and the values that form the essence of this system, Swaziland is the last absolute monarchy in Africa. Where many African countries have sought to accommodate, incorporate, or adapt traditional governance structures to modern democratic practice, in Swaziland the traditional governance system remains the dominant decision-making paradigm. Efforts to change this have met with stiff resistance, as the role and place of the monarchy in Swazi society goes to the heart of the Swazi identity.
The tension between traditional governance and modern constitutional democracy is not unique to Swaziland. Many countries in Africa have incorporated traditional governance within the broader political system, particularly in the area of land or, as in Ghana, local quasi-legal dispute resolution mechanisms as a means of bringing the justice system closer to the people. Within the political construct of post-apartheid South Africa, traditional leaders were corralled within their own institutional assembly, and their role is limited under the new democratic dispensation. But recent times have seen a resurgent interest in traditional values and culture, in both rhetoric and legislative initiatives such as the proposed Traditional Courts Bill. For constitutionalists, the Bill presents a stark example of how traditional governance practices can potentially undermine some of the basic rights enshrined in a constitution.
Reviving traditional governance institutions would, for many, be viewed as a step backwards, a step towards the pre-colonial 'good old days' that were not, in fact, all that good. Swaziland is a case in point, as the system continues to fail in meeting basic human and socio-economic rights, while providing lavish benefits to the ruling elite.
In the debate on traditional governance, the importance of culture and history is often conflated with the associated governance system, as though recognising the one also means accepting the other. A slightly cynical viewpoint would suggest that this relationship has been maintained and exploited by members of the ruling elite, who have become adept at expounding the merits of traditional culture and values when it suits their purpose. Tradition and culture are vital components of, and inextricably linked to, identity, and the preservation of these is a noble ideal. But when notions of culture are exploited or used in support or defence of practices that are in conflict with constitutionally defined governance and human rights standards, their essence and integrity are fundamentally undermined. In Swaziland, for instance, the monarchy has positioned itself above, and not subject to, the constitution, but relies upon this document to legitimise itself and accord the regime some measure of credibility.
The Swazi movement towards re-establishing a multi-party democratic system – the 'progressive movement' – has been continually rebuffed, and its proponents persecuted. Clever manipulation of language has successfully labelled any discourse on the re-introduction of multi-party politics as being an attack on the king, and, by default, Swazi culture. Because the king in Swaziland is also viewed as the locus of traditional culture, in which the strong Swazi identity is rooted, any attack on the status and position of the king is reframed by the political elite as an attempt to undermine traditional Swazi culture and identity. Ironically, despite the fact that the debate is distorted and manipulated in such a way as to marginalise the progressive movement, there is some truth to this.
Democracy is, inherently, a threat to the traditional absolutist monarchical system, and hence by default can be interpreted as a threat to the powers of the king and his position as guardian of Swazi culture and identity. However, as can be seen across the continent, the democracy versus traditional governance debate does not need to be a categorical either/or debate. The one does not automatically exclude the other, and accommodations can be found within a constitutional framework.
In their inability to provide a clear position with regards to what, if any, role the king would play in a new democratic dispensation, the opposition groups have failed to provide a cogent alternative to the current system. Within the progressive movement itself there is a diverse range of views and loyalties, which has resulted in much infighting and the absence of any coherent, clearly articulated message that could attract the masses. By severely limiting the public space available to it, the current regime has also restricted the ability of the progressive movement to gain traction in the predominantly rural population, which remains largely supportive of the monarchical institution (if not the monarchy itself).
Thus far, Swazis seem reluctant to let go of a governance system that is inextricably linked to their identity; one which is steeped in familiarity, with rich customs and traditions. The monarchists have framed democratic change as a process that would fundamentally undermine one of the foundation pillars of Swazi culture and society. There is some truth to this, but it is also true that democracy can deliver rights and benefits that the current system has proven itself reluctant or unable to do.
The change that is required, both structurally and within the social fabric, if a democratically accountable and representative governance system is to be realised, is a conceptual leap that many countries have conquered. It is not unique to Swaziland, and can therefore not be understood as being particularly onerous or insurmountable. Without a common and shared vision, however, and strong leadership, the democratic ship is unlikely to make land. At the core of the dilemma for those seeking to promote democratic change is the failure of the progressive movement to formulate and disseminate a coherent and convincing argument for multi-party democracy. With the progressives bitterly divided, often feuding publically among themselves, one can forgive the people of Swaziland their reluctance to place faith in these groups as harbingers of better times.
Thus, the problem statement for Swaziland can be summarised as a situation whereby the cultural and political identity of Swazis is the battleground upon which opposing political ideologies confront one another, with the tenor of the argument implying mutually exclusive positions. The cost of this conflict and the bunker mentality of both sides, as is always the case, is borne by the ordinary people, whose living, health, education and human development ratings are among the worst in the world. This may be the catalyst for change, however, as the extravagant lifestyle of the royal family comes into sharper contrast with worsening economic conditions.
But whether the frustrations of the Swazi people will be aimed at the institution or the person remains to be seen. What seems certain, however, is that the elections that will take place in the next few months will fail to meet international election standards or deliver any meaningful benefits to the people, doing little more than entrench the status quo.
By Stefan Gilbert. Stefan Gilvert is Senior Researcher, Governance, Crime and Justice Division, at the Institute for Security Studies ISS Pretoria.
Originally published on ISSAfrica.com.
Photo by whl.travel.
Constitutional Affairs & State-building


Everything I own wears out. My car breaks down. My shoes fall apart. My house needs repairs. Now, I am grateful for my "stuff" and I use all these things, but I can't trust in them. No matter the quality or the cost, EVERYTHING wears out eventually.
The Lord is forever, eternal, EVERLASTING. My trust in Him doesn't depend on what I do — how often I go to church or say my prayers or be nice when I want to be rude. It rests on the secure rock and foundation of my Lord Who NEVER wears out.
I can't out run Him, or out last Him, or out do Him. My faithful Lord is forever. His love for me is forever. That amazing fact is worth remembering!
PRAYER: Lord, thank You that even is there is a "flood" — a problem, challenge, illness, difficulty — You remain on Your throne forever. Please rule over every messy part of my life.
PRAYER: Lord, thank You that Your plans stand forever. I am so grateful that nothing that I do or my kids do is outside of Your hand. Your everlasting Lordship remains, no matter how badly we mess up.
PRAYER: Thank You Lord that Your love is FOREVER.
What does it mean to you that God is EVERLASTING? How does that help you trust Him? If you are using a journal, write your answers down there.
Meditate on "The LORD is faithful in all his words and kind in all his works." (Psalm 145:13) for a few minutes. How would truly believing that verse change your attitude?
What challenges do you face in 2019 that you need to remember God rules over? No matter what happens, Jesus remains Lord.
Take your journal or a piece of paper and write down every thing in your life that makes you feel unloveable. Be honest. No one else needs to see this. Then take a red pen (or whatever color you like) and write: My steadfast love I will keep for him forever (Psalm 89:28a) over the top.


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Home / Discover / People /
George Alexander Trebek OC was a Canadian-American television personality, game show host and actor. He was the host of the syndicated game show Jeopardy! after its revival in 1984, and also hosted a number of other game shows, including The Wizard of Odds, Double Dare, High Rollers, Battlestars, Classic Concentration, and To Tell the Truth. Trebek also made appearances in numerous television series, in which he usually played himself.
Born In Sudbury, Ontario, Canada
Born July 22, 1940
Died November 8, 2020
as Himself
Dying Young
as Host of Jeopardy
as Agency Tape Recorder (Voice)
Being Canadian
as Self
as Himself | Host | Narrator
The Simpsons - Christmas
Classic Concentration
as Host (1987-1994)
as Alex Trebek
Jeopardy! Million Dollar Masters
Jeopardy! The Greatest of All Time
Super Jeopardy!
Betty White: First Lady of Television 2018 Guest Star
Scooby-Doo and Guess Who? Total Jeopardy! November 13, 2020 Guest Star
The Daytime Emmy Awards 42nd Daytime Emmy Awards April 26, 2015 Guest Star
Hot in Cleveland Stayin' Alive March 26, 2014 Guest Star
The Queen Latifah Show (2013) Will Smith; Alex Trebek September 17, 2013 Guest Star
How I Met Your Mother P.S. I Love You February 4, 2013 Guest Star
How I Met Your Mother False Positive December 13, 2010 Guest Star
Family Guy I Take Thee Quagmire March 12, 2006 Guest Star
American Idol Top 7 Results April 20, 2005 Guest Star
American Idol Top 7 Perform April 19, 2005 Guest Star
The Ellen DeGeneres Show Lauren Graham/Alex Trebek/Christian Delpech February 8, 2005 Guest Star
Married to the Kellys Whose Pants Are Smarter? January 23, 2004 Guest Star
Arthur Elwood City Turns 100! October 14, 2002 Guest Star
Saturday Night Live Winona Ryder/Moby May 18, 2002 Guest Star
Ladies Man The 31-Inch-High Club June 13, 2001 Guest Star
Ladies Man A Quiet Evening at Home June 6, 2001 Guest Star
Arthur Arthur and the Big Riddle September 4, 2000 Guest Star
Baywatch Swept Away November 9, 1998 Guest Star
The Simpsons Miracle on Evergreen Terrace December 21, 1997 Guest Star
The Weird Al Show Back to School October 4, 1997 Guest Star
Ned and Stacey It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Eric January 5, 1997 Guest Star
Seinfeld The Abstinence November 21, 1996 Guest Star
The Magic School Bus Shows & Tells October 19, 1996 Guest Star
The X-Files Jose Chung's 'From Outer Space' April 12, 1996 Guest Star
The Nanny Franny and the Professor September 18, 1995 Guest Star
Beverly Hills, 90210 Double Jeopardy March 29, 1995 Guest Star
Blossom Who's Not on First February 6, 1995 Guest Star
Dave's World Bear With Me January 23, 1995 Guest Star
Blossom A Kiss Is Just a Kiss January 23, 1995 Guest Star
Ellen Ellen's Improvement January 4, 1995 Guest Star
The Larry Sanders Show Hank's Divorce September 14, 1994 Guest Star
The Larry Sanders Show Hank's Wedding September 8, 1993 Guest Star
The Golden Girls Questions and Answers February 8, 1992 Guest Star
Cheers What is... Cliff Clavin? January 18, 1990 Guest Star
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson Bob Saget, Miriam Margolyes, Alex Trebek May 5, 1989 Guest Star
Mama's Family Mama on Jeopardy! February 13, 1988 Guest Star
Vega$ The Games Girls Play September 27, 1978 Guest Star
Ladies Man No Cinco, Seis! January 1, 1970 Guest Star
Ned and Stacey Sex, Lies and Commercials January 1, 1970 Guest Star
To Tell the Truth Unknown January 1, 1970 Host
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Written by Nicole Kohler on May 6, 2015 Blog, Build your business, Data & analytics.
Customers love that personal touch, whether it's being addressed by name in an email, a shop owner remembering their birthday, or being able to customize a website to their needs. It can make them feel like they're your single most important customer.
With personalized product recommendations, you can suggest highly relevant products to your customers at multiple touch points of the shopping process. Intuitive recommendations will make every customer feel like your shop was created just for them — and you'll enjoy a natural boost in conversions and order values.
Let's take a look at what we mean when we say "personalized" recommendations, explore how implementing these recommendations can help you improve your store, and review how to decide if a recommendation engine or plugin is the right choice for you.
What are personalized product recommendations?
A personalized product recommendation isn't based on an assumption or guess. Personalized recommendations are based on user behavior. These are items that have been frequently viewed, considered, or purchased with the one the customer is currently considering.
Amazon thinks you'd enjoy these items since other customers bought them together.
These are personalized recommendations based on large amounts of historical user data. If 50% of customers who buy Thackeray's Vanity Fair also buy Eliot's Middlemarch, it makes sense to display this item on the product page.
The majority of customers who shop for a 15.6″ laptop bag may also be interested in a mouse, a cooling pad, or even a new laptop. If a high percentage of Amazon shoppers view the same or similar items during the process of buying a bag, Amazon can reliably recommend these products to other shoppers.
What Amazon does — and what your store can do, too — is utilize the behavior of customers to make predictions about what future customers will like. This involves the collection of user data on a wide scale, and the deployment of automatically generated recommendations in locations where customers are most likely to respond. This may be on product pages, but it may also be in the shopping cart, or on special sale and category pages.
These powerful, proven suggestions will essentially make your customers feel as if their minds are being read. This can have a huge impact on their shopping behavior.
Now that you have a better idea of what personalized recommendations are, let's take a look at a few ways that they can benefit your eCommerce website, from increasing conversion rates to giving you a better grasp on your customers' preferences.
According to a MyBuys study of more than 100 top Internet retailers, recommending products in the shopping cart based on a user's purchasing or browsing behavior resulted in a 915% increase in conversion rate. This means shoppers were 915% more likely to buy one of these recommended products than any other item on the website.
But these increases weren't limited to the shopping cart alone. Data-based recommendations on product pages also increased conversions by 411%. On the homepage, they increased by 248%. And within search results, they increased by 192%.
It's like candy at the checkout counter. It's not that people simply buy products from the cart display, it's [what happens] when you put the right products at the right price point in a personalized manner and in the context of what they're buying.
When you utilize historical data to recommend specific products to a shopper, data shows that they are much more likely to purchase those items than non-personalized recommendations or upsells. Just offering personalized recommendations can drastically increase your store's overall conversion rate.
Although this study showed that recommendations within the shopping cart had the strongest effect on conversion rates, every store is different. You might find that customers respond best to targeted suggestions on the product page, or even on the homepage. So it's best to do some testing before drawing a conclusion or settling on just one specific location for recommendations.
It's not just your conversion rate that stands to increase with personalized recommendations, either: adding personalized suggestions may have a compounding effect on your average order value.
Recommendations can have a big impact on what gets added to the cart.
For example: before you begin recommending products, your average order value may be $40. But the implementation of suggestions in locations like the shopping cart or product page can drive that value up. This happens as customers discover additional coordinating or matching products. This purchasing data is collected and utilized, and then these items are recommended to future customers.
Over time, this compounding effect only grows stronger. So if more and more customers buy a specific set of products that total $80, those items will consistently be recommended together.
You may be able to take advantage of the data you glean from these consistent recommendations to create product bundles — a single SKU of coordinating items frequently purchased together. For example, if you sell clothing, this might be a fully coordinated outfit; if you sell electronics, this might be a laptop with a matching case, mouse, and extra battery. These single-SKU bundles can then develop their own recommendations, further continuing the process.
Most personalized recommendation engines allow you to "set it and forget it" — meaning you do not have to do much else than the initial setup before the recommendations are generated.
Right now, when you add a new product to your store, you may have to manually add recommendations, upsells, coordinating products, and so on. However, a recommendation engine does all of this for you, automatically, after a few days worth of data is collected. As soon as customers begin interacting with that new product, personalized recommendations will appear.
This can save you an immense amount of time, especially if your store is very large or you have a limited amount of resources.
One final benefit of personalized recommendations comes from the ability to learn what your customers think. As a store owner, you probably have assumptions about the products that should be purchased together, but this may not actually match up to what customers want to buy together.
Personalized recommendations are typically made based on user behavior like purchases, page views, and items added to the cart together. They aren't made based on items that visually coordinate, come from the same collection, or are made by the same manufacturer. This can give future visitors (and you!) a much richer, deeper view of what real customers think match and go together.
With user behavior powering your recommendations, you can get much better insight on what your customers think and prefer. This may help you make better decisions for future additions to your store, or it may simplify the process of creating product bundles or special sales. All you need to do is browse through a few pages to see what's recommended together. The data may surprise you!
It's only natural to be excited about the idea of implementing tailored product suggestions in your store. However, this isn't necessarily the right choice for everyone, especially if your store is very small or brand new.
Personalized recommendation solutions need a lot of user data to make accurate and useful predictions to customers. If you only have a handful of products, a dozen orders or so per day, or are still in an early or growth stage, you may find that your personalized suggestions aren't very useful.
If your store is in an early stage, or if you have a limited number of products, we suggest utilizing your store's built-in related products option. You can then focus your efforts on marketing activities like email, social media, and content to grow your audience and the inbound traffic to your store from search engines.
As your traffic increases, you can then re-examine the need for personalization.
By giving visitors to your store these personalized recommendations, you'll increase your conversion rates and average order values, save time, and gain valuable insights on what your customers like. You'll be able to give shoppers a highly personalized experience that won't just make you happy — it will delight them, too!
What do you think about personalized product recommendations? We'd love to hear your questions or comments!


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One owner home, only used seasonally! Enjoy views of the lake from living room and master bedroom. Split floor plan boasts en suite bathrooms in both of the bedrooms. Upstairs laundry room and loft office area. Back patio faces lake, and has pavers and privacy fencing.Many more upgrades and improvements. HOA fee includes internet and Cable!!


Two weeks after the Curiosity rover descended to a rocket-assisted touchdown on Mars, NASA announced on Monday its next robot lander will launch in 2016 with a French seismometer and German drill to find out what is going beneath the red planet's dusty surface.
The InSight lander will measure the Martian geologic activity, quakes, wobbles, and internal temperature, revealing data on the evolution of Mars and allowing scientists to compare its history with Earth's own geologic past.
"This is the first time we're seriously looking at the interior of Mars, and there are many science questions we are just dying to know the answers to," said John Grunsfeld, head of NASA's science mission directorate.
Scheduled for launch in March 2016, InSight will reach Mars six months later, parachute into the atmosphere and fire braking rockets before settling on the Martian surface.
InSight's cost to NASA is capped at $425 million in 2010 dollars, excluding launch services and international contributions.
The mission will reuse the design of the Phoenix lander which successfully touched down on Mars in May 2008, reducing the cost of InSight. Like Phoenix, the InSight lander will be built by Lockheed Martin Corp. in Denver.
During its two-year mission, InSight will deploy a German-built drill to bore up to 16 feet underground. A sensor package placed on the penetrator will detect the heat coming from the Martian interior, revealing information about the planet's thermal mechanics.
A seismometer provided by CNES, the French space agency, and other research institutions will record the tremble of quakes and other internal activity, giving scientists clues about the planet's structure and ongoing geologic changes.
Researchers will employ InSight's communications system for an experiment to track the wobble of the planet's rotation, and the lander will be outfitted with a robotic arm and two black-and-white cameras.
"Its purpose is to get a look deep within the Mars interior to see how it might be the same or different from Earth," said Lindley Johnson, Discovery program executive at NASA Headquarters in Washington. "We're interested in whether Mars has fault lines like the Earth does. How many Mars quakes are there? How big is the core of Mars, and does it have any semblance of a molten core like the Earth?"
NASA selected InSight as the winner in a competition for the next Discovery-class science mission, a series of cost-constrained projects tailored for exploration of the solar system.
"Our Discovery program enables scientists to use innovative approaches to answering fundamental questions about our solar system in the lowest cost mission category," Grunsfeld said. "InSight will get to the core of the nature of the interior and structure of Mars, well below the observations we've been able to make from orbit or the surface."
The space agency selected InSight over an instrumented raft designed to splash down into a hydrocarbon sea on Saturn's moon Titan and a probe aimed at visiting a comet.
Grunsfeld said the Titan and comet missions carried more cost and schedule risk than InSight, which is based on proven technology.
"Heritage is important, and the Phoenix mission does provide some of that heritage, giving us the confidence necessary for us to understand [InSight's] cost implications," said Jim Green, director of NASA's planetary science division.
NASA touts the Discovery program as accepting of more risk than the agency's costliest flagship missions, such as the $2.5 billion Curiosity rover, an SUV-sized robot with broad research objectives.
"The exploration of Mars is a top priority for NASA, and the selection of InSight ensures we will continue to unlock the mysteries of the red planet and lay the groundwork for a future human mission there," said NASA Administrator Charles Bolden. "The recent successful landing of the Curiosity rover has galvanized public interest in space exploration and today's announcement makes clear there are more exciting Mars missions to come."
The Discovery program is separate from NASA's dedicated line of Mars missions, which will continue with the 2013 launch of the MAVEN orbiter to study the red planet's upper atmosphere.
NASA's next step in Mars exploration beyond MAVEN and InSight is unclear.
Agency leaders chartered a panel to review possibilities for a lander or orbiter to launch in 2018 or 2020. The committee was formed after NASA pulled out of a partnership with the European Space Agency's ExoMars mission, a combined orbiter and rover project launching in 2016 and 2018.
NASA withdrew from ExoMars because its projected budget would not cover U.S. responsibilities on the mission, which included launch vehicles, descent and landing hardware, and scientific instruments.
NASA tasked the Mars program planning group with finding proposals which would merge the scientific priorities of the robotic exploration program with goals leading to human missions, including technology demonstrations such as optical communications and precision landing.
The planning committee is scheduled to brief its findings and recommendations to NASA managers later this month.
The French space agency's board of directors approves a $42 million investment to provide a seismometer for NASA's InSight probe, to be launched to the surface of Mars in 2016.
"We picked four sites that look safest," said geologist Matt Golombek of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, Calif. Golombek is leading the site-selection process for InSight. "They have mostly smooth terrain, few rocks and very little slope."
All four semifinalist sites, as well as the rest of the 22 of the candidate sites studied, are in Elysium Planitia. The only other two areas of Mars meeting the requirements of being near the equator at low elevation, Isidis Planitia and Valles Marineris, are too rocky and windy. Valles Marineris also lacks any swath of flat ground large enough for a safe landing.
"For this mission, we needed to look below the surface to evaluate candidate landing sites,"Golombek said.
According to NASA, the total cost for the launch of InSight is approximately $160 million, including spacecraft processing, payload integration, tracking, data and telemetry and other launch support requirements.
The French space agency, CNES, is providing InSight's $42 million seismometer. Germany is funding the lander's underground heat probe.
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Pakistan: Severe earthquakes leave thousands homeless
Release No. 08/197
Geneva/Islamabad (ICRC) - Thousands of people have been made homeless and hundreds have been killed or injured by three earthquakes, which rocked southwest Pakistan before daybreak on Wednesday.
The consecutive quakes, with magnitudes of 6.2, 6.2 and 6.4 on the Richter scale respectively, hit the Balochistan province and were followed by aftershocks.
"There is no clear information yet on the number of dead or injured but initial reports indicate that hundreds of people may have been wounded or killed and that thousands may be without shelter," said the head of the International Committee of the Red Cross' (ICRC) sub-delegation in Quetta, Andrew Bartles-Smith.
Two ICRC teams have reached the affected area and are on the spot assessing the situation and needs. They say aftershocks are continuing and that frightened residents are staying outdoors in the cold.
The affected districts are Pashin, Ziarat and Killa Saifullah. It is a hilly region and several roads are reported to be blocked. The total population of Ziarat district, reportedly the hardest hit, is estimated at around 50,000.
The Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS) has sent two teams to the earthquake-hit region to distribute relief supplies for 100 families. The team includes 28 staff and volunteers, as well as two mobile health teams. The ICRC intends to send medical kits to the region. A surgical and medical team will fly from Peshawar early on Thursday.
The ICRC is working closely with the PRCS and stands ready to increase its humanitarian response to those in need. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies is also sending a support team to the region, including a disaster management expert, a health specialist and an information officer.
The ICRC is also in contact with military and government authorities, as well as local officials, regarding the humanitarian response to the disaster.
Carla Haddad Mardini, ICRC Geneva, tel: +41 22 730 2405 or + 41 79 217 3226
Simon Schorno, ICRC Geneva, tel: +41 79 251 9302
Marco Succi, ICRC Islamabad, tel: +92 300 850 81 38
or visit the ICRC website: www.icrc.org
Pakistan: Earthquake - Oct 2008
Pakistan: Plan 2010-2011 (MAAPK002)
Pakistan - Humanitarian Assistance Fact Sheet #1, Fiscal Year (FY) 2009
Pakistan: Baluchistan Earthquake Emergency appeal No. MDRPK002 Operations update No. 3
Pakistan: Balochistan earthquake update as on 02 Feb 2009


Haven't posted in a while and even I was tired of just looking at this same stuff on this site. So I thought I'd go out here and let you know that I have a formal website! Finally! Visit www.andrea-dawson.com and check it out! I am looking for photos of any kind that you might have of the bands performances. Please email me with them or call me and I'll come and pick them up.
This past month I've had the opportunity to visit a unique jam for singers at Maple Point Club/Restaurant. The Singers jam was hosted by Lynn Ross (the sweetheart of Jazz) every Tuesday night, but now will be hosted by Miss Marcy and Caroline Jones. I enjoy the opportunity to try out some Jazz tunes with a very good band. Look for the addition of more Jazz in my repertoire in the future.
Although I am heavy into Blues at the moment, I love a variety of music and look forward to testing the waters in this new genre. I've also been toying around with some of the funk songs from the 70s as well, in particular Sly and the Family Stone and Chaka Khan.
I don't have many upcoming shows, I've had a full plate this past fall with going back to school and all. Fundamental of Music Theory has been a real B@#%$ especially for this over 40 chick! Whew, I really had to dust off some brain cells or grow some more... But in a few weeks it will be over and I'll be back to booking gigs again.
For now put January 28th on your calendar to come see us over at "Blue Bird Blues Club" in Fort Worth.
Tomorrow I'll be among the talent taking stage to benefit Terry Montgomery over at "Djangos On The Parkway" If you're able to get over there, please do. Terry has been a part of the Dallas blues community for many, many years. I look forward to helping out in any way I can.
My other performances this month include a gig with Jackie Don Loe at Nates Seafood on Thursday December 15th and a show with BB Campbell on 12/17 at Yucatan in Coppell. I hope to see you out there!


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Multiculturalism Policies in Contemporary Democracies
Multiculturalism Policies
in Contemporary Democracies
Definitions and Data
Relevant Studies
Immigrant Minorities
National Minorities
Home » Indigenous Peoples » Evidence » New Zealand
TOTAL SCORES
Year: 1980 2000 2010
Score: 6 7 7.5
1. Recognition of land rights/title
Score: 0.5 1 1
Under the 1840 Treaty of Waitangi (Article 2), the Maori are guaranteed "the full exclusive and undisturbed possession of their lands and estates, forests, fisheries, and other properties which they may collectively or individually possess so long as it is their wish and desire to retain the same in their possession."
Maori land can only be alienated to the British Crown. The treaty affords the Crown with "the exclusive right of pre-emption over such lands as the proprietors thereof may be disposed to alienate."
Legislation in 1993 created what are called Maori reservations. Under the Te Ture Whenua Maori Act 1993 (also called the Maori Land Act 1993), any Maori freehold land or any general land may be set aside as a Maori reservation. As well, Crown land with historical, spiritual, or emotional significance to the Maori can also be set aside with this designation.
Under the Te Ture Whenua Maori Act 1993, a reservation can be established for any of the following purposes: a village site; sports grounds; a catchment area or other source of water supply; a place of cultural, historical, or scenic interest; a timber reserve, among others.
Maori reservations are distinct from Maori reserves which are administered by the New Zealand government under the Maori Reserved Land Act 1955. Under this legislation, the Maori were granted land freeholds to tracts of land set aside by the Crown and leased to the owner (which need not be Maori) in perpetuity.
With the enactment of the Treaty of Waitangi Act 1975, a Maori Land Court was established, though this body had been in existence since 1862 as the Native Land Court under the jurisdiction of the Native Land Act.
The Native Land Court was established largely to confiscate Maori lands (Gilling 1993). However the newer Maori Land Court, with powers limited to those of a tribunal, conducts hearings concerning Maori land claims, as well as successions, title improvement, and Maori land sales.
2. Recognition of self-government rights
Partial, but limited to community bylaws.
Score: 0.5 0.5 0.5
The Maori Social and Economic Advancement Act passed in 1945 conferred a limited measure of self-government upon organized Maori communities. This act was consolidated and amended with the enactment of the Maori Community Development Act 1962.
The Maori Community Development Act 1962 recognizes established Maori District Committees and District Maori Councils. The 1962 legislation groups local community committees into districts and then combines these districts so as to allow for the creation of a New Zealand Maori Council at the national level.
Under this legislation, Maori District Committees are given authority to exercise Maori customary law by way of bylaws in Maori communities.
The act, however, is administered by the New Zealand Minister of Maori Affairs under his or her general direction and control.
Maori interpretations of the Treaty of Waitangi maintain that Maori autonomy is a requirement of the Crown in its obligation to treaty duties. Although the English version of the text grants the Crown sovereignty, the Maori text limits the Crown's rights of government short of sovereignty. Nevertheless, Maori claims to self-government are far from settled (Wiessner 1999).
3. Upholding historic treaties and/or signing new treaties
Score: 1 1 1
Signed on 6 February 1840, the Treaty of Waitangi is a founding document of government in New Zealand, and established the country as a nation. According to the English text, the Maori ceded the sovereignty of New Zealand to Britain and gave the Crown an exclusive right to buy lands they wished to sell. In return, the Maori were guaranteed full rights of ownership of their lands, forests, fisheries and other possessions, and were given the rights and privileges of British subjects (NZ 2010).
In a submission to the United Nations, the Government of New Zealand made it clear that, "The Treaty of Waitangi continues to be the founding document for the ongoing and evolving relationship between Maori and the Crown" (UN 2006a, 13).
The Treaty of Waitangi has never been ratified, however it is commonly held to be the founding document of New Zealand and the source of political legitimacy for current state institutions. The principles of the treaty have been given statutory force in legislation, and it is argued that the treaty is part of the "unwritten" constitution of New Zealand (Pryor 2008, 86).
The Office of Treaty Settlements, under the Ministry of Justice, was established and continues in operation to negotiate the settlement of historical Treaty of Waitangi claims and build positive relationships between the Crown and Maori. The Government of New Zealand has stated an objective of having all claims settled by 2020 (UN 2006a, 15).
4. Recognition of cultural rights (language, hunting/fishing, religion)
The Maori language was confirmed and guaranteed by the Crown in the Treaty of Waitangi. The Maori Language Act of 1987 declared the Maori language to be an official language of New Zealand. The act confers upon the Maori the right to speak Maori in legal proceedings, however the right does not entitle any person to insist on being addressed or answered in Maori.
With the enactment of the Maori Language Act, the government of New Zealand established the Maori Language Commission. The main function of the commission is to "promote the Maori language, and, in particular, its use as a living language and as an ordinary means of communication."
In 2003, the commission initiated the Maori Language Strategy. The strategy aims to move the Maori language to the next stage of revitalization over the next twenty-five years. The strategy has received confirmation and direction from the New Zealand Cabinet.
The strategy states: "By 2028, the Maori language will be widely spoken by Maori. In particular, the Maori language will be in common use within Maori whanau, homes and communities. All New Zealanders will appreciate the value of the Maori language to New Zealand society" (MLC 2003, 5).
In its annual report for 2009, the Maori Language Commission notes that the strategy will continue to set the direction of the ultimate goal of New Zealand as a bilingual nation (MLC 2009, 5).
Maori are entitled to both commercial and non-commercial fishing rights in New Zealand in both legislation and under the common law doctrine of Aboriginal rights. Moreover, the orthodox position is that the Treaty of Waitangi guarantees, under Article 2, protection of Maori fisheries where Aboriginal title has not been clearly extinguished (Maihi 2003, 18).
The doctrine of Aboriginal rights entitle the Maori to a range of hunting, fishing and other types of food gathering (classed as being similar in nature to rights to take and rights of access and passage). In Te Weehi v. Regional Fisheries Officer [1986], Maori fishing rights were affirmed and deemed protected under the doctrine of Aboriginal rights.
Among the first statutes to explicitly confer Maori fishing rights was the Fisheries Act 1983. This legislation stated that, "nothing in this Act shall affect any Maori fishing right." However, this legislation has been repealed, yet the obligations it contained form part of the new statutory base through which Maori fisheries rights are now conferred, namely: Treaty of Waitangi (Fisheries Claims) Settlement Act 1992; the Fisheries Act 1996; Maori Fisheries Act 2004; and the Maori Commercial Aquaculture Claims Settlement Act 2004 (NZ 2009).
The Government of New Zealand, acting on behalf of the Crown, has developed the Fisheries Treaty Strategy. In partnership with the Maori, the treaty strategy is designed to ensure the Crown meets its obligation to Maori under treaty principles, legislative obligations in the area of fisheries and aquaculture.
5. Recognition of customary law
In New Zealand, Maori custom law is a source of treaty law, with the Treaty of Waitangi promising the protection of Maori custom and cultural values. Maori customary law is relevant in several areas such as sentencing, family protection claims, in the protection and utilization of natural resource, as well as the administration of land.
New Zealand subscribes to the common law "doctrine of aboriginal rights" which is based on the presumption of continuity, namely that customs, particularly long-standing and universally observed customs of a particular community or in relation to a particular piece of land, are granted the force of law under English domestic law and may be enforced in accordance with the remedies available at law and in equity (NZLC 2001, 11).
The New Zealand Law Commission points out that, in recent times, judges are increasingly being required to develop an understanding of Maori cultural values and practices and how they apply to particular situations (NZLC 2001, 49).
The Treaty of Waitangi Act of 1975 established the Waitangi Tribunal, which is charged with making recommendations on claims relating to the practical application of the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi. Moreover, the Tribunal is a permanent commission of inquiry charged with making recommendations on claims brought by Maori relating to actions or omissions of the Crown that breach the promises made in the Treaty of Waitangi. The recommendations of the Tribunal are not, however, binding upon the Crown.
6. Guarantees of representation/consultation in the central government
Yes, both representation and consultation.
According to the New Zealand Ministry of Justice, the Treaty of Waitangi provides a set of reasons to consult with Maori, namely the principle that the Treaty stipulates a constructive and mutually respectful relationship between the Crown and Maori. "The Treaty of Waitangi, as the founding document of New Zealand, was the first step in bringing together two parties with distinct backgrounds and cultures. Consultation is a way of ensuring that Maori are given the opportunity to provide their views during the development of justice policy" (NZ 1997).
Moreover, the courts and various jurisprudence have developed guidelines that entail: the relationship should be built on mutual cooperation and trust, there are basic principles of reasonableness and good faith, and the Crown has to make informed decisions (ibid.).
The Government of New Zealand has moved toward direct reference of the Treaty of Waitangi in legislation, moving away from general references to a clear articulation of the responsibilities of government or local government to provide for consultation with Maori or Maori participation in decision-making in relation to specific activities (UN 2006a, 13).
The Government of New Zealand established a department devoted solely to Maori, the Ministry for Maori Development, with an act of parliament in 1992. The department monitors policy and legislation, providing the government with advice on Maori relations. The department has developed the "Maori Potential Approach," a policy framework designed with the ultimate aim to better position Maori to build and leverage their collective resources, knowledge, skills and leadership capability (NZ 2008).
New Zealand's electoral system includes what are known as Maori electorates that guarantee Maori representation in the New Zealand Parliament. Separate electoral seats in Parliament are reserved to represent those New Zealand electors choosing to register on a separate Maori election roll.
Despite being reserved for Maori representation, the Maori seats do not guarantee that the representative will be of Maori descent. Since 1967, the stipulation that the representative be a non-European ended. However, there has yet to be a non-Maori elected in a Maori electorate seat, although non-Maori candidates have contested these seats since 1967 (Wilson 2003, 19).
Under the new electoral rules that accompanied the introduction of Mixed-Member Proportional representation in 1993, the number of Maori electorates is allowed to fluctuate. Though previously fixed, the number of Maori seats must represent an average electoral population of 68,150 Maori. As of 2008, the last general election in New Zealand, there are seven dedicated seats in Parliament for the Maori electorates.
7. Constitutional or legislative affirmation of the distinct status of indigenous peoples
The privileged status of the Treaty of Waitangi is an affirmation of the distinct status of Maori.
The 1980s was characterized by the formal recognition of indigenous rights, accompanying a re-interpretation of Maori rights as constituting a treaty-based partnership between the Crown and the Maori people (Ivison, Patton and Sanders 2000, 141).
With the passage of the Treaty of Waitangi Act 1975, Maori tribal groups were effectively recognized as indigenous peoples, having existed prior to the 1840 signing of the Treaty of Waitangi (ibid.).
8. Support/ratification for international instruments on indigenous rights
Partial.
New Zealand has not ratified ILO Convention 169 Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Convention, 1989.
New Zealand was among the four countries that voted against the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UN DRIP). In April 2010, New Zealand reversed its position and endorsed the UN DRIP. This declaration is non-binding and does not impose duties or obligations on the New Zealand government or Crown.
9. Affirmative action
Partial, but very limited.
Score: 0 0.5 0.5
There is no statutory or legislative base for affirmative action in New Zealand. However, positive discrimination is encouraged in certain areas of public concern through legislation as well as policy.
In 1980, the Government of New Zealand introduced the Maori and Pacific Islander Recruitment Scheme to increase the participation of Maori in the public sector. Later, in 1987, the New Zealand Race Relations Conciliator proposed that the government implement a comprehensive system of affirmative action. The government responded with the State Sectors Act in 1988 (Lashley 2006, 138).
In the State Sectors Act of 1988, the New Zealand public service legislation, the chief of a Department should strive to be a "good employer." As per section 56.1 (c), this entails recognition of: (i) the aims and aspirations of the Maori people; and (ii) the employment requirements of the Maori people; and (iii) the need for greater involvement of the Maori people in the Public Service.
Affirmative action for Maori is a matter of policy regarding medical and law studies admissions. For medical and law schools, Maori (as well as Pacific Islanders) can enter through targeted "Special Entry Quotas." Universities are empowered by the Education Act 1989, which affords them the authority to sanction discriminatory decisions relating to affirmative action programs.


California Highway Patrol Lieutenant, Erin "Red" Wolff, call sign 95-L, is a street-smart, tough cop, and a great leader. She also happens to be gay. A twenty year veteran, she is assigned to command the Highway Patrol's most remote location, Crescent City. Here, nestled on the Pacific Ocean and the border with Oregon, among the magnificent Redwood forests, she finds police work, and people's attitudes towards gays in rural Northern California, is much different than in the big city.
When two of her officers are brutally murdered, 95-L finds herself confronting small town politics, jurisdictional disputes, and a homophobic county sheriff with his own checkered past who is more concerned with getting reelected than solving the murders.
The local authorities' investigation doesn't pass the "smell" test. Someone has been planting evidence, trying to steer the investigation in a different direction, and everyone is only too anxious to pin the murders on an ex-con. Everyone except 95-L.
Driven to find the real killer of her officers, 95-L launches her own investigation that leads from Malibu, to a clandestine "meth" lab in the remote mountains of a National Forest, and to a twenty-five year old unsolved murder in Virginia.
It also leads to the realization that somewhere on the North Coast there's a serial killer preying on rich women.
During his 30 year career with the California Highway Patrol the author worked all over the state. Starting off as a rookie working graveyard shift on the busy freeways of Los Angeles, he learned the "street smarts" of dealing with the night people of L.A. Then came four years of motorcycle duty. After three motorcycle accidents he transferred to the CHP academy in Sacramento, where he was an instructor for four years, teaching Physical Training and Patrol Tactics. Promoting through the ranks he was a patrol sergeant in the Napa Valley, and then the Lieutenant in command of Crescent City in rural Northern California. As a Captain he commanded the Marin County squad with responsibility for the Golden Gate Bridge. His last assignment was at the Highway Patrol's Sacramento headquarters, where as a Deputy Chief, he was in charge of Personnel and Training Division. After retiring he moved to the island of Kauai where he lives with his wife and two dogs. On Kauai he was a SCUBA instructor for five years. He now works as the project director for a job training program at Kauai Community College, and teaches at the local police academy.


There's nothing like a good antihero, and he's one of the psychologically damaged originals. So it's no surprise that aside from his devastating runs on animated series and his huge homecoming on Netflix, he's fronted three feature length films. But none of these have sustained a franchise, each picking up a different actor for a different portrayal of Castle. Perhaps the prolonged serial story of the new Daredevil adaptation will finally be able to piece together a compelling persona for one of the most damaged Marvel has to offer.
Three films. With skulls on them.
Could any film signal the end of the '80s actioner better than the Dolph Lundgren starring The Punisher? There is much of its time about it, but the swearing, mix of visual and special effects and heightened caricatured mafia set it firmly in the 1980s rather than the rather duller blockbusters that would arrive in the 1990s.
To its immense credit, The Punisher reduces Castle's backstory to constant references and flashbacks as he emerges instantly full formed, guns and stubble primed five years into his new career. Unfortunately, the dialogue is quite dire, none more so than when it gives Lundgren, an actor with a range suitable for Castle's general mirthlessness difficult one-liners. When we first sink to his underground lair, The Punisher is pondering bluntly whether he is God's "weapon of revenge".
The mafia and police are particularly damned as pantomime and profane stereotypes whose cards are marked early on. Fortunately, the police are headed by Lou Gossett Jr, somehow pulling gravitas from his role as Castle's ex-partner. On the other side is the consistently brilliant Jeroen Krabbé looking characteristically and wonderfully bored in his role as chief villain Gianni Franco.
Gossett Jr is the emotional catch here, the partner who's pursued the Punisher for five years convinced that he really is Castle, the cop presumed dead since his wife and children were caught in a car bomb in a city that's desperate to cover up any idea that the formally pastel suited copper could have darkened his hair, grown stubble and become the ultimate dangerous avenger. It does take the chance to explore the idea that Castle is a shell of a man, even if never greatly develops it. Most affecting is when the Punisher has been captured (after oddly letting himself deliver a group of rescued children to the police) and Lundgren slouches immobile on a cell bunk as he meets his old partner for the first time in five years.
That rescue mission is strange, and shows that while the Punisher had emerged fully formed at the front of the film, his role could still be subverted. Quickly running out of steam with the Punisher's normal racket of burst in and shoot, he's soon dragged into an explicitly anti-hero role. It takes hardly any time for him to become an avenging angel, although the film does have a care to point out that his successful campaign has reduced the power of his mafia enemies to such an extent they are at the mercy of outsiders like the Yakuza (who play the main and undeniable villains here). That twist of the Batman idea of villain escalation is intriguing, but splitting the enemies leaves the Punisher a clear role as a hero. He doesn't have the mind set to deal with the conflicted role of two opposing sets of villains after all. It's a message that gets through thanks to his thespian comic relief, Barry Otto's Shake. The result, an endless cycle of one-up-man-ship.
Fortunately the addition of Shake is aided in a serious, action-orientated, but not terrible comic book feel by director Mark Goldblatt's mixing the slight blunt lack of imagination with explosions, some of the best Punisher gunfire and rather fetching physical edits as weapons spin in mid-air. It's all quite frenetic, even if the idea of the Punisher riding his motorbike around the sewers or how logistics of the Yakuza torture remains baffling.
Come the end, an extraordinary finish the Punisher's pact with the devil (striking a deal with Krabbé's Franco) could only result in one of their deaths. Indeed it results in the Punisher dispatching the mob boss who was originally forced out of retirement because of the vigilante's half decade campaign. And he murders him in front of his son, twisting life-changing tragedy into a warning of what will happen if he follows his father's footsteps. That's quite the shift; whether an immaculate realisation of the evil being punished no matter what the cost (the threats had been clear earlier), or painting Castle's family as somehow elevated is unclear. But then, Castle is deranged and deserves a quite extraordinary finale.
Almost sadly, despite the cliff-hanger of an ending when the Punisher somehow escapes from the top of a tower block having made it very clear that he will be around for a good long while yet, leaves Gossett Jr lost and that quo very much in status. And it failed to ignite a sequel. It certainly isn't the bad adaptation, skimmed down as it is, that its negative reviews suggested. A resurgence would have to wait until the next century.
1989 was of course a tough year. "Batman" even gets a namecheck.
Following the lead set by the extraordinary pop-art and extended titles of the 1989 adaptation, Jonathan Hensleigh's adaptation kicks off with a short burst of stylised comic art, backed by clinking shells. It's refreshing to see the Marvel title appear with a flash of the Ennis run artwork behind it, a flash that casts a large shadow. This is a bold new world for adaptation, and one that writer director Hensleigh is taking seriously. But it's not the influence of a new century or the intervening power of Ennis runs that cast the biggest shadow on this 21st century version.
Unlike 1989, 2004 found a greater commitment to the character's back story. It's a risk, creating a revenge tale, no matter the edict of the character in question. It's an instant shift as we discover new Frank Castle deep undercover, in disguise and faking his own death, even as an operation goes wrong. "The finest soldier, the finest undercover cop, the finest man I've ever known" – the audience is clear that this Frank Castle has a long way to fall.
Consciously the action is transferred away from New York to the sunny climes of Florida. It's a tropical twist, this Castle being a happy nomad set to take his wife and one son to London. It's a comparison and locale that can't avoid the obvious. When the family gathering is slaughtered and Castle and Castle Sr attempt to take down a Puerto Rico massacre a good 20 minutes into the film, the pier run, shotgun, wife and single child unravel much like the original Mad Max. Of course, that's a fine emotional comparison on papers, especially two decades after the last Mad Max film. Max's 'mission' wasn't one of revenge as soon as the murderers of his family were eye-poppingly mown down. Instead he collapsed into fire and blood and indifferent survival. Thing is, that was a persona built for a closing scene and then over another film or three. This Castle is shot, blown up and pulverised at 28 minutes. Saved by locals, he recuperates for five months before heading to Florida with only one thing on his mind.
Later retcons in the page of the comic had a traumatised Castle ready to testify against the Mafia and berate a police force he was formerly a part of for some time until his body and mind snapped. Here, Castle doesn't hide, even if he all too soon realises that he has to take matters into his own hands (and plonks his gravestone on the villain's golf course). Other comics would also delve into the creation of the Punisher psyche, notably Ennis' Born miniseries, that sunk back to his Vietnam service. Others would have the Punisher's extreme shift placed squarely on exposure to mind-altering drugs. Without some additional modification, the weight placed on his opening story makes such a transformation difficult, even when he appears in that tee-shirt, with that skull at 49 minutes.
This time with a secret hideout above ground, taking in b-plots that paint him as a saviour of the weak, this Punisher drinks. A lot. He has foibles, more feelings. Thomas Jane is no Lundgren, built but no giant, he's a believable guy who takes on the role of a punisher when nothing's left for him. While it suits the beats of a character piece, it's a shame there wasn't more than the Jane produced short Dirty Laundry to explore this Punisher following the promise of his final voice-over, when freed from revenge. On the way the Punisher takes a lot of punishment, just as he should. And while Jane has brilliant comedy about him – take the superb and brutal fight with 'the Russian' there is precious little of the gun spilling action of the comic covers of the Lundgren adaptation. Jane's Castle is maladjusted, but not insane and pathologically brutal.
As a two front attack, where from early on Castle and his prey take pot shots at each other, it's no surprise that the film's effective trailer was actually a little too confused to drag folks to the cinema.
It's a well-meaning adaptation, with various effective and enjoyable touches. But unlike the original or the semi-sequel that was to follow, it's not short nor punchy enough. When this Punisher first strategically demolishes Saint's operation, depositing his cash onto the street thanks to the insider information, from Vinny (who both put Castle into this situation and provides the comedy sidekick) he comes across as a softer Robin Hood in a tale dedicated to vengeance. That's odd, as such behaviour isn't unfaithful to the comics.
After the Russian attack, in an extraordinary long section of the film, Castle's emergence from the protection of those outsiders he's growing close to is almost Frankensteinian. But what emerges isn't a hardened vigilante but a true antihero whose dangerous game has put his allies in jeopardy (hospital) and an increased intent on feeding from paranoia and strategy.
Castle finally takes on the Saint Tower after his slow and slightly unsavoury decimation of the Saint organisation; exploiting weaknesses and rather oddly repaying tragedy on the family in a very slow fashion. Overall, it was one last job, one terrible coincidence and come the end odder to hear the villain and antihero trade off the killing of their children, more so than the first film's final threat. But as effective and slimy as Travolta is as Howard Saint, continuing the trend of making up for difficult roster of opponents with big names, it all kicks off as a Biblical eye for an eye. And Castle's case is diminished when the key accident that dooms his family is not as arbitrary as the comics made sure it was. Indeed, it's Saint's vengeance that comes first. And to murk things up further, as manipulated as the death of Saint's wife is there's little pathos in the criminal family when we see her Lady Macbeth give the simple order to destroy Castle's family and not just the Punisher alone.
Things got more serious under the Marvel Knights imprint in league with Lionsgate. Conversely, they also got sillier. This was a year after Nick Fury's post-credit appearance in Iron Man but the development under imprint demonstrated that there was no rush to bring the difficult character under the umbrella of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. To all intents and purposes, The Punisher 2 had collapsed when Hensleigh departing citing creative differences after the 2004 moderate success that had blossomed on home media. Jane had finally passed too, as the film slipped back, the tone twisted and the irresistible idea of a reboot stepped on the franchise like a size 12.
Similar to the 1989 adaptation, the film opens with a gangster's escape from justice… And that's not where the similarities end. As the Punisher watches the news report as comic book titles roll he assembles his mighty arsenal, interspersed with cartoon panel previews of the film to come.
The set-up is remarkably similar to the Lundgren film. We see the origin of Dominic West's horribly over the top, face-shredded Jigsaw, after the Punisher hits a family gathering. Just as everybody expected. This Punisher's been active for some six years and has a task force in pursuit, although as we'll find, that small team of one actually feeds him information. Castle has great sympathy in the poor police departments, even if there isn't a partner trying to reach him. In many ways he's become a brutal Batman. And that's a comparison the reveal of Jigsaw's savaged face and increasingly deranged persona in a backstreet surgery a la the Joker rubs in like face paint.
What the film gets right is the explosive entrance of the vigilante at the start. Appearing visible in a red flare, the first take-down is savage and maximum gore. Most importantly, Ray Stevenson is brilliantly cast. The skull on his body armour this time, the hair slicked back, the chiselled efficiency and rage. Even better, this Punisher doesn't speak for 25 minutes when confronting his crisis of conscience is killing a Fed in the field (one of his own in this version). He's a man of few words (many lines apparently improvised by Stevenson), and despite being in quite probably the most overtly funny film in the series the balance works when the antihero is hard as nails.
There's trap though, and that's when the Punisher is distracted almost to the point of stopping his six year rampage by the killing of that undercover operative. From that point on, he's locked into a single vendetta by his accidental creation of the villainous Jigsaw. The man of few words even gains a surrogate mother and child to protect and rescue on the way.
The Punisher's origin can't be left alone during his crisis of 'conscience' of course. Even though what looks like the most faithful recall of the original printed picnic massacre is very redolent of the constant flashbacks dug up in the 90s Batman flicks. All the above combined with a greater number of allies than ever before, one of whom would even sacrifice himself, mean that things soon come unstuck.
The action doesn't of course. Action focussed director Lexi Alexander was not only a shining light of a female helming a superhero film but also manages a neon, but never Gotham, dank solidity in brick walls that explode under gunfire and wonderful barrel flare sublimely. Apparently 120 guns were used throughout. Alexander's also happy to sink the larger than life characters into comic book pulp. See particularly the patriotic call up "For a Few Good Men…" – a deliberate and unsubtle parody of army recruitment. As a fine director, tackling action on big screen and small with aplomb, the action and power of the Punisher shines through the narrative missteps and ensure it cult status that Hensleigh's tried too hard to be able to muster. Delayed the rebooting because of scripting issues, Alexanders comments subsequently suggested that the merry equality between Marvel and Lionsgate was the film's ruination.
There is room for some great subversion, like the certainty of foreshadowing that came with the Irish parquer boys – or should I say McGinty and his Urban Free Flow gang – that ends in a hilariously explosive way. But this is mostly undermined by some obvious plotting. The script relies on obvious tropes, like using Castle's allies against him (that should have taught any vigilante) and tussles with the idea of the Punisher as really "one of the good guys". While the comedy on the villainous side may add colour to match the three lead colour grading but is slightly misjudged.
War Zone's real shame may be that the closing act, where the Punisher scales the oddly temple-like Bradstreet Hotel (named for legendary Punisher cover artist) in a sequence that echoes the plots of 2012's The Raid and Dredd. If only it had seized that initiative earlier.
The resounding feeling is one of compromise, particular damning after as Jane had walked away from a second turn after bulking up and taking fan notes to the studio that would have surely set aside some of the problems that came to light in 2004. Odd and conflicting then that Ray Stevenson is certainly one of the highlights.
Having disappeared with a threat in 1989, surveyed Tampa with a voiceover in 2004, this Punisher closes the film under a Church and the legend "Jesus Saves". He clearly has unfinished business. "This is just the beginning" And so it proved, but one again through the power of the Punisher to reboot like loading a shotgun.
The Punisher is currently streaming on Netflix and making quite the impression. He might be back on Jokerside you know. He's that kind of guy.


So this follows on a tad from yesterday's post 'The City Lights' so check that out if you haven't already. Anyway, have you ever just looked up at the sky, at the stars and the moon, and thought about how small you are? The moon is 384,400 km away from Earth. It's diameter is 3,476 km, and it is 4.527 billion years old. That is so much bigger, and older, then you or I. Think about this, when you and I are both dead and gone in, what could be one second, or at about a hundred years, the moon will most likely still be there, and it will be for millions of generations to come. The stars you see in the night sky (if they are visible over the city lights) have been dead a long time, and you are seeing the past, technically. So if they are so big, and you are so small, then you are literally worthless in comparison to them, or are you?
The thing is, everything you say, and everything you do effects the world. That may seem like an over statement, but think about this. Imagine there is someone online who is suicidal. They comment on a song that they like about how they love it, and it is so inspirational, if you then go and reply to that comment, criticizing the song, and the music, you may not know it, but you could be pushing that person over the age. Sometimes little things can push someone too far. That person could go on to take there own life minutes later. You wouldn't know, but you could be responsible for that person taking there life. Now think about how many people you encounter every day. If someone asks you for directions in the street, you could give them wrong directions, or right directions. If you give them wrong directions, even by accident, that person could be late. What if it was for a job interview? That could cost them a job. They could then get depression. They could then kill themselves. Wow, I am really cheerful today. Ok, now something cheerful. If that person approached someone who intentionally gave them wrong directions, they could be late. If you give them right directions, they could be on time for a job interview, they could get that job, they could get promoted, get a great salary, live a happy life, all because you gave them right directions one day. Think about how crazy the small things are.
Quite literally, every word counts. One person could see this post today, and realize how valuable they are. This post could save someones life. I don't know this do I? Maybe this post makes someone think they could make loads of mistakes and make loads of people miserable. My response is, but you may also make all of them happy. You could go out tomorrow morning and just say hello to somebody in the morning in the street. That could put them in a good mood. They may then talk about this to there friends who may do it themselves. So the cycle of happiness continues. Every little thing you do counts. Everyone makes a difference in this world.
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