apostrophized briney: September 2012

Friday, September 28, 2012

Russian NGOs in panic mode over proposed 'high treason' law

Russia's new definition of high treason, which is likely to pass, could apply to any behavior that undermines 'constitutional order, sovereignty, and territorial and state integrity' in authorities' eyes.

By Fred Weir,?Correspondent / September 26, 2012

When the Kremlin-dominated State Duma passed a new law last summer requiring any "politically active" nongovernmental organization that receives any amount of outside funding to register as a "foreign agent," many people in Russia's broader NGO community became deeply alarmed.

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Now, after the Duma unanimously passed ? on the first of three readings ? new amendments proposed by the Federal Security Service (FSB) that will extend the definition of "high treason" so that it can be applied to almost any Russian citizen who works with foreign organizations, they are in full panic mode.

The new terms, which seem almost certain to sail through the Duma in coming days and be signed into law by President Vladimir Putin, will mean that "treason" no longer refers only to a concrete crime, such as knowingly passing state secrets to a foreign power, but could apply to any behavior that undermines? "constitutional order, sovereignty, and territorial and state integrity" in the eyes of the authorities. Under the new terms, any person that discloses information the state considers a secret to any "foreign government or international, foreign organization," even if that person has no access to classified materials and didn't know it was a secret, may be accused of betraying their country and face a potential 20 years in prison. It is unclear when the law, if enacted, would come into effect.

"Though these amendments are not even passed yet, many people have already started to become more prudent in their contacts with foreigners," says Andrei Soldatov, editor on ?Agentura.ru, an online journal devoted to studying the security services, and coauthor of "The New Nobility," which details the return to power in Russia of the former Soviet KGB.

"The new definition of treason that's before the Duma is a direct Soviet legacy. Treason will no longer be about a specific crime, but more about what's in your heart, whether you're truly loyal, as determined by the authorities. I can't even understand how it might be used," says Mr. Soldatov.

"Now, not only the person who divulges a secret, but also the person who asked ? such as a journalist ? can be charged with treason. It's dangerously vague," he adds.

Broadened definitions of espionage

Addressing the Duma last Friday, FSB deputy director Yury Gorbunov said that classic definitions of espionage and treason had to be broadened to include cooperation with international organizations, which might include NGOs and media groups, because the world has become more dangerous.

"We should include international organizations on the list of agents that can be charged with treason due to the fact that foreign intelligence agencies actively use them to camouflage their spying activity," Mr. Gorbunov said.

The proposed legislation follows the high-profile ejection of USAID from Russia last week after the Kremlin accused it of interfering with Russia's internal political processes.

In November, the new law requiring NGOs that have any level of political engagement and receive any amount of outside funding to register as "foreign agents" will come into effect.

A chill on civil society?

The Kremlin almost certainly has just a few prominent organizations in its sights, including the grassroots election-monitoring network Golos, the global corruption watchdog Transparency International, and Russia's main human rights groups Memorial and the Moscow Helsinki Group.

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/NQ5JkA06hrU/Russian-NGOs-in-panic-mode-over-proposed-high-treason-law

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Thursday, September 27, 2012

Broadband summit slated - Richland Beacon-News

Residents in 18 Louisiana parishes where broadband is under used or unavailable are learning the value of broadband, high-speed internet access with help from the LSU AgCenter.

Connect My Louisiana, a broadband Internet education and awareness initiative for Louisiana shows the value of being connected to the Internet, said Dwight Landreneau, associate vice chancellor of the LSU AgCenter.

The program provides classes designed to introduce residents and business people to broadband resources and to show them how it can be used to improve lives. Area Nutrition Agent Danna Gillett presents a variety of broadband education sessions in Richland Parish. School child nutrition staff members participated in the iNutrition session. The Using Social Media class was recently presented at the Rayville Public Library.

?The first class in the series is ?What is Broadband?? It covers various types of broadband and explains connection speeds and where to find broadband in their area,? said AgCenter training team member Dave Woerner.

In addition to the classes, a Connect My Louisiana Broadband Summit is scheduled for Oct. 11-12 at the DeWitt Livestock Facility at the Dean Lee Research & Extension Center in Alexandria.

?The summit, which is open to the public, will feature success stories, vendors and educational modules that build awareness and educate the citizens of Louisiana about broadband,? Woerner said.

Registration for the Connect My Louisiana Broadband Summit is $25 per person, which includes lunch and a reception on Oct. 11.

Online registration is open at www.LSUAgCenter.com, then typing Connect My Louisiana in the search box. Those planning to attend the reception are asked to select ?Broadband Summit and Vendor Reception? when registering.

?The four-year project consists of developing and disseminating educational content to show the benefits of adopting broadband technology in business, education, health care and other aspects of economic activity in Louisiana,? Landreneau said.

The main activity will be providing consumers, business owners, local government representatives and other public and private organizations with access to educational resources that promote greater broadband Internet adoption.

The nature of online business is changing rapidly with the increased use of social media such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Blogs and other social networking sites, Woerner said. ?Therefore, establishing an online presence for business is increasingly easy and low-cost.?

The summit will provide participants with important global online business trends and show them the steps necessary to establish a successful online business presence, he said. Gillett encourages anyone with an interest in expanding broadband accessibility for Richland Parish to register for the Connect My Louisiana Summit.

Source: http://www.richlandtoday.com/content/broadband-summit-slated

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Wednesday, September 26, 2012

No Comments - Home Improvement Design

A house becomes a home with an injection of your individual personality and avoidance of bland walls will reduce the likelihood of stark spaces. Wall papering is a fun and imaginative and provides an answer to match every budget possible. Design and texture will add inspiration to any room where wall paper is used.

Wall papering within your home has followed a cyclical pattern of popularity over past years. Its popularity is well documented and its revival is evident through today?s home makeover programs and decorating magazines. However, it is no longer the wood chip and blown vinyl that covers the walls of homes but modern and contemporary varieties including different colours and textures including glass beads, stitching and many more.

So whether you?re choosing to paper an entire room or to have a feature wall the all important factor is the preparation of the walls you?re choosing to cover. Time spent on this will offer a better finish; and one that people visiting your home will notice and comment on. Damaged and uneven walls will show through most papers.

When considering wall paper, ensure you are confident in the desired design. Whether you choose a Victorian styled paper or one that is geometrical, the furniture within that room will need to match. It is unlikely that you will pair a floral design with very modern furniture or a monochrome paper with a floral covered three-piece-suite.

Wall coverings also provide an alternative to breaking up wall space should you want to look at a cost-effective way of home improvement. A framed off-cut of wall paper can add texture and vibrancy to any room. These are also removable should you wish to be looking for ideas for rental properties; a reasonably priced and custom-made substitute.

If you?ve chosen that wall papering is the option for you and you?ve chosen an expensive designer paper it is likely that you may feel nervous about hanging it successfully. There will be classes you can take that will provide you with the key knowledge, however, should this not be something you?re interested in, it is always advisable to seek the help of a professional. Their website will show evidence of previous work and professional decorators who excel in the art of paper hanging will have a clear and obvious passion for it.

Most painters will provide a no obligation quotation; opportunities to gain confidence that you?re dealing with a specialist. They will also often be equipped to help with advice on the vast array of variety and styles that will best suit your room.

A combination of your imagination with a professional finish will provide a clear statement and interior design element to be proud of.

Vantage Decorators offers a specialist wall papering service. For more details on home decorating and home improvement ideas please visit Vantage Decorators.

Source: http://www.hbergdesign.com/wall-papering-how-this-room-decorating-idea-will-benefit-your-home/

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As Fishes Migrate, Their Food Might Not Follow

Ocean species seeking cooler waters to survive may have to adapt to their new environments by changing their diets

By Mark Fischetti

Blue tang Image: NOAA

Monterey, Calif.?As Earth's atmosphere heats up due to global warming, the world's oceans will warm, too. All kinds of creatures, from the smallest plankton to the largest fishes, will be forced to adjust. Some of them may be able to adapt by altering their body chemistries, but the most likely response?for those that are free to travel (unlike oysters, say)?is simply to move.

Indeed, certain species of fish are migrating away from mid-latitude oceans toward cooler waters such as the Arctic Ocean, according to recent studies. Scientists are finding that, in general, larger ocean organisms such as fishes have less tolerance for temperature change than the microorganisms they consume, such as phytoplankton. So it is possible that as fishes migrate, their preferred food sources may not. To survive, the migrants may have to change their diet once they reach their new neighborhoods. Some of the most recent findings are being released for the first time at a symposium here this week called The Ocean in a High-CO2 World.

Of course, the fishes that already live in colder oceans may not appreciate the arrival of newcomers that could compete for their food. Yet the native species have their own challenges. Research is showing that fishes native to colder waters are even less tolerant of temperature changes than those in warmer waters, according to Hans-Otto P?rtner at the Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research in Germany. "The temperature range that fish are comfortable in decreases as latitude rises," he says. Over time, then, the mix of species could change. In cold northern waters, for example, sardine populations are dropping but anchovy populations are rising.

Other factors come into play: Increasing carbon dioxide emissions worldwide are making all oceans more acidic, forcing species to use more energy to adapt, leaving them with less energy to reproduce and grow. Oxygen levels in certain ocean regions are dropping, adding a third stressor to acidification and temperature rise. Scientists are beginning to unravel how these multiple stressors are affecting species across large spans of ocean, but much more data and analysis is needed. In the meantime, increasing numbers of species may be on the move. What they will eat once they reach their destinations, and which ocean inhabitants they may have to compete with, remains to be seen.
Source: http://rss.sciam.com/click.phdo?i=f4293d0faeab5b348fc499d426860a8d
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Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Bribery costs Tyco over $26 million in U.S. penalties, lost profits

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