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Has ICT fallen off the development radar?.
Has ICT fallen off the development radar?
November 28, 2012
David Dickson
Correspondent, SciDev.Net
That was the provocative suggestion that Harry de Backer, a telecommunications expert and former adviser to the EU delegation to the African Union, put to the second session of the 2012 Africa/EU Cooperation Forum on ICT, being held this week in Lisbon, Portugal.
De Backer pointed to the first decade of the millennium, when many governments were expressing their conviction about the importance of ICTs in development – and the need to provide generous support for projects in this field, for example, in the two components of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS).
"In the period 2001 to 2007, ICTs were on the radar," he said, with strong enthusiasm from European governments, particularly those in the north of the continent such as Sweden and Finland.
In contrast, he said, the attention currently being paid to ICTs in development debates was low. "Either the radar is failing, or there is nothing on it," Backer said. "The momentum seems to have gone."
When challenged, development agencies tended to argue that ICTs were the responsibility of the private sector, or that there was already a strong ICT component in individual projects so extra funding was not required, or that broadband would expand under its own moments.
But, said Backer, ICT was more than mobile telephones, it was the whole infrastructure of the knowledge economy; integrating ICT into a project was more than just procuring a personal computer; and broadband was not likely to find its own way "to every god-forsaken village" in a developing country.
"There is a real problem with development aid," said Backer. "Africa needs capacity building, it needs the creation of a level playing field so that the private sector is willing to invest, and it needs honest public-private partnerships."
The solution did not lie in more international conferences like WSIS. What was needed were smaller meetings involving a range of stakeholders that included EU member states, African regional economic communities, and interested parties from industry and the services sector.
"The economic climate is not on our side," he admitted. But there was a need both for more talking between the African Union and the European Commission about what needed to be done, and for more lobbying of development agencies.
A strong take-home message for all participants in the Lisbon meeting.
This blog post is part of our 2012 Africa-EU Cooperation Forum on ICT blog, which takes place 28-29 November 2012, in Lisbon, Portugal. To read news and analysis on ICTs please visit our website.


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A group of linguists doing research in northeastern India have accidentally stumbled across the linguistics equivalent of a rare jewel: Koro, a language completely unlike others in the region, spoken by only a tiny number of people.
The researchers had journeyed to the remote region trying to find native speakers of various small languages in the area, in order to record them before these languages die out. Linguists estimate that one language of the roughly 7,000 recorded dies out every few weeks.
According to the New York Times:
When the three researchers reached Kichang, they went door to door asking people to speak their native tongue - not a strenuous undertaking in a village of only four bamboo houses set on stilts. The people live by raising pigs and growing oranges, rice and barley. They share a subsistence economy and a culture with others in the region who speak Aka, or Miji, another somewhat common language.
On the veranda at one house, the linguists heard a young woman named Kachim telling her life story in Koro. She was sold as a child bride, was unhappy in her adopted village and had to overcome hardships before eventually making peace with her new life.
Listening, the researchers at first suspected Koro to be a dialect of Aka, but its words, syntax and sounds were entirely different. Few words in Koro were the same as in Aka: mountain in Aka is "phu," but "nggo" in Koro; pig in Aka is "vo," but in Koro "lele." The two languages share only 9 percent of their vocabulary.
It turns out the language is related to Tibetan and Burmese. Interestingly, it's spoken by people who consider themselves to be ethnically the same as their Aka-speaking neighbors. The researchers note that it's very unusual to find such dissimilar native languages shared by one ethnic group.
How did this tiny language arrive in the region, and flourish for so long without discovery? As of yet, the linguists have no answers.
Read the rest of the article to find out about the intrepid adventures of linguists, armed only with recording equipment, who visit "hot spots of threatened languages" throughout the world.
via New York Times
Photo by Chris Rainier

subset: commoncrawl


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How 'FTO shopping' can lower quality and raise liability for police agencies
FTO Shopping is either an agency's answer to getting officers through the FTO Program, or a substandard trainee's answer to getting through the FTO Program
Editor's Note: This week's PoliceOne First Person essay is from PoliceOne Member Anthony Crisp, who says that long his career path he's worked with many successful FTO graduates. He's also witnessed a growing number of trainees "slip through" the program, mostly by manipulating the rules. In PoliceOne "First Person" essays, our Members and Columnists candidly share their own unique view of the world. This is a platform from which individual officers can share their own personal insights on issues confronting cops today, as well as opinions, observations, and advice on living life behind the thin blue line. If you want to share your own perspective with other P1 Members, simply send us an email with your story.
By Anthony Crisp
Police1 Member
What is the advantage for a law enforcement agency to allow a peace officer trainee to choose their field training officer in an effort pass the training program? As a result, what is the advantage for a law enforcement agency to allow a substandard-performing police officer trainee to pass the FTO Program?
I've been a FTO for 11 years. Previously I was an athletic coach and trainer for 15 years. In this setting, I adhered to a set of strict guidelines. During my training, I've had the luxury of exceptional classes and instructors. I am proud of my FTO position. I genuinely enjoy training entry level police officers how to succeed and stay safe.
Along my career path I've worked with many successful FTO graduates. I've also witnessed a growing number of trainees "slip through" the program, mostly by manipulating the rules.
Example of FTO Shopping
Subsequent to a successful police academy graduation, a trainee enters the post academy field training program. S/he reaches the fourth phase and shortly after quits in tears from an admitted lack of competence. At this point I felt that the Field Training Officer (FTO) AND the program supervisor would or should conclude that this career wasn't for him/her.
After rethinking their career, the trainee returns in a day wanting another chance and another FTO. After disregarding the numerous concerns of the senior FTO, the management agrees. Management does this notwithstanding the documentation by the senior FTO of the numerous officer-safety errors and substandard performance. This was also observed during traffic stop training scenarios.
How long does an employer enable this officer? What's the value to the agency? What's the value to the other officers assigned to work with this new officer? In short, this decision is an insult to the FTO program. This profession is not like any other job; we're talking about protecting lives.
It is my feeling that management just incurred major liability by allowing a trainee to re-enter the FTO program, let alone select another FTO. The question arises, who is in charge of training, the agency or the applicant officer?
The job of an FTO is rewarding in many ways. The main reason is that they will mold an unproven individual into a professional police officer. They teach the "rookies" how to make their community and/ or state safe for its citizens.
Without going into detail about the differences between the San Jose Model and the Public Safety Model, an unstructured program has no balance. The more that takes place outside of the structure, the more it becomes random and arbitrary.
An FTO program can't be judged consistently when it is random and arbitrary. The more a program is outside structure, it becomes erratic and inconsistent — not to mention a liability issue for the state, county, or city.
A police officer's value is based on their replace ability. If a police officer cannot do the job efficiently and effectively, another trained officer is in line to prove his worth. A trainee with consistently bad officer safety errors will eventually put other officers in danger. That's the liability.
Quality FTOs that are sharp and competent typically provide better training to elevate new police officers. They are officers that are game-changers with high skill level and competence that are few and far between. A couple of elite FTOs ascend each decade.
Ensuring High-Quality Trainees
Sometimes, for some new trainees "the wiring isn't all there." This leads me to look at the flip side of this situation: the trainees. The intention of the Affirmative Action groundwork in 1964 from President Lyndon B. Johnson was to take a positive (affirmative) action creating an opportunity for different people to mix together in a particular job. The founding principle of affirmative action was fairness.
Americans value diversity, but they value fairness more. This policy gave special consideration to minorities and women. It is time we stop judging people based on their race or gender and focus on their true character — the significance of this practice in law enforcement in the 21st Century has declined.
What is more important: the ability to have a more qualified and more viable officer providing safety for the public with sound option principles, or just the ability to assume no one will ever really hurt you and being impressed with yourself and your new authority?
What are the tax payers and public getting for their money regarding a properly trained peace officer that is required to provide security and protection? Is it only a warm body that takes up a position control number? The result is a sub-par employee with career problems.
If a department is willing to evolve with training new employees, they must consider a FTO's teaching style and match them with the learning style of the trainee for the training to become more successful. Being a lead FTO before, I was the only FTO that used this method with success — creating a better learning and communication environment.
Security and leadership is paramount in this law enforcement arena. Know the assets and liability of what you decide to do going into the profession.
Different environments create different cultures, some for the worse. If this type of conduct known to management is allowed for one trainee, it must be allowed for the rest or there is culpability. I feel the genesis of this untraditional style is unnecessary.
If I were in a decision-making position to rectify the problem, one option is to recommend the trainee be extended on FTO for a minimum of ninety days. I would keep the trainee in a probationary status and evaluate the progress to make sure they were on the right track.
A second option is to have detailed documentation from the FTO and program supervisor to justify and protect the department. This would identify why a trainee was not at the acceptable level of FTO as a peace officer, or simply accept the trainee's resignation. In the situation cited above, option two should have occurred.
I love excellence and competence. I feel that mediocrity is demeaning to law enforcement professionals.
About the Author
Anthony Crisp is a state trooper nearing 13 years with the Nevada Highway Patrol with a strong background in training and traffic enforcement. He is an instructor at three different police academies. He is the lead instructor that includes Traffic Law, Traffic Stops, Firearms, and Ethics. He is also Field Training Officer.
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- Police Trainers


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Vice President Joe Biden on Tuesday charged Senate Republicans with being beholden to new Sens. Rand Paul and Ted Cruz.
"Have you ever seen a time when two freshman senators are able to cower the bulk of the Republican Party in the Senate? That is not hyperbole," Biden said during a fundraiser for Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), who is hoping to fill Secretary of State John Kerry's former Senate seat.
Biden said the U.S. "does not need another Republican in the Senate," according to a White House press pool report.
"I'm being straight about this," he said. "This is not your father's Republican Party. It really is a fundamentally different party. There's never been as much distance, at least since I've been alive, distance between where the mainstream of the Republican congressional party is and the Democratic Party is. It's a chasm. It's a gigantic chasm."
Biden continued, "I'm not talking about the character or even the quality of the minds of the people I'm going to mention. But the last thing in the world we need now is someone who will go down to the United States Senate and support Ted Cruz, support the new senator from Kentucky -- or the old senator from Kentucky."
Biden said when gun control came up for a vote, he called 17 senators, including nine Republicans.
"Not one of offered an explanation on the merits of why they couldn't vote for the background check. But almost to a person, they said, 'I don't want to take on Ted Cruz. I don't want to take on Rand Paul. They'll be in my district,'" Biden said. "I actually said, 'Are you kidding? These are two freshman.'"
He added, "This is a different party folks. They're not bad guys, and they're both very bright guys. And I'm not questioning their motive."
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HOUSTON (AP) Case Keenum will start at quarterback in place of a healthy Matt Schaub when the Texans host division foe Indianapolis on Sunday night.
Coach Gary Kubiak announced the decision Monday and said he had decided before the bye weekend to give Keenum a second straight start as the Texans try to end a five-game losing streak. Kubiak said the decision was not for the rest of the season, but is geared toward trying to keep the team going in the right direction following a close 17-16 loss to Kansas City in which Keenum played well.
"I've got to make decisions I think are best for the football team right now," Kubiak said. "The decision I made was based on what I saw take place last week with Case and him taking advantage of an opportunity. I want to see him move forward."
Keenum saw the first game action of his two-year career in the loss to the Chiefs. Teammates pointed to the energy he brought to the field while going 15 for 25 for 271 yards and a touchdown.
"I thought we went out and played better football and that's why we had a chance to win in Kansas City," Kubiak said. "I thought (Keenum) did some really good things. He's got to improve. This football team's got to improve around him."
Keenum said he needs to "get better in a lot of things," including making reads and picking up the types of blitzes he saw in the fourth quarter against Kansas City.
"I imagine we'll see it again," Keenum said of the pressure. "You put it on film and people see it. So correcting that is going to be big time."
Schaub, a seven-year veteran who was handpicked by Kubiak to replace David Carr in 2007, got off to a rough start leading the team to a 2-4 record before leaving a loss to the St. Louis Rams with an ankle injury.
"It's obviously very disappointing with all we've been through here and all we've done, but I'm part of the reason we're in this situation as a football team," Schaub said. "As a player and a competitor, I don't like it and I want to be out there. Obviously, I haven't played up to my standards this year. I think that's where it mostly stems from."
Schaub was back at practice Monday, but Keenum will get the reins of the offense knowing that he's starting not for injury reasons, but for his play on the field. Now he will get the chance to show it in front of the hometown fans.
"I imagine I'll have a few more goose bumps than I did last week," said Keenum, who starred at the University of Houston. "To play in Houston, to play at Reliant . I know Sunday night's going to be very special.
Who will line up behind Keenum is still in question. Starting running back Arian Foster (hamstring) worked only with the trainers Monday and Ben Tate (ribs) missed practice altogether.
"I'm very concerned," Kubiak said. "I don't think we're going to know anything until later this week. I think they're both giving us everything they can to try and play this week."
With both players out, running backs Deji Karim, Dennis Johnson and Ray Graham are working with the Texans this week.
Notes: Linebackers Tavares Gooden and Jeff Tarpinian practiced with the team for the first time Monday since signing . Right guard Wade Smith was out with a knee injury.


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This extended 'Historical Route' takes you to all the important historical sites of northern and includes a visit to Harar and Awash National Park in eastern Ethiopia. Although it is still possible to add days, it is one the most complete tours in this region.
We will meet you at the airport and take you to your hotel for check-in. The first day we spent in the fascinating capital of the country: Addis Ababa. Depending on your time of arrival we take you on a half day or full day city tour visiting some sites of your choice like the Ethnographic Museum, National Museum, Trinity Cathedral, Mercato (the largest market of Africa) or the Entoto Hills just outside Addis Ababa.
After a relaxing breakfast we leave Addis Ababa to the north. Our first stop will be at Debre Libanos and Ras Darge's bridge. After lunch we continue towards Debre Markos, enjoying the natural beauty of the Blue Nile Gorge on the way. Late afternoon we arrive at our destination.
It is a half day drive to reach Bahir Dar. After lunch we visit the pleasant town and its vibrant market. At the end of the day we enjoy the panoramic view and the sunset from Bezawit Hill.
Today we have a full day boat trip on Lake Tana to explore some of the beautiful churches. Before we are heading to the churches the boat takes us to the the source of the Blue Nile where we find many water birds and maybe a hippo. It is about one hour by boat to reach Zeghe Peninsula where we visit the most famous church Uhre Kidane Mehret. We enjoy a walk on the forested peninsula to the other churches and might meet monkeys and beautiful birds on the way. At the other side of the peninsula the boat is waiting and takes us to Kibran Gabriel Island (unfortunately women are not allowed) and finally back to Bahir Dar late afternoon.
(It is possible to visit churches further afield like on Dek Island)
After an early breakfast we drive for about one hour to reach the small village of Tissisat. Here we enjoy a lovely walk in the cooler morning hours. We cross the Nile by the 17th century Portuguese Bridge and continue the walk to the falls, meeting local people on the way. After admiring the falls we cross the Nile by small boat to find our car waiting for us. We are heading back to Bahir Dar for lunch and proceed to our next destination Gondar.
We will spent the morning to visit the highlights of Gondar: the Royal Enclosure, Fasilidas Bath and Debre Birhan Selassie, the church with the angel faces painted on the ceiling. After lunch we proceed towards to Simien Mountains encountering spectacular scenery on the way as a good preparation for tomorrow. We enjoy the sunset at our destination the Simien Lodge.
(budget/ tourist class accommodation is available in Debark, a 45 minutes drive outside the park)
This is a full day visit to enjoy the natural beauty of the Simien Mountains. There are several opportunities to explore the park, on foot or by car. Depending on your interest and fitness we choose where to go. It is almost guaranteed you see the gelada baboon. The walia ibex and Ethiopian wolf are much more difficult to find.
(it is possible to add any number of days for additional hiking in the Simien Mountains)
A long but spectacular day takes us to Axum. Just outside Debark we start our first decent down the Italian build Lima Limo road and the rest of the day goes up and down until we finally cross the Tekeze River gorge. The scenery is awesome.
Axum is the place where facts and legends meet. Is the Ark of the Covenant found in Axum? We take you in the footsteps of the famous Queen of Sheba and Ezana, the emperor who converted to Christianity. You will see the spectacular stelae of Axum and visit the Maryam of Tsion churches. (unfortunately the old church is not open for woman). Many more sites are available to visit or you might take a couple of hours at leisure to digest your overwhelming experiences of Ethiopia.
Today we continue our journey through breathtaking scenery of Tigray. On the way we visit the Yeha Temple, the oldest structure found in Ethiopia in the morning. In the afternoon it is possible to visit Debre Damo, the monastery on the top of a cliff. Only accessible by a 15 meter long rope and unfortunately for men only. When time is available we visit the Teka Tesfai cluster of churches. Our final destination is the beautiful Gheralta Lodge near Hawzien.
(budget/ tourist class accommodation is available in Adigrat)
En route to Mekele we explore some of the little known rock-hewn churches of Tigray. Some are easy accessible while others require a strenuous hike. Based on your fitness and interest we choose where to go.
(it is possible to add additional days to explore more of Tigray)
A long but beautiful drive takes us to the highlight of your visit to Ethiopia: Lalibela. If the day goes smoothly and you feel energetic we might have time to visit Yemrehane Kristos church en route.
The 12th century rock-hewn churches are the legacy of king Lalibela. It is said his visit to Jerusalem inspired him to build the 11 churches. A full day is necessary to get a good impression of these truly amazing places of worship.
There are quite a few options to spent the rest of our time. For example a visit to the Yemrehane Kristos church or a hike to the Asheton Maryam church. On Saturday there is the weekly market in town. Maybe you want to have some time at leisure too.
(it is possible to add additional days to explore more of Lalibela and the surrounding area, excellent hiking opportunities are available)
After a remarkable visit to Lalibela we are on the road again. It is a full day drive to Kombolcha through mountainous area with wonderful vistas.
(when you arrive in Kombolcha on a Sunday it is recommended to add one day to you tour to visit the Bati market on Monday and spent one extra day in Kombolcha)
The long drive of today leads us through the Afar region and we are going to meet the brave Afar people. When you are lucky you might see some game while traversing the Yangudi Rassa NP which holds the last population of the African wild ass.
This is a day to explore Awash National Park. Game drives and walks are available to encounter the wildlife and enjoy the scenery. You are likely to see beisa oryx, kudu, defassa waterbuck, Soemmering's gazelle, warthog and baboon. The park is also a great place for birdwatchers.
(if you want to explore more of the park you might add another day)
We are leaving the plains of the Rift Valley behind and traveling through mountainous and fertile area famous for its coffee and qat to Harar.
The walled city of Harar is a fascinating town to explore. We take you around through the maze like layout of this 4th holiest town of Islam. There are many mosques and shrines to discover and it is a lively town too. The Harari market is famous. In the evening we are going to see the Hyena man, feeding the hyena by hand. You dare to give it a try?
The last day of your unforgettable visit to Ethiopia brings us back to Addis Ababa. A hotel room for day-use is available. We say goodbye to dear friends with a visit to a cultural restaurant, enjoying the great Ethiopian food together with traditional music and dance from all over this fascinating country. After diner we take you to the airport for your flight back home.
We are very proud to inform you what our clients say about us. Some testimonials are received by email, others are published on Tripadvisor or Facebook.
Wonderful tour to Awash national park! Many thanks to Boundless Ethiopia for its perfect organisation!
Hi there ! Well there is just nothing to be added to the above. Boundless organized us a tailor made fantastic tour at a good price and Hans & Esayas were just great ! Cheers. Clement
I booked a Bale Mountain tour with Hans and the logistics were handled in a swift and friendly manner. Unfortunately disaster struck and I had to travel back to the UK before I could take my tour. Hans is currently going out of his way to arrange a partial reimbursement, even though he doesn't have to, which is absolutely the sign of an an excellent and caring tour company. I highly recommend Boundless to you. Don't hesitate to book.
I wanted to leave a review for Hans and Boundless but I could only find this thread. I highly recommend Boundless. There are lots of tour operators running from Addis Ababa, of very varying quality. Save yourself time and effort and trust Boundless. You're in safe Hans!
My husband and I were planning a trip to Ethiopia with our adult daughter. Looking around for someone to advise us we noticed that Hans of Boundless Ethiopia, www.boundlessethiopia.com had been recommended by other Tripadvisor travellers. Concluding an excellent, trouble free 12 days in Northern Ethiopia organised by Hans, we appreciated those recommendations. Hans suggested an excellent itinerary, supplied careful, considerate drivers and knowledgeable guides and made all hotel and sightseeing arrangements. Everything went smoothly and Hans even met us at the hotel at the conclusion of our holiday to see if we had suggestions or comments. Boundless Ethiopia is a company which really cares about service and we were so pleased we used them.
I would also like to add my recommendation for Hans and Boundless Ethiopia. I traveled to Ethiopia with my parents in March 2015 and we spent two fantastic weeks exploring the Northern Circuit, bolting on an extra day in the Simien Mountains and two extra days trekking around Lalibela. As the reviewers above attest, Hans was incredibly helpful when organising the trip, and was happy to shuffle around the itinerary and hotel bookings several times to suit our needs. Our driver, Isaias, was a great companion on our trip - he was generally quite quiet, but very knowledgeable when asked. The local guides which we met at the different sites along the trip were also very impressive on the whole. Hans worked hard to ensure our trip went smoothly and was very keen to hear our feedback. We would certainly choose Boundless Ethiopia for a return trip to Ethiopia.
Hierbij wensen U hartelijk te bedanken voor de prachtige reis waarvan we in Januari 2015 hebben kunnen genieten. Zowel de flexibiliteit en creativiteit bij het samenstellen van het programma, de perfecte organisatie ( drivers en gidsen)van de 15 daagse trip in het Noorden van het land en Harar ( een absolute aanrader), het persoonlijk contact met u beiden bij aankomst en vertrek, kunnen ons enkel doen besluiten dat Boundless Ethiopia een echte aanrader is voor het organiseren van een reis naar Ethioipia.
We are a group of 3 persons from Hong Kong, just return from a one-week trip in Ethiopia. It is so helpful for Hans, the owner of Boundless Ethiopia Tour, to plan our trip before coming to Ethiopia. We visited Addis Ababa, Axum and Lalibella. The visit to both places are special interests to us. When in Axum, we have a chance to participate in the Maryam Tsion Procession which started early in the morning (5 a.m.)l. The guide gave us a very good explanation everything regarding the procession. We are so impressed by the devotion of the people in Axum in the ceremony.
Our visit to Lalibella is impressive. Our guide, Memekia, has a profound knowledge in the history and development of rock-hewn churches in Lalibella. Together with his warm hospitality, the trip is unforgettable!
For those thinking of visiting Ethiopia by themselves, Boundless Ethiopia Tours is highly recommended. The fees charged was reasonable and worth every dollars. Arrangements are within our expectation, and all the guides and drivers are not only friendly, but professional. It is especially kind for Hans to have dinner with us during our first night stay in Addis Ababa. He explained everything to us with patience and gave us a general understanding of the country.
Ethiopia is a great place to visit!
Thank you Londongal77 for your comment here since that it was the initial step for a Fantastic Trip in the heart of OMO Valley with ...Boundless Ethiopia! With this message I want to confirm and reboost all your comments about them.
Also I would like to comment that only Hans understood my needs (although I have communicated about 10 different agencies) about a Budget Tour due to the fact that we were only me and my wife participating on this and the cost of a 4x4 is not small for 2 pax only .All the others coudn't really downgrade from the Lodge Level at any of their services.
Closing I want to wish Hans a Good Luck and to say that one day I will be back with Boundless to cover the North Part that remained unexplored to me.
All the Best!
I highly recommend booking your next tour to Ethiopia through Boundless Ethiopia! I worked with Hans to create a personalized 9 day itinerary that in my mind was the perfect combination of trekking and sightseeing.
Before I booked, I asked Hans dozens of questions. I found him to be knowledgeable, thoughtful and responsiveness. I especially appreciated that Hans met with me in person the day before the tour began in order to review the itinerary and provide advice. On the last day he met me in person at the airport so that I would have a chance to give feedback. It is clear he is dedicated to ensuring his customers have a wonderful experience.
The tour itself was fantastic, primarily because Hans works with great local guides who are professional and service-oriented. Highlights of the itinerary included my stay at the Hudad ecolodge outside of Lalibela, visiting the family of my guide in a small village near Abune Joseph, and the exhilarating climbs to the rock-hewn churches in Gheralta, Tigray.
It's also worth noting that I reached out to a number of other tour operators prior to booking with Boundless Ethiopia. Despite the more personalized service I received from Hans, the prices of his tours were lower than or comparable to the quotes I obtained from other companies.
Cher Hans,
Un petit mot pour faire valoir à quel point nous avons apprécié notre séjour en Éthiopie.
Une organisation sans failles, un itinéraire fait sur mesure pour plaire à nos moindre désirs.
Un soucis constant de notre bien-être et qui plus est une disponibilité bienveillante.
Des guides locaux plus que compétents et attentifs à nos demandes.
Nous avons plus qu'apprécié notre chauffeur, attentionné, poli, ponctuel et soucieux de faire de notre séjour un souvenir mémorable.
Nous avons grandement savourer chaque instant de notre voyage et recommandons définitivement votre agence et notre chauffeur Yishak.
Mille merci!
Marc & Véronique
Québec, Canada
Well I've just returned back from a glorious two weeks in Northern Ethiopia arranged by Boundless. I can report that Boundless were outstanding. The trip went like complete clockwork and the logistics of the trip were masterfully taken care of. The guides and particularly our driver were excellent, punctual, efficient, speaking good English and responsive to our requests.
Like others have reported, Hans met us in Addis at the beginning and end of our trip for an introductory dinner and a debrief respectively. Our itinerary took in the historical circuit, Bahir Dar, Gondor, Simien Mountains, Axum, Gheralta, Lalibela. We had an outstanding guide at Gheralta showing us the rock hewn churches. He had previously been a guide for film star Will Smith and had been on a guide for a local documentary on the churches!
We spent a long time prior to our trip discussing our itinerary with Hans via email and he proved to be very knowledgeable regarding festival and religious dates. For example, during our trip at Boundless suggestion, we got to take in the candle lit Lideta procession in Axum, market day in both Addis (the Mercato!) and Axum, we also got to see some morning services in Lalibela which really brought the place to life.
Also, in Lalibela we stayed for a few nights at the Hudad lodge which was suggested on the Boundless website. Its off the beaten track, in the sense that it is a four hour hike from Lalibela town, but is beautiful and a spectacular place to stay and interact with local people.
I believe Hans is very dedicated to his company and is striving to provide value and quality of service to his clients. Boundless are good value in my opinion, we did a private tour and it cost a fraction of what we would have paid booking, for example, through a UK based company. Also, at the end of the tour Hans was very keen to hear of any problems we may have encountered so that he could improve and refine future trips they offer. That to me spoke volumes. He really cares!
In summary, I would highly recommend Boundless Ethiopia. Booking with them was one of the best decisions I have made. I hope they keep up the high level of service and others get to enjoy Ethiopia with Boundless as we did.
Boundless Ethiopia Tours - I highly recommend!
I thought I'd post a review about Boundless Ethiopia Tours as I was so impressed by its service. It's one of the few travel companies actually based in Ethiopia and Hans (the owner) really knows the country inside out.
He was so helpful when we were planning our trip – he answered so many questions and really wanted us to get the right itinerary for what we were looking to do. He got it spot on – we were very happy with our 3 week trip and felt that we got a great mix of history, tribes and fresh air (we did some walking in the Simien mountains and a TESFA trek).
We were particularly happy with our driver (Yet) – he was so efficient, kind and friendly and he really helped to make our trip special. You spend a lot of time together and I know Hans has picked his drivers with real care as they are his ambassadors after all.
On a price note – we thought that Boundless offered real value for money. We did a private trip (2 people) cheaper than going on a group holiday with multiple other people. For us it was bliss to have our own agenda and spend as much time at places as we wanted to etc. We're both keen photographers so there was lots of stopping the car to take shots!
Do use them – I promise you won't be disappointed and I think Hans deserves a successful business – he really cares and it shows!
Hi Hans
I'm safely back in the UK, once again, thanks for organising such a memorable trip. Organisation was excellent, from putting together a tailor made itinerary via email to being met personally at the airport despite arriving late on a Sunday evening. Guides were knowledgable and friendly, and, for the most part, punctual. Ethiopia really is a fantastic country to explore, and I feel certain I will return, and will be in touch with Boundless when I do.
Let me know if you have any thoughts on promoting a running based tour package. My career at the moment is fairly broad, so promoting tour packages in the UK may be another string to my bow!
Oh, one last thing, Alex (Alum) took a picture of me riding across the river on the mule, a few seconds before I fell off! Be great to have a copy.
Hope business continues to do well.
Kind regards
Dave on Tripadvisor:
I visited Ethiopia in Oct 2013 as an 11 day stopover on my way back to the UK after working in Zimbabwe. I wanted to get the balance right between seeing plenty of the country and having some adventure but not spending the whole time on the move. I had minimal knowledge of the country but having given Hans an outline of my interests (some history, nature, trekking) he drafted several possible itineraries. He was very flexible and responded promptly to emails and I felt I was in good hands even before arriving in the country.
I was amazed and pleasantly surprised that Hans came to meet me in person at the airport late on a Sunday evening - I think this symbolises how much he cares and how hard he works. He was even able to give me some advice on things like going for an early morning run in Addis where I was able to run in Meskel Square with some of the top Ethiopian runners.
Guides and drivers were excellent, and flexible. The hotels used (I did the historical circuit plus hiking) in Bahir Dar, Gondar, Simien Mountains, Axum, Lalibela and back to Addis were all fine, and the sights throughout Ethiopia were just amazing - incredible scenery. I would say October is probably a good month to go as it is end of the rainy season and everywhere is v green, plus the Blue Nile Falls are in full flow. I would also take advantage of domestic flights if time is short which worked well for me.
I met with Hans for a debrief (and a beer!) at the end of the trip which again shows he cares and is keen to learn how to make trips as good as possible.
Having had experience of working in the travel industry myself, I'm certain that Ethiopia is not an easy place to organise tours, but Boundless Ethiopia are doing a very good job of it, and I would definitely recommend using them.
Hallo Hans,
Hoe staat Het Leven & de Business?
En misschien heb je het ook al gelezen op Facebook.
Vandaag 3 korte en ultrakorte video's op YouTube gezet. Hieronder de links.
We denken nog vaak en met veel plezier terug aan onze reis.
Hebben ook al aardig wat collega's enthousiast gemaakt voor het land.
Maar in 1 opzicht is dat ook niet zo moeilijk, de beelden van woestijnen en hongersnood staat bij veel mensen in het geheugen gegrift.
Terwijl -gek genoeg- niemand die tijd bewust heeft meegemaakt omdat ze gewoon te jong zijn. Weird...
Hartelijke groeten,
Geert en Annemiek
Bull-jumping ceremony of the Hamar... (Short video of 3'30")
Bull-jumping is the final test for a boy before passing into adulthood and getting married. But it is also a very important event for the rest of the tribe, because it strenghtens all social ties. To me it was also a very playful event with lots of laughter and excitement.
Premier league Ethiopian style... After an already hectic day we landed in the small town of Sodo in South Ethiopia. In the early evening suddenly the town exploded with partying people. The local soccerteam has won the last game and therefore the promotion to the premier league of Ethiopia. Everyone happy and eager to share it with us.
Sundaymorning mass in Bet Maryam, Lalibela, Ethiopia. Magical moments during sun-up.
Warmest greetings from Vietnam, Dear Hans!
It hard to forget beautiful memories of Ethiopia, thanks to your excellent service and kindest hands!
I hope you and your wife, your company are still doing very well there with the new tourist season.
By the way, could you kindly give me the email address of Elijah, the tour guide in Addis Ababa on 9 July? I want to thank him too for interesting information and faith sharing.
Again, my appreciation and best wishes!
Tony from Vietnam
Dear Hans,
Sorry I did not get back to you earlier. I just arrived back in the US last night after a stopover in Austria. The tour was really excellent. Everything worked very smoothly and all the guides and drivers were extremely reliable, well trained, friendly and gave great info about the area and its people, history etc. I enjoyed greatly the half day tour in lalibela's churches and in particular the hike with derebe up to the lodge and the village. derebe is indeed a fantastic guide, young, agile, flexible, very well informed and with the heart on the right spot. The only thing you may want to consider is make clearer that the meals at the lodge are not included in the price as I got caught by surprise but luckily had enough cash.
I will definitely recommend your service!
All the best for you and your family and here some pics from my trip.
We just wanted to say again.. Thank you so much for our tour. Let us know if we can help you promote your company. We would 100 percent use you again. I am attaching a few pictures from our journey.
Dear Hans,
In my view it all went very well, apart from the problem with the radiator pipe. The driver dealt with it really well, with typical improvisation, but a little more careful checking of the state of the vehicle before departure might be a good idea. (The puncture was unavoidable, no reason to complain about that.) Perhaps the driver could also be encouraged to stay a little more towards his own side of the road? I understand that driving in the middle is often the most convenient option, but driving on the left seemed uneccessary. Also, I'd rather get there a bit later and avoid the more aggressive overtaking manoevres. But I expect you hear that about all of the drivers you use, I had another driver a few days later who was very similar. Otherwise the driver was helpful, stopped when we wanted to, etc..
The local guide was knowledgable and observant, adapted nicely to our hiking pace and grasped our interests quickly.
The hotel was roughly as expected, they could use a little competition. You might want to warn people to make sure their immersion heater is turned on, ours were on initially but on the third evening we both found they had been turned off and the water was stone cold! It's a simple switch, the hotel staff must have done it to save electricity.
I would agree with Christine's comments. It was an enjoyable trip that, apart from the minor mechanical mishaps went smoothly. We very much appreciated your rapid and courteous responses to our enquires and your welcome at the airport.
We wish you every success with your business and would happily recommend your service.
Many thanks,
Yes, I forgot to say the most important thing, that it was a really memorable, enjoyable trip!
Beste meneer van der Haar,
Heel erg bedankt voor de geweldige reis die we gehad hebben!
Alles was super geregeld: een goede en aardige chauffeur, een prachtige locatie om te overnachten en we hebben heel wat van het park kunnen zien. We hebben het ontzettend naar onze zin gehad en echt genoten!
Nogmaals, heel hartelijk dank!
Hartelijke groeten,
Hallo, Hans
Eindelijk nieuws van ons, zou je zeker denken. Sorry dat we zo laat terug contact opnemen, maar een paar dagen na ons terugkeer zijn we begonnen met de aankoop van een woning.
Beter laat dan nooit, zegt het spreekwoord.
Ten eerste moeten we je nogmaals bedanken voor het organiseren van onze reis, alles was perfect, volgens onze smaak op elk punt.
Yet was geweldig, maar uw eerste Nederlandse klanten, die we in Agregash Lodge ontmoetten, vertelden ons dat hun driver ook geweldig was.
In attachement vind je enkele foto's van u met ons, van Mariam en van uw eerste klanten. Misschien kan je ze niet zien, daarom stuur ik ze naar U ook via de Post.
Hoe is het met de kleine familie, die nu waarschijnlijk groter is geworden?
We hebben uw gegevens al aan mensen die geïnteresseerd zijn in Ethiopië, misschien neemt één van hen contact met U op.
We wensen het beste voor U en uw familie.
Lieve en Bernard
Just back as one of the first guests of Boundless Ethiopia Tours PLC.
It was our second trip and we had several special wishes.
An excellent trip was made for us. Everything was perfectly arranged.
Our driver was very experienced and knew a lot about nature. Local guides were also well skilled .
We recommend you all very highly Boundless Ethiopia Tours PLC .
Fam. de Wit (The Netherlands) 05-01-2013


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COLLEGE STATION, Texas -- Annie Aldrete hammered a three-run homer in the fifth inning and No. 4 Tennessee erased a three-run deficit with five unanswered runs to top No. 21 Texas A&M 5-3 on Sunday and take the season series.
Tennessee (35-6, 11-4 SEC) scored one in the fourth, three in the fifth and one in the seventh. Texas A&M (28-14, 9-9 SEC) scored three runs in the second. On Friday, the Aggies won the first game of the series 4-1. Tennessee crushed Texas A&M, 15-2 (5), on Saturday to even the series at 1-1 entering Sunday's game.
With the win, Tennessee improved to 11-0 on Sundays this year, including a 5-0 mark in SEC Sunday games. UT has won 13 consecutive Sunday games, going back to the 2013 season.
Aldrete's lone hit of the day was a big one- a three-run shot in the fifth that put UT in front, 4-3. Haley Tobler was perfect 3-for-3 with one run. Taylor Koenig went 2-for-3 with one RBI. Melissa Davin hit a solo homer in the seventh inning.
Ellen Renfroe improved to 23-3 after striking out six and allowing three runs during seven frames. The win marked Renfroe's 22nd complete game of the season.
Texas A&M took a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the second. With one out, Breanna Dozier hit an RBI single up the middle, scoring pinch runner Allison Garrett. Three batters later, Reagan Boenker hit a two-out RBI single to left field and two runners scored on the play.
The Lady Vols plated one run in the top of the fourth. Tobler knocked a one-out double off the wall in right center and Koenig drove her in with an RBI single to left field.
Tennessee took a 4-3 lead in the top of the fifth. Shaliyah Geathers opened the inning with an infield single to short and advanced to second on a throwing error. Two batters later, Madison Shipman drew a one out walk on four pitches. Aldrete crushed a 3-1 pitch from A&M starter Rachel Fox to left field for her 10th homer of the year, driving in three runs to give UT the 4-3 lead.
Texas A&M threatened to score in the bottom of the fifth with the bases loaded and one out. Koenig came up with a big 5-2-3 double play, turning a grounder to third from Jenna Stark and throwing home to Aldrete before the catcher fired to first base to get Stark out.
With two outs in the top of the seventh, Davin hammered the first pitch for a solo home run to left center to give the Lady Vols an insurance run and a 5-3 lead.


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Iraqi funds, training fuel Islamic terror group
Two Iraqi Arabs held in a Kurdish prison tell of contacts among Ansar al-Islam, Al Qaeda, and aides to the Iraqi president.
The US Operation Anaconda has squeezed many Al Qaeda and Taliban fighters out of Afghanistan, but some of those forces are simply joining a budding conflict nearby, in Iraq, local security officials warn.
Ansar al-Islam, a Kurdish Islamic extremist group that has shaken Northern Iraq with bloody episodes of killing over the past 14 months, is being bolstered by the American rout of Osama bin Laden's diehards at Shah-e Kot, Afghanistan.
"Their numbers have been increasing, as [fighters] escape from Operation Anaconda," says a top security official in the region. "We don't know how many, but each day that goes by, they are more and more of a threat."
While Ansar is gaining strength in numbers, new information is emerging that ties the organization to both Osama bin Laden's Al Qaeda network and to Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein. The Al Qaeda contacts allegedly stretch back to 1989, and include regular recruiting visits by bin Laden cadres to Kurdish refugee camps in Iran and to northern Iraq, as well as a journey by senior Ansar leaders to meet Al Qaeda chiefs in Kandahar, Afghanistan, in the summer of 2000.
A 20-year veteran of Iraqi intelli- gence alleges the Iraqi government secretly
provided cash and training to Ansar, in a bid to destabilize the "safe haven" and weaken armed Kurdish opponents. Any link between Baghdad and Al Qaeda could be used by Washington to help justify toppling Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.
Some Kurdish politicians downplay the threat from Ansar al-Islam, and senior Islamic leaders claim to have convinced Ansar to "change their methods," meaning they won't target and kill Kurds in their fight for a more secular state as they did this past September.
Ansar al-Islam, which means "Soldiers of God," is no more than several hundred strong. But it controls a handful of Iraqi Kurdish villages that abut the border with Iran, on the eastern end of the US-protected Kurdish safe area in northern Iraq.
New details about Ansar's contacts with Al Qaeda come from Rafed Ibrahim Fatah, an Iraqi Arab held by the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan. Mr. Fatah agreed to be interviewed in an interrogation room at a PUK security complex in Sulaymaniyah.
Mr. Fatah says he fled from Baghdad to Iran in the mid-1980s, and was in a refugee camp on the outskirts of Tehran. There, in 1989, he says he met two Iraqi brothers who had returned from mujahideen centers in Pakistan explicitly to make contact with another Kurdish faction, the Islamic Movement of Kurdistan (IMK), "because there was jihad in Peshawar, [Pakistan], and they were fighting jihad here." The IMK is a broad political party that splintered in recent years; the breakaway extremists first created Jund al-Islam, then changed their name to Ansar.
Fatah says one of the brothers, Abu Ayoub, called himself a "military cadre working for Osama," and visited Iraqi Kurds in northern Iran for two weeks. Fatah made the trip with him, spending most of his time with Abu Ayoub's lower-ranking brother, Najjem, who he said did not attend the "big meetings."
Those ties continued in later years, Fatah says. An Iraqi Kurd called Abu Jaffar also visited from Pakistan twice a year during the 1990s, to recruit jihadis. The Kurdish Islamists, Fatah says, stroking his short salt-and-pepper beard, maintained their own house in Peshawar, like many of Islamic militant organizations in Pakistan.
Fatah himself first traveled to Pakistan in 1989, and even to Afghan training camps of the mujahideen, though he says he didn't have the stomach literally for the hard life of guerrillas.
The Al Qaeda-Kurdish ties appear to have grown closer by the summer of 2000, when Al Qaeda was well established, and Jund al-Islam was taking root in Kurdistan. Fatah was in Kandahar, Afghanistan, when he heard about a high-level delegation of Iraqi Kurdish militants. He says a friend introduced him to Abu Wa'el and two other Jund al-Islam leaders. They were staying in the guest house of a Taliban minister known for his support of Arab jihadists in Afghanistan, and were surprised when Fatah and his Iraqi friend showed up.
"They wanted to present themselves as a jihad group, and they were concentrating on Al Qaeda," Fatah says, recalling a conversation that took place in his presence. "They said they had already received money once from Abu Qatada, to elicit more support from Al Qaeda." Abu Qatada is a London-based sheikh who went underground earlier this year, and has been convicted in a Jordanian court of conspiring to attack US and Israeli interests.
Fatah says the delegation said they met Abu Hafas al-Masri, bin Laden's No. 2 and military aide, but that bin Laden rarely met with such groups. Uneasy about being identified by fellow Iraqis in Afghanistan even though analysts say that three of Al Qaeda's top 20 leaders were Iraqis Fatah says that Abu Wa'el and the others talked little about the details of their mission.
One reason they were leery of attracting the attention of fellow Iraqis may have been clandestine support for the Kurdish Islamists from the Baghdad regime. Qassem Hussein Mohamed, a big-boned, mustachioed Saddam lookalike who says he worked for Baghdad's Mukhabarat intelligence for two decades, says that Iraqi President Saddam Hussein has clandestinely supported Ansar al-Islam for several years.
"[Ansar] and Al Qaeda groups were trained by graduates of the Mukhabarat's School 999 military intelligence," says Mr. Mohamed, who agreed to be interviewed separately in the Sulaymaniyah interrogation room. As with Fatah, there were no apparent signs that he had been compelled to speak, and Kurdish investigators say they are convinced based on other, confirmable parts of his story that he is a Mukhabarat agent.
"My information is that the Iraqi government was directly supporting [Al Qaeda] with weapons and explosives," he says. "[Ansar] was part of Al Qaeda, and given support with training and money."
Saddam Hussein did not create Ansar al-Islam, though Mohamed compared Baghdad's role to the overt help Iraq gives the anti-Iran Mujahideen e-Khalq forces, which are known to be completely controlled by Iraqi intelligence within Iraq's borders.
Among other known Ansar leaders, Mohamed says Abu Wa'el was the most influential, was on the Iraqi intelligence payroll, and served as a liaison between Baghdad and Al Qaeda. Mohamed says his own mission to northern Iraq during which he was detained by the PUK is proof of that link. "After America attacked Afghanistan, Baghdad lost contact with [Abu Wa'el]," Mohamed says. "They sent me to check out Abu Wa'el, to make sure he was not dead or captured, and to reestablish contact."
Mohamed says PUK intelligence operatives apparently had been following him for some time, and clearly knew he was trying to contact the militants in northern Iraq.
The possibility of Iraq's support for Ansar if only to destabilize the Kurdish territory that exists beyond Baghdad's control does not surprise Kurdish officials. They note that President Hussein has recently embraced Islamic groups, and pays $10,000 each to the families of Palestinian suicide bombers in Israel, to solidify his credentials. Supporting Ansar, too, may provide Hussein with a way to get at his Kurdish enemies.
"There has been a marked change in Saddam's thinking in the past five years," says Hoshyar Zebari, a senior Kurdish Democratic Party (KDP) official, regarding Baghdad's shift from hardline secularism, to backing Islamists.
"[Ansar] are local, home-grown Islamic terrorists, inspired by Al Qaeda and bin Laden. They think the main enemy is the US, and that Islam can't be free unless they get rid of blasphemous groups and infidels, which they consider the KDP and PUK to be," Mr. Zebari says. "Saddam's intelligence is very good at penetrating small groups."
Which is exactly what has happened to Ansar, says former Mukhabarat operative Mohamed. "The government does not like this 'safe haven,' and wants to destroy and destabilize everyone, everywhere," Mohamed says. "They are using [Ansar] as a base to destabilize northern Iraq, and assassinate and kill people. Baghdad will never give up supporting them."
Several additional reports unconfirmed have surfaced, alleging that Ansar leaders are sheltering senior Al Qaeda figures who slipped across the border from Iran, after fleeing Afghanistan.
But Sheikh Sadiq Abdulaziz, the deputy leader of the IMK now weakened by the loss of breakaway factions denies there is any link to bin Laden other than the group draws its inspiration from him.
"People who see Osama on television and hear Osama, want to be like Osama," Sheikh Sadiq says in his Halabja office. Ahson Ali Abdulaziz, one of the leaders of Ansar, is the nephew of Sheikh Sadiq and the son of IMK leader Mullah Ali Abdulaziz.
Despite these ties, some Kurdish and local Islamic leaders downplay the Ansar threat and argue that Ansar has forsaken violence.
"In Islam, we want to be martyrs, but we can't make a battle against our own people," the sheikh says, dismissing as "rumors" reports that Arabs and Al Qaeda fighters are among the militants. "[Ansar] has changed their name, their ideas, and methods."
PUK leader Jalal Talabani says that the collapse of Al Qaeda and Taliban rule will ultimately weaken the group. "Before, when there was Afghanistan, all these groups thought they had a base," he says, hurriedly clicking a set of prayer beads between his fingers. "They lost this hope, and are isolated. Now they are desperate. We are in negotiations with them that the Arabs must leave. We want to solve it peacefully. We are giving them a chance."
The Monitor will publish the account of another man tomorrow previously unknown information that could link Iraq to plans for anti-US terrorism.


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Drone Warfare and Targeted Killing
To the already complicated mix of counterterrorism as aggressive self-defense and morality in armed conflict, we must add the high technology arena of drones, or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Many argue that the combination of modern technology and sophisticated intelligence analysis all but ensure that the UAV, or drone, policy is the most effective contemporary means to conduct operational counterterrorism. The theory sounds compelling and convincing: what is more attractive than killing terrorists from the air with the use of sleek technology while minimizing risk to ground forces? We are in an age where shiny technology and seemingly sophisticated intelligence gathering and analysis converge, potentially removing the human element—and humanity—from decision-making. In the context of targeted killing, few things could be more dangerous and fraught with extraordinary risk.
Computers and advanced technology are, without a doubt, essential to intelligence gathering and other important aspects of counterterrorism and armed conflict – suggesting otherwise would be folly. But in the context of the current trend towards relaxed or flexible definitions of imminence, legitimate target and proportionality increasing reliance on technology can exacerbate rather than curtail these dangers.
Professor Amos Guiora
Legitimate Target: A Criteria-Based Approach to Targeted Killing
Guiora Op Ed Argues for Judicial Oversight of U.S. Drone Policy
Guiora Critical of Obama's Choice of Brennan as CIA Chief in Guardian Interview
Utah Law Review Symposium to Consider the Limits of Technological Warfare
Guiora Considers U.S., Israel Drone Strike Policies in LA Times Op-Ed
Drone Policy: A Proposal Moving Forward (Jurist)
Targeted Killing: The Limits of Power (e-International Relations)
Targeted killing's 'flexibility' doctrine that enables US to flout the law of war (The Guardian)
Drone strikes: What the U.S. could learn from Israel (L.A. Times [Blowback])
Targeted Killings as Active Self-Defense
Anticipatory Self-Defence and International Law – A Re-Evaluation
Determining a Legitimate Target: The Dilemma of The Decision Maker
The Drone Paradigm, warandpeacetalk.com
Civilian Use of Drones, China News Radio (CRI)
Israeli Legal Expert: Lack of Judicial Oversight in Targeted Killings a 'Recipe for Disaster' (PRI's The World)
Finger on the Joystick: A Drone Expert Weighs in on American Policy (Chicago Policy Review)
Targeted Killings: Carte Blanche to Kill? (The Kojo Nnamdi Show)
Drone wars and state secrecy – how Barack Obama became a hardliner (Guardian)
"Amos Guiora knows all about the pitfalls of targeted assassinations, both in terms of legal process and the risk of killing the wrong people or causing civilian casualties. The University of Utah law professor spent many years in the Israel Defence Forces, including time as a legal adviser in the Gaza Strip where such killing strikes are common. He knows what it feels like when people weigh life-and-death decisions.
Yet Guiora – no dove on such matters – confessed he was "deeply concerned" about President Barack Obama's own "kill list" of terrorists and the way they are eliminated by missiles fired from robot drones around the world. He believes US policy has not tightly defined how people get on the list, leaving it open to legal and moral problems when the order to kill leaves Obama's desk. "He is making a decision largely devoid of external review," Guiroa told the Observer, saying the US's apparent methodology for deciding who is a terrorist is "loosey goosey"."
The Tortured Logic of Obama's Drone War (The New Atlantis)
"Amos Guiora, a University of Utah law professor who was personally involved in targeted-killing decisions during service in the Israel Defense Forces, argues that "there is a fundamental difference between drone attacks as presently conducted and targeted killing, for the latter is person-specific whereas the former seems to result in not insignificant collateral damage" — a factor of immense moral import."
Professor Wayne McCormack
U.S. Killing of U.S. Citizens
Utah Law Review Symposium to Consider the Limits of Technological Warfare
Conference Documents


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Enforcement of medical billing compliance issues is on the rise. Audits of healthcare providers are on the rise. Doctors are easy money for insurance companies and the government. We all know colleagues who have been audited and ultimately had to pay the insurance company and/or been fined by authorities. Some have lost their licenses and some have even been sent to jail. The federal government recoups $8 for every $1 it spends on enforcement. That figure is even greater for private health insurance companies' audits. The primary areas investigated during an audit include illegal discounts and anti-kickback violations. Don't make yourself an easy target!
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Anti kick back laws were established in 1972 to prohibit remuneration (kickbacks) for services reimbursable under federal healthcare programs. Many states have similar laws in place for private payors as well.
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Enacted in 1981. CMS is responsible for enforcing non-fraudulent aspects and the OIG is responsible for enforcing CMPs that involve fraud or false representations. CMPs can add up to $10,000 per item or service!!
False Claims Act
False claims act violations happen in normal everyday practice unknowingly by many providers. Examples of such violations include, up coding, down coding, unbundling codes, kickbacks, and improperly waiving coinsurance or deductibles.
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It is in violation of most private insurance agreements to have a different rate for cash patients vs. insurance patients. Many PIP/Medpay carriers use this as a reason to discount bills as well. This is a common theme for board complaints and fines.
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Section 1128A(a)(5) of the Social Security Act prohibits a provider from offering a Medicare beneficiary any remuneration that should likely influence the beneficiary's selection of a particular provider of payable items or services. Violations may subject the provider to civil monetary penalties o up to $10,000 for each wrongful act.
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Articles by Stephane Giroux
Stephane GirouxContact
Stephane Giroux is a bit of an oddity in the media landscape. He's probably the only journalist at CTV who was asked to learn to speak English on his very first day on the job back in 1994.
Stephane grew up in Town of Mount-Royal and studied journalism and political science at Concordia University, Upon graduation, he moved to the Gaspé coast, where he became a reporter at the English-language weekly The Spec, which serves the local English-speaking community. He also doubled as a freelancer for the Québec Daily Le Soleil, allowing him to navigate in both English and French, fulfilling his dream of connecting Canada's linguistic duality.
After a short stint doing TV and radio for Radio-Canada's Gaspé office, Stéphane returned to Montreal, and began a long, fruitful career at CFCF-12, the precursor of CTV Montreal.
Stephane began covering the courthouse beat almost by chance, replacing a reporter who couldn't go. He liked it immediately, and year later, he was awarded the Leon Levinson bursary at McGill University, as an acknowledgement of his work at the courthouse. He began his law degree but the journalism call was too strong, and he returned to the newsroom a year later.
Stephane obtained his second professional nod in 1997 as a finalist in the Radio and Television Directors Award (RTNDA, now RTDNA) for his incursion into the silently emerging opioid crisis.
Other rewarded work involves team efforts for major inquiries like ambulance response time, the emergence of street gangs, and countless election nights.
Stéphane's most memorable news coverage involves the nail-biting Quebec referendum night in 1995, the physically trying Ice Storm of 1998 during which he lived out of his camper, the changing realities of society after Sept. 11, and some surprising, and sometimes traumatizing criminal trials at the Montreal courthouse. The most notables were those of biker gang members, who's blind brutality shocked the province. Though nothing equalled covering the Charbonneau Commission in 2012, an investigation into corruption in the construction industry. The two-year assignment exposed widespread corruption between organized crime figures, fundraisers, political figures, and shady contractors.
In recent years, Stéphane has devoted his energy to the cause of freedom of the press. He was president of the Federation Professionnelle des Journalistes du Québec, (FPJQ) pressuring authorities to respect transparency, access to information, freedom of speech while denouncing attempts to intimidate or silence journalism.
Stephane is a father of two, grandfather of one. He likes photography, fishing, Quebec history, and rock music: the louder the better.


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Max Irons is featured in an editorial photo spread in the May 2011 issue of U.S. Vogue magazine.
See the original article HERE. Photos by Bruce Weber.
Model and actress Natalia Vodianova unpacks a cinematic urban summer wardrobe at the iconic Chateau Marmont and finds young Hollywood talents behind every door.
Other actors featured in this photo spread include Isabel Lucas, André Balazs, Martin Henderson, Dave Franco, Ethan Peck, Matthew Gray Gubler and Ed Harris.
Read more at ONTD: http://ohnotheydidnt.livejournal.com/58374026.html#cutid1#ixzz1JbDqHynu


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Homebuilders' Confidence Strongest in More Than 7 Years
By Richard Leong
NEW YORK -- U.S. homebuilder confidence rose in July to its strongest level in 7½ years as tightening supply and solid demand even in the face of rising mortgage rates fueled the sector's recovery, data from the National Association of Home Builders released Tuesday showed.
The NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market index rose to 57, its highest level since January 2006, from a revised 51 in June.
Analysts polled by Reuters had projected the index likely held at its originally reported June level of 52.
Readings above 50 mean more builders view market conditions as favorable than poor. Last month was the first time that the index, which is seen as a proxy on future home construction, has been above that dividing line since April 2006.
"Today's report is particularly encouraging in that it shows improvement in builder confidence across every region as well as solid gains in current sales conditions, traffic of prospective buyers and sales expectations for the next six months," NAHB chairman Rick Judson said in a statement.
The government will release its June report on housing starts Wednesday at 8:30 a.m. Eastern time. Economists forecast home construction likely grew at an annualized pace of 959,000 units last month, faster than May's 914,000 unit rate and which would be its quickest pace since March.
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But Judson cautioned proposed changes to mortgage interest deduction and federal support for the housing finance system might disrupt the housing recovery.
Still the housing sector, along with the labor market, has gained traction in recent months. They have enhanced the chances the Federal Reserve might reduce its bond-purchase stimulus later this year, even though some economists said the overall economy is too fragile for the central bank to make such a move.
The survey's index on homebuilders' view on current sales conditions rose 5 points to 60 points, its highest level since early 2006, the industry group said.
Homebuilders felt even more optimistic for the coming months with the gauge of expectations for single-family home sales for the next six months accelerating to 67 from a revised 60, while the component on prospective buyer traffic increased 5 points to 45. Both sub-indexes strengthened to levels not seen since late 2005.
"Builders are seeing more motivated buyers coming through their doors as the inventory of existing homes for sale continues to tighten," NAHB Chief Economist David Crowe said in a statement. "Meanwhile, as the infrastructure that supplies home building returns, some previously sky-rocketing building material costs have begun to soften."


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Your morning roundup for Jan. 4, the day we thanked Apocephalus borealis. Photo via Mocksession. Got any stories or photos for us? Tip your editors.
What we watched: The offensively challenged Sugar Bowl. Denard Robinson's performance was a new level of awful for victorious college football: 9-for-21 for 117 yards, two TDs (both of which should have been intercepted), and one interception, plus 13 yards rushing on 13 attempts. Sure, Michigan may have won, but they can count their blessings and thank a third-string kicker, a botched fake punt, and an offensive lineman with good hands. The Wolverines' performance wasn't gritty, and they didn't fight through adversity; they stumbled into victory thanks to a Virginia Tech team ever-so-willing to give it away.
What we're watching (all times EST, unless noted): Washington at Orlando in NBA basketball at 7 (NBATV). Duke at Temple (ESPN2) and Marquette at Georgetown (ESPNU) in men's college basketball at 7. Boston at New Jersey in NHL hockey at 7:30 (NBCSN). Tennessee at Memphis at 8 (Fox Sports Net). West Virginia vs. Clemson in the Orange Bowl at 8:30 (ESPN). Texas at Iowa State in men's college basketball at 9 (ESPNU). Houston at Los Angeles Clippers in NBA basketball at 10:30 (NBATV).
Read Me
Your job's not so bad compared to this: "Nearly all these laborers are in desperate need of a job, especially as the events of March capsized an economy just beginning to emerge from years of recession. Some are reportedly offered salaries of around $80 a day; others, in very dangerous spots, $500 an hour. Though most are allowed to put in no more than two hours a day at the plant itself, the whole process-of being bused to the area, clothed, checked, briefed, and checked again-takes up eight hours every day. Many leave their inns at four A.M. The courage and self-sacrifice involved in such a commitment would win admiration anywhere, but in Japan they carry a special charge; duty and obedience are the country's sovereign virtues. Nearly every Japanese myth speaks of some heroic figure who risked death rather than let down his lord or his group. Some have likened the Fukushima 50 to the 47 ronin, the leaderless samurai who ultimately had to commit suicide, but only after avenging their fallen master. Others might recall Benkei, the loyal retainer who died on his feet after protecting his lord, Yoshitsune. Six days before Gale meets the workers, I happened to run into a 69-year-old artist from Tokyo, Shinsuke Notomi, who comes from a high-ranking samurai family. 'Many people still observe Bushido,' he says, referring to the samurai code. 'The more you feel, the less you say. You should be ready to die every day.'" [Vanity Fair]
This Date In Deadspin History
Jan. 4, 2009: Peyton Manning: Still A Choker?
Mike Francesa will retire soon, maybe: "Mike Francesa is leaning toward leaving WFAN when his contract expires in March 2014, the station's longtime afternoon drive time host said Tuesday. Speaking after a show on which he hinted on the air he was mulling his future, Francesa initially said it was '50-50, at best' that he would return, then added, 'I'm even saying I'm leaning toward leaving.'" [Newsday]
Dedicated to your craft: "Good thing the 13-time Grand Slam champ upped her fitness regimen as part of her bid to come back from being sidelined for the better part of a year after her victory at Wimbledon in 2010. 'I just decided if I can be fit, that can be a new level in my game, because I've always been — I think — a halfway decent player,' Williams said. 'So I thought, 'OK, what haven't I done? I've never really been fit.' I'm still not super fit, I always have cream sodas at night. But I've been doing some running. I hate running, but I've been doing more running, distance running.'" [ESPN]
Your Action Figures Fighting Interlude:
Useless awards: "Because the world can never have enough awards shows, the NFL is bringing you its very own. 'NFL Honors' will be a live, two-hour NFL Network special on February 4th, the night before the Super Bowl. Alec Baldwin will be the host. [...] The show will see some significant awards presented, though. The AP's MVP award will be announced that night, as well as Coach of the Year, Rookie of the Year, Comeback Player of the Year and the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year. There are also some sillier awards, like the Fantastic Finish or Fantasy Player of the Year." [Shutdown Corner]
Putting the student in student-athlete: "Ryan Garvey, son of Dodger and Padre all-star Steve Garvey, won't be playing baseball at USC after all. Despite attending one semester there on a baseball scholarship, the former Palm Desert High School star transferred to Riverside Community College for the spring semester earlier this month. He plans to play baseball for RCC in the spring and enter the Major League draft in June. Ryan Garvey said his goal is to spend more time developing his baseball skill. 'I passed all my classes, I'm eligible, it was great, but I was studying from 9:30 to 6 every day and I was more worried about school than baseball, and my thing was to go there to play baseball,' Ryan said. 'I love 'SC, it was one of my dream schools from the beginning, but my main goal is to be a professional baseball player and I felt I was more focused on school than sports.'" [mydesert.com, via Big League Stew]
Send stories, photos, and anything else you might have to firstname.lastname@example.com.


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The IMPress Listings plugin has been deprecated. The features of IMPress Listings will soon be consolidated with IMPress for IDX Broker.
Have full control of how your featured listings are presented on your real estate WordPress website.
IMPress Listings creates a fully responsive listing management system and works with nearly any WordPress theme. The plugin allows MLS integration through the use of the IMPress for IDX Broker plugin. IMPress Listings also allows for manual entry and management of listings directly within the WordPress interface.
View a demo of the plugin in action: IMPress Listings demo
Importing from your MLS
No more typing in listing information that you have already added to your MLS. With IMPress Listings and IMPress for IDX Broker, you can automatically import listing details.
*IDX Broker subscription required.
Default Taxonomies and Terms
- Status (Active, Sold, Pending, For Rent, Reduced, New)
- Property Types (Residential, Condo, Townhome, Commercial)
- Localização
- funcionalidades
Use the taxonomy creation tool to create your own way of classifying listings (i.e. bedrooms, bathrooms, locations, price ranges) and use those taxonomies to allow users to search for listings. Then, reorder the taxonomies as needed.
Find listings by taxonomy using filters in the WordPress admin.
Google My Business
Connect IMPress Listings to your verified Google My Business profile to generate and schedule timely posts, photos of your listings, and more.
The automatic scheduler can be used to create and share posts to highlight featured listings, open house announcements, recent sales, local expertise, and more.
Posts have the potential to bring leads and clients directly to your IDX-enabled website for more home search opportunities. Google My Business posts are archived on a weekly basis, so automating the process with the scheduler is an easy way to maintain your real estate business's online presence.
- Automatic posting requires a verified Google My Business account with a verified location.
Migrating from AgentPress Listings
If you're using the AgentPress Listings plugin, we've made it easy to switch to IMPress Listings. The plugin uses the same post type name and data fields (plus several more) so all your entered listing data will remain in place.
Property Display
IMPress Listings automatically creates individual listings pages for your imported properties that can be managed in your WordPress dashboard. These pages can be linked, shared or searched from anywhere else on your site.
Choose to show or hide specific fields (pricing, square ft, etc.) with one click.
Supported property fields:
* Price
* Address
* Country
* MLS Number
* Year Built
* Floors
* Square Feet
* Lot Square Feet
* Bedrooms
* Bathrooms
* Half Baths
* Garage
* Pool
* Open House date and time
* Photo gallery
* Video or virtual tour
* Map
* and more!
Formulários de contato
Listing pages include a contact form for visitors to inquire about a property, or the form can be replaced with your own form plugin shortcode.
Save time by adding a contact form to all listings instead of one at a time.
Flair for Developers
A lot of developer goodies came in WordPress 4.4, including API support. Developers looking to use the latest WordPress tools will love IMPress Listings.
We have built in WordPress API support for the listing post type and default taxonomies. This will allow skilled developers to create their own applications around listing content.
There is also support for taxonomy featured images. Assign an image for active properties, solds, featured listings, neighborhoods, or any other taxonomy you might create.
Uses code from the following plugins:
Single Post Template by Nathan Rice
AgentPress Listings by StudioPress
AgentPress Listings Taxonomy Reorder by Robert Iseley
Imagens de tela
- Upload the entire
wp-listingsfolder to the
- Ative o plugin por meio do menu "Plugins" no WordPress
- Begin creating listings and listing taxonomies
How to use the listings shortcode
Basic usage
Just enter the following shortcode on any post or page
Advanced usage
The shortcode accepts the following parameters:
id = listing post id (accepts one or more id's), exclusive, cannot be combined with other parameters, except for columns
limit = limit the number of posts to show, defaults to all
columns = display output in columns, accepts values 2-6, default is 1 column
taxonomy = taxonomy to display (must be used with the term parameter)
term = term to display (must be used with the taxonomy parameter)
Example advanced usage:
[listings taxonomy="status" term="active" limit="10″ columns="3″]
This will display all listings in the "Status" taxonomy, assigned to the "Active" term, limited to 10 listings, in 3 columns
Can I import listings from my MLS?
Yes. With an IDX Broker subscription and adding their IMPress for IDX Broker plugin to your site, IMPress Listings can import featured properties from the MLS.
I already use the AgentPress Listings plugin, can I use this plugin?
Yes. This plugin can be used instead of the AgentPress Listings plugin. It uses the same post type name and custom field names (along with several new fields), so the posts you've added using AgentPress, along with the associated meta data, will remain attached to the listing post. Just be sure to deactivate AgentPress before activating IMPress Listings.
How can I create a custom single listing template?
Name your template file
single-listing-CUSTOM-NAME.php(replace CUSTOM NAME with your own descriptive name). You can use the single-listing.php within the plugins /includes/views/ folder for a guide on how to display the post type data. You'll need to include the following block of text at the top of your custom template:
Single Listing Template: Test Template
Description: Give it a description to help identify
How can I remove the default property status terms or property type terms?
It's possible to remove the default property status terms by using a filter in your theme or custom plugins. Here is an example for the status terms:
/* Remove Default Status Terms from IMPress Listings */ add_filter( 'wp_listings_default_status_terms', 'custom_default_status_terms' ); function custom_default_status_terms() { $status_terms = array(); return $status_terms; }
Here is an example for the property terms:
/* Remove Default Property Terms from IMPress Listings */ add_filter( 'wp_listings_default_property_type_terms', 'custom_default_property_type_terms' ); function custom_default_property_type_terms() { $property_type_terms = array(); return $property_type_terms; }
Colaboradores e desenvolvedores
"IMPress Listings" é um software com código aberto. As seguintes pessoas contribuíram para este plugin.Colaboradores
"IMPress Listings" foi traduzido para 2 localizações. Agradecemos aos tradutores por suas contribuições.
Traduzir "IMPress Listings" para o seu idioma.
Interessado no desenvolvimento?
Navegue pelo código, dê uma olhada no repositório SVN ou assine o registro de desenvolvimento via RSS.
Registro de alterações
Released 04-27-2021
* Added deprecation notice: functionality being moved to a future release of the IMPress for IDX Broker plugin (v3.0.0)
Released 02-03-2021
* New: Subdivision core field added to imported IDXB listings
* Fix: Resolves issues with field names when importing supplemental listings
Released 10-20-2020
* New: Google My Business redesign
* Fix: jQuery error that could appear when attempting to import IDX Broker listings
* Fix: Replaced usage of ABSPATH for including files
* Fix: Resolves rest route registration warnings
Released 6-30-2020
* Fix: Error handling compatibility issue during the listing import process when using PHP 7+
* Fix: Resolves issue that prevented use of a theme provided single-listing.php as the default listing post template
Released 6-17-2020
* Fix: Resolves minor styling issue on Google My Business scheduling page
Released 6-11-2020
* Feature: Automated posting to Google My Business (for IDX Broker users with a Platinum-level account)
* Fix: Resolves issue where listing posts would not display properly on the /listings/ page
* Fix: Custom listing post templates can be loaded from the current theme's directory
* Fix: Listing posts missing link to full IDX Broker details page if setting is enabled
* Fix: Resolves console error that could appear on some listing posts
Released 3-19-2020
* Feature: Ability to import advanced field data with IDX Broker listings (requires an IDX Broker account and the IMPress for IDX Broker plugin installed, version 2.6.0 or higher)
* Feature: Layout templates have been added to listings posts
Released 12-23-2019
* Fix: Resolved error preventing IDX listings from appearing in the import section
Released 10-10-2019
* Update: Improved listing import functionality
Released 07-23-2019
* Updated: New look for the Import IDX Listings page
* Feature: Better error reporting on listings that fail to import
Released 03-05-2019
* Fix: IDX Broker listing import
Release 08-28-2018
* Fix: Changed Status taxonomy REST base to listing-status to prevent collision with post status.
Released 03-25-17
* Fix: Change font awesome handle to prevent collision with other loaded versions
* Fix: Change sold listings to use propStatus instead of archiveStatus
* Fix: Change listing importer to not append to status taxonomy when updating, only replace
* Fix: Added delay to masonry script on listing importer page to allow everything to load before initializing
* Fix: Added acres field in lieu of lot sq ft. Listing importer now respects this field.
Released 05-25-17
* Feature: Added option to set title/permalink for imported listings
* Feature: Added option to automatically import featured listings
* Feature: All featured listing images are now added to imported listings
* Updated: Settings page now uses tabbed sections for better UX
Released 01-12-17
* Fixed: Fatal error on single listing template
* Feature: Option to select default author for imported listings
Released 12-13-16
* Feature: Option to add link to IDX Broker details page on imported listings
* Fixed: Imported IDX Broker listings use the proper status for sold listings
Released 10-20-16
* Feature: Option to send default contact form entries to IDX middleware as a lead
* Feature: Delete all option to IDX imported listings
* Feature: Support for selective refresh for widgets in the customizer
* Fixed: Imported listings – Issue with price field being deleted on update
* Fixed: PHP warnings with some MLS disclaimers on imported listings
Released 09-13-16
* Fixed: Imported listings – Image markup only included if it exists in disclaimer
* Fixed: Imported listings – Ensure price is pulled from listingPrice field
Released 08-18-16
* Fixed: Added Google Maps API key field in Settings
* Fixed: Notice query arg showing on incorrect post types
* Updated: Recaptcha class for PHP7 compatibility
Released 06-02-16
* Fixed: Imported listings will not reset taxonomy terms on update
* Fixed: MLS compliance photo adjacent courtesy display
* Fixed: Disclaimer and courtesy parsing due to IDX API change
Released: 04-21-16
* Added: Global disclaimer
* Added: Currency symbol and currency code support
* Added: Meta field for county
* Added: Video field shortcode support
* Fixed: Imported listings reverting to draft
* Fixed: Text domain added/changed for better translation support
* Fixed: PHP warning for unset options
* Fixed; PHP error when importing but return is empty
* Fixed: Spelling for lot size field
* Fixed: Label on settings page float issue
* Fixed: Jetpack Related Posts not showing on non-listing post types
* Updated: Support Text mode on gallery editor
* Updated: Helper functions
- Fix: Update Listing importer to account for API change
- Fix: Listing importer update to use wp_cron to reduce immediate server load
- Added: Lazy Load added to Listing importer to reduce load times with many property images
- Added: Listing post type support added to Jetpack sitemap
- Added: Connected Agents with IMPress Agents output on single listings
- Added: Google Recaptcha support for default contact form
- Fix: HTML class output for statuses
- Fix: WP API undefined function call
- Updated: WP API support
- Fix: Custom wrapper on single listing template
- Fix: Fatal error on some web hosts
- Fix: Some IDX listing import settings not being respected
- Added: Listing importer for IDX Broker. Import your listings into WordPress! Import additional photos and data with Equity.
- Added: listing_meta shortcode to output arbitrary listing meta data. e.g use listing_meta key="price" to output price.
- Added: Listing meta fields for lat/long, country, half bath, custom disclaimer, and others.
- Added: Auto-map feature for listings with lat/long available. Option available to turn this off on single listings.
- Added: Global option for default form shortcode.
- Added: Option for a custom HTML wrapper to allow better compatibility with more themes.
- Added: Support for WP core REST API. Listings and default taxonomy endpoints added. GET and POST supported. GET method returns supported listing meta data, filterable with wp_listings_allowed_api_meta_keys
- Added: Listings admin menu filtering for default taxonomies: Status, Property Types, Locations
- Added: Listings added to "At a Glance" Dashboard widget.
- Added: Filter for additional details meta boxes using wp_listings_additional_details_meta_boxes
- Added: Filter for imported listing photo gallery markup using wp_listings_imported_image_markup (Equity only)
- Added: Support for featured images for listing taxonomy terms. (WP 4.4+ required)
- Added: Checkbox to hide price on individual listings and optionally enter price placeholder.
- Added: Admin notice class.
- Added: Support for List or Excerpt view in Listings Admin.
- Added: Support for new heading hierarchy, post type and taxonomy labels in WP 4.4.
- Updated: Font Awesome version to 4.5.0
- Fix: Support taxonomy template overrides.
- Fix: Support shortcodes in video field.
- Update single listing template to display IDX imported data
- Update widgets to use PHP5 object constructors
- Added support for listings to Jetpack JSON Rest API
- Fixed i18n in shortcode output h/t newlocalmedia
- Added basic schema support to Single Listings Template (single-listing.php)
- Added basic anti-spam check to native contact form in single-listing.php
- Added support for Jetpack publicize and markdown editors
- Added Jetpack shortcode links in messages about shortcodes
- Added DNS Prefetch Support for scripts used on Single Listings Template
- Added translation to text strings in listings shortcode
- Minified CSS for better site performance, SCSS files included
- Updates to script calls to improve site performance
- Updated jQuery Validate to 1.13.1
- Updated to Font Awesome 4.3.0
- Updated .pot file
- Fixed WP 4.1 issue with photo gallery editor meta box
- Set with_front on rewrite rules for taxonomies. h/t bhubbard
- Fix undefined index for default state
- Set with_front parameter to false in rewrite rules
- Update for WP 4.0 compatibility
- Update Font Awesome version number and URL
- Compatibility with Equity theme framework
- CSS fix for thumbnail overlays with shortcode and archive pages
- Fix for undefined variables in featured istings widget and single listing contact form
- Make default registered terms (status, property-type) filterable
- Make default taxonomy names and slugs translatable, improve translation
- Add
[listings]shortcode to output listings on any post or page
- Add ability to change permalink slug to prevent conflicts
- Rewrite backend settings fields options to simplify
- Add function to flush rewrite rules on plugin deactivation
- Add Genesis CPT archive settings support
- Remove widget list item margins affecting some themes
- Add classes to search widget output for additional styling
- Add priority to author box removal action on Genesis HTML5 themes
- Update Font Awesome version number and use minified version
- Change default taxonomies to be hierarchical (except features)
- Updated class output for listing status overlay to remove spaces and replace with hyphens
- Remove unused Categories column from admin page
- Remove faulty responsive video CSS. Use fitvids.js instead for videos on single listings
- Add HTML classes for CSS layout compatibility with a number of various themes
- Rename translation template file
- Fix for connected agents markup conditional function call
- CSS fix for widget overlays on themes that absolutley positioned them
- Added ability to select an image size in the Featured Listing widget. This allows you to set a custom image size in your theme.
- Initial public release