text:
Local favorite Mr. Ronnie's Famous Hot Donuts will be expanding throughout the state, a process that has been in the works for almost two and half years.
Local favorite Mr. Ronnie's Famous Hot Donuts will be expanding throughout the state, a process that has been in the works for almost two and half years.
Director of Franchise Development for Mr. Ronnie's, Rocky McMillian, said the first new shop will be in Baton Rouge, and they hope to open it up in the next few months. The second shop will be in Lafourche Parish by late February or early March.
McMillian said the franchisee in Lafourche has yet to decide if he wants to open his Mr. Ronnie's in Mathews or in Galliano.
"He has a contract for two units; he's just trying to determine which one he wants to do first," McMillian told the Lafourche Parish Council at the Sept. 24 meeting.
General Manager Wendy Picou said she's glad some of the early franchisees are local.
"We're just trying to make sure we dot our I's and cross our T's to make sure we train our franchisees properly and give them all of the support that they need to become a success as well," she said.
McMillian said a strategic analysis wasn't completed on potential locations, because most places were no-brainers.
"The competition level out there is minimal," McMillian said.
At the Lafourche Parish Council meeting, McMillian said Mr. Ronnie's will unveil 10 new locations in the next year. Though McMillian said the company isn't ready to reveal other locations, he said there has been interest in Lafayette, Hammond, Mandeville, Alexandria and Patterson as well as out-of-state interest as well. Picou said the amount of interest, especially in out-of-state locations like North Dakota, Colorado and North Carolina, has taken her by surprise.
Exactly when and where the company expands will be determined by the success of the new chains.
"It's called clustering; we're going to try to cluster our expansion. First we're going to start with southeast Louisiana. Then we'll go north, then west or east, whatever the branches bring in," McMillian said.
When the Picou Family started Mr. Ronnie's, they had no idea it would become as popular as it has, Wendy Picou said.
"Our goal was just to provide the best doughnuts that we could make for our community," she said.
Ronnie and Linda Picou bought a Tasty Donut franchise from Al Copeland in 1976, not knowing that the Ronnie's name would become synonymous with hot glazed doughnuts at any hour and "Mr. Ronnie Burgers" in the bayou region.
The couple sold the franchise eight years later but were hounded by requests for "Mr. Ronnies hot doughnuts," or "Mr. Ronnie's famous doughnuts," Wendy Picou said.
Picou said that led the family to open up its own store in March of 1994, "named by the people over the course of ten years stating how they missed dad's famous hot doughnuts."
As the Houma-based store has increased in popularity, customers from outside of Louisiana have asked for a Mr. Ronnie's in their hometowns. Picou said the family considered franchising the company, but was always overwhelmed by the process and returned to running the local store.
Picou credits McMillian for finally getting the process of expanding started.
McMillian has led the charge of preparing the business for franchising, laying the groundwork for the expansion and working with potential franchisees.
The process has been hectic, Picou said.
"Not only are we in the franchising part of it and moving that forward, but we still have a 24/7 business to run," she said.
Picou said their family attended a three-day seminar on franchising, after agreeing to work with Francorp. Upon finishing the third day of the seminar, Picou said she and her family were wondering if they had a made a mistake.
"Before we do anything we pray about it first and we were just saying, 'Lord, did we just make a big mistake?' " Picou said.
Shortly after, Picou said she got on Facebook to pass the time and the first thing that popped her on newsfeed was an artist rendering of Jesus breaking a round piece of bread with what appeared to be a hole in the middle.
"Come on, man, that's a doughnut that he just took a bite out of," Picou laughed. "I had never seen this picture before, and even my mom was behind me asking if it was a doughnut. Now we're in this full force."
Picou said they want to feature their future franchisees, helping to put the spotlight on the new chains.
"We took a leap of faith, and here we are," she said. "We're learning a lot, and we're doing our best to move forward and do exactly that, which was our original goal to bring our donuts to as many people as we can."
Staff Writer Jacob Batte can be reached at 448-7635 or firstname.lastname@example.com. Follow him on Twitter @ja_batte


text:
TAMPA — Unexpectedly, Boston Bruins defenseman Dennis Wideman was scratched tonight for the game against the Tampa Bay Lightning. A team spokesperson said it was for an injury-related, as opposed to a coach's decision or other reason.
Wideman took the morning skate with the Bruins and didn't show any signs of an injury. Wideman's absence means that both rookies Matt Lashoff and Johnny Boychuk are in the line-up — leaving the Bruins with three rookies and second-year man Mark Stuart in their top six.

subset: commoncrawl


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text:
Cautionary Recall of Swabs Used For Fuzeon and Pegasys Announced
February 2011
A voluntary and cautionary recall of sterile and non-sterile alcohol swabs manufactured by the Triad Group was announced in January 2011. The swabs include alcohol prep pads, alcohol swabs and alcohol swabsticks manufactured for various brand names. The pads may be contaminated with Bacillus cereus, which could lead to life-threatening infections.
Some swabs are sold in their own boxes, available through many drugstores, while some are packaged with injected prescriptions. People living with HIV and/or HCV should examine swabs that are packaged with their prescription HIV drug Fuzeon or with the HCV drug Pegasys. The swabs packaged with other injected drugs, such as Boniva and Nutropin, are also affected.
To identify which swabs should be discarded or returned to the store, people should look at the label for "manufactured by Triad Group." The swabs packaged under other brand names may not be marked like that and include: include: Boca/ Ultilet, Cardinal Health, Conzellin, CVS, Moore Medical, PSS Select, VersaPro and Walgreens. People can call with questions at 262-538-2900, M-F.
Important Information About Alcohol Prep Pads Packaged With Fuzeon and Certain Other Injection Products
This article was provided by Project Inform. It is a part of the publication Project Inform Perspective. Visit Project Inform's website to find out more about their activities, publications and services.
Add Your Comment:
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text:
The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) was adopted in 1979 by the United Nations General Assembly and initiated in 1981 after its ratification by 20 member states; today 185 countries are party to CEDAW. The United States Senate--under both Democrat and Republican leadership--has consistently chosen not to ratify it, with good reason.[1]
While women's groups and some politicians have lobbied the Senate to ratify CEDAW, arguing that it would be a useful instrument in championing women's rights at home and abroad, the treaty has rarely made it out of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee for full Senate consideration.[2] The reasons that the Senate has historically rejected CEDAW remain relevant, particularly the challenges it would create for the United States' federalized system of government. Furthermore, the 30 years that have passed since CEDAW's inception continue to illustrate how little the treaty has accomplished to improve women's rights in some of the most oppressive nations that have ratified it, such as Saudi Arabia, and how United Nations "experts" have used the treaty to create new rights and to intimidate countries into adopting radical social policies.
The U.S. Constitution has been a far better protector of women's rights in America than has any international treaty, and the Senate should not subject the Constitution to this one. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee, the full Senate, and the White House must more effectively explain to Americans, particularly women, why CEDAW and the United Nations are not protectors of their interests.
CEDAW's Purpose and Politicization
CEDAW contains many points that mirror America's efforts to promote equal opportunity for women, yet it also poses many problems for America's federalist system of government and the rights established in the U.S. Constitution. Many of the issues with which CEDAW concerns itself, such as access to health care and education, belong under the purview of state or local jurisdiction in the U.S. constitutional order.[3]
CEDAW requires national governments to work toward eliminating gender-based discrimination in every area of life, using this expansive definition of discrimination against women:
Any distinction, exclusion or restriction made on the basis of sex which has the effect or purpose of impairing or nullifying the recognition, enjoyment or exercise by women, irrespective of their marital status, on a basis of equality of men and women, of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural, civil or any other field.[4]
Any distinction, exclusion or restriction made on the basis of sex which has the effect or purpose of impairing or nullifying the recognition, enjoyment or exercise by women, irrespective of their marital status, on a basis of equality of men and women, of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural, civil or any other field.[4]
Furthermore, countries that have ratified CEDAW are evaluated based on their compliance with CEDAW by the CEDAW Committee, which meets at the United Nations several times a year.[5] The committee consistently oversteps its mandate, acting as a quasi-judicial body issuing forceful instructions to countries that often do not share its radical social agenda, and committee meetings inevitably serve as a forum for reinterpreting the terms agreed upon by the treaty members.
CEDAW is an ineffective and inappropriate instrument for advancing women's rights around the world. In the case of gross abuses of women's rights, such as sex trafficking or female circumcision, it has been less effective than targeted instruments to address them, such as the American-led effort to adopt the United Nations Protocol to Prevent, Suppress, and Punish Trafficking in Persons.[6]
In the case of American women, their freedom and personal dignity are best protected by the U.S. Constitution and the rule of law it establishes. The United States should continue to advance the standing of women domestically and abroad by refusing to ratify CEDAW.
The Enforcers: The CEDAW Committee
The CEDAW Committee was created in 1982 to monitor states' implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and issue recommendations for how states can better comply with the treaty.[7] The committee is what is known in U.N. lingo as a "treaty body."[8]
Members of the CEDAW Committee are self-identified gender experts chosen from the various countries that are party to CEDAW--although they serve in their individual capacities, and not as official representatives of their country's governments.[9] Elected by countries participating in CEDAW, they serve terms of four years and are eligible for re-election. Each country that is party to CEDAW must submit written and oral reports to the committee every four years. The committee questions the delegation and issues concluding observations and recommendations for the state party to follow.[10] In practice, the CEDAW Committee habitually bullies the delegations sent to deliver their countries' reports. The committee pressures state parties to change their domestic policies, and most alarmingly, it regularly reads more into the convention than exists in the actual text of the document. Although the committee is not technically a judicial body, its conclusions and recommendations have been cited in court decisions around the world, including the U.S. Supreme Court.[11]
The CEDAW Committee in Session: A 2008 Example
The committee met for its 41st session from June 30 to July 18, 2008, to review the periodic reports submitted by Yemen, Lithuania, Nigeria, Iceland, Finland, the United Kingdom, Tanzania, and Slovakia. Its questions to the state party delegations generally focused on the following matters: whether national judiciaries are relying on CEDAW to make legislative decisions while bypassing or changing any conflicting domestic law; using quotas and incentives to achieve equal participation of women in business, politics, and academia; the division of labor and domestic responsibilities between men and women in the home; the protection of women's rights from infringement by "conservatives" and "religious people"; and, "sexual and reproductive health."
Domestication of the Convention. The committee questioned every country under review about the extent to which the convention has been incorporated into the country's domestic law, specifically inquiring about what kind of training is in place for the judiciary about how to refer to CEDAW in its rulings. For example, the committee chair asked the delegation from Slovakia whether there are any cases before Slovak courts in which CEDAW has been invoked.[12] Another committee member asked for proof that the government of Nigeria is taking the convention seriously.[13]
In its concluding observations on Lithuania's report, the committee expressed concern "that the Convention's provisions and the Committee's general recommendations are not sufficiently known by the majority of judges, lawyers, prosecutors [and women]...as indicated by the absence of any court decisions that refer to the Convention."[14] Apparently, Lithuania's proof of compliance with CEDAW depends on its judges citing the treaty. A member of the committee asked the Lithuanian representatives whether the Lithuanian constitution has any provisions that would make the application of "temporary special measures" (affirmative action) on behalf of women unconstitutional. If so, she asked, "[Are] there plans to amend the Constitution? In what area [does] Lithuania plan to apply temporary special measures?"[15]
The committee went even further than pushing countries to adopt CEDAW into law, urging them to enact legislation to comply with the committee's "general recommendations." In concluding observations on Tanzania, for example, the committee "call[ed] on the State party to accelerate its law review process and to work effectively with Parliament in ensuring that all discriminatory legislation is amended or repealed to bring it into compliance with the Convention and the Committee's general recommendations."[16] (Emphasis added.)This is an example of the committee behaving as a quasi-judicial body promulgating substantive interpretations of CEDAW, rather than confining itself to the role of a technical body of experts, as was stipulated in the treaty itself.
Quotas and De Facto Equality. Not satisfied with demonstration of equality of the sexes before the law, the CEDAW Committee seeks de facto equalization of women's status in every sphere of society, and often advocates quotas or incentives to achieve it. It recommended that Tanzania "pursue sustained policies aimed at the promotion of women's full and equal participation in decision-making as a democratic requirement in all areas of public and professional life."[17] (Emphasis added.) In its recommendations to Lithuania, the committee urged the government to "systematically adopt such laws on temporary special measures including goals and time-tables or quotas...in order to accelerate the realization of women's de facto equality with men in the areas of political and public life, education and public and private employment."[18] That is, Lithuania must adopt laws to ensure that the gender of its legislators (and presumably the rest of its government) reflects its population. During the committee review of the United Kingdom's report, one committee member asked the delegation, "how both the equality of opportunity and the equality of results would be guaranteed" (emphasis added) for women throughout the country.[19]
While especially interested in achieving gender parity in governing bodies, the committee also monitors women's participation in academia and the private sector. Consider these examples: One committee member praised Iceland for its 30 percent female representation in Parliament, and expressed her disappointment that only 18 percent of the professors at Iceland's largest university are women.[20] Another asked the Finnish delegation whether it had a timeline for increasing the number of women on the governing boards of both private and government-owned companies.[21] Lithuania was asked about what obligations the private sector faced in order to reduce job segregation and the gender pay gap.[22] Another expert voiced her concerns about women's employment in Yemen, telling Yemen's delegation that the government ought "to pursue the equality of results as opposed to the formal equality of laws. Men and women should have the same job security and equal remuneration."[23]
Family Life. Beyond the public sphere, the committee calls on state parties to enforce CEDAW by intruding into private family and household matters. It aims to modify interactions between spouses and parental decisions regarding children, regardless of how tenuously related such regulation is to the advancement of women's rights. One committee member questioned several country delegations about corporal punishment and the rights of the "girl child." She asked the delegation from Iceland whether the government is "incorporating so-called 'positive disciplining' in its educational booklets on corporal punishment prevention."[24]
Article 5 of CEDAW calls for the elimination of cultural stereotypes that discriminate against women. The CEDAW Committee uses this directive to instruct state parties on such personal matters as the division of domestic responsibilities within the family. The committee called on Yemen "to foster a better understanding of equality between women and men at all levels of society with a view to transforming stereotypical attitudes and negative cultural norms about the responsibilities and roles of women and men in the family and society."[25] It similarly recommended that Finland work "to promote equal sharing of domestic and family tasks between women and men,"[26] and that Slovakia strengthen its efforts "to fully sensitize men to their equal participation in family tasks and responsibilities."[27]
Disregard for culturally distinct patterns of pursuing the advancement of women and their preferences for work-life balance was on display in the committee's treatment of Iceland. The country sought to inform the committee about its own societal norms, explaining that women are more likely to seek part-time employment to be able to carry out their family responsibilities. The Icelandic delegation also referenced surveys that revealed that women are more likely than men to take family commitments into account in their decisions on participation in the labor market. That prompted one committee member to ask the Icelandic delegation what measures the government has taken "to change these patterns of behaviour."[28] Her assumption, which the rest of the committee seems to share, is that women do not choose to focus primarily on family responsibilities, and if they do, they must be victims of discrimination.
Sexual Orientation and Nontraditional Families. The CEDAW Committee also uses its mandate to eliminate gender discrimination as an opportunity to advance the homosexual-lobby agenda. Several members of the committee suggested that the status of women in same-sex relationships or nontraditional families ought to receive greater attention from the state parties. The expert from Brazil posed many questions regarding sexual orientation. She asked the Finnish delegation why it had not included non-heterosexual women in its list of vulnerable groups, the measures Finland is taking to promote equality for women of other sexual orientations, and data on women who are victims of hate crimes and suicide as a result of their sexual orientation.[29] Another committee member wanted to know whether co-habiting partners in Slovakia have the same rights as married couples after the dissolution of their relationship, and the government's calculation of the number of same-sex cohabiting couples.[30]
Religion and Morality. The Committee regards religious communities and individuals--particularly conservatives--as a threat to women's freedom. It regularly recommends that state parties to the convention be vigilant in monitoring such threats, instructing Slovakia, for example, to "adequately regulate the invocation of conscientious objection by health professionals so as to ensure that women's access to health and reproductive health is not limited."[31] In other words, if a Slovakian doctor invokes a conscientious objection to performing an abortion or prescribing a contraceptive, the Slovakian government must "regulate" the invocation of such an objection. The committee wants Slovakia to require doctors to perform abortions regardless of their moral or religious beliefs. The committee expects religious principles and cultural values to accommodate the convention--and the committee's recommendations--not vice versa.
Consider these remarks from one member of the committee during the review session with Nigeria's delegation about the country's proposed anti-public-nudity legislation: "Would the police go around with a tape measure to check the length of clothes or see if a breast was exposed?" She continued, declaring that women have "a right to the aesthetic of their bodies and the right to present themselves any way they [want]. A woman's body [is] the only piece of real estate on which she [owes] no mortgage. Dress codes [are] about power, and dressing a woman from head to toe [is] a form of rape."[32]
Sexual and Reproductive Health. Article 12 of CEDAW pertains to women's access to health care, specifically requiring that state parties "ensure to women appropriate services in connection with pregnancy, confinement and the post-natal period, granting free services where necessary, as well as adequate nutrition during pregnancy and lactation."[33]
CEDAW is a much-debated and carefully negotiated document, and access to abortion is not required, nor even mentioned. But the committee's actions are an entirely different matter. In its discussion of women's health, the committee focuses almost exclusively on contraception and abortion, referencing its own General Recommendation No. 24 to require countries to liberalize their laws regarding abortion.[34] The committee called on Nigeria "to assess the impact of its abortion law on the maternal mortality rate and to give consideration to its reform or modification."[35] Yemen was reminded that "contraceptives should be free or affordable."[36] One committee member wanted to know whether women in Lithuania had access to affordable contraceptives, including emergency contraceptives, and was particularly concerned about a proposalunder consideration in Lithuania to restrict legal abortion. She warned that, "If the Government [intends] to restrict abortion, the consequences would be disastrous for women."[37]
Injustice against women around the world is a reality. It is serious and sometimes even life-threatening. Regrettably, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the CEDAW Committee have done a disservice to the cases of abject discrimination against and mistreatment of women, choosing instead to focus on the advancement of a particular radical social agenda.
It is not the responsibility of the United Nations to set social policy for the United States. Americans rely on their elected representatives in state legislatures and Congress to reflect their values and traditions when legislating domestic issues such as health care, education, marriage, and family policy.
The American constitutional order protects the sphere of civil society--families, religious organizations, and private associations--from government intrusion, leaving Americans to determine the course of their private lives, including religious expression and family decisions.[38] Other matters that CEDAW addresses, such as gender equality in the workforce and political participation, are generally sorted out in the free market of ideas, without heavy-handed, government-mandated quotas. American women are free, legally and culturally, to pursue opportunities and relationships of their choosing. Americans should continue to fight incidental discrimination, while preserving the security afforded by the U.S. system of rights enshrined in the U.S. Constitution and protected under federal and state laws.
The actions of the CEDAW Committee are a stark reminder of the dangers of being a party to such multilateral treaties. The U.S. Senate should uphold its responsibility to the American people and not subject them to the tyranny of the CEDAW treaty. Ratifying CEDAW, and by extension subjecting the U.S. to the bullying of the CEDAW Committee, would neither advance women's equality nor serve American foreign policy interests, including the security and advancement of women around the globe.
Grace Smith Melton is Associate for Social Issues at the United Nations with the Richard and Helen DeVos Center for Religion and Civil Society at The Heritage Foundation.
[1]President Jimmy Carter, however, signed the Convention in 1980.
[2]Luisa Blanchfield, "The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW): Congressional Issues," CRS Report for Congress, updated October 28, 2008, at http://assets.opencrs.com/rpts/RL33652_20081028.pdf (January 5, 2009).
[3]For more detailed examples of how CEDAW undermines the family, see Patrick F. Fagan, "How U.N. Conventions on Women's and Children's Rights Undermine Family, Religion, and Sovereignty," Heritage Foundation Backgrounder No. 1407, February 5, 2001, at http://www.heritage.org/Research/InternationalOrganizations/BG1407.cfm.
[4]United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Division for the Advancement of Women, "The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women," at http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/cedaw/text/econvention.htm#article1 (January 5, 2009).
[5]The CEDAW Committee met for its 42nd session in Geneva October 20-November 7, 2008.
[6]The United States and Argentina introduced a draft protocol in 1999, and the General Assembly adopted a revised Protocol on Trafficking on November 15, 2000. For more information on the U.S. response to trafficking in persons, see Clare Ribando Seelke and Alison Siskin, "Trafficking in Persons: U.S. Policy and Issues for Congress," CRS Report for Congress, updated August 14, 2008, at http://fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/RL34317.pdf (January 5, 2009).
[7]Until this year,the CEDAW Committee fell under the purview of the United Nations Division for the Advancement of Women, but it now exists under the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.
[8]For further discussion of treaty bodies, see Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, "The United Nations Human Rights Treaty System," Fact Sheet No. 30, undated, at http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/docs/OHCHR-FactSheet30.pdf (January 5, 2009).
[9]For further discussion, see Austin Ruse, "International Law: Also at Stake this Election," The Catholic Thing, August 1, 2008, at http://thecatholicthing.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=328&Itemid=2 (January 5, 2009).
[10]"Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women-Mandate," Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, December 18, 1979, at http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cedaw/mandate.htm (January 5, 2009).
[11]For example, the concurring opinion of Justices Ginsburg and Breyer in Grutter v. Bollinger, 539 U.S. 306 (2003) stated that the majority's "observation that race-conscious programs 'must have a logical end point'" is supported by language in CEDAW and the Convention to Eliminate All Forms of Racial Discrimination.
[12]Question from chair Dubravka Šimonovi, expert from Croatia, "Reporting to Women's Anti-Discrimination Committee, Slovakia's Government Strongly Denies Involvement in Alleged Sterilization of Roma Women,"United Nations Department of Public Information, General Assembly WOM/1696, July 14, 2008, at http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2008/wom1696.doc.htm (January 5, 2009).
[13]Question from Cornelis Flinterman, expert from the Netherlands, "Nigeria Poised to Vote on Bill to Enforce Women's Anti-Discrimination Convention after Initial Rejection, Delegation of 73 Members Tells Monitoring Committee," United Nations Department of Public Information, General Assembly WOM/1691, July 3, 2008, at http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2008/wom1691.doc.htm (January 5, 2008).
[14]"Concluding observations of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women: Lithuania," CEDAW, July 18, 2008, p. 3, at http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cedaw/docs/CEDAW.C.LTU.CO.4.pdf (January 5, 2009).
[15]Question from Ms. Schöpp-Schilling, expert from Germany,"Women's Anti-Discrimination Committee Commends Lithuania's Gender Equality Laws, But Questions Draft Bill to Severely Restrict Legal Abortion," United Nations Department of Public Information, General Assembly WOM/1690, July 2, 2008, at http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2008/wom1690.doc.htm (January 5, 2009).
[16]"Concluding Observations of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women: United Republic of Tanzania," CEDAW, July 18 2008, CEDAW/C/TZA/CO/6, p. 4, at http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cedaw/docs/CEDAW.C.TZA.CO.6.pdf (January 5, 2009).
[17]Ibid., p. 8.
[18]"Concluding Observations of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women: Lithuania," p. 3.
[19]Question from Mary Shanthi Dairiam, expert from Malaysia, "United Kingdom Champions Gender Equality in Public Policy, Anti-Discrimination Legislation, But Closing Gap Between Sexes Unfinished Business, Experts Told," United Nations Department of Public Information, General Assembly WOM/1694, July 10, 2008, at http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2008/wom1694.doc.htm (January 5, 2009).
[20]Question from Meriem Belmihoub-Zerdani, expert from Algeria, "New Law on Equal Status, Equal Rights Boosts Icelandic Women's Protection, Women's Anti-Discrimination Committee Hears, But Struggle for Equality 'Long and Arduous,'"United Nations Department of Public Information, General Assembly WOM/1692, July 8, 2008, at http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2008/wom1692.doc.htm (January 5, 2009).
[21]Question from Cornelis Flinterman, "Finland's New Gender Equality Plan Will Advance Women's Rights, Prevent Domestic Violence, Reduce Gender Pay Gap, Women's Anti-Discrimination Committee Told," United Nations Department of Public Information, General Assembly WOM/1693, July 9, 2008, at http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2008/wom1693.doc.htm (January 5, 2009).
[22]Question from Mary Shanthi Dairiam, expert from Malaysia, "Women's Anti-Discrimination Committee Commends Lithuania's Gender Equality Laws, But Questions Draft Bill to Severely Restrict Legal Abortion."
[23]Question from Ms. Patten, expert from Mauritius, "Yemen's Delegation Acknowledges Obstacles to Women's Empowerment, Highlights Government's Efforts to Reverse Discriminatory Patterns, in Women's Committee,"United Nations Department of Information, General Assembly WOM/1689, July 1, 2008, at http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2008/wom1689.doc.htm (January 5, 2009).
[24]Question from Ms. Chutikul, expert from Thailand, "New Law on Equal Status, Equal Rights Boosts Icelandic Women's Protection, Women's Anti-Discrimination Committee Hears, But Struggle for Equality 'Long and Arduous.'"
[25]"Concluding Observations of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women: Yemen," CEDAW, July 18, 2008, p. 3, at http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cedaw/docs/CEDAW.C.YEM.CO.6.pdf (January 5, 2009).
[26]"Concluding Observations of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women: Finland," CEDAW, July 18, 2008, p. 6, at http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cedaw/docs/CEDAW.C.FIN.CO.6.pdf (January 5, 2009).
[27]"Concluding Observations of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women: Slovakia," CEDAW, July 18, 2008, p. 7, at http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cedaw/docs/CEDAW.C.SVK.CO.4.pdf (January 5, 2009).
[28]Question from Magalys Arocha Dominguez, expert from Cuba, "New Law on Equal Status, Equal Rights Boosts Icelandic Women's Protection, Women's Anti-Discrimination Committee Hears, But Struggle for Equality 'Long and Arduous.'"
[29]Question from Ms. Pimentel, expert from Brazil, "Finland's New Gender Equality Plan Will Advance Women's Rights, Prevent Domestic Violence, Reduce Gender Pay Gap, Women's Anti-Discrimination Committee Told."
[30]Question from Ms. Tan, expert from Singapore, "Reporting to Women's Anti-Discrimination Committee, Slovakia's Government Strongly Denies Involvement in Alleged Sterilization of Roma Women."
[31]"Concluding Observations of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women: Slovakia."
[32]Comment from Glenda Simms, expert from Jamaica, "Nigeria Poised to Vote on Bill to Enforce Women's Anti-Discrimination Convention after Initial Rejection, Delegation of 73 Members Tells Monitoring Committee."
[33]CEDAW, Article 12, ¶2.
[34]General recommendations made by the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women, General Recommendation No. 24 (20th session, 1999), at http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/cedaw/recommendations/recomm.htm#recom24 (January 5, 2009).
[35]"Concluding Observations of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women: Nigeria," July 18, 2008, p. 8, at http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cedaw/docs/CEDAW.C.NGA.CO.6.pdf (January 5, 2009).
[36]"Concluding Observations of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women: Yemen."
[37]Question from Ms. Hayashi, expert from Japan, "Women's Anti-Discrimination Committee Commends Lithuania's Gender Equality Laws, But Questions Draft Bill to Severely Restrict Legal Abortion."
[38]For a more detailed discussion of how these issues are treated at the U.N., see Jennifer A. Marshall and Grace V. Smith, "Human Rights and Social Issues at the U.N.: A Guide for U.S. Policymakers," Heritage Foundation Backgrounder No. 1965, August 31, 2006, at http://www.heritage.org/Research/WorldwideFreedom/bg1965.cfm.


text: I'm hoping you can help me find the best place to acquire black light posters. Apparently it's not the 70's anymore, so I'm having a difficult time finding quantity/quality. Any suggestions? I'd prefer shops on the north end or east side, but I'm willing to travel if there's an ultimate source.


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Friday, March 11, 2011
MGH mentors and their students celebrate science fair success
SCIENTISTS AND FRIENDS: Grant, left, and Moscato at the recognition ceremony
MARCH 5 WAS AN EXCITING DAY for budding young scientists who competed in a Boston Public Schools citywide science fair. Of the many students participating, 18 were mentored by MGH employees through the MGH Center for Community Health Improvement (CCHI) Science Fair Mentoring Program. CCHI celebrated the work of all 60 MGH mentors and their 52 James P. Timilty Middle School students during the 21st Annual Science Fair Mentoring Recognition Ceremony on March 4, the day before the citywide fair.
Through the mentoring program, MGHers guide and advise Timilty seventh- and eighth-graders as they develop science projects. The pairs meet biweekly at the hospital, and their collaborations culminate with science fairs held at school, city and state levels. Of the 18 students who went on from the school fair to compete at the city level, five will be participating in the state science fair in June.
The appreciation event featured remarks from a number of individuals involved in the program, including Rantimi Oluwasegun, a Massachusetts Promise Fellow; Christyanna Egun, director of MGH Youth Programs; Ronald Spratling, a retired Boston Public School principal; Robert Cho, a science teacher from Timilty and former MGH employee; and some of the students themselves. Each student and mentor pair also received a certificate to commemorate their completion of the program.
In addition, mentors celebrating a fifth and tenth year anniversary with the program received special acknowledgement for their service. Nancy Balch, PharmD, of MGH Pharmacy, and Allan Dolinksi, of Environmental Services, were honored for ten years. Joan Brown, of the Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, and Aileen Shen, of Pediatric Services, were recognized for reaching the five-year mark.
"These young adults are our nation's future leaders," says Dolinski. "I truly appreciate the importance of providing them with a quality education in science during their formative years, as my wife and I raised three children, and two of them are now scientists."
A total of 60 mentors from 24 departments participated in the program this year. While many mentors have been involved with the program for a long time – some for more than 20 years – others, like Lauren Moscato, of the MGH Cancer Center Protocol Office, participated for the first time. Moscato recently completed a master's program and decided she wanted to use her extra time to volunteer. Shamia Grant, the seventh-grade student with whom she worked, is glad she did.
"I like science when I'm with her," says Grant. "She makes it fun!"
Fortunately, Moscato and Grant's mentoring relationship does not end with the completion of their science project. Because of a new collaboration between the MGH/Timilty Partnership and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Massachusetts Bay, their relationship will continue throughout the summer as they meet regularly for activities and events.
Browse the Entire Newsroom Archive


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Spanish Melting Pot Garden Design
series: Central Texas Gardener
air date: 9/16/14 6:30 PM
Who influenced your garden design? See how our Spanish and Mexican melting pot impacts us today. Visit an historic home where a walled Mission-style garden features a central aqueduct.
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Fresh vegetables rule in this quick and easy saute! All of your summertime favorites are here including green beans, zucchini, corn, garlic, red peppers and onion. Toss with gnocchi, a potato pasta, for a vibrantly fresh, lovely tasting and filling meal.
I normally don't recommend using extra-virgin olive oil for sautéing, but this time around is different because vegetables are the star. You want to do everything possible to make them shine and still maintain their essence. Extra-virgin olive oil heightens their flavor without changing it and adds a luxurious touch.
The beauty of this recipe is its versatility and ease. You can throw in whatever fresh vegetables you have on hand and have it ready in about 20 minutes if you simultaneously saute veggies while cooking the gnocchi.
To make quick work of it prep the vegetables in the order they go into the pan and start cooking them right way. While the onion is cooking you have enough time to chop the rest of your vegetables. If you need to, remove the pan from the heat for a moment to catch up.
Fresh vegetables rule in this quick and easy saute with all of your summertime favorites.
- In a large skillet heat a few tablespoons olive oil over medium-low heat, saute onion until tender and translucent, add garlic saute until fragrant, add peppers, zucchini, string beans and corn. Season well with salt and pepper, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes and more olive oil, if needed. Saute until vegetables are tender, stirring often.
- Meanwhile cook gnocchi according to package directions. When vegetables are tender add drained, cooked gnocchi and fresh herbs, toss well. Serve with parmesan cheese and a drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil.
Copyright ©2013 Cinnamon Spice and Everything Nice by Reeni Pisano All Rights Reserved
I'm linking this to My Meatless Mondays hosted by Chaya of My Sweet and Savory.


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MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- The son of a slain Sikh leader in Wisconsin has taken his father's ashes to India, where they will be sprinkled into a holy river as part of the grieving process.
Amardeep Kaleka spoke with Wisconsin Public Radio from the Indian state of Punjab on Wednesday morning. He said he had with him the ashes of his father, Satwant Singh Kaleka.
He says the ashes will be poured into a river that flows toward the Ganges River. Hindus and Sikhs believe the river is holy, and that pouring a loved one's ashes into it brings the loved one closer to heaven.
The elder Kaleka was one of six Sikhs killed when a white supremacist opened fire at their temple in August.


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looking to get a new set up..just wanted to take a look at some of the wheel/tire combos you are running.
The TOYZ on Ebay has wheels 4 the MERV. Tires have great tread and have a quality job done glueing them on. Much better then the stock wheels. They are a lil bit bigger though 88mm vs 82mm, gets the stock system over 50mph without changing the spur or pinion. Ive still got to do more testing of this set as they are still new and only have 1 pack on them.
Last edited by SiNiST3R; 11-18-2012 at 02:15 PM.
J Concepts Rulux wheels with Dirt Hawg tires.
DirtHawgs on Traxxas 7171 Dish rims
BlindMan Racing
Rusty - MERV - Pede 4x4-Alias
SPC Lipo Power
Proline Dirt Hawg 1 Rear Buggys on Proline 2.2" Epic Slash Beadlocks
More Dirt Hawgs on HPI 2.2" MT Super Stars (with some paint)
Proline Sand Paws on More Super Stars
Proline Road hawgs on Traxxas rear Agitators (with some sharpie)
Dye-no-mite Pow-er Go Fast, Wirrrrr Screeeech BOOM
Buggy rear Hawgs on Axial Rebel's
Whatever it is I just typed... could be wrong.
All those are 2.2" combos. The epic bead locks are buggy tire width and the others are truck width.
Last edited by TheMajekalBum; 11-18-2012 at 05:34 PM.
Dye-no-mite Pow-er Go Fast, Wirrrrr Screeeech BOOM
3.8 anything will be wayy to big.
To run them, you would have to gear down a LOT.
Whatever it is I just typed... could be wrong.
here is some axial beadlocks AX08061 with aka vectors on it
had to put in a spacer though since the those wheels are built for a lot thicker axle stub
Everyone says to upgrade to 2.2's, but I measured the stock mini erevo wheels last night and they are about 2.2 in dia? :S
50: What are the rims with the foams on them?
The stock size is an odd ball size just a hair smaller than 2.2
Those are hpi web 2196 the 2160 have a bit more offsett like these
I believe those are proline speed hawgs with hpi super star wheels.
I have those too good for street didn't do good for speed runs
a few more!
Last edited by 50togo; 11-20-2012 at 10:51 AM.
In the first pic are Proline Speedhawgs on HPI Monster SS wheels.
Holy crap 50togo, lotsa wheels!!
the bumper is from the traxxas summit 1/16
Proline Dirthawgs 2.8 / Imex 2.8 rim
Proline Dirthhawg 2.2 / Hpi 2.2 rim
Proline Speedhawgs 2.2 / Hpi 2.2
Jconcept tense 2.2 beadlocs
Traxxas 2.2 w anacondas n summit geodes w crayons
Modded to the Max
Drive it like its Hot
Those are the neatest crayons I have ever seen.
Whatever it is I just typed... could be wrong.
Stupid auto spell, lol.
Modded to the Max
Drive it like its Hot


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RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - Officials in Raleigh are removing park signs that ban concealed weapons, but a gun rights group says the effort doesn't go far enough.
The News & Observer of Raleigh reports Grass Roots North Carolina is still lobbying the city to update its signs to reflect the state law allowing concealed guns in parks.
On Monday, Raleigh parks and recreation director Diane Sauer said the incorrect signs will be removed by Wednesday. But she added that the city won't change signs that include multiple park rules and tell visitors they cannot "possess firearms or other weapons." Those signs don't distinguish between concealed or openly carried guns.
Grass Roots President Paul Valone says his members are preparing to send the mayor rolls of duct tape to cover up the controversial text.
PREVIOUS STORY, October 25, 2013
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - A gun rights group is threatening to sue the city of Raleigh for not updating signs in city parks telling visitors that firearms aren't allowed.
The News & Observer of Raleigh reports Grass Roots North Carolina sent a letter to the Raleigh City Council this week, requesting an update. Legislation passed in 2011 allows concealed-carry permit holders to bring guns to playgrounds, greenways and college campuses.
In an email, Raleigh parks director Diane Sauer told the group it would be too expensive to replace all signs in the city's 100-plus parks, especially since the rules could change again.
City Attorney Tom McCormick said he's not familiar with the sign complaint, but he says the city won't enforce any gun rules that were struck down by the state legislature.


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Technical Problem With This Chapter?
Author: RSS
Story: A Less-Than-Perfect Love
Part: 27: A Less-Than-Perfect Love
Rating: Teens
Setting: Post-DH
Status: Completed
Reviews: 9
Words: 3,167
Updated: March 27, 2012, 4:55pm
27: A Less-Than-Perfect Love
Ginny, her eyes still closed, groaned spectacularly and rolled over. She instinctively went to reach for Harry and then startled when she was met with her brother's face.
"Good morning, sunshine." Ron was settled between Harry and Ginny in the bed and he was grinning down at her.
"Where am I?" Ginny asked in a daze, "What?" Then remembering last night, she crawled right over Ron and into Harry's warm, waiting arms. Harry snuggled himself into her and kissed the side of her head and the best feeling of contentment swept over her. She was sure he felt it too.
"Would you leave please? We're going back to sleep, Ron," Harry grumbled.
She turned on her other side to face him, "Do you still love me, or was last night just a dream?"
Ginny pulled back after a moment. "I think we'll be okay after all."
She looked at him quickly as if appraising how sincere he might be. Tears prickled her eyes and then quickly disappeared before he leaned in for another kiss.
"Ginny!" Ron called from the kitchen. Suddenly they heard footsteps and the door opened.
"Ginny! Mum's on the Floo. She wants to speak to…us. And she won't say what about until you get your arse down there."
They shared a look that meant that they both somehow knew they were in trouble. She knew that her mum couldn't be happy about her disappearing from the castle last night. Ginny stood from the bed, smoothed her robes and tried to fix her hair. She then extended her hand towards Harry's. He took it, following her down the stairs to the kitchen, and then towards the fireplace, "What is it, Mum?" Ginny asked bravely as she stopped in front of the mantle, sure she was about to be yelled at for leaving school and being found in Harry's bed.
"Ginny dear, Ronnikins," Molly Weasley said gently, "you have a niece. Come to Shell Cottage, quickly! And you, too, Harry."
It hardly registered that she had a niece or that Bill and Fleur had their baby. She knew that her mum could see through the Floo that she and Harry had their hands joined. Although she probably hadn't liked knowing that Ginny had just disappeared with him last night, she hoped her mum was glad they had finally worked themselves out, despite everything.
Ginny was still in her robes from last night, so she asked Hermione to lend her jeans and a jumper. Harry went upstairs to change as well, since he had some clothes left in the closet of his bedroom here. Ron and Hermione went through first, leaving her and Harry behind.
He halted momentarily in front of the fireplace. "Are you sure I'm welcome?"
"Harry, you're family. Mum just asked you to come, and I'm sure Bill and Fleur want you there. Come on."
"You go first," he urged her on.
"Shell Cottage, okay?"
"Okay. See you there." They let go of one another's hand. Same as ever. Letting go of each other was physically hard. Maybe it was because they were so used to not knowing when the next time would be that they were together…
Soon he was climbing out of the fireplace at Shell Cottage. Ginny pulled him out of the fireplace by the hand.
"Can't you keep your hands off each other, there's a baby in the house!" George accused, motioning towards their joined hands which made even Hermione laugh. "Where were you two? Are you really, seriously going to sort yourselves out this time?" George asked.
Harry knew that the tips of his ears must be turning bright red from Ginny's display of affection in front of her brothers. He found a place at the table with Ron and George and hoped that they wouldn't start in. Charlie poured a measure of Firewhisky for everyone and they toasted the newest addition to the Weasley family.
Harry waited with Hermione until Ginny returned. As most of the family members entered and left the kitchen, it was a strange feeling of belonging with the Weasleys, and yet not belonging. He knew he wasn't really a part of the family, and if Ginny hadn't insisted that she wanted him there, he wouldn't have been. It was an exciting time for the Weasleys though, and he was glad to be here rather than stuck in another Victory Day ceremony.
"Harry, do you want to see her?" Ginny smiled as she entered the kitchen, her cheeks pink, which made her look adorable.
"Sure. Of course."
"What's her name?" Harry asked.
"Victoire," Arthur replied. "Victoire Weasley."
"It's pretty," Ginny chimed in. "I love her name."
Watching Victoire sleep so peacefully in Arthur's arms gave Harry a warm feeling in his heart that he had not felt in a long time. Mr. Weasley gave Harry a one armed hug.
"How are you, son?"
"Me? I'm…I'm doing fine. Congratulations Mr. Weasley," Harry muttered. He could not match that look of contentment in Arthur's eyes with any feeling he had ever had. He hoped that one day he would. It was appropriate that a new life came into the world today, he thought. It seemed like life was going to go on and this baby girl was proof of that.
Ginny motioned for them to leave the room, but instead of going back to the kitchen, they went out the front door and without talking, walked to the cliff's edge. Harry stood next to Ginny surveying the ocean, his hands in his pockets.
"I try to, but he's usually sleeping by seven so it's difficult some nights."
Ginny smiled. "I do wonder if Teddy will like Victoire. At least he'll have someone to play with when we all go round to the Burrow. Course, they'll only be a year apart at Hogwarts, like us," she said with a grin. "Wait, I forgot. Victoire is going to ze Beauxbatons Academe of Magic!"
"Why do you say that?"
She linked her arm in his, which felt comfortable, and thinking of what was happening one year ago today made this moment all the more special.
"This is where I wanted to be a year ago."
For a while she was quiet.
My Dearest Ginny,
I can't even think of anything else but how you looked at me this morning when you woke up or this evening when I left you at school. You were so lovely, it's going to be hard to leave you. Ever. It's only been an hour since I left you and I'm going right crazy wanting to see you again. I think we'll be writing a whole lot more these days…
You're going to have to get used to the love letter …I don't care if you need them or not. You need to know that I'm out of my mind every second without you. That I just recently noticed that I've always been.
I Love You,
Ginny's heart beat quickly as she slid the letter she had received at breakfast back into its envelope and thought of how she would fill the next few weeks until she saw him again. There would be one last Hogsmeade weekend before her NEWTS, but besides that she would be revising and they would need to go back to sharing letters for the time being.
She took until that evening to respond, but couldn't stop thinking all day about what to say.
Wow. Still not used to the love letters and no, I don't really need them too often, but it would be nice to receive more letters like you suggested. If you keep them coming, I promise you won't be disappointed when we finally do see each other again…
It was nice waking up with you, too. I know that anything we do just feels perfect, because that's what we are together—despite how challenging we both make it at times…
Sending my love,
- Ginny
Five weeks later…
Harry heard a knock on his door and his heart raced. Although the fireplace was in proper working order, Ginny had decided to Apparate close by, now that she finally had her license to do so. And now she was here.
The last few weeks had passed by slowly. Their letters helped, but Ginny had been finishing up her NEWTs and his work schedule was difficult. They hadn't spent more than five minutes alone during the last Hogsmeade weekend, and her welcome home party last week had been another whirlwind. They had been lucky to steal a few moments behind the broom shed before Ron and George found them. Needless to say, he couldn't wait to see her now.
The flat was bright, that was what he liked about it, especially today when there was nothing and nobody standing between them. Harry opened the door and she looked up into his eyes, then stood on her toes and kissed his cheek. She wore a blue skirt and a loose fitting white top. Her hair was down, as he liked it. He knew his hair was messy as always, and he ran a hand through it and straightened his glasses before asking her in. Just seeing her standing there in his flat, a current of attraction tore through him and he had to fight not to launch himself at her.
After showing her around once again briefly, he grabbed his jacket, opened the door for her, and escorted her outside. It was a beautiful day and even though he said that the restaurant he was planning to take her to was two tube stops away, she decided they would walk. On the way, he pointed out all of his favourite local places, where he marketed, the park where he liked to sit and think, and the Muggle pub he had brought Ash and Ron and Charlie to a few times. Soon they were nearing the restaurant, which was housed in a red brick building with a brown hanging sign. You could order and either eat outdoors or in. He ordered them pints of cider and two plates of fish and chips. They found a bench outside. It was a happy afternoon because they were alone. The rest of the world almost didn't matter right now.
"I come here a lot. Can you tell?"
"I know how to cook, actually. But I like a good fry up for lunch," Harry said. He sipped his drink. "It's quick, easy, and tastes good."
"Mum would disapprove, but I won't say anything because I completely agree." Ginny smiled as they both tucked into their lunch. They sat in comfortable silence for a while, enjoying their meal, each other's company and the busy street in front of them.
"Alright," Ginny said as she reached for a napkin, "I have an idea since I think for some reason we may both be nervous about our first real date since…well…it's been a long time. Let's play a game," she suggested.
Harry raised an eyebrow. "A game?"
"About us?"
"Yes, about us, and our relationship…"
He couldn't help the laugh that escaped the back of his throat. Harry shook his head. "This is going to get me in trouble, isn't it?"
"No. Just think of something to say. Go on." She nudged his foot under the table and he nudged her back and so on until she was laughing and popped another chip into her mouth.
Harry paused, unsure of what to say, "Wouldn't you rather play Exploding Snap?"
"Chess? Cards? I can conjure something and I swear that none of these Muggles will notice."
Ginny laughed and shook her head at all three suggestions.
"You first," she insisted.
"Yeah." She was serious.
Harry thought for a moment until a memory popped into his mind. "Remember how I mended things between us last summer? After the end of the war…"
Ginny laughed, "I admit it was a bit frightening to be accosted like that, but I recovered. I did think it was a bit strange though. Makes sense. I wonder what they would have done to you that would have been so embarrassing. You probably should have known that if I found out you were ready to mend things, I would have tossed myself at you right then and there, forget being embarrassed by an awkward hug."
"I'm also still not sure what George and Ron would have pranked me with if I hadn't made my move."
"Probably turning your pants to stone or something." Harry grinned at that possibility, glad that he had more nerve than they thought he did.
"My turn? Let me think… Alright, it seems so immature now, but… Two years ago, when you showed up at the Burrow the summer before you left, I couldn't stand the sight of you, I was so angry. So Charlie asked me why I was staring daggers at you, and I told him the story of us. He was the one who told me to kiss you on your birthday and then I would know how you felt. If you pushed me away, it was really over. If you kissed me back the way you had all along, it wasn't."
"Me too. It was always my intention to put things right between us, you know. All along. If I made it out alive. The only reason I cut us off when I did, besides keeping you safely at a distance, was so that in the end there would be a chance for us."
Ginny pushed her chips towards him and gave him a quirky look. "Your turn, Harry."
"Erm. Here's one…did you know that in August of last year, Ron asked me if I loved you. Just like that. 'Do you love her, mate?' Can't believe it's been almost a year," he muttered, "or at least close to it."
"Do you love her, mate?" she mocked in a very good imitation of Ron. She shook her head. "That is so like Ron. No wonder you had such a rough time with figuring it out. He put you on the spot!" Harry took the opportunity to come around the bench and sit next to her.
"Constantly what?" Ginny grinned and knocked her shoulder into him.
"Constantly with you…"
Ginny giggled, throwing her head back as she did. Harry picked up one of his chips and offered it to her. Ginny leaned forward and took it from his fingers with her mouth. She took a chip and fed it to him, and then inched as close to him as possible on the bench, swinging her legs up onto his lap.
Ginny's head popped up. "At the end of the summer, we're starting all over again with the long distance and now this no-boyfriend policy. I'm a little nervous."
"You don't need to doubt us, Ginny. I…I plan to be there for you, for everything. Err…Harriett and I, that is." In the past few weeks, they had been writing back and forth formulating a plan for next year, and one of the things they decided was that he could sign his letters as Harriett, so the Harpies would think an old friend was writing to Ginny instead of Harry Potter. Also, he was hoping they could perhaps study the same foreign language so they could converse in letters without anyone knowing what they were saying. That was her idea.
"I can't stop eating these. You're right, they are the best chips I've ever had."
"Are we through playing?" he wondered, hoping the answer was yes.
"Yes. What do you want to do now?"
Harry helped her to her feet and they headed back towards the entrance to the park, hand in hand. The weather was warm and it was nice to feel the sun on his skin and Ginny's hand in his. She liked to talk and he liked to listen. When they weren't talking, they were watching people go about their weekend bicycling, roller skating, and just sitting on the grass. Finally, they stopped on a bridge over a pond and watched a rowboat glide by.
Harry could only think of one thing to say. "It came so close to not happening. I'm lucky to have the opportunity…"
"No, it's not luck." She gently touched his face. "You won this beautiful day. We're not here by chance, are we? We're only here because despite being a truly selfless person and wanting to save others, you fought to survive because you wanted to live. Otherwise you wouldn't be here. I think you wanted to live out your life and you wanted it with all of your heart."
Harry couldn't speak. Despite coming back to save lives and end the life of Tom Riddle once and for all, there were the selfish reasons that had lain deep and dormant in his heart; reasons he never would have admitted to Dumbledore. But he had known, hadn't he? The reason—the motivation—that had trumped all others that night had been to fight back to live so he could have a chance at a future filled with happiness, a family and Ginny by his side. That was what it had come down to after so many lonely months during the war of hearing her laughter in his dreams, watching her hair dance in the wind in his memories, imagining what it would be like to feel her breath on his skin or hold her warm body close to his, deeply in love. It was love that he was after. It was everything he was capable of, and everything he wanted, even back before he had known it himself, before the veil had been lifted from his eyes, before he had truly seen what she meant to him.
"Oh. You wanted this too, I think," she said, and then kissed him gently once more.
The words came easy now. Harry whispered her name in one breath and then whispered to her again the words that belonged to her; words he knew could only belong to her because they were hers and so was he.
And then with a shy grin and a flash of fire in her eyes she whispered them back.
I love you, too, Harry.
She was right, he thought as his heart soared.
He had wanted to live.
The End.
A/N. Thanks to the readers first and foremost. I've enjoyed interacting with all of you through the writing of A Less-than-Perfect Love. Thanks to Arnel for taking me under her wing and pushing me to try to improve my writing. I've learned so much from you and would not have been able to complete this without you. Thanks to Jason for helping me complete the story the way it was meant to be completed, for his kindness, and for always leaving the decision making up to me. I'm so glad that out of the writing of this story I've met two wonderful people who have become friends.
I'll be out of the writing scene for some time now, but perhaps I'll have cooked up a one-shot by this summer. Keep a look out for it, and take care for now. Thanks again for your readership, it's been a great experience to share this story with you! -Rebecca
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Will Crossovers Replace Cars? Never Say Never - Sway Control
Car-Based Utilities Proliferating Beyond Expectations
A few years ago, I was having a water-cooler conversation with a colleague, who made an offhand observation that crossovers were getting so prevalent, he wondered "could crossovers ever replace cars?" Now, let's unpack that statement a bit, since there are multiple levels of meaning and interpretation to it, the answers to some of which would be a qualified "yes" or decisive "no." But what seemed a ridiculous statement or hypothesis a few years ago is now looking surprisingly prescient.
The broadest definition of "car" includes anything that you can legally drive with a Class C driver's license, which would include pickups, SUVs, sedans, coupes, sports cars, moving vans, and most RVs. Strictly speaking, the generally agreed-upon dividing line between "car" and "trucks is whether it has a separate cargo bed and, in the case of an SUV, whether it's body-on-frame or unibody. Trying to slice the pie into thinner slivers results in a jumbled mess of conflicting and sometimes contradictory definitions and examples.
Case in point: Have you ever once heard the Jeep Grand Cherokee referred to as a "crossover"? I haven't. In its entire 20-year existence, I've only ever heard the Grand Cherokee referred to as an SUV. Yet for its entire existence, the Grand Cherokee has been unibody, just as the original XJ Cherokee compact SUV before it. Yet the Mercedes-Benz ML, with which the current WK2 Grand Cherokee shares a significant deal of its engineering and hardware, is sometimes referred to as a crossover, though its fundamental architecture and layout are essentially identical to the Jeep's. What makes the difference? Is it that Jeep is the definitive, original SUV brand and Mercedes-Benz is an upscale maker of European luxury cars?
Vehicles like the current-generation D4 Ford Explorer, related Ford Flex, and 2013 Nissan Pathfinder and Infiniti JX35 (now QX60) are generally considered crossovers. Their transverse powertrains and unibody, car-based chassis make for a fairly easy definition.
Things get hazier still when you start looking at vehicles like the Subaru Outback, which by external appearances looks like a high-riding station wagon. Yet it was awarded our 2010 SUV of the Year award. The Audi A4 Allroad, also for all intents and purposes, is a wagon, but was honorarily included in this year's SUV of the Year testing, presumably on its conceptual similarity to the Outback.
Looking at developments within the industry on a global level, far and away the segment getting the most attention is crossovers. And not just in the upper echelons of luxury brands. From the B-segment upward, manufacturers are falling over themselves rushing to get new crossovers into showrooms from Mumbai to Manhattan.
While it's unlikely crossovers will ever fully replace conventional cars, the trend of cars starting to adopt crossover-like traits is already beginning to be seen in concept cars, and in some cases, production vehicles as well. The European version of the 2014 Kia Soul (which itself blurs the line between car and crossover) is getting a few rugged-looking styling details to give it a somewhat more truckish appearance.
At this year's Frankfurt motor show, witness the Audi Nanuk concept, which at first glance, is a sports car in the vein of the R8, until you look at its elevated ground clearance, angular styling, and hefty 4200-pound weight.
I personally don't envision the Corvette getting 70-series tires and 9-inch ground clearance or the Ford Fusion suddenly getting knobby tires and a front winch. But the influence the crossover trend is exerting on the broader automotive industry is undeniable. Could the day come when the majority of car models on the market exhibit some attributes of crossovers? I'd say the answer to that question is a definite yes, if we're not there already. Joel, forgive me if I snickered at you. You hit the nail on the head.


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Hmmm... the supposed debate between skeumorphism vs. flat design seems like a false dichotomy. The two aren't even mutually exclusive except for the fact that there aren't any "flat" interfaces outside of computer interfaces for skeumorphism to draw from.
Personally, I'm not a fanboy for any particular school of UI design. I just like UIs that are simple to use, simple to understand and flexible/powerful like everyone else. How you achieve this may vary.
On an unrelated note, I see good UI design as one of the greatest weaknesses of the uber-geek/open-source developer community. It usually seems to take a much larger organization, company or the rare single individual with a clear vision to actually provide an UI that is powerful and reasonable enough for common use. This is one of the reasons for Google and Apple's great success: presenting power and complexity in an appealing aesthetic while keeping it easy to use.
Edited 2013-02-14 14:56 UTC


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Product Cutting: Dubliner Cheese
Adding specialty cheese to your menu.
Dubliner is an Irish specialty cheese made from milk produced during Ireland's summer months for peak flavor and sweetness. It is aged for a minimum of 12 months to produce a firm texture and distinctive, rounded taste. Dubliner uses starter cultures similar to those of Cheddar, Swiss and Parmesan; the cheese is described as having the richness of a mature Cheddar with the sweet nuttiness of Swiss and the bite of an aged Parmesan.
- Check the packaging. Foodservice sizes are available in 5-pound loaves shrink-wrapped in plastic film; packaging should be clean and reasonably snug around the cheese.
- Unwrap the cheese and note appearance. Color should be golden and uniform and slightly darker than white cheddar. Texture should be even with some evidence of crystal formation to reflect the maturity of the cheese. These are calcium lactate crystals that occur naturally during aging and give a slight crunch to the cheese.
- Smell the cheese. The aroma should be clean with no off odors.
- Cut into the cheese. The texture should be a little crumbly but not as pronounced as in a Cheddar.
- Taste the cheese at room temperature. Dubliner has a unique sweet, nutty flavor with a hint of salt and pleasant mouthfeel; it is less acidic than aged cheddar but nicely complex.
- Melt a slice of Dubliner on a piece of bread. It should exhibit good melting properties, enhancing the flavor of the cheese and producing a desirable gooey texture.
Cheese outlook
Last year, strong milk prices paid to farmers coupled with rising fuel costs caused a spike in wholesale cheese prices. By the summer of 2007, commodity Cheddar cheese prices had reached a whopping $2 per pound wholesale, dipping to $1.88 by the first quarter of 2008. Since half of the U.S. milk supply goes to making cheese, according to the USDA's Economic Research Service, everyone was experiencing higher wholesale prices.
The outlook is a bit brighter for the remainder of 2008. First of all, the ERS projects an increase in American milk production over 2007, from 185.4 billion pounds to 190.2 billion. More milk should translate into higher cheese production and put downward pressure on cheese prices. "We're forecasting prices down for the rest of the year," reports Roger Hoskins, dairy outlook agricultural economist for the ERS. "By next quarter (April to June), the price should drop to $1.67 a pound—still high, but not as high as 2007."
"New factors are at play in the cheese market," claims John Umhoefer, executive director of the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association. "World demand is way up, especially in Japan, China and Indonesia, and there have been declines in production in the European Union." Although specialty cheese imports from abroad are still reaching our tables, American-made cheeses are increasingly making their way to other countries.


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Now in a week's run at Facets, "This Is Martin Bonner" explores what it means to be a good person at a crossroads, and whom you might find there. In outline form, especially given its premiere last year at the Sundance Film Festival, writer-director Chad Hartigan's second feature courts comparisons to all sorts of Sundance titles trading in a similar vein of low-key naturalism. This is one of the very good ones.
In the first scene we meet Martin, an Australian expatriate recently relocated to Reno, Nev., from the East Coast, where his (unseen) grown daughter and son live. Martin is divorced and a longtime affiliate of Christian organizations. By temperament Martin is a behind-the-scenes man, charming but hesitant in his dealings with the world. He has recently taken a job as volunteer coordinator for a group working with ex-convicts. One of those convicts, who served 12 years behind bars for vehicular manslaughter while under the influence, is Travis. In steady and effortless fashion, the film charts the friendship that develops between these two men.
By nature Martin serves and supports others: We see him volunteering as a soccer referee for a local girls league, for example. In Travis, about to reunite with his now-grown daughter, he sees a searching but thwarted character trying to stay on the straight and narrow. "This Is Martin Bonner" is as much Travis' story as it is Martin's, and Hartigan has cast his key roles beautifully. Paul Eenhoorn looks, feels and acts like people you actually may know; as Martin, his almost apologetic presence is such that in the first scene, where Martin receives on-the-job training in offering ex-cons assistance through a local church organization, you don't even realize he's our protagonist.
He's a marvelous listener, though, which is the secret weapon of any good character actor lucky enough to prove his mettle in a leading role. (Call it the Richard Jenkins principle.) Richmond Arquette plays Travis. He's one of "those" Arquettes, the brother of Patricia and Rosanna and David, and like Eenhoorn he seems both wary and ready to rise to this modest winner's demands. Throughout "This Is Martin Bonner," which is like a series of lessons (interesting ones) in how to treat others, the two actors keep us involved and curious about what these people are learning.
It's a bit on the tidy side, and as with a lot of other indies, one wonders if a few worthwhile, off-the-plot sequences were jettisoned for the sake of momentum. As he develops, Hartigan would do well to pay attention to those impulses. With material and actors like this, you want more, not less. "Lots of great stuff comes through here," one supporting player tells Travis over dinner, referring to the knickknacks in her Reno apartment. Without a lot of fuss the film gives us the other side of a tourist town, the quiet side, away from the gambling tables, where all sorts of people struggle for a life of worth.
'This is Martin Bonner' -- 3 1/2 stars
MPAA rating: R (for some language and brief sexuality)
Running time: 1:22
Opens: Friday at Facets Cinematheque


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|About OpenNX
OpenNX is an open source drop in replacement for NoMachine's NX client. It is compatible to the original client in that it uses the same syntax for the session configuration files (.nxs files). OpenNX is distributed under the GNU Lesser Public License v2.1. OpenNX is written in C++ and uses the excellent wxWidgets toolkit. Compared to the original client, it also adds some additional features which improve usability:
Using wxWidgets for multi platform capabilities, OpenNX runs on Unix systems, Mac OSX and Windows. Currently, binaries are available for various Linux distributions as well as Mac OSX and Windows. Binaries for OpenBSD are available in the official OpenBSD ports tree. For those, who want to build OpenNX from source, we recommend building from SVN. Build instructions can be found in the Wiki.
Because OpenNX uses NX technology for providing a remote desktop display, in order to use OpenNX you must have access to a NX server installation. In addition to NoMachine's commercial server, there are several open source implementations available. The most prominent one is FreeNX. Another one is Google's NeatX, which however does not yet provide the full feature set.
About donations to OpenNX
Until September 2010, I had access to an old iMac running OSX 10.5 at my employer. Unfortunately, that machine died and my employer does not see the need to purchase a new machine (we don't do Mac Software at that company). When the machine died, I was able to virtualize a backup of it and used that for development. Until now. With Apple's release of OSX 10.7 (Lion), the situation has changed. Lion does not support 32bit anymore and they apparently changed the keyboard handling of their included X11 server. For OpenNX, this means: I can't test/fix the keyboard handling until I get my hands on a real 64bit Mac with 10.7. Therefore, I now enabled SF's donation system in order to collect money for the appropriate hardware.
Update: My employer announced to double the collected amount! A macmini costs approx. 599 EUR, so the goal is now approx 300 EUR.
If you care about OpenNX further development, please consider donating some money by clicking the button below.
|Last Updated on Saturday, 07 January 2012 04:21


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Was there more cricket left in Sachin Tendulkar? The dilemma may haunt the Master
Sachin Tendulkar has always been about the statistics and at Wankhede too, some big ones beckoned. But he knew his knock wasn't about the numbers. It was about preserving a legacy established over 24 years of sweat and toil. Tendulkar scores 74 in farewell Test | It was Tendulkar's last time to thrillcricket Updated: Nov 16, 2013 07:59 IST
Sachin Tendulkar didn't want to be like Michael Jordan — flitting in and out of retirement. After he left, there would be no longing that there's 'more cricket left in me'. But that dilemma may still haunt him.
Because the way he played his farewell Test, not the 74 runs he scored but the quality of batting he produced, showed that at 40, he can still match the best in the game.
Starting the day on 38, Tendulkar sent expectations soaring as he raced to his half-century with a couple of boundaries. When he produced a backfoot cover drive off Tino Best, it was clear he wasn't just milking the West Indies bowlers but was on top of his game.
Read More: It was Tendulkar's last time to thrill
Tendulkar has always been about the statistics and here too, some big ones beckoned. He was within touching distance of 16,000 Test runs. But he knew this knock wasn't about the numbers. It was about preserving a legacy established over 24 years of sweat and toil.
Achievements aside, cricket is also about entertainment and any player would vouch that he would want to be remembered as an entertainer.
Read More: Tendulkar scores 74 in farewell Test
Tendulkar has that quality and in what was probably his last innings, he reminded the world what it would miss most about him — his ability to convert strokeplay into an art form.
Most importantly, Tendulkar will be pleased that he is leaving the team in safe hands. Friday saw Cheteshwar Pujara notch up his fifth hundred in 15 Tests, Rohit Sharma his second in just two Tests while Virat Kohli smashed another classy 57.
The West Indies, staring at what seems like certain defeat, may not have much to cheer about, but that's not the case for Narsingh Deonarine. The Guyana spinner has had a stop-start career but his place in the history books is assured as the one to claim the wicket of the modern Don in his last Test.
In pics: Sachin's farewell Test, day 2
If the Master was faultless on Thursday evening, he was in a hurry on Friday. For a man with a ton of tons, another century was there for the taking, but Tendulkar was in the mood for some fun, toying with the bowlers like the old times. Finally, he paid the price when he edged Deonarine to slip. And a funereal hush descended on a sellout 32,000-strong stadium. Full Coverage: Sachin's last bow
If Tendulkar was emotional, he didn't show it. He walked back to the pavilion as the crowd came alive once again, rising as one to see him off. He gave a slight wave of his hand and was gone - 24 years to the day he made his international debut. The legend didn't have a one-day farewell, but his home crowd more than made up for it. All endings are sad, but he will cherish this send-off.
Read More:
Gone with the Windies
Get off Tendulkar's back and let him decide his future
Sachin has passed the torch, but now's the worry


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By Michael Maune
Title: Collection of Purdue Diplomas, 1879-1913
Primary Creator: Purdue University. Libraries
Extent: 0.0
Subjects: Purdue University
Forms of Material: Diplomas
Languages: English
Repository: Purdue University Libraries, Archives and Special Collections
Access Restrictions: Collection is open for research.
Use Restrictions: © 2013 Purdue University
Processing Information: All materials have been housed acid-free folders and acid-free boxes. Collection transferred from old Map Case to Flat Files and was later reorganized. Original provenance is currently unknown.


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AHS Habitat Club to host Bunco Night
- Cost:
- $10
Additional Information
The Habitat Club of Apollo High School is sponsoring a Bunco party fundraiser from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 29, in the AHS lunchroom/commons area. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. The school is located at 2280 Tamarack Road. Advance registration is not required.
Those attending are invited to take a snack to share. Drinks will be provided. Eating and socializing will take place from 5:30 to 6:20 p.m. with Bunco starting at 6:30 p.m.
Prizes will be awarded for most punches, fewest punches, clothespin, the person who traveled the furthest to attend, oldest player, youngest player and the AHS alumni who has the most children who are attending or attended Apollo.
Everyone is welcome to attend but individual players should be high school age or older.
Cost is $10. Proceeds will be donated to the Owensboro/Daviess County Habitat Organization to help build affordable housing in Owensboro/Daviess County.
For more information, contact Tina Blandford, AHS Habitat Club sponsor and special services educator, at 270-852-7100 email@example.com


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Address: 1478 W. Grand River Ave., Okemos
Owner: Crossroads Investment, Inc.
Taxpayer: Crossroads Investment, Inc.
Assessed: $100,700
Owner Says: Could not be reached for comment
Architecture critic Amanda Harrell-Seyburn says: Blight isn't just an urban thing. The fact is, blight occurs at all levels of the built environment, but we are only used to seeing blight at the most urban and rural levels. But blight, like this collection of buildings on West Grand River Avenue, is there, even in places like Okemos. This type of blight is often symptomatic. As rural areas are enveloped in development, certain rural building types such as barns and out buildings located on the fringes become obsolete — caught in building limbo, out of place between the rural and the suburban. These buildings are a reminder that the built environment is in a constant state of flux.
It's hard to imagine a collection of derelict buildings so close to a major development like the Meridian Mall in Okemos, yet here they sit just a mile away. The trees are overgrown and wrapping dangerously around the abandoned buildings. Paint is chipping away and rust stains can clearly be seen from the road. A "for sale" sign advertising the land sits at the edge of the property, but I doubt any buyers will be interested in purchasing the site with these abandoned buildings staking the ground for their own.


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IUCN-Med has been invited to participate in a two-day workshop on equitable medicinal plant trade, biodiversity conservation and local livelihoods in Morocco, which ended on June 1, 2013. It marked the start of a 3-year project funded by a UK Darwin Initiative grant awarded to the Global Diversity Foundation (GDF). The project addresses livelihood improvement and threats to the sustainable harvesting of medicinal roots, particularly among the Amazigh (Berber) communities of the Moroccan High Atlas.
Thirty participants attended the workshop which took place near Tahanaout at the Kasbah Angour. They represented government agencies with jurisdiction over natural resources, environmental and conservation NGOs, scientific and academic institutions, and horticultural organisations.
By asking each participant to reflect on individual efforts and institutional commitments, the workshop created a platform for participants to engage in mutual learning about current initiatives on the conservation and sustainable use of plant resources to improve local livelihoods in Morocco. During this exchange, IUCN-Med presented its historic and on-going projects related to plant conservation and medicinal plants in Morocco.
On the second day of the workshop, the Moroccan Plant and Livelihoods Specialist Group (MPLSG) was formed, ensuring continued communication and cooperation among participants. As part of this emerging national and international network of volunteer experts comprising conservationists, natural and social scientists and practitioners, MPLSG members will contribute to documenting, conserving and sustainably using plant diversity in Morocco, thereby leading to a measurable improvement in local livelihoods and a reduction in the loss of biodiversity. The group will also provide information to the general public on the conservation of plants in Morocco and on the inherent value of species to ecosystem health and functioning, the provision of ecosystem services and support of human livelihoods.
Read more on this project here.


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Debt Manager Deluxe - Features:
- Add all your debt into one app, you will never need an additional debt app.
- Universal Binary and support landscape and portrait orientations.
- Payoff Calculator
- Loan Calculator
- Morgage Calculator
- Keep all your credit card data safe (optionally password protected)
- Most user friendly app ever!
- Export all data
- Amortization tables!
- Local Notifications!
- Debt Payment tracking
- Instant Debt Summary
- Awesome pie charts!
- Progress bar indicator for all debt styles
- Customize categories
- Unlimited transactions!
We want to keep the game/app completely free, as well as clean in-game ads. In order to keep the app 100% free, you will receive the following –
• Search shortcut icon on your home screen (see image below).
We advertise using these methods (icons, bookmarks, ads, etc) to bring you free games, none of our advertisements will cause any permanent damages in your device. You can always erase the game to remove it.
This will help keep this app 100% free and help us bring you more cool apps like this in the future.
You can delete the search shortcuts easily (Drag & Drop to the garbage).