text:
The next time you are impatiently waiting for your latte, take a moment to think about the most basic element of that cup of coffee: water. Clean, purified water. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 1.1 billion people on the planet do not have access to clean water. That is about one in every six people in the world. Every 20 seconds, a child dies from a water-borne illness. It was these chilling statistics that prompted Chicagoan Jessica Censotti to found My Chosen Vessels (MCV), a non-profit organization that seeks to empower indigenous people through water, health, education, and cultural preservation.
Phot Courtesy of Jessica Censotti/MCV
Jessica Censotti: Artist and Clean-Water Warrior
Censotti, an artist by training, has focused much of her work on ceramics. She says, "My ceramic sculptures are a conversation about motherhood and the struggles that women face around the world. Being an artist is what led me to Kenya to work with the Massai and eventually start MCV."
In 2009, Censotti traveled to Kenya to train the Massai women in working with clay so that they would be able to make products to sell and earn money to pay school fees for their children. This is especially important for girls, who were being forced into early marriages without the opportunity to receive an education. While in Kenya, Censotti saw firsthand the struggle the Massai women faced in obtaining clean water. "I was shocked to see how far women were traveling to collect water, from contaminated sources. Since then, I have dedicated my life to helping women and children."
Photo Courtesy of Jessica Censotti/MCV
Jessica Censotti: Artist and Clean-Water Warrior
It was during a moment of watching a little girl drinking from a dam of dirty water ("she was literally drinking mud," Censotti recalls) that she knew she had to do something tangible to help. Encouragement from another woman, Loretta Rauenhorst, led to Censotti founding MCV and registering it as a non-profit organization. "Loretta ran a full marathon seeking support for MCV so we could provide clean water to the first village in Kimuka. This is how we began. Since then, MCV has become a platform that allows people to give back to humanity using their gifts and talents." Censotti firmly believes in anyone's capacity to help out, regardless of life situation. "Whether you are an athlete, engineer, artist, lawyer, writer, or doctor, we all have talents and gifts with which we can give back to society, and the Massai people need our support."
As you can imagine, establishing a viable structure for a project of this magnitude is not without its challenges. Censotti states that gaining the support of the local community is vital to getting any global initiative up and running. To this end, MCV works with local leaders in Kenya to determine the needs of the community. Censotti says, "The local people are also trained to own every aspect of our programs, in order to endure that our programs are sustainable, so it continues for generations." The biggest challenge for MCV was identifying the local Massai leaders who had the best interest of their people at heart. "It took seven years to establish the right team. Now that we have an effective team, we need financial support to continue to develop their skills and implement more programs so they can transform their communities."
Photo Courtesy of Jessica Censotti/MCV
The Engineers Without Borders program at Northwestern University (NU-EWB) has been assisting MCV in the process. MCV is currently in a five-year partnership with NU-EWB, with the engineering students providing expertise in developing clean water solutions. Censotti says this has provided U.S. students with invaluable training as well as the opportunity to help those less fortunate in Kenya. "This collaboration has allowed more than 60 engineering students to experience real-life application and gain international relations skills that they could not possibly receive in a classroom." The Massai people are also learning engineering skills. This month, the Massai will install five miles of pipe using skills they learned from the MCV engineering team.
Along with establishing clean water sources, MCV has a dual mission of preserving the culture of the Maasai people. This is of critical importance to Censotti "I think that many non-profits and non-governmental organizations often do more harm to indigenous communities when they do not understand and honor the importance of the culture when they go into communities to help," she says. MCV encourages their volunteers to learn about the Maasai traditions. They are given the opportunity to meet the Morans (Maasai Warriors); listen to the elders; participate in traditional dances; and receive Maasai names, clothing, and beadwork made by Maasai women. The Maasai are struggling to maintain their way of life. "They are being forced into a Westernized lifestyle," Censotti says. "Within the short period of time of my work with the Maasai, I have seen a major shift in Maasai communities."
Photo Courtesy of Jessica Censotti/MCV
So, what are the long-term goals of MCV? How can the Western world do a better job of understanding the scope of the water crisis? Because we have clean water whenever and wherever we need it, Westerners do not really have a firm grasp of how dire the situation actually is. Censotti points out that the average Maasai woman walks four hours every day to collect water. Imagine trying to get your eight glasses a day under those circumstances. She also highlights the California water shortage as just a small glimpse into what the Maasai deal with on a daily basis. "Every 20 seconds a child dies from the water they are drinking. The new wars are not over oil, but over water. It is important to understand that the water crisis is affecting primarily women and children because it is their responsibility to collect water for their families."
For more information about My Chosen Vessels, how to volunteer, or how to make a donation, please visit mychosenvessels.com.


text:
Land O Lakes Photographer | Tampa Child Photographer | Flower Session Favorites from 2016/
This year was the first time we did sessions in the gorgeous Plant City Fox Squirrel Corn Maze- it was amazing! Zinnias and sunflowers everywhere, I was in my happy place there for sure! Here are a few favorites from each session that we had- I cannot wait to go there next year and photograph even more amazing sessions!

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Random Text Chat
Random Text Chat Doing random text chat with strangers online Stranger chatting is quite popular. It can give you refreshment after a day's work. There are a lot of websites for it. A few websites even offer diverse functionalities. After a day's heavy work, it is normal that you need… Read more »


text:
We are committed to providing you a stress-free immigration process at a reasonable price
Most immmigration services are provided for a fixed-fee. We will provide an estimate for fees in advance of services. We will keep you informed of the cost of ongoing services and allow you to control your costs and your immigration process.
Fixed-Fees Services*
| CIC Fees
*Fixed-Fees quoted are for standard Immigration Services. For an individualized estimate of fees and other costs, please contact I CAN GO Immigration Lawyers for a personal eligibility assessment and price quote.
Lana: Hello, I am the Client Services Manager at the Deer Lake Law Group. How can I help you today? Please leave me a message (with your phone number) - I will return your call shortly.


text: Back to results Scroll Items 13205 of 13502 Main view Sizing Unfilled view Product Details Our standard photo event folder in white, accented with a beautiful heart foil design. The design is hot stamped (imprinted) onto the front of the folder. This photo folder is perfect for prom and homecoming dances, parties, balls & more. Use as is, or personalize by adding your company name, event, organization and/or logo. Terrific look and feel with linen weave finish, deckled edges. Plain window border. Photo easily slides in from the side for convenient event assembly with your prints. Frame displays a 6" x 4" print or photo. See Suggested Accessories below for matching envelopes (not required). Crafted expressly for SendAFrame. Opal Heart foil on white cardboard photo folder frame Model #52153756 $19.00 ( set of 25 / $0.76 ea ) This item can be expected to ship by 08/24/2018. Order now by clicking ADD TO CART (below); you are only charged when we actually ship. Or, Click here to be automatically notified when it comes back in stock. Your Price Match is Active Your request for a price of $0.00 for a minimum quantity of has been accepted. You have [time] left to purchase this item for $0.00 Find a Lower Price? We BEAT All Authorized Retailers [?] Shipping details Min. Order: 25 Brand: Collectors Gallery Displays: 4"x6" Orientation: Horizontal Only Material: Card-stock Color: White SHARE THIS ITEM View more items Suggested Accessories Same Size, Different Look Different Size, Similar Look Tags - Similar Searches Suggested Accessories Same Size, Different Look Different Size, Similar Look Tags - Similar Searches 4"x6" - matching white envelope - $0.27 Clear Folder Sleeves - $0.31 4"x6" - (vert) Opal Heart on white - $0.76 4"x6" - (vert) white plain border folder - $0.58 4"x6" - (horz) white w/plain border frame - $0.58 4"x6" - (dbl - horz) white w/plain border - $0.88 4"x6" - (dbl) white w/plain border - $0.85 4"x6" - (vert) Valentine Heart on white - $1.70 4"x6" - (horz) Valentine's Heart on white - $0.76 4"x6" - (vert) Red Heart on white - $0.89 4"x6" - (horz) Red Heart on white - $0.89 4"x6" - (vert) Valentine's Dbl Heart on Black - $0.76 4"x6" - (horz) Valentine's Dbl Heart on Black - $0.76 4"x6" - (vert) HEART DOTS - $1.75 4"x6" - (horz) HEART DOTS - $1.75 3.75"x2.38" - HEART DOTS photo folder - $1.65 5"x7" - (vert) HEART DOTS - $1.85 5"x7" - (horz) HEART DOTS - $1.85 hinged valentine romantic panoramic portrait folder White


text:
Big Bluefin Caught
Joe Crisci docked Qualifier 105 at Point Loma Sportfishing July 4 after an eight-day trip with five big bluefin from 140 to 201 pounds aboard. We got limits of albacore, said Crisci, and all of the bluefin except one came on the same stop.
Photo Here...
Tim Walker of Chico got the best one, a 201.9-pound bluefin on a scad mackerel from Guadalupe Island, he said. It bit on a Penn 8/0 hook, 60-pound Big Game line, a Penn 15 KG reel and a custom Moon Seeker six-foot rod.
Matt Pushckor of Yorba Linda was second, for a 198.6-pounder. It also took a scad, on 60-pound line and an Accurate 12 reel.
Photo Here...
Sheryl Weisser of Espanola, NM won third place for a 186.9-pound bluefin, on a scad and 60-pound line. Her hubby Patrick Brennan caught a 41.6-pound yellowtail.
K. O. Koskin of South Lake Tahoe bagged a 175-pound bluefin tuna.
Photo Here...
Izorline Charter Albacore
Art Taylor brought his Searcher home to Fishermans Landing July 4 after a three-day trip that produced limits of albacore.
Fred Sako of Montebello won first place for a 44.1-pound longfin he caught on a 3/0 Mustad hook 40-pound blue Izorline and a 4/0 Accurate conversion reel on a Calstar 670 rod. He also won second place, for a 43-pound albie.
Photo Here...
Gary Teroka of Torrance was third, for a 42.9-pound albacore. Izorline rep Norm Fujimoto was on hand to make the award of atrophy at the jackpot lineup.
A Mean Fish
Sam Patella docked American Angler July 4 after a week at sea. Bluefin swept the jackpot with a tie for second and third places.
Mike Casey of Lakewood won first place for a 64.4-pound bluefin that took a sardine on a 4/0 Mustad hook, tied to 40-pound P-Line on a Trinidad 30 reel and a Calstar 800 H rod.
Photo Here...
He was a mean fish, said Casey. He kicked my butt for 45 minutes, and Im in shape.
Jim Kastorff of San Diego tied with Mike Waina of Pasadena for second and third places, as each had a 60.4-pound bluefin tuna.
Life Is Good
Same old, same old, said Vagabond skipper Mike Lackey after a three-day trip July 4. Great weather and great fishing. Life is good.
Rookie Bill Starkey of Boise, ID won first place for a 47.7-pound albacore. He said it bit a sardine on a 4/0 Mustad hook. He fished with a 40-pound rental outfit.
Steve Mesner of Seal Beach was second, for a 45.3-pound albie, and Frank Rowe of Buena Park tied with Bruce Speer of Lake Elsinore with identical 43.3-pound albacore for third place.
Photo Here...


text:
Having a big noggin comes with a host of unique problems. Good luck finding a hat that fits, and be prepared to have every person who stands behind you at a concert be annoyed.
Then you have to deal with stretching the necks out of every shirt you own and the never-ending parade of cheap sunglasses because the arms keep getting stretched out.
Now it looks like there's finally a reason to hold that enormous head high. British scientists surveyed 100,000 people and found something very positive for big headed people. There's a correlation between the circumference of the head, the volume of the brain, and intelligence. Basically, the bigger the head, the smarter you could be. Scientists found that the correlation was so strong, they could predict if the child would be smart enough to attend college.
Professor Ian Deary of Edinburgh University said: "In addition to there being shared genetic influences between cognitive skills and some physical and mental health states, the study also found that cognitive skills share genetic influences with brain size, body shape, and educational attainments."
Be sure to SHARE this with your friends and family!
H/T: Viral Thread


text:
Making Your Will.......some important decisions
Having taken the decision to make a Will, possibly for the first time,there are a few points you should consider before making an appointment with us.
As professional Will Writers, our job is to take your instructions and translate these into your Will, creating a document that accurately reflects your wishes.
The Will needs to be understood by your executors and most importantly, the Sheriff Court, to ensure that it is proved quickly (in Scotland the executors apply to the court for confirmation) to minimise any problems that may occur, causing delays and possible hardship for your loved ones.
There are some inportant questions which your need to consider before our meeting. By having many of the answers available it will leave more time to discuss the other important issue which may arise during the consulation.
A Will can only be made by an individual (testator) who has the requiste capacity to do so. The term capacity has two main meanings.
Being of full age which is over the age of 12 in Scotland but usually an adult
Being mentally capable of understanding the nature of the document they are making i.e. being of sound mind
You do not need to appoint other ´professionals´ to act as an executor or trustee of your estate, unless there is a likelihood of a complex Trust arising. Professional executors will charge your estate to act, and in many cases, for duties that a layperson could have done.
For most people it is better to appoint a member of your family, a prime beneficiary or close personal friend to act, and beware of banks and solicitors who seek to include a clause in your Will that appoints them as an executor usually for fees and a percentage of your estate which can rob your heirs of many thousands of pounds. Legal Will Writers believe this practice is unethical and we never include ourselves as executors on principal.
Remember : An Executor Can also be a Beneficiary
If you need to appoint a professional executor,you should consider appointing a non profit making Trust Corporation rather than a solicitor, or a Chartered accountant or to act on your behalf. We will be able to advise you on the best one in your circumstances and give a guide to the fees they are likely to charge.
Only if you have minor children (under the age of 16 in Scotland) will you need guardians.
It may be helpful to make at least one guardian a joint executor, they do have a right to money from your estate to help towards the cost of bringing up your children. If you wish to restrict the amount to which they are entitled, it may be wise to leave the money in Trust, again we will be able to advise you on the suitability of such a scheme. One should always remember though that Trusts sometimes can be expensive to administer over a long period.
If you have disabled children who are likely to require specialist care either at home or in the care of the local authority, a trust will be required to ensure that adequate funds are available for their future. There are several Trust Corporations run by charities that can help,again we can give you individual advise in these circumstances.
How you hold your property will determine how it passes on your death. In Scotland the spouse has ´prior rights´ to a portion of the estate but they do not automatically inherit it all. If the deceased has left a Will then the ´prior rights´ are not applicable. If you wish to passyour ínterest´ in the property to your children or others, you should hold your property as Ownership in Common rather than ´Joint Tennants´. (See the section "What Property is Yours")
Specific Gifts - decide now if you wish to leave any other members of the family or friends a special gift.
Pecuniary Legacies - this is the term for a gift of money, again give some thought as to anyone, other than your spouse or children, to whom you may wish to leave a legacy, this also can include gifts to your favourite charity (if a charity, try to have the address and registration number available)
Free Legacy - Called the ´Residual Legacy´ in the rest of the UK. This covers all the remainder of yoyr estate.
Long Stop - also described as the ´disaster clause´, so called because these beneficiaries only inherit if all those named as your ´Free´ beneficiaries fail to survive you.
Funeral Wishes - youmay choose to ignore this section. For those that wish to leave instructions such as cremation or burial and whether flowers or donations are to be given, you should complete this section. It must be pointed out that whatever your request, these wishes are only a wish and not binding on your executors to carry them out if they are unable to.
AND FINALLY - whatever you have put in your Will - and it is personal only to you - make sure that your executors can find it when the time comes. Tell them where you keep your Will and how they can get access to it.
For a Free consultation or information pack on making a Will contact us now by email email@example.com


text:
Mission 5 – Filming of Bollywood Hit
AIR 1 have extensive experience in film, video and photography and are often used as the aerial specialists for blockbuster hits. This time it was Bollywood who came calling when the film "Game" wanted to shoot their aerial stunt scene in the Island of Samos.
The cutting-edge murder mystery involved a dramatic aerial Sea-Plane chase and Air 1's aerial team were on hand, to zip through the air, chasing the Sea-Plane giving the Bollywood Producers the dramatic footage they craved.


text: been trying now for 3 days to downgrade firmware on wii, I am on 3.4e and have tried loads of times to downgrade, i have been given ssoftware by differnt people on different forums and after running the character back or forwards i always end up wih message failed to read boot.elf (-1)! no code found to load hanging.......... where am i going wrong? thx daz


text:
It's Monday, September 8, 2014, and time for Math at ClickSchooling!
Recommended Website:
QuickAndDirtyTips.com – The Math Dude
Age Range: 11 and up (Grades 6 and up, with parental screening and supervision)
- Learn how to add quickly, convert decimals to fractions, multiply by eleven, determine area and volume, explore Venn diagrams, and more.
- Make a Mobius Strip, learn about the Fibonacci sequence and the Golden Ratio.
- Get a definition and explanation of math terms including irrational and rational numbers, sets and subsets, associative property, distributive property, trigonometry, and more.
- Find out how to amaze your friends with number tricks, calculate how fast your money will grow, estimate how fast someone is running, and send encrypted messages.
You'll even find tips to boost your business math skills, along with test-taking tips and a few brain teasers. Find tips for science, writing and grammar by locating the "Education" tab on the tiny horizontal menu located below the "Quick and Dirty Tips" headline at the top and clicking on it.


text:
Round Pond, Coy Pond, Gravelly Pond Loop is a 4.1 mile moderately trafficked loop trail located near South Hamilton, Massachusetts that features a great forest setting and is good for all skill levels. The trail offers a number of activity options and is accessible year-round. Dogs are also able to use this trail.
dog friendly
kid friendly
mountain biking
nature trips
trail running
Lots of dogs off leash
Pretty good
Pretty good
Surprising find just outside downtown. Loops a bit confusing but gorgeous shaded walk for dogs and their people.
Jacob M.
Perfect place to go on a cold windy day.
clean, easy to navigated
Brian C.
I live right down the street so it's a perfect getaway for me. I'm big into fishing and often go here to fish but I also love birding and you get quite a diverse array of species here. Easy hike, great for mountain bikers (but can get crowded on beautiful days)
A nice trail. Beautiful in the fall. Provides nice views of the lake. No spectacular views, but provides a nice, easy walk.
Perfect for winter running.


text:
Positioned as a key partner for innovative or growing businesses, Avistem has designed specific legal and fiscal services for all actors wishing to take advantage, in full security, of the opportunities generated by information technologies and new financial customs.
Avistem is already recognised as one of the leading firms in France for banking and financial regulations, and asset management. With its experience in providing compliance advice to banks, insurance companies, asset managers and other actors in finance, our team has developed unique know-how in digital finance (crowdfunding, market places, roboadvisors, securing payment etc.).
We have been closely involved in the enhancement of the value of the Paris Market and its capacity for financial innovation, and have directly contributed to drafting of several recent pieces of French financial legislation (the order of 30 May 2014 on crowdfunding, the Macron law, the Noe draft law etc.). We were also involved in setting up European codes of conduct (ECN Charter on Crowdfunders' Rights etc.).
We are proud to have among our clients several leading financial and insurance groups, and FinTechs and InsurTechs that are leaders in their field of activity.
Our firm is a member or partner of various professional bodies dedicated to financial innovation or professional training (Financial Innovation Department, ECN, EFE, Association Francaise du Crowdfunding Immobilier [French Association for Real Estate Crowdfunding [AFCIM] etc.) and some of our work is accredited by the Ministry for Research.
Avistem accompanies businesses as they grow and innovate through raising finance and the acquisition of assets and securities. In particular, we have developed specific know how on corporate venturing and open innovation.
In a traditional set up, the financially dominant party benefits from all the rights to the detriment of his partner, who is often younger and more innovative. We approach intellectual property differently so as to manage those rights with regard to the interests of each of the parties, and to encourage the economic growth of projects and their future applications.
Our firm and our clients are riding the wave of ODOSOS: Open Data, Open Source, Open Standards.
We advise our clients on the integration of these tools in their projects.
There are many legislative texts applicable and they may overlap or conflict with each other: IT and data protection law and labour law, stock market law, the law on the modernisation of healthcare system, the Commission d'acces aux documents administratifs [Commission for access to administrative documents (CADA)] law, the Valter law [law on the gratuitousness and procedures for the reutilisation of information in the public sector], the draft law for a digital Republic etc. A good map of the applicable legislation is the only way to manage their combined effect, integrating existing referentials, notably in terms of security and interoperability.
We often work constructively with the Commission Nationale Informatique et Libertés [National Commission for IT and Civil Liberties (French data protection body) (CNIL)], for example in matters of conflict between two or more legislative provisions of equal precedence.
Our firm has been appointed the IT and Data Protection Correspondent for certain of our Clients and we are a member of the Association Française des Correspondants à la protection des Données à caractère Personnel - Correspondants Informatique et Libertés [French Association of Personal Data Protection Correspondents - IT and Data Protection Correspondents (AFCDT)].
We advise businesses and their managers with taxation matters, both in connection with the daily conduct of their activity or with exceptional operations. Our assistance is both preventative and curative, and may concern defence or indeed an offensive stance in response to inspections by the tax authorities.
In our constant aim of providing our clients with greater legal security in their operations, we carry out our mission of prevention and correction by providing advice and following through its implementation. For this purpose we rely on our experience with the positions and expectations of the tax authorities and our in-depth knowledge of the economical environment in which our clients operate. These assets are just as useful in the settlement of disputes between businesses or their managers and the tax authorities.
We are convinced that compliance with environmental regulations must be at the core of the strategy of any modern business. Moreover, there are a great number of innovative businesses in the fields of GreenTech and renewable energy sources, and they require corresponding legal assistance. With the creation of a dedicated department, Avistem is able to offer services that meet the required standards for this crucial matter for our society.
Our firm regularly takes part in conferences, debates, training sessions on subjects relating to new technologies, personal data, corporate finance, taxation, the environment, financial regulations and FinTechs etc. Many articles or works on these subjects have been published in legal, professional or economical journals.
From the moment it was founded, Avistem featured among the best French law firms for financial law in the Décideurs 2016 rankings. We also have strong expertise in the information technology law, corporate finance, the taxation of innovation, and the environment and renewable energy sources, and we also intend to position ourselves very quickly as key players in these areas.


text: Transformers: The Last Knight is being set up as the biggest Transformers movie yet, from learning about why the robots in disguise are so closely connected to Earth, to depicting the war between them and the human race. However, there have been concerns over Bumblebee's well being given that we've seen him fighting Optimus Prime, his onetime ally, in several previews and not faring well. Given Bumblebee's importance to the franchise, the chances of him dying compared to the other Transformers are slim (especially with this new ability), but it's not impossible. On the off chance Bumblebee does bite the dust, at least moviegoers won't be separated from him for long, as the Bumblebee spinoff coming next year, and is described by Michael Bay as going "younger."


text:
Customer insight reveals how to demand premium prices.
As a consumer living in the United states, we are constantly surrounded by four letters. S-a-l-e. Are eyes light up seeing it, are ears perk up hearing it, and are adrenaline races once we're near it. But as a business owner hearing your competitor is offering a sale, feelings can be mixed. An owner of a Fabrication company that offers premium products, was convinced his customers were leaving him for a foreign company that always offered lower prices & sales.
And he was right.
Specializing in milling aluminum components to extremely fine tolerances, this US based fabricator was suffering a loss in business. A few Chinese importers entered into the market and were slowly pecking away at his customer base - which lead him to Atenga. Immediately, we knew lowering their prices to compete with these foreign competitors was not a viable option. Their products value was built around quality, whereas his competitors was built around "the lowest price".
When they came to us, the first thing that we did was perform an in depth study of their market. We identified two segments that needed client capabilities and quick-response services. These segments were also willing to pay 25% higher prices. Furthermore, we identified a set of additional services they could offer customers, with little to no extra effort on their end - ultimately improving customer's value perceptions in the target marketplace.
The Action
Immediately they tied up loose end on the production side. Re-Engineering processes for quicker turnaround time & more accurate production forecasts. They then shifted sales efforts towards these two market segments - while also developing an introductory offer for new customers to experience faster turnaround times and an accurate & responsive "customer catered" atmosphere.
The result was night and day - Capture rates rose from %2 to 60%. New sales grew by 34% in the next six months, and 20% of the existing customers signed up for their "ALL" program.


text:
Rabbit Backpack - Dumbo grey
$300.00 was $600.00
This product is currently sold out.
The coolest Back Pack for all smaller children The bag is made of pure organic cotton and the fabric is treated with a light organic coating which protects the bag from dirt and stains. The bag comes in all our 3 favorite animals so your child can choose its favorite friend.
Rabbit Backpack - Dumbo grey
100% organic cotton canvas.
100% polyester.
Measurements (cm)
Size: 25 x 31,5
Wash & care
Please follow the recommended care instruction.
|Do not wash
• Do not tumble dry
• Do not bleach
• Do not iron
• Do not dry clean
• If you want to wash your Liewood product, please take of the leather straps at zippers
Designed in Denmark | Made in India


text:
News / Entertainment / Gossips
Seohyun of Girls' Generation's Offered By MBC the Lead Female Role in Upcoming Drama 'Thief, Mr. Thief'
By AV | March 10, 2017 07:14 AM EST
Seohyun of Girls' Generation is reportedly considering an offer by MBC to play the female lead role in the network's weekend drama "Thief, Mr. Thief." The bulletin is announced by a source from MBC in Mar. 8. SM Entertainment also confirmed that the agency has been approached over the matter, and it is accordingly looking over it optimistically.
While her decision still remains uncertain, she has apparently been building up on her acting experience with her past appearances in "Scarlet Heart: Goryeo" and "Ruby Ruby Love." The new MBC weekend drama, according to Soompi, is about thieves who aim to strike on individuals of the elite class who control Korea. The drama will reportedly air in May after the show "Father, I'll Take Care of You" finishes its run.
Seohyun, as reported by Wikipedia, is a South Korean singer and actress. She debuted as a member of girl group Girls' Generation in Aug. 2007. The girls became one of the best-selling artists in South Korea. Furthermore, they were also recognized as South Korea's most popular girl group worldwide.
Apart from her group's activities, Seohyun has established herself as an actress. She accordingly participated in the original and Korean versions of stage musicals. These shows include "Moon Embracing the Sun," "Gone with the Wind" and "Mamma Mia."
She also starred in the drama "Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo." Seohyun debuted as a solo artist with her mini album, "Don't Say No" in Jan. 2017. This makes her the third Girls' Generation member to debut as a solo artist.
On the other hand, Girls' Generation's "I Got a Boy" has reportedly reached 1 million likes. Accordingly, this is on top of its impressive 184.7 million views. It is said that it hard for a girl group to get likes like that on video. Apparently, Black Pink was the sole girl group to have made it in "BOOMBAYAH".
© Copyright 2017 KpopStarz.com. All Rights Reserved.
Tagged : Seohyun, Girls Generation, MBC, thief mr. thief, SM Entertainment
Related Stories!
Latest Photo Gallery
Lee Seung Gi Successfully Held His Fan Meet In Singapore
Lee Seung Gi Successfully Held His Fan Meet In Singapore
WANNA-ONE To Return To Singapore For Second Tour
WANNA-ONE To Return To Singapore For Second Tour


text:
Writing Update - 3.5.15
May already...
Suddenly it's been about a year since City of Masks was first released.
I'm thrilled with the response to the story and I'm keen to get it's sequel The Lost Mask out too. Snapping Turtle will soon have the book in the final stages of production and we're hoping for a May release.
Since I finished the very-near-to final edits on The Lost Mask a while back I started production on A Whisper of Leaves and hope to share the cover very soon. In addition, I finished the first draft of my kangaroo-themed contemporary/magic realism story Crossings and I'm aiming to release it late this year.
Book 3 of The Bone Mask Trilogy (Greatmask) is still in early stages. I'm about 20k words into the first draft and I'm finding it much more labour-intensive than writing a book 1 or 2 - which seems natural. There's a lot of threads to tie up and arcs to finish so I'm expecting it to take me longer than my usual 3 months to finish the draft. I'm really enjoying it though!
Back soon for the cover reveal for A Whisper of Leaves!
Leave a Reply.
Free ebook with every newsletter sign up in 2016
Ashley Capes is an Australian writer of fiction, poetry and very occasional non-fiction.
Progress Meter
Imperial Towers (Never Book 5) - draft 1
Moss Dragon - draft 1
Reed Lavender (working title) - draft 1
Unnamed Spec Fic - draft 1
Whisper of Leaves (sequel) - Outline
August 2018


text:
<< Book 1, SHADOWFAE
Book 3, POISON KISSED >>
Book 2 of the Shadowfae Chronicles
Released 2 March 2010
Chapter One
Stolen diamond bracelets glittered on my wrists in colored nightclub lights, and I laughed, my wings swelling damp in the warm crush of bodies. Midnight at Unseelie Court, dark and fragrant with smoke and sweat. Music ripped my ears like sweet razors, so loud, the air thudded in my lungs and my hair shook to the beat. Strobe lights sliced me, snapshots in time as I danced—here, there, gone.
Blaze wrapped his long white arm around my waist, spilling flames on my shoulder from soft crimson hair. I grinned and wriggled closer, his hot firefae flesh a delicious glory on my skin. Dancing, drinking, diamonds I don't own. Doesn't get sweeter than this.
The floor's packed tonight, a mash of bright fairy wings and rainbow limbs and slick vampire smiles, the air steamy with breath and lust and chemical euphoria. Humans here, too, a few sly ones who can see, but mostly shimmer-eyed and drunk on poison glamour, here for the oblivion. A heady bubble of unreality, this club—no thought, no consequences. Kiss, embrace, dance, love, drown your cares in glorious sensory nectar. A fairy kind of place, no rules, no guilt, the air so glassy with glamour, it might shatter.
Even the name is a fairy joke: Unseelie Court. We fae have no court, no queen or princes or justice. We leave that to demons, gangsters, people who matter.
The smell alone warmed my insides. I'm waterfae, which makes me attuned to moisture, and the wet scent of all that pleasure pressed a sweet ache deep inside me. I shimmied on the crowded dance floor, my silky skirt sticking to my thighs, and lifted my arms in the candy white smoke. My new diamonds sparkled over my wrists, painted blue and green and scarlet by flashing lights. We'd filched them tonight from a glossy apartment in South Yarra, along with a pile of cash and other trinkets.
My skin glowed blue with desire. Shiny things get me all warm and wriggly. I won't get to keep them. We owe the Valenti gang too much protection money. But just for tonight, they're mine. And what harm ever came from something shiny?
Behind me, Blaze rubbed his cheek against my wing, sparks drifting from his pretty red hair. Ooh, tingles, all down my side like sugar. I flexed my shoulders, fluttering golden dust that danced in manic spotlights and rippled in the brittle static of glamour. Blaze is my best friend, a dazzling firefae boy with cute muscles and a cheeky sharp-toothed smile, and his glamour is good. I mean, it's really good. Humans won't see the fine crimson wings like a dragonfly's, the flame dripping from his fingers, his narrow fae-muscled body. They just see a cute redhead with wicked black eyes.
Me? Well, I do my best, but glamour isn't my forte. My nose looks a bit less pointy, my hair more blond than orange, my garish yellow skin fades to human tones. That's about it. Glamour or not, I'm still the same geeky old me.
Blaze slid his arm over my shoulder to offer his fingertip, slick and adorned with a shimmering purple pill.
Naughty boy. I giggled, licked the pill off, and swallowed. It stung bitter, but his finger tasted of sherbet, sparkly and nice.
He rubbed his sharp nose in my hair, and I laughed, my blood hot and urgent, my head awhirl with fizzy-sweet vodka and the thrill of our night's work. Forget the Valentis. Forget the world. Just me and my diamonds, jumping, twirling, dancing until I dropped. Yes.
Next to me a blue-haired vampire kid in leather and his girl kissed, bloody spit trickling on her chin as she swayed to the music, his fingers sliding beneath her skirt. A pair of shirtless trolls scoped for girls, sweat glistening on bulging green muscles and bell-pierced nipples. One winked at me, flicking ragged black hair from his eyes, and I pretended not to see him.
"Spice for Ice!" Blaze yelled, sparks showering. He's allowed to make fun of my unfortunate name. He sizzled my pointed ear with his tongue. Shivers. Mmm. More tongue, slower and wetter than strictly necessary. Bet he's got a hard-on.
I arched my butt backwards and giggled again. Oh, yeah. He's wearing suction-tight leather pants—how he gets those on, I'll never know—and they don't leave much to the imagination.
I grinned, magical warmth already glowing in my guts. Blaze feels as good as he looks, and when he's sparkled to the eyeballs and high from housebreaking and too much broken glass, he always tries something. But we're just friends. We've got rules, and they don't include dragging each other out the back for a hot dirty shag.
Blaze is my lucky charm. Other guys will laugh at me or hit me or play tricks on me just to watch me cry. Fairy girls get that. It's a harsh fae-taunting world out there. Every week you hear about a new fairyslasher, a sadist, a murderer on the loose. Fairies aren't people, see. We're whispers, shadows, irrelevancies sheathed in desperate glamour so we won't stand out or offend anyone or make anyone feel uncomfortable. We're just flotsam, bobbing on the surface of real people's lives. We just hang out and party. It's what we're here for. No one cares if we die or hurt or bleed.
But I know I'm safe with Blaze, even if he is a horny little rat.
That hunky troll bumped my hip, his beady black gaze slithering down over my ass, and Blaze snarled wet sparks at him and spun me away.
I snickered, and wriggled to face him, static shifting. He tossed bloodred hair and threw me that dazzling Blaze grin. He cuts his hair short in the back and scrunches it wildly too long at the front so he can shake it back like that and skewer you with his dirty black come-taste-me stare.
But I know he doesn't mean it, not with me. He's just having fun. I tickled his pointy teeth with my claw. "Go rub that thing on someone else, ya dirty whore."
He slid bony fingers over my hip, keeping me just an inch or two away. His scent zinged my nose, fresh like a newly struck match. Rakish golden rings glinted in his pointy ears, and his studded black velvet jacket was cropped at his smooth hip with nothing underneath. Sweat caressed his narrow muscles in all the right places. He flicked his smoldering gaze to the bar for a second, ruby sparks jumping from his lips. "I can taste green. Azure's watching us. Wanna tease her a bit?"
Azure's our other best friend, as pretty and awesome as Blaze. I looked. She was watching us, with that glinting glaze over her eyes that meant trouble. "You're cruel."
"You're scared." He edged closer, sweat-slick skin sliding on my bare midriff. My breasts pressed against his chest, burning.
Already the purple pill flowered deep and hot inside me. It couldn't be desire. I was far too sensible to want Blaze. Indignation lifted my eyebrows. "Am not. I'm sensible."
"To hell with sensible. Let's be reckless. I'm good at reckless." He wetted his plum-red lips, and the smell of that moisture tripped warm dizzy waves in my skull. Hot fae boy. Lips. Diamonds.
I couldn't keep the giggles in any longer, and I shoved him in the chest, tipping him backwards. "What you are is a naughty boy with a hard-on. Get a girlfriend." And I turned and pushed my way through the fragrant crowd, laughter floating from me like starlight on the swelling currents of my high.
Colors tumbled and prismed. My diamonds dazzled me, and I stumbled over my own ankles a few times as I approached the blue neon bar. Azure pointed at me and laughed, pearlescent wings jittering as she swayed on her stool. She wore a jagged-hemmed white dress that left her back bare, and she'd piled her green hair above her head in a wild nest of knots and stolen pearls, a pair of broken chopsticks and a cocktail fork sticking out.
My purple-drugged heart swelled with love and awe. Azure's the pretty one. Her glamour shows some weirdly beautiful supermodel, tall and willowy with wide-spaced almond eyes. Her real appearance is the same, only with shimmering oval wings, and her skin is a dozen perfect shades of pale air-sprite blue.
Whereas my hair looks kinda like mango peel, half green and half moldy orange, and my wings are burnt yellow, ragged and droopy like a sick butterfly's.
Some girls have all the luck.
Azure poked my chin with a sharp claw, her soft breeze playing with my hair. Az is airfae, attuned to air and the atmosphere. "You're drunk, diamond girl."
"Not true. I'm high. You're the one who's drunk." I jumped up and down, unsteady on my heels, until the bar boy noticed me, and he served me two pink vodka lemonades without me asking. Maybe I was drunker than I thought. Still plenty of stolen cash left, though. I tossed him a crumpled twenty, waving my diamonded wrist grandly. "Keep it, peaches. Stop looking at him like that."
Azure said nothing, and I lurched onto a stool and tickled her slender ribs. "I said, stop staring at him."
"Who?" She tossed her pretty blue head, her wings aflutter, and concentrated too hard on stirring her drink.
"Oh, I dunno, the woolly mammoth in the corner? Who d'ya think?"
She thumped her chin into her hand and her elbow onto the bar, sea-green moisture staining her eyes. "But he's so pretty."
Guilt twinged my happy guts, and I patted her shoulder clumsily. "Yeah, I know. But it's an orchid farm in here, okay? Look around. There's other pretty ones."
"Not like him." She hiccuped and burst into proper tears, her wings flooding verdant.
I sighed. Last month she'd had the hots for some cute blond vampire babe. This week it was Blaze. She'd get over it. But my heart still ached for her. Just because she falls quick doesn't mean she doesn't fall hard. And Blaze is the Court's biggest boy whore. He'll only break her heart.
I slipped my arm around her bony shoulder and pointed to the dance floor, where Blaze was trickling orange flame down some laughing banshee's spine, singeing the ends of her long silver hair. "Look at him. See that girl he's dancing with? In the silver dress? Oh, now he's tongue-kissing her, he's putting his hand up her . . . Yeah. You really want that to be you?"
Az just looked at me, indignant breeze dragging her hair back.
I flushed, vodka-tainted water heating my muscles. Maybe I wasn't quite making my point. "Okay, let's not look at that anymore." Firmly I spun her back around to the bar.
She glared, wet-eyed. "You're a real big help, Ice."
I gulped my vodka, pink fizz shooting fireworks up my nose. "So he's boy candy. Everyone knows that. You also know what a bitch he can be. Whaddaya want me to say?"
"Promise you'll never go with him."
I flushed again, and this time the water burned my cheeks. "What?"
"Butterflies in the sun. I've seen him flirt with you. Promise me you'll never."
"Never flirt with him?" Discomfort twisted, ruining my high. Why dissemble? We were best friends. That's all. Even if I'd wanted to, I didn't have the courage to pursue it further. Believe it or not, I'm not too smooth with the boys, and courage is not my middle name.
Azure swatted my shoulder. "You know what I mean."
"Hide and seek, catch-me-if-you-can. It's just games—"
"Promise, Ice. I couldn't bear it."
She stared, so earnest and brimful with tears that I couldn't take it. "Okay, I promise. Call me a pincushion and shove safety pins up my nose if I'm wrong. It's the rules anyway, right?"
"Yeah, I guess." Azure gave a sad half smile.
I hugged her, my hand slipping beneath her delicate wings. "You'll get over him, Az."
She hugged me back, and I felt better. I had nothing to hide. She sniffed, wiping snot on my shoulder. "I wish I was like you, Ice. You're the sensible one."
I thought of Blaze's tongue in my ear and giggled. "Yeah, that's me: sense, dense, intense. Dripping out my ears, it is. Of course you wanna be me. Why wouldn't you? You're only the prettiest, cleverest girl in the whole world."
She kissed me, a sugary taste of sky-blue lips, and gamely wiped her tears away in green streaks. "You're nice. Let's get drunk and find some boys."
Meaning she'd get prettily tipsy, I'd get smashed, she'd find more boys than she had hands for, and I'd get the leftovers who were too plain to interest her and too shitfaced to care she was a hundred times more beautiful than me. But what are best friends for?
"Yes yes yes." I paid for two more drinks, and we clinked glasses and chugged. Sugar and alcohol burst into my brain like flares, and my nose fizzed.
Azure gasped. "Raspberries and ice cream. More."
"Careful, there's a fairyslasher on the loose."
She snorted. "S'always a fairyslasher. More."
I ordered more, and we chugged again. This time the froth did come out my nose, laced with plummy drug-charmed mirth. I laughed, splurting pink bubbles onto the guy next to me. "Whoa. Sorry, dude." I yanked up my skirt hem to wipe his arm clean, but the frills were too short. My heels skidded from under me, and I landed in his lap in a giggling, spluttering heap.
Oops. I craned my neck up to apologize, and my laughter strangled.
Not again.
Dark blue skin dusted with copper, so smooth and perfect, it's unreal. Black hair so crisp, it curled jagged. Eyes the velvety gray of softened steel. Long narrow wings like silver-shot glass.
My senses tumbled, intoxicated in hot metal scent. Warm midnight blue hands steadied me, and my belly melted inside like chocolate fudge sauce on ice cream, running everywhere. I inhaled, molten iron and hot fairy skin. . . .
Fluid scorched into my wing veins, swelling them tight. I held my breath.
Calm, Ice. He's touching you. You've practically got your face in his lap. Say something really cool and seductive.
"Oh. Um. Hi, Indigo. It's me."
Yeah. That
wasn't it.
Effortlessly, Indigo lifted me to my feet. Rusty wing-glitter shimmered warm on my shoulders. His coppery claws grazed my wrist, and tiny electric shocks crackled up my arms, sparking my diamonds blue.
I stared, my fingerpads itching. He wore black, as usual, jeans and a sleeveless shirt that showed off lean blue arms.
I wanted to rub my cheek against them, tickle my tongue along his biceps. Metalfae are usually twisted, hunchbacked little monsters with razor metal teeth and an attitude. Indigo—well, he's tall and sculpted and moves light, like a cat burglar, but he's still got razor metal teeth and an attitude. Licking is strictly off-limits, especially for a no-account geek girl like me.
He surveyed me back, steely eyes cool. "Nice diamonds."
His dark quicksilver voice broke my skin out in bumps. I tugged my skirt shyly down over my butt, my skin zinging all over under his scrutiny. My tank top was splashed with pink drink, and my nipples poked the wet fabric, painfully visible. I caught myself fiddling with my hair and yanked my hand away, embarrassment squirming inside. I so wanted to be like Azure, elegant and gorgeous, instead of gangly and yellow and pointy-nosed like me.
At least I had a shiny score to impress him with. Not that it'd impress him much. He was the real deal, Indigo. Not just a petty con artist. I wanted to be him when I grew up. "What? Oh, yeah, thanks. They're not mine. You like 'em?"
He gave me a dark silver-fanged smile, and my tongue tingled. Like candies, Indigo's smiles. Make your mouth water, but you only get one when you've been a very good girl. Probably rot your teeth, too.
He tinkled a copper claw along my glittering bracelets. "Pretty. They suit you."
My cheeks sizzled at his compliment. "Yeah? Wow. I mean . . . Thanks, you look great, too. I mean, not that you don't always look gr . . . Well, that is. You look well." Shit.
Indigo brushed pink froth from lean denim-clad thighs, electricity arcing between his fingers.
Great. Not only had I snorted my drink on him, but I'd spilled his as well. Metalfae rust, doncha know. Good job, Ice. Well done. "Sorry 'bout the drink. I'll get you another one—"
"It's okay. I was finished anyway." He adjusted brittle silver wings, and hard fae muscles did sexy things inside his shirt. I stared, my fingerpads burning to touch that narrow body packed tight with faelight flesh. He's bigger than Blaze, stronger, harder. His muscles, I mean. I can only dream about the rest.
My mouth crinkled inside. This so wasn't going the way I'd imagined it.
Every time I saw him, it was like this: I made a gibbering fool of myself and then spent the time until I saw him again thinking of all the cool things I should've said.
I licked my sharp teeth. He didn't make it easy, so dark and silent and all. Guess he was shy. "So . . . Umm . . . You got anything happening? Me and my friends, we're always—"
"Not right now." His coppery lashes glinted.
"I mean, not that you need our help or anything, but we're real good, like tonight, there was this alarm system wired into the window when we smashed it, and me and Blaze—"
"Ice." Clipped, like he didn't want to listen to me or something.
"I'm kind of in the middle of something."
I peered around him. A blond banker type, sleek black suit and golden rings, sipping a bottled green drink through a straw. He glinted black eyes at me, and ash drifted from golden lashes.
I shivered. Spooky. Maybe a client, he looked rich enough. I fluffed my wings out as prettily as I could, grubbing up the dregs of my courage. "Oh, sure. Hi. I'll wait. Maybe after, we could go for pizza or something—"
"Yeah?" My pulse fluttered. I held my breath.
Please say yes, and I'll never tease Azure about Blaze again.
He stared at the bar, his elegant jaw tight. "Leave us alone? Please?"
Nausea warmed my stomach. I swallowed, beestung. "Fine. Sure, Indigo. Later." And I walked away, flicking a little updraft to keep my step light.
Embarrassment and alcohol burned my skin. For the fairy of my dreams, he sure was a condescending asshole. That was like ten times he'd brushed me off like that. Why did I set myself up for this? I was so over him.
Fluid boiled in my wings, and my head swirled. Azure smirked at me from the bar, but I ignored her. Just because he'd never turn her down. I made it halfway to the dance floor before my feet tangled and I fell, my kneecaps banging into grippy metal. Nice move. That'd impress him.
I chanced a look up, and he wasn't even watching me. Prick. I scrabbled to get up, my plastic heels slipping on the metal. My ankle twisted, and I yelped, my palm slapping into the floor. "Ow! Shit."
A blue-eyed vampire boy slipped his cold hand in mine and lifted me gracefully to my feet. His black hair scrunched wild in his eyes, blond roots showing. "You okay, fairy lady?"
Nice teeth, white and twinkling sharp. Narrow pretty face, lashes long and green, sexy sapphire stud in his violet-dyed eyebrow. Kinda cute. All the same, too thin, too much eyeliner, smelled of meat and cigarettes. Not my type. No one else was my type with Indigo in the room. And guys who paid attention to me were usually trouble, the kind of guys who liked me because I looked desperate enough to be a sure thing. And it wasn't always a good time they were after.
But at least this one had manners. I slid my arms around his neck, glancing over his shoulder in case Indigo was looking this time. He wasn't. Damn it. "Sure, sweetie. Wanna dance?"
* * *
Her sugarbright scent recedes, and Indigo exhales bitter iron temptation. His thighs are still sticky with rum and pink vodka, and imprints of her tiny hands still scorch his skin, too pleasant. She hasn't given up on him. Like she wants to be his girlfriend or something, and the world knows Indigo doesn't do girlfriends, not anymore.
He does thieving, chasing, fleeing from pissed-off hellspawn. Girlfriends just get in the way.
Indigo scrapes wetness from his thighs, wanting to lick his fingers. Silly mango girl has no idea. Pretty amateurs like her should stick to taunting electric alarms and swiping diamonds from faeblind humans. Not playing in the dark where the monsters are.
Indigo flexes tense wings again, raining glitter. Still, something bright and clean about her refreshes his metal-laced blood. Sweet. Charmingly inept. Innocent. Precious things he lost a long time ago.
But not harmless. Ice is never harmless, with that cheeky smile and cute pointy nose and beguiling amber eyes and tempting skin the lost color of sunflowers. In his darker moments, he can admit her awe strokes his ego. Not for a moment harmless, that wide worshipful glow in her eyes, the way her fingers twitch when he touches her, the way she wets her lips without thinking when he gets too close.. . .
His copper claws tingle. Rust crunches along the silvery edges of his wings, and he cracks it off with an electric jitter. Iron-scented particles puff, littering the ash-strewn floor. Better she never knows what hell is like. Better he forgets her. She's probably false anyway. The rest are.
Beside him, the demon lord sips his lime vodka drink, blond ringlets tickling his cheek. Immaculate black suit, lime tie, golden cuff links, the distant smell of thunder. Soft boyish face, fresh with rosy lips, and his voice splits the numbing music effortlessly. "Do you have it?"
Indigo tightens his fingers around the ridged metal sphere, and something evil inside slithers against his palm. He's thieved a demoness's lair for this, and it's not the first time he's stolen it. He should be wise to its tricks by now. Still, giving it up again crawls a hot snake of false regret into his guts. Maybe he should take it home, keep it for his very own, where no one else can see.. . .
The damn thing's gnawing at his mind again. He clunks the heavy sphere on the bar. Good riddance. The demon better keep his end of the bargain. "We done?"
Kane taps blue nails on his bottle, and the sphere rolls across the glass to his waiting hand. It flowers in his palm, iron triangles flashing open like razor-curved petals to reveal the gleaming mirror inside. Kane smiles, childlike, his black eyes swirling green. "You looked, didn't you? I warned you."
Indigo clenches steely teeth in denial. Maybe he's peeked into the glass, drawn by the shimmering silver surface. Wouldn't be the first time. He's a fairy. He likes shiny things. So what? That was days ago. Nothing's happened. Has it?
A sly new whisper rustles warning in his ears. He ignores it. The mirror winks, triumphant, and he drags his gaze away, his stomach twisting. "Are we done?"
"Oh, yes, we're done. For now." Kane admires the glass in colored strobe lights, green sparks playing in his hair. "Who's that pretty yellow child? She smells like strawberries."
"Mind your fucking business." Jealousy shoots hot quicksilver into Indigo's blood. He itches to look over his shoulder, warn her, make sure she's all right, and the irony heats his claws molten. His fingertips scorch. The whispers in his head grow louder, more insistent, mocking him, eating at his reason like acid. His vision flickers like an electricity surge, mirrorshiny images of tangled limbs and fresh auburn hair and blood, and he lights blindly up from his stool with a twist of quivering wings, Kane's empty laughter stinging.
Nausea claws his guts as he staggers away like he's drunk, though he's had only one. Music rocks his ears like motion sickness. A table bangs into his hip, metal crunching, and someone curses, but he doesn't stop or apologize. He tries to focus, but limbs and eyes and fairy wings swim before him, running together like watercolors, wrapping him in a stinging cocoon of gabbling colors. His limbs hurt and yearn. His mouth stings with chrome. His teeth ache like he's grinding them on glass. Something's not right. It's that cursed mirror again.
A slick giggle slides around in his head, and dread wipes his skin with hot grease, but it's too late. Something dark and warm like a snake darts with jagged teeth for his senses, and before he can do anything, the world snaps black.
Enjoy this excerpt? Check out the full book at these links:
Site and text copyright (c) 2010 Erica Hayes


text:
UPPSC AMO Result 2016
UPPSC Allopathic MO Result 2016 – UPPSC AMO Result Download at www.uppsc.up.nic.in ==>> A lot of candidates are preparing for the UPPSC Recruitment exam 2016. We hope that all these candidates have now downloaded call letter for 2016 UPPSC Recruitment Exam. UPPSC is going to conduct allopathic MO, Professor & various Posts written exam in coming months. After the written exam, candidates can check the result of UPPSC AMO Exam 2016. UP Public Service Commission will release UPPSC AMO exam result 2016 on its official site www.uppsc.up.nic.in. Candidates may check result for UPPSC AMO, Professor, Assistant Manager Examination result by below-given method.
UPPSC AMO Exam Result 2016
Keep checking for date & schedule of UPPSC AMO interview 2016.UPPSC has released recruitment notification for this examination in month of December 2015. Under this notification Interview will be held for 2234 Posts of Allopathic Medical Officer, Assistant Manager, research Officer Lecturer, Professor, Assistant Director & many other vacancies. Two or three times number of post candidates will be called for interview process. Full details of posts, pay scale, UPPSC 2016 Interview letter download etc are given in next section.
UPPSC Allopathic MO Exam Result 2016
|Starting Date for Submission of Online Application:
|Last Date for Submission of Online Application:
|Download Call letter of UPPSC AMO Recruitment 2016:
|Date of UPPSC AMO Recruitment Exam 2016:
|March/April 2016
|Result of UPPSC AMO Recruitment Exam 2016:
|May/June 2016
|Interview of UPPSC AMO/Professor Post:
|After Written Result
UPPSC AMO Exam Result 2016
Total No. of Posts: 2234 Vacancies
Age Limit & Pay scale: Candidates' age required for a post depends on for what post you applied for. An age relaxation for reserved category candidates is applicable as per govt. rules.Read the complete notification for full detail.
For Post of Lecturer -25 years to 40 years
For Post of Professor -30 years to 50 years
For Remaining posts – 21 years to 40 years
Pay scale –Rs 10000 to 40000 approx.
Essential Educational Qualification: M.B.B.S. degree/ Post-graduate Degree/ Diploma in Medical or Health Sciences in particular subject for Post No. For remaining posts, read official notification given below.
Selection Procedure: Candidates will be selected on the basis of marks obtained in written Exam & Interview conducted by UPPSC.
UPPSC AMO (Allopathic Medical Officer) Exam 2016 Result & Interview Letter
Follow below given Instructions for Downloading UPPSC AMO test result 2016 & Interview letter for AMO post & rest vacancies.
- Click on the below mentioned official website link
- Here you see home page of UPPSC official website.
- On the main page, go to the top right side of page.
- Here you will section with heading "Information Bulletin".
- All the latest result updates appear here.
- Search for "Result of Advertisement No. 2/2015-16"
- Download this UPPSC AMO result.
- You can print interview letter of at the middle bottom section under heading Notices.
- Click on this link & fill required details to print interview letter of UPPSC AMO.
Check UPPSC AMO Result & Interview Letter==>> www.uppsc.up.nic.in
Follow the steps to find your UPPSC AMO Result 2016, Asst Manager & various post exam conducted by UPPSC. After checking result of UPPSC AMO & Professor exam, candidates have to appear for the interview. It will be held very soon after declaration of UPPSC AMO exam Result 2016. UPPSC Allopathic MO Result 2016 check above.


text:
Heart & Vascular
Your heart. It's never too soon to protect it.
Learn More
Congestive Heart FailureWith congestive heart failure the heart beats weaker than normal decreasing the amount of blood that moves through the body while increasing in pressure inside the heart. Your heart may respond by enlarging to hold more blood to pump or by becoming stiff. The heart muscle walls eventually weaken and become unable to pump efficiently.
Search our physician directory for help finding a cardiologist who is right for you.
Symptoms can be mild or severe and chronic or sudden. They include:
- Shortness of breath, especially when lying down
- Coughing and wheezing
- Fatigue and weakness
- Swelling in the ankles and abdomen from retention of fluids
- Weight gain, also from fluid retention
- Dizziness and confusion
- Increased urge to urinate, especially at night
Welcome to Franciscan Health
Find your nearest treatment facility
Related Resources


text:
Green Goo Salve for Feet
Filed under: blister care, Foot Care, Foot Care Products, Health
This summer at the Outdoor Retailers Show in Salt Lake City I discovered Green Goo products. Their business card says they are "Rethinking First Aid." The company is based out of Lyons, CO.
Their salves are 100% natural from organic farmers. The fresh and dried herbs are infused in organic oils for an increased medicinal value. The salves are made for use with cuts, scrapes, blisters, sunburns, chafing, poison ivy, cracked hands and feet, on insect bites, and as a wound dressing.
The Green Goo Foot Care salve is described as "… an herbal power packed formula that helps to relieve cracked heels, blisters, athlete's foot, fungus, dry feet, ingrown toenails, rashes, and cuts. Our proprietary blend of Calendula and Yarrow, plus 6 other healing herbs, naturally soothes and protects your feet." Additionally, it does not contain: petroleum, parabens, propylene glycol, phthalates, mineral oil, or any artificial ingredients, and is gluten free. The website gives the ingredients for all their products. Packaging is a small .7oz tin ($7.95), a larger 1.82oz tin ($12.95), or a travel stick .6oz ($9.95). The Green Goo Foot Care small tin and stick are perfect for carrying in a hydration pack or backpack.
Other salves for athletes include First Aid, Pain Relief, Dry Skin Care for moisturizing, and Solar Goo for sun exposure protection.
They offer additional products for pets, a natural deodorant, skin care, mamma and kids, and intimacy. Check out their full line of products at GreenGoo.
I like the Green Goo products and came home with several tins. I tried the Foot Care and First Aid salves and like how they work. They are a new addition to the 6th edition of Fixing Your Feet and are a prefect addition to your foot care and first aid kits.


text:
THE BODY SHOP® Vitamin E Moisture Cream
BY THE BODY SHOP #90 in Lotion
Product Description
Our lightweight, easily absorbed facial moisturizer protects and locks in moisture for all-day hydration, to leave skin feeling fresh, silky-soft and looking more radiant. Now formulated with vitamin E, plumping hyaluronic acid and wheatgerm oil, its moisturizing effects can help ward off dryness. Use after cleansing and toning, as part of your personalized skincare program.
- Hydrates skin leaving it smooth and fresh
- Light and easily absorbed
- Use daily for softer, healthy-looking skin
- Use fingertips to apply to face and neck after cleansing and toning
- Suitable for all skin types, particularly dry skin
All Ingredients
Aqua, Isopropyl Palmitate, Glycerin, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Cetyl Esters, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Steareth-2, Cera Alba, Phenoxyethanol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Steareth-20, Carbomer, Triticum Vulgare Germ Oil, p-Anisic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Parfum, Sodium Hydroxide, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Benzyl Benzoate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Disodium EDTA, Hydroxycitronellal, Limonene, Geraniol, Linalool, Citronellol, Cinnamyl Alcohol, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Citric Acid, CI 14700, CI 19140see more...
Top Questions See all 27 Q&A
- "This mosturizer applies smoothly and absorbs very quickly. It's great to use before bedtime or during the winter when you get especially dry skin." in 43 reviews
- "Does a really good job moisturizing my skin. I use it both day and night, no greasy feel" in 36 reviews
- "i have just started using the moisturising cream a few days ago and i am really impressed. i use this moisturiser at night after cleansing and toning and i use a lighter moisturiser from the body shop for during the day. it's perfect for dry skin" in 27 reviews
- "For my sensitive skin I use products with aloe vera, but most of them that I have used before, had contained alchohol, parfume and colorants. This one is pure gold because it is completely free from all the bad things lile the one that I have mantioned. It leaves my skin healthy and elastic and I just love it!:)" in 20 reviews
See All Photos & Videos


text:
HCSO investigators arrest man in connection with Cypress-area sexual assaults
The Harris County Sheriff's Office Adult Sex Crimes unit has arrested a 33-year-old male in connection with a home invasion and sexual assault that occurred in the Cypress area earlier this month.
HCSO Investigators have charged Rickey Lee Zepeda, 33, with the sexual assault and aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon of a 23-year-old female on Jan. 7 in the 18000 block of Temple Hill.
Zepeda is also the suspect in the Jan. 21 home invasion and sexual assault of a woman in the Cypress Landing subdivision.
These charges are pending.
A joint task force of investigators from the HCSO Adult Sex Crimes, members of the HCSO Safe Homes task force and the assistance of the Department of Puplic Safety, Texas Ranger Division are credited with his capture.


text:
Can't see the Full Screen puzzle? Your pop-up blocker probably prevented it from opening. Click here to relaunch the pop-up.
Still can't get it to work? Please contact us for additional help
Free jigsaw puzzle of a simple wooden birdhouse. The birdhouse is painted white and brown.
Copy and paste the code below to place this jigsaw puzzle onto a website or blog.


text:
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Rand weakens as Zuma gives state of nation address
For those of you who don't know (aliens, coma patients and ignorant non-South Africans) today was a day made in history as our (shower-head) president Zuma made his first state of the nation address.
There were some Cape Townians I dare say, who groggily got out of bed this very cold morning and 'forgot' that today was the momentous day – and for a few moments wondered why traffic was 'the worst ever'.
But seriously, some people arrived almost two hours late for work – and we aren't living in Joburg!
The luxury of living in Cape Town is that we don't spend three hours a day driving to and from work.
But anyway, back to my previous point – I know that at least some people out in the world were waiting and watching with baited breath for the speech.
How do we know this?
Besides the fact that we are a great country for the press to have a dig at – lets face it, our bunch are entertaining!
But thats not all...
Our Rand weakened...
Reports said:
South Africa's currency traded 1.1 percent weaker at 8.0375 per dollar as of 11:07 a.m. in Johannesburg, from 7.9477 yesterday.
It slipped versus all 16 most-actively traded currencies monitored by Bloomberg, losing 0.7 percent against the euro to 11.4225.
Most importantly: "The rand is waiting for direction from the state-of-the-nation address, which is widely expected to give an indication of economic policies going forward," said Kay Walsh, an economist and currency researcher at Rand Merchant Bank in Johannesburg. "Investors are hoping for some reassuring signs from the new president."
Our premiere Helen Zille said that she was positive about Zuma's proposed job creation plan, but warned of the risk of the plan becoming an "ANC patronage network".
She lauded Zuma's recognition that social welfare should encourage people to become self-reliant, ultimately "weaning them off grants".
She said that it was crucial that Zuma kept his pledges, particularly relating to the independence of the judiciary.
Anyway, I am not going to go into all the details of Zuma's speech – check it out yourselves at: http://www.politicsweb.co.za/politicsweb/view/politicsweb/en/page71619?oid=131843&sn=Detail
Posted by Amy at 4:33 PM
No comments:
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


text:
Quik X Tracking Numbers
In order to use the above system, you must enter your Pro Number, Purchase Order, BOL (Bill of Lading) or Carrier Pro Number.
If you experience problems using our system, please click on the link below to track directly on the Quik X website. If you have an account you can log in here.
Tracking Phone Number
Please contact your local Quik X service center for information on your delivery.
365Tracking is only able to provide tracing and tracking services. Should you wish to make an enquiry regarding the status of your courier delivery, we advise you to contact Quik X directly.
About Quik X
LTL Service Throughout Canada
The professionals at Quik X are dedicated to providing superior less-than-truckload and truckload transportation within Canada. Our expedited service to and from locations throughout Canada is second to none, in some cases rivalling air service, at a fraction of the cost. This, combined with our next day service in the Southern Ontario and Québec markets, make Quik X a true leader in domestic transportation.
USA Expedited
Quik X makes shipping to the United States truly straightforward. How? By avoiding "break-bulk" operations and ensuring non-stop, expedited service to thousands of U.S. destinations. Our commitment to speed and safety is demonstrated by our use of teamed drivers on our highway operations. Quik X is a customs bonded carrier in Canada and the United States and our personnel are experts in customs clearance procedures… Learn more >>


text:
If you are looking for freelance SEO services provider in Toronto Canada then you are now at right place. We offer freelance SEO services in all famous cities of Canada like -Vancouver, Ottawa, Quebec City, Calgary, Edmonton, Victoria, Montreal and others. Call us at 91-9871774014 or Skype - websiterankone or mail me at firstname.lastname@example.com; for more information visit my official website - www.websiterankone.com
As we know that Canada is well known country in the world and famous for technology. The people of Canada know well how to use new technology and they use latest technology of digital world. They use internet for online shopping, hire services provider and book ticket. I mean they use digital technology in daily life.
You can imagine that how much you can earn if your website show in top result. As you know that about 70% people visit online and purchase the product for daily life. About 80% people hire the services online because then got their contact information thorough internet. So we can say that we could earn more and more online through website
If you have already business website like online shopping, entertainment, education, real estate, medical, tour and travel and so on and now wish to promote it then you have only one option that is SEO, SMO and PPC. So don't worry now, we are best option for you.
Why hire Freelance SEO for your website
Most of people think what is benefit of Freelance work? So I would like to tell you some benefit of freelance SEO services
Price - The price is less than company. Most of company charge you 500 to 1000 USD for single website but freelance ; you need to pay only 250 to 500 USD for the same
Better work - Freelance SEO means the SEO expert work only for your website at home. As you know that in the company 1 seo experts works at about 5 to 10 website, But in freelance work, they focus only for you.
Contact any Time and direct communicate to SEO expert online - In Freelance work, you can discuss any things about your project directly to SEO expert. You don't need to wait.
Hope you understand these points and now decide to hire Freelance SEO services provider in Toronto Canada.
So don't be late and connect with me at skype Id - Websiterankone or mail me email@example.com ; We contact you back soon with best solutions for you. For more information visit my official website.
You might like to read - Freelance SEO Services in Bangalore / Chennai 09871774014


text:
Welcome to the FAIRGROUND INN, where we offer economic valued staying.
We are located conveniently close to the Evergreen State fairgrounds and downtown (less than one mile), and only a short drive from Stevens Pass Ski Area.
Address: 18950 SR 2 Monroe, WA 98272
Phone: (360) 794-5401
Add to Favorites
Monroe Chamber of Commerce
125 South Lewis Street
Monroe, WA 98272
(360) 794-5488


text:
Adult Sunday School comprises small groups that focus on Bible study, Christian life perspectives, and fellowship through social and mission activities. Each group is unique, so we encourage you to check out more than one.
11:00 a.m., Room 121This group is composed of couples and singles in their 40s and 50s, most with children of all ages. The group studies spiritual growth, biblical and contemporary issues. They also enjoy regular social activities, and are actively involved in volunteering at the church! The purpose of the group is to provide adult spiritual growth and to foster friendships with other Christian couples and singles.
11:00 a.m., Room 123This is a group of couples in their 20s and 30s. It is a discussion-based group that focuses on the application of biblical principles as they relate to relationships, marriage and spiritual growth. The members of this group invite you to join them as they get to know each other through studies, socials and mission projects.
9:30 a.m., Room 126This group is made up of parents of teen through college. The group is all about studying and growing in our faith journey as individuals and parents of teen through college
Noon, Room 121A class for young adults 19 through mid-20s. Built on the importance of affirming your faith and applying it to the transitional time at the end of your college career. Open to anyone in college or having recently graduated, we aim to build connections that will lead you to having a strong community of believers to grow with through the next stages of life. Led by Corey Cox.
9:30 a.m., Piro Hall 1Married couples in their 40s with children. This group is all about studying and growing in our faith journey. They invite you to join them. "Don't stop believing…"
11:00 a.m., Piro Hall 4The class engages in scripture-based study with open discussion. It is a Christian fellowship, who rejoice together in times of joy, provide comfort in times of sorrow, and give support in times of need. As the name implies, it is a "Joy"ful class.
11:00 a.m., Piro Hall 3This is a group whose members are mostly in their 40s and 50s and many have children in high school, college, and beyond. The group is a Bible based study group.
11:00 a.m., Room 126Living Our Faith Together, Loving our Fellowship Together. Adults mid 40s and 50s with late high school, college-age and/or grown children who are building a passionate group of Christ's servants that love to study his word, fellowship and serve. Contact Laura, 972.897.5668.
11:00 a.m., Room 120Married couples in their 30s and 40s with children. Weekly studies are group-based discussions focused on topics ranging from Christian parenting and marriage to in-depth studies of the Bible. We invite you to join us as we deepen our relationships with Christ and each other through weekly studies, mission work and social activities.
9:30 a.m., Room 123 This group of parents seeks to guide teen-aged children in growing their personal faith in Jesus Christ, serve their community, and be involved members of the St. Andrew community. The group, formed in 2017, uses presentation of relevant Christian-based literature, guest speakers and group dialogue to enhance their faithful parenting. The class is made up of parents of teens.
8:30 a.m., Room 126This group focuses on strengthening the faith of its members through Bible study, social activities, and frequent mission opportunities in the wider community. In addition to their service to others, they take pride in their support of one another in times of need. The group members are adults with grown children and grandchildren.
11:00 a.m., Smith Worship CenterThis is a large lecture-oriented class that is open to all adults. It even has a few teenagers each week. The class focuses on series of interest to many Christians, and is suitable for those who want to attend the class regularly, those who can attend occasionally, and those who've never attended Sunday School.
11:00 a.m., Piro Hall 1Single People Involved in Relating and Inspiring Together — The SPIRIT Sunday School class is dedicated to spiritual growth, community service, supporting one another and weekly fun, social activities. Join other awesome Christian singles doing life together in Bible and life skills studies. Click here to learn more.
9:30 a.m., Room 120The Two by Two class is comprised of baby boomers with adult children. The class enjoys fun and fellowship along with community outreach. This engaging group continues in its faith journey and discussions of contemporary issues led by class members and outside speakers. The class meets regularly for social activities and provides awe-inspiring support for class members' prayer requests. Two by Two has volunteer commitments to Seven Loaves and Project Hope programs.
11:00 a.m., Piro Hall 2Comprised of married couples and single adults in varying stages of family life. This group engages in lively discussion of today's world, and the role of Christians in it. The group supports a caring and casual atmosphere where open discussion is always encouraged during study. The group regularly participates in social and mission activities, and its members are actively involved in several ministry areas of the church.
9:30 a.m., Room 121A group centered around providing a comfortable environment for people to share and learn from each other as we all work to balance our faith with our daily lives. Many of us are parents with young children and some of us are not, but we all share a desire to grow in our faith and friendship with Christ and to be around others who are searching for the same thing.
9:30 a.m., Room 133This ladies-only group takes journeys through the Bible using study guides. The discussions are lively, and the sharing of personal views and experiences is encouraged. The group enjoys social activities, traveling together, and engaging in mission work for Parkland Hospital. This group is open to all ages — single or married.


text:
By Samira Sai and Karima Marwani
Tunis, Tunisia, (Hakaekonline) March,2016- Nine years have passed, including a revolution, but the law that was meant to facilitate the movement of citizens with disabilities is not being fully implemented.
On May 30, 2006, decree No. 1467 was issued setting technical specifications for facilitating the movement of people with disabilities in public buildings, spaces, and common public areas.
The decree replaces a series of legal initiatives that sought to ensure the right of persons with disabilities to movement and access that were launched since 1981. A solitary chapter in the law on the advancement and protection of persons with disabilities emphasized the need for "civic buildings open to the public to be equipped with suitable and accessible ramp for easy movement of people with disabilities."
The decree issued in 2006 seemed more feasible compared to all previous legislative initiatives. It was issued a year after Law No. 83 of 2005 was issued on the advancement and protection of persons with disabilities, which dedicated four chapters to issues pertaining to the preparation of public space to guarantee the right of persons with disabilities to easy movement.
Nine years after the issuance of this law, things have remained almost unchanged. The suffering continued, given the lack of access to services, the daily bread for people with disabilities, and what this entails in terms of exclusion and marginalization as was evidenced in the inquiry conducted by the authors.
Joy marred by lack of access
The joy experienced by Firas Zamzam, student at the Jammal Institute, Bani Hassan road, Monastir state, for passing the third secondary school grade was not complete. Because of a condition that affected his muscles, Firas cannot climb stairs to the first story of his institute, where physics and communications classes are located. Trying to do so in the past has caused him a lot of trouble. Many times he had to skip classes or sit for exams at the administration building by himself.
Like Zamzam, Ibtihal al-Zawawi's joy for succeeding in the baccalaureate and graduation into college was incomplete. She was forced to move away from her family in the town of Menzel Bourguiba, to Bizerte near college.
Ibtihal, who is physically disabled, faces a lot of problems in public and private transport. Buses are poorly equipped for those who need wheelchairs, while taxi drivers often decline to take her claiming the trunks of their cars are too small or have a gas bottle and cannot take in her wheelchair.
Meanwhile, Saida Ghanimi, a disabled civil society activist in Menzel Bourguiba, has gone through a lot of trouble after Avenue Habib Bourguiba was closed on 10 September 2015, for security reasons.
Ghanimi was supposed to deliver a lecture that day at 11 in the morning at a hotel in the street, about her town's experience in securing the right of movement to people with disabilities. Although she managed to reach the bus station at Bab Saadoun at 8:40, she could not reach the hotel except at mid-day after the session ended.
Inaccurate figures
Firas, Ibtihal, and Saida are three out of 251,000 persons with disabilities in Tunisia according to the latest Ministry of Social Affairs statistics. But these statistics remain inaccurate, relying only on the number of disability cards that have been issued, while the real number of persons with disabilities is probably higher. Not all persons with disabilities have these cards, for one reason or the other, according to Khaled Amaimaya, President of the Tunisian Organization for the Defense of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Researching the number of persons with disabilities in Tunisia reveals very different numbers or very outdated ones. The first Tunisian report on the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, was issued in 2010 based on statistics gathered in 2003.
The lack of accurate statistics raises questions about the seriousness of strategies aimed at providing necessary services for persons with disabilities, including those aimed at the application of the decree issued in 2006, which covers more than 15,000 public and private buildings, including educational and cultural institutions, municipal centers, and social, healthcare, financial, postal, and security services centers, in addition to roads and pavements.
A troubled dream ravaged by revolution
Larbi Choueikh, head of the Technical Office of the City for Everyone Association, said the decree issued in 2006 has not been well implemented, citing the lack of a public policy in Tunisia regarding mechanisms for enforcing the right to movement and access.
He said that the implementation committee run by Minister of Equipment stipulated in the law has not convened in a long time, and the same goes for the relevant municipal committees.
Implementing the law after it was issued stalled further after January 2011 revolution. Work has since stopped on implementing the 2008-2011 national strategy for access to public spaces, according to Ahmad al-Bulazi, director of Solidarity and Social Development at the General Directorate of Social Advancement.
Bulazi said that guaranteeing the right of movement to persons with disabilities is one of "the most difficult problems that we face in Tunisia."
In light of the stalled implementation of the national strategy for access in public spaces, efforts to implement the 2006 decree were scattered as the number of people involved increased, in the absence of one leading and coordinating entity due to the failure of the law to specify one. As a result, problems emerged.
The decree issued in 2006 also did not specify a time period for the cases of retrofitting, leaving the matter severely disorganized. Even the building housing the Social Advancement Directorate, the key place for persons with disabilities in Tunisia, has not been retrofitted for improved access.
Bulazi said the building is old and not amenable to retrofitting. However, he pointed to other solutions such as installing lifts, something that has proven difficult because of administrative hurdles and the lack of suitable disability lifts in the country.
Multifaceted shortcomings
After a field tour in Tunis, both reporters discovered several deficiencies in the implementation of the 2006 decree. A great number of access ramps for persons with disabilities – though few in number — did not conform to specifications rendering them completely unusable.
Kamal al-Qamari, director of permit monitoring at the Tunis municipality, said in this regard: "The issue has to do with old buildings whose entrances are relatively elevated and the areas outside them are narrow, which does not allow access ramps that conform to standards to be installed."
However, the same problem exists with new buildings, including the Electoral Commission building in the capital. Fares al-Damerji, who is in charge of reviewing building permits in Tunis's municipality, said: "The certificate of conformity of the works is handed to the building owner after the building is complete, and after inspecting whether it conforms to the permit given and the specifications set forth."
He added: "The owners of buildings require this certificate only if they want to sell the buildings. However, those who are going to use the building for their private use or for rent do not need to obtain the certificate, which facilitates abuses."
The municipality of Tunis, tasked with ensuring roads and pavements fit the needs of the disabled, is working on building ramps for use by the disabled, especially near facilities frequently used by citizens. This is something that the authors noticed. But they also found out that there is an absence of signs pointing in the direction of these ramps. This makes it difficult for persons with disabilities to find them, a task made worse if cars happen to be parked in front of the ramps.
When confronted with this, Issa Buhajja, director of roads and pavements at the municipality of Tunis, acknowledged the lack of signposts, but said it would be easy to install them.
Another aspect of violations hindering daily activity for persons with disabilities is the exploitation of pavements despite the existence of restrictive legal regulations.
The phenomenon grew worse since the revolution, as pavements in Tunis became a place for street vendors, for parking cars and a "natural" extension for shops and cafes to sell their products and put their chairs and tables. This prompted civil society activists to launch a campaign "Leave the pavement", aiming to take back pavements for pedestrians.
Despite the strong involvement of many citizens and entities in this campaign, it did not bear fruit as the owners of cafes, shops, and kiosks would soon return to their old habits.
Zuhair Bouglabia, municipality police chief, said the reason may be that penalties are "insignificant compared to the size of the abuses in some cases," stressing that the municipal police department has made proposals to tighten sanctions.
The 2006 decree allocated parking spaces for cars belonging to persons with disabilities. The authors of the investigation counted six recently-built public parking lots in the capital, only two of which contained spots for cars of persons with disabilities that fully complied with the specifications in building permits.
The surprising thing, however, was that even these spots were not left vacant for the disabled. "There is no solution to this," according to the garage official. He said: "Customers do not respect the signposts that clearly indicate the nature of the spots."
The municipal police chief pledged to investigate the issue. He said parking in a spot for disabled persons without having the right to do so entails two offenses, one by the owner of the car and one by the owner of the locale for failing to enforce the law.
Governmental institutions: Ministry of Education as an example
There are 5970 primary and secondary state-run schools in Tunisia.
The ministry considers helping students with disabilities to integrate as a top strategic matter, and says it operates based on a human-rights approach focusing on the principles of fairness and equal opportunity.
In this context, before the start of every school year, the ministry asks its regional delegates to convene meetings to study the cases of students with disabilities, and direct them to regular schools when possible, according to Kamal al-Hajjam, director of the primary school division of the Education Ministry.
According to the official, the ministry considers all schools should be inclusive. All new schools must conform to specifications and if the schools are old then the ministry intervenes to retrofit them if they receive students with disabilities.
The ministry relies on Chapter 48 of the constitution, which requires the state to take all appropriate measures for the benefit of people with disabilities, to facilitate their integration into society.
The Ministry of Education must take additional measures to boost the integration into schools students with disabilities as parents of these children go through the same experience witnessed by one of the two reporters who worked on this investigation when she visited iine schools in the Mnihla delegation of Ariana Governorate.
During this tour, one of the authors posed as a parent of a student with disabilities in the fourth grade who needed a wheelchair. When she inquired about whether he would be admitted, the school refused to register the student even in preparatory school, saying the school could not receive students with mobility issues.
Transportation: major concern
The transport sector, be it collective or individual, remains the biggest concern for people with disabilities and the most difficult issue to address, according to an official at the Tunis Transport Corporation.
Mohammad Chemli, director of communications and external relations in the corporation, admits that the stops of light trail vehicles (metro) in the capital are not fit to deal with people on wheelchairs.
On the other hand, he explained that a program was implemented to retrofit main bus stations. However, getting on buses by people with disabilities on wheelchairs remains akin to a "mission impossible".
There are many obstacles in the transport sector impeding the movement of people with disabilities: from the lack of conformity of transport vehicles to relevant specifications, to overcrowding and speed bumps.
Chemli said most speed bumps along the roads do not conform to specifications, and are a hindrance to low floor vehicles that allow people with disabilities to embark.
The chairwoman of architectural studies at the General Directorate of Civil buildings in the Ministry of Equipment and Housing, architect Ghada Jalali, estimated the cost of the installing an ordinary wheelchair access ramp at between 300 and 500 dinars ($150). The cost of installing a toilet for disabled persons is between 1500 and 2000 dinars ($750-1000). The cost of having speed bumps that conform to specifications is between 400 and 600 dinars ($200-300).
Compound abuses and no complaints
Despite the huge number of shortcomings and abuses, persons with disabilities rarely file complaints to get the laws passed for their benefit implemented.
Fares Damerji from the Tunis municipality confirmed this. He said he did not receive any complaints from disabled persons or their guardians, although he receives every day a large number of complaints relating to other abuses. Zuhair Bouglabia, municipal police chief, said the same.
While investigating the reason behind this, we found that a loophole in Decree 2006 is to blame: There is no mention of which authority is responsible for receiving complaints, as the law speaks vaguely of unspecified "competent authorities". The law also omitted mentioning procedures that determine penalties — fines ranging between 50-100,000 dinars ($25,000-50,000).
The disabled Tunisians we met told us they choose to be patient and look for alternatives, such as moving closer to their place of work or study, or use modern communication to avoid commuting or having to use other services.
Only a few, usually civil society activists, cling to their rights and win their battles, such as Hayat Essid, mother of student Firas Zamzam.
In the three months it took to prepare this investigation, Hayat worked hard to secure her son's right to education on equal par with his peers. She succeeded after several trips between the Regional Education Office and the school, compelling the latter to move the classes her son needed to the ground floor, where her son was able to attend the courses with his colleagues without being discriminated against.
Raising awareness and empowerment
Activists working for the rights of people with disabilities in Tunisia are counting on the empowerment of this segment of people and raising awareness among them to include them in drafting policies for their benefit.
Fatima al-Muqaddem from Disabled People International, stressed that Tunisia is in "good shape" in terms of legislation and law, and that an important aspect of the confusion lies in the people with disabilities' lack of knowledge of their rights.
Rehabilitating and educating people with disabilities would certainly help them play the role of watchdog who puts pressure to enforce the law.
In this regard, Ahmad al-Bulazi says that we must understand that enforcing the decree issued in 2006 is a right and not a privilege. He said that civil society, particularly groups focused on the rights of persons with disabilities, must continue to act to enforce it.
Today, civil society groups are seeking to capitalize on existing laws to implement pilot projects to prepare public space in a way that facilitates the movement of disabled people. Among these projects that have been implemented are the ones in the towns of Menzel Bourguiba and Manouba. These pilot projects could become the model that state officials use to build on and develop, in order to allow the integration of people with disabilities without discrimination just like the rest of the citizens.
This investigation was completed with the support of Arab Reporters for Investigative Journalism(ARIJ) — www.arij.net


text:
Tonight's Dinner: Baked chicken Parmesan recipe
Chicken Parmesan is that classic chicken dish that's smothered in mozzarella and marinara sauce and screams Italy. But when a single serving of chicken just isn't enough, try turning that savory Italian dinner into a casserole.
I love chicken Parmesan. There's just something about the breaded chicken cutlets smothered in mozzarella and marinara sauce that gets me excited. I'm such a huge fan of this entrée that it's always my first choice when the family eats out at an Italian restaurant. But there are those times that one piece of breaded chicken just isn't enough. Every so often I want seconds, but since I'm not going to order a second helping of chicken Parm, I'm forced to order dessert instead, which really isn't that big a compromise.
If you're like me and usually desire a second helping of chicken Parmesan, then this baked version from Real Simple is for you. It's the same delicious chicken, but instead of just one cutlet, it's several nestled in a blanket of marinara sauce and covered with fresh mozzarella. It's the platinum version of chicken Parmesan and I just couldn't get enough.
Baked chicken Parmesan
- 1/4 cup flour
- 2 eggs, beaten
- 2/3 cup Panko bread crumbs
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 8 chicken cutlets
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 (24 ounce) jar marinara sauce
- 1 pound fresh mozzarella, sliced
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
- Place the flour and eggs in separate shallow bowls. In a third bowl combine the breadcrumbs and Parmesan cheese. Season the chicken with salt and pepper. Coat each cutlet with the flour, then dip in the eggs, and finally coat with the breadcrumb mixture, pressing gently to help it adhere.
- Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. In batches, cook the chicken until golden brown, two to three minutes per side; transfer to a plate and set aside.
- Pour the marinara sauce in a 2-3-quart baking dish. Nestle the chicken in the sauce and top with the mozzarella. Bake until the cheese is bubbling and golden brown, 20-25 minutes.
More Tonight's Dinner recipes >>
Other chicken Parmesan recipes
Chicken Parmesan with pepperoni